ã€ŠYou&#x27;re My Inspirationã€‹


 The Arrival and Departure of a Certain Hero

    How, dammit?!?

    Bianca was absolutely sure she hadn¡¯t been followed, and yet the moment she passed through the illusionary wall right next to her house, she heard a voice coming from deeper inside.

    The voice of a boy; an all too familiar sounding boy.

    With a concerned frown, she quickly marched her way down the steps, making her way in the direction of the voice. There she could see the boy in question looking at an uncloaked Latios, with Latias between the two in her disguise. Oddly, it seemed she was protecting the stranger and his Pikachu, which didn¡¯t particularly calm her, as Latios was clearly furious with the stranger. She quickly made her way over to them, calling out in a challenging voice, ¡°What¡¯s going on here? What are you doing to Latios?¡±

    The boy turned to face her with an open mouth of confusion, and she took a moment to properly inspect him. His eyes were a warm chocolate, and his black hair was a wild mess barely held in check by his hat. A simple blue and white striped shirt sat on his frame.

    He hardly looked villainous, but she wasn¡¯t going to find him to be innocent without an interrogation.

    ¡°Well?¡± She demanded, continuing to glare at him. He quickly waved his hands as he pleaded, ¡°Hold on a second! We weren¡¯t doing anything, really! We just followed this girl here.¡± He gestured with both hands down to the Pikachu at his side, which Bianca ignored in favor of flicking her gaze over to Latias before looking back at him as he continued. ¡°This is my friend, Pikachu.¡±

    ¡°Pika-chu!¡±

    He turned back to her with an earnest look as he introduced himself. ¡°And I¡¯m Ash, I¡¯m a Pokemon trainer.¡±

    In an instant, both her and Latios were on guard. If he was a trainer, he had to go.

    She took a couple of steps back as she hardened her glare. ¡°Oh really?¡± She happened to see Latias¡¯ expression shift away from her friendly demeanor to one of confusion at her words, before turning to horror as Bianca looked to Latios and commanded, ¡°Alright, Latios, get him!¡±

    However, even as Latios gave a loud cry, a voice shouted from behind them, ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡±

    Flinching, Bianca turned to see her grandfather behind her, looking stern as he walked up to them. ¡°Bianca, Latios. I¡¯m sure this young man means no harm,¡± he chided them. She stared at him in outrage, hardly believing he could be defending the trainer. Didn¡¯t he stress not to let anyone find out about the Garden her entire life?

    ¡°But Grandpa, they were-¡± she began to protest.

    ¡°Hey, I know you!¡± The intruder behind her exclaimed. Annoyed with the interruption, she nevertheless continued. ¡°But they-¡±

    ¡°Shh!¡± He hushed her with a gesture, and she stared helplessly at him. How could he not see the problem here? This trainer was clearly trespassing! Frustrated, she could only watch as he looked past her and asked in a friendly tone, ¡°It¡¯s okay; Latias, do you want to play with your new friends?¡±

    Stunned with disbelief, she turned to see Latias smile and nod happily before her friend took Ash¡¯s hand and ran past them, pulling the hapless trainer along with her. He expressed his confusion as they ran around the corner of the pool and to the swing, nonetheless allowing her to set him down on it.

    As Bianca and her grandfather slowly followed, she watched as Latias hopped on the back of the swing, illusionary feet on either side of Ash¡¯s rear as she grabbed the ropes and began swinging the both of them. Seemingly taking this in stride, the trainer looked over his shoulder and asked in a curious tone, ¡°Hey, no offense, but I thought Latias was the name of a Pokemon?¡±

    Her grandfather stifled a chuckle as Latias¡¯ smile grew, and her form shimmered and changed to that of her true appearance.

    With a cry of alarm, Ash jumped away from the swing and ended up face planting on the stone, making Bianca wince. Latias immediately zipped over and helped him sit up straight, hovering close as she inspected his face. At her concerned cries, the trainer grinned and reassured her, ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m okay! Thanks, a lot!¡±

    Pleased, Latias flew circles around him with joyful coos, and Bianca heard a remark from Lorenzo, ¡°She must have really taken a liking to this young man.¡± Biting her lip, she slightly nodded in agreement, now feeling a needle of guilt pricking her heart as her unease started slightly slipping away.

    Maybe I should have put more faith in Latias.

    Her friend wouldn¡¯t have dragged someone who wasn¡¯t trustworthy into her home, and her brother didn¡¯t particularly like anyone outside of their circle anyway. Now that she observed him with Latias, it was becoming clear that Ash wasn¡¯t someone with malicious intentions, but rather a good-hearted individual that her best friend clearly trusted.

    And someone that Bianca would have to apologize to.

    A nervous ¡°Pika¡± called her attention down to the electric type as he stood his ground against an approaching Latios. The blue dragon lowered his head to Pikachu in an apologetic manner, and the smaller Pokemon seemed to relax his own stance, giving the dragon a mild chitter in response.

    Now on friendlier terms, the two began talking in the language only they understood before Pikachu bolted up a tree and leaped from a branch onto Latias as she flew underneath. Bianca smiled as she watched for a few moments, then turned to see Ash still sitting in place as he watched his friend jump between the twins as they flew around.

    Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to patch things up.

    Walking over to the trainer, Bianca stopped in front of him and held out her hand in invitation. He brightened up immediately as he took her hand in his own and pulled himself up. Bianca almost fell forward, not prepared for his strength as he stood up.

    That is, until her eyes trained on his exposed arms and noticed there was a clear definition of muscles. While he wasn¡¯t exactly a bodybuilder, it was clear he was a very fit individual.

    Maybe Latias is a muscles kind of girl, Bianca thought with a flicker of amusement, letting go of his hand once he stood up straight.

    Brushing himself off, he smiled widely at her and nodded. ¡°Thanks!¡±

    She shook her head in reply and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do. I¡¯m Bianca, by the way. Sorry I almost attacked you before, Ash.¡±

    His smile grew as he flashed her a thumbs up. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Bianca. No harm, no foul. But, I  do have a few questions, though¡­.¡± Ash trailed off as he looked up towards the Pokemon playing just overhead.

    Her grandfather chuckled as he walked up from behind and stood next to them. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. I suppose you¡¯re wondering why Latias looked exactly like Bianca?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Ash confirmed, sounding intrigued.

    ¡°That¡¯s one of her powers,¡± Bianca began as she started to follow the edge of the pool, keeping an eye on the twins as they started flying ahead. ¡°She can take on the appearance of a human, and since we¡¯re best friends, she turns into me a lot,¡± she finished fondly, casting a look over her shoulder.

    Ash was listening to her intently, although Latias¡¯s cries made them both turn and watch as Pikachu jumped from the dragoness onto Ash¡¯s shoulder. The Pokemon greeted his trainer with a nuzzle before Latias swooped in and snatched the hat right off of Ash¡¯s head.

    Bianca giggled as Latias fled with it, while Ash started his pursuit with a laugh, ¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡±

    As she watched the two play in front of the pedestal¡¯s balcony, her grandfather joined her to her right and gave her an amused side-eye. ¡°I¡¯m glad you apologized to the young man. I¡¯m sure Latias is glad her new friend didn¡¯t get smeared into the ground by Latios.¡±

    Flushing, Bianca pouted. ¡°He followed me first, Grandpa. I thought he was a creep at first. Or a poacher.¡±

    ¡°He followed you, did he?¡± His tone of voice brought a small sense of dread to her, a feeling that turned to embarrassment as he continued. ¡°I did notice him staring at you in the museum during the little tour. Did my granddaughter catch the eye of a dashing young bachelor already?¡±

    ¡°Wh- what?  No, Grandpa!¡± Bianca cried in mortification as she snapped her gaze to the side. ¡°We just met, there is  no way-¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Ash¡¯s triumphant shout made her jump, and she turned to watch as the two continued to play, grateful for the distraction.  I¡¯m not going to just date the first stranger I get along with,  she thought with a small amount of annoyance.  I should have known he¡¯d try to pair me up with the first guy I met.

    Not that it mattered much, really. If he really were a tourist, then he likely wouldn¡¯t be staying long. Even if he turned out to be ¡°boyfriend material¡¯, they likely wouldn¡¯t see each other again after he left.

    Suddenly, Latios approached the two, bringing his sister¡¯s attention to him. As the two chirped at each other, Bianca moved forward until she stood next to Ash and saw the elder sibling¡¯s eyes glow, which surprised her.

    Does he really trust Ash enough to¡­?

    Bianca watched Latias turn and face her brother before her eyes began to glow as well. Latios then dove straight into the pool, and his sister floated down beside the three humans and Pikachu before producing a flash of light that lasted for but a moment.

    When it cleared, Bianca could see water all around her, along with the stone-walled canals as they appeared to rush by her.  Wow, he¡¯s actually willing to show him this.

    Next to her, Ash questioned in an astonished tone, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±

    Glancing over, she smiled and reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, Ash; Latios has the power to project to us exactly what he¡¯s seeing.¡±

    ¡°Sight sharing,¡± her grandfather said warmly. The inquisitive trainer tilted his head and repeated in wonder, ¡°Sight sharing¡­.¡±

    Even as they watched, Lorenzo continued to talk. ¡°It¡¯s a rare privilege to see through the eyes of Latios.¡±

    Bianca nodded and cast another look at the trainer. ¡°I guess Latios thinks he can really trust you and Pikachu, Ash.¡± As he nodded and stared ahead eagerly, she thought with a tinge of worry,  Just please don¡¯t ruin that trust, if only for Latias¡¯ sake.

    As she faced forward once more, she instinctively flinched as a group of Quagsire suddenly came into view as Latios turned the corner. Ash merely laughed in amazement. He glanced at Latias and said excitedly, ¡°Latias, this is amazing! Tell Latios we say ¡®thanks¡¯, okay?¡±

    Latias gave a single nod, and as the two turned to face forward again, Bianca let out a long breath. Maybe this really wasn¡¯t so bad after all.

    0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

    ¡°How long have you guys known Latios and Latias?¡± inquired Ash as the group stood over the various pictograms that sat overlooking the fountain.

    Bianca was quick to reply. ¡°Well, Grandpa has known them since they were babies.¡± She nodded to the etched stone as her grandfather explained further. ¡°I¡¯ve known them since their father brought the water to our town,¡± he answered solemnly, glancing at the twins dancing around them. ¡°He rescued the people from a life of terror, and left us with this beautiful water city. But I¡¯m afraid it was too much for him,¡± he finished with a melancholic tone.

    The twins circled around them, staying out of the way, although Bianca could hear Latias whining,  ¡°Come  on,  hurry up! I wanna play some more!¡±

    Biana subtly shook her head as she thought,  ¡°Multiple times older than I am, and she¡¯s acting like a bored Growlithe.¡±

    Neither Ash nor Pikachu seemed to notice as they nodded sympathetically, although Bianca got the feeling the trainer was itching to know about the deceased parent¡¯s actions. She took a breath before elaborating, ¡°He used all of his power to bring the water before he vanished into thin air.¡±

    ¡°But in his place was a beautiful crystal orb, called the Soul Dew, said to contain the spirit of Latios,¡± her grandfather continued with a nod.

    The trainer took a step closer and peered down at the pictograms. ¡°So their father died protecting the town, and his children became orphans¡­.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, Ash,¡± Gramps agreed with another nod. Then Ash peered closer at another pictogram, before starting in surprise, ¡°Hey, that looks like the Defense Mechanism that¡¯s in the museum!¡±

    Bianca flinched, although this went unnoticed by Ash. As her grandfather explained the machine in question, she shot a look at Latios, who met her gaze. She twitched her foot, something he caught as he nodded and gently entered her mind. His deep and melodic voice was slightly strained as he spoke.  ¡°You¡¯re worried. About the boy, and how much Lorenzo is telling him.¡±

    Bianca didn¡¯t bother nodding, instead replying,  ¡°Yeah, you could say that. I know Tia trusts him, and that he saved her and all. But to just¡­ spill everything like this¡­?¡±

    Latios glanced over at Ash and her grandfather as Latias continued to weave around, impatiently waiting to play with the trainer again.  ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ entirely trust Ash, yet. But-¡±  he paused before pushing on,  ¡°I¡¯m not picking up any bad vibes from him. And I don¡¯t think the pest has either, and she¡¯s better at that kind of thing than me.¡±

    She rolled her eyes at his name-calling, abstaining from acknowledging it as she quietly sighed.  ¡°That¡¯s true, I suppose¡­.¡±

    She noticed Ash straightening up and looking around, asking in an inquisitive tone, ¡°Hey, where  is the Soul Dew?¡±

    Bianca tensed, and she felt a slight tremor of worry from Latios as Gramps led the trainer over to the pedestal. Plastering on a slight smile, she followed them to the gem¡¯s resting place, watching as Ash peered closer. ¡°Woah, that¡¯s really cool.¡±

    Latios muttered to her in a serious tone,  ¡°If he so much as reaches for it, I¡¯m splattering him from one end of the city to the other.¡±

    She winced at the imagery but nodded nonetheless. Ash seemed like a good guy, but his life was not worth sparing compared to the thousands of lives that called Alto Mare their home.

    Thankfully, it seemed the trainer had no intentions of doing such a thing, and leaned back away from the jewel as her grandfather said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you something, Ash. That beautiful jewel contains not only the spirit of Latios, but in the wrong hands, the power to destroy our town. It must  never leave this pool.¡±

    He turned to Ash and looked at him sternly. ¡°So you can see that its location must be kept a secret.¡±

    Ash nodded and smiled as he replied, ¡°Right. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t tell anyone. Not even my friends!¡±

    Bianca received what felt like an approving nod from Latios, relaxing her. If he didn¡¯t sense any falsehoods from the boy, then maybe he¡¯d prove to be an interesting companion for the remainder of his stay.  Hopefully, without any ¡°interference¡± from Gramps, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

    Suddenly, Latias¡¯ impatience finally came to a head as she pushed her face into Ash¡¯s side, crying out,  ¡°Can we finally play now? You guys talk too much!¡± Without a prompt, she adjusted her position, grabbed Ash from beneath his arms, and attempted to lift him into the air to do Kyogre-knows-what. Pikachu, sensing this was a bad idea, immediately jumped off his trainer onto the stone.

    Fortunately, she seemed to be able to carry him up and over the pedestal.

    Unfortunately, it seemed Ash was too heavy, and he was sent headfirst into the pool with a considerable splash.

    Bianca facepalmed while Gramps snorted in amusement as Latios shook his head and dived down, safely retrieving the trainer from the pool. Gently dropping the soaking boy onto his feet, albeit without his hat, he slightly bowed his head as the trainer heartily thanked him.

    Latias flew up shortly after with Ash¡¯s hat in her mouth, ducking her head in shame and embarrassment.  ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Really,  really  sorry!¡± She floated over to the wet trainer, ears flat against her head as she handed him his hat.

    Even though he didn¡¯t seem to understand her friend quite yet, Ash didn¡¯t look particularly angry, although he did cast a half-hearted look of annoyance at Pikachu, who looked and sounded like he was laughing his little heart out. Sighing, he gently took his hat from the apologetic dragoness and wrung it out.

    As Ash placed the hat over his head, he picked at his shirt and sighed. ¡°Well, at least I have spare clothes. Guess Mom was right, huh, buddy?¡±

    ¡°Pi-ka!¡±

    The wet trainer then ruefully grinned at Latias, placing a hand over her head and gently scratching behind her ear tufts. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not mad at you, Latias. I¡¯ve been tossed into water so many times, I¡¯ve lost count.¡± As he finished speaking, Ash turned and caught her eye, staring momentarily before laughing.

    Starting to frown, she leaned forward and squinted. ¡°What¡¯s so funny, Ash?¡± Bianca questioned with an annoyed tone, although she kept it under control.

    ¡°S-sorry,¡± Ash giggled as he mindlessly pet Latias, much to her friend¡¯s enjoyment. ¡°It¡¯s just, I knew this one girl in Unova. Every time she saw me and my friends, she would run at us. And  some  how, she would trip and run right into me. It must have been  really bad luck, because we¡¯d always be close to water, and she¡¯d always hit me right into it.¡±

    Bianca snorted, as did her grandfather. While Latios wasn¡¯t verbal, she could vaguely feel his amusement.

    She cocked her head and inquired, ¡°Okay, that¡¯s funny, but I don¡¯t see how I relate to that.¡±

    Latias whined as Ash retracted his hand as the trainer responded, ¡°Well, because her name was ¡®Bianca¡¯ as well. You almost look like her, too, it¡¯s weird. She wore a round hat thing, and a white skirt like yours. Although I think hers was longer¡­?¡±

    Bianca gave him a slight raise of an eyebrow, although didn¡¯t interrupt him.

    ¡°Anyway, she was really clumsy around us. She was great, but I don¡¯t really miss being knocked into water all the time.¡± He finished with a smile, missing Latias as she guiltily tapped her claws together. ¡°But I guess I¡¯ve got to go now. I¡¯m sure my friends are wondering where I am, and I¡¯ve got to get changed.¡±

    If it was possible, Latias looked even more sad, head drooping as bad as her tufts. Bianca felt sorry for her friend, but nodded to Ash nonetheless. ¡°Alright, well, good luck finding them, and with your wet clothes situation you have going on.¡±

    Gramps stepped forward and looked at Ash in a friendly yet stern manner. ¡°And remember; don¡¯t say anything about what you¡¯ve seen and heard here today. Should you decide to come back to the Garden, please make sure you aren¡¯t followed. I¡¯m sure your friends are trustworthy, but the less that know about this pla-¡±

    He was interrupted by a gasp as Ash slapped a palm to his forehead. ¡°I almost forgot! Lorenzo, when I met Latias, she was being attacked by these two women.¡± Latias perked up and nodded, crying out,  ¡°Oh yeah, those two meanies! They somehow knew I was me.¡±

    Bianca immediately locked eyes with her grandfather as fear shot through her veins before he looked back at the trainer and urgently asked, ¡°Two women? Who were they? Did they follow you?¡±

    Ash shook his head, sounding unsure as he replied, ¡°I-I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve never seen them before, but¡­ I  think  they were trying to capture Latias. Pokemon poachers, or Team Rocket. Those guys are  always trying to steal Pokemon. And uh¡­ I don¡¯t think we were followed? I haven¡¯t seen them since we got away¡­.¡±

    Latias nodded again, pushing her head against the trainer¡¯s chest.  ¡°I only got away thanks to him and Pikachu. I was so scared they were gonna get me.¡±

    Allowing herself to slightly relax, Bianca bit her lip in thought as her grandfather sighed, ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you¡¯re safe. All of you. But it looks like we¡¯re going to be on the lookout from now on; I¡¯d rather not take any chances. Thank you for telling us about this, Ash,¡± he said in a grateful tone. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t¡­. Well, now we know that less than savory people know about Latias and Latios.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s no trouble, really. If they do come back, just call me up and I¡¯ll be glad to help!¡± the trainer replied, sounding determined.

    Her grandfather chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m sure Latios and Latias are more than capable of holding their own against a couple of people, but I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt. Alright, young man, what¡¯s your phone number?¡±

    The trainer cocked his head and replied with a confused tone, ¡°Phone number? Oh, I don¡¯t have a phone.¡±

    Silence filled the meadow as everyone gave Ash a disbelieving stare. Bianca took a measured breath and closed her eyes, opening them a moment later. ¡°Nevermind. Let¡¯s get going.

    Gramps recovered from his nonplussed expression and nodded, gesturing to Ash. ¡°Come along, Ash. You as well, Bianca; might as well catch two Pidgeys with one ball.¡±

    She nodded and fell in step with her grandfather and Ash, shooting Gramps a bemused look as she did. ¡°What do you mean? What are the two Pidgeys?¡±

    ¡°Well, we must show this young man how to get out of the Garden without attracting suspicions, don¡¯t we? And I think this is a great opportunity for you two to become very good friends.¡±

    Immediately, Bianca shot him a sharp glare, knowing exactly what he was trying to do. She refrained from saying anything, however, as she noticed Ash was looking over curiously. Pikachu, on the other hand, snickered as he raced up Ash¡¯s body and sat on his shoulder. She rolled her eyes at this;  Not the rodent, too.

    Electing to deal with it later, she turned and waved at the twins. ¡°Goodbye, you two. I¡¯ll come by later with a few Oran berries.¡±

    Ash flashed a smile over his shoulder and flicked his hand in the laziest goodbye Bianca had ever seen. Despite a brief moment of joy at the mention of Oran berries, Latias fell into a disappointed droop as she watched Ash walk away. Bianca spared her a sympathetic glance before turning and walking away with the strange trainer.

    0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

    The boat ride to the Pokemon Center was calm, albeit mildly awkward on Bianca¡¯s end. She didn¡¯t have much experience dealing with people beyond a professional level, choosing to avoid having any friends outside of the twins.

    This was partly due to the fact that her grandfather was eager to get her into the dating life, seemingly keeping eyes peeled for any boy that appeared to have his head on straight. She could almost appreciate him not being super over-protective, but it sure didn¡¯t make things easy for her.

    I suppose I should be grateful Ash won¡¯t be staying for long. I don¡¯t want to imagine what Gramps would do if he decided to linger, Bianca thought with a small grimace, which thankfully went unnoticed by the trainer. As for his shoulder-mounted friend¡­

    ¡­he was staring at her with something that looked suspiciously smug, which strangely infuriated her.

    What do you want, you yellow rat? She wanted to challenge the Pokemon, but was unable to without attracting the attention of his trainer, and wouldn¡¯t even be able to understand a response if one was given. She settled for giving him a glare, which only served to make Pikachu stick his stick his tongue out at her.

    You little shit!

    Bianca almost snarled at him, barely keeping it from escaping by pursing her lips, teeth clenched. She had no idea what was making Pikachu look so satisfied, nor why she was so incensed by it, only wondering if she¡¯d prefer her grandfather¡¯s matchmaking attempts over this smug little bastard.

    At least her grandfather meant well.

    Clearing her throat she tore her eyes away from the irritating rodent and looked at Ash, asking something that had been at the back of her mind ever since he mentioned it. ¡°Those two women, Ash, what do they look like?¡± They could be more prepared if they knew who to look for, and knowing is half the battle.

    ¡°Hm? OH, uhh,¡± Ash jumped as he turned to meet her curious stare, before frowning in thought. ¡°Well, one of them had short purple-ish hair? Like a light purple, but not super light purple-¡±

    Outstanding.

    ¡°-and the other had big yellow hair, with long buns that kind of just stuck out either side of her head.¡± Ash made a vague gesture with his hands, which Bianca could only interpret as his attempt to approximate the appearance of the shape of the hair.

    Finding it wasn¡¯t terribly useful, she was about to ask him to elaborate when a strange robotic voice shouted nearby, making her jump.

    ¡°Ashzzt! You guys, I found him!¡±

    Bewildered, Bianca whipped her head around, trying to find the source of the voice, only to see a hovering red¡­ thing shoot its way over to float by Ash¡¯s head. She stared at the red thing with an open mouth, wondering what it was as it waved its arms-

    Are those arms?

    -around and started chattering away at Ash. ¡°Where have you been? You realizzze we¡¯ve been trying to find you for ages! Everyone was worried! And who is thiszzt?¡± The red thing finished as it turned and ¡°faced¡± her, making a question mark on what appeared to be its screen.

    Bianca was too busy staring at it to respond, so Ash replied in her stead, ¡°Oh, hi Rotom! This is Bianca! We met a little bit ago. I actually saw her at the museum, so I followed her.¡±

    That sounded more creepy than what he probably intended,  she almost snorted, thankful that he had only confused her for Latias. Then she gave the red thing a critical glance, curious at what Ash called it.  So it¡¯s a Rotom? Doesn¡¯t look like any I¡¯ve seen, but maybe they just look different wherever he¡¯s from?

    The Rotom gave her a salute, its screen turning into an upwards curving line as it responded. ¡°Hello, Bianca! Itzzz a pleasure to meet you!¡±

    She blinked and replied, ¡°Eer, hello.¡± A talking Rotom was definitely new to her, but then again, she  was friends with two Legendary Pokemon.

    It was then that she noticed the two ovals slanting away from each other at the top of its screen, and realized with a jolt that it actually had a  face  , and that the line was a smile.

    That¡¯s¡­. Alright then, why not.

    From the corner of her eye, she noticed a group of people running over, one of whom seemed taller than the rest. He didn¡¯t seem to be wearing any shirt underneath his open lab coat, which she thought was strange.

    The group ran up to the side of the canal and stared down at them, panting lightly. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Asked a tall trainer that¡­wasn¡¯t wearing  anything  over his chest. ¡°What¡­.Kiawe¡­said,¡± a rather round boy wheezed out, hunched over.

    Ash gave an embarrassed chuckle. ¡°Sorry ¡®bout that, you guys. I was chasing someone and kinda got lost.¡±

    Another boy with squinty eyes shook his head in amused exasperation and muttered, ¡°Why am I not surprised? Ash, you¡¯d think with a sense of direction as bad as yours, you¡¯d stick closer to the group.¡±

    Bianca snorted at that, finding herself not at all surprised that this was a common occurrence for the trainer.

    The noise finally attracted the attention of the newcomers, all four giving her confused looks. ¡°Ash, who is this?¡± The one named Kiawe asked as he crossed his arms, staring down at her with an unreadable expression. Bianca stared back, unimpressed, and refused to back down.

    Ash chose that moment to interject cheerfully, ¡°This is my friend, Bianca! I kind of met her in the¡­in the city,¡± he finished lamely, seemingly realizing he almost let the secret loose.

    Bianca raised an eyebrow at this, but chose to let it slide. Rotom was less forgiving, and blurted out, ¡°Ash followed her from the museum!¡±

    She bit her lip to hold back a laugh as the group of men turned and stared at Ash in disbelief, watching as he squirmed in his seat, seemingly uncomfortable under the gaze of his companions. Pikachu snickered from his spot on his shoulder, prompting a scowl from Ash.

    ¡°Er, yeah, that¡¯s¡­yeah,¡± he finished, sounding defeated.

    The man with the open lab coat had an unreadable tone as he asked, ¡°Is this who you were chasing, Ash? Do you know her?¡±

    The trainer struggled to come up with an answer, prompting Bianca to sigh and come to his rescue. ¡°I looked like someone he knew. He followed me to see if I was her, which I wasn¡¯t. After he caught up to me, he realized his mistake. I wasn¡¯t very busy, so I decided to show him around for a bit. I¡¯m sorry if I kept him too long.¡±

    Ash looked at her with grateful eyes before nodding quickly. ¡°Yes! Yes, that¡¯s what happened. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t do it again, hehe¡­.¡± He laughed awkwardly, while Kiawe and the round boy nodded, looking mollified. Bianca let loose a breath, pleased the little lie worked, until she noticed the man and the older boy were still regarding her and Ash with some suspicion.

    The man didn¡¯t say anything, and just studied Ash before relenting, ¡°...Alright. Make sure you don¡¯t, I¡¯m not sure we¡¯d be able to find you in this city. It¡¯s practically a maze.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t! Promise!¡± Ash all but shouted, making them wince at his loud tone.

    The older boy still didn¡¯t look convinced, although he was regarding Ash with something akin to respect.

    Disregarding this, Bianca turned to her new ¡°friend¡± and asked pointedly, ¡°Well, are you going to join your friends, or sit in the boat all day?¡± His companions snorted as he jumped up, rocking the boat as he did and nearly falling out as a result. Fortunately, his friends grabbed him by the shirt and prevented him from being soaked, again, and helped him as he clambered out.

    Kiawe frowned as Ash straightened up, asking in a bewildered tone, ¡°Ash, why is your shirt wet?¡±

    ¡°I sort of fell into a fountain.¡±

    ¡°Your shorts are soaked, too.¡±

    ¡°It was a big fountain.¡±

    Kiawe threw his hands up, exasperated as he said, ¡°You know what? Nevermind. I shouldn¡¯t even be surprised.¡± Bianca bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing, his companions looking similarly amused. The round boy snickered, ¡°Trust Ash to avoid every single canal, only to fall into the one large fountain in the area.¡±

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Ash slumped over with a sigh, ¡°Thanks, guys¡­.¡±

    Bianca was about to turn the boat around to go back home, only to pause and turn to his companions. ¡°As Ash stated earlier, my name is Bianca. And you are all¡­?¡±

    The man in the lab coat smiled and replied, ¡°Right, sorry. You can call me Kukui. I¡¯m a professor at Alola. These are my students, or at least some of them.¡± Bianca nodded politely even as the squinty eyed boy stepped forward. ¡°My name is Brock; I¡¯m the only one present that  isn¡¯t a student, or at least one of the Professor¡¯s. I actually live in Kanto, studying to become a Pokemon doctor.¡±

    After Bianca greeted him, Kiawe spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m Kiawe, as I¡¯m sure you heard Sophocles yelling about here,¡± he playfully jabbed his rotund companion before continuing. ¡°I¡¯m a Pokemon trainer, as well as a farmer. I¡¯m aiming to be a trial captain!¡±

    She had no idea what that was, but Sophocles didn¡¯t give her the opportunity to ask as he jabbed a thumb to himself and proclaimed, ¡°And I¡¯m Sophocles, inventor extraordinaire! Pleased to meet you!¡±

    ¡°Pleased to meet you to-¡± She started to say, only for the Rotom to fly between them and sweeped an arm into a bow, ¡°I¡¯m Rotom-Dex!

    ????????

    ¡°Best not to wander around that fountain again, Ash. We wouldn¡¯t want anyone else wandering into it,¡± she warned, trying to be subtle. To her relief, he seemed to understand what she was trying to say, giving her a solemn nod.

    Satisfied, Bianca carefully maneuvered the boat and started heading back to the house, giving one last wave of her hand before engaging the throttle.

    0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

    ¡°So? How¡¯d it go? Is he gonna come back?¡± Came the excited ramblings from Latias as her friend flew around her.

    ¡°Sorry, Latias, but I told him he shouldn¡¯t come back,¡± Bianca apologized to the dragon, dipping her feet in the fountain.

    Her friend pulled back, looking hurt.  ¡°But why? We were having so much fun!¡±

    Bianca sighed, but didn¡¯t relent. ¡°I know, but he knows how to get here now, and I¡¯m worried that if he  does decide to come back, one of his friends might follow him. A secret spread isn¡¯t a secret at all.¡±

    Latias drooped, pouting,  ¡°I know, but still¡­.¡±

    ¡°How about this; if you want to see him, why don¡¯t you go to him? It seems like him and his friends will be staying for a couple days, and I know they¡¯re using the Pokemon center¡¯s inn,¡± she suggested, looking at her friend sympathetically as the dragon perked up. ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing your writing, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    At the eager nod, Bianca shrugged and continued, ¡°Well, then take a sheet of paper from my sketchbook, find a pen or pencil, and write on it. Say you¡¯re mute. I¡¯d suggest sign language, but from what I can tell, none of them are deaf, just dumb.¡±

    ¡°Hey, Ash isn¡¯t dumb!¡± Latias pouted, looking offended on his behalf. Bianca smiled and replied smugly, ¡°I never said his name. You did.¡±

    There was a moment of silence, then Bianca found herself pushed by an invisible force, yelping before splashing into the fountain. Quickly surfacing, she loudly spluttered, ¡°LATIAS, I SWEAR ON YOUR FEATHERED ASS, I¡¯LL-¡±

    ¡°Language~!¡± Latias replied in a singsong voice, before dancing away with a trill.

    Bianca glared in the direction her ¡°friend¡± flew off to, before another invisible force gently pulled her out of the water and onto the grass close by.

    ¡°Thanks, Latios,¡± she said gratefully, taking off her shirt and doing her best to wring it out. The blue dragon came into view, shaking his head before turning to her.  ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll figure out what to do with her.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s only a couple of wet clothes. Not like I can¡¯t change out of them,¡± she sighed, frowning as she put her shirt back on.

    Latios snorted as he glanced at her,  ¡°I know why you humans wear clothes, but they really feel like a hassle to me. I doubt I¡¯d ever be comfortable with them.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, you don¡¯t have feet that can be burned, or bare skin that gets cold easily,¡± Bianca retorted, glancing over and frowning at the sight of her beret in the fountain. As she walked back over to the edge of the water, she added, ¡°Not to mention we have social standards. You may think there¡¯s no point in wearing clothes, but we don¡¯t exactly find a point in being in the nude in front of people.¡±

    ¡°And yet, you find a point in constantly changing in and out of different ¡®outfits¡¯, as you call them, whenever they get dirty,¡±  Latios countered as he used his psychic abilities to fetch her beret.  ¡°Just wear one set, and wash in those, or something.¡±

    Bianca snorted as she grabbed her cover. ¡°First of all, that  feels  gross. Second, have you  no sense of fashion?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a Pokemon,¡±  he pointed out dryly.  ¡°So, no. Plus, you wear the  same style  of clothing every day. I don¡¯t think you get to talk to  me  about fashion.¡±

    ¡°Touche,¡± she sniffed, looking down at her skirt. ¡°Still,¡± she added, ¡°I would rather people not be ogling me, or rather my chest, thank you very much.¡±

    Latios cocked his head to the side.  ¡°Are you referring to you human¡¯s strange fetishization of your mammary glands? Because if you are, I wouldn¡¯t worry about it much. There are plenty of females in the city with considerably larger breasts that people would be looking at instead.¡±

    Bianca looked up and leveled a flat glare at him.

    He paused, shuffling in mid-air, before asking,  ¡°¡­.What?¡±

    ¡°If you weren¡¯t a Pokemon, I¡¯d probably wack you upside the head for that,¡± she responded dryly before marching off, ignoring Latios¡¯ cry of,  ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I did!¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    Lorenzo was humming to himself as he fixed himself a cup of tea, feeling somewhat relaxed despite a rather eventful day.

    First a tour that started off with a group of excitable youngsters, then one of them touching the DMA-

    He was lucky he was clueless

    -before running after his granddaughter. Naturally, he then had to cut the tour short to try and follow the boy and ensure he wasn¡¯t going to do any funny business with his last remaining kin-

    That he¡¯s willing to talk to, at least

    -only to find that the boy had followed a playful Latias right into the heart of the Garden, and was nearly attacked by Latios under the direction of Bianca.

    Overall, it was-

    He jumped, nearly spilling his tea as Bianca opened the door, stormed through it, and slammed it, before marching towards the stairs. Turning, he just barely caught sight of her stony expression before noticing her clothes were looking considerably wet.

    ¡°Bianca? What happened? Did Ash find his way-¡°

    His question was cut short as she whipped around and seethed, ¡°Ash¡¯s friends are weirdos, Latias pushed me into the fountain, and Latios called my boobs small.¡± With that, she turned her back and continued to stomp up the stairs.

    Lorenzo blinked rapidly before turning and sipping his tea again in bemusement. ¡°Eventful day, indeed.¡±

    ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª

    The silence of the Garden lay nearly undisturbed, broken only by the occasional rustling of the wind through the leaves and the chittering of nocturnal Pokemon.

    None of these things could come close to waking Latias, however, and she found herself dreaming. Latios was there, and of course Bianca, but to her pleasant surprise, that boy she met today was there as well!

    She smiled in her sleep as Bianca and Ash chased her around the Garden, Latios occasionally swooping in and joining in on the fun.

    At one point, her brother dove at her, and-

    ¡°Laaa-!¡± A cry escaped her as she was jerked awake, falling off her branch in time to see something flew over her head. She activated her levitation at the last moment, almost slamming into the ground as she looked around in bewilderment.

    ¡°Latios?!¡± She called out, trying to figure out what was going on. A sudden yank pulled her to the side as another object flew by where she had been not a moment before. Following its movement, she peered at it and-

    A net?

    Latias didn¡¯t get the opportunity to ponder why a net just narrowly avoided her as a clawed arm swung around and grabbed her head, forcing her to look at her brother, who looked both angry and panicked.

    ¡°Latias! Latias, go get-¡±

    "Playing hard to get, are we? Go get ¡®em, Ariados!¡±

    ¡°You too, Espeon! Shadow ball!¡±

    Her brother¡¯s words were cut off by two familiar voices shouting what Latias could only determine to be commands, and she was once again forced to move as Latios dove at her. A dark mass hit him square on the back, forcing a gasp from her as he cried out in pain and anger.

    Shaking his head to recover, he turned a piercing glare to the side, and Latias followed his gaze to find the two women from earlier, holding some kind of equipment that she didn¡¯t want to know the purpose of.

    The mysterious objects were the least of her concerns, however, as she spotted the lithe form of Espeon sprinting in their direction. Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t spot where the Ariados went, and didn¡¯t have the time to try and find it as Latios shoved her to the side and immediately began to charge up an attack from his mouth.

    Quickly, Latias began to do the same in the hopes of deterring their attackers. She was forced to launch the attack early when the Espeon spat out another mass of dark energy straight at her.

    Any hopes of stopping the mass of energy were destroyed as quickly as her attack, the dark mass obliterating the pathetic pink orb like it wasn¡¯t even there before striking her in turn.

    She  howled in agony as her nerves were struck with a pain comparable to all of the feathers being ripped out of her body at once. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she lay gasping on the ground, stunned by the hellish sensation.

    She barely noticed Latios releasing his attack in retaliation, the Luster Purge blasting towards the offending Espeon with blistering speed.

    It didn¡¯t get a chance to move as the beam of light struck it head on, blasting the Pokemon back many feet before coming to a stop by the two women. Latias managed to levitate, albeit with some difficulty, in time to see that the two women looking stunned.

    Shortly after, the one with the yellow hair stepped closer to the fallen Pokemon, only to jump back as it leapt to its feet.

    ¡°Well done, Latios!¡± The one with the short hair crowed, even as Latios glared at them.

    ¡°Of course, we¡¯re going to have to pay that back in blood eventually, but at least we know your power will be more than enough!¡± She gave a sinister smile, before calling out, ¡°Now, Ariados!¡±

    What?

    Both siblings looked around for the arachnid, only for Latios to cry out as it dropped from the canopy above and bit him in the neck. Latias let out a gasp, watching in horror as Ariados began webbing up her brother, held in mid-air by multiple lines of silk leading up into the branches.

    Latios looked incredibly ill as he was gradually immobilized by the Pokemon, the silk wrapping around his body until he was a cocoon.

    Latias began charging up another attack in desperation, only to have to dodge as the now-recovered Espeon launched another attack at her. Panicked, she looked between the Eeveelution and the Ariados, the fear in her building as the arachnid finished trapping her brother in layers of silk and turning its attention to her.

    She didn¡¯t give the women even so much as a glance as they began mocking her.

    ¡°Oh no! Poor Latias¡­. If only you had come with us willingly! We could have taught you so  much about fashion.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Oakley, I think Latios is the one with the fashion disaster now. Silk clothing was  so three years ago.¡±

    The short haired woman put a hand up to chin as if to think. ¡°You know, Annie, we could help them with their style at the same time?¡±

    Annie put a hand on her hip and gave a pleased smile. ¡°That¡¯s a wonderful idea! Ariados, let¡¯s help out Latias with her lack of fashion.¡±

    ¡°Espeon, assist Ariados!¡±

    Espeon leapt into action, joining Ariados and quickly surrounded the dragoness with next to nothing able to get in their way. Latios struggled against his bondage, trying his damndest to escape with the little strength he could muster. Latias stared down the duo who looked more than eager to return their dues.

    ¡°How about we finish this, Oakley?¡± She asked her partner who was delighted with this idea.

    ¡°Shadow Ball, make sure she regrets her fashion disaster!¡± Oakley shouted as the black sphere emanated from Espeon¡¯s maw.

    ¡°Ariados, hit her with Night Shade!¡± Out of Ariados¡¯ eyes, shot a black wretched bolt that struck Latias in her back just as the orb of shadow collided with her front. The combined attacks sent her hurtling for the ground where she would land in the grass.

    If she thought it hurt before, it paled in comparison to the pain that flooded her body. There was absolutely no comparison for it that could have done the agony justice. The only thing she was aware of was the vague feeling of the ground beneath her and the lack of sound coming from her mouth, her screech practically tearing her vocal chords to shreds in the throes of her pain.

    Latios let out a horrible sound, seeing his sister taking such powerful attacks. At this moment, that hurt far more than the poison in his system. He saw Annie and Oakley preparing something small with black bulbous figures attached to it. Latios figured that must be their end game; he¡¯d seen a Poke Ball before. This looked far more sinister.

    As his body shook and twisted, he managed to get a bit of leverage. Just that much was enough to finally snap the webbing and send him plummeting to the ground. He had to get to her no matter the cost. If even one of them managed to escape, then it would be enough!

    "We''ve got you a new piece of clothing, Latias. You wanna try it on?!" Annie said, grinning all the while.

    Oakley smirked, cocking back something on her device. "It''s practically to die for."

    0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

    Not too far away, another door was opened. Bianca had heard some of the events unfolding through several loud bangs and had to find out what was happening. What she saw stunned her to the core. It looked like part of the garden had been damaged and as she continued further in, Bianca saw both of the two women that Ash had described earlier.

    ¡°What in the¡­.¡±

    The two women appeared to be approaching Latias, an Espeon and an Ariados flanking them. A pale¡­ thing was laying on the ground close by, and to Bianca¡¯s rising horror, she determined that it was Latios, most likely having been tied up by the Ariados.

    Unfortunately, Latias appeared to be in a worse state than her brother, her fallen form struggling to get up as a slight steam emanated from minor burns across her feathers.

    Instantly, anger overtook her as she raged, ¡°YOU! How dare you! Get OUT! Leave Latios and Latias alone!¡±

    All four attackers turned to see her in her nightie, fists clenched at her sides as she bared her teeth. The two women simultaneously narrowed their eyes, before grinning.

    ¡°Well, well, Latias, I didn¡¯t know you had a sister! That is so cute.¡± The lilac-haired woman sneered.

    The blonde woman laughed darkly, ¡°And she looks even more unfashionable than Latias does! What a perfect opportunity for us to be heroes!¡±

    Bianca gritted her teeth in frustration, looking past the two and seeing that maybe she¡¯d made some difference. Latias was starting to move albeit shakily as the two continued to prattle on. Latios for his own part was not happy to see Bianca caught up in this, but he had no choice beyond accepting the reality of this situation.

    ¡®I¡¯ve gotta get Latias out of here, that''s the most I can do.¡¯ Latios thought, trying to come up with a plan to do that much.

    Annie shrugged, ¡°Fashion disaster or not. We can¡¯t have you getting our plans out there in the open. So, we¡¯re gonna have to drag you with us. Sorry, not sorry.¡± With that, she turned to Espeon, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give her the beauty treatment? She¡¯s already in that tacky nightie, some sleep might do her some good.¡±

    Espeon nodded, giving Bianca quite the glare, ¡°You can help give her some new threads, Ariados.¡± Annie added with a flick of her wrist to which the spider Pokemon eagerly began crawling toward the young woman.

    Bianca felt her stomach clench in fear as the Pokemon made their way over to her. Looking around for something to defend herself with,  anything,  she accidentally made eye contact with Latios. His voice echoed weakly in her head,  ¡°Latias¡­.out. I¡¯ll¡­.distract¡­.¡±

    Paling, she nodded, glancing back at the approaching Pokemon. ¡°Well?¡± she challenged, standing firm even as her fear ate at her. ¡°Are you too scared to attack one girl? I knew you were cowards to come here while we were sleeping, but I didn¡¯t know you were  this pathetic!¡± Bianca spat at them, her instincts screaming at her to shut up. From the corner of her eye, she could make out Latias just barely managing to hover, while Latios was doing his best to discreetly charge an attack.

    Swallowing her fear and better judgment, she marched towards the Espeon. The move seemingly bewildered the Pokemon, and it did nothing as she stood in front of it, glaring down. ¡°Your trainer is a waste of oxygen, and you are a disgrace to every Pokemon in the city.¡± With that, she raised her hand back and slapped the Espeon across the face.

    Needless to say, the move stunned not just the struck Pokemon, but the Ariados and women as well, the two opposing women standing there shocked with open mouths.

    From her point of view, it looked as though Latias was looking at her with wide eyes, although she quickly made herself transparent. Even as her friend disappeared from view, Bianca yelled out, ¡°Now, Latias! Get Ash! He¡¯s at the¡­He¡¯s at where you first pranked me!¡±

    The two women wouldn¡¯t understand this, but it was enough for her friend to understand, and the sad cry and a gust of wind confirmed that Latias obeyed the command.

    Her yell broke the attackers out of their stupor, and even as the women began to shout commands, Latios unleashed his last ditch attack.

    Multiple streams of light blistered the ground as the beams tore their way over to the Espeon and Ariados, striking them head on. From her experience watching the twins developing their signature moves, Bianca knew that Luster Purge lost attack power every time it split up. It was further weakened with Latios in his current condition.

    Despite this, the attack did its job, and the two hostile Pokemon were sent to the ground, momentarily stunned. Despite a somewhat quick recovery, neither of their attackers were able to stop Latias from leaving the garden, leaving a bound Latios and a now-defenseless Bianca alone.

    A fact she was now very aware of as the women turned and glared at her.

    ¡°That was a mistake, girly,¡± the short-haired woman growled darkly. ¡°Espeon, knock her out. No need to be gentle about it, either.¡±

    Before Bianca could turn and run, the Espeon obeyed its master with a bolt of psychic energy, the last sensation shooting through her being immense pain.

    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    When she finally came to, Bianca blinked open her eyes before wincing in pain. Her entire body ached, and her shoulders felt stiff.

    She tried to move her head, but was unable to do so. It was then that she felt the binding all over her body, keeping her pinned to what appeared to be the wall in¡­ The museum! She finally took in her surroundings, seeing the DMA while she struggled against the webbing.

    She looked around a bit more, seeing in the inky darkness that Latios was being dragged to a certain point. In her peripheral vision, she noticed that her grandfather was there too. He was moving back and forth, but unable to break it all the same.

    ¡°Grandpa!¡± He stopped struggling at her call.

    ¡°You¡¯re awake?! Ngh!¡± He grunted, trying even harder than before. To no avail.

    The woman with the two blonde buns edged a look in their direction, ¡°Oh? Look who decided to wake up from their beauty sleep.¡± She said casually while holding the Soul Dew tauntingly and gazing into the jewel¡¯s depths. It was like looking at the clearest waters where the sun shone all the way to the bottom. Truly a one of a kind treasure in its own right.

    The woman with lilac hair was busy directing where Latios was to be placed, and to Bianca¡¯s frustration, she could see they hadn¡¯t even bothered to unravel the webbing.

    ¡°Why are you doing this,¡± she spat angrily, struggling in vain to get free. ¡°What do you even want?¡±

    The blonde woman laughed, lightly covering her mouth with her hand. ¡°You really need to ask that? We came for  this , of course,¡± she replied as she held up the Soul Dew. ¡°What a beauty it is, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t forget powerful, Annie,¡± her companion added from her position by the DMA. ¡°We¡¯re here for what it can do, not how it looks.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I know,¡± Annie dismissed, holding the jewel up to the moonlight. ¡°Still, such a shame you keep this all to yourselves. Not even all the precious little people in your city have seen it. That¡¯s pretty selfish of you.¡±

    ¡°THAT¡¯S THE SOUL OF A LATIOS! HE KEEPS THE CITY SAFE! YOU HAVE NO IDEA-mmph!¡± Lorenzo bellowed out before Ariados spat a web at his mouth.

    ¡°Yes, very sad, I know. Protects everyone, doesn¡¯t it? But you didn¡¯t even bother using it to defend against us, so really, I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re getting so worked up. It¡¯s only right that it goes to someone who will put it to good use,¡± Oakley said, giving Espeon a little nod which allowed her to drop the massive dragon where he lay. Espeon jumped out from underneath Latios, stretching her body and thanking her master whether the lilac haired woman knew it or not.

    ¡°¡®Good use?¡¯ Nothing you could possibly be doing could be defined as ¡®good!¡¯¡± Bianca retorted, her comment earning an eye roll from Oakely as the woman walked over and snatched the jewel from Annie¡¯s hand. She didn¡¯t relent, however, and continued to pester the invaders. ¡°You don¡¯t even know what it can do, much less how to operate it!¡±

    Oakley shrugged as she approached the DMA. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll figure it out. Plus, this is just a demonstration. I¡¯m sure the boss won''t mind if we give it a trial run!¡±

    Before Bianca could shout, struggle, or do  anything , she could hear the museum doors burst open. She nearly sagged with relief as she could hear Ash¡¯s voice yell out, ¡°Hey, what do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±

    Annie and Oakley spun around, looking annoyed at yet another distraction. ¡°Latias must have moved pretty quickly for reinforcements to be here already,¡± Annie remarked dryly as the women¡¯s Pokemon whirled to face the entrance.

    Ariados and Espeon had been through the ringer at this point. Yet, another group was here and there were four of them?! Maybe if they played their cards right, they could take out a few, but it might be just enough for their trainer¡¯s to do what they could. Ash was followed by Kukui, Kiawe, and Brock who were all taking out a PokeBall each.

    Ash let Pikachu leap down from his shoulder with threatening sparks lighting up a small area around itself. Latias was the last to make it in, still floating a bit weakly from all the damage she took earlier. Despite that, she was still looking rather confident with a band of comrades surrounding her.

    Kiawe unleashed Turtonator, Kukui sent out Lucario, and Brock let loose his Ninetails. Each Pokemon let loose a rather intimidating cry of their own before staring down their opponents which were starting to realize that they were making a tall order here. Brock was the first to make a move.

    ¡°Use Flamethrower on Ariados!¡± He shouted, the fox charging at a blistering pace toward her opponent.

    Ariados jumped backward, trying to create some extra room so it could fire off string shot only for the excess strings to go up in flames before they got the chance to get close. Kukui grinned, taking in the moment before pointing forward, ¡°Lucario, use Extremespeed on Espeon!¡±

    Espeon shrieked as Lucario appeared next to her without any warning, slamming her with a kick to the side that ended up pounding her into Ariados. Kiawe wanted to get in a Z move, but considering the location they were in. It might get him in trouble if he angered Lorenzo, so he decided on something else.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get some setup in! Use Shell Trap!¡± Turtonator obliged, turning his back on the opposing Pokemon.

    Annie almost looked offended at this, slicing her hand through the air and shouting, ¡°We¡¯re not good enough to fight? Ariados, climb that arrogant thing and give him a bite to remember!¡±

    Ariados clicked its mandibles and charged towards Turtonator, launching itself forwards and landing on the large Pokemon¡¯s back. Just as it tried to scuttle up the shell and land a bite on Turtnonator¡¯s neck, a few of its legs brushed up against the spikes on the back.

    To Bianca¡¯s astonishment, the spikes began to glow before violently exploding, sending Ariados flying back looking charred. The move also had the unfortunate side effect of scorching the floor of the museum, with cracks appearing in the areas closest to the spiked Pokemon.

    Lorenzo looked horrified, ¡°MMMMPH NNPPPPH!¡± He silently roared while watching the precious flooring get messed up. Kiawe smiled nervously, hoping that since he was saving the day, it¡¯d be just fine. Right? That¡¯s when his friend stepped up last.

    Ash, with Pikachu raring to go, turned his hat backward, ¡°Alright, let''s give them one heck of a thunderbolt! Ready Pikachu?!¡± Pikachu nodded, his undeniable smirk as he smacked his red cheeks and prepared a massive thunderbolt just for them.

    Unleashing the lightning from within his small frame, the power overtook the Espeon with little trouble and sent her flying backwards where she unceremoniously smacked into Oakley who had been trying to climb into the DMA.

    She hit the floor, stuck under the weight of the fainted Pokemon as Annie began to panic, seeing her unconscious companion. In desperation, she sprinted to her fallen friend and snatched up the Soul Dew from her limp hand. She turned and faced everyone, raising the jewel above her head.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re in a bit of a predicament, so I¡¯ll make this easier for all of you! Come closer, and we¡¯ll see what happens when you smash a Soul Dew to a thousand pieces!¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t! You¡¯ll kill us all!¡± Bianca cried out in shock, grabbing the attention of Ash¡¯s friends.

    ¡°Ash, what is she talking about? What is that thing?¡± Kiawe questioned as each side glared the other down. Ash shot an uncertain glance at her, as though unsure of how much to say. Gratitude coursed through her veins at the gesture, appreciating how seriously he took his promise about not saying anything. Nonetheless, now was hardly the time for secrets, and Bianca took it upon herself to answer for him.

    ¡°It¡¯s a powerful relic that keeps this city safe. It¡¯s the reason the water stays safe year round¡­and it¡¯s the soul of a Latios,¡± She confessed, seeing Kiawe¡¯s eyes widen. Kukui and Brock were similarly affected, although they kept their gazes trained on Annie as Bianca continued, ¡°If it breaks¡­.¡±

    Annie let out a humorless laugh, twitching her hand. ¡°Then I guess you don¡¯t have much of a choice, then; Oakley and I will leave, and we¡¯re taking this with us. Try to stop us, and we¡¯re more than willing to- AGH!¡± The jewel was gone and Annie had hit the floor herself.

    One second later and Kukui breathed a sigh of relief, holding the jewel in his hand. Lucario was delighted with himself.

    ¡°Heh¡­ Extremespeed. She wouldn¡¯t have the time to react.¡± He explained as everyone gave him an appreciative look. Ash chuckled a bit nervously, glad it all worked out. Annie wasn¡¯t knocked out, she was however feeling quite a bit of pain.

    Kiawe spoke up, ¡°That¡¯s awesome, Professor! Nice one!¡±

    Bianca and Lorenzo seemed to relax in their bondage, small beads of sweat still on their forehead from the aforementioned potential death of them all. Thank goodness they had such luck that all these people happened to be here and were able to get here fast enough. Latias had disappeared to the side, pulling her brother away from the location he was on many moments ago.

    She was laying beside him, feeling so happy that nothing horrible came of this. Nuzzling Latios a bit too much for his liking, but he didn¡¯t pull away. No, he¡¯d let her have this because on the inside, he was just as happy. Oh, who was he kidding? He nuzzled her back, a smile on his own face.

    Ash walked over to Bianca and Lorenzo, ¡°Well, we got here in time! Thank goodness for Latias, or we¡¯d all have been asleep through all this!¡± He stood there with his hands on his hips, looking at the twins with a smile.

    When he didn¡¯t move, Bianca cleared her throat, and raised an eyebrow when he turned to face her.

    Ash stared at her for a moment, before ducking his head in embarrassment. ¡°Right, sorry! Let me just¡­.¡± He stepped forward and pulled at the webbing around Bianca, Pikachu leaping up to Lorenzo¡¯s shoulder and began chewing through the silk.

    Fortunately, it only took a couple of minutes to free the two of them, and once she was clear of the webs, Bianca threw her arms around Lorenzo.

    ¡°I¡¯m so glad you''re okay,¡± she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder. He reciprocates the gesture, patting her back and murmuring, ¡°Next time you go up against a couple of lunatics, warn me first. I can¡¯t tell you how scared I was when I entered the garden and found those two standing over you. I thought they killed you.¡±

    Wincing in guilt, she pulled back, dropping her head in shame. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandpa. When I saw what they were doing to Latios and Latias, I just¡­¡± Bianca trailed off, trying to find the words.

    ¡°You acted on instinct, doing what you thought was right,¡± Brock¡¯s voice came from her right as he walked up. At her frown, he smiled and jerked his head to Ash. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we have one just like you. I can¡¯t tell you the amount of times Ash has done something like that.¡±

    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± came Kiawe¡¯s call, shaking his head as he walked up. ¡°I swear, if he heard so much as a Salandit in trouble, he¡¯d throw himself from the top of Wela Volcano to protect it.¡±

    Bianca had no idea what any of these things were, but at the moment, she couldn¡¯t muster up the strength to care.

    Suddenly, she noticed Kiawe¡¯s expression drop into one of guilt, and she turned her head to see her Grandfather giving him a flat stare.

    ¡°That move your Pokemon pulled off did quite the number on my floor, son,¡± he said sternly, making her wince.

    ¡°Yes, sir, I¡¯m-¡±

    Kiawe was cut short as Lorenzo raised a hand, taking a deep breath as he relaxed his expression. ¡°But¡­you I can hardly fault you for that under the circumstances. You helped save the city, and you helped save my granddaughter. A building can be rebuilt, but a life can¡¯t ever be replaced.¡±

    Kiawe ducked his head in embarrassment and mumbled, ¡°It was no trouble, sir. Besides, Ash was the one that convinced us to come.¡±

    ¡°Somehow, I don¡¯t doubt that,¡± Lorenzo said, transferring his gaze onto the aforementioned trainer. ¡°I wish I had the words to express my gratitude to you and your friends, young man. I knew you had a good heart when Latias brought you to her home, but I think you¡¯ve surpassed even her expectations. If there is anything you need¡­if there¡¯s anything  any of you need,¡± he corrected himself, looking at their rescuers, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid to ask. If it is within my power, you have my word that I will do everything I can to make it happen.¡±

    It was at that moment when Latias and Latios floated over, the red dragoness shooting forward and grabbing both Bianca and Ash with her psychic and dragging them in, squeezing them as hard as she could.

    Bianca frowned with annoyance as she found her cheek brushing against Ash¡¯s, but ultimately decided to let it slide as the trainer laughed and hugged Latias back, seemingly unaware of the unintentional intimacy. A moment later, she relented and hugged her friend back.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I left you behind!¡± Latias apologized as she finally let them go, staring at Bianca with large, tearful eyes. She shook her head, replying softly, ¡°If you hadn¡¯t, we would have never been able to fight back. Those two were just too strong for us.¡±

    Ash frowned and looked over to the side. ¡°Speaking of them¡­.Professor, what do we do?¡±

    Everyone turned to the women, watching as Annie tried dragging Oakley away, only for Latios to come up behind her, expression twisted into one of rage. Annie whipped around just as Latios¡¯ mouth began to glow.

    Bianca¡¯s eyes widened; were they about to witness a double homicide? Before she could ponder the consequences of such an action, Ash yelled out, ¡°NO! No, don¡¯t kill them!¡±

    Everyone turned and faced him with varying degrees of incredulity, confusion, and on the part of Annie, relief. Kukui, Brock, and Lorenzo had more neutral expressions, studying Ash.

    Latios on the other hand snarled, although the glow in his mouth did die down somewhat.  ¡°Ash, these pieces of filth attacked me and my sister, and stole my father¡¯s soul from the Garden. Why  shouldn¡¯t  they die?¡±

    ¡°I know! I know, they did terrible things here, and they¡¯ve probably done horrible things before as well. But look at them,¡± Ash pleaded, gesturing towards the women.

