Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

We all have a pair of wings.

Big or small, they're all the same.

Our wings take us to new heights, to our goals, our hopes…our dreams.

But then there's those of us who can't take flight. Their wings are bound up. They're stuffed into cages.

So, they raise their voices and await the day that they too, can take flight.

-X-X-X-X-X-

One choice, made in the fraction of a second. Thoughtless or premeditated, you did something.

Was it significant? Now that's the question.

To be honest, you won't really know. It's not until you're staring at the results of said decision that you finally realize what you've done.

With a glance around the barren walls of his room, this young man knew he could've made a better choice somewhere down the line. He sighed and readjusted himself on the stiff mattress which groaned in protest.

Now he had all the time in the world to figure out how he ended up here.

Friday, September 2nd

Consistency and excellence.

Darach polished the golden plaque that sat at the center of the kitchen island. He adjusted it slightly and watched as the light gleamed across it. With a breath, he straightened his posture and took a glance at the digital clock on the electric stove.

6:23am.

His first set of tasks was done, which afforded him some time to sit at the head of the dining table and pass the time. The owner of the home left the morning paper where he previously sat, and Darach took that as an invitation to see what left the man so irate during his breakfast. As he skimmed over the cover article, Darach raised his eyebrows.

The headline: Berlitz Shipping Yards suffers significant damage in recent Pokemon gang battles!

The article covered the aftermath of a Pokemon battle that took place downtown in the shipyards, with considerable damage done to a crane that was situated on one of the docks. There was an image that displayed the collapsed crane and splintered concrete around it.

As the servant of this home, Darach had a history with Pokemon who exercised grace, elegance, and most of all, self-control. But the image displayed in the newspaper illustrated the opposite end of the spectrum, though Darach was well aware of what could spark a conflict such as this.

Footsteps echoed through the corridor, and Darach folded the newspaper in anticipation of more company. He rose from his seat and returned to the island at the heart of the kitchen where he set down the paper. As he did so, a teenage girl jumped into the doorway of the kitchen where she struck a pose and flipped her long blue locks extravagantly.

"Good morning, Miss Dawn," Darach said with a small bow.

"Good morning," She replied before she took a new pose. "So, what do you think of this outfit?"

Darach cleared his throat. "Now Miss Dawn, you know our opinions tend to differ when it comes to the matter of dress and grooming," Darach pointed out.

"And that's exactly why I want to hear it," Dawn remarked "As a fashion designer, I need to hear other opinions to see how they can influence my work," She explained as she spun for him to complete his observations. "So come on, tell me what you think."

Darach rumbled his lips before he complied. Her clothes were nothing extraordinary, a bright blouse with a floral embroidery sewn around the collar and waist, which were neatly tucked into a pair of designer jeans.

"I suppose its…appropriate for your first day of school," Darach offered as an answer. Dawn pursed her lips, so he continued. "It should give a good first impression to your teachers and peers," His addition earned a smile from Dawn.

"Why thank you, Darach," Dawn said kindly as she joined him at the island. Despite the time of day, she went straight for the glass jar of lollipops.

"What have I told you about sweets in the morning, Miss Dawn?" Darach asked, his voice low.

His question didn't stop her from popping off the lid to reach in for the treats. "They're for later, geez Darach," Dawn answered as she pulled out a pair for herself. She decided to change the subject for Darach could press any further. "Did dad leave for work already?"

"Yes, Mr. Berlitz left early today. About ten minutes ago," Darach answered.

Dawn noticed the newspaper that Darach left on the counter and she quickly read the headline on the front. "I take it he wasn't happy after reading the paper?"

"He was…" Darach trialed off with an upward glance. The comments made by Mr. Berlitz were…less than pleasant. "Not pleased."

"Well, at least no one got hurt, right?" Dawn inquired.

Darach gave a nod. "There was no one manning that particular dock last night," He explained.

"What are you two talking about?" A new voice called out to the duo. It was the woman, Johanna Berlitz.

"Ah, Madam Berlitz, good morning," Darach said with a small bow to her.

"Morning mom," Dawn said. "Darach was just telling me about how upset dad was earlier," Dawn explained as her mother joined them at the island.

"Oh yes, I saw the paper before him this morning," Johanna said as she too reached into the lollipop jar. "I'm pretty sure that's why he left in such a blaze earlier."

"Madam, sweets in the morning?" Darach asked her with one eyebrow raised.

"Be quiet Darach, you know they're for later," Johanna snapped at him.

Darach snorted and looked away to conceal his smirk. The women of the house had an insatiable sweet tooth, one that they spared no expense when attempting to satisfy. Darach watched as the two of them exchanged a few words, flashing their teeth that were in perfect condition despite the amount of sweets that they ate.

"Are you ready to go, Dawn?" Johanna asked as she tucked away her treats into her pocketbook.

"I'm ready when you are," Dawn answered.

"Great, I've got the car out in the driveway already," Johanna said with a gesture for Dawn to follow her.

"Miss Dawn, would like some breakfast?" Darach called out to her.

"No worries, I can grab something at school," Dawn replied as she and Johanna waved to Darach.

Darach raised his brow as he realized that he was already alone, and it wasn't even seven o'clock yet. He listened as their footsteps faded down the corridor, and then he set his sights on the lollipop jar to scan its contents. Soon enough, his eyes settled on a green wrapper near the bottom, his favorite. He opened up the jar and dug in to retrieve his little treat, unaware of two pairs of eyes that watched him.

Johanna and Dawn peeked through the doorway of the kitchen to see Darach with the jar in one arm and using his free hand to rummage through the sweets.

"I knew it had to be Darach," Dawn whispered to her mother. Johanna winked at Dawn and then she began a countdown on her hand.

When the timer struck zero, Johanna opened her mouth. "Darach!" She barked suddenly. There was a gasp in the kitchen which was followed closely by the sound of glass shattering. "Darach, what was that?"

"No-nothing Madam!" He responded as he rushed off to retrieve a broom and dustpan.

Dawn and Johanna struggled to contain their laughter as ventured to the main foyer.

"I knew it," Dawn giggled. "I knew it had to be Darach taking all the green ones."

"Well, that's one mystery solved," Johanna remarked as the two of them reached their destination. Together they slipped into their shoes and Dawn snatched her backpack from the coat rack. With this being the first day of her senior year, she could travel with next to nothing. Just the way she liked it.

The mahogany wood of their front door glistened under the sunlight, though Dawn paid it no mind as she and her mother stepped outside. They followed the stone path to the driveway where a bright red convertible was waiting for them.

"Mom?" Dawn began as she looked at her mother. Johanna recognized that look, which was always followed by a request. "Can I drive?"

"Dawn, your father and I have already told you," Johanna began. Dawn knew what came next, and mouthed her mother's words with her. "After you graduate, we'll consider it."

"But mom," Dawn whined. "All of my friends have been driving since our junior year. I'm a senior now and I'm honestly like…the only person who's not driving yet."

"We've already discussed this, Dawn," Johanna stated as she got into the front seat of the car. "Just bear with it, it's only one more year."

"A whole year?" Her daughter exclaimed.

Johanna wrinkled her nose before she pointed to the empty passenger seat. "Dawn, stop being dramatic and get in the car."

Dawn circled the vehicle and took her place beside her mother. "I'm not being dramatic, I'm being realistic," Dawn explained. "What high school senior do you know that isn't driving?"

Johanna shot her a smirk. "I know you, don't I?" Dawn huffed before Johanna continued. "Besides, you're the only high school senior that I need to know."

Dawn groaned as she buckled her seatbelt. If there was any conceivable way to convince her parents to change this decision, Dawn hadn't thought of it yet. As far as she was concerned, nothing could prove to her parents that she was ready to drive.

"By why, mom?" Dawn didn't know when to give up. "It's not like I'm irresponsible. I get good grades and I never break curfew," Dawn pointed out as her mother started the engine and shifted the car into reverse.

"Dawn, you know what I'm going to say," Johanna stated as they reached the front gates of their property. As the car passed a sensor on the driveway, the gates separated to let them out onto the roadway. Diglett's Boulevard.

"But mom!"

Johanna turned on the radio to drown out the voice of her daughter. Once she reversed out into the empty street, Johanna waited a moment for the gates to close. She took the opportunity to glance at the golden plaque that was mounted on the stone column of the gate.

Berlitz Estate.

Glittering white sand on the beaches, fabulous weather, famous landmarks, the foundation for a cultural hub. Vermilion City offered all of that and the best part? It was like that year-round! Of course, Vermilion City also offered a strong public school system to prepare its youth to make the most of the many institutions that would be at their disposal.

North Vermilion High was considered the school the city had to offer, servicing students from all over the city. However, its location left a lot be desired. It sat within a cluttered cul-de-sac where parking was tight and first come, first served. Dropping off students was rough, and often took time if one arrived during the fifteen-minute rush before classes began.

Familiar with the process, Johanna and Dawn arrived early, which granted them a parking spot on the roadway. At the very least, Dawn would start off her 'last' first day of school without much of a hassle.

"You have money for lunch, right?" Johanna inquired. "And did you bring your supplies with you?"

"Mom," Dawn exclaimed. "We've been over this already! I have everything that I need," Dawn answered as she opened up the passenger door.

"I'm just making sure sweetie," Johanna sent a glance at Dawn. "I wouldn't want you to call me to bring you something like last year."

Dawn's cheeks turned pink. "That's only because I tried to leave extra early with dad last year!" She pointed out.

"And you learned your lesson, huh?"

"Yup, don't ever leave with dad," Dawn said as she shut the door. With what she hoped was one last wave to her mother, Dawn looked across the street to see her peers seated on the low wall that surrounded the school property. As Dawn made her way across the street, Johanna lowered the window on the driver's side with a grin.

"Have a good day sweetie," Johanna called out. "And don't forget that I love you!"

Dawn froze in the middle of the street as her face turned bright red. "Mom!" She shrieked as she swiveled on her heel to look back at her mother. Dawn wanted the conclusion to her high school life to be perfect, from beginning to end. That required a strong start, which was already ruined by her mother's antics. Dawn was positive that she could hear the students across the street snickering at her.

A car horn blared.

Johanna's eyes flashed straight to her side mirror. There was a car racing toward her daughter!

Dawn's feet were locked in place, her heart now firmly lodged in her throat. Tires screeched as the brakes were applied at full might. Even as the car slowed, they were too close…

The students on the sidewalk and wall all jumped to their feet with shouts for Dawn to move.

Johanna screamed as she reached for the door handle, but with the time available, she was too slow. Her heart sank as the realization set in that she couldn't do anything to save her daughter. But…there was someone who reacted fast enough. Johanna felt her car dip forward, and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw someone on the hood of her car.

A body suddenly lunged out at Dawn. Her body contorted in response to the sudden contact, and the wind was knocked out of her when she hit the ground. Dawn rolled twice before she settled on her side with a groan. Her hair was sprawled out, her blouse was torn and a dusting of gravel was on her clothing. But the worst of her pain was the scrap on her exposed forearm.

Dawn opened her eyes, and despite the haze that encroached her vision, she found herself staring at a boy. He laid beside her and their gaze was locked on the other. He spoke, but his voice was drowned out by the ringing in Dawn's ears. All she could do was try to read his lips.

Despite the driver's best efforts, his car finally came to a stop several feet beyond where Dawn previously stood. If not for the heroics of this young man, Dawn would've been hit. Johanna breathed for what felt like the first time in ages. Her lungs expanded and she leaned back into the seat of her car. Dawn was safe!

Traffic started to back up on the street, so Dawn was assisted onto the sidewalk by her peers. One of the students even went out of their way to call the school nurse to check on Dawn.

Within minutes, Dawn found herself receiving a full examination by none other than Nurse Joy under her mother's watchful eyes. By then, Dawn had regained a measure of composure and her hearing.

"How are you feeling, Dawn?" Nurse Joy asked as she disinfected the cuts on Dawn's forearm. Dawn winced from the burning sensation and bit down on her lower lip as she saw her shredded skin.

"A little…a little dizzy," Dawn answered softly.

"It was a hard fall, that's to be expected," Joy noted as she concealed Dawn's wound with a layer of gauze. "Do you feel any pain in your neck or chest?"

"No," Dawn shook her head. "Just dizzy and kind of…" The image of the car barreling toward her flashed in her mind. "Frazzled."

Nurse Joy placed her hand on Dawn and their eyes met. "It'll be in the back of your mind for a while. Try to relax," Nurse Joy stated. "Maybe it would be better if you went home."

"I agree," Johanna interjected. "I think that sounds like a good idea. I'll take the day off and stay home with you."

"Mom," Dawn cut in. "I…I don't want to go home."

"But you heard Nurse Joy," Johanna responded. "Doctor's orders are that you go home and relax."

"It's just a recommendation," Dawn retorted. "I don't want to miss my first day and…I'm a senior this year. I don't want to miss any of it!" Rather than plead with her mother, Dawn directed her efforts toward Nurse Joy in a ploy to gain the number's advantage. "I promise I'll take it slow today, and I won't get into any trouble."

"Well…it is the first day of school," Nurse Joy noted. "Let's do a quick test."

Nurse Joy instructed Dawn to rise to her feet. Once she was standing, Dawn extended both of her arms outward and took a few steps to test her balance. Dawn moved comfortably, enough to satisfy Nurse Joy.

"I still want you to take it easy. Go a slow a pace today, even if you're late to class," Nurse Joy advised her. "Come with me to the nurse's office and I'll write you a note for any late arrivals during the day."

"Awesome, thank you, Nurse Joy!" Dawn exclaimed before she looked at her mother. "So can I stay mom?" Johanna bit down on her lower lip, so Dawn continued. "I'll be okay, there's no need to worry!"

Johanna took a deep breath before she embraced Dawn in a hug. "Alright, I'll let you go. But this will also be a lesson for you too," They separated and Dawn furrowed her brow. "I got to talk with the driver that almost hit you. He wasn't expecting you to stop in the road…of course, I played a part in that," Johanna admitted. "But driving is much more than looking cool or doing something because your friends are doing it. It's a big responsibility that could involve your life and potentially others."

Dawn gulped as the image of the car crossed her mind once more. She wouldn't say it out loud, but her desire to drive waned…just a little bit.

"Oh yeah, did you find the guy who saved me?" Dawn inquired.

Johanna pursed her lips. "No, apparently he slipped away at some point. But if you run into him today, thank him properly. Invite him to our house for dinner, I'd love the chance to talk to him myself."

"Will do mom," Dawn said with a nod. "I have to get going now."

After a quick visit to Nurse Joy's office, Dawn was given a note to explain any tardiness during her school day. Nurse Joy also advised her, once again, to take it slow during the day. Despite that suggestion, Dawn had little time to make it to her first class, one where she wouldn't accept being late. She had five minutes about five minutes to get down to the school's basement level for this class, but no one made it easy for her to get there.

Apparently, word got around about the events outside. It was no surprise, but the amount several people stopped her a moment to see if she was okay. Seniors that she knew for years, and some freshmen that she didn't recognize. Dawn assured them that she was alright, though her clothes could beg to differ.

"Dawn?!" A voice cried out.

Dawn turned from the group that she spoke with at the call of her name. A brunette was approaching her, with her signature red bandana tied around her head.

"May!" Dawn exclaimed before she was smothered in a hug from her best friend.

"I heard that you almost got hit by a car! Are you okay?!" May asked as shook Dawn in her arms.

"I might not be if you keep this up," Dawn replied.

May quickly released her hold on Dawn. "Sorry," she said with pink cheeks. "So, what happened, fill me in already!"

"Well…" Dawn made an attempt to recall the events of half an hour ago. She gasped sharply as she saw the car hurtling toward her once more, and her shoulders became rigid. May quickly spotted this and placed an arm around her friend and direct her away from the others.

"Too soon?" May asked as they gained a little privacy. Dawn nodded, and May dropped the subject. "No worries. Do you have your schedule with you?"

"Y-Yeah," Dawn said slowly. She focused on May's question and dug into her backpack in search of her schedule. It was a crumpled from her earlier tumble, but still easy for May to read.

The two of them were practically inseparable from the day they first met. Every year they share a number of classes together, and with how May squealed after reading Dawn's schedule, that trend would continue into their final year.

"We have first, third, and forth period together!" May exclaimed. "Plus, gym and a free period…and lunch! This is going to be awe-some!"

"Then that means we can start every day together with Ms. Fantina," Dawn added.

However, May wrinkled her nose at the sentiment. "I haven't been in her class since I was a sophomore. Has she gotten any better at speaking English?" May asked. It took a miracle and some help from Dawn for May to pass Fantina's art class since May could hardly understand her.

"She's gotten so much better since then, you have no idea," Dawn answered. "She speaks more English than French now. Not to mention, she said that she would spend the whole summer practicing, so I'm sure she's even better now."

"Well, as long as she tells me the homework in English, you won't hear any complaints from me," May remarked. Dawn stifled a laugh, and with a shared destination, the two of them went on their way to the basement floor.

"How was your summer, tell me about Hoenn?" Dawn inquired, much to May's delight.

"It was a-ma-zing!" She declared, eager to share all the details. "I spent two months in Lilycove City, and those were the best two months of my life! The restaurants were great, the beaches were beautiful and the top it all off, Drew was there on vacation too!"

"Really? How did you two run into each other?"

"His mom works for the same firm as my dad, or something like that, and their employers offered everyone the same vacation package" May explained, but she waved off those details. "Anyway, since we were in the same hotel, I got to go to dinner with Drew a few times! It was a more a family thing thought since our parents used that time to talk business. At one point, the two of us went out for a walk on the beach together, it was the best! And then Drew said he wanted to hang out with me some more back in Vermilion City."

Dawn clapped for May's accomplishment, and she beamed proudly. Drew was the senior class' heartthrob with his fair share of admirers. May fell into that category, although she wasn't satisfied with just that.

"And what about your summer? Did you convince your parents to let you start driving?" May asked.

Dawn sighed. "They still said no. Even this morning, my mom gave me a big fat N-O." Dawn replied. "Although, I think I can live with that after this morning."

"Well, don't forget, I can give you a ride if you ever need one…" May paused for a moment. "Well, once my parents give me my car back."

Dawn couldn't help but chuckle at May's offer.

"What's so funny?" May questioned her with a frown.

"Let's be real here, May, you're not going to get your car back any time soon."

"And what makes you say that?"

Dawn raised her brow as she looked at May. "You and I both know why, so stop giving me that lame story," Dawn stated.

"For the last time, Dawn, I had nothing to do with those parking tickets!" May exclaimed before she slapped a hand over her mouth. Conversations between the students around them were paused at May's exclamation, and several people were looking at her.

Dawn laughed openly, much to May's chagrin. "Smooth May," she said after a few moments. "It's a good thing Drew wasn't here to hear that one."

"God, I would've died of embarrassment," May admitted as she struggled to develop a story to explain this.

The two of them arrived at the entrance to their first period class. Dawn observed the familiar entryway to one of her favorite rooms in the whole building. She couldn't count how many hours she spent working there during and after school. Upon entering, Dawn immediately spotted a woman clothed in an extravagant sundress with her hair tied up into four large buns.

"Ms. Fantina!" Dawn called out to her favorite teacher.

Fantina was adjusting one of the easels in the back of the room, but she recognized the voice that called her name. At the sight of Dawn, she smiled brightly and invited her and May to join her in the back.

"Dawn, mon amie!" She proclaimed as a greeting. "It's so good to see you again! I hope you spent the summer working as hard as you did in my class."

"Of course, I did! I can't wait to show you some of the designs I've been working on," Dawn replied. "And I can tell you've been working on your English."

"Certainly," Fantina said proudly as she placed her hands on her hips. "I hate having a language barrier between myself and mes étudiants." Fantina stated before she covered her mouth with a small gasp. "Pardon, a bit of French still escapes every now and then."

"Well, it beats the first year I had with you," May pointed out. "I had no idea what you were saying most of the time."

Fantina chuckled. "I won't deny that I struggled back then, but hopefully your experience in my classroom will be much um…smoother this year," Fantina said as she recalled her time with May. "But I'm very happy that you're willing to give me a second chance."

May flashed her a smile before the bell chimed, a signal that classes would begin shortly.

"Ah, let's speak again later," Fantina said before she motioned to the open desks around her room. "Find a seat you two."

Dawn and May occupied a pair of seats toward the front of the room. Once there, they watched as Fantina then positioned herself at the entrance to her room where she warmly welcomed her students to her painting and drawing class.

Dawn took this course as a junior, and this year she took it again purely for the free time to practice. May, on the other hand, was searching for a class to take it easy in, and there was no better place than art class, especially with Dawn for company. Soon enough, the seats were filled and the bell chimed again to signal the start of class.

Fantina started with an introduction of herself as she handed out blank sheets of paper and pencils. She encouraged them all to sketch as she discussed the expectations of her course.

"Hey Dawn, check this out," May said as she slid her paper to Dawn. Her first sketch was complete after ten minutes in class.

Dawn tilted her head as she looked at May's work. "What is this?" Dawn asked in a whisper.

"It's the new purse that I bought over the summer," May replied as she turned the sketch upright for Dawn to take a second look. "Can't you tell?"

"…No," Dawn answered in a deadpan.

"Well, I'm uh…out of practice," May retorted as she took back her page to make a second attempt.

"Yeah," Dawn nodded. "Whatever you call it, May," Dawn giggled as May shot her a narrow glance.

The door to the room opened up, which forced a pause from Fantina. One of the school's guidance counselors entered the room, followed closely by a male student. Dawn's eyes widened when she saw him. It was the same guy from this morning!

May heard a small gasp from Dawn, and looked to her friend who was frozen in her seat.

"What's the matter, Dawn?" May whispered to her.

"That's the guy who saved me earlier," Dawn responded. May furrowed her brow and Dawn realized that she needed to fill in some of the pieces for May. As she shared those details, Fantina was approached by the guidance counselor and they spoke briefly.

After a few moments, Fantina called for everyone's attention and made a gesture to her newest student who was guided to her classroom by the guidance counselor.

"Présentez-vous." Fantina said to him.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

"It's French," Dawn jumped in before even Fantina could correct herself. "She wants you to introduce yourself."

Fantina always had her students introduce themselves at the start of a new school year, and there would be no exceptions this year.

"Oh," he said with a small nod toward Dawn. Then he looked out to the other students. "Mmm, let's see. My name is Ash Ketchum. I just transferred to this school during the summer. I'll be turning eighteen next May…and I hope we all get along."

Short, sweet, and to the point. Ash then turned to thank the guidance counselor for his help, and then he went to the back of the classroom to take a seat.

"That's him?" May asked once against as she looked back at Ash. He was actually pretty good-looking. "So…what are you going to do?"

"What do you mean?" Dawn asked May in return.

May raised her brow at Dawn. "He saved your life, right? Aren't you going to talk to him?"

"Well, obviously," Dawn muttered. "My mom told me that I should invite him over for dinner, but do you think that's enough?"

"I don't know, no one has ever saved my life before," May replied and Dawn rolled her eyes. "But I think you should start by talking to him. Oh, and since he's new, you should help him find his next class."

"Hmm, that's actually a good idea, May," Dawn said.

"Yeah, I know. I'm full of them," May replied. Dawn rumbled her lips in reply.

Once the bell chimed to end their first class, Dawn rose from her seat to approach Ash. As she came close, she saw that he was hunched over his desk, scribbling away at the sketch paper that Fantina provided earlier. Now standing over his desk, she was able to take a good look at his work and if it could, Dawn's jaw would've dropped to the floor. In practically half a class period, Ash produced a stunning sketch of the classroom in front of him.

Everything within his line of sight was down on the paper. It was incredibly rough, but Dawn could clearly make out each of the students, and even Fantina at the front of the class reading from her syllabus. She even found May and herself near the front of the room, and above her head, he wrote 'translator.' Dawn stifled a laugh as she saw this, which was enough noise to summon Ash's attention.

Their eyes met once again, and Dawn's voice was caught in her throat.

"Can I help you?" Ash asked to break the silence.

Dawn was snapped out of her thoughts and gave a weak laugh. "Sorry, uh hi Ash…I just um, my name is Dawn," Dawn stammered and she forced herself to take a breath to regain her composure. "And I wanted to thank you for this morning."

Ash shrugged and returned his gaze to his sketch. "It's no big deal," He replied.

"Are you…joking right now?" Dawn asked him. "You saved my life, that's a pretty big deal if you ask me."

"I happened to be in the right place at the right time," Ash stated. "Anyone in the same position as me would've done the same thing."

"You might be right about that, but we still can't ignore that you saved me," Dawn continued. "I owe you big time, so at least let me invite you to dinner with my family."

"Not interested," he said simply and Dawn huffed.

It was almost like he didn't want any attention at all. Dawn looked up in thought as she realized he abandoned the scene after rescuing her this morning, and even now, he was hiding in the back of the classroom.

"You don't like to stand out much, do you?" Dawn asked him.

He looked back up at her and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm in a new place with new people. I don't really want to stand out right now."

"Well, you're off to a great start considering half the school is talking about you," Dawn remarked with a smirk.

Ash nodded. "And by lunchtime, no one is going to remember."

Dawn frowned at him. "You really don't want to stand out," She concluded. "Is that why you disappeared right after?"

"Kinda, sorta…" Ash said through pursed lips.

"You shouldn't have left so quickly," Dawn pointed out. "The nurse came to check on me. You deserved a checkup too."

Ash wrinkled his forehead. "Why? I wasn't in any danger and I didn't get hurt. As you can see," He motioned to himself. "I'm completely fine. But a better question is, are you okay?" He pointed to the bandages around Dawn's forearm.

"Well, as you can see, 'I'm completely fine," Dawn said to parrot his response. She spun on one of her heels as a demonstration and then she gave him a smile. "Thanks to you."

"And we're back at square one," Ash muttered as he lowered his shoulders.

"Okay, how about this? Let me see your schedule, and I'll help you find your classes today since you're new," Dawn suggested.

"And you'll move on from everything that happened earlier?" Ash asked in return.

"That's not going to happen, but I'll stop bringing it up if that's what you'd like."

"Alright, that sounds fair," Ash said as he reached for his backpack to retrieve his schedule. Once Dawn received it, she looked it over and discovered that they actually had a few classes together.

"You're free during second period, do you know what you're going to do?" Dawn asked him.

"I mean, I can hang around here, right?" He asked in return as he looked around the room. "I kind of like it here."

"That's perfect. I have fashion and design here during second period, and we can meet after class," Dawn said as she extended an open hand toward him. "It was nice meeting you, Ash."

He looked at her hand for a moment and then raised a closed fist in response. He offered a small smile, which Dawn returned as she bumped fists with him.

"Same to you, Dawn."

Chapter Text

The emptiness of his routine was starting to eat away at him. It would mean nothing in the long run.

Finish the tasks that he received...don't cause trouble. That was the golden rule.

He heard that was the best way to get on the good side of the staff.

But the question remained…why was he here again?

The bell chimed and Dawn blinked.

"Au revoir mes etudiants!" Fantina called out as she waved to her students.

Dawn took a glance around the room and watched as her classmates picked up their bags and left. Then the realization set in that her second period class was over, and she didn't hear a word that Fantina said. With any luck, Fantina likely repeated most of which she said during her earlier class, with a few modifications for the subject change. Either way, Dawn was certain that she could survive without knowing what Fantina discussed.

Dawn put her thoughts aside and turned around in search of Ash Ketchum. He was approaching her with his backpack slung over one shoulder.

"Oh, sorry," Dawn apologized as she rushed to gather her belongings. "Are you ready to go?"

"Mhmm," He hummed. "No need to rush for me."

Once Dawn was set, she took on her role as Ash's guide and their journey through the school began. The school was divided into sections based on the subjects taught. The basement level was used for performing and fine arts classes. The ground floor was the largest, featuring academic courses such as science, math, literature, and history. There was the second and third floor, but since Ash didn't have any classes there, Dawn didn't devote any time to them.

"This is such a comfortable schedule, Ash," Dawn remarked as she looked over his schedule. He only had four classes, all of which took place on the basement or ground floor.

Ash didn't respond to Dawn's comment. Instead, his focus was on the students that they passed in the halls. Their discussions would pause and their gaze would shift to Dawn. As they ascended a stairwell to return to the ground floor, a pair of girls stopped Dawn to speak…more like, demand to know if she was alright. It was then that Ash realized that in the two hours since the events before school started, word of his actions spread throughout the student body. However, it appeared as though they lacked a description of Dawn's savior since the girls paid no mind to Ash.

"I'm totally fine," Dawn insisted as she tried to usher them away. It took a little more convincing, a show of a fist pump from Dawn before they finally left her and Ash.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Ash asked her. He saw her wince during that display, and even now, Dawn was biting on her lower lip as she held her right arm.

Dawn forced a smile for him. "I wasn't thinking," She answered. "I would've used my left arm if I gave myself a chance to think."

"We can head to the nurse's office," Ash began.

"Nope," Dawn interjected and she echoed the proclamation she gave a few moments ago. "I'm totally fine!"

Ash put his hands up. "Alright, you said it," Ash said and dropped the subject.

Soon enough, they were standing in front of Ash's third period literature class where Dawn offered some brief insights into his instructor, Mr. Shelby.

"Mr. Shelby is pretty easy going, I had him as a freshman and then again as a junior," Dawn explained as Ash peered into the classroom. There was an older gentleman with a large mustache seated at the desk in the corner, his nose buried in a book. "He's an open book," Dawn remarked with a laugh. "So, I don't think there are any secrets about him you might want to know that he won't tell you himself."

Ash shrugged his shoulders before he looked back to Dawn.

"What? Not a fan of reading?" Dawn asked with a giggle.

"Uh…it's not my strongest point," Ash answered weakly.

"I'm not huge on reading old books and dramas from the renaissance," She added. "There's no shame in that."

"I wouldn't say I'm ashamed," Ash said as he scratched at the back of his neck.

She tilted her head as she looked at him. "So, what's the matter then?" Dawn asked him.

Ash shook his head and waved off her question. He reminded her that she also had to get to class, and they parted ways from there with the agreement that Dawn would meet him after their third period class.

As Dawn began to travel down the corridor, an arm encompassed her shoulders and she was pulled into an embrace. Out of the corner of her eyes, Dawn could see a familiar head of orange hair which meant there could only be one possible culprit.

"Zoey!" Dawn exclaimed as her friend released her.

Zoey took a step and gave Dawn a toothy grin. "Who was that guy you were-oh my gosh, what happened to you?!" Zoey exclaimed as she got a look at the bandages on Dawn's arm.

Dawn raised her brow. "Everyone's been talking about it," She noted.

"I just got here, I came in late since my classes don't start until third period," Zoey explained before she leaned closer to Dawn. "Fill me in!"

Dawn retold the events that unfolded before the school day began. Her heart tightened as she thought about the car barreling toward her, but she managed to swallow her apprehension and share the entire story.

"Whoa, that's intense," Zoey muttered. "I'm glad you're alright though. Don't forget, if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here for ya."

"Thanks, Zoey, appreciate it!"

The bell chimed and the movement in the hallway intensified as everyone rushed to their rooms.

Zoey and Dawn agreed to talk later, and with a wave, they went their separate ways. Dawn was among the last to arrive and her instructor, Ms. Anna, welcomed Dawn with a slow clap. "Just in time," she remarked.

"Sorry, it won't happen again," Dawn promised her.

"Now Ms. Maple, would you mind putting your feet on the floor where they belong?" Ms. Anna asked as she looked at the brunette seated in the second row. When Dawn turned, she found May seated sideways to prop her feet up on the adjacent desk. May offered a grin reply as she complied. Dawn stifled a laugh as she approached the desk that May reserved just for her, and she took a seat beside her best friend.

"You owe me big time," May said as Dawn settled into her seat. "It took a lot of work to keep those losers in the back from taking this seat," May announced as she looked back at a trio of guys who each made a request to sit next to her earlier. She stuck her tongue out at them, and they returned the gesture with sneers of their own.

Anna cleared her throat and called for the attention of her students. "Good morning class," She began as she took her place behind the podium at the front of the room. "To start, I want to congratulate you all on making it to your senior year. This is going to be an exciting year as we examine all of the future avenues that could be open to you."

Dawn cracked open her notebook book as Anna spoke, and she started a doodle on the top right corner of the page. Art, fashion, literature…it didn't matter what subject the teacher taught, all of them gave the same welcome back speech on the first day. For seniors, this speech came coupled with the constant reminder that this year they would explore what career they would pursue, or if they would enter higher education. In the end, it all served as a constant reminder that they were almost adults.

Ten minutes into their class, Anna was interrupted by a knock on the door. Waiting there was a lanky young man, weighed down by the instrument cases he held. A violin case in one hand a guitar case in the other.

"Nando, you're late," Anna stated as she welcomed him into the room.

"My apologies, I was trying to drop these off at the music room before third period, but Mr. Juan is running late today so his room was still locked," Nando explained.

Anna pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of course, Juan would be late on the first day," She muttered. "That's the logical thing to do as a teacher," Anna shook her head as she motioned to the empty desk near the front. "Have a seat, Nando. I'll be lenient today, but be punctual going forward because I won't always be so forgiving."

"Yes, I understand," Nando said as he bowed to her. "I can't you how grateful I am for your mercy. I will do my utmost to follow the rules you have set from this day forward."

Anna rolled her eyes, and her actions were mirrored by Dawn and May. Anyone familiar with Nando knew that he would use charm to escape dire straits and he wasn't wasting any time putting that quality to use as a high school senior.

"Now, let's continue from where we left off," Anna said as Nando occupied the seat she motioned to.

Nando was two rows over from Dawn, but once he was settled, he leaned back into his seat and looked in her direction. Their eyes met and Nando raised his brow. Dawn returned the gesture with a wink, a promise for them to meet after class.

Dawn couldn't wait to speak with one of her closest friends, Nando. After all, he went away for the summer and there was no contact between them.

Once the bell rang, Anna's class didn't spare a moment as they rushed out of the room. The exception to this was Dawn, May, and Nando.

"Nando!" The girls exclaimed together.

Nando gave them a short bow as a greeting. "It's been too long," he said to them.

"It's good to have you back," Dawn remarked.

"Glad to be back," Nando continued. "It was real nippy in Snowpoint City, even in the summer." His comment earned a giggle from May, and Nando furrowed his brow. "You got a joke, May?"

"What's with the accent, Nando?" May asked in return.

"Accent?" Nando repeated, and then he narrowed his eyes. "I don't have an accent."

"She's not lying," Dawn interjected. "It's nothing crazy, but you're definitely talking a little weird."

"Two months in Sinnoh really did a number on you, huh?" May asked as she stuck her tongue out.

"Very funny," Nando sneered at her. "If you have more jokes, I'd keep em' to yourself. Otherwise, I won't invite you to any of my recitals this year."

May's expression shattered and she clapped her hands together. "Have mercy Nando, it was just a little fun, that's all!"

Dawn giggled as Nando turned his nose upward. Nando was a 'showstopper' whenever he performed, something you couldn't miss. To have your invitation withdrawn was a fate worse than death…at least while they were in high school.

As the first students of Anna's next class arrived, the trio decided to move their conversation to the halls.

"So, what's the deal Nando, you can't answer one phone call while you're on vacation?" May asked him.

"I wasn't on vacation," Nando retorted. "I explained this before I left. I went to Sinnoh to study under my uncle. I wasn't frolicking on the beach every day like you."

May scoffed. "I wasn't frolicking!" she protested.

"That aside," Nando looked back to Dawn and pointed to her bandaged arm. "What happened to you?"

Dawn gave a weak laugh. "Well, you see…" Dawn trailed off, which allowed May to jump in.

"She almost got hit by a car this morning," May declared as she set the scene. "There she was…paralyzed with fear and a car barreling toward her! But at the last possible moment, this guy wearing a cape drops down in between Dawn and…"

"He was not wearing a cape, May!" Dawn cut in.

"Yeah, whatever," May shoved Dawn's input aside and continued. "He drops down between Dawn and the car and with one hand, he stops it dead in its tracks, saving Dawn in epic fashion!"

At first, Nando's eyes were wide and he chewed on his lips. However, as May's retelling continued, it turned to a deadpan. The mere mention of a cape caused the story to lose all of its credibility, and of course, Dawn's denounced the tale and ordered May to never tell it again.

"That's not how it went at all Nando," Dawn insisted. "Just forget everything May said."

Dawn offered a proper retelling, though May contested the story with a proclamation that her 'version' was better.

"So, who was the hero? Was he a student, or a teacher?" Nando inquired.

Dawn's eyes widened as she thought of Ash. "Oh my gosh, I forgot about him!" Dawn went scrambling between students, which left one option of May and Nando. They pursued.

They reached the entrance to Mr. Shelby's classroom, and they found Dawn there speaking with a guy. Nando looked to May for an explanation.

"That's Ash, the guy who saved her," May stated. "He's a new student, so Dawn is helping him find his classes today."

Nando took a moment to study Ash, and then he focused on Dawn. She did most of the talking, but when Ash spoke, she listened intently, with a level of interest that she didn't give to too many people. Ash captured her attention.

Something like that should be expected since he saved her life.

Nando pursed his lips and shook his head. He didn't want his thoughts to wander.

Dawn led Ash over to Nando and May. "Ash, this is May," Dawn began as she introduced them. "She was in our art class earlier."

May offered a wave and Ash nodded in return.

"And this guy here is Nando," Dawn went on. "I thought it might be helpful to know a few people since you're new here."

"Thanks," Ash said. "But like I keep saying, you don't have to go through all of this for me."

"Oh, come on, Ash," Dawn exclaimed. "Don't be such a sourpuss. We all have fourth period together, so it'll be good for you to know someone in the class with you."

May stifled a laugh as she saw that Ash's attempt to dissuade Dawn's kindness fell on deaf ears. He briefly made eye contact with May who seemed to understand, and Ash didn't bother to fight it anymore from there. Together, the group of four made their way to fourth period class.

Dawn spent the trip talking to Ash, so Nando slowed his pace to fall behind the group slightly. May noticed and did the same to speak with him.

"What's the matter?" May asked him.

Nando nodded toward Ash. "What do you think of him?"

May shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I just met him too," She answered.

Nando frowned, though he quickly fixed his expression as he saw the smile on Dawn's face. He just finished wrestling with these thoughts a minute ago, but he couldn't help but wonder why an impassive person like Ash had such a strong grip on Dawn's attention.

"Perhaps…Dawn sees something that we don't," Nando reasoned.

May chuckled at Nando's conclusion. "What else is new? Dawn is always seeing stuff in her own weird way, so I'm just gonna go with the flow."

For his fourth period history class, Ash found himself under the tutelage of an elderly woman who introduced herself as Ms. Abigail. As seniors, Abigail explained that they would be stepping out in the world within the next twelve months, and soon their actions would affect the world around them. To make the best decisions, it was important to look back at the past to see what led to success and failure.

They would delve into ancient cultures and civilizations to see if they had the answers needed for modern reforms. Abagail was a historian, and she demonstrated some of her knowledge for them. She carefully retold the tale of the one great Sootopolitans and their demise caused by the dormant volcano that those people dwelled in. Then there was the Samiya and the People of the Water, a maritime civilization that was engulfed by the turbulent waters of the Hoenn region.

While Ash enjoyed Abagail's fantastic storytelling, he knew that some of that history was obscured. Both of those ancient cultures appeared to have died out because of natural phenomena. Ash believed otherwise…that those cultures still had a heartbeat. How? Because of Pokemon.

Despite how well she held her class attention at first, Abagail eventually turned her attention back to her class syllabus and everyone found a way to occupy themselves. Dawn, May, and Nando began to pass notes, and after some time, Ash received a little slip of paper from Dawn. There was a circle at the center of it, and she made a request that he draw a face within it.

He spent two minutes on his drawing before he returned the paper to her. When she opened it, her cheeks puffed out as she fought to contain her laughter. May and Nando wanted to see what he did, but Dawn waved off their questions, and this remained secret between them.

In time, their class came to an end, and the group of four went to the gymnasium for their next class. Fortunately, since it was the first day, they weren't expected to take part in any activities, much to Nando's relief.

"What? You don't like gym class?" Ash asked him.

"I detest it," Nando muttered.

Ash kept a straight face, even though he wanted to frown. Considering Nando's height, it was a waste that he didn't play any sports. But when Ash looked to the instrument cases that Nando seemed to be struggling with, he felt safe to assume that Nando's body was built like a musician, and a wiry frame wouldn't do him any favors as an athlete.

Dawn, May, and Nando took their seats on the bleachers against the far wall of the gym and watched as a group of guys organized a game of basketball. Ash didn't hesitate to join, though he was among the last to be selected. Nando couldn't help but notice that Dawn was actively watching the game, and she knew nothing about sports. Part of him was waiting for her to ask something along the lines of, 'did Ash score a home run yet?' Thankfully, Dawn didn't pose such a question as she observed.

As the new kid, Ash didn't receive the ball often. He had to take advantage of the opportunities as they came. Ash clapped his hands to call for the ball as he found himself in open space. To his delight, the pass came immediately and Ash didn't hesitate to shoot. Dawn's head followed the arch of the ball as it went up and then down. It clanked off the backside of the rim, and the ball was collected by the opposing team.

"Sorry," Ash apologized as his team switched to defense

"Aww, I thought he'd make that one," May noted.

"So why are they changing sides all the time? Couldn't they just play at one hoop?" Dawn asked as she looked at May.

"I mean, they can," May answered. "But they're playing full-court like the pros."

"If you ask me, that's way too much running," Nando interjected and Dawn stifled a laugh.

Nando felt tired just watching Ash run up and down the court, especially since Ash hardly got to touch the ball. When class ended, Ash returned to the trio to collect his bag from the bleachers. They could hear him make a few comments about a 'ball hog' and it didn't take them more than a moment to make the connection. None of them bothered to pry as they were ushered out of the gym for the next class to come in.

"Well, at least we have lunch now," Dawn pointed out as they left the gym.

"Ah, I have a special treat for the two of you," Nando proclaimed. May and Dawn shared a glance and grinned. A gift from Nando could only mean one thing!

"To the cafeteria!" May declared as she took the lead.

Dawn noticed that Ash was lagging behind them. "Ash, are you coming?" She called out to him.

"I think I'm going to skip lunch," Ash said as he gave his stomach a pat. "Big breakfast."

"Do you at least want to sit with us?" Dawn continued.

Ash shook his head. "Nando said he's got a present for the two of you. I don't want to intrude."

"Oh, that was my mistake Ash, you're free to join us," Nando corrected himself.

"Look…it's not you guys, I just want a little space for a while," Ash explained. "I worked up a sweat from that game. You probably don't want to be around me."

"Do you at least want directions to your next class?" Dawn wouldn't give up and Ash knew what he had to do.

"Don't worry, I'm good," Ash assured her. "I'll see you guys later…or tomorrow!"

He waved and then departed in the opposite direction. He vanished into the hallway traffic and Dawn frowned as she turned back to May and Nando.

"Aww, don't get down on yourself, Dawn," May said to console her friend.

"Was I doing too much?" Dawn asked her.

"Maybe," May said simply. "It might have been a little much for him. Like he said, just give him some space."

"He'll come around," Nando added. "But in the meantime, how about something to take your mind off of it."

Nando's suggestion caused Dawn's expression to brighten. "Onward!"

Together they ventured to the cafeteria, and since they were among the earliest to arrive, they could take one of the tables at the small outside seating area. It was a round table with an umbrella mounted in the center to shield them from the sun. Once they claimed their table, Dawn and May went back inside to purchase their lunch. The process didn't take long, and they returned to find Nando tuning his violin.

"So, what do you have for us, Nando?" May asked as she and Dawn set down their meals. At the sight of their violin, they could safely assume that their gift would be the sound of music.

Nando was better known as North Vermilion High's resident musical genius. In fact, even that seemed like an understatement once you heard him play. Any instrument that he touched; he could play. With such immense talent, the world of music and performing was waiting for his graduation to pluck him from Vermilion City.

"Did you write anything knew while you were in Sinnoh?" May inquired.

"Certainly," Nando answered as he set his violin on his shoulder and placed his chin on the rest. He raised his bow and set it against the string. With a quick breath, he played through a scale to check his sound. Once he felt comfortable, Nando paused for a moment as he thought of the opening notes of his song.

He began. His notes were soft and low, but they snatched the girls from their seats. They were no longer in the schoolyard, but the dense foliage of the forests outside of Eterna City. His cadence echoed through the quiet woods, and the girls followed the sound until they found a house, with a balcony on the second floor. There they could see Nando, tirelessly playing his violin under the moonlight. The slow, sorrowful notes filled them with Nando's loneliness as he practiced day and night.

Then the pace picked up, his notes grew higher. Sunlight pierced through the canopy of the trees, and the darkness of night faded. Rays of sunlight lit the stage that Nando stood on, and a gust of wind cut through the area that filled the scenery with flower petals. Despite the lack of company as he practiced, Nando knew he was never truly alone. Not as long as he had his music. It satisfied his lonesome soul!

As his song concluded, the girls were returned to their seats outside of the cafeteria. They inhaled sharply as Nando set his violin on his lap and waited for their critique. May opened her mouth.

"Holy crap, you get better every time I hear you play!"

May and Dawn turned their heads and saw that a small audience gathered behind them to listen as Nando played. They began to cheer for him, and Nando waved in response. Soon enough, empty stomachs prevailed and the group dispersed which allowed the trio to speak amongst themselves.

"What did you think?" Nando asked them earnestly.

"That was amazing!" May declared as she clapped her hands together.

"It was breathtaking, Nando," Dawn added. "I still don't understand how you do it."

"It's never easy," Nando muttered before he put on a smile. "The time I spent with my uncle was eye-opening…we traveled all over Sinnoh and I played in all sorts of environments."

He played the guitar on the streets of Jubilife City, the cello in a small café outside of Solaceon Town, and performed with his violin in the concert hall of Veilstone City. It was a lot to take in, but that little journey was showing its results already.

When eighth period started, Ash was seated on the low wall that traced the perimeter of the school property. On his lap was a sketchpad and in one hand was a pencil. His other arm was fully extended, and perched on the palm of his hand was a Pidgey.

Originally, Ash came out here to get some fresh air, but while he was sitting on the wall, a Pidgey landed on top of his cap and got comfortable. She chirped happily, and when Ash offered his hand to her, she didn't hesitate to set up shop there. Ash decided to use the opportunity to get a quick sketch of Pidgey, but that quick sketch became a 'complete one.'

Ash was grateful for Pidgey's cooperation. Outside of the Pokemon that lived with him, he didn't get to sketch Pokemon as a live subject. It was fun watching Pidgey's actions, the constant checks of her surroundings, and occasionally ruffling the feathers of her wings. They would even make eye contact from time to time, and Pidgey would fearlessly peer into his eyes.

"Nice," Ash remarked as he added the finishing touches on Pidgey's wings. "Thank you so much, Pidgey," Ash said as he raised his hand, and Pidgey chirped before she took flight. Ash watched her go before he looked back down at his sketch with a grin. He was glad to have captured Pidgey on paper, and it only took him… "An hour and a half!"

He missed all of sixth and seventh period sketching outside! How did he manage to do that?!

In that time, he faintly remembered the chatter of other students outside. Perhaps it wasn't uncommon for them to sit outside during a free period. With a groan, he palmed his forehead and searched his bag for his schedule. Fortunately, sixth period was his lunch which was no big deal, but his seventh period class was a…math course. Well, if it was anything like his other classes, he didn't miss anything of importance. He would be sure to apologize profusely to that teacher once he met them properly next week.

And his last class of the day was…nothing. He was done. Math was his last academic course, and he had two more free periods to conclude his day. Since Ash spend the last two class periods outside, he figured it might be better to head indoors. According to Dawn, the best place to hang out during a free period was the library, though she warned him that the librarian wasn't always the nicest faculty member.

Ash decided that he would try his luck elsewhere, a room he was slightly familiar with. With his sketchbook in hand, he returned to the basement in search of Fantina's room. It took some time as he retraced his steps, but Ash found his way to her classroom. The door was open, and Ash poked his head to see if she had a class. Fortunately, the room was empty except for Fantina and a single student…Dawn.

They were both in the back of the classroom, positioned in front of an easel and canvas. Their backs were turned to Ash, and he could faintly hear their discussion about a horizon point. Then Dawn began to work, dabbing her brush on the wooden palette she held. Ash decided to enter the room now, and the shuffle of his footsteps was only heard by Fantina.

She looked back at him and raised her brow. She offered a smile and a wave but said nothing. Ash was grateful, though his interest was piqued. What was Dawn working on?

He set down his back and approached. Dawn was busy swiping away at the canvas, applying another layer of blue hues as her background. She wasn't much of a painter, but Fantina always advised her to explore all of the artistic mediums if she wanted to be a designer. Dawn needed to be able to visualize what she wanted to make, and then turn that vision into a reality.

Dawn paused momentarily as she studied the canvas. She closed one eye and raised her paintbrush to create the horizon line she discussed with Fantina earlier. With that in mind, she adjusted her tones and applies another layer of paint.

Ash raised his brow as he observed Dawn work, and he raised his brow as her pace quickened. She attacked the canvas as the vision in her mind was given life on the canvas. Ash placed himself outside of Dawn's field of vision and dropped down to the floor with his sketchbook in his lap. Fantina approached Ash and circled behind him to take a look at his work. He quickly got her basic features down onto the paper, but then he added a new detail.

Fantina circled him to take a peek at his work, and a smile crept up on her face. Dawn's appearance was rough, but it placed the focus on the addition Ash made. A pair of wings gracefully spread out from her back, and as he continued to look from Dawn to his sketchbook, he refined the details of the wings. It had a light source and proper shading, almost as if…he could see those wings.

The scratch of a pencil against the paper and the smear of paint was all Fantina could hear as she watched her students. She grinned, but that bliss was brought to an end by the blare of a ringtone. It snapped Dawn out of her trance as she recognized the sound, and she blinked. As she turned in search of her backpack, she saw none other than Ash Ketchum seated nearby.

"Ash?" She exclaimed as their gaze met. In response, he gave her a two-fingered salute, and then he looked back to his sketch. Dawn opened her mouth to continue, but her ringtone started from the beginning and she focused on that instead. Her bag was nearby with her phone screeching within it. Once Dawn had her hands on her phone, she saw that it was a call from her mother. "What's up mom?"

As Dawn became absorbed in her conversation, Fantina used the opportunity to speak with Ash. "Monsieur?" She began, and Ash looked up to her in question.

"That's me, right?" He asked in return.

"Monsieur is a man, a 'sir,'" Fantina explained as she tilted her head. "Are you not a sir?"

Ash nodded now that he understood. "Yeah, I'm a mon-sieur," He repeated back to her.

"Good," Fantina smiled for him as she pointed to his sketch. "Now, what inspired this?"

"Oh…uh," Ash stammered for a moment as he looked down to his work, then he shrugged before he answered. "I was watching Dawn and it just…sorta came to me."

"I see," Fantina noted as she touched her chin. Fantina wondered why he focused on the wings as opposed to Dawn, but before she could ask, their attention was drawn to Dawn.

"Aww, man!" Dawn exclaimed as she tucked her phone back into her bag.

"What's the matter?" Fantina inquired.

"My mom can't pick me up from school today, so I don't have a ride home," Dawn explained as she placed her hands on her hips. Normally she could've asked May or Zoey for a ride home, but May lacked her vehicle and Zoey already left for the day. She didn't have anyone else that she could turn to, at least not on the first day of school. "Crap, what am I going to do?"

"Isn't there a school bus that can take you home?" Ash asked her.

Dawn felt her cheeks grow warm. "Well, uh, I don't think the school bus go out to where I live," she replied.

"What about the city bus then?" Ash continued.

Dawn bit down on her lower lip. "Okay…I've never been on…a bus," Dawn confessed.

Her cheeks became bright red as Ash just stared at her…then he posed the obvious question. "How have you never been on a bus?"

"I always get rides," Dawn retorted with a pout.

Fantina interrupted their back and forth. "Ash, do you take the autobus?"

"Y-yeah," Ash replied after a brief hesitation. "All the time."

"Parfait! Monsieur…" Fantina motioned to Ash first, then to Dawn. "Will accompany mademoiselle to her home."

Despite her thick accent, Ash understood the gist of what Fantina was saying.

"Hold on a second," Ash began. "I'm not sure if I can do that."

Fantina frowned at him. "It's only proper for a monsieur to escort a mademoiselle to her home, especially in her hour of need," Fantina reasoned with him. Dawn couldn't bear to look at them. Her face was on fire, and Fantina felt a tickle of guilt on her neck for causing Dawn further embarrassment. But she was certain that it would convince Ash to act. "Are you a true gentleman?"

Ash looked from Fantina to Dawn. She peeked at him first and then held eye contact. Her eyes were large, begging him to make this end. There was only one way to do this. Ash gave a sigh of defeat as he recalled a lesson that he learned at home. Never upset a woman.

"Fine, I'll get her home," Ash stated.

With the agreement in place, Dawn approached Ash and whispered an apology for how he was dragged into this. He said it was no problem, and instead focused on the task at hand.

"So, where do you live?" Ash asked her.

"On the east side," Dawn replied.

Ash nearly dropped his pencil and his eye twitched. "When you say that, you mean…" Ash trailed off as he recalled the view times he ventured into the 'east side' of Vermilion City. The richest part of the city, and likely all of Kanto. Huge properties, massive estates, glittering roadways.

"The east side," Dawn repeated.

Ash shrugged his shoulders. That explained how she never rode on a bus.

"I have to get to my job by three o'clock, so we'll have to leave now for me to get across town and back," Ash explained and Dawn began to move, perhaps faster than she should have. Dawn returned to her easel to take her canvas off of it with one hand. However, as she turned away from it, her foot got caught on the legs of the easel and she lost her footing.

Dawn went stumbling toward Ash, a paint palette in one hand and a canvas with wet paint in the other. She couldn't even brace her fall with both her hands occupied, so Ash sat right there and accepted his fate. His shirt took the brunt of the blow, once a solid black, but now resembling a little girl's fantasy of rainbows.

With a gasp, Dawn took a quick step back from Ash and dropped everything she held. The palette and canvas rattled against the floor as she raised her hands to cover her mouth.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, Ash!" She exclaimed.

"Are you alright?" Fantina asked as Ash stood up.

Dawn took another step toward him, but Ash put out a hand to stop her. "This is nothing," He stated. "I was going to switch to my uniform anyway."

Ash went to the desk where he left his bag, and without much thought, he pulled off the black t-shirt he wore. Dawn looked away at first and decided to occupy the time by picking up everything that she managed to drop. As she did so, he couldn't help but take a peek at Ash, and then she realized there was no need to turn away. Ash wore an additional shirt under his t-shirt, and this was soon concealed by the green shirt he removed from his bag. He pulled at the sleeves while Dawn read the logo on the front of his shirt. 'Arts and Crafts.'

"You work in an art store?" Dawn asked him.

"Yup," Ash answered with a nod as he then returned to help Dawn clean up. "It's near where I live."

However, Fantina stepped between them. "You two go ahead, I can clean this up," she said to them. "I'll see both of you next week!"

"Thank you, Ms. Fantina!" Dawn said as she and Ash collected their bags. Before they could leave, Fantina swiped Ash's sketchbook from his hands.

"What are you doing?" Ash asked her.

"I want to see more of your work, monsieur," Fantina stated. "I will return this to you on Monday."

Ash opened his mouth to protest, but Dawn reminded him that he said they needed to leave immediately. With a grumble, Ash said farewell to his teacher and they left.

Fantina turned back to the mess Dawn left her and a chuckle escaped her lips. While Fantina wouldn't say it openly, Dawn was her favorite student. That was thanks in no small part to Dawn's patience with Fantina during her first year as a teacher at North Vermilion High. Fantina was raised in Kalos and studied abroad in Sinnoh. She spoke French all her life, and it wasn't until she received her current job that she started to learn English.

Her first year as a teacher here was rough, to say the least. She struggled to communicate clearly with her students, to the point where a running joke was that she should've been the French teacher as opposed to art. All that aside, Dawn was among the few that weren't bothered by the language barrier. Rather, she viewed it as an opportunity to learn something else from Fantina beyond the fine arts. Dawn didn't know it, but she offered Fantina a little peace of mind during her early teaching career, considering this was the year that they would part ways, Fantina wanted to give Dawn a proper send-off as thanks.

With the remains of Dawn's accident now gone, Fantina returned to her desk where she left Ash's sketchbook. She still had one more class to teach today, but she would use what was left of her intermission to look at some of Ash's work. As expected, his sketchbook was filled to the brim, so she went to his most recent drawing, the pencil sketch of Dawn. Fantina propped up her chin on one as she studied his work.

The detail he added to the wings that extended from Dawn's back was magnificent! His skill with was pencil was clear! Fantina went back one page, and she raised an eyebrow as she saw the sketch of a Pidgey within his hands. Pidgey's neck was raised as if she spotted something of interest. Ash even captured part of his reflection within her eyes.

"Magnifique," Fantina remarked in a whisper.

The next picture she saw was of a sleeping Pikachu. The small creature rested on a cushion that matched his size. There were several sketches of Pikachu in various poses, to the point where Fantina could safely conclude that Ash lived with this Pikachu. Or at least, that seemed more likely than Ash drawing Pikachu this well using references from the internet.

Soon enough, Fantina began to find portraits of people. Page after page of the same three people. A woman, a young girl, and a toddler. Could this be his family? Regardless of his subject, Ash's work was astonishing!

Fantina pursed her lips and leaned back into her seat. Between Dawn and this talented new student, she was certain that this year would be interesting. She couldn't wait to see what sort of pieces they would produce in this classroom.

The bus arrived ten minutes after Ash and Dawn got settled on the bench at the stop. It was nearly empty, so they occupied a pair of seats in the back. Dawn leaned against the window and watched as the streets of Vermilion City passed by. Despite her efforts to distract herself, her eyes still wandered back to Ash who was seated beside her. He continued to nod off in his seat in a losing battle against his drowsiness.

"Are you okay, Ash?" Dawn asked him.

His head snapped upward as he checked to see if they were at their stop. "Ah…uh, I'm fine," He replied as he shook his head. "I always get sleepy when I ride the bus. It's a curse."

Dawn giggled after he mumbled the last part. "You know, my dad is the same," Dawn pointed out. "But if he has someone to talk to, then he's alright."

"Yeah, it helps," Ash agreed.

Dawn raised her brow and took that as an invitation to continue with the conversation. "So, do you have a driver's license?"

"I do," Ash answered.

"But no car," Dawn concluded and he nodded. "Why not?"

"Cars are expensive," he said simply.

"But you have a job," Dawn noted. "If you save up half the money, couldn't your parents cover the other half of it for you?"

It was an innocent question but it triggered a narrow gaze from Ash. He drew in a deep breath and shut his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, he hid everything behind a neutral expression.

"Cars are expensive, let's just leave it at that," Ash repeated as he folded his arms in front of his chest.

Dawn opened her mouth to explain herself, but she quickly swallowed her words. Of course, she didn't mean to irritate or offend him, but as she thought about it, she only knew Ash for a day and she spent most of it imposing her will upon him.

She was the idiot standing in the middle of the road that needed to be saved by him. She was the klutz that made a mess of his shirt with paint. She was the one who needed a guide to get home using public transit.

"Oh my god, you must think I'm annoying," Dawn said, and she blushed as she realized that thought exited her mouth.

"What?" Ash asked as he looked at her, his brow wrinkled.

Dawn gave a weak laugh at first. "I was just thinking…you hardly know me, but you spent the whole day getting dragged everywhere by me. I think you deserve an apology for everything I put you through today," She looked at him directly now. "I hope I haven't been too much of a bother, but if I have been, I'm sorry, Ash."

"Don't get so uptight, I never said I wasn't having a good time," Ash replied as he showed her a smile. "I should apologize too. You stepped on a bit of a landmine, but it wasn't right of me to get all huffy."

"A landmine?" Dawn repeated in question.

"Money is a sore spot for me," Ash replied, though he doubted that she could understand. She did try to pay the bus driver with a twenty-dollar bill. If she lived on the east side of Vermilion City, money was probably an afterthought to Dawn and her family.

"Is there like…anything I could help with?" She offered tentatively.

Ash snorted. "I appreciate it, but no thanks. I'll manage," Ash said as he waved off her offer. He wasn't sure if her generosity was real, or if she was clueless enough to give money to a total stranger. And he wasn't the type to test someone's character in such a fashion.

"Alright then," Dawn said with a shrug. Then she perked up. "That's right, I saw that sketch you did at the end of first period! You're so good!"

Ash looked away. "I'm nothing special," he responded.

"Yes, yes you are," Dawn insisted.

"No, I'm really not," Ash fired back.

Dawn groaned, tempted to pull at her hair. She couldn't understand why Ash hated attention so much. He didn't want any credit when it came to saving her life, and now he wouldn't even acknowledge his own talent.

"Well, maybe you're not that good, but you've definitely got a great pair of eyes," Dawn replied.

"A good pair of eyes?" Ash questioned, but Dawn paid him no mind as she opened her backpack to retrieve her sketchbook.

"Can you look at some of my sketches and tell me what you think?" She requested as she placed the book in his lap.

"Why me?"

"Because…all summer I worked by myself. I want to hear different opinions about my work. Criticism will help me improve, plus I think your opinion will be worthwhile to hear," She winked at him. "Even if you don't think it's anything special."

Ash felt his cheeks heat up, and he cleared his throat before he opened her sketchbook.

Dawn watched nervously as he flipped through a few pages before he settled on one to observe. It was one of her dress designs, and he remained on that page for quite a bit of time. Finally, he moved on to another one, but he remained completely silent. It was practically killing her! She wanted to know if he loved it or hated it. What he really thought of her work. After seeing just one of his sketches, Dawn was certain that Ash could offer some valuable insights.

Ash slid further down into his seat and chewed on his bottom lip. Her work was solid. She had skill. But what she lacked was…an edge. Her work was very safe.

"It's…nice," Ash finally said something.

"And…?" Dawn leaned forward as a gesture for him to continue.

"And…are you sure you want to know?" Ash asked her.

She didn't like the sound of his voice as he posed this question. But she wouldn't let that stop her. "Yeah, I really do," Dawn said sternly.

Ash took a breath. "Honestly, this feels like I'm looking at the work of a skilled seventh-grader," Ash said slowly.

Dawn kept a straight face. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, you clearly have talent, but I kind of get the impression that you," Ash paused to select his words. "Haven't been exposed to too much. Kind of like…you grew up in a box."

"What?" Dawn exclaimed with a grown.

"What I'm saying is that your work doesn't really have its own personality yet," Ash explained while he mentally thumped his head for not starting with this. "You know, like how a writer has to find his voice, or a musician has their own style. You haven't found that yet."

Dawn lowered her shoulders as she digested Ash's comments. She was perplexed by this guy who sat next to her.

After two months of working privately during summer vacation, Dawn felt like her work stagnated. She couldn't understand why it felt like she wasn't getting any better and she even concluded that she might have peaked as an artist. Yet…it only took Ash a few minutes to point out something she didn't even think about. She still had room to grow. A lot of room.

Dawn opened her mouth to speak a few times, but she couldn't find the words.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked.

There was no answer. Ash felt his chest tighten as he thought of her apology earlier. They got off on the wrong foot, and it seemed like they continued to step on each other's toes at every opportunity. While he wanted to clarify his choice of words, Ash also feared the thought of putting his foot even further into his mouth and he decided to remain silent. Hopefully one of them would figure out what to say later on.

"Next stop, Diglett's Boulevard!" The automated voice declared over the intercom. That was Dawn's stop.

Soon enough, the duo found themselves stepping off of the bus and onto the entry point of Dawn's neighborhood. As the bus pulled away, Ash took a gander at the area with wide eyes. The closest house sat at the center of a gated area, the lawn was well kept, and marble statues lined the twisting driveway that led up to the estate. Ash couldn't even begin to understand how one family, or even one person, could afford to live in a house that big.

Dawn took the lead as they traveled into Diglett's Boulevard, and Ash followed a few paces behind. The silence that started on the bus continued until they finally arrived at Dawn's home. When Dawn stopped in front of the gate, she approached a small speaker mounted on the stone column.

"Hello?" A man said after a few moments.

"Darach, it's me, Dawn," she said flatly.

"Ah, Miss Dawn, you're home early," He remarked. There was a click, and the gates parted to let Dawn in. She looked back to Ash and offered a small wave before they parted ways.

7:15pm.

The skies were dim as the sun sunk into the horizon, but Ash was at the starting point of his journey for the weekend. With his hands in his pockets and a Pokemon within his backpack, Ash traveled through the streets of northern Vermilion City.

Usually, Ash would head home after his four-hour shift at work, but this was the first weekend of the month, which led to a different set of activities for him. His destination was Sunset Park, which was right across the street. He could hear the shouts of the children playing as they enjoyed their last few minutes there since it was almost time for supper.

As he arrived at the entrance to the park, Ash looked upward as the street lights turned on. It was an odd mixture of light since the skies weren't totally dark. That was a signal to the parents present in the park as they gave the call to the children that it was time to head home. Ash chuckled as he heard the dismay in the voice of the kids as they complied with their directions. Ash followed the concrete pathway through the park, heading toward the center of the area that was used more by joggers and couples as opposed to children.

As he passed a fountain, he spotted a woman seated alone on a bench of almost a dozen Pidgey around her. She tossed some sunflower seeds to the Pokemon and giggled as they chirped with delight. Ash stepped off the pathway to avoid disturbing the Pidgey and the 'bird lady.' She looked up to him as he passed, and their eyes met briefly. She mouthed a 'thank you' and Ash nodded before he continued on his way.

In time, Ash arrived at his meeting spot. A park bench beside a lamp that was tagged with red spray paint. Seated at this bench was the man he was looking for. He wore a black ivy cap, and his phone was in hand to keep track of the time.

Ash took a seat on the other end of the bench and offered a small wave to him.

He looked at Ash out of the corner of his eye. "You the kid?"

Ash responded by pulling down the collar of his shirt to reveal a red neckerchief. The man did the same and they shared a nod.

"So, what are we doing this weekend?" Ash asked him.

"It's a big job this weekend. We got a tip that there's a shipment we want to intercept at the shipyards. The payout is going to be real good if we get the job done right," The man explained.

Ash smiled. "I like the sound of that."

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

Sitting at a cafeteria table all by his lonesome, he had his chin propped up on one hand and he could only look around at the other occupants as they ate. The food they were given wasn't half bad, but it was nothing like what he ate at home.

It wasn't often he had someone to talk to. So he had a lot of time to himself, to just think. Think about how he ended up here.

He could remember that it all began when he met a girl with blue hair.

Monday, September 5th

It was a beautiful Monday morning, and Fantina stood anxiously at the front of her first period class observing her students. This was officially the start of her curriculum since the first day was nothing but formalities and expectations. She couldn't wait to begin teaching her students, most of which were present and accounted for already. The first bell rung, signaling the countdown before classes began. The last of her missing students soon arrived, with the exception of Ash Ketchum.

Fantina had actually been looking forward to seeing him again. She was still in possession of his sketchbook, which she had gone through extensively during the weekend, and there was a lot that she wanted to talk to him about. With the thought of Ash, Fantina found that her gaze had drifted to Dawn. She could remember that she had trusted Ash to get Dawn home safely last Friday, and it appeared as though everything had gone as planned. Although Fantina couldn't help but notice that Dawn seemed to be a bit more reserved this morning.

The blue haired beauty was often bubbly, especially when she was with her dear friend May. Not only that, Dawn was a very open person, making small talk with any of her peers, yet today she had barely spoken. Rather, she was completely wrapped up in her work. This type of behavior wasn't unusual for Dawn, she was always working hard, but Fantina hadn't assigned any type of project for the class. Yet Dawn was as focused as ever. Fantina smiled proudly at the girl's work ethic before the second bell rung.

Fantina pursed her lips a bit as she looked at her first period class roster one last time, checking off the names of the last students to arrive. Everyone but Ash was present. With a soft 'tsk', Fantina then focused on her class and called for everyone's attention.

"Bonjour~!" Fantina began cheerily. Some of the students responded to her greeting before she began her brief lesson.

Ten minutes into her lesson though, the door to her classroom quietly opened, revealing her only missing student – Ash. He slipped into the room and shut the door behind himself, trying not to draw any extra attention. Fantina furrowed her brow at the sight of him wearing a long sleeved shirt in this weather, but she quickly tossed that thought aside as Ash gingerly walked toward her desk.

"Monsieur Ketchum, being tardy will not be tolerated in my class." Fantina stated firmly as he passed her desk. Ash looked toward her, and when she got a good look at his face, Fantina could see that he was visibly drained. His eyes were exhausted, probably from a lack of sleep.

"I'm sorry . I won't let it happen again." He said, giving her a slow nod before he looked at the room for the seat he had used last time. Dawn glanced up as Ash passed by, and he looked down at her. Their gaze met for a moment before Ash broke line of sight and continued to the back of the room. Ash carefully took his seat, sighing with relief as he was finally sitting down for what felt like the first time in days.

Noticing that Dawn was looking back at Ash over her shoulder, May couldn't help but smirk.

"Pssst, Dawn." May whispered to her. "What's the deal between you two?"

"What?" Dawn whispered back.

"You and Ash. You're always looking at each other." May noted, and this caused Dawn's cheeks to gain some color as she now locked her gaze onto the sketch on her desk.

"So what?" Dawn retorted, and this only caused May's smirk to widen into a grin now.

"Do you like him or something?"

It was an innocent question, one that May had never asked Dawn before.

"I do not!" Dawn proclaimed loudly, receiving everyone's attention now. Dawn now turned bright red, unable to believe that she had shouted that in the middle of class. She apologized repeatedly to Fantina before sinking down into her chair out of embarrassment. May, on the other hand, was fighting off the urge to burst into a fit of laughter.

Dawn's denial had only furthered her suspicions now. May knew that Dawn wasn't much of a flirt, and most guys never really left a lasting impression on her. So, Dawn never really developed an interest in dating. It had been pointless to tease her for all the years May had known her, but finally the opportunity had arrived.

At the same time though, May took a curious glance back at Ash. From what she had seen Friday, Ash didn't strike her as an interesting person. The only thing he had done to really have Dawn's attention was save her from being hit by a car. Was Dawn suffering from a case of the hero syndrome? It wouldn't surprise May if all Dawn could see when she looked at Ash was a knight in shining armor.

First period concluded soundly, the entire class being dedicated to Fantina giving the class a brief history of various artists that they would be studying in the coming months. Now as her students left, Fantina waved to them all and called out that they would be starting their first assignment tomorrow.

Saying goodbye to May, Dawn then looked back at Ash yet again and saw that he was focused on a sketch of his own. Even as she looked at him openly, he didn't seem to notice her in the slightest. She really wanted to speak to him; she had been planning to all weekend. When the moment arrived though, Dawn found herself struggling to work up the nerve. Then second period started, and Dawn could only sigh and shake her head.

At least she had forty minutes now to build up some more confidence.

As second period began and Fantina took charge of her fashion and design class, Dawn sat in her seat, lost in her thoughts.

"It feels like I'm looking at the work of a…skilled seventh grader."

Ash's critique had been on her mind all weekend. Why? Dawn was certain that Ash hadn't insulted her work, but she didn't like what she heard either. Her work wasn't mature? What did he mean? How could she make her artwork "grow up?"

Dawn sat in her room all weekend trying to answer these questions. She failed to find an answer, so she turned to the one thing she knew how to do. Dawn began to draw like a maniac, all weekend. She drew everything that came to mind, from dress designs, to various objects in her room, trying to practice everything that she could think of. However, nothing she completed seemed to satisfy her, and this left her frustrated!

The whole weekend she just wanted to find Ash and wring his neck to get an answer to all her questions. How could one short discussion leave her with so many questions?

Now though, seated in Fantina's room, Dawn remembered that she had completely blown Ash off after he had shared his thoughts. She felt really bad about that too. His opinion had left her confused, and she didn't really know what to say to him from there. She could only hope that her poor attitude hadn't offended him.

Finally second period came to an end, and Dawn took a deep breath before she approached Ash.

"Hey~, what's up?" Dawn greeted him with a small wave. Ash snorted softly as he looked up at her from his seat.

"So now you want to talk to me?" He inquired with a small grin, trying to put her at ease. Dawn became flustered though at the reference to her behavior last week.

"Well I, uh…" Dawn stammered, unable to find any words.

"Look, look." Ash said, waving for her to calm down. "I hope what I said last Friday didn't bother you. I didn't mean to come across like an…ass."

The short pause before he described himself with a shrug caused Dawn to stifle a laugh as she seemed to relax now.

"That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. I wasn't upset or anything, I just didn't know what to say at the time." She explained to him as he reached to the floor, grabbing the strap of his backpack with his right hand. He winced uncomfortably as he did so before lifting up his bag. "But I feel bad that I didn't even say good bye, or even thank you for helping me get home."

"Don't even worry about that." Ash stated as he rose from his seat, through his backpack over his shoulder. Releasing his hold on the strap now, Dawn's gaze became fixated on it now. It was a blue strap, but it had been stained red from where Ash had been holding it.

"What happened to…?" Dawn trailed off as she looked down at his right hand. She could see a thin trail of blood traveling down the back of his hand, and she could only imagine how much was on his palm for it to stain his backpack.

"Ash, are you okay?" Dawn asked him as he caught sight of where she was looking. Raising his palm to see for himself, Ash scrunched up his face for a moment and his expression became stoic. "Ash?"

He brushed past her, making his way toward the exit of the room. Just watching as he tried to move, Dawn could see that his steps were unsteady and he was clearly in pain. She could tell he was in pain trying to move quickly.

"Ash!" Dawn shouted, and her sudden call gained Fantina's attention. Their instructor had been standing at the entrance of the room saying goodbye to her students as they left. The only ones that remained were Ash and Dawn, and when she saw Ash struggling, he became her only focus.

"Monsieur." Fantina stated as he reached the entrance. She had positioned herself in front of the doorway to prevent Ash from leaving. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ash replied softly. Fantina stole a glance at Dawn, and she could tell by the concern on Dawn's face that something was wrong.

"No he's not, he's bleeding." Dawn exclaimed as she tentatively approached them. She was grateful that Fantina had been standing there now. There was no telling what Ash was going to do now, and Dawn wasn't sure how to approach this situation.

"Is that true monsieur, are you injured?" Fantina asked him, giving him a hard stare as she began to put some pieces together. Her eyes quickly scanned Ash, spotting the stain on the strap of his backpack and then the trickle of blood that hung from the knuckles of his closed hand. Did Ash really think that he could leave her room in such a state. "Roll up your sleeve."

"No way, forget that." Ash responded, taking a step back from her. But he quickly realized this was futile as he was trapped in her classroom.

"Why not?" Fantina pressed. He was clearly hurt, so what reason could he have to be denying it?

"I'm telling you, I'm fine." Ash insisted firmly, meeting her stare with a stare of his own. Fantina wasn't intimated by him.

"Ash." Fantina began, and this seemed to get his attention. He had only conversed with her once on Friday, but this was the first time that she had addressed him with his name. "Injuries to our students are taken very seriously. If this isn't reported or handled properly, someone here could lose their job. I need to know what happened to you."

Ash opened his mouth, but hesitated before he spoke. Fantina was warning him that her own job could be at stake because of him. He didn't want her to lose her job but…

"I can't." He said, exhaling deeply. "I just can't."

Fantina glanced up at Dawn once again, and realized that her presence might be the problem.

"Dawn, can you leave us for now?" Fantina asked her as kindly as she could.

"Uh, yeah." Dawn said, giving Fantina a timid nod before she slipped out of the room, remembering that she had a class to get to. Ash didn't object to this, and Fantina shut the door to her room now to give them privacy.

"Ash. I'm going to give you two options. I can take you to the nurse's office to get checked out, and we will call your parents about this." Fantina offered, and Ash immediately began to shake his head with a grim expression. "Or, I can take you to the hospital and get you checked out there and I will handle the questions from the doctors. You will tell me everything though."

"But I-"

"This will be between just you and me. No one else will hear about this." Fantina interjected. Ash though, gave her a narrow stare that was filled with skepticism.

"How do I know I can trust you?" He asked her.

"You don't." Was all she said in response. She would leave it up to Ash to choose. She knew the boy had a conscious that he couldn't ignore. He couldn't find it in himself to leave Dawn helpless last Friday, and now it wouldn't let him ignore that Fantina was putting her job at stake for him.

Ash sighed audibly, scratching the back of his head with his left hand. He selected his second option, and Fantina gave him a grateful nod as she motioned for him to follow her. Leading him to one of the fire exits, Fantina used this as a back entrance to take Ash out the building without drawing any further attention to him.

Fantina sat in the lobby of a small clinic, quietly reading one of the magazines that had been set out in the waiting area. She had driven Ash here in her car, and she was hoping to return to the school before her fifth period class. Fantina had already notified the main office that she was going out for a bit, but if she didn't return in time for her next class she would definitely have some explaining to do.

Flipping through the magazine, Fantina failed to read anything on the pages. She was lost in her thoughts trying to understand Ash Ketchum. She could tell that he wasn't a bad kid. He cared enough to make sure none of the staff of North Vermilion High lost their job over something he had done. His lifestyle beyond school was what worried Fantina, and his safety had become her number one concern.

After going through his sketchbook during the weekend, there was no denying that Ash was an exceptional artist. He was very good at drawing, and Fantina could see that he was passionate about his work. So she could only wonder how he managed to hurt his drawing hand in such a manner.

It had been roughly thirty minutes since they had arrived, and finally Ash returned to her along with one of the nurse practitioners. It was a female nurse who seemed to be irritated as she approached Fantina with Ash. She looked down at the clipboard she held for a moment as Ash took a seat beside Fantina.

"So, you're his legal guardian?" She asked curiously, an eyebrow raised.

"No madam, I am his instructor at school." Fantina replied as she promptly closed the magazine she held and placed it on the center table. In response to this bit of information, the nurse gave Ash a sharp glance.

"You're only a student?" She asked him, but Ash maintained the same stubborn silence he had given her while she treated him.

"Yes. He came to school today and one of his peers revealed to me that he was hurt." Fantina explained for the nurse. "He's rather stubborn, and he wouldn't even admit that he was hurt."

The nurse took a quick glance at Ash who seemed to be ignoring their conversation now. Ash had refused to answer any of her questions as she bandaged his arm, and now it became clear to her that he was hiding something from everyone.

"Young man, care to explain?" The nurse said, looking at him expectantly. Ash made eye contact with her briefly, but his silence continued.

"Madam, if I may." Fantina began, gaining the nurse's attention. "I brought him here under the agreement that I would answer the questions."

"Do you know what happened him?" The nurse inquired.

"I'm not aware of all the details at the moment." Fantina admitted as she took a glance at Ash now. "Although I do intend to learn everything once we are done here."

The nurse raised her brow at this. Fantina seemed confident that she would get the answers that the nurse had failed to get out of Ash. Hopefully she would find success.

"Then here's something you'll want to know. This fight, mugging, whatever it was that happened to him, it needs to be investigated." The nurse stated, causing Fantina's eyes to widen momentarily.

"Investigated?" She repeated. The nurse raised her clipboard, scanning what she had written down for a few moments.

"The bruises on his torso are nothing to take lightly. I would make sure you ice them properly. Then there's that wound on his arm." The nurse went on. "It's not a stab wound, but his arm was sliced open by a weapon. It's nothing that can't heal over time but you can't just brush this aside."

"Believe me I'll be looking into this." Fantina stated firmly, giving Ash a sharp glance with the nurse once again. Fantina had been a roller coaster of emotions, and it seemed as though this ride from far from over. The initial panic of discovering that Ash was hurt, followed by the irritation of trying to get some answers out of him. Then there was a sense of relief when she had managed to convince him to come to the clinic. Now though, a feeling of dread had washed over her as she studied her student. She had to know what happened to him.

Seeing that they were focusing on him intently now, Ash exhaled since he knew he would have to share something with them.

"I live in a rough neighborhood, this is nothing new." He responded with a huff.

"Like I was saying, bumps and bruises are one thing. What happened to your arm-" The nurse pointed at the bandages on his arm that were still visible since his shirt sleeve was rolled up. "-That's serious. Anyone that goes around hurting innocent people should be in jail. You're just lucky none of your larger blood vessels were hit."

Ash opened his mouth to defend himself, but snapped it shut. Anything he could've said now wouldn't do him any good.

"So I'll just assume you tried to wrap your arm up yourself?" The nurse asked him now. In answer Ash just looked down at his shirt sleeve, choosing to roll it down now to conceal his bandages.

Ash had to admire her persistence. Most people would've been irritated at this point, but he could tell that she must have been blessed with patience if she was going into the medical field. Helping people could be a thankless job at times, and Ash wasn't making it this easier for her.

"I'll take your silence as a yes." The nurse continued. "The way your arm was wrapped wouldn't have accomplished anything. If that wound was any deeper, you'd probably be in the hospital right now suffering from blood loss. There's no point in trying to hide injuries, they're nothing to take lightly. I don't care how young you are, you aren't invincible."

"Thank you for your help madam." Fantina cut in now, causing the nurse to sigh audibly as she directed her attention at Fantina.

"I trust you'll be in contact with his family?" The nurse asked Fantina, earning a nod from the woman.

"Of course." She replied.

"Good." The nurse said before looking back at Ash, extending her hand toward him. She held three rolls of gauze, motioning for him to accept these items. "Make sure you remove those bandages in a few days and have someone rewrap your arm for you. If you don't have someone who can do it properly, come back here then."

Once Ash had taken the gauze from her, Fantina thanked the nurse graciously for helping them. Ash did the same, although very quietly in comparison to Fantina.

The two of them left the lobby of the clinic and went out into the parking lot where Fantina's two door convertible was waiting for them. Once they were seated, Fantina leaned back into the driver's seat and stared at Ash. They sat in silence for a bit as Fantina waited for Ash to explain himself. It became clear to her that she would have to initiate this conversation though.

"So what did you tell the doctor?" She inquired.

"That I was jumped by a pair of guys last night, and that rather than go to the hospital, I just tried to bandage myself up." Ash explained to her.

"And was that la vérité?" Fantina pressed, although Ash blinked at her with a furrowed brow.

"What did you say?"

"La vérité…how do you say, um, the truth." She corrected herself. Ash bit down on his lower lip for a moment, unable to determine what he should tell Fantina. He barely knew her, and yet here she was doing the same thing as Dawn. She was worrying about him even though she had no reason to.

"No, it wasn't." He responded after a few moments.

"Okay then. I want to know…the truth." Fantina said, and in return she received silence from Ash. He just looked down at his hands that rested on his lap, breathing deeply. Fantina then removed the keys from the ignition, deciding that she needed to reinforce her stance on this matter. "And we're not going anywhere until I hear it."

Ash remained silent though, looking around at the other cars in the parking lot. Some time passed and Fantina waited patiently, her arms folded in front of her chest.

"Why?" He asked her finally.

"Why what?"

"Why do you care so much? You've talked with me a grand total of what, two or three times? You have no reason to give a damn about me." Ash said almost heatedly as he looked at her.

"Monsieur…no, Ash. First and foremost I am your teacher, and I am also your mentor. I want nothing more than to see you succeed. I have seen your work, and you're very talented." She explained, recalling the various portraits she had seen in his sketchbook. "To see a child with your potential show up to my class hurt…I have every right to care."

"This…all of this-" Ash said, motioning to her car and the clinic that she had gone out of her way to bring him to. "-goes way beyond concern."

"You're correct. It does. But I show more than just concern for my students. I love each of every one of them. And I love you." Fantina stated, and Ash was dumbfounded by this. His mouth hung agape for a moment as he stared at her with wide eyes.

He was...touched by this. It was truly the last thing he had expected to hear from her. He had done nothing to deserve this from her, yet she was going to such lengths for him. Ash sighed once again, running his left hand through his unruly hair.

"Fine." He muttered. As much as he didn't want to, he would tell her the truth. "During the weekend, I was working with the Red Skulls."

It was Fantina's turn to be dumbfounded now.

The Red Skulls! The Red Skulls!

He was working with those thugs that were always in the news!?

"Monsieur, ells sont une bande de voyous!" Fantina exclaimed before covering her mouth since she had gone straight back to speaking in French. "Those are a group of thugs!"

Ash winced as she whispered at him harshly once she repeated herself in English.

"What are you doing around people like that?" Fantina demanded to know.

"I can't give you all of the details, but I was helping them transport Pokemon around the city." Ash continued, and Fantina's eyes grew wide at this.

"That's illegal!" She declared as if Ash didn't know.

"You think I don't know that?" Ash asked before shaking his head a bit. "It doesn't matter though, I've done this with them a couple of times now. They promised me a big payday if I helped with this job over the weekend, and I needed the money."

Fantina frowned deeply, clearly disappointed. He was gifted, but involved in a terrible lifestyle. How could this happen to him?

"What could you possibly need the money for?" She asked now.

"At the end of the month, we have bills to pay at my house. The salary we live off of barely covers it, so we have to cut back on a few things…like food. And I can't stand that." Ash said scornfully, recalling the nights where his siblings had gone to bed hungry. "So I go to the Red Skulls at the end of every month to make up the money we don't have."

Fantina's disappointment faded slightly. She was glad that this was the answer she received as it allowed her to cast aside the negative thoughts she had concerning Ash. He was noble, but also foolish for turning to thugs for money. She couldn't approve of this.

"Ash, while I want to respect you for trying to help you family, I cannot support what you are doing." Fantina said to him, and this earned a sharp glance from Ash.

"Do you think I care?" He snapped suddenly. "I can't care. No one else is going to take care of us, so that means I have to. It doesn't matter how much it hurts me."

Ash held his injured forearm, perhaps subconsciously, rubbing his thumb over the bandages.

'No one else is going to do it?' Fantina repeated in her head. Perhaps Ash didn't have a father so he had took it upon himself to pick up some of the slack for his family. That would explain why there were no portraits of a man in his sketchbook. Fantina's expression softened a bit as she looked Ash's arm.

"I'm sorry for getting so worked up." Ash said after taking a deep breath, relaxing into his seat. Fantina decided that now it was better to drop the subject, and focus on the last thing she needed to know.

"You know, you haven't told me how you ended up like this yet." Fantina pointed out, motioning to his forearm.

"Right." He exhaled before looking up as he recalled the events that had happened for sunrise today. "So, we were running behind schedule, and I got busted at our last pick up. We missed it and had to run. The two guys I was with were pretty pissed that I screwed up out last shipment because our pay more or less depended on that one."

Fantina now began to understand what was going to take place.

"They thought it'd be a good idea to make a point to show me what happens to someone when they screw up." Ash went on, recalling as they beat away at him with their fists and feet. "You probably don't know what a Scyther is, but it's a Pokemon with blades for arms. They thought a demonstration was in order so…"

Being pinned against the wall by the two guys, Ash watched as the green Pokemon approached him with a hiss, raising one of its arms toward his own. It was a shallow wound, one that caused Ash to cry out as his skin split. It was shallow, but Ash was bleeding nonetheless. This was only a warning though that the next time he messed up, his whole arm could be lost in an instant.

"I sincerely hope that you have no intention of working with them again." Fantina said after hearing the whole story.

"I'll do what I have to do." Ash replied stubbornly, getting a sigh from the woman as she started her car now.

She knew that Ash Ketchum was going to be a handful, and she needed to know more about him.

The school day had passed quickly for Ash after he had returned to school with Fantina. Dawn had been anxiously waiting to see if he was alright, and he assured the girl that he would be alright. Fortunately, she hadn't mentioned his injury to anyone else, and with his long sleeved shirt on, no one else would even know that his arm was all bandaged up underneath.

No one at school had any questions for him thankfully, but there was still one more person that he would have to answer to, and she was waiting for him at home.

Stepping off of the bus, Ash hopped onto the sidewalk and began walking along with the rest of the busy populace. The street he had gotten off the bus on was one of the busier streets in uptown Vermilion City, but the crowds began to thin out as Ash reached his neighborhood. It wasn't anything like the heart of Vermilion City, but the two story buildings were tightly packed together, most of them being home to just a single family.

Arriving at the front of his home, Ash jumped up the stairs two at time until he stood in front of the entrance. Fishing a pair of keys out of his pocket, Ash opened the front door and disappeared into his home for several minutes. Then he came back out, this time in a green polo shirt that functioned as his work uniform. Oblivious to the fact that he was being watched, Ash went on his way down the block, beginning his short trip to work.

Now with the location of Ash's home in mind, Fantina parked her car down the street and took a moment to go through some mental preparation. She had no idea what could be taking place within this household, or if they would appreciate her visit of concern. Stepping out of her car, Fantina made her way to his home and stopped at the staircase leading up to the front door. Tentatively she climbed the stairway, swallowing any uncertainty she had and knocked on the door. Immediately she heard a pair of footsteps come rushing to the door, opening it with no hesitation.

"Ashy!" A little girl chirped happily as she threw open the door, but this quickly turned to a frown at the sight of Fantina.

"Macy, I told you not to answer the door on your own." Another girl shouted as she came rushing to the front door. She yanked the smaller girl back into the house, and looked up at Fantina before slamming the door shut. Fantina could only stand there in shock for a moment, blinking a couple of times. That was certainly not what she had been expecting.

Fantina then heard some shouting from behind the front door as yet another pair of footsteps approached the front door. The door was opened once more, but this time an adult was looking at her. It was a woman with long blonde hair who gave a sigh of relief that Fantina was still there.

"I'm sorry about that.' She began sheepishly before giving the two girls behind her a narrow stare. "These two knuckleheads here tend to do a lot when my back is turned."

"I see you've got your hands full." Fantina noted as she studied this woman, and then it struck her. This was the woman in the portraits Ash had drawn. Could this be his mother? There was no resemblance between them so she didn't want to jump to any conclusions.

"So what can I do for you?" She asked Fantina who shook herself out of her thoughts.

"Does Ash Ketchum reside here?" Fantina asked, causing the woman to sigh.

"Yes he does." She stated exasperatedly. "What did he do this time?"

"I am Fantina, and I teach his art class at school. I just have some concerns about him after seeing his condition at school today." Fantina explained to her.

"I guess you're lucky he even came to school today." The woman replied as she invited Fantina into her home. "I'm Cassidy by the way."

"Nice to meet you. But um, what do you mean?" Fantina asked as she shut the door behind her, glancing down at the two girls that were now curiously listening from the mention of Ash.

"He was a little beat up today, wasn't he?" Cassidy asked as she led Fantina into the living room, the girls following close behind.

"Yes he-" Fantina froze as she entered the room, shocked at the sight of the massive mural on the far wall. It was a brilliant painting of a forest in middle of autumn. Fantina was impressed with the piece as a whole, but as she approached it to see some of the finer details, her expectations for Ash grew once again. Even the birds that were flying over the forest had been painted accurately, and she identified them as Pidgeots "Did...Ash do this?"

"Mhmm." Cassidy said as she motioned for Fantina to take a seat on the sofa where she was already located.

"Ashy's the best!" The smallest girl exclaimed as Cassidy scooped her up from the floor and placed her on the couch beside her.

"Incredible." Fantina said softly, mesmerized by his level of skill.

"He did this about three years ago now, when he was fifteen." Cassidy said with a smile of pride. As much as Fantina wanted to admire his work so more, she had to focus on the reason she had come to Ash's home.

"So you were saying that you knew he'd be hurt?" Fantina asked Cassidy as she sat down. Cassidy sighed inwardly before she began to speak.

"I'm sure if you've come here you must have talked to Ash a bit. I doubt you'd be here otherwise." Cassidy pointed out, receiving a nod of confirmation from Fantina. "He knows that we'll always have a bad week at the beginning of the month, so he disappears for the weekend, and then comes back with groceries for us. He's a little beat up each time he comes back, and I still haven't been able to get answer out of him about what he's been doing."

"Have you tried to find out?"

"Oh course I have. But he's almost eighteen, and he's always been hard to handle." Cassidy noted, rolling her eyes a bit. "He's too stubborn for his own good. But…I know that in the end, he's only doing this to help us."

"And you're okay with that?" Fantina asked her pointedly. "Knowing that your son is out there getting hurt for your sake?"

Cassidy raised her eyebrows a bit, and then she looked to the older of the two girls sitting beside her.

"Casey, why don't you and Macy go to the kitchen to get a snack for us?" Cassidy suggested. The purple haired girl gave her a nod.

"Come on Macy, let's go." Casey said as she helped her sister off the sofa. Once the two of them had left the living room, Cassidy sighed before making eye contact with Fantina once again.

"I see you haven't been told everything. I'm not Ash's mother. He just lives here with me." Cassidy revealed, and Fantina felt her chest tighten as new possibilities enter her mind.

"So that makes you his…aunt?" Fantina asked cautiously, but Cassidy shook her head. "Are you related to him at all?"

"No. I'm just his guardian. I still love him like a son, but he's not mine. There's only so much I can do with him." Cassidy said to her.

"So then, are either of those girls, yours?" Fantina inquired as she motioned to the doorway they had left through. Cassidy gave a small chuckle, her expression becoming very relaxed.

"They aren't 'mine', per say, but they are my family." She replied. "A couple of years ago I took in a few kids that were on their own, and I've had them ever since. I take care of them like they're my own."

"Do you know what happened to Ash's parents?" Fantina pressed, her mind running wild with different thoughts as she was now starting to delve into Ash's personal life. Cassidy put a halt to this though as she shook her head.

"You'll have to ask him yourself." Cassidy replied. "He's not too keen on talking about it, but once you get to know him better, he might open up to you."

Fantina leaned back into the sofa now, taking a deep breath. She could sympathize with Ash now. He was just trying to take care of them. But the risks he was taking were far too high, and she could see that he didn't want any of them to worry about what he was doing.

'I'll keep this to myself for now.' Fantina said to herself as she exhaled. "Well this was, enlightening. I'll be sure to keep a close eye on Ash in class."

"Thank you. It's good to know that someone will be looking out for him." Cassidy said as Fantina rose up. "Are you leaving?"

"Ah, yes." Fantina answered.

"But you said you're his art teacher right?" Cassidy continued, getting a nod from Fantina. "Then you can't leave yet. You haven't even begun to see what Ash has done around here."

"What are you talking about?" Fantina asked her politely, her curiosity piqued.

"Almost every room is like this one." Cassidy explained as the girls returned now with a small bowl of pretzels. Fantina thanked them kindly as she given the small snack. "Girls, why don't show her around your rooms and maybe take her into Ash's room after that."

"O-kay!" Macy said happily as she trotted off into the corridor, waiting for Fantina to follow her. As the three of them began to go up the staircase to the second floor, Fantina realized that she hadn't properly introduced herself to them yet.

"So my name is Fantina." She began, motioning to herself. "What are your names?"

"I'm Macy!" The youngest one declared. She was small, with light brown hair was braided into a pair of pigtails. Fantina couldn't get over how cute she was, smiling vibrantly at her. "I'm four years ol'."

Fantina returned Macy's smile as they reached the top of the staircase. She then turned, looking back at the older of the two who had been trailing behind them.

"And you?" Fantina said to her as studied this girl. She had lavender colored hair, seemed to be rather short for her age. At a glance Fantina assumed she was preteen, no older than twelve.

"I'm Casey." She replied with almost a grumble as she walked past Fantina. The woman watched as Casey took the lead, taking them to Macy's room where the door was wide open. While Casey entered without saying a thing, Macy took Fantina by the hand and guided her to the room. Fantina raised her brow a bit, realizing that Casey was already becoming a moody teenager in comparison to her sweet little sister.

Entering Macy's room, Fantina was left speechless. On the far wall of Macy's room was a lush green forest. The tree trunks were painted splendidly, with sharp details on the foliage, but at the center of the piece was a Stantler. It stood proudly on a flat stone, its head raised as it peered out at its surroundings.

"Ashy made this for me." Macy explained as she ran over to the mural, looking up at it in awe. "He's really good at drawing."

"This is a painting Macy." Casey pointed out to her sister, now standing in the doorway. She watched with amusement as Fantina took out her phone and began to take pictures of this painting from various angles.

"This is…magnifique!" Fantina exclaimed.

"You should check out the one in my room then." Casey stated, causing Fantina to perk up as she glanced at the girl.

"Please." Fantina said, motioning for Casey to lead the way.

Soon enough, Fantina was standing in another bedroom struggling to find the words to describe the latest mural she was looking at. This one was of a baseball field, from just behind home plate. An Electabuzz stood up at bat, pointing the bat at the far side of the stadium. The field was amazing, with each player standing in their positions, and the stands were packed with people. Every detail was accounted for and this left Fantina completely astounded.

Ash was amazing!

"He has a ton of paintings in his room. We keep telling him he should just become an artist but he just ignores us." Casey pointed out with a sigh. "He's so hopeless…"

"Do you wanna see Ashy's room?" Macy asked Fantina as the older woman took several snap shots of the Casey's mural.

Fantina looked down at the girl and smiled heartily. She could only imagine what his room must have been like if he had gone to such lengths for these two girls. Macy led her down the hall and they came to a stop in front of a room that was locked. Much to Fantina's surprise, beside the door was a small cushion with a Pikachu sound asleep on top of it. Macy kneeled down beside the small Pokemon and began to run her hand down its back.

"Time to wake up Pikachu." Macy said to it, and the creature rolled over once before its head perked up, its ears standing straight up. It identified Macy immediately and then its gaze shifted to Fantina, curiosity evident in its eyes. Who was this?

"Pi?" It asked, tilting its head a bit at Fantina.

"Don't worry Pikachu. She knows Ash." Casey confirmed, causing Pikachu's to relax, lowering its ears. "We're going into Ash's room, okay?"

Pikachu gave her a nod and hopped off the cushion at the opportunity to enter the room as well, a devilish grin on its face. Macy then reached under the cushion on the floor to retrieve a key which she passed to Casey.

"Thanks Pikachu." She said kindly, petting its head.

With the sketches she had seen in Ash's book, Fantina had been expecting to find a Pikachu in this household, but it still surprised her that her assumption turned out to be true. The great variety of sketches Ash had drawn of this Pokemon in all showed were too detailed for him to be drawing them based on some of the pictures that could be found on the internet. Watching as the two girls moved around this Pokemon without the slightest bit of hesitation, Fantina could only raise an eyebrow at how comfortable they were around Pikachu. That couldn't be said for the general population.

Most people didn't appreciate even the thought of being close to these creatures, especially since they're recognized for working with the gangs and thugs. Fantina now understood why Ash was so comfortable working with the Red Skulls. He was accustomed to being around Pokemon. Making a mental note of this, Fantina then buried this thought as the door to Ash's room was opened by Casey.

"Why does he keep the door locked?" Fantina asked, but before either girl could respond, Pikachu darted into the room and jumped onto Ash's bed immediately, ruining the sheets that had been straightened out by Ash in the morning.

Fantina struggled to suppress her laughter at the sight of that small creature ruining Ash's bed while Macy pleaded with it to stop. Refocusing herself, Fantina now peered into Ash's world as she began to take in his room in its entirety. To her surprise though, the walls of his room were bare. She had been expecting a mural perhaps on an even greater scale than what she had seen in the rooms before. His room however, had nothing on the walls. It was just white. The floor though, was covered with canvas' that varied in size. Just as Casey had said, there were paintings everywhere.

Stepping into his room, Fantina stooped down to begin examining them and one in particular caught her attention. It was a monotone picture of a gray figure that was seated, their legs pulled up to their chest. They were hunched over, as if they were cowering, but emerging from their back was a pair of enormous white wings. Unlike the wings she had seen Ash drawn on Dawn, these wings were weighed down by large black chains that rose from the floor.

Fantina furrowed her brow as she stared at this painting for a while. What was the meaning behind this? Was it some sort of self-examination?

Seeing Ash draw Dawn in a similar fashion, Fantina knew that there had to be some sort of deeper meaning behind this image.

"Well, it looks like you guys made it to his room." Cassidy noted, pulling Fantina out of her thoughts. Turning around to face the woman who stood in the doorway, Fantina saw that she had a letter in her hand now. "So what do you think of him?"

"He's incredible…I've worked with some talented children before, but…" She paused, glancing back at the painting that littered the room. "…he's the best I've seen for his age."

"I know you were planning to leave soon, but I wanted you to see this before you go." Cassidy said as she handed the envelop she held to Fantina.

"What is this?" Fantina asked as she accepted the item. Opening it, she found that there was a hand written letter on the inside.

"Just read that." Cassidy replied, motioning for the two girls with them to head downstairs.

To whomever this concerns,

Every mother cherishes the moment that their child is placed in their arms for the first time. For just a brief moment, you can't pay attention to anything except for the life that you're now holding in your arms. A life that you will have the responsibility of molding, shaping…guiding. All you want to do is pour every ounce of your experience into this child, to make sure that they become all that they can be.

Ash Ketchum, my beloved son…I won't have the privilege of seeing what he becomes. I had thought that we would share a lifetime together, yet that is going to come to a swift end. Now as I write this, I know full well that my son will become something special. Even at the young age of seven, I can see that people just gravitate to him…the way he talks, how he stands up for himself and everyone around him. He won't give anyone anything less than his best.

Then the day arrived when Ash's father gave him a Pikachu. From that day forward, Ash and Pikachu were inseparable. They ate together, slept together and played together. You couldn't find one without the other.

His father though, began to fill Ash's head with the grandeur of being a Pokemon trainer. Telling him stories of the battles that took place between trainers and their Pokemon and Ash just fell in love with it. There was no denying it, and it led to exactly what I thought would happen. Ash told me he was going to become a Pokemon trainer.

I couldn't find it in my heart to tell him how dangerous the lifestyle is. He viewed it so highly that I didn't want to shatter his dream. It didn't take me long to realize though that nothing I said would've changed his view of becoming a Pokemon trainer. He's just as stubborn as his father, and will stick to whatever path he's chosen.

Where that stubbornness will lead him, I don't know. However, I am certain that Ash will go very far. He's gifted in so many ways…he can do anything he wants once he puts his mind to it. As his mother, I want nothing more than for him to be happy, but I pray for his safety above all else. I want him to have friends, to have a family if he wants to, and live his life to the fullest.

Whoever Ash is entrusted to, please watch over him and if it's possible, offer him a bit of guidance to keep him on the right path.

Sincerely,

Delia Ketchum.

Ketchum? Fantina remembered Ash introducing himself with that surname. So this was his mother.

"So…she passed away?" Fantina asked softly, looking up at the blonde woman.

"Yes, but that's all I can tell you. If you want to know anything further, you'll have to talk to Ash yourself." Cassidy replied in an equally hushed tone. "I don't show that letter to just anyone, but I can tell that you actually care about Ash. You wouldn't have come here otherwise."

Fantina opened her mouth as if to protest, but then she shut it and her lips curved upward slightly. Cassidy was a very sharp woman.

"I know earlier I might have sounded like I didn't care what happens to Ash…I really hope it didn't come across that way, but there's only so much I can do for him by myself." Cassidy admitted sorrowfully. "Please, I'm begging you on Delia's behalf; please help me keep her son safe."

Fantina exhaled audibly, and this caused Cassidy's expression to darken at the prospect of Fantina refusing. Then Fantina's face lit up though with a bright smile as she approached Cassidy, leaned forward and placed a kiss on each of her cheeks. Cassidy's eyes became wide at this as she took a step back from Fantina, but was immediately put at ease by the warmth of her expression.

"Fear not, monsieur Ash will be under my watchful eyes for the entirety of this school year. I will make sure he stays focused." Fantina assured her. Cassidy gave her slow nod of thanks.

"Were those kisses really necessary?" Cassidy asked curiously as she invited Fantina to follow her out the room. Noticing Cassidy's colored cheeks, Fantina realized that she might not have been comfortable with her gesture.

"My apologies madam, I was raised in Kalos and we are very affectionate people. It is only a gesture of kindness." Fantina explained, and Cassidy stifled a laugh at this. That was first time she had been kissed by anyone besides her husband.

As they stepped out of Ash's room, Fantina glanced back at the painting of the figure with chained wings, and it clicked. Ash now faced a choice of soaring to new heights through his talents, or remaining grounded forever in pursuit of something else.

A/N

Soooooo, I hope our little trip into Ash's backstory didn't steer you away from this fic. Well, if it did you probably wouldn't be reading this, but that's beside the point. I know the tragic backstory is overused in just about all forms of character development, but give me a chance. I'm not saying mine is something special that is above all of the other people that have used this plot device, but to be honest I love a good tragic backstory. We'll get deeper into this topic in a later chapter, no spoilers for you guys.

As I'm sure you're beginning to realize, this isn't the typical 'world of Pokemon' that you might be accustomed to from the game/manga/anime. As I said, I'm aiming for a different take on it, so please bear with me as I try to set the floor for you all.

Once again, big shout out to MjrGenMatt for working alongside me on this chapter!

Notable characters from this chapter.

Fantina. Ash's bilingual art teacher, better known as the Hearthome Gym Leader in the games and anime. I'm hoping to use her more in the future, but I'm uncertain at this point. I hope you enjoyed her part in this chapter though.

Macy. If you recall, she made an appearance in the Silver Conference where she battled Ash. She was that little girl that loved fire types. Like if Ash is ten, she looked like she was four to me. So now she's four in this fic.

Casey. I'm sure you must remember the girl that was obsessed with the Electabuzz baseball team in the anime during the Johto saga. She had a Chikorita that got humiliated by Ash's Charizard if that rings any bells.

Cassidy. You might remember Cassidy, one of the members of Team Rocket. She and her partner Butch were basically the serious version of Jessie and James. Anyway, she's acting as Ash's foster mother, and we'll definitely be talking about her again in the future.

That's all for now, thanks for reading everyone! I hope to see you all again at the next installment.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Tuesday, September 6th

"Attention s'il vous plait!" Fantina called out to her class room now that the bell had chimed, clapping her hands together. Her rather noisy first period class became quiet at her request as she took her place at the front of the room. "Today we will begin out first in-class assignment. I hope you all are as happy as I am."

Fantina beamed brightly at her class, glad that she had perfect attendance today. Ash was on time, for the first time actually, and she was eager to see how he would respond to their new assignment.

"We're going to draw portraits." Fantina announced. Some students voiced their displeasure by groaning while others did so verbally.

"Ugh, I hate self-portraits." May said out loud, already imagining what her own would look like. It wasn't pretty.

"Says the girl who can't stop looking at herself in the mirror." Dawn noted softly to May, shooting her a small smirk. May narrowed her eyes in response, causing Dawn to snicker.

"Not a self-portrait, but a portrait of one of your peers." Fantina explained to the brunette that sat at the front of the class with Dawn. "We will be drawing each other! You will be working in pairs, and I have already selected each pair, so I'll announce them for you all."

As Fantina began to read off her list, Dawn leaned into her seat and glanced at Ash in the back of the room. He was absorbed in yet another sketch. She pursed her lips as she looked at him, struggling to figure him out. He was in a long sleeved shirt once again today, probably hiding the injury he had from yesterday. She had anxiously been trying to get to know him a bit on Friday, but now she found herself hesitating a bit.

Seeing his demeanor change yesterday at the sight of his bleeding hand, and his refusal to tell Fantina what happened made him seem kind of scary. Was this someone that she really wanted to get involved with?

"Dawn Berlitz, and Ash Ketchum." Fantina called out, causing Dawn to whirl around to look at her teacher who was smiling brightly at her. Seeing May begin to rise from her seat out of the corner of her eye, Dawn looked toward her friend while wrinkling her forehead.

"Where are you going May?" Dawn asked her as May gathered her belongings.

"Making room for Ash of course. This is your big chance you know." May replied to her, giving her a small wink. Dawn stared at her, rather dumbfounded though.

"For what?"

"To get to know him. It's so obvious that you want to." May stated, causing Dawn's cheeks to color slightly. Before she could protest though, May pointed to Ash as he approached them.

"Hey guys-err, girls." He began casually, giving them a small wave.

"Mornin' Ash, nice to see you." May said sweetly as she motioned to her now empty seat. "Have fun with Dawn, she's really pretty ya know, so make sure you draw her like that."

"Oh, uh yeah that shouldn't be a problem." Ash replied as May left them, joining her partner Oliver on the opposite side of the room. With a sigh Ash began to turn May's desk, making a face as the legs of the desk screeched against the floor. Once the desk was facing Dawn, he plopped down into the chair with a sigh.

"Don't mind May, she can be weird sometimes." Dawn said as she waved off May's earlier comment.

"That's no big deal." Ash replied before Fantina called for everyone's attention now that they all were sitting with their partners, having moved this desks to face one another.

"This assignment will be due this Friday morning. Use this time in class to get an understanding of your subject before you attempt to capture them on paper." Fantina explained, causing everyone to look at their partner. Ash looked toward Dawn, staring at her directly. Dawn straightened up in her seat, feeling her heartbeat speed up a bit now that she was under Ash's gaze, but she returned it. The two of them spent at least a minute or two just staring at one another, taking in every detail they could.

Finally though, Ash broke eye contact and looked down at his sketchpad. Seeing Ash begin to draw now, Dawn blinked and realized that she hadn't even started yet either. Opening up her own sketchbook, she started her portrait of Ash.

Dawn began to scribble away on her paper, first drawing a figure to match the position Ash was seated in. She even drew the desk and sketchpad in front of him for good measure. As she began to work on some of the finer details though, Fantina began to clap her hands as the class period was coming to an end. She delicately reminded her students that she wanted her desks returned to their normal positions. Glancing up at the clock, Dawn couldn't believe that first period was almost over. That was the fastest it had ever gone for her.

"Whoa dude, did you just draw that?!"

Ash looked up at the two guys that had been seated behind him. As they had been moving their desks back they caught a glimpse of his sketch of Dawn, and now they had to get a closer look. It was a rough sketch, but with just a glance anyone could tell that it was Dawn he had drawn.

"Yeah." Ash said simply, gaining Dawn's attention. She focused on his sketchbook now and was impressed with what she saw.

"That's amazing!" They proclaimed.

Dawn bit down on her lower lip now that she had seen his sketch as well. There were still some details missing, but considering how much time they had this was quite in impressive result. Dawn glanced back down at her own sketch, and realized that she had invested too much of her time on Ash's surroundings.

The bell rung and the other students flooded out the door. May rose from her seat, taking a glance at Ash and Dawn who were now speaking to one another. She smiled a bit, hoping that Dawn was making the best of this opportunity.

Ash yawned audibly as he sat down beside Dawn on the bus, currently on route toward the east side of Vermilion City and Dawn's home.

Having completed his third day at North Vermilion High, Ash had established a bit of a routine during school hours. That routine revolved around spending his free periods in Fantina's classroom. This led to him spending an ample amount of time with his art instructor who had taken a deep interest in him following the events of the prior day. It was clear to him that she was trying to get to know him a little better, and he didn't mind her efforts, although he wished that she didn't make it so obvious. He answered most of her questions though, because he was grateful for her help on Monday.

Spending his extra time in Fantina's room led to Ash discovering that Dawn spent almost all of her extra time there as well. She worked closely with Fantina on various personal projects, taking the guidance from Fantina to further her own progress. Ash admired her dedication to her work, not to mention he found Dawn to be pretty amusing, such as the conversation they had earlier today.

-X-X-

"Ash, um…would you mind, helping me home again today?" Dawn asked after approaching him during eighth period. Both of them had no classes during eighth and ninth period, so they both spent this time in Fantina's room to wrap up their day.

"Huh, how come?" Ash asked her in return, wrinkling his forehead.

"Well I've only taken the bus once now, that's why." She said rather softly, and Ash narrowed his gaze at her.

"Did you forget which bus we got on?" He asked her, and Dawn's cheeks became red. Ash knew immediately that he had hit the nail on the head.

"Uh…yeah." She admitted, looking away from him. Ash then realized that she might have been trying to hide this fact from him, and as much as he wanted to laugh a bit at her forgetfulness, he felt a little bad at how embarrassed she was. Then another thought occurred to him.

"Did you take the bus yesterday?" He asked her, and Dawn shook her head. "Then how did you get home?"

Dawn sighed exasperatedly at this.

"I stayed after school and waited for my mom. She couldn't pick me up until five thirty." Dawn revealed to him. Ash felt a sudden pang of guilt in his chest as he recalled the events of Monday. When he had returned to school from the clinic, Dawn didn't speak to him too much outside of checking to see if he was okay. She might have needed help getting home but she may have been able to work up the nerve to approach him considering his attitude.

"Aww shoot, I'm sorry about that Dawn." Ash said as he palmed his forehead before grinning at her. "If I had half a brain I probably would've asked you if you had a ride home yesterday."

"You don't have to apologize Ash." Dawn said with a small laugh, waving off his apology.

"Then let me make it up to you. I don't have to work this afternoon so I can show you a little more about the bus routes." Ash offered her, and she gladly accepted.

-X-X-

Now the two of them were sitting behind the seats they had used Friday on the bus. They had only been on the bus for about ten minutes now, but Ash was struggling to fight off his urge to sleep, nodding off his seat every now and then.

Seeing that Ash was unfocused due to his drowsiness, Dawn used this to her advantage. Whenever Ash drifted off for a few moments, Dawn would peek at him out of the corner of eyes, but immediately return her gaze to the window whenever he woke up. Soon enough though, Ash's eyes shut for good with his head tilted to the side. His unruly hair fell down in front of his face, his mouth opened just a bit.

Dawn swallowed a giggle as she now stared at him openly, taking in everything she could. His jet black hair that he seemed to pay no mind to since it was always a mess. With the sunlight coming through the window, she could faintly see the start of a moustache forming above his upper lip. On his cheeks, there some faded birth marks, something that she had never paid much attention to until now.

Taking in these details, Dawn decided to fish her sketchbook out of her back, choosing to make the best of this opportunity.

Wednesday, September 7th

Dawn sat across from Ash once again in their first period class, staring intently at him. Unlike the day before though, Ash wasn't really sitting still for her, although he didn't seem to have much control over the situation.

"Ash, what do you think of this?"

"Ash, would you check this out for me?"

"Ash, where should I go from here?"

Word had spread quickly around the class that Ash was an exceptional artist, and now a number of the other students were asking him for any tips to improve the portrait that they had started.

"Whoa guys, I'm sure Ms. Fantina would love to help you out. I mean, it is her job after all." Ash replied with a chuckle, scratching back of his neck.

"She's still helping May." Once of them pointed in a deadpan. The group glanced over at Fantina who was assisting the brunette, working her through the basic aspects of starting a portrait. May had taken up a majority of Fantina's time the day before, and it seemed as though she would do the same today. Dawn swallowed her urge to laugh at this, and kept a straight face as she stared at the group around Ash.

It seemed as though her classmates didn't realize that they were taking up all of Ash's time, and by extension they were taking her time as well. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Dawn found herself pouting a bit as well. No one had paid any attention to Ash up until yesterday, but clearly word had spread that he was a great artist, and now he was suddenly the star of the classroom. Thankfully, Ash complied with their requests for a little guidance, and soon enough they returned to their seats.

Returning to their work now, Ash and Dawn worked in silence. The pencil Dawn held moved on its own as she glanced up at Ash occasionally. Her thoughts were prevailing despite her efforts to focus. Her mind drifted back to the portrait she had drawn of him on the bus yesterday. She liked it, but she wasn't sure if it was something that she would hand in to Fantina. So now she was working tirelessly to draw Ash Ketchum again who oddly enough hadn't even looked up at her once since they began working.

Fantina clapped her hands once again, warning her students that first period would be ending soon, and she encouraged them to clean up. Dawn looked down at her sketch of Ash today and pursed her lips. He was hunched over his sketchbook today, but unfortunately much of his face couldn't be seen. He hadn't looked up at Dawn at all, so she drew him with his head down. She didn't like that.

"Dawn, did you see this?" May exclaimed, snapping Dawn out of her thoughts. Blinking a few times, her vision came into focus and she saw that a group had gathered around Ash once again, and May was included this time.

"Dude, this one is even better than what Ash drew yesterday!"

"Are you serious?"

Dawn rose up a bit in her seat, peering over the table to see Ash's latest sketch of her that everyone was talking about. Just as her classmates had said, it was better than what he had drawn yesterday.

In the first attempt yesterday, Ash had drawn Dawn with a neutral expression, clearly focused on her work. Today however, she was looking expectantly at her audience, arms crossed, lower lip poking out slightly, clearly frustrated. Dawn couldn't believe it. Ash had perfectly drawn her while she was anxiously waiting for him to finish helping his peers. He had accomplished all this, and included more of the finer details than he had the day before!

"Guys, it's not that big a deal." Ash said to them as he closed his book and tucked it into his backpack.

"Come on Ash, that was awesome!" One of them exclaimed.

"If you're not happy with that, then I can't wait to see something you're proud of." May added.

Dawn chewed on her lower lip, hiding her shock. She understood that drawing a subject multiple times would improve your attention to detail concerning that subject. Essentially, she was supposed to be getting better at drawing Ash with each attempt. Yet she had made little progress in three attempts, while Ash had only drawn her twice and each of them was outstanding! This was the first time she had been outdone by someone so effortlessly.

She was determined now more than ever to produce something incredible, something that would knock Ash's socks off!

Friday, September 9th

Fantina stood at the back of her room, where a bulletin board was mounted on the wall. Her students were hanging their portraits on it for the rest of their class to see. Rather than grade these all by herself, Fantina decided that the class would critique each other's work to see how they would determine their grades. She couldn't help but smile as she observed some of the work, taking in the varying levels of skill. Some of the portraits were excellent while others, not so much.

With all her students present, Fantina clapped her hands and motioned for them to gather in the back. Bringing their desk chairs, everyone was soon huddled around the bulletin board where Fantina briefly explained what they would be doing this class period.

"We will start in the uppermost left corner, and work our way across. So who do we have first?" Fantina said as she directed everyone's attention to their first portrait. It was of May actually. She was smiling brilliantly, giving everyone a peace sign. "Ah, very nice work monsieur Oliver."

"Heh, thanks Ms. Fantina." He replied with a grin before his classmates began to voice their thoughts, all of which were compliments.

"Yeah, it's really good!"

"I can totally tell that it was May you were drawing."

"I couldn't have done a better job myself." May said confidently, pleased that the portrait of her had come out so well. Dawn on the other hand, stifled a laugh as she stole a glance at the portrait May had drawn of Oliver. She certainly could not have done a better job than Oliver.

"And next to Oliver's is…" Fantina trailed off as the rest of her class became silent. All eyes were on the portrait May had drawn, everyone was struggling to trace out a person in the mess. Some of them tilted their heads in an effort to find the person on the paper, but they were unsuccessful in their search.

"The heck is that?" One of the guys called out, earning a scoff from May.

"That's Oliver!" She stated indignantly.

"That's Oliver!?" Another exclaimed before he burst into fit of laughter.

"I thought it was a freakin' potato!" One of the guys proclaimed, causing the group around him to laugh loudly as well.

"Hey~! I did what I could!" May declared, recalling Fantina's suggestions as she shrunk in her seat, a bit embarrassed. She had done her best, but she didn't have an artistic bone in her body.

"Mademoiselle May was exploring a more impressionist piece. Rest assured though May, the effort is where it counts." Fantina reassured her before casting a sharp stare on the guys that were still laughing at May. "And for others that struggle to contain themselves, they will see a few marks on their participation grade."

"Yeah, I wouldn't be laughing too much since some of you need this elective to graduate." Dawn added as she shot a smirk at the group of guys. Their laughter stopped abruptly with this reminder, and May immediately used this opportunity to make a face at the group who could only bite their tongues to halt a response.

"Moving on…" Fantina said as she refocused the class, motioning to the bulletin board.

One by one, the class examined each portrait, bouncing thoughts and opinions off of one another as they studied each piece. Fantina was pleased that her class was very encouraging for the most part, her students sharing ways for each other to improve. The boys had even apologized to May later on after they had been humbled by Dawn as she critiqued the portraits they had done.

"Whoa!" There was a collective gasp from the class at the sight of the next portrait. In an instant there was a unanimous agreement between all her students that his portrait was perfect. It was Ash, snoozing peacefully on a bus.

Dawn sat nervously in her seat, as the students began to discuss her piece. Even though they all liked it, Dawn was far from satisfied with it. In the four days she had to draw a portrait of Ash, she must have drawn him at least ten times, but she didn't like any of them. For whatever reason, it felt as though she was struggling to capture him. None of the sketches she had finished really felt like Ash Ketchum.

So she gave in and settled for the one that was a cut above the rest-the portrait she had drawn of Ash on the bus on Tuesday, which she had refined a bit the night before.

Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Dawn glanced back at Ash who was seated behind her.

"When did you draw that?" He whispered to her.

"Sorry, but that's a secret." Dawn replied, giving him a wink. Ash frowned a bit at this before he leaned back in his seat. His movement though caught Fantina's attention as she called on him.

"Monsieur Ash, you haven't spoken once yet. Will you give us the honor of critiquing the portrait of yourself?" Fantina requested, putting Ash on the spot. All eyes were on him now as everyone was eager to hear what he would say about Dawn's work.

"Well, obviously the person who drew it is skilled, but I feel like…it's kind of shallow." Ash stated, causing Fantina to raise her eyebrows.

"What do you mean by shallow?" May asked him curiously.

"Like…she didn't look too deeply into me. She caught a moment of me while I was asleep, but that doesn't feel like it's me. How do I know that's really Ash Ketchum? That could be anyone. I mean she only had four days to put this together, so I can't fault her for that." Ash added at the end. Fantina thanked him for his thoughts and announced that they would be moving on to the next portrait, the one everyone had been anxiously waiting to get to. Ash's masterpiece.

"Alright class, what do you have to say about this one?" Fantina asked, and the comments came down like a cascade.

"Ash is amazing!"

"Freakin' awesome!"

"Just give him an A+ and we can call it a day!"

"Draw me next Ash!" May almost demanded, causing everyone to laugh as some of the other students made the same request.

All the sketches the class had seen Ash work on during the week couldn't compare to the finished product that was on display. This time he had drawn Dawn working on a sketch, but this time she was outside, seated on a hill. Her sketchpad was resting on her lap with a pencil in hand, nibbling softly on the eraser. Her other hand was behind her neck, throwing back some of her hair as she stared intently at her sketchpad. You could see how anxious she was in her expression as she struggled with her work, probably of her portrait of Ash.

'His work with a pencil is absolutely incredible.' Fantina said to herself as she observed the layered shading Ash had used so accurately.

Dawn sighed inwardly as she stared at Ash's work yet again. It was bad enough that he had completely outdone her just from the standpoint of skill, but then he rubbed salt in her open wounds with his comments about her piece.

"That doesn't feel like it's me. How do I know that's really Ash Ketchum? That could be anyone. I mean she only had four days to put this together, so I can't fault her for that."

Not only was his portrait better, but everyone could see without a doubt that it captured the very essence of Dawn Berlitz. She was known as a hard worker, and there she was, wrapped up in her work, the evidence of struggle written all over her face as she fought with another sketch of Ash. Without a doubt now, Dawn had to admit that Ash was amazing.

This was the third time this week Ash had accompanied Dawn home via the bus. He didn't really mind though since Dawn was becoming good company, and it beat sharing his seat with a stranger. For Dawn though, Ash was no longer just her escort so to speak. As of today they had known each other for a week, and she was just filled with questions about her new friend.

"So um, Ash, can you tell me what you meant when you said my portrait was shallow?" Dawn asked him, breaking the silence between them. Dawn wasn't offended or hurt by the comment, but now she wanted an explanation.

"I'm just going to tell you what I said in class. You could draw anyone like that and call it a portrait, but you didn't find the inner person. Like I said though, you only had four days and you barely know me, so it's no big deal." Ash explained to her.

"No, it is a big deal. You had the same amount of time as me, and drew like half the amount of sketches I did, but all of them were better than mine. I want to know how you did that so easily." Dawn stated, refusing to let Ash end the conversation.

Ash remained silent for a few moments, then he lowered his shoulders with a sigh knowing that Dawn would pester him until he answered.

"Do you remember last week, you asked me to look at some of your work and I said that it wasn't really mature yet?" Ash asked her, receiving a nod. "Well that still applies. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but your art seems to take everything at face value, like you're a kid still. You can't capture me because you haven't seen or experienced enough of me."

"But I could say the same thing to you. We've only known each other for a week." Dawn pointed out.

"There's still some distinct differences between us Dawn. I work and hang around very passionate people. I'm used to seeing people chase something ambitiously. So it's easy to capture you when you're doing the same thing." Ash explained to her. "I don't know about your upbringing, but based on how you draw, I think it's safe to say that you don't go out very often."

Dawn wanted to respond, but she had didn't have anything to say. He was right about her. She didn't go out. It was very rare that she hung out with her friends now that she thought about it, and she had just spent her entire summer vacation in her room sketching. Perhaps that wasn't the best choice she could have made.

"So then, what can I do?" Dawn asked him after a few moments. Ash shrugged his shoulders.

"Go out. Do stuff. See the world through your own eyes, and not through your phone or computer. Those pictures you see can't compare to the real thing, you have to experience them yourself." Ash stated, but this caused Dawn to look down now. She barely got out to begin with. Where was she going to go?

"I don't know Ash." She said softly. Sensing that Dawn lacked direction at the moment, Ash decided that he would give her a hand.

"I'll tell you what. Tonight, I was going to meet up with some friends of mine. Do you want to come along?" Ash offered and Dawn lit up immediately.

"Yes please!" She declared with starry eyes.

"Alright, I'll drop by around ten o'clock to pick you up." Ash said, causing the smile to drop from Dawn's face.

"Ten o'clock, that's my curfew." She revealed with a frown.

"Sheesh, ten o'clock. You're going to have to sneak out. It can't be that hard to sneak out of a house that's as big as yours." Ash said with a smirk. Dawn nudged him with her elbow in response.

"I'll see what I can do." Dawn said as she took out her phone for them to exchange numbers.

All was well in the Berlitz estate, allowing Johanna to sit back in her small den with a book on her lap. Reaching over the lap on the table beside her, she turned the switch and opened up the novel she had started reading earlier this week. She was eager to see whether the female protagonist would declare her feelings to the love interest, but as always things like this were drawn out.

Reading was one of Johanna's biggest hobbies. She loved to read, and she had hoped that this would rub off onto her daughter. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts to impress the value of reading onto Dawn while she was young, the girl stubbornly pursued her interest in design. Johanna was content with Dawn's interests though, especially since her daughter worked so hard. She was certain that with the amount of time Dawn spent practicing, her goal of becoming a designer would be her reality in no time.

"Good night mom!" Dawn called out as she poked her head into Johanna's den.

"Good night sweetie!" Johanna replied. "I won't be here tomorrow morning, so make sure you ask Darach for breakfast."

"Sure thing." Dawn said before she left.

Traveling down the corridor, Dawn reached the end of it where the entrance to her room was located. Entering, hey eyes were drawn to the clock on the wall for her to check the time.

'I've got forty minutes, time to get changed.' Dawn said to herself softly as she quickly stripped out of her pajamas and began rummaging through her closet for something to wear. Ash had texted her earlier saying he would meet her at the entrance to Diglett's Boulevard, but he hadn't mentioned where they were going, so Dawn had no idea how she should be dressed.

Eventually she settled on a lengthy dark blue halter top and a pair of black jeans. Grabbing a sweater since it was a bit cooler at night, Dawn fluffed her hair a bit, but decided not to do anything special for the sake of time. Now standing in front of her window of her room, Dawn gulped audibly. This was first time she had ever tried to sneak out, or do anything after her curfew.

This was to take her next step as an artist though. She had to do this is if she expected to keep improving.

Raising the window slowly, Dawn climbed out of it and stepped out onto the awning above her back porch. Leaving her window unlocked, Dawn then lowered it down softly until it was barely closed, not even making a sound. Slowly stepping across the awning now, Dawn arrived at the edge of it where the she looked down at the drop to the porch below. It wasn't a big drop; about eight feet and she had left some of the cushions from their deck chairs where she would be landing to soften it.

Jumping down, her landing was silent much to her delight since she was now free. Glancing across the porch, Dawn spotted the stool that she had brought outside for her to climb back on top of the awning. Everything was perfect!

Even though Dawn had never broken curfew, the thought of sneaking out had crossed her mind a few times. She had everything well thought out for when that day would arrive, and now she had executed her plan perfectly. Taking the stool from the porch now, Dawn brought it down with her to wall that bordered her family's property, and used it as a boost to get on top of the wall. In the present darkness, she could barely be seen as she traveled down to wall to the front of wall where the gate to their driveway was located.

With a grunt Dawn mustered all her strength to hang from the wall momentarily before she dropped down, barely keeping her balance when her feet hit the ground.

'I made it!' She exclaimed mentally as she glanced around. She was now standing on the sidewalk just outside of her home, eager to see where this night would take her.

Heading down Diglett's Boulevard, Dawn pulled out her phone to check the time once again. She had fifteen minutes to reach the end of her street, so she set a brisk pace to make sure she was there on time. Sending out a message to Ash saying that she would be waiting for him at the bus stop, Dawn was shocked to see a response from him claiming that he was already waiting for her. Speeding up her pace, Dawn quickly soon reached the entrance to her street. Waiting for her under the street light was Ash, but he was seated on the hood of a silver car.

"Right on time." He noted as she approached him, her mouth agape.

"I thought you said you couldn't drive?" Dawn reminded him as he hopped off the hood of the car and climbed into the driver's seat.

