"Why am I not surprised that Ash is scolding Officer Jenny?" I shooked my head amused. We were back to Unova, after having a blast in the Orange Islands, and already back in trouble. Some things never get old. "He truly picked that up from Mrs. Ketchum, it's almost as scary as her scolding."

"Almost being a saving grace," Riley agreed with a relieved sigh. "She did deserve it though. If she had only checked up the security cameras she would have realized that Dragonite fell from the roof and was clearly injured. Instead she just jumped into conclusions... like most Officer Jenny's do."

"Their family has become a staple of police work, as such they tend to get away with a lot," Lucario commented. "This should be taken care of."

"I did hear Ash was going to go to the Head of the International Ranger Commission to see how he can get some aid with this issue," Cilan hummed. "But for now, we can all be happy for Iris. She got a new family member, a Dragonite at that!"

"She will blaze through the rounds of the Pokemon World Tournament Junior Cup!" I cheered.

"That is if she can tame that dragon before the tournament," Gallade commented with a frown. "I can sense that he is quite a headstrong pokemon and one quick to anger."

"With Ash's mentoring she will be fine!" I assured my starter. "Ash is the best at taming difficult pokemon!"

Even though, I said that, by the time we finally reached Lacunosa Town, Iriis did not make any progress. Ash did not even get involved, saying that with dragons things were different. One had to earn their respect by showing their strength, if Ash got involved Dragonite would never learn to respect Iris as a trainer. So, we approached Lacunosa Town Tournament Stadium with an untamed dragon, not that the buzzing with excitement crown even nooticed. After all, the Pokemon World Tournament Junior Cup was about to start!

Freddy The Scoop and Champion Alder were dealing with the commentary, something I really liked. I enjoyed how Champion Alder got really involved with events and such, it kind of reminded me a lot of Ash. I just knew that when Ash becomes a full-time champion he will do the same thing. Talking about Ash the tournament will begin with an exhibition match between Ash, the future Orange Island League Champion, and Unova Elite Four member, Caitlin.

"Hey! Isn't her butler part of Ash's Battle Frontier in the Sevii Islands?" I questioned Cilan, who was participating with Iris and I.

"He is," Cilan answered me with a smile.

"Really?!" Iris was shocked by the revelation, but the exhibition match starting rapidly got her attention.

Ash sent out his Garchomp, surprising me, as I was not expecting that he would choose such a young and new pokemon to go against an Elite Four. On the other hand, Caitlin sendt out her Gothitelle. The two battle, and when Garchomp's Draco Meteor and Gothitelle's Thunderbolt collide it set off a fireworks-like display in the arena, impressing us all.

"I can totally see May and Dawn watching this closely, it will totally help them in their future contest battles!" I commented, enjoying the show- no matter, what Ash says, he is a showman. However, before either pokemon can gain the upper hand the timer ran out and the exhibition battle is declared to be a draw. "Awe! I wanted Ash to win!" I pouted, as Ash and Caitlin shook hands meeting in the middle of the battlefield.

"This was not about Ash winning, but about showing Unova that even with a young and newly evolved pokemon he is someone to look out for," Riley explained to me. "It does not matter that he now has Legendary pokemon, he will kick everyone's asses the way he began his journey. With normal pokemon... though, nowadays his normal pokemon are Garchomp, Dragonite, and Lucario... what has become of him?"

"Absolute madness," I replied.

"Chaos incarnated," Iris chimed in.

"A beautiful symphony of trouble and adventure! With a pinch of destiny!" Cilan added.

"Ash Ketchum," Lucario deadpanned, earning another round of silence. "What? Don't tell me I am wrong! There's no words to decribe this, other than Ash Ketchum!"

"What's truly perturbing is how true your words are," Riley agreed with his started with a grimace.

