On our way to Nacrene City, we decided to stop for a lunch break. While we were eating, we saw a Dwebble, but this one did not have a his back to protect himself from his enemies! We watched as he found a rock he liked and carefully craved it into the perfect shape he wanted. However, as soon as the work was finished, three other Dwebble appeared and stole the stone away! I was furious and so was Ash. We decided to offer him aid against his bullies, but Cilan already knew that Dwebble would not accept it. He was a prideful pokemon that wanted to preserve his independance. So, Cilan slyly distracted the thieving trio with the scent of his delicious food, while Dwebble dealt with them. Of course, by the end, Dwebble had decided to joing Cilan.

I was so happy for them!

Though, it did leave me confused. I wondered how someone who is a Grass Master has no problem with getting a Bug/Rock-type pokemon in his team. Then again my other pokemon isn't Dragon-type...

Well, continuing on our way to the next gym, we found a kindergarten group who had recently befriended a Trubbish, after they saved him from a junkyard. However, their teacher would not allow them to keep him, saying that it was unsafe for the class and that Trubbish would be impossible to take care of. Max rapidly sided with the kids, feeling outraged on their part, and challenged the teacher to a a battle. Which ended up getting interrupted when the secret clubhouse that the kids and Trubbish had built out of junk started to collapse. The teacher, Daniela, and her Deerling were unable to stop the collapse and Max's Ralts psychic powers were too weak to move so much junk. Just when Ash was about to handle the situation, Trubbish jumped in and saved the day with a powerful series of Sludge attacks. After seeing how much the kids and Trubbish cared about each other, Daniela reconsidered her position and offered Trubbish a position in her team- that way he can take care of the class and any future classes Daniela will be the teacher of. For his role in helping protect the children, Max was given a pokemon egg!

Arceus! Max was overjoyed, he finally has a pokemon egg to nuture and help come to this world. He has not stopped asking Ash questions and tips on how to take care of pokemon eggs. He has had three! Four if you count his Tyranitar's! But Pikachu has claimed that egg to himself. Ash has a Tyranitar... how cool is that?! Though, not as cool as Gabite and Dratini.

We then met this girl Bianca who was obsessed with this Minccino. You can't believe what she did to capture him! It seems that Minccino loves to keep things clean and shiny, so Bianca took out an empty dusty Poke Ball from her backpack and placed it on the ground. After seeing the dirty Poke Ball, Minccino could not resist to give it a shine, and much to everyone's surprise, the Poke Ball activated and captured Minccino. It was hilarious! Bianca was a walking comedy! She even challenged Ash into a battle, but he pointed at Max in return. Max was delighted to battle his first trainer and was even happier when Shroomish evolved into Breloom after winning the battle. What was even better was that Breloom had unlocked his egg move Seed Bomb after evolving!

Now, not only was Gabite learning to control his new body, but Breloom too. The poor Grass-type pokemon gained two arms and his legs extended immensely from his time as a Shroomish. It was kind of funny watching him learn how to walk, if I did not also notice how he winced with each step he took. He was in a lot of pain. Ash had to call his Meganium and Primeape for help. Meganium aided with the pain and Primeape gave the newly Grass/Fighting-type pokemon a few tips and pointers. Which Berloom listened to obidiently.

I just wish Excadrill would behave like that.

"What's got you sighing?" Ash inquired with a smile.

I looked up and noticed that the rest of our group were farther ahead, in the distance I could see the high towers of Nacrene City. Espeon, Mightyena, and Snivy were all out and chatting lively with each other. Much to the horror of Riley and Max they've all become pretty good friends and terrorized any male that ever dared to look at then wrongly.

"I was just thinking that Excadrill and I are not connecting," I sighed sadly. "We used to be the best friends and suddenly he is angry at me and disobeying me at every turn."

"Lugia, that reminds me so much about my time with Charizard," Ash shook his head in amusement.

"You did mentiont something like that before," I looked at him quizquily. "But I can't see Charizard ever disobeying you, he too loyal for that."

