Well, here it is, the forty-fifth part of the fifth and final installment in my 'Heart' series released in accordance with how I plan to release chapters from here on out. Ash has had his battle with Piers in Spikemuth and won thus beating the only dark type gym in the world and completing the set albeit after becoming a regional Champion. Now, it's time for the final leg of his and Dawn's journey, Hammerlocke and hopefully a battle with the strongest Gym Leader in Galar and the man who's come closest to beating Leon, Raihan. Of course Ash and Dawn have to get there first and when one travels with Ash Ketchum even a standard trip between two cities is never quite as simple as it seems. Anyway, that is all the administrative stuff that I have for the Part and as there are no questions to answer or guest reviews to respond to I'll leave this off here. Do please keep your reviews coming as I love hearing from y'all. That is it for this pre-Part note which means that it is once again time to sit back which and enjoy the latest installment in Heart of Champions. Part CCXXXIV: Regional Tradition.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.

Part CCXXXIV: Regional Tradition

"Is everything set for Hammerlocke?" Dawn asked as she and Ash walked hand in hand down Route 7. "We should get there by the end of the day tomorrow and while we do have a little leeway thanks to Alola, we can only really spend a week more in Galar, at most. Well, that is if I'm going to get two more ribbons before the Wallace Cup which I'd like to do."

Ash didn't respond immediately. He had the answer that had been relayed to him that morning, but he was just enjoying the nice day so he was he was taking his time as the couple walked.

This was especially the case because that morning they'd exited the Route 9 tunnel that was part of the route between Spikemuth and Hammerlocke so he was enjoying being in the fresh air again after a surprisingly uneventful journey through it. Of course Ash had no issues with tunnels and caves, he'd been in more than he could count in his time, but it was just nice to be in the sun and warmth and enjoy a pleasant walk down a regional route.

It had been a while since they'd had a moment this peaceful as the trip to Circhester had been over the wild northeast of Galar and through the mountains there so they weren't on a dedicated route the entire time. Meanwhile the trip to Spikemuth had involved Circhester Bay. Naturally there had been reasons, mainly two new Pokémon for Dawn, one for Ash, and Dawn's rural Contest and its accompanying festivities so it had been a lot of fun but sometimes a peaceful, warm but not too warm, and uneventful trip between cities was nice.

This was such a time and the pair were really enjoying it in the wake of Ash's victory of Piers in Spikemuth. While that had been somewhat expected, Ash was a regional Champion after all, he had still been pressed hard in the battle and gained valuable experience for some of his new Pokémon as well as facing the only dark type gym leader in the world while completing the set in the process.

Naturally, his battle had the added effect of bringing a lot of attention to Spikemuth and now people around the world knew of the city with many were making plans to visit which would be a big boost to their economy right before the city was one of the hosts for the PWC, incidentally another economic boost for the city. Piers had said as much when he stopped by the morning they were set to leave for Hammerlocke and thanked Ash for his help and the battle which Ash returned and they parted with a final promise to battle Marnie if he ran into her in Unova.

Ash fully expected that that would happen given who Marnie was traveling with but that was something for the further future that they could deal with nearer the time. For the immediate future they had to deal with Ash's challenge to Raihan which he'd formally sent after beating Piers. He'd added a scan of Leon's writ to it so that it could be an official gym battle and Leon himself had sent Raihan a message as well so now it was on the Hammerlocke Gym Leader to respond and agree to the battle.

That had been a few days ago when they left Spikemuth. Now, just over a day out from Hammerlocke, Ash had finally received his response and he could relay it to Dawn as they walked through rural Galar and towards the middle of the three cities located alone the center line of the long region.

"It is." Ash said finally speaking. "I got word today from Raihan, and Leon for that matter, that he accepts my challenge and has scheduled it for 4 days' time at the Hammerlocke Gym. It's within our window just not right at the start because there are currently two challengers in Hammerlocke for him to deal with. That actually work out well for them because they want a little time to promote his battle with a regional Champion."

"Makes sense, he is a gym leader who has primary duties so this is more of an indulgence for him than anything else." Dawn said understanding the reasoning and glad that it was within their remaining window in Galar. "And Spikemuth is the exception not the rule for the gyms here so they need it to be properly ready for a battle between their top Gym Leader and a regional Champion."

