Part CLXXVI: One Last Time in Lumiose

"Big brother!" Bonnie yelled getting all their attention and causing them to turn to the entrance to the battlefield of the Lumiose City Gym. "We're back!"

Ash, Misty, May, Serena, and Clemont, along with Clembot and several of the Pokémon who were out of their Poke Balls for dinner, turned to the entrance to the gym to see Bonnie running in to greet them with Max and Owen behind her. It was almost time for said dinner, so their timing was spot on.

"Alright well help me set up then." Clemont said gesturing to the table that he'd put in the center of the gym for the meal. "I've made enough for all of you just in case so there's plenty of food."

It was a week after Misty had gotten her second Mega Stone, Pinsirite this time in an exciting battle with a Heracross guarding it, and the day after they'd gotten back to Lumiose City thus completing their journey through the Kalos region. Well, they'd completed the road part of their journey as there was still the final competitions of the year but as both were in Lumiose City they were done with traveling around the region now.

They still had a week to go before the start of the first of those events, the inaugural Kalos Grand Festival. To kick of the first Grand Festival in Kalos, the opening ceremony was going to be a full day event that was culminating in what was being billed as the 'Top Coordinators' Exhibition' being held in Lumiose Stadium. Therefore, they had some time to relax and prepare for what was to come.

The Grand Festival itself would run for a week, including the Wildcard event the day after the opening ceremony, followed by another week to reset things and recover from the Grand Festival before the Lumiose Conference began. Ash and the girls were looking forward to both of them what with Serena in at least the Wildcard, Ash naturally in the Lumiose Conference, and May and Misty participating in the Exhibition but for now they were going to enjoy an evening off before really getting down to some last-minute training.

Max had told them that his group was getting in this evening, though he and Bonnie were staying with her dad during the coming weeks while Owen was making his own plans with some contacts his parents had in Lumiose City. Meanwhile, mainly due to space constraints, Ash and the girls stayed with Clemont in the gym. As such both groups were meeting back where the year began for them to have a fun dinner together and a debrief on the year before they knuckled down for what was to come.

Ash was looking forward to hearing of Max's last adventure, he'd been off to Anistar to get his final gym badge if he recalled when they'd last parted ways in Snowbelle, and as his own adventures since then had been just as exciting so he couldn't wait to regale Max of his tales while hearing Max's in return. Course, the last week since Misty's retrieval of the Pinsirite had been uneventful, they'd just stopped in Santalune and caught up with Viola and Alexa for a day which didn't involve any action, so hopefully Max's return to Lumiose had been exciting.

"Oh, what's on the menu?" Bonnie asked as she hurried to help Clemont. "We've been having tasty curry for the last few weeks, Owen really knows how to change it up despite always having the same base, but I've missed your cooking bro."

"Don't worry, I know I can never compete with her brother's cooking." Owen said when Clemont looked at him to apologize for Bonnie's rudeness. "So, I take no offense at that. She's been missing your food for a while."

"That's good to know." Clemont said with a sigh of relief.

"Also, I've got to tell you of all the lovely ladies I've met." Bonnie said before Clemont could say anything more, missing what else was going on, and causing Clemont to blanch at that. "Anistar was a blast as Olympia has so many pretty female acolytes who are total keepers though one who I didn't recognize, she wasn't an acolyte but just a friend visiting apparently, said she was already spoken for before I could try anything, but the others are all single."

"Why do I get the feeling I know who that is." Misty said to the other girls. "She was in Anistar, wasn't she?"

"Yeah and there's no way Bonnie wouldn't have tried with her." Serena said. "But she didn't mention it when I saw her the other day."

"Likely didn't make the connection between us and Bonnie so didn't see it as relevant." May said with a shrug. "Anyway, let's all sit, eat, and tell stories. What have you been up to since we last saw you dear brother? Nothing I wouldn't approve of I hope."

"Well, dear sister, I've been busy getting my last gym badge so that I can qualify for the Lumiose Conference and having some adventures along the way." Max said as they all gathered around the table and sat down while Bonnie rushed to help Clemont and Clembot with the food while telling him of all the ladies she'd proposed to for him. "And before you ask Anistar wasn't as bad as Laverre as at least this time Bonnie wasn't dragged out of the gym by Officer Jenny."

