Ash, "So, this is LaRousse City."
May, "This place is fantastic!"
Max, "Yeah, look at all the high tech gears."
Molly, "I want to check the shopping malls out,"
Ruby, "We could use new clothes. I certainly need new ones. These are getting worn down."
Gou, "Uh... Good point! Our sleep wears also have multiple loose threads."
Molly, "Ooh! I want a yellow sleep wear this time."
Ash, "Alright then! Let's get a room for two days then go shopping."
May, "Really? We are going shopping?"
Ash sweat dropped, "May, we do need new clothes."
May, "Right! Right! It's just, it has been a while."
Ruby, "Well, something or another always happened whenever we tried to relax or wanted to do something normal."
Max nodded scowling, "That is an understatement. It is like the whole criminal organization of the region is out for us."
May murmured, "No kidding."
Molly, "I see the Pokemon centre. There is a lot of trainers."
Ash, "Let's ask Nurse Joy what is going on while getting the rooms for ourselves."
Nurse Joy, "Welcome to the LaRousse Pokemon centre."
Ruby, "Is there some sort of event going on Nurse Joy?"
Nurse Joy, "It is the annual festival actually. Junior trainers who are not ready to travel on their own yet can take part in many activities like, treasure hunting, track race, mock rescue tests and basic breeder contests."
Molly, "Really? What are the prizes?"
Nurse Joy, "Money, equipment and certificates."
May, "Do you want to take part?"
Max nodded, "I want to take part in the mock rescue tests. I recall that Ash has a liscence, so I want one too."
Ash, "What about trainers?"
Nurse Joy smiled, "Same events but geared towards trainers. If you already have a certificate you can renew it to allow you permit to act in Hoenn."
Ash nodded, "I am taking part then. You never know with our luck."
Gou, "I will as well."
May, "Me too! It will be fun."
Ash, "We can be a team. Rescue workers wourk as a united team."
Ruby chuckled, "You guys have fun. I will cheer you on."
May, "You will not participate?"
Ruby shook his head, "I have a few things to take care of. I don't think I will have the time to participate this time."
Ash, "Ah! You mean your Gym meeting and Elite meeting you have been postponing for weeks?"
Ruby nodded, "Wallace has covered for me but there is only so much he can cover. I need to give them a heads up in person, anyway. A lot has happened after all. Plus, I also need some information on you know what."
Ash, "Oh!"
Gou, "I almost forgot about that."
Ash, "Do you want me to join you considering... You know."
Ruby, "No, I am one of the Champions of Hoenn. Let me handle this."
Ash nodded agreeing to that fact and then turned to Nurse Joy who was watching them curiously and asked for participation forms. The event was for three days so instead of staying for two days they booked two rooms for three days. They could only get two rooms due to many trainers coming to the City in order to take part in the many contest activities and for the certificates. After they got their Pokemon checked, they headed to the shopping area first to get the groceries done first then headed to the clothing store. Ash recalls vaguely some events about the City about a Deoxys and a Rayquaza? He could not remember why they were fighting only that the entire City was turned into rubble. But he does remember they were able to calm both Pokemon down and no one died which was the most important part. After they showered, cleaned up and changed into cleaner outfits, they went out to get their man shopping done and out of the way.
May and Molly pulled the boys into the clothes department though they went to male and female sections separately to get some inner wears first. Then, they started to discuss outfits for their alternate egos that they used to deal with organizations. Cheryl, Veronica and Reggie were the most flamboyant of the group, while Archie, Jughead and Betty were more normal looking with their outfits. However, it also needed to be in such a manner that anyone not in the know could not connect them to their alter egos. Archie, Jughead and Betty got their outfits first, Archie and Jughead leaning into the best friend aesthetic and getting similar clothing in different colours while Betty looked like a cute girl with twin tails in a baby blue dress top and white pants. Then came Cheryl, Reggie and Veronica had three gorgeous yet flamboyant outfits though no one but they needed to know. The self check out options were a real Arceus send to remain incognito.
Ash, "Shall we go register for the activities?"
Max, "There is a battle competition too."
May, "A battle competition? I think I will take part. Hunchkrow has been on my case about wanting to battle more."
Molly, "Sounds good! Will you take part?"
Gou, "We can team up for the double team part. That will be fun but after that the single battles are at the same time as the certificate tests."
Ash, "You can team up with anyone for the double battles according to this."
May, "Awesome! Let's team up, Gou."
Gou grinned, "Sure! It has been a while since we did an official team up."
May, "Right? What abou you, Ash? Will you take part?"
Ash, "For the double battle sure but after that though I have my own test to deal with. Max, want to be my partner?"
Max nodded, "Can I? Yes please!"
Ruby, "Molly and I will partner as well then. What do you say?"
Molly, "Sounds fun! Alright then, let's go register."
Ruby, "There are internet cafes all around the City."
Gou, "Cool! Is that a Skitty internet cafe over there?"
May, "Where?"
Ash, "Looks like fun, let's check it out."
Molly, "Woah!"
Ruby, "Agreed!"