    Annie shrunk under everyone¡¯s appraising eyes, even as Ash pressed, ¡°Their Pokemon have been beaten up pretty badly, while ours are in nearly perfect condition. They¡¯re practically defenseless now. If you kill them, then¡­.¡± He swallowed, before taking a deep breath. ¡°Then you¡¯d be as bad, or worse, than they are.¡±

    Bianca bit her lip in thought, thinking about what he said. All of it was true; the two women had no way to defend themselves. Espeon and Ariados were out for the count. Killing them now¡­.

    The thought left a bad taste in her mouth. Looking around, she saw a small smile on Brock¡¯s face, him and Kukui looking proud. Kiawe was nodding thoughtfully, while Latias was looking conflicted.

    Latios was still scowling, but he didn¡¯t let his attack loose, much to the relief of Annie.

    Lorenzo was still staring at Ash, until he gave a slow, appreciative nod. ¡°Merciful, even to your enemies. You continue to impress me, Ash.¡± He glanced at Bianca with a subtle smile, making her flush when she realized what he was implying-

    Is this really the time for that, Grandpa!?

    -then turned and shook his head at Latios. ¡°The young man is right, Latios. They shouldn¡¯t die, not like this. They  will be punished, but not by our hand. We¡¯ll let the police handle this. They¡¯ll give them a fair trial, but I imagine they will still go to prison, and for a long time.¡±

    Everyone waited with baited breath, Annie most of all, until Latios snarled and released his hold on the attack, letting it dissipate in his mouth.  ¡°Fine! But if I catch them slinking around like this city again¡­¡±

    He growled threateningly at Annie, making her flinch away in fear.

    ¡°...I¡¯ll see how ¡®fashionable¡¯ they feel when I throw what¡¯s left of their corpses into the sea for the Pokemon to devour.¡±

    ¡°Then how do we prevent them from doing this again?¡± Latias questioned, keeping her wary eyes trained on the women.

    Latios narrowed his eyes, then nodded and muttered,  ¡°Good point. I suppose we can scramble their minds¡­or at least alter their memories,¡± he backtracked at Bianca¡¯s sickened look.

    ¡°You can do that?¡± Kukui said looking intrigued after Lorenzo translated for everyone.

    ¡°If I¡¯m careful, I think I should be able to,¡± Latios replied dispassionately, narrowing his eyes as he approached Annie. The woman began to scramble back, only to freeze in place as Latias¡¯ eyes glowed, surrounding the woman with a pinkish-red field. Annie¡¯s eyes widened, the only movement the psychic restraints allowed, until her eyelids drooped a minute later, before collapsing next to Oakley.

    The blonde was next as Latios turned his attention on her, barely taking any time at all before he backed away, drooping his eyes.  ¡°There,  ¡± he muttered, turning away from them.  ¡°Erased their memories of what happened, made them forget how to get into the Garden, scrubbed out Bianca¡¯s appearance, all of that.¡±

    With that, Latios turned away from Oakley, before pausing and glancing at Ash.  ¡°Something you should know, or at least the police. While I was in their heads, I found out they were hired by a group known as ¡®Team Rocket¡¯. No idea who they are, but if you find out anything-¡±

    ¡°Team Rocket?!¡± Ash blurted, making Brock, Kukui, and Kiawe all frown in unison.

    Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. ¡°So you know of them?¡±

    Ash growled as Pikachu¡¯s cheeks sparked. ¡°Yeah, of course. They keep trying to steal Pikachu, or at least, three of them are. I knew they were trouble, but this¡­.¡±

    ¡°This is certainly troubling,¡± Kukui murmured as he rubbed his chin. If Latios is the only one that knows who hired them, it will be tricky to prove the connection to anyone that isn¡¯t currently here.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do, Professor?¡± Kukui asked as he crossed his arms. Brock spoke up this time, his tone serious as he replied, ¡°If we¡¯re careful, we can at least make it seem like we suspect Team Rocket. Even without proof, the Alto Mare police, and by extension the Johto officers as well, will be very interested in looking into the actions of a Kanto crime syndicate in their region.¡±

    ¡°Wonderful. Ash, if you really deal with Team Rocket as you¡¯ve said, then do us a favor and give them hell when you can,¡±  Latios snorted  ,  floating over to Latias.  ¡°Come on, we¡¯re leaving. I¡¯m tired, and I want to sleep.¡±

    As the two of them moved to leave, Brock stepped forward and raised his hand. ¡°Excuse me, but as a Pokemon doctor in training, I feel I have to tell you that you really need medical attention, both of you.¡±

    Bianca was inclined to agree; Latias was looking pretty bad, and Latios moreso. However, they couldn¡¯t exactly take them to the Pokemon center right now. Even at this hour, people still popped in and out of the building, and Nurse Joy couldn¡¯t leave her station half the time.

    She watched as Latios appraised Brock with his scarlet eyes, before begrudgingly nodding.  ¡°Fine. But not here. I¡¯ll take you, and only you, to the Garden.¡±

    ¡°He says alright, but not here. He¡¯ll take you to a place where you can heal them, but everyone else must stay behind,¡± Lorenzo helpfully translated, making Brock nod in satisfaction. ¡°Good, thank you.¡±

    Latios grunted and didn¡¯t reply, begrudgingly allowing the human to follow him and Latias as they slowly flew out of the museum.

    Ash cocked his head and questioned, ¡°Won¡¯t they be seen?¡±

    ¡°Despite his condition, Latios is likely on high alert right now. If someone even so much as wakes up, he¡¯ll know about it,¡± Lorenzo reassured him, making the trainer relax.

    A sudden click from the side brought Bianca¡¯s attention to Kukui as he tucked what she assumed to be a phone away. ¡°I¡¯ve contacted the local police department. They should be here soon. I¡¯ve also texted Burnet about my absence. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be upset about missing all the action, but I didn¡¯t want to drag her and the girls into this.¡±

    Bianca frowned and nodded towards Kiawe. ¡°What is he doing here, then?¡±

    Kukui ruefully grinned and replied, ¡°I have no jurisdiction over Brock. As for Kiawe, he would have come here anyway. Both him and Ash are two twins in all but blood and parents. If I let Burnet know, then the girls might have found out, and then they would have been put in danger. Kiawe wasn¡¯t preventable, but they were.¡±

    That made sense, she reasoned. Although¡­

    ¡°Where¡¯s the¡­eccentric one? Sophocles?¡± She asked curiously, now having noticed he was absent.

    ¡°He was in a completely different room,¡± Kiawe snorted. ¡°Wanted to stay up to work on his various¡­whatever he makes at night.¡±

    ¡°Oh right, he did say he was an inventor, didn¡¯t he,¡± Bianca muttered to herself. Before the conversation could continue, there was a loud thumping noise as multiple uniform wearing individuals stormed the museum.

    Lorenzo looked to both Latias and Latios, but they had already gone invisible. As the officers got to the room with the DMA inside it. They shined multiple lights in, finding both groups inside. Lorenzo shook his head, walking up to the officers.

    ¡°Thank goodness you all made it.¡± Lorenzo pointed at Annie and Oakley who were still sitting in their original positions, ¡°Those two broke into my museum that I¡¯ve curated for years. When me and my granddaughter got here to check on all the racket, they attacked us. That Espeon was especially nasty to us.¡± Lorenzo said, moving over to Kukui and the others.

    ¡°This ragtag group here was close enough that they were able to come to our aid in this perilous moment¡­. I couldn¡¯t possibly begin to thank them enough¡± He finished as Kukui and the others scratched their heads in embarrassment.

    One of the officers stepped forward, pulling out a notepad and pen. It took a moment for Bianca to recognize him as Officer Lospio, one of the police officers they had met some years back. After a moment of writing in his notepad, he questioned, ¡°They attacked you, you say? Could you please describe the manner in which you were assaulted?¡±

    Lorenzo nodded, answering as he shot a sharp glare over to the unconscious women as the officers cuffed them and began hauling them out of the museum. ¡°Yes. The purple haired one there had her Espeon knock me out cold. I believe her name was Oakley?¡±

    The pen stopped as Lospio looked up. ¡°Oakley?¡± His pen scribbled faster across the notepad before he nodded, ¡°Please continue.¡±

    Bianca spoke up this time, adding, ¡°The blonde, Annie, had her Ariados tie us up, although not after Oakley had her Espeon attack me, as well. Didn¡¯t hold back, either,¡± She finished darkly, shivering as she recalled the pain.

    The officer looked up again with a frown, only to focus back on the notepad, writing faster than ever. ¡°I see,¡± he said after a few moments. He lowered his notepad and looked between them. ¡°Just so we¡¯re clear; these two, Annie and Oakley, both assaulted you without provocation? And they used their Pokemon to do so, correct?¡±

    Both Bianca and Lorenzo nodded, and he grimaced. ¡°I see. Do you know the nature of the attack? That is to say, could you give it a name?¡±

    They both hesitated before shaking their heads. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but no,¡± Bianca regretfully answered. We don¡¯t really engage in any Pokemon battles, you see. We don¡¯t even have Pokemon of our own. All I can say is that it was pinkish, and kinda looked like a wobbly line. Except fast. Very fast.¡±

    ¡°So you were defenseless,¡± the officer concluded, looking incredibly unimpressed as they both nodded. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯m sure the folks back at HQ will have a field day with this. Thank you for your cooperation. Someone should be here shortly to provide medical attention should you-¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± A woman¡¯s voice caught Bianca¡¯s attention as she turned and saw Nurse Joy hurrying over. ¡°Now, then, come along. Let¡¯s get you cleaned up,¡± she insisted, quickly removing the strap for her medical bag and setting it down.

    ¡°Hmph, I should be fine. Get my granddaughter first, she got hit with the worst of it,¡± Lorezno gruffly replied, prompting Bianca to sigh and shake her head. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m young, after all.¡±

    He snorted and raised an eyebrow, ¡°And I¡¯m not?¡± He glowered as Joy giggled and snarked, ¡°Young enough to remember when the city was first built, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    Bianca had to bite her lip to prevent herself from laughing, although she subtly cast a critical eye over Lorenzo as she did. He did seem fine; his eyes were still sparking with annoyance, which meant he wasn¡¯t in too bad of shape.

    Reluctantly, she allowed Joy to look her over, only looking up as the officer finished writing and put his notepad away. ¡°Fair warning, you will probably be asked to come in for further questioning, although we will of course allow you some time to recuperate. This is just to get a better idea of what happened.¡±

    Lorenzo grumbled his consent as the corners of Joy¡¯s mouth curved high as she finished checking on Bianca and moved to her grandfather. ¡°My, my, Officer Lospio, so formal. Would it kill you to loosen up a bit?¡±

    ¡°Probably.¡±

    Bianca and Joy snorted, while the corner of Lospio¡¯s mouth twitched, before he inclined his head. ¡°Well, my job here is done. I¡¯ll get this back to HQ. They¡¯ll make sure those two shouldn¡¯t be causing you any more trouble after today.¡±

    The officer left as Bianca and her grandfather thanked him, watching as he made his way over to Ash and his friends. Bianca carefully looked around, before leaning in to whisper, ¡°The twins are back in their home being looked at by a doctor in training. He seems alright, but can you check in on them, please? They took a big beating today.¡±

    Nurse Joy gave a short nod, smiling reassuringly at her, before standing and bowing at the two of them. ¡°Both of you are in good health. You are free to head home if you would like, but please stop by if you feel any lasting effects from tonight.¡±

    She nodded and began walking side by side with her grandfather, eager to head home. ¡°I really hope the twins are okay¡­.¡± She murmured as they passed through the doors, feeling a slight breeze as the moon shone down at them.

    ¡°I do as well. Bianca,¡± he replied, then stopping just outside of the doors. She frowned as she questioned, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± he shook his head, looking annoyed with himself, ¡°I¡¯m merely waiting here until the officer is done questioning Ash and his friends.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because what do you think they¡¯ll do the moment they meet back up with the rest of their class?¡±

    His question made her pause, before grimacing in realization. ¡°Oh, right.¡±

    They were quiet after that, looking up at the stars as they waited.

    ¡ª--------------------------------------------------------------

    Bianca rocked on the balls of her feet, idly tapping the tube in her hand, feeling mildly anxious and plenty exhausted as she glanced at the clock. Ash and his friends had said they would stop by sometime in the morning before they left, but never specified exactly when.

    She clutched the tube with a strong grip, looking down at the object with doubt.

    This seems like such a small way to thank him. One measly drawing; and I didn¡¯t even make one for the rest of his friends. Will he even like it?

    Before she could consider tossing it aside in her room, there was a knock at the door, along with a voice that shouted, ¡°Hello?¡±

    Bianca jumped before yelling back, ¡°I-I¡¯ll be right there!¡± She stared at the tube in her hand, before nodding to herself and hurried out of her room and down the stairs, almost tripping.

    I am too tired for this, what was I thinking?

    However, her Grandfather had already beaten her to the door, and as she spilled into the living room, he threw it wide open.

    ¡°Ah, hello, young Ash. Greetings to all of you, as well. Please, come in,¡± he invited, stepping to the side as Ash eagerly strolled in with an excited ¡°Thanks!¡±

    Behind him, his classmates and friends followed, including the girls she had met the day after the¡­incident.

    To her relief, all of them were pleasant to talk with, even Lana with her mischievous nature was a kind-hearted soul. Bianca was sad to see them go, especially Misty, who she had bonded with over their shared observation of Ash¡¯s semi-idiotic side.

    As she politely stood by and observed them shuffling in, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder when, if ever, she would see them again. She would certainly like to talk more about recipes with Mallow, who had provided cooking that far exceeded almost everything else she had eaten in her life. Even the twins had taken to it, after Bianca had snuck some out to them after their guests had left.

    Lillie was far more reserved, although no less fun to interact with once Bianca had talked to her. Her passion and knowledge of Pokemon was just barely beat out by Kukui and his fellow professor, Burnet.

    Bianca couldn¡¯t confirm it, but there definitely seemed to be a spark between the two of them. While not a romance connoisseur, it was hard for her to miss the lingering glances and softened tones when the two talked with one another.  Something Gramps also seemed keenly aware of.

    She eye twitched as she recalled the almost smug look in his eyes when Kukui introduced them to Burnet, and her annoyance was only exacerbated when he turned and glanced between her and Ash expectantly. Did other people have to worry about their family members constantly trying to pair them up with someone.

    Probably not.

    ¡°Watcha got there?¡±

    Misty¡¯s voice made her jump, breaking her out of her thoughts as she turned to see the tomboy looking curiously down at the tube. Recovering from her shock, Bianca shrugged and muttered, ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know. A parting gift, I suppose.¡±

    The ginger leaned against a wall, back turned towards the inattentive crowd behind her, and asked with a suspiciously casual tone, ¡°That¡¯s nice. For who?¡±

    Bianca was hesitant to answer, although she begrudgingly admitted a moment later, ¡°For Ash, I suppose. He¡¯s a nice guy, and he helped out a lot when those two creeps attacked the¡­the museum.¡±

    She would have almost preferred that Misty would have noticed her near slip up at the end. Unfortunately, Misty¡¯s response only deepened Bianca¡¯s suspicions as to where this conversation was leaning towards.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s very nice of you. It¡¯s art, isn¡¯t it? I think it¡¯s very sweet of you to draw something for him. You have a real talent for it, so I¡¯m sure you put a lot of passion into whatever you drew for him,¡± the ginger smiled as she finished, making her pinch the brow of her nose.

    ¡°...You think I¡¯m into him, don¡¯t you?¡± Bianca muttered, brow furrowed as she looked up at Misty. ¡°You can save your breath, I get enough of that from Grandpa.¡±

    Misty only shrugged, giving her a friendly smile. ¡°Maybe. But if you saw the amount of girls I¡¯ve seen or heard of that have nearly thrown themselves at him, you pick up a thing or two.¡±

    Bianca shook her head as she responded, ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen, I can¡¯t say I doubt what you say. But it¡¯s not like that. He¡¯s a very nice guy, but a few days really isn¡¯t enough for me to start liking someone like that. I doubt I¡¯ll see him again after you all leave, anyway.¡±

    Bianca didn¡¯t comment on the widening smile that the ginger gave, although she was relieved that Misty seemed content to let the issue go. As sad as it was that they were leaving, she was beyond tired from her work, and wanted to sleep.

    ¡°Well, we of course can¡¯t stay long. Our boat leaves in about fifteen minutes, and it¡¯s a five minute walk to the dock,¡± Kukui began, shoving his hands in his lab coat pockets and ignoring Kiawe¡¯s quiet question of why they even stepped inside. ¡°But, we wanted to stop by and thank you for the tour and your hospitality during our stay, as well as express our relief that you are in good health after that whole fiasco.¡±

    There were smiles and agreeing sentiments shared by the guests, warming Bianca¡¯s heart. For all their quirks, they really were a good group of people. Clearing her throat, she stepped forward and bowed her head as she replied, ¡°It is us who should be thanking you, really. Without you, we-¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all!¡± Ash interrupted with a wide grin, catching her off guard. ¡°That¡¯s what friends are for, yeah? Helping each other out?¡±

    Bianca blinked before slowly nodding. ¡°Er, yes. Yes, I guess they do¡­.¡±

    It was odd to hear him being so eager to call her a friend when they just met, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to be surprised. He was so sunny that he probably made friends with everyone he¡¯s met, whether they wanted it or not.

    She couldn¡¯t help but feel that friendship with him.

    Joke¡¯s on me, again, she chuckled to herself as she straightened up and cleared her throat again. ¡°That being said, I wanted to¡­I drew this for you, Ash.¡± She swallowed as she slowly reached out and handed him the tube, still questioning if it was even worth giving. Still¡­.

    ¡°We may be¡­friends, as you say, but I couldn¡¯t let you leave without at least giving you something to express my gratitude,¡± she finished as she watched him carefully take the top of the tube off and tilted it until the rolled up painting slid into his hand.

    The entire class leaned towards Ash as he began unfurling it, before letting out sounds of astonishment as the picture came into view.

    It was an image that depicted the plaza outside of the museum, facing the large doors of the building . The museum itself was done in great detail, but the main focus of the painting was done front and center; Ash and Pikachu, leaping into the air with expressions of joy and laughter on their faces.

    It was by far the most work she had put into a piece in recent memory, and she had lost plenty of sleep trying to get it done before the group left.

    It was also the cause of a growing smile on her grandfather¡¯s face as he, too, peeked at the drawing. Bianca elected to ignore this, and instead murmured, ¡°I apologize for such a lackluster gift, but-¡±

    She was stopped in her attempted apology by a look of confusion on Ash¡¯s face, his tone mirroring that as he questioned, ¡°What are you apologizing for? This is great! I¡¯m definitely putting this on my wall.¡±

    His words made her sag with relief and no small amount of happiness, beyond glad he liked it. ¡°You have no idea how much that means to me,¡± she admitted, giving him a tired smile. He returned it with an even wider grin, before looking back down at her, now his, art.

    Unfortunately, it was now ruined when Lorenzo spoke up, ¡°You know, Ash, since you like to travel a bunch-¡±

    I have a bad feeling about this.

    ¡°-why don¡¯t you come back here after you finish your studies in Alola?¡± His words came very close to breaking her demeanor into that of sheer annoyance. Her smile was frozen in place as she listened to Ash agree after a brief pause. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like fun!¡±

    ¡°Bzzzt! Roger that! I¡¯ll remind you of this whenever you decide to leave Alola, Ashzzt!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t muster up the strength to jump as Rotom¡¯s voice spoke right by her head, merely opting to squint her eyes up at it. ¡°I had a feeling someone was missing.¡±

    Rotom whirred and faced her and exclaimed, ¡°I was trying to identify a strange phenomenon I picked while we were on the way!¡±

    That sent a gut punch to her stomach; if that living Pokedex caught sight of Latios or Latias¡­.

    ¡°And? Were you able to find it?¡± She asked casually, before relaxing a moment later as it answered in the negative. ¡°Unfortunately not. It was much too fast!¡±

    ¡°What a shame. Anyway, we should be going,¡± Kukui quickly spoke up, earning a swift nod from Brock. ¡°Indeed. Misty and I are needed back in Kanto, and I¡¯m sure these guys will need to catch a flight at a decent time to get back to Alola.¡±

    Bianca sighed and nodded, slowly walking up to Ash and giving him a brief hug. ¡°As unbearable as Gramps is sometimes, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you stopped by once in a while. I¡¯m sure my friend wouldn¡¯t mind seeing you again either.¡±

    Ash looked confused for a moment before nodding in understanding. Misty stretched and looked disappointed as she expressed, ¡°Speaking of, I wish we had the chance to meet her. She sounds like she¡¯d be fun to hang around with.¡±

    Lorenzo nodded and laughed, ¡°That she is. Unfortunately, she is a rather busy one. Plus, I doubt you would ever get the chance to leave with her being as she is.¡±

    There were a few laughs amongst the group as they started shuffling to the door, while Brock and Misty lingered behind. At the questioning glances, Brock merely waved them off by saying, ¡°We¡¯ll be right there. Go on ahead, we can catch up.¡± After the consenting nods they smiled patiently as Ash called back, ¡°Bye you guys! I¡¯ll come see you when I can!¡±

    With that, they were gone, and the door was pushed close, and the two visitors turned towards Bianca seriously, making her want to groan. She knew where this was going.

    ¡°Look, I know what you said about Ash and all¡­¡± Misty began, prompting Brock to continue where she left off, ¡°We just wanted to warn you ahead of time, just in case.¡±

    She raised her eyebrow at that, ignoring Lorenzo¡¯s curious stare. ¡°Warn me? Just in case for what?¡±

    ¡°Well, Ash isn¡¯t exactly the best person at picking up what others feel for him. I speak from experience when I say that,¡± Misty said with a wry grin, making Bianca blink.

    ¡°If, IF, you change your mind, and maybe want to pursue a relationship with him, you will have to be blunt. Unless by some miracle-¡±

    Bianca¡¯s patience snapped at this point, and she stood up straight. ¡°Look, I appreciate this advice and all, but it¡¯s not needed. I don¡¯t even know why you¡¯re giving it to me, but-¡±

    ¡°I apologize if we¡¯ve offended you,¡± Brock spoke up now, barely looking apologetic at all. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­we want him to be happy. Misty has told you about all the girls he¡¯s traveled with and whatnot, but he hasn¡¯t looked at any of them. Not even the one that straight up kissed him on the lips,¡± Brock shaking his head as he said this.

    ¡°And you think I¡¯d be any different why¡­?¡± Bianca sighed, feeling annoyed.

    ¡°Call it intuition,¡± Misty offered as she started towards the door. ¡°A gut feeling, if you will.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t make any sense!¡±

    Her protest was met with another wry smile from Misty as the ginger replied, ¡°Feelings never make sense. But I kind of find that to be inspiring.¡±

    With that, Misty was gone and out the door, leaving Brock alone with Lorenzo and Bianca. ¡°I get that you¡¯re probably wondering why we brought this up, but all I can say now is that I wish you the best of luck, with whatever you choose to do. And give those two my regards, will you?¡±

    Bianca gave a terse goodbye as the doctor in training left, shaking her head as she turned towards the steps. She stopped as her grandfather suddenly spoke up, ¡°I won¡¯t tease you about getting married anymore, by the way.¡±

    She paused and looked back in disbelief as he continued, ¡°I can¡¯t make you date someone; I¡¯ve never believed otherwise. All I want is for you to experience life before it¡¯s too late. Putting some places under your brush outside of this city. Something that you can look to for inspiration.¡±

    And with that, her grandfather turned and hobbled out of the back door, leaving Bianca alone with his cryptic words.

 The Highway to Hellish Decision-making

    ¡°-And not to mention how slow that stupid line is! I just wanted my muffin! I hadn¡¯t had my muffin yet, Bianca!¡±

    Bianca¡¯s lips curled into a smile as Latias complained about how slow people were in the city, carefully applying brush strokes to her canvas while the dragoness went off on a tangent.

    Her friend had returned to the garden some time ago, disgruntled after her ¡°mission¡± of fetching sweets for them despite her brother¡¯s repeated attempts to refuse such delicacies.

    Naturally, that ended much the same as it always did, with Latios choking on what appeared to be a scone before begrudgingly swallowing the desert.

    Bianca had been far more receptive, and gratefully accepted her own pastry before Latias had launched into a tirade, pausing only to allow Bianca to fetch her supplies and easel.

    ¡°And they took so long that I didn¡¯t even get a chance to see if he¡¯s come back yet!¡± Her friend pouted as she crunched down on her second muffin.

    Rolling her eyes with a snort, Bianca responded with an amused tone, ¡°What, you think today will be different than any other? He hasn¡¯t been gone for that long, you know. Give the guy a chance to be with his friends.¡±

    ¡°Five months! Five months, Bianca, plus some! Besides, we¡¯re his friends, too, right? Why wouldn¡¯t he want to come see us?¡±

    ¡°Gee, I dunno, maybe because he knew us for like¡­three days?¡± Bianca replied pointedly with a shake of her head, leaning back as she cast a critical eye over her work. ¡°Besides,¡± she continued, giving the canvas a small frown, ¡°it¡¯s possible he forgot. Maybe that funny little Rotom thing didn¡¯t remind him.¡±

    Latias gasped, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, that¡¯s awful! He¡¯ll come back, I¡¯m sure of it!¡±

    Bianca threw a sympathetic look to her friend, knowing that the dragoness missed the trainer and his high-energy antics. In the brief time Ash was here, he had proven to match Latias¡¯ energy as they played tag with Latios and Pikachu.

    It amused her and Lorenzo to no end, and she could admit that a small part of her missed him, too. While he wasn¡¯t running around and making a fool of himself, he was a very eager listener, paying rapt attention as she told his tales of the twins¡¯ blunders, much to their dismay.

    Apart from being a good conversationalist, it was actually nice having someone her age to talk to for more than a few minutes at a time without having to come up with an excuse to not hang out. Which wasn¡¯t to say that the twins were bad company, but the differences in species could sometimes lead to unfortunate misunderstandings.

    ¡°Although something tells me Ash would be dumb enough to do what Latios did,¡± Bianca snorted to herself softly as she carefully applied her brush strokes.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Latias inquired, prompting Bianca to shake her head and reply, ¡°Nothing, just thinking is all.¡±

    ¡°Oh? Does it hurt?¡±

    Bianca gave a stink-eye over the snarky comment, electing not to grace her with a response. Instead, she stepped back from the easel once more, only to frown at it deeper.

    ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve done this before,¡± she muttered as she beheld her work. Technically speaking, it was fairly well done, and there wasn¡¯t a mistake to be made, yet. However, in terms of composition, it felt¡­dull.

    No, that wasn¡¯t the right word. Boring? Somehow, that didn¡¯t quite fit either.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Latias asked as she glanced between her and the painting, looking concerned at Bianca¡¯s displeased face.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, it¡¯s just-¡±

    Before she could get her words out, there was a thump in the distance followed shortly after by a grunt of pain, sending both of them into high alert, Latias fading from view as her feathers bent the light around her.

    Bianca carefully walked in the direction of the noise, noting that it had come from the rear entrance.

    ¡°Gramps?¡± She cautiously called out, putting her brush in a reverse grip in case it was not the caretaker.

    As she crept forward, she could barely hear a familiar voice say, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Pikachu, just tripped over this rock thing.¡±

    Wait, is that¡­?

    There was an excited gasp next to her as Latias lost her invisibility and shot forward, resulting in a soft thud a few moments later, followed by laughter from her friend and the suspected third party.

    Bianca hurried after her friend, and after making her way past several trees, she could make out Latias hugging the familiar sight of Ash with a smile on her face.

    The trainer grinned as he hugged her back, exclaiming with a soft laugh, ¡°We missed you too, Latias. Oh, hey, Bianca! Long time no see!¡± Ash said as he caught a glimpse of her mildly stunned appearance.

    ¡°You¡­actually came back,¡± she finally said, relaxing her grip on the brush.

    He nodded and gently moved Latias back as he stood up, replying brightly, ¡°Yup! Sure did. I made a promise, didn¡¯t I?¡±

    Bianca nodded thoughtfully and smiled, quickly replying, ¡°Yeah, I guess you did.¡± She paused and glanced back the way he came, nervously asking, ¡°Did you come alone?¡±

    Ash scratched Latias behind the ear and ruefully grinned. ¡°Yeah, my friends and family stayed behind this time. But maybe they can come back again sometime!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think Gramps would have a problem with that¡­. Wait, family? Didn¡¯t you say you were from Kanto?¡± She questioned, cocking her head to the side.

    ¡°Oh, I am! It¡¯s just¡­.¡± he paused as he seemingly tried to find the right words, then pressing on with a soft expression, ¡°Professor Kukui and Professor Burnet are like my Alolan family, ya know? Like my second set of parents.¡±

    Must be nice, she thought bitterly, before shoving that thought out of her head; it wasn¡¯t his fault. It would hardly be fair to him if she was petty about something that was out of his control.

    Bianca cleared her throat and waved her hand in the direction he came from, smiling through the pang in her chest. ¡°Mm. To the house then, I suppose?¡±

    ¡°Sounds good to me! In fact-¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s all the commotion I¡¯m hearing?¡± A telepathic voice interrupted, prompting them to turn and see Latios floating towards them, only to stop and blink in surprise. ¡°Ash? So, you really did come back.¡±

    Ash grinned and waved, ¡°Hey, Latios! How¡¯ve you been?¡± As he asked this, Pikachu ran up and jumped onto Latios¡¯ back, causing a huff to escape the dragon.

    ¡°Hello to you as well, Pikachu. As for your question, Ash, I have been doing well, thank you. Judging from your appearance, I say you¡¯ve been doing quite well yourself.¡±

    Bianca cast a critical look towards Ash as the trainer responded, now noticing a more tanned appearance, along with more defined muscles, the latter mildly intriguing her. While she suspected that trainers, particularly the ones that traveled often, were at least mildly athletic, she didn¡¯t think there would be that much of a difference.

    What is he doing, battling other Pokemon himself?

    The thought of him squaring off against a Mankey with nothing but the shirt on his back almost made her burst into giggles, and she had to bite her lip in order to prevent herself from doing so. Fortunately, only Latias noticed her reaction, and Bianca twitched her head to let her know she¡¯d share later.

    Her friend gave a barely perceptible nod in return, and Bianca stifled the last of her giggles, turning back to the sight of Pikachu leaping from Latios back to Ash. The mouse landed on the trainer¡¯s head and nearly knocked his hat off.

    Bianca smiled at Latias¡¯ giggles and started packing her easel away, ¡°You know, Ash,¡± she began as she tucked her materials into their case, ¡°I didn¡¯t really expect you back so soon¡­or at all,¡± she admitted with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Bianca!¡± Latias hissed, looking indignant on Ash¡¯s behalf.

    The trainer in question just chuckled, ¡°Hey, like I said; I promised. And it¡¯s not like I would forget, not after that super cool drawing you gave me.¡±

    She ignored the twin¡¯s snickering as she finished packing up, and gave Ash an appreciative look. ¡°Well, thanks, I suppose. But it wasn¡¯t anything special.¡±

    ¡°Of course it was, it came from you,¡± came his reply, completely catching her off guard and making her splutter.

    ¡°W-what?!¡± She turned and stared at him with wide eyes; was he flirting with her? However, despite the gleeful looks from the twins, Ash didn¡¯t seem to notice how his words may have sounded.

    He merely cocked his head innocently and elaborated, ¡°You¡¯re my friend, and anything that comes from a friend is special to me.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­. Well, thank you. That means a lot,¡± Bianca murmured, internally heaving a sigh of relief. She can¡¯t imagine how awkward it would be if he tried putting the moves on her, not to mention how much worse it would get upon a rejection.

    Thankfully, it didn¡¯t come to that, and she strode past Latias even as her friend shot her a wicked grin.

    ¡®Diabolical lizard,¡¯ She affectionately thought as she gestured for Ash to follow. He readily complied, adjusting his hat as Pikachu settled onto his shoulder.

    As they made their way to the house, Bianca could see Ash looking all around them, admiring the different Pokemon that flew and jumped their way around the Garden.

    ¡°It feels like there¡¯s more Pokemon here than ever,¡± he said in wonder, making her smile.

    ¡°Well, when you have two Legendary Pokemon protecting them at all times, it certainly does attract a crowd.¡±

    ¡°Hopefully a good type of crowd,¡± Latios snorted, likely inferring the incident that had occurred, to which she inclined her head.

    ¡°Yeah. Either way, it certainly keeps things lively¡­sometimes for the worse,¡± she scoffed, remembering the time a Skwovet took off with one of her brushes. It had been a pain trying to convince the little brat to hand it over.

    She gave him a glance as they walked and asked, ¡°Been busy since you left, I imagine?¡±

    ¡°Oh boy yeah!¡± He readily replied, and was seemingly about to launch into what she could only label as ¡°story-telling mode¡± before she quickly spoke, ¡°Wait, let¡¯s actually wait until we get inside. That way you don¡¯t have to say whatever it is you were about to say twice. Just¡­give me a super condensed version, please?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± He readily agreed, going silent for a moment before saying, ¡°We helped some aliens go home, saved the light of Alola, battled in Alola¡¯s first ever league, made more aliens go home, and then I came here!¡±

    By the time he had finished, he was about a dozen feet in front of her before Pikachu shoved his hat and prompted him to turn, letting him see her gobsmacked expression.

    ¡°Are¡­are you alright?¡± Ash began before she choked out, ¡°You¡­you what?¡±

    He scratched his head and laughed, ¡°I guess that was a little much, huh?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no sh-¡± Latios murmured before Bianca interjected.

    ¡°A little?!¡± She managed, before shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°Do you go looking for trouble, or does it just find you?¡±

    ¡°I bet a month¡¯s worth of pastries it¡¯s both,¡± Latias giggled, prompting her brother to question, ¡°Really? A month? That¡¯s it?¡±

    ¡°Uh-¡±

    Bianca raised a free hand to stop him, interrupting quickly, ¡°You know what, nevermind. Tell me when we get inside.¡±

    The twins snickered as he readily agreed, adjusting his cap and letting her catch up before the pair continued on their way. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t even a minute off from her backyard, their talking proved a helpful way to pass the time during their stroll.

    Crossing into the confines of the property, she could see her grandfather trimming a bush, sparing them a glance before straightening up with a smile.

    ¡°Ah, I see you¡¯ve found Bianca and the twins,¡± he said approvingly, prompting the aforementioned individuals to glance at Ash.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t mention you came here before the Garden,¡± Bianca said pointedly at him, to which Ash replied with an embarrassed laugh.

    ¡°Well, I actually meant to go to the Garden first, but I forgot how to find it. I spent all morning trying to find you guys before I accidentally came across Lorenzo as he was just getting back.¡±

    Latias giggled as her form shimmered, turning into a near carbon copy of Bianca before throwing him a smile. ¡°Had I known that, I would have led you here, just like last time.¡±

    Latios rolled his eyes and pulled on her ear with a psychic tug, making her squeal in surprise and break her illusion as he gently chided her, ¡°Quit flirting with the boy, especially using Bianca¡¯s body as your instrument.¡±

    ¡°Yes, please don¡¯t,¡± Bianca readily agreed, shaking her head at the dragoness.

    ¡°I was not flirting,¡± Latias pouted, sticking her tongue out at them.

    Lorenzo laughed as he set his clippers aside, stroking his chin in mock thought. ¡°To think I was going to try to set up Bianca with him, only for my other granddaughter to make her own move!¡±

    Latios roared with laughter as Bianca and Latias flushed with embarrassment, shooting the older man a heated glare, while Ash stood there looking confused. Pikachu merely rolled his eyes at his trainer¡¯s obliviousness, and Bianca would have been more grateful for the trainer¡¯s lack of romantic intelligence if she wasn¡¯t busy dying of embarrassment.

    ¡°Can we go inside please?¡± She asked through clenched teeth, Latias agreeing with several quick nods.

    ¡°Well, if that¡¯s the case, I¡¯m going to go patrol around the Garden some more,¡± Latios chuckled as he turned away. ¡°Try not to have too much fun with him, Bianca. Latias.¡±

    Bianca felt her face light up at his words, and she resolved to one day hold him down and pluck him bare so she could use his feathers for a pillow.

    Latias looked similarly annoyed, puffing out her cheeks and turning away as her brother departed.

    The group marched in, lead by an annoyed Bianca. Lorenzo took up the rear, and made a beeline for the kitchen as he said to them, ¡°You all sit tight, now, I''ll get us some tea.¡±

    Ash made a move to help him, only for Bianca to grab his armand mutter, ¡°Don¡¯t. You¡¯ll bruise his pride.¡± The trainer looked like he was about to protest, only to stop when she raised an eyebrow at him.

    He nodded sheepishly, so Bianca released him from her grip while her grandfather rummaged around in the kitchen for a few moments, gathering the cups as the kettle heated up.

    As they waited, they made their way over to the living room, although not without Bianca calling out, ¡°You know, grandpa, you¡¯re gonna have to let me help you one of these days. You¡¯re not getting any younger¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll help me the day I¡¯m either paraplegic or dead,¡± came his retort, only serving to make her sigh and shake her head.

    ¡°Stubborn old man,¡± she muttered, causing Latias to giggle. By the time they sat down in their respective seats, the kettle was whistling, and it was only a minute longer before her grandfather came bustling in after them, a platter of teacups wobbling precariously in his arms.

    There was a chorus of ¡°thank you¡¯s¡± as they reached forward and carefully grabbed a cup of boiling water each, along with a preferred flavor of bagged tea.

    Or, in the case of Ash, spending an entire minute staring at the selection before Latias picked one for him, making him laugh in embarrassment and apologize.

    Finally, they settled and enjoyed their beverage for a few moments, Latias allowing herself to be stroked by Bianca before Lorenzo set down his cup of tea and leaned forward.

    ¡°Now, Ash, tell us what you¡¯ve been up to.¡±

    <hr>

    The room was silent as the residents of Alto Mare stared in disbelief at the Kantonian as he finished his tale.

    While Ash was casually sipping at the rest of his tea as though he didn¡¯t just drop a bomb-shell, Bianca was struggling to wrap her head around the fact that they were having afternoon tea with a maniac.

    The guy that saved her home from two power-hungry femme fatales and a rather wet flattening was the same guy who regularly hunts for beings from other dimensions and just sends them right back home.

    It was a lot for her to take in, so she fished for something more down to earth she could comprehend. ¡°You mentioned a League-¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°What did the aliens look like?¡± Latias eagerly interjected, getting a small glare from Bianca in return, although Ash matched the dragoness¡¯ enthusiasm with his own as he replied, ¡°Oh, they were all different from each other! I mean some were the same kind, but most of them were completely different. Like Buzzwole! A huge bug-type looking Pokemon. We had to flex to get him to go home.¡±

    Bianca forgot all about the League upon hearing that nugget of information. ¡°You had to..flex?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, like this!¡± Ash stood up and began making different poses, flexing his muscles and shouting ¡°Swole!¡± every few seconds.

    If Bianca was stunned before, it paled in comparison to how she felt currently. Meanwhile, Latias was cracking up beside her, losing her levitation immediately and rolling on the ground in hysterical laughter.

    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± she muttered with a snort, finding it hard to reconcile the savior of Alto Mare with the flexing figure before her.

    Her grandfather was also chuckling, before he sat his tea cup down and leaned forward. ¡°So you managed to resolve the situation without too much of a hassle, along with others¡­.¡± he trailed off thoughtfully as Latias managed to slowly calm herself.

    He glanced at Bianca, giving her a sense of unease as turned back to Ash and asked, ¡°How would you feel about Bianca traveling with you on your next adventure, Ash?¡±

    Once more, Bianca felt herself beyond words as her mouth opened and closed like a dumbstruck Magikarp at her grandfather¡¯s brazen question. Even more surprising was Ash pausing in his flexing, his face morphing into one of intrigue and excitement.

    ¡°Wait, really? You¡¯d really want to travel with me?¡± His eager inquiry broke her out of her stupor as she shot up and exclaimed, ¡°Now hold on a second, where did that come from? I never said I wanted to leave!¡±

    Even as Ash pulled himself back together, Lorenzo glanced at her and replied, ¡°You certainly don¡¯t have to if you don¡¯t want to. You can choose to stay if you like, and that¡¯ll be the end of it. But I think it would be good for you.¡±

    Her face twisted in confusion as she questioned, ¡°Good for me? In what ways would that be good for me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, lots!¡± Ash butted in again, his earlier enthusiasm making its return. ¡°I¡¯ve learned so much while traveling with my friends! Plus, we got to see such amazing sights¡­while we weren¡¯t surrounded by trees, that is,¡± he added with a nervous chuckle.

    ¡°Okay, but that¡­l doesn¡¯t answer my question,¡± she muttered with a small amount of frustration.

    Latias giggled at her side, glancing at her in amusement. ¡°Maybe all the good was the friends he made along the way!¡±

    Bianca snorted and gently shoved her with a roll of her eyes. ¡°Very funny. Remind me to not let you go near my reading materials again.¡±

    ¡°Even your online ones?¡± Her friend replied slyly, to which Bianca flicked her ear and insisted, ¡°Yes, even my online ones. Especially my online ones. I-¡± She stopped mid-sentence as she remembered the present company, and huffed in embarrassment. ¡°You got me sidetracked, Tia.¡±

    ¡°Not my fault you¡¯re easy to tease,¡± Latias giggled as she rubbed where Bianca had flicked her.

    She didn¡¯t deign her with another response, instead turning back to her grandfather and Ash. ¡°This is all very fine and all, but that still doesn¡¯t explain why you think I should go.¡±

    Ash reclined back, placing his hands behind his head as he responded in a thoughtful tone. ¡°Well, I think you would want to leave eventually, you know? When I was a kid-¡±

    -Bianca struggled to maintain a stoic face at that-

    ¡°-I was itching to go out and explore. I mean, I did accidentally oversleep when I was supposed to get my first Pokemon, but if I hadn¡¯t I would have never met Pikachu, right buddy?¡±

    ¡°Pika!¡±

    Somehow, it didn¡¯t surprise her to learn that he overslept on what she would consider to be such an important day. Nonetheless, she listened as he continued.

    ¡°But once we finally figured things out, it was great! There was so much to see and do, that I can barely remember it all. So if you decide to go, there¡¯s so much stuff you¡¯ll get to experience that you wouldn¡¯t be able to here!¡±

    Bianca acknowledged his point with a slow nod as she bit her lip, thinking seriously about it now. Her grandfather then spoke up, prompting her to turn towards him.

    ¡°And don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t noticed the mopey face you¡¯ve been making everytime you come back from your art sessions,¡± he prodded, making her look away, although that didn¡¯t deter him from pressing on. ¡°The last time I saw you look like that was when you didn¡¯t have anything left in the Garden to paint, and you begged me to let you roam out in the city on your own.¡±

    Bianca flushed at the memory, vaguely recalling the moment. Being confined to the Garden, as beautiful as it was, hadn¡¯t sat well with her, especially when she knew there were so many sights to behold just beyond the barrier.

    Was it really so different now?

    ¡°I¡­need to think about this,¡± she muttered, then added, ¡°please.¡±

    Lorenzo nodded in understanding, while Ash smiled and replied, ¡°Sure! Take all the time you need!¡±

    ¡°But not too long,¡± her grandfather chuckled. ¡°We don¡¯t want to keep Ash here for months at a time.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t take so long if you had dropped this on me before,¡± Bianca dryly remarked, relenting a moment later. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though. I¡¯ll be back shortly. I hope.¡±

    With that, she stood up and made her way to the back door, noticing Latias was following closely behind. She didn¡¯t bother to question it, instead pursing her lips in thought as she moved to the garden, her legs practically on autopilot as she wondered about what to do.

    I mean, everything Gramps said is true. I have been feeling a little down about my paintings, and I am curious about what¡¯s out there¡­arrgh, what am I thinking? Am I seriously considering this?

    Latias hovered at her side and cast her a look of sympathy, ¡±You doing good there, Bi? I know it¡¯s a tricky subject and all. I can¡¯t imagine making a decision like this.¡±

    ¡°Tell me about it,¡± she muttered as they passed beyond the illusionary wall and into the Garden. ¡°This is my, our, home. It¡¯s all I¡¯ve known, and that¡¯s not a bad thing at all. I love it here,¡± she poured out to her friend, clenching her fists in frustration. ¡°But at the same time, I can admit that¡­ it also feels rather samey. I can turn a corner, and it looks almost identical to the alley a few steps back. I¡¯ve been through all the shops in this city enough times that I¡¯ve practically memorized everything they sell, even down to when they usually get discounted, for Kyogre¡¯s sake. None of it is new anymore, and anytime something fresh does come around, it just¡­it just gets old, too.¡±

    ¡°But not us, I hope,¡± Latios¡¯ voice joked from the side, prompting the two of them to look over.

    ¡°Hey, Latios,¡± Bianca chuckled at his response, shaking her head as she gave one of her own. ¡°And no, you guys aren¡¯t getting ¡®old¡¯. You replacing the whipped cream with shaving cream sure got old, though. Still don¡¯t know how you accomplished that, by the way.¡±

    ¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Latios replied jovially. ¡°And that¡¯s a trade secret. But I¡¯ll admit that I got inspiration from a movie.¡±

    Bianca rolled her eyes as she walked over to a tree and sat down, relaxing her body. ¡°Of course you did. You also got your pranking habit from your sister.¡±

    ¡°What can I say? It gets boring here sometimes.¡±

    His response made her snort, the world going dark as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the tree.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess it does¡­.¡± She trailed off with a sigh. There were a few minutes of silence as the twins settled into the grass beside her, where her hands found each of their heads and scratched behind their ears.

    She released a breath that must have been heavier than normal, for she felt Latios lift his head. She opened her eyes even as he looked at her inquisitively and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    There was a moment before Bianca finally confessed, ¡°Grandpa wants¡­he wants me to leave Alto Mare and go with Ash.¡±

    "Ah,¡± he simply stated before continuing, ¡°Well, I think that¡¯s a good idea.¡±

    His words made her eyes widen and stare at him in surprise. ¡°W-what?¡±

    ¡°You heard me. I think you should go with him,¡± he insisted.

    These words prompted Latias to raise her head as well, ¡°Brother?¡±

    Seeing that Bianca was stuck in an expression of shock, Latios patiently explained, ¡°It would be a good experience for you, Bianca, you and I both know it. The outside world is absolutely filled with things I wish Latias and I had the luxury to see, yet we can¡¯t. But you can.¡±

    Bianca bit her lip at that, even as he continued, ¡°Look, we¡¯ve known each other since your mom brought that tiny little bundle of baby and blankets to the Garden, and I¡¯ve cared about you a great deal since then. And that¡¯s why I¡¯m serious when I say I think you should do it. And when you come back, we can see the memories of all the amazing experiences you will have had.¡±

    She chuckled humorlessly as he finished, murmuring out, ¡°Sure feels like you¡¯ve thought about it a bunch.¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± came his reply, prompting her to raise an eyebrow.

    ¡°Ever since Ash left, I¡¯ve been thinking about it,¡± he confessed, catching her off guard.

    After a stunned moment, she finally spluttered, ¡°Well, then why didn¡¯t you say anything? Why wait until now?¡±

    He gave her a bombastic side-eye as he replied, ¡°Because you are probably the most stubborn person on this planet, and that''s saying something considering your grandfather is Lorenzo. If I started pushing you to think about it, you''d reject the idea outright.¡±

    Bianca opened her mouth to refute the comment about her stubbornness, only to close it again with a grimace, recognizing the trap. ¡°Still,¡± she finally said with a serious look, ¡±how do you know I won''t reject it now?¡±

    ¡°Because you haven''t,¡± came his confident reply, ¡±not to mention that you even confessed to being incredibly bored here, and your paintings reflect that.¡±

    She practically choked on indignation, but Latias butted in before she could formulate a rebuttal, ¡°That¡¯s true. Before Ashy tripped his way into the Garden, Bi was telling me all about how she didn''t like the painting she was working on!¡±

    ¡°Hey, who''s side are you on?!¡± Bianca shouted indignantly as she turned to face her friend. ¡°Besides, I told you that in confidence!¡±

    ¡°Your side,¡± Latias reassured her with a paw ruffling her hair, which Bianca only half-heartedly pushed off. ¡°But¡­ I suppose that''s why I think I agree with Mister Wedged Stick, here.¡±

    ¡°Mister¡­Wedged stick?¡± Latios sounded as confused as Bianca felt at the rather strange nickname.

    ¡°Yup!¡± Latias turned upside down and stuck her tongue out at her brother. ¡°On account of the massive stick wedged up your-¡±

    ¡°Anyway!¡± Bianca blurted out as Latios¡¯ feathers puffed out, wanting to avoid yet another sibling squabble that would inevitably drag out this conversation even longer. ¡°Even if I decide to go¡­ I know nothing about traveling. I don''t know what to pack, or what to wear, or what to do, or-¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking about it too hard,¡± Latios muttered as his feathers flattened back down, casting a stink eye at his sister, who merely stuck out her tongue. ¡±Everything you''ll need to know can be answered by Ash. Did he say where he was going?¡±

    ¡°Er, no,¡± she admitted, although he only nodded. ¡°Well, then all you need to do is ask him, yes?¡±

    Bianca hesitated, only to nod and mutter, ¡°Yes, I suppose¡­.¡±

    She took a breath, exhaling slowly as she sat there for a few minutes in silence, the twins waiting patiently at her side.

    ¡°¡­Alright,¡± she finally murmured, catching the attention of the dragons as they swiftly turned towards her. ¡°Alright, I''ll do it. I''ll go off and¡­travel with him. But,¡± she swiftly added as the twins exchanged glances, ¡°If any¡­funny business happens, then I''m turning myself around and marching right back here, got that?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less,¡± Latios replied with a hint of amusement. ¡°But I think it¡¯s time you tell your grandfather and new companion what your decision is. I think you¡¯ve kept them waiting long enough.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s barely been any time at all,¡± Bianca muttered as the twins pulled her to her feet. She sighed as she brushed off the dust from her skirt. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to go shopping so I have multiple things to wear. I just hope we won¡¯t be going anywhere too cold.¡±

    Latios snorted as the three began heading back to the house. ¡°We live off the shore of Johto, I don¡¯t imagine you¡¯ll be going anywhere colder than here.¡±

    ¡°Sinnoh,¡± she pointed out, remembering seeing clips of Mount Coronet, the peak blanketed in countless feet of snow.

    The very thought of it made her shiver.

    ¡°Fair,¡± Latios conceded as the house came into view. ¡±In that case, do you have any warm clothes on the off chance I''m wrong?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so, but I guess we¡¯ll find out,¡± she answered with a shrug.

    Making it back inside, Bianca came across Ash and her grandfather enjoying a laugh as they talked, only for them to stop and turn as they caught sight of her.

    ¡°I imagine you¡¯ve made up your mind, then?¡± Her grandfather asked with a knowing glint. She was half-tempted to go back on her decision just for that, but she nonetheless nodded and confirmed, ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve¡­I¡¯ve decided I¡¯ll travel with you, Ash.¡±

    Bianca pushed down the urge to roll her eyes as he gave a mild cheer, which she cut off with a firm voice. ¡°But, I will not hesitate to come back if you decide to try anything. Got it?¡±

    He nodded, albeit looking extremely confused as he did so, something Latias was quick to point out with a quick private thought, ¡°Oh, look at him, all innocent and stuff. He has no idea what you mean, Bi! I doubt he¡¯d hurt a Spinarak, much less you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be amazed,¡± she shot back before coughing into her fist with uncertainty. ¡°Er, good. Glad we cleared that up.¡±

    She sat there in awkward silence for a moment as she gathered her thoughts before pressing on. ¡°Also, I have no idea where we¡¯re going, so¡­I don¡¯t know what I¡¯ll need to pack.¡±

    Ash quickly nodded as he stood up and struck a ridiculous pose, exclaiming with an overabundance of excitement, ¡°We¡¯re going to Galar!¡±

    Immediately, Lorenzo grimaced and shook his head, muttering under his breath with no small amount of disgust, ¡°Had I known you were going there¡­.¡±

    Bianca and Ash turned towards him as she cautiously asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Galar? Is it dangerous?¡±

    ¡°Only if you drink that abomination they call ¡®tea¡¯,¡± he grumbled in response before sighing. ¡°Still, loads better than Hoenn right now. If whatever route you choose takes you through Hoenn, do try to avoid LaRousse City, will you?¡±

    ¡°LaRousse City¡­ that sounds kind of familiar,¡± Ash muttered thoughtfully, before asking curiously, ¡°Why there specifically?¡±

    Lorenzo shook his head as he stood with a grunt. ¡°I wish I had anything other than base rumors to give you. But I don¡¯t like at all what I did hear, so I¡¯d rather you be safe than sorry. Avoid doing any pit stops there for shopping or what have you, just buy what you need in Kanto, Johto, or Galar, alright? Oh, and pack something warm. Galar can get chilly.¡±

    ¡°I stand- er, float corrected,¡± Latios softly snorted.

    Bianca frowned as the two new companions nodded, wondering what it was about that particular city that would warrant a complete avoidance of it, especially given that he hadn¡¯t told her anything regarding the city in question.

    ¡°Probably because you never really travel, so he didn¡¯t really need to before now,¡± Latios pointed out, before asking a moment later, ¡°Want me to try and take a peek?¡±

    Bianca began making her way up the stairs as Ash and Lorenzo started talking about travel plans, shaking her head once she was out of sight. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. It¡¯s only one city that¡¯s easily avoidable, and it can¡¯t be too bad, or it would have been on the news.¡±

    The twins acknowledged her point as she opened her door and began looking around for things she would need, before realizing something.

    ¡°Damn¡­. I don¡¯t have a suitcase.¡±

    0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

    The next few hours slipped by like a cool breeze skimming the surface of the ocean. The sound of Seaking and Chinchou filled the air. It was accompanied by the gentle glow emanating from Chinchou¡¯s antennae, creating fleeting pockets of light that mixed with the orange glint of Seaking¡¯s scales beneath the water''s surface. The swirling colors painted a dance of orange and bright yellow, forming the perfect backdrop for the two figures making their way down the side of the canal.

    Bianca seemed especially pleased with herself. ¡°Thanks for going through so much trouble for me.¡± She said, seeing Ash carrying some of her new items, with the clothing being on the rucksack on her back.

    Ash shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem! Besides, we¡¯ve still got a few things we need to get anyway. Deodorant, Toothbrushes, and anything for good hygiene.¡± He stated, making Bianca narrow her eyes slightly.

    ¡°Are you implying something?¡± She started with a small edge in her voice, although she eased up when he gave her a bemused look.

    Ash messed around with the rucksack in his hand while Pikachu held onto his shoulders rather precariously. ¡°What? No, it¡¯s just we¡¯re gonna be on the road a lot! There aren''t going to be many Pokemon centers between cities, if at all. At least, I don¡¯t think so. There weren¡¯t any in any of the other regions I¡¯ve been to that I can remember.¡±

    Bianca grimaced at that, reminding herself that her time as a spoiled city girl was rapidly coming to an end. ¡°Right, sorry. So¡­what do you recommend?¡± She questioned hesitantly.

    Ash finally seemed to find the right balance, shaking his head and trying to ponder that question. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve learned from Brock and a few others about just what kind of stock to keep around. We¡¯ve also gotta have food.¡± Bianca¡¯s eyes widened at that idea as the raven haired boy continued, ¡°Yeah, canned food and stuff that doesn¡¯t spoil easy. I¡¯ve also gotta figure out just what to feed our Pokemon. Well, I say ours, but that depends on if you catch any.¡± He finished, giving her a curious glance.

    Bianca actually tilted her head in thought. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know yet,¡± she admitted. The thought of taking care of a Pokemon was daunting, at least in regards to training them. The twins were exceptions, given their heightened intelligence, but ordinary Pokemon that genuinely relied on her¡­.

    ¡°That¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to decide yet. After all, it took ages for Lillie to get her own Pokemon, although she was afraid of them before then, so¡­¡± He scratched his head in thought before shrugging. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve picked up a thing or two from Brock when it comes to cooking. Even learned some recipes. That friend of mine is the best cook.¡±

    Bianca smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s hope those things you picked up actually stuck.¡± She playfully jabbed, making him laugh.

    ¡°Yeah, me too,¡± he muttered, and Bianca suddenly felt her confidence drop a little. Please don¡¯t accidentally give me food poisoning on the first day, she prayed.

    Coughing into her fist, she awkwardly laughed. ¡°Yeah¡­uh, anything else?¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± he pondered awkwardly as Pikachu trotted at his side, tail waving imperiously. ¡°Maybe a sleeping bag for you? Do you have one?¡± Ah yes, that.

    Bianca dreaded this part the most. Giving up her nice soft bed to sleep practically on the ground was¡­not a very comfortable thought in the slightest.

    Still, how bad could it possibly be? Questions for later, she decided. ¡°I don¡¯t actually¡­¡± She trailed off, seeing Ash stop for a moment.

    ¡°Okay, then we¡¯ll have to get it on the way. If not in Kanto, then I¡¯m sure Galar will have some. Oh, and tents.¡± Ash had actually read a pamphlet about that particular part about Galar. ¡°We¡¯ll be in luck on that though. You¡¯re basically required to have a tent to be able to stay in the wild areas.¡±

    ¡°Wild areas? Aren¡¯t most of the regions covered in wild areas?¡± Bianca questioned with furrowed eyebrows.

    Ash stopped in his tracks with a bemused look on his face, muttering under his breath, ¡°Er, yeah, I guess so¡­.¡± He awkwardly paused, trying to figure out what to add, ¡°Hmmm¡­ There''s something special about them!¡± Ash finished, seeing Bianca tilt her head in curiosity.

    ¡°Okay¡­ And that special quality is¡­?¡± She asked as Ash tried to remember and then his eyes widened.

    ¡°Yeah! It has to do with Dynamax!¡± Ash said, waving his arms to simulate growth of some sort, ¡°A Pokemon can absorb a bunch of energy and grow to a massive size! I¡¯ve seen it on television and on the internet, but I bet that¡¯s so much cooler up close!¡± He excitedly spoke while Bianca took in his words with newfound interest.

    Ash continued. ¡°There¡¯s also the raid battles where you team up with other trainers to battle Dynamax Pokemon out in the wild!¡±

    She pursed her lips at that, wondering how she felt about the thought of stopping every so often to wait for Ash to fight giant Pokemon. On one hand, having the mindset of a traveler, yet making little progress with the actual traveling seemed counter-intuitive.

    On the other, it wasn¡¯t like she got to see such sights here anyway. Plus, seeing multiple teams go up against these ¡°Dynamax¡± Pokemon is sure to spark something in here. Maybe new paintings¡­wait.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Bianca cursed as she slapped a palm over her face.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She heard Ash say in a concerned voice as he turned towards her.

