(In Paldea)
You might be wondering what's happened since the last time we were here, well, let's catch you all up.
The gang of Liko, Roy, and Dot had to go through the Tera Training Exchange Program. Since Indigo Academy was part of this year's exchange, Liko could actually participate, along with meeting Ann again.
They were given Tera Orbs and traveled to Paldea to battle the Gym Leaders they needed to. They battled, lost some, and along the way managed to finally evolve their starters into their second stages.
While Roy and Dot passed, Liko technically ended up failing. Don't worry though, she got better. Well, technically there was an incident where the Explorers infiltrated the school and stole some information. Unfortunately, they got away with it, but Liko's battling performance earned her an exception, allowing her to pass her test.
The next big event was a battle tournament to celebrate, held after a quick Elite Four exhibition match. The battles went on, and in the end Roy ended up winning, funnily enough, beating Liko in the finals. Still, she had fun.
After the tournament ended, before everything wrapped up, Liko, Roy, and Dot called Geeta out. Since they all passed, it was time for them to battle her. Their Tera training record was two wins and one loss, so if they won this match, they could get access to the Great Crater. If they lost, it would be counted as a draw, and they wouldn't be allowed in.
Now, for obvious reasons, Geeta used a weaker team, two Glimmet and a Glimmora. She couldn't Terastallize, while all three of them could. Since it was good for everyone, they decided to have the battle in front of the crowd.
Even with all that, the battle ended with the two Glimmet going down easily, but the Glimmora clutched up the 3v1 and beat them, leaving the gang standing in shock in front of everyone.
Liko lowered her head, trying not to let tears fall from her eyes. She returned Floragato to its Poké Ball and whispered, her voice trembling, "Hey, Floragato… it's okay. You did great. You were amazing…" She forced herself not to blink, but drops fell anyway, landing on Floragato's Poké Ball.
Everyone, the students, the teachers, the Elite Four, even Geeta, were watching. Geeta frowned. "Well… I apologize, but the result is final. You lost, therefore you won't get access to the Great Crater."
"H-hey, come on, it's just one battle! Isn't there another way? Maybe, I dunno, a rematch or something?" Roy tried, as he and Dot comforted Liko.
Dot shook her head. "That can't happen. The three of us already battled, and Geeta already said Friede can't battle for us. And everyone else on the ship aren't trainers…"
"No." Roy shook his head frantically. "No, no… there has to be another way."
"Hey, kid," Rika said, walking up to them, "it's okay. You can't always win. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, it's not the end of the world."
"No, you don't understand. This was important. It was important to Liko, to all of us, and…" Roy looked down.
"Roy… it's okay…" Liko said dejectedly. "I guess… in the end, we weren't strong enough. I guess Friede will just have to go by himself…"
Geeta frowned. After they explained why they needed to go to the Great Crater, she did want to let them in, but the problem was, she couldn't show favoritism, no matter the circumstance. Especially not now, after the battle was held in front of both schools. "I suppose… I apologize that this is how it ended."
Then Nemona, from the crowd, raised her hand. She had become friends with them over the time they'd spent in Paldea, and she wanted to help. "Wait! What if I battle for them? Then if I win, they can go!"
Rika stopped her before she could run out, "Nemona, you can't. This is something for them, they needed to do this. You can't help them with this. Besides, you're a Champion as well. You can't."
Nemona looked down and turned away, as Liko slowly got up too, "It's okay, Nemona… if only we had one more person…"
Then Dot got an idea, something that made her take a sharp breath, "Wait a minute… it's not over."
That earned a surprised look from everyone as Dot stood up, "We aren't done, we have one last card left to play!" she said, pulling out her phone and frantically typing.
"W-what? But who? We can't get Friede, and everyone on the ship doesn't battle," Roy said.
"You're wrong. We have one last member!" Dot said as she sent the text. "We just need to wait for him."
Him? Liko thought. It couldn't be… unless, no way. There's no way, "You don't mean—"
Then they heard a voice, "Well, well, well what do we have here? Who started the party without me?"
