Pokémon Gray

by Carlos Shiny

Pokémon Gray. What if Ash had never traveled to Unova before now? Ash, now eighteen and strongest trainer in the world, wants to take an important step in his journey to become a Pokémon Master. It's not about participating in another Pokémon League Tournament or defeating other champions, but doing something new and completely different.

12. Sparks fly

Hello, I am Reshiram Lego, your expert in anything you can imagine, and today I will continue the story of my colleague Metagross. Enjoy the reading (you will make fine little piggies)...

During a day of rest, our heroes decided to visit the Amon factory, taking advantage of the prize Ash and Anita won at the Nacrene City Tournament.

During a tour of Castelia City, they met Asami Amon, daughter of the current president of the company. And they would discover a truth that would be very hard to accept, especially for the girl they had just met.

Sparks flying.

A few days after Hiroshi Amon's arrest, our heroes, being eyewitnesses and directly involved in the events at the Nacrene City Tournament, had to attend the trial of the magnate.

The courtroom was huge, to accommodate the large number of journalists and press personnel to broadcast the trial and not miss a single moment.

A tall bench towered at the back of the room, with the judge's seat elevated in the center. Next to it, lower down, were the witness stands, occupied by Ash and his friends, including Asami.

In front of them were the lawyers' benches, both for those who would try to defend Hiroshi Amon and those defending Burgh.

Hiroshi, escorted by two Agents and handcuffed, stood with the lawyers who would defend him, as did Burgh.

Even though the trial had not yet begun, several photographers had already started taking pictures; the arrest of one of Unima's most powerful and influential industrialists would dominate the front pages for days.

Through the door, the judge entered, a man in his sixties with a gray wig and hazel eyes. He had a squared nose and wore the uniform that distinguished his role. It was black with a kind of white handkerchief on his chest.

The man sat on his chair behind the elevated bench, took the judge's gavel, and began the session.

A policewoman started reading a paper she held: «Ladies and gentlemen, today we are gathered here to determine if Mr. Hiroshi Amon, aged fifty-five, owner of the transportation manufacturing company Amon, widower, and sole guardian of his daughter Asami Amon, aged seventeen, is a collaborator of the notorious Team Plasma, an organization created to liberate all trainers' Pokémon, accused of two kidnappings and a terrorist attack. Presiding is Judge Christian JunGrew from Castelia City.» The judge thanked the policewoman and began reading another paper: «Thank you, Officer Jenny... it is alleged that Mr. Amon collaborated with Team Plasma for a long time in complete secrecy, without his employees being aware in any way... Mr. Amon, do you confirm the Prosecution's statements?» Mr. Amon looked into his daughter's eyes for a second. Those beautiful eyes she had inherited from her mother... and his friends, sitting at the desk in front. He knew very well that they, including his daughter, were key witnesses to his initial confession in the secret room. They would step in if necessary.

«No, I have never done such a thing; they may have bought some of our pickups or other work vehicles, but nothing more. After all, we all know that money doesn't stink!» At these words, Ash tried to contain all the anger he felt inside: «That's a lie! He's been working with them for a long time; he confessed to us yesterday. Why don't we try to get this over with as quickly as possible? We fought against his combat robots!» Ash took a breath. He was starting to lose his composure.

The judge sighed:«As expected... let's hear from the defense attorney, Mr. Deramoshi Musumeci.»

The lawyer sitting next to Mr. Hiroshi was a man in his thirties, with blue hair styled in a peculiar way. His eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. He was dressed in a suit and tie. Before standing up, he took off his brown coat.

«Thank you very much, Your Honor. So, first of all, good morning to everyone. Today I will prove that Mr. Hiroshi is completely innocent, and I will do so through a few testimonies from those present, and I would really like to ask a few things from his daughter, Asami Amon.»

The girl, feeling challenged, went and sat at the confession table to answer the defense lawyer's questions. Anita couldn't hide her concern.

«Miss Asami, I imagine your father has always treated you well? He always gave you everything you needed, am I right?»

«Well… in part.»

The lawyer was surprised by the girl's answer and grew curious: «And what part would that be? Could it have been some sweets?» Asami kept calm and replied:«Actually, the only thing I lacked was Pokémon. He always told me he kept me away from Pokémon because of what happened with my mother...»

The lawyer then dismissed Asami, who returned to Resunho Giron's side.

Attorney Musumeci called Anita to the stand. He wanted to ask her a question he deemed very important.

«Miss Anita White... I see that you're a Trainer, you even won a tournament in Zeph... excuse me, I bit my tongue... in Nacrene City.» At that moment, the girl shrank and simply said:«Eeeh... yes... certainly... I was paired with Ash and...»

The lawyer then went aggressively at the girl: «Are you so sure that the person you found and followed wasn't Mr. Amon? Are you absolutely sure it wasn't, I don't know, a double, a copy, a clone, a big fan, or even that famous Legendary Pokémon that can become anything?»

Anita began to feel embarrassed, shrinking even more than she already was, but despite this, she managed to speak after

a quick glance at Serena, who tried to encourage her, as if to say, "Don't worry, you just have to say what you saw. Nothing more."

The girl tried to say something. «But... but of course... I-I'm absolutely sure... that it was... Mr. Amon... who else could have robots?... I-I don't... think... He had the robots.»

The lawyer pounced again: «From your response, it sounds like a big lie and that you're not sure of what you're saying. You're speaking completely incoherently!»

Inside Ash, a storm was about to break. He was about to rage in front of everyone, like a Vigoroth, as soon as someone dares to trespass on its territory. Serena tried to calm him down, with help from Pikachu, and they were fairly successful.

Resunho then snapped like a spring: «Objection! The girl is just shy, and that's why she responded that way!»

The judge said: «Objection sustained! Mr. Musumeci, please refrain from being too aggressive with your questions.»

«My apologies, Your Honor.» the lawyer said:«I've finished, Your Honor.»

Resunho silently rejoiced: «You both did great. My colleague can be a bit aggressive at times, but as long as you know your clients well and object, bam! It all works out.»

Carlos thanked the man:«Thanks for helping Anita.» The lawyer replied:«I'm just doing my duty. Now, excuse me, but we need to uncover the truth.»

Ash once again asked for permission to speak, and after receiving it, he said: «Amon's villa had a secret passage, hidden under the tool shed. There were also traps to keep out intruders. The robots Anita mentioned were combat robots built by him. And with one of them, he even threw me against the wall.»

The boy explained.

Shortly after, with the judge's permission, Serena also spoke: «He was knocked out by how hard he was thrown against the wall. I had to help him get back on his feet. We took him to the emergency room after Amon's arrest.»

The girl passed the floor to Attorney Resunho, who had the papers describing the injuries the boy had sustained.

Before the trial, he had spent a considerable amount of time analyzing them: «Based on the diagnosis, given the injuries sustained and the symptoms described, there are grounds for the crime of attempted murder. According to what's written here, if it hadn't been a perfectly healthy person, the injuries could have been fatal.»

Hiroshi's lawyer raised an objection, which was accepted by the judge. «What guarantees that his injuries weren't caused by something else, like training or a fall?» At that moment, Resunho's lawyer pulled a thick metal plate from his bag. It was partially blackened, and the edges were so damaged that it clearly showed the immense force that had struck it. «This plate belonged to one of the robots, destroyed during the battle. There's a stamp with the Amon logo on it.»

«This proves nothing! It could have been tampered with. The same goes for the photos taken of those robots that I have here in my hand. What guarantees that they were built by my client and not from somewhere else?»

Resunho immediately responded to Hiroshi's defense lawyer's question: «Additionally, we conducted spectrophotometer analysis. The chemical formula matches exactly with the special steel patented by his company. If there had been a leak, he would have had every reason to report the theft of his intellectual property.» Hiroshi, after a quick consultation with his lawyer, remained silent.

Shortly afterward, Asami asked for permission to speak, which was quickly granted by the judge. «As far as I can remember, every time there were "important guests," you always made me go to my room. Or, since I've grown up, you would always invite my friends over to make me go out. Naturally, always with a bodyguard watching us.» She testified.

The judge then allowed Hiroshi to defend himself. «Yes. I admit I had important clients. Big deals. Nothing that should have concerned you.» He tried to defend himself. «As a child, you were pretty good, but I didn't want my clients to be disturbed. Then, when you grew up... don't tell me you minded going out with your friends...» The man tried to justify himself. Resunho stood up and called Asami's father as a witness to wrap up the trial more quickly. «Mr. Amon, your daughter previously mentioned your late wife and that, for reasons still unknown to us, she was unable to experience the affection of Pokémon. Is this why you secretly joined Team Plasma? And why did you hire a bodyguard for your daughter? Are you aware that such behavior is not permitted without a judge's authorization?»

«Yet my plan was perfect!» The man, under pressure, began his confession. «Your mother's memory had to be preserved. I couldn't just stand by after her death. Trainers are cruel. They literally enslave their Pokémon and hurt them. They don't care about their well-being. And if a wild Pokémon gets in their way, they have no qualms about hunting it down. Like what happened with Kara. She was mistaken by that Pokémon for one of her captors when she only wanted to help. Losing her destroyed me. And that's when I realized what the right choice was for both humans and Pokémon. Starting with my daughter. That's why I didn't want you to become a Trainer... like... like them. That's why I hired a bodyguard. I didn't want her secretly associating with Trainers. Apparently, it wasn't enough.» The man turned to the four of them.