"I never said I couldn't drive Dawn. I said I don't have a car." Ash replied as he tapped the passenger seat as a gesture for her to get in.

As Dawn got into the car and pulled her seatbelt across her torso, Ash retrieved his wallet in order to show her his driver's license.

"So then, whose car is this?" Dawn asked him.

"It's my friend's. He let me borrow it to come pick you up." Ash explained. "I don't want to keep him waiting any longer though."

He stepped on the accelerator, and the car surged forward.

Dawn watched as the street lights raced by above them. Ash drove at a moderate pace that Dawn was comfortable with, especially since the expressway was packed out with people trying to get across town on a Friday night. Soon enough Ash got off on one of the exits and made a right turn onto the streets of downtown Vermilion City.

"Where are we going Ash?" Dawn asked him curiously. They had been driving for about twenty minutes, and Dawn didn't have the slightest idea where they were headed.

"We're headed for the train station downtown." Ash explained to her.

"What's going on there?" Dawn asked, furrowing her brow.

"You'll see in about five minutes." Ash replied as they drove through the dense urban jungle. Glancing out her window, Dawn noticed that the streets were practically empty. There were a few cars out, and the sidewalks were pretty bare. Vermilion City was known for its night life, so seeing the streets like this certainly gave it an ominous feeling.

"Where is everyone?" She asked now, getting a snort from Ash.

"Relax Dawn, you'll see when we get there." Ash stated again, causing Dawn to huff as she leaned back into her seat. Why was everything a surprise all of a sudden? Weren't they going to hang out with some of his friends?

Ash turned off onto one of the side streets where Dawn quickly spotted a huge parking lot in front of a train station. The lot was filled to capacity. Finding an empty spot would be quite a challenge.

"Where did I leave him?" Ash asked out loud as he spent a minute driving through the rows of cars before he arrived at the parking spot he had been searching for. There was a guy standing there with a pair of large headphones covering his ears. His back was turned to them as he moved his head to the beat of the song he was listening to. Ash gave him a few moments, waiting to see if the guy would notice that the headlights that were directed at him. This person remained ignorant though, so Ash grew impatient and honked the horn at him.

"Ahh!" He shouted, whirling around to spot Ash hanging out of the window of the driver's side with a wide grin on his face. "What the hell Ash!?"

Dawn watched curiously as the mystery guy stepped out of the parking spot, allowing Ash to pull in.

"Alright Dawn, we're here." Ash said as he opened up his door, stepping out of the car. Dawn nodded and did the same, discovering that the same guy was now inspecting his car closely.

"You didn't get any scratches on it did you? No bumps, dents, nothing right? I had better not find anything, especially after that little stunt you just pulled. You know this car is my babe magnet!" The guy proclaimed, not even allowing Ash to respond to any of his questions.

"Your car is fine Brock, geez." Ash groaned as he stood by the trunk of the car, inviting Dawn to join him there.

"I hope so, or I'll come find you." Brock added before he perked up at the sight of the girl that was accompanying Ash. "And who do we have here?"

"Right, Brock, this is the guest I said I was bringing tonight." Ash began.

"Ash, you're basically a guest tonight. This is the first time you've dropped by to see us in ages." Brock interjected, getting a narrow stare from Ash.

"As I was saying, this is Dawn. Dawn, this guy here is Brock." Ash said as he introduced the two of them.

"It's nice to meet you." Dawn said as she extended a hand toward him. Brock tilted his head a bit before he grabbed her hand by the thumb with an audible clap, surprising her. She had seen guy greet each other like that, but she had never shaken hands like this before. Brock then released her hand and closed his own into a fist, waiting for her to bump fists with him. Dawn smiled a bit, remembering that Ash had done this to her on their first day of school. Happily she bumped fists, and Brock smiled at her.

"She's alright in my book, a bit stiff though." Brock commented. "So you're here to watch us tonight?"

"I don't even know. Ash hasn't told me anything yet." Dawn replied as Brock motioned for them to follow him.

"That sounds like Ash alright, trying to make everything sound like some big secret. So I'll go ahead and spoil it for you." Brock said as they made their way over to the entrance of the train station. "I'm sure you know that Vermilion City has produced some fantastic performers, right?"

Dawn nodded immediately. She knew that Vermilion City was a place where talent people launched all sorts of careers. Performing was no exception.

"Well once a year a festival is held underground where a lot of the up and coming people gather to show off for one night. It's an open invitation for anyone to come, and they're expecting a huge turnout this year. So they organized a little something special for the dance crews that are going to be here tonight." Brock explained as Dawn became starry eyed.

"We're going to be watching some dances tonight? Awesome!" She exclaimed.

"Not we, just you an Ash." Brock pointed out.

"Huh?"

"I'm part of a crew, and Ash was in the same crew, although he hasn't been coming by lately." Brock revealed as they arrived at the grand entrance to the train station.

"You guys are dancers?!" She asked them. She was shocked. Dawn never would've thought that Ash would be someone who liked to dance.

"I was nothing special Dawn, plus I haven't practiced with them recently so I'm pretty rusty." Ash admitted as they continued into the station. The lobby was large, but Ash and Brock were more focused on wide staircase at the back of the lobby which they quickly went to.

"The point is, some of the best dancers in town are here tonight, so you're in for a treat." Brock clarified, causing Dawn to take a peek at Ash. He had said that he was accustomed to seeing people that were passionate about their work. This hand to be what he wanted her to see.

"So then, why is this party being held in a train station?" Dawn asked curiously as they arrived at the bottom of the staircase, entering a short corridor with a freight elevator at the end of it. There was a tall guy dressed in black standing at the entrance to the elevator, his arms crossed and his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.

"To be honest, the train station is a cover. There's this station above ground, and an abandoned subway station beneath it. That's where we're going." Brock explained to her as they arrived at the elevator. The guy that was guarding the elevator recognized Brock and greeted him the same way he had greeted Dawn. They clapped their hands together before the guard hit the button to call for the elevator. The elevator opened up, and the trio stepped in and Brock gave the guard a two finger salute as the door shut.

"He's a nice guy." Brock said as he glanced at Dawn who seemed to be a bit nervous. Looking toward Ash, Brock motioned toward Dawn with his head causing Ash to look at her.

"There's nothing to worry about Dawn. Everyone is here to have a good time." Ash assured her, and Brock gave a nod of agreement. Dawn smiled a bit in response as they descended into the subway station, but she still felt a little uncertain. She had never done anything like this, so she had no idea what to expect.

Blinking a few times, Dawn picked up on the first thing she was experience tonight. Very loud music. The elevator was sealed off, but she could still hear the bass pumping.

"Oh man, I love this song!" Brock exclaimed as he clapped his hand, beginning to groove in place. Ash could only roll his eyes at Brock before the elevator came to a stop. The doors parted and Dawn heard the full volume of the music that blasting through the subway station. It was deafening!

Stepping out, Dawn looked around with wide eyes at the station that had been decorated and lit up by a variety of colorful lights. Speakers were set up everywhere, blasting music for everyone to enjoy as small groups danced where they stood. Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Dawn turned to see Ash motioning for her to follow him and Brock. They were leaving the main lobby of the subway station.

Leaving the lobby where the source of the music was located, things grew quieter as Ash and Brock took over to the turnstiles. The two of them jumped right over them, and then helped Dawn over since she was having a hard time. From there they entered a staircase that led down to the platforms that the train used to stop at. It was much quieter down here, and Dawn was thankful for that. She could barely hear herself think back there.

"What do you think so far?" Ash asked her as they followed Brock down the stairway.

"Uh, it's really loud?" Dawn answered weakly, but Ash laughed at this. It was an obvious answer, but he didn't seem to care.

"We're back!" Brock shouted as he arrived at the base of the staircase, garnering the attention of the group that had been waiting for them.

"Well it's about time!" A voice boomed in reply. A large fella with dark hair approached the trio, skipping right past Brock and heading straight to Ash.

"Tierno, long time no see!" Ash exclaimed as the two of them clasped their hands together by the thumbs.

"What have you been up to?" He asked before his gaze settled on Dawn. Then he grinned at Ash. "Never mind, I think I've got a good idea."

"It's not like that Tierno." Ash groaned with a sigh, causing his friend to chuckle.

"What's your name?" Tierno asked, extending a hand toward Dawn.

"I'm Dawn, nice to meet you." She said sweetly. Tierno had taken Dawn's hand gingerly, unlike Brock, and she was smiled warmly at him for this.

"Was that Ash I heard?" Another voice asked. Dawn poked her head out to see around Tierno's large frame, and she was shocked to see a group of people rushing over to them. Before she knew it, Dawn found herself on the outside looking in. Ash had been swarmed by the group, and now he stood in the middle of them all trying to answer their questions.

Dawn frowned a bit, watching as Ash conversed with these people. He was making faces that she had never seen him make before. Ash had always been kind of reserved around her, but now he was being so expressive with this group of people.

"I take it this is the first time you're really seeing Ash Ketchum, huh?" Brock asked Dawn, standing beside her.

"It seems like it. I haven't known him for long, but it's like I'm looking at a different person right now." Dawn said as she watched Ash burst into a fit of laughter at a comment from one of his friends. He seemed almost… brighter now.

"It was like that when I first met him too. Once you really get to know him…you'll see." Brock said as Ash managed to reign in everyone before motioning for them to go meet Dawn.

"So Dawn, this is…everyone." Ash said he motioned to the group who were practically on top of each other as they tried to get a look at Dawn.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm Shauna!" A bubbly brunette exclaimed, jumping out in front of the group.

"You can call me a Trevor!" A short red haired guy said as he raised his camera, taking a quick snapshot of Dawn.

"My name is Valerie, it's a pleasure to meet you." A young woman with long silky black hair said next.

"I'll keep it short, sweet and to the point. I'm Miette." A blue haired girl said, getting a sigh from the remaining girl that hadn't spoken yet.

"That was the longest intro Miette." She stated before giving Dawn a warm smile. "Hi, I'm Serena."

"And you've met me already, but a reminder never hurts." Tierno said as he tapped his chest. "Tierno!"

"Hey everyone, I'm Dawn, it's so nice to meet all of you." Dawn said happily. They were quite an interesting group that's for sure.

Brock and Ash separated themselves from the group as they began to bombard Dawn with questions. This gave them some space to speak privately.

"So what did you bring her for?" Brock asked him as he observed Dawn.

There was a moment of silence as Ash took some time to watch Dawn speak.

"She reminds me of myself. She knows what she wants to do, but she's not quite there yet." Ash explained to Brock. "I feel like she just needed a little nudge to start moving forward. So I thought I might try and give her that little push."

"Stop with all of that crap Ash. If you like her, just ask her out." Brock said to him.

"She's here with me now, isn't she?" Ash shot back at him. "And by the way, where's your date Brock?"

Ash stared at Brock, waiting for an answer. He knew that Brock struggled when it came to his love life, and Ash rarely passed on an opportunity to tease him about it. Brock could only mumble a few words under his breath, causing Ash to grin.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you." Ash said, placing a hand to his ear.

"That doesn't matter." Brock said sharply, deciding to change the subject. "I've got some news for you anyway."

"What kind of news?" Ash asked, curious since Brock had become completely serious.

"One of the five Kings is going to be here tonight." Brock revealed, immediately gaining Ash's full attention now.

"No way, who?" Ash practically demanded to know.

"The King of the White Lotus. They call him N." Brock revealed, causing an anxious smile to form on Ash's face. "I hope you're not planning to challenge him."

"I didn't bring Pikachu tonight so I can't, but I've been dying to see one of the five Kings. How did you know he'd be here?" Ash inquired.

"I have my sources." Brock replied rather smugly. "I've heard that he's going to battle a circuit trainer since there's no chance of the police discovering this. Here's a chance to see him in action."

"Awesome." Was all Ash could see at the prospect of witnessing a Pokemon battle.

A/N

So here's chapter four, and I'd like to say that this chapter and the next go hand in hand, and they basically wrap up me developing this AU. I don't want to give out any spoilers because the next chapter is BIG, so I won't say much this time around.

Notable Characters

Brock. Of course this fella had to make an appearance. Brock was one of personal favorites, going way way back to the Indigo Saga in the anime. You'll be seeing him more in the future along with his usual antics. Hopefully I can nail his lines like he does in the anime.

Serena. After watching XY&Z, Serena really grew on me. I don't want to reveal much about her at the moment, but I have a few plans for her character that I can't wait to get to.

Miette. She came hand in hand with Serena. Their little rivalry and talks I enjoyed, and I see Miette as the down to earth, hard-nosed kind of person to contrast Serena.

Tierno. I really liked this big guy and his whole style that he rolled with in the anime. Not to mention he got one of favorite starter Pokemon in Squirtle in the anime.

Shauna. I have some plans for Shauna already that you'll see within the next few chapters, and you'll be seeing her quite a bit with this group of people here.

Trevor. Having both Tierno and Shauna, I couldn't leave Trevor out. And with his interest in photography, I have quite a few ideas for him.

Valerie. Keeping with the theme I've had for a lot of the characters I've brought in, some of the interests they had outside of Pokemon will be more prevalent in this story. Valerie is in to fashion, and you'll be seeing more of that in the future.

Thank you all for reading once again, and I hope to see all again! Once again, shout out to MjrGenMatt his continued support!

Chapter Text

Chapter 5 

"So um, Serena right?" Dawn asked, receiving the attention of the brunette who gave her a nod for using the correct name.

"Yup, you got it." She said cheerily, and Shauna added a nod of agreement.

"Are you guys really going to dance in front of all those people?" Dawn exclaimed, recalling the number of people she had seen back in the lobby.

"No doubt!" Shauna stated, snapping her fingers.

"It feels great performing in front of so many people." Serena added confidently. Dawn looked at them with great admiration now, impressed that they were actually excited to perform in front of so many people. Dawn couldn't imagine herself doing something like that.

In fact, Dawn was still struggling to believe that she had actually snuck out of her house past curfew, and was now located in an abandoned subway station downtown. She had come out with Ash's invitation and the promise that she would experience something new tonight, and all of this was definitely new to her.

Ash had introduced her to a group of people that he was well acquainted with, all of which were very happy to meet her. There were seven of them in total that made up Brock's crew, not counting Ash. Brock, Serena, Tierno, Shauna and Miette were the performers who got out on stage. Trevor and Valerie worked behind the scenes, working hard to make sure that this group of five always looked fantastic while at work.

Trevor was in charge of publicity to try and get their name out there, but he also recorded their practice sessions so that they could look back at the choreography and see what they could work on. Valerie was their designer, responsible for their uniforms, and she acted as an aide to Trevor when he needed a hand. It was incredible to see all of them working so hard now.

"So do you guys have a focus to your dance?" Dawn asked curiously, and Shauna beamed at this.

"We've been dancing together for like two years, so we've studied all kinds of different styles and forms." Shauna explained as she motioned to Miette and Brock who were practicing a few steps together in front of Ash. "Brock and Miette had good footwork, like really good footwork, so they specialize in stepping."

She then pointed to Tierno who was chatting with Ash at the moment.

"Tierno, believe it or not, is an amazing break dancer." Shauna continued, and Dawn's eyes widened at this. Tierno was a big fella, she found it hard to believe that he was a break dancer. "Yeah, we couldn't believe it either. He's really light on his feet and his balance is good too."

Then Shauna motioned to Serena who had been standing with them.

"And Serena here is our jack of all trades. She did gymnastics and ballet in high school, so she's got the skills to pay the bills!" Shauna declared, causing Serena to blush coyly.

"Shauna, you're too much." Serena replied, motioning for her friend to keep it down, but the damage had already been done at the mention of 'gymnastics.' Miette practically darted over to them, leaving Ash and Brock to stare at her oddly.

"I hope you're not talking about sectionals again." Miette stated sharply as she looked at them.

"No, we weren't." Serena said exasperatedly.

"Let's keep it that way." Miette added, causing Serena to stick her tongue out at her.

"I just wanted to know if you guys all met through dancing." Dawn explained to her, and Miette focused on her fellow bluenette now.

"You could say that. We all met through Brock really because he was forming a dance squad." Miette explained, receiving a nod from Dawn. "So Dawn, do mind if I ask where you met Ash?"

"Not at all. We go to school together." Dawn replied. "In fact, he saved my life when we first met."

"No way, really?" Miette exclaimed.

"Yeah. I would've been hit by a car if he didn't push me out the way." Dawn admitted, leaving their mouths agape. Dawn laughed a bit at their expressions before recalling the day Ash had saved her. It was only a week ago, but so much had stemmed from the first time they had met. Obviously Dawn wasn't in the hospital and she was grateful for that, but her budding friendship with Ash also had her trying new things.

"That's incredible." Miette noted, being the first to regain her composure. Then she gave Dawn a sly glance, a smirk forming on her face. "So…do you like him?"

"Miette!" Serena exclaimed, shocked that Miette could just to such a question so suddenly. "You don't have to answer that Dawn, just ignore her."

Dawn watched as Serena grabbed Miette by the wrist and dragged her away, leaving Dawn to take a glance at Ash was who was still talking to Brock. Did she like Ash Ketchum? She didn't know the answer.

Tierno sighed heavily as he dropped down beside Trevor and Valerie who were looking intently at the laptop Trevor was using.

"What's the matter Tierno?" Valerie asked, noticing that his mood was on the down side.

"I don't get it, what does Ash have that I don't have?" Tierno asked them, causing Valerie to furrow her brow.

"What are you talking about?" Trevor asked him in return.

"Ash shows up and almost all the girls in our group are practically glued to him." Tierno explained as he looked at Ash who had been approached by Shauna and Dawn now. Everyone was talking to Ash. "I want some attention."

Valerie couldn't help but giggle at Tierno as he whined, while Trevor placed a hand on his friend's shoulder to console him.

"Don't worry big guy, the right girl will come along for you. And you'll know she's right because she'll come straight to you." Trevor pointed out to him. Tierno looked up at him, his eyes brightening up.

"Really? You think so man?"

"I know so."

"Aww, thanks man!" Tierno said as they bumped fists. He then rose up, heading over to the other group to strike up some conversation.

"Wow Trevor, it's like you always know what to say to cheer him up." Valerie noted. "I wish I could speak to him so calmly."

Trevor furrowed his brow for a moment as he glanced at Valerie. She was watching Tierno as he approached Dawn to speak to her, a small frown on her face.

"Wait, you don't…? Never mind." Trevor said, shaking his head for a moment. Returning his focus to the laptop in front of him, he found the soundtrack he had been searching for. "Hey Brock, I found it!"

Brock whistled, calling the whole group together around Trevor as he retrieved a small pair of speakers from the messenger bag beside him, hooking it up to his laptop.

"Alright, so since Ash decided to grace us with his presence tonight, I figured this might be a good chance to do something we haven't done in a while." Brock announced to the group, pointing toward Trevor. The red head clicked a few times on his laptop, turning the volume all the way up as the music began. A beat began, which immediately caught everyone's attention as they began to move their heads in sync with it.

Brock then raised his hands, clapping three times to the beat. On the next set, everyone but Dawn clapped their hands together.

"Oh my gosh, we haven't done this in forever!" Shauna exclaimed as Trevor set down his laptop, now taking out his camera as the fun began.

With the exception of Dawn, they all gathered together to form a circle, grooving to the beat.

"So who's going to start us off?!" Brock called out, looking around at his friends.

"Gimme some space people, Tierno's going to work!" Tierno hollered as he slid into the center of the circle, taking a moment match his movements to beat of the song.

Dawn stared at the group, watching them as they all bounced in place, watching Tierno put on a small performance at the center of the circle. Trevor was the only person on the outside of the circle, taking pictures of the group from various angles before he noticed that Dawn hadn't joined them. Raising his hand, he motioned for her to come over.

"Obviously you haven't been to any of our practice sessions, but this was an old kind of…tradition we'd do before a show." Trevor explained to her. "Brock came up with it. It's to loosen everyone up and have some fun before we go on."

Looking around at the group, Dawn couldn't deny that it looked like they were having fun.

"Hah!" Tierno shouted as he spun around on his shoulders and his upper back, performing a windmill to the delight of his friends. Once he came to a stop, Tierno jumped to his feet and struck a pose for everyone who then laughed.

"Alright Tierno, stop hogging the spotlight!" Shauna called out as she jumped in the middle now, bumping Tierno with her hip. Shooting her a grin, he backed out of the circle as Shauna now took her turn. Shauna didn't waste a moment as she went straight to her acrobatics, performing hand stands and contorting herself causing her friends to express their admiration.

As this continued, each of them took a turn dancing in the middle, from Miette showing off some fancy footwork, to Brock performing a double backflip. Even Valerie and Trevor took a turn, and while neither of them couldn't compare to the actual dancers in this group, that didn't stop anyone from hollering and hooting as they danced.

Dawn was a deep shade of red as she stepped out of the middle with a sigh of relief. Even though she was a first timer, they didn't let her get away from dancing in the middle. The only time Dawn ever danced was in the privacy of her own room, so she was embarrassed to dance in front of them, but all of them cheered for her as she moved and it helped Dawn relax a bit. Now that the bluenette had danced, only two people remained who had yet to dance on their little stage.

Ash and Serena.

Everyone took note that Ash hadn't danced yet, beginning to call for him to take the stage. Taking a breath, Ash stepped into the middle much to the delight of his friends, but then he extended a hand toward Serena. She raised her eyebrows, a bit surprised by his gesture, but he beckoned for her to join him.

Taking his hand, Ash grinned at Serena who quickly knew what was about to happen next. Giving her a small pull, Ash whipped her past him, fully extended his arm as this brought her to an immediate stop. Serena then stretched out her free arm, motioning for everyone to give them some space.

"Oh, someone's planning to show off!" Brock hollered as everyone moved back a few steps.

Dawn's jaw almost hit the floor at the sight of Ash beginning to move with Serena now. Pulling her close, Serena spun, allowing him to catch her in his remaining arm where she leaned into his embrace. They shared a glance before separating, beginning to walk in a circle as they eyed one another. Serena raised one hand above her head, and extended the other toward Ash who took it gracefully and pulled her close once again. They then began then to move together, earning shouts of praise from their surrounding audience.

It was breath taking, watching the two of them as they demonstrated their agility and cohesiveness as they moved. Dawn felt her chest tighten at the sight of Ash and Serena so close together, smiling at each other. Even though Dawn had never paid much attention to people as they danced, she could sense a connection between Ash and Serena. They moved so freely around each other, even though Ash claimed to be out of practice. There was something…deeper here.

Ash and Serena turned their audience, striking a pose as the song struck its final beat. They all burst into applause for the duo who took a bow together.

"Yo, what happened to, 'I'm rusty?'" Brock asked, mimicking Ash's statement earlier in a whiny voice as he slapped Ash on the back.

"Heh, maybe I'm not as bad as I thought." Ash replied with a chuckle.

Snapping one last picture, Trevor then glanced at his wrist watch.

"Hey guys, it's almost time for the show to get started!" Trevor called out to the group. But his little announcement was quickly overshadowed by a roar from the lobby of the station that echoed to the platform they had been on. That was signal for the start of tonight's event. The already booming music seemed to jump to a new level as the crowd in the lobby began to cheer.

"That's our cue people, let's get moving!" Brock said, clapping his hands repeatedly. "Bring it in, bring it in!"

All of them gathered in a huddle as if they were playing football, clapping with Brock.

"Alright guys, we got this!" Tierno roared as they put their hands out, one on top of the other. Brock topped it off by tapping it with his fist before raising his hand, earning a shout from the rest of them.

"Let's go~!" Shauna declared as she took the lead, heading back to the lobby followed by everyone else. Ash and Dawn brought up the rear of the group, allowing them to speak.

"Are you ready for this?" Ash asked her as they trailed behind.

"I don't really know what to expect at this point." Dawn admitted with a small chuckle. "Your friends are amazing though. I can't wait to see them!"

"You haven't seen anything yet. Just wait until they're on stage." Ash replied with a smile as he glanced up at the group ahead of them. All of them were noisily discussing their routine one last time.

Returning to the lobby, Dawn was amazed to see how much the scene had changed compared to when she had first arrived. All of the lights had been adjusted, now focusing on a stage that had been set up at the center of the lobby. The crowd that had been spread out throughout the lobby now surrounded the stage, shouting and clapping as two dance teams took turns showing off their routines.

"Wait, why are there two separate groups on stage?" Dawn asked Ash after tugging on his shirt.

"Oh, it's a dance battle." He replied.

"Dance battle?" Dawn repeated.

"Just watch. I think you'll like it." Ash said as he nodded toward the stage. Even with the large audience, the stage was tall enough for anyone from any distance to see what was taking place, allowing Dawn to observe intently.

One of the groups seemed to back off the stage, allowing the other team to take full control of the stage as they began to dance together. Dawn was impressed to say the least. Everything was well rehearsed, and everyone was coordinated and moving in unison. Yet, as she spent a few moments focusing on each dancer, she could see that they each had their own style, a little twist that they put on their moves that only added to the whole picture.

"Aye, that was just the first battle we have tonight people!" The MC shouted as he now took the stage following the end of the first dance battle. "Next up we got the Cipher Squad and the Jive Steppers!"

"Jive Steppers!?" Miette exclaimed as their group of five got onto the stage. "We don't even have a name, who came up with that?"

"We needed a name to register. Tierno gave it to me." Brock answered.

"And that explains that." Miette muttered as she glanced at Tierno. The big fella only gave her a grin and a peace sign in response, causing her to sigh. As lame as the name was, it was impossible to be upset with him.

Ash and Dawn squeezed through the crowd, getting as close the stage as they could. Brock, Miette, Tierno, Serena and Shauna now stood together, staring intently at their opponents across the stage. It was a group of six guys, who were talking amongst themselves and occasionally motioning to the three girls on the opposing team.

"Don't get psyched out guys, we're going to own this stage." Brock stated as he looked over at the DJ who was behind his electronic turntables. A heavy beat dropped, marking the beginning of the battle. Serena, Shauna and Miette started things off as they glided out to the center of the stage, moving as a unit.

Ash smiled confidently as they danced, showing off some crisp and sharp movements, rotating so that each of them had a few moments at the center of the stage. Reaching the end of their short routine, Serena now stood at the front of their small team; she leapt into the air and twirled several times. Landing softly on her hands and feet, Serena quickly shifted her weight to her hands and kicked out her legs to the side momentarily, holding her body parallel to the ground.

Clicking her heels together while she was in this position, Serena then put one foot on the ground and returned to an upright position. Stealing a glance back at Miette and Shauna, Serena saw that they were waiting on the edge of the stage for her, exactly where they needed to be. Lowering herself, Serena then went back onto her hands, and then to her feet to gain some momentum. Back on her feet once again, she gathered herself and jumped hard, performing a back flip. While she was airborne, Miette slid out on her knees from underneath Serena who landed behind her now. Shauna placed a hand out to steady Serena, and they struck a pose together. Miette extended a hand toward the opposing group, mouthing for them to 'bring it'.

As the girls began to back off the stage now, the guys on the other team were ready to answer Miette's challenge immediately as they took the stage, practically jumping the girls as they backed away. Miette was caught off guard as one guy in particular had darted toward her before she had gotten off the stage. He was lacking a shirt, but he wore a pair of baggy pants, a cap that read 'Chad' in capital letters and an arrogant smirk as he stood in front of Miette now. Raising his hands, he gave Miette a shove, throwing her back to the rest of her team.

Fortunately, Tierno was there to catch her, saving her from a fall. This immediately gained the attention of the rest of their group as they all glared at the guys on stage.

"Hey, you do that again and I'll bust your ass!" Brock shouted at him, stepping out onto the stage. Chad only tapped his chest with both hands, throwing them upward before he slid back to the rest of his team. Even though they had started their routine without him, he fell in line as if he hadn't missed a beat.

"Miette, are you okay?" Shauna asked her as Miette stood on her own feet with an 'hmph', thanking Tierno under her breath.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Miette stated, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "What a stupid jerk!"

"You got that right!" Tierno hollered, shaking his fist at the other team.

Tapping her feet angrily, Miette found herself trying to think of a way to get back at him the next time they took the stage.

"Easy now, I'll pay him back in full." Brock stated.

Soon enough, the Cipher Squad's routine ended, and Chad tipped his cap at them as he backed off the stage, giving Miette a wink. Before Miette could even make a motion in response, Tierno stepped in front of her, slapping his cheeks to hype himself up. Then as a new beat started, he stepped out onto the stage. Tierno started out by himself, and shocked just about every person in the audience.

For such a large guy, he moved incredibly well. His movements were smooth as he seemed to glide around the stage, proving to be more flexible and agile than anyone would give him credit for. Now balancing on his hands, Tierno began to perform some baby spins, turning on his hands as he contorted his legs. Then with one clean motion, he was back on his feet standing upright, calling his for teammates to join him on the stage. Both Serena and Shauna came out performing cartwheels before transitioning into a front flip where they stomped their feet audibly.

Now with all five of them were on stage together, their presentation was flawless as the crowd chanted and cheered for them. Completing their second routine, they stepped back conceding the stage to the other team, and Chad wasted no time returning to his antics. Coming up to the front of his group where he where he was close as possible to Brock and his gang, Chad went out of his way to taunt them as he danced, clearly trying to irritate them.

"Oh just you wait! You won't be smiling when we're through with you!" Miette barked at him, but his smile only widened in response. Miette turned to the rest of her team. "Come on guys, we're not going to let him keep this up are we?!"

"No, we won't." Brock stated as he called for them come closer to him. "Do you remember the big finish we practiced earlier this week?"

"With the jump?" Tierno clarified, getting a nod from Brock.

"Yeah, I remember that." Serena said as they all confirmed that they could recall it.

"Okay. We're going to finish with that. But I'm going to put a little something extra in there, so just follow accordingly." Brock said with a small smile. They all began to nod to each other before returning their focus to the team on stage.

Down in the audience, Dawn now noticed that there was something different about them. She couldn't really describe it, but there was a certain intensity surrounding the five of them.

The Cipher Squad backed off the stage, high fiving each other for how well they had done. The MC began to step on the stage, ready to declare as the audience who they thought was the winner, but Brock waved to him, motioning for him to stay back. Usually each team would get two turns on stage in a battle, but if they felt like showing one extra routine, they could call for it. The MC nodded to Brock before pointing at the DJ, telling him to spin up one last track.

"Let's go!" Brock said as the five of them stepped onto the stage, earning the attention of the Cipher Squad who thought the battle was over.

"Heh, I wonder what they're going to do." Trevor exclaimed. Dawn almost yelped in surprise after discovering that both Trevor and Valerie had been standing with her and Ash.

"I don't think this was part of what they planned to do." Valerie noted as she clasped her hands together, watching as her friends began to dance one last time. "Let's see how this goes."

Brock was out in front, leading as the others followed his movements. He framed his face with his hands, bounced on his toes and spun. Slowly they were moving forward toward the other team, but Brock faded into the back of his group as his teammates now took over. Miette began took charge from here, allowing Brock to stand in the back as he eyed Chad. Upon seeing that the blue haired girl was in front of her group, he came to the front of his own to stare at her. Miette shot him a hard stare, which only gained a grin from him.

As Miette spun away from him now, the guy caught sight of Brock in the back. Their eyes met, and Brock raised a hand to point directly at him. The crowd seemed to hold their breath in preparation for whatever Brock had in store. From the back of his crowd, Brock came out spinning around his team, shifting from his toes to his heels as he spun, heading straight for the other team. With his earlier gesture toward Chad though, everyone knew that Brock was going to stop directly in front of him. This head true as Brock did just that, taking a moment to glare at him while listening to the beat of the music. Brock began to move his feet now, slowly at first. Then he began to raise his foot speed and the audience reacted accordingly.

"Dang man!"

"Whoooo!"

"Check out those steps!"

Brock began to point at his feet, adding in new movements such as half and quarter spins and shifting his weight almost effortlessly from his heels to the balls of his feet. Hearing the reactions from the audience, Brock smirked at Chad before jumping into the air. Upon landing on his feet and resuming his footwork, Miette joined him now, matching his steps perfectly. Then they jumped together and Tierno joined them. Soon enough all five of them were moving their feet quickly, impressing everyone present. All five of them jumped together, coming to a stop as they now faced the other team, their gaze focused on the young man that had been trying to terrorize them.

"Is that the best you got?" Chad asked Brock who was still standing directly in front of him. Brock grinned…then he dropped into a crouch suddenly, grabbing Chad's pants as he did so, ripping them down to reveal his bright yellow boxers he wore underneath. The crowd roared at this as Brock straightened back up, raised his hands and gave Chad a shove just as the jerk had done to Miette.

Losing his footing, Chad fell down onto his bottom while Brock leaned backward, throwing himself onto his hands. Now in a handstand, Brock balanced himself on one hand while he used his free hand to motion for his team to take a few steps back. Brock then went back onto his feet, and then jumped to perform a backflip. This marked the moment for all of them to jump.

The group of five came down on their feet in sync with one thunderous boom as the song came to an end, earning a downpour of cheers and applause from the audience. Their little finale clearly established that they had won, and it became that much more obvious as the MC came back onto the stage, screaming over their performance.

Dawn jumped with an ecstatic whoop, latching on to Ash as she cheered for them. Ash looked down at her, and Dawn blushed as she released her hold on his arm but Ash smiled at her.

"They're amazing, aren't they?" He asked her as he returned his gaze to his friends on stage.

They certainly were! 

The whole group met together on the abandoned platform they had been practicing on earlier, save for Valerie and Trevor.

"Three cheers for Brock!" Tierno hollered as he hoisted Brock into the air once again. Everyone crowded around Brock, their arms up as they laughed and shouted.

"You were just showing off at the end there with all of that footwork." Miette pointed out.

"I seem to remember all of us getting in on that action." Brock replied with a smirk. She only snickered in response since she was the first to join him.

"Alright guys, we're back!" Trevor and Valerie called out, gaining everyone's attention. They all discovered that the two of them had come down with a platter of drinks that they had snatched from the drink table back in the lobby.

"Aww yeah!" Brock roared as they crowded around them to collect a cup.

"Ash, Dawn, these two cups are yours." Valerie informed them as she motioned to the pair of cups on the platter with an 'x' on them.

"Why's that?" Dawn asked as Ash took his drink.

"You're not old enough to have alcohol right?" Serena asked her, causing Dawn to furrow her brow as she looked around at them.

"Wait, how old are you guys?" Dawn asked them.

"Twenty four." Brock stated.

"Twenty two!" Shauna exclaimed after downing her cup.

"Twenty one." Miette added.

"I just turned twenty one actually." Serena said, raising one hand slightly.

"Old enough!" Tierno said with a grin.

"He's twenty one like myself, Miette and Serena." Trevor said after giving Tierno a narrow glance.

"Yeah, the four of us graduated from high school together." Serena pointed as she glanced at Tierno who scratched the back of his neck with a laugh.

Dawn then looked to Valerie since she was the only one who hadn't answered.

"Actually, now that I think about it. I don't know how old Valerie is." Serena noted causing the rest of them to look up in thought.

"Yeah, you never told us." Trevor pointed out as the others agreed. None of them knew this piece of information concerning Valerie. In response though, she only winked at the group.

"Not telling." She said sweetly, sticking out her tongue.

"What if we guess it?" Brock suggested.

"Yeah, if we guess right you have to tell us." Miette declared as she, Serena, Brock and Trevor began to consider the possibilities.

"If she was the same age as any of us, she would've said something so that eliminates a couple of options right there." Trevor said, getting a nod of agreement from all of them.

"And there's no way she's over thirty." Brock added.

"Why are you making an assumption like that?" Serena exclaimed.

"Have you looked at her? There's no way Valerie could be thirty years old." Brock reasoned.

"Aww, thanks Brock." She said graciously, smiling at him.

"Hey wait a sec, where's my cup?" Tierno exclaimed, realizing that he had yet to collect it from the platter.

"Too slow~!" Shauna called out to him with a laugh having already finished off his drink.

"Shauna!" Tierno shouted.

Ash leaned against the wall, watching the group with a cheery smile as Dawn approached him.

"Are they always like this?" She asked him as she joined him in observing his friends.

"Always." He replied with a nod. "So what did you think?"

"I know for a fact I saw something amazing tonight." Dawn said with a small smile, taking a peek at Ash out of the corner of her eyes. The performance his friends had put on was incredible, and Dawn had to credit the amazing person standing beside her for bringing her to this event.

"Good, I'm glad." Ash said before their attention was drawn to the staircase leading to the platform where dozens of people came rushing down.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked as Ash straightened up, watching as the crowd separated to allow two people to get through. The first guy he saw was light skinned and mostly bald save for a tuff of red hair. The other guy though seemed to contrasted him perfectly, possessing long green locks with a cap on the top of his head.

The two of them continued out onto the platform and then jumped down onto the train tracks, taking a considerable distance from one another. The crowd remained up on the platform, watching with great anticipation as the two of them pulled small red and white spheres off their belts.

"Wait, there's going to be a Pokemon battle tonight?" Tierno asked curiously as he and everyone else looked on anxiously.

"A Pokemon battle? Aren't those against the law?" Dawn exclaimed.

"Which is exactly why it's happening down here." Trevor clarified with a grin as pulled out his camera, hoping to capture the footage of this battle.

"Of course, no wonder Ash showed up tonight." Miette noted as she and Serena looked toward Ash. He and Brock had separated themselves from their friends, now standing close to the edge of the platform where they would have the best view of the battle.

"Wait, why would that make Ash come here tonight?" Dawn asked them.

"Because Ash is trying to become a Pokemon trainer." Serena answered with just a hint of disdain. Dawn's eyes widened at this.

Ash…wanted to become a Pokemon trainer? The most frowned upon profession in the world. Dawn looked toward the young man that had brought her here tonight, furrowing her brow in confusion.

"Who's who?" Ash asked Brock, motioning to the pair of trainers. He didn't recognize either of them.

"The guy over here is Sidney. He's pretty big in the circuit, not someone you could take lightly no matter who you are. And the dude with the green hair, that's N." Brock explained, directing Ash's attention to N. One of the five Kings of Vermilion City.

It was no secret that Pokemon battles were illegal. So much as owning a Pokemon was frowned upon by the general public. More often than not, Pokemon were tied to violence between the gangs in Vermilion City, frustrating the authorities because of the excessive damage Pokemon were capable of causing. Battling had been banned across the globe, and with a fear of Pokemon instilled in them, humans lived separately from Pokemon.

The sport of Pokemon battling couldn't be squashed though. Trainers continued in secret, developing a circuit to test their skills and the strength of their Pokemon.

Vermilion City became the heart of this circuit, where the strongest trainers gathered. These trainers gained a following in the city, and what started as small groups gradually expanded.

"Umm, Ash, is it alright for us to be here?" Dawn asked as she tentatively approached Ash and Brock.

"You don't have to worry Dawn." Ash assured her.

"We're underground right now, there's no way the police could catch wind of this battle." Brock explained to her. This didn't help Dawn relax though. She had never been to such an event, nor did she ever intend to attend one at her choosing. Noticing the excitement of the crowd though, Dawn couldn't deny that she was curious. She had never seen a Pokemon battle in person, and here was her first opportunity.

"So are these guys part of those um…" Dawn paused, trying to choose her words carefully. However, she couldn't think of a nicer term than what came to mind. "Are they part of those gangs that are always in the news?"

Brock and Ash both looked back at her for a moment, their expression remaining neutral.

"The police call them gangs, thugs, criminals and a whole ton of other stuff. But when you come down here, the first thing you learn is that all of those labels are incorrect. There are only kingdoms." Brock explained rather passionately. "Vermilion City hosts the strongest trainers in the world, who compete against one another almost constantly. The thing is that since the authorities are so tight about this, it isn't easy to make a living as a trainer. That's why these kingdoms formed. For trainers to support one another and help each other get by."

"So then, why do you all fight each other so much?" Dawn asked him, confusion evident on her face. She could recall seeing on the news many, many instances where violent battles broke out between these so called 'kingdoms.' If their purpose was to support each other, why did they fight each other so often?

"Fight each other?" Ash exclaimed as he looked up in thought. Then he began to chuckle, shaking his head a bit. "That's just how other people see it. But we're only testing each other, trying to find ways to get stronger and improve both ourselves and our Pokemon."

"Truth." Brock said, raising his hand toward Ash and they bumped fists. "Alright, they're starting."

Everyone became hushed since Sidney had raised his hands, anxious to begin this battle.

"You ready?" Sidney called out to N who gave him a broad smile.

"Let's begin!" N hollered in return. They both hurled the Pokeballs they held into the air, releasing the creatures held within. Dawn gasped as two beasts with terrifying expressions took shape on the tracks, but the crowd roared with approval.

"Whoa, N is using his Zoroark!"

"That means he's serious man!"

"But Sidney's using Absol, he's going all out too!"

"Absol, let's start this off right with Agility, then use Razor Wind!" Sidney commanded, swiping his hand through the air.

His Absol growled as it stomped its front feet, causing its body to begin to flicker before the crooked horn on its head began to shine brightly. Absol then dashed forward, moving almost too fast for anyone's eyes to track as it closed in on Zoroark, but the black Pokemon only smirked as it stared at its attacker.

"Block it." N said softly.

Absol came skidding to a halt at Zoroark's side where it lashed out it with its glowing horn, but Zoroark blocked the attack with its forearm. The impact sent out a rippling blast and a gust of wind that stirred up the audience. Absol was shocked to see Zoroark block its attack so effortlessly, but this didn't deter the Pokemon as it took off in another dash, attacking from a different angle this time. But the result was the same; Zoroark blocked all of its attacks with no trouble.

"Dang man!" Sidney exclaimed as he stomped one foot. "Absol, let's step things up a bit now, use Shadow Claw!"

Absol snarled as its front paws became ignited with a dark purple aura that took the shape of its paws, but with large and extended claws. Absol then pounced at Zoroark, raisings its claws to attack.

"Dodge it." N said this time, and Zoroark did just so. Calmly and smoothly, Zoroark evaded these attacks with a smirk. It almost looked too easy! Zoroark leapt backward, taking some space from Absol who growled, clearly frustrated that it had yet to land a proper attack. "Now Zoroark, use Shadow Claw as well!"

"They may be faster than us Absol, but let's show them who's stronger. Beat them down with your Shadow Claw!" Sidney shouted with a grin. There was no way they would be defeated a duel when it came to power.

Absol growled as the aura around its paws increased in size before it lunged at Zoroark. Zoroark, though only raised one arm which became surrounded in the same purple aura that Absol had. The two of them jumped at each other, lashing out with their claws which created a deafening thud. The two of them clashed for but a moment before Absol's eyes widened as Zoroark immediately overpowered it. The white furred Pokemon was sent tumbling away, much to Sidney's surprise.

"No way, we lost in a power battle!" Sidney exclaimed incredulously before looking up toward N who was smiling at him now.

"Now end it Zoroark, use Focus Blast!" N ordered.

"Absol, get moving!" Sidney hollered at his Pokemon, but it remained on its side. Just that one attack from Zoroark left too dazed to respond to the next attack.

Zoroark raised its hands above its head, summoning all of the energy it could. A bright sphere began to form as the audience grew tense, anticipating the finishing blow. Zoroark then launched the sphere at Absol, watching as it snatched the Pokemon up from the floor and sent it spiraling into the wall. Everyone was in shock to see Absol break right through the wall causing a portion of it to cave in on top of white Pokemon.

"Absol!" Sidney shouted as he rushed over to check on his Pokemon. Fortunately Absol wasn't buried beneath the remains of the wall, allowing Sidney to call it back to the safety of its Pokeball since it had clearly been defeated from that hit.

At the sight of Sidney calling back his Pokemon, the crowd burst into cheers for N and his Zoroark.

"Sidney's probably one of the top trainers in the circuit." Brock said to Ash, getting a snort from him. No one would've been able to guess that looking at this battle. The strength of N and his Zoroark was just…overwhelming. Ash watched as N recalled his Zoroark while Sidney approached him. They shook hands with warm smiles before looking up to the audience who cheered wildly for the spectacle.

Ash watched as the two of them climbed back up onto the platform and began heading back up to the lobby. Focusing on N as he passed by, time seemed to slow down for Ash he felt his heart thumping in his chest. One of the five Kings of Vermilion City was so close by, and yet after that battle, it felt as though N was unbearably far away. Ash felt a smile creep on his face, eager to challenge N at the next opportunity he would have.

N froze for a moment, furrowing his brow before glancing around at the people around him. Soon enough his gaze settled on Ash, and he gave Ash a bright smile before continuing on his way. Brock looked in the direction N had been smiling in, and realized that-that small gesture had been directed at Ash.

"What was that Ash?" Brock asked him.

"I don't know, but I'll be back." Ash said as he went off to pursue N.

This wasn't easy as Ash got caught in the crowd that was following the trainers as they returned to the lobby. Unfortunately, as Ash finally started to break through the crowd, he spotted N meeting with a pair of men dressed in black who escorted him into the elevator. Ash didn't even have a chance of making it before the doors shut, taking N back up to the train station above them.

"Dang." Ash muttered to himself as he glanced around in search of the stairwell that would take him back to the train station. Soon enough Ash found the old stairway. It was big and dusty as it spiraled upward, but this was his only way to catch up to N. Taking a deep breath, Ash began to go up the steps two at a time. It took him some time but he reached the top and he could feel his knees burning, but Ash shook it off and proceeded out into the train station to search for N. Entering the main lobby, Ash looked around before spotting N and his two escorts heading out the main entrance.

Chasing after them, Ash burst out of the doors and was shocked to discover that N was waiting for him.

"I had a feeling you would come." He said to Ash as he motioned for his escorts to take some distance from them.

"How-how'd you know?" Ash asked him.

"By the way you were looking at me. Only other trainers look at me like that." N explained with a bit of a laugh.

"Well yeah, cause I just saw a great battle. Now I feel like having one myself." Ash replied, scratching the back of his neck. "So uh, do you mind if you ask you something?"

"Not at all." N said kindly.

"Are you…a Pokemon Master?"

N's expression seemed to harden for a moment as he blinked at Ash. Then he snorted and gave a soft chuckle as he considered the question.

"Am I a Pokemon Master?" N asked himself out loud before he shook his head. "I've heard a few people mention that title, but to be honest, I never heard a straight answer about what that really is."

"Aww man, I heard that you were the best trainer in the city, so I was kind of hoping you might have known something about it." Ash mumbled before waving off his comment. "That's okay though, it's no big deal."

"Where did you hear about it, if you don't mind me asking?" N inquired curiously.

The term Pokemon Master was something N had caught whispers off during his travels, but the trainers he had spoken to didn't have a definitive answer. This left him to wonder if it was something that had been made up, possibly to stir up trainers that there was something waiting for them if they attained some form of mastery over Pokemon…or could it mean something else?

Ash cleared his throat as he looked up in thought, recalling the first time he had heard about a Pokemon Master.

"My dad was a Pokemon trainer when I was little, and he would tell me about his adventures whenever he came home. Then there was one night he asked me what I thought a Pokemon Master was." Ash explained to N who listened on intently. "I didn't really have an answer for him if I had to be honest."

"What would you say now? What does it mean…to be a Pokemon Master?" N asked him, leaving Ash a little surprised as he froze momentarily. He didn't really think that N would be so inquisitive, nor did he plan on holding a conversation with him, but now that it was in progress Ash would happily continue. It wasn't every day you got to speak face to face with one of the strongest trainers in the world.

"Well, at first I thought that a Pokemon Master was the strongest trainer. But…that didn't really feel like the right answer to me. As I got to know my Pikachu, I realized there's a lot more to Pokemon than just strength. Each of them represents a life, one that's filled with as much potential as you and I. So I've been starting to think that a Pokemon Master isn't just a strong trainer…" Ash trailed off for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He had spent so much time thinking about this subject that the words just wanted to come gushing out of him. "As a Pokemon Master, you represent something. You have the respect and admiration of all trainers, because they recognize the strength of you and your Pokemon. But at the same time to regular people, a lot of which fear Pokemon at the moment, you're living proof that forming close bonds with Pokemon is…ideal."

"It seems like that would be a tremendous burden." N noted, but Ash's expression seemed to brighten at this.

"I don't think a Pokemon Master would even notice all of that though. I think that he or she would be so wrapped up with their Pokemon that it wouldn't matter if the weight of the world was on their shoulders, they'd be completely fine. So long as they have their Pokemon with them, there's nothing that would bother them." Ash continued, and N smiled at him a bit for this statement.

"I'm glad you said that Ash. I've met quite a few trainers, but not all of them could make such bold statements like you just did." N said to him. "In fact, I know a number of trainers that don't believe a Pokemon Master could ever exist."

Ash stared at him incredulously for a moment. Who in their right mind would say a Pokemon Master doesn't exist?!

"Needless to say, I shared my thoughts with them on the subject. Hopefully they'll turn out for the better with it." N went on with a small chuckle.

"So…you believe there's a Pokemon Master too?" Ash asked him almost tentatively. N laughed at Ash's question, finally answering once he had calmed down a bit.

"Definitely. In fact, you and I share some of the same views of a Pokemon Master." N replied. "For example, I agree that a Pokemon Master must be skilled. I feel as though a Pokemon Master's strength would be so unparalleled, that no other trainer could ever stand against them."

Ash nodded in agreement. He could never imagine the Pokemon Master losing a battle. Not in a million years!

"However, I don't see the Pokemon Master as a figurehead, like you do." N noted briefly as their gaze met. "I see them more as…a ruler. My belief is that a Pokemon Master is selected, by whom…I'm not certain. Since they were selected though, they were given, a vision or, an ideal as you put it. And because they possess this, they are willing to assert themselves in order to create the ideal world that they have witnessed."

N and Ash stared at each other for a few moments, remaining silent. Ash couldn't really think of what to say. N's thoughts of what a Pokemon Master represented left him at a loss for words. How could N come to the conclusion that a Pokemon Master was some sort of ruler? A Pokemon Master couldn't be a dictator!

Seeing that Ash was struggling to speak now, N took it upon himself to push the conversation along.

"As I've said though Ash, I've never met a Pokemon Master, nor am I that person. I am searching for them." N stated, causing Ash to perk up with curiosity.

"You're looking for them?" Ash asked, furrowing his brow. N gave him a nod in response. "What for?"

N motioned toward him.

"As you said, a Pokemon Master should be able to show everyone that forming relationships with Pokemon is ideal. The public right now doesn't understand that." N noted, shaking his head slightly. "That's why I believe a Pokemon Master must be assertive. To help ignorant people see through the veil that's been put in front of them."

The way all trainers were viewed by the public was a touchy subject. All of them were lumped into a category of thugs, gangs and general hazards to society. Pokemon training was frowned upon by the masses, and being caught practicing or taking part in a battle would land you time in prison.

"You saw it earlier. The audience that watched that battle loved every minute of it. There are people out there that respect and admire Pokemon trainers, but the number of people that do pales in comparison to the number of people that don't." N explained. "So many people are wrapped up in the general opinion of Pokemon that they're unwilling to even try getting close to them. Those people are the ones that will never understand the true capabilities of Pokemon, or the bonds that you can form with them."

"Wouldn't being forceful with those kinds of people only steer them away from Pokemon?" Ash asked him in response. N merely looked up, a smile forming on his face.

"No. You would have to show them what they're missing out on." N stated. "That's why I want to meet a Pokemon Master, and have one special battle, like no other. We would put on a performance for the entire world to see, one that would reach people's hearts and make them see Pokemon for what they're worth. Not as these creatures that we must live apart from, but companions and friends to walk alongside us."

N looked down at his hands, now noticing that he had clenched them into tight fists. Stretching out his fingers with a soft sigh, N relaxed before looking up at Ash who seemed to be staring at him intensely.

Ash was breathing softly right now, struggling focus on N. As the green haired young man had been speaking, a pair of white wings had sprouted from his back, stretching out gallantly behind him. To say they were large was an understatement. They were the biggest pair of wings Ash had ever seen on a person! Noticing the grin N had donned, Ash blinked a few times and focused solely on N now.

"Sorry, I got a little riled up." He apologized to Ash.

"No no, I get like that too." Ash said, returning N's smile with a nod of understanding.

Despite the differences in their views of a Pokemon Master, Ash could see that ultimately, they both shared the same goal. To change the perception of Pokemon.

Ash and N's attention was drawn to one of the attendants who had approached them.

"Excuse me sir, we do have a schedule to keep this weekend." He reminded N who snapped his fingers.

"Right, sorry. I'll be right with you guys." He said, receiving a nod from the tall man. "It looks like I have to go. It was a pleasure talking to you. Hopefully our paths will cross again…"

N motioned for Ash to introduce himself.

"Ash, Ash Ketchum." Ash stated with a grin as they shook hands. 

With a sigh, Dawn dabbed at her leg jeans with a napkin, trying to dry them as best she could.

The night had been so exciting up until the Pokemon battle took place. Dawn had never seen one in person before, and it was scary to say the least. The two Pokemon she had seen tonight we both frightening to look at, and vicious in combat. Everyone else that was watching the battle though had been cheering wildly, and Dawn couldn't seem to grasp why they all were excited by watching these Pokemon fight each other. At the same time though, Dawn couldn't standing watching combat sports, so maybe she couldn't connect with Pokemon battles either.

After the battle had ended, Ash had disappeared and the music and dancing resumed around the subway station. Unfortunately, Dawn had been dragged back into the lobby of the station by the crowd that had come down to the platform, and found herself on her own for a few minutes. As she had wandered around, Dawn had bumped into a young man resulting in her spilling her drink on the leg of her jeans. He had apologized profusely just moments ago and darted off to replace her drink.

Feeling her phone buzz in her back pocket, Dawn pulled it out to see that she had received a text from Ash asking where she was. Dawn replied that she wasn't quite sure. All of the movement after the Pokemon battle had left her somewhere in the lobby.

"Crap." Ash muttered after reading the response from Dawn. He had run into Brock on his way back into the subway station who shared with him that they had all lost track of Dawn.

"What's the matter Ash?" Brock asked him. The two of them were in the heart of the lobby where most of the festivities were taking place. The music was considerably lower than when they had first arrived, allowing them to hold a conversation.

"Dawn doesn't know where she is." He groaned while running a hand down the side of his face.

"That's our bad to be honest Ash, we should've been keeping track of her." Brock admitted, but Ash waved it off.

"I shouldn't have left in the first place." Ash grumbled before feeling Brock nudge him with his shoulder. Looking at his friend, Brock nodded to his side as a gesture for Ash to look at something. Leaning forward a bit, Ash looked further down the table they were standing beside to see a guy who continued to look around as he poured to drinks. Leaning back a bit now to stay in Brock's shadow, Ash kept one eye on this guy as he pulled a tiny sealed package of his pocket and ripped it open, dumping its contents into one of the drinks. Once he completed this, he picked up both cups and went on his way.

"I don't like the look of that." Brock commented.

"Me neither." Ash agreed.

"We gonna follow him?"

"…Yeah, we'll find Dawn after this." Ash stated. Brock went off immediately while Ash took a moment to text Dawn saying it would be at least a few minutes. Tucking his phone away, Ash went off to pursue Brock who wasn't that hard to follow in the crowd considering his height.

Catching up to Brock, the two them kept their distance as they followed this guy to the far end of the lobby where the crowds had thinned out. Brock struck up a conversation with Ash in order to make sure it didn't seem as though they were intentionally following this guy who had been glancing around as he moved.

This little conversation died in their throats though as they saw the same guy they had been following approach a blue haired girl who had been standing by herself.

"Dawn." Ash muttered in a whisper. "What the hell?"

"I'm really sorry about earlier." The guy apologized to Dawn once again.

"Like I said, don't worry about it." Dawn said to him half-heartedly as he offered her the drink he had brought.

"I figured I could at least replace the drink you lost." He offered kindly. Dawn thanked him softly and accepted the cup. The guy watched her expectantly for a few moments before motioning for her to drink up. Dawn obliged to his gesture and raised the cup to her lips. As she went to take a sip though, Dawn gasped as the scene in front of her plunged into total chaos.

A fist hit the guy in front of her, right in the jaw which threw him to the floor. His drink went flying out of his hand as he shouted in pain. Placing a hand on the side of his face, he looked up angrily at his attacker.

"Ash?" Dawn exclaimed, and her confusion and shock only increased as Brock snatched the cup she held.

"The hell is your problem man!?" The guy shouted furiously at Ash before his attention was drawn to Brock as he dumped the drink on the floor.

"What the hell did you put in her drink?!" Ash barked at him, causing the guy to swallow his anger suddenly.

"Despicable." Brock said with a sneer, seeing that the guy was now realizing he had been caught. "You think you're slick trying to take advantage of a girl. What's the matter with you?"

Scrambling to his feet, the guy took off in a sprint, and Brock rushed off to pursue him. Ash remained with Dawn though, taking a deep breath as he relaxed a bit, knowing that Brock would make sure that guy was punished properly.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked, trying to piece together everything that had just happened.

"That guy put some crap in your drink. I don't know what it was, but we're lucky Brock saw it." Ash explained to her, causing Dawn to look down at her drink which Brock had dumped on the floor.

"Oh my god." Dawn muttered softly. It hadn't even occurred to her that she couldn't trust that guy. She had assumed that he had no ill intents, that he was genuine and that was her mistake. There was no telling what the drink could've done to her, or what the guy would've done after that. Noticing that Dawn was drowning in her own thoughts, Ash placed a hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

"Dawn, don't worry. We wouldn't have let anything happen to you. I should have been keeping a closer eye on you, but I got distracted." Ash admitted to her. "People like that guy, they're the worst. Most of the people here came to have a good time, but there's always someone that has to try and ruin it. He has no respect for the people that worked hard to be here tonight."

Dawn looked at Ash, and for the first time since she had met him, he looked genuinely upset. Compared to his typically calm demeanor, she had seen a number of different faces on Ash tonight. He seemed to sparkle in the presence of people he trusted, and it was clear that he would stop at nothing to stand up for those same people.

"I think we should head home now." Ash said with a sigh. His mood had been ruined now, and above all else he wanted to make sure Dawn got back home safely. 

"Are you serious, someone tried to spike her drink?!" Serena exclaimed as the group of seven exited the train station above ground, heading for Brock's car where he had left Dawn and Ash. Brock had managed to gather up the group who had been scattered around the subway station, informing them all that Ash was going to be leaving. That alone was enough to get them away from the festivities, but then Brock told them what had happened to Dawn as well.

"Yeah, but we stopped her before she drank any of it." Brock explained, much to everyone's relief. "Ash and I are going to take her home."

"Crap, now I feel bad. I kinda forgot she was with us." Tierno muttered before feeling Shauna flick the back of his head. She was currently receiving a piggy back ride from him and her cheeks were rosy as she commanded Tierno to move faster.

"It might be a good idea for all us to go home anyway, Shauna especially." Trevor commented, getting a small laugh from the group. "She had quite a few drinks while we weren't looking."

"What else is new?" Miette asked sarcastically. Shauna always drank too much when they went out.

"I'll take Shauna home then." Serena stated. "Who else needs a ride?"

"Brock picked me up, so I need a ride home." Miette said with one hand raised.

"There's a word you forgot Miette." Serena pointed out with a small grin, causing Miette to roll her eyes.

"Puh-lease." Miette said through pursed lips.

"I would be delight to give you a ride home Miette. You'll have to sit in the back with Shauna though, I don't want her to stick her head out the window or anything." Serena explained, receiving a sigh from Miette as they arrived at Brock's car. Dawn was seated in the passenger seat with Ash standing beside the open door, holding a small conversation with her. At the sight of everyone approaching them Dawn jumped to her feet.

"Are you all leaving?" Dawn exclaimed.

"Yeah, I think we're going to call it a night." Tierno said as he kneeled down, placing Shauna on her feet beside the trunk of the car for her to lean on.

"Oh I'm sorry guys." Dawn said to them.

"Don't feel bad Dawn, you're not the only reason we're going home." Serena pointed out, and right on cue Dawn saw Shauna bend over and begin retching. Brock slapped his hand over eyes immediately.

"Tell me she didn't get any on my bumper." Brock said to Tierno who looked around at the group.

"Uh, so you want me to lie?" He asked in return.

"Aww, damn it!" Brock said, causing everyone to laugh before they began to go their separate ways.

"It was great seeing you again Ash." Tierno said as they bumped fists, followed by Trevor and Valerie.

"Don't be a stranger now." Trevor added, receiving a grin from Ash.

"I'm sure you guys will be seeing more of me in the future." Ash replied, waving to this trio as they made they left, heading for Valerie's car.

Next, Miette and Shauna approached him with Shauna in between them, her arms around their necks to use them as support.

"I'll be seeing you guys." Ash said to the three of them.

"Hmph, I hope your next visit is sometime soon Ash." Miette commented, getting a chuckle out of him.

"I said I'd drop by already, didn't I?" He asked her in return. Then he glanced at Serena who had been trying to think of something to say. "Hopefully you'll be there next time."

"I'll be there." Serena replied sternly. "I had fun dancing with you again. It was like old times."

"You know I'll never forget the steps with you." Ash replied, giving her a small smile. Serena pursed her lips a bit, her cheeks reddening slightly.

"You had better not." She retorted. Finally Ash's gaze settled on Shauna in the middle.

"Good night Shauna." He said to her. Shauna didn't respond though, not even bothering to look up at him.

Serena and Miette both gave her a nudge with their elbows in an effort to get a response to Ash from her.

"Ugh, my head hurts~, just leave me alone." She mumbled out, causing the group to deadpan.

"Well, I'll take what I can get since she's had a few drinks tonight." Ash commented causing Miette to shake her head. "Get home safely girls."

Miette and Serena waved to Ash as they left with Shauna, leaving just Ash, Dawn and Brock. With a grateful sigh, Brock climbed into the driver's seat now that he had successfully cleaned off the rear bumper of his car.

"So you've said good bye to everyone, are you ready to head out?" Brock asked Ash who gave him a nod.

"Yeah, let's get Dawn home." Ash said as he left Dawn in the passenger seat, jumping in the backseat so that they could get going. 

Dawn sighed with relief as she flopped onto her bed, amazed that her that she had actually gotten back into her room unnoticed. Thankfully, Ash had helped her with some of the things she hadn't given much thought, such as climbing back onto the wall that bordered her property. With his help though it was a breeze, placing her back in her room and not a soul in this house knew that she had gone out.

"3 am, geez." Dawn exclaimed in a whisper after looked at the clock on her wall. With how the night had unfolded, she wouldn't have been surprised if it was almost sunrise. Not only had she attended an underground event, but she had witnessed a Pokemon battle. She had made some new friends, and saw a different side of Ash Ketchum tonight.

Now she understood what Ash had wanted her to see, and she knew why he always said that there was something missing from her work.

She had always thought that if she had worked hard at something, that was would be more than enough to reach her goals. Ash, however, had been trying to tell her that sometimes that won't suffice. She had to immerse herself in her work if she expected to succeed, just like how Ash's friends worked so hard as dancers.

Seeing them perform on stage, Dawn could tell that they had practiced for hours each day of the week. Blood, sweat and tears went into their work. They poured their soul into it.

'I've never done that before.' Dawn said to herself. Sure she had struggled from time to time, but she would settle in the end. Almost like she gave up…

She couldn't accept that any longer. 

A/N

Easily my favorite chapter so far, so I really hope you all enjoyed it as well!

So we had two battles in this chapter, a dance battle and a Pokemon battle. I'm not that good at writing Pokemon battles, but I'm hoping for some improvement as we get to the others ones that I have planned.

If you remember from the first chapter, I was trying to make sure everyone understood that this was an AU. I believe this chapter solidifies why I was giving you all that warning. You're not going to see a lot of Pokemon battles because they're illegal. So everyone has normal lives and Pokemon battles are conducted in secret.

Also another discussion that I've been looking into that was featured in this chapter…what does it mean to be a Pokemon Master? I've been reading old discussion about what this means since there's never been an official answer about this title. I still haven't really come up with an answer of my own, but we'll definitely be exploring this subject throughout this story.

Moving on, notable characters!

N. He was probably my favorite 'rival' if you'll consider him that. The whole backstory from Pokemon B&W was easily my favorite with the two heroes using Reshiram and Zekrom. N is pivotal to this story later on, so expect to see him more in the future. Is he friend…or foe? Only time will tell.

As always I have to thank MjrGenMatt for all of his help! Thank you all for reading, and I hope to see you at our next update!

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

Saturday, September 10th

Dawn yawned audibly as she sat in her kitchen, quietly looking at dress designs on her phone. She was so glad that today was Saturday after having such a long night. It wasn't often that she slept in, but that was practically a requirement after the night she just had.

"Ah Miss Dawn, I'm glad to see that you've awakened." Darach greeted her as he entered the large kitchen.

"Good morning Darach." Dawn replied softly, giving him a small wave.

"It's almost eleven o'clock. Would you like anything for breakfast?" He offered her after glancing at the clock.

"Umm, I don't think so. I'm feeling fine right now. I might have an early lunch later on though." Dawn replied. Darach gave her a nod as he joined her at the table, taking a seat across from her. Dawn felt a chill run down her spine as she stole a glance at Darach, catching a glimpse of the stoic expression he wore as he observed her.

"Do you mind if I ask you a question Miss Dawn?" Darach asked her, and this caused Dawn's heart rate to pick up. The way he was examining her, almost skeptically…it made her feel uneasy. Did Darach know anything about last night? Was he there?!

"Ah, sure." Dawn said, inviting him to proceed.

"Are you aware of the curfew your parents set for you?" Darach began, and Dawn already knew that her fate was sealed. Giving him a small nod, Darach then continued. "It's a generous time, so why would you choose to go out after your curfew?"

"How'd you know?" Dawn asked him first.

"I always check on all of you once you've gone to sleep Miss Dawn. When I checked your room last night, I surprised to see that you weren't there. Where did you go?"

"I went to hang out with some friends. Believe me though, that was a one-time thing." Dawn explained. She definitely didn't plan on seeing any more of Vermilion City's nightlife in the near future.

"And what about that young man you returned with this morning. Who is he?" Darach inquired as he leaned forward a bit. Dawn leaned back into her seat with a pout now since the entirety of her night out had been completely exposed by Darach. All of her careful planning had been spoiled on her very first attempt.

"His name is Ash Ketchum. We go to school together." Dawn said with a huff, causing Darach to perk up.

"Ketchum?" He repeated, getting a nod from Dawn.

"Mhmm, and he's pretty nice too." Dawn said before their doorbell chimed.

"Excuse for one moment." Darach said as he rose from his seat. He disappeared from the kitchen to answer the front door, leaving Dawn to drum her fingers on the table as she waited. Soon enough, Darach returned with another question for Dawn. "Miss Dawn, were you expecting company today?"

"I wasn't expecting anyone. Why, who is it?" Dawn asked in return as Darach beckoned for her to come with him.

"There's a young woman at the door requesting your presence." Darach explained as the two of them journeyed to the main entrance of the estate where Dawn found none other than Serena waiting there for her.

"Serena?" Dawn exclaimed at the sight of the familiar brunette who smiled upon seeing her.

"Good morning Dawn!" She said cheerily.

"I see, so this is another acquaintance from school?" Darach asked as he looked toward Dawn.

Dawn kept a neutral expression as she realized Darach must have associated Serena with Ash, assuming that Serena was also one of her peers. Dawn was ready to correct him but another thought occurred in her mind. Did she want to tell Darach that she had met Serena from the night before? She had already promised him that she wouldn't break curfew again, but mentioning that she was still associating with the people she had met last night probably wasn't the best idea. Dawn didn't need to have Darach being suspicious of her.

"Ye-up. Serena, this is Darach my butler." Dawn said, introducing the man who bowed to Serena.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." Darach said as he straightened up. "Seeing as you have company Miss Dawn, we'll drop the subject you and I were discussing and I'll give you some privacy."

"Thank you Darach." Dawn said as he left the two of them together at the front door.

Serena waited a few moments, watching Darach disappear into one of the corridors before she finally spoke again.

"Dang Dawn, Ash said your house was big, but this is huge!" She noted, looking around in awe. Dawn gave a sheepish chuckle in response. "What does your family do?"

"Oh, my dad is big on trade and commerce and stuff like that. Plus he owns the shipping yards downtown." Dawn explained, leaving Serena wide eyed. No wonder they were so well off. "By the way, how'd you know where I live?"

"Ash texted me your address this morning. After what happened last night, he said you were a little shaky." Serena explained. "Miette and I were coming today, but she was called in to work so I came by myself."

Dawn was touched that Ash's friends were willing to come all the way to her home to make sure she was alright. Serena barely even knew her yet she had gone through all of this trouble.

"Thank you so much." Dawn said sweetly. "Believe me, I'm totally fine now."

"I'm happy to hear that. Ash was beating himself up for not keeping track of you last night." Serena added. "Actually, that's also why I stopped by. I wanted to talk to you about Ash."

"Really?"

The Berlitz Estate was very large, much too big for the four occupants to use effectively. However there was one room that was used exclusively by just one person - the head of the household Mr. Berlitz. It was a den in the far wing of the estate, and neither his wife nor his daughter had ever set foot in this room.

Standing alone in this den, Darach looked around the dimly lit room that was filled with priceless antique furniture and various shelves and cabinets lined up against the walls. This room was an information hub.

Darach understood that Mr. Berlitz was a powerful man, more powerful than his family knew. He had a monopoly on the shipping industry in Vermilion City, possessing full control of the shipping yards within the city. With this, Mr. Berlitz had a wealth of connections around the city to all sorts of important figures. These sorts of connections came with secrets though, all of which were contained within this den.

'Ash Ketchum.' Darach said as he approached one of the cabinets. Opening it up, he began to flip through the files contained within it.

Darach didn't venture into this den often, but when he did it came with a good reason. Dawn's mention of the surname 'Ketchum' sounded oddly familiar. He had heard it somewhere before, although he didn't think that it would be associated with a high schooler, one that Dawn of all people would know.

"Ah, here it is." Darach noted softly as he pulled out the file he was searching for that was labeled with the name Ketchum. Heading over to the nearby desk, Darach laid it down, opened it, and was instantly taken aback by its contents. The first document within it was a police investigation concerning the murder of Delia Ketchum.

Beginning to move through the contents of the file now, Darach was quite surprised by what he was learning. Briefly it touched on the each of the members of the Ketchum family, Aaron, Delia and Ash. However, the bulk of its contents surrounded the business agreements between Mr. Berlitz and Aaron Ketchum, the husband and father. The two of them had formed a partnership almost twenty years ago.

Mr. Berlitz had just finished constructing the last extension of his shipping yards, deeming his project complete. Many of his associates advised that he hire some sort of security though to ensure that his yards didn't attract unwanted attention. Mr. Berlitz had hired two other security agencies, both of which failed to prevent Pokemon trainers from using his shipping yards as an area to host battles. So he turned to Aaron who was running a business off the books, using Pokemon trainers for security detail.

This worked like a charm, allowing his shipping yards to thrive with there being no threats to his business. However, tensions between Aaron and Mr. Berlitz began to spark over the course of a few years until the fuse was finally lit. Within a short period of time, the tensions between both parties went off like a bomb.

Delia was killed.

Aaron disappeared.

Little Ash was orphaned.

The whereabouts of Ash and Aaron were unknown since the information had been left unattended for years now.

'Hmm, this could be useful.' Darach noted.

Dawn was seated in the passenger seat of Serena's small car as they raced along the expressway that would take them to the north side of Vermilion City. Their conversation earlier had been very short as Serena simply grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her into her car so that she could take her across town. Fortunately Dawn had been dressed decently so she didn't protest as Serena practically kidnapped her.

"So do you remember last night when Miette asked you if you like Ash?" Serena asked her.

"Yeah, why do you ask?" Dawn asked slowly, eyeing the brunette as she drove.

"Well, I just think that you should know that if you plan on getting close with Ash, there are a few things you might want to know." Serena explained with a very sobering tone. Dawn could tell that this subject was going to be heavy.

"I mean, I think I got the gist of it last night. I never would've guessed that Ash wanted to become a Pokemon trainer." Dawn commented. She was still in shock over this discovery, struggling to wrap her head around how Ash could be interested in Pokemon. It didn't make any sense to her at all. "He's such a good artist too. Why would he want to become a Pokemon trainer?"

"Ash has uh…a complicated life." Serena said with a sigh. "To him, becoming a trainer is sort of a quick fix for it."

"But you could get arrested for being a Pokemon trainer." Dawn stated, shaking her head a bit. She genuinely wanted to know why such a talented person like Ash would turn to such a dangerous lifestyle in search of stability. It didn't make any sense.

"He knows that. It's not enough to stop him though."

"That's just a waste of time then." Dawn proclaimed.

"Watch it Dawn." Serena said sharply, her expression darkening momentarily.

Dawn was taken aback by Serena's change in tone. Realizing that she must have overstepped her boundaries, Dawn remained silent, waiting for Serena to continue speaking.

"Sorry. It's just that I know he has a lot on his plate right now, but he's always working hard. So please, don't say things like that." Serena said defensively.

Dawn remembered Ash's criticism of her, that she only took everything at face value. At this very moment she was sitting in an opportunity to break free of this habit, all she had to do was pay closer attention to what Serena had just shared with her.

Dawn could discern from Serena's comment that she knew more about Ash than she let on.

"Don't get me wrong though Dawn, I hate what he's trying to do." Serena continued, slightly irritated now.

"You don't want him to become a trainer?" Dawn asked softly.

"None of us do-" Serena stated firmly. "-with the exception of Brock."

Dawn furrowed her brow at the thought of Brock encouraging Ash to become a Pokemon trainer.

"Why would Brock do that?" Dawn asked with a furrowed brow.

"The two of them knew each other before I even met Ash. So I probably don't know any better than you." Serena admitted.

"So then, what do you know about Ash?" Dawn asked curiously. It was clear Serena knew him better than she did.

"Ash is…this amazing person that's been stuck for…I don't know how long now." Serena responded.

"Stuck?"

"Yeah, like you've seen what he's capable of. He used to dance with our group, and I've seen some of those paintings in his house. He's incredible! But he can't build on any of it." Serena lowered her voice with her last statement, appearing to be disheartened by what she was saying. Dawn could tell that Serena wanted Ash to succeed, and his choices were bothering her.

"So what's the reason he wants to become a Pokemon trainer?" Dawn asked once again, returning to the root of this problem.

"It might be easier if I just show you."

Dawn now stood on the front porch steps for a two story building with Serena at her side. The brunette had taken her into a dense neighborhood on the north end of Vermilion City. There were people everywhere enjoying their Saturday morning since there was no work or school. However, the two girls remained focused squarely on the house in front of them.

"So what are we doing here?" Dawn asked, causing Serena to sigh deeply.

"Sorry, it's been a while since I've been here." Serena replied as she raised her hand, beginning to knock on the door.

It was a few moments before the door opened up, revealing a young purple haired girl and an older woman with golden hair. The two of them seemed to gasp at the sight of Serena, their eyes wide.

"No way, Serena?!" They exclaimed together, causing her to laugh.

"It's good to see you guys too." She said, greeting Casey and Cassidy who invited them in.

"Macy, guess who's here?!" Casey shouted as she ran upstairs to retrieve her younger sister.

"And who might you be?" Cassidy asked after closing the door, placing her gaze on Dawn.

"This is a friend of Ash's. Her name is Dawn. Dawn this is Cassidy, Ash's…" Serena trailed off in search of a title that she could give to Cassidy.

"Caretaker." Cassidy interjected, getting a nod of thanks from Serena.

"So this is where Ash lives?" Dawn asked as she looked around their home.

"You got it." Cassidy said she motioned for them to come with her.

"Is Ash here right now?" Serena asked tentatively.

"No, he went out earlier this morning. He'll be back later if you wanted to see him." Cassidy said as they entered the living room, allowing Dawn to see one of the murals Ash had painted in the house.

"Oh my gosh!" Dawn exclaimed as she stared at the massive painting. "Who did this?!"

"Ash of course." Serena said, causing Dawn's jaw to drop. "I thought you would've figured that out yourself Dawn since you're always going on about how he's such a great artist."

"Well I mean I've only seen his sketches. I had no idea her could paint like this!" Dawn explained, motioning to the mural.

"Serena!" Dawn turned to see a small girl come running down the staircase beside them gleefully having spotted Serena. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, she turned and raced at Serena, latching onto her leg. Looking up, she noticed that that Serena's hair was much short than the last time she had visited. "Aww, you cut your hair. I like it better long."

"Oh I'm sorry Macy. I just felt like it was time I did something different." Serena replied as she kneeled down to collect Macy from the floor.

"So what made you stop by today?" Cassidy asked as leaned over the banister of the staircase, listening to their conversation.

"Dawn has gotten to know a bit about Ash since she first met him." Serena explained, gesturing toward the bluenette. "I thought she might want to be well informed about a few things going in."

Cassidy now turned to Dawn, taking a few moments to quietly observe the girl. Then she nodded to Serena who left with Macy, heading toward the kitchen. Cassidy then looked up at Casey and motioned for her to get moving. She didn't want her listening in to their conversation. With a huff Casey went back upstairs, leaving Dawn and Cassidy to speak privately within the living room.

"Boy, it's been a long time since Serena came by." Cassidy noted with a smile. "It must still be tough for her to come here by herself."

"Why would it be tough? All of you seem to like her." Dawn pointed out, recalling how they had greeted her at the door.

"Well she and Ash used to date." Cassidy revealed, surprising Dawn.

"Really?" She exclaimed, receiving a nod from Cassidy.

"They were good for each other too. Serena's older than him, so it was easier for her to get through Ash's thick skull." Cassidy commented with a chuckle.

"They used to date. So what happened, if you don't mind me asking?" Dawn inquired now, causing Cassidy to go take a seat on one of the sofas, inviting Dawn to join her. Once the two of them were seated and comfortable, Cassidy began to speak again.

"My big mouth is what happened. I revealed some things that were better left in the dark, and it broke them apart." Cassidy explained, and Dawn donned an expression of concern.

"So then, what are you going to tell me?" Dawn asked. If a conversation with Cassidy ruined the relationship between Ash and Serena, why would Serena bring her here to talk to Cassidy?

"Obviously I've learned my lesson Dawn. I just didn't anticipate Ash reacting like how he did." Cassidy explained, motioning for Dawn to remain calm. "However, there are some things about Ash that you need to know."

"I already know he's trying to become a Pokemon trainer. I don't know why he wants to be a trainer, and Serena didn't really give me a straight answer about it either." Dawn said, and Cassidy began to nod to herself a bit.

"So Dawn, can you answer this for me? What do you feel toward Ash?" Cassidy asked her in a solemn tone. Cassidy wasn't beating around the bush; she got straight to the point.

Dawn had been asked a similar question last night. Serena had also asked her a similar question on the ride here. Did she like Ash? Dawn still didn't have a definite answer.

She had seen two sides of Ash Ketchum since meeting him. One that was reserved, quiet and observant…the version of him that she had spent a week with at school. Then there was the person that she had met last night. The person that smiled vibrantly around his friends, who danced like a goofball, that passionately stood beside anyone that he cared about. The person that had come to her rescue once again last night. Dawn was certain that this was the person that she…'liked.'

"Yes. I do like him." Dawn stated, her voice possessing clarity. Cassidy furrowed her brow, giving Dawn a look of uncertainty. Peering into Dawn's blue eyes, she searched for any doubt within them, but Dawn's eyes were unwavering.

"Dawn…I don't mean to sound rude when I ask you this, but are you sure you're prepared for this?" Cassidy asked her.

"I don't know what it is you're going to tell me, but it won't change my opinion of Ash." Dawn stated firmly. "I've seen enough of him myself to know that he's a good person."

Cassidy's expression brightened a bit at Dawn's response. It was similar to what Serena had said when she and Cassidy had this discussion some time ago.

"So can you tell me what's so complicated about Ash?"

Cassidy leaned back into the sofa for a moment, admiring the stance Dawn had taken for Ash. Dawn hadn't known Ash for long, but it was clear that he had left a lasting impression on her already. Perhaps she might be able trust Dawn.

"He's caught between two worlds right now." Cassidy revealed.

"What worlds?" Dawn asked as she leaned toward Cassidy a little.

"You've seen how talented he is." Cassidy said, looking back at the mural beside them. "There's so much he could do with himself, but he wants to be a Pokemon trainer. He's a senior in high school right now. He should be enjoying himself, spending time with his friends, and getting ready to take his next step in life."

Cassidy sighed deeply though, taking a few moments before she continued.

"Instead of doing things like that, he goes to work after school. And if he's not working, then he's out there somewhere practicing to become a trainer." Cassidy revealed causing Dawn to frown slightly, a look of apprehension forming on her face.

"But why though? Why is he trying to become a trainer?" She asked, making eye contact with Cassidy once again. The older woman was a bit surprised by the honest concern Dawn had for Ash. Clearly Ash had carved a little place in Dawn's heart.

"There are a lot of reasons…but I feel like the biggest reason is to help me. If it weren't for Ash, we probably wouldn't be living here." Cassidy admitted, shaking her head a bit. "Originally my husband had bought this place, but one thing led to another and now I'm the owner. Unfortunately, I don't have any income. We get a bit of support that covers our necessities, but Ash handles everything else."

"I don't understand. You said you're his caretaker, why aren't his parents doing anything?" Dawn asked, causing Cassidy to suck in her lower lip for a moment.

"His father disappeared…and his mother passed away a long time ago." Cassidy responded, and the mood in the room became somber.

"Oh…" Dawn looked down now. "So then, he's all alone."

"No, I wouldn't say that." Cassidy said immediately. "He has us."

Cassidy motioned to herself, and then to the corridor where they had previously been standing as a reference to the two younger girls.

"They may not be his sisters, and I may not be his mother, but you wouldn't know that based on the way he treats us." Cassidy declared. "He would work himself to death to keep us all together."

"So then…" Dawn paused for a moment, wondering if she should press further with her next question, or if it might have been too rude. Cassidy was a blonde, yet Casey had purple hair, and Macy was a brunette. They bore no resemblance to Cassidy, at least far as Dawn could see, so that left her to wonder… "Are those girls orphans as well?"

Cassidy nodded.

"They were orphaned when they were young." Cassidy replied with a sorrowful smile. "I took them into my care because…I guess you could say I'm trying to atone for some of my past mistakes."

"You're amazing." Dawn said suddenly, surprising Cassidy. "To just take them into your home and sacrifice everything for them. That's incredible."

Cassidy's cheeks reddened at the compliment. It wasn't often she was praised for the choices that she had made, but she was grateful that Dawn understood.

"So Ash is trying to become a Pokemon trainer for…the money? Is that what he's after?" Dawn inquired now. She wasn't aware of how trainers made their money, but from what she had seen in the news, these gangs or 'kingdoms' as Brock put it, do have some sort of income to provide for so many trainers.

"More or less, that's what he wants."

"He's an amazing artist though. Hasn't he tried to sell his art?" Dawn asked incredulously. Cassidy opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak for a few moments as she worded her answer.

"He has tried. I remember he had approached a few directors about getting some of his work into a gallery. They turned him down." Cassidy stated, and Dawn's expression softened. "They were looking for artists with a…a body of work. Ash is unknown, and he told me that at his age, it'll take him years before anyone will acknowledge him."

Dawn leaned back into her seat. She understood what Ash was talking about. It wasn't easy to become a recognized artist during your youth, especially in Vermilion City which was known as a hub for the arts.

"What if I helped you all out?" Dawn asked and her expression brightened with this offer. "My dad makes a lot of money. What if he gave you some to help out around here, to make things easier?"

"We're not some charity case Dawn." Cassidy stated, and Dawn sunk into her seat at that. Cassidy pursed her lips, realizing she could have worded that a bit better. "I mean, believe me Dawn, I'm incredibly touched that you would be willing to do such a thing for us. But I couldn't accept, wecouldn't accept. Ash wouldn't be happy about it. He's so hard headed and stubborn. He doesn't know how to ask for help, even when he needs it."

Dawn crossed her arms in front of her chest with a huff. For everything that she had learned about Ash Ketchum since she had met him, Dawn never would've imagined that he was stubborn or hard headed. However she did find this thought cute and amusing.

"You know Dawn, I'm glad you respect Ash's ability as an artist. You're an artist too, right?" Cassidy asked, causing Dawn to perk up. The bluenette gave her an energetic nod. "Ash lost his confidence when that gallery rejected him, and since then he's been more focused on becoming a trainer. I'm not much of an artist, so my opinion doesn't matter much to him, but I feel like if other artists reminded him of how good he is, he might stop pursuing Pokemon training so much."

Dawn nodded slowly at this, realizing why Serena had brought her here.

"…I've seen some of those paintings in his house. He's incredible! But he can't build on any of it."

Serena understood everything that Ash was capable of. She could see that he was wasting his talents trying to become a Pokemon trainer. Dawn felt a sense of admiration for what Ash was trying to do, but she found herself agreeing with both Serena and Cassidy. Ash didn't need to become a Pokemon trainer in an attempt to solidify his life. He could do almost anything he wanted, and he was bound to find success! Cassidy knew that. Serena knew that.

Speaking of Serena…

"So what exactly made Ash and Serena break up then?" Dawn asked curiously, recalling that Cassidy had mentioned this to her earlier.

"There are other reasons Ash is trying to become a Pokemon trainer, and I shared them with Serena. She only has Ash's best interests at heart, but he didn't appreciate her trying to change his goals. This strained their relationship, and eventually they broke it off." Cassidy explained. "I don't want the same thing to happen to someone else."

Dawn was taken aback when Cassidy suddenly took hold of both her hands, as if to plead with her.

"That's why I'm making a different request for you Dawn. I want you to remind Ash of his true talents." Cassidy continued. "Becoming a Pokemon trainer is going to take him down a dark path, and if he commits to it, he won't turn back. So please, help him to see that there are other things that he can do with himself."

Monday, September 12th

"Hey Dawn!" May called out to her friend as she pursued her through one of the corridors of the school. Dawn glanced back, containing her urge to giggle at May's willingness to shout over the chatter of the other students, who had all turned to look at her now. Dawn stepped off to the side, allowing the people being her to proceed as she waiting for May.

"What's going on May?" Dawn asked once her friend was walking alongside her.

"The real question is what's going on with you? I was texting you all day Saturday and you didn't respond to any of them." May pointed out as she gave Dawn a suspect glance.

"Oh gosh, I was really busy May." Dawn explained as she pulled out her phone to check her message history. She hadn't looked at her phone at all over the weekend, and just as May had said there was a one sided conversation from May that was completely unanswered. "I'm so sorry May!"

"I was beginning to think you didn't want to hang out with me anymore since you've been spending all of your time with Ash lately." May pointed out with a smirk, causing Dawn's cheeks to flush red.

"I have not!" Dawn protested.

"Oh really, so do you want a ride home with me after seventh period?" May asked with a twinkle in her eyes. She knew Dawn had spent every day last week with Ash in Ms. Fantina's room during eighth and ninth period.

"Uh well, I can't." Dawn said weakly, causing May to put a hand to ear as she leaned closer to Dawn.

"And why's that Dawn?" The brunette pressed.

"Cause I'll be…" Dawn trailed off before a thought crossed her mind that would allow her to change the subject for at least a few moments. "Wait a second, I thought your parents took your car from you."

May quickly pulled her keys out of the side pocket of her backpack, flashing Dawn a grin of pride as her keys jingled.

"I'm the best daughter ever, so they gave it back to me." May responded before dropping her smile. She wasn't going to let Dawn get away. "But that's beside the point Dawn. Don't you want to accompany me for a little ride after seventh period?"

Unable to think of anything else to deter May's curiosity, Dawn gave in an admitted that she had been spending that extra time with Ash and riding him with him on the bus.

"I see, so you're dumping me for him huh?" May asked her playfully.

"May! You know I wouldn't do that." Dawn proclaimed.

"But I've been so lonely Dawn. I was away for the whole summer, and now that I'm back we haven't spent any time together outside of school." May pointed out as clasped her hands together, placing them over her chest. "I don't know how much more of this my heart can take."

Dawn rolled her eyes at May's antics, but she could understand her dear friend's point of view. They were only talking to each other at school.

"Okay, okay. I'll make it up to you then. This weekend we'll go out, girls only." Dawn suggested, earning a wide smile from May.

"I'm going to hold you to it." May said before giving Dawn a sly glance. "So now let's get down to business."

Dawn furrowed her brow as she looked at May.

"What did you do with Ash this weekend?"

Dawn's face became red at May's question.

"How did you know I went out with Ash?" Dawn exclaimed.

"Actually, I didn't. But you just confirmed it for me." May said, sticking out her tongue at Dawn. She pursued her lips, averting her gaze from May.

"You're the worst." Dawn commented, and May snickered in response.

"I love you too Dawn." May replied, giving Dawn a few moments to settle down. "So what did you guys do?"

"He took me to this little party that's all." Dawn replied, causing May to lean over toward her with a look of suspicion. Dawn continued to avoid eye contact with May, knowing full well what she had said wouldn't satisfy May's curiosity.

"That's it?" May asked, wrinkling her nose. Dawn nodded. "I don't know~, it sounds like your leaving out the juicy stuff."

"Nope, that's the whole story." Dawn stated as she looked at May once again. May frowned after studying Dawn's expression. She couldn't find any hints that Dawn was hiding something. May couldn't accept this though. She knew Dawn barely went out, mainly because of the curfew her parents had set, and there was no way Dawn could be this calm about her first party.

"Okay then…did you have a good time with Ash?" May asked her, and Dawn seemed to think about the answer for a few moments.

"Yeah…I did." Dawn said, nodding softly.

"So um, are you serious about him?" May inquired, and she raised her eyebrows at Dawn's quick reply.

"Yup. I really want to get to know him better." She said sternly, and May smiled at her.

"So you can get home on your own today?" May asked her, changing the subject suddenly.

"Uh yeah. I'm taking the bus."

"With Ash?"

"Not today, he has to get to work early." Dawn explained, noticing a twinkle in May's eyes before she darted off. Dawn tilted her head with a sigh as she watched May go, waving to her before she disappeared into the traffic of the halls.

May was seated behind the steering wheel of her sporty bright blue car that she had received from her parents. Resting on her nose was a pair of wide aviators as she drummed on the wheel to the beat of the song she was listening to. She was parked beside the field behind the school which was across the street from the school itself. Rather than having students struggle to cross the bustling streets of Vermilion City to get to this field, they built a bridge over the roadway to avoid any accidents.

This field was also the location of the bus stop that Ash and Dawn used to catch a ride over to the part of town Dawn lived in. Dawn had told her that she and Ash would be taking different buses today, so May's intention was to meet with Ash on her own.

May still didn't quite understand what it was Dawn saw in Ash. The only thing noteworthy, to her at least, was how well he could draw. Outside of that, he didn't really stand out. He wasn't a smiley person, he wasn't talkative or outgoing, or even that interesting. Yet Dawn was absolutely obsessed with him, going as far as reject an afternoon at their favorite café together. There had to be something else about him, something that May would have to find on her own.

Leaning forward in her seat, May peeked over her sunglasses as she spotted Ash and Dawn exiting the small stairwell that connected to the bridge. They were chatting as they approached the pair of benches beside the bus stop. May couldn't help but notice how animated Dawn was as she spoke to Ash, and to May's surprise, Ash was almost matching it. They sat down on a bench, and May leaned back into her seat now as she watched them converse. It would be a few minutes before the first bus arrived, and May felt her heart jump into her throat as she realized she didn't know which of the two of them would be leaving first. All of this waiting would have been for nothing if Ash got on this bus.

Fortunately, May could breathe a sigh of relief as Dawn got onto this bus, leaving Ash alone at the bus stop. Knowing that she couldn't waste a moment now, May threw her car into gear and backed out of her spot. Swinging out of the parking lot, she turned onto the road and then pulled up onto the shoulder alongside the bus stop. Ash looked up curiously at her now, his brow furrowed and his confusion only seemed to intensify as May rolled down the window on the passenger side for him to see her.

"Hey." May called out to him after lowering the music, motioning for him to approach her car.

"Hey?" Ash replied slowly as he stood up and came over. He couldn't think of a reason for May to approach him like this, nor did he know much about the brunette. The two of them had only spoken on a few occasions, and exchanged just a few words. Dawn had always been present, so this was the first time that he had ever spoken to May without Dawn with her.

"I heard you need a ride." May began as she unlocked the doors, motioning for him to get in. Ash looked at her funny and then opened his mouth to respond, but May immediately interjected with a - "Dawn told me."

Ash lowered his shoulders and tilted his head.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, don't think anything of it." May said happily as he opened up the door and slid into the passenger seat.

"Did she give you a reason?" Ash pressed as he glanced at May who had been watching him closely. She lowered her aviators, revealing how intently she had been following his movements, examining everything about him.

"No, she didn't." May replied, refusing to break her gaze on Ash. This left him unsettled as he shifted in his seat. Pulling his seatbelt across his torso, Ash waited for her to start driving now, but May continued to stare at him. Then she leaned closer, causing him to straighten up uncomfortably, unable to figure out exactly what may was trying to do.

May was a little confused now. It was like Ash had gone back into a shell or something. Just a few minutes ago he had been holding a conversation where he was so bright. Now his reserved demeanor had set back as his expression remained neutral.

"Uh, is there something you want May?" Ash asked her tentatively, causing her to sigh exasperatedly before she returned her focus to the road.

"You know what Ash, I'm just going to be up front with you. I want to get to know you better." May stated, leaving Ash dumbfounded.

"Um, why?"

"Does a girl need a reason?" She asked with a huff, looking at him expectantly.

"No…I was just curious is all." Ash replied immediately.

"So you don't mind then?"

"Well I don't really think I'm in a position to refuse." Ash noted with a small chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. He was in her car after all, accepting a free ride to his job.

"Okay, so I've known Dawn for a long time and she's an artist like you. She's got this whole, 'creative process.' I call it, being weird. Anyway, since you're obviously a good artist, I just wanted to know what you were like…like if you're similar to Dawn." May explained to him, and Ash put on another funny expression.

"So you want to know if I'm…weird?" Ash asked her. May opened her mouth to speak but froze upon realizing that she had talked herself into a corner. She didn't intend to lump him together with Dawn as 'being weird' as she put it, but Ash didn't seem to take any offense from her comment.

"Uh, yeah. Let's go with that." May said sheepishly, trying to laugh it off.

For a faint moment, May saw the corner of his lips curve upward as he snorted.

"Okay, so what do you want to know about me?" He asked as May took her foot of the brake and joined the traffic.

"Let's start with something easy. Where do you work?" May asked him.

"At Wallace's Craft store. It's this artsy little store uptown." Ash replied and May blew a raspberry.

"Figures you'd be working at an art store." May commented before a light bulb went off in her head. "So then, who taught you how to draw?"

Ash's expression darkened momentarily, although this went unnoticed by May's whose eyes were locked on the road.

"My mom taught me, when I was little." He stated.

"Oh, so she was an artist or painter or something?"

"Um, not really. She just told me that her family had always been on the creative side. She says I inherited that from her." Ash explained, earning a nod from May.

"Cool." She said, moving on to her next question. "So~, what about nicknames? Do you have any?"

"Nothing serious really. I mean, there's a little someone I know that calls me Ashy, but no one has ever really given me a nickname." Ash responded.

"Lame." May stated, sticking her tongue out a bit. "Next question. Who knows you the best?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Ash, you're not some kind of hermit are you?" May said with a giggle. "It has to be your mom or dad, or maybe a sibling right?"

Ash chewed on his lower lip for a moment, gazing out the window.

"Actually, there is a lady who's raised me since I was young. Her name's Cassidy and I think it's fair to say she knows me pretty well." Ash explained.

"Oh so she's like your nanny?"

"Yeah, if you want to call her that." He said with a nod.

"Alright then, do you have any siblings?" May went on, building on the subject of family since they had touched it.

"…Yeah." Ash said. His sisters may not have been related to him by blood, but he had known Casey since she was four, and had known Macy from the tender age of just nine months. The bond he shared with them was more than close enough for him to consider them his siblings.

"How many?" May went on.

"Two. Sisters actually."

"Do you have a favorite?" May asked with a small grin. Ash stopped to think about each of the girls.

He had known Casey for much longer, almost eight years. She had always been a handful throughout her childhood, and as she entered her teenage years Ash could only imagine how things would go from there. She was always very spirited and lively, always eager to act on her own at the drop of a hat. Ash admired how independent she wanted to be while she was so young.

Macy on the other hand, was still so young and impressionable. She was only four after all. Sweet and innocent. She was like a ray of sunshine, forcing everyone around her to relax and smile no matter what was on her mind. Ash shook his head with a smile.

"I don't have a favorite." He stated.

"Oh please. I'm sure one of them must get on your nerves from time to time." May pointed out, recalling how often her younger brother would annoy her.

"Nope, they're both wonderful."

"Then I bet your parents have a favorite. They always spoil the youngest one after all." May said, speaking from experience. "If there are three of you I bet your youngest sister must be spoiled rotten."

Ash clenched his right hand into a tight fist, keeping a deep frown hidden from May.

-X-X-

Ash stood beside Cassidy within the moderately sized kitchen of their home, leaning on the counter as he watched Casey and Macy at the table, devouring their breakfast. Ash couldn't help but snort at the sight of Macy with syrup all over her mouth as she attacked what remained of her pancake.

"Here is yours Ash." Cassidy said as she lifted her small pan, sliding the pancake onto the empty plate beside him. "We're going to be eating light this week."

Ash shrugged his shoulders in reply. This was nothing new for them. There were good weeks and bad weeks. Although the latter meant that they would be stretching out their meals.

"Can I have some more?" Macy asked as she looked over at Cassidy. The blonde woman raised her eyebrows for a moment before she turned her back to Macy, beginning to scan the counter for something that she could use to subdue Macy's appetite.

"I don't know sweetie." Cassidy mumbled.

Ash spent a moment watching Cassidy search for something she could give to Macy, and then he picked up his plate and approached the table where the two girls were seated. Tilting his plate, Ash plopped his pancake onto Macy's plate causing her eyes to brighten considerably as she looked up at him.

"Thanks Ashy!" She exclaimed, watching as he took her knife and fork.

"Don't forget to share with your sister." Ash stated as he cut it in half. He cut Macy's portion up for her, and took the remaining half and placed it on Casey's plate. She looked up at him, a bit of uncertainty in her eyes. Ash merely winked at her in response.

Stepping back from the two, Ash felt his lips curve upward as they continued to eat. Out of the corner of his eyes though, he caught sight of Cassidy who was looking at him with a frown.

"Ash." She said in a low voice, motioning for him to come over to her with a small nod. "What are you  going to eat?"

"I'll figure something out." Ash replied as he glanced back at the two girls. Macy ate without a care in the world, which was more than enough to put Ash at ease. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

-X-X-

Macy and Casey had endured so much already, some of it unknowingly. There was a lot about their lives that they were unaware of, and probably wouldn't understand. So Ash wanted nothing more than to spoil both of them rotten if he was given the chance.

"Ash?" May asked, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Is something wrong?"

Ash blinked a few times, realizing that they had stopped at a red light. Looking at May, he could see that she had taken off her sunglasses to look at him directly. Ash licked his lips, noticing that they had become dry. How long had he gone silent for?

"I'm sorry, was I being insensitive?" May asked, but Ash shook his head. After posing her last question to Ash, May had assumed he was thinking deeply about his answer. She left him in his thoughts for a bit, but the silence had left her a little unnerved until she decided to check on him. "Did I say something to upset you?"

"No, you didn't." Ash said quickly, assuring her that he was alright.

"Okay then…why don't we change our focus? Ask me a few questions." May insisted, and after a few moments Ash agreed. After taking some time to think of a few questions for the brunette beside him, Ash asked his first question.

"Alright May, what do you like to do with your free time?"

It was a simple question, and May gave a…not so simple answer. For all of the time he had spent around May and Dawn, he never would've guessed that May could turn into a total chatterbox. She shared everything with him, rambling endlessly. Walks on the beach. Tennis matches. Karaoke. Watching movies. The whole nine yards. Ash could plan an itinerary for a vacation just using May's hobbies.

"And I tried water skiing just once but that was a disaster so I don't really recommend it to people." May stopped to take a breath, and out of fear of her continuing Ash interrupted her.

"Okay May." He interjected. "How about we move on to the next question?"

"I still had a little more to say for the last one, but I guess we can move on." May replied, smiling a bit. Ash lowered his shoulders, sighing inwardly with relief. "Ask away Ash."

"Where do you see yourself in…five years?" Ash asked her, and this one kept May quiet for a little while.

"You know," She began after a long pause. "I've never really given this much thought. I just always figured that things would just fall into place around me."

Ash wrinkled his forehead, confused with her answer.

"So…you don't see yourself doing anything in the future?" Ash reworded his question for her.

"No I mean, I just stopped thinking about the future since uh…" May stopped briefly, frowning a bit. "Anyway, I really haven't bothered trying to plan something out. I just see myself having fun."

"There's more to life than just having fun ya know." Ash pointed out.

May remained silent now as gathered her thoughts. For the past couple of years she had only been looking to have a good time. She never gave anything else much thought.

"Isn't there something that you really want?" Ash continued as he waited for her answer.

Her parents were well off, so she got anything she wanted. She could do anything she wanted. There was no work required. She had a car on her sixteenth birthday and she didn't even ask for it, not that she would turn down this gift from her parents. May never really had to work for anything.

A certain green haired young man flashed in her mind for a moment. The only thing she wanted and didn't have. Drew. She had been trying to win his attention for the longest time now, but as she thought about it now, she had barely put in any real effort. It had been dumb luck that she got to spend some time with him during their summer vacation.

"Yeah, there is something I'd like to get." May noted softly. "There's a guy I've been interested in for a while now, but I've never really done anything on my own to get his attention."

"What, are you waiting for him to make the first move?" Ash inquired curiously. He understood that normally guys would make the first move, but in this case he couldn't see why May was hesitating.

"Er, well we kind of, sorta went on a date over summer vacation. He hasn't talked to me since though, so I just kind of thought he'd come and talk to me eventually." May replied nervously, and Ash was dumbfounded for a moment.

"Sometimes May…you have to take the initiative and be the gutsy person who makes the first move. At the very least you won't regret letting him slip away while you did nothing." Ash said to her, and those words seem to resonate within May.

Living without regrets….

But wouldn't it be better to save herself the heartache of rejection, or the disappointment of a failed relationship?

"I…don't want to get hurt." May admitted after a little while. Ash shrugged his shoulders as he looked at May solemnly.

"None of us want to May. It's just that, there's no way to avoid it really. At some point all of us are going to fall and get hurt, but the only option you have is to pick yourself back up and keep moving. It's as simple as that." Ash said, causing May to glance at him for just a moment. Time seemed to slow down for her as she took this glance at Ash. He was smiling, not a big smile by any means, but it was like he was sparkling. This was the first time the two of them had really spoken to each other, and yet she could feel the warmth and reassurance within Ash's expression. She knew for sure that he wanted her to find success.

It was then that May understood what Dawn must have been seeing in Ash. Even if it was for but a brief moment, she finally found the person that had so effortlessly captured Dawn's attention. It was a young man who was capable of pushing you to better yourself. Of course someone as ambitious as Dawn would be attracted to him.

Setting her sights on the road again, May felt a smile creeping up on her face and a fire in her heart.

"Thanks Ash. There's something I have to do once I drop you off." May stated, earning a smile from Ash as he gave her a nod. "And if you ever want to talk, I'm always here."

"Oh, that's awfully nice of you May. I really appreciate that." He said kindly to her.

Feeling the bus come to a halt, Dawn blinked several times as she looked out the window to check her surroundings. She breathed a sigh of relief that she was still about ten minutes from her stop. Looking back down at her lap, she saw that her sketchbook was resting there and the page was still blank despite how much time she had spent on the bus already.

Normally she had no trouble spending the entire bus ride sketching, but today she was distracted with many, many thoughts concerning none other than Ash Ketchum.

Everything that Cassidy had shared with her on Saturday was fresh on her mind. Prior to meeting that woman, she had no idea that Ash was an orphan or what his living situation was like. Biting down on her lower lip a bit, Dawn couldn't help but feel a touch of guilt in her chest for all of the times she had asked Ash to accompany her to luxurious home. Might he have thought that she was flaunting her lifestyle at him?

Dawn shook her head a bit, tossing that thought out of her mind. Ash didn't seem like the type of person to get irritated over something like that. However, Dawn felt terrible for bothering him so much since they had first met. All that time he had spent showing her the bus route, the money he spent on round trips around the city. On the other hand, she never would've seen the real Ash Ketchum had she not gone out of her way to get to know him.

After talking to Cassidy though, Dawn felt as though she was caught between a rock and a hard place. She liked Ash, but with everything she had learned, there were so many questions on her mind about supporting him. He wanted to become a Pokemon trainer of all things, and his friends and family didn't want him to have any part in that.

"Don't get me wrong though Dawn, I hate what he's trying to do."

"Becoming a Pokemon trainer is going to take him down a dark path, and if he commits to it, he won't turn back. So please, help him to see that there are other things that he can do with himself."

So what was the right choice here? It was dangerous, not to mention illegal, to train and use Pokemon so she could understand the sentiments of everyone who didn't approve of Ash's goal. Dawn wouldn't dare call his dream stupid or illogical, but Ash wasn't doing himself any favors aiming to be a Pokemon trainer. There was just so much to consider!

Dawn exhaled loudly, and then her eyes widen as she realized there were other people seated around her, most of which had taken a glance at her now. Blushing a bit, she tried to laugh it off before hitting herself mentally.

"Next stop, Diglett's Boulevard." The driver called out, and Dawn began to gather her belongings.

She would figure out what to do…hopefully.

Tuesday, September 13th

"Good mor~ning Dawn!" May said cheerfully, greeting her friend as she took her usual seat beside Dawn in their first period art class. Dawn wasn't surprised by May's energy despite how early it was in the morning, but the tremendous grin on May's face left Dawn wondering what had the brunette in such a good mood.

"Well aren't you cheery today. Did something good happen?" Dawn asked her.

"You got that right." She said before glancing over her shoulder to take a look at the raven haired boy in the back of the class. As always he was focused on another one of his sketches, paying no mind to anyone around him. "And you could say it was thanks to Ash."

Now May had Dawn's full attention.

"Huh?" She almost exclaimed. "What do you mean?"

"Whoa chill Dawn, I wasn't trying to make a move on your man or anything." May said with a wink, causing Dawn's cheeks to flush red.

"May, stop saying stuff like that." Dawn whispered to her harshly as she looked around, hoping no one had heard that comment.

"Oh, so you don't want to know how I scored a date with Drew this weekend." May concluded, feigning pain as she placed a hand over her heart.

"Wait, what?" Dawn exclaimed. "How'd you do that?"

"So yesterday I decided to give Ash a lift to his job. And we just sort of talked on the way there." May explained with a small smile. "He's really down to earth and kind of insightful too."

"So how did this help you ask Drew out?" Dawn inquired, trying to put the pieces together.

"Well talking with Ash helped me put some things in perspective. He helped me to take the initiative with Drew." May went on. "I went straight to Drew's house after I dropped Ash off, and I just asked him."

"Just like that?" Dawn exclaimed, and May nodded with enthusiasm.

"Ye-up. I never would've thought it'd be that easy."

"Wow, you go May!" Dawn said, raising her hand for a high five. May only chuckled nervously though, looking away from her friend. Dawn narrowed her stare at May, her gaze becoming filled with suspicion. Whenever May laughed like that meant that there were strings attached to something. "So what exactly did you ask Drew, if you don't mind me asking?"

May pursed her lips for a moment, then she looked at Dawn and smiled.

"Well~, I sort of told him that a friend of mine was going on a date this Saturday, but she was nervous going out by herself, so I suggested we go on a double date to take some pressure off of her." May explained, and Dawn quickly realized where this was going.

"And who is this friend?" Dawn asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"You." May admitted, and Dawn wasn't surprised.

"Alright May, word for word. What did you tell Drew?" Dawn demanded to know.

"I told him that my friend Dawn is interested in the new guy at school, Ash Ketchum, so she asked him out this Saturday. But she's a little nervous, so she asked me to come along. Naturally I don't want to be a third wheel so I wanted to bring a date of my own." May said, retelling what she had said on Drew's front porch yesterday. Dawn clicked her tongue.

"You know May, you're a real piece of work."

"And that's why-you-love-me~." She said in a sing song voice, placing her index fingers on each of her cheeks.

"You're really lucky that I do May." Dawn said, rolling her eyes. "I just want to rip out my hair now."

"What for?"

"Don't get me wrong, I really want you to go on your date with Drew, but to do that I have to ask Ash to go on a date with me." Dawn explained. "I've never asked anyone out on a date before."

"Well you were going to ask him out eventually, weren't you? Think of this as a little nudge in the right direction." May reasoned with her, and Dawn gave the brunette a sharp glance.

"This is way more than a little nudge." Dawn muttered as she glanced back at Ash. How would she pull this off?

A/N

So this was a loaded, but pretty laid back chapter. Hope you enjoyed it and a big thanks to all the people that have been following this story so far! We're working hard on this so the continued support is appreciated.

I think this chapter just about wraps all of the set up I had been talking about during the first five chapters. From here the pace will pick up a bit so I hope you're ready for this!

As always I have to thank my beta-reader MjrGenMatt for his amazing help! It's a blast working with him.

I won't bother saying anything else this time since it's the holiday season. See you all again in 2018!

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

Dawn sat through her art class with her head in the clouds, going through various scenarios of attempting to ask Ash out on a date. She didn't have any dating experience to say the least. A few guys had approached her in the past, but she had always turned down their offers. Not to mention Dawn always thought it was up to the guys to make arrangements for a date, but now she found herself in their role for May's sake and she couldn't even imagine how she would do this.

Would the direct approach work?

Or perhaps maybe a little bribe was in order?

Ash was an artist though, so she could always do something creative…

The possibilities were endless, but for some reason Dawn only saw herself getting rejected in the end. Her chest became tight with each thought of Ash turning her down, and this left her to wonder if all guys felt like this trying to ask someone out on a date.

Dawn snapped out of her thoughts as the bell chimed, ending first period. She didn't even realize that she had spent the entire class thinking rather than working. With a sigh she rolled her eyes before looking toward May as she packed up her belongings.

"May?" Dawn whispered to her friend.

"Hmm?"

"I have no idea how to ask him." Dawn admitted, earning a small snort from May.

"It's easy Dawn." May said, causing the bluenette to deadpan.

"Didn't you make up a story just to ask Drew out?" Dawn asked her in return. May opened her mouth to speak but remained silent. Then she just motioned for Dawn to follow her as she rose from her desk, heading toward the back of the room where Ash was located.

"Hey Ash, I've got a little proposition for you." May stated as she leaned over him, causing him to look up at her with raised eyebrows.

"Uh okay? What is it?" He asked tentatively. May hadn't even greeted him; she just got straight down to business.

"Dawn and I made plans for a double date this Saturday. I have Drew as my date, but the guy Dawn was taking bailed on us. Would you mind filling in for him?" May explained, causing Ash to take a glance at Dawn who stood beside May.

Dawn could only stare at May though, amazed that she continued to twist this story to make this double date happen.

"We'll cover your meal and everything. All we need is your, illustrious presence." May said to him with a grin.

Ash snickered at this as he leaned back into his seat.

"When you put it that way, how could I say no?" Ash said before giving them a nod. "Yeah, I'll go."

"Perfect, I'll fill you in on the rest of the details this Friday m'kay." May said as she nodded, leaving Dawn absolutely stupefied. Dawn had spent the last forty minutes trying to come up with a decent way to pose this question to Ash, and in forty seconds May got it done. If it was so easy for her to ask Ash out, why couldn't she do the same thing with Drew?

"I'll be looking forward to this." Ash said to Dawn, causing her cheeks to redden a bit. "Do you know what May has planned?"

"I think I'm going to find out the same time as you." Dawn replied with a small chuckle.

Thursday, September 15th

It was lunch time and Dawn, May and Nando were seated outside of the cafeteria, shielded from the sunlight by an umbrella mounted at the center of their table.

"So Dawn, I think I'm done putting the finishing touches on our plans for Saturday." May proclaimed, earning everyone's attention.

"Oh my, what kind of trouble are you getting into this weekend May?" Nando asked with a sly smirk. May blew a raspberry at him in response.

"I don't know what you're talking about." May stated with a scoff, flipping her hair with one hand. "I've never gotten into any trouble in my life."

"Really?" Nando said, looking at her expectantly. "A little bird told me something about a ton of parking tickets you racked up this summer."

May blushed hard now, her composure vanishing almost instantly.

"It was only a few~!" She protested.

"May, the glove compartment in your car practically exploded when you opened it. There was a lot more than a few." Dawn pointed out.

"Ugh, where's my best friend when I need her?!" May exclaimed, earning a laugh from Dawn. "Whatever! None of that even matters! Don't you want hear about Saturday Dawn?"

"Of course I do, so long as you're not driving me anywhere." Dawn replied, causing Nando to stifle a laugh. He then raised a hand to high five Dawn as May looked at them incredulously.

"Let's keep things civil or I might find someone to replace you as Ash's date. We'll see who's laughing then." May retorted.

"You wouldn't even think of it." Dawn challenged her.

"Don't tempt me." May responded, wagging a finger at Dawn.

"What are you two going to be doing with Ash?" Nando asked curiously, leaning forward in his seat.

"We've got a double date with Ash and Drew this Saturday." May revealed to him, and Nando's mouth hung open for just a moment. He quickly caught himself and his brief lack of composure went unnoticed by the girls.

"It was…a spur of the moment kind of thing." Dawn added, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm really there to give May support."

Remembering that Drew had been May's heartthrob, Nando couldn't help but smile faintly at her since she had finally mustered the courage to ask him on a date.

"So you finally spoke to him?" Nando asked her, receiving a nod from the brunette.

"Yeah. I gave Ash a ride to his job earlier this week and we talked… a lot." She explained to him. "It helped me put some things in perspective. I went to Drew's house and asked him out on a date, and I figured I might as well bring some friends along. So Ash and Dawn are my plus two."

Nando felt his chest tighten a bit at this statement as several thoughts flashed through his mind. What in the world made May choose Ash of all people to be Dawn's date? Was one conversation with Ash really enough for May to make this decision?

'Why would she pick Ash to accompany Dawn instead of me?' Nando asked himself before blinking hard. Shoving this thought to the back of his mind though, Nando then adjusted his focus to the subject at hand and posed a new question for the girls. "I haven't really had a chance to speak with Ash, but uh…what do you two think of him?"

"He's actually pretty cool Nando." May stated, cutting off Dawn before she could give her input. "I had no idea he was so down to earth. But at the same time after you talk to him for a while, you just feel kind of…inspired to do something with yourself."

Nando straightened up in his seat. That was high praise coming from May. As much as May tried to dismiss it, it was no secret that she was indecisive. If Ash was 'inspiring' her to take action, there was certainly more to his character than Nando had first thought.

"Yeah I really like the way you put it May." Dawn said with a nod of agreement. She had been trying to find the best way to describe what it was like when she was around Ash. Now she had that word.

Inspiring.

Nando took a moment to study the expression on each of them. They had both stopped, as if to admire Ash even though he wasn't present. Shaking his head a bit, Nando decided to move the conversation along now since they had veered off topic a few times now.

"So what are you plans for this weekend?" Nando asked again.

"Saturday, right." May began as her focus returned. "So this is how it's going to go down."

May waved her hands through the air, as if to set the scene for them.

"We'll meet at my parent's beach house and the skies will be clear. We'll all go down onto the beach in the early afternoon, and at a pier will be a speedboat to take us parasailing in pairs. As the sun sets on the horizon, Drew and I will be together admiring it. Then he'll look into my gorgeous eyes and fall in love with me on the spot!" May exclaimed as she looked up gleefully.

Dawn and Nando deadpanned.

"May I think you've been watching too many romantic comedies." Nando commented.

"You can't blame a girl for dreaming." May shot back at him.

"So your parents are cool with us using their beach house?" Dawn inquired.

"Yup, they okay'd everything already. We'll even have a chef there to make us a late lunch or early dinner, plus a driver for the speed boat." May explained, leaving Dawn impressed.

"Well excuse me. May's pulling out all the stops for this one." Dawn said playfully.

"I can't hold anything back .So wish me luck Nando." May said as she looked toward him. Nando gave her a small smile to assure her that everything would go as she hoped. "And Dawn, be there early Saturday so we can check out each other's swimsuits."

"Wow, you're covering every little detail huh?" Dawn asked her, and May gave her an earnest nod.

"This is going to be special! So let's make something great happen Dawn." She said raising her hand for a high five. Dawn laughed at May's enthusiasm and slapped her hand, eager to see how this date would play out as well.

This was a great opportunity for her to get to know Ash better. There were so many questions she had, and now the perfect setting had been arranged for her. She wouldn't let this go to waste.

Saturday, September 17th

Johanna couldn't dispel the butterflies in her stomach as she put her car in park, glancing toward the glistening beach house that belonged to May's father. She knew the Maples very well. Their daughters had been two peas in a pod since grade school, so Johanna had no problem with allowing Dawn to spend the day with May on the beach.

Dawn had revealed to her that they had invited a pair of boys to keep them company. In all of her years in school, Dawn had never really had much of an interest in the boys she had met. She only interacted with a select few guys, such as Nando who Johanna was also well aquatinted with. For a change though, it seemed as though a boy had captured her attention completely.

Dawn was actually blushing as she tried to explain her plans to Johanna earlier this morning. Now looking at her daughter as she stepped out of the passenger side of the car, Johanna could barely stop the corners of her lips from curving upward.

Her daughter had always been so focused, ever since she was young. Once she set her sights on something, she devoted all of her effort to it. It was refreshing to see Dawn shift her focus to something a little more easy-going.

"Alright Dawn, no trouble now." Johanna said to her daughter as she retrieved her bag from the backseat of the car.

"Of course mom, we're not going to be doing anything stupid." Dawn replied pointedly to assure her mother that there were no unusual arrangements.

"Alright. Do you need me to pick you up later?"

"Nope, May's going to give me a ride home."

"She got her car back?" Johanna asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Wow it's like no one can believe it." Dawn noted with a laugh.

"Well I just thought with all of those parking tickets that-"

"Wait you know about those?" Dawn interjected, causing her mother to reach for her phone that was resting on the dashboard.

"Yeah, Caroline sent me a picture of when she and Norman found them." Johanna replied as she turned her phone to Dawn, showing her a picture of the tickets that May had racked up. Dawn burst into a fit of laughter at the sight of this.

"I'll see you later tonight. Don't save anything from dinner for me though." Dawn said with a smile as she hoisted her backpack onto one shoulder and shut the back door. She then gave her mother one last wave before she approached the entrance of the beach house.

Johanna laughed inwardly as she watched her daughter. Dawn always had a bright and cheery personality, but Dawn's happiness felt even more genuine right now. Almost as if she had found some sort of magic. Perhaps that boy she was meeting today. Whatever it was, Johanna was glad to see her daughter enjoying herself like this.

Releasing the parking brake, Johanna swung around the roundabout that led up to the house, beginning her ride back home.

After ringing the door bell, Dawn only had a wait a few moments before the door opened, revealing May in a green two piece swimsuit, posing for her with a peace sign.

"You put your hair up May!" Dawn exclaimed upon spotting May's high pony tail. May had pulled back all of her hair, even the long bangs that framed her face. "You look so cute!"

"Oh thank you, thank you." May said, turning around to wave as though she was being photographed. "I know I'm wonderful, you don't have to remind me."

"Way to kill it May." Dawn said in a deadpan as she brushed past her friend, entering the home that May's family owned.

It was spacious and secluded from the public areas of the beaches on the southern tip of Vermilion City.

"You know May I've been meaning to ask you this. Why does your family rent a beach house in the same city you guys are living in?" Dawn inquired as she looked back at her friend who had followed her into the living room.

"Well actually, this is more like my dad's backup house. If he does something stupid and gets kicked out by mom, this is where he'll hide for a couple of days until she cools off." May explained with a sheepish laugh.

"What could make your mom that angry?"

"Oh, a couple of things. Like the time he forgot their twentieth anniversary…" May trailed off, deciding that it was best not to delve too deep into this subject. "Anyway~, let me see your swimsuit. It's only one o'clock so the guys won't be here for at least half an hour."

"Alright, just don't say anything embarrassing May."

"No promises, but I'll be outside when you're ready."

Dawn stepped out onto the back porch of the house, placing a hand on her forehead to block the sun above her so that she could take in the scenery. It was beautiful.

The ocean water was sparkling under the sunlight, with palm trees dotting the property line. It was like a scene straight out of a movie. This small perfect beach was for them alone.

Approaching the edge of the porch, Dawn placed her hands on the banister as she peered out at the beach. It was almost surreal how perfect it all looked.

"Whoo~, look at you!" May hollered at Dawn, snapping her out of her little daze. Looking down, Dawn spotted May standing just beneath the porch, struggling to drag a pair of umbrellas, blankets and a drink cooler further out onto the beach. Obviously May had dropped everything to admire Dawn's attire though.

Dawn wore a bright blue two piece swimsuit with her hair tied up into a bun and a sarong wrap around her waist. May gave her a thumbs up and a grin of approval, which Dawn returned.

"What are you doing down there May?" Dawn asked as she watched May return to her struggle.

"I wanted to set up the blankets and umbrellas before they got here!" May answered causing Dawn to wrinkle her forehead.

"Leave that for the boys. I'm sure they'll need something to do." Dawn replied as she quickly skipped down the staircase, joining May on the white sand.

"You're absolutely right Dawn, good call." May stated as she dropped everything a second time. Ash and Drew would make quick work of this. "I'll go check on the driver to see when he'll be ready for us."

Dawn cracked a smile at May as she ventured down to the water where a small wooden dock was located with the boat waiting for them. The brunette began to speak animatedly to the driver who was performing his final check of the water craft.

Hearing the doorbell chime from inside the house, Dawn realized that was her cue since May was busy. Dashing up onto the porch, she dusted off her feet before she went into the house to answer the door. Opening up the entrance she found none other than Ash Ketchum waiting outside in a white t-shirt and cargo shorts. For a change though, Ash wore a red and white cap on his head with an incomplete green triangle on it. Ash shot her a grin as their eyes met.

"Hey Dawn, this is nice place you got here." He commented as she stepped aside, inviting him in.

"It's not mine. May's family owns it." Dawn replied. Ash gave her a nod as before she guided him into the living room where he could set down his belongings. "There's a bathroom down the hall if you want to change."

"Nice, thanks." Ash said as he began to rummage through his backpack to retrieve his swim trunks.

Ash could hardly control the grin on his face as he pulled out his trunks. Yesterday May had been giving him the information about where to meet and at what time for their plans today, and she went through a lot of trouble trying to keep everything secret. She caught herself multiple times, but in the end she still spoiled the secret by telling him to make sure he brought swim trunks. This left Ash excited though since he only went to the beach once in a blue moon. Now though he would have the privilege of using a private beach, so he couldn't wait!

Returning in his swim trunks and t-shirt now, Ash spotted Dawn standing out on the porch. Stepping out there to join her, Ash marveled at the incredible view they had which quickly earned Dawn's attention.

"What do you think?" Dawn asked him, watching as a wide smile formed on his face.

"This is amazing." He replied as he raised his arms, stretching them out a bit.

"Just a forewarning, May is going to put you to work as soon as she sees you." Dawn informed him, and Ash tilted his head in confusion.

"Wait, she invited me here to put me to work?" Ash asked in return, but as Dawn opened her mouth to reply, May caught sight of Ash on the porch.

"Ash!" She bellowed from the beach below. She waved both her arms to get his attention. "Get your butt down here!"

"I hope I'm getting paid for this." Ash muttered, getting a laugh from Dawn as he went down the staircase where May was waiting for him.

"I'm so glad you could make it Ash, but I have a little problem that I need your muscles to take care of." May said as she tapped his bicep as if to gauge his strength.

"Uh sure, what is it?"

"Under the porch you'll find some blankets, umbrellas and a drink cooler. Get all of that stuff out on the beach for us ASAP. " May said as she pointed to the items that were leaning against the staircase. Ash looked at her for a moment, so May clapped her hands in response. "Let's get moving. We're treating you to dinner after all. Not to mention you have Dawn all to yourself."

Ash rolled his eyes with a small chuckle before he collected all of the items in his arms and jogged further out onto the beach with them. While Ash made quick work of the task May had given him, the brunette joined Dawn up on the porch. Watching her friend for a moment, May could see that her eyes were fixated on Ash, following his every movement.

"Sheesh Dawn, quit drooling." May said and Dawn's head snapped to the side to give May a narrow stare.

"I was not!" She protested.

"Says you." May retorted.

"May!" Dawn said sharply, causing her to laugh.

"Hey Dawn, listen to this." May whispered before she cupped her hands around her mouth. "Ash! Each umbrella gets a pair of blankets! If you want to you can set up the ones for you and Dawn extra close!"

"May!" Dawn practically shouted as she slapped her hand over May's mouth. Her friend only giggled in response, finding Dawn's embarrassment more than amusing. The doorbell chimed again, getting a gasp from May.

"Let's go!" May shouted in an effort to hype herself up. Then she darted off into the house, leaving Dawn alone on the porch to laugh her May's excitement. Dawn wasn't alone for long though since Ash was already coming back up the staircase.

"Is she always like this?" He asked Dawn once he was standing beside her. May was quite a curious character to him. Nothing about her made any sense to him.

"Yeah, kind of. She's had the biggest crush on Drew for ages, so this is a pretty big step for her." Dawn revealed, and Ash smiled softly at this. His little talk with May might have actually stuck with her.

"Well I'm rooting for her then." Ash said before May returned, leading Drew by the hand out onto the porch. Dawn raised her eyebrows at the sight of May holding Drew's hand, but she didn't make much of it as May began to introduce everyone.

"Alright, we've got everyone here now." May exclaimed as she motioned to the group of four. "I don't know if you guys have met yet."

May motioned to Ash and Drew with each of her hands, and the two of them took a step toward each other.

"Nice to meet ya." Drew said as he extended a closed fist toward Ash who smirked a bit. They bumped fists and gave each other a nod leaving the girls to wonder if they might have been communicating telepathically.

"And this is Dawn." May added, directing his attention to her blue haired friend.

"Oh yeah, I've seen Dawn around school. I don't think we've ever had any classes together though." Drew replied as he bumped fists with Dawn as well.

"I don't think so now that you mention it. But hey, you're here now aren't cha?" Dawn said in response, and Drew gave her a nod of agreement.

"I have to let the chef know in advance to prepare for us, so when do you guys want to eat?" May asked the group.

"Heck I'll eat right now." Ash said with a laugh. The others shared in his laughter, but they all agreed to eat later on. May then led them down to the dock for everyone to take a closer look at some of the activities she had planned, and the boys were very impressed.

"Dang May, you really know how to treat people." Drew noted, getting a blush of embarrassment from her.

"What can I say, hospitality is my specialty." She said cutely.

"Can we try out parasailing right now?" Drew asked, getting an immediate nod from May.

"Of course, let's do it!" She replied as she motioned to the driver that they would be going now. As the driver began to show Drew and May how to strap themselves into the seat, Ash and Dawn were left to decide how they would pass the time.

"What do you want to do?" Ash asked her, and she stuck her tongue out at him.

"I was going to ask that." She muttered. "But uh…I guess I'll just go sit back for now."

"Eh, I'll keep you company then." Ash said, earning a 'thanks' from Dawn as they ventured over to the blankets and umbrella Ash had set up a few minutes ago. Soon enough the two of them were seated under the shade of the umbrella and although Ash hadn't taken May's suggestion to heart, Dawn couldn't help but notice that they were still kind of close together. Ash didn't seem to mind though as he laid back on the blanket beside her.

"So Dawn, are you going to try out parasailing later on?" Ash asked as he rolled onto his side to look at her.

"I'm a little nervous actually." She admitted. "I've never done anything like that before."

"Neither have I…so I guess that means we have to do it. There's a first time for everything after all." Ash said, and Dawn nodded a bit in agreement.

Silence then set in between them as Dawn sat back, watching as May and Drew finished strapping themselves into the chair with a parachute tied to the back of it. They signaled the driver, and then the speed boat roared to life. It raced out into the water, hoisting Drew and May into the air. They could hear May all the way back here as she screamed, earning a laugh from the duo.

"So Ash, can I ask you something?"

Ash perked up at this, glad that a conversation was starting.

"I don't see why not." He responded.

"I heard that you wanted to be a Pokemon trainer. Is that true?"

Ash remained silent for a moment. He knew that Dawn would ask him about this at some point. After all, she had been there the night they had seen N and Sydney have a Pokemon battle. Settling onto his back now, he pulled his cap down onto his forehead, using the visor to hide his eyes from her.

"Yeah…I do." He stated.

"But why? You know Pokemon are dangerous, right?" Dawn asked, causing him to sigh deeply.

"What makes you say they're dangerous?" Ash asked her in return.

"Are you kidding me right now Ash? Just look at the news. Like every three or four days there's a story about some thugs with Pokemon vandalizing some part of the city." Dawn pointed out to him. "And that's just in Vermilion City."

"Pokemon will reflect their trainers…unfortunately." Ash paused, frowning for a bit. "If their trainer is a brute, then that Pokemon will act accordingly."

"I don't know Ash. I mean, don't you think there's a reason people separated themselves from Pokemon?"

"For all you know Dawn, the Pokemon may have left us. We build skyscrapers and drive cars everywhere. Who knows if the Pokemon want to live the environment we've built." Ash pointed out.

