I finally found myself with some quiet time in my lab, surrounded by books, papers, and my trusty Pokémon partners. It was a welcome change of pace after the whirlwind of events that had recently unfolded.

With Paul and Trip having already gotten my prints and the media's attention diverted to what was happening in Alola, things had finally calmed down around me. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

As I sat at my desk, flipping through research notes and jotting down new ideas, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Don't get me wrong, I thrive on being the center of attention, but after my work being published, my personal life had become quite chaotic. Sometimes a bit of peace and quiet is exactly what I need to focus on my work.

My Pokémon were scattered around the lab, some napping lazily in the sunbeams streaming through the windows, while others pored over books and charts with me, their sharp eyes catching details that I might have missed.

I glanced out the window, watching the gentle sway of the trees in the breeze. It was moments like these that reminded me why I became a Pokémon researcher in the first place. The thrill of discovery, the joy of unraveling the mysteries of the Pokémon world—it was all here, waiting for me to explore.

Hours later, I was taking a much-needed break in my lab, sipping on a cup of tea and enjoying the quiet when Dawn came to visit. She flopped down in a chair with a sigh, looking frazzled and tired.

"Hey, Dawn," I said, setting my tea down. "What brings you here?"

Dawn let out a long groan. "Oh, Gary, I just needed to get away from Paul for a bit. He's been driving me crazy with all his training lately."

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Training for what?"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "For those stupid prints, of course. Ever since Trip caught up to Paul's count of four prints after earning his Arcade Prints, Paul's been in a frenzy. Now the two of them have Factory Prints, Lab Prints, Castle Prints, Tower Prints, and Arcade Prints. And let me tell you, Paul is not happy about it."

I couldn't help but chuckle at Dawn's exasperated tone. "Sounds intense."

Dawn nodded, taking a sip of her tea. "You have no idea. Paul's rivalry with Trip is pushing him to want to get ahead, but it's driving me mad. I love him and his dedication, but sometimes he takes it too far."

I nodded sympathetically, understanding where she was coming from. "I get it. Sometimes a little competition can be healthy, but it sounds like Paul's taking it to the extreme."

Dawn sighed, leaning back in her chair. "Exactly. It's like he's on a mission to catch 'em all or something."

I couldn't help but laugh at her Pokémon catchphrase reference. "Well, you know Paul. Once he sets his mind to something, he doesn't stop until he gets it."

Dawn grinned, shaking her head. "That's for sure. But sometimes I wish he'd take a break and relax for a bit."

I smiled, amused by Dawn's frustration but also touched by her concern for Paul. "Well, you're always welcome here to vent if you need to."

"Thanks, Gary. You're the best." Dawn sighed, looking grateful. Then her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she exclaimed. "By the way, I won my fifth ribbon in a double contest, Gary!"

I leaned in, eager to hear all the details. "A double contest? That's awesome! Tell me more."

"It was incredible, Gary! I used Pachirisu and Mamoswine for the Appeal Round," Dawn explained, her voice filled with excitement. "We performed a stunning combination of moves. Pachirisu dazzled the audience with a flashy Discharge while Mamoswine followed up with a powerful Ice Fang. The combination of electricity and ice was so dynamic!"

I grinned, impressed by her strategy. "That sounds amazing! And I bet it looked spectacular in front of the judges."

Dawn nodded eagerly. "It did! The audience was cheering like crazy, and the judges were really impressed. The Ice Chandelier is always a crowd pleaser!"

She continued, "And then, for the Battle Rounds, I decided to go with Pidgeot and Piplup. Pidgeot started with a powerful Aerial Ace, while Piplup followed up with a dazzling Bubble Beam. We had so much fun, Gary!"

I nodded, picturing the scene in my mind. "I can imagine! You and your Pokémon make a fantastic team."

Dawn's face lit up with pride as she recounted the final battle. "And you won against Zoey, right?" I asked, knowing how tough Zoey could be in contests.

"Yeah!" Dawn exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "It was a tough battle, but we pulled through. Pidgeot's Brave Bird and Piplup's Hydro Pump were unstoppable! We gave it our all, and in the end, we came out on top."

"That's incredible, Dawn," I said, genuinely impressed. I couldn't help but feel a swell of pride for Dawn. Beating Zoey in a contest was no small feat, and it was clear that Dawn had put in a lot of hard work and dedication to come out victorious. "You and your Pokémon should be really proud."

Dawn beamed at my words, her excitement contagious. "Thanks, Gary! I am proud. And I couldn't have done it without the support of my Pokémon and my friends."

We spent the rest of the break chatting and sipping our tea, we parted ways when the sun set and the moon rose. Back at home, at the Champion Tower, I couldn't help but smile as I entered the kitchen, following the delicious aroma that filled the air. There, I found Ash, moving around with practiced ease, pots and pans clanging as he prepared dinner for us.