«I continued sponsoring tournaments and performances with my company, and I tried to behave well toward you... Trainers. I tried to present myself as good to you... and I succeeded, but you... you...» The man's tone grew increasingly accusatory. «You are brainwashing my beloved daughter! You are trying to convince her that humans and Pokémon should be together! That battles and performances are ethical.» The man paused in silence.

The lawyer urged him to say more: «You are part of Team Plasma. And Team Plasma is accused of several charges, including an attack during a tournament sponsored by your company and two kidnappings.» The man froze. «I don't know what you're talking about.» He tried to justify himself. A policewoman requested permission to add some details obtained from his earlier confession, which was granted. «It was clever of you to try to hide the ownership of the building from the CEA. But it only took a more thorough search to discover that you were the owner. It was just as clever of you to have the building emptied.» The officer turned to the magnate.

«I don't know what you're talking about. I am part of Team Plasma, but that's not a crime. Associations aren't banned here. But I don't know what kidnappings or attacks you're referring to. I bought that building for my daughter. It was supposed to be the center of the Amon branch she would have used for the innovations she would have brought. As per family tradition.» The man tried to justify himself.

«Sure, we might even believe you, but the kidnapping victim is here with you.» The officer replied, pointing to Ash, who spoke with the judge's permission. «It was an old building; it almost looked like an office building. They locked me in the apartment on the top floor.» Explained the boy. «I don't know where it was, but that's how it was.» He added.

«I'd say that's more than enough evidence to accuse you.» The judge's tone left no room for argument.

«My plan was meticulously detailed. Burgh was the perfect target. But what am I saying, perfect! He was destined to be it.» The confession continued. «When you and your friends participated in the Nacrene City Tournament, I immediately knew you would win and that I would meet you. And that you would visit my factory. I had put guided tours up as a prize. Then, when you...» The man turned to Ash. «And Burgh had my workers arrested, I realized I had to act. I managed to bribe the guard responsible for his warehouse's security. It wasn't hard. A good sum of money was enough to ensure his cooperation. This way, Team Plasma's materials could be brought in without anyone saying a word. I quickly emptied my building. Then, when I saw Team Plasma's pickups, among other things, vehicles produced by a competitor of Amon, heading toward his warehouse, I went to report it. I pretended not to know who owned the building. By reporting the presence of Team Plasma members, I would have been above all suspicion. In fact, I would have been seen as a hero. The one who helped defeat Team Plasma.» The man explained.

«With Amon's funds and expertise, we would have created an army of combat robots that would have made us unbeatable. They are true marvels, capable of surpassing the strength of any Pokémon. We would have even convinced the most reluctant Trainers to change their minds.» The man concluded his confession.

«Mr. Burgh, do you confirm that you purchased a warehouse, as Mr. Hiroshi has stated?» The Gym Leader, without losing his composure, recounted his version of events. «First of all, I would like to thank Ash. He never doubted my innocence, and that gave me hope every day that I would eventually be free. Yes. I admit to having bought a warehouse to store many of my works. A Gym Leader is required to maintain the decorum of their Gym. The law is clear. That's why I bought that warehouse. Once the works were transferred, I could organize exhibitions or something similar. To prevent theft, until I could install a surveillance system, I hired guards.» He explained. «Gym Leaders have several obligations, including maintaining the decorum of their Gym and ensuring that every challenger is treated fairly, regardless of everything.» Added Mr. Resunho.

«That will be enough... Ladies and gentlemen, in light of what has been said, I, Jungrew Christian, sixty-two years old, residing in Castelia City, hereby sentence Mr. Amon Hiroshi, fifty-five years old, now former owner of Amon, to forty years in prison for the following reasons:

Collaboration with a criminal organization, specifically Team Plasma, denial of a minor's freedom, corruption, slander, attempted murder, and collaboration in two kidnappings.

According to the provisions regarding minors, until the minor comes of age, all assets will be managed by the person granted custody of the said minor.»

Therefore, until Miss Asami Amon reaches adulthood, I entrust her legal guardianship to her brother, Nagasa Amon, aged forty-seven, currently unemployed without a wife or children, along with ownership of the entire Amon stock package. I leave the task of selecting a new President to the board of directors. I decree that a consultant, appointed by the Minister of Industry, will guide the President in making the right decisions to minimize or eliminate potential repercussions on the employees.

As all charges against him have been dropped, Gym Leader Burgh is now a free man. It will be the responsibility of the Pokémon League Association to reinstate him as Gym Leader. The court is adjourned. Have a good day, everyone.»

The judge then struck the gavel three times to mark the end of the sentence. Thus ended one of the quickest trials the Unova Justice had ever faced. After a brief round of applause, the five young people and the lawyer left the courthouse, and as they reached the stairs, Anita thanked the man:«Thank you, Mr. Giron, for objecting.» The man thanked her back:«Don't mention it, I was just doing my job.»

Shortly after, a male voice from behind interrupted their conversation:«Guys, Resunho, it's a pleasure to finally talk to you.» The lawyer joked:«Mr. new owner of Amon.» The man laughed and then said:«So, Asami, I heard how your father treated you... What do you say? Maybe you could explain the situation to me a bit better on the way; I never would have expected something like that from my brother, you know? Then we'll see what to do, now that he no longer has your legal guardianship.»

The girl agreed to his request and explained the situation to him. Fortunately, Asami's villa wasn't far from the courthouse,

so it was easy to reach, even on foot.

«Oh my goodness! I'm sorry my brother caused you all this pain. Know that I'd be happy if you had your own Pokémon and went on an adventure with your friends, if that's what you want.» Asami's eyes lit up:«Really, uncle?» The man nodded. Asami thanked him sincerely with a hug. «If you want, we can help you choose your first Pokémon.» Carlos chimed in, playing the hero. «Thanks again, guys.»

Once home, after putting away their jackets, Asami's uncle greeted Valtteri, the butler, who had just returned from his week off. «Valtteri, I imagine you've heard what happened to the master of the house, who happens to be my brother...» The butler, a man in his fifties, tall with an athletic build, very short blonde hair, and blue eyes, immediately replied:«Yes. Miss Asami told me everything this morning, just after I returned to work. I couldn't believe that Mr. Hiroshi would collaborate with them.» Nagasa smiled:«Neither could I. Anyway, his choices shouldn't ruin other people's lives. That's why you'll continue working here, don't worry. I'll be the one paying your salary.» The butler hesitated for a moment before going to inform the rest of the staff.

As expected, everyone was surprised. They all thought it was a mistake to suspect Mr. Amon, so much so that Adrian, the private chef, had prepared his favorite dish, spaghetti with meat sauce, to celebrate his presumed innocence in advance, and instead...

Luckily, his brother had the same taste in food, so lunch wasn't much of a problem.

Unfortunately, the lawyer, busy with another case, had to decline the invitation and return home to work on other documents. The six of them sat down at the table, and Asami turned on the TV to Unova 1 for the 1 o'clock news. Meanwhile, trying to act like a true gentleman, Carlos, who was seated next to Asami, sprinkled a generous amount of cheese onto her plate of pasta. (As if it were snowing.)

Asami thanked him with a giggle, causing Serena to slap her own forehead with her right hand.

After all the theatrics, the news program's opening sequence played, and a journalist with dark brown eyes, black hair, a red dress, and a necklace of sparkling beads began her speech.

«The war in... has been reported...»

After a couple of trivial news stories about the war and politics, the news they were all waiting for finally arrived. «Hiroshi Amon, owner and president of Amon, has been arrested at the age of fifty-five for secretly collaborating with Team Plasma for many years, providing them with resources and equipment. In addition to this, he faces charges of child rights denial, corruption, attempted murder, slander, and involvement in two kidnappings. Here's the report by Mary Duvalesko.»

Nagasa motioned for everyone to be silent: «This concerns us, please, absolute silence.» the man requested.

«A collaboration that lasted a long time, perhaps more than ten years, aggravated by the fact that he denied his daughter the right to be with Pokémon. "Your mother's memory had to be preserved," declared the owner of the well-known transportation company Amon, Hiroshi Amon, who was arrested this morning at the age of fifty-five, referring to his daughter Asami Amon, aged seventeen. The decisive testimonies came from the daughter herself and another trainer, Anita White, a year younger, whose responses allowed the lawyer to ask the question that shattered the man's wall of lies. This also led to the release of the Castelia City Gym Leader, Burgh.»

«We absolutely cannot ignore such a collaboration; the owner of a huge company working with Team Plasma is truly disgraceful, completely insane. Parliament is already discussing how to continue this now cold war against Team Plasma. We hope to have an answer by tonight, or at the latest, tomorrow morning. We are also considering measures to prevent other parents from abusing their power over their children.» declared Prime Minister Ferrer. One thing is certain: Team Plasma will surely try to intervene, but it is likely that this situation will cause them to lose ground. For now, they have lost one of their most important financiers and supporters.»

Asami's uncle intervened:«Let's hope they lift the restrictions. I really hope the Competitions resume and that Gym battles become accessible to an unlimited number of spectators again.»