Liko and Roy recognized that voice immediately, and so did a few students from Indigo Academy.
They turned to the source and saw a conveniently placed rock that they could swear wasn't there before. Sitting on top of it was a certain boy in a red cap, Pikachu and Eevee on either side of him. He tilted the brim of his cap up, revealing his grinning face.
"Yo~ miss me?" Ash smirked down.
"A-Ash?!" Liko blurted out.
"You're here!" Roy shouted, excited.
"Yep," Ash said as he hopped off the rock, landing smoothly on his feet. He walked toward them with his hands in his pockets. "Dot told me everything in the text. Got here as fast as Abby could bring me."
"Y-yeah…" Liko looked down. "We… I lost. In the end it's my fault. If I were just stronger…"
Ash reached out, patted her head, and gently pushed her chin up, "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of things. So wipe those tears, 'kay?"
Liko blinked up at him, sniffling. "R-really?"
Ash winked, "Of course I will. Leave it to me, I won't lose." He stepped forward, turning his gaze to Geeta.
Geeta's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms, "So you're Ash. I'd ask how you got here, since you're from Kanto, but I made the rules clear, this is a battle for their group."
"Oh really? Well, last I checked, I became an honorary member. You can ask Friede if you want. But Ms. Geeta, you said everyone gets a battle… so where's mine?" Ash said, smirking.
Geeta sighed into her hand, "Goodness… trainers these days." She really couldn't come up with an excuse.
Nemona, who had looked dejected moments ago, now lit up with excitement at seeing Ash, for obvious reasons. She raised her hand quickly, "Top Champion, I'll battle him! Don't worry, I'll definitely beat him!" she said said for completely 'selfless' reasons
Geeta glanced at Nemona. If they weren't in public, she'd tell her to at least act serious, she was practically drooling at the idea of battling Ash. Have some dignity. Still, Nemona was a Champion here in Paldea.
So she sighed, "Very well. Nemona, you may battle."
Nemona pumped her arms in victory, "Yes! Hi there, I know you, you're Ash from Kanto! You won the Champion title of the Indigo League last year! I'm Nemona, a Champion from here in Paldea. Now you, me, battle, now!" Nemona said quickly in one breath.
Ash blinked and sighed in his head, "Ok… sure. Nemona, right? Alright, fine, we can battle—"
But Ash got cut off when Nemona leaned in even closer, stars in her eyes, "Really?! This is great! Finally! Ok, who should I use? I mean, he's a good choice, but oh this would be better, and—" Nemona muttered, rifling through her Poké Balls, trying to decide who to use.
Ash glanced at her, then over at everyone else. Geeta shook her head as Rika held back a chuckle, "Don't worry, that's normal. I'd honestly be concerned if she wasn't this excited."
"Really? Even with people she hasn't even met personally?" Ash asked. He already knew how Nemona was in the games, but this was something else.
"Yeah! Besides, battling's the best way to get to know each other, right?" Nemona said brightly.
Geeta pinched the bridge of her nose, "Nemona, please. Just… choose a Pokémon already."
"Right, right!" Nemona bounced on her heels, finally grabbing one of her Poké Balls, "Okay, I've decided! Ash, you better give me everything you've got, because I'm not holding back!"
"Heh…" Ash chuckled slowly as he looked at Pikachu. "You wanna take this one, bud?"
Pikachu nodded, sparks dancing across his cheeks, "Pika!"
Vee huffed, he wanted to battle too. But Ash just rubbed his head, "Next time, buddy. Don't worry, 'kay?"
As Pikachu jumped onto the field, Nemona's excitement only grew, "Oh yes! It's your Pikachu! I've wanted to fight him ever since I saw what he could do. Oh man, this is so exciting!" she said as she threw her Poké Ball.
When the ball hit the field, Nemona's Pawmot emerged. It landed, stretched its arms, then crossed them, giving Pikachu a confident glare. Pikachu's eye twitched slightly.
"Ok, then I'll be the referee for this match," Rika announced, standing at the center. "If both of you are ready, begin!"
