Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

𝒴

The frame of a long-haul bus came to a gentle halt, hydraulics hissing and engine rumbling with steady anticipation, ready to take off again. For it, this was just another stop in its long, winding journey. For its lone passenger, however, this was the start of a new one.

With a swing of the bus’s doors, the passenger stepped forth, an intense look in her eyes as she beheld the city center. Aged brickwork streets gave way to beds of flowers and canopies of trees off in the distance. She knew this place. She’d been here before.

“Santalune City… I’m here.” With another step to leave the bus behind, the traveler grinned. Her hand began to tremble with excitement, before she hopped into the air. “Serena is here!”

With that, she took off into a run.

“I’m here, I’m here, I’m here!” Serena let the words ring through the open air, filling her ears as she skipped through the city’s winding streets. Santalune was her destination, but there was one building in particular she was the most ecstatic to reach: The city gym.

Digging through her jacket pocket for her phone, Serena tapped away until a call began to ring. Soon, two faces appeared on the screen.

“Guys, I’m here! I’m in Santalune!” she announced, keeping her pace as she held her phone up with an excited jitter. “I’m heading straight to the gym now!”

“That’s awesome, Serena!” Despite still being on his flight, Ash had no interest in keeping his voice down. Even the harsh shush of an out-of-frame flight attendant couldn’t mellow his energy. “You’re gonna rock Viola, I just know it!”

“Congratulations on arriving!” Clemont, in contrast, was less energetic— And with his frazzled hair and bagged eyes, it was easy to tell why. He must’ve just arrived in Lumiose City himself. Despite that, he pulled through with a proud smile that set Serena’s heart at ease.

His next few words were less comforting.

“That being said, are you sure it’s a good idea to jump straight into things? It’s still early days.”

His question made Serena falter for a moment, before she picked up once more.

“I guess I am rushing into things— But I’m just so excited!” she explained, hopping into the air just to make the point. She could see the Santalune City Gym in the distance now.

“That’s what I like to see! You gotta get in there all fired up, let it carry you and Fennekin to the finish line!” Fire was the right word for it, as Ash’s advice just sent Serena’s heart racing. It felt like she was already watching the battle unfold, and she hadn’t even gotten into the gym yet!

Even Clemont couldn’t help but get caught up in it.

“You are in a good position for taking on Viola, since your partner is Fennekin,” he noted.

“Because she has a type advantage!” With the gym only a dozen or so meters away, Serena began to recall an item stowed in her bag— The notebook Clemont had given her. On the inside was the type chart that confirmed her thought. “Fire-Types beat Bug-Types! I’ve been studying on the bus, hehe.”

“Exactly!”

Now it was Clemont who was beaming with energy, and, oddly enough, Ash who grew more reserved. As Serena neared the entrance of the gym, he spoke out again.

“I’d be careful. Pikachu had the type advantage against Viola’s team too—” he said, eyes falling to the ground. “She’s got tricks to make up the difference.”

This time, Serena came to a complete stop, her hand hanging onto the door that separated her from the gym itself. Though her memory of Ash’s first challenge was hazy, she could still recall how hard he had to train to beat Viola. For a moment, doubt swelled in her mind.

When she looked down onto her phone, and saw Clemont and Ash looking back at her, that doubt was swept away.

“Viola may have tricks. But I have you guys!”

𝒴

The Santalune City Gym was just as beautiful as Serena remembered it. A gilded gallery of photographs led into a practical forest in the middle of the building. There were more varieties of trees and flowers surrounding the battlefield than Serena had seen anywhere else in Kalos.

Yet, what pulled at her attention the most wasn’t the grandeur of the gym itself, but instead, the surprising nonchalance of its leader. At a small table under a shady tree, Viola sat, stretching and yawning with her camera in hand and a half-eaten sandwich on the table. It was around noon, Serena realized. She must’ve been having lunch.

Feeling a sudden rush of nervous energy, Serena looked back towards the gym entrance. Maybe she should go and come back late—

At that moment, Viola managed to stretch back far enough to notice her fretting guest.

“Oh! Hello there! Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.” Hopping up from her seat, Viola faced Serena head-on, her eyes to the sky as she took one final stretch. “Yooou must be here for a gym—!”

When Viola finally got a look at Serena, she paused.

“Hey, wait a second. Are you—? Serena! That is you!” Cocking her head to the side, Viola gave Serena a once over. “Wow, I could barely recognize you with that new outfit.”

“Hey there!” Serena was still a little nervous, but that was draining away. “It’s been a while, huh?”

“I’ll say! What are you doing back in Santalune? And where’s the rest of your friends?” Tapping her cheek in thought, Viola looked around the gym before she furrowed her brows. “Don’t tell me you guys split up.”

“Oh no, no! It’s nothing like that! Well, kinda.” Serena threw her hands up as she tried to think of a way to explain the group’s situation. ‘They were taking some time apart’ didn’t make things sound much better. “We’re all just, doing our own things right now, including me.”

On that note, Serena pulled a lone Poké Ball from her pocket. The sight of it brought a glint to the Gym Leader’s eyes.

“So you’re challenging the Kalos League too, huh? Well congrats! I’ll be sure to make this a memorable experience for you!” Viola did one final stretch, interlocking her fingers and raising her hands high above her head. With that, she reached for her camera. “Just one more thing before we get down to business though.”

“Oh?”

“Mind posing for a photo?”

𝒴

“Just so I’ve got this right, this is your first time challenging a gym, yes?” Viola’s question rang back at Serena, as the Gym Leader looked across a handful of Poké balls her attendant was offering her. When Serena answered, Viola took a single ball and approached the field. “Well then! Let’s get this show on the road!”

“Yeah, let’s!” Taking a strong stance on her side, Serena smiled and held out her own lone Poké ball. She was excited, too excited, in fact. Before Viola could even get to her spot, Serena reared back and tossed. “Come on out, Fennekin!”

“Fenn!” Her fiery friend appeared on the field with a confident yip, as she too stood tall facing Viola. Serena couldn’t help but smile at that.

“Thank you so much, Fennekin. For giving this a try for me,” she said, looking up from her partner to their opponent. Viola was watching them, giving the pair a wide smile as she tossed her lone Poké ball up and down. This was it, their very first real battle. They were doing it! “Let’s show her how strong we can be, Fennekin!”

“Fennekin!”

“I have to admit, the two of you already seem to have a good bond,” Viola called, catching the Poké ball one last time and holding it forward. “Guess I’ll just have to test how picture-perfect it is! Let’s go, Spewpa!”

The Gym Leader’s Pokémon joined her field with a surprisingly fierce battle cry— Impressive, considering its unimpressive size.

Still, Serena knew not to underestimate Viola’s Pokémon. Ash had taught her that.

“The match between challenger Serena and Gym Leader Viola will now begin! If either party’s Pokémon are all unable to battle, the match is declared over!” The gym attendant raised their arm, setting both the Gym Leader and Challenger at the ready. Then, they threw it down. “Now, start!”

“Let’s get right into it, Spewpa! Go in with a Pounce!” At Viola’s word, Spewpa leapt, hopping across the battlefield with long strides, its speed catching Serena off-guard.

Immediately on the back foot, she countered.

“Dodge it, Fennekin!” With one command, Fennekin skittered to the side and avoided the practiced pounce. With another, she struck back. “Now, Ember!”

“Duck back, Spewpa!”

“Fenne— Kiiin!” A pitched spray of embers blasted from her maw, only just missing the intrepid Bug-Type.

With a roll, it went in for another strike.

“Ember again, Fennekin!” This time, Fennekin landed her shot. Her fire hit the Spewpa dead-on, mere feet before it would’ve slammed into her. In an instant, it was sent flying by the cinders. “Yes! We got a hit in, Fennekin! We—”

“Spewpa is unable to battle! Serena and Fennekin are the winners!”

“...Wait, what?” Opening her eyes, Serena looked upon the battlefield with a befuddled expression. Sure enough— There was Spewpa, singed and knocked out on the ground, with Fennekin looking on in abject confusion.

Across from them, Viola smiled and began to clap.

“Congratulations, challenger! Your Fennekin and their Ember were an absolute sight to behold!” Her applause was genuine, if a bit patronizing. “With moves like that, you could have a real shot at the Kalos League someday!”

Still blinking, Serena raised a hand to her chest, feeling for what she thought would be a runaway heartbeat. In truth, it was going barely any faster than it did at the start of the battle.

What was going on?

Serena stepped forward and met Viola in the middle of the field. There she and her attendant stood with an astounding item in hand: The Santalune City Bug Badge.

“And this is yours!” Without even a hint of reluctance, Viola offered it forward, leaving Serena the honor of taking it.

Yet, while Viola seemed to have no hesitation, Serena did. She stared at the badge in front of her and, for a moment, questioned whether she should take it. Soon though, she shook her head.

“When I was here last time, with Ash, you had these two incredibly strong Pokémon. Ash had to train really hard to beat you,” she said, tearing her gaze away from the badge and looking to Viola herself. At her side, Fennekin looked up with a similar expression. “Why do you only have that Spewpa now?”

Viola was caught off guard by the question, blinking for a moment before she began to explain.

“Well, the point of the Gym Challenge is to simply challenge trainers, to help build their skills up higher and higher. We’re still gyms after all.” After gesturing to her attendant, Viola produced two more Poké balls to continue her point. “So, Gym Leaders have several teams trained up for different calibers of trainers.”

“And Ash…” Like that, Serena realized her answer before she even received it.

“Ash I could tell was a well-experienced trainer from the beginning, so I came at him with one of my stronger teams,” Viola explained, making her point explicit. With a kind smile, she put a hand on Serena’s shoulder. “You don’t have to worry about that though! You’re just starting out, with a Pokémon you haven’t trained with that much yet. The fact you did so well proves you can accept this badge with pride.”

Viola’s words sat in Serena’s mind, where they dug in, becoming discomforting and impossible to ignore. A small, quiet part of her told her to accept the badge, to get out of Santalune. After all, the faster she accepted it and headed to Cyllage City, the sooner she’d be able to see Clemont and Bonnie and Ash again.

But, she couldn’t.

“I’m sorry, Viola, but I can’t take this badge,” she said, surprising Viola and her attendant, and even Fennekin at her feet. “I’m aiming to catch up with Ash one day, to be a trainer that can challenge him. I can’t do that if I accept this.”

Viola blinked once then twice, before nodding with a look of understanding. She quickly handed the ball for her Spewpa to her attendant.

“What would you like to do then you think?”

Serena gave the question some thought, before it became clear there was only one answer for her.

“Please battle me again, but this time, use the same team you faced Ash with!” Her declaration was strong, and proud, and a little bit scared. The moment the words left her lips, she felt her heartbeat begin to pick up. She knew what it was getting excited for.

A heart-racing, life-changing battle.

Viola chuckled as she handed the badge back to her attendant, who quickly stepped off the battlefield.

“Alright then, Serena. You’re on!”

𝒴

“The match between challenger Serena and Gym Leader Viola will now begin again! If either party’s Pokémon are all unable to battle, the match is declared over!”

The attendant’s words rang through Serena’s mind again, as she stood firm on her side of the battlefield. Across from her, Viola had taken position and was now stretching one final time before their second round would start. Serena wasn’t sure what it was, but the Gym Leader looked different this time. She was looser, more confident.

The sight of that made Serena’s heart race.

“Alright then, let’s try this again! Come on out, Surskit!” Tossing her Poké ball, Viola called out her brave Bug-Type to the field, its arrival heralded with a flurry of light in its wake. With a glare, it looked up at Serena, firm determination in its eyes.

“A!” it cried.

“Okay, we’ve got this. We just have to keep calm and aim straight, okay Fennekin?” Serena shot her partner a smile and a look of assurance, one Fennekein received with a confident nod. She was just as ready as Serena was.

Serena would have to thank her again, later.

“Now, start!”

“Surround them and use Signal Beam, Surskit!” Instantly, Viola went on the attack, her Surskit racing into an orbit around Fennekin and firing.

“Dodge it, Fennekin!” Pressed into the back foot again, Serena tried to play catch up— But it was too late.

“Fenn!” While Fennekin could easily avoid Viola’s Spewpa, her Surskit was something else. It ran circles around Fennekin whilst blasting her with beams of energy.

“Fennekin!” Tightening her first, Serena stood firm, trying to think of what to do next. She couldn’t panic so soon, she told herself. Afterall— “Fire-Types beat Bug-Types! Fennekin, use Flamethrower!”

“Whoa, what!?”

Digging her heels in, Fennekin fired off a pillar of crackling flames, catching Surskit by surprise as the fire crashed into them. It was a direct hit! On collision with the wall, a cloud of steam filled the air at Viola’s side.

“Yes! A real, solid hit, Fennekin! You did it!” Serena leapt into the air and cheered, putting a grin on her partner’s face as she too began to celebrate. Standing proud, Serena looked onto the battlefield and declared, “Fire beats Bug, meaning that move was Super—!”

“A!” Clearing the smoke with a twirl of its legs, Surskit revealed itself, still standing, and not at all worse for wear.

“…Effective.”

“The Bug-Type might be weak to Fire-Types, yes, but Water-Types like Surskit resist Fire, canceling out that weakness!” Viola called out, as she pulled on her own pleased grin. “It’ll take a lot more than one hit to take us down!”

Serena gritted her teeth, her racing heart almost making her pull away from the battlefield. As Viola’s Surskit flew back into action and surrounded Fennekin once more, a fact truly began to set in for Serena.

This was going to be even harder than she expected.

Chapter Text

𝒳

Ash had never gotten used to flying.

Despite all the flights he’d taken over the years, the act remained novel. He still got a kick out of seeing the ground pass below, or feeling the wind blow through his hair.

His partner was a different story.

“Pikapi, pikachu pi.” Pikachu was securely bundled up in Ash’s jacket, where he could neither see the ground below nor feel the wind. If it were up to him, in fact, he’d prefer to take his chances with swimming to their destination. “Kapika, kakachu.”

“Aw come on, Pikachu. Charizard offers to fly us the rest of the way, and this is how you act?” Ash let out a sigh, before reaching forward to give his other Pokémon a pat. “Sorry, Charizard. Don’t mind him. He’s just grumpy from all the traveling we’ve been doing.”

Charizard let out a rumbling series of grunts and exclamations, bearing a tone somewhere between confidence and arrogance, with a hint of fatigue underneath. Ash could just about understand his meaning— Let Pikachu whine! It’ll just prove how much more stamina I have than him.

“Yeah, yeah, keep saying that. See how long it takes a Thunderbolt to send us swimming the rest of the way.” Ash laughed and swung his head back, as Charizard grumbled to himself. He didn’t have a retort for that one. Even he knew when to pick his fights.

With that exchange at its end, Ash turned his mind back to the journey itself. The trio were currently flying over open ocean, heading south from Cherrygrove City in the Johto Region. The sun hung low at Ash’s right side and on his left, he could spot the edge of night peaking up. They were at the perfect spot to watch the upcoming twilight.

Despite that, Ash’s eyes were trained forward. His destination laid beyond the horizon, ahead of them. He’d soon be able to see it— Alto Mare, the city of water.

𝒳

“Rest well, Charizard! You deserve it.” In a flash, Ash returned Charizard to his Poké ball, dismissing him mere moments after their arrival at the pier. As he did so, he managed to catch a few stray remarks— Something to the effect of frustration — which made Ash pause. “Sorry buddy, we really did tire you out with that trip, huh?”

“Chu-pikachu, Pikachu pi.” Popping out from Ash’s jacket, Pikachu appeared, a tinge of snideness in his voice as he climbed onto his partner’s shoulder. Ash didn’t seem to notice. “Pikapi?”

While Ash remained focused on Charizard’s Poké ball for a moment, Pikachu shrugged, before turning to get a good look at the city proper. When he did, he nearly slipped off Ash’s shoulder in shock.

“Pi— Pika!”

“Something up, buddy? You— Whoa.” Turning himself, Ash too was struck with shock and awe.

It was apparent almost immediately how the city had changed over the years. It was taller, tighter-packed. In the distance, he and Pikachu could spot a half dozen buildings in various stages of construction, peaking above the city’s skyline and pushing it higher, bit-by-bit. All of Alto Mare was stretching up and out from its little spot in the world.

Ash couldn’t help but smile. It reminded him of himself.

Leaving the docks behind them, Ash and Pikachu moved to explore the city proper. Thick, bustling crowds of people filled every inch of walkable space, with no sign of clearing out even as sunset approached. Through those crowds, Ash scanned his gaze across a place that was both familiar and not.

To his right was the main canal of the city, filled with the largest shipping vessels and smallest gondolas alike. To his left, he found the edge of the city itself— Businesses and homes, offshoot canals and streets leading to distant plazas. There were dozens of paths he could take just from where he was standing, paths that snaked in between buildings and led to the tight, winding alleys Ash remembered so well.

“Man, this place has gotten huge,” he said once, before repeating himself to speak over the environment. Alto Mare wasn’t a loud city, but with so many people around and the main water route nearby, it took a bit of effort to be heard. “Imagine how easy it’d be to get lost this time, eh, buddy?”

“Pikapi, Pikachu, kachu, pi.” Pikachu perked up from Ash’s shoulder, pressing a paw to his chest as he made a declaration— One that pulled a laugh from Ash.

“Yeah, sure, photographic memory.” Ash paused then, after glancing to his right. The canal, it wasn’t there anymore. At some point, he must’ve absentmindedly stepped onto a diverging path. Looking behind him, he found naught but an alleyway extending back, and a thinning crowd of people walking in each direction. “Alright then, Mr. ‘Photographic Memory’. Why don’t you tell us where we are?”

“Kachu?” Pikachu stood tall and looked around, a thought ticking away in his eyes before he snapped his fingers. “Pika!”

With that, he grabbed onto Ash’s head and directed him to move in a certain direction.

“Alright, alright, I’m going.” Ash let out a chuckle as he began moving once more, letting Pikachu take the reins and direct him where to go. Almost immediately, the two went into another offshoot alleyway, leaving most of the heavy traffic behind them. “I’ll tell you what, Pikachu. If you can get us out of here, there’s a whole bottle of ketchup with your name on it.”

“Pikapi, chu kachu, pikachu-pi!” There was that confidence in his declarations again, as he directed Ash to make another turn. They were deep into residential areas now, without a shop or canal in sight. At his right, he spotted a building with a bright red door. “Pika. Pikapi, chu pika— Kapika?”

That question nearly made Ash pause.

“Eh? What am I going to say when I get there? Uh, hi, I guess?” Pikachu didn’t seem satisfied with his answer, as he leaned down and looked Ash in the eye. “How have you been?”

Groaning, Pikachu directed Ash to take a left, before he spoke up again.

“Kachupi— Kapika chupika, pikapi!”

“What do you mean it has to be better than that? Since when!” Ash took another turn at Pikachu’s direction, passing by another bright red door as he did so. Apparently, his partner remembered this intersection. “I’d like to see you come up with something better.”

Pikachu snorted and crossed his arms.

“Pikapi, ka, Pikachu-pi.”

“Oh so now I’m the brains of the operation.” Ash couldn’t help but laugh at his own statement, the irony of saying that whilst Pikachu was leading him around setting in. “I’ll say hey, how are you doing?— We’ll catch up! That’s what we’re here for, isn’t it?”

They took another turn.

“I don’t know why you want me to think so hard about this,” Ash said then, his gaze trawling across the tops of the buildings to his right and left. He could spot potted plants and clothes lines just barely peeking over the edge. “I’m just gonna say hi, like we always do with our friends.”

“Pikapi, pi.” Pikachu shook his head, the meaning in that comment clear— Your funeral. As he said that however, he paused and took a look around. “Kachu, pikachu pi?”

“Where are we? I don’t know, you’re the one—” Ash paused as he spotted a familiar sight, a distinct painted red door. He’d seen a few of them now… he thought. That was, until he realized the street they were on was a familiar sight too. It struck him all at once. “Photographic memory my butt, Pikachu.”

They’d been walking in circles.

They were lost.

𝒳

Ash and Pikachu could name a dozen things that had changed in Alto Mare over the years— Its labyrinthine layout was not one of them.

Every street and alleyway they walked seemed to lead to five more. Every turn they took brought them to paths that were both familiar and not. It all soon began to blend together in their minds, as they stumbled around the city for nearly an hour.

The hope of finding a familiar location faded. Now they just prayed to find a Pokémon Center eventually.

“It’s gonna be dark soon,” Ash muttered, glancing across the canal the two were passing by. With the sun well below the city’s skyline, Alto Mare had begun to grow dark. Long shadows hung over the streets and waterways, signaling the coming night. It was a signal neither Ash nor Pikachu were happy to find. The only thing they wanted to see was—

“Pika, pika!” Pikachu perked up.

“A Pokémon Center!” Picking up the pace, the pair raced to their supposed salvation, before they came to a sudden stop. Something was wrong. “Huh?”

While the building they had arrived at did indeed bear the universal sign of a Poké ball, a Pokémon Center it was not. It was a rather older-looking building, with a storefront bearing rustic, painted windows. Though the inside was dark, Ash could spot the distinct outline of workshop tables, and industrial equipment.

The Azalean Poké Ball Workshop, its front window said.

Ash scratched his head, before groaning and turning away. His hopes were dashed.

“Come on, Pikachu. We don’t wanna be stuck looking in the dark.”

“Pikapi— Kachu pika… Chu…”

The two made it only a few steps away from the shop before Ash paused again. Something had caught his eye— There in the alley next to the workshop. Pikachu stopped and looked himself.

“Hey. Ya having some trouble there?” On the fire escape that hugged the workshop, a large man stood, struggling to open a window that led inside. At Ash’s call, the man flinched and leapt back a pace.

“I, uh. Yeeeeah. Just having a bit of trouble. Left my keys inside, you see. Gotta make sure we can, open up tomorrow.” The man’s eyes shot up and down the alleyway, before he returned to his work.

“Why don’t we lend ya a hand, then!” Ash may have been exhausted and all-around a bit grumpy, but he wouldn’t pass up a chance to help someone in need. Pikachu in contrast was less enthusiastic, grumbling as he followed Ash over to the fire escape.

“No, no— It’s fine— We wouldn’t want to attract—” The man stumbled back, as the entire fire escape rumbled and shook underneath him. When he looked down, he was shocked to find Ash climbing up the side of the platform, skipping the stairs entirely and just grappling up to his level. “…attention.”

“Don’t worry about it!” Landing on his feet, Ash gave the man a once over, pausing as he noticed his rather strange attire— A bright, ill-fitting suit jacket and a weird, crooked lapel. Ah well, Ash wasn’t one to judge. “Here, lemme give it a try!”

The suited man stood back as Ash got to work, attempting to pry open the window through sheer force. After a moment though, he realized his folly.

“Ah, it’s locked! Mind lending me a hand, buddy?” Pikachu chirped, before leaping up onto Ash’s shoulder with his tail already glowing white. With an expert maneuver, he slipped it in between the window panes and began to fiddle with the lock.

Watching the two do their stuff, the large man could only stare and blink slowly.

“So, uh, whatcha doing in Auto Mare? You like a resident or something?” he asked, distinctly mispronouncing the city’s name. His hands gripped the railing of the fire escape with a nervous sort of energy, one Ash nearly keyed in on.

“Oh nah, just visiting,” Ash replied, eyes locked onto the window as he tested to see if it’d budge. “Alto Mare’s got a few friends of ours we’ve been meaning to see.”

“Pikapi, kachu, Kapika.” Still in the throes of his amateur lockpicking, Pikachu let out a comment under his breath. This time, Ash did pick it up.

“Hey, I’m doing my best!” Ash grumbled, rolling his eyes as he glanced back at the nervous man. “Pikachu says I’m not thinking hard enough about what I’m gonna say when we drop in.”

Now the man had a different reaction, instead of utter befuddlement or strained nervousness, he instead just cocked his head in thought.

“How long’s it been since you last showed up?”

It was a genuine question, one that made Ash pause and look down. He was never the best with time. Hell, he’d forgotten so many of his own birthdays that it took him until he was thirteen to stop saying he was ten. With a moment of thought however, he had an answer.

“Uhhhh, four years, I think?”

“Four years? Well a-course you gotta figure out something good to say!” The man seemed to finally shed his nerves, as he stood firm and made that declaration. “This stuff is important ya know? Gotta make ‘em know you give a toss about ‘em.”

“Huh.” The man’s words rang true to Ash, making him pause as he looked onto the window again. In it, he caught sight of his reflection, there staring back at him. A thought worked its way through his mind. “Yeah, I guess you’re—”

“Pika!” With a triumphant cry, Pikachu’s tail slid back the bolt of the lock. The window was open!

“Nice work, Pikachu!” Ash cheered and gave his partner a fistbump, thanking him for a job well done. “Alright mister, I think that’s—”

A bright light suddenly flashed across the building, blinding Ash and Pikachu and forcing them to look away. Before they could even call out a cry, a command rang through the air.

“Freeze!” An Officer Jenny, Ash quickly realized. He could hear the familiar cry of a Growlith at her side. “You are under arrest for unlawful breaking and entering!”

“Huh? What are you talking about! We were just helping—!” Ash turned and froze, trying to indicate to the man standing behind him. All he found was empty space. Ash’s eyes snapped up the alleyway, until he caught a glimpse of the man turning a corner far ahead.

The reality of what had just happened set in all at once.

“Oh for—!”

“Pika!?”

𝒳

“Look, I’m telling you. We found this guy trying to get in before us. We were just helping him!”

“So you saw a robbery actively in progress, and you decided to become an accomplice?”

“No! Just, uuuugh.” Ash groaned and dragged his hands across his face, trying to choose his words carefully before he spoke again. The firm, but still empathetic gaze of the Officer Jenny stared at him as he glanced around the room.

He was currently in a cell, a small one, in what was apparently the only jail the entire city of Alto Mare had to its name. It was almost hard to believe, considering how small and casual the whole thing was. His Poké balls sat on a table behind the officer, alongside a rather miffed looking Pikachu watching the interrogation-in-progress.

“The guy told us he worked at that place. He said he locked his keys inside, and needed help getting them,” he explained, finally putting his words together. The Officer’s expression softened as he spoke further. “Please Officer Jenny, you gotta believe me! We came to Alto Mare to visit some friends, not steal some crummy Poké balls!”

“Pika, pika!” Finding his opportunity, Pikachu shot that interjection in, calling out in agreement with his partner. The two of them seemed to strike a convincing argument, as the Officer Jenny sighed and shook her head.

“Alright kid, your alibi tracks. But I can’t just let you go.” The implication of being locked in that cell any longer drew horror on Ash’s face. Thankfully, his fate wasn’t quite sealed. “You’re a minor, so I need to release you to someone. Is there anyone in the city who we can contact?”

After a moment of silence, a small grin grew on Ash’s face.

“Of course. Do you know a Lorenzo?”

𝒳

“And that’s the last of them.” Ash let out a sigh, the familiar weight of his Poké balls a relief after the last hour or so of questioning. He’d never liked being away from his Pokémon for too long. It was times like these that reminded him why. “Well, almost, heh.”

“Pikapi!” Making his point for him, Pikachu leapt onto Ash’s shoulder and let out a chirp. Despite his grumpy demeanor during the preceding interrogation, he was in high spirits now. They were nearly out! “Pikachu, chu-ka, pika Kapika?”

“Yeah, not exactly how I pictured today going either— But better this than never showing up, ay?” Ash laughed and leaned against the lone desk that stood in the room, giving the Officer Jenny across from him a glance as he did so. She was diligently standing at the front door of the jailhouse, looking out onto the street for their supposed chaperone. “Figure Old Man Lorenzo is gonna come grab us himself?”

“Ka chuuu, Pikachu?”

“Oh yeah, could be Bianca too.” Ash sat with that thought for a moment, turning it in his head while he stared up at the ceiling in wait. With those few moments of quiet contemplation, another thought came to mind. “Maybe, it’ll be La—”

A knock rang through the air, slow and a little bit hesitant, yet still igniting the room in an instant. Officer Jenny leapt for the door, and Ash was on his feet all at once. If the knock didn’t get him standing, then who came through it surely would have.

“Kapika.” Pikachu nudged his partner’s head, as Ash was struck quiet for a moment.

It was a girl, wearing loose-fitting clothes and a look somewhere between hesitancy and disbelief. Ash might’ve recognized her as Bianca, if it weren’t for one key detail he picked up on in an instant.

She wasn’t wearing a hat.

𝒳

With their business at the police station wrapped up, Ash and the girl stepped out onto the quiet city streets. It was undeniably night now, the sun having long set in Ash’s time under arrest. The stark contrast, that between the bustling Alto Mare of the day and now, struck Ash as he turned to his new companion.

“Man, good thing we got you now, otherwise we’d definitely get lost again!” Ash laughed even as she said nothing, merely motioning in a direction and walking off. Not one to be left behind, Ash quickly began to follow. “So, how have you guys been doing? It’s really been a bit, huh?”

The air hung with an awkward silence as she didn’t respond. She merely just took a turn and prompted Ash to follow. Lagging behind, Ash scratched his head and muttered.

“Man, I see why you were telling me I had to think about this harder, Pikachu.” Before Pikachu could give the snide remark Ash knew was coming, the two pressed forward. Ash picked up the pace as he went to catch up with their silent company.

Turning and stepping ahead, Ash brought himself and her to a stop, putting up his hands before he began to speak again.

“I just wanted to say, it’s really really awesome getting to see you again! And… I’m sorry.” His words struck Pikachu by surprise and brought the girl to a pause. She looked at him with a contemplative look while he spoke again. “I’m sorry, for not dropping by sooner. I should’ve, especially after everything that happened, and I didn’t because… I don’t really have a good excuse.”

Ash made a noise that was almost like a laugh, and more like a sigh. Puffing up his chest, he put on a smile and looked at her, straight on.

“But we’re here now! And I hope that we can have some fun again, like we had last time! Doesn’t that sound awesome!” Ash paused, hoping for a response, expecting a response, before he stopped himself, and laughed. “Right, sorry, I forgot. You’re not the best at making small talk.”

A moment passed, and the girl’s contemplative expression turned to a snort.

“Pffft, no kidding. Neither are you.”

Struck by surprise, Ash and Pikachu blinked for a second, before jumping back.

“Wait, Bianca!?”

Chapter Text

𝒳

The gentle trot of feet on stone rang through the streets of Alto Mare, mingling with the sound of distant canals and the muted hum of the city itself. In the center of it all was Ash, Pikachu, and Bianca— The party of three steadily making their way across town, an unyielding silence standing in the air between them.

Ash stared forward at his guide, lips pursed in thought after their awkward encounter a few minutes ago. He’d managed to get a few words out of her, but now it was back to the silent treatment it seemed.

“Pikapi, chu Pikachu?”

“I’m not sure what’s going on either, buddy— But I’m gonna find out.” Shaking his head, Ash picked up the pace, joining Bianca’s side after a moment and exchanging a glance with the girl. “So, what’s up?”

“Not much.” Her answer was curt, carrying with it her obvious impatience. When Ash refused to back off, however, she sighed. “Ash, it’s 11 PM, it’s cold, I’m in my pajamas and I just had to bail you out of jail. You can forgive me for not being in the best mood, yeah?”

“Well, when you put it like that.” Ash scratched his head as he gave an awkward laugh, the reasoning checking out in his mind. Suddenly sheepish, he took a half-step back, giving Bianca space.

That wasn’t enough it seemed.

Bianca sighed.

“What are you even doing here, Ash?” The question was firm and her frustration palpable. It put Ash on the defense almost instantly.

“What do you mean? We’re just visiting you guys!” he replied, stopping for a moment before moving again. There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his voice, yet still Bianca squinted and scrutinized each word. After a moment though she shook her head.

“Even the rowdiest tourists don’t usually get arrested,” she muttered, before sighing loudly. “I’m sorry, it’s just, when it comes to the city, I get a bit antsy around your type— Pokémon Trainers.”

There was something in her words, something subtle and unsaid. Ash, however, wasn’t one for subtlety, not when he felt the need to defend himself.

“Hey, I’m not just any old trainer. I’m Ash Ketchum!” he declared, picking up the pace and following her around a corner. His assured claims seemed to have little effect on Bianca, however, as she continued walking. Furrowing his brow, Ash called out. “And, I’m your friend.”

This time, Bianca did respond.

“Ash, we met one time four years ago. I appreciate everything you did for Alto Mare, but I barely know you.”

“Pika!?”

The air became deathly quiet, a gulf forming between Ash and his supposed friend in an instant. He was left now with only his thoughts, and the words Bianca had given him. In the silence, he thought them over.

He knew what Bianca said was technically correct, that the two of them never really got to know each other very well. Yet, it didn’t feel right. In his heart, he knew they were friends, and he had to prove it. Somehow.

An idea came to his mind.

“Bianca… Bianca, I wanna show you something.”

“What is it?” For a moment it looked like Bianca wouldn’t pay Ash the courtesy of looking, keeping her gaze pointed forward. Soon though, she shook her head and relented. When she turned, what she found made her freeze.

In Ash’s hands was a picture, a portrait, that was both familiar and not. It depicted the very two she was looking at, Ash and Pikachu, in a moment that felt more like a dream than a memory now. The sight of it brought her to a complete stop, for one simple reason.

She was the picture’s artist.

“I’m not just some random trainer— I’m Ash Ketchum, and I’m your friend,” Ash declared, his words strong and firm and confident in a way that befuddled Bianca. As if saying it with enough gusto would make it true. “You guys made this for me, gave it to me. You can’t say we’re not friends. I don’t accept that.”

Like that, the two were at an impasse— Ash’s passionate declaration against Bianca’s asserted indifference. His claim demanded an answer, one Bianca struggled to come up with. She stood there, her eyes trained onto the picture, and to how gently Ash held it forward.

Then, she laughed.

Her stance loosened, her shoulders relaxed, and she looked onto Ash with a face far more befitting a friend than a stranger.

“Come on, my grandad will wanna see you.”

𝒳

“Welcome to Alto Mare!”

“Oh hey, Lorenzo! It’s so good to— Whoa!”

Despite his slow and stodgy appearance, Bianca’s grandfather was a titan of a man, with arms that hammered wood and lifted gondolas. Ash barely had a moment to get through the door before he was swept off his feet and hoisted into the air.

“Pikapi!?”

“Ahaha! Tell me, my boy! When were you planning on letting us know you were coming to visit! You could’ve called!” Lorenzo guffawed, squeezing Ash in a tight bear hug, before depositing him back onto his feet while he laughed. Ash had to pause and collect his bearings before he could answer.

“We wanted to! Until we sorta realized we didn’t actually have a number to call, ya know?” Glancing back, Ash caught Pikachu walking in behind him, Bianca at his heel. Turning away would be his mistake, however, as Lorenzo slammed his palm into Ash’s back and gave another laugh. “Man, after Bianca, I didn’t expect you to be so excited to see us!”

“Pika, pika!” Pikachu concurred, leaping up to take his place on Ash’s shoulder.

“Well, of course I am! Why, I’m welcoming in the savior of my home!” With a merry skip to his step, Lorenzo moved away, strolling past Bianca to a small kitchenette in the corner. Almost immediately his arms got to work. “Now, you must’ve traveled long and far to get here, and had a few bumps along the way. Why don’t we pay you boys the courtesy and get you all well and fed!”

“Ah man, we’d love to! We’re starving!” Ash paused then, a moment of hesitancy in his step that Pikachu seemed to notice. Before his partner could raise a question, however, Ash spoke up once more. “It’s just, we’ve been in town for a while, and—”

Ash could see Bianca fold her arms. She knew what he was getting at, and it seemed Lorenzo did so too.

“You wish to see Latias.” He spoke the name without a hint of hesitation, even while his hands continued to chop vegetables and stir pots. “Am I correct?”

“Heh, yep!” Ash nodded, an odd feeling welling in his chest for a moment. Hearing the name just said aloud, it almost felt weird.

“Well! I certainly won’t stop you. Bianca can take you there right now—” Lorenzo punctuated his words with a nod towards his granddaughter, who sighed and stood up from the futon she’d crashed onto. “Although, to meet an old friend on an empty stomach is…”

Flashing a devilish smile, Lorenzo stepped forward, carrying with him the fruit of his labor: A pan of creamy, buttery rice topped with mushrooms and cheese.

“Perhaps I could offer you boys a small meal before you head out?”

Ash’s stomach rumbled at the sight of the lavish risotto. Just like that, his self-restraint had fallen like a house of cards.

“Well, if it’s just a small meal.”

𝒵

Ash’s small meal had quickly turned into a rather hefty feast, as neither he nor Pikachu had gotten a bite to eat in many hours. So with the entire contents of Bianca’s fridge splayed out before them, the two quickly became quite occupied.

That left Lorenzo and Bianca to themselves, watching the two gorge while they sat nearby. After some time, Bianca asked her grandfather a question.

“So, why do you think he’s back?” It was a short and terse inquiry, said just quietly enough to keep from being overheard. It made Lorenzo furrow his brow.

“Need there be a reason?”

“There’s always a reason.” Bianca pushed, glancing away and looking at her grandfather. Her arms were folded and a hint of apprehension stood in her expression. “He hasn’t called, hasn’t written, and now he’s shown up out of nowhere.”

“You would have had to have given him a number, for him to be able to call,” Lorenzo answered, a chuckle to his voice and a glint to his eyes. Bianca couldn’t find a response to that. So she just pursed her lips and sighed, before glancing back at the two.

After a quiet moment stood, Lorenzo leaned over and whispered.

“You do the past a disservice by refusing to let go of it, Bianca,” he said, making her nearly freeze as he spoke. “A disservice to the past, and to yourself.”

Bianca’s brows furrowed, her expression turned, and her eyes fell from staring at Ash, to the ground at her feet. Only one word was coming to her mind now, and it was a rather unsatisfying one at that.

“Maybe.”

𝒳

Ash never had a great sense of direction.

To him, a city like Alto Mare was basically a maze with no exit. He could travel its alleyways for days before he ever got close to his destination. It’s why to him it was amazing to watch Bianca turn those winding paths into straightforward roads. She guided him and Pikachu past tight city streets and long canal bridges, on the way to their destination.

Seeing Bianca like that, it reminded him of something, something from his last time visiting the city. Ash’s mind turned to when Latias guided him down these same routes.

“Well, here we are.”

Ash snapped to attention, before he blinked and realized they’d come to a stop. At his back was a wall of overgrown foliage, and in front of him a truly astonishing sight— A familiar intersection.

“Talk about deja vu.”

Where it seemed that every speck and inch of Alto Mare had changed in some way over the years, the crossroads the trio stood at then seemed frozen in time. Stepping forward, Ash watched as a memory played out before his very eyes.

“Pikapi, kachu, pi?”

“I know right? I’m half expecting those two Pidgeys to still be here.” Ash’s eyes hung on the sight of a bird fountain, still trickling with water for the local Pokémon. The stone hadn’t been worn at all.

“The space near the entrance has that effect on people. Feels like time’s going at a snail’s pace, yeah?” Forging ahead, Bianca quickly arrived at the other end of the intersection, stopping by a wall that too was familiar. She looked up to the night sky peaking overhead, before shaking her head. “This is as far as I go. Latias is inside.”

Her declaration snapped Ash and Pikachu from their reminiscing, as they quickly followed.

“Oh? Don’t wanna come say hi?” Joining her side, Ash came to a stop at the brick wall. His hand traced the stone, almost feeling it before the illusion gave way to his fingers.

Bianca yawned.

“Nope. Not all of us have the infinite energy you two do.” She stretched, another yawn rolling under her voice as she stepped away. “Besides, I’m sure she’ll want some privacy while saying hi.”

Cocking a brow, Ash turned and watched as she strolled away. “What’s that supposed to—?”

“Pika, pikachu!” Pikachu snickered out a call— Good idea! Just like that, Ash’s partner leapt off of his shoulder and onto Bianca’s. “Pikapi, Kapika, chuuuu~!”

“Eh? What do you mean good luck!”

Bianca smirked and began walking off, Pikachu cackling on her shoulder. All the while, Ash could only just stare as the two left him behind.

Rolling his eyes, Ash turned back and faced the wall again. Before he stepped forward, he let a mutter roll under his breath.

“What’s up with those two?”

𝒳

If the entrance to Latias’s home brought Ash pause, then the actual thing froze him still.

Before him laid the Garden, a sanctuary hidden deep in the heart of Alto Mare. Though he’d never forgotten the serene space in his years away, he couldn’t help but stop and stare upon it now.

Thick trees, older than Ash could even begin to conceive of, stretched far and out into the distance, their wide, waving leaves forming a canopy overhead. Streaks of moonlight flowed from on high, resting gently on rolling fields of grass and stone walkways, which connected one end of the Garden to another.

Collecting himself, Ash began to trek forward.

It was quiet, very quiet. Though he could not see a soul, he could just about hear the distant murmurs of sleeping Pokémon. The sound came under the trickle of the garden’s flowing stream. Beyond that, there was not a whisper to be heard.

Until something rang out in the distance.

“Huh? What was—?” Ash had definitely heard something. It was too distinct for him to have missed it in all this quiet. To his ears, it sounded like a great weight falling onto the ground. Then, a moment later, another sound came.

Was that, a hum?

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!”

Ash came to a sudden stop, his gaze scanning across the landscape of the garden, searching for the source of the apparent humming. It was like the slow rev of—

“A jet.” A smile broke through Ash’s confusion, as he locked onto a sight in the distance: Billowing dust, and a red blur. “Latias!”

In a burst of sudden speed, Ash flew forward, racing across the stone path to meet his friend. After all the talk and distractions and detours, the time was actually, really here.

“—Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!” The red blur grew faster.

He was going to meet up with Latias! They were going to finally catch up! All that separated them now was a hundred or so feet!

“—Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa—!” The red blur grew bigger in Ash’s sights.

Any second now, they’d meet in the middle. Any second now, he’d get to see her face-to-face. Any second now—

Ash’s mind paused, a half-formed thought developing in his head. As he watched the red blur grow faster and bigger, that thought came to fruition.

“Isn’t she going a bit too—?”

“—Aaaaaaash!”

With a great, thundering boom, the red blur slammed into Ash, sending both him and her tumbling through the air and towards a stretch of grass in the distance. Moments after Ash’s feet left the ground, his whole body touched back down, before going into an uncontrolled roll.

“Ow—! How—! Sonnova—!” He might’ve gone rolling for another minute more, if it wasn’t for a very well-placed tree bringing him to a sudden stop. With that subsequent crash, dust and dirt blew up from the ground below, whilst leaves rained down from above. Ash rubbed his skull as he quickly came to. “Ugggggggh.”

“Oooooow…” It seemed he wasn’t alone in his pain, as his partner-in-crash-landings laid in a heap near him, nursing her own aches and bruises. Seeing her, Ash began to speak before he could think.

“Who taught you how to fly?” Despite his rather grumpy front, Ash couldn’t hide the smile growing on his face, nor the rising tone in his voice. Sitting up, he chuckled, watching the dust between them slowly fade. “There’s another option than just accelerating you know.”

The heaped pile that was Latias shook with half a laugh, as she too began to recover from the collision. Her head raised off the ground as she turned, and when she did, the last of the dust cleared. The two locked eyes.

A still, silent moment stood between the two, before Ash crossed the divide.

“I’m really, really happy to see you again.”

Latias beamed.

“I can’t believe you’re here.”

With that, Ash paused, before the next few words tumbled out of his mouth.

“Latias, did you just talk!?”

Chapter Text

𝒴

“Flamethrower!”

“Dodge it!”

Surskit flew across the battlefield, zipping in and out of Fennekin’s reach, dodging her flames whilst practically running circles around her. All the while, their trainers watched, Viola’s confidence standing in stark contrast to Serena’s obvious trepidation.

The young trainer’s heart was racing so fast, she could hear the blood rushing past her ears.

“I’ve got to say, what an impressive first impression!” Viola called out to Serena, pulling at her attention with the shout. “Your Fennekin’s Flamethrower was incredible! I was wrong to underestimate you!”

Serena wasn’t sure if she was supposed to appreciate the praise— Or fear what would come when Viola stopped ‘underestimating’ her. Guess she was about to find out.

“Use Flamethrower, Fennekin!”

“Jump over it, Surskit! And Signal Beam!” Right on Viola’s cue, Surskit leapt into the air, easily dodging the pillar of fire Fennekin sent its way. With one move it avoided her attack, and in the next, it struck back.

“Fenn!” The beam of energy crashed down hard on Fennekin, forcing her back as Surskit flew across her field of view.

“Even if Fennekin resists Bug-Type moves, she can’t take this forever,” Serena muttered, seeing the damage her poor partner was receiving. She had to do something, fast! “Flamethrower all around you, Fennekin! We’ve got to hit them eventually!”

“You sure about that, Serena?” Grinning, Viola turned and threw her arm back. “Surskit, dive away and use Ice Beam, on the field!”

“Oh no!” Serena knew this trick. Viola had used it against Ash!

Fennekin’s flames flew across the battlefield in wide arcs, narrowly missing Surskit as it ducked and dived. All the while, a plume of crackling blue energy charged at its antenna. With a fierce cry, it fired!

“Aaaaaa!” In an instant, the battlefield became coated in a layer of slick ice, skyrocketing Surskit’s speed and sending Fennekin sliding to a wall.

“Come on, get up Fennekin!” Serena hopped up and down, her hands jittering with her nerves. She was trying to think of a strategy, but all her mind could produce was the most basic commands possible. How did Ash do all of this on the fly?! “Stand up and use Flamethrower!”

“Fen— ne— kinn!” Shaking her head clear, Fennekin rose once more, flaring cinders at her maw as she wrenched back. She quickly locked onto the dancing Surskit— “Fenn!”

—and fired! Her flames rocketed across the battlefield, narrowly missing its mark and crashing into the wall behind Viola. The near hit was almost a cause to celebrate, if it weren’t for what happened next.

“Fennekin!” With the power of her Flamethrower and the slick, icy floor at her feet, Fennekin was launched back. Her own attack sent her spinning towards Serena!

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Serena could barely react before Fennekin crashed into her side, dazed and confused after her high-speed spin cycle. Quickly dropping to her knees, Serena consoled her partner. “It’s okay— I’ve gotcha— We’re okay!”

“Fenn! Nekin!” Fennekin shook her head before standing back up, albeit nearly slipping along the way. Her brow furrowed at the sight of Viola and her never-pausing Surskit.

“Sorry Serena, but firing Flamethrowers willy-nilly won’t do you any good. You and Fennekin are going to need to play smarter than that if you want to win this!” Viola’s voice was growing haughty and proud, a fact that did Serena no favors as she tried to think.

Surskit was faster, stronger, and more agile than Fennekin was. To top it all off, now they couldn’t use their best move!? Every opportunity of attack was being closed off to Serena, and she could barely think of what to do next.

Her racing heart was becoming a detriment. Where in the past it helped focus her attention, now it did the opposite. She was tailspinning towards what was surely going to be a defeat—

“Serena.”

It was Viola again, now less haughty, less overwhelming. Her voice was a stark contrast to the sounds of the battlefield, and to it, Serena’s attention was pulled.

She looked up from the field and faced the Gym Leader head-on.

“Take a deep breath. It’s okay,” she said, the intensity gone from her expression as well. It was kinder now, no longer domineering. “Take a deep breath, and look at the bigger picture.”

“Bigger… picture?” Serena looked back to the battlefield, to the whole battlefield. No longer did she focus on Surskit racing back and forth, barely trackable by her own eye. No longer did she focus on her partner’s labored pants, as she waited on her to make the next move. Instead, she paused and saw it all, the spaces in between.

The air was hot and humid— The orange hair on Fennekin’s head was glowing red— And the ice at their feet had melted.

“Wait, are we—?”

Viola chuckled.

“I think we’ve lined up this shot long enough. Surskit, go in with Signal Beam!” Cutting through Serena’s train of thought, Viola leapt back into action, sending her Surskit racing towards Fennekin.

“F-Flamethrower, Fennekin! Now!” It was a desperate plea for a desperate move, but Fennekin delivered regardless. With a sharp inhale, she blasted a plume of flames across the field, narrowly missing the lightning-fast Surskit as it circled in.

Leaping into the air, it took aim and fired.

“Aaaaaa!” With one final bolt of energy, Surskit launched Fennekin back into Serena, sending the both of them tumbling back onto the floor.

After rolling to a stop, Serena found her partner thoroughly knocked out, dazed in her arms. Just like that, her first battle was done.

“Fennekin is unable to battle, Surskit wins! The winner of the battle is, Viola!”

Notes for Pokémon Battling #1: A Pokémon’s type is one of its strongest assets. You should always try to be in a position where your Pokémon’s type beats your opponent’s.

𝒴

“After that, she swiftly kicked our butts.” Serena finished her explanation with a sigh and a huff, her gaze falling from the video screen to the Pokémon on her lap. Fennekin was dozing off, enjoying the feeling of Serena’s brush moving through her fur for what must’ve been over an hour now. How many strokes was that? Serena had lost track after the five-hundredth.

“It’s unfortunate, but I can’t say I’m surprised.” Clemont’s voice rang out at Serena, pulling her attention back again.

It’d been quite a few hours since Serena’s disastrous first attempt at the Santalune City Gym, where she and Fennekin had gotten thoroughly whomped by Viola’s lone Surskit. Intent on licking their wounds, the two of them had stowed away in the Pokémon Center, recovering and mulling over what happened until just now.

Now she was on a call with Clemont, just Clemont. It was too late for Bonnie to be up, and in Ash’s time zone there was no shot at catching him awake. So it was just the two of them. Serena almost preferred it that way.

“Why do you say that?” she asked, Clemont’s comment surprising her. He seemed to think over his words for a moment, whilst cleaning his glasses.

“Well, by asking Viola to use the same team she used against Ash, you’ve given up your one advantage— type,” he clarified, trying his best to be kind whilst still being helpful. “Now she has the experience and Pokémon of a higher level, compared to you.”

Serena’s frown and frustrated expression made it clear just how successful Clemont was at being kind. After a moment, he spoke up again.

“You could always ask to face a less challenging team. There’s a pretty wide breadth of power and skill between the two sets of Pokémon you faced.” This suggestion was more agreeable.

As Serena thought it over, it almost felt like a good compromise. It’d give her a chance to prove herself, to battle against Pokémon a lot stronger than a lone Spewpa. She could feel like she actually earned the badge. Yet, after a moment, she shook her head, before looking down at her resting partner.

“If I want to catch up with Ash someday soon, I have to overcome the same challenges he did,” she asserted, putting the brush down and scratching behind Fennekin’s ear. It was just the spot she knew she liked. “I need to beat Viola, just like Ash did.”

“I admire the gusto, Serena, but you should be wary of trying to live up to expectations that high.” Clemont’s intonation had changed now. Where before there was a hint of apprehension, as he tried to be sensitive around Serena’s loss, now he was completely sincere. Every word was fully meant. “You don’t have to try to be as good as Ash— At least not yet.”

The words made sense to Serena, and struck her silent as she looked down. She realized something then— She was scratching Fennekin behind the ear, just like she had seen Ash do with Pikachu a dozen times by now. Had she been intentionally emulating him that much? She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

“You probably have a lot of things to think about,” Clemont said then, pulling at Serena’s attention once more. His expression was kinder now. His smile was back. “Before I let you go though, I do have a bit of advice. Try your best to bolster your natural advantages, and eliminate your opponent’s. Do that, and victory is sure to come!”

It was overly wordy, and in a few ways, blisteringly obvious. Yep, that was Clemont advice, through and through— Exactly what she needed.

“Thank you so much, Clemont.” A smile grew on Serena’s face, strong and firm. “I’m going to work hard, and I’m going to make you guys proud.”

Clemont nodded.

“I know you will!” With that, the call came to an end.

The booth’s screen went blank, as Serena and Fennekin were left alone once again. The black mirror of the monitor held Serena’s reflection, and after a few moments, she tore her gaze away from it.

Slumping against her seat, Serena sighed.

“How about you, Fennekin? What do you think we should do?” she asked, running her hands through her partner’s fur. Try as she might, Fennekin seemed out of ideas.

“Fenn? Nekin… Nekin, fe?” Serena couldn’t help but snort at that.

After dwelling on it for a few minutes more, Serena went digging through her bag, until she found her notebook. With a flick, she turned to the chart on the final page.

“Advantages, advantages, what are our advantages?” Tapping her finger in thought, Serena began interrogating the information the chart was giving her, trying to put together the pieces she already had. “Ice Beam… Signal Beam… Since you’re a Fire-Type, Fennekin, we still resist all of her moves— Even if it doesn’t feel like it.”

At that, Fennekin perked up.

“Nekin, Fenne— Fennekin!”

“Yeah, even if your Flamethrower isn’t Super Effective— It’s still really strong!” she repeated, jotting that point down on a page. “Even Viola said so!”

“Fenn!” Cocking her head up, Fennekin took on a proud, perhaps almost arrogant smirk. After a moment though, that smirk faded away. “Nekin, Fennekin…”

Serena frowned.

“You’re right, it doesn’t matter if it’s strong, if we can’t hit them with it,” she confessed, looking back at some of the notes she had written earlier. “That ice field just sends us flying whenever we try making a move, just like it did for Ash and Pikachu.”

Biting her thumb in thought, Serena began to really dig in.

“How did those two deal with it?” Her mind went back to weeks ago, to Ash’s rematch against Viola. Pikachu struggled because the ice field limited his maneuverability so much— In the end though, Ash solved that problem by hunkering down in place. Serena sighed. “I don’t suppose you learned Iron Tail when I wasn’t looking, eh, Fennekin?”

“Fenn!?” Fennekin recoiled at the suggestion, grabbing her own tail and holding it against her as she did. That made Serena giggle. Huffing, Fennekin spoke again. “Fenne… Fennekin, kin?”

It was a suggestion.

“Hot air? What hot air?” Suddenly, it snapped back to Serena— The very moment before they lost. The humid atmosphere, the intense heat, the melted field at their feet. It was all so strange, but she didn’t have a chance to investigate it at the time. “What was all that about?”

Reaching into her bag, Serena turned to her most reliable resource in times like these— Her Pokédex.

Fennekin, the fox Pokémon. Fennekin expels hot air that can reach nearly 400 degrees. It likes to snack on twigs.

“That’s what the hot air was!” With one answer in hand, Serena then quickly found another. “Of course, because you’re a Fire-Type, you can melt that ice under you and get a good foothold!”

“Fennekin! Fenne— Nekin, fe!” Jumping to her feet, Fennekin yipped and cheered, before firing off a few harmless Embers to make a point. She was confident that with that, she’d be able to blast Surskit easily.

Serena giggled at her enthusiasm, before running a hand over her head to calm her down.

“I think you’re about right. With a few lucky shots, we might be able to just scrape out a win against Surskit!” Saying that, however, brought Serena some pause. “Against, Surskit.”

Slumping in her seat, Serena groaned.

“Right, beating Surskit isn’t enough,” she realized. “There’s still Vivillon, who’s even stronger than Surskit.”

“Fenn… Fennekin?” Now it was Fennekin who was offering suggestions. “Ne, fenne!”

“That’s true. Vivillon is a Bug-Type, so it should be weak to your Flamethrower.” Pulling up her chart, Serena double-checked to see if she was missing some type interaction. “But, will that be enough? Her Vivillon is strong. If we can’t beat her fast enough, I feel like she’s just going to overwhelm us.”

“Fenne…” Fennekin’s brows furrowed as she went into thought, Serena soon joining her.

“Hmmmm.” She drummed her mind for ideas, flicking her Pokédex open and closed as she thought over her options. Did she even have any? Or was her only solution to do as Ash did, to train and grow stronger?

What other options were there?

Her Pokédex flickered on and off in her hand, until eventually it snapped to life.

Alternative Entry. Fennekin, the Fox Pokémon.

Serena perked up at the sound. Alternate entry? What was that about?

Eating just a single twig fills Fennekin with energy, and its roomy ears can give vent to air hotter than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The words rang through the open air of the Pokémon center, leaving Serena and Fennekin to ponder them in silence. Finally, after a moment, a smile grew on Serena’s face.

Notes for Pokémon Battling #2: Pokémon and their moves have types. If you do it right, you can counter an opponent’s moves just as easily as their Pokémon.

Chapter Text

𝒳

“Did, you just talk!?” Ash rose to his feet, barely believing his own words let alone his ears. Yet, it was true. Right there before him, Latias just spoke!

“I did? Oh yes, I did!” Latias, somehow also surprised, stumbled over her words as she stumbled to full height. “I— Uh— Surprise!?”

With a nervous smile, Latias threw up her palms and shook her hands, as if she were saying ta-dah. Appropriate, considering Ash really was surprised.

“That’s, amazing! How did you learn to use telepathy!” Ash stepped forward, his mind racing with a dozen thoughts at once. Beyond the fact that his friend was talking, his attention was pulled to so much more as well. Almost immediately, he noticed that Latias had grown over the last few years. She was closer to the size of a Latios now, than the Latias he remembered.

“I’ve been practicing! Lots and lots and lots of practicing. Took me a whole year just to figure out how to go ‘Aaaaaaa!’ in someone’s head—” She paused to demonstrate, making Ash wince and laugh. “—After that, the rest was pretty easy!”

It was funny actually, where Latias hadn’t said a word all those years ago, now it seemed she couldn’t stop talking.

“That being said, idioms and articles were pretty hard to grasp— And don’t get me started on verb tenses— But I knew if I ever wanted to talk to you, then I needed to practice until I got it juuuust right and—” Her eyes widened. “Have I said too much? I feel like I’ve said too—”

“You learned how to speak because you wanted to be able to talk to me?” In an instant, Latias’s mile-a-minute rambling went dead silent. She had, in fact, said too much. “That’s amazing, Latias! I’m honored!”

A tense breath left Latias’s lungs.

“How about you then? What brings you back to Alto Mare?” Seemingly eager to move on, Latias pushed the conversation back to Ash, who laughed and scratched his cheek.

“It’s a bit of a long story,” he explained, eyes trailing off to the side for a moment, before he looked at Latias dead on. “To make a long story short— I needed some time away from where I was, so me and Pikachu decided to pay you guys a visit!”

His words brought another smile to Latias’s face— a softer, gentler smile.

“I’m really, really happy to hear that.” With a quick shake of her head, Latias began to orbit around Ash. The sound of her voice shifted as she began to speak again. “We can have so much fun while you’re here! We can play games and have yummy snacks and I can show you all the places we never got to see and—”

—On and on Latias went, her speed increasing with each suggestion and scenario she came up with. All the while, all Ash could do was laugh while a miniature tornado began to form around him.

“That all sounds great, Latias! I’ll tell you what, lemme grab Pikachu and—” When Ash came to a sudden pause, so did Latias, as she halted herself and dispersed her swirling winds all at once. Ash’s eyes were trained on the moon, peaking through the foliage of the trees above them. “Right, it’s past midnight.”

“Oh, yeah.” A distinct tone of disappointment tinged Latias’s voice, something Ash noticed as she floated back. “I got a bit carried away there, huh?”

“Nah, we both did,” Ash dismissed, waving away her claim as he closed the distance once more. “Tell you what though. We’ll have tons of fun tomorrow! Sound like a plan?”

Coming to a gentle stop, Latias smiled, a calm look in her eyes as she drifted forward, towards Ash.

“That sounds amazing.”

𝒵

The quiet noises of the early morning filtered through Bianca’s ears, pawing at her attention as she tried to focus.

At her back, a pot of water was slowly beginning to steam— At her left, the patter of light footsteps could be heard— And in her very hand, a chunk of charcoal scratched against paper, ringing out with each stroke and line.

All of that, however, was nothing compared to the sound that swept it all away, every few moments, without end: The sound of the two knuckleheads snoring on her couch.

Bianca sighed and looked up from her latest piece, finding the sight that matched the distracting noise. There, in her living room was Ash and Pikachu, sleeping in a messy pile together. The former of the two had returned late the night before.

Leaning back in her seat, Bianca stretched, before stealing a glance at a note pinned up on the fridge. It’d been there since she woke up.

Consider sticking around this morning.

I don’t think you’ll want to miss this.

- Lorenzo

“ …Miss what? Ash sleeping on our couch?” Bristling, Bianca faced the boys again, her mind dwelling on the meaning of the message. What was her grandfather talking about?

She’d get her answer sooner than she expected.

“Aaaaaaash!” All at once, the front door of Bianca’s home was slammed open, a torrent of wind sending the room into instant chaos. Ash and Pikachu flew straight off the couch in a panic— Bianca screamed as her papers went flying— And underlying it all was the distinct sound of laughter. “Good morning!”

“Latias!? What’re you—?” Bianca blinked as her friend suddenly appeared, her invisibility dropping as she latched onto Ash. Still in the throes of waking up, Ash and Pikachu could only exclaim incoherently as their captor squeed.

“Hi Bianca—! Taking Ash now—! Don’t know when we’ll be back—! Don’t wait up—! Okay byyyyye!” As soon as her run-on sentence came to an end, Latias jetted back out the front door, pausing for only a moment to grin manically and wave back at Bianca. With that, she and the boys were off, leaving an utter mess of a kitchen and living room in their wake.

Sitting in the middle of it all, Bianca could only just stare and blink. There were a few emotions she had brewing in her mind— Annoyance, exhaustion, confusion. First and foremost, however, was a surprising feeling, for herself especially: Elation.

“Latias hasn’t been that excited in years,” she mumbled, before rising to her feet. “That’s, amazing! It’s like—”

Furrowing her brow, Bianca shook her head before looking down.

“It’s like, old times again.”

𝒳

“New day, new day! It’s a new daaaaaay!”

Ash furiously blinked, trying to focus his bleary eyes on whatever was in front of him. He knew he was awake and— that was about it.

“Pikapi?! Pikachu-pi!”

Oh that, he knew what Pikachu sounded like when he was distressed.

“What— Whoa!” Finally getting his bearings, Ash quickly realized what he’d been looking at all this time: It was Alto Mare, zipping around at high speeds down below. He could feel Pikachu holding on for dear life on his shoulder and a set of arms wrapped around his chest. With that, what was happening finally clicked. “Latias!? What’s going on!?”

“It’s a new day! You said we’d have a ton of fun tomorrow, and it’s tomorrow!” The sheer ecstatic joy in her voice nearly made Ash laugh, before she made him scream.

“Up you go!” With a sharp turn, Latias threw Ash and Pikachu into the air, sending them tumbling for just a moment before she zipped in for the catch. With precision that seemed almost trained, she had the two land perfectly upon her back— Dazed and confused, but fully awake. “Good morning!”

Shaking his head clear, Ash opened his mouth, before pausing and doubling over to laugh instead. He pressed his forehead against Latias for just a moment before sitting straight.

“Woooo! Talk about a wake up! Huh, buddy?” Ash’s blood was racing, his fingers tingling with excitement. He could get used to mornings like this.

“Kachu, chu…” Pikachu, meanwhile, was a different story.

“So-so-so. What do you want to do? Where do you want to go!” Taking a sharp turn, Latias began to fly circles around Alto Mare, her gaze flashing from one section of the city to another. Ash gave the question a moment of thought, before his stomach answered for him.

“Breakfast would be great. I’m starving! What’s good to eat around here?”

“Oh, oh, oh! I know a great place that’s super close!” Right as Latias reached the end of Alto Mare, she took a sharp turn and jetted off for its center. “They have the best ice cream in the city!”

“Ice cream? For breakfast?” His tone was incredulous, and Pikachu seemed to agree as he crossed his arms.

“Pika, Pikach—” At the end of the day, though, Ash was as persuadable as he was hungry.

“That’s a great idea!”

“Pikapi!?”

“Yay!” Just like that, the rollercoaster was on once again. Latias swooped down, sending Ash and Pikachu reeling as they held on for dear life. After ten seconds of intense descent, the trio found themselves back on ground level, landing in a tight alley devoid of any prying eyes.

“Right, just gotta, get used to that.” Ash stumbled onto the ground, taking a few steps before he straightened up and realized where he was. The alleyway Latias had brought them to led immediately into a small plaza. There were dozens of people milling about, all of their attention buzzing around a stand that stood in the center of it all.

“Leonardo’s! I love their gelato. Me and Bianca used to go all the time!” Latias exclaimed, floating in behind Ash and parking her chin on his hat. He chuckled and turned to face her.

“Well, that sounds awesome! Let’s—” Yet, when he did, he found naught but the empty alley to greet him. For a moment he considered the possibility that Latias had ditched him, before he remembered. “Ah right, you can go invisible!”

“Yep, heh. I have to stay hidden after all. Why don’t you two grab the ice cream!” There was a tone underlying Latias’s words, one Ash couldn’t parse despite his best attempts. Pikachu seemed to pick up on it too, as his ears twitched and turned. “We can, uh, have it, after you get it.”

Confused with her sudden hesitancy, Ash snorted.

“Why don’t you just turn back into Bianca again? That should work!” he suggested, throwing in an Ash Ketchum™ grin to sweeten the deal. Despite that, Latias remained silent, at best an apprehensive mumble leaking through. Guess it was time for drastic measures. “Please?”

With that word, Ash took a step and offered a hand forward, his confident grin giving away now to a kind smile. No one had resisted this move before, and they wouldn’t today.

After a moment, Latias’s invisibility sputtered away. A small, but growing smile was on her face, and her hands fiddled with each other nervously.

“O-okay, let’s do it!” Closing her eyes, Latias began to transform right there and then, the red of her body folding with the bending light, until it all melted into shimmers. Then, with a flash, the lights were gone, and a human girl remained. The face Ash saw the night before in the police station greeted his gaze. “I think, I’m ready.”

“Kapika!”

“Hell yeah, Latias!” Taking a hold of Latias’s hand, Ash stepped boldly into the plaza square.

𝒵

“Soap for the kitchen, some tomatoes for dinner tonight, check to see if they have my papers in.” Bianca hemmed and hawed over the list in her hand, the bustling city streets barely a thought in her mind as she trekked onwards. She didn’t even need to look up to check which road she was on— All she needed was to keep count of her steps. She had a turn coming up in about a hundred or so. “Ah, right, I need to get more chocolate for La—”

Bianca paused, her attention pulled from her list by a flash of something at the corner of her eye. She wasn’t paying the city any mind, yet, she still saw that— Her reflection, walking around without her.

“Latias?” She whispered the name under her breath as she pressed forward, past the moving people and towards the crossing street. There, up ahead of her, she saw… herself. Or really, a copy of herself. She was walking out, plain as day, seemingly joined at the hip with a boy that Bianca was getting to recognize all too well. “Ash, how—?”

Bianca came to a stop at a street lamp and paused, her hand hanging on the metal as she watched the two go by. They were talking about something, the topic she couldn’t parse, but seemingly humorous enough to make Latias break into snorting, infectious laughter. Ash and Pikachu were soon joining her as the trio came to a pause.

When they did, Bianca realized they were holding something: Paper cups, half filled with ice cream. She could even spot the logo on the side. It said Leonardo’s.

The sight made Bianca stop. Her chest felt heavy.

“Ash… How did you do it?”

𝒳

After their fine breakfast of ice cream, Ash and Latias turned their attention to the next item in their very well defined itinerary: Wandering the city aimlessly. Between all the places Latias wanted to show Ash, and all the catching up they had to do, it only made sense to take it all one step at a time.

After a stop at one of the city’s many, many cafes, it was time for Latias to pop a question.

“So, so, so! I have to ask— Why aren’t you here with your friends?”

It surprised Ash, nearly making him choke on his drink mid-sip. He hadn’t mentioned anything about Serena and the others, had he? Quickly, however, he realized she meant his other friends.

“I think they were caaaaalled, Dewey and Jacque?” Taking a light step past Ash, Latias turned, an inquisitive look to her eyes and a finger to her cheek.

“You mean Misty and Brock, heh.” He laughed as he wiped a spot of beverage from his lips. “We all went our separate ways a loooong time ago. Misty left to become the greatest Water-Type trainer ever, and Brock’s learning to become an amazing Pokémon Doctor!”

“Pikachu-pi! Pika-chu, pika!” Pikachu stood up on Ash’s shoulder and added his own reminiscing to the mix. It left Ash with a laugh and a wistful sigh, before he looked back to Latias once more.

“Hmmm, so the best Water-type trainer ever, and a great Pokémon Doctor! I guess that just leaves one question.” Latias grinned and turned, until she was facing Ash and walking backwards. “Where does that leave you?”

“Heh, same place as I’ve always been! I’m aiming to become a Pokémon Master!” He laid his declaration out with a full chest and a hearty laugh, letting Pikachu echo his sentiment a half-step later. Making a fist, Ash focused on Latias once more. “You can count on it!”

Despite his and Pikachu’s overwhelming energy, Latias didn’t seem to get as fired up as he had hoped. She instead smiled and chirped out a response.

“That sounds really interesting! What does it mean?”

“Oh, huh. Uhhh…” With the wind fully taken from his sails, Ash came to a pause. This was a new one. “Oh man, I’ve never given you the spiel, have I?”

“Noooope.”

“Well, it’s like this! I wanna, uh. I wanna! Hmmm.” Rubbing his chin, Ash began to put his thoughts together. How could he word this? His mind was filled with so many emotions and thoughts on the subject, and he lacked a way to describe it all. He almost wanted to break out the onomatopeias for this.

“Pikapi, chupi, Kapika, pi!” Pikachu, however, had his own thoughts on the matter.

“Show her? What do ya mean, bud—” Pausing, Ash felt a wicked grin cross his lips, as Pikachu’s meaning clicked in his mind. “That’s a great idea! Latias, follow me!”

“Oh? Where are we— OkayIguesswe’reoff!” With a snap, Ash grabbed onto her hand once more, towing her along as he went into a full sprint. The city quickly became a blur at their sides, twisting streets and canal walkways melting into a route Ash confidently forged. Latias laughed at his sheer sudden energy, before calling out. “Do you even know where you’re going!”

“Nope! Don’t gotta! I’m not looking for anywhere specific, I just need somewhere— Perfect!” Ash came to a sudden stop, catching Latias as she shot past him and pulling her back. They had arrived.

The quiet, residential district the two had been perusing was gone, replaced now with a wide, open-air plaza. The air had shifted from the more urban atmosphere of city life, to the fresh, salty wind of the sea breeze. The ocean hugged the horizon with Alto Mare proper standing behind them.