"That being said it is kinda hard to be worse than Laverre." Owen added. "She's still banned from that city, and I highly doubt they'll lift it when they review it in a few months should she try and challenge it."

"Bonnie was just being a good, if over enthusiastic, sister." Misty said. "And it's good to see she and Chandelure are good, I never did get the time to congratulate her on that at the Wallace Cup as I was held up during it for obvious reasons."

"It took some time Misty but thanks to your advice we managed it in the end." Bonnie said as she came back with the lightest of the dishes and set it on the table before serving it first to the other girls, then Ash, Owen, and Max while Clemont and Clembot sorted the other dishes out. "It was just patience and showing him that I still love him. Well, that and winning some minor battles with random trainers to prove that I could handle it but those were few and far between."

"It worked and just in time as well." Serena said. "Because he seemed good against Sylveon in the Wallace Cup. I had Sylveon learn dig in large part to overcome the weaknesses she had when we first faced off Bonnie as it is the perfect, and only, move to balance out those weaknesses."

"Actually, we overcame it just before Pierre's party." Bonnie said. "I was singing to him a song just for Chandelure every night in his Poke Ball and showing him that I loved him and finally he came out to help us when we needed him the most. I opted to keep it a secret as I was hoping to face you Serena and show him off then in a grand reveal. Fate smiled on me and ensured that it happened."

"Well, you managed that." Serena said. "You even kept him quiet the entire time we were going from Pierre's to Snowbelle, though May and I didn't join you on that detour you guys had to Joule."

"It was best for us to proceed on to Snowbelle and set up shop there as we didn't have reason to partake in that festival." May said which was partially true though the main reason had been for her and Serena to take a break from Ash and Misty as the party hadn't helped their heartbreak at losing him to Misty. "Though I heard you lot had a lot of fun at that festival."

"I love my trophy, it and the one from the Fire Festival are in my room now so I know I'm really a trainer now that I have my own collection of accolades from my first year as one." Bonnie said happily. "I'll show you girls this week, when you have the time that is."

"We will be busy preparing Serena." May said. "And we could use your help there, Bonnie, but of course we'll make the time to see your room."

"Yeah! And of course I'll help prepare Serena." Bonnie said with a smile. "I hope you win the Grand Festival; you deserve it."

"Thank you, as do I but it will be tough given the level of competition at hand in it." Serena admitted. "And I just lost to Miette in the Aquacorde Contest, so I've got to qualify for it via the Wildcard."

"It will be interesting to watch for sure." Max said. "We made sure to take the time to watch the Master Class and naturally we all voted for Misty but in the end that Jessilee woman was better."

"It was close, but I had a good time and that was the important thing." Misty said. "I just enjoyed the thrill of the competition, especially as it was new and feminine which I really liked, the success in the Master Class was just a bonus to me. Now my year is over, but I am still helping this lot train as Ash and Serena need it."

"Mainly Ash." Serena said. "May's training me but that is understandable as Misty has more ties to the current crop of coordinators in the Grand Festival, so it makes sense for her to be more neutral during it."

"Yup I've got some battles to have to prepare for the Lumiose Conference." Ash said excitedly. "Misty's offered to face me but not until after the Grand Festival is over, then we'll have a full battle to help me practice."

"Well then how about I face you first." Owen said surprising Ash. "Our last battle was fun so how about we full battle this time around that way you get another one to practice. My Skiddo evolved on the way here from Dendemille while training with Max and his Scolipede so now all my Pokémon are fully evolved so I'd be honored to give you a full battle with them all."

"That would actually work well." Ash said thinking on it and realizing how good an idea it was. "I have 10 Pokémon I'm rotating for the Lumiose Conference this year with only two being permanent in my full team unless something serious comes up so I can do that and then rotate the 4 additional ones I use against you out for the other for when I have a full battle with Misty after the Grand Festival."

"As it is a full battle, I'm going to bring in my best to face Ash." Misty said. "Best way to train him is against my best 6 but I haven't decided what that team would be just yet."