"It sounds to me like our cities protect us from Pokemon Ash. There's no telling what life would be like if Pokemon ran wild through the places we live in." Dawn explained, causing him to lift up his cap so that he could look at her.

"Alright then Dawn, what do think life would be like if we had to live with Pokemon?" Ash inquired. Dawn stopped herself from responding immediately, using this opportunity to think about what it might have been like.

All the news reports she had seen concerning Pokemon always showed scenes of panic and chaos. Only a few Pokemon were capable of causing total mayhem in a small area…so if they lived with thousands of Pokemon, Dawn could only see pandemonium as the end result.

"It wouldn't work." Dawn stated, shaking her head a bit and that was all Ash needed to hear though.

He was seated upright now, adjusting his cap on his head with a small smile.

When Drew and May returned from their ride, Ash and Dawn were waiting for them on the dock, ready to have their first parasailing experience.

"Oh my god, that was amazing!" May squealed as she and Drew unstrapped themselves from the double seat so that they could climb out onto the dock. Drew was the first to do so before he offered May a hand to help her out.

"Definitely." Drew added. "That view was incredible. Do you want to take another ride later May?"

"Of course Drew." She replied before they stepped aside, allowing Ash and Dawn to take their seats.

"Have fun you two." Drew said with a wave as he and May began to head back to the beach, leaving Ash and Dawn alone.

Dawn was slightly unnerved as she locked in the restraints around her torso. Ash had become pretty quiet for the last several minutes, and she wasn't sure if what she had said might have upset him. That was the last thing she wanted considering what Cassidy had shared with her about Ash and Serena's previous relationship.

The best course of action was just to talk with Ash though. He might have been stubborn, but Dawn was sure that he wouldn't become petty over a comment she made, especially since he had asked for it.

"Um…Ash?" Dawn said.

"Hmm?"

"You're not mad or anything…are you?" Dawn asked him softly as they finished adjusting in their seats.

"Mad?" Ash wrinkled his forehead as he looked at her. "Why would I be mad?"

"Well you haven't said much in a while now. I just wanted to make sure I didn't offend you earlier." Dawn explained, causing him to chuckle a bit.

"Dawn, everyone has an opinion. I have no control over that." He said simply. "What I can do, is try to change your opinion though."

He was smiling as he said that, the same smile that Dawn had seen him wear around his friends at the subway station last week.

"Alright, everything looks good." The driver noted as he gave their restraints one final check. He then pointed to Ash's cap. "Are you sure you want wear that hat? There's no way it'll stay on your head out there."

"No worries man, it'll be fine." Ash said as he gave the driver a thumbs up. The driver shrugged his shoulders before returning the gesture, then he went to his seat behind the steering wheel and stepped on the throttle a few times. The boat roared before surging forward. Ash and Dawn had a moment to brace themselves before the chair was yanked out onto the water, skating across the surface as the parachute opened up. Dawn shrieked as they rose into the air, soaring over the ocean now.

"WHOO~!" Ash screamed as he looked around. He could see everything from up here. The beaches that stretched out across the southern tip of Vermilion City and if he looked in the opposite direction, he saw the vast ocean that seemed go on forever. "This is amazing!"

Looking at Dawn now, Ash realized that she was latched onto his arm, her eyes tightly shut. She had yet to open her eyes since they had gotten airborne, and she was missing everything!

"Dawn, open your eyes. You gotta see this!" Ash said to her, nudging her a bit with his arm. Dawn only grasped his arm tighter, shaking her head. "Come on Dawn, if you don't see this yourself what are you going to tell May and Drew? That you were too big a chicken to look around?"

"I am not a chicken." Dawn stated indignantly as she opened just one eye, taking a peek at her surroundings. Needless to say, she had both her eyes open in an instant to take in this breath taking scenery. "…Wow."

"Hmm, look at that." Ash said as he looked down beneath them. Below the surface of the water, he could see a couple of Mantine following the trail that the speedboat was leaving the water.

"What are they doing?" Dawn asked as she spotted what Ash was looking at.

"How about we find out?" Ash suggested, causing Dawn's eyes to widen as he began to release the restraints that held him to the chair.

"Ash, are you crazy!" She hollered at him.

"Dawn, jump with me." He said to her.

"No way!" She exclaimed. "We'll definitely get hurt, possibly worse if we jump."

"No, we won't."

Dawn opened her mouth to continue protesting, but she looked into Ash's eyes and swallowed her initial response.

"How do you know?" She asked him.

"You just have to trust me."

Never…not once in a million years would Dawn have ever considered doing something like this. Yet the moment she looked into Ash's eyes, it was like she had been put at ease. Somehow, someway, Ash made it feel like this idea of his wasn't as crazy as it sounded.

Dawn gulped and then nodded to him. Together they released her restraints as well, and then Ash extended an opened hand to her. She placed her hand in his, and leaned forward. Dawn screamed as she and Ash slid out of the chair, holding hands as they began to descend toward the water below. Feeling her heart jump into her throat, Dawn shut her eyes as the water drew close, bracing herself for impact. Ash on the other hand kept his eyes wide open, allowing him to see as the water parted beneath them, revealing one of the Mantine's that had been following the speedboat.

There was gust of wind, and Dawn was certain her hair tie had been lost as her long locks whipped about. Suddenly though, her freefall came to an immediate halt and she felt something soft and smooth beneath her. Opening her eyes slowly tentatively for the second time in the span of a few minutes, Dawn had to tuck the hair in front of her face behind her ears before she discovered that she was resting on the back of a Mantine with Ash beside her. His hat was gone now, but he didn't seem to mind at all now as he was absolutely enthralled with Mantine.

"Thanks Mantine!" Ash said as he ran his hand across the water Pokemon's back.

Dawn remained silent, speechless in fact. She couldn't find the words to describe what had just taken place.

Did Ash know that the Mantine would cushion their fall? How did he know that?

"Pokemon will reflect their trainers…"

This Mantine didn't have a trainer though…so did that mean it was friendly to begin with?

Mantine gave a shout of delight, slapping the surface of the water with its wings. There was a splash behind them, causing both Ash and Dawn to turn around where they found a smaller version of Mantine hopping toward them. On its head was Ash's cap, and it was smiling brightly at them.

"Whoa a Mantyke!" Ash noted as the small Pokemon approached him, returning his cap. "Thank you so much. I lost it on the trip down so I didn't think I would find it again."

"Man-tyke!" It said happily as Ash took his cap and donned it once again. He then fearlessly reached toward Mantype and placed a hand on top of it, patting the top of its head. It smiled up at Ash before looking toward Dawn, and without hesitation it approached her. Dawn seemed slightly unnerved, but she couldn't deny how cute its appearance was. Slowly she reached out toward Mantyke, and the Pokemon met her half way almost surprising her. It cooed affectionately at her, and Dawn was put at ease by this.

"Whoa…" Was all she managed to say before Ash heard the speed boat coming toward them. Mantine descended down into the water, and Mantyke quickly followed it, leaving Ash and Dawn afloat in the water. As the speedboat pulled up alongside them, they were greeted by an irate driver.

"Are the two of you frickin' crazy?! You could've killed yourselves pulling a stunt like that!" He barked at them, extending a hand toward Dawn to help her back into the boat. Dawn swallowed a gasp though as Mantine came up beneath her, lifting her up so that she could climb into the boat with ease. The driver was a bit startled, wondering why Dawn was so light. Then he reached for Ash and was startled to see a shadow looming beneath Ash in the water. "Ah, AH!"

The driver stumbled and fell back into the boat, so Mantine gave Ash a boost into the boat as well, earning a thanks from the raven haired young man. The driver stared at Ash incredulously as he finished climbing into the boat.

"Wha-What was that?!" He exclaimed as he came back to the edge of the boat, peering over the edge in search of the shadow.

"It was a Pokemon." Ash noted, but the driver didn't relax at this.

"Ugh, let's just get back to the shore." He stated, returning to his seat behind the steering wheel.

Any discussion on the return trip was monopolized by the driver of the boat as he berated the two of them for jumping from the seat. Ash quickly took the brunt of the blame, insisting that he talked Dawn into doing it with him and telling the driver that if he should be upset with anyone, it should be Ash. In the end, the driver stated that he wouldn't be willing to take Ash back out for a second trip, and Ash only shrugged his shoulders at this.

Dawn was watching Ash the entire time, and after a while they finally made eye contact. Briefly Ash raised his eyebrows at her before looking back out at the ocean to the south.

When they arrived at the dock, Drew and May were waiting for them there. They had seen Ash and Dawn jump from their seat, and were anxiously waiting to see if their friends were okay.

"What happened out there you guys?" May asked as she and Drew began to hound Ash and Dawn.

"I was feeling a little crazy, so I asked Dawn if she wanted to jump." Ash explained casually as though it were nothing serious.

"Dang man, you're insane." Drew commented. He had thought that something had caused them to fall out of the seat. He never would've guessed that they had actually jumped from it.

"And you actually went along with it Dawn?" May exclaimed as she looked toward her friend who had a hand on her chest. It hadn't been too long since the drop, so her heart was still racing from the adrenaline rush.

"I guess…I was feeling a little crazy too." She replied with a small laugh.

"But you guys were way up there, how did you not get hurt from that fall?" Drew asked curiously as he and Ash began to walk toward the umbrellas and blankets that had been set up.

"Well actually-" As Ash began to retell the tale for Drew; May took Dawn by the wrist and began walking further down the beach to separate them from the boys.

"What's the matter May?" Dawn asked once May came to as stop. Now that they had some distance from the boys, May looked at Dawn with one brow raised and her lips curved upward. "What's with that look May?"

"Dawn, you never, and I mean, never do crazy crap like that." May pointed out to her. "Do you like him that much?"

Dawn's cheeks turned bright red at this question.

"What are you talking about May?"

"Dawn I tell you this all the time. There's a reason my mom loves you so much. She keeps telling me that you're levelheaded and you'll keep me out of trouble. And you know what, I actually agree with her. So either you have some crazy side you've been hiding from me, or someone's got your heart on a string." May said, giving Dawn a sly glance.

Did she like Ash? Dawn had asked herself this already, but she had yet to have a concrete answer that she could settle on. The funny thing was that it seemed like everyone else knew the answer.

What was it about Ash that made him stand out compared to every other guys she met?

Was it…his unwavering determination…?

She had seen this from him on numerous occasions already, but she couldn't deny how attractive he seemed when demonstrating this quality. Even with the comments she had made about Pokemon, he didn't lash out at her…in fact, that only seemed to fire him up. He was even willing to put himself at risk to show her what Pokemon were truly like. Dawn couldn't think of another person that would go to such lengths.

"Dude that is one handsome sandwich!" Drew exclaimed as he received his beautifully crafted submarine sandwich from the chef.

"Glad you think so." The chef replied with a chuckle as he bowed to the group of four that were seated around the island at the center of the kitchen.

Each of them had ordered a sandwich from the chef who had been astonished by their choice. He was fully capable of preparing some of the best gourmet meals, but he wouldn't complain about their choices.

"If you all need anything else, don't hesitate to call." The chef added after pouring each of them a glass of iced tea. Giving them a smile before he left, the group was left to chat quietly as they ate.

"Hey Drew, do you want to join me on the porch?" May asked him curiously. Drew glanced at her and noticed that she was motioning toward Ash and Dawn with her head. He then understood what May was getting at and gave her a nod.

"Yeah, I don't see why not." He replied as he picked up his plate and drink.

As May did the same, she gave Dawn a small wink before they left her and Ash alone in the kitchen.

"Alone again." Ash noted while Dawn cast a halfhearted glare a May's back as she left them. "You'd almost think May was trying to set us up together."

Dawn remained silent though, trying to gather her thoughts.

"That reminds me, who's the guy I was lucky enough to replace today?" Ash inquired, causing Dawn to furrow her brow for a moment.

"Huh?" Dawn replied then her eye widen momentarily as she remembered how the arrangements had been made for today to take place. "Oh right…it was um…"

Dawn trailed off after a moment. She had forgotten about the story that had been made up for both of the boys they had invited. Shaking her head, Dawn decided that now was the best time to drop this façade.

"You know Ash, that was just story we made up." Dawn stated, and Ash raised a brow at her now. "May kind of chickened out when she was asking Drew out on this date. So she made up this story that I had a date with you, but that she had to bring someone to make it a double date. That's how she got Drew to agree."

"…And then you didn't actually have a date. So you…asked me." Ash concluded, filling in the gaps. Dawn gave him a nod and Ash began to laugh. "So she didn't invite me for my 'illustrious presence?'"

Dawn stifled a laugh, recalling that May had described Ash as such to convince him to come.

"Oh well I wouldn't say that. After spending the afternoon with you I can safely say that I had a good time with you." Dawn commented, and the emphasis on 'safely' reminded Ash of their reckless jump.

"I hope that jump we did earlier didn't scare you too much."

"My heart was in my throat." Dawn stated. "And then we landed on the back of that Pokemon, I thought I was going to die. But it didn't take me long to realize that…I had nothing to fear about them."

Ash placed his elbow on the countertop and hid his mouth behind his hand, watching Dawn closely as she spoke. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold back a smile, so the least he could do was keep it covered for now.

"I've never been that close to a Pokemon…and I've never touched one of them either. It was weird being so close to them because…well, I dunno how to explain it really. Kind of like…I felt what you were talking about earlier. Once I relaxed, I felt them relax with me." Dawn explained, looking up as she pieced together her thoughts. "It was like I connected with them for a just a moment and it was…it was incredible."

"I'm glad you got to experience that." Ash said as he moved his hand and beamed at her.

"Is that why you want to become a Pokemon trainer? Because you know that the Pokemon aren't like how everyone says they are?" Dawn asked him, causing his smile to fade quickly. He looked away from her now, looking out the window of the kitchen.

"It's not that simple." He began. "Everyone's perception of Pokemon is all messed up. Most people agree that they're dangerous. That they team up with thugs to cause trouble and hurt innocent people."

Ash took a moment, recalling the times he had had this discussion with other people.

"This stuff makes my blood boil. Pokemon weren't even given a fair chance to show their true colors. The media portrays them as these ferocious creatures that try to slaughter any and everything if given the chance." Ash explained as he shook his head slowly. "None of them are like that though. They're intelligent, they have families and communities. They protect their young until they're ready to live on their own, and they even respect their fellow Pokemon who pass away. But no one knows about any of this stuff because the only time you'll see Pokemon in the spotlight if something bad happens. I want to change that…"

Dawn felt a twinge of guilt in her heart. She had been no different from the general public. She had been afraid of Pokemon, she had never gotten close to one, and she had most certainly been caught up in the way the media portrayed them.

"But…how are you going to do that?" She asked him, causing Ash to look at her again.

"I don't know yet." Ash said as he shrugged his shoulders, but his eyes were burning once again. "All I know is that becoming a trainer is a step in the right direction."

Johanna had been anxious the last time her daughter had stepped out of her convertible today, but now she found herself struggling to suppress a huge smile.

Dawn had called her out of the blue to tell her that she and a friend needed a ride because May had 'prior commitments.' Arriving at the beach house, Johanna found Dawn speaking animatedly with the same raven haired young man that had saved her on her first day school. Johanna thought that this would have been her opportunity to thank him face to face for his heroics. However, this only remained a thought.

Ash and Dawn conversed all the way back to Ash's home. There wasn't a moment of silence between them as they spoke in the back of Johanna's car. Looking at her daughter in the rear view mirror occasionally, Johanna could see that her daughter was practically glowing as she spoke with Ash.

"That's my place coming up on the right." Ash said as he pointed out his home to Johanna. "You can park right in front of it."

"Mom, do you mind if I go in for a few minutes. Ash has a few paintings he wants me to see." Dawn explained to her mother as she came to a stop in front of Ash's home.

"Just for a few minutes Dawn. Darach has dinner waiting for me." Johanna said to her in reply.

"Thanks mom, I won't be long." Dawn said as she and Ash climbed out of the back of her car. Retrieving his bags from the trunk, Ash then led Dawn up to the front door of his home. Knocking on the door, it was opened up a few moments later to reveal Cassidy who smiled warmly at Ash.

"Well it looks like you had a good time Ash." She noted before he gaze settled on Dawn. "And who might this be?"

Dawn furrowed her brow as she looked at Cassidy.

"Cassidy, this is a new friend I made at school. Her name's Dawn." Ash said as he looked back at Dawn. When Ash turned to look at Dawn, Cassidy gave Dawn a wink and motioned for her to go along with it.

"Uh, nice to meet you." Dawn said as Cassidy invited them in.

"Can you wait here for a second Dawn?" He said, and she nodded. Ash went down the corridor, entering the kitchen where Dawn could hear the shouts of the two girls in there that were having dinner.

"Thanks for going along with that Dawn." Cassidy said now that it was just the two of them. It was then that Dawn realized that as far as Ash knew, this was the first time she had visited his home. "Is that your mother?"

Cassidy was looking out the front door, studying the blue haired woman that was seated in the car outside.

"Ye-up."

"Ash will be back in a moment." Cassidy said before she went down the stairs to introduce herself to Johanna.

Watching as the two of them began to talk, Dawn's attention returned to the corridor where she saw Ash coming back to her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." He said as he motioned for her to follow him upstairs. "My Pikachu should be upstairs; I have a little spot for it outside of my room."

Dawn felt her heartbeat speed up at the prospect of meeting another Pokemon today. Her encounter with Mantine and Mantyke had been short, but it left her curious and she wanted to satisfy this sudden interest. When Ash had told her she could meet another Pokemon, Dawn was astonished to learn that he was actually in possession of one. It all made sense though. No wonder Ash was so comfortable around Mantine and Mantyke. He was always around Pokemon, and that explained why he wanted to change things for them.

Reaching the second floor, Ash led Dawn down a long hallway and near the end of the corridor she saw a cushion beside a door with a creature resting on top of it. Its ears perked up at the sound of their footsteps, causing it to rise from the cushion to check who was approaching. Spotting Ash, it jumped to its feet and darted down the hall, pouncing at Ash who caught it.

"Pika!" It proclaimed as it snuggled into Ash's chest.

"Yeah, it's been a long day." Ash replied as he held Pikachu for a few moments. Once Pikachu finished greeting Ash, it climbed onto his shoulder now where it looked down at Dawn, studying her intently. Lots of new people had been coming over to their house recently, and Pikachu was trying to become aquatinted with all of them. "Pikachu, this is one of my new friends. Her name is Dawn."

"Pika-chu." It said as it extended one of its small paws toward her. Dawn stared at the small Pokemon in shock for a moment. It was actually trying to shake hands with her, although its tiny paw couldn't compare to the size of her hand.

"It's nice to meet you…Pikachu." Dawn said softly as she accepted its gesture. Pikachu beamed brightly at her, and this seemed to melt away any doubts Dawn might have had. Pikachu was just so adorable! "Oh you're such a cutie!"

"Pika!" It exclaimed, hopping onto her shoulder now where Dawn didn't waste this opportunity to place her hand on Pikachu's head, scratching it softly which gained an affectionate 'Chaaa' from Pikachu.

"So how did you get Pikachu?" Dawn asked Ash as he opened up the door to his room.

"I've had it since I was a kid. Pikachu's been through everything with me." Ash replied as they stepped into his room. Dawn was left speechless at the contents of his room. Paintings and sketches were everywhere, scattered on the floor or leaning against the wall. Dozens of them!

"Ash, don't tell me you did all of these?" Dawn exclaimed as she kneeled down to examine the closest one to her.

"Yeah, but all of these are from a while ago. I haven't been painting or drawing much recently." Ash responded.

"This is incredible." Dawn noted softly as she looked around at the other pieces of artwork. Glancing from one to the next, Dawn could see that none of these were done on a whim by Ash. He poured everything he had into his work.

Looking toward Ash now, Dawn watched as she approached the only window in his room and unlocked it, raising it to let some fresh air into the room. Dawn tilted her head, wondering how Ash could be so talented and have no intention of trying to use these talents. She could understand his earlier discouragement, but his talent was evident in his work. He couldn't just give up on all of this!

"Ash, why don't you want to become an artist?" She asked him suddenly. She wanted to hear what Ash would say. He sighed though, leaning on the windowsill as he peered out into the street in front of his home.

"I wanted to…at one point." Ash began, shrugging his shoulders. He kept his back to her though, even as he continued speaking. "I told you this already, but I want to change how people view Pokemon. I don't think I'll be able to do that as an artist."

"You can't say that!" Dawn almost barked at him. She paused for a moment, surprised that she had become so outspoken for a moment. Dialing back the volume of her voice, she continued with her stance on the matter. "Art is a form of communication. You can spread messages and ideas all over the place through art. You're so talented Ash that I'm sure you can get your message across to people. I'm sure you'll find a way."

"It's not that easy Dawn. Everyone has been…brainwashed into believing Pokemon are dangerous. I don't want to sound like I'm downplaying what artists do though, I have the utmost respect for them…but getting a few pictures and paintings into a gallery to try and spread the word-" Ash sighed again, shaking his head. "-that isn't going work."

Pikachu jumped down from Dawn's shoulder, scampering over to its trainer where it quickly climbed his body until it was position on his shoulder.

"If I really want to make a difference, I have to do something big…no, huge." Ash stated, a smile forming on his face. He turned a bit, glancing back at Dawn. As he did so, the setting sun almost blinded Dawn since Ash had been blocking it. Raising a hand to block it, Dawn's eyes widen a bit as she looked at Ash. He was…sparkling in the sunlight. It was almost, magical.

"Me and Pikachu, we'll find a way to show everyone that we can live with Pokemon." Ash stated, giving a nod to his partner. "Right Pikachu?"

"Pika!"

"Becoming a Pokemon trainer is going to take him down a dark path, and if he commits to it, he won't turn back. So please, help him to see that there are other things that he can do with himself."

Remembering Cassidy's words to her, Dawn found that whatever resolve she had was fading. She didn't know if she had it in her heart to oppose Ash's dream.

A/N

I'm glad that I'm finally uploading this chapter. I've been dying to start tackling some of the major conflicts in this story. These two chapters (Perspective I & II) went into the opinions and viewpoints people have with regards to Pokemon in this story. As I've said before, I'm trying to put a different spin on the issues in the Pokemon world and I hope that you all are enjoying them as we keep progressing.

I have to give a shout out to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt for his help. He likes to say that his contributions are minimal but he's being too modest. Also a thanks to our new followers, I hope you're enjoying everything up until this point. There are big plans going forward that I can't wait to get to!

Thanks again everyone, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Chapter Text

Monday, September 19th

"Good morning mes élèves!" Fantina declared to her students as she looked around her first period class. "Today we're going to begin our first major project of the year. I believe this one will take about two weeks to complete."

"Two weeks?" May exclaimed. "That sounds like a lot of work."

"It is mademoiselle, but the end result will make it all worthwhile," Fantina replied eloquently, excusing May's interruption.

"So, what are we going to be doing?" Another student piped up.

"I will be pairing you off once again, but this time you and your partner will be working on a single piece together," Fantina revealed to them, and this seemed to open the floodgates.

"I call Ash!" May proclaimed immediately.

"No fair, I want to partner up with him!"

"Forget them, Ash, you and me will make the ultimate tag team!"

It took Fantina a few moments to regain the attention of her students, giving them some unfortunate news to silence them.

"Actually, you all will be working with the person you were partnered with for the portrait project," Fantina stated, causing a fair number of her students to deflate.

"Aww, so Ash and Dawn are together again?"

"Man, their piece is going to be amazing."

Fantina could already tell that a fair portion of the class wanted to work with Ash for his superior skill. In fact, Dawn was probably viewed in the same light but Fantina was curious to see what the two of them could produce together.

"So, what are like…the guidelines for this project?" May asked after raising her hand. This caused Fantina to smile warmly at her class.

"That is the best part. I have but one rule for you all for this project. Since this is a duet piece, all I require is that you and your partner split the piece evenly. You cannot overstep this boundary." Fantina explained to them.

"So you're saying we have to split the paper or canvas that we're working on?" Dawn asked for clarification.

"Exactly. You can use any medium you want, and it can be as big or as small as you want." Fantina went on. "I just want you all to have fun with this one."

"This sounds pretty cool actually." May declared, earning a nod of agreement from some of her peers.

Fantina then encouraged everyone to sit with their partner and spend the rest of the class brainstorming. Dawn moved to the empty seat beside Ash in the back of the classroom. They shared a glance as Dawn got comfortable in her seat. While the rest of the class became absorbed in their discussions, Ash and Dawn remained silent. Ash had his chin placed delicately on the back of his hand as he observed the bluenette seated beside him, waiting to see what she would do.

After a few moments, Dawn finally broke eye contact with Ash, amazed that he could hold a neutral expression as he openly stared at her. Dawn was embarrassed when she stared at Ash, and blatantly returning his gaze was even more embarrassing. Clearing her throat to relax her mind, Dawn decided to focus on the task at hand.

"So Ash, what do you think we should use as our medium?" Dawn asked him.

"I don't know, is there anything specific that you want to work with?" He asked in return.

"…You know, I haven't seen you paint something with my own eyes yet. You want to take a swing at it?" She suggested and Ash shrugged his shoulders.

"I'd hate to disappoint you, so I'll do what I can," Ash said before he added. "For you."

Dawn pursed her lips, feeling her cheeks heat up a bit.

Wednesday, September 21st

Dawn was last to arrive at her usual lunch table, greeting both Nando and May who had been there for a little while now.

"So, I finally got Ash to agree to join us for lunch guys." Dawn began as she took her seat beside Nando.

"Wait, Ash has lunch this period?" May exclaimed. This was news to her.

"Yeah, since the first day of school, May," Dawn stated in a deadpan.

"Well, I've never seen him here!" May pointed out indignantly.

"He told me he usually skips lunch. I gave him the offer for him to join us a couple of times, but he always turned it down." Dawn explained to them.

"Oh, I'm going to have to give Ash a piece of my mind when he shows up. I can't believe he turned down an invitation to have lunch with May Maple." May announced, causing both Dawn and Nando to give her a look.

"At least I know why he didn't want to sit with us. He spends enough time around May already." Nando said under his breath.

"Hey, I heard that." May chirped at him, causing Dawn to laugh. May looked toward her female friend now, a devious smirk forming on her face. "So~ Dawn, do you know what made him decide to accept? Was it your date over the weekend?"

Nando felt his chest tighten considerably at May's suggestion, but Dawn's reply put him at ease.

"No May." She stated, clicking her tongue. "You should know, it's the project for Ms. Fantina's class. We're…not doing that good actually. So, I told him we should try talking a bit more during lunch."

As she said this, Dawn spotted Ash stepping out from the cafeteria, searching for them. Dawn rose from her seat, waving him over to their table.

"Hey, guys," Ash said as he gave a nod to Nando and May.

"So Ash what's the deal with you blowing us off? I'm actually kind of hurt that you didn't want to sit with us for lunch." May said as she placed a hand over her chest as if to feign heartache.

"I usually spend my lunch in Ms. Fantina's room. But Dawn wanted to talk so I came out of my little den today." He explained to her, earning a 'hmph' from May.

"I guess I can accept that…for now." She said while crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"For now?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow I want a better answer." May stated, and Ash looked toward Dawn and Nando for an explanation. Nando rolled his eyes at this.

"Ash, do yourself a favor and just ignore her. After a while, May can't really hear the crap that comes out of her mouth." Nando said and Ash laughed out loud. May turned red at this before Ash covered his mouth, surprised that he had been so loud.

"Anyway Ash, I had a couple of ideas that I wanted to go over with you," Dawn said as she retrieved her sketchbook. She had Ash's full attention now as he sat down beside her.

"Yeah, let's see 'em." He said as she opened up to the pages that she had been doodling on during her classes this morning.

"What do you think of these?" Dawn asked him, watching as Ash's eyes jumped around the page. He spent about a minute studying the contents of the page before he gave an answer.

"These seem, kind of impersonal if you ask me, Dawn." He said after setting her sketchbook back down on the table. He then pointed to one of her drawings, using this one as a reference. "I like the thought of there being a centerpiece that the two of us work around, but it has to be something that really captures the audience."

"That's a good point. But what should be the subject then? Like, something we have in common?" Dawn suggested.

"That could work but uh…outside of art, what could we use?"

As the two of them went back and forth rattling off ideas and thoughts, Nando and May watched them interact quietly. They had never seen Dawn work like this.

Ash seemed to bring out a side of her that she never showed at all. When Dawn Berlitz starts to work, she enters her own little zone. No one else had ever set foot in there...until she met Ash Ketchum.

The focused Dawn Berlitz, a girl who wouldn't utter a word as she worked, was gone. In her place was a girl that was enthusiastically gushing out her thoughts and opinions on their project as if she were an open fire hydrant.

"I'm really liking this idea now Dawn," Ash said with a nod of approval. "All we need to do is figure out what to do for the centerpiece."

"There's no need to worry. We'll get it in no time. For now, though we've got a lot of stuff to work with. This is going to be so awesome!" Dawn said as she raised a hand toward Ash as a gesture for a high five.

"You got that right," Ash replied with a grin as he tapped her hand, but Dawn closed her fingers around Ash's hand as they made contact, causing him to furrow his brow. "Is something wrong?"

Dawn stared at their hands for a moment, and then her eyes brightened.

"That's it!" She exclaimed suddenly.

Friday, September 30th

Fantina was stunned, to say the least as she observed two of her top students. The work Ash and Dawn had done was nothing short of breathtaking as they applied the finishing touches.

Fantina understood that this project was difficult for her students. Giving a little under two weeks to try and combine their talents was a tall task, so she had adjusted her expectations after the first time she had given this assignment three years ago. In the past, each pair of students would simply split the canvas in half and work on their own. It was always clear that two people with two different visions had been working on these pieces.

However, for the first time, Fantina found a pair of students had blended their work together seamlessly.

Watching Ash and Dawn as they worked around a large canvas that was laid out on the table in front of them, Fantina couldn't help but marvel at their unspoken communication. They were the only pair that Fantina didn't hear any complaints from. They never overlapped or fought over an area to work on. They worked around each other perfectly.

Dawn had always loved to paint. She found it exhilarating to mix paints, create different tones and colors and then apply it all to a canvas. She had painted with other people in the past, but painting with Ash was a different experience. Not because he was a remarkable artist…but because Ash just seemed to understand her vision and adjust his vision accordingly, and of course Dawn would do the same for him. It was strange really.

Whenever Dawn painted, she felt as though she entered her own little zone. Putting all other distractions aside, it was just her, her palette of paint, and the canvas. For the first time though, Dawn had company in her zone. Ash was here working alongside her, and Dawn could swear that it was like they were inside each other's heads. They didn't need to talk, they just…understood. The finished product was clear proof of this.

Setting his paintbrush down, Ash exhaled audibly. He was done with his portion of the painting, but Dawn was still addressing some small details. Ash watched Dawn curiously now as she worked, lightly touching the canvas with the tip of her brush. It was mesmerizing to watch her while she was in this little zone.

A pair of feathery, angel-like wings seemed to unfold from Dawn's back, stretching out behind her. Ash inhaled sharply, a small smile on his face. This was a common occurrence, but the sight of these wings still made him smile.

Looking back at Ash and Dawn from her desk, May spotted Ash staring openly at Dawn. They remained like this for a few moments before Dawn finally looked up from her work and realized Ash was looking at her. They made eye contact and stared at each other for just a moment before turning away. This caused May to smile softly as she began to think of some possibilities.

Rising from her seat since Ash and Dawn had stopped working, May knew that this was her chance to finally see what they had been working on. Both Dawn and Ash had been so secretive, insisting that no one see it until they were done, except for Fantina of course. Not to mention they had been working on this piece in class, and privately during their free periods. With the amount of time invested, May was expecting to see a masterpiece, and what she saw fit that description.

It was almost overwhelming at first. There was just so much to take in, but as May spent a few moments studying this piece she began to understand what they had done. The centerpiece was a pair of hands, like a couple holding hands. As each arm faded off to the sides of the canvas, they became lost in a variety of images and colors. The contrast between the two artists was what defined the painting though. Ash's side was monotone, with his images being painted on shards of broken glass. On the other hand, Dawn's side was colorful and vibrant, expressing her warmth and happiness as opposed to the loneliness of Ash's portion. The most noteworthy thing to May though was the fact that Ash's wrist and forearm were grey, but as it transitioned to his hand it gained color. Almost as if coming into contact with Dawn's hand was restoring its color…or perhaps something else to his life…

"Magnifique!" Fantina declared as she observed their work. It was stupendous. Immediately a crowd formed around their desk as the other students came to see Ash and Dawn's work.

"Wow! That's incredible!"

"The two of you are freakin' amazing!"

"Dude, why are you so good at this?" One of the guys asked Ash, causing him to scratch the back of his neck with a chuckle.

"This is nothing really," Ash replied casually.

Dawn used this moment to steal a glance at Ash as he laughed softly. This was an outstanding piece he had just completed, but she knew in the long run that all of this was meaningless to him.

Soon enough the bell chimed, signaling the end of first period. As the students packed up their belongings and left, Dawn approached Ash once again while she had a few minutes before her next class.

"So, Ash, Ms. Fantina wants to put our painting on display. After that though she wants to know which of us will take it home. " Dawn explained to him and Ash snorted a bit.

"It's all yours Dawn." He said quickly, not that Dawn was surprised by his answer.

"Are you sure?" She pressed.

"You and I both know I have enough paintings in my house. I'm sure your folks can find a spot for it though." Ash said with a small grin. There had to be a place for this painting in Dawn's enormous home.

"Yeah…I suppose." Dawn noted before glancing at the doorway of the room where the early birds for the fashion class were arriving. "Um…do you want to hang out again this weekend?"

Ash frowned and clicked his tongue.

"Sorry Dawn, I actually have plans this weekend." He replied although he would've jumped at the chance to go the beach with her again.

"Oh, are you working?" She asked curiously.

"Uhh, yeah…I guess you could call it work," Ash said softly with a small nod.

The sun was sinking into the horizon as Ash found himself standing on a hillside that overlooked the suburbs of Vermilion City's northern residential area. He ran a hand through his hair and then stretched out his arms to enjoy the breeze as it passed over him. Much like the breeze, his school day had flown by without much notice. He said his goodbyes to Dawn as she caught the bus to head home, and then he met with his company for the afternoon.

Ash glanced over his shoulder and saw that Brock was still seated on the hood of his car in the small parking lot farther back. Per Ash's request, Brock was waiting for him after school to take him to a secluded spot for a demonstration.

"Are we clear?" Ash asked Brock, causing him to look around again. There had been a couple in the parking lot when they had arrived about ten minutes ago, forcing them to sit back for a while. Fortunately, the two of them had finally left earning an all-clear signal from Brock.

"Yeah, let's get started." He replied as he slid off his car. Opening the passenger's door, Brock went straight for the backpack that was resting on the seat, unzipping it to release Pikachu who was hidden inside.

"Chaa-" He groaned as he climbed out of the bag and stretched his small limbs. Pikachu rubbed at his cheeks before he glanced up at Brock and greeted him with a salute. "Pika!"

"Long time no see, Pikachu," Brock said as Pikachu jumped out of the car, allowing Brock to shut the door. Once he spotted Ash, Pikachu scampered over to his trainer and with one jump, he leaped onto Ash's shoulder, his favorite spot.

"Alright, let's get straight down to business, Brock." Ash declared before he looked at Pikachu. "We're going to show Brock everything we've been working on Pikachu, so no holding back, okay?"

"Pi-ka!" He declared before he jumped down to the grassy hill.

"I had better be impressed, Ash," Brock stated as he crossed his arms in front of his chest and took a seat on the hood of his car.

"Alright then, Pikachu let's show him your Agility," Ash announced to his partner. Brock watched Pikachu closely and raised his brow as he saw Pikachu's form flickered. Then with a shout, Pikachu dashed forward and raced around the hill. Despite his distance and position, Brock was still struggled to track Pikachu's movements with his eyes. Pikachu was lightning quick!

Pikachu soon returned to his starting point and stopped on a dime. He was in full control of his movements even with all of the momentum he generated while in motion. Together, Ash and Pikachu looked at Brock and waited for his thoughts. Brock leaned back a little and concealed his smile with one hand. He liked what he saw, however, there was still plenty of room for improvement.

"Not bad, not bad," Brock said, motioning for them to continue.

Ash frowned at Brock. He expected more than that, so he decided that they would go for a real showstopper this time. With a glance toward Pikachu, Ash gave a nod and Pikachu understood.

"Pikachu, Charge up!" Ash declared as he swung an arm through the air.

Pikachu stood on all fours, and he tensed his muscles with the call for action.

"Pi-kaaa," He raised his voice, and electricity crackled from his cheeks. What started as a few small sparks grew into a visible dome of lightning. Brock furrowed his brow as he could hear the crackle of the lightning from a distance. Pikachu rose up onto his hind legs, and the electricity became a cloak on his fur.

"Now show him your Thunderbolt!" Ash commanded as he pointed skyward.

"Pi-ka-CHU!" Pikachu shouted and Brock's jaw dropped as a bolt of lightning was fired into the sky!

Ash cheered at the sight of it, splitting a cloud above them. "Awesome job, Pikachu!" He exclaimed as Pikachu jumped to give Ash a high five with his tail. Once again, they turned to Brock for his reaction and this time, Brock wasn't hiding anything. He stood on his feet, his mouth agape and sunglasses now crooked on the bridge of his nose. "Well Brock, what did you think of that?"

"Get in the car!" Brock barked suddenly as he hustled into the driver's seat of his car.

"Wha-What?" Ash exclaimed.

"I said get in! We've got to get moving now!" Brock demanded as he started the engine and reached over to throw open the passenger door. Pikachu could hear the urgency in Brock's voice and rushed off to the car, and Ash followed suit. As soon as Ash and Pikachu were in the car and the door closed, Brock whipped out of his parking spot.

"Brock, what's the matter?" Ash shouted at his friend as he struggled to put on his seat belt. In a matter of moments, they were racing down the hillside.

"Get Pikachu back into your bag," Brock ordered him. Ash's frown deepened, but he followed the instruction and reached for his bag on the floor.

"Sorry Pikachu, back in ya go," Ash said as he opened the bag for Pikachu to stow himself away. As Ash closed up his bag, he had to grab the handle as Brock turned wildly back onto the main roadway leading back into the residential area. "Sheesh, Brock, what's the matter?"

"Ash, you just shot a lightning bolt into the sky!" Brock exclaimed. "That's a dead giveaway on what we were doing."

It took a moment for Ash to realize that he didn't consider his actions in the slightest. "Ugh, I'm so stupid," He muttered as he palmed his forehead.

They were a fair distance from the closest homes to the hillside, but if anyone saw a lightning bolt get fired into the sky, their first thought would be a Pokemon ball. Of course, that would prompt an investigation from the authorities and if caught, an arrest. That was the last thing either of them needed.

"I didn't think you'd do something so flashy," Brock continued as they arrived at an intersection that led into the suburbs. Brock slowed his pace since they were the only car passing through. There was no need to draw any further attention to themselves. A few blocks down was the entrance to a highway ramp that they could use to join traffic and 'disappear.'

"Well, the goal was to impress," Ash mumbled.

"And I was…" Brock remarked before he added. "Damn near crapped my pants though," He stifled his laughter. "But now, we have to high tail it out of here before the cops show up. I'm sure you don't want to have to explain why you have a Pikachu in your backpack."

"Yeah, that was my mistake," Ash said and Brock slugged him on the shoulder.

"I'll forgive you this time," Brock said with a smirk as he turned onto the highway ramp. He sped up and joined the traffic of rush hour as people were returning home from their workday. "I think we should be fine from here."

"So uh, what did you think of Pikachu?" Ash asked after a few moments.

"Hmm," That was Brock's initial statement, and he let Ash stew in silence as a form of punishment.

Every couple of weeks, Ash and Pikachu would demonstrate some of their attacks for Brock to gauge their progress. Ash wasn't familiar with any of the other local trainers to find a practice partner, but Brock was an active lurker of the Pokemon scene in Vermilion City. Brock could safely say that he saw well over a hundred Pokemon battles, making him just as informed as any other trainer.

"Do you have anything to say, Brock?" Ash pleaded. "Or do you want me to beg?"

"Alright, I can definitely say that the two of you took another step forward," He commented. "How did you train Pikachu to use Agility?"

"Before sunrise on the weekends, we'd for a five-mile run. Pikachu really enjoys those," Ash explained. "While we're running, he'd do these face steps and like, flash from one place to the next really fast. I remember seeing a battle where a Glameow was using Agility, and it looked really similar to what Pikachu was doing."

"And you guys were only running on the weekends?"

"Yeah, it's tough to run during the week since people are waking up early," Ash replied and Brock nodded. If he was seen running with Pikachu during the morning, most people would jump to one conclusion and that would get Ash into a lot of trouble. Brock was proud of Ash for using enough forethought to only train with Pikachu during the safest times available to them. But…

"That Thunderbolt attack was actually pretty scary. It's much stronger than the last time you showed it to me," Brock noted and Ash grinned. He opened his backpack and Pikachu poked his head out.

"Did you heart that Pikachu? Brock said our Thunderbolt was awesome," Ash said and Pikachu gave him a thumbs up.

Brock pursed his lips as he stole a glance at them. While Ash and Pikachu showed some improvement, there was no denying that there was still a gap in ability between Ash and the trainers that he wanted to battle.

"Ash, do you know what time you have to meet this guy from the Red Skulls?" Brock asked him.

"Six-thirty," Ash replied. "We still have plenty of time."

Brock was also aware of Ash's activities at the end of every month, how he worked with the Red Skulls to make some money off the books.

"Do you know how much you're getting paid this time?"

"Usually it depends on the job," Ash answered. "But it's never below five thousand."

"Man, I might have to consider working for the Red Skulls too," Brock said with a laugh, but Ash deadpanned.

"You're the one who recommended this to me," Ash pointed out.

"I don't know, was I?" Brock asked in return, sending a smirk in Ash's direction.

"Whatever, Brock," Ash said as he returned his gaze to Pikachu.

Ash and Brock were…partners in crime, so to speak.

They first met almost two years ago while attending a battle night downtown. Unfortunately, the authorities caught wind of the event, and everyone scattered with the officers arrived. Brock bumped into Ash was clearly lost in the pandemonium and snatched him up to make an escape. Offering Ash a ride home that night, Brock got to know him a bit and learned that he was an aspiring Pokemon trainer, who was in possession of a Pikachu. That marked the beginning of their partnership.

As a young teenager, Ash had no access to some of the tools available to other trainers in Vermilion City, and he struggled to attend battles to see what he could learn. However, with Brock's guidance, Ash and Pikachu were now racing toward their dream, and that thought brought a smile to Brock's face.

While Ash and Pikachu didn't know it, they were already on par with the average trainer in Vermilion City. But Ash wasn't interested in the average trainer, which was to be expected. Who would dream of being 'average?' Ash wanted to beat the strongest trainers of Vermilion City, and if he did so, that would lead to recognition. Recognition meant that his voice would be heard and hopefully that would one day allow him to make a change.

But for now, Brock focused on the present. One question remained on his mind. Was Ash capable of beating the Five Kings of Vermilion City?

"Oh yeah, that reminds me," Brock said as he got Ash's attention. "I've got some news for you."

"What's up?"

"Next Saturday, there's a block party in midtown. I heard that N is going to have a battle there." Brock revealed.

"For real?" Ash exclaimed. "Who is he going to battle this time?"

"It's nothing serious. Just an exhibition match like at the subway station, but seeing him in person is something you can't pass on," Brock explained. "So, don't get too banged up with the Skulls this weekend, alright?"

"Yeah, I hear ya," Ash responded before looking down at Pikachu. "Did you hear that Pikachu; we're going to see N in a battle next weekend."

"Pii-ka?" He asked in return and tilted his head to the side.

"He's the King of the White Lotus. One of the strongest trainers in the city." Ash explained to Pikachu. "One day, you and I are going to battle him and beat him. That's why I want you to see how he battles for yourself."

"Pika-chu." He replied with a nod of confidence.

Brock snorted softly at the two of them. They were two peas in a pod despite their differences. Humans and Pokemon had more in common than most people cared to think about…or admit.

Sunday, October 2nd

Brock enjoyed his weekend for the most part, even though he spent the majority of it watching his siblings. Now, as he wrapped what was left of his weekend on Sunday night, he received a phone call that forced him to drop everything that he was doing.

"I'm near the old steel mill on the west end. Can you come pick me up?" Ash asked him.

Ash wouldn't reach out to him at an odd time like this, so Brock was willing to bet that something unusual must have happened to his friend. The skies grew dark by the time Brock found Ash. After traveling along the perimeter of the shipping yards, Brock found him seated on a bench beneath one of the street lights.

"Ash, are you alright?" Brock asked as he jumped out of his car and rushed to Ash's side. Upon closer inspection, Brock saw that his clothes were torn and there were fresh bruises on Ash's face.

"Uh…I don't think we should stay here," Ash mumbled in response as he nodded toward the two bags on the bench beside him. There was his blue backpack, and then a large duffle bag. "Pikachu's in the blue one, be careful with it."

Brock checked on the Pokemon within it for himself. Pikachu rested at the bottom of the bag in far worse condition than Ash. What happened to them? Brock took his time as he collected both bags and stored them in the back seat of his car. Then he returned to Ash.

"Do you need a hand?" Brock asked him, and Ash gave him a nod. "Come on then."

Brock hooked his forearm under Ash's left armpit and Ash cursed at him. He was taken aback as he released Ash who grimaced.

"Whoa, what's wrong?"

"Sorry…it's my shoulder. I think it's dislocated," Ash replied as he held his arm and waited for the pain to subside.

"Let me see if I can reset it for you," Brock suggested, but as he reached for Ash's shoulder, he caught a glare from Ash.

"How about we leave it to someone that knows what they're doing," Ash said to decline Brock's offer. "Take me to Shauna's place."

"Gotcha," Brock said with a nod. He slowed down for Ash's sake and waited for him to get to his feet. Brock opened up the passenger door and waited until Ash was comfortable before he helped him put on his seat. Once Ash was set, Brock shut the door and took his place behind the wheel to begin their short trip. "Are you going to fill me in?"

"Well…the Red Skulls had some big plans this weekend," Ash muttered. "They wanted to make some sort of statement to the White Lotus, so they rounded up a group of us and sent us into Lotus territory on the west side," Ash winced as he readjusted in his seat. "There was this abandoned apartment complex that the White Lotus use for…something," Ash shook his head. "We didn't get all the details, they just told us to storm the place and chase out any Lotus trainers that were there on Friday night. After that, we held it down."

"Wait, so did you actually get to battle some of the guys from the White Lotus?" Brock inquired.

"Yeah. I don't want to sound rude, but those guys weren't that strong. We beat two guys on Friday, and then we won all four of our battles on Saturday," Ash explained. He thought fondly of when he and Pikachu celebrated their victories. They won convincingly as proof of their progress from training.

"Seems like you guys did pretty good," Brock noted, but a glance at Ash let him see the grim expression on his face. It was then that Brock realized that something must have gone horribly wrong to explain Ash and Pikachu's current condition.

"Everything was fine until earlier this afternoon…everything just got crazy," Ash revealed and Brock was eager to know. "I'd say like thirty guys from the White Lotus showed up, and it turned into a hot mess."

-X-X-

Ash was having a blast!. The past day and a half was unlike any other he experienced. While the environment wasn't pretty, consisting of worn-out apartments and empty parking lots, being surrounded by other trainers was something that Ash longed for. Once they assumed control of the complex, Ash spent the majority of his time talking with the other trainers, trying to learn more about their Pokemon, and arranging a practice match when he could. It was so much fun to listen to different strategies and share experiences.

They became a boisterous group as their victories over the White Lotus piled up on Saturday. At every opportunity, they would gloat to provoke the Lotus trainers that came to reclaim the complex. However, the arrogance that carried them wouldn't last through the weekend.

Ash knew that all too well as he stared at a scene of pure chaos in the main parking area of the complex. At least thirty trainers from the White Lotus arrived to engage the trainers sent by the Red Skulls, and battles broke out all over the place. Everyone fought with little regard for their surroundings, and soon enough there was evidence of Pokemon battles everywhere. The concrete was shattered, scorched, and uprooted.

With an advantage in terms of numbers, the Lotus trainers began to overwhelm their opponents. It wasn't long before Ash and Pikachu found themselves among the six remaining trainers on their side. The trainers that no longer had a Pokemon protecting them didn't fare too well as the Lots trainers paid them back in full for the last two days by beating them physically.

Ash winced as Pikachu was sent skidding across the ground to his feet, and Pikachu remained on his side, unconscious from the blow. It wasn't a fair fight as Pikachu found himself with three opponents, and Ash faced those same odds as three Lotus trainers assaulted him. He was thrown to the floor and the heel of a boot was placed on his shoulder. They began to apply pressure and Ash writhed as he felt a pop. They followed up by delivering a kick to his side, and they didn't stop at just one. When Ash lowered his arm to protect his side, their foot connected with his face.

He blinked back hot tears as he tried to roll away, but there was no mercy. Ash positioned his good arm to protect his vital areas as they continued to kick at him. He peeked through one eye and he saw the rest of the Lotus trainers surrounded the last two trainers that still had Pokemon standing.

"Get them!"

"Sandshrew, attack with Rollout!"

"Krabby, get them with Vice Grip!"

"Machop hit 'em hard with your Karate Chop!"

"Drowzee, use Psybeam!"

-X-X-

Brock frowned deeply. "That got ugly, quick," He mumbled.

"Oh no, it got worse from there," Ash interjected and Brock looked at him in shock.

"How could it get worse than that?"

"Someone in the area called the police, not that you could blame them considering how out of control those battles got," Ash explained. "And then to top it all off, you'll never guess who showed up."

Brock remained silent, unable to think of what could be the cherry on top for Ash's eventful weekend. He nodded to Ash as a gesture for him to reveal this information.

"N."

-X-X-

A black blur raced through their makeshift battlefield. Just as the last remaining Pokemon were bombarded with attacks, a Zoroark appeared. It was as if time was moving differently for him. He read each attack and parried them away with ease, protecting the pair of Pokemon that were still standing. There were gasps as the Lotus trainers immediately realized what Zoroark's appearance meant. The King of the White Lotus was present.

"Use Roar," A voice declared, and the dark Pokemon took his place at the center of the parking lot. He threw his head back and his spiky fur stood on end as he let loose a feral roar. Every trainer raised their hands to shield their eardrums from this deafening cry. All of the Pokemon that were conscious were reverted back to formless light that was transferred back to their Pokeballs. That brought the battles to an instant end. Once Zoroark became silent, the trainers looked to the trainer commanding Zoroark as he sat on a windowsill on the second floor of the building that overlooked the parking lot.

He shook his head as he observed the scene, a frown on his face.

"What are you all doing?" N shouted as an invitation for anyone to answer.

Both parties stood frozen, glancing between N and his Zoroark. He was truly the last person that anyone expected to get involved in this confrontation. There was no telling how things would continue from there.

Soon enough, one of the trainers from the White Lotus stepped forward to answer N's question.

"Sir, their trainers are the same group from the Red Skulls that chased us out of here on Friday. We returned to claim what is ours," He declared to N who raised his eyebrows in return.

"Did you come here to take back our territory…or was revenge your motivation?" N inquired as he made a gesture to the trainers sent by the Red Skulls that were bruised and beaten from the blows they received.

"They brought this on themselves!" Another trainer piped up. "They were the aggressors!"

N merely shook his head at the response. "The White Lotus does not instigate conflict, nor do we respond to it. We have our duties and attacking other trainers is not one of them."

"So, we should just let them walk all over us?!" Someone barked. N looked at him sharply.

"No. We have a decisive means to address conflict. A Pokemon battle. A demonstration of skill, strength, and teamwork. If you can conquer your enemy in an honest battle, he has no reason to turn against you," N declared. "Rather than stopped down to face your enemy, make them rise up to face you."

Ash sat upright as he listened to N speak, holding his shoulder with one hand as he tried to ease the pain. With N's appearance as the leader of the Lotus trainers, Ash was expecting this situation to get far worse. But he was actually berating his subordinates. No one questioned N's instruction, and they put away their Pokeballs, albeit begrudgingly. Clearly, they had the utmost respect for their King.

Several of them glanced upward or furrowed their brow as they heard sirens in the distance.

N bit down on his lower lip as he realized he should have ended these battles sooner. All of the commotion must have earned the attention of some people in the area, and clearly, those people notified the authorities. If any of them were caught here, they would be prosecuted and sent to prison.

"Everyone, gather your Pokemon and head to building three!" N barked at the trainers around him. "If you want to escape, follow us!"

The Lotus trainers looked at him incredulously as they realized where N was leading them. The sound of the sirens approaching them quickly deterred any doubts about N's decision. Regardless of their affiliation, he didn't want any of these trainers getting arrested.

As the Lotus trainers took charge in leading the Red Skulls to building three, Ash was surprised to see a hand being extended down to him. Looking up, this surprise only increased as he saw that it was N standing in front of him.

"You know, I didn't plan on seeing you again so soon," N stated as Ash grabbed his hand. N then hoisted Ash up to his feet where he took a moment to steady himself.

"Neither did I, but I'm glad," Ash replied. There was no telling how things would've gone if N hadn't shown up. Then N's Zoroark approached him with Pikachu in his paws. Extending his partner to him, Ash smiled at Zoroark as he raised his hands to collect his partner. Ash grimaced visibly as he raised his left arm, and N realized he wouldn't be able to hold his Pokemon for the time being.

"Allow me," N said as he accepted Pikachu into his arms, creating a pocket to hold him for now. "We don't have much time. Let's not fall behind the others."

N and Ash were at the tail end of the mob of trainers that had rushed into building three of the complex. Entering the lobby, they all raced down the staircase into the basement where Ash was shocked to see the trainers rushing through a large hole in the far wall. The Lotus trainers began to call out some of their Pokemon, asking them to light the tunnel they had entered.

Ash and N were the last two to enter the tunnel, and N called for his Zoroark to cover their tracks. With ease Zoroark pulled a large steel cabinet in front of the tunnel, concealing it from view. This wouldn't suffice though as N called for Zoroark to attack the ceiling of the tunnel near the entrance. Doing so caused several pieces of earth to drop down, sealing off the tunnel completely.

"We should be safe for now," N stated with a sigh of relief. He then motioned for Ash to follow him as they jogged to catch up with the other trainers. The Lotus trainers had been helping the Red Skulls along, especially those whom they had hurt. There were no apologies, but no complaints from the Red Skulls since they had escaped the authorities.

As they all continued along the tunnel, they soon saw light at the end of it. Reaching this point, Ash was surprised to see that it simply led to another tunnel. This one however was refined by human hands, well-lit and there were train tracks on the ground.

"Is this one of the abandoned subway lines?" Ash asked curiously as he looked toward N who nodded.

"Yup. Some tunnels lead to the subway lines all over the city." N noted softly. "They say a Pokemon called Diglett actually made all of these tunnels underneath the city centuries ago."

Ash took a moment to marvel at that thought, but it would also explain how these tunnels lasted so long without collapsing.

"Come on everyone, let's keep moving!" N called out as he took charge, leading all of the trainers now.

They walked together for at least an hour before N declared that they had arrived at their destination. There was a ladder leading up a tight tunnel that would take them above ground. One by one the Red Skulls ascended this ladder. Those that struggled due to injuries were carried up the ladder on N's Zoroark. It was a little uncomfortable being seated on Zoroark's shoulders as he climbed, but it beat struggling to do so on his own.

As Ash reached the surface riding Zoroark, he was surprised to see the sun was already sinking into the horizon. N was the only member of the White Lotus to come out from the tunnel and he spoke with the trainers for a few moments.

"I don't know what your intentions were when you stepped into an area controlled by the White Lotus, but I will apologize on behalf of my trainers for their aggressive behavior," N began, much to their surprise. "I will hold them accountable for the injuries that they caused to you as trainers, but I believe eluding the police is payment enough. You all are currently located within the old steel mill on the wend end, so you should have no trouble getting home from here."

There was an earnest thanks from some of them as the group dispersed, but not from everyone. N approached Ash and placed Pikachu in his good arm.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" N asked him curiously.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Ash responded, though N could see that he was trying to conceal his discomfort.

"I hate to say this, but it's rough trying to be a trainer in this city. You can't come in with that half-hearted effort and think you'll make it. I'm not a big fan of how things work within our community of trainers, but I feel like this is something you still don't understand…" N stated as he studied Ash's expression. "You won't always have a fair battle. People will gang up on you, just like they did today. If you and your Pokemon can't overcome people being crooked when they battle you…you won't have a place here for very long."

N wore a stone face as he said this, without a hint of remorse in his voice. He made it abundantly clear to Ash that he couldn't be a part-time trainer. Even after all the training that he did with Pikachu, there was still a lot of work ahead of them if they wanted to compete with the best trainers in Vermilion City.

Movie night was a Sunday tradition for Shauna, Miette, and Serena as they were huddled together on a sofa within Shauna's one-bedroom apartment. Tonight, they watched an old romantic comedy with a predictable storyline, but they were enthralled nonetheless.

"I still can't believe girls fall for such cheesy lines," Miette exclaimed, though she realized her complaint fell on deaf ears as both Shauna and Serena swooned over the male lead.

Unfortunately, their escape from reality was shattered as someone banged on Shauna's door. Startled, she rose to her feet to answer the door.

"Did you have someone coming to visit, Shauna?" Serena inquired.

"Not that I know of. Did you order pizza or something?" Shauna asked her friends, but they shook their heads. With no conclusive answer, Shauna opened the door and gasped as she found Ash leading against Brock, using him to support his balance. "Oh my god!"

Movie night faced an interruption as Ash and Brock entered the apartment.

"Ash, what happened to you?" Miette exclaimed as she and Serena jumped off the couch to make room for him. Ash grimaced as he sat down, and Shauna took a seat beside him to conduct an examination.

"Were you in a fight?" Shauna asked as she helped him remove his shirt.

"Something…like that," Ash grunted as she got a look at his torso. There were discolorations all over his body which put a frown on Shauna's face, and her dismay only increased as she saw the scar on his forearm. "Can you look at my shoulder, I'm pretty sure it's dislocated."

Shauna adjusted her focus and immediately spotted the depression in his shoulder muscle. It was exactly as Ash stated.

"Miette, I need ice. Like a lot of it," Shauna stated with a glance to her friend. Miette gave a nod before she went off to the fridge. Shauna then looked to Serena and mouthed, 'talk to Brock, now!' Serena bit down on her lower lip before she looked at the entrance of Shauna's apartment where she caught Brock trying to slip away.

She pursued him out into the corridor, shutting the door on his way out.

"So, Ash," Shauna began as things grew quiet. "You're pretty beat up. Care to explain?"

"Shauna, let's keep this how it's always been, you patch me up, no questions asked," Ash said with a sigh. "And I'll make sure I pay you the next time I see you."

Ash lowered his voice as he said this, but not enough to ensure that Miette didn't hear him. Miette poked her head out of the kitchen as she heard this, but she swallowed her urge to ask about this right now. But she would definitely ask Shauna as soon as she had the chance.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Serena called out as she moved at a brisk pace to catch with Brock at the end of the corridor.

"I've got a little something to take care of," Brock replied as he continued.

"I need to talk with you," Serena interjected as she now matched his pace.

"You're welcome to walk with me,"

"Tell me what happened to Ash," Serena stated. Regardless of Shauna's little push for her to go after Brock, Serena wanted to know as well. Shauna mentioned that Ash would show up to her apartment with small injuries every now and then, but what she witnessed tonight certainly didn't fit that description. Not to mention, she wasn't sure if Shauna meant to share the information at the time, so Serena was now more curious than ever."

"Serena, I honestly think it'd be best if you didn't know," Brock answered.

"Why?" She exclaimed. "I care about Ash and his safety. He shouldn't be getting hurt like that, so I have every right to know about this!"

"Then why don't you talk to Ash about this?"

"Because I know that knucklehead will try to act like he's alright," She retorted with a huff. "So, come on Brock, out with it."

"Serena, I'm going to say this again. You really don't want to know how that happened to him," Brock insisted which confirmed her suspicions.

"It had to do with Pokemon, didn't it?" She concluded though she kept her voice low. Brock paused for a moment, and his hesitation was all Serena needed to know that she hit the nail on the head. "I've seen more Pokemon battles than you guys probably care to know about, and I know that if someone gets hurt the way Ash is…they're doing something that they shouldn't be doing. So why did that happen to him?"

"If I answer this, I want you to know that under any circumstance, you cannot try to interfere. You'll be putting yourself at risk, and Ash at even greater risk," Brock said as they arrived at the lobby of the apartment building. They came to a stop at the exit and Serena raised her brow as she waited for Brock to continue. As he made eye contact with her, he could tell that there was no way to avoid this, so he took a glance around the lobby to make sure that no one was present. "Ash…has been working with the Red Skulls."

Serena's expression didn't change. She mustered all of her willpower to restrain herself.

"So, you've known about this and you haven't told him to stop?" Serena asked him.

"I can't stop him," Brock said.

"What do you mean you can't?!" She snapped at him. "Brock, all of this is way too dangerous for him, for any normal person! You can't let him think that it's okay to run around town with a group of thugs and their Pokemon!"

Brock didn't respond to this as he stepped toward the exit.

"Brock, please," Serena was begging him now. "Ash knows that none of us want him to do this kind of stuff, but you're the only one who keeps supporting him and that's why he keeps trying. Just look at what it's doing to him!" Brock didn't make eye contact anymore. "He's hurt, and if this keeps up, he might be more than just hurt one day. And…I-I couldn't bear to see that. So please, stop giving him this false sense of hope that Pokemon is the answer."

"What are you saying?" Brock asked as he glanced back at her. "That I shouldn't help Ash achieve his dreams?"

"Not when you're putting him at risk. If you really loved Ash like the rest of us, you wouldn't be able to look at him while he's hurt and act like it's alright!" Serena said sharply. "If anything happens to Ash…I'll never forgive, Brock."

Brock looked away and left her in the lobby. He stepped out into the street and traveled up the sidewalk to reach his car. As he arrived at his car and unlocked it, he slid into the backseat beside the bags that Ash brought.

"Once you drop me off with Shauna, I need you to treat Pikachu," Ash explained to Brock as they pulled up in front of the apartment building where their friend lived. "In the second bag they gave me, you'll find some Potions that you can treat Pikachu with."

Brock placed his hand on the zipper of the duffle bag and opened it, and his eyes grew wide at what he found within it. There had to be at least ten thousand dollars, all bundled up for Ash. This was probably twice the rate that the Red Skulls would normally pay!

Brock looked up in thought and recalled what Ash told him about this weekend. Was it possible that these trainers that were sent into Lotus territory weren't actually members of the Red Skulls…and actually hired mercenaries that were used to stir up some trouble for the White Lotus?

He stroked at his chin. Brock had a funny feeling that this wasn't some small conflict that could be considered an afterthought after a few days. Something major was developing between the White Lotus and the Red Skulls.

With a sigh, Brock focused on his current task. He reached into the bag to obtain one of the Potions that Ash told him about. If this was part of payment, it made it that much more obvious that none of these trainers were expected to come out victorious from the situation they faced over the weekend. The Red Skulls knew that they would be beaten. Which meant they only did that to bring N onto the scene earlier today…but why?

Brock retrieved Pikachu's sleeping form from the backpack and rested the Pokemon on his lap. With the Potion in hand, Brock doused Pikachu with the purple liquid, and the bruises on his body faded somewhat. Pikachu's breathing relaxed, and he curled up on Brock's lap.

"You don't think it hurts to see them like this, Serena?" Brock asked in a whisper as he glanced out the window. "It does…but this is bigger than you could understand."

Brock looked back to the duffle bag to return the Potion to its rightful place. As he did so, he caught sight of the money that was tucked into the corner of the bag.

"But is this worth it…?"

A/N

Phew, a lot of work went into this chapter between me and my beta-reader MjrGenMatt. I'm really happy to finally upload this so I hope you all enjoyed it.

I'm now realizing that I never really talked about how frequently I intend to update this fic, so I might as well give you guys my plan now. I know you might not be the biggest fan of this, but once a month is usually my goal. I'm pretty busy as it is, so once a month gives me ample time to go over everything, discuss it with my beta-reader to make sure it's the highest quality we can achieve. We might surprise you guys and spit out two chapters a month, but I don't think we'll ever be rapidly updating this story like some authors on this site. I'm grateful to those of you who patiently wait for each chapter, and I sincerely hope each chapter leaves you satisfied…actually I'd prefer if they leave you wanting more, but it's whichever you prefer.

So thank you very much for reading, I hope you all have a wonderful day and I hope to see you again at the next update!

Chapter Text

Serena, Miette, and Shauna stood silently as they watched a shirtless Ash press a bag of ice against his shoulder. He'd never admit that it bothered him to have three young women staring at him in his current state, but he focused on testing his range of motion with a gauze wrap around his shoulder. The girls had questions for Ash, but Serena already informed them that now wasn't the time to push for answers.

"Ash, is there anything else I can do for you?" Shauna inquired as she approached him. Ash shook his head as he returned the bag of ice to her.

"Thanks, but I think I'll get going now," Ash said as he gave her a two-fingered salute. It took him some time to get his torn shirt back on, but he managed without any help.

"Are you sure?" Serena asked as she stepped forward. Even though his shoulder was reset and supported by the wrap Shauna provided, he was still grimacing as he put on his shirt.

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry," Ash assured her and he rose to his feet. He was unsteady at first but waved off their concerns as he made his way to the door. With a nod of thanks for their time and help, Ash left and Shauna's apartment was completely silent.

With sighs, both Miette and Serena dropped themselves down onto the couch. No one was in the mood to continue their movie after they spent the last hour looking after Ash.

"What should we do now?" Shauna asked her friends.

"Not sure," Serena muttered with a shrug.

"Shauna, do you mind if I ask you something?" Miette asked as she glanced toward Shauna. She furrowed her brow but invited Miette to proceed. "Earlier when you were talking to Ash, he said 'let's keep this how it's always been, you patch me up, no questions asked.' Has this happened before?"

It was Shauna's turn to sigh, and her face became expressionless. Miette and Serena shared a glance as they saw the change in Shauna's demeanor. It wasn't often that they saw their friend wear a face like this.

"…Yeah, for the last couple of months actually," Shauna explained. "On the first Sunday of the month, he would turn up at my door…well, like what you saw tonight," Shauna admitted. "You know what, no. Recently, he's been showing up like that. It was never that bad at first."

"Are you serious?" Miette exclaimed and Shauna nodded. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Actually," Serena interjected with a confession. "I knew a little bit about this."

"Huh?" Both Miette and Shauna were looking at her now. "How?"

"You probably don't remember, Shauna," Serena explained sheepishly. "You called me one morning a little hungover back in July, and I remember you were complaining about Ash showing up at your place the night before. I didn't think much of it at the time because, well you know, you were drinking," Shauna felt her cheeks grow hot, unable to recall this little exchange. Serena shook her head as she concluded. "But after seeing him so beat up tonight, I know this isn't something we can just ignore."

"He looked like someone beat the crap out of him. What do you think he could be doing?" Miette asked as she leaned back against the couch. "Well, at least he's smart enough to go to a med school dropout to make sure he's okay."

"Miette!" Serena whispered harshly.

"Serena, it's okay," Shauna insisted as she forced a smile. "You of all people should know that it's really not a big deal to talk about me leaving medical school."

"Well, I don't see any reason to rub salt on an open wound," Serena pointed out with a narrow glance at Miette.

"Don't worry about it. And Miette is right, I'm glad Ash has enough sense to come to see me. He already told me that he doesn't want to go to a hospital or a clinic whenever he's hurt, so while I may not have finished medical school, I can still help him out." Shauna explained, and the girls gave her a nod.

"So, he's coming to you for treatment?" Miette went on. "Have you asked him what he's doing?"

"Uhh…" Shauna hesitated, but as she looked at her two best friends seated in front of her, she viewed this as an opportunity to come clean. "We made a deal. He'd pay me for the treatment each month, and I'd keep my mouth shut about it."

"Ash is giving you hush money?!" Miette exclaimed and Serena clapped her hand over Miette's mouth.

"Do you really have to be so loud about this, Miette?" Serena asked her. Then, Serena grimaced as something touched her palm and she pulled it away from Miette, shaking it furiously. "Ugh, Miette, that's so gross!"

Miette blew a raspberry at Serena in response.

"What did she do?" Shauna asked.

"She licked my hand," Serena muttered as she shot Miette a glare and Shauna stifled a laugh.

"Let's recap," Miette suggested as she looked away from Serena. "Ash gets hurt every month or so, and he comes to you to get taken care of. Then he pays you to keep quiet."

"That covers all the bases," Shauna said. "And in my defense, I couldn't say no to the money. I needed it."

Miette frowned as Shauna said this and asked. "Is your dad still giving you a hard time?"

"He did pay my tuition and he covered all of my bills while I was in school. Of course, he's going to be upset with me for dropping out," Shauna pointed out.

"It's been almost a year though," Miette muttered as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "He really needs to get off your case already."

"It's not a big deal, he'll come around eventually," Shauna assured her. Miette and Serena shared a glance and sighed. They weren't done with this particular subject, but there was something more pressing that needed to be addressed.

"This whole thing with Ash is nuts though," Miette said through pursed lips. "I'm trying to understand what he's doing and why."

Serena bit down on her lower lip. She knew what Ash was doing and she had an idea of who was responsible for his recent injuries. But…should she tell her friends?

"You'll be putting yourself at risk, and Ash at even greater risk."

Ash was putting himself in harm's way, but Brock's warning left made her chest tight. Ash's involvement with the Red Skulls was a threat to his safety and the people around him. With knowledge of this, it was almost like Serena herself was now involved. Did she want to drag her friends into this as well? What would be the consequences if she did tell them?

"Serena, you look like you've seen a ghost," Miette commented and all eyes were on Serena.

"Is everything okay?" Shauna asked.

With a glance at Shauna, Serena was reminded that her friend made the decision to come clean tonight. So…she would do the same.

"Okay, I've been hiding something for a little while," Serena admitted. "When I talked to Brock earlier, he told me what Ash was doing when he got hurt and I know you guys won't like this because I didn't either."

"Don't drag this out, hurry up and tell us," Miette chirped at her.

"Ash is working with…the Red Skulls," Serena breathed out her answer. Shauna craned her neck and Miette leaned into the sofa again, crossing one leg over the other.

"Are you serious?" Shauna asked in a whisper. Serena gave her a nod. "That would explain where he's getting the money from."

"Tch," Miette clicked her tongue. "I knew he'd get caught up in that mess eventually."

"What do you mean?"

"Anyone should've seen this coming. We all know he wants to be a Pokemon trainer, so it was only a matter of time before started doing what all of those trainers do," Miette explained for Shauna.

Shauna lowered her gaze. Despite regular visits from Ash that came with short conversations, Shauna never realized just how far Ash was willing to go to become a Pokemon trainer. The evidence was right in front of her, but she wasn't paying attention.

"Brock said that even knowing what he's doing could put Ash in more danger," Serena continued. "I'm not sure what we can do to help him at this point."

Miette rose to her feet. "We do the only thing we can do. We're gonna knock some sense into that thick skull of his!"

Despite Miette's declaration, Serena still felt uncertain. It was no secret that Ash wanted to be a Pokemon trainer, and attempts from his friends and family to help him choose a different career path meant nothing to him. With Ash charging into such a dangerous lifestyle, what could they do to stop him now?

Monday, October 3rd

Seated on the front steps of her home, Cassidy couldn't help but smile as she watched her two girls draw on the sidewalk with large pieces of colored chalk. Despite the gap in age between them, Casey still adored Macy and loved to play with her.

The two of them would often spend afternoons together as they waited for Ash to return from school or work. It was wonderful to see how well the two of them got along. As Cassidy watched them, she saw both girls look down the block and perk up at the sight of a familiar face.

"Ashy!" Macy exclaimed as she jumped to her feet. She dashed over to him as he approached and latched onto his leg as a greeting. "You're late!"

Cassidy raised her brow as she looked at Ash. He was clearly overloaded by all of the bags he held, ranging from the backpack on his back, a duffle bag on his shoulder, and a pair of brown bags that were overflowing with groceries. Together, Casey and Cassidy came to him to claim one of the brown bags he held and lead him back inside the house.

"It's about time you came home," Casey said as they all went to the kitchen.

"I'm a busy man," Ash retorted as he shot her a grin. When they arrived in the kitchen, Casey set down her bag on the table, and as she removed her hand from the bag, she saw that she left chalk imprints on it.

"Go get washed up girls," Cassidy said and they complied. Casey took Macy by the hand and led her to the upstairs bathroom to complete their assignment.

"I'll be right back," Ash said as he also went upstairs, heading straight to his room to drop off the bags that he still held.

Cassidy remained in the kitchen and she began to dig through the groceries that Ash brought home. As she spread out the items on the counter, she was glad to see that Ash picked up all the essentials. Fruit, vegetables, eggs, milk…he got everything needed and even some snacks for the girls. The fact that all of this fit into two bags was actually astounding, but she wouldn't question how it was done.

"Let's get dinner started then," Cassidy said as she went to retrieve her cutting board.

Once she was set up to begin her preparations, Ash returned to the kitchen to help put away the groceries.

"So how did things go during the weekend?" Ash inquired as he began to stock the fridge.

"It looks like I should be asking you that," Cassidy noted with a gesture toward his bruised cheek.

"It was a little more physical than I would've liked," Ash mumbled and Cassidy frowned at his back. But after having this conversation with Ash a few times, she knew that there were boundaries when to this. Rather, she chose to change the subject.

"Where did you go to get all of this?" Cassidy asked him. The vegetables were especially fresh, practically sparkling.

"There was this little market I found downtown. It was really nice so I splurged a bit," Ash explained as he looked back with a grin. Cassidy smiled softly in return. "I saw they had some sweets that the girls like so I picked up a few for them."

"How thoughtful…and just so you know, Macy missed you the entire weekend," Cassidy pointed out. "She doesn't like it when you're gone for so long."

Ash sighed deeply. "I know, I'll make it up to her."

Cassidy chuckled as this led straight to her next topic. "Good, because I already have something in mind.

"What's that?" Ash asked tentatively.

"There's a block party this weekend, and the girls already have their hearts set on going, so you're going to take them," Cassidy said as she motioned to him with her elbow. Ash blinked as Brock's words came to mind.

"Next Saturday, there's a block party in midtown. I head that N is going to have a battle there."

Ash pursed his lips as he looked into the fridge, his gaze fixated on the lightbulb within it. There was no way he was going to miss N's battle, not if he wanted to continue improving as a trainer.

But…he couldn't let down the girls either, especially Macy. So, his only option…was to do both.

"Yeah, I can take them." He stated.

Tuesday, October 4th

"Morning Ash, are you feeling better today?" Dawn asked him curiously as she stood in front of his desk in Ms. Fantina's classroom. They had a few minutes before their first class of the day started, which afforded them some time to chat.

"Feeling better," Ash furrowed his brow. "From what?"

"You didn't come to school yesterday," Dawn noted. "I just thought…you were sick," Ash shook his head. "Wait, so you were playing hooky?"

Ash stifled a laugh.

"What's so funny?" Dawn inquired as she tilted her head.

"Dawn, I don't think anyone has said 'playing hooky' in like twenty years," Ash said and Dawn puffed out her cheeks with a 'hmph.' "And I wouldn't say I skipped school yesterday, I just had something come up at the last minute."

"Oh, okay," She said softly, unsure of where to go from there. She was under the impression that Ash was sick and spent the last year trying to think of what she could do to help him feel better.

"I hope I didn't have you worrying about me," Ash said to her as they made eye contact. She looked away, but Ash could tell he guessed correctly. As he studied her for a moment, Ash recalled what he went through on Sunday night at Shauna's apartment, and the level of concern he received there. He didn't want anyone else to worry about him. "I'm sorry Dawn, I didn't mean to make you worry. How about I make it up to you?"

"What do you have in mind?" Dawn asked in return.

"There's a block party in midtown this weekend. I'm taking Casey and Macy, my younger sisters," Ash added off handily. "And uh, I was wouldn't mind some extra company."

"I…I'd love to," Dawn said after a moment, and Ash smiled kindly.

"Great, I'll give you the details once I tell the girls we've got company," Ash said as the bell chimed. Fantina called for everyone to take their seats while she took attendance.

Dawn returned to her seat beside May as class was starting, and her friend put on a sly grin as she caught sight of Dawn's rosy cheeks.

"What?" Dawn asked her as she saw May's expression.

"What were you and Ash talking about?" May asked saucily, and her grin widened as Dawn's cheeks reddened.

"Tha-That's none of your business," Dawn said with a scoff.

"He must have complimented you," May said softly, but then she stopped to think about it. "No, you're past the point where a compliment is enough to make you blush. He must have asked you out a date, didn't he?"

"Wha-How'd you," Dawn shut her mouth immediately as she realized that she revealed exactly what took place. May was smiling ear to ear.

"This is like, your third date with him, right?" May asked, but Dawn didn't answer. May continued to speak out loud. Much to Dawn's dismay. "Oh, so that's how you're going to treat me. Well, I'm so glad that you fill me in on everything so let's see…your first date, you said he took you to some kind of party. And then there was our double date, so oh my gosh, this is your third date with him now!"

"Not so loud May," Dawn whispered harshly to silence her friend and Fantina cleared her throat as she looked at the duo. Dawn apologized on their behalf, as she always did, and afterward, when she glanced at May, the brunette stuck her tongue out at Dawn.

"So, when are you going to make it official with him?" May asked in a whisper. Dawn suck in her seat and pursed his lips. She never gave this subject much thought.

"I…don't know."

Wednesday, October 5th

Dawn stood out in front of North Vermilion High where she anxiously waited for her ride. Today, she planned to break her normal routine of returning home right after school, and instead, she would spend some time with someone she hadn't spoken to face to face in a while now. She was rather negligent of keeping in contact with this person, and Dawn wondered if they might have blown her off because of this.

Soon enough, Dawn enjoyed a breath of relief as she saw a silver car come rolling up to her. As it came to a stop, the passenger window was lowered to reveal a young lady that sported a head of short, amber-colored hair with a pair of aviators tucked into her hair.

"Zoey!" Dawn exclaimed as she beamed at her friend. Zoey unlocked the doors and allowed Dawn to join her inside the car. "I was beginning to think you didn't see any of my messages."

"And I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me, Dawn," Zoey retorted as Dawn got settled in her seat.

"I could never forget about you, Zoey," Dawn replied exasperatedly, and she placed her hands together to beg for her forgiveness. "I've just been super busy!"

"Oh, I'm well aware. May has been giving me all the details," Zoey replied and she chuckled when Dawn paled.

"Is she telling everyone about what's going on?!" Dawn exclaimed. "So much for privacy."

"No, it's just me," Zoey replied before she added with a smirk. "As far as I know," Zoey motioned for Dawn to put on her seatbelt, but the bluenette was more preoccupied with other things.

"May, you just make me want to rip my hair out!" Dawn hollered, pulling at her long locks of hair. After a breath, she relaxed and Zoey cleared her throat. With a second gesture to Dawn's seatbelt, Dawn nodded and strapped herself in. Zoey released the parking brake and joined the traffic on the street as they began their trip toward the east side of Vermilion City.

"In your message, you said that you wanted to talk. Just like old times, huh?" Zoey said and Dawn gave her a nod.

Their friendship could be traced back to middle school where they first met, and over the years they got to know each other very well. Dawn could talk to May about anything and know that her friend would be supportive of her decision. However, when Dawn needed an objective opinion, she went with Zoey who was never afraid to speak her mind. Even though they were the same age, Zoey was wise beyond her years.

"What's been on your mind?" Zoey asked as an invitation for Dawn to begin.

"Since Maty has been keeping you up to date," Dawn noted through pursed lips. "I guess you already know all about Ash."

Zoey smirked, though she did her best to keep it hidden from Dawn. Based on everything that Zoey heard from May, she suspected that Dawn would want to talk to her about Ash. Zoey saw the amazing duet piece that Ash and Dawn worked on together, and she heard about how the two of them went parasailing and then jumped down into the ocean. The fact that Ash seemed to bring out a side of Dawn that not even May was familiar with was certainly a surprise. It was obvious that he was tugging at Dawn's heartstrings.

"Oh, you mean your boyfriend?" Zoey teased, but the reaction she expected was not what she received.

The mention of a 'boyfriend' left Dawn rambling about her thoughts. "We're not a couple, or at least…forget that," Dawn muttered.

Zoey dropped her smirk. "Forget what?"

"You see, May was asking me if Ash and I were going to become a couple," Dawn revealed. "But I don't really know what to think about that at the moment."

"Okay…tell me what you would expect if you were in a relationship with Ash," Zoey suggested but Dawn frowned.

"I've never dated anyone before, so I don't really know what I should expect from it," Dawn reasoned.

"Sorry Dawn-y, as pretty as you are, I always forget that you don't give most guys the time of day," Zoey said with a chuckle. "How about you answer this for me…a lot of people treat dating as more of a casual thing. Is that what you want with Ash?"

"I don't think so," Dawn said as she looked down, unsure of what else to say.

"Maybe not the best question," Zoey said to break the silence. "Tell me why you think you and Ash should be a couple."

"I mean, we know each other pretty well now. I've been to his house and he's met my mom, who actually likes him, by the way," Dawn added proudly. "So, it's not like there's anyone that would be against us becoming a couple."

Zoey clicked her tongue. "So that blockhead Nando hasn't said anything," Zoey muttered under breath with the thought of her friend.

"What's that?" Dawn asked her and Zoey stifled a laugh to conceal her previous comment.

"Nothing, it's just that you went in the opposite direction of where I was trying to lead you," Zoey explained. "I don't care that no one is against you becoming a couple. I want to know why you should be a couple. What is it that you like about Ash?"

"He's special," Dawn said after a pause, and a smile formed on her face. "Just being with him makes me feel…well, he acts like he's invincible, and I feel the same way when I'm around him…like I can defy the whole world."

Dawn recalled her parasailing experience with Ash. At that moment where Ash convinced her to release her safety harness and plummet into the ocean with him, she felt no fear. With her hand in Ash's, it was as if she shared his courage and confidence with her, and his assurance that they would be alright was all she needed.

"And then we have similar interests. He's an amazing artist. Saying he's talented doesn't do him any justice," Dawn went on.

Their duet piece was still on display in the main lobby of the school. Students and staff alike were still sharing their admiration for that project with Dawn whenever they crossed paths in the halls.

"But then, he has these moments where it's like," Dawn paused with a frown on her face. "I don't really know how to describe it but it's magical…almost like he's sparkling."

She recalled the first time she saw him really smile among his old friends at the subway station. She remembered his face as he asked her to trust him before they plunged into the ocean. She felt her chest become tight as she saw the moment that Ash shared his goal of changing everyone's opinion of Pokemon.

"I don't know what is it about him, but I just want to be around him," Dawn went on and Zoey snuck a glance at Dawn. The bluenette wore a goofy grin as she talked about Ash. In fact, she couldn't stop talking about Ash.

"Alright, alright, Dawn," Zoey interjected as they came to a stop at a red light. Dawn's endless blubbering came to a stop, although Zoey's next choice of words would cause it to resume. "I'm glad you're in love."

"In love?!" Dawn shrieked and Zoey winced in response.

"It seems that way to me," Zoey concluded with a shrug. Zoey may not have been very well versed in love, but she could see it on Dawn's face.

Ash claimed a special place in her heart as her first love.

Dawn flushed red, placing her hands on her cheeks which burned. Could she really have fallen in love with Ash?

Zoey stifled a laugh as she caught sight of Dawn's expression before she focused on the road as the light turned green. She was happy for Dawn, but that didn't stop Zoey from frowning. Her affection for Ash would come at the expense of someone else who really cared about her.

Saturday, October 8th

"She's here, she's here!" Macy cried out as she heard the doorbell chime. Ash chuckled as he watched her dart over to the front door, anxious to leave.

He rose to his feet and followed her to the entrance of their home. Waiting outside was none other than Dawn, dressed casually for the warm weather with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Their eyes met briefly and they shared a moment of silence. Then Ash's gaze was yanked downward to Macy who tugged at his cargo shorts.

"She's here, let's go!" Macy declared.

"Go tell Casey we're ready," Ash suggested as he motioned for Casey to retrieve her sister. Dawn let a giggle escape her lips as Macy dashed off in search of Casey.

"She's so adorable," Dawn remarked and Ash agreed without question.

"Macy is really excited. She's been talking about this all week, so I don't want to keep her waiting any longer," Ash explained. "Let me go grab my backpack and we should be all set."

Ash quickly went upstairs to his room where his backpack was waiting on his bed. Snatching it up along with his favorite red and white cap, Ash stepped out of his room and kneeled down beside the small cushion that acted as Pikachu's bed.

"Pikachu, it's time to go," Ash said to his small partner as he opened his bag.

"Chaaa," Pikachu muttered and he scratched at the back of his head.

"I know you're not a big fan of my backpack, but it's the only way that you'll get to see N's battle with me," Ash explained.

"Pi-ka," Pikachu stated and Ash rolled his eyes.

"Fine, I owe you one for this. We'll go over the details later," Ash said and Pikachu snickered before he climbed into the bag. Ash closed it up, though he left a slight opening to make sure Pikachu got some fresh air in there. Carefully putting his bag over his shoulders, Ash returned to the front door where everyone was waiting for him.

"Let's go!" Macy called out as she waited in front of the open door. Ash gave a nod to Cassidy as she came to see them off, and then he kneeled to grab Macy and hoist her into the air. Ash then set her down on his shoulders and motioned for everyone to follow him.

"We'll be back later!" Ash declared as Macy pointed forward as a command for them to move. Casey and Dawn gave Cassidy a wave before they rushed off to match Ash's pace.

"Wow!" The group marveled as they arrived at one of the entry points to the block party. It was an event that spanned the entire perimeter of the city park, the streets littered with decorations, game booths, and food trucks.

"What do you guys want to do first?" Ash asked kindly with a glance back to Casey and Dawn.

"I heard there's going to be a live band at the park," Dawn pointed out and Ash raised his eyebrow.

He was wondering how N would host a Pokemon battle during the block party, but now it made more sense. With all the commotion from the live performance, the battle would go unnoticed.

"I'm not going home without some of the prizes," Casey said as she eyed the stuffed animals that were perched on shelves at the back of the game booths for those that succeeded.

"I want cotton candy!" Macy announced.

"Alright, looks like we've got a game plan already," Ash said with a nod of approval. "We can start with a few games, get some snacks, and then later on we'll head to the park."

The girls agreed to the plan and proceeded into the festivities. With how crowded the streets were, Dawn and Casey held onto the hanging straps of Ash's backpack to make sure their group wasn't separated. As they walked, their eyes were drawn to the sparkling treats and prizes until Macy spotted something that she couldn't do without.

"Ah, Pikachu!" Macy hollered. Ash's heart skipped a beat and he staggered for a moment. Did she somehow realize that Pikachu was hiding in his backpack? But how? "Up there!"

Ash followed the direction Macy was pointing in and he gave a sigh of relief. There was a plush Pikachu doll hanging from the top of one of the booths. It wasn't often that one could find Pokemon merchandise since the market for it was small and often ignored.

"Oh, it's so cute!" Casey chimed in before looking toward Ash expectantly. "Ash, you have to get it for me!"

"No, for me!" Macy interjected.

"Can't you win it for yourself, Casey?" Ash asked her and she huffed.

"I stink at basketball, that's why I'm asking you," She retorted, pointing to the hops that hung at the back of the booth.

Ash stuck his tongue out at her. "Alright, but don't say I never do anything special for you," Ash replied as he lifted Macy from his shoulders and set her down on her feet. As they all approached the booth, Ash began to roll his shoulders as a warm-up. "Let's do this."

Ash adjusted the cap on his head and the young man running the stall motioned to them. "Hey there!"

"You look like you could use some action," Ash commented. This booth was the only one that didn't have people taking part in its attraction.

"Yeah, no one really wants these Pokemon dolls. I told my boss it wasn't a good idea, but what does he know," The young man muttered before he waved off his own comment. "My name's Dayton, do you think you can make a basket? One basket wins a prize."

"Let's find out," Ash said as he fished out his wallet. "How much?"

Dayton looked at each of the girls that accompanied Ash and he smiled. "Three dollars, three shots."

"Perfect," Ash noted as he set down the money on the counter. Dayton snatched a basketball from the shelf and passed it to Ash who took a moment to dribble it.

"I've seen Ash play basketball a few times, are you sure he can do this?" Dawn asked Casey.

"Ashy can do anything!" Macy proclaimed and Dawn giggled. Macy's confidence in Ash was contagious, even though Dawn saw him in action on a basketball court already. It was obvious how much Ash meant to Macy, and he treated her like a princess in return.

All eyes went to Ash as he finished getting a feel for the ball. He looked up to the rim, raised the ball above his head, and flicked his wrist. Their heads followed the basketball as it arched in the air and dropped back down into the next without even touching the rim.

"Hey, not bad," Dayton said. "I didn't think you'd even touch the rim shooting with a backpack on."

Ash glanced at the back and grinned in return.

"First pick?" Dayton asked as he motioned to the prizes above.

"That Pokemon up there, the yellow one," Ash stated as he pointed to the Pikachu doll that his sisters were fighting over. Dayton retrieved the pole from the corner of his booth and used it to unhook the Pikachu doll which he lowered to Ash. "Do you have any more of these?"

"You want another one?" Dayton inquired. There was a collective nod from the group, so Dayton disappeared into the back of his stall to conduct a search.

"Here you go, Macy," Ash said as he placed the doll in her arms.

"Thanks, Ashy!" She beamed at him, crushing the doll in a hug. It was the perfect size for her.

"You had better not choke. I want one of those too," Casey said as a warning.

"You could ask nicely, you know," Ash retorted. "You know, that's exactly why I gave Macy the first one. She's actually nice to me."

Casey merely stuck out her tongue at him and Dawn laughed at the exchange. Dayton returned with a second Pikachu doll in his hands, much to Casey's delight.

"You're in luck, I've got one more," Dayton revealed as he set it down on the counter.

"We'll take it!" Casey said as she reached for the doll, but Dayton raised it to keep it just out of her reach.

"Slow down there, your buddy has to make another shot first," Dayton said as he handed Ash another basketball. Once again, Ash went through his routine of weighing the ball before he took another shot. This time, it rattled back and forth against the rim before it fell through and Casey cheered. With a laugh, Dayton placed the Pikachu doll in her hands and Casey thanked him graciously.

"Wait a second, didn't I win that for you?" Ash exclaimed in protest. Casey turned to him and stuck out her tongue again. "Bah, forget you," Ash muttered before he turned to Dawn who held her sides as she laughed at them. "So, Dawn, what can I get you?"

"Uh…" Dawn glanced down at the two younger girls who were enthralled with their new items. In truth, she found Pikachu to be just as cute as the girls did and she would've been happy to bring home a Pikachu doll of her own. However, she would have to make do with something else. She took a glance at the selection, and one, in particular, caught her attention.

A small blue penguin doll.

"I like that one," Dawn said as she pointed to it. Ash raised his brow as he saw it, but he gave her a nod as a promise to obtain it for her.

"Coming right up," He said and Dayton provided his last basketball. Ash went through his routine once more, lined up his shot, and flicked his wrist. He bit down on his lower lip as he released the basketball. It didn't feel right, and as expected, it hit the side of the rim sharply and flew off into the net at the sides of the booth which caught the ball.

"Ouch, can't make em' all," Dayton commented as he looked back to Ash, and he saw that Ash was taking out his wallet again.

"Ash, you don't need to do that," Dawn said as she put a hand on his to stop him.

"Dawn, it's just a dollar," Ash tried to reason with her.

"True me, it's not that big a deal," She replied. Ash frowned, but Dawn gave him a wink in return to convince him that it was alright. Casey noticed this small exchange between them and she smirked as they all began to follow Dawn.

Macy was placed back on Ash's shoulders as they resumed their travels through the streets, and once again, she pointed out their next destination. "Cotton candy!" A couple walked by with the fluffy treat and Ash knew that Macy would have to be satisfied now that she saw it. "I want some!"

Ash stopped to ask the couple where the booth was located and they explained that it was further up the block.

"How about this, Ash and I will go to get the cotton candy," Casey suggested. "Macy, you stay with Dawn and be good."

Ash furrowed his brow at Casey's sudden suggestion, but Macy complied as she was set down on her feet. Casey didn't hesitate to grab him by his forearm and drag him away to create some separation from Dawn and Macy.

"Whoa, what's the rush?" Ash asked her and Casey slowed her pace now that there was some separation from the girls.

"I wanted to talk to you," Casey asked as she turned to him. "Do you like Dawn?"

Ash raised his brow as he saw Casey's smug little grin. He held this expression until Casey deflated. Clearly, she was in search of some sort of reaction from him, but Ash wouldn't give her that pleasure.

"She's pretty cool," Ash replied as he brushed past Casey.

"Ugh, you can be so lame!" Casey shouted before she pointed at him. "Do you like her or not?"

Ash looked back at her and gave a wink in reply. "She's alright."

Casey groaned.

"Macy, try not to get any of it on my hat, okay?" Ash said to his youngest sister who was seated on his shoulders again with a small cone of cotton candy in her hands.

"O-kay," She answered. Dawn and Casey did their best to hold back a fit of giggles as they saw that Ash's hat was already littered with remnants of Macy's cotton candy, but they would let Ash find out about this on his own.

Ash took out his phone from his pocket to check the time. It was twelve forty-five, which left thirty minutes before the battle started.

"Do you all want to go check out the band now?" Ash offered. "We're pretty close to the park already, so I don't see why not."

"Yeah, I'm fine with that," Dawn said and Casey gave a nod of agreement.

"Onward!" Ash declared as he pointed in the direction they would be going. As they arrived at the street corner, Dawn's eyes widened as she saw the expanse recognized as the city park. It stretched for multiple blocks, filled with lush greenery and numerous historical landmarks.

"What's with that face, Dawn?" Casey asked with a snicker. "Haven't you been to this park before?"

"No, I haven't actually," Dawn confessed. "This is my first time."

"Did you grow up in a box?" Casey inquired, and Ash flicked the side of her head. "Oww!"

"That was rude, Casey," Ash stated before he looked to Dawn. "But seriously, did your parents keep you in a box?"

"Hey, how come you can ask that but I can't?" Casey demanded to know.

"Because I'm older," Ash retorted.

"That's not fair!" Casey proclaimed as she raised her hands in an attempt to flick Ash's forehead.

"Hands off," Ash said as he swatted away Casey's attacks. "Macy, protect me!"

"Casey, stop hurting Ashy!" Macy commanded as she too joined in trying to knock away Casey's hands. Per Macy's request, Casey ceased her assault on Ash, but that wouldn't stop her from planning something to pay him back later.

Dawn laughed as she observed their interactions. They all got along so well, and it made her wonder what it would be like if she had a sibling of her own. But as she considered the idea, she realized May did an exceptional job of filling that role. Nosey, bratty, but loveable.

"Come on guys," Ash said with a motion for everyone to follow him as they crossed into the park. As they followed the main pathway, they could hear the commotion coming from the heart of the area where the band was likely situated.

"It's this way!" A young girl leading her mother by the hand went rushing past them. The group of four followed them and they quickly arrived at a large pond near the center of the park with a large field beside it. A stage was set up there beside the bond, providing ample space for an audience to dance right in front of the stage while others lounged farther in the distance.

"Macy, let's dance!" Casey said as she raised her hands to her sister. Ash kneeled down for Casey to collect her sister from his shoulders.

"Ashy, you come too!" Macy ordered him and Ash agreed with a laugh.

"Alright, but only if Dawn dances with us," Ash said as he glanced to the bluenette. He recalled that Dawn admitted that she wasn't much of a dancer last month, so Ash saw this as an opportunity to get in some more practice.

"I guess I don't have much of a choice," Dawn said sheepishly.

Ash collected their dolls and stored them away in his backpack, and he did his best not to laugh as Pikachu stared incredulously at the dolls as they were placed beside him. "Not much longer, Pikachu," Ash whispered to his partner before he closed up his bag again.

From there, Ash and Casey took Dawn by the hand and led her to the dance area. As they joined the audience, a new song just started that everyone recognized. Together, they all began to clap to the beat before the melody began.

"Alright Dawn, you have to show us something here!" Ash called out to her. She was the only one that wasn't moving at the moment while Ash, Casey, and Macy all grooved to the beat.

Sensing Dawn's apprehension, Ash moved closer to her and took one of her hands. He shifted from one foot to the other in sync with the beat as an invitation for Dawn to mimic his actions. As the audience joined the lead vocalist in singing the lyrics, Ash led Dawn along to the beat. Her cheeks were scorching hot, but she focused on the music and quickly got a grasp of it.

As the song progressed, Ash began to throw in some moves of his own. Then he jumped over to his sisters and took a moment to twirl each of them while he bellowed with laughter. The audience burst into applause as the song ended and the girls asked Dawn if she was having fun. As they spoke, Ash took out his phone again to check the time.

Ten minutes left before the battle, and it would take him at least five to the site from here. Ash reached out to tap Dawn on the shoulder.

"What's up?" She asked him.

"I'm going to run to the bathroom, can you watch the girls for me," Ash said to her. She gave him the okay signal, and Ash took one last glance at the girls. They knew better than to give Dawn trouble while he was gone, so he felt comfortable leaving them with her.

He gave Dawn a two-fingered salute and grasped at the straps of his backpack before he went on his way. Ash couldn't wait to see N in action. This was going to be a learning experience, and Ash wanted to soak up everything he could from it.

Ash used the pathways to cross the park quickly, and he entered the more forested section. He took out his phone one more time to look up a map of the park to see how close he was to the battle site. Then he glanced around the area to make sure no one was watching him before he slipped off the pathway and disappeared amongst the foliage. He pressed forward with nothing but the sound of his footsteps as company, but after some time, he faintly heard some voices in the distance. He was close.

The trees thinned out and opened into a small clearing where Ash saw at least two dozen trainers standing at the edge of the area, accompanied by their Pokemon.

"Whoa, there's a Butterfree…and a Hypno," Ash said softly as he observed some of the Pokemon. Everyone was partially concealed within the bushes at the edge of the clearing as they waited for the battle to commence. Some of them chatted to pass the time but most kept quiet. "Pikachu, it's time to come out."

Ash removed his bag from his back and opened it. Pikachu popped out of the bag with a sigh of relief. "Pi-ka."

"Oh, come on Pikachu, it can't be that bad in there," Ash said and Pikachu pinched the tip of his nose. "It does not smell in there," Pikachu snickered as he then climbed out of the bag and onto Ash's shoulder. "Remember Pikachu, pay close attention. We're definitely going to battle N soon, so we have to figure out a battle strategy for him ahead of time.

"You're going to have a match with N?" A new voice exclaimed, startling both Ash and Pikachu. A young man with spiky brown hair poked his head out of the bush beside them, earning a gasp from the duo.

"Were…you there the whole time?" Ash asked him in return.

"Well yeah, gotta have a good hiding spot in case the cops show up," He replied with a grin.

"Hmm, fair point," Ash agreed. He hadn't even thought about what he would do if the authorities came to break up this battle.

"I'm Richie, by the way," He added as an introduction. Ritchie humorously extended one arm from the bush to shake hands with him.

"Ash Ketchum and this is my buddy, Pikachu," Ash said with a motion to his partner.

"Nice to meet you guys. Now check this out," Ritchie retracted his arm into his bush, and a Pokeball was tossed out moments later. Ash and Pikachu watched curiously as a white flash jumped out of the Pokeball and took shape. Low and behold, he had a Pikachu of his own.

"Pi-kaa!" Ash's Pikachu exclaimed as he jumped down to address Ritchie's.

"I've got one too," Ritchie said as the pair of Pikachu began to converse with one another. "Although, mine goes by the name, Sparky."

"Nice man," Ash complimented him as they watched their Pikachu. The two of them were absolutely ecstatic as they spoke, occasionally nuzzling their cheeks together which caused sparks to fly.

"Earlier you said that you were going to have a match with N," Ritchie said to return to the topic of interest.

"Well, not an official battle. I just want to battle him like any other trainer," Ash said with a sheepish chuckle.

"I wouldn't say everyone wants to battle him," Ritchie noted through pursed lips. "In fact, most trainers want no part of him and his Zoroark."

"Truthfully, we're not that good yet. I heard about this battle he was having, and we came to see what we could learn about how he battled," Ash explained and Ritchie gave him a nod.

"That's the best way to learn, besides actually battling, of course," Ritchie pointed out. "So how long have you been a trainer?"

"I've had Pikachu since I was a kid, but we started training seriously a few months ago. Our practice is usually exclusive to weekends, but I already know that isn't enough if we're going to improve enough to beat N," Ash replied and Ritchie gave him a nod of agreement.

"That's the way, if you want to make it as a trainer, you've got to go all in," Ritchie stated. He knew that all too well.

"And how long have you been at it?" Ash asked him curiously.

"Two years now, best time of my life," Ritchie beamed as he said this. "It gets rough at times, but I know I made the right choice. I'm not sure this will pay off down the line, but I'm having a blast while I'm doing it."

Ash smiled as Ritchie made this remark. He was glad to know that there were trainers out there with no regrets about committing to this lifestyle.

"Hey, I think they're about to start," Ritchie noted as two trainers stepped into the clearing. One of them Ash recognized as he stood proudly beside his Zoroark. N, King of the White Lotus. The other was a young woman with short red hair and bright lipstick, and she leaned against the body of her Rapidash tapped his hooves anxiously.

"Who's the lady?" Ash whispered to Ritchie.

"That's Laura, one the best trainers in the White Lotus," Ritchie replied. "She's like a tier below N as a trainer."

Ash tilted his head as he studied Laura. He never heard of her, but if she was a 'tier' below N, then she must be really good!

"I heard N was going to battle someone else originally, but something went down between the White Lotus and the Red Skulls last weekend. I have a feeling he changed his opponent to send a message to the Red Skulls," Ritchie explained, and Ash sucked in his lips as realized that he might have played a small part in this.

"What kind of message?" Ash inquired.

"Again, this is just my opinion, but I feel like he's asserting himself. The Red Skulls have always been picking fights with them, and I think he wants to establish that the White Lotus can't be pushed around by them," Ritchie explained before he made a gesture to the edge of the clearing. "I think word got around to the Red Skulls because there's a lot of their trainers here."

Ash paid closer attention to the spectators now, and he saw a detail that he failed to notice before. Many of them were wearing red neckerchiefs, the symbol that Ash used to identify members of that Kingdom whenever he met with them. How did he miss that?

"I'll bet that N brought in Laura as his opponent to showcase the skills of other members of the White Lotus. That way the Red Skulls know that not everyone in their Kingdom is a pushover," Ritchie went on. "I mean, it takes a lot of gall to battle out in broad daylight like this. They probably don't even care if the police show up. If they're going all out Ash, you gotta be ready to run at any given moment."

Ash bit down on his lower lip to suppress a grin as he watched Zoroark and Rapidash take their place on the makeshift battlefield. His heart was thumping at the prospect of seeing N go all out in a battle, and if Laura was a worthy opponent, then Ash would get to see two exceptional trainers take the field. He couldn't wait!

Pikachu perked up as he felt the entirety of Ash's focus get placed on the battlefield. Leaving Sparky on the ground, Pikachu scaled Ash's body to his shoulder, his favorite spot. They shared a brief glance and returned their gaze to the field.

"Thank you for coming today, Laura," N called out from across the field. Laura shot him a grin and Rapidash went up on his hind legs, proudly displaying his powerful muscles. "I see Rapidash is ready, so I'll let you have the first move."

"I hope you don't regret that," Laura retorted before she raised a hand to point out Zoroark. "Let's start strong with Take Down!"

"Zoroark, stand your ground," N barked in response and the battle commenced. Rapidash burst forward, quickly gaining momentum as he galloped toward his target. Zoroark widened his stance and bent his knees in preparation for the impact. There were gasps from the audience as the two Pokemon met with a thundering clap, and Rapidash's incredible power pushed Zoroark back several feet. However, the dark Pokemon possessed some fearsome strength of his own as he dug his feet into the ground and brought Rapidash to a full stop. "Now take him down!"

"Flame Wheel!" Laura barked in return as Zoroark shifted his weight to position himself to throw Rapidash down on his side. The fiery horse became engulfed in flames which forced Zoroark to separate himself to avoid being set ablaze. This gave Rapidash the opportunity to pounce at Zoroark who was left unbalanced and exposed.

"Detect!" N said sharply and Zoroark's eyes widened. With his senses heightened, time slowed for Zoroark and he rebalanced himself to then lunge out of the path of Rapidash's Flame Wheel. "And follow up with Shadow Claw!"

Ash leaned forward as Zoroark's arm became ignited in a sinister dark energy. Would this be the first clean hit of the battle?

"Rapidash, keep them away with Fire Spin!" Laura declared as Rapidash came skidding to a stop having missed his Flame Wheel. With the expectation that Zoroark already jumped at the opportunity to strike, Rapidash exhaled through his nostrils and the fire around him expanded briefly into a swirling vortex to halt Zoroark's approached. Zoroark veered over course and stopped a short distance from Rapidash, glaring at him through the flames that acted as a shield.

"Not bad, Laura," N commented. "I see you've been practicing."

"Well, we can't have people thinking that the White Lotus is a one-man army," Laura announced as she looked around at their audience. "There are plenty of strong trainers in the White Lotus!"

Ash felt his chest tighten, a large smile on his face. "Did you hear that, Pikachu? We've got a lot of work to do if we're going to beat all of these strong trainers."

N and Laura reengaged, and Ash was in awe at the display they put on. It was unlike any battle he saw. The few times he witnessed Zoroark in action, it was obvious that Zoroark was in a class of his own. Whether it was a one-on-one or a chaotic battle with over a dozen participants, Zoroark was always the strongest Pokemon present, and it showed as he was able to dominate the competition.

However, in this battle, Laura's Rapidash was in the same realm as Zoroark. You could say that Rapidash was on par with Zoroark…or at least, that was Ash's initial thought. With each exchange, slowly but surely, Zoroark began to demonstrate that he was the superior Pokemon. Rapidash was a step slower, a tad weaker, or a thought behind. It was hardly noticeable at first, but as the battle continued, these slight differences began to add up.

Zoroark was fast, strong, durable…everything that one could want in a Pokemon. With his physical strength alone, he could stop some of Rapidash's attacked, further emphasizing his impregnable defense. A fair portion of Laura's offense was neutralized through Zorark's natural strength, which forced her to commit to heavy-hitting attacks to forcefully create an opening.

But N was a stone wall. He battled defensively, preferring to counter Laura's attacks when necessary. With his defensive efforts, he and Zoroark slowly piled up the damage on Rapidash. It must have been demoralizing to face N and Zoroark. They were forcing Laura and Rapidash to use their most exhausting moves, and responding to each of them perfectly. There was no punch that Zoroark couldn't take and dish back tenfold.

"Wow…" Ritchie muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He, like many of the other trainers present, attended this battle with the hope of measuring the strength of N's Zoroark. However, the battle with Rapidash only seemed to reiterate the difference in overall ability. Not even one of the best trainers in the city could force this Zoroark to go all out or make N change his tactics.

"His Zoroark is awesome," Ash added softly. How could they beat this Pokemon? Zoroark was superior to Pikachu in every conceivable way. Not only that, but Ash couldn't be certain that this was N's true style of battle. All N was doing was reacting to each of Laura's attacks…when he needed to. Was that a preference, or was he so superior that he never needed to assume full command of the battle…?

"Do you really think you can beat him?" Ritchie asked with a glance toward Ash and Pikachu. To his surprise, both of them were beaming as they watched this battle. It was as if Zoroark's dominance only excited them.

"I don't know…but I can't wait to try," Ash said, and his Pikachu gave a nod of agreement.

Ash struggled to contain himself as he and the other spectators sensed that the battle reached its climax. Zoroark and Rapidash went back and forth until finally, the white horse staggered and his knees buckled. Rapidash collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily as he stared across the field at this opponent.

Zoroark stood almost completely still, without a hint of exhaustion to show. Ash would've thought that his stamina was simply greater than Rapidash's, but he also knew that Zoroark was expertly conserving his strength. If this was N's battling style, it was no one he was one of the Five Kings. Even as he faced a powerful trainer in Laura, the requirements to actually challenge Zoroark were absurd…and there was no telling what kind of monster would be awakened if someone did manage to accomplish this.

"Well, it looks like it's come to this," Laura noted through pursed lips, crossing her arms in front of her chest. She went into this battle with the expectation that a loss was inevitable. N never lost. However, her determination was to put on a show for their audience and she fully intended to go out with a bang. "Rapidash, I know you got enough left in you for one last attack. Let's show them what we've got!"

With a snort, Rapidash forced himself back up at her command and his fiery mane blazed. This would be his last attack.

"No holding back, get 'em with your Flare Blitz!" Laura commanded as she extended her hand.

Zoroark raised his brow as he saw Rapidash rise up onto his hind legs once again with a battle cry. The fire from his mane intensified and summoned deep orange flames from the ground up, concealing Rapidash within them. The fire twisted and swirled around his form, lightning the field beneath him. Rapidash went back down on all fours and rushed forward, burning a path across the field as he moved.

"Focus Blast," N stated, undeterred by the sight of the raging fire that approached his partner. Zoroark raised one hand and aimed it in the direction of his opponent. White energy coalesced around his body and gathered into his extended palm. It took on the form of a glowing white sphere that was only a fraction of the size of Zoroark's paw and minuscule in comparison to Rapidash. But as Rapidash collided with this attack, the result left the crowd speechless.

Rapidash was overwhelmed instantly. The sphere ripped Rapidash from his feet and carried him across the field, spiraling the entire way. All heads turned to follow Rapidash as he was thrown into the base of a tree trunk where the Focus Blast began to penetrate the dense cloak of fire that protected Rapidash. Stunned from the blow, the fire that offered Rapidash a brief moment of protection would prove to be his own undoing as his fiery coat burned wildly. Now uncontrolled and hotter than ever, the flames melted away the outer layer of the Focus Blast that contained the raw energy within. With no container, the energy surged outward as though it were a bomb!

The ground shook violently as a gust of wind flew out. Ash and Ritchie placed a hand on their caps to make sure they weren't blown away, and the trainers marveled audibly at the results of the exchange. A cloud of black smoke rose into the air and the burnt tree leaves began to land onto their neighbors, spreading the flames.

Chaos and pandemonium set in immediately.

"Ash, we gotta go!" Ritchie barked at Ash as he raised a Pokeball to call Sparky back to it. In an instant, the spectators scattered to put as much distance as they could between them and the site of this battle. "If the cops catch us, we'll be searched and if they find us with a Pokemon running from something like this, we're definitely going to jail!"

A/N

So, this was a pretty loaded chapter and a bigger one to boot. Glad that I finally got to publish it.

My battles are a work in progress and I hope that I will be much improved by the time we arrive at the more significant battles of this story. They're still very far off in the future, but in the meantime, I'm open to any tips or suggestions, some of you might have.

I just discovered Pokemon Origins and Generations two weeks ago, and I thoroughly enjoyed them! As I've said before, I'm catching up on a lot of Pokemon-related media, and if you haven't seen that movie/videos, please check them out! They do a fantastic job of enhancing the universe that is established in-game, and I must say that I wish the games could get their own anime that's geared toward an older audience.

As always, I have to give a big shout-out to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt as well as those of you who read and reviewed! I'm aiming to upload another chapter in March so be on the lookout for it!

Thanks again and have a wonderful day!

Chapter Text

Chapter 10

Nando was having a great day, though he was more accustomed to spending his weekends at home. One of his close friends had contacted him, informing him that they would be performing at the block party in midtown today. They insisted that Nando come out of his little den for the afternoon to hear them.

Nando had done just that. His intention was to leave right after the performance, but on his way out of the park, he caught sight of something interesting - a blue-haired beauty. At first, he thought he might have been hallucinating, but his eyes were not deceiving him. It was none other than Dawn Berlitz!

She was at a small ice cream vendor with two girls accompanying her. Nando kept his distance as he watched Dawn purchase an ice cream cone for each of the girls and then led them to a quieter area where they found a bench to sit back and eat.

The two of them meeting in the park like this…it was a one in a million chance. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for weeks for! Would he be able to take advantage of this…?

Zoey had spoken to him on Friday after school. The redhead was aware of Nando's feelings for Dawn, and she felt the need to remind Nando that he couldn't be content sitting idly beside Dawn.

"Nando, you can't keep waiting around forever. Dawn's a pretty girl and some guy is going to come in and snatch her if you take too long."

Gulping audibly, Nando then took a deep breath as he worked up the nerve to approach Dawn. He had this plan in mind for ages, but he could never find the courage to follow through.

In two weeks Nando had a piano recital. It was a little event that was organized by one of the performing arts schools in Vermilion City for aspiring musicians. Nando had received a recommendation months ago to take part, and he began composing a piece for it. As he worked, Dawn was the only thought on his mind, and soon enough Nando could say that this piece was dedicated to her alone. It was his hope that the message within it would get across to her once she heard it.

'Alright Nando, you can do this.' Approaching the trio of girls now, Nando put on a cheerful smile and waved, earning their attention.

"Nando?" Dawn exclaimed at the sight of her tall friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to hear a friend of mine play with his band. I was just leaving actually when I caught sight of some blue hair." Nando explained to her as Casey and Macy observed him curiously. "I don't think there's anyone else in Vermilion City with blue hair."

"That sounds like something May would say," Dawn commented, causing Nando to stifle a laugh.

"So, what are you doing here?" Nando asked, looking at the two girls with Dawn.

"I'm here with Ash and his two sisters actually," Dawn revealed, and Nando felt his chest tighten momentarily. "Silly me, I haven't even introduced you guys yet. Casey and Macy, this is my good friend Nando. We go to school together."

Casey looked at him sideways, wondering how such a skinny guy could be so tall. Macy, on the other hand, stared up at him in awe. He was taller than Ashy!

Nando was stunned, to say the least. Ash was nowhere to be found, so he was the last person Nando would've expected…and admittedly, he was probably the only person Nando didn't want Dawn spending time with.

"Nando's the coolest guy I know actually. He can play almost any instrument." Dawn explained to the two girls who began to look at Nando differently now.

"How many?" Casey asked.

"A few," Nando replied sheepishly.

"Don't say that," Dawn interjected. "He's just being humble. But he can play the cello, the violin, piano, guitar. I could go on but I don't want to flatter him too much."

Nando's eyes brightened at this perfect segue.

"Speaking of instruments Dawn, I have a piano recital coming up, would like to come to it?" Dawn became exhilarated at Nando's offer, her lively expression putting him at ease.

"Is that even a question? Of course, I'll be there! I wouldn't miss it for the world." She replied happily.

"Good, it's on Sunday the 23rd." He stated as his phone buzzed in his pocket. Taking out the device, Nando quickly checked his messages before returning his gaze to the girls. "That's my ride actually so I have to go. I'll bring you the tickets at school next week."

"Alright Nando, see you on Monday!" Dawn called out with a wave as he ran off.

Relaxing into her bench now that Nando was gone, Dawn realized that Ash had been gone for quite a while now. Taking out her own phone to check the time, she saw that he had been gone for over twenty minutes. Perhaps he had gotten lost on his way back from the restroom?

Dawn snickered at the thought, but if that did happen, she did have his phone number to call him. Glancing at the girls beside her now, Dawn had to admit that she was having a great time with them - they both proved to be good company. Macy was a delight in everything she did, and for a preteen, Casey was incredibly mild-mannered. Obviously, Cassidy had done a great job raising both of them.

"So, Dawn," Casey said to her attention. "Do you like Ash?"

There was no tact. There was no build-up…and there was definitely no warning.

"Bah, wha-what?" Dawn exclaimed as her cheeks turned red.

"You do," Casey concluded with a smirk. Based on everything she saw, whether it was Dawn's behavior or Ash's, for that matter, Casey had a feeling there was something there. As she listened to Nando approach Dawn earlier, Casey couldn't deny that her curiosity was piqued.

"What makes you say that?" Dawn asked as she regained a portion of her composure.

"You've been staring at him o much since we left the house," Casey shrugged. "I thought it was kind of obvious."

Dawn clapped her hands against her cheeks in shock. "Was I really doing that?" She inquired, horrified at the idea that Ash must have noticed but chose not to say anything.

"Yeah, you were," Casey said with a nod.

"Oh my god," Dawn muttered, covering her face with her hands. She then separated her fingers partially to peek at Casey with one eye. "The whole time?"

"The whole time," Casey confirmed.

"That's so embarrassing!" Dawn exclaimed; her voice muffled by her hands which earned a giggle from Macy.

"That's o-kay, I like Ashy too," Macy said as she looked up at Dawn. As Dawn saw the innocence in Macy's eyes, that put her at ease. Of course, she didn't understand the context, but Dawn appreciated her input.

"He's great, isn't he?" Dawn asked her, and Macy gave a large nod.

"The best!" She declared.

"Are you guys dating yet?" Casey asked and Dawn's head snapped back to her. Once again, no forewarning. Casey didn't beat around the bush. She must have learned that from Ash.

"No, I'm not really sure if I should take the next step with Ash," Dawn paused as she realized she was having this conversation with Ash's younger sister.

"Well, you're the first girl Ash has invited out in a long time," Casey pointed out. "That must mean something."

"I don't want to make something out of nothing," Dawn replied through pursed lips. In the back of her mind, she hoped that this 'something' was significant. But only time would tell…

A deafening bomb startled Dawn and her heart leaped into her throat. She swallowed hard, and her hands latched onto the bench as a noticeable tremor followed. Macy's ice cream fell to the ground as she grabbed onto Casey. A nearby couple stared out into the distance, raising their hands to point. Dawn turned her head slowly and saw a plume of black smoke rising from another section of the park.

"What's going on?"

"Was that a bomb?!"

Shouts and questions filled the area as bystanders began to take out their phones to take pictures and videos of the event. Dawn blinked hard, and her focus returned as she heard Macy's cries.

"It's okay, Macy, we're fine," Casey assured her sister, but the small girl was terrified.

Ash and Ritchie were in a dead sprint. They stomped their feet with every step and the trees whizzed past them.

They didn't have a moment to waste. They had, at most, two minutes to put as much distance between them and the sit of the Pokemon battle they witnessed. The explosion that concluded the battle did exactly what Ritchie predicted – it had everyone's attention.

Ritchie spotted a nearby pathway, grabbed Ash by the arm and they cut through the bushes to get onto it. This pathway ran alongside the wall that bordered the park. The wall couldn't be more than seven feet tall, a reasonable height that they could scale and jump over.

"Why don't we just jump the wall?" Ash called out but Ritchie shook his head.

"That's too open," Ritchie responded through his breaths. "We don't want to exit by ourselves. We want to find other people that are leaving so that we don't look suspicious."

Ash gave a reluctant nod. Ritchie clearly had experience in these escapes, so he would trust his judgment. After all, Ritchie took charge in leading their escape from the moment the explosion took place. He practically demanded that Ash follow him. Ash wasn't sure why Ritchie was so quick to help him, but he wouldn't turn his back to a helping hand.

The trees began to thin out as they arrived at one of the entrances of the park. Just as Ritchie hoped, there was a crowd of people there, however, at least six police officers were trying to keep the situation under control. As Ash and Ritchie joined the crowd to exit the park, they realized that these officers weren't letting anyone leave just yet.

"We understand the situation, paramedics will be arriving shortly," The officers explained. "Until then, we'd like all of you to remain here while we get a handle on everything."

"Crap," Ritchie muttered. Scaling the wall might have been the right move after all.

It didn't get any better from there. Police detectives were on their way to the park, which could lead to them being questioned as potential witnesses. And the officers present already began to speak with different people to get an idea of what was happening. Ritchie advised Ash to listen closely to what other people were saying and match his story to theirs.

"I was on a walk with my buddy," Ash explained with a nod toward Ritchie as an officer spoke with the two of them. "All of a sudden, the ground just kind of shook, and we saw smoke," Ash explained as he held the straps of his backpack. "We saw people running and we just started running too."

The officer thanked him as he jotted down these notes on his pad. He studied Ash briefly before he tucked his notepad into his pocket.

"Let me see your backpack," The officer stated and Ash furrowed his brow. "Just a quick check."

Ash bit down on his lower lip as he took off the straps. His chest grew tight with the thought of Pikachu hiding at the bottom of the bag. Time seemed to slow as Ash gave his back to the officer. He had to think of something, but what could he do that wouldn't arouse suspicion. Any odd behavior could have him listed as a suspect as opposed to a witness. If he retaliated to keep Pikachu hidden, that would put him in the back of a police car with a one-way ticket to the station. And if they found Pikachu…he was going to jail.

Ash weighed his options as the officer unzipped his backpack. He peered inside and furrowed his brow. "What the heck?" The officer reached in and pulled out one of the Pikachu dolls Ash had within it.

"It's a doll, I won it at one of the game booths on the next block over," Ash explained. He bit down on his lower lip as the officer continued to look in his back.

"You went and got three of them?" The officer asked him. He passed the first doll to Ash and reached in for the next. He had to do something!

Suddenly, Ritchie collided with Ash and leaned against him for support. Ritchie wheezed, a hand against his chest. With a labored breath, Ritchie clung to Ash and the officer dropped the bag as he came closer to them.

"Hey, calm down, I need you to breathe," He said slowly to Ritchie. The officer guided Ritchie through a few calming breaths and he relaxed after a few moments.

"Sorry," Ritchie said softly. "Just…the panic hit me."

"That's alright," The officer assured him. "You're safe now. The paramedics are on their way. I heard they'll be setting up on the street corner," The officer looked to Ash. "Take your friend there and let him get checked out, just to be on the safe side."

He picked up Ash's backpack and returned it to him. With clearance to leave the crowd, Ash tucked the Pikachu doll back into his bag and carried it with one arm while he supported Ritchie with the other.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked Ritchie, and the young man flashed a toothy grin at him.

"Just keeping walk, we're almost outta here," Ritchie whispered in return. They passed through the crowd and as they exited the park, they saw that a crowd, trying to see what took place. Some people posed questions, but Ash and Ritchie ignored them as they slipped through.

Soon enough, they were on the opposite street and together they ducked into an alleyway for some privacy.

"Man, that was close," Ritchie muttered with a sigh of relief. "We almost got screwed."

"You're telling me," Ash mumbled as he took off his backpack and kneeled down. "That was good acting you did there. Had me fooled."

"I've had to get out of some sticky situations before," Ritchie replied. "Acting just worked in our favor this time."

Ash opened his bag. "You're clear, Pikachu," Pikachu climbed on top of the dolls and poked his head out of the bag. "That was some good acting on your part too, buddy."

Pikachu did some quick thinking of his own as he faked being one of the dolls as well. Ash gave Pikachu a pat on the head and beamed at him. Thankfully, everything worked out.

"Thanks for all your help, man, if it weren't for you, Pikachu definitely would've been caught," Ash said as he looked to Ritchie.

"No need to say all that," Ritchie replied. "We're trainers, that makes us family. I got your back," Ritchie stated this, and Ash's respect for him doubled at that moment. "Maybe one day we'll get to have a battle and see if your Pikachu is as tough as Sparky."

Ritchie approached and bumped fists with him and then Pikachu.

"That's a promise," Ash said.

"All the best to ya, Ash," Ritchie said before he departed.

"Back at cha, Ritchie," Ash called out. Pikachu returned to his hiding spot within Ash's back and they all went their separate ways. As he relaxed, Ash began to notice that his phone was buzzing in his pocket and he was reminded that he didn't come to the block party alone. He saw that it was Dawn calling and answered immediately. "Dawn, are you guys okay?"

"We're fine, we just can't get Macy to stop crying. You had us worried there though, I called you twice already." Dawn exclaimed in reply. He could hear a lot of commotion coming from her end of the line.

"Where are you?" Ash asked quickly.

"At the corner where we came into the park," Dawn replied and Ash began to run. "Ash, do you know what's happening right now? Do you know if there was really some kind of explosion?"

Dawn's questions caused him to bite down on his lower lip. He wasn't quite sure how to explain anything right now, so he thought it was best to drop the subject altogether.

"It's hard to hear you, Dawn. We'll talk once I get to you guys, I'm already on my way." Ash said before he ended the call. Looking down at his phone, he saw that he had indeed missed a pair of phone calls from Dawn. How did he manage to miss these?! Ash wanted to curse aloud. He had left the girls alone in this mess…he had left Macy unattended.

Thinking of what the small girl must have been going through, Ash picked up his pace as he wiggled through the crowded sidewalk. Soon enough he arrived at the street corner Dawn had told him about, and just as he had expected, it was loaded with people who had come to watch the officers close off the park. Ash worked his way through the crowd until it thinned out. The noise lessened, allowing him to hear the wail of a child that was all too familiar to him.

"Macy?" Ash said out loud as he slipped past the crowd, where only a few scattered people remained. In an instant, he found the source of the cries.

Macy was seated on a bench with Dawn and Casey kneeling down in front of the child, her cheeks red and tear-stained.

"Macy," Ash called out to her as he ran over to the trio. Hearing his voice, she responded immediately by looking around for him. As soon as she laid eyes on him, she began reaching out toward Ash who picked her upon reaching her.

"Ashy!" She cried out as Ash began to rub her back now, swaying left and right to calm her.

"Shh, you're fine, I'm here." He said to her softly. Dawn was stunned that Macy was now silent.

After being startled by the explosion, Macy became a fountain of tears. The panic that set in left the girl unable to relax as the police ushered everyone out of the park. No matter what Dawn or Casey did, neither of them could calm her. However, being in Ash's arms did the trick.

The more time Dawn spent around Ash, the more she grew to admire him. It seemed like there was nothing he couldn't do!

"Ash, did you see what happened?" Casey asked him. Ash shook his head though.

"No, I was on my way back when that explosion or whatever happened. I got caught up in all the commotion. Sorry, I missed your phone calls, Dawn." Ash said as he looked toward the bluenette.

"It's okay Ash, I'm just glad you're here now and okay," Dawn replied, waving off his apology. Glancing at the park where she could see a pillar of black smoke rising, Dawn knew there were more pressing things to worry about.

"Come on, I think it'd be best if we head home for today. Cassidy will be worried about us from the moment she hears about this." Ash stated, deciding that it was best to end their day here.

Casey and Dawn gave a nod of agreement.

"Are you all okay?" Cassidy exclaimed upon opening the door. Accepting Macy from Ash, Cassidy placed a kiss on the girl's forehead, glad to see that she was alright.

"Yeah, we're all fine. I'm not sure if anyone got hurt though." Ash said to her as Cassidy motioned for them to come inside. Taking them to the living room, Ash and Dawn were surprised to see that the news channel was already broadcasting the event at the park. It had barely been an hour but the media was already all over it.

"They still haven't figured out what caused the explosion," Cassidy explained as she set Macy down on her feet, kneeling down to inspect the girl. Spinning her around a few times, Cassidy was pleased that no harm had come to her, or any of them for that matter. "I'm just glad you all came home though. And how about you Dawn, are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm good. Thank you for checking." Dawn answered kindly before her phone began to ring. She left the room to answer her call, leaving Ash and Cassidy to speak.

"Ash, I don't think it's safe for Dawn to head home by herself," Cassidy stated.

"I was thinking the same thing," Ash said in reply. After today's events, public transit would likely be thrown off schedule with so many streets in midtown being closed off. Taking the bus would be difficult, and there was no telling how that might go.

Not to mention, Ash had to make it up to Dawn considering that she had been unaware of his real intention for bringing her along. Perhaps this was an opportunity to do just that.

"I'm heading upstairs for a bit," Ash said, receiving a nod from Cassidy.

Heading up to his room, Ash opened up his backpack to let Pikachu out of it. There was a great sigh of relief from Pikachu now that he was finally free.

"So…what did you think of N and Zoroark?" Ash asked his partner after shutting the door to his room.

"Pi-kaaaa," He said as he scratched the back of his head. "Chu, Pikachu."

"Yeah, I know, they're really strong. I don't even think we could've beaten Laura and her Rapidash." Ash replied, causing Pikachu to shake his head.

"Chuuu." Pikachu cooed. Then he dropped down to his bottom and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Ash took the same pose on the floor beside him and scrunched up his face as he thought deeply.

That battle was amazing! Ash was astounded by the strength and skill that N and Zoroark demonstrated. He couldn't even imagine a valid tactic that would work against them. The two were simply on another level, one that Ash could barely fathom.

"Pikachu, do you want to give this a try?" Ash asked his partner as they made eye contact.

"Pi?" Pikachu asked in return.

"I mean like, training seriously, as much as we can," Ash explained as he leaned toward Pikachu. "We're not going to get strong enough to battle N doing some light practice on the weekends. We have to train like we mean it."

"Pika," Pikachu agreed with a nod.

"Okay then, we'll give it our all from here on out," Ash said and they grinned at each other.

"Ash!" Cassidy barked from downstairs, and that brought their discussion to an end.

"Alright Pikachu, I'll be home later," Ash said as he grabbed his backpack and dashed out of the room. Now alone, Pikachu took that as an invitation to take a nap on Ash's bed.