“W-what are we doing here?” That wasn’t all that changed. Latias’s tone took a turn as well. She approached Ash, her hand latching onto his shoulder as her gaze darted back and forth. There were dozens of people all around them, milling about and glancing towards them on occasion.

“What’s it look like? We’re showing you what our dream is about!” Ash’s gaze shot across the crowd, searching along with Pikachu for the perfect thing to make their point. Soon though, he couldn’t help but turn and look back at Latias. “We’re gonna find a battle!”

𝒵

“You seem nervous.”

It had taken Ash and Pikachu quite a while to find a challenger in the crowd of the plaza. With all the tourists milling about, there were few trainers with both the willingness and time to give the two the battle they were itching for. In the end though, such a trainer had materialized— A gruff, rowdy-looking gentleman, with a shaved head and dumb smirk.

“I don’t know, what you mean.” Latias had a terrible poker face when she was nervous. She knew that well. Thankfully for her, Ash had a worst eye for liars. “I guess I am a bit worried you’re about to get your butt kicked.”

The comment fell out of her mouth all at once, more a half-baked joke than a sincere jab. In either case, it made Ash laugh and turn back to look at her. His gaze brought her to pause.

For the very first time, she didn’t feel the need to check the crowds.

“When it comes to this, you never have to worry about me. Just watch and learn!” With that fiery call, Ash faced his opponent once more, leaving Latias the honor of watching him and Pikachu at work. Ash’s trusty partner offered a few words of suggestion, before Ash nodded and made his move. “Alright then, I choose you, Froakie!”

A flash of light and a similarly passionate cry filled the battlefield, as Froakie arrived on the scene. In an instant he leapt to center stage, standing tall just like his trainer behind him.

“Ooooh.” It was uncanny actually. To Latias, the energy coming off Froakie felt exactly like Ash’s.

“Froooooakie!”

“Heh, fancy pants over here thinks he’s so tough cause he gots Pokémon from outta town, aye? Well lemme show you what some real Johto muscle can do!” Their opponent meanwhile was unimpressed. With a clumsy stomp and a flexed bicep, he sent out his Pokémon, a behemoth of a Rhydon that landed onto the plaza with a booming thud. They and their trainer let out a thundering laugh in unison before the man continued. “Let’s see what your little froggy can do, hotshot!”

“Rhyyyydon!”

“Oh we’ll show you!” Ash threw his arm back as Froakie did the same. He didn’t even need to call out the first move it seemed. Froakie already knew where he was going! “Move!”

Shooting forward, Froakie became a blur, flying with a fist already charging up blue energy. He zigged and zagged across the battlefield, sending the Rhydon’s head spinning whilst their trainer was playing catch up.

“Stomp that pipsqueak! Can’t hit us if we flatten ‘em first!”

“That’s what you think! Froakie, spring off ‘em!” At Ash’s word, Froakie leapt up, latching onto Rhydon’s head just as they raised their heavy foot. Before his opponent could move to swat him away, Froakie jumped off, sending Rhydon stumbling back with a kick.

“Rhy!?”

“Water Pulse, Froakie, now!” Froakie flipped in midair, shooting off a grin as he brought his hands together. In an instant, the plume of Water-Type energy in his fist became a torrent, crashing into Rhydon and sending the behemoth careening to the ground. “Good job, buddy!”

In unison, Ash and Froakie sneered at their opponents, flicking a finger under their noses as the first hit was theirs.

Seeing that, how confident the two were, it inspired a single thought in Latias’s mind.

They were so cool!

“Alright, alright, you twos got some lucky hits in! But that stops here, ya see!” Their opponent growled and got low as his Rhydon rose to full height, towering over the lone Froakie with a look of fury in their eyes. They may have taken a solid blow, but they were far from out of it. “We’re gonna clobber ya with Mega Punch!”

“Chupi, pikachu!”

“Dodge it, Froakie! They can’t touch you!” True to Ash and Pikachu’s words, Froakie was far too nimble for the lumbering Rhydon. Their glowing fists swung through the air in regular, predictable strokes, easily dodged by Froakie as he backed away. As long as he kept his guard up, Rhydon could never hit him!

That, however, was easier said than done.

“They’re mocking us, Rhydon! Stomp the livin’ daylights outta ‘em!” Though Froakie could easily dive back from the ferocious ground pound, the violent shuddering of the earth from the attack was more than enough to knock him off his balance. That opening was all his opponent needed.

“Get back, Froa—!”

“Rhy!” With a vicious swing, Rhydon slammed Froakie into the ground, ricocheting him off the plaza floor and launching him into the air.

“Froakie!” The blow was so sudden and so brutal, Latias called out in shock at the sight of it. From where she stood, it looked like the hit had knocked him out cold! What was Ash going to do!?

What was Ash doing?

Even while Froakie still flew, Ash had remained completely silent, keeping his eyes trained on his Pokémon. It was stunning to Latias. For a moment, she almost thought he didn’t care.

Until she realized, Ash was smiling.

“I know you’re still in it, Froakie! Launch yourself back with Water Pulse!”

With his eyes flickering open, Froakie flipped in midair, before turning and firing off a wicked Water Pulse at his back. He slammed into his opponent with the blast of water, sending Rhydon stumbling back and desperately reaching for their slippery opponent.

“No way!”

“Froa! Froa! Froakie!” Far too fast, however, Froakie easily evaded Rhydon’s lumbering grasp. He flashed out a cocky grin before leaping back and making room.

Latias was stunned. She thought Froakie had been knocked out for sure, but Ash’s confidence hadn’t wavered for a second! Did he believe in his Pokémon that much?

Her beating heart quickened as Ash called out his next move.

“Okay Froakie, let’s keep ‘em off our backs! Frubble ‘em to the ground!”

“Fancy tricks from fancy pants! Rhydon, show ‘em how we do it with— Damn it!” While Ash and Froakie were battling with total unity, their opponent and his Rhydon were less coordinated. Right when he went to call out his next move, his Pokémon tripped over their own feet and fell—

“Ah jeeze!”

—Just in time for Froakie’s frubbles to blindfold them! Rhydon kicked and trashed, unharmed but furiously maddened by their sight being taken away.

“Oh so that’s how they do it outta town! Dirty tricks and all, huh!” The Rhydon’s trainer was red in the face as he gave Ash no chance to explain himself. “Well who cares about seein’! We can knock ya down in one blow! Rhydon, use Horn Drill!”

“Whoa! Keep away from that Froakie, whatever you do!” Ash’s tone took a turn, unassailable confidence wavering as he took swift action.

Falling to all fours, Rhydon barreled forward, imitating their pre-evolution as they haphazardly charged through the battlefield. With the frubble, however, all they could do was blindly rush in again and again, while Froakie expertly leapt away each time. For a moment, at least, there was an impasse.

“What’s going on? That move, you almost sound… scared of it.” Unable to help herself, Latias pressed Ash with a question, one he answered whilst keeping his attention straight ahead.

“Scared? Nah. I just know when to respect what we’re facing,” he explained, eyes darting back and forth with each leap Froakie made. “Horn Drill is a crazy powerful move. It’s inaccurate, but just one blow will knock a Pokémon out instantly. From here on out, we can’t get touched once.”

His answer was clear, but it still didn’t inspire much confidence in Latias. All she could do was watch as Froakie desperately leapt out from harm’s way, again and again. Soon, she couldn’t help but speak up.

“Are you nervous?”

The question made Ash laugh. He glanced back, and once more, her fears were swept away.

“Nervous? I don’t know what you mean.” Locking in, Ash faced the battlefield, fire returning to his voice as he called out. “Alright Froakie! You know the drill already! Not one hit can connect, you got it?”

“Oakie! Frooooa—kie!” Froakie dived back, indicating his understanding as he let his opponent drive past him in another wild arc. It was all up to Ash and Pikachu now to guide his moves.

“Pikapi! Pika-Pika, chu!”

“You heard ‘em, Froakie! Start charging up Water Pulse, one in each hand!” Ash called out his play, surprising Froakie but getting the message across all the same. Before he even turned back to the battlefield, Froakie leapt into the air. His two hands were glowing with swirling blue energy.

“Like we’re gonna letcha get that far, kid! Rhydon, plow that puny pipsqueak!” With a surprising display of maneuverability, Rhydon turned on a dime, setting a path straight to where Froakie would land. It was going to be a direct hit!

“Not on my watch! Bounce off ‘em, Froakie!” Ash’s timing was impeccable. Seconds before the collision, Froakie spun, slamming his webbed feet into Rhydon’s head and pushing himself away in one motion. As Froakie evaded yet again, Rhydon was sent stumbling back. “Good, now keep those attacks charging!”

“Don’t stop, Rhydon! You’ll hit ‘em eventually!”

“Pika!”

“Yeah, as if!” Throwing his arm back, Ash locked eyes with Froakie, seemingly sending his next few words through his gaze as well as his voice. “Froakie! Show this guy just how ahead of him we are!”

“Froa!” Froakie leapt forward, easily vaulting over Rhydon as they made another pass. Ash’s confidence was infecting him, drawing a smile on his face that mirrored his trainer’s. Soon, he even turned and shot a grin back to their opponent, one that matched Ash and Pikachu perfectly. “Kie-kie-kie, froakie!”

“Why I oughta—! Do you think you’re funny, kid!?”

“Hilarious actually, why do ya ask!” Ash threw his hand up, not even commanding Froakie to leap but getting that response regardless. “It’s time to end this, Froakie! Get ready to use those Water Pulses!”

“Like one or two more measly attacks would be enough! You must have frog’s legs for brains, kid!” Ash’s opponent jeered, quicker to insult than he was to act. He didn’t even call out a command as Froakie reached the peak of his jump.

That just made this easier.

“How about a dozen then!” Ash called out with a laugh. “Froakie, use Double Team!”

“Huh!?” The man looked up in shock and horror, as Froakie disappeared into a cloud of smoke above. In a blink, the smoke cleared— And a dozen clones of Froakie took its place! “Oh, oh man—!”

“Pikachu, pi!”

“Water Pulse, now!”

“Froakiiiiiie!” At Ash and Pikachu’s word, the Froakie clones fired, pillars of water crashing down at the rampaging Rhydon. In an instant, their opponent was brought to a dead stop. The shear water pressure had locked them in place! “Froa!”

With one final push, Rhydon fell forward, unable to keep standing underneath the overwhelming force. By the time Froakie finished his attack and landed on the ground, it was done.

Rhydon was knocked out.

Froakie panted, feeling the exhaustion nipping at his senses as he watched his opponent get recalled. It called to him, telling him to let himself rest.

But, before he was done, before he sat back down, Froakie did one last thing. He looked to his onlookers, to Ash, Pikachu, and especially Latias, and shot them a confident grin.

“Froakie, froa!”

𝒳

Ash’s opponent stormed off soon after the battle had come to a close, not even paying Ash the respect of a handshake before he left. He just took his Rhydon and went on his way. Ah well, Ash didn’t have time for sore losers.

With a wily grin, he turned back to his lone audience member—

“So, whatcha think—?”

—An audience member, who proceeded to jet right past him.

“Froakie! You did so well!” Latias rushed onto the battlefield, scooping up the triumphant Pokémon and tossing him into the air. Froakie was shocked by the sudden display of attention, but no less appreciative when she caught him again and held him close. “Look at you, all confident and proud! You’re so much like Ash, you know that!”

“Oakie Froa, Froakie!” Despite his apparent exhaustion from moments ago, Froakie still found it in him to put on a cool face, flicking a finger under his nose just to sell his front. The confident routine only seemed to make Latias squeal and praise him more.

“Heh, I guess he did put on the best show between the three of us, eh buddy?” Ash laughed, exchanging a look with Pikachu as they watched on. Latias was rubbing her cheek against Froakie’s now. “Think she had a fun time?”

“Pikapi, kachu Kapika, pika!”

“Guess you’re right, I should ask her myself.” Cupping his hands, Ash called out to Latias, pulling at her attention finally. “So! Whatcha think of our line of work?”

The question brought Latias a moment of pause as she looked up from Froakie. Soon, however, she beamed.

“I think it’s amazing!”

Chapter Text

𝒵

“We’re hooooome!”

The front door of Bianca’s home swung open, letting in a breeze of cool evening air and a pair of giggling fools. Bianca didn’t even have to look up from her book. She knew Ash and Latias were here, caught up in some rapturous joke or story one or the other was telling.

“Pikapi, pikachu-pi, pikaka pi!”

“Right! And so I said, ‘Are you by any chance the oddball in your family?’”

“Oh my— Pffhahaha!” Latias, still in the form of Bianca, hunched over with laughter, holding onto Ash’s shoulder for a good few moments as her giggling petered to a stop.

The sight of that, of Latias so carefree— Bianca couldn’t help but smile as she turned from her spot on the couch.

“Welcome back! You three have been out fooooor, oh, twelve hours?” Standing up, Bianca announced her presence, making Latias jump and squeal in delight. In one instant she was a human girl at Ash’s side, in the next, she was the familiar red dragon orbiting at Bianca’s.

“Bianca! Oh my gosh, oh my gosh— We had so much FUN!” Latias didn’t need any prompting. She immediately went into a long-winded ramble, recounting detail after detail of her day with Ash without a hint of hesitation, or a pause to breathe.

To most people, the unending chattering might be annoying. To Bianca, it was an honest delight. A wide smile took her face as she let Latias tell her stories, happy to see her friend up and active once again.

And she wasn’t the only one.

As Latias fell into another side tangent, Bianca caught a glimpse of Ash. He was still standing there, by the door, with an expression not unlike hers. In fact, it matched it to a tee. Ash was just as happy as she was to see Latias like this.

The two shared a moment of eye contact, and then, a moment of understanding.

“I’ma let you guys catch up! Me and Pikachu need to make a call, anyways.” Motioning to the door in the corner, Ash quickly made his departure, exchanging a goodbye with Latias before walking off.

“Okay! See you soon!”

“Heh, see you soon.” With that, Ash closed the door behind him. It was just Latias and Bianca now.

“So, looks like you two had a lot of fun today.” Immediately, Bianca pulled Latias’s attention back, resparking her friend’s energy with a question. “Wannaaaa, tell me about it?”

“YES! Oh my gosh yes. We did so much! We had ice cream for breakfast and we explored the whole city and we talked and talked and— Oh my gosh can he talk and—” Latias was taking full advantage of the fact she didn’t need to stop to breathe. “—and oh! He showed me a battle! There was this mean guy with a Rhydon and Ash has this adorable little Pokémon who I swear feels just like—”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down girl. You’re gonna whip up a tornado if you go any faster!” Bianca laughed, nearly caught up in the whirlwind Latias had summoned whilst flying in circles around her.

“Heheh, sorry. I’m just so excited!” Latias explained, throwing her hands into the air to make her point. “Ever since he came back, I’ve just been so floaty.”

“No kidding.” Muttering, Bianca let that comment pass under her breath, before she shook her head and focused back on Latias. “But hey! Look at you! You’ve been out and about all day. Doesn’t seem like it bothered you at all!”

“Oh no, it was terrifying!” Latias’s response came without a hint of change to her tone. “I thought I was about to get caught pretty much every single minute I was out there—!”

“Wait, wha—”

“Really the only reason I haven’t completely collapsed is because I was just so excited to see Ash again! And who knows how long that’ll— Oh there I go.” Just like that, Latias began to careen out of the air, forcing Bianca to jump in and guide her over to the couch.

“Latiaaaaas.” Bianca snorted, before falling into a straight laugh as she sat down at her friend’s side. “What are we going to do with you…”

“Spoiling me would be a good idea I think.” There was only a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Sarcasm, and a note of exhaustion. Tucking her arms in, Latias settled into her spot on the couch. “I want ice cream for breakfast for a month.”

“Did you actually make him get you ice cream for breakfast? You haven’t done that in years.” Leaning back, Bianca thought over the implication for a moment, to the image of Latias and Ash with their ice cream from earlier in the day. Her gaze stretched off to the door Ash had stepped out through. “So. What did you two talk about? Anything in particular come up?”

“Oh just so many things! He told me about everything he’s been up to over the years, all these friends he’s made, and—”

“Did he mention why he’s back?”

The insistence in Bianca’s voice seemed to bring Latias pause, as she went quiet at the word. After a moment, though, she hummed in thought.

“Not particularlyyyy. He said he needed some time away from where he was!” Latias didn’t seem to dwell much on that answer. She just proceeded to hum to herself with a pleased look.

That just left Bianca, Latias’s explanation staring her down as she stared back. She had the option of wrestling with it, or letting it be.

Bianca was never one to let such things be.

“It makes you think, huh?”

“Hm? What does?” Snapping back to attention, Latias focused in on Bianca, even while she still held her gaze to the door.

“About Ash. It makes me wonder… What made him leave, wherever he was.”

𝒳

“Okay! See you soon!”

“Heh, see you soon.” With that, Ash closed the door behind him. It was just him and Pikachu now… in a closet. He couldn’t help but laugh. “Right, bedrooms are the other door. Ah well!”

“Pikapi? Pi-pika, chu!”

“Duh, what’s it sound like? We gotta catch up with Serena!” The closet was chokingly cramped, what with the hanging coats and vacuum cleaner poking into his side. Still, there was more than enough room for him to sit down and start digging out his phone. “Damn, we missed a call from her and Clemont last night too.”

“Pika…”

With a few clicks and swipes, Ash got his gift from Clemont chugging along, starting up a group video call with Serena and Lumiose Tower. After a few quiet moments of ringing, Serena’s feed popped up. Guess Clemont and Bonnie must be busy.

The familiar green of forest trees filled Ash’s screen, coming in and out of focus until the camera locked onto its subject.

“Serena!”

“Ash! There you are!” Serena, as fashionable as always, stood center frame, fiddling with both her phone and her appearance until she was satisfied with both. In her hand, Ash could spot a journal tightly held, whilst behind her, Fennekin was resting. Ash could tell she was a bit dirty, but no worse for wear. Serena spoke up. “Why didn’t you answer your phone yesterday!”

Serena paused then, before a realization dawned on her all at once.

“Time zones.”

“Hehe, yep, time zones! I was gonna call back earlier, but, well, time zones.” Ash laughed and scratched his cheek, as Pikachu leaned into the camera to speak.

“Pi-pika! Pikachu, kachu, pi!”

“Awww, hey there Pikachu! Trust me, I’ve been missing you guys too.” Picking up her phone, Serena quickly relocated to another part of the forest clearing she was in, settling down somewhere with a boulder at her back. “So! How did your travels go! Arrive in Alto Mare okay?”

“Ah, you know, missed my flight, got arrested, typical Ketchum™ stuff.” Ash gave a wiley, humorous grin, one that seemed to imply he was joking, as Serena merely laughed rather than panicked. Smooth one, Ketchum. Smooth. “But hey, forget me— How about you! How did your match against Viola go!”

“Aha! Haaaaa.” With an awkward, stilted laugh, Serena scratched the side of her cheek. A bright redness seemed to grow on her face. “Not greaaaat. I’ll admit, that Surkit of hers kicked our butts.”

Ash wasn’t surprised, unfortunately.

“Figures! Viola’s Surskit gave us a whole lot of trouble too.” Glancing to Pikachu, Ash made note of how his partner shivered at the memory of that match. The cold chill of an ice beam was going up his spine. “That ice field—”

“It’s so hard to deal with! We can’t even stay in one place to try to attack!” Serena sighed as she completed Ash’s thought, before she opened her notebook on her lap. With a flick, she began to flip through it. “Still, I think we have a plan to counter it.”

“That’s great!” This was exactly what Ash wanted to see— Serena, facing a great challenge and taking it head on! He had to resist the urge to bury her in advice or praise. Instead, he went with a question. “Any chance you wanna share with the class?”

“Heh, not yet. We’re not even sure if we can do it yet,” Serena confessed, pausing at a page before she continued. “We’ve been practicing out here in the forest for a few days. That, and collecting a couple things.”

Serena stopped, and for a moment, Ash caught a glimpse of what her journal contained. Rows and rows of neatly written notes met his gaze, before disappearing with the turn of a page.

She was really giving this her all, he realized.

“Want a bit of advice?” The question made Serena pause, before she immediately answered.

“Desperately.” She laughed but very much did not joke.

“I don’t know what you’re planning, but I can tell you this, anything worth doing, is worth overdoing!” A fiery grin took Ash’s face, matching his advice to a tee. “Whatever you’re cooking up, give it 110%!”

“Pika!” Serena was struck by the sudden fervor that came from Ash and Pikachu, but very quickly joined in. The pair’s excitement was growing in her eyes.

“Okay. Okay, I will!” With a fist, Serena made a promise to Ash and to herself, right there and then. “I’m going to give it my all! Just you wait!”

“That’s the spirit!” With a laugh, Ash leaned back, familiar energy coursing through his veins. It was like he was still in that battle from earlier. He basked in that feeling for a moment, before sitting forward. “And hey! You better spill the beans soon! I can’t wait to hear how you kick Viola’s butt!”

“Pika, pika! Pikachu-pi!”

With their enthusiasm on full display once more, Ash and Pikachu brought Serena to a laugh.

“Trust me, I can’t wait to hear how I do it too,” she said, a content smile on her face as she closed her journal. “So, how have things been going with you? Have you had any luck, finding what you’ve been looking for?”

“Well, I’ll admit—” Ash was brought to a pause by that one, silent at the face of the question before he laughed it off. “Heh, I haven’t even started looking yet.”

𝒵

It was soon time for dinner.

Between Ash and Pikachu and their team, the light family meal Lorenzo had in the works quickly went out the window. A veritable feast was needed, one with the chops to both feed the sudden influx of six guests and welcome them all the same. Before long, the house was filled with the gorgeous smells of crisped crostinis, roasted vegetables, and buttery risottos.

Yet despite the wonderful dishes on display, the lively dinner typical of the home was nowhere to be found.

Latias sat in silence, barely through her second course as she found herself toying with her food. She turned her fork silently in her clawed hand, drawing random patterns in her risotto until the plate had become an incomprehensible mess. Only then did she take a bite, before flattening out the mass of food and starting again.

Lorenzo’s risotto was one of her favorite foods. Today she could barely muster the appetite.

Her mind was on other things.

Glancing up, Latias took a quick look across the dining table. Sure, she was quiet, that was understandable. But what about the rest of the table? Dinner was usually such a lively, loud affair. Most of the sound she could hear now, however, came from the living room behind her, where Ash’s Pokémon were talking.

Bianca, despite her silence, seemed to be eating normally, if a bit hurried. University had kept her on a tight schedule, leaving little time for the long, slow meals she usually had at home. Her eyes remained locked straight ahead, only occasionally flickering over to their guests of honor: Ash and Pikachu.

Pikachu, for his parts, seemed to be doing well. Compared to everyone else on the table, he was lively and all around enjoying his food.

Ash was a different story. He ate, of course. Absolutely nothing was keeping him from a delicious homemade meal after the long day he’d just had. Yet, there was an undeniable sense that something was off. His gaze seemed distant, unfocused, like his mind was on something a thousand miles away from there. It was funny actually.

Latias’s mind was somewhere in the distance too.

She hadn’t given it much thought before, when Ash had told her he needed some time away. In her mind, she was just glad he’d finally come back. Yet, a touch of doubt was now nipping at her. Was that it? Did he only come back because he needed time away?

She dwelt on the thought of when Ash would need to leave again.

Between all the silence, and thinking, and furrowed worrying, it seemed almost no one was actually enjoying the grand meal Lorenzo had put together. No one noticed that more than Lorenzo himself.

Sighing, he turned to his guests of honor.

“So Ash, tell me. Where have you been all these years?” The question split the silence in two, as Ash, Bianca, and Latias all tuned in to listen. Ash seemed surprised to be addressed, which is why it took him a second to put together an answer.

“Ah well, all over the place! Tryna become a Pokémon Master means me and Pikachu gotta meet as many Pokémon as we can!” he explained, dropping his fork and putting on a more electrified voice. “We’ve been to Hoenn, to Kanto, Sinnoh, Unova, took a bit of a side trip in Decolore—”

“Pikapi.” Pikachu bumped Ash’s elbow to catch his attention.

“Oh, right, and we were in Kalos last before here!”

“Ahhh, Kalos! A beautiful region indeed. Our family has a few cousins who live down in the southern countryside.” Rubbing his chin, Lorenzo began to wax nostalgically, surely reminiscing about some old familial tale or memory or another. Soon though, he set that aside and looked to Ash again. “I must ask then, what brings you back here?”

In an instant, the table was left silent. Latias snapped to attention, the question on her mind now fully in the open. Either Lorenzo was a mind reader, or she was worse at keeping her thoughts inside than she thought.

Either way, she was about to get an answer.

“That’s, a great question, actually.” Ash’s response didn’t inspire much confidence to start. The energy in his voice had faltered, hesitation clear in the way his eyes flickered back down to the plate in front of him. Bianca seemed to notice too, as she kept her gaze trained on the boy. “You see…”

Latias felt a breath hitch in her throat. Come on Ash, say it. Say you’re back to see the city, to see the water races, to see her. Latias had so many hopes for what she wanted Ash to say, and yet so many fears of what he would say.

Please don’t just be because you needed to get away.

As quickly as Ash began to struggle with the question, he pushed through. It took a breath and a shake of his head, but soon his confidence returned to him. With a proud smile that made Latias’s heart skip a beat, he answered.

“I left Kalos because I was having trouble. Because I was missing something I needed to continue my journey. But—” The ‘but’ practically froze Latias in place, leaving her riding her hopes on his next few words. “—I came back here, because I wanted to see you guys again!”

There was his answer, clear and true. Ash was back because he wanted to see them, because he wanted to see her.

It was exactly what Latias had hoped to hear.

“Aaaaaaash!” In an instant, Latias flew over the table, nearly knocking over her plate as she went into an orbit around Ash. “That’s so sweet!”

“Whoa!?”

“Latias!? Your table manners!” Lorenzo could only groan and sigh while the quiet, stilted dinner table devolved into its pure opposite. Ash was laughing, Latias giggling as she flew circles around him, before pulling him into a hug. All the while, Pikachu and the rest of Ash’s Pokémon were chortling at Latias, who was seemingly impressed by the tiniest sentiment.

Latias didn’t care, however. Ash was here, back to see them, to see her, and there wasn’t a doubt about it. All her worries had been swept away in an instant, and she was going to celebrate.

Pressing her cheek against Ash’s, Latias giggled, facing the table for the first time since she began. Lorenzo, though disapproving of her antics, wore a comforting smile. Pikachu, in contrast, was giving her and Ash a side-eye, a cheeky grin on his lips as he nibbled on another piece of food. That just left Bianca.

Latias wasn’t sure why, but Bianca’s expression was nearly blank, with just a small furrow of her brows.

It looked like she was thinking.

Chapter Text

𝒴

“Now… Fire!” A fierce call pierced the still ambiance of the forest air, soon followed by its shrill echo.

“Fenn! Fenn! Ne! Kin!” Following that echo then was the audible crackle of flames. Three pillars of red-hot fire, tight and precisely aimed, struck their targets in perfect sequence, knocking one, two, then three tall stones straight off their perches. Bullseye.

“Good job, Fennekin!” Serena cheered. Her partner’s aim was getting good! Exactly what they wanted to see! “I think we’ve got this down!”

“Fenn, fennekin!” Smirking, Fennekin raised her head up high, pride swelling in her chest as well as her eyes. At this rate, they could be out of that crummy forest before long.

With their first attempt against Viola ending in half-way disaster, Serena and Fennekin turned their sights to one task above all— training. They were gonna need to do a lot better if they wanted to earn the Santalune City Bug Badge, and improving their aim was first thing on the agenda.

What did their secret weapon matter, if they couldn’t hit their target, after all? That’s what brought Serena and Fennekin to their current training grounds— A rocky clearing in the forest around Santalune. The loose stone piles made for excellent target practice.

At least, they used to.

“I think we’re done here, Fennekin!” Serena turned and faced her partner, her declaration bringing an immediate smile to Fennekin’s face. Soon, that smile disappeared. “We’ve got still targets down pat, I think we should do like Ash does, and move onto moving targets!”

“Feeeeeennekin.” Fennekin grumbled at the notion for a mere moment, before shaking her head and raising it up high. She grinned and gave a mock salute with her paw. “Fennekin! Fen, kin!”

Her upswell of enthusiasm faltered then, as a thought then came to her mind.

“Fenn, nekin fennekin fenn?” How exactly are we gonna get a moving target?

Serena could only grin at that, before she winked and struck a pose.

“We’re going to catch you a training partner!”

𝒴

“Pidgey!” The warcry of a fierce bird-of-prey rang through the air, standing in defiance against their would-be assailants. Before Serena and Fennekin could react, the Pidgey dive-bombed towards the ground and went in for a direct strike.

“Flamethrower, Fennekin!” Serena would meet her soon-to-be Pokémon with equal tenacity, diving to the side and sending Fennekin in for the counter attack. Her partner huffed their chest out wide, before firing out a pillar of flames.

“Piiiiidgey!” Pidgey was agile, however, pulling up and avoiding the potent blast with a gust of wind. Looping back, they went in for another dive-bomb.

“Dodge, and Flamethrower while they’re close!” Quick on her feet, Serena pivoted to a new strategy. Fennekin leapt back as she charged her attack, waiting for the moment the Pidgey would fly overhead. The second they did, she fired!

“Gey! Pidgey!” Yet still, Pidgey dodged, pulling up and allowing Fennekin’s flames to pass harmlessly underneath. This bird wasn’t going to make this easy— Serena needed to give it her all!

“Deep breath, see the bigger picture…” Exhaling, Serena steadied her racing heart. She had to see it all— Her Pokémon, her opponent, and the spaces inbetween.

Pidgey dived in and out of Fennekin’s reach, aiming to peck the living daylights out of her partner with each pass. The persistent Flying-Type was only stymied by Fennekin’s harried dodging and occasional return fire.

It seemed like Pidgey’s attacks were random and unstructured, but after a moment, Serena saw their pattern— Dive in, fly-by, pull up, over and over again, from the same few angles. If Serena was right about this, it was just about the timing!

“On my signal, Fennekin!” Her call alerted Fennekin to hold her fire, waiting on Serena’s word. The tension rose, until the very moment Pidgey came in for another divebomb. “Flamethrower, now!”

“Fennekin! Fenn!” This time, it was a direct hit! Fennekin’s flames blasted Pidgey in the face, sending the fierce Flying-Type reeling back in shock. In an instant, they were launched straight into a tree— Bullseye! “We did it! Great job Fennekin!”

Fennekin snorted, before grinning and turning her head up in pride. Guess all that training did her some good after all.

“Pidge… gey…” Overwhelmed by the sheer power of Fennekin’s attack, the Pidgey slid off the trunk of the tree and collapsed to the ground below. Swirls in their eyes indicated what was obvious. They were out cold.

“Heh, I guess we overdid it a bit, huh?” Serena scratched her head with an awkward inflection, before reaching into her pocket for a Poké ball. “Ah well, we’ll make it up to them! Go, Poké ball!”

With a light toss, Serena threw the ball with the same masterful aim her starter had managed. Except this time—

“Huh!?”

—It was to less than effective results. Serena’s Poké ball had bounced straight off the Pokémon’s unconscious body. It didn’t even bother to open and attempt the catch.

“Fenn?”

“What the…?” Picking the discarded ball off the ground, Serena furrowed her brows, unsure as to what had just happened. Thankfully, her answer would soon reveal itself.

Illegal capture detected!

Serena blinked, before she realized where that sound was coming from. It was the Pokédex in her pocket.

“Huh? What’re you talking about?” Fishing the familiar device from her pocket, Serena flicked it open and demanded it explain itself.

Illegal capture detected! Poké balls will not function on fully unconscious Pokémon.

“What!? But, why not!?” Was all that effort for nothing!?

Pokémon must concede and consent to being captured! Poké balls will not function on fully unconscious—!

“Yeah, yeah, I heard you, jeeze.” Serena silenced the device before it could repeat itself, stuffing it back into her pocket with a huff. “Fine, if they have to be awake for this, then we’ll just wait until—”

“Pidge?” Blinking awake, the unconscious Pidgey suddenly became not that, hopping to their feet with a confused squawk. They and Serena locked eyes for a moment, before calling out in unison.

“Perfect—!”

“Pidgey!?” The Flying-Type hopped into the air, and immediately took off in the other direction. Serena’s second attempt was thwarted before it could even begin. “Pidgey, gey! Pidgey-pidge!”

“Huh! Where are you going!”

“Fenne?! Fennekin fen!” And who are you calling a bully?! Sore loser!

Like that, the two were alone once more. Serena huffed.

“Right, okay. Fine. That didn’t go great, but—!” She put on a positive look, sharing a glance with Fennekin as she shared her smile. “We’re not out of it yet. Just gotta try again, and go easier this time.”

“Nekin, fenn!” Fennekin seemed to agree, ready and excited to give this whole capture nonsense another shot.

“Perfect, let’s go find another Pokémon!” Putting on a smile, Serena marched further into the forest thicket. There was hope for them yet!

𝒴

“It’s hopeless.” Serena groaned and fell to her knees, the last hour or so of failure finally getting to her. Time and time again, Serena and Fennekin would encounter some local Pokémon, challenge it to a battle, take a short while to line up their shots, and then immediately KO it on the first hit, without fail.

As it turned out, the vast majority of Pokémon in the forest were Grass and Bug-Types, who’d fall to even Fennekin’s Ember at her current level. The remaining Flying-Types in contrast were too fast to be hit by the relatively slow Ember, requiring a Flamethrower instead. Of course, said move was far too much, even without the type advantage.

It was hard to believe, but Fennekin was too strong for the Pokémon in the local area.

“Fenne. Fennekin fen, kin…” Frowning, Fennekin approached her trainer’s side, before pressing her forehead against her thigh. With the most comforting look she could manage, Fennekin crouched down and leaned against Serena. A moment passed, until she spoke up again. “Nekin fen, fennekin fen?”

What’re we going to do now?

“I’m not sure yet, Fennekin.” Putting on a small, reassuring smile, Serena comforted her partner, as she tried to think. Their plan to take on Viola didn’t technically require catching a second Pokémon, but having the extra muscle would’ve been a great help. That, of course, was ignoring the real reason she was even looking for said extra muscle to begin with.

They had to train against a moving target.

Thoughts passed in Serena’s mind, before she reached a conclusion.

“Come on, Fennekin, we’ve got work to do.” Picking herself up, Serena stood tall once more.

𝒴

Serena’s boots and dress and coat sat in a neat pile before her, the entire outfit replaced by the casual tank tops and sweatpants she wore now. Clothes may maketh the woman, but the right clothes were needed for the right job. Today, the outfit she needed was buried deep in her backpack.

“There you are!” With a cheer, she pulled out a bright pink jumpsuit— her Rhyhorn racing uniform. Serena had never thought she would need this old thing again, but it seemed the universe had different plans.

After a few minutes of fiddling with her outfit, Serena stepped out of her tent with a bold, confident look. It seemed Fennekin noticed, as she stood straight up in attention.

“Fenne? Fennekin fenn!”

“This, is how we’re going to train, Fennekin,” Serena explained, pressing her palm into her chest. There was a hint of hesitation in her voice, one that was fading into a growing buzz of excitement. “We need a moving target for you to practice against. So… I’m going to do it. I’m going to be your moving target!”

Serena felt her heart begin to quicken.

“Fe— Fennekin!?” Almost immediately, Fennekin balked at the suggestion. Her eyes bulged as she leapt to her feet. “Fennekin fen!? Nekin fenne fen fen, fennekin!”

Are you crazy!? I’ll fry you to a crisp!

“I might get a little singed, yes. But it’ll be worth it if it means we can beat Viola!” Serena honestly couldn’t believe her own words, nor the fact she was saying them with complete sincerity. If there was one thing she had in reserves, however, it was resolve.

It seemed Fennekin was another story.

“Nekin fen, fennekin. Fenne fen-fennekin!” We can’t do this. I, I don’t want to hurt you!

Concern, clear-as-day, stood on Fennekin’s face. Despite Serena’s apparent confidence, not of it seemed to be shared with her partner.

Time to fix that.

“We have to do this, Fennekin.” Serena’s expression softened, as she crouched down onto her knees. Fennekin approached and pressed her head against Serena’s outstretched hand. “I have to do this, have to do everything I can to make us stronger. The training we’ve been doing so far hasn’t been enough.”

At that moment, Ash’s words filtered into her mind.

“And anything worth doing, is worth overdoing,” she reiterated, standing tall and smiling proud. “So, what do you say, Fennekin? Are you with me?”

Fennekin stared up at her trainer, a bit starry-eyed at the confident tale she spun. It almost made her forget her previous objections. Almost.

“Fennekin, fen… Fennekin.” If you think it’ll work, then… I’ll follow along with you.

“Perfect! Thank you so much, Fennekin!” With a hop, Serena swept her partner off her feet, before tossing her into the air and catching her once more. “I promise, you won’t regret it!”

“Fenne, fen!”

Serena’s heart swelled as she and her partner shared a peaceful moment. Despite the challenges, she knew one thing for certain.

This was going to go great!

𝒴

This was going terribly!

Serena dived to the side, just barely dodging a pillar of flame that nearly consumed her whole. Wherein she’d usually take a moment to stop and dwell on how close she was to getting fried, she had no such luxury today.

She had to dodge the follow up!

“Fen!” At Fennekin’s call, another Flamethrower poured forth, aiming directly for Serena’s chest. Serena was forced to hit the deck, rolling across the ground as the flames missed her by a hair.

As it turned out, all that practice against the Pokémon of the forest had given Fennekin a pretty decent aim to start with. Now Serena was at the receiving end of it.

“Y-you’re doing great, Fennekin!” Forcing on a smile, Serena praised her partner as she stumbled back to her feet. She had to keep moving, had to be a good target for—! “Whoa!”

“Nekin!” Right as Fennekin fired, Serena tripped, falling onto her back moments before the flames passed overhead.

Serena’s nose was mere inches from the bright, crackling fire— Fire that filled her entire field of vision. She could’ve rolled away to safety almost immediately, but instead, she stopped.

Fennekin’s fire— It was amazing!

Serena’s eyes widened, her heartbeat picking up not out of fear, but excitement. Being this close to the danger, to the heart of it all— It was just like watching a battle!

An adrenaline-fueled laugh passed Serena’s lips.

“Come on, Fennekin!” Snapping to attention, Serena rolled to her feet, before beckoning to her partner with her hands. An honest-to-goodness smile filled her face now, as she called for the training to continue. “Give me your best shot!”

Chapter Text

𝒵

“Let’s finish this, Mothim! Use Silver Wind!”

A gust of verdant wind and shining sparks filled the air, battering against the battlefield and the lone Pokémon standing upon it. A Bunnelby, with its eyes clenched shut and head lowered, struggled to keep upright. Yet, no matter how long it stood, it would fall all the same.

“Bu-bunnelby!” The feisty Pokémon tried its best to press forward— But trying was as far as it’d get. “B-bun!”

“Bunnelby!” Their trainer, a girl no older than twelve, cried out, no commands crossing her lips as she looked on in anguish. All she could do was stand and brace against the winds, before her Pokémon was sent flying back. “Oh no!”

In unceremonious fashion, Bunnelby crashed into the girl’s chest, knocking her over and sending the two of them falling onto their backs. By the time they sat back up, the match had been called. It was over.

Viola let out a sigh, relaxing her shoulders before snapping back to attention.

“You did better this round! Next time, you just gotta make sure you don’t lock up when the chips are down, okay sweetie?” The girl gave Viola a knowing nod, her eyes falling to the ground as she gave the words some thought. That made Viola smile. She always loved it when a young trainer listened more than they spoke. “Good. Now, go let your Pokémon rest before trying again! ”

Smiling and nodding, the girl made her goodbyes, before she turned and ran out the way she came. As she did, she passed another figure, one that made Viola grin.

“There you are.”

It was Serena, standing confident and proud, if a little roughed up. There were a few spots of dirt on her shoes and an old tote bag hanging on her hips. Still, she strolled into the gym with a vigor of energy just like all those days ago.

“Serena! It’s been nearly a week since our last match!” Viola called out to her challenger, placing a hand on her hips as Serena came to a stop. “Nearly thought you’d given up.”

“Not me, not this quick,” Serena replied, an unyielding certainty in her words. She took a wide stance, and raised her head up high. “Fennekin and I have been training for this rematch— Because this time, we’re going to win!”

“There you go! There’s that picturesque confidence!” Viola motioned to her assistant, who tossed her camera over a moment later. With a flick of a dial, she took aim. “Let’s see what you two have got in store!”

Serena grinned and pulled out a Poké ball.

“Come on out, Fennekin!”

Serena’s partner arrived with the flash of Viola’s camera, taking a strong stance at her trainer’s side. Unlike Serena, Fennekin was spotless, with not a blemish sullying her perfect coat. It was a sight all on its own. Her most eye-catching feature, however, was the accessory tucked behind her ear— a sturdy twig. What that could be for, Viola did not know.

Still, the sight of the two of them, of Serena and Fennekin side-by-side, staring her down with the same trained self-assuredness— It was picture-perfect.

Viola put the camera down, her hands jittering just a little too much to take a clean shot.

“Let’s have a great battle!”

𝒴

“Come on out, Surskit!”

Viola’s ever-reliant lead arrived on the battlefield with an intensity befitting its stature. As it locked eyes with Serena, it unleashed a proud battle cry.

“A.” It was terrifying.

“Yes, alright, okay—” Serena steeled herself, her hands shaking with what she couldn’t parse as being excitement or utter dread. Whatever it was, it didn’t matter, because— “We’re doing this.”

“The match between the challenger, Serena, and Gym Leader Viola will now begin! Both trainers are allowed two Pokémon. When one party’s Pokémon are all unable to battle, the match will be over!” There it was, the rise of the match’s starting pistol. Serena and Fennekin tensed, as they waited for the— “You may now begin!”

Bang.

“Flamethrower!”

“Dodge it!”

Almost immediately, the pace of the battle was different, with Serena taking the lead and forcing Viola to react. She wasn’t going to be pushed into the backfoot, not this time.

Fennekin’s flames flew across the battlefield, tight and precisely aimed. It just barely skimmed past the lightning-fast Surskit as it got out of dodge.

“Follow them Fennekin!” With a tilt of her head, Fennekin did just that, tracking Surskit while it raced and pirouetted in and out of reach.

“Hold a Signal Beam, Surskit! Fire it— Now!” Viola needed a play to regain her footing, and that move was it. The moment she ordered Surskit to attack, Fennekin’s energy was beginning to falter. In that instant, Surskit’s counterattack poured in.

“Fenn!?” Fennekin cried, shocked by the blow of a move she supposedly resisted. All the same, it sent her rolling back.

“Get in there, Surskit, keep up the pressure!”

“Stand up, Fennekin!” Serena bit her thumb, watching as Surskit pushed forward, encircling her partner. Her eyes flickered back and forth, waiting for something, waiting for— “An opening! Flamethrower!”

Throwing her head up, Fennekin fired, nailing Surskit as it flew by. The sustained flames quickly overwhelmed the diminutive Bug-Type and pushed it all the way back to Viola’s side.

“Yes!” Serena felt her heart leap, jittering now just as much as her hands were. Another solid hit, and she didn’t have to take them by surprise this time!

Watching her Surskit skid to a stop at her side, Viola smiled.

“Impressive work, Serena! You and Fennekin have improved your aim!” she commended, silently ordering her Surskit back into the fray as she did so.

“Heh, what can I say? A week of target practice does the trick!” Serena’s racing heart picked up in speed, pounding faster and faster as the battle went on. Every move sent her pulse soaring, her skin tingling with energy! “We needed it to make shots like these. Flamethrower behind you, now!”

Fennekin whipped her head back, catching Surskit by surprise and slamming it with a blast of fire. The flames quickly sent her opponent skidding back against the ground.

“Don’t let them push you around, Surskit! Get a grip with Sticky Web!” Another move Serena recognized, one Viola had used against Ash. Only now, Serena couldn’t tell how she was using it!

“A!” Still being driven across the battlefield, Viola’s Pokémon moved fast, summoning a plume of thick webbing at its antenna. Then, it fired. “Aaaaaa!”

Coating the ground at its feet with the Sticky Webs, Surskit forced itself to a stop!

“Whoa! You can use Sticky Web that way!?” Serena’s astonishment overwhelmed her sense for a moment, as both she and Fennekin watched Surskit jump to its feet.

The sight of it all made Viola grin.

“Of course! Your Pokémon’s moves can be just as versatile as the Pokémon themselves!” she declared, pressing forward with her arm raised. “Then again, nothing wrong with doing things the old-fashioned way! Surskit! Bind them up with Sticky Web!”

“C-Counter with Flamethrower, Fennekin!” Realizing her folly, Serena leapt back into action, commanding Fennekin to move in just the nick of time. Viola’s Sticky Web was burnt to a crisp before it could touch Fennekin’s pristine fur. “Can’t let that attack hit— Need to keep up the pressure— Flamethrower the whole field, Fennekin!”

“Continuous Sticky— Whoa, wait, what—!?”

“Fennekin!” Quick to agree with her partner, Fennekin fired, whipping her head around and firing a continuous blast of flames in every direction. Now, no matter where Surskit fired from, its Sticky Webs would be neutralized! “Fennekin!”

—Its Sticky Webs, and anything else in a five-meter radius.

Columns of fire flew across the battlefield back and forth, as Fennekin haphazardly tried to keep her personal space, and her fur, completely clear.

“Wait it out, Surskit! Don’t get hit!”

“Aa! Aa! Aa!” Even the ever-speedy Surskit struggled to keep up, however, when faced with the sheer wild swings of a pair desperate to stay clean. It juked and jetted, pirouetting past each and every stream of fire Fennekin threw in its direction, until it could dodge the inevitable no longer. “A!”

“Yes!” Catching Surskit from behind, the pair sent Viola’s Pokémon flying!

“Hang on, Surskit!” As Surskit skidded to a stop at her side, Viola let out a sigh of relief. “Well, I’ve got to say, Serena— Your attacks are as hot as I remembered them!”

The shot of praise calmed Serena’s spirit, a small grin crossing her lips as she heard it. Soon, however, that smile disappeared

“Guess it’s time we turned down the heat! Surskit, use Ice Beam!”

Serena tensed, her whole body going stiff as Viola’s Surskit raced forward. At its antenna was the distinct charge of crackling blue energy. This was it, the Ice Battlefield!

“We’re not out of it yet, Fennekin! Flamethrower, now! Right in front of you!” In an instant, Fennekin fired, another tight beam of flames racing out to meet their opponent. Even now, however, Surskit was quick to dodge.

“A! A! A!” Leaping straight over Fennekin’s attack, Surskit fired, its Ice Beam hitting the ground and instantly taking root. With a whip of its head, Surskit soon had the whole field growing a layer of frost. “Aaaaa!”

Just like that, Viola’s Ice Battlefield had returned.

Surskit’s speed took a sharp jump, immediately allowing the Bug-Type to run even faster circles around her Fennekin. That wasn’t all— Fennekin’s maneuverability quickly tanked as well. Even without firing an attack, Serena could see her slipping in place, her paws shaking underneath her in the treacherous terrain.

Hitting Surskit now would be practically impossible.

“You and Fennekin have been amazing, Serena. The ways you’ve pushed me, even as a beginner trainer— You two can be proud of that!” Viola’s kudos were a relief at first, a bit of sugar to help the painful situation go down easily. Soon, however, her warmth became something else. A jeering tone came to her voice. “But now I think you know it’s time for us to wrap this up! What can you do when your Pokémon can’t even get their feet underneath them?”

The voice was a little haughty and a little mean. In a way, Serena could tell she was trying to get a rise out of her, to make her grow frustrated, make her get sloppy. Yet for Serena, it brought out a different reaction altogether.

♫

Viola paused, when she found Serena grinning.

“Gotcha!” With a tone nearing cockiness, Serena snapped her fingers, before pointing them towards Viola. “Right where we want you! Fennekin, it’s showtime!”

“Huh!?” Viola snapped to the field, finding a similarly proud Fennekin shooting her a grin. “What are you—?”

“Nekin!” Fennekin whipped her head back, tossing the twig from behind her ear straight into the air. All Viola could do was watch as Serena’s Pokémon lit the kindling alight with an Ember, before consuming it in one bite. “Fenn—”

Almost immediately, the temperature began to rise.

“Fenn!” A billow of hot red cinders filled the air, pouring from Fennekin’s ears.

“Fenn!” Steam, hissing and thick, rose from the ground at her feet, crackling heat flooding the battlefield around her.

“Fennekin!” With that mighty cry, a plume of fire burst from Fennekin’s chest. It pushed Surskit back and cleared the field in an instant!

“Whoa!” Viola shielded herself against the wave of intense heat, before looking on at the battlefield once more.

A huge patch of bare ground surrounded Fennekin, clear of any ice and baked dry by her incredible heat. She had practically split the field in half in a way— Cool ice on Viola’s side, burning cinders on Serena’s.

The cinders. It took Viola a moment, but she soon realized where they were coming from— The tips of Fennekin’s hair were burning a bright orange, and with every breath she took, plumes of embers billowed forth.

“Great job, Fennekin! You were perfect!” Serena steeled herself, standing tall as she faced their opponents once more. Viola was staring at the two, her face a mix of shock and amazement— actual amazement. Serena lost her cool dwelling on that thought, before she stood firm once more. “We can’t lose this chance, Fennekin! Use Flamethrower!”

“Nekin!”

“Now this is a shot I didn’t expect to get!” Quickly catching her bearings, Viola leapt into action as well. “Surskit, dodge!”

Her Pokémon shot to the right and raced, barely avoiding the searing flames that followed close behind. Where before the fire lagged behind Fennekin’s aim, now they held right on target. Surskit had to keep moving at full speed, or else—!

“You’ve got them, Fennekin!” At Serena’s command, Fennekin’s flames crashed into Surskit, sending it flying! The torrent of fire slammed Surskit against the walls of the battlefield, before pushing it back towards Viola.

“Get out of there, Surskit!”

“Don’t let them, Fennekin!”

“Fen—! Nekin!” Pulling her head back, Fennekin sent a wave of energy coursing through her flames— Cracking them like a whip. Surskit was knocked back the second it attempted to escape.

“Surskit!”

“Aaaaaaa!” With its getaway thwarted, the mighty Surskit was sent flying into the wall at Viola’s side. A moment later, Fennekin’s Flamethrower came to finish the job. When the smoke cleared, it was done.

“Surskit is unable to battle! The first round goes to the challenger!”

𝒴

The words echoed through Serena’s mind, laying still the whole battle for a moment. Her heart raced, her hands jittered, and for a moment, her vision blurred. With a sharp breath, she steadied herself again.

Sheer excitement threatened to bowl her over, but she stood firm.

“You did it, Fennekin! You were amazing!” She shot her partner much-earned praise, getting a small smile back as they prepared for the next round. The energy in Fennekin’s fur was dimming, but they weren’t out of this yet. “Just one more, just one more.”

Viola quietly thanked Surskit as it returned to her, giving its Poké ball a loving squeeze before stowing it away. The way she went digging through her pockets for her next member told Serena one thing: Viola hadn’t expected her to get this far.

“You two have been just full of surprises— And for that, I have to congratulate you!” Viola grinned, gripping the Poké ball she found and holding it forward. “You’ve taken full advantage of your Pokémon’s strengths in order to negate their weaknesses!”

Just like that, it was deja vu for Serena. Hearing Clemont’s advice repeated back to her— She couldn’t help but smile at that.

“No point in beating around the bush anymore— You two have earned my undivided effort!” Viola threw the Poké ball into the sky, calling out her next Pokémon with a proud introduction. “Take aim and take flight, Vivillon!”

With a flurry of wind and a serene call, Viola’s final Pokémon arrived at the scene. The boisterous Bug-Type fluttered through the air, orbiting Serena and Fennekin as they sized up the two.

“Viiii!” What they saw seemed to impress them. They smiled and looped back to Viola’s side. “Vivillon!”

“This is it, Fennekin. We just have to get through this, and that Gym Badge is ours!” Serena declared, standing tall and raising her arm forward. Fennekin echoed her call with a proud cry of her own. “Let’s show them what we’re made of! Use Flamethrower!”

“Don’t let them touch you, Vivillon!”

“Feeeeeen!”

“Viiiiii~!”

Almost immediately, the direction of the battle turned— Fennekin fired a pillar of her powerful flames, only for Vivillon to easily dodge. Another searing attack followed it and again, Vivillon merely fluttered away. At first Serena was confused, until it struck her.

Surskit was stuck with just the ground to maneuver around, while Vivillon had the whole volume of the room to avoid their attacks!

“We can’t let them just dodge forever, Fennekin! Flamethrower the whole field!”

“Blow them away with Gust!”

Another play from Serena, and another perfect counter from Viola. While Fennekin puffed up and fired a storm of fire into the sky, Vivillon swept it all away in one move. A pitched beat of their wings was all it took to blow Fennekin’s flames right back into her face!

“Get—!”

“Grab them with Psychic, Vivillon!”

“Huh!?” Whipping back, Serena was shocked to find Vivillon glowing with a pinkish aura. With a chant almost like a hymn, the aura turned, leaving Vivillon’s body and latching onto Fennekin’s.

“Fenn!?” Held in place, Fennekin was forced to take the full brunt of her own Flamethrower! “Ne—Nekin!”

“Viiiiii!” Vivillon wasn’t done either. A pitched cry marked their next move, snatching Fennekin and hoisting her into the air with their psychic energy. In an instant, Serena panicked.

“Flamethrower again, Fennekin!”

“Turn them away, Vivillon!” With every move Serena and Fennekin tried, Viola seemed to have a counter. Fennekin tried to blast her Vivillon when she was brought close, but a quick flip was all they needed to send her flames flying away, useless. “Let’s lock this down, Vivillon! Stick them to the skylight!”

“What!?” Already struggling to keep up with Viola’s back-to-back maneuvers, Serena was dumbfounded by that one. That was, until she noticed the glow of Vivillon’s psychic energy back on the battlefield. It struck her all at once. “Surskit’s Sticky Web… You’re using Surskit’s Sticky Web!”

“Now you’re getting the picture! Do it, Vivillon!” At Viola’s beck and call, Vivillon did just that. They ripped a glob of Sticky Web from the battlefield below, before slamming it into the ceiling alongside Fennekin.

In an instant she was trapped, caught in a spider’s web!

“Ne— Fenne— Fennekin!” Struggling against the bindings did nothing.

“Burn it away, Fennekin!” Her flames were useless now too. They just singed the surface and made the webs harden. “Oh no… The energy from the stick ran out!”

The crackling color from Fennekin’s fur had faded, leaving her panting, struggling to make a flame.

“Sounds like it’s time to take the shot! Vivillon, charge up a Solar Beam, and end this in one go!” Throwing her arms out wide, Viola pantomimed the very move she commanded. Vivillon reared back while they began to build up energy.

“Vi, vi, viiiiii~!”

“This is bad, this is bad!” Vicious, roaring panic rushed through Serena’s veins. It froze her in place as she tried to think of what to do— As she tried to think of anything to do. For a moment, all she could see was her partner, trapped above her, and all she could feel was her heart beating out of her chest.

♫

Then, she felt her tote bag pressing into her side.

Anything worth doing, is worth overdoing.

If not here, then when?

“Hang on, Fennekin!” Serena wrenched her bag up, unzipping the top and rearing back all at once. Almost immediately, Viola realized she was going for something.

“Hey, what are you—?”

“Take these!” With almost all the strength her arms could muster, Serena heaved the bag into the air, launching its contents straight towards the ceiling. And what went flying up was—!

“—More sticks!?”

An entire bag-full of twigs shot into the sky, shooting past Vivillon as they flew by!

“Vi!?” Still charging their Solar Beam, Vivillon was powerless to do anything but watch, as the sticks came to a pause at the peak of their flight. They were right in front of Fennekin now.

“Fen—!” With a breath, Fennekin ignited the cloud of kindling, reducing them to cinders! “Nekin!”

And with an inhale, she absorbed the blazing flames! At that moment, the temperature in the room began to spike!

“Did she just—!” Viola stared in shock, whilst Serena stared with pitched determination.

“Now, Fennekin!”

“Fenn!” The tips of Fennekin’s fur turned near white!

“Fenn!” Crackling embers poured from her ears!

“Fenn!” The webs that bound her body began to smoke, before finally—! “Fennekin!”

They burnt away!

“Launch your attack, Vivillon! Now!”

“Grab onto them, Fennekin!” No longer held up by the webs, Fennekin crashed down onto her captor, barreling them to the side with her sudden weight and overwhelming heat. Vivillon tried to fire, opening their mouth to call out the attack, but they were too slow! “Use Flamethrower!”

“Fenn! Ne! KIN!” A pillar of fire, bigger and brighter than any Fennekin had ever made, erupted from her maw! With no room to dodge, Vivillon was forced to take the attack head-on! “Nekiiiiiiiiin!”

A direct hit!

Fennekin’s flames slammed into the battlefield, the sheer thrust enough to force the two upwards for a moment. Soon enough though, it came to an end, and Fennekin and Vivillon crashed into the ground below.

“Vivillon!”

“Fennekin!”

A cloud of dust and debris exploded into the air, obscuring any view of the battlefield or its fighters. Viola and Serena were left to stand in pitched trepidation, until it began to clear. When it did, only one Pokémon was left standing.

Fennekin, hunched, dirty, and just a little bit haughty, stood whilst Vivillon was out cold.

“Vivillon is unable to battle, Fennekin wins! The winner of the battle is, Serena!”

The words rang through Serena’s mind, freezing her still in her shock and awe. Her breathing was shallow, and her eyes went wide. The whole world seemed to go silent for a moment, as she reached for her racing heart.

Before her hand could touch her chest, she rushed onto the battlefield.

“You did it, Fennekin!”

𝒵

Viola approached the field’s center, recalling her Vivillon to their Poké ball and thanking them for their hard work. It was the least she owed after putting them through the wringer like that.

Who knew she was one to underestimate her opponents?

Glancing up, Viola smiled, finding said opponents in the throes of excitement. Serena and Fennekin were jumping, cheering, utterly ecstatic as they celebrated. It was like they were in their own little world.

Snorting, Viola stepped forward, her assistant quickly joining her.

“You two are just full of surprises. That maneuver with the sticks was like nothing I’ve ever seen!” At her word, the two challengers straightened up, going stiff as boards before her. Viola almost wanted to laugh at that, but she couldn’t. Her smile was falling. “Unfortunately, it was also an illegal maneuver.”

“H-huh?” Serena stumbled over herself, her lip trembling for a moment at Viola’s declaration. “What, what do you mean?”

“In sanctioned Pokémon League Gym Battles, the only items allowed are held items,” Viola clarified, her assistant nodding and pulling out a booklet as she did so. With just a flick through the pages, the assistant produced the relevant rule and regulation. “So, while that first stick Fennekin brought in was alright, the bag of them you used, Serena, wasn’t.”

Serena’s eyes fell to the ground, a mixture of shame and anger swimming through her. Fennekin quickly followed.

“So… You’re telling me…”

Viola’s frown returned to a small smile, as she snorted. The sound made the two look up.

“Official Pokémon League Gym Battle rules also state that you’re just a beginner, so you get away with just a warning.” Viola reached for the rule book in her assistant’s hands, before taking it and tossing it over her shoulder. “You two have faced a challenge well beyond your station, and you’ve overcome it with resourceful-ness and a bit of luck!”

Pulling from her own pocket now, Viola raised an object up for Serena and Fennekin to see— the sight of which made their eyes go wide.

“It would be remiss of me to say you haven’t earned this— The Bug Badge!”

With an exchange of looks, Viola handed the badge over, giving the girl a moment to just look at it, turn it over in her hands. Soon enough, Serena’s excitement got the better of her.

“We did it, Fennekin! We got our first badge!” she cheered, leaping into the air and singing with excitement alongside her partner.

“Fen! Fennekin!”

“We got—!” Landing on her feet, Serena raised the badge into the sky, high enough for the whole world to see. “The Bug Badge!”

Notes for Pokémon Battling #3: The correct type matchup is always good, but a little surprise can make it go a long way.

𝒴

“That’s amazing, Serena! I didn’t even know a Fennekin could do that!”

“Pika, pika!”

“Yeah! The way you went vwhoosh! Pow, pow, pow! Booooom, like that— It was so cool!”

With Serena’s first badge securely in hand, her business in Santalune was nearly at its end. She just had one final obligation before she headed out— Catching up with the gang! Ash, Pikachu, and Bonnie were absolutely fired up, the tale of Serena’s victory completely blowing them away. Even Clemont was breaking past his usual temperament.

“It was a stellar strategy! While it’s a shame you won’t be able to use it going forward, the fact you came up with it all on your own is astounding!” Clemont had a way of weaving his praise and reservations all in one string. It made Serena giggle and sigh with a happy shake of her head. “And still— While special maneuvers like that are great, it was your grasp of the fundamentals that shined through. Taking full advantage of your type matchup, that’s what won the day!”

“Fundamentals, shundamentals— Those were some killer moves you pulled off, Serena!” Ash was surprisingly curt with where he disagreed with Clemont, announcing through the screen what he thought won her the day. Quick to agree with his like-minded partner, Pikachu offered some points of his own. “Haha, exactly! If me and Pikachu don’t watch out, you’re gonna catch up with us while we’re here vacationing!”

“Hah!” The declaration made Serena laugh, nearly double over before she let out a wistful, relieved sigh. “Heh, we’ll see about that…”

After the last week of training, practicing, and most of all, worrying, it was nice to just sit and rest for a while. Just getting to hear her friends, their affirmations— that made this all the more worth it.

Serena glanced back up.

“Ash, Clemont… I hope, I’ve made you proud.” Her words made Ash pause, a thought visibly ticking away behind his eyes as Clemont immediately went to answer. He was silent for a moment, even as Pikachu responded for him.

“Pikapi, pika! Kachu— Pika!” His meaning came through loud and clear— Of course they were proud of her!

Ash had his own way of putting it.

“Serena.” A confident, burning gaze returned to his eyes as he grinned. “I can’t wait to take a swing at you!”

Chapter Text

𝒳

Bianca’s home stood quiet in the late night, so quiet that even the gentle flow of canal water could be heard. The city had settled down hours ago. Its residents had gone to sleep not long after.

Yet, through it all, there were at least a few souls still going bump in the night.

Ash, laid on the couch in Bianca’s living room, stared up at the ceiling. His eyes were wide and attentive, catching each and every detail the roof had to offer. He’d just about memorized the pattern in the plaster, when a call broke the quiet.

“Pikapi? Pikachu… ka?” It was Pikachu, lying there at his side. Ash chuckled.

“Heh, yeah. Still awake,” he said, pulling the thin covers up higher and trying to get comfortable. “I’m thinking about what Serena said.”

Have you had any luck, finding what you’ve been looking for?

Her words had been playing in his mind, on and on, and still he had no answer.

“These last few days have been great, but… I don’t know. It doesn’t feel like we’ve been getting anywhere.”

“Pika, kachu. Ka pikachu.”

“Yeah, it feels more like we’ve been on vacation than anything.” Looking down, Ash gained a small smile, as he found his partner tucking into the crook of his arm and chest.

“Pi—” Pikachu extended the word with a yawn. “—Kapi, Pikachu-kapi. Pi…”

“Yeah, I guess the break has been pretty nice.” Silence again, the kind that left Ash to his thoughts. He’d been in his thoughts for a while now. “Graaah, okay. Starting tomorrow, we’re really gonna start looking, Pikachu. Really start looking for what we’re missing.”

Ash threw his arms into the air, putting on just enough of a voice to express his assuredness without waking his hosts.

Despite his enthusiasm, despite his energy, Ash couldn’t muster a fiery response from Pikachu. His partner instead simply snickered and nuzzled into Ash’s side.

Letting his arms fall back down, Ash went quiet again. Silence. Back to his thoughts once more.

Perhaps he should stop trying to quiet them.

“Do you remember… what Yvonne said? About going too fast?” His question hung in the air for a moment. “Do you think…”

“Pika, pikachu.”

Ash broke into a laugh.

“Right, yeah. You were asleep for that one.” With his concentration fully broken, Ash settled back down to rest. “Alright, g’night, buddy.”

“Kachu-pi, pikapi.”

Finally, the living room fell quiet once more. There was not a sound beyond the flows of the distant canals, and not a soul left awake— Except.

Around the corner from where Ash lay, in the hallway leading to the bedrooms, the floor creaked with someone’s steps.

Bianca returned to her room, with much on her mind.

𝒵

Early morning came and went, passing Bianca by as she slept. She was never a morning person, not before university and especially not after 2 semesters of 7:30 AM classes. No, the earliest she liked to get up was a solid 11 AM. Not too early, nor too late that she’d beat herself up for ‘getting up at noon’.

It was currently 10 AM and she was awake.

Lorenzo had left for work hours ago, and Latias was out doing her daily patrols, wanting to get them done before the day had started. That just left Bianca, lazily sipping her breakfast and keeping her bleary eyes open.

Just her, and her guests.

Her mind was stuffed, slogged with thoughts aimed at the trainer sitting only a few meters away. Ash was getting ready to go, talking to his Pikachu about something or another. Whenever she caught a word of it, her mind went wild with thoughts.

There wasn’t even anything specific to the way she was feeling— it was not anger, nor distaste, nor bitterness. Instead, it was a whole mound of mixed thoughts, emotions she couldn’t even begin to parse or address. So, she wouldn’t, for now. She was still having breakfast after all.

With one hand holding her morning espresso, Bianca focused on the object in front of her: Her latest piece, a charcoal-line sketch on parchment paper. A professor she was apprenticing under had directed her to create a new portfolio over the break, with mediums she hadn’t worked in before. Hopefully this would be enough to—

A whistle broke her concentration.

“Damn, that looks great!”

“Ash?” Bianca turned in her seat, surprised to find the boy in question at her side, dressed and ready to go. Pikachu was sitting on his shoulder like it was a throne.

“Who else! Gotta say, you do good work.”

His gaze was pointing towards her art, Bianca quickly realized. Was he trying to strike up a conversation with her? For a moment, her instincts recoiled at the thought, before she pushed them down. Try as she might, Bianca couldn’t find a reason to butt heads with the boy right now. He was ostensibly her friend. She should act like it.

“Uh, yeah. Thanks. I’ve been working on it the last few days. First time playing around with charcoal.” She flicked her eyes back to the drawing itself, focusing on the scene inside. It was a sketch of light peeking through the window of her kitchen— Gentle sunbeams captured in soft black lines. “I’m hoping it’ll impress my professor.”

“Oh? Like a Pokémon Professor?” As soon as the words left Ash’s mouth, Pikachu sighed, nearly falling off Ash’s shoulder when he realized his partner’s mistake. Bianca snorted.

“No, like a university professor. I’ve been going to college for like two years.” On that word, Bianca turned in her seat, prompting Ash to follow.

“No way! That’s so sick!” On his word, he took the seat next to her, leaning against the counter to keep an eye on her art. “I didn’t even know they had a college on the island.”

“They don’t. I go to a school in Goldenrod,” Bianca clarified, turning back to him after a moment. “I’m actually only here because I’m on break.”

“Pika?”

“Oh yeah, if you’re on break, why are you still working on stuff?”

“I’m in college. A break just means I have more time to worry about things.” Punctuating her point, Bianca took a long, hard sip of her espresso, downing the drink in one motion. “I have to finish this before I get back. If it impresses my professor enough, then I can get my work placed in my university’s public gallery.”

With a wistful sigh, Bianca leaned back.

“And if I can do that…”

Bianca let the idea hang as she thought over her next few words. Yet, it seemed Ash was one step ahead of her.

“If you can do that, you’ll be one step closer to becoming an art master!”

“A, what?” Blinking, Bianca stared at Ash, hoping to get some indication of what he meant from either him or his partner. No dice, Pikachu seemed to say, shrugging his shoulders.

“An art master! Like how I wanna become a Pokémon Master!” Ash’s clarification did little to help. She barely knew what a Pokémon Master meant either. Thankfully, Ash seemed to be in an explaining mood. “You wanna learn all the different ways to draw and sculpt and paint and be one of the very best! That’s your dream!”

“I guess that’s one way to put it.” Bianca gave Ash’s words some thought, his sudden manic energy managing to bring her pause. Staring at the ceiling, she nodded her head. “But, you’re right, I think. I wanna become a master artist someday. So I guess that is my dream.”

“And I know you will be— You’re a great artist already, and you’re gonna get even better!”

“Pipika, pikachu, chu!” Where before Pikachu had let his partner speak his piece, now he was matching him, tit-for-tat. Ash had a tendency of whipping up the people around him, and now was no exception.

Yet, where Pikachu was fired up and loudly supportive, Bianca was anything but. Overwhelmed by Ash’s sudden upswell of support, all she could do was snort and crack a joke.

“Jeeze, I’m surprised you care that much about art.” It was meant to be a disarming crack, something to cut through the saccharine just a little. Instead, it seemed to turn the whole conversation on its head.

Ash’s expression turned, becoming surprisingly sheepish. Without a word, he began to dig through his jacket pocket, before he pulled out a surprising sight for Bianca— The drawing he’d shown her the other night.

The gift from Latias.

“I’m, not really. Art has never been my thing.” It was said more like a confession. “But a dream? I understand dreams better than anything! I’ll always support my friend’s dreams, Bianca. And you’re my friend!”

Faced with Ash’s passionate declaration, Bianca was shocked silent. All those thoughts from before, those tangled, difficult thoughts that had been troubling her since last night— They were gone in an instant, replaced now by just one thing: A realization.

What was she worried about?

Bianca broke into a laugh, a spirited, genuine laugh. It made her tilt her head back, nearly knocking her off her seat. That’s how far her laughter went.

After a few solid moments, Ash’s lively face furrowed.

“Piiiiika!”

“Yeah, why’re you laughing? We say something funny to you!” he asked, visibly annoyed as Bianca finally began to recover. Wiping a tear from her eye, she sat forward.

“I’m sorry—! It’s just, jeeze.” Bianca let out a relieved sigh, before she looked up at Ash. “I’ve been so on edge these last few days, wondering what’s the real reason you’ve come back, when I should’ve just realized— You’re that simple!”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to—!”