"Precisely, and I'm more than fine with that because I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like to battle in such a large stadium." Ash said. "And Dynamaxing for the first time, that's going to be really fun."

"The latter I get." Dawn said also keen to see Ash use the special Galar phenomenon at last, as well as actually seeing it in action at last as neither of them had had the chance to see it yet. "Not the former, you've battled in stadiums plenty of times Ash."

"True but this is different, this is a battle in a gym, not a League Conference." Ash said. "It's not normal to have a full crowd for a Gym Battle so I'm looking forward to seeing how most Galarian gyms do it. I'm glad that Raihan has indulged my request, I may not be able to properly challenge the gyms here but this way I do get some kind of Galar experience that most trainers would get."

"You are a regional Champion so that is a huge deal, few could turn down a direct challenge from you when battling a Champion is something that many top tier trainers want." Dawn pointed out. "Plus everyone saw your battle with Piers, hard for Raihan to turn you down after that, especially as he's the final gym leader here and Piers the penultimate so it just makes sense that he face you."

"Yeah he did mention that my battle with Piers was a factor, he watched it and wanted to test his own mettle against me after that." Ash said. "As well as all my other battles in the last few months as I have had a few good ones recently."

"That's a bit of an understatement, Ash." Dawn said giving him a side eyed look. "You swept the Kalos Elite Four and then beat Diantha in a full battle to claim her title, battles the whole world watched. Anyone who wants to either get stronger or prove their own strength would want to test themselves against you."

"Yeah true, my battles in Kalos were something else." Ash said rubbing the back of his head. "And you're not wrong, Raihan is apparently considered the closest to a Champion who isn't one in the world so to face one that isn't Leon is something he really wants to do."

"I can see that." Dawn agreed. "This is going to cause a lot of excitement though, more so than with Piers given that your presence is now fully known here, not that it wasn't already mind you, and this is going to be in the third biggest city in the region. That's very different to Spikemuth."

"No question, apparently the media outlets have already descended on Hammerlocke for this even before Raihan officially accepted so the two battles there before mine will get more attention than normal." Ash said. "It's going to be packed."

"That will make staying and watching it harder." Dawn said with a sigh at what she was going to have to deal with when they got to Hammerlocke. "Unless preparations have been made in advance that is."

"We're staying in the Pokémon Center but Leon's made all the necessary arrangements so that no one gets in the way of that, and I have permission to use the back entrance if need be." Ash said recalling what Leon had said to him in a separate message and realizing that he was almost certainly going to have to use the back entrance. "As for the battle itself, you don't need to worry about that. Leon's already made the necessary arrangements for you. As my fiancée you'd get a reserved seat regardless but because I'm a regional Champion, well things are a bit different."

"How so?" Dawn asked. "In Alola we just had a section to ourselves, same with Kalos actually, but in both cases they were Conference stadiums. This is different I feel."

"You're right as in those cases my guests get reserved seats." Ash said. "Here Raihan has arranged a seat for you in the VIP box which means that you will be there with Leon and a few other VIPs, apparently Chairman Rose who is in charge of the Galar League will also be in attendance, so you don't need to worry about anything. We'll have to part ways in the Pokémon Center as I'll go to the gym early to get ready and avoid the crowds but you'll be picked up by a service arranged by Leon and taken to the VIP area."

"Woah sounds fancy." Dawn said. "Perks of being engaged to a regional Champion then."

"Apparently so, it's something that will also be included in the PWC as well." Ash said. "Friends and family of the competitors get regular tickets but Champions have boxes, as will the 8 who make it to the final tournament regardless of Champion status, so it's all sorted."

"That's understandable given the statuses of the people involved, it's a sign of respect to make such arrangements." Dawn said. "I know that as a Top Coordinator, and the daughter of one, that if both me and my mother make it to the Majestic Festival then we'll get a box for our guests but even if not you and all the others will have tickets. Between May and myself, as well as Serena if she makes it via the Unova Grand Festival, it won't be an issue there."

