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Chapter Text

"Be careful out there, Ash! Stay close to the trail or else you might get lost!" Delia Ketchum called after her seven-year-old son, Ash, as he raced out the door. "And make sure you're back home in time for dinner!" 

"I will, Mom! Bye!" Ash shouted over his shoulder. 

He raced down the path that led out of his hometown of Pallet Town and into Viridian Forest, ignoring the curious looks he was receiving from the few passing trainers. The sun was shining brightly overhead with just a few fluffy-looking clouds in the clear blue sky. A gentle breeze was blowing through the trees, a cool spring wind. All in all, it was the perfect day to see lots of Pokemon in the forest. 

For as long as he could remember, Ash had always dreamed of the day he would finally become a Pokemon trainer. Unfortunately, at only seven years old, he was still three years shy of reaching the legal age to receive his license. It was one of the many rules of life that Ash still didn't understand. Was there really such a big difference between being seven and being ten? From what he could see, the only thing ten-year-olds could do was recite facts on Pokemon a little more quickly. But the rules were the rules, so he had no choice but to accept his fate and wait. 

But even so, it wasn't all that bad. He might not have been allowed to catch or train any Pokemon yet, but that didn't mean he wasn't allowed to watch them. So every chance he could get, Ash would venture out into Viridian Forest, the closest route to his hometown. A few of the smaller Pokemon in the forest, such as the Caterpie and Rattata, had even befriended him, although he made sure to stay out of the way of the more dangerous Beedrill and Spearow. The rest of the Pokemon didn't exactly make an attempt to be friendly, but nor did they go out of their way to attack him either. Ash supposed that as long as he didn't bother them too much, there was no need for them to bother him. 

As he walked through the forest, Ash gazed around in awe at his surroundings. It had become something of a game for him to see if he could spot any new Pokemon, even though he hadn't seen any in quite a while. Viridian Forest wasn't exactly known for its wide variety of species, which he supposed made sense considering it was the first route trainers from Pallet Town would have to traverse upon starting their journeys. Rounding a corner, he noticed a Pidgey that he had befriended nibbling on a berry. He waved excitedly as he ran up to her, and she chirped happily in response. 

"Hey, Pidgey! How's it going today?" Ash asked cheerfully, sitting cross-legged on the ground. 

"Pidgey! Pidge!" the small bird Pokemon replied. 

"Isn't it a nice day out? I almost thought I wouldn't be able to come. The weatherman said it was supposed to rain this weekend, and Mom doesn't like me going out in bad weather. She says I might get sick or hurt," he told Pidgey, pulling a face. "I mean, come on, really? It's not like I'd go out without a jacket and a little rain wouldn't hurt me." 

Pidgey chirped something in reply, and he chuckled. "Yeah, I know she just worries about me. I just wish she wasn't so over-the-top sometimes, you know?" 

"Pidge, pidgey," she replied, patting him sympathetically with her wing. 

After chatting with Pidgey for a few more minutes, Ash got back up and continued on his way. There were only a few hours left until he had to return home for dinner, and he was determined to make the most of every minute. 

Upon rounding another corner on the trail, however, he came to a stop as he found himself face to face with an unfamiliar Pokemon. This Pokemon was a small blue frog-like creature with a strange white substance around its neck. Ash stared at it for a few moments, racking his brain to try to figure out what sort of Pokemon it was. He certainly didn't remember seeing it in any of the books he studied at school. 

But the shock of seeing such an obviously foreign Pokemon in Viridian Forest wasn't even the strangest part of the situation. The moment he had locked eyes with it, Ash had felt a tug on his chest, almost as if something were drawing him to the strange newcomer. He wasn't sure if the new Pokemon had felt it as well, but it hadn't run away from him or attacked him yet, so perhaps there was a chance. 

"Er...hi there," he said finally, feeling a bit awkward. "Sorry to bother you. I'll get out of your way now." 

"No, it's alright. I'm not doing anything important anyway," the unfamiliar Pokemon replied in an obviously male voice. 

Ash's eyes widened. "Wait a minute! You can talk?" he exclaimed. 

The Pokemon gave him an odd look. "Er, yes...all Pokemon can talk, you know."

"No, no. I mean, yeah, I know you can all talk," Ash amended, waving his hands about sporadically as he tried to explain himself. "It's just that, well, I've never met a Pokemon that I could understand before. How did you do that?" 

"Oh. I, er, I don't know, actually," the Pokemon replied, blinking with a look of confusion on his face. "I'm not doing anything, if that's what you're wondering. So you say you've never been able to understand Pokemon before?" 

Ash shook his head and smiled. "No, but it's pretty cool to know that I can understand you, er...sorry, what's your name? I don't think I've ever seen a Pokemon like you around here." 

"My name's Froakie, and that doesn't surprise me. I'm the water-type starter for new Pokemon in the Kalos region," the newly-named Froakie answered. 

"Kalos?" Ash repeated, startled. "But that's really far from here and you don't look like you have a trainer. How did you get all the way here? And why are you in Kanto anyway if you're supposed to be a starter Pokemon for Kalos trainers?" 

"I stowed away on a plane, and as for why I'm here, I wasn't exactly having good luck with the trainers in Kalos. None of them were the right one for me. So I came here to Kanto to see if I'd have better luck here," Froakie told him. 

"What's wrong with your old trainers?" Ash asked curiously, tilting his head to the side. "Were they mean or something?" 

"No. Well, some of them, yes," Froakie answered, shuddering slightly. He shook his head and continued, "Others of them were alright. But they just weren't what I wanted." 

"Oh." Ash didn't know what else to say to that. He had heard of trainers choosing their Pokemon, of course, but he had never heard of Pokemon choosing their trainers. "Sorry to hear that." 

"It's alright," Froakie assured him. 

"So how many trainers have you had anyway?" he asked. 

"Five so far. The latest one brought me back to Professor Sycamore's lab just a few days ago," the blue frog told him. At Ash's puzzled look, he added, "Professor Sycamore's the one who gives out starter Pokemon to new trainers in Kalos. Kind of like, er..who's the guy who works here?" 

"Oh! You mean Professor Oak!" Ash exclaimed, feeling a sudden burst of understanding. "So was Professor Sycamore the guy who sent you here?" 

At that, Froakie looked a little sheepish. "Actually, no. To tell you the truth, I kind of snuck off on my own. I'm sure he's looking for me by now, though." 

"You really snuck all the way from Kalos all by yourself?" Ash asked, his eyes widening in amazement. Froakie nodded, a slight grin on his face. "Awesome. That's so cool! You must be really strong and brave if you made it here without help." 

The little blue frog blushed. "Well, thank you...er...?" 

"My name's Ash," the raven-haired boy introduced himself, silently kicking himself for forgetting to mention his own name. "I want to become a Pokemon trainer and travel the world someday! But I'm only seven, so I can't go on a journey for three years." 

"It's nice to meet you, Ash," Froakie replied, giving him a warm smile. 

"I can't wait until I get to go on my journey. Then I can make friends with all sorts of Pokemon!" Ash said cheerfully. "I'm going to challenge the Indigo league first, and then I want to explore the other regions. Maybe I'll go to Kalos next. What's it like in Kalos? Is it nice there?" 

"It's very nice," the frog Pokemon answered, chuckling. "The people and Pokemon there are very friendly–most of them anyway." 

The longer Ash spent with Froakie, the more he liked the little blue frog. He was funny and friendly. But at the same time, Ash couldn't help feeling a pang of regret. While he would have loved nothing more than to take Froakie home with him, he knew he wasn't allowed to have a Pokemon yet. Besides, Froakie probably wouldn't want to go with a kid who wasn't even allowed to be a trainer yet. 

"What's the matter, Ash?" Froakie asked, looking at him in concern. 

"Nothing, really," Ash sighed. "It's just that...well, I really liked playing with you today, but I have to go home soon. Mom's going to get worried if I'm not back in time for dinner." 

Froakie blinked. "Oh. Is that all? Why don't I just come with you, then?" 

Ash jerked his head up in surprise. "You-you want to? Really?" he stammered. "But...but I'm not a trainer yet. I'm not even allowed to have a Pokemon. And didn't you say you wanted to find a trainer anyway?" 

"That's okay! I don't mind waiting. I want to go with you anyway," Froakie replied cheerfully. "And don't worry about me being there. You're not allowed to catch me yet, true, but that doesn't mean I can't stay with you." 

"Really? Sure, then, you can come with me," Ash agreed, his spirits soaring. Glancing up at the sky, he added, "Let's go home first, and then I'll take you to meet Professor Oak tomorrow! He's really smart and knows a lot about Pokemon. You'll really like him. And my mom makes really great food too. She'll make you something to eat if you're hungry." 

"Well, I can't say no to that," Froakie chuckled, hopping onto the boy's shoulder. "Alright then, Ash. Lead the way." 

Chapter Text

Delia was outside in the garden with her housekeeper, Mr. Mime, when Ash and Froakie arrived back at his house. She was dressed in a dirty-looking coat and her hands were caked in mud and dirt. Upon hearing her son's footsteps, she looked up, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of the unfamiliar Pokemon. Abandoning her gardening, she walked over to Ash and Froakie, careful to keep her hands to herself. 

"Ash, what's going on? Where did you find that Pokemon?" Delia asked a stern note in her voice. "You know you're too young to have a Pokemon yet, young man." 

"I know, Mom, but Froakie said he wanted to come with me," Ash protested. "I met him while I was playing out in the forest. He's really cool! He told me that he came all the way from Kalos!" 

"Hi, there," Froakie piped up, giving the auburn-haired woman a friendly wave. At the gesture, Delia's stern expression softened. 

"Hello there...er, Froakie? Did you say his name was Froakie?" she asked, glancing over at her son. Ash nodded fervently and she smiled. "Right, then. It's very nice to meet you, Froakie. If what my son is telling me is true, then you must have traveled a long way to get to Pallet Town all the way from Kalos? Why don't you come inside? I'm about to start cooking dinner for me and Ash, and I'll make you some of my famous Pokemon food." 

"Really?" Froakie asked, his eyes shining. "If it's okay, do you think you could make some food specifically for water-types? That's my favorite." 

"He wants to know if you can make him something for water-types," Ash translated for his mother. "Froakie's the water-type starter for Kalos trainers, so he really, really likes food for water Pokemon." 

"In that case, I have the perfect recipe to use," Delia agreed, reaching out and petting Froakie's cheek gently. The little blue frog smiled contentedly, leaning into the touch. 

"Mime, mime," Mr. Mime said, walking up to the trio. "Mime, mime mime, mime." 

Delia's eyes lit up. "Good idea, Mimey. Ash, why don't you show Froakie your room while Mimey and I start dinner?" 

"Does that mean Froakie can stay with us?" Ash asked, looking up at his mother with wide eyes. 

"I suppose I don't see why not," the auburn-haired woman agreed, ruffling her son's hair. "As long as you promise to always take good care of Froakie. Can you do that, Ash?" 

"I can! I promise I'll take really good care of him!" he said, nodding frantically. 

"Very well, then," Delia replied kindly. "If you're serious about taking care of Froakie, then he can stay with us." 

"YAY!" Ash shouted, then covered his mouth in embarrassment. "Oops. Sorry." 

"Yay!" Froakie cheered as well, though not quite as loudly as Ash. 

Delia chuckled, smiling fondly at the two new friends. "And Froakie, I expect you to take good care of my son as well, alright? Make sure you look after him." 

"You got it!" the little blue frog agreed, giving a thumbs-up. 

"Mom! I don't need anyone to look after me. I can take care of myself!" Ash complained. Why was his mother always insisting that someone look after him? He had never gotten into any trouble before. 

"Of course you can, dear," Delia replied, ruffling his hair again. "Now, why don't you go show Froakie your room? I'll call you both down when it's time for dinner." 

"Okay, Mom. See you later!" Ash called over his shoulder. 

He raced upstairs to his room, careful not to jostle Froakie too much. The last thing he wanted to do was accidentally knock his new friend over. Of course, it was impossible to keep Froakie from bouncing up and down once in a while, but the frog Pokemon didn't appear to mind too much. 

"This one's my room right here. It's not that big, but it's really comfortable," Ash announced, coming to a stop at a door to the left of the top of the stairs. 

Unfortunately, upon opening the door to his room, he was immediately greeted by another issue altogether. The floor of his bedroom was covered in books and toys, and his bed hadn't been made. There was a pile of clean laundry in a basket that he hadn't put away yet. Ash hesitated for a moment in the doorway, feeling his face heat up. He didn't necessarily mind his room being in this state, but that didn't mean he wanted everyone to see just how much of a mess it was. 

"Er...so, yeah...it's kind of messy in here, I guess," he said sheepishly, stepping over a Squirtle plush. "Sorry. Mom keeps telling me to clean it up, but I always forget." 

"It's okay, Ash. It looks like you have a lot of fun in here," Froakie remarked, taking a look around the toy-cluttered floor. 

"Yeah, it's awesome!" Ash agreed happily. He picked up an old coloring book. "Look, this is the coloring book I got for my birthday when I was six. It's all filled out now, but Mom said she'll get me a new one soon. And that book over there has a bunch of Pokemon puzzles. That one next to it is the one I use to draw Pokemon for school. And the ones on the shelf are old Pokemon legends, but I haven't read them yet. Mom tried to read me one once, the, uh...something about some guy in some place called Rome?" 

"Rome? Do you mean Rota?" Froakie asked, looking rather amused. 

"Rota! Yeah, that's it! The Kingdom of Rota!" he exclaimed as the name finally flashed back into his mind. "I don't really know how it goes, though. I remember there was some sort of battle going on and I think they talked about a tree, but I didn't listen to what happened after that." 

For the next ten minutes, Ash continued showing Froakie around his room, explaining what all of the various toys were. To his delight, Froakie appeared to be enjoying his tour, asking questions about every single toy, book, or puzzle. He even picked up a female Nidoran plush, his eyes lighting up as he felt how soft it was. Ash smiled brightly as Froakie snuggled up against the plush, happy that his new friend liked his toys as much as he did. 

"This one is really soft! I've never seen one like this before. Most of my old trainers had plastic figures," Froakie told him, pulling a face. 

"Actually, I used to have a Machamp action figure once, but I accidentally stepped on it," Ash admitted. 

"I do have one question, though. How come all of the stuffed toys here are all Kanto Pokemon?" the frog Pokemon asked, looking up at him curiously. 