“You really, honestly are back, because you wanted to see us again, to see Latias again.” Her words seemed to disarm Ash’s temper, her meaning finally coming through. “And here I was, worrying that you were going to come and, take her, or something. As if you could ever!”

Finally beginning to see the humor in what Bianca was describing, Ash lightened up, a chuckle working its way across his lips. Soon, the two were caught in the fit of it.

“You’re kidding me. Have you really been thinking about that since you bailed me outta jail!” he said, leaning up against the counter while the laughing began to take him too.

“Yes! Days of worrying about something so stupid!” With that, she broke into full-throated laughter once more, Ash and Pikachu joining along with her. Just like that, all the tension that sat in the room, that sat in Bianca’s mind, was whisked away. She felt the last of the weight on her shoulders finally slip away with the giggle leaving her lips.

A peaceful moment passed, as her head was finally quiet.

And then a thought clicked.

“Ash, what did you get arrested for again?”

𝒵

A crowd had formed.

Worried locals stood by, huddled together into a loose mob that stared on and spoke in hushed whispers. Before them sat the Azalean Poké Ball Workshop, a modest business in the heart of Alto Mare. It was a familiar fixture of the local neighborhood and the only maker of Poké balls in the whole city.

Its front door had been forced open.

Glass and wood chips littered the sidewalk by the entrance, while police tape cordoned the business off from any curious souls. In the center of it all was a single, hapless Officer Jenny, trying her best to politely ask the onlookers to leave. She had little luck.

The night before, an attempted robbery had taken place. A group of men were caught forcing their way through the front door. By pure chance alone, a diligent passerby managed to alert the police in time. In the end though, the perpetrators got away.

“I should’ve noticed something, should’ve felt something.” All those thoughts and more were racing through Latias’s mind, as she gazed down from her perch— The roof of the building opposite the workshop. It was her perfect steak-out spot. “Graaaa, I’ve been too distracted. I didn’t even notice this happening.”

Latias buried her face into her hands, hiding from sight as she put her back to the waist-high wall at the roof’s edge. Moments later, though, she felt a comforting touch pull her from her thoughts.

“It’s not your fault, Latias. You very well can’t be expected to keep an eye on the whole city.” It was Bianca. Always a voice that pleaded with Latias to take it easier, to relax more. Latias so desperately wanted to listen to her, to be kinder with herself. Yet, look where that brought her.

She couldn’t be expected to keep an eye on the whole city? Why?

Latios did.

Before Latias could speak up, another voice entered the fray.

“Do you guys have any idea who’d be trying to do this?” Ash. He stood opposite Bianca, looking down at the workshop without a hint of hesitation to him, even as the crowd below could easily spot him. Pikachu, as always, was positioned at his side, an annoyed tick to his gaze aimed right at their target.

Shaking her head, Bianca answered.

“Crime really isn’t a thing in Alto Mare. Everyone’s needs are usually met,” she said, looking down at the scene again. This crowd probably hadn’t heard of a robbery happening in years. It was practically a spectacle to them.

Latias floated back up, joining the three. She wouldn’t leave this to them— This was her responsibility.

“They’re not from Alto Mare. I can tell,” she claimed, surprising Ash and Pikachu with her assuredness. “The people who did this, they don’t feel like the locals do. They left behind an energy that feels like… Well more like you, Ash.”

“Jeeze, thanks.” Ash snorted, putting some extra red into Latias’s cheeks as she realized her mistake.

“I-I mean, it’s an energy that isn’t as familiar! One I’m not used to feeling,” she clarified, stumbling over herself. “I-if they were locals, I would recognize it better.”

Her sudden nervousness seemed to put a snicker in Ash’s voice. Latias was thankful he found her stumbling amusing, over anything else.

Looking back down at the crime scene, Latias spotted the lone Officer Jenny on duty, one of the few in the whole city. She was haggardly splitting her attention between directing the crowd, collecting glass shards, and arguing with the workshop’s owner. They wanted to just install a new door and start the work day, it seemed.

All of that and more put a realization into Latias’s mind, one she repeated aloud a moment later.

“There’s no way she can keep an eye on just this building. If they come back…” Latias shook her head, tried shaking off her hesitation. “If they come back, that means—”

Without a word, Bianca took her hand.

“You won’t have to show yourself, Latias. You don’t even have to go in there,” she assured, bringing some calm to Latias’s nerves. “We can keep watch up here, call Officer Jenny when they come back, if they come back.”

The idea was tempting, very tempting. The less Latias exposed herself, the less attention she attracted to the city, to herself. It seemed almost perfect.

Almost.

“You said it was a bunch of people who showed up last night, yeah?” It was Ash, still looking straight ahead, still unflinching. Where he got the confidence, Latias didn’t know. With a nod, she answered Ash’s question. “One Officer Jenny won’t be able to handle that many bad guys by herself.”

Stepping forward, Bianca put herself between Ash and Latias.

“What exactly do you expect her to do?” she pressed, as Ash turned away from the ledge. “Latias can’t go in there alone.”

Welcoming Pikachu back onto his shoulder, Ash grinned, looking right past Bianca to Latias herself.

“She won’t have to.”

Chapter Text

𝒳

Night had fallen on Alto Mare before long, casting the busy streets of the morning in a quiet, lonely darkness. Ash had heard the city wind down before, but this was something else entirely. The air was tense. Beyond the distant flow of the canals, all Ash could hear was his own quieted breath.

He, Pikachu, Latias, and Bianca had been staked out for a few hours now, taking turns watching the workshop for suspicious activity. So far the day had been uneventful, nothing more than a few patrons walking in and out, and a repairman swinging by to install a new door. It was a quiet day. They couldn’t tell if they should be grateful for that, or dreading it.

In any case, it was Bianca’s turn to man the post, so the rest of the party was resting idly by, waiting for what seemed inevitable.

Ash sat with his back to the wall of the roof, Pikachu curled up on his lap and Latias nested into his side. In his hand was a curious sight, the cellphone Clemont had made before he set off on this mini journey of his. It was meant to let the gang call regularly, but for now, it served a new purpose— Enabling Serena’s latent interest in amateur photography.

Ash couldn’t help but smile at all the photos she’d sent the group— nearly two dozen pictures of Fennekin in various states of training. Whatever those two were up to, Ash was itching to hear all about it.

A question pulled him from his phone.

“What are you smiling at?” It was Latias, rousing from the little ball she had curled herself into. With half a yawn, she laid her head on Ash’s shoulder.

“Some pictures from a friend of mine, back in Kalos,” he explained, tilting the screen to give her a better look. With a click, he brought up a picture of the girl in question. “Her name’s Serena.”

Just like with her partner, Serena had taken some impeccable pictures of herself. Her new outfit was a bright contrast against the forest in the background, while she herself gave the camera a wink and a winning smile. As always, Serena was the pitch-perfect image of elegance, with a hint of her passion burning in her eyes. Latias seemed to agree.

“Wow, she’s, really pretty.”

“Heh, yeah. She is.” A small, sincere smile took Ash’s face, as the two shared a quiet moment to look on at the picture. It was a nice break from all the tense waiting.

“Guys, I see something.”

Just like that, the waiting was over. Ash shot up, joining Bianca’s side as he peeked over the edge of the parapet. As soon as he did, he spotted the ‘something’ Bianca meant. A half dozen or so people, men of various builds and heights, climbed the fire escape to a window at the building’s side. It was the very same window Ash and Pikachu had broken into days before.

In short order, the men crawled in, one-by-one, until they all disappeared. A moment later, the front door was opened, and a final man strolled in.

As soon as he was inside, Ash shot to his feet.

“Alright, go time!” Without a hint of hesitation, Ash hopped over the parapet, scaling down a maintenance ladder as Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder. “Come on Latias, back us up.”

“Ash!? What are you doing?! I thought we were going to call and wait for Officer Jenny and my Grandfather before we went in!” Keeping her voice down as well as she could, Bianca shouted after Ash while he descended. All the while, Latias looked between the two, before she went to follow along.

“Good point, you call them, we’ll wait inside.” Ash shot Bianca a grin as he reached the ground, one that made her groan and him laugh. Just then, Latias joined his side. Her invisibility flickered before she pulled her cover on tight. “Great idea, Latias, stealth mode!”

“Uhhh, right, yeah. Stealth mode. That is what I am doing.”

In short order, the trio of Ash, Pikachu, and Latias approached the building and ascended the fire escape, finding the still open window waiting for them. After a pause, they peered inside.

The workshop was a large, open room, split in two by a raised catwalk that hung over the ground floor. A row of tables sat in the center, surrounded by chairs and covered with dozens of metal tools meant for carving apricorns. Along the left and back walls stood large storage crates, which were filled to the very top with Poké Balls Ash barely recognized. He could spot a few Lure Balls and Fast Balls, but that was about it.

Finally, along the right wall, was the front door of the shop, surrounded on each side by a row of heavy machinery. Lathes and equipment for coring stubborn apricorns stood there, next to wheelie bins filled with even more Poké balls.

It was a fine looking workshop, only mired by the goons that were running amok in it.

With the light of the interior to illuminate them, Ash could finally get a good look at their criminal masterminds. There were at least seven of them by the looks of it, all the rabble-rousing sort with more muscle than they had sense. It almost looked like they were witnessing a petty robbery, if it wasn’t for one detail that gave the game away.

They were all wearing the same outfit: Garish, ill-fitting suits.

“Definitely a uniform,” Ash grumbled, keeping his eyes peeled. The goons seemed to be directionless, just grabbing random items before abandoning them for something else that caught their eye. There was no doubt that somethone had organized this lot into doing this, but they hadn’t done a great job.

“Ash, look.” At Latias’s call, Ash noticed one of the men had climbed to the catwalk, and was now standing tall above the others. Bingo, the boss.

In an instant, he drew a stark contrast with the goons at his feet. His suit was tailored and fitted, and every step he took carried a far more refined energy than the men he associated with. He had a stout, wide figure, with a bald head and a frown that spelled nothing but trouble. He stared at the others with a look that was oozing contempt.

“Pikapi, kachu pikaka.”

“Yep, that’s our guy. I say we bust in and catch ‘em by surprise.” Driving his fist into his palm, Ash looked to his two partners-in-busting-crime. “Between me, Pikachu, and you, Latias, we can overwhelm them like that!”

Ash spun a confident tale, but Latias didn’t seem to be moved.

“I… can’t. I need to, um, stay undercover.” Though she kept her cover on tight, Ash could tell she had grown more anxious. “If they see me it would, attract unwanted attention, to Alto Mare.”

“Good point, the last thing we wanna do is get even more bad guys knocking on your door.” Conceding to her point, Ash went back to the drawing board. He rubbed his chin in thought, turning to watch the goons at work.

They were aimless. Even as their boss screamed and commanded them, they swarmed with little sense or direction. Maybe…

A lightbulb went on in Ash’s head.

“Latias, how subtle can you be?” The question made her grin.

“Ash, I am a master of subtlety.”

𝒵

Philippe considered himself a simple man. Or rather, he considered himself a man with simple wants— Tailored suits, fine meals, and competent staff. After all, for a gentleman like himself, it was the least he deserved.

If only these incompetents knew that.

“Blathering oafs! We have come here for one thing, and one thing only. Collect all the rare Poké balls you find and nothing else!” His voice cracked the air like a whip, sending his workers into a flurry. They instantly dropped whatever they were carrying— Including the ones who were actually doing their job. “Mais putain — je suis entouréde consanguins.”

“Sorry boss. We’re tryin’ our best here!” One of the smarter henchmen, the one who seemed to lead the rest of the pack, stepped forward and apologized. He looked up at Philippe from his spot on the ground, while all Philippe could return was a glare of contempt. The uniform the grunt wore was ill-fitted for his wide frame.

“Fils de pute. Why don’t you try taking some initiative, and get your men in line!” Philippe screamed, making the mook flinch and nod. In an instant, he slinked off, leaving Philippe to stew on his own. A headache was coming on. “Je te le jure, le moment donné, je t’écorcherai moi-même.”

He spat onto the ground.

“Dégénéré.” Glancing down at his wrist, Philippe checked his time piece. Ten minutes. They’d been at this operation for ten minutes and they were still not even halfway done. Did he have to do everything himself? What does a good man have to do to—!

Philippe took a deep breath, steadying his composure. No point in getting upset. In a short time, they’d be done here. The Poké balls would be collected, and they’d be on their way. The sooner that came, the sooner he could get back to—

“Hey, boss, was uh, was that window always open?”

Though Philippe was tempted to snap, he bit his tongue. True to that grunt’s word, the window that the team had snuck in through was open. And since they had made sure to close it before getting to work, that could only mean—!

“Pikaka, Pi!”

“Alright you thieves! Drop the Poké balls!” Bursting out from behind a wheelie bin, a young man appeared, his spiky black hair barely contained by a bright red cap. His voice boomed through the workshop like a thunderclap, which was appropriate considering the Pokémon on his shoulder— A Pikachu. “Make this easy or you’re gonna meet the bad end of a Thunderbolt!”

The sudden appearance of an interloper sent Philippe’s men into a panic, and Philippe’s temper boiling. His hands gripped the railing of the catwalk, denting the metal, until he could bite his tongue no longer.

“Nigauds incompétents! He is but a boy, you are men! Act like it!” Fear of Philippe seemed to trump fear of their intruder, as the goons steadied themselves and stepped forward. In a flash, four Pokémon were sent out to do battle— A Raticate, an Arbok, a Golem, and a Golbat.

Despite the lopsided match up, the boy didn’t seem phased. Even as his Pokémon hopped off his shoulder and crackled at their opponents, he was as confident as ever.

He looked Philippe in the eyes, and smirked.

“So, you’re the big man, huh?” Making a fist and raising it forward, the boy called out to Philippe, not even waiting for an answer before continuing. “Then I’m going to have the pleasure of personally kicking your ass!”

In an instant, all Philippe could see was red.

“Kill him!”

“Thunderbolt!”

A crack of lightning swept across the room, pummeling the goons’ Pokémon and sending them reeling back. Only the Golem, unaffected by the blow, could press forward. It tightened itself into a ball and fired off into a Rollout.

“Pika!” With a jump, the Pikachu leapt straight over the barreling Pokémon, landing on a paw and firing another attack as he turned. The Golbat, knocked back by the Pikachu’s first wave, was out of the count now, while the Arbok and Raticate cried out in shock. “Pika-chu!”

With a snicker, he flew forward.

Meanwhile, the kid faced off against the remaining goons, three of them in particular gunning to take him down. Try as they might, however, they couldn’t lay a finger on him. He easily side stepped their lunges, blocked their wild swings and returned the favor. It didn’t help that Philippe’s men couldn’t keep their feet underneath them. Every few moments, they were literally tripping over themselves.

“What the hell!?” Philippe couldn’t believe it. His men were being routed by a teenager with an attitude complex!

An arc of electricity crossed Philippe’s gaze as he realized the boy’s Pikachu was still evading his henchmen’s Pokémon. No, scratch that. It’d completely destroyed them! The Raticate and Arbok laid in a twitching, paralyzed slump, swirls in their eyes indicating their swift defeat. That just left the Golem, a Pokémon the Pikachu was practically playing games with.

“Pikaka, ka! Piiiiii!” He laughed and sneered, bouncing off the walls and easily dodging his much slower and less maneuverable opponent.

Philippe’s seething only continued to burn.

“Putain— What are you fools doing!? You have more Pokémon than that! Send them out!”

“O-okay! You got it boss!”

In a flash, two more Pokémon appeared— A Pinsir and a Tauros. The former hissed and gnashed its mandibles, while the latter immediately charged.

“Pika?” Turning, the Pikachu saw its new opponent and did something astounding. It grinned. “Chuuuuu— Pikaka!”

With a powerful backflip, the Pikachu leapt straight over the charging Tauros, landing on its head and latching on. The raging bull had but a moment to panic before the Pikachu sent it barreling into its ally Golem with a tug of its horns.

Kicking off and leaping away, the Pikachu went to deal with the Pinsir next.

What was happening!? Even with poorly trained grunts, this was a mere rat out matching half a dozen stronger Pokémon! And by the looks of it, his trainer was doing even better!?

The boy ducked and dived, dodging a henchmen’s fists with barely a concern. When another came up from behind, the boy merely smiled and side-stepped him. With that, his two opponent’s slammed headfirst into each other, collapsing into a heap.

“Why you snot-nosed—! Oof!” A third grunt stumbled to his feet and charged, before the boy dispatched him with a runaway wheelie bin filled with Poké balls. In an instant, the goon was laid flat, the bin settling underneath the catwalk Philippe stood on.

“Come on! Is that all you got!?” The boy challenged the remaining grunts with arms raised wide, scaring them into a back step as he approached. “Or are you all too much of a wuss to fight a kid!”

The comment seemed to finally tick one of them into action.

“I’ll show you who’s a wuss!” A taller, heavy-set henchman charged, abandoning his Tauros to chase after the boy. He got no closer to half-way, however, before he tripped and fell, giving the boy ample time to respond. “H-huh!?”

“You sure showed me!” Rushing to the man’s side, the boy grabbed onto the back of the man’s jacket and heaved, sending him flying across the floor to beneath the workshop tables. When the large man tried sitting up, he banged his head against its underside. “Now, who’s next!”

“Chuuuu— Pi-ka!” It seemed Golem was the answer, as the Pikachu launched him into the ceiling with a stunning Iron Tail. It was knocked out without a doubt, leaving only two more opponents to face the rat— A panting, paralyzed Pinsir and a grunting, enraged Tauros. “Pikakaka! Kachu, pika!”

It beckoned its opponent’s onwards, just like its trainer, before taking the battle on its own terms. It flickered from view with Quick Attack, appearing and then disappearing from in front of its foes for just a second. In the next, it appeared at their left, and then their right.

The Tauros gave a blood-curdling bull’s cry, bucking its head around as it tried to lock onto its target. Each time the Pikachu appeared, it would taunt and wave its tail at the Tauros, sending its anger burning higher and higher until it was blinded by rage.

“Pikakaka!” Finally, the Pikachu seemed to pick a spot and stay with it, launching the Tauros into a mad, wild charge. It had its target locked in— It was simply a misfortune that its ally Pinsir lied before its target. “Kakaka!”

With a jovial laugh, the Pikachu leapt out of the way, allowing Tauros to do its job for it. With a vicious Head Smash, Pinsir was laid flat, knocked out. The Tauros could only stare in confusion for a moment more.

“Piiii-kaaaaa-chuuuuu!” With that cry, a bolt of lightning struck Tauros head-on, knocking it back and knocking it out all in one fell swoop. The Pikachu had won. Standing tall on the battlefield despite its size, it heralded its victory. “Pika!”

Rage billowed out in every breath Philippe took, nearly cracking the calm exterior he so dutifully kept up. His men were being made a fool of. He was being made a fool of! This would not stand!

Whipping back, he glared daggers at his remaining henchmen.

“You lot! I know you have more in you— Why aren’t you sending them out!?”

“We’ve been trying to, boss, but—!”

“—Our pockets—!”

“—Are turning up empty!” The set of three men panicked as they revealed, indeed, that the remaining Pokémon they had on hand had gone missing.

Philippe could feel his anger burning through his skull.

He pulled away from the railing, reaching into his pocket. This had gone on too long. His men had failed him. His mission was going up in smoke. He needed to recover, now.

“When dark times come, strong men must right the way!” he declared, pulling at his intruder’s attention with the call. “Retournons un peu de beauté sur scène! Hatterene!”

With a cry carrying his anger, Philippe’s trusty aid took the field, appearing at the center of the chaos and drawing all eyes towards it. The boy and his Pokémon stood at attention as she called.

“Haaaaaa!”

“Now, my dear! Wipe away these intruders in one fell swoop!” Philippe raised an arm into the air, heralding the move. “Pouvoir Lunaire!”

“Iron Tail, now!”

A flash of movement and light filled the room, as Hatterene fired and the Pikachu went to deflect. Its Iron Tail crashed down on Hatterene’s Moonblast, sending it ricocheting off the floor and straight through the ceiling above.

“Pikaka. Pikachu-pi!” The Pikachu faced Philippe’s Hatterene, chittering something incomprehensible to its ally as it did. With a nod that seemed understanding, the boy called in response.

“You’ve got this, buddy, I trust ya!” he said, throwing back a henchman he was grappling with. The man seemed to trip over nothing and crashed into another goon coming in from behind him.

Philippe scoffed.

“If you think your pathetic rat can beat a beauty as perfect as my Hatterene, you are sorely mistaken, boy!” His voice was filled with venom, even as he steadied himself with a hand behind his back. The boy didn’t seem to heed his words, however. He just grinned and focused.

“I’ll tell you what, on any other day of the week, I would’ve loved to sit back and see what a new Pokémon like Hatterene is capable of!” he declared, dodging a jab from a goon and returning one of his own. “But for someone as rotten as you are, I’ll make an exception! Pikachu, give it to her! Full force Iron Tail!”

With a flicker of movement, the Pikachu was gone in an instant. In the next, its attack was mere inches from Hatterene’s head.

“Protect!” At the very last second, Hatterene’s defense sputtered to life, buckling against the thundering force of her opponent. It forced her to turn and leap back, to stare in horror at how close she was to the Super Effective blow.

“Again, buddy! Up and at ‘em!” At the boy’s command, the Pikachu leapt off the shield like a springboard—

“Protect!”

—And crashed down on their opponent once more. This time, the defense didn’t hold, and Hatterene was sent flying across the workshop.

“Hatterene!” For the first time, anger drained away from Phillippe’s system, replaced now with a panic he quickly suppressed. He had to divide his enemies, now. “You lot! You don’t have Pokémon anymore— So make yourselves useful! After him! Allez!”

“Whoa!” In an instant, the boy was swarmed by the four remaining men, sending him on the move. Reaching the nearest wheelie bin, the intruder pulled it over— “Watch your step!”

—And sent a flood of Poké balls racing across the ground. Three of the goons slipped immediately, and the fourth was quickly knocked back as the boy tossed the bin at him. That wouldn’t stop them, however. They pressed forward, chasing after the boy as he raced to the work benches.

Meanwhile, his rat was doing just as well. As much as it pained Philippe to believe it, that Pikachu was matching anything his Hatterene could do tit-for-tat. The speed by which it blitzed across the field— The force behind its attacks— It took about every ounce of his Pokémon’s efforts just to keep it occupied.

What was happening? Who were these two?!

“Oop! Sorry! Too Slow!” The boy ducked and dodged, easily evading two of his men as he leapt back. That was, until he backed up into a third man— A tall, heavy-set grunt the boy had thrown under the table earlier. The boy gave the man an awkward smile. “H-hey—!”

“Gotchu!” Latching on, the grunt wrenched the boy into the air, pinning his arms to his sides as he did so. It almost seemed like the struggle had come to an end— If the boy didn’t have a lot more struggle left in him. “Oof!”

With a vicious swing, the boy slammed the back of his foot into the grunt’s gut, sending him reeling back in pain. Then, a moment later, something seemed to hit the back of the henchmen’s knees. In quick succession, the grunt collapsed to the ground, and the boy dived away.

“Whoa! That was close!” Taking a few steps back, the boy kept his eyes locked on the three grunts in front of him. All three were itching to jump him the moment he blinked. He needed backup, and reaching into his pocket, he seemed to find it. “Come on out—!”

“Oh no you don’t! Keep your hands up!” Grabbing a hammer off the workbenches, one of the grunts charged. They startled the boy into a backstep and made him reveal his play— A Poké ball in his hand. “Drop it you stupid kid, or else you’re gonna need a lot more than a Nurse Joy to patch you up!”

The boy glared at the man who was holding him at hammer-point, watched as he and his allies began to laugh at his expense. His lips were locked onto a firm frown, until he looked up, at the hammer in the grunt’s hand.

“Drop it?” Gripping the Poké ball tighter, the boy waited for the grunt to confirm his order. Then, he grinned. “Well alright! You asked for it!”

With a flick of his wrist, the boy dropped the ball to the ground— Right onto the button to prime it.

“Why you little!” The goon swung, ready to bash the kid’s skull in— Only for the hammer to slip and shoot right out of his hand. It flew straight over the intruder’s head. “Huh!?”

“Hah!” Diving back, the boy laughed, right as the Poké ball he dropped clattered onto the floor and opened. A plume of cinders and smoke took the field, before he stood straight to welcome his Pokémon. “Come on out— Charizard!”

A great orange beast arrived on the scene with a proud bellow, stunning the grunts still at its arrival. In an instant, all eyes were on it. Even Hatterene and the Pikachu paused their brawl to stare and holler respectively. The only one who wasn’t enraptured by the sudden appearance of the fire-breathing dragon was Philippe himself.

His eyes stared in the direction he saw that hammer fly off in.

As the Charizard began to easily blow back Philippe’s men, he had only one thing to say.

“Just what the hell is going—!?” Suddenly, everything went dark, as Philippe felt his coat being pulled up over his head and eyes. “Merde?! What the—!”

“Watch the language.” Philippe froze as a voice rang out. A girl!?

Before he had a moment to process the fact he’d been snuck upon, Philippe was shoved straight over the railing of the catwalk. He stumbled, and landed headfirst in a bin of Poké balls below.

𝒳

“Aaaand that’s the last of ‘em!” Ash breathed a sigh of relief, watching the battle conclude as the final goon collapsed. Things had gotten a bit dicey by the end there, but thanks to a few extra hands, they’d just about scraped out the win.

Pikachu stood triumphantly over Hatterene, a smug grin on his lips and a proud inflection in his voice. Across from him, Charizard bellowed and snorted, throwing that final unconscious goon onto the pile with the rest. The two were talking about something, Ash soon realized. They had made this little operation into a competition, right under his nose.

Chuckling, Ash shook his head, before turning his gaze to the open air. Those two weren’t the only ones helping. Though she had kept hidden, Latias had helped too— Tripping up grunts, hiding their Poké balls, and saving his butt on a few occasions. He had a lot to say to her, once they were safe enough for her to speak again. For now though…

“Thank you, L—”

“Jeeze, and here I thought I’d never get a thanks. It’s nice being appreciated.”

“Hah! How could I forget?” Whipping around, Ash found Bianca descending the ladder of the catwalk. In all the chaos of the brawl, she’d managed to sneak in through the front door (courtesy of the goons leaving it unlocked) and send the boss toppling. “Glory hog— That guy was mine!”

His jeer came with a grin and a chuckle, which Bianca returned in kind.

“Glory hog? From Mr. Rush-Into-Danger-At-The-Drop-Of-A-Hat? Hah!” She approached with a laugh, before taking a spot at Ash’s side. “Besides, it looks to me like you’ve gotten enough glory.”

“And this from Ms. Stay-Behind-And-Call-The-Police?” Laughing, Ash nudged Bianca’s side with his elbow. “Face it. You liked my plan!”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.” Rolling her eyes, Bianca turned and gave the shop a once over. She barely had a chance to take in her surroundings in all the chaos after all. Soon though, her gaze fell on a sight that was pulling at Ash’s attention as well. “We should get going, all that being said. Officer Jenny is coming.”

“Yeah, I gotcha. We’re almost done here anyways.” Furrowing his brow, Ash stepped forward, approaching the object of their common interest: The boss, buried head first in the wheelie bin of Poké balls. “Just one last rotten thief to— Ack!”

All at once, the man struck. His arm shot out from the bin, latching onto Ash’s neck and squeezing it tight. In an instant, he was at the man’s mercy, a thumb pressed to his jugular and an iron grip wrapped around the back of his neck.

“Pikapi!?”

“Ash!?”

Panic took the room immediately, as Bianca leapt back and Pikachu and Charizard charged forth, only to be cowed by six measly words.

“Stop, or I will kill him.” It was the boss, slowly pulling himself from the bin and standing tall on his feet. Despite how disheveled he looked after his tumble, his face remained cool and steely. Through his hacked, pained breaths, Ash could only find a single emotion in his eyes— Absolute hatred. “C’est les dégénérés comme vous, qui salissent le monde! And yet you don’t have the courtesy to leave good men like me alone.”

“Good!? Fat lotta good you—!” Ash was silenced by another tight squeeze. The man’s grip felt like stone, even as Ash pulled at it with all his might. His hands would not give.

“No. No more quips. No more heroic declarations,” he said, turning and facing Pikachu and Charizard. Pikachu was crackling, a vicious growl underlying his voice as he glared at Ash’s captor. Charizard too could barely hold himself back, teeth and claws bared and raring to go.

The man stared down the both of them and didn’t blink.

“You two will collect the Poké balls. And you, will call that Officer Jenny again. Direct her to a new location.” Turning, the man startled Bianca with just a look, sending her into a back step. “You will all do this, or it’s the boy’s life.”

“Pikaka, pi! Pikachu-pi pikaka!” Pikachu snapped at the man, the fur at the back of his neck standing straight up from the pure static. Crackles of sparks flew off his body, only to disperse at the man’s feet.

“Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn’t go hitting me with any stray Thunderbolts, little rat,” he warned, showing off just how tight his grip on Ash’s neck was. “The convulsions from the electricity just might make my hand tighten, until you hear a snap.”

“Pika…” At the man’s warning, Pikachu was cowed. His head fell, as a look of unabashed shame took his face.

Ash hated this. He wanted to cry out, to tell Pikachu to hit them anyway, that he’d be fine. Yet, he couldn’t get a word out through his closed throat. The whole room was spinning as he tried to think of something, anything to do.

“And— And after that, then what? You’ll let him go, right?” Trying her best to keep a steady head, Bianca attempted to negotiate with Ash’s captor, only to receive a tut-tut in return.

“Well, I can’t have you all attacking me the moment I let him go,” he said, sending a wave of dread racing through the whole room. “So I think I’ll just have to take this little… dégénére with me. Give him some payback for all the trouble he’s caused.”

The man let out a nasty, foreboding laugh, one that echoed alone in the silent workshop. It was a punchline, for an audience of one.

A ragged cry rang out in response.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Huh!?” The man’s gaze shot upwards, as he found himself staring at a duplicate of Bianca, standing up on the railing above him. Before he even had a chance to process what was happening, she leapt.

“Let him go!” Latias crashed down on the man, drop-kicking him in the head and freeing Ash in one fell swoop. Once they hit the ground, the job was done. The man was knocked out.

Latias’s chest heaved as she stood up, not out of exhaustion, but seemingly instead, adrenaline. Doing that, revealing herself, it took a lot from her, Ash could tell. She looked down at the man at her feet, and gave him a kick, out of frustration.

Before Ash could say a word, Latias turned and looked at him, and smiled. Offering a hand to help pick him up, she simply said.

“Are you okay?”

𝒵

“Now, that’s the last of them.”

Latias let out a sigh of relief, as Ash dumped the man’s unconscious body onto the pile with the others. With the boss down, the deed was done. She could relax. Taking a deep breath, she let the cover of her illusion slip away, and her true self shine through.

Ash turned to face her just as she finished.

“Are you sure about this, Latias? Officer Jenny will be here, eventually.” Bianca put a hand on Latias’s shoulder, an old comfort for when her nerves got to her. Not tonight though, right then and there, Latias felt calm.

“Come on, Bianca, let her live a little! Especially after she’s been keeping the cover on so tight,” Ash declared, pausing as he came to a stop at his Charizard’s side. He offered the dragon Pokémon his thanks and a pat before recalling him to his Poké ball.

“Yeah, Bianca, let me live a— Pffffft.” A laugh got caught in her throat before it burst into a giggle. Bianca couldn’t help but snort at that.

“Couldn’t finish the thought, huh?”

“Nope.” With that, Latias slipped off towards Ash and began to orbit around him. “You did amazing against those thieves. You were so cool!”

“Heh, I really did, huh? All in a day’s work for— Ow!” Quick to accept her praise, Ash immediately went into a bit of ego stroking, before Pikachu set him straight with a light smack of his tail. Minding his manners, Ash tried again. “All in a day’s work, for you, Latias. You really saved my butt a few times there!”

“Nyeheheh, I guess I did.” Latias, without the moral compass of Pikachu, was more than happy to take on the vanity streak. She folded her arms and put on an overly-prideful grin— One that made Ash laugh.

“Of course! You were my he—!” A ring cut Ash off mid-word, surprising Latias and him in kind. Reaching into his pockets, he dug out a phone and paused to give it a look. What he saw seemed to surprise him and Pikachu, as his expression became a bit more serious. “Sorry, I should take this.”

“Oh! Of course, right. Take your time!” Slinking off, Latias left the two behind, as she rejoined Bianca’s side. Coming to a gentle stop, she let out a happy sigh. Quiet stood between her and her sister, before Bianca spoke up.

“He really does make you happy, huh?” It was a surprising question, one that pulled at Latias’s attention even as her gaze remained locked on Ash. He was speaking up in his call.

‘I can totally do that, but, what’s going on?.’

“He does. Everything just feels, easier, when he’s around,” she confessed, playing with her fingers as she tried to put her thoughts together. “Like, I can do just about anything again!”

Latias hummed a thought, dwelling on her own words as she heard a snippet from Ash’s call.

‘No need to worry? But that’s when I worry the most.’

Shaking her head, Bianca turned away from Ash, and looked to Latias once more.

“What happens, when he has to go again?” She posed the question without a hint of accusation or misintent, only legitimate concern. To that worry, Latias stewed over an answer, before she spoke up once again.

“I’ll be, okay. Just knowing he cares enough to visit has already been such a help. I think I can hold onto that, whenever he needs to leave.” Shaking her head, Latias put on a bright fresh face, one that expressed her excitement far more than her anxiousness. “But that’s a thought for later! He’s here now, and I’m going to enjoy all the time we have left!”

Latias’s declaration was firm and proud. Unfortunately, the universe seemed intent on making her swallow that pride. Ash turned, scratching the back of his head as he looked down at his phone.

“So, uh, as it turns out, I don’t have much time left.”

“H-huh?” All at once, Latias felt the floor dropping out from under her. Pure, unabashed confusion took her voice. “What do you mean? You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah, my friend Dawn just called me, told me I had to come see her in Sinnoh, ASAP. She wouldn’t say why but, it sounded important.” Ash looked worriedly at his phone for a moment, before stowing it away. “I’m really sorry, but I think I gotta cut my visit short.”

“Pika…”

A hundred thoughts fired through Latias’s mind, a dozen possible reactions playing out and restarting all at once. Unable to decide on what to say, she seemed to just say everything.

“I, um, well, you, that’s—” After bashfully chewing her words for a moment, Latias forced her mouth shut. Calm, re-center, try again. “That’s okay, Ash. I understand.”

Her response was forced and not-at-all like her, and despite Latias’s best efforts, Ash could tell in an instant. Worry flashed in his eyes, as he opened his mouth to say something—

“Timeout.” —Before he was immediately cut off by Bianca. Latias’s best friend, her confidant, her sister, stepped forward and took her hand, before looking to Ash. “Could you, give us a minute? Sister-to-sister talk, ya know.”

“Bianca, what’re you—?”

“I, uh, sure?” The worry didn’t leave Ash’s eyes, it was just joined with confusion now. He watched on as Bianca dragged Latias to the other side of the workshop. This was their conversation now.

Latias and Bianca came to a stop in a small, intimate corner of the workshop, the latter pausing to let out an exasperated sigh while Latias just watched.

“Bianca, what’s—”

“You need to go. Latias, you need to go.” Cutting her off at the word, Bianca’s head shot up, startling Latias and confusing her all at once. Latias blinked in silence before responding.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“I mean you need too—” Bianca groaned, dragging her palm across her face before she latched onto Latias’s shoulders. “Look. I’ve been meaning to say this, for a long time now. I’ve just never found the words, or the courage. But I’d be a terrible friend if I wasn’t honest with you right now, like I haven’t been in the past.”

Bianca took a deep breath, to punctuate her next few words.

“You need to leave Alto Mare.”

“What?! Bianca you—” Instant confusion and shock took Latias, before Bianca shushed her and pointed to the side. Ash was only just out of earshot. “Bianca, I can’t do that— Why would I do that?!”

“You are dying here, Latias. The same routine, every day, keeping yourself hidden away, never stretching out like you used to do. You need to get out of here, you need to try something new.” Bianca took a deep breath, like what she was about to say was harder than anything that came before. “You need to go, with Ash.”

Latias’s heart shot into a runaway beat, as she instantly went on the defensive.

“I… I can’t just go with him, Bianca. It’s not like he’s offering the ride!” She bit her tongue, trying to keep her voice down. It felt like at any moment she’d break into a scream that was just as excited as it was terrified. “I don’t even think he’d want me to go with him.”

“Are you kidding? He held onto your gift all these years— As soon as he got in, he wanted to see you, Latias.” Bianca’s palms slid down from Latias’s shoulders, until they met with her hands and interlocked. “The only reason he wouldn’t want you to follow is, because he thinks you’d prefer to stay in Alto Mare.”

Reason #1 destroyed, time to go to reason #2.

“But what about Alto Mare? I have to stay here, to keep it safe. To keep you and Grandpa safe,” Latias argued, hoping her excuse would stand against Bianca’s next argument. When Bianca laughed, Latias knew it wouldn’t.

“Alto Mare will be fine, Latias. We’ll be fine. For once, you need to worry about yourself.” There was a difficulty in getting her words through. Yet, Latias could tell she meant every letter of it. “And besides, nothing ever happens in Alto Mare.”

Bianca’s smile slipped for a moment, as a loose Poké ball rolled past her feet.

“...Tonight, notwithstanding, of course.”

Latias’s mind raced with the possibilities, Bianca’s plan seeming less and less insane with each pass she gave it. Could that actually work? Could she actually… go?

A conversation from many months ago replayed in Latias’s mind.

Sometimes I wish I spent my time with him better.

“Okay… Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll ask, if I can go with him.” Even just saying that felt like a dream and a nightmare all in one. Something she had wanted for so long laid just a few meters away, and all she had to do was reach for it. “This whole idea is crazy. But… if it works…”

Latias turned, and faced towards Ash.

“Thank you Bianca.”

“Go get ‘em, sis.”

With that, Latias was off, drifting back to Ash and Pikachu and leaving Bianca to herself.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Bianca felt a weight finally slip off her shoulders. As much as it pained her to say it, she was happy it was finally out there. She was happy that Latias was finally getting what she deserved.

Bianca watched as Latias grabbed Ash’s attention, nervously twiddling with her fingers for a moment before speaking. As soon as she did speak though— Pikachu perked up. Latias couldn’t get a word in before he hopped off Ash’s shoulder and ran off, shouting something back at Ash before he left the two to themselves.

“And what are you up to, exactly?” Snorting, Bianca welcomed Pikachu to her side, as he jumped onto her shoulder and took a seat.

“Pikapi, kachu. Kapika, chuuu.” She didn’t get a word of it, but his intent just about shined through.

The two looked on as Latias started again, beating around the bush while she drifted in an orbit around Ash. Soon though, she centered herself, and laid it all out.

Ash was awestruck for a moment, her request catching him completely by surprise. Yet, as quickly as shock came to Ash, his joy came next. Just as Bianca thought, he shouted ‘of course!’ and immediately went off— talking about how amazing this was, listing off all the things they’d be able to do together. Right in lockstep, Latias joined in, flying circles around him and listing off ideas of her own.

High-flung adventures, distant locals, antics the two could only dream of— All of that and more was on the table in an instant. Bianca couldn’t believe it, but it was like she was seeing double.

Soon, the excitement tempered, as Ash forced himself to pause and think straight. He turned and asked Latias something, something she hesitated at for a moment, before nodding and agreeing. With that, Ash began digging through his pockets.

“Pikaka, pikachu.” Pikachu shuddered, seemingly getting what was happening before Bianca did. Then, it struck her. Ash was looking for a Poké ball.

Like a lightbulb going on in her mind, Latias perked up, before she shot off to one of the wheelie bins. She dug through it, pulled out a ball at random, and then returned to Ash’s side. With a warm smile, she offered it forward to Ash, who reached for it with a grin.

That ball— Bianca quickly realized what kind it was. In an instant, all the warmth in her eyes drained away as she let out an exasperated sigh.

“Latias…” Latias had just handed Ash a Love Ball, and from the looks of it, she had no idea what it implied.

“Pikapi…” And from Pikachu’s response, it seemed Ash didn’t realize it either. Bianca held back a laugh.

How were these two real?

𝒵

“Stay safe out there, amore mio, and remember— Home is always here for you.”

After taking a night and a morning to rest off the chaos from yesterday, it was time for Ash and Pikachu to hit the road. A few day’s journey laid between them and Sinnoh, and Dawn’s urgent request was still sitting heavy in Ash’s mind.

The road ahead would have its time, however. Now was the time for goodbyes. Ash and Latias stood at the door to Bianca’s home.

“I will, grandfather. Thank you so much, for everything.” Latias, disguised as Bianca, embraced Lorenzo, pressing her face into his shoulder and savoring every moment she had left. “Ash has your number now, so I’ll call as much as I can! I’ll even try writing you letters! …When, I figure out how to do that.”

Lorenzo let out a hearty laugh as they separated. There was a knowing glint in his eye, one Latias could just about parse through all his pride. What he was proud about, she wasn’t quite sure.

“Really, I should be warning this boy you’re running off with!” With a jump and humorous inflection, Lorenzo called out Ash. “I better not hear of you dragging her into any danger, is that understood?”

“Please, grandfather. This is Ash. He practically begs for danger.” Bianca stepped forward, a small smirk on her lips as she locked eyes with the boy. “I can tell, you’ve got some trouble already cooking, don’t you?”

“Mmmm, maybe.” The light tease came with a chuckle and a cocky smirk, one Bianca couldn’t help but return. She exchanged a nod with Ash, before turning to Latias, one last time. The two shared a look and Latias smiled.

Bianca’s voice cracked.

“Heh, look at that. Now you’re the one who’s leaving home, without me.” Not another word needed to be said. Not another word could be said. The two pulled each other into a tight embrace, Bianca squeezing her sister with all the force she could muster. After a moment, it broke through the cover of Latias’s disguise, revealing her in all her glory.

“I promise, I’ll be back.”

“Of course, you will.” Bianca sniffled, holding Latias closer. “Big baby like you? You can’t stay away from home for long. You’ll be back before you know it.”

Giggling, Latias pressed her forehead to Bianca’s.

“Yeah. I will. But, for now—” Latias floated back, her arms slipping from Bianca’s until the two separated. With a flash, she pulled her disguise back on, and with a grin, she held onto his shoulder. “This is where I go.”

Without breaking a sweat, Ash stepped forward, a proud smile on his face as he gripped the rim of his cap.

“It’s been amazing seeing you guys again, and I promise, we’ll be back someday soon!” he declared, looking to Latias as she reached for the door. Bright daylight shined in from behind him, as he gave his final words. “Until then— Gotta jet!”

Chapter Text

𝒴

With a victory in Santalune under her belt, Serena turned her sights onto her next destination— Cyllage City, and its Gym Leader, Grant. Collecting the Cliff Badge was the next major step in her journey, and the last thing she’d need to do before she and Ash could reunite. Suffice it to say, excitement was high!

Or, it was, one 8-hour bus ride and 4-hour trek ago.

“Stupid bus system, stupid bus ticket.” At the entrance of a well-walked cave, Serena’s tired, grumbling voice rang out, followed by the pained whine of her partner, Fennekin. “Oh, the bus system doesn’t connect to Cyllage City— Then why did you sell me a ticket that had it as the destination!”

“Fenn! Fenn…”

Serena’s insistence on using the bus to get from city to city had finally come back to bite her. The route she’d taken dropped her off well before Cyllage City, on the other side of the mountains. Only now was she arriving at the city proper, after a blind trek through Connecting Caves.

“This was so much easier when I was traveling with the others. At least Clemont could plot— Whoa!” Serena turned, stumbling out from the cave entrance and into bright sunlight. Blinded, she blinked until her vision returned. “I think— we’re— here!”

From a perch high up in the cliffs, Serena gazed down upon Cyllage City, a wide grin growing on her face. The seaside town was just as pretty as she had remembered it! She could spot the pristine stone brickwork, the beautiful sandy beach, and at least three boutiques she’d visited the last time they were there!

That thought brought another.

“The last time I was here…” Serena’s gaze turned from the city itself, to something high above it— The entrance to the Cyllage Gym. It stood on a cliff that overlooked the city, opposite from where Serena and Fennekin stood now. For a moment, the idea of walking all that way filled her with dread, before it all drained away. A new feeling took its place, as Serena grinned.

That new feeling, it was excitement.

𝒴

“Fen! Nekin! Nenene— Fennekin!” Fennekin spoke with leaps and bounds, miming out motions and affecting moves with a gusto befitting an actress. Serena couldn’t but giggle at that, as she watched her partner walk circles around her.

The two were currently trekking their way through Cyllage City, looking for the local Pokémon center and a place to settle down. While the excitement was high for the both of them, it seemed doubly so for Fennekin.

“Gosh, someone can’t wait! The win against Viola got you that ready to go again, huh?” Serena grinned. She had worried that her partner wouldn’t take to battling like she had, but it seemed like with most things, their hearts were aligned. Well, mostly aligned. “I’d hold your horses this time, Fennekin. We had the type advantage last time. Now we’re at a disadvantage.”

Serena dug out her journal to double-check herself. Right as she remembered, Fire beat Bug and Rock beat Fire. They’d have to work twice as hard to make up the difference. Four times as hard, even.

“Fenn! Fennekin, kin— Fenn!” Fennekin wasn’t convinced. It seemed to Serena she was claiming she could beat Grant single-handedly.

That confidence put a grin on her face.

“I like the energy! Still, you haven’t seen Grant in action yet. He’s no pushover, that’s for sure.” Granted, Ash had pushed him over quite handily, but that was Ash. They were going to be scraping for every advantage they could get. “If only I could show you what Grant can do…”

Serena paused, her gaze caught on the sight of the gym entrance in the distance.

“Maybe, I can!”

𝒴

Serena paused as she entered the gym, taking just a moment to re-acclimatize to the sheer size of the space she was in. The ginormous rock climbing wall towered over her, its precarious drops and steep sides almost overwhelming to look at. She was glad she wouldn’t have to be climbing it today.

No, rather than challenge the gym, today Serena intended to observe it— To give Fennekin a taste of the battle they’d be facing and to remind herself of the same. By the sounds of combat coming from overhead, it seemed she was just in time.

“Come on, Fennekin!” With a yip from her partner, Serena jetted off to the elevator, ascending up to the battlefield only a few minutes after she arrived. When the doors opened, Serena burst through and called aloud, “We’re here!”

She called that aloud, with the Gym Leader, his challenger, and a referee standing right in front of her. Both trainers turned and stared at their sudden guest, while Serena realized the mistake of her eagerness.

“I, uh, um, hi?” Her excitement turned to shame almost instantly, as she stepped back and tried to make herself look as small as possible. Unfortunately, her excited, chittering partner just made her presence even more obvious.

Her face was probably as red as her jacket was now. It was no matter, she’d pushed through regardless!

…As long as her embarrassment didn’t kill her first.

Grant, ever the nonchalant one, broke the awkward energy in the air.

“Ah, Serena! There you are. Viola told me you’d be coming.” He placed a hand on his hip as he nodded to Serena, cooling her discomfort with a smile. “I take it you intend to challenge me today as well?”

Serena shook her head.

“Not today. But would it be possible for me and Fennekin to watch the battle? If that’s allowed.”

“It’s allowed, as long as the challenger approves of it.” Grant indicated towards the trainer across from him and for the first time, Serena focused on them.

Between her and Grant stood a younger boy, no older than 12 or 13. He had straight, verdant hair and wore a shirt and vest the color green. It looked almost like a uniform. Serena would’ve expected such a professionally dressed person to come across as quite stuffy, but the only look she got from him was instead mellow. He looked at her and smiled.

“You’re a new trainer as well then?” he asked. Serena nodded. “My name is Sawyer! I hope this will give you as much experience as it does for me!”

With that, Sawyer turned to face Grant, leaving Serena to watch. Whoever this kid was, he was confident.

“The match between the challenger Sawyer and the Gym Leader Grant will now begin! The Gym Leader will be allowed one Pokémon, while the trainer may use as many as he carries!” The referee laid down the rules of the match, prompting the trainers to send out their Pokémon. With a nod, Sawyer took the lead.

“I have just one Pokémon for now. Treecko!” With a careful toss, Sawyer brought out his partner— A green, lizard-like Pokémon Serena had never seen before. In an instant, she had her Pokédex out.

Treecko, the Wood Gecko Pokémon. Numerous tiny spikes cover the bottoms of Treecko’s feet, allowing it to walk on ceilings and walls.

“A Treecko, huh? I was right to think you aren’t from Kalos then!” Grant smiled, as he pulled out his own Poké ball. “Let’s see if your Pokémon can scale this challenge, then! Come on out, Onix!”

Where Sawyer’s Pokémon was small and agile, Grant’s was anything but. The four-ton rock serpent arrived on the field with a mighty crash, staring down Treecko with a glare as hard as stone.

Sawyer and Treecko held firm, the former gulping as they looked their opponent in the eye. There was no backing out now.

“The match may now begin!”

“Quick Attack, Treecko!” Sawyer was an aggressive battler it seemed, taking the first move without a moment’s hesitation. At his command, Treecko sprinted across the battlefield, making a b-line for Onix.

“Rock Tomb.” Grant was no sitting duck, however. As Treecko made leaps and bounds towards Onix, his Pokémon was summoning up a flurry of stones to launch his way.

“Dodge them, Treecko!” The rocks crashed down onto the battlefield, barely missing the nimble Treecko as he rolled and ducked and forged ahead. “Go, Quick Attack!”

With a leap and a raised fist, Treecko slammed into Onix’s head, delivering a blow backed by all his might. Unfortunately, all of his might could do little more but make Onix shudder. Bouncing off Onix’s head, Treecko returned to Sawyer’s side, before wincing. His hand was scraped up.

Sawyer scoffed.

“They’re as tough as they look. We’ll just have to press our advantage!” There was a surprising confidence in the way Sawyer made that declaration, confidence Serena couldn’t parse as being real or feigned. Perhaps there wasn’t a difference. “Again, Treecko! Quick Attack!”

“Then we shall go again as well. Onix, Rock Tomb.” With a raise of his hand, Grant sent another attack raining down on Treecko. The crashing stones shepherded him across the field, pushing him off course from his intended target— Onix’s head.

It was then that Sawyer gasped.

“Quick Attack, up Onix’s body!” The command surprised Serena, and put a small smile on Grant’s face.

He watched as Treecko leapt, dodging Onix’s Rock Tomb and sprinting up the length of his body. The writhing stone that made Onix up wasn’t the most stable of platforms, but for Treecko, it was just enough.

“Toss them off, Onix.”

“Not yet! Treecko, Quick Attack now!” Sawyer and Serena watched with bated breath as Treecko leapt, just as Onix attempted to throw him off. The toss sent him flying with extra momentum, momentum he carried into the white energy at his fist. In one fell swoop, Treecko crashed down on the behemoth!

But again, the behemoth barely budged.

“Finish this, Onix.” With a wave, Grant called an end to the battle. Onix butted its head upwards, slamming Treecko and sending him flying. By the time he hit the ground, the battle was done.

Serena released a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Despite how one-sided that match-up was, Sawyer and his Pokémon put their all into it. She could feel their intensity in her heart and the adrenaline in her veins.

“That’s the kind of challenge we’re up for, Fennekin. And we don’t have the type advantage to help us.” Serena hummed a thought as she said that, her eyes turning from Fennekin to the battlefield again. “Why didn’t the type advantage help them though? Is Onix really that strong?”

“Fenn?” Fennekin harrumphed, annoyed by the prospect that she wouldn’t get another showing like in Santalune.

Grant met Sawyer in the center of the field, as the young trainer was thanking Treecko for his hard work. Once he was recalled, Sawyer stood at attention.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do better against you, sir!” He belted those words out with a mechanical, practiced tone. With a bow, he continued on to more rehearsed dialogue. “I will train harder and surely do better next time!”

Grant snorted. Bowing like that was definitely not standard in Kalos. With a sturdy hand on his shoulder, Grant picked Sawyer up.

“On the contrary. I believe you did wonderfully. It’s not more training that you need. At least, not the sort of training you are clearly familiar with.” His words brought pause both to Sawyer, and to Serena who was listening in. “I think you just have a misunderstanding to clear up. You came here with Treecko, believing his Grass-Typing would give you an edge, yes?”

Sawyer nodded, though still seemed unsure of where this was going. Grant would soon elucidate.

“You see, while a Pokémon’s type is important for a good offense, it’s useless without the moves to take advantage of it,” he explained, as his Onix leaned in to provide an example. “Quick Attack is a Normal-Type move, and thus Rock-Types like Onix resist it.”

Grant lightly tapped against Onix’s skin to make his point.

“So, despite Treecko’s Grass-Typing, you’re still at a disadvantage. Try teaching your Pokémon a Grass-Type move and give this wall a climb again.”

Serena’s eyes lit up as Grant’s meaning registered in her mind. In an instant, she had her notebook out and was jotting away.

“That makes sense! For a defending Pokémon, its type matters the most. For an attacking Pokémon though, it’s the attack’s type that counts.” Serena recalled her battles against Viola to confirm her understanding, as Fennekin watched on. “I think that means that if you learned a move that’s strong against Rock-Types, we’d have the same advantage!”

“Fenn!? Fennekin— fenn!” In an instant, Fennekin was on board, as her bolstering about beating Grant seemed more possible than ever. Serena couldn’t help but giggle at her newfound energy, before she poured over her notes again.

“So, the only question now is how.”

Learning new moves had never exactly been an active effort as far as Serena was aware. They just seemed to appear in moments when things were particularly dire, like with Fennekin’s Flamethrower. But that wasn’t a plan. They couldn’t just walk in and wait for the battle to go badly. And what moves could Fennekin even learn to help here? Maybe she could check her Pokédex or ask Clem—

“Heh, looks like I’m not the only one with that idea.”

A voice brought Serena’s train of thought to a swift derailment. In an instant she snapped up from her journal, to find Sawyer standing before her. Grant was gone, having left at some point whilst she was in her own head. It was just her and the boy now each of them holding a rather particular item.

Sawyer held a journal in which he was jotting notes.

“Oh, you’ve got one too?” Ready to move on past the embarrassment of her daydreaming, Serena snapped her journal tight and held it against her side. “That makes sense. You look like the note-taking type.”

“I was going to say the opposite for you—” Sawyer finished his note with a flourish, before closing his journal as well. When he looked up, he found Serena’s deadpanned expression waiting for him. The gaffe he made was instantly clear. “Uh— Which is intriguing! What’s motivated you to be so, um, studious?”

“Should I feel flattered or even more insulted?” Muttering, Serena let the little faux pas pass, before she put on a smile. “I’m sort of… playing catch up. I have a lot to learn, and not as much time as I would like. This helps keep my thoughts in order!”

“Oh? And what thoughts did you get from my battle! Perhaps we could exchange notes?” In an instant, Sawyer had his journal open again, a bright twinkle to his eye. Whoever this kid was, he was passionate.

Serena liked that. If she had more of an ego, she’d say he reminded her of herself.

“Nothing you wouldn’t have gotten down, I think!” Opening up, Serena thumbed through her notes, glancing across the half-page she had just written. “Just that we have a lot of training ahead of us for this one.”

“Fenn!? Fennekin…” Fennekin’s head slumped, as she realized what that meant— She wouldn’t get to take a shot at Grant today, or any day soon. Her fortune? More dirty training.

“Well, it looks like we’re on the same page then, in more ways than one. Guess we’ll just have to see who can put their training into practice first.” Sawyer closed his journal one last time, bearing a smile that carried more than a polite look. There was a challenge in his words, one left unsaid, but heard all the same. “For now, I’m off! After Treecko rests up, we’re going to see if we can teach him a Grass-Type move!”

Serena smiled.

“Yeah, I think me and Fennekin are going to do the same. We’re going to learn a Grass-Type move too!”

A moment of stilted quiet took the two, as Sawyer blinked and Serena grinned. Then, with an awkward inflection, Sawyer replied.

“You, may have an issue trying that.”

𝒴

“How was I supposed to know Fire-Types can’t learn Grass-Type moves!?”

“Nekkin, fenn.”

After their business at the Cyllage City Gym had wrapped up, Serena and Fennekin headed back to town, ready and energized to reflect on what they had learned— Well, mostly. For now, Serena was chagrining how dumb she had looked in front of Sawyer.

“Yeah, yeah, keep up the sarcasm, that ought to make me feel better.” Serena harrumphed, crossing her arms before turning onto the road leading back to the Pokémon Center. After a minute of silent walking, she sighed and looked back. “Sorry. I shouldn’t get caught up in that. We should focus on what we’re going to do next!”

“Fenn!” Smiling, Fennekin put a little skip into her step, before she skipped ahead and began talking. She already had a plan. “Kin, fenn. Fennekiiiin, nekin!”

Serena seemed unmoved.

“Sorry girl. I don’t think there’s any chance you’re gonna be able to handle Grant on your own. At least not with your current moveset.” Serena’s swift rejection of Fennekin’s surely flawless strategy tripped the fox Pokémon up, as she watched Serena step ahead, her journal already in hand. “Maybe you could learn a Ground-Type move, or a Fighting-Type. Oh! Or maybe a Stee—”

Serena came to a stop, when something caught her eye.

“Fenne?”

“I’m fine it’s just— Is that a Pokémon?” About twenty paces ahead of them, a lone Pokémon laid in the middle of the road— An Eevee, she quickly realized. Serena’s heart panged, before she quickly stowed away her journal. “I think something’s wrong. Let’s go.”

With their previous discussion lost to the wind, Serena rushed ahead to the fallen Pokémon, Fennekin begrudgingly following along.

“Are you alright? Do you need help?” At her word, the Eevee’s head snapped up, her bright, chestnut-colored eyes meeting Serena’s in an instant. There was an intense sadness to the way she looked, the way her gaze held onto Serena so needily. It was like she was crying out in need of help, and Serena was the only one who could do it.

“Ee…vee?”

Serena’s heart broke. She was charmed.

“You poor, poor thing!” Without pause, Serena scooped the Eevee off the ground, surprising Fennekin with her forwardness. “What do you say we get you off of this road? Maybe we could take you to the Pokémon Center, and you can—”

“Bon sang alors! Mais il est où, cette menacemaudite?!” A pitched scream rang through the air, as Serena flinched and the Eevee went stiff in her arms.

“Huh? Who was that?”

“Fenn!” Fennekin spotted him before Serena did, the man who had just screamed. Whipping around, Serena found who Fennekin was indicating towards.

Storming across the road, barreling past passersby and cutting through traffic, was an old man Serena could only describe as curmudgeonly. He wore a stuffy, plaid suit with an ill-matching tie and a garish-looking bowler hat. There wasn’t a hint of kindness in his eyes, just anger and entitlement.

“There you are!”

When the man locked his eyes on Serena, the Eevee bolted out of her arms.

“Wait, where are you—!” It was too late. When Serena turned, the Eevee was already sprinting away as fast as she could. Serena wanted to follow her, but first, she needed answers. “What was that about, you jerk!”

“Yes, run! Run away you, you salaud! Dégager avant de ruiner ma vie d’avantage!” The man seemed to pay her no mind at first, as he came to a stop and waved a fist through the air. Only after he said his piece did the man finally acknowledge Serena’s existence. “Quelle douleur insupportable. Tu n’existes sur le monde seulement pour apporter un chaos total!”

Serena blinked, surprised by the man’s heavy use of native Kalosian. While almost everyone in the region knew how to speak it, it was mostly relegated to the occasional flourish or private expletive. Still, she wouldn’t be cowed by something as simple as that.

“A pain? Ruined your life? They’re just an Eevee!” she exclaimed, grabbing the man’s attention with a firm hand on his shoulder. He seemed stunned by the fact someone would dare touch him. “What gives you the right to yell at an innocent Pokémon like that!”

“Fenn!” Fennekin followed up Serena’s fire with some of her own, unleashing an Ember that put the man into a backstep.

“Innocent?! That contemptuous reprobate is anything but!” Growing flustered, the man tore his hat off his head, waving it around in some half-baked attempt to intimidate. “She has been nothing but a nuisance! A pest! And, and— qu’une petite perturbatrice détestable! Depuis le jour où je l’ai amenée dans ce pays! Good riddance to it!”

Serena groaned and turned away from the man, leaving him to his blustering as she began to think. If Ash were here, she knew what he’d do. He’d lay that jerk out flat, before going to look for that Eevee. Serena really wished she was the kind of person who could do that first thing.

For now, she’d focus on the second.

“Come on, Fennekin. We’re following that Eevee.”

Chapter Text

𝒳

With Dawn’s call hanging heavy in his mind, Ash’s number one priority was getting to Sinnoh as soon as he could. Speed was the name of the game, and waiting a day or two for a flight just wouldn’t do.

So, why buy a ticket for a plane, when you have a jet in your back pocket? With a few test flights to get them comfortable, Ash and Latias were off, making it to the far north region in record time. That led them to their current situation— While Latias was a capable flier, and Ash a very capable trainer, there wasn’t half a navigator between them.

They were lost.

“How the hell did we miss an entire town?” Ash’s eyes flashed across the horizon. Everywhere he looked, he found nothing but thick evergreen forests covering the earth down below.

“Honestly I prefer to lean on the bright side— We made it to Sinnoh!” Latias, for her part, was keeping it calm, despite her new trainer’s frustrations. Ash couldn’t help but cool it a little when he heard her response.

“If we’d somehow missed a whole region, I’d be worried. Right now I’m just annoyed.”

“Pikapi, kachu—” With a snickering chuckle, a third party joined the conversation. It was Pikachu, popping out from inside Ash’s jacket to throw in his own ribbing. “Pi!”

“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up! Ash Ketchum can’t find his way outta paper bag, huh?” Ash scowled, his annoyed look doing nothing to Pikachu but making his partner chortle even more. The two’s exchange was particularly funny to Latias, who giggled to herself. Her laugh put a little rumble into the flight.

“You should cut him some slack, Pikachu. It’s not like I’m used to flying around here anyways,” she explained, taking a look across the forest below them. “Well, I mean I’ve flown out this far, just never in this direction. I usually headed south, or sometimes to the west— Lots of really cool sights out west, and Pokémon too. I’m sure Sinnoh has—”

Before Latias’s runaway ramble could get much further, Ash snorted and patted her side. His touch brought her to pause, as he gave her a cheeky grin.

“Guess it’s the first time for the lot of us. I ain’t used to riding one of my friends around either!” The comment broke through Latias’s still quiet, as she burst into a snicker. The ride jostled for just a second until she let out a happy sigh, content.

A moment of calm quiet passed.

“Seriously though, we’re lost.”

“Yeeep. Maybe we could stop by that lake down there and try to figure out where we’re going?”

“Oh hey, that’s not a bad id— Wait a second, a lake? Twinleaf Town should be near Lake Verity!” Ash immediately shot to attention, looking over Latias’s side to the lake she’d spotted. It was small, barely the size of a fist from how high up they were, but it was there!

“...Pika, pikachu, kapichu.” Despite the two’s excitement, Pikachu couldn’t help but note the obvious. So they had missed an entire town.

“Not by that much at least!” Latias reasoned, squinting as she brought herself to a stop. “Hey Ash. This friend of yours, Dawn. How would you say she looks?”

“Uhhh. Long blue hair. White hat. Pink and gray outfit. Why do you ask?”

“Cause I’ve just spotted her!”

“Huh?!”

With an excited start, Latias rolled to the side and began a rapid descent, sending the trio barreling to the ground below. In seconds, the three crashed through the tree canopy, a good fourty or so meters from the lake itself.

While Ash struggled to regain his senses and waited for his stomach to catch up with him, he felt Latias gently depositing him onto the ground.

“We seriously need to work on your acceleration,” he muttered, catching his breath turning into a laugh as he sat back. After a moment, Pikachu crawled out of his coat and took a woozy seat on his shoulder.

“I can go from 0 to 50 in about two seconds, so I think I’m good.” Latias floated over to the edge of the clearing the trio stood in, parting some foliage to reveal exactly what she had claimed— The bodacious Dawn, standing on a path leading to Lake Verity. She hadn’t changed a bit it seemed, still sporting that same iconic outfit she’d been rocking since Ash’s days traveling with her.

“Heh. I’ve been keeping an eye on Alto Mare from the skies for years. Spotting someone who stands out as much as she does was easy peasy!”

Ash grinned as he rose to full height.

“Yep, that’s Dawn alright! Standing out is her whole deal.” Dawn seemed to be waiting for something, tapping her toe and starting down the path leading away from Lake Verity. Occasionally, she’d take a glance at her phone, before tapping a message into it.

After a moment, Ash felt the phone in his own pocket vibrate. She was waiting for him.

“Well, no point in gawking. Let’s go see what’s up!” At Ash’s declaration, Latias stiffened up, her lively attitude from moments ago fading as she floated away from the edge of the clearing.

“Yep. Let’s, go dooo… that.” A pause came, before Latias shoved her hand into Ash’s jacket pocket. “Have-fun-I’ll-be-in-here-okay-bye!”

In a flash of red light, she disappeared, recalled into the confines of her Poké ball. Ash couldn’t help but snort at that, as he adjusted his cap and looked ahead.

“Come on buddy, let’s go say hi!”

“Pika!”

𝒳

“Come on Ash, where are you?” Dawn muttered under her breath, impatiently tapping her foot as she laid in wait. She’d not gotten one message back from the boy in hours, and the path coming from Twinleaf town was absolutely bare. Frowning, Dawn let her crossed arms fall. “We don’t have much more time.”

“Hey Dawn!” A sudden shout startled her, as she whipped around to find Ash hopping out from the treeline at her back.

“Ash? What’re you doing—” She glanced back to the path leading to Twinleaf Town, before smiling and letting out an exasperated sigh. “I guess expecting you two to arrive the normal way was a fool’s errand.”

“You know it!”

“Pikaka!” Beating Ash to the finish line, Pikachu leapt ahead, landing on Dawn’s shoulder and pulling a laugh from her as he rubbed his cheek against hers. “Pikapi, Pikachu-pi, pika!”

“Heh, I’ve missed you too, Pikachu!” Dawn giggled, before letting Ash’s partner jump back to his shoulder. “You guys haven’t changed one bit, huh?”

“Nope!” Finally arriving himself, Ash flashed Dawn his old grin, before standing straight. As excited as he was to see one of his best friends again, there was business to get to. “Speakin’ of errands— What’s going on! You seemed pretty serious about me getting here ASAP.”

“And not a moment too soon!” Despite the apparent urgency in this whole arrangement, Dawn was oddly smiling. “I definitely couldn’t have you missing today!”

“Today? What’s so special about today?”

Now Dawn’s smile became a grin, one that only grew as she put a hand to her chest.

“It’s my birthday!”

A moment of pause, as Ash blinked and Pikachu deadpanned.

“...Huh?”

“Pika.”

“It’s my birthday!”

“No, I heard you, it’s— I thought you said this was super important!” Ash frowned and crossed his arms, joined by Pikachu a moment later. Despite that, Dawn didn’t seem to miss a beat. She turned and struck a pose.

“Of course it’s important! What could be more important than celebrating one of your best friends’s birthday!”

Her sheer assuredness left Ash deadpan, unsure for a moment if this was a joke or not. He almost wanted to be mad. Yet, looking at her with her cheeky grin and completely unflappable attitude, Ash quickly found his sense of humor. He broke into a snorting chuckle, before a full force laugh.

Dawn was the eccentric type, just like him. It’s why he loved her.

“Heh, you’re right. That is pretty important!”

“Exactly! Now come on, the party’s already started! Everyone’s already over by Lake Verity!” Without even a moment to pause, Dawn hooked her arm around Ash’s and began down the path to the lakefront. All the while, Ash was blinking.

“Wait, a party?”

𝒳

A party indeed!

The duo plus Pikachu quickly made their way to the lake, where festivities had been set up. Rows of tables, stacked high with snacks and drinks, cordoned off an area of the lakefront, creating a space for guests to idle and mingle. On one side, a tall set of speakers stood, playing upbeat, yet quiet, music. Across from it was a grill, ready to surely cook up a real feast later.

All of that though was just set dressing. What caught Ash’s eyes first wasn’t the party, but the partygoers; It was all their friends from Sinnoh!

Among a handful of faces Ash had never seen, he spotted Zoey and Angie talking by one of the drink tables, Nando playing his lyre alongside the speakers (of course), and Barry and Lyra taking a dip into the lake. Even Conway was there, sneaking his way around where the partygoers’ Pokémon were gathered.

Ash beamed, taking a sharp breath in preparation to holler out to his friends— Only for Dawn to beat him to the punch.

“Hey everyone! Ash is here!” With a shout that sent even Ash reeling, Dawn announced his arrival, grabbing the attention of the other guests in an instant. A few came to approach, the first of which being Barry.

In a frankly impressive feat, the energetic blonde shot straight out of the lake and marched over, still sopping wet in his swim shorts.

“Ash Ketchum! Arriving so unfashionably late I see! What took you!? I’m going to have to fine you for this!” Not even taking a second of pause to let Ash respond, Barry began digging through his pockets, struggling to find something. After a moment, Ash noticed his clothes strewn in a pile over by the water.

“Missing your wallet there, bud?” he asked with a bit of a sarcastic tone.

“Yeah! I’m giving you a pass this time, Ash! Just because it’s Dawn’s birthday!” Before Ash could jab back with the fact it was obviously because he had misplaced his wallet, Barry took a running dive for the lake.

A half breath passed before Ash broke into a snicker.

“So, he hasn’t changed.”

“Nope!” Dawn smiled and crossed her arms, right alongside Ash. “Same old Barry.”

“Can’t say the same for you, Ash!” Right on time, Zoey entered the scene, approaching the two with Angie at her side. The former was decked out in a stylish maroon jacket, while the latter had a more plain outfit on, a hoodie in her usual colors. Zoey whistled as she gave Ash a once over. “Loving the new outfit. Blue fits you way better than the black and yellow.”

“Yeah, you’re almost looking good, Ketchum!”

Ash let out a laugh. “You guys aren’t too bad yourselves! How’ve you been?”

“Ah, you know. Traveling around, kicking butt in the Hoenn contest circuit. Nothing much.” Taking the lead, Zoey immediately went into a humble brag, her nonchalant attitude returning after a moment. “Almost couldn’t make it here, actually. But Dawn caught me right when I was back in town.”

