New Beginning (Pearlshipping-AshxDawn)

Chapter Nine

The Ketchums were sitting in the kitchen, eating supper. Their Pokemon were on the floor, happily eating their food.

"Dad, we saw you outside the house, talking to Serena when we were coming home today." Alex said.

"What were you two talking about? And why is Serena in Sinnoh? She's from Kalos." Julia added.

"Serena is a Pokemon performer and the former Kalos Queen. She's in Sinnoh because she's touring across the region for a few months, promoting Pokemon showcases. She's spreading the news about them to people, since Kalos is currently the only region that hosts Pokemon showcases. Twinleaf Town is the first town that she's visiting on her tour." Ash explained.

"She will be holding a sample Pokemon showcase along with some other people from Kalos at the Twinleaf Festival next weekend to show everyone who hasn't seen one before." Dawn added.

"The Twinleaf Festival? What's that?" Alex and Julia asked.

"It's a special festival that's held in Twinleaf Town every few years to celebrate the town, its people, and its founding. Julia, you wouldn't remember the last one that was held because you were only three at the time. And Alex was still living in Pallet Town." Dawn explained.

"At the festival, there are games, booths, snack stands, and some special events and guests. At the last festival, my mom and I put on a sample Pokemon contest with each of us doing an appeal with our Pokemon and then having a battle. Everyone was amazed at seeing Twinleaf Town's two Top Coordinators competing."

"This year's special events will be Serena's Pokemon showcase, a one-on-one Pokemon battle tournament with the winner getting the chance to battle me, the Pokemon Master, and finally, Gary Oak, the Pokemon Professor will be coming to give a Pokemon lecture to trainers." said Ash.

"Uncle Gary's coming?!" Alex cried, feeling excited. He hadn't seen Gary since his parents' wedding and he missed him.

"We will also have another special guest staying here with us during the festival."

"Who?" Alex and Julia asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see. It's a surprise." Dawn said, smiling.

This is going to be so cool and a lot of fun! I'll never forget this! I wonder who will be staying with us...it has to be someone that we know. Julia thought.

Uncle Gary is coming for a visit and we get a festival? This is going to be awesome! I wonder who is staying with us? Alex thought.

It was now Friday afternoon and school had just ended for the day. Tomorrow, the Twinleaf Festival would begin. Ash and Dawn had told Alex and Julia to bring their friends over after school, claiming that someone very special was waiting at home to see them, who would also be staying with them for the weekend while the festival was going on.

The kids all arrived at the Ketchum house and walked in, finding Ash and Dawn in the living room.

"Wait here, we'll be right back." Dawn said as she and Ash got up and left.

"Do you two know who it is?" Isla asked.

Alex and Julia shook their heads and said, "We honestly don't know."

Then, footsteps were heard and the kids turned around to see someone standing in front of Ash and Dawn...it was Sarah! Sarah was wearing a light pink skirt with a matching jacket, a white tank top, and light pink flats. She even had her friendship bracelet on her wrist that Julia had made for her during the summer.

"Sarah!" they cried, running over to her and hugging her.

Aside from Alex and Julia, they hadn't seen her since Ash and Dawn's wedding. It had been months since they had last seen her, and Jake and Melissa had never seen her before.