I watched silently, leaning against the doorway, as Ash expertly chopped vegetables, seasoned meat, and stirred sauces. He moved with a grace and confidence that came from years of experience, and it was clear that he was in his element. He was Delia Ketchum's son after all.

Ash flipped sizzling steaks on the skillet, their savory scent filling the room. Then, he moved on to sautéing vegetables in a pan, the colorful mix sizzling and popping as they cooked. Next, Ash carefully tended to a simmering pot of soup, adding herbs and spices with precision. The aroma of the soup filled the kitchen, making my stomach growl in anticipation. Afterward, he whipped up a salad, tossing fresh greens with a homemade vinaigrette.

Throughout it all, Ash wore a look of concentration, his brow furrowed in focus. But there was also a hint of joy in his eyes, a sense of satisfaction that came from creating something delicious from scratch.

As the dishes came together, Ash's movements became more fluid, more confident. He plated the food with care, arranging each dish with an artist's touch. And finally, with a flourish, he called out, "Dinner's ready!"

I grinned as I took my seat at the table, eagerly digging into the feast that Ash had prepared. The flavors exploded on my tongue, each bite more delicious than the last. "Wow, Ashy, this is amazing," I said between mouthfuls, genuine admiration in my voice.

Ash beamed, clearly pleased with the praise. "Thanks, Gary! I'm glad you like it."

As we ate, Ash and I fell into conversation, discussing recent events in the Pokémon world. The topic of Alola came up, and we talked about the darkness that had threatened the region and how Ash had helped save the day.

"Man, Alola was intense," Ash said, his expression serious as he remembered the recent events.

I nodded in agreement, recalling the darkness that had threatened the region. "Yeah, those Ultra Beasts were no joke."

Ash's face darkened as he continued, "And don't even get me started on Necrozma. That thing was like something out of a nightmare."

I shivered, remembering the battles Ash had told me about. "But you managed to stop it, right?"

Ash smiled modestly, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes. "Yeah, with a little help from everyone else too. Teamwork makes the dream work, right?"

I chuckled, knowing that Ash always liked to downplay his role in saving the day. "For sure. But still, you were the one who led the charge."

As we talked, Ash began to recount the tactics he had used to defeat Necrozma and the Ultra Beasts. "I had to think on my feet and adapt to the situation," Ash explained, his eyes gleaming with determination. "But having five Legendary Pokémon plus the Guardians of Alola and Lunala by my side definitely came in handy."

I nodded, impressed by Ash's tactical prowess. "It sounds like you had a solid plan in place."

Ash grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. "Yeah, I had to make use of every resource available to me. And in the end, it paid off."

After dinner, we moved to the living room to enjoy a cup of tea, the warm glow of the fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. As we sipped our tea, the conversation turned to Galar and the recent developments there.

"You know, Gary, I've been hearing some pretty concerning things about Chairman Rose," Ash said, his brow furrowed in thought.

I raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh? What kind of things?"

Ash leaned forward, his expression serious. "Well, my Ghost Team in Galar has been keeping an eye on things, and they've discovered that Chairman Rose has some sketchy research going on that no one knows anything about."

I frowned, feeling a sense of unease settle in the pit of my stomach. "That doesn't sound good. What kind of research?"

Ash shrugged, his expression troubled. "No one knows for sure. But whatever it is, it's got my team worried. Knowing my luck, it has something to do with Legendaries. I really need to study more about the lore of Galar, I've got no idea about what kind of Legendary Pokémon they have."

We fell into a thoughtful silence, the implications of Ash's words sinking in. If Chairman Rose was up to something shady, it could put the students of Naranja Academy in danger. "Do you think we should tell the students not to travel to Galar in the meantime?" I asked, voicing the question that had been weighing on my mind.

Ash sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Gary. On one hand, I don't want to take any chances with their safety. But on the other hand, if we alert Chairman Rose that we're onto him, it could make things even more dangerous."

I nodded in agreement, understanding the dilemma. "It's a tough call. We want to protect the students, but we also don't want to tip our hand too soon."

"Yeah, I know. I just wish there was an easy answer." Ash sighed again, his shoulders slumping with the weight of the decision. "Things used to be so easy, fight off Team Rocket and then go to earn more gym badges. Now I've got Champions come to request my aid, because somehow I've become the expert on spying on political figures and bringing down criminal syndicates."

We sat in silence for a moment, lost in thought. Eventually, I spoke up, breaking the quiet. "Well, whatever we decide, we'll make sure to do it together," I said firmly, meeting Ash's gaze with determination.

Ash nodded, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "Thanks, Gary. I'm glad I have you by my side."

With that, we finished our tea in silence, the decision weighing heavily on our minds. But as we sat together in the warmth of the firelight, I knew that no matter what the future held, Ash and I would face it together.