“Dawn’s really pulling in people from everywhere, huh?” Ash barely had a chance to glance over, before Dawn went off in her response.

“Ugh, I wish! Like half the people I invited couldn’t make it!” she explained, sighing and slumping over in a suitably over dramatic fashion. “May’s stuck back in Johto for a contest, Brock had a final to study for— Cynthia sent a card at the very least, even though she couldn’t come.”

Raising a brow, Angie jumped back into the conversation.

“Did you seriously invite the champion of the whole region to your birthday?”

“My 16th Birthday! That’s the most important one!” Dawn stood straight, making her declaration with the pomp and circumstance worthy of a contest star. Her sheer energy sent Ash into a laugh.

“You know, I turned 16 like two weeks ago! It’s not that big of a deal, Da—” The moment Ash uttered those words, he came to a stop, as Pikachu leapt off his shoulder in a single bound. Before Ash could ask what was up, his partner chittered out a warning and ran off. “Huh? What do you mean I did this to myself?”

Confused, he turned back to Dawn and immediately found his answer.

“It was your birthday!?”

𝒳

Pikachu skedaddled from the scene, holding back a cackle as he watched Ash get his just deserts. His partner’s mouth always seemed to get him into situations like these, so he’d just have to use it to get out this time.

For now, it was time for him to peruse and enjoy the party at his own pace, maybe check out those yummy snacks he spotted—

“Bun!”

Or not.

Pikachu froze as a familiar voice called his way. He didn’t even have a moment to turn, before he was subsequently tackled and sent rolling across the ground.

“Bun! Buneary! Neary-bun!” It was Dawn’s Buneary! The exuberate Rabbit Pokémon had launched herself into Pikachu in an excited start, with familiar affection underlying each word. “Buneary-eary! Bun!”

She had missed him!

“Pikachu-pi. Pika—!” Pikachu barely got to his feet before Buneary tackled him with another hug. She had really, really missed him. The reason for why wasn’t lost on him. His cheeks grew redder than usual as he responded. “Pikachu-pi, Pikaka-chu.”

He’d missed her too.

“Buuuun!” Squealing, Buneary hopped up to Pikachu’s side and hooked her arm through his. With a confident tug she indicated towards where the rest of the Pokémon were mingling. She wanted him to join her. “Buneary!”

For a moment, he was almost ready to go along with her— Until he noticed the Pokémon at the head of the group: Dawn’s Piplup. The prideful Penguin Pokémon was giving the two a look and snickering, before indicating towards a spot next to him.

Ripe embarrassment froze Pikachu in place, confusing Buneary as she came to a stop alongside him. He was never good with this lovey-dovey affection stuff, and this was exactly why.

He should just pull away from Buneary, he thought, go enjoy the party himself. He should—

“Buneary?” All at once, Buneary pulled Pikachu from his train of thought with a squeeze. She was leaning her head onto his shoulder, and giving him a welcoming smile. It felt… nice, really nice. With a nod, she asked again. “Bun, Buneary-eary?”

Do you want to join me with the others?

Hesitating for just a moment more, Pikachu snorted. Ah, what the heck. Let’s lean into this.

“Pika!” With a face still bright red, Pikachu forged ahead, Buneary at his side and a nervous grin on his face. Of all the challenges he had faced, some embarrassment wouldn’t do him in.

Buneary smiled.

“Bun, bun!”

𝒳

The light-hearted small talk from moments before had become anything but, as Ash and Dawn went back and forth— All the while Zoey and Angie watched on in mild amusement.

“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me your birthday passed!” On one side, we had Dawn laying out her grievances. To say she was upset was an understatement, though the reason for why was utterly befuddling to Ash.

“Ah come on, Dawn. It’s not a big deal!” On the other side, there was Ash, trying his best to defuse what suddenly became a tense social situation. Would he succeed? “Hell, I didn’t even celebrate! My mom wished me a happy birthday and that was it!”

No, no he would not.

“That’s terrible! That just won’t do!” Dawn stood straight and took a deep breath, before putting on a wink and a grin. “No need to worry! We can fix this right now!”

“Oh, no, Dawn. That’s—”

“—When we worry the most!” Chiming in unison, Angie and Zoey completed Ash’s anti-catchphrase, before laughing between themselves. Unfortunately, not even that could derail Dawn’s runaway train of enthusiasm.

“This party is for the both of us now! Dawn and Ash’s 16th birthday party!” With a tone that matched a declaration of victory, Dawn laid out her decree— A decree that left Ash as befuddled as he was charmed. He watched her turn from her confident, hands-on-hips pose, and look at him with an old familiar grin.

Before Ash could say a word in protest, Angie beat him to the punch. “Can you just, do that?”

Dawn opened her mouth to respond, but she too was beaten to the punch.

“Not typically.”

Jumping to the side, Dawn turned to reveal another person joining the conversation. With glasses shining white and a grin cocksure, a familiar figure had arrived on the scene. It was—!

“Conway? When did you get over here? I didn’t even see you!” Ash took a quick glance to confirm no one else was sneaking up on them.

Conway grinned.

“Do you ever?” Readjusting his glasses, Conway stepped forward, taking center stage in the group of five. “While it certainly isn’t typical for someone to be able to just declare it’s someone else’s birthday, Dawn has special privileges as the Birthday Girl!”

With an overly confident flourish and sneer, Conway looked to Ash.

“You wouldn’t deny her that privilege, would you, Ash?”

Realizing that Conway was coming to her aid, Dawn lit up.

“Yeah! You wouldn’t deny me that, huh, Ash!” She hopped to Conway’s side, raising her fists and beaming at Ash in perfect time. “It’s two against one, so you gotta agree!”

Ash opened his mouth, ready to offer a witty remark as he so often did. Yet, instead, he paused and laughed. Utterly ‘defeated’ by Dawn’s perfect argument, he conceded.

“Heh, alright, alright, you win!” With a flick of his thumb beneath his nose, Ash took Dawn’s side and threw his hand over her shoulder. “Happy Birthday to me! So, what did you guys get me?”

A round of laughs and bemused sighs took the group, but none of them came from Dawn. No, she was grinning, a pride in her face that matched Ash’s tit-for-tat.

“Happy Birthday, Ash.”

Ash gave a smile.

“Happy Birthday, Dawn.”

𝒳

After the logistics of whose birthday it was finally sorted out, Ash proceeded to go greet the rest of his friends, catching up with Nando, Barry, Conway, and more. In the two years since they’d seen them, things had certainly changed.

Nando had been traveling in Hoenn the last year or so, participating in a new kinda contest that was being run. Contest Spectaculars, he called them. Conway and Barry, meanwhile, were challenging the Indigo League together. Though to hear them tell it, they just happened to end up at the same cities to challenge the same gyms at the same time.

Sure, Ash told them.

After that, Ash could finally settle down, taking a breather as he leaned against one of the tables.

“Whatcha waiting for, Ash? You should bring out the rest of your Pokémon!” Of course, the moment he started to take said breather, Dawn came by with a drink and a very good point.

“Oh yeah!” Taking the punch she offered him in one hand and digging into his pockets with his other, Ash quickly went to do just that. Yet, just as he did, he paused. Something had caught his eye. Before Dawn could walk away to go chat with another party guest, he caught her by the arm and pulled her in.

“Am I going crazy, or is that Paul?” He blinked once to check, and yep, the man himself was right there, standing apart from the rest of the party. His attention was seemingly elsewhere as he looked onto the other partygoers, and wordlessly ate snacks from the table he stood near.

“Hm? Oh yeah, it is! I was surprised he showed up too. I’ll admit, I mostly invited him to be polite.” With an awkward laugh to cushion her confession, Dawn joined Ash’s side. “I didn’t think he’d actually come.”

“Yeah, a birthday doesn’t really feel like his thing.”

There was something odd about Paul, though exactly what Ash couldn’t tell. Perhaps it was the way he looked at the rest of the party with a neutral, tolerant gaze, rather than his typical scowl. Or his new outfit— A loose, floral shirt, a strong contrast to the practical tracksuit he usually wore. It all pointed Ash to a single thought about his old rival.

“Does he seem weirdly… chill to you?”

“Well that makes sense. He mentioned he just got back from a vacation!” Dawn’s explanation surprised Ash, mostly because that meant Paul managed to talk to her without being a jerk for once. “He’s been off in some other region for a few months now. Alola, I think it’s called?”

“I’m trying to imagine Paul on a vacation.” Ash closed his eyes. A moment passed. “Yeah, no, I can’t.”

Without a moment more to pause, Ash downed the drink Dawn had given him, before marching ahead to go face his old rival.

“Yo, Paul!” His call did little more than catch Paul’s gaze, but that was more than enough for Ash. “How’ve you been!”

Ash expected quite a few reactions from Paul— An annoyed groan, a snappy bite back —and got none of it. Instead, Paul simply faced him and replied.

“I’ve been fine. Training, mostly.” It was straight and to-the-point, practically polite. “I participated in the Indigo League last year.”

“No kidding! You kick some serious butt?” Ash snorted. He could get used to this.

“Lost in the finals. An ace trainer with an axe to grind against Lance blew straight through me.” There was a distinct non-chalantness in his answer, which was accentuated by the casual swig of the punch he took. When he finished, he looked to Ash. “And you?”

“Heh, faced the league in Unova last year. Didn’t… do that well.” It was a slightly embarrassed confession, but a confession nonetheless. It seemed that neither of them had a league win yet. Ash chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. “I heard you’ve been taking it pretty easy since though! A vacay, huh?”

“Yep.” Another sip of his drink. “I thought it was trite at first but slowing down, had its benefits.”

Paul pulled his gaze away from Ash, turning to the rest of the party, to all the people who’d taken time to come for Dawn’s birthday.

“It was a recommendation, actually, from that trainer who beat me. She said I could use the break.”

Now that was a surprise to Ash— That Paul would both take advice like that so readily, and that he’d actually find something to enjoy on a vacation. The picture of Paul relaxing on a beach still couldn’t form in his head, no matter how hard Ash tried to imagine it. It left him with just one thought at the front of his mind.

“Man, you’ve changed Paul.” Was it blunt? Perhaps. But Ash was rarely one to be subtle with his observations. His rivals were the same.

Paul snorted.

“It’s funny. You haven’t, Ash.” The comment caught Ash by surprise, Paul’s gaze snapping back to him as he continued “I can read you like an open book. You want a battle, don’t you?”

Ash paused, Paul’s words hitting right on the money. Was he really that easy of a read?

After a moment, a smirk cracked through Ash’s lips.

He may be an easy read, but he was never easily jostled.

“Course I do. But you’re not any better, buddy.” His sneer was practically a whisper. “You wanna battle too, don’tcha?”

Standing firm, Paul tried to not give Ash a reaction. Soon, though, his flat deadpan became a grin, and then, a snort.

“…Yeah, I do. There wasn’t a challenge to be found in that whole region.” With a turn, Paul started towards the forest, to a path leading away from Lake Verity. He only paused for a moment to flash a Poké ball— One that was black with yellow stripes. “Think you’ll be any better?”

“Oh you know it!” Gripping the brim of his cap, Ash gave his old rival a confident nod. “Pikachu! Let’s go!”

𝒳

“Huh?” Dawn paused, her curious observation of Ash and Paul coming to an end as the two began towards the forest’s edge. “Are those two, leaving?!”

“Pi-pika. Pikachu-pi, Kachu!”

Dawn turned back, spotting Pikachu and Buneary exchanging some words. Despite the redness in his face, Pikachu was holding Buneary’s hands in his own, offering her some words of promise. After a moment, Buneary smiled and nodded.

“Bun!” With a salute, she let Pikachu go, watching as he took off to follow Ash.

At that, Dawn realized what was happening.

“Ash and Paul are going to have a battle!” She grinned, leaving the drink she held behind as she took off after them. “No way am I missing this!”

Chapter Text

𝒴

A few minutes after the chase for Eevee began, it came to an end, as Serena and Fennekin spotted their target just around the street corner. Yet, before Serena could rush up ahead to catch her, she paused. Someone had beaten her to it.

“There she is! She’s, with someone?”

A large, heavyset man in jogger’s clothes stood at the Eevee’s side, while the Pokémon rolled on the ground at his feet. It was a bit hard to tell at a distance, but the man seemed to be chuckling quite happily at the adorable package he’d run into.

“Fenn. Fenneeeekin, fenn.” Fennekin squinted at the two, a clear furrow in her brow as they watched the Eevee make quick work of the man’s defenses. She was rubbing up against his ankles and pawing against the laces of his shoes.

“Yeah, she bounced back quick, huh?” The sudden flip was confusing to Serena at first, especially considering how fast Eevee had run away just a few minutes ago. Maybe… “Eevee looks, happy.”

There was an undeniable smile on Eevee’s face, as she bit down on the man’s laces and pulled them loose, a smile reflected in the man’s hearty laugh. Maybe Eevee just needed someone, anyone, she could be friends with, besides that rotten old man. Serena took on a small, sad smile.

“I think we’re done here, Fennekin. Let’s go.”

“Nekin! Fenn!” Glad to hear that, Fennekin turned her head up, ready to walk out of here and return to their planning to face Grant. Yet, before she could move to follow Serena, she noticed something. She almost ignored it, before she sighed and called her partner back.

“Huh? What’s up Fennekin?” Serena looked back, looking down the street to the jogger and Eevee again.

Back at the scene, the Eevee stretched her little head back as far as she could, pulling the man’s shoelaces tight. With that, she hopped up and leapt away from the man.

“Oh? What’s wrong, little one?” The man, confused by the Eevee’s sudden behavior, took a step forward to follow— Before immediately falling flat on his face. “Huh!?”

The man’s shoelaces, they’d been tied together!

“Eeee! Veeveeveevee!” The Eevee snickered with the same adorable energy she’d put into everything she did, before waving her bushy tail in the jogger’s face and running off.

“What the hell!? Get back here!”

Serena looked upon the scene, shocked.

“I don’t understand. Why did that Eevee do that?” She put a hand to her mouth, as her mind went back to minutes earlier, to that poor, sad look the Eevee had given her. Her heart broke all over again. “We need to follow her, Fennekin. Come on!”

“Fenn!? Nekin, fenne!” Fennekin, in comparison, was far less charitable. As the two of them rushed after the skedaddling Eevee, she seemed to think they should cut their losses.

“We can’t just leave her, Fennekin! She must be so lost and confused after her old trainer kicked her out. No wonder she’s acting out like this!”

“Fennekin…” Fennekin grumbled, unconvinced that this was a case of confused behavior.

Cutting across the street, the snickering Eevee approached another scene— a pair of handymen working at a storefront. One stood atop a ladder leaning against a wall, while his partner held the ladder in place. That was, until Eevee entered the picture.

“Huh!? Where’d you come from?” The worker holding the ladder jumped, as the Eevee leapt onto his shoulder and began rubbing against his head. She had a devilishly cute look in her eye and a curious grin on her face, as she got very acquainted with the man’s nose and mouth. “You’re mighty cute, little one, but— you— Achoo!”

The man sneezed and stumbled back, as the Eevee leapt off him with perfect timing. Coming to a stop, he quickly realized his mistake.

“Oh shoot!”

“Did you just let go of the ladder!?” The worker up above stumbled and shook as the ladder below him slipped back. “Whoa!”

“I’ve gotcha!” The ground worker tried rushing in, but tripped as the sliding ladder slammed into his shins. With a crash, he fell to the ground, his partner landing on top of him a second later. “Ugh…”

“Veeveevee!” Giggled, the Eevee rolled across the ground, watching the two men try and fail to pick themselves up. Whatever she thought she was doing, she was certainly having fun. “Eee! Veevee!”

Eevee gave the two men a wave before scampering off down the nearby alley. Just then, Serena and Fennekin arrived—

“Sorry! That Eevee probably didn’t even know what she was doing! We’ll handle it!”

“Fenn!?”

—And then promptly left again, disappearing down the same way. The two men laid there, bewildered.

Back at the chase, the Eevee appeared at the other end of the alleyway, finding a new street to greet her gaze and new people to satiate her attention. She spotted a sideway cafe, with a party of people and pokémon alike sitting down for food— Perfect.

With a giggle and a hop, the Eevee approached the party’s table, and leapt onto it without pause.

“Huh!?”

“An Eevee?”

“What’s it doing here?”

“Eeeevui!” The Eevee gave a wide grin, before strutting across the table with her head held high. With each step, she walked directly into a plate of food.

“What the—!?”

“Why you little!”

The people were getting angry, while their Pokémon were downright furious. The Eevee’s behavior was one thing, but the swagger she carried herself with sent them ballistic. A Pangoro, Granbull, and Primeape instantly jumped the table.

“Eevui! Veeveevee!” Unfortunately, the collected Eevee was too quick for them. She leapt out of the way, allowing the Pokémon to crash into each other and land onto the table. Just like that, brunch had been ruined. “Veeveevee!”

Snickering, Eevee ran off again, as the people screamed after her .

Moments later, Serena and Fennekin ran by.

“Sorry! That Eevee had a bad owner! I’m sure she didn’t mean it— Bye!” Serena belted that out in one breath, before speeding up again. They were making gains on the Eevee, but she was just too slippery! “Eevee, slow down! We just wanna talk to you!”

The Eevee glanced back as she turned a corner, pausing for just a moment to stick a tongue out, before rushing off again.

“Huh?”

“Ne!?” The taunt confused and annoyed Serena, and utterly incensed Fennekin. In an instant, she picked up speed, leaving her partner behind.

“Fennekin? What’re you doing? Fennekin!” Serena skidded past the corner, following behind both Fennekin and Eevee. Only then did she stop, and realize where Eevee was running towards. “No Eevee! That’s not safe!”

Straight ahead was an intersection, two lanes in each direction with plenty of passing cars to fill it up. The lights seemed to be malfunctioning, as in the center, there was an Officer Jenny directing traffic.

Eevee was racing straight ahead, with Fennekin close behind.

“Eevee! Don’t! Fennekin—!” Serena groaned and sprinted ahead, meeting up with Fennekin after a second of sustained running. With a jump, she swiped Fennekin off the ground, just before she could run into the street. Eevee, unfortunately, wasn’t as fortunate.

Taking a graceful leap, Eevee ran into the center of the intersection, skidding to a stop in front of the on-duty Officer Jenny. The sudden appearance of the adorable Pokémon very quickly confused the officer.

“Huh? An Eevee? What’re you doing here?” Officer Jenny turned and indicated to the other two lanes of cars they could proceed, keeping an eye on the surprise Pokémon as she walked around her. “You shouldn’t be here. The road is no place for an innocent little thing like you to be playing!”

“I’m sorry Officer Jenny! That Eevee’s not been having the best day!” From the sidewalk, Serena called out, grabbing the officer’s attention next. “Her owner just abandoned her! I think that’s why she’s been acting out!”

“Fenn! Nekin!”

“An abandoned Pokémon? Well that’s no good! I’m sorry about what happened to you, Eevee, but you need to get somewhere safe!” Turning, Officer Jenny indicated for the other lane of cars to start moving. “Why don’t you go with that nice trainer calling out for you?”

Jenny motioned towards a clear path leading back to Serena. Eevee, however, seemed uninterested. She watched car after car pass with rapt attention, until a gap finally occurred. The next car wouldn’t be by for a few moments more.

“Hey, what’re you— No!”

“Eevee!?”

Without a hint of hesitation, Eevee leapt in front of an oncoming car, forcing Officer Jenny into action.

“Watch out!” She jumped ahead, abandoning her post to grab Eevee off the ground. Try as she did, however, she couldn’t jump back fast enough. “Whoa!”

The oncoming driver swerved away, side-swiping another vehicle before narrowly missing the officer and Eevee. It skidded across the intersection, coming to a complete stop right in front of more oncoming traffic. The other drivers tried braking, but they only managed to slow to a low-speed collision.

In an instant, the poor driver was boxed in, his car dented and scraped, as cars on all sides surrounded him.

Serena gasped at the sight of it all— The intersection was in complete chaos!

“Look at what you’ve done!” The Officer Jenny quickly grew upset with the snickering Eevee in her arms, who seemed to find the minor pile up to be hilarious. “Is this funny to you!?”

“Veevee! Eevui!” With a sudden kick, Eevee bounced out of the Officer Jenny’s arms, onto one of the stalled cars. She only paused to shake her tail before rushing off again.

“Darn it! She’s going the other way!” Taking a sharp breath, Serena forged ahead, surprising Fennekin as she ran into the stalled traffic. She wasn’t gonna lose this yet! “Come on, Fennekin! We’ve gotta follow her!”

“Fennekin?!” Do we?!

𝒴

“Gotcha!”

After a few more rounds of back and forth across Cyllage City, Serena and Fennekin finally managed to catch up with their mischievous trouble maker, as Eevee ran down a dead-end alley. With a chain link fence blocking access to the next street, she was cornered. The chase was over.

Serena paused for just a moment to catch her breath, spotting Eevee pawing against the fence. Even now, she was looking for a way out. Serena frowned and approached, with Fennekin at her heel.

“Eevee, you need to stop this. You can’t mess with people like that!” Her first call came on a bit strong, but with how her frustration had been mounting, it was understandable. That was, until Serena realized Eevee flinched at her raised voice. Then she realized her mistake. “Eevee… I’m sorry. Your old trainer, they must’ve been really rotten to you, huh?”

Serena came to a stop, as Eevee turned and looked at her. Her eyes were wide and watering, with a distinct quiver to her lip. At that moment, any frustration she had with the precocious trickster melted away.

“What do you say we try again?” Serena knelt down, offering her hand to the cornered Eevee. “I could take you to the Pokémon Center, make sure you’re all taken care of.”

“Vee? Eevui?” Eevee took a step forward, apprehension in her gait, but still longing in her eyes. Serena resisted the urge to cheer. She was doing it! “Vee, Eevee?”

“Yeah! And maybe, if you’d like, you could come with me! And I could teach you how to behav— Oof!”

“Eeeveevee!” With a sudden pounce, Eevee leapt into Serena’s chest, using her as a springboard to launch herself into the air. With the extra assistance, Eevee landed squarely on the upper half of the chain link fence, more than high enough to let her climb the rest herself. She scrambled up a pace or two, before looking back to laugh in Serena’s face. “Veeveevee!”

Serena blinked.

“Are, you kidding me!?” Serena stumbled to her feet, her hands clenching as she watched Eevee climb the fence. “Was that all an act?! Were you pretending this whole time?!”

“Fennekin! Fen! Nekin!” Fennekin growled. She knew this Eevee was no good. With a yip, Embers began to pour from her maw— Embers that quickly caught Eevee’s attention.

“Eevee? Veevee!” With a grin, Eevee raised her tail, letting red and orange energy grow in her fur. Before Serena could even realize what was happening, Eevee launched a splatter of Embers her way.

Eevee had copied Ember!

“Fen!?”

“Whoa!?” Serena stumbled back, narrowly avoiding the cinders that crashed down at her feet. She was barely out of the direct line of fire then, when she heard snickering.

The Eevee was laughing at her.

Serena furrowed her brow as she watched her climb.

“You know what. Forget it.” With a huff of frustration, Serena turned around, surprising both Fennekin and the Eevee with her sudden leave. Fennekin paused only to look back for a moment, before she went to follow along.

For the first time in her rampage throughout the city, the Eevee paused. With her body straddling between one side of the fence and the other, she watched Serena and Fennekin leave her behind, an odd feeling bubbling in her eyes. Was she feeling… remorse?

That was no fun. With a huff, the Eevee pulled herself over the fence, and landed on the other side.

She had enough of humorless sourpusses constantly yelling at her. She could get by just fine on her own.

Eevee huffed and raised her head up high, strutting back onto the streets. Now, time to find some more marks to—

“There it is!”

A pitched, angry cry rang out from down the street, and at it, Eevee froze, stiff as a board. She hated being yelled at. She hated the screaming.

When Eevee turned, She realized there were many more screaming voices to come.

𝒴

“Ugh, I can’t believe we wasted all that time.”

With their pursuit of the nefarious Eevee at an end, Serena and Fennekin turned their sights back to their original destination— The Pokémon Center. They had a gym battle to plan for, and a shower in their near future. The aura of frustration and sweat was all over the two of them.

“Fenne… Fennekin.” Fennekin tried her best to comfort her grumbling trainer in the meantime, rubbing her head against Serena’s legs as they walked. As annoyed as she had been through that whole endeavor, she hated seeing her trainer so disillusioned.

“I should’ve listened to you, Fennekin. That Eevee was nothing but trouble. I can’t believe she was such a—” Serena paused, as the old man’s ravings from earlier flashed through her mind, the word salaud being at the forefront. She shook her head and sighed. “No, that’s not right. I’m thinking like that jerk now. No Pokémon deserves to be called that.”

“Nekin, fenn.” Fennekin didn’t seem to totally agree, turning her head while the two crossed an intersection. Her huffing put a little giggle in Serena’s voice.

“You only say that because you’ve had a good trainer, silly.” Reaching down, Serena swept Fennekin off her feet, and held her in her arms as she walked. “I bet if you had someone as mean and rotten as that guy then you’d… act out too.”

Serena shook her head, holding Fennekin closer until her frown disappeared.

“Fennekin?” Her partner gazed at her with a worried look, one Serena returned with a smile.

“Sorry, I was just thinking, heh.” She pressed her forehead to Fennekin’s, before setting her down on the ground again. “Even if she had a bad trainer, it doesn’t excuse how she was treating everyone. Especially people trying to help her.”

“Neki— Fen. Fennekin?” Bounding ahead, Fennekin asked the one question that was still hanging in Serena’s mind— What would happen to that Eevee now?

Serena frowned, before she crossed her arms and huffed.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. In any case, it’s not our problem any—”

“There it goes!”

“Get them!”

Serena came to a sudden stop, as pitched, angry cries rang down the street the two were walking. The Pokémon Center stood only a few meters away, but beyond it was a sight that captured Serena’s absolute attention— A mob. It was a crowd of angry, marching people, all heading down the same street with the same furrowed expression. With a moment of pause, Serena recognized a few of them.

“Those people at the restaurant… The workers on that ladder… Officer Jenny!” The cause of the crowd’s anger quickly became clear to Serena. She gulped. “I think they’re going after Eevee.”

At first, Serena tried to turn her eyes away, tried looking towards the Pokémon Center, mere meters ahead of her. Yet, it took just one angry scream from the crowd for her to snap back, a look of worry clear in her eyes. Serena sighed.

“Fenn?”

“Darn it. Stupid sense of justice.” With that final word, Serena took off running once again. “Come on, Fennekin!”

𝒴

Racing, Eevee’s heart was racing. Her chest heaved and her veins ran hot as she sprinted down the road, angry screaming echoing in the air behind her.

Screaming. She hated the screaming. That rotten old man had done nothing but scream, and these people were screaming too.

Everyone was screaming, and now Eevee wanted to, too.

Eevee turned, paws clambering against the cobblestone streets as she looked for a way out. She couldn’t stay out in the open, she needed to— she came to a stop, a ledge appearing before she had even noticed it. As far as Eevee could see, there were sandy beaches, with a dozen meter drop between her and the ground below. She couldn’t go any further, and turning back—

“There it is!”

—was no longer tenable.

In an instant, Eevee was surrounded by a loud, angry mass of cacophonous screaming. There were no people, no one face she could spot in a crowd, but instead just a collective of fury aimed her way. Anger and screaming. All she ever got was anger and screaming, from everyone she had ever met.

Everyone, except for…

“Stop it! All of you!” A voice, a distinct voice, rang out. It was separate from the crowd, opposed the crowd. A moment of pause then came, when Eevee heard feet skidding across the ground.

“Fenn!”

“Eevui?” Looking up, Eevee was shocked to find Serena and Fennekin standing before her. They’d come back?

Serena grit her teeth, her arms raised as she put herself between Eevee and the rancorous crowd. All at once, the crowd’s ire turned to her.

“What are you doing, girl! Get out of the way!”

“No! Can’t you see you’re scaring her!” Serena glanced back for just a moment, confirming exactly what she had thought. Eevee was trembling, pure terror in her eye unlike anything from before. The look she had given Serena in the alleyway was practically a joke compared to this.

That terror strengthened Serena’s resolve even further.

“Scaring her?! Maybe she ought to be scared!” One of the crowd goers screamed, anger ripe in their voice. “Did you see what she did back there!?”

“Yes, I did, but you can’t—!” Serena came to a pause as a new face forced its way to the front of the crowd: Officer Jenny. For a moment, it was a point of relief, until Serena saw just how angry even she looked.

“I’m sorry, but that Eevee’s rampage through the city needs to be answered for.”

“Yeah!”

“How dare it treat us this way!”

“It doesn’t just get to run around and cause chaos!”

Serena winced, the crowd’s fury laying into her with every word. She wasn’t even the main target and it still hurt, because she knew every one of those complaints came from a place of truth. Eevee had caused that chaos. Eevee had mistreated those people.

But that didn’t mean this response was the right one.

Officer Jenny broke through Serena’s train of thought.

“Ma’am, you need to step aside. Someone has to take responsibility for this Pokémon’s bad behavior.” At that word, Serena paused. She hesitated, before looking back at the scared, cornered Eevee.

She sighed.

“I’ll take responsibility for her.”

There was a moment of stark silence in the crowd, centered at Officer Jenny in particular. She shook her head.

“Are you saying you’re this Pokémon’s trainer?”

“I’m saying, I’ll take responsibility for them.” Serena stood tall, letting her arms fall to her side as she stared down the crowd. All the while, Fennekin was looking up at her with shock and befuddlement. Serena continued. “I’m sorry for everything Eevee has done. She obviously hasn’t had a trainer who can handle her.”

At that word, Serena glanced back, giving Eevee a strong, firm look. Yet still, it was free of anger. Serena wasn’t angry, just disappointed. Eevee’s expression grew with shame.

Officer Jenny eyed Serena with suspicion.

“I don’t know, kid. Are you sure you’re serious about this? That Eevee is more than just a little handful.”

For just a moment, Serena hesitated, clenching her hands into fists. As quickly as that hesitation came, however, it then left.

“I am, ma’am. I promise.”

“Well, that’s all I needed to hear.” With a snap, Officer Jenny faced the crowd, waving her hands and directing people back. “Alright, break it up! The situation is handled! You can all go!”

At her word, the crowd grumbled, before it began to disperse. A few of the townsfolk gave Serena nasty stares, but they soon left all the same. In the end, it was just Serena and the officer.

Jenny gave Serena one last look.

“Good luck, kid. You’re gonna need it.” With that, she left.

“Thanks.” Letting out a sigh, Serena turned, facing the cause of all this chaos— Eevee. Despite the clear paths to run away, she simply stood there, very still. “You’ve been a real headache today, you know that?”

“Eevee…” Her words cut deep, as Eevee bowed her head in shame.

Shame. Try as Serena might, she couldn’t stand for that.

“It’s a good thing then, that you’re so cute.”

“Eevui?”

“Fenn?!”

Serena surprised both Fennekin and Eevee, as she got down on her knees.

“I know your last owner wasn’t particularly nice to you,” she began, offering a hand forward while she spoke. “And that’s probably why you act out so much.”

Eevee slowly broke from her curled position, and apprehensively approached.

“So, I promise that as long as you behave yourself, it’ll be nothing but affection from me.” Serena laid her terms out simply before she gave a smile— A warm, sincere smile. “Okay?”

Eevee looked upon Serena, at her kind words and pure intentions, and smiled.

With a running start, she leapt into Serena’s arms.

“Eevui!”

Notes for Pokémon Battling #4: The more Pokémon, the merrier.

Chapter Text

𝒳

“Okay you two! Let’s lay down some ground rules!”

Ash grinned, an old nostalgic feeling running through his veins, right alongside his excitement. In an instant, it was like he was fourteen again, facing off against Paul, with Dawn at his side.

Well, she was actually standing between the two of them, but same difference really.

In a forest clearing, only a few minutes walk away from Lake Verity, Ash and Paul stood face to face, ready to brawl. It was a smaller venue than either trainer was used to, but it would more than do.

At Dawn’s call, Ash laid down his terms.

“Let’s do this! Three Pokémon each, no other restrictions!” It was simple, but more than enough for the two of them to get a feel for each other. From Paul’s reaction, it seemed he had no qualms— Apart from a clarification.

“Unlimited switching then?” He only held his gaze on Ash for a moment, before he shuffled between a set of Poké balls in his hands.

“You know it!” Standing tall, Ash gripped the rim of his cap, feeling his excitement crackle in the air. Though perhaps that was the crackle of Pikachu’s electricity.

“Pikaaaaa!” Just like his partner, Pikachu had a grin he couldn’t contain.

Their fervor seemed to nip at the edges of Paul’s aloofness, as their old rival snorted.

“Alright then, Ash. Let’s see what you’ve got to show me!”

“It’d be my pleasure!” Rearing back, Ash called out his first Pokémon without a hint of hesitation. “I choose you, Froakie!”

With a flurry of light to mark his arrival, Ash’s springy partner entered the scene, leaping forward and taking an aggressive stance towards Paul. His pose matched his trainer’s tit-for-tat.

“Froa— Froa!”

Paul held steady, the new Pokémon not rattling him for a moment. With a relaxed flick of his wrist, he called out his own Pokémon.

“Gumshoos, standby!”

“Guuuuuumshoos.”

Where Paul kept his reaction to a minimum, Ash did quite the opposite. His grin only grew as a totally new Pokémon took the field— A stocky, rodent-like Pokemon that stood on two legs and scowled from behind a mass of yellow hair. In an instant, Ash had his Pokédex out.

It beeped, giving him no information whatsoever.

“I see you weren’t taking it that easy.” Of course Paul would’ve caught new Pokémon while in Alola, Ash reasoned. He expected nothing less.

When Ash looked up, he found Paul stowing away his own Pokédex.

“Neither were you. I guess we’re both running blind.” Despite the setback, Paul didn’t falter. He simply moved ahead. So, Ash would do the same.

It was showtime.

“Hit ‘em fast, Froakie! Use Cut!” In a flash, Froakie raced forward, a blade of light in his grip as he zeroed in on his opponent. Despite Gumshoos’s size advantage, there was not a hint of hesitation in Froakie’s movement.

“Gumshoos… U-turn.” Holding until the last possible moment, Paul sent his Pokémon into action. Gumshoos shot forward, their claws digging into the dirt as they suddenly matched Froakie’s speed.

“Froakie?!” Caught off guard by the sudden acceleration, Froakie faltered, raising his blade forward in defense. In an exchange of blows, Gumshoos slammed into Froakie’s chest, as Froakie slashed across Gumshoos’s.

“Gumshoos!” Using Froakie like a springboard, Gumshoos leapt away. They backflipped, returning to Paul’s side just as their trainer raised their Poké ball into the air. Then, in a move that surprised Ash and Froakie alike, Gumshoos landed onto their own Poké ball and returned inside.

That move, U-turn. It switched Gumshoos out after it was used. It reminded Ash of a similar technique Iris’s Emolga knew— Volt Switch.

“Pulling out already, huh? Guess you weren’t kidding about wanting to switch!” Ash’s jeer had little effect on Paul, who simply raised another Poké ball forward.

“Standby for battle, Torterra!” Where Paul’s first Pokémon was a completely new face, his second was anything but. Ash couldn’t help but grin as the familiar goliath took the field, shaking the ground under his feet. “Now, use Stealth Rock!”

“Tooooorterra!”

“Hah! It’s been a while since we’ve seen that one! Froakie, use Cut again!” At Ash’s word, Froakie raced ahead again, zigging and zagging past the flurry of stones that flew out from Torterra’s position. The rocks instantly embedded themselves into the dirt at his feet, as Froakie closed the distance in mere moments.

“Oakie! Froa!” Launching himself into the air, Froakie crashed down onto Torterra, slashing his blade against his opponent’s shell once, then twice. Torterra shuddered, but he did not cry out.

Paul scoffed, and he raised his arm forward.

“Don’t let it rest! Stone Edge!”

“Dodge it, Froakie!”

“Terra!”

“Froa— Froa!” Froakie had barely a second of pause before he was on the move once more. A torrent of glowing stones flew through the air, battering the ground and tearing up grass and dirt at his feet. With each leap he took, Torterra’s attack got closer and closer to hitting the mark. “Froakie!”

“Can’t stay on the defense. Gotta—!” Ash grinned, his eyes flashing up to Torterra. The sturdy tortoise was surrounded by a dozen floating stones, waiting their turn to be fired. “Froakie! Jump, then climb!”

“Oakie!” Instantly understanding Ash’s plan, Froakie went into a roll, letting a barrage of rocks crash into the ground behind him. Then, with a bounce, he leapt straight over more oncoming stones!

“Huh!” Paul was actually taken aback, as Froakie began to use the flying stones as footholds, climbing up into the air and closing the distance to Torterra in the process. “Blow them out of the sky, Torterra!”

“Tooooor—!”

“Jump and hit ‘em while ya can, Froakie! Use Cut!” At Ash’s command, Froakie leapt, leaving the last stone behind and dodging Torterra’s counterattack. The height he gained would just have to do. Flashing a blade in his hand, Froakie crashed down on Torterra’s back, delivering another decisive blow!

“—terra!” This time, Torterra really felt it, recoiling against the attack as Froakie hacked away at his shell. Grunting, Torterra responded by launching his volley of stones down on Froakie.

“Get outta there, Froakie! Use Water Pulse!”

“Hold it, Torterra!”

Froakie leapt back, charging and firing a torrent of water that sent him flying back to Ash’s side. The maneuver nearly had Torterra’s own Stone Edge strike himself, but Paul had quickly caught on to Ash’s ruse.

Ash grinned, flicking his thumb beneath his nose as Froakie did the same.

With the sight of the mirrored pair facing him, Paul couldn’t help but pause and snort.

“You’re as slippery as ever, Ash.”

“And you’re just as crazy strong! Even going all out, Froakie can barely touch Torterra!” Despite the solid licks the two had gotten, Paul’s old partner was looking sturdy as ever. Speed wasn’t going to win this matchup.

“Took you long enough to notice.” Despite his praise, Ash couldn’t crack Paul’s usual aloof demeanor.

He was just gonna have to swing a little harder!

“Froakie—!” With a flick of his wrist, Ash raised Froakie’s Poké ball forward— Only for Paul to snap up in response.

“Torterra, come back!” Before Ash could even press the button, Paul was on the move, returning Torterra and calling out his own Pokémon in the same motion. “Gumshoos! Standby for battle!”

The unfamiliar new Pokémon returned, as Ash went into his second pick.

“Hawlucha! I choose you!” Arriving with a flurry of movements and flourishes, the passionate warrior Hawlucha took the field. He struck a powerful pose, locking eyes with the opposing Gumshoos.

“Luch—!” Unfortunately, before he could finish his proud declaration, the Stealth Rocks at his feet struck. A handful of embedded stones slammed into his side. “Hawlu!”

“Darn it, Stealth Rock, right— Sorry Hawlucha!” Quickly recovering, Ash snapped his view back to his opponents: Paul and his mysterious partner, Gumshoos. He had yet to see just what the Alolan native was made of. Time to test it out. “Let’s go! Use High Jump Kick!”

“Body Slam!”

In perfect unison, Hawlucha and Gumshoos shot forth, their leg and shoulder shining with their respective typal energies. With a fierce cry from each fighter, they crashed into one another— Only for Gumshoos to blow straight through Hawlucha!

“Whoa!” Ash stared in shock as Hawlucha flew back, skidding to a stop at his side. He knew that Body Slam was strong, but that was something else! “Guess we’ll just have to not go head-to-head. Hawlucha, get above ‘em and use Flying Press!”

“Lucha!” With a nod of understanding, Hawlucha flew into the air, flipping and extending his arms out at the peak of his jump. In an instant, he went in for a divebomb.

“U-turn, now!” At Paul’s word, Gumshoos flipped, leaping into Hawlucha with claws bared. This time, the result was reversed— Hawlucha’s powerful attack easily overpowered Gumshoos, blowing them back as the two locked into a head-to-head.

Gumshoos was far from out, however. With a twist, they tore away from Hawlucha, kicking against his chest like a springboard. Launching across the field, Gumshoos returned to Paul’s side, clicking their Poké ball as they landed.

“Pika!?”

“Returning again?” Ash furrowed his brows, thoughts racing as he watched Paul move back to Torterra. Why would he pull out so soon, after just switching them in? “That Body Slam was killer, unless… Paul knew it wouldn’t be as strong the second time.”

𝒳

Over on the sidelines, Dawn was having the same thought, as she watched Torterra hit the field once again.

“Paul would only do that if he knew Body Slam wouldn’t do the same damage again— But how?” Taking on a furrowed expression matching Ash’s, Dawn went into thought. “Could it be, Gumshoos’s ability?”

𝒳

“Flying Press!”

“Stop them with Giga Drain!”

Hawlucha shot through the air at blistering speeds, wings spread wide as he dive-bombed. Tendrils of green energy from Torterra rose to block him, but Hawlucha would blow straight past them.

“Luuuuucha!” With a twirl and flourish of his wings, Hawlucha dispersed Torterra’s counterattack, before slamming into the goliath himself.

“Make some distance with Stone Edge!” Though Torterra shuddered, he held firm, throwing Hawlucha off and rearing back in one motion. Slamming into the ground, Torterra sent two waves of rocky pillars rippling out— One pushed Hawlucha away, whilst Torterra rode the other back towards Paul.

“Keep on top of it, Hawlucha!” Ash grinned, watching Hawlucha skipping from one pillar of stone to the next, evading each blow as he was driven up and away.

Driven up.

“Now, High Jump Kick!”

“Lucha!” Standing atop a small mountain of stone, Hawlucha struck a mighty, fiery pose— then another! And another! “Hawlucha!”

Hawlucha leapt from his perch, wind and gravity adding to the momentum of his mighty kick.

Paul furrowed his brows.

“Torterra! Use Stone Edge— To move to the right!”

“Huh?!” Ash stared in shock as Torterra pounded his feet, a pillar of stone throwing him to the side. A sure hit instantly became a near miss, which meant— “Hawlucha!”

“Lucha!?”

Moving too fast to redirect or recover, Hawlucha kept going and crashed into the ground. All of that extra momentum was now recoil damage, dealt straight to Ash’s Pokémon.

“Oh no, Hawlucha!” A moment of panic was quickly swept away. Ash had to get Hawlucha out of there, before Paul’s counterattack rolled in! “Jump up and—!”

“Torterra, return! Standby for battle, Gumshoos!” In another bewildering move, Paul recalled Torterra again, leaving Hawlucha untouched as he recovered and leapt away.

“You feeling okay, Hawlucha?” Ash’s mind was buzzing, flipping between checking on his Pokémon and trying to figure out what Paul was doing. Another aggressive switch, why?

“Hawlu— Lucha!” Hawlucha was hanging in there, the damage serious but still manageable. With a strong forward stance, he indicated his desire to continue.

“Pikapi. Pika-kachupi?”

“Yeah, no point in just speculating,” Ash reasoned, his stance growing firm once more. “We’re just gonna have to feel this out!”

“Gumshoos, Body Slam!”

“High Jump Kick!” Again, things went differently— Where before Gumshoos’s Body Slam easily overpowered Hawlucha’s High Jump Kick, this time Hawlucha cleanly won the match-up. The powerful kick sent Gumshoos reeling, before they rolled to the side and went in for another blow. “Karate Chop!”

“Go low, Gumshoos!”

Hawlucha’s fist slammed into Gumshoos’s shoulder, bringing the attack to a stop and splitting the two apart. In a flash, each trainer knew their next move.

“Again!

Another exchange of blows, another parried strike which blew the two combatants away. It almost seemed like a stalemate— If it weren’t for the clear exhaustion in Gumshoos’s panting chest. They were working a lot harder to match Hawlucha than vice versa.

Ash knew this. Paul knew this. So when Paul raised Gumshoos’s Poké ball up, Ash knew his next move.

“Oh no you don’t— Hawlucha, return!” Intent on beating Paul to the punch, Ash went to recall his Pokémon first.

With that, Paul smirked.

“Pursuit!” It was a ruse! Gumshoos blitzed forward, claws reared as the light of Hawlucha’s Poké ball reached him. Even when his form became coated in red, Gumshoos still managed one final swipe, a blow that sent Hawlucha reeling as he returned.

“Pika!?”

“Huh?! Did that—” Ash looked down at Hawlucha’s Poké ball, putting two and two together after a moment of thought. “Pursuit lets you hit a Pokémon even while they’re switching out.”

“Careful, it’s learning.” Even when confirming Ash’s intuition, Paul wrapped it in a layer of biting sarcasm. The comment made Ash grumble, as he quickly swapped Pokémon again.

“Froakie, I choose you!” Before his temper could get the best of him, Ash sent out Froakie once more, letting the precocious frog take the field with a proud cry. Unfortunately, that cry would soon be cut short. “Wait, Froak—!”

“Froa?!” The Stealth Rocks struck once again, slamming Froakie in the head and making Ash wince all at once— he’d felt that one. Ash cursed himself as he grit his teeth.

“What a reckless move, Ash. Did you seriously forget about my Stealth Rocks again?” Paul shook his head. “You never would’ve done that the last time we battled!”

“Hey—!”

“Pikapi! Pikachu pi— Pika kachu, pi!” Before Ash could get ahead of himself, Pikachu came in to cool his jets. No point in getting fired up over this, after all.

Ash sighed.

“You’re right. Gotta keep my cool.” Locking his eyes back onto the battlefield, Ash considered his options. He had to get ahead of Paul’s switching game, but with Stealth Rocks out, swapping between Pokémon aggressively wouldn’t be an option. At that thought, Ash got an idea. “Maybe we should commit to our third pick. You or Fletchinder could turn this—!”

Ash paused, reaching into his pocket for Fletchinder’s Poké ball and finding another one entirely: Latias.

For a moment, Ash considered the possibility of choosing her. Latias would absolutely throw Paul off his game and be a total wild card for the match. That wasn’t even mentioning how crazy strong she had to be.

As quickly as the thought came to mind, however, Ash dismissed it. Latias had joined Ash as a companion, not a battler. He’d only offered to ‘catch’ her as a means of keeping her safe, after all.

Shaking his head, Ash stowed her Poké ball away again. It didn’t matter. He didn’t need her to win this.

𝒳

“Come on Ash, what’re you doing out there?” Dawn furrowed her brows, watching as the battle resumed once more. The agile, maneuverable Froakie was running circles around the slower Gumshoos, avoiding their devastating Body Slams and slippery U-turns. As long as Ash could prevent that move from connecting, he could delay another switch as well.

Yet, that didn’t sit right with Dawn.

“Avoiding, delaying— You can do more than that, can’t you, Ash?”

“Perhaps he can’t.”

Dawn jumped, for an instant surprised by her sudden guest, before calming when she realized who it was— Conway. The eccentric battler grinned as he joined her side to watch the battle unfold.

“Paul has him in quite a bind. This strategy pushes Ash to switch as aggressively as he is, while punishing said switching with Stealth Rocks and moves like Pursuit,” Conway explained, pushing his glasses up. After a moment, he paused and smiled. “But you probably already knew that.”

Dawn hummed in thought, before shaking her head.

“It’s more than just that— Paul is controlling the pace of the whole battle, keeping Ash on the back foot,” she explained, seeing beyond the mere mechanics. “Ash needs to find a way to take the lead, and start battling on his own terms.”

Her observation surprised Conway, his gaze flickering to her for a moment before he snorted.

“Beauty and brains— This is why I love you, Dawn.”

Dawn laughed.

“Well, who wouldn’t love me!”

𝒳

“Body— U-turn!”

“Dodge it!”

In long strides, Froakie backflipped across the battlefield, narrowly avoiding Gumshoos’s feints with each leap he took. As long as Ash could prevent a U-turn from connecting, they could hold Paul here indefinitely. But that was easier said than done.

“Now Water Pulse!”

“Froooakie!” The moment his feet skidded against the ground, Froakie had the attack primed and ready. He blasted Gumshoos back with a torrent of turbulent water, right as they tried to close the distance.

“Roll away and strike again!” At Paul’s command, Gumshoos dropped and rolled, aiming to shoot ahead and hit Froakie head on— But they slipped. The slippery wet grass sent Gumshoos careening onto the ground.

Ash grinned— The perfect opportunity.

“Frubble them, Froakie!”

“What!?” Paul stared in shock as Froakie launched his own neck bubbles at Gumshoos. Whatever it was, he didn’t want anything to do with it. “Dive back, now!”

Gumshoos went to move, but slipped once more— With that, it was done. Froakie’s frubbles coated their hands and feet, binding them to the ground.

“Gotcha!” Ash cheered. With Gumshoos locked down, they could finish this. “Now, Water—!”

Paul flashed Gumshoos’s Poké ball, readying to return them and swap to Torterra once more. Ash needed to pivot, fast.

“Froakie, return!” Beating Paul to the punch, Ash preemptively switched, sending out Hawlucha in one move. “I choose you!”

“Haaaw— Lu! Cha!” This time when Hawlucha appeared, he was ready for Paul’s Stealth Rocks. Though they still clipped his sides, he held firm, deflecting a few of the errant rocks with a swipe of his hand. Now he was ready to face Torterra.

Paul smirked.

“Gumshoos, Hidden Power!” Another trick! From their entangled position, Gumshoos threw their head back, a plume of silvery energy charging at their maw. With a snap, they fired, launching a huge beam straight for Hawlucha.

“Whoa! Dodge it, Hawlucha! Then Karate Chop!” Ash balked. This was another huge spike of power from Gumshoos!

“Luucha!” Hawlucha dived to the side at Ash’s command, just barely dodging the ginormous attack before he raced ahead. This time he was intent on finishing what he started. “Haw—!”

Paul wouldn’t give him the pleasure.

“Return! Torterra, standby for battle!”

Just as Hawlucha went to deliver the blow to his immobilized target, Gumshoos disappeared, quickly replaced by Paul’s second Pokémon once again.

“Damn it.” Ash’s mind raced with questions, trying to answer them all at once— What was Paul’s game plan and what would his next move be? And what was up with Gumshoos’s sudden spikes in power?! There had to be a connection!

He went back to before, to the first time Gumshoos had blown Hawlucha away with a Body Slam. It was right after Paul leapt to swap before Ash could. Why would he want Gumshoos in—

Then, like that, it clicked.

“When Gumshoos attacks a Pokémon that’s just switched in, their power goes through the roof!” It was more than just a hunch— Ash had the evidence to prove it. “That’s why you swapped them in before I could switch into Hawlucha earlier! And why you pretended you were switching back to Torterra just now! So I’d switch first!”

For just a moment, it seemed like Paul would give Ash the silent treatment. Then, he snorted.

“Took you long enough— Gumshoos’s ability is Stakeout. They lay in wait for a Pokémon to switch in, before ambushing them with power they store up.”

“Which is why you’ve been pushing me to swap between Pokémon so much.” Ash was right on the money! Which meant— “Now we can take you down!”

“We’ll see about that! Torterra, Stone Edge!”

𝒳

With their previous match-up fresh in his mind, Ash knew he needed to play it safe this time. Thanks to Stone Edge, Paul’s Torterra could move on a dime in quick bursts, so high flung High Jump Kicks were out of the picture.

Thankfully, if there was anything Ash had in spades, it was tricks up his sleeve.

“Slow them down with Stone Edge!”

“Bounce off ‘em, then Flying Press!”

A web of stone pillars stood up at Torterra’s call, before shooting towards Ash’s Pokemon. To a lesser opponent, that frontal assault might’ve been enough to handle them— But not to Hawlucha.

“Haaw-Lu! Cha!” With a dramatic bow and flourish, Hawlucha shot ahead, seemingly taking the first pillar head on— Before revealing his true intent. He leapt up and latched onto the pillar, before rocketing off it towards the next, and then the next! “Lucha! Haw! Lucha! Haw!”

Hawlucha weaved through the flying pillars of stones, gaining speed with each leap. In a flash, he rocketed past Torterra’s attack, wings flared out and claws beared.

“Lucha!”

Paul gritted his teeth.

“Prep a Giga Drain, Torterra! Fire it— Now!” At Paul’s command, the green tendrils of Torterra’s Giga Drain shot forth, grabbing Hawlucha by the legs and just barely latching on. Against Hawlucha’s overwhelming momentum, however, it could do little to stop the attack from connecting.

“Haaaaawlucha!” Hawlucha slammed into Torterra, driving him back several paces and digging a long trench through the dirt.

“Perfect! Now, dive back, Hawlucha!”

“Oh no you don’t! Torterra, hold onto that Giga Drain!”

Leaping back, Hawlucha tried to get away before the counterattack could roll in— But it was too late. Torterra’s Giga Drain was wrapped tight around his waist, and with each pulsation of the tendrils, he felt energy being drained away.

“Slam them!”

“Hold your ground, Hawlucha! You’ve got this!”

“Toooooor—!” Torterra thrusted Hawlucha into the air, before slamming him down. “—Terra!”

“Lucha!” Hawlucha cried out, gritting his teeth as he dug his feet into the dirt. He needed to make distance, fast. Leaping back, he pulled Torterra into a tug-of-war with his own Giga Drain.

“Great job, Hawlucha! Now pull!”

“Don’t give them an inch, Torterra!”

In an instant, both combatants were locked head-to-head: Hawlucha’s potent strength against Torterra’s massive size. At first it seemed Hawlucha was winning, dragging Torterra in, inch-by-inch, but soon, Paul aimed to tip the scales.

“Stone Edge, to push yourself back!”

“Torteeeeerra!” At Torterra’s call, two pillars of stone ejected from the ground, slamming into the front of his shell and pushing him all in one go. The added force was too much for Hawlucha, who was dragged back as Giga Drain’s power intensified.

“Lu-Lucha!”

Ash’s mind raced. He needed to turn things around, but how? Maybe he could take the risk of switching again and—

“Pikapi! Kapika. Kachu, pi!” Like a spark of inspiration, Pikachu came to the rescue. Ash grinned.

“Perfect! Hawlucha, jump up! High Jump Kick!”

“What’re you—?!” That moment of confusion was all Ash and Hawlucha needed.

“Lucha!” With a jump, Hawlucha was rocketed towards Torterra— Launched by the taught tendrils of Giga Drain like a slingshot. He slammed into his foe, a powerful kick shattering the tortoise’s hold and sending him flying. In an instant Hawlucha was free, but he was not done.

“Flying Press, while he’s still moving!”

“Stone Edge, now!”

“Tooor!” Still in mid air, Torterra fired a flurry of stones Hawlucha’s way, to no avail. The proud warrior leapt and flew over the attack, before diving towards its source.

“Bring ‘em down, Hawlucha!”

“Haaaaw!” With a burst of speed, Hawlucha grabbed Torterra by the tree and heaved. A raw burst of strength filled his muscles, until he flipped Torterra over his shoulder! “Hawlucha!”

“Terr—?!” In one fell swoop, Hawlucha slammed Torterra into the ground, ending his opponent’s flight and shaking the earth all in one go. A plume of dust and dirt filled the air.

“Haw! Lucha!” Leaping out from the cloud of dust, Hawlucha appeared. He returned to Ash’s side with a flip.

“Great job, Hawlucha!” Ash sneered, his gaze flickering up to the battlefield after a moment to praise his Pokémon. The dust cloud was clearing, revealing the spoils of their maneuver.

“Tor… Terra.” Torterra rolled onto his feet, chest heaving and dirt and grass falling from his back. That move had been intense, but Torterra wasn’t out yet.

“Return!” Which is why it surprised Ash when Paul recalled his Pokémon anyways. “Rest well, we’ll need you later.”

“Guess we’re finally turning the tides— Making you swap out this time!” His jeer wasn’t well received, as Paul glared and reared a Poké ball back.

“Trust me, I’ll be returning the favor, immediately!” With that snap, his first Pokémon returned to the battlefield. “Gumshoos, standby for battle!”

“Guuuuum.” Gumshoos stood at attention, hands tucked behind their back. There was an intense, if knowing, look to their eyes.

“Are ya, huh?” Ash couldn’t know what Paul meant, but he did know this— Stakeout was in play once again. “That means we’re staying in, Hawlucha! Hit ‘em fast with a Karate Chop!”

“Lucha!” In a burst of speed, Hawlucha rocketed towards his opponent, his hand glowing and ready to strike. At first it seemed Gumshoos would be taking the hit head on— Until they and their trainer flashed a smirk.

“Red Card!”

“Huh!?” Ash and Pikachu stared in shock as Gumshoos dived back, pulling out a mundane red playing card from their hair. They raised it up in defense and let Hawlucha’s Karate Chop strike it first.

“Haw—?!” The card exploded in Gumshoos’s hand, blowing Hawlucha back towards his trainer’s side. Before Ash could even raise a call in shock, Hawlucha’s body became coated in red light.

“Wait, what—” Just like that, Hawlucha disappeared back into the Poké ball in Ash’s pocket. “What just happened!?”

“Red Card is a special battle item— If it’s broken, it forces the opposing Pokémon to switch out,” Paul explained, tutting at Ash’s expense all the while. With a glare, he called out. “I told you Ash, I’d be returning the favor!”

Ash’s confusion faded.

“Heh, guess you did! We’ll just have to keep the punches rolling!” His mind was racing once again, trying to think of his next move. Going back into Froakie wasn’t a bad call— They could keep Gumshoos locked down for quite a while that way. However… “You feel like stretching your legs, buddy?”

“Pika?” A smile was growing on Ash’s lips, before quickly hopping onto Pikachu’s next. With a crackle of anticipation, he stood straight on Ash’s shoulder— “Pika!”

—before leaping onto the battlefield!

“I choose you, Pikachu!”

Chapter Text

𝒳

“I choose you, Pikachu!”

“Pika!” With a thunderous shout, Pikachu stormed onto the battlefield, crackling electricity in his step as he slid across the slick grass. All at once, the still stones on the battlefield shot to life, racing to crash into his side. They were fast, but still far too slow. “Chuuuu— Pi-ka!”

Firing a rapturous cry, Pikachu swiped away Paul’s Stealth Rocks with an Iron Tail, leaving only the shattered fragments to graze his skin as they passed. They hurt, but he was far from kowtowing to that.

The combatants were set. Ash and Pikachu stared down Paul and Gumshoos, each itching to see who’d take the first move. The answer was neither.

“Body Slam!”

“Iron Tail!”

They struck in unison.

Gumshoos rocketed forward, muscles primed with the potent energy of Stakeout. Pikachu was no sitting duck, however. With another flash of his Iron Tail, he went to meet his opponent blow-for-blow.

“Guuuum!”

“Chuuu!” Pikachu’s Iron Tail crashed against Gumshoos’s shoulder, breaking both their momentums and bringing them to a complete stop. For a moment it seemed like the two were evenly matched— before Pikachu came to prove he was the stronger rodent. “—Pi-ka!”

“Throw ‘em back, and hit ‘em again, buddy!”

“Pika!” Pikachu’s Iron Tail sent Gumshoos flying, tumbling across the ground in an uncontrolled roll. Before Paul could try to counter, Pikachu was on the move again. He rocketed after Gumshoos and launched him into the air with another potent blow.

“Thunderbolt!”

“Hidden Power!” At Paul’s word, Gumshoos recovered, flipping in midair and firing a beam down on Pikachu. The hipshot blast was nothing, however, compared to the raw power of Pikachu’s lightning.

“Piiiikaaachuuu!” Thunderbolt swept away Gumshoos’s blast, before slamming into the Pokémon itself.

“Shoos!?”

Paul grit his teeth, eyes racing across the field. He needed to recover, fast.

“Roll into a Body Slam!”

“Sho! Gum!” Skidding across the ground, Gumshoos broke their fall, before sprinting back towards Pikachu. Time for round two.

“Meet ‘em with an Iron Tail, buddy!”

“Chuuu! Pi!” Pikachu charged another earth-rumbling Iron Tail, happy to let his opponent come to him. He reared back and—!

“Pivot! U-turn!”

—Was met with a feint! Gumshoos leapt over Pikachu’s swing, slamming him in the back as they passed.

“Ka!” Pikachu was far from done, however. Whipping around on the balls of his feet, he crashed his Iron Tail into Gumshoos, knocking them out of the air and sending them rolling towards Paul. They were going for their Poké ball.

“Oh no you don’t! Pikachu, lock it down!”

“Pika!” Pikachu hit the ground and lunged, disappearing into a flicker before Paul could even respond. A moment later, he reappeared, right above Gumshoos. “Pikachu!”

“Iron Tail!”

“Return Gumshoos!” Paul leapt to pull Gumshoos back into their Poké ball, but it was too late. Just as Gumshoos became coated in red light, Pikachu swung, slamming them into the ground with a critical Iron Tail.

“Finish it with Thunderbolt!” At Ash’s command, it was done. Pikachu fired a blast of crackling electricity, lighting up his opponent just as they crashed into the grass. When the plume of dirt and debris from the clash cleared, Gumshoos was knocked out and Pikachu stood victorious.

𝒳

“They did it!” Dawn leapt, feeling a spark of her old cheerleading routine hit her as she hyped Ash and Pikachu up. “Way to go, guys!”

“My, my, Pikachu certainly hasn’t been slacking.” Rubbing his chin in thought, Conway couldn’t help but let a touch of praise reach his words. “That speed is amazing— Dizzying even. Question is, will it be enough now that Paul has free reign to pick a counter.”

Dawn paused for a moment, considering Conway’s words, before shaking her head and grinning.

“Knowing Ash, he’ll just counter it right back!”

𝒳

“Pika!” With a call that was more than a little proud, Pikachu declared his victory. By his hand, Paul’s switching shenanigans were done. He took a moment to congratulate himself before flickering back to his partner’s side.

“Good work buddy!” Ash was ecstatic. Finally, they were making progress— Putting Paul on the backfoot and forcing him to change up his strategy. Ash looked up at his rival, shooting off a grin as the two exchanged a glance.

Paul silently looked between the Poké balls in his hands, before forging ahead.

“Again, Torterra. Standby for battle!” Arriving once more to shake the earth, Torterra appeared at the scene, taking a firm stance after his encounter with Hawlucha. There were signs of damage across his shell and tree, bent, messy branches being the most apparent. Still, he was far from out of this.

“Toorterra!” He pounded the ground, challenging Ash and Pikachu to stay in.

They would happily oblige.

“Back into it, Pikachu. Iron Tail, from above, then behind!” Torterra’s Ground-Typing and high defenses made Thunderbolt useless and Quick Attack barely a consideration. To take on this foe, they’d need to strike hard and strike fast.

Thankfully, Pikachu was an expert at both.

“Send them back with Stone Edge!”

“Pika!” Darting across the battlefield in a flurry of movement, Pikachu quickly closed the distance to Torterra, a distance he was intent on keeping.

“Terra!” A wave of stone pillars erupted from the ground at Torterra’s call, the earth buckling as it went to push Pikachu back. Ash’s partner was forced to duck and evade, leaping across the return fire, in order to keep moving ahead.

“Chuuuu—!” With a jump, Pikachu rocketed up one of Torterra’s pillars, charging a potent Iron Tail right at the peak of his ascent. “Pi-ka!”

“Deflect with Giga Drain!” Paul was no sitting duck, however. Just as Pikachu shot down to take his first blow, Torterra moved to block, the energetic tendrils of Giga Drain rising in his defense. Unfortunately against Pikachu’s speed and power, they did little more than cushion the blow.

Pikachu’s Iron Tail slammed into the crown of Torterra’s shell, before he flickered from view once more.

“Hit ‘em again, Pikachu!”

“Evade, Torterra! Stone Edge!”

With Pikachu’s follow-up, Paul went for evasion over defense, sending Torterra sliding across the field on a bed of its own stone pillars. Pikachu appeared once again to slam into the experienced Grass-Type, only to just miss as he dodged out of the way.

“Keep at it, Pikachu!” Skidding across the ground, Pikachu continued his pursuit, jetting in for potent side swipes and then leaping back to evade the counterattack. All the while, Torterra was on the move, deflecting or cushioning against Pikachu’s strikes with Giga Drain as they came.

Against Torterra’s monstrous defenses, this hit-and-run strat would just have to do.

“Torterra, on my mark!” Paul’s eyes flickered across the battlefield, following Pikachu in the instants he appeared. His sheer speed was disorienting, and to a lesser trainer, untrackable. But Paul was anything but lesser. When Pikachu leapt up to attack Torterra from above, Paul went to respond. “Now! Frenzy Plant!”

“Whoa!?” Ash called up in shock as thick, thorny vines erupted from the earth, lunging for Pikachu right as he went for another Iron Tail. The counterattack snatched him from the air. “Get out of there, buddy! Iron Tail!”

“Don’t let him escape, Torterra!” The vines tightened around Pikachu’s chest, squeezing a pained cry from Ash’s partner. Paul had him exactly where he wanted him. “Now, why don’t we reintroduce them to your Stealth Rock!”

“Huh!?” Staring up in shock, Ash quickly realized what Paul meant. Torterra reared his vines back, before slamming them down against the earth, bashing Pikachu in the process. Pikachu grit his teeth against the blow, trying to hold on, but the accelerating stones of Stealth Rock broke his resolve.

“Pika!?” One of the sharp stones slammed against the back of Pikachu’s head, pulling out a cry and an annoyed growl. “Piiiikaaa!”

“Get out of there buddy! Cut through it with Iron Tail!” Pikachu tensed to do just that, but was stymied all the same. The vines of Torterra’s Frenzy Plant held him too tightly. Ash needed another plan.

“Again, Torterra! Slam him down!” Torterra raised Pikachu into the air once more, pausing only to recharge off his use of Frenzy Plant. It was in that moment of reprieve that Ash knew what he had to do.

“Time to go for broke, Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt! 110%!” At Ash’s call, Pikachu grinned, sparks sputtering to life at his cheeks.

“Piiiiiiikaaaaa!” The clouds above the battlefield began to churn and darken, coalescing overhead as Pikachu built up his charge. The air became heavy with static, before it all drained away in an instant. Moments after Ash gave his command, Pikachu fired. “Chuuuuuuuu—!”

“What the—!?” A blinding blast of pure electricity filled the air, cutting Paul off and forcing him to turn away. The last thing anyone could see was the Thunderbolt crashing down on Pikachu.

The sound was overwhelming, the attack thundering in a way that overpowered even thought. Paul and Ash were forced to hold on until it came to an end, as only then could they look onto the battlefield again. After a solid moment, silence fell.

The air smelled heavy with ozone. Excess static nipped at the senses. Still, the battle was on.

“Chuu— Pi-ka!” With a quick swing of his Iron Tail, Pikachu broke free from the vine of Frenzy Plant, the thick flora now mere charcoal. Kicking against the crumbling plant life, he leapt back to Ash’s side, panting and grinning all the while.

“Tor… Terra.” Torterra too was short of breath. Though the blast could do no harm to him directly, the overwhelming heat was something else entirely. The vines of Frenzy Plant dissolved into ash, as small fires burned away the last few spots of grass surrounding Torterra.

Torterra now stood in the center of a circle of bare, heat-baked dirt.

It gave Ash an idea.

“Hey Pikachu, think you’re up for swapping out again?” His request surprised Pikachu, but Ash expected that. The real response he was looking out for was Paul’s, who through all this remained a stoney quiet. Ash watched for a reaction as he pulled a Poké ball from his pocket, and got none.

Paul was staying in.

“Pikapi, pikachu, chu ka!” Climbing onto Ash’s shoulder, Pikachu gave both his support and his concerns. Whatever Ash was planning, he’d better be sure of it, Pikachu said.

“Trust me, I am, buddy!” With a grin that said just that, Ash tossed a Poké ball into the air. “Alright Froakie, one more time! I choose you!”

“Pika— pikachu!”

“Right— And watch out for Stealth Rock!”

“Froooooakie!” Appearing in a flash of light and bubbles, Froakie returned to the field, already tensing for what would come next. With a leap, he dodged the first set of Stealth Rocks, deflected the next, before finally he was nailed in the back by one he missed. The damage wasn’t avoided, but it was minimized.

Ash grinned.

“Now, go in for a Water Pulse! Fire when I say!”

“Trying this again?” Finally breaking his silence, Paul moved to counter. “Torterra, prime a Giga Drain! On my signal!”

In perfect unison, Torterra and Froakie leapt into action. The former tensed with the bright green energy of Giga Drain, while the latter raced in with a plume of water in his palm. Quickly closing the distance to his gargantuan opponent, Froakie flew into the air with a mighty jump.

“Water Pulse—!”

“Giga Drain!”

“—Straight down!” In quick succession, move and counter-moves fired. The tendrils of Torterra’s Giga Drain wrenched up for Froakie, only to just miss as the nimble frog fired downwards. A pillar of torrential water slammed into the dry dirt at Torterra’s feet, instantly turning a swath of it into mud.

Paul grit his teeth, before throwing a hand back.

“Cheap trick, Ash! Surely you know what goes up, must come down!” Right on his word, Froakie reached the peak of his flight, as his Water Pulse sputtered to a stop. “Blast them out of the sky, Torterra!”

“Water Pulse again, over him this time!” Not missing a beat, Froakie rocketed to the side, evading Torterra’s Stone Edge and sending more water raining down on his opponent. More and more of the bare dirt was turning into mud now, a fact that made Ash flash a grin. “Swing wide, then come back, Froakie!”

“Giga Drain, before they escape!” At his command, Paul’s Torterra made another grab for Froakie, snapping up at him with a lasso of green energy. Yet again, it was for naught.

Froakie evaded capture, beating the attack back with one final slash of Water Pulse. The clashing blows sent a cascade of water raining down over Torterra, and launched Froakie into the air. With a steady flick of his arms, Froakie sent himself flying back to Ash’s side.

His chest heaved after that high-flung maneuver, but he was grinning all the same.

“Good job, Froakie! We got Paul right where we want ‘em!” Ash grinned. Despite his confidence, however, Paul seemed unfazed.

“Do you, Ash? Because it seems to me you’ve just been watering the grass.” His tone was flat and unwavering, unaffected by Ash’s claims.

Ash was intent on changing that very soon.

“Hang back and charge up a Water Pulse, Froakie! As long as you can!”

𝒳

“My, my. What is Ash’s plan here?” Conway cocked a brow at the display, as the battle kicked off once more. “Trying to break through Paul’s defenses with sheer force?”