After Lucario's words all of us, with the exception of Riley, went to our positions, as the tournament was about to start. Cilan and I rapidly got through our first match, my Serperior making quick work of my opponent. Trip, who was also participating, won his match against Burgundry. However, the most interesting match was Iris by far. Her Dragonite faced against Georgia's Beartic. Beartic started the match with a bang, a powerful Hidden Power which Dragonite, despite being ordered by Iris to dodge, stood in place and knocked it back swiftly. However, Beartic did not stop there and rushed forward with a Focus Blast, which Dragonite decided to face head-on with his hands- once more, ignoring Iris' orders. What had us all stunned was how he just stood there and took an Ice Beam. Luckily, he responded to Iris' call and broke out of the ice, he had been encased in, and began charged toward Beartic. Though, he ran straight into his opponent's Blizzard. At the end, Dragonite was able to knock Beartic out with a Thunder Punch. The single hit won the match, though neither Iris nor Georgia were happy with it. The crowd, on the other hand, were having a blast. So much drama and excitement!

"This is not going well," I commented with a grimace. "Dragonite is completely ignoring Iris commands."

"That he is," my starter replied as we waited our turn. We had made it into the semi finals after my Boldore defeatied Cilan's Crustle, who had evolved from a Dwebble in the middle of the battle. Iris has also made it, but her Dragonite was totally ignoring her commands and winning the battles through raw power. "Well, at least, our battle will be quick and easy. He won't be able to handle a Dazzling Gleam from us."

"Calm down cowboy," I snickered, recalling the Unovan slang phrase I've been hearing since I came to the region. "You might have a type-advantage with that move, and it is a powerful one. But he did just bat off an Ice Beam and Blizzard like it was nothing."

"He is acting like a fool, ignoring the commands of his trainer- a trainer he chose for himself at that!" Gallade scoffed, he really did not get along with Dragonite. "Yet, he acts as if he is better than anyone. I'll enjoy putting him on his place!"

"Keep your head on the game and do not allow your emotions get the best of yourself," I warned my starter. "That's what will decide this match."

As I predicted, keeping calm and collected was what allowed us to win. Gallade began with a Misty Terrain, which covered the whole battlefield, before attacking him with a Dazzlign Gleam. Dragonite once more ignored Iris and took the move head on. Idiot. Dragonite ended up crashing on the wall behind Iris. With the use of Teleport, Gallade ended up in front of Dragonite, as this was trying to get back on his feet, and used a Draining Punch on the gut, followed by a Zen Headbutt. However, the dragon was a though cookie to take down. So, Gallade used another Dazzling Gleam- which was finally enough to take him down.

"Hey," I smiled at Iris awkwardly, as we shook hands after the match.

"Hey, it seems that it was your time to win," Iris chuckled with an undertone of sadness.

"He will learn to listen to you," I assured her, as we were leaving the battlefield towards the healing area of the stadium. "Hopefully, this will be a wake up call for Dragonite."

"Maybe... but I need to face him as a challenger and not a trainer," Iris sighed. "Ash is right, I need to earn his respect. Dragons need to be won, in battle I mean. I need to show him I am worthy. The only reason the dragons Ash got without battling and capturing... which are all of them if I think about it. Look at that, I hadn't noticed."

"Iris," I called for her.

"Sorry, right, back to business," she apologized. Honestly, she gets distracted as much as Ash sometimes. "The only reason they listen to him, is because Ash already had pokemon strong enough to keep them in line if needed. Fraxure is too young for that, Excadrill and Emolga do not have the raw power needed to do it, and Altaria... I think she is the only one who can face him. Especially, after learning Moonblast from Ash's Sylveon."

"Good luck with that," was the only thing I could say.

After parting ways with Iris, I found a secluded area in the stadium to think. What will I do when I find myself in a situation like Iris and Ash's? Will I keep on trying to make friends with my pokemon like Ash did? Or will I need to be hard like Iris has to? I don't think it is fair to Iris, she loves dragons and wants to be friends with all of them... but dragons only respect strength in a trainer. They will admire you if you are fair and noble, I know that. Ash's dragons are like that, respecting hard working trainers... but they only listen to Ash, and to powerful trainers when needed.