"Most of the shops around here only sell Kanto Pokemon plushes," he explained. "And Mom says it's too much trouble to drive to another town just for a stuffed toy from another region. She was going to buy me a Chikorita plush for my birthday next month, but I'm too old to be getting stuffed toys now. So she says she's got a surprise planned, but she won't tell me what it is." 

"A surprise, really? Well, that definitely sounds exciting," Froakie commented. 

Ash couldn't help agreeing with him. His birthdays were always exciting to look forward to, and the added mystery of exactly how they would be celebrating it this year only increased his feeling of anticipation. He just hoped that the surprise was the good kind and not the kind where Gary Oak snuck up behind him and pushed him into the lake. It hadn't even been summer when Gary had pushed him–it had been the middle of winter. 

Maybe the surprise would be that he was allowed to start traveling the world as a Pokemon trainer early. Ash grinned to himself, turning to look out the window as a flock of Pidgey flew by. Of course, the logical part of his mind knew that probably wasn't the case–but wouldn't it be something else if it was? 

Chapter Text

The following morning, Ash and Delia wasted no time in heading over to Professor Oak's laboratory to introduce him to Froakie. Professor Oak was famous around the world for his study of Pokemon, and they were certain that if anyone could give them more information about Froakie, it would be him. Froakie, for his part, was just excited about being able to see more of his newfound friend's hometown. 

"Just wait until you see the lab. It's so cool! Sometimes, trainers from Pallet Town leave their Pokemon with Professor Oak, so he has an entire san-sanctu–Mom, what's that word again?" Ash asked, turning to his mother. 

"Sanctuary, dear," Delia replied. 

"Sanctuary! Yeah, he has an entire sanctuary built for them. It has a habitat for every Pokemon type in the world! There's even a pond that you can play in," he told Froakie excitedly. 

"Really?" Froakie asked, his eyes shining. 

"Yeah! We have to talk to Professor Oak first, but I'll show you around when we're done," Ash promised. "Just make sure you stay away from the woods on the far left corner. A trainer left his Nidoking there a few days ago, but he's not that nice. Professor Oak's the only one who can go over there without getting attacked. Even the other Pokemon don't want to go near him." 

"Why do you think he's so bad-tempered?" the little blue frog asked, blinking. 

Ash shrugged. "I don't know. Professor Oak says he's just not used to being here yet. He says we should give him space until he has time to get used to everyone." 

When they entered the lab, Professor Oak was busy at work tending to a burn on an Eevee's leg. He looked up as they walked in, lifting his free hand in welcome. Ash grinned and raced over to his idol with Froakie on his shoulder. Delia followed more slowly, chuckling at her son's excitement. 

"Hi there, Eevee. Feeling alright?" Ash asked, petting the fox-like Pokemon's ears. Eevee barked happily, rubbing her head against his hand. 

"Hello, Ash, hello, Delia. I've just been healing this Eevee's burn," Professor Oak greeted them. His gaze fell on Froakie, and his eyes widened. "Oh, and what do we have here? A Froakie! You must be the one Professor Sycamore called me about last night." 

Ash and Froakie blinked in surprise. "You mean you already knew that Froakie was here, Professor?" 

"Not exactly, Ash. Professor Sycamore called me last night to tell me that a Froakie had gone missing from his lab. He says that this Froakie is known for being a bit of a troublemaker, but when none of the gym leaders in Kalos could find him either, he decided to see if Froakie had somehow made it to another region," the Kanto researcher explained. 

"Froakie's not a troublemaker!" Ash said indignantly, not liking the way Professor Oak had described his new friend. "I met him yesterday, and he's been really nice!" 

"Thank you, Ash," Froakie said. 

"I have to agree with Ash," Delia spoke up, a frown on her face. "Froakie played with my son all last night, and they had a wonderful time. Are you sure he's as much of a troublemaker as Professor Sycamore says he is?" 

"Well, I don't really know too much about Froakie myself. Augustine just told me that he has a history of running away from or disobeying his trainers until they're forced to return him," Professor Oak explained. 

"Well, I'm sure Froakie must act that way for a good reason," Delia argued back. 

"He told me yesterday that he ran away because his trainers weren't what he was looking for. And he said that some of them were mean too," Ash piped up. "Froakie's a really great Pokemon, Professor. I promise he's not a troublemaker." 

"It's alright, Ash. I believe you," Professor Oak said kindly. "But we should probably call Professor Sycamore anyway to let him know that Froakie's been found. I'm sure he'll be relieved to know that he's alright." 

"But what if he makes me send Froakie back?" Ash asked worriedly. 

He knew he didn't have any right to keep Froakie, not since he wasn't even allowed to be a trainer yet. Technically, Froakie wasn't even supposed to be all the way here in Kanto; he was supposed to be in Kalos, working with a trainer to become stronger. But he couldn't help himself. It was difficult to say why, but Ash couldn't shake off the feeling that Froakie belonged with him. The connection he had felt when he locked eyes with the Kalos water-type the previous day was still as strong as ever.

And Froakie hadn't run away from him either. He had chosen to come with Ash despite only having known him for a couple of hours at the time. That had to mean he felt the connection as well, didn't it? 

"I can't promise that he won't, Ash. Froakie is meant to be under Professor Sycamore's care, not mine," Professor Oak said gently. "And don't forget, you're still too young to become a trainer. But if he sees how happy Froakie is with you, then perhaps he'll be willing to make an exception." 

"Okay," he agreed sadly, feeling a twinge at the thought of losing his new friend so soon after meeting him. 

"No!" Froakie cried out suddenly. "No, I won't go back to Kalos! I don't care what Professor Sycamore says! I don't want to go back! I want to stay with Ash!" 

"Froakie? What's the matter?" the Kanto professor asked, sounding concerned. 

"He says he doesn't want to go back to Kalos," Ash translated. "He said he wants to stay here with me." 

Professor Oak blinked. "You mean to tell me that you can–?" he started to ask, then broke off, shaking his heaad. "Never mind that right now. I'm sure that Froakie would be very happy with you, Ash, but that doesn't change the fact that it's ultimately Professor Sycamore's decision." 

"But that's not fair!" the small boy protested. "How come Professor Sycamore gets to do whatever he wants and force Froakie to go back to Kalos? Is it just because he's an adult?" 

"Ash–" Delia began gently, but he just cut her off. 

"No! I'm tired of adults always acting like they know better just because they're older!" Ash burst out angrily. "You don't even care how Froakie feels! He just said that he doesn't want to go back, but you're going to let Professor Sycamore make him go back anyway! He's not going to be happy if he goes back to Kalos, he told me himself! Why don't you care about what Froakie wants?" 

Silence filled the lab after his outburst. Ash stared down at his feet, resentment and guilt fighting for control over his emotions. He knew that he had been rude, but he was too angry to care. Just because Professor Sycamore was an adult didn't mean that he knew what was best for Froakie. Only Froakie knew what was best for himself, and if he knew that he wouldn't be happy in Kalos, then who was anyone else to disagree with him? 

"Sorry," he muttered, still staring at the tips of his sneakers. 

"It's alright, Ash. Believe me, I completely understand how you feel," Professor Oak said reassuringly. "But I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. Augustine is a good man. He'll want Froakie to be happy just as much as you do." 

Ash just nodded, not wanting to get himself into trouble. But he wasn't sure whether he believed Professor Oak or not. If Professor Sycamore really cared about Froakie being happy, then why hadn't he given him to any good trainers yet? He thought for a moment, then dared to voice the question aloud. 

"If Professor Sycamore really cares about Froakie, then why did he give him to so many mean trainers?" he demanded. 

"An extremely unfortunate mistake. You see, we can't tell what sort of trainer every young boy or girl who comes to pick their first Pokemon will turn out to be," the aging researcher explained. "We expect that the Pokemon will be treated well, but that doesn't always turn out to be the case." 

"Why can't you tell?" Ash asked, tilting his head to the side. 

"Unfortunately, we usually don't have much of an impression of them," Professor Oak told him. Seeing that Ash was still confused, he elaborated, "Think of it like picking out snacks. Sometimes, you'll see one that looks good. But when you actually eat it, you realize that it tastes horrible. It's the same way with trainers. When Professor Sycamore or I give out starter Pokemon to new trainers, we believe that they're going to be treated with kindness. But sometimes, our assumptions turn out to be wrong." 

"I...I think I get it now," Ash said, narrowing his eyes. "So you're saying that Professor Sycamore didn't mean for Froakie to get hurt?" 

"That's right," Professor Oak confirmed. "Now, should we give him a call now?" 

He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah, sure. Okay." 

It didn't take long for Professor Oak to get ahold of his colleague in the Kalos region. The video phone hadn't even been ringing for more than two seconds when a man with long, wavy black hair dressed in a white lab coat picked up on the other end. This man, Ash supposed, must have been Professor Sycamore. He was considerably younger than Professor Oak, so Ash figured he must have only started working as a professor a short while ago. The moment he saw Froakie on Ash's shoulder, his face split into a wide, albeit slightly confused, smile. 

"Froakie! Thank goodness you're okay!" Professor Sycamore exclaimed. 

"Hi there! I'm not coming back!" Froakie said cheerfully, waving a tiny white paw. 

"Augustine, I would like to introduce you to my good friend, Delia Ketchum, and her son, Ash," Professor Oak introduced them. "Delia, Ash, this is my coworker, Professor Sycamore. He works as a researcher in Kalos, as you already know." 

"Hello, Professor Sycamore. It's nice to meet you," Delia greeted the man on the other end of the connection. 

"Hi," Ash piped up, waving. 

"Hello, Delia, hello, Ash," Professor Sycamore replied kindly. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Have you become a trainer yet, Ash?" 

He shook his head. "No, not yet. I'm not old enough. But I'll be ten in three years, and then I'm going to go on my very own Pokemon journey! And I'm going to travel all over the world and make friends with all sorts of Pokemon!" 

"That sounds wonderful, Ash. I'm sure you'll make lots of great friends," the Kalos researcher said warmly. 

"Ash here is the one who found Froakie yesterday," Professor Oak explained. 

"Is that so?" Professor Sycamore asked, looking interested. 

Ash nodded fervently. "Yeah! I was playing out in Viridian Forest when I ran into Froakie. I thought he would be mad at me for bothering him, but he was really nice! He told me all about himself and how he got all the way to Kanto all by himself. Isn't that so cool? Froakie's a really brave and strong Pokemon, Professor." 

At that, the dark-haired man chuckled. "Well, Ash, I–" 

"Oh, yeah! And then we went home and Mom made dinner for me and Froakie, and I got to show Froakie my room!" he continued, too excited to care that he had just interrupted an adult. "And we spent all night last night playing with my toys. We even finished an entire hundred-piece puzzle together!" 

"Ash here was wondering if you would allow Froakie to stay here in Pallet Town," Professor Oak spoke up. "I know he's meant for trainers in Kalos, but seeing them together today, it does appear that Froakie is happy with Ash. I have full faith that Ash will treat him with all the kindness in the world." 

"Please, Professor Sycamore, can Froakie stay?" Ash begged. From his perch on his shoulder, Froakie stared at the video screen with wide, hopeful eyes. "Please? I promise I'll take really good care of him!" 

Professor Sycamore had a strange look on his face, but it didn't seem as though he were angry. Instead, he looked as though he were thinking deeply about something. Ash felt a twinge of hope in his chest. So far, his request hadn't been refused yet, so did that mean Professor Sycamore was considering letting Froakie stay? 

"Ash, you were talking earlier as if you know what Froakie is saying. Can you understand him?" the dark-haired man asked. 

"Yeah, I can! I don't know how I can do it because I can't understand any other Pokemon, but I can understand Froakie," Ash said, nodding. "Froakie told me that he was just talking normally, so I know it isn't Tele-Tele–" 

"Telepathy," Delia supplemented. 

"Telepathy! Yeah, I know it isn't Telepathy, but then I don't know how I'd be able to understand Froakie," he finished. "But it's really cool! I've always wanted to be able to talk to Pokemon." 

Professor Sycamore chuckled. "Well, in that case, I would be more than happy to allow Froakie to stay with you, Ash." 

"Really?" Ash asked hopefully, hardly daring to believe it in case it was some sort of horrible joke. But Professor Sycamore just nodded, smiling. "Yay! Froakie gets to stay, Froakie gets to stay!" 

"Yay!" Froakie cheered, jumping and practically hugging the life out of the boy in celebration. 

The young boy was overjoyed by the fact that his new friend would be allowed to stay with him. His thoughts didn't go beyond a few plans to start playing with Froakie as soon as possible. But Professor Oak and Delia's did. 

"Professor, not that I'm not grateful to you for allowing my son to keep Froakie, but what does the fact that he can understand Froakie have to do with it?" Delia asked, her voice filled with bewilderment. 

"Ah, that will take a bit more explaining. To start, have you ever heard of the bond phenomenon?" Professor Sycamore asked, to which everyone shook their heads. "That doesn't surprise me, actually. It's not a very well-known concept even here in Kalos, and this region has the only recorded case of it in history. Of course, that was several hundred millenia ago." 

"How long is a millenia?" Ash piped up curiously. 

"One thousand years," the Kalos professor informed him. 

"Whoa," Ash breathed, feeling his head spin as he tried to comprehend just how massive that number was. "That's a really long time." 

"Indeed," Professor Sycamore agreed, smiling kindly at him. "So, as you might expect, we don't have a lot of information on it. What we do know is that it's an extremely rare gift that only the Froakie line possesses. When Froakie eventually becomes a Greninja–that's his evolutionary line's final stage–he'll be able to unlock this new power. During battles, his appearance will change and his strength will increase as his heart becomes one with his trainer's. Of course, it's only a temporary increase, but during these times, his power will be enough to rival that of a legendary Pokemon." 

"Wow. You can really do all that?" Ash asked in awe, turning to Froakie. 

"You bet! Or, well, I will be able to someday. I'm not that strong yet. But soon," the frog Pokemon answered, giving him a thumbs-up. 

"That does sound interesting, Professor, but I'm afraid I still don't understand why that would convince you to let Froakie stay here," Delia said, still frowning. "All Froakie needs is a trainer, right?" 

"Unfortunately, that's where things get a bit complicated. You see, just any old trainer isn't going to work. Each Froakie born with this ability is meant to be with a very specific trainer. They can choose to go with others, of course, but they'll never reach their full potential and they'll never quite feel as if they're meant to be there. I suspect that Ash is the one meant for Froakie," Professor Sycamore explained. 

"So...Ash and Froakie need to stay together?" Delia clarified. 