"Misty's best? I am curious to see what could that be." May said thinking on it. "Honestly, I can't think which team you'd use."

"I have an idea for some of them, but I have to factor in what Ash has and who I'm likely to face." Misty said. "Let the boys battle first and then I'll determine my team."

"Well, if you're battling you can use the gym for that as all the public battlefields in the city and the Pokémon Center will be booked out in advance." Clemont said surprising them as he sat down, and they all began to tuck into the food. "I will even officiate it if you want."

"Don't you have your duties though?" Ash asked.

"I will get some challengers, as the Conference is here challengers are always around right up to the deadline, and they will take priority though as I want to watch the Grand Festival I can have Clembot take over during that." Clemont said as they ate. "But I'm sure after hours a full battle can be done. I think the Professor would want to see that as well."

"If Ash uses Greninja then he will." May said. "He was really taken by the Battle Band and wants to learn more about it."

"Then it's settled." Ash said looking at Owen. "We can have a full battle whenever works for you."

"Give me a few days." Owen said. "The family friends I'm staying with in the city have some errands I need to do for them and if I do well then they may give me something that only I can use and it's something I really want, so I have to do that first."

"I would like to face Ash again but with the Lumiose Conference coming up I think I'll wait." Max said. "We can battle there if fate allows for it."

"That I'd like and I'm sure that we will face off there, I often face friends and rivals at these things so I'm sure fate won't disappoint me." Ash said excited at the idea of finally facing Max in an official Conference battle. "On that note, how did Anistar go? The last badge is always meaningfully when you get it, I remember all of my final badges well."

"Yeah that was the last one and like Hoenn my final one was a psychic type gym as my final gym last year was the Mossdeep Gym." Max said. "We had a slight detour on the way as we got word something one of us wanted was in the area, so it was worth it and then I faced Olympia. I went with Scolipede and Simisear after their experience in the Wallace Cup and won it first time."

"After that it was back via Dendemille which was fun as there is a lot of grooming stuff available in that town." Bonnie said as she tucked into her second helping of dinner. "Oh man I've missed this brother."

"Thank you." Clemont said with a smile.

"Nothing will compare for her." Owen said with a smile.

"Well, your curries are pretty tasty." Clemont said. "Though the ones you claim are more traditional are a little, um, bland."

"Yeah I get that a lot, even from those two despite my constant attempts to change it up." Owen said with a sigh. "Apparently Galarian tastes are rather bland to people from Kalos and Hoenn. I don't know what you lot see in all this overly sweet stuff though."

"Kalos has always had a preference for sweet flavors." Serena said. "It's the staple of our cuisine, especially our pastries and desserts which we are famous for."

"I just like good food." May said.

"We all know that." Ash said as he finished his third dish to remind them that he too really enjoyed his food. "You're the best at finding good restaurants that my stomach always likes."

"It was one of my first memories of you when we met in Sinnoh, you arrived and almost right away knew where you wanted to eat first, so we went there." Misty said smiling at the memory. "And it was worth it after dealing with Team Rocket though those jokers have been quiet for a while."

"I don't mind it." Ash said. "It was nice only seeing them thrice last year and not much more this year. They were a real drag in years past when they kept showing up to annoy us."

"True it was nice being able to enjoy a year basically without them." Misty said. "So, I'm good not seeing them."

"No doubt they've got something planned which is why we haven't seen them for a while." May said. "But it will fail, it always does."

"Max has informed us of them with some of his stories." Owen said. "They seem rather incompetent and persistent."

"We don't get them but they're good training for our Pokémon even if they can be annoying with all their schemes, machines, and that motto of theirs that has changed a few times over the years." Ash said. "I've been dealing with them for years, ever since I began as a trainer actually."

"Pikachu." Pikachu said in agreement.

"Well, they're not here so not a problem." May said. "And besides, we're all together now so how about we forget about them while they aren't bother us. Any more stories since we last saw you Max?"

"Nope, nothing to report." Max said shaking his head. "Just the battle in Anistar, Owen's Skiddo evolving, and some fun in Dendemille. That's all that has happened to us since the Wallace Cup."