"Ha! I wish! Did you not see his battle with Latios? He took off and left me behind!" Ash barked a laugh, making me chuuckle, that had been quite the surprise for my class as well. Dean Drayden had taken our whole class to watch the battle between Ash and Tobias... it left us speechless. A Charizard winning against a Latios? A Heracross defeating a Darkrai? Marvelous! Dean Drayden also said that the bond between Ash and Charizard must be strong for them to be able to fight together with such a distance between them and being able to trust each other so much. "But you speak the truth as well, he is one of my loyalest pokemon. I saved him from an abusive trainer who had left him to die," I gasped in horror and disbelief. "I know," Ash sighed sadly. "One of the first things I did when I became an Ace Ranger was to track down that same trainer and had them sent to prison. Charizard was more than happy to help. You should have seen that bastard's face when he realized the same Charmander he had kicked away was now a powerful Charizard!"

"He deserves it!" I roared in rightful fury.

"He did," Ash chuckled. "He paid for his crimes and so did Shamus, I am so happy that both of them are adults and can be sent to prison. I would have found it disappointing if they had simply ended up in juvie."

"I would too!" I scoffed.

"Well, as I was saying, Charmander and I were the best friends... but he evolved and became quite strong. Back then I barely knew what I was doing, I was good in encouraging my pokemon and forming bonds with them, but that was not enough for Charmeleon. He wanted to become the strongest Charizard out there, he still wants that! But back then I was not able to do that... he knew that and made sure I knew it as well." I looked at Ash, who wore a resigned expression, and was in disbelief. How was that possible? How did they make it from that to what they are now? "As a Charizard was worst! He refused to fight for me and because of that I lost my first ever Pokemon League."

"What?!" I was stunned by what Ash had just revealed.

"Yes, my opponent had a Butterfree and I had no pokemon that could fly at the moment other than Charizard, so I sent him out," Ash shook his head with a sigh. "He... did not take it the best way and refused to battle. So I lost."

"How do you not resent him for that?" I asked him shocked.

"I could never resent any of my pokemon," Ash answered me honestly. "I love them too much for that, even when so many of them had to leave me to achieve their dreams. Iris, when you love someone you need to let them go, if that love is true they'll return. Every single one of them returned to me and I could not be happier."

"Should I let Excadrill go?" I inquired fearfully.

"I did not say that," Ash cut in. "Look at the end of the day Charizard did not listen to my commands and lost a battle, he was in a very bad shape and it took all of my pokemon working together to save him. We stayed the whole night with him and proved to him that our bonds are real, they go beyond just our desire to get stronger. We challenged that same trainer again and won, Charizard has been following my orders ever since. Tell me what changed since the time Excadrill followed your commands until the time he stopped."

"I... I got Axew," I told him, when it was the only big change I could think of.

"I see," Ash hummed knowledgly.

"What?" I turned to him in expectation.

"Iris what is your dream?" Ash questioned me.

"I want to become a Dragon Master," I answered, not knowing why he was asking me that.

"Yet, Excadrill is not a Dragon-type," Ash commented.

"Well, I got him to be the best defense against Ice and Fairy-types," I replied, still not getting it.

"Iris, Excadrill thinks that you only see him as a shield, less important than Axew who is your precious Dragon-type," Ash told me gently.

"No... impossible! Excadrill must know how important he is to me!" I shook my head not believing it.

"Sometimes one needs to hear it and for that to be proven," Ash placed a hand on my shoulder and smiled kindly. "Look, we reached Nacrene City, we will be heading for the Pokemon Center, why don't you follow us after you've had a talk with Excadrill."

I nodded my head numbly and watched him leave with the rest of our group. I took a deep breath and smiled encouragingly at Axew, who looked as sad as me. I took out Excadrill's Poke Ball and released my pokemon, he was folded into his favorite drill shape and looking as if he was not changing that at any moment.

"Excadrill, Ash said something that I am sure it's completly insane, so don't take it too hard," I gave out a watery chuckle. "He said that you think I love Axew more than you, that you do not believe you are as important to me. He is wrong, right? You don't believe that... do you?" When Excadrill did not move, a raw sob left my lips. "Oh, Excadrill, I am so sorry! I never wanted you to feel like that! I love you! I truly do! I will make sure to prove it to you, to show you my love better!" I threw myself on him and wrapped my arms around him. I gave out a startled gasp when I felt him move and felt two arms wrap around my waist and hug me close. "Oh, Excadrill!"