Ash added:«I really hope so too, but there's not much we can do. We just have to wait until tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we could kill time with some training. What do you say, Anita?» The girl was surprised by Ash's enthusiasm and, not wanting to disappoint him, agreed.

Asami joined the conversation:«It's fine with me, just make sure you give it your all!» Her uncle added:«I'd love to watch this battle, but let's finish eating first, then we can go.»

After lunch, Ash and Anita positioned themselves on opposite sides of the makeshift battle field. The spectators sat on some raised benches. Unlike other times, they wouldn't be training in the courtyard but in the garden.

While Serena cheered on her two friends, Oshawott nestled between Asami's legs, having started to bond with her, much to the jealousy of his Trainer. «Now that you have two badges, we can fight a bit more seriously. It will be a three-on-three match.» Anita was pleased that Ash wanted to take things a bit more seriously.

«Good, then I know exactly who I'll start with.»

Carlos, as was customary, took on the role of referee and declared the battle open: «Let the battle...»

Before he could finish his sentence, Asami's uncle interrupted:«Wait for me, I haven't changed yet...» The man went inside for a few moments and then returned to his seat next to his niece. Instead of the elegant suit he had been wearing, he now had on a crimson red shirt paired with comfortable brown pants. «Sorry... but now we can start for real.»

Carlos resumed:«Let the battle begin!»

Anita sent out her Vivillon, while Ash chose Pikachu as his first Pokémon. The electric mouse seemed quite excited about it.

Since Burgh hadn't yet been reinstated, Ash's training plan had changed. He would focus on working with Electric- and Flying-type Pokémon.

«I'll fight with Pikachu and one of my Flying-type Pokémon. You can use three Pokémon, that's no problem for us.»

Carlos had a puzzled look on his face, wondering why Ash wanted to battle with only two Pokémon. «Camelia specializes in Electric-type Pokémon, like Emolga, Flaaffy, and Zebstrika. And from what I've heard, they're quite strong.»

To start the training, Anita sent out her Vivillon. «You go ahead first.» Ash invited her.

«Alright... Vivillon! Let's begin! Use Air Slash.» From the wings of the Scale Pokémon, a powerful azure-colored blade of air was generated, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle. «Pikachu! Dodge!» Ash ordered. The Mouse Pokémon quickly rolled to the right, standing back up smoothly. «Keep up with Air Slash!» Vivillon continued launching several blades of air, trying to hit Pikachu in every way possible, but to no avail. The Mouse Pokémon kept rolling in different directions, making it impossible for Vivillon to land a hit. «Try Swift!» The Scale Pokémon created a swarm of energy beams shaped like stars. «Defend with Iron Tail!» Ash ordered. Pikachu leaped into the air, its tail glowing white and becoming razor-sharp. The stars created by Vivillon were shattered by Pikachu's attack, exploding into a shower of sparks without causing any damage. Vivillon, exhausted from the barrage of attacks, paused to catch its breath. «Vivillon, can you keep going?» Anita sounded worried. Pikachu was clearly tougher than Aloe's Watchog. The Scale Pokémon nodded, while Pikachu prepared to dodge again. «Vivillon only knows long-range moves; fighting against a dodging opponent like Pikachu is tough. Maybe you should try something more... sandwich-like.» Ash suggested. Carlos interrupted:«Is this really the time to talk about food? We just had lunch!» Ash scratched his nose. «I think you missed the point, Carlos. I meant something else.»

Anita tried to decipher Ash's words to find a solution. «I think I get it... it could work... Vivillon, quick! Launch Swift from multiple directions!» The Scale Pokémon followed her Trainer's instructions, generating a large number of star-shaped energy beams, forcing Pikachu against a wall, with Vivillon ready to strike.

«Now, Energy Ball!» The Scale Pokémon generated a gigantic green energy sphere that resembled an eye. Pikachu shattered it with ease using a well-placed Iron Tail, causing it to explode into a cloud of dust. «I think the first phase of training is complete; now we can move on to phase two.» Ash surprised everyone.

Anita recalled Vivillon to its Poké Ball, prompting Carlos to protest:«And what am I here for, then?» Ash quieted him:«You're here to be the referee, right?» Carlos didn't quite understand Ash's plan but decided not to argue to avoid annoying him.

Pikachu was still on the field, while Anita decided to send out her Herdier. «Herdier, let's try to beat Pikachu!» As soon as the Pokémon entered the field, it activated its Intimidate ability.

«Use Dig!» Fortunately, fighting in the garden instead of the courtyard made it easy for Herdier to dig. The Pokémon was now underground, preparing to strike. Pikachu, through the vibrations in the ground, had already figured out where its opponent would emerge and was ready to attack, its cheeks sparking with electricity. Ash tried to stop him: «Let's take it easy this time.» Pikachu looked at Anita and realized Ash was right. There would be no point in a quick defeat. The Mouse Pokémon waited instead.

«Go, Herdier, now!» Anita ordered. Herdier emerged from the ground and made contact with Pikachu, sending it flying into the air. «Pikachu, land with Quick Attack!» Ash commanded. Using the momentum from the attack, Pikachu managed to land perfectly on its feet, while Herdier returned to its side of the field. Only then did Ash begin his offense. «Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!»

«Herdier, jump as high as you can!» Anita called out. The Loyalty Pokémon leaped into the air, dodging Pikachu's attack. But Ash wasn't finished: «Now use Electro Web!» From Pikachu's tail, an electric net was formed. The Mouse Pokémon quickly threw it at Herdier, trapping the Pokémon in a cage of electricity. Anita was worried: «Herdier!» Fortunately, despite being surrounded by the electric net, the Pokémon managed to get back on its feet, showing its determination.

«Use Quick Attack!» Ash ordered. «Use Baby-Doll Eyes!» Anita responded. Both Pokémon rushed toward the center of the field. They collided with great force, and due to the energy from the impact, both were pushed back. Herdier suffered more damage, while Pikachu emerged virtually unscathed.

«Keep going with Quick Attack!» Ash's style had shifted significantly from the battle with Vivillon, moving from dodging to a more offensive technique.

«Herdier, get ready with Fire Fang!» As Pikachu rapidly closed the distance, flames began to form around Herdier's teeth.

«Dodge!» The Mouse Pokémon made a quick leap, changing direction to avoid being hit.

«Pikachu, now it's time to get serious! Use Thunderbolt!» Ash commanded.

«Herdier, counter with Baby-Doll Eyes!» Anita called out. The Loyalty Pokémon ran toward its opponent, surrounded by a pink aura. Meanwhile, Pikachu had already started charging the surrounding air with powerful electric discharges. As Herdier approached Pikachu, Ash shouted:«Dodge now!» The Mouse Pokémon moved slightly to the right, making the opponent's attack miss once again.

«Alright, I'd say phase two of the training is done.» Ash declared.

Asami scratched her head. «How is Pikachu still standing? He's been battling so intensely.» Serena explained:«You see, Ash and Pikachu share a deep bond, and that makes them an almost unbeatable pair. Plus, they've been training nonstop for years, always pushing for a higher level.»

Asami was fascinated by those words. "So Pokémon can reach these levels? How amazing! I wonder if I'll ever be good enough," she thought.

«Pikachu, you did an amazing job, now you can rest.» Ash said to his longtime companion. As Pikachu returned to his Trainer's side, he wore a disappointed expression, as if to say:«What? You're benching me after just the appetizer?» Ash also complimented Anita's Pokémon: «Herdier, you did great too. You've improved a lot.»

It was time for Anita to send out her third Pokémon. Contrary to Ash's expectations, she didn't send out Oshawott, who was still basking in Asami's attention, but her Sewaddle. For the Sewing Pokémon, this was its first battle. Up until then, it had only been a spectator of its companions' battles.

«Go, Hawlucha!» From Ash's Poké Ball emerged a Pokémon about eighty centimeters tall. Its body and wings were red, while its face was aqua green, resembling a mask. The inside of its wings matched the mask's color. On top of its head were three orange tufts. Its yellow eyes were surrounded by orange rings. Its legs were mustard-colored, giving the impression that the Pokémon was wearing boots. The rest of its body was white, except for a small red tip above its mouth.

Anita, who had never seen this Pokémon before, scanned it with the Pokédex function of her Smart Rotom: «Hawlucha, the Wrestling Pokémon. Fighting and Flying type. Male. At the moment of delivering its elegant finishing move, it soars into the air using its wings. It hones this technique in the forest where it was born and raised. Known moves: Flying Press, Sky Drop, Karate Chop, X-Scissor.»

«Hawlucha, don't go too hard; Sewaddle is still a beginner.» Ash advised. The Wrestling Pokémon nodded, reassuring his Trainer. «Lucha!» he smiled.

«Hawlucha is one of the Pokémon Ash caught when we traveled together in Kalos. When he first caught him, he used to take too much time when using his Flying Press... Ah, such memories.» Carlos tried to join the conversation: «So, Ash will battle with Hawlucha? One of the Pokémon you know too? He never ceases to amaze me...»

Anita couldn't hide her concern. «Are you sure Sewaddle is a fair match for him?»

Ash reassured her: «Don't worry, Hawlucha will go easy on him. It's all under control.»

Anita wasted no time and gave a command to her Pokémon. «Sewaddle, use Tackle!»

The Pokémon started charging at her opponent, who remained still. The Wrestling Pokémon simply took the hit from her.

