This time around the festival was not done in only three days, but it was spread into one whole week. Two days per level and one day that served as the opening act and inauguration. Ash had also chosen many more pairings so we would not burn up early. For the Beginners Stage he lacked options, as his pokemon grew fast in their training, so he chose the last pokemon he had caught: Pignite and Dewott, Rowlet and Unfezant, Leavanny and Krokorok, Ninjask and Shedinja, Plusle and Minun. In the Advanced Stage, he will use Gabite and Dragonair, Granbull and Mawile, Butterfree and Staraptor, Lucario and Aegislash, Grotle and Gliscor, Jolteon and Glaceon, Floatzel and me. Ash had wanted to use a Butterfree and Butterfree combo, but Ash's pink Butterfree was not interested in battling. Oh, well, I was just happy to be participating this time! As for the Ace Stage, he chose Galarian Slowbro and Galarian Slowking, Tyranitar and Glalie, Torkoal and Crawdaunt, Espeon and Sylveon, Infernape and Heracross, Nidoking and Nidoqueen, Swellow and Noctowl.
This was going to be so much fun! And it was! 
The first three days passed quickly and they were a blast! Only Kiawe, a guy that had competed previously and lost, was able to win against us. He had chosen his Charizard and Turtonator again, against Ash's Pignite and Dewott. The battle was close and even aided Pignite to evolve into Emboar after he had defeated Charizard, but a Shell Trap from Turtonator was his end. After that poor Dewott did not have the training to take down the dragon and was taken ot by a Dragon Tail. Still, it was amazing and we got to enjoy it even more without feeling exhausted at the end of the day.
Ash's friends were also having fun. Not only did the group meet at James and Jessie's manor and got to know Ash's previous traveling groups. But they've also followed the tradition of catching one Alola pokemon, like Ash's other friends had done last year. Cilan had caught a Morelull, while Iris had fought and caught a Dragalge. Her Axew had even evolved into a Fraxure after the battle!
Today we were opening the Advanced Stage and I was so excited! I will be finally battling!
That is if my trainer will finally stop making out with his boyfriend! 
"Mmm, what's got you so distracted?" Ash murmured against Gary's lips.
"You," Gary chuckled in response.
"Not like that!" Ash laughed, pushing him away. He turned on Gary's lap, so he would be facing his boyfriend. "Ever since you came to Unova you've had something in your mind. What is it?" 
"You've noticed? Of course, you've noticed," Gary sighed. "There's this guy, Alain, an assistant to Professor Sycamore who broke away from him to pursue his own journey and to more thoroughly understand Mega Evolution. However, during a pokemon science conference I finally met him... he was with the Lysandre Labs research team. He was totally brainwashed, believing that strength is the best way to protect people and was totally obsessed with becoming the strongest of them all."
"Lysandre Labs... the same institution that we believe is connected with Team Flare?" Ash turned serious. "Shit... and here I thought Team Plasma are the only ones invovle with brainwashing their memebers."
"There's also the fact that the Kalos Pokemon League seem to be making their move earlier than what you've told me," Gary informed Ash grimly. "Elite Four Malva was seen talking with the research team of Lysandre Labs. Well, seen is not the right word. I had my pokemon spy on them and tell me what the saw."
"What? Only the President of the International Pokemon League and Champion Diantha knows about them," Ash frowned. 
"Wait... that would mean that..." Gary's face turned as pale as a ghost, as the pokemon surrounding them cursed a strom. 
"Those bastards!" I growled, understanding what was going on.
"I'll give it to them, Team Flare have become the first criminal syndicate to have infiltrated the Pokemon League of their region," Ash's face scared me, it was a cold kind of rage that made me tremble. I've never seen my trainer this angry, not even after getting shot! "An Elite Four is a Team Flare member, what in Lugia's name is going on?!"
"We do not know that for sure," Gary pointed out. "Maybe she noticed something and was investigating them on her part, before telling her superiors."
"Maybe... but we better tell Champion Diantha and let's try to get this Alain on our side. He'll be a good spy," Ash mussed out loud. "For now, let's get this done with! I have a battle in ten minutes! Incineroar, Floatzel, are you ready?!"
"You bet we are!" I roared, while Floatzel nodded his head. 
"Then, let's get going!" Ash jumped on his feet and marched towards the Manalo Stadium. 
I can't wait for it! It will be epic!