    She took a deep breath and grimaced, hoping he wouldn¡¯t judge what she was about to say next. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I''m gonna bring along any of my art supplies and whatnot.¡±

    Ash gave her a funny look as he cocked his head. ¡°Just put them in the pack when you¡¯re not using them.¡±

    Bianca shook her head with a sigh. ¡°I wish it worked like that, but they have to be packed separately, or they could get damaged, and it might be cumbersome.¡±

    Instead of outright rejecting the inclusion of bringing along her hobby like she initially feared, he merely shrugged. ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t be the first time someone brought along something like that with them.¡±

    He paused before asking curiously, ¡°Your art is like, super important to you, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    She gave a firm nod, to which he surprised her with a strong grin and enthusiastic exclamation, ¡°Then I say, bring it with you! And if anything gets left behind, then I promise you I¡¯ll go back for it no matter what!¡±

    ¡°Pika-pi,¡± the yellow rodent muttered as he jumped up onto Ash¡¯s shoulder, although Bianca only had eyes for the raven-haired trainer¡­and his somewhat absurd declaration.

    Giving him a wry smile, she laughed under her breath, ¡°Well, in that case, I¡¯ll hold you to it. Thank you, Ash,¡± she finished with a warm smile before looking up into the night sky, seeing the stars glimmer overhead before turning her attention back at the results of their shopping expedition.

    ¡°I suppose it¡¯s time we head back, then,¡± Bianca sighed as she adjusted her new rucksack. ¡°I already have hygiene products at home, so I might as well use them up before buying new ones. Not to me-mention¡­.¡±

    Her yawn cut off her sentence, and she slightly sagged down. ¡°Not to mention I¡¯m getting tired,¡± she finished, as though it weren¡¯t blindingly obvious.

    Ash nodded as he adjusted his grip on the bags. ¡°Alright, sounds good. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said as he started walking in the wrong direction.

    ¡°Ash, it¡¯s this way,¡± Bianca calmly corrected as she headed the right way, nearly the opposite of the way he had been going. Hopefully, this wasn¡¯t going to be an indication of their future travels.

    Although I can hardly blame him for being lost, he hasn¡¯t spent his whole life in the city, she tiredly thought as they made their way back.

    By the time they made it to the house, Bianca could barely walk without drifting to one side or the other. Even Ash was showing some signs of fatigue, although this didn¡¯t stop him from offering his help every once in a while.

    She had politely rejected every time, despite her muscles screaming at her, hoping to get a better idea of what it was going to be like to travel. If she couldn¡¯t carry her own things now, what hope would she have when it mattered?

    Now that she¡¯s had a taste of it, however, she could only hope Ash would be lenient on her poor self, at least until she¡¯s built up more endurance.

    Spilling through the front door, she would have toppled onto the floor if her grandfather hadn¡¯t been ready for them, gently steadying her.

    ¡°I see you¡¯ve experienced what it¡¯s like walking around with all this stuff,¡± he chuckled warmly, pulling the rucksack off her back. ¡°You sure you¡¯ll be able to handle it?¡±

    Bianca slumped against the wall as Ash came inside with the rest of her stuff, looking around the room until her grandfather directed him to the living room to drop it off. As he walked by, she rubbed her eyes, responding wearily, ¡°At first you try to convince me to go, now you¡¯re tr-trying to give me doouuaaah.¡± She yawned, unable to finish her sentence. Lorenzo only smiled before gently herding her up the stairs.

    ¡°Where are the¡­the twins?¡± She murmured in a quiet voice, almost convinced he wouldn¡¯t hear her.

    ¡°They came back here some time ago, before heading to the Garden for a little bit. I¡¯ll make sure they come by to say their goodbyes,¡± he promised.

    She nodded, only to stop and glance back, ¡°Wha-what about Ash?¡±

    ¡°From the looks of it, he won¡¯t have any trouble at all sleeping on the couch,¡± he reassured her as he all but carried her. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure he gets settled in, so let¡¯s just worry about you right now. You have a big day tomorrow, after all.¡±

    Had fatigue not clouded her mind, Bianca would have been more conscious of the sadness present in his voice. Unfortunately for her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel selfishly inclined to pass out.

    Indeed, upon reaching her room, she didn¡¯t even bother taking off her shoes, instead collapsing onto her bed and snuggling into its warmth. As her eyes shut, she could feel her blankets being tucked up around her, before her light turned off moments later. As his footsteps faded, she could hear her grandfather bidding her a good rest, before sleep claimed her.

 The Farthest from Home Ive Ever Been

    ¡°Did you remember to pack your toothbrush?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Grandpa.¡±

    ¡°What about your deodorant? And your-¡±

    ¡°Yes, Grandpa!¡± It took a lot of willpower on Bianca''s part to cut him off before he could finish that statement. She was already stewing in embarrassment as her grandfather ran through the list of things she already packed for the umpteenth time.

    She knew why he did it, but it didn¡¯t make it any less aggravating. In fact, it was only exacerbated by the fact that her traveling companion and guide was standing right there, listening with a knowing look on his face. He chuckled and looked to the mouse perched on his shoulder, ¡°Reminds me of when we first started traveling, right buddy?¡±

    ¡°Pika!¡±

    Ah, that makes sense.

    After double checking all of her luggage''s straps and zippers were secure¨C with Latias¡¯ ¡°help¡±, of course¨C Bianca leveled an inquiring stare at her guide.

    ¡°Really? And how did that go?¡±

    Her curiosity grew as he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, looking anywhere but at her. ¡°Well¡­my mom was quite persistent about what I packed. Particularly¡­.¡±

    He stopped there, and Pikachu snickered, ¡°Pika-pikachu.¡±

    Immediately, Latias started laughing, trying and failing to cover her mouth with a red and white paw, drawing Bianca¡¯s attention.

    The dragoness¡¯ honey-colored eyes focused on Ash mischievously as she giggled, ¡°Well, Ash? Do you remember to pack clean underwear?¡±

    Bianca bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing.

    Sadly, he wasn¡¯t spared from Lorenzo¡¯s roar of laughter, even as he protested, ¡°Of course I do!¡±He crossed his arms and turned away, although Bianca could tell he wasn¡¯t as peeved as he made himself out to be.

    ¡®Well, at least now I know why he was insistent on hygiene,¡¯ she thought to herself as she leaned away from her things, ¡®Although I''m not sure I would have been as appreciative if he started asking about my underwear.¡¯ Grimacing at the thought, everyone''s attention was caught by a knock at the door. Latias immediately went invisible.

    Bianca and Lorenzo exchanged confused glances, even as Ash muttered, ¡°Huh, didn¡¯t know you guys were expecting someone.¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t,¡± Lorenzo replied as he started to make his way to the door, turning and glancing at where Latias was visible moments before. ¡°Go find your brother, Tia. He''s gonna miss Bianca¡¯s departure otherwise.¡±

    There was another knock, prompting Lorenzo to grumble loudly as Bianca felt Latias brush past her and race out the back door, ¡°Yeah, yeah, hold your Rapidashes. I¡¯m almost there.¡±

    Bianca peered around the corner as her grandfather yanked the door open.

    ¡°Officer Lospio?¡± His confused voice prompted Bianca to actually get up and investigate. ¡°What can I do for you?¡±

    More like, ¡°What are you doing here,¡± she thought as she stopped and observed the two men, hearing Ash come up behind her.

    ¡°Good morning, sir,¡± came the even reply from the officer, the ever-present neutral face staring back at her grandfather before his attention focused on her. ¡°Ah, Bianca. Just the one I was hoping to see¡­.¡±

    He trailed off as he noticed Ash standing just off to the side, his face somehow becoming even more unreadable. ¡°The young man that saved the museum? It seems you¡¯ve returned from¡­Alola, was it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah! You remembered?¡± Came Ash''s surprised reply, sounding a little more impressed than what Bianca felt was warranted.

    Officer Lospio gave a short nod of confirmation. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s my job to remember details like that, not to mention I don¡¯t get many opportunities to¡­ah, interview people of such regard as you. I would be remiss to forget yours, given the circumstances.

    Bianca caught a glimpse of Ash as the trainer scratched his chin thoughtfully. ¡°That makes sense. Actually, that reminds me. Whatever happened with uh.. What are their names?¡±

    She stifled a growl as her face soured, her grandfather¡¯s much the same. Up until now, Annie and Oakley had been a distant thought, pushed to the very recesses of her mind. A warning to be more cautious, but nothing that could spoil her mood.

    ¡®And then Ash had to open his mouth,¡¯ she thought dryly. ¡®Is this going to be another recurring issue?¡¯

    Meanwhile, Officer Lospio tilted his head slightly, as though considering his answer.

    ¡°Well,¡± he began with a careful tone, ¡°I can¡¯t quite give information out like that, I¡¯m afraid. My higher ups wouldn¡¯t be very pleased with me, as you can imagine. However, I can tell you that the last my department heard from them, they were transferred to a prison where they will not be making any escapes any time soon, or at all.¡±

    Despite her initial annoyance at the mention of the women, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but relax at hearing that. She wouldn¡¯t have to be looking over her shoulder every day¡­ Neither would the twins.

    At least, not as much. Annie and Oakley were hardly the first to be interested in the DMA, although they were the first to get so far.

    ¡°That¡¯s a relief to hear, sir,¡± she said with a small smile, pushing the thought to the side. ¡°I had hoped they would be jailed for what they tried to do. Especially after attacking me,¡± Bianca finished with a growl, frowning at the thought of that Espeon and Ariados attacking any other hapless victim. ¡®Cowards, using Pokemon to directly attack people.¡¯

    Officer Lospio leveled a small smile at her, probably the most expressive she¡¯s seen him lately, although it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Indeed. Rest assured, that particular action of theirs will not go unpunished. Directly attacking humans with Pokemon is highly frowned upon; even in organized crime, it is typically used as a last resort,¡± he explained, making them nod. That aligned with what she¡¯s heard.

    ¡°Of course, I still wouldn¡¯t go about testing your luck,¡± Lospio cautioned, staring intently at her. ¡°There¡¯s nothing in their honor system, if you can call it as such, that says the trainers themselves can¡¯t get involved. So please be sure to not do anything too foolhardy¡­which brings us to your question as to why I am here.¡±

    This made her lean forward, and her grandfather tilted his head as the officer focused on Bianca. ¡°I heard from a partner that you were shopping around with a boy last night, and I think I can assume that Ash here was that boy?¡±

    At her confirmation, he continued with a nod, ¡°While that already seems out of character for you-¡± She repressed a flush at the comment. ¡°-it was what you were reportedly shopping for that particularly caught my interest. Were you looking for traveling accessories for Trainer Ash, or yourself?¡±

    She frowned at the odd question. As far as she knew, she wasn¡¯t in any trouble with the law. Thus. could go anywhere she damn well pleased.

    Glancing at her grandfather, Bianca opened her mouth to reply when Ash exclaimed, ¡°Those are for her! We¡¯re gonna go traveling together, and we wanted to make sure she has everything she needs.¡±

    Bianca was just able to prevent herself from shooting a glare his way, annoyed he couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. ¡®Has this guy never learned to read a room?¡¯

    Officer Lospio stared at them for a moment before slowly nodding. ¡°I see. I must say, I¡¯m mildly surprised to hear that. Naturally, we¡¯ve had countless people coming and going, but truthfully, I don¡¯t think any of us expected the caretakers of the museum to be among that number, especially long term.¡±

    ¡°I suppose we haven¡¯t really given any reason to believe we would be wandering off,¡± her grandfather rumbled in thought as Bianca conceded the point. The museum was a busy place, and while it didn¡¯t need to be tended to every minute, it wasn¡¯t something that both of them could leave behind for extended periods of time, even with the assistants.

    Officer Lospio inclined his head in agreement. ¡°Indeed, you can see why we were mildly surprised, then¡­or has the little painter run out of sights to see here?¡± Although his tone was only moderately teasing, she couldn¡¯t detect any true mocking intent.

    His comment hit a little close to home, making Bianca cough into her fist awkwardly. ¡°I guess you could say that,¡± she mumbled, shuffling her feet.

    He merely nodded, adjusting his cover. ¡°I suppose there are only so many canals to see before they all look the same. Not like the horizon will be changing anytime soon, either.¡±

    Lorenzo chuckled at that, crossing his arms. ¡°You¡¯d be amazed, officer. Just last year, I managed to catch a glimpse of the green flash as I was out by the edges of the city,¡±

    ¡°Yeah, rub it in, why don¡¯t you,¡± Bianca pouted as she sniffed. The green flash was an incredibly rare sight to behold; you had to be in the right place at the right time, assuming it was going to happen at all. Completely invisible to those anywhere except the very western edge of the city, and it came and went before anyone could so much as say, ¡°Look over there!¡±

    And she missed it. A potentially gorgeous painting, unmade because she wasn¡¯t fortunate enough to see the sight itself.

    She was brought back to the real world when she heard Officer Lospio let out a small noise of amusement. ¡°Yes, I suppose that must have been quite a view. I have yet to see one myself, although I spend most of my time indoors, so that is my own fault. That being said,¡± he suddenly lost what little positive tone he had and turned serious. ¡°I hope that wherever you find yourself, you are safe. Some areas in the world are best left alone. May I inquire as to your destination?¡±

    ¡°Uh, Galar,¡± she admitted, unsure if the region qualified as ¡°best left alone¡±, hoping it wasn¡¯t too bad.

    ¡°Hm, interesting choice. And a far one,¡± the officer muttered thoughtfully. ¡°I can¡¯t say as I¡¯ve been there personally, but I¡¯ve heard it is nice. You are also more likely to be trampled by Pokemon there than running into any organized gangs, at any rate. So,¡± he said as he turned towards Ash with a formidable stare, ¡°I expect you to do what you can to ensure that doesn¡¯t happen. Shouldn''t be too difficult for a trainer of your caliber.¡±

    ¡®What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡¯ Bianca wondered as she also glanced at the now embarrassed Ash.

    ¡°Er, right. I won¡¯t let you down!¡± The trainer awkwardly reassured them, while Pikachu just face-palmed and shook his head.

    If Ash was some elite trainer or something, then how did Offer Lospio know about it, but not her? ¡®I¡¯m the only one from the city that actually talks to him, so what¡¯s the deal?¡¯ She slightly narrowed her eyes, but resolved to ask about it later.

    The officer gave a small nod. ¡°See that you don¡¯t,¡± he returned flatly before turning back to Bianca. ¡°Well, I do not wish to keep you, and it¡¯s time I head off myself. Reports don¡¯t write themselves, after all. Safe travels to you both.¡±

    He tipped his cover to Lorenzo before turning and swiftly leaving. Lorenzo sighed and shut the door, shaking his head as he faced them. ¡°Why must the police be so interested in our affairs? I swear to Kyogre, no one else is as monitored as we are in this city.¡±

    Ash cocked his head to the side, Pikachu mirroring his movement as his trainer asked, ¡°Is it because of the DMA incident? Maybe they¡¯re just trying to keep you safe.¡±

    ¡°If that was the case, youngin, I wouldn¡¯t mind so much. But this has been going on longer than that, I¡¯m afraid. It¡¯s just only gotten more noticeable since then,¡± her grandfather replied tiredly, making her frown.

    ¡°I hadn¡¯t noticed¡­.¡± She trailed off, trying to think.

    ¡°With you being practically glued to your canvases, I can hardly blame you for it,¡± came his teasing jab, a fact Bianca couldn¡¯t really refute.

    Shrugging, she glanced back at her rucksack as Ash asked thoughtfully, ¡°Do you think they know anything about Latias and Latios, then?¡±

    Bianca balked at the thought, picking up the rucksack and testing its heft, finding it to be acceptable.

    ¡°No, I¡­. Hm,¡± Lorenzo began, before stopping and considering the point with squinted eyes. ¡°I¡­don¡¯t think so,¡± he carefully supplied, rubbing his chin. ¡°At least, none of them have asked about the twins, even with their watchful eyes. But, if they are trying to locate them, I can¡¯t imagine why they don¡¯t just ask. Not like we¡¯d tell the truth, but still.¡±

    ¡°I guess you¡¯re lucky that the Secret Garden is connected to your house,¡± Ash said as she began securing her art bag to the back of her rucksack, only for him to stop and turn as her grandfather chuckled.

    ¡°That¡¯s more by design than luck, actually,¡± Lorenzo corrected with a smile. ¡°You see-¡±

    ¡®This house was designed specifically to look as unassuming as possible,¡¯ came the psychic voice of Latios as both him and Latias came floating in from the back. ¡®The more boring it is, the less likely people will guess we¡¯re connected to it.¡¯

    Latias grumbled as Lorenzo grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s not that boring.¡±

    ¡®Oh, please, if it was any more average looking, people would assume it was mass-produced. Fortunately, that¡¯s the point,¡¯ came the retort from Latios, who gently shoved his sister away as she attempted to sneak up on him from behind.

    ¡°Hmph. Upstart brat,¡± Lorenzo joked before silence filled the living room. Both of the twins turned to face Bianca and Ash, their draconic faces conveying a somber acceptance. ¡°Well,¡± she started as she shuffled her feet, ¡°I guess this is goodbye, for now.¡±

    ¡®Yes,¡¯ Latios murmured as he moved forward and gently butted her face with his own. ¡®Thank you for helping to care for me and my sister, even though we more than often had to do the same for you.¡¯

    Bianca giggled, fighting back tears as she nodded. ¡°How could I not? We¡¯re best friends, after all.¡±

    Latios dipped his head before awkwardly hugging her. She squeezed him tight enough to make him wince before he slowly pulled back and turned to Ash. ¡®And don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten about you. First, I want to thank you again for what you¡¯ve done. Both for the city, and my family. You have my eternal gratitude. Secondly,¡± the dragon continued, his voice taking on a harsher tone, ¡°you take good care of Bianca, you hear me? Whatever she needs, you¡¯re all she¡¯s got out there. Whether as a trainer, a friend, or¡­more.¡¯

    Bianca stifled a groan even as Ash nodded seriously, apparently not picking up on the insinuation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will. This won¡¯t be the first time I¡¯ve helped out someone on their first journey, although it will be the first time I¡¯m doing it alone. Still, I¡¯ll do my best! I promise!¡± He finished confidently, earning a satisfied nod from Latios.

    ¡®Good. Because if you don¡¯t¡­.Well, I can fly faster than most planes. It won¡¯t take me more than a week to find you.¡¯ His threat, despite being undefined, hung in the air as Latios retreated, allowing his sister to take his place.

    ¡®I¡¯m gonna come with you up until the docks,¡¯ the dragoness started, looking between them. ¡®But I wanted to get this out of the way first.¡¯ She immediately glomped onto Bianca and hugged her tightly, making her smile as she reciprocated with a fond giggle. ¡®I¡¯m gonna miss you, Bi. I¡¯ve got an idea to help with the distance, but uh¡­don¡¯t know if it¡¯s gonna work.¡¯

    Bianca shot her a curious look as she pulled back, opening her mouth to ask what the idea was, only for the red dragoness to rush past and hug Ash. ¡®Ignore the grumpy pants. He¡¯s more thankful than he lets on, and he knows you won¡¯t do anything to intentionally harm Bianca. He just wants to be tough and give the ¡®big brother talk¡¯.¡¯

    ¡®Oi!¡¯ Latios protested, only for Latias to ignore him as she released Ash.

    Seeing this, Lorenzo clapped his hands together and gruffly asked, ¡°All ready to go?¡±

    Bianca nodded as she heaved her rucksack and its attachment onto her back, grimacing at the weight. It would not be fun adapting to the load, but she¡¯d manage. Hopefully.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go!¡± Ash cheered, making the residents snort as Latias¡¯ form shimmered, light fading to reveal Bianca¡¯s carbon copy¡­except for the hair.

    ¡°What¡¯s with the length?¡± Bianca questioned, staring at the long, swaying locks that hung down to ¡°her¡± lower back.

    Latias placed a hand on her hip and flicked her hair with the other, striking a pose. ¡°What, don¡¯t like it? Thought we could change things up a bit before you leave so people don¡¯t ask questions.¡±

    ¡°Not looking like that, you¡¯re not,¡± Bianca snorted. ¡°Makes me look awful. At least change the hair color or something. And do something about the face, it¡¯s too similar.¡±

    Latias¡¯ form shimmered again, the brown changing to a scarlet red, matching her dragon form. Similarly, her face slightly slimmed down, and Latias swirled in place. ¡®How about now?¡¯

    ¡°Wow, you¡¯re pretty!¡± Ash exclaimed, making Latias giggle.

    Bianca let out a semi-offended snort. ¡°Gee, thanks.¡±

    Lorenzo and Latios shook their heads, the old man muttering, ¡°Boys these days¡­.¡±

    Latios merely complained, ¡®Do you need to do this now? I already said goodbye. This just makes it feel awkward now.¡¯

    Ignoring them, she squinted at her friend. ¡°Hm¡­. Not bad. Might want to change those eyes, though. Doesn¡¯t really match up.¡±

    Latias obeyed, and brown was once more replaced, this time with Latias¡¯ signature honey-gold. She flashed them a smile as Bianca nodded approvingly. ¡°Good, much better. Now you can terrorize people with your own body instead of getting into trouble with my own.¡±

    Latias stuck her tongue out as the pair began heading out the door, Ash following closely behind. Lorenzo swirled his keys as he called out behind them, ¡°Hold down the fort while I¡¯m gone.¡± He then closed the door behind himself, marking the last time Bianca would see the dragon for a long while.

    <hr>

    Bianca¡¯s stomach clenched tighter and tighter the closer they got to the docks. Talking with Ash and her grandfather helped, along with the presence of her best friend, but it wasn¡¯t nearly enough to ease her nerves.

    ¡®I could turn around right now, and no one would blame me,¡¯ her gut seemed to say, sounding rather convincing as the smell of the sea became crisper.

    Unfortunately for the voice, she was forcing her legs to keep moving. No one except myself, she thought, taking a deep breath as she strengthened her resolve. She did not shy away from protecting the Garden and would not shy away now. Not when there were so many things to see.

    Finally, they came to a stop before a closed-top boat, slightly bigger than the ones that could be seen cruising through the canals once in a while. Sitting next to the wheel was who she presumed to be their ¡°captain¡±, a middle-aged man with a healthy tan and a mustache to rival her grandfather¡¯s.

    From the corner of her eye, she could see that he noticed, scowling as he stroked his own stache. Her trepidation was forgotten as she exchanged glances with Latias, and they both broke into a fit of giggles at the one-sided square-off.

    Upon seeing their approach, the man stood up from where he was sitting and stretched, calling out to them a moment later, ¡°I presume you are Lorenzo and the passengers I will be taking?¡±

    Seemingly getting over the differences in facial hair, Lorenzo nodded and clapped his hands onto her and Ash¡¯s shoulders, almost knocking Pikachu off of the trainer as he replied, ¡°I am Lorenzo, yes. These two will be joining you.¡±

    The man cast them a quick glance and a smile. ¡°Understood. You¡¯re earlier than I expected, but if you¡¯d like, we can depart now.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, but¡­let me say goodbye first, please,¡± she asked, looking towards him as knots formed in her stomach. The man bowed his head in understanding and turned away to give them a moment of relative privacy.

    The four individuals stood there for a moment before she launched forward and hugged Latias, feeling her friend wrap her arms around her in return. They traded no audible words, instead talking in their minds.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss you so much,¡± Bianca said, feeling as though her words undercut how much she meant it.

    ¡®I know, Bi. I¡¯m gonna miss you lots, too,¡¯ Latias replied with a melancholic voice. ¡®But look on the bright side; you get to travel with a cute boy-ow!¡¯

    The dragoness squealed as Bianca grabbed and pulled her ear before snorting back a reply, ¡°That¡¯s enough out of you. Quit ruining the moment.¡±

    Her grandfather and Ash had been shaking hands when the two embraced, only to look over at the yelp of pain.

    ¡°Sisters through and through,¡± Lorenzo chuckled as he shook his head while Ashsmiled ruefully. ¡°Yeah¡­.¡±

    Bianca rolled her eyes, only to sigh a moment later. ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll be until we see each other again?¡±

    Latias pulled back and gave her a wink. ¡®Who¡¯s to say?¡¯

    Blinking in confusion at the reply, she opened her mouth to question it when Latias suddenly let go and zoomed over to Ash, giving the unsuspecting trainer a hug that finally managed to dislodge Pikachu.

    Caught between wanting to laugh at the stink-eye the mouse gave the pair and pushing the issue with Latias, Bianca didn¡¯t see her grandfather reach out and capture her in what felt like a bone-breaking hug.

    Catching her bearings, she relaxed and returned the gesture, trying and failing to blink away the tears that gathered at the corners of her eyes. This man had raised her by himself after her parents had passed without complaint, and his efforts would never go unappreciated by her.

    And now she had to come to terms with the fact that she was heading out into the world without his care and guidance, relying solely on a boy she had met once mere months prior. Was this how Ash felt when he left his own home for the first time?

    Her fingers curled into his shirt as she buried her face in her grandfather''s shoulder. ¡°Grandpa, I-I¡¯m not sure I can do this,¡± Bianca whispered, the implications of her decision finally catching up to her. The fears she had been pushing to the side were now making a comeback in the form of fingers that clawed at her insides with a vengeance.

    Yet, just as quickly, the feeling faded as Lorenzo pulled back and stared reassuringly at her, her previous confidence gradually taking its place. ¡°I think you and I both know you can. You are a courageous young lady, a trait you inherited from your mother. I don¡¯t know if either of you have backed down from a challenge, for better or worse.¡±

    She ducked her head at that, feeling as though it was his not-so-subtle reminder of her actions all those months ago. She looked back up as he continued, ¡°You are also quite headstrong, and you don¡¯t take any nonsense from anyone. You got that from your father. Both of your parents passed on the very best of themselves to their daughter, including a strong sense of self-determination. If you do not want to go out into the world, I will never make you do so. But never believe for a moment that you can¡¯t.¡±

    Her doubts and fears began ebbing back as she listened, the thought of still having the choice somehow making her feel better about going through with this adventure.

    ¡°Is this some sort of reverse psychology ploy to try and get me to go?¡± She shakily joked as she stepped back, her comment making him bellow out a laugh.

    ¡°Well, maybe, maybe not,¡± came his reply, making her roll her eyes before he glanced towards Ash and Latias and lowered his voice as he continued, ¡°but as much as I¡¯d love to ensure your safety by you staying, I hope you don¡¯t come back too soon. It¡¯s not just terrain you¡¯ll have to contend with.¡±

    Bianca sighed as she nodded, also taking a look back at the trainer as he talked with her best friend, understanding where he was getting at. ¡°You think it¡¯s possible we¡¯ll have a falling out while on the road or something?¡±

    Lorenzo snorted as he clapped a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I assure you, it¡¯s almost inevitable there will be bickering. Do you know how often your grandmother and I fought, even over ridiculous things?¡±

    Ignoring the not-so-subtle insinuation, she nodded with pursed lips. ¡°Yeah¡­ I hope it won¡¯t be a common occurrence, though.¡±

    ¡°As long as you both come from a place of understanding, I¡¯m sure everything will work out,¡± he assured her as he gently squeezed her shoulder. ¡°Now, I do believe we¡¯ve kept the man waiting long enough, not to mention Ash barely managed to secure another ticket for you. It would be an awful waste of money if you missed it.¡±

    As one, they turned to face the boat just as Latias and Ash finished their own conversation, the trainer grinning at her as he asked, ¡°You ready?¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Bianca hesitated for a moment before stealing her resolve and giving him a single, firm nod. ¡°Yes,¡± she replied, and stepped forward even as he launched himself forward into the vessel, alarming the driver.

    ¡°Careful there, my good man, I would hate for you to be soaked the entire ride, eh?¡± The man laughed good-naturedly, with Ash nodding seriously as he took his seat.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I¡¯ll be more careful.¡±

    His reply mildly took her off guard, and she mentally applauded the maturity of it as she followed behind, albeit with more caution, and sat across from him.

    Although I¡¯m not really sure why I¡¯m surprised, Bianca mused as she hugged her pack close to her body. I doubt we¡¯d still be here if he was a numbskull¡­more of a numbskull than he currently was, anyway.

    Once she was settled into her seat, she looked towards her grandfather and best friend. There was sadness in their eyes, but also affection and pride as they smiled at her. She raised her hand and called out, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to contact you as soon as I can in Galar. Or at least, the Pokemon center.¡±

    Her grandfather nodded in approval. ¡°I¡¯m glad. If the Pokemon Centers are anything like the ones here and in Johto, you should be able to connect to the Center here. I know our Joy will pass on anything to me or your friends if I¡¯m otherwise unavailable.¡±

    Bianca nodded, knowing that ¡°friends¡± was code for ¡°the twins¡±.

    Although they really are my friends. So, is it really even a code?

    Shaking off the thought, she nodded firmly. ¡°Understood. Hopefully it won¡¯t be too late when we land, either for you or us.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t hurry along, you¡¯ll be too late to catch your flight!¡± he half-joked, before adding in a more serious tone, ¡°I love you, Bianca. Stay safe.¡±

    Tears once more stung at her eyes as she replied in a wobbly voice, ¡°I will, and I love you too.¡±

    With that, the driver unfastened the lines from the chocks and began winding it up and stowing it in a compartment under his seat, before sitting upon it and gently pushing forward on the throttle. With the hum of the engine, the boat gradually accelerated away from the docks, and away from her family, until they were but a couple of silhouettes in the distance.

    Swallowing the lump in her throat she finally faced forward, fearing she might lose it again if she watched her home fade away.

    As she did, the boat sped along, faster than Bianca expected. She tightened her grip on her pack as a result; the last thing she wanted was for it to fly off the boat and be left with nothing except the clothes on her back and a poor reputation with Ash.

    Taking the time to glance at the trainer in question, Bianca could see he had relaxed save of the eager expression he wore. Even when the occasional bump came along, he was entirely unfazed, choosing to stare forward intently as the rapidly growing coastline.

    Despite their journey having barely started, if this could be counted as such, the sight of his confidence and self-assuredness was starting to make her glad she didn¡¯t decline his offer. If this had been his first or even second journey, she might not have trusted that kind of confidence. Kyogre knew how many times she thought she could master an art technique, only to be completely humbled the moment she attempted it.

    Ash, on the other hand¡­

    ¡°Hey, er¡­.¡± She began, catching his attention as he turned to her.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He questioned as both him and Pikachu stared curiously at her.

    Coughing awkwardly into her fist, she began again, ¡°How¡­how many times have you done this? Traveling to other regions, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Ash mused as he looked up at the sky in thought. ¡°Well, there was Kanto, my first journey¡­I guess the Orange Islands, but I¡¯m not sure if I should count that.¡±

    Bianca had no idea what the Orange Islands were, but she didn¡¯t interrupt as she let him continue.

    ¡°Then Johto, then Hoenn¡­ I think Sinnoh was after that, and then it was Unova, after Kalos after that. Then Alola, and now Galar! So that¡¯s like¡­seven or eight different journeys, before this one.¡±

    Bianca¡¯s jaw dropped before she quickly spluttered, ¡°Seven or eight?! And you started when you were¡­ten, I think it is?¡±

    ¡°Yup¡± He replied with a smile as he scratched behind Pikachu¡¯s ear. ¡°Did the League in all of them too, although the Orange Islands had a really small League.¡±

    ¡°Really? How¡¯d you do in them?¡± She asked curiously, trying to determine how far he might get in Galar¡¯s League. Although I¡¯m not sure how any of the Leagues work, so how would I know?

    Then, she thought back to what the officer said to him back at the house. ¡°Wait, is that how people know you? You must have done pretty good, then.¡±

    Laughing nervously, he rubbed the back of his neck, looking rueful as he replied, ¡°Well, my first League, I didn¡¯t do too well. Got in the top sixteen, and got disqualified because my Charizard wouldn¡¯t obey me.¡±

    A pang of pity shot through her as she winced. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry to hear that. But top sixteen isn¡¯t too bad with a disobedient Pokemon, is it?¡±

    ¡°I guess not,¡± Ash replied thoughtfully, brightening up a moment later. ¡°But did a lot better in the Orange Islands, and even got Charizard to listen to me. I won that League, although it was a rather small one.¡±

    Surprised, she leaned back. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s¡­that¡¯s pretty good, even if it was small. So you¡¯re¡­what, Champion of the Orange Islands?¡±

    That got a small laugh from him before he replied, ¡°Something like that? It wasn¡¯t an official event, more of a local one. And I didn¡¯t do as well in the Silver Conference. Only got into the top eight.¡±

    ¡°Top eight?¡± Bianca choked out, staring at him with wide eyes. ¡°And what do you mean by ¡®only¡¯ top eight? That¡¯s a crazy achievement, even if you didn¡¯t win! I don¡¯t know much about Pokemon battling, but even a toddler knows that a ranking that high is a big deal. That¡¯s out of the whole region, after all.¡±

    Ash ducked his head with an expression of embarrassment, while Pikachu snickered next to him looking smug. ¡°Er, yeah, I guess we did do a little better than the Indigo League¡­. Didn¡¯t improve in the Ever Grande Conference, unfortunately. Top eight again. But we managed to get into the top four in the Lily of the Valley conference in Sinnoh!¡±

    All she could do was stare at him in disbelief as he started listing off his accomplishments. From the moment she saw him, she could tell that he was a Pokemon trainer. His confidence, his attire, and of course his Pikachu. But to think he was this accomplished¡­.What surprised her most of all was how¡­humble he was about it. He hadn¡¯t mentioned any of these Leagues before apart from Sinnoh¡¯s, nor his placements in each until she asked him. And now that he was, he highlighted his Pokemons¡¯ abilities rather than his own.

    Top four in Sinnoh, top eight in Unova¡­ not to mention, runner up in Kalos!

    ¡°You almost won?¡± Bianca managed to squeak out, prompting him to grin fondly off to the side.

    ¡°Yeah, Alain¡¯s Mega Charizard was crazy strong! Greninja came close, but that Charizard¡­.¡±

    As he trailed off, Bianca frowned in confusion. She wasn¡¯t well versed in the starters, but¡­

    ¡°Greninja? That¡¯s not a Kanto Pokemon, is it?¡±

    Ash shook his head. ¡°Nope! I caught Greninja in Kalos when he was just a Froakie. I actually caught all my Pokemon in Kalos for that region, except for Pikachu of course.¡±

    ¡°You¡­caught a fresh team for Kalos?¡± It felt like every sentence out of his mouth upset her view of his career. How did one almost win the League of a region they weren¡¯t even native to, with a team caught in such a short amount of time? ¡°Wait, did you have a fresh team for every region you¡¯ve been to?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I figured it would be unfair to use trained Pokemon for a new region, ya know? Too strong,¡±Ash chuckled as he stroked Pikachu, while the mouse looked up at him with a knowing grin.

    ¡°Pika.¡±

    ¡°Er, that too,¡± the trainer said as he ducked his head bashfully.

    ¡°...What?¡± Bianca questioned, wondering if she just witnessed Ash actually understanding a Pokemon¡¯s words.

    Having misunderstood her confusion, Ash ruefully grinned as he confessed, ¡°I may or may not have used Charizard at the beginning of my Johto adventures, and Misty and Brock really laid into me about it.¡±

    Bianca put aside the mystery of their communication and frowned at this tidbit. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t think there would be anything wrong with using trained Pokemon.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not against the rules, but like I said, it¡¯s really unfair, at least against new trainers. I met one, and Charizard kinda beat all of hers,¡± he replied guiltily as she nodded, before she thought of something else.

    ¡°Well, what about Pikachu? You use him for every region, don¡¯t you?¡± Bianca pointed out, curious to hear his reasoning.

    ¡°Pikachu holds back depending on our opponent,¡± came his response, along with a haughty look from the rodent. ¡°He doesn¡¯t really like doing it, but he knows it wouldn¡¯t be much of a win if he went all out against everyone. Plus, we don¡¯t want to make new trainers give up before they even begin.¡±

    From anyone else, Bianca would have assumed they were full of themselves. However, hearing all of his accomplishments and seeing his compassion first hand, she genuinely believed his intentions were honest and legitimate. How she hasn¡¯t heard of him before now was¡­probably a sign she should have set out and touched grass sooner.

    That being said, she was still curious about his latest excursion. ¡°And Alola? Did you-¡±

    ¡°Sir, Madam! We¡¯ll be arriving shortly!¡± The driver interrupted, interrupting Bianca¡¯s question and consequently her thoughts, momentarily forgetting what she was saying as Goldenrod City came into full view. The shining city captured her attention, its buildings towering over everything around them. She subconsciously pushed the question aside for later as she took it all in.

    ¡°Wow,¡± she muttered as she stared ahead, seeing the city for the first time in her life. If it weren¡¯t for the seaspray, she¡¯d do her best to whip out a sketch at the minimum, feeling a tinge of her passion singing to her.

    ¡°Goldenrod City! Man, I forgot how big it was!¡± Came Ash¡¯s exclamation as he grinned. ¡°Last time I was here, I was in a radio show.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, a radio show?¡± Bianca questioned, squinting at him.

    ¡°Uh, yeah, heh heh,¡± he laughed awkwardly.

    Guess it must have been too embarrassing, she thought with some amusement. He should be glad he didn¡¯t mention that to either of the twins. Latias wouldn¡¯t let him hear the end of it.

    ¡°Anything else?¡± she questioned as they turned around a jut of land, the docks coming into view as they approached.

    ¡°Well, before that, there was the gym battle. Took a couple of tries¡­Whitney¡¯s Miltank is terrifying,¡± Ash muttered, a haunted look in his eyes.

    ¡°You¡¯ve really never had a good time in this city, have you?¡± Bianca snorted, causing him to fidget in place.

    ¡°I mean, it¡¯s not that bad, we still got the badge in the end,¡± he replied defensively, straightening up a moment later with a confident look. ¡°Besides, we¡¯re only passing through this time. Surely it can¡¯t be that bad.¡±

    That got a sigh out of her as she blew air out from her mouth. ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope you didn¡¯t just jinx us.¡±

    As she said this, the boat approached the docks, the driver cutting the throttle back as the two prepared to depart.

    A few short minutes later, they were grabbing their stuff and rather unsteadily making their way onto the docks. Fortunately for Bianca, she had experience with climbing in and out of boats. Ash, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem to share this trait.

    ¡°Thank you so much for the ride, mister!¡± he called as he clambered out of the boat, nearly ace-planting on the dock, making Pikachu snicker. He straightened up, unbothered by the close call, and waved at the driver as the man chuckled and returned the gesture before turning the boat and cruising away, following the coast.

    Bianca shook her head as she sighed, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°You know, Ash, this journey will be a lot safer for you if you just watch your step,¡± she commented with a small smile, watching him laugh sheepishly before his demeanor changed, staring forward with sparkling eyes. ¡°Wow, I haven¡¯t been here in a long time¡­.Welcome to Goldenrod City, I guess.¡±

    Bianca turned and was immediately blown away by what she saw, feeling her jaw slowly drop. If the city square in Alto Mare was busy, this was ten times that without effort, and that was just what she could see. The number of people in the bustling city justified the massive buildings, some of whose tops looked as though they were doing their best to touch the clouds and beyond. Despite having seen the structures well before making landfall, it didn¡¯t do the city justice in the slightest.

    ¡°It¡¯s quite¡­crowded. More than I thought it¡¯d be, at least,¡± she muttered, feeling lost. ¡°Will we make our flight?¡±

    ¡°Yup, I made sure of it,¡± came Ash¡¯s reply as he stood at her side. ¡°We¡¯ve got plenty of time. A few hours, at least. I think.¡±

    He thinks. Great. I guess that means no exploring in the meantime, if we¡¯re on such a tight schedule.

    Nonetheless, she pursed her lips as she brought her belongings close to her. She really hoped they wouldn¡¯t be damaged on the way, or stolen for that matter. What was the crime rate in Goldenrod City?

    ¡°Well¡­what now, Mister Adventurer? How do we get to the airport?¡± She finally asked as she turned to him, doing her best to push aside the thought of her art mediums and brand new gear being trampled or taken.

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± came his reply, and she turned with disbelief to see him looking confused and scratching his head.

    Don¡¯t tell me, she thought as she hesitantly asked, ¡°You¡­you do know your way to the airport, right?¡±

    Ash looked around for a few seconds before nodding confidently and began strutting along the docks, only to get zapped by Pikachu a moment later.

    ¡°Pika-pi Pika!¡± The mouse tapped his trainer¡¯s head and pointed off to the side. Bianca and Ash followed his tiny arm to a building with large, friendly letters above the doors:

    ¡°Goldenrod¡¯s Guide to Not Getting Lost.¡±

    What kind of name was that?

    Well, that works, she thought as she gave the mouse an approving nod. ¡°Good eye.¡±

    As Pikachu preened, she began walking towards the shop, Ash following just behind her. Fortunately, there was a lull in the amount of people passing by, leaving a relatively clear path.

    The inside of the shop was a different story, as there were far more people than she would have liked jam-packed next to each other.

    ¡°How many tourists are there in this city?¡± Bianca muttered in annoyance before turning to Ash. ¡°Could you try to find a map there? I¡¯ll watch our- er, my stuff,¡± she asked, to which he grinned and nodded.

    ¡°Sure thing! I¡¯ll be just a minute,¡± he declared, marching in through the throng of people with a swagger that made her snort in amusement. Almost an adult, but somehow acts half his age sometimes. I can¡¯t even begin to imagine how he must have been when he was younger, she mused, idly tapping her foot as she waited.

    Still, he seems to have a solid head on his shoulders-

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    Bianca jumped as his voice sounded from right next to her, her items almost tipping over as she bumped into them.

    ¡°Holy-! Don¡¯t scare me like that!¡± She chided as her heart rate spiked, putting a hand over her chest in an effort to calm it.

    ¡°Er, sorry,¡± Ash replied with an apologetic tone, making her ease up with a sigh as she looked down at her belongings to hide her flustered expression. So much for a solid head, she snorted to herself as she straightened up. At least he has the decency to apologize.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I should have been paying more attention anyway,¡± Bianca waved her hand, eager to move past the incident as she turned his way. ¡°Did I hear you correctly? You got a map-¡­er, why do you have a towel?¡±

    Indeed, he had a towel draped around his shoulders, a wholly unremarkable thing that Ash for some reason seemed proud of.

    ¡°The guy behind the counter gave it to me, said it was complementary?¡± He replied in a confused voice that didn¡¯t reduce her own bewilderment in the slightest.

    ¡°He just gave you a towel for free? Did he give anyone else a towel? Is this what he does?¡± Bianca questioned as she looked closer at the people leaving the store¡­only to frown at the sight before her.

    Upon closer inspection, some people were not just leaving the store with a towel, but entering it with one as well, often with more goods such as toiletries and whatnot.

    A rather bizarre sight that she didn¡¯t know how to process, thus she shook her head and sighed, ¡°You know what? Nevermind, I don¡¯t want to know. Did you at least get a map?¡±

    Her reply was Pikachu snatching a rather thick brochure from Ash¡¯s raised hand and jumping over to her shoulder, the trainer giving him an affronted look. ¡°Hey, I was perfectly-¡±

    ¡°Thank you again, Pikachu,¡± she interrupted, scratching under his chin with a smile before taking the brochure, almost missing the smug look the mouse shot at his trainer. She bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing as Ash muttered something about disobedient Pokemon, and inspected the front of the brochure.

    At the top of it, written in the same large and friendly font as the store¡¯s sign, were the words ¡°Don¡¯t Panic:Your Hitchhiker¡¯s Guide to Goldenrod City.¡±

    Below that lay a rather charming picture- no, a painting of Goldenrod City in all of its splendor, light glinting off the carefully hued skyscrapers. A very impressive work that easily rivaled her own, filling her with a desire to achieve this level of detail.

    One day, she promised to herself.

    Further below the painting at the bottom of the page was another text box, again written in the same font: ¡°Become a frood that really knows where his/her towel is!¡±

    She squinted in confusion. What the hell is a frood?

    Opening the brochure, the first thing Bianca noticed was the city''s layout. As she unfolded it further, more and more of the city was revealed, and she quickly found herself struggling. The reason for the brochure''s thickness became increasingly apparent.

    ¡°Can you give me a hand here?¡± she grunted to Ash, who quickly obliged, taking hold of one side.

    Giving him a quick nod of thanks, Bianca finished unfurling the entire brochure, taking a moment to appreciate what was yet another work of art. Though the art style was different, it was no less incredible how much effort had been put into it. Every building, street, and even the lettering were painstakingly hand-drawn, color-coded according to the services each provided. Bianca couldn¡¯t fathom why someone would invest so much time into painting something for a mere brochure, but it was clear they took it seriously.

    She allowed herself another moment to admire the dedication before tracing the map with her finger, following the landmarks. ¡°Let¡¯s see, we landed at the docks right around here, which means¡­¡± she trailed off, straightening up a moment later with a satisfied hum. ¡°Ah, here we are. Just across the street. And as for the airport, that would be¡­there!¡± She crowed in satisfaction as she found their destination, though it appeared to be quite far from their current location.

    ¡°That¡¯s basically on the other side of the city! There¡¯s no way we could make it that far, especially not with all our supplies, right?¡± Bianca asked, looking up at Ash with concern. Meeting her eyes, the trainer bit his lip in thought, then turned to survey their surroundings.

    ¡°Uh, probably not,¡± he finally concluded, sounding worried now. ¡°Not with all these people, at least.¡±

    ¡°Awesome,¡± she muttered as she let go of the map with one hand, pinching the bridge of her nose. She dropped her portion of the map with a sigh, looking back to her new travel companion. ¡°Is there a taxi or something we could get? Some way for us to not have to hoof it all the way across the city?¡±

    He immediately perked up with a grin, confidence seemingly renewed. ¡°Yeah, that could work! Good thinking!¡± He turned towards the street, threw out a hand, and yelled out ¡°Taxi!¡± in a loud voice. He hadn¡¯t even noticed that he accidentally dropped the brochure in the process.

    ¡°Ash, a taxi isn¡¯t going to¨C¡± Bianca began, irritated at his careless attempt to hail a cab, before the sharp screeching of tires pulled her attention back to the road. The obnoxiously bright yellow vehicle barreled toward them, all the while multiple people around them uttering what might have been curses as they quickly moved out of the way. She yelped and instinctively jumped back as well, the brochure forgotten as she did her best to not become the world¡¯s flattest artist. ¡°¨Chear you¡­ Never mind.¡±

    Fortunately, the car that she quickly realized was, in fact, a taxi came to a halt in front of Ash. The sound it made was comparable to that of nails scraping on a chalkboard in conjunction with a rather alarming amount of bangs.

    The two of them stood there staring at the cab trying their best to calm their rapidly beating hearts. Bianca briefly spotted the words ¡°Magma Metro¡± before the passenger door and trunk swung open, seemingly on their own.

    The two warily turned towards each other, Ash looking just as rattled as she felt.They only looked away when someone called out, ¡°Looks like they found the defect!¡±

    There were more than a few laughs at that as the people that had stopped to watch for a moment began to go on their way again.. This left Bianca confused rather than irritated at their amusement.

    ¡°Defect?¡± She asked aloud, only to jump as a semi-distorted voice sounded from the taxi.

    ¡°Greetings! Please avoid using the word ¡®defect¡¯ when describing me! I am a perfectly functioning People and Pokemon Transportation Vehicle, or PPTV for short!¡±

    Wait, what?

    ¡°You said you¡¯re-¡±

    ¡°A People and Pokemon Transportation Vehicle, yes! PPTV for short. I am a self-driving vehicle designed by Magma Corps to better assist People and Pokemon in their transportation needs.¡±

    That¡¯s¡­okay. What kind of corporation named ¡°Magma¡± runs a transportation company?

    ¡°Wow, a talking car! That¡¯s so cool!¡± Ash cheered, already over his brush with death.

    ¡°Alright, er, People and Pokemon Transportation Vehicle-¡±

    ¡°PPTV for short!¡± its chipper, robotic voice cut in.

    ¡°Right, uh, can you get us to the airport please? We¡¯re in somewhat of a rush-¡±

    ¡°Are you sure,¡± the car began in a quieter voice, ¡°that you want to go to the airport?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± She asked, confused. What kind of question was that? ¡°Of course we want to go to the airport, we have to catch our flight-¡±

    ¡°Why not drive to your next location with your nearest People and Pokemon Transportation Vehicle? PPTV-¡±

    ¡°For short, yes,¡± she interrupted before continuing, ¡°and we really do need to get to the airport, unless you can fly us to Galar?¡±

    There was a brief pause before the car replied in an even quieter voice, ¡°I cannot fly. Please feel free to use me to get to the airport.¡±

    ¡°Great, thank you,¡± Bianca responded with a shake of her head, electing to ignore the clear disdain the vehicle had for any transportation outside of itself. She did her best to crumple up the brochure¨Cthere was no way she was going to bother folding it at the moment¨C and shoved it into a random pocket of her luggage.As she began pulling her things towards the trunk, she noticed a thoughtful look on Ash¡¯s face as he stared at the currently silent car.

    ¡°Hey, League Wonder. Either help me with my luggage, or get in the car,¡± she snorted, making him jump.

    ¡°Oh, sorry!¡± He apologized as he moved to help her, the two taking no time at all to get her belongings packed before firmly closing the trunk.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s that, now let¡¯s get going,¡± Bianca muttered as she walked over to the open door and crawled in, sitting on the far side and buckling her seat belt. As Pikachu and Ash climbed in after her, she took a glance towards the driver¡¯s seat, curious to see what was in place of a person.

    Surprisingly, there was a robot of sorts, painted in a reddish-orange hue, with vaguely human proportions. Its head then turned almost completely around and stared at them, making her violently uncomfortable.

    ¡°Greetings. I will now take you to the airport.¡± The robot sounded far more drab than it did previously. The door closed suddenly. ¡°Please buckle your seatbelts if you haven¡¯t already.¡± Its head snapped forward as its foot slammed on the gas pedal. Bianca could only frown.

    ¡°Uh, is that-OH KYOGRE, HELP ME!¡± She swung her arms wildly in fear and latched her hands onto whatever she could.

    ¡°Owww¡­. Bianca¡­¡± A wheezing interrupted her thoughts, turning to see Ash teary-eyed , which prompted her to look down. She had, unintentionally, grabbed and squeezed his knee with every ounce of force her fear could grant her. She immediately let go, apologizing profusely.

    ¡°Oh my! I am so sorry, Ash! I didn¡¯t mean to do that!¡±

    ¡°No no, it¡¯s-it¡¯s fine,¡± he whimpered, gently massaging the joint. He threw a wholeheartedly reproachful look at Pikachu as the mouse snickered at his misfortune.

    ¡°Are you sure? That didn¡¯t seem like it felt good,¡± she replied guiltily, mentally chiding herself for her outburst. Absolute idiot, I shouldn¡¯t have flailed like that, even if this robot is driving like a maniac.

    Ash gave her a small chuckle and grinned. ¡°Yeah, I was just surprised, that''s all. That felt stronger than some of my Pokemon¡¯s moves!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take the compliment where I can get it.¡± Bianca hissed through clenched teeth as their driver blitzed past other vehicles, missing some by sheer miracle alone. One swerve led her face being pressed against the glass before her entire body jerked the other way. The only thing preventing her from slamming into Ash was her seatbelt.

    The trainer in question was also having a hard time. He had a hold of Pikachu to prevent the mouse from being bounced around the interior like a ping pong ball. The Pokemon did not look at all pleased, his cheeks beginning to spark, much to her alarm.

    ¡°Pikachu, please don¡¯t electrocute us all,¡± Bianca begged as she clung to the roof handle like it was a lifeline. ¡°It might make this guy- robot- drive worse.¡±

    As the mouse reluctantly calmed down, the robot¡¯s head once more spun around to face her, chastising her while clearly not watching the road ahead of them. ¡°I take great offense to that. I¡¯ll happen to let you know I have improved greatly!¡±

    Without taking its eyes off of her, the robot performed a near perfect swerve around a car, and continued as though nothing happened. ¡°My creators ensured I would get to any destination their clients need to be at their scheduled time in a safe and timely manner.¡±

    ¡°You call this safe?!¡± Bianca spluttered as their car blitzed through the streets, the honking of drivers fading behind them with every intersection. ¡°How have we not crashed?!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. We have arrived at your destination.¡±

    ¡°Wait, what¨C?!¡± Before she could finish her thought,  the car slammed to a halt. All three passengers slammed into the cushioned seats in front of them and they heard the rather alarming sound of her pack hitting the front of the trunk.

    As Bianca peeled her face off of the seat in front of her, seething all the while, the robot cheerfully announced, ¡°Welcome to Goldenrod Airport. How would you like to pay for your ride?¡±

    ¡°How about my foot up your-¡±

    ¡°Here.¡± Ash pushed a card forward, the robot grabbing it and inserting it into the center console. A second later and it beeped pleasantly, the robot handing the card back to the trainer.

    ¡°Thank you! Please ensure you take all of your belongings, as Magma Corporation is not responsible for the loss of personal items due to negligence.¡±

    Bianca glared at the robot as she unbuckled her seatbelt, rubbing her forehead to nurse the already-forming bruise from her impact with the seat..

    ¡°If you have enjoyed your ride with your People and Pokemon Transportation Vehicle, why not recommend us to your friends?¡±

    ¡°Because I want to keep them,¡± she snapped before flinging the door open and leaving the vehicle in a hurry. Ash and Pikachu quickly followed suit, and the three of them made their way to the back of the car to grab her pack from the trunk.

    Fortunately, it seemed nothing had been damaged, although she¡¯d have to sit down and make sure when they had the chance.

    Speaking of¡­

    ¡°When does our flight leave, again?¡± Bianca slammed the trunk with more force than was necessary, grumbling under her breath.

    Ash scratched his head and looked around. ¡°Uhh..not sure. We should probably get your stuff checked in, though. We might need to hurry.¡±

    She nodded and upon hearing the car peel away from the curb, gave it one last scowl before sighing. ¡°Right, well, let¡¯s get on with it. Hopefully that maniac gave us some breathing room.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ash trailed off thoughtfully. He took a glance back at where the car had left them. His tone piqued her curiosity, and she decided to prod him in the hope to find out more.

    ¡°You ever seen anything like that before? You kinda seem like you recognize it or something,¡± Bianca asked as they walked into the airport, relaxing at the cool air the AC provided.

    The trainer looked thoughtful as they made their way through the crowds to the front desk. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. ¡®Magma Corps¡¯.... I once knew a Team Magma, but-¡±

    ¡°Oh, those nut jobs?¡± Bianca snorted at the mention of the group, who along with Team Aqua, caused quite a stir. Alto Mare was fortunate enough to not be entirely caught in the storm that ensued, although they did experience the very edges of it.

    ¡°Yeah, they were¡­they were pretty tough,¡± Ash admitted as they stood in line, Bianca turning and frowning. What did he mean by that?

    ¡°Tough? You fought them?¡±

    Ash nodded with a frown as he glanced at Pikachu. ¡°With my friends, yeah. Team Aqua was there, and¡­. It wasn¡¯t a great day. Luckily, we put a stop to them.¡±

    ¡°You-you what?¡± Bianca faced him completely, leaning forward intently. ¡°Are you telling me you¡¯re directly responsible for locking those wacko eco-terrorists away?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it wasn¡¯t just me. We only helped a bit.¡± Ash dipped his head and looked away. ¡°It was mostly Steven Stone. He¡¯s the champion of Hoenn.¡±

    ¡°Even so, that¡¯s¡­¡± Bianca trailed off with a shake of her head. ¡°You really are a trouble magnet, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Pikachu snorted as he straightened up on his trainer¡¯s shoulder. He shook his head as if to say, ¡°You have no idea.¡±

    Ash merely laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ve been told that a lot.¡±

    ¡°I can believe it, given what you¡¯ve already told me.¡± Before she could ask anything else, they reached the front of the bag check line, where Bianca was finally able to offload her luggage onto the airport staff.

    Thankfully, getting her bag checked was a quick affair that took mere minutes. Bianca took one last look at the bag as it moved down the conveyor belt, praying it would be alright before they thanked the clerk and stepped away from the counter.

    ¡°Now that that¡¯s out of the way, how much time do we have?¡± She asked him as they stepped away from the lobby.

    Ash looked around for a moment, finding a large screen some distance away. Reading it was downright impossible, between the angle they were viewing it from the particularly dense throng of people around. She was barely able to lurch forward in time to follow as he quickly moved ahead to read the screen.

    Even as they slowed to a stop, Ash was staring at it with rapt attention before announcing, ¡°Looks like we gotta be there in an hour.¡±

    ¡°The flight leaves in an hour? Didn¡¯t that car practically run red lights to get here?¡± Bianca asked, now frantically looking around the bustling terminal. Could they even get to their plane in time?

    Good thing I got my bag checked in when I did, She thought to herself with a flicker of relief.

    Ash shook his head, clearly unconcerned by the time crunch before replying. ¡°No, no. The flight leaves in just two hours, we just have to be there with time to spare!¡± He then cheerfully strolled forward and he called something else over his shoulder, although this being difficult to hear thanks to the distance between them and the sheer amount of people and conversations moving around them. Frustrated, she pushed forward through the crowd and stayed close as they began pushing their way through the crowd towards where she hoped they would find their gate.

    At her insistent tugging on his shirt, he turned curiously to look at her, and she almost shouted over the noise, ¡°Are you sure we¡¯re going the right way?!¡±

    He nodded and said something that sounded like ¡°yup!¡± and pointed up at a sign hanging from the ceiling that read:

    <- K1 - K3   1G - G5 ->

    <-A1    K1 - K4 ->

    <- O1 - O2  H1 - H5 ->

    S1 - S4 ^  Z1 - Z3 ^

    U1 - U7 ^  T1 - T2 ^

    It didn¡¯t make much sense to her, and she turned to look at Ash with a confused expression.

    Catching this, he spoke in a loud yet friendly tone, ¡°Different planes and stuff! We¡¯re G2, which is the closest. According to the sign, anyway.¡±

    It slightly cleared things up for her, but there was still something that needed clarification. ¡°Okay, but why isn¡¯t it in alphabetical order? What¡¯s with all the random letters?¡±

    ¡°Uh, Region names, I think? ¡®G¡¯ for Galar, ¡®A¡¯ for Alola, and so on,¡± was his response, and she felt mildly ridiculous after hearing it. I should have gathered that when he said we were going to the ¡®G¡¯ gates, she huffed as she shook her head.

    ¡°That..makes sense. Alright, well then let¡¯s get going.¡± Bianca looked up at the sign again and confirmed which way they should head, before grabbing onto Ash¡¯s sleeve and dragging him along.

