Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 39: Lakefront Flow

Valor Lakefront greeted us with bright banners, polished walkways, and a lake so wide it made the sky look like it had fallen into the water.

After Route 214, the clean resort air felt almost unreal. Hunter J's shadow, Maniac's Tunnel dust, and the smell of Magmortar's new fire still followed us in my mind, but the lakefront was full of music, tourists, Coordinators, and people carrying programs with Wallace's face printed across the front.

Dawn stopped in front of a Pokémon Center television before the rest of us could reach the counter. Piplup bumped into her leg, complained once, then froze when Marian's voice filled the lobby.

Several Coordinators had already quietly gathered together around the screen, quietly whispering about appeal rounds, battle rounds, and which regional styles might appear. Dawn listened to them with careful attention, while Buneary peeked from her Poké Ball as if the word Contest had pulled her awake.

Marian smiled brightly from the screen. "The world-famous Wallace Cup has arrived at Valor Lakefront, bringing Coordinators from many regions to compete for a special Ribbon recognized across regional Grand Festival circuits."

Lillie's eyes widened as Wallace appeared beside Milotic in the broadcast footage. "Uncle Wallace is here in Sinnoh?"

"It sure has been a while since we last saw him," I said.

Manaphy leaned toward the screen from Lillie's arms, fascinated by the water effects around Wallace's image. Togetic floated beside Manaphy and chimed like she remembered every old friend arriving by surprise.

Dawn looked from Wallace's image to the lakefront banners. "A Ribbon that counts in every region. That sounds huge."

"It is," I said, smiling at the memory of Hoenn Contests and old stages. "Wallace does not do anything halfway."

Reisa had once joked that Wallace could make a puddle feel like a royal theater. Looking at the lakefront now, with banners shining across the water, I understood that much more clearly than before.

Before anyone could say more, something huge and blue lunged from behind the center fountain and clamped its jaws around my head.

For one second, the whole lakefront froze in perfect silence.

"Ash, do not move too fast!" Tox called, already sounding like he was treating a normal medical incident.

Pikachu sparked on my shoulder, but Lillie grabbed him before he shocked both me and the Pokémon biting me. Dawn shouted my name, and several tourists screamed before realizing the Feraligatr looked much happier than dangerous.

I pulled myself free with a wet pop and stared at the grinning Feraligatr. "It's you?"

"Feraligatr, you ran off again," a familiar voice groaned.

Reisa hurried across the walkway, waving both hands in apology. Her hair was a little longer than the last time I saw her, but her smile was exactly the same when she noticed us.

"Reisa!" I called, rubbing my soaked hair.

She ran the last few steps and hugged me hard enough that Feraligatr grunted proudly behind her. Then she hugged Lillie, and the two of them laughed like the lakefront had suddenly become a reunion hall.

"I knew I would see you here," Reisa said. "So these are your new travel companions?"

Dawn straightened quickly, still looking curious. Gladion gave a short nod. Daniel watched Feraligatr like he was reconsidering every theory about friendly greetings. Tox approached me first and checked my head with two careful fingers.