What? You had your eyes closed again? It's because you were thinking about what Professor Ginger said to you just before she disappeared! You open your eyes and look down and the Empress tugs on the sash of your new dress and stops and looks at you. "Is something wrong?"

"She said it would be different."

"Professor Ginger?" When you nod the Empress says "I suppose all her energy went back into the world. It would be like remaking a sculpture with more clay than before." The Empress reaches up and adjusts your new dress and smiles. "This color suits you. I'm sure Joe will like it. Perhaps even enough to kiss you in front of everyone."

You can't help your cheeks turning red!

"Joe wouldn't do that!"

The Empress laughs and smiles at you again. "I'm only teasing. Are you nervous?"

Now that the Empress asked if you're nervous, you can really feel your heart beating!

Auroara says "It's not surprising. How often does a mon have a party held in her honor?"

What? Auroara is here? You look up and see Auroara and Psykid and the Empress says "I'm sure Auroara will keep an eye on you. From what I've heard, Cutémons are nearly as troublesome as Psykids when it comes to disappearing."

Auroara grins at you and says "You had better not run away. We went through a lot of trouble to find all the guests. Come on." Auroara holds your hand and then you and Auroara and the Empress walk out of the room and down the hall and then you walk into the biggest room in the Imperial Palace and even though there's a really big crowd you aren't nervous at all anymore because everyone here is your friend!

Booker turns and looks at you when you walk in the door and says "Decent stat gains for such a young mon. I always knew you had it in you."

Torrentani flies around you in a circle and says "TANI!" and then Booker shakes his stick at Torrentani.

"Quit showing off! This party isn't for you!"

Suddenly something grabs your waist and when you look down Mashi is hugging you as tightly as she can! "You should see what the arena looks like!"

Booker opens his mouth to speak but then Volito says "VO-LITO!"

"Hairgraaaaaazer."

"You sure know some fancy friends!" When you look over your shoulder you see Katie Redfern and her father Cliff looking around at the big room and Katie grins at you and then Hairgrazer licks you and Katie hugs you!

"Skowooo!" You hear wings flap and Skowl hops closer and then you look up and see Starr and her father Ben Currant and Joe's mother Jennifer Apple and Joe's sister Jane and then Waterbear, Clambreak, and Chompex peek out from behind Starr and then they all rush toward you and you crouch down and hug them!

"Waddabeah!"

[SFX: double shell clap]

"Chompex!"

"H-hello, Starr!"

You look up from Waterbear, Clambreak and Chompex and see Professor Bean looking up at Starr and then Starr pretends she doesn't see Professor Bean and when you look down you see Pakitt looking up at you! "Pakitt!"