"So, Ash," Lillie spoke, as the two of them, Dawn, and Athena were seating in the Pokémon Center, where they are having dinner. "What were you going for the last few day? I doubt that you've just set around, and though of what happened with those three, and the fossils they took."

Ash sighed. "You are right," he said. "I only did that the first day after I left. Yesterday, though… few things happened, and I was taking care of them."

"What happened?" Dawn asked.

"Well…" Ash started to say.

-Flashback-

Ash was walking through the Canalave City, still thinking of what happened yesterday, and at the same time, steaming with rage.

Those three have escaped him again, something that never happens unless he wants his enemy to escape. Yet, they were able to.

But that was the last time. The next time he runs into them, he will catch them for sure. That, he has promised to himself.

As Ash was walking, he was passing by some construction sight. Then, he noticed an interesting sight. A Luxio, Whismur and male Nidoran, run pass him with Luxio carrying some small bag in his teeth.

Whismur opened up a hole leading into the sewers, before Luxio jumped in, followed by Nidoran, and finally, Whismur jumped in, before the hole was closed.

Ash was really interested in this, as it seems that the three Pokémon have stolen something, and escaped into the sewer. It was a strange place to escape, as the Pokémon would usually escape into the forest, or a back alley. It's rare for them to go into the sewer.

The again, this is a City, so there might not be anywhere else for them to escape.

Normally, Ash wouldn't really be interested in stuff like this. But now, he needed some distraction, so he ended up opening the hole leading into the sewer, and entered inside down the iron stairs.

Once Ash entered inside the sewer, he found out that the place is enormous. There is a canal flowing through the place. There are lights on the ceiling, there are stairs on several places, probably leading to other entrances into the sewer. But there is no sight of the Pokémon he has just followed.

He looked around, and decided to head in a direction where he was sensing some Pokémon.

About 10 minutes later, Ash came around the corner, and found a Wailmer, surrounded by the three Pokémon he saw earlier. The large Water Type seems to be exhausted, and the three smaller Pokémon have brought it some food.

Seeing the situation, Ash realized that this Wailmer is most likely stranded on the side walk next to a canal, and can't return to the canal because it became lethargic once it went dry.

Ash watched as Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran, were trying to push Wailmer into the canal, but simply didn't have the strength to do it. As such, Ash decided to help them.

Ash walked toward the group of Pokémon, who have all turned around toward him once they heard his steps. All three looked at Ash with narrowed eyes, and threatening looks.

"Calm down," Ash told them. "I won't hurt any of you. I just want to help."

The three Pokémon didn't believe him, but they didn't attack him either. As such, Ash walked closer to Wailmer, placed his right hand on the Wailmer's body, and then pushed it.

Instantly, the large water Pokémon was inside of the canal, much to the surprise of Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran. They were surprised that Ash actually had physical strength to push a Pokémon of Wailmer's size and weight, as if it was nothing.

"There, all taken care of." Ash said as he looked toward the happy looking Wailmer inside of the canal, before he looked at the other three Pokémon, who were now standing next to him. They seemed satisfied that Wailmer is now in the canal, and that Ash didn't attack them, as he has promised.

"Now," Ash spoke again, drawing the four Pokémon's attention. "What happened here? How did Wailmer end up in this sewer?"

Wailmer explained that he got separated from the group of Wailord, and has fallen into the sewers through a canal.

Thinking of Wailord, Ash remembered that he has heard this morning that there is a large group of Wailord blocking the harbor. He planned to go there and check it out, but got side-tracked by Luxio, and the others. Now he understood why the Wailord are blocking the harbor. This also means that for them to leave, Wailmer will have to be returned to the group.

"There is a large group of Wailord blocking the harbor," Ash said to the Wailmer. "They are waiting you. Right?" Wailmer nodded at that.

Luxio said something to Wailmer, which Ash understood as 'follow me', before Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran walked down the side walk, while Wailmer swam through the canal.

Ash stood there and watched, before he simply decided to follow them, just in case his help is needed again.

They all walked – Wailmer swam – for another five minutes, when suddenly, they came to a large chamber in the sewers, and what Ash saw there, surprised him a lot.

