The Pantheon

Tree of Life

Ashley was pouting.

She flopped down on the bench just outside the Contest Hall, still in her post-performance outfit. Mercury—her Jolteon now, not Eevee anymore—paced in a circle in front of her, tail crackling with leftover energy.

“It’s not fair,” she muttered, poking the ribbon case beside her like it had personally offended her. “I was supposed to make it to the tournament. I had the dress planned. I wanted castle photos. I wanted the whole aura-guardian-for-a-day thing.”

Mercury gave her a flat look.

“Don’t give me that,” Ashley huffed, tossing her braid back over her shoulder. “Apollo evolved. That wasn’t in the schedule. Brock went full drill sergeant for two extra days after that! You saw the training schedule! We had spreadsheets!”

Mercury tilted his head. Then trotted up onto the bench and laid dramatically across her lap, eyes half-lidded like, Wow, poor you, winner of a whole contest, life’s so hard.

Ashley rolled her eyes but didn’t push him off. Her fingers automatically drifted to his fur, scratching just behind his ears as her other hand opened the ribbon case again. Five gleaming ribbons winked up at her. Five. She was officially qualified for the Grand Festival now.

She grinned despite herself. “Okay. Yeah. That part’s cool.”

She pulled her PokéNav from her bag, ignoring the backlog of unread messages—half of which were probably from Brock with more post-training notes—and opened the camera roll. She gathered Mercury and they posed right there in the Contest Plaza.

The ribbon case was dead center. Mercury preened.

She snapped the photo.

Then sent it to… well, everyone.

Ashley slumped on the grass, arms behind her head, staring up at the bright Rota sky. Mars let out a grunt of agreement, as he cuddled beside her. Ashley’s thumb hovered over the reply button, her face still glowing from the avalanche of messages pouring into her PokéNav. She was lying belly-down in the grass just outside the Contest Hall now, propped up on her elbows, her bag half-unzipped, Mercury curled at her feet like a sparking beanbag with legs.

“Alright,” she muttered, skimming the unread messages. “Let’s see who’s screaming in all caps first.”

Her mom had, of course, gone full Support Parent Mode.

[Mom]: OH SWEETIE YOU LOOKED BEAUTIFUL AND MERCURY WAS AMAZING!!! I’M CRYING AND SO IS DAD—PROBABLY—HE WON’T ADMIT IT BUT I CAN TELL.

Ashley snorted. “Of course he won’t admit it.”

Right underneath was her dad’s message—way shorter.

[Dad]: Raichu high-fived the screen when Mercury evolved. Flareon hasn’t stopped pacing. We’re proud of you, kid.

Ashley let out a long, happy breath, her smile softening. She rolled onto her back, arms stretched wide, the PokéNav held above her as the clouds drifted lazily overhead. Mercury yawned beside her and nosed at her ankle with a sleepy buzz.

She tapped out quick responses—snarky and heartfelt in equal measure.

To Mom: “Tell Dad I saw that almost-tear. Also, I expect cake next time I’m home. Mercury wants his own slice.”

To Dad: “Tell Raichu and Flareon they can take some of the credit. Genetics, or whatever.”

Then came the rest of the list—each message lighting up her PokéNav like a parade of old friends and mentors suddenly crawling out of the woodwork.