    At least, she tried to. He was a lot more solid than Bianca gave him credit for, and the action jerked her back, his steadying hand grabbed her shoulder to prevent her from falling.

    ¡°Woah, careful!¡±

    No kidding, she thought sarcastically before letting go of his sleeve. ¡°Thank you for stopping me from falling. Now come on!¡± She insisted as she once more walked towards the gate, Ash once more following close behind.

    ~An Hour Later~

    Bianca clutched the armrests on either side of her, paling at every minor bump she felt. This was a little scarier than she thought it would be. Especially following a relatively relaxed if not boring wait at the gate. Why they had to be there an hour before they could actually board the plane, she didn¡¯t know, but it at least gave her some time to calm her nerves.

    Now, she was essentially locked inside a soon-to-be flying can, roaring across the runway. Just when she thought it couldn¡¯t get worse, the plane began tilting up before lifting off the ground entirely, causing a whole host of nauseating sensations.

    The feeling in her stomach was comparable to that of the times Latios and Latias took her on the occasional flight, except so much worse. Her stomach felt like it was left behind on the runway, while she could feel herself being pressed into her seat.

    Despite the lack of wind peeling her face off, she would skip this in favor of the twins anyday.

    ¡°Hey, are you alright?¡± Ash¡¯s voice came from her side, and she turned to see his concerned face. She returned it with a tight smile, remarking in a dry voice, ¡°I suppose it¡¯s too late to ask if we can just sail to Galar instead.¡±

    He chuckled as he scratched behind Pikachu¡¯s ear. ¡°¡®Fraid so,¡± he replied in a sympathetic tone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, though; these things are pretty reliable, and much faster than any car or boat!¡±

    ¡®But is it safer?¡¯ Bianca couldn¡¯t help but wonder, only to notice the pull on her body has significantly lessened. Turning to look out the rather small window, she could see the plane had somewhat decreased their incline, much to the relief of her nerves

    She slowly allowed herself to relax, feeling most of the tension in her body leave as she continued to gaze out of the window.

    Seeing the structures get smaller and smaller as the plane continued their mild ascent was a surreal experience for her; the highest the twins ever took her was maybe two hundred feet off the water. And now here she was, many times that and climbing higher still.

    In the span of less than twenty four hours, she went from an artistically inclined city girl to a nervously reclined airborne girl, all in the name of following a guy she met exactly once before.

    Just what had her life come to?

    Hardly matters now, Bianca thought to herself with pursed lips. ¡®I won¡¯t waste this opportunity, even if the circumstances are a little absurd.¡¯

    Regardless, she had little choice now but to gaze out of the window and watch as her home region gradually faded from sight.

    The many hours that followed were filled with the occasional small talk, broken up whenever one of the two of them fell into a short nap.

    Well, short for her, at least. Ash slept like a log, the entire middle of the flight was spent by him lolling in his seat this way and that, drool slipping from one corner from his mouth every so often. It was truly impressive, although that meant they¡¯d have to delay their talk on why he seemed to attract trouble wherever he went.

    Outside of that, the ride was enjoyable at times, and seeing the clouds themselves beneath them was awe-inspiring. She was almost disappointed when she could feel the plane begin its descent.

    That disappointment was short lived in favor of that same nauseating feeling as the plane broke through the clouds, and she could see the ground and the buildings that inhabited it become rapidly clearer in a rather unfortunate reversal of their initial take off.

    A patch of white caught her eye as she looked off, seeing a series of mountains draped in snow, looming menacingly in the distance.

    Bianca¡¯s grip on the armrests tightened once more uneasily, looking away from the peaks as the plane rapidly approached the runway, practically skimming over the tops of buildings during their descent.

    Paradoxically, she almost wished the flight had lasted longer just to delay what she knew was going to be a bumpy landing.

    Suddenly, the captain¡¯s voice came through the speakers overhead in a pleasant voice, ¡°Alright, folks, give a warm welcome to Wyndon as we land in three¡­two¡­.anndd, one!¡±

    She jolted in her seat as the plane finally touched down on the ground below, causing her to bite back a curse, feeling her stomach complain again.

    I hate these stupid things, she mentally seethed, wondering how Ash was so calm beside her as the plane gradually slowed down, only to remember how he must have traveled to and from Alola in the first place.

    ¡®Of course he¡¯s used to this, what am I thinking? Still, it would have been nice to get a heads up.¡¯

    However, another look determined he was still knocked out cold. Of course, she snorted. She gave him a gentle jab with her elbow and spoke in a loud tone, ¡°Wake up, Mister Tour Guide. We¡¯re here.¡±

    The boy didn¡¯t budge, however, leading Pikachu to mutter to himself before giving the boy a small shock. It did the trick, as the trainer spasmed in his seat, looking around with freshly frazzled hair. ¡°Whatsitz?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here, Ash,¡± Bianca reiterated as she glanced out the window once more. Now that they were safely on the ground it was mildly difficult to judge what to expect with the region, as her window was still facing the main runway. Any buildings in view were far off in the distance, and farther still were the mountains.

    She sighed as she turned away from the window and waited for the plane to pull into the gate. She very much hoped that they would be staying far from the mountains. While the occasional gust from the sea in Alto Mare could make her shiver, she was well aware that the chill would be incomparable to the freezing temperatures that came with high elevations.

    Although I might never have to if they take any longer getting us off this plane, she internally grumbled, feeling antsy as the plane moved at a crawling speed towards the gate.

    Ash was buzzing with excitement next to her, idly scratching Pikachu behind his ears as he all but bounced in his seat. In contrast to her own impatience, he seems to be more cheerful about the wait, a trait Bianca wished she shared.

    His patience was rewarded a few minutes later when the door was unlocked and opened, while a flight attendant grabbed the microphone off of the wall and brightly announced, ¡°Welcome to Galar! Please take a moment to gather your belongings from the overhead compartments, and we will shortly allow you to disembark one section at a time.¡± Together, Ash and Bianca waited until finally, they were told it was time. Filing out of the jetway, they made for the luggage racks.

    About time, Bianca thought to herself as her luggage came into view around the carousel. To her relief, it appeared that everything was present and intact. Her canvas tube was still strapped to her pack, the pockets were all still firmly closed, and there didn¡¯t appear to be any damage to any of it.

    That is, until Ash reached down and heaved it off the carousel, and she saw the many scrapes on the bottom. Sighing, she shook her head in disappointment. She had just gotten that yesterday, and there was already damage, albeit minor.

    Can¡¯t be helped, I suppose. At least it isn¡¯t too bad.

    ¡°Thank you, Ash,¡± she said as she reached for the proffered pack and grunted as she carefully maneuvered it on her back, ensuring the straps were pulled tight enough. Once she was certain they were secure, she turned to Ash with an uncertain expression.

    ¡°Well, here we are, I suppose. I guess we just..head out?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that sounds good!¡± He cheerfully replied as he began leading the way from baggage claim and the exit, Pikachu turning from his spot on Ash¡¯s shoulders and shooting Bianca a thumbs up. The gesture helped her relax, and she returned it with a smile.

    Just as they reached the main lobby of the airport, the intercom buzzed again, and the voice pleasantly announced:

    ¡°Welcome to the Galar Region. We hope you enjoy your stay!¡±

    ¡®So do I,¡¯ Bianca thought to herself as she exhaled slowly, before following Ash outside.

 A Champion Time with a Double Dose of Trouble

    The moment Bianca stepped out, she was met with a sight that made her grimace; the sun rising over the horizon, drowning out the stars with its glory.

    It was as if the plane had raced the glowing orb across the globe and won, leaving her with an entire day before she could rest. Despite having slept on occasion throughout the flight, she still had to fight back a yawn, a truly damning sensation¡­

    Unfortunately, a proper rest would have to wait, lest she be unable to acclimate to the new time zone.

    A grueling task indeed.

    From what she could see, Ash wasn''t tired in the slightest, merely looking around the city with an almost contagious excitement.

    Almost.

    Bianca envied his energy and once more cursed herself for not sleeping when she had the opportunity.

    Glancing at the trainer as he peered at the various buildings, she cleared her throat and wearily asked, "Where to?"

    "Uhh, there should be a hotel somewhere here. I booked a reservation," Ash replied as he glanced at her with a grin, his response filling her with both relief and exasperation.

    "''Somewhere here?''" she repeated incredulously. "Ash, this is an entire city. Possibly bigger than Goldenrod City, and we barely saw any of it while we were there. Do you have  some idea where it is?" She all but pleaded, not wanting to wander around until the sun came up.

    Ash looked thoughtful momentarily as he looked around, leading Bianca to massage her temple. "You don''t know, do you?" She asked rhetorically before shaking her head and looking around for someone to give them directions.

    Most of the people in the area seemed to be looking around in awe, much like Ash had been. Hardly the appropriate people to ask. Fortunately, the city seemed to have some early risers, and she could spot some people here and there walking about with relaxed, albeit tired expressions in contrast to the bright-eyed visitors.

    Her eyes were caught by a somewhat short gal in what she determined was a school uniform with cloud-like hair, stalking through the street with a purpose.  Maybe she can help? She might know the city well enough if she goes to school here. Bianca thought as she began to follow the girl.

    "Ex-excuse me?" she called out, hoping to get her attention. Regrettably, the girl in question probably didn''t expect a stranger to try talking to her, so she didn''t stop or look back.

    Ignoring a dumbfounded "Huh?" from Ash, she followed the girl with a quicker pace, raising her voice to get the girl to notice her. "Excuse me, miss? School girl?"

    At that, her pursuit whipped around with a nonplussed expression, replying in the thickest accent Bianca had ever heard, "''School girl''? Really?"

    "I''m sorry, I didn''t know how else to get your attention," Bianca apologized as she rapidly slowed down.

    The girl looked behind Bianca with suspicion, narrowing her eyes before focusing on Bianca.

    "You''re not here from my father, are you?" She asked with a disgruntled voice.

    "Er, father? No, I don''t know your father," Bianca answered, confused. What was up with her father?

    The girl seemed to relax at that, her expression becoming less annoyed and more amicable. "Alright, I''ll give you the benefit of the doubt, but that still begs the question of what you want. Foreigner, are you?"

    Bianca had a hard time trying to work through the peculiarities of her accent, but she nonetheless understood more than enough to nod and reply, "You could say that. I''m Bianca, from an island off of Johto. My friend¡­." She trailed off, looking behind her toward where she had left Ash, blinking back the fogginess in her eyes. She spotted the trainer not twenty feet away, following her as she pursued the girl. Bianca continued, turning back to the stranger, "My friend is Ash, from Kanto. He says he booked a reservation at a hotel here, and I was hoping you would know where it might be?"

    "Peonia," the girl introduced herself with a nod, her expression morphing into thoughtfulness. "Ash from Kanto, huh? Kinda rings a bell."

    The trainer in question had finally caught up to them and stood at Bianca''s side as he waved cheerfully. "Hi there! I''m Ash from Pallet town!"

    Peonia bit her lip thoughtfully as she nodded. "Ash from Pallet town¡­. I definitely recognize that name."

    "Is there a single person on this planet that  doesn''t  know your name at this point?" Bianca snorted in exasperation. "We  just got here, and people already know you."

    Ash chuckled sheepishly as Peonia laughed softly. "I wouldn''t say  know , it''s just ... Well, probably not too important anyway. So, you said you booked a reservation at a hotel, but you don''t know where it is? May I ask which hotel? Wyndon has like four of them, outside of the super fancy one."

    "Right! It''s called the ''Rose of the Rodlands'' or something," Ash replied, only for Peonia to lean her head back with raised eyebrows.

    "Rose of the Rondelands? Seriously?" Peonia shook her head at that. "Either you got completely scammed, or you''re richer than you let on. Maybe that''s why I recognize you. Have you been on TV before?"

    "Uhh-"

    "I am  really sorry to interrupt, but I feel like I''m going to fall asleep at any moment, so could you point us in the right direction? Please," Bianca begged, feeling her eyelids droop before she forced them back open.

    "Eh? Oh, right. You definitely look like you need it," Peonia pursed her lips as she glanced at Bianca''s face. "I suppose you''re lucky enough to have talked to the right person, then. I''m actually headed that way, kind of. If you want, you can tag along with me. Once we get close enough, I can point you the right way."

    Bianca sagged with relief, nodding with gratitude. "I''d really appreciate that, thank you."

    Peonia replied with a slight nod, gesturing for them to follow. "Come along, then. You''ll be able to get that pack off you in no time."

    Her generosity caught Bianca off guard, and she couldn''t help but blink in surprise as she questioned, "Yo-you sure? I wouldn''t want to keep you from¡­whatever you''re doing."

    The girl snorted as she shook her head. "Trust me, I wasn''t doing anything too important. Plus, it''ll help keep my mind off things."

    Nodding, Bianca fell in step with her, and the trio began walking towards the hotel. As Bianca adjusted the pack, she couldn''t help but wonder about what the girl said. "Hey, uh, if you don''t mind me asking¡­" she began awkwardly, unsure how to broach the topic. "Why did you think we were from your dad? What''s up with that?"

    Peonia sighed as she combed a loose strand of hair out of her face. "He''s¡­well, he''s kinda persistent. He keeps wanting to go out and have a bunch of adventures with me, and I just¡­ugh," she finished with a shake of her head. "He''s so overbearing, you know? Like you would  not want your dad to be this pushy."

    Bianca stared at the ground at that, pursing her lips. "I don''t know, I think  I''d  like to have parents like that," she muttered with a stony face, pushing down the tight feeling in her chest.

    Her tone must have alerted the girl to her dour mood, for she felt twin sets of stares settle on her before Peonia asked, "Why, is he super distant or something? Sometimes I wish mine was like that, if only to have breathing room."

    "Trust me," Bianca scowled, staring holes into the road ahead. "You really don''t."

    Luckily, Peonia seemed to have picked up that the conversation was turning sour, so she quickly changed subjects. "So, Ash from Pallet Town. How on earth did you manage to snag a reservation at the Rodelands? It''s not exactly cheap, and even then, snagging a spot still isn''t a walk in the park.  Especially  given the exhibition match today."

    At that, Ash snapped to attention, thrusting his face towards Peonia as he practically squealed, "Exhibition match?!"

    Bianca couldn''t help but snort in amusement as Peonia quickly backed off. "Woah, there, calm yourself," the girl said as she raised her hands as a barrier.

    "Sorry," Ash sheepishly replied as he backed off, only for his eyes to resume their sparkle. "But the match! What''s the battle like? Who''s in it?"

    "Oh, so you aren''t here for it? I kinda figured you were, but then again¡­." Peonia trailed off as her eyes trained on Bianca''s pack. "Extended stay, eh?"

    "You could say that," Bianca replied as she glanced at the currently vibrating Ash. "He was gonna be here alone, but he convinced me to tag along and see the sights, as it were."

    "Oh?" Peonia questioned curiously, a certain glee to her tone that immediately alerted Bianca to her train of thought.

    " Not like that," she corrected before clarifying, "I''ve just been running out of things to paint in my hometown, and because he helped me out before, I decided to trust him enough to come along so I can get some inspiration."

    "He helped you out once, and you put that much faith in him to travel to a whole separate region?" Peonia questioned with raised eyebrows. "Must have been something pretty crazy."

    Bianca let out a dry chuckle, stifling a yawn before replying, "You could say that. Can''t tell you much beyond that he really saved the skins of a lot of people. Let''s just say the circumstances gave me enough confidence in him."

    She could hear Ash mumbling in embarrassment from behind, with Pikachu snickering on his shoulder.

    "How sweet," Peonia said with a grin, and Bianca began debating internally whether or not to even bother correcting people at this point. "So," the girl continued in a more curious tone, "not here for the match, and you''ll be here for a while. What brings you to our humble region?"

    Bianca let Ash handle that one, and he wasted no time in launching into an excited rant. "I''m gonna compete in the League so I can become a Pokemon Master!"

    "A Pokemon Master?" Peonia questioned curiously, a sentiment shared by Bianca. "How does that let you become a Pokemon Master? What even  is a Pokemon Master?"

    "It''s¡­! It''s uhh, hm¡­" Ash began eagerly, only to break off his sentence before it even had a chance to properly start.

    Peonia glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow and asked in a disbelieving tone, "Don''t tell me you spent a ridiculous amount of money to chase a dream you don''t know how to chase, much less not know what it is."

    "I didn''t do all that," Ash protested in an offended tone. "It''s just¡­I grew up watching all kinds of battles, so that''s what I''ve always wanted to do. I, uh¡­I guess being a Pokemon Master kind of just¡­." he trailed off, unable to finish his train of thought.

    Bianca felt a flash of sympathy, and Peonia must have felt the same, for she sighed as she responded, "That''s not a bad dream, Ash. It sounds like battling is something you''re passionate about. Just make sure you actually know your dreams , and don''t sacrifice what''s important to obtain them." The girl finished with a slight scowl, although Bianca had the distinct feeling it wasn''t Ash at which she aimed her vitriol.

    Ash was silent momentarily, breaking his silence to mutter, "My dreams¡­."

    "It''s not something you''ll have to figure out right away," Peonia reassured him in a softer tone. "If you love battling, then you''ll love Galar. We''re crazy about it here. But just so you know, you''ll have to get an endorsement to participate in the League."

    "Wait, what?" Ash replied in confusion. "An endorsement?"

    "Yeah, here in Galar, trainers are required to obtain a letter of endorsement by any relevant official," Peonia admitted. "Sounds like you haven''t had to deal with that in other regions, but battling can get pretty intense here. The endorsement letter is there to ensure that only trainers with the capabilities to handle the pressure and dangers of league battles."

    Bianca nodded in thought at that, musing over the requirements and implications. If battles were that spectacular, then she could look forward to plenty of moments she could put to canvas. As for the endorsement¡­. "How''s this guy gonna get his hands on one of those letters?" She asked as she jabbed her thumb back at him. "Who can give them out?"

    "Well, gym leaders, mostly," the girl said as she thought about it. "Anyone involved with the League, like Chairman Rose," she added with a strange tone. Before Bianca could question it, Peonia continued with a lighter voice, "And, of course, the champion himself. If by chance you meet one of them and  impress them, they will undoubtedly give you a letter of endorsement."

    "So I just have to impress a gym leader. Well, Pikachu, let''s get ourselves an endorsement letter!" Ash exclaimed confidently, the electric mouse sparking his cheeks and crying, "Pi-ka!"

    Peonia shot Bianca a look of amusement from the corner of her eye, muttering, "You''ll probably have your hands full with that one."

    "You have no idea," Bianca sighed tiredly, already picturing the amount of shenanigans he''ll get himself into. Or, probably more accurately, the ones he''ll get them both into.

    The group continued to share small talk and light-hearted jabs, becoming quick friends until they inevitably reached the point of divergence.

    "Well, here''s where I gotta split. If you take this alley and just go straight, you''ll end up at the side of the hotel. Much faster than going around; that place is huge," Peonia nodded as they stopped at an intersection.

    Oh, thank Kyogre, Bianca thought as she glanced gratefully at their guide. "Thank you so much, Peonia," she said to the girl, receiving a thumbs-up.

    "It was my pleasure. Nice having met you guys, by the way. Given how much you''ll be traveling and battling, I don''t think we''ll see each other again. But if you happen to spot me, don''t be afraid to come and say hi," the girl offered before turning to Ash. "And if by chance my dear old dad comes along and asks for me, do me a solid and give him a thrashing in a battle, yeah?"

    Ash grinned confidently, saying, "It would be my pleasure!"

    Satisfied, the girl waved a hand and turned to leave, only to glance back with a slight frown. "Oh, and do be on the lookout for Team Yell. They''re mostly harmless, but they''re also annoying to deal with."

    "Team Yell?" Bianca questioned. "Who are they? And what do they look like?"

    Peonia walked backward as she responded, "Buncha fanatics bent on protecting their precious chosen trainer. They''ve been mostly quiet in the dead season, but with the League kicking up very shortly, they''ll be out in force again. As for what they look like, you''ll know when you see them. Trust me. Bye, now!" She then faced back around and walked away at a quick pace.

    "Er, alright. Thank you!" Bianca called out, seeing Peonia flick a lazy hand in reply.

    As she turned back to Ash, she could see his nonplussed look and curiously asked him, "What''s on your mind?"

    He glanced at her as the two walked towards the alley, answering confusedly, "It''s just¡­Team Yell. Every region I visit, there''s some new team. Team Rocket, Team Galactic, Team Flare¡­. Can I visit one region without some team something-or-other?" He finished with an annoyed tone, making her snort.

    "Clearly not," Bianca remarked dryly, only to frown momentarily. "These teams you mentioned, Galactic and whatnot. You didn''t go interfering with them like you did with Magma and Aqua, did you?"

    "Uh, well, you see¡­" Ash began awkwardly, only for Bianca to throw her hand up as they passed through the alley.

    "You know what? Save it for later. I''m still trying to deal with what you''ve told me about your Leagues and meddling in Hoenn. I''m tired, and I don''t need you to add on to that," she stated with finality, before grunting as she stumbled.

    Ash immediately threw a cautionary arm in front of her to prevent her from falling, although she waved him off, momentarily stopping their progress as she leaned against the alley wall.

    I sincerely hope this gets easier, Bianca thought, fighting back the urge to fall asleep. Her eyes flicked to Ash as he frowned with concern and asked, "You sure you don''t want me to carry that for a bit? I know we''re almost there, but-"

    "No, no, I- I just got to get used to this, she murmured, closing her eyes for a moment. As she rested, she quietly asked, "How long did it take for you to get used to this travel gig? Carrying everything you need, and dealing with¡­everything," she finished vaguely.

    There was a beat, then his thoughtful response, "Hmm, Hard to say. It was so long ago¡­. But it took a couple weeks to get used to it, I think. Then another month or so before it didn''t bother me anymore. It also helped that Brock was there. He carried all of the cooking stuff."

    A couple of weeks to a couple of months. Yay, Bianca mentally remarked, nodding shortly after as she opened her eyes and looked at him. "Well, that''s splendid. So, how are we going to divvy up the weight? I hate to say it, but I''m not exactly on par with you."

    "Don''t worry about it," Ash reassured her with a shake of his head. "If you can carry all or even most of our clothes, I can get the camping stuff and anything else."

    Bianca slowly nodded, chewing over his words before replying, "We''ll have to see if that will work, but that doesn''t sound bad to me." Clothes were relatively lightweight, and if he only had to worry about camping equipment, travel would be more manageable.

    She hoped.

    Grunting, she pushed herself off the wall and began walking again, Ash quickly stepping beside her. On his shoulder, Pikachu gave her an encouraging grin and nod before facing forward, and she couldn''t help but get a small smile of her own as she pushed forward.

    Those two really are twins in all but shape.

    In no time, they had left the alley and could clearly see the side of a large building from across another road. It looked to be made of stony brick, giving the structure a rustic and charming appearance. The slanted roof was made of royal purple shingles, and Bianca could appreciate the use of colors in its construction.

    While she couldn''t see any crosswalks, there was a strangely small population of cars, although the crowds of people walking around made it apparent people simply preferred walking.

    Given what she saw from the plane, she couldn''t fathom why.

    Shrugging the thought away, she glanced both ways before crossing the street with tired yet determined strides.

    "Uh, are we allowed to-"

    Bianca didn''t bother looking back as she interrupted Ash, "If anyone complains, they can bite me."

    There was a moment of silence before she could hear Ash quickly catch up to her, walking at her side with unsure steps. "Man, I hope we don''t get in trouble for that."

    "If they didn''t want people crossing the street, then they should enforce it," she merely grumbled, not feeling any urge to follow a law that may or may not even exist. All that mattered was getting into the hotel room and taking a nap.

    Damn, I''ll have to cut it short, too; Bianca  mentally grimaced, wishing once more that she had slept on the plane.

    As the two made their way to the front of the building, she sharply glanced at Ash and questioned, "Are we absolutely sure this is the place? Because if not, I''m falling asleep on their lawn anyway, and not even whatever Legendary guards this region could move me from it."

    Ash nodded with an unsure chuckle, "I don''t think they''d like that very much."

    "Pika¡­"

    "I don''t think I care all that much," she flatly replied, only to sigh and apologize a moment later, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for being snappish.¡±

    The trainer merely raised his hands and said, "It''s fine. I get it. I''ve¡­been worse." He laughed awkwardly as they reached the lobby''s main doors. Any questions she had about what he was referring to could wait, as the stunning view of the interior was almost enough to fully wake her.

    Bianca had trouble deciding what to gawk at first. The golden chandelier was a good option, with many gorgeous crystals hanging from the fixture that sparkled from all the gilded light sources.

    Are the candles made of gold as well? Bianca thought incredulously as she gazed around. Despite her slowed pace, her shoes made distinct clacks on the floor, and she looked down to see almost all of it was solid marble, being cut from different colors and arranged into a checkered pattern, although the two large squares leading up to the main desk differed from the surrounding area; a compass rose, and a stylized Scizor, if she had to guess.

    Bianca and her Grandfather weren''t exactly poor, but never had she felt so underdressed in her entire life up until now.

    Ash was more relaxed, although he still did look around with interest before striding forward to the receptionists. She quickly followed suit, trying to ignore the few people who sat rather imperiously in available chairs.

    As they approached the desk, the receptionists smiled politely, although Bianca could see a hint of judgment in their gazes, making her eye twitch.

    Or maybe that was just a lack of sleep.

    "Welcome to the Rose of the Rondelands. We pride ourselves on offering five-star service that is beloved throughout the world," the leading man said proudly, with what she could only deduce was some signature look of superiority only high-class people were capable of. "How can we assist you today?" The man asked, although Bianca had the feeling he doubted there was anything they could or would do for them.

    "Hi, we''re here for a room? I called in a reservation with you guys," Ash happily replied, either not picking up on the man''s veiled arrogance or choosing to ignore it.

    "Is that so?" The man replied disbelievingly, giving Bianca the sudden urge to punch him in his perfect teeth. "Well, why don''t you provide me a name, and we''ll see what to do with you?"

    ''What to do with us''?  Bianca considered herself fortunate that she needed to sleep, or else she would have likely snapped at the man and said something that would damn both her and Ash.

    Ash had no such issues, it seemed, and nodded as he responded, "Should be under ''Ash Ketchum.''"

    The flash of recognition in the man''s eyes as he started typing something on his computer caught Bianca''s attention, and she turned her gaze to the trainer with growing suspicion. In the span of a day, she was learning just how much he didn''t say anything about himself, and the picture slowly forming in her mind was that Ash was far more than some random trainer who happened to stumble upon her one day.

    Deciding enough was enough, she elected to ask him about it as soon as they got up to their room.

    Suddenly, the man looked up, any trace of his previous attitude gone as he stared at Ash with new respect and¡­dare she say, awe?

    "A-ah, yes, it seems we do have you listed," he stuttered before turning and fumbling with the computer before reaching across the counter and handing over two keycards. The two accepted the cards, and the man bowed his head respectfully as he stated, "You''ll find your room on the top floor, in the first hallway to your left. Please enjoy your stay."

    "Thanks a lot!" Ash replied cheerfully, and Bianca mumbled her gratitude before perking up and narrowing her eyes.

    "Wait, it''s just one room, right? What are we going to do about the sleeping arrangements?"

    The man looked at them in surprise before responding, "We are the highest-rating hotel in the region; I assure you, ma''am, there is more than enough room for the two of you."

    Bianca hesitated before nodding. "Well, alright. Thank you again," she said with some doubt as she turned and followed Ash to the elevators.

    As he pressed the button, which she noted with some derision was also golden, she glanced at him from the corner of her eye and said, "When we get up there, you''re gonna give me a run-down, a  quick run-down, of why everyone we meet has heard of you."

    Ash brought his hand up to the back of his neck and rubbed it awkwardly while Pikachu grew a smug look on his face. "I mean, if you want, yeah," he said as the doors opened, allowing them to step inside.

    "I do," Bianca simply stated as the doors closed after them. She glanced at the available buttons, musing, "Top floor, huh?"

    Not seeing anything higher, she pressed the stylized "10", and the elevator began its smooth ascent, the travelers sitting in relative silence outside of the quiet yet pleasant classical music playing through the speakers.

    Shortly after, the elevator came to a stop, and with a small ''ding,'' the doors slid open, revealing a long hallway that was nearly as fancy as the main lobby, with more branching off.

    Stepping out of the elevator, the pair glanced to either side, taking in the long walls of gold etching stretched to either side. The carpeting looked beyond expensive, with many designs stitched in that probably took weeks, if not months.

    It was hardly unpleasant to look at, yet Bianca couldn''t help but snort. "So much decoration for an area people won''t be sleeping in. Let''s see if the room is as extravagant as everything else."

    "Er, yeah," Ash agreed with a nod, glancing at the carpet before stopping and quickly kneeling down. "Hey, check it out! These are Pokemon!"

    "What?" she replied irritably. Looking down at where he was pointing, she saw that various Pokemon were indeed making up the stitching, although she didn''t recognize the vast majority of them. Unfortunately, she didn''t care much for stopping and inspecting every last inch, so she shook her head as she walked by. "As fascinating as it is, I''d like to get to our room now, if you don''t mind," she said with a pressing tone, getting his attention.

    "Oh, right. Uh, what room was it again?" He asked as he glanced down at the key card.

    "Nine-hundred twenty-two," she replied, making Ash''s head snap up with scrunched eyebrows.

    "Nine-hundred and twenty-two?" he repeated with a disbelieving tone. "Man, this place is huge if it has over nine hundred rooms!"

    Bianca had to stifle a laugh at that as she moved towards their designated hallway. "I know this place is obscenely large, but I doubt it has nine hundred rooms. I think they just go up to a certain number on each floor before they add a hundred at the beginning."

    He was silent momentarily before replying, "Oh, huh, that''s¡­"

    "Odd," she finished as they fell in step. "But I''ll admit it works. It distinguishes the floors from one another a lot better than maintaining the numbering across each floor."

    "Yeah, that makes sense," Ash hummed in satisfaction as they continued their trek, only to remark, "Man, these doors are super far apart."

    Bianca blinked, glancing back before pulling her gaze along the hallway and noting he was right. What was up with that? Unless¡­.

    They finally reached their room, the numbers on the door in the same gold lettering as the keycard, albeit larger.

    Finally, she thought as she looked around for a card reader of some kind, only to grumble when she didn''t see one.

    "I swear, I will break down this door if I have to-" Bianca seethed, only to fall silent as Ash reached forward with his own keycard and inserted it into a slot in the handle she entirely missed. A brief moment later, the handle beeped, and the distinct sound of a mechanism unlocking could be heard.

    The two stared at the door, Bianca refusing to look at him as embarrassment coursed through her.

    The sound of Pikachu giggling permeated the air, and she resisted the urge to glare at him as she turned the handle and pushed her way inside.

    Immediately, the reason why the doors were so far apart from one another became apparent, as the view of an incredibly large room almost stopped her in her tracks.

    In fact, it could hardly be called a room at all; it was more akin to a house than anything. As she stepped further into their accommodations, a full kitchen became visible on her left, fully cordoned off from what she could only describe as a combination of a living room and a bedroom. Against the wall were  two  massive televisions, and on the opposite side were two separate beds, either of which dwarfed her own back in Alto Mare. Between them was a rail on the ceiling, her eyes traveling their length until she saw the foldable divider tucked into the wall. The wall perpendicular to the farthest bed looked to have large windows, although the heavy curtains blocked her view of them.

    To her right were two bathrooms; from the looks of it, they also put hers to shame with pristine marble countertops and gorgeous tiling on the floor.

    Bianca took in everything one last time before slowly turning her gaze towards Ash, who stood with a grin.

    "Wow, this place is nice! Look, separate beds! And TVs!" he exclaimed as he and Pikachu jumped forward and landed on the bed closest to them. She followed their movements intently as she slowly made her way to the other bed. She let her gaze drop from him momentarily as she let her pack fall from her shoulders, falling backward onto the bed, letting out a groan.

    "Ooh, finally," she sighed with contentment, feeling her eyelids already beginning to drop, only to remember her earlier remarks. Keeping them open, she turned her head back to Ash. She studied him for a moment, fighting back the urge to sleep until she finally questioned, "Alright, spill; how can you afford this place? And why do people know you? You said you''ve never been to Galar before, but in the first two real interactions you''ve had with people, they both knew your name. Are you the kid of someone super famous or something? Been holding back on telling your life story?"

    Ash glanced back at her with a confused but amused smile as he shook his head and replied, "What? No, nothing like that! It''s just that I have a lot saved up from winnings in the leagues and other battles. I don''t spend a lot cuz I''m too busy traveling, haha." He laughed, and Bianca nodded a moment later in thought, then pressed on a moment later.

    "That''s fair, but somehow, I don''t think your league accomplishments are why they know you. No offense. I mean, second place is extremely impressive, but¡­." Bianca trailed off, not knowing what to say.

    The trainer looked thoughtful as he mused, "It could be because of my Alola win, but that was really recent. I don''t think they could have heard about it  this fast, so-"

    "Sorry, what?"  She quickly sat up, much to the displeasure of her muscles. "What do you mean by ''Alola win?''" Her exhaustion was momentarily pushed aside as she peered intently at him.

    "Oh, uh, in Alola, I managed to win the championship," Ash replied, seemingly caught off guard by her reaction.

    Bianca continued to stare at him as she slowly spoke, "...Championship. You''re¡­the Alolan Champion? Like an actual legitimate Champion?"

    Ash nodded with a bashful chuckle. "Y-yeah, but it was the first ever League in Alola, so-"

    "You''re the first Alolan Champion? I''m sharing a room with the first Alolan Champion?" Bianca questioned disbelievingly, wondering if she was hearing correctly.

    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    As he mutely nodded, with Pikachu sitting smugly next to him on the bed, she stared at him before wordlessly falling back on her own bed and facing away. This was far too much to process at the moment.

    "...Er-"

    "Wake me up in a few hours, please," she interrupted with a mumble, deciding this new bombshell was not worth dealing with before she had the opportunity to nap.

    Her eyes were already beginning to close, so his reply went entirely unheard as sleep finally claimed her.

    Something was poking her in the cheek.

    Oh, not now, Latias, Bianca thought as she lay in bed, irritated at having been woken up. The poking continued, and a loud "Pii-ka" sounded next to her, further annoying her.

    "Please, Latias, not now-wait, what?" She began, only to pause in confusion.

    "Pika?"

    Opening her eyes, she was greeted with a yellow belly, which was definitely not a trait of her friend. As her eyes worked their way up the form, she could make out the shape of a Pikachu standing right by her head, poking her every once in a while.

    "AAAAHH!" She shrieked, floundering, and scrambled away, looking around wildly. When her eyes settled on a very startled Ash, she froze in shock before opening her mouth to scream at him to get out of her room, only to close it again once she saw that he was not, in fact, in her room.

    And neither was she.

    It took her a moment to remember where she was, and she calmed down as the memory of the day came to her. Embarrassed by her behavior, she ducked her head and buried it in her hands, only to look up and ask, "...What time is it?"

    "Uhh¡­" Ash looked around before his eyes settled to her right, responding, "Ten seventeen."

    Bianca blinked and followed his gaze to see a digital clock on the dresser next to her bed.

    Oh.

    Yawning, she slowly rolled out of bed and stretched her arms to the ceiling before letting them drop, only for her to perk up in realization. "Wait, a quarter past ten? What time was it when we got here?"

    "I think it was around six-thirty?" He offered hesitantly, apparently having paid as much attention to the time as she had.

    After doing some quick math in her head, Bianca nodded satisfactorily before succumbing to a yawn. "Well, I suppose I got what I asked for, then," she snorted softly, turning to Pikachu and saying, "Thank you for waking me up, Pikachu."

    "Pi-ka!" The mouse cheered, making her laugh.

    "How long were you at it for?" She asked curiously, as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She watched with some amusement as the Pokemon made vague gestures that she didn''t understand, and she gave Ash a side-eye in hopes of a translation of some kind. Something she still had to ask him about¡­.

    Miraculously picking up on her look, the trainer helpfully elaborated, "About half an hour or so."

    "You were poking me for half an hour?" Bianca asked, not believing her ears. The mouse nodded with a small "Pii," making Ash sigh.

    "You''re lucky that''s all you got," he said, half-heartedly glaring at the mouse. "If it were me, he''d Thunderbolt me until I woke up."

    Bianca stared at him for a moment, then shook her head. "You two are something else," she sighed as she slowly made her way to the bathroom. The carpeting felt pleasant beneath her toes, and once she reached the bathroom, the door closed behind her without so much as a squeak.

    "Some hotel," she murmured in slight awe as she began fixing her hair, still amazed that Ash could even get them a spot in this highly luxurious place-

    Ah, right.

    Letting her hands rest on the marbled counter, she stared at the sink as she recalled the last thing she remembered before being woken up.

    Champion.

    An actual Champion. Not some small league in some far-off  islands no one has heard of, but a presumably full-blown regional League. On the other side of that door was someone on equal footing as the champions from the other regions. Very few people in the entire world were his equal or greater in terms of battling.

    And he was currently hanging out in their room, having brought her to some far-off region, ready to explore it like any common trainer.

    The thought was almost impossible to fathom, and she had no idea how to even begin processing it.

    Opening the door and interacting with him like a normal person would be a good start, she mentally snorted, shaking her head. "Then again, you aren''t just a normal person, are you?" Bianca mused before scoffing, "And look who''s talking; I''m best friends with two Legendary Pokemon that keep an entire city safe. I can''t be called ''normal,'' either."

    She looked back up at her reflection and made a determined face, muttering, "Alright, time to face the music."

    Heaving a quick breath, she threw open the door and stepped outside, her eyes immediately going to Ash.

    The trainer was sitting cross-legged on his bed, staring at the television with the remote in hand, rapidly pressing one of the buttons. Pikachu was on his lap, eyes closed, enjoying neck scratches from his trainer.

    Hesitantly, Bianca walked by and excused herself with a quick apology, sitting on the edge of her bed as she tried to find something to start a conversation.

    Come on, it shouldn''t be that hard,  she chastised herself.  He''s the same goofball as earlier, and the same guy from their first meeting. Nothing''s changed¡­except the fact that I now know he''s a REGIONAL CHAMPION.

    Her eyes flicked between the screen and his face before she nervously began, "Soo¡­what are you looking for?"

    She immediately cringed at the meager attempt at making small talk, although Ash didn''t seem to mind, as he immediately replied, "The exhibition match! That girl, uhh¡­Pe...Penny? She said there was an exhibition match today, and I''m trying to see when it is and where I can watch it!"

    "Her name is ''Peonia,''" she corrected. Biting her lip, she curiously asked, "You didn''t know about it before coming here? I would have thought you''d look into something like that. Being a champion and all that."

    He looked away from the screen, ducking his head and laughing nervously, "Yeah, heh, I¡­never think about it when I travel. Plus, this is the first time I''ve come across it."

    Really? No comment on the ''Champion'' thing? Bianca thought as she drummed her fingers on her leg. Deciding to press further, she cleared her throat and inquired, "Speaking of being a champion¡­"

    Seeing him turn his head her way with an embarrassed expression, Bianca pressed, "Why didn''t you say anything about that? Even when you came back? That''s¡­ that''s an insane achievement. I don''t even pay attention to battling, and even I know that being a champion is something very, very few people can claim to be."

    "Er, well," Ash began as he fiddled with the remote idly. "I didn''t think it was¡­important?"

    Bianca stared flatly at him, watching him squirm under her gaze. "You didn''t think telling me that being a regional champion was important."

    "...No?" He unhelpfully supplied, and she continued to stare holes into him until she eventually shook her head.

    "I have no idea what to do with you, Ash Ketchum," she sighed as she rubbed her temple. "Had I known, I would have at least tried to watch your matches from home. I could have painted something for you¡­actually, that reminds me. What did you do with the painting I gave you?"  She asked curiously.

    "Oh, when I sent my stuff to my mom, I asked her to pin it up on my wall," he answered proudly, bringing a smile to her face.

    "Well, thank you for that, at least. Maybe when you win this League, I can paint that moment for you," she offered with a small laugh.

    He also chuckled, looking almost bashful as he set the remote aside. "We''ll have to see about winning, but I would still love any painting you gave me, win or not."

    Warmth filled her chest as she gave him a genuine smile. While her family and locals were quick to compliment any art she produced, it almost felt different coming from someone who was so openly honest.

    Wait.

    She immediately stood up and went to put on her shoes. "Crap, crap, crap," she muttered, much to the confusion of Ash.

    "What''s wrong?" he asked as he watched her flounder.

    "I have to contact my granddad and let him know I landed safely. It completely slipped my mind," she said, cursing herself. "Do you think the hotel has some kind of call center?"

    She bit back another curse as he answered, "I didn''t see one."

    "It''s fine," Bianca reasoned as she began making her way to the door. "This city is massive, but we should be able to find a Pokemon Center somewhere nearby."

    At least, she hoped. Either she would find one immediately, or she''d be wandering around a strange city until the sun went down. She hoped it was the former, although she was going to be extremely embarrassed if she found out they had passed one.

    Pays to pay attention, Bianca thought with a snort, only to turn as she heard Ash getting up and following.

    "You''re coming with me?" She asked in surprise, to which he nodded.

    "Well, yeah," he answered as if it were obvious. "What if you run into those Team Yell guys or something?"

    She frowned as she paused with her hand on the door. "I can take care of myself, you know."

    "I know, but¡­." He said with a grimace. "Latios¡­."

    Oh.

    Bianca snorted and shook her head as she pulled the door open. "Him and his threats. Alright, I can''t argue with that. Besides, maybe you''ll have a better idea of where to find a Pokemon Center than I do."

    "Why me?" Ash asked, letting Pikachu bound onto his shoulder before stepping outside the room with her.

    She raised an eyebrow at him and replied, "Because you actually travel? Alto Mare isn''t necessarily a standard for Pokemon Center placement in cities, you know."

    "Yeah, but I''ve never been to this city," Ash said with a quizzical look.

    "Fair," she conceded, nonetheless pressing on. "But that doesn''t mean you can''t help. Plus, you didn''t bring anything with you. Take the opportunity to shop for what we need."

    Ash nodded in response as she closed the door behind them, and the trio made their way down the hall to the elevators. Jabbing her thumb on the button, Bianca gave Ash a side-eye, glancing at his clothes up and down before asking, "Are you going to change your style anytime? Nothing wrong with your current get-up, but I''m not sure Galar weather is going to be anywhere near as warm as Alola."

    "Uh, yeah, probably," he said as the two stepped into the elevator, continuing once the doors closed behind them. "I change what I wear in every region; I just don''t know what to wear here."

    "Something warm," Bianca supplied helpfully with a small smile. "But I would be shocked if this place didn''t have any clothing stores. I''m sure we''ll find something for you."

    Although I should probably help out in that regard,  she thought as the trio descended.  I feel like he''d decide to go with something that''ll make him eventually freeze to death.

    Bianca was confident in the clothes she had packed, but even then, she was going to look for heavier clothes. Excessive caution never killed anyone, probably.

    Noting Ash''s silence, she glanced over and found him with his chin tucked between his thumb and forefinger, staring at the floor in thought. Bianca had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing when she noticed Pikachu mirroring the movement.

    Despite her best efforts to compose herself, she still couldn''t help the slight warble in her voice as she asked, "Wh-what''s gotten you thinking so hard?"

    "Hm?" Ash perked up, only to reply a moment later, "Oh, I was thinking about the clothes thing. My mom always picked out what I wore to each region, so I''m kind of lost on what to get."

    Huh, definitely a momma''s boy, Bianca thought as she tapped her foot. "So you don''t know what to get because you''ve never had to pick anything out for yourself?" She asked curiously.

    "Yeah, pretty much," he admitted as the elevator came to a stop. "Since I''ll be walking around a lot anyway, it wouldn''t hurt to think about what to wear."

    The two stepped out of the elevator into the ornate lobby, which was thankfully empty except for the receptionists still posted behind their desks.

    As they made their way to the doors, the male called out to them in a polite voice, "I trust, sir and madam, that you will be back for your evening meals."

    As they stopped and turned, the man offered, "We will be serving Veluza imported from Paldea, along with Steenee leaves steamed together with ginger."

    Bianca had no idea what either of these things were, but Ash didn''t seem to care as he nodded eagerly, "That sounds great, thanks!"

    The man merely dipped his head, allowing them to continue out the door, although Bianca was a little more hesitant. "Veluza? And Steenee? Are those Pokemon?"

    Ash nodded as he shielded his eye from the sun momentarily, an action mirrored by Bianca and Pikachu. "Probably," he said, neither he nor Pikachu seemed bothered in the slightest. "I''ve never had Veluza, so I''m kinda curious how it''ll taste."

    "Pika."

    Bianca was still a little unsure, having never really consumed Pokemon herself. It wasn''t as though she never had the opportunity; it was that there weren''t a lot of Pokemon in the Garden she could feel at ease eating, if any. If Bianca decided to start hunting them for her own consumption one day, she doubted they''d feel safe in the Garden. They would probably also smell it on her if she ate any outside of the perimeter.

    Now that she likely won''t be heading back any time soon, this could be her opportunity to try, if just a small portion. That being said¡­.

    "I don''t mean to pry, but¡­how do you manage to eat Pokemon and still be friends with them?" Bianca asked curiously.

    Ash tilted his head curiously as he thought about her question. "Hm, well, we never caught any Pokemon out in the wild on our travels. For food, anyway. So I don''t look at Pokemon and immediately think of it as food," he confessed. As the pair walked along the cobbled walkway, he continued, "Any time I''ve eaten Pokemon, they were things like Magikarp, and it just happened to be served."

    "I see," Bianca murmured, nodding slowly. "What about Pikachu? Does he eat¡­?"

    She trailed off uncertainly, mildly surprised to find Ash grinning and shrugging. "He''ll eat anything he thinks looks good, especially with ketchup. Even  just ketchup."

    "Pika-pi chuu!" Came the mouse''s response, looking satisfied with himself.

    Bianca was silent as she considered his answer. She didn''t quite understand what made some Pokemon "acceptable" to eat over others. Did people eat Pokemon if they weren''t cute enough? If Pikachu had all the same abilities that he did but with a completely different appearance, would he just be another meal on the table?

    Or was it intelligence? Was there a certain threshold where Pokemon just weren''t smart enough to be considered anything more than dinner?

    Getting hung up on this right now probably isn¡¯t the best idea, she decided as she followed Ash as he made his way down the street, quickly falling in step behind him. Feeling refreshed from her extended nap, Bianca took the time to observe the city and its inhabitants,becoming a lot more appreciative of Wyndon¡¯s architecture. She found many of the buildings shared the hotel¡¯s rustic aesthetic, and though they were not nearly as grand, she found them all the more beautiful because of it.

    Even the roads had appeal, the cobbling never wavering as the trio made their way through the city. Bianca certainly wouldn¡¯t mind spending more time in the city, if only to capture the sights before her.

    She internally cursed herself for not packing a pocket sketchbook, although seeing Wyndon before her made her come to the realization that she would have had to pack many such sketchbooks just to fit the loads of possible paintings she could make.

    Seeing a couple of cafes along the way, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but wish the twins were here to try out all the various pastries people were munching on.

    Then she reconsidered, remembering just the kind of personalities the twins had. If they were here, she doubted there would be much of Wyndon left standing, for even Latios fell victim to carelessness once a prank war had begun.

    Not to mention all these cafes Latias would demolish, Bianca snorted to herself, catching the attention of Ash.

    His inquisitive glance cleared as she clarified, ¡°Just imagining what it¡¯d be like if our friends back in Alto Mare were here to see this.¡±

    ¡°Friends?¡± He questioned, looking confused. ¡°Which fri- Oh! Right, haha,¡± he laughed with a nod. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯d probably love it here!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they would,¡± she murmured fondly as she imagined them in a more mature light, soaring through the streets, leaving gusts of wind in their wake. Feeling a bit of sadness well up in her, Bianca shook off the thought, not wanting her good mood to be brought down to earth.

    She distracted herself by looking at the stores they passed, making a mental note of any that could be of interest. Suddenly, she heard Ash exclaim with a loud voice, ¡°Hey, there¡¯s one!¡±

    Turning, she followed his arm as he pointed down the road, seeing a plaza.

    And in that plaza was the very building she was looking for.

    While the structure itself was different than the one in Alto Mare, there was no mistaking that distinct white building with a thick red line at the top terminating in a familiar flat top, and a large pokeball adorning the center above the double doors. It seemed all Pokemon Centers shared those specific design philosophies, something she deeply appreciated.

    ¡°Oh, thank Kyogre,¡± Bianca breathed in relief. ¡°I guess there really was one close by.¡±

    The two quickened their pace, the occasional grouping of people getting between them before they joined back together. In no time flat, they were stepping through the building¡¯s double doors.

    ¡°Wow, this place is a lot different than the one in Alto Mare,¡± Bianca said, impressed at the size of the interior. In addition to the familiar main desk that looked unoccupied, there was an entirely separate area that looked like a whole shopping center, bottles, potions and pokeballs stacked on every shelf. Despite the significant line at the counter, the shop never seemed to run out of supplies, thanks to a Gardevoir coming along and restocking anytime a shelf got low.

    To the left of the main desk was a cafe, or at least appeared to be a cafe. There were various bottles on the shelves behind the man behind the counter, with an unknown but adorable purple and white Pokemon with downturned head fluff keeping him company.

    Yet as pleasant as the aura in the lobby was, Bianca was a woman on a mission.

    Fixing her eyes forward, Bianca marched towards the front desk. She spared a glance at the hallway to the side, although frowned, seeing no one there. Stopping in front of the desk, she was about to call out when she heard rustling, and she looked down to see someone in a nurse¡¯s uniform kneeling and picking up a few items off the ground.

    ¡°Er, would you like some help with that¡­?¡± She offered, only to recoil as the person peeked their head up before standing and fixing up their uniform.

    ¡°Ah, no thank you, I was just a little clumsy, is all,¡± the identical copy of Nurse Joy said with a smile. ¡°How may I help you today?¡±

    The woman¡¯s smile slightly fell as Bianca merely stared at her, looking concerned as she didn¡¯t reply. The nurse trailed her eyes to Ash as the silence stretched on, although Bianca couldn¡¯t help but feel massively confused.

    She finally managed to find her voice, albeit barely as she asked, ¡°Er, Nurse Joy¡­?¡±

    The woman, now confirmed to be Nurse Joy, nodded as her face morphed into one of understanding. ¡°That¡¯s right. I take it you don¡¯t travel much beyond your hometown?¡±

    ¡°You could say that,¡± Bianca admitted as Ash chuckled. ¡°I knew Nurse Joy- er, my Nurse Joy- had relatives, she talks about them occasionally, but¡­.¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t expecting us to look just like her?¡± Joy lightly laughed as Bianca nodded mutely. ¡°No, I understand. It doesn¡¯t happen too much anymore, but we still get people like you. May I ask which city you live in?¡±

    Bianca didn¡¯t see much harm in giving that away, replying, ¡°Alto Mare.¡±

    The woman¡¯s face lit up in surprise. ¡°My, my, you really are far from home, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Very,¡± she replied wearily, continuing with a sense of urgency, ¡°which is actually why I¡¯m here.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you must be looking for a computer to call home! Just arrived, then?¡±

    Bianca grimaced at that, feeling guilty as she confessed, ¡°Well, I actually landed like six or so hours ago. I was supposed to call as soon as I arrived so my granddad knows I¡¯m safe, but¡­I completely forgot and fell asleep in our hotel room.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Nurse Joy sympathized, although looking concerned as she asked, ¡°But it must be quite late by now in Alto Mare. Is your grandfather awake?¡±

    She shook her head and sighed, ¡°Probably not, but our Nurse Joy is a workaholic. She¡¯s up more often than not, particularly at night. Granddad said she¡¯d probably be available.¡±

    ¡°That woman, I swear,¡± Nurse Joy exhaled in exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°Alright, feel free to come on back. We have a couple of computers available for you. Of course, they never get much use, but I¡¯m glad we never got around to getting rid of them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± Bianca breathed out as Nurse Joy gestured for them to follow. Curious at something the nurse said, she turned and asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t people use them? Surely there would be a couple people in a city this big.¡±

    Ash and Pikachu scampered after them, the trainer quickly supplying, ¡°Yeah, in the places we¡¯ve been, there were usually a couple of people on the computers.¡±

    ¡°I suspect that was some years ago,¡± the Nurse smiled as she glanced back. ¡°Recently, the call centers have been made somewhat redundant by the new mobile phones.¡± They turned into a doorway leading into a modest room, with a couple computers sitting against each wall.

    ¡°New mobile phones?¡± Ash asked curiously as Bianca made her way over to a computer. She tuned out the conversation as she sat down at one and looked over the system in front of her. It was quite similar to the ones in Alto Mare, and she felt comfortable as she quickly accessed the call features.

    Biting her lip, she searched through the pre-installed contacts for Alto Mare, however, she didn¡¯t find anything. Frowning, she tried searching by region, clicking on Johto and looking through the list. Immediately at the top was Alto Mare, and she threw her hands up in exasperation. Why didn¡¯t it pop up when she searched by name?

    Rolling her eyes, Bianca maneuvered the cursor to ¡°call¡± and clicked, waiting with baited breath as it began ringing. She could vaguely hear the conversation peter off as Ash settled in front of another computer, presumably making a call of his own.

    However, her attention fully focused on the screen as the call connected, and a sleepy voice came through the speaker, ¡°N-nurse Joy speakingaaahhh. Mm, how can I help you?¡±

    Suppressing a snort at the yawn, Bianca greeted her, ¡°Hello, Nurse Joy, it¡¯s me, Bianca.¡±

    ¡°O-oh! Hello, dear, what can I do for you?¡± The nurse asked, sounding more awake.

    ¡°Hey, I just wanted to call and let someone know I¡¯ve arrived safely,¡± Bianca said with pursed lips, still feeling guilty that she hadn¡¯t called earlier.

    The nurse questioned with a quizzical voice, ¡°I knew the plane ride was long, but I didn¡¯t think it was  that  long.¡±

    Bianca winced at that, although she should have known she wouldn¡¯t be able to slide under the radar that easily. She shifted her feet awkwardly and confessed, ¡°Er, see, the thing is, I uh¡­kinda forgot to call when I landed¡­?¡± She trailed off, tapping her fingers together.

    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Joy said, and Bianca had the sense she was shaking her head. ¡°I won¡¯t tell your grandfather, but you really must remember, sweety.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know,¡± Bianca sighed, staring at the ceiling as she crossed her arms. ¡°I just¡­couldn¡¯t fall asleep on the plane, so when we landed, I was  really tired, and calling home was the last thing on my mind.¡±

    ¡°I understand,¡± Joy said sympathetically, sounding like she was stifling a yawn. ¡°I get like that too, sometimes.¡±

    Bianca shifted awkwardly as she saw Nurse Joy, the one in Wyndon, come up next to her and frown at the computer. ¡°Er, about that¡­¡± She started timidly, only for Wyndon Joy to interject.

    ¡°Yes, so I¡¯ve heard, cousin,¡± the nurse said waspishly, waiting for a reply from the other Joy.

    There was silence until Bianca¡¯s Joy suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s time for me to head off, I¡¯ll make sure to let Lorenzo know you¡¯ve made it, bye!¡±

    ¡°Hold on a minute-!¡± Wyndon Joy began hotly, only for the call to end abruptly. Joy then scoffed, turning away. ¡°Damn that woman. I¡¯ll call her later, and make sure she stays on this time!¡±

    Bianca chuckled unsurely, only for her attention to be caught by Ash as he heard him say, ¡°We¡¯re going to be headed out tomorrow. I¡¯m gonna spend the rest of today getting the stuff we¡¯ll need. Brock gave me a bunch of recommendations, so I¡¯ll see if Wyndon has any of them.¡±

    ¡°Okay, dear, but I still wish you at least brought  something with you. You can¡¯t always rely on a region having what you need, you know,¡± a motherly voice sounded from the speaker. ¡°What if they don¡¯t have underwear you like?¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but snort loudly, recalling what Ash said about his mom and her ¡°obsession¡± with him having clean underwear.

    ¡°Mom!¡± he protested, making Bianca let out a full laugh, finding it highly amusing to see the interaction in person.

    Unfortunately, her laugh must have been audible to his mom, as a moment later, his mom said, ¡°Who was that, Ash? Is that the young lady you told me about? You better take good care of her!¡±

    Ash sighed as he rubbed the side of his head, looking exasperated. ¡°Yes, that was Bianca, mom. And I¡¯ll do my best.¡±

    Bianca raised her eyebrows, although she withheld herself from informing them that she could take care of herself. The poor trainer didn¡¯t need any further embarrassment.

    Not that she¡¯d withhold from that in the future.

    ¡°Good,¡± his mother replied, mollified. ¡°May I please speak with her?¡± She continued in a soft voice, surprising Bianca.

    Ash turned his head towards her and said, ¡°My mom wants to talk with you, if that¡¯s alright.¡±

    ¡°I heard,¡± she muttered as she shrugged. ¡°But yeah, I don¡¯t see why not.¡± She stood and pulled her chair along next to Ash and sat down, politely introducing herself, ¡°Hello, Mrs Ketchum. I¡¯m Bianca, it¡¯s nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you as well, Bianca, but please, call me Delia,¡± his mom greeted her, bringing a smile to her face. ¡°Ash tells me you¡¯re traveling with him; I must ask, what made you want to follow my little trouble magnet to another region?¡±

    Bianca snorted at the description, much to the consternation of Ash. ¡°Well, I suppose I¡¯ve been struggling with my art for some time,¡± she confessed as she fidgeted. ¡°I kind of got tired of painting my city over and over again, so when Ash came back to visit after he won the Alolan League that he failed to mention until earlier today, my grandpa convinced me to give it a shot.¡±

    ¡°Ah, right, you¡¯re the one who painted such a lovely picture for Ash,¡± his mom cooed, embarrassing Bianca. ¡°I made sure to pin it above his desk, like he asked. But Ash,¡± she continued with an edge to her voice. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell your friend about your win? I¡¯m sure she would have loved to know about something like that!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, I wish he told me as well,¡± Bianca snorted.

    Ash shifted uncomfortably in his seat as Bianca and his mom tag-teamed him, replying defensively, ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was that important! We¡¯re in a different region, and I want to look ahead, not back.¡±

    Bianca rolled her eyes, reluctantly acquiescing. ¡°In terms of excuses, I¡¯ve heard worse,¡± she dryly remarked. ¡°But it still would have been nice to know, and it¡¯s something that would have come up anyway. You saw how those people recognized you.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but¡­I didn¡¯t know they¡¯d find out  this  fast,¡± he replied, only for Delia to sternly interject.