Around them, inside the internet cafe were Skitty and Delcatty lazily hanging around the shelves and desks of the computers and desktops. It was an aesthetic, Ash will not deny and reminded him of the cat cafes from his old life. Their Porygons stirred inside their phones and appeared outside as they looked around and guided the group to the desktops. Once they were done with their forms they subitted it and decided to check the City out. They already saw the market area so, they left to visit the research centre where the assistant Professor Yuko was giving a lecture on a rock they discovered. They suspected it was from outer space and Ash felt something strange about that but shook his head deciding he would remember in the future and to not ruin the calm environment. They went to another tourist attraction which was the museum filled with old fossils and Ash saw aa few Omanyte and Omastar fossils.
Lucario, -Want to call them later?-
Ash, "Yeah, I get updates but it is not the same as seeing them."
Ralts, -Who?-
Lucario, -Omastar, he stayed back with a research lab to act as protection for the Omanyte and Omastar escargatoire.-
Abra, -Omastar is really nice.-
Diance, -You will love them.-
Ralts, -Really?-
Lucario pat her head, -Really.-
Ash smiled overhearing the talk, 'Definitely calling tonight.'
May and Max wee marvelling at the Shieldon fossils and Molly was cooing over Auroras fossil that had a picture of how the Pokemon looked. Gou was taking pictures of the exhibit and cataloguing with different colours and Ash had half a mind to drag him to the stationary shop to get more things for him. Ruby was enjoying just moving around the place and tallking about the exhibit with the group without any reporter or fan approaching him. Who would have though just changing his outfit and giving him a very normal looking outfit would help him hide among the crowds? Certainly not Ash who was commenting Clark Kent effect and trying not to laugh at the situation. Either way their first day went by without incident and they went through their daily training routines come morning. Swellow who had evolved mid battle was learning a new move with Pikachu while Treecko was being grumpy.
Lucario, -Do not sulk so much. Aura is not that easy to manipulate, you know?-
Treecko grumbled, "Treeko, tree tree ko treeko."
Lucario, -Just because I ake it look easy, does not mean it is actually easy. Look at Meema, he activated his Aura almost two years back but he also has trouble using it as a daily item.-
Treecko sulked, "Tree ko. Treeko tree ko ko tree."
Lucario sighed, -If it was easy for my line to use Aura then there would be more Lucario Masters out there not just a handful.-
Treecko, "Tree?"
Lucario, -Really! In fact, aside from Riley, I do not think we truly know anyone else who is a Master of the Lucario line. There are specialists but a Master is rare. Even Meema is taking his time with the Mastery because he is learning about Aura.-
Treecko, "Ko!"
Corpish cooed beside him, "Cor cor corpish cor."
Lucario, -Corpish is right, as a grass type that too one of the starter Pokemon. So, you have a longer lifespan compared to other grass types. You have a long time to learn.-
Ash, "Phew! Good job Abra, Evee, Absol, Phanphy. You four are getting better. Swellow, Treeko, Corpish, come here, time to train together. I want the six of you to work on a few combinations."
The two Pokemon gave a cry of affirmation and joined them in the group training. Lucario and Pikachu meanwhile decided to train together since Pikachu was the only high level Pokemon that could actually keep up with him. Ash was on a roll explaining the combination he had in mind, it was a little complicated, Phanphy's ancient power, with Eevee's charm circling around Absol's shadow ball with the help of Abra's confusion. This move would be turned into a powerful attack with Treecko's energy ball and Corpish bubble gun joining then finally being hit Swellow's Aerial Ace which sent it flying across the field. Unfortunately, the colourful - large blast it caused caught the attention of other trainers and Officer Jenny who came to check. Luckily, they brought the excuse of Ash and Ruby having a high level battle though Offucer Jenny requested they be mindful of the City limit. The two apologised and promised to keep it in mind and thanked her for checking on them.
Ash turned to his young and new Pokemon, "Did you guys see that? Your power together was really powerful."
Absol, "Sol!"
Eevee looked smug, "Vui!"
Abra, -Of course, we are strong.-
Phanphy cooed, "Phan phanphy."
Treecko was staring at the crater feeling satisfied, "Tree treecko."
Corpish, "Corpish."
Swellow, "Low."
Lucario smirked, -And you will only get stronger after this with a lot of training.-
Lugia was nudging Ash while being invisible, he still felt shy around large groups of humans the little guy did not know about. Ash had already given him the heal ball as it was a neutral ball and if anything happened Lugia would be safe from capture. Ash gave Lugia a quick pat before the little one flew away to bother Diance who muttered about annoying siblings. Ash shook his head at that and sometimes he could not help but wonder at how human some of the pokrmon's behaviour was. Ruby called him, reminding him it was lunch time and Ash agreed to join him and called his Pokemon. He was thankful for his older Pokemon stepping up to train the younger and new ones. This way he could alternate training them in one on one training sessions without letting anyone feel left out. He was worried about his older Pokemon when rotating became harder but each of them had found personal interests to focus on.
Ash, 'I guess encouraging them to pick their own dreams and follow them was the good choice.'
Gou, "You look happy."
Ash, "I am happy."
Ash would regret opening his mouth so soon.