«Okay, now use X-Scissor!» ordered Ash.

Hawlucha's hands glowed orange as he ran towards Sewaddle.

«Stop him with String Shot!» commanded Anita. A whitish, sticky thread started to come out of the small Pokémon's mouth. Due to her lack of experience, Sewaddle's defense attempt was futile, as Hawlucha easily broke through the string. The Wrestling Pokémon gently hit his opponent, just as Ash had instructed, allowing her to continue.

«Are you okay, Sewaddle?» Anita asked, worried. The Pokémon lifted her head a bit laboriously (or should I say "labor-seed"-ly), indicating to her Trainer that she was still fine. She quickly got back on her feet, though somewhat out of breath.

«Use Bug Bite!» ordered the young Trainer.

«Hawlucha, start flying!» The Wrestling Pokémon jumped into the air, spreading his wings to gain enough lift.

Now that Hawlucha was flying high, he was practically out of reach for the small Sewaddle. Ash, being a good mentor, tried to push his friend to come up with a strategy to hit a flying Pokémon.

«Try something different. If Hawlucha is in the air, he can't be hit by moves like Tackle or Bug Bite...» he encouraged her to think.

«But distance moves can... But... Sewaddle only knows String Shot besides Tackle and Bug Bite...»

«Come on, give it a try!» Ash encouraged her.

«Alright... Let's try. Sewaddle, use String Shot.»

Anita didn't seem very confident. The Sewing Pokémon obeyed, launching a thin, sticky white thread from her mouth directly at her opponent.

«Now tell her to pull!» Ash guided her.

«You heard him, Sewaddle?» The small Pokémon pulled on the thread. Hawlucha, playing along, began gliding down towards the ground, approaching his opponent.

Once he landed, it was easy enough for Sewaddle to reach her opponent and nibble him all over.

«Battles can be so complex!» Asami was impressed both by how quickly Ash had come up with that strategy and by how Anita had executed it.

«Great job, Sewaddle! You're already amazing!» Anita complimented her Pokémon. While Sewaddle enjoyed the praise from her Trainer, Hawlucha seemed to be saying something to Pikachu. Their conversation didn't seem to be about the battle.

«Go, Sewaddle, use Tackle again!» ordered Anita.

«Hawlucha, defend with Karate Chop!» commanded Ash. Sewaddle collided with the fighter's arm with unexpected force. The two Pokémon were locked in position, pushing against each other like rugby players.

Sewaddle was determined to hit her opponent with all the power she had accumulated. Hawlucha, however, easily held her back with Karate Chop. Nevertheless, Sewaddle didn't seem ready to give up, pushing even harder than before, managing to make her opponent back up slightly.

«Let go and use Flying Press!» Ash commanded.

The Wrestling Pokémon released his hold, leaving his opponent on the ground.

«Let's try the technique we've learned. Use String Shot!» ordered the girl. Sewaddle shot a sticky stream of thread from her mouth that reached and wrapped around her opponent.

«Now pull and hit him!» Sewaddle began reeling in the thread she had just launched. By pulling, she managed to get close to her opponent and hit him square in the chest.

Hawlucha was still striking a mid-air pose. As the two Pokémon climbed higher and higher, Asami began to worry. «Oh dear! Sewaddle isn't afraid of heights, is she?»

Her uncle responded:«I don't think so. She's too focused on the battle to care about heights.»

The two Pokémon kept rising higher and higher and were about to fall when Hawlucha spread his wings, dropping Sewaddle.

«Shoot String Shot again and drag him back down with you!» The Sewing Pokémon shot another whitish string from her mouth, trapping Hawlucha and causing him to lose altitude.

«Now break free!» Ash commanded.

The Wrestling Pokémon easily tore through the thread, catching his opponent, who was now in free fall.

When Hawlucha landed, with his opponent still on his back, Ash remarked:«I'd say that's enough for a first training session. Sewaddle's got a lot of energy. If I hadn't told Hawlucha about String Shot, he probably would've lost.» Ash said as he recalled Hawlucha into his Poké Ball. «And that's the third part of the training done. We're finished for today.» Ash concluded.

Sewaddle rushed to her Trainer, celebrating her great battle.

«Aaaaaand Pikachu isn't going to battle?» Ash reassured his friend: «We're done. It was just a training session. Pikachu did what he had to do.»

Carlos raised his hands, as if surrendering. Shortly after, Oshawott tried to knock him over, making him fall to the ground as he rushed toward Sewaddle.

«Calm down, Oshawott, there's no need to run!» Anita gently scolded him. Oshawott apologized with a small nod before turning to Sewaddle. «Osha-sha (You were amazing! Keep it up, and you'll battle in a Gym for sure!)»

«Swa-Swa (Thanks! I won't let you down!)»

Anita addressed her first Pokémon: «Do you want to battle too?»

«Oshaa!» The Sea Otter Pokémon agreed and, with a twirl, positioned himself in front of his Trainer.

Carlos was surprised by this. "But wasn't the match over?" he thought, before acting almost like an auctioneer. «Okay... Who's willing to battle Oshawott?»

Asami's uncle stood up, volunteering as the challenger: «I do, I've got something interesting to show you.»

«Really? I didn't know you were a Trainer.» Asami was quite surprised.

«Yes, I only have two Pokémon, not as many as your friends, but I'll be using this little one for now!» The man stood up from the couch and faced Anita.

«Come on out, Solosis!» From the man's Poké Ball came a Pokémon resembling a cell undergoing binary fission. Its body had a round shape with a groove in the middle, suggesting the imminent division of the two cells. Its primary color was light green. It had two black eyes and a diamond-shaped red mouth shared between the two cells. On the left cell, there was a kind of yellow curl. Solosis was entirely enveloped in a special green liquid.

«Centiskorch, watch the battle!» From the man's second Poké Ball came a Pokémon with a long body divided into twelve segments. One end was the tail, while the other was the head. These two parts, along with the entire lower part of its body, were brick-red, while the segments between the tail and the head were maroon. The hook-shaped legs were the same color as the back. On its head were fiery whiskers. There was a light orange symbol resembling an exclamation mark on its head. Its eyes were electric yellow with brown, inverted triangular pupils.

Anita scanned them both with her Smart Rotom: «Solosis, the Cell Pokémon. Psychic type. Male specimen. Uses its psychic powers to repel attackers. Communicates with allies through telepathy. Known moves: Psybeam, Knock Off, Assurance, Protect.»

She then moved on to the second Pokémon: «Centiskorch, the Radiator Pokémon. Fire and Bug types. Male specimen. When it generates heat, its body temperature reaches 800C. It attacks using its body like a whip. Known moves: Fire Spin, Flamethrower, U-turn, Bug Bite.»

Carlos had to get up from the bench he had just sat on and, sighing, walked back to the center of the field.

«This will be... well... we can skip this bureaucracy... anyway, let the battle begin!» he announced briskly. His legs could barely hold him up anymore.

«We start! Solosis, use Psybeam!» The cell Pokémon shot a pink beam of light toward the opponent.

«Oshawott, dodge it!» The otter Pokémon jumped, avoiding the hit, which passed between his trainer's legs before fading against the wall.

«Now, hit it with Aqua Jet!» Anita's starter Pokémon covered its body in water and dashed toward Solosis at great speed.

«Protect!» The cell Pokémon created a greenish barrier that blocked the opponent's attack without taking any damage.

«Water Gun!»

«Psybeam!» The two trainers gave their orders simultaneously. After a few moments, the attacks collided, creating a giant splash that soaked everyone present, especially Carlos, who once again played the hero, trying to shield Asami and Serena.

«So, you want to play ping pong, huh? Solosis, use Knock Off!» Anita, up until that moment, had no idea what Knock Off was or what its effect could be.

«Oshawott, use Fury Cutter!» The otter Pokémon brandished its scalchop, which transformed into a glowing, pale green blade.

With a skillful move, Solosis knocked the scalchop from Oshawott's hand, throwing it to the ground with impressive speed. Oshawott quickly got back on its feet, but soon realized something was missing...

«Great job, Solosis!» Everyone was astonished.

«It says here that Knock Off steals a move from the opponent that boosts attack power, heals, or increases resistance to enemy attacks. I didn't think it could work on items.» Serena said, clearly surprised.

«I didn't expect that!» Ash commented in turn.

«It's a secondary effect of Knock Off not mentioned in the Pokédex. We've solved a mystery, guys!» he added excitedly.

«Oshawott, retrieve the scalchop!» Anita ordered. The otter Pokémon dashed toward its inseparable item. Solosis, using its psychic powers, made the keratin shell fly in different directions, giving Oshawott a hard time. The otter Pokémon played along for a few minutes, trying to hide its trainer's growing worry.

«Oh no, what do I do now?» Anita thought out loud as she watched Oshawott, determined to get its scalchop back. She knew how important that shell was to Oshawott. The otter Pokémon cared for it as if it were its child, testing it on hard logs. Before Anita chose it as her first Pokémon, it was the only friend Oshawott had.

Snivy, before choosing to join Ash, had come and gone, picked by various beginner trainers before promptly returning to Professor Juniper's lab, always unsatisfied and annoyed. And even when it was around, Snivy mostly kept to itself. Tepig, on the other hand, seemed quite reserved, not particularly interested in making friends, staying at the lab until the day their paths partially diverged—Tepig became Ivan's second choice, and Snivy finally found its Trainer.