"It would be in their best interest, yes," Professor Sycamore replied with a nod. "Ash and Froakie are essentially two halves of the same whole. While they can certainly exist without the other, they'll never be truly complete if they're to be separated. And now that they've found each other, if there ever comes a time when they are split apart, their natural instinct will be to do whatever they can to be reunited again." 

"I see," Delia murmured. She looked a bit worried, but she was smiling nonetheless. "Well, in that case, we would be more than happy to allow Froakie to stay with us." 

"Yay! Thanks, Professor, thanks, Mom!" Ash cheered. "Froakie, come on! I can show you around the lab now if you want. Let's go check out the pond together!" 

He raced out toward the sanctuary with Froakie on his shoulder, heading in the direction of the water-type habitat. Of course, he didn't understand a lot of what Professor Sycamore had said about him and Froakie being two halves of the same whole, but that didn't matter much to him at that moment. He was just happy that Froakie was being permitted to stay with him–and that the Kalos researcher had turned out to be a nice person after all. 

Chapter Text

Froakie quickly discovered that he much preferred the quiet of Pallet Town to the constant hustle and bustle of Lumiose City. That wasn't to say that he hated Lumiose City–after all, it was still his hometown–but there were times when it was so loud, he couldn't even hear himself think. Of course, it made sense that it would be heavily populated. Not only was it a popular tourist attraction, but it was also the largest city in all of Kalos. Still, it was hard not to find the constant noise as well as the sheer number of trainers and Pokemon roaming around almost suffocating in a way. 

More importantly, Ash was in Pallet Town, not Lumiose City. That was enough of a reason for Froakie not to go back even if he had been able to tolerate the never-ending cacophony a bit better. 

He had learned quite a bit about his future trainer over the past three and a half weeks since he had officially moved to Pallet Town. For one, he learned that Ash's favorite color fluctuated between red, green, and blue depending on what mood he was in. If anyone tried to guess what his favorite color was, he would immediately disagree and claim that it was something entirely different. Whether he was doing that just for the sake of being a contrarian, Froakie had no idea, but it was amusing nonetheless. 

For another, Froakie had also learned that the young boy had initially been planning on picking Squirtle as his first Pokemon. Now that he would have Froakie, however, his mother and Professor Oak had suggested considering a different starter, seeing as it wouldn't make sense to start with two water-types on his team. Froakie was a bit puzzled as to why Ash would apparently be getting two starters, but he wasn't going to complain at the prospect of making another friend. Ash, for his part, hadn't necessarily minded not being able to pick Squirtle, but he was having trouble deciding which one he preferred between Charmander and Bulbasaur. 

Knowing how seriously Froakie took his training, Professor Sycamore had sent Ash a few tips and instructions on helping the Bubble Frog Pokemon with his regimen. Ash quickly proved himself to be a natural when it came to battling, able to come up with combinations at the drop of a hat. Some of them sounded rather ridiculous, even to Froakie, but when they were actually put into practice, they worked exactly the way they were meant to. Technically, he wasn't meant to be training with Froakie yet, but Delia was rather lenient when it came to the rules and Mimey was nice enough to have a few practice matches with them. 

Of course, not everything about Pallet Town was completely ideal. Gary Oak, Professor Oak's grandson and a classmate of Ash's, made quick work of making an enemy of Froakie. A few days before Ash's eighth birthday, Froakie and the messy-haired boy were playing at a nearby park when they were approached by a boy with mahogany hair and black eyes. He was a few inches taller than Ash, and he wore a smirk that sent several unpleasant thoughts through Froakie's mind. 

"Well, well, if it isn't Ashy-boy," the newcomer said, a teasing note in his voice. 

"Ugh, what do you want, Gary?" Ash asked, rolling his eyes. 

"You have a Pokemon with you," the newly-named Gary announced. 

Froakie rolled his eyes and Ash retorted, "Good job, Gary, you know what a Pokemon is. Do you want a trophy or something?" 

"You're not supposed to have a Pokemon yet, Ashy-boy. It's against the rules," Gary said smugly. "I'm going to tell Grandpa that you're breaking the rules." 

Froakie scowled, not liking the way this boy was speaking to his friend. He reminded him far too much of some of the more unpleasant trainers he'd had during his life. They thought they knew better than everyone (for various ridiculous reasons) and talked down to anyone whom they deemed to be weak or stupid, which was very nearly everyone. Froakie suspected that having Professor Oak as a grandfather had done a lot to fuel Gary's attitude. 

"First of all, Professor Oak already knows about Froakie," Ash shot back. "Second of all, why do you even care if I have a Pokemon? Afraid I'll turn out to be a better trainer than you or something?" 

Gary snorted. "Oh please, Ash, as if you could ever be a better trainer than me. Just you wait and see. I've got more talent in one finger than you do in your entire body. I'm going to become the world's greatest Pokemon trainer, and you'll just–" 

"Blah, blah, blah, do you ever stop talking? Come on, Froakie, let's get out of here." 

Before Gary could say anything else, Ash jumped to his feet, allowing Froakie to climb back onto his shoulder. Without bothering to look back, they turned around and strode away from the park. Froakie was glad that Ash had chosen to leave at that moment; a minute longer, and he probably wouldn't have been able to resist the urge to send a Water Pulse at Gary's face. How was it that two boys who were the same age and from the same town could be so different from each other? For that matter, how could Gary be so unpleasant when Professor Oak was one of the kindest people Froakie had ever met? 

"What an idiot," Ash muttered once they were a safe distance away. "World's greatest Pokemon trainer, yeah right. More like the world's greatest pain in the neck." 

"Has he always been like that?" Froakie asked. 

"Not really. He used to be nice once. I don't know why he isn't anymore," his future trainer admitted. "One day, he started acting like he was better than everyone. But before that, we actually used to be friends." 

Froakie let out a sympathetic sigh, patting Ash's back gently. "Don't worry. An idiot like that isn't worth your time. You'll find other friends–real ones." 

"Yeah, I guess so," Ash agreed glumly. He brightened again as he added, "But hey, let's look on the bright side. My birthday is in a few days! We can finally find out what my mom has planned for it!" 

Chapter Text

Lucario had no idea what was happening. 

The last conscious memory he had was of finding his old master, Sir Aaron, on the grounds just outside Cameron Palace. Two massive armies were on the verge of clashing–for what reasons, he hadn't known–and the fighting almost certainly would have destroyed their kingdom. He had gone after Sir Aaron in the hopes that his master would be able to think of a way to stop the fighting. 

But instead, the unthinkable had happened. Sir Aaron had denounced Lucario as his student, claiming that he had abandoned the kingdom and swearing to never return. Not wanting to believe a word of it, Lucario had chased after his mentor, only to find himself sealed within the staff the Aura Guardian always carried with him. His last sight had been of Sir Aaron fleeing the palace grounds before his vision faded and unconsciousness swept over his mind. 

Now, however, he suddenly found himself jolted awake as someone with an aura extremely similar to that of his master's came in close enough proximity to the staff to rouse him. As Lucario's mind cleared, he looked through the confines of the jewel to the outside world. His view of it was extremely poor, as he was only able to make out a few faint outlines. But, even so, that didn't matter. He didn't need crystal-clear vision to be able to see the aura of the people outside. 

His attention focused on a child not too far from where he–or rather, where the staff–sat. The child was still small, only about seven, maybe eight years old if Lucario had to take a guess, with messy-looking hair and a rather thin stature. There was also an odd-looking creature on the child's shoulder. Lucario assumed that this creature was a Pokemon, but he couldn't recall ever seeing one like it in his life. A woman stood next to the child; was she his mother, perhaps? 

He shook his head, trying to push his thoughts aside. Worrying about who the child and his companions were could wait until later–more specifically, until he had gotten himself out of the staff. Calling upon the skills his former master had taught him, he began to draw some of the child's aura toward himself, grinning in triumph as he felt the staff's hold on him gradually beginning to weaken. Just a few more minutes, and he would finally be free. 

Ash stood off to the side with Froakie and Delia, away from the prying eyes of the other guests at Cameron Palace. The birthday surprise his mother had planned for him had been just as incredible as she had promised and then some. Somehow, Delia had managed to arrange for them to take a trip to the Kingdom of Rota, where they were hosting some sort of tournament in honor of Sir Aaron's memory. Not having paid much attention to Sir Aaron's story, Ash didn't really understand what the tournament was all about. He was just excited about getting to see a Pokemon battle in real life. 

The food from the afterparty wasn't half-bad either, he thought to himself as he munched on a chocolate eclair. Of course, he still thought his mother's cooking was far better, but the cooks at Cameron Palace definitely knew what they were doing. Ash was more impressed by the fact that they had managed to cook as much food as they had in one day. It must have taken ages to get everything ready. 

"What do you think, Ash?" Delia asked, smiling down at her son. 

"It's awesome!" Ash exclaimed, staring around in awe at the massive castle. "This place is so big! I think it's even bigger than our house, Mom!" 

"It is pretty nice," Froakie piped up from his shoulder. "I could do with a few less people around, though." 

Ash patted his friend's head. "Sorry, Froakie. But we'll be going back to our hotel room in a bit, and then we can play together! Just you and me. Oh yeah, and Mom can play with us too." 

The little frog seemed to be about to answer when a startled cry suddenly split the air. Spinning around in shock, Ash saw that the staff that had been presented to the tournament's winner, a girl of about sixteen with red hair and deep blue eyes, was trembling violently in her grasp. He glanced over at Lady Ilene, the current ruler of Rota, to see if she knew how to help, but she appeared to be as confused as everyone else. 

"What's going on?" Ash asked, staring at the staff in shock. "Mom, what's happening? Why is the staff shaking like that?" 

"I don't know, sweetheart. I've never seen anything like this happen either," Delia answered, her gaze still fixed on the trembling staff. "That poor girl. I do hope she's alright. This must be frightening for her." 

Ash opened his mouth to agree, but before he could say anything, he was cut off as a flash of light burst out from the tip of the staff. Instinctively, he shielded his eyes as the glow nearly blinded him. The startled exclamations from the other guests told Ash that they hadn't seen it coming either. 

"Ouch! My eyes!" 

"What was that?" 

"What's going on here?!" 

"Since when does the staff do that?!" 

After a split second, however, the light finally died down. When the last of it faded away, Ash found himself staring at a strange Pokemon. This Pokemon had dog-like features with blue and black fur along most of its body, save for its chest, which was yellow. There was a spike on the Pokemon's chest, as well as on the back of its forepaws. The Pokemon's eyes were closed as well, but as he straightened up–on two legs, Ash was surprised to see–he slowly opened them to gaze around the palace. They were a deep red, which Ash found to be incredibly fascinating. He had never seen anyone with red eyes before. 

"Whoa," Ash breathed, staring at the strange Pokemon in awe. "Mom, who is that?" 

"That must be Lucario," Delia murmured, still staring at the strange Pokemon in awe. 

"Lucario?" he repeated in confusion. 

"According to our legend, Lucario is a Pokemon that served under Sir Aaron," Lady Ilene replied, approaching the small boy and his family. "He–" 

But Ash didn't wait for her to finish her sentence. There was a new Pokemon for him to meet just a few feet from where he stood, and he wasn't about to pass up this opportunity. Ignoring his mother's cry for him to stop, he raced up to Lucario just as the dog-like Pokemon's gaze turned toward him. He was a few inches taller than Ash, but that didn't intimidate him in the slightest. As their eyes met, something in Lucario's face seemed to soften. 

"Hello!" Ash greeted Lucario happily. "My name's Ash. It's nice to meet you!" 

"Ash!" Delia cried out, worry lacing her voice. "What did I tell you about being careful? You don't just run up to a Pokemon you don't know." 

Ash stuck out his tongue. "Oh come on, Mom, if Lucario was actually dangerous, then how come he's allowed to stay in the castle? Anyway, I'm fine, see? Nothing happened." 

"It's alright," a deep voice sounded. Although Lucario's mouth hadn't moved at all from what Ash could see, there could be no doubt as to where it had come from. "I'm not going to hurt your son, I promise. But if I may request, could we find some place private to talk? I think there's something we need to discuss." 

Chapter Text

Fortunately, Lady Ilene was kind enough to grant Lucario's request. After dismissing the rest of the guests for the evening, she summoned Lucario, Ash, Delia, and the odd blue frog back into the grand hall. The Aura Pokemon's attention flickered back and forth between the queen and the young messy-haired boy, the latter of whom was looking back at him with undisguised curiosity. Normally, the incessant staring would have grated on Lucario's nerves, but there was something about the childlike innocence on the young face that tugged at his heartstrings. 

Lady Ilene was the other object of his current fascination. She was a deadringer for his old queen, Lady Rin, and Lucario might have thought they were one and the same had the palace not been so greatly unfamiliar. Indeed, it was only Lady Ilene's garments that gave any hint as to where he was. Even after...well, however much time had passed, the royal wardrobe hadn't changed at all. 

"It's good to meet you, Lucario," Lady Ilene said, smiling kindly at him. Even her smile looked identical to Lady Rin's. "You've been asleep for a long time." 

"I..." Lucario trailed off, not entirely sure what to say. A thousand questions ran through his head, but all he could do was stand there silently, trying to figure out the best way to start the conversation. 

Instead, however, Ash did it for him. As he was still struggling to regain the capacity to speak, the small boy piped up, "Were you really asleep in that staff this whole time?" 

Now, that was a question he could answer. Turning back to Ash, Lucario replied, "Yes, I was." 

"Wow. Did all the noise at the party wake you up?" Ash asked, his eyes wide. "Mom always tells me that I have to be quiet at night because people are sleeping. She keeps saying that if I make too much noise, I'll wake up the neighbors. But I've never actually woken them up." 

From atop his shoulder, the strange frog-like Pokemon snorted, "No, but you did wake up Delia last week when you wouldn't stop jumping on the bed." 

"Hey, I wanted to see if I could bounce high enough to touch the ceiling," Ash complained. 

Lucario felt a twinge of amusement at the mental image. "And did you?" 

The black-haired boy let out a disappointed sigh. "No." 

"That's probably for the best," the Aura Pokemon chuckled. "And to answer your question, no, the noise at the party isn't what woke me up." 

"Really?" the child asked, frowning. "But if it wasn't the noise, then what woke you up? And why were you in that staff in the first place? It doesn't look that comfortable in there." 

"Ah. That will take a little longer to explain," Lucario murmured, feeling a small surge of anger at the thought of his master's betrayal. Shaking it off for a moment, he continued, "Tell me, Ash, have you ever heard of aura?" 

