152 Kanto - Porta Vista

Ash travelled on his own this time without any human friends except for his Pokemon by his side. Misty was busy helping at the gym, preparing it for the next season of trainers, Brock, Gou and Chloe had headed to the site of the Grand Festival in advance, while the rest of his friends who were not coordinators headed to Jhoto. Jessilina and Jameson were back in their hometown with Tomo tackling a pile of papers that were needed, especially after Tomo made friends with a baby Budew that kept following him around. Looks like Tomo will get his second Pokemon soon, the thought made him smile as he reached Pewter City riding on Charizard's back.

They decided to stop there for a lunch break and met up with Forest and Cindy who had been given heads up by Brock. The two invited him over for lunch and Ash was greeted by Flint and Lola who welcomed him to join them. Cindy showed off her newly evolved Parasect while Lola spoke about her clients and work. Flint listened to his wife with a goofy smile and Ash half wondered if that is how Brock was gonna be after he married one day. Ash left after lunch and flew to the next city which was Cerulean City and it was evening by the time he reached.

Misty was waiting for him and greeted him before taking him to the Gym house to spend the night. Her sisters were delighted to see him again and Misty informed him she would be there to cheer him on and Tentacruel and newly evolved Seadra was quiet excited to return to his birth territory and see his family again. Her sisters had also decided to go to Porta Vista to take a break from the work and relax a bit while enjoying the luxury hotel.

Ash left ahead of Misty as she would be traveling with her sisters to the Festival once work was done. Ash travelled in the morning on Charizard's back towards Vermillion City where he had lunch with just him and his Pokemon before going to greet Surge. He had brought his Pokemon to meet Surge and to say Charizard, Venasaur, Blastoise, Togekiss and Pidgeot were happy to see him was an understatement. Surge huffed as he was thanked and nuzzled by the Pokemon he helped and told them he was proud of how far they came. Ash laughed and spent the night at Vermillion City Pokecentre while Nurse Joy and Lt Surge both gave their stamp of approval. The Pokemon were healthy as they could be and Surge told Ash, he knew who the trainer was, that abandoned Gengar. The said trainer was currently under probation and going through some serious training himself under the Gym trainees.

Ash, "Hear that buddy?"

Gengar was quiet before nodding, "Geng gengar."

Lt Surge, "If you want to see them it's fine and if you don't want to see them. That's fine too."

Gengar nodded and disappeared through the wall, "Geng geng geng gengar."

Lucario, -He decided to see him.-

Surge, "I see."

Charizard rumbled, -Zould... ze... worry?-

Ash rubbed his snout, "We'll be here for him."

Surge grinned at the fire lizard making the flying fire type look at him warily, "You have come far little flame. I remember when you first came here. You were clinging to your trainer like a baby. And would glare at me as if you would attack me."

Charizard looked away embarrassed about his previous behavior while Blastoise, Venasaur, Pidgeot and Togekiss snickered. Ash just grinned and announced they would leave the next day after Gengar returned. When the said ghost type did return he was looking smug and satisfied and the Pokemon snorted and nodded when Gengar explained what he had done. Lucario explained while on the road.

Lucario, -He played a prank on the punk Meema.-

Ash, "Do tell."

Lucario gave a wry smile, -The punk was dreaming about beating you in the Conference and then.... Well, it turns out he had a crush on you when you were dressed up as a female. Also he was dreaming of beating and humiliating Surge too, he hasn't learned anything at all.-

Ash looked at him incredulously, "I'm pretty sure I never met him before. Lt Surge is a successful man. Unbelievable!"

Lucario shook his head, -He saw you on TV and had a fantasy of how after becoming a 'Champion', he would ask you to be his girlfriend.-

Charizard grumbled while flying above at that, -Zould burrrrn him tooo crisssp. Disrespectful bastardddd.-

Pidgeot nodded, "Ot."

Lucario, -Gengar here used dream eater to eat that dream and then gave him a nightmare where everyone found out he abandoned his Pokemon. He lost his credibility and everyone turned their backs on him. He left the nightmare on a repeat, if he dreamed about insulting Surge again or dreamed about you.-

Gengar nodded, "Geng gengar."

Ash smiled patting Gengar's head, "Thank you. You didn't have to do that for me. I wouldn't have accepted a bastard like him even if he was the last person on earth."

Gengar nuzzled Ash saying he was welcome and the guy deserved the nightmares for what he did. They traveled to the Pokemon theme park and spent a few hours there before heading straight to Porta Vista. Charizard wanted to try using agility while flying to see how far he could go while flying. They crossed the huge water body between the theme park and the beach city and reached Porta Vista around dinner time. He noticed Nastina's hotel looked like it was complete and that was where the coordinators were staying at.

Drew, "Ash!"

Ash, "Drew, hey!"

Drew smiled, "You are in time. We need to sign in tomorrow. Looking good Charizard."

Charizard, -Zanks.-

Drew blinked, "Did he just?"

Ash, "He's learning. Yeah, he'll be able to talk properly using aura soon. Right buddy?"

Charizard purred and Drew guided them to the hotel where coordinators were given rooms after showing their identification and five ribbons. Drew mentioned it was four rooms down his room on the left wing and offered to show him around. Ash smiled and agreed to the offer and Drew showed him the left wing which had a lobby and a large canteen which catered to humans and Pokemon. After dropping the bags off Ash and his Pokemon went to the canteen to grab dinner first as it was dinner time when they landed.