There was a REALLY large number of Pokémon in the chamber. There were Zubat, and Mothim, then there were Teddiursa, which were standing on the upper level of the chamber, next to some old furniture, broken TV's, some lamps, and a whole bunch of other old stuff.

Then there were Rattata, male and female Nidoran, and Venonat. There were several Spheal in the canal. There were a shit load of Pokémon, and it seems that they are all living in the sewer. Then again, it seems to be one clean sewer, when Pokémon can freely swim in the canals.

Ash looked at Luxio, who was surrounded by some Nidoran, and Rattata. They all seemed happy at that moment. "I guess you are their leader, right?" Ash questioned Luxio, who nodded.

"I got to say, I'm impressed by this place, and all of you," Ash said. "You are all living here, helping each other, and away from any danger."

He looked around at all Pokémon for a few moments, while thinking of something. Finally, he nodded at himself, and then looked at Luxio. "Let's see how we can help Wailmer get back to his family and friends."

Luxio nodded, before it led Ash toward a small waterfall at the canal. Ash looked at it, and then at Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran. "I doubt you would have been able to get Wailmer up there all by yourselves."

Luxio lowered its head at that. It doesn't like it, but it was certain that Ash was right.

"I guess it's up to me to get Wailmer up there," Ash said, getting everyone's attention. He motioned to Wailmer to come closer to him, so he won't have to enter into the canal. Once Wailmer was just next to Ash, and Ash was standing at the edge of the canal, Ash grabbed Wailmer with both of his hands, squeezed his soft body, to get a firm grip, and then lifted the Pokémon which was over twice his weight, and tossed him at the top of the canal.

Once that was done, Ash cleaning up his hands by slapping them on each other, before he looked at the trio of Pokémon next to him. They were all looking at him with wide eyes, and jaws on the floor.

"What?" Ash asked them.

"What do you mean, 'WHAT'," Luxio yelled at Ash! "How did you do that?"

"Oh, that," Ash realized what the problem was. "I can use Aura to do many things. Enhancing my body is one of the things I can do."

Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran were surprised that someone like Ash exists. Wailmer was just as surprised as its three smaller friends.

"Come on," Ash said. "Let's continue, and get Wailmer out of here."

Luxio nodded.

XXX

Minutes later, they were at another waterfall on the canal. Ash groaned when he saw this. "How in the hell did you get all the way down here?" Ash questioned, though he wasn't really expecting an answer from Wailmer.

"Can you throw Wailmer all the way up there?" Luxio asked Ash.

"I should be able to." Ash said. This shouldn't be that hard, though the waterfall was considerably larger than the last one.

He went and grabbed Wailmer just like earlier, then his eyes seemed to glow for a moment, before Ash lifted the Pokémon, and tossed him into the air. The large ball Pokémon shot at the top of the waterfall at the speed comparably to a volley ball hit by a volleyball player.

"Well, that was easy." Ash said with a smirk, again clapping his hands off each other to clear them of water. He ignored more shocked looks from Luxio, Whismur, and Nidoran.

XXX
Not long later, Ash, Luxio and Wailmer noticed the light at the end of the tunnel. They knew what that means. It means that they are about to exit the sewers, and Wailmer will be able to go back to his family.

Luxio suddenly shocked Ash, drawing his attention. Ash looked at the Pokémon, and noticed the look on his face. It was a look of worry. "Is something going on?" Ash asked.

Before Luxio could respond, they heard noise coming from up the canal, where the exit is.

Ash looked, and noticed a Pokémon swimming toward them. Upon a closer look, he realized that it was a Swampert.

Swampert came out of the water, and stood in front of Ash, and Luxio. It glared at them, then, without even saying anything, Swampert fired a Mud Shot at Ash and Luxio.

Both moved to the side, and avoided the attack, before they looked back at Swampert.

"Are we in the middle of Swampert' territory?" Ash asked Luxio, who nodded.

Ash tried to reason with Swampert, but the water/ground type didn't listen and attacked again. Seeing this, Ash sighed, before he called out his Grotle. He told him to use Razor Leaf. The grass type followed the request, and hit Swampert with his attack.

Swampert fell like a sack of potatoes.

