Meetings and a gift given to warm the heart as fiery passions ignite with the opening ceremony!

Shane's was one of the higher class restaurants, but it tended to cater more towards trainers mostly due to the owner being a former trainer himself. So Vali didn't feel under dressed in her t-shirt, scarf, pants, and tennis shoes, Zaria was in much the same position though the other girl hadn't had a chance to shower since she'd needed to drop her pokemon off with Nurse Joy. Steven spoke to the head waiter who quickly led them to a private room where his father waited, "Steven! How are you?"

"Father," Steven smiled and greeted his father with a hug, "I told you earlier on the phone. I'm well,"

"That was on the phone, but this is the first time I've seen you in person in months," Joseph Stone retorted.

Vali smiled lightly as the two seemed to devolved into what seemed to be their normal personal greetings and focused on observing Joseph Stone. He was shorter than Steven and thicker bodied with two toned hair. The top was a pale gray and the bottom a dark almost charcoal color. He had dark eyes almost black in color which meant Steven must've gotten his hair and eye color from his mother. Joseph wore a light grey suit and sensible shoes. He released a soft chuckle, "Now, I think we should get on with introductions, Steven. I'm sure at least one of your friends is starving. Miss Zaria, was it?"

"Zaria Warner from Oblivia. Cocona Village," Zaria told him stepping forward, "This is my partner Zorua," Zorua yipped wagging his tail, "I'm trying to become a dark-type master,"

"Lance Blackthorn of the Blackthorn clan in Blackthorn City," Lance introduced himself, "I'd introduce my partner, but Garth is a bit too big. Dratini on the other hand is just the right size," Dratini trilled in greeting, "I'm going to become the united champion of both Kanto and Johto with Vali as one of my Elite Four,"

"Still not going to do you paperwork for you," Vali told him with a shake of her head and a soft snort before turning back to Joseph, "We've talked on the phone before, but I'm Valkyrie Potter-Black of Pallet Town here in Kanto. Please call me Vali, my partners are Balto and Smaug who're both too big. Elrond is just as much my partner as any of my pokemon," Elrond flicked his ear likely giving his own greeting, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, Joseph,"

Joseph smiled warmly at Vali, "And you as well, Vali," He looked at Lance and Zaria, "It's a pleasure to finally meet both of you," He waved a hand at the table, "Sit down all of you, I want to hear about your journeys to this point. The ups, the downs, what you've enjoyed, and what you've disliked. I want to get to know you all."

Steven waved Lance, Vali, and Zaria off, "I'll catch up with you guys. I want to spend a bit more time with my father."

"Sure thing," Lance nodded as he reached up to run a finger across Dratini's head, "Have fun,"

"Yeah," Zaria said as she began headed for the Cottages with Lance.

Lance paused when he noticed Vali wasn't following after him and Steven gave her a look of confusion, "Vali?"

"I'm going to stay back a few moments actually," Vali said shoving her hands into her pockets as Elrond floated beside her, "I'll catch up with you two,"

Zaria shrugged while Lance gave Vali a searching look before nodding, "Sure."

The other two left in the direction of the Cottages with Vali watching them go. Steven frowned slightly, "Vali? What's going on?"

"I've been wanting to give you something and didn't have the best idea of when until now," Vali grinned at him, "Delia's been helping me put it together," Elrond moved his tail around and she pulled something off of it revealing a leather bound photo album, "I figured this would help you give your dad a more visual representation of our journey together,"

"Vali..." Steven's chest felt both tight and warm as she held the album out to him.

"On my days off from training with everyone, I spent time in Celadon and Cinnabar taking pictures," Vali explained in a light tone, "I ended up making a pretty penny which was put into getting this," He took the album from her, "I loved traveling with you, Steven. If we're able to travel again sometime, I'd love to,"

"Vali, you didn't have to do this," Steven looked at the album feeling the soft leather beneath his fingers.

"I wanted to," Vali looked away from him and smiled lightly, "Goodnight, Joseph. Thanks again for dinner, I hope we can go out again,"

"I do as well, Vali," Joseph smiled warmly at Vali, "It was a joy to dine with you,"

"I'll leave you to your night," Vali hugged him lightly, "See you later, Steven,"

Vali departed with Elrond floating beside her. Joseph smiled as he watched them go, "Vali is a wonderful girl, Steven."

"She is. She really is," Steven shook is head lightly and held up the journal, "Father, would you like to see some pictures of our journey? Vali put this together,"

"Did she?" Joseph's smile widened, "That's so nice of her,"

They began heading to his father's hotel and he glanced back through the crowd where he could barely see Vali walking. He smiled warmly as his hands held the journal just a bit more tightly. Spending the time he had today with Vali after Mount Moon's tunnels had been a breath of fresh air, he'd missed her more than he'd thought.

Looking around at all the trainers participating in the Indigo Conference, Vali felt a burst of nervousness and unease noticing many of those that had placed high in the last Conferences. But it also sent a thrill of anticipation and excitement through her, they'd reached the point where they were standing on even ground with them for a even a single moment. And it would be the first step in becoming elites, she gripped Elrond's paw a bit tighter as his side of their bond hummed in agreement. Charles Goodshow spoke to everyone with the current champion, Alex Brown, offering a few words of his own before the torch bearer finally made their appearance and the immense torch was lit signifying the beginning of the Indigo Conference. Normally she would've paid it more mind especially since it was her first Conference, the pulsing of Fawkes' feather and slight increase of her inner flames' heat was a bit distracting. Steven spoke from beside her, "Kanto definitely has some showmanship."

"Mhmm," Zaria hummed in agreement, "It's one of the more interesting parts of watching these Conferences,"

"It is kind of cool to see it in real life," Lance murmured as he peered up at the flame.

Vali felt it a split second before the flames of the immense torch flared brightly. The arrival of something on Xen's level only linked to fire and seemed to call to her. The call seemed somewhat shielded and weakened as if it wasn't truly there. Everyone flinched back as the flames roared and flared brightly. When it faded, an immense fire-bird perched within the torch peering down at the humans and pokemon below. Moltres raised its wings and shrieked flaring its flames before settling down as if saying 'I'm here now, so you may proceed.'.