    ¡°Ash Ketchum, you of all people should know how fast word travels about this kind of stuff, with the amount of times I¡¯ve caught you watching those battles late at night!¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but laugh at this tidbit, picturing a younger Ash sitting on the edge of a bed and staring at the television with rapt attention. Then she remembered how he was after she woke up, searching through the channels in hopes of finding the exhibition match. Some habits just never die, it seemed.

    Meanwhile, the trainer in question was sagging in his seat, looking defeated. ¡°Yeah¡­I¡¯m sorry for not telling you, Bianca,¡± he apologized, genuinely sounding remorseful.

    It caught her guard, but she quickly waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. At least it wasn¡¯t a criminal record or something you were hiding¡­. You aren¡¯t, are you?¡± Bianca jokingly asked, although Ash didn¡¯t pick up on that as he rapidly shook his head.

    ¡°No! No, I¡¯m not a criminal or anything!¡± He replied fearfully, as Pikachu snorted from atop his shoulder.

    Bianca shrugged with a small smile. ¡°I thought not, given your track record of butting into would-be terrorist acts, but it never hurts to ask.¡±

    ¡°Ash Ketchum!! You better not be running into those gangs again!¡± Came the warning tone from his mom.

    ¡°Mom, we  just got here!¡± he whined. ¡°We haven¡¯t run into anyone, especially not a gang!¡±

    ¡°Except for Peonia,¡± Bianca casually pointed out, although she quickly discovered how much of a mistake that was when Delia cut in again.

    ¡°Peonia? Is that another lady friend? Young man, you should be getting to know Bianca here before you go off chasing other girls!¡±

    Bianca buried her face in her hands, kneading her temple before looking up and saying, ¡°It¡¯s not like that, Mrs- er, Delia.

    His mom replied, ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure, young lady. I¡¯ve met the girls he¡¯s brought home after every league. You¡¯d be amazed how many of them wanted my sweet young boy.¡±

    Suppressing a sigh, Bianca wearily responded, ¡°Regardless, I highly doubt you¡¯ll have to worry about that with me, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m just here to paint some scenery; making sure this guy doesn¡¯t get himself neck-deep in trouble is just a professional courtesy.¡± She finished with a playful look towards the trainer in question, who merely crossed his arms and pouted.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get in trouble¡­that much,¡± Ash muttered, only to correct himself as Bianca raised an eyebrow. Pikachu also looked down at his trainer with a flat look, rolling his eyes after.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Bianca continued as she turned back to the computer. ¡°If Ash has my back, I¡¯ll have his. I may not have any Pokemon, but I pack a mean punch.¡±

    Delia laughed. ¡°I believe you, sweety. Thank you. And Ash, you better keep an eye on her anyway. You never know who you might run into that isn¡¯t afraid of using their Pokemon against people.¡±

    Bianca flinched at that, remembering the Espeon and the sheer agony it brought upon her. The memory kept her silent as Ash quietly replied, ¡°I know, mom, don¡¯t worry; Pikachu and I will do our best.¡±

    Even something as simple as that did wonders at calming her nerves, and she took several deep breaths as she pushed the memory away. ¡°Thank you, Ash,¡± she muttered quietly.

    Delia didn¡¯t seem to pick up on it, and she pleasantly continued, ¡°Alright, dears. I understand you have shopping to get back to. I wish I was there to help you, but I trust that you¡¯ve been on enough adventures to know what you¡¯re doing.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, mom. Love you!¡±

    ¡°I love you too, dear,¡± Delia replied lovingly. She continued in a warm tone, ¡°And farewell to you, Bianca. Safe travels to you both.¡±

    ¡°Goodbye, Delia, and thank you,¡± she responded politely, before Ash hung up the call. Glancing at him, she murmured, ¡°You have a good mom.¡±

    The trainer grinned as he stood up and stretched. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s the best. I still wish she¡¯d stop bringing up the underwear thing, though.¡±

    Bianca¡¯s mouth turned upwards in amusement before she stood as well. ¡°I suppose we should get your things, then.¡± She turned towards Nurse Joy, only to find the woman absent.  She must have gone back to the front desk, she reasoned. Remembering the short path they took, she led the way back to the lobby. As she turned towards the desk, she confirmed that Joy was indeed there, and was engaging with a couple of teenagers.

    ¡°Thank you, Nurse Joy,¡± she quickly said, the Nurse glancing her way and giving a quick nod and smile before turning back to the teens.

    The two made their way to the exit, and Bianca¡¯s eyes once again tracked over to the ¡°cafe¡± and its occupants, especially to the Pokemon. She nudged Ash and nodded towards the Pokemon, asking, ¡°Have you seen any of those?¡±

    Following her gaze, he immediately perked up upon seeing the Pokemon, zoomed over faster than she could blink, and started gushing, ¡°Oh wow, what Pokemon are you?¡± He started turning to look over his shoulder, only to slump and whine, ¡°Oh man, I wish Rotom Dex was here, or one of my old Pokedexes.¡±

    The man behind the counter chuckled as the Pokemon looked confused, tilting its head to the side as it stared at Ash with shared curiosity. ¡°You must be new to the Galar region,¡± the man said with an accent that Bianca decided she¡¯d better get used to. ¡°This sweety is an Indeedee. She¡¯s friendly, so you don¡¯t have to worry about her biting you or nothin¡¯.¡±

    ¡°Wow, an Indeedee. She¡¯s so cute!¡± Ash cheered, smiling at the Pokemon as she cupped her cheeks and squealed, ¡°Dee!¡±

    The man laughed heartily and said, ¡°Don¡¯t go stealing her heart, now, I can¡¯t have her running off and leaving me with my work alone.¡± The Indeedee pulled the fluff from the side of her head and covered her eyes, clearly mortified.

    Bianca snorted in amusement as she shook her head, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°You know, you really shouldn¡¯t go flirting with random girls, Ash, if you can¡¯t at least man up.¡±

    Ash was at a loss for words, while Pikachu was laughing up a storm as the Indeedee quickly fled behind the counter and out of sight. The man also roared with laughter, slapping his belly in a way that reminded Biana of her grandfather before he calmed down, wiping a tear from his eye. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s too much. We get the occasional trainer that interacts with Indeedee here, but compliments are still her weak spot. I¡¯m Jack,¡± he introduced himself as he reached across the counter with a hand.

    ¡°Ash Ketchum, sir!¡± The trainer replied as he met him in the middle and shook his hand firmly, Jack giving him a nod of approval.

    ¡°Pleased to meet such a polite young man. And who is your friend here?¡± Jack asked as the two let go, before he offered his hand to her as well.

    ¡°My name is Bianca,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°It''s nice to meet you.¡±

    Jack grinned back before tilting his head, inquiring, ¡°What brings you two to Galar?¡±

    Bianca gestured towards Ash as she replied, ¡°He¡¯s here to get another win under his belt, and I¡¯m here to hopefully paint a bit.¡±

    ¡°Ah, the artsy type, are you?¡± he smiled wistfully. ¡°My wife used to draw a lot, too, before arthritis made it almost impossible.¡± Jack sighed ruefully as he shook his head. ¡°Bodies are just meant to eventually break down, I suppose. Nothin¡¯ we can do about it.¡±

    An image of her grandfather being too weak to walk and falling down flashed through her mind before she shooed it away quickly.  He still has some years left in him before that happens, she tried to reassure herself, doing her best to focus on Jack as the man turned back to Ash.

    ¡°What¡¯s this about another win? What kind of competition are you looking to enter?¡± he asked, Ash beginning to fidget.

    ¡°Er, the Pokemon League, once I get that endorsement letter, at least,¡± Ash admitted.

    The man leaned in, interest gleaming in his eyes. ¡°Oh, a future competitor? Well, that¡¯s nice- wait,¡± Jack began, only to stop as realization settled in. ¡°Did you-?¡±

    ¡°Well, I suppose it¡¯s time to go,¡± Ash interrupted with nervous laughter, turning to leave only to stop as Bianca placed a hand on his shoulder.

    ¡°Hey, now, he¡¯s just curious. Why all the secrecy?¡± She asked with a raised eyebrow, finding it odd someone would hide a status like his.

    The trainer bit his lip as he turned back to the man, looking around before nodding. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m the Champion of Alola,¡± he admitted, allowing a small amount of pride to enter his voice.

    Jack stared at him for a moment, leaning in closer before shaking his head with another chuckle. ¡°Unbelievable,¡± he laughed as he looked down at his feet, presumably where his Pokemon was still hiding. ¡°Did you hear that, Indeedee? The Alolan Champion himself complimented you, ya lucky gal.¡±

    There was a shy and inquisitive ¡°Dee¡± from behind the counter, making the man chuckle again before turning back to Ash. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say I ever expected to meet a Champion today. But I wish you the best of luck, young man. Especially if you enter the World Coronation. Leon is no joke.¡±

    ¡°World Coronation? Leon? What and who are they?¡± Ash asked eagerly, catching Bianca¡¯s attention as well.

    Jack merely shook his head and smiled mischievously. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll hear about the Coronation when you register. The league officials are much better at explaining such a massive event than I am,¡± he smirked, giving Bianca the sense he was just being dramatic. ¡°As for Leon¡­. Well, I suppose you didn¡¯t get a chance to see his match today. It ended¡­oh, an hour or so ago? If you¡¯re looking for a battle, he¡¯s the one to beat.¡±

    Ash nodded and stood up straight. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s time for me to get registered so I can beat Leon!¡± He said with a determined voice, only for Bianca to interject.

    ¡°You still need an endorsement, Ash,¡± she pointed out. ¡°And we still have to go shopping.¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± the trainer realized, making Bianca snort. He then turned towards the exit and marched towards it, exclaiming as he went, ¡°Time to go shopping and get endorsed and beat Leon!¡±

    Bianca looked towards the ceiling in exasperation, muttering out loud, ¡°This guy¡­. Did he seriously forget how to get endorsed?¡±

    Jack smiled sympathetically. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ll have your hands full with him.¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± she said with a sigh as she looked back down at him. ¡°You aren¡¯t the first to have said it, and you probably won¡¯t be the last.¡±

    ¡°Nonetheless, I once again offer the two of you luck,¡± he said as Indeedee climbed back up onto the counter and looked around.

    ¡°Dee?¡± The Pokemon said sadly as she realized Ash had already left, drooping as Jack gently rested a hand on her head.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll see the young man again,¡± he reassured her, the Pokemon slightly peking up.

    Bianca smiled at the two and bowed her head for a moment. ¡°Thank you, sir. I¡¯ll make sure my friend is taken care of, and I¡¯ll offer him your luck. Goodbye,¡± she replied as she made her way to the exit after Ash.¡±

    ¡°Farewell, young lady!¡± Jack called out, Bianca waving a hand in acknowledgement before the sliding doors opened for her, letting the sun bathe her face with its rays once more.

    Blinking the light out of her eyes, she looked around for her wayward companion, grimacing at the large throngs of people that blocked her view.  How am I supposed to find that blockhead with these crowds, she grumbled internally, cursing Ash¡¯s habit of rushing off. Would it kill him to be more patient?

    Suddenly, she saw a small flash of yellow and black over the heads of the some people, and she turned to see the very tips of what looked like Pikachu¡¯s ears. Faced with limited options, Bianca elected to have faith and pursue the yellow thing, and hope she wasn¡¯t following some stranger.

    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t that difficult to push past people, quickly apologizing to those she bumped into as some shot her affronted looks. It took less than a minute to clear the crowds and catch up to who she could confirm to be Ash and Pikachu, much to her relief.

    ¡°Ash Ketchum, this better not be a common occurrence every time we get to a city,¡± Bianca growled as she fell in step next to him, watching him flinch in guilt as she shot him a small glare.

    ¡°Oh, dang, I¡¯m sorry,¡± he apologized, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°I kinda thought you were behind me¡­.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to check to verify that?¡± Bianca massaged her temple before letting out a breath. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s better than flat out forgetting about me at all, but you still need to pay attention. I¡¯m not sure whether it¡¯s skill or luck that you¡¯re still alive, given your tendencies to run straight into trouble at the first opportunity,¡± she dryly remarked, making Ash laugh awkwardly.

    ¡°I like to think of it as a little bit of both,¡± he replied with a small grin.

    She stared at him for a moment before giving up and turning forward again. ¡°I swear, if I have to spend my entire time here, babysitting this guy¡­¡± she muttered under her breath, Ash thankfully not hearing.

    Pikachu, on the other hand, did hear it, and stifled his laughs before shooting her a sympathetic glance that perfectly conveyed a sense of, ¡°trust me, I get it.¡±

    Bianca took a moment to bask in the knowledge of having an ally against the antics of Ash Ketchum before looking around the plaza. ¡°Well, what¡¯s the first item on your list?¡± She asked with a quick glance at the trainer.

    Ash looked thoughtful as he tapped a finger on his chin, pulling a list out of his pocket a moment later and musing, ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­. How about we get the camping stuff first, and then clothes?¡±

    She raised an eyebrow at that, wondering if he had thought things through. ¡°I should have clarified that I meant clothes. Do you really want to lug a bunch of gear into the clothing departments?¡± She questioned, mouth twitching in amusement as realization dawned on his face.

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± Ash said, before brightening up. ¡°Well, in that case, my first item will be shoes!¡±

    Bianca blinked before shrugging. Shoes wouldn¡¯t have been first on  her list, but if he needed new shoes, then who was she to argue?

    ¡°Alright, then let¡¯s find a shoe shop,¡± she replied amicably. ¡°Do you see any stores that fit the bill?¡±

    ¡°I  think I saw one on our way from the hotel¡­?¡± Ash trailed off uncertainly, making her pleased. If he was right, then all they had to do was retrace their steps.

    It was mildly annoying that they had to go back the way they came, especially given the high possibility of walking almost every step of this city, but at least it gave her the opportunity to look for any crafts stores. If she could find one of those, then her days of worrying about sketchbooks were over.

    Suddenly, she felt a mild crawling sensation on her neck, and she shivered at the feeling of being watched as she whipped around, looking for the perpetrator. At first, it seemed that no one around them was paying them any attention.

    That is, until her gaze caught a man with a cap in a similar style to Ash¡¯s pulled heavily over his head, barely twenty feet away. Even with the deep shadow, she could see his gaze locked onto Ash, a strange beard cut close to his dark skin, terminating before the chin. His eyes then flicked over to her, and realizing he¡¯d been caught, quickly turned away and vanished down an alley.

    Bianca scowled and turned back to catch up with Ash, pulling on his sleeve to get his attention.

    ¡°We¡¯re being followed,¡± she hissed as he glanced at her, seeing his eyes immediately light up in alarm.

    ¡°Followed? By who?¡± He inquired, making her shake her head in frustration.

    ¡°How am I supposed to know!? I just got here, same as you!¡± Bianca snapped, still feeling spooked. ¡°It¡¯s some guy with a baseball cap. He left once he saw me looking,¡± she added as Ash started to turn to look around.

    ¡°Hm, do you think he wants to battle?¡± He asked once he looked back towards her. She opened her mouth to give a scathing comment, only to close it again as she considered what he said. Was it possible that their mysterious stalker wanted a piece of the Alolan Champion?

    Biting her lip, she carefully replied, ¡°Maybe. But¡­we¡¯d best keep an eye out anyway.¡±

    Ash nodded, and the two swiftly continued on their way, now armed with the knowledge of being followed by a mystery man.

    ¡°Well, whatcha think?¡± Ash asked as he stepped out from behind the curtain, allowing Bianca to inspect his latest fit.

    She carefully looked him over, nodding slowly in approval. ¡°I like it,¡± she commented, reaching forward and straightening his hat. ¡°Very you, although also more green than I expected.¡±

    It was true; everything from his shoes to his cap had green in it. Each of his black shoes had what looked like a green ¡®L¡¯ shape atop them, green trimming in some spots of his blueish-gray cargo pants, a green horizontal stripe through a white t-shirt, and green trimming along the edges of his blue hoodie. The entire outfit came together with a red cap, decorated with a blocky black ¡°C¡±, a bit of green in the very center of it.

    She had no idea why he had requested the tailor change the trimming color, or why Ash felt the need to drag her along shopping for camping gear while they waited the several hours for the job to be done.

    Either way, it worked in her favor. At one point while Ash was ogling the cooking pots, Bianca spotted what she hoped to be an art store, and was rewarded for her faith upon stepping inside, taking a deep inhale at the various smells she missed. Clay, paint, and Pokemon hair brushes weren¡¯t everyone¡¯s cup of tea, but they were certainly hers, and she took full advantage of what the store offered.

    By the time she joined back up with Ash as he left the cookware shop, she had gathered a few spare brushes, a small sample of watercolor paints, two pocket-sized sketchbooks, and two hard tipped charcoal brushes that were supposedly made from pieces of a Pokemon.

    Overall, it killed what little funds she had left, but at the very least she could be sure she wouldn¡¯t be caught trying to dig through her pack upon seeing a worthy scene.

    I¡¯m going to have to see if Gramps minds sending over some money from my savings, she had thought as they made their way back to the tailor.

    In a stroke of small fortune, the job had been done by the time they arrived, and Ash wasted no time in trying to strip on the spot before the tailor could shout at him to get into the changing room, Bianca covering her eyes in embarrassment while Pikachu looked ready to shock his trainer.

    However, now that he was actually dressed, she could certainly appreciate the effort put into the outfit. It wasn¡¯t necessarily fancy, but it looked both good and durable, and Bianca almost wished she had saved her own shopping until this point, too. Although there was something that caught her attention.

    ¡°Is it just the one outfit? What happens when you need to change clothes?¡± Bianca asked curiously, although the tailor reassured her by holding up a bag of clothes.

    ¡°Not to worry, madam, we made him several more just for that purpose,¡± the tailor said, mildly confusing Bianca.

    ¡°We?¡± She began, only for a yellow and green plant-looking Pokemon to come waddling out from a side room, chirping ¡°Lea!¡± as it waved a leaf-like arm at her.

    Even as she opened her mouth to ask about the Pokemon, Ash was once more enthralled, crouching down and almost shouting, ¡°Wow, a Leavanny!¡±

    ¡°Indeed, young man. This guy right here is quite skilled at his job, and your clothes would have likely taken at least a day or more if it weren¡¯t for his talents,¡± the tailor explained as the Leavanny deeply bowed. ¡°Leavanny aren¡¯t native to Galar, so I assume you must be from another region? Unova, or Paldea, perhaps?¡±

    ¡°Nope, Kanto!¡± Ash cheerfully corrected before admitting, ¡°But I did travel through both those regions, and caught a Leavanny in Unova! He was a Sewaddle at the time, though.¡±

    ¡°Ah, quite getting some miles under your belts, I see. Well, I assure you that you¡¯ll see many more before those clothes start to wear off, I promise you that much,¡± the tailor warmly replied as she took off her glasses and carefully wiped them. ¡°I do wish you safe travels, you two.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡±

    ¡°Thank you very much, ma¡¯am.¡±

    The two of them gratefully responded as they left, Ash struggling to carry his things, much to the exasperation and amusement of Bianca.

    ¡°Here, at least let me take care of your clothes,¡± she offered, taking them from an overburdened Ash.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± He said again, and she nodded in reply as they meandered down the road. Bianca wasn¡¯t sure, but she could feel the prickling at the back of her neck again, although each time she looked around, there wasn¡¯t anyone suspicious in sight. Feeling a little uneasy, she merely concentrated on the road ahead. She wasn¡¯t quite sure what else was left; for Ash¡¯s benefit and her own, she hoped they got everything. Nonetheless, she had to ask.

    ¡°Well, what now?¡±

    But before he could respond, a loud and cocky female voice echoed out, ¡°Now you hand over that Pikachu, new Twerpette!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Was all she could muster as she wondered why the voice sounded like it was coming from up above, only for Ash to sag and whine pitifully, ¡°Oh, come on, aren¡¯t we done with this you guys?¡±

    Bianca looked around then up, catching sight of what looked like a Meowth hot air balloon as a male voice responded, ¡°You know the drill by now, Twerp.¡±

    ¡°And da drill is you give us your Pokemon!¡± A scratchy voice continued as the balloon slightly descended, allowing Bianca to see the inhabitants; a woman with violently long red hair, a man with short blue hair, a Wobbuffet, and a Meowth, which she supposed explained the balloon.

    As she stared in bewilderment, the woman posed in the balloon in a dramatic and mildly flirty manner, chanting, ¡°Our voices call out to those far and near.¡±

    The man joined in with the same gravitas manner, ¡°The trio¡¯s arrived to bring everyone fear!¡±

    ¡°Stealing your pals is what we¡¯re all about.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t do a thing, so don¡¯t bother to pout!¡±

    This is the stupidest thing I¡¯ve ever seen in my life, Bianca thought as the four individuals jumped down from the balloon, only to frown at the white uniforms and large red ¡®R¡¯s adorning their chests.

    Could they be¡­?

    The woman struck another pose as she exclaimed, ¡°A dazzling red gem, shining visibly to all¡­it¡¯s Jessie!¡±

    The man followed suit with his own introduction, ¡°The fiercest wave, standing taller than tall¡­it¡¯s James!¡±

    To her astonishment, the Meowth then joined in, actually  speaking in the common tongue, ¡°Two paws full o¡¯ razors, makin¡¯ anyone fall¡­me, Meowth!¡± The Meowth then unsheathed his claws to demonstrate his point, grinning as savagely as his compatriots as they continued their¡­whatever this was.

    ¡°Surrender to us now, and we promise not to bite,¡± Jessie trailed off, allowing James to step in.

    ¡°Or face our wrath and certainly lose¡­.¡±

    Meowth piped up again; ¡°For we¡¯re Team Rocket¡­¡±

    ¡°Here to win the fight!¡± They all finished together as they posed into an ¡®R¡¯ shape, the Wobbuffet saluting as he chimed in for the first time, ¡°Wobbuffet!¡±

    There were a variety of emotions making their way through Bianca¡¯s mind as quite literally everyone was staring at the bizarre sight before them, although she couldn¡¯t tell if anger at seeing actual members of Team Rocket, or confusion over their routine were the most prominent. The latter won out as she noticed Ash and Pikachu giving deadpan expressions to the strange troupe, reminding Bianca of what Ash said before the presumed criminals began their idiocy.

    ¡°Ash, do you know these clowns?¡± she asked as she jabbed a finger at them, clearly offending the group as they growled.

    ¡°Watch who you¡¯re calling ¡®clown¡¯, new Twerpette!¡± Jessie shouted indignantly.

    ¡°Yeah, whoever you are, you don¡¯t go around calling people names!¡± James agreed, as though his companion didn¡¯t just call her ¡°new Twerpette.¡±

    The Meowth also chimed in, gesturing threateningly at her, ¡°Our business is wit da Twerpette, so bugga off!¡±

    Bianca could only stare down at the hostile Pokemon, only gracing him with a confused, ¡°A talking Meowth¡­¡±

    ¡°Yea¡¯, got a problem wit dat?¡± The Meowth challenged.

    ¡°I have a problem with Team Rocket,¡± she replied shortly as she glared at them. ¡°Again, do you know these people, Ash?¡±

    The trainer nodded in defeat, looking more annoyed than she was as he replied, ¡°Unfortunately, yeah. They¡¯ve been following me since my early Kanto days, trying to steal Pikachu.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re kidding,¡± she snorted, feeling a strange flicker of familiarity at the statement, only to blink in bewilderment as Ash shook his head wearily.

    ¡°I wish. But they just won¡¯t leave me alone,¡± he responded in a defeated tone, making the Rocket agents scoff.

    ¡°You should know better than to assume we¡¯ll give up catching that Pikachu, Twerp!¡± Jessie said, before barking out, ¡°Wobbuffet, go!¡±

    The Wobbuffet in question called out his name and swiftly obeyed, jumping in front of the group and making as threatening a pose as a blue sack of flesh can make.

    ¡°Seriously? What about all these people? Aren¡¯t you worried about them?¡± Ash shouted indignantly, receiving an approving nod from Bianca at his compassion. She was glad he was mindful of the civilians, even with his battle hunger.

    Finally detecting danger, the people around them quickly backed off, although not very far as Bianca observed they were staring at the imminent battle with rapt attention.

    ¡°If they know what¡¯s good for them, they¡¯ll clear off!,¡± Jessie retorted, before ordering, ¡°Wobbuffet, Mirror Coat!¡±

    The Wobbuffet obeyed, gaining a rainbow aura just above its skin. Bianca had no idea what that was going to accomplish, up until Ash sighed in resignation, ¡°Pikachu, Thunderbolt.¡±

    It was probably the most lackluster order she had ever heard in her entire life, although Pikachu didn¡¯t hesitate to obey as he jumped from Ash¡¯s shoulder and shouted, ¡°Pikkaaa¡­.CHUUUU!!!¡±

    The mouse let loose a large bolt of electricity from his body, and it zoomed towards Wobbuffet, who strangely didn¡¯t move and tanked the shot.

    To her astonishment, Bianca saw that the attack had little effect, and was even more surprised to see that the shot then ricocheted off of Wobbuffet and made its way back to Pikachu with the same blinding speed.

    Ash looked completely unbothered by this as he quickly barked, ¡°Catch it and send it back!¡±

    What?

    Bianca watched in fascination as Pikachu started spinning as he fell back to the ground, sparking right before his own attack struck him, and then seemingly gathering all that energy into a ball at his tail before launching  that back at the Wobbuffet.

    She waited for that attack to bounce back as well, but when she tracked Pikachu¡¯s electric ball as it hit the blue Pokemon, she noted that the Wobbuffet had lost its rainbow aura, and thus was hit square in the chest. The attack then  detonated  as it made contact, blasting all of the Rocket agents into their own balloon, which then exploded in turn and sent them flying into the sky, their voices barely visible as they called out, ¡°Team Rocket¡¯s blasting off again!¡±

    There was a twinkle of light, and then they vanished, leaving the only trace of their presence a scorched and slightly damaged road, a lightly panting Pikachu, and a bored Ash.

    And an enthralled Bianca.

    She had seen him battle back at the museum, of course, when he and his friends saved Alto Mare. But  never had she seen such a strange counterattack- and one that beat all of them at once. Granted, Wobbuffet was the only active battler, but it was still impressive. Was this the kind of tactic he used in Alola?

    The crowd seemingly agreed, all starting to cheer and shout, crowding in around Ash and thanking him for beating back the would-be thieves, heavily embarrassing the trainer.

    It took almost five minutes for them to disperse, although she didn¡¯t begrudge him the moment. How could she? Thinking quickly, she dug out a sketchpad and pencil from her shopping bags and began rapidly drawing a rough scene of what she witnessed. It wasn¡¯t exactly a masterpiece when she ¡°finished¡± the sketch, but it would certainly do.

    As the two of them continued on their way, where they hopefully would not be bothered again, she quietly muttered, ¡°That was¡­really cool. I¡¯m not a battler, obviously, but even I know that was a strange thing you pulled off there. Where¡¯d you learn how to do that?¡±

    ¡°Hehe, well,¡± Ash laughed as he fixed his hat. ¡°From a lot of battling, mostly. Not so much early on, but¡­after my first few losses in the leagues, I had to learn how to think outside of the box more. We¡¯re not always the  strongest  team, so we have to make up for it with creativity.¡±

    Bianca slowly nodded, mulling over what he said. It certainly made sense to her. Artists had to pull similar moves to be noticed at times; when faced with a superior artist, one had to sometimes rely on unorthodox methods to stand out. In that regard, she could see the similarities between them.

    Still.

    ¡°Makes sense¡­but what about those guys? You never mentioned them before,¡± she said with some annoyance, before stopping. ¡°Wait, you did. Back then at the museum, you said something about Team Rocket members that always tried to steal Pikachu.  That was them?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that was them,¡± he confessed as he stopped as well, looking oddly fatigued at the thought. ¡°I had hoped that this would be the one region where I wouldn¡¯t see them, but I guess there¡¯s nowhere Pikachu and I can hide to get away from them.¡±

    Ash looked strangely unbothered by this as he continued back to the hotel, Bianca quickly catching up. ¡°You could have said something,¡± she pointed out, wondering why he failed to inform her, even if he had assumed he wouldn¡¯t have been followed.

    ¡°They only target people with Pokemon, and mostly people with strong Pokemon,¡± he wearily replied. ¡°And since they think Pikachu is the strongest, he is always their main target.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me that out of all the Champions¡¯ Pokemon, they go after an electric mouse that only just recently won a League?¡± She asked in disbelief, only to quickly add as Pikachu turned and raised an eyebrow at her, ¡°No offense.¡±

    The trainer threw his hands up in exasperation, although Bianca could tell it was aimed at her when he all but shouted, ¡°Tell me about it! Not that I want them to go after other people¡¯s Pokemon, but why  Pikachu  specifically?¡±

    She snorted softly as the hotel came into view, remarking as she thought of something, ¡°And what do they plan to do if they actually manage to capture him? It¡¯s not like he¡¯d obey their commands.¡±

    ¡°Pika-pi, kachu,¡± the mouse confirmed as he shook his head, while Ash shrugged. ¡°Who knows? But we¡¯ll be ready for them regardless, right, buddy?¡± He finished with a confident tone, with Pikachu responding in kind.

    ¡°Pi- ka!¡±

    ¡°Such a great bond you two have!¡± A loud voice echoed from an alley, making them jump away. As Bianca turned to squint through the darkness, a familiar figure emerged.

    Pointing a figure at him, she shouted, ¡°It¡¯s the stalker!¡±

    This barely got any attention, and the figure quickly shook his hands in front of him, hissing, ¡°Wait! I¡¯m not a stalker! I¡¯ve just been trying to follow this young man.¡±

    ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re a pedo,¡± Bianca shot back, making the man splutter.

    Anyone that had been looking their way didn¡¯t bother interfering, allowing the man to continue, for better or worse.

    ¡°No, no! By the hero, no. I just heard there was a new champion in the area, and I wanted to check it out for myself. And I wasn¡¯t disappointed!¡± He laughed jovially, at least not sounding hostile. ¡°That battle was brief, but extremely exhilarating! Do you mind if I accompany you to your hotel? I have some things I¡¯d like to talk to you about,¡± He offered, making Bianca raise an eyebrow.

    ¡°Are you asking to follow two young adults to their hotel room without even having the courtesy of telling us your name first?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, who are you, anyway?¡± Ash chimed in, with Pikachu lightly sparking his cheeks.

    Seeing as he likely wasn¡¯t going to be given any ground, the man acquiesced, lightly tipping his hat up and letting them alone see his face clearer. ¡°I ask that you keep quiet about this. I don¡¯t want any attention right now.¡±

    He took a step closer and offered his hand. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, Alolan Champion. My name is Leon, the current World Monarch.¡±

 Enlightening Chats and Flashy Gifts

    ¡°I must say, I¡¯m rather surprised to see our latest addition to the line-up of Champions here in Galar,¡± Leon began as they sat at the table, drumming his fingers on a glass of water with an intent look on his face.

    Bianca struggled to reply to that, not knowing how to respond to such a statement given that the individual who said it was the  World  Champion.

    Or was it World Monarch?

    Ash, as always, didn¡¯t seem to have such qualms, and was practically vibrating in his chair as he replied, ¡°And I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m meeting the strongest trainer  ever !¡±

    Even as she winced at the high-pitched squeal, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but think that was a bit of an understatement, given the awe-struck look Ash had been making towards the man the entire trip back to the hotel room.

    It was only at the man¡¯s swift request upon Ash nearly exploding with excitement that prevented the Alolan Champion from drawing the attention of the crowd, something the Monarch clearly wanted to avoid.

    In the room, however, there were no such problems, and Leon laughed jovially as he shook his head and waved him off, replying earnestly, ¡°Only strongest for now! You never know who might come along and claim that title for himself¡­or themselves.¡±

    Bianca almost missed the intent look Leon shot towards Ash as he said that, before it cleared and he continued, ¡°In any case, this is still my home region.  You, however, are quite far from Alola. You didn¡¯t get deposed that quickly, did you?¡±

    Despite the joking tone, Ash still looked thoughtful and concerned at the table as he murmured, ¡°Man, I didn¡¯t think about that. I hope not.¡±

    Leon quickly corrected himself, waving his hands as he chuckled, ¡°Sorry, that was meant as a joke. I definitely would have heard about something like that happening. And trust me, so would you.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Ash blinked at that, before adopting a pleased look. ¡°That makes sense. I¡¯d have liked to battle before losing championship status.¡±

    ¡°I understand completely.¡± The Monarch replied with that same intent look that was now thoroughly confusing Bianca. What was up with this apparent interest in Ash? Was it simply because he was a Champion? Or was there something more to it?

    ¡®Considering everything I know about him, probably the latter,¡¯  Bianca dryly thought, taking a sip from her own glass as to not betray her thoughts.  ¡®I can¡¯t help but wonder if he¡¯s heard all of what this guy has done¡­wait, I can ask him.¡¯

    Seeing a pause in the conversation, she cleared her throat and delicately questioned, ¡°So were you following us around because you were interested in finding out why Ash was here or something? What was up with that?¡±

    Despite her mild tone, Leon still ducked his head in embarrassment. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sorry about that,¡± he began as he too started fidgeting. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to alarm you, but you would not believe how hard it is to watch someone without being seen by everyone.¡±

    There was a beat of silence as Bianca stared at him, the man clearly not recognizing how potentially creepy that sounded. Instead, he sat there and took a drink from his glass, looking impressively oblivious to his wording.

    Sighing, Bianca decided to let it go for now, and asked wearily, ¡°But how did you find us? Actually, how did you know we, or rather Ash, was in the region at all?¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy,¡± Leon replied as he sat up straight. ¡°When you stepped off that plane, two things happened,¡± he stated matter-of-factly as he raised his arm, forming a loose fist. ¡°First, the hotel ran a background check as soon as you made that reservation to make sure they weren¡¯t allowing any thieves or violent criminals in with so many wealthy individuals,¡± he said as he raised a finger, to which Bianca nodded thoughtfully. ¡°The ones who run these background checks also happen to work closely with me and my other League fellows in the case where we might have to intervene with force.¡±

    Bianca grimaced at that, not liking the image of top-class trainers busting down their door with their equally top-class Pokemon storming in with them. As ridiculous as it was, she mentally thanked her grandfather for not raising her to be a criminal.

    She waved those thoughts off as Leon raised another finger. ¡°And second, the fine people who work with Leagues across the world notified us when they failed to catch you in Alola, and then Kanto, and then Johto.¡±

    Bianca almost snorted at Ash¡¯s surprised ¡°O¡± face, looking dumbfounded.

    ¡°...Oh,¡± he finally managed, before asking with a concerned voice, ¡°I¡¯m not in trouble, am I?¡±

    ¡°Certainly not,¡± Leon immediately clarified, much to Ash¡¯s evident relief. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, they sounded pretty annoyed when we got the call-¡±

    Ash looked alarmed at that.

    ¡°-but you aren¡¯t in trouble. They just wanted to go over your League duties. However, it seems they overestimated how long you would be remaining in Alola,¡± Leon finished, Ash letting out a breath.

    Bianca nodded at this, although she was still confused. ¡°But how did they know he went to Johto at all? And why did they try Kanto? Didn¡¯t you skip going home?¡± She asked as she turned to Ash, who nodded thoughtfully.

    ¡°I did, yeah,¡± he confirmed, making Leon lean forward.

    ¡°All transportation services provide the League with any details regarding the travels of Elite four members, Champions, and other similarly important individuals within the league,¡± the man replied casually as though that wasn¡¯t a blatant breach of privacy. ¡°They noticed you taking a flight out of Alola and assumed you were going home. Imagine their surprise when they attempted to beat you to the airport, only to find out you didn¡¯t go to Kanto at all, but Johto. Serves them right,¡± he remarked with satisfaction, Bianca finding herself in agreement.

    ¡°Although that does bring me to my next question,¡± he continued as he tilted his head in a way that reminded Bianca of Ash. ¡°Why  did you go to Johto instead of Kanto? I would have figured you¡¯d be visiting home if anything,¡± he finished.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s because Bianca here and her grandpa wanted me to come back after I was done in Alola,¡± Ash answered happily, prompting her to pinch the bridge of her nose at his unfortunate choice of words, hoping the World Monarch wouldn¡¯t assume anything from it.

    By some stroke of luck, he didn¡¯t seem to think anything of all about Ash¡¯s phrasing, and grinned approvingly as he said, ¡°Ah, friends? Or siblings? You don¡¯t look much alike, but¡ª

    ¡±

    ¡°Friends,¡± Bianca confirmed with a nod, only to blink in surprise at how easily comfortable she was saying it. While Ash had been confident with his own assumption of their dynamic, it had felt more like acquaintanceship between them, with her only accepting the ¡°friend¡± title out of simplicity¡¯s sake.

    I suppose it was only a matter of time before I grew fond of the idiot,  she thought with a small twitch of her mouth.

    Meanwhile, Leon continued with his pleasant tone, ¡°So you picked up your friend and took off to Galar, huh? Been planning this for a while?¡±

    ¡°Uh, not quite,¡± Ash began as Pikachu jumped into his lap, idly scratching the mouse¡¯s ears. ¡°After the Manalo conference, I didn¡¯t really know what to do with myself. I love Alola; it¡¯s like my second home, with all my friends, and Professor Kukui and Professor Burnett, and my Pokemon¡­.But-¡±

    ¡°But you felt restless,¡± Leon interrupted with a knowing expression, and Ash rapidly nodded.

    ¡°Yeah, exactly! There was just nothing else for me to do. We took care of Necrozma, the Ultra Beasts¡­and then Lillie went off to find her dad with Ms Lusamine and Gladion¡­¡±

    Bianca raised her eyebrows as Ash trailed off, hardly surprised at this point that he managed to throw himself into trouble again. While he had told her and her family about the Ultra Beasts, this¡­Necrozma was new.

    After juggling the thoughts in her mind, Bianca decided to file it under ¡°classic Ash¡±, and leave the topic for another day.

    As for the other items he listed¡­.

    ¡°Lillie left Alola?¡± She questioned curiously, wondering what prompted the blonde¡¯s family to go looking for a missing loved one now of all times. ¡°Why did they wait until now?¡±

    Ash hesitated for a moment, before cautiously replying, ¡°Er, a family Pokemon seems to have found him¡­? Or at least, knows where he is.¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t fathom why anything about that would necessitate the need to be as stingy with information, but then again, it really wasn¡¯t any of her business. If Lillie¡¯s family had told Ash to keep something secret, then it wasn¡¯t for her to dig into. All she could do was hope that they found Lillie¡¯s dad.

    ¡°Well, good luck to them,¡± Bianca said as she shrugged, taking another drink before Leon¡¯s expression caught her attention.

    ¡°Lusamine? As in the Aether Foundation¡¯s president, Lusamine?¡± The Monarch asked intently as he leaned in again.

    Ash¡¯s cautious nature was thrown out the window as the trainer nodded happily, ¡°Yep! That¡¯s the one! She¡¯s super nice, and helped set up the League in Alola!¡±

    ¡°You know her?¡± Bianca asked the man curiously, wondering how far this woman¡¯s network reached.

    However, Leon merely shook his head, running a hand through his hair as he replied while letting out a breath, ¡°I don¡¯t  know  her, at least not on a personal level, but I certainly know  of her. We¡¯ve had to send more Pokemon than we can count to any of her facilities, after all.¡­¡±

    He trailed off as he carefully looked at Ash. ¡°You mentioned Ultra Beasts, right?¡± Ash gave a quick ¡°yup!¡±, and Leon nodded, explaining, ¡°Well, here in Galar, we have a problem of our own with a similar magnitude. Every once in a while, wild Pokemon fall victim to the Dynamax phenomenon, and if they aren¡¯t careful¡­well, whatever energy that causes them to Dynamax can be a little rough on their bodies, not to mention minds. In extreme cases, they can rampage, and Pokemon of that size do a  lot of damage.¡±

    Bianca grimaced at the thought. Ash had told her yesterday about how Galar had giant Pokemon, but imagining those same Pokemon running wild¡­.What on earth about that sounded exciting?

    As she shivered, Ash looked down in thought, nodding before asking, ¡°And the Aether Foundation?¡±

    Leon patiently continued, ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard about how they take care of Pokemon?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been to their super huge island! There were a ton of Pokemon!¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯m sure more than a fair share came from Galar,¡± Leon responded with a humorless chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll be coming across a few power spots during your travels here, so please make sure you¡¯re careful, and I mean that genuinely for multiple reasons.¡±

    As the three travelers looked at him questioningly, Leon elaborated, ¡°First, I don¡¯t want to see youngsters such as yourself being hurt or killed out there. We don¡¯t get a lot of deaths, but the few we get are few too many. Second, your parents would flay me and my fellows alive if they were to get word of you being crushed underfoot in our wild areas.¡±

    Bianca wasn¡¯t going to correct him about her parents, but she could agree that her grandfather would most definitely rain hell upon those responsible for any harm that she experienced, and the twins would clean up what was left of them.

    ¡°And third,¡± he continued, his next point making her start in surprise, ¡°is that the Alolan populace would react rather poorly if their Champion fell in our territory. To my knowledge, something like that has never happened in  any region, but given how beloved each Champion is to their home field, it would be safe to say that Alola would hold us responsible.¡±

    ¡°What about Kanto?¡± She asked curiously, making the man grimace.

    ¡°Ah, right. His actual home region. Well, Ash, you aren''t the champion there, but Kanto¡¯s government wouldn¡¯t be happy, either. You are still their citizen, after all.¡±

    ¡°Oh, man,¡± Ash remarked, leaning back in his chair and looking stunned, apparently only now realizing what kind of position he held in the world.

    However, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but frown as she bit her lip, before nervously asking, ¡°But¡­surely as trainers, people should be responsible for what happens to them while they¡¯re traveling?¡± She felt guilty for suggesting such a thing, but her shame was somewhat mitigated as both Ash and Leon nodded.

    ¡°True,¡± the Monarch agreed before continuing, ¡°but you must also consider that we cannot simply write off injuries or deaths as a result of pure incompetence on the trainer¡¯s part. At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of the League and government to make sure trainers become strong, not dead. Even if Ash purposely jumped under the foot of a Maxxed Dreadnaw, we would still be held liable for it to a certain degree.¡±

    Bianca grimaced at that; she did not envy those who had to deal with the fall out of stupidity of that magnitude. Then her eyes trailed over to Ash, and she vaguely wondered just what kind of stupidity he¡¯d be dragging them into.

    Was it wrong of her to doubt her coming here? Again?

    ¡°I see,¡± was all she said, relieved that the casualty count was at least low enough that she didn¡¯t need to be paranoid about being such a victim, although she felt sympathy for the ones that weren''t so fortunate.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± Leon continued as he smiled again, ¡°I¡¯m impressed, and happy, that you have an ally like President Lusamine. From what I understand, she is a fierce woman when she wants to be.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­.¡± Ash said, before they fell into an uncomfortable silence, although the Monarch didn¡¯t seem to notice as he casually nursed his glass of water.

    It probably would have gone on like that for some time before Bianca remembered her question. ¡°I apologize for bringing it up again, but why were you following Ash?¡±

    Leon pleasantlty replied, ¡°Like I said earlier; Champions tend to not stray past their regions.Whether they like their digs, or because they like to be the strongest trainer in their region, like Alder. So you can imagine my surprise when our newest champion wanders into the region unannounced!¡±

    Bianca nodded as she considered his point, and Leon pressed on, ¡°You may not know it, Ash, but a substantial amount of people tuned in to your performance in Alola, myself included. Your strategies were unorthodox, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°I get that a lot,¡± the younger trainer acknowledged with a rueful grin, making Bianca snort.

    ¡°I¡¯m not surprised, given how you handled Team Rocket back there,¡± she said, her words prompting Leon to nod in agreement,

    ¡°Precisely! I¡¯ll admit that I had some doubts when you ordered Pikachu to attack after that woman blatantly ordered her Wobbuffet to use Mirror Coat. I thought that win in Alola was a fluke until Pikachu sent the move right back to Wobbuffet like you were playing ping pong!¡±

    Leon¡¯s voice had escalated to the point of cheering by the end of his monologue to the ever increasing embarrassment of Ash, and amusement of Bianca.

    She could freely admit that the move was impressive; while the battle was short, it completely changed her views of how battles were performed. Up until then, she passed it off as trading hits until one Pokemon fainted. Seeing the top trainer nerd out about it was another story.

    ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯ve fought them before, and they don¡¯t learn all that much,¡± Ash sighed in exasperation, Pikachu following suit. ¡°They¡¯ve been after Pikachu ever since the start of my journey, and they still haven¡¯t learned their lesson, or changed tactics. We¡¯ve pretty much learned all of their tricks by now.¡±

    Despite hearing this, Leon didn¡¯t look any less impressed as he stated, ¡°Still, not many would think to use their own opponent¡¯s move against them, especially when the move was supposed to counter  your  move!¡±

    As Ash sat back with a bashful expression, Bianca instead leaned forward with a cocked head and asked, ¡°But you can¡¯t have known that they were going to attack, so¡­.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Leon admitted as she trailed off. ¡°Of course, I saw their balloon, and was curious why it was in the shape of a Kantonian Meowth instead of a Galarian one, but I freely confess that I didn¡¯t know they were planning on attacking you, or anyone for that matter. If I had, I would have had Charizard gently escort them away from our airspace, probably into a jail cell.¡±

    ¡°So close,¡± Ash sighed ruefully, Bianca nodding in agreement.

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose they¡¯re going to choose now to give up,¡± she muttered without much hope, Ash confirming her fears with a shake of his head.

    ¡°No way. They might leave us alone for a few days, or even a week if we¡¯re lucky-¡±

    Bianca very much doubted they¡¯d be ¡°lucky.¡±

    ¡°-but I guarantee you that they¡¯ll come back again. Probably with more Pokemon,¡± he added with an exhausted look, making her grimace.

    If there was one thing she could say, they seemed a lot less competent than Annie and Oakley. Granted, she couldn¡¯t say as much with Leon around, but she could still talk to Ash about it after he left.

    ¡°At least they seem easy to deal with,¡± Bianca reasoned, only to pause at the tired looks Ash and Pikachu were giving her.

    ¡°Just wait until they start using giant robots,¡± Ash muttered, making both Leon and Bianca raise their eyebrows.

    ¡°Giant robots¡­?¡± Leon shook his head in bewilderment. ¡°Sounds like they¡¯re going to be a handful. I¡¯ll notify the gym leaders to be on the lookout for them, although you may be on your own if they attack you on the road.¡±

    Ash shook his head and replied ruefully, ¡°That¡¯s probably when they¡¯ll attack the most. But Pikachu and I can handle it.¡±

    As Leon nodded, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but think of what Leon said. ¡°When you say ¡®on the road¡¯, what do you¡­I mean¡­¡± She tried asking, failing to find the words.

    Fortunately, the man seemed to understand what she was getting at, and helpfully supplied in a gentle tone, ¡°By that, I simply meant while he was touring our region¡­unless you¡¯re here for a different reason?¡± He finished quickly in a strange tone.

    ¡°Yup! I¡¯m here for the gym challenge!¡± Ash replied confidently, Pikachu jumping on the table and nodding in confirmation.

    Again, Bianca saw the quick look of eager satisfaction from the monarch before he cleared his expression, replying in a mild tone, ¡°Ah, going for another win, are we?¡±

    ¡°You bet!¡± Was Ash¡¯s response as he grinned, and Bianca couldn¡¯t help but feel as though he wasn¡¯t picking up the fact that Leon seemed  happy  to hear the reply.

    Still, he covered it well enough, nodding as he downed his glass in one go, before setting it down and remarking, ¡°Well, I suppose you¡¯ve heard by now that you¡¯re going to need an endorsement letter before you can participate in any of the League battles.¡±

    Bianca could have piped then and said he was capable of giving Ash such a letter, but the man¡¯s coy nature was giving her a strange impression to keep quiet.

    To her complete lack of surprise, Ash didn¡¯t seem to remember that fact, and once more began eagerly bouncing in his seat.

    ¡°Yup! I gotta impress the Gym people to get an endorsement,¡± the trainer said as he slapped his hands on the table. ¡°Then I can battle them!¡±

    ¡°And have you thought about which title you¡¯ll be fighting for?¡± Leon cryptically asked, catching them both off guard.

    ¡°Which title?¡± Bianca cocked her head, perplexed.

    Ash seemed similarly confused, blinking as he stared at the other trainer. ¡°Which title? There¡¯s more than one?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Leon smiled as he stared back. ¡°You can either go for Galarian Champion and get two regional titles under your belt. Or, you can come and claim the title of World Monarch. On top of fighting the gyms, you¡¯ll be challenged by other trainers to increase your rank before you can get into the main tournament. Some of these trainers will more than likely be some of your fellow Champions¡­.¡±

    Bianca, Ash, and Pikachu became still as he trailed off, considering his words before he grinned wildly.

    ¡°Either way, you¡¯ll be facing  me  at the end, as I claim the title of both Galar Champion and World Monarch.¡± He said, and Bianca did not miss the fact that he seemed confident Ash would achieve either one. She had no idea why he was intent on Ash, but as long as he didn¡¯t follow them around anymore, it was hardly her concern.

    After all, it wasn¡¯t  her that was going to be facing down the best trainers the region had to offer.

    Taking a glance at Ash, she was mildly surprised he wasn¡¯t jumping at the opportunity to become the World Monarch, and instead stared up at the ceiling in thought. Had she misjudged him?

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± he mused, before Leon chuckled.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to think about it right this instant. You have until the ceremony, which is¡­what, two weeks away? Then you can register for either competition,¡± The man assured them, making Ash visibly perk up.

    Bianca, on the other hand, cocked her head curiously as she asked, ¡°What if he decides to change his decision afterwards? Can he go from the big one down to the regional tournament thing?¡±

    ¡°Certainly,¡± Leon nodded with a smile. ¡°Or vice versa, should you decide to tangle with your fellow big leagues.¡±

    It was subtle, but she could tell which one the Monarch preferred Ash to participate in, although she still couldn¡¯t fathom why; surely the man wanted  less  competition against his title rather than  more?

    ¡°Then,¡± she continued as she tapped her fingers, ¡°what happens if he beats you at the Coronation series? Conversely, what happens if he only beats you in the regional competition? Are you keeping the other position?¡±

    Leon grinned approvingly at her and straightened up. ¡°You sure are a bright one. I sometimes wonder if my mom and pop wish their eldest was as smart as you seem to be.¡±

    Was he calling himself dumb? And then he mentioned ¡°eldest¡±-

    ¡°In any case, yes,¡± he continued as he looked towards Ash, ¡°If you beat me during the regionals, you¡¯ll claim my title as Galar Champion, leaving me with just World Monarch¡­unless, of course, someone else takes that title. If that is  you , however, then I¡¯ll be left as Galar Champion¡­again, unless someone else takes the title.¡±

    ¡°Woah,¡± Ash breathed out as he leaned back, clearly thinking hard. Bianca hoped it wasn¡¯t too strenuous on him, or Pikachu, who was again mimicking his trainer¡¯s expression and movement.

    One day, she would have to get a scientist to study the two of them.

    Bianca was about to ask another question when a loud growl echoed in the room. All eyes turned towards Ash as he laughed and rubbed his stomach, saying timidly, ¡°Oops, I forgot to eat¡­¡±

    As if to illustrate his point, the sound once more announced itself, now clearly emanating from his stomach.

    Staring in disbelief, Bianca snorted before shaking her head, muttering under her breath, ¡°Unbelievable. Built-in hunger alarm.¡±

    Leon chuckled as he stood up and stretched. ¡°Well, I suppose that¡¯s my cue to leave. I¡¯d love to stick around and talk some more, but I already promised the Chairman I¡¯d see him. Might as well get that over with¡­ I suppose I should leave you with my contact information, as well. Rotom?¡±

    A small rectangular shape flew out of his pocket and hovered in front of him of its own accord. Bianca furrowed her eyebrows at the sight, as well as the last part of his sentence.

    ¡°You said that¡¯s a  Rotom?¡± She asked, Leon nodding in affirmation.

    ¡°Indeed, I did! A Rotom phone, an idea concocted by a group of fine individuals in Paldea. They quite recently made their way over here.¡± Leon explained to the interest of Ash and Bianca. Was this the kind of mobile communication Nurse Joy was talking about?

    It being a Rotom was quite the fact to leave out. In essence, it was the same as the somewhat annoying Rotom Dex Ash had during his first visit to Alto Mare, except as a phone. She vaguely wondered what the Dex would think of it.

    ¡°Hey, Ash,¡± she said, glancing at the trainer. ¡°Did your Rotom Dex have any phone features?¡±

    The trainer shook his head in the negative, replying thoughtfully, ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so. Just a regular Rotom Dex.¡±

    Again, she wondered what Rotom Dex would think of such a description.

    ¡°A Rotom Dex, you say?¡± Leon asked with interest. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen one of those¡­ever, actually. You didn¡¯t happen to bring it with you?¡±

    His hopes were dashed as Ash again shook his head. ¡°Nope! Rotom wanted to stay behind in Alola and work for Lusamine, so I let him.¡±

    Bianca was grateful, as she didn¡¯t want to constantly hear the chattering the Dex was so fond of.

    On the other hand, Leon looked disappointed before shrugging. ¡°Oh, well. Do you at least have a phone?¡±

    Ash shook his head for the third time. ¡°¡®Fraid not, I never really needed one.¡±

    ¡°Same here,¡± Bianca said as she nodded. ¡°I never really strayed far from my house, and my city doesn¡¯t really sell mobile phones, funnily enough. We had to call from the Pokemon Center so I could let my family know I got here safely.¡±

    ¡°Hm, that¡¯s definitely an inconvenience if I¡¯ve ever heard one,¡± Leon mused as he crossed his arms. ¡°Crossing the Galar region without reliable communication will be risky¡­¡±

    He pursed his lips before continuing, ¡°Alright, well, we¡¯ll get that situated later-¡±

    The Rotom Phone zipped back to his pocket.

    ¡°-but in the meantime, I think Ash needs some lunch.¡± As if to illustrate his point, Ash¡¯s stomach immediately grumbled, prompting her to snort.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure we can have something sent up, probably,¡± Bianca reasoned, not wanting to step out of the room again. All of their walking that day was definitely taking a toll on her.

    Leon nodded as he started to make his way to the door. ¡°Oh, sure. You won¡¯t regret it, either, they make some delicious dishes, you wouldn¡¯t want to miss it¡ª

    wait, that reminds me,¡± he said suddenly as he turned back around. ¡°Do you know where the ceremony is, and where you¡¯ll be starting your journey, and all that jazz?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± Ash began, his uncertain tone drawing a raised eyebrow from Bianca before he responded, ¡°Well, I was planning on us making our way down from here, but now that you mention it, I have no idea where the ceremony is.¡±

    She snorted, somehow not surprised. ¡°Ash, I swear, one of us is going to be the death of the other. You seriously had no idea about the ceremony?¡±

    ¡°Er, no, I kinda figured this would be like the other regions¡­¡± He trailed off guiltily, earning a sympathetic look from Leon.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s no big deal¡­well, it kind of is. But we all make mistakes. You can hardly blame yourself for not knowing Galar would be any different,¡± the man replied. ¡°You were planning on heading out as soon as possible, right?¡±

    When the two of them nodded, he continued brightly, ¡°Then how about this? Get to the train station at about nine-thirty, and I¡¯ll get you started off on your journey. That sound good?¡±

    Bianca started in surprise at his offer; she had no idea how or what he planned to do, but to be so willing to help them after they just met¡­ Her eyes trailed to Ash as he eagerly nodded.

    ¡°Thank you so much! But I actually don¡¯t know where the train station is.¡±

    ¡°Well, in that case, I can escort you there. Why don¡¯t you meet me in front of this hotel before nine, instead?¡± Leon offered, furthering Bianca¡¯s confusion. What was this guy¡¯s deal?

    However, they needed the help, and Bianca wasn¡¯t her grandfather.

    ¡°Thank you, Leon,¡± she replied, the man nodding and smiling as Ash joined in.

    ¡°Yeah, thanks! Again!¡±

    ¡°Pika!¡±

    Leon lightly chuckled as he turned back towards the door and opened it, calling back, ¡°No problem, you guys. Enjoy whatever lunch you order. I recommend the Wooloo leg. See you tomorrow!¡±

    Bianca heaved a sigh as the door closed behind him, feeling somewhat relieved. It was mildly nerve-wracking, being in the same room as the World Monarch. Having a casual conversation with a celebrity wasn¡¯t something that she considered she¡¯d be doing, but then again, neither was traveling with one.

    Ash, of course, was over the moon, and turned towards her excitedly, ¡°Can you believe it, Bianca?! The strongest trainer in the  world was here, talking to us!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but smile as he gushed, hardly blaming him. While it wasn¡¯t quite as impactful for her, she could understand why an avid battler like Ash would be over the moon.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, it was really cool,¡± Bianca giggled with a nod. ¡°Now are you going to pick up the phone and order something to eat, or shall I?¡±

    That got his attention immediately, and quick as can be, he rushed over to the phone mounted on the wall and picked it up. Bianca was vaguely aware of someone on the opposite end before Ash quickly said into the mouthpiece, ¡°Hey, this is room, uh¡­¡±

    ¡°Nine-hundred and twenty-two,¡± Bianca helpfully supplied, earning a grateful nod from Ash before he turned back to the phone.

    ¡°Thanks! Yeah, room nine-hundred and twenty-two. We were hoping to order some lunch¡­.Oh, alright, no problem,¡± Ash said, his impatient foot-tapping saying otherwise. Then he perked up again and continued, ¡°Hello! Yes, I¡¯m ordering food¡­Up here, yes, please¡­hm, I dunno. Hey Bianca, what do you want to eat?¡±

    The trainer asked as he looked over at her again. She hesitated, as she had no idea what the place even served during lunch, until she remembered Leon¡¯s parting comment.

    ¡°Uh, Leon mentioned Wooloo leg? I guess I¡¯ll have that,¡± she answered uncertainly, fully aware of what that entailed.

    Ash didn¡¯t seem to pick up on her slight unease, and nodded again as he spoke up. ¡°Yeah, three plates of the Wooloo leg, please! Oh, and a bottle of ketchup, if you have it?¡±

    What?

    ¡°...Yes, I¡¯m sure¡­.I know. You can put it on my tab¡­.Oh man, forty-five minutes? Well, alright¡­Thank you, bye,¡± Ash sighed before hanging up the phone, turning to her with a somewhat glum expression. ¡°Food is coming, but it¡¯s like forty-five minutes off.¡±

    ¡°So I heard,¡± Bianca remarked. ¡°What¡¯s up with the three plates? There¡¯s two of us,¡± she pointed out, earning a glare from Pikachu.