"You're hiding something." May said with a grin at Max's answer as she could tell it wasn't the full thing, he had mentioned that detour earlier but never elaborated on it. "Sister's intuition."

"See Clemont, it's not just me." Bonnie said. "Though mine is more for finding you a future wife."

"That's not intuition Bonnie, that's just irritating." Clemont said with a sigh. "Thanks to you I can't show my face in Laverre or Anistar for a while."

"You're welcome." Bonnie said with a smile.

"Regardless, I'm not saying." Max said shifting the conversation back to their journey as Clemont wasn't winning against Bonnie's logic when it came to her attempts to find him a wife. "You'll have to wait and see but it will be worth it, I promise."

"Fine." May said. "But only for now. I expect to learn soon."

"Anyway, what about you lot?" Max asked shifting the conversation to Ash and the girls to get May off his back. "What have you been up to since the Wallace Cup? I presume Ash got his final gym badge right afterwards and we all saw the Master Class but what else?"

"Actually, it took me two attempts to get it, so we were delayed a couple extra days in Snowbelle." Ash said surprising them. "Yeah, Greninja and I weren't in sync during the battle, and it cost us against Wulfric's Avalugg in the end but we're good now and won it the second time."

"Oh, did you master the battle bond to form Ash-Greninja?" Bonnie asked. "That was so cool when we briefly saw it against Diantha."

"You'll see." Ash said grinning. "It will be up to Owen to try and push me to that point. I know a battle is good if Greninja and I can trigger the change so give me a good battle and it might happen."

"I am hoping that I will have a way to do that as I am curious to see it again and hopefully see it at its fullest this time." Owen said. "All I saw was what happened at Pierre's party, Bonnie told us of the full change so I'll do my best to trigger it and it will be a good test for me providing all works out for me over the next few days."

"I am looking forward to that." Ash said. "Whatever it may be."

"It was an interesting time for sure." May said. "But Snowbelle was sorted out a little later than planned and we moved onto the Master Class which you saw so we don't need to rehash that event."

"Then it was time to get a Mega Stone for me." Misty said. "One that had been planned since Anistar only we had to wait until the right moment which came after the Master Class."

"You got one?" Bonnie asked.

"Which Pokémon?" Max asked. "Last I recall you have two who can Mega Evolve, Pinsir and Banette so which one?"

"I actually now have both." Misty said surprising Max, Bonnie and Owen. "Yup, no Key Stone yet, but two Mega Stones already so when I do get a Key Stone things will get interesting. First was Banette's, that was the one that Sycamore asked us to go after when we met him in Anistar, and we met Alain and Mairin there as they were with the Professor waiting for us at the location of the Banettite. I got it but that's all I'll say about it."

"Why?" Bonnie asked.

"Let's just say that you shouldn't enter the Chamber of Emptiness unless you absolutely have to." Misty said seriously, her expression hardening as she spoke. "And now that I claimed the only item there, there's no need to go into it so you don't have to worry about that place."

"Don't ask." May said. "We tried but Misty won't say, and we've decided not to push it as it seems like it was something she doesn't want to relive."

"Nor will Alain who's also entered it, but we respect their silence regarding it." Serena said. "And we saw Ash beat Alain in a great battle while Misty was inside the Chamber which was a lot of fun. Then we went onto Aquacorde for the Contest there, but I lost."

"You said." Bonnie said. "I can't believe that you lost to Miette though, you were so good in the Wallace Cup."

"Thank you but alas Miette is just as good as me now, which I expected as she was always good at matching me and besides, I am glad for because our rivalry always makes us better." Serena said with a slightly sad smile. "She focused on Contests after the Wallace Cup and adapted what she saw me doing, blending her performer training into battles and with her style that really worked. Miette's got 5 ribbons now, the 5th coming in the Aquacorde Contest, and she more than earned it. It was a little tough to lose it but after some help from my mother I was able to get over it and am committed to qualifying via the Wildcard."

"It was a fun little detour and took us through Santalune Forest on the way back which the Professor was happy to hear about as there was another Mega Stone there that required a specific Pokémon to retrieve." May said. "In this case the Pokémon needed was a Pinsir, so it was where Misty got her other Mega Stone."