"Well, that was easy." Ash said, and was about to walk forward, but then he looked at Swampert, and pulled out an empty Poke Ball. He threw it at the water/ground type, and easily caught him.

Ash picked up the Poke Ball, but then it shrunk down, as it was his 13th Pokémon he has with him, while he can have 12 at maximum.

Then, Ash and Luxio walked forward, while Wailmer followed through the canal. Soon, they were out of the sewers, and were able to see the harbor.

"Go on, Wailmer," Ash told to the Water Type Pokémon. "You can reunite with your family now."

Wailmer cheered, before it started to swim away. Soon enough, Wailmer exited the harbor, and swam toward the sea.

Ash and Luxio stood and watched as Wailmer left. Once they couldn't see it any longer, Ash looked at Luxio, and said. "Say," Luxio heard Ash, and looked up at him. "I have an offer for you. Are you willing to listen?"

Luxio looked at Ash with curious eyes.

-Flashback end-

"What was the offer?" Lillie asked from where she was seating by the desk in the Pokémon Center cafeteria. Dawn was on her left, while Athena on her right. Ash was on the other side of the desk, across from Lillie.

"Well, seeing as they were all living down in the sewers, I came to an idea to offer them to come and live in the PPA," Ash said. "They are fine down in the sewers, and seem to care about each other, as well as help each other, but they are definitely having problems for the food. In the PPA, they won't have that problem because on top of all the food that there is in PPA, my family is also regularly buying all that's necessary, and even the Pokémon League is investing the money in the PPA, as they think that it's a great idea."

"I agree that it was a great idea to offer them to go to the PPA,' Lillie said. "But did they accept it?"

"It took me a while to convince them," Ash said. "But in the end, they did accept. When they did, and I remembered how many of them were down there, I realized that I don't have enough empty Poke Balls for all of them. Thus, I went to the Poké Mart, and bought 100 new Poke Balls. I didn't need that many, because there weren't a hundred Pokémon down there, only about 60, but I will need them for another time, so I bought them now.

"Anyway, once I caught all of them, it took me sometime to send them all to Oak's Ranch, as with my Rotom Pokedex, I could do that – but you know that already – though I could only send one at the time. Thus, it took a while to get all that over."

Seeing that Ash has finished with his explanation, Dawn said. "You certainly had an eventful day."

"I did," Ash said. "Then again, that was only the first half of the day. Another thing happened about 15 minutes after I sent the last Pokémon to Professor Oak's Lab."

"Was is something bad?" Lillie asked.

"Unfortunately, yes." Ash said, making Lillie and Dawn worried, while Athena was curious.

"What happened?" Dawn asked.

"I got a call from Riley," Ash said, getting raised eyebrows from all three girls. They knew that Riley is Ash's uncle, so they wondered why that is a bad news... unless.

"Did something happened to him, or someone else in your family?" Lillie asked.

"No, nothing happened to my family, or him," Ash said. "Well, not entirely. Something happened to him, but he is fine. You see, Riley is primarily a Steel Type Pokémon Trainer, and he loves to spend time on Iron Island. He loves it there, and his Pokémon love it, so he's often there. He has been there for a while now, and he called me yesterday to inform me of something that happened on Iron Island the day before yesterday."

"What happened?" Dawn asked. Again.

"Well, apparently, Team Galactic showed up there, and pulled some crap, like they usually do." The girls all looked surprised by that. Even Athena. She knew who Team Galactic is, but she acted like she didn't in order to not draw Ash's attention. "There are some ruins on Iron Island called, Iron Ruins. They have some connection to Dialga and Palkia, so Team Galactic used the ruins, and some machine in order to search for something. Riley wasn't very specific on what, as he isn't sure.

"Anyway, the machine they were using was releasing a low frequency soundwaves, which were affecting the Steel Type Pokémon. It was making them feel great pain, which caused them to go berserk.

"Riley knew right then and there that he needs to do something in order to save all those Pokémon, and stop Team Galactic from doing whatever they were planning. While there, he run into Barry, who ended up helping Riley, so the two of them were able to stop Team Galactic. Unfortunately, when Riley had almost all of them captured, one of them threatened to blow up the whole island, if he didn't let them go.