    ¡°Pika¡­¡±

    She cringed, realizing how insensitive she must have sound. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pikachu, I didn¡¯t mean to exclude you,¡± she apologized. ¡°I just¡­didn¡¯t think you would want to eat fellow Pokemon.¡±

    ¡°Pi,¡± the mouse sniffed, crossing his arms. Ash laughed and scratched under his chin as he said, ¡°Pikachu will eat anything, but he also really likes ketchup.¡±

    That sounded exceptionally unhealthy, but given the electric Pokemon¡¯s physique, she figured he must burn off the calories as fast as he ingested it.

    ¡°Well, whatever the case, I¡¯ll leave you two to whatever it is you want to do,¡± Bianca said as she started making her way over to her room.

    Ash called after her curiously, ¡°What are you gonna do?¡±

    ¡°Draw,¡± Bianca simply replied as she stepped into the room. She walked over to the edge of her bed and sat, pulling her pack over to herself and rummaging around until she finally whipped out her tube of canvases and portable frame.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    As much as she¡¯d like to have brought proper frames for her paintings, the idea of carrying even one wasn¡¯t something she found appealing. It would be entirely unreasonable to constantly put a canvas on the frame, only to take it off, again and again. On top of being excessively annoying, it would also damage the canvas itself, given the amount of staples being put in and then ripped out.

    No, a simple board and stretchy bands would have to work.

    Taking out a clean canvas from the tube, Bianca centered it over her portable frame before carefully clipping the bands to the sides of the canvas. A brief minute of fiddling later, and the canvas was successfully stretched over the frame. Not as sturdy as she¡¯d like, but it¡¯d do.

    Next, she looked around and grabbed the mini sketchbook she discarded earlier and opened it to the first page, feeling a tinge of annoyance at the slight smudge near the center.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Bianca muttered as she grabbed her newly acquired supplies and brought everything to the nearby table, sitting down and placing it all on its surface.

    Once it was set up, she tapped her pencil against her wrist and stared at the canvas.

    And stared¡­

    ¡­And stared.

    Bianca didn¡¯t know how much time went by before she groaned and rubbed her free hand against her temple, now heavily annoyed. What on earth brought about this artist¡¯s block? She had the subject  right there  . Even if it  was smudged, the event that inspired it happened less than an hour ago.

    Why can I whip up a sketch of a scene, but not actually do a proper drawing of it?

    Sighing, Bianca glared at the canvas for a moment longer before forcing herself to start drawing. Every so often, her eyes would flick to the canvas to make sure things were at least vaguely similar, before occasionally closing them again to better visualize the battle. Then she¡¯d draw out a few more outlines before starting the process all over again.

    Time was once more forgotten as she focused on her drawing, the scene becoming more and more detailed with every passing stroke of the pencil, until a knock at the door frame brought her attention to the form of Ash leaning into her room.

    ¡°Yes?¡± She asked somewhat impatiently, not wanting to stop after gaining her momentum.

    ¡°Er, lunch arrived,¡± he replied, making her start in surprise. Has it really been that long?

    A sudden pang in her stomach made her more aware of her growing hunger, and she huffed as she slowly stood and stretched.

    ¡°Thanks for telling me,¡± Bianca murmured with a yawn. He nodded and disappeared, leaving her alone in the room once more. She took one more look at the drawing, feeling a small smile pull at her lips as she studied it. While it wasn¡¯t a masterpiece, it definitely had more energy and motion to it than any piece she¡¯s completed in the past few months.

    ¡°I guess this journey really is starting to help out,¡± she muttered as she quickly made her way over to the bathroom and washed her hands.

    Wandering back into the living area, Bianca became extremely aware of the delicious smell permeating the room. Was that what Pokemon smelled like when they were cooked? If so, she should have at least tried it once, even if it meant going through the lengths of preventing the Garden Pokemon from smelling it on her.

    As she approached the table, she could see the food laid out in front of two chairs, two of the plates being side by side.

    ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be able to eat all that?¡± Bianca asked dubiously as she appraised the amount of food. The hotel sure wasn¡¯t being stingy, as she wasn¡¯t even sure she could eat everything on her plate. Looking at all the food Ash ordered¡­

    ¡°Yeah, no problem!¡± He grinned as he took his place, Pikachu jumping up on the table beside him as he began cutting up portions for the mouse to eat.

    Shrugging, Bianca took her place beside him and grasped the silverware. She stared down at the plate, finally taking the time to really look at what she was about to eat.

    Six or seven thick slices of mea twere laid neatly on one side of the plate, each with a little pink in the center. Next to them was a small mound of strange, semi-transparent green goo that jiggled as she poked at it with a fork. She had never seen anything like it, but it didn¡¯t exactly look like a dessert item.

    Sat beside the strange jelly were sliced vegetables, and if she had to guess, she¡¯d say they were a mixture of different squashes.

    Glancing over to Ash, she could see he was happily munching on the vegetables, surprisingly leaving the meat alone. Pikachu, on the other hand, was grabbing the occasional slice from one of the plates and nibbling on it.

    The sight of a Pokemon eating another Pokemon disturbed her to the point of turning back to her own, and she cautiously took a tiny amount of the green jelly on the tip of her fork and brought it into her mouth. She blinked in surprise as she tasted mint. Why did they give her mint jelly?

    Then her eyes traveled over to the meat. Was the jelly meant for that? Cutting a small bite from a slice, Bianca carefully stabbed the morsel and dipped it into the jelly, before nervously biting down and chewing.

    In an instant, she was melting, letting out an embarrassing moan as the flavors permeated her mouth. This was better than anything she¡¯s ever had before by a longshot, and it was over faster than she liked as she swallowed, eyeing the rest hungrily. Where had this been all of her life?

    In the Garden, running around with all of their pals, her inner conscience dryly remarked, making her feel a momentary twinge of guilt before she shoved it aside. She was going to enjoy this, dammit, and she was going to enjoy all of it.

    She quickly cut another bit out for herself, and then another, and then another. It was almost literally too good, and part of her was upset they¡¯d be leaving in the morning. Sadly, sitting around day after day and stuffing herself with top-notch meals wasn¡¯t going to do anything for her artistic skills.

    Bianca took another glance towards Ash and Pikachu, seeing them inhale their food as quickly as she ate hers. The trainer had chosen to eat his vegetables first for some reason, making her wonder if he was simply getting them out of the way, or if they just tasted better than the meat.

    If they taste better than this Wooloo¡­

    Quickly stabbing a few of the vegetables, she brought them up to her mouth and chewed on them experimentally, slowly nodding in appreciation. While it didn¡¯t taste  better  than the meat, the flavor was certainly there, along with the preservation of the textures. She could vaguely taste the eggplant and cucumber as she chewed and swallowed, stabbing a few more onto her fork.

    It wasn¡¯t a combination she¡¯s ever thought about trying, but it certainly was one she was willing to try in the future.

    Back and forth, she ate between the Wooloo and squash, trying out different combinations until, before she knew it, everything had been consumed. Not even a sliver of food remained, although given the fact that she was beyond full, she couldn¡¯t muster up more than a moment of disappointment.

    ¡°Uhh¡­¡± Bianca groaned as she placed the silverware on the plate, leaning back. She doubted she would be eating dinner tonight given the enormous amount she just ate.

    As she massaged her stomach, Ash also sat back, both of his plates also cleared as he huffed, ¡°Oh man, I¡¯m stuffed!¡±

    ¡°Pi-a¡­¡±

    She didn¡¯t doubt that for a second, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel incredibly impressed with the accomplishment, despite having some help from Pikachu.

    ¡°I¡¯m not really surprised,¡± she remarked as she straightened up and slowly gathered the plates in front of her and stacked them.

    Ash looked at her with a confused expression, cocking his head as he asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Taking these to the kitchen and washing them,¡± Bianca said as she got up with a grunt, carrying their dishes to the sink, Ash following a moment later. She gave him a weird look as he began helping her clean the dishes, Pikachu jumping up on the counter and copying his trainer.

    Bianca paused for a moment, not expecting his assistance. She had taken his plates without asking to at least help this one time as a thanks for everything he¡¯s done so far, but if he was willing to pitch in regardless, then who was she to say no?

    With their help, it took less than a minute, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder what to do with them. Did they just wait, or¡­

    ¡°Uh, what next?¡± She eventually asked, pursing her lips as she looked at the spotless plates and silverware. ¡°Is room service going to come back or something?¡±

    ¡°Yup! Said they would be back in an hour,¡± Ash replied cheerfully as he grabbed them up and carried them over to the table, setting them down with a low  thunk .

    Bianca was mildly relieved to hear it, nodding as she glanced towards her room. ¡°I see¡­well, thank you for having it sent up. I was hungrier than I thought.¡±

    Despite the emphasis of her gratitude, Ash simply waved her off with a grin. ¡°Hey, I was pretty hungry, too! I haven''t eaten since your house!¡±

    ¡°We probably should have had a snack or something,¡± she agreed as she thought about all the time they spent moving.

    First a boat ride, then a (surprisingly wreck-free) car ride, then a plane, and then a walk to the hotel. She really should have requested breakfast be sent up then, but she insisted on sleeping, before waking up and spending the next few hours calling home, shopping, and ending with a would-be abduction and a stalking World Monarch.

    ¡°Still,¡± she said as she began making her way to her bedroom. ¡°I¡¯m not the one who can request food be brought up, that¡¯s all you. Now if you¡¯ll excuse me, my art isn¡¯t going to draw itself.¡±

    ¡°Alright, have fun!¡± Ash cheerfully said before turning to his own room. As she closed the door behind her, she could vaguely hear him say, ¡°Let¡¯s see if that exhibition match was recorded!¡±

    Of course,  she huffed in an almost fond manner, amused to see his mind instantly pivot towards battling. Granted, she wasn¡¯t much better with her own hobbies, although she was limited to her art for¡­quite some time.

    No online activity for a long while,  she internally sighed as she made her way back to her drawing and staring at it. It looked¡­good, if she allowed herself to say so. It felt a touch incomplete, but maybe with the right touches¡­.

    Grabbing her pack, she rummaged around until she found the appropriate tools and set them next to her drawing before leaving the room and fetching a couple glasses of water, placing one cup next to her other tools, and the other off to the side for her to drink.

    Time flew by as she worked, only being interrupted by the occasional bathroom break and Ash once more knocking on her door frame to ask if she wanted dinner. Bianca declined, far too focused on the piece in front of her.

    When she finally had enough, she set her brush down, and leaned back to appraise her progress. While working with watercolor could get tricky, especially with smaller details, she somewhat enjoyed how this piece turned out. The basic colors she remembered from the scene were fleshed out with her own personal touches, making some of the buildings appear richer in color than their real life counterparts.

    Even the participants of the battle were not safe from ¡°enhancements¡±, every color present on their bodies popping. Of course, she couldn¡¯t do much about Ash¡¯s hair, but she could at least make it look somewhat shiny and well-kept, and not the unbrushed mop it usually was.

    The criminals were perhaps treated less flatteringly, and Bianca stifled a snort at the exaggerated expressions she gave them as the Wobbuffet was blasted into them.

    She pursed her lips, as she stared at the nearly finished product, feeling some sense of dissatisfaction. While it was definitely an improvement over her last projects, there was still something¡­missing. Slightly glaring at the piece, Bianca leaned her head back and gazed upwards at the ceiling.

    Why did I start the coloring process if I wasn¡¯t completely sure I was happy with it?

    Unfortunately, she could answer that easily enough. It was the same answer she had whenever she finished any of her other paintings: she wanted to get it out of the way.

    Granted, the passion she had been missing was at least somewhat present, but¡­not to the capacity it was before. The last piece she had made that had any sense of excitement was¡­the drawing she made for Ash, all those months ago.

    She huffed at the thought, casting a glance at the drawing before looking towards the door, thinking.

    Of all her projects over the past year, the ones centered around Ash were the ones she liked the most. But why?

    She got up with a soft grunt, grabbing her empty drinking glass and making her way to the living room, somewhat surprised to see how dark it was. How long had she been painting?

    Hardly mattered. She was only focused on her ¡°problem.¡±

    The most exciting times in recent memory both involved the raven-haired trainer. First in Alto Mare, saving her and her family, and then here in Galar, battling the would-be thieves in a decisive manner that impressed even the World Monarch.

    So I suppose my Latios¡¯ hypothesis was correct; I¡¯d find my motivation if I went out and experienced life,  Bianca mused as she filled her cup and began drinking.  Then again, I can¡¯t help but wonder how he¡¯d feel if he found out that the cause of that motivation was caused by the presence of criminals.

    She downed the glass and wiped the remaining water droplets from her lips as she chuckled. The dragon would likely be highly annoyed with himself. Latias, of course, would be afraid for her, but would undoubtedly end up trying underhanded tactics to fool her into thinking she was in danger¡­although maybe that was too far, even for her friend.

    ¡°Big ¡®maybe¡¯¡± , she snorted quietly as she set the glass in the sink and made her way back to her room, sparing a glance at Ash¡¯s closed door as she passed by. Whatever the twins felt, she knew they¡¯d be happy to find out he¡¯s so far kept his promise about keeping her safe.

    Granted, it was more along the lines of protecting himself and Pikachu from thieves, but he still made sure she was out of the way.

    Not to mention, he confirmed that the criminals would undoubtedly chase them across the region.

    ¡°That¡¯s a problem for tomorrow, Bianca,¡± she muttered to herself as she closed the door behind her, fingers reaching for the lock before pausing. Was it necessary? Ash was likely sound asleep, and would be asleep until Pikachu electrocuted him awake. So it wasn¡¯t like he¡¯d wake up before her, nor was it likely he¡¯d come snooping into her room.

    Of course, that was assuming he wasn¡¯t a sleepwalker. Bianca didn¡¯t know if someone sleepwalking could open doors, but she wasn¡¯t willing to find out.

    Lock.

    Then again, Ash never mentioned if he was a sleepwalker. Even his classmates hadn¡¯t mentioned anything while they were visiting Alto Mare, and they seemed to enjoy teasing the trainer. There was no chance of him stumbling into her room accidentally.

    Unlock.

    But then, they never mentioned a lot of the adventures they were on, either¡­so he could still do that.

    Lock.

    Would Pikachu allow it, however? If his Pokemon slept with him, she was sure they¡¯d notice him getting up and do something about it. Not to mention Pikachu probably wouldn¡¯t let him wander away.

    Unlock.

    What if he had to get water like she did, though? Coming back to his room, he¡¯d-

    This is stupid,  Bianca thought as she stared at the door handle, now fully aware she¡¯d spent the entire time locking and unlocking her door.  Being afraid of Ash entering my room while I¡¯m sleeping is like worrying if Latios and Latias are just going to ditch Alto Mare.

    Alto Mare¡­

    She turned away from the handle and stood at the edge of the bed, taking a look at the bedside clock and grimacing, seeing the time read 10:23 pm. It was already late, and she would probably have to wake up a little early to get ready and eat breakfast in order to be on time. There was going to be no opportunity to go down to the Pokemon Center and call home, even assuming they¡¯d be available to talk.

    Mentally, she cursed the hotel for not providing a proper phone.

    ¡°Five star hotel, and they can¡¯t even put in a landline,¡± Bianca muttered. A part of her was tempted to quietly leave the room and head towards the Pokemon Center, sleep be damned. However, Bianca knew that would be foolish, and her grandfather and flying friends would agree. No doubt they¡¯d be glad to see her, but she had to be sensible. For all she knew, Team Rocket could still be in the city, despite their physics-defying exit.

    No, the smart thing was to stay in the hotel and sleep, and maybe she¡¯d come across a Pokemon Center at their destination. Maybe she¡¯d even get to see some of the region on the way.

    ¡°And some of those giant berserking Pokemon, yippee,¡± Bianca muttered sarcastically as she began changing into her pajamas.

    If she had known that people had died in the wild area thanks to the giants, would she have changed her mind about tagging along? Or would she have at least tried to get Ash to take them to a different region?

    ¡°Although I¡¯m not sure how many other regions there are for him to explore,¡± she mused out loud as she moved to toss her clothes to the side, only to stop. Was she going to wear her normal clothes tomorrow, or was she going to wear some of her new ones?

    Bianca thought about it for a moment before shrugging, folding her clothes, and putting them off to the side.  I don¡¯t think I¡¯m quite through with my usual outfit. I can change some other time, she reasoned as she yawned, grabbing her pack and moving it off of the bed.

    The tired girl laid down, head resting on her pillows as her eyelids finally dropped, allowing her to fall into a dreamless sleep.

    ¡°We¡¯re on time, aren¡¯t we?¡± Bianca asked the trainer next to her as they stood outside the hotel, waiting for Leon.

    ¡°Er, I think we might be a little early,¡± was Ash¡¯s reply as he looked around the front of the building for their temporary guide.

    She grunted at this, slightly shivering as she cursed her decision to wait to change into warmer clothes. How was it possible she was chilled now, with the sun creeping higher into the sky, when she was perfectly fine yesterday when they got off the plane? Was she just unlucky today, or was she too tired yesterday to notice?

    Ash or Pikachu hadn¡¯t been bothered, she thought with a frown. Then again, both of them had traveled to quite a few regions already, and were likely used to being chilly. Pikachu¡¯s fur probably did wonders for the mouse.

    Beginning to grow bored, Bianca adjusted the straps over her shoulders, testing the weight of her pack. When Bianca and Ash had woken up that morning, they immediately began packing their things, although not without Ash moving a little stiffly from his electric wakeup call. Nonetheless, they pulled through and helped Bianca divide their loads accordingly.

    Naturally, that didn¡¯t stop her from giggling at his hair.

    Once they were satisfied, the two ate a quick breakfast, made sure they had left the room as close to spotless as they could manage, and checked out of the hotel room. Fortunately, the receptionist was different than yesterday¡ª

    a kind man that probably wasn¡¯t too much older than they were. It came as no surprise to Bianca that he, too, recognized Ash, and it also didn¡¯t surprise her that it took several minutes before she was able to pry the trainer away and outside of the hotel.

    As guilty as she felt pulling Ash away from deserved fanfare, she would have felt worse if they kept Leon waiting, given his generosity thus far.

    Even if she wished he would hurry up.

    Just then, Ash tensed beside her, and she turned to see him staring at a spot several yards away. At first, it appeared to be perfectly normal ground, until a large blackish-purple circle formed, maybe six or seven feet in diameter.

    As they watched, a form emerged from the circle; a very strange and ghost-like Pokemon with an extremely triangular head. Hanging onto this bizarre Pokemon was¡­Leon? The man was carrying a duffel bag and dressed in a manner he probably assumed to be inconspicuous, although given his entrance and ninja-like attire, he looked more like the world¡¯s worst robber.

    Surprisingly, less people than what Bianca would expect gave the man and Pokemon more than a simple passing glance. The ones that stopped to look were more focused on the Pokemon than Leon himself, including Ash.

    ¡°Woah, what¡¯s that?!¡±

    Unfortunately, Ash¡¯s question would go unanswered for the time being as Leon leaned in and said something to the ghost-thing, before pulling out a Pokeball and recalling it. Once the Pokemon disappeared from view, anyone paying attention grew a disappointed look before moving on.

    Bianca had to stifle a snort as the man spotted them and stepped over to them, whispering in a distinctly non-quiet manner, ¡°Psst, Ash, Bianca, Pikachu! It¡¯s me, Leon!¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank goodness you clarified. I thought you were a complete stranger at first,¡± Bianca dryly remarked, twitching her eyes in exasperation when he chuckled.

    ¡°I knew my disguise would work,¡± he said, clearly not understanding her sarcasm. ¡°I was going to use the one from yesterday, but Hop always said to never use the same disguise twice if you want to remain conspicuous.¡±

    Bianca stared at him flatly, her gaze trailing up the hat he wore while Ash grinned from the side, Pikachu face-palming. ¡°Well,¡± she said slowly as she did her best to drive the irony out of her voice, ¡°you definitely took his words to heart.¡±

    As Leon grinned proudly, Ash leaned in and asked curiously, ¡°What Pokemon was that? It was so cool!¡±

    ¡°Ah, Dragapault,¡± the man said as he looked even prouder. ¡°She¡¯s a strong one, a dragon and ghost type.¡±

    Well, guess I wasn¡¯t too far off with the ¡®ghost¡¯ bit, Bianca thought, vaguely wondering if Latias or Latios could take the Pokemon in a fight.

    ¡°A dragon and ghost type?¡± Ash repeated as he looked at the man with a grin. ¡°That sounds awesome! I really wanna battle her one day!¡±

    Leon smiled and nodded approvingly. ¡°Well, Ash, go through your challenges and make your way through either tournament, and you¡¯ll get to do just that. Now,¡± the man said, clapping his hands together, nearly dropping the bag. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the station before we somehow miss the train.¡±

    He was confident in his words, although he wasn¡¯t exactly inspiring the same within Bianca, given that he was looking around as though lost. Didn¡¯t this man know the city?

    ¡°Er, which way?¡± Bianca helpfully asked, hoping that maybe she was overreacting. She had no such luck as the man simply shrugged.

    ¡°You know, I have no idea!¡± He announced cheerfully, his attitude making her wonder if he was something of a madman. Didn¡¯t he say yesterday it was literally just a block away from the hotel? And why was he reminding her more and more of Ash?

    Suddenly, Leon brightened up and said, ¡°Ah, right. Rotom, could you guide us to Wyndon¡¯s train station, please?¡±

    With a  bzzt,  the phone obeyed, whipping out of his pocket and began slowly floating away, only increasing its speed once Leon began pursuing it. Glancing at Ash, Bianca raised her eyebrows before shrugging and following the man, Ash falling in step a moment later.

    It was a relatively short walk that was made heavily embarrassing, given the state of dress the man in front of Bianca was in. He kept the brim of his hat down low to avoid unwanted attention, although she felt he would probably attract less looks if he shed his ¡°disguise¡± and announced his identity to the city.

    Bianca genuinely wished Latias was there to see it; the dragoness was very fond of disguising herself, and even fonder of making fun of poor disguises. In all honesty, she could probably come up with a better disguise for the man on the spot, or even simply draw the crowd away by actually  looking like Leon.

    Things only improved once they arrived at the station and purchased their tickets, first class on top of it, at the expense and insistence of Leon. His constant generosity was a surprise to her, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much money he had if he could spend money on strangers like this without batting an eye.

    Great, now I feel bad for making fun of his disguise,  Bianca thought uncomfortably.  Guess that¡¯s what I get for judging.

    Her guilt was made worse once she actually saw their train¡ª

    an incredibly sleek-looking one that bore close resemblance to the bullet trains she¡¯s seen a couple times online, capable of crossing vast distances in the blink of an eye. Even the slower models could cross the entire regions of Johto and Kanto in less than three hours.

    What was even more surprising was when they boarded the train and saw how roomy the interior was¡ª

    two rows of compartments, one on either side of the central aisle, and both having enough room to fit six people comfortably. Probably not the slimmest train in the world, but certainly one of the most comfortable.

    Once they found their compartment, she quickly excused herself as she made her way to the train¡¯s nearest bathroom, bringing her pack along with her. If she was going to change, now was the time.

    The bathroom wasn¡¯t anything extravagant, but it had more than enough room for her to change. She was certainly grateful for that, and she wasted no time in pulling out her waterproof bag of clothes from her pack and carefully choosing the appropriate outfit.

    Once she was satisfied with her choice, Bianca placed the items on top of the pack, and spared one more glance at herself in the mirror before stripping down to her underwear, carefully folding each article of clothing and tucking them inside the bag.

    She then took the black leggings from the pile and slipped them up her legs, frowning in annoyance as she momentarily struggled to get them above her rear before she finally succeeded.

    ¡°Should have gotten a size bigger,¡± Bianca muttered as she adjusted the top seam. She had worn leggings before, of course, but that was some years ago, and it seemed she had forgotten the differences between then and now.

    She briefly debated wearing the pants she had purchased instead, but waved it off, electing to wear them once they were in a colder environment. It wasn¡¯t as though she was going to be around anyone who would care.

    I could probably wear a mini skirt and tube top, and Ash probably wouldn¡¯t even bat an eye  , Bianca thought with a snort, pulling a white long-sleeve shirt over her head, and tucking it into her leggings.  Given what Misty was wearing when we met, I doubt anything I wore would attract his attention.

    A mirthful smirk played at the corners of her mouth as she snatched the corded light green sweater and let it slip over her, the bottom edge hanging midway up her buttocks. Pursing her lips, she scrutinized herself in the mirror, unable to decide if she should have had the tailor adjust it or not.

    It would have to be a problem for later anyway; worrying about its length wasn¡¯t going to change it. She snagged her beret off the counter and placed it back upon her head, adjusting it until she was satisfied.

    Bianca wasn¡¯t going to win any awards for her outfit, but she wasn¡¯t going to be looking for one anyway.

    ¡°She looks even more unfashionable than Latias!¡±

    Slightly flinching at the memory, she packed away any remaining articles of clothing and left the bathroom, making her way back to the compartment as she did her best to escape the mocking echo¡­

    By the time she rejoined Ash and Leon, the two were in a deep conversation about a battle, the older man gesturing wildly with his hands as Ash and Pikachu paid rapt attention.

    ¡°-and right when Raihan thought he had us on the ropes, Charizard felled his Duraludon with a powerful tail sweep, toppling the mighty titan before Charizard finished him off with his Flamethrower. And that¡¯s how we managed to keep our status as unbeatable,¡± the man finished with a smile.

    ¡°Woah,¡± Ash breathed out, staring at Leon with stars in his eyes, not seeing Bianca as she stood next to him. ¡°That¡¯s so cool! Awesome! Now I  really want to battle you!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get your chance,¡± Leon promised cryptically, before nodding towards Bianca. ¡°Now I think you have a friend that would like to sit down.

    ¡°Wha-? Oh, sorry,¡± Ash said as he began scooching over, starting in surprise as he glanced at her. ¡°Hey, you changed clothes!¡±

    Bianca snorted as he sat next to him, lightly pulling at the ends of her sleeves. ¡°How perceptive. But yes, I changed.¡±

    Leon grinned in understanding. ¡°A little cold this morning, yeah? I don¡¯t blame you for changing, and you chose well. You¡¯ll have to get warmer clothes as you make your way up north again, but that will certainly be warm enough in the lower regions. Well, not including the Crown Tundra, of course.¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, thank you,¡± Bianca replied, giving the man a small nod. ¡°It  was  a little chilly this morning, but it wasn¡¯t too bad. It mostly caught me off guard.¡±

    ¡°Well, be careful about that,¡± he warned, glancing between them. ¡°I¡¯m sure Ash knows this, but regions are rarely a place you don¡¯t want to be on guard. Pokemon aren¡¯t the only wild elements to keep an eye out for. The weather is¡­rather like karma, and if you know anything about karma¡­.¡±

    Bianca snorted at that, only for Ash to exacerbate her amusement by looking at Leon confused as he asked, ¡°What about karma?¡±

    The man lightly sweated, perhaps realizing he made a small error. ¡°Er, it¡¯s¡­tricky.¡±

    The poor recovery had her covering her mouth with a hand and looking away, stifling a laugh. She almost wished she could help the man, except she had nothing. He was on his own.

    ¡°A-anyway,¡± he said quickly, clearly wanting to put it behind them. ¡°I think you¡¯ll like my hometown. It¡¯s a fantastic little area, although that might just be my bias talking. And-¡±

    ¡°Will there be a Pokemon Center there?¡± Bianca interrupted before quickly apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to interrupt, it¡¯s just¡­¡±

    As she trailed off, Leon waved it off as he said, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not bothered. Although I am curious; I don¡¯t recall you mentioning you had a Pokemon, much less one that needs healing. Do you-¡±

    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Bianca swiftly denied. ¡°No, I don¡¯t have a Pokemon. I just wanted to see if they had a call center, is all.¡±

    ¡°Ah, you want to call home again?¡± The man guessed, Bianca nodding in confirmation. ¡°Well,  Wedgehurst  has a Pokemon Center, but it doesn¡¯t have anything like what you¡¯re asking about, I¡¯m afraid,¡± he said, making Bianca sigh in disappointment.

    Suddenly, he chuckled, making her look up as he continued, ¡°Luckily, you won¡¯t need it. I was going to wait, but if-¡±

    ¡°The train will be departing soon. Please ensure you find your seats and keep your children, Pokemon, and belongings inside your compartments.¡± the overhead voice announced.

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Leon began again, making Bianca slightly jump as she turned back to him. ¡°I have something for the two of you. Well, two things. I mean, one thing for each of you,¡± he floundered, quickly shaking his head as he reached for his bag, Bianca slightly leaning forward.

    ¡°For us?¡± Ash repeated, looking curious,  Pikachu cocking his head.

    Leon smiled as he rummaged around in his bag for a moment, only to frown. ¡°Hm, that¡¯s not quite it. Not yet, at least. I know I- got it! Them! I got them,¡± he said as he pulled out two identical boxes before placing them on the table and pushing them forward.

    They were rectangular in appearance, pure black and lightly sheening from the plastic wrap around them.

    Ash immediately went to grab one, although Bianca was more hesitant. She reached for the other, only to stop and look up at Leon with uncertain eyes. At his nod, she closed the distance and grasped the box, pulling it towards her.

    ¡°Thank you¡­? What are they?¡± Bianca asked as she turned the box over in her hands, unable to find any markings.

    ¡°Yeah, thanks! Although I¡¯m with Bianca with this one,¡± Ash confessed as he inspected it, Leon letting out a charming laugh.

    ¡°A solution to Bianca¡¯s problem!¡± He replied jovially, leaning back and watching them.

    Bianca frowned curiously at that, using the nail on her pointer finger to cut through the plastic, tearing it off and bundling it into a ball. Ash was having a little more difficulty, and she was about to help before she was beaten to the punch by Pikachu, who used his own tiny claws to tear the wrapping.

    ¡°Thanks, Pikachu!¡± Ash said to the mouse as he looked over the box once more, getting a ¡°Pi-ka!¡± in response.

    She also looked it over, wondering how to get it open until she saw the small gaps. Giving a single nod, she turned it over diagonally, letting one side point towards the floor until that end began sliding downwards. Bianca quickly stopped it from falling to the table, although once she saw the contents, she gasped and almost dropped it anyway.

    Ash looked over, eyes widening as he turned back to his own box and similarly tilted it, revealing an identical rectangular screen. The two looked at one another, taken aback as they quickly turned back to Leon.

    ¡°Th-this is..? You really d-didn¡¯t have to do this,¡± she stammered, quickly adding, ¡°Not that I¡¯m ungrateful, but-¡±

    ¡°Yeah, this is¡­¡± Ash trailed off, apparently at a loss for words.

    Leon merely grinned wider as he casually waved his hand. ¡°I appreciate your gratitude, but really, the thought of you two out in the Galar wild areas with no communications was making me cry. This was a logical move. Besides,¡± he suddenly said as he leaned forward, gesturing towards the phones. ¡°They aren¡¯t just regular phones. Try hitting the power button.¡±

    Bianca obeyed, and the screen came to life an instant later, as did the phone. Both flew out of their hands and hovered in front of them, a zigzag popping up at the top as the word ¡°Hello!¡± was flashed on screen.

    She was left stunned as she stared at the hovering device, hands still frozen in place. Ash practically jumped in his seat as he squealed, ¡°It¡¯s a Rotom, too!?¡±

    ¡°Haha, yes!¡± Leon said as he smiled widely. ¡°Same model as mine, might I add. These guys will absolutely carry their weight and more! I mean, they barely weigh anything, but still.¡±

    ¡°I-I can¡¯t accept this,¡± she stammered as she let her hands rest on the table, Leon looking at her quizzically.

    ¡°Why not? They work perfectly fine, and I¡¯m not asking for money-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why!¡± Bianca blurted out, wringing her hands. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine how much they must cost, and you¡¯re just¡­giving them to us?¡±

    Leon let out a small laugh before shaking his head. ¡°Bianca, you have no idea how little this purchase truly cost me. I don¡¯t like to advertise it, but I am  not short on funds, even with the donations I make,¡± he admitted ruefully, not looking the least bit prideful. He seemed almost annoyed as he continued, ¡°Every time I feel like I¡¯ve given most of it away, even more comes in. Matches, sponsorships, et cetera, et cetera.¡±

    He shook his head in exasperation. ¡°All that, simply because I¡¯m the top trainer¡­so please be assured, this really isn¡¯t any trouble on my part.¡±

    Bianca still felt hesitant, but she nonetheless bowed her head feeling the guilt fade as gratitude swelled in her chest.

    ¡°...Thank you. This means a lot to me,¡± she said honestly, wishing she could truly express what this meant to her. She no longer had to worry about finding a Pokemon center. All Bianca had to do was ask the Rotom to put the call through.

    That is, once she got her grandfather¡¯s number.

    Ash also expressed his gratitude, smiling brightly at the man as he exclaimed, ¡°I promise I¡¯ll take good care of it! I just hope Rotom Dex won¡¯t mind¡­¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sure your dex friend won¡¯t mind,¡± Leon chuckled. ¡°Although it wouldn¡¯t be such a bad idea to try and get his data transferred over once you get the PokeDex application. Only if you need the data, that is,¡± he added, only increasing the excitement of the raven-haired trainer.

    ¡°A Pokedex application?¡± Ash all but shouted, making the other occupants wince at the volume.

    ¡°Might want to tone it down there, Ash,¡± Bianca suggested with a grimace as she massaged her ear.

    He had the decency to look cowed, muttering a quick apology that she waved off.

    ¡°Yes sir!¡± Leon replied. ¡°Unfortunately, it¡¯s not something you can just find on the application store. You¡¯ll need to get it from Professor Mongolia, or maybe Sonia if her granny is too busy to do it herself,¡± he remarked thoughtfully. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll give them a call and let them know. Or a text, in case it¡¯s Sonia. In the meantime, why don¡¯t you get them set up nice and proper?¡±

    The two nodded at his suggestion, and immediately the phones obediently floated back into their hands as Leon summoned his mobile and began tapping away.

    Bianca stared at the screen and watched as the ¡°Hello¡± switched to ¡°Welcome. Would you like to proceed with your setup? Please say ¡®Yes¡¯ or ¡®No¡¯, or tap the selection below.¡±

    Her mouth twitched at the thought of hitting ¡°No¡± before tapping the other option and watching the screen change.

    ¡°Please Sign In to your Rotomi account, or Sign Up if you do not already have one.¡±

    Once she hit ¡°Sign Up¡±, the screen changed once more to read, ¡°Please enter your full name, password, and password confirmation.¡±

    Raising her eyebrow, she obediently typed out her name, only to pause at the password. What on earth would she choose? Part of her was tempted to type ¡°LatiasIsAMenace¡±, although maybe that was a bit far, even if it was funny.

    She was momentarily distracted as the intercom sounded off once more, ¡°The train is now departing from Wyndon station. The current time is 10 ''o''clock, and the estimated arrival time at Wedgehurst is 1200. Please remain in your seats until the green light above your head shines. Thank you, and have a pleasant ride.

    Immediately, the train lurched forward, before rapidly picking up speed until the landscape was nothing but a blur. Her mouth gaped as she stared out the window; at their current pace, it would probably take less than a second to cross Alto Mare at its widest.

    Leon barely glanced out the window before he went back to typing, although Ash had a similar expression of amazement as hers, whispering under his breath, ¡°Woah¡­¡±

    She found it hard to disagree with the sentiment.

    Bianca watched for a few minutes longer, glancing up as the aforementioned green light blinked on above them before looking back down at her phone to choose a proper password.

    She settled for ¡°High@sth3Sea¡± and copied that over to the confirmation below it. Once she hit ¡°Submit¡±, the screen cleared before more words popped up: ¡°Welcome, Bianca Marina. Please stand by as I finish your setup.¡±

    The use of the pronoun momentarily caught her off guard until she remembered there was a Pokemon inside the device. She moved to set the phone down, only for the device to immediately float a few inches above the table.

    Bianca shrugged and glanced at Ash, the trainer idly tapping his fingers in front of Pikachu as his phone was going through its own setup process, the electric mouse casually trying to ¡°catch¡± the digits as they waited.

    As she smiled at the sight, Leon perked up with a smile and announced, ¡°Good news! Sonia will be on her way to Postwick tomorrow. You¡¯ll be able to get everything you need from her. Well, almost everything.¡±

    ¡°An endorsement letter?¡± Ash asked awkwardly, Bianca snorting next to him.

    Leon had a mock offended face as he asked, ¡°What, am I not good enough for you?¡±

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± the raven-haired trainer muttered with an embarrassed expression, Pikachu shaking his head with a facepalm.

    Luckily, the man merely chuckled and said, ¡°No. Rest assured, you¡¯ll get the chance to earn one soon enough, but from me. Sonia, on the other hand, will provide you with the Dex application and a few dos and don¡¯ts of camping out in the wild area. Knowing her, though, she¡¯ll probably just throw a camping guide your way and rush off.¡± He finished in an amused voice.

    ¡°You know her personally?¡± Bianca asked curiously, hearing the fondness the man had for this Soni in his words.

    ¡°You could say that,¡± he replied with a grin. ¡°We were childhood friends, and even rivals. Unfortunately¡­¡± he trailed off, his soft look becoming somber. ¡°I made a bit of a foolish decision, and¡­well, we more or less went our own ways.¡±

    She nodded sympathetically, although Ash¡¯s melancholic expression caught her off guard. The trainer sighed and pitched in, ¡°Yeah, I get that. I¡¯ve had to leave friends behind¡­but hey, at least you still talk to her, right?¡± He finished with a hopeful expression.

    ¡°Yeah, I still talk to her,¡± Leon said, regaining his smile. ¡°Perhaps not as much as I would like, but we¡¯re still on good terms. Truthfully, the biggest difficulty is finding time to talk between my duties, and her constant research. She is nothing if not dedicated to knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Kinda like your dedication to battling,¡± Bianca pointed out mildly, the man laughing heartily.

    ¡°You got me there! It¡¯s true, I admit I might be a  bit battle crazed,¡± Leon said as his eyes slid over to Ash. ¡°Although I¡¯m not so alone there, am I?¡±

    Ash almost banged his knees on the underside of the table as he jumped up and clenched his fist, a confident glint in his eyes. ¡°Definitely not! I love battling more than anything!¡±

    ¡°I love your spirit!¡± Leon laughed again, although his voice was once more tinged with sadness as he replied, ¡°Just make sure you don¡¯t forget everything else around you.¡±

    He glanced at Bianca as he said this, making her shift uncertainly before his expression cleared, leaning back and closing his eyes. ¡°Anyway, I think it¡¯s time I take a little nap before we arrive. Feel free to finish setting up your phones, and have Rotom pick something up from the trolley if it passes by, yeah? It knows what I like. Pick something for yourselves, as well.¡±

    ¡°Er, thank you¡­¡± Bianca trailed off, although there was little more than a twitch from him, the only further movement being his phone flying out of his pocket and joining theirs.

    She exchanged looks with Ash, who just shrugged before turning back to his phone just as a new screen popped up. She followed his example and went through several more screens before the process was more or less complete. Ash was having a little more difficulty, although that was quickly sorted out when she stepped in to help.

    ¡° [email protected] </a>¡± was certainly a strange email, but at least it was one he was happy with.

    Bianca spent the next few minutes looking through the app store in the hopes of finding something interesting, although beyond various social media she didn¡¯t have and brain rotting mobile games, the selection wasn¡¯t ideal.

    Fortunately, the phone was still just that¡ª

    a phone. While she was foolish for not writing down the phone number for her own house, she could always contact the Nurse Joy in Alto Mare.

    Glancing at the sleeping form of Leon, she resolved to do that later. For now, she¡¯d let herself relax.

    She turned her head towards the window, staring past Ash¡¯s fidgeting at the streaks of scenery. Their speed was so great, that colors almost blended together, making it difficult to see anything closer than a few miles. Outside of that range, she could vaguely make out a couple of landmarks.

    A city¡­fields¡­ruins¡­

    She hoped to see them while they were traveling. A nice view of some ruins with the right backdrop would make for an amazing painting. Maybe at night, where there was just enough light to illuminate the landscape.

    A smile graced her lips as she thought about how nice it could look, hanging

    squarely on her wall among many other paintings that served as reminders of her journey.

    Her eyes trailed to Ash, the trainer using his hand to wrestle against Pikachu¡¯s entire body, keeping impressively quiet apart from the occasional grunt. She¡¯d have to paint something for him as well, something to hang alongside the one she gave him in Alto Mare.

    Smiling at the thought, Bianca turned away from the window and waited as the train sped towards its destination.

    There were sparingly few stops along the way, and very short ones at that. The train never stopped for more than five minutes each time before quickly resuming its swift speed. It was only a few minutes after the second stop when a lady with a cart started making her way down the aisle. Bianca rolled her eyes when Ash jumped on the opportunity, getting himself more than enough snacks and handing over some kind of card as payment.

    Leon¡¯s Rotom Phone also joined in as it flashed over to the cart, the lady looking somewhat surprised before realization flashed in her eyes at the sight of its owner.

    He must be a regular customer if she isn¡¯t fangirling over the guy, Bianca internally remarked as the lady diligently placed a few select snacks in front of the sleeping man before turning towards Bianca questioningly. Seeing her decline, the lady nodded and quietly moved on, leaving them in relative silence apart from the alarming noises of Ash and Pikachu tearing into their own assortment.

    She rolled her eyes in amusement when they finished, looking satisfied as they sagged in place.

    It wasn¡¯t too long after when the intercom sounded, ¡°We will be arriving in Wedgehurst shortly. Please gather all children, Pokemon, and belongings.¡±

    To her surprise, Leon didn¡¯t even budge from the sound, and Bianca grimaced as she wondered if they¡¯d have to wake him up manually. Would he be grouchy?

    By the time the train started slowing down, the clock on her phone¡¯s screen read 1213. They had traveled the entirety of Galar in little over two hours, a feat only made believable from the time she spent watching the landscape blitz by.

    Of course, it took another minute before the train came to a stop, but given how quickly they had gone from full speed to zero¡­.

    As the train pulled into the station, Pikachu was tentatively poking at Leon to get him to wake up. It took a minute, but the man finally yawned as he blinked his eyes open, rubbing them with one hand.

    ¡°Here already?,¡± he questioned as he glanced out the window. ¡°Ah, yes, I¡¯d recognize that station anywhere. Preferably right here, where it won¡¯t move.¡±

    Bianca snorted at the joke, earning a quick smile as the man stood up and started gathering his snacks. ¡°Thanks, Rotom. Hop will be happy with these.¡±

    Hop?

    A name for a Pokemon, or¡­

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s get back to my place, shall we?¡± Leon exclaimed as he stuffed the treats into his bag. ¡°Goodness knows he¡¯ll be itching to pester me, the little rascal.¡±

    This did nothing to clarify the identity of this ¡°Hop¡±, but he  did mention a younger brother. Perhaps that was Hop?

    ¡°Er, who is that? A relative?¡± Bianca guessed, feeling a flash of satisfaction as the man nodded, looking pleased.

    ¡°Right in one! He¡¯s my little brother, around your age,¡± Leon said as they began collecting all of their belongings. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find him to be a good friend and rival, Ash.¡±

    ¡°Rival?¡± The trainer questioned just as the train came to a complete stop.

    ¡°Welcome to Wedgehurst. Please exit the train with all children, Pokemon, and belongings, and enjoy your stay. Thank you.¡±

    Leon rolled his eyes, snorting derisively as he asked, ¡°Who would forget their child or Pokemon on a train?¡± Shaking his head, he turned back to Ash with a smile and nodded. ¡°And yes, rival. He¡¯s aiming to take on the gym challenge as well, although he¡¯s been unable to until now.¡±

    ¡°Really? How come?¡± Ash asked curiously, drawing a wry look from the man.

    ¡°Because I refused to give him an endorsement letter,¡± Leon replied as he began making his way towards the exit, leaving behind a stunned Ash and Bianca. ¡°Come along, now,¡± he called over his shoulder, the two formerly stunned people quickly putting their phones away and following.

    ¡°You refused to give him an endorsement? But why?¡± Bianca asked in a flabbergasted voice as they filed out of the train.

    Ash nodded, looking as confused as Bianca felt. ¡°You must have had a reason, right?¡±

    Leon paused, pursing his lips at Ash¡¯s somewhat indignant tone, although he didn¡¯t look offended. Glancing around, he motioned for them to stay close as he started pushing through the crowd, Pikachu grumbling as he was jostled to and fro from his position on Ash¡¯s shoulder as the young duo followed close behind.

    No one tried to speak until they had left the station, a task made difficult by the double takes people were giving Leon as they passed by. Fortunately, the man was nothing if not slippery, and the three managed to get outside in a timely manner, albeit with minor complaints from Pikachu.

    Bianca was slightly squinting from the sunlight, although she quickly got used to its rays. Ash was mostly unbothered, although Pikachu was attempting to groom himself, his fur sticking up in odd places.

    The two were still behind the man as he began walking along the road, hat low over his eyes and hands shoved in his pockets. Ash and Bianca exchanged glances, the trainer lowly muttering, ¡°We didn¡¯t make him mad, did we?¡±

    ¡°Er-¡±

    ¡°No, you didn¡¯t,¡± Leon interjected, having overheard him. He looked back with a small, reassuring grin. ¡°Sorry, I was just thinking about how to answer your question from earlier.¡±

    Ash heaved a breath of relief, and Bianca was also glad they hadn¡¯t angered their very gracious host. ¡°I¡¯d still like to apologize for asking in the first place,¡± she began, biting her lip uncomfortably. ¡°I should have been more considerate if it was a private matter, or something else.¡±

    Leon tilted his head for a moment, replying a moment later in a thoughtful tone, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say ¡®private¡¯, but¡­Hop is impulsive, and dare I say a little reckless.¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Bianca said in a semi-dry tone, giving Ash a pointed look. ¡°Imagine being an impulsive and reckless trainer.¡±

    ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Ash nodded before whipping his head around to stare at her, affronted. ¡°I¡¯m not impulsive or reckless!¡±

    The trainer started sweating as both Pikachu and Bianca were looking at him flatly, the artist replying in an exasperated voice, ¡°Ash, I could point out a couple events from just my time seeing you that disprove that. Do I have to contact your other friends to find out more?¡±

    As if to highlight the threat, her Rotom Phone flew out of her pocket on its own. ¡°I don¡¯t have their numbers, but I¡¯m willing to bet that it wouldn¡¯t be that hard,¡± Bianca said with a raised eyebrow.

    Ash sagged in defeat, muttering under his breath, ¡°You sound like Misty.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a compliment,¡± she retorted, Leon laughing heartily.

    ¡°Oh, man. You two almost remind me of me and Sonia back in the day. But back to Hop,¡± the man said, his light tone slightly faded as he began. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt that there have been many trainers in your region, and others, that are as bad or worse when it comes to impulsive decision making. But Galar is  not the region for that kind of attitude.¡±

    Bianca gave Ash another side-eye at this, although she let the man continue.

    ¡°He looks up to me, more than I probably deserve. And he is desperate to prove himself to me, and others,¡± he smiled fondly at this, although it was tainted with no small amount of concern. ¡°And because he¡¯s desperate to prove himself, he¡¯s willing to throw himself at a problem head first. Even if that problem is capable of throwing itself right back.¡±

    Ash looked somewhat confused, although Bianca had some ideas as to what he was referring to. ¡°You¡¯re talking about the wild Pokemon, aren¡¯t you?¡± She guessed, Leon confirming it with a grim nod.

    ¡°I am,¡± he agreed as they turned around a bend. ¡°And while I know for certain he can handle himself...would you risk it? Would your loved ones risk  you ?¡± Leon asked over his shoulder with unreadable eyes.

    Bianca opened her mouth to reply, only to stop in her tracks.

    Would she? If she had the authority to prevent either of the twins from doing something that had a small chance of bringing pain or death to them, would she allow them to carry through?  Especially  after something bad  did happen that nearly killed both them and the city?

    As Bianca began wrestling with the thought, she was distracted when Ash spoke up next to her in an uncertain voice, ¡°I¡­think I would, yeah.¡±

    Both Bianca and Leon turned to him surprised, the trainer elaborating with a smile at Pikachu. ¡°My mom knew the risks of me being a Pokemon trainer. You wouldn¡¯t believe the amount of times she¡¯s told me to be careful over the years,¡± he chuckled in amusement, the two listening raptly.

    ¡°And she was right to be worried,¡± he said, stunning them both. ¡°On my first day, I did something pretty dumb. I threw a rock at a Spearow, and the entire flock went after me and PIkachu.¡±

    Bianca wanted to face-palm upon hearing that, although she stopped herself from doing so, wanting to hear the rest of it.

    ¡°At the time, Pikachu and I weren¡¯t¡­close like we are now,¡± Ash admitted, the electric rat huffing as he crossed his arms. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t listen to me, and I tried¡­dragging him along with some string and rubber gloves.¡±

    She would never have believed the words coming out of his mouth if it weren¡¯t for the snort coming from Pikachu, the mouse clearly finding the entire event funny.

    ¡°If he was disobedient, you could have just put him in his Pokeball, right?¡± Leon asked, while Bianca had her own thoughts.

    ¡°I thought you loved Pokemon,¡± she murmured with a shake of her head. ¡°I can¡¯t really picture you dragging a Pokemon against its will. Or throwing a rock at one, for that matter.¡±

    Ash sighed with a nod. ¡°Pikachu doesn¡¯t like going in the ball. I  do  love Pokemon, which is why I didn¡¯t make him, but I was pretty stubborn-¡±

    Was?

    ¡°-and I was determined to catch a Pokemon, even if he didn¡¯t want to obey me at the time. So, I threw a rock at what looked like Pidgey, which is how we ended up getting chased by a bunch of Spearow,¡± he concluded, Leon¡¯s face showing his surprise before it cleared.

    ¡°Odd, but not entirely unheard of,¡± the man said as they began walking through some kind of market. ¡°Pokeballs are supposed to be comfortable, but some Pokemon do prefer being outside of them.¡±

    ¡°Pi-kaa.¡±

    The younger trainer nodded in confirmation. ¡°Yeah, exactly. He loves it outside the ball, but¡­I put him and myself in danger. That¡¯s actually how we met Misty,¡± he said with a small laugh, while Bianca tilted her head curiously. ¡°We jumped into a river to escape, and Misty pulled us out with a fishing rod. And then I borrowed her bike.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d you give it back if you just met her?¡± Bianca wondered aloud as she glanced curiously at a stand selling pastries.

    Ash laughed nervously, while Pikachu snickered from his position. ¡°Well, about that¡­¡±

    She turned and frowned at him. ¡°You  did  return her bike, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    The trainer coughed into his fist and looked pointedly away from her, muttering meekly, ¡°Pikachu fried it right after the Spearow caught up to us.¡±

    Bianca stopped in her tracks, staring at him. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± she began with a disbelieving expression, ¡°that you borrowed her bike to get away from a mess you created, only to destroy it right after? Did I get that right?¡±

    ¡°Er, more or less,¡± he admitted, Bianca rolling her eyes before moving forward again.

    ¡°And how does this relate to Leon¡¯s brother?¡± She asked with a flick of her fingers.

    The trainer looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°Hm¡­ well, I was impulsive, but I learned from it. Just like I learned from all my losses.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re going to have to work on that ¡®was¡¯,¡± Bianca muttered, making Ash pout. ¡°But I get what you¡¯re trying to say. Except¡­¡±

    ¡°Except that this is Galar,¡± Leon finished, his expression unreadable as they passed the last stall, the road transitioning to dirt and the occasional patch of grass. ¡°I understand where you¡¯re coming from, Ash, and I get it in a way. I myself was pretty reckless when I started out, believe it or not. I was lucky to get out of the tight spots I found myself in. But that¡¯s just what it was; luck.¡±

    The man looked lost in thought before shooting Ash a grin over his shoulder. ¡°Fortunately, I think I¡¯ve found the perfect remedy.

    The trainer smiled back and raised a clenched fist. ¡°Alright!¡± Leon nodded before turning back to the road ahead with quickened steps.

    Ash may have missed it, but Bianca was not oblivious to the intensity in the man¡¯s eyes. The question was if she was going to bring it up.

    Is this why Leon wanted to meet Ash enough to follow him? Was he looking for a babysitter, or something else?

    Bianca sincerely hoped it was the latter. Traveling with one Ash was enough, but dealing with two sounded like a nightmare. Not to mention constantly trying to hide her communication to home from a stranger would get frustrating and awkward, and there was no way he was going to let him in on the secret.

    However, she couldn¡¯t say as much without appearing rude. She could only hope Hop was a more independent type, and didn¡¯t ask to come along.

    She pursed her lips at the thought as they walked over a small crest, before blinking at the sight before her, taken aback.

    Before them was a rather nice collection of cottages with plenty of space between them, separated by both distance and rows of bushes and trees. If she thought Wyndon had a rustic look, Postwick took it to a whole new level. Many of the houses were made from stone brick, while a few others were perhaps more basic, but overgrown with a tasteful selection of vines and potted plants.

    The entire neighborhood sat in a large depression, giving the community a sense of privacy from the outside world, a forest looming in the backdrop. Standing maybe twenty feet away from the first house was a long hanging sign that read ¡°Welcome to Postwick.¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but frown as they passed the sign, looking around with concern.

    ¡°Hey, Leon¡­¡± she began, the man turning his head and looking at her curiously. ¡°This is a great looking area, and all, but¡­what happens during a rainy season? Isn¡¯t the entire neighborhood going to¡­you know, flood?¡±

    He laughed and nodded. ¡°I can see why you¡¯d be worried, but I promise that you don¡¯t need to be. There are quite a few drainage pipes that lead well away from Postwick. The yards are also quite absorbent, helping keep water away from the houses.¡±

    Bianca wanted to smack herself. All of those were logical, and she should have known that a neighborhood such as this would think of something to counteract an act of nature like flooding.

    ¡°Yeah, I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± she muttered as she kicked a pebble out of the way.

    ¡°Of course I am,¡± Leon haughtily replied, although Bianca could tell he was being intentionally snotty. ¡°Now, if we hurry up, I¡¯m sure we can get there before Ma starts lunch.¡± The man once more increased his pace, forcing Bianca and Ash into a near jog.

    Any time before this, Bianca could have kept pace, no problem. Adding her pack and everything inside was a different matter altogether. To add insult to injury, Ash¡¯s Rotom Phone flew out of his pocket and pointed the back face at her, the grinning visage of the Rotom mocking her as they moved.

    ¡°Ash¡­If your Rotom doesn¡¯t stop laughing at me¡­¡± she panted out while holding onto her beret, ¡°...I¡¯m going to swat it out of the air.¡±

    The phone merely floated out of reach, still cackling at her when they heard an excited shout from up ahead.

    ¡°LEE! YOU¡¯RE BACK!¡±

    Bianca took her eyes off of the flying menace as she looked ahead, seeing a teen with the same complexion as Leon running towards them with a grin. Their guide finally slowed to a stop as the newcomer slammed into him with a hug, making the man stumble and laugh.

    ¡°Careful, now! If I fall over, you¡¯re gonna make me crush all the snacks I bought!¡±

    The teen, presumably Hop, stepped back and looked between Ash, Pikachu, and Bianca, seemingly just now seeing them. ¡°Who are these jammies, Lee? Must be important, if you¡¯re chinwaggin¡¯ with ¡®em. They somehow recognized you under that brilliant disguise, didn''t they?¡±

    What.

    ¡°I¡¯m Hop, by the way,¡± he greeted, holding out his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Lee¡¯s little brother.¡±

    ¡°Ash Ketchum!¡± The raven-haired trainer said as he reached forward, the two shaking hands for a moment before letting go.

    Hop tilted his head thoughtfully. ¡°Ash Ketchum? Now there¡¯s a name I¡¯ve heard before. And that Pikachu, as well! You¡¯re a trainer, right?¡±

    Ash nodded with a grin. ¡°Sure am! And Pikachu here is my best pal. Right, buddy?¡±

    ¡°Pika, pika¡­¡± The mouse waved his paw lazily, although the illusion of aloofness was ruined with the small upturn of his lips.

    ¡°He¡¯s a cheeky one!¡± Hope laughed before turning to Bianca, extending his hand towards her as well. ¡°And you are¡­?¡±.

    ¡°Bianca,¡± she said simply, accepting the gesture. ¡°Pleasure to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all mine,¡± he replied with a smile. ¡°A friend of Lee¡¯s is a friend of mine,¡± he said before immediately turning towards his brother and vibrating with excitement. ¡°Have you got something for me? You always bring back the best from Wyndon.¡±

    Leon made a show of tapping a finger on his chin. ¡°Hmm, did I? Or maybe I forgot¡­¡± The man shrugged and smiled widely. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll have to see, eh?¡±

    Hop sagged dramatically before immediately straightening up and bounding forward. ¡°You always do this, Lee!¡±

    Bianca chuckled as they hurried after the boy, luckily at a much easier pace than before. ¡°He reminds me of a cross between you and Leon, Ash.¡±

    ¡°Ha!¡± Leon barked as they approached a house with a large court out front. ¡°That¡¯s not an entirely inaccurate description. But hand around him enough, and you¡¯ll see that he¡¯s his own man,¡± he finished as they slowed to a stop. ¡°Now, where¡¯s Ma?¡±

    ¡°In the kitchen making lunch,¡± Hop replied as he lived up to his name. Bianca and Ash took their packs off and set them down as they watched.

    ¡°Looks like we¡¯re just in the nick of time, then,¡± Leon remarked before giving the two an approving nod and turning towards his brother with a grin. ¡°Now, are you absolutely sure you want the surprise now? Or would you like to wait until after lunch?¡±

    Hop had a matching expression as he adopted a reading stance. ¡°I knew you had something, Lee! But you should know by now that I¡¯ll skip lunch any day if it means you¡¯re involved.¡±

    Leon ignored Ash¡¯s affronted grumble as he laughed and nodded. ¡°Say no more,¡± he exclaimed as he turned and began rummaging around his bag.

    ¡°Now, this doesn¡¯t have to be just for Hop,¡± Leon grunted as he searched around in his bag, drawing the curiosity of Bianca and the other two as they watched. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a gift for Ash and Bianca, too, if they want one.¡±

    ¡°A gift? Another one?¡± She said in astonishment, wondering what he was talking about. He mentioned bringing a gift for his brother, but¡­.

    ¡°Indeed!¡± He replied, before muttering, ¡°Now, where did I¡ª

    Ah, here they are!¡±

    The man pulled something from the bag and turned around, Bianca starting in surprise as she noticed it was actually  three somethings; pokeballs, to be exact, although she had no idea what on earth they would be used for.