Paul’s Torterra was slamming the earth, sending pillars of stone thundering after Ash’s Froakie— To no avail. The nimble Water-Type easily dodged each errant blow, the distance he kept from his opponent doing most of the work for him. All the while, a plume of blue water grew in his hand with every passing moment.

“Frooooakie— Frooooakie—!”

Watching the battle unfold before her, Dawn quickly gained a knowing glint to her eyes. The pieces of Ash’s strategy were clicking together in her mind.

“He’s got more in store than that,” she assured, confident as she was speaking fact. With a sudden shout, she called out. “Come on Ash, you can do this! Bring it home!”

“Hm.” At her sheer enthusiasm, Conway couldn’t help but snort and mutter under his breath. “Your capacity for faith knows no bounds, Dawn.”

Soon after, Conway and Dawn found their little watch party gaining a few more guests.

“Hey! There you guys are!” Appearing from the path leading back to the party was Zoey, quickly followed by Angie right behind her. She waved the two down as she approached. “We were wondering where half the party had slipped off to, before the next thing we see is a huge Thunderbolt from over here!”

“Figures it’s these two. Ash really can’t pass up an opportunity to show off, huh?” Angie snorted as she took Dawn’s side, resting her fists at her hips.

“What can I say? Ash takes to being in the spotlight almost as well as I do!” Grinning, Dawn flipped her gaze back to the battlefield. “Show ‘em what I mean, Ash!”

𝒳

Ash flashed a grin, sparing a moment’s glance to Dawn and their friends. They had gained a budding audience, it seemed.

Now he really had to show off.

“You heard her, Froakie! Let’s show ‘em what we can do!” Ash’s eyes scanned the battlefield, rewriting plans on the fly as he looked to up the spectacle. In an instant, he found his answer: The tall stone pillar Torterra had used to push back Hawlucha. “Froakie!”

“Froa?” Froakie leapt back, sliding across the grass while dodging the hail of stones being sent his way. The moment he locked eyes on what Ash was pointing to, he grinned. “Oakie!”

“Go!” On Ash’s word, Froakie leapt towards the towering stone pillar, a hail of stones battering the earth in his wake. Torterra’s attack chased down his every step, but Froakie remained untouched— As the charge of Water Pulse was growing more and more.

“Oakie!” Latching onto the rocky pillar, Froakie began a full-throttle sprint straight to the top.

“Frenzy Plant!” Paul was no sitting duck, however. At his command, Torterra leapt into action, pounding the muddied soil and launching two shooting vines from the earth. The thick foliage wrapped around the stone tower, narrowly missing Froakie as he ascended higher and higher. “Bring it down!”

All at once, Torterra’s vines began to shake the tower back and forth, wrenching it through the air with each swing. It forced Froakie to a dead stop, to avoid getting launched off.

Ash grit his teeth.

“Do it now, Froakie! Jump!” At his command, Froakie raised his Water Pulse into the air, as the Torterra wrenched the tower back. When his perch was thrown forward once more, he followed its example, and leapt into the air!

“Froa!” Soaring above the battlefield, Froakie launched his attack!

“Useless! You’ll never hit me at that distance!” Quick to cut Ash off at the knees, Paul made his countermove. “Dodge with Stone Edge, Torterra!”

“Tor— Terra!?” Torterra tensed, attempting to juke to the side with the aid of his Stone Edge. But, he couldn’t move— His body had sunk into the mud! The supporting pillars from Stone Edge rammed into his side, useless!

“What!?” The realization of what happened came too late. Froakie’s massive Water Pulse crashed down on the still Torterra, its girth consuming Paul’s Pokémon in a direct, unblocked hit.

Froakie barreled the attack down on his foe, sustaining it until he could hold it no longer. With that, he landed in the center of the battlefield— panting, but still very much standing.

The same could not be said for Torterra. Paul’s trusty partner was out of the count.

“Torterra.” Letting his moment of shock pass, Paul closed his eyes, before snorting. “Focusing too much on my opponent. Rookie mistake. Guess you’re not the only one who’s gotten soft, Ash.”

He led with a jab, before giving his concession.

“Torterra, return.”

A round of cheers erupted from Dawn and the others, putting a wiley grin on Ash’s face. Even Paul’s comment couldn’t get him down now.

“Pika-kapi!”

“Alright! Good job, Froakie!” Ash threw a fist into the air and cheered. Though the match had started rocky, they were coolly in the lead now. Three-to-one, they just had to bring it home! Ash locked his gaze onto his opponent. “Paul! Let’s see whatcha got!”

Paul stood by, unaffected by Ash’s demand. In his hand was a Poké ball, one Ash had only seen once before— Black with two gold stripes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he raised the ball forward.

“Let’s finish this! Standby for battle—!” With a practice throw, Paul brought his final Pokémon into play and brought the whole field to silence. “ —Xurkitree!”

“Whoa!?”

A truly alien Pokémon took the field, with bundles of rope-like tendons affecting the appearance of limbs, all leading to a head that was nothing but spikes. Ash could find neither face nor eye to look into in Paul’s Pokémon, yet felt it looking back at him all the same.

It struck Ash, when he realized Xurkitree hadn’t even made a sound yet.

𝒳

“What the heck is that!?” Xurkitree’s appearance wasn’t just making waves on the battlefield. The audience too was shocked, not the least of which being Angie. She took a half step back, before making a fist and furrowing her brows. “I’ve never seen a Pokémon like that before!”

“Me neither, and my Pokédex has nothing on it too.” Dawn tucked the device back into her pocket, surprisingly unaffected compared to her guests. In all her time traveling with Ash, an odd-looking Pokémon was one of the least surprising things they could come across. “Guess Paul was busier in Alola than he let on!”

“Xurkitree must be a very special Pokémon, if Paul’s been willing to hold off sending it out until now.” As observant as always, Conway gave his read of the scene. “And while Ash may be ahead in terms of Pokémon, all of those Pokémon have suffered damage— Either by battle or Paul’s Stealth Rocks.”

He painted a rather dower scene, one Dawn was more than happy to disregard.

“That just means we’re where Ash does his best work— Right on the edge between winning and losing!”

𝒳

Ash stashed away his Pokédex, the device useless against the Alolan native Paul had brought out. Xurkitree was a complete unknown. They’d need to feel this out.

Not that Ash minded, of course. He lived to see new Pokémon in action.

“Paul! Xurkitree! I wanna see everything you two got!” Raising a fist and a challenge all at once, Ash called an end to the battle’s recess. It was time to begin again. “Froakie! You feel good to keep going?”

He got a confident, if weary, thumbs up from his Pokémon. He was staying in.

Ash grinned.

“Good! Get in close with Double Team!”

“Hmph, we’ll see if you can handle that much. Xurkitree, use Tail Glow.”

In the blink of an eye, both combatants leapt into action— Froakie racing forward as Xurkitree began to move in a loose, rhythmic dance. The ball of spikes it called a head began to glow a soft yellow, before spiking towards a bright gold.

The light show wouldn’t deter Froakie, however, who split into a mob of shadow clones, and descended upon his foe.

“Knock ‘em down with Cut!”

“Dodge and finish your Tail Glow, Xurkitree!”

“Froa!” With perfect coordination, the group of Froakie clones raised their white blades and leapt. They barreled down on Xurkitree from all sides— and were evaded all the same!

“Pika!?”

Xurkitree went limp in the limbs, collapsing into a pile as the Froakie clones above slammed into one another. It wasn’t done there, however. Slithering across the ground like an Octillery along the seafloor, Xurkitree made ample distance while the Froakies caught their bearings.

“Keep going, Froakie! Cut!” Ash was quick on the draw, but not quick enough. As Xurkitree stood tall, its Tail Glow reached completion, igniting its body with a sudden flare of golden aura. The spike in pressure alone sent Froakie flying back, reducing the clones down to the original. “Froakie!”

“Oakie!” He wouldn’t be deterred, however. Leaping to his feet, Froakie went to finish what he started.

Paul was ready to do the same.

“Tch. Pathetic.” With one shout, he called out his counterattack. “Dazzling Gleam!”

Xurkitree tensed, its head lighting up in a sudden spike of pink energy. That energy burst forth, all at once, sending a blinding wave of dazzling light in all directions.

“Froa—!?” There was no time and no space to dodge. The wave hit home, before it consumed the whole battlefield in bright, blinding light.

“Froakie!?” Ash and the other onlookers were forced to look away, as the light was too intense to see for even a moment. By the time the field became visible again, the deed was done.

Froakie laid on the ground, out of the count.

“Froakie…” A touch of sadness tinged Ash’s voice, as he clenched his jaw and recalled his partner. That tension passed as he looked down, and sighed. “You did a great job. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you. Rest up for now, okay?”

The match was now two-to-one. Ash had the lead in numbers, but Paul had the momentum. Not only that, but he was working with a completely unknown quantity— Xurkitree. Ash couldn’t even tell what type this thing was.

“Tail Glow, Dazzling Gleam… Jeeze, Paul, you’re throwing me for a loop here.” Ash snorted, muttering that comment with a tone halfway between sheer respect and utter annoyance. Those were moves he’d never seen before.

Paul crossed his arms.

“Of course. Great trainers use everything they have, every advantage they can get their hands on. Your ignorance is to my benefit.” His jeer was dripping with a pretentious undertone, but Ash shook it off. He wouldn’t let Paul get under his skin.

“Got any ideas, buddy?”

“Pika… Chu-pikapi!”

“Play it safe, and see what we can learn. Got it!” Grinning, Ash pulled out another Poké ball. “I choose you, Hawlucha!”

The moment Ash made his choice, Paul scoffed.

“Pointless. Xurkitree, use Tail Glow again!” The moment Hawlucha appeared on the field, Xurkitree began its rhythmic dance once more. Its glowing head began to shine even brighter.

“Take ‘em down before he can finish, Hawlucha! Flying Press!” Ash was quick on the offense, but Paul’s Stealth Rocks were even quicker. The moment Hawlucha tensed to attack, he was bombarded by a hail of stones and rocks. Ash grit his teeth. “Darn it— Keep going Hawlucha! You’ve got this!”

“Lucha!” Hawlucha nodded and leapt, taking to the air as he locked on to his new foe. With a flare suiting his warrior’s spirit, he dived to attack.

“Dodge it!”

“Don’t let Xurkitree get away!”

Still in the throes of Tail Glow, Xurkitree was forced into evasive actions, going limp in the limbs and collapsing onto the ground. Yet, Hawlucha would not be dodged that easily.

“Lucha! Hawlucha!” Flying past Xurkitree, Hawlucha took a sharp turn, momentarily skidding across the field before he shot back the way he came. Now, closer to the ground, he slammed into Xurkitree as it tried to crawl away!

“Dazzling Gleam, now, Xurkitree!” Unable to afford waiting another moment, Paul put Xurkitree on the offense. Now it was Ash’s turn to evade.

“Get out of there, Hawlucha! Fly straight up!” Releasing Xurkitree from his grasp, Hawlucha took to the air, making distance as Paul’s Pokémon fired its attack.

All at once, another blinding flash of light burst from Xurkitree, forcing Ash to look up and away lest he be blinded. But he could still see one thing, soaring above the battlefield: Hawlucha!

“Sweet! When the attack clears, Hawlucha, use High Jump—!”

“Thunderbolt!” A flood of static jolted through Ash’s skin, as another attack burst through the remains of Xurkitree’s Dazzling Gleam. A beam of the bright, crackling electricity split the sky, hitting Hawlucha dead on.

“L-lucha!?”

“Hawlucha!” Despite Ash’s cry, the deed was done. Hawlucha plummeted to the ground, completely unconscious. A sigh escaped Ash’s lips. “Return!”

He gave Hawlucha’s Poké ball a reassuring squeeze before stowing it away.

The match was tied. Ash’s three-to-one advantage had been swept away in practically an instant, and he had nothing to show for it. He didn’t even know what type his opponent’s Pokémon was.

Unless…

Xurkitree stood tall and proud at the battle’s center, a familiar buzz of static ringing out from it like a victory chant. Electricity crackled and sputtered through its limbs, taking to its body like a hand to a glove.

As Ash considered his next move, a thought worked its way through his mind. Dazzling Gleam was tough, but that Thunderbolt was something else. And with how Xurkitree was preening itself, how it looked basked in electricity, there was only one conclusion Ash could come to.

“Xurkitree is an Electric-Type, isn’t it?” It was a guess, but not an uneducated one. When Paul snorted and nodded, it also confirmed it was the correct one. With that, Ash found his in. “Heh, well in that case, I can consider this match as good as won!”

“Hmph, and how do you figure that, Ash?”

“Cause you’re outmatched. You’re facing the best Electric-Type there is—!” The static in the air shifted, like turning winds pushing back against Xurkitree’s aura. The source of the change stood right there on Ash’s shoulder. “My buddy, Pikachu!”

“Pika!” Like a flash of lightning, Pikachu stormed onto the field, the air shuddering and sparks flying in his wake. In an instant, the pressure in the air flipped, static crackling as Pikachu stared his opponent down. “Chuuuu— Pika!”

When the remains of Paul’s Stealth Rock stuttered to life, Pikachu reduced it to dust with a swipe of his tail.

The jovial buzz from Xurkitree paused, as it found itself faced with a strong opposing charge. If it had not yet found a challenge, it had least come face-to-face with an equal.

The stage was set. The combatants were ready. Between Ash and Paul, there was only one thing left to say.

“Go!”

“Pika!” Pikachu tensed, taking one step, before blitzing into the next. A flash of sparks darted across the field in a flash, until the golden mouse appeared in the air behind Xurkitree.

“Iron Tail!”

“Dodge it!”

With a swing like that of an axe, Pikachu barreled down on his opponent. Xurkitree was forced to go limp to evade— to no avail!

“Chuuu— Pika!” In a single bound, Pikachu slammed his tail into the ground, before ricocheting back towards Xurkitree. “Pikachu!”

With all the force of his Iron Tail behind him, Pikachu delivered a massive kick to Xurkitree’s side. The blow sent it flying!

“Recover and use Dazzling Gleam— with precision!” At Paul’s command, Xurkitree slammed its tendrils into the ground, ending its flight in one move. In another, it fired a barrage of bright lasers, each aiming to hit Pikachu dead on!

“Quick Attack!” Pikachu flickered from view, dodging one wave of lasers, then another. “Iron Tail!”

On the third wave, Pikachu didn’t dodge, but instead deflected, sending Xurkitree’s attack flying into the distance. With a jeering grin, he blitzed forward once more.

Paul furrowed his brows.

“Dazzling Gleam, now!” Holding for the moment Pikachu appeared, Xurkitree fired its massive spread attack, seemingly catching Ash’s partner right in the heart of it.

Ash and Pikachu were far from being hit that easily, however.

“Meet it with Iron Tail, Pikachu! Full force!” Flipping in mid-air, Pikachu launched his Iron Tail down like a whip crack, slamming it into the wall of Dazzling Gleam as it came to barrel over him. The two forces buckled and fought, but in the end, Pikachu’s tail broke through.

The Iron Tail split the Dazzling Gleam in two!

“Keep going, Pikachu! Quick Attack!” Just as Xurkitree’s attack faded into dust, it was back to the offensive. Pikachu bounded forward in a flickering sprint, before crashing into his opponent and sending it tumbling across the ground.

“Get up and use Tail Glow!”

“Again, Quick Attack!”

Xurkitree had barely a moment to stand before it began the charging move, and only a moment more before it got knocked down again. Pikachu sent Paul’s Pokémon scrabbling across the ground, as he gave chase once more.

“Tail Glow, now!”

“Quick Attack!”

Without even bothering to stand, Xurkitree tried powering up, only to be befuddled again. Ash and Pikachu had it trapped in a stun lock, and now they just had to finish it!

“Tail—!”

“Iron Tail!” With another burst of speed, Pikachu appeared in the air, an Iron Tail primed to hit Xurkitree dead on.

Paul had one move left, and with it, he smirked.

“—Wrap!”

“What!?”

All at once, Xurkitree surged to life, its limbs shooting up and snatching Pikachu out of the air. With a triumphant buzz, Paul’s Pokémon pulled Pikachu taut, locking him in place.

“Break free, buddy! Iron Tail!”

“Now, finish your Tail Glow!” Standing tall, Xurkitree began building its charge once more. Sparks flew and the earth rumbled beneath it, as it could finally complete the move unabated. All the while, Pikachu struggled against its iron grip— The amorphous tendrils keeping his tail under lock and key.

All at once, Xurkitree ignited with light and electricity, its aura skyrocketing until it consumed the very sky itself.

Ash gritted his teeth, a moment of panic giving away to excitement in an instant. If this was how Paul wanted to do it, they’d just have to meet him there and beat him anyways!

“We can play this game too, Pikachu! It’s time we go all out!” At Ash’s command, Pikachu went limp, his own determined grin taking his face.

“Pikapi! Pikachupi!” Pikachu let out a heart-pounding battlecry, one that peeled away electricity from Xurkitree and sent it swirling into his body. His cheeks came alight with a thunderous aura, seeking to challenge Xurkitree tit-for-tat.

Paul saw their challenge and scoffed.

“You want to stress-test this? Fine, be my guest!” Throwing his hand out, Paul called his next move. “We’re ending this, Xurkitree!”

“This is it, Pikachu!” At Ash’s declaration, a plume of electricity burst from Pikachu’s cheeks, whipping in the wind like a mantle off his shoulders— A mantle of thunder and lightning!

“Piii—! Kaaa—!”

“Thunderbolt, Xurkitree!”

“Thunderbolt, Pikachu! 110%!”

“—CHUUU!”

From the sky above, a massive pillar of pure electricity thundered down, crashing into an explosion of power from the two combatants.

Pikachu’s Thunderbolt hammered against Xurkitree’s, the twin attacks breaking down into a pure clash of crackling energy. The sound was like the Earth itself was shuddering, and the light was blinding like the Sun.

“PIII—! KAAA—! CHUUU!” With one final push from Pikachu, an explosion took the center of the field. The air itself had ignited!

“Pikachu?!”

Fire and electricity consumed the combatants, obscuring the center of the field in a haze of smoke. The thundering attacks continued to beat against each other for a moment more, before dissipating in an instant.

Silence fell, with both trainers looking into the smoke. After a moment, it cleared.

Pikachu and Xurkitree stood face-to-face, covered in scuffs, soot, and other marks.

The former’s chest heaved as he stared his opponent down, while the latter’s head faintly glowed and pulsed with energy.

A grin grew on Pikachu’s face, as confidence swelled in his chest.

That confidence faded with the last of his energy.

“Pi… ka… chu.” Tumbling back, Pikachu collapsed.

“Pikachu!”

𝒳

Dawn felt her shoulders slouch, as she watched the battle come to a close. The moment Pikachu fell, Ash had rushed onto the battlefield to reach his partner.

“He lost…” Angie broke the silence first, distinct disappointment in her voice.

“Ash’s gotten a lot stronger, but it seems so has Paul.” Zoey was more matter-of-fact, but the energy in her voice had definitely died down.

“It only makes sense— Ash’s team had suffered too much damage early on.” Conway in contrast had barely changed, keeping his standard analytical tone. “Stealth Rocks are a potent utility.”

What he said made sense to Dawn. It was objectively right. However, there was something else nipping at her, there at the edge of her mind. She just didn’t have all the words to describe it. As she watched Ash cradle Pikachu and comfort him for a job well done, she spoke up.

“It’s more than that. He’s… missing something.”

𝒳

“I gotcha buddy— I gotcha.” Ash buried his disappointment deep into his chest, as he helped his partner off the ground. Despite being tapped for energy, Pikachu was surprisingly still conscious, just too tired to continue.

“Pikapi… Pikachu, kapichu?”

“You did amazing, Pikachu. I practically went blind watching you go!” With a cheeky grin to sell his point, Ash gave Pikachu a squeeze, before depositing him gently on his shoulder. Once his partner was secured, Ash paused to let out a sigh— Half relieved and half bummed. “We were pretty dang close. Close, but no—”

Ash paused, as he realized he wasn’t talking to just Pikachu. Paul had approached the center of the field himself, his own partner, Xurkitree, hanging behind to watch the two.

Paul and Ash locked eyes, the former looking down at the latter, as Ash was kneeled on the grass. For a moment, Ash expected a biting remark, or a rebuke of his performance. He got neither.

Paul offered his hand.

Ash snorted, and accepted it gladly.

𝒳

With Ash and Paul’s reunion match wrapped up, the party had resumed without a hitch. There were festivities to be had, and Dawn was intent on having them. Even Ash and Pikachu, who had the greatest reason to be sullen, were happy to join in and celebrate.

Still…

Despite the rest of the day going by, and all the fun that was had, Ash couldn’t escape a lingering thought, turning in the back of his mind. He couldn’t stop thinking about the loss to Paul, and what it meant.

“Pikapi… Pikachu pi?” Pikachu leaned against Ash’s head, a quiet tone to his voice as he nibbled on a cupcake in his hands. In an instant, it pulled Ash from his thoughts.

The two stood at the edge of the party, away from the center of attention.

“You did great, Pikachu. I’m the one who should’ve been leading you better.” In the hours since their battle, Ash had been thinking long and hard about why he’d lost. He wasn’t about to let his team think that they were the reason.

“Kachu! Pika kachupi, pikachu!” Yet, it seemed his team felt the same way. Pikachu pushed back against Ash’s attempt to take all the blame for himself. Ash couldn’t help but chuckle at that.

“Okay, you win. I guess we both messed up a bit.” With a warm smile, he gave Pikachu a scratch behind the ear, one that elicited a purr and a squeal from his partner. That comfort put a spark of confidence back in Ash’s mind. “After tonight, it’s back to work, buddy. We’re gonna find it. I swear, we’re gonna find—”

“Ash.” All at once, Ash and Pikachu were pulled from their train of thought by a familiar voice at their side.

“Paul.” Paul, of all people, had managed to sneak up on them, with that same, unreadable expression he’d been carrying for the whole day. Without a word, he took the spot at Ash’s side, and looked out at the same sight he did— The rest of the partygoers.

A moment of quiet passed, before Paul spoke up.

“Whether you realize it or not, Ash, you were holding back during our battle earlier.” The accusation was biting, and for a moment Ash wanted to object. He waited though, and listened. After a moment, Paul continued. “In a few days’ time, you’ll find me at Lake Acuity. Be there, and this time, show me the trainer I faced two years ago.”

Ash balked at the offer, Pikachu similarly confused as the two lacked the words to say. Soon, though, Ash found his conviction.

Standing tall and flashing a grin, Ash replied.

“I’ll be ready.”

Chapter Text

𝒴

In the days since Serena arrived in Cyllage City, the only question on her mind had been a simple one: How does she beat Grant? She’d pored over her notes, considered her strategy, and now she would have her mentors check her work.

First though, it was time for some catch up.

“After that, I caught this little bundle of joy, and have been trying to figure out what to do ever since.” Serena lifted Eris —Eris being the name she’d given to her Eevee— up to the Pokémon Center video screen, presenting her newest Pokémon like she had plucked her off the street mere moments ago. It almost looked like it’d be irritating for the subject in question, if Eris wasn’t a glutton for attention.

The moment she saw herself on screen, Eris struck a pleased pose and waved her paw, much to the delight of her audience, Ash and Clemont.

Serena paused to give Eris a squeeze, before depositing her back onto her lap for her daily grooming.

“So yeah! I figured that even if Fennekin and Eevee aren’t strong against Rock-Types by themselves, maybe they could learn some moves that are!” she explained, her mind going back to the last few days. After getting Eris up to speed, it was off to the races with training— To little result. “Unfoooortunately, we couldn’t really find anything for either of them, at least not before they evolve, heh.”

With her problem laid out, the conversation moved to Ash and Clemont.

“I’ll say this, you’re starting from a good place, Serena!” Clemont spoke first, eager to praise her line of thinking. “Coverage moves can often be the key that turns a battle one way or another!”

“What moves do Fennekin and Eris know already?” Ash, in contrast, was far more interested in the practical side of things, ready to talk shop with his question. At it, Serena beamed and reached for her journal, pausing Eris’s brushing for just a moment to flip up to a certain page.

“I wrote them down here! My Pokédex helped me figure it out— Fennekin knows Flamethrower, Ember, Scratch, and Hidden Power.” The mention of that last move caught Ash’s attention for a moment, though for what reason, Serena couldn’t parse. As quickly as that moment came, it passed, as Ash racked his mind.

“Hmm, not much to work with.”

“Au contraire!” Where Ash was stumped, Clemont surprisingly came to the rescue. “Hidden Power might be the key to Serena’s victory!”

“Oh?” With Clemont’s enthusiasm, Ash’s swelled in turn.

“What do you mean?”

“Hidden Power is a very special technique! Unlike most moves, it’s actually capable of being nearly every type!” Clemont muttered something about the lack of Fairy-Type Hidden Powers, before he continued. “The move’s type is decided as a matter of genetics, but there’s a distinct possibility that Fennekin’s Hidden Power could be effective against Grant’s Rock-Types!”

“That’s awesome! I never knew that!” Ash was practically jumping out of his seat at the new information, with Pikachu similarly excited. It was subtle, but Serena could definitely see the gears in his mind turning. She couldn’t blame him. The possibilities were racing through her head as well.

“Amazing! So that means Fennekin could have what I need after all!” With her excitement came more questions. “How can I figure out what type her Hidden Power is?”

“Your best bet is to try and experiment by using the move in a few battles,” he explained, a bright grin on his face as he went deep into teacher mode. “It’s not fool-proof, but you should be able to narrow it down by how effectively it works against certain Pokémon.”

“Okay! I’ll do that then!” So that was Fennekin handled for now— Onto the adorable lug sitting on her lap. Serena gave Eris a squeeze and one final brush before she reached for her journal again. “Eris’s moves are Charm, Baby-Doll Eyes, Tail Whip, and Copycat.”

“Hmm, I think I have to agree with what Ash said earlier.” Where Clemont was a bastion of knowledge before, now he pulled up short, shaking his head after a moment of thought. “There isn’t much to work with here.”

“Nah, no way!” Ash surprised Serena and Clemont with a sudden declaration, picking up the camera at his end and raising it up to his face. A conniving grin took his expression, the sort of look Serena only saw when he was right in the middle of a battle. He was hatching a plan right there and then. “I know exactly what you’re going to do!”

Her smile soon took the same shape.

“Let’s hear it!”

𝒴

“Okay, let’s try this.”

With Ash’s suggestion in hand, it was right back to the grind. Serena and her team relocated to the edge of the city, where the developed areas gave way to the natural landscapes of Kalos. At the base of a cavernous mountain, the party began their training. The number one priority? Uncovering Fennekin’s Hidden Power type.

“Eris, I’m going to ask Fennekin to use Hidden Power on you— Would that be okay?” Crouching down to meet her Pokémon face-to-face, Serena laid down the terms of their exercise. Eris, ever the agreeable one, grinned and nodded. “Fennekin, you’ve gotta promise not to go overboard, okay?”

“Fenn? Fennekin!” Amused by the implication, Fennekin scoffed and rolled her eyes, before glancing over to Eris with a smirk.

Serena rolled her eyes in turn and snorted, before ruffling Fennekin’s hair lightly. The two had formed a bit of a rivalry over Serena’s attention in the past few days— Though if you asked either one they’d feign ignorance of the whole thing.

“Okay, then let’s go!” Serena hopped to her feet, as her team quickly made distance. With everyone in place, it was time. “Fennekin, use Hidden Power!”

“Nekin! Feeen!” Rearing her head back, Fennekin charged up a chromatic plume of energy at her maw. For a moment, she ballooned it to its maximum size, before pulling back and shrinking it to something more manageable. Eris was unphased by the feint. “Fennekin!”

Without another moment’s delay, Fennekin fired.

“Eevee!” Hopping up and closing her eyes, Eris braced for impact, taking the blow head-on. It pushed her back several paces, before dissipating away. With a huff, she shook off the attack.

“Hmm, okay, not too bad, but not too good either.” Serena looked down at her journal for a moment, pouring over the type chart she so often relied on. “I think that means it was a neutral hit! And since that was against a Normal-Type, that means your Hidden Power type can’t be Ghost or Fighting-Type, Fennekin!”

Two types down, sixteen more to go. Time for test two.

“Alright, Eris, now I want you to use Copycat, to copy Hidden Power!” At Serena’s command, Eris’s eyes narrowed into a mischievous smirk, one that made Fennekin pause in surprise. Her teasing was coming back to bite her!

“Vee! Eeeee!” Eris closed her eyes and focused on the move Fennekin had just used, thinking of how she pooled that energy together at her maw. In a flash, she replicated the process, and found her own chromatic ball of energy ready to go. With one final snicker, she ballooned the attack, and fired! “Eeeeevui!”

“Fenn!?”

“Eris, that’s too much!” Serena’s warning came too late. The attack connected, crashing into Fennekin an instant after it was fired, and—!

“Fenn?” —dissipated into dust just as fast.

“Veeveeveevee!” Eris cackled with that same mischievous tone she had in her rampage through Cyllage, betraying the innocent persona she’d been managing up till now. Oh, the look on Fennekin’s face!

Fennekin growled, embers flaring from her ears as she took a step forward. With that, Serena went to intervene.

“That’s! Good enough! thank you.” Placing herself between Fennekin and Eris, Serena quickly put a stop to any feud before it began. She couldn’t be having that, especially when she hadn’t even challenged the Gym Leader yet. Fennekin huffed and looked away, while Eris was back to the sweet and innocent routine, one Serena couldn’t help but find amusing. With a shake of her head, she returned to the matter of hand. “It looked like that didn’t really do much damage at all, did it, Fennekin?”

“Fennekin, fenn.” Quick to dismiss any claim to the contrary, Fennekin confirmed Serena’s suspicion. It had barely hurt. The move wasn’t very effective!

“Perfect! That means whatever type your Hidden Power is, it has to be weak against Fire-Types!” Referring to her type chart, Serena began compiling a list of all the candidates. “So, it could be a Fire, Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel, or Fairy-Type move. That narrows it down!”

Looking over her list, Serena’s enthusiasm dampened.

“...A little.” They’d eliminated twelve types, but there were still six to go. And only half of the remaining options would be helpful against Grant. Racking her mind for what to do next, Serena sighed. “You guys can take a break, I need to think this through.”

Deciding to give their trainer some distance, Fennekin and Eevee nodded and left her be. With that, she began to pace in place.

“What to do, what to do. Clemont said I should experiment by trying the move on different Pokémon, but I don’t have any other Pokémon.” Her gaze turned to the mountains at her back, and to the forest that grew off in the distance. “I don’t want to just go around attacking wild Pokémon again. I know how that feels, too well.”

Serena recollected her target training with Fennekin, where she was the target.

“There has to be another way.”

Looking down at the list of types she had noted down, Serena dwelt on her options.

𝒴

Fennekin was having a terrible, horrible, very bad week.

Okay, that was an exaggeration. The week just felt that way.

First Serena had told her she wouldn’t be able to beat Grant on her own— Then they had that nightmare chasing down Eris through Cyllage— and then she had to put up with that attention hog robbing her of precious bonding time with Serena!

Sure, Serena hadn’t paid Fennekin any less attention than usual, but the fact that Eris was getting just as many grooming sessions as her was rubbing Fennekin the wrong way.

Fennekin sighed, shaking her head and dismissing the jealous thoughts all at once. Maybe she was being unreasonable. It was silly to expect to be a one-fox team forever, and Serena was never going to neglect her other team members in favor of her. Their time with Diancie had proven that for certain.

Maybe she should try being more open—

“Eevee! Veevee!?” Hey! Where’re you going!

Welp.

Turning back, Fennekin found her subject in question in fast pursuit, running along the rocky cliff face to meet Fennekin where she stood. The two were above a dozen paces away from Serena, near a cave entrance leading into the mountains. With a deep breath, Fennekin greeted her teammate.

“Fenne, nekin, fenn!” Hey yourself, new girl! Fennekin smiled. She at the very least could afford to be amicable.

“Eeevui. Eevee, eevee!” Whatcha doing! Hopping to a stop at Fennekin’s side, Eris gave her one of her devilishly charming smiles. Fennekin could never tell how sincere they were.

“Nekkin! Fennekin fenne, fennekin.” Why, brainstorming of course! Thinking of how I’ll be defeating Grant with Serena. Fennekin pressed a paw to her chest and turned her head up with a grin. A little ego never hurts to keep the spirit up.

“Eeeeve? Eevee?” Oh? With that cool move you were doing before? Eris seemed unphased by said ego, not even paying Fennekin’s claim mind as she walked in a little circle around her. With a pause, her gaze seemed to wander to the cave entrance.

Fennekin joined her side.

“Fenn! Fennekin, nekin fenn. Fennekin.” Of course! But don’t worry, new girl. You’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m sure you’ll be on my level someday. Itching to prove her point, Fennekin looked deep into the dark cavern before them, and smirked. She reared back, and fired an Ember down its length!

“Eeveui!” Whoa! Eris’s eyes widened at the sight of the Ember flying through the cave shaft, disappearing into the dark after a few moments. She was impressed.

Fennekin smirked. Perhaps she could get used to—

“Eevee, vee!” My turn! Before Fennekin could even ask what she meant, Eris turned her head up and clenched her eyes, focusing on the attack Fennekin had just used. Her tail flagged upwards and small cinders formed at her cheeks. With that, she fired her own Ember down the cave, this one twice as big as the one Fennekin produced.

Eris duplicated the move with Copycat!

“Eevui~?” How did I do~? The question came with an unbearable smirk, the words sincere but her tone very much goading.

Fennekin could never resist being goaded. Feeling the challenge, she collected herself.

“Nekkin! Fenne!” Pretty good! But you’re a long way from me, new girl! Digging deep, Fennekin fired another Ember, this one way bigger than what came before. It tumbled down the cavern, landing past Eris’s attempt and quickly proving itself to be the bigger one.

Eris wasn’t done, however.

“Veeveevee, eevee!” I don’t know, I think I’m catching up! Crouching down and digging deep, Eris repeated her move once more, sending the biggest Ember she could manage tumbling down the cave. Despite not going as far as Fennekin’s, it just about cleared it in size.

That just wouldn’t do.

“Fennekin!? Nekkin, fenne fennekin!” Oh yeah!? Well, can you do this! This time, when Fennekin fired, it wasn’t an Ember she launched, but a full-throated Flamethrower! The attack barreled down the cave, flying past the fading Embers and disappearing down into the cave system below.

Confident she had won their little competition, Fennekin turned back to Eris, a smarmy grin across her muzzle as she matched the Eevee tit-for-tat.

“Fenne—” But before she could rub it in, or Eris could retort, a third voice entered the ring.

It was a screech, from inside the cave.

𝒴

“Okay, I think I’ve got it!” It took quite a bit of cross-referencing, but Serena had a plan! All she needed to do now was find—

“NOI!” A piercing screech rang through the air, knocking Serena off balance in an instant. Her journal nearly tumbled out of her hands as her gaze snapped up in shock. Fennekin and Eris were up ahead by one of the caves.

They were being attacked!

“Oh no!” Stumbling into a sprint, Serena rushed towards the scene. Some purple, bat-like Pokémon she didn’t recognize was flying in circles above the group, clearly angry about something and taking it out on her team.

“Noi! Noi, noi, noi, baaaat!” With a charge and release, the Pokémon fired a super sonic wave, slamming Eris into Fennekin and forcing Serena back a few steps.

“Guys, what happened?!” In a flash, she pointed her Pokédex up at the assailant.

Noibat, the Sound Wave Pokémon. Flying/Dragon-Type. Noibat’s ears emit ultrasonic waves that can disturb its prey’s sense of hearing and damage opponents.

“Nekin! Fennekin, kin!” Fennekin quickly assured that the situation was not her fault, cold comfort to Serena as she resisted being blown back.

“Nooooibat!” With a dive, the Noibat descended upon Fennekin and Eris, tackling the latter and sending her tumbling back.

“Eeveui!”

The sight of her Pokémon in pain made Serena’s heart jump into her throat.

“Okay, we’re getting out of—!” Serena swept Eris off the ground before she froze, an idea forming in her mind in an instant. Noibat was a Flying/Dragon-Type. This could be exactly what they needed! “Fennekin!”

“Fenn!?” Stumbling to her feet, Fennekin locked eyes with her trainer. Serena made her intent very clear.

“Use Hidden Power!”

“Fenn!” Fennekin grinned. She’d do so gladly. Rising to the occasion, Fennekin locked onto her fluttering opponent overhead, and fired! A potent stream of chromatic energy crashed into the Noibat— a direct hit!

“Yes!” Locking onto their assailant, Serena stood in wait. She needed to see how effective this was.

“Noi!? Noibat!” The Noibat was dazed, tumbling through the air after the sudden return fire. Yet, as quickly as they’d been knocked down, they got right back up, shaking their head clear. The attack had barely hurt them.

It wasn’t very effective!

“Noooooi!” With a pitched screech, Noibat descended upon the three, fangs bared as it went for a Bite. At that, Serena decided their business was done.

“Eeeee! Let’s get out of here!” Stumbling into a sprint, Serena took off, Eris in hand and Fennekin in fast pursuit.

𝒴

With the information on Fennekin’s Hidden Power in hand, Serena turned to the next vital thing she’d need: Her team in tip-top shape.

“Use Ember, Fennekin! And dodge it, Eris!”

In a practice field near the Pokémon Center, Serena, Fennekin, and Eris were hard at work. Attacking, and dodging was the name of the game, and they needed all the training they could get. Thankfully, Serena had the perfect example on how to do just that, from Ash.

“Fenn!” Fennekin stood in the center of the field, firing splatters of cinders in regular bursts.

“Veevee Eevee!” The mischievous Eris, meanwhile, was putting her slippery skills to good use, flipping over and evading the attacks as they came. All the while, she took every opportunity she could to fire back a taunt or jeer, throwing in a good Tail Whip at times for good measure. She still had quite a lot of energy from her rampage through Cyllage to work through, and Fennekin was the perfect target. “Veeveevee!”

“Okay, now switch! Use Copycat, Eris! Your turn to dodge, Fennekin!” In a flash, the dynamic flipped. Eris needed to pause and duplicate Fennekin’s attack, whilst Fennekin began to run circles around her teammate. After a moment’s pause, Eris fired, sending her own barrage of Embers reigning down on Fennekin.

“Fenn! Ne! Kin!” Fennekin’s dodging wasn’t as elegant as her opponent’s, but the same was true for Eris’s attacks. The burning coals splattered across the field, as Fennekin leapt away in hops and bounds.

Serena couldn’t hide the smile growing on her face. Though this was still humble beginnings, she was putting a real team together! She was a real Gym Challenger, and this was going to prove it.

Her mind drifted to her plan, the collective result of her efforts alongside Clemont and Ash’s advice. It was going to need some precise timing on her team’s part, but Serena was confident they’d be able to execute it. Ash’s Froakie and Fletchinder had their rivalry after all, and they worked together like a well-oiled machine!

All she had to do was make sure that Fennekin and Eris could—

“Fennekin!” A sudden shout from Fennekin derailed Serena’s train of thought in an instant. The pillar of flames that followed made sure of that.

“Huh!?” Some argument or another must’ve broken out while Serena was thinking, because Fennekin was back on the offense. She sent waves of powerful Flamethrowers flying across the field. Each just barely missed her opponent while she ducked and dodged.

“Eevee! Veevee!” Eris was right in her element, avoiding Fennekin’s attacks by the skin of her teeth, while a taunting grin never left her face.

Serena almost didn’t want to stop the two, if only because the display was absolutely heart-racing. Still— a mere observer she was no longer.

“Stop!” With a half-panicked shout, Serena threw herself into the field, waving her hat through the air to make her point. All at once, the battle ceased. “That’s enough, thank you.”

“Fennekin! Fenn!”

“Veevee, Eeveui!”

Both sides immediately launched into a game of deflecting blame onto the other, and it was like the fight hadn’t even stopped. Serena sighed.

“Training two Pokémon at once seems like a real handful.” A new voice entered the ring, pulling Serena from her stupor.

No, not a new voice. She recognized it.

“Sawyer?” Serena was right on the money. Stepping onto the practice field, with his Treecko on his shoulder, was Sawyer, the trainer she’d met at the Gym days before. “Hi! I should’ve guessed you’d still be in the city.”

“I thought the same. I guess we’re both in need of more EXP before we’re ready to face Grant again.” Despite the boy’s peculiar choice of words, his relaxed tone was mellow and his smile kind.

“That’s one way to put it!” On that word, Serena pulled Eris up into her arms before she could bait Fennekin into another bickering contest. “Eris, this is Sawyer! We met him a little before we ran into you.”

“Eevui!” Ever the maker of good first impressions, Eris gave her cutest grin and waved her paw, making greetings. The display quickly charmed Sawyer and his partner, Treecko, who both smiled and waved back. After a moment, Treecko hopped down from Sawyer’s shoulder, and exchanged looks with Fennekin.

“I’ve been trying to get her and Fennekin up to speed before we try taking on Grant ourselves,” Serena explained. “I thought this training would help, but I guess it’s a bit harder than it looks.”

Guess emulating a style of training Ash so often used wasn’t the best idea off the bat.

“Ah, strength in numbers! A simple strategy, but no less effective!” Sawyer paused to pull out his notebook, before freezing once he saw the stoney look on Serena’s face. Immediately, his gaffe was made clear. “I— Not to imply your strategizing is simplistic! Just—!”

“I’m guessing this is going to be a consistent thing with us.” Serena broke through her deadpanned look with a snort. “My plan’s a bit more complicated than just that! We’re still sorting out the last few details, but I think it’ll be enough to win it!”

Leaning down, Serena let Eris back onto the ground.

“How about you? Did you end up teaching Treecko a Grass-Type move?”

“Hmph, more than just that! We gained enough experience to level up twice!” His explanation was odd, but Serena nearly got what he meant. Nearly. “Perhaps I could show you in a battle! My Treecko versus your Fennekin?”

“Huh?” Serena paused, taken aback by the request for a moment, before her heart began to strum an excited beat. A real battle with another trainer, not a Gym Leader— This’d be her very first! Her fingers began to jitter as a smile grew on her face. Yet, as quickly as her excitement took her, she took a moment to pause. “But, Treecko’s a Grass-Type? Aren’t you worried about the type match-up?”

With a smile to prove his confidence, Sawyer replied.

“Trust me, I think I’ll be able to handle it.”

With that, the stage was set.

𝒴

The practice field was cleared and the trainers had taken their places. There was just one last item to check off before the battle began— Seating the spectators.

“Eris, I want you to do your best to watch Fennekin out there.” Serena sat her Pokémon down at the sidelines, crouching to speak face-to-face. “I know you two have your disagreements, but you still have a lot to learn from her, okay?”

“Eee! Eevui…” Though she harrumphed, Eris quickly made peace with Serena’s request, smiling and nodding and taking her seat. With that, Serena was ready to begin.

“So, since you’re the challenger, does that mean I get the first move?” Serena teased Sawyer as she took her place opposite his, their Pokémon between them, ready to pounce. Sawyer laughed at that, before he tucked his notebook away.

“I believe that honor goes to whoever can take the first move.” If those were the terms, Serena was happy to oblige. Her heart began to pick up a beat.

Begin.

“Flamethrower, Fennekin!”

“Treecko, Quick Attack!”

“Tree!” Though it was Serena who called her move first, it was Sawyer’s Pokémon who acted first. The wood gecko Pokémon took off into a wild sprint, straight for Fennekin.

“Fen-ne-kin!” Fennekin was no slouch, however. In a flash, she sent a pillar of crackling flames barreling down the field, forcing Treecko to the right as he sprinted.

“Follow him, Fennekin!” With a whip of her head, Fennekin sent a wave coursing down her attack. Its peak was set to crash right into Treecko.

“Jump over it!” Fennekin may be no slouch, but Treecko was no easy target. In a single bound, he cleared straight over Fennekin’s attack, and went for its source.

“Fenn!?”

“Treecko!” Treecko smacked into Fennekin’s side, before jumping away just as quickly.

“Fennekin!” This wasn’t good. Treecko was just as fast as Viola’s Surskit, and equally nimble to boot. She’d have to be at the top of her game, just like back then. “Stop and hit him in the air, Fennekin!”

“Nekin! Fenn!” Rolling to a stop, Fennekin fired a crack shot of flames, aimed at Treecko right at the peak of his jump. The attack went wide, but still managed to clip his side.

“Careful, Treecko!” A moment of panic took Sawyer’s voice, flushed away as his partner landed at his side, still raring to go. With a breath, he looked back to Serena. “Impressive shot!”

“Thanks! Me and Fennekin have been practicing that move for a long time now!” Though she stopped to accept the praise, Serena’s mind didn’t pause for a second. Her first thought was her next move and the opponent in front of her. “You and Treecko are pretty fast, but I think we’ll be able to handle you!”

Sawyer smiled, raising his hand forward as he spoke.

“We’ll see about that! Treecko, let’s show her our first level! Use Mega Drain!”

“Huh!?” Serena watched in shock as a green whip erupted from Treecko’s palm, the vine pulsing with pure, verdant energy. With a sudden start, he blitzed forward, flicking the attack through the air behind him. “Keep him back with Flamethrower!”

“Fenn!” Stepping back, Fennekin sent a wave of sweeping flames across the battlefield, to little effect. Treecko merely leapt over them, whipping his attack down for a direct hit! “Nek—!?”

“Treecko!” The vine wrapped tight around Fennekin’s tail, before wrenching up and sending her face first into the dirt.

“Burn it away with Flamethrower!” Whatever Sawyer was planning with that thing, Serena didn’t like it.

“Drain now, Treecko!” Sawyer knew that, and thus moved his plans along.

In perfect unison, Fennekin threw her head back as Treecko landed and pulled his vine taut. Green energy began pulsing through the whip, but not for long— Fennekin’s flames cut straight through it!

“Tree!?” Treecko dived back, as the flames just barely missed him. With his attack cut short, he was forced to retreat to his trainer’s side of the field.

As he did, Serena noticed the green energy from his whip retreating into his body. The mild burns from Fennekin’s earlier attack faded ever so slightly.

What had happened struck her all at once.

“Mega Drain attacks and heals you at the same time?!” Serena had no idea such a move even existed and now she was seeing it in action.

“Good observation! That’s one of the many specialties of the Grass-Type. Recovery moves!” Sawyer joined his explanation with a touch of praise. “Absorb, Mega Drain, Synthesis— And this next move!”

With a confident grin, Sawyer reached out to Treecko.

“Here’s our second level! Treecko, use Leech Seed!”

“Get ready, Fennekin!” Taking a step back, Serena prepared to take Sawyer’s attack head on.

Treecko ran across the field, making zig zags to keep Fennekin’s aim moving and unsteady. Then, with a feint, he leapt into the air.

“Eecko, treecko!” Treecko balled his fist and threw a pitch, scattering a shower of seed pods down on Fennekin.

“Flamethrower!” Quick on the upkeep, Serena countered with a shower of her own— A barrage of flames to meet the seeds. Though the counterattack burned away most of Treecko’s move, a few of the seeds managed to make it through. Serena watched in horror as they quickly buried into the floor at Fennekin’s feet. “Get back, Fenne—!”

“Fennekin!?” All at once, the seed pods burst into a swarm of vines, which wrapped around Fennekin’s body. She struggled against their taut hold to no avail. She was locked in place!

“Oh no, Fennekin!”

“Perfect! The move is set!” At Sawyer’s pleased call, Treecko landed back on the ground, his fist raised towards Fennekin like he was waiting to receive a gift. Soon, though, a gift he would get. The vines around Fennekin pulsed and glowed, drawing energy from her and routing it into their roots. After a moment, that energy coalesced into a sphere, which then flew back to Treecko!

Serena watched in awe as yet more of his injuries began to fade and lighten.

“That’s— That’s amazing! You didn’t hit Fennekin directly, but it still healed your Pokémon!” Mega Drain was surprising, but Leech Seed was something else entirely.

“Leech Seed is a powerful status move— Every so often, it’ll drain your Pokémon of its energy, and return it to my Treecko!” Sawyer explained, a smile wide on his face as he broke down his maneuver. “This is how we’re going to beat Grant!”

Serena furrowed her brows, her mind racing as she thought of her next move. Perhaps she could keep Treecko at a distance, to minimize how much energy he could drain. Or maybe she could surprise Sawyer, striking from her immobile position. Or perhaps—!

Serena shook her head.

Perhaps, sometimes the best way over something was straight through it.

“First you’re gonna have to beat me! Fennekin, burn away the Leech Seed!” At her command, Fennekin tensed, smoke rising from her ears and cinders pouring out of her maw. Wrenching against the vine’s grip, she aimed straight down.

“Quick Attack, Treecko!” Sawyer was fast to counter, but still too slow. Treecko barely made it a step before Fennekin fired.

“Fennek!” A pillar of flames consumed her and the vines, burning them away in an instant. With that, the battle was on once more.

“Follow Treecko with Flamethrower, Fennekin!”

“Dodge and use Mega Drain, Treecko!”

The combatants shot into action, Fennekin clearing the flames around her with her next attack whilst Treecko blitzed away. He rolled and leapt and sprinted all across the field, just barely dodging Fennekin’s flames as they followed in hot pursuit.

“Tree!” With a leap, Treecko shot straight towards Fennekin, another green whip already forming at his hand. This time, however, Serena was ready.

“Jump up and burn it with Ember!” At Serena’s command, Fennekin hopped into the air, Treecko’s Mega Drain swiping through the space beneath her feet. In a flash, she fired a red-hot ember, which burnt straight through the Grass-Type attack. “Perfect! Now Flamethrower!”

“Get back, Treecko!” Skidding to a stop, Treecko scrambled, Fennekin’s blistering flames licking at his ankles as he pulled back. “Jump and Mega Drain!”

“Flamethrower!”

When Treecko made his distance, he rolled to his feet and leapt in one motion. Summoning another whip to his palm, he readied to strike at Fennekin from a distance— Only to find a pillar of flames ready to meet him.

“Treecko!”

“Tree—!?” He flipped back, letting the Flamethrower pass overhead, far too close for comfort. As Treecko landed back on the ground at Sawyer’s side, his chest heaved with a mix of exhaustion and surprise. Sawyer tutted with thought.

“Your flames are too dangerous to take head-on.” He led with a compliment— “Which is why the more indirect strategy will win the day!”

—Before going right back to action!

“Leech Seed, across the whole field, Treecko!” Treecko crossed his arms and made two fists, revealing two handfuls of seeds in his grip. Before Serena or Fennekin could react, he pitched them into the air, until they spread across the whole sky above!

“Burn them away, Fennekin!”

“Again, Treecko!”

Fennekin swung her head back and fired, a steady Flamethrower incinerating the swarm raining down on her. Yet, she couldn’t hit all of them. A handful embedded into the dirt, growing into vines she had to stop and burn away.

By the time she was done, another barrage of Leech Seeds were already on their way.

Immediately, Serena recognized the problem. By having to focus on keeping Treecko’s attack from latching onto Fennekin, they were stuck on a permanent defense. They couldn’t push ahead, lest the potent move connect and drain Fennekin’s health away, little by little.

She had to figure out a way to break the impasse, some way to push through— But how!?

“How can I attack and defend at the same time?” she muttered to herself.

A thought came to Serena then: Something Ash and Clemont had said, just a few weeks ago.

It’s not just an attack, but a shield!

It’s offensive and defensive, all-in-one!

Ash’s technique, his last-ditch strategy to defeat Korrina. It was exactly what Serena needed— Counter Shield!

“This better work, guys!” Calling out to her absent friends, Serena pushed ahead with her sudden strategy. Fire burned through her veins as she looked on at her partner. “Fennekin! We’re going to try something new! I want you to spin!”

“Fennek!?” Fennekin balked at the command, just as she burnt away a vine that had wrapped around her ankle. Still, she was never one to argue in the heat of the moment. Fennekin pressed ahead. “Fen-nek-kin!”

“What’re you two—?” Sawyer stared in shock as Fennekin began to spin in place, her Flamethrower curling into a spiral that rose into the air. In an instant, Treecko’s Leech Seeds were swallowed by the swirling flames. “Huh!?”

“Perfect! You’re doing it, Fennekin!” Serena paid no mind to the lack of resemblance between her move and Ash’s Counter Shield. If this worked, then it worked! With passion swelling in her chest, she pressed ahead. “Now, let’s finish this Fennekin! Get them!”

“F-fennekin!” Fennekin swayed back and forth, her attention locked onto maintaining her attack and spinning all at once. Still, she would push ahead. For Serena, she’d push ahead! With passion burning in her throat, Fennekin stepped forward. “Fen-nek—!”

She stepped forward, and tripped over her own feet.

“Kin!”

“Fennekin!?”

𝒴

Fennekin’s vision swam and swirled around her, her stomach doing flips as she tried to get her bearings. All that spinning had driven her utterly dizzy, and with just one step, she’d fallen over, right in the middle of a battle.

The battle. Fennekin focused her gaze onto her opponent, Treecko. Despite her complete vulnerability, he hadn’t taken a step towards her. Why haven’t they attacked? Used Leech Seed or Mega Drain?

Were they pitying her?

A voice pierced through Fennekin’s daze, Serena’s voice. It called out to her, asking her if she was okay, even though the answer was clear.

“Fennek— Fennekin.” She wasn’t okay. She had failed. Frustration grew heavy in Fennekin’s chest as she rose to her feet, frustration in herself. She wished she were agile enough, wished she could do something like this well enough, like—

Fennekin paused. From the corner of her vision, she caught sight of the battle’s lone spectator: Eris. Eris was watching her, a genuine look of concern on her face.

“Fennekin! Can you hear me!” Serena’s voice called out Fennekin, finally cutting clean through the nausea. She was worried, oh so worried. Fennekin hated making her worry. “If you want to stop, we can stop, Fennekin!”

There wasn’t a doubt in Fennekin’s mind that Serena was telling the truth. But, she also knew better. Fennekin knew Serena wanted to win this. With that, Fennekin’s mind was set.

She wanted to win this too!

“Fen-ne-kin!” Bursting with fiery passion, Fennekin gave her answer, sending smog and cinders billowing from her ears like smokestacks. With her declaration ringing through the air, their opponents quickly found their motivation to battle as well.

Sawyer grinned.

“I think she’s ready to continue, and so are we!” he declared, Treecko crouching at his side, ready to sprint. “What do you say, Serena!”

“What do I say?” It was all down to Serena now, and in that moment, there was only one thing she could say. A wild smile took her face. “How do you want to do this, Fennekin!”

“Nekin! Fen!” Wasn’t it obvious? She wanted to try it again! Digging dip, she unleashed a pure jet of crackling fire, straight from her lungs: Her strongest Flamethrower yet!

“Our turn, Treecko! Jump and use Leech Seed!”

“Spin, Fennekin!”

In perfect unison, Treecko and Fennekin made their moves. Treecko leapt into the air, firing a barrage of Leech Seeds across the whole field, while Fennekin— Did the same?!

“Whoa!” Serena watched in awe as her partner leapt as well. Whatever Fennekin was planning, she would just have to go along! “Okay, now spin!”

“Fenne! Kin!” With a burst of energy, Fennekin spiraled through the air, the flames of her attack curling behind her into distinct plumes. As Treecko’s Leech Seed barreled down on her, she let the attack burst forth. “Fennekin!”

It burnt away the seed pods in an instant, before the remaining plumes went straight for Fennekin’s target, Treecko!

“Huh!?” Serena was shocked, as Fennekin executed a move she’d never seen before. “That’s not Counter Shield, that’s—!”

“Will-O-Wisp!?” If Serena was shocked, then Sawyer was flabbergasted. He was too late to respond. In the blink of an eye the attack slammed into his Pokémon, sending Treecko crashing back down to the ground below.

The exchange was done.

Fennekin landed with a rough roll, panting and exhausted, but very much still standing. Opposite of her stood a small cloud of dust, and from it, came her opponent.

“Tree… Treecko.” Treecko stood tall as well. He was scuffed and a little bruised, but it was nothing a few Mega Drains couldn’t fix up. For a moment, Fennekin’s heart sank into her chest. That whole performance and she hadn’t managed to clinch it.

Yet, then—

“Tree— Treecko!?” All at once, Treecko’s body burst into flames.

𝒴

“What— Huh!?” Serena looked on with shock and horror. First, her Pokémon had used a move that she had never heard of before, and now her opponent’s Pokémon was on fire?!

Yet, her panic passed soon after it came, when the flames died down and Treecko was left, panting and on one knee. After a moment, she spoke up.

“What, what happened?” As embarrassing as it was, Serena was forced to ask her opponent what her own move had done. Thankfully, Sawyer was the expositing type.

“Will-O-Wisp is a status move, like Leech Seed,” he explained, letting out a sigh and pulling his notebook from his pocket. He jotted down one note before continuing. “When it connects, it burns the opposing Pokémon, and damages them every so often.”

Right on that note, Treecko’s burn lit up again to make Sawyer’s point. The boy flinched, before he quickly revealed a Poké ball from his pocket. Serena paused when she realized what he was doing.

“Are you—?” Before she could get out another word, Sawyer returned Treecko to his Poké ball.

He was conceding the match.

“Your victory was inevitable,” he explained, writing one last note before he put his journal away. “You could hold Treecko at an impasse for as long as you needed. Whatever healing I could do with Mega Drain or Leech Seed would’ve been outpaced. With that burn, the match was won.”

“That means—” Sawyer’s explanation clicked in Serena’s head. “That means we won!”

“Fennek! Fennekin!” Fennekin whipped around and grinned at Serena, before she charged.

“We won, Fennekin!”

𝒴

“You should be proud, Serena. Will-O-Wisp is a powerful utility move!”

With their practice match finally complete, Serena and Sawyer had returned to the Pokémon Center. First order of business was getting their partners healed, while discussing the results of the match came second.

The two stood by the front desk, watching Nurse Joy at work on Treecko and Fennekin. Their Pokémon seemed to be having a discussion of their own, though of exactly what, neither Sawyer nor Serena could say.

Sawyer gave a sigh of relief before he turned to the notebook stowed in his hands.

“And if my notes are correct, it also reduces the attack of the burned Pokémon by half!”

“If it’s half as good as you say, then I think that’s just what we needed!” Serena let out a hearty laugh, a smile wide on her face. If her victory and a new move hadn’t been reason enough to make her day, then the happy, chittering Eevee on her shoulder surely sealed the deal. Eris was chittering something or another about the move Fennekin had done. It seemed she wanted to try emulating it soon.

That thought then brought on another.

“Exceeeept, for one more thing.” She turned and faced Sawyer, pulling out her own notebook and turning it open. With her most pleasing smile, she laid her next question on thick. “Would it be okay if Fennekin could spar with Treecko one last time? I have something I want to try.”

Notes for Pokémon Battling #5: Moves are more than just powerful attacks. Status effects can often be the key to victory!

Chapter Text

𝒳

In a few days’ time, you’ll find me at Lake Acuity. Be there, and this time, show me the trainer I faced two years ago.

The blare of a fog horn startled Ash from his stupor. All at once, his surroundings came back to him. He was sitting on a bench, at the Pokémon Center, in Canalave City. Behind him sat a window to the outside, and a view of a ship pulling into port in the distance.

In just a few hours, he’d be boarding that boat, and be on his way to Snowpoint City.

“Jeeze.” Shaking his head, Ash settled back down in his seat. There was so much on his mind and— Something in his hand?

Latias’s Poké ball.

Ash looked down at the ball, as his mind drifted back to its train of thought. Paul’s words echoed in his mind.

Whether you realize it or not, Ash, you were holding back.

“What the hell is he talking about? I wasn’t holding back— I never hold back.” His gaze drifted up to the ceiling, before back down to Latias’s Poké ball. “...right?”

“Aaaaand, spotlight!”

“Pip-Piplup!”

Before Ash could even begin to dwell on his question, a new voice entered the fray— Two of them in fact.

Dawn stood tall before Ash, bright and sunny, striking a pose befitting a contest star. And like one of her appeals, she had two things on hand: her trusty partner Piplup at her side and a brand new outfit.

“Whoa!” Gone was the single-piece top and skirt, replaced now by a stylish vest and skirt, the color steel gray. Pink highlights adorned the outside, from the symbol of a Poké ball on her skirt to the sleeves of her puffed shoulders. Tying it all together was a new haircut, and a pin adorned to her vest: A perfect rendition of her partner, Piplup.

“Heh, how do I look?” With a wink, Dawn broke from her pose, letting Ash be the judge for himself. Piplup, of course, let his approval of her look be known loud and clear.

“Piplup pip! Pip-piplup!”

Ash certainly didn’t disagree.

“Wow, you look great!” he exclaimed, standing up to give Dawn a once-over. Her whole outfit had completely changed, from her new shoes to the lack of her iconic beanie. “Man, I gotta ask, what’s the occasion! You didn’t do all this just to see me off, did ya?”

“Pffft, I got that cheerleader costume out for you a couple times, and you think I’m always dressing up for you now?” With a playful shove, Dawn pushed Ash back onto his seat, pulling a hearty laugh from her old friend. Snorting, she went on to give her real reason. “To tell you the truth, Ash, I haven’t really… made much progress, since we went our separate ways back in Sinnoh.”

Ash paused at that, as Dawn stepped back and explained.

“I thought I was just adjusting to traveling on my own, but, I stalled out. I wasn’t getting anywhere.” Looking down, Dawn found her partner Piplup, standing at her side. There was worry and a tinge of disappointment in his eyes. To it, Dawn returned her winning smile. “So I figured, I needed a fresh start! And what better way than to start a new journey than with—”

“—A new look to commemorate it?” Ash surprised Dawn with his answer, before she grinned even wider.

“Exactly! How did ya figure?”

“A friend of mine back in Kalos, she did and said something similar!” His thoughts drifted to the airport, where he and Serena parted ways. The same thought he had back then came through now. “You really do look great, Dawn.”

“Heh, thank you!” With a bit of redness to her cheeks, Dawn struck one final pose to end off her presentation, heralded on with another call from Piplup. After that, she promptly plopped onto the bench at Ash’s side, and began again. Piplup dragged himself up to join her a moment later. “So! That’s my deal. What’s going on with you then?”

“Huh?” Ash paused at the sudden question, but found no hesitation when he looked to her. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Ash. You’ve been sulking in this place for hours now. I know you’ve got something on your mind.” Dawn’s confidence surprised Ash. Was he always this easy of a read? Or was Dawn just that good at reading him in particular? She continued. “Still thinking about what Paul said, huh?”

Ash couldn’t help but snort. Whatever the case was, she was right on the money.

“Yeah, I am.” Rubbing his neck, Ash let his gaze fall, down to the Poké ball in his hand. “Usually I’d shrug something like this off, but… I can’t this time. Cause I know Paul is right.”

A pang of self-doubt rang in the back of his mind.

“I’m missing something.” It seemed those were the magic words for Dawn, because her eyes widened as soon as she heard them. Sitting up, she pressed further.

“What do you think it is?”

“I don’t know.” Even Ash was frustrated with that response. This was the very question he’d left Kalos to try to answer, wasn’t it? Here he was, though, and he wasn’t any closer to his goal. His frustration swelled. “Ugh, I’m still on vacation.”

Ash slouched in his seat and pressed his palms into his eyes, before letting out a groan.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. What’re you talking about?” Dawn pursed her lips, as she pulled him back up by the arm. When Ash grumbled, she pushed further. “Okay, sounds to me like this has been going on way longer than just this trip. So I wanna hear it, from the beginning: What’s been happening to you, Ash?”

Ash grumbled, for a moment considering giving a bitter non-response, before he held himself back. Dawn deserved better than that. Stuffing his hands into his pockets and slouching, he began.

“You’re not the only one who stalled out,” he explained, the mere confession like pulling teeth. “I don’t know when it started, but I haven’t had my head in the game. I keep trying, but I just keep losing.”

Ash hated those words, hated the way they sounded on his tongue. It felt like whining.

Yet, he knew better than to keep burying those feelings. With a sigh, Ash continued.

“I have a rival back in Kalos, named Korrina. She’s a Gym Leader. No matter what Pikachu and I tried, we just couldn’t beat her. We kept giving it our all, but every single time, she did the same and came out on top.” Sitting up, Ash looked to Dawn, and found genuine concern in her eyes. “We kept giving it our all, and it still felt like we were missing something.”

“And that’s why you left Kalos.” As always, Dawn was right on the money. Ash nodded.

“It took a bit of time, and a really bad night, but a friend of mine convinced me I needed to go find answers. That’s why I was in Johto when you called.”

“Is that the same friend with the good taste on how to start fresh?” With a bit of a cheeky grin, Dawn managed to pull a small smile from Ash, one she pounced on. “Have you found anything yet?”

Ash’s smile fell, as he shook his head.

“I don’t even know what I’m looking for. But whatever it is, Paul seems to see it.” Frustration rose in Ash’s voice, as he crossed his arms. “Man, why does that guy have to pick now to be a pain in my ass. This is the one time I’d want a stupid lecture from him.”

A moment of quiet took the two, as Ash skulked and Dawn processed his words. After a moment, she spoke up.

“There was something he did say, near the end,” she pointed out, pulling at Ash’s attention once more. His gaze had fallen to the Poké ball in his hand again. “He said that great trainers should use everything they have, every advantage they can get their hands on.”

Ash did a double-take.

“What’s that gotta do with anything? I always use everything I’ve got.” The premise was ridiculous. He was Ash Ketchum. He gave everything 110%!

Regardless, Dawn stuck by her claim.

“Ash, what’s Pikachu’s ability?”

“It’s Static. What’s that have to—”

“And what’s Froakie’s ability?” This time, Ash had to pause, as he failed to find the fast, quippy response he wanted. His mind blanked. He had no idea. Seizing on his silence, Dawn continued. “What about Hawlucha’s?”

Again, no answer. Ash furrowed his brows.

“I… don’t know.” With that confession, it seemed Dawn had found her own answer. She sat forward and took Ash’s hand, as Ash frowned. “What are you getting at?”

“I’m getting at this. Ash, you’re a stellar trainer. Your Pokémon move like nothing else, and you can overwhelm just about anyone with how fast you think! But—” She squeezed his hand. “It sounds like you’re neglecting some things, leaving them on the table. And you never would’ve done that two years ago.”

Dawn fell quiet then and let Ash process her words.

All at once, the battle with Paul replayed in Ash’s mind. The entry hazards, the switch moves, Gumshoos’s Stakeout ability, Pursuit, Red Card— Paul had touched upon practically every aspect of battling Ash could think of, while he had barreled straight through it all. Power and speed nearly won Ash that match, yet Paul’s strategy clinched the victory.

It left him with one question above all.

“Why the hell am I battling like this?” he said in exasperation, surprising Dawn with his matter-of-fact tone. “Why haven’t I been— When’s the last time I even took advantage of Static?”

He looked to Dawn, pressing his next point to her.

“I forgot about Counter Shield until just a few weeks ago, Dawn. Counter Shield, our move.” Was that it, his answer? Had he been missing the in-depth strategic battling he’d excelled at for so long? The kind of battling that took advantage of every mechanic, every aspect that a Pokémon had to them? If that was the case then— “How the hell did this happen?!”

Ash fell silent, his gaze falling to the floor and to the Poké ball still tightly stowed in his hand. He had an idea, and it seemed Dawn did as well.

She looked off to the side, exchanging a look with Piplup before pursing her lips.

All at once, Ash and Dawn spoke in unison.

“Unova.”

Ash groaned and buried his face in his hands. Last year hadn’t been a great time for either of them. Ash preferred not to dwell on it, but now he couldn’t help but.

“I swear, I still don’t know what was up with me back then…” he muttered under his breath, as Dawn gave him a supportive pat.

“It was an off… year, for the both of us,” she confessed, looking off to the side. That was an understatement if there ever was one.

It made Ash snort and let out a sigh. Whether it was of relief or frustration, even he couldn’t say.

“You’ve got that right.” With that, he leaned back in his seat and returned to his thoughts.

He’d found it, his answer. The thing he needed to beat Paul, the thing he needed to beat Korrina. It wasn’t enough to give it his all. He had to take advantage of everything he could, everything—

“Alright mister, fess up. What’s going on with that Poké ball? You’ve been staring at it this whole conversation.” Dawn once again pierced Ash’s train of thought and made him pause. She was right. He was holding up Latias’s Poké ball.

Why was that again?

“It’s, a Pokémon I considered sending out against Paul,” he explained, recalling his dilemma from the other day. “I figured she’d be pretty strong, but decided against it.”

“Why?” Ever willing to get straight to the point, Dawn asked the question Ash had yet to ask himself. At least this time, his answer came easier.

“Well, she never really agreed to that sorta stuff.”

The night in the Poké ball workshop replayed in Ash’s mind. Latias had asked if she could join him on his journey as a companion, to see the world outside Alto Mare. The fact she was even in a Poké ball was a mere formality, something he’d suggested to keep her safe. That, and the fact Ash could tell she had some stage fright issues. In any case, it remained the same.

“She just wanted to come along for the ride.”

“Did you ever ask her if she was interested in battling?” To that, Ash confessed no and Dawn pressed ahead. “Then how do you know she wouldn’t like it then! Come on, Ash. Since when did you ever make assumptions about your Pokémon?”

Ash balked at the accusation, before he paused and snorted.

“Maybe around the time I stopped battling with my head on straight.” Him and Dawn broke into a laugh over that, a nice bit of respite after what had been a difficult conversation. Soon though, Ash found his resolve to keep going. He looked down at the Poké ball in his hand, and grinned. “I know what I’m going to do now, Dawn. I’m going to ask if she wants to battle with me.”

“Aaaand?” Dawn smiled, waving Ash along onto his final conclusion.

“And, I’m going to get back what I lost. I’m going to find what I’ve been missing!” He stood up, vigor and determination hot in his veins. Looking up to the ceiling, he called out. “I’m going to battle using everything I’ve got!”

𝒳

With his answer finally in hand, the hours passed for Ash in the blink of an eye. It was soon time for him to part ways with Canalave City, and begin his new journey to Lake Acuity.

He stood at the loading dock, staring on at the bridge that would lead him onto the ship. Before him stood his future and behind him was his past— His friends.

“You sure you don’t wanna come along? I’m sure we can sneak ya into our room!” Ash wheeled around and gave Dawn a cheeky grin, throwing out one final offer to continue their reunion. Unfortunately, fate had different plans.