"So, yeah… they got away, and Riley is feeling bad about it, just like I'm feeling for letting those three escape from me."

"Damn," Lillie spoke. "That Team Galactic. They are everywhere."

"They are," Ash said. "And Riley had a bunch of them captured, only to have to release them. You can't imagine how it feels like when an enemy escapes you like that."

"How did he capture them all?" Dawn asked. "They aren't slouches, from what we've seen of them so far."

"Riley is Elite Trainer," Ash said. "A Champion level, actually. Rare few can defeat him in battle, not to mention he's also an Aura Guardian, just like my dad, and I are.

"You see. The difference between me and Riley is that I'm stronger, but he is more focused. I like to play with my enemies. I like to find out more about them, to let them escape sometimes. I even hide my abilities most of the time. With Riley, it's the opposite. He doesn't care about his opponents. He doesn't care about their Pokémon, their skills. He goes for the kill right from the start."

Ash noticed the looks of horror on the faces of all three girls when he said 'kill', so he added. "When I say 'kill', I don't mean that literally. I mean he takes them out right away and without messing around. All but one member of Team Galactic, and all of their Pokémon were captured by Riley, in less then five minutes. If not for that last one threatening to blow up the island with all of them on it, they would all be in jail right now. Unfortunately, Riley didn't want to risk it, and gamble that they are bluffing, so he let them all go."

"That's a shame," Dawn said. "Now they can continue to do what they want, so the threat of Team Galactic summoning Dialga and Palkia is still present."

"Exactly." Ash said.

"Would they be able to escape if you were there?" Lillie asked.

"Doubtful," Ash said. "If I was there with Riley, I would be more focused on catching them. I wouldn't play around. As such, even with their threat, they wouldn't be able to escape."

"How would you stop them, when your uncle couldn't?" Athena spoke for the first time since Ash started telling what he was doing for the last two days.

"Riley can only use Aura," Ash said. "I can use Psychic powers as well. I would be able to read their minds and know if they are bluffing. I would also be able to use my Psychic powers and take the remote controller they were threatening to use to blow up the island. Neither Riley, nor I can do that with Aura powers. I can only do that with Psychic powers."

"I see." Athena said in understanding.

"So what happened next?" Dawn asked.

Ash scoffed. "Riley knew that when Team Galactic left the island, they would try and blow it up anyway. So he went to where the bombs were, and along with his Lucario, they were able to capture the explosions in an Aura Barrier, which they launched into the sky, thus preventing the destruction of the Iron Island, and deaths of all those on it."

"Those Team Galactic criminals are a real garbage." Lillie growled in anger.

"They are," Ash agreed. "But don't worry. They will fail what they are planning to do. I'll make sure of that."

"What about Barry," Dawn asked. "Is he ok?"

"He's fine," Ash said. "He is the one who broke the machine Team Galactic was using, while Riley took care of Team Galactic members and their Pokémon."

"Good for him," Lillie said. "I guess his training is paying off."

"Probably," Ash said. "He's likely to come here and challenge Byron very soon."

"Will Riley come here," Lillie asked. "Since Iron Island is close to here, he could come for you to see each other. Or are we going to go there?"

"Neither will happen," Ash said. "Carolina, Cynthia's grandmother arrived at the Iron Island right after Team Galactic escaped, and the island was safe. She's planning to do some research on the Iron Ruins, and asked Riley to help her. Naturally, he accepted, so he doesn't have time to come here.

"As for us going there, I don't really see a reason… unless of course you want to go there."

Lillie and Dawn looked at each other, before they both shrugged. "We are fine," Dawn said. "I would rather go as soon as possible to the Chocovine Town, so I don't get late for the contest."

"I agree," Lillie said. "There is nothing of interest for me on Iron Island, so it would be a waste of time to go."

"Well, I would like to go," Dawn added. "I want to see all those Steel Types. But not now. I'll go some other time."

"Well, if that's your decision." Ash said. "I guess Chocovine Town is next. Then we are off to Snowpoint City."

Lillie, and Dawn nodded in agreement.

Ash looked at Athena, and asked her. "What about you? Are you heading to the Snowpoint City for your next badge?"