Ash shook his head, but Delia interjected, "Yes, it's the essence of every living creature, isn't it?" 

Lucario nodded, sparing a quick glance at the auburn-haired woman. "Yes, that is correct. Every living creature, humans and Pokemon alike, has a distinct aura. It gets a bit more complicated than that, but that's essentially the gist of it." 

"A very long time ago, there used to be people who would train in the ways of manipulating and controlling aura," Lady Ilene spoke up. "These trainers were known as Aura Guardians. But the practice has almost completely died out over time." 

Something about the queen's words caught Lucario's attention. "Pardon me, Your Highness, but you said the practice has almost completely died out...over time? Just how long was I in that staff for?" 

At the question, Lady Ilene and Delia winced in sympathy while Ash and Froakie merely looked curious. Lucario felt a pang of trepidation; what was happening? Why did they look so distressed by his question? Surely it couldn't have been that long since he had been sealed away. 

"I'm not sure how to tell you this, Lucario, but you haven't walked in this palace for centuries," Lady Ilene answered at last. 

Lucario felt as though the ground had just been taken out from under his feet. He stumbled back as his legs grew weak, his pride being the only thing keeping them from completely giving out. His mind spun as he tried to make sense of what he had just been told. What was he supposed to think? It seemed so impossible, that he had been trapped inside that staff for hundreds of years, but he couldn't make himself believe that Lady Ilene would lie to him either. 

"C-centuries?" he managed to croak out finally. 

His former master was long dead. Everyone he had ever known was long dead. All he had left now were a few echoes of the past in a queen identical to his own in every way except name and a small boy who bore an aura eerily similar to Sir Aaron's. 

The shock was too much to handle. Unable to bear it any longer, Lucario turned around and fled out of the grand hall.

"Lucario! Come back!" Ash cried out as the jackal Pokemon vanished out through the doors. 

Once again ignoring his mother's call for him to stop, he took off after Lucario, quickly telling Froakie to wait with Delia and Lady Ilene. Although quite short, he was considerably faster than most kids his age, and the open door leading to the courtyard gave a good idea as to where Lucario had gone. He raced outside and into the night, ignoring the chilly air as it nipped at him. As he ran through the courtyard, Ash spotted Lucario sitting near the fountain in the middle of the courtyard. 

Ash took a few steps toward the dog-like Pokemon, then stopped, realizing he hadn't thought about what he was going to say to Lucario. He didn't quite understand what was going on, but he knew that whatever it was had upset Lucario, and he didn't like that one bit. If there was something he could do to cheer him up, Ash would gladly do it. But the only problem was, he had no idea what that might be. 

Before he could make a decision as to whether to continue walking forward or not, Lucario spoke up, "It's alright, Ash, you can come over here. I know it's you." 

"Oh, uh, okay," Ash agreed, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. 

Slowly, he made his way over to the stone bench where Lucario was sitting, taking a seat a few feet away from the jackal. Lucario didn't say a word but merely glanced at him for a split second. It was only a quick look, barely enough to mean anything, but it was more than enough for Ash to see the deep sadness in the red eyes. 

"How come you ran away?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. "Did we do something to upset you?" 

"No. It's not because of anything any of you did," Lucario answered, still not looking at him. 

"But then why?" Ash repeated. 

Instead of answering, Lucario just shook his head and stared down at his feet. Although he was making an obvious effort to appear calm, Ash could still see his arms shaking ever so slightly. He thought about reaching out to give the distraught Pokemon a hug, then immediately thought better of it, not knowing how something like that would be received. 

"You know, my mom always says it's best to talk about things that bother you," he prompted. "So you can tell me what's wrong. Maybe I can do something to help." 

"Thank you, Ash, but I'm afraid this is a problem no one will be able to solve," Lucario said softly, still staring down at his feet. He shook his head and lifted his head to gaze out at the fountain. 

Ash frowned. "Everyone always says stuff like that. How do you know nobody can help you if you don't even let them try?" 

For a moment, he thought that Lucario wouldn't answer. After a few minutes of silence, however, the dog Pokemon finally replied, "This place...Cameron Palace, it used to be my home. I lived here for years while I was training to become an Aura Guardian. But now...now I can barely see my home anymore. Time has made it almost unrecognizable. Nothing looks the way I remember it looking. Everything and everyone that I ever knew is gone." 

So, Lucario was sad because his friends were gone and his home had changed. That made sense. Once again, Ash had to push down the urge to hug the unhappy Pokemon. 

"I know how you feel," he began finally. "Mom says it's always hard when the things or people we knew leave us. And change can be weird too. Pallet Town changed a lot over the years. A few months ago, they added a brand new park, and it still looks strange. And my dad passed away when I was four, but I still miss him. It's hard knowing that he won't be there when I start my journey in two years like we were planning when I was little." 

"I'm sorry," Lucario murmured. 

"Yeah," Ash said quietly. "But you know what? Even though Pallet Town has changed, it's still my home. And Cameron Palace is still your home too, isn't it? This is still the place you lived and trained as an Aura Guardian. Just because it looks different now doesn't mean that's changed. And I know how much you must miss your friends, but just because you might not be able to see or hear them anymore doesn't mean they're gone forever. Mom said something to me after Dad died...she said that a part of him exists within me. I think it could be the same for you too." 

"You think so?" the jackal asked, glancing over at him. 

"I know so," Ash insisted, smiling brightly. "I think...I mean, I don't really know how to say it...but I think that even if things disappear and people die, as long as we don't forget them, then we'll never really lose them forever." 

He thought he could see a bit of moisture in Lucario's eyes, but the jackal Pokemon blinked it away before he could be sure. To Ash's surprise, Lucario reached out and placed a paw on his shoulder, a small smile cracking his features. 

"Thanks, Ash. That...that does help, actually," he said softly. 

Ash blushed slightly as he smiled happily at Lucario before deciding to change the subject. "So, you were telling us about aura earlier? Is that how you got out of the staff?" 

Lucario nodded. "Yes, but it gets a little more complicated than that. Do you remember what I said earlier about everyone having a distinct aura?" Ash nodded uncertainly, wondering where this was going. "Well, in your case, your aura is very similar to my former master, Sir Aaron's." 

"Sir Aaron? You mean the guy everyone was celebrating today?" he asked, blinking until he remembered what Lady Ilene had told him. "Oh yeah, Lady Ilene told me that you used to serve under him or something like that." 

However, it seemed that only one part of what he had said had registered with Lucario. "E-excuse me, but did you just say they were celebrating him?" 

The anger radiating from Lucario was so powerful that Ash shrank back slightly. "Uh, y-yeah, why? What's wrong?" 

"Sir Aaron does not deserve to be celebrated! He's a traitor who abandoned the kingdom!" Lucario fumed. Then, apparently seeing that he was frightening Ash, he took a deep breath and calmed down. "I'm sorry, child. I'm not angry at you, I promise." 

"T-that's okay," Ash stammered nervously. "So was he the one who put you in the staff?" 

"Yes. There were two armies about to clash, and the fighting would have destroyed Cameron Palace. I went after Sir Aaron because I was sure he would be able to stop them from fighting," the dog-like Pokemon answered. "But he told me that he had abandoned the kingdom and that he would never return. He then sealed me away in the staff before running away." 

"He just left you there?" Ash asked, shocked. Lucario nodded. "But...I don't get it. If Sir Aaron really ran away and left you, then how come everyone thinks he's a hero? There's even a really old story about him and some sort of tree...I don't really know how it goes because I didn't listen too well when my mom read it, though." 

"That's probably the Tree of Beginning you're thinking of, and as for why everyone considers him to be a hero, your guess is as good as mine," Lucario answered. He shut his eyes tightly, his shoulders hunched over. "He was my master...I trusted him with my life...and he repaid me by abandoning me in that staff." 

Being only eight years old, Ash hadn't seen much and, therefore, couldn't quite relate to the feeling of being betrayed and abandoned. What he could relate to, however, was feeling sad or upset. Quickly, he moved forward and hugged Lucario, wrapping his arms around the jackal's hunched-over frame. Ash felt Lucario stiffen in surprise for a moment before reaching around to return the hug.

"It's okay. I'll be your new friend," Ash murmured. "And I promise I won't ever leave. I'll always be your friend forever." 

"Thank you, Ash," Lucario said quietly. "You're a good kid. Don't ever lose that." 

"I won't," he promised. 

They remained that way for a few minutes longer, sitting by the moonlit fountain. Ash still had about a million questions running through his mind, but he was wise enough to realize they could wait until later. Right now, his only concern was making sure that his new friend was alright. 

Chapter Text

Eventually, Ash and Lucario returned to the castle, where the rest of the group was waiting patiently for them. At first, Delia was inclined to lecture her son about running off again, but when she saw how much he had managed to cheer up Lucario, she found that she didn't really have the heart. He had only been trying to help out a friend, and that wasn't something she could ever fault him for. Froakie, for his part, simply jumped back onto his favorite position on Ash's shoulder. 

"Welcome back, Lucario. Are you alright?" Lady Ilene asked, smiling kindly at the jackal Pokemon. 

"I am, thank you," Lucario replied, bowing slightly to her. To Delia, he added, "Your son is a wonderful person, ah-" 

"Delia," the auburn-haired woman introduced herself. 

"Delia," Lucario repeated, nodding. "Your son is a wonderful person, Delia. It's good to see that there are still some decent humans left in the world." 

"Lucario told me something," Ash piped up, remembering the story his new friend had told him. "He said that Sir Aaron abandoned him and ran away from the kingdom. But the legend says he's a hero. How come everyone thinks he's a hero if he's really a-a-what did you call him again, Lucario?" 

"A traitor," the dog-like Pokemon supplemented. 

"Yeah, that," Ash said, nodding. He looked back at Lady Ilene and Delia. "So why does everyone think Sir Aaron was a hero if he's really not?" 

Although he had only known Lucario for a little over an hour, there was something about the ancient Pokemon that Ash trusted wholeheartedly. If Lucario said that Sir Aaron had abandoned him and betrayed the kingdom, then he believed him. It only made sense, after all. Why would Lucario want to lie about something like that? Making up stories about friends was a terrible thing to do, and Ash refused to believe that Lucario would ever lie about anyone. 

Lady Ilene looked troubled. "The legend of Sir Aaron has been passed down for centuries. It's one of our kingdom's oldest tales. He's been known as the hero that saved the Kingdom of Rota for as long as any living person can remember." 

"Well, then the legend is wrong," Lucario snapped, looking rather agitated. "Sir Aaron was no hero, and he certainly did not save anyone. He was a coward who ran away. I don't know who saved the kingdom, but it was not him. I suppose he must have come back to claim the credit, though." 

"Actually, as a matter of fact, no. According to the legend, Sir Aaron was never seen again after stopping the battle," the queen informed them. "The story says that a bright glow came from the Tree of Beginning that calmed the hearts and minds of the two armies." 

"That doesn't prove that it was Sir Aaron, though," Froakie piped up. Lucario nodded to him, grateful to have someone else in his corner. 

Ash translated Froakie's words for the two women and added, "Did anybody actually see Sir Aaron do anything?" 

"No, not exactly." This time, it was Delia who answered. "According to the tale, Sir Aaron left the palace when the queen at the time, Lady Rin, refused to flee her kingdom when the armies attacked. Shortly after that was when the Tree of Beginning calmed everything down and stopped the battle." 

"But if nobody actually saw him do anything, then how do we all know for sure that he did it?" Ash argued back. "There were other people there too. How do you know it wasn't someone else who saved the kingdom?" 

An uncomfortable silence fell over the group after he had finished his series of questions. It was obvious that although Lady Ilene and Delia were reluctant to accuse Lucario of being wrong, they didn't entirely believe his version either. Ash felt a surge of frustration; why couldn't they see that Lucario was telling the truth? Was it really so hard to believe that a centuries-old tale might be wrong or at least horribly misinterpreted? 

Then another thought occurred to him. "Hey, wait a minute. Lucario served under Sir Aaron, right? What does the legend say happened to him during the battle?" 

"That part of the legend isn't entirely clear," Lady Ilene admitted. "All it really says is that he vanished at some point. We know that he ended up in Sir Aaron's staff somehow, but it was never mentioned how. But we do know that the staff was found abandoned after Sir Aaron saved the kingdom." 

Ash frowned. "So, what you're saying is that Lucario ended up in Sir Aaron's staff and nobody knows how he might have gotten in there?" he asked incredulously. "Isn't it obvious? Sir Aaron must have put him there. How else could it have happened? And why did he leave the staff anyway? Why didn't he just take it with him after he sealed Lucario?" 

"I'm afraid I don't know the answers to those questions," the blond-haired woman replied, frowning. 

Delia shook her head. "Alright, let me see if I have this straight. The legend says that Sir Aaron used the power of the Tree of Beginning to stop a battle from destroying the kingdom. But Lucario says that he ran away and abandoned everyone. Which is the right story, then? Surely they can't both be true. We know the kingdom wasn't destroyed so someone must have stopped the fighting, but if it wasn't Sir Aaron, then who was it? And why does everyone believe it was Sir Aaron if nobody saw anything for certain?" 

"Believe me, I'm asking myself the same questions," Lucario muttered. 

"This is making my head hurt," Ash announced, making a show of rubbing his forehead. 

Nothing was making sense anymore. By Lucario's own account, Sir Aaron had fled the kingdom when the two armies were threatening to destroy it. But why, then, had he abandoned Lucario after sealing him away? Surely it couldn't have been that much trouble to take the staff with him. And Ash still wanted to know why everyone thought Sir Aaron had been a hero when he had run away and abandoned Lucario. 

Nobody spoke for several minutes, too bewildered by the sudden turn of events to know what to say. Finally, however, Lucario spoke up again, sounding more thoughtful than angry now.

"There might be a way for us to find out what happened for certain," he announced. "If I travel to the Tree of Beginning, I might be able to find out if Sir Aaron truly betrayed the kingdom." 

"But how would that help?" Ash asked, more confused than ever now. 

"Have you heard of a Pokemon called Mew?" Lucario asked. Ash nodded uncertainly, still not entirely sure where this was going. "Mew resides in the Tree of Beginning. She will know the truth about what happened on the day of that battle." 

Ash tilted his head to the side. "I thought the battle took place hundreds of years ago, though. Are you sure Mew will still be alive?" 

"Ah, that's one of the many perks of being a legendary-or, well, mythical if we want to get technical-Pokemon," Lucario replied with a small chuckle. "You see, legendary and mythical Pokemon have much longer life spans than humans or even normal Pokemon. It's not uncommon for them to live for up to two thousand years, and some may live even longer than that. Mew should still be in her prime." 