“Sorry Ash. I’d love to travel with you again, but I’ve got my own journey to get back to.” With a giggle and a hand on Ash’s shoulder, she reaffirmed her own plans. There was a flight to Johto with her name on it. “Still! I’m sure we’ll find plenty of chances to meet up again! We can’t exactly be keeping those two apart for long, after all.”

“Oh?”

Indicating over her shoulder, Dawn pointed Ash’s attention to a less-than-surprising pair: her Buneary and his Pikachu. The two had been spending the last few days together, and it was time for their goodbyes as well.

The two stood about a dozen paces away, whispering something in hushed tones as they held hands. Buneary was teary-eyed, whilst Pikachu held a strong, encouraging expression. All at once, Buneary pressed her lips to Pikachu’s cheek, freezing him still as she subsequently pulled him into her embrace. They held that embrace for a few fleeting moments until, with one final goodbye, they parted ways.

The two ran back to their respective trainers.

“Hah, I guess you’re right!” Ash welcomed Pikachu back onto his shoulder, not even giving his partner a second to breathe before he shot him a cheeky grin. “Man, took you two long enough, huh buddy!”

“Pi—!? Pika! Pikapi, pikachu!?” Like you’re one to talk!?

Ash had a laugh at that, calming Pikachu’s ire before he looked back to Dawn. They shared a quiet moment, before the blare of the boat’s horn signaled it was time to go.

“So! See ya around?” Gripping the brim of his cap, Ash readied to go.

“Of course! You’ve got my number now, so give me a ring whenever!” She made a motion with her hand, affecting a phone pressed to her ear.

“Totally!” With that, there was just one final thing to be checked off before he and Dawn parted ways: Their old tradition.

A glint in Dawn’s eyes was all Ash needed to fall back into the familiar motion.

Without a hint of hesitation, the two brought their hands together for a signature high five.

“Good luck!”

𝒳

“Aaaand we’re here!” Ash felt the weight slip off his shoulders as he stepped through the door of his accommodations. It was a tight fit— a single bed pressed up against the wall with a chair at its side —but it’d be more than enough. “Let’s get settled in.”

“Pika pika, pikachu!” Pikachu bounced off Ash’s shoulder, as he tossed his bag onto the chair and went for the bed. Yet, before Ash could take his place, someone else came to stake their claim.

“Finally!” Appearing from her Poké ball in a flash of light, Latias plopped onto the bed. Immediately she stretched to take up its entire length. “Wow, that’s soft!”

“Latias!?” Ash paused and laughed, watching his newest Pokémon enjoy what surely must be the laps of luxury. “Making yourself comfortable?”

Latias stuck her head out from under the blanket and nodded.

“Mhm! I’ve never had a bed before— the softest place you can find to sleep at the Garden was the grass, and I never got the chance to sleep over with Bianca or Lorenzo. That Poké ball is cozy, but this is also really, really soft and—” Latias shook her head clear from her runaway ramble. “You should get one of these!”

Ash laughed and pulled the cover off her.

“Scoot over and I’ll try, this is the only bed we’ve got.” He paused then, a thought from earlier working back into his mind. This was as good a time as any. “Hey, Latias. Could I ask you something?”

Latias looked up at him with a smile, before nodding her head.

Chapter Text

𝒳

Hey Latias. Could I ask you something?

“Of course you can, Ash. Ask me anything, anything at all. I’m sure I can handle it.”

Salty sea spray blitzed past Latias at high speeds, keeping her grounded even as she flew far from any real solid ground. She blinked her eyes clear, and looked on at the passenger ship sailing in the distance. Best not to lose track of it, even as she kept away.

“I’m sure I can say no if I really wanted to. To your face. I’m sure I won’t immediately say yes without thinking about it for more than a second.”

Latias flew a wide, steady orbit around the ship, her mind buzzing with nerves as she thought about the reason she was even here —The only reason she wasn’t jetting back home in that instant— Her trainer.

“Oh? You wanna know if I’d be willing to start learning how to battle? Against other trainers? In public? Sure! That won’t be a problem, at all! Grah!” Latias groaned and dragged her hands across her face, as her steady flight became a rough tumble through the air in an instant. With a sigh, she recovered, narrowly avoiding a dip into the unfamiliar sea.

Latias wouldn’t lie to herself. She did legitimately have an interest in Ash’s line of work. Froakie’s battle back in Alto Mare was a sight to behold, and Pikachu’s performance against those criminals in the workshop was nothing short of astonishing. If Ash could achieve that with those two, who knew what he could make of her.

But why did it mean having to battle in public?

“That stupid, confident grin, not letting me think straight.” With one final huff, Latias shook her head. She had to get over herself. Ash had already worked a minor miracle, getting her this far outside her comfort zone. She’d just have to suck it up, and let him take her the rest of the way. “Okay. Time’s up.”

With a turn, Latias adjusted her orbit, putting herself on a direct trajectory for the ship’s bow. Her destination: The training platforms on the upper decks.

𝒳

On the busy, crowded upper decks of the passenger liner, a single trainer stood apart from the crowd, as his voice pierced the air.

“Alright everyone, come on out!” With a confident stride, Ash stepped out onto the training platform, tossing up a handful of Poké balls as he did so. In a flash, Hawlucha, Froakie, and Fletchinder appeared before him, standing at attention like soldiers in a row. They practically looked like a disciplined fighting force!

…If it weren’t for Fletchinder and Froakie immediately sniping at one another with jeering comments. The exchange went for a few short rounds, before Hawlucha scolded the two of them. With that, they were set to begin.

“Heh, we’ve got our work cut out for us, buddy.” Ash shared a chuckle with Pikachu, before stepping forward and standing tall. It was time for a classic Ketchum™ pep talk! “Alright! It’s a new day, guys, in more ways than one. I’m not gonna pretend that Paul didn’t kick our butts—”

Fletchinder opened her beak, before quickly shutting it at the sight of Pikachu’s furrowed expression.

“—But that’s not because we weren’t strong enough, or didn’t try hard enough. It’s cause we’ve been going at it the wrong way!” Ash paused, bravado giving away to the conclusion from the day before. “It’s because I’ve been going at it the wrong way. I haven’t been leading you guys right.”

“Pikapi…” Pikachu nearly went to protest Ash’s claim. He was second-in-command. He remembered their time in Sinnoh just as well as Ash did. Why did Ash have to bear the weight of their off years alone?

Yet, just as quickly as Ash’s gaze fell, it rose again, even more fiery than it was before.

“That changes now! It’s not gonna just be about being the fastest, hitting the hardest. Now we gotta battle using everything we got!” With a fist raised forward, Ash declared his intent from on high. “Every advantage we can get our hands on, every part of battling there is— We’re gonna use it all, and we’re gonna win it all!”

Like a general firing up his troops, Ash’s words inspired his team into action. No longer bickering, they hailed in agreement, ready to give 110% to this new direction their trainer laid out. Ash couldn’t help but feel pride in that, in this team he’d brought together.

Speaking of which.

“I want you guys to meet a new member of the squad! She’s pretty new to all of this, so let’s give her a warm welcome!” Ash couldn’t exactly tell where Latias was, on the account of her invisibility, but he’d told her to be here around this time. “Come on out, La—!”

Cutting him off mid-word was an unexpected sound, a Poké ball in his pocket bursting open. Latias had stepped out that morning, so that just left one possibility.

An annoyed huff of hot air at his neck confirmed Ash’s thought.

“Hey, Charizard!” Ash turned and stepped back, revealing the veteran of his Kanto days in all his glory. The temperamental Fire-Type stood tall in the center of the training field, wings stretching and billowing a flurry of air before roosting once more. “Guys, this is Charizard. He’s a buddy of mine from way back when!”

A round of greetings came Charizard’s way, greetings he acknowledged after spending a moment to size up Ash’s team. The fact he stood tall above them wasn’t lost on the self-described king. He grumbled something under his breath, before snorting out a puff of smoke.

“Sorry buddy, I know I should’ve sent you back to Professor Oak already. I promise, as soon as we land, I’ll getcha back with the others!” Ash’s response, though well-meaning, didn’t seem to go over well with Charizard. With a low growl, he turned, nearly swiping Ash off his feet as he walked off to the sidelines. Ash paused at that. “Unless, you wanna come train with us! You know, while you’re here!”

“Pikapika, pikachupi!” Pikachu reiterated Ash’s offer, though he added a goading tone that seemed to play to Charizard’s ego. Charizard turned back and gave the Kalos team another look, before sneering and huffing out a plume of smoke.

Not worth my time.

“Fletch!?”

“Froakie!” Froakie and Fletchinder were incensed by the dismissal, only held back from retorting by Hawlucha. The older forest guardian knew to not let such shallow words hurt his honor.

“Jeeze, who put a stick up his ass?” Scratching his head, Ash watched as Charizard picked a spot near the practice field and laid back. Seems he’d be checked out for the next few days. “Don’t mind him, guys. He’ll learn to respect ya soon enough!”

“Pikapikachu, kachu kaka.” Yeah, or it’s a Thunderbolt for dinner for him.

With the unplanned introduction out of the way, it was soon time for the real thing. Ash glanced at the open air surrounding him, before calling out.

“Latias?”

𝒳

“Latias?”

Latias took a deep breath, her eyes glancing across her newfound teammates to the small crowd of people spread across the ship’s upper deck. A shudder worked its way down her spine, before she answered.

“Yes?”

“Ah, perfect you’re here!” Ash’s face lit up as her voice reached his mind. “Before we get started, I wanted to introduce you to the team! Wanna come out and say hello?”

Not at all, no.

“Sure! It’s just, that I, um, can’t.”

“Huh? Why not? We can’t exactly train if you stay hidden the whole time.”

“Kapika, Pikachu chu.” Pikachu added to Ash’s point. Even I’m not that good at hitting targets.

“Well you see, it’s just that! I’ve, never trained before.” State the obvious, Latias, perfect. Why don’t we try giving an actual reason? “And, I’m afraid of doing poorly, in front of all these people!”

She indicated to all the other passengers strolling across the upper deck, a rather pointless motion considering her invisibility. Still, Ash seemed to understand.

“Stage fright, huh?” He clicked his tongue in thought, buying Latias’s excuse without a word of protest. He glanced between the other passengers, his Pokémon, and even to the sun hanging above. With that, he snapped his fingers. “I’ve got just the thing!”

Latias hated it when he grinned like that. It made her believe anything was possible.

𝒳

“Take two!” Ash’s voice filled the air as Latias was released from her Poké ball once more. It’d been quite a few hours since their first attempt at training, and still she had yet to learn what exactly Ash’s plan was. In an instant, it became clear.

It was well into the night now, with a bright, nearly full moon hanging high above the deck of the ship. Powerful flood lights illuminated the practice fields, keeping everything perfectly visible despite the lack of sun. Through all of that, though, there was one feature that stood out to Latias the most.

There wasn’t a soul here now, save Ash, Pikachu, and Latias.

“Usually I really like keeping our training to the day, but if you need a chance to get the hang of things in private, that’s fine by me, Latias!” With a boisterous grin, Ash laid out his proposal, surprising Latias with his complete nonchalance.

As she paused, she noticed something— Light bags under Ash’s eyes.

Latias couldn’t understand it.

“You did this, let the whole day pass by, just for me?”

“Of course! Whatever we gotta do to make it work, yeah?” Ash kneeled down to do some stretches, rolling his shoulder and slapping his cheeks to get his blood flowing. With a bounce, he stood straight, and looked right at where Latias was floating— By complete coincidence. “So, what do ya say! Think you’re ready to start?”

Latias cursed herself for ever regretting her decision to do this. If Ash was willing to go out of his way, to stay up late for her comfort, the least Latias could do was return the favor.

“Yes, I am!” With a breath, Latias let her familiar protection slip away. The invisibility she kept on so tight sputtered and faded, until all that remained was the Pokémon underneath.

Latias floated before Ash, in all her glory.

“Let’s do this!” she chirped.

“Pikachu!”

“Glad to have ya aboard!” Giving a cheeky grin, Ash congratulated Latias. He tipped his hat to her as he reached into his pockets for the rest of his team. Right down to business, it seemed. “So! Guess we’ll start off small. What moves do you know?”

Latias paused then, about to go into a slow orbit around Ash before his question fully registered. She looked at him and tilted her head.

“...Moves?”

𝒳

Thankfully, it became readily apparent that Latias did know some moves— she’d just never had a name for any of them. To her, they were just things she knew how to do. A quick look with Ash’s Pokédex let them learn that she knew Safeguard, Recover, Helping Hand, and Psywave.

They also learned something else— Latias was pretty dang fast.

“Nyehehe! Catch me if you can!”

“Froa! Oakie, froa!”

Latias flew across the practice field in wide arcs and sudden turns, zipping from one end to the other with barely a hint of exertion. All the while she was being relentlessly pursued by an assailant— Froakie.

The precocious frog was giving it his all, rolling and sprinting and bouncing across the field, desperately aiming to tag her with a direct hit. Whenever he’d get close, however, she’d just zip away, giggling as she made her distance. To Froakie, this was a challenge, while to Latias, it was play.

It almost seemed aggravating, if Froakie weren’t grinning the entire time.

Latias was an opponent that was particularly hard to get angry at.

“Ah! Looks like I got you!” Narrowly evading another leap from Froakie, Latias wheeled around and grabbed him from behind. In an instant, the chase was over, as she pulled him into a full-body hug. “You’re good at this! I’ve never seen something so small move so fast!”

“F-Froakie!” Froakie tried to play it cool, but quickly lost as she pressed her cheek to his.

“Come on! Let’s go again!”

“Oakie!” Like that, they were at it once more.

From the sidelines, Ash and Pikachu watched the exercise in action, a mixture of feelings apparent on both their faces. For Ash, it was primarily excitement.

“She’s doing pretty good! What do you think we should throw at her next, buddy?” Turning to his second-in-command, Ash tapped Pikachu for his thoughts. He mulled over the options for a moment, before giving his suggestion, one Ash readily agreed to. “Sounds good to me! Latias, Froakie, let’s break it up!”

Ash’s call brought Latias to a dead stop, letting Froakie fly past her in a near hit. With a quick roll, she caught her practice partner, before floating back to Ash with him in her arms.

“Good work, you guys! I think it’s time we move on from just dodging hits. Now we’re gonna practice taking ‘em!” Ash’s explanation made Latias pause, as she gave Froakie a squeeze in the process. “Latias, I’m gonna have Pikachu hit you with a Thunderbolt. We’ll start really low, and then ramp up from there! Sound good?”

He flashed her another smile, one that told her he was totally confident in this.

“Yeah. I think I’ll be fine.” Latias released Froakie from her grip, before Ash sent him to go train over with Fletchinder and Hawlucha. Now it was just him, Pikachu, and Latias.

Floating a few paces back, Latias gulped and steadied herself. She put on a nervous smile.

“I’m ready!”

“Sweet!” Ash grinned as Pikachu leapt off his shoulder, crackling with electricity at his cheeks. After a moment though, he pulled back. The thundering electricity was reduced to a mere sparkle. “Alright Pikachu, Thunderbolt! 1%!”

“Pika! Piiikaaachuu!” A bolt of lightning, as thin as a pencil, shot across the field. In an instant it connected with Latias, lighting up her body and sending her reeling back a pace. Regardless, she held on, and bared the blow as well as she could.

“How’s it feeling, Latias!” Shouting over Pikachu’s continuous attack, Ash called out to Latias.

“It’s, okay! Just a bit—” She paused to wince, before giving a thumbs up. “It’s a weird feeling!”

“Well hey, that’s not too bad! Let’s see what happens if we crank it!” Ash signaled to Pikachu, before calling out the next move. “Thunderbolt, 10%!”

“Pikapika! Pikachuuuuu!” The attack thickened, jumping from the width of a pencil to that of a small pipe. The aura of electricity surrounding Latias grew as well, shuddering as the force increased.

“That’s a bit, worse, but—” She shook her head clear, before looking up. “I can handle it!”

“Attagirl! Alright Pikachu, Thunderbolt, 25%!” This time, the force jumped. A wave of energy shot through Pikachu’s attack, as the bolt of electricity became as thick as Ash’s arm. When said energy struck Latias, she cringed, as her eyes widened and her pupils became pinpricks.

“Nope, nope, nope!” With a shout, she snapped back, leaving Pikachu’s attack behind and making distance in an instant.

“Pika?!”

“Whoa!” Before Ash could even say a word, her invisibility snapped back on. “Latias, what’s wrong? It didn’t hurt that much, did it?”

Ash frowned, as he could hear Latias’s labored breaths circle around him and Pikachu.

“It, it didn’t, but, I just—” She tried to sputter out an answer, even as Ash could clearly tell she was panicking. Something else had freaked her out. This wasn’t just the pain. “I couldn’t— It felt, it was—”

“Latias, calm down.” Ash stepped forward, a calm, cool tone to his voice. It took him a moment, but he could just about follow Latias by the sounds of her breathing. “You’re okay, I promise. There’s nothing to panic about, yeah?”

Latias remained silent, even as her heart slowly calmed. Her breathing slowed, until she came to a stop in front of Ash.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be! No one ever expects how strong Pikachu can be. Even at a quarter tank, he can light up most opponents!” Pikachu leapt onto Ash’s shoulder as he said that, giving an awkward smile as he rubbed the back of his head. Ash grinned at that, before his smile weakened. “Do you know what happened? Why you panicked so badly?”

Latias remained silent for a time, until she let her invisibility flicker away. She floated before Ash, fiddling with her fingers.

“I’m not used to being hurt,” she explained, looking off to the side where the others were training. “I haven’t been hurt, since… what happened.”

In an instant, Ash understood what she meant. This was about the incident from when they first met, with Annie and Oakley, and with her brother.

Ash’s expression hardened, as he reached forward to put a hand on Latias’s shoulder. She snapped up to look at him.

“I promise, we’re not trying to hurt you, Latias. This isn’t about hurting you,” he explained, his voice surprisingly soft-spoken for what was ostensibly a pep-talk. He gave her one of his classic grins. “This is about making you stronger, so no one can hurt you anymore!”

Ash spun a good story, but Latias remained hesitant. Regardless, he pushed through. Time for the big guns.

“I promise it’ll be okay. You’ve just gotta trust me.” Offering his hand forward, Ash made one last plea to Latias. “You trust me, yeah?”

Latias’s eyes widened. It was a critical hit.

“Of course I do.”

With that, she took Ash’s hand.

𝒳

“Alright you guys, bring it in!” With Latias and Pikachu occupied with resistance training, Ash turned to his main three: Hawlucha, Froakie, and Fletchinder. They’d been keeping busy with practice sparring, but now it was time for the real training Ash had promised.

The three Pokémon lined up in a row, Hawlucha standing between his rival teammates as they stood at attention. Ash couldn’t help but smile at that, as he sat down to talk face-to-face.

“If we wanna start battling using everything we got, we gotta know what we got,” he explained, digging into his pocket as he did so. “Each of you has an ability, and a lot of the time, that can be what turns a match in our favor!”

“Froa?”

“Lucha, haw!”

“Fleeeetch!” The excitement was high, and Ash was glad to see it. Now onto the main event.

From his pocket, Ash pulled out his Pokédex.

“Usually I’d wanna get my hands dirty, and figure out what you guys can do the hard way. But we’ve only got a few days here.” With a flick, he brought the device to life. “So just this once, we’re taking the easy way, okay?”

“Fletch! Fletchinder, fletch!” Hopping forward, Fletchling volunteered herself to be first to go. She was always looking for another feather to put into her cap, even if it was something as small as going first. Ash chuckled as he fiddled with his Pokédex for a moment more.

“Okay, here we go!” The device lit up in his hand.

Fletchinder, the Ember Pokémon. Additional Information— Ability: Flame Body. Contact with the Pokémon may burn the attacker.

“Ah, Flame Body!” Ash recognized that one— Paul’s Magmortar had put it to good use when they faced off years ago. “We’ll get some good work outta that one, I know it!”

Next up was Hawlucha, who stepped forward and struck a powerful, passionate pose. Whatever ability he had, Ash knew it’d serve him well.

Hawlucha, the Wrestling Pokémon. Additional Information— Ability: Unburden. After adjusting to the weight of a held item, this Pokémon will see a burst of speed after shedding it.

“That’s a new one.” Ash hummed with thought, chewing on the implications of what he’d just learned. An ability that interacted with a held item was unique, and Ash was unfortunately inexperienced in using those. “Guess that’s just an opportunity to learn, then!”

With a firm shoulder squeeze, Ash let Hawlucha take a step back. There was just one last ability to check.

“Froa, froa! Froakie!” Froakie hopped forward, before Ash could even say a word. He couldn’t help but smile at that. Him and Froakie always seemed to be on the same page.

“You ready, buddy?” With a confident nod from Froakie, Ash activated his Pokédex one last time. The device ticked away, loading for a few moments more than usual, until it finally spoke up again.

Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokémon. Additional Information— Ability… Null.

“Huh? Null?” Furrowing his brows, Ash gave the Pokédex a shake before trying again.

Null. Ability not found.

“Well, what the hell!” Ash groaned and tossed the device to the side. “Crummy machine. Who needs it!”

“Froa…”

While Ash was more than content to leave it to that, Froakie was another story. The usually fiery frog was left sullen at the result, something Ash quickly realized. Dropping his annoyed expression, Ash leaned in and gave Froakie a head pat.

“Don’t you sweat it, buddy. Not even for a second. We’ll just have to figure it out the old-fashioned way!” He added a grin to sell his confidence, a grin that his Pokémon quickly adopted.

“Oakie!” Froakie called out in agreement and raised his fist forward. Ash soon returned the offer, and joined Froakie for a fist bump.

“It’ll take some time, but I know we’ll figure out your ability someday!”

Chapter Text

𝒴

Serena released a tense breath, one she hadn’t known she was holding. A buzz hummed just below her skin, the source being either trepidation or uncontrollable excitement. She couldn’t tell which.

Before her stood a wall.

It was a rock climbing wall, the one that led to Serena’s next destination— Grant. Before she could conquer him, however, she would have to conquer this, just like Ash had.

Serena would surpass any challenge put before her.

“Well, here goes nothing.” With a hand on the first perch, Serena began her ascent.

𝒴

“That, was, a nightmare.” Serena heaved herself over the very last ledge, her burning chest cutting her off between each word. Though her physicality had made leaps and bounds in her time traveling with Ash, a master of upper body strength she was not. Her arms felt like jelly as she tried to hold herself up. “How is this a requirement to challenge a gym…”

“You could’ve just taken the elevator, you know.”

Serena blinked, before craning her neck to look up. Standing over her was her supposed true challenge, Grant, snorting and offering her a hand.

“...Eh?”

“The elevator. Taking the wall is just an extra challenge I give to trainers,” he clarified, a rather humored smirk to his lips as he picked Serena up. “I only challenged Ash to it because he seemed the ambitious type— That and his clear physical aptitude.”

Once Serena was on her feet, Grant began walking back to the battlefield, leaving her standing in the sidelines. She moved to follow.

“I’m stronger than I look,” she pressed, meaning it in more ways than one. Grant seemed to catch her meaning, as he paused and turned to smile at her.

“Clearly! That’s what brought you here today, after all!” With his arms out wide, he called out to Serena. “So then, I believe you have something you wish to request from me?”

Serena nodded, her earlier trepidation giving away to pitched excitement. Smiling, she laid her terms out clear.

“Grant, I challenge you! Please battle me, using the same team you faced Ash with!”

Grant smirked.

“Your challenge is accepted. I wish you luck on this next climb.”

𝒴

No longer winded from her climb, Serena took a firm stance and firm look at her surroundings. At the very top of the rock climbing tower, the gym below gave away. All she could see now was the rocky walls surrounding her and the open sky above.

That, and her opponent.

“The match between challenger Serena and Gym Leader Grant will now begin! If either party’s Pokémon are all unable to battle, the match is declared over!” From the sidelines, a gym attendant set the terms of the match. It was time.

“Go, Onix!”

“I choose you, Fennekin!” Appearing in a flash of light, Fennekin took the field, holding a confident stance against her much larger opponent. Tucked behind her ear was a familiar sight, a large twig.

Grant wasn’t impressed.

“A Fennekin? Surely you know that Fire-Types aren’t very effective against Rock-Types.” Crossing his arms and tapping his fingers, Grant pulled on a rather quizzical tone, one Serena recognized in an instant. It was a tone of underestimation.

Standing straight, she put on a winning smile.

“There’s more to battling than just the type of Pokémon.” Her words invoked confidence, but that did little to convince Grant.

She would just have to prove her point.

“Now, begin!” With a call from the attendant, the battle was on.

“Flamethrower!”

“Dodge it with Rock Polish!”

A pillar of flames rocketed across the field, slamming into Onix’s side before he began to move. Slow to start, he quickly picked up speed, as his rough, rocky body became smooth and slippery.

“Now, Iron Tail, Onix!” With enough speed collected, Onix surged ahead. His tail glowed a familiar silver as he barreled down on Fennekin.

“Dodge it and use Flamethrower again!” Seemingly surprised by Onix’s sudden charge, Fennekin stumbled back. Onix’s blow came mere inches from striking dead on. Thankfully, with the aid of her Flamethrower, she just about avoided the powerful attack.

“Oniiiix!” The metal of his Iron Tail was a poor match-up for Fennekin’s fire. Grant scoffed before he moved to counterattack.

“Rock Polish, then Iron Tail again!”

As Onix began to race across the field, picking up more speed, a thought struck Serena’s mind. Grant was using a Steel-Type move, a type that Fennekin resisted. He was underestimating her.

Perfect.

“Keep dodging, Fennekin, and use Flamethrower!” As Onix barreled down on her once more, Fennekin leapt into evasion. She scrambled and rolled across the field, just barely dodging her opponent’s attacks by the skin of her teeth. The display was clumsy, but it was just effective enough.

Grant furrowed his brows.

“You’re clearly up against a wall you’re not ready to climb, Serena. Even compared to where Ash and Froakie were, weeks ago, this won’t be enough!” he declared, throwing his hand forward. “Onix, grab Fennekin!”

“Oh no!”

“Fenn!?” In an instant, the rock snake was upon Serena’s partner, binding her in place with his stoney body. She struggled against the tight bind, but was unable to move an inch.

“I’d rather not hurt your Pokémon anymore than I have to, Serena. So I’m giving you the option to recall her now.” Grant’s earlier intrigue had all but faded away, replaced now with disappointment. He had expected better from the trainer who’d defeated Viola in such a grand fashion.

His overconfidence was Serena’s boon.

♫

“Gotcha!” With a tone nearing cockiness, Serena snapped her fingers, before pointing them towards Grant. “Right where we want you! Fennekin, it’s showtime!”

Grant paused, snapping back to the battle in an instant. Though she was still struggling in Onix’s grip, Fennekin was grinning as well.

“Use Will-O-Wisp!”

“What!?” Too close and too slow to possibly dodge, Onix stared in horror as Fennekin fired distinct plumes of purple flames. The attack consumed him in an instant, igniting his body with a fire that clung to his rocky skin.

“Oni— Onix!” All at once, the flames lit up, damaging Onix and forcing him to release Fennekin. There was no doubt about it— He’d been burnt.

“Fen! Ne! Kin!” Hopping out of her opponent’s grip, Fennekin quickly made distance, leaping across the field until she skidded back to Serena’s side.

Something had changed. No longer was she stumbling or just barely managing to keep her feet underneath her. Now, Fennekin was moving at the top of her game.

Serena grinned, as Grant realized what had happened.

“You had Fennekin pretend to be clumsy, to bait me into getting close!” he declared, shock turning into an impressed look. “And using an advanced technique like Will-O-Wisp! My-oh-my, I was so confident on this climb, I slipped from the very first perch!”

“I knew that you would underestimate me, after I brought Fennekin to this battle!” Serena declared, pride loud and clear in her voice. “And now I’m going to show you just how strong we are!”

“We’ll see about that! No more games, Onix! Use Rock Tomb!”

“Dodge and get in close, Fennekin!” Part one of her plan was complete, now onto part two! Fennekin raced across the field, leaping and dodging as a swarm of stones barreled down around her. The attack was brutal, but thanks to the burn, Serena knew they had only half the power behind them!

“Knock them back with Iron Tail!” Onix reared back, ready to sweep Fennekin away in one blow. Yet, it was to no avail. His burn ignited all at once, damaging him and giving Serena the opening she needed.

“Use Hidden Power, Fennekin!” Again, on Serena’s command, Grant stood shocked. Fennekin leapt and fired a plume of multicolored energy, which slammed into Onix and sent him reeling back. It was Super Effective!

“Your confidence in that command— How did you know that was the appropriate type?” Grant ordered Onix to go on the move, maintaining distance from Fennekin as he considered his options.

“I had some help from my friends!” As Serena ordered Fennekin to pursue, her mind went back to days before. Sawyer’s Treecko had resisted Fennekin’s Hidden Power, meaning it couldn’t be a Fire or Bug-Type move. That left one option—! “Use Hidden Power, Grass!”

“Dodge it, Onix!”

“Fenne! Kin!” Leaping into the air, Fennekin fired another plume of energy. Onix turned to evade the attack, but was stymied again. His burn flared up, locking him in place as the Super Effective attack hit dead on.

Grant’s Pokémon reeled, head swimming as he tried to get his bearings. In his sight, he saw not one Fennekin, but three or four, spinning across his vision.

“Onix, finish this with Rock Tomb!”

“Meet it with one more Hidden Power, Fennekin!”

Furrowing their brows, Fennekin and Onix dug deep and charged up their final attack. Boulders of solid stone formed in the air behind Onix, while Fennekin’s biggest attack yet grew in her maw.

“Go!” With a unison call from their trainers, they attacked! Stones barreled down on Fennekin, who fired a thick beam of rainbow energy to meet them. In an instant, the boulders were swept away, and Fennekin’s attack went for their source.

“Onix—!?” It was a direct hit. Onix struggled against the doubly Super Effective move for as long as he could. For a moment, he seemed to withstand the blow.

Yet, with one final flare of his burn, it was done.

Onix collapsed, swirls clear in his eyes.

“Onix is unable to battle! The first round goes to the challenger!”

𝒴

Serena’s heart raced, the blood rushing through her veins so fast she could practically hear it. This was what she was looking for, that high of adrenaline she only got in moments like these, the turning point of a decisive battle. Part two of her plan was a complete success, and now she just had to bring it home.

Grant recalled Onix in silence, taking a moment to stare down at the Poké ball in his hand. He silently thanked the Pokémon within, before looking ahead once more.

“My first mistake was underestimating you. When Viola told me about your performance against her, I had assumed her to be embellishing. She was always the softer one when it came to new trainers.” he explained, his neutral expression turning to a small smile. “But you are a deceptive challenge. Making any assumption very well may be what causes me to slip from this climb.”

“You’ve got that right!” Her cockiness flared for a moment, fueled by the adrenaline that was slowly coming down. Shaking her head and finding her senses, she tried again, this time with her cheeks flushed red. “I— I mean, thank you.”

Grant snorted and raised a new Poké ball forward.

“Serena, you asked me to battle using the same team I challenged Ash with!” he declared, rearing back in one motion. “Now, I battle with the same care I challenged him with! It’s all down to this! Tyrunt, go!”

Appearing in a flash of red light, Grant’s second Pokémon took the field— Tyrunt. The tiny tyrant scraped his clawed foot across the ground, digging a trench as he locked eyes onto Fennekin.

It was on.

“Rock Tomb!”

“Dodge and use your stick, Fennekin!”

At their trainer’s command, both Pokémon burst into action. Tyrunt charged a lightning-fast barrage of stones, whilst Fennekin leapt to evade, avoiding the projectiles with guile to her step. All that training with Eris had paid off.

“Fennek! Fennekin!” Making space, she wrenched her head up, sending the twig behind her ear up into the air. In one quick motion, Fennekin charred and consumed her held item whole— sending the temperature in the air soaring. “Fenn! Fenn! Fennekin!”

A mighty cry and burst of flames cleared the air, as steam and cinders began to pour from Fennekin’s ears.

“So this is the power you used against Viola!” With a command, Grant sent another barrage of Rock Tomb crashing down towards Fennekin. “We’ll see how much good it does you now! Use Crunch!”

“Blow them back with Flamethrower!”

Charging ahead with a burst of speed, Tyrunt raced towards Fennekin, a swarm of boulders following in his wake. In opposition to this thundering force, a wall of flames rose to meet them!

“Fennekin!” Fennekin fired a gargantuan pillar of fire from her maw, consuming the entire battlefield in an instant. Yet, it was for naught. “Fennek!?”

Bursting through the crackling flames was Tyrunt, who slammed into Fennekin and sent her flying!

“Fennekin!?” In an instant, Serena realized what had happened. Tyrunt was a Rock and Dragon-Type. He doubly resisted Fennekin’s attacks! “Get back and use Hidden Power, Fennekin!”

“Dodge and finish your Crunch!”

Landing into a roll, Fennekin whipped her head up and fired, launching a plume of multicolored light towards the charging Tyrunt. Yet, her opponent merely juked past it and pressed ahead, his maw wide open.

With a sudden dive, Tyrunt slammed into Fennekin, snaring her in his jaw and biting down hard.

“Nekin!?”

“Toss her, Tyrunt!” Before Serena could respond, Tyrunt spun and pitched Fennekin straight into the air. She was a sitting duck for his next move. “Rock Tomb!”

“Hidden Power, Fennekin!” By pure luck, Fennekin caught her bearings at just the right moment. Looking down at Tyrunt from her height, she fired!

The rainbow-colored beam of Hidden Power cut through the barrage of stones, deflecting just enough to keep the attack at bay. Unfortunately, it did little to deter the attack’s source.

“Dragon Tail, Tyrunt! Ground her!” In a single bound, Tyrunt leapt into the sky, his tail coming alight with green scales. With a flip, he swung down to finish the job!

There was nothing left for Serena to do, but to move on to part three of her plan.

“Will-O-Wisp, Fennekin!” At her call, Fennekin furrowed her brows and fired, sending a smattering of purple flames flying through the air. None of them, however, would make it close to Grant’s Pokémon.

Tyrunt slammed the Dragon Tail down onto Fennekin, and launched her to the ground below. In an instant, the deed was done.

Serena felt her heart skip a beat, for a moment losing her cool as she saw the dust fully fade from the battlefield. Fennekin was down, and now Serena would have to finish this without her.

“Fennekin is unable to battle! The second round goes to Grant!”

𝒴

“Thank you so much, Fennekin.” With a soft, quiet tone, Serena returned Fennekin to her Poké ball, before pressing it to her chest. “Thanks to you, we have a shot at winning this.”

Serena watched as Tyrunt landed back onto the ground with a grunt, hopping back to Grant’s side with a fierce and powerful roar. There was no doubt about it— Grant wasn’t going easy on her.

Time to see if that would change.

“Let’s bring this home, Eris!” At Serena’s call, her Eevee took the stage, hopping into action and pacing across the field with a skip to her step. There was a mischievous, playful look in her eyes, accentuated by a wink she gave Grant and Tyrunt, as she approached.

“Eeveui!” As cute as the display was, it did little to impress Grant.

His brows furrowed once more.

“You’ve shown some impressive battling so far, Serena, but your confidence on this climb has exceeded your skill!” he declared, crossing his arms and loosening his stance. “What do you expect to do with an Eevee? It can’t possibly have a move that could possibly hurt my Tyrunt.”

Serena remained silent, her expression steely in the face of Grant’s doubt. Then, her lips curved into a smile.

“You’ve done it again,” she retorted, making Grant pause, making him focus not on Eris, but on Serena herself. With his attention in hand, she snapped her fingers. “You’ve underestimated us! There’s one move Eris can use! The move that’ll win me this match!”

Grant balked.

“What’re you talking about? An Eevee can’t learn anything that’d be effective here!”

“No, but a Fennekin can!” Ash’s words from days ago played in Serena’s mind. Copycat lets Eris copy the last move that was used— whatever last move was used. “Eris, Copycat!”

“What!?” Grant’s eyes widened, as he realized her intent. The last move used was Fennekin’s Will-O-Wisp! “Tyrunt, move!”

“Veeveevee!” At Serena’s command, Eris cheered, going into a roll as she recalled her days of training with the move. Puckish, naughty fire, flames that cling with guile and craft— Calling upon her memories, Eris evoked the move once more! “Eevui!”

Tyrunt juked to the side, but was too close to avoid the attack. The purple fire consumed his body in an instant, igniting into a flame that sent him reeling.

The deed was done, Tyrunt had been burnt!

“Now get away, Eris! And use Tail Whip!”

“Follow her with Crunch!” Grant grit his teeth, immediately racing to regain control of the battle. Once again he’d grown overconfident, and now it was coming back to bite him.

“Eeveui! Veevee! Eeeeevee!” Racing across the battlefield, Eris immediately went into evasive maneuvers. With hops and rolls, and a light skip to her step, she danced around her pursuer, dutifully dodging Tyrunt’s every attempt to bring her fun to an end. Every time he got even close to chomping at her heels, his burn would flare up, losing him ground once more. “Veeveevee!”

With a teasing shake of her Tail Whip, Eris sent Tyrunt’s defense plummeting.

“Make up the distance with Dragon Tail, Tyrunt!”

“Dodge it, and Copycat!”

Springing off his tail for a burst of speed, Tyrunt shot towards Eris, ready to send her flying. She was too quick on her feet, however, and swung away at the last moment!

“Vee!” Rolling on her heels, Eris watched Tyrunt’s Dragon Tail with an intense look. With a grin, she got it. “Eevee! Veevee— Vee!”

Her tail came alight with a green aura, matching Tyrunt’s, tit-for-tat. She took only a moment to admire herself, before it was time to put the move to the test. She swung wide.

“Tyrunt!?” Grant stood flabbergasted, as Eris swept Tyrunt off his feet, sending him crashing into the ground. When Tyrunt’s burn added insult to injury, Eris laughed at his expense. “No more playing her games— Get back and use Rock Tomb!”

“Dodge them, Eris!”

Growling, Tyrunt hopped up and made distance, instantly calling upon a swarm of stones to rise at his side. Through the anger and his burn, he locked his gaze on the jubilant, frolicking Eris, and fired.

The stones thundered down onto the battlefield, seeming to overwhelm Serena’s Pokémon in an instant. Yet then, through the smoke and crashing boulders, Eris appeared!

“Veevee! Eeeevui!” She sprinted across Tyrunt’s field of vision, just barely dodging Tyrunt’s attack as it thundered at her heels. When he tried to head her off, she bounced off her front paws and sprinted back the other way.

Through that entire exchange, she was laughing.

Grant tightened a fist, before a small smile crossed his face.

♫

“I have to congratulate you for holding on this long, Serena. You and your Pokémon have truly defied my expectations, time and time again!” In an instant, Serena locked in. His tone, it was too congratulatory, too soon. Not only that, she recognized it. Grant snapped his fingers, and called Tyrunt back to his side. “It’s time I pushed you where your defenses lack the most! With raw firepower!”

Serena gasped.

“Come back, Eris!” She did recognize that tone. She’d heard it the last time she was here. Grant was about to use—!

“Let’s end this! Tyrunt, Draco Meteor!” Grant’s command echoed across the gym, stunning Serena in an instant. All at once, the fire in her veins turned to ice.

Draco Meteor, the attack that Clemont had called the strongest, the attack that Ash and Pikachu needed their craziest maneuver yet to overcome. She had hoped to close out the match before Grant would ever think it needed, but between her confidence and Eris’s posturing, they’d pushed him too far.

Now she faced his ultimate attack, and all she had was her own panic.

How could she possibly beat this?

Tyrunt wrenched his head up, charging a plume of blazing fire at his maw. Before Serena could even think of a counterattack, he fired, and a blast of pure energy was sent rocketing into the air.

It was with this, that Serena’s eyes widened.

“Eris! Copycat, one last time!” she declared, desperation and exhilaration running through her voice all in one. Eris, always quick to the draw, was already halfway through committing the move to memory.

Grant scoffed.

“It’s pointless. My attack will reach the peak of its climb long before yours!” he declared, as Tyrunt’s Draco Meteor was already nearing its summit. “Merely emulating the same techniques will get you nowhere, Serena!”

“I’m more than just emulating! I’m taking what I’ve learned, and going my own way!” she declared, fire burning in her eyes and in her veins. With a heart crying out for the battle’s end, Serena made her move. “Eris! Fire the Draco Meteor, at Tyrunt!”

“What!?” Grant stared in horror as Eris cocked her head back down, the whole power of a Draco Meteor pulsing there in her jaws. Rather than firing it into the air, like the move was meant to be done, she aimed it dead ahead. “Tyrunt—!”

“Eeveui!” With a call far too cute for the power behind it, Eris fired.

What came next happened in a flash. In a single motion, Eris was launched into Serena’s arms as her attack blitzed across the field. Tyrunt had barely a moment to respond before Eris’s Draco Meteor hit home.

It was a direct hit.

An explosion took the field, followed by a cacophonous cascade from Tyrunt’s own attack hitting moments later. The entire battlefield was soon consumed in a chain of overwhelming explosions, the light blinding both competitors as they waited for it to end.

By the time the sound and lights died down, all that remained was the smoke.

“Come on, come on.” Serena squeezed Eris in her arms, for a moment not wanting to let her return to the battlefield until she was sure the deed was done. Soon though, she released her Pokémon, and allowed her to take a stand again.

The two stood side by side as the smoke finally cleared and revealed the results of the match. Grant stood astonished, with Tyrunt laying in a heap before him. There was no doubt about it.

He was knocked out.

“Tyrunt is unable to battle, Eris wins! The winner of the battle is, Serena!”

“Yes!”

“Eevee!”

𝒴

Serena leapt into the air, her heart racing and head swimming with excitement. They’d done it, they’d really done it! Like climbing a mountain, Serena felt like she could barely breathe, all from the ecstasy of their victory.

“You were perfect, Eris!” With a laugh that was nearly cackling, Serena swiped Eris off her feet and tossed her into the air. “Just perfect!”

“Veeveevee! Eeveui!” Eris giggled as she landed back in Serena’s arm, throwing her weight out so far that Serena actually fell forward.

Landing on her knees, Serena let out a pure, unadulterated laugh, pulling Eris into her chest for a loving hug.

The two’s celebration went on for a few more moments, until a shadow fell over them. Serena’s laughter petered to a stop as she looked up.

Grant stood before them, a smile on his face and hand offered to pick Serena up. She took his offer.

“Stand tall. After a climb like that, you should stand and see how far you’ve come.” Pulling Serena to her feet, Grant brought his challenger up to face him, head-to-head. He let out a sigh before speaking again. “Perhaps pride was my greatest failing today. In the course of a single battle, I managed to underestimate you three times.”

“Well, I can’t say I blame you. That was my plan after all!” Serena giggled, pressing her face to Eris one final time. “Who would’ve ever figured this little bundle of joy could do so much!”

“Eevui!”

Grant snorted, as his gym attendant approached with something in hand.

“Indeed! Even the most unsuspecting of climbers can scale any wall, with the appropriate motivation and training. Serena, you and your Pokémon have achieved just that.” Reaching back to his attendant, Grant found what Serena was looking for: her prize. “I’m proud to bestow you with this— The Cliff Badge!”

Serena took the badge into her hand, pitched excitement bubbling on her face as she raised it up. Soon, she could hold it in no longer. With Eris in hand, Serena leapt into the air.

“We did it! We got—!” Landing on her feet, Serena raised the badge to the sky. “The Cliff Badge!”

“Veevee! Eevee!”

Notes for Pokémon Battling #6: It’s not enough to just learn or emulate good strategies. Coming up with your own ideas is how you truly grow!

Chapter Text

𝒳

“Found it!” Ash cheered as he pressed into a dark and quiet room, spending a moment to find the lights before Pikachu lent a hand. With a flick of his tail, old fluorescent bulbs lit up with a soft, warm glow. Ash grinned as the space came to life. “The computer room!”

A seldom-used but courtesy feature of Ash’s passenger liner was its computer room, containing rows and rows of boxy monitors ready for action. Ash had a few hours to kill before training that night, so he and Pikachu went to do the next best thing— Research.

“Pika. Kachu pikachu, Pikapi?” Been a while since we did this, huh partner?

“Yep. Two years pretty much.” Ash hopped onto a lone swivel chair in his path and rolled it straight into the first PC he saw. As it booted, he recalled the time he was referring to— The Lily of the Valley Conference, researching Paul and Tobias. It was appropriate, considering his current subject. “If we wanna battle with everything we’ve got, we gotta know what we’re up against.”

With that assertion muttered under his breath, Ash got to work and began typing away.

“Xurkitree…”

𝒳

“And go!”

Ash’s command rang out like the crack of a whip, filling the air above his head with a flurry of movement. In an instant, the two combatants flew into action, as Fletchinder began to swarm around her opponent with a gust of Razor Winds.

“Now, use Dragon Breath, Latias!”

Showing off her newly-learnt move, Latias pushed back Fletchinder with a gust of blue flames. The attack sent the avian scattering, but still missed her by a significant width.

“Come on, come on!” Focusing her fire, Latias tried to hit the moving target, to little avail. She may outmatch Fletchinder in head-to-head speed, but her aim was shoddy at best.

“Come on Latias, you can do it! Just gotta hit straight!”

“Oh just that easy, huh!” She fired off words alongside her Dragon Breath, the blast nowhere near close to making contact. “Have you ever tried this!?”

“Can’t say I have, but I like to think I’d be pretty good at it.” Ash laughed, easing Latias’s nerves with a smile. Half the reason Latias couldn’t hit a shot was because of her nerves, he just knew it. She just needed the proper motivation. “Fletchinder! Start pulling in with Steel Wing, but don’t hit her!”

“Huh!?”

“Fletch!” With an affirmative nod, Fletchinder dived, her wings glowing bright as she aimed for her opponent’s chest. Panicking, Latias fired another Dragon Breath which missed all the same. Fletchinder shook her head at the display, before juking into a sideswipe. “Fletchinder! Fletch!”

Circling back, Fletchinder went in for another run, as Latias kept up the heat.

It quickly became apparent to Ash that this would be a problem. Latias was maneuverable, and with a still target she could shoot a great shot. When it came to a moving target like this, though, she was sorely lacking.

Fletchinder was flying circles around her, making a show out of how close she could get to the dragon, literally touching her. It was a show of dominance.

Ash opened his mouth to end the exercise, but was quickly beaten to the punch.

Latias spontaneously caught fire.

“What!?”

“Huh!?” Latias writhed as a sudden flare of flames took her body, before it seemed to die down. Fletchinder backed off at that point, as caught off guard as the other two. “What, what happened?”

Ash furrowed his brows.

“Come on Fletchinder, I told you not to hit her!” He looked up at the cocky avian, hands on his hips as he called her out. Fletchinder was having no part of it, however, as she fired off an incredulous squawk. “What do you mean you didn’t—?”

“Ahh!” The flames suddenly flared up again, sending Latias racing off. “Nope, nope, nope!”

“Latias, wait—!” Before Ash could finish the thought, she jetted off the edge of the boat and down below the deck. A moment later, the distinct splash of a body hitting water rang out. Ash blinked. “You, uh, doing okay, Latias?”

“Yeah…” With a rather defeated tone, Latias slowly floated back up to view— Sopping wet and thankfully no longer on fire. With a rapid shake, the water left her down. “What was that!”

“Dunno! Looked like a burn to me, but Fletchinder says she didn’t use a Fire-Type—” A realization dawned on Ash, as he smacked his forehead. “That was Flame Body, Fletchinder!”

“Fletch? Fletchinder!” Fletchinder’s indignity turned to pride in an instant, as she fluttered down to roost on Ash’s head.

“Flame Body?” Frowning, Latias soon followed her lead as she joined Ash’s side.

“It’s Fletchinder’s ability! Usually, it means when you get hit often enough, it’ll burn the other Pokémon— But here, Fletchinder sideswiping you so many times did the trick!” Ash’s mind got to work instantly, considering all the different game plans that could use such a technique. The fact that this strategy could work just as well with Pikachu’s Static wasn’t escaping him for even a moment.

Another tool in the arsenal.

Catching himself, Ash looked up and gave a grin.

“Thanks for the help there, Latias! If we didn’t do this, I would’ve never figured out we could use Flame Body that way!” His praise raised Latias’s spirits for a moment, before they settled back to neutral.

“Glad to help!” she chirped, giving her approximation of a thumbs up. “So, where does that leave us?”

“Right, yeah.” They still had the point of the exercise to address. “No two ways around it, your aim with moving targets blows.”

“Hey—!” Latias slumped in midair, giving up before she even really started. She huffed and crossed her arms. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“But that’s okay! We’re gonna give you some real, solid practice!” With a grin that inspired confidence, Ash made a fist, before turning to the other side of the practice field. “Pikachu, get over here! You and Fletchinder are swapping!”

“Pika? Pikachu!” Pikachu perked up from his spar with Froakie, over by where Charizard was lying about. With a juke, he evaded one final swing from his opponent, before sprinting back and exchanging stations with Fletchinder.

“Pikapi!” Pikachu hopped up onto Ash’s shoulders, before bouncing to land on Latias’s head. With a cheek rub that pulled a giggle from the dragon, he settled in. “Pikachu, Kachupi?”

“Yeah, what’re we doing with me?”

“There’s an old saying, shoot for the moon! Even if you miss, you’ll make it far! That means if we wanna improve your aim with moving targets, we should practice going one step beyond!” Ash grinned, confident despite flubbing the idiom a bit in the process. He had Latias’s attention well in hand. “You and Pikachu are going to battle!”

“Pika!?”

“Huh!?” Latias was just as caught off guard as Pikachu was. “Like, a full-on, head-to-head…?”

Latias tapped her fingers together to finish her point, earning a nod from Ash.

“Yep! Course he’s gonna take it easy on you, keep his power capped at about half, but other than that—” Ash drove a fist into his palm. “We’re doing it live!”

Latias’s hesitation held high, even as Pikachu nodded and bounced off her head to stand opposite to her. As she and Ash took position, she let that hesitation be known.

“Are you sure about this? I know I’ve been doing better taking hits from him, but—” She glanced ahead and found Pikachu crackling with arching streams of electricity. She gulped. “I feel, underprepared.”

“Nah, you’ll be fine! I’m gonna be guiding you through this whole thing, while Pikachu is on his own. Trust me, you’ve got this!” With one final grin and thumbs up, Ash seemed to firm Latias’s resolve. She nodded and locked eyes with her sparring partner.

Go time.

“Pika!”

“Keep your distance and use Dragon Breath, Latias!”

In a snap, both combatants shot into action. Pikachu raced across the field in a flash of Quick Attacks, as Latias circled away and fired behind her. Gusts of blue flames splattered across the field at Pikachu’s feet, as he pressed ahead unfazed.

“Chuuu— Pika!” With a bounce, Pikachu leapt into the air, priming an Iron Tail at the peak of his jump. Ash quickly recognized his partner’s attack and moved to evade.

“Get out of there Latias!” His command came just in time. Latias jetted to the side moments before Pikachu’s attack would have slammed her from above. Instead, the electric mouse was sent rocketing into the ground for his efforts. “Now, Dragon Breath whilst he recovers!”

“Gotcha!” Latias sent a blast racing towards the cloud of dust where Pikachu had landed, only to be stymied again. A shot of lightning came to meet her attack, and swept it away in an instant.

“Pika— Chu!” Pikachu blew his cover away with a discharge of energy, grinning before he went on the pursuit once more. “Pikapika! Pikachu!”

“Pull back, Latias!”

“Darn it, darn it!” With a burst of speed, Latias began evading once more, playing a very ironic game of cat-and-mouse with Pikachu. He’d catch up with her in leaps and bounds, sometimes disappearing before appearing in her path moments later. All the while she kept trying and failing to land her shots, unable to keep her aim straight with the both of them moving. Soon, her frustration began to peak. “Ash, this isn’t working!”

“It will, trust me!” Ash furrowed his brows, his eyes flashing across the battlefield as he tried to keep up with the two. After so many years of training with Pikachu, he thankfully had more than enough experience tracking the golden menace. “Latias, turn around and blitz him! Put him on the defensive!”

“Pika!”

“Huh!? O-okay!” Latias went into a roll, dodging a thundering Iron Tail from Pikachu before she pressed ahead. Her opponent was forced into a back step by that move, as he recovered and leapt away.

“Now, Dragon Breath!”

“Pi-ka! Pi-ka! Pi-ka-chu!” With flickers of speed, Pikachu bounded across the field, keeping distance from Latias while her attacks swept past him. Her shots were getting closer, but they were far from hitting home.

Soon it was time for Pikachu to raise the pressure.

“Chuuu! Pika!” He flipped, slamming his Iron Tail against the ground and bringing himself to a dead stop. Then, with a ricochet of momentum, he shot back the way he came.

He was flying towards Latias!

“Huh!?”

“Meet ‘em with your own power, Latias! Dragon Breath!” Ash’s words steeled Latias, as she puffed her cheeks with her biggest inhale yet. With her and Pikachu flying at one another at high speeds, she fired the Dragon Breath, dead ahead!

“Piiii Kaaa! Chuuu!” Accepting her challenge, Pikachu ignited his body and tail with an aura of lightning.

The two attacks converged, ready to crash together into a fiery display when—!

A roar rang out.

—a pillar of flames split the two apart!

“Pika!?”

“What!?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Caught off guard by the sudden interjection, Latias went into a spiral. She pulled up, and was sent spinning into the sky, leaving Ash and Pikachu to face their uninvited third combatant.

“What the—!?” Ash whipped around, finding the source of the flames standing in the distance. Past where Froakie and Fletchinder were sparring, past the edge of the practice field, was his culprit. “Charizard?”

The dragon had risen from his lounging spot, and was now approaching with an annoyed look on his face and a steady beat of his wings. Ash furrowed his brows.

“Pikapika! Kachu, pikachu!” What the hell was that about! Pikachu shared his partner’s displeasure as he leapt onto Ash’s head to meet Charizard face-to-face. A moment later, Latias floated back into view behind them, a sheepish, but still annoyed look in her eyes.

Charizard grumbled and muttered, before he began to explain himself, speaking in his rough draconic tongue. It took Ash a moment, but he got what he was saying.

“I’m training her wrong?” Ash’s annoyance melted away as Charizard’s intent came through. He was trying to help. “What do you mean?”

With a brief explanation, Charizard gave his answer, in the process jabbing a clawed figure towards Pikachu and then himself. This time, Ash was a bit lost.

Thankfully, Latias came to the rescue.

“He’s saying I’m not a battler like Pikachu, but a battler like he is.” As she translated, Charizard repeated himself, pressing his thumb into his chest. “I’m not really sure what that means.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Ash scratched his head, considering the implications of what Charizard was saying. Sure, his Pokémon have needed different approaches in the past. His time with Torterra was still fresh in his memory, after all. But, to label Latias a totally different kind of battler? It didn’t make sense!

She was fast and maneuverable and strong, just like Pikachu. How could she not battle like him too?

Charizard broke through Ash’s contemplation with a puff of smoke and an impatient grumble, before he continued. If Ash was having trouble believing him, then he wanted to prove it.

“Eh? How are you gonna do that?”

𝒳

“I would like it to be known, that I take issue with this plan.” Latias gulped, slowly floating back from her newest opponent— Charizard. The old veteran of Ash’s journeys was flexing his limbs, stretching and beating his wings until rolling cracks rang up their lengths. All the while, Pikachu stood on his shoulder, giving what surely must be advice on how to better pummel her face in. “Isn’t there a better way to prove Charizard’s point than this?!”

“Nope! When it comes to battling, the best way to prove anything is with action!” Despite her nerves, Ash was as confident as ever. He was always as confident as ever. Latias could never understand it, but she could at least appreciate it.

She could use some of that confidence now.

“Hey, Latias?” Ash spoke up and perked Latias’s ear. His tone had shifted. “Thanks for trusting me here. I know this stuff has to be pretty scary for you.”

Latias glanced back at Ash and smiled.

“You help make this not so scary anymore.” With a wink and a grin, Latias turned back to her opponent. “So, let’s do this, and kick this guy’s butt!”

A moment of surprise turned to excitement in Ash’s eyes. The combatants were set and the match was ready to begin.

“Pika!” At Pikachu’s call, it was off to the races,

“First to move is first to win! Latias, surround him!” At Ash’s command, Latias jetted in with a burst of speed, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision as she got into position. With a bend to her trajectory, Latias began to fly a tight orbit around Charizard, before disappearing into a red blur of afterimages.

In contrast to her speed, Charizard stayed in place, his gaze flicking from one side to another. He was waiting for her to make the first move.

Ash was happy to oblige.

“Alright Latias, let ‘em have it with Dragon Breath!” At his command, Latias unleashed a fierce gust of blue flames, which crashed into Charizard and sent him skidding back. Her first hit!

“Yes!”

Charizard was far from out of it, however. Shooting past Latias’s attack, Charizard lunged towards her, stunning her and Ash alike with his sudden forward assault. Before she even could think to evade, he snatched Latias out of her orbit, latching onto her shoulders with both arms.

“Huh—!?” Almost immediately, she was doused in a shower of red-hot flames, as Charizard fired his Flamethrower at point-blank range. She let out a cry that did little to deter her opponent.

“Latias! Pull back and use—!” Ash attempted to regain control of the situation, but Charizard was already onto his next move. With a sudden twist and spin, he sent Latias flying over his shoulder, straight into the air.

A moment later, he extended his wings out wide and went on the pursuit. This was an air battle now.

“Latias!”

𝒳

Latias rolled through the air in an uncontrolled tumble, the sky and ground spinning in her vision as she tried to find her bearings. Dizzy, she was dizzy. Was that the ship getting smaller?

No, she was getting farther.

Latias forced herself to an abrupt stop, righting herself a moment after. She was dozens of meters above the ship’s deck now, way too far for Ash’s voice to possibly reach her. She had to get back—!

A pillar of fire quickly burnt that thought to a crisp.

Charizard rose to her level, a fierce beat to his wings as he locked eyes with her. Before Latias had even a second to consider her options, he lunged at her, with his claws glowing white.

“Hey, hey, hey! What’re you doing!?” She shot back, raw speed alone keeping her away from the bad end of Charizard’s assault. “I can’t exactly take commands from up here!”

Charizard growled and grumbled, giving a retort as he followed her in fierce pursuit.

You lean on him too much. If you want to learn this lesson, you’ll learn it the hard way!

“What lesson!? That I’m not a battler like Pikachu?” Latias’s gaze snapped to the boat below, as she considered making a break for it. That moment of pause though was all Charizard needed to catch her off guard. He slammed his shoulder into her side and sent her flying. “Ahh!”

Latias grit her teeth, and snapped at her opponent.

“How the heck am I a battler like you then!?”

Charizard grinned, and pulled back, taking the pressure off Latias from a moment as she recovered. With a roar, he declared his answer.

I’ve never been as fast as Pikachu, but never been as fragile either. I can eat a hit and deliver the pain in return!

Just to make his point, Charizard lunged for Latias, his claws glowing a bright white. She quickly countered with a Dragon Breath, but to no avail. Charizard let the attack roll off his shoulder before he slammed a fist into Latias’s gut.

“Oof!” The blow left Latias dazed, her head swimming as she tumbled through the air uncontrollably. When she finally righted herself, it took a moment longer for her senses to catch up with her.

Charizard. Charizard was laughing at her.

You’re the same as me, newbie! You’ve got the bulk to take some punishment! Now let’s see you deal some back!

Latias grit her teeth, pain and frustration coalescing all at once into one emotion above them all: anger. If this was the game he wanted to play, she’d just have to go along.

“You asked for it!” Latias burst forward, a shockwave left in the wake of her sudden acceleration. There was no thought, no technique to this move, just one thing coming before all else: Speed.

With every ounce of acceleration she could muster, with all the power she could call forth, Latias crashed into Charizard at mach speed! She rammed into his chest, a shockwave blasting forth from the violent collision!

A direct hit!

Charizard roared and doubled over in pain, sent flying back with Latias still pressed against him. Eventually though, he forced them both to a stop.

He grinned through gritted teeth.

Good work, newbie! Now let’s see how you handle the heat!

“Huh!?” Latias was helpless as Charizard grabbed onto her with all his might. This was gonna hurt.

Rearing his head back, Charizard slammed his skull against hers, dazing her in a snap. Then, with a vicious spin, he launched her into the distance. Latias quickly began plummeting down to Earth, on a direct collision course with the ship below.

The whole world was spinning now. The night sky, the ocean, the boat growing in her sights, it was all spinning, adding nausea to the dazed pain in her head. She clenched her eyes tight in an attempt to shut it all out, to little avail.

What was going on again?

“Latias!”

Oh right, she was training.

“Latias! Pull up!”

Training, if it could even be called that. She was getting demolished.

“You have to pull up, Latias!”

Even when she was pushed into a corner, even when she got a touch of praise for her efforts, it still wasn’t enough.

Why was she doing this? Why did she even think she could do this?

“Latias, please! I know you can do this! I believe in you!”

…Right. That’s why.

Latias’s eyes snapped open, her senses finally caught up with the rest of her. With a twist of her body and a stretch of her wings, she brought herself to a sudden stop, mere feet from the boat’s surface. The sheer force of her levitation threatened to blow back Ash and Pikachu in an instant.

She turned back and looked to him, a small, relieved smile on her face.

“Sorry for the scare. I’m ready to go in again.” She watched as Ash stood straight, his shocked expression melting away into determination a moment later.

“Charizard’s not going to come down until we make him come down. Think you’ve got an idea on how?” Ash grinned, testing Latias with the question. As she turned to look back up at her opponent in the distance, she found her answer.

“Yeah, I’ve got an idea.” With that, it was off to the races once again. Ash raised a fist into the air.

“Go!” At his call, Latias surged forward with a burst of speed, taking to the sky with an aim that was straight and true. The boat, the sea, even the sky gave away in Latias’s vision, as she locked onto her target: Charizard.

The veteran dragon billowed with smoke, before wrenching his head back to counterattack. A pillar of red-hot flames fired from Charizard’s maw, ready to blow her off her path. Yet, Latias would not bow to this.

With a burst of speed, she flew straight through the flames!

Charizard balked as Latias burst through his attack, taking the inferno head-on. Before he could possibly move to dodge, she was upon him.

“Take this!” Latias slammed into Charizard, another shockwave blowing away the remnants of his Flamethrower in an instant.

Her hands pressed against his, her strength fought against his. For a moment, it seemed that the two were at an impasse, until Charizard began to chuckle through his grunts of exertion.

You’ve got guts, kid! But is it gonna be enough to finish the job!

Latias pushed with all her might, eyes clenched tight against the overwhelming strength of her opponent. Soon though, she found a smile growing on her face.

“You’ve got a point, about fighting like this!” With a grin, she looked up at Charizard. “When I’m this close, I can never miss!”

Twisting her entire body, Latias pulled Charizard below her with a sudden spin. Before he could respond, she took a deep breath and fired!

Charizard roared as a massive Dragon Breath slammed him square in the chest, blowing him back in an instant. The gust of blue flames rocketed him straight down, all the way on a collision course for the ship below!

Charizard crashed back into the practice field, before an explosion of smoke and flames consumed him all at once.

“I-I did it! I grounded him. I—” As she floated there, high above the ship with her chest heaving and breath labored, Latias paused. A realization struck her. “—May have gone overboard. Oh shoot.”

She zipped back down to ground level, floating back to Ash’s side with a sheepish, worried look on her face. Fiddling with her claws, she looked onto the massive plume of smoke where Charizard had landed.

“Did I, uh, go too far?”

Ash didn’t have a chance to answer, before a roar rang out from the clearing smoke. Scuffed and battered, but very much still standing, was Charizard, stepping out from the cover with his head held high.

He looked on at Latias, a scowl freezing her still.

Then, he snorted.

You’ve got potential, kid. Just gotta make sure you use it, alright?

𝒳

“Pikapi. Kachu, pikachu pi?” Think you’ve gotten Charizard’s point now?

Ash and Pikachu watched from the sidelines, as Latias and Charizard exchanged words of respect. After their spar-turned-brawl had come to an end, a moment of reprieve was needed.

Reprieve, and thought.

Ash stood, deep in thought over everything he’d just seen and heard. The way Charizard had fought, the way Latias had fought, it left his mind abuzz, mulling over the very nature of battling itself.

Soon, he had his answer, and a grin on his face.

“I’ve been pidgeyholing Latias, thinking she’s gotta battle just like you or Froakie do, just because she’s fast,” he began with a confession, one he wasn’t wary of giving for a moment. He tightened his hand into a fist. “Now though? Now, I know exactly how to bring out her 110%!”

Pikachu grinned.

“Pika!”

Chapter Text

𝒳

“...Do I have to do this?”

The door to the computer room opened with a click, filling the dark empty space with a stream of light. After a quick flick of the switch, Ash lit up the rest of the room and waltzed straight in.

“Course you do! Can’t have the literal first person you ever meet be Paul. Even I’m not that brave.” Ash’s voice dropped into an annoyed mutter at the mention of his rival, before he shook his head and took a spot at one of the computers. “Besides, you’re gonna be meeting them eventually. Might as well get it out of the way!”

After booting up the PC with one hand, Ash turned in his seat to face his companion— Or really, the empty space his companion was occupying. It was still in the middle of the day, so Latias had her invisibility on tight.

After a moment, she let the cover slip.

“Okay but like, what if I didn’t have to meet anyone else?” There was a slight hint of desperation to that plea, one Ash was happy to let her clarify. He smirked and crossed his arms. “I could be Inviso, the world’s first totally invisible Pokémon! Honestly I think you’re missing out on a great opportunity to— This, isn’t convincing you, is it?”

“Nope.” With a laugh, Ash turned back to the PC and started a video call. Two names popped onto the screen at once— Serena and Clemont —with a window depicting Ash and Latias appearing below them.

Latias stared at the shot of herself, with thin lips and a pit in her stomach. The call was just ringing, and she was already too nervous to continue.

The moment Ash’s first companion came onto the screen, Latias vanished once again.

“Latias, what’re you—?” Ash bit his tongue, letting out a sigh that made Latias’s heart sink.

She didn’t want to disappoint him but… She wasn’t ready for this yet.

“Ash? Ash, it’s good to see you! It’s been a few days hasn’t it?” First to speak up in the call was Clemont, standing up to the camera as his connection finally stabilized. He was quickly followed by Serena, who was plopping down at a Pokémon Center couch as she was taking the call.

“Good timing though! I’ve got something amazing to show you two!”

Putting on a smile, Ash scooted closer to the computer, leaving Latias to just watch.

“Yeah, training for Paul has been brutal. I’ve been really busy the last few days!” he explained, scratching his cheek alongside his explanation. “Or nights, really.”

“I’ll say. You look like you haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a week!”

At Serena’s claim, Latias wheeled around to look at Ash. Though the boy hadn’t lost any of his youthful vigor, subtle bags were forming under his eyes. Staying up late to train every night was having its effects.

“Heh, just how it is! Enough about me though, you said you got something to show?” Dismissing his friend’s concern, Ash pivoted back to Serena, putting a bright smile on the girl’s face.

“Yes, I do!” With a flourish of her hands, Serena presented a small object to the camera, the sight of which made Ash sit forward in his seat. “Ta-dah! I won the Cliff Badge!”

“Congratulations!”

“That’s amazing, Serena! I knew you could do it!” All at once, Ash’s eyes lit up with warmth and pride, something Latias noticed in an instant. Her gaze flipped between Ash and the screen in quick succession. “You gotta tell us how it went down! You must’ve really rocked Grant, huh!”

“Pfffft! Well I can say this— Copycat worked great! Hidden Power too! I led with…”

Just like that, the conversation shifted to Serena and her gym battle, leaving Latias partially on the outside. She knew a few things from what Ash had explained to her, but she was mostly lost now. There was too much context she was missing, too many conversations she’d not been around for. All she could do was watch.

Latias felt her gaze linger on Serena for a time before she turned back to Ash. The usually loud and rambunctious trainer had fallen quiet, an excited grin on his lips and undeniable pride in his eyes.

Pride. Pride in his companion. Pride for his friend.

Latias wanted him to look at her like that.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself.

“Oh hey Ash, didn’t you call us first? Did you have something you wanted to talk about?” Pausing from her story, Serena put the ball back in Ash’s court, catching him off guard.

“Ah, well, I wanted to introduce you guys to someone, but she sorta… flew off.” With an awkward laugh and a scratch behind his head, Ash tried to pass off Latias’s impromptu exit.

Go time.

“Oh? Well I’m sure we’ll get another opportunity!” Clemont was amicable as ever, while Serena remained far more curious.

“She? Who’s—” Before Serena could complete the thought, she froze, a look of shock taking her in an instant. “Who is that!?”

“Eh!?”

Right behind Ash, in full view of the camera, Latias had dropped her invisibility. With a reserved smile, she waved at the screen.

“Who—? Ah, Latias!” Ash beamed and his smile was like magic to Latias. “Guys, this is Latias! She’s an old friend of mine from Johto!”

“Pleased to meet ya!” Latias chirped out a greeting of her own. After shaking off their momentary shock, Serena and Clemont jumped to respond.

“Hello!”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance!” Clemont, the curious mind as always, was already at work tapping away at his computer. “I must say, I’ve never heard of a Pokémon named Latias before!”

“Heh, we’re actually pretty uncomm—”

“Yeah, I’m not getting anything from my Pokédex.” In a surprisingly out-of-character moment, Serena interrupted Latias offhandedly, sparking a raised brow from Ash.

“Yeah, they’re pretty rare,” he explained, finishing Latias’s point.

“Yep! I’ve only ever met one other pair—!”

“Oh, perhaps the species isn’t native to our hemisphere!” Reading from his other monitor, Clemont spoke up next.

Interrupted once again, Latias frowned, her gaze falling with a look of embarrassment. This time, Ash furrowed his brows.

“Hey, why are you guys interrupting her?”

“Huh?”

“What are you talking about, Ash?” Their apparent ignorance did little to help Ash’s ire. Latias blinked with a thought.

“I’m talking about how you’re talking over—”

“Oh! Uh, Ash.” This time it was Ash who was interrupted, as Latias shook his shoulder. “Telepathy, uh, doesn’t work over the phone.”