"A simple one that just required Pinsir beating a Heracross in battle, so the only challenge was preparing my darling Pinsir for battle as she's not a big fan of them." Misty said. "She did amazing, and we won it with ease so now both my Mega Evolution capable Pokémon have Mega Stones."

"After that it was back here." Serena said. "And not much really happened after Misty got her second Mega Stone. We spent an extra day in Santalune catching up with Viola and her sister but for once our travels were uneventful."

"Yeah just training and focusing on what is coming up." May said. "Which is the opening ceremony for the Grand Festival and this one is a little different as it's a proper large-scale event."

"Right, it's been the talk of the city as they prepare for it and all the people coming in from all over the region to enjoy it." Clemont said. "There's a whole thing around the stadium and there's going to be an exhibition in it by the 5 Top Coordinators, which is May, Misty, and three others if I recall."

"Yup, we're ready for it." May said with a nod.

"They did ask me to use a specific Pokémon for it." Misty said. "Course I know why they asked for it and wasn't going to complain though it's not how I usually use it."

"Somehow that doesn't surprise me." Max said easily deducing what Pokémon Misty was talking about. "It does look interesting and a great way to advertise the Grand Festival by using such a rare Pokémon in the exhibition. We're going to be at the festivities at least."

"Yes all the top breeders from all over Kalos, and some from other regions, will be converging on it." Owen said. "So much to learn and do during it and apparently Yuma herself will be present and giving lessons to anyone willing to listen to her when she's not involved in the exhibition though someone did say she's not staying for the Grand Festival."

"She's not?" Misty asked confused. "Why? Shouldn't she be present for it as one of the Top Coordinators who helped promote Contests here and worked so hard this year as a judge?"

"She should but I think I know why." May said. "Remember, she's Mollie's mentor and Mollie's the heavy favorite to win the first Unova Grand Festival this year so she's no doubt going over for that."

"Right, she was there in Kanto last year when Mollie reached the semifinals." Misty said. "I wish I'd faced Mollie in the final, that would have been really good."

"So, you wouldn't have to face Kenny?" Serena asked.

"No, that I wanted to face him in the Grand Festival because we needed to sort everything out between us and hopefully he wouldn't fall deeper into darkness but that failed as you all know." Misty said shaking her head. "And fate chose the final for us though I'd have been happy with any round honestly. I also wanted to face Mollie however, and the final would have been great for it, because she's one of only two coordinators who I've never beaten in an official Contest."

"Wait there are coordinators who you've not beaten?" Bonnie asked. "But aren't you a Top Coordinator? You're really good from what I've heard Misty, you're moniker is the Prodigy of Sinnoh after all which says a lot, and I know that May has never beaten you and she's also a Top Coordinator."

"Yeah, Misty and Solidad are the two I've never beaten though I never faced Robert my rookie year when he was the favorite and won it all, so I've got no record against him in an official Contest." May said. "We all have those who we've wanted to beat but have never managed it. I know that Misty's best friend and rival, Zoey, lost her only battle against me but she's the other Misty's never beaten."

"Zoey bested me a few times our rookie year, including in a thrilling Grand Festival final." Misty said. "She's my greatest rival who I've never beaten but I will one day, I know it. Mollie's the other coordinator that I've never beaten though we've only battled once, in the final of her hometown Contest in Gardenia Town in Kanto. She and her Absol bested me and Gloom. It was a good, tough battle so I want to even the score with her."

"There may be a time to do so and when you do you will both be Top Coordinators." May said. "From what I've heard there's no competition for her in Unova. She lost once there but that was due to a serious type disadvantage apparently. Other than that, she's been the heavy favorite to win the Unova Ribbon Cup. Same with Kenny in Alola though Alola is considered the weakest of the expansion regions while Kalos is the strongest."

"I've not followed the other regions so I wouldn't know." Misty said. "But that makes it Mollie, Kenny, and Brianna as the three of the top favorites for the debut Grand Festivals. Does anyone know who the Galarian favorite is?"