"Whoa," Ash breathed, feeling his head spin. "That's a really long time." 

"Too long," Froakie grunted. "I wouldn't want to live for two thousand years. It would get awfully boring after a while." 

"In that case, I wish you the best of luck on your journey, Lucario," Lady Ilene said graciously, bowing to the ancient Pokemon. 

"Thank you, Your Highness," Lucario replied solemnly. 

Turning to Ash, he continued, "Ash, if your mother will allow for it, I would like it if you accompanied me on my journey to the Tree of Beginning." 

"Really?" Ash asked, blinking. "You want me to come with you?" 

Lucario chuckled, smiling fondly at him. "I like you, Ash, and besides that, I think you could make a fine Aura Guardian someday. If you're interested, I would be more than happy to train you. The journey to the Tree of Beginning would be a good place to start." 

"Yeah, sure! That sounds awesome!" he exclaimed. Then he frowned. "Wait, but if I decide to train to become an Aura Guardian, does that mean I'll have to stay here in the Kingdom of Rota until I'm done? Because I still really want to go on my Pokemon journey when I turn ten. I mean, I want to become an Aura Guardian too, but I've been waiting to go on my journey ever since I was little." 

"Don't worry, Ash. You can still go on your journey and train to become an Aura Guardian at the same time," Lucario reassured him. 

"Really? Then yes, I want to go with you!" Ash exclaimed happily. Turning to his mother, he begged, "Mom, can I go, Mom, please?" 

Delia hesitated for several moments. It was clear that although she didn't like the idea of sending her son off on a trip without her, she was wise enough to realize that he likely wouldn't take no for an answer. Besides, he would be leaving home for his own journey in just two years. Perhaps getting a bit of traveling experience under his belt would be a good idea. Ash, for his part, was already planning on the best way to sneak off with Lucario in case his mother refused him. 

"Delia," Lucario spoke up again. "You don't have to worry about anything. I promise I'll look after your son." 

"And I'll look after him too!" Froakie piped up. 

The auburn-haired woman shot Lucario a sharp look. "You'll watch after him? Make sure he doesn't get himself into any trouble?" 

"You have my word," Lucario promised. 

"Very well, then," Delia replied, nodding. Turning to Ash, she added sternly, "Now, Ash, if I let you go with Lucario, then I want you to promise me that you'll behave yourself. That means no running off whenever you feel like it. We don't know the wild Pokemon in this area, and they might not be as friendly as the ones in Viridian Forest. Can you promise me that?" 

"Yes, Mom. I promise," Ash said, nodding his head fervently. "I'll be really, really good. Swear on it." 

Delia smiled, ruffling his hair. "Alright, dear. You can go." 

"YIPEE!" Ash shouted gleefully, earning himself several amused laughs from the others. 

"Lucario, would you mind waiting until tomorrow to set out?" Delia asked, turning back to the jackal. "It's getting late tonight, and Ash needs to get to bed. And I still need to prepare some rations for him and Froakie to take on the trip." 

"That's quite alright, I understand," Lucario agreed graciously. "I'll tell you what. Tomorrow morning, I'll wait here at the castle. Once Ash and Froakie are ready to go, send them on their way and have them meet me here." 

"Thank you for understanding, Lucario," Delia said gratefully. "I'll do my best not to keep you waiting for too long." 

"Yay!" Ash cheered, skipping about the grand hall with Froakie. "Road trip!" 

Chapter Text

After spending years training to become an Aura Guardian, Lucario was more than used to waking up extremely early in the morning to start his day. Even Sir Aaron hadn't woken up nearly as early as he did, meaning that Lucario had often spent at least two hours by himself before his master awoke to begin their training. Considering how young Ash was, Lucario was fully prepared to wait until at least mid-morning to begin their trek to the Tree of Beginning. 

Much to Lucario's surprise, however, the sun was barely beginning to peer over the horizon when Ash and the strange blue frog arrived at the palace. The small boy was dressed in a black t-shirt with a blue jacket on top, a pair of red sneakers, and a red and white baseball cap. A small backpack was slung over his shoulders. As soon as they spotted Lucario, Ash and his companion waved excitedly at the Aura Pokemon. Lucario smiled back, feeling a surge of fondness at the childlike delight on Ash's face. Most of his time living in Cameron Palace had been spent with Sir Aaron, but there were a few Rota children that he had enjoyed playing with whenever he found an hour or two to spare. 

"Hi, Lucario! Sorry if we kept you waiting," Ash apologized once they had drawn a bit closer. 

"That's alright, Ash. You're actually here earlier than I expected," Lucario admitted, grinning at the surprised look on the boy's face. 

Ash grinned back before his eyes widened, apparently having just remembered something. "Oh yeah! I almost forgot, I don't think I ever introduced you to Froakie last night, did I?" 

"I don't believe we've met properly yet, no," he replied, glancing over at the frog-like Pokemon on Ash's shoulder. "So you're Froakie, then? It's a pleasure to meet you." 

"Nice to meet you too," Froakie replied, giving him a thumbs-up. "And thanks, Ash, for finally remembering me." 

"No problem at all, Fennekin, I mean, Fraxure, I mean, Flareon, I mean, Furret, I mean–eh, sorry, who are you again?" Ash asked, pretending to look confused as he scratched his head. 

Smiling at their playful banter, Lucario broke in, "If you're all ready to go, we should head out now. It's going to take at least a few days to reach the Tree of Beginning, so the sooner we head out, the better." 

"Great! Let's go, then!" the black-haired boy exclaimed cheerfully. 

He turned around and started racing toward the castle entrance. Then, evidently remembering his mother's warning from the night before about running off, he quickly tried to put on the brakes. Unfortunately, the sudden change in speed was too much for his body to handle, and he went tumbling onto the ground. Froakie managed to jump to the side to avoid hitting the pavement, but Ash was flattened underneath his backpack. 

"Oof," he grunted. 

"Are you alright?" Lucario asked worriedly, bending over to observe the young child. "That looked painful." 

Ash groaned for a moment, but in the next second, he was back on his feet again, smiling as if nothing had happened. "Yep! No need to worry about me! Now come on, let's go!" 

"Well, alright, if you're sure. Just be careful," the Aura Pokemon replied, more than a little amused. 

They set off again, this time at a more reasonable pace. Lucario made sure that Ash stayed within a few feet of him at all times, slowing down slightly to accomodate for the boy's shorter legs. Not only did he not want to incur Delia's wrath if he failed to adequately protect her son, he was also the only one with any knowledge of the Tree of Beginning's location. It could be seen from the castle, true, but actually getting there was another story altogether. 

As they traveled along a dirt path, Lucario noticed that Ash seemed to be limping slightly. He felt a twinge of worry. Had Ash injured himself when he fell down back at the palace after all? But the child wasn't showing any other signs of pain that he could see. Perhaps he was just being paranoid. 

"Hey, Lucario?" Ash spoke up suddenly. "So, how exactly do you train to become an Aura Guardian? And what do Aura Guardians do anyway?" 

"Well, to answer your second question, Aura Guardians are, essentially, exactly what the name suggests they are: guardians who have been trained in the art of manipulating aura in order to protect humans and Pokemon alike," Lucario answered. Seeing that his explanation had confused Ash, he clarified, "It means they use aura to protect people and Pokemon." 

"Oh...okay, yeah. I think I get it," the messy-haired child said, nodding. "So how do you become an Aura Guardian, then? What's the training like?" 

"It's a bit complicated, so I'll give you a basic rundown of it for now. Once we actually start your training, I'll go into a little more detail," the fighting-type replied thoughtfully. "Let's see...the first step in your training will be learning to meditate. This will help you get in touch with yourself, which allows you to tap into your aura. After that, we will move on to using your aura to enhance your physical abilities, such as speed and combat skills. From there, you'll learn how to use your aura to sense if other living beings are in the area, as well as how to understand Pokemon speech." 

Ash winced slightly. "Meditating sounds kind of hard though, and all that other stuff sounds really hard too. Are you sure I can do all that?" 

"Of course, Ash. It's going to take time, but I have full faith in you," Lucario said gently. 

"Yeah, Ash. Don't worry so much, you'll be a great Aura Guardian someday!" Froakie piped up, patting Ash's back cheerfully. 

The raven-haired boy smiled back, looking a bit more confident now. "Thanks, guys. I promise I'll work really, really hard." 

"I'm sure you will," Lucario replied kindly. His tone turned serious as he continued, "There is one more aspect of aura training that I haven't mentioned yet. It is the ability to transfer aura to another living creature to heal them or, in extreme cases, save them from death. This is the last and most dangerous aspect of being an Aura Guardian, as it implies that you are willing to sacrifice your life for that of another. If you give away too much of your aura at once, you could die." 

"Jeez, Lucario. Scare my best friend a bit more, why don't you?" Froakie complained, frowning. 

"I'm sorry, Froakie. I have to tell Ash the truth about what could happen, though. It isn't fair if I ask him to train as an Aura Guardian without telling him all the risks involved," the jackal apologized. 

"T-that's okay, I can handle it," Ash spoke up. Lucario could tell that he was still shocked, but he was trying not to let it show. "So, uh...how much is too much of my aura?" 

"I'm afraid I don't know. The amount of aura that can safely be transferred is different for every Aura Guardian," he explained. At Ash's worried look, he quickly reassured him, "Don't worry, you'll feel it when you start to use up too much of your aura. Once it starts, well...you can choose whether to stop or to keep going. You'll only die if you use up too much for your body to be able to replenish it in time." 

Ash nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. Lucario was relieved to see that his warning hadn't deterred the child from wanting to train as an Aura Guardian. Not that he would have blamed him if it had; death wasn't an easy topic for anyone to deal with, least of all someone as young as Ash. 

Eventually, the group decided to take a quick lunch break in the middle of an open field. Lucario went off to gather a few berries from a nearby bush while Ash poured some odd-looking brown pellets into a bowl for Froakie. This, he supposed, must be what passed for Pokemon food in these times. He had to admit that it didn't seem all that bad either. True, its appearance left a lot to be desired, but it smelled alright from what he could tell. Once Ash had finished preparing Froakie's food, he unwrapped one of the sandwiches his mother had packed for him and took a bite. 

"Mm! This is really good!" Ash exclaimed. "Hey, Froakie, want to have a bit? Mom made peanut butter and jelly!" 

"Sure!" Froakie agreed happily, taking the piece of sandwich that Ash was offering him. "Yum! Thanks, Ash." 

"What about you, Lucario? You can have some too if you want," the small boy offered. 

Lucario was about to reply when he noticed a strange-looking stain on the left knee of Ash's jeans. At first, he thought that Ash must have gotten jelly on his pants somehow and was about to suggest that he clean himself up. Upon closer inspection, however, he realized with a surge of trepidation that the stain wasn't coming from the outside of his jeans, but rather from the inside. 

"Ash, would you mind rolling up your pant leg for me?" he asked calmly. Ash started rolling up the right leg, and he added, "The other leg, Ash." 

Ash did as he was told, rolling up his left pant leg, revealing a large red scrape. The blood had mostly dried up now, but Lucario guessed that it had stained his jeans while they were walking. At the sight of the injury, Froakie winced sympathetically, and Lucario himself had trouble pushing down his worry. 

No wonder he was limping earlier if that's what his knee looks like.

"Ash," he murmured, kneeling down to observe the boy's scrape. "I knew that fall looked pretty nasty." 

"I'm okay," Ash blurted out instantly. "It's not that bad. It doesn't even really hurt anymore." 

He shook his head. "That might be, but we still need to clean this before it gets infected. Let's see...there isn't any water near here that I know of...and the lake will take at least another day to reach..." 

"It's okay, Mom gave me some healing cream and bandages before we left," Ash told him. "Hold on, just let me get them out of my bag." 

Lucario nodded and watched as Ash dug through his backpack, eventually reemerging with a small tube and a roll of white bandages. Carefully, he unscrewed the tube and squeezed a tiny droplet onto his index finger before rubbing it over his injured knee. Once he was finished, he wrapped the bandages around his knee a few times before breaking off the rest of the roll. 

"He has experience doing this, doesn't he?" Lucario remarked. 

Froakie nodded. "You wouldn't believe how many time's he's hurt himself because he runs off everywhere or because he tried to climb a tree and fell out. At this point, he's going to give both me and Delia a heart attack someday." 

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Ash protested. 

"Are you sure about that?" Froakie teased him. "I've heard all about your misadventures, you know. What about the time you decided to jump off the swings at the park?" 

"But it was snowy and I didn't get hurt!" 

"Alright, and what about when you jumped into the middle of a Gyarados-infested lake and had to be rescued by a fisherman?" 

"That's not true! I fell off the dock!" 

"Fine, fine. But what about when you climbed to the top of your three-story school's roof and decided to see how long you could dangle off the edge?" 

Lucario, who had been laughing silently at the exchange up until this point, felt his jaw drop open. "You did what now?!" 

At that, Ash gave him a rather sheepish grin. "Uh...yeah...so that's a thing that happened..." 

Quickly steeling himself, Lucario replied sternly, "And that's something that will never happen again. No more hanging off of tall buildings for you–or anywhere more than six feet off the ground, for that matter." 

"Okay. I didn't even like it on the roof anyway. It was cold and slippery," the boy stated, frowning in obvious distate at the memory. 

Suddenly, Lucario sensed a fourth presence near Ash's backpack. Turning around, he saw a female Rattata munching on the leftover slice of Ash's sandwich. As soon as their eyes met, the little purple rat froze, looking back at Lucario guiltily. 

"Ash, I think someone's enjoying your food there," Lucario said calmly. 

"Huh?" Looking confused, Ash turned and looked over his shoulder, quickly spotting the Rattata still eating his sandwich. "Whoa! Check it out, it's a Rattata!" 

Apparently realizing that she had been caught, Rattata quickly dropped the sandwich. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to steal your food. I was just really hungry! I promise I won't do it again!" 

"Hey, it's okay! We can share," Ash said cheerfully. He reached into his bag, pulling out another sandwich wrapped in foil and quickly unwrapped it, handing half of it to Rattata. "Here you go! My mom made lots of food for me, so I have plenty to share if you want." 

Her eyes shining, Rattata accepted the sandwich from Ash, taking a small bite. "Yum! This is so good!" 

"Isn't it awesome? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are my favorite," Ash said, smiling brightly. "Raspberry is my favorite flavor of jelly, but I like strawberry and grape too. Just make sure you don't eat the foil. I tried that once and it tasted really bad." 

