"Ash! I still can't believe it—you actually walked away with a share of Mr. Weston's hotel business!"
"But then again," Serena chimed in with Bonnie at her side, both of them chatting excitedly, "with you opening up the entire sales channel for Mega Evolution Keystones, I guess money doesn't mean all that much to you, right?"
The group had already left the forest behind, continuing their journey onward.
"You two really think I just blindly accepted those shares?" Ash asked with a grin. "Sure, Mr. Weston was grateful, but thirty percent of his hotel chain? That's way too much compared to just chasing away Mantle and his gang. The real value isn't in the fight—it's in connections. I know Elesa, and I know Diantha. Elesa's popularity outside Kalos is through the roof, and Diantha's reputation here is obvious."
"Pika, Pikachu!"
Pikachu nodded sagely from Ash's shoulder, as if confirming his Trainer's words.
"I get it now!" Clemont pushed his glasses up, eyes shining in realization. "Ash, you're planning to return the favor. With the help of your friends, you'll spread the word about the hotel, and in return, Mr. Weston's entire chain will thrive. It's a win-win!"
"Exactly." Ash smiled. "And don't forget—I've got friends in Sinnoh, Hoenn, Kanto. Back when I perfected Mega Stones, I gave entire sets away to several Champions and Elite Four members. A Key Stone, plus one Mega Stone. To me, it was nothing more than giving out a gift. But to them? Priceless."
Ash's voice carried a quiet confidence.
"They owe me favors now. So when I need a little publicity, their names and reputations will do the work. With their star power, Weston's hotels will be overflowing with guests in no time. And since I've got a thirty-percent stake, that success is mine too."
Of course, by this point, League currency meant little to Ash. It was convenient, but far from essential.
"The real benefit," Ash added with a small smile, "is for all of you—and for my other friends too. Whenever you're traveling, in almost any city, there will be a Weston hotel or one of his partner hotels. You'll never have to worry about finding a safe place to stay. That's the kind of advantage that's worth far more than money."
Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont stared at Ash, their eyes practically glowing with admiration.
To think—when Ash accepted Weston's offer, he had already been thinking this far ahead! His foresight was incredible.
Soon after, Ash contacted the Champions and Elite Four members one by one, setting everything in motion. All that remained was to wait for the ripple effect of celebrity influence to spread.
With that settled, the group continued toward Anistar City, where the next Pokémon Showcase Rookie Class event would be held—and where Ash would challenge the Anistar Gym.
On the way, they stumbled across a small town hosting a unique festival: a "Gourgeist Festival."
Here, Trainers and Pokémon alike dressed up as entirely different Pokémon, mimicking their appearances for fun and games.
It was amusing, refreshing, and downright hilarious.
Even Team Rocket had come to join the fun.
In this town lived a peculiar nobleman, "Count Pumpka," whose Pumpkaboo had taken a liking to Jessie's Pumpkaboo. But fate had other plans—Jessie's Pumpkaboo evolved into Gourgeist right then and there!
Count Pumpka's Pumpkaboo instantly lost interest, leaving Jessie furious.
As always, Team Rocket quickly shifted their attention back to Pikachu. Their grand scheme ended the usual way—Pikachu's Iron Tail sent them blasting off like shooting stars into the night sky.
After enjoying the Festival, the group moved on to their next stop.
But Serena's Braixen seemed… downcast.
Its treasured branch, the one it always held as a wand, had been broken during rehearsal with Pancham.
The others scrambled to find a replacement branch, but Braixen rejected every single one. None could match the original.
At Nurse Joy's suggestion, they visited an old master who specialized in grafting plants and trees.
There, Braixen finally came to understand the truth. It wasn't about the branch itself—it was about the promise it symbolized. Long ago, Serena had sworn alongside Braixen: this branch would be the witness to their journey toward becoming Kalos Queen.
That attachment had made Braixen too stubborn to accept anything else.
Now, having realized this, Braixen's heart opened wide. Its mind grew sharper, its spirit stronger.
The breakthrough triggered a new power—Braixen learned Fire Blast!
With such a powerful move in its arsenal, Serena's next Showcase in Anistar City promised to be even more dazzling.
Two days later, the group drew ever closer to their destination.
But today, Ash insisted they detour.
The path led them to a place unlike any other—an active volcano.
Its name: Mt. Molteau.
"This is Mt. Molteau!" Bonnie cried, pointing excitedly to the summit. "Look, big brother—the smoke rising up there, that's the crater, right?"
"That's right," Clemont confirmed, adjusting his glasses. "I've read about this place. Powerful Fire-type Pokémon are said to live here, though no one knows exactly which ones. Strangely, despite being active, this volcano has never erupted. That mystery alone draws Trainers here every year. But… recently, fewer and fewer people come."
Clemont's knowledge left the group in awe.
"You're spot on, Clemont," another voice chimed in suddenly.
The speaker was a boy carrying a camera around his neck—their old friend from summer camp, Trevor.
"I came here for the same reason. Rumors say a legendary Pokémon has been sighted here… Moltres. That's why I came to Mt. Molteau—to capture the perfect photo."
Trevor's eyes shone with excitement.
"This isn't just any mountain. This… is the volcano where Moltres appears."
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