The Pantheon

PR Nightmare

The lights were too bright. Way too bright.

Ashley smiled anyway—the kind of smile she'd perfected for contests, wide enough to look confident but not so much that her cheeks cramped. On the inside, she was ready to dive out a window.

The conference room was packed. Reporters lined the walls, their cameras flashing like an electric storm. Every time she blinked, she saw spots. Someone's mic was shoved so close she could practically see her reflection in the metal.

She adjusted her posture, trying to remember the breathing tricks Lorelei had taught her. "In through the nose, out through the panic," she muttered under her breath.

Janus, standing calmly at her back, folded his arms. "You are handling this well," he said in that calm, annoyingly steady voice.

"Don't lie to me," she whispered through her teeth, still smiling.

"You are upright and coherent, that qualifies as well."

"Barely."

Beside her at the table, Lance looked perfectly at home. Of course he did. He was the one who'd set this whole thing up—and apparently decided that throwing her to the press right after training was an excellent idea.

"Miss Ketchum," one of the reporters called, "how does it feel to be selected as the Indigo League's first official Elite Four trainee?"

Ashley's contest-smile tightened. "It's... an honor," she said, keeping her tone bright. "It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid, so I'm really grateful for the opportunity."

Flash. Flash. Flash.

Her eyes watered, but she didn't blink. If she blinked, someone would catch it and write Ashley Ketchum on the verge of tears during first League appearance.

Another reporter chimed in. "You're still planning to compete in contests, correct?"

"Yes," she said, and her smile shifted just slightly, because that part she actually liked talking about. "I'll be representing Indigo as their ambassador in Hoenn. It's a great way to connect the regions and show how battling and performance can overlap."

The moment she finished, the flashes tripled.

Ashley winced, her vision exploding into a sea of black dots. "Wow," she muttered. "Didn't realize my face was that interesting."

Lance, to his credit, looked mildly amused. "You'll get used to it," he said.

"Oh, will I?" she whispered back. "Because right now, I'm seeing Arceus's entire ancestral line every time a camera goes off."

He ignored that, turning to the reporters. "Miss Ketchum is a talented trainer and performer. The League believes she represents the next generation of versatility and leadership. She'll serve as both a competitor and a bridge between Indigo and Hoenn."

Ashley tilted her head toward Janus. "Did he just call me a bridge?"

"I believe it is a compliment."

"Feels like construction work."

The next round of questions came fast—too fast. What were her goals? How did she feel about being mentored by four of the strongest trainers in the region? Did she plan to debut any new Pokémon? What advice would she give to aspiring young trainers?

Ashley's answers blurred together. Even when she paused, there was always another camera, another hand in the air.

"Yes, the training has been intense, but I've been learning so much from everyone." She answered and hoped that she had heard the question right, otherwise it would be too embarrassing. "I'm especially looking forward to seeing how different regions interpret strength."