Winning a Pokémon League Conference was always an exhilarating rush, filling me and the rest of the team with immense pride and a sense of accomplishment. I could feel the energy coursing through me, electrifying every fiber of my being. It wasn't just about the victory, but the journey that brought us here, the battles fought side by side, and the unwavering bond we had built with Max.

However, there was one aspect of being Conference Champions that none of us enjoyed—the relentless media hurricane that followed. After our victory at the Lumiose Conference, we endured weeks of paparazzi hounding us with incessant questions. They wanted to know our every move, our next big challenge. Would we take on the Elite Four? Were we aiming to become the Champions of Kalos? And, of course, the inevitable question: Did Max feel like he had made his mentor, the legendary Ash Ketchum, proud?

Things got even worse after we won the Pummelo Conference. This was our second major win, but the media frenzy was amplified by the fact that the conference trophy was presented from mentor to mentee. Champion Ash Ketchum handed the trophy to Max, the very first Conference Champion the Orange Islands Pokémon League had ever seen. We had made history, and I couldn't have been prouder of Max. From our very first meeting all those years ago, I had known he was special, and now it was proven right.

But the reporters' focus on Ash rather than Max started to grate on me. Every interview, every article seemed to revolve around Ash, overshadowing Max's incredible achievement. I didn't blame Ash, of course. He had always been a great mentor and friend. The media just sucked—that's all. They failed to see the bigger picture, to celebrate Max for his hard-earned victory.

The final straw was their reaction to Max's future plans. When he shared his intentions of concluding his studies and becoming a Hoenn Ranger, the reporters seemed almost disappointed. As if pursuing a noble and honorable path like becoming a Ranger wasn't enough for them. Their disrespect left me fuming. How could they be so blind to the significance of Max's goals?

Max was more than just a Pokémon Trainer aiming for glory. He had a vision, a purpose that went beyond winning battles. His dream of becoming a Hoenn Ranger was about protecting and preserving the natural world, helping Pokémon in need, and making a difference in ways that trophies and titles could never measure. Just like Ash had taught us. And I was ready to stand by him every step of the way, through every challenge and adventure that lay ahead.

What made things worse was that we couldn't hide from the reporters for long. With Naranja Academy on recess and the Orange Islands Grand Festival only a week away, Max and his parents decided to stay on Pummelo Island. This meant there were only a few places we could hide before the reporters found us. The situation was even worse with Tara having gone back to Unova with her family and Melody deciding to follow her and spend the summer vacation there. This left Max, the rest of the team, and me as bored as Distortion World.

At least Max had the new Mega Evolution to focus on with his Pidgeot, and his dad had gifted him a Slakoth. This gave us a new Pokémon to care for, though I had to admit, the laziness and slow motion of Slakoth were starting to drive me insane. Luckily, Max was used to the Slakoth line, as it was his father's specialty.

At the moment, we were in the garden that surrounds the Champion Tower, one of the few places the reporters didn't dare to try and sneak into. Slakoth was training beside the newest of Ash's Pokémon, Sobble, under the guiding eye of Ash's Bulbasaur. Meanwhile, Max was working on the Mega Evolution with his Pidgeot, with Ash and his Mega Pidgeot giving them pointers.

Seeing this brought a smile to my face. The scene reminded me of our first journey, where Ash was constantly training and guiding Max and our team. I couldn't help but feel a rush of nostalgia, thinking about how far we had come since those early days.

I remembered the thrill of our first battles, the countless hours spent perfecting moves, and the camaraderie that had grown stronger with each passing challenge. Max had always been determined, and seeing him now, training with such focus and skill, filled me with pride. He had grown so much, not just as a trainer but as a person.

Yet, the frustration of the media circus still lingered in my mind. Every time we thought we had a moment of peace, another reporter would find us, asking the same repetitive questions. They were more interested in Max's connection to Ash than in Max's own accomplishments. It irked me to no end. Max deserved recognition for his own hard work, not just as Ash's mentee.