"I don't doubt that all of you will make it so I was never worried there." Ash said. "Speaking of that, how is your mother doing on her own path to the Majestic Festival? Any update there?"

"Yeah she called me while you were training in Spikemuth for you battle with Piers, she'd just secured her 4th ribbon with a win in Matcha City in Kanto." Dawn said with a nod. "She got that quickly after getting one in a town called Arborville in Johto, the perks of the regions being on the same continent and all."

"That makes sense." Ash said. "It's not hard to travel from Johto to Kanto and vice versa so it's just a good idea to do those Contests back to back."

"That was mom's thinking as well." Dawn said. "She then stayed in Kanto to watch your battle, and apparently meet up with your mom, before she went to her next region. She wouldn't tell me where she was going though and I actually don't know what her fourth one is but as I know that she has Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn I am presuming that she's already gotten the Sinnoh one. Still, I'd like to see her when we go there if we can. It has been a while since I've seen her what with being in Kalos and the sudden announcement of the Majestic Festival, not to mention that I've not seen my home region since I left it for Unova almost 3 years ago."

"I think mom mentioned that yours was visiting for a bit." Ash said. "I've been busy though so our calls are brief and mainly about how we're doing in general. Don't worry, we'll try to see her in Sinnoh when you return home for a Contest there just as we'll go to Pallet Town when we get to Kanto but that will be whenever we decide to go to Johto. Other than Unova a lot is dependent on what's the most convenient to do next rather given the Wallace Cup's fixed time."

"Yeah and that's what I'm not sure about at the moment." Dawn admitted. "I knew that I wanted to do Alola and Galar after Kalos as we'd not been there but I'd not planned out after that. That's' why I'm going to use the next few days in Hammerlocke to look over the options and timeframe to see what works."

"Well I'll be focused on Raihan so that's the perfect time for you." Ash said. "Any ideas for the next stage of our journey?"

"Only rough ones and that's based off the Wallace Cup and giving leeway for losses along the way, as well as whatever crazy adventure you might get involved in because let's be honest that's bound to happen a few times." Dawn said and Ash couldn't deny that. "What I do know is that if the next region isn't Kanto or Johto we'll have to leave them until after Unova because of the general timing, unless I can find close contests that is."

"Close Contests?" Ash asked a bit confused.

"Another Contest in Cremini Town for example." Dawn said. "If I recall that's right on the Johto border so if there was a Johto Contest nearby afterwards it would work and I could get three regions done before Unova. Otherwise I think it will only be two before the Wallace Cup and those two will depend on where the next one that's convenient is."

"Sounds like a lot of planning." Ash admitted his head hurting as he tried to follow it and failed. "Good thing you have the time to figure it out while I get ready. This is going to be a tough battle and I need to be fully prepared for it."

"Right, do you know the precise format for it?" Dawn asked. "We can just watch the other battles when we get there to see but Raihan may change it up for you as this is a personal challenge."

"I'm not sure how much has been changed but I am certain about one thing." Ash said. "Raihan wants it to be in his usual preferred style that he uses for his gym battles so it's going to be a double battle. Whether it's the same as the one that I had with Olympia last year or whether it's that and other Pokémon as well I'm not sure. Raihan just said that it would be a double battle so I presume that it's just two Pokémon but I'll prepare a full team regardless."

"That is for the best." Dawn agreed. "And he's a dragon specialist, right?"

"Correct and I've faced that before in a gym, only once though back in Johto, so I have some experience with it." Ash said with a nod. "A double battle though, this will be interesting and I'm going to have to watch Raihan's matches while waiting to face him so that I can get a sense for his battle style."

"Well you do have the ideal Pokémon for it." Dawn said. "Though Raihan will certainly have a way around it."

"A dragon specialist like him will, I don't doubt that." Ash said. "Training against Dragalge will help but if it's a steel and dragon type that's going to be hard to deal with as I'm not sure if one of those even exists. If it does though then I'm going to need to counter that as the steel type negates all the types strong against dragon types. I'll know more once I watch his upcoming battles though and can go from there. That and I've used Florges twice now in my battles this year, she may be expected so I should also plan around Raihan being prepared for her."