Nemona pointed eagerly, "Pawmot, [Double Shock]!"
Pawmot darted forward in a flash of orange lightning, fists glowing as it lunged straight at Pikachu.
Ash could have just let Pikachu tank it with Lightning Rod, but in times like these, you needed to assert dominance, "Pikachu, dodge and counter with [Iron Tail]!" Ash called, calm but sharp.
In a blink, Pikachu blurred sideways, the charged fists grazing past him as he twisted midair. His tail gleamed silver, slamming into Pawmot's side and sending it skidding across the field.
Pawmot dug his feet into the dirt, sliding back but managing to stay upright. Sparks still clung to his fur as he shook them off, narrowing his eyes at Pikachu.
Nemona grinned wider, practically vibrating with excitement, "Yes! That's what I'm talking about! Pawmot, let's push back with [Close Combat]!"
Pawmot charged up with orange energy as it rushed forward, aiming to crash into Pikachu.
Ash didn't flinch. He simply pointed, "Meet it head-on! [Extreme Speed] into [Plasma Fist]!"
Pikachu grinned and flickered out of sight, moving so fast even Pawmot couldn't keep up. The fighting-type looked around desperately, only for Pikachu to reappear behind him.
"Pawmot, behind you!" Nemona called quickly.
Pawmot spun around, only to be met with Pikachu's electrified punch to the face. The blow sent the orange Pokémon flying across the field, skidding like a rock skipping across water.
Pawmot pushed itself up, wiping its cheek where a bruise had already formed. Meanwhile, the area became electrified due to Pikachu's [Plasma Fist]. Not that it would help Pawmot much, he couldn't produce enough electricity to overwhelm Pikachu's absorption. Pikachu could handle Raikou's electricity, after all. Pawmot was nothing in comparison.
But even still, Pawmot shook himself off and got back into position, ready to keep going.
Nemona grinned, "Yes! That's the spirit, Pawmot! Don't back down, we're just getting started!"
Ash rested a hand on his waist, shifting his weight onto one leg, "Huh. So you really wanna keep going," he said. To be honest, he wasn't saying this to be vindictive or to look down on her, it's just that after everything he'd been through, battles like this weren't even that hard anymore.
Especially after his recent power-up. Pawmot's movements seemed so slow compared to Pikachu, who could move at the speed of lightning after all of Ash's training, about 220,000 to 270,000 miles per hour, or roughly one-third the speed of light. And that was base speed. Pikachu hadn't even boosted himself to go faster, though it wasn't out of the realm of possibility for him to reach that other two-thirds someday.
For context, a regular Pikachu could only move at about 1/100th of that, and Pawmot was generally slower than even an average Pikachu.
Now, if we take the formula of mass × velocity = force, Pikachu's a little bigger than most, with more muscle and a bit chubbier build. He weighed about 15 pounds. With some quick calculation, that means his momentum = 8.2 × 10^5 kg·m/s, giving him a kinetic energy of about 5 × 10^10 joules. For context, that's about the equivalent of 12 tons of TNT.
So yeah, Pikachu could hit hard. His speed alone gave him more attack power than most anything Pawmot could throw at him, and that was without even using a move like [Volt Tackle], which could easily double his attack power.
Meanwhile, the crowd was watching in awe. Students from Indigo Academy were cheering loudly, they knew about Ash winning the Indigo League, especially since the Academy was right next to where it had taken place.
As for everyone else, the students, teachers, the Elite Four, and even Geeta, they all watched in silence. They knew how strong Nemona was; she was Champion-rank for a reason. So strong that no student ever wanted to fight her, because they knew they'd lose.
And yet here was Ash, completely outclassing her Pawmot. They could hardly believe it. Murmurs spread through both schools, and even the Elite Four leaned forward, watching closely.
Roy, Liko, and Dot stared with their mouths open. It had only been about five months, and Ash had already gotten even stronger. Hope began sparking in their hearts again, they could finish the mission. They could do everything, as long as they had Ash.