"Don't ask me, I haven't been following my home region's news since getting here." Owen said as they looked at him. "All I know about the Galarian Contests is that they don't occur in the main Galarian battle stations as Dynamaxing, something that can only be done in Galar, isn't allowed yet in Contests there and even if it was, the interest isn't at the level needed to fill our massive stadiums though the Grand Festival will be held in Wyndon Stadium which is big as that is our most prestigious stadium and where the annual Galarian Cup is held."

"It's not clear from what little I've seen about the inaugural Galarian Contest circuit, but I didn't know of anyone going there so I wouldn't know." May said. "Though I hear Nando is a favorite in Johto."

"That doesn't surprise me." Misty said. "He's good at Contests, he deserves to finally win a Ribbon Cup."

"Well, the Kalos one won't be that stuck up brat." Bonnie said. "We've got Serena and if not her there are others who could win it that would be better than Brianna. That nice Emily girl has a good chance and the other of the favorites is that older Sinnoh woman who seems sweet. Then there is Miette, Shauna and Tierno are all representing Kalos in it, and there's that breeder guy Khoury as well. All could win it."

"That is true though I do have to qualify via the Wildcard." Serena said. "And that will be tough. Shauna is in it as well though, so at least I have a friend and rival in it with me."

"How will the Wildcard work?" Max asked. "Other than the Wallace Cup and a few Contests for fun we've not really focused on them, so we aren't that in touch with the circuit this year."

"I liked trying things out but I'm still undecided." Bonnie said. "So, I'm joining Max wherever he goes next year to see a new region and further my own personal journey in finding my own path in this world."

"Bonnie, we haven't discussed this." Clemont said.

"We just did." Bonnie said with a smile. "I'm a trainer now brother, I can go where I please."

"I know but I worry." Clemont said. "I am your brother; I'm allowed to worry about you."

"Aw that's sweet to worry about your sister." Bonnie said grinning. "I'll use that when I see pretty girls in other regions. I'll make sure that I return with a wife for you Clemont."

"That's what I worry about the most." Clemont said with a resigned sigh. "Max, please look out for her."

"You gave me an Aipom arm, it will be well used wherever we go but we're still undecided there and Owen may or may not join us." Max said. "And she's as bad as Brock was back in the day so I have plenty of experience dealing with stuff like this."

"I need to talk with my folks back home but if I can remain with them I will." Owen said. "I've learned a lot this year and know I'll learn more the more I travel."

"Thank you." Clemont said hoping that Bonnie didn't get him banned from an entire region by her actions. "Anyway, I too am curious about the Wildcard. How will it work?"

"It's basically a two round specific appeal event." May said. "They'll give more details at the opening ceremony as the Wildcard is the day after it and that's when they will know how many spots will be made available via it but from what I know, the coordinators in it need three or 4 Kalos ribbons this year and enter one Pokémon into it. Then they use one move to get a score similar to the first stage of the Kanto appeals followed by a break and a second round with the same Pokémon and only one move is allowed but it has to be a different move. Both rounds are scored, and the top cumulative scores advance based on the number of spots."

"About that." Serena said. "I get that much and am ready for it but how many spots are you expecting?"

"I honestly don't know." May said. "But if I had to guess, it will be a decent number. The Grand Festival will have 16 advance to the battles, that's just how they are done. So, with around 100 or so Contests this year, even with the one-time hybrid allowance for trainers with 3 Kalos ribbons and two from another region, though those two have to be from the same region and the only ones from that region, I predict that 30 to 40 will make it with 5 ribbons be it 5 pure Kalos ribbons and 5 hybrid so not many."

"That few?" Bonnie asked.

"That few." May confirmed. "We know that the Big 3 all have 5, as does Miette, Tierno, and Khoury with Serena and Shauna at 3 each so that's 36 ribbons already accounted for and none of the Contests I've judged have had the same winner so add at least 4 more so 40 ribbons accounted for. It's been several months and there have been a lot of Contests, including many snap ones that were only available by chance, so the actual number is unclear, but I'd say no more than 40 have qualified directly."

"And they'll like to have around 60 or so in the Grand Festival." Misty said. "Right?"