"Certainly a lot to consider." Dawn said. "But I know you can do it, you always do, and it's not like you don't have several options for this beyond Florges. I know that you'll win."

"Thanks, I'm counting on your support." Ash said squeezing Dawn's hand and looking at her as they walked while she turned to look at him. "Together we can…"

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu's cry from Ash's shoulder, and sudden leap off it, got Ash's attention but as he turned to it he heard a panicked chirping sound from right in front of him and before he could process more than that something small, fast, and round was suddenly in his field of vision. That was all Ash got, he didn't even notice the black, blue, and yellow plumage before the thing slammed into his face at full speed.

The force of the impact stunned Ash and knocked him back and onto his ass though whatever hit him didn't have the weight to fully lay him out flat. Still, Dawn instinctively released his hand to not fall over while Piplup let out a wail of precaution and leap off Dawn's head to save himself only for Dawn to not fall so he ended up flapping uselessly in the air before he face planted into the dirt road that was Route 7.

Naturally, Ash didn't notice this, nor did Dawn for that matter when it came to Piplup, because at that moment there was a louder, angrier, caw from above and a shadow fell over them. Ash instinctively moved his body over the small bird Pokémon that was now in his lap having fallen there after hitting him, at least that was what he thought the Pokémon was as it couldn't really be anything else, and shielded it as the shadow swooped over barely missing him.

As it did, its momentum carried it further and Dawn pulled out her Pokedex to scan the dark blue bird Pokémon with a grayish blue tuft around its neck and long yellow bill that had followed the Pokémon that had flown into Ash. It wasn't one that she'd seen before so she needed to get a read on it while Ash was protecting whatever it had been chasing and no doubt thinking on what to do next.

"Cramorant, the Gulp Pokémon." Dawn's Pokedex chimed as the Pokémon, apparently a Cramorant, banked and turned for another attack. "This hungry Pokémon swallows Arrokuda whole. Occasionally, it makes a mistake and tries to swallow a Pokémon other than its preferred prey."

As soon as Dawn heard the entry she checked her Pokedex for the listed Pokémon that Cramorant liked to swallow, Arrokuda. Almost as soon as she saw it, Dawn knew that whatever had flown into Ash was not an Arrokuda as it was a fish-like Pokémon so it had to be at least part water type based on the image alone and Ash had been hit by a bird Pokémon.

"Ash, I think that this Cramorant has made a mistake like the Pokedex says!" Dawn called out as she confirmed her theory. "Because whatever it was chasing is definitely not a Arrokuda."

However, Ash was already acting and didn't hear Dawn's shout. All he knew was that one Pokémon was being bullied by another and all Pokémon should be friends so he was going to do what he could to rectify this situation so that had his entire focus. His plan was simple and he quickly enacted it.

"Pikachu, intercept that Pokémon and hit it with Thunderbolt!" Ash called out without looking. "Knock it down and then we can sort this out and figure out why one of them is targeting the other."

"Pikachu." Pikachu said in agreement, he'd already turned to face the Pokémon that was chasing the one that had flown into Ash, his cheeks sparking and knowing that this was what Ash would want, he was just waiting for his orders which Ash had just given. "Pikachu!"

At that Pikachu unleashed his Thunderbolt at the clearly part flying type that was now flying straight for them at full speed. It was a Pokémon that he'd never seen before but that didn't bother him as they were in a new region after all. That and the chances of it being like Gliscor and part ground type were really low so he just let the Thunderbolt go as the Pokémon flew at him knowing that it would at least temporarily occupy the Pokémon.

However, the Pokémon wasn't the brightest out there or had been so focused on the smaller bird Pokémon that it was chasing that it didn't use its mobility to avoid the attack and instead just flew straight into the Thunderbolt that Pikachu had sent at it. To most flying types that would have been super effective but as Cramorant was also a water type it was doubly so and it let out a shrieking caw as it was fried in midair.

The Thunderbolt stopped it dead in it tracks and as soon as it ran its course Cramorant fell to the ground with a puff from its mouth, body blackened and singed to land there on its back with a soft thump. However, it wasn't fully knocked out and the jolt of electricity had snapped it out of its focus on the Pokémon that it had mistaken as prey and it blinked as it sat up.