"Ash, you can't be serious," Dawn exclaimed as the two of them stepped out of the front door of his house.

"Yes, I am. I'm going to walk you home." He repeated for her as he shut the door. "You already said that your mom can't come to pick you up with all the traffic and stuff."

"But it's like a four-hour walk to my side of town Ash." Dawn reminded him, but this didn't bother him at all.

"Sheesh Dawn, it's almost like you don't want to hang out with me," Ash said, causing Dawn to become silent. "I figured since we had to leave the block party so early that we could make up for some of that lost time."

Dawn stared at Ash; her mouth lips parted. She hadn't been expecting an answer like that, and suddenly her cheeks became hot as she realized Ash wanted to spend some time with her alone.

Checking his phone for the time, Ash saw that it was just past three o'clock. They had ample time to get home before dark.

"So, shall we?" Ash said as he extended an arm, motioning for her to begin walking alongside him.

"Why thank you," Dawn said kindly as she took a step, but she was halted by a shout.

"Well, well, look who's got a new girlfriend."

The duo looked up to the building adjacent to Ash's home, spotting an older gentleman that was looking down at them from the second-floor window. He was leaning on the windowsill, resting his chin on one hand as he gazed at them with a cheerful smile.

"Mr. Cheeves, she's not my girlfriend," Ash stated as he waved to the older man who returned the gesture.

"Oh really. Then would you be interested in an older man like me?" He asked Dawn with a wide grin. Dawn blushed a bit at the question while Ash rolled his eyes. He then took Dawn by the hand and began leading her down the street, earning a loud laugh from Mr. Cheeves as they left him. Keeping pace with Ash, Dawn was a little surprised that he had taken a hold of her hand so freely, not that she was complaining. It was…nice.

"Don't mind him, he's crazy," Ash said, getting a snort from Dawn as they rounded the street corner, and this gave Dawn an opportunity to peer directly into Ash's neighborhood. The few times she had come by so far, she had always gone straight from the car to his house. This time, however, she was right in the middle of everything.

People were seated out on the front porch steps of their homes, lazily chatting with their neighbors or friends. As they passed these people, several of them would stop for a moment to give Ash a quick nod or even bump fists. Everyone seemed to know Ash. At the same time though, Dawn quickly realized that everyone knew each other. It was the…exact opposite of where she lived. She barely knew her neighbors.

As they walked, Ash began to name some of the people for Dawn, giving a piece of information about each of them like what they did for work, if they had a family, where they lived. Dawn was impressed by how well he knew everyone. What seemed like a random person on the street was someone that Ash knew pretty well. It was a close-knit society here, even more so than she first thought.

Two blocks over from where Ash lived was a small park with a playground that was heavily populated with children. Ash led Dawn into the park, heading toward the playground which prompted a question from Dawn.

"Ash, where are we going?" Dawn asked him as they reached the playground, earning some glances from the kids playing on it. Taking her up the staircase and into the playground, Ash didn't stop to answer her question. "Ash?"

"Dawn, just relax a bit," Ash told her as they continued. Reaching the summit of the playground, it couldn't be any higher than eight feet off the ground, but there was a red slide which Ash immediately jumped onto and slid down. He gave a whoop upon reaching the bottom, and then he glanced up at Dawn who was looking at him sideways. "Your turn."

"You must be joking," Dawn replied after a stifled laugh.

"Nope. I'm dead serious." Ash replied, but Dawn shook her head.

"I'm not doing this," Dawn said as she spun on her heels to begin walking back down. This caused Ash to raise his arms, waving to the kids that were up top with Dawn.

"Hey you guys, don't let the girl with blue hair get down. She has to use the slide!" Ash called out to them, pointing to the bluenette. Dawn felt a chill as all of the children shifted their gaze to her. In a moment's notice, there was a wall of children blocking her path, trapping her at the summit of the playground.

"Ash, are you kidding me?" Dawn exclaimed, looking back at him.

"Not at all." He replied, giving her a wide grin. He knew that Dawn didn't have it in her to push her way through that group of kids, so she had no choice here. The chatter picked up as they began to move forward, steadily forcing Dawn to move until her back was pressed against the small entrance to the slide. "There's no use fighting it Dawn."

Looking back at Ash once again, Dawn couldn't believe that he was this mischievous…even going as low as to use children against her. She would find a way to pay him back for this but seeing him smile down below, Dawn couldn't help but return it. She shook her head, then turned and got into the slide much to the delight of the kids that surrounded her. They began to cheer as Dawn pushed herself forward, racing down the slide until she reached the bottom where Ash was waiting for her. Offering her a hand to help her up, Dawn looked at him expectantly.

"Happy now?" She asked him.

"Very." He stated before giving the kids at the top of the slide a thumbs up. Dawn shot him a narrow glance at this.

"You're crazy, I hope you know that." She stated. Ash laughed a bit and shrugged his shoulders.

"Casey likes to tell me that too." He noted before motioning for Dawn to match his pace.

For a little while, they walked in silence, following the pathway through the park. Dawn spent this time racking her brain for something for them to talk about, but Ash didn't seem to mind the silence between them. Glancing back at the playground that was in the distance, Dawn pursed her lips as she realized there were kids outside. In fact, it was like any other day in this neighborhood even though there had been an explosion in the middle of Vermilion City just a few hours ago.

"Ash, why are all these kids outside right now? Shouldn't they be at home?" Dawn asked, looking toward him.

"Shouldn't you be at home right now Dawn?" Ash asked in return.

"Well, didn't Cassidy say that it's dangerous to be out right now?" Dawn asked him again, reminding him of the reason he was walking her home.

"There's nothing to worry about here Dawn. The biggest thing to worry about in this part of Vermilion City is the people that live here. But the kids…they're untouchable." Ash stated as he took a moment to look back at the playground. "If anyone is stupid enough to do something to the kids, believe me, this whole neighborhood will be going after them."

Dawn nodded in response.

"And look around," Ash said as he nodded to their left where Dawn spotted a pair of men standing beneath the shade of the tree, speaking quietly as they watched the kids from afar. "Everyone is watching the kids. So don't worry, none of them are out here unsupervised."

Spotting a woman seated on a bench ahead of them, Ash then pointed to her.

"Even the bird lady is watching them." He commented.

"Bird lady?" Dawn repeated, wondering who had gained such a title. Following Ash's line of sight, she saw the women in question. She looked to be in her thirties with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a long sundress for the weather and a white bandana over her hair. She had one hand cupped, tossing out some seeds onto the walkway where at least a dozen Pidgey had gathered.

"She feeds the Pidgey-uh, the bird Pokemon." Ash explained as Dawn stared at the scene, quickly understanding how the title 'bird lady' had become attached to this woman. Taking Dawn's hand once again, Ash led her off the pathway, taking them around the bird lady to ensure that they didn't disturb the Pidgey. As they passed her, the woman looked back at them and smiled kindly. Ash waved to her, and Dawn the same meekly before they continued on their way.

"Wow, those Pokemon must be really hungry," Dawn remarked as she looked at all of the Pidgey who ate the seeds with haste.

"You know, I used to think that too. But even when she's not feeding them, those Pokemon gather around her." Ash stated as he stopped to look back at the bird lady.

Leaning over, the bird lady extended her free hand toward the closest Pidgey which hopped right into her palm without a second thought. She then straightened up on the bench, raising her hands so that she could examine the Pidgey closely. The two of them shared a moment, simply staring at one another. The Pidgey tilted her head for a moment, then she chirped and the woman smiled warmly in reply.

"But I get the feeling they actually understand each other…though that might sound crazy to you," Ash said, but Dawn paused to continue looking at this woman.

Everything she had heard about Pokemon had always made her believe that they were dangerous creatures that should be kept away from people. Ash, however, was constantly proving to her that there was more to these creatures than what was shown on the news. Now as Dawn looked at the bird lady, observing how she admired the Pokemon in her hand, Dawn could see that it wasn't just Ash who had a different view of Pokemon. Other people shared his belief and trust in Pokemon.

"Where are we going now, Ash?" Dawn inquired since they had come to a stop in front of the entrance to a tall tower that loomed over them.

It was the tallest building on the northern side of Vermilion City, a landmark known as the old radio tower. It was hard to miss it since it stood out compared to the much shorter buildings in this part of the city. Looking up at it, Dawn couldn't help but notice how worn down the tower was a few broken windows here and there.

Almost fifty years ago Vermilion City had been the heart of Kanto's broadcasting stations, but a rival competitor in Lavender Town bought the tower and relocated the staff and assets. Since then the tower had been left to age, becoming nothing more than a landmark.

"I want to show you something cool," Ash said as he motioned for her to follow him into the front entrance of the tower. Several contractors had tried to tear down this tower, but the people living in this area were old-fashioned folks. They did everything they could to preserve this old relic, even as the rest of the city became modernized.

"Is it safe?" Dawn asked him as he held the door open for her.

"Yeah Dawn, there's nothing to worry about," Ash said to her, extending a hand for her to join him. Taking his hand, Ash led her through the empty lobby. It was dark and dank, but Dawn felt at ease as she walked with Ash. He led her past the receptionist desk to a large stairwell. "You'll have to forgive me though. No elevators in this building, just stairs."

"Ugh, you owe me big time for this," Dawn said as she pointed a finger at him.

"Deal," Ash said as they began their journey. Despite all of the groaning she did, Dawn made it up every flight of stairs and stepped out onto the roof of the radio tower. Giving a loud sigh of relief, she leaned against the doorway to catch her breath. Ash went straight to the railing at the edge of the roof and peered over the edge. He glanced back at her and motioned for her to come over to him.

Approaching Ash, Dawn was greeted by a sight that she hadn't been expecting.

It was Vermilion City. The same city she had been raised in. Yet it was like she was seeing it for the first time. She had never seen it from way up here. Every part of the city was visible to her. The sprawling urban jungle that was midtown. The small cozy neighborhoods of the northern areas. The industrial district occupied the western end of the city. The lively downtown area that hosted Vermilion City's nightlife…and to the east was the wealthy community that she lived in.

She had never realized that there was so much to this city.

Was it always this…big?

"What do you think?" Ash asked her, breaking the silence.

Dawn needed a few moments to respond. She had never taken the time to admire the metropolis she lived in.

"It's…incredible," Dawn responded. She couldn't believe how great Vermilion City looked from up here!

"You know, I grew up in Pallet Town. It's a small little town so I don't know if you've heard of it." Ash said, but Dawn nodded, recognizing the name. "My dad used to travel a lot, and he told me about Vermilion City. He said it was a place where you could make your dreams come true. I never really understood what he was talking about, not until I came here myself. The city just kind of…glitters, doesn't it?"

Dawn looked out at the scenery in front of her again, and under the setting sun, she could agree with Ash. It really did seem like there was something magical here that could make your dreams come true, though Dawn quickly realized that it was the opportunities within this city.

"It makes it feel like anything is possible." Ash went on, and Dawn hummed in agreement.

Anything is possible…

Recalling all of the avenues this city had to start a career, Dawn could understand why anyone would believe this statement. There were open jobs, higher education…everything you would need to take a crack at making a living.

"Anything is possible!" Ash screamed suddenly, causing Dawn to cringe visibly. Noticing this, Ash chuckled while scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, did I surprise you, Dawn?"

"Yeah, kinda." She replied, shooting him a narrow glance. "Why'd you do that?"

"Just a reminder," Ash replied softly now, leaning on the railing. "Sometimes it's easy to forget about what you're working toward. So it helps to say it out loud, that I can achieve anything. That I can make a difference."

Dawn remained quiet, once again impressed with Ash, yet she was surprised with what he had revealed. She had always been picturing him as a guy that would never lose his confidence. It always seemed like nothing could shake his focus. However, Ash made it clear to her that no one could enjoy such a luxury, not even someone as determined as him.

"Come on Dawn, it's your turn now," Ash stated, causing her to blink a few times.

"To do what?" She asked him plainly. He pointed upward.

"To scream something."

"Absolutely not!" Dawn retorted with a huff, but seeing Ash frown made her take a moment to consider it. "What for?"

"To remind you of your own dreams. I mean, what's the point in having dreams if they're not motivating you?" Ash asked her, and Dawn could understand his logic. "So come on, just give yourself a quick reminder of what you're going to do, or be or whatever."

"Can't I just, make a poster and put it on the wall in my room?" Dawn asked him, hoping for a way to avoid this request from Ash.

"You can do that too, but it's not like I can come to your room to see for myself. Plus I don't want you to go home and forget either." Ash pointed out, causing Dawn to roll her eyes. He refused to let her escape from this. "So go ahead Dawn, I'm waiting."

"Ugh, this is so embarrassing Ash," Dawn muttered as she looked over the banister. There were people down below that might hear her.

"What's so embarrassing about it?" Ash inquired, causing Dawn to make a face at him. "It's not like anyone can see you up here. If they hear you shouting, they won't know who it was."

"Just for this Ash, you owe me double of whatever it was you were going to give me," Dawn said to him before she took a deep breath. Upon exhaling, she looked up at the sky above and opened her mouth to speak. "I want to…travel to Kalos and become a fashion designer!"

Dawn exhaled again, surprised that she had actually followed through with this. Returning her gaze to Ash, she found that he was smiling at her.

"So you want to go all the way to Kalos? That's a long way from home." He noted, but Dawn smiled at this.

"Yeah, but Kalos is also the fashion capital of the world. If I can make it there as a designer, I can make it anywhere." Dawn said proudly.

"And with the way you work, I'm sure you'll be there in no time marching around in some fancy heels," Ash said to her with a smirk. Dawn laughed, thanking him graciously for the compliment.

The sky was darkening as the sun sunk into the horizon, but Ash and Dawn were now arriving at her home. Arriving at the gate to her property, Dawn used the intercom to call Darach to open the gate for her. The afternoon she spent with Ash might not have been what she was expecting, but Ash did an amazing job of keeping them entertained.

Now their time together was coming to an end as they approached the front door of Dawn's household. Stepping up to the large wooden doors, Dawn stopped and turned to face Ash who had been walking alongside her.

"So this is it huh?" Ash asked her as they looked toward one another.

"I guess so," Dawn said as she recalled the events of the day.

It had started out at the block party in midtown which descended into chaos as the authorities had to close off the park. From there they returned to Ash's home to drop off his sisters before they made a trip across town on foot. From the various people Ash had introduced her to, to the sights he had shown her, Dawn was amazed by Ash yet again.

He was seventeen years old, just like her, yet it felt like she was spending time with someone beyond his years. Ash was always in control, showing her new things that she had never seen before, or helping her to see things from a different angle. Dawn still couldn't figure out what it was about him that made him so…charming.

"Aren't you forgetting something Ash?" Dawn asked him as she recalled the deal they had made within the radio tower. They had reached her home, and Ash had yet to fulfill his part of their agreement.

"Oh right," Ash said with a small chuckle. "I had a little something for you unless you'd prefer a kiss."

Dawn turned bright red, staring at Ash with an expression of shock. Seeing her expression change so drastically, Ash realized he had made a mistake and put up his hands as an apology.

"That was just a little joke, sorry Dawn." He said, trying to laugh off his previous comment. This caused Dawn to turn away from him, hiding her face. "I didn't mean to embarrass you. I just kinda figured this is the point on a date where the guy goes in for a kiss and then they say goodbye."

Dawn stifled a laugh, shaking her head a bit. She wanted to palm her forehead for Ash's lack of discernment.

"Shoot, I hope I didn't ruin our date now," Ash said softly to himself, causing a small smirk to form on Dawn's face. Here was a chance for her to get back at him now.

"You thought this was a date?" She asked him, glancing over her shoulder.

"Well yeah…I mean, unless you didn't. If-if you don't want it to be a date though I-I'm cool with that too." Ash said quickly, beginning to ramble now. This caused Dawn to snicker now that it was Ash's turn to be flustered.

"I'll leave it up to you to decide what it was Ash," Dawn said as she turned to face him again, wearing a smile that allowed Ash to relax. "I'm still waiting for my gift though."

Ash gave her a nod before he took off his backpack to open it.

"It's nothing special, but I hope it's enough to gain your forgiveness," Ash explained as he pulled a plush doll out of his backpack. Dawn's eyes widened as she recognized it immediately. It was the same doll that the basketball vendor had at the block party, the one Ash didn't manage to win for her.

"Ash…when did you go back for this?" Dawn began as he placed the doll in her hands.

"It was back when Casey and I went to get cotton candy for Macy," Ash explained as Dawn looked down at the doll. "Both Casey and Macy had something to show for our little trip today and I didn't want you to feel left out."

Dawn couldn't believe that Ash had gone back to get this doll for her. That was so sweet of him!

"Thank you so much, Ash!" She exclaimed.

"Hold on, I haven't even told you the best part. This doll is also based on a Pokemon." Ash revealed to her. Dawn's eyes widened at this piece of information. "I don't know much about this one, but it's a Pokemon called Piplup. From what I've heard, they're native to Sinnoh, so you won't find any in Kanto unfortunately."

"They're so adorable," Dawn noted. She definitely wanted to see real Piplup for herself. Maybe she would travel to Sinnoh one day and do just that.

Ash and Dawn stood in silence now, staring down at the doll in Dawn's arms. Gradually, their gazes rose until their eyes met. They stared at one another, examining the person that stood across from them. Ash began to raise one of his eyebrows repeatedly while keeping a straight face, and Dawn couldn't contain her laughter.

"Ash." She said after regaining her composure. "Let's do this again sometime."

"Is it going to be a date next time?" Ash asked her, sporting a small smirk.

"Hmm, I don't know. I guess we'll have to wait and see if there's a kiss next time." Dawn replied, returning his little smirk with one of her own. Ash opened his mouth to reply, but nothing clever came to mind. Dawn took this opportunity to leave while she was ahead, slipping into her home after giving Ash one last wave.

Unknown to the duo, an older gentleman had been watching their discussion from a window on the second floor. Darach, the butler of the Berlitz estate.

Watching Ash as he began to walk back down toward the gate, Darach nodded to himself. That was indeed Ash Ketchum. The resemblance he had to his father was uncanny.

"Now what are the odds of Dawn befriending Ash?" Darach asked himself.

It almost seemed too convenient.

With a sigh of relief, Dawn shut the door to her room and placed her back against it. Johanna had smothered her with questions about the events that had unfolded at the block party. Dawn had to assure her mother countless times that she had walked away from it perfectly fine, and that Ash had gone through the trouble of making sure she got home safely. Finally, when her mother was satisfied, Dawn slipped away to her room where she could just let the day melt away.

Flopping down onto her bed, Dawn snuggled up with her Piplup doll and shut her eyes. Taking in a few deep and slow breaths, Dawn felt at ease as she sunk down into her mattress.

"I mean, what's the point in having dreams if they're not motivating you?" Ash asked her. "…just give yourself a quick reminder of what you're going to do, or be or whatever."

Hearing Ash's words ring out in her head, Dawn's eyes snapped open. As much as she wanted to relax, Dawn knew what she had to do right now.

Retrieving her laptop from the nightstand beside her bed, Dawn opened up the device and powered it up. As the device came to life, Dawn looked up and thought about her response to Ash's suggestion.

"I want to…travel to Kalos and become a fashion designer!"

Kalos had been Dawn's dream since she was small. It was much like Vermilion City, but the qualities that Dawn adored about Vermilion City such as the cafes, window shopping, celebrity sightings…all of those could be found throughout Kalos. The entire region was one big adventure with opportunities to learn from the people that had already etched their careers in stone. She could go anywhere in Kalos, and there was no telling what she would find. Dawn couldn't say the same for Kanto.

Seeing that her laptop had booted up, Dawn opened up a new window on the internet. Going through the search engine, Dawn pulled up various images until she spotted one that fit was she was looking for. Enlarging this image, Dawn gave it a nod of approval.

It was a satellite image of the Kalos Region, with a few famous landmarks such as the Prism Tower in Lumiose City and the Sundial in Anistar City. Standing at the center of the image thought was a young red-haired woman in an extravagant dress. She was a world-renowned performer that was adored by millions of people - Aria.

She was the biggest sensation in Kalos, being a talented singer and dancer, she had recently been named the Queen of Kalos. With her obvious ability to perform, she would likely retain that title for years to come.

"One day, I'm going to make something that you wear on stage," Dawn stated as she stared at Aria on the poster. Recalling something that she had seen May do on various occasions. Dawn looked to the empty wall above her bed and made a frame with her index fingers and thumbs. Shutting one eye, she shifted her hands around to plan exactly where she would put this poster once she had ordered it.

Nodding to herself once she was satisfied with the location, Dawn couldn't help but smile eagerly.

Every time she spoke to Ash, he would find a way to motivate her. This time was no exception.

There was a fire in her heart now.

A/N

Wow, it has been ten chapters and I'm happy to say that we still have a VERY long way to go on Ash's journey. Its been a pleasure to write and post this story so far, working alongside MjrGenMatt.

The inspiration behind this chapter, or the latter half of it really, was 'A Long Walk' sung by miss Jill Scott. I don't know if any of you who read this story are fans of R&B, but this has been one of my favorite songs for years.

I want to give everyone a heads up in advance. There won't be an update until the end of May/Early June. I want to take some time to really just focus on moving the plot along where I'm currently at, and then refine a fair number of chapters so that I have a bunch ready for you all. I know that doesn't bode well for you if you're following this story but please bear with me. If anything, I hope I can win your forgiveness once you start to read the new chapters :)

So it may be a while before I see you all again, but I hope this doesn't steer away from the story because I've got some big plans for the upcoming chapters.

I said I would get another chapter out in March and I did...barely lol. So I hope you enjoyed this one!

A big thanks to everyone for reading as well as those who reviewed, and of course I have to give a shout out to my beta reader MjrGenMatt! So until next time everyone, stay out of trouble, don't do anything I wouldn't do, and embrace spring because it's finally here!

Chapter Text

Tuesday, October 11th

Brock drummed his fingertips on the steering wheel of his car to the beat of a song's introduction. As the beat became more defined, Brock began to groove in his seat. Absorbed in his dance movements, Brock failed to notice that none other than Ash Ketchum was knocking on the glass of the passenger door. Without any options, walked in front of the car to get Brock's attention.

Brock unlocked the doors for Ash to join him in the car, and he lowered the music to pose a question. "What were you doing up there, Ash?"

Ash stifled a laugh and decided to leave the question untouched. "Thanks for coming today," Ash got settled in his seat, placing his backpack on the floor by his feet.

"You surprised me when you called last night, I thought something happened," Brock noted with a memory of the last late-night call he received from Ash.

"We saw that battle N had over the weekend," Ash explained pulled his seatbelt across his chest. "Pikachu and I decided that we wanted to get stronger, so we're going to do some extra training out on Route 6."

"I heard the ending of the battle was nuts," Brock pointed out as he shifted in drive and joined the traffic on the street.

"Man, I've never seen something so strong. Zoroark used this move called Focus Blast to counter Rapidash's Flare Blitz. When they met it was just," Ash clapped his hands together and then pulled them apart to mimic an explosion, adding a sound effect as well.

"Man, now I wish I was there to see it," Brock groaned.

"Yeah, you missed a good one," Ash teased.

"Whatever," Brock said as he wrinkled his nose. Ash snickered before he leaned over to open his backpack. Pikachu popped out immediately and he began to climb up Ash's body to perch himself on Ash's shoulder. Ash immediately reached up for Pikachu and set him back down on his lap.

"Sorry Pikachu, we haven't left the city yet. You have to stay down until we do. I let you out to have a little more room," Ash explained to his partner who nodded and go comfortable.

"Ash, whatever happened to that girl you brought to the subway station?" Brock inquired to strike up some conversation. Ash remained silent as he stroked Pikachu's back, and took the time to sort through his thoughts.

"She's alright," He mumbled in reply.

"What's the deal with her? Do you like her or what?" Brock asked pointedly. He was usually blunt with Ash.

"Eh…I mean, she's cool and all," Ash trailed off and returned to his silence.

"It sounds like there should be a 'but' at the end of that," Brock interjected.

"I don't know," Ash said as he shrugged his shoulders. "Dawn is really nice, and I've spent a lot of time with her at school…but when I saw Serena again at the subway station," Ash trailed off again and he removed his hand from Pikachu. His Pokemon glanced up at him and gave him a nudge to resume the grooming, but there was no response. Pikachu rumbled his lips as he realized that Ash was consumed in his thoughts.

Going back to that night, Ash recalled the few minutes that he danced with Serena. It was the first time they did that in months, and he'd all but forgotten the details of it during his absence. The warmth of her breath. The shock of her touch. As soon as they came into contact, the steps came right back to him, and his chest tingled when their dance concluded and Serena smiled at him. It was as if his heart stopped at the sight of that smile. Ash shook his head as he acknowledged that Serena could still tug at his heart even though they ended their relationship a while ago.

"So, you've still got a thing for Serena, huh?" Brock asked him. However, this question dragged Ash back into his thoughts.

Ash met Serena when he was sixteen, almost two years prior to today. At the time, Brock was helping Ash attend Pokemon battles, and they needed a cover story to explain where Ash was to Cassidy. So, Brock brought Ash into his dance crew as a new member and that was how Ash met Serena. As arguably the best of the group, Ash was placed under Serena's tutelage to bring him up to speed and the two of them hit it off immediately. Serena studied dance and performing intensely, and Ash became her test dummy.

She tried every form of dance, which gave Ash a very broad view of the field. He never paid much attention to how people danced, the nuances and details, but Serena showed him everything. As he got the fundamentals down, he began to dance with Serena. At the time, she was studying the salsa and the tango, and she would invite Ash to practice with her on the weekends. This was where Serena proved to be unlike any girl Ash met before.

Cassidy was his guardian, and Ash struggled to view her as anything more than that. Ash knew his mother very well before they were separated, and while he could tell Cassidy has his best interests at heart, it was difficult to let someone else fill the role of his mother.

Casey and Macy were his litter sisters, both of which he adored from the moment he met them. Well…in Macy's case. It took him a while to figure out Casey, and it took her even longer to warm up to him. She was only three when they first met, but she was quirky and particular for that age, not that Ash could blame her. Finally, they made a connection one day. Cassidy took them out for ice cream and got both of them a soft-serve vanilla chocolate cone. Casey hated vanilla ice cream, so Ash would eat the vanilla half of his cone, and give the chocolate half to Casey in exchange for what was left of her vanilla half. That became their arrangement going forward, and Casey started to warm up to him from that day forward.

Then there was the night that Cassidy came home with Macy. He would never forget that night. He was fourteen at the time, and Macy was a small infant, only two months old. Cassidy asked Ash if he'd ever held a baby before, and after his response, she explained everything to him. How to support her neck and cradle her body. Once she was in his arms, Macy looked up at him with her big bright eyes and smiled for him. Ash's heart melted that day.

Yet…Serena managed to carve out her own special place in his heart. Serena was three years older than him and she already graduated high. She was exposed to the world as a budding young adult, and what she learned, she shared freely with Ash. Every moment he spent with Serena, she was showing him something new, something cool. A different point of view, or just sharing a thought. It wasn't long before Serena joined a very small group of people whom Ash trusted wholeheartedly…and before he realized it, he was looking at her in a different light.

He was paying attention to her now, and everything she did. He began to admire her qualities and laugh at her quirks. Ash didn't want to admit it but…

"Yeah, she's still got a place in my heart," Ash stated.

"Huh?" Brock said as he reached to lower the volume of the radio. "What did you say?"

"I was answering your question," Ash replied with a glance out the window. He then realized that the man-made buildings of Vermilion City were long gone, and in its place was the sprawling woodlands of Route 6. "When did we get out here?"

"Dude, it's been like twenty minutes since you said something. Geez, were you daydreaming about Serena the entire time?" Brock asked with a snicker. Ash's cheeks reddened since had indeed spent the last several minutes letting Serena dominate his thoughts. "Well, we're almost there."

"Great," Ash said as he focused on the purpose of their trip this afternoon.

There were two ways to train a Pokemon in Vermilion City. All over the city were several locations that were used to host battles where trainers could test their skills. These locations varied depending on the time of the day to keep the authorities guessing where Pokemon trainers were gathered.

The other option was what Ash intended to make use of today. That involved going outside of the city to practice against wild Pokemon that lived in Route 6. Ash was surprised as Brock explained this concept to him. He assumed that Pokemon learned to battle through humans, but lo and behold, wild Pokemon without even an ounce of human contact understood how to participate in a Pokemon battle.

It was almost as if…they'd be been battling long before humans encountered.

"Here we are," Brock said as they turned off the main roadway and entered a small parking lot. There was one empty car parked here which Brock parked alongside. Once Brock parked, Ash and Pikachu jumped out of his car to marvel at the tall trees that loomed overhead. It was deathly quiet when compared to the hustle and bustle within Vermilion City.

Brock held back a smile as he watched Ash and Pikachu. Now that they had taken in their fill of the area, they began to stretch. It was amusing to watch them as they almost mirrored the other's actions. A human and a Pokemon that was practically in sync.

"Are you guys ready?" Brock asked once his car was locked up. They gave him an earnest now, and Brock took the lead as he pointed to a dirt pathway that led into the forest. Despite the overwhelming excitement, Ash couldn't find any words to say as they walked. He held the straps of his backpack tightly, and occasionally stole a glance at Pikachu who resided on his shoulder. There was something about this that just felt…right.

Ash couldn't explain it. Was it the touch of mystery, or the possibility that they could encounter a Pokemon at any given moment…or perhaps another trainer was lurking in the bushes in search of a new opponent. It was like he was on an adventure!

A thud echoed through the area and Pikachu's ear twitched. "Pika?" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder and darted off into the thick foliage.

"Pikachu," Ash didn't hesitate to pursue his partner, and Brock shrugged his shoulders before he followed as well. No sense in being conventional with Ash and Pikachu around.

Pikachu was out in front of Ash and Brock, jumping over tree roots and waving through broken branches that rested on the forest floor. Soon enough, Pikachu came to a stop at the edge of a small clearing where a battle was taking place. He remained concealed, careful not to disturb contest. Thankfully, Ash and Brock took a hint and slowed their approach. With all of them aware of the battle, they kept silent to observe.

The trainer was a young woman, probably in her mid-twenties with long dark hair. She was dressed lightly for the hot weather that persisted year-round in Vermilion City, and even in the late afternoon, it was still hotter than most people would appreciate. In front of her was a short Pokemon that wore a skull over his head and wielded a short bone club. Ash raised his eyebrow since he'd never seen a Pokemon that wielded a weapon before.

"Who's that, Brock?" Ash whispered.

"That's Giselle," Brock replied, his cheeks tinged pink as he admired her figure. "She's just as gorgeous as the last time I saw her."

"Not the girl, the Pokemon," Ash said harshly, though he kept his voice low.

"Cubone, just be patient," Giselle called out. "Let Mankey attack first and we'll work off of that."

Ash looked back to the field. He recognized Giselle's opponent as Mankey, so he attached the name Cubone to Giselle's partner.

Cubone exhaled and exercised patience as his trainer instructor. Their plan was to wait for Mankey's impatience to get the better of him, but Mankey was content to wait. He stared at Cubone and bounced on his toes, keeping his arms high. Clearly, Mankey went through his fair share of battles and learned that being overly aggressive would only get you so far.

Ash pursed his lips. It was his patience that was being tested. "Sheesh, I wish she'd attack already. Mankey isn't going to."

"Right, you've never seen Giselle battle before," Brock noted and Ash took a glance at him. Brock wore a neutral expression, now capable of holding a conversation again. "It's obvious that you'd get impatient with her. That's everyone's biggest mistake when they battle her."

"What do you mean?"

"I wouldn't really call it a trap, but Giselle is good at dissecting her opponents. That's her whole style and she's scary good at him. It's probably her woman's intuition," Brock suggested with a chuckle. "She can figure out someone's game plan with a snap of her fingers."

"But how does she do it?" Ash's questions continued.

"She lets her opponent attack first to get a grasp of their overall strategy," Brock explained with a motion to the example right in front of them.

"So, all she does is play defense," Ash concluded. "That won't work against me and Pikachu," The second half of his statement was louder than Ash intended for it to be, and Giselle raised her brow as she realized she had company. With her audience in mind, she clicked her tongue and returned her focus to Mankey.

"Alright Cubone, that's enough waiting," She said and her Pokemon sighed with relief. Cubone lowered his center of gravity and sprung forward. That was Mankey's trigger as he squealed and dashed forward to meet Cubone.

However, Cubone had a different plan in mind as he stomped his feet to skid to a halt. Mankey did the same, though just a moment too late as he stopped too close to Cubone to avoid his attack. Cubone swung his club at Mankey's legs and ripped his feet out from under him which sent him to the ground face first.

"Now follow up with Sand Attack!" Giselle called out calmly. As Mankey raised his head, he was greeted by a face full of dirt, several chunks hitting him directly in the eye. An agitated squeal escaped his lips as he furiously rubbed at his eyes. "Give him a good whack!"

Cubone tightened his grip on his bone club and lashed out at Mankey with all the force he could muster. His club met with Mankey's side and hurled him across the clearing. Ash, Brock, and Pikachu winced as Mankey hit the base of a tree and fell to the ground in a heap. Cubone's strength was nothing to take lightly.

"Cu-bone!" Cubone declared and he raised his bone above his head triumphantly. Giselle however, didn't approve of his celebration and shouted at him to stay focus. Mankey wasn't done just yet as he forced himself back up to his feet and used one hand to rub the dirt from his eyes. Mankey was seething and his fur turned red, exactly what Giselle wanted.

"Get ready Cubone, this is where we'll end this," Giselle stated as Mankey shrieked.

Mankey went down on all fours and charged wildly at Cubone. Fueled by his rage, Mankey was even more predictable and easy to avoid with simple sidesteps. Mankey circled around and charged in again, but the result was the same. "Whenever you're ready Cubone, use Bonemerang!"

As Mankey raced by him again, Cubone turned and took aim. Mankey came around again and as he approached, Cubone hurled his weapon with a ferocious spin. His bone club sailed through the air as though it were a frisbee, but Mankey had enough sense to avoid the attack and continue his approach. Once he was within range of Cubone, Mankey lunged forward and cocked back both of his arms to throw a dual chop.

In response, Cubone raised his now empty hands to catch both of Mankey's wrists. An audible clap echoed through the clearing from the impact, followed by a light breeze.

"Whoa," Ash exclaimed, his brow raised. Mankey was notorious for two things. Their temper, and their strength. An angry Mankey was the best of both worlds, yet Giselle's Cubone stood against Mankey's physical strength without giving an inch. Mankey's eyes grew wide as all his momentum came to a stop, and he was forced to acknowledge the strength of his opponent. Then, without warning, Mankey was struck from behind.

The forgotten Bonemerang attack returned to its launch site to strike Mankey on the back, and he was stunned from the unexpected hit. Mankey's vision blurred and he went limp. Cubone hoisted Mankey into the air with ease and hurled him to the ground one more time, and Mankey remained motionless this time.

"Very nice, Cubone," Giselle said as she clapped for her partner. Defeating an angry Mankey was nothing to take lightly, especially since they went out of their way to anger said Pokemon.

Brock glanced at Ash now that the battle was over, and he did his best to suppress his urge to laugh. Ash's mouth hung open as he stared at them. He lost sight of the Bonemerang attack and forgot all about it as he witnessed Cubone's surprising strength. If he'd was battling Cubone, he was certain he would've lost in the same fashion as Mankey.

"So do you still want to battle her, Ash?" Brock asked him.

A grin broke out on Ash's face. "Heck yeah, I do!" He shouted as he ran out into the clearing with Pikachu. Giselle turned to face them with a narrow stare at his sudden outburst, but that didn't stop Ash as he issued his challenge.

"Argh, damn it! We'll be back for you tomorrow!" Ash barked at Giselle as he kneeled down beside Pikachu's unconscious form. He gingerly scooped up his partner from the ground, careful not to make contact with the areas that Pikachu was hit by Cubone's club. Giselle merely watched as Ash left the clearing with Brock and Pikachu, promising to return with a new strategy the next time they met because…

Pikachu took a beating! They expected a challenge, but battling Giselle was an entirely different experience from just watching her in action, especially since Ash and Pikachu were on the receiving end of that beat down.

Ash sighed as he dropped himself into the passenger seat of Brock's car and he dug through his backpack for the Potion he packed. He was glad to receive so many of these from the Red Skulls. With their goal of training more often, Pikachu would need these to accelerate his recovery from any lingering damage. He couldn't afford to suffer a serious injury now.

"Man, she's really good!" Ash exclaimed as observed Pikachu. He had bruises all over his torso and the discolorations showed through his fur. Ash carefully sprayed the affected areas, and Pikachu fur glistened as the liquid rested on it for a few moments. Then it sunk in further and Pikachu relaxed as his pain subsided.

"Yup, she's no pushover," Brock commented.

"So, what is she ranked in the circuit?" Ash asked curiously. It was odd that he never heard Giselle's name come up before. She was too good to be unknown.

"She's not ranked. She's not even in the circuit," Brock replied as he started the car engine. Ash stared at him, mouth agape.

"What do you mean she's not ranked? She's really stinkin' good! I'll bet she could beat anyone in the circuit, or give them a run for their money at least," Ash declared and Brock shrugged his shoulders. He focused on driving and shifted the car into the reverse to begin their trip back into Vermilion City.

"She's got her reasons, but believe me, all of the good trainers in Vermilion City know about Giselle," Brock explained. "After battling her, how would rate her compared to N."

"Uhh…" Ash didn't need to think about it very long. "Giselle is pretty good and all, but we still got in a few hits against her Cubone. With N…I can't even imagine us scoring a luck hit yet. He would flat out destroy us."

"I agree with you. Giselle is a very good trainer, but even among the very best trainers, you can divide them up into different tiers," Brock explained. "To start, you've got the Five Kings at the tip-top. Those guys are all by themselves, the strongest among circuit trainers and the best you'll find in any of the four Kingdoms. Below the Five Kings, you've got their closest subordinates. Not all of them are registered in the circuit, but they're all equally strong if you ask me."

Ash thought of Laura and her Rapidash, a tandem that was renowned as one of the strongest among the White Lotus. They put on an impressive showing against N, but in the end, they were clearly inferior.

"And then, the next tier below them is where I'd rank Giselle," Brock concluded. Ash wrinkled the bridge of his nose. He was struggling to make the comparisons, or more specifically, he was struggling to place himself in this ranking.

Giselle just beat him convincingly. Laura would likely beat Giselle in the same fashion. And Ash witnessed Laura get dismantled by N.

"So, I'm at least four tiers beneath N?" Ash concluded.

"That's one way to look at it," Brock said, though he went on to share some of his insights on the best trainers in Vermilion City.

The Five Kings.

Unfortunately, as far as Brock knew, none of the Kings ever faced each other publicly, so there was no definite answer as to who was the strongest. However, based on the opinions of trainers who faced the Five Kings, many of them praised N or described him as the toughest of them all. That opinion spread among trainers throughout the city, and N was placed on a pedestal above the rest of the Kings.

Ash felt a chill as he realized that yet another tier was added to this pyramid. If N was really stronger than the rest of the Kings, defeating him was going to be a greater challenge than he imagined. In the face of such a daunting challenge, Ash's heart was set ablaze.

"Think of Giselle as a gatekeeper," Brock suggested. "If you can't get past her, you don't stand a chance against the other top trainers."

Ash didn't smile, but his eyes shimmered. He would surmount this challenge, no matter how difficult it became.

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us, Pikachu," Ash stated as he looked down at his partner.

Brock didn't need to look at Ash to guess what sort of face he was making. He could hear it in Ash's voice. He was excited and determined…ready for his grand adventure to unfold.

Thursday, October 13th

Nando exhaled and placed his hands on his lap. Then he looked to the man that loomed over him.

With one hand raised to pull at his pointed mustache, this man shut his eyes and hummed the melody that Nando finished playing on the grand piano. Once he finished the tune, silence filled the room and Nando gulped nervously. He wanted nothing more than for this critique to begin, but Juan, his music teacher, just loved to create suspense.

This was the song he ended to play at his upcoming recital, and Nando was anxious to hear another opinion on it.

"Nando…that was magnificent!" Juan exclaimed as he applauded Nando's work.

"Thank you, Mr. Juan," Nando said graciously with a small bow.

Juan was the director of musical education at North Vermilion High. He had an impressive background in music, formerly a professional musician, and was also in possession of an array of awards that he received while he played professionally. Now, as a gentleman in his late fifties, Juan spent time in the classroom sharing his experience with the next generation of upcoming musicians.

His star pupil, Nando, never failed to impress him, and once again, Nando produced a musical arrangement that astounded him. From the moment Nando set foot in his classroom as a freshman, Juan knew that this young man had a gift and Nando's latest creation provided further evidence of that thought. Nando was a musical genius. He could play anything that he touched, his skill unmatched among his peers. Juan was certain that as soon as Nando graduated, he would be whisked in a professional musical career, traveling overseas as he played.

"I must say, your work has been filled with more passion as of late, this piece especially," Juan noted as he sent a sly glance at Nando. "I remember I used to play with such passion where there was love on my mind."

Nando's cheeks reddened as he looked away from Juan, which earned a hearty laugh from the man.

Juan placed a hand on Nando's shoulder to console him. "There's no need to be embarrassed about it. If this young lady inspires you to create beautiful music, there is no shame in that," Juan stated. "One of the hardest emotions to capture in music is love. But when someone can project that emotion through their music, it's an experience that their listeners will never forget. Some of the best songs I composed were during a time when I fell in love with someone while I was in Hoenn."

Juan cooed affectionately as he looked up to recall the face of the woman that he saw in Lilycove City almost thirty years ago.

"It was love at first sight. I followed her around town until I finally caught her in a park where she stopped to take a break. I used the opportunity to serenade her," Juan explained as he danced around the room with an imaginary guitar in his hands. "She loved every moment of it, so I did my best to make sure we crossed paths again for me to play more songs for her. But alas, it was not meant to be."

"What happened?" Nando inquired. Surely if she loved Juan's music, she must have given him a chance.

"She was married," Juan remarked with a straight face. Nando kept silent, unsure of what to say in reply, but Juan stifled his laughter. "Don't worry about that, my friend. She was just one of the many ladies that I met before I got married myself."

Nando did his best to chuckle. Despite all the time he spent with Juan, it was still hard to understand his sense of humor at times.

"But let me tell something to you. If you play your cards right, and you play this song for your special someone, I promise you Nando…you will capture her heart," Juan assured him as he continued to dance, positioning his arms as if to hold a woman. He performed a dip and once he straightened up, he looked to Nando. "So, will she be attending your recital?"

Nando drew in a deep breath and gave his instructor a nod. Juan gave him a bright smile and he came to Nando to give him a pat on the back.

"Very good," Juan said as he put on a neutral expression. He then motioned to the piano keys in front of Nando, prepared to help him refine his work until it reached the pinnacle of perfection.

Hopefully, through this song, Nando would be able to tell Dawn something he struggled to say.

Thursday, October 20th

"Pikachu, show em' your Agility!" Ash commanded as he swung his arm in front of him.

"Cubone, stay focused, you've seen them do this before," Giselle called out in response. Pikachu tensed his muscles before he rushed forward. He crossed the clearing as nothing more than a blur and he raced around Cubone in search of an opening to attack.

Under Giselle's orders, Cubone kept still with his bone raised. He did his best to keep Pikachu in his field of vision, although this was no small task. However, just this small action was enough to make Pikachu hesitate, wary of the weapon in Cubone's hand.

"Go for it, Pikachu!" Ash hollered. It was clear that Pikachu didn't have an angle to attack from, so their best option was to force something new to happen. Ash was well aware of the fact that this played straight into Giselle's hand, but he was determined to beat her at her own game.

Pikachu dove in at his opponent and raised his foot to attack. Cubone raised his club to block Pikachu's kick, but Pikachu was far from finished as he used that foot for leverage and bounded off of it. This simple action put Pikachu back on his feet and he darted behind Cubone to lash out with his tail this time. Cubone spun around with his bone in hand and blocked Pikachu's follow-up attack.

Ash blinked as their exchange of attacks froze momentarily. Then Pikachu resumed his assault, using his speed to get behind Cubone and attack again. Even though Pikachu was attacking rapidly from different angles, Cubone continued to react accordingly to each attack.

"Alright Cubone, go for Pikachu's feet with Bone Club!" Giselle ordered suddenly to break the stalemate. Cubone only defended up until this point, but now he lowered his bone in anticipation of Pikachu's next attack.

Pikachu attacked again as he pounced at Cubone from his side. Cubone heard the movement to his side and leaned back into a handstand to avoid Pikachu. At the sight of Cubone balanced on one hand, Pikachu came to a full stop right in front of him and gathered himself to attack. He'd never seen Cubone take such an odd position that left his defense compromised. This was Pikachu's golden opportunity!

Cubone however, was the first to strike as he spun on his hand and lashed out at Pikachu with his bone club. Pikachu gasped as his feet were ripped out from beneath him.

The stage was set for Cubone to secure yet another victory. If he could immobilize Pikachu for even a moment, that would be enough time to do some significant damage with his weapon. Giselle gave a shout of 'finish them!' as she saw a few moments ahead of what took place. But she wasn't the only one that caught a glimpse of the future.

The scene slowed for Ash as Pikachu hung in mid-air, his body parallel to the ground. Cubone was already returning to his feet, which would've put him in a tremendous position to attack Pikachu who would hit the ground at the same time. In that brief instant, Ash saw something that he could use.

"Use your tail!" His shout came as Pikachu was displaced. As the order came out, Pikachu acted on it. He twisted his body and extended his tail to the ground which broke his fall. As Cubone was back up on his hind legs, he found that Pikachu was also standing upright, a smirk on his face.

At this range, he couldn't defend himself as Pikachu burst forward. The electric mouse drove his shoulder into Cubone's belly with enough force to launch Cubone across the clearing. He crashed into a tree trunk and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"Alright! Great job Pikachu!" Ash cheered as Giselle rushed over to her Pokemon. She kneeled to examine Cubone herself. She heard a groan and saw that Cubone was making an effort to return to his feet. She placed a hand on his back, a signal that he didn't need to continue.

"It's alright, they got us," Giselle said to her companion who relaxed.

"You were awesome, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as he rushed to his partner who dropped down onto his bottom. Rather than celebrate, Pikachu was grimacing. The leg that was hit by Cubone's Bone Club was already swollen. If they didn't counter Cubone during that last exchange, Pikachu would've been at his mercy. "Hey Brock, can you toss me a Potion?"

Brock gave a nod before he retrieved the item from Ash's backpack. He tossed it to Ash who quickly treated Pikachu's leg. Pikachu sighed with relief as the Potion began to work its magic. Once Pikachu was set, Ash scooped him up and approached Giselle. He offered her the Potion, and Giselle looked at him with her brow raised. It took a moment, but she accepted the spray bottom and treated Cubone accordingly.

"I was surprised," Giselle admitted as Cubone sat upright. Ash and Pikachu perked up as she said this and they waited for her to continue. "I thought yesterday was a fluke, so I have to apologize for the way I acted."

It was nine days since they first met. In those nine days, they battled a total of seven times.

At first, Giselle thought Ash was no different from the average trainer. Quite a few of them came out to Route 6 with the expectation that they could bully wild Pokemon as a form of practice, or rebuild their egos from the defeats they suffered at the hands of better trainers within the city. Giselle always made a point to address anyone who came out here with such an attitude and remind them that a real trainer would respect any opponent they faced. Most of them didn't appreciate her comments, and she never saw them again which was a victory in her book.

Ash was…different. He was brimming with admiration for Cubone and herself as they battled. He was trying to learn from them with each battle, and he did so rapidly. With each defeat Giselle handed him, it was clear that Ash was improving throughout the battle. Then, during their sixth battle which took place the day before, Giselle was stunned when Ash and Pikachu snatched a victory from her. Their battle went down to the wire, and those high-pressure moments where one decisive hit could end the battle were the moments that Giselle prepared for. But something clicked in Ash, and he was able to catch them off guard. They finally won, although Pikachu looked significantly worse for wear.

In response, Giselle stamped her feet, cursed audibly, told Ash he got lucky, and stalked off. She didn't want to admit it yesterday, but Ash improved considerably. How could she accept that he improved so much in such a short time?

Now that she suffered a defeat at his hands a second time, the very next day no less, Giselle knew that his first victory was not a fluke. Once again, he managed to counter her counterattack when it mattered.

Ash scratched the back of his neck and gave a weak chuckle. "You don't need to apologize, it's not like my attitude was any better," He confessed. He was quite loud after some of his losses, though not as…vulgar.

"I'm a little curious, can you tell me what was going through your head as well battled?" Giselle asked him.

Ash was a very strange opponent. It was almost as if she was battling a different opponent each day during their first five encounters. He used all sorts of different tactics, all of which were fairly easy to see through and counter accordingly. But during their sixth contest, Ash was much harder to predict.

It was as if he was battling without a solid plan. He was just acting and reacting…and it was working.

Even when Giselle countered, Ash found a response. He beat her twice battling this way.

"What was going through my head?" Ash repeated as he looked up in thought, then he shrugged his shoulders. "To be honest, I was trying to keep my head empty. My thoughts get in the way more often than not, and it makes it harder to keep up with everything that's happening. When I stay in the moment, I'm able to react faster and I know I can trust Pikachu to get the job done."

"Pii-ka!" Pikachu chimed in with a salute to Giselle.

Giselle tilted her head as she stared at Ash. There were a few trainers that described something similar to her, and among that group was most notably, the King of the White Lotus, N.

"How old are you?" Giselle asked.

"I'll be eighteen…soon," Ash answered, and Giselle's eyes widened somewhat. He was so young!

That explained his inconsistencies. He was probably attempting things he saw in different battles, and once he realized that those tactics were going nowhere, he fell back to his natural intuition and trust in his Pokemon.

A sense of dread filled Giselle. This situation was eerily similar to her first and only battle with N almost two years ago. That was one of the most one-sided battles Giselle ever participated in. N was undoubtedly the strongest trainer she ever faced, and he went on to become the strongest trainer in the city and establish his own Kingdom.

And now, another trainer stood before her that was even younger than N at that time. While his inexperience proved to be a significant drawback, his startling rate of improvement would allow him to challenge the best trainers of Vermilion City and perhaps one day…even surpass N.

"What's your name?" Giselle asked him.

Together, he and Pikachu grinned at her.

"I'm Ash Ketchum, and this is my partner, Pikachu."

An hour passed since the end of the battle between Pikachu and Cubone, and the sun was beginning to set. Rather than return home like she was usually would at this time, Giselle remained to observe Ash and Pikachu as they practiced some of the wild Pokemon in the area. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her arms folded in front of her chest and she scrutinized their every move.

Her observations led to the same conclusion she made earlier. Ash was wildly inconsistent, brilliant one moment and reckless the next. She could see the creativity would spring up from the depths of his mind, but he was clearly a novice. Ash and Pikachu battled at the level of their competition, so while they were a promising due when faced with Giselle and Cubone, now as they battled a relatively unremarkable Meowth, their execution was poor.

They battled at the level of their competition, so while he appeared to be promising in their battle against Cubone earlier, now

"What do you think of him?"

Giselle's head snapped to the side and she saw that Brock was now beside her. She recognized him as the person who accompanied Ash every time he came to battle, though they had yet to speak to each other.

"Who are you, his manager?" Giselle asked.

Brock snorted. "More like…a mentor," He replied. "I'm trying to show him the ropes."

"You're the reason Ash keeps coming back?"

"Well, I thought you would be a good opponent for him to use as a measuring stick," Brock explained and Giselle frowned at the comment. She didn't like the thought of being used to estimate Ash's skill level.

"Why me? There are plenty of trainers in the city that he could battle," Giselle pointed out.

Brock gave a weak chuckle. "The biggest reason…is probably because he doesn't have any money to afford to lose to trainers in the city. A lot of people have turned down battles with him because he couldn't match their wager on the battle," Brock explained.

Giselle gave a nod as she was reminded of Ash's earlier statement that he was only seventeen. She was willing to bet that most of the trainers he challenged were looking down on him because of his age. Who would want to battle a kid with no money?

"I heard that you don't bet money on your battles, and they've started to think of you and Cubone as training partners," Brock went on. "If Ash hasn't told you already, you've been an incredible opponent and he's learned a whole lot from you."

"I can tell. He was changing with each battle, getting better and better," Giselle noted.

"That's his gift if you ask me," Brock said, and Giselle sent a glance his way. "He's a quick study, learning what he can from the battles he gets to see every now and then. I think he's kind of similar to you in a way."

"How so?"

"I was telling him this after the first time we watched you battle. You break down the strategy of your opponent and respond accordingly. Ash will…kind of read into what you're doing and throw a wrench in your plan," Brock explained to her and she raised her brow at that piece of information. So, she wasn't the only one who noticed his intuition.

"How many battles has he been in? Giselle asked.

"Not many, and he doesn't train a lot either," Brock went on. "Not that he doesn't want to train, he really does, but he's still in high school and he has a job. It's not easy for him to find time to train. And if he does make the time to train, maybe once in a blue moon he'll actually get to battle another trainer."

Giselle looked at Brock, one eyebrow raised.

"I wouldn't believe it either if I was you," Brock said with a chuckle. "But I'm telling the truth. He's come a long way with just a little bit."

"…It's not that I don't believe you, it's just," Giselle paused as she looked back to Ash and Pikachu in the clearing. "If he practiced consistently, and worked on the basics, he could become a really good trainer. Maybe even the best in Vermilion City."

"Hoo, that's bold," Brock said with a smirk.

"That's just my opinion, but based on my experience, there are two types of trainers that rise above all the others," Giselle said and Brock paid close attention. "There's the calculating type, the trainer who studies whatever they can to understand their Pokemon, the matchups, the strategies, anything that they can get their hands on," Giselle took a breath. "These types are meticulous in how they plan for their opponents and they have set plans to account for any surprises during the battle."

"It kind of sounds like you're describing yourself," Brock said through pursed lips. Giselle shot him a leer and he kept any further comments to himself.

"And then there's the genius type," She said with a nod toward Ash. "They don't need to think or plan. As the battle unfolds, they're just able to see things before they happen, like they get a brief glimpse of the future. Then…just like you said, they'll throw a wrench in your plan."

Brock nodded approvingly; he liked the sound of someone calling Ash a genius. "Do you think he can become as strong as the Five Kings?"

"If he figures it all out, I think he can succeed them."

Friday, October 21st

May took a seat at her usual lunch table and squirmed for a moment. Since she was alone, she arched her back and stretched her arms out. Then with a groan, she rolled her shoulders. These actions did not go unnoticed by Dawn and Nando as they arrived.

"Are you okay?" Dawn asked as she took a seat beside May.

May twisted her torso from one side to the other. "It's weird," She answered. "I slept through the night, but it feels like I slept on a lumpy old mattress."

"Well, I hope you get a good night of sleep before my recital on Sunday," Nando commented as he set down his backpack and guitar case beside his seat. He silently watched as May wrinkled her forehead in deep thought, and then her eyes grew wide.

"That's this Sunday?!" She exclaimed.

Nando snorted. "Yeah May, I told you to put it in your calendar, didn't I?"

May's cheeks turned pink as she remembered when Nando said this, and she gave a guarantee that her memory would more than suffice. Clearly, that wasn't the case…

"I'll be right back," Nando said and he returned to the cafeteria to make a trip to the restroom. As he reached the entrance, he passed Ash who was making his way out to meet the group. They shared a nod but said nothing.

"I can't believe I forgot," May muttered as she slapped her hands against her cheeks and groaned audibly. As Ash arrived at the table, he made a face at Dawn and motioned to May in search of an explanation for her behavior.

Dawn giggled before she filled him in on the details. "Nando has a piano recital this weekend and he invited us to come…but May forgot," Dawn explained.

Ash pursed his lips. "Did you write it down anywhere, like on a calendar?" Ash inquired.

May flushed red. "What's with everyone and these stupid calendars?!" She shrieked and threw her hands up.

Dawn laughed openly at May's expense, while Ash was taken aback by her sudden outburst. When May saw his face, she began to apologize profusely.

"I take it you made plans or something, May?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, Drew invited me to go out with him on Sunday. There's no way I can say to him right now," May explained and Dawn nodded.

Drew and May officially began to date last month. It wasn't public knowledge, not yet at least. May only shared this with her closest friends. She wasn't sure who Drew might have told, not that it mattered to her. She was having a great time whenever they got to hang out after school and on the weekends. It was everything that she hoped for.

"I'm going to feel so bad for missing his recital now, and I really wanted to see him play," May related to Dawn as she leaned on her shoulder.

"Don't worry May, I'm sure Nando will understand," Dawn assured her.

"But only had two tickets and now one of them is going to waste," May muttered before she looked to Ash, and a devilish grin broke out on her face. "Hey, Ash, why don't you go in my place?"

"To what?" He asked, his voice muffled as he looked up from his lunch. Dawn held in a laugh at the sight of his distended cheeks as he chewed. In fact, Dawn noticed that Ash was eating a lot more lately, and his appetite was something to behold, impressive in some ways and gross in a whole lot more.

"Nando is part of a piano recital this Sunday," May repeated for him as she concluded that he wasn't really listening to them once he started eating.

Ash swallowed everything in his mouth and hit his chest twice. "He can play the piano too?" He asked. The list of musical instruments he saw Nando play continued to grow almost daily, and yet another was added to that list.

"We keep telling you that Nando can play anything," May said with a proud smile. "So, do you want to see a live performance? Because I can promise you that it will be better than anything you've heard him play so far."

"I can't say I'm not interested," Ash said with his brow raised. Nando's performances were top-notch in a casual setting, so Ash was curious about how well he would play in front of an actual audience.

"Great, I'll give you my ticket then," May said early, and Dawn bit down on her lower lip as she realized what May was doing. Setting her up with Ash again. "Oh shoot, I left it at home. I can drop it off for Dawn tomorrow and she'll meet you there with it, how about that?"

"Anything works for me," Ash said as he put on a smile for May. "Just tell me where I have to be."

"They're using the concert hall at the V-S-P-A," Dawn explained.

Ash nodded as he recognized the acronym. The Vermilion City School for the Performing Arts. One of the many centers of educations that filled the central part of the city. Ash never had the opportunity to visit a college campus, so he was intrigued at the thought of seeing one for himself. "It starts at three o'clock, but Nando recommended that we get there early if we want good seats."

"So, what, you want to meet at like two o'clock…?" He asked and Dawn gave a nod. Ash pulled out his phone and opened his calendar to set a reminder for the event. Then he turned his phone screen to May and shot her a smirk. "See May, that wasn't so hard."

"Ash, you suck!" May proclaimed as he laughed.

Dawn remained quiet, impressed with herself. She kept her cool this time and made the arrangements to meet with Ash herself this time. She was wondering when she would get a chance to hang out with him again after their little date to the block party earlier in the month.

She couldn't wait for Sunday to arrive.

Sunday, October 23rd

It didn't need to be said that Nando was nervous. His legs were shaking, his chest was tight and his stomach felt like a block of lead. Seated backstage at the concert hall of the VSPA, Nando continued to wipe his hands on the handkerchief he brought, but his palms were still sweaty.

Nando wasn't always this nervous before he performed, but this recital had more significance than his other performances. According to one of the sponsors of this event, he invited multiple talent scouts to attend. This was a valuable opportunity to impress them and get his name on their radar for a potential contract once he graduated from high school. Despite the future implications of this performance, there was something in the present that weighed heavily on his mind. Someone very special to him would be in the audience, the person who inspired the composition that he would perform today and he couldn't wait for her to hear it. Nando wanted this to be nothing short of perfect.

'Being nervous is healthy Nando. It shows that you care about your performance and that you want to do well.'

Juan shared those words with him, and it always helped to put Nando at ease before he went on stage. However, it didn't achieve that effect today. The mere thought of a mistake terrified him. He didn't want to mess up, not in front of this audience…not in front of Dawn.

"Excuse me, is someone named Nando back here?" One of the attendants called out from the entrance of the room. A few of the other participants began to murmur and check the time to see if the show began.

Nando rose from his seat and raised his hand to get the attention of the attendant. "That's me," He called out as he approached them.

"There's a young lady here to see you," He replied.

Nando's heart skipped a beat at the mention of a 'young lady.' Did Dawn come to check on him? The attendant stepped aside for Nando to step out into the corridor, and he found Dawn waiting there for him. His breath was snatched from him as he saw Dawn's appearance. She wore a semi-formal dark dress and jacket, and her hair was tied into a braid and then wrapped into a bun with a sparkling hair clip to hold it in place.

"Nando!" She exclaimed once she caught sight of him. "Wow, you look incredible! I've never seen you with your hair pulled back."

Dawn leaned over to admire Nando's clothes. His collared white shirt, black dress pants a checkered bow tie were all picture perfect. And his long hair was pulled back into a ponytail, save for his length bangs that fell to the side of his face.

"Th-Thank you, Dawn," Nando said as he regained his composure. "I'm glad you're here."

"You and me both, I can't wait to see you on stage," Dawn replied. "Do you mind if I record your song?"

"Not at all," Nando responded. "Did you find some good seats?"

"Yeah, we're at the front row of the upper level. Look for me if you need a smiling face," Dawn said as she placed her fingertips against the corner of her lips. "Are you feeling nervous?"

They made eye contact, and Nando's shoulders finally relaxed. He smiled at her.

"No, I'm ready to blow everyone away," Nando stated, his voice firm.

Dawn returned his smile. "Great! Good luck there, I'm rooting for you!" Dawn raised a hand for her usual gesture of encouragement. A high five. With the action completed, Dawn gave him a wave and turned to head down the corridor and return to the seating area. Nando watched her closely as she left and bowed partially.

"This performance is dedicated to you, Dawn," Nando said in a whisper. He enjoyed the silence in his mind. This brief encounter with Dawn relieved all of the tension he was experiencing. He had peace of mind now, and he was certain that this would be his best performance yet!

A/N

I'm back! I know that it's been a while but just as I promised, I have several chapters to upload for everyone. I intend to post them just a few days apart from each other, so be on the lookout for the next update shortly. To those of you who waited patiently for these chapters, I can't thank you enough. The wait will be worth it, I promise you that!

A lot of time and work went into these chapters, and I'm really excited for you guys to see what direction this story is going in. My usual praise goes out to MjrGenMatt for his help with this chapter.

Another topic I haven't really gone into is how I intend to write battles. As I've said before, this is a work in progress for me. I know there are all sorts of ways to write them beyond the command/action formula that we know from the games and anime. I'll figure it out as I go but if you have any tips feel free to let me know.

I'll be seeing you guys real soon and I can't wait for you to read the next chapter!

Chapter Text

Chapter 12

Ash took another glance around the audience, this being at least his tenth check of his surroundings. There was quite a bit of chatter that filled the concert hall as the seats were quickly filled. Seated on the upper balcony, Ash peered over the edge and he saw that the ground floor was already packed and people in search of seats were now headed upstairs.

Ash and Dawn met outside the concert hall earlier, and Ash quickly discovered that he could be considered underdressed for the occasion. It wasn't a black-tie event, but he felt out of place as he wore a t-shirt and jeans. While Ash secured their seats, Dawn went off to meet with Nando before the event began. She wasn't gone for long, but the number of people that inquired about the empty seat beside him was starting to get on his nerves.

The people seated behind him chatted to pass the time, looking over the program and discussing some of the musicians. They even mentioned Nando's name. Ash was surprised when he heard it. He never would've imagined the soft-spoken Nando being so well known.

Ash took another glance back at the entrance to the balcony, and he was relieved at the sight of Dawn. He rose to his feet and waved to get her attention.

"Wow, you got us the perfect seats," She noted once she joined him.

Ash nodded and looked to the stage that was still concealed behind the red curtain. "When does Nando get on stage?" Ash asked her.

Dawn reached into her small purse for the pamphlet that she received on the way into the hall. Dawn quickly scanned its contents before she found the schedule. It would begin with the opening remarks from the gentleman that sponsored the event, and afterward, he would introduce the guest of honor. Dawn gasped as she saw the name that was listed.

Palermo.

"What's the matter?" Ash asked curiously when he heard Dawn's gasp.

"You won't believe who the guest of honor is," Dawn exclaimed as she turned the pamphlet for Ash to read himself. He looked back to Dawn and stared at her blankly.

He read the name and then stared at Dawn blankly. "Who's that?"

"Are you kidding me, Ash?" Dawn asked him but he shook his head. "You've never heard of the Lady Palermo? She was a famous producer from Kalos, the woman who discovered Aria and helped her become the megastar she is today?!" Dawn explained, but there was still no reaction from Ash, so she tried a different angle. "She's also the head of public relations with the Kalos High Court, one of their Magistrates."

"Sorry, I'm not familiar with her," Ash replied. He never paid much attention to celebrities or people who lived that sort of lifestyle. He took another glance around the audience to see if he could spot this Palermo. She must have been someone that could be picked out of the crowd based on how Dawn described her. "Do you see her?"

Dawn joined him in searching the audience, but neither of them could spot this woman. Ultimately, their search was cut short as the curtain was raised. The sponsor stepped out onto the stage with a microphone in hand, and the audience became quiet as the lights were dimmed and a spotlight was aimed down on him.

"Good afternoon," He began with a small bow to the audience. "I would like to start by thanking all of the young performers today who so graciously agreed to take part in this recital that I put together. All of them have worked incredibly hard on the pieces that you will be hearing today, so let's give them a big round of applause." He raised his hands in a gesture for the audience to do so. Once the applause stopped, he continued. "Now, I'd like to thank all of those in attendance. I imagine the majority of you are here to support the participants. Your support is appreciated and I sincerely hope that you are as amazed as I was after hearing some of these performances."

He paused and looked down to the front of the audience on the ground floor. Then he raised a hand to motion to a section of the audience.

"And last, but certainly not least, we have a special guest here today. An old friend of mine who happened to be visiting Vermilion City, a former performer, producer, and media manager, it's my pleasure to welcome Lady Palermo," He exclaimed and everyone's eyes were drawn to a woman in the front row. One of the spotlights was aimed down on her and she rose to her feet to wave to the audience. The audience clapped for her, but she didn't stay standing for long. Once she was seated, everyone's attention returned to the stage. "So now, without further ado, let's begin! Our first performance tonight is…"

Ash leaned back into his seat as the sixth performance concluded, and the audience burst into applause for a young woman. She rose from the stool in front of the grand piano and bowed, her white gown glittering under the spotlights. Then with a great smile, she strode off stage as the sponsor returned to announce the next performer. Ash missed the name was called; his mind adrift.

These musicians were considered amateurs, but as far as Ash could tell, all of them were outstanding! Each performance was better than the last. As he listened to each song, the music would lift him out of his seat and whisk him away to a faraway place that the composer envisioned as they developed their song. Every single one of them was superb at expressing themselves through their music.

Ash felt something nudge at his shoulder, and he looked to Dawn. She then directed his attention down to the stage where a familiar face was seated behind the piano.

Nando stretched his fingers, his back perfectly straight and his gaze fixated on the piano keys. He blocked out the stage lights, the audience, and the hundreds of eyes that were all focused on him. He was alone with the piano. Nando raised his right hand and began to play, commanding the attention of the entire audience with just a few simple notes. His tempo was just right, and each note resounded through the room.

Ash leaned forward in his seat, anxious for the moment that Nando would snatch him from his seat. But then, Nando slapped fingers down on three of the lower notes, and a pair of white wings sprouted from his back. His pace accelerated, as if he was a painter, hastily trying to capture an image as he hurled paint across his canvas. Ash took a breath and realized that Nando's composition was different from his peers. All of the previous performances showed Ash a place, but Nando's song didn't take him somewhere…rather, it showed him someone.

A beautiful girl, long eyes lashes that sparkled. Blue eyes that matched the freedom of the skies. Her cheeks were rosy as she seemed to be laughing too hard. She lowered her head for a moment, and few strands of hair fell in front of her face. Her…blue hair.

With that small detail, Ash recognized the girl that Nando was showing them.

It was Dawn.

She raised a hand to tuck the loose strands behind her ear, then she took him by the hand and beckoned for him to follow. The scene around them began to take a shape as Nando slowed his pace. The intensity and precision that he used to shape the time ago Dawn was abandoned. In its place was a tone that was light and carefree. Pink flower petals glided through the air around Dawn and a soft breeze tickled their skin. Her hair swayed behind her as she led them to the summit of a hill.

Nando's pace quickened and he revitalized the song. The surroundings around Dawn changed from that a grassy hillside to a sandy beach. She ran out ahead of him, her flips flops in hand with complaints of the sand that was stuck between her toes. When she arrived at the shoreline, she stopped there and waited for the water to wash up on her feet. She looked back and laughed as her feet were submerged for a moment, and called for him to join her.

As he approached her, Nando's tone changed again. The melody was played slowly, each note distinct and powerful, and the scene changed as a result. They were now placed on a large orchard, surrounded by low fruit-bearing trees. Dawn reached out for an apple, but it was just out of her reach. She smiled warmly as he snatched the apple off of the lowest branch for her and placed it in her hands. She went onto her toes to deliver a kiss on the cheek as thanks. Then she went on his side and interlocked arms with him.

Nando ascended the musical scale, primarily using the high notes and his song became hushed. The crowd hung on every note as the surroundings changed for the last time. Together, they walked arm in arm down a city block that was recently cleared after a heavy snowfall. They were dressed to keep warm as they admired the snow that was still pure white. Dawn exhaled and watched as her breath took shape in the cold air. She giggled at the sight of it before she caught the gaze of her companion. With a wink, she leaned her head against his shoulder.

Ash blinked and the image faded. Then he looked down to the stage and saw the young man was seated with his hands on his lap. His song was complete, but it seemed as if the audience had yet to realize it. Ash looked to Dawn and he saw that her gaze was still unfocused, still waiting for an end to the vivid scenes that Nando displayed. Without much thought, Ash concluded that Nando didn't want those scenes to end.

After a few moments, the audience returned to reality and saw that the performance was over. It started with a few people clapping and it quickly grew into thunderous applause. Nando rose from his seat and bowed graciously to the audience. Once he straightened, he scanned the upper balcony in search of Dawn. She wasn't hard to spot as she stood, waving her arms wildly for him. He stifled a laugh as he saw her, but something else caught his attention. The young man seated beside her.

Ash Ketchum.

Nando felt his stomach twist. Why was Ash here? He forced himself to take a breath and smile for the audience before he left the stage for the recital to continue.

Up in the stands, Dawn fell back into her seat and took a few moments to recompose herself. Nando's performance was breathtaking! She could see why he was so confident backstage. That was easily his best performance to date. As she watched Nando walk of the stage, she thought back to the night that Ash took her to the subway station to see his friends perform.

The evidence of their hard work and practice was undeniable, and the same held true for Nando. He poured out his heart and soul. It oozed with love and it left her a little flushed but impressed nonetheless.

"Wasn't that great, Ash?" Dawn asked as she turned to the young man beside her.

Ash glanced at Dawn and felt his face grow hot. He averted his gaze and focused on the next performer as they took the stage. "Yeah," He mumbled in reply.

"What's the matter?" Dawn asked him as leaned forward to make eye contact.

"I'm fine, don't worry," Ash replied as he motioned to the stage. Anything to take Dawn's attention off of him.

He sighed inwardly as Dawn's focus shifted. Nando…opened his eyes with that performance. Ash took pride in his attention to detail, but Nando showed him things about Dawn that Ash had yet to notice. The way her eyelashes sparkled. The way she'd wink as she tried to tease someone. The way she would…

Ash shook his head and put those thoughts to rest. He knew now that Nando held this girl in the highest regard. She was clearly the inspiration behind this song and Ash could only hope that Dawn saw just how much Nando cherished her.

Ash and Dawn strolled through the corridors behind the concert stage. Dawn expertly navigated the hallways until she reached the entrance to the backstage area. Nando sent her a text, an invitation to join him there now that the recital was over. As they came around the corner, Dawn spotted Nando standing in the corridor. His bow tie was undone along with his shirt collar, and he smiled cheerily at the call of his name.

"Nando, you were incredible!" Dawn exclaimed as she embraced him in a hug. "The best one yet!"

His spine shivered from the contact, but he did his best to return to the embrace. Ash raised his brow, impressed that Nando could be so relaxed around Dawn right after that 'performance.'

"What did you think of it, Ash?" Dawn asked after she stepped away from Nando and looked at him. Ash caught a flash of a frown on Nando's face, but Nando quickly forced a smile as he too wanted to hear Ash's opinion.

Ash couldn't think of anything worth sharing in that moment and opted to give the safest answer. "…I really enjoyed it. I'm not really a fan of classical music, but you showed me how cool it can be," Ash stated, which earned a small but grateful bow from Nando.

"I told you, Nando never fails to impress," Dawn said with a glance toward the performer. As she did this, Dawn looked into the backstage area out of the corner of her eye, and there she saw none other than Palermo. The older woman was surrounded by a few of the performers that requested autographs from her. "Oh, no way, so this is where she went! I'll be right back, Nando!"

Dawn poked her head through the doorway to perform a quick check for any security. It was clear, so Dawn darted into the crowd around Palermo. Ash and Nando remained at the entrance and watched as Dawn fidgeted in line, hoping to spend just a few moments with Lady Palermo.

"So, Nando, do you mind if I ask you something?" Ash said.

Nando raised his brow. This was the first time that he and Ash talked without one of May or Dawn there to take part in the conversation. "Yes, anything Ash," Nando replied.

"You…" Ash hesitated, in search of the correct wording. However, he spent more time thinking about this than he wanted and ultimately decided that he didn't want to beat around the bush. "…You love Dawn, right?"

Ash wasn't sure what sort of response he would get from Nando. If he would sputter a few words as he tried to string together a sentence. Or if he would deny Ash's assumption in an attempt to keep it a secret…although it wasn't much of a secret at this point since Nando broadcasted his feelings to the entire audience.

Nando's gaze remained fixated on Dawn.

"Very much so," Nando answered, his voice firm. There wasn't an inkling of doubt about what he felt toward Dawn.

"Do you think she got the message in your song?" Ash asked him.

Nando looked toward Ash and the corner of his lips curved upward, but his forlorn smile was answer enough. "I've played many songs like this for her. She hasn't noticed," Nando remarked.

"Then…why do you keep playing for her?"

"I didn't take you for the inquisitive type," Nando noted.

Ash gave a weak chuckle and scratched at the back of his neck. "It's not one of my strongest points, but how else are supposed to get to know someone?"

Nando gave him a small nod before he answered. "I grew up in Sinnoh, and when I turned thirteen, I told my parents that I wanted to study music abroad. So, they made the arrangements and I came to Kanto – to Vermilion City. This city is renowned as a place of opportunities to launch a career in the performing arts. I saw this as a place to grow as a musician while I was young so that I would be prepared to follow through as a professional. You see, I came from a small place called Solaceon Town to this big city," Nando explained.

Ash gave a nod. He remembered the culture shock he went through when he first came to Vermilion City from Pallet Town. City life was a beast in its own right.

"It was overwhelming at first and I had a difficult time making friends. The kids I went to school with would make fun of my accent, so I didn't talk much and I became more withdrawn," Nando continued. "When I started high school, it was more or less the same. I kept to myself…that is, until I met Dawn," He admitted and his smile brightened. "She heard me playing after school one day. She didn't approach me until I was done and asked how I learned to play so well. I wanted to speak like how you all do here in Kanto, so I fumbled my words. But she sat there and waited for me to get my words right. She never stopped smiling and I was grateful for that. I'll never forget her kindness that day."

Nando sighed as he cherished that small memory. That was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to a certain bluenette. He reserved some time each day to observe her, and he admired the qualities that she displayed daily. He saw that her kindness wasn't selective, she was patient with any and everyone that she met. She worked hard all the time, no matter how small or insignificant the assignment might be. At first, Nando wanted to keep his distance from her, but his heart seemed to ache as he did so. So, he returned to the spot where he first met, and he played there after school every day with her on his mind.

They encountered each other again, and Dawn became his audience of one. This became their routine and in time, Nando found himself spending a portion of his time with Dawn each day. As they got to know each other, Dawn invited him into her small circle of friends, and Nando was proud to be a member of this esteemed group.

"You're around her all the time, why can't you tell her directly?" Ash asked him, though he kept his voice low.

"I've always wanted to, but at every opportunity, I think about what that would mean for her," Nando replied and Ash wrinkled his forehead.

"What do you mean?"

"You've been around Dawn enough to see that she is always working," Nando pointed out. "She's going to become a designer, and I don't want to do anything that might steal her time or change her priorities."

Ash bit down on his lower lip. He wished he took the time to talk with Nando more prior to today. He never imagined him to be such a noble person, placing the interests of others far above his own. Someone like that didn't come along too often.

"Are you really alright with not being able to…tell her how you feel?" Ash inquired tentatively. There was no way someone in Nando's position could be satisfied with just being friends. His feelings were far too intense.

Nando sighed inwardly and looked toward Dawn once again. She finally got a few moments to speak Palermo, offering the woman her personal planner as something to sign. Palermo flipped to the back of the planner and scribbled her name. When her planner was returned, a large grin broke out on Dawn's face as she looked at it, and she thanked Palermo repeatedly.

"I'll be fine with it...so long as she's happy."

Monday, October 24th

Seated behind the piano that graced Mr. Juan's classroom within North Vermilion High, Nando pulled his hands away from the keys, his expression contorted due to the frown on the face.

Juan took notice immediately. "What's the matter, Nando?" Juan asked as he leaned against the body of the large instrument.

"This…isn't how I played it yesterday," Nando muttered with a shake of his head.

Juan wasn't able to attend the recital yesterday, so Nando intended to perform his composition again, and achieve the same level of perfection showed at the event. However, after his third attempt, Nando was still unsatisfied with how he played and stopped partway through his song.

"Are you certain?" Juan asked in return. He could hear a notable difference between how Nando played today when compared to his practice of it last week. Juan concluded that with the recital behind him, there was no pressure on Nando so he lost his sharpness. But Nando seemed to think otherwise…

"No, something is wrong," Nando insisted as he looked at the piano keys. He shook his head again. He knew better than to blame his instrument. "It's something…with me."

"But you said you were perfect yesterday," Juan noted as he stroked his chin.

"I was," Nando said flatly. He heard every note that he played. His performance was flawless…so why couldn't he replicate that today?

"Are you still playing for your…special someone?" Juan asked with a playful smirk. However, that quickly faded as Nando's eyes grew wide.

"I'm not," Nando said slowly. Dawn was always on his mind as he played. But today, for the first time in a long time, Nando played without her as a source of inspiration.

"Did something happen between the two of you?" Juan poked at the subject. Clearly Nando's 'confession' didn't go as planned.

"I told myself that I didn't want to get in her way," Nando related. He could recall word for word what he told Ash.

That he didn't want to do anything that would disrupt Dawn from marching toward her goals.

That he was fine not being in an intimate relationship with her.

That he could settle for just being…friends.

Nando the tightness in his chest when he spotted Dawn in the audience yesterday, or rather, when he saw that she was accompanied by Ash Ketchum. The thought caused a lump to form in his throat, but he knew Dawn too well to deny it. Ash Ketchum was special to her. Nando wouldn't fight for her. He could bear the thought of her being tormented as she tried not to crush his feelings. Nando took a breath to relax and lowered his shoulders as he arrived at his conclusion.

The relationship he desired to have with Dawn…was not meant to be.

Juan watched as Nando seemed to shrink in his seat, and he sat down next to Nando and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Love is a very tricky thing, Nando, but it's a part of life," Juan began. His usual charisma was replaced by a firm and reassuring voice that matched his wisdom. "I believe the saying was…'tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all."

Nando didn't say anything.

"I believe this will be your next step as a musician, Nando," Juan stated as he picked out the positives from Nando's newest experience. "Music isn't always about love and happiness. Sometimes you have to express your pain and anguish…or tell a story to your audience about what you've been through and how you've overcome different challenges."

Nando raised his head as he realized what Juan was alluding to. That didn't stop Juan from reinforcing his point.

"Love may not always be there for you," Juan went on as he looked toward his desk across the room. On it was a wooden picture of a smiling woman, his wife whom he lost years prior. "But music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Zoey stayed after school once a week. As a member of the photography club, Zoey met with them after school on Mondays to schedule club activities and projects. So, it wasn't often that she found herself on school property after hours. Today was one of those rare exceptions.

Once her meeting was over, Zoey made her way to her car when she passed a trio of seniors that she recognized. She heard them express some disappointment and they mentioned Nando's name. She perked up at the thought of visiting her friend before she went home.

Zoey rarely saw him now that they were both seniors, but if Nando's old habits held true, then she would find him outside of the cafeteria playing one of his many instruments. As she ventured through the halls, Zoey recalled the last conversation that she had with Nando. It was a few weeks ago, but she distinctly remembered advising him to act on his feelings for Dawn. Zoey knew that his hesitation to do this would one day be his undoing.

When she arrived at the cafeteria, Zoey went straight to the stairway that overlooked the seating area. She took a quick glance around the room and spotted Nando at one of the tables right outside, seated all by his lonesome. She furrowed her brow as she saw that his guitar case was closed and resting on the ground while Nando was leaning on the table, staring off into space.

Nando couldn't focus. The school day was over, but out of habit, he came to this spot. It was where he always played for Dawn after school. His little sessions became quite popular as a number of students would come to listen to him play after school. But today, Nando couldn't find it in himself to play.

A group of his regular spectators passed by earlier to listen to him, but when they saw that he wasn't playing, expressed their concern. Nando assured them that he was fine and that all he needed was…a break. No one questioned him any further and they told him to enjoy the rest of his day before they left. Nando was grateful that they didn't interrogate him.

After all, he just gave up on the love of his life, and the mere thought of that decision to his heart to shreds.

"Earth to Nando," Zoey said as she waved a hand in front of his face. Nando blinked and his eyes focused on the redhead that was seated across from him. His eyes shined briefly, and then his gloom returned.

"Hey…" He said flatly.

"Are you okay?" Zoey inquired as she placed her arms on the table.

"Mmm," Nando drawled with uncertainty. He felt numb. "I'm not really sure."

"Does it have to do with Dawn?" Zoey clarified and Nando stiffened in his seat. She nodded at the sight of that small action. "What happened?"

Nando lowered his shoulders and he kept his eyes on his hands. He grasped at the tip of his fingers and recalled the events that led up to this moment. Then he raised his eyes to meet Zoey's.

"I invited her to my piano recital," Nando began. "I was hoping that this time I could tell her how I feel."

Zoey held a neutral expression. She knew this was truly a struggle for Nando, but she was glad to see a measure of commitment on his part. However, his current demeanor didn't bode well for the results of his actions.

"Did she turn you down?" Zoey asked carefully.

"No, she didn't say it," Nando said as he shook his head. "She came with Ash, and when I saw her with him, I couldn't find it in myself to tell her directly."

Zoey softened as she saw Nando shrink in his seat. "I'm sorry, Nando," She said softly. For such a tall guy, he seemed so small now. His hands were together, clenched tightly beneath the table. "It's okay to be angry, you know."

"I shouldn't be," He said after a pause.

Zoey frowned at him. She knew him too well to brush that comment aside. He was always trying to be the good guy…

"Nando, stop that," She stated and he looked up to her, his brow knit.

"Stop what?"

"You don't have to pretend for me," Zoey continued as she leaned forward onto the table.

"I have to," Nando said after a few moments. "Otherwise, I'll…"

He did everything he could to suppress his negative thoughts since the recital. But the thought of Dawn and Ash pushed him closer to a threshold where his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He hated the idea of Dawn staring dreamily at Ash, abandoning her pursuits to spend more time with him.

"Nando," Zoey began.

"She shouldn't be chasing after him," Nando said sharply as he raised one hand to conceal his eyes. "She should have chosen me."

His mouth hung open and he exhaled. Zoey thought that he was surprised with himself for saying that, but the floodgates just opened.

"What on earth fascinates her about Ash?" He asked, looking up at the sky. "He saved her life. I've come to terms with that and I'm grateful for it…that he saved the girl I love. But, why? Why did she choose him?" Nando shook his head and dragged his hand down the side of his face. "He knows nothing about her. He doesn't know that her work ethic is second to none. That her kindness is unfiltered. That her positivity is contagious. That someone who actually loves her, would drop everything to support her and make sure that she reaches her goals," Nando slapped his hand down on the table and Zoey flinched. He breathed out again and Zoey gave him some time to calm himself.

Nando never got upset. He was always the voice of reason, the doldrum to counter the stormy waters of young adulthood. To see him get swallowed into the sea of emotion was a first, but still a welcome life.

"You really did love her, huh?" Zoey asked him softly.

"Damn it," He muttered as he looked down. He didn't want her to see his face now, but he felt a hand was now placed on top of his own. It was Zoey's. "I shouldn't be angry at Ash. He even spoke to me after I performed yesterday. In fact, he was the one who understood the purpose of my song and he asked me why I couldn't tell her how I feel. You know what I said to him…? I told him that I would be happy as long as she was…why the hell would I say that?"

Nando wanted to slap himself. He gave up. He chose to put himself in this position. He had no right to be angry with Ash.

This was becoming his greatest regret. Giving up on the love of his life.

An arm was wrapped around his torso, and Nando discovered that Zoey was seated next to him now.

"You know, Nando…you're just too good sometimes," Zoey whisper to him. "But…are you sure that you would've been fine with that? Giving up your dreams for Dawn? Don't get me wrong, she's wonderful. But are you sure that you could give up on everything you to be that devoted to her?"

Nando opened his mouth to speak. That wasn't even a question! Dawn meant the world to him, and he would be perfectly content watching her succeed.

Zoey though, cut him off before he could make his declaration.

"Think about it for a sec," She interjected.

"Nando shut his mouth, and he went through his thoughts a second time. He would've been happy seeing Dawn happy. He was certain of that. Her happiness would more than suffice for his own. Right? It would be…enough?

…

If he was going to support Dawn, it was likely that he wouldn't have the time to practice playing music enough to pursue it professionally. He could do with that though…right? Could he give up on his music? It was his music that brought him to Kanto. Music was the only thing that he came with. The lonely nights that he suffered through being so far from his family, wallowing in homesickness, Nando's best friend was his cello. Music was always with him, long before he met Dawn Berlitz.

"Love may not always be there for you, but music will always be by your side. No one can take that from you."

Juan's words rung in Nando's ears, and he blinked. Then he realized that for the first time in a long time, just as Juan said earlier, he was beginning to think without taking Dawn into consideration.

"If you love something, let it go," Nando muttered and Zoey squeezed his hand.

"You'll pull through, Nando," She assured him. "You will."

Friday, October 28th

Ash sat alone on a wooden bench, his hands in his pockets. The shouts of kids on the playground in the distance was dragged to him by the breeze. On the bench beside him was his backpack, the zipper was partially undone to provide some fresh air to its passenger. His bag wiggled a bit as Pikachu readjusted himself and Ash set his hand on top of the bag as a reminder to his partner.

"Not much longer, Pikachu," He whispered. There was some more movement from his bag, which he was certain Pikachu was doing out of spite. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

Pikachu settled down and Ash leaned back into the bench. It was the last weekend of the month, and another request came to him from the Red Skulls for his help. For once, Ash was earlier than the trainer he was meeting with. This afforded him some time to sit back and recall the events of the past week at school.

Nando didn't join them for lunch at all this past week. Even when they were together during classes, he wasn't speaking that much. Ash was positive that this change in his behavior had to do with their discussion after the recital. Perhaps Nando wasn't ready to face Dawn, so he was keeping his distance for the time being.

Dawn and May had a different view of Nando's demeanor. When Ash brought it up to them, they explained that Nando would act like this whenever he was composing a new song. Ash shrugged at their explanation and wondered if he was thinking too deeply on the matter. They knew Nando far better than he did after all. Regardless of that, Ash hoped that Nando would regain his usual disposition soon. Their conversations weren't the same without Nando's calm and subdued input to offset May and Dawn's gushing over everything they talked about.

Ash blinked and returned his focus to the present. A silver-haired man approached him, and on his head was a black ivy cap. That was the detail he was looking for. When he arrived at Ash's bench, he dropped down next to Ash and looked straight at him. There was a moment of silence as he sized Ash up, and then he gave a nod of approval.

"Alright, so here's what's happening this weekend," He began and Ash raised his brow.

"Wait, don't you need to see my," Ash began as he pulled at the collar of his shirt to reveal the red neckerchief that he wore beneath it. However, the man raised a hand to cut Ash off.

"Kid, you've been coming to us for months now. Some of us are going to remember you," He pointed out. "We can skip the formalities and get straight down to business today.

Ash pursed his lips at this. He didn't think anyone in the Red Skulls would bother to remember him. A small part of him was glad that his reputation was growing but…

Was that good or bad?

Sunday, October 30th

"Are you sure you'll be alright, kid?" The question was posed by the man Ash met on Friday who introduced himself as Hun.

Ash inhaled sharply as the car jerked to a stop. He winced as the wound on his left arm stung, and he let out a labored gasp as the pain subsided. He looked out of the passenger window and saw that they arrived at their destination – the apartment building where Shauna lived.

Realizing that he had yet to answer Hun's question, Ash looked at him. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I have a friend who lives here that can patch me up."

Hun gave a nod of approval, the same nod Ash received throughout their weekend together. Their task this time around involved a trip into territory that belonged to the White Lotus, and it was just the two of them. Hun gave Ash all the details, something that was never done with his prior tasks.

A battle was arranged between Hun and one of the best trainers of the White Lotus a few weeks ago. However, with the recent activity of the Red Skulls, there was some tension between the two groups. So, Ash was assigned to be Hun's escort in the off chance that things took a turn for the worse.

It was an exciting weekend. On Saturday, Ash spent nearly the whole day with Hun as a sort of practice partner. Hun's Pokemon partner was a gnarly-looking Houndoom who did nothing but glare and spit fire. They held several practice battles during the day, giving Pikachu time to recover after each of the thorough beatings he received from Houndoom. Ash quickly learned that Hun was actually one of the most skilled trainers in the Red Skulls. In fact, he was so well regarded that he frequently worked in tandem with the King of the Red Skulls, although Hun refused to disclose the identity of this man.

During one of their breaks, Hun shared with Ash that the Red Skulls were watching him closely since his last job with them. The fact that they picked him to accompany Hun was proof that they saw some potential in him as a trainer. Hun even mentioned that there might have been a place among the Red Skulls for a trainer like him in the near future.

Then, when Sunday came around, they visited the site where Hun's battle would be held. It was an old parking garage where at least forty trainers gathered. Ash was certain that the majority of them were members of the White Lotus, and they held battles all over the place until the main event started. Everyone gathered to watch Hun's battle, and afterward, Ash had to get into a battle of his own. That was when things went awry…

"Don't forget what I said now. The Red Skulls are always looking for strong trainers. My boss has the final say, but if I put in a good word for you, I'm sure you'll get in," Hun reminded him.

"Eh…I'm not sure at the moment. I think I want some time to think about it," Ash replied as he looked to his left bicep. He tore off a portion of his t-shirt to wrap his arm and it was stained red as it functioned as a temporary bandage.

"No worries…but you know what, we should exchange contacts, that way you can give me an answer when you're ready," Hun suggested and Ash complied. They quickly exchanged this bit of information and Hun shot Ash a grin once this was complete.

"It was nice working with you," Ash commented as he opened the passenger door to step out of the car. "Maybe we'll see each other again sometime."

"Hopefully sooner than later," Hun remarked. "Maybe next time you won't get all banged up."

"I hope so," Ash said as he opened up the backdoor to retrieve his backpack which slung over his right shoulder. Then he reached in for the small duffle bag that he received as payment for his services and shut the door.

Ash grimaced as he shut the door and signaled Hun that he was done. Hun spared him a wave before went on his way, leaving Ash to turn to the entrance of the building. His left bicep burned and ached, protesting at the slightest movement. He only had a bit farther to go before he could be treated. He entered the double doors that led into the lobby, thankful there were no occupants in the room. With no one to see him, Ash went straight to the closest wall and leaned against it for support, dropping all his bags in the process.

He didn't want to look weak, not in front of Hun at least. If an opportunity to join the Red Skulls was on the table, Ash didn't want to give them any reason to think he wasn't capable. At least, not after his last few performances working with them. Joining the Red Skulls was a surefire path to improve as a trainer and he couldn't let this slip away from him.

As he slumped down to the floor, Ash bit down on his lower lip. Part of him was ecstatic that he took part in a battle this weekend, but the results of said battle left him regretting that decision to participate.

-X-X-

"Great work, Pikachu, keep it up!" Ash called out to his partner as Pikachu dashed around their concrete battlefield. They were given a small box to work with, but despite the limited area, Pikachu was a blur as he evaded the attacks from the opposing Murkrow.

The airborne Pokemon struggled to keep up with Pikachu, despite the advantage of viewing the battlefield from above. With no answer to Pikachu's speed, Murkrow's trainer seemed to be helpless, which gave Ash time to think of a way to strike Murkrow out of the air. So far, their Thunderbolt attack missed the mark twice, so the only option was to get Pikachu closer to the target to give Murkrow the shock of a lifetime.

"Murkrow, use Air Cutter!" Their opponent hollered. Murkrow gave a squawk as he flapped his wings rapidly. They glowed white before Murkrow began to create ripples in the air currents, firing away at Pikachu.

"Pikachu, dodge with your Agility!" Ash fired back. If Pikachu wasn't fast enough already, he climbed up another level. Murkrow continued to launch his attack haphazardly, unable to predict Pikachu's movements. In a desperate attempt to cut off Pikachu's movements, Murkrow began to fire Air Cutters two at a time, leaving gnashes all over the concreate to mark his misses.

Pikachu stormed around the battlefield and snickered as he dodged each attack with ease. He raced by Ash and changed direction on a dime to avoid another blade of wind, but this was followed immediately by a shout from Ash. Pikachu came skidding to a halt and turned to find Ash on his knees, grasping his left arm as he writhed in pain.

-X-X-

Hun's battle was incredible. It lit a fire in his chest, which was doubly effective since it did the same to Pikachu. As other battles resumed now that Hun's was over, Ash jumped at the first opportunity to get into a battle of his own. Unfortunately, Ash took more damage in the battle than Pikachu did. When that Air Cutter clipped his arm, it lacerated his bicep and the wound began to bleed immediately. That brought their weekend to an end as they left immediately to take Ash to Shauna's residence.

"Ash?" Shauna exclaimed as she stepped into the lobby. "I got your text, what happened?" The first she noticed as she approached was the blood-stained wrap around his arm. "How long has that wound been open?"

"Not long," Ash replied as Shauna grabbed his bags for him.

"Come on, let's get upstairs so I can check this properly. Plus, I don't want my neighbors seeing this," She muttered the last part as she took a glance at Ash. He was a mess, with the lower half of his shirt having been torn off to be used as a bandage.

They took the elevator up to the fourth floor, and Shauna was relieved to enter her apartment without anyone seeing Ash. She shut the door and locked it, then she ordered Ash to take a seat on the couch while she went to the bathroom to retrieve the needed supplies. Once she returned, she saw that Ash already removed his shirt and the wrap around his arm.

Shauna frowned as she sat down beside him. The first thought that came to mind was that Ash had no problem being shirtless in her home. He had his shirt off more than she did, and this was her house! Shauna kept that thought to herself as she took a look at his arm. There was still fresh blood oozing from the wounds, while his skin was stained from what dried against it.

"What did you do?" Shauna asked him. There was no response from Ash, so she pulled on a pair of plastic gloves and snapped them against her wrist as a warning. "Are you really going to sit here and say nothing?"

Ash took her question as an invitation to do so. Shauna rolled her eyes before she got to work. She brought a towel in hot water and pressed it against Ash's arm to clear away the blood. Once she had a proper view of the wound, she creased her brow. His skin was torn up as if the grooves of a jagged knife were run down his skin. Ash wrinkled his nose as he saw the current state of his skin.

"Still not talking?" Shauna asked him again. There was still no reply, so Shauna pursed her lips. "Alright then, have it your way. This is going to sting, but please, don't say anything."

She uncapped an ointment that she brought and applied it to his skin. He bit down on his lower lip as felt like his bicep was set ablaze. Then she began to massage it into his skin, and Ash balled up his free hand into a fist to keep himself from shouting. He shot a glare at Shauna at one point, and she stuck out her tongue and continued to work. Once she was finished, she showed him two pairs of gauze. One was white that was placed directly onto his skin. The other was tan, which was wrapped around his entire bicep twice. Then she embedded two pins into the stitching of the gauze to keep everything in place.

Ash began to move his arm, wincing as he did so. But at least everything was in order. "Thanks," He said simply.

"So, what happened?" Shauna wouldn't let this go. She spoke slowly, emphasizing each word.

Ash kept a neutral expression, unsure of what he wanted to do. His activity with the Red Skulls better off remaining a secret, but he knew for a fact that it must have tortured Shauna to treat him without any clue as to how all this happened. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to fill Shauna in…

He broke eye contact with her and struggled to get past his hesitation. Instead, he looked for a way out. "I'm going to the bathroom," Ash said as he rose from the couch.

Shauna sighed after he disappeared into the corridor. She didn't know what to do with Ash most of the time! He could be such a stubborn pain in the butt when he was ready. She rolled her eyes and glanced at the ruined shirt and fabric on the floor. She snatched it up and found a plastic bag to tuck it into before she tossed it into the garbage along with her gloves. Shauna then went off into her bedroom where she dug through her dresser for one of her oversized t-shirts. From her bedroom, she could hear her doorknob of her front door being assaulted, followed closely by some persistent knocking. It was then that she realized Serena was going to drop by. She'd forgotten all about that once she got that text message from Ash earlier.

She went out to answer the door and glared when she saw that it was indeed Serena outside her door. Shauna only opened it partway, barely enough for Serena to get a look into her apartment.

"Why was the door locked, Shauna? Did you forget I said I was coming over?" Serena inquired as she made an attempt to enter, but Shauna denied her entry. "What's the matter?"

"Uh…I'm kinda busy," Shauna whispered, unable to develop a decent story on the spot. Serena went up onto her tiptoes to peer over her shorter friend, and with a glance through the living room, Serena spotted some extra bags on the floor beside the couch. Serena donned a sly grin, her eyes filled with glee.

"Oh, you should've told me you were having company tonight," Serena remarked with a wink.

Shauna wrinkled her nose in reply and groaned at the conclusion Serena jumped to. "It's nothing like that," Shauna protested, but of course, Ash's timing couldn't be any worse. They both heard the door to the bathroom open and Serena gave the door a push to make some space for her to see Shauna's guest.

When she saw that it was Ash Ketchum, Serena's smile dropped hard enough to fall through the floorboards. As she caught sight of Ash's arm, her discussion with Brock last month came to mind, and her gaze steadily grew more intense. She pestered Brock for answers last time, but he was only willing to share so much about Ash's personal life. But Serena was going to get those answers now, no matter what.

Shauna recognized that look at Serena's face, and she knew there was no avoiding this from here. She stepped aside and allowed Serena to enter completely.

"Serena," Ash began, his eyes widened as he saw her in the doorway.

"What happened?" She interjected.

Shauna looked to Ash and she saw that his expression hardened once again. If he was close to sharing anything earlier, he certainly wasn't feeling the same way now. There was tension in the room, and for fear of it flooding out into the corridor, Shauna shut the door to her apartment.

"Why do you need to know?" Ash asked in return.

"What kind of question is that, Ash?" Serena asked sharply as she raised her voice. She motioned to his bandaged arm. "Just look at yourself! The last two times I've seen you…you've been hurt. I'm worried about you."

Ash opened his mouth, but he lacked an answer. In the mixed bag of emotions that he held, guilt weighed the most thanks in no small part to Serena's concern for him. Ash did his best to keep everything a secret to stop his friends from worrying about him, but that only accomplished the opposite. He took a breath and relaxed his shoulders.

"Okay…I've been working with the Red Skulls at the end of every month," He confessed.

It took Serena a moment to realize that he revealed this so easily. He could be so secretive in the past, not to mention Brock was so tight-lipped last time, that she wasn't prepared for the sudden honesty.

"Why?" Serena almost barked and Ash winced. "You know those guys are dangerous!"

He broke eye contact with her now. "Serena, I know what I'm getting into when I work with them," Ash stated in a grumble. "I'm not sitting here wondering why I keep getting hurt."

"You shouldn't be getting hurt in the first place," Serena pointed out, placing her fingertips against her temples. Her heart was beginning to race as she thought about tackling a subject that she and Ash hadn't touched in ages. "Why are you doing this to yourself, Ash? Why you do keep forcing to force this whole Pokemon trainer thing?"

Ash looked to her, his brow knit and nostrils flared.

He knew that he kept secrets from Serena, despite how close they were. She wasn't aware of why he would put himself through this. That wasn't her fault. Yet, that didn't stop him from snapping back at her.

"I'm not forcing anything. You don't know anything, so why are you butting in?"

"I'm butting in because you won't tell me anything!" Serena retorted as she pointed at him.

Ash bit down on his lower lip and allowed his conscience to work. Serena said it herself…that he kept her out of the loop. That her questions came as a result of that. But the faint voice of reason that had a grasp on the situation couldn't begin to compare to the booming voice of Ash's frustration. He couldn't believe that his friends still questioned his goals. Why couldn't they just support him? Why was everyone against him?

"I don't tell you anything because I already know what you're going to say," Ash barked at her. "'This is too dangerous, Ash.' 'You need to stop before you get hurt.' 'Why are doing this to yourself?'"

"How many times do I have to say this, Ash? We say all of those things because we've seen you get hurt, over and over again!" Serena shouted at him. "We care about you, and none of us want to see you get hurt!"

Ash laughed scornfully in response. "You all can be such a bunch of hypocrites when you're ready. If I wanted to be something else…anything else, I bet you wouldn't have a problem with it. But since I'm trying to become a trainer, if I get hurt, you all just say 'oh, it's too dangerous!'" Ash didn't mean to mock her, but his tone took things to the next level.

"That's because it is!" Serena screamed at him. Her temper reached its boiling point. "Don't you look at the news? One Pokemon could level the entire building we're standing! I don't care if you think you're some kind of Pokemon savant, but you're not! You're hurt because of them! How can you stand there and tell me that Pokemon are safe to be around?!"

Ash and Serena didn't realize it yet, but they had gotten very close as they shouted at each other. Ash was a full head and shoulders taller than Serena, but that didn't stop her from glaring holes into him.

"I know you're better than that, Serena…" Ash's voice lost all of the anger that previously fueled it. His fierce expression was gone as he finally got a sense of the situation. "You never let people tell you what you should think, so why are you letting them tell you how you should look at me?"

Serena's eyes widened for a moment, then she opened her mouth to speak. "I am not!" She protested. "Can't you see that I genuinely care about you? We have seen you get hurt. I hate seeing you get hurt. Are you really so thick-headed that you can't understand that?!"

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Serena only needed a glance to know that it belonged to Shauna. She returned to her gaze to Ash and their staredown continued. Shauna followed up with a light nudge as she came between them.

"Let's stop this before someone says something that they can't take back," Shauna stated and their gaze drifted apart. "Here Ash, you can bring this back to me when you find some time."

Ash accepted the t-shirt that Shauna brought for him, and he took his time as he slipped it over his torso. Once he was comfortable, he collected his belongings and left without a word. Serena watched him silently the entire time. She hoped just once that their eyes would meet again, and the temptation to apologize grew with every passing moment. But his refusal to even look at her further irked Serena. He was just too hardheaded for his own good sometimes!

"I'll be right back," Shauna said as she followed Ash out into the corridor. He was waiting in the hall for them to speak privately.

"Sorry, you had to hear all that," Ash apologized in a low voice as he dug through the duffle back that hung from his shoulder.

"Don't fuss over that," Shauna said. There was no use berating him or Serena right now. They just needed to let their heads cool off. Shauna raised her brow as she studied Ash's face. It was so rare to see him become visibly upset, but she never imagined him getting like that with Serena.

Ash pulled a sizeable stack of dollar bills out of the bag that was bound together by a rubber band. The money he received from the Red Skulls, no doubt. Shauna could only imagine how they acquired this much money to pay trainers like Ash, but that was something to consider on another day. Ash pulled off the rubber band and counted through the bills quickly for Shauna's payment. Eight hundred dollars.

"Thanks for patching me up tonight," Ash replied as he placed the money in her hands. "I'm sorry if I ruined your night."

Shauna caught him looking at the entrance to her apartment. "Don't worry," She assured him. "We always find something to talk about," Shauna's face grew serious. "But please Ash, for her sake, be safe."

Ash looked away now. He didn't want to make that promise.

He gave Shauna a wave before he left. Shauna waited until he stepped into the elevator before she tucked away the money she received and returned to her apartment. Serena was on the sofa, aimlessly flipping through the different networks on Shauna's cable package in search of something to watch. She wore a frown, unable to conceal what she felt.

"Serena, are you okay?" Shauna asked as she took a seat beside her friend.

"Yeah, I'm good," Serena replied as she shook her head. Then she repeated herself. "I'm good. If Ash doesn't want to be good, that's complete on him now."

"Casey, Macy, come on," Cassidy said as she clapped her hands. "Go get washed up for bed."

The three of them sat together in the living room, watching a few cartoons to wrap up their Sunday evening. There was a groan from Casey, but she had school the following day so the expectation was that she would go to bed early. Plus, with a glance at Macy, Cassidy could see that drowsiness was starting to conquer the small girl. Following Cassidy's instruction, both girls rose from the couch and Casey led Macy by the hand to the upstairs bathroom.

It was awfully quiet during the weekend due to Ash's absence. While Cassidy and Casey were already accustomed to it, Macy would ask about Ash frequently. She knew the weekend was when her 'Ashy' would be around for the whole day. So, his disappearance fueled her questions of 'where is he?' and 'when is he coming home?' Cassidy hoped that Macy would've still been awake by the time Ash returned tonight, but that didn't seem to be the case.

With the girls gone, Cassidy was glad that she could switch to something that she actually wanted to watch. She could barely feign interest in their cartoons, unable to see what the girls found so humorous about them. As she searched for something to watch, Cassidy winced as she felt a sharp pain flash across her chest. Cassidy took a labored breath as she placed a hand above her bust, and she leaned back into the couch for a more comfortable position.

She breathed slowly and shut her eyes for a silent prayer. The pain eased up, but she was still short of breath. She hoped that Ash would arrive soon. This pain was unsettling, and she would prefer if Ash was here.

With a thought of Ash on her mind, Cassidy perked up as she heard the lock on the front door rattle. Then the door opened and a voice she knew too well announced that he was back. Ash was back early!

He came straight to the living room once he took off his shoes and greeted Cassidy with a wave. "How've you been?"

"I think I should be asking you that," Cassidy retorted as she eyed the large brown bag of groceries in his arms. He ventured off into the kitchen to set the bag down on the counter for Cassidy and as he began to head back to the staircase, they crossed paths in the hallway. Ash noticed that Cassidy was moving slowly, her balance unsteady. He stopped to look at her and furrowed his brow. She was pale…

He quickly shot up the staircase to let Pikachu out of his backpack. The poor little guy was cooped up in there for the last few hours, and Ash didn't want to make him wait any longer.

Cassidy proceeded into the kitchen and smiled faintly as she saw everything that he returned with once again. She knew Ash was trying to keep her in the dark about his activities at the end of each month, but Cassidy wasn't clueless. She put the pieces together during the summer.

Whenever Ash disappeared, so did Pikachu. As if that didn't make it obvious that he was going out to street battles. She didn't see why Ash needed to act like it was some big secret, but she would let him have this.

Ash wasn't her son. She only had so much authority over him, especially as he approached the age of eighteen. Not to mention, his efforts did relieve some of the stress Cassidy went through after her funds were exhausted each month. For the time being, she would leave things as they were and trust Ash to take care of himself.

She began to separate the fruits and vegetables on the counter, but Cassidy winced as she raised her arm too high. The pain sat in her armpit for a few moments and her chest seized up. It hit her like a brick and she leaned against the counter for support. White noise was ringing in her ears and she blinked back hot tears. She couldn't breathe!

She tried to scream, but her voice faltered in her throat along with her strength. She hunched over and went down to the floor.

"Cassidy?" Ash called out as he came back down the staircase. As he reached the base of the stairs and turned to look down the hall into the kitchen, he saw Cassidy resting on the kitchen floor. "Cassidy!"

A/N

That concludes a supercharged chapter, one that I'm super proud of. I got to say, this is my second favorite chapter, a really close second. Right up there with chapter five.

I really enjoyed getting to focus on Nando for these last two chapters. It was inspired by one of my high school experiences. There was a girl I absolutely adored…like, I had it bad. I was one of those puppy dogs that was desperate for any kind of attention from her. Unfortunately, nothing I did meant that much to her, and I could tell. It was something I could live with. We parted ways after graduation, and I haven't seen her since. But that's just life, eh. What can you do? :P

As I've said before, and I'll say it again, I've been setting the stage for the meaty part of this story. I'll remind everyone that this is a Pokemon AU, and I was taking the time to establish how things work rather than just dump all of the information in a note at the beginning of the first chapter. I will say that we are definitely diving into some of the heavier stuff now, so look forward to it.

Much respect to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt. He was banging out these chapters left and right to get ready for this upload spree we've started. Thanks for all of the support everyone and I'll see you at the end of the next chapter!

Chapter Text

His mattress was as hard as stone, but he still found comfort on it as laid back. Allowing his mind to drift, he thought back to that night. He would never forget that night.

It was the first time in a long time that he felt truly lost and...helpless.

That night would mark the start of his journey.

Sunday, October 30th

Ash sat in the lobby of Lt Surge's Memorial Hospital on a wide seat with Casey on one side of him, passing time by using her phone, and Macy on the other leaning on his side as she slept. It was well past eleven o'clock and Ash had no idea how the rest of this night was going to play out.

It had been ten years since Ash had felt so panicked about something. His discovery of Cassidy writhing in pain on the kitchen floor had filled him with an ominous dread. What followed was a blur of paramedics bursting into their home to check Cassidy's vitals. Even with how grim the situation seemed, these people worked with an almost chilling sense of professionalism, meticulously examining Cassidy and assuring Ash that everyone would be okay.

Their words did little to help him as he watched them strap Cassidy to a gurney and wheel her off to the ambulance outside. Ash had managed to keep the girls upstairs during the whole ordeal, but the officer escorting the ambulance told Ash they couldn't leave him home after what had just transpired. The trio was taken to the hospital, closely following the ambulance that Cassidy was in.

Entering the hospital, Ash caught a glimpse of Cassidy as the paramedics rushed her through the lobby. That was the last time he had seen her, roughly an hour and a half ago, and he couldn't stop his mind from wandering.

What would have happened if he didn't come home tonight? His original plan had been to return tomorrow, but his injury earlier today caused him to shorten his little trip this weekend. If he wasn't home, would Casey have been able to respond properly? For a twelve-year-old, she was very strong-minded, but there was no telling how she would handle the situation or Macy for that matter. Glancing at the small girl leaning on him, Ash exhaled softly and placed his arm around her.

Despite the reassurance he had received from the officers and the paramedics, Ash couldn't lay this thought to rest. What was going to happen to Cassidy? Would she be alright?

Feeling someone tap his shoulder, Ash put his thoughts aside as he looked toward Casey.

"Ash?" She whispered to him. Just a glance at her was enough for Ash to see that Casey was deeply distressed. She had been putting up a front, but she was likely asking herself the same questions he was.

"What's up?" He asked her, waiting patiently for Casey to word her question.

"What's...what's going to happen...to Cassidy I mean?" She asked him in return, her tone hushed. She looked at him, hope in her eyes that Ash would have an answer to this question.

"I...don't know." Ash admitted, shaking his head. He had no choice but to be honest with her. He was scared just like her, afraid of what grim news the doctors might have for them. Fortunately, he could conceal his apprehension. "But no matter what, just be strong, for Macy."

Casey took a moment to look at her younger sister, and then after taking a deep breath, she gave Ash a firm nod.

The double doors leading further into the hospital opened up, revealing a doctor who was accompanied by a well-dressed woman. He scanned the lobby briefly before his gaze settled on Ash, Casey, and Macy. Approaching them, Ash could see the doctor draw in a breath as though he was preparing to give them some news that he would prefer not to share.

"You all, live with Cassidy, correct?" The doctor asked them, receiving a nod from Ash and Casey. "I'm Ethan Avertt, a cardiologist here. I'll be taking over the treatment of your mother."

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Ash." Ash said, extending his free hand to Ethan who shook his hand, being mindful of Macy who was still sound asleep. "The little one here is Macy, and-"

"My name is Casey." Casey interjected, preferring to introduce herself. Ethan raised his eyebrow and then smiled, choosing to shake hands with her as well.

"It's nice to meet you all." He said kindly. "Can I asked how old you guys are?"

"I'm twelve." Casey stated.

"And I'm eighteen." Ash said, earning a sharp glance from Casey. Why was he lying?

Nudging Ash with her elbow, this gained his attention as he looked at her out of the corner of his eye. Seeing Casey's questioning gaze, Ash gave her a small wink before placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Everything's going to be fine Casey." Ash said to her in an effort to play off their small exchange. This caused Ethan to consider Casey's age. Perhaps it would be best for him to only talk with Ash.

"Ash, can I speak with you privately?" Ethan requested, and Ash felt his stomach drop. This couldn't be good.

"Yeah, it's no problem." Ash said as he nudged Casey. He motioned for her to take his spot supporting Macy as he rose from the chair they had been sitting on. Once the two girls were comfortable, Ash followed Ethan as they took some distance from his siblings.

"So Ash, do you know what a cardiologist is?" Ethan asked him after a few moments. Studying Ash's expression, Ethan picked up on the anxiety Ash must have been experiencing and brushed his question aside. "I mentioned it earlier for a reason, but I'm essentially a heart doctor."

Ash furrowed his brow for a moment, putting the pieces together now.

"What's wrong with Cassidy's heart?" Ash asked him curiously, fighting off the quiver in his voice.

"Earlier tonight, Cassidy suffered a silent heart attack." Ethan paused after revealing this, giving Ash some time to digest this news. "There are many kinds of heart attacks, but this one, in particular, is hard to determine the cause of. It could've been stress induced, or due to poor eating habits."

"So what's the deal, is she going to recover?" Ash asked him, getting straight to the point.

"I'm going to be frank with you Ash. Her heart is no longer distributing enough blood and oxygen on its own to survive. It's going to cause her vital systems to begin to fail." Ethan stated, and Ash sucked his lips in as he looked away from Ethan. His head dropped as he took a few breaths through his nostrils. It was a tough piece of information to handle.

Cassidy... was going to die?

"Isn't there...anything you can do for her?" Ash asked softly, making eye contact with Ethan.

"We already have her on life support, but she's in danger of falling into a coma," Ethan explained and Ash's heart sunk. "We will keep her under observation of course, and we'll do anything in our power for her."

"Thanks." Ash said, and Ethan placed his hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze to console him.

"As much as I hate to add to this heavy subject Ash, I was informed that she is your foster parent," Ethan noted as he glanced at the two girls seated across the lobby. "Is there anyone else taking care of you all while she is incapacitated?

"Yeah..." Ash hesitated for a moment. This was a tricky path he was about to step onto. "...Her husband. His name is Butch."

"I'm assuming he's coming to pick you all up?" Ethan continued, but Ash shook his head.

"He's away on business at the moment. I have some friends that can take us home." Ash explained, causing Ethan to frown.

"Hmm...Anita, do you think Ash will be able to answer your questions?" Ethan asked as he turned to the woman that had entered the lobby with him. She shrugged her shoulders as she approached them, smiling faintly at Ash.

"We'll just have to find out the old fashioned way." She replied before introducing herself. "I'm Anita, I need someone to confirm a few things for me."

"Uh, okay." Ash said as she looked down at the clipboard she held.

"The reason I have to ask you these questions is because of Cassidy's medical history. Her expenses have never been covered by insurance. According to our records, her husband Butch has paid for prior hospital visits out of pocket." Anita explained for Ash. "You said he's away right now, and obviously I don't know when he plans to return, but we need confirmation that her expenses will be covered."

"Yeah," Ash said, nodding his head. "They will be. It'll take some time to contact him, but I'm sure he'll cover everything."

"I don't want to seem like I'm putting any pressure on you or your family Ash, this is simply a precaution on our part. It costs a lot of money to run this facility." Anita stated, and Ash understood.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure everything is covered." Ash assured her. She praised his maturity before leaving him with Ethan.

"So as I said Ash, we'll keep Cassidy under observation. If you'd like, you can come back during visiting hours tomorrow for an update." Ethan pointed out, giving Ash a small smile with this.

"Yeah, we'll be back." Ash said as he shook hands with Ethan one more time. Ethan then left Ash alone, allowing him to hang his head in defeat. They were on their own now.

Taking out his phone, Ash quickly went through his contact list to pull up Brock's phone number. Calling his close friend, it was a few moments before he answered.

"Yo Ash, what's going on?" Brock asked him.

"I'm at Lt. Surge Hospital with Casey and Macy, can you give us a lift home?" Ash asked.

"The hospital? What happened?" Brock exclaimed.

"I'll fill you in, uh, if you can get us that is." Ash added.

"I'm already on my way." His friend said immediately.

"Damn-" Brock muttered now that Ash had finished sharing tonight's events with him.

The four of them were seated in Brock's car as they slowly returned home. Casey was in the passenger seat beside Brock while Ash and Macy were in the back seat of the car.

"So uh...are you guys going to be okay?" Brock asked tentatively as he came to a stop at an intersection for a red light. He used this opportunity to peek over his shoulder at Ash who exhaled.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. I just have some stuff to sort out tomorrow." Ash replied.

"Are you sure you got all this?" Brock pressed. Ash didn't bother to respond this time. Brock frowned but decided it was best not to push any further than this. He wasn't sure what was going through Ash's mind right now, so the best choice was to let him sort out his thoughts. "Just remember that you can call me if you're in trouble, alright man?"

"Yeah, I know." Ash said softly to him. The light turned green and they began to roll forward again.

Casey looked back at Ash, waiting for him to make eye contact. It was dark, but Ash couldn't ignore Casey as she stared at him.

"What's up?" He asked Casey.

"I want to know something." Casey began. "Is it true that Cassidy has a husband?"

Ash opened his mouth to speak, his initial thought being to berate Casey for eavesdropping while he had been speaking to Ethan and Anita. He swallowed those words realizing that Casey wanted to keep up with the situation as well. He couldn't fault her for that.

"She had a husband," Ash answered, causing Brock to raise a brow, interested in what was about to be shared. "He's dead."

"What? But...you said he would cover the hospital bills." Casey pointed out, further revealing how much she had been listening to the conversation back at the hospital.

"Okay, what I'm about to tell you, doesn't leave this car. Alright, Casey?" Ash asked her, and she nodded quickly. Ash then set his gaze on Brock. "Same goes for you, Brock."

"Hey, my lips are sealed. You know I can keep a secret." Brock replied, causing Ash to sigh as he gathered his thoughts.

"So before Cassidy had any of us...she was married to a man named Butch. Both of them were Pokemon trainers."

"For real?" Brock exclaimed, tempted to look back at Ash in shock.

"Yeah. She told me they used to work with a group of trainers that did some kind of security at the shipyards downtown years ago." Ash explained. "They used to make a ton of money from those jobs, and they tucked it all away. Finally, when they saved up enough, Cassidy said she wanted to leave everything and just disappear. She and Butch were going to move to Hoenn and retire there with everything they had saved. But Cassidy told me they had one last job to do before they could leave Vermilion City."

"That doesn't sound good." Brock commented. Clearly Cassidy and Butch didn't make it to their 'happily ever after' if Cassidy was still in Vermilion City and Butch was dead.

"It was a disaster. Cassidy wouldn't tell me exactly what happened, but he died. And for whatever reason, she decided to stay in Vermilion City." Ash related to them. "Obviously that isn't the whole story, but you've heard everything I know."

"Man, that's rough." Brock mumbled.

"I didn't even know she was married," Casey noted, astounded that such a fact had been kept secret from her for all this time. It wasn't until now that Casey realized how well Cassidy had dodged this subject the few times she had asked about it. Casey then focused on the subject at hand. "So Ash, how are we going to pay the hospital?"

"Leave that to me." Ash stated firmly. Casey looked at him nervously but didn't question him any further. She had no choice but to count on Ash.

The remainder of the ride passed in silence until they arrived at their home. Once Brock had parked his car, Casey jumped out to unlock the front door leaving Ash and Brock to speak privately.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Brock asked him again as Ash picked up Macy, holding her in one arm as Brock shut the back door for him. It was almost midnight as they stepped onto the staircase in front of Ash's home, but with a streetlight right over them, Brock had no trouble seeing the frown on Ash's face. Ash took a moment to respond, readjusting Macy who had settled onto his shoulder now.

"We'll be fine Brock. Like I said, tomorrow I'll work out everything." Ash assured him.

Brock was impressed with Ash's resilience. He was almost eighteen years old with a ton of responsibility being placed on his shoulders, and he seemed to be more than willing to tackle all this head on.

"Alright, and like I said, I've got your back. If you need anything, let me know." Brock said, giving him a nod.

He gave Ash a smile of reassurance and the two of them parted ways. Ascending the steps and entering his home, Ash shut the door quietly to make sure he didn't wake up Macy. Then he went upstairs, heading straight for Macy's room where he went over to her bed and sat down. Gingerly he laid the small girl down on her bed and placed her covers over her. Macy stirred a bit before snuggling into her bed, and Ash couldn't stop a smile from forming on his face.

Kissing the tips of his index and middle fingers, he touched her forehead with them. Then he took a deep breath and lowered his shoulders before noticing Casey's shadow on the floor. Looking up at the entrance to Macy's bedroom, he saw that the twelve-year-old girl had been watching him.

"A-Ash?" She said softly, and Ash immediately detected the tremble in her voice. Now that they were home, it must have finally donned on Casey that they were alone now. "Wha-What are we going to do?"

Ash rose from the bed and approached Casey, ushering her out into the corridor so that he could shut the door to Macy's room. He only needed one glance at Casey in the hallway light to know that she was becoming overwhelmed. The events of the last two hours had finally hit her.

"If Cassidy's not here, won't they come to take us?" Casey asked him softly. "I don't want to leave you guys."

Ash could see Casey's inner turmoil and confusion. Ash winced as the blood rushed through his eardrums, pounding against them as waves would against the bow of a ship. A pair of white wings seemed to sprout from Casey's back, but they were restrained by several thick black chains. She looked up at him, tears threatening to escape her eyes, and Ash quickly remembered how Cassidy would comfort Casey in her early childhood. He embraced her.

For a few moments they stood in silence, then Ash began to rub her back.

"Don't even think about it Casey." Ash stated. "I won't let that happen. I promise."

Monday, October 31st

Ash groaned as he slapped his hand down onto the snooze button of his alarm clock. He had been sleeping for maybe five hours before the device on his nightstand began to screech at him. Raising his head from his pillow, he saw that it was five o'clock in the morning. The sun had yet to rise, but Ash would have to start early to make it through this day. Taking a few moments to breathe deeply, he then pushed himself up from his mattress and discovered that Pikachu was looking at him from the floor beside his bed.

"Mornin' Pikachu." He said as he sat upright, reaching down to pat Pikachu on its head.

"Pika-pi?" It asked him as he pulled his hand away.

"I have to be up early today to make breakfast for everyone." Ash said as he stood up, now realizing that he was still dressed in the same clothes that he had been in the night before. He had fallen asleep as soon as he touched the bed last night.

Pulling at the shirt he wore, Ash decided that his first order of business was to take a shower. Motioning for Pikachu to stand beside him, they started a brief stretching routine. Anyone would find it humorous how these two mirrored each other as they stretched. Now feeling looser and wide awake, Ash began to strip off his clothes in preparation for a shower.

"Pi-ka-chu~?" Pikachu asked him.

"Well Cassidy's not here right now, so I'm looking after the house." Ash explained as he now stood with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

"Pika?!" Pikachu exclaimed, looking at him in shock.

"Yes by my-self." Ash retorted, feigning offense at Pikachu's comment.

"Pikachu! Pika!" It declared as he left his room, Pikachu following him on all fours as they first went down to the kitchen.

"I know Macy can be a handful." Ash stated as he looked down at Pikachu. He lived with Macy just like Pikachu, so he knew exactly what Macy was capable of when she was in the mood for trouble.

"Pi..." Pikachu muttered with a snort, earning a sharp glance from Ash. "Pikachu-pi."

"Uh, yeah I do know." Ash replied as they reached the kitchen. Retrieving the roll of plastic wrap from the top shelf, Ash requested that his small partner aid him in wrapping the bandages on his arm in plastic wrap for his shower. It was an irritating process, but with Pikachu's help, it was much quicker and easier.

Returning to the bathroom upstairs, Ash went over to the tub and turned on the water, leaving it to run for a while so it would warm up. With nothing better to do for the next minute, Ash took a glance at Pikachu who had been watching him closely.

"Pika?" It expressed once again, causing Ash to roll his eyes. Taking off his towel, Ash decided to brush aside what would hopefully be the last of Pikachu's 'warnings.' Leaving his towel on the rack, he stepped into a hot shower and took a few moments to run through his plan for the day.

The first order of business was getting Casey ready for school. After sending her off, he and Macy would be making a trip to the bank. Ash wasn't looking forward to spending time there, but he knew that there was no avoiding this.

-X-X-

It was early in the morning, so only Ash and Cassidy had woken up so far. Ash was seated at the wooden table in the kitchen as Cassidy prepared his breakfast.

"Ash." Cassidy stated, receiving his attention as he looked at her.

"Hmm?"

"You'll be turning seventeen in a couple of days, are you looking forward to it?" She asked him curiously, glancing over her shoulder at Ash for a moment. He made a face as he thought about his answer.

"Uh, yeah I guess. I think I'll try to get my driver's license this year." Ash commented, and Cassidy gave a nod of approval at the idea.

"Yeah, that'd be good. I know we don't have a car or anything, but it never hurts to learn." Cassidy said to him.

"You never know what could happen." Ash pointed out, and Cassidy nodded with agreement.

"That's the truth...which is why I wanted to talk to you about something." Cassidy said, lowering her tone a bit. Ash could sense that this was a serious subject.

"What's on your mind?" He asked, leaning on the table.

"You've had your job for a couple of months now, and I really appreciate that you've been helping around the house with the extra money you have." Cassidy began as she joined him at the table, setting down his plate in front of him. Cassidy then sat down across from him, taking a deep breath as she thought about what she would say next. "I don't know if you've ever bothered to think about this Ash, but have you ever wondered how we afford this place?"

"Uh, not really..." He admitted slowly. Ash knew that Cassidy didn't work. She stayed at home and took care of Macy all day. He had known Cassidy for almost ten years now, but this woman could still be an enigma at times. Ash had always assumed that things had worked out well for her and that there was no need for her to work anymore.

"The reason I'm bringing all this up is that...there are some things I want you to know about me." Cassidy continued as the mood in the room became somber. "I don't work, or rather I can't. An account was set up for me that receives a sum of money that we live off of every month."

Ash nodded. That explained how they made it from month to month without too much trouble.

"I'm the only one with access to this account, but in the event that something were to happen to me Ash, I want you to know how you can use that money," Cassidy explained to him as she pulled out a card from the pocket of her apron. She set it down in front of him, and after scanning it briefly Ash spotted a logo he recognized. The First Regional Bank of Kanto. "There's an accountant there named Sharon. She'll make the arrangements for you."

Ash raised his eyebrow as he picked up the card to read some of the details that were inscribed on it.

"So um...what do you mean by 'if something happens to you?'" Ash asked her curiously, looking past the card he held in front of his face to examine Cassidy's expression. She let out a heavy sigh in response.

"I'm not in good shape Ash. This is just a precaution." She said.

Ash felt his chest tighten as she made this statement.

"What does that mean?" He pressed, but Cassidy waved off his question. She then pointed to his breakfast.

"Eat, before it gets cold." She said before glancing at the clock. Cassidy then rose from her seat and left the kitchen to wake up Casey for school.

Ash watched her closely as she left before his gaze returned to the card. He could feel the weight of the responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. Cassidy was counting on him to come through for this family in the event that she couldn't.

-X-X-

Stepping out of the shower, Ash immediately began to pull at the plastic wrap around his arm. He hated the feeling of wet plastic and grimaced as he ripped it off. Tossing the plastic in the wastebasket, Ash finished drying himself off and returned to his room with Pikachu following him every step of the way.

Once he was dressed, Ash went back to the kitchen where he thought about what he could make for his sisters. He was glad now more than ever that Cassidy had nagged him non-stop to learn how to cook something. Not to mention he had come home with groceries the night before, so his options were open. An omelet and hash browns would certainly please the girls.

Pikachu's eyes widened at the sight of Ash handling himself as he made breakfast. He had set the table for both Macy and Casey, and the latter of whom was shocked when she entered the kitchen and Ash presented her breakfast.

"Did you make this Ash?" Casey exclaimed as she saw her meal.

"O' course I did. Who else would?" Ash retorted.

"Pikachu." Casey said flatly as she took a seat, beginning to snicker as the small Pokemon looked at her incredulously.

"Oh well, aren't you slick? Just for that one, you can go wake up your sister." Ash said, pointing to the exit of the kitchen. Casey made a face at him before she left to go wake up Macy, leaving Ash to finish his preparations for his youngest sister. Pouring a glass of milk for Macy, he placed it beside her plate before hearing a shout from Casey upstairs. Rolling his eyes a bit, Ash went upstairs to check on them and found Casey fighting to pull her sister off her bed despite Macy's protests.