"Actually, I'll go to the Hearthome City first, then I'll go to the Snowpoint City." Athena said.

Ash nodded. He knew that Athena doesn't have Hearthome City badge, so it's natural that she would go there first, before she heads to Snowpoint City.

Once they all finished their dinner, they went to their bedrooms, to have a nice rest, before they restart their journey in the morning.

XXX

A man in a black cloak and a hood was standing at a destroyed meadow, among a large number of Nosepass, and Probopass.

Over a dozen Rock Type Pokémon look-like they've been defeated and are now lying on the ground. Along with them, there is another Pokémon. It was none other than the Mythical Pokémon, Deoxys.

Deoxys is also defeated, as incredible as that sounds. It was lying on the ground, bruised up, and defeated, but unwilling to just give up. It was trying to stand back up, but was unsuccessful.

Next to the man, stood a large, and menacing-looking Garchomp. It seems that it was Garchomp that the man has used to defeat all those Rock Types, as well as a Deoxys.

The man approached to the Deoxys, and looked down at its struggling form. "You can struggle as much as you want," the man said. "But you are defeated. And that's that." With that said, the man took an empty Poke Ball, and tapped on the Deoxys head.

The Mythical Pokémon was sucked inside of the Poke Ball, which wiggled several times, until it finally it stopped, meaning that Deoxys has been captured.

From there on, the man went and captured all those Nosepass, and Probopass. Once he was finished, he stood with his Garchomp at the destroyed meadow, while looking up at the full moon.

The moonlight fell on his face, revealed who it is. It was none other than Tobias. The man who fought against Ash in the semifinals of the Indigo League while using a team of five Legendary Pokémon, and his Garchomp, and still lost, after which, Ash took Tobias's trainers license because of how he was treating his own Pokémon, except Garchomp.

"It's good to be back on track," Tobias said as he was looking at the full moon. "The day for my revenge is coming, Ash Ketchum. Just you wait." Tobias laughed loudly as he looked at the glowing form of the moon.

XXX

Ash, Lillie and Dawn took a ferry ride from the Canalave City the day after Ash's and Lillie's gym battles against Byron; and very quickly arrived at their next destination; That being the Chocovine Town, where Dawn's next contest is going to be held.

They have left Canalave in the early morning, and have arrived in Chocovine Town by the end of the day. The Chocovine Contest, wasn't going to be for another three days since they arrived, so the gang had time to explore the small Town, and also to train their Pokémon.

Right now, Dawn is at the battlefield behind the Pokémon Center, and is doing the last minute training and preparations for tomorrow's Chocovine Contest.

She was training with her Pachirisu, who was using Discharge, while making it look powerful, and nice. Piplup was standing next to Dawn, cheering for Pachirisu, and acting like a coach for a small electric type, along with Dawn.

Off to the side, Ash, and Lillie were standing, along with Dawn's recently retuned, Ambipom, and were watching Dawn training with her Pokémon. "Pachirisu has become quite good with her electric attacks." Lillie commented.

"Yeah, Luxio has been helping her from time-to-time." Ash said.

Dawn's Mamoswine was also out of his Poke Ball, but he was sleeping under a three, without any care for the training Dawn is doing with her other Pokémon.

Dawn has tried for the last few days to get to her Mamoswine, to prove herself to him, but the damn thing just doesn't seem to care. As such, Dawn has left him alone for now, and will let him come to her when he is ready, and when he realizes that Dawn is a very good trainer, who cares about him.

After some time of training, Pachirisu set on the ground, all tired. Dawn saw this, and decided to reward her Pokémon for her hard work, by giving her some of the famous puffins she is making for all of her Pokémon.

Dawn's Pachirisu, Piplup, Ambipom, and Buneary (also returned to the team), and Cubone were all happy for a snack.

"Everyone, stay in the line, and wait for your turn." Dawn said to her Pokémon, as she pulled out one of her puffins. At that moment, her Mamoswine charged at her full-speed, and sent her flying high, while the puffins flew with her.

They all dropped back to the ground, Mamoswine eating all the falling Puffins, while Dawn was caught by her Pokémon before she could fall on the ground.