Somehow, Lucario wasn't surprised to hear that Ash had tried to eat tin foil once. 

"Mom makes me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch all the time," the child was saying now. "She's a really great mom, even if she does kind of worry about me a little too much. Everyone I know says that's just what moms do, though." 

"And for good reason too," Froakie pointed out. "Or do we need to go over this again?" 

"Yeah, yeah. I got it, thanks," Ash said, waving his hand dismissively. 

"Good. Because I don't know about you, but I'd like to see you live to reach your next birthday," the frog Pokemon said, half-joking, half-serious. 

"That's okay! If I die, I'll just tell Arceus to put me back." 

"I don't think that's how it works, Ash. And do you really think the god of Pokemon will listen to you?" 

"Uh...maybe?" 

"Good luck with that." 

Lucario smiled to himself, watching indulgently as Ash continued talking animatedly with Rattata and Froakie, even splitting the other half of his sandwich between the two Pokemon. Yes, Ash might have been nervous about his ability to learn how to use aura, but there was truly no need for him to be. He had all the right characteristics to become a fully-fledged Aura Guardian someday, and Lucario intended to do everything he could to bring all that Ash could be to the surface. 

Chapter Text

Despite his initial concerns about his ability to learn how to use aura properly, Ash was more eager than ever to begin his training. As soon as lunch was over, he practically pounced on Lucario, begging him to start teaching him. In his excitement, he nearly tripped and fell again, only managing to avoid another spill when Lucario caught him just before he hit the ground. Even so, this didn't deter Ash in the slightest, and he immediately went back to bouncing around like a Spoink. 

"When can we start? When can we start? When can we start?" he asked excitedly. 

"Calm down there, Ash," Lucario said, looking rather amused. "We're going to start by teaching you how to meditate first, but we won't get very far if you keep bouncing around like that. And isn't it bad for you to move around so much right after eating anyway? You might make yourself sick." 

"No, I won't! I don't get sick after I eat!" Ash insisted. 

"That's true, he doesn't," Froakie interjected, a fond but exasperated look on his face. "He does this after every single meal, at least from what I've seen. I haven't seen him get sick yet." 

Ash grinned at Froakie's support, and Lucario shook his head. "That might be so, but you should still burn off a little of that energy before we try meditating. Let's keep traveling for a bit, and then when we settle down for the evening, we can begin your training then." 

"Aw," he frowned, pouting slightly. "Alright, then." 

Froakie chuckled at him, and Lucario patted him on the head. "Don't worry, Ash. Evening will be here before you know it. Now, come on, we should get going." 

Once Ash had finished packing up his bag–leaving one more sandwich out on a small napkin in case Rattata or another Pokemon came by and wanted a snack–he fell in line with Lucario as the group continued on their way to the Tree of Beginning. Although still slightly disappointed about having to wait to begin his training, he tried not to dwell too much on that fact. He walked beside the ancient Pokemon, laughing along with Froakie as they told Lucario stories of their time together since they had become friends. They might have only known each other for a month, but that had been more than enough time to have quite a few adventures. 

"Oh yeah, and there was this one time at school where our teachers made us all pick a Pokemon and write a report on it," Ash told the jackal. "That was after I met Froakie, but Mom said that I shouldn't do my project on him because the other kids might wonder how I know so much about a Pokemon that isn't from Kanto. So I decided to go with Squirtle instead, but Gary Oak said that only he was allowed to do Squirtle and that if I didn't pick something else, he would tell the teacher that I was copying." 

"That's not nice," Lucario remarked with a frown. "There was no rule that said you couldn't study the same Pokemon as another student, was there?" 

Ash shook his head, scowling at the memory. "No, but Gary always acts like he should get special treatment or something. He thinks he's the greatest person ever just because Professor Oak is his grandfather. I'm not allowed to have the same anything as him because he says he doesn't want everyone to think he likes the same things as a loser like me. It's stupid and I think he's stupid too." 

"Well, if that's the way he treats other children, then you're right, he is stupid," Lucario agreed. 

"Consider yourself lucky you haven't met him. I met him once–it would have been a little bit after Ash's project–and it took him exactly five seconds for me to want to hit him with a Water Pulse," Froakie spoke up. "He lives in Pallet Town like Ash and they're both the same age, but they couldn't be more different if they tried." 

"I punched him in the stomach once," Ash announced, earning him a shocked look from both Lucario and Froakie, neither of whom had heard this story yet. 

It wasn't a story he was particularly proud of, but his pride as well as lingering resentment over the incident kept him from feeling too guilty. A few months before he met Froakie, Ash had been playing by himself during recess, drawing pictures of the different Kanto starters with chalk. About ten minutes into this, Gary had approached him and started making fun of Ash, criticizing his drawings and telling him that they looked like a toddler had done them. Despite repeated pleas from the raven-haired boy to leave him alone, Gary refused to leave, continuing to taunt him until Ash finally snapped and punched him square in the gut. Unfortunately, at that very moment, the playground monitor had walked by and seen him punch Gary. Needless to say, she had been less than impressed, and Ash was forced to write a letter of apology to Gary while also losing his recess privileges for a week. Meanwhile, Gary had gotten off without any punishment at all despite being the one to start everything. The injustice of it all still burned him from the inside, and even now, Ash refused to speak to the playground monitor whenever he saw her. 

He relayed all of this to Froakie and Lucario, both of whom looked outraged on his behalf by the end of it. "How is it fair that you're the only one punished when Gary was the one who started it?" Froakie asked angrily. "That's not right!" 

"I don't know why the playground monitor was so mad anyway. It's not like I hurt him, at least not really. He didn't even have to go to the nurse," Ash complained. 

"What did your mother have to say about all this?" Lucario inquired. 

"Well, she was mad at first, but she was okay after I told her what really happened. She just told me that it was best to use my words instead of hitting," the raven-haired boy answered. 

"But you did use your words," Froakie pointed out, looking puzzled. "You told Gary to leave you alone, and when he kept refusing, you punched him." 

"Yeah, that's what I said too," Ash agreed, nodding. "Mom said that she meant I should have told a teacher what was happening instead of hitting Gary. But I don't like telling teachers stuff because if you do, everyone starts saying you're a tattletale. And if you're a tattletale, then nobody wants to play with you." 

"Reporting someone for being a bully isn't tattling," the jackal Pokemon stated, frowning. 

"Yeah, maybe," he replied with a shrug. He grinned as he added, "I got back at him later, though." 

"Really?" Froakie asked eagerly. "How?" 

"I stuck a toy Ekans in his desk, and it scared him so much that he screamed," Ash answered, feeling a surge of pride. "And nobody saw me put it in there, so I didn't get in trouble." 

Froakie gave him an approving grin, and Lucario smiled in amusement. "Very cunning, Ash, I must admit. Well done." 

They continued on their way, talking more about their personal lives. Eventually, the topic of conversation switched over to Froakie. Lucario, for one, was extremely curious to know how Ash had managed to obtain a Pokemon despite claiming to be too young to be a trainer. 

"Well, Froakie isn't really my Pokemon yet, so I'm not really his trainer," the messy-haired child explained. "But as soon as I turn ten, Professor Oak is going to give me a Pokeball, and I'll be able to catch him for real." 

"I see, but what made him decide to let you keep Froakie until then?" Lucario asked, sounding confused. 

Ash frowned, trying to think of the best way to explain the situation to his new friend. "Well, I don't really get how it works yet, but Professor Sycamore–he's from the Kalos region like Froakie–said that Froakie has a special power. Something called the...the...bond phenomenon? Yeah, that. Have you ever heard of it?" 

Lucario shook his head. "No, but it does sound fascinating. So what does this power do?" 

"Well, no one really knows for sure. It's only ever been recorded once in history, and that was hundreds of thousands of years ago," Froakie answered. "It's already an extremely rare ability, and on top of that, it can only be drawn out with the right trainer. From birth, other Froakie with this power are destined to be with a specific trainer, but with all the possible trainers in the world, it's unlikely that they'd ever find the right one. The fact that I found Ash was really just a stroke of pure luck." 

"Professor Sycamore said that Froakie and my souls are-are-the same half of two wholes?" Ash added, then frowned. That didn't sound quite right. 

"You mean two halves of the same whole?" Lucario asked, laughter shining in his crimson-colored eyes. 

"Two halves of the same whole, yeah," he answered, nodding. "He says that's why I can understand Froakie when he talks too. With other Pokemon, I kind of just have to guess what they mean." 

He paused as a sudden realization hit him. "Hey, Lucario, how do you know how to use Telepathy? I thought only psychic-type and legendary Pokemon could use Telepathy, but you're not a legendary and you don't look like a psychic-type either." 

"Correct, I'm not a psychic-type. I'm a fighting and steel-type," Lucario told him. "As for being able to use Telepathy, that's a common misconception. It's true that only psychic and legendary Pokemon are born with the ability to use it, but any Pokemon can learn how with enough training." 

"But if anyone can learn, then why doesn't every Pokemon learn Telepathy?" Ash asked, confused. 

"A few reasons, really. Number one, learning a skill such as that takes years of practice and dedication, something that a lot of Pokemon just don't want to take the time for," the jackal explained. "Number two, some Pokemon believe it to be a sin against nature to speak in the same language as humans." 

Ash had no idea what a "sin against nature" was, but he assumed it wasn't a good thing. He walked on in silence for a few minutes, trying to imagine a world in which every single Pokemon spoke using Telepathy. Would things be better or worse than they were now? 

"You know what? I think it's okay if not every Pokemon decides to learn Telepathy," he announced abruptly. "I think all Pokemon are great the way they are."

Later that night, Lucario sat down underneath a large oak tree, gazing up at the starlit sky. He and Ash had just finished the boy's first training session on his way to becoming an Aura Guardian about fifteen minutes ago, and the boy–along with Froakie–had quickly fallen asleep. Lucario, however, chose to stay up for a bit longer to clear his head, taking advantage of the silence to reflect on Ash's first day of training. 

Just as he had promised, they had started by teaching him how to meditate. Given how overexcited Ash could be at the best of times, Lucario had fully expected it to take at least a few sessions before he got the hang of things. Much to his surprise, however, Ash managed to get the basics of meditation down almost immediately. He still struggled with his posture at times, but that would be an easy enough fix. 

Almost instinctively, he found his gaze wandering over to where the small boy was wrapped up in a sleeping bag, a peaceful expression on his childlike face. As he watched him, Lucario was struck by how much younger Ash appeared when he was asleep. Indeed, if he hadn't known any better, he might have thought the boy was five or six years old instead of eight. 

"Ash," he murmured fondly, feeling something tug at his heart. 

Not for the first time, Lucario found himself grateful that Ash-and Froakie too, of course-had accompanied him on his journey to the Tree of Beginning. Without their presence to keep him distracted, he probably would have ended up brooding over Sir Aaron's betrayal the entire time. Indeed, he considered himself very fortunate to have met Ash at all, and he didn't think it was entirely a coincidence that the child should appear in his life right as he was in desperate need of something, anything, to show him that there was still some good left in the world. 

The pain from his former master's abandonment was still lingering, like an old cut that refused to heal properly. But there was something about Ash that made it easier to bear. And, in a way, the boy reminded Lucario of himself when he was still a small Riolu. 

The childlike innocence. The way he was always bouncing up and down, raring to go at every moment. The smile that glowed as brightly by the sun, not yet dimmed by the horrors of the world. The way he laughed and shouted at the top of his lungs. The delight at the prospect of going on an adventure. 

And as Ash rolled over in his sleeping bag, still oblivious to the fact that he was being watched, Lucario chuckled quietly to himself and thought, Arceus, let him never grow up. 

Chapter Text

It took another two days of traveling to reach the Tree of Beginning. During that time, Ash continued training his aura with Lucario's guidance. Seeing as he had only just started his training, they had yet to move past meditation, but he didn't mind too much. It at least gave Ash a good excuse to run around and play since Lucario had quickly realized that it would be impossible to get him to focus on meditating if he wasn't allowed to burn off a little energy. Much to Ash's delight, he was allowed to play to his heart's content as long as he didn't wander out of Lucario's sight, although the jackal put his foot down when he started doing backflips off of a low-hanging tree branch. 

"Alright, Ash. From now on, no more backflipping out of trees," Lucario said sternly. "I don't want to have to tell your mother that you broke your neck. 

Ash nodded, biting back a grin. "Okay, Lucario. I promise. From now on, I won't backflip out of any more trees." 

Lucario gave him an exasperated look. "And no front flipping, no cartwheels, no aerials, no jumping out of trees in any way, shape, or form whatsoever. In fact, let's agree that you'll keep your feet on the ground at all times except when absolutely necessary." 

"Aw," Ash pouted, frowning. "Okay." 

He really wanted to know what it was with everyone being so overprotective of him all the time. It wasn't as if he had ever hurt himself before, at least not really. Alright, so he had fallen and injured his knee earlier, but he barely counted that. Other kids at school fell and scraped their knees all the time; it was no big deal. Besides, he would be going on his Pokemon journey in just two years. Why was everyone still acting as though he were a little kid?

"How come Mom still treats me like a baby?" he complained, deciding to voice his grievances aloud. "I'm not a baby. I thought people would stop treating me like I'm little all the time now that I'm almost old enough to go on my journey." 

"That's mothers for you, Ash. They're always going to treat you like a little kid no matter how old you are," Froakie informed him, patting him on the back sympathetically. 

"Your mother loves you very much, Ash. That's why she worries so much about you," Lucario said gently. "It's not that she doesn't think you can take care of yourself. She's just afraid that you're going to get hurt. It's her job to worry about you. And besides, you have to admit you're not always the best when it comes to being careful." 

"Yeah, I guess," Ash sighed, kicking at a stray rock. "It just seems like the only thing I ever hear from anyone is "no" or "be careful" or something like that. No, you can't stay up past your bedtime, you have school in the morning. Be careful and don't go near the Beedrill nests. No, you can't have ice cream before dinner. No, you can't hang upside-down off the monkey bars. No, you can't climb to the top of that tree. Be careful when you cross the street. No, you can't watch that movie. No, you can't draw on the walls. No, you can't ride a bike with no hands. I can't wait until I turn ten. Then maybe everyone will stop telling me I can't do things all the time." 

"Well, eight or ten, there are still going to be a few things that you aren't allowed to do," Lucario reminded him. He placed a paw on Ash's free shoulder and added softly, "Growing up really isn't as great as you think it is, Ash. I know it seems like your life is full of people telling you that you can't do anything, but trust me, there are still plenty of things you can do now that you won't be able to when you're older." 