"Casey, that's enough." Ash called out as he stood in the doorway, putting their struggle to a stop. As Casey looked back at him, Ash nodded toward the staircase as a gesture for her to go eat. He would take care of Macy.

"Have fun." Casey said as she left them. Ash then focused on Macy who had climbed back onto her bed, patting the spot where she wanted Ash to sit down.

"Come on Macy, I've got breakfast ready for you." Ash said to her, motioning for her to follow him. In return, he got the question that he had been dreading to answer.

"Where's mommy?"

Ash had to shut his eyes for a moment and take a breath. Macy had been out of the loop last night, sleeping through most of the events. He had spent a bit of time last night thinking of how best to explain this to her, but there was no easy way to tell her that her 'mommy' would be away for...who knows how long.

With a sigh, Ash opened his eyes and approached Macy's bed, taking a seat beside her. Looking into her eyes, Ash bit down on his lower lip as he saw the innocence that occupied them. Casey had been stripped of her innocence long ago, and she had a grasp of the situation they were in. Macy, on the other hand, didn't know any better, and Ash found himself pining over the thought of keeping her in the dark. He didn't want the sparkle in her eyes to begin to fade so early in her life. He didn't have the heart to do such a thing.

"Mommy's not feeling well right now Macy." Ash began. "So I'll be looking after you for now."

"Is she in her room?" Macy asked him, but he shook his head.

"No. You won't be able to see her for now." Ash replied, sticking to simple answers for her. He could sense that a parade of questions was about to begin. Of course, her short attention span was nowhere to be found when he needed it most.

"Why not?"

"She's with the doctors. They're taking care of her until she feels better."

"When's that?"

"I...I don't know yet Macy." Ash admitted slowly, but then he put on a smile and began to poke at her stomach. "But she told me to tell you- that you have better be good until she gets back."

Macy could suppress her giggles as Ash poked at her belly, and then she gave him a small nod. Ash felt relieved as his answers seemed to satisfy Macy. She raised her arms up, a small gesture for him to pick her up. Chuckling a bit as he did so, the two of them went downstairs to enjoy the meal that Ash had prepared for them.

Casey left for school about twenty minutes later, and once she was gone, Ash quickly understood Pikachu's warnings. Macy was far more than a 'handful' as he had put it.

Trying to pick out something for her to wear involved going through everything she had in her dresser. Ash had never gone through the task of dressing her in the morning, but Pikachu had witnessed it time and again. It was a process as Macy decided what she would wear, but she had to consider all of her options. Then they had to clean up the mess they had made once Macy had selected an outfit.

They had lost more time than Ash had planned on, forcing him to hastily pack a bag of supplies to last them the day before they left. They had just enough time to catch the bus, so with a shout of 'goodbye' to Pikachu, Ash and Macy darted out the house. Their destination was midtown.

Getting there on foot would've taken an hour. Using the bus, it would only take them half an hour and put them right outside of the First Regional Bank of Kanto roughly a half hour after it opened.

Macy marveled at the sight of the tall stone columns at the front of the building.

"What a big house!" Macy exclaimed, earning a laugh from Ash as he led her by the hand.

"This is a bank Macy." Ash explained as the two of them went up the staircase leading to the front entrance. He moved slowly to ensure that she didn't trip on any of the steps as they went up.

"What are we doing here?" Macy asked him.

"I have a meeting with someone here." Ash replied.

"Is that why you didn't go to school?" Her question caused him to freeze momentarily.

"If I went to school don't you think you'd be lonely all day without me Macy?" Ash asked her in return, and she giggled at this.

"Yeah, I like it better when you're at home Ashy." Macy said sweetly, and Ash sighed inwardly with relief. His biggest concern was making sure Casey and Macy were taken care of, but school was a close second. While Ash was already working out a plan to take care of the girls, he still hadn't thought of anything to explain his absence for school, nor did he know how long he would be gone for.

Arriving at the revolving door, Ash and Macy stepped through it and his sister was in awe at the main lobby of the bank. The marble floors glistened and the hanging lights sparkled. It was all so pretty.

Together they approached the large circular desk at the center of the lobby. There were three receptionists present, two of which were preoccupied. Once the third one caught sight of Ash, she beckoned for him to approach.

"Good morning!" She said to him with a smile.

"Hi~!" Macy called out, causing the woman to glance around in search of the voice. Ash bent over to pick her up, allowing Macy to wave to the woman.

"What can I do for you today?" The receptionist asked as she focused on Ash.

"I'm here to speak with an accountant named Sharon when she's available." Ash explained to the receptionist. She raised her lips a bit as she looked down at the computer screen in front of her. To Ash's dismay, she began to shake her head after a few moments and returned her gaze to him.

"I'm sorry, we don't have anyone here that's named Sharon." She replied causing Ash to purse his lips as he took a moment to think.

"...Uh, could it be her last name?" Ash suggested, causing her to look at the screen again.

"No, I'm sorry, no Sharon's." She stated. "Would you like to meet with another accountant?"

Ash took a moment to think. It had been almost a year since Cassidy had told him about this. Perhaps Sharon had left her job here...but maybe it wouldn't matter who he spoke to.

"I guess I don't really have a choice. I'll talk to anyone." Ash said, receiving a nod from the receptionist.

"We have an opening in twenty minutes. You're free to wait in the seating area over there." She said, motioning to a small area near the main entrance.

Ash thanked her kindly for her help, pleased that today was off to a decent start so far.

"What do you mean you can't?" Ash asked him with a not so pleasant expression.

The nameplate on the desk read Clark, and this middle-aged man was frowning as well. He wasn't a fan of sharing bad news, and obviously, Ash didn't like what he was hearing.

"A few months ago we changed a few policies. In order to access this account, you'll need permission from the owner of the account." Clark explained to him.

"But she told me this card would be enough." Ash insisted, showing him the card he had received from Cassidy.

"Before those changes, this would certainly have been enough." He agreed with Ash after examining the card. "But to ensure that everyone's accounts here are secure, we've taken extra precautions."

"Okay then, so I just have to get permission from her?" Ash clarified, and Clark nodded.

"Look, Ash, your background checks out fine with us. I understand she's your foster mother, and that's the only reason you haven't been granted access. You're not a member of her immediate family." Clark pointed out as he retrieved a folder from his desk drawer. "So all you have to do...is have her sign this consent form."

Sliding a few sheets of paper over his desk to Ash, Clark watched as he picked it up and scanned it briefly.

"...Alright." Ash said softly. He wasn't sure what Cassidy's condition was, but hopefully, this trip to the hospital would have an answer he wanted to hear.

"Once you have her sign that, just bring it back and we'll be happy to make the arrangements for you." Clark explained, giving Ash a smile.

"Thanks for your help," Ash said before glancing at Macy who was seated next to him in her own chair. She was working on a page in her coloring book that Ash had brought for her, but she had managed to drop a number of crayons on the floor. "Come on Macy, it's time to go."

Ash rose from his seat to begin collecting some of the crayons that she had dropped. Macy set her book down on the seat and began to help him, allowing Ash to take a glance at the page she had coloring. The object she had been working was a decorated cake, but Macy had gone outside of the lines in several places.

"Sheesh Macy, try to stay in the lines next time, okay." Ash said to her.

"O-kay." She replied once they had finished collecting her items. Placing everything back in his backpack, Ash then took Macy by the hand, thanked Clark one last time, and went on his way. "Where are we going now?"

"To the doctors now." Ash replied.

"To see mommy?" She asked him hopefully.

"We'll see."

The trip to Lt. Surge Memorial Hospital was another hour spent on the bus going over the east side of Vermilion City along with more bus fare. Fortunately, Ash didn't have to pay for Macy so he couldn't really complain about it, although his day was passing faster than he wanted it to. It was already eleven o'clock and still at least another hour long bus ride to look forward.

With a sigh, he glanced down at his phone. It had been fifteen minutes since he had spoken to the man at the front desk, requesting to meet with Ethan. Rather than count the seconds as they passed, Ash decided that he needed to distract himself. Looking down at Macy who sitting on the floor beside the lowered table in front of him, she was busy with another picture in her coloring book. Ash could only snort as she went outside of the lines again.

"You're ignoring the lines again Macy," Ash noted with a small laugh as he dropped down next to her. "Here let me show you."

"Hey!" Macy exclaimed as Ash placed his finger on the book and pulled it closer to himself. Ash blew a raspberry at her, a gesture which Macy returned immediately. There was a man seated in the waiting area with them, and he couldn't help but laugh softly at their exchange.

"Look at this Macy," Ash said, motioning for her to watch as he took a crayon and filled in the area of the picture accordingly. "That's how you stay in the lines. Doesn't that look better?"

"But your drawings don't have any lines to follow." Macy reasoned with him, causing Ash to raise his brow at her attentiveness. "I wanna draw like you."

"Then you have to practice first kiddo. Once you get good at this, I'll give you some blank paper with no lines to follow." Ash stated, and she beamed at him. Returning her book, Ash watched as she began to color again, and in no time at all, she was coloring all over the place with no concern for the directions he had just given her. Rolling his eyes with a laugh, Ash then noticed that a man in a white lab coat had approached the waiting area. Ash recognized him from the night before, the cardiologist. "I'll be right back Macy."

Rising to his feet, Ash approached Ethan who motioned for them to take some distance to speak privately.

"It's good to see you again, we were getting ready to contact you." Ethan noted with a small gesture to Ash.

"Did you even go home last night?" Ash asked him curiously.

"Oh no, I worked overnight. I'm here until noon so I have another hour or so before I can head home." Ethan explained before taking a deep breath. "So I have an update for you."

"How is she?" Ash inquired, tackling the subject with no hesitation.

"She's..." Ethan shook his head slightly. "She's not doing well Ash. Like I said last night, the lack of proper blood circulation sent her into a coma last night. We've already begun the appropriate treatment to maintain her vital systems, but we don't have a time table on when she'll wake up."

Ash blinked a few times, digesting this new information.

In some ways, it was better than what he had been told last night. Cassidy wasn't dead. That bolstered his spirit somewhat...but they were dealing with the second worst case scenario. She was in a coma, and no one had any clue when or if she would wake up.

"I know this is a lot to grasp Ash, so please don't let it overwhelm you. Cassidy is receiving the best care available here." Ethan assured him. "So have a seat, Anita would also like to speak with you."

Returning to his seat, Ash dropped down into it a straight expression. His mind was filled with questions. What else was in store for Cassidy? First, she had a heart attack, now a coma. What was in store for them? If Cassidy was stuck here, he would have to take care of the girls. Could he do that by himself? His head was swirling and he didn't really know what to do anymore.

If Cassidy was in a coma, there was no way she could sign the consent form he needed, and without that, they wouldn't have Cassidy's money. Tomorrow was the start of a new month, which meant there would be a list of bills to play by the end of the week. Ash had his own sum of money saved up, which he was certain could cover the expenses until she awakened, but when would that be?

With a sigh, Ash pushed those thoughts away. He owed Cassidy so much that he couldn't spare any expense taking care of the girls. He would find a way to manage, no matter the cost to himself.

"Ash, it's good to see you again so soon."

Ash looked up and spotted Anita, the same woman from last night. She must have worked overnight like Ethan.

"Uh, likewise," Ash said as he rose to his feet. Anita invited him out of the waiting area to speak to him privately as Ethan had. "What can I do for you?"

"We've estimated the costs for Cassidy's treatment, and I thought you might need this information for when you're contacting her husband. This is only a copy so don't worry if you lose it." Anita explained as she opened the manila folder she held. Pulling out a sheet of paper for Ash, she passed it for him to read its contents.

It didn't take him long to reach the bottom of the page where the number he feared most was located. His eyes widened at the sight of it before he looked up at Anita.

"This is just an estimation. As I'm sure Ethan told you, there's no time table for when she will wake up. So the billing department has provided you with the costs for one month as an example. This is subject to change of course, based on when she wakes up." Anita explained to him as she pointed out just how many resources had been dedicated to Cassidy. "We're all hoping for the best Ash, and I can promise you that Cassidy will be well taken care of here."

Anita gave him a nod of reassurance and proceeded to leave him in a similar fashion to Ethan. With a sigh, Ash had to remind himself that they barely knew him. They weren't here to make promises that would make him feel better. Their job was to do what they can and often times live with the consequences.

Glancing back down at the bill in his hands, Ash shook his head with a ghastly expression.

How would he pay for something like this?

One month alone could reach a cost of well over forty thousand dollars.

With a daily cost of fifteen hundred dollars piling up constantly, he would be up to his neck in debt before he knew it.

Going back to his seat near Macy, Ash sat down and placed his elbow on the arm of the chair and a hand beneath his chin. He began to think deeply about how best to handle this.

For all of the grief he had been given about working with the Red Skulls, the money he had gotten from them was going to carry them through this. The last two months of working with them he had collected a total of eighteen thousand dollars, none of which he had touched since obtaining it. He had been planning on saving that money for a rainy day, but he found himself standing in a torrential downpour.

With that money, he could make a big payment to get a head start on what could possibly evolve into a massive bill, and he could use what remained to cover some of the other bills as well. Not to mention the rent money they owed to Mr. Cheeves. It was going to be rough, but he would have enough to pull them through a month or two. What they would do after that...was still to be determined.

Pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh of irritation, Ash now had one more place to visit before they could head home.

His job.

"Come on Wallace, are you sure that you can't give me an extra shift or two. I could really use the money." Ash was practically begging his boss as he stood in the man's office. Wallace's office was small and insignificant in comparison to the rest of the store he ran, but he found it cozy nonetheless.

Glancing at one of his favorite young employees, Wallace sighed in response. He had already given Ash an answer, but it was clear that this wouldn't suffice for the young man.

"Ash, in case you forgot, there are rules about having students, such as yourself, work. They're on the working papers you gave me." Wallace reminded him.

"Can we do something off the books then?" Ash suggested causing Wallace to deadpan.

"Ash I want to help you, believe me, I do. But there's only so much I can do for you while you're still considered a minor." Wallace explained. "You're already pushing the limit of how many hours you can work per week, so there is nothing else I can do for you."

Ash groaned inwardly, but he had a feeling going into this discussion that Wallace wouldn't budge. He had his own job to think about, and Ash couldn't expect him to put his own job in jeopardy for Ash's sake.

"Yeah yeah," Ash muttered as he turned to leave the office. "Thanks anyway."

Stepping out of Wallace's small sanctuary, Ash found Macy exactly where he left her under the watchful eye of one of his co-workers.

"Macy come on, let's get going." Ash called out to her. She had been talking animatedly to the older woman that Ash worked with occasionally, but upon hearing Ash's call Macy gave her a wave and dashed over to her brother. Taking hold of Ash's hand, Macy matched Ash's walking pace as they went on their way.

Together they made their way to the main entrance of the store but Ash was lost in his thoughts. What was he going to do? At every turn today there was bad news for him. The only positive he could draw so far was that they were only a few blocks away from home, so at the very least he didn't have to spend any more money on another bus ride.

The determination that had bolstered him at the beginning of the day was long gone. Uneasiness filled his stomach, and uncertainty plagued his mind. How was he going to take care of the girls and himself? The money he currently had would only take them so far, maybe a month or two. Once those funds ran dry there was no telling what he would have to do.

Working more was off the table. Cassidy's money was off the table. So what could he do?!

"Ashy!" Macy called out to him, snapping him out of his thoughts. She was tugging at his arm in an attempt to slow him down, pointing at the park across the street. "I wanna go play!"

It took a moment for Ash to realize that they were only a block away from their home. This was the park Macy came to almost daily, so of course, she would want to stop at it. Macy had been pretty good all day considering the fact that he had dragged her all over Vermilion City. A little reward was appropriate, not to mention it would give him some time to sit down and think while she was entertained.

"Okay Macy, but let's just go home first. I want to check on Pikachu and then we'll come back." Ash explained to her. "How does that sound?"

"Come on, let's go let's go!" Macy declared as she began to pull on his arm, leading him back to their house at a brisk pace. Obviously, she wanted things to happen quickly.

Arriving at their front door, Ash saw that a white envelope had been tucked into the door frame. Frowning a bit at the sight of it, Ash snatched it and unlocked the front door so that they could go inside.

"I need a few minutes Macy." Ash said to her. She remained by the front door while he went to the kitchen, shouting to Pikachu that he had come back home. Entering the kitchen, Ash set his bag on the table and looked down at the envelope to pass the time before Pikachu scampered in.

Opening up the envelope, Ash discovered that it was a note from Mr. Cheeves, their neighbor and also the man that they rented this house from. Without much thought, Ash already knew what this note would be discussing – rent money. The rent was insignificant in comparison to the hospital bill Ash had seen earlier, but it was money lost regardless of how he spun it.

The phone began to ring suddenly, gaining Ash's attention as he approached it. Reading the caller identification, Ash saw that it was his school. His eyes widened for a moment as he thought back to Macy's question this morning.

"Is that why you didn't go to school?"

Things had changed now. He had thought that he would miss a few days of school to watch the girls until Cassidy returned. Now he might have been missing school indefinitely...

Letting the call go to voicemail, Ash waited to see if they would leave a message for them. Soon enough the phone stopped ringing, and the caller began to leave a message which Ash played through the speaker.

"Hello, this is the attendance office from North Vermilion High School. I'm calling to inform you that your son, Ash Ketchum, didn't attend school today. He already has an unexcused absence, and if he continues to receive them it can result in a suspension." The woman explained. "I hope we can get into contact to discuss this. The number to the main office is..."

Ash slapped his hand down onto the counter, startling Pikachu who had been standing on the counter beside the phone. Looking up at its trainer, Pikachu could see that Ash was disgruntled. In fact, it had never seen such an expression on Ash's face. Ash had been upset before, but this time it was different. The desperation in his eyes, he was overwhelmed.

"Pi-ka?" Pikachu asked him tentatively.

"I don't know...I don't know what I'm supposed to do Pikachu." Ash admitted, lowering his head.

He thought that he could handle everything...that he could take care of the girls, cover the bills, care for the house...be an adult.

"I don't know how Cassidy does this day in and day out." He continued, shaking his head slowly. This was only his first taste of it, and it was almost surreal how much stuff he had to juggle. It felt like the whole world had turned against him, doing everything possible to drag him down.

"Ashy!" Macy called him from the doorway, forcing Ash to push all of his thoughts to the back of his mind. She was still waiting for him.

With a sigh, Ash put his house keys back into his pocket, gave Pikachu a pat on the head and promised it that he was alright. The concern in Pikachu's eyes confirmed that his Pokemon thought otherwise, but Ash turned and left the kitchen to take Macy out.

Seated alone on a park bench, Ash watched Macy from afar as she darted around the playground with some of the other kids that were too young to start school.

Leaning back into the bench, Ash breathed out a deep sigh as he tried to empty his head. Rather than let his mind drift to his current batch of problems, he focused on the various sounds around him. The rustle of the leaves as the breeze passed through. The shouts of the children as they chased one another. The blare of a car horn as the traffic on the road began to increase.

The chirp of...a Pidgey?

Looking to his right, Ash found that one of the small bird Pokemon was perched on the bench beside him. When he made eye contact with it, the Pidgey began to tilt its head from one side to the other, closely examining him.

"Hey Pidgey, how are ya?" Ash asked it, extending his hand toward the Pokemon as an invitation for it to sit with him. Much to Ash's surprise, it jumped into his open hand and got comfortable, tweeting softly as it did so. "It must be nice in Vermilion City huh Pidgey? It's always warm here so you never have to leave.

Pidgey took a moment to readjust itself within Ash's palm before it chirped in response.

"I wish things were as simple for me as they are for you." Ash commented with a small smile, glancing down at the bird Pokemon. The Pidgey didn't have much to think about. Eat, sleep, migrate to warmer weather. It was so easy for them...the complete opposite of his life.

He still couldn't believe how complex life could be upon reaching adulthood. Taking care of people, accounting for expenses...there was so much to keep track of yet the adults he knew made it all look so simple.

Suddenly his attention was drawn to another pair of Pidgeys that had landed on the bench alongside him. They rustled their feathers a bit before settling down next to Ash who stared at them with a raised brow. Something was amiss here, but Ash soon realized why this was happening. The bird lady was approaching him along with her flock of Pidgey.

"May I?" She asked in a low voice, motioning to the bench. Ash gave her a nod, and she took a seat next to him while the Pidgey crowded around them. There had to be at least twenty of them, but Ash was impressed with how docile they were. They followed the bird lady without a command and became silent as she began to converse with him. "They've been watching you."

"Huh?" Ash said, giving her an odd look.

"The Pidgey." She stated, causing Ash to take a glance at the Pokemon that surrounded him. Each and every one of them was staring at him.

"What for?" He asked slowly.

"A lot of people don't give Pokemon enough credit. I know you respect them to some degree, but they are more empathetic than you or even I know about." She related to him. "They sensed how...anxious you are."

Ash's mouth hung open for a few moments. This was something he knew first hand through his experience with Pikachu. However, it never occurred to him that Pokemon could possess that level of empathy with total strangers.

"Wait...can you...understand them?" Ash inquired as he motioned to the Pidgey.

"To an extent." She tilted her head saying this, and some of the Pidgey mirrored her action.

"Like, to what extent?" Ash pressed.

"I don't understand them based off of their words, but rather their actions." She explained to Ash who nodded his head. "I can almost...feel, what they feel."

"So then, through the Pidgey you felt what I was feeling?" Ash asked her, and she gave a nod. "Well, that's an invasion of privacy."

The bird lady snorted at his comment, placing a hand over her mouth as she giggled for a moment.

"The Pidgey recognize you too." She added after a few moments. "Not everyone is kind enough to not interrupt us as I'm feeding them."

Ash could recall seeing a number of people walk right through the Pidgey as the bird lady was feeding them on different occasions. The lack of respect and kindness must have been infuriating. Ash had always been careful to make sure that he didn't bother them, and he had instructed Casey and Macy to do the same.

"Since you're concerned about your privacy, I won't press too far into your concerns." The bird lady said, motioning to him. Ash felt a bit guilty now since he wasn't serious about that comment.

"Oh no, I was just kidding when I said that," Ash said with a small chuckle. This was the first time he had really spoken with the bird lady, but her understanding of the Pidgey had already left a strong impression on him. He didn't mind being transparent with this woman. "I'll admit that I have a lot of my plate right now. It feels like I'm going to be crushed underneath all of it."

A brief silence set in as the bird lay seemed to be taking the time to think of a proper response.

"You know...there was a poem written about the Pidgey a long time ago. I heard it in passing many years ago, so I've forgotten a good bit of it. But there is one stanza that I'll never forget." She explained, causing Ash to straighten up. "It went like this -"

'The caged bird sings,

with its heart set ablaze,

of things now lost,

but still in its gaze,

and its voice is carried,

on the winds of change,

for the caged bird,

sings of freedom.'

Ash sat in silence now, repeating the words for himself a second time. The bird lady remained silent, allowing him some time to impress these words upon his mind.

"I know life can be overwhelming at times...but even when we feel as though we are being dragged down, sometimes the best thing we can do is think like the Pidgey. Keep everything simple, take it one day at a time, and sing when you're feeling low." The bird lady expressed with a warm smile. Ash couldn't help but smile at her suggestion.

Think like the Pidgey.

He had just been telling the Pidgey in his hand that he wished things could be simpler. Today had been rough, but tomorrow was a new day. The Pidgey didn't let anyone or anything dictate how they lived from day to day. Was that was he had to do?

"To receive the interest of the Pidgey means your heart is pure. I firmly believe that as well." The bird lady continued, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. "I hope that you overcome whatever it is that is bothering you, because I do want to see the day that you spread those gorgeous wings of yours."

Ash furrowed his brow as he looked toward her. Trying to make eye contact, Ash could see that her gaze was firmly fixated on his back, marveling at the sight of something. What was she looking at? Then their eyes met and she smiled at him.

"Come on Pidgey, let's not disturb him any longer." She said, inviting the Pokemon to follow her as she rose up from the bench. She bowed slightly to Ash and then turned to leave, the Pidgey hopping behind her. Watching as she left, Ash gasped softly as a pair of wings sprouted from her back, but they were unlike any other pair Ash had seen before. The feathers were scarlet tipped!

Only one of her wings stretched out, while the other appeared to be withered, being kept firmly folded against her back for safety.

The bird lady stopped walking for a moment, glancing over her should at Ash one more time. They made eye contact again, and she smiled a bit as her wings faded away. Then she and the Pidgey continued on their way.

Ash blinked several times, and then he raised his free hand to rub each of his eyes. Once he was certain his vision was fine, he focused on the Pidgey in his hand who was looking in the direction the bird lady had gone.

"Do you want to join them Pidgey?" Ash asked it, and Pidgey chirped in response. He raised his hand slightly, allowing Pidgey to take flight and flutter back over to the rest of the flock.

'...The caged bird, sings of freedom.'

A/N

So first and foremost, I have to give credit where credit is due.

First goes to Miss Maya Angelou for her poem 'Caged Bird.' I drew a lot of inspiration from this poem and made a brief adaptation of the last stanza of it in this chapter. All credit goes to Maya Angelou though, I own nothing!

The next shout out goes to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt and his usual work. This chapter had a lot of things for us to discuss, and he helped me fine tune a lot of different points to prepare for the upcoming chapters. Not only that but his medical know-how also helped me straighten out some of the finer details. Much thanks for your support man!

This chapter was pretty intense to write. There was a lot of different emotions I was trying to capture, and I'm hoping that they came across.

So we've now reached part three of this five-part update spree. I'll see you all at the next update and I hope you've enjoyed everything you're reading so far.

Chapter Text

Chapter 14

Tuesday, November 1st

Seated at the kitchen table, Casey found herself wide awake as she observed Ash. He was even more chipper than he was the day before as he prepared their breakfast. Ash was humming and grooving as he worked around the counter, quickly putting together a plate for each of his sisters.

"Alright, who's ready to eat?" Ash asked as he picked up a plate in each hand, turning to approach the table.

"I am!" Macy declared, kicking her feet in anticipation. Ash chuckled as he approached them, setting down the plates in front of them which caused Casey to snort at the sight of her breakfast.

"I might have been wrong about yesterday being a fluke Ash, maybe you can cook." Casey noted, earning a narrow glance from Ash.

"I'll have you know that Cassidy was the one who taught me how to cook. Any stab you take at my cooking is a stab at Cassidy's." Ash pointed out as he cut up Macy's omelet before returning her fork. "Now eat up. Your bus will be here in fifteen minutes."

Casey stuck out her tongue at him before she began to eat. Ash then fixed himself a plate and took the third seat the table, joining the girls as they ate. Casey had an appetite that was almost on par with Ash's, allowing her to devour her breakfast before she said a quick goodbye. Dashing out the kitchen to collect her bag and meet the bus, Casey made it to the front door where she found someone waiting for her outside.

Ash perked up a bit at the sound of Casey speaking with someone.

"Ash! Mr. Cheeves is here!" Casey shouted, and this caused him to pause mid chew. Mr. Cheeves? Then he remember that today was the first day of the month. Mr. Cheeves was here for the rent.

Swallowing as he rose from his seat, Ash went out to the front door where the older man was waiting for him. He smiled warmly at Ash who greeted him with a small wave.

"Morning Mr. Cheeves."

"Good morning Ash, beautiful day isn't it?" He asked Ash who nodded. "I heard there was an ambulance here the other day, is everything alright?"

"Oh yeah, everything is just fine." Ash said, giving the man a thumbs up.

"I see." He said before taking a deep breath. "Well I'd like to speak with Cassidy if she's available."

Ash shook his head in response.

"Not at the moment. She hasn't been feeling well the last few days but she told me you'd be dropping by this morning for the rent right?" Ash asked him and Mr. Cheeves confirmed with a nod. "She left me the money for you. I'll be right back with it."

"That's Cassidy for you, always thinking ahead." Mr. Cheeves pointed out with a smile which caused Ash to grin in return. Cassidy's forethought was to be praised.

Ash invited Mr. Cheeves to wait in the living room while he went upstairs to retrieve the rent money. His footsteps in the upstairs walkway caused Pikachu to perk up in its little bed, and it followed him into his room. It watched as Ash knelt down beside his bed, reaching underneath it to pull out the gray duffle bag that had been hidden away. The two of them remained silent as Ash unzipped the bag which revealed its contents.

Thousands of dollars were neatly bound together within it, along with well over thirty Potions. Seeing all of this reminded Pikachu of what they had gone through the night Ash had received this bag.

They had suffered a one sided beating from a gang of trainers that belonged to the White Lotus.

Ash sighed deeply as he went through a bundle of bills, counting out twenty-two hundred dollars for Mr. Cheeves.

"You know Pikachu, I was actually saving this money to get you a Pokeball, but I'm going to have to put that on hold for now." Ash commented as he glanced at Pikachu. It gave him a frown in return.

"Pika." It said with disdain.

"Well I have to get you one Pikachu." Ash replied. "I can't go around town with you in my backpack forever. Besides, I thought you hated hiding in my backpack."

"Pi-ka. Pikapi." Pikachu retorted as it stood up and crossed its arms.

"You can't be serious Pikachu. You're always complaining about my backpack." Ash pointed out, causing Pikachu to protest indignantly. "You can say what you want Pikachu, but I'm getting you a Pokeball as soon as I can. End of story."

Pikachu blew a raspberry at him before it scampered out of the room, leaving him to count the money one final time. Completing this task, Ash zipped up the duffle bag and tucked it underneath his bed again. On his way back to the living room, Ash made a brief stop at the hallway closet to get an envelope to put the money inside of.

"Here you go Mr. Cheeves." Ash said as he approached the man, placing the envelope in his hands. Mr. Cheeves accepted it kindly, and opened it up to check its contents. Ash could see the confusion in his expression as he looked at the money.

"Oh, you're paying in cash this time?" He asked, looking up at Ash.

"Is that a problem?" Ash asked him in return, keeping his tone neutral.

"No no at all. I'm just accustomed to Cassidy paying with a check." Mr. Cheeves explained.

"Well we're paying two month's worth this time, that's why it's in cash." Ash replied, earning a nod from the gentleman.

"Thank you very much Ash. Send my regards to Cassidy."

"Will do." Ash said as Mr. Cheeves slowly rose from the sofa. Walking Mr. Cheeves to the door, Ash waved as he left before shutting the door. He then returned to the kitchen where he found Pikachu on the table picking at his breakfast, and Macy giggling as she watched.

"Hey, back off you little moocher!" Ash yapped at Pikachu who darted off the table. Taking a seat beside Macy, the two of them finished their breakfast with some small talk of Macy's plans for the day. Her plan mainly involved watching TV and coloring like she had the day before, and Ash was completely fine with that. She would be busy for a while, which would afford him some time to make a call.

Finishing their breakfast, Ash collected their plates and cleaned them off in the sink. Meanwhile, Macy had gone to her room to retrieve her coloring book and crayons. Once she had collected these items, she returned to the living room to begin her own project as she waited for Ash.

Joining his sister in the living room, Ash took a moment to observe her laying on the floor with the book in front of her, scribbling away at a new page. She glanced back at him, and Ash raised his brow momentarily at him. She grinned a bit before looking at her book, leaving Ash to take a seat on the couch and take out his phone. He pulled up Brock in his contact list and gave him a call.

"Ash, what are you calling so early for?" Brock asked over all of the background noise at his job. The shouts of other men along with the repetitive beeping from a truck that was driving in reverse.

"Sorry man, I know you're at work but I just had to ask you a few things." Ash replied.

"It's not a big deal, I haven't gone on break yet so this will give me an excuse to." Brock responded with a chuckle. "Just give me a minute, I gotta let the guys know I'm stepping away. "

Ash could hear Brock begin to call out to someone that he would be taking his break. They exchanged some words for a bit before Brock brought the phone back to his ear to speak with Ash.

"So what's going on?" Brock inquired as he took some distance from his work, the background noise fading away as he did so.

"I went back to the hospital yesterday." Ash began, and Brock didn't waste a moment jumping into the subject.

"How's Cassidy doing?" He interjected, and he could quickly assumed that things weren't going well since Ash paused before answering.

"She's in a coma now." Ash stated, and he could hear Brock sigh deeply.

"So...what are you going to do?"

"Same thing I said Sunday. I can handle this myself." Ash insisted. "My biggest problem right now is the hospital bill. Cassidy doesn't have insurance."

"How much is it?"

"We're looking at forty thousand as the total at the end of this month." Ash stated, causing Brock to whistle over the phone.

"How are you going to get that?" Brock asked, analyzing the situation.

"Well I'm sitting on eighteen thousand dollars right now...actually I just paid two month's rent so it's down to sixteen." Ash went on. "I'll figure out how to get the money, but I just wanted to ask you something. I paid my landlord in cash and he seemed a little bothered by it. That got me thinking, a hospital wouldn't accept ten grand in cash, would they?"

There was silence in response as Brock mulled over the question. Money is money. There was no way the hospital would turn down the money from him...but at the same time there all sorts of questions they might have. Like, why does a seventeen year old boy have such a large sum of cash on hand?

"They would take it Ash, it's money after all." Brock said and Ash nodded to himself. "That's not to say that no one will be suspicious. It'd be pretty weird for you to show up with all of that money at the hospital."

"So what are you saying?" Ash asked him with a small frown. Things were getting complicated for no reason. They wanted money, and he had it. Why would it be weird that he wanted to pay them the debt they owed?

"Pay it in chunks." Brock stated. "Don't do it all at once. It'll look a little less suspicious if you paid out a bill like this over time."

"Oh, I understand what you mean." Ash said, stroking his chin with his free hand.

"I'll just give you a heads up Ash, I think it'd be smart to open a bank account at some point in the future." Brock added, but before he could explain why there was some chatter in the background. Ash could hear Brock begin to speak with someone else before groaning audibly. "Ash I gotta go for now."

"Real quick though Brock, can you watch Macy and Casey for me later today?" Ash asked quickly.

"Uhh, what time?"

"I'm working from three to eight today." Ash answered.

"Yeah, that's no problem my man."

"Awesome, I owe you one. It looks like I'll see you later then."

Ending his call with Brock, Ash returned his focus to Macy whose attention was still wrapped up in her coloring book. She was kicking her feet as she hummed softly, and Ash couldn't help but grow jealous of her ignorance. Macy had no idea what was taking place around her, and Ash wished that he could just ignore it all well. With a brief snort, Ash threw that thought of his head as he leaned over to see how Macy was doing.

"Macy~" Ash began in a nasally voice, receiving her attention. "You went out of the lines again."

"It looks better like this." She replied, causing Ash to laugh as he got off the couch to join her on the floor.

"So Macy, do you remember Brock?" Ash asked her as she put down her crayons.

"Ummm, no I don't think so." She replied after some thought. Ash knew that she had met Brock on a few occasions, but their exchanges had been very short. Perhaps tonight would be a chance for Brock to leave a lasting impression on her.

"Well he's going to be watching you and Casey tonight while I'm at work." Ash revealed to her. "Brock is really funny, I think you'll like him. But you have to promise me that you'll be good for him, okay?"

"O-kay." She replied with a nod.

"Good, now let me show you how this is done." Ash replied as he took a pair of crayons along with Macy's book.

Standing in one of the aisles within the craft store he worked at, Ash stared blankly at one of the shelves, his mind lost in the events that took place earlier today.

His return trip to the hospital had come with some positive results. Under Brock's direction, Ash decided to cover the initial bill to the hospital in three payments. Today he dropped off the first portion of that, three thousand dollars.

Meeting with Anita in the billing department again, Ash was happy to place this money directly in her hands. After counting what she had received from Ash, Anita openly admitted that she hadn't been expecting him to return so quickly. Ash responded by sharing that Cassidy would kill him for procrastinating, especially if money is involved.

He would return later this week with another three thousand dollars and keep chipping away at this bill. As he left the hospital earlier, Ash found it hard to believe that he had already spent roughly a third of the eighteen thousand dollars he had been holding onto in just two days. He was down to just under thirteen thousand, most of which was dedicated to covering the hospital bill depending on how long Cassidy remained there.

His day dragged from there as he went back home with Macy to prepare for work. Once again his school had called to let Cassidy know that he hadn't come in again. Ash ignored the message as it played, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to avoid this forever. Sooner or later he would have to decide whether he would attend school or not.

For the most part, this subject had dominated his thoughts while he was at work.

School was his biggest obstacle at the moment. As much as Cassidy reinforced the importance of education, school was nothing but a thorn in his side now. As long as he was a student, there was a limit to how much he would work during the week, and he needed to work more now. How else was he going to take care of Casey and Macy?

If he dropped out of school, he could find a day-care for Macy and start working at the craft store full-time. But would this be enough money for him to take care of everything? Not to mention the hospital bill. He needed to make more money than this.

He needed a better job...

But he was only seventeen, who was going to offer him a well-paying job?

"Don't forget what I said now. The Red Skulls are always looking for good trainers. My boss would have the final say, but if I put in a good word for you I'm sure you'll get in."

Hun, a member of the Red Skulls, had told him this just two days ago.

The Red Skulls had paid him handsomely each time he helped them. If he had done a few more jobs for them and received the same rate of pay, it wouldn't be a problem to cover their expenses. In fact, things would be easier if he worked with them more often.

So was this the best decision for him?

Ash blinked a few times, hearing someone snap their fingers beside his ear.

"Ash?" Wallace repeated, finally receiving his attention.

"Oh uh, sorry." Ash said with a chuckle, realizing that he had been staring off into space.

"Is everything alright Ash?" Wallace asked him as he motioned for Ash to follow him. Together they made their way to the back of the store where Wallace's office was located.

"Mmm, yeah." Ash replied slowly, but Wallace was too perceptive to let this slide.

"Are you sure?" He pressed, and Ash pursed his lips. "You didn't stop by to pick up your paycheck last Friday, and yesterday it slipped my mind until after you had left."

"Oh shoot, I completely forgot too." Ash exclaimed. He couldn't believe that he had forgotten about his paycheck, but with the weekend he just had, he could see how he had managed to forget.

Entering Wallace's office, Ash glanced at the clock on his desk and noticed that he only had about ten minutes left in his shift. Business was slow from the afternoon into the night, so Ash had spent almost all of this time in his thoughts. In fact he could hardly remember what he had done during his shift. Shaking his head a bit, Ash focused since he was certain that Wallace wanted to speak with him.

"Here ya go." Wallace said as he extended Ash's check toward him.

"Thanks." Ash said as he accepted the envelope and tucked it into his back pocket.

"So what's going on right now?" Wallace asked him as he went to the entrance of his office and shut the door. "You've been completely distracted today. Does this have anything to do with our discussion from yesterday?"

Ash sighed audibly and he took a moment to appreciate Wallace's concern for him.

"My mom is in the hospital." Ash began. He had never gone over the finer details of his personal life with Wallace. "I'm just trying to figure out how to take care of my sisters until she gets out."

Wallace remained silent for a moment, carefully considering what he would say next. Ash's work ethic was second to none. When he came to work, he gave it one hundred and ten percent. So with how out of it Ash seemed to be, Wallace could tell that this situation weighed heavily on his mind.

"I'm really sorry to hear that Ash. I hope everything works out for your mom." Wallace began. "I don't know if you've forgotten, but you have some vacation time saved up. Feel free to use it right now if you have to. Believe me, things will be just fine here if you take some time to yourself."

"Of course it will. You're running this place after all." Ash noted with a grin.

"Thanks." Wallace said with a nod. "But don't shrug off what I told you. If you need a day off don't hesitate to ask."

"Don't worry about it." Ash insisted, waving off his comment. "And thanks for checking on me, I really appreciate it."

Wallace gave Ash a nod as the young man left his office, heading to the break room to retrieve his belongings. As he pulled his backpack out of the locker, Ash felt his phone buzz within his pants pocket. Taking out the device, he saw that he had a message from Brock. He was waiting outside of the store.

'Aren't you supposed to be with the girls?' Ash responded as he threw his backpack over his shoulder and left the break room.

'I've got someone watching them. I thought you might want a lift back home.' Brock replied causing him to shrug his shoulders. He only lived a few blocks away from the craft store so the walk wasn't long at all, but he wouldn't make a big deal out of this. Making his way to the front of the store, Ash quickly clocked out to end his shift and stopped at one of the cashiers to cash his check. It wasn't much, one hundred and twelve dollars.

'Oof, that sucks.' Ash said to himself as he signed the check and passed it to the cashier. She quickly counted out the bills for him, which he tucked into his wallet. Giving her a wave as she left, Ash stepped out of the store and found Brock's car waiting outside the main entrance, just as he said. The base was blasting, and he could see Brock swinging his head to the music in the front seat which caused Ash to laugh openly.

Arriving at the passenger door, Ash opened up the door and as soon as he entered he places his hand on the volume knob.

"Geez Brock, why do you have to have this so loud?" Ash asked now that he could hear himself speak.

"Hey man, where's the fun in listening to music quietly?" Brock asked him in return. Ash snorted in response and motioned for Brock to start driving. Taking them out of the parking lot, Brock swung out onto the main road but Ash immediately noticed that they were heading in the opposite direction of his home.

"Where are we going?" Ash asked him.

"I just thought we'd take a little detour." Brock replied casually.

"O-kay." Ash said before leaning into his seat. Then another thought occurred to him. "So who's watching Casey and Macy?"

"Trevor wanted to talk to me so he stopped by not too long ago. I asked him to watch them while I picked you up." Brock explained, and Ash nodded. Brock shot him a quick glance as they came to a stop at a red light. "So Ash..."

"Yeah?"

"What's your plan?"

"Plan for what?"

"Don't be like that Ash." Brock stated knowingly. "You know what I'm talking about. What are you going to do with the girls if Cassidy doesn't wake up soon? There's no way you can take care of them on your own."

"What makes you say that?" Ash asked him in return, almost offended. Brock sighed in response, realizing that this was a touchy subject for Ash.

"Ash, I'm not doubting you or anything. But..." Brock paused, mulling of his thoughts briefly. Then he nodded to himself as he decided to explain himself fully. "-Okay, when my parents had me they were young, way too young. They thought they could handle it, and boy did that blow up in their face. In the end they had to live with my mom's parents until they could manage on their own because kids are expensive."

"That's no secret to me Brock." Ash retorted, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"So how do you plan to keep up with everything?" Brock asked again, causing Ash to look out of the passenger window to conceal his expression from Brock.

"I was thinking about dropping out of school."

An almost awkward silence set in, and Ash could tell that Brock was processing this idea. Ash had expected as much from his close friend. Even though Brock had his back, he knew that Brock wouldn't approve of this.

"Now before you tell me this is a bad idea, listen to this." Ash interjected before Brock could voice his concerns. "Last weekend when I worked with the Red Skulls, the guy I was with told me that they're looking for more trainers. He said he would put in a good word for me if I wanted to join, and that would get me in. If I'm working with them I'll be making a lot of money, and I'll actually be able to train consistently with Pikachu."

Seeing Brock remain silent, Ash assumed that he was seriously considering his plan.

Brock gulped audibly as he slowed down, pulling onto shoulder of the road. Hearing Ash's suggestion brought back a recent discussion with Serena.

"Brock, all of this is way too dangerous for him...you're here letting him think that it's okay to run around town with a group of thugs and their Pokemon!"

Brock sighed. Maybe...maybe he had made a mistake getting Ash involved with the Red Skulls. He had never intended for Ash to work with them full time.

"Come on Ash, you can't be serious." Brock began, causing Ash to deflate a little. "I know you're trying to do what you can, but just take a moment and step back from everything. You're what, seventeen years old? It's not your place to jeopardize your own future for your family's sake."

"Are you kidding me?" Ash exclaimed indignantly. "You're the one that's always preaching 'family over everything!' Are you seriously telling me to turn my back on them?"

"That's not what I mean Ash. I'm just saying that you're barely an adult. The family you have right now isn't your responsibility. Whether you want to admit it or not, Cassidy is the one that brought you all together. You're not in any position to pick up all of the responsibilities she had, and that's just the way it is." Brock insisted, causing Ash to exhale exasperatedly.

"So what am I supposed to do, just wait until foster care finds out that Cassidy can't take care of us so that they can come and take Casey and Macy away?" Ash asked him, his hands clenched into tight fists. "I'd sooner die than see that happen!"

"Okay, okay, let's talk hypothetically. Say you did drop out of school and joined the Red Skulls, do you know how much time you'll have to invest with them? Who is going to watch the girls for you if you have to spend some extended time with the Skulls like you do each month?" Brock listed some questions off for him, causing Ash to think of some of the finer details he hadn't considered.

How much time would he have to devote to the Red Skulls? Who would watch the girls? What if Cassidy's coma persisted and she remained in the hospital? What if he fell into debt trying to pay for this bill? How much more time would he have to give up? What would Casey and Macy say if he was hardly around all of a sudden?

"Damn it." He muttered with a defeated groan. "I-I don't know what I'm supposed to do. No matter what, it just feels like I don't have an answer for anything."

Brock spent a moment in thought, then he reached to controls of his car radio to change the song that was playing. Once it started, he began to drive again. It took a few moments for Ash to recognize the beat of song that was playing, and he couldn't deny that Brock's choice in music could be impeccable at times. He began to whisper the lyrics, but upon arriving at the chorus of the song, Ash found himself staring incredulously at Brock.

"We all need, some-body, to lean~ on!" Brock sang out in a cringe-worthy voice over the music. Ash placed a hand against his cheek and shook his head at his friend's antics. It took every ounce of his being to hide the smile on his face, but that was something Ash could always count on Brock for. Even in the worst of situations, Brock would find a way to make people smile.

As he entered his home, Ash was greeted by a familiar voice before he could even take off his shoes.

"Ashy's here!" Macy exclaimed as she came rushing out of the living room with her coloring book in hand.

"Hey Macy." Ash said to her happily as she came to a stop in front of him, and held up her book proudly.

"Look!" She declared as he reached down, accepting the book from her. Upon seeing the page she had opened to, a smile broke out on Ash's face.

"Wow Macy, you stayed in the lines this time!" Ash said as he kneeled down, beginning to ruffle her hair to heap the praise on her. Macy beamed brightly with a giggle.

"Serena helped me." She explained, and this caused Ash to raise an eyebrow.

"Serena's here?" Ash asked and Macy nodded to him. As Ash straightened up, he glanced at Brock but his friend refused to make eye contact with him.

"Let's go Ashy, she's waiting." Macy said as she tugged at the leg of his pants, motioning for him to follow her into the living room. She led him into the largest room of their home, and Ash felt his chest become tight when he saw what was waiting for him there.

All of his friends.

Serena, Shauna, Miette, Tierno, Valerie and Trevor. All of them were in his living room, seated on the floor or sofa. They had been watching a movie with Casey and Macy which they had paused now that Ash was standing into the entrance to the room, staring at them in shock.

"What's happening Ash?" Tierno asked him with a quick wave.

"A little birdie told us you needed a baby sitter tonight." Miette added, and Ash looked toward Brock once again. This time however, Brock was looking straight at him with a wide grin on his face.

Ash sucked in his lips, and then raised a hand to cover his mouth. He couldn't believe that all of his friends were here! A lump formed in his throat as he glanced around the room once more, observing each of them. He wanted to thank each and every one of them, but he didn't trust his voice. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Ash saw out of the corner of his eyes that it was Brock trying to console him.

"No need to say anything Ash, just take it easy for tonight." Brock said, motioning to the sofa. Valerie and Tierno were seated together, but they quickly made space for Ash to join them. Taking a seat, Ash leaned back into the chair with a sigh of relief, glad that this day was finally over.

Discovering Macy looking up at him expectantly, Ash scooped her up in his arms and placed her on his lap as they resumed the movie. It was a comedy, one that he was certain Tierno had picked considering how corny the first joke was. It wasn't long before Ash's eyes became heavy and then they shut for good.

"Oh my god, that's adorable." Shauna whispered, being the first to notice that Ash had fallen asleep. Macy was still seated on his lap, but she had also fallen asleep, leaning back against Ash's chest. Shauna and Miette quickly took out their phones to get a few pictures of this.

"What are you guys doing?" Serena whispered harshly at the two of them. Shauna merely stuck her tongue out, but Miette always had a response for everything.

"Hey, this could be good blackmail material down the road." Miette suggested before Ash shifted on the sofa, placing his head onto Tierno's shoulder. "Oh, it's definitely blackmail material now."

"Make sure you send me one." Tierno whispered to them, and Shauna gave him a thumbs up as a promise to do so.

Serena could only roll her eyes at the duo as they snapped several pictures of Ash. As her gaze settled onto the target of their phone cameras, Serena fought off her urge to smile at him. She was still upset with him for their last 'conversation' earlier this week.

"I know you're better than this Serena...you never let people shape your opinion, so why are you letting them tell you how you should look at me?"

No matter how much she tried to shut out that conversation, Ash's final words to her continued to invade her thoughts.

Serena had never cared what other people had thought of Pokemon. The opinion she had of Pokemon was one she had built on her own. The media had nothing to do with her thoughts. She knew firsthand how dangerous Pokemon could be, and she didn't want to see Ash become the victim of an… accident.

It didn't seem to matter what anyone said to Ash, nothing steered him away from Pokemon. In fact, it was starting to look like the opposition was only pushing him to pursue Pokemon training even more vigorously. Why was Ash so drawn to Pokemon?

Taking another look at the person in question, Serena focused on Macy and tilted her head. Even though Ash was sound asleep, he still had an arm wrapped around the small girl protectively. If there was anything Serena was certain about, it was that the women in his life meant the world to him. Serena understood that Ash wanted more money to stabilize their lives, and Pokemon training could earn him some large sums of money. Was that the reason he was throwing himself in harm's way?

Rising from her spot on the floor, Serena squeezed her way through Shauna and Miette so that she could approach Ash and Macy. Leaning over, she loosened Ash's grip on his sister, allowing her to pick up Macy. He stirred slightly, but settled back into his slumber. Now with Macy in her arms, Serena made her way to the exit of the living room before she heard the top of a marker pop off. Looking back, she saw Casey standing over Ash with a blue marker, prepared to add a few thoughtful...designs to his complexion.

"Are you guys' crazy?" Serena whispered at them, but the entire group grinned back at her. Rolling her eyes again, Serena left them, making a mental note to ask for some of those pictures later on.

Heading up to Macy's room, Serena laid her down on her bed and raised the covers over her. Macy immediately curled up beneath her covers, a few dolls accompanying her on the bed. It was just too cute for Serena to suppress a smile. Macy had no idea how lucky she was to have Ash watching over her.

Taking a glance up at the mural Ash had painted on the wall, Serena could only sigh at the masterpiece. The first time Serena had seen it was she left in awe. She was absolutely baffled by Ash's talent, and she wouldn't admit it openly but she was also envious.

"Psst, Serena."

The brunette yelped in surprise before turning to see Brock standing at the entrance to Macy's room.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"Can you come down to the kitchen, I want to talk with you." Brock stated and left before she could reply. Serena raised her brow at this.

"Sleep tight Macy." Serena said to the small girl before she rose to her feet and shut off the lamp. Heading back downstairs, Serena immediately noticed that the living room was empty now save for Ash and Casey. Ash was still sound asleep with Casey now seated next to him, watching the movie that they had started. With an expression of confusion, Serena then proceeded to the kitchen where she found everyone waiting on her. "What's going on?"

Serena looked to Miette for an answer, but she only shrugged her shoulders and pointed at Brock.

"M'kay, we have everyone here." Brock began. "So first, I want thank you guys for coming tonight."

"What's with the introduction Brock? I thought we came for a movie?" Trevor pointed out, getting a few agreements from the others.

"That's what I said. But, I actually wanted to talk with you guys all at once. About Ash." Brock said and this silenced everyone.

"I thought he was acting a bit weird." Miette noted.

"That's one way to put it. Ash is in a tough spot right now. His foster mom is in the hospital and they don't know when she might come out." Brock explained, surprising them.

"Cassidy is in the hospital?" Serena repeated with an expression of shock, and Brock nodded to her.

"Yeah, she had some kind of heart attack, and it hasn't been pretty since. So Ash is trying to watch the girls right now. Basically, he can't leave them alone. If someone finds out they don't have a legal guardian here, Casey and Macy will get taken back into foster care." Brock revealed, earning a few gasps. Serena felt her chest tighten at this prospect.

If something like this happened, she had no idea how Ash would take it.

"Macy's so cute, we can't let that happen!" Shauna exclaimed.

"That's why I called you guys here tonight. I was hoping we could… work together to help Ash out. He told me he's thinking about dropping out of school to focus on making money." Brock continued. "He thinks that, joining the Red Skulls is his best option at the moment."

Joining the Red Skulls?!

Everyone present shared a glance, realizing how grim the situation was if Ash had turned to this.

"I've heard some stories about those guys. They're not the type of crowd he should be around." Miette said disapprovingly.

"He's not thinking anymore. He just looking for the fastest way to fix his problems." Brock pointed out, and some of them gave a nod of understanding. It was easy to become shortsighted when you're overwhelmed.

Ash was poised to throw away everything if they let him go through with this.

"So what can we do for him?" Valerie asked softly causing everyone to look at her. Her usually cheerful and easy going demeanor was replaced with a stern expression, her eyes filled with valor. The situation seemed to light a fire within her. All eyes then shifted to Brock for the plan they would follow.

"The first thing he needs is an intervention. He still hasn't really decided what he's going to do, so we have a really good chance to set him straight before he can do something stupid." Brock explained, pinching the bridge of his nose as he thought about the next step. "Then I think he just needs help to watch the girls. I don't want him ditching school to watch them, so if we can work out some sort of schedule to help him I'm sure that'll make him relax some more."

Serena crossed her arms in front of her chest as she listened to Brock. She was impressed with his thoughtfulness. Brock was going to great lengths for Ash, just in an effort to help Ash look at things objectively. However, it became abundantly clear to her that Ash was keeping in close contact with Brock. She could see why Ash trusted Brock so much, but it kind of hurt to know that he wasn't willing to confide in her anymore.

"You've given this some serious thought Brock." Valerie noted, shooting Brock a kind smile. "I'll be happy to help."

"Yeah, I'm on board too!" Shauna added and soon enough Brock was smiling as almost everyone voiced their desire to help. The only person left was Serena.

Shauna glanced at her friend, a look of concern on her face. She was certain that Serena was still trying to swallow her last discussion with Ash. If there was one thing Shauna knew about Serena, it was that she wasn't a spiteful person and Serena quickly proved this to be true.

"I'll help out as best I can." She stated, and Brock beamed since everyone had agreed to help.

Ash truly had a fantastic group of friends.

"So Brock, when do you intend to talk with him?" Valeria asked curiously.

"As soon as he wakes up." Brock responded.

"Awugh, when who wakes up?"

Everyone turned to see Ash standing in the kitchen entrance, startling Serena with a yawn. An awkward silence set in as everyone started at Ash's face, seeing that a large mustache and monocle had been drawn onto his skin earlier. They had all completely forgotten about what they had done to him, and all of them had to fight off their urge to burst into a fit of laughter.

"What's the matter with you guys?" Ash asked them, confused by their stares. He began to scratch at his upper lip as he did so, which caused Valerie of all people to stifle a laugh. This small moment of weakness caused Shauna to break out in a giggle, and the laughter poured forth. Ash looked around at them in search of an answer for what had caused them to laugh. Seeing Tierno pointing at him, Ash quickly checked his clothes but they were exactly how he left them. So that left his face...

Ash stomped off to the bathroom upstairs, allowing Casey to step into the kitchen as she held her sides.

"Did you guys see him?" She asked, but Brock raised a hand motioning for everyone to quiet down. They heard Ash throw open the door to the bathroom and flip on the light to look in the mirror.

"Hey, who the hell drew on my face!?"

Laughter ensued.

A/N

I believe this was my shortest chapter since chapter three. Most of them are usually pushing 10k words, so a shorter one felt nice. The next chapter and final chapter of this story arc should be out next week. It should put a nice pretty little bow on everything before move onto a new arc, one that I'm super excited to start posting.

Again I have to give credit for my inspiration. 'Lean on Me' by Bill Withers was the foundation of this chapter as well as the following one. This song is from before my time though so if you're a younger person, the cast of 'Glee' also did a fantastic rendition of this song that does it some serious justice.

I've said this before and I'll say it again, I have an amazing beta-reader in MjrGenMatt! I can't thank him enough for all of his help!

I don't have anything else to say this time but to thank you all for reading as always and give me some feedback if you feel the urge to do so. I can't wait to see you all again, so until next time everyone, have a good one!

Chapter Text

Chapter 15

"Ugh, I can't believe you guys." Ash grumbled as he sat in his kitchen among his friends, all of which were still snickering at the prank they had pulled on him. It had taken him the better part of ten minutes to wash off the marker from his face, but he had successfully removed everything. "So what are you guys doing here?"

Upon asking his question, Ash felt the mood in the room become heavier as everyone shared glances.

"Ash...we want to talk to you." Valerie began, causing Ash to furrow his brow. He followed by raising a hand to stop her from continuing.

"Let me guess, Brock told you guys what's been going on?" Ash assumed, and judging from Shauna's expression of shock, Ash knew he was right. "Guys, I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you're trying to do, but I'm good."

"Oh please." Miette interjected with a great frown. "We're not stupid Ash. You're seventeen trying to take care of two girls by yourself. Don't you realize how ridiculous that sounds?"

Ash's expression hardened as he looked toward Miette, but this didn't deter her from continuing.

"Brock told us everything. As much as you might want to believe you've got this under control, you don't." Miette stated sternly. Tierno and Brock made a face at Miette's brutal honesty. "But...that's okay."

"Huh?" Ash said softly, giving her a look of confusion.

"I understand what you're trying to do right now Ash. You're just like everyone else. You want to show everyone that you've grown up." Miette said, and everyone paused to consider Miette's point.

Serena raised her brow as she looked toward Ash. Trying to apply what Miette said to Ash, the brunette realized that perhaps Ash was trying to prove something to someone...or maybe to himself.

"Let's face it Ash, you can't just decide that you're an adult now and say 'oh, I can handle everything.'" Miette went on, chuckling as she said this. "Believe me, I wish it was that easy. If it was, I would be off in Fuchsia City now, but that's beside the point. Things...take time sometimes, and rushing isn't always the solution."

"I agree with that one hundred percent." Valerie added and she smiled kindly at Ash as they briefly made eye contact.

"So what should I do then? If the wrong person hears that Cassidy is in the hospital, they'll take Casey and Macy from us." Ash stated as his gaze drifted to Casey who was also present in the kitchen. Clearly his only concern was his two sisters.

"Let us help you Ash." Valerie answered consolingly. "Dropping out of school, that's not a good idea. Believe me."

Looking back to Valerie, Ash caught sight of an expression he had never seen her make before. It was always so easy to maintain eye contact with her, but she was clearly distressed. Was his decision that unsettling to her?

"You don't need to be in a rush to try and prove that you're an adult." Miette continued off her last point. "I mean, just look at some of us. I'm twenty one and still asking Serena for rides everywhere."

"Yeah!" Shauna interjected, beaming as she spoke. "And I'm twenty two, I dropped out of medical school and I'm basically broke...now."

Her smiled faded as she admitted this, and then she gave a heavy sigh. Miette and Serena didn't waste a moment to comfort Shauna, placing a hand on each of her shoulders.

"Don't feel bade Shauna. I'm twenty four and still living with my parents." Brock pointed out.

"Yeah, and calling your car 'the babe magnet.'" Tierno added, earning a laugh from the group. Even though the jab had been directed at him, Brock found himself laughing as well.

"So do you get what I'm saying Ash?" Miette asked him once they had quieted down.

"That we're all pathetic?" He asked in return, sporting a grin. She leered at him playfully, but he gave her a nod. "Yeah, I know that I have the rest of my life ahead of me. But if something that I love is in jeopardy right now, I don't see why I shouldn't drop everything to protect it."

Serena watched Ash closely as he spoke. She was touched that he was so committed to his family, but she couldn't help but think back to when she and Ash had a discussion similar to the one taking place.

-X-X-

Ash and Serena had been enjoying an afternoon stroll through the park in Ash's neighborhood. It was late in the summer and the park was heavily populated, so they had journeyed over to a quieter area. They weren't the only ones to seek out a quiet place.

As they were walking, they passed a woman seated on a bench with a flock of Pidgey around her. Ash stopped to watch them. Serena followed his line of sight to the woman, but it only took her a moment to realize that Ash was focused on the Pokemon around her. Serena remained silent as he watched them, eventually coming out of his daze.

"Oh uh, sorry Serena." Ash muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "I got a bit distracted there."

"It's no problem." Serena replied now as she took a moment to study the bird Pokemon. They were all chirping noisily around the woman as she threw out a few seeds for them to peck at. Serena couldn't understand Ash's fascination with Pokemon, no matter how much she tried to wrap her head around it. "Ash, can you tell me why you're so interested in Pokemon?"

Ash invited her to join him as he went over to a nearby tree, taking a seat on the grass in the shade it provided. Once Serena was comfortable next to him, Ash began to speak.

"Because I love Pokemon." Ash began. "Like, you love to dance and perform right?"

Serena gave him a nod.

"Well think of how much you love to dance, and multiply it by ten thousand." Ash stated, and Serena stared at him incredulously which caused Ash to laugh. "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm being serious. There's nothing I love in the world more than Pokemon. Absolutely nothing."

Serena watched as he donned a smile, and she couldn't help but notice that it seemed like Ash was sparkling. He laid back onto the grass and reached upward with both of his hands toward the tree branches.

"There's people that spend their whole life working, and they get irritated with their jobs and whatnot. But then I've met people that have said if you find something you love and do it every day, you'll never work a day in your life." Ash explained to her. "I've found what I love, what I love doing, what I'm definitely going to spend the rest of my doing. And I'm not going to let anyone tell me otherwise."

-X-X-

Serena snorted audibly, impressed with Ash's consistency. He had told her that more than a year ago, and today he was still just as stubborn and hardheaded as he was back then.

"Is something the matter Serena?" Brock asked, placing all eyes on the brunette. She shook her head for a moment and looked toward Ash.

"Ash, why won't you let any of us help you?" She asked him with a strained voice. There was a lump in her throat, probably from the apprehension of engaging this subject with Ash again.

"Why?" Ash was asking himself this.

"What are you trying to prove?" Serena pressed, and Ash was surprised that she was questioning him again. They had barely made eye contact since he had come back home. Their last discussion still stung in his mind, so he thought that Serena would be ignoring him.

Ash looked down. He was trying to prove something, and Serena had picked up on it.

She could see it in his eyes. That he was trying to prove that he could do anything he put his mind to.

Everyone he knew held some sort of disdain toward his goal of becoming a Pokemon trainer. They tried to reason with him that he needed a stable future, not one where he gambled everything on Pokemon.

Ash wanted to prove to everyone that he could do this, and what better proof would there be than using Pokemon to take care of his family?

Serena, however, was wondering why Ash felt the need to validate his dream. If there was anything that she found appealing about Ash, it was the air of confidence that surrounded him. He never questioned his abilities. Any task to him was merely a question of how long would it take him to complete it. He would never consider the thought of, 'can I actually do this?'

Was all of their opposition finally breaking Ash's confidence in himself?

Serena felt a terrible weight drop on her shoulders. Was such a thing possible? That a crack had formed in Ash's unyielding confidence...that Ash might have begun to doubt himself. No, that couldn't be!

A tear escaped Serena's eye, sliding down her cheek. Everyone was surprised as she looked away from them, wiping away the tear with a sniffle.

"Serena, are you okay?" Ash asked her. She could hear the concern in his voice as her friends inched closer to her, ready to provide some support. Serena motioned for them to remain in their places, using a few moments to compose herself.

"Ash, you of all people have nothing to prove." Serena began, her voice regaining its strength. "You said it yourself, you have the rest of your life ahead of you and the world is up for grabs. Whatever you choose to do, I want to know that I...we're all here for you."

Everyone but Ash smiled brightly at Serena's statement, giving Ash a nod of agreement.

"So please...just let us help you. We don't want you to handicap your future because of a hasty decision you make right now." Serena continued, and Ash lowered his shoulders as he looked at his friend.

"I hear ya Serena." He said, nodding his head. "If you're going to cry about it, I'll stay in school."

Serena approached him and punched his shoulder, earning a laugh from Ash. Without warning she embraced him, whispering a thanks to him. Separating herself from Ash, he smiled at her, glad that they had mended the bridge between them.

Miette couldn't help but roll her eyes at the two of them. Despite most of them taking the time to try and convince Ash not to think rashly, all it took was some words from Serena to get him to pause for a moment.

"And you know what the best part is, guys?" Ash inquired as he looked around at all his friends. "We've all got the rest of our lives ahead of us, right?"

"You got that right!" Tierno exclaimed.

"So let's make a promise right now. That one day, we'll all show the world what we're made of." Ash announced, causing all of them to adorn smiles that were brimming with confidence.

"That's right!" Brock said as he took his place at the center of the kitchen. "Come on guys, bring it in, bring it in!"

Brock put out his hand, and everyone immediately understood. Reaching out, they all put one hand on top of the other as they stood in a circle. Casey was the only one who was watching, but Ash quickly made a gesture for her to join them.

"Come on Casey." Ash said to her. She looked surprised, but jumped right into their huddle.

"We all might be struggling right now, but that doesn't mean we're stuck here. One day in the future, we're going to do something amazing." Brock declared as Trevor took out his digital camera, taking a few snap shots of the group with his free hand. "So let's make it happen!"

"Yeah!" They shouted together, throwing their hands up.

Wednesday, November 2 nd

Seated on the front steps in front of his home, Ash waved to Casey as she stepped off of the bus that had dropped her home from school. She returned his wave before a call from Macy gained her attention.

Their youngest sibling had been anxiously waiting for Casey to come home to play her favorite side walk game – hopscotch.

"Let's play!" Macy exclaimed, and Casey removed her backpack and tossed it to Ash. He snorted upon catching the bag before placing it beside him on the staircase. Leaning back, he watched his sisters as they went back and forth, calling what square they would be hopping to.

With the freedom to relax, Ash fell back into the daze he had been in since last night.

He still couldn't believe that all of his friends had come at the drop of a hat to help him out. It was almost surreal how they came to his rescue. As much as he wanted to deny it, Ash had been feeling very helpless. He had no idea what was the right course of action that would ensure the safety of his family. Thankfully, his friends had gifted him with all of the help in the world.

After their conversation last night, everyone had worked out a schedule to help Ash watch the girls. They would be watching Macy in shifts while Ash was in school, and everyone was willing and able to help out when he had to go work. Surprisingly, Shauna took on the bulk of the night shifts, revealing to everyone that she had nothing better to do during most weeknights.

Ash openly stated that he was indebted to all of them, insisting that he would find a way to pay them back for all of their time and energy. Of course his friends declined, but Ash wasn't going to let them sweep this under the rug. He would think of something to surprise them.

Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to implement this schedule until Friday afternoon at the earliest. All of them had prior commitments for this week which Ash could understand, but it meant that he would be missing a few more days of school, not that he really cared. The extra time with Macy was proving to be delightful, though Ash had to admit that he was seeing a side of the girl he wasn't accustomed to seeing. Cassidy had her work cut out for her trying to entertain Macy all day every day.

Feeling someone drop down beside him, Ash exited his thoughts and glanced at Casey. She raised her brow briefly at him before they looked back at Macy who was working through her hopscotch course once again.

"I'm glad you're starting to relax a little." Casey noted softly.

"Was I that obvious?" Ash asked her in return, and she gave him a large nod.

"I was a little nervous. All I could do was hope you didn't do anything stupid." Casey pointed out, shooting him a smirk.

Ash flicked her shoulder in response before exhaling loudly. Casey was definitely right. For three days, it felt like he had been holding his breath. Now he could breathe easy and it was all thanks to-

"Ash, your friends are awesome." Casey stated, and Ash beamed at this.

"They really are."

Friday, November 4 th

"Commençons mes étudiants." Fantina declared to her students, motioning for them to begin working. She had just finished explaining what their assignment for this class period, also mentioning that since it was Friday she would allow them ten minutes of free time near the end of class.

Fantina smiled with satisfaction as her students became absorbed in their work with just the occasional bit of small talk. Now she could move on to her next order of business, attendance. Returning to her desk, Fantina began to look down her attendance sheet on her computer. Running down the list quickly, it didn't take Fantina long to arrive at her first and only absent student.

Monsieur Ketchum.

He had been missing for the entirety of this school week now, and she missed his company during her free periods. Ash enjoyed listening to her experiences from when she lived in Kalos and Sinnoh, and it gave Fantina ample opportunity to keep practicing her English.

Little did Fantina know that she wasn't the only one missing Ash's company.

Dawn found herself looking toward the back of the class room for the fifth time already this class period. Rolling her eyes, Dawn had to remind herself that doing this wouldn't suddenly make Ash appear in his seat. With a sigh, the bluenette returned to her work, though her actions did not go unnoticed by her partner, May.

"Sheesh, do you miss him that much?" May asked her in a whisper. Dawn cheeks began to heat up at May's suggestion, but she couldn't deny that she missed Ash. It felt strange not sharing a good portion of her day with him. She enjoyed exchanging thoughts with him, in fact their thoughts always seemed to be in line with each other's.

"I'm just used to having him around, that's all." Dawn retorted.

"Oh, so he's like a pet to you?" May asked, earning a sharp leer from Dawn.

"May!" She exclaimed without any forethought which caused Fantina to shush her.

The brunette snickered as Dawn sunk into her seat, apologizing to Fantina for the volume of her voice.

"So how about this Dawn, let's go visit him after school today." May suggested quietly, earning a narrow glance from Dawn.

"We can't just show up at his house." Dawn said, causing May to look at her funny.

"Why not, I show up at your house all the time."

"I mean...we should at least call him first or something." Dawn reasoned. She had never been comfortable going to someone's house unannounced. Not even May's home.

"Fine, I'll give him a call later." May said as she rolled her eyes. "What time do you want to meet up later?"

"Uh...I got something to take care of after school first. Are you cool with waiting for me?"

"Dawn you're lucky I'm such a great friend." May said through pursued lips. Dawn deadpanned in response, causing May to grin at her. "O-kay, we can meet at my car. I'm parked by the field today."

Their Friday afternoons usually consisted going out to a popular cafe on the east side of town, but today they had some different plans.

Dawn looked out the passenger window of May's car as they pulled up alongside Ash's house. She had been here on three separate occasions now, but she still felt uncomfortable as May turned off the engine of her car.

This unease bubbled in her chest for one primary reason. Ash hadn't answered any of their calls.

Dawn didn't like the thought of them knocking on his door without any prior notice, but it seemed like that was their only option. The bluenette was worried about him since he had been missing all week. At the very least, Dawn wanted to know that he if he was alright.

"Come on Dawn." May said, tapping her knuckles against the window of Dawn's door. May was already outside of the car, waiting for her friend to join her. Releasing her seat belt, Dawn got out of the car with a sheepish laugh and shut the door. Once May locked up her car, they went up the small staircase to the front door where knocked on the door frame without any hesitation.

Dawn was thankful that May was here to do just this. Dawn was positive that she would've frozen up in front of the door. The last thing she needed to do was look suspicious outside of Ash's house.

There was a click and the front door opened. May was at a loss for words at the sight of the person who had answered the door. Her eyes became wide at the sight of some short blue hair. May had always thought that Dawn and Johanna were the only people with blue hair in all of Vermilion City, but apparently there were others.

"Oh, you're one of Ash's friends right? I think I met you that night at the train station." Dawn said as she looked at the young woman thoughtfully.

"I'm Miette. And I remember you too, but you'll have to remind me of your name." Miette said as she looked at Dawn.

"Dawn."

"That's right. So how have you been Dawn?" Miette inquired, emphasizing Dawn's name to commit it to memory.

"I've been pretty good." Dawn replied calmly. "And yourself?"

"I can't complain." Miette said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"So what are you doing here?" Miette asked before a silence could set in now that they had gone through the formalities.

"Oh well, this is my friend May." Dawn said, introducing the brunette beside her. Miette spared May a glance, but she was far more interested in why Dawn was here. Recalling the last time she had spoken to Dawn, Miette had a sneaky suspicion that Dawn wanted to be more than just friends with Ash. "We're here to check on Ash actually. He hasn't come to school all week so we thought it might be good idea to see if he's okay."

Miette raised her brow at the two of them, a small smile forming on her face.

"Wow, Ash has some cool friends." Miette noted but she frowned as she began to share some bad news. "He's not here at the moment. He went to work like an hour ago."

"Has he been working all week or something?" May asked. Miette shook her head which prompted another question from May. "So then why hasn't he been coming to school?"

Miette took a moment to glance at each of the girls, sizing them up. She was impressed that they were willing to go out of their own way to come check on Ash, especially on a Friday afternoon. They could have been getting a head start on their weekend, but instead they had come to check on their friend. Miette gave a small nod and stepped aside, inviting them to enter Ash's home.

"Come on in. I want to talk with the two of you." Miette said, causing Dawn and May to share a tentative glance before they complied. Stepping into Ash's house, they removed their shoes while Miette shut the door. This audio cue sparked a shout from the living room nearby.

"Miette, who was at the door?" A voice called out.

"Some girls that know Ash." Miette hollered back.

"Are they gone?" The voice continued as it drew closer. Dawn looked at the entrance to the living room when Serena stepped out of it. Serena blushed out of embarrassment as she saw Dawn and May standing with Miette who had a devilish grin on her face. "Miette, why didn't you say you invited them in?"

Miette stuck her tongue out at Serena and then motioned for the girls to follow her into the living room. As the four of them entered the room, they were greeted by a small girl in the middle of the room who was laying on the floor, scribbling away at a coloring book.

"Hi~!" Macy bellowed at Dawn and May. Her gaze settled on Dawn, and she put down her crayons to focus on the bluenette.

"Do you remember me Macy?" Dawn asked as she and May approached the girl.

"Yeah, you were with Ashy at the party!" She declared.

"Party?" May and Miette asked together, giving Dawn a curious glance.

"Remember the block party last month. I went with Ash and his sisters." Dawn explained.

"Oh, your date." May said slyly, earning a light elbow from Dawn. May laughed before she kneeled down beside Macy. "So what are you up to sweetheart?"

Macy quickly picked up her coloring book from the floor and lifted it proudly for May to see.

"I'm drawing like Ashy!" Macy explained to them as Macy accepted the book, beginning to examine some of the pages she had colored. "Ashy's really good. I'm gonna draw like him."

"Aww, that's adorable." May exclaimed with a bright smile for Macy. "And your right, Ashy is really good at drawing. He's amazing."

"The best!" Macy added, causing May to laugh. She could already tell that Macy had placed Ash on the highest pedestal and she absolutely loved the name this small girl called him. It was just the cutest thing!

While Dawn and May spoke with Macy, Serena and Miette remained at the entrance of the living room where they held a quiet conversation.

"What did you invite them in for?" Serena asked Miette.

"They came to visit Ash. I wasn't going to send them away." Miette responded, but Serena gave her a narrow glance. Miette wasn't kind to strangers or people she hardly knew. May and Dawn fit each category respectively, so that left Serena to assume that Miette had hatched some sort of plan.

"What are you thinking Miette?" Serena asked her skeptically.

"Nothing." Miette replied, making a face at Serena. "Do you have a problem with me being nice?"

"Not at all...it's just that-" Serena began.

"I'm trying to be hospitable." Miette interjected.

"This isn't your house." Serena pointed out.

"I'm practicing for the day I decide to open up my home." Miette retorted. "Now help me out. Fix up some of that iced tea Shauna made."

"Ugh, I'm not your servant Miette." Serena said as she rolled her eyes. Miette only smirked at her, and with a grumble Serena complied with her request. As Serena left for the kitchen, Miette joined the chatter around Macy in the living room.

Entering the kitchen, Serena went through each of the cabinets above the counter in search of the cups. It had been so long since she really spent time at Ash's house that she had forgotten where they put everything. Eventually she found a pair of glasses, and she quickly retrieved the pitcher of iced tea from the fridge.

As she poured each glass, Serena heard a shout from the living room.

"He's going to do what?!" May barked, and it didn't take long for Serena to piece together what they must have been talking about. Ash's business.

Putting away the pitcher with haste, Serena snatched up the two glasses from the counter and went back to the living room. Entering the room, she found the three of them seated on the sofa with Miette blabbering about Ash's personal life.

"That's why we're here. We're watching his sisters for him while he's-"

"Miette!" Serena said sharply, interrupting Miette before she could go any farther. "Can I speak to you in the kitchen?"

"Yeah when I'm done." Miette responded as Serena gave Dawn and May their drinks.

"No, right now." Serena stated in a low voice.

Miette pursed her lips, realizing that she was in trouble. Rising from the sofa with a sullen expression, she followed Serena out of the room. Once they were in the kitchen, Serena turned around to look at her friend intently.

"Miette, did you really just put all of Ash's business out there?" Serena asked her incredulously. She was honestly amazed that Miette had no problem talking about someone else's personal struggles without a care in the world.

"Okay, before you get upset...in my defense, I thought it would be worth it tell them." Miette replied. Serena waited for a moment to see if she would continue, but Miette didn't go any farther.

"So what made you think that it would be a good idea?" Serena asked her, but Miette remained silent. "Miette? Are you really giving me the silent treatment now?"

Miette stuck her tongue out at Serena once again, causing her to puff out her cheeks with a huff. Miette could be so frustrating sometimes that Serena just wanted to pull her hair out!

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Serena asked as Miette left the kitchen, returning to the living room. As she walked down the corridor, Miette looked back at Serena to stick her tongue out once again, further irritating Serena. "Ugh, you know you're the worst sometimes Miette!"

Following her back to the living room, Serena found that both Dawn and May had approached her friend to speak with her.

"We want to help out Ash." Dawn stated.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" May asked as well.

Both of them were anxious to get an answer from Miette, but she directed them to Serena. They practically jumped Serena which earned a snort from Miette.

Serena was taken aback by their sudden declaration, and it took a moment for her to process everything. There were two high school girls offering their free time to help Ash with his problems. Serena had a hard time imagining herself doing this when she was their age, not that she was selfish. There were so many other things she would have preferred to do, and she was certain that Dawn and May had similar thought processes. Yet they were willing to sacrifice that bit of freedom they had for Ash.

Serena was left to assume that Ash must have left a lasting impression on these girls.

"Uh, to be honest, you'll have to talk to Ash when he gets back." Serena answered them after a few moments.

"That's no problem, we'll wait." May said and Dawn nodded in agreement. Serena glanced at Miette now, and she saw the smirk Miette was wearing. It was then that she realized why Miette had been so open about Ash with them. They cared for Ash, not just as a peer, but as a person and friend.

Arriving at his home from work at t eight fifteen, Ash had been expecting to meet the people that he had left there when he went to work. However, he returned to some extra guests, though he was pleasantly surprised to see the duo that was waiting for him in his living room. Dawn and May.

"What are you guys doing here?" Ash asked as he blinked a few times. At first he had been wondering if it was truly them. It had been almost a full week since he had last seen then, so he had been looking forward to seeing them again at school. Fortunately they saved him the trouble of waiting through the weekend for next Monday.

"You didn't come to school all week. We thought you were sick." Dawn began.

"You had us really worried, ya know." May added, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"So we came to see if you were okay." Dawn continued.

"And we met Serena and Miette, or at least I did." May went on. "And they filled us in on what's been going on with you."

Ash looked toward the two young women that May had mentioned, furrowing his brow at them. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about what they had done because they weren't the first to do this. At this point it seemed like everyone was going to know at some point whether he wanted them to or not.

"Don't get upset with them. They didn't want to tell us but we pried the information out of them." May declared, and Ash gave her a look filled with skepticism. He knew for a fact that Serena could be trusted with a secret. Miette, however, was so unpredictable. She could've told them everything for all he knew...or perhaps May and Dawn had pulled off a fantastic good cop-bad cop routine to get the information out of them. Ash shook his head, laughing inwardly at the thought of Dawn and May interrogating Miette.

"So we want to help you Ash." Dawn finished as she and May made eye contact with him. He stood baffled for a moment at their offer.

"Why?" He blurted out with a confused expression. "Don't take that the wrong way, it's just that you guys are, like, just getting to know me."

"And?" May asked him pointedly. "That's no reason to ignore someone I know that needs help."

Ash was still in the process of getting to know May since their first meeting almost two months ago. He was impressed with her initially, taking the time to speak with him one on one in an effort to get to know him better. She was very personable, but it didn't take him long to realize that could also be very indecisive. As he looked at her know, he was filled with admiration for how proactive she was being. She and Dawn had come her to help him, and he wasn't in a position to refuse either.

"Much respect May." Ash said as he approached the two of them, extending a closed fist to May. She looked at him for a moment before bumping fists with him, beaming proudly. Ash then moved his hand over to Dawn, motioning for her to do the same. "I can't thank you two enough for offering to help me. You guys-err, girls, you rock."

"Aww, thanks Ashy." May said, shooting him a wink. How May referred to him caused Ash to stare at her in a deadpan, causing the others to stifle a laugh.

"Since you're on board, you have to exchange numbers with us so we can call you guys." Miette said now, taking control of the conversation.

"And I'll give you Shauna's number too. Macy can be a bit of a handful so if you two ever end up watching her on your own, you can give Shauna a call for help." Serena explained as the four of them took out their phones, beginning to trade their contact information.

"Ash, your sister is so adorable! I used to babysit my younger brother too so I'd love to watch her for you." May revealed to Ash. "And if you ever need a ride to work or home from school just let me know, I'd be happy to give you a lift."

Ash couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Just a few days ago he had been struggling to figure out all of this, and now everything just seemed to be falling into place. Things were finally looking up for him.

Seeing Ash smile at the news May shared with him, Dawn couldn't help but feel a little distant at the moment. This afternoon had been more eventful than either she or May had been expecting. Their discussion with Serena and Miette had revealed quite a bit of information to them. Like Ash's foster mother being left in a coma after a heart attack which left Ash to look after his younger sisters. That explained why he had been skipping school.

That was just the beginning. Miette had told them all of the details. That Ash had been thinking about dropping out of school to join the Red Skulls. Neither Dawn nor May could believe that he was willing to do all of this, so they jumped at the opportunity to help him out if it would help him maintain his current lifestyle. May had instantly thought of all sorts of things she could do to help Ash, but Dawn was struggling. She could help him watching his sisters, but she wanted to do more than just that. What else could she offer besides her time?

Saturday, November 5 th

Ash sat back lazily on the couch in his living room, stroking Pikachu's back as it rested on his lap. It was past ten o'clock in the morning and Ash was content for the most part. Casey was sleeping in late, and Macy was absorbed in a cartoon so this left him with time to just sit and think.

The past week had been unlike anything Ash had ever experienced. Looking back on it now, he couldn't believe some of the decisions that he was prepared to make. He was actually considering dropping out of school. Ash shook his head, amazed that he had convinced himself that this was a viable choice. He had chosen to ignore the repercussions in favor addressing the issue at hand, but now that he had some time to relax, he allowed his mind to wander.

What would Cassidy say to him?

"Are you out of your damn mind?!" "Get your ass back down to that school and I don't care who you have to beg, or how many asses you have to kiss, don't come back here until you've been re-enrolled!"

Ash wanted to chuckle at the mental image of Cassidy losing her temper in such a fashion, but the woman had a tough side that normally went unseen. He had witnessed it just once, years ago, and he feared the thought of that anger being directed at him. It wasn't just her anger that worried him though, he was certain that her disappointment in him would far outweigh the initial anger.

Then there was Casey.

"Well if you're not going to school then neither am I!"

Convincing Casey to go to school was a challenge in itself. If Ash had stopped attending school for good, regardless of the circumstances, there was no way that Casey would continue going either. Ash was trying to fill in as an authority figure, but he knew that Casey wouldn't look at him that way. He was a brother to her, but also an equal. Despite being older, Casey didn't view him as her superior. As long as Cassidy wasn't here, Ash would have to do everything he could to keep her household in order. He paled at the thought of what Cassidy might do to him if Casey also dropped out of school.

"Ash!" Casey hollered, snapping him out of his thoughts. Glancing at the entrance to the living room, he spotted the girl standing there still dressed in her pajamas. "What's for breakfast?"

"I got your plate on the counter, just warm it up." Ash replied, motioning to the kitchen with his head.

"Thanks." She said softly before heading off. Ash exhaled, causing Pikachu to open one of its eyes to take a peek at him.

"Pi?" It asked him, rising up a bit.

"Oh no, nothing to worry about here Pikachu. I'm good." Ash assured his partner, looking directly into its eyes. They shared a moment, and Pikachu was satisfied with this before it flopped back down on his lap, allowing him to continue the massage.

Looking at Macy who was seated in front of the television, Ash was left to wonder what she would think of his choices.

"Hooray, Ashy's home again!"

Ash snorted, enjoying the idea of spending more time with Macy. She had been delighted to have him home most of the time during this past week. If he joined the Red Skulls there was no telling what kind of work schedule he might receive from them. Ash thought about what it would be like to work with the Red Skulls full time. If a small job with them took a whole weekend to complete, then they were likely expecting a huge time commitment from someone that wanted to work with them full time. Macy wouldn't be happy about that if he was hardly home.

If there was one thing that had truly surprised him this week, it was Macy. At this point he was expecting her to calling for Cassidy all the time, but the small girl seemed to be doing just fine without her foster mother. Ash wasn't sure how much longer this would continue, but his all of his friends watching Macy each day would hopefully be a good distraction for her. At least until they got some news about Cassidy.

But, what was he going to do after that?

Regardless of Cassidy's condition, Ash wanted a concrete means to take care of them. His part time job wasn't going to cut it, and joining the Red Skulls was off the table now. What was he going to do?

Pikachu perked up on his lap, its ears raised. A few moments later the doorbell rang, causing Ash to smirk at Pikachu's sense of hearing.

"Excuse me Pikachu." Ash said, and his Pokemon hopped off his lap so that he could rise up. Pikachu scampered off behind the couch, staying out of sight while Ash went to answer the door. Upon opening the front door, it took a moment for it to register in Ash's mind that he was staring at Dawn.

"Um...hi, Ash." She began with a small wave. It was clear that she wasn't quite sure what she wanted to say, failing to even make eye contact with Ash which afforded him some time to gain his composure.

"What are you doing here Dawn?" Ash inquired, opening the door completely. This allowed Ash to see the blue car parked in front of his house. Seated in the driver's seat was May which further piqued Ash's curiosity.

"Umm...well first I'm sorry for dropping by without calling." Dawn continued, her cheeks reddening as she admitted this. "I just uh, wanted to give you this."

Revealing her other hand which had been hidden behind her back, she extended an envelope to Ash. He raised his eyebrows as he accepted it from her.

"It's...just go ahead and open it." She said finally, motioning for him to look in it.

The envelope wasn't sealed, giving Ash easy access. There was a small slip of paper within it, which Ash quickly recognized as a check after a glance. A check for...five thousand dollars.

Ash blinked a few times, reading and re-reading the amount of money that this check was for. Signed by Dawn Berlitz, it was official.

"Dawn I…can't accept this." Ash breathed out in response, looking toward her eyes now. He was immediately filled with regret though as Dawn's hopeful expression shattered, being replaced by disappointment.

"Please." She begged him. He wanted to give this money back to her. He couldn't accept this much money from her, no matter how much he wanted and needed it.

"Dawn, you've already agreed to help me look after the girls. I couldn't ask for anything else from you." Ash reasoned with her, but this didn't seem to satisfy her.

"You don't have to ask for this Ash. I'm giving this to you." Dawn replied sternly.

"This is a lot of money-"

"No it isn't, not for me Ash. So please, just take it." She insisted. "There are no strings attached or anything. I just want you to have this to help out a bit…to keep things smooth for you."

Ash was hesitant to agree to this. On one hand, he was absolutely floored that she was actually giving him this money. The day he had first met her, she had also offered him money, but he had thought she was merely making the offer for show. Now that she had placed a check in his hands, he was honestly dumbfounded. Ash felt a wave of guilt hit him for questioning Dawn's generosity when they first met. Looking into her eyes once again, he saw that a tear was threatening to escape.

Looking at Dawn in this particular moment suddenly reminded Ash of the song Nando had played at his recital almost two weeks ago. He was reminded of the strong feelings Nando held for this girl, and Ash felt his heart skip a beat as he fully understood Nando's feelings.

Dawn was truly one of a kind.

"I just want to help Ash. May and...all your friends are doing everything they can. I've been trying to think of what I can do, but I couldn't think of anything. I didn't know what else I could do to help you Ash." Dawn explained to him, her voice distressed. "I can't sit around knowing that I could've done something to help you and didn't-"

Dawn was caught off guard as Ash embraced her, her face reddening dramatically. Down in her car, May broke out in a huge smile as saw Ash absorb Dawn in a hug.

"Thank you." Ash said softly to Dawn. He separated from her, and looked at her square in the face. "Thank you so much Dawn. I promise you that this money will go to good use."

Silence set in between them. Dawn couldn't find her voice, and Ash was unsure of what to say next. Lucky for them, there was someone else who had a good idea. May tooted the horn of her car, causing the two of them to glance back at her.

"Come on Dawn, I got Drew waiting for me!" May proclaimed after she had rolled down the window. This caused Ash and Dawn to laugh as they relaxed.

"So will I see you Monday?" Dawn asked him, looking back at him.

"That's the plan." He replied with a nod, and Dawn sighed with relief, wiping away the tear that had slid down her cheek.

"Great, I'll see you there-I mean, we'll see you there." Dawn corrected herself with a nervous laugh, motioning toward May.

"I'm looking forward to it." Ash replied with a grin.

Dawn returned his smile and left with a wave. As she got to the car and opened her passenger door, May felt the need to add in her own two cents.

"Ash, I had better see you at school on Monday. If you're not there, just remember I know where you live~!" The brunette hollered, earning a loud laugh from Ash. Dawn rolled her eyes as she got into the car, quickly putting on her seat belt before May drove off. Ash waved to them as they left, remaining on his porch until they left his line of sight. His smile soon faded once they were gone because one question still remained on his mind.

What was he going to do after this?

Sunday, November 6 th

"Don't go too far now!" Ash hollered at Casey and Macy as they two of them dashed off into the sandy beaches.

Brock had dropped by late in the afternoon offering to take Ash and the girls down to beaches on the southern strip of Vermilion City. Upon arriving there the girls wasted no time removing their shoes and running out onto the sandy dunes. Ash and Brock remained with the car in the parking lot that was situated right by the beach, placing them in a prime location to watch over the girls.

"So how are you holding up?" Brock asked him as the two of them took a seat on the hood of his car. Ash appreciated how Brock had been checking on him daily. In fact, if it weren't for Brock checking on him so much during this week, Ash was certain he would've acted upon some of the thoughts he had. Brock had been helping him keep his grip on reality until his friends helped him take hold of his life once again.

"I'm good. I'm good." Ash said twice with a nod, once to assure Brock and a second time to assure himself.

"And Cassidy, any news on her?" Brock inquired.

"I got a phone call yesterday actually. They removed her from intensive care…but she hasn't woken up yet." Ash explained, and Brock frowned at this answer. "Basically they just told me to adjust to not having her around."

"Man that's rough." Brock commented, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder.

"Well with all of you guys helping us out, I'm not that worried." Ash stated, giving Brock a small grin. His expression became neutral as he looked out at Casey and Macy running through the sand. "The real problem, is that the hospital bill will keep getting bigger the longer she stays there."

Brock scrunched up his nose as this settled into his mind. The possibility of this bill reaching enormous proportions was very real.

"I hardly have enough money to cover what the bill had reached already. At this rate I'm gonna have to get rich overnight or go into debt." Ash paused, taking a deep breath. "And if we go into debt they'll find out Cassidy isn't paying which will tip off foster care that she's not fulfilling her responsibilities. Then if they investigate they'll find out that Cassidy hasn't been watching us and they'll take Casey and Macy."

Brock eyed Ash's hands, seeing that he was wringing them out of apprehension. This wasn't the first time he had shared this news, but it was clearly evident how much this thought terrified Ash. He didn't want to lose his siblings, no matter the cost to himself.

"Don't worry, we won't let that happen." Brock stated. He could sympathize with Ash. Brock had a large family, and if anyone threatened them, he would stop at nothing to protect them.

"But what can I do? I'm not going to land some big time job. I can't join the Red Skulls. Where am I going to get that kind of money to pay the hospital?" Ash asked as he looked toward Brock. Upon seeing his friend don a smirk, Ash realized that Brock had an answer. "What are you thinking?"

Brock's smirk seemed to grow in response to Ash's skepticism.

"Have you thought about going pro?" Brock asked, causing Ash to stare at him blankly.

Going pro...as in becoming a professional Pokemon trainer. The title wasn't quite as extravagant as it sounded considering the profession was done almost entirely in secret.

To become a professional trainer took two things. One was the approval of the commissioner of the underground circuit. The man responsible for creating a circuit that had attracted the strongest trainers in the world, establishing a battle ground for them to compete with one another. He determined who could participate in this circuit.

The second requirement was a sponsor. Running the underground circuit took an incredible amount of funding. Not only that, but Pokemon battles had gained quite a bit of traction in the wealthy community of Vermilion City. They began to place bets on matches, turning these battles into a large gambling scene. As one's reputation grew in the circuit, trainers could find large sums of money being place on, or against them. Sponsors would match the bets against their trainers, only needing to pay a portion of that sum if their trainer lost. Victory though, would lead to a substantial payday, one where a trainer could go from rags to riches overnight.

"How Brock?" Ash asked, breaking the silence that had set in. "I've never even seen the commissioner to talked to him. How would I convince him to let me in?"

"Ash my man, you just leave that to me." Brock said with a sense of certainty. Ash could feel the confidence radiating from his friend, and his doubts seemed to melt away. If there was anyone that could pull off a miracle like that, it was Brock. "If you're going pro, Ash, you're going to have to train a lot more."

"No kidding. I hardly have enough time to train as it is. I don't think I could make more time." Ash pointed out.

"Ash what did I just tell you?" Brock asked him as dug into one of his pockets. He pulled out an envelope and Ash felt his chest become tight.

"You too?" Ash exclaimed.

"Me too?" Brock asked in return. "What are you talking about?"

"Uh…nothing." Ash replied, shaking his head.

"I've got a little something here for you. It's not much." Brock said as he passed the envelope to Ash who opened it. Inside was several large dollar bills which Ash didn't take the time to count. He couldn't believe that Brock had given him money as well. "It's what I've saved up since the summer. This should be enough to carry you for a while."

"Brock no, I-I can't take this." Ash replied, trying to return the envelope to Brock. In response Brock raised his hands, refusing to take it back.

"Just hear me out real quick." Brock began. "I know how much you want to become a Pokemon trainer and…I really wanted to see you become one too. But looking back on it, I feel like I kind of pointed you in the wrong direction. I should've never told you to start working with the Red Skulls because…that's not the crowd of trainers you belong with. You're a competitor, not some hoodlum."

"But Brock-" Ash interjected, but his motioned for him to keep quiet. Brock sighed, lowering his head before he continued.

"I know what you're going to say Ash, but that won't change the truth. The Red Skulls do some shady stuff. My thoughts were clouded because I wanted to see you progress. It was faster and easier for you to meet and battle trainers working with the Red Skulls. But you were getting hurt, and it took me too long to realize that...that isn't the life for you." Brock went on.

"If anything happens to Ash…I'll never forgive you Brock."

Serena's warning should've helped him realize where Ash was headed.

Brock was just glad that Ash didn't commit to the Red Skulls. This gave him with a chance to right this ship.

"Take that money Ash." Brock said, looking directly at his buddy. "Quit your job, and focus on training. That way when the commissioner approves you as a professional trainer, you'll be ready to take on anyone in this city."

"Brock man …you-" Ash's voice faltered, causing him to look away from Brock. He sucked in lips, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

Brock was truly the best friend he could have asked for, and this moment of reflection caused a smile to form on Ash's face. With a sniffle, Ash looked toward his best friend, grateful to know such an awesome person.

Seeing Ash's smile, Brock felt as though it was contagious as he started beaming as well. He then raised a closed fist toward Ash.

"Dude, let's make this happen." Brock stated, and Ash gave him a nod, tapping his knuckles against Brock's.

"You bet."

A/N

So that wraps up this story arc, though it became a lot longer than when I had originally written it. There were all kinds of hints and motives I've tucked into the last few chapters for future events that I'm looking forward to uploading.

The question still remains if Cassidy will recover, and what could happen to the girls. But at the very least Ash has the comfort of knowing his friends have his back. What more could you ask for when the going gets tough?

Now the focus of the last few chapters surrounded the repercussions of Cassidy getting sick, so a lot of other subjects took the backseat for a while. Rest assured, the story will pick back up in the next chapter now that Ash has his sights set on joining the underground circuit. Starting from here things really get moving so I hope you're prepared to start exploring all of the twists and turns I have prepared for you guys.

Give me some feed back on...anything really, all of it is appreciated. If you wanna talk feel free to PM me, its always my pleasure!

Gotta give a shout-out to my beta-reader MjrGenMatt. This guy was a monster keeping up with me and all the work I gave him lol the past couple of months.

So just a heads up for everyone, that was the last chapter that I had prepped for a fast upload. I did my best to give you guys a new chapter once a week for the last month or so, and unfortunately that's not a pace I can maintain. In fact I'll admit that I killed the buffer chapters I had been holding onto just to do this. I'll be returning to my original schedule of roughly one update a month, maybe twice if I have the time. On the plus side, chapter 16 is already being polished between my beta and myself, so it'll be up soon.

It's been a blast guys, I'll see you all at the next update. Stay cool if you can and enjoy the summer!

Chapter Text

Saturday, November 12th

5:00am.

The blare of his digital alarm clock assaulted Ash’s eardrums to mark the start of his day.  He responded hastily and shut off the alarm to silence the racket before it could awaken the girls down the hall. 

"Pi-kaaaa,” Pikachu groaned, his tiny paws raised to cover his ears as protection.

“Sorry buddy, I’m not a fan of how it sounds either.  But I need it to wake me up in the morning,” Ash reasoned with his partner.

Pikachu released the hold on his ears and they stood upright. “Pika-Pikachu,” Pikachu suggested with a smirk and a glint in his eyes.  His cheeks crackled as though he was ready to demonstrate his suggestion.

“How about no,” Ash declined the offer. “Now come on, let’s finish warming up.”

They returned to their morning routine of stretches.  They twisted their sides, stretched out their arms, and performed a few lunges to get their blood circulating.  Once complete, the duo shared a glance and a nod of agreement.  It was time to get going.

Ash stopped by his bedroom window and peered out of it.  The skies were still in a darkened state, awaiting the sun to grace it with its presence.  There was still about an hour and a half before sunrise, which gave them plenty of time to reach the outskirts of Vermilion City.  That still wasn't an excuse to dilly-dally.  Ash grabbed the sweater from his bed and threw it over his body.  Then he snatched up his backpack and hat, and along with Pikachu, they crept down to the kitchen.

Once there, Ash obtained a pen and paper to write a note for Shauna, who was still sound asleep in the living room.

Dear Shauna,

Pikachu and I will be out for the day.  We should be back sometime this evening.  Thanks for watching the girls for me, and you're free to help yourself to anything you see in the fridge or pantry.

Ash.

After signing his name, Ash also had Pikachu place his paw on the bottom of the page and Ash traced an outline of it.  They shared one more nod and posted the note on the fridge.

“Let’s get moving, Pikachu,” Ash said as they made their way to the front door.  Ash checked the living room for Shauna one more time.  She was splayed out on the couch and her covers concealed the rug on the floor rather than Shauna herself.  Ash rolled his eyes but waved anyway.

He jumped into his sneakers, opened the front door for Pikachu to dart out onto the sidewalk, and Ash followed suit.  The roads were almost empty in their neighborhood considering the time of day, not to mention it was the start of the weekend.  It was unlikely that anyone would see Pikachu, and darkness worked in their favor.  Together, they jogged along the sidewalk from one block to the next.  The mid-rise apartment buildings and two-story homes thinned out as they slowly left the residential area. 

In time, the on-ramp to the freeway that was used to exit the city came into view.  The roadway was elevated, so Ash and Pikachu ran underneath it.  Eventually, the freeway met with the ground, but by then, there was more forest than anything else as their surroundings.  What was once a three-lane highway that connect to the other major roadways of Vermilion City, was now one lane each way.  Ash and Pikachu ran alongside it, not a car in sight. 

As they entered Route 6, the road started up a steady incline.  The duo huffed and puffed as they worked their way up the hill.  They maintained the pace they set, and their muscles burned.  But at the top of the hill was a small parking area that overlooked the northern districts of Vermilion City.  Ash pumped his fist triumphantly as they arrived at their destination, then he and Pikachu flopped over and gasped for air.

Their run was seven miles in total, and it only took them about an hour to complete it.  This was the same location that they demonstrated Pikachu’s abilities for Brock over a month ago.  Ash loved it for the view that it provided of the city in one direction, and if you turned in the other, you could see the sprawling woodlands of Route 6. 

“Come here, Pikachu,” Ash said as they approached the grassy area to take a seat.  Ash removed his backpack to retrieve one of the water bottles that he packed.  They shared a quick drink as they relaxed. 

The past week was easy-going, something that Ash welcomed warmly.  He was plagued by questions of how, how would he support the girls?  How would he take care of himself?  What about the house and the bills…?  They spiraled around him, and his life spiraled as well.  Even now, he still lacked answers…but he could breathe.  There was an idea of what he could do, thanks to Brock.  And he could relax because his friends were helping him watch the girls. 

All of them went through the trouble of twisting their work and school schedules to help him watch Macy during the day.  This allowed Ash to return to school and his normal routine.  He was grateful to return to what he knew, not to mention, he was sorely missed by some of his classmates such as Dawn, May, and Nando.  Of course, upon his return, Ash was immediately sent to the principal's office to explain his absence during the past week.  He avoided going into detail about the events since Ash's preference was to keep the school from snooping around his personal life.

In the afternoons and sometimes into the night, any one of his friends would be there to watch the girls while Ash was at work.  Even when he didn’t have to work, at least two or three would be there to keep them company.   It was fun having so many people around the house, it served as a good distraction for Casey and especially for Macy.  The littlest of his sisters still asked about Cassidy, but no effort was spared to entertain Macy to make up for the absence of her mother.  She was adored by the entire group of visitors, and the new social interactions were enough to keep Cassidy off her mind.

While everyone was helping and Ash was thankful for all of his friends, Shauna was a standout.  She came to his house every evening to help out, even when there were many hands already available.  Plus, Macy took a liking to Shauna’s bubbly persona.  The two of them were practically inseparable whenever Shauna was there. 

As he looked back on it, Ash had no idea where he would be without the help of his friends.  He was descending to a very dark place as he attempted to handle the situation on his own.  If not for his friends who forced him to take a step back and be objective…Ash could’ve been headed for a disaster.  With a shake of his head, Ash knew that he needed to think of a way to thank them all properly.  What could possibly be the equivalent of all the time and effort that they devoted to supporting him?   What could give them in exchange for the life that they opened up for him?

“Pika!” Pikachu exclaimed.  Ash blinked, and his vision focused on his partner.  Pikachu stood on his hind legs, pointing out to the horizon as the sun began to peek over it.  The sky brightened considerably in response to the full appearance of the light source, and Ash raised a hand to shield his eyes. 

“This is the beginning, Pikachu,” Ash stated as they admired the sunrise.  Then he cupped his hands together around his mouth and hollered at the top of his lungs. “The journey starts today…and we’re gonna take the world by storm!”

“Pika-Pika!” Pikachu added, his cheeks crackling.

The rumble of a car engine earned their attention, and as they looked to the empty parking lot further up the hill, Ash and Pikachu spotted a familiar vehicle.  Once it was parked, the driver stepped out and Ash grinned.

“Was that the two of you screaming?” Brock asked as he approached them with his hands in his jacket pockets. 

“Who is it going to be, Brock?” Ash asked in return. 

"I wasn't expecting you guys to beat me here," Brock commented. "But I'm glad you're here already.  We've got a lot to cover today, so I hope you're ready."

“This is what we were born to do,” Ash proclaimed before he looked to Pikachu. “Ain’t that right, Pikachu?”

As Ash and Pikachu exchanged nods, Brock could feel the excitement radiating from them.  He donned a smile of approval, eager to get the day started.  This was going to be great!

Now that Brock arrived, the trio piled into his car and ventured further into Route 6.  This time, their destination was another familiar location, the clearing where Ash first met and battled against Giselle and Cubone.  The area was teeming with wild Pokemon, many of which observed them carefully from the canopy as they moved through the area on foot.  Ash assumed that the Pokemon would be asleep at this hour, just like most of Vermilion City, but that was hardly the case.  Nidoran, Rattata, Caterpie, and many more Pokemon watching them.  Considering that his exposure to wild Pokemon was minimal at best, Ash didn't know what sort of rules they followed out here in the wild. 

Once they were settled in the clearing the skies were well-lit, Ash got the ball rolling. “So, what are we starting with, Brock?” Ash asked he pulled off his sweater.  The air was getting warm, and Ash wasn’t anxious to start sweating so early in the morning. “Are we going to battle some of the wild Pokemon out here?”

“Slow down there, Ash,” Brock replied with a motion for Ash and Pikachu to take a seat on the grass. “There’s some stuff I want to talk to you about first.  I’m pretty sure you’ll want to practice these before you try to use it in a battle.”

“Spill it!” Ash exclaimed.

“How do new moves sound to you and Pikachu?” Brock inquired and Pikachu’s ears perked up.

“New moves?” Ash parroted Brock with sparkling eyes.

“Yeah,” Brock answered. “When you and Pikachu did that little demonstration for me two months ago, I started to think about some things that the two of you could work on.  Especially now that you’re really starting to commit some time to practice, I thought some new moves would be a good place to start.”

“Well stop holding out on us!” Ash said as he motioned for Brock to proceed.  Pikachu mirrored Ash’s actions. “Show us!  Show us!”

“Pikachu, I need you to show me your Agility again,” Brock requested.  Pikachu gave a nod and separated himself from Ash and Brock.  Once he was settled on all four of his paws, Pikachu tensed his body and sparks sputtered from his fur.  A faint white glow could be seen around his form before he tore off in a dash across the clearing and quickly returned to Brock. "Man, you've actually gotten a bit faster too.”

“So, what did you need to see?” Ash asked eagerly.  A new move for Pikachu was the most exciting thing to happen since their battles against Giselle last month.  If they added a new move to their arsenal, they would surely be able to challenge the upper echelon of trainers in Vermilion City.

“With his current speed, I’ve got two moves in mind that I’m pretty sure Pikachu can handle,” Brock revealed.  After years of watching Pokemon battles all over the city, the little tidbits and tricks he picked up from various trainers finally paid off.  He could function as a mentor to Ash and Pikachu, at least for the time being. “The first move is called Double Team.  Have you guys seen it before?”

“No, but it sounds awesome!” Ash replied.

“You got that right.  With this move, Pikachu can create duplicates of himself on the battlefield to confuse his opponents,” Brock explained and Ash’s eyes widened at the thought of a mob of Pikachu’s cluttering the battlefield.

“Dude, why doesn’t everyone use this move?” Ash asked incredulously. “If you could have like ten copies of a Pokemon on the battlefield, it shouldn’t be a problem to overwhelm your opponent.”

“Well…there are different ways to use Double Team and not all Pokemon are capable of using Double Team,” Brock continued. “In Pikachu’s case, he’s using his speed.  Or really, his ability to accelerate and deaccelerate to create after-images on the field.”

It took a moment for the idea to make some sense in Ash’s mind.  He nodded once the lightbulb went off, and then he began to formulate how he could put that into use. “So then, with Pikachu appearing all over the battlefield, we can use that like it’s one giant distraction!  Oh man, that’s going to be awesome!  Pikachu, let’s start practicing right now!”

“Pika-chu!” Pikachu shouted in agreement as they jumped back to their feet.

“Hold on!” Brock interjected before the two of them could get started. “Double Team is the second stage of what I wanted to show you guys today."

“Why would do it out of order?” Ash frowned as he posed his question.

“To give you a goal.  Double Team is going to be great, but it’s not something you can just do at the drop of a hat,” Brock reminded him.  Ash and Pikachu deflated as they sat back down, but once they calmed themselves, Brock saw their gaze become steely.

"What do we have to do to use Double Team?" Ash asked and Brock wanted to roll his eyes.  Ash's behavior was like two sides of a coin when it came to Pokemon.  He was as naïve and gung-ho as a ten-year-old one minute, and as cool as a cucumber the next.

"The starting point is Quick Attack.  Pretty self-explanatory, right?" Brock asked and Ash nodded.  It didn't take a genius to guess that this attack revolved around using speed as a weapon. "Quick Attack is all about using your speed to strike first.  You can use it for breaking stalemates and knocking your opponent off balance for a moment."

“Are you saying that all Pikachu has to do is run fast?” Ash asked, his brow furrowed.  This was such as basic attack.  How was it connected to using Double Team?

“There's more to it than that, Ash," Brock replied with a gesture to Pikachu. "For example, Pikachu needs to know how to strike an opponent properly."

"What do you mean?  Hitting an opponent is easy, right Pikachu?" Ash asked as he looked at his partner.  Pikachu shrugged his shoulders in reply.

"Think about it like this, Quick Attack is like an opening move.  It's not going to do a lot of damage, but you can use it to get in a rhythm and control the tempo of the battle.  But to make the full use of Quick Attack, you've got to hit your opponent in a way that keeps them off balance," Brock explained as he motioned for Pikachu to get back on his feet. "Pikachu, if you were going to attack me, where would you try to hit me?”

“Pika,” Pikachu muttered with a frown.

“Just do it lightly, Pikachu,” Ash said and Pikachu complied.  He approached Brock slowly and then leaped into his chest.  As he made contact, he pushed off of Brock’s torso with his hind legs and landed softly on his feet.

“Yeah, I thought you might be a little too direct with your attacks,” Brock noted. 

“Would it be better if we attacked from the side…is that what you mean?” Ash asked but Brock shook his head.

“That’s just a start.  With Quick Attack, he’ll be moving faster than the average opponent can track, so the goal is to create opportunities to land a stronger attack as a follow-up.  You want to make your opponent stumble, so if you were going to hit me, you'd probably want to go for the back of my knee," Brock suggested as an example. Pikachu did as he was told and Brock's knee buckled in response.  Brock caught himself with one hand before he tumbled to the ground and then he looked back at Pikachu proudly. “See?”

“Yeah,” Ash exclaimed. “If we master Quick Attack, then we can make all sorts of combinations to work with it, right?”

“Now you’re catching on,” Brock said as he nodded.

“Alright then, let’s get started!” Ash jumped to his feet. “Pikachu, you can use me as your training dummy!”

Pikachu tilted his head and furrowed his brow in dismay.  However, Ash waved off his concern.

“Come on, if you don’t practice then you won’t get the hang of it,” Ash reasoned with him and Pikachu shrugged.

“Pi…Pika-chu,” Pikachu warned him before he went down on all fours.  Brock took this as a signal to get some distance from the two of them so that Pikachu had all the space he needed.

“I wouldn’t want you to hold back,” Ash retorted as he hit his chest.  Pikachu smirked at the invitation and darted off.  His was nothing more than a blur as he circled around Ash until he finally pounced at his trainer.  Pikachu met with the back of Ash’s knee, just like he had done to Brock, and Ash yelp as he crumbled to the ground.

Pikachu rushed to his side to check on him, but Ash assured Pikachu that he was alright and insisted that they do it again.  Brock watched as they resumed their practice, and he took note of Ash’s efforts to track Pikachu’s movements.  Ash was constantly looking back and forth, trying to keep up with Pikachu’s movements.  That was a tall task, but not out of the realm of possibilities.  In fact, Brock was planning to put Ash in this exact situation, though his friend volunteered to do it.  This was no surprise, though Brock felt like this should have been his expectation going in.

After several attempts, Pikachu was finally caught by Ash.  Ash’s eyes darted back and forth and he spotted the brief pause in Pikachu’s actions.  Pikachu planted his feet to accelerate in a different direction, and that was the moment that Ash was looking for.  As Pikachu lunged at Ash’s leg, a hand was placed on his back and he was pressed down to the ground by Ash.  With his brow raised, Pikachu looked up at Ash.

“Not that this time, buddy,” Ash grinned at him.

Brock smirked, pleased that this hunch about Ash was correct.  Some of the compliments that Giselle gave about Ash would usually apply to more experienced trainers.  But what Ash lacked in terms of experience was made up for through some of his other qualities.  His battle sense was impeccable and he used it to read the situation and react quickly with the appropriate countermove.  But this skill stemmed from his vision, his ability to read the battlefield.  Seeing Ash react in time to stop Pikachu’s further confirmed Giselle’s opinion of Ash.

He was going to be a special Pokemon trainer…and Brock would stop at nothing to make sure he achieved this.

Ash caught Pikachu three times in a row, and this caused Pikachu to verbally question how Ash was reacting so quickly. “It’s because you take a moment to decide when you’re going to attack, Pikachu,” Ash explained. “That gives me enough time to figure out where you’re attacking from.”

“Pika?” Pikachu asked in return.

“Well, I think you just need to practice until you don’t need to think to land this attack,” Ash went on.  Quick Attack was brand new to Pikachu, so it only made sense that Pikachu was hesitating as he took the time to check his target and accelerate properly. “Just keep coming at me, alright?”

“Pi!” Pikachu declared with a nod.

Their training continued, and just as Ash said, as Pikachu grew more comfortable, his hesitation began to fade.  Brock admired them from afar, impressed with Ash as he barked out words of encouragement for Pikachu.  The two of them practiced Quick Attack for two hours straight, and it became clear to Brock that the two of them were content to spend the whole day working on it.

“Come on Pikachu, you gotta be faster than that,” Ash called out to his partner.  While he could no longer stop Pikachu’s attack outright, Ash could still react quickly enough to avoid them with a sidestep.  He knew Pikachu could move faster than this. “Accelerate like you mean it!”

Pikachu circled around Ash again, and at Ash's command, he accelerated like 'he meant to.' He glowed white before he burst forward, and an after image trailed behind him before he collided with his trainer.  Ash was startled as he was suddenly airborne and gasped as he landed on his side with a thud.

“Pika pi!” Pikachu exclaimed as he and Brock rushed to check on Ash.  Pikachu apologized profusely as Ash groaned and slowly sat upright.  But Ash grinned from ear to ear.

“Now that’s more like it, Pikachu!” Ash exclaimed as he gave Pikachu a pat on the head.

“He right Pikachu,” Brock added. “That was a real Quick Attack.  A sudden acceleration to hit your opponent before they react.  Great job!”

“I agree,” A new voice commented.  The trio look to the edge of the clearing, and they saw none other than Giselle and her Cubone entering their training ground.   How long was she watching them?

“Giselle?” Ash exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“This is where I always train with Cubone.  I think the real question is what are you doing here?” She asked in return.

"Well, Brock brought us here to train…" Ash trailed off as he looked at his friend and saw a smirk on Brock's face.  Then it donned on him why Brock selected this area specifically.  A planned reunion with Giselle…and maybe even a rematch.

“I see you’ve been adding some new moves.  Care to see what Cubone and I have been working on?” Giselle offered and Ash felt a smile creep up on his face.

Raising his bone club to block a tail swipe from Pikachu, Cubone grunted and threw his opponent backward.  Pikachu rotated in the air and landed on his feet, his cheeks crackling and a smirk on his face. 

Giselle frowned as the most recent exchange of attacks ended in a stalemate.  In fact, the rematch between them was nothing more than a prolonged stalemate.  Neither of the participating Pokemon could land a solid hit.

For such a fast Pokemon, Pikachu wasn't very skilled when it came to close-quarters combat.  Cubone could predict Pikachu's attacks in their previous battles and turn the tables on the electric Pokemon with a few golden opportunities.  However, Pikachu's training was starting to show during their battle.  Cubone was stuck playing defense.  Unlike prior battles where Pikachu was trying to do significant physical damage, he was more focused on trying to keep Cubone off balance and guessing where he would attack from.  So rather than planning counterattacks to get the upper hand, Giselle was trying to break even with each exchange.  It was simply a matter of time before Ash and Pikachu created the opening they were looking for.

“Use Agility again, Pikachu!” Ash called out.  Pikachu raced around Cubone who grasped his bone tightly and prepared to defend himself again. “Now use Quick Attack!”

"Pika!" Pikachu glowed white and rushed at Cubone.  With just enough time to raise his bone club and block Pikachu's initial attack, Cubone was startled when Pikachu got one foot on the ground and darted off as a blur.  Pikachu ran a half-circle around him and attacked from the opposite side, a strategy he showed once already this battle.  Cubone whirled around to meet him and lashed out with his club to counter, however, he fell for a feint.  A half-second of hesitation allowed Pikachu to avoid Cubone’s counterattack and now he was completely exposed for Pikachu’s Quick Attack.  Cubone was sent tumbling across the ground and Ash pumped his fist proudly.

“That was awesome!  We’re definitely going to use that one!” Ash exclaimed, impressed by Pikachu’s idea to disguise his attack behind a feint.  A brief touch of misdirection was a powerful tool that could create so many openings for them!  Ash bit down on his lower lip, unable to fight off his smile.

Pokemon battles were so deep and layered!  He was now starting to dig beneath the surface, and it amazed him how much that he had to learn.  He could wait to practice more!

“Come on Cubone, let’s show them what we’re made of,” Giselle said as Cubone got back to his feet.  Cubone raised his club proudly and hit his chest with a shout.  He then returned his gaze to Pikachu, a glint in his narrow eyes, and he motioned for Pikachu to attack again.

“You want some more?” Ash hollered. “Alright then, go Pikachu, give em’ another taste of your Quick Attack!”

“Cubone, use Bone Club and don’t give them a chance to attack!” Giselle called out as an answer.

Pikachu nodded and burst forward, but to his surprise, Cubone charged to meet him.  They met halfway and Cubone came out swinging.  Pikachu was immediately forced off his path to avoid taking an inadvertent hit, and he circled to attack Cubone from behind.  However, Cubone continued to attack wildly without a target, closing off the angles Pikachu wanted to attack from him.  He kept his distance from Cubone and came to a stop.

“What the heck?” Ash exclaimed. “Is Cubone just swinging his club to keep Pikachu away?”

“Sometimes the best defense, is a good offense,” Giselle replied and Ash raised his brow at the statement.

So rather than waste his time trying to anticipate Pikachu’s attack, they were actively looking to punish Pikachu for battling at close range.  Even getting grazed by Cubone’s weapon would've been painful, and if Pikachu was staggered from a glancing blow, Cubone would make sure that his follow attack hit its mark.  With a sigh, Ash knew that it was their turn to make an adjustment and Pikachu backed away to create some additional separation.

“Pikachu, use Charge!” Ash commanded.  If they were going to keep their distance, they might as well make full use of it.  Pikachu’s cheeks began to crackle with electricity and a halo of lightning formed around him.

“Cubone, this is our chance, get Pikachu with your Bone Rush!” Giselle said immediately.  Despite all the respect she gained for Ash, the teenager still found a way to remind Giselle that he was only a novice as a trainer.  An electrical attack from Pikachu was useless against Cubone, and unfortunately, he would learn this lesson the hard way.  Cubone pounded the ground with his club and it shined before he rushed at Pikachu.

“Use your Thunderbolt as soon as you can, Pikachu!” Ash shouted as he heard the crackle of the lightning around Pikachu.  Pikachu mustered up a roar and unleashed a lightning bolt that bounced across the field toward the approaching Cubone.  It punched sizeable holes into the crowd at each point of contact before it met with Cubone. 

There wasn’t even so much as a flinch from Cubone.  He pressed forward with the full weight of Pikachu’s Thunderbolt assaulting him.  Pikachu’s eyes grew wide as Cubone came close, completely unaffected by the ranged attack and he lashed out at Pikachu with his bone club.  The first hit disrupted Pikachu’s Thunderbolt, and several more blows came in rapid succession.  Each connected with an audible thwack before Cubone spun around to hit Pikachu with all his might, which sent Pikachu across the field and skidding back to Ash’s feet.

“Pikachu!” Ash exclaimed as he kneeled down to examine Pikachu.  His partner remained motionless on the grass with discolorations appearing on the spots where he was hit. “Ouch, those were some knockout punches you took.”

“Hey Ash, catch!” Brock called out as he tossed a Potion to Ash.  Once the item landed in his hands, Ash used it to treat Pikachu’s bruises while Giselle and Cubone approached them.

“Man, Cubone really packs a punch when he’s ready,” Ash commented as he sent a nod to the Pokemon he mentioned.  Cubone returned the gesture and twirled his club with one hand, proud that their newly developed Bone Rush was a success. “And you’re really tough to take Pikachu’s Thunderbolt like it was nothing.”

"Up until this point, I didn't see Pikachu use any electric type attacks so I was wondering if he knew any," Giselle noted.

“Oh yeah, we keep Thunderbolt in our back pocket because we have to use Charge first, and the time to do that usually gets us into trouble,” Ash explained. “Since we couldn’t get close to you, it seemed like a safer option for a change.”

Giselle resisted the urge to roll her eyes.  It was obvious Ash didn't know how ridiculous he sounded.  Battle a Cubone with Thunderbolt…?  She chuckled inwardly before she returned to the issue at hand.

“Ash, do you know about type advantages?” She inquired as Ash scooped up Pikachu in one arm.

“Mhmm," He replied. "Fire beats grass, grass beats water, water beats fire," He listened to some examples and Giselle nodded. "I know there are some others, but I haven't seen them all yet."

"Here's one you should know considering that you're partnered with an electric type," Giselle pointed out. "Electric type attacks have no effect on ground type Pokemon like Cubone."

Ash’s jaw dropped. “Aww, you gotta be kidding me!”

“Actually, that’s my bad,” Brock admitted as he joined them. “I’ve been trying to be a mentor to Ash, but as I look back on it all, I’ve done a terrible job of showing you the basics.”

Brock bit down on his lip as he considered all of the poor choices that he made to develop Ash as a trainer.  The first one that came to mind was his suggestion of using the Red Skulls to get more battle experience.  That aside, the biggest mistake he made was not covering the fundamentals with Ash and Pikachu.  Basic strategies, type advantages, and the like.  Brock tried to show Ash all the glitz and glamour of being a trainer, and there was no denying that Ash learned a few tricks.  But Brock did little to nothing to establish what Ash needed to do the surpass the best trainers.  Hopefully, that could be corrected quickly now that Ash planned to join the underground circuit. 

As always, Ash left Giselle at a loss for words.  He was definitely unpolished, lacking knowledge on even the most basic aspects of Pokemon battles.  But without this, he was still able to compete.  That fact made him a tantalizing prospect of a trainer.  What would he look like once he had a solid foundation?

The best trainer in Vermilion City?  Perhaps the best trainer in the world…or maybe, the best ever?

“Geez, I’m sorry Pikachu,” Ash apologized to his unconscious partner. “If I knew better, I wouldn’t have set up to get clobbered by Cubone.  It looks like we still have a lot to learn.”

The sun was overhead and it glared down at them.  The heat of noontime forced them all to seek refuge beneath the shade of the trees at the edge of the clearing.  It was roughly two hours since their battle against Giselle and that gave Pikachu the time to recover, this process being accelerated by the Potion they used.   Despite Pikachu’s improved condition, Ash decided that it would be more appropriate to let him rest.

This gave Brock and Giselle and opportunity to introduce him to the mental aspects of Pokemon battling and training.   Giselle had a truckload of information, which she was prepared to dump onto Ash all at once.  It was a lot, but Ash was prepared himself for it.

“Alright Ash, how many types are you familiar with?” Giselle asked as they all sat at the base of a tree.

Ash looked up briefly before he gave his answer. “Eight.”

“Which eight?”

“Fire, water, grass, electric, poison, flying, dark, and fighting…oh, and ground types from today,” Ash added.

“Sheesh, so we have a lot to cover,” Giselle muttered with a sigh.  She pulled out her smartphone from her back pocket and glanced at the lock screen.  She opened a web browser on her phone and continued to speak. “My service doesn’t have great coverage out here, but it will have to do.”

“What are you going to show me?” Ash asked.

“You have to keep quick about this,” Giselle warned him and Brock raised his brow.

“This is the site for the underground circuit, right?  The PokeHub?” Brock interjected and Giselle nodded.

Brock heard whispers of the PokeHub in passing as he watched street battles all over Vermilion City.  No one really knew who designed and maintained this website, but it was an invaluable resource to trainers all over Kanto, but especially in Vermilion City.  It started off as a means for fans of the underground circuit to track the trainers that took part in battles, featuring profiles for established trainers with footage of all their battles.  As the website evolved, any trainer could create an account and provide live broadcasts of their battles on the streets of Vermilion City.

The PokeHub’s ability to track the underground circuit wasn't what earned the website its name.  The PokeHub was a 'hub' providing users with information about almost any Pokemon.  Active users could provide data they gathered concerning specific Pokemon and share it with their colleagues.  The exchange of information there allowed researchers and average trainers to share their findings and learn from each other. 

However, the PokeHub had to be kept under lock and key.  With the identity of tens of thousands of trainers stored on it, the site was well protected to ensure their safety.  A nine-digit access code was required to enter the PokeHub that was changed on a bi-weekly basis.  As the code was refreshed, it would be shared among a trusted group of people which started a trickle-down effect as it quickly spread to frequent users.  Any time the code was shared with new users of the PokeHub, the security of the site was heavily discussed to make sure the site remained secure.  After all, the PokeHub was a place where trainers could gather, free of any and all scrutiny. 

“Giselle, would you be willing to share the access code with us?” Brock asked.  He was tempted to get down on his knees, but he would save begging as a last resort.

Giselle pursed her lips as she studied him for a moment.  Then she looked to Ash and took a breath.  The PokeHub would be a valuable resource for Ash, and Brock was clearly an active member of the community.  She saw no harm in sharing it with them.

“When we’re done, I’ll add you guys to the group chat where I get the access code,” She replied and Brock pumped his fist.

At long last, she was inside the PokeHub and she gave her phone to Ash.  The home page was decorated with images of Pokemon and a variety of drop-down menus.  Giselle opened a list of the known Pokemon types, and Ash saw that he failed to list even half of them earlier.

“So, this is a list of all the types so far,” Giselle explained as she expanded the list. “And this is all of their advantages and disadvantages.”

Ash was in awe.  Dark types had a huge advantage over psychic types.  Normal types didn’t affect ghost types. 

Under each type listing, Ash could see a few images of Pokemon that fell into these categories.  With some Pokemon, it was obvious what type they were, while others were harder, and some were surprising.  But one type, in particular, caught his attention.

“Why aren’t there any pictures of a dragon type Pokemon,” Ash asked after he saw that the photo gallery was empty.

"Dragon types?" Giselle repeated. "Uh, well I haven't researched them that much.  Based on what I heard, they're extremely rare, although some researchers believe that the whole type is battling extinction so there isn't much information to go by."

“Really, Pokemon can go extinct?” The notion sounded so foreign to Ash.  He never imagined Pokemon…dying.

“Don’t take my word for it.  What I said is based on what I know, which is next to nothing,” Giselle explained as she crossed her arms. “And all of that is beside the point.  Let’s focus on what you need to know.  Pikachu is an electric type, so tell me what types will have the advantage against Pikachu.”

“Ground types, like Cubone,” Ash said with a glance toward the Pokemon that sat beside Pikachu at the next tree over. “And that’s because Pikachu’s electric type moves don’t affect ground types.”

Giselle gave a nod of approval. “Good Ash, it’s important to keep track of the trainers that use ground types so that you can avoid a bad match for Pikachu,” Giselle stated as she opened a roster page on the PokeHub for Ash to view some of the top trainers in Vermilion City and what Pokemon they battled with. “Fortunately, there aren’t that many trainers that use ground type Pokemon, so you and Pikachu won’t have to think too much about it.”

“Well, I guess that’s one thing that’s working out in our favor,” Ash noted.

Ash swayed, anxious to move around a bit.  He was grateful for everything that Giselle showed him so far, but he wanted to start putting these things into practice.

"You know what, I think it's time to move around a little bit," Ash said as he rose to his feet and rolled his shoulders. “Pikachu, you want to go for a quick run?”

“Pika!” Pikachu declared as he jumped to his feet to join Ash.  Together, they jogged around the perimeter of the clearing. 

While Ash and Pikachu were occupied, a new trainer entered the clearing.  He looked around before he spotted a familiar face in Giselle.  "Excuse me!" He called out with a wave.  They approached Giselle and Brock who remained in the shade of the trees. "If I'm not mistaken, you're Giselle, right?"

“Yup, that would be me,” She answered.

“Great, I’d like to battle you if you have some time,” He continued as he raised a Pokeball.  Giselle raised a hand to stop him.

“Sorry, but I’m not accepting challenges today,” She stated and he furrowed his brow.

“Are you serious?  It took me practically two hours to get out here,” He exclaimed, but Giselle pointed to Ash at the other end of the clearing.

“If you really want to battle someone, that kid is looking for an opponent,” She suggested and the newcomer looked to Ash again.  He frowned at the sight of Ash and shook his head.  He didn’t recognize Ash.

“Who is he?” He asked Giselle.

“That’s Ash Ketchum,” Brock cut in.

“Who?”

