Chapter 18: An encounter on the train

The next day approaches, Serena decides to wake Lillie up as they share the same room, but when she notices the lip mark on her skin that is above her lips, she is confused. Lillie also wakes up at the same time and she says, "Morning..."

"Lillie, where did you get the lip mark?" Serena asks as Lillie suddenly jumps from the bed and says, "I...um...Fine...I got it from Trenor..."

"As in Ash's Brother?" Serena asks, "What happened when I was sleeping?"

Lillie decides to tell her the truth and she signs in relief, then she says, "I am glad that you find your love."

"Yeah...how ironic, we loved the same person, but that happened, and we are now dating his brothers..." Lillie says.

"Yeah. I think we should keep it a secret." Serena says as she nods.

As the group are having breakfast, Nora asks, "By the way, have you seen the secret garden in the Isolate Town?"

"The Secret Garden? What is that?" Mallow asks.

"It is the garden that is hidden in the desert, it is said that those who found the garden will be blessed with happiness and joy." Terra says. "But the truth is, only a few of people are able to find the garden, and the only hint for the garden is that it appears when the moon is shining."

Alice says, "Ash and I have found the garden of course, I think that it is not important for now, right?"

Ash nods and Trenor says, "In fact, I found it yesterday."

"What?" This causes some people to say in shock. Earnest says, "Dude, you found it?"

"Yeah, how did you find it?" Nora asks.

"Well, I was just trying to find it until I see someone wandering in the desert with the pajamas. I followed her to make sure she is safe and then we found the garden, though she found me after we got inside."

"Eh...does that mean you finally got a girlfriend?" Nora asks as Trenor blush. "Don't you dare tease me."

Ash says, "So who is the girl that claimed your heart?" Ash asks.

"It's a secret. And don't you dare look into my mind. Brother." Trenor says.

"We will find out eventually." Alice says as she notices that someone in the regret group is blushing madly.

"Anyways," Earnest says, "Ash, you are heading towards the Rotaeel City, right? How about I take you guys for a ride?"

"That will be great, though shouldn't we pay the seats?" Ash asks.

"No problem. It's on me." Earnest says.

"How much is the train seat cost?" Max asks.

"I should say...maybe a thousand dollars, since it is quite luxurious."

"A Thousand Dollars? Are you for real?" Iris gasps in surprise.

"No joke here." Alice says.

Once the group are now on the train as they bid farewell to Trenor, Nora and Terra from the window, who are waving at them. Misty says, "It is not joking when the room looks this gorgeous."

"Yeah." Brock says as they look around the rooms, it is just like the hotel they stayed, but the difference is that it is moving.

"But where is Ash and the others?" May asks as they decide to find them. Just then, they hear some kids saying, "Really? Prince Ash is on the train?"

"Yeah, and he is having a contest battle against Irena Matsuba at the battlefield." "I can't wait to see them battling!"

As the kids are leaving, May asks, "Did we hear that? Irena Matsuba? The Princess of Johto Contests?"

"No way, let's go see it." Dawn says as the two of them rush towards the battlefield.

On Ash's field is Milotic and Mega Altaria while Irena has Mega Metagross and Aggron.

"It seems like I shouldn't hold back on you then." Irena says, "Aggron, use your Rock Tomb and Metagross, use your Psychic to create the art of stones!"

The Pokemon roars and then the rocks turn into the spinning sword, as it is hitting against Altaria and Milotic, Ash's points are going down.

"Not bad, after all, you and Reisa are the only two people that are able to reduce my points. But do you think I will let you win this easily? Altaria, Cotton Spore, and Milotic, Blizzard, let's create the snow for the challenge!"

As the Cotton Snow appears on the field, it deals some damage on the two Pokemon. "Not bad, but Ice Type moves aren't good for Steel Type Pokemon."

"This is just a bait. Here is the real deal. Milotic, Aqua Tail, Altaria, use Moonblast."

Just then, Altaria shoots out the pink ball at Milotic, and then it uses the Aqua Tail to send it back to the two Pokemon.

"And time's up! The winner is Ash! With 20 points higher than Irena." Alice states as the crowd is cheering wild.

"Man...And I thought that I would be able to get close to you..." Irena shakes Ash's hand.

"Don't give up and you will be great next time." Ash says.

Just then, Dawn and May want to have autographs from Irena, who sweatdrops and agrees. Ash says, "If you wonder, this is Irena, she is a friend of mine and also a good rival when it comes to contests."

Irena says, "It is nice to meet all of you."

May asks, "So how did you and Ash meet? It is not normal to meet such a talented girl like you."

"Well, we met in the Johto Region. As you can tell, my parents are Gym Leaders in the Johto Region, we met when Ash re-challenges the gyms."

Alice says, "Ash won against her father, which is the gym leader in Ecruteak, and then we decide to walk together as well as travel a little while to Olivine City to challenged her mother."

"So your father is Morty and your mother is Jasmine?" Misty asks as she says, "It seems like you know them as well. Anyways, I have also been close friends with Ash and Alice as they also asks me to take care of some of the Steel Type Pokemon, although they are some bug guns like Steelix, Metagross and Aggron..."

"Wow...they are known as hard and tough Pokemon, to be able to use them in contests is no such small feet." Dawn says.

"Why thank you, after all, you have a Mamoswine as well." Irena says as Dawn blushes a little.

"Anyways, the train is going moving for 3 days until it arrives at Rotaeel City." Earnest says, "I am glad you enjoy the ride so far."

"Thanks, Earnest. It is great." Bonnie says.

"So what are you going to do in Rotaeel City?" Clemont asks Ash.

"Even though Silkan is the capital of this region due to the fact that it is close to our castle, but Rotaeel is the center of our region and also the biggest City in this region. And not only that, I have a meeting with the Galar Region's Macro Cosmos Chairman Rose."

"Macro Cosmos? I have heard that it provides everything to make Galar Region a great place." Sophocles says. "They also have a lot of new technology and also some great services there as well."

"And the meeting is to make a deal with them. After all, we are good friends." Ash says.

Alice says, "Why don't you go prepare the documents for the meeting? I'll handle the rest here?"

"Sure." Ash says as he leaves. Cilan asks, "Alice, is Ash always this busy?"

"Yeah. Being a Champion of this region as well as the head of the famous company in this region, he has a lot of work to do." Alice says. "Some of us think that he will tire himself because of the hard work, but he always tells us that he is fine. That is what worries us..."

Irena says, "Yeah, but still, he knows how to cheer people up. That's an undeniable truth." And then the others laugh about that.

Here is a new chapter, this is the first of the Steel Type Chapter, and the next chapter is going to be in the Rotaeel City where Chairman Rose is going to appear in this fic.