Drew, "That business lady, Nastina I think her name, doesn't look like much from outside but knows what she's doing."

Ash nodded looking around the hotel, "I agree. It's very impressive."

The hotel was build around the coral reef instead of on the reef. According to what Meowth had explained apparently the Tentacruel boss liked the idea of not going hungry and agreed to help with the construction. That allowed the hotel to finish faster, Ash had given an impressed whistle at that and asked, if it wasn't too fast. Meowth waved it off and explained that the building was created with special materials and was more sturdy then normal buildings.

Ash munched on his dinner, 'I wonder what he meant by sturdy was the building can deal with Pokemon moves.'

Drew, "I saw the field for grass and bug Pokemon in the North West side. It's pretty big and connected to the mainland through a large garden."

Ash, "They really went all out building this place."

Drew, "Hey Ash, you know a lot of the coordinators here are really dreading yet hoping to challenge you. We all saw your battles in the Conference."

Ash, "I look forward to it."

Drew smirked, "I have been following Wallace's advice on training not just as coordinator but also as a battler. I'm not going easy on you."

Ash smirked back, "Of course."

The dinner ended with no incident and the next day they registered for the festival which would start in two days. The coordinators could use the time to relax or train a bit more before the big day. Ash went through his play with his Pokemon, and he was pretty confident he could get into the top four but wanted to be sure it was flawless. His Pokemon were just as excited but more because after the festival it'll be a week full of beach, sun and fun. Soon the day of the festival arrived with fireworks and decorations around the hotel.

Nastina was standing on a stage, "Ho ho ho! Welcome everyone to the Coral Hotel holding it's first ever Kanto Festival. I hope you young uns enjoy the performances. I personally have been looking forward to it. Ho ho ho!"

The crowd cheered as the hostess took over after Nastina, "Thank you for the warm welcome, Lady Nastina. Hello everyone I'm your host for the day, Layla. Are you all ready to get the show on the road?"

Layla grinned as the crowd screamed more, "Let's welcome our judges. First we have Mr Contesta."

Contesta, "It's good to be here!"

Layla, "Mr Sukizo."

Sukizo, "Remarkable."

Layla, "Our very own Nurse Joy."

Nurse Joy, "Hello everyone."

Layla, "Kanto's very own Contest Princess, Daisy Waterflower."

Daisy winked, "Hey lovely girls and boys."

Layla, "And our final guest judge Nastina Demar."

Nastina laughed, "Ho ho ho! Do your best."

Layla, "Let's start with welcoming our first contestant."

Ash watched the first few performances enjoying them, "They really worked hard."

Lucario, -It's cool.-

Pikachu, "Pika pika pikachu."

Ash, "It's Drew's turn."

Drew, "Milotic dazzle everyone."

Milotic appeared in between rings of aqua ring, "Looo."

Drew, "Water pulse."

Milotic used water pulse and created a few pulses controlled them and pushed them up, "Miiiiii."

Drew grinned, "Now sunny day."

Milotic used sunny day that shone on the water pulse making the light bounce through the water pulses.

Drew, "Now sing!"

Milotic started to sing using his magnetic voice that entranced the audience as he sang while the coming from the water pulse focused on him. Ash gave an appreciative whistle, using so many, around twelve water pulses and controlling them and singing was no joking matter. It required focus, powerful control, a lot of stamina and strength, focus and training.

Ash, "Drew trained really hard."

Lucario, -He is probably one of the strongest players here. Aside from that Lady using Medicham, Grace wasn't it?-

Ash nodded, "Yes but let's not cancel the other participants yet. Who knows they might surprise us."

A voice spoke from behind him, "You can bet we will."

Ash turned seeing an older teen, "I look forward to it."

The teen grinned, "I'm gonna go for top four just watch me. Then I'll battle you."

Ash, "Of course."

Layla, "What a beautiful performance from Milotic and Drew. Let's see what the judges have to say."

Contesta, "The techniques and moves are beautiful and we'll executed."

Sukizo, "Extremely remarkable."

Nurse Joy, "One look at Milotic's shiny scales and you know he is adored and loved."

Nastina, "That was fabulous sonny. I love it."

Daisy, "The power behind those moves are no joke. You did really well raising him after you saved him from a poacher, according to your record. Extra points for that."

Drew beamed while Milotic nuzzled him happily, "We have come a long way from that time."

Layla grinned, "You certainly did and look at that a full on fifty points. The highest point so far."

Layla, "Now for the next participant."

The next participant was the older teen who as it turns out was Harley and his Cacturne who looked really menacing. Cacturne first used energy ball that he created many energy balls that floated around him. The next move was spiky shield and then using absorb to absorbed the many energy balls. Ash gaped as Cacturne glowed as a literal star and the next thing you know Cacturne used leaf storm that picked him up. Cacturne stood on the hill of leaf storm blooming with colourful dessert flowers on the vines. Ash noticed the vines had thorns on the vines and half wondered if Cacturne created a new move.

[A. N.: More than 1k reads!

Thank you for the support and love everyone.

I write the chapters on this story during my free time from work.

I'm very happy you all love my story. :D

I'm gonna keep on updating once a week like always.

Also my doggo gave birth to two healthy puppo. I'm so happy. :)

This week has been hectic but it's been awesome.]