Nemona, meanwhile, just grinned wider. She reached for her belt and grabbed a clear ball, "Heh… hahaha! This is so fun! I can't remember the last time anyone other than Geeta made me feel like this!" Nemona said, holding up the Tera Orb. "Alright then, Pawmot, let's show him everything we've got!"
The Orb began glowing, spiraling with light and energy. Nemona threw it, and when it struck Pawmot, crystals wrapped around his body before shattering outward. His form gleamed as if made of crystal, shining red as he shifted into his Fighting Tera Type.
Nemona pointed forward, her eyes sparkling with thrill, "Now, Pawmot, [Mach Punch]!"
The crystalline glow around Pawmot surged as he dashed forward, legs propelling him like a missile, his hand glowing red as he aimed to jab it into Pikachu.
Pawmot got down and dashed forward, now using his stronger legs to shoot himself at Pikachu with his fist glowing orange. Pikachu tried to slip aside, but this time Pawmot's fist clipped him across the cheek, sending sparks flying as Pikachu tumbled backward.
"Pika—!" Pikachu landed on his feet but skidded, little claw marks tearing into the dirt. He shook himself off, cheeks sparking with irritation.
Ash raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Alright, I'll give you that. Everyone gets one."
Nemona's eyes gleamed excitedly. "I'll take more than just one, Pawmot! [Close Combat], full throttle!"
Pawmot roared and unleashed a flurry of glowing punches and kicks, each one blurring together. Pikachu darted, weaving between strikes, but one solid kick caught him in the ribs, forcing him back. Another punch grazed his shoulder before Pikachu somersaulted away, sparks scattering.
Ash tapped his chin, "Hmm, not bad. Pikachu, [Quick Attack], cut through!"
"Pika!!" Pikachu shot forward, a silver streak colliding into Pawmot's chest, staggering him.
But Nemona stomped forward, her voice cutting like lightning. "Catch him! Grab and throw!"
Pawmot's claws snapped out, snaring Pikachu mid-rush. With a grunt, the Terastallized Pokémon swung him overhead and slammed him into the dirt with a brutal THUD!
The crowd gasped. Liko, Roy, and Dot watched on—Liko nearly screamed in worry but stopped herself, covering her mouth. "Pikachu!"
As far as people could see, as soon as Nemona Terastallized, the game changed, and now Ash was on the losing end, especially since Ash didn't have a Tera Orb to do it himself.
Never mind the fact that Ash was actually being pretty casual about this, but apparently people didn't think that meant anything. To them, if Ash didn't have a Tera Orb, he was at a disadvantage.
Even Liko thought this, as she looked over at Ash, then at Nemona. She bit her lower lip, trembling a little, before opening her eyes and reaching down to her Tera Orb, calling out:
"Ash use this!"
Then, in front of everyone, Liko threw her Tera Orb toward Ash. He looked over and caught it in his hand, raising an eyebrow.
"Huh. Neat."
"Wait, why would you do that, Liko? He hasn't participated in any sort of Tera training, and he won't know how to use it!" Rika immediately said, voicing what others were thinking.
Before Liko could cover her face in embarrassment, since everyone was staring at her now, Ash spoke up. "Nah, don't worry about it. Based on what I've seen, I've already mastered how Terastallization works. How about it, Pikachu?"
From the smoke, Pikachu jumped out, shaking his ears slightly, less hurt, more just trying to get the dirt off his fur.
"Pika!" he nodded.
Ash smiled and held out the orb. "Then let's do this."
As he said that, the orb in his hand ignited with light, spiraling, and he threw it at Pikachu, surprising everyone that he could actually use a Tera Orb properly.
The orb hit Pikachu, who was then covered in crystal. Breaking out, he shone with yellow, gleaming facets, a bright crystal bulb perched atop his head as he transformed into Electric Tera.
"Waaa! That's amazing, you did it on your first try!" Nemona said, clapping her hands.
"I… don't…" Rika muttered, while Geeta just watched, looking more and more interested in both the battle and how Ash was moving.
