Ash's Little Sister

Nightmares

I leave the Water Gym and book it to the Pokémon Center. Riolu grunts in pain, sore from the battle with Nessa. Mudsdale, Vulpix, and Drifloon follow behind me. Mudsdale tries to squeeze through the door to the Pokémon Center, but can't quite fit through it. I bite back a laugh.

"Sorry, girl. You'll have to get in your Pokéball." She grunts her displeasure, but doesn't resist when I call her into her ball. I rush up to Nurse Joy.

"I need you to help Riolu and Mudsdale. We just challenged the Water Gym." Nurse Joy nods eagerly.

"Of course. Just call Riolu into his Pokéball and I can heal them right up." I pull out Riolu's ball, but he growls and swats it away. I set him down on the counter.

"You need to get in." I pick up the Pokéball, and press it against Riolu. Riolu shoves my arm off. I flush, embarrassed.

"Riolu is used to traveling alongside me. Not in a ball." Nurse Joy looks at all my partners, each one not in their Pokéball.

"I saw that you called your Mudsdale in. I'll just borrow that one then." I hand over Mudsdale's Pokéball, and she sets it in the machine. Moments later, she hands it back.

"Mudsdale is all healed. I'll just take your Riolu to the back, and bring him to you good as new." She picks up my Pokémon and heads down the hall. I sit and wait for about fifteen minutes. I feel a vibration in my pocket and pull out my Rotom Phone. A number I don't recognize flashes across the screen. I press the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Is this Sapphire Ketchum?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"Great. This is Oleana, Chairman Rose's secretary. He wants to meet with you at The Captain's Table."

"Why?"

"He'll explain when you get there. Don't be late."

"But-"

The line goes dead. I sigh.

"Guess I don't have much of a choice." Nurse Joy returns Riolu to me, and we set out for the restaurant. I walk inside and the man who greets customers smiles at me.

"The Chairman has been waiting for you." He leads me to a table at the back. I take a seat and Riolu climbs in my lap. Drifloon winds an arm around the back of my seat, and Vulpix hops in the chair next to me. Rose looks at each of my Pokémon.

"You have quite a few companions." I shrug.

"Traveling alongside them makes me feel closer to them." I see Oleana standing just behind the Chairman. She stares at me, and I struggle to sit still under her fierce gaze. I fiddle with the silverware.

"I was surprised to receive your invitation. What is this about?" Rose steeples his fingers.

"You've been making waves in the Gym Challenge I organized. You've only gathered two Gym Badges, but yours are the most anticipated matches. How could you not be with your.. abilities." My heart skips a beat.

"What.. what are you saying?" He stares at me.

"What do you feel when your Pokémon, or anyone Dynamaxes." I keep my expression carefully neutral.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Chairman. I use Dynamaxing the same way anyone else does." Rose gestures to Oleana, and she hands something to him. He slides two photos across the table. One is of Gigantamaxed Vulpix, and one is of Gigantamaxed Riolu from earlier today.

"Out of everyone in Galar, your Pokémon are the only ones who respond to Dynamax Bands like this." I shake my head.

"Quite a few Pokémon can Gigantamax.. You've got Pikachu, Lapras, Inteleon, Snorlax.." Rose interrupts me.