“He’s on the rise.  It’ll be a good battle, but I wouldn’t underestimate him if I were you,” Brock warned him with a smirk. 

“On the rise…alright then, let’s see what he’s got," He cupped his hands around his mouth before he hollered at Ash. "Hey, Ash!  My name is Ken and I challenge you to a Pokemon battle!"

Ash and Pikachu came skidding to a halt as they heard the challenge.  They could hardly believe their ears!  This was the first time that someone challenged them to a Pokemon battle!

“Uh, w-w-we accept!” Ash bumbled out his response before and Pikachu rushed to the center of the clearing to take their place on the battlefield. “Alright Pikachu, this is the first time someone challenged us, so let’s give this everything we’ve got!”

“Pi-pikapi!” Pikachu said with a nod of agreement. 

“Aipom, we’ve got ourselves a battle,” Ken shouted as he hurled a Pokeball into the air.  The device cracked open to release a small purple-furred Pokemon who balanced himself on his tail.  Ash and Pikachu marveled at the sight of Aipom, who chirped with a salute toward them.

“Whoa, I’ve never seen that Pokemon before,” Ash admitted and Ken shot him a smirk.

“Then you’re in for a treat,” Ken remarked as he and Aipom joined them at the center of the clearing.

“Since you challenged us, we’ll let you have the first move,” Ash said as a form of courtesy.

"Alright then, Aipom let's start off with Fury Swipes!" Ken shouted and Aipom chittered as his front paws glowed.  The newly acquired light then gathered together to form three lengthy claws.  Aipom then propelled himself forward using his tail and dashed at Pikachu. 

“Pikachu, use your Agility and keep your distance,” Ash called out.  Pikachu backed away from Aipom to avoid his initial attack, and all eyes widened as Aipom closed the distance between Pikachu just as quickly as Pikachu created it.  Aipom was keeping up with Pikachu. Pikachu ducked beneath another attack and jumped away, but Aipom stubbornly kept the battle at close range.

Ash was shocked.  In their admittedly, very few battles, their opponents could never match Pikachu’s speed.  But Aipom turned this battle into a game of cat and mouse.  Ash tilted his head, observing them closely as Pikachu sidestepped another attack and jumped away.  However, Aipom didn’t need to set his feet to pursue Pikachu.  His tail was doing that for him!

Aipom wasn’t actually as fast as Pikachu, he just eliminated a step in the process of trying to keep up with Pikachu.  Whenever Pikachu dodged, Aipom would use his tail to quickly regain his momentum and rush at Pikachu again.  Their advantage of speed was neutralized and the battle quickly fell into a stalemate.

“If they really want to fight, let’s give it to them!  Stay at close range and use Quick Attack!” Ash commanded.  Pikachu halted his movements and tightened his stance.  There was a faint glow around him before he sprung forward to meet Aipom halfway, and they met in a dual exchange.  Aipom was sent tumbling away, but not before he swiped at Pikachu’s body which left a trio of visible gashes.  Pikachu winced but shook off the pain as he pursued Aipom for a follow-up attack. 

"Aipom, Pikachu is coming after you.  Use your tail!" Ken called out quickly.

Even while disoriented, Aipom followed Ken’s instructions and used his tail to latch onto the field.  The elasticity of his tail was on full display as it stretched to bring Aipom’s tumble to a stop, and then it became a slingshot that fired Aipom towards the approaching Pikachu.  Pikachu’s eyes widened before he met with Aipom’s forehead with a thud, and now he was sent skidding back to his trainer.

“Pikachu, are you okay?” Ash asked as Pikachu caught back onto his feet with one of his front paws on his head.  There was sure to be some swelling from that headbutt later.

“Fury Swipes!” Ken barked, and Aipom’s assault continued.  Aipom seized the opportunity to attack Pikachu who was still dazed, and he landed consecutive attacks.  Pikachu’s skin was shredded by the attacks, and Aipom concluded his onslaught with a punch delivered by his tail.  With a shout, Pikachu tumbled away from Aipom and groaned once he came to a stop.

“Man, Aipom’s pretty strong,” Ash exclaimed as he studied Aipom who bounced his toes. “We can’t fight them up close unless we find a way to slow Aipom down.”

Pikachu returned to his feet and rubbed his chin with his forearm.  The cuts on his body stung and Aipom socked him right on the jaw with that last punch, but Pikachu ignored the pain.  He grinned and went back down onto tall fours, much to Ash’s delight.

“Alright Pikachu, no more defense!” Ash called out. “Use your Agility to search for an opening, then let em’ have it!”

“Aipom, let’s keep up our momentum going with Fury Swipes!” Ken shouted in return.  Up until this point, Aipom controlled the battle at close range, but now Pikachu was equally as aggressive.  Pikachu tested Aipom with his quick movements, jumping side to side as he tried to see what Aipom would do.  Aipom wouldn’t budge, so Pikachu recalled the lessons he learned from Brock. 

“To make the full use of Quick Attack, you’ve got to hit your opponent in a way that keeps them off balance,” Brock explained.

But to knock Aipom off-balance, Pikachu needed something extra…a feint.  Pikachu rushed at Aipom, and his direct approach caused Aipom to lunge forward to meet him with his Fury Swipes.  Aipom took the bait, and with a quick backstep, Pikachu avoided the initial attack.  Aipom’s forward momentum and lack of a target should’ve left him off balance and open for Pikachu to strike back, but Aipom had an ace up his sleeve.  His tail…and with it, he was never off balance.

Aipom grabbed the field with his tail to reset his posture, and he was able to meet Pikachu on his second attempt.  They traded hits and Pikachu was forced away once again.  Even with their new tricks, Aipom was a tough customer.

“Alright Pikachu, get some extra space,” Ash called out and Pikachu backed away from Aipom. “And then I want you to use Charge!”

Pikachu now stood across from Aipom on their makeshift battlefield, and his cheeks began to crackle.  Electricity sputtered from the tips of his fur and Ken recognized that Pikachu was now an easy target.

"Aipom, they're wide open!  Get Pikachu with your Double Hit!" Ken shouted with a gesture toward their target.  Aipom charged at Pikachu on his hands and feet, his tail raised and sparkling in preparation for the attack.

Ash bit down on his lower lip as Aipom closed in.  There definitely wasn’t enough time for Pikachu to gather enough electricity Thunderbolt, but whatever he got would have to do. “Thunderbolt!” Ash shouted hastily.  The lack of prep time led to a premature Thunderbolt, or really a Thundershock.  Aipom was hit, but he powered through it as he closed the distance and punched Pikachu right in the gut.

Pikachu was tossed up in the air, but the blow wasn’t particularly strong.  Not like the first one he took.  He rotated to land on his feet, and he need a moment to grimace as he felt the damage from earlier.  However, he wasn’t the only one in pain.  Aipom was twitching as he stood in place, electricity crackling around his fur.  A clear sign of paralysis.

“Oh crap,” Ken muttered.  Fortune smiled upon Pikachu during that last exchange.

"Pikachu, can you keep going?" Ash asked his partner.  Pikachu raised one paw to give him a thumbs up.  Despite Pikachu's response, Ash knew he was in pain.  Another hit would probably end the battle, but with Aipom experiencing paralysis, this was their chance to turn the tables. "Use Quick Attack!"

“Aipom, keep them away with Swift!” Ken yelled.  He just needed to prolong the battle so that Aipom could shake off the paralysis. 

Pikachu took a deep breath and charged once more.  Aipom bit down on his lip and forced his tail to obey as it glowed white again.  He swung it through the air in front of him to unleash a barrage of golden stars to impede Pikachu's approach.  It worked and Pikachu backed away the first time to avoid the attack, but Ash quickly realized what they needed to do.

“Don’t get forced away, Pikachu," Ash said with a grin. "This is just like we've been practicing.  Make them guess what you're going to do!"

Pikachu summoned his strength once more and dove in.  Aipom launched another Swift to cut off his path, but Pikachu accelerated with a sidestep.  He flickered, and an after image separated from his body which became the target of the Swift.  The barrage of stars passed through the image of Pikachu and left him to close the distance on Aipom.  Pikachu glowed white as he saw the opportunity to attack, and he burst forward with all his might.

Aipom’s eyes grew wide as Pikachu came barreling into him headfirst.  Pikachu crashed into his body, and the force of the blow sent Aipom flying across the field.  He hit the ground with a thud and rolled a few times before he came to a stop.  Ken rushed to his side and kneeled down to check on Aipom.  There was still electricity that fizzled around his fur, and while he laid on his side, Aipom’s arms, legs, or tail would twitch.  Even so, Aipom still fought to get back to his feet.

"Aipom, that's enough for now," Ken said with a motion for his partner to relax. "They got us with that last-second Double Team, plus that paralysis isn't going to go away, you don't need to force yourself to fight through it."

Aipom took Ken’s word to heart and flopped back down onto the field with a sigh.  Ken raised his Pokeball to recall Aipom so that he could treat him later.  Then he looked back to Ash and Pikachu.

“We’re going to forfeit,” Ken hollered to Ash.

“That’s it, we did it?” Ash asked and Ken raised his hand to concede the battle.  Ash beamed as he ran over to Pikachu and raised his Pokemon into the air. “We did it Pikachu, we won!”

“Pika-Pikachu!” Pikachu added as they celebrated.

“I was hoping to keep Pikachu at a distance to see if Aipom could work through that paralysis, but I didn’t expect you to start using Double Team to close the distance,” Ken explained as he approached them to shake hands. “Most Pokemon don’t use that attack with only one copy.  Did Pikachu just learn it?”

"Kind of.  We talked about the theory today, but we didn't really practice it," Ash explained as he looked at Pikachu. "I think one copy is all we can manage at the moment."

“Not bad.  Your Pikachu is pretty tough considering how many times he got hit," Ken went on. "I was expecting him to fall over at some point, but he hung in there," Pikachu saluted proudly. "So, are you aiming for the underground circuit?"

"You bet!" Ash answered. "Isn't that what you're aiming for too?"

“Uh…” Ken squinted as he thought about his answer. “I’m not really sure.  I like Pokemon battles, but Aipom and I aren’t that strong.  I’m not sure if we’re really cut out to battle with the elite trainers there…that’s why I came to battle Giselle today since I’ve heard she would be a pretty highly ranked trainer if the circuit if she ever joined it.  I was trying to figure out where I would fit into the whole hierarchy in the circuit,” Ken scratched at the back of his head with a chuckle. “I guess getting beat by you means we should practice a lot more.”

Ash took a glance at Giselle.  He battled her so many times that he forgot how she measured up against other trainers.  If Giselle was regarded as a respectable trainer…then that meant Ash was at least at that level as well.  Ash struggled to keep a smile down at the thought, anxious to return to his practice with Pikachu.

“So, is Giselle training you or something?” Ken inquired as he looked toward the young woman that stood at the edge of the clearing.

“Maybe,” Ash said with a shrug. “We crossed paths this morning and she’s been helping me since then.”

“Nice,” Ken said before he offered his hand to Ash once more. “Best of luck to ya, I’m sure you’ll go far.”

Ken approached Giselle to thank her for suggesting Ash as an opponent.  They spoke for a few moments before Ken went on his way.  Ash spent that time treating Pikachu with a Potion that was delivered by Brock to ease the pain, although Pikachu winced as the spray hit his open wounds. 

“Great work out there, Pikachu,” Ash grinned at his little buddy. “And that Double Team you used at the end was awesome!”

There was a clap, and they all looked to Giselle as she joined them at the center of the clearing.

“Okay, I think this is a good opportunity for you to analyze your battle,” Giselle began and Brock gave a nod of agreement.

“I won…so what exactly do I need to analyze?” Ash questioned her.

“You did win,” She agreed. “But you need to consider the cost of winning.  Pikachu is pretty beat up, so I’m pretty sure there were a few hits you could’ve avoided taking.  And there were likely better choices you could’ve made as well.”

“Oh, I get what we’re doing,” Ash nodded as their review session commence.  Giselle discussed his battle in detail from beginning to end.

"Just keep in mind, this is constructive criticism," Giselle reminded him.  Quite frankly, Ash didn't care about the criticism.  He wanted to hear her thoughts about the battle, and what he could've done better. "So, to start, you made a good decision in choosing to battle defensively.  It allowed you to observe Aipom’s tendencies, though you got hasty once you realized Aipom could keep up with Pikachu and tried to battle them at their best range.”

“Running wasn’t really going to get us anyway.  I felt like fighting back was the right call,” Ash reasoned.

"I can understand your line of thinking, but Pikachu's that great fighting at close range yet.  Sending Pikachu to fight an Aipom who basically has three hands wasn't a great idea," Giselle explained, and in hindsight, it did sound like a bad decision. "Pikachu took a lot of hits, which isn't a good trade-off since Pikachu doesn't strike as a particularly resilient Pokemon."

Pikachu huffed in reply and turned up his nose.  Ash chuckled as placed a hand on Pikachu’s head.

“It’s not an insult, Pikachu,” Giselle said as she offered a smile to Pikachu. “Aipom is the type to land lots of attacks and wear you down.  If Aipom could hit as hard as Cubone does, you guys would’ve lost.”

Ash pursed his lips as he recalled some of their losses against Giselle and Cubone.  She had a point.  Whenever Cubone landed a clean attack on Pikachu, it was enough to end the battle.  Pikachu could take a hit or two, but he wasn’t bulk or a bruiser.  His main strength was his speed, something they would take full advantage of from this day forward.

"Now the call for Charge was horrible," Giselle said bluntly. "You clearly didn't have much time, and while he did try to create some distance, that's not a move that you just use without any setup," Giselle explained and Ash agreed with her.  He was forced to call for a Thunderbolt well before Pikachu was ready. "In all honesty, you should just battle without using Thunderbolt right now.  It should only be a last resort when you consider the amount of time you have to invest to use it effectively."

“Yeah, it worked out in your favor this time since Aipom was paralyzed, but that was a really lucky break,” Brock added.

“Good point,” Giselle noted. “And to wrap up the battle, I’ll admit that you and Pikachu use misdirection flawlessly.  Intentional or not, backing away from that first Swift attack implied that you couldn’t get past it.  So, when you used Double Team to accomplish that, they weren’t prepared for it.”

“Yup, you got him good, Ash!” Brock exclaimed as he slapped Ash’s back.

“That was all Pikachu,” Ash said to credit his partner. “Even that Double Team at the end was Pikachu’s thinking on his feet.”

“Then I have to admit, you’ve got a capable partner,” Giselle remarked as she stooped down to past Pikachu.  The Pokemon blushed a bit at the compliment.

“We still have a lot to work on though,” Ash went on. “I have to learn all of the type advantages and disadvantages, and we’ve got to work on our speed and endurance so that Pikachu can master Double Team.  Plus, we’ve got to practice battling at close range…wow, this is going to be so much fun Pikachu!”

The prospect of sinking hours each day into practice excited Ash.  He could wait to devote time regularly to improve alongside Pikachu.

Ash and Pikachu stood at the top of the hill where they started their day.  The sun was setting which decorated the sky with vibrant orange and blue hues. 

"Can you believe it, Pikachu?" Ash asked as he looked at Pikachu who was perched on his shoulder.

“Pi-ka?” Pikachu asked as he returned the glance.

“I mean, that we’re actually doing this?” Ash clarified and Pikachu gave him a nod.

“Pikapi, pi-ka!” Pikachu declared and Ash agreed wholeheartedly.  This was everything that they dreamed about for years.  Now, they were finally getting a chance to live their dream!

Giselle taught them so much in just one day that Ash was overwhelmed despite his enthusiasm.  The strategies, the different types of Pokemon, the battling styles…Ash had no idea that there was so much depth to being a Pokemon trainer and participating in battles.

Based on her observations, Giselle suggested a style of battle for him and Pikachu to focus on.  It emphasized the use of Pikachu's speed in combination with misdirection to control the tempo of the battle.  Moves such as Agility and Double Team would be their bread and butter, allowing them to mislead their opponent then capitalize on any mistakes.  It sounded incredible in theory, but it would all come down to their execution of it in battle.  Today they got to test out this style against Ken and Aipom, but the next step was to use it consistently.

Giselle also shared some of the other styles that they would likely face.  With a budding style of their own, it was also important for Ash and Pikachu to understand what their opponent was trying to do.

One of the most popular styles she brought up was the 'grit and grind.'  This style was typically used by tank-like, powerhouse Pokemon, but any fairly durable Pokemon also found a lot of us success with this style.  The whole plan was to take hits and dish out more damage than their opponent could handle.  Some trainers referred to this style as mud-fighting.  No skill, not decision making…just grit, determination, and raw power.  This was probably the worst match-up for Pikachu, but Giselle was quick to point out every style had its flaws, and she was sure with time they would understand how to effectively counter this style of battle.

Then there were trainers like Giselle, who focused more on defense and observation.  It was a style of battle that was more nuanced, requiring the trainer to understand the tendencies of their opponent and how to counter them.  According to Giselle, this style of battle was popularized in Kalos a few decades ago, and it was typically used by high-caliber trainers that could snatch the momentum in the battle with one decisive move.  It took great patience to use this style correctly, and Ash wasn't too keen on that aspect of it.  However, Giselle stressed that even if he wasn't going to use this style, it was still important for him to take the time to understand his opponents.

Finally, there was the seven seconds or less strategy.  This was sounded like so much fun to Ash.  It involved battling at a very high pace.  It was straightforward, if you failed to an attack in seven seconds, it was time to call for a new one.  The trainer would have to think on the fly and jump at every opportunity to pile on more damage.  While it seemed like fun, it was exhausting for both the Pokemon and the trainer, especially in a prolonged battle.  Nonetheless, Ash hoped to one day have this style in his arsenal as well. 

It was late by the time Giselle finished covering these different styles of battle, and she promised to go over close-range combat with them the next time they met.  Everyone exchanged contact information, and Ash and Brock also received the access code to the PokeHub.  Brock offered to take Ash back to his house, but on their way back home, Ash still found himself with some energy that he wanted to expend.  He requested that Brock drop them off at the hill where they met this morning and they parted ways from there.

Now, as he stared out Vermilion City as it glistened under the evening sun, Ash grinned heartily.

“We’re gonna do it, Pikachu!  We’re gonna be the best in the whole damn city!” Ash hollered.

“Pika-pi!” Pikachu added.

Ash broke out in a sprint, racing down the hillside.  He placed a hand on top of his cap to prevent it from flying off, and Pikachu gave a shout of delight as he felt the breeze against his cheeks.  Ash raised a hand into the air, reaching out toward the sun ahead of them.

They were going to be the best there ever was!

A/N

So, as I said before, a lot of subjects took the backseat for the last few chapters, but believe me the next few are going to be something special, at least in my opinion. I can't wait for you all to see what I have in store!

Inspiration for this chapter goes out to 'Glorious' by Macklemore feat. Skylar Grey. If you haven't heard that song, well I don't know how you haven't since it’s been all over the radio, anyway just check it out. Easily one of my favorite songs from 2017.

This chapter also had a little something tucked into it that's going to resurface quite a few times in the future. The PokeHub is basically a collection of all the social media we use in real life, though it's specifically for trainers. I won't go into too much detail about what else the PokeHub is used for, but just keep an eye out for it in future chapters.

My battles are still a work in progress. I think I've got the basics down, but now I'm trying to weave in the finer details to take them to another level. My first significant battle will be coming up in a few chapters, so I'm trying to get in a lot of practice before we reach it.

A big thanks to all those who have been following this story, it's so nice talking to you guys from time to time. Feel free to give me any feedback if you feel the need.

Once again, I gotta give my beta reader MjrGenMatt a thanks for his help and support!

The next chapter has just been shipped off to my beta, so it'll be up in the coming weeks. In the meantime, stay cool and drink lots of water kids, it's too freakin' hot!

Chapter Text

Chapter 17

Sunday, November 13th

Throwing open the front entrance to his home, Ash gave a cheerful call of 'I'm home!' to those present inside. Looking toward the entrance of the living room where he could hear the television running, Ash frowned with disappointment that no one had come to greet him. Sticking out his tongue as he kicked off his shoes, he kneeled down and removed his backpack, releasing Pikachu. Quickly climbing out of the bag with an exclamation of gratitude, Pikachu shook its fur before it scampered off into the living room to see who was here today.

Following his partner to the living room, Ash found Pikachu already resting comfortably in the lap of May as she stroked its back. Pikachu gave a content yawn with an expression of glee as May massaged it. It had been another long day of work for Pikachu, and nothing felt better than having its back rubbed.

Ash and Pikachu had taken full advantage of their freedom during the weekend, using this time to train all day with Giselle like they had the day before. Ash was loving every minute of this, but sadly he had school the next day so they had the cut the training short. He would've stayed out for at least another hour, but since Dawn and May were watching the girls today, he knew he had to relieve them early to make sure they didn't get into any trouble. Ash still couldn't believe that they had agreed to help him with such a big responsibility, and he thanked them graciously at every opportunity.

Taking a seat on the arm of the sofa beside May, Ash asked how their day had gone. Macy had taken charge in explaining what they had for lunch, and how they had gone to the park in the afternoon. Now they were absorbed in a movie that May had brought, one of her keepsakes from her childhood.

Macy was absolutely enthralled with the movie. It was geared toward her age group, centered around the life of a kidnapped princess, but it still managed to hold the interest of the older audience through the captivating story of how the princess was rescued by her soon to be prince charming. Once the movie had ended, Dawn and May said their goodbyes, promising Macy that they would be back again tomorrow. Ash saw them off, waving to them from the stairway in front of his home as they drove off.

Returning inside, he saw that it was almost nine o'clock and called for the girls to get ready for bed. Casey stuck her tongue out in response but complied with Ash's direction. Ash snatched up Macy in his arms and took her up to her room. She shared the events of the day with him once again, relating how much fun she had with Dawn and May. Ash was glad that Macy had taken such a liking to everyone that was watching her. It was keeping her mind off of Cassidy for the time being, and he was grateful for that.

Now in her room, Ash set Macy down on her bed and placed her covers over her. She babbled away the whole time for him, but was finally silenced when he placed a kiss on her forehead. Before he could say goodnight, Macy popped a question for him.

"Ashy, are you gonna sing for me?" She asked sweetly, and Ash could only stare at her with a dumbfounded expression.

"What for Macy?" Ash inquired as he took a seat beside her on her bed. She had never asked for anything like this before.

"Everybody sings for me before bed." She pointed out, and Ash furrowed his brow. Since when? "First was Shauna, then Serena. After that was...May."

Macy listed the people that had sung for her already and was Ash shocked that she had indeed listened everyone that had watched her for the past week. Clearly, this had become a routine that she was already grown accustomed to, and it appeared as though she wouldn't be making an exception for him.

"Did you like having them sing to you?" Ash asked her, and she gave him a big nod, her eyes sparkling.

"Now I want you to sing for me." Macy said eagerly, and Ash gave a nervous chuckle. He had heard Serena and Shauna sing before and already knew that he couldn't hold a candle to them. Fortunately, Macy had also mentioned that Brock had sung for her, so at the very least Ash had to be better than him.

"Alright Macy, but I'll let you know, I'm not that good at singing." Ash said to her, but she waved off his warning.

"Ashy, you're the best!" She declared, motioning for him to start.

Ash gulped audibly, running through his mind for something to sing to her. Settling on the song Brock had sung to him just a week ago, Ash cleared his throat and began to sing for Macy. She looked at him earnestly at first, a smile on her face, but as he continued her smile gradually faded. Seeing her excitement disappear, Ash's voice faltered and he solemnly admitted that he was finished.

"Okay Ashy, you're not the best singer." Macy noted, placing her small hand on top of his own to comfort him. Ash laughed a bit at her statement, thanking her for being so nice.

"So who did you like the most Macy, Shauna or Serena?" Ash figured that his question would take some time for Macy to answer, but she already knew what to say.

"May."

"May?" Ash repeated, looking down at her.

"Yeah. She's the best." Macy said, and Ash raised his eyebrows. That phrase had always been used for him exclusively, not that he minded of course. He just hadn't been expecting May to be the answer.

"Hmm. I guess I'll just have to hear her myself then. Alright, get some sleep Macy, I'll see you in the morning." Ash said to himself as he leaned over, placing another kiss on Macy's forehead. Tucking in her covers, he rose from the bed and left the room, shutting off the light as he did so.

Monday, November 14th

Fantina clapped her hands, calling for her students' attention as she stood at the front of the classroom. The room quickly became quiet, and Fantina welcomed her students to a new week of classes.

Ash yawned quietly as he leaned back into his seat, lazily watching Fantina as she quickly reviewed their discussion from last Friday. He didn't care much for the art history lessons Fantina gave, but he enjoyed seeing some of the classical work that was done centuries ago.

"And today, we will be starting a spécial three week group project." Fantina declared to her class, most of which perked up at this. Last week had mostly been lessons from Fantina so that she could give them one of the few tests she gave during the year. The mention of something a little more active was a welcome relief for her students. "With all of the-" Fantina frowned, searching her mind for the word she wanted to use. "-lectures, we had last week, I want to see what you have learned. So I will be putting you in teams of three and assigning a period of time to each group. The three of you will then be tasked with recreating a piece done from the time period you've been assigned."

This got her students' full attention as they all anxiously waited to see who they would be working with. Approaching her desk, Fantina looked to the list she had made, beginning to read off groups for the class.

As the groups began to form, May found herself anxiously waiting in her seat to hear her name called. She was hoping that she was paired with Ash or Dawn. It didn't matter which of the two, but just someone that could offset how little May would contribute. The brunette was as far from artistic as one could be, so she was hoping that one of Ash or Dawn would come to her rescue. May could hardly contain her surprise when her name was finally called.

"May Maple, Ash Ketchum and Dawn Berlitz." Fantina stated.

"What?" May exclaimed, receiving everyone attention.

"Is something the matter mademoiselle?" Fantina inquired as she looked toward May. In response May began to laugh sheepishly, her cheeks becoming red with embarrassment. She didn't mean to have an outburst, but she couldn't believe how lucky she was. Being with both Ash and Dawn meant there was no chance that she could have a negative impact on this project.

Once Fantina had finished putting the groups together, she encouraged her class to begin brainstorming because the project was due in two weeks. Pulling three desks together near the back of the room, Ash, Dawn, and May sat together to begin working. The time period they would be studying was roughly two centuries ago. The early modern era.

"Fantina didn't really cover this one now that I think about it." Dawn noted as she and May looked through their notes on this time period. "Ash, how much to do you have?"

"Huh...uh..." Ash covered his notes with his arm, causing both Dawn and May shoot him a look of confusion. "Not much, like you guys."

"Can I see what you have?" Dawn asked him skeptically, and Ash looked away from her.

"You're hiding something aren't you Ash?" May proclaimed as she leaned over, beginning to poke at Ash's sides. He began to squirm, being forced to raise his arms which allowed Dawn to snatch the papers he had been hiding. Dawn briefly scanned his page for a few moments before looking up at Ash in a deadpan.

"Ash, do you even take notes?" Dawn asked as she set down the papers for May to see.

"We're in art class, why would I take notes?" Ash retorted as May looked over the pages Dawn had passed to her. While Dawn had taken some detailed notes about the material Fantina had covered in class, Ash had nothing more than a bunch of doodles on each of the pages. He dated each page, but it was nothing but sketches beyond that. May stifled a laugh while Dawn looked at him incredulously.

Dawn then raised her hand, calling Fantina over to them. Ash stared at her in a deadpan, wondering if she was going to tell Fantina that he hadn't been taking notes during the lectures.

"Ms. Fantina, the time period you gave us is kind of vague. We didn't go over it much in class." Dawn pointed out to their instructor who looked up to recall what she had assigned them.

"Ah, I remember," Fantina said as she went to a nearby table to retrieve a stool, then she joined them at their trio of desks. Her voice became hushed as she leaned in to speak with them. "The time period I gave you was a dark time. It was right after the Great Crisis."

Ash perked up, recalling that he had heard a short story about this subject once before. Dawn and May, on the other hand, gave their teacher an odd look.

"I've never heard-" May began, but Fantina raised a finger to her own mouth as a gesture for May to speak quietly. Lowering her voice, May began to speak again. "I've never heard of that. I don't think we ever covered something like that in history class, right Dawn?"

"No, I haven't heard about a 'Great Crisis' either." Dawn added.

"It's modern history, something that people are trying to forget," Fantina explained solemnly. "I selected this time period because it was a very emotional time for people all over the world, and the artwork from that time was very percutant err, uh powerful."

"What happened that made everyone so emotional?" May asked, causing Fantina to sigh as she straightened up. She looked around her classroom, taking a moment to admire the generation that she was instructing, as well as the fact that a piece of history had successfully been withheld from them. Returning her gaze to the trio in front of her, she shook her head.

"It's not my place to tell. In fact, I shouldn't know about it myself." Fantina admitted, surprising the group.

"Then how did you learn about it?" Ash cut in.

"It was one of my research assignments while I was studying for my teaching certificate," Fantina explained. "The libraries in Sinnoh are very deep, and I uncovered information that had been buried for years most likely."

"Wow, so cool!" Dawn exclaimed. She had seen pictures on the internet of an enormous library in a small place called Celestic Town. It was said to have some of the oldest texts of recorded history.

"I see that I've put you all between a rock and a hard place, so I'll find some references for you all to work with tomorrow." Fantina suggested, wrapping up their discussion on this subject. The three of them thanked her, and Dawn decided to it was best to think about what medium they should use.

While she and May began to go over the pros and cons of each medium, Ash became lost in his thoughts concerning one subject.

The Great Crisis.

Ash had this subject come up among a group of trainers while he and Brock were out one night many months ago. It was a vague story, and not even Brock could give him the details about this. But it was described as the day Pokemon turned on mankind.

It shattered the trust between people and Pokemon.

With so many blanks to fill in surrounding this story, all Ash could do was wonder would it would take for the relationship between people and Pokemon to recover from that dark time.

It was almost nine o'clock as Ash hastily entered his home. Unless he had to work that afternoon, Cassidy would normally berate Ash for staying out so late on a school night. In her absence, Macy of all people would do the same. Of course, her reasoning was different compared to Cassidy's. The small girl simply missed him if he didn't get home before she went to bed, and she made it a point to voice this to him.

Poking his head into the living room, Ash took a quick glance around in search of the girls. The only person present in the room was Casey who was absorbed in a TV program.

"Pssst." Ash said to get her attention. "Did May leave already?"

"No, she's putting Macy to bed." Casey responded, pointing upward. "You're so late, Macy has been trying to wait for you."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Ash mumbled as he went over to the staircase, making the quick trip upstairs. Heading straight for Macy's room, he could hear her giggling as he approached the doorway. Ash raised his eyebrows as he entered to find them both munching on a plate of cookies, a glass of milk resting on the nightstand beside Macy. Narrowing his eyes as they looked toward them, Macy beamed at him while May refused to make eye contact.

"Ashy!" Macy exclaimed as she set down her cookie to wave to him with both hands.

"Macy, you know you don't get sweets before bed." Ash pointed out immediately. Macy struggled to sleep if she had sugar before bed, but she also couldn't resist having sweets at every opportunity. In response, Macy smiled innocently, causing Ash to roll his eyes. As much as he wanted to reprimand her, he couldn't find it in his heart to do so when she made such a face.

"Sorry Ash, it was my idea." May admitted, but this caused Ash to smirk.

"Don't worry about it." Ash said as he came over to the bed, picking up the plate that they had been eating from. "But I'll be having the rest of these."

"Hey! No fair!" Macy said, reaching toward the plate which Ash held just out of her reach. He lowered his head and blew a raspberry at her and she made the same face at him in response.

"Drink your milk and to sleep, Macy." He said to her. "May will tuck you in, alright?"

With a huff Macy obliged, allowing Ash to hand her the glass of milk which she slurped down noisily. Ash grimaced at the sounds, earning a laugh from May.

"I'll be right back." Ash said, deciding to leave the room rather than listen to Macy as she drank. She was young, but Macy was smart. She knew Ash hated it when she drank like that, and she was likely doing in on purpose to get back at him for confiscating her cookies. With a chuckle, Ash shook his head at Macy's antics. Clearly, she had learned a few things from Casey.

Entering his own room, Ash set the plate down on his nightstand and sat down to remove his backpack. Opening it up, Pikachu practically jumped out of it to shake its fur and stretch out its limbs.

"Sorry Pikachu, I know it's not comfortable in there. I still don't have a timetable on a Pokeball for you." Ash said as he retrieved one of the cookies, offering it to Pikachu.

"Pi-ka." It muttered in response, shooting him a narrow glance. Ash rolled his eyes, wondering how Pikachu could complain about hiding in his backpack every day, and then refuse the comforts of a Pokeball.

"Oh brother." Ash mumbled as he watched his partner begin to nibble at the cookie while it remained seated on the floor. Rising to his feet, Ash left his room to go check on Macy now that he was finished with Pikachu for the most part. Stepping back into the corridor, he could faintly hear a voice that was almost angelic.

Was that...May?

Listening as he approached Macy's room, Ash felt as though he had been uplifted. It was such a pure and soothing voice. Just listening to a few of the lyrics as May sang, it was no wonder Macy liked her voice so much. She was simply amazing.

Arriving at the entrance to Macy's room, Ash leaned against the door frame to watch May as she sang. Her eyes were closed and her head raised, and the softness of her voice was lulling Macy to sleep. Ash raised his eyebrows as he thought back to the first real discussion he had with May earlier in the school year.

She had shared her lack of decisiveness with him and that she was uncertain about her future. Yet, she had an incredible voice. How could she think she didn't have a future while sitting on a talent like this!?

"Sleep pretty darling, do not cry. And I will sing a lullaby."

Ash felt as if her words were caressing him, as though he was in the arms of his mother when he was younger. Smiling faintly, Ash remained silent as May traveled through the chorus of her song one final time. Upon finishing, she glanced down at Macy and smiled proudly that she had put Macy to sleep. Rising from the bed, May turned to leave but she found Ash standing in the doorway.

He raised a finger to his lips, motioning for her to remain quiet until they were outside of her room. Once he had shut the door, May slapped his shoulder, giving him a hard stare.

"What was that for?" Ash grumbled.

"Why didn't you say anything? I thought it was just me and Macy." May pointed, irritated that he had been eavesdropping on her small performance.

"Is that a problem?" Ash asked her in return. May's cheeks reddened a bit as she looked away from him now. It only took Ash a moment to realize it might have been embarrassing for May, and he felt a touch of guilt for listening in on her.

"I don't normally sing in front of other people," May confessed. "I'm usually alone."

"So...you're telling me no one knows that you can sing like that?"

May shook her head.

"The only people I have ever sung for was my mom and little brother." She explained, and Ash frowned a bit at her. "What?"

"You can really sing though. Why would you hide it?" Ash asked her curiously.

"I'm not...trying to hide it." May reasoned through pursed lips. "I never really felt the need to, broadcast to everyone that I can sing. Kind of like how you don't show off that you can draw really well."

"Fair point," Ash said with a nod before smirking a bit at May. "So would you sing for Dawn tomorrow if I told her?"

"NO!" May proclaimed, causing Ash to shush her harshly. May's cheeks reddened out of embarrassment. "No, don't tell her."

"Why not, I thought you said you weren't hiding it?"

"I'm not." May protested with a huff, shooting Ash a sharp stare. He gave her a wink in response which caused May to exhale exasperatedly. "Fine, I don't want anyone to know. Not yet, at least."

"If you won't sing for Dawn, how come you'll sing for Macy?" Ash asked her curiously.

"It reminds me of when I was younger before my family had moved to Vermilion City. We used to travel a lot because of my dad's job, so we'd be sleeping in a different hotel almost every night. It was hard for my little brother to sleep properly, so my mom would sing to help him get to sleep." May related to Ash, smiling fondly at the thought of her mother. "My mom is amazing, and listening to her every night is the reason I started to sing. I couldn't imagine what it would've been like without her, so now when I see Macy I just want to make sure that she's alright since her mom can't be here for her right now."

Ash smiled faintly, thoroughly impressed with May's level of concern for his sister.

"May, I'm pretty sure I've said this before but, you rock." Ash said which caused her to beam brightly with a giggle.

"Hey, I try." She replied, shrugging her shoulders. Her expression became more thoughtful as she looked at Ash. "So um, are you okay?"

May saw Ash's expression darken momentarily, then he pursed his lips as he looked away from her.

"I'm a-o-kay May." He replied, brushing aside her look of concern.

May frowned as Ash turned, beginning to make his way down to corridor to the staircase. Ash could be so enigmatic at times. She wondered if that was what Dawn found so attractive about him. May never cared much for mysterious guys that were hard to read, but maybe the challenge was what won Dawn's attention.

Either way, May shrugged and followed him downstairs. It was already late and the last thing she wanted to catch an earful of her father's complaining that she was out on a school night.

Tuesday, November 15th

"Ash, are you okay back there? You haven't said anything in a while." May noted as she looked up at the rearview mirror. She and Dawn were seated in the front of her car as they drove to Dawn's house, while Ash was seated in the back with his nose buried in the book Fantina had provided them in class today.

"Uh, yeah, yeah I'm good." Ash mumbled back, far too absorbed in the contents of this book to give a proper response.

"Don't forget Ash, once we get to my house that book is supposed to be in my hands." Dawn proclaimed, earning a snort from Ash and a deep sigh from May.

Fantina had come through for them, just as she said she would. During their first period class when this trio was together with their art teacher, she gave them a book entitled 'The History of Modern Art.' As the title suggested, the book covered artwork from the modern era which had started roughly three hundred years ago. The pieces within it were amazing, all of which had an analysis by the author of the book. While Ash went from page to page examining the artwork, Dawn wanted to read the thoughts of the author which took far too long in Ash's opinion.

They had attempted to share the book during first period, but the two of them had literally butted heads trying to study the art. May and the rest of Fantina's class couldn't believe that Ash and Dawn were having such a petty squabble over this book. Realizing that they wouldn't be able to share the book at the same time, Ash and Dawn decided that one of them would have the book for a class period. Once the allotted time was up, they would hand it off to the other person 'willingly.' May must have rolled her eyes at least a dozen times today watching them exchange the book. There was even a point where Ash wouldn't let go of it in the hallway and Dawn started to shout at him in the midst of the all the traffic between classes.

Ash was amazed by what he was seeing in this book. He had never cared much for art history, but with their subject being the Great Crisis, Ash couldn't deny that his interest was piqued. This book covered the modern era perfectly as well.

Ash could see the contrast before and after the Great Crisis.

The artwork from before the Great Crisis featured Pokemon in it. Even some of the great and powerful Pokemon that were feared presently were painted or drawn in great detail. Proof that the artists were able to get close and examine these Pokemon extensively. Following the tragedy that was the Great Crisis, the artwork took on a completely different feeling.

Chaos was the predominant quality of almost every piece. Destruction filled the landscape, sorrow occupied everyone's expression. Pokemon were now absent from every piece. It was just as Fantina had said, the artwork was very powerful. Ash didn't know all of the details surrounding this event, but seeing the depictions through the art was a chilling experience. It was like he was being drawn into that time period and witnessing the deluge of emotions that people were going through. Terror and fear had filled their hearts as they mourned over those who were lost.

Hearing someone knock on the glass beside him, Ash blinked repeatedly before looking out the window. Dawn was standing outside of his door, looking at him expectantly. With a quick glance, Ash saw that they were parked in Dawn's driveway and both girls had already gotten out of the car.

"Time's up Ash, hand it over!" Dawn declared, causing Ash to sigh with irritation.

Unbuckling his seat belt, he opened the door to climb out the car with his backpack. Dawn looked at him intently, waiting for him to pass the book that was rightfully hers for the next hour. Rather than give it to her directly, he raised his arm straight up, holding the book above her.

"Take it then." He responded, sticking out his tongue at her.

"Why are you being so impossible today Ash?!" Dawn hollered at him as she began to grab at the book, but Ash's stature kept it well out of reach. With a sigh, May decided to bring Dawn's struggle to an end as she approached Ash. Tickling the armpit of his raised arm, Ash dropped the book immediately, jumping away from May instinctively. The book would've hit the ground if Dawn hadn't been so persistent, catching it on its way down.

"The heck?" Ash exclaimed, shooting May a funny look. She raised an eyebrow at him, wearing a smirk.

"You'd be surprised what I've learned about you from Casey and Macy." May commented, and Ash paled in response. He had no trouble picturing Casey exposing all of his secrets and weaknesses to his friends.

Looking past May, Ash caught sight of everything else that was taking place at the Berlitz Estate. The driveway that had empty every time Ash had visited in the past, was now occupied with several black vehicles.

"Whoa, what's going on?" Ash inquired, pointing to all of the cars and trucks.

"Oh yeah, my dad is home for the next few days." Dawn replied casually as she motioned for them to follow her up the grass lawn to the front door.

"So, what's all this for?" Ash asked again.

"That's his security Ash." May said knowingly, and Ash's mouth hung open for a few moments.

"Security?" He exclaimed. "What does he do for work?"

"He does a lot of things if I had to be honest. Like he owns the shipping yards downtown, he runs a lot of businesses and sponsors all sorts of things." Dawn explained before she decided to summarize everything she had shared. "He's a tycoon."

"So that's how you guys afford this place." Ash pointed out, earning a chuckle from May. As they arrived at the front door, both doors were opened for them by two men in black suits.

"Afternoon, Dawn." They said together, sparing her a nod.

"Thank you." Dawn said kindly as she, Ash and May stepped into the foyer. "It's good seeing you guys again."

"Likewise." One of them replied as the doors were closed. They then stepped toward Ash and May, causing the brunette to sigh audibly.

"What's it going to take for me to get security clearance like Dawn?" May asked them, causing one of them to chuckle.

"Only the big boss can give security clearance." He replied with an apology. May groaned as she took off her bag, allowing them to quickly check it. They did the same to Ash backpack before clearing them for entrance into the household.

"So where are we going to work Dawn?" May asked curiously as Dawn led them past the entrance to her kitchen.

"I figured we could my workshop in the basement today." Dawn explained as they traveled into a long corridor where a circular stairwell was waiting for them.

"You have a workshop?" Ash exclaimed, disbelief written all over his face as they arrived at the stairwell. Before they could begin to descend down the stairs, a well-dressed gentleman stepped out of one of the rooms further down the hall and waved upon spotting Dawn.

"Ah Miss Dawn, you're home early today." Darach remarked as he approached the trio.

"Yeah, we got a lift home with May," Dawn replied, noticing that Darach's gaze now rested on Ash. "Oh right, I don't think you've met yet. This is Ash, one of my friends from school."

"It's pleasure to meet you," Darach said as he bowed deeply to Ash. "I am Darach, the butler of this household."

"Nice to meet ya." Ash responded, scratching the back of his neck with a chuckle. No one had ever addressed him like this before. He felt so, dignified!

"Is there anything you all would like to eat?" Darach offered, causing Dawn and May to look up thoughtfully. Then they looked toward Ash since this was his first official visit to Dawn's home.

"What would you like Ash?" Dawn asked him, and he made a face since the decision had been left up to him. He shrugged his shoulders after a few moments, unsure of what Darach could prepare for them.

"I don't know." He replied.

"Okay then, how hungry are you?" May asked with a smug grin. She had seen Ash's appetite at lunch, and it was no secret that Ash could put away a meal when he was ready. Right on cue, Ash's stomach voiced its opinion and the girls couldn't help but giggle. "If I may make a suggestion...Darach can make some mean sliders Ash."

Ash's eyes lit up at the prospect, and once Darach listed what he could use as the contents to these small sandwiches Ash was practically drooling. For someone that was usually so calm and composed, Ash could act pretty silly until his appetite was sated.

"I'll have them ready for you all in thirty minutes or less." Darach declared before he promptly left for the kitchen.

"Don't skimp either Darach, this guy can eat!" May called out to the butler. Ash gave May a narrow glance for this comment, but she only grinned at him in response.

"Come on guys, this way." Dawn said as she stood in the stairwell, motioning for them to follow her. Keeping pace with Dawn as they journeyed down to the basement level of the estate, the bluenette led them to into a sizable room that was dedicated to housing various art supplies. Ash was astonished by all of the tools Dawn had at her disposal and whistled at the sight of it all.

"Whoa, you've been holding out on me Dawn." He noted, waiting to hear a response from Dawn. Receiving nothing in reply, Ash looked toward the bluenette and discovered that she was already seated on a nearby bean bag chair with the art history book on her lap.

"So uh, what should we do Ash?" May asked him up realizing that they would hardly be getting input from Dawn for now.

"Well I guess you and I can choose the medium and start brainstorming our composition." Ash pointed out, receiving a nod from her as they went over to one of the tables at the center of the room.

Time passed quickly as the two of them went over this topic, throwing ideas back and forth. Ash was both surprised and impressed with May. After seeing her artistic ability...or lack of it in class, he wasn't expecting much from her. However, she turned out to be an incredible brainstorm partner. May was very vocal, and she had some sound ideas that they could use as a foundation.

Taking May's thoughts and putting them down on paper, the two of them built up two different compositions before Darach called for their attention. He stood in the entryway to Dawn's workshop.

"Mister Ash, I'd like to request your assistance in bringing down your snacks." Darach said, and Ash was standing beside the butler in a heartbeat.

"You got it." Ash said with a small salute. Then he spared May and Dawn a wave before he left, entering the corridor with Darach. They walked in silence for a few moments, reaching the stairwell before Darach cleared his throat.

"So Mister Ash, I've actually been looking forward to meeting you." Darach revealed to him, and Ash raised his eyebrows.

"Really? What for?" Ash inquired.

"Miss Dawn speaks very fondly of you. I think it's fair to say most of the staff of this household have been curious to see this young man who left such a strong impression on her." Darach explained, and Ash felt his cheeks heat up. For whatever reason, he could picture Dawn gushing to her family about him.

"Gee, I don't really know what to say." Ash replied with a chuckle.

"Say no more, I actually had something I wanted to speak to you about," Darach confessed as they arrived at the stairwell. Ash was surprised at this. He didn't really think anyone in Dawn's house would give him the time of day during his visit. "You see, Dawn shared with me your interest in Pokemon."

Darach glanced at Ash, spotting a small frown on his face upon hearing this news.

"Not to worry. I understand the public's view of Pokemon may not be a positive one, but this household has nothing against trainers and their Pokemon." Darach stated, and Ash was truly surprised by this. Darach couldn't help but snort at the expression of shock Ash wore.

"Are you serious?" He asked Darach tentatively.

"Indeed. In fact, the previous owner of this house used to possess many Pokemon. I grew fond of them while I served her." Darach explained and Ash's interest was piqued. Could he meet this woman?

"She was the 'previous' owner...did she move or something?" Ash inquired, and Darach became silent for a few moments. They reached the top of the staircase, and he led Ash down the corridor to the main foyer. Ash furrowed his brow with confusion, wondering if he had touched on a sensitive subject. These concerns were put to rest as they entered the foyer and Darach led him over to a large painting that hung on the wall.

It was a portrait of a beautiful woman with long brown hair that was seated on a colorful sofa. She smiled warmly for the painter, entertaining the pair of Pokemon that accompanied her. Standing beside the sofa was a Gardevoir who looked down at the woman fondly, but the other Pokemon caught Ash's attention. He didn't recognize this one, but its silky mane and nine tails stood out to him.

"This is Lady Caitlin, the previous owner. She...passed away." Darach explained with a deep sigh.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Ash apologized, but Darach waved it off.

"It's not your fault," Darach replied. How could Ash have known any of this? Looking up at the painting, Darach took a moment to pay his respects as he always did, then he turned back to Ash. "She was truly an exceptional woman. She will be missed."

Darach then motioned for Ash to follow him as they made their way to the kitchen.

"Oh, I went off topic," Darach noted with a chuckle, readjusting his glasses. "I didn't call you to discuss Lady Caitlin. I wanted to offer you tickets."

"Tickets? To what?" Ash asked.

"Underground matches." Darach said and once again Ash was shocked by something Darach has shared with him. Tickets to the official matches of the underground circuit were hard to come by and typically on the high end of the price spectrum. These battles were held within a secluded location, in front of an audience to determine who was the best trainer among those in Vermilion City. Pokemon battles took place all over the city where any trainer could participate, but underground matches were where you'd find the trainers and Pokemon of the highest caliber. The professionals. The people that Ash wanted to battle.

"No way. How'd you get them?" Ash asked in a hushed voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

"Mister Ash, as I said this is a neutral household. No one is going to give you hard time about Pokemon here." Darach responded, motioning for Ash to relax. "Now as for how these tickets were obtained, it was through Mr. Berlitz, the current owner of this estate."

"Is he a trainer?" Ash exclaimed though he frowned at the thought. Dawn had mentioned that her father was a business tycoon, so there was no way he had the time to balance Pokemon training with the rest of his responsibilities.

"He's nothing of the sort. However he is well renowned within the underground circuit as a sponsor, so he regularly receives tickets to observe the matches." Darach explained to Ash. "Unfortunately, these tickets always go to waste. He is a very busy man, and he rarely has time to attend these. When I heard of your interest in Pokemon, I thought that you might be someone who would appreciate these."

"Heck yeah, you better believe I will!" Ash declared. He could hardly believe such an opportunity had been dropped into his lap like this.

"Excellent." Darach said as they entered the kitchen, and Ash's focus shifted. He raised his head, catching the aroma of grilled meat. Scanning the kitchen briefly, Ash's gaze became fixated on the island at the center of the room where a platter of well-crafted sliders was waiting for them. They were practically sparkling as Ash stared at them hungrily. "I will retrieve the tickets for you Ash. It will only take a few minutes, feel free to have one of your sliders in the meantime."

Darach spared Ash one last glance as he left the kitchen, making his way to the den of Mr. Berlitz. The owner of the house was preoccupied with a conference call, allowing Darach to freely enter and exit his private chamber. Entering this dimly lit room, Darach quickly approached the wooden desk near the fireplace and rummaged through the contents of one of the drawers before finding the tickets. Each of them was laminated with a barcode on the bottom, likely to ensure that these could only be used once. Tucking the tickets into the breast pocket of his jacket, Darach promptly left the room and shut the door softly.

He still couldn't believe what a stroke of luck this was.

That Ash would appear right in front of him this week of all weeks.

This opportunity couldn't be more perfect!

Journeying back to the kitchen, Darach's jaw almost dropped as he discovered that Ash had eaten all three of the sliders that had been prepared for him. Darach couldn't have been gone for more than three minutes, so there was no way Ash could have eaten them all so quickly. Then May's brief warning to him rung out in his ears. As he observed the young man, Darach could see a look of contentment on Ash's face which left him to assume that the sliders had done their job.

"Uh, Darach right?" Ash said, noticing that the butler had returned. Darach gave him a nod as he approached the island where Ash was standing. "Those sliders were amazing! I...couldn't really control myself."

Darach wasn't sure whether he should be impressed or horrified at the fact that Ash had devoured that meal in less than five minutes. Brushing this thought aside, Darach thanked Ash with a small bow and cleared his throat.

"Here are the tickets for you." Darach stated, pulling them out of his pocket for Ash. His eyes began to sparkle as these tickets were placed in his hands.

"You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thanks so much!" Ash said almost giddily. Reading the tickets, he saw that they were for the matches taking place this weekend! He couldn't wait to see these, and he knew exactly who he was bringing!

Saturday, November 19th

"Oh man, I can't believe we're going to be seeing pro matches tonight!" Brock exclaimed and Ash nodded excitedly.

He, Ash and Pikachu stood on the rocky shoreline to the west of Vermilion City. They were waiting in a line to gain entry to the Hidden Cove, the stadium where professional Pokemon battles took place. Getting there was no small task.

The stadium itself had earned its name for where it was located. The rocky shoreline led up to some steep cliffs, but the cove was tucked away in a portion of the cliffs that had been hollowed out. Sunlight was provided through the main entrance of the cove, but man-made lights had been installed all over the place for the darker hours of the evening.

To reach this cove required the skill of a seasoned maritime captain to guide a boat into this cove or the maneuverability of a water Pokemon. The latter was what Brock and Ash had used to reach the cove.

There was a small beach on the western end of Vermilion City where several trainers were stationed. They provided the water transportation to get those attending these battles to the cove and back when the night was over. Ash was absolutely ecstatic at the opportunity to ride a Mantine to the cove and Pikachu was glad to make the acquaintance of the marine Pokemon. It was roughly a fifteen-minute ride on Mantine to the cove, and Ash marveled as he realized the beach was actually within the low cliff they were approaching. Disembarking at the beach, the group gave thanks to Mantine for the ride before it began its return trip to Vermilion City to pick up its next set of passengers.

Ash and Brock followed some of the other guests further into the area. A large portion of the cliff had been hollowed out for where the stadium was built. It wasn't clear if the open cave was natural or not, but it was impressive to observe. Spotlights had been set up at various places for once the sun had set, and they could see some very tall lights extending from the open roof the stadium, casting light down onto the battlefield.

Many people had already gathered outside of the stadium, with dozens of Pokemon roaming about as well. With no chance of the authorities even discovering this stadium, everyone present could have peace of mind knowing that their Pokemon could do as they pleased.

Some of the guests marveled at the sight of some of the large Pokemon, while some of the trainers spoke among themselves. The participants of tonight's battles were the first people to set foot in the stadium. It would be another fifteen minutes before they started letting in the audience. Lining up with everyone else, Ash and Brock couldn't wait to see some of the matches that would be taking place soon.

One of the attendants came by handing out the match schedule for those interested. Ash gladly accepted one and raised his brow as he studied the front of the program. The cover was dedicated to advertising the main event for tonight.

'Trek' vs 'Hydration.'

Upon entering the underground circuit, trainers could select an alias to go by rather than using their real name. It became a way for trainers to battle freely on the streets without the danger of their identity becoming known to the authorities.

"Whoa, last time I was here they didn't promote the main event like this." Brock noted as he looked at the program with Ash.

"Who are these guys?" Ash asked him, and Brock pulled out his phone, quickly accessing the PokeHub. Scrolling through the profiles, he found 'Hydration' first.

"Jonah 'Hydration' Romano," Brock stated as he began to read through his profile. "He has two Pokemon registered in the circuit, a Poliwhirl and a Staryu."

"Oh, so he mainly uses water types." Ash said, getting a nod from Brock.

"He's rank forty-one in the entire circuit," Brock exclaimed, realizing that they were going to be seeing one of the best trainers in the city tonight. Returning to the profile list, Brock began to search for 'Trek' now. "If they're pushing the main event like this then the other trainer must be really good...oh, here he is."

Ash looked at Brock, anxiously waiting to hear the information about 'Trek.' His friend became pale though as he looked through the profile of this trainer.

"Well?" Ash asked him, motioning for Brock to speak.

Brock bit down on his lower lip, uncertain of if he should speak. With a deep breath, he simply gave Ash his phone to let him read for himself.

Accepting the device, Ash discovered that his thumb had landed on the back button, taking him back out to the rankings. Glancing at the names of the top five trainers, he saw that 'Trek' was ranked fifth and sporting an undefeated record throughout his eight-year career in the underground circuit.

Although his record was very small, participating in only nineteen matches during this eight-year span. Most trainers would take part in the number of battles that this man has in just one year. Opening his profile, Ash quickly discovered why this man was ranked so highly despite such low participation in the circuit.

'Trek' was the King of the Red Skulls.

And his name was...Aaron 'Trek' Ketchum.

Ash's father.

A/N

Welp, enjoy your cliffhanger. The following two chapters go hand in hand with this one and I can't wait for you all to see them. Lots of cool stuff up ahead that I think you'll enjoy.

Gotta give a shoutout to MjrGenMatt for his help with this chapter especially. We discussed a lot of stuff in this one so I'm happy to finally put this one out there.

Thanks for reading, drop a review and I'll see you all again soon!

Chapter Text

Chapter 18

He started his journey before seeing his father, but his destination was determined for him that night.

Seeing his father again is what started him down this path – one filled with questions.

Questions that began to consume him...

Ash stood in shock, reading and re-reading the name listened under the profile of 'Trek.'

A feeling of unease filled his chest as he wrestled with his thoughts.

That couldn't be his father...no, it just couldn't be. Ash hadn't seen him in so long and he had no idea where this man had been.

But, Aaron Ketchum. That was indeed his father's name.

Could it really be him?

-X-X-

Five-year-old Ash Ketchum was as giddy as could be as he stood proudly in the living room of his small home in Pallet Town. His mother was kneeling a few feet away, a camera in her hands as she took multiple snapshots of her son. He wore the widest grin, tipping the visor of the new cap he received from his mother.

It was a red and white cap with an incomplete green triangle on the front it. This cap was hand-made by his mother, Delia. She couldn't help but giggle as her son struck another pose for the camera, calling for her to take another picture.

"Do you like your hat, Ash?" His mother asked him, and he almost threw his head off of his neck nodding to her.

"Mhmmm!" He replied, giving her a peace sign.

There was a knock on the front door, causing Ash to abandon his mother as he dashed over to the door. He knew who was waiting on the other side.

"Dad!" Ash exclaimed as he threw open the door, and he was greeted by the sight of his father beaming at him, a boxed present in his hands. He was accompanied by an older gentleman who Ash paid no mind to.

Aaron greeted Delia with a kiss before setting down Ash's present on the center table of the living room. He took a seat while Ash circled his present, anxious to see what was waiting inside.

"So Ash, are you having fun today?" Aaron asked his song who looked up at him.

"Yeah, mom gave me this awesome hat!" He explained, taking it off for him to examine. Delia did a fine job on it.

"Wow, are you going to let me borrow this from time to time? I need a hat for when I'm traveling after all." Aaron said, shooting Ash a sly grin.

"No way, this one is mine." Ash stated sternly.

"Say what?" Aaron exclaimed playfully. "Can't you share a little bit?"

"It's just for me." Ash declared, looking at his father intently.

"Alright, since your mother made it for you, I won't ask again." Aaron stated as he placed Ash's cap on his head, pulling it down snug on Ash's head. Ash grinned at him, and Aaron could tell what his son was going to ask.

"What did ya bring me?" Ash inquired, looking toward the present that Aaron placed on the table.

"Ash, what I have here for you is a big responsibility." Aaron began with a serious expression. Glancing at his father, Ash quickly realized this was no small matter despite his youth, and that led him to one conclusion.

"Is it a Pokemon?" Ash asked immediately, reaching out to the remove the cover of the box.

"Hold on Ash," Aaron said, forcing his son to pause. "I want you to understand this isn't something you can take lightly. This Pokemon is going to be yours, which means you will have to take care of it, feed it, and maybe one day train it-"

"Pika-" A new voice exclaimed, and everyone looked toward the present to see that the top of the box rose up a smidgen for the small yellow Pokemon to peek out. It couldn't bear to be contained within the box any longer. To the adult's amusement, the cover of the box slowly slid off of Pikachu's head, allowing its ears to stand straight up.

"A PIKACHU!" He screamed, and the Pokemon looked toward him at the call of its name. Grabbing the small Pokemon from the box, Ash pressed it against his face in a crushing hug. The Pikachu, however, seemed irritated as it began to struggle in Ash's grasp, and both Aaron and the man with him recognized the expression on Pikachu's face. In a flash, they put distance between themselves and this new duo, and it was just in the nick of time.

"Pika-CHUUU!" The small Pokemon hollered as electricity surged out of its body, zapping Ash. The small child was left twitching rapidly after he dropped Pikachu, his gaze unfocused.

"Oh my poor baby, are you okay!?" Delia yammered as she rushed to Ash, placing her hands on each of his cheeks. He let out of a small cough as Pikachu climbed up onto the center table, voicing its concerns for him. Then, of all the things Ash could do, he began to laugh.

"No, I'm sorry Pikachu. I shoulda asked before squeezing you." Ash apologized to the Pokemon, breaking away from his mother to look directly at it. Standing on its hind legs, Pikachu began to scratch the back of its neck with a small chuckle. "No hard feelings?"

Everyone raised their eyebrows at the sight of them bumping fists. This small gesture would start a lifelong relationship as Pikachu beamed at Ash, and he returned its bright expression.

"My name is Ash." Ash began, introducing himself to the Pokemon. "Do you like the name Pikachu?"

"Pi-ka." It replied with a nod and the two of them soon became absorbed in their own discussion.

"Well then, it looks like that got sorted out quickly." Aaron noted with a laugh.

"I told you already Aaron, Ash is just like you. When he comes up to the ranch he treats all the Pokemon just like that, right Delia?" The gentleman pointed out receiving a nod from Delia.

"Yup, that's right professor." She replied as they watched Ash offer his arm to Pikachu. It hesitated for just a moment before it climbed onto him, mounting itself onto his shoulder where it nuzzled its cheek against Ash's.

"How about a picture?" The professor suggested, motioning for Delia and Aaron to join Ash and his new partner.

"Sounds great." Aaron said as he approached his son and grabbed him in one arm, hoisting him up into the air. His remaining arm wrapped around Delia's waist and pulled her close as the professor retrieved the camera.

The family of three...now four, smiled together for the camera as the professor gave a shout of 'say cheese!'

-X-X-

"Ash? Ash!" Brock hollered, waving his hands in front of his friend's face. Ash blinked rapidly for a few moments, his vision focusing on Brock. "Are you okay?"

"Uhh, yeah man. I'm good." Ash replied as he rubbed one of his eyes.

"Are you sure?" Brock added skeptically, but Ash gave him a narrow stare.

"I'm good." He repeated. Brock made a face, causing Ash to apologize for his tone. Deciding it was best to drop the subject, Brock gestured to the entrance to the open stadium. The area outside of the stadium was a ghost town. The audience had proceeded to enter once the doors were opened for general admission, leaving Ash and Brock outside.

Brock took the lead, guiding Ash into the Hidden Cove Stadium. He had been to the Hidden Cove on one other occasion to see professional matches, and Brock could safely say that it was an experience like no other.

This stadium was a beacon for trainers around the world. A place all of them dreamed of battling within one day. A stage where everyone would see your battle.

Every battle that took place in the Hidden Cove was broadcast through the PokeHub. This made it easy for those with access to track their favorite trainers and observe their battles if they couldn't attend the actual battle.

Within the main lobby, there were numerous posters showing some of the most memorable battles to be seen at the Hidden Cove. Observing some of these posters, Brock found himself looking up dreamily at the prospect of these battles. Recordings of these battles were stored on the PokeHub, but seeing a legendary matchup in person was an entirely different experience.

Traveling through the lobby, Brock and Ash entered the long corridor that traveled around the stadium, connecting to the stands around the battlefield. The stadium was nothing large, seating just a few thousand people, but it took a great deal of effort to maintain everything, including the battlefield. Entering a short stairwell, Ash looked up as they stepped out onto the stands. The stadium was open above them within this dimly lit area, but their primary light source was several large spotlights aimed down at the battlefield.

Ash felt his chest become tight at the sight of the field. This was the field. Taking part in battles out on the streets was nothing to take lightly, but to take part in a battle on this field meant that you were the real deal. This was the first time he was seeing it in person, and one day soon he hoped to be standing on it himself.

"Come on Ash, this way." Brock said, calling for Ash to follow to their seats.

The tickets they received from Darach were excellent, placing them very close to the front. Ash and Brock felt a little out of place. These seats toward the front were occupied by some very well-dressed people, all of which must have paid a great deal of money to get them.

It was no secret to Brock that some of the people were present because they placed bets on these battles. While the underground circuit built a solid foundation for itself, it had been a struggle to establish this. Finding sponsors to help maintain the Hidden Cove, PokeHub and the trainers proved to be a real challenge. As an incentive, the underground circuit became a big gambling site, attracting some people with deep pockets to support its infrastructure.

Getting comfortable in their seats, there was a chime over the speakers to inform everyone that tonight's event was about to begin. An older gentleman, perhaps in his late fifties, stepped out in the spotlights on the battlefield with a microphone in hand. He wore a thick beard that was beginning to gain a few gray hairs due to age.

"That's him, Ash," Brock said as he pointed at the man on the field. "The commissioner of the circuit."

"That's him?" Ash exclaimed as he did a double take. Ash expected to see someone of great stature and prominence, not a short man wearing a backward cap!

"Yup, Charles Goodshow." Brock replied as Charles began to tap the microphone he held, commanding everyone's attention.

"It's good to see a full house tonight." He began, welcoming the audience warmly. "We have a special treat as the main event tonight, which I'm certain all of you are looking forward to. So, we'll skip straight to what everyone is here for, our first of eleven battles tonight!"

Charles motioned to the referee that stepped into the spotlight. He had a microphone attached to the collar of his shirt as he announced the participants of the battle.

"For our first match tonight, we have 'Outlaw' vs 'Blitz!'" The referee declared causing a roar from the audience. As the first two trainers took their place in each box, Charles quickly left the field to get to his own seat in the stands. "Trainers, are you ready?"

Both trainers gave the referee a short nod, eyeing their opponent with a Pokeball in hand.

"Then let the battle begin!" The ref shouted as he threw up his arms. That was the signal, and both trainers hurled their Pokeball up into the air. Each device split, releasing a white flash that jumped down to the field. The audience roared as Outlaw's Pidgeotto and Blitz's Ledian formed on the field, both of them taking flight upon spotting their opponent.

"This should be easy Pidgeotto, take it down with your Aerial Ace!" Outlaw ordered immediately, pointing up at Ledian. This was a tremendous advantage in their favor, and they were going to take full advantage of it. Pidgeotto gave a squawk before it ascended high into the air, performing a large loop to gain momentum.

"Ledian, use your Agility!" Blitz barked in return. Ledian's wings began to reverberate faster than the eye could see, and it became a blur in the air as Pidgeotto went on the attack. Even with its increased speed, Pidgeotto's keen eyesight allowed it to track the movements of Ledian as it darted around the air. Locking onto its target, Pidgeotto dove in, accurately striking Ledian on its side.

"Follow up with Whirlwind!" Outlaw added since Ledian was free falling from the blow. Pidgeotto began to flap is wings rapidly, unleashing several powerful gusts of wind onto Ledian. Outlaw's intention was to throw it down to the field where he and Pidgeotto would deliver the finishing blow, but the winds revitalized Ledian. Catching itself on the gusts, Ledian began to ride them in order to stabilize itself in the air, much to the delight of its trainer.

"Nice Ledian, let's give them a taste of your Mach Punch!" Blitz called out quickly seeing that this was there chance to attack. Riding the gusts of wind, Ledian used it as a slingshot to launch itself back up at Pidgeotto, reeling back one of its small fists. The crowd roared at the sight of Ledian delivering a punch to Pidgeotto's abdomen, stunning the bird which caused it to plummet down to the field. "Show em' who's boss with your Comet Punch!"

Ledian was quick to follow up, all four of its small hands beginning to glow as it attacked Pidgeotto with a barrage of punches.

"Pidgeotto you gotta do something!" Outlaw cried out, but Ledian delivered blow after blow to Pidgeotto's head leaving it dazed. It crashed down onto the field with a hard thud, Ledian hovering over the bird Pokemon with a prideful smile.

"Nice Ledian!" Blitz called out to his partner.

The audience was cheering wildly for Ledian's combination which effectively took down Pidgeotto. Ash, however, struggled to keep his attention on the battle. All of this commotion was muffled in his ears and his mind continued to drift back to thoughts of his father.

There was a laundry list of questions Ash had for his father, all of which were unanswered for more than ten years now.

Where had he been? What was he doing?

What happened on...that day?

-X-X-

"WHOA!" Ash bellowed as he stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding a stray bolt of electricity let loose from Pikachu. He laughed as he fell back onto his bottom, the grass of his backyard cushioning his fall. Ash brushed aside the momentary pain, his focus now firmly placed on how impressed he was with Pikachu's ability to channel electricity.

His father explained it a few times for him, that as Pikachu grew it would gain a measure of control of the electricity it could generate. Ash could distinctly remember the first time they had met two years ago how Pikachu greeted him with a shock to his system. He surprised Pikachu back then in its early stages, causing a discharge that not even it would have expected.

Since then, Pikachu came a long way. Ash may have grown somewhat now that he was the age of seven, but it was Pikachu's growth that was noteworthy. It had filled out considerably, now attaining the natural size and weight of its kind which marked the beginning of the exploration of its abilities.

"Pikapi?" Pikachu asked him as it ran to his side, but Ash assured it that he was alright. Pikachu's ears perked up as it heard something approaching in the distance.

It was a few moments before Ash could hear it as well. The roar of several car mufflers racing toward them. Suddenly the back door of his home was thrown open by his mother, who called for him frantically. Upon reaching the back porch, Delia grabbed him by the hand and yanked him into the house. Briefly, they made eye contact and Ash saw how distraught his mother was. His mother was such a cheerful woman that seeing this grim expression on her face was…uncanny.

"Mom, what's wrong?" Ash asked her as he heard the car engines stopping outside of their home. His mother glanced at the front door, biting down on her lower lip. "Mom?"

"Come on, upstairs now." She said sharply, ushering Ash and Pikachu up the staircase to their room. Reaching their room, Delia opened up Ash's closet and gently steered the two of them into.

"What's happening, mom?" Ash asked her again, and she winced upon hearing someone pounding their front door.

"Ash, I want you to promise me that you'll stay here." Delia stated as she sat him down in the corner of the closet. Ash opened his mouth to question her, but she quickly placed Pikachu in his arms and looked into his eyes. It was rather dark in his closet, but Ash could clearly see that she was resolute despite the panic she was experiencing.

He nodded to her, and she smiled faintly. She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his forehead, doing the same for Pikachu.

"Pi-ka..." It squeaked, lowering its ears in dismay. Realizing Pikachu must have detected her resolve, she placed a hand the top of its head, scratching it softly to provide the Pokemon some reassurance.

"Check around the back!" A burly voice commanded, and the trio within Ash's room heard a pair of footsteps circling their house. Delia straightened up and spared her son one last glance, remembering his face for what might be the final time.

Shutting the closet, Ash felt an overwhelming sense of dread as his mother returned downstairs. He could hear their back door get thrown open, earning a shout from Delia as they entered her home. The wooden floor creaked beneath their steps as they rushed at Delia. She was restrained by one of these men while the other opened the front door for the remaining person outside to join them.

The conversation was difficult for Ash to follow from upstairs. He managed to pick out a few phrases from their discussion, but not enough to understand what they were talking about.

"...Malcolm doesn't want you talking. This is your last chance." One of the men stated.

"...you all will be exposed one day." Delia spat in return, receiving a backhand for her boldness.

"...you and Aaron are the last of our loose ends..."

"...it dies with you..."

Pikachu's ears rose as it faintly heard a click, followed by a gasp from Delia.

"...it's your call, what are you going to do?"

Delia began to sob. Ash couldn't make out a word she said, and suddenly everything grew silent.

A gunshot...followed by a thud.

Pikachu grabbed its ears, whining softly from the sharp noise.

Ash felt his heart jump into his throat, and his arms became tense as he held Pikachu tightly.

What was happening? He needed to know. Getting onto his knees, Ash reached out for the doorknob with one hand, but Pikachu opposed this idea. Sinking its small teeth into his forearm, Ash paused to wince in pain.

"Oww Pikachu." He muttered.

"Pika-pika." It advised him quietly, reminding him of the promise he made to his mother. Ash bit down on his lower lip, looking at the doorknob with uncertainty. He so desperately wanted to know what was happening. He heard his mother struggling against these men, and she even began to cry. Ash couldn't bear the thought of them hurting her.

Feeling Pikachu lick at the small bite mark it left on his arm, Ash sighed and sat back down. He wouldn't go against his mother's words.

Hearing another car come screeching to a halt outside his home, Ash's curiosity reached an all-time high. There was some shouting from the men within his home, but the loudest voice all came bursting through the front door. He knew this voice.

It was his father's.

-X-X-

"And now, we will start tonight's main event!" Charles Goodshow announced from his seat in the stands. There was a spotlight on him as he stood, a microphone in hand. The audience roared in response, anxious for this match to begin. This was what they all came to see.

Ash shook his head, the sheer volume of the audience forcing him out of his thoughts. Glancing around, he saw that almost everyone was on their feet as Charles began to introduce the participants of the main event. Ash rose up as well, watching as one of the spotlights was pointed to the entrance of the battlefield.

"In the blue box, sporting a record that has spanned forty-three matches with only three losses. 'Hydration!'" Charles declared as a man in early thirties stepped out into the spotlight. The audience cheered for him, and he pumped his fist as a gesture to excite the audience. Reaching the area that had been dedicated for him on the battlefield, another spotlight was then directed at the opposite entrance. "And in the red box, with an undefeated record through nineteen matches, a man who has maintained his status among the top five trainers in the circuit! 'Trek!'"

Ash drew in a shaky breath as his father stepped out into the spotlight. Aaron wasn't anything like how Ash remembered him. During Ash's early childhood, Aaron always possessed a rugged appearance and a scruffy beard. The only reason he ever shaved it was for Delia to kiss him since she refused to otherwise. Looking at him now, Ash couldn't believe that this was his father.

The man was clean cut, his hair was trimmed and under control. He was sharp, dressed in a suit, although he was missing a tie and the jacket was left undone. The most notable thing that struck Ash was his father's expression. All throughout his youth in Pallet Town, this man wore the greatest of smiles, especially when he was around Pokemon. Yet at this very moment, he wore a neutral expression, almost as if the life had been sucked out of him.

This setting was what the man lived for. Pokemon battles, fans screaming for him, but he didn't seem to care about it at all.

Arriving at the red box, Aaron took one glance around at the audience before focusing on the referee.

"Trainers, are you ready to begin?" The referee asked. He received a nod of confirmation from each of them, and then he threw his arms up.

"Alright, let's go!" Hydration shouted as he threw up his Pokeball. Aaron quickly did the same, and each of the spheres cracked open to release the Pokemon within it.

On Hydration's side, a Poliwhirl appeared it immediately fell into a fighting stance. Its opponent was a Pokemon that Ash hadn't seen in a long time.

"Ka-da-bra." Aaron's Kadabra shouted, raising one hand toward Poliwhirl. Its hand began to glow, eager to begin this battle.

-X-X-

"Delia!" His father roared from the living room. It was the type of shout that turns your blood cold and sends shivers down your spine. The pop of a Pokeball opening rung out, and there were several shouts of protest following this.

Then Ash began to hear several crashes with shouts of pain from the men. Ash could no longer help himself. His adrenaline was pumping, curiosity piqued as to what transpired downstairs. Above all else, his concern for his parents forced him to release his hold on Pikachu and stand up. With no hesitation, he opened up the door to his closet and rose to his feet.

Stepping out, Ash proceeded to the door of his room and opened it up. It became abundantly clear that a brawl had broken out in their living room. He could see the shattered remains of a vase resting at the bottom of the staircase. Slowly, he and Pikachu went down each step, his shoulders hunched as he reached the final steps.

Ash peeked into the room, his attention first being drawn to the three men he heard. They were being held up in the air by the psychic power of his father's Kadabra.

"No, I was too late..."

His father was talking to someone.

"Some of his goons met me in Viridian City. That's what slowed me down." Aaron stated vehemently.

Ash gulped audibly as he looked around in search of his mother. It didn't take him long to find her on the opposite side of the living room. She lay motionless on her stomach, her head looking in the opposite direction. He rushed to her side, kneeling down to see if she was okay, but Ash fell back with a queasy feeling at the sight of his mother.

There was a small hole in her forehead, blood trickling out of the fatal bullet wound. Her eyes were glassy, lifeless, but he could see the stains of tears on her cheeks.

"M-M-mom?" Ash asked, and Aaron whirled around. The grip he had on his phone loosened as he saw Ash beside Delia. This was what he was desperately trying to avoid this...

"Kadabra, use Hypnosis!" Aaron barked, pointing at Ash. Glancing back at Aaron, Kadabra was certainly surprised that the target of this attack was Ash, but it complied nonetheless. Hurling the three men it held in its Psychic grip aside, Kadabra gave a shout which earned Ash and Pikachu's attention. Briefly making eye contact with the two of them, Kadabra released a psychic wave which was propelled toward them.

The duo didn't have a chance to react before they were hit, being overcome by a sudden drowsiness. Ash could vaguely make out his father's face with the man looming over him, but he was unable to form a proper sentence before he succumbed to his urge to sleep.

-X-X-

"Poliwhirl is unable to battle, Kadabra is the winner!" The ref declared, and the audience burst into applause. Ash groaned as his vision refocused, and he saw the outcome of the battle. Aaron's Kadabra stood proudly over its unconscious opponent.

Ash sat in his seat, dumbfounded since he had missed the whole battle, in fact, he missed all of the battles tonight. Despite this, Ash didn't care. The only thing he cared about was speaking to his father.

One of the spotlights was shifted back to Charles as he stood up, applauding the two trainers that participated in the main event. As the cheering abated, Charles took up the microphone in his seat to speak.

"Quite a spectacle!" Charles exclaimed as he watched Aaron retreat to the exit of the battlefield with his Kadabra. "A performance worthy of one of our Kings! I'll have to make sure his next opponent is even stronger than this one. Would you all like to see that?"

The audience roared in response. Getting to see any of the Five Kings take part in a battle was truly a treat, but seeing 'Trek', King of the Red Skulls battle was something that only happened once in a blue moon. Some questioned his ability since he battled far less frequently than the other Kings. Others insisted that his small track record in the underground circuit didn't justify his ranking.

However, seeing 'Trek' fully control a battle against another trainer in the top fifty was a clear reminder of his skill. His small record may have undermined his reputation, but his dominance on the battlefield quickly shut down the naysayers. He and his Kadabra were unparalleled in combat, something that could only be said about the Five Kings.

As Charles went through the closing ceremony, Ash nudged Brock with his elbow to get his attention.

"I'm gonna go, Brock." Ash said causing his friend to glance at him knowingly.

"You're going to talk to him, huh?" Brock stated, earning a nod from Ash.

"I have to." Ash responded sternly, glancing back at the tunnel his father went into.

"I know. I got something to take care of myself. I'll meet you back at the car, alright?"

"Right."

Ash rose from his seat, working his way down the aisle until he made it to the stairway that would take him back into the main corridor of the stadium. He knew little about this building, but he was already certain that there was only one way in and out of the Hidden Cove. If he was quick, he could reach the shore before Aaron got there.

Returning to the corridor that led to the seating areas, Ash began to run through it, racing back toward the main lobby of the stadium. As he ran, Ash could swear that this corridor became noticeably longer. He and Brock didn't walk too far to reach the seating area, so why was it taking him so long to get back to the lobby? Finally, the corridor opened up, and Ash found himself breathing hard as he looked around the lobby. He quickly realized that he entered this room from the opposite side he left it through earlier.

Resisting the urge to slap himself, Ash couldn't believe that he managed to run around the entire stadium. He wasn't sure how much time he wasted, time he could have saved if he took the time to glance at any of the signs that were giving directions. Shaking his head with a sigh of irritation, Ash dashed out of the large doors of the lobby, stepping into the cool night air. The sky was dark, but the Hidden Cove was situated perfectly to see the moon as it rose up over the horizon.

Far out ahead of him, Ash saw a group of four men approaching the shoreline where the escorts and their Mantine's were waiting. Accompanying these men was a Kadabra, which meant that Aaron was among them. Going into a full sprint to close the distance, Ash gave a shout that caused them to glance back curiously.

"Hey!" He exclaimed loudly.

Aaron stopped mid-step, causing the other with him to pause and look back at the source of the shout. Glancing over his shoulder, Aaron could swear that his heart stopped at the sight of Ash Ketchum racing toward him. For all the time he spent watching his son over the last decade, this was the first time he was seeing him face to face. It simply astounded him how much this boy had grown since Aaron last saw him in person. Ash closed the gap in height, and he grew out his hair in the same fashion that Aaron used to wear his.

"Stop him Kadabra." Aaron said softly, causing Kadabra's eyes to flash blue for a brief moment. Ash's sprint came to an abrupt halt, his body now restrained by an invisible force.

"Wha-What are you doing? It-It's me, Ash!" Ash pointed out, using the only part of his body that would obey his command. Aaron turned around to face Ash, but with the moonlight behind him, it concealed his expression from his son.

Aaron maintained his distance from Ash, posing his own question to his son.

"Why are you here?" Aaron asked him, and Ash felt his heart sink. On top of the changes to his appearance, Aaron's voice had grown rough. Even though their interactions had been sparse during Ash's childhood, Aaron would always talk to Ash in a way that put him at ease. But at this particular moment, there was no warmth or acceptance coming from Aaron. Just a raspy voice that was filled with skepticism.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked him in return.

"Why did you come here tonight?" Aaron clarified.

"To see the best trainers, why else would I be here?" Ash answered with a touch of indignation in his voice. Aaron's expression hardened at this response and the tip of his nose twitched twice.

"How did you get in?" Aaron questioned him.

"I got some tickets from someone who works for one the sponsors of the underground circuit. His name was um..." Ash frowned, realizing that he didn't even know Mr. Berlitz's first name. Not to mention he owed the man for unknowingly providing him those tickets. "His last name was Berlitz, that's all I really know about him."

Unknown to Ash, Aaron's eyes became narrow at the mention of 'Berlitz.'

Aaron hated being forced out of his little den to battle publicly for Charles Goodshow. 'Berlitz' was the picture-perfect example of why Aaron lived as a recluse. That man wanted him dead.

Hearing Ash just mention the name 'Berlitz' sparked a sense of rage with Aaron. What did that man want with his son?

"Is something wrong?" Ash asked. His father stood silent for some time now, and even the men that were escorting him were waiting for him to speak.

"Why did you come after me?" Aaron inquired with a deep breath.

"Because...I wanted to talk to you." Ash stated, and Aaron felt his breath become short. All of the effort he put forth to calm himself was forgotten immediately. There was only one subject that Ash could possibly want to talk to him about.

What happened the day his mother died.

"You're not ready." Aaron responded as he averted his gaze from Ash.

"What are you talking about? You don't even know what I was going to say!" Ash proclaimed, tightening his jaw out of frustration. This was hardly the discussion he expected to have. This was the first time they had seen each other in years, and his father had yet to say his name.

"You want to know about your mother, don't you?" Aaron said vehemently, forcing Ash to pause as he thought about his next choice of words. This was all of the proof Aaron needed. "You're not ready."

"And what makes you think I'm not ready?" Ash barked at him.

"Because I'm you fath-"

"You're not my dad!" Ash shouted at him, forcing Aaron to look back at him. Ash could see his father's eyes amidst the darkness, and his anger boiled. This man had no right to claim that he was Ash's father! "I was seven years old the last time I saw you! That was ten whole years ago! I'm not that kid you'd come to visit every now and then, so you don't have a say in what I can and can't know."

Aaron's expression darkened as he stared at Ash, balling his hands into tight fists.

"Listen!" He piped up over Ash, and his voice became scornful. "You don't understand anything that happened that day!"

"I know that was the day you chose to leave because you couldn't take care of me!" Ash hollered defiantly, and Aaron's ears began flush with the thump of his heart. His hands began to tremble which caused his Kadabra to take a cautious glance at its trainer. Seeing his anger flare up so violently, Kadabra knew what was coming next.

"C-C-Calm...Mind." Aaron spoke with a quiver as if he was kettle that was about to burst. Kadabra's eyes flashed blue momentarily, and Aaron's did the same. His anger abated, and he took one hand to pinch the bridge of his nose with a deep sigh.

Ash furrowed his brow, expecting an outburst from his father. But Aaron responded with a frightening calmness.

"Alright, you want to know about your mother?" Aaron asked him.

"At this point what else do you think I want to know about?" Ash retorted, but this didn't bother Aaron in the slightest. Rather, he lowered his hand to place his thumb against his chest.

"Beat me in a battle. An official one. Then we'll talk." Aaron stated, and Ash's anger turned to shock.

He needed some time to process what his father said. It was a complete one-eighty from the direction their conversation had been going. Ash began to anticipate a contest of who could raise their voice louder when suddenly Aaron retreated into his shell again. Ash struggled to figure out what could have prompted this subject. Once again, the questions were piling up.

Why would his father use such a ridiculous condition? Was it to keep him from finding out what happened to his mother? Why was Aaron trying to keep this a secret in the first place?

Ash shook his head, pushing these questions aside as he concluded that this must be the new norm for his father. After all, the man didn't have any qualms about dumping him in Vermilion City with Cassidy ten years ago. He didn't even have the decency to say goodbye. If Aaron was fine doing this, then it was no wonder he could put such a stupid roadblock in front of Ash.

"And how do you expect me to do that?" Ash asked him in return. His chance of entering the underground circuit was minuscule at best, and odds of a battle between him and his father being arranged were even smaller than that!

"I've been watching you," Aaron said, raising his arms. "I'm the King of the Red Skulls. I've seen you battle with my trainers. I know that you can make it into the circuit."

Ash lowered his head, deepening the glare he shot at his father. That proclamation felt as if Aaron was trying to make up for his absence. As if him stating that stalking Ash could make up for that.

"None of that matters," Ash said, brushing aside Aaron's comments before returning to the subject at hand. "No one is going to sponsor me."

"You've already found your sponsor. Berlitz. He'll get you in." Aaron revealed, but this didn't erase any of the doubt in Ash's stare. The young man was having such a hard time following his father as their discussion jumped from one place to another. "Just tell him your name...and he'll get you in."

Aaron turned away from Ash, using a moment to steady his breathing. Then he began to walk, his men following him to the beach where the Mantine's were waiting. Ash wanted to scream, to chase him down, to grab his father by the collar of his damn shirt and slap some sense into him. But Kadabra's psychic restraints held him in place, which gave him the privilege of watching his father leave him...again.

Once the group was situated on the back of a Mantine, Kadabra glanced back at Ash and released its hold on him. Ash fell to the ground once his freedom was restored. Raising his head to look up, Ash could see his father fading into the distance. Even if he raced down to the shoreline to board another Mantine, they would have been long gone. With no other option, Ash could only pound the sand of the beach angrily.

Even after talking to his father face to face, the man was but an enigma to him.

Charles Goodshow gave a sigh of relief as he leaned back into the sofa in his office. It was nights like these that he lived for, but the toll on him increased alongside his age. Organizing these nights every weekend was no small matter. There was so much to consider with each match.

The goal of the underground circuit was to bring out the best in each trainer and Pokemon that were participating. Charles also went through the trouble of trying to keep the matches balanced to keep the gambling community honest. The last thing he needed was someone thinking these matches were rigged.

In most cases, Charles would speak to the sponsor of a trainer in order to set up a match. However, there were a few occasions where Charles had to meet the trainer in person and 'convince' them to take part in a battle. This was a requirement when trying to get Aaron Ketchum to battle publicly. This man was elusive and crafty, slipping from one shadow to the next in Vermilion City. Fortunately, Charles possessed a few ties to the Red Skulls that made this task more bearable.

Aaron was stubborn, so it typically took two or three meetings with him to get him to actually commit to a battle. Even though it was a process to get this man to make an appearance, it was always worth the effort with the show he would put on. It was obvious why this man was one of the Five Kings of Vermilion City and with his alias on the schedule would guarantee a full house.

Hearing some commotion from outside of his office, Charles rose from his seat. Before he could step away from his desk the ruckus had reached the door of his office which had been thrown open by a spiky-haired male. Behind this young man, Charles saw his assistant who was clearly irritated with their uninvited guest.

"Mr. Goodshow, if I could just have a moment of your time." He began, bowing deeply as an apology for barging into his office. Charles could see that his assistant was eager to send this person away, but Charles didn't have the heart to do so. After all, he made it to this point in his life by listening to those who approached him in just such a fashion. Only people with a clear goal in mind would barge into his office like this.

Motioning for his assistant to leave them, the young man beamed at Charles and thanked him graciously for this. He shut the door to his office and then quickly approached Charles's desk as the gentleman got situated in his seat once again.

"So, what can I do for you?" Charles asked him, though he had a hunch already.

"My name is Brock, and I'm trying to help a friend of mine get into the circuit." Brock began. Charles merely raised his brow in response, so Brock continued. "Now I know a lot of people come to you to make this request, but I have to tell you that you'd be making a big mistake passing on my friend."

"Well, you're right about one thing. A lot of people do come to me to make this request." Charles replied with a snort. He was the commissioner of the circuit, so a lot of people assumed that kissing his butt was the fastest way to get in.

Charles wouldn't have any of that. Every trainer that was invited to take part in the underground circuit all had one similarity. They were excellent trainers. It was a simple as that. Trying to grease his palms and flatter him with compliments wouldn't make Charles' view of a trainer any less critical. Only the most skilled and powerful trainers could take part.

"I'd like to believe that I perceive talent the way you do sir," Brock said respectfully to Charles, looking him straight in the eyes. "I've seen my fair share of Pokemon battles in this city, and believe me, my friend is something special. Some of the people he's beaten have told me the same thing."

Charles placed an elbow on his desk, using his hand to begin to stroke his short beard. Under any other circumstance, Charles would've ignored how Brock was praising his friend. Charles only trusted his own eye test, but Brock's comment about perceiving talent seemed to resonate within him. His curiosity was piqued.

"Tell me about someone your friend has beaten." Charles said, leaning back into his seat as he waited for Brock's answer.

This was his test during these interviews. Charles knew all of the strong trainers in Vermilion City. If a trainer seeking entry into the underground circuit couldn't beat any of the trainers he knew, then they didn't belong here.

"Giselle." Brock stated and Charles raised his brow again, but this time surprise was evident in his expression.

"Ah, now there's a trainer I had high hopes for." Charles commented, taking a few moments to briefly recall what he could about Giselle. He saw a few videos of her battles with circuit trainers. She could easily hold her own against all of them, but she turned down the invitations to join the underground circuit.

Charles smiled faintly at the thought of Brock's friend defeating Giselle. If this was true, then this trainer was certainly worth considering.

"Who is he?" Charles asked Brock, earning a grin from him.

"Ash Ketchum."

Charles blinked a few times, unable to hide his clear shock now. Ketchum? As in, Aaron Ketchum's son? He didn't even know Aaron had a son, but considering how reclusive that man was it was no surprise that this was a well-kept secret. Charles' mind began to run wild at the prospect of the two of them having a battle. If this was indeed Aaron's son then this boy certainly had the pedigree to become a fantastic trainer and battler.

"Aaron's boy...how old is he?" Charles inquired.

"Almost eighteen." Brock responded, and Charles' jaw dropped.

Eighteen!? A teenager that was already on par with other circuit trainers? The doubts Charles in the back of Charles' mind concerning Brock's friend faded with each new piece of information he received. Regardless of how much Charles learned, his eye test would still have the final say.

"Bring me a recording of a battle he has with Giselle." Charles specified. "I want to see this for myself."

Charles had seen many, many great trainers, but this was the first time in two years that he found himself anxiously waiting to see a trainer in action!

Brock was ecstatic during the ride back to the Vermilion City shoreline. While the other passengers on the Mantine were discussing the battles they witnessed, Brock was anxiously thinking about the next battle he would see. Ash against Giselle, but this time there was more to it than just practice. This was his chance to get into the underground circuit!

It wouldn't be a problem to get Trevor to record this battle, and then all he would have to do is deliver this video to Charles as soon as he got the recording. Charles gave Brock his contact information in order to arrange a meeting between them. The older man also extended his generosity to Brock by giving him two tickets to return to the Hidden Cove the following weekend for Ash to see another set of battles. These tickets were very expensive, so Brock didn't spare a moment in showing his gratitude.

As the Mantine arrived at the shore, Brock couldn't help but grin up at the dark skies, excited over the prospects of what was going to take place this week. About two weeks ago he and Ash decided to focus on entering the underground circuit, and Brock wasn't expecting to make this much progress in such a short amount of time. He thought it was going to be much harder to convince Charles to give Ash a shot, but with that out of the way now, they could focus on finding Ash a sponsor. That would be their real challenge.

Stooping down to thank Mantine for the ride, Brock jumped to the rocky shoreline to begin his walk back to the parking lot. It was about a mile from here, so Brock was expecting to meet Ash here at the shore. His friend was nowhere to be found. Taking out his phone, Brock sent him a text for his location.

Ash's response came quickly, telling him that he was already at Brock's car. Brock raised his brow with intrigue at the response, wondering if Ash was alright. The expression his friend wore just before he left to pursue his father left Brock feeling uneasy. He had the same look in his eyes from the night Brock picked him up at the hospital when Cassidy went down. Ash was feeling lost.

Brock jogged, shortening the time it would take him to his car. Returning to the parking lot, Brock found his car with Ash seated on the hood of it.

"Hey man." Brock called out to him.

"Hey." Ash said flatly as he glanced back at his friend. Despite the dim lighting of the parking lot, Brock saw Ash's gloomy expression clearly.

"You okay?" Brock asked as Ash hopped off the hood of the car, heading over to the passenger side. He didn't respond until he was seated with his seatbelt on.

"I don't really know right now." Ash replied softly as Brock got into the driver's seat. Brock started the engine with a small frown, realizing that Ash's attempt to speak with his father must not have gone so well.

"What happened with your dad? If you want to share, that is. You don't have to if you don't want to." Brock quickly added, but Ash waved off his concerns.

"It's cool. You know, it's been more than ten years since I've seen him, so I was kind of expecting...something, you know?" Ash explained although he struggled to articulate it. "Like...it's been so long that I thought I didn't care anymore. But when I saw him I just started to remember everything and-" Ash stopped, clapping his hands against his cheeks with a sigh of aggravation. "-I don't know! I don't want to care about him, but I do, and I don't know why!"

"It's because he's your dad, man." Brock reasoned with him. "You can't help it."

Ash took a moment to consider what Brock said while his friend began to drive, reversing out of his parking spot. He didn't like what Brock shared with him, but there was some truth in his statement. Ash spent the last ten years reducing his expectations of his father, whittling them down to the point where he didn't expect a damn thing from him. Yet, just the sight of him suddenly filled his heart with thoughts of restoring what they lost all these years.

Ash opened a small piece of heart for his father, and he regretted doing that now. Ash got exactly what he should have expected from his father.

Nothing at all.

Brock gave Ash plenty of time to think while he drove, but he could sense that Ash needed something to boost his mood. Especially since they had an exciting week ahead of them.

"So, guess who I spoke to," Brock said to Ash. Ash pursed his lips, taking a few moments to think about who Brock might have spoken to. After some time, he gave up, shrugging his shoulders as a motion for Brock to continue. "The commissioner himself, Charles Goodshow."

Now that earned a proper response from Ash as he looked straight at Brock with an expression of shock.

"How'd you pull that off? Doesn't he have security or something?" Ash inquired.

"You'd think he would, but I guess considering the Hidden Cove is pretty secluded he doesn't really need to have security," Brock responded. "-but get this, he's gonna give you a shot."

It took a moment for this to register in Ash's mind, that the commissioner was actually going to give him a spot in the circuit. It almost sounded too good to be true.

"For real?" Ash exclaimed, and Brock grinned at him.

"For real," Brock repeated with a nod. "He just wants to see you battle Giselle again. I'll have Trevor record it for us, and then next weekend I'll drop it off for him."

"Aww sweet!" Ash cheered, pumping his fist.

"We're halfway there. All we gotta do is get you a sponsor." Brock stated, and Ash grew quiet as he remembered his father's direction.

"You already found your sponsor, Berlitz. Just tell him your name...he'll get you in."

'Berlitz' was Dawn's father. Would that man really be the key to getting into the underground circuit?

A/N

Hey everyone, I'm back with another chapter and as promised, things are starting to get real. I'm especially looking forward to the next chapter which my beta and I have already started working on together so it should be up soon than later.

Two important characters were introduced in this chapter.

Charles Goodshow. You may or may not remember him from the anime since he hasn't been seen since the Lily of the Valley Conference. Much like his anime counterpart, Charles Goodshow is running the show in my fic as well. Forgive me for that awful joke lol. But he is an integral part of this plot as his position might suggest, so be prepared to see plenty more of him in the future.

Aaron Ketchum. Ash's papa. I know there's been some wild speculation about who Ash's father is, but I figured rather than playing the Giovanni card or something like that, it would just be safer to run with an OC. Obviously, there is a lot to talk about with him, but that discussion is for a later date. Right now his first appearance is really just a tease for what's to come.

Gotta give props to my beta reader MjrGenMatt for all his help. Any praise you give to me I'll just redirect to him because he does all the heavy lifting lol. Thanks to everyone for reading, and I'll see you again soon!

Chapter Text

Sunday, November 20th

Ash gulped nervously as he looked up at the large gateway that sealed off the 'Berlitz' property.

He hadn't given any thought to the security of this residence.

Ash didn't have a problem with showing up at someone's doorstep uninvited, but as he stared at the pair of bodyguards outside the front door, he shrunk. All the security measures that were taken for Dawn's father meant that it wasn't going to be easy to get into their home. Fortunately, this did confirm that Mr. Berlitz was currently home.

"I just have to get in there." Ash noted, recalling all of the brain-storming that he did done the previous night.

Aaron gave him very straightforward instructions on how to meet with Mr. Berlitz, but Ash wasn't so sure if he could trust his father's words. The man was so indifferent, so...enigmatic, that Ash struggled to accept his direction. Rather, Ash spent the night thinking about how to enter the household of this tycoon, trying to think of what he would have to say to meet with Mr. Berlitz.

He thought mentioning Dawn would be a good idea at first, but Ash tossed that thought out. Of course, a father might misinterpret a boy mentioning that he was familiar with his daughter. It might have been safer to say that he had an interest in the type of business that Mr. Berlitz worked in, and that he aspired to become a tycoon as well. Hopefully, that would be enough to earn him an audience with Mr. Berlitz, where he could explain himself properly.

Stepping to the side so that he could use the intercom, Ash hit the buzzer and waited for a response. A clicked sounded before a female voice answered.

"Good morning, how can I help you?" She asked him.

"Uh, hello. My name is Ash Ketchum, I'd like to meet with Mr. Berlitz." Ash replied, fighting off the quiver in his voice. Now wasn't a time to get nervous.

"Concerning?"

Ash froze, needing to go over his plan once more before he could get the words out properly.

"Um...a possible, internship." Ash barely got this out in one sentence, trying to keep everything together. "I'm interested in his line of work, so I wanted to meet with him to go over the details."

"Do you have an appointment with him?" She inquired pointedly. Ash took a moment to lick his lips, wondering which answer would get him in.

He was already trying to get in using a fake story, and he didn't enjoy lying in order to get this meeting. But he had too much riding on this one meeting to let this slip away.

…

"Uh, no. I know he's a busy guy. I was hoping he could squeeze me in." Ash admitted, and he could hear the woman click her tongue in response.

"Well, I'm sorry. As you said Mr. Berlitz is a very busy man. He'll be in Vermilion City for one week and almost all of his time has been accounted for already." She explained which caused Ash to frown. "If you'd like to arrange an appointment with him in the future, I'll give you a number that can use to contact us in the week."

Ash sucked in his lower lip, tempted to walk away from the intercom. He didn't come all this way to be stopped at the gates to their property. There must have been a way to get just a few minutes of this man's time.

"You already found your sponsor, Berlitz. He'll get you in. Just tell him your name...he'll get you in."

The words from his father rung in his mind like the buzzer of an old doorbell. As irritating as this felt, Ash did not have a choice. He had to trust his father on this one.

"Actually, can you tell him directly that Ash Ketchum wants to speak to him?" Ash stressed his own name.

"I'm sorry, Ash Ketchum-" She stressed his name in response, and Ash felt as though she was mocking him, "-but Mr. Berlitz is in a conference call currently. I can't disturb him."

Ash groaned inwardly, making a face at the intercom.

"And there is a camera, Ash Ketchum, I can see you." She added snidely. "So, my suggestion is to make an appointment before I reconsider doing that much for you."

Ash examined the intercom briefly, searching for where the camera could be located. He failed to consider the thought of there being a camera, a mistake on his part, but he didn't appreciate the attitude of this woman. Right before Ash could comply, he heard a short exchange taking place on the other end, which was followed by some shuffling.

"Hello, Ash!" A new yet familiar voice exclaimed. "It's Darach, if you remember me."

Ash looked up for a moment before making the connection that this was the butler. The man who made those amazing sliders!

"I knew I heard a familiar voice on the intercom. It wasn't until I heard your name that I realized who it was." Darach explained. "So, you want to meet with Mr. Berlitz?"

"Yeah, can you get me in?" Ash asked hopefully.

"You came at the perfect time. I'm about to deliver some coffee to Mr. Berlitz, so I'll have an opportunity to interrupt his call. I'll put in a word for you." Darach explained, and a smile broke out on Ash's face.

"That would be great!" Ash exclaimed.

"In the meantime, come inside. If you need a water bottle there's a cooler right by the front door for the guards there." Darach added as the gate unlocked.

"Thank you, I'll see you inside." Ash said as he left to walk up the driveway. When he made it to the front porch, one of the guards stopped him and requested to have a look into the backpack he brought. Recalling that this was the procedure from last time, Ash agreed and allowed them to search it while the other guard checked his clothing for anything that could've been hidden away. Once they cleared Ash for entry, the front doors of the estate were opened and Ash entered the grand foyer. After a few moments, a dark-haired woman entered the foyer with a less than pleasant expression followed closely by Darach who held a platter in one hand with a trio of cups on it.

The two of them came straight over to Ash, and Darach bowed to Ash once he was close enough.

"You'll have to forgive her-" Darach nodded his head toward the woman standing beside him, "-she wasn't aware of the fact that you are an acquaintance of Miss Dawn, and a valued guest of this household."

"My apologies." She stated, her lips pursed as she did so. Ash recognized her voice as the same person that gave him a hard time through the intercom.

"It's no big deal." Ash accepted her apology, deciding that for now the best choice was to keep the peace rather than be petty about their last exchange.

"This way Ash, I'll take you to the room in which Mr. Berlitz is hosting his conference call." Darach said as he motioned for Ash to follow him. Moving a few paces behind Darach, Ash glanced back at the woman as he left the foyer and made the same face he had earlier to the camera. Her cheeks reddened as she shot him a glare, allowing Ash to exit with a smug grin knowing that he would have the last laugh.

Returning his focus to Darach, Ash followed him into a short corridor with a large pair of doors at the end. Ash could only assume that this was their destination. As they arrived at the door, Darach approached a small intercom beside the door and pressed it.

"Yes?" A rather irritated voice asked.

"Your ten o'clock coffee, Master Berlitz." Darach stated, gaining a sigh in response. The doors parted, allowing Darach to enter and Ash to catch a glimpse of what this room looked like. The room was fairly large, with a massive television mounted on the far wall. A long table sat at the center of the room, with a large office chair turned to face the monitor.

The doors shut before Ash could see any other details, which left him to return to his thoughts. After considering how he had done on his attempt to get into the Berlitz Estate, he needed to make sure that he would be able to speak concisely. But did he really need a game plan, or would his surname bail him out again?

Before Ash could reach a conclusion, the doors to the room parted again and Darach stepped out.

"He will see you now." Darach stated as he stepped aside and raised one arm. Peering into this room once again, Ash could see the monitor was off and the tall chair had spun around to face the entryway. In it sat a dark haired man with his elbows placed on the table so that his hands could support his chin. He stared at Ash closely as he stepped into the room. The stare he was receiving from Mr. Berlitz felt ominous.

The doors shut behind him, and Ash felt a chill run up his spine as he realized that it was just the two of them. An awkward silence set in as Mr. Berlitz studied him, following his every movement. Ash stepped up to the opposite end of the table and licked his lips before he began to speak.

"Good morning, Mr. Berlitz."

The man nodded to him.

"My name is Ash Ketchum, and...I was told you could sponsor me as a trainer in the underground circuit."

Mr. Berlitz eyed Ash closely, examining each of his features. The messy raven hair, the birthmarks on both of his cheeks and eyes that simply oozed an unwavering sense of determination. Mr. Berlitz lowered his head slightly to conceal a growing smile behind his hands. This young man resembled his father in more ways than one.

"Well-" Mr. Berlitz exhaled and leaned back into his seat. "-I think I've seen it all. A kid that thinks he has what it takes to be a Pokemon trainer."

Ash bit his lower lip to halt a hasty response. Regardless of what Mr. Berlitz said, he would have to hold his tongue. If this was his one shot to get a sponsor, his first impression needed to be great. Backtalk was out of the question.

"Do you know what you're getting into if you become a Pokemon trainer?" Mr. Berlitz asked him. "Because I get the feeling you have a very narrow-minded view of all of this. Pokemon, it's not a sport that's fun, that you can do on the weekends. It's a business."

Ash felt his stomach turn at the statement. He already didn't like this man, and all it took was three words.

"I've made a lot of investments in the underground circuit, all of which have led to some very profitable returns. If I were to invest in you and form a partnership, what could I expect from you?" Mr. Berlitz inquired sternly, raising his head. His eyes were sharp as he waited for Ash to speak, ready to pick apart his answer.

"If...If it's money you want, then we want the same thing. A partnership between us would have a mutual goal. And when people working together have the same goal in mind, the odds of success are also in their favor." Ash reasoned, looking directly into Mr. Berlitz eyes. The man raised his brow and the corner of his lips turned upward.

"Ash." Mr. Berlitz began. "I want you to know that I've never personally sponsored a trainer in the underground circuit. And yet, I'm going to do just that with you. Now you might be asking yourself, 'why would he do that?' And the answer is simple, you have a connection to something I want. Your father."

Ash blinked, needing a moment to process what he heard. This man would be using him to get to his father.

"Why?" Ash blurted out, unable to keep his tone even.

"Your father and I were partners long ago. We still have some business to settle, but if there's one thing I've learned about your father, it's that the man knows how to disappear." Mr. Berlitz explained. Ash could agree with Mr. Berlitz, though he didn't do so verbally.

"So, he made some kind of deal with you but he didn't come through in the end? Is that what happened?" Ash pressed, trying to gather a little more information about his father. Mr. Berlitz paused, taking a moment to consider what he should share with Ash.

"...Yes. That is the best way to put it."

"Wouldn't be the first time he's done that," Ash muttered under his breath, realizing that he did have something in common with Mr. Berlitz. "I saw my father for the first time in years last night. He's still a Pokemon trainer, and I'm going to have a match with him."

Mr. Berlitz opened his mouth to speak but held his tongue. He used this time to size Ash up, wondering what could possess this young man to challenge his father to a Pokemon battle. This wealthy man saw Aaron Ketchum battle in the past and there wasn't an ounce of doubt in his mind that Aaron was an exceptional trainer. How could Ash hope to compete with such an opponent?

"What makes you think you could beat your father?" Mr. Berlitz asked, skepticism clear in his voice. Ash was too young to command respect from the circuit trainers. The competition would be fierce and ruthless, a place that wouldn't welcome Ash with open arms.

"I don't think I can...yet," Ash stated firmly. "I've seen what the circuit trainers can do, and I still have a lot of work to do. But I'm willing to put the work in, and practice day and night until I get my chance to show everyone what I can do."

Mr. Berlitz snorted before raising his hands in a gesture to their surroundings.

"This house and everything in it, do you think I got it by chance?"

Mr. Berlitz wore a small smirk as Ash took a moment to look around at his luxurious home. Obviously, Mr. Berlitz was rich; Ash had seen his home enough times to know, not to mention he had been on the receiving end of Dawn's generosity. There was no doubt in his mind that the money he accepted from Dawn came out of her father's back pocket.

Certainly, this man worked hard to obtain all of this.

"Of course not. I'll bet you worked your tail off to get all of this." Ash responded, gaining a chuckle from him.

"I did more than that Ash. To claim something you truly want, you have to be decisive. There is no room for hesitation. Everything I have now, I took at the first opportunity." Mr. Berlitz proclaimed, looking around at his home. "Now I understand that you need an opportunity to act upon. I will grant you that, but I want you to understand that I will not hesitate to drop you at the moment our partnership becomes...unhealthy."

"So...you're going to sponsor me?" Ash asked, and the man nodded slowly. Ash kept a straight face, but he closed both his hands into fists in a small act of celebration. This was it! He was going to become a circuit trainer! He was one step closer to that battle with his father and finding out what happened the day his mom died.

"There are some, conditions." Mr. Berlitz added, piquing Ash's curiosity.

"What kind of conditions?"

"I'll remind you of the first one. If you fail me, even once, this partnership is over." Mr. Berlitz stated causing Ash to gulp.

He would have no room for error from this day forward.

"And you might not be aware of it, but I'm more familiar with you than you might think Ash." Ash furrowed his eyebrow when Mr. Berlitz said this. "My daughter speaks very fondly of you, and as of this moment-" His voice became threatening as he made his final statement. "I-don't-like-that."

"Huh?"

"You're now a circuit trainer Ash. As far as the public is concerned, you are a menace. A danger to society. A threat to public safety. I will not have my daughter associate with such a person." Mr. Berlitz revealed, further confusing Ash by the sudden turn their discussion took. "If my daughter gets caught up in anything, and I mean anything-" He stressed this word as a warning to Ash, "-that involves Pokemon, I will hold you accountable."

"But-" Ash tried to speak but Mr. Berlitz continued.

"As I said, my daughter has taken a liking to you. I can't control that, but your relationship with her will not progress any further than what it presently is. Am I clear?"

The stare Ash received from Mr. Berlitz sent a shiver down his back. This was a warning from a protective father, and with the kind of money this man possessed, who knew he could do to Ash?

The effect of this threat was short-lived as Ash thought about the bluenette. Their contact had been limited during the past few weeks with everything that had taken place, but this didn't stop Ash from thinking about her every so often. Ever since Nando's piano recital, he began to view Dawn…differently.

Ash attributed this to Nando's performance. His friend and classmate showed him some of the deeper aspects of the young lady in question, and Ash found himself contemplating having...something more than friendship with her. But with her father seated before him, Ash buried any feelings for her that may have surfaced.

He couldn't let this chance slip through his fingers.

Not for anyone.

Everything he ever wanted was laid out right in front of him. He could finally be a real Pokemon trainer. Not only in name, but through his accomplishments.

He could pursue his father, and one day battle him, defeat him, and get the truth about his mother out of him.

Then there was the big picture - this was his first step toward changing everyone's opinion of Pokemon and trainers alike.

Shaking his head, Ash knew that he couldn't give all of this up for Dawn.

"I understand." Ash said with a nod, and Mr. Berlitz wore a small smile of approval. It was good to see that Ash possessed the resolve to stay focused on his goals. Rising from his seat, Mr. Berlitz traveled around the table to approach Ash.

"Well then, Ash Ketchum, it's a pleasure to meet you." Mr. Berlitz said, extending a hand toward Ash, who returned the gesture. They shook hands to mark the beginning of this partnership. "My name is Malcolm Berlitz."

Ash wrestled with his thoughts, trying to piece together everything that happened within the Berlitz Estate.

It was official. He was going to be a circuit trainer.

But something still felt off to him. He went into that meeting with Malcolm hoping to answer some of the strange questions that developed from the prior night.

Why would his surname get him a meeting with a business tycoon? Now Ash understood that his father worked with Malcolm in the past, and it was clear that there were still a few matters that were presently unsettled between them. But this left Ash to wonder what his father did with Malcolm? What was it that made this man so desperate to get into contact with Aaron?

Ash wasn't quite so sure he wanted to know the answer, or if he even needed to know. At this point, his only concern regarding Aaron Ketchum was the details that surrounded the passing of his mother, Delia.

Clapping his hands against his cheeks, Ash realized there was only one step left to become a circuit trainer.

All he had to do was impress Charles Goodshow.

One spectacular performance against Giselle and everything would be set. He and Pikachu weren't shy about practicing since their first session with Giselle. Training with Pikachu had lived up to the expectations Ash developed. Every day was a grind as they tackled all of the projects, making a little progress by the time the sun set each day.

Giselle was a gold mine of tips and tricks, and Ash was using her teachings as a basis for his own ideas. Ash wasn't the analytical type like Giselle, but after mimicking her battle style for the past week, he learned to appreciate her tactics. If she kept the early stages of the battle under control, she would have the distinct advantage of understanding her opponents' tendencies as they entered the endgame.

In fact, Ash became rather fearful of her, now that he understood what was going through her mind. The mere thought of her manipulating her opponent throughout the battle sent chills through his body. He wanted a convincing win over Giselle, but there was no denying that battling her as frequently as he did played to her strengths. He was feeding her information about himself, and that could be his own undoing.

So, what were his options against Giselle?

He learned quite a bit about her through their battles. It was fair to say that he might be able to use her own strategy against her, though he wouldn't be surprised if she saw right through him the instant the battle started. Whenever he battled Giselle, Ash was always trying to pick apart her defense, trying to creating angles for Pikachu to attack from to further open up their options. If he wasn't battling like that, how soon would she realize what he was really planning?

Ash blinked a few times after feeling the bus come to a stop. This was a large bus stop in front of an apartment complex where several people were entering and exiting. They were still about thirty minutes from his stop, but this lapse in thought spared him a moment to glance out the window. Ash saw a pair of older men seated at a stone table, playing a game of chess. His eyes widened as he realized that this game perfectly mirrored how Giselle battled.

Over the course of a battle, the information she gathered about her opponent was used to eventually force them into position for a checkmate. Giselle was always thinking ahead, planning possibly three or four moves ahead in a battle. If Ash was going to beat her, he needed to figure out how to interrupt her plans, otherwise, he and Pikachu would be forced into a checkmate themselves.

Watching as one of the gentlemen picked up their queen and moved her across the board to take a new position, Ash felt a grin break out on his face. The queen was the strongest piece on the chess board because of the freedom she could move with. There was no limits on what position a queen could take.

That was the biggest advantage they had against Giselle. Pikachu could command more of the field than Giselle's Cubone. How would they use this against her? Scratching at his chin, Ash knew that this wasn't something he could answer immediately. But he knew the answer to this question was what would allow them to surpass Giselle and compete with any circuit trainer.

Monday, November 21st

Ash licked his lips, his heart thumping in his chest. When was the last time he was nervous about a battle? He couldn't even remember – actually, he was lying to himself. Nervous couldn't begin to describe what he was feeling the night he first met Brock. That was a long story, one for another day, but that was the night of his first street battle. Ash was shaking in his shoes as he stood at the center of the audience, amazed that all of these people were going to watch him battle.

He didn't have an audience this time, but there was a lot at stake. The presence of Trevor and the two cameras he set up on both sides of the clearing was a reminder of what he was battling for. To give the commissioner of the underground circuit a good show.

"Ash, how ya feeling?" Brock inquired as he plopped down beside his friend. Ash made a face, contorting his lips in a gesture of uncertainty.

"I don't know man. I really want to nail this battle and look good in it, but I still haven't thought of a way to beat Giselle like that." Ash admitted, glancing over the young woman and her Cubone. They were going through some last-minute preparations for their battle, and Ash could bet that she was filling Cubone in on what to look out for during the battle.

"Ash, forget about all that man," Brock said to him with a gesture to brush these thoughts aside. "I think you're forgetting the point of this battle. It's to show the commissioner what you are-" He pointed at Ash, giving him a stern look. "-Not what you're not. Don't try to beat Giselle by battling like her, do things the way Ash Ketchum would do them."

Ash blinked, letting that phrase settle into his mind. He liked hearing that.

Do things the way Ash Ketchum would do them.

A grin broke out on his face as he took hold of the visor of his cap, adjusting it slightly on his head.

"Come on Pikachu." Ash said to his partner, extending his arm for Pikachu to climb up onto his shoulder. Seeing Ash's grin once it was situated, Pikachu couldn't help but smile now that Ash returned to his usual mindset. He spent so much time yesterday holed up in his room, racking his brain to form a plan to outwit Giselle.

Pikachu spent some time with him trying to brainstorm, but it could see how much Ash was frustrating himself over this. Planning things out wasn't his strong suit. Ash was spontaneous, and he was going against his natural inclinations by trying to beat Giselle before the battle even started. It was sucking all of the fun out of battling for him. Thankfully, some choice words from Brock helped Ash relax.

Ash rose to his feet and took his place on one side of the clearing, anxious to start the battle. Seeing Ash and Pikachu take their position, Giselle smirked a bit and motioned for Cubone to follow her as they moved to their spot. The group of four looked toward Brock, waiting for him to take his post as the referee of this match.

"Trevor, are we good to go?" Brock called out to the amber-haired young man. Making a few last moment adjustments to the camera, Trevor glanced at his laptop to check the resolution before giving everyone a thumbs up.

It was showtime.

"Alright, this is a one on one Pokemon battle between Ash and Giselle." Brock began, mimicking the introductions that were used by official referees. "Trainers, are you ready?"

Brock glanced from one person to the next, receiving a confirmation nod from each of them. With a smile he raised his arms, declaring that the battle could begin.

"Pikachu, this is it, buddy. Let's go!" Ash hollered as Pikachu leaped from his shoulder to the grassy field with a shout of excitement.

"Cubone, we're not holding anything back today." Giselle declared as her partner Pokemon stepped out onto their battlefield, giving Pikachu a sharp stare. There would be no mercy in this battle.

If his smile could get any wider, Ash was certain it did as he observed his opponents. Giselle and Cubone seemed a whole lot stronger today, almost as if their declaration to not hold anything back meant that they had always been holding back against him. Could that be true? Did they have another gear to shift up to for this battle?

For whatever reason, this thought made him even more excited. He would overcome anything they threw at him.

"Then let's start strong Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash started off, pumping a fist. He could hardly contain himself!

Pikachu burst forward at the command, closing the distance between itself and its opponent in the span it took Giselle to inhale. Pikachu struck Cubone head on, slamming its shoulder into the torso of the masked Pokemon. Cubone glared down at Pikachu in response, causing Pikachu to shiver as it realized Cubone hadn't been staggered from this hit. Such a light hit wouldn't suffice against Cubone's defense.

"Get ready Pikachu!" Ash called out as Cubone threw out a punch at Pikachu. This was everything they worked on for the last week. Close quarter combat.

Pikachu ducked beneath the punch, but Cubone was quick to follow up by sweeping at Pikachu's feet with its bone. Expecting to feel the impact of its bone meeting Pikachu's body, Cubone was completely thrown off when its attack passed right through Pikachu. Stumbling for an instant, Cubone hardly had a chance to react before it was hit from the side by Pikachu which sent it tumbling away.

Giselle frowned slightly, refusing to show her dismay openly. In about a week Pikachu progressed to the point where it gained a very good grasp of how to accelerate even in tough situations. This opened up a whole new world for Pikachu, now that it could activate a move like Double Team without needing to build up speed beforehand. The practice for this was brutal, but the results were beginning to show already.

Brock called it 'sidestep' practice. Three small lanes were cut into the grass for Pikachu to stand in while Ash and Brock would throw stones at it from a short distance. Pikachu was only allowed to jump from one lane to the next in order to dodge these stones. This helped Pikachu grasp both how to accelerate and decelerate at the drop of a hat, and these movement restrictions were a perfect simulation for fighting at close range. With a week's worth of practice, Pikachu was much better at close quarter combat, to the point where it could battle at Cubone's range for a short period of time.

"Okay Cubone, let's stick to our original plan." Giselle called out as her partner got back on its feet, casting a sharp stare at Pikachu.

Cubone grew to respect Pikachu's speed since they first met, but it was reaching a point where battling Pikachu was becoming a frustrating experience. There was no denying that Pikachu was quick, but now it was learning to take advantage of its speed, and it was making Cubone miserable. The bone-wielding Pokemon was probably the only one keeping track of how many hits it scored on Pikachu as they practiced, and that number was steadily decreasing with each session that took place. In the pit of its stomach, Cubone feared the thought of Pikachu becoming an untouchable opponent.

Taking a deep breath, Cubone tightened its grip on its weapon and raised its free hand as a gesture for Pikachu to attack. Pikachu grinned at the invitation and charged forward at Ash's command.

Fortunately, Cubone could take solace in knowing it belonged to an excellent trainer. Giselle worked tirelessly on developing strategies to counter Pikachu's speed, and Cubone would demonstrate one of them. Raising bone, Cubone smashed it into the field to show its strength. The field in front of it shattered, portions of it being uprooted to deny Pikachu a direct approach. In a fraction of a second Pikachu altered its course and dashed into Cubone from the side.

With an instant to determine what side Pikachu would be attacking from, Cubone was glad to know that it narrowed down Pikachu's options. It glanced one way, and seeing that there was no blur to mark Pikachu's location, Cubone spun and whipped its bone out in the opposite direction. The side that Pikachu should have been attacking from.

Their plan worked to perfection as Giselle watched it unfold. Whittling down Pikachu' options on where it could attack from made it far easier for Cubone to react before Pikachu attacked. Pikachu came skidding to a halt as it saw Cubone turn to face it with its bone poised to strike, but once again Cubone's attack passed right through Pikachu. Giselle clicked her tongue, unable to conceal the irritation in her expression. Pikachu's growth was rapid, to the point where it was simply beginning to outclass Cubone with its speed.

Keeping its footing this time, Cubone relaxed and remembered its instructions from Giselle. Every time Pikachu escaped them, Cubone would have to rely on its hearing. Pikachu was too quick to follow with eyesight alone. They had to use all of their senses to try and keep up with this speedy Pokemon.

Listening intently for Pikachu's footsteps, Cubone heard a gust of wind from behind it and turned with its bone raised to blow Pikachu's attack. Using its weapon to block a tail strike, Cubone adjusted its grip in an effort to reposition its bone quickly and pin Pikachu to the ground. This proved to be futile as Pikachu placed on foot on Cubone's bone and tore off in another burst of speed. Slamming the ground with its bone again in frustration, a chunk of the field broke up as Cubone tried to calm itself. This moment where it wasn't tracking its opponent allowed Pikachu to score another hit which forced it to stumble backward.

Obviously, it was getting upset trying to keep up with Pikachu, and Giselle scolding it for losing its temper wasn't any help.

"Pikachu, get em' with Quick Attack again!" Ash called out and Pikachu rushed in again, a smirk on its face as it was beginning to see the fruits of its labor. Cubone couldn't keep up with it in the slightest.

"Cubone, focus!" Giselle said sharply.

This command from Giselle forced Ash to analyze the battle as quickly as he could. Even though he and Pikachu had a clear advantage, Giselle wasn't going to admit defeat for this battle. So, what did she have up her sleeve to try and level the playing field?

"Bone Club!" Giselle called out and Cubone took a few steps forward, placing itself at the center of the cracked area it created. The uneven portion of the field?

It took Ash a moment too long to understand how Cubone positioned itself to counter Pikachu. Due to the varying obstacles around Cubone, Pikachu didn't have a direct course once again which delayed its attack, but Pikachu also slowed down in an effort to make sure it didn't get any of its paws caught in any of the cracks. All of this gave Cubone ample time to prepare for Pikachu's next attack.

Spotting Pikachu as it approached, Cubone faced the direction it was attacking from and swung hard at its opponent. Pikachu managed to fall back onto its bottom to slide beneath this blow, but it was now trapped with Cubone on the uneven field where a concerted effort was required to make sure Pikachu didn't misstep. Now Ash understood what Giselle had in store for them. She allowed Pikachu to land all of those hits and even acted like she didn't have an answer to it as she and Cubone slowly prepared the field to trap Pikachu.

Giselle wore a confident smirk as she stared at the scene, impressed that everything went according to plan. The key to it was Cubone showing its displeasure. It convinced both Ash and Pikachu that they were struggling to land an attack, and it all paid off. Now Pikachu would be fighting at arm's length from Cubone, and they negated its speed to a degree.

Checkmate.

"Wow, that was really clever Giselle!" Ash exclaimed now that he put all the pieces together.

"It had to be. It's the only way I can beat you now." Giselle admitted as their Pokemon observed each other intently. Ash grinned in response, taking a hold of the visor of his cap and adjusting it on his head.

"At first I was nervous about battling you today Giselle," Ash confessed openly, causing her to raise her brow. "I was trying to figure out how to beat you with some crazy plan, but I realized that's your specialty. Mine is winning the battle no matter what. So even though you've got the upper hand, guess what? Here we come!"

Ash made his declaration as he thumbed his nose, raising that hand to point at Giselle, and she instinctively took a step back. She wasn't sure what made her do that, but it felt as though Ash was suddenly exerting a sudden pressure on the field.

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu added exuberantly, stomping its front paws.

Remembering his thoughts from yesterday, Ash saw how Giselle applied the same plan he had to this battle. Use the field to your advantage. She used it to slow Pikachu down, but Ash saw this as a way to take Pikachu's speed up another notch.

"Pikachu, start off with your Agility! Check the field for spots you're comfortable moving on." Ash called out, and Pikachu darted to its side. Without much thought, Pikachu realized that Ash was having it check where it could attack from comfortably in order to retake its speed advantage. Cubone certainly wasn't going to leave this part of the field, not willingly of course so they would have to force it out and a running start would allow them to do just that.

Giselle spent a few moments considering what Ash's command would mean to Pikachu. Throughout her practice battles with Ash, she learned that he didn't communicate everything to Pikachu through speech. Ash could give a small piece of his orders to Pikachu and his partner would follow an entire plan as if Ash relayed all of the information it needed. It didn't give her a lot to work with, but it was good practice for Giselle to work on deciphering an opponent's plans through the commands they gave their Pokemon.

Watching Pikachu dart around the broken-up field, Giselle could see that its speed was gradually rising. It was reaching the point where it was becoming a blur again as it tested out different paths through the jagged area while keeping its distance from Cubone. Giselle blinked and opened her mouth to shout for Cubone to be defensive. Pikachu wasn't just running, it was plotting a course to Cubone where it could move at full speed.

"Cubone!" Giselle hollered, and her Pokemon tightened its stance after hearing the urgency in Giselle's voice. It saw an image of Pikachu landing on the side of some overturned earth that then burst forward, reaching Cubone in an instant. Slamming itself into Cubone's body, Pikachu sent it flying out onto the grassy and flat field where it would have full control of the battle.

"We have to follow up now Pikachu! Close in with Quick Attack and use Double Team if you have to!" Ash called out as he saw Cubone rotate in the air to land on its feet. Cubone jammed its bone into the field to stop itself from skidding backward any further, but this was also another tactic Giselle showed it for Pikachu. The mouse Pokemon was rushing to get in an attack before they could tear up the field again, and they would use that against it.

Lifting up its bone, Cubone also ripped up a portion of the field into the air which it smashed with its bone to send multiple pieces of earth at the approaching Pikachu. Recalling the training it did with Ash and Brock, Pikachu performed sidesteps as it pushed forward, weaving through the chunks of rock to Cubone. Just as Cubone expected, Pikachu reached its destination with relative ease, but to attack there was still one last obstacle.

"Bone Rush!" Giselle barked quickly, seeing that this was the time unveil their secret weapon. Cubone's bone gained a blueish glow before the weapon began to grow until it was twice its original length. They used an incomplete form of Bone Rush last week against Ash and Pikachu and it came with good results. Now, with further practice, Cubone mastered this move, and the difference between then and now was very obvious.

Cubone held its bone from one end, demonstrating its skill as it twirled the weapon before whipping it out at Pikachu. With the additional length of its bone, Cubone was aiming to clip Pikachu, but its bone phased through the after-image of Pikachu.

"Pi-pi-pi-pi." Pikachu breathed out as three copies flickered to life around Cubone. Eyeing each of them for a moment, Cubone went on the attack and swung out with its bone repeatedly. It twirled about, attacking each Pikachu with no particular pattern in hopes of catching it off guard, but Cubone didn't even land a glancing blow. Pikachu was avoiding each attack flawlessly and creating a new image as the previous one faded away. Beads of sweat began to run down Cubone's back as it gasped, looking from one Pikachu to the next. The stamina requirement for Bone Rush was something it still hadn't grown accustomed to for this battle, and Giselle was witnessing the cost of this.

"Now attack Pikachu!" Ash commanded as Cubone's bone reverted back to its original form. Seeing one Pikachu burst forward to attack, Cubone raised its bone to protect itself. Its eyes widen in response to this Pikachu passing right through it, the copy fading away in response to the contact with Cubone.

Spinning on its heels in search of Pikachu, Cubone found that the remaining two Pikachu's were standing behind it, and a third copy formed as well. Taking a step backward, Cubone grunted as it realized it couldn't even anticipate Pikachu's next attack. Pikachu smirked at the sight of Cubone's apprehension, and all three of the images rushed forward to attack from three separate angles.

Looking from one Pikachu to the next, Cubone could only take a guess at this point and hope for a bit of luck. Swinging out its bone at the Pikachu that was approaching from the left, Cubone gained a frown of dismay at the lack of an impact. Then it was immediately hit from the opposite side, a blow that lifted it from the ground and sent it flying several feet. Cubone hit the ground a few times before it came rolling to a stop, losing its bone as it did so. Brock quickly approached Cubone to give it a quick check to see if it was time to call the battle.

He was certain that this battle was over. There was clear evidence of exhaustion written all over Cubone from trying to break Pikachu's Double Team with Bone Rush, but that was all wasted effort. To his surprise though, Cubone was stubbornly trying to get back to its feet, but this action was the straw that broke its back. Its eyes became black swirls and the Pokemon collapsed to the ground. It was official now, Pikachu was clearly the winner.

"Cubone is unable to battle. Pikachu is the winner!" Brock declared, raising an arm toward Ash.

"HA, we did it!" Ash roared as he raced onto their battlefield to Pikachu. His partner fell back onto its bottom, gasping in relief from the moment Brock announced that the battle was over. Grabbing his partner in his arms, Ash could feel how much Pikachu was sweating and he quickly understood how much energy Pikachu expended to move that fast throughout that battle. "You worked so hard during that battle, you're the best Pikachu!"

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu exclaimed as it relaxed into Ash's arms.

