"Maybe I just never thought of giving you a nickname," Ness declared triumphantly, certain that she had finally thought of a suitable barb for her rival. Take that, Johan Smithrene! Take that and EAT IT.

Ace scowled at Ness. "Really, Ness? Really? Since when have I ever been so rude or disrespectful to warrant that kind of nickname?"

"Oh, I don't know... that time in the mountains near Yearend Cave... or on the shore of Purifi Lake... Or how about when you absolutely humiliated me and Opal in that tournament last year? I could go on, you know."

"Oh, give me a break. You guys really do take things too seriously. The first time, I was trying to help--"

"How about acting all superior that you knew where the entrance was and we didn't."

"The second time, I--"

"Nearly suffocated Opal showing off your Wheezing's new technique..."

"And I would hardly call that humiliating, I--"

"--just analyzed our individual strategies right down to the nuts and bolts in front of the judges!"

Ace threw up his hands, wincing again since he'd forgotten to put in the eyedrops. "I was trying to give you some pointers! Ugh..." He tilted back his head and put in an eyedrop, sighing in relief.

"Thanks... Or maybe not," he muttered, handing the eyedrops back to Opal and hearing her calling him an arse. "Seems like neither of you can take a joke. I'm out of here."

With a sarcastically genteel wave of the hand, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the diner.

"Whatever. Who needs him anyway?" Ness huffed. "Come on, Opal, let's go find a hotel to crash in. I'm beat."

Never even thought of it~ Never even thought of it~
The words echoed in Johan's head over and over.

"P-please!! You're the type that looks in the mirror every night trying to look cool and think up nicknames. You're not fooling anyone!" his vulpix next to him sighed and shook her head. It was obvious he was offended.

Inside Opal's heart sunk as Ace walked toward the exit. He was cool even when he stormed away!

Opal turned to answer her friend, a napkin furiously rubbing at her upper lip. "Yeah, we have enough money to get a really nice room."

"Ho ho ho! You youngster trainers sure are energetic!" It was the chef, he'd come from the kitchen, a psyduck clinging to his leg and a slowpoke at his side. the small amount of the greying hair he had left was showing just barely from his chef cap, and his large nose was complimented by his even larger mustache.

"I like you kid!" he brought his hand down to pat Ness' back. "I've never seen someone enjoy my burgers so much! A spunky trainer like you must be here for the island challenge, right?"

"Me, look in the mirror every night?" Ness laughed heartily, tossing her head. "I'm not the one with the self-image complex now, am I?"

Without missing a beat, she turned to Opal excitedly. "Oh, great! Do you think we can get a Persian-level suite?" The girl floated off on daydreams of complimentary massages and chocolates before the chef interrupted her reverie.

"How could I not like them? Sure I was hungry, but they're totally delicious besides! What do you use?" Ness asked eagerly. Smiling winningly, she added, "Maybe I don't look like it, but I'm actually quite the cook, and burgers like yours can't be beat. Right Opal?"

Then the trainer blinked. "Island challenge? What's that?"

"Oh, of course not, you're not the type to look in the mirror every month, let alone day." he huffed, then watched interested as the chef came over and roughly handled his friend.

"Akumu Isle, ya? All the trainers go there, they say if you last a night there the island deems you good luck, and you'll become a stronger trainer."

So what? Johan rolled his eyes. He wasn't interested in becoming any type of strong-

"The Island is teeming with pokemon; and the rarest berries! If you can find them, they're yours."

Rare. Berries. Oh my god. What type of pokeblocks could he make with those?!

Opal jumped in shock as Johan jumped up from the table, a detemined look on his face.

"Where is this Island?!"

The Chef wasn't surprised when the boy hopped up. He'd seen a lot of energetic trainers in his time. He took it in stride.

"Excuse me, sir. But I was telling these two wonderful ladies." he turned his back to the boy and started to draw a map.

"Akumu Isle?" Ness tilted her head; she'd never heard of the place before. "Whaddya mean, IF they last the night? What's on that island anywa--"

She broke off as the chef mentioned 'stronger trainer' and 'teeming with Pokemon.' A slow grin spread over her face.

"I'm game! I'm so down for that!" She yelled out, causing some of the restaurant's patrons to glare at her. "How do we get there? Oh, a boat! Of course, we need a boat!"

Practically snatching the finished map out of the chef's hands, she grabbed Opal's arm and waved the map at her Pokemon. "C'mon, guys, what are you waiting for? There's pokemon to catch! Luck to be had! Let's GOOOO!!"

Ness made to drag Opal to the restaurant's exit.