Ash blinked, before a sheepish look took his face.

“Oh.”

𝒳

With another day passing by, another night fell soon after. The rematch against Paul was rapidly approaching, and so it was back to the grind for Ash and his Pokémon.

“Fletch!”

Froakie and Fletchinder kept to themselves, no longer needing Ash to organize their spars. The two rivals instead were making great strides to practice and one-up each other. Fletchinder was especially getting good experience in triggering her ability, Flame Body, much to the annoyance of Froakie.

It didn’t matter to him though— Each burn he suffered brought him closer to avoiding the next.

“Froakie!”

“Chuuu—! Pi-ka!”

After Charizard’s interjection the other night, he had opted to join the training session as well— In a purely mentoring capacity, of course.

Whatever he wanted to call it, Pikachu was just happy to have a training partner he could go all out on. Full Force Iron Tails expertly deflected stone-shattering Slashes, as the old teammates went head-to-head.

“Pika!”

That left the final two members of Ash’s team, the two he was personally overseeing— Latias and Hawlucha.

“Move back with Flying Press, Hawlucha!” In a surprising turn, Ash wasn’t commanding Latias today, instead leaving her to practice a bit of self-determination in the spar. The main focus of this exercise was actually on Hawlucha.

“Lucha!” Flipping with his wings out wide, Hawlucha caught the wind and shot back across the field. That move had him narrowly avoiding the red blur that was Latias. His reaction time was slow and his movements sluggish, but that was to be expected with the weight on his body.

“Again, behind you!”

Two life preservers, three life vests, and a length of ship’s rope wrapped loosely around Hawlucha’s frame. It weighed him down, forcing him to work harder for the same results.

“Haw! Lu! Cha!” With a dive and a roll, Hawlucha dodged another sweep from Latias. He landed on his knee and struck a strong pose, despite his current load.

The hope then was that when he shed said load, it’d trigger his ability, Unburden.

“Gotcha!” Appearing from behind, Latias pounced onto Hawlucha, sweeping him into her arms and flying off with him. The proud warrior attempted to pull away, but Latias’s grip was iron. “Heh, sorry! Looks like I win this time!”

With a chirp, Latias began charging her newest attack— Psybeam. A plume of magenta energy formed at her curled lips, before quickly growing in size.

“Hawlucha! Drop the load!” Ash was no sitting duck, however. At his call, Hawlucha reached for the knot of rope at his chest and pulled it loose. In an instant, the weights across his body fell away, setting his muscles free. Ash smirked. “Now, push back!”

“Whoa!”

“Lucha!” Bursting with a swell of red energy, Hawlucha pressed his feet to Latias’s chest, before kicking himself away. Latias was sent flying back as he skidded onto the ground, arms out wide. “Cha, cha, cha! Hawlucha!”

The moment he came to a stop, he shot after Latias in a sudden blur.

“Whoa! I think it’s working, Ash!” Rolling through the air, Latias watched as Hawlucha sped across her vision, appearing in blurs from one side of her to the other. There was no doubt about it now. “He’s so fast!”

“Cha, cha, cha! Lu, Hawlucha! Lucha!” Jajaja! Of course it has worked, señorita! The forest champion has become unburdened! With a new vigor and energy to his step, Hawlucha dashed towards Latias, forcing her into a backstep as she considered her options.

She zipped across the field, trading blows with Hawlucha as the two crossed paths, again and again. Each time they did, they exchanged light blows, as Hawlucha tested his newfound speed. Soon, it was time to put it to good use.

“Get on top of her, Hawlucha!” With a snap of Ash’s fingers, Hawlucha leapt into action, disappearing from sight in one step and reappearing in another— Right on top of Latias’s back!

“Huh!?”

“X-Scissor!”

Green energy sparked to life at the forest champion’s forearms, which he raised into the air to flash the sign of a cross. Before Latias could react, he slammed his newest attack down onto her back.

“Aaaaaaah!” The Super Effective blow nearly slammed Latias right out of the air, but she endured, shooting ahead with a burst of speed. She maintained her straight line trajectory for a moment, before looking ahead and smiling. “I think you’re just too fast for me now, Hawlucha!”

“Lucha?” Hawlucha paused from his second swing, unsure of what Latias meant. She’d soon show him.

“You can go up ahead!” With all her might, Latias brought herself to a dead stop, launching Hawlucha off her back at full speed! He rocketed through the air, flying well past the bounds of the practice field—

“Hawlu—!?”

—and straight into a row of wooden lounge chairs! A thunderous crashing rang out, as a half dozen chairs shattered into debris and skidded Hawlucha to a stop. When the cacophony came to an end, a pile of wood scraps was all that remained.

“Hawlucha!” Ash panicked for a second before stepping forward, Latias joining his side a moment after.

“Did I, uh, go too far?”

Ash resisted answering, as he cupped his hands around his mouth.

“Hawlucha! You okay?” He called out to his Pokémon, letting a moment pass in tense silence. Thankfully, the debris soon shook, and Hawlucha stuck a hand out from the pile. He flashed a thumbs-up. A sigh of relief turned into a snort in Ash’s mouth. “Well, you didn’t kill anyone, so that’s a plus.”

“H-hey!” An embarrassed laugh took Latias, as she bapped his shoulder. The two approached to help pull Hawlucha from the wreckage. “I’m trying my best here!”

“And you did good! A little too good.” With a sarcastic tone and a jovial smile, Ash began digging his Pokémon out from the rubble, until Hawlucha was set free. The proud forest champion was a bit scuffed up, but otherwise unharmed. “Alright you two, let’s clean up before we get back to work!”

“I see you haven’t lost your knack for organized chaos, Ash.” Just then, a voice rang out from behind the group, surprising Ash and startling Latias out of her own skin.

Before Ash could even begin to glance back, Latias disappeared from sight.

“Huh?” Ash turned to where the voice came from, as all the training around him came to a complete stop. At this late at night, no one had expected an uninvited guest. Thankfully, it wasn’t an unfamiliar guest. Ash’s eyes widened as a smile took his face. “No way!”

“Pika!?” Pikachu called out in surprise as he hopped onto Ash’s shoulder, joining him on his way to meet said guest.

“Riley!”

𝒳

Appearing from a dark hall that led deeper into the ship proper was Riley, an old acquaintance of Ash from his Sinnoh days. The man looked like a day hadn’t passed since the two parted ways, still wearing the same blue suit and wide-brimmed hat he had back then.

He wore the same smile he had back then as well, when the two met at the edge of the practice fields.

“Man, this is crazy. What’re you doing here!”

“I’m taking this ship up to Snowpoint City. There’s a temple there I intend to meditate at, now that the snow is melting,” he explained, taking a moment to glance at the rest of Ash’s team as they approached. “I think the better question is what are you doing here, Ash? As far as I recall, the Sinnoh Region isn’t your usual stomping grounds.”

“Meditate, huh?” Right, Riley was an Aura Guardian in training. Guess stuff like that was to be expected. Ash rubbed the back of his head and gave a chuckle. “You’ve got that right! I’m just visiting right now, tryna sharpen up before a battle I’ve got waiting for me near Snowpoint!”

“Hm, that explains all the training you’ve been doing the last few days.” Upon hearing that from Riley, Ash felt his expression tighten with a touch of surprise. Riley chuckled. “I wouldn’t be shocked if they could hear you and your team from the other end of the ship, Ash.”

“Ah jeeze.” Surprise turned to embarrassment, as Ash gave an awkward laugh whilst his face grew red. “Sorry if we ended up waking you! Honestly, I’ve only been training this late cause I wanted to keep eyes off us, actually.”

Thankfully, Riley didn’t seem annoyed.

“It’s quite alright. I’m often awake at this hour any—” Riley did something odd then. He paused and glanced to the side, to the open air above Froakie and near Hawlucha. His gaze held a certain intensity, as he craned across his field of view until he passed over Ash. “Oh? How interesting.”

“Pika?”

“Uhhh? Are you okay, Riley?” Ash glanced over his shoulder, looking to where Riley had his gaze locked. Nothing.

Unless… Could he—!?

With a smile, Riley called out to the open air.

“Hello there.” He could spot Latias with Aura!

“EEP!” With her invisibility on tight, Latias booked it across the deck of the ship, throwing herself behind the pile of wooden rubble she’d made for extra cover. It would do little to truly hide her, however, when Aura was involved. “Aaaaash!? Do something!?”

“It’s kinda late for me to do anything.” Despite his claim, Ash still moved to put his body between Riley and Latias. He gave his old acquaintance an awkward laugh for the trouble.

Chuckling, Riley turned his gaze away and tipped the rim of his hat down.

“I’m afraid Ash is right. I’ve already seen you, and I can still see you, if I so wish.”

“...Right, yes. You’ve seen me, sure.” Ash turned, just in time to see a flash of light erupt from behind the wood rubble. A moment later, Latias strolled out on two legs— Her human disguise. With a nervous smile, she approached. “Hi! My name is… Bianca.”

Riley snorted, before shaking his head.

“No, that’s not quite right. You’re still hiding it seems.” His words brought Latias to a dead stop, a moment of panic flashing across her eyes. It was at that point that Ash decided it was time to intervene.

“It’s okay! Riley’s an old friend of mine. You can trust him, I promise.” He assured her with a confident smile and raised hand, pointing to Riley with a jab of his thumb. “Just like Serena and Clemont, yeah?”

Latias’s eyes furrowed, as she processed what Ash had said. It took her a moment, but she soon nodded.

“…Right. Just like them.” With a deep breath, Latias took a step back, before pressing a hand to her chest. Light began to curl around her, until the form she took melted away. When the transformation was complete, Latias’s true form remained. “…Hi.”

Riley’s eyes widened at the sight of Latias, only returning to normal as she slowly approached and joined her trainer’s side. With a bit of encouragement from Ash, she offered her hand forward.

Riley smiled and accepted her handshake.

“It’s good to meet you, Latias.”

𝒳

“All the way from Kalos is quite the distance to be blown, Ash. What’s pulled you out this far?”

With introductions out of the way, Ash set his team back onto training, pairing up the six and letting them manage themselves for a bit. He wanted a chance to speak with Riley while they had him, after all.

That led the two to where they stood now, at the edge of the practice fields, watching Latias and Froakie play their game of cat and mouse. After their encounter earlier, Latias’s spirit was burning bright once again.

“Heh, less pulled and more pushed.” Riley’s observation wasn’t a surprise to Ash. For him to be so far afield was bound to draw questions inevitably. Now Ash just needed to give the answers. “I haven’t been doing too hot these last few years— Something I really had to reckon with back in Kalos. I’ve been traveling all over the place since, looking for what I was missing.”

“Was? I take it then that you’ve found your answer?” To Riley’s inquiry, Ash gave a hearty grin.

“I think so!” He gripped the rim of his cap as he said that, steeling his gaze ahead to Latias. “Coming out here, meeting so many friends, picking up old strategies I lost along the way— I’ve never done anything like this! It’s all so new!”

Turning back to Riley, Ash pumped his fist.

“And that’s what I’ve been missing! Something new!” With pride swelling in his chest and determination burning in his eyes, Ash proclaimed his answer to Riley. There was no doubt, no hesitation.

This was it.

“My, my.” Riley was surprised by Ash’s sudden upswell in energy and gusto, before he chuckled and took it in stride. He shouldn’t have expected any less from Ash. “Then this must be the last leg of your journey then?”

This time, Ash let his passion cool. It didn’t disappear but instead became something softer.

“Yep. I’ve got friends waiting for me back in Kalos. Once I’m done here, I’m heading back.” His eyes fell to the ground for a moment, as his thoughts went to Clemont, Bonnie, and especially, Serena. She’d gotten her second badge and was on her way to Shalour City now. He had to meet her there.

“Well then, it sounds to me that winning this final battle you are approaching is important.” With a flick of a finger, Riley raised the brim of his hat and looked eye-to-eye with Ash. “I have an offer for you— Would you like to battle?”

Ash lit up with excitement.

“That sounds perfect!”

𝒳

Latias’s chest hummed with a nervous sort of energy, steadily rising and falling as she breathed. From the outside, it almost sounded like the purr of a jet engine. To her though, it was just her thrumming heart.

A battle. A real battle, against someone who wasn’t a teammate— That’s what she faced now, with Ash standing behind her and Riley before her. The field had been cleared once more, as the rest of Ash’s team observed from the sidelines. She had gotten a few cheers of encouragement, a semi-sarcastic comment from Fletchinder, but beyond that? She was on her own.

“You’re going to do great, okay? Just gotta give it your all!”

Right, not on her own. She still had Ash.

“I don’t know where you get all that faith in me,” she quipped, half-joking as she floated back to him.

“Ah well, I figured since you did such a number on those chairs earlier, you’ve gotta have it in ya to do that to Riley’s Lucario.” A cheesy grin was on his face in full force, alongside his tongue-in-cheek tone. “Seriously though, you’ve got this! You gave Charizard a decent run for his money, and with me here, you can do anything!”

Latias smiled, stealing a glance to their opponent up ahead. Riley was tipping his cap to her.

“With you here, I can really believe that.” With a shake of her head and a quick slap to her cheeks, Latias braced herself. She was ready. “Let’s do this!”

“That’s the spirit!” From across the practice field, Riley called out to Ash and Latias, raising a Poké ball of his own forward. “Please, show me everything you two can do!”

Tossing the ball into the air, Riley summoned his partner to the field.

“I call upon you, Lucario!” Riley’s partner appeared with little pomp or circumstance, instead carrying a stoic determination that burned bright in his eyes. That stoicism soon faded, as Lucario smiled and took a stance mirroring his trainer.

“Lucario!”

The players were set— And the battle was on!

“Aura Sphere!”

“Dodge it and sweep him!” Both combatants moved at once, Latias blitzing ahead as Lucario launched a wicked-fast Aura Sphere. The cerulean attack flew past Latias, narrowly missing as she juked out of the way. Her target was its source.

“Luc—?!”

“Up we go!” Rushing into her opponent, Latias snatched Lucario at the waist, before taking to the skies.

“Sweet! Now, Psybeam!”

“Allow Aura Sphere to strike true, then free yourself!” That command caught Ash off guard. ‘Strike true’? What was he talking—

“Whoa!” Right on that thought, Lucario’s wayward Aura Sphere suddenly turned. As if it was ricocheting off the air, it flew into the sky on a direct course for— “Latias! Watch out!”

“Huh? Oof!” Still charging her Psybeam, Latias was left completely helpless as Lucario’s attack slammed into her back. All at once, her grip on her opponent slipped.

“Lu— Ca— rio!” Lucario wrenched free of Latias’s grip, before kicking himself away.

“After him, Latias!”

“Make distance with another Aura Sphere!” Still plummeting, Lucario flipped and fired a quick shot Aura Sphere, throwing Latias off course as she shot down in pursuit. “The moment you touch down— Extreme Speed!”

Ash’s eyes widened.

“Oh man!”

“Cario! Lu—” With a nod, Lucario went into a roll, aiming his feet to the field below. The very second he reached solid ground, he vanished from sight.

“Aaaaand , got—! Huh!?” Latias took a hard turn, as her target evaded her grasp in a flicker of movement. “Where did he—?”

“Latias, above you!”

“He’s above—? Ack!” Missing the forest for the trees, Latias was once again slammed by an Aura Sphere. The tracking ability of Lucario’s signature move was quickly becoming an issue.

“Follow him, Latias! Don’t give Lucario an inch!”

“Evade with Extreme Speed!” The moment Lucario appeared at Riley’s side, he was gone once more. He flashed across the field in a haze of movement.

“Oh, that’s tricky!” For all his speed, however, Lucario was still dealing with a speedster all her own. Latias burst ahead, quickly making up the distance as she followed in hot pursuit.

“Evade!”

“Follow!”

So returned the game of cat and mouse— Lucario flickering in and out of view, as Latias zipped after him with blistering displays of speed. Each time she seemed to get her hands on him, he’d slip away once more.

“Behind you, Latias!”

“Jump and attack from above, Lucario!”

Lucario appeared, arms crossed and eyes closed, a moment after evading a snatch from Latias. When she whipped around to get another shot at him, he backflipped straight into the air.

“Huh!?” Latias was blindsided, as Lucario slammed his heel onto her head. Pain flashed through her skull. “Ow! Ow! Ow!”

Before she could retaliate, Lucario flickered away.

“Whoa! You feeling okay, Latias?!”

“No?? That hurt!?” Latias grit her teeth and furrowed her brows, as she saw Lucario appear again meters away. “Not this time!”

“Extreme—!”

Riley was too slow on the draw, as Latias shot ahead at lightning speeds. With a shockwave trailing in her wake, she slammed into Lucario and sent him flying into the air!

“That’s what I like to see! Grab ‘em Latias!” At Ash’s praise, Latias turned on a dime and jetted up to meet her flying opponent.

“Aura Sphere, now!” Lucario was far from helpless, however. Righting himself, he fired another quick Aura Sphere, which skidded off Latias’s back and flew down to the deck below. That wouldn’t be the last of it, however.

The moment Latias latched onto Lucario, his attack ricocheted off the field.

“Damn it— Toss—!” Ash’s eyes widened, as an idea struck him all at once. “Toss him into his attack!”

“Got it!” Still ascending, Latias began to twirl, before she chucked Lucario as hard as she could. In an instant, Riley’s partner crashed into his own attack as it detonated.

“Psybeam!”

“Dodge with Bullet Punch, Lucario!” With gritted teeth, Lucario swung his steel-coated fist, shooting through the air in a sudden burst of speed. Latias’s attack went wide as he plummeted to the ground below. “Extreme Speed!”

“After him!” Ash and Latias could only hold the momentum of the match for so long. As Latias went in for another grab, Lucario disappeared into a flicker of movement. “Where did—?”

Riley spoke up, as Lucario appeared at his side.

“I must commend you two! For your speed to match Lucario, tit-for-tat— You’re more than I could’ve ever predicted.” With Riley’s praise came a similar call from Lucario, who grinned and locked eyes with Latias. “I think it’s time then, for us to show you how far we can go!”

Ash’s eyes lit up, sparks of excitement quickly becoming a roaring flame. As Latias floated to his side, he called out his response.

“You’re on! We’re gonna give you guys 110%!” With that same passion that burned in everything he did, Ash turned to Latias. “You ready!”

Whatever hesitation she may have had, it was long gone by now. Bearing a grin that matched her trainer, Latias nodded.

“Let’s do this!”

“Lucario!” Riley pressed a fist to his chest and closed his eyes, matching his partner’s stance point-for-point. Giving a call of affirmation, Lucario did the same, mirroring his trainer perfectly.

With their bodies aligned, their hearts soon followed.

“Allow our Auras to synchronize!”

“Lucario!” All at once, a tide of energy rocketed out from the pair, pushing Ash back and nearly blowing his hat off his head.

As he stood his ground and felt the sheer force coming off his opponents, Ash couldn’t help but grin. He recognized this pressure, this power.

He knew what the Aura of a full power Lucario felt like.

“Let’s do this, Latias!” Ash readied for round two with a cry that was as much for himself as it was for his Pokemon. Latias’s nod was the only starting signal he needed. “Sweep them and use Psybeam!”

“Extreme Speed!”

Once more, both combatants blitzed into action— Latias racing ahead as Lucario disappeared to evade. He flashed across the field, once, twice, three times, before crashing into Latias’s side.

“Whoa!?” Before Ash could respond, Lucario was gone and Latias was sent rolling through the air. “Where did—!?”

“Cario!” He appeared above Latias! With a kick, Lucario slammed her into the ground, before launching her back with a follow-up.

“Latias!” At Ash’s cry, Latias forced herself to a stop, wings flaring as she whipped her head back. By the time her eyes opened, Lucario was gone once again.

“Where did—!”

“Extreme Speed!” Riley answered Latias’s question with another command. Lucario appeared behind her, slamming into her with a breakneck tackle.

“Ahhh!”

“Into the air, Latias! Quick!” Realizing the predicament, Ash ordered Latias to retreat— Narrowly dodging another nasty slam from Lucario in the meantime. “He’s too fast for us to track! How the hell are we gonna—?”

As Lucario flickered from view, an idea dawned on Ash all at once. He felt it just then, a shift in the air when Lucario disappeared. It was his Aura moving.

Ash could track Lucario’s Aura!

“Aura Sphere, Lucario!” At Riley’s command, Lucario appeared in the center of the field, a powerful Aura Sphere already primed. He instantly fired the attack, aiming to knock Latias right out of the sky.

“Dodge it, Latias! Then destroy it with Dragon Breath!” Snapping back to the battle, Ash sent Latias into evasive maneuvers. She sped away, before flipping around and firing a blast against the pursuing sphere. When the clashing attacks exploded, Ash called out to her again. “Latias, follow my lead! When I tell you to move somewhere, just do it!”

“Okay!”

“On my word!” Ash closed his eyes and concentrated, feeling Lucario’s Aura flash across the field. Each time he flickered into view, Ash could feel the Aura stall for just a second. It was at that moment that they needed to strike.

Riley furrowed his brows as he looked at the scene.

“On my right, at the corner of the field!” Latias blitzed down, racing for a section of the field where Lucario seemed absent. The moment she arrived though, he flickered into view! “Psybeam!”

“Dodge it! Then Extreme Speed” Lucario ducked and rolled out of the way, before flickering out of sight.

But he wasn’t getting away that easily!

“Across the field, at Riley’s left!” With a sharp turn, Latias jetted to that location, meeting Lucario the moment he appeared. “Toss him into the air!”

“How are—!?” Riley was shocked to see Latias grab Lucario, before twirling and punting him into the sky. She hadn’t gotten faster, so how could—?

Riley paused, as he saw Ash battling with his eyes closed.

“Get out of the air— Bullet Punch straight down!”

“Hit ‘em with Psybeam!”

“Caaaario!” Flipping in mid-air, Lucario launched himself down with the momentum of his swing, carving through Latias’s attack on his descent. Her beam was split in two as Lucario crashed into her.

“Throw her, then Extreme Speed!” In one move, Lucario tossed Latias over his shoulder, before disappearing in the next.

“Recover, then turn and fire!” Latias kept up the pace, forcing herself to a stop and then whipping around. When Lucario flashed into view behind her, she unleashed a primed Psybeam at point blank! “Now grab him!”

“Extreme Speed, and charge an Aura Sphere!” Lucario was sent reeling for just a moment before he flickered away, right out of Latias’s grasp. Reappearing at Riley’s side, he summoned another plume of Aura in his palms.

“Follow him, Latias!”

“Fire it, then Extreme Speed away!” Shooting into action, Latias dodged Lucario’s charged blow as she went for the source. This time, when Lucario zipped away, she immediately turned to his new location on Ash’s command— Only to find an obstacle in her way. “Strike true!”

“Aah!” Lucario’s Aura Sphere bounced off the field and slammed into Latias’s back, sending her rolling through the air. When she recovered, she found Riley’s partner standing with two more Aura Spheres, one in each hand. “Ash, please tell me you’ve got a plan!”

Lucario’s attacks rocketed across the field, one after the other as he flickered away.

“Sure I do! We gotta finish this with a decisive blow!” Pounding a fist into his palm, Ash grinned. “Charge a Psybeam, Latias, and hold it!”

“O-okay!” Latias dipped and dived through the air, dodging Lucario’s Aura Spheres as they followed in hot pursuit. With a shrill cry, she began to charge her counterattack— a plume of magenta energy, growing at her lips.

“Now, freeze!” At Ash’s command, Latias came to a sudden stop, letting her wings flare out and Lucario’s Aura Spheres shoot ahead. Before they could rebound to follow her, the twin attacks crashed into each other, and exploded! “Perfect! Now, let’s get Lucario!”

“Aura Sphere, then Extreme Speed!” In quick succession, Lucario spiked an Aura Sphere off the ground and then disappeared. His Aura shifted—

“—To your left, Latias!” Latias juked to the side, dodging the Aura Sphere and redirecting all at once. There, Lucario appeared once more. “Fly straight up!”

“Lucario!?” Taking a sharp turn, Latias shocked Lucario with her retreat, before Ash’s intent became clear. His Aura Sphere was right behind her!

“Underhand it, Lucario!” Lucario dug deep and swung with a powerful uppercut, sending the Aura Sphere after its original target once more. “Extreme Speed!”

As Lucario disappeared, his attack crashed into Latias’s back.

“Grah!”

“Right side of the field, Latias!” With her Psybeam still growing, Latias shot towards the ground once more, ready to deliver the hurt. Yet, she was evaded again. Lucario spiked another Aura Sphere into the ground and disappeared into a flicker of movement. “Now, behind you!”

Doing a flip, Latias evaded the attack and chased down the attacker all in one.

Another steady rhythm formed— Lucario kept out of view and reach, firing Aura Spheres that picked up the slack for his aim. Meanwhile, Latias played double duty with pursuit and evasion, charging up her Psybeam the entire time. She and Ash needed to outmaneuver the barrage of Aura Spheres in any way they could. Only then could they break this impasse.

Soon though, it would break on its own.

When it seemed they had gotten Lucario pinned, chaos struck. The plume of magenta energy from Latias’s Psybeam had grown too large. With a burst, it exploded right in her grasp!

“Whoa!?”

“Ow!” The attack blew Latias back, coating her in a thick cloud of magenta mist. She hacked and coughed through the haze, before dispersing it with a twirl.

As the remnants of the attack drifted past, Ash’s eyes widened. He recognized that mist.

An idea brewed in his mind.

“Latias! Charge up another Psybeam, as long as you can!” The command was baffling to both Latias and Riley, bringing the latter to a complete pause. For the former, Ash offered a classic Ketchum™ grin. “Trust me, I’ve got a plan!”

“Right, okay!” That was enough to convince her. With another chirp and call, Latias began charging a second Psybeam, this one even stronger than the one before. All the while, she dipped and dived, racing across the sky with Lucario’s Aura Spheres in hot pursuit.

“If you think I’ll just let you get that far, then you’re sorely mistaken, Ash!” Tipping up the brim of his hat, Riley smiled, right as Lucario skidded to a stop at his side. Without a word, the two struck a mirrored pose, each bringing a clenched fist forward. “Lucario, it’s time to finish this!”

“Cario!” Silvery energy exploded from Lucario’s wrist, bright and hot like burning metal sparks. Leaning forward, he readied for his partner’s command.

“Here it comes!” Closing his eyes, Ash readied as well. Even if his hunch was right, they only had one shot to pull this off. It was all down to this! “Latias, fly—!”

“Bullet Punch and Extreme Speed!”

“—Straight down!” In an instant, both combatants raced into action, Lucario shooting into the air as Latias crashed towards the earth. The two narrowly missed one another, forcing Lucario to flicker away as his Aura Spheres followed Latias close behind. Ash grinned. “To your left!”

Taking a sharp turn at the very last moment, Latias jetted mere inches from the ground as she chased down her foe. The Aura Spheres behind her couldn’t keep up and quickly shattered against the field behind her.

Now onto their source.

“There you are!” When Lucario appeared before Latias, he shot to the side, narrowly dodging her on the first pass. Turning on a dime, Latias went in for seconds. “Gotcha!”

With her Psybeam still growing, she slammed into Lucario. The blow sent him skidding across the field!

“Extreme Speed!”

“Lucario!” Gritting his teeth, Lucario forced himself to a stop before disappearing, leaving an afterimage Latias blew through. When she whipped around on Ash’s command, she came face-to-face with her foe once more. “Cario! Lucario!”

“Bullet Punch!”

His fist crackled with bright, burning metal sparks. In an instant, the force of his swing sent him flying like a speeding bullet!

“Latias, take it!” Digging deep, Latias sped ahead and took the blow head-on! Lucario’s fist slammed into her chest, blowing the air from her lungs and winding her in an instant. But she was far from out of the fight. She grit her teeth. “Now, throw him up!”

“Lucario, Extreme—!” It was too late. Latias latched onto Lucario’s shoulders and took to the sky, before twirling and tossing him with all her might. Lucario was sent flying! “Aura Sphere!”

“Slam him!”

“Luc—!?” Lucario moved to right himself, but was too slow on the draw. Latias shot after her opponent with blazing speeds, before slamming into him like a freight train. The crash sent him plummeting back down to the ground below, as Latias continued to rise.

All the while, her Psybeam still charged.

“Meet their power with your own, Lucario! Aura Sphere!” Finally able to regain his bearings, Lucario flipped in midair and began to charge his largest Aura Sphere yet. In an instant, it dwarfed the plume of Latias’s Psybeam.

“Let’s finish this, Latias! After him!” Ash’s breathless command filled Latias’s mind. His boundless fervor pressed her forward. With her wings flared back and her Psybeam near its breaking point, Latias shot down in hot pursuit!

“Lucario—!”

“Latias—!”

“Fire!” Ash and Riley’s commands rang out in unison, as their Pokémon instantly obeyed. Lucario’s Aura Sphere flew up at blazing speeds while Latias’s Psybeam was finally unleashed.

The beam of energy she expected was absent. Instead, the entire plume shot down!

“Huh!?” The twin attacks, Aura blue and psychic pink, skidded past each other before flying after their targets. In the pause from her confusion, Latias was slammed by Lucario’s Aura Sphere.

Her attack shot towards Lucario—!

“Dodge!”

—And missed! Lucario twisted his body in mid-air and dodged! The plume of energy was left racing towards the ground!

Despite that, Ash grinned.

“Riley, it’s been a good match!” Locking eyes with his opponent for a moment, Ash gave his condolences, before declaring his final move. “It’s over! Rebound!”

“What are you—!”

“Cari—?!” The plume of magenta energy ricocheted off the ground! In an instant, it slammed into Lucario’s back!

“Lucario!” With that, a cloud of thick smoke consumed the center of the field.

𝒳

Ash’s chest thrummed with quiet but still uneasy energy. The battle had fallen silent in the blink of an eye, with neither side certain over the state of the match. Despite the direct hit, Latias was still in it, shaking off that last Aura Sphere and floating back to Ash’s side. That just left Riley’s partner, hidden in the mist.

Ash was tempted to feel for his Aura, but he resisted the urge.

He didn’t want to ruin the surprise, after all.

“Ash, what are we—?” Ash paused Latias with a motion of his hand, his eyes still locked onto the fading cloud of magenta smoke. After a moment, a sound rang out from it: footsteps.

“Lu… cario.” Lucario stepped out from the remnants of Latias’s attack, beat up but far from being out of the game. He rolled his shoulder before taking a stance and beckoned towards Ash with his paw. “Cario.”

Riley shook his head.

“Unlike you to get ahead of yourself, Ash. This battle is far from—”

“Lucario!?” All at once, Lucario’s arm slumped to his side, stunning Riley to silence. A moment later, a leg followed, forcing Lucario to a knee. “Lu!?”

Ash breathed a sigh of relief, before grinning.

“Good game, Riley.” On that word, Lucario fully collapsed.

Ash and Latias had won.

𝒳

“I have to ask, Ash. How exactly did you know her attack would have that effect in the end?”

With their match wrapped up and their Pokémon tended to, Ash and Riley returned to their earlier conversation without a hitch. The two now stood at the edge of the ship’s deck, watching the dark waters in the distance pass into the night.

Smiling, Ash turned and leaned against the railing.

“When Psybeam blew up in Latias’s face the first time around, it looked a lot like a move I had seen before.” There was too much context to fully explain where exactly he’d seen said move, so he’d leave it to that for now. “I’m not sure if that was the move I saw, but I had a hunch!”

“Hm… And I take it that ‘intuition’ of yours was also what allowed you to track my Lucario’s movements?” With a cheeky smile on his lips, Riley turned and joined Ash’s side.

Ash drew a stilted grin and awkward laugh, as Riley’s implication became clear in an instant.

“You’re Aura sensitive, like I am. A natural at that, considering how easily you followed Lucario.” Humming with thought, Riley glanced towards Ash. “How long have you known?”

Ash’s awkward laugh grew into a snort.

“A good few years. Comes in useful in more ways than one.” It struck Ash at that moment, that he’d had never touched upon his Aura abilities in a battle before. Guess when he said he was battling with everything he had, he’d meant it.

“You know, they could serve you even better, if you had someone to teach you.” Riley’s comment caused Ash to raise a brow. So Riley continued. “Aura sensitivity. It’s a skill so rare as to almost be considered dead, Ash. For a time, I thought myself to be the only one left. It’d be an honor to help make that not the case.”

“Are you offering to become my master?” A dozen hokey martial arts films flashed through Ash’s head, before it struck him— This was the real deal.

“In a sense, if you’re willing to put in the effort.”

The offer brought Ash to pause. Actually, seriously training his Aura abilities? He had to admit, he was already tempted just based on how cool it’d be. That wasn’t even considering its other utilities. If Korrina could get as far as she did, just from practicing by herself, who knew how far he could go?

Korrina.

Right, she was waiting for him too.

Ash shook his head.

“I think I’m gonna have to pass.” His answer brought a flash of disappointment to Riley’s eyes. “Don’t get me wrong! I would really like to go, but, I’ve got friends waiting for me back in Kalos, and a dream I’m still chasing down. I’ve been away long enough.”

Riley stood silent, contemplating Ash’s explanation for a moment. Then, he nodded.

“I understand. Still, my offer remains if you ever change your mind, or find yourself in a change of circumstances.”

“Of course!” Flashing a grin, Ash pumped his fist. “Hell, let me get your number! I’ll give you a call if anything ever changes!”

Riley smiled.

“That sounds wonderful.” With that, the two settled back into a calm quiet, watching their Pokémon socialize from a distance.

Back on the practice field, Ash’s team and Riley’s Lucario were mingling, reveling in a bit of camaraderie with one another. After the intense battle from before, they certainly deserved the chance to just rest.

In the center of it all, of course, was Latias. For her performance, she was receiving accolades and support from her teammates. Even Charizard seemed to loosen up a bit, giving his kudos to her for a hard battle won.

Ash couldn’t help but smile at that. Latias was happy.

After a moment, Riley broached the silence.

“I hope I don’t have to say that you should be careful with her, Ash.” Pulling away from the railing, Riley turned to face Ash, who stood straight. “Latias is a Legendary Pokémon.”

Ash’s look of confusion turned to humor. He laughed.

“I know.”

Chapter Text

𝒴

Rows and rows of trees flickered past Serena’s vision, appearing for a moment before falling out of sight. If she had paid them any attention, staring out the window, she might’ve noticed that the forest they were passing by was slowly changing. Dark oaks were giving away to bright, white birches now.

Serena wasn’t paying them any mind, however. Her thoughts were on other things— The image of battle.

Steel struck bone again and again, as Pikachu and Lucario gunned to draw first blood.

“Fenne?” Before Serena could fall into her thoughts further, a voice pulled her from her stupor. She blinked and shook her head.

“Fennekin?” Like that, her surroundings came back to her. She was on another long-haul bus, Eris on her lap and her partner Fennekin sitting at her side. The mischievous troublemaker had fallen asleep, leaving the bus seat to Serena and Fennekin. “Sorry, just daydreaming again.”

“Nekin, Fenne— Fen?” Fennekin’s meaning was clear, even as she stood and stretched from her spot. You’re thinking about something— What is it?

Serena couldn’t help but smile. She really was an open book, huh?

“Our destination. In a few days, we’re going to be in Shalour City. And a few days after that, Ash is going to be back.” Her heart strummed with a touch of excitement when she said that. Ash said he’d be flying back as soon as he finished his rematch. After that, it’d be just the two of them!

Well, the two of them, and…

“Korrina.” Serena’s face hardened as one image above all flashed through her mind— Mega Lucario. “We’re going to be facing Korrina and her Lucario soon enough, and… I don’t like our odds.”

“Fenn!?” Fennekin, for her part, didn’t seem to share Serena’s doubt. Pacing in a small circle, she proceeded to list off all sorts of reasons that showed they were guaranteed to win. “Fen fennekin, fen fen. Nekin, fen!”

Between her Will-O-Wisp and Fire-Typing, she’ll have no problem dealing with Lucario, Mega Evolution or not!

Serena couldn’t help but smile at that, as she ruffled her partner’s head.

“Maybe you’ll do well, but you’re not the only one on the team, silly.” She made a good point to run her fingers through Eris’s fur, pulling an annoyed huff from Fennekin in the process. “Eris is weak to Fighting-Type moves, and we still need a third team member if we even wanna stand a chance.”

Her recent call with Professor Thaddeus hadn’t bore any fruit. It’d still be weeks before his team would be able to part with Amaura.

A groan escaped Serena’s lips, as a recurring thought reared its ugly head once more.

“Sitting in these stupid buses hasn’t exactly made it easy to catch Pokémon.” Serena’s attempt to cut down on weeks of travel time had royally bitten her in the butt. How was she ever supposed to meet new Pokémon if she was bussing between every single town? “It’s a miracle we even caught Eris when we did.”

With a huff, Serena turned back to the window, where she paused. The dense oak forests she’d expected to find had petered away long ago, leaving a clear view of rolling hills and bright meadows instead

Beyond it all though, something else grabbed her attention. It was a great, big castle, built upon a hill overlooking a rural town. Serena recognized this place. She’d been there before— Avignon Town.

Just like that, Serena grew nostalgic. Her lips curled into a smile.

“Fennekin, Fenn?” Well, what’re we gonna do now? Fennekin pulled at her attention, as thoughts began to run wild in Serena’s mind. It took her a moment, but she had an answer.

“We’re going to visit an old friend.”

𝒴

It took Serena a solid day of traveling to arrive at her detour destination, and another half-day of trekking to find the exact spot she was looking for. Still, the deed needed to be done, so it was done.

She stood in a nameless forest, on the west coast of Kalos. It was a dozen kilometers from the far more famous Alerth Forest, and thus a far greater hiding spot for what lay before her now— The entrance to the Diamond Domain.

Diancie’s home.

Serena’s mind went back to all those weeks ago— Standing where she was now, saying goodbye, unsure of who she’d be after saying goodbye. Diancie’s words filtered through her mind.

I hope you find what you want to do someday.

Serena had found that something. She’d found a dream.

With a swell of confidence, Serena approached the entrance to the Diamond Domain—

“Halt!”

—only to be stopped.

“Huh?” Serena blinked, looking to her left and right, and found nothing. Then, she looked down, and found her culprit. They were a gray and rocky Pokémon, no taller than Serena’s boots, with the edges of blue crystals peaking through the layers of stone. It took her a moment, but she recognized them as a Carbink.

With furrowed brows, the Carbink called out.

“You are under arrest for trespassing into the Diamond Domain!”

Serena blinked.

“...Huh?”

𝒴

“Follow me, prisoner!”

“I am following you…”

“Do not attempt to flee!”

“I haven’t done anything yet.”

“Precisely! You haven’t, yet!”

Serena’s dramatic return quickly became anything but, as she found her first introduction to the Diamond Domain plagued by the world’s rowdiest tour guide. A single Carbink was ferrying her down a dark stone tunnel, seemingly intent on letting the very walls know that she was their prisoner.

It didn’t matter much to Serena, however. As long as she could get inside, she’d be happy. Diancie laid at the end of all this.

After a few minutes of descent, the natural dark stone of the tunnel gave away to a cleaner, violet. A few minutes after that, the tunnel ended.

With a moment of trepidation, Serena stepped through.

“W-whoa!”

The Diamond Domain was huge! In contrast to the cramped tunnels she left behind, the ceiling above her head was practically non-existent, dozens of meters high and only growing higher as she looked— And oh did she look. In whichever way she turned, the land went on for kilometers and kilometers, reaching the horizon and curving out of sight.

Horizon. There was a horizon here, underground!

“This is no time for sight-seeing! Come along!” Knocking against her boots, the lone Carbink guard began to march on, prompting Serena to follow as she gawked at her surroundings.

Soon enough, the two began to find others— More Carbinks marching along the quartz-laden roads of the Diamond Domain. Some carried long shafts of glittery, blue crystal, whilst others traveled in looser congregations, gaining and losing members as they passed by. Every one of them seemed busy with one thing or another. They all had tasks.

It seemed the task of her captor was yelling at people.

“Step aside! Step aside! I have a very important prisoner here!” They shouted, taking extra emphasis to clear a wide path ahead of them. “A prisoner, my prisoner! So step aside!”

While the Carbink they passed gave Serena a few odd looks, they stared at her guard with utter befuddlement.

“Do, uh, you ever think you might be a little too into your job?” she asked, with an awkward smile on her lips.

“I have never thought that a single day in my life!”

“I… can tell.” Serena resisted the urge to let out a humored sigh.

Soon, the two ran into someone her guard didn’t want to yell at: Another, smaller Carbink. They had their back to the two, as they discussed something with a colleague.

“Officer Merrick, sir! I have captured an intruder and brought them in for questioning!”

Merrick flinched at the guard’s volume, before sighing and turning.

“Right, yes, an intruder. I imagine another Sandslash dug in through the walls— By the facet!?” The smaller Carbink managed to hit a note even higher than her guard, as he stared in utter shock at Serena’s presence. Furrowing his brows, he snapped at her captor. “You encountered an actual intruder, and brought them all the way inside of the kingdom!?”

“Of course! How else are we meant to question them!”

“We don’t do that!” As Merrick sighed and muttered to himself, Serena couldn’t help but feel a touch of sympathy for the leading gem— sympathy that only grew when he turned to address her. “I greatly apologize for this, but as a matter of courtesy, may I have your name and reason for being here?”

“Oh!” Surprised to be addressed, Serena blinked, before giving an awkward laugh. “Well, my name is Serena! I’m here to see my friend, Diancie. She’s apparently considered royalty down here?”

Like that, Merrick’s eyes shrunk to mere pinpricks, before he shot around to look at her captor once more.

“You captured the literal, only human allowed in the domain!?” His shout sent her captor reeling in shock, before they went stiff as a board. “No more delays, take her to the queen, immediately!”

Serena couldn’t help but get a giggle at the expense of the poor Carbink being reamed, after all the yelling he’d subjected her and the others to. That giggle quickly stopped, once Merrick’s words fully set in.

“Wait, queen?”

𝒴

Serena was quickly whisked away to a new location, a place where the violet stone became flat and level, and the quartz pillars gave away to clean and orderly columns. Distinct walls began to crop up and encircle her more and more, and soon the feeling of an underground kingdom was gone. Now, it felt almost like—

“A palace?” Serena was looking at a set of doors, carved from stone, inlaid into a wall that resembled brickwork, with ornaments and windows and all the trappings of a royal estate. Suddenly, all that talk of princesses became very real in Serena’s mind.

“Through here. Her Highness will wish to see you immediately!” With a hushed shout, Merrick pushed the doors open and hurried Serena inside.

When she got a look at her new surroundings, there was no doubt in her mind— She’d just entered a palace, and this was the throne room.

Dark, crystal stalactites hung from the ceiling in a circular formation, surrounding a tall, amethyst throne carved directly from the floor itself. A congregation of Carbinks surrounded the throne, their backs to Serena as they addressed one another.

All of that was mere set dressing, however, for the true eyecatch of the entire space— A diamond, bigger and grander than Serena had ever seen. It shined bright like a burning star, hanging in the air as if held up by magic. Cardinal red energy poured out from its top and bottom, flowing into the stonework and spreading outwards.

“W-whoa.” Serena gawked at the room for nearly a minute, before a voice called out.

“In honor of our esteemed guest, we introduce our lady of the facet— Queen Diancie, of the Diamond Domain!” It was Merrick, stepping through the door and heralding Serena’s arrival. Almost immediately the congregation surrounding the throne began to part, and the person sitting on the throne was revealed.

Serena felt her heart swell.

Diancie stepped off her seat, eyes closed and hands poised, with layers of silk and gemstones covering every inch of her. Her dress looked as regal as it looked suffocating, and in either case, it took Serena’s breath away.

Diancie’s eyes fluttered open.

“Serena!” In a flash, all the dignity and grandeur was lost, as Diancie barreled forward into a sprint. Shedding the dress and the jewels, she went straight for Serena.

Serena couldn’t help but meet her excitement in kind.

“Diancie!” The two met in the middle, Serena falling to her knees before Diancie leapt into her arms. Without another word, the two pulled each other in for a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Beyond good! It is wonderful, amazing, spectacular!” Nuzzling her face in for a moment, Diancie pulled away and beamed up at Serena. “You must tell me how you’ve been in our time apart!”

“Heh, it’s a looong story for me, but I think you’ve got more explaining to do, missy.” With a glance, Serena indicated towards the congregation of Carbinks and the royal wear Diancie had so quickly tossed aside. “Queen?”

“Hehe, yes! Once I was able to create a new Sacred Diamond, I officially earned the title!” Hopping out of Serena’s embrace, Diancie motioned to the ginormous gemstone in the center of the room, before turning back and smiling. “But look at you! It seems you’ve undergone a change as well!”

“You could say that, heh.” Serena swallowed. That enormous thing she’d gawked at was something Diancie had created? It was even bigger than the one they’d fired on Yveltal!

That was the power of their bond at work, it seemed.

“Come, come!” Without a moment’s more patience, Diancie took a hold of Serena’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “We can speak over refreshments! The Carbink have gotten very good at replicating the food found on the surface.”

“Okay, heh— Wait, what?” Serena had barely made it a step before she paused and blinked. Looking to the congregation of Carbinks that surrounded them, Serena found a single thought running through her mind. “How can a Carbink cook anything?”

𝒴

“Huh. That’s how.”

Before Serena stood a sight that was as amazing as it was absurd— A team of Carbink, precariously balancing a quartz sheet above a small flame they vigorously worked to maintain. All of that effort came to serve one goal in the end: Heating a kettle, similarly made of quartz. Steam was beginning to pour from its spout.

Serena and Diancie had left the lavish throne room behind long ago. Gone was the ornamentation and scores of subjects and blinding gemstones, now instead they found themselves in what almost resembled a chic kitchenette. A small stone table sat against a wall, the perfect venue for the old friends to catch up.

“After returning home, I quickly began to miss the tastes of the surface. So I set the Carbink onto learning how to cook!” Diancie explained, pulling Serena’s attention back to their conversation. “It has been slow going, but already a marked improvement from before! When we started, all we had to eat was rock candy.”

Serena had a giggle at that, before she paused, a thought coming to her mind in an instant.

“Wait, like actual rock candy, or candy made of rocks?”

“I do not understand the question.” With complete deadpan, Diancie raised the pastry set before her— A Poké Puff, courtesy of Serena.

A half moment of silence passed, before Serena laughed it off.

“So, I guess it’s my turn to explain all this, huh?” With a giggle, Serena motioned to her outfit, earning a vigorous nod from Diancie. “Well! I can barely believe it myself, but I started challenging gyms!”

“Eeeee! Serena, that is amazing!” Squealing, Diancie hopped up from her seat and reached across the table. She swept Serena’s hands into her own. “You must tell me! How many seals have you earned! It must be many dozens!”

“Seals?” Serena raised a brow, before her memory caught up with her. “Oh right, badges! Heh, I’ve got two so far, and I’m on my way to my third!”

“Wonderful! I’m certain you will earn the remaining you need in no time!”

“Heh, I hope so…” Serena let out a pleased sigh, enjoying the light conversation and kind atmosphere she got from what had quickly become one of her closest friends. Soon though, that atmosphere began to shift, as a thought returned to Serena’s mind. It was the very thought she’d had on the bus. “The thing is, this next gym battle is going to be really, really tough.”

“Oh?” Diancie gave an inquisitive look, before her hands slipped from Serena’s and she listened in. Serena couldn’t help but smile at that.

“I don’t really know how I’ll be able to beat it, especially with only two Pokémon. So, I was thinking…” Her eyes fell to the table between them, before back up to Diancie. “Would you like to join me? On my journey?”

Diancie paused, surprise in her eyes as she heard Serena’s offer. That surprise quickly turned to contemplation, before soon resolution. With a firm expression, Diancie went to answer—

“Your majesty!” —and was immediately interrupted. A Carbink stormed into the kitchen, haggard and panting before their eyes snapped open. “Your majesty! There’s been, an intruder!”

𝒴

Serena felt her heart thrum, nerves flying on the edge of panic and excitement. She and Diancie were racing down the crystal roads of the Diamond Domain, aiming to confront this rumored intruder that had interrupted their reunion.

Her chest shook at the thought. Serena had yet to encounter a spot of real trouble since the group split up. So, what could this possibly be?

She looked to Diancie.

“Are we sure this is an actual intruder? Your Carbinks thought I was one when I got in—” The two turned a corner, as the entrance to Diancie’s kingdom approached. “Maybe this is just my arrival going through the rumor mill!”

“Unlikely! We do not have mills in the Diamond Domain! So it cannot be that!” Diancie bounded ahead, struggling to keep up as she hopped while Serena ran. “Regardless, I must investigate! It is my duty as queen to protect my subjects! If an intruder has discovered the Diamond Domain, then they may all be in danger!”

“Right, you’re right.” Serena shook her head, chiding herself for even considering slowing down. She had to give this her all, and help Diancie all the way! “Let’s go!”

“Oh—? Oh!” Without even pausing to ask, Serena swept Diancie off the ground and took off into a full-throated sprint! Diancie couldn’t help but laugh. “Brilliant!”

In short order, the two arrived at the entrance, finding a swarm of Carbink pouring away in a panic. Something, someone, had dispersed them, and as Serena skidded to a stop, she found their culprit.

“Ohohoho! What’s this! The dust bunny welcome committee!?” A tall woman, dressed in gray and orange, stood with her back turned to the two, her auburn hair tied into a twist. At her side was a Delphox, sending a battalion of Carbink packing with a blast of fire.

Serena didn’t even need to see her face to recognize her. She grit her teeth.

“Merilyn!”

Chapter Text

𝒳

“One more time, hold it as steady as you can, okay?”

“Okay…” Latias took a deep breath, trying her best to concentrate despite the circumstances. The wide-open air of the practice fields had been replaced by the choking closeness of Ash’s cabin, leaving little room for error, let alone to move. Her trainer was across from her, sitting backwards in a seat with Pikachu on his shoulder. Latias nestled alone on his bed.

It was their last day on the boat. They’d be docking in less than an hour.

This, was her last shot.

With a steady blow of air, Latias summoned a plume of magenta energy at her lips— Psybeam. Rather than firing ahead, she instead held the energy close, until it coalesced into a turbulent sphere of swirling color. The ball grew in her grasp, bringing a shine to Ash’s eyes and a smile to Latias’s lips.

That moment of joy ended as soon as it began.

The attack destabilized, bursting and filling the room with a haze of choking smoke. Ash leapt for the door and threw it open, clearing the air and forcing Latias to snap on her invisibility in an instant.

“Pika!?”

“Well—” Ash coughed, before shutting the door behind him. “—You formed it that time! So that’s progress at least.”

“I formed it yesterday too. I’m not getting any better.” Letting her invisibility slip away, Latias huffed, crossing her arms and looking away as she pouted. Ash couldn’t help but snort at that, as he took his seat and leaned back in it.

“Don’t sweat it. It’ll take some time, but I know you’ll get it.” His reassurances were a cold comfort to Latias.

“I wish I knew what I was trying to get.” She turned and looked to him. “You said you recognized this move, didn’t you? Can’t you tell me more about it?”

“Wish I could, but I only saw it used the one time.” Leaning back, Ash turned his gaze to the ceiling, seeming to recall something before he paused. “And, I don’t want to put you in a box.”

“Huh?” Latias blinked. She was still learning idioms, a fact that took Ash a moment to remember.

“I mean, I don’t wanna force you to fit an expectation. Moves are what ya make of them. If I told you what it’s supposed to be like, you’d spend all your energy trying to copy that exactly!”

This time, his meaning seemed to come through loud and clear. Latias remembered how her training shifted early on, after Ash realized he needed to take another approach with how they battled.

Ash grinned at her.

“Ya gotta find out what that move is, for you.” With a tip of his cap, he moved to finish his point. “Focus on that, and it’ll come to you!”

While Ash spun a confident tale, Latias wasn’t so convinced. She nested into her spot further, before looking up at him.

“How can you be so sure?”

Ash snorted, his eyes growing distant for a moment, before shining brighter than before.

“Being sure of myself is the only thing that’s kept me going in the end.” There was a lot of weight in the way he said that, a weight that brought his voice lower for just a moment.

Try as Latias might, she didn’t notice that weight. She snorted.

“Got any advice for the rest of us?” It was a cynical answer, but Ash didn’t seem to mind. He recognized her frustration.

Humming, Ash gave her question a good deal of thought, before exchanging a look with Pikachu. Then, he nodded.

“You’ve gotta think about what you want out of the move,” he explained, sitting up as he did so. “What do you want from it?”

Latias paused, dwelling on Ash’s words for a moment. It hurt to admit, but she didn’t have an answer, even after all this time.

What did she want?

𝒳

A long-haul bus rolled to a stop, weathered wheels slipping for just a moment across the ground. As was typical of northern Sinnoh, the snow had yet to melt and a deep frost was heavy in the air.

When the bus doors swung open, Ash stepped forth and grinned. Lake Acuity stood in the near distance, shining in the midday sun. He was finally here.

“Hey, kid. You sure you wanna be out here dressed like that? You’ll catch a death of cold for pete’s sake!” The bus driver shouted after Ash as he began to march through the snow, bringing him to pause for just a moment. He was still wearing his light sportswear from Kalos.

With a smile, Ash looked straight ahead. He could spot a figure in the distance— Paul.

“Don’t worry. I warm up quick.”

𝒳

“Took you long enough.” From his spot at the beachfront, Paul turned to face Ash, hands stuffed in his pockets as the two old rivals locked eyes. “I nearly thought you’d given up.”

“Pika!”

Ash laughed, taking the comment in stride while Pikachu took offense. With a hand to steady his partner, Ash fired back.

“Not me, not ever.” That assertion seemed to be what Paul was looking for, as he snorted and began towards where their battle would be held. It’d been two years since the two had faced off at Lake Acuity, and still they could find the exact spot they stood on all that time ago. Only difference now was the snow and— “No referee this time?”

Ash took his place opposite Paul, who was pulling Poké balls from his jacket and giving them a once-over. After a moment, he selected one and stowed the rest away.

“Still think we need one?” There was a light inflection to that remark, one that put a grin on Ash’s face.

“I guess we are a little old for that.” Taking just a moment to readjust his cap, Ash pulled out his Poké ball next. “Three Pokémon each, no restrictions, unlimited switching?”

He laid the terms out clear, exactly like in their last battle. Again, Paul had no qualms.

The players were nearly set.

“Standby for battle, Drapion!” Paul took the lead, sending out a reserve as his first choice. The vicious scorpion Pokémon let out a fierce roar as they snapped their claws at Ash.

“I choose you, Fletchinder!” As intimidating of a display as that was, Ash wasn’t cowed for an instant. With an expert pitcher’s stance, he sent his own lead onto the field.

“Fleeeeeetch!” The cocky speedster arrived with beating wings of searing flames, locking eyes with her opponent as she took flight. She was as itching to get into the action as her trainer was.

No more delays, onto the first move.

“Toxic Spikes!”

“Aerial Ace!” Though Paul gave the first command, Fletchinder was the first to strike. She zipped across the field, wings shining white with her newest move as she slammed into Drapion with a fly-by.

“Draaaaa!” Though the attack drove them back a pace, Drapion was undeterred, executing Paul’s command without another moment’s pause. Wrenching their head up, they fired a burst of purple energy into the air, which shattered into a rain of jagged spikes across the battlefield.

“Dodge it with Flame Charge!” Ash instantly recognized the raining projectiles as a problem and moved to evade. Fletchinder’s speed leapt as she began to zig and zag through the air, allowing Drapion’s Toxic Spikes to litter the snowy ground below. “Using a move like that offensively, huh? Pretty clever!”

“More than you know.” With a steely look, Paul pressed ahead. “Toxic Spikes, again!”

“Fletchinder, knock it back with Steel Wing!” Both players shot into action, with Drapion firing another blast of toxic energy as Fletchinder raced in. She slammed into Drapion’s attack, shattering the blast with a wicked beat of her steel wings. “Perfect!”

Ash grinned, watching Paul’s attack rain back onto his side of the field.

“Drapion, counter with Brutal Swing!” Paul wasn’t deterred, however. In fact, it seemed that was exactly what he was looking for. Raising both arms to the sky, Drapion slammed against the earth, launching the Toxic Spikes straight into the air. “Then, Whirlwind!”

With a fierce bellow, Drapion whipped up a sudden racing gale.

“Whoa! Get out of there with Flame Charge!” In an instant, Paul’s strategy became apparent. With just two moves, he’d weaponized his own Toxic Spikes, sending them flying after Fletchinder!

“Fleeeetch!” Fletchinder blitzed through the air, her increased speed being the only thing that kept the barrage of projectiles from clipping her wings. She zigged and zagged, backing towards Ash as she made distance.

“Rush in and Brutal Swing!” Paul wasn’t going to let her get off easy, however. His Drapion charged forward, wrenching their arms up before slamming them down. The Toxic Spikes on Ash’s side of the field were launched in the ensuing chaos, slamming into Fletchinder before she could escape.

“Fly straight up, Fletchinder!” Ash needed to make room, fast.

With a fiery beat of her wings, Fletchinder took for the skies, well out of range of another Toxic Spikes assault. Yet, safe from Drapion’s attacks did not mean safe in general. Ash grimaced as he saw a familiar purple aura bubble around Fletchinder.

That grimace turned into a smile.

“Poisoning a Flying-Type with Toxic Spikes. You’ve been working on that!” Paul had done something similar in their last battle in the Sinnoh League, poisoning his Staraptor. He’d developed the strategy further!

“Hmph. If I can’t bring the Pokémon to the entry hazard, I might as well bring the entry hazard to the Pokémon.” Locking eyes with Ash, Paul pushed for his next move. “I hope I’m not the only one who’s been honing his techniques! Drapion, Venoshock!”

“Pion!”

“Trust me, you ain’t!” Ash reached for the sky. “Fletchinder, Flame Charge down and Steel Wing through!”

“Der! Fletchinder!” After grimacing from the poison for a moment, Fletchinder did just that, her wings blazing brighter as she dive-bombed her opponent. Even as the toxic spines of Venoshock raced in, she charged ahead, deflecting them with the helpful immunity of her Steel Wing.

“Fly-by!” At Ash’s call, Fletchinder pivoted at the last moment, slamming into Drapion’s skull and skidding past it just as fast. “Now, swing around!”

“Brutal Swing!” Paul wasn’t about to let Ash get multiple hits in, however. Whipping around, Drapion swung their pincers in a wide arc—

“Fly-by!” —only to miss! With another pivot, Fletchinder evaded the brutal attack, skidding across the length of Drapion’s arm as she passed. “Swing around, again!”

“Venoshock!” Now, it was Paul who pivoted, ordering Drapion to fire another barrage of toxic spines. This time, Fletchinder was too close to fully evade and the attack struck her wing.

“Fletch!” Despite the dose of pain, Fletchinder pressed again, sideswiping Drapion as she passed once more.

Ash’s eyes flickered.

“Now, pull back!” Ash caught it before Paul did. As Fletchinder took to the skies again, a touch of smoke began to arise from Drapion’s carapace. Then all at once, their body came alight with flames!

“What!?” Shock took Paul’s face for just a moment, as he poured over what he had just seen. His brows furrowed. “Fletchinder’s ability is Flame Body, isn’t it?”

“Heh, right on the money.” Ash flicked his thumb beneath his nose, a cocky smirk lying underneath. His new Flame Body technique had done the trick! Now that Drapion was burned, it was time to push this battle forward. “Fletchinder, return!”

In a display that surprised Paul, Ash returned Fletchinder to her Poké ball, aiming to minimize the toxic damage for the time being. The move that followed pushed his rival’s surprise even further.

“Pika!”

“You ready to knock some heads, buddy!” Pikachu didn’t need another moment to answer. With a running start, he leapt off of Ash’s outstretched arm and flew onto the field. “Land with an Iron Tail!”

“Chu! Pi-ka!” Just as he was about to touch down, Pikachu twisted and launched a wicked Iron Tail, straight into the earth. Snow and dirt and above all, the Toxic Spikes were sent flying away in the collision.

They had dodged getting poisoned!

“You’re sending Pikachu out already?” Paul furrowed his brows, thoughts running through his mind as Ash and Pikachu crackled with anticipation. At that moment, Drapion’s burn flared to life.

“What can I say! I’m full of surprises!” Gripping the rim of his cap, Ash grinned and pressed ahead. “Get in with Quick Attack, Pikachu!”

“Venoshock!”

In a burst of speed, Pikachu rocketed across the field, zigging and zagging as he maneuvered around the field of exposed spikes. The delay was just enough to let Drapion’s Venoshock pour in, forcing Ash into evasive maneuvers.

“Into the air with Iron Tail!” At the last moment, Pikachu flipped and slammed into the earth, launching himself over Drapion’s attack at lightning speeds.

“Brutal Swing!” Paul wasn’t out of tricks, yet, however. With Pikachu at the peak of his jump, Drapion shook the earth with another massive swing. Their Toxic Spikes shot into the air after Pikachu!

“Oh no you don’t! Pikachu, Thunderbolt and Counter Shield!” Pikachu crackled with rip-roaring energy, going into a spin as he fired his counterattack. Thick tendrils of lightning swept away the toxic projectiles, clearing the way for Pikachu’s descent. “Iron Tail!”

“Chuuuu— Pi-ka!”

“Brutal Swing!” Drapion swung for the sky, their steely talon meeting Pikachu’s Iron Tail head-to-head. The two blistering forces fought for domination, before each battler blew each other away. Pikachu skidded back to Ash’s side, as Drapion was sent flying to Paul’s. “Hm. It pains me to say this, but Pikachu’s rather inconvenient to my current plans.”

Drapion was panting, a scowl clear on their burn flared to life. Pikachu, in contrast, had nothing but a clear grin as he stood tall.

“Pika-ka!”

“Well unless you’ve got another one of those Red Cards, you’re outta luck! Pikachu’s staying in!” Despite Ash’s confidence, Paul was unphased.

“You’ve still got a lot to learn, Ash.” With a motion of his arm, Paul called out his next move. “Drapion, Toxic Spikes!”

“Move in with Quick Attack!” The action was back on, as Drapion fired and Pikachu flew ahead. When he got close this time, however, things shifted.

“Whirlwind, targetted!” At Paul’s call, Drapion let out a fierce bellow, sending a jet of wind racing through the air. Pikachu was caught off guard, as the winds sent him tumbling through the air, straight back towards Ash.

“Pika!?”

“Whoa! Ground yourself with Iron Tail, buddy!” Ash’s call came in the nick of time, as Pikachu flipped and launched himself straight down. The incredible force of his downswing rocketed him into the earth, saving him from being thrown way out of bounds. “What the hell was that—?”

Ash paused as he heard the Poké balls prime in his pocket.

“He can use Whirlwind to force Pikachu to switch.” The realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. “It’s just like Roar!”

“Venoshock!” Paul wouldn’t give Ash the courtesy of confirming his hunch, as he pressed ahead with another attack.

“Dodge it with Quick Attack, Pikachu!” With a flicker of speed, Pikachu leapt back into action, phasing in and out of view as he moved to close the distance. It seemed that was exactly what Paul was looking for, however, as he quickly pivoted.

“Targeted Whirlwind!” Rearing back, Drapion went to deliver another fierce gust of wind— Only for their burn to flare up at the worst possible time!

“Hah! Just the opening we need!” Ash threw his hand back as an idea came to his mind. “Pikachu, we’re gonna try something! Full force Iron Tail, right where they’re standing!”

“Pika!” With a flicker, Pikachu disappeared from sight, before appearing above Drapion with his tail glowing white. “Chuuuu— Pika!”

Taking a page from Paul’s book, Pikachu crashed into the snow with a thundering slam. The earthshaking force launched Drapion into the air and sent their Toxic Spikes flying!

“Brutal Swing!”

“Bat ‘em up!”

Drapion flipped in midair, trying to throw themselves back down to earth. Instead, they were met with another wicked Iron Tail to the gut and flew even higher!

“Thunderbolt! Full force!”

“Targeted Whirlwind, now!” Fully dazed, Drapion could only begin to move by the time Pikachu’s attack rolled in. A bolt of crackling lightning consumed them and all the Toxic Spikes that still flew through the air. All at once, the toxic hazards exploded!

“Perfect!” Ash’s gambit worked! By launching the Toxic Spikes into the air like Drapion had, Pikachu exposed them long enough to take them out! Now the field was mostly clear! “Good job, buddy!”

The smoking mass from Pikachu’s assault crashed back down to earth, as the mouse himself landed and flickered out of view. He skidded to a stop at Ash’s side, panting and grinning all the same.

“Pika!”

Paul meanwhile, stood steel-faced as he looked onto the rising plume of smoke his Pokémon stood inside. Was he waiting to see if they were knocked out? It seemed so, as after a moment, he raised their Poké ball forward.

“Drapion—” A smirk took Paul’s lips. “Targeted Whirlwind!”

“Huh!?” Ash and Pikachu were caught off guard as a raging jet stream cleared the rest of the smoke, crashing into Pikachu and sending him flying back. He flew into Ash’s chest and knocked his trainer onto the ground, spilling out a Poké ball in the process. “Wait—!”

Before Ash could respond, that Poké ball burst open and Fletchinder took the field once more.

“Fletch?!”

Hopping to his feet, Ash scowled as he and Pikachu cleared the snow off his shoulder and cap. Soon though, that scowl turned into an impressed smirk.

“You got us good!” Ash had to admit, it was a sucker punch, but he and Pikachu should’ve expected it. In any case, they’d done what they needed to do.

“Draaaai!” Across the battlefield, Drapion stepped forward. They were bruised and burnt, still hanging on, but nearly at the end of their rope. Fletchinder could handle it from here.

“Drapion, Toxic Spikes!”

“Get in with Aerial Ace, Fletchinder!” On the backfoot, Fletchinder quickly pressed ahead with a lightning-fast Aerial Ace. She was poised to strike before her opponent could get their bearings— only for the poison in her veins to strike!

“Fletch!?” Her aim faltered, as Drapion successfully fired another layer of Toxic Spikes onto the battlefield. All Ash could do now was press ahead!

“Swing around! You can do this!”

“Knock them down with Brutal Swing, Drapion!” Drapion turned and charged a wicked blow, before Fletchinder spun and shot back their way.

“Fleeeeeetchinder!” With her wings shining a bright blue, Fletchinder met Drapion’s blow tit-for-tat! The two battlers pressed against each other, neither giving an inch as they fought for domination!

“Dra! Pi—! Drapion!?” Right on cue, Drapion’s burn flared to life and Fletchinder broke through! She slammed into her opponent’s chest and sent them tumbling across the battlefield!

“Fleeeeetch!” Fletchinder soared into the air as her opponent came to a stop. “Inder! Fletchinder!”

The first Pokémon had fallen. Drapion was out of the count.

𝒳

“Pika—chu!”

“Yes!” Despite the ecstatic rush running through Ash’s veins, he kept the celebrations to a minimum. He knew not to overplay an early advantage, especially when Fletchinder was already nearing the end of her rope. Time to see Paul’s next Pokémon.

After taking a moment to thank Drapion for their contributions, Paul immediately pivoted to his second choice. Whatever it was, he was definitely confident in it.

“Standby for battle, Froslass!” Paul had sent out another reserve! The elegant ghost was right at home, gliding across the snowy battlefield and locking eyes with her opponent.

“Lasssss!” With a bow to indicate her respect, Froslass announced she was ready to begin.

Back to the action.

“Flame Charge, Fletchinder!” Snapping to take the lead, Ash sent Fletchinder barreling in, wings alight with crackling flames. In an instant, she closed the distance and went for a direct hit!

Paul merely tutted.

“Fletch!?”

“Huh!?” Ash and Fletchinder stood gobsmacked, as their attack seemed to hit nothing at all. It looked like Fletchinder had passed straight through Froslass! “Swing around, Flame Charge!”

“That’s not going to work, Ash.” Paul was on the money, as Fletchinder put in double the effort for still no effect. Froslass was turning completely intangible!

Ash furrowed his brows, as Fletchinder took another shot of poison damage.

“What’s going on? Froslass’s ability is Snow Cloak, but it’s not snowing!” Ash remembered his last battle against Paul’s Froslass well. The ethereal Pokémon had used Hail to keep well out of range of Pikachu’s Super Effective offenses.

Was it possible that—?

“Froslass is a Ghost-Type.” The revelation hit Ash like a truck. “You mastered becoming untouchable!”

“Now he gets it.” Paul smirked and raised a hand to the sky. “Finish this with Blizzard!”

“Frooooooos!”

“Damn it— Go straight through, Fletchinder!” It was a gambit, but if any move would hit home, it’d be this! “Aerial Ace!”

“Fleeeetch!” With her wings blazing brighter than ever, Fletchinder burst ahead! She cut through the powerful stream of snow like an arrow through the open air. Ready to deliver a critical strike, she reared her wing back! “Inder—! Fletchinder!?”

—Only for the poison to strike once again! Toxic aura bubbled through Fletchinder’s feathers, breaking her concentration in an instant. With that, she was sent tumbling through Froslass’s icy gale.

“Laaaaaaass!”

“Fletchinder!” Ash could only watch as Fletchinder rolled to a stop across the snowy ground. She was out of the count.

𝒳

“You did great, Fletchinder! Thank you for getting us the early lead.” Ash held Fletchinder’s Poké ball close, before stowing it away and looking only to the battlefield. Though he and Paul were technically tied, Ash had already gotten a preview of what Froslass was capable of. Now he just needed to press that information advantage.

Perhaps, it was time for the element of surprise.

“Pikapi, kachu pika?” Pikachu was having the same thought. They had to keep Paul on his toes, and in that case, there was only one choice for them now.

Ash grinned and pulled another ball from his pocket.

“I choose you, Latias!”

“What!?” Where Paul had kept his same steely gaze, only broken for the occasional smirk or snort, now he was utterly flabbergasted. True to Ash’s word, there appearing before him, was a Pokémon of Legend.

Latias took center stage, her eyes clenched closed for as long as could be considered reasonable, and then some more. Soon though, she opened them, and locked sights with her opponents.

A moment passed, silent beyond the distant winds.

Then, Latias took a deep breath, and shot over to Paul’s side of the field.

“What are you—?”

She came to a stop, a nervous look to her eyes as Paul recoiled. Swallowing that nervousness, Latias offered her clawed hand forward.