"That Mamoswine is going to seriously injure Dawn one of this days if he keeps charging at her like that." Lillie commented.

Ash scoffed, as he looked at where Mamoswine has went back to sleep. "He better not if he knows what's good for him." Ash said, a small flash in his eyes going unnoticed by everyone.

Mamoswine though, felt chills going through his body, but didn't know why. He just had a feeling of dreed, and felt like it has something to do with Dawn.

Pachirisu noticed one puffin was still left, and is lying on the ground. She quickly run to get it, wide smile on her face, but before she could take the puffin, someone stepped on it, much to Pachirisu's shock. The shock then turned to demonic anger, as she glared at Gabite, standing in front of her.

A teenage girl, around Lillie's age, approached from the side.

"Gabite, what are you doing?" The girls asked, but then she noticed a Pachirisu standing in front of her Gabite, with her cheeks sparkling with electricity.

Dawn saw her Pachirisu is angry, and ready to attack, so she tried to stop her. Tried, but failed, as Pachirisu jumped away from Dawn, and then much to Dawn's surprise, she used Super Fang on Gabite.

"What was that?" Dawn asked.

"That was a Super Fang." Lillie said as she approached to Dawn. "Must have pulled it off as she got mad at Gabite for stepping on the puffin.

Dawn picked up her Pachirisu, and told her to calm down, but she got shocked for her troubles.

"You clearly didn't do a good job raising that Pachirisu." The unknown girl said to Dawn, as she rubbed Gabite's neck.

Dawn got up, and said. "Look under Gabite's foot, and you'll understand what's going on."

The girl did just that, as her Gabite raised his leg, only to see a crushed puffin on its foot. She saw this, and freaked out.

"Gabite stepped on the puffin," Lillie said. "It's not our fault."

Dawn let it go, and tried to have Pachirisu apologize for attacking Gabite. Pachirisu turned her head to the side. There was no way she was doing that.

"If all this is about a Puffin, then here you go," the girl said, as she pulled out one of her own puffins, and held it in front of Pachirisu. "No Pokémon can resist my puffins."

Pachirisu cheered up, and sniffed the puffin, only to turn her head away. She didn't like it.

"The nerve." The girl seemed shocked.

"Please, don't get the wrong idea." Dawn said, as she moved her Pachirisu away from the girl. "My Pachirisu just loves my puffins, and I'm sure you know that there are many recipes for puffins for many different Pokémon."

The girl noticed Piplup, and then she remembered something. "You've competed at the last Wallace Cup, didn't you?" The girl asked Dawn.

"I did." Dawn said.

"I knew it," the girl said. "I think that you winning that contest was a total accident."

Her words surprised Lillie, and angered Dawn. "Were you at the contests as well?" Dawn asked the girl, while her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, I was there," the girl said. "My name is Ursula. Of course, as I was eliminated in the first round, you wouldn't remember me." She seemed angry. "I still can't believe that someone like you won the Wallace Cup."

"She won due to her skills." Lillie said to Ursula.

"You are right," Ursula said. "Thanks to her I started working doubly hard. To become even better, more beautiful, more graceful coordinator.

"You know, I should thank you for defeating me, Dawn. Because of you, I'm where I am today." She laughed like some witch.

"Why won't she just drop it?" Lillie wondered, while Dawn nodded.

"How many ribbons do you have, Dawn?" Ursula asked.

"I've got three." Dawn said.

"That's the same as me," Ursula said. "As you are here, I guess you'll be in the contest tomorrow. I can't wait to see what kind of graceful moves you've been working on. Just so you know… you won't win twice." Ursula said before she walked away, leaving Dawn, and Lillie behind.

At that moment, Ash approached to his girlfriend, and friend. He has stayed behind, so he doubts that Ursula has even noticed him.

"What's up with that girl?" Ash questioned.

"She's jealous." Lillie said

"Right." Ash drawled.

XXX

The day of the Chocovine Contest has finally arrived. The arena is full of the crowd who are all cheering in anticipation for the contest.

Marian is announcing the contest, as she's usually doing, while the coordinators are getting ready in the backstage.