Cramorant had completely forgotten what it was doing here and with a cough it flapped up to its feet, turned, and hopped off the route and into the grass on the side before disappearing into it as it wasn't that tall of a Pokémon to begin with. It was in pain so it was going to sort that out and then, well, Cramorant wasn't thinking that far ahead as it vanished from sight.

The entire time Dawn just watched unsure what to do while Pikachu blinked in surprise and confusion at the Pokémon just getting up and casually walking off as if it hadn't been attacking a second ago. In classic Ash fashion what had happened was not similar to many of their other adventures and both Dawn and Pikachu were still trying to process it.

Ash meanwhile had finally managed to focus on the Pokémon in his lap and noticed that it was a tiny bird Pokémon that was almost perfectly round with a dark blue feathers on its wings, back, and tail, black around its eyes and down its sides, and a yellow underbelly with a short, sharp, beak and red eyes. Whatever it was, Ash was pretty sure that it was a normal and flying type if he had to guess based off his personal experience with bird Pokémon of this nature.

Ash hadn't seen a Pokémon like it before but he quickly deduced what it was, it was the Galarian equivalent of a Pidgey, Hoothoot, Taillow, Starly, Pidove, Fletchling, or whatever the Alolan one was that he couldn't remember at the moment because he'd not caught it or its evolved form or forms though he was certain that Kahili had the final form of it. Regardless, this was interesting as Ash had wondered what the Galarian version of this regional staple was but he'd have to deal with that later. For now he had to sort out the current situation.

"I'm sorry little guy but I need to make sure that that Pokémon chasing you is ok." Ash said to the Pokémon that was now staring at him. "Just stay behind me, alright, I'll make sure that it's safe and then we'll see what we can do to sort out any issues."

With that Ash picked up the small Pokémon and gently placed it on the road in front of him before he backed up while still sitting down. Once he knew that he was a safe distance back from the, he turned on his ass and got to his feet ready to deal with the situation at hand.

"Right, Pikachu let's…" Ash began before he trailed off ask he realized that nothing was now behind him. "Er…where did it go? I heard the Thunderbolt and a pained caw so I know you hit it which means that it should still be here."

"It's somewhere over there." Dawn said pointing.

"Pika, pi." Pikachu said joining in, Piplup was still grumbling on the ground.

"It just got up still injured and wandered off into the grass as if it hadn't just been chasing another Pokémon and then gotten hit by a Thunderbolt." Dawn continued. "No clue why, it just did. I checked and it was a Cramorant, a water and flying type that likes to swallow Arrokuda which is not what hit you. Apparently it can get mistaken which I guess happened but when Pikachu zapped it, which given its types would have really hurt it, it suddenly lost interest and left."

"Guess that was enough to make it realize that it had made a mistake then." Ash said with a shrug deciding to chalk this up to Cramorant's nature. "Alright, well so long as Cramorant is ok that's fine with me. If it was mistaken then then what Pokémon flew into me."

At that Ash turned back around and noticed that the little bird was still there looking at him with wide eyes. Dawn joined him in turning while Pikachu wandered up to stand next to Ash and Piplup pushed himself up when he realized no one was going to pick him up after his brave avoidance of that Pokémon that had attacked Ash and looked to see a small bird Pokémon in the middle of the path and nothing else.

"Yeah you're definitely a bird Pokémon but which one?" Ash asked as pulled out his Pokedex to identify the Pokémon. "Let's see, shall we?"

"Rookidee, the Tiny Bird Pokémon." Ash's Pokedex chimed as he scanned the little Pokémon that he'd saved from being swallowed apparently while Rookidee looked up at him with awe and wonder shinning in its eyes, not that Ash noticed that. "It will bravely challenge any opponent, no matter how powerful. This Pokémon benefits from every battle – even a defeat increases its strength a bit."

"Huh, it's a pure flying type which I've not seen before but other than that it's basically the classic bird Pokémon that every region seems to have." Ash said as he noted the information and description of Rookidee. "Still, why were you fleeing? Your information would indicate otherwise? You ok little guy? You're not hurt are you?"