The scalchop had always been there for Oshawott since its birth; it was its first friend, so much so that in its first days as Anita's Pokémon, it dreamed of introducing them to each other.

Anita couldn't let anyone mess with it after using Knock Off, but Oshawott was having no luck catching it.

Anita tried to regain some composure:

«Oshawott, hit Solosis with Aqua Jet!» The otter Pokémon's body covered in water, with an even thicker layer than usual, and it launched itself at Solosis with unprecedented force, striking with a power it had never shown before. Despite that, the scalchop was still in the opponent's possession.

Oshawott let out a battle cry it had been holding inside for a while, releasing a powerful orange aura all around its body. It stared at Solosis as if about to start a duel between Miltankboys in a Western movie.

«I think that was Focus Energy.» Asami's uncle commented, almost like he was doing it on purpose.

«Wow! A move to stay calm! Ash could use that!» Carlos joked, teasing his friend.

«Now Oshawott, Aqua Jet again!» The Pokémon launched itself even faster, with an even thicker layer of water than before, managing to land an incredibly powerful blow on Solosis, who was forced to drop the scalchop. From its behavior, it was clear it was at the limit of its energy.

«That was a hard hit!» Ash exclaimed, full of enthusiasm.

«Is it because it used Focus Energy?» Asami asked.

«Exactly, you're already learning!» Serena replied with her usual kindness.

Meanwhile, Oshawott had managed to grab its scalchop again, ready to strike the next blow:

«Use Fury Cutter!» Anita ordered.

«Protect!» countered her opponent.

The scalchop transformed into a gigantic green, shimmering blade, about to hit the cell Pokémon. Solosis, behind the energy shield, managed to absorb the blow, though the shield gave way after the hit.

«Use Assurance!» Solosis took advantage of the impact's energy to hit Oshawott with giant white hands. After being hit, Oshawott stayed on the ground for a moment before standing up again, holding its inseparable friend, still spinning.

«Fury Cutter again!» The scalchop grew even larger and sharper than before. The otter Pokémon was ready to deliver the decisive blow, or rather, it would have been decisive if Solosis hadn't protected itself again.

«You're a tough one, huh! Solosis, go with Assurance!»

The two Pokémon had a fierce clash in the middle of Asami's garden, the real loser of this battle. After the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were lying on the ground, exhausted.

«The battle is over; it's a draw!» Carlos announced.

«You were amazing, Oshawott. Thank you so much!»

«Solosis, you were great too, now you can rest.» Both trainers returned their Pokémon to their Poké Balls.

«Girl, you and Oshawott have talent. You reminded me of my battle against Aristide when we were still kids.»

Anita was quite surprised by those words, enough to ask a question:

«You mean Aristide, the Gym Leader of Opelucid City and the champion's grandfather?»

The man replied: «Nagasa Amon doesn't lie to a Trainer!»

Ash approached the girl.

«You were incredible! I'm so proud of you!»

Anita brushed off the praise:

«Actually, it was Oshawott who never gave up. Now it has learned Focus Energy, and...»

Asami smiled and addressed her uncle:

«Oshawott must have really cared about that... shell...»

Her uncle corrected her:

«It's called a scalchop.»

Asami blushed for a moment, then leaned into the group gathered around Anita.

«Now you're all ready to challenge the Castelia City Gym—well, that is, if Burgh gets reinstated...» said Serena, quite pleased with her friend's results.

However, she was contradicted by Ash:

«Actually, it would be better if we wait until tomorrow to decide. I think we need to do some work.»

Serena seemed rather puzzled by those words:

«And why, Ash?»

Carlos jumped into the conversation:

«Let me guess, you want to wait for the latest news to see how the situation develops and then decide what to do.»

Ash congratulated him:

«Exactly. We don't know if we'll have to face Elesa or Burgh, so it's better to wait.»

«Guys...» Asami interrupted: «...what do you think about going to a fashion show tonight in Nimbasa City?»

Anita and Serena seemed pretty excited about it, while the boys exchanged glances, looking puzzled. Ash didn't mind the idea too much, but they said: «Uhm... we're not sure... maybe... nooo?»

Carlos was almost attacked by the Kalos native.

«Then you stay here!»

Asami tried to calm her down:

«There's no need to react like that. It's known that guys don't particularly like these things... they don't understand the appeal...»

Serena regained her composure:

«You're right, actually. Then we can head to Nimbasa!»

«But… well, it's a bit far from here...» Asami took her phone from her bag, signaling her friend not to worry: «Don't worry, Pastor will take care of driving us.» Her uncle, with Centiscorch by his side, intervened: «Hey, hey, hey, no one gave you permission to do that!» Meanwhile, Carlos had managed to convince Ash to stay with him under the excuse of training. He almost missed the second part of his uncle's speech: «But since I have to handle some things tonight at Amon headquarters... boring stuff, like going through all the paperwork... fine, you can go.» The girls were quite happy with his decision, thanking him profusely, while Ash and Carlos, due to the situation, had to postpone their training session.

To take a break, they went to gather their Pokémon. Both were pleasantly surprised to find Umbreon and Houndour getting acquainted with Hawlucha, using Pikachu as a go-between.

«Guys, it's time to go!» Ash called out to his Pokémon, bringing them back into their Poké Balls, while Pikachu, as usual, climbed onto his shoulder. Shortly after, the group moved toward the house entrance. A faint sound of a V6 engine could be heard in the distance.

«That must be Pastor.» Asami informed them.

Her prediction turned out to be correct. A light gray minivan with tinted rear windows and sleek chrome accents parked in front of the entrance. Pastor had already opened the rear door and activated the automatic seat-lifting system. Meanwhile, Carlos was already climbing in, sitting in the back row like the last time, followed shortly by Ash.

Asami, before getting in, made sure to say goodbye to her uncle: «Bye, uncle!» she waved.

«Goodbye, dear, enjoy the fashion show!» he replied.

Once everyone was aboard, the driver addressed the hostess: «Well... Miss Asami... where should I take you and your friends?»

The girl answered immediately: «Oh, of course, Pastor, could you please take us to Nimbasa City? There's a fashion show

in a couple of hours, we can't miss it! It's being held at Elesa's Gym, since she's also a model. It's neither a Showcase nor a Gym battle, so different, less strict, rules apply.»

The man, who had already begun pulling out of the driveway, accepted the task: «Certainly, Miss Asami, no problem! Just remember, everyone, buckle up!» Once all the seatbelts were fastened, the driver set off toward Nimbasa City.

During the trip, the girls discussed the types of outfits they expected to see, while Ash and Carlos seemed completely uninterested. It was almost as if they didn't want to get out of the minivan. They were a bit envious of Pikachu, who was comfortably napping on his Trainer's lap.

After a relatively short ride, mostly on fast highways where the minivan's impressive mileage capabilities shone through, the group arrived at their destination.

Upon reaching the city, the road to the Gym was quite brief, as it was located near the outskirts.

A notification popped up on Ash's smartphone from the app installed by Officer Velaurora. It appeared to be a government announcement or something similar.

The boy read it immediately:

«Regarding today's events, government representatives, in a joint session at Kyurem Palace, have decided the following: the emergency measures enacted to curb the dangers posed by Team Plasma will be significantly reduced. As a result, Showcases will resume in all theaters, although with enhanced security checks. Additionally, all restrictions on the number of people allowed in Gyms will be lifted. Furthermore, the government has implemented severe penalties for parents who prevent their children from becoming Trainers and has strengthened facilities to assist children with disabilities.»

Ash seemed quite pleased with the news. «They've been really quick to make this decision; I wonder when they'll publish it in the newspapers or on the news.» he thought.

«Is something wrong, Ash?» his friend asked.

«No, quite the opposite. I've got great news.» Carlos was eager to know the reason for his friend's sudden happiness.

«I just got a message from an insider and... it seems that Gym battles and Showcases will resume as usual.»

Carlos held back a shout: «That's amazing! Wait until the girls hear! They'll be thrilled! Should we tell them now?»

Unlike his friend, Ash preferred to keep it a secret, at least for a little while. «No, better not say anything yet. Let's wait until after the fashion show. Right now, that's all they're thinking about.»

Carlos smirked and turned to the window, where he could see the massive purple structure of the Gym. It was a rather unique building, almost shaped like the base of a pyramid, with decorative columns outside, creating spire-like projections. It was almost entirely covered in purple metallic panels.

The group had arrived early; the show was set to start at six, but they had arrived at five. Despite this, there was already a large crowd of girls outside, along with photographers and journalists.

While the girls started to move closer to the crowd, Ash pulled Carlos toward a street food stand. Realizing that the mass of people wouldn't move until the gates opened, they decided to take a walk.

After wandering for a while, the girls found an open door that seemed to lead to a storage room or something similar. It was hard to see inside since the door was only slightly ajar.

«What do you think? Should we go in? Maybe we'll get a sneak peek at some outfits...» Asami suggested, finally free to unleash her innate curiosity with no one watching over her.

«I don't think it's a good idea. What if we get caught? Or something happens? It's better not to snoop.» Anita said, sounding very reluctant.

«Anita's right. It's irresponsible to enter places like that.» Serena chimed in.