    Ash and Pikachu perked up, staring intently as the man presented the Pokeballs to them.

    They seemed to understand the situation better than her, and looked at one another in surprise.

    Hop gasped once he saw them, before looking up at Leon with hope in his eyes. ¡°You mean-?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Leon said with a grin as he threw the balls up above the court as he exclaimed, ¡°I think it¡¯s time I introduce you to your starters!¡±

 Starting off with some New Friends

    ¡°Sob-¡±

    ¡°-bun-¡±

    ¡°-key!¡±

    After the flash of blue faded, Bianca was met with the sight of three Pokemon standing between Leon and herself, Ash, and Hop.

    The first had a yellow fin atop its comparatively large head, the small body ending in a curling tail that got thicker towards the end. The entire Pokemon was covered in shiny blue scales, although the top had a darker shade of blue, and the two cheek spots were darker still.

    The second was white and bipedal with red and orange at the end of its long ears. A yellow square sat perfectly between its nose and beady black eyes, looking as though someone slapped a slice of processed cheese right on its face, and had orange at the end of its large and rather energetic feet.

    The final Pokemon was green with a yellow-ish face and orange muzzle, matching the tiny hands and feet. The small ape had dark green ears and a long tail of the same shade.

    They all looked fairly cute to her, although Bianca was mildly concerned when the blue Pokemon took one look at them and immediately began to cry. Oddly, she felt tears begin to swim in her eyes at the sight, and she couldn¡¯t fathom the reaction given she wasn¡¯t that sad.

    Annoyed, the white Pokemon stopped bouncing and yelled out ¡°Scor!¡± causing the blue one to stop crying abruptly, which instantly made Bianca stop crying.

    The green ape barely gave a glance at this, and glanced curiously at the three individuals before taking what looked like a stick from the back of its head and started banging it on the ground with muffled thumps.

    ¡°These,¡± Leon stated as he placed his hands on his hips, ¡°are Galar¡¯s starters! At least, the classic starters. The blue one there is a water-type called Sobble-¡±

    ¡°Sob,¡± Sobble murmured.

    ¡°-the white one is Scorbunny, a fire-type-¡±

    ¡°Scor!¡± It said, standing up straight and mimicking Leon¡¯s pose.

    ¡°-and the green one is Grookey, a grass-type.¡±

    Grookey gave the ground one final smack with the stick before tucking it away again, once more giving them its attention.

    ¡°Woah! Hey, guys!¡± Ash greeted them with a smile, crouching down as he looked at each Pokemon. ¡°I¡¯m Ash Ketchum. You guys are so cute! Rotom, where¨Coh yeah,¡± Ash muttered, slumping in place.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got that right!¡± Hop cheered, not having heard the last bit as he joined Ash in crouching.

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but agree, smiling as she noticed Scorbunny preen at the comments. Grookey smiled and cocked its head, while Scorbunny merely stared at the trainers cautiously.

    However, something Leon said caught her attention, and she couldn''t help but turn to him and ask, ¡°You said ¡®your¡¯ starters. Did you mean¡­-¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Leon said with a smile. ¡°All three of you can take one of these for your very own to train. Just remember they are relying on you!¡±

    Ash and Hop were nodding eagerly, but Bianca couldn¡¯t help but frown as she glanced back at the Pokemon, seeing their expectant expressions. Sobble was perhaps less excited than its companions, but nonetheless, it looked between the people in front of it as though trying to guess who might choose it.

    Unfortunately, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to feel the same excitement as Ash and Hop, and it must have shown on her face, as it attracted Leon¡¯s attention

    ¡°Bianca? You doing alright there?¡± He asked curiously, a note of concern in his voice.

    ¡°I¡­.¡± She began, not sure how to respond. She didn¡¯t like the idea of spurning something that was likely ordinarily very difficult to obtain, as she couldn¡¯t imagine he just walked up to a store and bought them. Or did he?

    ¡°Where¡­how did you get them? The Pokemon, I mean,¡± she asked, trying to temporarily deflect the source of her unease until she could pinpoint the source.

    Luckily, even if he picked up on her strange behavior, he didn¡¯t call her out on it and happily replied, ¡°Ah, well, remember when I mentioned I had to leave to chat with Chairman Rose?¡±

    Bianca paused before nodding, and the two boys beside her looked up as Leon continued, ¡°Well, I just so happened to tell him I was headed back here and needed a few Pokemon so a certain someone could start his gym challenge.¡±

    Hop laughed happily and quickly stood, shooting over to his brother and giving him a tight hug. ¡°Finally! I knew it was coming soon, I just knew it!¡±

    ¡°My death will come soon, if you don¡¯t ease up!¡± His brother wheezed out with a chuckle, nonetheless returning the gesture. ¡°But yeah, you¡¯ve certainly been patient, which is why you get the first pick. I hope you two don¡¯t mind,¡± Leon added, glancing at Ash and Bianca.

    Ash smiled and shook his head, waving him off as he said, ¡°Nah, we don¡¯t mind. Right, Bianca?¡±

    Not choosing first is the least of my concerns, Bianca thought, face twisting as she slowly stood. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but¡­this is something I¡¯m not ready for just yet.¡±

    The two brothers broke apart and looked at her in confusion, Ash and the Pokemon mirroring their movement.

    ¡°¡®Not ready¡¯?¡± The raven-haired trainer echoed, sounding confused. ¡°Are you not gonna get a starter?¡±

    Ash looked bewildered at the thought, and Bianca shook her head, feeling the guilt mount up at the almost hurt expressions on the starters¡¯ faces.

    Hop then chimed in, sounding almost affronted as he said, ¡°Well, why not? Lee went through all the trouble of getting them, surely-¡±

    Leon raised his hand, stopping his brother¡¯s speel as he cocked his head. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m not surprised, but I¡¯m not particularly bothered by it. I¡¯d just like to know why, if you don¡¯t mind me asking.¡±

    Relaxing at his mellow tone, Bianca nodded and looked up as she responded, ¡°I just don¡¯t think I¡¯m a good fit. I¡¯m not a trainer, and I¡¯m really not sure I want to be one, either. I don¡¯t mind taking care of Pokemon, but¡­raising them to battle isn¡¯t something I think I can do, and¡­I¡¯d rather they go to a trainer willing to do that with them.¡±

    It was silent for a few moments as everyone considered her answer. The starters looked somewhat mollified, although Sobble looked like it was still in danger of crying with a tear beginning to form in the corner of one of its eyes. Hop also calmed down, face going from annoyed, to understanding, then guilty.

    ¡°Oh, well then, apologies for the outburst, there,¡± he apologized, grimacing at his own mistake.

    She waved him off, calmly replying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, it¡¯s fine. I get it.¡±

    Bianca didn¡¯t blame him for being offended on his brother¡¯s behalf; it showed just how close a bond they had with one another. If the twins offered something of such high value and it was refused, she¡¯d probably get a little miffed as well.

    Meanwhile, Ash slowly nodded, smiling in a way that lifted some of the guilt off of her shoulders. ¡°I understand,¡± he said reassuringly. ¡°You just don¡¯t want them being bored with you!¡±

    She stared at him in disbelief before snorting. ¡°Sure, Ash. Let¡¯s go with that.¡±

    Leave it to him to unintentionally insult someone while simultaneously supporting them, Bianca thought, suppressing the urge to laugh at his complete lack of filter.

    ¡°I¡­maybe work on the phrasing a little,¡± Leon tentatively suggested, drawing their attention. ¡°However, I think I get what you¡¯re laying down. You want all of them to have a strong trainer, and you don¡¯t feel like you fit the mold?¡±

    ¡°Er, something like that, yeah,¡± Bianca agreed, earning a nod from the man.

    ¡°Right, well, then I have a solution,¡± he stated with a smile. ¡°Whichever Pokemon that doesn¡¯t end up being picked gets trained by me!¡±

    Bianca had to admit that was pretty considerate for being on the fly, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that was part of the original plan. He did bring three, after all, and there was no guarantee that she or Ash would have chosen a starter at all.

    The Pokemon in question looked pleased, as did Ash and Pikachu.

    ¡°So,¡± Leon said, gesturing towards the three Pokemon. ¡°Which one will you be picking, Hop?¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± his brother mused, cupping his chin with his fingers. He looked between the three, Scorbunny standing up straight and looking hopeful. Grookey was waiting patiently, looking unbothered under Hop¡¯s stare, which was more than what Sobble could claim. The poor Pokemon looked extremely nervous, shifting its little feet when it was finally scrutinized.

    Finally, Hop smiled and nodded, pointing dramatically and declaring, ¡°I choose you, Scorbunny!¡±

    ¡°SCOR!¡± The little Pokemon happily exclaimed, taking a few steps forward before jumping up, the two sharing a fist bump before gravity claimed it once more. Hop grinned as Scorbunny stood proudly at his side, looking suspiciously smug,

    ¡°Nice pick, Hop!¡± Ash said supportively, Scorbunny¡¯s expression giving Bianca the impression that the Pokemon had something of an ego problem.

    ¡°Thanks, mate!¡± Hop replied with a nod, looking confident. ¡°Little guy looked like he had spunk, so-OW!¡± He leapt back on one foot, his lower pants leg looking mildly singed from where Scorbunny kicked it as the Pokemon blew him a razzberry. Bianca softly snorted as Hop indignantly said, ¡°Hey, what was that for?¡±

    Leon winced as Scorbunny crossed its arms. ¡°Er, right, I forgot to mention; that particular Scorbunny is a lass.¡±

    Hop stared at his brother for a moment before face-palming. ¡°Right, I should have thought of that. Sorry about that little, uh..miss. Sonia mentioned one time that male Pokemon were more common, so I kinda just assumed you were as well.¡±

    Scorbunny sniffed, nonetheless looking mollified as she nodded and rejoined Hop at his side.

    Bianca, on the other hand, frowned thoughtfully. Most Pokemon were male?

    ¡°I never knew that,¡± she admitted, thinking back to the Garden. She didn¡¯t exactly make it a habit to check up the skirts of every Pokemon there, but she knew that the Eons didn¡¯t really have any dominating number of either gender. Of course, she was basing all of this on the twins, but she didn¡¯t think it was unreasonable that other Pokemon were the same.

    Leon nodded, however, looking embarrassed as he crossed his arms. ¡°Yeah, it can be a bit of a problem out in the wild. Female Pokemon will typically find themselves away from other Pokemon just so they aren¡¯t swamped with suitors.¡±

    Bianca wanted to snort at that, thinking back to Alto Mare. When she was around fourteen, she started gathering the occasional curious look from boys her age. It took another few months before she perfected the art of dismissive looks and snappish words, warding off any would-be romancers.

    ¡°It¡¯s not as bad with captured Pokemon,¡± Leon continued, breaking her out of her thoughts, ¡°but until Scorbunny can take care of herself, you may want to keep her in this,¡± he said as he chucked a Pokeball underhand towards Hop, his brother catching it with a startled expression. ¡°That¡¯s her ball, of course. Take good care of it, yeah?¡± Leon prompted, Hop nodding once he looked up.

    ¡°You can count on me, Lee!¡± His brother said determinedly, Scorbunny letting out an excited chirp. ¡°I won¡¯t let you or Scorbunny down!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all I ask. Now, up to you, Champ,¡± Leon said, turning to the raven-haired trainer. ¡°Who¡¯s going to be the lucky Pokemon?¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but wince Hop tilted his head curiously and asked, ¡°Champ?¡±

    Immediately, Leon slapped his forehead, cursing as he dropped his hand. ¡°Ah, damn. Apologies about that, Ash, I wasn¡¯t thinking there.¡±

    ¡°N-no, it¡¯s fine,¡± the raven-haired trainer said, shrugging it off with a grin. ¡°Not like people weren¡¯t going to find out eventually.¡±

    ¡°Find out about what?¡± Hop insisted, looking between the two with a slight frown.

    Bianca kept her mouth shut, letting Ash reply as he coughed into his fist and meekly replied, ¡°Well, you see, I¡¯m kind of¡­ a Champion. Of Alola.¡±

    There was dead silence as the starters and Hop stared at him for a moment before the brother laughed.

    ¡°Ha! Good one, mate, I almost believed you for a second there,¡± he chortled, although that died off as Bianca, Ash, and Leon all glanced at one another awkwardly, their behavior changing his expression into one of growing surprise. ¡°Hold on, are you lot being serious right now?¡±

    Ash nodded and stood up, Leon giving him a rueful look. ¡°It¡¯s true, Hop. Remember when I told you about it? I told you the day it happened, if I recall.¡±

    Bianca fought a smile as Hop stared at Ash closely before reeling back. ¡°Unbelievable, it really is you! ¡®Ash Ketchum¡¯, I knew that name sounded familiar! You¡¯re the new Champion Leon¡¯s been going on about?¡±

    ¡°Er¡­I guess,¡± Ash said lamely, causing Bianca to snort. ¡°But I¡¯m not Champion here, so please don¡¯t make a big deal out of it.¡±

    Bianca noticed Leon nodding approvingly, while Hop shook his head in wonder. ¡°Mate, you are something else. Anyone else would have been telling everyone they knew, but you didn¡¯t even bring it up until Lee did.¡±

    Ash opened his mouth to respond, but Bianca beat him to the punch.

    ¡°Yes, he¡¯s amazingly humble like that,¡± she said, making him sputter. ¡°Took him too long for him to tell me about it. Now choose a Pokemon, they¡¯ve waited long enough.¡±

    Sure enough, the remaining two starters were looking up at Ash patiently, clearly every word uttered flying over their heads. However, as Bianca watched Ash kneel down again, she couldn¡¯t help but glance over at Scorbunny. The Pokemon was staring at the trainer with an open mouth, eyes glinting. She then looked between Hop and Ash, before slightly slumping with a disappointed expression.

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but wince in sympathy for Hop despite the fact that the boy hadn¡¯t noticed a thing. Hopefully, his Pokemon would grow out of her disappointment. If not¡­

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Ash said, bringing her attention back over to him. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go with Sobble. What do you say, little¡­guy?¡± He trailed off, looking up at Leon as Sobble blinked in surprise. Grookey slightly slumped in disappointment, before giving Bianca a hopeful glance, making her feel guilty all over again.

    ¡°Good choice,¡± Leon praised with a nod. ¡°And yes, Sobble there is male. I¡¯ve been told he¡¯s got somewhat of a crying problem, but I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll work with him just fine. Which leaves Grookey. Are you absolutely sure about your decision, Bianca?¡± He said as he turned to her with a serious expression. ¡°If you don¡¯t take him now, he¡¯ll be under my care, and you¡¯ll be left to catch your own Pokemon should you change your mind later.¡±

    She almost took back her decision, seeing Grookey¡¯s face. However, Bianca knew she couldn¡¯t be the kind of trainer he deserved, and so she shook her head remorsefully.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± she said, before turning to the disappointed Pokemon with a sad smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, little guy, I really am. But I promise you it¡¯s not because I don¡¯t want you or anything. I just don¡¯t want you stuck with some silly painter who¡¯s more worried about art than battles. Besides,¡± she said with a reassuring smile. ¡°Leon here said he¡¯d take you, and he¡¯s a nice and strong trainer. You¡¯ll be far better with him than me.¡±

    Throughout her speech, Grookey took on a far less melancholic expression, and by the end was looking at Leon with hope in his eyes.

    The man smiled and kneeled next to the Pokemon. ¡°You¡¯re not entirely wrong, but I wouldn¡¯t say ¡®far better.¡¯ Give yourself some credit, young lady. You¡¯re polite and kind, which is more than some trainers out there can say. You would make a fine trainer.¡±

    Bianca flushed in embarrassment, not expecting such praise. Beside her, Ash nodded eagerly and piled on, ¡°Yeah! You¡¯re amazing, Bianca! You¡¯re great with Pokemon!¡±

    Her cheeks were beginning to burn, turning away in the vague hope they wouldn¡¯t see.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± she managed to murmur, although Ash made it tempting to clam up and run away as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°If you ever decide you want to catch a Pokemon, Pikachu and I will be right by your side to help you raise it. Right, buddy?¡±

    ¡°Pi-ka!¡±

    Forget running away, she wished she could emulate that Pokemon from earlier and just disappear into the ground. Receiving praise and support from someone who had absolutely nothing to gain from it was still a weakness of hers it seems, and while most of her wished to go temporarily deaf, another smaller part was eager for more of Ash¡¯s kind words.

    She would have to strangle that part at the first opportunity. For now, she¡¯d have to move the conversation along and off of herself.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    ¡°Thanks, Ash,¡± Bianca said before clearing her throat. ¡°So, uh, what next?¡±

    ¡°Well, I take this little guy under my wing, for one,¡± Leon said as he held up a pokeball, earning a cheerful ¡°Key!¡± from the Pokemon before he was sucked into the ball in a flash of light. ¡°Then there¡¯s another thing¡­¡±

    ¡°Another thing?¡± Ash repeated, cocking his head as Leon straightened up and handed him a pokeball.

    Leon nodded towards the sphere and said, ¡°Indeed. That¡¯s Sobble¡¯s ball. I¡¯m going to assume you already have a belt, but what¡¯s one without balls?¡±

    Bianca briefly closed her eyes at the unfortunate phrasing, while barely making out the sound of Hop letting out a little snort.

    As she opened them again, Leon clapped his hands together, seemingly unaware of either of their reactions. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see about-¡±

    ¡°Boys, when you¡¯re quite done with your ruckus out here, lunch is ready,¡± a woman¡¯s voice called from the side, making Bianca jump and turn in fright.

    ¡°Ah, speaking of which,¡± Leon commented as the artist turned to see a motherly figure with an amused and affectionate smile on her portly face, just barely showing signs of age. Bianca could certainly see the resemblance to Hop and Leon, especially with the darker hair.

    ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t keep your friends waiting just for Hop,¡± the woman said with a somewhat firm voice. ¡°The hero of old knows how much you spoil him. You might as well be a grandfather already!¡±

    Hero of old?

    Hop grinned and shot his brother a look as he replied, ¡°You¡¯re missing a step, Mum. First, he¡¯s gotta marry-¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Ma, I deeply apologize!¡± Leon quickly interjected as he bowed his head. ¡°I also hope we have enough for these two. If not, I can-¡±

    ¡°Oh, please,¡± his mother playfully scoffed before shooting Ash and Bianca a smile. ¡°You haven¡¯t been gone long enough to forget how much I make when you come home.¡±

    ¡°With Ash¡¯s appetite, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s still not enough,¡± Bianca muttered under her breath, Receiving a pout from the trainer in question.

    However, the woman only giggled as she playfully retorted, ¡°Trust me, dear, I¡¯ve told myself more times than I can count. It was only a few years ago when I managed to prove myself wrong!¡± She joked, Leon whistling innocently as his mother continued in a more reassuring tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I make more than enough for several days worth of leftovers, or in Leon¡¯s case, one day¡¯s worth. Even with a couple extra mouths to feed, there¡¯s more than enough to go around.¡±

    ¡°Alright!¡± Ash cheered as he snatched up his pack, making Bianca roll her eyes. ¡°Thank you so much!¡±

    ¡°Yes, thank you very much, ma¡¯am,¡± Bianca said in a much more calm manner, picking up her own burden with a slight grunt.

    The woman waved them off cheerfully. ¡°Oh, hush with the ¡®ma¡¯am¡¯ bit, I feel positively ancient. Please, call me Agnes. Now come inside before the food gets cold, or Arthur starts digging into it himself. And bring your bags, I¡¯d hate for any local Pokemon to get to them.¡±

    As Agnes turned and headed back towards the house, Ash quickly pulled Sobble into the ball before eagerly dashing forward. Bianca followed at a slower pace, still not quite used to the weight of her belongings.

    After recalling his Pokemon, Hop skipped over and exclaimed as he passed by, ¡°You lot are in luck. My mum is the best cook on this side of Galar, perhaps even on the other end, too!¡±

    She merely blinked at this, while Ash slowed a bit and turned to the boy with a thoughtful look. ¡°Really? I have a friend in Alola who¡¯s also a pretty great cook. Has her own restaurant and everything.¡±

    That momentarily caught Bianca off guard, and she frowned before carefully saying, ¡°...Wait, is that¡­uh, what¡¯s her name¡­¡±

    As she struggled to recall the green-haired girl, Ash came in with the save as he excitedly confirmed, ¡°Yeah, Mallow! Well, technically it¡¯s her dad¡¯s, but still. She does most of the cooking now.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s nice,¡± she replied evenly, only to stumble over Ash¡¯s next words.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll have to take you some time. You¡¯ll love it!¡± He grinned, oblivious to the looks the brothers and Bianca were flashing him, the latter sighing in annoyance as she recovered from her momentary shock.

    ¡°Please be more mindful about your words, Ash,¡± she pleaded. ¡°I¡¯d love to eat there one day, but you can¡¯t say something like that without sounding like you¡¯re trying to take someone out on a date.¡±

    Ash stopped as he scrunched his eyebrows in confusion before realization struck him, and he awkwardly nodded and laughed. ¡°Oh, haha. Sorry about that, I wasn¡¯t thinking.¡±

    Clearly, she thought, while waving his apology aside and half-jokingly said, ¡°And don¡¯t apologize, you¡¯ll make a girl feel bad.¡±

    Pikachu shot his trainer a dry look, while Bianca ignored the two brothers as they exchanged amused glances and nodded thanks to their mother as she crossed the threshold into their home.

    Wow, this is beautiful, she thought as she looked around. Unlike the hotel, it felt rather homely on the inside. Instead of golden light fixtures, there were simple lamps with tasteful shades, and soft carpet in place of hard marble flooring. The living room was simple, but all the more effective for it, and the kitchen she could just make out from the doorway was just large enough to get the job done.

    The overall decorum was one she more than approved of, and she felt her nerves disappear as she made her way further in. It was a shame that neither of the twins were here to experience it with her, for she knew they¡¯d enjoy it as well.

    Bianca attempted to push away the pang as she began to follow Agnes into the dining area, only for her to call out, ¡°Oh, you can just leave your belongings by the couch, dear.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Bianca replied gratefully as she let down her pack once more, Ash following suit and letting his drop with a mild thud next to hers, making her wince and ask, ¡°Can we not break our things on the first day, please?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Ash said with a confident grin. ¡°Everything in there is practically unbreakable!¡±

    She rolled her eyes as Hop and Leon passed by, the latter leaving his things next to theirs as they stopped to watch their ¡°argument.¡±

    ¡°First of all,¡± Bianca began with an irritated sigh, ¡°The fact that you said ¡®practically¡¯ just means it is breakable. Second, nothing is actually ¡®unbreakable¡¯, anyway. If someone ever tries to tell you it is, they¡¯re lying. If I catch you buying anything else because it¡¯s ¡®un-something-or-other-able¡¯, I¡¯m going to call your mother so she can spank some sense into you!¡±

    Ash looked appropriately unnerved by her threat and began protesting, ¡°My mother?! Please no, I¡¯d rather you do it yourself than her!¡±

    She couldn¡¯t help but open and close her mouth in shock, resembling a Magikarp in more ways than one while Hop and Leon covered their mouths in a poor attempt at masking their laughs. From the kitchen, Bianca was vaguely aware of Agness exclaiming, ¡°Oh, my!¡±

    Ash looked oblivious to what he insinuated, looking between the brothers and Bianca as he said, ¡°What¡¯s so funny? You don¡¯t know my mom, she can be quite scary when she wants to!¡±

    Bianca looked at him disbelievingly for a few more moments before throwing up her hands and brushing past him, the red fading from her face as her mortification began to dissipate.

    ¡°I think you should have spent more time online than in battles, Ash,¡± she commented as she reached the kitchen and found a man already there, somewhat catching her off guard. As he glanced her way, she could see what an older Leon must look like, although the sharp eyes were traded for gentle ones. ¡°Er, you must be Arthur?¡±

    Her guess was met with a smile and nod as he replied, ¡°I see my wife has already told you about me! Indeed I am, lass. Who might you be?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Bianca, sir,¡± she responded politely, returning his gesture. ¡°I¡¯m..er, friends with Leon and Hop.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t sound so unsure about it!¡± Leon laughed as he came up beside her, Hop in tow. ¡°I know it¡¯s only been a day, but I assure you I¡¯m not so unapproachable that I can¡¯t have friends!¡±

    Ash joined them in time for Hop to snort, ¡°And Sonia isn¡¯t so unapproachable, either, yet¨Cow!¡±

    ¡°Cheeky brat,¡± Leon laughed as his brother rubbed the spot where Leon had cuffed him. ¡°Anyway; Pops, this is Bianca, as you know, and her ¡®friend¡¯ Ash Ketchum.¡±

    She cast a withering look at him as Ash waved and said, ¡°Hey, nice to meet you! I¡¯m Ash, and this is my partner, Pikachu?¡±

    ¡°Pika!¡± The electric mouse chirped as he jumped onto his trainer¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°I thought Bianca was your partner?¡± Hop asked innocently, earning a glare from her and another cuff, this time from his mother.

    Bianca shot her a grateful look as Agnes chided, ¡°Don¡¯t embarrass the poor girl! Some friends you¡¯re being. Please, sit down, dear. Honestly, some boys, I swear!¡±

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Bianca remarked dryly as she pulled out a chair and sat. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with this before, so it¡¯s not like I¡¯m not used to it.¡±

    I¡¯d actually say this is pretty on par with what the twins would say, she thought with a small huff, although her humor was once more tempered by a pang. Despite the two days difference, the absence of the twins was beginning to wear on her, and it went without saying that she dearly missed her grandfather.

    She would definitely have to get his number from Nurse Joy sooner rather than later. One second-hand notification probably wasn¡¯t doing him any favors.

    ¡°Here you go, dears,¡± Agnes said warmly, tearing Bianca from her thoughts as she set a large steaming pot of what looked like stew on the table, only to leave and come back with a large bowl of rice.

    While Bianca wasn¡¯t too sure on that particular combination, she nonetheless pushed the thought to the side as she quickly stood and said, ¡°Here, let me..help?¡±

    She trailed off as Agness then set a massive bowl on the table cradling large, white eggs. They appeared to be roughly the size of Pikachu¡¯s head, or about double the size of Ash¡¯s brain, and seemed wet or slick with something.

    The woman laughed gently and said, ¡°Oh, no need, dear. You¡¯re a guest after all. Please, sit.¡±

    ¡°Uh¡­alright,¡± Bianca said slowly, still staring at the eggs as she sat back down. Hop took the spot to her left, while Ash took to her right side as he set Pikachu in his lap. She briefly took the time to appreciate not being sandwiched by complete strangers before pointing at the eggs and asking, ¡°What are¡­those are eggs, right?¡±

    ¡°Indeed they are,¡± Leon said cheerfully as he sat across from Hop. Seeing her alarmed expression, he quickly assured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they weren¡¯t fertilized. Completely safe to eat.¡±

    She heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, glad she wouldn¡¯t be biting into undeveloped Pokemon. However, this did raise another question.

    ¡°How, though?¡± Bianca asked as Ash received a pair of soft tongs from Arthur and quickly snatched up an egg to put on his plate. ¡°How are they¡­well, not fertilized?¡±

    Ash handed her the utensil and she gave a muted thanks just as Leon replied, ¡°Well, certain species of Pokemon don¡¯t need to be¡­well, interacted with by a male to lay eggs. They just won¡¯t grow into Pokemon. Inert and rather useless to the would-be mother.¡±

    Bianca nodded thoughtfully, taking an egg and passing the tongs to Hop while the Monarch continued, ¡°These happen to be¡­actually, which eggs are these, Ma?¡±

    ¡°I believe Corviknight eggs, sweety,¡± his mom replied with a smile as she watched Hop claim his own egg and pass the tongs on to his brother.

    ¡°Really?¡± Leon said, sounding impressed as he grabbed an egg, inspected it, then nodded and placed it on his plate. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be. I figured they¡¯d be Chansey or Blissey eggs. Really tricky to get Corviknight eggs sometimes, if only because the hen usually eats them herself to regain the energy. How¡¯d you manage it?¡±

    ¡°Professor Magnolia was kind enough to donate them,¡± Agnes replied with a smile as she claimed the last egg. ¡°She¡¯s been helping out quite a few poor dears, and the hens without males have been giving her their eggs as thanks. She always makes sure to feed them, of course.¡±

    Leon nodded, although he did so with a frown as he started spooning rice onto his plate around the egg. ¡°Er, how¡¯d she get them here? She¡¯s kind of getting up there in years¡­but don¡¯t tell her I said that,¡± he finished quickly, leaving the large spoon in the bowl and passing it across to Hop

    His brother received it with a grin. ¡°Who else but Sonia?¡± He was snickering as he served himself before passing it to Bianca, who thanked him as she watched Leon¡¯s eyes widen.

    As Bianca copied the brothers and surrounded her egg with rice, the eldest sibling shifted uncomfortably as he packed the rice around his egg, voice sounding off as he replied, ¡°Ah, of course. That makes sense, haha. Well, I¡¯ll be sure to thank her some time.¡±

    He didn¡¯t meet anyone¡¯s incredulous looks, merely looking up and away from potential eye contact as he waited for everyone to get rice on their plates.

    Ash was passing the bowl to Arthur when Hop leaned towards Bianca and muttered, ¡°As you can see, my brother and Sonia have some history.¡±

    Bianca tilted her head and replied in a low voice, ¡°He seemed fine when he mentioned her on the train¡­¡±

    ¡°He probably left out all the juicy bits,¡± Hop replied with a snicker as pulled back in time to see Leon shooting him an exasperated look. Bianca guiltily shied away, although the man was more focused on playfully scolding his brother.

    ¡°I give you an official starter, and this is how you treat me in return,¡± Leon snorted. ¡°Honestly, if-¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t even get started, you two. By the time you finish bickering, these two will be older than I am now,¡± Arthur interrupted as Bianca turned to see him push the bowl of stew towards Ash. ¡°Pour this curry on your rice, son, and pass the bowl to your companion there. Oh, and let out those new Pokemon of yours. They can fit in here, right?¡±

    Curry, that¡¯s what it¡¯s called, Bianca thought as she watched Ash eagerly nod and pull out Sobble¡¯s ball, releasing the Pokemon before beginning to serve himself. As Ash passed the bowl to her, Sobble began looking around, only to quickly crawl up his trainer¡¯s leg and rest in his lap beside Pikachu.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Bianca said simply, spooning the curry over her rice, a spicy and savory aroma hit her nostrils, and she found her mouth beginning to water.

    Passing the bowl to Hop, Bianca took a moment to lean in and take a look at the curry as the juices soaked into the rice.

    ¡°Are these¡­berries?¡± She asked as she glanced towards Agnes.

    The woman nodded with a smile as the bowl was passed around. ¡°Yes, dear. Mostly Cheri berries, but there are other berries and seasonings as well. One of Hop¡¯s favorite recipes.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡± Hop agreed before releasing Scorbunny from her ball into his lap, the Pokemon looking around before leaning in and curiously sniffing the curry in front of her.

    Bianca listened to this, intrigued. She¡¯d never heard of berries being used for something like this, but then again, she wasn¡¯t one for experimenting in the kitchen.

    ¡°Well, it smells wonderful,¡± she said honestly, finding herself wishing she had gone to Galar sooner. Short of that, actually looking up international dishes to try.

    ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s great!¡± Ash eagerly added, Pikachu giving an affirming chirp. ¡°A few of my friends like to cook, but I¡¯m not sure even they can beat this!¡±

    ¡°Oh, thank you, dears,¡± Agnes said with a soft laugh. ¡°You two are too much. Leon, Hop,¡± she said, her words getting their attention. ¡°You both better make sure they are properly prepared. Mostly you, Leon. You and that Sonia.¡±

    Leon smiled ruefully and nodded. ¡°I know, Ma. Trust me, I want them to be as prepared as possible. All of them.¡±

    But which one most of all? Bianca thought, glancing at the man as he reassured his mother. Ash, or Hop?

    ¡°Bzzzt!¡±

    Bianca slightly jumped as her Rotom Phone shot out and faced the screen towards the table, only to let out what sounded like the noise of a camera before zooming back to Bianca and showing her the screen.

    Almost everyone in frame was looking flabbergasted, with the exception of Leon who merely showed a wry smile. Without a word from her, the Phone then zoomed back from whence it came, earning a nonplussed blink from Bianca and a chuckle from Leon.

    ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve got a bit of a wild one there,¡± the man remarked. ¡°Just be aware of the Rotom doing that in the future. It has a lot of memory, but you¡¯ll probably end up with a wide variety of pictures it decides to take on its own.¡±

    ¡°Great,¡± Bianca sighed. ¡°Of the two of us, I get the spontaneously photographing phone.¡±

    As the brothers snickered, Arthur once more interjected and said, ¡°Anyway, now that everyone is served, do either of you have anyone or anything to pray to? Guardian Pokemon, or something similar?¡±

    ¡°Pray to?¡± She repeated curiously, to which he nodded.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Arthur said with a smile. ¡°We don¡¯t quite have any guardians around here, and I don¡¯t think there are any of the old ones running around, so we pray to Arceus once in a while. I¡¯m curious if you have any you¡¯d like to speak to before we proceed.¡±

    Bianca blinked, nonplussed at the thought. Truthfully, she hadn¡¯t quite considered doing something like that, although that was mostly because she spoke to the guardians on a daily basis¡­or rather, she did before this journey.

    Mentioning them might be risky, but¡­

    ¡°Well,¡± she began slowly, thinking through her answer before speaking it. ¡°My home is said to have two Guardian Pokemon. Just the city, but¡­¡±

    Bianca trailed off as she felt the sensation of Ash staring at her, and she shook off the slight shiver as she pressed on. ¡°I guess those count, but we don¡¯t quite pray to them, as they¡¯re pretty much just Legends¡­¡±

    To most, at least, she thought privately as the Galarian family listened with interest. Pushing it aside, she continued thoughtfully, ¡°I suppose there¡¯s also Kyogre, but¡­well, he¡¯s not exactly exclusive to my home.¡± She laughed awkwardly as she finished, feeling Ash¡¯s stare subside as he focused back on his food.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Arthur said, picking up his fork and knife, and beginning to cut into his egg. ¡°If I might ask, where is your home? And yours, young man, if you don¡¯t mind.¡±

    Ash and Bianca exchanged looks, and she could almost feel the conversation before she coughed into her fist and replied, ¡°Er, I¡¯m from Alto Mare, off the coast of Johto.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s quite far,¡± Agnes said as she copied her husband. ¡°And you? Where do you call home?¡±

    ¡°Hm, well, tough to say,¡± Ash chuckled. He elaborated a moment later by saying, ¡°I was born and raised in the Kanto region, but I also have a home in Alola, with Kukui and Professor Professor Burnet.¡±

    Hop snorted beside her and said, ¡°You¡¯re friends with professors as well, eh? I guess it¡¯s fate that Champions form close bonds with their professor before taking the title! Just look at Lee!¡±

    ¡°Er, right,¡± Leon stiffly agreed, quickly adding a moment later, ¡°In any case, I¡¯m glad you have such close bonds with these professors, Ash. Should you ever settle in¡­Alola, communication between Champion and Professor will be critical.¡±

    Does no one else notice? Bianca thought after Leon finished speaking. Honestly, it¡¯s like he¡¯s waving a giant flag saying ¡°I¡¯m invested in Ash Ketchum.¡±

    She quietly scoffed before taking her first bite of the curry, only for her eyes to fly open as the flavors exploded in her mouth. The ingredients shouldn¡¯t have gone together as well as they did, but as she chewed and swallowed the mouthful, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but praise it. It really was-

    ¡°Delicious!¡± She said, turning to Agnes with an astonished expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know how, but¡­¡±

    Bianca trailed off, unable to find the words. Fortunately, the woman seemed to understand, and smiled as she said, ¡°Oh, thank you, dear. If you¡¯d like, I can give you the recipe so you can try making it for yourselves on your journey.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯d be great!¡± Ash exclaimed, drawing Bianca¡¯s attention to him, and then to his already half-eaten plate. As Bianca pondered how much Ash¡¯s stomach could actually hold, the trainer continued in a bright voice, ¡°We can make it on the first night, too!¡±

    ¡°Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren¡¯t you?¡± Bianca commenced with a small smile before taking another bite of curry.

    ¡°Am I?¡± Ash asked before shaking his head. ¡°Hey, this stuff is good! How could I not want to make it? Anyway,¡± he continued with a cheerful and confident nod towards Leon.¡°Maybe one day I can do the same in Kanto with Professor Oak!¡±

    ¡°Try focusing on Galar first,¡± Leon laughed. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have fun in the Indigo League, but not before battling my little brother for the right to challenge me!¡±

    Bianca briefly paused in her eating as she glanced over to Hop, the newfound trainer leaning forward with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely be the one battling you, Lee! Just because I¡¯ll be going up against two Champions doesn¡¯t mean I plan on losing to either of you!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Hop!¡± Ash said, Bianca turning to him and furrowing her eyebrows at his suddenly empty plate. ¡°I¡¯ll give you the best battle you can hope for! Well, apart from Leon, that is,¡± he added as an afterthought.

    Bianca dragged her eyes away from Ash and looked to Arthur as the man laughed jovially. ¡°Well, quite the rivalry you three have! So fast, too. I can¡¯t wait to see these matches on the telly. In the meantime,¡± he said, clearing his throat as he turned to meet Bianca¡¯s gaze. ¡°Where is this ¡®Alto Mare¡¯, lass? Can¡¯t say I¡¯ve heard of it. How far off the coast are we talking?¡±

    She shook her head and swallowed before quickly supplying, ¡°I¡¯m not really surprised that you haven¡¯t. It¡¯s not exactly Goldenrod or Wyndon, and we aren¡¯t known for much, apart from the Tour de Alto Mare, our annual race.¡±

    ¡°A race, huh? That sounds exciting!¡± Hop said with a wide grin. ¡°Is it around the island or something?¡±

    Bianca shook her head. ¡°Alto Mare isn¡¯t on an island. It¡¯s just a city built on stone. I think it might have been on land at some point, but¡­a flood happened a long time ago, so now it¡¯s just¡­there,¡± she finished lamely.

    Agnes pursed her lips before saying, ¡°Oh, that sounds quite scary, being so vulnerable to storms and what have you. Don¡¯t you worry about tsunamis and such?¡±

    ¡°I mean, it can get scary sometimes,¡± Bianca admitted, although she certainly wasn¡¯t going to specify why. ¡°But we¡¯ve been lucky so far.¡±

    If just barely.

    ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Arthur commented as he thoughtfully ate away at his food. ¡°So, what was it that made you want to travel all the way out here? I can¡¯t imagine you had a sudden change of heart about staying in your city.¡±

    Bianca opened her mouth to reply, only to close it as she looked at Hop with mild suspicion. If she wasn¡¯t careful with how she replied, what kind of comments could she expect to receive about her and Ash?

    Deciding to err on the side of caution, she thought quickly and said, ¡°I was a bit tired of painting my city over and over again. Ash came by after his trip to Alola, and I joined via coercion to join him on his next outing.¡±

    Not quite false, but nothing to get any worthwhile reactions from.

    ¡°Blink twice fast if you need help,¡± Hop snorted before going back to his food, prompting Bianca to roll her eyes good-naturedlygood naturedly.

    ¡°Oh, posh,¡± Arthur said with a chuckle. ¡°I doubt Bianca would have stayed with him if she truly did not wish to.¡±

    ¡°No, I certainly would not have,¡± she confirmed, shooting Ash a warm smile, the trainer returning it brightly before rubbing Pikachu¡¯s ears, much to the rat¡¯s enjoyment. She huffed in amusement and turned back to Arthur as she continued, ¡°He can be a handful, but so far, I don¡¯t regret this. I do miss my family, though. I haven¡¯t been without them since¡­well, ever.¡±

    The couple shot her sympathetic looks, Agnes cupping her own cheek. ¡°Oh, you poor dear,¡± she sighed. ¡°I understand. You should have seen Leon when he first left the nest-¡±

    ¡°Ma!¡±

    ¡°-came back a few times before finding his wings,¡± she said, Bianca¡¯s lip curling up into a small smile as the woman ignored her son¡¯s protest. However, her smile was instantly killed as Agnes continued, ¡°And like any parent should, we welcomed him back with open arms. I¡¯m sure the same applies to you as well, dear.¡±

    Her jaw clenched as Agnes finished speaking. What was her luck, or rather lack thereof? It seemed everyone was destined to bring up her parents. Granted, this time it was on her. If she had just kept her mouth shut, she could have avoided this, but still.

    What was she to do?

    Her expression must have given away her mood, for Arthur frowned and opened his mouth to say something, and she tensed in preparation. However, before he could get a word out, Ash beat him to the punch.

    ¡°Totally!¡± The trainer said, startling Bianca as she turned to face him with furrowed eyebrows. What was he getting at? She blinked as he shot her a quick glance before continuing with a bright tone, ¡°Her family¡¯s great! In fact, I miss them, too, and I barely met them! My mom is the same way with me, although I think that¡¯s because I kinda drive her a little crazy with some of the stuff I get into, haha. There was one time¡­¡±

    As Ash drew the eyes of everyone to him with a tale about some far-off islands, Bianca felt a rush of warmth and gratitude towards him. Taking the heat off of her was quite selfless, even if the story seemed a bit fantastical¡­ then again, meeting the incarnations of storms and elements wasn¡¯t too much of a step up from her knowing the Twins her whole life.

    Even if the difference in danger was a bit different.

    ¡°You¡¯re telling me you met Lugia?¡± Came Hop¡¯s disbelieving voice, dragging her back to the conversation at hand. ¡°And not just met, but also helped?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it was kind of intense,¡± Ash said with a small smile. ¡°Which is why my mom didn¡¯t really like it¡­but she also understood why I did it. I¡¯m not sure how she felt about everything that happened on all my other travels, though¡­¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but snort as she picked apart her food. ¡°Knowing you and from what little you¡¯ve told me, I really don¡¯t know how Mrs Ketchum hasn¡¯t had a heart attack yet.¡±

    ¡°Me neither,¡± he agreed with a chuckle before letting out a sigh and sagging in his seat. ¡°Man, that was amazing!¡±

    ¡°Told you, mate!¡± Hop grinned as he also leaned back. ¡°Mum has the best cooking you¡¯ll ever have.¡±

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes at Ash¡¯s manners, but she couldn¡¯t disagree with either boy. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong there,¡± Bianca said as she pierced several pieces of food with her fork. ¡°Also, sit up, Ash. You¡¯re gonna break the chair.¡±

    As the trainer pouted, Agnes giggled and waved her off. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s fine dear. These chairs have held their own against far worse. I¡¯m just glad everyone enjoyed it!¡±

    ¡°Hard not to, Ma,¡± Leon chuckled as he too finished his meal. ¡°I just hope our new trainer is willing to part with it!¡±

    Hop perked up, gently slapping the table as he exclaimed, ¡°Of course I am! Not that I won¡¯t miss it, of course.¡± He looked at his mom guiltily as he said that, only to regain his confidence. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to get some recipes from her!¡±

    ¡°Are you willing to drag everything you need around the entire region?¡± Agnes countered in amusement. ¡°If so, I have no issues giving you a few techniques.¡±

    That seemed to slow him down, the boy pausing as he considered her words. ¡°...Exactly what would I need to drag around?¡± He finally asked, looking at his mom intently.

    ¡°Oh my, such a determined young man!¡± Agnes laughed before settling and pursing her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s see, you¡¯ll need a pot, of course, but because you can¡¯t carry around a stove or anything of the sort, you¡¯ll need a fire starter-¡±

    ¡°Scor!¡± The little white Pokemon exclaimed, drawing laughs from everyone as the Pokemon leapt up to the table and stood defiantly in front of Hop.

    The trainer snorted and ruffled her ears, earning a small frown that Hop didn¡¯t seem to catch as he said, ¡°Got that covered, it seems. Still, wouldn¡¯t hurt to carry around a flint and steel, just in case. What else?¡±

    ¡°The ingredients will probably be the hardest part,¡± Agnes admitted, only for Leon to wave his hand.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry too much about that, Ma. The amount of ingredients you can pick up from stores in the cities are cheap enough to get, not to mention the occasional merchant,¡± he explained with a smile. ¡± There are plenty of trees that grow berries as well. All three of them should, in theory, have no trouble getting the base of the curry. It¡¯s the cooking utensils you have to worry about.¡±

    Ash nodded as he gave attention to his Pokemon. ¡°Yeah, but it¡¯s not so bad. If you¡¯re just cooking for one person, that¡¯s like half the stuff you¡¯ll have to carry! Or, you could travel with us,¡± Ash suggested, only for Bianca to shoot him a small glare.

    Fortunately, Hop waved him off with a smile and said, ¡°Nah, that can¡¯t work, mate. We¡¯re rivals, and it just won¡¯t do if we see how the other trains their Pokemon, will it?¡±

    Ash shot him a surprised look before grinning andt nodding. ¡°Yeah, alright. Rivals it is!¡±

    Everyone watched with a smile as the two reached forward and shook hands, although Bianca was mildly irritated that they reached across her space to do it.

    As they parted, Leon said, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing you¡¯ve settled that now, because after this, we¡¯re headed to Professor Magnolia¡¯s so you two can get the last things before your journey¡­as well as a Pokemon match.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!¡± Hop cheered, Scorbunny sniffing in mild disdain.

    Meanwhile, Ash leaned down and picked up Sobble off the ground, placing the Pokemon next to the empty plate as he asked, ¡°What do you think, Sobble? Ready for your first Pokemon battle?¡±

    The Pokemon looked up at him nervously before leveling his stare at Scorbunny and shivering. His counterpart looked right back at him with a small glare before Sobble gave a nearly imperceivable nod as the two stared at each other; One with nervousness despite the type advantage, the other defiant in spite of it.

    While she herself was not going to be partaking in the battle for obvious reasons, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but look forward to the upcoming match.

 The End of the Beginning

    Bianca was hardly delighted with how this journey was starting. It wasn¡¯t awful, but there was certainly an element of preparedness required that the impatient part of her hoped she could skip. The day, or rather <i>days, </i>were beginning to blur, and she blamed it on them going from point ¡°A¡± to ¡°B¡± to ¡°C¡±, and at this rate, all the way to ¡°Z¡±.

    Boat to Goldenrod. Taxi ride (never again) to the airport. Plane to Wyndon, where she was finally allowed a little sleep (only after learning her traveling companion was the strongest trainer in Alola), only to be walking around again for supplies and then getting stalked by the strongest trainer<i> in the world</i> whilst being attacked by a trio of rhyming idiots. After their defeat, they then talked to the aforementioned trainer before they were given the time to rest and eat.

    All of that in one-ish day, and it wasn¡¯t even over. After a train ride, they were taken to a house where they were thankfully given lunch, only to be yanked back out and on the way to the professors. Bianca very much expected to be pulled in some other direction ten times over before they were finally allowed to just¡­be alone.

    It wasn¡¯t a thought she¡¯d ever dreamed of having, but given the events as of late, only dealing with Ash and his antics was a more desirable route than everyone else¡¯s.

    She didn¡¯t <i>hate </i>Leon or his family; they had been incredibly kind and hospitable, even if the cause was a little more than suspiciously nepotic.

    The energy from the family was what got to her, however. Both brothers were quite excitable, and dare she say <i>stranger</i> than the Twins, and it was only her familiarity with the draconic siblings that allowed her to be at ease with their behavior. Needless to say, she didn¡¯t have that with Leon or Hop. Despite their kindness, they were for all intents and purposes¡­strangers.

    Hell, even though she now considered Ash to be something of a friend, he was still a little unfamiliar to her. He was fairly easy to read, sure, but there was a barrier of <i>newness </i>that prevented them from really clicking.

    Well, for her.

    <i>He just plods along like a Growlithe, </i>she thought as the corner of her mouth twitched upwards. A strong Growlithe, sure, but there was no denying he had a kind of innocent happiness to him that was rare among people his age¡­

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait to go out there and see all those Pokemon!¡± Hop exclaimed as he pounded a fist into his open palm. ¡°I¡¯m gonna befriend the first Pokemon I catch, which¡¯ll also be the first Pokemon I see!¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s the spirit I like to see!¡± Leon said approvingly.

    ¡­<i>present company excluded, </i>Bianca thought with a small shake of her head. By some stroke of luck or unluck, she managed to meet three people who shared a brain cell among them. A brain cell that happened to win two of them Championship titles, but a brain cell nonetheless.

    Now the question was if Hop was next in line.

    ¡°I kinda angered the first Pokemon I saw,¡± Ash said, bringing Bianca¡¯s focus back onto him. ¡°So just bear that in mind.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I don¡¯t think Hop is going to throw a <i>rock </i>at a Pokemon,¡± she snorted, earning a ducking head from Ash and a disbelieving look from Hop.

    ¡°You did <i>what</i>, mate?¡±

    Ash sighed, shooting a glum look at Bianca that she internally laughed at before replying to Hop in a defeated tone, ¡°I¡­threw a rock at a Spearow on my first day and its flock attacked me and Pikachu.¡±

    Hop stared at his fellow trainer for a moment before looking at his brother and asking, ¡°You¡¯re sure that¡¯s the Alola Champion, Lee?¡±

    Bianca had to use every ounce of self-control to not bust out laughing, eyes watering at the effort. Pikachu didn¡¯t bother with such effort, using all of it to hang on to Ash¡¯s shirt as the rodent wheezed from his position on his trainer¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°That¡¯s not very nice,¡± Leon chided his brother, although it was difficult to ignore his heavily twitching lips. ¡°And yes, I¡¯m sure. I¡¯ve seen him fight, both on screen and in person. However, the latter was quite brief, which is why we¡¯re headed to the Professors now to get a proper assessment.¡±

    ¡°I thought there¡¯d be some kind of¡­I don¡¯t know, process to this? Maybe one unified building or something,¡± Bianca remarked, earning a chuckle from Leon.

    ¡°That would certainly cut back on walking,¡± he conceded before shooting her an amused look. ¡°But the more complex a process, the more complications are likely to arise. Separate parts moving independently can be tedious, I¡¯ll admit. But I¡¯ve found that putting them together in one machine makes it worse.¡±

    Bianca pursed her lips, thinking his words over. She certainly couldn¡¯t deny his truth; putting everything in one pot tended to complicate anything that wasn¡¯t food.

    Didn¡¯t mean she had to like it.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess that¡¯s fair,¡± she said, admitting defeat. ¡°Still, I figured Ash and I would be traveling by now. Like, properly journeying and stuff.¡±

    ¡°Think of it like the journey to our journey,¡± Ash said with a grin. ¡°There¡¯s always a little boring before the fun, and traveling is no different. Besides, I¡¯m willing to bet there will be times when you¡¯re bored on the road, too. It¡¯s not all battles¡­sadly.¡±

    She could only shrug at that, figuring as much. ¡°Yes, very sad. Anyway, it¡¯s still something I¡¯m itching to get into. Not knowing where I¡¯m being yanked from one moment to another is jarring, to say the least.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Leon promised confidently. ¡°This should be the last stop, anyway¡­er, not counting the train station again. Of course, that depends on how long you plan on traveling with Ash, or even if Ash decides to continue traveling after he¡­competes.¡±

    <i>There it is again, </i>Bianca thought, although aloud, she said, ¡°I guess that¡¯s fair. I¡¯m still not sure yet if I¡¯ll be able to even go the full journey, but we¡¯ll see.¡±

    That certainly caught Ash¡¯s attention, and she could see him turn to her with a small frown as he asked, ¡°Wait, you might not go the full way?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m flattered that you seem to want me to go the entire distance,¡± Bianca wryly remarked. ¡°But remember that my grandfather said I could go back any time I wanted. Not to mention my friend, who I¡¯m <i>sure </i>you remember said he¡¯d come find me if need be.¡±

    Ash shivered at that, although that quickly passed once he resumed his contemplative frown.

    Feeling as though she perhaps went a little too far with her joke, she acquiesced and said, ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. I don¡¯t have the urge to strangle you right now, despite your <i>unfortunate </i>choice of words back at the house, so you¡¯re doing well enough.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Ash practically cheered, only to frown again and say, ¡°Wait, what unfortunate wor-¡±

    ¡°<i>Anyway,</i>¡± Leon interrupted, saving Bianca, ¡°we should be there really soon. So definitely make a good first impression, not that I don¡¯t think you will.¡±

    Unfortunately for Leon, this was the perfect leverage for Hop. The younger brother gave a mischievous grin as he said, ¡°Oh, definitely. We wouldn¡¯t want to look bad in front of your¡­girlfriend? Fiance? Where you at with her these days¡ªOW!¡±

    ¡°Enough of that!¡± The eldest sibling insisted with a flushed face. ¡°This is what I mean by¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡®First Impressions?¡¯¡±

    A voice brought their attention to the side of the road where a young woman with bright orange hair was watching them from underneath a tree with crossed arms and a coy expression.

    ¡°S-Sonia!¡± Leon squeaked, his voice going an octave higher. ¡°What a surprise to see you here! Er, how much of that did you-?¡±

    ¡°Aww, look at Hop!¡± The woman interrupted in a cheery voice as she stepped out from underneath the canopy. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d finally start, up until I got that message from your older brother! I see he¡¯s finally seen some sense in letting you wander off. And who are these adorable additions you have with you?¡±

    Needless to say, Bianca was caught off guard by the woman¡¯s behavior as she approached them, cyan eyes glimmering with curiosity and intelligence. Now that she was closer, Bianca could make out the heart-shaped clips in the woman¡¯s hair, the pink someone not clashing with her orange hair in the slightest. Whatever she had been expecting from Sonia when she first heard of the woman, it hadn¡¯t been this.

    Although to be fair, she didn¡¯t really know <i>what </i>to expect anyway.

    ¡°Er, hi!¡± Ash said brightly, bringing Sonia¡¯s gaze to him as he attempted to continue. ¡°I¡¯m Ash, from-¡±

    ¡°Pallet Town!¡± Sonia interrupted once more, clapping her hands together. ¡°I recognize you now, Alolan Champion/ Welcome to Galar, Ash Ketchum! Here to take the crown from Leon so he can finally stay here in Postwick?¡±

    ¡°Uh¡ª¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re not, but it¡¯d certainly help out a bunch,¡± the woman hummed, shooting the nonplussed boy an amused smirk. ¡°Of course, you¡¯re going to have to battle Hop for that right. Naturally, I¡¯ll have to root for him. Babysitter¡¯s duty, after all! But I won¡¯t be <i>too </i>petty if you¡¯re the one to take his crown. And who¡¯s your friend? Or maybe girlfriend?¡±

    Bianca rolled her eyes even as Sonia focused on her. ¡°Just friend,¡± she sighed in annoyance, ¡°but it¡¯s¡­nice to meet you. I¡¯m Bianca, from Alto Mare.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, Alto Mare!¡± Sonia gushed with sparkling eyes. ¡°Such a beautiful city, and their architecture is to die for! And that¡¯s not even getting into your clothes. That outfit is positively <i>adorable;</i> we¡¯re going to have to talk more about fashion later!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but the last person that wanted to talk ¡®fashion¡¯ with me attempted to kill a bunch of people, including myself,¡± she dryly stated with a mild grimace, Ash coughing into his fist while Leon and Hop turned to her with twin looks of disbelief.

    Sonia merely blinked with a look of sympathy. ¡°Ah, you must be¡­¡± she began, only to shake her head and adopt a brighter expression. ¡±Well, I¡¯d say you¡¯re looking pretty spry, despite that! As for that little incident, professors do tend to hear things down the grapevine once in a while.¡±

    <i>Professors? Grapevine?</i>

    Bianca didn¡¯t like the sound of that, and she couldn¡¯t help but glance at Ash with a small frown. By some stroke of luck, he seemed to pick up on the silent question, and he slightly shook his head, adding in a subtle shrug.

    <i>I¡¯ll talk to him later,</i> she resolved, not wanting to interrogate him in front of everyone. Right now, she had a duty to see what the professor knew and hopefully squash rumors before they spread further.

    ¡°What exactly¡­did you hear?¡± She risked asking in the hope that Sonia didn¡¯t know any sensitive details.

    That hope was rewarded with Sonia tilting her head in thought, placing a finger on her chin as she replied, ¡°Well, not much. Only thing I know is that two miscreants tried to tamper with Alto Mare¡¯s curious little device. They didn¡¯t get very far, and apart from attacking a couple people, nothing came of it.¡±

    Bianca merely nodded, allowing herself to relax. It didn¡¯t seem as though the woman knew anything beyond what the public of Alto Mare did, and though it was somewhat odd that the news managed to find its way across the globe, nothing about the Twins or Soul Dew was compromised. She allowed a small smile and replied, ¡°Well, nothing bad happened, that¡¯s the important part.¡±

    ¡°Oh, certainly,¡± Sonia agreed with another clap of her hands. ¡°A double tragedy was averted, and I still get a chance to take Leon there on a little outing. Speaking of; how has our Champion been?¡±

    The woman practically purred as she finally turned to face the man, a couple of fingers twirling her hair around. ¡°Been a little too long, don¡¯t you think? You almost never stop by, at least when I¡¯m all alone at Granny¡¯s.¡±

    <i>And now it¡¯s awkward,</i> Bianca thought as she coughed into her fist and looked away. After getting a rough idea about the situation between Sonia and Leon from the latter¡¯s parents, it was certainly something to behold in person. A glance at Ash told her he had no clue what was going on between them, merely wearing his signature peaceful smile as Pikachu lounged on his shoulder to the best of his ability.

    Glancing away from the dense idiot, Bianca looked at Hop and his gleeful expression as he observed the pair. It was blindingly obvious that while the younger brother approved of Leon and Sonia getting together, he also took great enjoyment in the agonizing awkwardness on his brother¡¯s end.

    Bianca sighed, shaking her head as she adjusted the strap of her bag; she was just here for the battle. Lingering on somebody else¡¯s relationship problems wasn¡¯t going to accomplish anything right now.

    Sonia, for her part, rolled her eyes but didn¡¯t outright protest the situation, though her cheeks were ever-so-slightly tinged pink. ¡°Right, well, if we¡¯re all done standing around looking like a bunch of Slowpoke, we should probably get going. Gran is expecting us, and I imagine you trainers are eager to start your journey.¡±

    ¡°Great call,¡± Leon agreed quickly, the group once more began moving. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be too far, anyway. Just a few minutes, in fact; I can already see it!¡±

    Bianca looked towards where he seemed to be pointing, and could see a figure standing outside of a large, rectangular stone structure, seemingly looking at them.