Rookidee just continued to stare at the human before him in amazement not really registering the questions. He would be the first to admit that he wasn't like the others in his flock, he wasn't brave like the rest of them were, he tended to flee with his quicker speed when there was a challenge rather than face it no matter the odds like the other Rookidees did. Yes, he was nimble, possibly the nimblest in his flock, and was the best flyer but he was the weakest because he didn't challenge other Pokémon.

As such, because of his lack of bravery the flock had shunned him. They hadn't outright expelled him, they wouldn't go that far as he was still just a Rookidee, but he had no friends in it. He was just the Rookidee who was to cowardly to maximize his combat potential and as such was seen as a failure despite his flying skills.

Now things were bleak for him. The reason was because after what just happened he'd likely be unable to return to the flock. Not because they'd kick him out, more he'd flown too far from them and they wouldn't care enough to find him and just move on likely glad to finally have the weakling gone. To add to everything this whole situation wasn't even his own fault.

No, he was here because of the bravest, and in his opinion stupidest, Rookidee in the flock. That Rookidee always picked a fight with anything that crossed its path and today was no different, it had decided to go after a Cramorant that was searching for its usual prey and minding its own business. As such, the Cramorant got distracted and confused thinking that Rookidee was its prey and had targeted him. Why him in particular Rookidee couldn't say, likely wrong place at the wrong time, but he had and as such Rookidee had been forced to flee as fast as he could.

Alas, despite his speed, he was still smaller and weaker than Cramorant so it would only be a matter of time before the Gulp Pokémon got him. His only chance had been to keep flying in a straight line for as fast and as long as he could and hope that Cramorant forgot what it was doing and left him alone. That didn't happen and he'd been chased fully out of not just his flock's general area but Cramorant's as well, they were nowhere near the water now, but what had was even better, he'd flown right into a human and a strong one at that.

Rookidee didn't know much about humans, only what a few of the other Pokémon that the flock had interacted with had said but it was clear that they were not Pokémon. No, they were beings that brought the best out in Pokémon and many in the flock actually hoped to find a good human to take them in and train them up to make them even stronger and hopefully fully evolve over time. Rookidee himself was one such flock member but he never thought he'd get the chance.

Now, though, he'd flown face first into that chance, literally. This human had protected him from Cramorant without thinking and then used the Pokémon with him, some kind of strange electric mouse-like Pokémon that wasn't a Morpeko but similar to one, to fry Cramorant and save him. Rookidee knew enough to know that a Cramorant was super weak to electric type attacks but still, it had been an impressive hit and it had either knocked the Cramorant out or scrambled it so much that it forgot what it was here for and left.

Either way was good to Rookidee. He'd been saved by this kind human, and he could tell that this human was kind, and so he made the decision then and there. No matter what it took, he'd go with this human and with a human he'd finally be able to get stronger.

As such, and after a few long seconds, he let out a series of chirps and cheeps in response to the human's questions answering him as to what he was doing, why he was fleeing, the shame he had at being weak, and that he was ok thanks to the human. Naturally, Ash didn't get any of this but the energetic nature of Rookidee got the message that he was ok across well enough so he let out a sigh of relief at that. Of course Pikachu understood and responded that it was good to hear.

Rookidee chirped at that and then addressed Pikachu and asked straight up to join them because he knew that humans could capture Pokémon and that's what he wanted. He did his best to look between Pikachu and Ash as he did so to get his point off but Pikachu got it right away. He wasn't surprised, Ash was amazing after all and he had this way and so if this Pokémon, Rookidee apparently, wanted to join them then he'd get Ash to listen and accept Rookidee into their ranks. Not that it would be hard of course.

"Pikachu." Pikachu said then turned to Ash. "Pikachu. Pi, pi, Pikachu."

"Huh?" Ash asked looking at Pikachu. "You understand Rookidee then?"

"Pikachu." Pikachu said with a nod.

"I take it that it's ok then." Ash said. "That's the impression that I got from it."

"Pikachu." Pikachu said with another nod.

"That's great to hear." Ash said smiling. "Now what does it want to do? Do we need to help it find its flock or something?"