"Alright, so this is Terastallization, huh?" Ash muttered, eyeing Pikachu's crystal glow. "Not bad… let's see how far we can push it."
Nemona stomped a foot, her grin sharper than ever. "Perfect! Now it's fair, no, even better than fair! Let's really go, Pawmot!"
"Pawmot, [Brick Break]!" she shouted.
The crystalline glow around Pawmot surged as he dashed forward, legs propelling him like a missile, his hand glowing red and ready to jab it into Pikachu.
Ash just smiled, already formulating a game plan as he glanced around the arena, "Pikachu, [Electroweb]," he commanded with a snap of his fingers.
Pikachu backflipped just as Pawmot's fist slammed into the ground. Meanwhile, Pikachu charged up electricity in his tail, forming a glowing web, and hurled it outward.
"Pawmot, quick, dodge!" Nemona called out sharply.
Pawmot sidestepped, and the web splattered against a support beam. Ash didn't flinch. He simply snapped his fingers again, "Again!"
Pikachu flipped, firing more webs in rapid succession. Pawmot, guided by Nemona's voice, dodged as best he could, but the arena was quickly crisscrossed with glowing strands anchored to the ground and pillars.
"Come on, don't tell me you're just throwing out random moves. That's no fun," Nemona huffed, crossing her arms.
Ash smiled faintly. "You want a bang? Alright then. Pikachu, [Thunder], then [Volt Tackle]!"
Pikachu grinned, unleashing a bolt of lightning into the sky. At the same time, his body crackled with energy as he accelerated forward, streaking toward Pawmot.
"Pawmot, dodge again!" Nemona called.
Pawmot leapt aside, avoiding the charge. But that was a mistake. Pikachu darted past, then launched himself onto one of the webs. The web bent it like a bowstring, before slingshotting him across the field.
He ricocheted to the opposite side, the momentum snapping him back again, bouncing from strand to strand. The yellow blur accelerated until he wasn't even visible, just a flashing streak of light cutting across the battlefield.
Pawmot spun in place, trying desperately to track him, but his reactions were too slow. A hit clipped his shoulder, then his cheek, his ribs, his leg. In mere seconds, Pikachu was striking him from every angle, multiple times each heartbeat, growing faster with every rebound.
And then the [Thunder] came down. A massive bolt ripped from the sky, forcing Pawmot into the center of the arena, unable to escape.
Ash snapped his fingers once more, "[Thunderclap and Flash]!"
In that split second, Pikachu rocketed toward the descending bolt. His tail gleamed silver as he executed [Iron Tail], slicing into the lightning itself, detonating it outward in a deafening explosion.
The blast forced the audience to shield their eyes. And before the dust could clear, Pawmot's limp body was flung across the stage, crashing against a stone pillar at Nemona's side.
When the smoke faded, Pikachu stood in the center of the field, arms crossed, smirking as the crystalline glow of Terastallization faded away.
Nemona lowered her gaze, quietly returning Pawmot to his Poké Ball. Around her, the crowd erupted with gasps and disbelief. Nemona… lost?
The students were stunned. There was a reason no one wanted to battle Nemona, because no one could defeat her. Even the Elite Four and Gym Leaders watching could hardly believe what they had just witnessed.
Liko, Roy, and Dot stared at the field, stunned. It took a moment for the reality to hit them.
Ash had won.
They won.
That meant they could finally reach Area Zero… and find Entei.
Liko's lips parted, ready to cheer, but she stopped when she saw Nemona. The Champion was still staring at the ground, bangs shadowing her eyes, her hand clenched tight around Pawmot's Poké Ball. For a second, Liko feared she might start crying.
After all, everyone had talked about Nemona like she could never lose. And it was true, she'd never lost a single battle. And now Ash had beaten her. First try. Even using Terastallization for the very first time.
Nemona trembled slightly.
Then—
"…Pfft—" She let out a small laugh. Then another. And then it burst out of her like a dam breaking. "Ahahahaha! HAHAAA!"