Giselle rested beside her unconscious partner, a hand on its back as she gently rubbed it. They threw everything but the kitchen sink at Ash, and he responded to their every move. Even when they tried to seal off Pikachu's speed, he reacted accordingly and it forced Giselle to acknowledge what would soon be Ash's greatest weapon in a battle.

His innovations.

It was what made this battle his most convincing win over her.

Ash even admitted during the battle that he couldn't emulate her battling style to outwit her, but relying on his tried and true style of battle, he came up with an answer to Giselle's tactics in the heat of the moment. There was no doubt in her mind, Ash and Pikachu's potential was something you'd see once in a generation.

It was almost unnatural how quickly they could apply what they learned. In the coming months, Ash would certainly rise to the top of the underground circuit.

Brock rushed over to Trevor who was already in the process of looking through the footage of Ash's battle. Trevor filmed the battle from two angles, getting several good shots of the exchanges between Pikachu and Cubone. Trevor was grateful that Brock warned him that tracking Pikachu would be difficult. He used one camera to capture the battle from a distance, while he dedicated the second one that he was operating manually to track Pikachu's movement. It was a test of his patience with how quickly Ash's Pokemon moved about the field, but Trevor was amazed that such a small creature could move so quickly.

"So how do you want me to put this together?" Trevor asked Brock as he showed him some of the clips.

"Don't make it anything special. Just make sure that nothing is left out." Brock replied with a smirk, pulling his phone out of his pocket to make a call.

They had everything they needed.

Charles Goodshow was sure to be impressed with Ash from this battle.

Ash fought to contain a smile as he glanced down at the jump drive he held in his hand. Trevor gave it to him right before he and Brock departed from their training ground on Route 6. It contained the edited footage of his battle with Giselle, which Ash had the privilege of viewing on Trevor's laptop. Seeing himself battle was a little surreal, but Brock said that this was the beginning. Pretty soon he would be able to examine replays of his professional battles using the PokeHub.

The thought of seeing himself on the PokeHub gave Ash goosebumps. His name was going to among all the other great trainers in Vermilion City.

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Ash looked up at Brock who nodded out to the seawater in front of them. They were on a rocky beach at the western end of Vermilion City, the area they used to get transported to the Hidden Cove this past weekend. Approaching them on the water was an attractive woman riding a Mantine. Stealing a quick glance at Brock, Ash could see that his cheeks gained a soft tinge of color as he observed this woman.

Ash rolled his eyes, wishing that he could apologize to this woman in advance for what was about to take place.

Mantine came close to the shoreline, to the point where Ash and Brock had no trouble hopping from the rocks they stood on to the marine Pokemon. The woman stepped back to give them the space to get on, and Brock didn't waste a moment to take one of her hands gingerly and caress her palm, dropping to one knee in preparation for his appeal to her.

"Miss, would you do me the honor of having dinner with me this Friday night? I can promise you the finest delicacies from Kalos and some of best music Hoenn has to offer."

Ash raised his brow, mildly impressed with Brock's offer, but a nervous chuckle from the young woman told him that the inevitable was coming.

"I'm...sorry." She began slowly, a modest blush on her cheeks. "I'm seeing someone right now."

In a flash Brock was standing upright, fixing the collar of his shirt professionally with his free hand. He cleared his throat, quickly changing how he held her hand to a cordial handshake.

"Hi my name is Brock, I have a meeting with Charles Goodshow tonight. I'm assuming you'll be taking us to the Hidden Cove." Brock now spoke concisely, here strictly for business now. Ash suppressed his chuckle at Brock's ability to play off getting rejected. His friend was the 'master of rejection,' as Tierno put it.

"Y-Yes, I will be. I'm Melissa by the way." She said with a bit of uncertainty over the two sides of Brock she witnessed. "I'm his assistant."

"It's nice to meet you. This is my friend Ash Ketchum, he's the trainer that will hopefully be accepted by Mr. Goodshow." Brock explained, motioning to Ash, who gave Melissa a wave. She returned the action and then gave a call for Mantine to begin their return trip to the Hidden Cove.

As they arrived at the fabled beach, they saw that none other than Charles Goodshow was waiting for them, his hands in his pockets and his unruly hair tucked into a backward cap. He greeted them warmly once they disembarked from Mantine's back, and took the lead in walking them back to the stadium within the cliff side.

They didn't bother with the formalities as they moved, entering the stadium which, to Ash and Brock's surprise, had a few occupants. Men in uniforms along with a handful of Pokemon assisting them in cleaning the main lobby of the stadium. Impressed that there was a cleaning staff for the stadium, Brock couldn't help but wonder how this stadium had been built in such a place."Mr. Goodshow, how did you build this stadium?" Brock inquired as he glanced around at their surroundings. How did they get the materials and such to this secluded location without tipping off the authorities?

Charles merely glanced back at Brock and gave him a wink.

"Knowing the right people can get you anything." He replied enigmatically. After giving his answer, he turned his back to them and continued leading them back to his private chamber within the stadium.

Brock took a questioning glance at Ash, who shrugged his shoulders. Obviously, there were some things that they didn't need to know, secrets concerning the underground circuit that was none of their business.

Arriving at Charles' office, Melissa jumped ahead of them to open the door and welcome them in. The first thing that caught Ash's attention was the various photographs of different Pokemon that hung on the wall. As he looked around the room, his gaze became fixated on the only real Pokemon present.

He saw this Pokemon once before, on a portrait within the Berlitz Estate. Its fur was smooth and golden with a sheen that was to die for. However, despite the elegance of its fur, the most noteworthy feature of his Pokemon was the abundance of tails it possessed. Nine, to be exact.

The Pokemon slept comfortably beside Charles' desk, but upon hearing them enter the office, it opened one eye to inspect the newcomers. Ash felt a sudden chill as the Pokemon rose up, meeting his gaze. It studied Ash intently, tilting its head from one side to the other every so often. Its amber eyes seemed to stare right into this body, peering into the depths of his soul. It was an odd experience, one that left Ash wondering how long he had been holding his breath.

Charles approached the Pokemon and began to ruffle the top of its head affectionately.

"These are our guests tonight Ninetales, be nice." Charles said to the Pokemon, but even as he groomed it, its gaze remained firmly on Ash.

Ash glanced at Melissa and then to Brock, but neither of them seemed to notice the way this 'Ninetales' was staring at him.

With a grateful sigh, Charles took a seat in his office chair behind his desk and leaned forward, looking at Brock expectantly.

"So, let's see what you've brought me." Charles began, extending a hand toward them. Ash retrieved the jump drive and gave it to Charles, who accepted it graciously.

As this exchange took place, Ninetales approached Melissa and nudged her leg. Looking down at the Pokemon, she saw it glance at the closed office door and realized it wanted to step out now that there was so much happening in the room. Opening up the door for Ninetales to exit the room, Ash did his best to hide his relief now that it was gone. He couldn't really describe it, but he was getting a strange vibe from that Pokemon.

Charles was engrossed with his computer screen once he inserted the jump drive into his desktop. With access to the contents within this device, Charles opened the only file contained within that was labeled 'For Mr. Goodshow.'

The video file opened up, starting with the focus being on Brock as he explained the rules of the battle to Ash and Giselle. Charles used this time to quickly change the display from his computer screen to the much large television screen that was mounted on the wall behind his desk. Turning in his chair to enjoy the battle as it began, Ash and Brock discovered that their legs started to shake.

This was actually happening.

Charles Goodshow, the commissioner of the underground circuit, was reviewing footage of how Ash battled.

Charles marveled at Pikachu's speed, a smile growing on his face as he witnessed the early stages of the battle. Naturally, a Pikachu would be faster than most Pokemon, but it was clear that Ash and Pikachu were focusing on developing Pikachu's speed to turn it into their greatest weapon. They were using it perfectly to keep Cubone in check and do as they pleased. Or so he thought.

"Ho ho." Charles said as he shifted in his seat. Not even Charles was able to foresee that Giselle was preparing the field to trap Pikachu in an area where its speed would be neutralized. Charles wouldn't expect anything less from Giselle. She had a knack for making plans and executing them flawlessly.

Expecting the battle to shift in Giselle's favor, Charles was impressed to see Ash and Pikachu maintain the same control they held early in the battle. What Giselle designed to be a trap for Pikachu, now sharpened Pikachu's weapon of speed. Using the uneven surface to search for new angles, Cubone was unable to read Pikachu's movements before it struck.

Charles couldn't help but turn in his seat to steal a glance at the young man behind him. This video matched the expectations Charles set for Ash. He and his Pikachu were a special talent.

The battle was one-sided the rest of the way as Pikachu controlled the tempo with its use of Double Team until Cubone was exhausted. Landing the finishing blow, Ash and Pikachu were declared the winners as Charles leaned back into his seat.

"So..." Charles began, spinning around his chair to face them. "Let's talk about you-" He pointed at Ash who straightened up. "-and your Pikachu for a little bit. How old is it?"

"Pikachu?" Ash muttered, looking up to recall its age. He didn't know Pikachu's age exactly, but according to what his father told him, it was only a year old when Ash first received it. "Pikachu's about thirteen years old now."

Hearing this caused Charles to nod openly.

"And how long have you seriously been training?" Charles pressed.

"About...about a month now." Ash answered with a nod. This caused Charles to take a moment to stroke at his beard, deciding on what he should ask next. There were so many questions he wanted to ask Ash, but he didn't want to delve too deeply into his personal life.

"He's been practicing with Pikachu for years actually, but this past month they've really been working on their fundamentals with Giselle." Brock added, volunteering some information to Charles, who raised his brow.

"I see, so that explains it," Charles noted softly. "I asked for Pikachu's age to determine how long your career might be."

Ash furrowed his brow after Charles admitted what he was thinking about.

"It's clear now that I didn't have anything to worry about because the two of you will be filled with youth for many years." Charles said with a warm smile. Ash could detect that there was something deeper within this statement, as though Charles was reflecting on something. "Far longer than I was at least."

"But you're not that old Mr. Goodshow, what's stopping you from getting back on the battlefield yourself?" Brock asked him, and the gentleman looked away from the group.

"My partner is no longer with me so...my time as a trainer is over." Charles replied, causing Ash to frown.

"But what about that, um – Ninetales." Ash said, recalling the name that Charles used for the Pokemon that left the room. Charles chuckled softly.

"Ninetales isn't mine. It keeps me company every now and then, which I'm grateful for." Charles explained before he smiled at them. "And it assists me in my new responsibility, which involves bringing up the next generation of Pokemon trainers. You'll be the youngest trainer in the circuit by a sizable margin Ash, but don't expect any of the other trainers to go easy on you."

"Wait..." Ash said, his mouth slightly open as he replayed what Charles said. "Does that mean?"

"You're in." Charles stated with a nod of confirmation. The rather somber mood in the room melted away at the sudden cheers from Ash and Brock.

"We did it!" Ash exclaimed before he was suddenly pulled into a headlock by Brock, who was smiling broadly.

"You freakin' did Ash!" Brock hollered, throwing away whatever professionalism he had to celebrate.

Ash Ketchum was going to be a circuit trainer.

What a turnaround! Almost three weeks ago Ash was knee deep in a personal crisis, and it took all of his friends to stop him from doing something stupid. Now they stood in front of the commissioner of the underground circuit, who had just accepted Ash as his newest circuit trainer! It was unbelievable!

Charles and Melissa shared a glance, unable to hide their amusement at how these two young men reacted to the news. While Ash and Brock were busy, Charles invited Melissa to take his place at his desk, allowing her to begin working on a profile for Ash within the PokeHub. As she began to build the page, Charles cleared his throat to get their attention.

"Uh...excuse us." Brock said as he and Ash straightened up, regaining their composure.

"Quite alright. This is a pretty big deal after all." Charles noted, glad that these two didn't have a problem expressing themselves. There was no shortage of unusual personalities in the underground circuit, and Ash would be another fantastic addition to the pot. "I just want to discuss who your sponsor is."

"Oh, that's right I do have one, I met with him yesterday actually," Ash explained. "His name is Malcolm Berlitz."

Charles raised his brow. The surprises with this young man didn't seem to end. Of course, the biggest sponsor of the underground circuit was backing Ash Ketchum.

"Do you need to call him or something to confirm?" Ash asked, but Charles shook his head.

"That won't be needed. Not with Malcolm." Charles stated, which made Ash wonder what sort of connections Malcolm had. His father, and Charles expressed the utmost confidence in this man, but why was that? These questions were laid to rest though as Charles continued to speak. "So, its official, Ash Ketchum, welcome to the underground circuit."

Since they had gotten the urge to celebrate out of their systems earlier, both Ash and Brock approached the older man to shake hands. Each of them wore a smile that was brimming with confidence, and Charles couldn't be more certain that this was going to be an excellent addition to the circuit.

"Uh, don't get too excited yet. There's just one last thing we have to do." Melissa interjected, getting everyone attention. "We need a nickname or an alias for Ash."

Ash and Brock's eyes began to shine at the thought of this.

This name is what all of the other trainers would know him by. This name needed to be cool and awesome, but above all else it had to be unforgettable!

"What should we go with?" Ash asked, looking toward Brock who began to scratch the back of his head.

"How about uh - 'Ripper!'" Brock suggested.

"Ugh, no way, that makes me sound like some weird foreign killer." Ash retorted, wrinkling his face at such a name. "I've got it. 'Champ.'"

Brock deadpanned.

"Really Ash?" Saying it once wouldn't suffice for Brock. "Really?"

"Fine fine, how about, 'Best Yet.'" Ash said with a nod of approval. "No no, how about just, 'Best?'"

"Oh my god, can it get any worse?" Melissa muttered under her breath. Ash was too busy rambling off nicknames, but Brock stifled a laugh in response to her comment.

Ash continued to shoot off ideas for the group, each of them being worse than the last. It made it to a point where they wondered if it was even possible to think of something cornier, but Ash succeeded at it with every attempt.

Brock stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest, trying to decide on what would be the perfect name for Ash. Something with a bit of mystery, yet clear enough for his future fan base to fall in love with. A name that wasn't necessarily scary, but still strong enough to remind opponents that this trainer was no joke. That he was becoming stronger every day, one step at a time...on a journey. A trek – no. A...

"I've got it." Brock declared, gladly receiving the attention of Charles and Melissa. He cut Ash off mid-sentence, but Ash was now looking at him earnestly.

"Whatcha got, Brock?" Ash asked him, and Brock's lips curled upward.

"Quest."

Ash blinked.

"Quest?" Ash repeated, needing a moment to ponder over it.

"Yeah, Ash 'Quest' Ketchum." Brock stated, emphasizing each part.

Brock looked at the occupants of the room, and smiles broke out. No words were needed to describe their approval.

It was perfect.

A/N

And that locks it all in. Ashy-boy is finally a really-for-real Pokemon trainer! This is the first battle that I'm really invested in, which is kind of weird considering this is chapter nineteen. I liked this battle, although I will point out I have a lot in store for the future that I can't wait for you guys to see.

It's fair to say that Ash has made quite a bit of progress since he first got started. It's been more than a month of him constantly going at Giselle, refining both himself and Pikachu. But even with all this, we're going to see soon just what's in store for Ash as he prepares to debut as a circuit trainer.

I want to thank those of you who favorited and say welcome to my new followers. The story only gets more exciting from here as I have a deluge of plans ahead.

I want to thank MjrGenMatt for his help with chapter and for his help altogether. It's been a full year since we became partners, and he has been an incredible help. That reminds me, the first anniversary of Caged Wings passed and I missed it completely lol. I can't believe it has been a full year already, and we're now starting to hit the nitty-gritty stuff of this universe.

Special announcement : I'm also working on a little prequel to Caged Wings. This story became so big that there are a lot of subjects that will go untouched for quite some time, so I thought it would be best to explore them from a different angle. Don't worry, this supplementary fic won't be anything huge. I hardly have enough time to work on Caged Wings, so obviously, my goal is to keep this small in scale so that I don't get distracted.

I don't have a timetable on when this prequel will be posted, but just be on the lookout for it. Be on the lookout for it. So until next time everyone!

Chapter Text

Tuesday, November 22nd

Ash jolted in his desk, placing a hand on his side before casting a glare in May's direction. The brunette stuck her tongue out playfully in response to his dark stare. The little jab May had thrown to his side had snapped Ash out of his thoughts, allowing him to notice Dawn's efforts to get his attention.

"Ash?" Dawn asked him yet again, and he finally turned to face her.

"Huh?"

"What's with you today? You're hardly listening to anyone." She noted with a huff, clearly perturbed by his lack of focus. Ash gave a nervous chuckle, scratching at his cheek.

"Eh, sorry Dawn." He replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "Can't help it."

His mind kept drifting back to the day before. It was hands down, the best day he had in a long time. Not only had he beaten Giselle convincingly, but the battle was recorded for Charles Goodshow, who happily approved Ash's request to join the underground circuit. Ash could hardly believe it; he was actually a circuit trainer now.

Despite all of the positives that anyone could point to about the day before, Ash continued to think about the final part of his discussion with Charles.

-X-X-

"It was truly a pleasure meeting you both today. I'm really hoping that we have more meetings like this in the future." Charles said to Ash and Brock as they shook hands once again.

"Before we go, Mr. Goodshow, can you tell me how I can have a battle against my father?" Ash asked him, causing the man in question to raise his brow.

This thought had crossed his mind during his first conversation with Brock this past weekend. A match between Ketchum's. One was King of the Red Skulls while the other was...well, time would tell what Ash would become. But Charles was certain that this match would draw a considerable amount of attention. Father versus son. The number of promos he could come up with would be endless!

"First, you need to earn the right to challenge him. Typically, when I organize a match for one of the Five Kings, it's against a trainer that's currently ranked among the top fifty." Charles explained. "In your case, there will be special conditions. I have nothing against you Ash, but as commissioner of the circuit, I have many obligations to meet. One of those is making sure that we yield a consistent profit from our sponsors. If I'm going to pitch a match between you and your father, I fully expect this card to be one of the most anticipated battles we've had at the Hidden Cove. Therefore, I want you to be ranked within the top ten trainers of the circuit before you can challenge your father."

"Top ten?!" Brock exclaimed incredulously. Even Melissa showed some surprise at this condition.

Every trainer that took part in the underground circuit was considered to be elite. The top fifty trainers were the best of the best. And the top ten were unquestionably some of the best trainers on the face of the earth.

While Brock and Melissa were stupefied by this, Ash felt his chest begin to swell. This wasn't some ridiculous expectation, Charles was challenging him.

"It's fine Brock," Ash began, his lips curving up into a smile. "When all is said and done, I was going to be number one anyway."

Brock took a moment to observe his friend, quickly recognizing that look in Ash's eyes. Nothing anyone said at this point could cause his confidence to waver. His eyes were dead set on his goal.

-X-X-

Ash jolted in his seat, casting another glare in May's direction. Seeing that she was packing up her bags, Ash furrowed his brow before he took a quick glance at the clock.

"Wait, class is over?" Ash drawled, causing Dawn to roll her eyes with a sigh, and Ash felt a sense of deja vu. He pursed his lips, realizing that he had let a full class period slip by while his head was in the clouds.

Unlike the other groups, their team had yet to design a composition for their piece. Basically, they were almost a full week behind their classmates who had decided on their compositions on day two of this project. With a sigh, Ash knew that he needed to make up for his poor focus during class today.

"Are you guys coming over to my place this afternoon? We can try to brainstorm some more." Dawn suggested, glancing at each of her partners.

"Yeah, I'm always up for a brainstorm session." Ash replied, but May seemed to be disheartened upon hearing Dawn's request.

"I can't today. I have to pick up my little brother from school and take him to his tutors." May replied, wrinkling her nose at this.

"No need to worry, May." Dawn replied before she shot a narrow glance Ash's way. "This will give Ash a chance to redeem himself."

Ash felt his cheeks heat up upon hearing the jab from Dawn. He looked away from them, sticking out his lower lip in an effort to ignore their giggles. As Dawn moved to her desk for second period, May followed her with a sly grin.

"So, it'll be just you and Ash. All alone." May noted suggestively, causing Dawn to groan.

"Quit it May, we're just going to work on our project." Dawn retorted with a huff.

"All I'm saying is that you haven't done much with him lately. This is a perfect opportunity for you to, rekindle the flame." May said, putting on a poor imitation of Fantina's French accent.

"Did you really just say that?" Dawn asked in a deadpan.

May stuck out her tongue and winked before she left to head off to her second period class. Dawn glanced back at Ash who had remained in his seat at the back of the room, twiddling his pencil as he tried to develop a few ideas to throw at Dawn later this afternoon.

It would be just the two of them.

Her father had gone off on another business trip, and no one would disturb them if they went down to Dawn's workshop.

Perhaps May was right, this would be a perfect opportunity to...rekindle the – Dawn's cheeks reddened as she shook her head. This was a chance for she and Ash to talk.

"We have to decide on something Ash, you can't shoot down every idea we have." Dawn stated as they entered her workshop within the Berlitz Estate.

"Well, I'm not going to paint anything that'll portray a Pokemon as some kind of monster." Ash said indignantly, his arms folded in front of his chest.

Whether he would admit it or not, Ash had become a major roadblock on the journey to them completing this assignment. Based on the time period they had received, Pokemon were viewed in a very negative light, but Ash refused to develop a piece with this as the basis.

On the other hand, he had also failed to come up with a compromise for this. He had given it some thought during the last week but had been unable to develop anything that would fit the era they were attempting to mimic, without further damaging the poor reputation of Pokemon.

Dawn huffed at him, casting a glare in his direction, causing Ash to look away. He had been such a pain to work with during this project! Dawn was well aware of how Ash felt about Pokemon, so she could understand his refusal to follow the theme of the paintings they were studying. But she wished he would bend his philosophy for them, even if it was just a little. They had made little progress and this project would make up a significant portion of their grade for this term. They...no, May couldn't afford to have anything outside of an excellent grade on this assignment. Thanks to Fantina's generosity and patience, May was just barely passing this class despite her poor artistic ability. This project would be a good chance to bump up her grade if Ash wasn't being so stubborn.

"So, what are we going to do then Ash?" Dawn asked as they sat at the table.

"How about we paint a smiley face and call it a day?" He suggested, scratching the back of his neck with a chuckle. The stare he received from Dawn killed his laughter, and he promptly apologized. "I...don't know. I've been stuck trying to figure this out all week."

"Okay then, how about we go back to the history book Ms. Fantina gave us." Dawn pointed out, causing Ash to brighten up. Dawn had claimed the book for the weekend, so Ash hadn't seen it since last Friday. He had forgotten all about with the events that had taken place, and he grew anxious to peer back into this treasure trove of artwork.

Dawn fetched the book from a nearby shelf which caused Ash to narrow his eyes. No wonder he had forgotten about it! She didn't even bring it to school!

"Were you trying to keep it all for yourself?" Ash asked her, causing Dawn to suck in her lips.

"Uh -"

"I knew it!" Ash said as he pointed at her animatedly. "You were keeping it at home hoping I'd forget about it! The book is coming home with me tonight!"

Dawn opened her mouth to protest, but since she had been in possession of it for the last four days, she complied. Perhaps letting Ash have it for some time would inspire him.

Pulling her stool next to Ash, Dawn placed the book in front of them and cracked it open.

"Actually, there's one piece I wanted to talk about with you." Dawn noted as she flipped to a page that she had marked with a sticky note. It was near the center of the book, in the time period just before the Great Crisis.

Ash raised a brow at this painting, a smile forming on his face. It was a picture of a small girl in a sundress, no bigger than Macy, beaming brightly as she placed her straw hat on the head of Bulbasaur. Back then there was no fear of Pokemon, and children played with them freely. But that was a thing of the past. As far as Ash knew, Bulbasaur were some of the most docile and good-natured Pokemon out there, but there wasn't a chance in hell that someone would go within twenty feet of one right now.

"Why can't we go for something like this?" Ash asked her, and Dawn smiled softly.

"I figured you'd say that. But we were assigned the period after the Great Crisis." Dawn reminded him. "So, unfortunately, this is off the table."

Ash frowned, placing his elbow on the table so that he could prop his chin upon his hand. With his remaining hand, he began to turn the pages of the book to the time period they were supposed to be using. The era that Ash had grown to hate.

He could admire the ability of the artists, but he struggled to respect their work as a whole. Those who had painted a Pokemon as the focus of their piece did so with the clear intention of showing them as murderous beasts. Others painted them as insignificant, keeping them in the distance and while the focused on what the Pokemon had done to mankind.

Ash didn't like any of it.

Dawn was wrapped up in her own thoughts as she scanned the page they were looking at. Her eyes went back and forth, reading through the passage that accompanied this painting, providing some information about the artist. He was a man by the name of Vincent who lived in Johto during the Great Crisis. His daughter and wife had been killed during the event, and the tragedy inspired him to create this painting.

The painting was of a man, likely Vincent himself, with his lifeless daughter in his hands. He was looking up to the skies above, his mouth open as he gave a scream of agony. All of his pain and anguish came across in this piece, and dark tone of the piece fit the running theme of all the paintings following the Great Crisis.

Hearing Ash exhale loudly, Dawn stole a quick glance at him and she finally noticed just how close together they were. She had been so focused on the artwork that she hadn't even noticed that she and Ash had gradually moved closer together as they studied each painting. She could feel his breath brush against her cheek. Dawn's cheeks became flush as she studied Ash out of the corner of her eye, taking in his features.

She felt her heartbeat quicken. Ash hadn't noticed her staring at him; he was probably swimming in ideas. Dawn didn't waste this opportunity, her gaze drifting to Ash's lips, and the thought of kissing Ash invaded Dawn's mind. Her cheeks reddened at the idea.

She had been on three dates with Ash so far, yet there was no kiss. She had been thinking about this every now and then since their third date last month, but Ash had a lot to handle during this time, so she kept these thoughts to herself. The thoughts of...moving forward with Ash Ketchum.

Dawn had come to respect and care for Ash in the two months since she had first met him. He was special. Not just because she had a lot of things in common with him, but it was just this feeling she got around him, and it was demonstrated in his qualities and the way he carried himself. He may have goofy moments, but Ash was determined, strong-willed, compassionate, hard-working and considerate. And today she could add 'loyal to his beliefs' to that list. Dawn found everything about him to be very attractive, so attractive that she had unconsciously been leaning in toward him.

With all the grace Dawn could possibly muster, she fell right off her stool, colliding with Ash on her way her down. Her stool rattled after it had hit the floor, while the two of them rested on their backs. Ash had taken the brunt of the fall for Dawn who had landed on top of him.

"Ugh, what happened Dawn?" Ash groaned, waiting for her to get off of him.

"Oh my god, are you okay Ash!?" Dawn exclaimed as she rose up, quickly helping him sit upright. He stopped to rub the back of his head and neck before nodding to her. She sat right beside him, relieved that she hadn't hurt him after knocking him out of his seat.

"I'm fine, Dawn. when I was younger I was a restless sleeper, I rolled off my bed so many times it isn't even funny-"

As Ash spoke, Dawn found herself staring at Ash's lips again. He paid no mind to Dawn's stare, assuming that she had noticed something on his face. In a similar vein of disregard, Dawn tuned out Ash's voice and leaned forward to silence Ash with an unexpected kiss.

Dawn pulled away from Ash, her cheeks scarlet red at the action she had just taken.

She had just kissed Ash Ketchum!

She didn't even bother to get his consent. She just went for it! And it was...well...she was expecting some sort of magic or the fireworks that May was always talking about whenever she described kissing Drew. But what Dawn felt was as if she was floating, and Ash was there. She hardly got a chance to grasp this feeling before she had pulled away from him…

So, she leaned in again.

This time when she placed her lips against his, he tilted his head and pressed forward.

He was kissing her back!

Dawn felt as if she had been uplifted once again, floating through the air. Ash was here with her, taking a hold of one of her hands. This was the magical feeling May must have been talking about, like an out of body experience. And of course, Ash Ketchum was the person to introduce her to such a feeling.

It was such a rush! To the point that she tossed her thought process to the wind and let her body act on its own. She closed the distance between herself and Ash, wrapping her arms around his neck to embrace him.

Ash had been the one to show Dawn so much in such a short space of time. It left the bluenette to wonder if this feeling she got when she was around him could be produced with someone else. No...it had to be just Ash. She had never felt like this about anyone else.

Dawn Berlitz was in love with Ash Ketchum.

Ash couldn't believe what was happening.

They were actually kissing!

There was no way he could have foreseen it, but he was enjoying it way too much. He had always sensed some attraction between them, and he had thought about acting on it until...

"Your relationship with her will not progress any further than what it presently is. Am I clear?"

Mr. Berlitz suddenly appeared in Ash's mind, his voice thundering through the serenity he had been enjoying.

Ash's eyes snapped open, and he placed his hands on Dawn's shoulders, separating himself from her. They were both breathing deeply, cheeks flushed and Ash felt a pain in his heart as he looked into Dawn's eyes. She was wondering why they had stopped, and what he was about to say would ruin everything.

"Dawn," Ash breathed out, dropping his head because he couldn't bear to make eye contact with her. "I'm sorry, but we...no, I can't do this."

"W-What?"

"This Dawn, I can't be with you like this, where we kiss and stuff." Ash revealed with a deep sigh.

"But why?" She asked, her voice becoming strained as a lump formed in her throat.

"Th-this shouldn't have happened. I'm sorry." Ash spoke in a whisper to her, lifting his head to meet her gaze. He immediately regretted this choice, seeing a tear already escape her eyes. It broke his heart to break her heart.

This was very different from when he and Serena had ended their romantic relationship. But he had learned from it that this wasn't a time to force a conversation between them. This time could be better used for both parties to think, so that next time they would be able to communicate properly. If they spoke now, everything would be based around the heat of the moment.

"I'll just go, Dawn." Ash said to her as he rose to his feet.

Dawn remained seated on the floor, watching him collect his belongings. It took all her strength to remain composed during these moments. She wasn't really quite sure what she was feeling, such a mess of emotions had overcome her during the last three minutes.

She had thought about how she had developed this attraction to Ash, and finally confirmed what it was she felt for him. Then she acted on these feelings, and to her surprise, Ash returned them. She was on cloud nine as they kissed, discovering something she had never experienced before. This mutual affection didn't last for long, because what Ash did next brought her right back to reality.

He left.

Dawn was all by herself in her workshop.

It wasn't until her mother had come down to check on her did Dawn realize that it was already past six o'clock. She had spent a chunk of her afternoon curled up on her beanbag chair, hugging her knees as she sobbed.

Her mother spared no effort to console her, helping Dawn work through what took place. Johanna was surprised that her daughter had taken the initiative, though she wore a smug little grin as she recalled that she had been the same way with her husband. This little sense of superiority faded as she witnessed how her daughter's heart had been shattered, but Johanna understood what she was going through.

Moments like these were a part of life.

Some people, you would walk with for a lifetime.

Others, would come and go as the season's change.

Ash felt horrible. He couldn't focus at all, to the point where he decided to hole himself up in his room once he got back home. Shauna had been watching the girls this afternoon, and she let him be when he announced he would be staying in his room for the afternoon.

Pikachu had come up to his room with him for company. Like Shauna, Pikachu didn't press him with questions. Rather, it lounged on his bed, waiting for when he decided to speak.

Ash, however, kept silent for the most part. It was nearing eight o'clock, and he didn't feel like eating dinner or doing anything. His mind continued to drift back to that kiss with Dawn and how his heart fluttered. He loved every second of it. But his mind just had to remind him of his deal with Dawn's father.

His heart knew what it wanted, however, his mind knew what he wanted. The arrangement Ash had with Malcolm Berlitz couldn't be sacrificed for the sake of having a relationship with Dawn. This was his one way into the underground circuit, the one way to get to his father. The one way that he could be a real Pokemon trainer.

It was one of life's hard decisions, and Ash felt awful knowing that he had chosen to pursue his dreams over Dawn. He could only hope that she would find it in her heart to forgive him one day.

Glancing at the art history book he had brought home from Dawn's house, Ash decided to look into it again. He had been leaning against his windowsill, watching the sunset, but now seemed like a good time to try working on something again. Taking a seat on his bed, Ash began to stroke Pikachu's back before he cracked open the book. Rather than flip to a random page like he always had, Ash went to the index at the back of the book.

There he could see a full list of each painting in alphabetical order. The one at the top of the list gained Ash's attention. The painting was titled 'A Longing.'

"Page 144." Ash said to himself, flipping over to that page. This one was near the end of the book, one of the few Ash hadn't seen yet. It had been painted years after the Great Crisis had taken place, and Ash could see that the overall theme of it was somewhat different from the others.

The centerpiece of the painting was an outstretched hand, reaching out toward a hazy being. At first, the only thing he could make out of this shadowy figure was its sharp red eyes that looked up at the hand menacingly. But upon further inspection, Ash began to trace out its other features.

Since gaining access to the PokeHub, Ash had spent a great deal of time looking through their database at the Pokemon they had compiled information on. He had seen images of many, many Pokemon during this time, and the image in this painting bore a small resemblance to a Pokemon he had seen before. The spiky patch of fur that erupted from the top of its head, its small snout, and sizable mane. He had seen this before.

Opening the PokeHub on his phone, Ash quickly scanned through their collection of images before he stumbling into the Pokemon he had been looking for. It was Growlithe. A Pokemon of extreme loyalty, yet in this painting it was portrayed as...

Ash looked back at the painting, furrowing his brow. The way Growlithe had been painted as a frightening shadow with glaring red eyes certainly made it seem dangerous, but Ash felt like the title of the painting didn't fit the artwork. Why was it called 'A Longing?'

Looking toward the short passage regarding this painting, Ash scanned it before reaching a section that caught his attention.

Edna Hardt, the creator of this piece, lived out on the Sevii Islands where there was minimal damage from the Great Crisis. Due to public concerns about Pokemon, she was forced to forgo a friendship she had developed with a Pokemon from her youth onward. Unlike most artists of her time, Edna did not develop the same prejudice that others had toward Pokemon. So rather than follow what was becoming the norm at the time, Edna's piece could be compared to a time capsule. In this captivating work, she captured someone's earnest effort to form a bond with Pokemon, but with the radically changing views of Pokemon, an idea such as this would be a thing of the past.

Ash breathed out, staring at this piece with great intrigue. Now he understood the name of this painting. This Edna was amazing. Despite the public opinion at that time, she couldn't deny what her heart longed for. The companion that must have walked alongside her throughout her life. It felt like a safe guess to say that the Pokemon she had grown with was a Growlithe, and Edna must have been counting the days she had gone without that companionship.

Placing a hand on his chest, Ash listened to his heartbeat.

What did he long for?

He knew for certain that his heart longed for a beautiful girl with blue hair. But was it up to his heart to decide this? Or was he right in following his mind?

"Pi?" Pikachu asked him, peering up at its trainer. Hearing its small voice, Ash glanced at back at Pikachu and he knew the answer to his questions.

Perhaps in a physical sense, his heart desired Dawn Berlitz.

But in his heart of hearts, Ash knew what his dream was. A world where Pokemon and people lived together. A world where trust and fellowship was present throughout...where there was no fear.

It hurt him to say it but...

"I couldn't give you up for Dawn." Ash said to Pikachu, placing a hand on its head. Pikachu beamed up him, proud of its trainer's commitment.

Thursday, November 24th

It was twenty minutes into eighth period, and Ash felt uneasy as he sat in Fantina's classroom. This was the first time he had been in here since Tuesday, so he was uncomfortable for a few reasons. The first reason was the curious glance Fantina gave him upon entering her classroom. Ash knew she had a list of questions for him, most of which likely pertained to him skipping her class for the last two days.

However, the greatest cause for his unrest was caused by the presence of the bluenette, who he hadn't spoken to since their last encounter at her home. She was by herself in the back of the room, swiping away at a mounted canvas with a paintbrush.

Dawn put away her supplies and work in advance, leaving as soon as the bell chimed. Ash looked up at Dawn as she passed his desk, opening his mouth to speak, but her brisk pace killed his voice before it left his throat. With a frown, he looked down at his desk and the blank page of his sketchbook. His focus was all over the place!

He spent the last class period wrestling with different ideas of how to approach Dawn, but Ash couldn't build up the courage to do so. He wasn't sure if Dawn would be open to the idea of talking with him yet, and he couldn't blame her for that.

Fantina kept her distance from Ash and Dawn during the class period. Dawn had been rather withdrawn during the last two days, and that coincided with Ash's absence. Fantina had a hunch that it had something to do with the raven haired young man, and she had an opportunity to confirm her suspicions. Taking a seat beside him at the shared desk, Fantina looked at him expectantly as she interlocked the fingers of her hands.

"Monsieur, comment allez-vous?" Fantina inquired, waiting patiently for him to speak. Even though the question was posed in French, she asked this on a daily basis, so he recognized it immediately. Ash frowned, guilt filling his heart. He expected Fantina to berate him for skipping her class, but her kindness knew no bounds.

"I'm…okay." Ash breathed out in response.

"Is anything on your mind?" She continued slowly, giving Ash plenty of time to consider what he wanted to share. His gaze was downcast, refusing to meeting her stare. She paid no mind to this, waiting for him to answer her questions.

"Uh, yeah I do have some stuff on my mind." Ash replied, glancing toward the doorway of the classroom that Dawn had left through. Fantina saw this as a chance to address exactly what she wanted to talk about.

"Does it have to do with," Fantina nodded toward the doorway. "-mademoiselle?"

Ash sighed and gave her a nod.

"Did something happen between you?" Fantina asked, though she immediately wished she hadn't. Ash withdrew into his shell, looking back down at his desk.

"No, I don't want to talk about it." Ash stated, and a silence set in.

Fantina took this time to think of how best to push forward with this discussion. Based on their short interaction, Fantina could see that sort of rift had formed between Ash and Dawn. It was unusual, considering how well they got along over the last two months.

"If I might offer you some," She paused to look up, making a face as she searched her vocabulary for the word she wanted. "-advice…you should speak to Dawn."

Ash made eye contact with Fantina, tilting his head at this direction.

"I want to," He admitted. "I'm just not sure how to start."

"Well if you truly cherish your friendship with Dawn, speak to her. It won't matter how you start, so long as you reach an end where the two of you remain friends." Fantina stated, and Ash raised his brow.

She was right.

He couldn't idly sit back and let this rift between he and Dawn grow into something greater. It would cost him a great friendship if he did nothing.

Friday, November 25th

May frowned, drumming her fingers on her desk as she sat in Fantina's classroom. She had been doing this for several minutes, to the point where her fingertips were becoming numb. Every so often, she would glance at the entrance to the classroom, expecting Ash to burst through the doors. He sent her some text messages this morning promising that he would come to art class today, but half the class period had passed already and Ash was nowhere to be found.

The brunette was anxious, thanks in no small part to the final text she had received from Ash.

'I'm going to talk to Dawn when I get there.'

Dawn had filled May in on what took place Tuesday, so the brunette didn't hesitate to open a floodgate of questions onto Ash via text. But he didn't respond to anything she asked, which about summed up how the last two days had been with anything regarding Ash.

He had hardly spoken to either Dawn or May, ignoring them during the classes they shared and skipping their lunch period altogether. It hurt May deeply to know that the first guy Dawn had seriously pursued had rejected her, after a kiss no less! Glancing at her friend, who was seated beside her as always, May admired how well Dawn was handling it. The bluenette seemed to be fine, even though she was nursing a broken heart.

Considering how much time Ash and Dawn had spent together, it only seemed like a matter of time before the two of them got together. She was left to wonder what was going through Ash's head to make him reject Dawn.

The doorway to the class opened, revealing the person in question.

Ash stepped into the room, his presence being largely ignored by most of his classmates. Fantina met him near the entrance, and the two of them began to speak privately. As they did so, May nudged Dawn with her elbow and nodded up toward Ash. Dawn glanced up at Ash, and turned her gaze right back to her sketchbook as she worked on another concept.

Dawn's lack of a reaction left May slightly unnerved. Dawn had been awfully distant during the past two days, and May suspected that she still might have been in denial. It was as if she didn't want to accept that Ash had a different mindset regarding their relationship. Perhaps he wasn't aiming for something serious.

May couldn't get through to Dawn. Zoey and Nando both said they hit a wall when trying to speak to her, so the only person left was Ash.

With the recent events, May was uncertain of leaving this in Ash's hands, but who else was there?

Once Ash had finished speaking with Fantina, he made his way to the back of the room, where the girls were seated. May watched him closely as he approached, making eye contact with him. They shared a glance before Ash set his sights on Dawn. He stood over her as he took off his backpack, beginning to fish through the contents of the back for his sketchbook. Upon finding his desired item, he opened to his latest sketch and set the book down on top of the paper Dawn had been drawing on.

She didn't take too kindly to this, casting a narrow glance up at Ash.

"What do you want?" She asked him with a deadpan delivery.

Ash pursed his lips, feeling a chill on his shoulder. He knew now that he definitely didn't want to end up on Dawn Berlitz's bad side. At this very moment, Ash saw Dawn's resemblance to her father, and how her temperament could take on different forms, from the sweetheart he kissed two days ago, to the stony-faced girl that was staring him down.

Taking a deep breath, Ash knew that he couldn't falter. He needed to mend their relationship now.

"Can we talk?" Ash asked her firmly.

"About?"

"This drawing." Ash said, pointing down at the artwork he had put on her desk. She had yet to take a proper glance at it.

Dawn looked down at his sketch and exhaled.

If there was one thing Ash never failed at, it was impressing her with his artwork. Most people would say it's only a pencil sketch, but it was simply captivating.

The focus of the sketch was an outstretched hand that was grasping onto an olive branch. The small piece of foliage was being held by Pikachu, who was offering up the item to the viewer.

A peace offering.

"I know I don't deserve anything from you, but please, can we just talk?" Ash asked her again. Dawn looked up at him again, meeting his gaze once more. Her steely expression wavered, unable to find it in her heart to keep up this façade. She, more than anyone else, wanted to talk to Ash about what happened.

"Fine." She said, and Ash motioned for her to follow him. Taking his sketchbook in her hands, Dawn followed Ash to the entrance of the room and raised her brow as Ash gave a nod to their teacher. Fantina met the duo at the entrance of her classroom, providing each of them with a hall pass before allowing them to exit the room.

Out in the corridor, Ash took the lead as he and Dawn walked, taking her to the emergency exit. This took them out to the backside of the building where they would have some privacy to speak. Dawn leaned against the wall, waiting for Ash to begin. He spent a few moments pacing back and forth, searching for how he wanted to address this subject. Then he looked toward her.

"Okay, the first thing I have to do is apologize to you." Ash began. "I'm sorry for…letting things go as far as they did. I shouldn't have let that happen in the first place."

Dawn furrowed her brow, opening her mouth to respond.

"Why though? There was definitely something there between us." She noted.

"I thought I felt something similar Dawn. But I don't think right now is the time I should be dating anyone." Ash answered.

"Why?" She asked again. "You just said you felt the same way that I do. If two people like each other, what should stop them from dating? I mean…is there something wrong with-"

Seeing her place a hand on her chest, Ash cut in immediately.

"Dawn, it has nothing to do with you," Ash stated in an effort to reassure her. His best option was, to be honest. "I've reached a point where I can't commit the amount of time I'd want to give you."

Dawn stood still, her mouth opened partially.

"I'll be straight with you Dawn. I'm getting my shot at being a Pokemon trainer, and that's going to take up all my time. It's why I'm out in the afternoons so often." Ash explained to her. "I don't want to be in a relationship where it feels like I'd be neglecting you. You wouldn't be my first, second…or even third priority Dawn, as much as I hate to say it."

He maintained eye contact with Dawn throughout his explanation, and she finally broke away once he finished speaking. She knew what Ash prioritized in his life.

Pokemon sat firmly at the top, and that was without question.

His family came second.

And his career as a trainer had taken the third slot on this list.

"Look Dawn. I made a mistake with the kiss. I really don't want it to change things between us because…I really like having you as a friend." Ash went on, wringing his hands as he spoke. "I would hate to lose that. So, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me for…letting things go farther than they should have, I would really appreciate it."

Dawn looked back at him, seeing his sullen expression as he wrapped up his request.

"If you can't though, I understand. It's not my place to ask for all this from you. Thank you for listening to me, and I still can't tell you how sorry I am for all this." He had put his hands in his pocket to stop fidgeting with them, setting in his gaze on her as he waited for a reaction.

She needed some time to process everything before she gave him an answer.

He said exactly what she needed to hear. That, at the end of the day, he was going to choose Pokemon over her. That his aspirations came first…and she could sympathize with his thought process.

But one question remained on her mind.

"Did that kiss…mean anything to you?" Dawn piped up suddenly, causing Ash to raise his brow. The words of her father replayed in his mind, his threat forcing Ash to brush aside any memories of their kiss.

"I can't let it mean anything to me Dawn." Ash said after a deep breath.

"I – I understand Ash." She stated with a downward glance and his heart became heavy at the sight of the expression she wore. He had done his best to just be honest with her, but in the end, there was no way to avoid hurting her. All Ash could do was accept this. "I'm not sure if we can be friends. I need time, to figure all this out."

"I get it, Dawn," Ash said with a nod. "I'll be waiting whenever you're ready."

Ash figured that now was the best time to leave her. He said everything that he needed to. It was up to Dawn to figure out if she could forgive him, and he would be fine with either decision she made.

"Don't stress over our project Dawn. To make up for this, I'll handle everything from here." Ash assured her, and he left with that. Dawn watched him re-enter the building, but she remained outside. Dawn gave a deep sigh as she leaned back against the wall and fell to her bottom.

Pulling her knees up to her chest, Dawn swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. She wasn't sure if she could take having a friendship with Ash, at least not for the time being. That kiss they shared was special to Dawn, and the end result of it all left her confused.

Why would Ash kiss her back and then claim that he couldn't afford to feel anything?

A/N

Whoa, this chapter had some big-time stuff going down. Did anyone see a kiss coming? I wasn't sure if anyone might have picked up on it since the last chapter had a minor hint concerning the future of Ash and Dawn's relationship. Kudos to you if managed to predict it!

Have to give some love to my beta MjrGenMatt. I'm in the noob spectrum when it comes to romance so I relied upon his insight to put that scene together. Hopefully, you guys in enjoyed it.

I don't want to put out in spoilers regarding the upcoming chapters, but I think the next four or five I believe have the same inspiration which I'll go into when the time is right. So look forward to those. Many thanks to the new followers and any favorites I received, and I hope you stick around. Ash's journey is just beginning and I have a lot in store for him.

I'll see you all at the next chapter! Stay out of trouble until then! :)

Chapter Text

Friday, November 25th

"Casey, Macy! Are you guys almost ready?" Ash called out from the front door. Macy rushed down the staircase with a small backpack that was likely filled with her coloring book and perhaps a doll or two. Soon after Casey lazily stepped out of the living room with her own backpack and phone in hand. "Are you bringing your homework, Casey?"

She rolled her eyes but gave him a nod.

"Hey, I'm just asking. You're in the same class as Audrey so the two of you can work together." Ash suggested thoughtfully. Audrey was Brock's second sister, who went to school with Casey.

Even though he had interacted with Brock's family on various occasions, Ash still struggled to wrap his head around them being a family of twelve. Having two siblings was hard enough to deal with at times, he couldn't even begin to imagine having nine!

"Let's get going, you two," Ash said as he opened up the front door to find a bandana-wearing brunette with her hand extended to knock on their front door. "May?"

Her gaze had been off to the side, so she jumped at the sudden call of her name.

"What are you doing here?" Ash inquired, lips pursed as he did so.

"I'm supposed to watch the girls today, duh." She responded, placing her hands on her hips as she stated this fact. Ash scratched at the back of his neck sheepishly. He assumed after his latest interaction with Dawn that she wouldn't be watching Casey and Macy for him anymore. And, by extension, May would no longer be offering her assistance. "Wait, are you guys going somewhere?"

"Yeah…I wasn't really expecting you to come this afternoon." Ash replied slowly and May tilted her head with a questioning glance.

"I'm best friends with Dawn, Ash, there's no question about that. But she doesn't dictate my life." May stated pointedly. Ash pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows. He felt like he stepped on a landmine for jumping to such a conclusion about May. He should've known better than that.

Rather than put his foot in his mouth, Ash apologized to the brunette, explaining his assumptions. May simply reiterated her stance, and Ash found himself smiling faintly at her. The past few weeks he saw a different side of May. There was much more to her than what met the eye.

"So, were you guys going out?" May inquired as she looked toward the girls. Macy gave her a big nod, causing May to smile brightly at her.

"Yeah. Like I said, I didn't think you and Dawn would be watching them tonight. We're heading over to Brock's place for the afternoon." Ash explained for her.

"Does he live far away? I could give you a ride." May offered with a gesture toward her car.

"Yeah, that would be awesome." Casey interjected, and Ash shot her a narrow glance.

"Casey, its barely a ten a minute walk. May probably has better things to do." Ash pointed out.

"She just said she was here to watch us today." Casey piped up, and Ash opened his mouth to respond before realizing Casey had cornered him. Casey made a face at him for his lack of a rebuttal before continuing. "Besides, it's a free ride."

Rather than drop his stance, Ash looked for a number advantage. His gaze quickly shifted to his youngest sister.

"Macy, you want to walk with me to Brock's house, right?" Ash asked her. To his dismay, she looked to Casey for guidance on the matter. Casey shook her head, and Macy then did the same to Ash.

"Majority wins." Casey stated, and Ash bit down on his lower lip to ward off any thoughts of how he could remove that smug little grin on Casey's face. All this took place with May giggling on the sidelines.

"Come on girls." May said as she stepped down to her car, opening the back door for Macy to climb in. Ash quickly locked the front door and joined Macy in the back of the car, forming a plot to pay Casey back for her sassiness.

Once everyone was settled in the car, Casey began to provide May with the directions to Brock's home as she drove.

"Ouch!" Casey exclaimed after feeling something strike her ear. She turned around to glare at Ash who was seated behind her. "What was that for?"

"What are you talking about?" Ash asked nonchalantly.

"You flicked my ear." She proclaimed, but Ash shrugged his shoulders.

"Did you see me do anything Macy?" Ash asked, glancing at the small girl beside him. Her nose was buried in her coloring book, selecting what pages she would work on at Brock's house. "See, I didn't do anything. Now come on, May needs to know where to turn off."

Casey cast a glare in his direction before turning around, pointing out the intersection May would be turning on. With a wicked grin on his face, Ash leaned forward again flicked her right earlobe, earning a yelp.

"You did it again!" She hollered, whirling around to glare at him. Ash was leaning back in his seat, whistling softly as he looked out the window.

"This again, Casey. You know, May might think you're going crazy if you keep this up." Ash said in a matter-of-fact tone. Casey pursed her lips, her cheeks reddening from frustration.

"Here, Casey?" May asked, receiving her attention.

"Yeah, make a right turn here." Casey replied before her ear was struck again.

She looked back at Ash again, a glint in her eyes. Ash merely avoided eye contact with her, though he couldn't suppress a smirk which caused Casey's look of contempt to evolve into a death glare. She would make Ash suffer for being such an annoyance.

"Right here, May." Ash said, pointing out a parking space up ahead. They went a few blocks north of the street Ash lived on, and the neighborhood opened up, becoming more suburban. Despite the houses being rather close together, each of them still had a fair piece of property compared to the more densely populated area where Ash lived.

Seated on the front steps was Brock, along with one of his younger sisters, Audrey. Spotting Casey as she stepped out of the car, she abandoned Brock to meet up with Casey. Without wasting a moment, the two of them picked up on a conversation they must have been having earlier, speaking without any context that the rest of them could pick up on.

"Come on Macy, let's get going." Ash said as he stepped out of the car. He reached in to pick up Macy and set her down outside where she dashed up the house to greet Brock. Watching her as she did so, Ash caught sight of Casey as she and Audrey went up the front steps, and Casey shot him a chilling glare, a warning to watch his back for the rest of the day. Ash stuck his tongue out, daring her to try anything.

"The two of you really go at it, huh?" May inquired from the front seat, laughing at this prolonged exchange between Ash and Casey.

"I can't let her think she's winning." Ash replied with a huff. May laughed and waved off Ash's thanks for the ride as he moved to speak with her through the passenger window.

"Just so you know Ash, whether or not you and Dawn sort out this stuff between you guys, I'm going to watch your sisters when you need me to." The brunette stated, looking directly at him. "I really enjoy spending time with them, they're the little sisters I always wanted but…instead, I got my annoying brother."

"You wanna trade? I'll take a brother over Casey any day." Ash remarked.

"Only if you throw in Macy."

"Not a chance. That sweetie-pie is mine." Ash stated with a warm smile as he looked back at his youngest sister, who was on the porch speaking with Brock. May smiled as well, glad to see Ash in such a great mood despite the events of the day. "You know, you're free to hang out with us today if you want to, May. I'm sure Brock wouldn't mind."

May shook her head and gave him a wink.

"I can always give Drew a call," May replied cheekily. "I'll see you Monday!"

They waved to each other before May took off, leaving Ash to join Brock and Macy on the front steps. Ash and Brock bumped fists before Brock's youngest pair of siblings burst out of the front door shouting for Macy. They were twins, Caleb and Chloe, "two hyperactive runts" as Brock put it, that couldn't go a moment without finding some sort of trouble.

"Macy! We made up a game, come try it!" Caleb exclaimed as Chloe grabbed Macy by the hand to lead her back into the house. Ash and Brock were left alone outside, and Ash looked into the house with a questioning glance.

"Shouldn't we go inside and keep an eye on them?" Ash suggested, but Brock sighed.

"Forrest and Sarah are in there." Brock replied, his gaze downcast. Taking note of this, Ash took a seat beside his friend on the steps.

"Something wrong?" Ash asked him.

"Remember I told you there was an opening to become a shift supervisor at the warehouse I work at?" Brock asked him. Brock had been giddy all week, making plans for what he'd do after this promotion. "Well, my dad I got a tip that they would be promoting someone in-house. We thought it was going to be me but…they brought in a guy from Celadon City to take the job."

"Ah shoot, that sucks." Ash said, trying to sympathize with Brock.

"It would've been great if I got the job. It would've meant a lot of extra money for us." Brock said, glancing back at his home. "We could really use it right now, so I really wanted that promotion."

Ash felt his chest tighten, immediately recalling that Brock gave him his savings just a few weeks prior.

"So far nothing has been going my way. Our crew hasn't gotten much traction and my job is going nowhere…I'm stuck man." Brock mumbled, running a hand through his spiky hair.

Remembering how his friend had come to his rescue when he was in a bind, Ash knew that he had to do the same for Brock. He asked himself what he could offer, but all he could offer was a promise.

"Brock," Ash began, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you want to spoil the crap outta your family."

"Heck yeah, I do," Brock interjected emphatically. "My parents bust their asses for us, but they hardly get to rest. I want to make enough money to let them both take a week off at the same time, and you know, be together."

His dad worked full time, and his mom was as close to full-time as she could get while managing ten children. A lot of that involved coordinating with Brock and her husband to ensure that a legitimate form of supervision was present in the house at all times.

"I'm telling you, Brock, as soon as I get a debut match and win it, I'll pay you back everything you've given me,"

"Ash, you don't owe me anything." Brock cut him off, looking straight at him.

"Don't say that. You had my back when I needed help, so I'm going to do the same thing for you the first chance I get." Ash said firmly, giving Brock a hard stare to reinforce his statement. Brock sighed, knowing that he couldn't change Ash's view on this. Ash was as stubborn as they come once he set his mind on something. Rather than press the issue, Brock focused on the new subject Ash presented him.

"How is that going, by the way? Any word on a debut match?" Brock inquired as they relaxed, leaning back on the steps.

"Nothing so far from the commissioner or Mr. Berlitz." Ash replied, trying to keep his spirits up. He wanted a match to be arranged for him immediately after joining the underground circuit, but five days had passed and there was still no word on a debut match.

"That's alright, you just focus on training with Pikachu. And then when you get a debut match, you'll knock it right out of the park." Brock commented, giving Ash a grin.

The front door opened behind them, revealing Brock's mother, Lola. She was dressed in her blue nurse's scrubs, and a large messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

"Hi, Ash! Brock sweetie, I'm going to borrow your car tonight, I got called in early." Lola stated as they made space for her to come down the staircase.

"Yeah, it's got a half tank though." Brock revealed for her.

"I'll fill it up when I'm coming home then." She replied as she went over the driveway where Brock's car was waiting outside the garage.

"Thanks." He said, waving to her along with Ash as she got into his car. After turning on his car, she lowered the window to share one last thing. "By the way, Caleb and Chloe found their slingshots. Do me a favor, take them back tonight and find a new spot to hide them in."

And with that, she reversed out of their driveway and took off.

"What time is she going to get home?" Ash asked.

"Probably around midnight. By then everyone is asleep, but my dad might stay and wait for her if he's not too tired." Brock explained, and Ash tucked this information in the back of his head.

"Man, if we start making some real money, what's the first thing you'd do for your family Brock?" Ash asked him, and Brock looked over at him.

"How much money?"

"Like, a couple thousand dollars."

"I'd tell my parents to take a week off, and send them to a hotel over on the east side. That way they could get pampered for a week straight." Brock explained, gaining a nod of respect from Ash.

Ash took a deep breath, restating what Brock had said in his mind. He wanted to remember that during his debut match, to use it as fire to conquer his opponent. He would be battling not just for himself, but for all the people around him.

Sunday, November 27th

"Time out!" Ash hollered, signaling with his hands to halt the battle between Pikachu and Giselle's Cubone.

He was in the middle of yet another heated training session with Giselle on Route 6 when his phone began to ring. Brock would always notify Ash of who was calling, just to make sure there wasn't any kind of emergency with the girls. This time, however, the person calling immediately took priority over his training.

It was none other than, Malcolm Berlitz.

Ash felt so calm despite the rigorous training he and Pikachu were going through, yet as soon as Malcolm was mentioned, he became nervous. The man essentially held Ash's life in the palm of his hand. If Ash screwed up in any way possible, the man would no longer sponsor him, and his only shot at staying in the circuit would be gone. So of course, he would be nervous, but Ash couldn't let that show.

"Hello?" Ash answered after he received his phone from Brock.

"Ah Ash, do you have a moment to speak?" Malcolm asked, getting straight down to business.

"Yeah-yup. What can I do for you?" Ash asked in return.

"Charles Goodshow contacted me last night with some rather," Malcolm paused and Ash began to hear some shuffling in the background as Malcolm spoke to someone else. "-I'm sorry about that Ash, I'm rather busy at the moment but I had to get in touch with you. I have some unfortunate news."

Ash frowned visibly at this statement. Brock mouthed a question to him, but Ash waved off his concern as Malcolm continued.

"It appears as if Charles is struggling to arrange a debut match for you."

"How come?"

"Your reputation, or lack of it. No one wants to battle a teenager." Malcolm revealed, and Ash clicked his tongue. He knew being young would cause a lot of people to underestimate him, but he didn't think it would be a total roadblock on his path.

"So, what? Do I have to convince them that I'm the real deal?"

"That's exactly what you should do," Malcolm said in agreement. "I'm away on business for the next few weeks, so I can't offer you much help for this."

"Well, do you have any suggestions?" Ash asked hopefully.

It took some time before Malcolm responded to this. Ash could faintly hear other voices in the background, but he couldn't be certain how many people Malcolm was talking to. Finally, he gave Ash an answer, one that caused Ash to wrinkle his nose in dismay.

"I'm sorry Ash, I'm about to meet with a client. All I can tell you is to do something to get your name out there." Malcolm said, and then he immediately hung up. Lowering his phone from his ear, Ash practically jumped when he discovered that Brock was practically on top of him trying to listen to the discussion.

"Is the boss man upset with you?" Brock questioned and Ash made a face at him.

"No." Ash proclaimed.

"Why did he have to call you, then?" Brock pressed. Rather than make a comment about Brock's nosiness, not to mention the invasion of privacy when he tried to listen in on the call, Ash cut to the chase.

"I've got a problem. No one wants to battle me, so I haven't gotten a debut match." Ash explained, and Brock began to stroke his chin in thought.

"To be honest, I'm not surprised." Giselle pointed out. The two guys looked toward her expectantly, waiting for her to elaborate. "I thought battling you would be a waste of my time. I didn't take you seriously at all during our first few battles. But you kept coming back, and there was a steady improvement from one battle to the next…you forced me to say, 'hey, this kid is pretty good.'"

"And you gotta do the same to everyone else." Brock noted.

"That's what I was thinking. But what's going to put everyone on notice?" Ash asked him.

"I figured beating Giselle was a pretty big deal. I mean it got you into Charles' good graces." Brock pointed out and Ash nodded.

"Charles takes a liking to anyone that's good. I've heard that he's seen many trainers battle over the years, and there aren't that many good trainers out there." Giselle went on. "It's one thing to be respected by Charles. It's another to be respected by a fellow trainer, because if there's one thing a lot of trainers in Vermilion City need, it's a big fat piece of humble pie."

Ash and Brock stifled a laugh at this, but Giselle was serious.

"You guys think it's funny, but there are so many trainers in the circuit that have a big head. It's the reason they won't battle you, Ash. They all think you're beneath them, and if by some miracle you beat them, it'll be so humiliating that most of them won't be able to live it down." Giselle explained, a sinister smirk on her face. She loved the thought of Ash knocking a few of those guys down a peg or two. Ash possessed the skill to do just that.

"I get where Giselle is going," Brock stated, and everyone looked toward him. "You have to take on one of the big shots in a street battle and show everyone that you mean business."

"Like who?" Ash asked, and Giselle immediately volunteered some information for them.

"I can think of someone." She said as she opened up the PokeHub on her phone. In no time at all, she found the profile of a notable trainer. He had spiky blue hair, and he held a surfboard in his profile picture. "This is Brawly, better known as the 'Wave Ripper.' I wouldn't say he's arrogant, but he's part of the Lightning Regalia and those guys really need to get knocked off their high horse."

"The Lightning Regalia?" Ash repeated the name, looking to Brock for further explanation.

The Lightning Regalia was one of the four Kingdoms of Vermilion City. Of the four Kingdoms, this one was the second largest, though it paled in comparison to the White Lotus. The King of the Lightning Regalia was a stoic young man, highly respected throughout the Pokemon community for his incredible skill, which placed him as the second strongest trainer in Vermilion City. Similar to their situation in the size of their Kingdom's, the King of the Lightning Regalia was second of course to N, King of the White Lotus.

The White Lotus dominated the Pokemon scene, for the most part, featuring a greater quantity of powerful trainers in the underground circuit than all the other Kingdoms combined. New trainers flocked to the White Lotus aiming to learn from N, and the Lightning Regalia were quick to realize that the White Lotus was becoming the only major power among the Kingdoms. In an effort to draw attention to themselves, they began to push this idea that they were rivals to the White Lotus, proclaiming that the White Lotus would crumble due to its size.

"So, these guys made up a rivalry with the White Lotus, and they act like they're good because of it?" Ash asked for clarification, earning a nod from Brock and Giselle. "Have they even seriously like, battled with the White Lotus?"

Ash had been through such an experience not too long ago. Even the lesser trainers of the White Lotus had pushed him around, but he and Pikachu had grown considerably since then.

"Not as far as I can remember." Brock noted, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

"It's just like I was saying, they're all talk." Giselle proclaimed. "They want to be rivals with the White Lotus for the attention, and nothing else."

Ash rolled his eyes.

A one-sided rivalry was no rivalry!

Ash recalled his few encounters with N, realizing that he was no different from the Lightning Regalia. His rivalry with N was one-sided. N was the strongest trainer in Vermilion City and he outclassed Ash in all aspects of being a Pokemon trainer. These facts pushed Ash to work hard every day to improve with Pikachu.

If he was one day going to rival N and face him in battle, Ash needed to prove he deserved the right to call himself N's rival.

"It's settled then, we'll take on Brawly. Right Pikachu?" Ash stated and Pikachu leaped up onto his shoulder. Pikachu gave him a big nod of agreement, wearing an expression to mirror Ash's confidence.

"Well if that's your game plan, then I think we should go all out." Giselle suggested, sharing a glance with Ash and Brock.

"How so?" Brock asked her with a narrow glance.

"On the weekends when he doesn't have a match in the Hidden Cove, Brawly has battles at a private beach on the south side of Vermilion City. He streams every battle he has during that day to the PokeHub. If you pop up during his stream and beat him, trust me, Ash, you'll be one everyone's radar." Giselle explained and Ash punched his palm, anxious to begin training. "Next weekend he'll be streaming, so this is a chance for you to make a name for yourself."

"Alright then, we're going to take down Brawly!"

Witnessing Ash's eagerness, Brock couldn't help but recall the intervention he had with him the night Ash shared that he was thinking about joining the Red Skulls. He was happy to see his friend marching off on his own path now, but there were several nagging thoughts in the back of his mind, all of which would hopefully be addressed by the following week.

Tuesday, November 29th

Ash had grown accustomed to the routine that he followed over the last few weeks after the intervention with his friends. He went to school during the day, returned home to check on Macy, collect Pikachu, and then Brock would take him up to Route 6 to train with Giselle. It was a very straightforward lifestyle, from point A to B, and from B to C.

Today, however, Brock had stopped somewhere else while they were heading to Route 6. They traveled to another packed neighborhood about twenty minutes from where Ash lived. Brock parked the car right in front of an apartment complex and invited Ash to join him he went in.

"What are we doing here, Brock?" Ash asked him as he got off the car.

"I'll explain on the way, and bring Pikachu." Brock stated. Ash raised his brow, but complied to the request. Once Pikachu was safely tucked away in his backpack, Ash followed Brock into the building.

"So, uh, what are we here for?" Ash asked against as his friend guided him up to the second floor. Brock, however, remained silent until they arrived at their destination. Apartment 2-G.

He knocked on the door, a few moments later it opened up revealing the dark haired designer that worked with Brock's dance crew. Valerie.

"Hi, guys." She said cheerily, inviting them in. Brock stepped in without a thought while Ash stood in the doorway stupefied.

"You live here, Valerie?" Ash exclaimed at her, and she laughed.

"Why else would I be here Ash?" Valerie asked in return, making a gesture for him to come in so that she could close the door. Entering her studio apartment, Ash was impressed with how Valerie organized her small home to make the most of out of it. Most of the main living space had been dedicated to being a design workshop with fabrics and sketches scattered about. Ash joined Brock on the couch, while Valerie brought over a wooden chair.

A silence set in as both Brock and Valerie stared at Ash. Their gaze left him unnerved until he finally opened his mouth to question.

"What's up, guys?" He asked them. He thought Brock came here to handle a matter with Valerie, but so far, it felt as though they had come here to waste time.

"I brought you here for a reason, Ash." Brock began, and he looked toward Valerie who took over the conversation from there.

"I wanted to talk with you, Ash." Valerie stated.

"About what?"

"About…Pokemon." She said tactfully. Ash raised his brow, surprised that Valerie wanted to tackle such a subject.

"Really? You want to talk about Pokemon, with me?" Ash exclaimed as all sorts of questions began to flood his mind. "Are you a trainer? Or uh, are you trying to become one too? What's your favorite-"

"Ash," Valerie said sharply to silence him. She then followed this by smiling at him. "I'm supposed to be asking the questions."

"Oh, right." Ash mumbled out sheepishly, motioning for her to go ahead.

"So…I'd like to know what exactly it is that you want to accomplish with your Pikachu."

Ash's gaze became narrow and more questioning as he observed Valerie. Why did this matter to her?

"What I want to accomplish?" Ash repeated the question as he opened up his backpack to release Pikachu.

The small Pokemon perked upon spotting Valerie and politely greeted her. Valerie tapped her lap as an invitation to Pikachu, and he leapt up to allow her to groom him. During this time, Ash thought long and hard about his answer before he spoke.

"I want to make a change…to the way people think about Pokemon." Ash expressed slowly.

"And how do you intend to do that?"

"The way I see it, I have to be somebody." He stated thoughtfully. "No one is going to listen to some no-name kid with a Pikachu. But if I was the strongest trainer, I'm sure that'll turn some heads in my direction."

"Being a trainer isn't the only way to convince people that Pokemon aren't dangerous." Valerie pointed out. "Sometimes, you have to rely on words rather than actions – but you know what, I didn't want to discuss this with you. What I wanted to know was how sure you are."

"What for?" Ash asked cautiously. Not that he minded Valerie asking him questions, but it seemed rather weird coming from her. He knew enough about her to be comfortable around her, but now as he thought about it, he never really had a chance to get to know Valerie that well.

"I understand that you want to change things Ash, but I feel that you also need to understand that you can't change everything just because you want to." Valerie said, causing Ash to steel his resolve.

"What? Did you call me here to have a reality check?" Ash asked her incredulously. Valerie paid no mind to the change in his demeanor and continued with the discussion.

"To be honest Ash, yes, that is what I want you to have." She said, looking straight at him. "I really respect what you want to do, but I'm not sure if you understand what you're trying to do."

"Valerie, I know it's not as simple as I'm making it sound. I know for a fact that it's going to be hard as heck to change things." Ash related, wringing his hands.

"Are you sure that you're ready to commit your life to Pokemon?" Valerie asked him. He met her gaze, and Valerie could see it in his eyes. Ash had already made a commitment in his heart that he would stick this path, through thick and thin.

"Yeah Valerie, I'm sure about it."

She breathed out a sigh before glancing at the door to her bathroom.

"Spritzee, you can come out now." Valerie announced, causing Ash to stare in the direction she was looking. The bathroom door was partially open, allowing a small creature to peek out. Spritzee was a small bird like Pokemon with pink feathers that immediately gained Pikachu's attention with its appearance.

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, jumping down from Valerie's lap to greet this Pokemon. Spritzee became overjoyed at the sight of Pikachu, and the two of them began to converse loudly. Seeing Pikachu interact with Spritzee reminded Ash that Pikachu didn't have much contact with other Pokemon aside from Giselle's Cubone, and by the looks of it, Spritzee might have been in the same boat.

"You have a Pokemon?!" Ash exclaimed at Valerie. She smiled and gave him a nod. Of all the people to be hiding a Pokemon, Valerie was the last person he would've expected!

"We met back when I was sixteen," Valerie explained softly, watching as her partner began to drabble some of her experiences to Pikachu who laughed as the story progressed. Despite these two having a happy conversation, the mood became heavy as Valerie looked down, her bangs casting a shadow over her eyes. "My family wasn't happy about it."

Brock leaned back into the couch, taking a peek at Ash to see his expression. Surprisingly, his friend was still neutral despite the subject at hand.

"Johto isn't like Kanto, where people with Pokemon kind of get away with it. They really crack down on anyone who thinks they can keep a Pokemon." Valerie revealed, and Ash's face hardened.

She began to spin a tale taking them back to her youth in Cherrygrove City, and how she would visit the abundant meadows that surrounded that town under her mother's supervision. At the tender age of nine, Valerie had her first encounter with a Pokemon. It was an injured Furret that was passing through the meadow. Pointing it out to her mother, the actions that followed were the last thing Valerie could have expected.

Her father arrived on the scene within minutes, and without any mercy, he put Furret to death.

"Are you freakin' serious?!" Ash jumped to his feet with this exclamation, a vein on his forehead bulging.

"Johto is nothing like how it is here Ash. I don't know why, personally, but the fear of Pokemon runs deep." Valerie responded, a frown on her face. To this day that memory still haunted her. The panic on Furret's face as her father approached with a small firearm in hand, the desperate please Furret gave out as he tried to get away but, in his condition, he failed to do so. The echo of the gunshot through the open area.

She brought this subject to her mother later on - why do we kill Pokemon?

To keep her safe.

Being so young at the time, Valerie accepted this short answer without any thought. But as she grew into her teens, her mind became more open.

To keep her safe from what?

Were Pokemon actually dangerous?

Valerie began to pursue her own answers, and in her mid-teens, she returned to the meadows around Cherrygrove City. Now that she didn't need any supervision, she ventured further out, reaching the areas that were inhabited solely by Pokemon and she immediately discovered that these creatures were far different from what she had been told growing up.

Untamed? Beasts? Savages?

They were nothing of the sort. To her shock and awe, Valerie was greeted by dozens of them beyond the meadow, being led into their community where she saw firsthand how Pokemon interacted with one another. There was organization, structure, and cooperation. Not just between certain Pokemon, but all of them. Guidance was provided for the young, assistance was given to the older ones. It practically mirrored human society.

Valerie found herself visiting these Pokemon almost daily and as time went on, she forged numerous friendships with them. When she was sixteen, she met a Spritzee and the two of them became fast friends.

"I don't really know how to describe it…but I felt some sort of connection to Spritzee when we first met. Like how people go on about soulmates, I think Spritzee and I were meant to be together." Valerie explained, directing a kind smile at her Pokemon. "We became close. We'd talk, and play, and I'd spend all my time with her outside of school. Spritzee was...my best friend."

Ash understood that expression all too well. With a glance at Pikachu, Ash knew who was his best friend as well.

"So, you can understand Spritzee?" Brock inquired with a wrinkled forehead. It was one of the things he never understood about Ash and Pikachu. The speech coming from Pikachu hardly made sense to Brock, yet Ash could hold a conversation with his partner as though Pikachu was speaking in English.

"It's not so much that I understand what she says, but I understand what she's trying to," Valerie stopped for a moment, thinking about the right word to describe this. "I want to say, convey. What she says, makes sense to me."

Brock shifted his focus to Ash.

"And it's the same for you?" He inquired, and Ash looked up in thought after having only a few moments to digest what Valerie had shared on this subject.

"Uh…kind of. It's like Valerie said, I'm not trying to understand Pikachu word for word. I'm just, feeling what he feels." Ash said with a nod of agreement to Valerie's point.

"I think of it as a language of love, Brock." She added with a thoughtful glance at her Pokemon, her lips curving up into a faint smile. Catching sight her trainer's gaze, Spritzee raised her small wings and vaulted herself to Valerie's lap. "You don't need context or a word for word translation. You just…know."

Ash gave a nod of agreement, and Brock raised his brow with intrigue. This conversation with Valerie proved to be more enlightening than he had planned on.

"So, love is how you understand each other?" Brock clarified, motioning to each of them.

"Yeah. I mean, when you love someone, and they love you, you have a really deep connection with them, right?" Valerie asked him, and Brock nodded in reply. "It's the same way. We're connected through love."

The sort of admiration Ash developed for Valerie in the span of a few short sentences was…indescribable. Her love for Pokemon, Spritzee especially, was as clear as day.

"That was the reason I thought being around Pokemon was normal. I loved Spritzee, and I thought I could convince my parents to feel the same way." Valerie went on.

That proved to be a disastrous mistake.

She took Spritzee home with her one evening, planning to introduce the small sprite-like creature to her family.

"My parents couldn't believe that I would 'put our household at risk' by bringing a Pokemon into it," Valerie revealed sadly. "Unlike Kanto, in Johto, possession of a Pokemon is against the law. My parents wanted no part of what I was doing, so they gave me a choice. I could leave home with Spritzee, or I would have to face the law."

It was clear that Valerie chose the former, and Ash's expression darkened at this.

He could remember the distress on her face as she spoke during his intervention. At the time, he thought that she was trying to discourage him from pursuing Pokemon, and his chest began to ache from an onset of guilt. Valerie didn't deserve any kind of skepticism from him. She had been through much more than he knew.

To think that her parents threw her out at such a young age…

"I had no idea what I was going to do. All I had was what I packed, and Spritzee." Valerie continued solemnly. She was confident that selecting Spritzee was the right choice, but it didn't take long for her to discover the consequences of this choice. None of her friends could help her, so she had nowhere she could stay.

Her only choice was to forgo completing high school and shove off.

She learned that the people in Kanto were more lenient toward Pokemon, and there was some truth in this. With what money she had, Valerie purchased a one-way ticket on the Magnet Train to Saffron City. The first year was unbelievably hard. Many sleepless nights plagued by insomnia and homesickness. But there were positives to draw from. She found a roommate that was willing to split their rent with her, although as part of the agreement to accommodate for Spritzee, Valerie had to pick up the bulk of the payment. She worked full-time as a waitress until she was twenty, and during this time, she studied to receive a general education diploma.

"I was a junior in high school when I had to leave home. It took me four years from that point to get the equivalent of a high school diploma," Valerie stated, and Ash recalled her stance on dropping out of school during his intervention. He understood why she stood so strongly against his plan. "I've never regretted my choice, no matter how hard things became. Spritzee has been my best friend, someone who has been there for me when I didn't have anyone else."

Ash's nostrils flared, but he bit down on his lower lip to keep himself from snapping about Valerie's parents. It really hurt him to discover that her parents had chosen to abandon their daughter for their own "security."

He would find a way to fix this.

"Of course, things got better with time," Valerie said with a small smile as she looked toward their Pokemon. "Having Spritzee kept me from getting too depressed. I didn't give up, and I kept working. And being broke had its silver lining, I got all the financial aid I needed to finish design school, and then I'm sure I'll be fine. I mean, as long as I have Spritzee I know I'll be okay."

"Valerie…" Ash began, receiving her full attention. "You have my word that I'll change all of this one day. It's crap that you got shafted for picking Pokemon, but I'm going to make it so that anyone who makes that choice in the future doesn't have to go through what you went through."

Valerie smiled faintly at him, impressed with his conviction.

Ash Ketchum was going to make a difference.

Friday, December 2nd

Today was the due date for Fantina's group assignment, and Ash sat sleepy-eyed in his desk within the classroom. Due to the extenuating circumstances, Ash's group received some preferential treatment from Fantina to accommodate for their subject matter and the issues caused by it.

Ash came forward earlier this week and revealed how he negatively impacted their project, stalling the development of a piece because of his stance on Pokemon. Fantina respected Ash for standing by his beliefs, but she couldn't let it slide that he stopped two of his classmates from working properly on this project.

Rather than give the group an extension because the end of the term was approaching, Fantina opted to give Dawn and May partial credit. Ash, however, would be receiving a zero on this assignment which he accepted gratefully. Dawn and May were omitted from the final portion of this assignment of presenting their piece of the class, and Ash was left to do this on his own with the piece he developed by himself.

Between training for his challenge with Brawly and finishing this assignment, Ash was wiped out. Fortunately, he would be the last to present in class today, so that afforded him some time to gather his thoughts.

The sketch he had given to Dawn was the basis for what he painted. It was inspired by the painting he had found by Edna Hardt, though he lightened the mood considerably. He was almost anxious to show it to the class. Shaking his head to focus, Ash looked up at the front of the room where a team of three guys was sharing some of the details concerning their work.

"Despite spending the last three weeks studying pop art, I think it's safe to say three stooges like us won't really understand it." Oliver remarked to conclude their presentation. Some of the class laughed while others clapped for them. Taking down their painting from the easel, Fantina called for the last presentation of the day.

"Monsieur Ketchum." She stated, looking at him. With a sigh Ash rose from his seat, carefully picking up his canvas by the edges and taking it up front with him. Once it was situated on the easel, Ash stepped away allowing the class to look at his work.

The reactions were…lacking, to say the least.

Everyone was impressed with Ash's skill as an artist as always, but having a Pikachu as the focal point of the painting was off-putting for some of his classmates. Seeing Pikachu beam up at them, extending an olive branch as an offering of peace…most of them had no idea what to say. And to top it all off, there was a human hand reaching toward Pikachu to accept the offering.

"The time period I studied was right after the Great Crisis." Ash began, and his peers looked at him curiously. "Many people are unfamiliar with it because the Great Crisis was what historians consider a global catastrophe. The time period following this was filled with artwork of the aftermath of this event. Mourning, tragedy, and suffering were the main themes during that time period."

"I heard from my parents that Pokemon were responsible for the Great Crisis." One of his classmates, Oliver, piped up. Ash exhaled but gave him a nod.

"According to what I researched, that's true." Ash replied.

"So why do you have a Pokemon as the centerpiece then?" He asked rather snidely, and Ash gave him a narrow glance.

"Well, it's been exactly ninety-four years since the Great Crisis. People still fear Pokemon, and I think it's time for that to change." Ash said before motioning to his painting. "A lot of people live under the assumption that all Pokemon are dangerous, when that's as far from the truth as you can get. It's why I went out of my way to show this Pikachu as the happy and peace-loving Pokemon that it is."

This comment wasn't well received. Some of them began to whisper to their desk mates, but one of his classmates, Morgan, raised his hand to pose a question. As part of the presentation, they were expected to answer questions if there were any.

"This is kind of personal, but my grandfather and great-grandfather were killed by a Pokemon during the Great Crisis. What makes you think they're peace-loving?" Morgan asked him with a touch of sharpness in his tone. Ash could see he was walking on a minefield with his class. He had to be careful with everything he said from this point forward.

"No one knows what happened during the Great Crisis. According to many historians, people and Pokemon lived together prior to the Great Crisis. That alone proves that there was a time when we had Pokemon around us all the time." Ash stated, but Morgan had more to say.

"If you ask me, Pokemon just decided to show their true colors during the Great Crisis. Those things have no place in our lives." Morgan said vehemently, and to Ash's surprise, a few of his classmates voiced their agreement.

"Uh, hold on. Is this an opinion you came up with yourself, or did your parent's force feed you that?" Ash asked with a straight face. Then he blinked, realizing that he had allowed himself to speak without thinking. Part of him wanted to take back that comment, but another part of him wore a smirk as he saw Morgan's face contort with contempt for him.

"Dude, what's your problem?" Oliver asked Ash, coming to Morgan's defense. "His great grandpa died, you don't need to be an ass about it."

Ash didn't take to kindly to this as things swayed in Morgan's favor, but Fantina came to his rescue.

"Silence s'il vous plait!" Fantina interjected to cut off the murmurs among her students. "Monsieur Ketchum has the stage. Allow him to present."

Seeing that her class had become quiet again, Fantina gave Ash a nod as a gesture to continue.

"Um…so during this time after the Great Crisis, there was a lot of unrest concerning Pokemon. Because of this, many artists followed the trend at the time and portrayed them in a negative light." Ash went on.

"Which they deserved." Morgan said, just loud enough for everyone to here. Fantina shot him a glance and he leaned back into his chair, showing his irritation with the subject.

Ash cleared his throat, feeling his throat dry up. He had never made a big deal about speaking in front of people, but under the scorn filled stares of his classmates, Ash became rather nervous.

"Rather than follow the guidelines of the artwork from that era, I chose to illustrate that with the passage of time, opinions can change. It's been almost a century since the Great Crisis; we shouldn't let the past dictate our future." Ash said, hoping that this would resonate with his peers. This only seemed to incite further discussion which Morgan took charge in.

"I wouldn't trust a Pokemon, not if my life depended on it." Morgan declared, ignoring Fantina's gaze as he spoke. "You know why? Because history repeats itself. In the past, our grandparents trusted Pokemon and were killed for it. So, we are making a difference right now if we stay smart, and stay the hell away from Pokemon, Ash!"

"Morgan, that is enough," Fantina spoke with a ferocity through grit teeth. The manner in which she spoke had never been seen by her students, and it effectively silenced all of them. "I want to speak with you after class."

As if she had given the bell a cue, it chimed and the tension in the room dispersed as the number of students dwindled. Ash slowly took his painting off the easel, and he could hear his peers speaking amongst themselves as they left.

"What kind of crap is he pushing on us?"

"How stupid can you be?"

"It kind of makes sense now. He's really good at art, so he must be crazy."

Ash tightened his hold on his painting, watching as the class emptied out.

Dawn bit down on her lower lip as she moved to her seat for second period. Ash was still up at the front of the class wearing an expression that Dawn had never seen on him before. A face of defeat.

When the rows were clear, Ash journeyed to his desk at the back of the room to collect his bag. May approached his desk and placed a hand on his shoulder to console him. He gave her a grateful nod, but she had to leave to get to her second period class. Rather than stay in the art room like he usually would, Ash made his way toward the exit.

"Monsieur." Fantina stopped him, calling him to her desk to speak with him. She had already spoken to Morgan who was long gone, but Fantina felt the need to speak with Ash as well. "I'm sorry that things went that way, Ash."

He simply shook his head.

"It's okay. I wasn't expecting much to begin with." He admitted, refusing to meet her gaze.

"Don't worry about them. It will all blow over by Monday." Fantina assured him. He gave a small nod before he left. Stepping out of her room, Ash looked down the corridor trying to think of where he should spend his free period. One way would take him back to the main stairway of the school, but the other way would take him to the emergency exit.

He didn't feel like being in school today. Not anymore.

"Those things have no place in our lives."

"I wouldn't trust a Pokemon, not if my life depended on it."

"…stay the hell away from Pokemon…"

Ash slammed the side of his fist into the wall angrily, ignoring the pain that jolted through his arm.

As much as it bothered him to face it firsthand, Ash knew that this was what he would be facing if he wanted to make a difference. One day…he didn't know when, but statements like these would be a thing of the past.

He would make sure of it.

A/N

So, this chapter was one giant set up for this arc which I think you guys are really going to enjoy. I've been really looking forward to this part because this is where you guys will get a taste for what I have in store for you all. The updates might be a little slow, err, slower than usual because I've been going through some transitions in life. I'm really hoping everything works out, but I'll know for sure in the coming weeks. So, my apologies to you all in advance in the off chance my already poor schedule gets even worse.

Update : Another thing I'll add is that I've been thinking a lot about whether or not to address Pokemon with gender pronouns. Up until this point, I had been referring to them as 'it.' But I felt it was too impersonal considering the subject matter of this story, especially with this chapter. So from this point forward, Pokemon will also be addressed as 'he' and 'she.' I'll be slowly picking through my earlier chapters to make corrections as well, but this little transition is proving to be harder than I thought. If I managed to miss any feel free to point them out to me.

I'll also add that I'm shocked this story is already 200k words! Would you guys believe me if I said we're still just scratching the surface? Lol, I'm just trying to strike up a bit of conversation with you guys. But don't brush aside my comments, Ash's journey is just getting started and we have a lot of ground of cover!

I think this chapter should've given you a glance into some of the future subjects we're going to tackle, and again, I hope you all stick around for this journey. It's going to be long, entertaining and downright crazy at times. Don't say I didn't warn you. ;)

Now I think its confession time. Flashback to my first author's note in chapter one, I said I haven't played Pokemon since Gen 5. Well writing this kind of…'forced' me to go get a Pokemon game, Pokemon X for those wondering, and I ran right through it. I gotta say that the difference between the DSi, and 3DS is absurd. The Pokemon world is so much more imaginative now than in prior generations. Obviously, the hardware is letting them do things they couldn't before, but I really have to give props to Nintendo and Game Freak for stepping it up! I'd put a thumbs up emoji here but I'm not sure I can do that on fanfiction net lol.

So gimme some love guys! Any feedback is welcomed and appreciated!

Wishing everyone the best in whatever you're doing! Be safe, be smart, be sane!

Peace!

Chapter Text

They say that your first steps are always the hardest.

That saying is true regardless of your age.

The first step on his journey proved to be all he could handle.

Saturday, December 3rd

"You also need to understand that you can't change everything just because you want to."

"I really respect what you want to do, but I'm not sure if you understand what you're trying to do."

"Those things have no place in our lives."

"I wouldn't trust a Pokemon, not if my life depended on it."

"…stay the hell away from Pokemon…!"

Ash bolted upright, throwing his bed sheets off of his upper torso. He sucked in all the air he could, his lungs tight and stressed. Taking a glance around his room, his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness and he palmed the side of his face. He groaned and ran his hand down the side of his face, wondering when was the last time he had a nightmare. It had been a long time since a dream had affected him like this.

He looked toward his clock and saw that it was barely past five o'clock in the morning. Fortunately, it was Saturday, so the earliest he had to be up by was eight, provided Macy slept that long. Once his breathing stabilized, he laid back down to look up at the ceiling. His door creaked as it was opened, making space for Pikachu to peek into his room. Seeing that Ash was awake, he entered the room and approached his bedside.

"Pika?" He asked him quietly.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine Pikachu. Just a bad dream." Ash assured him as Pikachu climbed onto his bed. Pikachu snuggled up against his torso, demanding more space on Ash's bed. Rolling his eyes, Ash moved over and Pikachu stretched out with a content 'Chaaa.' They remained silent for some time, but Ash continued to shift restlessly on his bed, his thoughts returning to his dream. Sensing Ash's unease, Pikachu made a suggestion to distract him, but Ash groaned in reply.

"I don't feel like going downstairs." Ash mumbled out, causing Pikachu to nudge Ash's side with his forehead. With a glance at his partner, he found Pikachu looking up at him with a pair of large sad eyes, begging him to go downstairs. "Ugh, geez I'll go. Just quit looking at me like that."

"Pika." He snickered as Ash rose up from his bed and shot a half-hearted glare at Pikachu, who had jumped down to the floor.

"But you owe me for this." Ash added as the two of them left the room, making their way down to the kitchen. Once there, Ash retrieved a carton of milk from the fridge and poured a small bowl for Pikachu and a glass for himself. Taking a seat at the table, Ash set the bowl down for Pikachu and invited him to jump up.

Cassidy didn't like Pikachu being up on the table, but he had been taking advantage of her absence in full. As Pikachu began to drink some of the milk Ash had set out, the young man retrieved his phone from the living room to access the PokeHub. Rather than study a new Pokemon, the focus this morning was a last-minute check on their opponent today.

Brawly, the 'Wave Ripper.'

Going into his profile, Ash had no trouble finding recordings of Brawly's matches in the underground circuit, as well as the stored footage from his live streams on his off weekends. Opening his most recent street battle, Ash set his phone down for the two of them to observe the match.

Giselle had directed him to watch as much footage of Brawly has he could during the week. She encouraged him to see how much he could learn about Brawly before this battle to gain any sort of edge that he could. As much as Giselle wanted him to beat Brawly, she also warned Ash that he was no pushover. If Ash could get his hands on any sort of advantage, she was certain that it would prove to be invaluable.

According to Brawly's profile, he had two Pokemon registered for use in circuit matches. While his alias suggested that he would use water type Pokemon, Ash was surprised to see that he was actually a fighting type specialist. While this didn't give him the tremendous type advantage he wanted, Ash knew that Pikachu's speed would still be their best weapon.

Especially against Brawly's signature Pokemon. His Hariyama. He was a slow Pokemon with powerful attacks aimed to pummel opponents into the ground. Pikachu's quickness would be a natural counter to this, and they could just wear down Hariyama with consecutive attacks until his stamina gave out. It was unlikely that they would face his Hariyama today. He was used exclusively for circuit matches at the Hidden Cove.

The opponent they would be facing toward was Brawly's Medicham. She was used primarily for his street battles. Unlike his Hariyama, this Pokemon had a measure of speed and it was master of close-range combat. While Pikachu could hold his own against Giselle's Cubone, Ash knew for a fact that they wanted no part of Medicham up close. If they were going to defeat Medicham, they were going to have to alter their usual strategy. Precision and timing were what they would have to rely on to create openings against this Medicham and land stronger attacks. Charging in recklessly was out of the question.

In the battle they were watching, Brawly's Medicham was facing off with a Nidorino, and it was clear that Nidorino was having a miserable time. Despite Medicham's thin frame, she packed a punch, and her kicks were nothing to take lightly when considering the size of her legs. If Nidorino had the luxury of landing an attack, Medicham paid him back in full.

Brawly's style was very direct. He viewed trading blows as an advantage in his favor due to the immense strength of both his Pokemon. In a drawn-out battle, his Hariyama was built to outlast their opponent. Medicham, on the other hand, had such finely developed hand and foot speed that she could land two or three strikes in return for the one she had taken. With such a style Brawly was what Giselle considered a 'grinder.' It was one of the styles she said Ash might struggle with if he went in unprepared.

Fortunately, Ash had the PokeHub as a resource, providing him with great insight into Brawly's style. Not to mention it would be some time before there was enough footage of Ash for an opponent to pick apart his style. Being unknown had its advantages.

"Pi?" Pikachu raised his ears, glancing at the ceiling at the sound of footsteps. He nudged Ash with his tail, gaining his attention.

"What's up Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner who then pointed at the kitchen clock. It was already seven thirty! More than two hours had flown by while he was studying Brawly. Setting down his phone, Ash went over the pantry to begin preparing breakfast for the girls since he could hear Macy making her way downstairs.

"Good morning Ashy!" She exclaimed as she came into the kitchen, latching onto his leg as a greeting. Ash bent over to snatch her up from the floor, and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Morning Macy, did you sleep well?" Ash asked her as he took her over to the table and set her down on one of the seats. She gave him a large nod in response. "Good, we're having oatmeal for breakfast."

She paid no mind to this piece of information since Pikachu had approached her on the table, lowering its head for her to get a hand on it.

"Morning Pikachu!" Macy said to the Pokemon who jumped onto the back of her seat. Perched on this new position, Pikachu turned and lowered his tail to poke at Macy's head. He snickered as she began to swat at his tail to entertain herself.

In roughly ten minutes Ash set down a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of Macy along with a few halved Oran Berries. While it cooled, he set up a glass of milk for her with a straw, and he partially refilled Pikachu's bowl. Now that everything was set, Ash returned to the table and told Macy to blow on her oatmeal to cool it off.

As always, she was tentative on the first taste of oatmeal. Cassidy had been trying to get her to eat it plain, but Macy couldn't stand it. She preferred it sweet, so Ash began mixing in some brown sugar to please her. After the first bite Macy became engrossed her breakfast, leaving Ash to return to his battle plan for Brawly. He and Pikachu had been discussing a plan all week that involved baiting out some of the heavy hitting attacks Medicham had in its arsenal.

When using those attacks, such as Hi Jump Kick for example, its movements were telegraphed, which would give Pikachu ample time to react. If they successfully avoided this attack, there would be a brief window for them to land a significant strike to Medicham that would give them the upper hand. It all made sense in theory, and Ash nodded with a smirk. He couldn't wait for this battle.

Hearing a rather strange noise, Ash's gaze became focused again as he looked at Macy. Her half-eaten bowl of oatmeal had been pushed aside, and now she was blowing bubbles into her milk using her straw.

"Macy, stop that." Ash said to her and she giggled in reply. "Are you finished?"

"Mhmm." She said, and Ash rolled his eyes. At least she had eaten all of the fruit he had given her. Taking her bowl, Ash quickly ate what was left. He had come to understand Macy's preference when it came to oatmeal, though he preferred it with fruit over sugar. Once he was finished, Macy suggested they go to the living room to watch cartoons.

"Alright, whatever you say little miss." Ash said as he rose from his seat. Together they went into the living room and the rest of the morning flew by.

-PB-

"I'm so sorry Ash!" Shauna exclaimed as she came through the front door, out of breath with her bags hanging loosely from her shoulders. "I fell asleep on the bus and missed your stop so when I finally did get off, I had to sprint six blocks to get here."

"Shauna, it's alright!" Ash piped up to stop her babbling. Her cheeks were flushed red even as she finally took some time to breathe. Shauna gave Ash a grateful nod as he took her bags into the living room. Once she removed her shoes, she followed him in and was surprised to find Brock waiting there with the girls.

"Aww man, I knew I was late." Shauna said as she snapped her fingers. Macy gave a shout of excitement upon seeing the brunette and got up from the floor to approach her.

"I told you it's no big deal Shauna, we're not in a rush or anything." Ash insisted as he glanced at the clock. It was ten minutes to noon, so he and Brock had plenty of time to make it down to the beaches on the southern strip of Vermilion City. Shauna was irritated with herself for being late, but she hid it under a smile as she kneeled down to address Macy.

"What do you say, Brock, you want to head out in ten minutes?" Ash asked his friend.

"Yeah, that sounds good."

Ash took a seat on the couch to pass the final minutes before today's adventure began.

"So, Shauna, did you work late or something last night?" Brock inquired. He had been eyeing her since her arrival, and he could see that Shauna looked noticeably tired, which was rare for her.

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well, I was just wondering how you managed to fall asleep on the bus. You're usually so chipper that I thought it was weird." Brock noted as an explanation. As Brock said this, Ash set his gaze on Shauna as well, spotting the details Brock had pointed out.

"Ah, my mom gave me a heads up that my dad was going to call me last night. So, I stayed up waiting for him to call." Shauna explained to them.

"But why did you have to stay up for a call from him?" Casey asked her.

"Oh, well he's a doctor so he works these twelve-hour shifts usually. My mom said he was working late last night so I waited to see if he'd call me during his break." Shauna continued, getting a nod from Casey. "He didn't call, but I get the feeling he'll call at some point this afternoon."

"Is everything alright with you and your dad?" Brock asked as he leaned forward. "He's not giving you a hard time, still is he?"

"Uh…" Shauna pursed her lips before she looked away. "Maybe…"

Brock frowned at her, but he quickly hid this beneath a neutral expression. He felt a measure of guilt since he played a small part in the strained relationship between Shauna and her father.

Shauna was a natural when it came to performing, and Brock didn't hesitate to tell her this when they first met. Little did he know that by introducing her to performing, he unknowingly fueled her desire to pursue this field rather than the medical practice she had been studying prior to this.

Shauna's father wasn't happy in the least with her decision to become a performer, a goal that had yet to pan out. And the man didn't hesitate to tell her how much he disapproved of her choice.

"It's nothing to worry about Brock. He just wants to talk." Shauna replied, waving off his concerns. Ash and Brock shared a glance but decided to take Shauna's word on the matter. She was an adult, after all, and fully capable of handling herself.

Taking another look at the clock, Ash decided that it was best he go wake up Pikachu from his nap and go through their final preparations. Since they had woken up so early, Ash insisted Pikachu make up for some of the sleep he had lost. Ash wanted to be sure that the two of them were in perfect condition. With a grunt, he rose from the sofa and made his way upstairs to prepare for the day.

Moments after Ash had left them, the cringe-worthy ringtone of Shauna's phone blared. She snickered at the looks she received from Casey and Brock, while Macy clapped at the familiar song. The caller was exactly who Shauna had been expecting. Her father.

"That's him, I'll be back." She said, getting up from her seat to head to the kitchen for some privacy. Brock frowned inwardly, glancing at the doorway Shauna had left through. His mind kept drifting to the conversation Shauna was about to have with her father, but he knew it wasn't his place to intrude. In an effort to distract himself, Brock said his goodbyes to the girls and went out to his car to get it running.

After a few minutes, Ash came downstairs with his backpack in tow, Pikachu hidden inside. Seeing that Brock had left already, he said a quick goodbye to Casey and Macy before he put on his shoes to leave. Recalling that he needed to bring a few water bottles, Ash went back into the kitchen and caught Shauna as she was conversing on the phone.

Seeing Ash enter the kitchen, Shauna returned his wave but remained focused on her discussion. Ash quickly dipped into the fridge and snatched out four water bottles that would hopefully last for the afternoon. Tucking two of them into the side pocket of his backpack, Ash glanced back at Shauna to see her wince at something her father said.

"Oh, come on dad, you can't be serious!" She snapped, and while Ash was tempted to listen in, he knew better than that. Snatching up the remaining two bottles, he promptly exited the kitchen and made a note to see if Shauna would want to talk later.

Returning to Brock's car, Ash jumped inside and passed him a water bottle. Once Ash was situated in his seat, Brock revved the engine to get his attention. Glancing up at his friend, Ash saw him wearing a smirk that was contagious.

"Are you ready big shot – I mean, 'Quest?'" Brock corrected himself, and Ash tapped his chest twice.

"Let's do this!"

To see Brawly's live streams was one thing. To be present at one was another.

Just minutes after arriving, Ash was already caught up in the atmosphere that had been established both by the star trainer everyone was here to see, and the audience whose rapt attention he held. It wasn't just a normal street battle where people gathered to watch. This was a spectacle.

There was a DJ, a young man acting as a referee and at least sixty people crowded around the edge of their makeshift field in the sand. The audience bobbed their heads to the beat of the music, giving an occasional cheer for the battle that was underway. This secluded beach was located on the outskirts of the Vermilion City, but Ash still had to admire Brawly's boldness. To come out and host his battles in such a fashion, in broad daylight no less, took some serious guts.

Ash felt his heart thump against his chest as he realized that at some point this afternoon, everyone here would be watching him and Pikachu. This was their moment to shine and garner some attention in the circuit.

On the sandy battleground, he could see Brawly, a blue haired guy with a chiseled frame that he wasn't afraid to show. He was barking out commands to his Medicham as she dueled with a Tangela, batting away the onslaught of vines that were launched at her. Brawly was fierce as he battled, and Medicham emulated this as it battled, storming through Tangela's assault to unleash a barrage of body blows on the grass type. Rather than observe the outcome of the battle, Ash had another matter to attend to first. There was a young man seated on a raised chair that a lifeguard would use, but he was tending to a camera which he had mounted on the arm of the chair to view the battle from an elevated position.

"That's the guy I have to talk to, right?" Ash asked Brock, pointing out the cameraman.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's Brawly's manager, a social media kind of guy. You talk to him and he'll put on the schedule to battle him." Brock said with a nod. Taking a deep breath, Ash took a quick glance at Pikachu on his shoulder and then they approached Brawly's manager together.

"Excuse me?" Ash said, tapping the chair to get his attention. He jumped down fearlessly, treating the eight-foot fall as though it were nothing.

"What can I do for ya kiddo?" He asked.

"My name is Ash Ketchum, I'm here for a battle with Brawly." Ash said, nodding toward the battlefield.

"You? Ain't you a little young to be a trainer?" He asked with a laugh. Ash's face didn't change, but his stare became stony.

"No. A trainer shouldn't be judged by their age. Wait until you've seen me battle before you jump to conclusions." Ash shot back at him, and Pikachu imitated his trainer's expression of stoicism.

"Whoa man, I didn't mean any offense." He said, raising his hands in his defense. "Brawly doesn't take it easy on anyone. I'm just making sure you know what you're getting into."

"Yeah, I do. I'm a circuit trainer, just like him." Ash stated and he couldn't hold back a small smirk from forming on his face. It felt good saying that.

"Oh really? What's your tag?" He inquired curiously, taking out his phone to do some checking himself.

"Tag?" Ash repeated.

"Yeah, you know. The name you use as a circuit trainer." He clarified.

"Ah…they call me, 'Quest.'" Ash revealed, unable to suppress a grin.

Searching through the trainer profiles, he came to Ash's and saw that it was rather bare save for a comment from the commissioner himself, Charles Goodshow.

'Look out for this hotshot, I see a bright future ahead of him.'

Seeing a comment directly from the commissioner had him viewing Ash in a different light already. He extended a hand toward Ash and they shook.

"Name's Jerome." He introduced himself politely. "I'm a big fan of Brawly's and I help him out with his PR business, like organizing these…"

Jerome motioned to their surroundings, and Ash gave a nod of respect.

"So, you're the mastermind behind this." Ash noted, earning grin from Jerome. Ash doubted that Brawly would have the time to organize something like this, at least to this extent, on a bi-weekly basis. Getting a DJ, spreading the word, scheduling these matches. Doing all that on top of maintaining his status as one of the top trainers in Vermilion City would certainly be an impressive feat, but he couldn't fault Brawly for having an assistant, so to speak.

"Alright, here's the deal 'Quest.'" Jerome began as their discussion took on a more serious tone. "We don't have a big venue today and you're the only circuit trainer to come along, so I'm going to push you as the main event for this. There're two more matches before you're up. That'll probably take anywhere between thirty and forty-five minutes so don't wander off. You got all that?"

"Gotcha." Ash said as he and Pikachu gave him a nod.

"Last thing, help me spread the word. Tell people that Brawly is going to take on another circuit trainer as his last opponent today." Jerome added before he began to a demonstration for Ash. He approached then the nearest trio of guys and nudged one of them with his elbow. "Yo, I heard there's another circuit trainer here. Goes by the name 'Quest.' He'll be the last guy to face off with Brawly today."

"Dude, that battle is going to sick." The bystander exclaimed before sharing the news with his friends. And from there the process began as the news jumped from one person to another.

"Hop over to the other side of the field and do the same thing. It'll get everyone all riled up." Jerome said with a smirk. To him, there was nothing cooler than when the anticipation of a great battle set in amongst the audience. There was a certain intensity that filled the air as every single person was focused entirely on the battle.

Ash felt his heart jump into his throat as he realized he was hyping himself up. And a better idea crossed his mind. Scanning the area for Brock, Ash quickly spotted Brock conducting his extravagant, yet predictable, proposal of 'dinner and a movie,' to a young woman. Ash waited until Brock finished speaking to approach, timing it to match the moment that Brock would receive his response. Seeing Brock drop his head in disappointment as the girl left him, Ash joined his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder to console him.

"Hey Brock-o. My match is set." Ash declared to his friend who immediately cheered up with this piece of information. "Brawly's manager wants to build some hype for the match so he wants us to spread the word."

"If you need some hype, I got it." Brock declared as Ash joined him in eyeing the audience. Brock took a moment, scoping out the people that he wanted to start this chain reaction with.

While Brock did this, Ash's eyes became drawn to a person that had taken some distance from the rest of the audience. He was seated up on the large rocks overlooking the field, but rather than observe the battle that was in progress, his attention was on the Pokemon seated beside him. He was carefully stroking its luscious mane, studying the quality of its fur as he did so. Even as this Pokemon was groomed, its gaze remained firmly on Ash.

It wasn't the first time a Ninetales had left him feeling unnerved, but Ash couldn't break eye contact. It was as if Ninetales wore a smirk from commanding Ash's attention, so he rustled his tails which seemed to break the man's focus. He glanced around, now aware of his surroundings, and he searched for what Ninetales was looking at. His sight soon found Ash, and even at a distance, there was a certainty among them that they were making eye contact. This small, common action often done without thought caused Ash's heartbeat to become like a clap of thunder in his ears.

A pair of wings took shape on the man's back, stretching out proudly. They were comparable in size to the wings Ash had seen on N, but unlike N, this man's wings were a golden yellow. Ash couldn't help but admire their color. They were unlike any wings he had seen before!

"B-Brock? Do you know that guy?" Ash asked, pointing out the guy that was resting on the rock with Ninetales. Brock raised his eyebrows upon spotting the man.

"Good eye, Ash, can't believe I missed him. That's Volkner, the 'Golden Flash.' King of the Lightning Regalia." Brock stated, causing Ash to do a double take. That was the King of the Lightning Regalia?! "Man Ash, you're going to have a big name watching you. Go all out for me, alright?"

"Y…Yeah." Ash said as Brock darted off, beginning to spread the word about Brawly's final opponent for the day.

Glancing back at this Volkner once more, Ash could see that he had returned his focus to Ninetales. His wings began to fade away, and Ash took in a shaky breath as he studied Volkner. Why were his wings golden?

"Pi-ka?"

This question of concern came from Ash's partner as Pikachu glanced up at him. They had gone off to get some solitude from the commotion of Brawly's invitational, and they spent this time going through a last-minute prep for the battle. For all the fuss Ash had made concerning their preparation for this battle, he was the one lacking focus. Shaking his head, Ash ran a hand through his hair with an aggravated sigh.

"I'm sorry Pikachu." He apologized, dropping himself down to his bottom in the sand. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

He was nervous, there was no question about that. Not a panicky, shaking in your boot's kind of nervous. It was healthy, proof that he wanted nothing less than to succeed. But his thoughts, most of which were uninvited, were drowning him. This wasn't to mention the uneasiness he had begun to experience earlier, like lead tied to his feet, causing him to sink further.

"Pikapi? Pika-chu," Pikachu related, climbing onto his lap to console him. Ash could always count on his buddy to offer some support, but this life preserver couldn't reach him in the depths of his mind.

"Those things have no place in our lives."

Ash blinked hard and groaned, his frustration building. His mind kept drifting back to that…discussion, he had yesterday with Morgan during his presentation. Ash had expected Morgan's point of view to fire him up each time he thought about it, but it left him feeling depressed, as if he was a little boy who got bullied by some of the big kids on his way home from school. But why did he feel like this, like he was…afraid?

Afraid of what? Ash scratched the back of his head.

What was he afraid of? Losing this battle? No…that wasn't it. While winning this battle was the goal, it was still a long shot according to Giselle. This was a measuring stick to gauge just how much work Ash and Pikachu would have to do before he could face his father. So, what was it about all this that made him feel scared?

"I wouldn't trust a Pokemon, not if my life depended on it."

Was it the opposition - the people who didn't believe in his dream? Was it a fear that if he failed, it validated their belief that Pokemon were just monsters?

"We are making a difference right now if we stay smart, and stay the hell away from Pokemon Ash!"

With a great frown on his face, Ash looked down at his hands and saw that they possessed a slight tremble. Somewhere, deep down inside of him, there was a part of his that considered the idea that his dream might be wrong.

Wrong to believe in a world where people and Pokemon lived together happily…

"I'm not sure if you understand what you're trying to do."

Did he really know what he was trying to accomplish?

The world he dreamed of…was it just an idea, or something that was actually conceivable?

"Hey Ash!" A voice bellowed, snatching him from his thoughts. Brock came into focus, sprinting toward him. "Your match is going to start, let's head back!"

Ash gulped, trying to swallow his reservations but this did nothing to ease his mind. With no other options, he clapped his cheeks for some self-motivation. Then he gave Brock an insincere smile as a promise that he was ready.

"Come on Pikachu, let's go make this happen." Ash said, but the look he received from Pikachu was filled with skepticism. Pikachu could sense Ash's discomfort, but there was little that could be done with the time they had left.

Returning to the crowd, Ash could see that every single person present had gathered around the battlefield. He could feel the anticipation building as the time remaining steadily decreased. Brawly and his Medicham were among a group of bystanders, answering questions concerning his final match. He was relaxed even though everyone else was expecting this to be the toughest battle.

Jerome approached the DJ, collecting the microphone from his set up so that he could call for everyone's attention.

"Alright-alright, I hope you're ready for the last match we got lined up for today. This is going to be a good one too. As it turns out, we got a brand new circuit trainer here today going by the name 'Quest!'" Jerome declared, introducing Ash who separated himself from the crowd, taking his place on the battlefield. He waved the audience, catching a few stray cheers from some of the people hoping for a good battle. "And of course, we got the top dog here right now, the 'Wave Ripper' Brawly!"

The crowd cheered, and Brawly wore a great smirk as he and Medicham took their place on the battlefield. He raised one arm and motioned for the crowd to raise their voices, eyeing Ash closely as he did so.

Ash glanced around at the audience tentatively, his chest becoming tight. Even though they had received a sizeable space to battle in, it felt as if the presence of the audience was choking him. And the shouts for Brawly to thrash him didn't help. All of them wanted to see Brawly win, even at the expense of what little confidence Ash currently had.

Feeling Ash's shoulder become tense, Pikachu gave it a small squeeze with his front paws, gaining Ash's attention. With a glance at Pikachu out of the corner of his eyes, Ash caught sight of the nod reassurance Pikachu was giving him. He drew in a shaky breath, trying to calm himself to at least have a semblance of some focus. Seeing that Ash had relaxed somewhat, Pikachu then abandoned his shoulder to take its place on the sandy battlefield where he shot a hard stare at Medicham. She shot a narrow gaze back at Pikachu and punched her palm as a warning of what was to come.

"It looks like everyone is ready to go! Trainers, are you ready?" Jerome asked, looking from Brawly to Ash. Both responded a nod to confirm, and he threw up an arm to begin the battle. The DJ let his turntables spin, and a heavy beat began to blast through the speakers around the area. As everyone picked up on the beat, the began to bob their heads in unison, glancing back and forth between the two Pokemon on the field. Even Brawly began to do this, sizing up both Ash and Pikachu. He waited to see if Ash and Pikachu would make the first move, but there was no action on their part.

After hearing that Ash was an eighteen-year-old circuit trainer in search of his debut match, Brawly intended to give him a warm welcome to the underground circuit. A welcome that would show Ash what to expect if he thought he could hop into the big leagues. There would be no mercy.

As he focused on Ash, Brawly could see that he had checked out mentally. There was no confidence or passion in his eyes. With a confident smirk, Brawly realized that this was going to be his easiest battle of the day.

"He's shook!" Brawly declared as the beat dropped. "Medicham, get up close and hit em' with your Force Palm!"

Medicham set her feet and dashed forward, sprinting through the sand with ease as she approached Pikachu. One of her long lanky hands became engulfed in a blue light which she thrust toward Pikachu. Without a command from Ash, Pikachu flickered out of existence just before Medicham could land her attack. The audience gave some ooh's and awe's, impressed with Pikachu's speed, but Brawly eyes were sharper than those watching.

As Pikachu appeared several meters away from Medicham, he saw Pikachu's feet had sunk down into the sand which was clear evidence for something they would take full advantage of. Pikachu didn't know how to run on the sand. With a smirk, Brawly could see that a number of variables had turned in his favor and this battle had barely begun.

"Medicham, Force Palm again!" Brawly called out. His partner turned and raced toward Pikachu again, readying her right hand this time to strike Pikachu. Approaching her target, Medicham lunged forward but only struck the air once again. Pikachu had darted off, astounding the audience with his speed as they struggled to track his fast movement.

"Holy crap, his Pikachu is quick!"

"Look at that him go! It's running circles around them."

The whispers of awe Brawly could agree with, but Pikachu's speed would be his own undoing soon. Pikachu had been trained to run on hard surfaces, but the soft sand of this beach would force Pikachu to slow down as the battle progressed. Medicham continued her pursuit of Pikachu, and gradually Brawly could see that the gap was closing. With each attempt, the window of opportunity grew larger for Medicham to land her Force Palm until finally…

"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed after receiving a blow to his side. This sent him tumbling across the field and Medicham was already chasing him down for a follow-up attack.

"Pikachu!" Ash shouted, his focus returning to him. "Use uh, get on your feet and…"

"We are making a difference right now if we stay smart, and stay the hell away from Pokemon Ash!"

Ash's voice faltered mid command, and he watched Medicham leap into the air and dropped herself onto Pikachu, smashing the smaller Pokemon into the ground. A sizable cloud of dust was kicked up from this, obscuring everyone's view but Brawly was quick to remedy this situation.

"Now throw Pikachu up into the air!" Brawly ordered, and a moment later Pikachu was hurled out of the cloud, high into the air over the battlefield. "And now give him a taste of your Hi Jump Kick!"

Ash's eyes widened as he realized they had already been caught in the combination that they had been paying keen attention to. Pikachu had no aerial mobility, so their options had been reduced to aiming for an even exchange.

"Pikachu get ready for," Ash froze mid-sentence.

"I wouldn't trust a Pokemon, not if my life depended on it."

There was a gasp from some of the bystanders as Pikachu took a vicious knee to his stomach, which knocked the wind out of him. But before Pikachu could be launched away by this blow, Medicham snatched him by his tail and spun the air to throw Pikachu down to the battlefield.

"Now finish it with your Dynamic Punch!" Brawly ordered to his airborne Pokemon. Closing her left hand into a tight fist, it became engulfed in white light as Medicham began to descend toward Pikachu's crash site. Rolling back onto his feet, Pikachu shook his head a few times before hearing the shouts of concern from the audience. With an upward glance, Pikachu caught sight of the destructive force that was plummeting toward him and made a split-second decision. Throwing himself to the side, Pikachu avoided a direct hit, but was punished nonetheless.

There were exclamations of awe from the audience as the ground rose up from the point of impact, sending out a wave of sand which immediately hit Pikachu and propelled him off of the field. For just a moment the crowd was impressed with the after effects of Medicham's Dynamic Punch until they faced it themselves. Almost everyone had been thrown off their feet as the wave rippled outward except for Brawly who had anticipated this.

"Medicham, let's go!" Brawly shouted as he ran off to pursue Pikachu. He and Medicham fearlessly jumped over the bystanders that rested on their side or bottom, racing down to the shore where Pikachu had landed. Ash sat on the field, his head in a daze. It wasn't until he saw a pair of hands snapping at him that he realized Brock was in front of him.

"Ash! I don't know what's up with you, but the battle's still going!" Brock yelled at him, pointing down to the shore. "Get your head on straight, Pikachu needs you right now!"

The audience was following the battle even as it moved, gathering behind Brawly and Medicham on the shore. With its back to the water, Pikachu glanced between Brawly and Medicham, both of which wore a fierce expression.

"It's a shame your trainer's been a no-show for this battle. You're not half bad Pikachu." Brawly noted, giving the Pokemon a nod of respect. His statement sent the crowd into a frenzy because of Ash's absence throughout this battle.

"Yo, where is Pikachu's trainer?"

"Pikachu doesn't even need him man. His trainer hasn't given him any commands."

"Is he really a circuit trainer? That kid ain't done a thing so far."

Ignoring these comments concerning Ash, Pikachu eyed Medicham closely and decided that he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands…paws. Tightening his stance, Pikachu felt his paws gripping the sand properly for the first time, and he could resist smirking at Medicham. The wet sand down by the shore was far sturdier than the sand farther up the beach, and solid great meant that Pikachu could…

"Whoa!"

There was a collective gasp from the audience as Pikachu ran a circle around Medicham, forming a Double Team that featured five after-images of himself. Brawly recognized this technique and grinned, his admiration for Pikachu growing. This wasn't any ordinary Pokemon, Pikachu was well trained in his fundamentals! While Ash's mental fortitude was questionable based on his performance here, Brawly glanced back at the trainer who had finally arrived at the new battleground and recognized him for the top-class trainer that he was.

"Hey kid, come on!" Brawly roared at Ash, taking a fighting stance. He extended a hand toward Ash, and his Medicham mirrored his actions, giving a gesture to attack. "Give us your best shot!"

Ash bit down on his lower lip, watching as Pikachu maintained his Double Team, poised to strike Medicham from almost any direction. They had Brawly exactly where they wanted him, this was a chance they couldn't waste.

"Those things have no place in our lives."

His mouth was dry, and there was a lump in his throat that threatened to silence his voice. But… wasn't the time to be scared of failing. Pikachu was out there pouring his heart out in this battle, and Ash knew without a doubt that Pikachu believed in his dream. Pikachu believed that this was a step on their journey toward a better world. There was no room for his doubts right now. His only choice was to press forward!

With a deep breath, Ash swallowed the lump in his throat and gave his first order of the match.

"Quick Attack!"

Brawly raised his brow as he saw Ash discard his feebleness. But with a sigh, he saw that it had only been replaced by recklessness.

"Medicham, Detect."

The following display was jaw dropping to the crowd as Medicham danced through Pikachu's rapid-fire assault, demonstrating her now enhanced instincts. She had become damn near untouchable despite Pikachu's speed. Ash was left stupefied, his mouth agape. He couldn't believe that an opponent had successfully dodged Pikachu's Quick Attack when combined with Double Team.

That combination was the centerpiece of their battling style because of its utility. It was supposed to create openings for them to attack, yet with just one move, Medicham and Brawly had shut down the whole basis of their style. Was this what all of the top trainers were like?

"That's a nice little trick you've got there, but you'll have to do better than that against us!" Brawly declared as he and Medicham took a new stance together. They were going to attack!

"Pikachu, use Agility!" Ash called out in order to prolong to the battle. But having seen Pikachu do this twice already, Brawly had already developed a countermeasure.

"Medicham, use Low Sweep on the sand!" Brawly declared, stamping one of his feet into the ground. Medicham did the same, slamming her foot down into the sand up to her ankle. She then spun in a clean circle, kicking up another wave of sand to cover every possible direction. Pikachu was caught off guard and swamped beneath it which left him wide open for a finishing blow. "End this with Force Palm!"

Pikachu popped his head out of the mound of sand he had been buried beneath, coughing violently to remove some of the sand that had gotten into his mouth. Unable to react to the following attack, Pikachu received a ferocious blow to his head and the audience cringed at the sight of this attack. Licking his lips, Ash struggled to comprehend just how thoroughly they had been beaten.

"That's it, I'm calling it there!" Jerome declared, crossing his arms above his head. The battle had been one-sided for the most part, lacking the excitement he hoped for. Even if Ash was a circuit trainer, he wasn't close to being Brawly's equal yet. Masking their reservations about Ash, the audience began to cheer for Brawly who led them back up to the DJ station. Despite this, a trio of guys felt the need to express their disappointment in the battle, hanging back to make sure Ash heard their comments.

"Dang man, that kid was trash. That battle wouldn't have lasted half as long if his Pikachu was as bad as he was."

"Pffft, and someone started that rumor that he's a circuit trainer. Heck, I could be a circuit trainer if they let in someone like him."

Ash refused to look their way as he kneeled down beside his unconscious Pikachu, reaching out to beginning dusting the sand out of his fur. Even as he did his best to ignore them, the simply raised their voices.

"Yo kid!" One of them barked, placing his hands around his neck. "Don't choke next time!"

"Choke artist!" Another added as they all mimicked the actions of their friend. The three of them went on their merry way laughing, although one person didn't take to kindly to their comments. As they had gotten some distance from Ash, a hand was placed on one of their shoulders, forcing them to turn around. This guy met with a fist that threw him down to the sand which a shout of surprise, causing his friends to turn in search of their attacker.

Ash grimaced as he recalled seeing Pikachu's head falling back from that final blow it received from Medicham. Despite Pikachu's valiant effort, they didn't even manage to land one attack during the battle and the blame for this rested squarely on Ash's shoulders. It was pathetic how he battled. Those guys were right, Pikachu might have been better off battling without him. Even though Pikachu had acted on his own on several occasions, there were too many moments where he waited for input from Ash that never came.

Taking a handful of sand, Ash hurled it into the air with a shout of frustration. The failure he had been so scared of couldn't compare to the blunder he was now the cause of. He had failed Pikachu, through and through.

That was…unacceptable.

Returning his gaze to his partner, Ash gingerly scooped him up from the sand and walked down to the shore until his feet were in the water. Stooping down, he lowered Pikachu into the water to finish washing the sand off his fur. Once Ash was certain Pikachu was clean, he turned back to the shore and found his other best friend limping toward him with a stupid grin on his face.

"Brock?!" Ash exclaimed, rushing onto the beach to support Brock before he could lose his balance. "What happened?"

"Ah…hah, hah." Brock laughed to conceal his pain. Studying Brock's face, Ash could see there were two bruises that were already turning a shade darker than Brock's natural skin color. "Those guys who thought they could..." He paused, taking in a pained gasp of air. "They thought they could talk trash to you. I-I showed them what for."

"You tried to fight them?" Ash asked incredulously as Brock leaned onto him, giving him a grin.

"I didn't try. I cleaned their clocks." Brock declared with great pride. Ash looked at his friend skeptically, knowing that Brock wasn't shy about telling someone if he had a problem with them. Ash greatly admired Brock's audacity, though he could see that Brock knew no bounds when it came to taking risks. Fighting three guys at once was something only Brock would do. If Ash had Brock's fearlessness during that battle, he was certain that the outcome would have been very different.

"Come on Brock, let's go home." Ash stated as he got up under Brock, allowing his friend to place an arm around his neck for full support. Brock groaned in response to this slight contact, and Ash could tell that he was in no shape to drive them home. "I'll drive, you can take a nap or something."

"Thanks man." He said softly.

With Pikachu in one arm and Brock in his other, Ash quietly took them back to the top of the beach where they had parked.

He glanced at the audience that had previously been watching him as they partied in front of the DJ station. This was his first taste of the underground circuit. A one-sided thrashing at the hands of one of the best trainers. Reaching the top wasn't going to quite as fast as he previously thought. He still had a long way to go.

-PB-

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Brock asked him they approached the front porch of Brock's home.

"Dude, I'm supposed to be asking you that." Ash pointed out with a chuckle as Brock slowly went up the front steps. Whether Brock won that fight or not had gone unsaid, but it was obvious those guys didn't show Brock any mercy. The majority of his bruises were hidden away thanks to his shirt, but the two on his face had become considerably dark, which would earn some attention from his parents.

"You don't have to worry about me. I just need ice and I'll be as good as new by Monday." Brock responded, fishing out his house keys. He opened the front door, gaining a reaction from his family members.

"Brock!" Two small voices sounded before Brock found his two youngest siblings latched onto his legs.

"What's up you guys?" Brock asked them sheepishly as he walked in with them still clinging to him.

"What happened to your face?" Billy inquired after observing Brock's face.

"I uh…fell." Brock said, causing Ash to stifle a laugh. Of course, Billy and Tilly accepted such an answer, telling their brother to be careful, but Ash couldn't wait to hear what Brock would say to the more mature people in his household.

"Brock, we're bored!" Tilly declared.

"Is dad busy?" Brock asked in return as they all entered the kitchen.

"He fell asleep." Tilly said, and the image of Brock's father snoozing on the couch with a magazine over his face seemed all too real. Walking through his home, Brock went down the list of his family, all of which had already given the twins an excuse to avoid playing with them today. With a sigh of defeat, knowing that this responsibility had fallen to him, Brock conceded to the wins.

"Alright, head out to the backyard, and we'll play hide and seek." Brock offered, earning some large smiles from them before they ran off. Once they were out of earshot, Brock gave a grateful sigh and turned to Ash, his eyes begging for his friend to stay. Ash immediately looked away, avoiding eye contact at all costs. "Ash…please don't be like that."

"Like what?" Ash asked, his back now turned to Brock as he began to exit the kitchen. As Ash got out of the room believing that he was scot-free, a pair of hands grabbed his ankles, causing him to turn around in astonishment. Brock was on the floor, desperately trying to keep Ash's legs in his grasp, his face contorting in pain from throwing himself to the floor.

"Please!" Brock begged with a pitiful expression. "They'll kill me in my…condition."

"You brought this on yourself. I didn't ask you to fight those guys." Ash said pointedly.

"Fight who?" A new voice asked fiercely, causing their blood to turn cold. Slowly, they turned their heads to find Brock's mother staring at them expectantly, arms crossed and foot tapping. She didn't even care how foolish her son looked as he laid on the floor holding onto Ash's ankles, her motherly instincts had taken charge.

"Uh…" Brock began.

"…uh." Ash finished.

"Well?" Lola motioned for either one of them to speak, her stare morphing into a glare of warning. She wanted answers, or punishment would be handed out.

"Okay, okay." Brock said, slowly getting back onto his feet to address his mother properly. "We went to the beach today and these guys were making fun of Ash. Me, being the great friend that I am, came to Ash's defense."

"That's not how I remember it." Ash noted in a whisper but Brock shushed him.

"It wasn't one of my best decisions, but I wasn't going to let anyone talk about Ash like that." Brock stated firmly, causing Ash to raise his brow. His mother wore a similar expression before she rolled her eyes, motioning for Brock to take off his shirt.

"Come on, let's see the damage," Lola said, and Brock fulfilled her request. She cringed at the sight of his torso and went into the kitchen to put together a make-shift ice pack for him. As she did so, Brock glanced back at Ash and gave him an 'okay' sign with his hand. He was in the clear. "As a nurse you know I don't condone fighting, but…with the beating you got, did you at least win?"

"Well, there was three of them against lil ol' me, but I think it's safe to say that those guys," Brock tapped his chest a few times with a grin. "They're gonna remember Brock the Rock."

"Oh my god." Ash muttered, snickering at the title Brock had given himself.

"Hey, I still got something left in the tank if you need a beating too, Ash." Brock noted before covering his mouth. "Oh wait, you already got a beating today."

Ash stared at his friend, dumbfounded at the jab.

"Oh, that's low Brock and you know it." Ash replied, a large grin forming on his face as he punched Brock's shoulder, getting a laugh out of his friend.

"So, um…" Brock cleared his throat. "Mom, do you think you can play with the twins since I'm not in any, condition to?"

"Nice try." She stated, tossing him the bag of ice. "I already heard you agree to play with them. Have a good time."

"Uh-W-Wait mom, have mercy!" Brock called out to her as she left, taking Ash with her to the front door. Ignoring Brock's plea for help, Lola and Ash went out to the front porch, where she smiled warmly at him.

"Thanks for bringing that knucklehead home, Ash." Lola said graciously, but Ash waved off her thanks.

"It's no problem. I'd do that for him anytime." Ash replied easily, and Lola thanked him again.

Lola observed Ash quietly as he shared some of the events from the day, her smile fading as he spoke. She always found it strange how her oldest son had developed his friendship with Ash. There was a seven-year age gap between them, yet they paraded about like brother's when given the chance. They had almost two years according to Brock, and they became such fast friends that Lola was a little surprised. Even the people Brock knew from childhood and went to school with weren't as close to him as Ash was.

Seeing her son have a friend that he enjoyed being around was heartwarming to Lola, but she was far from uninformed. She knew exactly how they had met, and as secretive as Brock was about it, she knew all about his love for Pokemon. Now, whether Brock getting hurt involved Pokemon was the question that concerned her, but she wasn't going to interrogate Ash for an answer. She would probably have more success questioning Brock. But for Ash, she wanted to share her only concern.

"Ash…I want you and my son to stay out of trouble, alright?" Lola said with a stern expression. Ash raised his brow under her inquisitive gaze, feeling as if Lola knew precisely what happened today. Brushing off the unease he felt, Ash gave her a nod of assurance.

"We wouldn't think of it." Ash proclaimed.

Little did he know that even if they weren't looking for trouble, trouble would find them.

-PB-

Ash sat alone, the cool and crisp air of the night brushing against his skin. The park was dimly lit by the few lights, but the moonlight would suffice. Pikachu rested on his lap as he stroked its back, sound asleep after the battle with Medicham. It had yet to wake up from the thrashing, although Ash had already given Pikachu a full Potion treatment to ensure he recovered properly.

His most recent loss still stung in his heart, as it should. It was thanks to his underwhelming performance that the battle was so one-sided, and Pikachu had been the one to suffer the most because of it. He owed his partner for putting up such a great fight without him, but…for the first time in ages, Ash wasn't sure how to express himself to Pikachu.