Ash and Lillie are standing at the bottom of the bleachers, near a tunnel. Dawn's Mamoswine is there, seemingly sleeping, while Piplup, and Ambipom are trying to wake him up, so he can watch Dawn compete.

Soon, the contest has officially started, with Dawn being the first coordinator. She called out her Buneary, and the two made an amazing show, where Buneary created a beautiful spiraling slide of ice. It almost looked like a Christmas tree. Then, Buneary slid down, before she jumped back up on the top of the slide.

The crowd and the judges loved Dawn's and Buneary's show.

XXX

Many other coordinators went next, and had their own presentation. Jessie was among them. She has put on quite a show with her Yanmega, and the crowd loved it.

Ursula went right after, and had her own presentation. Once she finished, she walked off the battlefield, and into the backstage.

As she was walking, she heard noises coming from one of the room. She decided to see what it was, so she slowly and quietly opened the door. Not enough to be noticed, but enough to be able to hear better what's going on inside.

She looked inside the room, and noticed Jessie, along with a boy she recognized immediately from when he entered the Wallace Cup, only to give up in the quarterfinals against a trainer he has practically had defeated already.

It was Ash Ketchum, and Ursula blushed when she saw him again.

"Now, there are a lot of red-haired woman around," Ash spoke. "But there is only one talking Meowth, and he comes along with one specific red-haired woman… You."

"I didn't do anything." Jessie said with a voice which was full of fear. It wasn't that hard for Ursula to notice that, as the fear in voice, went along with the fear shown on Jessie's face. She looked, and sounded like as if she was standing in front of the devil. "When Cresselia said that she doesn't want to battle, or be caught, I stayed to the side. It was Meowth who attacked her. I didn't tell him anything."

"I know," Ash said. "Cresselia herself explained to me what happened."

Jessie was shocked that Ash is the one who found Cresselia after she escaped. As for Ursula, she was shocked that Ash and Jessie are talking about the Legendary Pokémon as if it was nothing, and even speaking of how a talking Meowth fought against Cresselia and made her run away injured.

"When I found her, I took her to the Pokémon Center," Ash said. "Once she recovered, she explained to me what happened. She wanted you, and Meowth to pay for what you've done, and I really wanted to fulfill her desires. Unfortunately, I had to tell her that YOU can't be charged with anything, as it's not a crime to try and catch a Legendary, or a Mythical Pokémon, and that it's only frowned upon. As for Meowth; he is a Pokémon himself, and he attacked Cresselia of his own free will. As such, he can't be accused of anything, either.

"So you see, Cresselia was most displeased, and I wasn't any better."

"So what do you want with me?" Jessie asked.

"I know that you are with the Shadow Legion," Ash said, much to Jessie's shock, and Ursula's confusion, as she didn't know what the Shadow Legion is. She can assume that it's nothing good, judging by the name alone. "The Shadow Legion is at the top of my shit-list, which means that all of its members are going to suffer in one way or another once I get my hands on them. The only reason I haven't kicked your ass back into jail, is because you haven't actually done anything criminal… not entirely anyway. If I accuse you of being a member of the criminal organization, I'm sure that you will be out very soon, as there is no evidence that you've done anything.

"But do know this, Jessie… one day, you will do something, and I will be there to catch you, and throw your ass back into jail. And this time… you won't get out." As he said this, Ash was holding Jessie by the neck, while pressed on the wall.

He looked into her eyes for a few more seconds, before he let her go, and walked away from her, and out of the room.

Once Ash was out of the room, he looked around, and didn't see anyone, but he knew that there was someone who was spying on him, and Jessie. "It seems that little girl is more than just a loudmouth." He said with a smile. He knew exactly who is was that was spying on him.

XXX

"Where is Ash?" Dawn asked while she was standing with all her Pokémon which she had with her, as well as Lillie. They were at the edge of the tunnel where Ash and Lillie have been at since the start of the appeal round.

"I don't know," Lillie said. "He said he has to take care of something, so he just left."

"Hm, I wonder what it is." Dawn said.

The two of them then commented about Ursula and her appeal round. Dawn was impressed by her new rival.

"Surprised, are we," Ursula's voice was heard, making Dawn, and Lillie look to the side, only to see the said girl and her Gabite. "Time after time, we've been cut-out after only the first round. Not this time, though. From all that applause, and cheering voices, it looks like our efforts are finally paying off."