    ¡°Oh, that must be Gran,¡± Sonia sighed with a shake of her head. ¡°We¡¯d better hurry along before she collapses and starts beating me over the head with her cane for trying to help her up.¡±

    ¡°That sounds like my Grandpa,¡± Bianca huffed in amusement as they slightly picked up the pace. ¡°He always told us it¡¯d be better if we just let him stay there and perish rather than let him live with wounded pride. I should probably figure out a way to contact him, now that I¡¯m thinking about it.¡±

    ¡°Us?¡± Sonia questioned, making Bianca stiffen temporarily. ¡°You and Ash?¡±

    ¡°Other friends,¡± she answered quickly, internally cursing herself. Something as small as using ¡°we¡± and ¡°us¡± instead of ¡°I¡± was going to blow Latias-sized holes in her story if she didn¡¯t figure something out.

    <i>And I thought </i>Ash <i>was a possible security concern, </i>she bemoaned in her mind.

    As if to rub her hypocrisy into her face, Ash saved her from having to spout some random cover story by casually saying, ¡°Well, if your Gran is anything like Bianca¡¯s granddad, I look forward to meeting her.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll see,¡± Sonia awkwardly laughed, Hop snorting in amusement. ¡°She can certainly be a firecracker.¡±

    Bianca nodded, but not before shooting Ash a grateful look. For a human-shaped Growlithe, he was certainly clever on his feet when he wanted to be.

    Resolving to properly thank him later, Bianca looked ahead of them as they gradually got closer to the figure, now visible as an elderly woman hunched over a cane. The woman shared none of Sonia¡¯s looks, nor did she seem to have any of the younger woman¡¯s warmth.

    <i>Yup. Definitely like Gramps.</i>

    When they were but ten feet away from the severe-looking woman, Sonia turned her head and said, ¡°Bianca, Ash, this is Professor Magnolia.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Sonia,¡± the old woman grunted with a small nod, before looking towards her granddaughter¡¯s companions. ¡°Hello, youngins. Leon, good to see you¡¯re still an idiot. Hop, finally spreading your wings, are you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Hop declared proudly, ignoring Leon¡¯s dramatic droop. ¡°Finally starting my journey, thanks to Lee!¡±

    Magnolia tapped her cane against the ground with a knowing hum. ¡°Hmph. About time. Now, these other two¡ªwho are they?¡±

    Bianca blinked as the woman slowly approached, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. Hop, undeterred, grinned as he gestured to the group. ¡°Guys, meet Professor Magnolia! She¡¯s the head Pok¨¦mon professor in Galar.¡±

    ¡°Something like that,¡± the professor admitted, peering at them over the rim of her glasses. ¡°Sonia is next in line, of course, but what Hop says is true. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you all¡ªand to see that Hop has proper friends for once.¡±

    Ouch. Bianca winced in sympathy but kept her reaction to a polite smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you as well. My name is Bianca¡ªI¡¯m from Alto Mare, in Johto.¡±

    ¡°I know where that is, youngin¡¯. Been there myself,¡± Magnolia grunted, making Bianca straighten in surprise. ¡°Not for some years now, of course, but I certainly know my way around the city. Sadly, its guardians never cared to reveal themselves. Maybe next time.¡±

    ¡°Its¡­ guardians,¡± Bianca echoed stiffly, licking her lips. ¡°What¡­what makes you think they actually exist? No one¡ª¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure they exist,¡± Magnolia interrupted, her tone casual¡ªperhaps too casual. ¡°Just as I¡¯m sure at least a few people have seen them. After all, who would build that curious mechanism in the museum if not to be used?¡±

    Bianca swallowed hard, suddenly hyper-aware of Ash standing nearby. She avoided looking at him, afraid of giving something away. Sonia, Hop, and Leon, however, were already exchanging curious glances, clearly intrigued by the exchange.

    ¡°But maybe I¡¯m just spouting steam,¡± Magnolia sighed dramatically, waving a hand. ¡°Perhaps I just hoped to see a legend come to life. It would certainly be a pity for that legend to be a mere story built around a sculpture. Now as for the runt with the Pikachu; what are you doing in Galar? Surely not the League circuit.¡±

    The abrupt shift of focus caught Bianca off guard, although she was glad Magnolia¡¯s attention got off of her for the time being.

    ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Ash Ketchum¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, I have eyes.¡±

    ¡°¡ªand I¡¯m here to compete in the tournament!¡± Ash finished, not letting the interruption dissuade him.

    However, Bianca couldn¡¯t help but notice that he still didn¡¯t specify <i>which </i>tournament, something Magnolia seemed to pick up on as she raised one eyebrow.

    ¡°Well?¡± She snapped. ¡°Which tournament? Monarch? Regional? Who can be the most vague, which is it?¡±

    ¡°Er, I don¡¯t know yet,¡± Ash admitted, causing Leon to purse his lips and Magnolia to shake her head.

    ¡°Youth these days,¡± the woman muttered. ¡°You¡¯d better choose fast, sonny. I don¡¯t care how many Championship titles you have under your belt; if you challenge the Monarch with an ¡®I don¡¯t know¡¯ attitude, the only title you¡¯re winning is Dumbest Trainer in the World. Leon, dangle those letters you have in front of them and see if you can¡¯t get them properly motivated.¡±

    At once, the professor turned and hobbled towards the court, leaving an amused group and gobsmacked Ash behind.

    Hop chuckled and clapped Ash on the back. ¡°Like Sonia said; firecracker. Now let¡¯s go get those letters, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Y-yeah!¡± Ash said, quickly recovering as the two sprinted ahead, leaving the rest of them in the dust as they raced toward the court. Leon shook his head and chuckled, following shortly behind as he followed his brother and fellow champion to the battlefield.

    Bianca had no idea how they managed to run with all that gear strapped to their backs, nor did she have any desire to try. No, she was perfectly content to walk the short distance, thank you very much¡ªespecially given how much was still weighing on her mind.

    If Magnolia or Sonia had lingering questions about Alto Mare, they chose not to voice them. Whether out of luck or politeness, Bianca wasn¡¯t sure, but she welcomed the silence as they crossed the remaining distance.

    Once at the court, she carefully set her bag down next to where Hop and Ash placed theirs and turned her attention to the battle.

    ¡°You and Hop are going to battle to see if you¡¯re truly worthy of that endorsement letter!¡±

    <i>As if you weren¡¯t just going to give Ash one anyway</i>, Bianca thought dryly.

    She watched as the two boys grinned at each other before dashing to opposite ends of the court. But just as Ash was about to get into position, he hesitated, his expression shifting into a slight frown. Glancing at the professor, he asked, ¡°Sobble has the type advantage, though. Is this fair?¡±

    ¡°Mate, if you¡¯re worried about having the type advantage,¡± Hop began, pulling another ball out from behind his back. ¡°I can always use my Wooloo on top of Scorbunny. He¡¯s got a couple of years of basic training, but nothing too fancy, which means he should be a reasonable rival for a newbie.¡±

    ¡°A Wooloo, huh?¡± Ash cocked his head thoughtfully before looking down at his new Pokemon. ¡°Whatcha think, Sobble? Think you can take two Pokemon in a row? Pikachu won¡¯t be there to help you.¡±

    ¡°Pi?!¡± His mouse protested, his outraged expression making Bianca giggle.

    Ash turned towards his Pokemon with a rueful grin. ¡°Sorry, bud, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s quite fair, unless you¡¯re willing to hold back a whole bunch.¡±

    ¡°...Pika,¡± came the grumpy reply, the electric type looking annoyed as he sat back with a small puff of dirt.

    ¡°Just Sobble?¡± Hop asked with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You sure you don¡¯t want to use Pikachu, or any other Pokemon?¡±

    Ash shook his head, making Pikachu slump in defeat. ¡°Nope, Pikachu is a little too strong, and he doesn¡¯t like holding back. Plus, I don¡¯t carry any other Pokemon with me to a new region, just to keep things fresh.¡±

    Hop stared for a moment then shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re strange, mate, but whatever floats your boat. Now, are you ready?¡± He asked, pulling a ball from behind him.

    ¡°Always,¡± Ash replied with an excited grin. ¡°Sobble, you¡¯re up!¡±

    ¡°S-sob!¡± The Pokemon chirped in surprise as joined his trainer.

    ¡°Closer to the center of the field, Sobble. About halfway from there to here,¡± Ash instructed gently, Sobble quickly adjusting his positioning.

    Bianca couldn¡¯t help but slowly nod at his calm and encouraging tone towards the young Pokemon, something she was sure the twins would approve of as well. However, that smile quickly turned into a scowl as both of their phones flew from their pockets and aimed themselves at the field without prompting. From what she could see on her own screen, it seemed they were recording the battle.

    She had no idea why they decided to do that without any instructions from either of them, but complaining now wouldn¡¯t accomplish anything. After all, she could try sending the video home so her grandfather and the twins could watch¡ªas soon as she figured out how to do that.

    Meanwhile, Hop nodded and threw the ball forward, releasing a large-ish white ball of wool onto the court and catching the now empty ball with a clearly practiced hand. Ash leaned forward with an intrigued smile before adopting an ever so slightly serious look.

    Sonia and Magnolia stood back as Leon positioned himself at the edge of the field, raising an arm as he called out, ¡°Both trainers, on my mark¡­begin!¡±

    The man snapped his hand down, and Hop cheered, ¡°Time for my first proper win. Wooloo, let¡¯s get this started with a Tackle!¡±

    ¡°Woo!¡± The Pokemon bleated before curling itself up and rolling forward rapidly.

    ¡°Tackle, huh?¡± Ash mused for a moment, intently watching before grinning. ¡°Pretty straightforward. Sobble, dodge to the side and use Tackle as well!¡±

    The Pokemon managed to avoid being hit in the nick of time, jumping to the side of the oncoming wool sphere before leaping forward and bumping into Wooloo just as the larger Pokemon stopped. Unfortunately, it seemed the paltry attack didn¡¯t faze it at all,  the Wooloo barely jolting as it whirled around to face Sobble once more.

    ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t work as planned,¡± Ash mused, not sounding concerned at all. ¡°Alright, Sobble, let¡¯s try something else.¡±

    Bianca waited for him to elaborate, as did Sobble judging from his expectant look, but Ash merely stayed silent in anticipation of Hop¡¯s next command.

    Hop looked confused at the lack of movement, but shrugged and quickly ordered, ¡°Alright, Wooloo, let¡¯s go for Double Kick!¡±

    ¡°Move, Sobble!¡± Ash cried out to little avail, as while Wooloo failed to hit the first time, the second kick struck Sobble, sending the little guy tumbling towards Ash and making Bianca wince in sympathy.

    <i>That didn¡¯t look ticklish,</i> she noted grimly.

    Her heart further ached for Sobble as he struggled to get up, looking up at Ash with tears threatening to fall from his large watery eyes. Bianca also glanced towards the trainer in the hopes he would do something, and was relieved to see he noticed Sobble¡¯s state.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ash asked with a concerned frown. ¡°Can you continue, or would you like me to forfeit?¡±

    Sobble hesitated for a moment before shaking his head, standing up straight and facing Wooloo. Ash smiled and nodded, before turning to Leon and asking, ¡°Do we have to stay inside the court, or can we go a little bit outside of it?¡±

    <i>What a strange question, </i>Bianca thought, not sure where Ash was going with this.

    The man hesitated before responding, ¡°I don¡¯t see why not, just as long as neither Pokemon is running away.¡±

    He was clearly curious to see what Ash had up his sleeve, and Bianca along with the two professors turned back to the trainer, just as intrigued.

    <i>What are you planning, Ash Ketchum?</i>

    ¡°Alright, Sobble, get to the edge of the field and soak that dirt with a Water Gun!... Er, if you have Water Gun, that is,¡± Ash finished lamely, making Bianca snort while simultaneously deepening her confusion.

    Huh?

    Leon looked as perplexed as Bianca felt, although he said nothing as Sobble hesitated before obeying his trainer, the dirt turning to mud quickly as water gushed from his mouth.

    Hop shook his head and said, ¡°This is a Pokemon battle, not a mud-making contest! Flatten the little guy with Tackle, Wooloo, and keep at it.¡±

    Wooloo quickly tucked itself back into a ball and raced towards Sobble, although with a swift command of ¡°dodge!¡± from Ash, it missed. Still, Wooloo was determined to follow its trainer¡¯s order and swiftly turned before launching another attack.

    ¡°Dodge again and start digging into the mud with your tail!¡± Ash commanded, further driving Bianca crazy. What was Ash planning? Hide Sobble until Wooloo becomes exhausted?

    Still, the little blue Pokemon obeyed, shutting off his Water Gun and rapidly leaping to the side once more before scooping out globs of mud as quickly as he could, making surprising progress before Wooloo turned around for another pass.

    ¡°This is just wrong, mate,¡± Hop commented. ¡°Finish this, Wooloo, keep on that Sobble!¡±

    ¡°Alright, Sobble, stand in front of that hole and wait for my command!¡± Ash quickly said, his Pokemon leaving the hole and staring at the ball of wool-bearing down on him with a shaking body.

    A quick glance at the professors and world champ told Bianca that while they were concerned, they were curious to see how it would play out.

    ¡°Wait¡­¡±

    Wooloo seemed to gain confidence and tucked itself tighter, increasing his speed. However, it seemed this only played into Ash¡¯s hand, as the trainer grinned and shouted, ¡°Jump straight over Wooloo!¡±

    <i>What?!</i>

    ¡°Sob!¡± The little Pokemon cried as he did, leaping over the rolling Pokemon just as the Wooloo slammed straight into the hole..and bounced?!

    ¡°Huh?!¡± Hop gaped as he watched, Bianca similarly stunned.

    She gawked as the rolling Pokemon became airborne, only for Ash to call out, ¡°Alright, Water Gun!¡±

    ¡°Sob-BLE!¡± The Pokemon cried as he landed before turning to the gravity-defying Pokemon and spitting out yet another jet of water.

    The attack was launched towards Wooloo and hit it squarely on the side, causing it to unfurl itself just before hitting the ground on its back with a thud, letting out a wheeze as all the breath was driven from its body.

    It didn¡¯t get up after that, and Leon raised a hand towards Ash in command to wait as he inspected the Wooloo, announcing a moment later, ¡°Wooloo is unable to battle! Sobble is the winner!

    ¡°Alright, good job, Sobble!¡± Ash cheered, making the surprised Pokemon cry out happily as he skittered over to his trainer.

    ¡°Sob!¡±

    ¡°You did good, Wooloo,¡± Hop said, recalling the fainted Pokemon back, turning towards Ash with a shake of his head. ¡°Where did you ever pick up a strategy like that, mate?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d like to know that, too,¡± Bianca muttered, still processing the battle. ¡°What on earth possessed you to tell Sobble to <i>dig a hole</i>, and how did you know it would work?¡±

    Ash grinned as he crouched down, giving his Pokemon a few pats on the head. ¡°Funny story, I actually used the same strategy in one of my gym battles a long time ago. Whitney¡¯s Miltank used an attack called ¡®Rollout¡¯, and she was a monster. Pikachu led her to a trench, launching her up into the air, and finishing her with a Thunderbolt.¡±

    As Bianca stared at him in amazement, Leon laughed heartily and said, ¡°Ash, the amount of trainers in this world that would even think to use something like that, much less make it <i>work</i> could probably be counted on one hand.¡±

    ¡°I gotta agree with you there, Lee, that was wild,¡± Hop chimed in with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve been training Wooloo for a couple years now, only to get embarrassed by a newbie Pokemon with the most absurd tactic ever. Still,¡± he said as he pulled out another ball, ¡°reckon Sobble can continue? ¡®Cuz Scorbunny here has yet to battle, and I¡¯d like her to get some experience.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°What do you think, can you continue?¡± Ash asked, looking down at Sobble. The formerly timid Pokemon seemed to have gained more confidence and gave a swift nod, making Ash smile as he looked up at Hop. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re still on. Alright, Sobble, ready up!¡±

    ¡°Sob!¡±

    ¡°Scorbunny, you¡¯re up!¡± Hop cried out, throwing his Pokeball and releasing the Pokemon out into the field. She didn¡¯t say a word, only getting into a ready position with a glum expression.

    <i>I really hope she doesn¡¯t become a problem for him,</i> Bianca thought, mildly concerned for Hop¡¯s future as a trainer. While he still had a Wooloo, she didn¡¯t think it was a great omen if his first official Pokemon wasn¡¯t too fond of her trainer.

    ¡°We¡¯re up against a really wild pair, Scorbunny, be on your toes,¡± Hop warned, his Pokemon giving a small nod in return. ¡°Use Tackle!¡±

    ¡°Bun!¡± His Pokemon cried out, lunging forward with a glare at Sobble.

    ¡°Quick, dodge to the right!¡± Ash ordered, and although Sobble gave it his best effort, Scorbunny was just too fast, and hit her fellow Pokemon full force.

    Ash frowned as his new Pokemon was hit, stumbling back until he was mere feet in front of his trainer. ¡°Are you alright, Sobble?¡±

    ¡°S-Sob!¡±

    While he looked increasingly concerned for his little battler, the trainer slowly nodded, clenching his fist determined as he called out, ¡°Alright, if you say so. Now, use Water Gun!¡±

    ¡°Sidestep that, Scorbunny, and go in for another Tackle!¡±

    <hr>

    <i>Pipsqueak ain¡¯t doing too bad,</i> Pikachu remarked to himself, observing the battle alongside the humans. <i>Of course, I would have finished this in an instant, but not bad for a meek rookie.</i>

    ¡°Use Water Gun and spin!¡± His trainer called out as Scorbunny lunged forward, intent on planting her foot in her rival¡¯s face.

    The command gave all but Pikachu pause, confusion befitting those who hadn¡¯t watched the trainer and his Pokemon battle before. Hop didn¡¯t even order Scorbunny to stop, he just twisted his face and asked, ¡°Mate, what kind of¡ªwoah!¡±

    His hesitation proved to be a mistake when Sobble obeyed in a moment of faith, turning around and around as fast as he could and spraying the surrounding area in obscene quantities of water. Scorbunny did her best to avoid it, but as she was a rookie herself, she was unable to perform any advanced mid-air movements and got hit square in the face as a result.

    ¡°That worked¡­?¡± Hop said in disbelief, only to shake his head and say, ¡°Alright, Scorbunny, let''s take this guy out before he does any more damage! Tackle!¡±

    <i>¡°Yeah, alr-RIGHT!¡± </i>The fire-type began to say as she once more attempted to shoot forward, only to grunt as her paws slipped on the now-slick ground, causing her to face-plant.

    Pikachu shook his head, knowing the battle was over even before Ash called out, ¡°Finish with one last Water Gun!¡±

    Scorbunny didn¡¯t even bother trying to get out of the way this time, and the look of defeat was the last thing seen on her face before it was blocked out by a jet of water. When the torrent stopped, the unfortunate Pokemon was knocked out cold.

    <i>Good job, both of you.</i>

    ¡°Scorbunny is unable to battle!¡± Leon called out with a raised peace sign. ¡°Ash is the winner!¡±

    <i>You don¡¯t say.</i>

    ¡°That was great, Sobble!¡± Bianca cheered, looking highly impressed with the battle. ¡°You were amazing!¡±

    Sobble managed to not look miserable long enough to beam at the artist in appreciation, only for his face to slowly melt back to its default position of looking horrified at being born into this world at all.

    Everyone then moved forward to congratulate the two trainers on their performance.

    ¡°So good!¡± The not-Misty redhead squealed. ¡°For first-time battlers, Sobble and Scorbunny did so well!¡±

    ¡°That tends to happen when a Champion and Champion¡¯s brother are their trainers,¡± the older woman remarked as she adjusted her glasses, earning an agreeing snort from Pikachu. ¡°That being said, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen tactics like that used.¡±

    The two brothers laughed in unison as the youngest recalled Scorbunny, tucking the ball away as he shook his head in wonder. ¡°You¡¯re telling me. Here I thought I had a plan, but you trounced us!¡± Hop said, not looking peeved in the slightest as he said this, instead grinning as he held out his hand to Ash. ¡°You¡¯re simply built different, mate.¡±

    Pikachu rolled his eyes as his trainer ducked his head at the compliment, shaking Hop¡¯s hand even as he attempted to downplay himself. ¡°Thanks, Hop! But truthfully, Sobble did all the work.¡±

    The mouse didn¡¯t have to look at Bianca to feel the disbelief pouring out of her, although he had to admit the raised eyebrow really added to it.

    You¡¯d better get used to it, Pikachu snorted to himself as he got up and clambered up to his rightful perch on Ash¡¯s shoulder, although he somewhat regretted this as Ash¡¯s entire body was jolted by Leon¡¯s hand coming down on his unoccupied shoulder.

    ¡°Whether it was all Sobble or not, that was still a marvelous battle,¡± the man said brightly, smiling as he similarly grasped Hop. ¡°Victory was only achieved because you directed him. You may have had the type advantage against Scorbunny, but Wooloo is still more experienced than either of them. Yet, Sobble still came out on top. That¡¯s not easily ignored¡­¡±

    Pikachu tilted his head as the man trailed off, letting go of both boys¡¯ shoulders and reaching into¡­his cape?

    A few moments later, the man was presenting the two trainers with envelopes and an even wider smile as he announced, ¡°That¡¯s why I am endorsing both of you. From this point onward, unless you demonstrate otherwise, you have earned the right to compete in the official League. Well done, both of you!¡±

    ¡°Awesome! Thanks a bunch!¡± Ash exclaimed with a grin, glancing at Pikachu and then Sobble as he held up the envelope. ¡°We did it, guys! We¡¯re endorsed!¡±

    <i>¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not deaf, but good job,¡±</i> Pikachu remarked, looking closely at the wax-sealed object. When on earth did Leon have the time to do that?

    Meanwhile, Sobble merely looked up with his wide eyes and open mouth, presumably seeing horrors beyond comprehension somewhere behind them.

    At the same time, Hop was surprisingly hesitant about his endorsement letter, looking down at it with a small frown. ¡°Are you sure about this, Lee? I lost pretty badly.¡±

    ¡°You lost against the <i>Alola Champion</i>,¡± Leon reminded him, not noticing Pikachu looking smug about that fact. ¡°Many people would lose against him with better teams. But I wasn¡¯t looking for a victory; I was looking for spirit.¡±

    That made Hop look up at his brother, Ash tilting his head as Leon continued, ¡°It is easy to lose heart after a loss-¡±

    Pikachu looked pointedly at Ash, who ducked his head upon feeling Pikachu¡¯s withering stare.

    ¡°-and yet, despite losing your experienced Pokemon, you pressed forward without hesitation.¡±

    Leon continued, not having noticed the exchange as he spoke to his brother. ¡°I¡¯ve seen trainers twice your age buckle under far better odds, yet you did not. That is what I want to see from trainers, and that is why I¡¯m endorsing you.¡±

    <i>What a motivational speaker,</i> Pikachu thought to himself, although he wouldn¡¯t ever deny it didn¡¯t do the job. Hop was looking considerably happier, finally taking the proffered envelope as before, and hugging Leon.

    ¡°With that kind of talk, I¡¯d be crazy to refuse,¡± the trainer said with a grin. ¡°Thanks, Lee! I won¡¯t let you down!¡±

    ¡°I doubt you could,¡± came Leon¡¯s reply, ruffling his brother¡¯s hair before turning to the two women who were not Bianca. ¡°Now, Son¡ªProfessor Sonia,¡± he quickly corrected himself, earning a coy smile and eye roll from the woman. ¡°Now that these two are endorsed, I think it¡¯s time we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yarf!¡± A bark interrupted the man as a yellow-brown canine-looking thing shot around the side of the house and bolted towards Leon, jumping up on his leg and looking up with a heavily wagging tail, painting away as though just finishing a marathon. It, or rather he by the looks of it, looked about as dopey as they come, and the bolt-shaped tail with yellow fluff around his neck told Pikachu that whatever this Pokemon was, it shared his typing.

    ¡°Hey, Yamps!¡± The man greeted with a grin as he knelt down and gently petted the¡­Yamps. ¡°Good to see you again! I hope you¡¯ve been staying out of trouble.¡±

    ¡°Yarf!¡±

    ¡°How about you go meet my new friends, yeah?¡±

    <i>Is ¡°Yamps¡± seriously the species name? Or is it just a nickname or something? </i>Pikachu thought as the electric canine bound up to the foreigners and circled around them, sniffing away with a wagging tail and acting as if Ash turned into a dog and ingested about twenty cups of pure sugar.

    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a cool Pokemon!¡± His raven-haired trainer exclaimed as he knelt down to get a closer look, although the canine had already moved on to Bianca who had little to no reaction beyond simple curiosity.

    When ¡°Yamps¡± finally got to him, still panting despite the very mild temperature, Pikachu finally attempted to greet him.

    ¡°Er, hello¡ª¡±

    ¡°Greetings, travellers!¡± The canine suddenly said, making Pikachu flinch at the unreasonably deep voice. ¡°I am the Yamper of Postwick. Have you seen any skyscrapers nearby?¡±

    Pikachu stared for a solid couple of seconds before replying, ¡°...No. Why would you¡ª?¡±

    ¡°No reason,¡± the <i>Yamper</i> interrupted, only to turn and face North as he continued, ¡°Legend has it that far over those mountains, there is a city containing the <i>tastiest</i> wires.¡± The Yamper faced him and finished, ¡°Go there travellers, and I will <i>fry </i>the building of your choice!¡±

    Pikachu was quite honestly taken aback and had absolutely nothing to say to this.

    Fortunately, Hop unintentionally came to the rescue, kneeling down and beckoning the Yamper with a short laugh, ¡°Hey, Yamper! I¡¯m here too, yeah?¡±

    ¡°Greetings, Uncle Hop!¡± Yamper said as he swiftly turned and ran towards the trainer as fast as his short little legs could go. Pikachu could only watch as the two greeted one another, the human having no understanding of what was coming out of the canine¡¯s mouth. ¡°You simply <i>must </i>tell me about skyscrapers, Uncle Hop!¡±

    Sonia giggled as she watched. ¡°Glad to see Leon back as well, Yamper? You know, I wouldn¡¯t mind if you¡¯d kept him around while everyone else starts off on their journey.¡±

    That seemed to bring the conversation back on track as the aforementioned man quickly cleared his throat and stood up. ¡°Er, right, maybe after¡­where was I?¡± Leon floundered with a flustered expression, recovering a moment later. ¡°Ah, yes. Mind covering your end before they head off?¡±

    Sonia merely smiled wider, shooting him a wink as she said, ¡°Oh, you want to dump them in my hands so you can run off and play ¡®Champion¡¯ some more? And not even any personal goodbyes, either.¡±

    The display was almost enough to make Pikachu vomit, and Bianca looked similarly disturbed.

    While Hop struggled not to laugh, Ash, poor, hopeless Ash, was as confused as ever, although he had just enough brainpower to not question why Leon flushed and pointedly looked away from the woman.

    ¡°Er, not at all!¡± The man tried to say, waving his hands in an unconvincing manner. ¡°I just think you¡¯re better at this kind of thing, that¡¯s all!¡±

    While Sonia delivered another smooth response, Pikachu was thinking about how similar Leon and Ash were, while also not being the same in the slightest.

    The former was, of course, their battle prowess, but also their mannerisms, appetite, sense of direction, et cetera, et cetera.

    The biggest thing separating the two, however, was their romantic awareness. While it was clearly obvious to Leon that Sonia was interested in him, Ash, on the other hand¡­.

    Well, Ash wouldn¡¯t be able to detect a romantic interest in him if it followed him after destroying a bike, cosplayed as a cheerleader for him, gave him a goodbye kiss, or stared at him with the greatest expression of admiration a rich girl could give someone. And none of this accounted for every other in-between lady his age between Kanto and Alola. Pikachu had yet to decide if this was simply Wailord-sized levels of obliviousness or simply a side effect of being so obsessed with Pokemon and battles that his brain simply didn¡¯t have the capacity to focus on anything else.

    <i>Maybe if I can communicate with him that getting a girlfriend will help him become a Pokemon Master, he¡¯ll actually get one,</i> Pikachu thought as he focused back on the conversation at hand.

    ¡°¡ªAnd here¡¯s a list of all the berries that both taste good and probably won¡¯t kill you if you eat them!¡± Sonia cheerfully said as her pink-encased phone hovered near Ash¡¯s and Bianca¡¯s, earning a squint from the electric mouse. ¡°I¡¯d also give you some recipes, but I¡¯m sure Mom already gave you plenty.¡±

    The statement was enough to confuse the foreigners for all of one second, ending upon seeing Hop laugh and Leon flush in embarrassment.

    <i>Wait, did she really just¡­oh, this is gold!</i>

    Pikachu watched with a grin as Leon tried to push it aside, nodding and clearing his throat before saying, ¡°Er, yes, she did. The only issue is maintaining their ingredients, of course, but there are countless bushes and trees out there, not to mention the wandering merchants. However, these merchants aren¡¯t afraid to up and move at a moment¡¯s notice, so remember that in case you plan on doubling back and find that one is gone.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Ash and Hop said in unison, while Bianca merely nodded in understanding.

    ¡°Make sure to go over the power spots as well,¡± Professor Magnolia said, prompting Pikachu to remember that she existed. ¡°Last thing we need is for a gigantic Snorlax to roll them over on the first day.¡±

    Bianca laughed nervously at that, asking in a decidedly less amused voice, ¡°That should be easy enough to avoid, though, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be amazed,¡± the professor grunted, tapping her cane against the ground, ¡°if not also a bloody stain. Power spots can sprout nearly anywhere in the Wild Area, which is why there are so few buildings and such in it. You¡¯ll never know when you¡¯re on top of one until that cute little Pokemon that¡¯s been with you your whole life suddenly becomes larger than a house right on top of you.¡±

    Both Ash and Bianca looked very alarmed at this, and although Pikachu thought growing larger than a house sounded thrilling, he shared their nervousness; he wouldn¡¯t want to crush his trainer any more than his trainer wanted to be crushed.

    ¡°But that¡¯s rare!¡± Leon quickly said upon seeing their expressions. ¡°It¡¯s almost never strong enough for that to happen-¡±

    ¡°Almost?¡±

    ¡°-and what Magnolia said isn¡¯t entirely¡­¡± The man trailed off as his elder gave him a fierce expression, and he quickly scrapped whatever death sentence he was about to bring upon himself. ¡°Erm, anyway, while power spots can appear anywhere, you¡¯ll be able to know it by a purplish-pink glow in the immediate area. They aren¡¯t that big, so even if it dropped right on top of you, you¡¯d still have at least a few seconds to get away before it becomes a problem.¡±

    ¡°A few seconds?!¡± Ash squeaked, looking even more alarmed. ¡°That¡¯s barely any time at all!¡±

    Sonia shrugged with a small smile. ¡°Maybe not, but the odds of that happening to you are astronomically small. The Wild Area is so large, and the power spots so few and far between, that one forming right on top of anyone is practically unheard of. You should also know that wild Pokemon have developed the sense to get out of the area before one forms, in order to both avoid causing destruction and avoid it. However, the danger is there, and some Pokemon don¡¯t know better or choose to be Dynamaxed, which is why you¡¯re being warned.¡±

    While the foreigners had somewhat relaxed, Hop had remained unfazed the entire time, looking politely bored throughout the warning. Either he had been warned beforehand, or he was an idiot, and Pikachu wasn¡¯t sure the Wild Area was ready for two idiots. Or vice versa.

    ¡°Fortunately, there¡¯s a bit of good news,¡± Sonia said as she clasped her hands together. ¡°Those power bands Leon gave you will grant you the ability to draw in the Dynamax energy from the area and direct it towards one of your Pokeballs. Not only will it allow you to somewhat control the Dynamaxing, but it should also help reduce the energy in the area. Not by a lot, but enough to prevent any Pokemon or people from having to deal with it for a while. Just take care not to abuse it; the Wild Area is still home to many Pokemon, and I don¡¯t know anyone who would want to be stepped on.¡±

    There was a moment of silence before Ash said, ¡°What power bands?¡±

    Leon blinked, then let out a sheepish laugh as he reached into his coat pocket. ¡°Oh, right! Guess I forgot to actually <i>give</i> them to you.¡±

    Hop groaned, throwing his hands in the air. ¡°Seriously, Lee? You had <i>one</i> job!¡±

    Pikachu watched as Leon ignored his brother¡¯s dramatics, fishing out two odd-looking bands and holding them up for Ash and Hop to see. The bands were stretchy and lightweight, with a black rectangle that appeared to be the only solid part of the entire band.

    Ash¡¯s eyes lit up as he eagerly took his, turning it over in his hands. ¡°So <i>this </i>will let my Pok¨¦mon Dynamax.

    ¡°That¡¯s the idea,¡± Leon confirmed. ¡°As long as there¡¯s enough energy in the area, these bands will channel it straight into your Pok¨¦ball, allowing your Pok¨¦mon to Dynamax properly.¡±

    Hop grinned as he fastened his around his wrist. ¡°Now <i>this</i> is what I¡¯m talking about! Just wait until I get to show this off in a battle!¡±

    Pikachu eyed the band warily as he climbed up his trainer¡¯s body, perching on his shoulder to get a closer look as Ash placed the band around his wrist.

    The trainer stared at it for a moment before looking up as Leon said in a warning tone, ¡°Just remember¡ªDynamaxing is a huge responsibility. It¡¯s powerful, but it¡¯s not just for showing off. Use it wisely.¡±

    ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Understood, Lee!¡±

    ¡°Skyscrapers!¡±

    Pikachu ignored Yamper, still thinking about the implications and possibilities of the bands. While they looked kind of ugly, if they prevented him or any Pokemon from stomping Ash and Bianca underfoot, then he¡¯d gladly take safety over fashion.

    <i>Still, Annie and Oakley would have a heart attack seeing those</i>, he snorted to himself, wondering if the pair were enjoying their time behind bars.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± Bianca interjected as she leaned forward with a frown. ¡°If these power spots can appear anywhere, then how do the stadiums keep the ability to¡­to ¡®Dynamax¡¯ Pokemon?¡±

    Pikachu took the time to praise Arceus for giving them a companion that could pay attention before raptly listening to Magnolia¡¯s explanation.

    ¡°Good question,¡± the woman said approvingly as she adjusted her glasses. ¡°For starters, the power spots in the Wild Area and the ones in the stadiums differ in a couple of ways, the main being the quantity and quality of energy. The energy in the Wild Area is sparse and unstable, accumulating at random. Or so we believe.¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Sonia took over, earning a stink-eye from her grandmother. ¡°And the power spots in the stadiums are concentrated and purer, allowing for more stable and numerous Dynamaxing. The energy there never goes away, and while it can be somewhat depleted, it always regenerates!¡±

    Ash and Bianca both frowned, the former scratching his head as he asked, ¡°It never runs out? How does that work?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re still trying to figure that out,¡± Magnolia admitted. ¡°We have no idea how it works, only that it does. The amount of information we do know about this energy is¡­frustratingly little, and a lot of it comes from old legends rather than scientific studies.¡±

    ¡°Legends?¡± Ash asked eagerly, earning an annoyed look from Pikachu and an amused one from Bianca.

    Unfortunately for Ash, the professor brushed him off, saying, ¡°We won¡¯t be getting into that, sonny. We¡¯ll be here all day if we do, and the sooner you start your journey, the better.¡±

    ¡°That is true,¡± Leon said as he clapped his hands. ¡°And on that note, I do think you three should get on that. The train station can take you to the Wild Area and drop you off. After that¡­well, you¡¯re on your own! Until you get to Motostoke, that is.¡±

    Hop grinned as he put his hands on his hips. ¡°That eager to get rid of me, Lee?¡±

    ¡°Of course not!¡± His brother refuted with a shake of his head. ¡°But if I don¡¯t push you now, I might just cry.¡±

    He said this in a joking manner, but Pikachu had been alive long enough to somewhat detect how someone was feeling from the tone of their voice, and there was certainly a level of sadness in there; Leon might actually cry.

    ¡°Hop can take care of himself, you know,¡± Sonia said confidently. ¡°He might even go a few seconds without tripping on a branch. As for Ash and Bianca¡­well, I¡¯m sure the Alola Champion won¡¯t let anything happen to his lovely lady.¡±

    Pikachu had to choke back a laugh at the sight of Bianca scowling with a flushed face. She was most likely highly annoyed at the repeated insinuations, but at least she didn¡¯t have a Miette situation on her hands, a woman who made it a point to harass that somewhat annoying Kalosian companion of theirs every time they showed up.

    However, the teases and insinuations wouldn¡¯t stop if Ash continued to do as he does, which is to say, nothing at all. Instead, he nodded and replied, ¡°For sure! Besides, she can always catch a Pokemon later that can help out.¡±

    ¡°Which isn¡¯t a guarantee,¡± Bianca sharply commented, which didn¡¯t do her any favors in refuting Sonia¡¯s comment, nor did the follow-up sentence. ¡°In any case, I don¡¯t plan on straying off in some region I¡¯ve never been to, so I don¡¯t mind sticking by a giant Pikachu.¡±

    <i>As though I needed to be a giant to defend anyone,</i> he sniffed, although still appreciating her faith in his ability to protect, no matter how pretentious it might have seemed.

    ¡°Great!¡± Sonia said happily. ¡°With that, I have something of a plan in mind; I can take you to the Wild Area myself. There are still some things I need to go over with you anyway, and it¡¯ll give you a bit of a head start.¡±

    At once, every Galarian who wasn¡¯t Sonia and the panting Yamper collectively shuddered, looking as though they were staring their demise in the face.

    Naturally, Ash didn¡¯t notice or care and gratefully said, ¡°Really? Thanks a bunch!¡±

    Pikachu watched as Hop turned to look at Ash with a haunted expression. ¡°Mate, you <i>don¡¯t</i>-¡±

    ¡°-want to talk all the way, wait for a train, and get to the Wild Area with barely any daylight remaining?¡± Sonia finished for him, probably incorrectly if the brothers¡¯ expressions were any indication. ¡°Cuz I certainly wouldn¡¯t! Plus I might remember some stuff along the way, so there¡¯s that, too.¡±

    Hop turned to Leon, eyes begging for help. The eldest looked torn for a moment before sighing in defeat, ¡°She¡­has a point. Just please try not to kill them on the way there. I don¡¯t want to have to explain to Ash¡¯s and Bianca¡¯s families why I knowingly allowed them in a car with you behind the steering wheel, and I happen to love my kid brother very much.¡±

    Now, Pikachu considers himself to be a very hardy Pokemon. He¡¯s taken near drownings, attacks from aspects of the world itself, and been witness to Ash fumble many potential mates. However, if the strongest trainer in the world (for the time being) didn¡¯t like the idea of something, then perhaps they could walk to the train station, after all.

    Looking similarly distressed, Hop turned from his treacherous brother to Ash and Bianca. ¡°We can¡¯t get in that car with her,¡± he pleaded. ¡°Trust me, walking is better.¡±

    ¡°You cheeky brat!¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Ash mused, ignoring Sonia¡¯s squawk of protest, ¡°as much as I don¡¯t mind another train ride to the Wild Area, I¡¯d rather Bianca not start off her journey with barely any time to learn how to set up a tent and stuff. We should accept Sonia¡¯s offer.¡±

    The artist was Hop¡¯s last hope, only for the light to die in his eyes as Bianca sealed their fate.

    ¡°Bold of you to assume I can¡¯t set up a tent,¡± She remarked with an arched eyebrow. ¡°But you aren¡¯t wrong; I¡¯d rather have as much time in the sun as we can get before nightfall hits. Besides, we dealt with that sentient car. How bad could it possibly be?¡±

    <hr>

    As it turned out, it was quite bad.

    After a few more tips and tricks and a rather tearful goodbye between Hop and Leon (mostly from the latter), the trainers and artist all piled their things into the trunk and got in after Sonia, only for all three to quickly regret it as the woman defied all logic by driving towards every object and missing it ways that left their stomachs back in Postwick.

    Bianca barely had time to brace herself before their driver (a word she used loosely here) jerked the steering wheel far harder than was required, swerving to avoid a fence that wouldn¡¯t have necessitated such a maneuver if Sonia had just <i>stayed on the road.</i>

    <i>Me and my stupid mouth, </i>she seethed, not pleased with the rather alarming sounds of packs and items slamming to and fro in the trunk. <i>Gramps, Latios, Latias¡­I¡¯m sorry that I didn¡¯t get the chance to call you before getting into a car with this woman.</i>

    Quite possibly the worst part was that they probably hadn¡¯t even <i>gotten </i>to the worst part; the erratic driving they were currently experiencing was a death omen for when there were <i>actual </i>obstacles in the way. Their only respite was when the road straightened out, and Sonia finally stopped over-compensating for minor objects.

    During this period of relative tranquility, nothing was spoken for several minutes as the passengers recovered and reconsidered their life choices. It was only broken by Ash as he asked in a tentative voice, ¡°So¡­you and Leon are childhood friends, huh?¡±

    <i>?!?</i>

    ¡°Yup!¡± Sonia cheerfully replied. ¡°We go way back to before he started his own League challenge. He wasn¡¯t very good at first. Failed the first gym several times, while the rest of us cruised on by. Even after that, he struggled to get wins, up until I told him something. Then he became better <i>quite </i>fast. He must¡¯ve taken it to heart, because up until recently, he¡¯s been determined to stay at the top.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± Bianca asked curiously, hoping to get her mind off of the doom to come.

    Her question was met with a playful smile and wink (scaring the artist, given the professor¡¯s short yet dangerous track record of driving), replying, ¡°That¡¯s a secret for me and Leon to know! And Hop as well, I suppose.¡±

    A moment later, Hop responded, ¡°And don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to get it out of me, either. I just got endorsed, and I don¡¯t want Lee to backtrack that.¡±

    ¡°That¡­sounds kinda serious,¡± Bianca remarked with a frown, wondering what kind of secret would warrant Hop¡¯s fear over his own brother reversing his decision.

    ¡°Serious?¡± Sonia giggled as she bit her lip. ¡°Well, I guess. But I promise it¡¯s not bad, just¡­oh, you¡¯ll learn one day, I¡¯m sure. Speaking of¡­¡± The woman brushed her hair back, revealing an earpiece that matched her little hair clips. ¡°Rotom, call Jacq for me please.¡±

    <i>¡­eh?</i>

    At the same time Bianca registered the fact that their rather terrible driver was making a phone call, she noticed the road start to get rather bumpy and significantly curvier, which was a nightmare combination that only the Rocket invaders and sapient automobiles could hope to compete with.

    ¡°Hey, Jacqy! Long time no hear!¡± Sonia happily said, ignoring Hop¡¯s cursing as the car gradually accelerated, perfectly mirroring Bianca¡¯s anxiety. ¡°Mmm, doesn¡¯t matter. That only applies if I see you, yeah? Anyway, how¡¯s Miriam, sweety? Still not falling for your charms?¡±

    At this point, the road had transitioned to grass and dirt, which was to say that they were now no longer on any road at all. Their driver was either not paying attention, didn¡¯t care, or some hellish combination of the two as the woman continued to talk on the phone.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s a shame,¡± she said empathetically as she casually dodged a tree. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t think too much of it, though. Some women like to get the measure of a man before opening up the possibility of a relationship. Some might not even <i>know </i>they want to date before the man comes along and changes her mind, and let me tell you this; that only happens when the man is his honest self.¡±

    Great, Bianca was going to die listening to sound relationship advice. <i>Good job, me.</i>

    Outside of the cursing emanating from the backseat, Sonia was silent for a few moments as she navigated the terrain with all the grace of Latias after accidentally consuming fermented berries, yet somehow with none of the repercussions.

    With one yank of the wheel, they were beside a set of train tracks, only for the woman to drive <i>over </i>them to the other side. ¡°Well, if all else fails, just go for the good old fashioned Galar trick and give her an Applin,¡± she finally said as though she hadn¡¯t just committed what was probably a crime. ¡°I know you have those in Paldea, and I¡¯m willing to bet they¡¯re easier to get.¡±

    A moment later, Sonia scoffed and said, ¡°No! Go out and catch an Applin! That¡¯s -...What do you mean, it¡¯s not like that in Paldea? Just get her one anyway, doofus!¡± She insisted in an exasperated tone. ¡°Girls like gifts, trust me!¡±

    ¡°An Appli-Woah!¡± Ash began to question, only to yelp as they dodged yet another tree, nearly flattening Bianca against the car door as she gritted her teeth.

    <i>Of all the things to be concerned about? </i>Bianca seethed as they weaved between trees with supernatural accuracy, the side effect being the side-to-side G-forces she had little luck counteracting. It became bad enough that she stared down at her legs just so she could avoid a tree potentially being the last thing she ever saw before death.

    From what she could hear from the backseat, the boys weren¡¯t having a much better time. Hop was once more cursing under his breath as his shoulder slammed into Ash, quickly apologizing, ¡°Sorry, mate!¡±

    ¡°Not your fault,¡± Ash replied, sounding to Bianca like an insinuation that it was certainly <i>someone¡¯s </i>fault.

    The someone in question simply continued blabbering, ¡°She¡¯s trying to become a nurse, right? Well, how about¨C Oh, we¡¯re just about here!¡±

    Bianca looked up and immediately regretted it, the crest of a hill being the last thing she saw before the ground disappeared beneath them, leaving them airborne for a solid couple of seconds before the wheels finally made contact with the ground again, and it was only through great fortune that Bianca didn¡¯t knock herself out on the dashboard.

    She was nearly knocked out once again when Sonia stomped on the brakes right as she swerved, causing a rather unfortunate spin that made Bianca¡¯s stomach feel funny before they finally came to a stop.

    As the passengers recovered, Sonia brightly announced, ¡°Well, that was exciting! I promised you; my plan was a complete success!¡±

    ¡°You call <i>that </i>a success?¡± Ash groaned as he peeled his face off of the seat in front of him.

    ¡°What¡¯s worse is she called it a <i>plan</i>,¡± came Bianca¡¯s hiss. ¡°Hop, I apologize for not taking your warning seriously.¡±

    Hop didn¡¯t reply, and a quick glance to the rearview revealed this was due to the fact that he was holding a hand over his mouth. The trainer held up a weak thumbs up instead, earning a scoff from their driver.

    ¡°Oh, you are all so dramatic,¡± Sonia admonished. ¡°We got here safe and sound, didn¡¯t we? Jacq, I¡¯ll call you back later, m¡¯kay?...Great, thanks. Toodles!¡± Ending the call, their driver glanced at them and announced, ¡°Alright, everyone out! I¡¯ve got a couple things to go over, and I¡¯m not doing it in here.¡±

    <i>Good, cuz I don¡¯t want to risk throwing up in the car, </i>Bianca internally grumbled as she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the door and eased her way out, only to sway in place. She was forced to latch on to the door as her body reacclimated to not being tossed around like a toy.

    The boys were not so coordinated, and immediately fell out of the car upon being freed from it, letting out twin grunts of pain and an annoyed chirp from Pikachu.

    Somewhat to Bianca¡¯s annoyance, Sonia was the only one not affected at all, getting out of the car with ease and pulling out a pink heart-themed phone as she began monologuing.

    ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve gone over power spots, edible plants and berries¡­¡± the woman listed as her former passengers attempted to recover, only to perk up. ¡°Ah, we didn¡¯t go over the merchants like we should¡¯ve. It¡¯ll take a little too long to give you all of it, but the merchants can trade food, items and other things for either watts or the standard currency-¡±

    <i>A watt?</i>

    ¡°-but they also move, so I¡¯ll be giving you map markers of where they tend to go,¡± Sonia continued. ¡°It¡¯s not 100% accurate, but it¡¯s better than nothing.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Ash somehow managed to say as he rose to his feet. Again, his phone freed itself from his pocket without a word of command and flew near Sonia¡¯s phone, a <i>ding </i>sounding a moment later before Hop¡¯s and Bianca¡¯s phones did the same.

    As Bianca¡¯s phone flew back towards her, Sonia continued to speak, ¡°I¡¯ve also gone ahead and shared my contact information with all of you, in case you need it. I¡¯m not opposed to questions, but remember that I¡¯m a professor at heart; I won¡¯t always be available. That¡¯s why you should exchange info with each other as well, if you¡¯re planning on traveling separately or get split up or what have you.¡±

    Hop¡¯s phone was then approached by the other two new ones, and after twin <i>dings</i>, all flew back to their respective owners.

    The professor looked between them with contemplative eyes. ¡°Hmm, I feel like there¡¯s something else¡­oh! Do try and avoid the regional guardians if you can? They are too strong for you as you are, with the only exception being Ash and his Pikachu. Even then, be careful.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± Bianca said slowly. ¡°What do these guardians look like?¡±

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re nothing special, outside of their strength,¡± Sonia ¡°reassured¡± her. ¡°They¡¯re just normal Pokemon that happen to protect their areas. Very resistant to capture because of it. I know there¡¯s an Onyx in a couple miles, but he generally lets people pass by¡­if they¡¯re willing to be quick enough, that is.¡±

    This was something Bianca was more than willing to comply with, as getting smashed by a large rope composed entirely of stone was not on her list of things she wished to experience.

    ¡°What else, what else¡ªPOKEDEXES!¡± Sonia suddenly shouted, making them all flinch. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I forgot to give you those. Gather around, Rotoms.¡±

    ¡°Man, that was close,¡± Ash laughed nervously as the phones grouped together for the umpteenth time. ¡°To think we almost went without the most important part of the journey!¡±

    Bianca was positive that a Pokedex wasn¡¯t the most important part of the journey, but then again, who was she to argue against an expert?

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Sonia commented with a wave of her hand several <i>dings</i> later. ¡°It¡¯s not like a phone call or text wouldn¡¯t have gotten you access¡­although the download speed isn¡¯t exactly stellar out there.¡±

    Hop was still wobbly on his feet as he hobbled over to the trunk and opened it to retrieve his stuff, muttering all the while, ¡°This journey isn¡¯t starting off too stellar.¡±

    Bianca also moved to fetch her belongings, stifling a laugh at Sonia¡¯s indignant squawk, ¡°Oi! I still have ears, you cheeky brat!¡±

    ¡°And yet you still fail to listen to us when we beg you to take proper driving lessons,¡± came the trainer¡¯s retort, making Bianca¡¯s fight to maintain a neutral face all the harder. Ash was less concerned, smiling while looking like he heavily agreed as he put his arms through the straps of his pack and secured it.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m so telling Leon and Magnolia about this,¡± Sonia pouted, only earning a good natured eye-roll from Hop.

    ¡°I can guarantee you they¡¯d agree with me,¡± he said, nonetheless holding his arms out in a hug. ¡°That being said, I am going to miss you, Prof.¡±

    That made the woman tear up as she accepted the gesture, squeezing the boy tightly and sniffling, ¡°I¡¯m going to miss you, too. I remember when I first saw you as a baby, and now I¡¯m sending you off as a baby League participant.¡±

    ¡°I can battle!¡± Hop protested as they pulled apart. ¡°I¡¯m a League toddler, at least.¡±

    Sonia laughed as she wiped a tear from her eye. ¡°Fine. League toddler, then. Go out there and kick some butt, Hop. Leon and I will be cheering you on. As for you two,¡± the woman said, turning to them. ¡°I¡¯m super stoked to have met not just the first Champion of a region, but also a native to Alto Mare. Sorry-not-sorry, but I¡¯ll be blowing up your phone once in a while to learn more about your home. Oh, and I¡¯ll make sure to contact you in regards to getting in touch with your hometown, too. If not by a professor, then probably by their local nurse.¡±

    ¡°Thank you so much,¡± she practically sagged in relief, while also being amazed that Sonia picked up on and <i>remembered </i>what she had said. ¡°I¡¯ve been really worried about that. And thank you for all your help in getting us started, and¡­er, the drive here as well. I¡¯ll do my best to answer any¡­almost any question you have about the city, too.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, thanks!¡± Ash added with Pikachu giving an affirming nod. ¡°Now we have just what we need to start this off without a hitch, right buddy? Bianca?¡±

    ¡°Pi!¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡±

    Sonia¡¯s eyes threatened to tear up once again as she clasped her hands together. ¡°Oh, you two¡­I think I¡¯m starting to see what Leon sees in you. I wish you luck as well, and may you get far in your League!¡±

    With that, the woman got back in her car, waving at them one more time before peeling off, once more avoiding everything in front of her in a way that probably defied physics to an unnatural degree.

    ¡°I swear, when Leon finally pulls his head out of his arse and marries that woman, he¡¯d better  be in charge of transportation.¡± Hop said with a snort while hobbling over to sit on a tree root. ¡°At least until she learns how to properly drive and <i>not </i>play matchmaker while doing so.¡±

    Bianca could only nod in agreement, looking away from the dissipating dust cloud left behind by the vehicle. As kind as that woman was, if she ever had to get back into a car with her, it would be too soon.

    ¡°Yeah, that wasn¡¯t fun,¡± Ash agreed as he stood and stretched despite the pack on his shoulders, looking surprisingly calm. ¡°How did we manage to get two bad drivers in two days?¡±

    ¡°Beats me,¡± Bianca snorted as she adjusted her things. ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder which one was worse; the self-driving car, or her.¡±

    Hop shook his head as he lightly. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about self-driving cars, but I promise that nothing is worse than Sonia when it comes to driving.¡±

    Bianca actually laughed at that, although less so as the boy grunted, ¡°Oh, I think I might actually get sick¡­. Why did my babysitter ever have to get a car? <i>How </i>did she get a car?¡±

    ¡°Or a phone, for that matter,¡± Bianca remarked. ¡°What was she even talking about with that Jacq guy? What¡¯s an Applin?¡±

    Hop looked up with a pained grin as he replied, ¡°A Pokemon, if you can believe it. Cute little fellows, they are. You can catch ¡®em, train ¡®em, and evolve ¡®em. Or, you can gift it¡­you can gift it to someone who-¡±

    That was about as far as Hop got before his stomach finally let its displeasure be known, the unfortunate boy violently throwing to the side, apologizing as he recovered, ¡°Ah, sorry about that¡­¡±.

    Bianca grimaced and turned away from the sight, and Ash leaned in and asked in a concerned voice, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re alright?¡±

    ¡°Mostly,¡± Hop replied, spitting a chunk out of his mouth. ¡°Bloody hell, there goes my breakfast. Hate to say it, but I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be traveling for another hour yet. That ride was worse than I thought, and I¡¯ll probably fall over if I take another step. I should have taken the train, heh.¡±

    <i>I really messed up, didn¡¯t I?</i> Bianca thought with a wince, apologizing with a sigh, ¡°I really am sorry. If I-¡±

    ¡°Nothing to be sorry for,¡± Hop waved her off good-naturedly. ¡°No one forced me into that car other than me and my own pride. You two should go on ahead before it gets dark and get those tents of yours set up.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ash asked as he glanced up at the sky. ¡°We still have a few hours left, I think¡ª¡±

    ¡°Mate,¡± Hop said with a grin, ¡°if your lass there is as fresh as you two claim, she¡¯s gonna need as much time learning as she can get. I¡¯ve been camping before, so I know a few tips and tricks of my own. I¡¯ll be fine, trust me.¡±

    Ash hesitated, exchanging glances with Bianca before looking back at Hop and nodding. ¡°Well, alright. If you¡¯re really gonna be fine, then¡­I guess we¡¯ll be on our way. But if you need us, don¡¯t hesitate to call, you hear?¡±

    Bianca blinked in surprise, having not expected a serious tone like that from him. Sure, during the crisis in Alto Mare, it had been understandable. But even with something as simple as camping, his voice made it abundantly clear he met every word. After being led this entire time by a carefree Growlithe-esque trainer, seeing him willing to step into a more responsible and mature role was¡­

    Well, Bianca wasn¡¯t quite sure yet. But it wasn¡¯t unwelcome, she was certain of that much.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t be necessary, but I won¡¯t turn it down anyway,¡± Hop replied with an appreciative smile. ¡°If anything, I¡¯ll probably be contacting you just to make sure you don¡¯t stray off the path too far.¡±

    ¡°I might need that more than you think, I¡¯m terrible with navigation,¡± Ash admitted, making Pikachu snort and Bianca grimace; she could only hope their phones had functioning maps in the middle of the wild.

    Hop chuckled with a shake of his head. ¡°So is Leon, so you¡¯re not alone there.¡± The trainer glanced up at the sky, expression turning rueful as he grunted, ¡°Well, sun isn¡¯t gonna get any brighter. It¡¯s been great chatting with you both, but I really do think you should head off now. Train those Pokemon, too, because the next time we see each other¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªwe¡¯re having ourselves a rematch,¡± Ash finished with a wide smile. ¡°Thanks again, Hop. I hope you get better before that battle!¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± Bianca said in a more subdued manner. ¡°And again, I¡¯m really sorry about that drive here.¡±

    ¡°You keep apologizing, and I¡¯ll keep telling you it¡¯s all good,¡± the trainer laughed. ¡°Now go out there on your journey already.¡±

    The group then finally split, Hop staying behind for the time being while Ash and Bianca ended their procrastination and took their first proper steps into their journey; for Bianca, her first steps into <i>any </i>kind of journey. It was¡­

    It¡­was¡­

    <i>This is scary as hell, what am I doing?</i>

    This was probably the worst time imaginable to develop cold feet, but as they left Hop behind and stepped into the forest, the artist couldn¡¯t help but shiver as reality hit her like a car being driven by Sonia. What if she tripped and broke a bone in the middle of the wild? How would she get medical treatment?

    What if their phones broke, and they had no means of contacting the outside world, or worse, her family?

    What if her and Ash got separated, and-

    ¡°Woah.¡±

    As soon as she registered the word, Bianca looked up, and every thought fled her mind at the sight before her.

    No longer was there a dense thicket of trees, but a massive open area that took her breath away. Laid out in front of them was a plethora of ecosystems and landmarks, enough that they could probably take the entire year to explore and probably not see all of it. Some areas even seemed to have their own <i>weather </i>patterns.

    Amongst the entire biomes, she could make out a couple of pink-ish pillars of light scattered around that flickered in and out of view. Were these the power spots? If so, Leon was right in that they didn¡¯t look condensed enough to be a problem, and they were certainly visible enough to avoid entirely if they wished.

    But perhaps the most striking feature, surpassing even the unnatural beams of light, was the massive river running through the center of it all. Its size alone made Bianca wonder how navigation through the Wild Area would even be possible, until she spotted a large wooden bridge spanning the width of it to the left. To the right was¡­

    ¡­probably something equally impressive, if she could make anything out at all through the fog that seemed to hang over the area.

    And beyond all of this, their destination; a city that was hard to judge the size of, if only due to the sheer distance between them. Was this really just the <i>first </i>step of their journey? No wonder they were given nearly a year to complete the entire thing.

    Bianca adjusted her pack as she took a deep breath, slowly exhaling.

    <i>Motostoke, here we come.</i>