Xia You and Cogita walked slowly forward along the stone-paved path.
The trees on either side grew denser, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling on them and scattering patches of dappled light across the ground.
The enormous sword-shaped castle in the distance drew closer and closer, like a giant crouched on the mountaintop, looking down over the ancient city.
Just as they passed a flower bed, they suddenly heard the sounds of fighting not far ahead. Someone seemed to be having a Pokémon battle there.
Even from this far away, Xia You could clearly hear the collisions of moves and the spectators' cheers.
Only when the two drew closer did they discover that it was none other than Makomo, Dawn, Ash, and the others!
In an open clearing, Makomo stood on one side of the battlefield, with Gardevoir in front of her, its skirtlike hem fluttering gently in the breeze.
Opposite her, Ash's Pikachu had just climbed up from the ground. It braced its little paws against the earth, panting as it stared at Gardevoir.
Looking at Pikachu's condition, it was covered in dust, and even its lightning-shaped tail seemed to droop a little.
Outside the battlefield, Dawn, Iris, and Cilan were watching alongside a girl Xia You had never seen before. The cheers just now had come from Iris and that other girl.
As Xia You approached, he heard Ash grit his teeth and give another command.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt again!"
At Ash's command, Pikachu flicked its tail, and powerful golden electricity gathered at its tip once more.
But to Xia You's surprise, faced with this attack, his Gardevoir simply stood there. It neither interrupted nor attacked, much less dodged, and merely extended one arm, seemingly intending to take the move head-on!
Xia You wondered, What's going on?