«Now that my father's in jail and Manuel has changed jobs, I don't think I need anyone telling me what to do!» Asami seemed quite displeased with their caution, slipping into the storage room alone.

Asami entered the room without a care. Inside, there were mannequins dressed in various outfits, most likely the ones the models would wear during the show. She started looking around, intrigued by the different garments.

Not long after, Serena and Anita joined her. The Kalos native had practically dragged her friend inside. After all, Asami wasn't a Trainer, and if things went south, it could become a serious problem. Once inside, the two girls noticed the various mannequins adorned with the outlandish outfits.

To Serena, the clothes looked very familiar, though she couldn't quite recall where she had seen them before...

In addition to the numerous mannequins, there were also mirrors, likely used by the models and their assistants to ensure the outfits were worn correctly.

The three girls didn't realize that someone had been watching them the whole time.

Behind those mirrors were two models observing the trio. One had short black hair and matching eyes, a slender nose, and pale, well-maintained skin. She was wearing a long purple dress with small flowers on the sleeves. Her nails were painted purple, and on her feet, she wore shoes that matched her outfit, with towering heels.

The other woman had very long dark brown hair, green eyes, a pointed nose, and, like the first one, well-maintained skin.

However, she wore the same dress as her colleague, with only one difference: hers was green instead of purple. The two women seemed particularly interested in the three girls:

«They seem perfect to me, what do you think?» asked the woman with black hair.

«Yes, I think they'll do just fine!» her colleague replied.

The two took a few steps forward, approaching the unexpected visitors.

«Girls! What are you doing here? You know this is a restricted area!» the brunette scolded them, before changing her tone. «Actually, we could use some help with something…» The model with the black hair interrupted her colleague.

«But first, tell me what you're doing here.» she added.

The girls greeted the women and then answered their question.

«Well, we came to get our friend who had entered here and…» Serena tried to explain.

«Alright... I understand. No problem, but now follow me.» said the model in the purple dress, gesturing for them to follow.

Quickly, the two models escorted the girls inside the gym. Waiting for them was a blonde woman with blue eyes. She wore an orange dress decorated with yellow lightning bolts, paired with black pants that had a yellow lightning bolt on the right leg and some sort of headphones with wires reaching down to her feet. She was exchanging a glance with a Flaaffy.

«Elesa, we can save the show! What do you think of these three girls?» one of the models asked. The woman looked up and gave the three a quick glance.

«They're stunning! Thank you, Tara, and thank you too, Roxy!»

The Electric Pokémon raised its head, pleased by the comment.

«Flaaaaa-Flaaffy!»

Asami tried to stay composed.

«Oh… my… wow, you're Elesa, the model and Gym Leader of Nimbasa City!»

Elesa modestly responded,

«Oh, please, just model or Gym Leader, really... I never do both at the same time!»

Serena looked more closely at the woman's outfit.

«Sorry if I'm being nosy, but... is this dress from Valérie's new collection?»

Elesa replied immediately,

«Exactly. She asked me to expand her business here in Unova, and I can't blame her. Unova is a huge market, and expanding here is a key step to becoming a global giant in the fashion industry.»

Elesa then changed the subject.

«We've been talking for a while, and I still haven't asked your names or ages… I'm really scatterbrained! I couldn't possibly let you model if you're too young. You know, the labor laws here are very strict.»

The girls responded one by one.

«I'm Serena, and I'm eighteen.»

«I'm Asami, and I'm seventeen.»

Anita answered more timidly,

«I'm… Anita… and I'm sixteen…»

Elesa's gaze lingered particularly on the brunette.

«You seem to be a Pokémon Trainer… would you like to challenge my Gym one of these days?»

Anita was quite surprised by the suggestion. Up until then, she was the one challenging Gym Leaders, not the other way around.

«Well, yes… actually, I was supposed to challenge Burgh, but after everything that happened, this should be my next Gym... so...»

The Gym Leader seemed quite enthusiastic about it.

«Fantastic! As soon as I have a free moment, I'll challenge you... Meanwhile, Tara and Roxy brought you here for a reason… We need models for today's show. Unfortunately, the girls who were supposed to model had some health issues, so I would really appreciate it if you could help us with the fashion show.»

Serena smiled, recalling a memory from some time ago.

«It's just like in Laverre City when Ash and I traveled with Clemont and Bonnie.»

Elesa perked up at her words.

«Amazing! So you met Valérie in person... and she even asked you to model on the spot? Also, Clemont? Do you mean *that* Clemont, the Electric-type genius and great inventor? That guy can be a real brainiac, he's simply fantastic in my opinion.»

Serena, a little suspicious, didn't inquire further, while Tara and Roxy brought the clothes the three girls were supposed to wear. Elesa also instructed the two models to escort the girls to the dressing rooms, so they could change in private and receive assistance if needed.

While the girls were trying on the outfits and experimenting with different combinations, Elesa noticed a notification on her Rotom Phone. The notification had actually arrived a while ago, but the woman had only now found the time to check it. It was a government announcement about measures concerning Team Plasma:

«Regarding today's events, the government representatives, in a joint session at Kyurem Palace, have decided as follows: The emergency measures enacted to contain the threat of Team Plasma will be significantly reduced. As a result, Pokémon Showcases will resume in all theaters, although with enhanced security checks. Additionally, all restrictions on the number of people allowed in Gyms will be lifted. Furthermore, the government has established strict penalties for those preventing their children from becoming Trainers, along with enhanced support for young people with disabilities.»

«That's fantastic!» she commented quietly, hoping not to be overheard.

«The next Showcase should be right here in Nimbasa City, and I need to be ready for the traditional battle...»

Shortly after, she glanced toward the dressing rooms where the girls were changing and then turned to her Flaaffy:

«Maybe it's better if they find out about it themselves tonight; it will probably be on the news.»

«Flaaaaaaa!» responded the Pokémon.

«The show will begin shortly, and it won't be very long, so we might be able to watch it live.»

Tara emerged from the shadows.

«Elesa, we're all ready to start.»

The woman signaled her assistant to begin the presentation, calling the stagehand behind the scenes.

«Gus, go ahead, we can start!»

The man, bald with a long brown beard, activated the lights.

«You need to decide which Pokémon will walk the runway with you; otherwise, you'll never be trendy enough.» Tara reminded them.

Serena nodded, while Asami showed her concern.

«I don't actually have a Pokémon of my own, I hope that's not a problem...»

Roxy quickly found a solution.

«How about a super cute Pokémon like this Pachirisu?»

From behind the wall, a small, white squirrel-like Pokémon with a blue stripe running from its head to its tail appeared. It had yellow cheeks and a protruding canine tooth. Asami tried to talk to it,

«Hello, little one, I'm Asami. Would you like to accompany me in this fashion show?»

The little Pokémon nodded, and Asami thanked Roxy.

«Thank you, Roxy.»

Anita scanned it with the Pokédex function on her Rotom Phone:

«Pachirisu, the EleSquirrel Pokémon. Electric type. Male. Known for having electric pouches on its cheeks. It discharges stored electricity from its tail. Known moves: Nuzzle, Spark, Attract.»

«Delphox, it's our turn!»

Anita silently decided to bring out Vivillon.

«Hi, Vivillon! We're walking the runway today, if you're up for it.»

The Pokémon was quite excited about the news.

«You were amazing at the Showcase; I'm sure you'll shine here too.» she added shortly after.

In just a few minutes, the show would begin.

Meanwhile, outside, Carlos and Ash were looking for the girls. They had entered the gym, trying to make their way through the crowd. The stands were packed with mostly female spectators, almost completely filling the seating. Getting in hadn't been difficult. For fashion shows, the decree suspending Showcases and limiting Gym attendance simply required document checks, which Ash found to be a rather unfortunate decision.

Above what was normally the battle field, a runway made of steel and wood had been set up, with a curtain separating the two areas at the back.

They hoped they hadn't gotten lost somewhere: «They're not even answering the phone! Where have they gone? Weren't they the ones who wanted to come and see this "fashion show"?» Carlos complained.

«Don't get worked up, we can keep looking for them, though all this noise isn't helping.» Ash replied.

Suddenly, the lights came on, and a loud roar startled Pikachu.

«Ladies and gentlemen... Mesdames et Messieurs...» a prerecorded voice began. «...Girls and boys, women and men, children and elders, and even you, Pokémon, our inseparable friends and companions in everyday life... I have the pleasure and honor of presenting the fashion show for the new collection, now available in Unova, designed directly by the Gym Leader and fashion designer Valérie. Unfortunately, the young lady from a land rich in history will not be present today due to work commitments. However, for your viewing pleasure, we can count on the stunning beauty of our Gym Leader Elesa and her moooodels!» Another roar followed, this time startling Carlos's Umbreon, who had just come out of its Poké Ball.

«Let's start with...» Shortly after, the show began with the first two models, escorted by two Joltik. The commentator pointed out how the silk secreted by Joltik and Galvantula could be used to create a fabric with surprising durability and

comfort.

Shortly after, a model walked the stage that Carlos would never have expected to see there. Ash, on the other hand, had already witnessed such a scene. «Buddy? Isn't that Serena? What... Why... How?» Ash couldn't hold back a laugh: «And it's happened again! Don't tell me that even...»