"At least 50, they need that many to make it worthwhile but 64 is my expectation." May said. "However, a lot will depend on how many have qualified for the Wildcard as well, so that will be the deciding factor. They know that the early years aren't going to be too many, not like the 200+ that we saw in Kanto, Hoenn, Johto, and Sinnoh."

"Yeah but you lot have been doing it for years." Serena said. "And once you qualify that's it, you're in for life."

"And there's no time limit to how long you have to reach 5 ribbons." Misty said. "My mother's rival Lila, the only one she couldn't beat, had 4 a little over 20 years ago but never got her 5th. Then she came out of retirement for her hometown contest in Celestic Town right at the same time I was entering it seeking my 3rd of the year."

"She retired when she had 4 ribbons?" Clemont asked.

"Yeah, she realized that her calling wasn't that of a coordinator but a Pokémon Stylist and became one of the best in all of Sinnoh at that." Misty said. "And she is really good at her job, she's Wallace's stylist actually, but she decided to return after 20 years for the Celestic Town Contest right when I entered it. We ended up meeting in the final were my Ambipom beat her Delcatty but if she'd won she would have qualified for the Grand Festival. However, she revealed that she was hoping to learn more about herself by battling me just like she did by battling my mother and she did, so she accepted her defeat gracefully."

"Somehow none of this surprises me." Serena said and May nodded. "That's just the kinda thing that would happen to you Misty."

"Yeah, it was an interesting experience for sure and we even got free reign of her store afterwards as a reward." Misty said with a smile at the memory. "But the biggest thing for me was that it was a meaningful victory as I did what my mother couldn't by beating Lila in a Contest. Plus, it was my first Contest after the Wallace Cup, so I was really back with that win."

"It was a great battle because I developed that counter shield technique to counter Fantina's Hypnosis thanks to watching it." Ash said recalling it well. "That helped me win that gym battle and I kept it up that year but haven't needed it for a while."

"Still useful so don't forget it." Misty said. "I've used it a few times in the last couple of years myself as it is a clever technique. Even Paul recognized it by mimicking it against you in that epic full battle you had in the Sinnoh Conference."

"I don't intend to." Ash said. "I'll need everything I got to win the Lumiose Conference."

"Yup that's right after the Grand Festival so a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks." Clemont said as they finished their meal and began to clear their plates to help with the washing up though Serena and Bonnie went to make dessert as that was what Serena was best at and Bonnie enjoyed helping her with it while May and Misty joined them to have some girl time. "Both you and Max are going to be in that so it should be good, and I hear last year's runner up will be in it as well so it's going to be really tough."

"I look forward to the challenge." Ash said as they followed Clemont into the kitchen to wash up. "Any trainers that you'd say are good based on who you've faced this year, Clemont?"

"I faced a few tough ones that's for sure." Clemont said thinking on it. "A few from Unova, there was an oddly high number from that region this year, one who used a Galarian Pokémon against me and that was all he needed as he swept my team with it, he was the best by far and from what I've heard only Wulfric bested two of his Pokémon, and a couple of interesting Mega Evolutions so there are a good number of trainers this year."

"It is a full field." Owen said. "I checked the news recently; they predict a full 256 trainer field what with the Mega Evolution allowance still only being in Kalos though Alola is apparently going to try to allow it this year in their debut Conference but only for those who make it to the battles as they're doing something unique to start their Conference."

"That is certainly more than the 64 who competed last year." Clemont said. "That explains why they've moved the start of full battles from the semifinals to the last 16 which puts Kalos on par with most of the other regions now. That will really up the prestige of winning the Lumiose Conference."

"That's good." Ash said with a grin. "More competition means more to the win when I win it all."

"Or me." Max said. "So, at last Ash, we're going to be proper rivals."

"I'm looking forward to it." Ash said as they reached the kitchen and began to wash up. "This has been a fun year but it's time to focus, the Lumiose Conference is coming after the Grand Festival so let's give it our all."

Max nodded as they set to work while the girls worked on dessert and chatted. It had been a good, relaxing, dinner, their last for a while because they were all in Lumiose City now and that meant one thing, it was time to prepare for the final competitions. First there was the Grand Festival then the Lumiose Conference, after a long year everything was coming to a close as the final stages of Ash and his friends' Kalos journey began.