"Pikachu." Pikachu said shaking his head and then pointed to Ash's belt and then turned to Rookidee and mimed throwing something at it to do his best to show what Rookidee wanted. "Pikachu. Pi, Pikachu, pi."

"Oh it wants me to catch it?" Ash asked surprised but getting what Pikachu was doing and Pikachu nodded in confirmation at that. "Well, I don't mind at all. It's got a lot of speed for sure and it's basically a tradition at this point that I catch either a region's bird or at least a flying type that is from that region seeing as I caught Rowlet in Alola so I don't see why not. Well Rookidee, do you want to join me?"

"Pikachu." Pikachu added explaining that Ash had accepted Rookidee's request. "Pi, Pikachu."

Rookidee let out a cheep of confirmation and happily jumped up and down thrilled that this human, Ash according to the electric mouse that was a Pikachu apparently, had accepted him. That was all the confirmation that Ash needed.

"Great!" Ash said as he pulled out an empty Poke Ball and enlarged it. "Let's do this then."

At that Ash tossed the Poke Ball underarm at Rookidee who leapt up and into it when Pikachu explained what it was. The moment that it hit Rookidee, who'd begun to flap his wings to get closer to it, it burst open and the Tiny Bird Pokémon was sucked into it in a flash of red. It then fell to the ground and began to shake and beep as the button flashed red. The Poke Ball did this three times before the telltale ding of a successful capture was heard.

As soon as that happened the ball shrunk and vanished. With his need to prepare for Raihan, Ash already had a full team on him as he'd brought the 5 Pokémon with him that he was considering alongside Pikachu which meant that Rookidee would be sent to wherever he was currently storing his Pokémon while on his current journey.

That was fine with Ash, he'd bring in Rookidee once his battle with Raihan was over and along with Florges, Grookey, Farfetch'd, Meltan, and Rowlet he'd rotate through his new captures and train them all up until he knew who his next training battle was going to be against. Naturally, Dawn's Contest would come first but the region they ended up in would dictate who Ash challenged to keep in shape, or who would challenge him for that matter, but between Raihan and then, well Ash had several new Pokémon to train up.

"Alright!" Ash shouted as he punched his fist into the air. "I caught a Rookidee!"

"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu said joining Ash in his celebration.

"Of course that happens on the way to Hammerlocke." Dawn said shaking her head but smiling as she did. "It just wouldn't be a trip to a new city if something like this didn't happen during it. Never stop being you Ash."

"Piplup." Piplup said in agreement.

"What can I say." Ash said a bit sheepishly as he turned and smiled at Dawn. "It just happens when I travel and not only to me."

"I know, your luck rubs off on the rest of us." Dawn said as she picked Piplup up and put him on her head now that the brief excitement of their journey to Hammerlocke was over. "Galar has certainly been interesting."

"That it has." Ash said as Pikachu leapt up and onto his shoulder. "A good adventure even if it's been pretty short but there is still one thing left to do here so let's get moving, Hammerlocke awaits us."

Dawn just smiled and nodded at that before she took his hand, their fingers interlocking, and they continued on along Route 7 to Hammerlocke. Their time in Galar was winding down to a close but before then Ash had one more battle that he couldn't wait for so the pair continued on their Galar journey walking towards what was almost certainly its climactic conclusion.

I think that's a good place to end this short, standard, transition chapter on. Nothing big, just a preparation for what's to come in Hammerlocke and a small capture to liven things up, standard really. I choose Rookidee because one of the things I felt that Journeys did wrong was not carry on Ash's tradition of catching a flying type that was introduced in that series' new region. Yes Farfetch'd is a bird but its also a pure fighting type and as Ash had caught the normal/flying type in all but Alola to that point, or an evolved form of one though all had the normal type as part of it, it just felt wrong that he didn't get a Rookidee. Yes it's a pure flying type but still, he's at least caught one of that type in each region so just like how he didn't get a Galarian starter, he should have gotten the bird Pokémon. That is why I gave him a Rookidee in Journeys and I'm sure we'll see more of it in the Parts to come. That's all that I have for this Part, however, so I will leave it off here. As always if you like my work then please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), if possible leave a review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time

Stringdog