"Ash! Seriously, why would you run off when the fog was this thick?!" May complained.
"Sorry about that!" Ash scratched his head.
May noticed the bracelet in Ash's hand and asked curiously, "Huh?! Ash, what is that in your hand?"
Ash recounted the entire story to Brock, May, and Max.
"The future?!" (x3) The three were dumbfounded. It was absolutely incredible that ancient people had actually created a time machine! Did this mean that the Forest God Celebi and the Time God Dialga were out of a job?
May curiously examined the bracelet in Ash's hand. "So, this was sent to you by Future Ash!! Ah!! I really regret not going with you—I want to know if my future dreams came true!" And if I ended up with Ash...
Brock and Max nodded in agreement, also wanting to know about their own futures.
"Alright! Our future is something we create ourselves!" Ash responded firmly. Well, I guess I succeeded, since being called 'Lord Ash' makes things pretty clear!
"That's true! But Ash, let's see what's inside!"
Ash nodded and, following the system's instructions, successfully opened the bracelet. Before their eyes, a predominantly blue Pokémon Egg appeared.
"It's a Pokémon Egg! What kind of Pokémon is it?" Max asked curiously.
"Pika" "Eevee" Pikachu and Eevee curiously nudged the Egg.
Ash put the Pokémon Egg back inside the bracelet. The artifact conveniently displayed the estimated hatching time: one week. Ash then put the bracelet on his right wrist! Having this bracelet would make traveling much easier, and he could take out the Egg to bond with it whenever they stopped.
Following this, Ash and his friends continued toward Mauville City!
The Fallarbor Contest
On the way to Mauville City, Ash and his friends passed through a town—Fallarbor Town!
From a promotional poster in Fallarbor Town, they learned that a Pokémon Contest was about to be held there! Ash and May immediately decided to participate! Don't let the size of the Fallarbor Contest fool you; it was an R1 level competition, meaning only those holding one or more Ribbons were eligible to enter!
Ash and May hurried to the Pokémon Center to sign up. They both presented their Ribbons, and after Nurse Joy helped them register, she smiled and said, "Since the Fallarbor Contest is an R1 level competition, the rules are different from normal Contests. It uses the same rules as the Grand Festival!"
"The Grand Festival rules?! How are they different from a regular Contest?" May asked confusedly.
"You don't even know that and you're entering?" A cool figure walked toward May.
"Drew!" May instantly felt her competitive spirit ignite. "Are you entering this time too? Good! I'm definitely going to beat you this time!"
Drew looked at May disdainfully. "Of course! Although this Fallarbor Contest is small, the R1 level means the rules are the same as the Grand Festival. It's excellent practice for those of us aiming for the Grand Festival—unlike some people who have no hope of reaching it!"
"You jerk! What do you mean 'no hope of reaching it'? I will participate in the Grand Festival!" May shouted angrily.
Just then, several young women ran over and surrounded Drew. "Ah! It's Drew, I'm your biggest fan!"
"Me too! I've edited all your Contest tapes!"
"Could you sign an autograph for me?"
Drew looked slightly flustered but maintained his composure. "I always decline things like this."
"Even his rejection is cool!"
Ash and the others watched. "Drew actually has fans!" May felt a sting of jealousy!
Just then, a woman wearing a necklace adorned with Ribbons walked up to Ash and the group. "Excuse me, are you Ash and May?"
"Uh, yes, we are!"
"I knew it! Everyone, pay attention, here are Ash and May!" The woman immediately shouted toward the women surrounding Drew.
Those women instantly abandoned Drew and swarmed Ash and his friends. "Ah! It's Ash! It really is Ash! The genius Coordinator Ash, who has a perfect three-win record and has never lost since his debut!"
"I need an autograph! I need an autograph!"
Seeing them run toward Ash, Drew seized the opportunity and quickly slipped away.
May sighed. They called my name just now, right? Why is no one surrounding me?
Brock looked enviously at Ash, who was surrounded by a group of attractive older women, wishing he could switch places!
"Are you two also entering the Fallarbor Contest?" the woman with the Ribbon necklace asked May.
"Yes, we are!" May nodded.
"That's wonderful! Everyone listen up, I'll be competing against Drew, Ash, and May in this Contest!"
"That's fantastic, Janet (月子)!"
"This Contest might even make history in the PMDM!"
"We will cheer for you all the way!"
"Excuse me, what is the PMDM?" Max asked curiously.
Janet patiently explained, "That's the abbreviation for the Pokémon Mama's Dauntless Mothers group! It's an organization started by mothers who love Pokémon and are passionate about Pokémon Contests!"
"I see!" (x4)
Afterward, the Mom's Group held a welcome party for Ash and May at a cafe, then quickly said their goodbyes and left!
"Why did everyone leave so quickly?" Max asked confusedly.
Janet explained, "Because the Moms' free time for today is over! Every member of the PMDM is a mother. By this time, they all have to go pick up their children from kindergarten or go buy dinner ingredients!"
"I understand that. Housework is truly a monumental task!" Brock remarked from experience.
"I didn't realize you understood so well, Brock!" Janet sighed.
Brock humbly scratched his head. "No problem at all~"
"Guys like you, Brock, will be very popular in the future!"
This struck a chord with Brock. "Is... is that so? I'm going to be very popular in the future... That's amazing! Hahaha~"
Everyone else looked at him flatly.
After the casual chat, Janet also sent out her Pokémon: Flareon and Lairon.
May used her Pokédex to scan Flareon: Flareon...
"I plan to use Flareon and Lairon in the competition!" Janet said with a smile.
"Two Pokémon!" May gasped, her eyes wide.
"That's right! The Fallarbor Contest uses the Grand Festival rules, so you must use a different Pokémon for the Primary Judging and the Secondary Review (Contest Battle)!" Janet explained.
This left May even more conflicted about which Pokémon to use!
Ash, however, was prepared. He decided to use Beautifly for the first round's performance and the recently swapped-back Bayleef for the second round's dazzling five-minute battle!
Later, Ash and his friends followed Janet to the shopping street to buy ingredients for dinner! Brock used his unique expertise to select ingredients and give advice to Janet!
While shopping, they unexpectedly ran into Janet's daughter, Stella (星加), a very cute little girl with purple hair!
It turned out that Stella couldn't wait for her mom to come home, so she thoughtfully came out to buy the dinner ingredients for her mom—such a sensible girl!
Everyone introduced themselves. Janet and Stella were opposites: Stella, though young, gave off a very reliable feeling, while Janet still had the heart of a young girl, like Stella's age!
"Um... can I pet Pikachu and Eevee?" Stella asked, looking at the two adorable Pokémon on Ash's shoulders.
"No problem!" Pikachu and Eevee jumped into Stella's arms.
"Wow~ You're so cute!" Stella hugged Pikachu and Eevee, rubbing her cheeks against them. "I want to go on a journey and become a Pokémon Trainer when I grow up!"
Ash and the others encouraged her, telling her she would surely succeed!
Afterward, Janet and Stella invited everyone to their house for dinner!