In a ranger mission back in the Sevii Islands, while the Battle Frontier festival was going on, some poachers tried to take advantage of the situation and poach the Lapras all around the Orange Islands. Ash had most of his pokemon in various corners of the archipelago aiding the various ranger teams- in situations like this having so many pokemon is quite useful. However, there was a situation with Ash's Altaria and Flygon. They well-mannered dragons were completely ignoring the commands of the Ace Rangers in the area they were aiding. Not even Head Ranger Josh could get them in line. As Ash was with his Lapras dealing with a situation on the other side of the archipelago, the only one that could help was Utau. Only with her around did the dragons start working with the Ace Rangers to take down the poachers.

"Dragon-type pokemon are so stubborn," I commented dryly.

"I don't like them, and not just because I used to be a Fairy-type pokemon," Gallade responded honestly. "But I must admit that they are powerful. However, only a few trainers are capable of bringing out the best of them."

"It is no wonder only a 3% of the population can specialzie in Dragon-type pokemon, and only a 1% ever reach a mastery in that area," I sighed. "The number of trainers that do not specialize in dragons and have one in their team is low, even lower for those who have more of one. Most of them are Generalist Masters."

"Is that our next objective? After winning the Pokemon League?" Gallade asked me. "Get a dragon and become a Generalist Master?"

"If I am being honest I do not want one in my team," I answered him truthfully. "But if we end up finding one who fits into our team, we will then see what to do." I stood up and dusted off my pants. "For now, however, we need to get ready. We are facing off against Trip in the finals."

"You will be using Meganium, right?" Gallade inquired, already knowing the answer, as we walked back towards the battlefield.

"Yes, he has been getting angsty lately," I chuckled. "I already used the tournament to test Bolore and Serperior after they evolved. Now I am using it to give you and him a way to deal with your excess of energy."

"We have been getting bored lately," Gallade admitted.

"You guys faced off agianst the Battle Frontier not even a week ago!" I exclaimed in fond amusement.

"And they wiped the floor with us," Gallade replied with a chuckle. "No wonder why we want to redeem ourselves."

"Battle junkies, all of you!" I shook my head. "Ash has infected my team!"

"As if you are not like us as well!" Gallade snarked back, before returning himself to his Poke Ball, as we had reached our destination.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward for my final battle against Trip. As expected, Trip sent out Serperior. In response I released Meganium. We might be on equal standing when it comes to type advantage... but Serperior's undeniable speed and strength will be an issue.

"Meganium! Magical Leaf!" I commanded. Trip did not open his mouth as Serperior rapidly dodged the attack. "Tackle!" Which Serperior dodged again. "Energy Ball!"

No matter what I sent after Serperior, he dodged it, over and over again. His speed as quick as lightning was something I have not face outside of my training with Ash, until now.

"Serperior, use Solar Beam!" Trip commanded, but Meganium stole Serperior's thunder and dodged. "Dragon Tail!"

"Respond with Iron Tail!" I shouted, Meganium just barely made it in time- both moves clashing sending silver and green sparks everywhere.

What followed was a game of dodge. Meganium attacked with Leaf Storm, which Serperior dodged. Serperior attacked with Leer, which Meganium dodged. Meganium then used with Solar Beam, which Serperior dodged. Serperior, in response, used another Dragon Tail, which Meganium dodged. It was starting to become quite an spectacle. Not to mention, the pokemon were starting to get tired. It all turned around on the next hand we played.

"Leer!" Trip commanded.

"Meganium, jump!" I commanded, but afterwards regretted it. By the time I realized in what a vulnerable position I had left Meganium, Trip had already taken advantage of the situation, commanding Serperior to use Solar Beam. The attack landed and hurled Meganium onto the ground. "Meganium!" I shouted in worry. "Get back up! I know you can do it!" I cheered him on. Meganium managed to get up, but he was too tired and slow to dodged Serperior's quick Frenzy Plant attack. The move was all Trip needed to knock my pokemon out, making Trip the winner and I the runner-up of the Junior Cup. "Meganium... thank you for an excellent job. Sorry for failing you," I apologized as I returned my pokemon. "I will do better next time, I promise!"

"Well done," Trip congratulated me, shaking my hand, as it was always done after a battle. "It seems that it was my turn to win this time."

"Don't get comfortable!" I warned him. "I will win next time!"

"I am waiting," Trip smirked, before leaving to get ready for his match against Champion Alder.

"Just wait..." I murmured under my breath.