The World Champion's prediction, who had successfully blended into the crowd without being recognized by his potential fangirls, turned out to be spot on. Shortly after Serena, who walked with her Delphox, it was Anita's turn. The girl walked awkwardly, despite being accompanied by her Pokémon. Under that bubbly and wide dress was a girl sweating, both from the heat and the embarrassment. Having gotten to know her, the boys weren't particularly surprised by this. What really surprised them was something else. Shortly after, they realized that after their friend, Asami was also walking, escorted by a Pachirisu. Carlos, enchanted by the girl, wasted no time scanning the electric squirrel.

«It seems Pachirisu is having a lot of fun walking with Asami.» Ash commented. Carlos agreed with a small nod of his head. Just a few moments later, it was Elesa's turn to take the stage.

«BOO!» Serena tried to scare her friends without success. Shortly after, Anita joined her. «So, you did it again?... You were truly amazing! Wonderful!» The native of Kalos blushed at the compliment. «Yes, maybe...» Anita added: «I don't see anything wrong with it, Ash...» Ash wasn't upset at all. «There's nothing wrong, actually... well, there is one thing.» The girls seemed rather puzzled. What could it be? «I was worried about you. You disappeared, and we were looking for you. I know you can handle yourselves, but...»

Carlos picked up where his friend left off: «Where did you find that Pachirisu?» The girls giggled when suddenly a large screen lit up, displaying the 6:30 PM news.

«A moment of attention, the news that's about to air is very important, we ask for your full attention!» Elesa took the microphone to inform the audience. Everyone remained in a respectful silence, while Ash tried to suppress a smile, along with Pikachu. A young woman with long black hair and violet eyes, elegantly dressed, welcomed the viewers: «Good evening, and welcome back to TG 6.5. In the past few hours, representatives of the White House and the Black House have met in a joint session to discuss a change to the strict measures implemented to counter Team Plasma. Here's Johan Jaber's report...»

After a few moments of silence, the report finally aired: «"Agreement broken, end of the deal. Today, Prime Minister Ferrer and the two houses met at Kyurem Palace to discuss the next steps. Using the world's largest company to infiltrate citizens' affairs is truly disgraceful, such collaborations cannot be tolerated..." declared Ferrer, addressing Team Plasma, and deciding that Pokémon Showcases and Gym battles will resume regularly, albeit with additional entrance checks. Once the threat of Team Plasma is completely gone, the checks will be fully removed.»

As the journalist was about to continue with the news, the big screen shifted, and Elesa, who had already walked the stage, took the microphone once more: «Thank you all for being here. We've all heard what was announced on the news, and I'm happy to announce that the next Pokémon Showcase will be held here in Nimbasa City, at our Gym, in one week! Registrations are open! Remember, we need a Trainer who will battle me before the winner is crowned. As tradition, we'll choose just one. The performers' companions will have a better chance of being selected.»

Serena celebrated as much as she could, trying to encourage Anita as well: «Anita! Let's go sign up right away!» Asami soon emerged from the crowd: «Guys! That Pachirisu was really cute! Aside from that, we need to head back inside. Elesa wants to talk to us, oh, and she wants you guys to come too.»

The boys followed Asami without protest. After quite a bit of walking, they arrived backstage. Waiting for them, quite unexpectedly, was Elesa.

The model greeted Ash respectfully: «World Champion Ash! It's an honor to have you here. I didn't know you were already trying your luck with other girls.» Ash blushed: «Me? Trying my luck? No way! I've already traveled with Serena in Kalos; she's a dear friend, while Anita travels with us to become a Champion... and I'm trying to help her on this journey so I can become a Pokémon Master... As for Asami, it's simpler. She'll soon become a Trainer, and that's all.»

Elesa quickly realized she was facing an almost unmissable opportunity: «Well, if you don't mind, I'd love to challenge you to a one-on-one Pokémon battle right now. At least this way, the future Trainer can understand how tough battles are. As for you two...» She looked around for a moment: «But where did they go?»

Carlos sighed: «They must have gone to sign up for the Showcase. Anita will sign up as a Trainer. She's probably still traumatized from the runway.» He tried to joke.

Elesa was quite impatient, eager for a battle, so she tried to speed things up: «They'll join us later. After all, it's just a demonstration match. What do you say, Ash? Do you accept?»

Ash clenched his fist: «Of course I do! A battle is just what I need to blow off some steam!» He even tried a little joke: «Then let's all head to the Gym!»

Meanwhile, in another area of the Gym, Serena and Anita were heading to the registration desk for the Showcase, both for the Performers and for those who wanted the chance to battle Elesa before the winner's announcement.

Luckily for them, they were among the first to arrive. They were only third in line.

The attendant handling the registrations didn't even have time to sign in the first person in line when, behind the two girls, the queue had already grown enormously.

«Hello, we'd like to sign up for the Pokémon Showcase» Serena said as soon as it was her turn.

The clerk, a woman in her thirties with green hair and brown eyes, scrutinized the experienced Performer from behind the two flat-screen monitors in front of her. On one of the monitors were the actual registrations for the Showcase, while the second screen displayed a simple word-processing program, where the names and Trainer Cards were being recorded. «As you wish, but don't forget that if you participate in this Showcase, we recommend that you be accompanied by a Trainer. He or she may be selected for the Gym Battle that will take place before the winner is announced. But I think you already know that. I assume one of you wants to register as a Trainer. Am I wrong?»

Feeling called out, Anita volunteered: «Well… um, yes… I'm a Trainer, so… yeah. I guess I could accompany Serena.»

The clerk raised Anita's hopes of being chosen. «You're the first Trainer to step forward, you know? And on top of that, you're accompanying a Performer who's already won a Princess Key. You have a great chance of being selected, you know? Well, maybe I shouldn't say that, or the others might lose hope.»

Anita looked back. The girls in line all seemed to be alone, and since the Showcase rules limited the number of performers, and consequently the number of accompanying Trainers, it was almost impossible for anyone else to take her spot.

Once they left that area, Serena seemed quite pleased. «Did you hear? You have a great chance of being the Trainer who will face off against Elesa before the award ceremony.»

Anita, however, didn't seem thrilled about it. «Is everything okay?» asked the Kalos native.

«No.»

Serena tried to understand her friend's issue. «What's wrong? You're already the top contender, there's nothing to worry about. Nothing to fear. You know we're here to support you.»

Anita tried to explain how she was feeling. «You know me. I'm afraid things might go wrong. I'm scared that if I lose, the audience will laugh at me. They'll say they wasted a chance on someone who didn't deserve it. Or what if I trip, fall, and do something like a Psyduck blunder? I just don't know if…»

The Kalos native interrupted her: «None of that will happen. You don't need to fear the audience. You did a great job at both the Showcase and the fashion show. You and Elesa are supposed to entertain the crowd with a battle. You're a good Trainer, and Elesa is a very strong Gym Leader, everyone knows that. Trust me, no one will laugh at you.»

Anita still seemed uncertain, so Serena decided to double down. "Think about how Ash would handle this. What would he say? He always has something encouraging to say to everyone, right?"

A moment later, Anita's eyes lit up. «If you're afraid, think about your Pokémon. You can't let them down. And besides, your name is already up there. You can't back out so easily.»

Despite those words, Anita still seemed downcast. «Even Sylveon used to be shy and reserved as an Eevee, but over time, she became friends with everyone. Now look at her… if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have made friends with Lilligant.»

The Kalos native released her Bond Pokémon from its Poké Ball.

«She seems so… confident.» observed Anita.

«Like her, the hardest part is taking the first step. You're scared that everything might go wrong. But remember, the outcome isn't the most important thing. What matters is the journey. That's something I've learned from Ash.»

Anita started to regain some confidence. «Yeah, you're right. Thanks.»

Serena hugged her friend. «See? You've already taken another step forward.»

Anita laughed, until she received a notification on her Smart Rotom. It was a message from Carlos. Actually, it was a photo.

«Are they really having a Gym battle?» Serena moved closer to her friend. «Ash is always the same! He never changes! The moment someone asks him to battle, he just can't say no. Let's hurry up before it's too late!»

The two girls started running, with poor Sylveon forced to chase after them.

Meanwhile, inside the Gym, Ash was battling with Pikachu while Elesa had sent out her Zebstrika.

«Use Quick Attack!»

«Counter with Flame Charge!»

Pikachu charged at high speed toward its opponent, who had covered itself in a layer of fire. The two Electric-types collided in the center of the battlefield, generating a great burst of energy before getting back on their feet.

«I couldn't have expected anything less from Ash Ketchum.» commented the Gym Leader, ready to command her Zebstrika again.

«Use Wild Charge!» ordered Elesa. The electric horse stood on its hind legs, with its front hooves glowing orange, ready to strike.

«Hit it with Iron Tail!» Ash instructed. Pikachu's tail changed color, becoming white and glowing. Its structure also transformed, hardening and sharpening like a sword, striking Zebstrika right on the nose.

Asami was in awe, mesmerized by the rapid exchange of moves and ideas, captivated by the spectacle. Meanwhile, Carlos had been trying to say something to her the whole time, but he couldn't break the thick ice.

«Hey, guys!» Serena shouted as she and Anita arrived, with Anita somehow having overtaken Sylveon, who was now exhausted from the run.