"Really?" he asked skeptically. 

"Really," the ancient Pokemon confirmed. "Don't be in such a hurry to grow up, Ash. Time will pass by faster than you realize, and before you know it, you won't be a little kid anymore. Take the time to enjoy your life the way it is now instead of always looking ahead to the future."

Much had changed in the centuries that had passed since Sir Aaron had sealed Lucario away in his staff. Back in those days, humans and Pokemon were only just learning how to coexist with one another. The concept of a Pokemon trainer would have been laughed at as a child's fantasy. The only Pokemon battles that took place were the wars that seemed as if they would tear the world apart sometimes. Pokeballs were nonexistent, and the closest and only equivalent they had would have been Sir Aaron's staff (whether the other Aura Guardians of the time were also in possession of similar artifacts, Lucario had no idea, having never seen fit to ask). 

However, one thing that had not changed in the slightest was the Tree of Beginning. It was still just as majestic as ever, its branches unbent and unbroken even after hundreds of years. Indeed, had Lucario not known any better, he might have thought he had suddenly been transported back to his own time. Before his master had betrayed him, when he was still a small Riolu seeing the Tree for the first time. Even now, the sight of it was still as breathtaking as ever. 

"Whoa," Ash breathed, staring up at the Tree of Beginning with wide eyes. 

"Amazing," Froakie whispered, sounding equally awed. 

Lucario grinned at their incredulity and delight. "If you think the view out here is nice, just wait until you see the inside. Follow me-and Ash, remember, no running off." 

But as he turned to enter the tunnel that would lead them inside the Tree of Beginning, he found that his feet refused to move. No matter how hard he tried, he remained frozen in place, unable to take a single step forward. It felt as if the roots had sprung up from the ground to hold his feet in place. A weight settled itself on his chest, nearly suffocating him, and his heart suddenly dropping into his stomach didn't do anything to help. 

"Lucario?" Ash's voice sounded next to him, clearly worried. "What's wrong? How come you're not going in? Are you afraid?" 

"No," Lucario murmured, only half-truthful. 

No, he wasn't afraid, at least not in the sense that Ash was probably thinking. He wasn't afraid of going inside the tunnel, per se; he had taken the trip before and knew that the inside was probably one of the safest places, if not the safest place in the world.

Rather, it was the truth he was afraid of. It wouldn't be much longer now, and he would finally find out for certain whether Sir Aaron had betrayed him and deserted the kingdom as he had been led to believe. Lucario's biggest fear was that he would find out that his suspicions had been right all along, that his master had indeed been a traitor and that the years he had spent training Lucario in the art of aura mastery had meant nothing to him. 

Suddenly, he felt a small, warm hand grasp his paw. Looking down, he saw Ash holding onto his paw, a bright smile on his face. 

"Hey, it's okay!" Ash said cheerfully. "We'll all be together, right? There's nothing to worry about!" 

For a moment, Lucario could only stand there, unable to find the capacity to move, let alone speak. As he looked down at Ash, however, he found himself cracking a small smile as well. There was just something about the child that made Lucario believe that he was telling the truth, that everything would turn out to be alright in the end. 

"Yes, we will. You're right," Lucario confirmed, giving the boy's hand a gentle squeeze. "Now, come on. Mew's waiting for us inside the Tree." 

Soon, he would finally discover the truth, whatever it might have been. The fear that he would turn out to be right in his beliefs hadn't quite disappeared yet, and he still felt as though a weight was pressing down on his chest. 

But he wasn't alone. He had Ash and Froakie with him. As long as he had their support, he would be ready to face whatever might be waiting for him when he walked through that tunnel.

Chapter Text

If the view of the Tree of Beginning from the outside had been impressive, it was nothing compared to the sight that greeted Ash when he actually set foot inside. Just beyond the tunnel lay a lush green forest stretching as far as the eye could see, filled with crystal-clear lakes. Crystal-like objects were scattered about the pristine woodland, and several Pokemon that Ash had never seen before were playing happily. Although the sun couldn't reach them, somehow, it was still as warm as a clear summer afternoon. 

"Oh, wow," Froakie breathed. 

Ash, meanwhile, couldn't even bring himself to speak. Every time he opened his mouth to try, it felt as though the breath was being stolen away from his lungs. Not that it really mattered either way. There weren't any words he could think of that could do justice in describing a place such as this. 

"Isn't it beautiful?" Lucario murmured from beside him. "I'll never forget the first time I set foot in here." 

"You've been in here before?" Ash asked, his eyes widening. 

The jackal nodded, a small smile on his face. "Many times, in fact. I used to come here once a month with–with Sir Aaron as part of my training or whenever we just wanted a small break. It's a good place to relax, as you might have already noticed." 

Now that he thought about it, Ash could see why this forest would be a good relaxation spot. He hadn't really noticed it before, being too preoccupied with the breathtaking beauty of the Tree, but there was something about the air that sent ripples of blissful serenity rippling through his mind and body. Ash closed his eyes for a brief moment, allowing the feeling of calmness to wash over him. For the first time that he could remember, the desire to run about in every direction possible was pushed to the back of his mind. 

"It's..." he trailed off, still searching for a word that would adequately describe the Tree's beauty. 

Fortunately, Lucario seemed to understand. "It truly is, isn't it?" 

"Kalos has some nice places, but nothing compares to this," Froakie agreed, still staring around in amazement. 

"How come people don't come here more often?" Ash asked curiously. 

"In short, it's because this place is meant to be a safe haven for Pokemon to grow and thrive without human interference," Lucario answered. "So naturally, this place is very well-guarded. Add the fact that traveling to the Tree without a proper guide is extremely difficult if not impossible, and you'll find that you essentially have the perfect hideout. I'm sure plenty of people have tried coming here but have simply been unsuccessful." 

"Well-guarded?" Froakie repeated, sounding as confused as Ash felt. "But we were able to walk right in here with no problem. That doesn't seem very well-guarded to me." 

"The Tree of Beginning is actually protected by the three legendary Pokemon, Regirock, Regice, and Registeel," Lucario told them. "Their job is to ward off any intruders. They're powerful, but we're a small group, so they shouldn't perceive us as much of a threat. As long as we don't disturb anyone, we should be able to make it to the heart of the Tree of Beginning safely."

"Whoa. Three legendary Pokemon?" Ash asked excitedly. "And have you really met all of them?" 

"Yes, I have. And no, I will not be taking you to meet them," Lucario said sternly. 

Ash frowned, pouting. "Aw. Why not? I promise I won't do anything to hurt anyone."

"I know that and you know that, but they don't, and their mantra is attack first, ask questions later–or, more likely, never at all," the ancient Pokemon explained gently. "It's best if we stay out of their way as much as possible for your own safety–yours and Froakie's." 

"Oh...okay," he agreed finally. "What about Mew? Can I meet her? She lives here too, right?" 

Lucario smiled down at him. "Yes, of course you can meet her. I think she'll like you very much, Ash." 

"Yipee!" Ash cheered, suddenly feeling much happier. 

They continued on their way toward the heart of the Tree, soon coming upon another tunnel leading out of the pristine forest. Ash was sorry to leave it behind, but he knew they had to keep going. After all, they were on an important mission, not to watch other Pokemon play. The desire to help Lucario find out the truth about Sir Aaron kept his feet moving forward, and soon the sound of the delighted chirps of the forest Pokemon had faded away into the background. 

He couldn't explain why, but he felt as though he needed to help Lucario. Much like Froakie, the jackal felt like a lifelong friend even though they had only known each other for a few days. Already, Ash often found himself venting about frustrations to Lucario that he had previously only shared with Froakie. The ancient Pokemon had been nothing but kind and gentle with him, patiently teaching him the ways of an Aura Guardian despite how slow his progress probably was. If there was anything at all that he could do to repay him, even in the slightest, then he was ready to do it. 

As it turned out, luck was on their side, and they were able to make it to the heart of the Tree without running into any of the Regis. Indeed, aside from Ash nearly tripping over a crystal and having to be caught by Lucario, the trip was largely uneventful. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed by this. Being eight years old, Ash lived for adventure and excitement, but if the Regis were really as dangerous as Lucario had implied, he figured it would be best to steer clear of them.

They stepped inside what appeared to be a large room with a massive crystal formation in the center, as well as several smaller ones scattered about the room. This, Ash supposed, was the heart of the Tree of Beginning. It didn't look all that impressive–especially not compared to the forest at the entrance to the Tree–but what it lacked visually, it more than made up for in the power he could feel radiating around him. 

"Is this the place?" he asked, glancing over at Lucario, who nodded. "But where's Mew, then?" 

Lucario seemed to be about to answer but froze suddenly, his mouth hanging half-open as he stared at a spot about twenty feet away from them, on the edge of the large crystal formation in the center of the room. Confused, Ash followed the ancient Pokemon's gaze and saw something he definitely hadn't been expecting to see in a place like this: a pair of black gloves.

"Huh?" he asked aloud, more bemused than ever. 

"What's going on?" Froakie echoed. "What are those doing here?" 

Ash followed Lucario as the jackal raced toward the spot where the gloves lay. As he drew closer, he realized that his original perception of the heart had been wrong–it wasn't one giant crystal formation, but rather two, one larger one and one smaller one directly in front of it. He studied the smaller formation for a moment, then froze. Unless he was very much mistaken, there appeared to be the outline of a human figure etched into the crystals. 

"Could it be?" Lucario murmured. He was looking, not at the crystals, but at the gloves. "These are his gloves, but how...?" 

"Lucario, look!" Ash said urgently, pointing toward the crystal formation. "There's something–no, someone–in there!" 

At the sound of his voice, Lucario looked up. His eyes widened. "Sir Aaron?" 

He raised his paw, a blue sphere forming from the center of his palm-or where his palm would be at least. At the same time, a distinctly human shape began to glow from within the crystals. Ash stared in disbelief, his jaw hanging open. Although he wasn't particularly familiar with the famous legend, he easily recognized the man he had seen in the portrait in the grand hall back at Cameron Palace. 

"It is you," Lucario whispered, seemingly unable to believe his eyes. Not that Ash could blame him; he scarcely believed what he was seeing either. 

Ash stared in bewilderment. So Sir Aaron must have come here after trapping Lucario inside his staff, but why? Why this place and not somewhere else? And how had he ended up in this position in the first place? Had he truly been trying to save the kingdom as the legend stated, or had he been sealed inside the crystals as punishment for abandoning the queen? 

"How-how did he get like that?" Ash asked finally, his voice faltering. 

"I-I don't know," Lucario answered, shaking his head. "There's only one way, but...I don't understand, if he was going to...then why did he tell me...?" 

"Here," a soft voice whispered from somewhere to their left. "Touch this, and everything will be explained." 

Startled, Ash jerked his head up to see a small pink cat floating nearby, watching Lucario with a sad yet understanding look in her eyes. Mew hovered near an odd-looking blue and pink flower, gesturing toward it with her paw. He had seen a couple of them on the trip from Cameron Palace, but Lucario hadn't made any mention of them and Ash had been too excited about getting to properly train his aura to bother asking. 

"What is that?" he blurted out. 

"It's called a time flower. Aura Guardians use them to see events that have happened in the past," Lucario explained, still not taking his eyes off the flower. 

"But how do you know it's going to show you what really happened during the battle?" Ash asked, frowning. "If the flower records the past, does that mean it could show something that happened five minutes ago? That's still in the past, right?" 

"It doesn't quite work that way," Mew explained gently. "You see, you need to activate a time flower before it will record anything. Only those with an extremely powerful aura-or, more accurately, an Aura Guardian-would be able to do this. To everyone else, it would just be another flower."

Ash nodded in understanding, then turned to Lucario as the jackal pressed a paw to the flower. All at once, a vision unfolded before everyone's eyes, reminding Ash a bit of the time his kindergarten teacher had managed to project a movie for them to watch on the middle of the soccer field. And although he had never been the best at paying attention to anything, he found that this time, he couldn't tear his eyes away. 

He watched as Sir Aaron came bursting into the cavern, listened as he called out frantically for Mew. He heard Sir Aaron ask Mew to allow him to give her his aura so that she would be able to save the Tree of Beginning. He heard Mew murmur softly in agreement as the Aura Guardian stretched out his hand toward her. 

He watched as a bright blue sphere began to emerge from Sir Aaron's hand, steadily growing larger and larger as it enveloped around the small pink cat. He watched as his body began to shake, listened as he began to shout in obvious agony. 

Yet still, he never stopped. He never wavered once, never moved his hand away despite the pain he was clearly in. 

Was it just Ash's imagination, or did Sir Aaron's body look almost transparent now? 

And just like that, the scene was over. The last sight Ash had before the vision faded away was of the energy Sir Aaron had been transferring to Mew exploding outward in a burst of light. 

Even as the vision disappeared and the cavern returned to normal, Ash still couldn't tear his eyes away from the time flower. Sir Aaron had been a hero after all. He had sacrificed himself to save the Kingdom of Rota. 

A soft sobbing noise brought him back to reality. Turning his head to the side, he felt his heart break as he saw Lucario kneeling in front of the time flower, shaking with tears. 

"Forgive me for doubting you, Master," Lucario choked out. 

"Lucario..." Ash whispered, then stopped. What was he supposed to say in a situation like this? Instead, he just stood there silently, watching as Lucario grieved for his long-lost friend. 

He was still confused, though. The vision had proven at least that Sir Aaron hadn't been a traitor, but it hadn't done anything to explain why he had sealed Lucario away in the staff. But with the state Lucario was in now, Ash didn't want to give voice to his thoughts. 

And anyway...maybe, just maybe, the vision had explained why. 

Sir Aaron had been a fully-fledged Aura Guardian. Which meant he must have known what would happen if he transferred too much of his aura to Mew. Which meant that he had come to the Tree of Beginning intending to sacrifice himself to protect the kingdom. Perhaps, in that case, he had sealed Lucario away to prevent him from having to witness his death-or to prevent him from sharing the same fate. 

Then again, it didn't matter if Ash understood the reasoning Sir Aaron's actions. All that mattered was whether Lucario did–and from what Ash was seeing, that certainly appeared to be the case. 

Ash looked around the cavern, then down at the time flower again, careful not to stare directly at Lucario, who was still crying openly. The vision was still burned into his mind as clearly as if it were still playing in front of him. He couldn't imagine how much pain Sir Aaron must have been in during those final few moments. It wasn't often that Ash heard grown men yelling in agony as he had while he was transferring his aura to Mew. 