"The same goes for us, you know." Dawn said.

"Wouldn't it be sweet if we faced off in the finals?" Ursula asked, before she walked away, without even waiting for Dawn's reply, and all while laughing.

XXX

Soon after, the eight coordinators who will be competing in round two, have been revealed. Dawn, Jessie, and Ursula were all among them, but that wasn't a big surprised, judging by how well they did in the appeal round.

"Thank you, Buneary." Dawn thanked her Pokémon for doing an amazing job, and getting her into the second round.

"Way to go, Dawn." Ash said, as he walked toward Dawn, Lillie, and Dawn's Pokémon.

"Where were you?" Lillie asked Ash.

"Oh, I just had to talk with someone about something," Ash said, while waiving off with his hand. "Don't worry about it."

Knowing Ash, Lillie was sure that she should worry, but decided to let it go for now.

XXX

Dawn, Jessie, and Ursula won their quarterfinal battles, and went into the semifinal. There, Ursula managed to defeat Jessie, and her Yanmega, getting into the final round by doing that.

In the second semifinal, Dawn defeated her opponent using her Pachirisu, which means that she will face off against Ursula in the final match of the Chocovine Contest.'

XXX

"The Chocovine Contest moves into its final round," Marian spoke! "We present our two coordinators! To my left, it's Dawn! And to my right, Ursula!"

Ash, and Lillie, along with Dawn's Pokémon were at their old position, and were cheering for her. Well, most of them were cheering. Mamoswine is watching with one eye opened, but was quiet. As for Ash, he was also quiet, as the loud cheering isn't really his style. He is supporting Dawn, anyway, and she knows that, even though she can't hear him.

"Have you decided to watch Dawn competing," Ash asked Mamoswine, without even looking at him? He has noticed the opened eye, already. Mamoswine looked at Ash, before he closed the eye, and went back to sleep. "You should you know. Maybe one day you'll decide to prove yourself to Dawn, instead of just eating and sleeping."

Mamoswine said nothing at that.

Neither did Lillie, or the other of Dawn's Pokémon, who were there.

"BEGIN!" Marian started the final match.

(The battle went just as it did in the anime, so I won't write it)

XXX

Dawn won the Chocovine Contest, and was presented with her fourth ribbon, much to hers, and her Pokémon's happiness.

This means that she only needs one more ribbon, and there is still months left until the Grand Festival, so she has more than enough time to get that last ribbon.

Ursula was walking down the corridor with her Gabite, thinking of her loss against Dawn. She was also thinking of what she saw and heard earlier.

As she was thinking of all that, she almost missed Ash leaning on the wall, several meters in front of her.

"So," Ash spoke, drawing Ursula's attention. She stopped walking, and looked at Ash. "You like to spy on others, don't you?" This was said with a smirk on his face.

Ursula realized that Ash knows she has seen him and Jessie earlier. She wondered how he knows, because she was sure that she wasn't seen, or heard behind the door.

"What are you talking about?" She pretended to not know what Ash was speaking of.

Ash smiled at her question, before he moved away from the wall, and walked toward Ursula. She wondered what Ash is going to do, while her Gabite was glaring at Ash, ready to attack him any moment if necessary.

When he was right next to her, Ash leaned forward, and when his face was right next to her blushing face, he said. "Don't spy on other people's conversations from now on. Next time, you might hear something very bad, and you would be in danger." When he said that, he kissed her on the cheek, much to her shock, as her face exploded from the huge blush.

Ash walked away without saying anything else, but he had a satisfied smirk on his face.

XXX

The reason I didn't have Ash go to the Iron Island, is because I couldn't make it believable that Team Galactic would be able to escape from Riley, AND him, while there. Team Galactic escaping Riley because they threatened to destroy the island, is possible, but they wouldn't be able to escape with Ash there, even with the threat of them blowing up the island.

As such, I decided to skip it, and only mention how Riley and Berry saved the island, the Steel Type Pokémon, and stopped Team Galactic.

As for Team Galactic, they accomplished pretty much the same things they did in the anime, so nothing changes there.