«Finally! Ash has already started the battle, and Asami is completely paralyzed by the sight… though she hasn't even been hit…»

Meanwhile, Umbreon was trying to help Sylveon recover, managing at least to get her to open her eyes.

«What are Anita's chances of being picked?» Serena, still slightly out of breath, replied enthusiastically: «Very high. She was the first Trainer to sign up. That gives her a great chance.»

Carlos seemed pretty happy about that. «Great! Make sure you both win! You'll be well rewarded.»

He emphasized the word "both." Just then, there was a loud explosion from the battlefield.

«Well done, Pikachu!»

«Now rest, Zebstrika. You did your best.»

Asami clapped enthusiastically, almost as if her hands were about to fall off. «That was the richest battle I've ever seen, even more than when you were just practicing… ten out of ten.»

Once the compliments ended, Elesa thanked Ash for the battle and, escorted by the Champion, made her way toward the spectators.

«Hey, girls, how did it go?» This time it was the Unova native speaking.

«It went really well. It seems like I have a good chance of being picked.»

The girl had barely finished her sentence when Ash immediately began celebrating. «I knew it! Now we need to ramp up the training to prepare you for the battle against Elesa. She's a very strong Trainer, so we can't leave anything to chance.»

Elesa then chimed in: «You know I'm the one who chooses the challenger, right? I follow several criteria, but I don't want to bore you. In any case, for now, just know that I would pick you as the challenger.»

Ash urged her to decide immediately, but Elesa preempted him. «I can't choose a Trainer just because they're friends with the World Champion. Besides, it would ruin the element of surprise.»

Asami glanced at her phone, quickly realizing the time. She moved to call Pastor to head home. The driver was already waiting in the area, as her uncle had gone on a tour of his new factory by bike.

The girl turned to her friends. «Sorry, but I'd better head home now. You've all done so much for me… you've opened my eyes and helped me see the world for what it really is, but I don't want to be a burden on you. I'll soon start my own journey as a Trainer, while you've already been part of this world for a while. You have a potential battle and a performance to prepare for, and…»

Ash cut her off. «Don't say that. You're not a burden to us at all. In fact, it's always nice to meet new people and spend time with them. And it's always sad to let them go, even if it's necessary when the time comes.»

Asami was taken aback by his words. «Are you saying you want me to stay with you longer? But my uncle…»

The World Champion signaled for her not to worry. «He has no reason to worry. You're safe with us. You have nothing to fear.»

By now, the group had exited the building, reaching the plaza in front.

«If I were to stay with you, I'd have to tell my uncle.» the girl replied.

Just then, the minivan that had brought them to Nimbasa City pulled up in front of the Gym, with, as always, the efficient Pastor at the wheel.

Asami approached the vehicle to speak with the driver. As soon as he saw her, the man lowered the driver's side window. «Excuse me, Pastor, but there's been a slight change of plans. I'll be staying here with them tonight.» The driver's expression changed, becoming rather concerned. «Miss… not to pry into your business, but have you informed your uncle about this?» The girl shook her head. «Don't worry about that. I'll tell him later.» She replied. «As you wish.» answered the driver as he began to drive away.

Shortly after, the girl returned to her friends, taking her phone in hand. «Sorry, but I need to make a phone call.» she informed them. She quickly dialed her uncle's number.

The man answered almost immediately: «Oh! Hi! Asami! How was the fashion show? Did you have fun?» He asked. «Oh, yes. It was a lot of fun... I even walked down the runway.» the girl recounted. «Oh! Really interesting! I wish I could have been there.» he replied. Soon after, the man changed the subject: «By the way… when do you think you'll be coming home? You're not a Trainer yet, so it's not very safe to be out after dark.» Asami shook her head. «Don't worry. I'm staying with Ash and the others. You couldn't be safer.» she responded. «And here I thought I'd be spending time with you... Anyway… if you think that's the right choice, go ahead.» he said. «I just hope I can be there with you when you receive your first Pokémon from Professor Juniper.» he added shortly after. «Well… yes, of course.» replied the girl. «Alright then. I hope we can see each other tomorrow. I have several meetings, so you can stay with your friends.» the girl smiled at those words. «Okay, thanks for everything! See you soon!» The girl said goodbye to her uncle, who shortly after did the same.

A little while later, she put her phone back into her bag.

«No problem, guys. I can spend the night with you at the Pokémon Center. I need to start getting used to acting like a Trainer.» she said to her friends, who greeted the news with a smile.

Before heading to the Pokémon Center, the five of them said goodbye to the Gym Leader: «Thanks for everything, Elesa, we'll see you soon!» The model renewed her farewells: «I'm counting on it, guys. Serena, good luck with the Pokémon Showcase, and Anita, make sure you're well-trained for the next battle. And Asami, don't forget to choose your first Pokémon wisely! It's an important decision; it will be your partner forever.»

Carlos felt a little jealous: «And you've got nothing to say to me?» Spurred by the boy's little joke, the woman improvised: «Carlos, good luck putting up with Ash and the girls.» The five began to walk away, while Elesa waved them goodbye.

Ash turned to Asami: «So… have you decided what your goal will be as a Trainer? For example, Anita challenges gyms to become Champion, Serena competes in Showcases to become Unova's Queen. What about you?» Asami had to think for a few moments. She had decided to become a Trainer, but then what would she do afterward? «I want to help all the Pokémon who were victims of Team Plasma, and fight against them, to disband them for good!» Ash was pleasantly surprised by those words, showing great admiration for the girl: «Wow! That's a really ambitious goal! But I'm sure you'll achieve it. You know you can always count on our help.» Serena echoed her friend: «You bet! We'll help you if you need it.»

Anita, who had remained silent, was still thinking about the gym battle she would have to face. In her mind, though, there was only the audience, despising her for no reason, so she tried to run away but tripped...

«Anita…» Carlos said, noticing that his friend had been completely quiet. «Is something wrong?» The girl replied: «I'm still anxious about the battle, and especially about the audience. Serena tried to reassure me, but I'm afraid something could go wrong. I don't know if I'm ready.» Carlos tried to ease the tension. «Do you remember the other time, when you told us about your grandfather's Azumarill?» Anita didn't understand what he was trying to say. She often didn't get what Ash was saying, let alone Carlos. «What are you trying to tell me? That I should turn into an Azumarill?» The boy made a high-pitched noise, not expecting that kind of response: «Not exactly. You know, I worked as a gym assistant, and I've often seen Trainers who completely change during battle.» Anita replied: «What do you mean? When you battle, all you hope for is not to lose. And you try to do everything to avoid it.» Carlos tried to go deeper with what he had said: «But have you ever watched yourself when you battle? You become fierce! You're so focused on the fight that you seem almost like one with your Pokémon. It's like you're thinking just like one of them.» Anita began to understand what her friend was trying to say: «You're saying I should think like my Pokémon?» «Exactly! That time I slept over at Ash's wasn't completely pointless. He said this while he was sleeping… and keeping me awake...» Anita started to chuckle: «Even Serena told me something similar, but she didn't bring up the part about thinking like a Pokémon.» Carlos tried to claim credit for his friend's wisdom: «Sometimes Ash's strange habits teach you things that go beyond just battling.» Anita let out a small laugh.

The group continued walking until they arrived in front of the Pokémon Center. Like many buildings of that type, the Pokémon Center was a concrete prefab, covered with tiles to lighten its appearance. A wide automatic glass door allowed access to the building. Inside the main room, there was the nurse's counter, facing the entrance. On the sides were small sofas for Trainers to sit on. There was also a mini-market and a small newsstand.

The four of them approached the counter to hand their Pokémon over to the care of the Nurse and her Audino. After some time, the woman returned with the Poké Balls of the four Trainers. Pikachu, meanwhile, was standing on the cart pushed by Audino. «Your Pokémon are in perfect shape.» the woman announced.

After about twenty minutes, Carlos headed to the kitchen, where he began preparing dinner for everyone. He decided to make stuffed eggplants and, just to keep it light, some peperonata.

Before going to bed, the five of them decided to watch a movie. During the break between the first and second halves, Asami approached Anita. «Sorry to ask, but could you sleep with me tonight? You know, it's my first time spending the night somewhere other than one of my properties and…» Anita gestured that she understood. «No problem. I know how it feels to spend the night away from home for the first time.» she replied.

Anita lay down a few minutes before Asami, to have time to say goodnight to her Pokémon. She had already done so with Sewaddle, Vivillon, and Herdier. Only Oshawott was left. «Thank you, thank you for always being so determined, and thank you for forgiving me when I make mistakes, and for not making me feel the weight of my errors. I'm counting on you at the Gym, even if we're at a type disadvantage.» The girl stroked his cheek. «Oshaaaaaa!» The Sea Otter Pokémon blushed. He had already decided to sleep next to his Trainer. It was his way of showing how much he wanted to be by her side and how much he cared for her.

Guys, I'm really enjoying how this story is developing. Just a reminder, if you have friends, family, or even random people on the street… it doesn't matter if they're die-hard nostalgics or not. This is the place for all of them.

For those wondering, Reshiram Lego isn't a nickname created specifically for this novel; it's a nickname I've had for a long time, and I'd like someone, someone in this world, to discover what it really means to be a writer or poet… and… I don't know, I've already said what was on my mind.

«We are incredible (you've been posing for hours)»