May cheerfully flashed an OK sign.
Just then, a voice emerged from the ring: "Hey, I heard everything you said!"
May and Tori immediately froze.
May awkwardly whistled while Tori turned as red as a beet, her embarrassment almost tangible. Were they caught in the act of discussing something they shouldn't have?
In the distance, Ash and his friends curiously glanced over, clearly having missed the whispered conversation. However, the other side of the ring had heard it all.
"Let's talk face to face," Carl's voice sounded again.
Without hesitation, May stuck her head through the ring. The scene changed instantly: a private beach with a barbecue grill and volleyball court, and a luxurious seaside villa in the distance.
Far off, the silhouette of Blue Pearl Beach was vaguely visible, indicating the proximity of the ring's location. But May's attention was caught by a mischievous little creature.
"You're Hoopa, right?" May asked with a smile.
She lightly leaped to the other side of the ring, waving to Serena and her friends, "Hello, I'm May."
"Hi there," Serena and the others responded warmly, still impressed by the scene they had witnessed through the ring of Carl's heroic actions.
"Tori, come over!" May called out, sticking her head back through the ring.
"On my way," Tori replied, taking a deep breath and about to step through when she suddenly paused and turned, calling out, "N, you come too! Maybe it could solve your problem. We can't let Ghetsis keep tracking us forever, can we?"
Everyone's gaze followed Tori's line of sight. Cynthia was slightly taken aback, "N from Team Plasma?"
She pondered, recalling the recent internal turmoil within Team Plasma and how Ghetsis was searching for N. She hadn't expected him to appear in Kanto, which suggested deeper complications. Cynthia resolved to warn Carl about the trio later.
A minute later, they were all standing on Blue Pearl Beach.
"Why are you all here?" Carl asked, rubbing his forehead in mild exasperation.
Beside him stood Serena, Nanami, and Lusamine's family, already changed into more casual attire. Opposite them were May, who was curiously looking around, Tori, who appeared a bit awkward, and N, who was keeping a low profile with his hat pulled down.
The presence of these three made sense, as Carl had invited them. N's appearance was also anticipated. However, what surprised Carl was that Cynthia, Lorelei, Caitlin, and Sabrina had also shown up, not to mention Ash and his group who came uninvited.
"Is everything sorted over at Blue Pearl Beach? Aren't you high-ranking League members supposed to be on duty?" Carl couldn't help but ask.
Pikachu suddenly jumped onto Carl's shoulder, nuzzling affectionately, catching him by surprise. Even more bewildering was the sight of Team Rocket's trio tagging along with Lorelei and the others, seemingly unafraid of being caught.
"Actually, it wasn't intentional," Ash scratched his head, explaining, "Pikachu just ran over here on its own." He pointed to Pikachu, now playfully rolling around on Carl's shoulder, looking somewhat helpless.
"I came with him," Misty pointed at Ash, though her eyes remained fixed on Lorelei, clearly starstruck by meeting her idol.
"I'm with them," Brock added earnestly, gesturing toward the pair.
Carl nodded internally. This young man with perpetually closed eyes seemed quite sensible, maintaining decorum in the presence of so many women.
"Fine," Carl said, petting Pikachu, choosing not to pursue the matter further. He understood why Pikachu was so drawn to him; the aura of the Tree of Life was incredibly appealing to Pikachu, who held a fragment of the Electric-type plate.
"Pika Pika~" Pikachu happily flipped onto its back, seeking more affection.
Ash called for Pikachu to return, feeling a twinge of jealousy, but was completely ignored.
"Haven't seen Pikachu this affectionate in a while," Misty giggled.
"Seems your bond isn't deep enough," Brock noted, rubbing his chin.
"Your Pokémon prefers someone else," May teased as she approached, "Is your Pikachu female and particularly drawn to good looks?"
"Thanks for the compliment," Carl retorted instantly. He clearly heard someone calling him handsome.
May laughed, "I'm just straightforward like that. Since I've complimented you, could you do me a favor?"
Tori quickly grabbed her, "Hey! Isn't that a bit too forward?"
She anxiously glanced around. The Silver Companion Beast that had subdued the Tentacruel was staring at them, Hoopa was floating in the air, and big names like Cynthia, Lorelei, and Lusamine were present. Everyone circled around Carl, making it an inappropriate setting for casual requests.
Tori regretted coming along with May. Usually cautious, she found herself swept into May's impulsive antics, likely because she left her Pokémon behind and got infected by May's recklessness.
"What is it?" Carl asked.
He glanced at N before saying they should first deal with matters concerning Lugia.
"Of course, you handle your stuff first," May answered readily.
Just as Carl prepared to summon Lugia, a figure suddenly flashed from his chest, swatting Pikachu away with a gentle wave, sending it safely into Ash's arms. Ash worriedly checked on Pikachu, completely missing May's earlier quip.
Pikachu wriggled free from Ash, glaring at the peculiar Pokémon on Carl's chest, its cheeks sparking with irritation.
"Shiny Ralts!" gasps echoed around them. Even the girls frequently with Carl were astonished, as this Pokémon usually hid away.
Ralts was already rare, let alone a shiny one. Caitlin's eyes sparkled, feeling an unprecedented attraction. She even mused that if Carl proposed with this Pokémon, she might agree to a union.
May and Tori were even more impressed with Carl. Possessing a shiny Ralts signaled remarkable strength, status, and luck.
"Al is mine!" Ralts warned Pikachu. Though it couldn't rival the girls, it certainly wouldn't allow other Pokémon near Carl.
"Can't I just stay nearby?" Pikachu asked, unwilling to give up. Being close to Carl felt incredibly comforting.
"At most, you can stay by his feet," Ralts gently nudged Carl's chin with its horn, asserting its dominance.
"Alright, back to rest now. You're close to evolving and need to conserve energy," Carl said gently, stroking Ralts' head.
Pikachu watched enviously as Ralts disappeared back inside Carl's attire. Despite its longing, it could only concede to Ralts' authority. Under Ash's resigned gaze, Pikachu obediently lay at Carl's feet, contented.
"Wow, Pikachu is so adorable. It's truly a world that values appearances," May couldn't help but comment.
"But Pikachu's male," Misty quickly corrected.
The nearby girls exchanged playful glances, "Interesting~"
Misty looked puzzled, "?"
Just then, Carl's gaze shifted beyond Brock, his tone steady, "You three, trying to sneak away?"
Team Rocket's trio instantly became the center of attention.