“H-hi. I’m Latias.” If seeing a Legendary Pokémon alone was shocking, what could be said about hearing one talk? Paul stood frozen for a moment, before shaking his head.

“How long have you been holding back, Ash?” Paul aimed the question at Latias’s trainer, as he scanned over the Pokémon in question. She was visibly nervous, but held her ground.

Ash smirked.

“Way too long, and not anymore.” He left his answer to that, as Paul was forced to reckon with the dragon in the room.

With furrowed brows, Paul accepted Latias’s handshake.

“My name is Paul. I look forward to defeating your trainer.” There was an unsubtle threat in that remark, one Latias took as well as she could. A crooked smile took her face.

“I’d like to see you try.” Latias’s heart leapt into her throat as she pulled away from Paul, and zipped back to Ash’s side.

The combatants were set. The battle began anew.

“Blitz ‘er, Latias!”

“Intangible.”

In an effort to keep control of the pace of the match, Ash went straight for the throat. Latias’s blistering speed could only get him so far, however, as she passed straight through Froslass.

“Swing around her, and Dragon Breath!”

“Intangible.”

“Froslaaaass, froslaaaass!”

The second round ended just like the first, as Latias turned on a dime and launched a fiery gust of blue energy. All the same, it merely phased through Froslass, unyielding.

“Blizzard!”

“Dodge it!” This time, Paul took the lead, launching a torrent of icy wind after Ash’s Pokémon. Thankfully with Latias’s speed, she easily evaded it! “Now blitz!”

“Okay!” Flying past the remnants of Froslass’s attack, Latias shot in for round two. At that moment, Paul did something that caught Ash’s ear.

“Dodge and intangible!” With one swipe from Latias, Froslass threw her head back. With another, Latias’s hand passed straight through her! The two combatants phased past one another, before Latias pulled back to join her trainer’s side.

A thought brewed in Ash’s mind.

“Did you notice that, Pikachu?”

“Kapi, pika pika, pikachu!” Indeed he had.

“You’re right, they had to dodge at first— Froslass can’t attack and go untouchable right after!” That was it, the key to beating this strategy! “Keep the pressure up, Latias! Blitz!”

“Gotcha!” With renewed vigor, Latias flew onto the battlefield, swiping at Froslass again and again with each pass. In an instant, her opponent was on the backfoot, forced to maintain her intangibility as she attempted to evade.

“On my signal, Froslass!” Frowning, Paul moved to break Ash’s forward march. His eyes flickered after Latias’s blurred movements. When the time was right, he fired! “Blizzard!”

“Back up!” At Ash’s call, Latias came to a blisteringly fast stop, just as Froslass’s attack rolled in. She rolled away, but not without taking minor damage on the way. “Now, Dragon—!”

“Curse!” With Paul’s interjection, a new move split the air, and with it came foreboding dread.

“Froslaaaaass!” Dark, violet smoke billowed from Froslass’s eyes, as she raised her hand and pointed to Latias.

All at once, Latias felt an impending sense of doom fall over her.

“Ash, Ash, what was that!?” Panic tinged her voice, as Ash immediately went for his Pokédex.

Paul gave the answer.

“Curse is a special Ghost-Type technique. By sacrificing a large part of her own energy, Froslass has put a hex on your Latias.” The description was surprisingly ornate for Paul, who raised his hand and pointed straight at Latias, just like his Pokémon had. “If you stay in, in a few short minutes, Froslass’s Curse will drain away the rest of your energy!”

Latias’s eyes became pinpricks, as panic turned into full-throated hysteria.

“Ash!? What’re we—!?” She turned to her trainer, hoping to find relief from the terror in her veins. Thankfully for her, Ash was as confident as ever. He was grinning.

“Sorry Paul, but you gave the game away!” Ash had the answer as soon as he heard the question. In his hand was Latias’s Love ball. “Curse’ll drain the rest of her energy, if she stays in. Latias, return!”

Relief flooded over Latias’s eyes as she returned to the safety of her ball.

“I just gotta keep switching, and Froslass’s Curse is useless!” Ash couldn’t help but smile for how fast he figured that one out— This was easy! “Alright, let’s get back into it, Pikachu!”

Too easy.

“Pika!” The instant Pikachu leapt from Ash’s shoulder, Paul struck.

“Froslass, Block!” Another new move! With a pitched cry from Froslass, a clear barrier formed, catching Pikachu in the air.

“Pika!?”

“Huh!” Another then formed above Pikachu, then behind him, then to his sides. In an instant, Pikachu was boxed in. It was a trap! Ash grit his teeth “Break through with Iron Tail!”

“Pika! Chuuuu—!”

“Curse!” Froslass had barely a second to make her move. Wrenching her arm up, she looked Pikachu dead in the eye and called out.

“Froooooooooos!” Dark, violet smoke poured out from her eyes and mouth, right as Pikachu slammed against her barrier.

“Pi-ka—! Pika!?” His Iron Tail shattered his confinement, but it was too late. Pikachu too felt the sense of impending dread take his mind. “Pikapi!”

“That was a cheap shot, Paul! You won’t get it again!” Throwing his fist back, Ash pivoted. “Pikachu, return!”

“Froslass, Block! Field wide!”

“Pi— Pika!” Pikachu hesitated, despising having to run away so quickly, and that hesitation cost him. Before he could make it to Ash’s side, another clear wall formed in his way! Without pausing, Pikachu slammed an Iron Tail against it, this time to no avail.

The vibrations from his strike traveled across the barrier, revealing its true size— Paul had walled off the entire battlefield!

In an instant, Ash realized what was happening.

“Curse, Block, playing it up against Latias— This was all part of your plan!” Ash cursed himself for not seeing it before. Pikachu had completely turned the tide on their last battle. Of course Paul had a plan for him this time! “You’re trying to stall Pikachu until Curse knocks him out!”

Without needing a word, Pikachu shot forward in a burst of speed—

“Chu-pi-ka!” —to no effect. A full force Iron Tail passed straight through Froslass, sending Pikachu skidding across the snow.

“Precisely, and you fell for it!” Paul too had no need for commands. Froslass hunkered in place, keeping her intangibility on tight as Pikachu struck again and again in vain. After using Curse twice and Blocking the entire field, she was noticeably exhausted— Yet, what did that matter if Pikachu couldn’t touch her?

Options were running out, fast.

“Pikachu, pull back and use Thunderbolt!” Taking the reins, Ash pivoted. If physical attacks were useless, then maybe some lightning would do the trick!

“Pika!” Pikachu nodded and leapt away, bounding across the field in a flurry of Quick Attacks that kicked up snow with each step. When he arrived at Ash’s side, his cheeks were already crackling with furious electricity. “Piiiii! Kaaaa! Chuuuuu!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, he fired!

“Intangible.” And without a moment’s hesitation, Paul took the attack head-on. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt flew through Froslass, crashing into the snow and exploding into a flurry of dirt and hail. Still, Froslass was unharmed.

“Come on, there has to be something.” Ash wracked his mind for ideas, before pressing ahead once more. “Pikachu—!”

“Pika!” All at once, Pikachu was seized with pain, as violet smoke poured from his eyes and mouth. It was the effect of Curse!

Pushing through this wasn’t an option, Ash needed to get Pikachu out of there. His eyes flickered to the barrier surrounding the field.

“Pikachu, we’re gonna bust through! Use Thunderbolt on the barrier! Full force!” A desperate play? Perhaps. But if there was anyone who could shatter something like this, it’d be Pikachu!

“Pikapi! Piiii— Kaaaa—! Chuuuuuuu!” With a smack of his cheeks, Pikachu let out a fierce battle cry, before firing a pillar of electricity straight into the air. It crashed against the ceiling of his confinement, shuddering the whole battlefield in an immense quake.

Still, Froslass’s Block remained standing.

“Pi-pika.” Pikachu stumbled back, that sickening feeling of dread creeping through his veins as he tried to brainstorm his own solution. That moment of weakness immediately returned to bite him, however, as something new shot into his veins— poison. “Pika!”

Pikachu had stepped into a Toxic Spike, buried in the snow!

“Pikachu!” Ash cursed himself. They’d forgotten Drapion set a sparse layer at the very end. After all the chaos, Paul’s entry hazards could be anywhere now!

Pikachu was poisoned, Froslass’s Curse was eating away at his energy, and they didn’t even have a way of hitting their opponent. What could they even do!?

What could Ash do?

Ash felt dread begin to creep into his veins, the very same dread coursing through Pikachu. As he wracked his mind, trying to find a solution, a path through this, he couldn’t think of anything. All he could find was a question— A question at the back of his mind, roaring to the center of his attention, a question he had been running from for far too long.

Could he do this?

Being sure of himself was the only thing that kept him going in the end.

What would he have left, if he lost even that?

“Pikapi! Pika pika, pikachu pi!” Ash! You have to snap out of it! Pikachu’s cry broke through the darkness of Ash’s mind, and like that, brought him back to reality.

Right, he’d have his Pokémon.

He’d have Pikachu.

“Pika kachu, ka-pika pikachu pi!” Don’t tell me you’re throwing in the towel already! Pikachu writhed against the poison and pain, falling to a knee before standing tall once more. “Pika pika, Kachu pikachu!”

Because I’ll be pretty pissed if you froze my butt off just to give up now!

“Of course I’m not giving up! Not now, not ever!” The insinuation lit a fire in Ash’s veins, burning away the dread. Yet still, a remnant remained. “I just… I don’t know what to do.”

Pikachu whipped back, and looked Ash in the eye, even as violet smoke began to rise from him once again.

“Kachu, pikachu!? Kapika, pikachu pi, pikapi!” Why are you acting like you’re out of options!? We’ve still got one last teammate waiting in the wings!

Ash paused, as he looked down and found one last Poké ball in his hand. Latias. He still had Latias. But, how were they going to beat Xurki—?

“Pika pika, Kachu, pikachu, pika.” You still think you need me for your toughest battles, but you don’t. Looking ahead, Pikachu made a fist as he stared down his opponents. Paul and Froslass both remained silent, unwilling to risk exposing themselves by attacking. “Kapika kachu pi? Pika pikachu, pi!”

We trained her for this, didn’t we? Use her, and show Paul just how strong we are!

It struck Ash at that moment— Without even thinking about it, he’d already planned for how he wanted this battle to end, with Pikachu standing over Xurkitree, victorious. He hadn’t even considered it could end another way.

How arrogant of him to think a plan couldn’t be disrupted.

Ash laughed, as the next few words formed in his mind. The old plan was out. Now they had to try something new.

“You’re right, Pikachu! We’re not out of this, not by a long shot.” Making a fist, Ash stood tall and considered all his options again. With a clear head and a new piece to play with, new plans began to form. Yet, one thing remained the same. Pikachu’s time was nearly done. “How do you wanna do this, buddy?”

Pikachu smirked and smacked his cheeks for a jump start. The crackling electricity suppressed the nausea of the poison.

“Pika kapi, pikachu-pi.” Send me off with a bang.

“Sounds good to me!” A grin mirrored itself onto Ash’s face, as he raised an arm to the sky. “Let’s clear the slate, and go all out!”

“Pika! Piiii! Kaaaaa! Chuuuuuuu!” With a fierce battle cry, Pikachu fired, sending a rip-roaring Thunderbolt straight into the sky. In an instant, it crashed back down onto him, flooding his body and filling the air with a huge spike in voltage.

Paul grit his teeth.

“Is this just what you do when the going gets tough now? Huh, Ash!?” He called out, shouting in defiance over Pikachu’s thunder. “You just power up and hope it’ll be enough!?”

Try as he might, Paul’s words had little effect on Ash.

Ash’s heart was pounding too loud for him to hear them.

“PIKA!” With a thunderous aura coating him, Pikachu’s power burst to life, as two plumes of electricity exploded from his cheeks! They connected in the air behind him, and in an instant, took the form of a cape, rolling off his shoulders— A mantle of thunder and sparks!

With his chest heaving and his breath heavy, Pikachu stood tall upon the battlefield. The Curse and poison were making good work of him, so they’d have to make this next shot count!

“Pikachu, get ready!” Just thinking of it grew the smile on Ash’s face— His favorite move, Pikachu’s strongest move! “Thunderbolt! 110%!”

“PIIIIII—!” The errant sparks in the air swirled into Pikachu’s grasp, igniting his crackling aura higher and higher. High above the battlefield, storm clouds coalesced, turning into a vortex that centered on Ash’s partner. “KAAAAA—!”

For just a moment, the static grew so thick it became hard to breathe.

Then, the thunder struck.

“CHUUUUUUUUUUU!” Two bolts of lightning— one from Pikachu and one from the clouds above —exploded into being! Crackling electricity consumed the whole sky, as the twin bolts raced to meet in the center: at Froslass’s barrier. “Piiiiiiii! Kaaaaaaa! Chuuuuuuuu!”

Pikachu’s thunder slammed into the sky’s lightning, shattering the clear walls into a rain of shards!

“Froslass!” In an instant, Paul was on the move. “Snowscape, now!”

“Froslaaaaaaaaaaass!” With barely a moment to spare, Froslass summoned a wall of icy wind to surround her, protecting her from the wave of golden electricity that flooded the battlefield.

The snow across the field melted in the overwhelming heat, revealing the Toxic Spikes that laid beneath them. Then, against the incredible force of Pikachu’s attack, they ignited and exploded!

Explosions rang across the battlefield as the clear glass walls surrounding them crashed and shattered. All the while, Pikachu’s final attack beat down against the growing snowstorm, squeezing it tighter and tighter, until the lightning could fight no longer.

Pikachu’s 110% Thunderbolt came to a quiet end, leaving naught but ozone in the air and static raising the hairs on Ash’s neck. With that, they had wiped the slate clean.

“Pika… Pikachu…” Pikachu’s chest heaved as snow began to fall over the battlefield. Exhaustion was beginning to take over, with the mantle of crackles and lightning slipping from his shoulders and fading away. He wasn’t down yet though.

Across from him, he found his opponent. Froslass had gone partially translucent with the change in weather, her Snow Cloak adding to her natural intangibility. Like her trainer, she’d been shaken by the sheer power Pikachu had put on display. And after being forced to keep up, exhaustion was settling in for her as well.

“Pikapi, kachu kapikachu.” Froslass was too drained to use Curse again, Pikachu could guarantee it.

Good, he thought. Now it was all up to Latias. She had to bring this home.

With a smile, Pikachu fell forward, into the soft snow.

Chapter Text

𝒴

Serena’s fist trembled with anger.

She couldn’t believe her own eyes. Right before her stood Merilyn, the despicable poacher who’d terrorized her and Diancie all those weeks ago— Now she’d come to do the same within her friend’s home. Before Serena could even think of a plan, she pressed ahead.

“You!” At her call, Merilyn whipped around, a look of smug satisfaction turning to scorn in an instant.

“Oh right, you.” Snapping her fingers, Merilyn summoned her partner to her side. Delphox raised their staff up defensively, before Merilyn brought them to heel with a motion of her hand. “So nice to see you and the princess have had your lovely reunion.”

“What are you doing here, witch!” Serena let Diancie onto the ground before stepping ahead, putting her body between her friend and the villains. Despite the anger ripe in her voice, Merilyn could only snort and shake her head.

“My, my, catty aren’t we!” With a shake of her head, Merilyn shot Serena an amused look. “If it’s not obvious, I’m still without riches beyond my wildest dreams! So I’ve come to collect my meal ticket.”

Gritting her teeth, Serena opened her mouth to answer, before Diancie did instead. She furrowed her brows as she hopped forth.

“How have you discovered this place? The Diamond Domain is a haven for my subjects and my subjects alone.” Her words were firm and unyielding, but had little effect on their intruder.

Instead, Merilyn’s eyes flickered up to Serena.

“Why, how do you expect?” she poised, making Serena freeze with her next few words. “I followed little miss fashionista here, straight to the source!”

“Y-you, you what!?” Followed?! Merilyn had been following her?! “How long!?”

“It was suuuuuch a pain losing you lot after our little run-in at Alerth. Took me days just to get back on the chase.” Merilyn smirked, as memories began to replay in her mind. “I knew one thing though— If I wanted Diancie, she’d either be with you, or you’d lead me straight to her!”

A witch’s cackle pierced its way from her lips.

“I’ve been on your tail for weeks!” Her head dipped back with her laughter, as her partner joined in a moment later. Bending forward, Merilyn paused to let out one more comment. “Good job on the new outfit by the way— I’m sure the five hours of shopping was worth it!”

Serena furrowed her brows, anger and violation ripe in her eyes and in the way she grit her teeth. With a snap, she fired back at Merilyn.

“You’re despicable! Leave me and Diancie alone, or I’ll make you!” She didn’t even pause to think as she pulled out a Poké ball and primed it. All Serena knew was that she wanted Merilyn out of her sight, now.

Merilyn paused, Serena’s threat actually making her waver for just a moment, before a smile grew on her face.

“Or what? You’re gonna stand up to me now? Face it, sweetheart, without that freak and his rat, you’re helpless!” She laughed in Serena’s face, pressing her hand to her cheek and turning her nose up at her. “Now, why don’t you hand over the little princess, and we can be on our way!”

Serena opened her mouth, ready to fire back, when Diancie hopped ahead of her once more. With her head raised high, Serena’s friend answered instead.

“I am Queen Diancie, ruler of the Diamond Domain!” She declared, stomping down the disrespect Merilyn shot her way. With her anger, flashes of light appeared at her side— Diamond dust, forming in the air. Throwing her hands out, the glittering dust grew brighter. “And I am not so little anymore!”

“Diancie—!”

“Diamond Storm!” At Diancie’s call, a pillar of shining quartz erupted from the earth, and flew towards Merilyn!

“Huh!?” Merilyn and her partner were forced to leap away, skidding across the ground before leaping into action. “Delphox, Fire Blast!”

“Fennekin, use Flamethrower!” Serena quickly fired back, sending out her own partner in response.

“Deeeeel—!”

“Nekin!”

The twin vixens took aim and fired, Delphox going for Diancie whilst Fennekin moved to deflect. Her fire slammed into Delphox’s, sending it flying off course as Diancie countered.

“Diamond Storm!” With a swipe of her arm, a wave of crystals shot forth, pushing Delphox back and forcing Merilyn to leap away.

“Wow, Diancie! You’ve gotten great at that!” Serena could hardly believe her eyes! Seeing Diancie so effortlessly create and control diamonds— It was amazing! She quickly stepped behind Diancie, Fennekin joining her side as they faced down their foes.

Diancie let a small smile break through, before looking ahead.

“Of course! How could I not practice using the gifts our bond has given me!” Throwing her hands to the sky, Diancie summoned a budding plume of crystals, which erupted across the battlefield. In an instant, a field of jagged quartz blocked Merilyn’s forward movement.

The witch growled.

“Loathsome brat! Let’s see you throw rocks at this!” Merilyn tossed a ball into the air, calling a new Pokémon to her aid. “Bronzong! Use Gyro Ball!”

“Brooooon!” This new arrival floated above the battlefield, resembling a steel bell the color blue. With eyes flashing red, it immediately went into a runaway spin and began tearing through the crystal field Diancie had made! “Zoooooong!”

“Flamethrower, Fennekin!” Serena snapped into action, sending a pillar of fire to halt Bronzong in its tracks. Fennekin’s flames struggled to bring Bronzong to a stop, before Diancie finished the job.

“Diamond Storm!” A pillar of crystal erupted from the earth and sent Bronzong flying!

“Mystical Fire!” Merilyn wasn’t letting up the pressure, however, as her Delphox sent a wave of magical flames as follow-up. It forced Serena to leap back lest she get burned. “Fire Blast!”

“Flamethrower!” This time, the warring flames went head-to-head, Fennekin’s fire pushing against Delphox’s with all its might. Quickly though, Serena’s counter was overwhelmed and Merilyn’s attack poured in! “Oh jeeze—!”

“Diamond Storm!” Before the flames could fry them to a crisp, Diancie intervened. A wall of crystal rose to block the way! Merilyn grit her teeth as her attack was stymied once again. “Are you okay!”

“We’re fine, just a bit shaken is all!” Serena flinched as Merilyn’s Bronzong bashed into their defenses with another Gyro Ball. “These guys are so strong!”

“Mystical Fire, and Gyro Ball!” At Merilyn’s call, her Pokémon attacked in unison, Bronzong twirling around Delphox’s flames as they crashed into the quartz defenses. This time, the stone shattered and both attacks poured through!

“Flamethrower!”

“Diamond Storm!” With their own attacks in unison, Serena and Diancie beat back their assailants. Fennekin’s flames slammed into Bronzong while Diancie’s gems held back Delphox’s attack. Serena grimaced as she peeked out from their cover.

“I wish I’d thought to bring a stick for Fennekin.” It was then that Serena paused, an idea coming to mind as she laid eyes on Merilyn’s Delphox. The vixen was twirling their wand, drawing a pattern of runes in the air. Bingo. “We’re gonna need some help!”

With another Poké ball, Serena called her Eevee to her side. The mischievous troublemaker bounced to attention, giving Serena a mock salute before giggling to herself.

“Eeeeveeveevee!”

“Eris, I have a very important mission for you!” Falling to her knees, Serena placed her hands on Eris’s shoulders. “Do you think you can cause some chaos for us?”

Wonder and awe filled Eris’s eyes, before she grinned with furrowed brows.

“Vee!”

𝒵

Merilyn groaned, frustration ripe in her voice and a migraine slowly creeping through her temples. This quick and easy operation had quickly become anything but, as her targets ended up having a lot more bite than she expected.

Between Diancie’s diamonds providing cover and Fennekin managing to push back her trump card in Bronzong, the brats were actually holding her off!

Maybe it was time for drastic—

“Phox!?” Suddenly, Delphox yowled and leapt back, shocking Merilyn into a backstep.

“Huh!? What the hell is wrong with—” Whipping around, Merilyn came across an utterly astounding sight: An Eevee, with its teeth wrapped right around her Pokémon’s ankle. “The brat’s troublemaker!?”

“Del?! Phox!” Eris bit down hard on Delphox’s ankle, forcing the composed mage to jump back and screech. Before they could kick her off, Serena’s Pokémon dived in deeper, crawling into the mass of fur that Delphox called a robe.

“Veeveeveevee!” Muffled giggles rang out from Delphox’s body, as the fox gasped and grappled. They tried pulling Eris out from their robes, but she was far too fast for them. Before Delphox knew it, Eevee popped out of their back fur and bounced onto their head. “Veee!”

“There it is!” Merilyn jabbed at Eris as Delphox went to grab them, but was too late. With another hop, Eris stomped onto Delphox’s head and leaned in to bite their nose.

“Delphox!?” Yowling with pain, Delphox dropped their wand in shock, and like that, Eris’s mission was seemingly complete.

“Vee!”

“Huh!?” Right before Merilyn’s eyes, Eris hopped onto the ground and grabbed Delphox’s wand with her mouth, before making a break for it. The miserable prankster took off, leaping across the jagged crystal field from one quartz to another, until she returned to her allies’ side. “Huh!?”

“Great job, Eris!” Taking the stick, Serena shot Merilyn a nasty look, before doing something that utterly flabbergasted her— She fed the stick to her Fennekin. “Eat up!”

Merilyn stared in shock as Delphox’s wand was burnt to embers and swallowed whole.

“Del!?”

“WHAT THE—?!”

𝒴

Merilyn’s foul-mouthed screaming was soon muffled by a new sound: Fennekin’s energy, bursting to life! Cinders filled the air as the temperature spiked!

“FenneKIN!” With a sudden start, Fennekin sent a pillar of fire roaring forth, slamming into Bronzong and sending the Bell Pokémon flying. With another blow, she sent Merilyn and Delphox reeling back, their anger only increasing with the near hit.

“Perfect! We’ve evened the odds!”

“Serena, this is amazing! I didn’t know you were capable of this!” Grinning, Diancie redoubled her efforts, firing another pillar of quartz at their opponents.

“I didn’t either!” With confidence taking her, Serena grinned, finding her anger and misery turning to excitement now. They could do this! They were doing this! “Let’s finish this, together!”

“Fenn!”

“Eveui!”

“Right!”

With the three at her side, Serena pressed ahead.

“Fennekin, use Flamethrower! Eris, Copycat!” At her call, a pair of crackling flames fired in unison, one thick and bright and the other thinner and more jagged. They slammed into Merilyn’s Pokémon, Bronzong taking the brunt while Delphox hid behind it.

“Diamond Storm!” Fire was followed by stone, as Diancie willed the crystals across the ground to attack. A pillar of solid quartz slammed into Bronzong, sending it tumbling as Serena’s fire pushed Delphox away.

“We’ll show you flames, brat! Fire Blast, now!” Cracking back, Merilyn aimed to overwhelm Fennekin’s fire with her own. Yet, without their wand, her Delphox was coming up short!

“D-del! Phox!” The vixen stumbled to cast their spells, fingers carving broken cinder symbols before giving up. With a sharp inhale, they fired a plume of flame from their maw! “Phox!”

Crackling fire pressed against pitched flames, and for a moment, it seemed the combatants were evenly matched. Yet, all at once, Delphox’s attack was swept aside, and Fennekin’s attack pierced through!

“Diamond Storm!” An instant later, Diancie came for the follow-up, sending a pillar of stone barreling into Delphox’s chest. Fire and stone in unison were too much for the mage, as Delphox was sent flying across the field.

“Huh!?” Merilyn couldn’t believe her eyes. She was being outplayed and overwhelmed! She had to take back control, now! “Bronzong! Light Screen!”

“Brooooon. Zoooooong.” With a foreboding chime, Bronzong returned to the field, casting a spell that shone around them and their ally, Delphox. All at once, a protective barrier grew around the pair, shining bright in Merilyn’s eyes.

“Try that on for size, brat!”

A grin took Serena’s face.

“Don’t mind if I do! Eris, Copycat!”

“Huh!?”

“Eevui!” Leaping ahead, Eris began singing a tune that mirrored Bronzong, no longer ominous, but instead energetic! Quickly, the very same magic that protected Merilyn’s Pokémon was now protecting Serena’s!

“Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!” Merilyn stomped the ground and threw her arms back, right on the edge of tearing her own hair out. Instead, gnashing her teeth, she pointed to her beleaguered partner. “We’re done here! Delphox, drastic measures!”

“Ph-phox!” Stumbling to their feet, Delphox let out a bruised and battered cry, casting an enchantment that grew heavy in the air.

In an instant, everything grew heavy.

𝒴

“Huh?!”

“What is this!?” Serena and Diancie panicked as they felt their own weight suddenly multiply. Serena’s legs gave out from under her, as her Pokémon were laid flat a moment after.

“F-Fenne!?”

Serena grunted, resisting the sudden overwhelming pressure forcing her to her knees. With gritted teeth, she looked up at Merilyn.

“It’s Gravity,” she hissed, recalling the move the witch had pulled weeks earlier. “A dirty trick!”

Unable to hold herself up any longer, Serena fell forward, her whole chest pressing against the stoney ground.

“Oh please, don’t act like you’re above playing dirty.” Merilyn scoffed as she rose to her feet, patting off any latent dust and debris from her clothes. With a tut, she approached Serena and Diancie, circling around the two with lips curling upwards. “Oh, so high and mighty, the beginner trainer who figures herself a hero. And I thought you were a pain the first time around!”

“Serena is a hero! She has saved me from your clutches so often, and she’ll do the same again!” Defiant despite the circumstances, Diancie bucked against Merilyn’s claims, attracting the ire of the witch. With furrowed brows, Merilyn placed her heel against the back of Diancie’s head.

“You make a terrible liar, princess. Without Riot to interfere, you’re done.” Her words were as jeering as they were cold. Frustration had overrun any sense of fun she could have in her victory. With a light kick, she sent Diancie sliding away, before turning back to the source of her ire— Serena. “Delphox, get ready to bag the loot.”

“Don’t you dare touch her! I swear I’ll—!” Serena froze as Merilyn stood over her, placing her foot on the back of her neck.

“Ah, ah, ah. It’s my turn to talk, you little brat. And oooh do I have so much to say to you.” With a sneer, Merilyn began to pace around Serena. A haughty, taunting tone took her voice. “You don’t know how grating it’s been— Following you in silence, having to listen to your incessant muttering about your stupid little quest.”

Merilyn hacked and spat at the ground by Serena’s head.

“You’re pathetic, running across the whole region, working so hard, all for some boy.” Ash. Merilyn was talking about Ash. Serena furrowed her brows, before flinching as Merilyn pressed her heel into her cheek. “That’s your dream, isn’t it? Get his attention, impress him with some flashy tricks, maybe become his girlfriend someday?”

Serena opened her mouth, ready to shut down Merilyn’s accusations. She was swiftly silenced by a kick to her gut.

“Take some advice, honey. Boys are a distraction from the real prizes in life.” With a scoff, Merilyn returned her focus to her target, Diancie.

Serena’s vision swam, a mix of nausea and pain assaulting her senses from all sides. The blow had left her mind dazed, her body crying out, with one thought above all bleeding through— Indignation. Serena grit her teeth.

“My… dream… isn’t—” She coughed, struggling to push herself back up. The iron grip of Delphox’s Gravity held her down tight, yet still, she resisted. “My dream… I’m going, I’m going to become—”

Merilyn furrowed her brows, attention snapping away from Diancie and back to the girl at her feet.

“His girlfriend, his love, his wife! I don’t care missy. Give it up!”

Serena refused to give up. She could never, not when she’d come so far, not when her friends still needed her! With adrenaline rushing through her veins, Serena lifted herself up, shocking Merilyn into a backstep.

“Huh—!?”

“My dream— My goal, is to become a Pokémon Master! And I’m not ever giving that up!” She cried, sitting up and snapping her fingers. With gritted teeth, she pointed them towards her foes. “Gotcha! Eris, use Copycat!”

“E-Eevui!” Eris turned her nose up and shook her tail, recalling a move she’d only seen once before. Once was all she needed. Letting out a hoarse and heavy cry, she copied the last move used.

Serena felt her body lighten.

Eris was copying Gravity!

“Why you little—!” Realizing what had happened, Merilyn turned and rushed for Eris, hoping to end the move before the troublemaker could finish it. Soon though, the weight of her own body rebelled against her, bringing her to her knees. She snapped. “Delphox, quick! Use—!”

“Diamond Storm!” With a mighty call, Diancie broke free from the bonds of gravity, and sent a pillar of diamond crashing into Delphox. The beaten vixen slammed into its ally Bronzong, laying the two flat in an instant. Then, Diancie turned her ire to Merilyn.

The witch blinked.

“P-Perhaps we can negoti—?”

“Diamond Storm!”

The last thing Merilyn saw was blackness.

𝒴

“So… What should we do with her?”

It was by Merilyn’s good fortune that Diancie had chosen mercy in her final attack. Rather than slam her with a solid pillar of diamond like she wanted to, instead Diancie merely knocked the witch out with a chunk of quartz to the head.

Now she laid in a heap before Serena and Diancie, restrained by the lingering effects of Eris’s Gravity alongside the rest of her Pokémon.

“She is of your world, what would you have done with her?” Despite coming into her own as a ruler, Diancie still turned to Serena for advice and counsel. She took her friend’s hand, as Serena returned her Pokémon and thanked them for their hard work.

“Well, usually I’d say we should turn her in to Officer Jenny, but…” The answer came to Serena before she even said it. Diancie finished her thought.

“She knows of the location of the Diamond Domain now. She could reveal it to others, or even escape and return someday.” Frowning, Diancie took a few hops towards Merilyn, before making a fist. “Perhaps it’d be best, if she remained here for her crimes, with I as her guard.”

The implications of the suggestion stood clear in Serena’s mind. Diancie would need to stay in the Diamond Domain, to fulfill her responsibility to her kingdom. As much as it hurt to accept, Serena swallowed and nodded.

“I under—”

“Perhaps I could make a suggestion?” All of a sudden, a third voice cut between the two, a voice that Serena recognized. When she and Diancie turned, they found a growing crowd of Carbinks shuffling back to their workstations, with a smaller one at their front— Merrick, the officer. “It’s a bit old-fashioned, but I may have a way to solve our little problem.”

𝒵

“Uuuugh.” Merilyn’s head ached with searing pain, as the migraine from before struck her in full force. Even with the dim light of her surroundings, she struggled to get her bearings. “Just five more minutes, please…”

It was then that she noticed the cuffs around her wrists.

“Huh?” She shot up, senses screaming as she suddenly took in her surroundings. She laid in the corner of a small room made of opaque quartz, with one wall replaced by bars of solid crystal. Out of her reach was a small stone platform, holding the Poké balls for what must be her Pokémon.

This was a jail cell, she realized, with stone encased around her wrists like handcuffs.

Soon, her jailer came for her.

A slab of stone parted from the wall beyond the cell bars, pouring light into the small room. It forced Merilyn to shield her eyes until they adjusted, and when they had, she found her esteemed host.

“Princess.” Merilyn groaned, rolling her eyes as she sat back. Diancie stood before her, her frame covered in a layer of royal silks and jewels, while her gaze held a steely stoicism. Merilyn couldn’t give a toss, however. She broke the silence. “Well, you clean up good, brat. What’s the occasion? Champion needed a new diamond necklace and you just had to volunteer?”

Despite her jeering tone, Diancie seemed unphased, something Merilyn didn’t care to notice.

“So what are you going to do with me, oh so wise queen of the dust bunnies? Gonna turn me in? Send me off with my butt kicked and a lesson learned?” Merilyn laughed as rose to her feet, pressing her bound hands against the bars of her imprisonment. “Well? What’s it gonna be!”

Diancie sighed.

“In accordance with the laws of my forebears, you have been judged for your crimes and summarily sentenced.” There was a pause in her speech, as she swallowed. “To execution.”

Merilyn paused.

“...What?”

“In the morning, you will be crushed beneath a, very large stone. Your Pokémon, should they choose to repent, shall then be released.” The queen’s words were stilted and awkward, but she spoke them loud and clear. Merilyn just couldn’t believe her ears.

“You, you can’t be serious.” A nervous laugh and deranged smile crossed her lips, as Diancie looked at her and did not budge. There was not a hint of a joking tone to her expression at all. After a moment, the queen turned and began to hop away. “I mean— Pretty little princess Diancie, executing someone for a little, harmless kidnapping! Surely not, right!”

Diancie did not pause as she approached the exit, striking panic in Merilyn’s heart.

“D-don’t I get an appeal!? A plea for sanctuary!? I call a mistrial!”

Then, when it seemed Merilyn’s fate was sealed, an unexpected figure came to her rescue. Storming into the jailhouse and falling to her knees was Serena of all people!

“Oh please, Queen Diancie, have mercy!” She threw herself at Diancie’s feet, holding onto her dress and looking up at her.

“No! I have told you already, the witch must face consequences for her actions!” Merilyn couldn’t believe her eyes, but brat #1 was trying to save her from brat #2! Diancie folded her arms and turned her nose up at Serena’s begging.

“But she’s only human! Like me! Can’t you take a pittance on her? Give her any reprieve?!” Serena reached up higher, letting a finger trail across the queen’s cheek. Her delivery was tinged with melodrama, but Merilyn wasn’t one to notice with her life on the line.

Diancie paused, before sighing.

“…Maybe, if.”

“If what!? I’ll do anything! Anything at all!” Injecting herself back into the conversation, Merilyn sprang for Diancie’s attention once again. The queen turned back to face her.

“You must promise to leave this place, leave me and my people alone forever more. And you must never speak of me or the Diamond Domain again.” With that word, Diancie raised a hand forward and made a fist. “The secret of my kingdom dies with you, one way or another.”

Merilyn flinched as she felt the bonds around her wrist tighten.

“I promise! I’ll do it, absolutely. You’ll never see me again, not in a million years!” Falling to her knees, Merilyn immediately motioned to beg, putting her head to the floor before Diancie. After a moment of that, Diancie seemed satisfied with her display.

“Alright then… You may go.” With a wave of Diancie’s hand, the cuffs binding Merilyn clattered to the ground, as did the bars of her prison retreat into the floor. With a clear path to the exit in sight, Merilyn immediately took off into a sprint, blowing past Diancie and Serena in one go.

She only stopped to grab her Poké balls on her way out.

𝒴

It was by Merilyn’s good fortune that her jailhouse was built right at the entrance of the Diamond Domain. The moment she emerged from the small, ramshackle hut, she sprinted for the exit, disappearing without another word.

Serena and Diancie stepped out of the jail a moment after, letting out a sigh of relief as soon as the witch was out of view. When they did, the ‘jail’ they stood in front of collapsed into rubble— a crowd of Carbink standing behind it.

“All hail Queen Diancie! All hail Serena! Saviors of the kingdom!” In an instant, the crowd erupted into uproarious cheering, calling out praise and adoration for their champions. After a moment, one Carbink in particular came to voice that praise personally.

“Excellent work you two! Your performances were flawless!” It was Officer Merrick, the smaller Carbink that had suggested this whole operation.

“Hehe, thank you! I guess all those Diantha movies really rubbed off on me.” Serena felt her cheeks go a touch red at the praise, as she rubbed the back of her head. “Still, it was Diancie who had the worst of it! Having to say all those things whilst keeping a straight face— I couldn’t believe it!”

“I only had to keep a straight face! You had to fall to your knees and pretend to actually care for the witch!” Giggling, Diancie hopped to Serena’s side and took her hand into her own. “You must share with me your secrets when you get the chance. I would love to meet this ‘Ms. Diantha Movies!’”

Serena laughed before she crouched down to look Diancie eye-to-eye.

“Okay, hehe. I’d love to show you some, when we get the chance—” Serena paused, her excitement getting ahead of her sense for just a moment. “…If we get the chance. I guess, that depends on your answer.”

“My answer? To what?” Diancie looked at Serena with inquisition and a smile. Serena couldn’t help but smile back.

“Back at the palace, I asked if you’d like to join me, on my journey.” Her request had gone unanswered then, and Serena suspected why. Her gaze fell for a moment, and turned solemn. “I understand though, that you probably have responsibilities down here. Protecting your kingdom and all that.”

Serena expected a few responses— A disappointed agreement, a teary acknowledgement, maybe even a stoic nod.

What she didn’t expect was Diancie giggling, and pulling away.

“Don’t be silly!” Without a hint of hesitation, Diancie shed her royal wear and turned to the crowd surrounding them. “Hear ye, my subjects! I will be taking my leave to travel once more!”

A round of supportive cheers filled the air, stunning Serena to silence as she watched. As Diancie sent Merrick and the other Carbinks on their way, Serena had but a single thought running through her mind.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I am. Once I completed my task in creating a new Sacred Diamond, my duties to the kingdom were fulfilled,” she explained, waving goodbye as the Carbinks returned back to their duties. The good workers they were immediately fell back into an easy routine. “The Carbinks are more than capable of running things on their own. They did before me, after all.”

With that, Diancie turned back to Serena and grinned.

“And, because I made a promise to you, to help you realize your dream, like you did for me.” Placing a hand on her chest, Diancie took a bow.

“My dream…” Serena felt her heart begin to race, the fiery passion of her earlier declaration coming back to her all at once. For the very first time, that passion began to overwhelm her, as tears formed in her eyes. She laughed, as she pulled a Poké ball from her pocket. “After you then, m’lady.”

With a poised nod and genuflection, Serena returned Diancie’s bow. Then, when the two friends stood straight once more, the ball was offered forward.

Diancie did not hesitate to press her hand to it. In a flash of light, she was pulled inside.

Serena watched the ball shake in her hand for just a moment, before it fell still. There was not a hint of resistance, only comfort and familiarity.

A grin took Serena’s face, as she raised it to the air.

“I caught, Diancie!”

Chapter Text

𝒳

A cold chill ran up Ash’s spine as he crouched onto the snow, picking Pikachu up and patting him dry with a gentle touch. His partner mumbled some last-minute advice— Tactics, encouragement, that sort of thing. Ash told him to knock it off before standing up, slipping the mouse into his jacket and zipping it shut.

It was just him now, with snow collecting on his shoulders and his cap.

Paul scoffed.

“That great big light show, all for what?” His tone was a mix of derision and genuine curiosity, the latter of which grew as Ash returned to his side of the field. “Just to clear Toxic Spikes? Your last Pokémon is immune.”

“Don’t play dumb.” With a snap, Ash turned and faced Paul, his brows furrowed and fists clenched. “You wouldn’t have set that last layer of Toxic Spikes unless you had another way to hit my Pokémon with it. You were going to whip them up into a snowstorm with Blizzard, weren’t you?”

The two rivals stood silent for a moment, nary a sound but the wind and falling snow between them. Then, Paul made a noise.

“Hmph. Caught red-handed.” No point in secrecy now, not when what’s done is done. All that was left was to move on.

Ash couldn’t agree more.

“I choose you, Latias!” With a pitched call, Ash summoned his last Pokémon to the field. Latias arrived and, with her presence, the thickening snowfall parted. The force of her levitation held the weather at bay. “Use Recover to heal up. We’re gonna need every bit of health we got.”

“You sound… intense.” Quick to listen, Latias called upon her most useful utility move, letting the warm aura of Recover heal any latent damage. Ash smiled at her concern.

“Nah, I’m just in the zone.” With a look to calm her nerves, he turned back to their opponents. Paul stood firm and unyielding, whilst Froslass hunkered down to catch her breath. She was still winded from her last move. “Your Froslass doesn’t have much left in the tank, Paul. One good hit will do ‘er in!”

Paul snorted.

“I challenge you to manage even that.” With a hand raised to the sky, Paul called out his first and final command. “Froslass, strengthen the snowstorm with Snowscape!”

“Huh?!”

“Frossssssslaaaaaaaass!” In an instant, the snowfall thickened into a curtain of white that surrounded the field. Visibility began to drop, and soon, Ash realized what was happening.

“Ash— Ash, what’s—!” Latias turned as Ash reached out to her.

“Latias—!” It was too late. Gale-force winds swept across the battlefield, bringing with them a wall of snow and ice that crashed visibility to zero.

Ash couldn’t see a step in any direction, just the endless, howling winds. And, oh did the winds howl. From all sides, the raging blizzard completely swept away any noise but its own. Ash couldn’t even hear his own cries ring out.

“Damn it, Paul!”

He couldn’t see. He couldn’t hear. The only thing he could feel was the cold winds chilling him to the bone, until even that feeling went numb.

The only stimuli Ash had left was Latias’s voice— her telepathy.

“Ash!? Ash, where are you!?”

𝒵

“Ash!? Ash, where are you!?”

Panic took Latias instantly. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t hear. Her sense of direction was lost the moment the roaring winds rolled in. She flew through the blizzard at max speed, desperately trying to find her trainer, her opponent, anyone.

Everywhere she looked, all she could find was more chilling snow.

“Ash! Please! Please, tell me where you are!” Fear and desperation tinged her voice as she cried out in panic. With a sudden move, Latias flipped, jetting back the other way in an attempt to stay near the field. Was she staying near the field? She couldn’t tell anymore.

Maybe she’d flown off course— Maybe she was already miles away— Maybe she was lost and—!

“Aaaah!” A blast of icy wind slammed into Latias’s side, sending her reeling back and tumbling off course. Her muscles cried out against the cold, going stiff before she righted herself and took off once again. “What’s going on!? What was— Aaahh!”

Another stream of bone-chilling wind, this time from below, crashed in. In an instant, Latias went into a nosedive. Her wings were frozen in place!

“No, no, no, no!” Panicking, Latias did the only thing she could think to do. She flipped and fired a Dragon Breath straight into herself. “Aaaaah!”

The draconic flames burned against her body, but melted away the ice in an instant. With control regained, Latias shot straight into the sky at max speed.

Panic drained into fear, which turned into despair a moment later.

Latias didn’t know what to do. She didn’t have any direction, wasn’t trained to act without at least some direction.

“Ash…”

Ash had always been there for her, through all her training. Now, she was on her own. Latias was alone.

She didn’t want to be alone anymore.

“Please…”

𝒳

“Aaaah!”

“Latias!” Ash grit his teeth, snapping his gaze across the sky as he tried to catch sight of Latias. Wherever he turned, however, all he found was more endless snow and her crying voice.

“What’s going on!? What was— Aaahh!”

“Latias! If you can hear my voice, follow it! Find me!” It was no use. The snowstorm Paul had summoned was too powerful, roared too loud for his cries to make it through. The same could not be said for Latias’s panic, which poured into his mind without end.

“No, no, no, no!” Something was happening. Was Latias being attacked? Panicking without sight or sound? There was no end to the possibilities when he couldn’t see anything! “Aaaaah!”

“Graaah!” Ash roared into the storm, feeling his own heart begin to quicken and run away with itself. Latias’s terror, it was starting to get to him. His Pokémon, his friend, was terrified and alone, and all he could do was listen.

For a mere moment, he considered using Aura to reach out to her, to at least get a sense of her position, before he dismissed the thought all at once. His mind was too panicked to even begin to sort out how to do that.

Panic.

“I can’t panic. I can’t lose my cool! Not now!” he roared, though his voice was lost in the wind. He had to find a way through this, and he couldn’t do that if he was afraid. “I need to calm down, I need to think! Gotta clear my head, gotta clear my mind!”

“Ash… Please…”

Ash took a deep breath, even as the chill hurt his airways.

His mind went back to the beach at Shalour.

“Clear my mind…”

𝒵

Latias’s mind searched in desperate futility, trying to feel for Ash’s energy and finding only snow and cold to meet her reach. She was disoriented, senses turned upside down by the raging blizzard. She could barely tell up from down, let alone find a direction to go.

Panic. She was panicking. She recognized it so well, and knew the feeling too well. Her mind was seized by pure, uncontrollable panic. In times like these, it was all she could do.

…Was it all she could do?

Calm. Latias needed to keep calm. Of all the things Ash had tried to teach her, of everything he’d ever done for her— Keeping calm came before anything else.

She had to keep calm. She had to clear her mind.

As Latias rose higher and higher into the blizzard, she drew a sharp breath.

Her mind went back to the Garden, to home.

“Clear my mind…”

𝒳

“Clear my mind…”

“Clear my mind… Gotta clear my mind…” The raging blizzard fell quiet in Ash’s mind, beaten out by the racing of his beating heart. His burning passion pushed him towards action, but he had to temper it. He had to think this through. Thinking it through was all there was left. The fire in his soul wouldn’t be enough for this battle. He needed to—

“~Clear my mind.~”

𝒵

“~Clear my mind.~”

Latias paused, as a voice that wasn’t her own entered her mind. With her eyes fluttering open, she answered.

“Ash?”

♫

𝒳𝒵

“Ash?”

Now Ash was brought to pause, a realization dawning on him all at once. His eyes fluttered open, and found the blank nothing of the blizzard to greet his gaze.

“~Latias? You can hear me?~”

“I can, but, how?” Latias’s voice was coming through loud and clear as normal, but now she could hear him too.

“~You tell me. You’re the mind reader.~” His response was calm despite the circumstances. Steadying his heart had its benefits it seemed.

“I can’t read minds. I might be a Psychic-Type but… This is something else.” So Latias couldn’t explain it. That left the hunches to Ash. His mind immediately went to work, and arrived at the obvious conclusion.

Could this be from his Aura abilities?

“I don’t know. Aura is more your thing.” Latias’s response brought Ash pause, as he blinked.

“~Wow. You could even hear that?~” His heart quickened with excitement for a moment, before he tempered it once more. “~How far does this go?~”

Latias hummed with thought for just a moment.

“Right now, I can tell you’ve got about a dozen different ideas on how to win going through your head.” She was right on the money. The moment the two had established contact, Ash’s mind had gotten right back to strategizing. “And… a beach. You’re thinking of a beach.”

Ash paused, before a smile grew across his face.

“~Do you know what this means?~” A rhetorical question if there ever was one, as Latias choked out a laugh.

“You dork. You just thought of the answer.” For the first time since Paul’s snowstorm had struck, there was a hint of humor and elation in Latias’s voice. Whatever was happening, it brought the two together again, and that’s all that mattered to her.

In unison, Ash and Latias spoke their answer.

“~We can communicate, but Paul and Froslass can’t. The blizzard is on our side now!~”

𝒵𝒳

“Fros… Lass… Fros… Lass…” Froslass skulked across the barren battlefield, comfortably within her element thanks to the roaring blizzard. With its cover and her abilities working in unison, she was completely hidden from sight and from harm. “Fros… Lass!”

Turning, Froslass fired a roaring blast of icy wind all around her— A Blizzard. Thanks to the snowstorm, its power was magnified and its aim made true. Anyone nearby would be frozen stiff— Just as Paul had planned.

Though Froslass could no longer hear her dear trainer, she needed not. Paul had entrusted her to this task, and so she would follow his instructions to the letter.

“Fros… Lass… Fros…” Another seven paces passed. It was time for another Blizzard. Froslass raised her arms to the sky and fired. “Laaaaass!”

Chaotic winds found order, as Froslass commanded them to blow away in a sudden burst. The dense air, already saturated with falling snow, became heavier now, providing cover for her escape.

One pace… two—

“Fros!?” Froslass leapt in sudden shock, as a gust of blue flames struck the ground at her feet.

How could—!?

“Gotcha!” Blitzing through the snowfall was Latias, wings splayed back as she went in to grab the elusive Ghost-Type. It was only with Froslass’s intangibility that she missed her target by a hair. “Darn it, I lost her!”

With her first strike a bust, Latias took to the skies.

“~No sweat. We’ll just find her again!~” Ash’s mind recalled the mechanics of Blizzard, how the move caused the wind to turn and blow away from your position all at once. By following where the sudden winds centered from, they could track Froslass’s position in the snowstorm!

Latias giggled.

“You already explained it once, silly. No need to do it again.” Her joking comment brought Ash to a laugh.

“~You really are in my head, huh?~”

“Hehe, what can I say? I guess I’m just always on your mind~” With a graceful roll, Latias turned back the way she came, spreading her wings out far to slow down and feel the shifting winds. After a moment, she felt a blast of cold strike them. “Right below me!”

“~Let’s get the drop on them!~” At Ash’s command, Latias dived, blitzing straight towards Froslass in a meteor descent. This time she caught the ghost by surprise, grabbing her nythe shoulders!

“Fros!?” Panicking, Froslass slipped into her intangibility. Her snap decision saved her from a point-blank Dragon Breath, as she raced back into the cover of the storm.

“She slipped away, but I’ve got her!” Rather than taking back to the air, Latias followed in hot pursuit.

“~Perfect. Froslass can’t attack and stay untouchable at the same time— So keep on top of her!~”

“On it!” Making good on Ash’s command, Latias barreled straight after Froslass, swiping at the ghost before she could slip away. This time, Latias caught her by the wrist, forcing her opponent to go intangible once more.

“Oh no you don’t!” Another chase, another swipe, another miss as Froslass slipped away. She was desperately flickering her intangibility on and off, evading Latias’s grabs as she tried to escape. “I’ve got—!”

“Froslass!” Whipping around, Froslass spooked Latias into a backstep, before jumping at her with her intangibility on. Latias was caught off guard as Froslass leapt straight through her chest, sending a cold chill running up her spine.

“Oh what the—!” Whipping around, Latias caught Froslass slipping into the cover of the frozen winds. “I lost her!”

“~Stay low. Froslass is gonna expect you to come from above again.~”

Latias nodded and shot ahead, slipping into her invisibility as she swept across the battlefield. After a moment, she felt the wind turn at her left.

“There she is!” Without another word, Latias blitzed ahead, finding Froslass and ramming into her at full speed. It was just her luck that Froslass already had her intangibility up.

“Fros!?”

“She expected us! I’m going again!” Swinging around, Latias went in for another pass, striking from the cover of the storm. This time she managed to strike true, sending Froslass tumbling across the battlefield.

“Lass— Fro— Lass!”

“Got her!” With another swing, Latias aimed to finish this in one go. Froslass was vulnerable!

Or so she thought.

“Fros!” With her eyes shut and her head spinning, Froslass forced herself to go completely intangible. Her body was practically invisible against the white winds of the storm.

“Darn it!” Latias’s ramming strike was ineffective. As was its follow-up, and its follow-follow-up. No matter how fast Latias blitzed in and out of view, Froslass was completely untouchable. She had ample time to pick herself back up.

“~Latias, we need to pull back. We’re pushing our—!~”

“Froslass!” Dropping her cover, Froslass fired off a massive Blizzard, blasting Latias in the back and sending her reeling. The muscles in her wings immediately went stiff, forcing her to take to the sky.

“Cold, cold, cold!” With a twirl and blast of Dragon Breath, Latias cleared away the layer of ice on her back. She was safe and able to Recover for now. Safe, and frustrated. “Ughhhh.”

“~That intangibility is a problem.~”

“No kidding. She keeps that cover on so tight— Is this what it’s like when I go invisible?” Latias could practically feel the smile curl on Ash’s lips. “Something I don’t get— If she can just become untouchable, why doesn’t she just do that the entire time? Let me wear myself out?”

“~I figure it’s…~” Ash paused, a thought racing through his mind in an instant. Before Latias could even parse what he was thinking, he spoke again. “~Because she can’t. It’s not like your invisibility, Latias, where you just have to concentrate on it. She can’t keep it on forever!~”

Ash’s next thought reached Latias before he could speak it.

“It’s like holding your breath!” The excitement in Ash’s thought lit up Latias’s mind, as she snapped her gaze back down below. “We have to make her hold it long enough, until she can’t anymore—”

“~And that’s when we strike!~” Ash took a deep breath, to calm himself. He let a wave of adrenaline pass and brought calm to his Pokémon’s mind in turn. “~Latias, you know what we have to do.~”

“If I didn’t, you just thought of the answer.” Latias then took her own breath, paralleling her trainer in mind and body. “Ash, you asked me to think about… what I wanted, from that move. I think… I think I have my answer.”

A quiet moment passed, as Ash considered her words. Then, her meaning came through loud and clear. He grinned.

There were so many things that Latias wanted in her life— Safety, affection, excitement. Yet, in that moment, with their minds aligned and their goals united, one thing trumped it all. It was a thought she and Ash shared in perfect unison.

“Ash, I want something that lets us win.”

“~Then, let’s do this! Latias, charge up and hold a Psybeam!~” At Ash’s command, Latias leveled off her ascent, summoning a plume of churning magenta energy before her. The spinning mass shook and shuddered, then stabilized in her grasp. “~Good, now, keep track of where Froslass is. We’re gonna do this in one go.~”

“On it!” Stretching her wings out far, Latias began feeling for the shifting winds. It took only a moment for their sudden turn to betray her opponent’s location. “Behind me, to the right!”

Latias flipped and raced in that direction. All the while, the attack she held grew more and more.

“~Wait until she attacks again. Find out the direction she’s moving.~” Now it was Ash’s caution tempering her recklessness. Ironic. Perhaps his thoughts were affecting her more than she realized. Or perhaps she was looking to launch her attack before it blew up in her face.

The twisting plume of energy grew.

“I’ve got her.” With another turn of the icy winds, Latias locked down Froslass’s trajectory. Now all she had to do was fire! “I’m gonna—”

“~Hold it, for just a bit more.~” For the very first time, Ash’s words brought Latias panic. Her attack had ballooned so much already, surely it was about to—! “~It needs more time. You just have to trust me. Okay?~”

Like that, her worries were heeled once more. Latias took a deep breath.

“I trust you.” Putting her faith in her trainer, she waited until his word. Latias closed her eyes and cleared her mind.

The churning energy solidified and became a solid sphere.

“~Now! This is it!~”

Go time. At Ash’s signal, Latias raced into action, crashing down in a meteor descent. She aimed her sights to where she knew Froslass must be, until the ghost appeared before her!

Ash’s command rang through her mind.

“~Latias, use Mist Ball!~”

“Fros!?” Turning in sudden shock, Froslass gasped at the sight of Latias. With the dragon’s sudden burst in speed, the very storm itself had parted behind her!

“Hyaaaaaah!” Unleashing a cry of her natural voice, Latias fired her attack! The Mist Ball rocketed towards Froslass, aiming for a direct hit!

“Froslass!” Froslass snapped on her intangibility, letting the attack pass through her— But it was no use! Latias’s Mist Ball shattered against the ground at her feet and the ensuing explosion swallowed Froslass whole!

“We got her!” With her fly-by a success, Latias pulled up as hard as she could, before rocketing back into the sky above.

“~Now we watch the magic happen.~”

“Lass?! Fros, lass?” Instantly, the field was flooded by a deep, pink mist. It surrounded Froslass in every direction, choking her the moment she tried to drop her intangibility. Realizing what was happening, Froslass raced to escape its cover. “Fros, lass! Fros, lass!?”

Yet, it didn’t matter. No matter where she turned, the pink mist seemed to follow. The winds of the snowstorm— it spread Latias’s attack all across the battlefield! There was no place left to run!

“Fros, lass…” Panting, Froslass soon could hold onto her cover no longer. The intangibility slipped and the choking miasma rushed in.

There was no point in dragging it on much longer.

Froslass looked up in shock, as Latias appeared with a Dragon Breath charged.

𝒳𝒵

“She’s down!”

Ash took a deep breath, relief and excitement in kind buzzing in the back of his mind. Though one more hurdle still stood before him and Latias, the momentum of the match was in their hands now.

“~Great job, Latias! Recover while you can. I figure that this blizzard—~” Ash paused, as the fierce winds took a sudden downturn. “~—is about to break.~”

Before his very eyes, Ash watched the snowstorm peter into clear skies.

“Whoa.”

As far as Ash could see, the landscape was caked in a thick layer of fresh snow, creeping into Lake Acuity with a forming band of ice. If it wasn’t for the mountains in the distance, or the blue sky above, it’d almost look like a completely white canvas.

The field was bare, save for Ash, Latias, the unconscious Froslass and—

“Hm. So you did manage it.” Paul. Ash’s old rival stood tall, seemingly unaffected by the overwhelming cold that’d surrounded him just moments ago. With a hand casually stowed in his pocket, he recalled Froslass to her Poké ball, only pausing to give her a few words of thanks. “I can’t say I saw what happened in there, Froslass. But I know you did your best. Rest well.”

After stowing the ball away, Paul paused, delaying the final match-up for a question.

“So tell me, Ash— How exactly did you break from my Snowscape lock?” A surprising inquiry, but one Ash more than understood. Paul was confident he had him in a bind, and if Ash were in his position, he would wanna know too.

Ash smirked, opening his mouth for the first time in a hot minute.

“You figured you’d win if you separated me and my Pokémon,” he began, as Latias floated back to his side. “But it’ll take a lot more than that to keep me and Latias apart!”

Ash didn’t know exactly what connected him and Latias now, but whatever it was, it brought the two together again. That’s all that mattered to him.

Paul scoffed, before slipping into a laugh.

“You’re weaving a fairy tale.” he derided Ash’s explanation, as he raised his last Poké ball forward. That derision then slipped into acceptance. “I shouldn’t have expected anything else. Xurkitree, standby for battle!”

With that call, the match entered its final stage. The tangled mass of wire and spikes known as Xurkitree took the field, buzzing a jovial tune with its arcing electricity.

♫

In an instant, the tension rose. The static in the air spiked with the arrival of Paul’s final Pokémon. Ash felt the hair at the back of his neck rise, felt his heart begin to race. Steadying himself, he gave Latias one last glance of assurance.

“~You ready?~”

She smiled and looked ahead.

“Now more than ever.”

This was it.

“Tail Glow!”

“~Blitz!~” The combatants leapt into action, Xurkitree igniting with crackling energy as Latias rocketed at blazing speeds. In a flash of movement, she slammed into her opponent, disrupting its first move and sending it flying!

“On your guard! Tail Glow again!” Xurkitree tumbled across the snowy ground, before forcing itself to a stop. Raising its arms, it began again.

“~Again. Keep ‘em off their feet.~” Their opponents were quick to recover, but Ash and Latias were quick to strike again. With a burst of speed, Latias raced in for another assault. “~Circle around, hit them from behind!~”

“On it!” Feinting her first pass, Latias sped past Xurkitree, before spinning on a dime and slamming into its back! Its Tail Glow was cut short as Latias rocketed away and back again.

“~From their left this time.~”

“Don’t let her sneak from behind. Tail Glow!” Another attempt to deflect failed, as Latias slipped past Xurkitree’s defenses and sent it flying. Paul scowled. “I don’t know how you’re doing that, Ash— Attacking without saying a word —But it won’t be enough! Xurkitree, Tail Glow! Then on my signal!”

“~Attacking without—?~” It struck Ash all at once. The entire time he’d been connected to Latias this way, he hadn’t needed to say anything. They were moving in unison, without speaking a single word. It took him until then to realize— This was just like Diantha and her Gardevoir!

Ash grinned.

“~Get ready to get your hands dirty. Blitz!~”

With a burst of speed, Latias barreled down on Xurkitree, aiming to keep Paul’s Pokémon from ever getting its feet underneath it.

“Dodge, now!” Yet it seemed Paul had the same idea! Right as Latias would’ve crashed straight into Xurkitree, the glowing wire Pokémon went limp. Its body collapsed into a pile, narrowly dodging Latias’s attack!

“Drat!”

“~Grab ‘em!~” Turning on a dime, Latias instantly descended upon Xurkitree, snatching it up by one of its tentacles before jetting off. “~Now toss ‘em!~”

“Okay!” With a sudden turn, Latias swung, spinning Xurkitree around her faster and faster. Letting go, she sent it crashing into a runaway roll!

A runaway roll, away from her.

“Finish your Tail Glow!” Paul smirked. This too was part of his plan! With the distance Latias had made, Xurkitree ignited with shining energy, as it stabilized its tumble into something it could control.

“~Blitz!~” Realizing his mistake, Ash sent Latias in to regain ground— But it was too late! In a burst of crackling electricity, Xurkitree’s move was completed and Paul’s ace stood tall! “~Gotta roll with the punches— Latias, you know what to do!~”

“Right!”

“Dazzling Gleam, with precision!” Paul wasted no time going on the offensive. At his call, Xurkitree slammed its tendrils down, and fired a barrage of searing lasers!

“Oh! Jeeze! Okay!” Latias ducked and dived, flying past the bolts of pink light as she aimed for their source. A few errant blows rolled off her shoulder, but they wouldn’t stop her! “I’ve got—!”

“Wrap!” The moment Latias crashed into Xurkitree, Paul’s Pokémon struck, entangling Latias in a web of its tendrils. She couldn’t escape! “Dazzling Gleam!”

“~To the air!~” With a burst of speed, Latias shot straight upwards, pulling Xurkitree up with her. The wire Pokémon attempted to disrupt her, firing a blast of light that consumed the both of them, but it wouldn’t be enough! Latias stomached the attack and took to the skies. “~Now, throw ‘em off.~”

“Right!” Banking to the right, Latias accelerated to jet speeds, spinning in a circle as Xurkitree tightened its grip more and more. In an instant, the centripetal force became too much, and Xurkitree was sent flying away.

“~After them! Use Dragon Breath!~”

“Recover and use Thunderbolt!”

Latias shot after the meteoring Xurkitree, firing a barrage of Dragon Breaths that followed the wire Pokémon in hot pursuit. Xurkitree was no sitting duck, however. With a flip, it straightened itself in midair, deflecting the first attack with a swipe of its wires, then the next!

Rearing back, Xurkitree lit up with a crackling aura of electricity, which erupted forth in a bolt of stunning thunder! The attack blew away Latias’s Dragon Breaths, arcing between the plumes of energy and destroying them in an instant. An explosion of fire and lightning filled the air— Which Latias flew straight through!

“Gotcha!” Bursting through the plume of smoke, Latias slammed into Xurkitree, rocketing her opponent to the ground below!

“Thunderbolt, straight down!” Paul pivoted and so did Xurkitree, firing a Thunderbolt to slow its impending collision. With the shockwave breaking its fall, Xurkitree skidded across the snowy ground.

“~Let’s slow them down! Mist Ball!~” Zooming past overhead, Latias charged a plume of psychic energy at her maw, ready to blanket the field with a fog of choking smoke. Paul wasn’t about to let it fire unimpeded, however.

“Thunderbolt!” A crack of lightning shattered the Mist Ball in Latias’s face, sending her reeling as she zoomed out of the growing cloud. “Don’t let one connect!”

“~Mist Ball again, dodge the Thunderbolts.~”

“Right!” Banking to the left, Latias evaded Xurkitree’s return fire while she began charging another potent Mist Ball. This time she managed to get as far as launching the attack, before it was swept away with a crack of lightning. “Aaah!”

“~Tch. He’s not going to let us keep our distance. We’re gonna need to do this the old-fashioned way.~” Ash’s frustration turned to a grin, as a plan formed in his mind. An instant later, it came to Latias as well. “~You know what to do!~”

Latias smiled.

“Do I ever!” With a burst of blazing speed, Latias rocketed to the ground below, before pulling up and jetting just inches off the ground. A tall cloud of snow erupted in her wake, as she rushed down her opponent.

“Dazzling Gleam, with precision!” Paul immediately went to counter, sending a flurry of Super Effective attacks to stymie Latias’s approach. The red blur cleared them in an instant, descending upon Xurkitree. She was going for another slam! “Wrap!”

Xurkitree’s tendrils shot forth, ready to grab Latias before she crashed into it.

Except— she never did!

With a feint, Latias dodged Xurkitree’s Wrap, snatching it up by its limbs and taking to the air!

“Huh!?” Paul grit his teeth. So this was Ash’s plan all along! “Dazzling Gleam, now!”

“~Toss ‘em off, Latias!~” With a flip, Latias threw Xurkitree into the sky, before rocketing back down at mach speeds. Her quick movements just barely evaded the blast of light that followed in her wake. “~Now get low and ready a Psybeam!~”

Instantly, Paul caught onto what was happening. With Xurkitree falling out of the sky, it was a sitting duck for what was coming next!

“The battle ends here, Xurkitree! Ready a full power Dazzling Gleam!” The electric wire Pokémon righted itself at Paul’s word, its voice buzzing with a joyous crackle of sparks. Igniting with a brilliant aura of plasma, Xurkitree brought all five of its limbs together!

“~You hear that, Latias? It’s all down to this! Time to go all out and then some! 110%!~” Ash grinned, feeling his racing heart accelerate to a fever pitch. It cried out for the grand conclusion, and so they would bring it! “~Let’s do this!~”

“Yes!” To Latias, this whole battle was nothing short of exhilarating. Hearing Ash roaring and his mind racing was one thing— Feeling the buzz of his adrenaline? It was like nothing else in the whole world!

She hoped the feeling would never end.

“Hyaaaaaaaaa—!” With her natural voice heralding the attack, Latias summoned a swirling mass of psychic energy. In an instant, the move doubled, then tripled in size, drawing energy from the air as she lined up her shot!

Xurkitree thundered in turn as its aura of electricity crackled at its limbs. The sky above grew thick with dark clouds, until streaks of lightning flew towards their center!

This was it!

“Xurkitree! Dazzling Gleam!”

“~Latias! Psybeam!~”

Two pillars of blazing energy exploded forth, as each combatant fired in perfect unison! Latias’s Psybeam slammed into Xurkitree’s Dazzling Gleam, Psychic and Fairy-Type energy crashing and burning in the earth-shattering head-to-head!

Almost immediately, the two sides were brought to an impasse. The sheer pressure of the colliding blasts held Xurkitree up above, while Latias unleashed her attack from below! It was all down to who could tip the balance of power first!

Ash grinned, even as his heart raced.

This match was his.

“~Jet away, Latias! Then into the sky!~” Seemingly blinking first, Ash sent Latias racing away! With a burst of speed, she shot across the battlefield, allowing Xurkitree’s attack to consume her own.

“What!?” Shock took Paul’s face, before realization a moment after! Without Latias’s attack to hold it aloft, Xurkitree was sent meteoring back down to the ground below! “Dazzling Gleam!”

“~Slam ‘em!~” Paul was quick on his feet, but Latias was faster. She soared into the skies above Xurkitree, before crashing down on it at mach speeds! The electric wire Pokémon rocketed into the earth, its Dazzling Gleam well out of range of its opponent! “~Finish it with Mist Ball!~”

“Thunderbolt!” Throwing his arm back, Paul made one final play— To no avail. Xurkitree was stunned!

“Hyaaaaaaaah!” Latias grit her teeth. This attack more than any else needed to strike true. Rearing back, she charged her signature move to its very limit and fired!

Paul’s Pokémon stumbled to its feet, just in time for her Mist Ball to connect.

𝒳

An explosion consumed the center of the battlefield, freezing Ash still in an instant. Latias’s attack had struck true, leaving a pink mist standing between the two trainers. All there was now was the wait.

Latias remained in her perch on high, ready to follow up on her performance.

After a tense few moments, the mist cleared and Ash caught sight of his rival standing across from him. Paul’s eyes were locked onto the same sight as Ash’s.

Xurkitree laid in the snow, knocked out.

Like that, Ash’s senses returned to him.

His blood raced and his lungs burned. Pure adrenaline coursed through his muscles, only now beginning to fade. To Ash, it felt like he’d just run a sprint and a marathon all at once, and then screamed until he lost his voice. All of that, without saying a word.

Ash looked up, and locked eyes with Paul. He too was breathing heavily, his expression steely, and yet inquisitive. Paul was waiting for something.

When Ash felt his lips curl into a smile, Paul snorted and gave a small smirk of his own. It was his concession.

The battle was done.

𝒳

“So, back to Kalos then?” Paul broke the silence that had stood the last few minutes, pulling at Ash’s attention with a query.

The two rivals had found themselves at the coast of Lake Acuity, Paul on his feet and Ash sitting with the now-conscious Pikachu in his lap. Ash scratched behind his partner’s ear, before giving a nod. Silence returned, until Paul pushed it back once more.

“Why did you leave?” He turned with this question, facing Ash with his hands buried in his pockets. “For as much as I’ve known you, Ash, you’ve never been one to do something like this.”

Ash snorted. Paul’s question was its own answer.

“I’ve been doing the same damn thing for forever, and you know what? It never got me anywhere,” he began, leaning back to look Paul in the eye. He stared down the intensity in his rival’s gaze, and gave a grin in return. “I left Kalos because I was missing something. But now? I’ve found it.”

A feeling was brewing in Ash, one that had begun to burn in their match and hadn’t faded since. It was a feeling he’d been missing for what seemed like years.

Ash gripped his chest, and looked out onto Lake Acuity.

The feeling of a heart-racing, life-changing battle.