It was the next morning and everyone got up, after they packed everything up Ash and Verity showed Sorrel the picture of Suicune and explained how they saw it at night near the pond.

"To meet Suicune so soon after seeing Entei, Incredible luck, I wish I too was awake," Sorrel said.

Ash sneaks up and pats Sorrel on the back, "No point in crying over spilled milk, we need to get to the next town before sunset, if we run we should be able to get there just after 12, what do you guys say?"

Sorrel, recovering from the shock of getting slapped in the back, pulled himself up, "Alright I wanted to look at the library for more information about the Rainbow Wing."

"Sure let's go but I bet I can get there before you two," Verity said as she started dashing forward and Piplup was struggling to follow her.

Ash and Sorrel looked at each other and both shrugged and started running, along the way Ash grabbed the penguin and put it on his other shoulder with Pikachu.

(A bit of time later)

Ash was standing by the gate of the town, the town itself was a small port town, with a battle circle in the center of the town.

Verity and Sorrel were panting as they just got to the gate, Ash and the two Pokemon on his shoulders were eating some berries.

"How..*Huff..*do..*Puff*..you run so long," Verity said.

Ash pulled out some water and tossed it to them, "I was basically raised by a Dragonite, I either got strong enough to take it, learned to get fast enough to run away, or got some broken ribs. I got all of the above."

After they drank the water and caught their breath they went into the town they moved to the town center and noticed the stadium that was currently being used, by just asking a random person they found out it was a king of the hill match until someone could get 10 wins in a row or it got dark, whatever came first.

"You guys wanna go at this for a while?" Ash asked.

"I mean, I don't think it would be the worst thing," Verity said

"I do agree it may be good practice, but I doubt any of us would be able to complete the full 10 victories."

"I mean yeah, especially with back-to-back battles, but sometimes it is just nice to battle for fun," Ash said.

The battles themselves went anything to write home about. Verity got through 5 before Piplup was out of commission. Sorrel and Lucario got through 8 with his new power boost, and Ash used Squirtle to get past 7 trainers before Squirtle was out of commission.

After a few more battles, nighttime came and everyone called it a night, so the group went to the Pokemon center to get healed up and then get a room, after they set everything up they changed and went downstairs to take care of any business they had.

Verity said she was going to make a Phone call, she didn't say to whom but it was obvious.

Meanwhile Ash and Sorrel went over to the library to look through the stories of Ho-Oh. They both grabbed some books and started skimming through them, Ash particularly was looking through the stuff he remembered trying to find an actual reason for the Rainbow Hero's existence.

Ash didn't find anything but Sorrel found a book, he called Ash over and started skimming through it, "from high above, Ho-Oh watched over the many works of people and of Pokemon, and they experienced the Aura of Happiness. And they received energy from it."

Sorrel turned the page" And yet, the Heart of Evil stole strength from it. When the Rainbow Wing touches the Heart of Evil, its color vanishes."

Ash could sense someone hiding behind the bookshelf, so he decided to make the most of it, "Heart of Evil, well seems like it would either need to be about someone so full of themselves they want it despite not being given the feather, or stupid enough to steal it despite the fact they didn't receive it."

Ash could sense the person in the bookshelves getting annoyed, "So what defines this evil heart, is it someone who is always angry or one that has no friends? Oh, maybe they didn't receive enough attention as a child so they would want to take it out on everyone else and become an edge lord."

Sorrel started wondering why Ash was saying everything he was but just shrugged it off, "Perhaps, like with all legends the specifics remain ambiguous, so there is no real way to say,"

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Ash could sense the eavesdropper was walking away so he pulled out his feather and started looking through the book Sorrel found.

(Meanwhile)

Verity was currently at the computer and severely reconsidering calling her mother, she already put the number in she just needed to press the dial, she was reconsidering her decision before Piplup jumped up and pressed it for her before she could stop him.

Eventually, the screen turned on, and on the screen was Verity's mother, looking confused until she saw Verity.

"Oh, Hi mom. "

"Well, well! Look who finally decided to call! Do you have any idea how worried I was when you disappeared from home, would it have killed you to at least call me once in a while?"

Verity was a bit nervous just standing there until Piplup jumped up on the screen to greet her mother.

"Oh! Piplup! Hi there! I hope you have been taking care of my rebellious daughter."

"So Mom, I guess you want to know what I've been doing, or at least where I am."

"Oh, Yes I want to make sure you're eating right! And eat your vegetables! It's very important! And what about laundry? You're not wearing dirty clothes every day, are you?"

Verity and her mother went back and forth for a little while catching up on what had been happening.