It was kind of surreal that he was struggling to think of what he would say to Pikachu once he woke up. He never needed to think before speaking to his partner. The words always came naturally and with ease. But now Ash was racking his brains, trying to figure out what was the first thing he should say to his companion. Was it an apology? Or an explanation of everything he did wrong? Ash knew for certain that he was at fault, but did Pikachu need to hear that? Or would Pikachu prefer to know how Ash intends to fix what happened today?

In fact, how would he fix that?

"What did I do wrong?" Ash asked aloud, and an unexpected answer caused him to jump in surprise.

"You should've focused on the battle."

Ash hadn't been expecting an answer from anyone else. It was late, somewhere around eleven o'clock at night, so he had assumed that the park was completely empty. Lo and behold, there was one another person here, the last person Ash expected to see. Even in the darkness his striking blonde hair still stood out, and Ninetales' fur glistened under the moonlight.

Volkner, King of the Lightning Regalia. 'The Golden Flash.'

"Huh?" Was all Ash managed to say as the man approached him. Volkner looked down at the bench, and without a word, he slid into the seat next to Ash and stared intently at Pikachu.

"Your head was somewhere else." Volkner noted, shifting his gaze to Ash. "When you battle, you can't do that."

Ash felt unnerved as Volkner observed him, almost as if he was dissecting Ash with his eyes. Adjusting himself on the bench, Ash lowered his eyes to look at his partner. He couldn't deny the truth in what Volkner had said. His mind had been all over the place prior to, during, and even after the battle. It was safe to say that his focus wasn't on the battle at all.

"There are all kinds of trainers out there. But the ones that can't give a battle their all…" Volkner shook his head, his lips pursed in an expression of disapproval. "They don't deserve to be trainers."

Ash opened his mouth to protest, but thankfully his voice failed him. As much as he wanted to defend himself, Volkner was right. That was a total lack of respect, not only for his opponents in Brawly and Medicham but also for his own Pokemon. He wasn't there for Pikachu when he was counting on him.

An apology. That was the first thing he owed Pikachu. Anything else could wait.

Ash took a glance at the man beside him, ready to thank him for the advice he offered. Ash had been expecting to meet Volkner's gaze again, but the electric blonde was absorbed in grooming Ninetales who sat beside the bench, and he purred softly in response to the attention.

"You're not going to give up, are ya?" Volkner inquired, gaining a look of surprise from Ash.

Give up? That wasn't in his vocabulary!

"Heck no." He replied sharply, and Volkner let out a small snort, a hint of a smile forming on his face.

"I'm glad. I'll be waiting then, Ash." Volkner stated as he rose up from the bench. Ash furrowed his brow with intrigue before he piped up with an obvious question.

"Waiting? For what…a battle?" Ash asked him. Volkner moved at a slow pace with Ninetales beside him, but he turned back to face Ash.

"For the day you spread those wings. I'm looking forward to it." Volkner replied, giving him a crooked grin. Then, as he turned away from Ash for the final time tonight; his golden wings took shape and opened for Ash to admire their splendor.

Ash sat on the bench, baffled from the sight of Volkner's wings. They were simply magnificent, adding to the air of majesty that surrounded Volkner.

It was very fitting for a so-called King.

-PB-

Stepping into his home, Ash was greeted by a sight he wasn't expecting, although in hindsight it might have been something he could have foreseen if he had a better day. Upon entering the door, the first thing he noticed was the soft music playing the background, an old blues song from maybe forty years ago. It was coming from the living room, and as he drew close to this room he caught the faint scent of alcohol.

Peering into the living room, he found Shauna curled up on the sofa hugging her knees. A pair of dark bottles were resting beside the chair, at least one of them being empty since it rested on its side. He could hear Shauna sniffling, though she had yet to notice his presence. Recalling how he had left her earlier, Ash could freely assume that conversation with her father must not have gone well.

Quietly heading upstairs, Ash dropped Pikachu off in his room to let him rest before he returned downstairs to check on Shauna. He found her reaching for the next bottle in a six-pack she had in front of the sofa. Kneeling down beside her, Ash saw that she wasn't in the best shape at the moment. Her cheeks were stained with tears and her hair was left unraveled, tumbling down to her shoulders and poking out in all directions.

Catching sight of Ash, Shauna inhaled sharply and leaned back into the sofa, frowning deeply at him. It seemed as though it took her a moment to recognize him because she let out a hiccup.

"Shauna, are you okay?" Ash asked, deciding to be direct with her. He had heard quite a few stories from Miette and Serena concerning Shauna whenever she drank alcohol. She wasn't very…becoming once she was drunk. And unfortunately, it didn't take much for her to reach that state.

Ash couldn't make out her response as she put down the third bottle. She shook her head and ran a hand through her messy hair, groaning in frustration. Ash sat down next to her, providing her with some time to straighten out her jumbled thoughts, but with time, something coherent finally came out.

"I'm the biggest freakin' screw up you'll ever meet." She muttered vehemently, pulling her legs close again. Hearing her speak properly, Ash began to watch her with interest as she set her chin down on her knee. "I can't do anything right."

"That's not true, Shauna." Ash said softly, offering her some solace. She didn't seem to care for his comment, her thoughts swirling around the newfound disdain for her immediate family.

"I'm not like my parents. I wasn't going to last in med school for six to eight years. I knew in my heart that I wasn't going to be a doctor, but I wanted to make my folks proud of," Another hiccup stopped her monologue and tears had welled up in her eyes. "I wish I had just been upfront with them, maybe this wouldn't have happened…"

"What happened?" Ash asked her, urgency in his tone.

"My dad. He's cutting me off." She revealed, leaving her mouth to hang open for moment as she recalled what this meant for her. Shauna had all afternoon to consider what would happen now that she had no support from her parents. Her train wreck of a life was about to turn into a flaming dumpster fire.

"Does this have to do with you dropping out, still?"

She gave him a small nod. The issue was over a year old. Shauna had made the decision to leave medical school against her parents' wishes to pursue a dream of being a performer. The brunette had been unhappy chasing the goal her parents had set for her, and when she finally valued her happiness above pleasing her parents, Shauna set out on a journey of her own.

"What a stupid decision that was," Shauna noted with great disdain. "If I had stayed in school, I'd have everything right now. Not all this freakin' debt and I wouldn't have had to put up with my dad's crap either."

"But…would you be happy living like that?" Ash asked her delicately. Shauna buried her face in her palms, groaning audibly.

"No, I wouldn't be happy. I'd be depressed as hell and drinking all the damn time…oh wait, I already do that." She mused, resisting the urge to take the third bottle. "At least I'd have a future, though. I wouldn't have to wonder what the hell I'm going to do each day. You get what I'm feeling, right Ash?"

He understood her sentiments all too well. The last month had been a testament to that. It was scary.

"Yeah, I hear ya." Ash said with a small nod of agreement.

"Why does all this crap have to be so hard?" She asked aloud, throwing her hands up as she laid sprawled out on the couch. "It feels like no matter what I do, I go nowhere. And, of course, since I have nothing to show for the last year, my dad thinks I've just been sitting around wasting time. He has no idea how much I bust my ass between work and practice!"

Ash remained silent, realizing that Shauna had probably spent the day waiting for someone she could vent to.

"I did my best all through high school, and I went to med school for three years. God, I wish I could have that time back. I would've done ballet, or gymnastics or something that I actually liked instead of meeting with tutors all the time just to keep up with my dad's expectations." She related emphatically. "This is just so…ugh! Infuriating!"

Feeling her anger swell within her, Shauna eyed the bottle once again and snatched it up. Using her tank top to turn the cap of the bottle, Ash could hear the sizzle within it before Shauna took three large gulps. With her current posture on the couch, she began to kick her feet absentmindedly as she praised the drink she held. Ash gave a snort at her appearance, but Shauna wasn't self-conscious about this at the moment. Hearing this small sound, Shauna glanced up at Ash and noticed that he didn't seem to be in the best of moods either.

"How about you? You look kinda blue." She noted, rolling over onto her stomach to look at him. "Did something happen today?"

"Uh…I guess you could say I screwed up today too." Ash admitted, realizing that his day wasn't much better than Shauna's.

"What did you mess up?" Shauna inquired curiously, showing a surprising amount of concern for Ash. By now Shauna would usually be lost in her own little world if she drank alcohol, but she seemed to be doing just fine for a change.

"Probably my one chance to be a real Pokemon trainer." Ash revealed, and Shauna looked at him incredulously.

"How'd you pull that off?"

"I was trying to impress people, you know, get my name out there. I choked…like really bad, Pikachu took a beating," Shauna gasped at this information. "And Brock picked a fight with these guys trying to defend me and he got beat up too. Like, I just ruined things for everyone today."

It wasn't just that.

A certain bluenette came to mind. Someone who probably wouldn't be speaking to him anymore.

He had told her directly that his life was committed to Pokemon, and tossed aside what could've been an amazing relationship with her for…a beatdown on Brawly's live stream and a new reputation as a 'choke artist.'

"And then there was Dawn." Ash continued, shaking his head. "It was the same thing with Serena all over again."

"So, you broke it off with her?" Shauna asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I mean, there was nothing serious there to begin with," Ash said as he placed a hand on his stomach. "But I just feel awful knowing that I hurt someone else chasing this dream I have. It feels like I'm constantly stepping on everyone's toes."

Ash blinked, the statement holding more truth that he had ever cared to notice.

"Yeah, it's…no, I'm just one big inconvenience." He concluded, lowering his head with an expression of defeat.

Instead of watching his sisters as he should be in Cassidy's absence, his friends had taken over that responsibility for him while he spent all of his free time practicing with Brock and Pikachu. Rather than care for his family, he was still out there chasing a dream that was taking him nowhere.

With all the tact she could find in her semi-drunken state, Shauna snorted at Ash in response to his realization.

"Hey, welcome to the club." She said before extending the bold she held toward him. "You want something to take your mind off it?"

Ash met her gaze upon hearing her suggestion, and seeing how she had relaxed somewhat after a drink he had to admit…

That didn't sound like a bad idea.

A/N

Hello all, its been a while hasn't it? I don't know what it is about the holiday's that make me depressed, but it's been a drag the last few weeks, and winter is really setting in now. I can't wait for things to start to warm up, but knowing my luck winter will drag on until April like this past year. I'm indoors a lot these days so hopefully I'll start to produce chapters a little faster, or at least consistently hit the once a month plan that I've been trying to keep up with.

I've got to say that this is one of my favorite chapters to date, right up there with chapter five, twelve and nineteen. I'll also add that I think this is my best battle, not that I have some sort of extensive track record, but this one that well thought out as to what I wanted to accomplish. Obviously, the outcome wasn't the best in Ash's case, but I think you'll really understand the significance of this battle by the time this arc is over.

Notable Characters

Volkner. One of the Five Kings of Vermilion City. I glad that I'm finally getting to introduce another King, although I've enjoyed having them shrouded in mystery. I don't want to spoil any of the plans I have for Volkner, but you'll definitely see more of him in the future.

Big shout out to MjGenMatt for his high-quality work as always. And I wanted to thank Kreuzspinne for their wonderful review. It gave me such a huge boost of confidence that I really needed at the time, and I can't thank you enough!

We're heading into 2019 now, so the best of luck to all of you out there. I'll see you there at some point!

Chapter Text

Sunday, December 4th

Ash groggily rose up from the couch, having felt something suddenly jump off him. He heard heavy footsteps rushing off to the bathroom on the first floor, and the door was slammed shut. He raised a hand to his eyes, rubbing at them to clear his vision.

He remembered returning to his home at almost midnight, and he found Shauna drinking by herself. Shauna and alcohol were never a good combination, but she was surprisingly sober as they spoke. It was a short discussion, about how crappy their days were, and Shauna's attention returned to her drinks. Then she offered Ash one and his night became hazy from there.

Straightening up on the couch, Ash groaned and shook his head. Shauna gave a loud shout of displeasure followed closely her retching. Ash wrinkled his nose, and with a sigh, he rose up from the couch and tentatively went out to check on Shauna.

"Shauna, are you okay?" Ash asked with a knock on the door. She groaned exasperatedly and the door opened up a few moments later. She peeked out and her expression could scare off a Ghastly.

"Do you have any aspirin?" She muttered out to him, and Ash pointed to the cabinet mounted above the sink.

"It's on the top shelf. I'll get you a glass." Ash stated.

"Tha-" Before she could express her thanks her cheeks swelled and she slammed the door. Ash grimaced as she rushed back to the toilet and heaved loudly. Retrieving her glass, Ash decided to fill it as well to save her the trouble. Once he heard the toilet flush, he entered the bathroom and set down the glass on the counter. He stole a peek at Shauna and felt awful seeing her prop herself up on the toilet seat, one hand on her head as she groaned softly.

Slipping back out, Ash went to the living room to retrieve his phone. Shauna's hangover sounded far from bearable, so he opened up the internet on his phone to search for some home remedies for hangovers. Scanning through the list of cures, Ash quickly spotted a suggestion to avoid painkillers and other blood thinners.

"Shauna!" He called out, heading back to the bathroom. It was a few moments before the door opened and the brunette glared at him.

"Keep it down." She hissed at him uncharacteristically.

"Oh, sorry." He apologized, having forgotten that she was suffering from a terrible headache as well. "I just read that you shouldn't take painkillers though, did you take the aspirin already?"

"I didn't…" She mumbled out. "But I need it."

"Shauna, you're not doing yourself any favors taking painkillers. I'll fix up something for you." Ash stated to assure her that they would address this issue. The skepticism in Shauna's gaze wavered, and with pursed lips, she agreed. "But just to make sure you're not tempted…"

She opened the door a bit more for him to step in, and to her dismay, he opened the medicine cabinet to collect the painkillers that were stored away within it. On his way out, he stuck out his tongue at her, so she scrunched up her face in response.

"You suck, Ash." She muttered to him.

"That's okay. Now take a shower, it'll help you relax a bit." Ash suggested, and she agreed without any thought. Anything to take her mind off of this headache would be appreciated. As he went upstairs to get a change of clothes for her, Ash could hear her start up the shower, screeching as the hot water came through.

Arriving at his room, Ash entered quietly so as not to disturb Pikachu who had received his bed for the night. Pikachu was still curled up in the same position he had left it in, and he sighed at the sight of it. The last time Pikachu received a beating like this was the first time they fought Giselle's Cubone. It was a one-sided battle for the most part, but it was nothing like what took place yesterday. All the damage Pikachu had received battling Medicham was because of him. He had provided Pikachu with one clear command, and even that had proved to be useless. He failed his partner yesterday…and he wouldn't let that happen again.

"Dang man, that kid was trash. That battle wouldn't have lasted half as long if his Pikachu was as bad as he was."

Strengthening his resolve, Ash knew that the focus of his training was himself. Those guys yesterday had a valid point. Pikachu had held its own without him. He and Pikachu were no longer equals as trainer and Pokemon. Pikachu had progressed far beyond him. Now it was up to him to close that gap.

He had to better himself, sharpen his mind and keep it clear of distractions, as Volkner said.

Approaching his bed, Ash placed a hand on Pikachu's back and groomed his Pokemon. He would make this up to Pikachu, ten times over if he had to.

Shifting his focus back to Shauna, Ash went to his dresser to get a change of clothes for her. As he did so, he found the shirt that she had loaned to him more than a month ago. Making a face as he realized he had failed to return it to her, Ash picked it out along with a pair of sweatpants for her. He went back to the bathroom downstairs and opened it to set the clothes on the counter.

"Shauna, I left some clothes for you to change into." Ash announced.

"Thanks, Ash." Shauna replied, causing him to glance at the shower. The beige colored shower curtain concealed Shauna's delicate features, but Ash could see the frame of her body as she bathed. No doubt her body was in excellent shape since she practiced to be a performer alongside the rest of the group…Ash slapped himself mentally before his mind could wander, shutting the door to the bathroom before Shauna could make any assumptions. He would never hear the end of it if she caught him staring, and if Miette heard about it, that would be a fate worse than death.

Leaving the bathroom, Ash went back to the kitchen to begin working on something to help Shauna conquer her hangover. Using his phone, he found a suitable meal to help her out, and surprisingly he had made the same breakfast for Macy the prior morning. Oatmeal and Oran berries. The carbohydrates and vitamins would help her work through the alcohol that was still in her system, and some more sleep would help her recuperate fully.

Once he heard the shower come off, Ash put this quick meal together. Shauna came out before he was finished, dressed loosely in the clothes he had provided and drying her hair with a towel.

"Have a seat, I got breakfast coming for you." Ash said as he motioned to the table. There was already a setting for her, with a glass of water waiting. She smiled faintly at Ash whose back was turned as she took a seat. Taking of sip of the water, she took a moment to think back to the last time she had woken up to someone making breakfast for her. Back when she still lived with her parents.

Hearing Ash set down a bowl in front of her, Shauna left her thoughts and looked at the oatmeal and Oran berries. She gave Ash a small nod of thanks and picked up a spoon to take in a mouthful of the oatmeal. Seeing her wrinkle her nose, Ash felt a sense of déjà vu as he assumed about what Shauna would do next.

"Do you have any sugar? This stuff is so bland." She inquired causing Ash to roll his eyes.

"You too?" He said went to the kitchen cabinet to get a sugar container. Shauna glanced at him questioningly, waiting for him to elaborate. "Macy can't eat oatmeal without sugar either."

"Great minds think alike." Shauna said dryly, earning a laugh from Ash as he returned. She reached out to take the sugar shaker from him, but he kept it just beyond the length of her arm.

"Ah ah, you can only have a little bit." Ash said, wagging a finger at her. He then went on to sprinkle a small amount onto her breakfast. Whether it was enough for her to taste didn't matter because that would be all she would be getting. Shauna took in another spoonful and grimaced, sending a glare in Ash's direction.

"You suck." She whispered to him as he took a seat across from her. He smiled at her, propping his chin up on one hand. He waited quietly as she ate, entertaining some of his own thoughts until she finished.

"See? Don't you feel better now?" Ash asked her as he collected her dishes to take them to the sink.

"Just bury me." She muttered in response, resting her head on the table with a soft groan.

Ash eyed his friend cautiously as she made this statement, and winced as his eardrums were assaulted by the thump of his heartbeat. Wings sprouted from Shauna's back, but they were held down by multiple black chains. These restraints were stretched as Shauna's wings fought for freedom, but it was to no avail.

Ash looked away from her, knowing full well that his friend was struggling. That much had been obvious from her demeanor last night.

"Shauna…how did that talk with your dad go?" Ash inquired, causing her to lift her head. Realizing that this was a sensitive subject, he quickly added, "If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"I mean, there's no sense in hiding it." She mumbled out with a sigh. She began to draw circles with the tip of her finger, gathering all of the relevant information before she began to speak.

The conversation she had with her father the day before was hardly one she wanted to remember, but Shauna knew that she would have to recount it with someone eventually.

-X-X-

"Hey dad, how are um…things?" Shauna asked tentatively, trying to use these formalities to generate some small talk with her father.

She couldn't explain why, but a picture that hung on their fridge at her parents' house flashed in her mind. Shauna was only four at the time, and she was seated on her father's shoulders as the two of them beamed at the camera. It had always been so easy for Shauna to find comfort in her father during her childhood. But as she grew, her father's expectations did the same, and the ease with which she could approach him faded.

"Your mother and I are fine." He replied sternly, and Shauna could picture him readjusting his glasses.

"That's good. And how's work been? Did you work late last night?"

"Yes. It was a busy night, so I didn't get the chance to call you." He explained, and Shauna nodded at his answer.

"Yeah, I figured as much." She noted. A silence set in, and Shauna could sense what was coming. Her father wouldn't beat around the bush, not even for her.

"Mija, the reason I'm calling…" He began.

"Yeah?"

"I wanted an update," He continued. "Have you found any work beyond that job you told me about in the summer?"

"No…No, not yet. I mean, I've started looking for people in need of a home health aide." Shauna explained weakly, and she could hear a scoff from her father.

"This…this isn't what I sent you to medical school," Her father didn't raise his voice, but Shauna could hear the growing disappointment. "I didn't spend a fortune to help you get certified as a home health aide, mjia, I sent you there to become a doctor and support yourself and a family if you chose to have one. Not to jump ship halfway and leave yourself hamstrung with three years of debt."

A silence set in, affording Shauna a moment to swallow the lump in her throat.

"Don't you get it?" She asked him softly. "I'm not you. I wasn't ever going to be you."

"Is that some sort of excuse?" He asked in return, and Shauna felt her stomach drop.

"It's n-" Her voice faltered, and she took a moment to run a hand through her hair. She breathed deeply and gave her response when her voice returned. "It's not an excuse!"

"But this is your answer? That you don't want to experience success because you don't want to be me?" He asked incredulously as he raised his voice. "Mija, do you understand how ridiculous you sound right now? Have you forgotten how much your mother and I have worked to leave Hoenn so that you would have more opportunities in Kanto?"

Shauna knew he was angry. The pace with which he spoke had increased, and she just tell that he was gesturing emphatically as he spoke. He could never talk calmly about what he had gone through to move his family to Kanto. 

"No, dad, I know you've worked hard your whole life. I'm grateful for all of that! But I know in my heart that I can't be a doctor!" Shauna explained, though she struggled to find the words to express this to her father.

She didn't have the fortitude of her father to be a surgeon. She didn't have it in her to stare at a perilous situation where someone's life hung in the balance, and calmly exercise everything she's learned to save their life. Her father was making a difference, but Shauna couldn't do so in the same fashion. She needed to find her own way to affect people's lives…and she found it through performing.

Her father sighed audibly, and Shauna could already imagine what was coming next.

"Look mija, we can't do this. Not anymore. I've put everything I possibly could into your future, and I can't sit here and watch you throw it all away!" He barked, and Shauna winced at this. "We're done! I'm cutting you off, you're on your own from this day forward."

-X-X-

Ash observed Shauna closely as she absent-mindedly fiddled with her empty water glass. She had stopped speaking, her gaze downcast and a frown on her face.

"Let me refill that for you." Ash said after getting up from his seat. Removing the glass from Shauna's hands snapped her out of her small daze, and she watched as Ash went over to the kitchen sink. Opening the faucet, he let it run for a moment before putting the glass beneath it.

With his back turned to her, Ash had the freedom to hide a frown of his own as he thought about what Shauna had shared. It was evident that she was distraught from the exchange with her father, but Ash struggled to see why it bothered her so much.

If that was him, he would've made the exact same decision as Shauna. There wasn't a doubt in his mind. Although…he probably would've done it out of spite. No, he definitely would've done it out of spite. Perhaps this was the difference between them. Shauna had been actively trying to please her father, while Ash could care less what his father thought. Was that why it hurt her so deeply?

Of course, she had some semblance of a relationship with her father. The relationship he had with his father couldn't compare to Shauna's. Due to his absence, Ash never wasted a moment to consider how his father might feel about his decisions. Shauna, on the other hand, clearly wanted to make her father proud.

"Ash?" Shauna asked, startling him. Escaping his daze, he realized that the glass he had under the faucet must have been filled a hundred times over. He apologized to Shauna who stood beside him now, wiped off the glass and presented her drink. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just thinking about what you could do." He replied softly, and Shauna tilted her head.

"You've already done enough Ash. Just talking about it again helped me clear my head a little." Shauna admitted as she leaned against the counter. "Last night was…one huge mistake. I was supposed to be watching your sisters but I left the house after they went to bed to go get those drinks."

"Shauna, that's not all on you. I had a part in that. It wasn't right of me to stay out so late." Ash interjected, but Shauna shook her head.

"I'm still the adult here Ash. What I did was stupid and irresponsible." She said dryly. "What if something had happened to you sisters and my dumb ass was too drunk to help either of them?"

Ash hadn't considered this, or the repercussions that would follow. Shauna was a wonderful person, and Ash had always enjoyed her company since they had first met. Seeing her thrive in an older sister role to Casey and Macy really made her shine, and it was disheartening to return to her in such a sorry state last night. That didn't excuse the poor choices she had made, but Ash knew deep down Shauna would never have any bad intentions. She was just going through a rough patch, a really rough patch.

The only solution he could think of was his own simple and straightforward approach to life. Put your best foot forward, and march!

"How about…how about we skip the pity party, Shauna?" Ash suggested, and Shauna looked down at the glass of water in her hands. Faintly she could make out her reflection on the surface of the water, and seeing herself served as a reminder of the things she did behind closed doors. These 'pity parties' as Ash put it, she had these more often than her friends knew about in the privacy of her apartment. It was an easy way to escape the reality that she had made for herself.

She was already highly susceptible to alcohol, but to top it off she had developed a dependence on it during this time.

It was a vicious cycle caused by her own weakness.

She was always mindful of her alcohol intake, never more than she could handle save for special occasions. But at the slightest upheaval in her life, she would find solace in alcohol. It provided a…numbness that she needed.

After the first bottle, she'd find herself giggling as if all of her problems were like the wind. Here for a moment, and gone the next. If only it were that easy. After two, or maybe three bottles, she would be sound asleep. Perhaps she would slip in some nonsensical talk, blurting out whatever came to mind before the closest flat service invited her to rest on it. Then she would wake up sick, but above that, alone in her apartment. It was a constant reminder that this was all she had. A small home, a few possessions and a passion that her family didn't believe in.

"I know," Shauna admitted, feeling ashamed. "I…"

She stopped, but Ash gave her plenty of time to decide on what she wanted to say. It was several moments before she finally shook her head with a sigh.

"It's okay Shauna, I don't want you to feel bad or anything," Ash noted, watching her closely. He knew that Shauna had many regrets, and he had no intention of trying to add another to it. She had enough of a burden on her shoulders. "I can't say that I know exactly what you're going through with your dad and everything, but I know I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm struggling too."

Shauna glanced at him, a small glimmer in her eyes.

"The two us made a gamble on something we love…and so far, it hasn't really gone the way we planned. It sucks when you pour out your heart and soul, and no one believes in you." He looked up thoughtfully. "No, it really sucks. But I've learned that I can't really give a crap what other people say, or think about my dream because…it's mine."

Shauna's brow twitched as she listened closely.

"I mean, think about it like this. We gave up everything to follow our dream. We should be happy, but we're letting other people make us regret what we chose to do. And that's stupid." Ash stated firmly, and Shauna felt her chest swell with determination.

Ash was absolutely right!

Why was she letting other people make her regret doing something she loved?

His thoughts may have been a little disjointed, but Shauna quickly came to appreciate Ash's sentiments. She wished he had more to say, but she found him scratching the back of his neck with a furrowed brow.

"Uh, there was something else I wanted to say but it slipped my mind." He muttered, giving a weak chuckle. Shauna snorted in response, and this turned into a small fit of laughter, which put Ash at ease.

"You've said more than enough Ash," Shauna commented as she wiped her eyes with one hand. Looking back at him, Ash could see how her eyes had been refreshed, possessing a gleam of hope now. "You're right, we all struggle. And if I had to be honest, I tend to give up when things get hard. I've known that for a while now. It's just difficult not to get depressed and close myself off at times."

It was a constant battle with herself, but if she was going to break this cycle, then she would have to…

"I need to reinvent myself." Shauna declared with her new-found determination. "If I want to get away from all of this, I need to start over and build myself from the ground up."

Ash raised his brow at her statement to 'reinvent' herself. He liked it because…he needed to do the same thing.

A new foundation, one that couldn't be shaken by other people. That was what he needed!

"It won't be easy," Shauna commented through pursed lips and Ash agreed. Shauna then took a tentative glance at him, mustering her courage to keep speaking. "So, um I think it'd be in my best interests if I could call you Ash, you know when I'm feeling blue."

"Why me? I know for a fact Serena and Miette could keep a better eye on you." Ash replied. The three of them were a tight-knit circle, so Ash found it odd that Shauna would rather rely on him.

"I know they would but…I've been lying to them so much about a lot of things lately including, this…I don't know what they're going to think if I come clean to them." Shauna explained with great remorse. She wasn't sure if she could face them after that.

"Shauna, you just spoke to me about it," Ash said, placing a hand on his chest. "I'm not going to look at you any differently. So, what makes you think your best friends will?"

She looked down, guilt welling up in her heart about the assumptions she had made of her friends.

"Trust your friends Shauna. You'll be surprised how often they'll come to your rescue." Ash noted, and he shot a wink at her. It took a moment for Shauna to realize that his comment was about her, and she couldn't help but smile.

Ash had furiously been trying to make things happen on his own, but it didn't take long for him to realize he couldn't do it all on his own. Accepting support from his friends had helped him press forward, and Shauna understood that she would have to do the same.

Touched, she rose up from her seat to embrace Ash. He relaxed into her hug, patting her back to comfort her.

"Thanks Ash." She whispered to him. "I promise I'll work hard to beat this."

"We'll work hard, together." Ash corrected her as she separated from him. Seeing her smile with such vibrancy made his heart leap, and he returned her expression wholeheartedly.

Shauna gave a yawn, stretching out her arms as she did so before telling Ash she was going back to sleep. Ash remained in the kitchen after she left, leaning back into his seat as he thought long and hard about what he needed to do.

This conversation with Shauna helped him put a few things into perspective. In fact, this whole weekend had been enlightening.

Despite his growth over the last few weeks, Ash Ketchum had a lot of work ahead of him.

A firm foundation. That was the start.

Shauna opened one eye after feeling a small hand poking at her cheek. Seeing that it was Macy, Shauna rose up from the couch to get a better view of the small girl, who beamed at her. The movement from Shauna gained the attention of Casey, who had been absorbed with her phone.

"Macy, I said you weren't supposed to bother Shauna," Casey exclaimed, yanking her earbuds out. "Sorry, Shauna. Did you need something, Macy?"

"Yeah, I wanted a snack." Macy replied softly as she looked at her sister. Casey blushed, realizing she must've missed Macy's request because of the volume of her music.

"Not a problem," Shauna said as she rose up the couch, taking a moment to stretch. She felt much better than she had earlier, and with a quick tap of her phone, she discovered that it was well past one o'clock in the afternoon. She had slept long enough, now she would resume her usual duties. "Come on Macy, what would you like?"

"I want cookies!" She declared, and Shauna lowered her lips.

"Did you eat lunch already?" Shauna asked knowingly. Macy always wanted a treat, even at the expense of her appetite.

"No, Ashy's busy." Macy replied, so Shauna snatched her up from the ground and took her into the kitchen. They picked out a small bag of pretzels for her to eat, and Shauna promised to make her lunch in a few minutes. Now that Shauna was in the right frame of mind, she wanted to give Ash a proper thanks, or at least one she could remember.

Heading upstairs to his room, Shauna was greeted with an intriguing sight. White and black paint, scattered canvas, loud music, and a shirtless Ash - doing pushups. If she wasn't so accustomed to seeing Ash shirtless, she would've been embarrassed, but the two of them seemed to have a history of seeing the other in their less than gratifying moments.

Stepping into his room, Shauna focused on Ash and she could see that his arms were trembling with each action. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he took in a sharp breath before he pushed himself up again.

"Don't you think you should stop Ash?" Shauna asked him as she stooped down in front of him.

"Fifteen…more." He responded, lowering his body to the floor again in preparation for another. When she caught a whiff of his odor, she decided to do herself a favor and give Ash his space. It was a slow grind as he worked through his final set of push-ups, so Shauna began to examine the canvas' around his room to pass the time.

She had been in his room on a few occasions now, and she could recall that he had many paintings all over his room. Shauna was flabbergasted at the sight of all of Ash's artistic work now painted white, each canvas being returned to the blank state it once was. Some of them had some information recorded on them now, though Shauna struggled to make sense of this new information.

There was a small sketch of someone's face, followed by some basic information.

Name: Volkner

Rank: 2

Title: Golden Flash

Pokemon: Ampharos

Style: Defensive

Notes: If I had to make a comparison, Volkner is like Giselle…only way, way better. I don't want to battle him honestly. It'd be a chess match like with Giselle, but he's definitely going to be a lot harder to figure out. He's patient and careful to compliment his Ampharos and her lack of speed.

Counter Measures: Pikachu's quickness is a natural counter to his Ampharos and it's probably the only advantage we have. Overwhelming them with speed is our only viable strategy, but there's no way Volkner hasn't faced a plan like that already so I'll bet he has ways to neutralize an opponent's speed advantage.

Our Weakness: We don't have a finishing move. Our only option right now would be to chip away at Ampharos, which means it would be a really long battle. To win a battle like that would require both Pikachu and I to maintain the highest level of concentration to avoid any traps Volkner might have up his sleeve…and I don't know if we can do that for an extended period of time currently.

"What are these, Ash?" Shauna asked him now that he was seated on his bottom, wiping away his sweat with a towel.

"They're bios," He heaved in a deep breath. "For the best trainers in Vermilion City."

"Why are you making them?" She asked curiously as she moved to another bio.

"Most of this information I got online. I was making these to add in that little section about countermeasures and what weaknesses I have that would probably be exploited by that trainer in particular." Ash explained thoughtfully.

"So, then what happened with this one?" Shauna exclaimed as she scanned one of the bios that offered little to nothing in terms of information

Name: N

Rank: 1

Title: Chosen One

Pokemon: Zoroark

Style: Defensive…I think.

Notes: Umm…I don't know what to say at the moment. We don't really stand a chance yet.

Counter Measures: None that I can think of.

Our Weakness: Heck, he could exploit our strengths if he felt like it.

Ash chuckled at the sight of this one, scratching at the bridge of his nose.

"N is the strongest trainer out there. Haven't seen or heard of a better trainer and Pokemon than him and his Zoroark. Right now, I'm still trying to figure out how we would even make a battle with him interesting." Ash explained with a grin. Rather than seem frustrated by it, Ash seemed delighted to have an opponent that he couldn't even imagine beating.

"Why are you so happy about that?" Shauna inquired as she set down the bio.

"It's a goal. Figure out how to beat him," Ash stated with a small grin. "And along the way, I've decided to reinvent myself like you. Pikachu spent the last month working twice as hard as I did. Now I have to start making up the difference."

Shauna looked toward him again and caught a glimpse of the focus within Ash's eyes as he rolled one of his shoulders to prepare for his next exercise.

"So, what is it exactly that you train for?" Shauna asked curiously as she took a seat on his bed beside Pikachu. Shauna had treated Ash on a few occasions for his injuries during a Pokemon battle and she had seen a few on her own, but she didn't understand what went into preparing for one.

"We have to practice so that we're…in sync. It's up to the trainer to gather all of the information during a battle and decide on a course of action. The Pokemon would do their best to follow the instruction based on what kind of information their trainer gave them." Ash explained with a matter of fact tone. "It takes a ton of practice to reach a point where you as the trainer can give out the meaningful information your Pokemon needs, and they can act on it just like you pictured."

Shauna blinked, dumbfounded that there was more depth to this than she had thought. It all seemed so simple to her whenever she watched a Pokemon battle. The trainers would bark a command and the Pokemon would go at each other for a bit, and this cycle would continue until one of them stayed down. There was much more to it than she had thought. In fact, it mirrored the kind of practice she would put in with the rest of the dance crew each weekend during the summer. The grueling hours they would spend to make sure everything was as close to perfect as possible.

She understood his frustration over a poor performance. He had worked hard and walked away with nothing to show for it. Rather than sulk for an extended period of time like she would, Ash went right back to working on his craft. Her lips curled upward as she eyed the budding young man, and Shauna found herself viewing Ash as more than just a hard-headed teenager.

"Alright!" Shauna declared, clapping her hands together. "I'll be rooting for you, Ash! Don't let me down!"

He grinned up at her, his determination now bursting at the seams.

"You know it!"

Seeing him return to his exercise, Shauna decided it was best to leave him to his work. As she left the room Shauna palmed her forehead with a mutter of 'scatterbrain,' realizing that she hadn't even followed through on her original intent of checking on Ash. It was to give him an apology for last night, but with a quick glance into his room, she saw what appeared to be a fiery aura around him. His blazing ambition.

From this day forth, they would be working to improve at what they pursued professionally, and as people.

Shauna felt her heart skip a beat, the excitement bursting from her like an open fire hydrant. She felt refreshed with a new outlook, and she was determined not only to make a second chance for herself, but do things right with it.

"Phew!" With this exclamation, Ash leaned back against the side of his bed and drew in several deep breaths. His arms and shoulders ached, but the pain came with a sense of satisfaction as he thought to himself – 'no pain, no gain.'

Hearing a soft rustling beside him, Ash caught sight of some movement from his bed. It was Pikachu! His partner stretched itself out from the position it had been locked in since yesterday and rolled onto his back. Seeing Pikachu sprawled out on his bed caused Ash to laugh as he shifted himself to sit alongside him. He began to poke at Pikachu's stomach, and Pikachu swatted at his hand in his sleep. Noting Pikachu's response, Ash felt a devilish grin break out on his face and he pinched Pikachu's cheeks as a means to wake him up.

For all the ways he had seen Macy man-handle Pikachu at times, Ash didn't expect much to happen to him. But then again that was probably Pikachu showing some restraint against a child who didn't know better. When it came to Ash, there was no reason to hold back.

Ash jolted as an electrical current was shot through him, leaving him stunned as he fell back onto the floor. The hard thud this produced awakened Pikachu completely, and he sat upright with his ears raised to take in his surroundings.

"Pi-ka-chu?" He asked, looking down at Ash with a questioning frown.

"What do you mean, 'what am I doing?'" Ash asked in return with a groan as he slowly rose from the floor. They could hear feet stomping through the hall, and not a moment later Shauna burst into the room with urgency.

"Is everything okay?" She asked as she approached Ash.

She had heard Ash hit the floor downstairs, and as tough as Ash said he was, Shauna wouldn't take his fall lightly. Not to mention when she discovered the cause of his fall, a measured shock from Pikachu, Shauna insisted that she give him a full checkup. Ash found himself rolling his eyes as she performed a reflex test on his knees, but Shauna replied to this with a 'better safe than sorry.'

"Alright Ash, it looks like you're in good health." Shauna commented with an exasperated sigh of relief. Ash raised his brow at her, and she winked playfully in response. She then excused herself from the room, leaving Ash alone with Pikachu.

Ash wanted to take some time to gather his thoughts, but the first thing that came to mind was his discussion with Valerie earlier this weekend, and how they briefly touched on the subject of communicating with Pokemon.

'It's a language of love…'

He had been trying to prepare what to say to Pikachu, but he knew that there was no need to make some great speech as an apology to Pikachu. He just needed to speak from his heart.

"Pikachu…" Ash began, and Pikachu perked up at the call of his name.

"Pi?"

"You see, I wanted to tell you that your trainer is a bum," Ash stated, though he had a few more explicit words in mind. Ash could feel Pikachu's gaze scrutinizing his statement, but Ash continued before his partner could protest. "Don't try to tell me otherwise. I was awful. We're supposed to be a team and I had nothing to contribute."

He ran a hand through his hair and heaved out a sigh.

"Pi." Pikachu cut in with a motion for him to stop. "Pi-Pika. Pi-ka-chu."

"I'm not putting all the blame on myself. But I know I had a part in why we lost." Ash clarified, but Pikachu didn't take to kindly to his response.

"Pika…ka-Pikachu." He insisted, reminding Ash of everything they had done to reach this point.

"I get all that. But what kind of team are we if we don't hold anyone accountable? We're not going to have a winner's mentality if we treat our losses as nothing and move on." Ash declared. "Every failure is an opportunity to grow, to get better. I know now that I can't let the pressure get to me. That's easier said than done, but damn it I'm not going battle like I did yesterday ever again!"

Ash's hands were clenched tightly, almost trembling.

"I want to get better Pikachu." Ash stated, and Pikachu placed one of his paws on Ash's fist. They shared a glanced and knew that the feeling was mutual.

"Pika." Pikachu replied with a nod of agreement.

They were in this together.

To the end.

"Do you feel anything Pikachu?" Ash asked.

"Ka? Pi…ka." It replied, shaking its head.

The two of them sat crossed legged, attempting to mimic a posture for meditation. It had little effect on their exercise as they each opened an eye to take a peek at the other. With an exasperated sigh, they relaxed and fell back onto the floor.

This was the beginning of a new exercise that Ash had spent the day developing. He struggled to explain it to Pikachu, describing it as a more meditative exercise to strengthen their bond. However, the lack of activity proved to be a major deterrent. Neither of them could relax their minds long enough to make any sort of progress with this type of training.

Pikachu raised its head from the floor, looking toward the door as it heard footsteps approaching. Moments later the door was opened for Shauna to poke her head in.

"Ash, you got a phone call." Shauna revealed as she stepped in, extending his phone toward him. Ash raised his brow, realizing that he had completely forgotten about his phone that he had left downstairs this morning.

"Who is it?" Ash inquired as he got up from the floor. He waved off Shauna's questioning stare as she mouthed a question of 'why were they on the floor?'

"He introduced himself as Malcolm. He seems nice." She replied and Ash paled as he accepted his phone. There was only one Malcolm that would call him, and Ash knew that his next conversation with this man wasn't going to be a pleasant one.

"Thanks." He said with a deep breath, and then he focused on his phone. "This is Ash speaking."

"Ah Ash, so good to hear from you." Malcolm began. "I was a little surprised to hear a lady answer the phone. I didn't think you had time for a girlfriend."

Ash's cheeks became colored at the suggestion, and some incoherent dialogue escaped his lips in a failed attempt to come up with a response. Shauna staring him right in the face didn't help this situation either, but it was far too late to think of a way to smooth this over as Malcolm moved right on to the focus of his call.

"That aside, I was just contacted by Charles," Malcolm revealed, and Ash felt his heart sink. Word of his poor performance had already made its way to Malcolm's ears, and it dawned in him now that career as a circuit trainer could be over at the end of this phone call. "-and he told me that there have been requests coming in to battle you all day. He doesn't know who to select as an opponent for you, so he called me to assist with the arrangements."

"W…" Ash had already done his fair share of bumbling during this discussion, but apparently, he still had more to do. It took some time for everything Malcolm had just said to properly register in his mind. "Wait, there are people that want to battle me?"

"Yes. I don't know what you did, but it worked like a charm." Malcolm remarked, and Ash could envision the small smirk on the man's face as he said this. "I don't have the time to go over the arrangements with Charles, so I want you to take care of this. Get in touch with him as soon as you can and…start making things happen."

"Uh…ye-yeah, right! I'm on it!" Ash declared, and the call ended soon after. Ash then looked from Shauna to Pikachu, his mouth opened slightly.

"What's with that stupid face?" Shauna asked with a small laugh.

"There are people that want to battle us." Ash said incredulously. Why did they want to battle him though? He was terrible in his battle against Brawly!

"Well that's a good thing, right?" Shauna asked him, and Ash blinked twice. He thought about this from Shauna's perspective, and the very black and white mindset she had on the matter. In its simplest terms, this was good. Someone wanted to battle him in the Hidden Cove, which was exactly what he needed. Did he really need to think about the 'why?'

"Yeah, you're right Shauna!" Ash said with a small grin. He had to get in touch with Charles right away to get himself a debut match!

Thanking Shauna for delivering his phone, the brunette then left him to make the phone call that would mark the beginning of his new life.

"Hello, this Charles Goodshow. Who am I speaking to?" The older gentleman asked mechanically.

"Hey, it's Ash Ketchum." Ash replied, and the warmth returned to Charles' voice as he spoke.

"Ash, I had a feeling you would be calling me," Charles noted and Ash laughed softly. "So, I take it you've heard the news then?"

"That I've got a match?"

"Indeed. In fact, you have twelve." Charles stated and Ash's jaw dropped.

"Twelve!" He exclaimed.

"Twelve requests to battle you, is what I should have said." Charles corrected himself with a snort. "In most cases, I typically make the arrangements for someone's debut match because the debut trainer is usually sending requests for a match, but you're receiving them. So, I was hoping to get some input on what kind of trainer you'd like to battle."

"I get to choose who I'm going to battle?"

"Just this one time. But as I said, debut matches don't receive this kind of attention. So, I did a little digging because I thought this was rather strange, and it didn't take me long to find the answer." Charles explained, causing Ash to raise his brow. "Melissa is going to send a video to your phone with a pair of timestamps, take a look at them."

There was a brief pause before Ash felt his phone buzz. He kept his call with Charles open while he opened the message from Melissa. It was a link to the PokeHub, bringing him to Brawly's profile where his stream from Saturday had been posted. The first time-stamp took him to a point late in the stream, and the focus at the time was Ash and Brock.

Ash could hear the voice of Jerome, the young man who worked as Brawly's PR manager as he spoke to the stream, giving his first impressions of Ash.

"So, this is Brawly's last opponent for the day. It'll be starting in about twenty minutes. My first impression is…I don't know who thought it would be a good idea to let a kid into the circuit, but they're an idiot. He's going to get stomped." Jerome related as he zoomed in on Ash and Brock. The two of them went their separate ways, Ash to go through some last-minute prep while Brock joined the audience to begin spreading the word about Ash's upcoming battle.

Brock came close to where Jerome was filming, and he began to proclaim Ash's credentials to the audience.

"Alright people, you're about to see something special!" Brock declared. "This is the debut for 'Quest!' Mark my words that he's going to take the circuit by storm, and it all starts with Brawly!"

The crowd immediately became involved upon hearing Brock's pronouncement.

"Hah, that's a good joke!"

"You think some no name is going to take down Brawly!?"

"You don't believe me?" Brock snapped back at them. "He's got the biggest sponsor backing him as proof that he's good! Don't underestimate him, or he'll sweep the rug right out from under you!"

"You can pause it there, Ash." Charles cut in, speaking up over the stream Ash was watching. "Skip to the next timestamp now."

Following his instructions, Ash moved onto the next scene near the end of the stream. Ash and Brock were long gone, and Jerome was currently interviewing Brawly now that the day was over. The subject that came up was Ash.

"And Brawly, any thoughts on your last match with the kid?" Jerome asked as he readjusted the focus of his camera. Brawly took a moment to think of his answer before he looked directly at the camera.

"His Pikachu was strong, there's no doubt about that. But the trainer, I think his name was um…'Quest.' He's not ready for the circuit. Easy money…easy money." Brawly explained, shaking his head with this sentiment.

Ash paused the recording on his own this time, a few key phrases replaying in his mind. Brock had announced that he had a big sponsor, and Brawly told everyone that he stinks…

"I'm being targeted?" Ash asked, and the sigh from Charles confirmed his suspicion.

"That's one way to put it." Charles responded carefully.

Ash exhaled, earning Pikachu's attention. His expression had grown dark, and he balled his free hand up into a tight fist that began to tremble visibly. Ash felt as if he had been spurned, as if all the trainers in the underground circuit were looking at him with contempt. The thought of Morgan's twisted sneer from this past Friday flashed in his mind, and Ash could feel his body begin to shake.

How many people were going to do this to him?!

No matter what they did, they weren't going to keep him down! Ash was a raging inferno, eager to prove himself! All these fools were doing was fanning his flames, and he would show them what kind of nightmare a determined Ash Ketchum could be.

"I want the first three people who put in a request for me." Ash stated firmly.

"The first three?" Charles repeated, and Ash nodded to himself.

"Yeah. I want you to line them up for me…and just watch."

The smirk Charles wore went unseen by Ash, but the older man was glad to know that Ash was more than just persistent. There was a tenacity about him, and Charles couldn't wait to see Ash put this on full display.

"Alright. I'll give you three weeks from this coming Saturday to prepare," Charles revealed, and Ash felt his lips curve upward. "Put on a show for you me, young man."

"You've got it," Ash replied and then he ended the call. With a glance toward Pikachu, Ash saw that his partner knew what he was about to say. "Pikachu, we've got work to do!"

A/N

Kay, this was a pretty charged chapter between Shauna and Ash and I loved writing every minute of it. I spent a lot of time working on that scene between them in particular, and I hope it comes across as heartfelt. Addictions are hard to beat, but if you've managed to beat one all on you're own then you have my respect. If you're struggling, get help. There's no shame in admitting you need help, and it took me the longest time to figure that out lol.

MjrGenMatt made his usual contributions, all of which were fantastic as always. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to read this, and I hope you all have a great one. Send me a little love in the review section if you feel the urge to do so, and I will see you all at the next update! Peace!

Chapter Text

Wednesday, December 7th

All actions have consequences.

How true that proved to be…

With a sigh, Dawn began to poke at her lunch to remedy her boredom. Nando and May were running late, and this left her to her thoughts, all of which surrounded the budding young man that she hadn't spoken to in almost two weeks. Ash Ketchum.

Things had been rather…stale with Ash's absence. Not that hanging around her usual friends like May and Zoey was boring, not at all. She adored each of them, but time with Ash was different. He was more than the wisdom and guidance Zoey offered or the compassion and understanding of May. Talking with Ash was an experience in itself.

She still wasn't sure why, but it would stir up something within her. By the time she was done talking with him, she felt uplifted…or inspired! She missed having those daily discussions with him, whether it was actual conversations, or just passing notes during class. The lack of contact left a void that she struggled to fill.

"He-y!" May said, looking at Dawn sideways which snapped the bluenette out of her daze. "Earth to Dawn, its lunch time."

"Oh uh, hey." Dawn said softly as her friend took a seat beside her.

"What's the matter? Not hungry?" May asked with a gesture toward Dawn's lunch, all of which had gone untouched.

"Not really, I guess." Dawn mumbled out, and May was quick to pick up on Dawn's sullen demeanor.

"Okay then, what's bothering you?" May pressed, giving Dawn the opportunity to jump on the subject that was troubling her.

"It's nothing, I'm okay." Dawn responded half-heartedly. May pursed her lips at Dawn's reply. This had been something Dawn had been saying since she last talked to Ash. She had become more withdrawn, and May knew better than to poke at Dawn when she wasn't in the mood to talk. All she could do for now was wait, and offer Dawn the chance to talk about it. One day she would open up so long as May kept giving her the opportunity.

"By the way, Nando said he wouldn't be coming to lunch today. He's working on another piece with Mr. Juan." May explained, and Dawn nodded at this piece of information.

"So, um, May?" Dawn began, receiving her friend's full attention. "How are Casey and Macy?"

May perked up the question and smiled fondly at the thought of the two girls.

"They're doing great," May replied. "In fact, they ask about you from time to time. Can I give them a message from you?"

"Um…" Dawn hesitated, looking away from May briefly. Then she shook her head. "No, I don't think so."

"Mmm, okay." May said, and she left it at that. Silence ensued as May began to check her text messages until Dawn piped up with one final question.

"And what about Ash?" Dawn inquired, and May felt her lips twitch, threatening to rise in a smirk. She knew Dawn couldn't just stop thinking about Ash cold turkey! Keeping her friend's current feelings in mind, May kept a neutral facial expression and looked up in thought.

"You know, he's been busy."

Thursday, December 16th

Within Ash's home, a forgotten glass of water remained untouched on the kitchen counter. Periodically, the glass would shake, sending a ripple through the surface of the water. The cause for this? The outrageously loud music coming from the living room.

"WHOO!" Shauna screamed over the music as she danced at the center of the group. It consisted of her two closest friends, Serena and Miette, along with Casey and Macy. They each moved at their own pace to the beat, though Shauna was the center of attention as she displayed the new routine she had been working on.

As the music concluded, Shauna came to an awkward stop as further proof that this routine was still under development. Miette and Serena didn't hesitate to applaud her for what they had seen since it was great seeing Shauna in such high spirits again.

"That was great, Shauna!" Casey declared, but she received a deadpan stare from Shauna.

"That was a great break, right Casey?" Shauna asked her in return. "Now get back to your homework."

"Aww, I'll finish it later." She retorted with a huff, but Shauna pointed toward the doorway as a gesture for Casey to return to her room.

"Ash has been chewing me out because you've been skipping out on your homework. So, get to it, march young lady!" Shauna said with an air of authority, causing Serena and Miette to raise their eyebrows. Casey complied begrudgingly, making a few comments under her breath as she left.

"Geez, you sound like my mom Shauna." Miette noted, and Shauna turned to her with an expression of shock.

"Are you calling me old?!" Shauna exclaimed in return.

"She sure is!" Casey barked from upstairs.

"Young lady, don't make me come up there!" Shauna hollered back, earning a laugh from Serena and Miette.

"Yup, just like my mom." Miette added, and Shauna pursed her lips with a blush.

Miette's innocent comments struck a chord with the smallest person in the room, stirring up thoughts that had been buried within her for the past weeks.

"When's mommy coming home?" Macy asked them, and Miette's eyes widen briefly. Each of them shared a glance, and then Miette decided to take charge. Kneeling down in front of her, Miette scooped up Macy in her arms and made her a promise, one that she hoped she wouldn't regret.

"She'll be home soon Macy, you just have to be patient," Miette assured her as she rose up. "Now come on, let's get you washed up and then we'll watch a movie."

The usual enthusiasm that embodied the child wasn't present even after Miette had suggested they watch her favorite movie. Her green eyes scanned Miette's face inquisitively, and the bluenette took a momentary glance back at her friends. Shauna felt her heart shatter at the sight of Macy's expression; the doubt, and apprehension. It wasn't something that should be seen on the face of a three-year-old. Shauna stepped forward, deciding to add her own words of reassurance in addition to what Miette had said.

"It's a promise, Macy," Shauna said as she cupped her hands around Macy's cheeks. Shauna leaned in and gently placed her forehead against Macy's. "Your mommy will be back home soon."

Shauna separated and placed a kiss on Macy's forehead now, and the uncertainty faded a touch. She gave them a nod, and the girls relaxed as Miette went upstairs to help Macy change for her bath.

Once they were out of earshot, Shauna heaved out a sigh and dropped herself down onto the couch. Serena stood in the doorway of the living room, glancing at the stairway with a hand on her chest.

"God, she's as tough as nails." Shauna muttered, looking up at the ceiling to stop the threat of tears. With a sniffle, she drew Serena's full attention, and Serena quickly joined her on the couch.

"Are you okay?" Serena inquired, and Shauna wiped her thumb against the counter of her eyes.

"The two of them, Casey and Macy…" Shauna began, shaking her head. "They're so strong sometimes that it just amazes me. Their mother is gone right now and neither of them ever stop to cry or anything, they just keep marching along. I have no idea what I'd do if I was in their situation."

"I don't either Shauna," Serena admitted. "All I know is that the two of them will be fine so long as Ash is okay. They're drawing strength from him."

Shauna agreed wholeheartedly. During Cassidy's absence, Casey and Macy saw Ash working hard every single day, doing everything he could for them. Those girls would go as far as Ash could take them, and Ash would see this through to the end.

"Do you think Cassidy will be okay?" Shauna asked in a whisper, and Serena bit down on her lower lip for a while. She didn't even want to consider the thought of Cassidy never returning.

"She will. We just have to help Ash until then." Serena stated, placing a hand on Shauna's back. Since the focus of the conversation shifted to Ash, Serena could help but ask how he was handling everything. "How is he doing by the way?"

Shauna didn't need any time to think of her reply.

"Ash…? He's working hard."

Saturday, December 24th

Brock eyed his parents cautiously as he sat across the table from them. His father drummed his fingers, occasionally taking a glance at the entryway to the dining room. Within a few moments, Lola came through with a grateful sigh before she took a seat beside her husband.

"Okay, the twins are asleep." She announced, and Brock now had the full attention of both of his parents. "So, what did you want to talk about Brock?"

"I just wanted to double check with you guys that we're set for the barbeque next Saturday." Brock began, and both of them gave him a nod.

"Yeah Brock, we went over this already. We're off from work so we're happy to have your friends over for the night. It's New Year's Eve after all." His mother noted.

"Right. The reason I wanted to talk to you guys is that I wanted to invite two more people, they're friends of Ash and Valerie." Brock explained, but this didn't deter his parents.

"The more the merrier, Brock." His father said with a smile.

"Hold on," Brock interjected, raising one hand toward them. "Let me finish before you guys give me your verdict."

Flint and Lola shared a glance and then waited for Brock to continue.

"I'm coming to you guys with confidential information, so everything I say from here, can that stay between us?" Brock began, and he received a nod of confirmation. "I know you guys already know Ash has a Pokemon, but Valerie also has one living with her. The reason I'm letting you guys know this is because I'd like them to bring their Pokemon to the barbeque."

"I see…" Lola said softly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Flint learned forward, placing an arm on the table as he studied his son.

"Why?" Flint asked, being straightforward with his son.

"I spoke with Valerie recently, and I heard about everything she's been through because she chose to live with her Pokemon," Brock explained, maintaining eye contact with Flint as he spoke. "She's had it rough for a while, but she's always been working hard, really hard. I know a lot of people would say she's brought it on herself…but I know that's not a fair judgment."

Flint raised his brow at the hardy stance Brock had taken. It was no small task to make such a statement with how poorly the public viewed Pokemon. Coming before his parents to discuss this was proof of how committed Brock had become to these creatures. Flint raised a hand to cover his mouth, concealing the smirk that had formed on his face. Even if the subject was touchy, he was proud to see his son speaking with conviction…like a man.

"I know you guys may not understand it right now, but I've realized just how much trainers value and cherish their Pokemon. I learned it from Ash and Valerie," Brock went on, a soft smile on his face as he spoke. "In fact, there was something both of them said that really made it clear to me. They said that talking with their Pokemon goes beyond words…you reach a point where you just understand each other and, well, I thought that was a lot like family. I know you guys so well," Brock motioned toward his parents. "And I don't know what I do without you all, even the twins."

This gained a snort from his mother.

"They love their Pokemon so much, yet they get all kinds of criticism from people that have no idea what they're talking about for it. What I'd like is…for all of you to give their Pokemon a shot at setting an impression with you and the kids." Brock explained. "I know you all might have your own preconceived ideas, but all I'm asking for is this one night, put anything you might have heard aside, just meet Pikachu and Spritzee, and see what they're like."

Silence set in. He watched as his parents looked toward each other and held a conversation using their eyes. Brock could only breathe out and wait. He had done all he could, it was up to his parents from here.

Brock hadn't said a word to anyone, but hearing Valerie's story had really changed his thought process. Training alongside Ash and viewing battles all over Vermilion City, Brock had come to appreciate the work trainers and Pokemon do. But he never got to grasp the depth of their relationships until he heard what Valerie had gone through. He had never imagined trainers having to sacrifice relationships with their loved ones for the sake of following their dream. It helped him fully understand Ash's goal of changing the public's perception.

Brock wanted to do something to help, and he realized the first thing he could do was make a change in his own home.

"Alright." His mother said, bringing this extended silence to an end. Brock looked from one to the other, his mouth slightly open.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really." Lola stated and Brock jumped up from his seat to go around the table, absorbing both of them in his arms and he kissed his mother on the cheek.

"Oh, you guys rock!" He exclaimed. "Let me get each of you a drink!"

Flint couldn't help but chuckle as Brock dashed off into the kitchen. He was glad to see his son in such high spirits despite the rough stretch he had been going through. As he turned back to his wife, Flint caught sight of the frown on her face and raised his brow at her.

"You alright?" He asked her, and she exhaled before giving a response.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked in return and Flint snorted.

"You're the one who said yes." He pointed out, and Lola shot him a narrow glance. Flinted breathed out through his nose, smiling at his wife while he placed his hand on top of her own. "Just look at him. Have you ever seen him this focused on something before?"

Lola looked at the doorway fondly, and she knew that she couldn't deny it. Brock's heart had been captured…this thought caused Lola to laugh.

"I just realized…" She noted with a giggle. "I always thought his first love would be with a girl, but look what happened…"

Flint stifled a laugh at this realization.

"Exactly. I think we owe it to him to give it a chance." Flint said, and Lola nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you're right."

Brock came back from the kitchen with two glasses of apple cider in hand for his parents. They thanked him graciously, and while Flint downed his glass, Lola spent her time thinking about the friendship of Ash and Brock. In all the years since Brock had been born, Lola had never seen him get as close to someone as he did with Ash. Their love for Pokemon was what produced such a close bond, and seeing her son find strength from this was…impressive.

She had always felt guilty for stunting Brock's growth. He was almost twenty-five years old and rather than pursue his own livelihood, he was still living with his family, supporting them as his brothers and sisters grew up. As much as she appreciated this, she could see the drawbacks. Brock stopped thinking about starting his own life.

But now, Brock was growing up right before her eyes, and she had Ash to thank for it.

"By the way, how's Ash?" Lola inquired, and Brock beamed.

"He's getting ready for something big."

Tuesday, December 27th

The amber skies of the late afternoon glowed against the beads of sweat that rested on Giselle's forehead. With a huff of irritation, she laid her worn out and thoroughly beaten Cubone against a tree trunk. This had become a common occurrence now, and for Giselle, a tough pill to swallow. Looking back at her 'pill', he and his Pikachu were at the center of the clearing practicing as always.

Battling Ash Ketchum and Pikachu was a daily ritual for Giselle and a frustrating one at that. Today's battle was especially annoying because their 'peanut gallery' felt the need to comment on how one-sided their battles had become.

'Giselle, are you even trying?!' Brock hollered, and Giselle's head snapped to the side to give Brock a hard stare.

Of course, she was trying! But that moron couldn't tell!

The development Ash and Pikachu had gone through over the last three months had been nothing short of exceptional. When she had first met Ash and Pikachu, Giselle had many words to describe them.

Undisciplined. Bull-headed. Inconsistent.

It led to the rough battling style he used during their first few encounters. He did 'dumb' things like challenge her Cubone at close range, which played right into Giselle's hands. She thought he must have been the luckiest guy in the world when he managed to beat her with tactics like these, but she quickly learned that lucky wasn't the right word to describe Ash Ketchum.

Determined, fit the bill.

Acknowledging Ash's potential, Giselle joined Brock in resetting Ash's foundation as a trainer. And they built him up from there. It was astounding how much he had improved with a better grasp of the basics.

Fast forward nearly three months, and the difference between Ash then and now was like night and day.

"Hey." Brock's voice snapped Giselle out of her thoughts, and she saw Brock looming over her. He offered a water bottle, and she accepted it with a stare that threatened to burn holes through his head. Brock scratched at the back of his neck with a chuckle. "Sorry, I was a bit of an ass during your battle."

"A bit?" Giselle asked him with an expectant look.

"Alright, alright. I opened my mouth more than I should have." Brock admitted, raising his hands as though she held a weapon. "I'm sorry, it's just that your battles with Ash have been weird lately. He's always in control, so I thought you might have been trying to test some new things against him."

"I would if I could." She retorted with a huff, glancing toward Ash and Pikachu as they practiced. Brock furrowed his brow at this statement, unable to conceal his skepticism.

"So, he's doing that well?" Brock asked for clarification.

"I wouldn't go that far. Naturally, his Pikachu is a bad matchup for Cubone. We were winning at first because, well, Ash had no clue what he was doing," Giselle said bluntly, and Brock snorted. "But now, he's turned into a trainer that takes full advantage of our lack of speed. It's something Cubone and I just don't have an answer for. He's good, against us."

"So, uh, how do you think he stacks up against other trainers?" Brock asked him, and Giselle gave a laugh.

"Are you worried about his debut match?" She inquired, and Brock's lack of a response was proof enough. "You don't need to worry about him. He's going to crap all over the bottom feeders in the underground circuit."

Brock pursed his lips and lifted his eyebrows at Giselle's statement.

"I don't know if you've ever heard of this saying, it's pretty old. It went, 'I fear not the trainer that has practiced ten thousand different attacks, but the trainer who had practiced one attack ten thousand times.'" Giselle looked toward Brock and saw that he couldn't figure out the application, so she pointed back to the duo at the center of the clearing.

Ash stood several feet from Pikachu, a bevy of small stones in hand. His partner was down on all fours, with six after images flickering alongside him. Ash would pelt stones at Pikachu who would have to stop these stones from passing through while maintaining his Double Team. Pikachu did so in various ways, using his paws or tail to swat down the stones to test how many after-images he could manage while in combat. It was a very archaic style of training, but the results were evident. Pikachu had mastered using Quick Attack and Double Team in conjunction, making him nearly impossible to track once he got going.

"They've refined that combination to a point where it could threaten just about any trainer and Pokemon in the underground circuit." Giselle explained, a faint smile on her face as she observed Ash.

Brock fished out his phone to enter the PokeHub, searching for the profile of Ash's first opponent. He was a Hoenn born trainer in his late twenties sporting some mid-length dreadlocks.

This was Peter Neil. Better known as 'Island Pete.'

Giselle stole a glance at Brock's phone and saw him checking the profile of Ash's first opponent. Rolling her eyes, she could see that as much as Brock was rooting for Ash, he couldn't help but worry about him.

"Look, Brock, he'll be fine." Giselle stated.

"I'm just…worried about his confidence after losing to Brawly." Brock explained with a sigh.

"Confidence?" Giselle said incredulously. She then gestured toward Ash. "Just look at him, he's practically wearing it. I underestimated him and he punished me for that. Don't make the same mistake I did."

Brock couldn't stop a smirk from forming on his face, and he began to shake his head as he laid his doubts to rest. He of all people should've known better than to doubt Ash Ketchum!

With a glance back down at the profile of 'Island Pete,' Brock shook his head and shut off his phone. He focused on Ash and watched as Ash praised Pikachu for how far along its Double Team had come. Grinning at the sight of this, Brock was more anxious than ever to see his friend in his debut match.

This was the starting point for Ash 'Quest' Ketchum!

Saturday, December 31st

"One last time Pikachu!" Ash hollered at the six after-images of Pikachu that darted around him on the sandy beach of the Hidden Cove. Ash's eyes bounced around, trying to track the movements of the combination of Quick Attack and Double Team, but it was for naught. Even after closely watching Pikachu practice this combination for over a month now, he was still at the mercy of his partner once the after-images went on the attack.

The focus on this training was, of course, to let Pikachu further refine his offense, but Ash took this as a challenge to test himself. Tracking Pikachu's movements tested his eyesight and reaction time, two qualities that all trainers needed to have in tip-top shape. To Ash's dismay, he found little success despite the constant practice they did. He had only managed to avoid two of Pikachu's attacks before he was overwhelmed.

It was a frustrating exercise for Ash who could do little to nothing besides get hit by Pikachu, and he blamed Giselle for it. She warned them that at the highest levels, even the slightest bit of predictability could be their downfall. So, Giselle drilled it into Pikachu's skull that he can't have a pattern to his movements. This proved to be worthwhile because it made this combination of moves even more lethal. But, on the other hand, this made Ash feel helpless during his exercise since he couldn't predict Pikachu's movements. Ash could smile at this, because if he couldn't predict Pikachu's movements, then that meant their opponent couldn't either, and that was what made Pikachu so deadly.

Two of the after-images crossed in front of him and Ash jumped back on one foot with a 'Hah!' This celebration was short lived as Pikachu himself came down the middle and plowed Ash right in the stomach, throwing him onto his back in the soft sand. Realizing he was down on his back yet again, Ash relaxed into the sand with a groan while Pikachu approached him to apologize.

Brock laughed inwardly, watching the duo from afar. It was at this moment that he wished he had brought someone with him, perhaps Giselle, or anyone that he could talk to. His heart had spent the last few hours occupying his throat, and Brock couldn't swallow this tension if he was paid to.

Today was the big day after all.

Ash's debut match.

Giselle had assured Brock that there was nothing to worry about…that Ash would be able to handle his first opponent without any problems. But the betting odds had been posted today with the match schedule, and Brock was left in shock after he saw the line for Ash's match.

Match 2 – Debut – 'Island Pete' vs 'Quest.' 251/50.

Those were some of worst odds ever posted at the Hidden Cove!

Seeing those odds reminded Brock of the warning they received from Charles Goodshow. Conquering the underground circuit would be a long and arduous road. But this…Brock could hardly believe that this was what the circuit thought of Ash. That there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that he could win against the 'bottom feeders' as Giselle called them.

Brock began to chew on his lower lip and replayed Giselle's statement from earlier this week.

"I underestimated him and he punished me for it."

This wasn't the first time Ash had to prove himself. He had done it before, and it was clear that he would have to do it again. Perhaps a dozen…maybe even a hundred times!

If there was anyone out there that would prove his worth a hundred times over, it was Ash 'Quest' Ketchum!

Hearing the call of a Mantine, Brock looked toward the entrance of the cove where a pair of the watercraft Pokemon had arrived with two groups of spectators. These were the first people to arrive for the matches this afternoon. Taking out his phone, Brock saw that it was almost five o'clock. There was only an hour left until showtime.

Seeing that multiple spectators had arrived, Ash and Pikachu ended their practice. Anyone who had come to see his match would likely be judging him based on what they had seen in Brawly's live stream last month. As far as he was concerned, Ash wanted that opinion of him to remain until these people saw him live. He had so much more in store for his opponent today. This thought brought a grin of eagerness to Ash's face, and the urge for movement began to bubble up within him.

He couldn't wait to battle!

Clenching his hands, his forearms became tense. It felt like he was going to explode!

He couldn't practice anymore, so all he could do with this pent-up energy was pace back and forth, recalling what Giselle had told him concerning this match.

"Don't show him any respect, just dominate!" She declared to him. "He's not going to view you as his equal, so don't you dare think of him as your equal, because he's not. You're way better than him, so I want you to dominate! Dominate the field, dominate any weakness you see, just…dominate!"

He's wasn't sure what inspired that speech from Giselle, but she had imprinted one word on his mind.

Dominate.

That was their motto for this battle.

It was his first showing in the underground circuit, and anything less than a dominant performance wouldn't suffice.

Feeling an elbow grind against his side, Ash was snapped out his thoughts by Brock. As his focus returned, Ash could hear the commotion of the audience and realized that the beach had been filled to capacity.

"Whoa." Ash noted as he looked around.

"Big crowd today, but its New Year's Eve so I guess they must have sold every ticket this week," Brock explained before he gestured to the stadium. "They called in the participants. It's time."

Pikachu scaled Ash's body and took his usual perch on Ash's shoulder, gripping the shoulder of his trainer with his front paws. Brock then offered his own support, extending a hand toward Ash. They clapped their hands together, and Brock pulled him close to slap Ash's back with his free hand.

"Knock em' dead out there." Brock said to him before he released Ash.

With a short breath of air, Ash took a glance at Pikachu on his shoulder, and then to Brock. A grin formed on his face as he took a hold of the brim of his cap and tipped it to his friends.

"We got this." Ash declared, and with that, he went off toward the stadium.

The security at the front entrance was waiting with a checklist for the trainers that would be taking part this afternoon. Ash was met with some odd looks by the staff as he was checked in, but there were no words exchanged beyond the normal formalities. He was granted entry into the main lobby of the Hidden Cove where the trainers had been gathering. Compared to the outside of the stadium, it was almost deathly silent with a heavy atmosphere.

The trainers were scattered about the room, likely going through their final preparations for their upcoming matches. Upon entering, a familiar face in Melissa, Charles' assistant, approached him.

"There you are." She noted, taking a glance at the tablet she held. She skipped any sort of formal introductions and went straight to the information Ash needed. "You'll be battling from the blue box tonight, follow the attendant over there," She pointed to a man waiting at the entrance to the left corridor. "And he'll take you to the waiting room."

"Oh, thanks." Ash said to her.

"And good luck tonight." She added and then she left him.

Melissa returned to the center of the room where she cleared her throat and called for everyone's attention.

"All participants are accounted for. We want to thank you, trainers, for all the hard work you and your Pokemon have done in preparation for tonight. It's an honor to have you all battling here at the Hidden Cove, and we hope that all of you will deliver a memorable performance for those attending. So, without further ado, you may all head to the waiting room. We will be opening the main gate in five minutes, and then fifteen minutes after that we will begin." Melissa explained, then she gestured to each of the attendants who called for their respective groups to follow them.

The trainers filed out of the lobby, Ash being among the last to go.

"Aye there boy." A voice called out to him, and Ash turned. The source was a young man wearing a colorful beanie that failed to contain his lengthy dreadlocks. This was, 'Island Pete.'

"You talking to me?" Ash asked in response as 'Pete' or, Peter approached him.

"Oh gosh, yes. Don't ya recognize me?" Peter asked in return, and Ash furrowed his brow, detecting the thick island accent Peter spoke with. He was speaking English, but Ash had to take moment to sift through his words before he could put it all together.

"No." Ash gave him a straight forward answer, and Peter sucked his teeth audibly.

"How ya don't know me?" He inquired, but then he waved off his own question, deciding to introduce himself. "I am your opponent. They refer to me as 'Island Pete,' and I have never known defeat."

Ash cringed at the rhyme and felt the need to point out an obvious fact.

"I read about you." Ash began, and Peter donned a smile of pride. "I'm pretty sure your record was four wins and seven losses…so I'm pretty sure you know a thing or two about defeat."

Peter's gaze became narrow, and he leaned toward Ash.

"Look nah, don't get fresh with me cause ya young," Peter warned him in a low voice. "Ya know how long it been since I beat a teenage that feel he fresh? You go ahead with me…"

Ash stared back him, unable to give a rebuttal largely due to the fact that he needed time to process what Peter had said. Ash's silence left Peter with the impression that he had put Ash in his place, and a smirk formed on his face.

"Now boy, if ya know what good for ya, lose quick and spare ya-self the shame," Peter added, and Ash creased his brow. "I don't want to humiliate ya in fron-ta all these people."

"I wouldn't be worried about that." Ash retorted.

"Ya feel ya bad or what?" Pete asked him, but before Ash could give a response Peter sucked his teeth and continued. "I can't wait to take all the money from ya sponsor. It'll be a big payday for me. No more callaloo, just the finer things of Kanto. My first dinner go be tastin' nice because I beat teenager that feel he fresh."

Peter turned away to head off toward the waiting room. He glanced over his shoulder to share his final comment with Ash.

"Don't feel bad when ya lose boy. Because I am 'Island Pete.' And I can't be beat."

Ash deadpanned at the second delivery of Peter's motto as the man went on his way. Staring at the back of his first opponent, Ash's expression became hardened.

His brow was low, gaze sharp, teeth grit and a fire in his heart.

The last time Ash had sat in a waiting room, it was at the free clinic a few months ago with Fantina to get his arm checked out. It was a dreadfully boring experience, and of course he wasn't looking forward the next time he would have to be a waiting room. That next time was today, and he was waiting for his match within the Hidden Cove stadium which proved to be a surreal experience.

Perhaps it was because he was anxious, and eager and excited and…a whole lot of other things. But above all else, he wanted to battle. Of course, this feeling was shared among all the trainers present, so collectively this passion or zeal that filled the room threatened to overwhelm them all. Thankfully there was a release valve, the call for the first match to begin. And as the first trainer left the room, it was like everyone exhaled at once.

It was finally starting.

The monitors on the wall came to life, showing the MC who was located in a special seating area in the upper reaches of the stadium. He thanked everyone present for attending despite the holiday and called for the first two trainers to approach the battlefield.

They were introduced, each receiving a round of applause before the battle begun. The battle itself began to blur in Ash's vision, his focus now elsewhere.

He was actually here!

Not as a spectator, but as a participant! All these people were here to watch him battle. He was the real deal, a professional Pokemon trainer!

"There are all kinds of trainers out there. But the ones that can't give a battle their all…They don't deserve to be trainers."

Volkner's words boomed from within the recesses of his mind, and Ash shook his head as if to activate a pair of windshield wipers to clear away these distractions. He wasn't going to repeat the mistake he made against Brawly. Right now, he had to stay focused.

Ash took in another breath, and the rampant thumping of his heart abated. A chilling calmness descended onto him, and Pikachu tightened his grip on Ash's shoulder. A glance at his partner allowed Ash to peer into Pikachu's dark eyes and the sharpness that occupied them.

They were ready.

Out of the blue, his phone buzzed. His intention had been to ignore it, but it buzzed again, and again. Removing the device from his pocket, Ash turned it on to see that he now had five inbound text messages.

"Yo Ash, I heard from Brock that you're going into your debut match! Best of luck to ya man!" – Tierno.

"You got this dude, show them your stuff!" – Brock

"Good luck Ash, I'm rooting for you!" – Shauna

"Just trust in Pikachu and you'll be fine." – Valerie

"Dominate!" – Giselle

Ash showed his phone to Pikachu, and without a word between them, they knew that they couldn't fail now. They had so many people backing them. They couldn't fail them.

We won't.

Ash raised his brow at Pikachu, and a smile broke out on his face. In response to Pikachu's statement, Ash punched his palm audibly and this earned the attention of the entire room. He rose to his feet and looked around to meet the gaze of the trainers. Some of their eyes were filled with ire and indignation. Others, amusement. Ash beamed at them all and planted his thumb against his chest.

"My name is Ash Ketchum, of Pallet Town, and one day I'm going to be the greatest Pokemon Master!"

His name had been called just minutes after his declaration, and an attendant waited for him in the corridor to guide him to the battlefield.

"Are you sure you don't want to put you Pikachu in his Pokeball?" The attendant inquired as they moved. Ash shook his head and raised his hand to scratch the top of Pikachu's head.

"No Pokeball for this guy…yet." Ash replied, and the attendant raised his eyebrows at the sight of this Pikachu.

"You haven't captured this Pikachu?" He asked incredulously.

"Nope, he's just stuck with me since I was little, and I can't thank him enough for that." Ash replied, and Pikachu wore a broad smile.

"My, what a loyal Pokemon." The attendant commented, returning Pikachu's smile. Pikachu's ears perked up, the sound of the audience beginning to echo through the corridors as they neared the battlefield.

As a debuting trainer, the attendant gave Ash a brief rundown of the process leading up to the battle, and everything that was expected of him. Sportsmanship was the highest item on this list and it was a quality that all trainers were expected to display during their matches at the Hidden Cove.

They entered the final corridor, the largest that Ash had seen within the stadium. Similar to the main lobby, it was well decorated, hosting framed pictures of the most memorable trainers that had made an appearance at this stadium.

There were many trainers that Ash didn't recognize but grew to admire just from a quick observation of them in these photographs.

One, in particular, caught his eye. The trainer himself had striking red hair and wore a fluttering cape, but what demanded Ash's attention was the humongous and fearsome looking serpentine Pokemon behind him. It was only an image, but the furious red eyes of this Pokemon struck his heart with a sense of fear. How could anyone defeat such a Pokemon?

"Ah, that was a day no one will forget. It was the first time a Gyarados was used in battle here." The attendant explained with great admiration, and Ash's jaw dropped at the name of this Pokemon.

He had heard the stories about these Pokemon and their destructive nature, how old legends whispered of the towns and people that disappeared in the wake of this Pokemon's wrath. Ash's gaze focused on the caped trainer with an expression of awe. He struggled to grasp the thought of such a Pokemon being caught and trained for battle by this man. Such a feat just seemed…unfathomable. But he was staring at the photo evidence.

"I don't know what that young man must have gone through the capture a Gyarados, but he was regarded as one of the best to ever appear at the Hidden Cove." The attended explained with a grin.

"Where is he now?" Ash asked curiously. He had been through the database enough times to know that this man wasn't currently ranked, and the attendant's response confirmed this.

"I'm not sure. This picture," He gestured to the image. "Was his last appearance at the Hidden Cove, and that was a few years ago. I haven't heard about him since."

Ash pursed his lips in dismay. He would have loved to meet this trainer and ask him about that Gyarados. But that thought aside, Ash knew that now wasn't the time to get caught up in the rich history of this stadium. His debut match awaited him.

He and the attendant pressed on toward the end of the corridor, Ash doing his best to keep his eyes focused on the end of the tunnel. But one picture caught Pikachu's attention, and he voiced this to Ash. With a glance Ash froze as well, his eyes now caught in the gaze of the trainer that stared back at him.

It was his father, Aaron, standing alongside his Kadabra. The two of them stared blankly at the camera, clearly none too happy with being photographed.

I bet he's out there somewhere…watching us.

Ash glanced at Pikachu who stared at the picture intently.

"I'll bet he is." Ash commented, and while the enthusiasm may have been lacking in his voice, Pikachu could feel the desire burning up from within Ash.

His desire for triumph and success.

To prove himself.

And validate his dream.

"Let's show him what we've got."

Ash distinctly heard the MC give a call for 'Island Pete' to approach his trainer box on the field, and Ash knew what was going to follow.

"And now in the blue box, in his debut match here at the Hidden Cove, please welcome the newcomer, 'Quest!'"

The attendant made a gesture to the end of the tunnel that opened up like a gaping maw to the battlefield. Ash gave him a nod and tore off in a sprint. The filtered lights within the tunnel couldn't compare to the lights that loomed over the battlefield. This forced him to lower his head, using the visor of his cap to shield his eyes as he came skidding to a stop in his trainer box. The temptation to look around the audience was great, but Ash suppressed this urge and set his sights on his opponent across the field.

Peter was fiddling with a miniaturized Pokeball, anxiously waiting for the referee to explain the rules for the battle.

"So now, without further ado, I hand things over to the referee." The MC announced, and the crowd became quiet as the ref called for both trainers to come to the middle of the field.

Ash and Peter met at centerfield, and the ref came up to them to go over the rules.

"Circuit rules apply to this battle. It is a one on one and calls for forfeit will be acknowledged. The battle will be ended with either Pokemon is judged unable to continue." The ref explained. "Shake hands and return to your boxes. The battle will begin on my mark."

The formality was exchanged, and both trainers turned away from each other, making the trip back to their box. Ash kept his gaze low, refusing to acknowledge the existence of the audience. As far as he was concerned, there were only four people in existence.

Pikachu.

Peter and his Pokemon.

And the referee.

"Trainers, select your Pokemon." The ref ordered. Ash held the tip of his visor and gave a nod to Pikachu who leaped from his shoulder to the field. Pikachu went down on all fours, pressing his paws down on the field to experiment with the foundation he would be fighting on. It was a hard-rocky surface, portions of the field being left uneven as natural wear and tear from the battles each week. But this was right up Pikachu's alley. There was nothing in sight to impede his movements, which gave them free reign.

"Roselia!" Peter barked as he pressed the trigger on his Pokeball. It swelled to its full size in his hand, and he hurled the device onto the field. It cracked open and a formless being bathed in white jumped down to the field where it took on its natural form.

Ash eyed Roselia for himself and seeing this Pokemon left him thinking that she was more suited to be a decorative piece than a combatant in a Pokemon battle. But then again, the appearance of Roselia was likely what made her such a dangerous opponent.

"Are you ready, trainers?" The referee inquired, and there was mutual nod of agreement from the parties involved. He raised the flag he held and called for the contest to begin.

Ash swung his hand through the air and barked out an order to Pikachu, who flickered in response. Then Pikachu darted forward, flashing across the field in an instant as he approached Roselia for a frontal assault. With only a moment to react, Roselia raised her arms in front of her chest and braced for impact. The first attack never came, and she lowered her guard slightly to scan the field for Pikachu but he was nowhere in sight.

Peter's mouth hung open, unable to conceal his shock at Pikachu's speed. He had a full view of the battlefield but it was still very difficult to track the yellow blur as he dashed around the field. Suddenly Roselia was sent flying to her side, Pikachu now standing where she stood previously with a smirk on his face. Roselia rolled twice before she slapped the ground to set herself back on her feet, shooting a glare at her opponent. Ash thumbed his nose, a grin breaking out on his face.

Their advantage in speed was as clear as day, but Peter was quick to acknowledge this.

"Roselia, protect ya-self with Stun Spore!" Peter called out, sending a smirk at Ash. Roselia raised her flowery limbs and spun, coating the area around her in a cloud of sparkling gold dust. Peter then raised his hand and motioned for Pikachu to attack. They would punish Ash and Pikachu for getting up close and personal with Roselia.

"Deep breath Pikachu!" Ash called out, and Pikachu cocked his head back to inhale deeply. "Now use Quick Attack again!"

With distended cheeks, Pikachu glowed white as he charged in and Pete gawked at the command. Who in their right mind would charge headfirst into a Stun Spore?! Pikachu darted into the cloud and circled Roselia to strike from behind. He really dug into this one before he connected with Roselia, throwing her straight out of the area she had sealed off with Stun Spore. Roselia grimaced from the blow to her body but landed upright, a pout on her face as she saw Pikachu exit the Stun Spore.

He shook his body from head to toe, tossing off any of the dust that had gotten onto his fur. Pikachu beamed at Roselia who gave a 'tsk,' her irritation with Pikachu becoming quite evident.

"Wha-tis this boy?" Peter exclaimed, pointing emphatically at Pikachu who was just fine despite spending some time within the Stun Spore cloud. "Pikachu should as stiff as a board right now!"

"Shows you don't know much about that attack you're using." Ash responded with a grin, though he had Giselle to thank for this information. She had discussed every move that Peter's Roselia knew with him, and of course, Stun Spore had been covered in this discussion.

Stun Spore was a deceptively powerful move for its ability to incapacitate the opponent by attacking the nervous system. For it to do so, it had to be inhaled to enter the bloodstream, and from there it's lethal effects would take shape. But these powerful effects could easily be avoided by something as simple as holding your breath. This revelation left Ash snickering, but he came to understand this was an attack meant to capitalize an opportunity on a trapped opponent, not for a neutral engagement.

"Alright then, Roselia show them your Mega Drain!" Peter commanded, and Roselia raised her hands above her head. Wisps of yellow gathered at the center of her flowers, and from this, it took on the form of a serpentine which Roselia lashed out at Pikachu with like a whip.

"Dodge it with your Agility, Pikachu!" Ash ordered immediately. The serpent-like beam was launched at Pikachu, the head of it diving onto the Pokemon like an Arbok would on its prey. It came crashing down onto the field, pounding a sizable hole into its surface which threw up dust and debris. Roselia narrowed her eyes, realizing that her attack had failed to latch onto its target, so she scanned the field briefly in search of Pikachu.

A yellow blur flickered across her field of vision, and her head snapped to the side in an attempt to track him. Pikachu was all over the place, and Roselia was desperately trying to follow his movements as she retracted her Mega Drain in preparation to launch it again.

"Now use Double Team!" Ash shouted, deciding that now was the time for them to go on a full offense. Roselia was clearly becoming frustrated with Pikachu's speed, so it was time to make a play on that. Pikachu stepped hard on the field, turning up his speed another notch as he ran a circle around Roselia, summoning a total of six after-images around her. Roselia 'tsked' at the sight of all the Pikachu around her, and glared at each of them, then she summoned her Mega Drain once again and attacked.

The image she struck faded away and a new one took its place in a different location. Peter sucked his teeth and shot a glare at Ash as his Roselia did to Pikachu. What he had expected to battle, and what he was currently battling didn't match at all. Ash wasn't 'supposed' to be good. He was 'supposed' to be a frazzled teenager that didn't know his place as a trainer.

So why…why was he performing so well?

Ash swiped the tip of his nose with his thumb and called for Pikachu to begin his assault. One of the images burst forward with a shout, and Roselia turned and lashed out with her Mega Drain in response. The image faded away once again, and another image burst forward.

Roselia appeared as if she was performing gymnastics, wielding her Mega Drain as though it were a ribbon stick. She twirled and spun, intercepting each of Pikachu's attacks with the use of her Mega Drain, trying to narrow down her targets to hit the real Pikachu. To her surprise, there was a call from Ash for Pikachu to 'ramp it up,' and his assault intensified. Two images would attack at a time, and Roselia found herself struggling to keep up. Separating her Mega Drain into two separate but smaller whips, she began to spin rapidly in the same fashion as a Baltoy, forcing Pikachu to keep his distance for the time being.

"Nice Roselia, keep that up!" Peter exclaimed with a clap of his hands. That was all he needed, more time to develop a plan.

Pikachu maintained his distance, carefully observing Roselia as she spun.

"What do you think Pikachu?" Ash asked aloud.

"Pika!" He declared, stamping his front paws. I see it!

Ash pumped his fist and raised his hand to the visor of his cap. Taking hold of it, he turned it around and smiled broadly now that he knew his next move.

"Quick Attack!"

The Double Team faded away, and Pikachu glowed white before he went off to the races. He traced a white line around the perimeter of Roselia's defense, matching Roselia's turn speed to run alongside one of the Mega Drain whips.

He knew what Pikachu intended to do. It was one of the first things they had practiced with Brock and Giselle. How to accelerate on a dime. Ash could tell by Pikachu's declaration that he could see through Roselia's defense. At his top speed, there was no doubt that Pikachu could pierce through and score a blow. And it all went according to plan.

Pikachu turned and vanished from sight altogether. In the instant that this happened, Roselia was knocked off her feet and sent spiraling. Just as Roselia touched the ground, Pikachu was there, throwing his shoulder into her torso. She gave a pained gasp from the blow as she was thrown up into the air, and once again she came face to face with Pikachu. He was above her, poised to strike as they met. Another blow to her body began Roselia's descent to the field, but Pikachu followed up with a chain of attacks. Each subsequent blow increased Roselia's velocity as they fell, and she was smashed into the field by a fierce tail slam from Pikachu. Her frail body had been imprinted into the field from the attack, cracks extending from the point of impact as she laid on her back.

Her Mega Drain whips dissipated as Pikachu leaped away from her, and the referee stepped onto the field since Roselia remained still. He approached, and moments later his ruling was given.

He raised his flag and gave a motion toward Ash.

"Roselia is unable to battle, the victory goes to the blue box!" He declared.

For the first time since he had set foot on the field, Ash was forced to look up and acknowledge the audience. His ears popped, and their applause and cheers rained down upon him. He almost lost his footing as he looked around, and the realization set in that all this was for him.

"Great match rookie!"

"Come back again, I'll root for you!"

It was…unreal.

A moment of triumph. One that he wished could last forever. But the following moment he enjoyed just as much, if not more. Pikachu had jumped into his chest, and Ash managed to catch his partner and welcome him into an embrace.

"You were absolutely awesome Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed, praising Pikachu for their success. Together they looked up to the audience and beamed, waving to the crowd.

"ASH!" Another voice roared over the cheers, and of all the people to come running toward him, it was Brock. Wrapping Ash in his arms, Brock hoisted him off his feet proudly. "You did it, man! You did it!"

"Spectators are not allowed on the field." The MC declared over the speakers, and out of his peripheral vision, Brock caught sight of two of the security attendants rushing toward him. He dropped Ash, gave him a wide grin and a two-fingered salute before he was tackled to the field. "We apologize for the minor disturbance; the following match will resume shortly."

Ash could hear the laughter from the stands above as everyone watched the security team drag Brock off the field. Sheepishly he scratched at the back of his neck and glanced at the eight-foot wall that Brock had jumped down from. Only Brock was crazy enough to do that, and right after a match no less.

"Come on Pikachu, let's hope Brock doesn't have to pay a fine or something." Ash muttered as he began to march off the field. Turning his cap back around as he approached the tunnel, Ash couldn't help but pump his fist once more.

He had done it!

He won his debut match!

Brock had been detained in a security office, a small room tucked away in the farthest corner of the Hidden Cove stadium. Following their protocol, Brock was to be kept there by the security team until today's matches were over. For most spectators, this was a hefty punishment considering the price of a ticket. In Brock's case, he got in for free thanks to Ash, but getting him out was an entirely different issue.

Fortunately, Charles Goodshow made an appearance and made an exception for Brock. Rather than spend the rest the day here, he was ordered to leave the stadium with a warning that they wouldn't be so lenient next time Brock was involved in something like this. Ash and Brock thanked the elderly man earnestly, and from there the duo was escorted to the exit of the stadium.

Once they were outside, the group of Ash, Brock, and Pikachu shared a glance and burst into a fit of laughter.

"Only you could get us thrown out of this place Brock." Ash pointed out, and Brock raised his hands in his defense.

"Hey, I got caught up in the moment." He retorted. "I couldn't help it!"

"I can understand that." Ash sympathized with him, a glint in his eyes. "I mean, at least you didn't flirt with that lady in the security office. That could've made this a whole lot worse."

"Sheesh, you talk like I have no self-control." Brock exclaimed, and Ash shot him a look.

"You don't when it comes to women." Ash said pointedly, and Brock's mouth hung agape causing Pikachu to laugh out loud.

"S…so?" He mumbled, and Ash could only shake his head. Brock had no self-control, and he also had no shame in admitting this. "Forget about what I did," Brock pointed at Ash with two fingers emphatically. "You're the star right now man! Everyone at the barbeque is going to be so hyped to hear that you won!"

"Oh shoot, I forgot all about it!" Ash exclaimed, and suddenly he became conscious of his body odor. He had been training hard all day in preparation for his match, and his current stench was also proof of this.

"Heh, I figured as much," Brock replied as they began their journey down to the shoreline. "I had Shauna bring a change of clothes for you to my house with your sisters. You can shower up and get changed over there."

Ash stopped mid-step as Brock went on ahead of him. Staring at the back of his friend, Ash's expression became lopsided. No matter what, Brock always had his back. Big or small, he could count on Brock. And this thought reminded him of his current situation that all his friends had so graciously been helping him through. They were all unbelievable people, and he would make it up to them ten times over! Of course, the first person he intended to pay back was Brock. Running after his friend, Ash put an arm around Brock's neck and pulled him down slightly.

"I can't thank you enough for looking out for me, Brock." Ash stated in a low voice.

"What are friends for?" Brock asked in return, giving Ash a gleaming grin.

"Pika-pikapi." Pikachu commented snidely, and Ash laughed loudly.

"Oh shoot, I see Pikachu's got some choice words for you." Brock noted with a chuckle, causing Pikachu to raise his brow.

"Wait, you heard Pikachu just now?" Ash questioned.

"I definitely heard something about 'dragging your sorry ass.'" Brock replied, and Pikachu couldn't help but snicker.

"So, you…you can understand Pikachu?" Ash exclaimed, looking from Pikachu to Brock.

"Well yeah, Valerie said it best, 'it's a language of love.' Pikachu loves you," Brock said, and Pikachu gave a nod of agreement. Brock then placed a thumb against his own chest and spoke fluidly. "And I love ya."

A heartfelt smile took shape on Ash's face, and he shook his head at the sentiments of his friends. He couldn't have asked for two better ones.

"Now come on Ash, you can't keep everyone at the barbeque waiting. Everyone wants to hear the good news!" Brock declared as he pointed to the nearest Mantine that waited on the shore.

In twenty minutes, they were back on the rocky beach where they had parked Brock's car.

"I'm telling you, man, you were amazing out there!" Brock insisted as they arrived at his car. He mimicked Ash's action of turning his cap around and gave a 'V for victory.' "And when you did that, I knew it was all over. I stood up and was like, Ash has got this!"

Ash gave a quiet laugh as Brock retold the battle from his perspective, giving Ash some the minor details that had gone unnoticed while he was battling.

"I even managed to get a snapshot of you when you did that." Brock commented as he whipped out his phone. As he went through his gallery with one hand, he used the other to unlock the car for them. Ash and Pikachu got into the passenger side, and the small Pokemon jumped into the backseat, where he flopped over with a sigh of contentment.

"Yeah, you earned a good rest Pikachu." Ash stated as he watched Pikachu snuggle into the plush seats.

"Ah, here we go!" Brock said, passing Ash his phone. He then strapped himself with his seat belt and started the engine, leaving Ash to study the picture.

It was at a distance, but Ash could clearly see this image was just moments after he had given his final command to Pikachu. Ash felt his heart quiver at the sight of this picture, and he tightened his grasp of Brock's phone.

It was a picture of him…in an official battle at the Hidden Cove.

The last three months seemed to hit all at once. All of the time he spent under Giselle's tutelage. The information, her experience, she beat all of this into his brain to help him reach this point.

Then there was his best friend in Brock, making the time and effort to drag him from school to Route 6 on a daily basis so that he could train freely with Pikachu. If not for Brock, Ash had no idea how he would've gotten this far.

And of course, he couldn't forget his partner through all of this. The countless hours spent under the late afternoon sun refining what they had learned. Ash couldn't help but place a hand on his lower torso, remembering the blows he had received from Pikachu to help him practice his target acquisition.

All of this had gotten them to the Hidden Cove.

To take one tiny step forward in his journey.

They made it!

"Ash, what are you doing?" Brock asked him, looking back and forth between Ash and the road.

Ash had taken off his seatbelt and lowered the window on the passenger side. Without a word in reply to Brock, Ash stuck his upper body out of the window until he could rest his bottom on the window sill. He stared out at the glimmering sea and admired how it stretched out to the vast horizon. A view that seemed to go on forever. His chest swelled, and Ash could no longer contain the excitement that was building within him.

He threw his head back and screamed.

"I'm going to be the greatest Pokemon Master ever!"

How he wished his scream could be carried on the waves to the lands across the sea. To share with people across the world that…Ash 'Quest' Ketchum, was coming!

A/N

I think I'll start with a disclaimer. The quote by Giselle earlier in this chapter was made in reference to a quote by Bruce Lee. I take no credit for how it was used in this story.

Now on to the big takeaway from this chapter, HE DID IT! It was quite a road just to get to this point, but Ash made it! It feels awesome to have made it this far!

Here's something I'd like to share if you're interested. It's about 'Island Pete.' Several times its mentioned that he has a thick accent that Ash has trouble making sense of. In case you're not familiar with what an island accent sounds like, just go on Youtube and look up Trinidadian or Jamaican expressions to get feel for how he was talking. This was one of the minor details I have in this universe, similar to how Fantina speaks French because she's from Kalos. People from the mainland in Hoenn speak Spanish, while the islands speak English with an accent like the Caribbean Islands. Just thought I'd share this piece of information with you guys. :D

This chapter also joined my favorites list, and it's chock full of little details all over the place. I won't mention their significance, but they are definitely there if you feel like searching for them.

This battle was…kind of tough, I want to say. I was trying to explore more possibilities with Pokemon moves beyond just the aspect of hitting each other. I feel like that's the next step I could take to improve my battles, but as I've said before, I'm learning on the fly. The next battle is sooner rather than later, so wish me luck on my next attempt.

I want to welcome all of my new followers for joining me on this ride. And I also want to thank those of you who reviewed as well. And of course, a big shout out to MjrGenMatt for his outstanding help.

The closing scene to this chapter was something I pictured a long time ago, so its kind of surreal to finally write and publish it. Thank you all for supporting me up until this point! There is going to be a small delay on the next chapter. Chapter 25 is already being edited, but I have to complete chapter 26 to double check a few things before I can upload chapter 25. My apologies in advance, but I hope to see you all at the next update!

Chapter Text

Ash sunk further into the warm water of his bath, leaning his head back against the smooth ceramic. It wasn't until he eased himself into the tub of Brock's upstairs bathroom that Ash realized how tired he was. He had showered every night during the past three months, but this bath felt so much more soothing, as if the exhaustion from the past several weeks were being washed away. Was it because the tension and pressure to succeed in his first match no longer applied? It had to be. He felt loose and relaxed.

Pikachu surfaced in the water, only a portion of his head visible as he observed Ash. There was a glint in his eyes that Ash recognized, causing the young man to straighten up at the sight of it. He was too late though, Pikachu swirled in the water, and Ash could only deadpan after his face had been doused.

"Ugh, Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed as he wiped the water from his face. Pikachu snickered at the sight of his now droopy hair, earning a narrow stare from Ash, but he was too lazy to retaliate. Leaning back again, Ash took a deep breath and chose to ignore Pikachu as his partner resurfaced on the other side of the tub, climbing up onto the edge.

Observing Pikachu as he shook his fur, Ash couldn't help but recall a similar sight with the Stun Spore in their battle not even two hours ago. A grin formed on his face as the memories flashed in his mind. Pikachu darting around the field as Roselia battled back with her Mega Drain whips was a sight to behold. The thought of the referee declaring them the winner sent chills down his back, and the roar of the audience was the cherry on top.

He could hardly believe that he had just won his first match at the Hidden Cove. No matter how many times he replayed it in his mind, it was still difficult to grasp. He was finally moving forward!

Ash raised his head, catching the scent of something delicious in the air.

Barbeque!

He licked his lips, and the rest of his time in the bath became an afterthought. His stomach was now at the top of his priority list!

Once he was cleaned off and fully dressed in the t-shirt and jeans Brock had provided, Ash and Pikachu darted downstairs, where they could hear the commotion loud and clear. Approaching the open door that led out onto the back porch, Ash and Pikachu had a full view of the backyard and everyone that occupied it. It ranged from Brock's family to his closest friends and family, but it was the littlest person of all that was the first to notice his entry.

"Ashy!" Macy exclaimed as she approached, arms outstretched. He kneeled down and scooped her up in his arms, beaming at her. "Did-ja win?"

"Did I?" Ash asked her in return as he looked up in thought. "O'course I did!"

"I knew it! Ashy's the best!" She declared as a group of Valerie, Tierno and Shauna joined them on the porch.

"Well, I'll take it you have some good news?" Valerie asked with a smile as Ash set Macy back down on her feet so that she could address Pikachu.

"Sure do!" Ash said as he struck a pose, topped off with a V for victory! "You can put down one in the win column!"

"Ha-ha! I knew you had it in you!" Tierno exclaimed as he hooked his arm around Ash's neck, pulling his friend down in a headlock. "I just can't believe you didn't invite me to come to see it in person. I didn't even know you had a professional match until Brock sent me that text earlier."

Guilt tinged Ash's expression momentarily as he glanced up at Tierno. He had become so absorbed in his training during the last month that the thought of telling his friends didn't even occur to him. And he was shocked that Brock had kept the secret up until this point.

"Ah, I'm sorry Tierno. I was caught up in myself trying to get ready for it," Ash apologized as Tierno released him. "I'll make it up to you. How about I getcha tickets to my match next weekend?"

"That sounds good in my book!" Tierno declared, and they shook on it.

"Hey 'grill-master!' You're needed at your station!" Flint barked from across the yard, and Tierno perked up. It was then that Ash noticed Tierno was wearing a large apron that stated: Kiss the Grill-Master. He stifled at a laugh and watched as Tierno left them to join Flint at the grill.

"WOW!" Two voices thrilled together. Billy and Tilly came rushing up onto the porch where they crowded around Pikachu with Macy. "What's this one?!"

Their curiosity was heartwarming, and Ash fought to hold in a smile as Macy introduced Pikachu to them. Billy and Tilly were absolutely enthralled with Pikachu, smothering him as they patted his head and groomed his fur. Pikachu was loving all of the extra attention he was getting as they took him off into the yard for more room to play.

"Remind me to thank Pikachu later," Valerie said with a giggle to Ash. When he gave her a look of intrigue, she went on to explain. "Spritzee isn't used to being around kids. She didn't really like how Brock's siblings were handling her."

Ash took a glance around the yard in search of the pink Pokemon and found her perched on the shoulder of Brock's mother, Lola. Ash could just imagine the woman fiercely protecting Spritzee from her hyperactive twins.

"To be honest, I'm still a little shocked that Brock's parents let us bring out Pokemon into their home," Valerie admitted as her gaze shifted from Flint, who was working the grill with Tierno, to Lola, who was lounging on a lawn chair with Spritzee. "Although what really surprised me was how quick Brock's mom took a liking to Spritzee."

"Really?" He exclaimed, brows raised and Valerie gave him a nod to confirm.

"Yup, she already labeled Spritzee as her," Valerie stopped to snicker, then she raised her hands to make air quotes. "'Golden child.'"

Ash laughed out loud, picturing Brock's dumbfounded reaction to such a statement.

"Anyway, I'm really happy for you, Ash." Valerie said sweetly, and with that she went off, leaving Ash and Shauna to talk amongst themselves.

"So, you really did it? You won your big match?" She asked him curiously as they turned their backs to the yard and leaned against the banister of the porch.

"You know it," Ash replied cheekily before he looked up at the sky that stretched out over them. It was pasted with orange glows, signaling the approach of the final night of the year. Ash's expression became more somber as he seemed to relax, and Shauna took note of this. "For a while, I was wondering if I'd ever make it to this point. Now that I did it's…it's hard to really believe this happened."

Shauna gave him a faint smile and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, ya did it," She stated. "And you busted your butt to do it. So just chill out for tonight."

"Yeah, I'm with you on that." Ash noted with a nod.

"Good. When you wake up tomorrow, it'll be easier to accept it," Shauna said, and she opened her mouth to continue, but uncertainty touched her on her shoulders causing her to hesitate. She glanced out at the yard again, her eyes going straight to Serena, who was chatting with Miette by the stereo system. With a deep breath, Shauna pushed her doubts aside and went on. "And if you still can't believe it, do me a favor and believe this didn't happen."

Ash furrowed his brow, but before he could even direct his questioning glance at Shauna, he felt her lips against his cheek. It was quick, no more than a fraction of a second, and he needed a moment to process it. His cheeks turned pink as he struggled to word a question.

"Wha-Sh…" Ash could only bumble out his shock as Shauna stuck out her tongue playfully. She then turned on her heels and left him, walking with a skip in her step. With her back turned to Ash, she hid a blush of her own, but her gaze drifted to the two people that had seen the small kiss she had left Ash with.

Miette and Serena.

"Alright, what was that Shauna?" Miette exclaimed as she, Serena and Shauna stepped into the kitchen, where they could speak with some privacy. Shauna sat at the table across from Serena, and Miette was looming over Shauna as if to interrogate her.

"What was what?" She asked innocently, and Miette rolled her eyes.

"Don't play that game, you know what I'm talking about." Miette retorted as she pointed a finger at Shauna exaggeratedly. Shauna narrowed her eyes but maintained her playful demeanor.

"Is this really any of your business, Miette?" Shauna inquired, but Miette responded by dropping her hand on the table. Shauna winced but held a smile.

"I'm making it my business." Miette proclaimed, earning a snicker from the brunette.

"That's so like you," Shauna noted before she shifted her gaze to Serena, who had been silent since they entered the kitchen. "I'm waiting for you to say something."

Serena observed her friend, her face lacking in expression.

"I mean, do you have a problem with that kiss?" Shauna asked Serena, and suddenly all eyes were on her. Serena pursed her lips and took a deep breath through her nostrils.

"Well, what am I supposed to say?" Serena asked them. "He was dating Dawn for a while. It's not my place to tell him he can't see someone else. Nor is my place tell you," She focused on Shauna with what felt like a chilly glare, but her face held no sort of disdain for her friend. "That you can't kiss him…no matter how much I hate it."

"Why are being so freaking noble?" Miette muttered with a small laugh of disbelief. "You can't really be okay with this?"

Serena shot her a look, and there was a brief pause as they shared some unspoken communication. Then Miette bit down on her lower lip with a groan of irritation.

"Fine then!" Miette turned back to Shauna to pose a question. "Answer this for me, why?"

"Why what?" Shauna asked, and Miette's stare became narrow causing Shauna to drop the façade. "The kiss, right…well…I was happy for him, and I wanted to show it."

"So then, was it just a kiss? Or was there more to it?" Miette pressed, and Shauna looked up in thought.

"I think that…I got a chance to see exactly what Serena, and Dawn, fell in love with." Shauna noted, causing both her friends to raise their brows. "I always thought of him as a kid, but there's more to him than I gave him credit for. I almost feel stupid now for thinking he was too young for me. In fact, I wish I had tried to look at him, you know, with an open mind from the beginning. I would've noticed how amazing he is a lot sooner."

Shauna and Serena shared a glance, a hint of a smile on their faces.

"It's just like best friends to fall for the same guy." Serena mumbled out, and Miette pinched her nose with a sigh.

"Then I guess I have no choice but to join the club." Miette stated, causing Shauna to laugh out loud.

"The more the merrier. A little competition might keep things interesting." Shauna said with a sly grin before she stole a glance at Serena.

With this, she caught a glimpse of agitation on Serena's expression. Her jaw was tight, and she bit down on her lower lip ever so slightly. No matter how much Serena might pretend this conversation wasn't bothering her, Shauna could imagine that it must have been eating away at her insides.

"But I will say this, I know that Serena had her eyes on him first. And I'll respect that." Shauna stated, giving Serena a wink. "But I'm going make a pact with him. If, for whatever reason, we're still single at forty, we're gonna get married."

Silence ensued as her friends stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Are you aware of how ridiculous you sound right now?" Miette asked her, earning a laugh from Shauna.

"I'm totally fine with that, because you said the same thing when Serena said she was going to start dating Ash." Shauna pointed out, and Miette faltered. She had indeed said those exact words to Serena almost two years ago. But in her defense, it did seem ridiculous for Serena to date a junior in high school when she was nineteen!

"Alright then, what if I make the same pact with him, but for when we're thirty-five?" Miette asked, sporting a smug grin.

"I'll propose when we're thirty then!" Shauna hollered back.

"I'll propose to Ash right now then!" Miette declared, and Serena palmed her forehead.

"Uh…" Brock had walked in when the proposals began, and he found himself smirking at the girls.

"Don't get any crazy ideas, Brock!" Miette said vehemently, recognizing the look in his eyes. Trouble was sure to follow if they didn't nip this in the bud.

"I don't have any ideas," Brock replied. "But now I know Tierno isn't going crazy. Ash really does get all the girls."

"He did not get all of us!" Miette barked as she took a threatening step toward Brock. Recognizing the danger of an aggravated Miette, Brock turned to leave but she darted off to pursue.

Shauna and Serena laughed together. Once their laughter cooled off, Shauna felt the need to assure Serena that she had no intention of trying to capture Ash.

"But earlier you said that you-," Serena began.

"I know what I said." Shauna interjected, and the night she had been caught drinking by Ash came back to her with clarity, especially one phrase in particular.

"I just feel awful knowing that I hurt someone else chasing this dream I have."

"I wouldn't want to put him through that again," Shauna explained softly. "So, don't think of me as any sort of threat. You and Ash have been amazing friends for me this past month. I couldn't do anything to hurt you guys."

Once again, the back entrance to the kitchen was opened, this time by Tierno.

"Hey, are you guys going to stay in here all night? The party is just getting started!" Tierno said with a gesture for them to join everyone outside. The center of the yard had become the dance floor as everyone was rocking to the music.

"Come on," Shauna stated as she jumped to her feet. "Let's forget all the heavy stuff and have a good time tonight."

Serena agreed wholeheartedly, and they returned to the yard.

Stationed by the stereo system, Trevor was happy to take on the duty of DJ for the night. His laptop held a six-hour playlist function as their source of music, filled with a variety of songs, including a few requests from each of his friends. Brock had been the first one to make a request, calling for everyone to vacate the dance floor.

"Alright people, I want the Jive Steppers on the floor!" Brock declared as he pointed at each of his crew members.

"Oh god, don't tell me we're actually keeping that name." Miette groaned as the group of five joined their captain.

"Yeah, it's the only thing we've got right now. Come up with a better one and I'll be happy to change it." Brock replied to her.

"Not cool, man!" Tierno exclaimed in defense.

"What's the deal Brock, what are we doing?" Serena asked curiously. Brock had mentioned his desire to do a routine for his family, but he had never specified what exactly they would do.

"I thought it'd be nice to give Shauna's routine a go." He replied, and Shauna's eyes became wide.

"We've only done it together, like, twice." She pointed out, and Brock shrugged his shoulders.

"So? It's not like this performance counts or anything." Brock responded, and Shauna felt her shoulders sag.

"Yeah, it'll be fine Shauna." Serena assured her, but Shauna still felt conflicted.

Perhaps because this was the first routine for which she was responsible for all of the choreography. Shauna had only shown it to the rest of the group two weeks ago, so they had hardly practiced it, and a part of her wanted everything to be perfect before this routine was unveiled.

But at the same time, everyone was here to have a good time. There was no one here who expected perfection from them. And she couldn't expect that from them either.

"Alright." She said with a nod to the group, and Brock clapped audibly to get everyone's attention. He pointed a finger at Trevor, a signal to begin their track. The clap of hands marked the beginning of the song, and Brock began to raise his hands as a motion for everyone to clap along.

Ash laughed at his friend and his exuberance. According to Brock, his family had seen videos of him performing and practicing with the crew, but this was the first live performance that they would see. Of course, Brock was going to show out.

As the beat intensified, the group of five took their places on the dance floor in a V formation with Shauna at the forefront. Each of them grooved in place to stay loose, and then Shauna gave them a countdown. Ash raised his brow as the routine began, already spotting a noticeable difference in style.

Serena had previously been responsible for most of the choreography that they did, and her work had always been very fluid and ballet-like. Shauna's style went contrary to her friend, lots of sharp, quick movements that you'd find the street performers using. Their footwork was fast, something that played to Miette and Brock's strengths, and their hands were constantly in motion. They commanded everyone's attention, earning some exclamations of awe from their audience.

Even though they made mistakes, as performers they smiled through it. As much as Ash wanted to focus on Shauna, because this was her routine, his eyes kept drifting to Serena beside her. It was hard to ignore her as she danced. Not that the rest of the group couldn't hold his attention, it was just that Serena was exceptionally captivating as she danced. The way her sundress moved as she twirled, the way she'd laugh with her hair in her face. Without saying a word to him, she demanded that his eyes remain on her.

The applause broke Ash out his thoughts as their performance came to an end, and the crew shared a group hug to praise Shauna for her work. It was outstanding, and they couldn't wait to use this in the future.

"Now it's my turn, Trevor!" Shauna hollered to the ginger-haired young man. "Everybody find a partner!"

As the dance floor became crowded again, Serena felt a pair of hands against her back pushing her forward. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that it was Shauna, and she was being moved straight toward Ash!

"Shauna!" Serena exclaimed before she was shoved into the young man. Stumbling, Serena was unable to correct herself before she collided with Ash.

"Whoa, are you okay there?" He asked, and Serena felt her cheeks redden as she leaned against him. He had hardly budged from the contact, and he had an arm around her waist to keep her from going anywhere.

"…Yeah." Serena muttered as she looked back in Shauna's direction, but she was long gone already. And, right on cue, the music began, hosting a tempo that Ash and Serena were very familiar with. One of the finest tango songs produced in Hoenn.

"So that's why she wanted us to find partners," Ash noted as he glanced down at Serena, and he stifled a laugh. "So, I guess it's no coincidence that you're with me now."

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Serena replied as she fixed her bangs, tucking them behind her ears. Then she posed the obvious question. "So, partners?"

"Well, I don't see why not." He said, offering her a hand. As she accepted this and placed her hand in his, Serena was surprised at how hard Ash's hands had become. He had always had such delicate hands that befit an artist, but now his hands were beginning to resemble that of someone who spent half their day in the dirt. And then when they came together, Serena felt as if Ash had gotten bigger. And she knew her mind wasn't playing tricks on her! Her forehead always used to hit his chin when they danced, but now his chin was out of range. He had grown!

Looking up at Ash, Serena couldn't help but study him intently, searching for new details that she had missed. An image of the Ash she had met for the first time two years ago flashed in her mind. He was sixteen, baby faced and pure to a fault. The young man in front of her now had indeed grown up, not just physically, but as a person that aspired to be all that he could be.

Serena felt her chest tighten as she looked down. Even though Ash was younger than her, and in a far less forgiving situation, he was still taking charge of his own life. Serena was the adult between the two of them due to technicalities, but Ash was the one who had grown up.

These Pokemon that he loved so much, they were clearly making him a better person. Ash's growth was phenomenal, and this realization frightened her. Ash was growing up faster than she was, and at the rate he was moving, it wouldn't be long before Pokemon took him to a faraway place.

A place that she couldn't go.

As the evening turned to night, the dancing waned and conversation became the predominant source of entertainment. The scent of charcoal had long since dissipated now that everyone had eaten their fill, and Lola went up on the porch to announce that dessert would be serviced in the kitchen.

With all of the children present, and Ash, there was quite a bit of commotion as the doorway into the kitchen became cluttered with bodies contesting to get in first. Ultimately, Ash found himself getting booted out of the kitchen as all of the kids were served first. Lola had gone as far as to ask for his age to make her point before she threw him out, promising him that there was plenty to go around. Ash stood out on the porch, leaning on the banister to observe the occasion. The sun had set, and the hanging lights had been turned on to keep the backyard lit for everyone.

Shauna, Miette, and Brock were still dancing, going over the steps for Shauna's routine together to pass time until they could be served. Valerie was chatting quietly with Trevor and Tierno, and Spritzee was mounted on Tierno's shoulder as she listened intently to their conversation. And Serena was…coming up onto the porch with Pikachu, who climbed up onto the banister.

"Pika-pi?" Pikachu asked him, and Ash raised a hand to pat Pikachu on the head.

"I'm fine Pikachu," He replied before leering into the kitchen. "Lola made some of her special cheesecake and I wanted you to try it. I'm hoping those little monsters in there don't get all of it before I get you a slice."

"Pi?" Pikachu questioned, scratching at the back of his head.

"You've never had cheesecake before, but I'm telling you, Lola makes the best cheesecake out there." Ash explained to his partner.

"He's not kidding Pikachu. It's to die for." Serena added, and Ash gave a nod of agreement. Pikachu merely tilted his head and decided to trust Ash's word on the matter. A few minutes later, the last of the kids came out with their dessert plates, praising the ice cream and cake they had received. Lola then came up to the back door and called in everyone else, and of course, Ash and Pikachu were first in line.

Lola and Flint stood together at the kitchen table, ready to dish out an array of sumptuous sweets for everyone. Approaching them with their plate, Ash and Pikachu looked up and down the table hungrily.

"So, what am I getting you, Ash?" Lola asked him, smiling faintly at the matching expressions of Ash and Pikachu.

"Oh uh…hold on," Ash said to her, realizing that in the past few hours he had failed to properly introduce Pikachu to Brock's parents. They had been kind enough to allow Pikachu into their household, so Ash owed them at least this much. "Lola, Flint, I don't think I've introduced Pikachu to you guys yet. Pikachu, this is Lola and Flint, their Brock's parents."

"Pika!" Pikachu declared, throwing a little salute toward them.

"I've been watching this little guy. He's been running around with Billy and Tilly all night." Flint commented with a grin. "It's not easy keeping those two entertained."

Pikachu laughed at this. He had actually enjoyed how much energy the two of them had. Macy and Casey weren't quite as playful as the twins, so it was nice for a change of pace.

"I thought I'd have Pikachu try your cheesecake," Ash explained to Lola as she began to cut him a slice. "I was telling him how amazing it is, but he's never had cheesecake before so he doesn't have anything to compare it to."

"Oh really, then I'd like to see your first taste, Pikachu." Lola noted as she took Ash's plate and slid in a fat slice for the two of them. She then gave him a plastic force and smiled, waiting for them to dig in. Ash held the cake close for Pikachu to take a closer look, observing the golden exterior of the cake that was whipped with light caramel topping. Sniffing at it, Pikachu's brightened considerably as he licked his lips.

Ash smirked, knowing that Pikachu was anxious to get a taste now. He cut into the cake with his fork to get a small piece, and raised it for Pikachu to eat.

Cutting into the cake with his fork, Ash took a small piece and raised it. Pikachu took in the mouthful, and all watching couldn't help but snicker as Pikachu furrowed his brow.

"Don't chew Pikachu, it melts in your mouth." Ash said with a snort. After a few moments Pikachu swallowed, and he looked toward Lola with starry eyes.

"Chuuuu! Pika-pi!" Pikachu declared proudly, giving Lola a thumbs up.

"Geez, you make it sound like we don't feed you at home." Ash muttered.

"Well, I'm glad you like it Pikachu." Lola said warmly.

Outside on the porch, Serena and Shauna were watching Ash and Pikachu through the glass door. Pikachu pointed down at the cake, so Ash lifted it closer to his partner who attempted to take a paw-ful of the cake, but he quickly discovered that cheesecake wasn't quite so friendly to touch.

"Not with your paws Pikachu." Ash said to his partner who looked down at his covered paw. Rather than eat it, Pikachu took it and smeared it against Ash's cheek, earning a shout of complaint from him. The small Pokemon only laughed at his expense, but the young ladies watching wore expressions of stoicism.

"By the looks on your face, I almost want to say you two are…jealous." A voice noted quietly. Their heads snapped to the side to discover that it was…Valerie. She watched Ash and Pikachu fondly with the kindest of smiles.

"Jealous…? No way." Shauna whispered back.

"Are you telling me you don't want to smear cake on his face?" Valerie asked in return, and Shauna snapped her mouth shut to suppress her response. Her cheeks reddened at the thought. Shauna swallowed her words and pouted, looking away from Ash, but Serena verbalized her thoughts.

"I do. And I am jealous," Serena admitted, her voice low. "I wish I could spend all afternoon with him the way Pikachu does. But…"

Shauna and Valerie each looked at her, and their hearts melted. There was no jealousy nor apathy within Serena's expression, going against her word.

Just acceptance.

Acceptance that her longing for Ash would likely go unanswered.

"But…I don't understand what it is about Pokemon that he loves so much." Serena said softly, and Valerie's expression hardened.

"Is it that you don't understand it…or you don't want to understand it?"

Serena's eyes widened at Valerie's question. It struck home in a manner similar to a statement from Ash during their argument two months ago.

It was a question of her character.

"There's much more to this than I think you understand, Serena," Valerie continued in a low voice. "Don't take anything at face value."

Serena looked toward Valerie, the thought of Valerie's little pink companion coming to mind. Of course, Valerie would take such a stance.

"But what is it?" Serena asked her. "What is it that I don't want to understand?"

"Talk to Ash." Valerie stated, and as if to reinforce her point, Spirtzee came fluttering down onto Valerie's shoulder. She spared them a smile before she went on her way, returning to the yard to converse with Trevor and Tierno.

There was silence between Shauna and Serena as they looked back to Ash. He and Pikachu had since loaded up a new plate with dessert, which they were devouring together. The sight of this caused Serena to heave out a sigh, and she posed her question to Shauna.

"Do you understand it, Shauna?" Serena asked her, and the brunette pursed her lips.

"Sort of." She replied. "I know that Valerie is right in that…there's more to it than I would've thought. Ash and Pikachu worked hard for this," Shauna paused, making a face as she fought with many words to verbalize her thoughts. "…they work hard for something they believe in. And I've learned that when someone is willing to work the way they do, it must be something worthwhile."

Serena looked at her friend cautiously, knowing full well what Shauna would conclude with.

"Valerie is right. Just talk to him."

At the heart of Lumiose City sat Prism Tower. The already popular attraction had been used as a staging ground for one of the biggest events of the year: the New Year's ball drop. But to reel in an even bigger audience than in past years, Aria would be performing during the celebration.

The audience gave the final countdown as the new year approached, watching as the well-lit ball reached the bottom of the pole atop Prism Tower. It was signal for so much to happen at once. The celebration reached its climax as fireworks ascended to the dark skies, lighting them in a brilliant array of colors. Confetti was tossed from above, showering the audience that toasted the occasion in various ways. A kiss with their significant other, or embracing their friends to welcome them to the new year.

Serena breathed out a sigh as she looked away from her phone screen. She had goosebumps on her arms, and this tingling sensation only intensified as Aria made her grand appearance on the stage in front of Prism Tower.

"Hello, Kalos!" She hollered cheerily, and the audience roared. "Are you ready to get the new year started off right!?"

The audience voiced their desire for a performance from the redhead, and she happily obliged. And what Serena witnessed from there was what she aspired to be. A performer who simply demanded your full attention. Her movements, her voice, everything about her just made you stare at her and only her. It was no wonder she was the Kalos Queen!

"What-cha lookin' at Serena?" A voice caused her head to snap upward, and she found Ash in front of her, leaning over to see what was on her phone. She didn't want any company; she had gone out of her way to take some distance from everyone. But seeing that it was Ash, she would accommodate him.

"I was looking at the ball drop in Kalos." She replied softly, moving over to make some space for him on the couch. "What are you doing here?"

"We didn't really get a chance to talk during our dance earlier. It's been a while since I got to sit down and talk with you, so I kinda wanted to catch up," Ash explained once he was seated next to her, and his attention became locked on her phone as he saw Aria on stage. "You said that's the ball drop right? Is it happening right now?"

"No silly, Kalos is like ten hours ahead of us," She pointed out with a laugh. "Have you ever seen a ball drop before?"

"Nope, never been to Kalos." Ash replied casually. This type of celebration was only done there, after all.

"Right, I'm sorry. I've been watching it every year since I left with my mom, so it just feels normal to me." Serena explained as she looked up thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah, how is your mom, by the way? I haven't seen her in ages."

"She's doing fine, you know…" Serena trailed off, lips pursed. "Same as ever, I guess."

Ash gave a snort at her response, recognizing it for what it was worth. He snickered a little, and this demanded her attention as she paused the video.

"What's so funny?" She questioned him with a leer.

"I just think it's funny how you and your mom are always at each other's throats," Ash commented. "It's cool that you guys aren't all…you know, like normal."

Serena made a face at his statement.

"Like normal?" She repeated with a gesture for him to elaborate.

"Well, I'm not doing a great job explaining it," Ash noted with a chuckle, leaning back into the couch. "I'm trying to say that the way you and your mom are around each other feels…like, raw."

"Raw?" She exclaimed with a puzzled expression.

"I know this isn't going to sound great, but when I say 'raw' I mean that you guys don't hold anything back," Ash paused for a moment, and his expression brightened as he found the words he wanted. "Like tough love!"

Serena creased her brow as she let this thought settle in her mind. Tough love defined their relationship perfectly. Positive or negative, nothing was left unsaid between Serena and her mother. And this brought a faint smile to Serena's face.

"That does sound like us." She admitted, and Ash nodded.

"Yeah, I was just saying that I think that's nice how open you two are with each other," Ash continued. "It feels real. But anyway, just tell her I said hi."

"Yeah, I'll do that for you." Serena said though she could imagine her mother wouldn't care much for a greeting from Ash. Briefly, they heard the backdoor open, and Ash heard Pikachu give thanks to someone for opening the door for him. Moments later Pikachu came into the living room, though his approached stopped as he saw that Ash was speaking with Serena.

"Pika," He said softly, taking a step back. "Pi-pika."

"It's not a big deal Pikachu," Ash commented before he looked to Serena. "He didn't mean to disturb us, but its no problem, right Serena?"

The question struck a nerve deep in Serena's heart as her gaze was transferred to Pikachu. His timing was…impeccable. Just when she thought she might have had some time with Ash to herself, of course, Pikachu would show up. And she could sense what direction the conversation was headed in if Pikachu remained. But as she looked back at Ash and his cheery expression, she pushed all of these thoughts aside.

"Of course not." She stated, donning an expression similar to Ash's. She proceeded the pat the small opening on the couch between herself and Ash as a spot for Pikachu to get comfortable. Pikachu hesitated as he observed them, a weary expression on his face, and Serena spent a moment wondering if Pikachu had somehow read her mind just moments ago.

"Pi. Pika-pika." Pikachu replied, shaking his head.

"Are you sure?" Ash asked him, and Pikachu nodded in reply. "If you say so. I'll open the door for you."

Ash got up from the couch, promising that he would return before he went with Pikachu to open the backdoor for him. Serena watched his back as he left, and Valerie's words earlier rung out in her mind.

"Talk to Ash."

It was such a simple approach, yet Serena was filled with apprehension at the thought of it. Deep down inside of her, there was a part of her that didn't want to have this discussion, for fear of what it would lead to. She and Ash had talked about this in the past; it was the reason they broke up in the first place. If they went down that road again, there was no telling what the collateral damage might be this time.

"Is it that you don't understand it…or you don't want to understand it?"

Serena began to chew on her lower lip. She knew Valerie was right, no matter how much she wanted to deny it.

Serena didn't want to understand Ash's fascination with Pokemon.

Pokemon were the reason she and her mother had left Kalos.

They were the reason her parents broke up.

They were responsible for taking her father's life.

And what Serena feared most was exactly what was taking place in Ash.

Pokemon were going to take him from her.

"Serena?"

She blinked and found Ash seated next to her, concern written all over his face.

"Are you okay?" Ash asked her, and he placed his hand on top of hers.

"Tell me again," She began. "Tell me why you love Pokemon so much?"

Ash furrowed his brow at her sudden question. It was completely different from their last subject, but it was one that he welcomed.

"Well…" Ash paused, using this time to gather his thoughts. Pokemon was something he could talk about for hours with the various types of Pokemon and ways to train them. But explaining why he loved Pokemon was difficult. "I don't know. It's kind of hard to put it into words. Can you tell me what it is you love about dancing?"

Serena had her answer immediately.

"Dancing does a whole lot for me. It's a way to relieve stress from a long day. A creative outlet to express myself and…" Her cheeks became tinged with pink as she went into a confession. "When I dance with someone else, it's a way for me to feel connected with that person."

The last point really struck home with Ash as a smile formed on his face. That was exactly what he was looking for!

"That's why I love Pokemon." He stated. "It's the personal connection or bond that you can form with a Pokemon. Almost like a best friend, but even tighter than that if you know what I mean. Like, Brock is my best friend but Pikachu is…my brother."

Serena stared into his eyes, admiring the innocence and purity that filled them. It was such an honest, heartwarming expression, that even as she stared at her fears taking shape, she only could only smile and look away.

She didn't want to understand…but she did.

"I don't know if that made a lot of sense Serena, but um, I do know a way that you can see it for yourself." Ash continued. "Pikachu and I have another match at the Hidden Cove next Saturday. Tierno is coming so you're free to join us if you want to."

There was an ominous sensation about this that made her chest tight. It was like every fiber of her being wanted to reject her offer, but seeing Ash's smile made her go against these inclinations. She silenced her thoughts and opened her mouth.

"Yeah. I'll come."

Ash beamed at her before they heard the backdoor open once again.

"Ash, Serena, it's 11:49!" Trevor called out to them. "We're getting ready for the countdown, don't miss it!"

Serena looked at her phone to confirm the time for herself, and she raised her brow at how quickly midnight had come. Closing the menu on her phone, it returned to the video of the ball drop in Kalos, and a new thought popped into Serena's head.