The crowd blinked in confusion as Nemona threw her head back, laughing so hard that tears welled at the corners of her eyes. She stomped her foot on the ground, her whole body shaking with exhilaration.
"I—I can't believe it! You actually knocked me flat, Ash, and I was giving you everything I had!" she cried, her voice cracking with sheer joy.
Gasps rippled through the students. Whispers spread. Then the murmurs turned into cheers again, though tinged with disbelief.
Nemona whipped her head up, her grin blazing brighter than ever, "Everything I… I… Ahhh, hahahaha! Oh man, oh man! Pokémon battling, am I right?! It's even better, so much more fun, than I ever dreamed!"
Ash blinked. "I, uh…"
Nemona jabbed a finger at him, practically vibrating with excitement, "That was incredible! I've been searching so long for someone like you, someone who can fight me evenly, push me back, make me go all out! Thank you for that amazing match!"
Liko exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, pressing a hand to her chest, "Oh, thank goodness…"
Roy slumped in relief. "I thought she was gonna cry…"
Dot smirked faintly, adjusting her glasses. "No. She's the kind who only cries from joy."
Nemona clenched her fists, her smile stretching ear to ear, "Now… let's give ourselves a little break, yeah? Just a minute to breathe before round two!"
"Round two?!" Liko, Roy, and Dot yelped in unison.
Nemona just laughed, already bouncing on her heels, "Which Pokémon should I bring out this time, huh? Decisions, decisions! I can't wait to show you more, Ash!"
Ash sweatdropped, scratching the back of his head, "Heh… well, you're definitely something else."
Pikachu, still catching his breath, gave a proud "Pika~!" and Vee barked a cheerful "Vee!" from the sidelines.
Around them, the Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and students clapped, cheers echoing. Hassel, the art professor, openly wept, crying tears of joy at the beauty of the battle.
Geeta stepped forward, her expression calm but her faint smile betraying her approval. She gave a small clap, "Well. I can't say we expected any of this, but you've certainly proven your strength beyond any doubt. As Top Champion of Paldea, I recognize this victory. And with it, I grant you and your companions—" her gaze flicked to Liko, Roy, and Dot—"…the right to enter Area Zero."
The crowd erupted once more.
Liko gasped in relief and joy. Roy pumped his fist, shouting, "We did it! We can go!"
Dot sighed, but a rare smile touched her lips. "Thank goodness everything worked out in the end…"
Ash looked over at them, smiling faintly, "Well, I did make a promise, didn't I?" he said, glancing down at the Tera Orb in his hand.
He stepped forward and held it out to Liko, "Here. Thanks for letting me borrow this."
Liko looked at the orb and gently took it back, "Thanks… but you actually made it work. On your first try…" She hesitated, then shook her head. "No, you should keep it."
Ash chuckled, shaking his head, "Nah. You're the one who did the Tera training. You earned it. Besides, I can't take all your power-ups, can I?" He pushed the orb back into Liko's hands, gently closing her fingers around it.
That drew the attention of Rika, who stepped forward with her hands in her pockets, "Mm, you've got a point there. Technically, Ash, you weren't part of the Tera training. Which means you shouldn't have been able to use that orb at all."
Ash shrugged, "I'm a quick study. I learn a lot just by watching."
Then little Poppy tugged on Rika's sleeve, wide-eyed, "But Rikaaa… if he wasn't supposed to use it, then, doesn't that mean the match doesn't count?"
Larry cleared his throat, finally straightening his tie, "If we're being technical, yes, he wasn't enrolled. But from a practical standpoint, he won. The crowd accepted it. And frankly…" He sighed, rubbing his temples. "…I'm too tired to argue about it."
Hassel wiped his eyes dramatically, his booming voice carrying over the murmurs, "It must count! To deny such artistry, such emotion, why, that battle was a masterpiece!" He sniffled into his sleeve. "Disqualify it? Impossible!"
Relief washed through Liko, Roy, and Dot once again. Liko hugged the orb to her chest with a small smile.
But before Ash could reply, Nemona suddenly clapped her hands together, her grin brighter than ever, "That's it!"
