Kishore thanked Mike, Carson, and Georgia for saving the city from the enraged Pokemon. He said that he had trained his Pokemon even more, so he could defeat Mei more easily. Kishore said to Mike that he was weak right now, but when they met up in the future, He would defeat him. Kishore waved goodbye to the three of them and entered the gym. Mike decided to do some last-minute shopping before they would go to Route 9. Georgia said that the journey to the next city would be challenging, as they would have to trek through a scorching desert. The 3 of them bought some Fresh Waters for the road. They entered Route 9. Route 9 was filled with Grassy Plains and battle the trainers throughout the route
When they were continuing to walk through the route, the grass was transitioning into sand. They continued to walk through the sand until someone was running towards them. It was a girl with blonde hair. She said her name was Emily and she was Georgia's rival back then. They promised to meet each other at Hewdemo City for their 6th badge, but Georgia's family needed her back. They haven't seen each other since then. Georgia introduced Mike and Carson to Emily. Emily requested to have a battle with Georgia as Emily had gotten stronger over the months.
They got to a place with steady land and started the battle. Emily sent out Golduck and Georgia sent out Umbreon. Golduck used Ice Beam and Umbreon used a Dark Pulse, Golduck used a powerful Hydro Pump, but Umbreon was able to knock out Golduck with a Moonblast. Emily sent out her second pokemon, Lopunny. Georgia sent out her next Pokemon which was Toxtricity. Lopunny used a High Jump Kick, which dealt a lot of damage to Toxtricity, Toxtricity used Sludge Bomb and Poisoned the Lopunny, Emily sent back Lopunny and decided it was time to use her Ace, Typhlosion. Typhlosion used an extremely powerful Inferno. The inferno was so hot that it doubled the heat of Route 9. Route 9 was already hot at the start, and now it was double the heat, but that wouldn't stop Georgia. Georgia used Discharge, but Typhlosion finished off Toxtricity with a Flamethrower.
Georgia decided to send out her Umbreon. Umbreon was able to fit in a couple of Dark Pulses, but before falling to another of Typhlosion's Inferno. It was time for Georgia to send out her ace, Dragonair. Dragonair used Surf, but Typhlosion was able to counter it with earth power. Dragonair leaped into the air and used a Dragon Pulse, which knocked out the Typhlosion. Emily sent out her poisoned Lopunny, but Dragonair finished it off with a surf. Emily was defeated. Emily had 7 badges, but Georgia only had 5, but was still able to beat her. Emily was impressed as Georgia's Battle Style had changed. She said it was Mike who inspired her to change her style.
Emily said it was time to go now and ran off through the sandy desert. Mike saw a Pokemon Center in the distance and decided to go with Georgia to heal up her Pokemon before they started the journey through the desert.