"So why are we headed backwards?" Rosa questioned.
"Because there are three reasons." Ash said. "One, the gym in Aspertia City."
"There was a gym in Virbank as well." Rosa reminded.
"That ones after." Ash said. "Secondly, while the next filming is in Virbank, they need to get things ready so we have some time to explore more."
"And what's third?" Rosa asked.
"The less we're in Virbank, the less you complain." Ash said.
"Not true, I just complained when you ran or went to the downtown areas." Rosa said.
"See you always complain about me running, but you aren't ever out of breath after catching up, I don't think you're as angry about everything as you let on. I think you just don't like not being in charge." Ash said.
"So what, you're in charge then?" Rosa asked.
"Nope, just saying you aren't always." Ash said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said in agreement with his trainer.
"I must say your Pokemon, it's not like any I've seen here." A boy a few years older than Ash said.
"Oh Pikachu, yeah he and I are from Kanto." Ash said.
"I know who you are very well, you're Ash Ketchum, a boy from Pallet Town with aspirations of becoming a Pokemon Master." The boy said. "I am Natural Harmonia, but you may call me N."
"It's nice to meet you N." Ash said.
"If I may, may I have a battle with you, I would like to hear what all your Pokemon say about you." N said.
"What his Pokemon say about him?" Rosa asked.
"Yes, I can hear Pikachu, it's clear the two of them are in a very balanced relationship, that through their many hardships they have overcome and formed an unbreakable bond together." N said.
"Bwarp!" Lillipup barked from Rosa's arms.
"Is that so? Very interesting. You say Rosa doesn't even know herself right now, well not to worry my sights are not on her today." N said with a smile. "So how about it Ash, do we have a battle?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Ash asked excitedly. "How many Pokemon will we both use?"
"Just one." N said, holding a Pokeball. "Come out my friend Purrloin."
"Snivy I choose you!" Ash called out.
"Purrloin use Scratch."
"Snivy use Tackle attack!"
Snivy raced forward, slamming into Purrloin as the cat like Pokemon scratched and missed.
"Perhaps we should weaken their attack so I can hear their voice more. Purrloin use Growl."
"Snivy use Tackle!"
Purrloin let out a cry that caused Pikachu and Lillipup to shiver slightly, while on the contrary Snivy pushed forward with more vigor, slamming into Purrloin harder than before.
"Wait I thought Growl lowered physical attack, but Snivy looks like they hit harder than before." Rosa said in confusion.
"Maybe it's that hidden ability of theirs." Ash said. "Now Snivy use Vine Whip!"
Two vines spiraled out of Snivy's shoulders, snapping at Purrloin and knocking out the cat like Pokemon.
"Sniv." Snivy said proudly.
"Very interesting, perhaps there is more to you than what meets the eye." N said.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"Your goal is to become a Pokemon Master which means using your Pokemon in a combat sport, and yet Snivy tells me that you all but risked your life for them." N said.
"Oh, yeah that was just what anyone would have done." Ash said.
"Not anyone, you truly are unique Ash, I look forward to future encounters with you." N said with a wave as he picked up the Purrloin.
"So that was weird right?" Rosa asked.
"He was just another trainer, nothing weird about that." Ash said.
"He said he was talking to our Pokemon." Rosa pointed out.
"Yeah and I know a witch, what's your point?" Ash asked.
"I'm serious, that guy was weird!" Rosa said in exasperation.
"So am I. She turned me into a Pikachu for like a week." Ash countered. "I still taste electricity when it's about to rain."
"Yeah, that might be another issue." Rosa commented. "But you didn't think that guy was weird at all?"
"No, I mean a bit off, sure, but weird is a very relative term." Ash said. "Now let's just focus on getting back to Aspertia City."
"You know, Stu Deeoh knew you and so did that Natural guy, did you really do that well in the Sinnoh League?" Rosa asked.
"Oh yeah, top four, I was up against some of the toughest trainers I've ever faced, and I held nothing back, even bringing most of my Pokemon back into rotation for the battles." Ash said.
"And that Tobias name?" Rosa asked.
"He was on everyone's radar early." Ash said, remembering having heard about him from Barry. "The rest of u are having 3 on 3 battles, each pulling out all three, a few luckier trainers getting away with just two, but not him. Tobias and his Darkrai were pegged by a lot of people as the winner of the tournament early on." Ash said.
"And you were supposed to fight him?" Rosa asked.
"Supposed to, did, and made a good effort." Ash said. "I brought in Pokemon from several of my journeys even learning new moves and tactics just to counter his Darkrai."
"But it wasn't enough." Rosa said.
"Almost. I managed to beat his Darkrai with my Sceptile, and then with just Swellow and Pikachu I also took out his Latios." Ash said.
"But that's not enough, is it?" Rosa asked.
"Exactly, even with having beaten more of his Pokemon than any other trainer, I still ended up losing, but that's the rules, a full battle is six Pokemon against six Pokemon, even if he only had two going into that fight, legally he won." Ash said. "So what about you?"
"What about me?" Rosa asked.
"Well like I was saying before we saw N, a lot of you doesn't add up, I mean you said your mom was an agent for a member of the Lillipups, and don't get me wrong I'm not questioning that, you had enough merch to prove the connection, but you also own a Lillipup, and despite hating running you aren't out of breath." Ash said, deep in thought.
"What's your point?" Rosa asked.
"I think that someone in your family is one of those girls." Ash said.
"What, don't be ridiculous." Rosa said.
"I've got it!" Ash exclaimed. "You have an older sister that's the leader of the group and you wanted to join!"
"What." Rosa said deadpanned.
"It makes perfect sense!" Ash said. "You know two of my old traveling companions May and Max, they might not always have gotten along, but when May went on her journey, Max did want to join and do a lot of the things we all did, even borrowing some of May's Pokemon for them, I'm guessing you and your sister are the same way!"
"Yeah, you got me." Rosa said with a sigh of relief.
"Man, I hope we can meet them on our travels, that would be great right." Ash said with a smile.
"Yeah great." Rosa said.
"You know I bet if you work together with Lillipup you could even go on stage with them!" Ash said with a smirk.
"Yeah, I doubt that." Rosa said.
"Have faith, I mean if you don't try you'll never know." Ash said. "And look we're almost back to Aspertia City, race you to the Pokemon School!"
"Ash, wait up!" Rosa exclaimed, chasing after her rather forced friend.