Everyone blinked as she bounded right up to Ash, practically nose-to-nose, sparkling eyes locked on him.
"Nemona…" Geeta warned, already sensing trouble.
Ash sweatdropped. "…What's 'it'?"
Nemona jabbed a finger at his chest, "Simple! Today's your birthday, right?!"
Ash blinked, caught off-guard. "…Wait—how did you—?"
"Oh, please." Nemona waved it off, bouncing on her heels. "Your info's public on the Kanto League site. I just got too excited earlier and forgot. But I remembered now! And what better birthday gift than—" She whipped out her Tera Orb, holding it high like a trophy. "—an official Tera Orb of your very own?!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Liko's eyes widened. "Wait, really? You can do that?"
Nemona nodded rapidly, "Of course! I'm a Champion. I've got connections. I'll vouch for him, sign the forms, all that boring stuff." Her grin sharpened. "Buuut, there's a catch."
Ash raised an eyebrow. "…Of course there is."
Nemona leaned forward, eyes sparkling brighter than ever, "Mhm! But only if…" She pointed a dramatic finger at him, stars practically flashing behind her, "…you agree to be my rival!"
Roy's jaw dropped, glancing between Ash and Nemona, "She's… she's basically proposing a battle marriage!"
Liko and Dot nearly choked on air. Dot slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide, "Roy, don't say stuff like that out of context!"
Roy tilted his head. "What? Why not? Isn't that what it is?"
"No, it's really not, Roy! I swear, sometimes I forget you grew up on an island," Dot groaned, while Liko was too busy covering her face, her cheeks flushed pink.
Ash sighed. "Do I get a choice in this?"
"Nope! Not really," Nemona chirped. "I won't stop until you say yes."
Ash arched an eyebrow, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh, really? Then what if I say no?"
Nemona grinned, unfazed. "Oops! Didn't hear that! One more time: you and me, best rivals for life!"
"No."
"Sorry, I'll only accept a yes! You and me, best rivals for life!"
"No."
"Okay, okay, last chance! You WILL be my rival, right?!"
"No."
"You! Me! Rivals! Yes?!"
Ash finally chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fine."
"YESSS! ¡Toma ya!" Nemona jumped up and down, fists pumping in victory. She practically tossed her Tera Orb into the air in her excitement, and Ash had to catch it before it hit the ground.
"This is the BEST day ever!" Nemona cried. "Ash Ketchum, my new rival! Ahh, it feels so good to say it out loud! ¡Increíble!"
Ash sweatdropped. "Do you always get this… energetic?"
"Energetic?" Nemona gasped, pressing her hands to her cheeks. "No, no, this is pure JOY, Ash! You don't understand, I've been waiting my whole life for a rival like you! And now, boom! Happy birthday to both of us!"
"…Pretty sure it's only my birthday," Ash muttered.
"Details!" Nemona waved him off, still glowing.
Geeta sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Nemona… please don't scare him off before I can properly debrief."
Nemona leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "Debrief later. Rivalry now. Let's battle again! I've got a whole new strategy to test!"
Ash sighed helplessly, glancing over to Liko and the gang. A small smile tugged at his lips, "Alright then, one more battle. But after that, I've got to go with Liko and the others."
"Wait, you're really coming with us?" Liko asked, her voice trembling with excitement she tried to hide.
"Yeah," Ash said casually. "You'll need the help. Besides, Area Zero sounds interesting, and I've got some time to kill. So, why not?" He shrugged, though deep down there was another reason he wasn't saying out loud.
"Awesome! I'll run and tell Friede the good news!" Roy shouted before bolting off.
"Okay, okay, okay, one more battle, then another, and another, and another! Let's battle lots and lots forever!" Nemona said, practically bouncing in place.
Ash let out a long sigh and looked down at Vee, "Alright, buddy. You've got this one."
Vee glanced at Ash, then at Nemona, and exhaled like a tired old man before trudging onto the battlefield. He clearly wasn't nearly as thrilled as she was.