Chapter 113: Reunion With a Bang

A few days after Brock's wedding, our heroes were back on the move again. This time, they were headed to Unova for Ash's next World Coronation Series battle.

"So Ash, you say you've met your next opponent before?"

"Met her? I traveled with her when I was in Unova! We may have argued a lot, but she's one of my best friends. I didn't even know she was competing until I got the notification."

"Iris uses Dragon Types, doesn't she?" Lillie asked.

"Yep! She wants to be a Dragon-type master."

Attention folks, this is your captain speaking. We are now beginning our descent into Castelia City. Please make sure your tray tables are folded, and that your seats are in the upright position. Thank you for flying Unova Airlines!

"Alright! I can't wait to see Iris again!"

"Pika!"

At last, the plane landed, and the quartet set foot on Unova soil.

"So, what's the best way to get to Opelucid City?" Lillie asked. Goh took out his Rotom Phone and checked the bus schedule.

"It says there's a bus leaving in ten minutes for Opelucid, and it'll take about an hour. I say that's our best bet."

"Well, I say we start hiking!" Ash said with a broad smile. "Nothing against public transport, but nothing beats fresh air!"

"Ordinarily, I'd agree," Lillie interrupted. "But you have a match to get to, and we don't know what'll happen."

"Lillie's right," Chloe said. "What if Team Rocket pops up? Do you really want to waste time dealing with them?"

Ash chuckled, and saw their point.

"Yeah, I guess that's fair. To the bus stop!"

But before they could go, Goh saw a shiny Braviary flying overhead.

"Woah, look at that! I've got to catch it!"

"Goh, what about the bus?"

"Don't worry, I'll catch up! This will be real quick!"

"That's what you always say!"

But Goh was already too far ahead to hear her. Chloe sighed, and shook her head.

"I'd better go after him. You guys go on ahead, we'll catch another bus."

With that, she took off after her boyfriend, leaving Ash and Lillie alone.

"Some things never change."

"No they do not."

Goh scanned the treeline, searching for the Shiny Braviary.

"Come on, where are you?"

Just then, he saw movement up in the trees. Looking upwards, he saw a flash of white among the branches. He wasn't sure if it was the Braviary, but he knew it had to be a Pokemon of some sort.

"Oh yeah, you're mine! Pokeball, go!"

The Pokeball soared out of his hand and struck the Pokemon dead center. But instead of capturing it, it instead knocked it off the branch.

"Ow! What was that for?"

To Goh's surprise, and embarrassment, the Pokemon wasn't a Pokemon at all. Instead, it was a girl with purple hair in pigtails, not nursing the bump on her head.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I saw a shiny Braviary, and when I saw you in the tree I thought you were a Pokemon, and…"

The girl waved off his rambling.

"Eh, you wouldn't be the first one to think that."

"Again, I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it! I should've tied myself to the tree."

Just then, the girl checked the time on her phone, and before Goh could say anything else she began to hurry away.

"Oh my gosh, I forgot the time! I need to get back to the gym!"

"Wait!"

"Sorry, no time!"

"Can you at least tell me your name?"

"I'm Iris! Later!"

And with that, Iris disappeared, leaving a very confused Goh. Just then, Chloe came running up.

"There you are! Did you catch it?"

"No."

"Are you alright? What happened?"

"I have no idea."

An hour later, Ash and Lillie arrived in Opelucid City, and made their way to the gym.

"So this is the Opelucid Gym?" Lillie said aloud, marveling at the statues. "They sure do love their dragons."

Just then, an Axew came sprinting into view.

"Aw, an Axew! So cute!"

The Axew heard Lillie's compliment, and clapped his claws happily.

"I bet you're Iris's Axew aren't you? Where is she?"

But Axew just tilted his head curiously.

"Ah, there you are, Axew! I was wondering where you ran off to."

Just then, Drayden came into view, scooping Axew up into his arms before turning his attention to Ash and Lillie.

"Ah, Ash, long time no see. Good to see you."

"Hi, Drayden!"

"And you must be Lillie. Iris told me a lot about you."

He shook Lillie's hand, the girl cringing as his strong grip.

"It's an honor to meet you as well, Mr. Drayden."

"Excuse me Drayden, but where's Iris? She doesn't usually let Axew wander off on his own."

At this Drayden, chuckled.

"Oh, this is my Axew. I caught him just the other week. As for Iris, she's waiting in the gym for you. Follow me."

Curious, Ash and Lillie followed Drayden into the gym, where they found Iris waiting for them. But instead of her usual outfit, she was dressed in a regal robe, with her hair done up.

"Ash, Lillie! Welcome!"

"Hi Iris, it's good to see you again!"

"Are you ready for our battle?"

Iris giggled.

"I am, but you should know I'm not the same Iris that you used to know."

"Oh really? And why's that?"

"Because I'm now the Champion of Unova!"

Ash's jaw dropped.

"Wow, really?"

"Yep! After I saw you become Champion, it inspired me so much that I came home and took on the Unova League! It was a long and hard battle, but my team and I managed to pull through and beat Alder!"

"Wow, that's awesome! It just makes me want to battle you even more!"

"Glad to hear it! But Ash, there's something I wanted to ask you. I saw from your other matches that you caught a Dragonite. You didn't happen to bring her with you, did you?"

Before Ash could answer, Dragonite popped out of her Pokeball and grabbed Iris in a big hug. Iris said nothing for a minute, too shocked to speak…

Before eagerly returning the hug with one just as big.

"Oh my, she's even cuter than she looks on TV! And cuddly, too!"

"Kairyu!"

Ash and Lillie chuckled, amused by the two's mutual excitement. Just then, Goh and Chloe burst into the gym, out of breath.

"We didn't miss it, did we?"

"Why is Dragonite hugging some girl?"

"Hey wait a minute, I remember you!"

"Hey, you're that guy who hit me with a Pokeball!"

"I said I was sorry!"

Everyone laughed, and properly introduced Goh and Chloe to Iris.

"I hate to interrupt," Drayden butted in, "But your match is starting soon."

This got Goh and Iris to break it up, with Iris and Ash quickly leaving to get ready. Drayden sighed, and shook his head.

"One would think becoming the champion would merit some maturity from her. Sorry for her behavior, Goh."

Goh just shrugged, and waved it off.

"It's alright, I did hit her with a Pokeball."

"Which wouldn't have happened if you weren't so obsessed with trying to find a shiny Pokemon!"

"I'm not obsessed! I just thought it'd be cool."

Lillie stayed eerily quiet, something Chloe was quick to take notice of.

"Something wrong, Lillie?"
"Ash told me Iris had a little Axew that loved to sit in her hair. When we saw Drayden's outside, we fought it was him."

"Yeah, so?"

"Where is he now?"