Hello, everyone, and welcome back to another exciting chapter of "A Long Distance Ship"! And I know what you are thinking... why are you positng this chapter on a Wednesday? Don't you publish new ALDS chapters on Mondays and Fridays? Well, yes I do. However, today is November 1st, 2023, which means it is the first day of Pokeshipping Week! So to celebrate our favorite couple, I will be uploading not one, but SEVEN new chapters throughout Pokeshipping Week for you all to read! And we have some great episodes to cover in today's chapter... and by great, for the last one I mean "my fifth least favorite episode of Season 7". Anyways, I hope you all enjoy!

ashketchum497
To: misskwaterflower049
Subject: Vs. Wattson (again)

Hey there, Misty. May, Max, Brock, and I are back in Mauville City. We decided that we would hit the Petalburg City gym next, but not before making a stop here in Mauville City. It was quite the journey to get here, as we ended up taking Brock's bright idea of a shortcut through an area called the Valley of Steel. It ended up getting us more lost, but at least there was some good that came out of the "shortcut", as we ended up helping out a Torkoal, which ended up joining my team of Pokémon. We eventually reached Mauville City, where we reunited with Wattson and the two of us had a rematch of our battle. And while it didn't go as smoothly as I wanted it to go (as proven by the highlights in Torkoal's first ever battle by my side), I still think it went a lot better than the last battle. Oh, and we also learned that there is going to be a contest taking place in Verdanturf Town, so we are going to be taking a detour over there on our way to Petalburg City. Anyways, I should be there when I talk to you next time, Misty.

Ash

misskwaterflower049
To: ashketchum497
Subject: Vs. Wattson (again)

Hey Ash! I am glad to hear that you have managed to get a new Pokémon for your team and that he is fitting in well. And I am glad to hear that you finally had that rematch with Wattson that you agreed on having all the way back before we reunited for the first time. But after watching the battle… yeah, that did not go well for your new Pokémon at all, Ash. Torkoal barely had the same level of experience your other Pokémon had, being literally the most recently captured Pokémon. But that wasn't even the biggest problem that cost you the battle. You over relied on Overheat to take out Manectric… the same mistake that cost Flannery, as in, the gym leader you faced before your rematch with Wattson, the gym battle! Still, I hope that things go better for your Torkoal in the future, and it doesn't continue to suffer such humiliating losses. Hope you make it to Verdanturf Town safely!

Misty