At this point, Ash and Sorrel came walking back and Ash was holding onto the book for later reading. They both saw Verity getting scolded by her mother and debated whether to get in there to save her.

They wanted to walk away before Verity noticed them and signaled for them to save her, they both sighed and walked into frame.

"Hello Verity, are you talking to your sister," Ash said looking at Verity's mother.

"Aw, what a polite young man and he even thinks I am Verity's sister, oh and there are two of you. Hello, may I know your names?" Her mother immediately got happier.

"I'm Ash."

"I'm Sorrel."

"Well I am Verity's mother, though I do appreciate your compliment, I hope Verity hasn't been causing you too much trouble. She's very rambunctious, but she's got a big heart. I hope you'll all be good friends!

"Mom, I wish you'd stop worrying…" Verity mumbled just loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Well I'm sorry in case you forgot my only daughter ran away from home with no announcement and has not called me in a long time, I think I'm justified a bit." Verity's mom said immediately losing the progress they made.

After some more scolding, Verity's mother eventually hung up, but not before making Verity promise to come back once she finished what she was doing.

Verity signed once her mother finally hung up and sat on the nearest couch "I'm gonna lay here for a bit."

Ash and Sorrel looked at each other and both Grinned thinking the same thing, then walked over to her and picked her up.

"Hey, hey what are you two doing, put me down," Verity tried squirming out.

"Nope we are going out and you're going to like it," Ash said.

And just like that Verity was dragged out of the Pokemon center, Joy didn't do anything since she saw they were friends and just chuckled to herself.

The rest of the night they went sightseeing in the little town and then had lunch at a local restaurant, by the time they returned Verity was tired enough so Ash was carrying her on his back, he dropped her off in her room with the help of Piplup and went to his room himself.

The next day everyone got up and went downstairs to meet up, Ash grabbed some Coffee and sat down with Charmander sleeping on his lap and Pikachu eating some toast with ketchup.

"So what are we going to do now, do you guys want to rest a bit more or should we continue the journey, I think we should be able to make it in a few more days."

"Certainly, if we take the fastest route we should get there in 3 more days at the latest," Sorrel said looking at his map.

"Oh, yeah I guess this little adventure is almost over," Verity said a little sadly.

"Well if it's almost over how about we spend a few more hours here, at least until lunch that way we can battle some more," Ash suggested, Sorrel shrugged but agreed also.

They all moved out to the center where some people were already battling, they also joined in. Verity got through a few Pokemon but was taken down by a trainer with a Snorlax, Sorrel jumped in and took it down and went for 3 more before Lucario was out.

Ash jumped in, took it out with Charmander, and went a few rounds.

His next opponent was a girl with a Clefairy, she looked like she was trying to dress like a Cleffa.

"Charmander let's end this quick Ember then run forwarded for a Metal Claw,"

"Clefairy try to dodge," the girl commanded.

Charmander ran forward and shot an Ember at the pink thing, it managed to dodge by jumping in the air, but once it was there it couldn't escape Charmander's Metal Claw that slammed her into the ground.

"Clefairy if you can get up try a Disarming Voice," Clefairy pushed herself up and shouted in Charmander's direction, even though it didn't do much Charmander was starting to get tired from constant battles.

"Charmander don't give up on me now, finish this with another Metal Claw," Charmander picked himself up and dashed forward for one final hit, which sent Clefairy out of the stadium and unable to battle.

"And that is victory #9," the random announcer said, "Does anyone want to try and take down this trainer from down under."

"I have an idea on who you should battle," a voice announced, and looking at the direction Cross was walking with Damian quietly following behind him, it also seemed like Damian had a new bandage.

"Oh look who it is, did you learn your lesson from last time or do I need to school you again," Ash said grinning, which just annoyed Cross more.

"Whatever, you only got the upper hand because you got me by surprise."

"Oh sorry, I guess my memory is deteriorating, because I very distinctly remember you attacking me, sorry then my mistake," Ash said.

"Whatever I see you picking up that worthless Pokemon, I guess the weak attracts the weak."

"Wow, is that why you teamed up with a rookie trainer?"

"Whatever it is about time I show you how worthless you and that lizard are"

Ash smiled, "By doing what battling me, face it if you win you beat a tired first-form starter, if you lose you'll be humiliated"

Cross grits his teeth before he gets an idea, "As if I would waste my time, you would lose even if you were at 100%, no I think I'll let this, what did you say, rookie trainer, to beat you."

Damian flinched a bit hearing that.

"Bold strategy we'll see how it plays out, alright then let's dance."