Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 52: Fantina's Haunted Return

The road away from Route 210 brought us into a small town that did not look important from a distance. It had a Pokémon Center, a few shops, and a square where traveling Trainers gathered before moving toward Hearthome or Celestic. After the mountain air, even the quiet streets felt warm.

Gible walked beside me for almost three minutes before trying to bite my backpack strap. I caught him before he swallowed anything important, and Pikachu leaned down from my shoulder with a warning spark in his cheeks.

Gible's meaning came proudly through the bite marks. "New road. New smells. Everything should be tested."

Pikachu's meaning answered dryly. "Test with eyes first. Teeth second, maybe never."

Lillie laughed softly while Roserade walked beside her, still carrying herself like she was getting used to her new height. After Route 210, seeing Roserade bloom under the town sunlight made the whole day feel steadier.

The town had posters for Hearthome City, Celestic Town, and several traveling Contest workshops. Fantina's picture was on more than one of them, smiling under purple lights with Mismagius floating beside her. One poster had a line about Hearthome Gym challengers waiting for her return.

Dawn noticed the poster at the same time I did. "So she really has been away from the Gym for a while."

Gladion looked down the street, where several Trainers were comparing badges near the fountain. "If challengers are waiting here instead of Hearthome, rumors must have spread."

Daniel folded the map carefully. "A Gym Leader disappearing without explanation creates pressure. Even if the reason is training, challengers may read it as avoidance."

Tox watched a young Trainer rubbing his tired Luxio's shoulders near the benches. "Pressure is not only emotional. Some of these Trainers are burning travel money and time. Fantina needs a good reason."

We were about to head for the Pokémon Center when a burst of shadowy light flared from the open battle field near the square. A familiar voice called an order, and I turned just in time to see Zoey's Glameow skid backward across the dirt.

Across from her stood Fantina.

Fantina's purple dress moved like part of the battle itself, and her Drifblim drifted above the field with its ribbons curling through the air. Zoey narrowed her eyes, trying to recover her rhythm, but Drifblim spun gracefully and released a strange ghostly wave that wrapped Glameow before Zoey could call a dodge.

"Glameow, hang in there!" Zoey shouted.

Glameow tried to leap, but Drifblim's next attack struck from below. The referee raised a flag, and Zoey's side of the field went silent.

"Glameow is unable to battle," the referee said. "Fantina wins."

Dawn hurried forward with Piplup in her arms. "Zoey!"

Zoey recalled Glameow and exhaled slowly. She looked disappointed, but not crushed. "I'm fine. That was a clean loss."

Fantina turned toward us with a bright smile, though her eyes looked tired from battling. "Ah, mes amis! Ash, Lillie, Dawn, and your friends. How delightful that our roads meet again."

I stepped closer before she could leave. "Fantina, we've finally found you. Can we have a Gym battle?"

Lillie nodded beside me, her hand resting near Gallade's Poké Ball. "We have been trying to challenge you since Hearthome."

Fantina's smile softened into something more serious. "I know. The thing is, I have been traveling as a Trainer again. While I was away, my Gym has been waiting for my return."