I glanced over at Slakoth, who was lazily swiping at a training dummy under Bulbasaur's watchful eye. Max had taken to training him with patience and care, understanding the unique rhythm of Slakoth's movements. I knew Max saw potential in every Pokémon, no matter how slow or seemingly unmotivated. It was one of his greatest strengths as a trainer.

As I watched Max work with his Pidgeot, practicing Mega Evolution, I felt a surge of determination. We had to keep pushing forward, keep proving ourselves. I knew Max had big plans, and I was ready to support him every step of the way. The media could hound us all they wanted, but they couldn't take away our victories or our spirit.

Max's bond with his Pokémon was something special. It was a connection built on mutual respect and trust. Watching him train, I could see the same fire in his eyes that Ash had during his own journey. It was a fire that drove him to be the best, not just for himself but for his Pokémon too. As Max and Pidgeot completed another successful Mega Evolution, I saw Ash nodding in approval. It was moments like these that reminded me why we kept pushing forward. It wasn't about fame or recognition. It was about the love of the journey, the thrill of the battles, and the bonds we forged along the way.

I looked around the garden, my gaze stopping when I saw Ash's Sceptile and Meganium chatting happily with their son, Max's Meganium. Despite Max's Meganium's too-cool attitude, he adored his parents and always wanted to make them proud. The sight made me smile, knowing how much it meant to him to have their approval.

I continued scanning the garden until I noticed Charizard sulking in a corner. Intrigued, I made my way towards him. Charizard was grumbling, ignoring the teasing from Noctowl and Squirtle. His orange scales glinted in the sunlight, but his expression was dark, a clear sign that something was bothering him.

"Charizard, what's wrong?" I asked, my voice gentle but curious.

Charizard growled in response, smoke billowing from his nose and throat in his anger. I took a step back, startled by his intensity. Noctowl and Squirtle, however, just laughed, unfazed by Charizard's outburst.

"Oh, come off it, old chap," Noctowl said in his proper Glarian accent, a playful glint in his eyes. "You're just cross because you didn't get to have a go at either Trip or Paul, aren't you?"

Squirtle nodded, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Yeah, you're just a battle-hungry dragon who's annoyed about missing out on the fun."

Understanding dawned on me as Charizard's growl deepened. He was upset about not having been chosen to fight in Ash's last two battles as a Battle Frontier Brain against Trip and Paul. The realization made me chuckle despite myself.

"You really are something, Charizard," I said, shaking my head. "Always itching for a fight."

Charizard huffed, flames briefly flickering at the corners of his mouth. His battle spirit was legendary, and his frustration made perfect sense now. I swore to myself, for what felt like the hundredth time, that I would never allow Max to catch a Dragon-type. Even those who only became a Dragon-type through Mega Evolution, like Charizard, were insane.

"Dragons and their battles," I muttered under my breath. "It would drive me mad."

Noctowl fluttered closer, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Oh, Gallade, don't be such a spoil-sport. A little madness keeps things interesting, don't you think?"

Squirtle burst into laughter, nearly falling over. "Yeah, Gallade, lighten up. Who knows? Maybe a little Dragon insanity is just what your team needs."

I couldn't help but laugh at their antics, even if the idea of having a Dragon-type on the team still seemed like a nightmare. Charizard finally relaxed a bit, his anger dissipating in the face of our lighthearted teasing.

"Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in mock surrender. "Maybe there's something to be said for a little chaos. But I still think I'll pass on the Dragon-types, thank you very much."

Charizard let out a low rumble, a sound that was almost a laugh. His mood had lightened considerably, and I felt a sense of relief. It was moments like these that reminded me how much I cared about our little family, quirks and all.

With a final nod to Charizard, I made my way back to Max. He glanced up and smiled, a look of determination in his eyes. I knew we had a long road ahead, but I also knew that, with our team by our side, there was nothing we couldn't face.

"Ready for another round?" Max asked, his voice filled with excitement.

"Always," I replied, my own resolve firm.

Together, we would continue to grow, to challenge ourselves, and to face whatever came our way. Because at the end of the day, it was our bond that truly made us strong.