But in the end, it had worked. The kingdom had been saved, and even now, centuries later, it still remained standing. Sir Aaron hadn't only saved the lives of the people living in the Kingdom of Rota at the time, but the lives of everyone who would call it home in the years to come. 

He had died for Queen Rin, the wise ruler who refused to flee her kingdom even when it appeared as though all hope was lost. 

He had died for the two armies, stopping them from going to war, which would most definitely have resulted in even more deaths. 

He had died for Lucario, the student and friend he could never allow to suffer the same painful fate as he had. 

He had died for others. And he had done so without hesitation, without showing the slightest hint of fear. 

Dimly, he realized that Lucario had stopped crying now. He looked up at the jackal Pokemon hesitantly, still not entirely sure what to say that would be of any help. Lucario's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, and they still held a great deal of sadness. Despite this, however, he smiled down at Ash. 

"Lucario..." Ash began again, then broke off as he found himself being pulled into a tight hug. 

"Thank you," he heard Lucario whisper, his voice still choked with emotion. 

After a few moments, Lucario finally let go of him, stepping back slightly. His eyes were still slightly swollen, but he appeared to be in better control of his emotions than he had a few minutes ago. Ash let his gaze wander toward the time flower for a minute, then looked back at his mentor again. 

"You know what? I think I'd be okay with transferring all of my aura to save someone else," Ash announced, smiling brightly at Lucario. "Because no matter what...if someone needs help, and there's something I can do for them, then I want to do it, you know? I don't know if that makes sense. But if giving up my aura means saving even one person, even if it's only for a short period of time, then I think it will be worth it." 

"Oh, I think it makes perfect sense," Lucario murmured, gently pulling the boy into another hug. "You're very brave, Ash. Don't ever change." 

"I won't," Ash murmured back. "I promise." 

Chapter Text

When Lucario had first appeared in their lives, Froakie hadn't been entirely sure what to make of him. After all, it wasn't every day that a Pokemon suddenly burst out of a centuries-old staff in the middle of a party. Part of Froakie had initially been inclined to think that Lucario had done so simply for dramatic purposes. He still wondered why he hadn't bothered to free himself before-true, he had said that only a person with an aura similar to Sir Aaron's would be able to free him from the staff, but what was the likelihood that in seven hundred years (give or take a few), only one person would happen to have the aura needed in order for him to escape? 

Granted, Froakie was well aware that his bond phenomemon power was even more rare, at least judging by a purely time-based standpoint. But, in his defense, the bond phenomenon was a power only Pokemon of his species were born with, and even then it was only a select few. Every living being in the world had an aura–every human, every Pokemon, every plant. It was the life force of all living creatures, after all. Maybe not everyone could learn to manipulate it, true, but everyone had it. The chances of Ash being the only Pokemon over several centuries to have an aura similar enough to Sir Aaron's to free Lucario seemed highly improbable. 

Of course, Ash had quickly taken to Lucario, much to Froakie's amused exasperation. At the same time, however, this only heightened his initial distrust of the ancient Pokemon. Ash was still young and didn't fully understand that not every Pokemon he came across was safe to run up to. If Lucario would have done anything to hurt his best friend, no matter in what way, he would have had to answer to Froakie. The fact that the Aura Pokemon had several years of battling experience on him didn't matter. 

But, as it turned out, there was no need for him to be suspicious of Lucario at all. Ever since they had set out on their quest to visit the Tree of Beginning, the Aura Pokemon had been nothing but gentle and caring toward Ash. He took care of the boy after he had injured his knee, and he made sure that Ash kept his promise to Delia about not running off. During mealtimes, Lucario even saw to it that Ash was getting enough to eat-no easy feat considering his tendency to share food with any Pokemon that crossed his path. Lucario seemed to have quite the protective streak in him as well, setting a fair amount of ground rules about Ash's safety. 

Froakie prided himself on being a good judge of character, and he felt that he would be able to sense it when someone's kindness was only for show. That didn't appear to be the case with Lucario. Everything about the ancient Pokemon's behavior suggested that the affection he showed toward Ash was genuine. He had seen the expression of mingled tenderness, amusement, and slight exasperation in Lucario's eyes whenever he looked at Ash, an expression that mirrored what Froakie often felt about the raven-haired boy himself. 

Now, he watched as Lucario stared up at the moon, just barely visible through the clouds covering the sky. It was well into the night, and Ash had long since fallen asleep. Despite this, both Pokemon remained awake, each enjoying the quiet night air. Slowly, Froakie found himself wandering over to where Lucario was sitting. The Aura Pokemon moved over slightly to make room for him but didn't say a word, instead continuing to gaze silently up at the moon. 

"I used to come out here at night with Sir Aaron all the time. Part of my training was best done in the dark, and it helps that the forest is usually quiet around this time," Lucario spoke up suddenly. "After we were done, on some nights, we would sit down together and watch the moon just like this." 

"Oh?" Froakie asked, not entirely sure what else to say to that. "That...that does sound nice." 

"It was," Lucario agreed, a small smile cracking his features. "So much has changed these past few centuries...but the moon still looks the same as ever. In fact, the last time I was out here with Sir Aaron, the clouds were partially hiding the moon just like they are tonight." 

"Yeah...I have to say, that's the nice thing about moving to Pallet Town," Froakie agreed. "I used to live in Lumiose City, and the lights there are so bright, you can't really enjoy watching the moon. But in Pallet Town, you can since you're not being blinded in every direction you turn." 

The ancient Pokemon nodded, a sad look entering his eyes. "I can still remember being out here like it was yesterday. It still does feel like it was only yesterday. When I first woke up after being inside that staff, I thought I was still back in my own time at first." 

Froakie had already figured as much, but he winced sympathetically. Waking up in an unfamiliar location was already unnerving enough as it was; he couldn't imagine what it must feel like to wake up and realize that several hundred years had gone by. In a way, Lucario had lost everything in one day. 

"I still..." Lucario trailed off for a moment, shaking his head. "I've never thought much about whether there's an afterlife or not. I always just thought I would wait and see. But now...I've spent these past few days hating my master because I thought he had abandoned me and the kingdom. I believed him to be a coward and a traitor. If there is an afterlife, then what must he think of me now?" 

This was a conversation Froakie had desperately been hoping to avoid. If there was one thing the Bubble Frog Pokemon definitely did not pride himself on, it was his ability to provide comfort for others. That had always been Ash's strong suit, and he did it remarkably well for an eight-year-old child. But he sensed that Lucario needed someone to talk to, so he would do his best to be there for him. 

"I'm sure Sir Aaron wouldn't blame you," he replied, struggling to find the right words to say. "You had good reason to believe what you did, and I'm sure he knew that when he sealed you away. I think that if he could see you-if he can see you-then he would just be glad that you're alright." 

"Perhaps," the Aura Pokemon agreed, his eyes still downcast. "I just wish...I just wish there was some way I could speak to him again. I wish I could have told him, just once, how much he means to me." 

"He knew," Froakie assured him, and this time, he was one hundred percent certain of what he was saying. "Just like you know how much he cared for you, I have no doubt that he knew how much you cared for him. Even if you never got around to saying so out loud. There are some things that we don't need words to express." 

Lucario chuckled quietly. "You know, you remind me a lot of Ash. I think he would have said the exact same thing if he wasn't snoring away back there." 

Froakie grinned. "Well, the kid may be reckless at times, but you won't find many people as kind as he is." 

"Oh, I can believe that," Lucario agreed. He shook his head and continued, "So...you said you're from Kalos, if I recall correctly?" 

"That's right. My species is meant to be the water-type starter for new trainers in Kalos," Froakie confirmed. 

"I understood maybe five of those words, but that does sound interesting," the jackal replied, blinking. 

"Right. I forgot they didn't have trainers back in your time," he remarked, mentally slapping himself upside the head. "Alright, then. To give a basic rundown, new Pokemon trainers are given a Pokemon partner to start their journey. Most of the time, they can choose between a water-type, a grass-type, or a fire-type. In Kanto, new trainers can choose from Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander." 

"Ah. Yes, I think that makes sense," Lucario mused, nodding. "Was it nice in Kalos? I haven't seen much of the world outside of Rota." 

"It wasn't bad, but Lumiose City was a bit too loud and crowded for my taste," Froakie answered honestly. "I prefer quieter places, which is why Pallet Town has been such a good fit. But no matter what, Kalos will always be my first home." 

They fell silent for a few minutes, enjoying the peaceful night together. Froakie turned to watch Ash as the small boy continued to sleep away, blissfully unaware of the conversation that was taking place between the two Pokemon. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that Lucario was watching Ash as well. 

"So...I take it that you'll be Ash's starter Pokemon, correct? Since...well, you mentioned something about a bond phenomenon?" Lucario inquired suddenly. 

Froakie blinked. "Er...well, yes. But Professor Oak said Ash can still pick a starter Pokemon since he should really be starting with a Kanto Pokemon. Why do you ask?" 

"Ah. Well...of course, I would understand if you would rather it just be the two-or, well, three-of you," Lucario replied, averting his eyes toward the ground. "But a lot has changed these past several hundred years, and I'd like to have the chance to explore a bit more of the world myself. And Ash seems serious about wanting to train his aura. If-if it wouldn't be much of a problem, perhaps you wouldn't mind a fourth member joining the party?" 

"What-you mean you want to come with us?" Froakie asked, startled. 

"If that's alright. I mean, I don't want to intrude. I'll understand if you'd rather not have me there," the jackal said quickly. 

"Are you kidding me? It would be great to have you there!" he exclaimed. 

"Do you mean that?" Lucario asked, glancing over at him quickly. 

"Of course! It's been awesome getting to know you these past few days, and as you said earlier, Ash does seem serious about training his aura. He won't get very far without your help. And anyway...he really likes you too. I think if you didn't volunteer to come, he would have dragged you back to Pallet Town with us himself," Froakie answered seriously. 

Lucario's face immediately split into a delighted smile. The effect Froakie's acceptance-and, by extent, Ash's as well-of his request to join them on their travels was astounding. For the first time since he had emerged from the staff, the pain that had been lingering just behind his eyes finally disappeared. 

Chapter Text

Over the next two years, Ash continued his Aura Guardian training under Lucario's mentorship. The training was as difficult as he had expected and then some, but the ancient Pokemon proved to be a kind and patient teacher, never once growing frustrated or angry with Ash even when he had to have a concept explained to him multiple times over. Ash thrived under his tutelage, and by the time he was ten years old, he had already learned how to understand Pokemon speech and was beginning to learn how to transfer his aura to another living being. 

Ash had also spent quite a bit of time training Froakie-or, as he referred to it since he technically wasn't allowed to train him yet, per se, allowing Froakie to train himself. Their hard work had paid off, and Froakie soon evolved into a Frogadier, then into a powerful Greninja. Lucario had also assisted them in mastering their bond phenomenon form, which the jackal had teasingly dubbed "Ash-Greninja", much to their shared amusement and chagrin. So far, they had only tested in out in battle once, in a sparring match against Lucario. In the end, the battle had been a draw, but only because Lucario decided to call it off. Had it not been for that fact, Ash was still fairly certain that he and Greninja would have lost in the end. 

Of course, not all of their time was spent training, and Ash made sure to introduce Lucario to everything Pallet Town had to offer. Much like Greninja, Lucario was fond of the peaceful nature of the small town, admitting that he found it much more comfortable than the massive castle he had grown up in. Unfortunately, he also had the displeasure of meeting Gary Oak, and quickly developed the same distaste for the boy that Ash and Greninja felt. 

It was a Saturday afternoon, one week before Ash, Gary, and the two other trainers from Pallet Town, twins Melody and Brianna Parker, were set to receive their official starter Pokemon from Professor Oak. Ash was visiting the park with Greninja and Lucario, sitting underneath the shade of a tall oak tree as he tried to focus on sketching a nearby Psyduck-no easy feat considering the duck Pokemon kept disappearing underwater. As he was trying to sketch one of Psyduck's eyes, the distressed cry of a Pokemon suddenly jolted him out of his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Gary poking and prodding at an obviously angry Pikachu with a long stick, dodging the electric sparks the Mouse Pokemon was shooting toward him. 

"Come on, you can do better than that! Bet you can't hit me back!" Gary taunted, laughing as Pikachu growled furiously at him. 

In an instant, Ash was on his feet. Storming over toward his rival, he snatched the stick away from the taller boy, shouting, "Leave him alone!" 

At the sound of his voice, Gary and Pikachu both spun around to face him. "Oh, hey there, Ashy-boy. Come to watch the fun?" the brown-haired boy asked, smirking. 

"Leave Pikachu alone," Ash repeated, pouring all of his dislike for Gary into those three words. "What's he done to you? He's not doing any harm. Why can't you just let him be?" 

"Well..." Gary drawled, putting on an exaggerated thoughtful look. "It's not really so much that he's done anything, but I thought we could have a little fun, you know?" 

"You think you're so funny," he sneered back, glaring daggers at the professor's grandson. "But you're nothing but a jerk and a bully, Gary. Go away and leave Pikachu alone." 

"Ha! And who's going to make me?" the taller boy asked smugly. 

"I'd suggest you do as he says," Lucario's voice cut into their argument, cold and forbidding. "Unless you want us to tell Professor Oak what you were doing today. I'm sure he would be very interested to know how you've been treating the Pokemon around here." 

Gary's head whipped around, his eyes practically bulging out of his head when he saw Lucario. It would have been very funny had Ash not been so angry with his rival at that moment. 

"No way! Did you just talk?" he shouted incredulously. "Ashy-boy, tell me I'm not going crazy here. I swear that Pokemon just talked!" 

"Well done, Gary. It seems like going to school for all these years hasn't been a waste of time on you after all. You can tell when someone just talked," Ash sneered back. 

Greninja, Pikachu, and Lucario all laughed. Gary's face flushed red in embarrassment but, unable to think of a comeback, he quickly turned around and stormed toward the opposite end of the park. Rolling his eyes, Ash turned his back on his rival and focused his attention on Pikachu, who was still crouching down in the grass. 

"Hi there, Pikachu. Are you okay? He didn't hurt you, did he?" he asked anxiously. 

"No, no, I'm okay. He was just being annoying, that's all," Pikachu reassured him. "Thanks for the help, by the way. What's your name?" 

"My name's Ash! And these are my friends, Greninja and Lucario," Ash introduced himself and his two Pokemon companions cheerfully. 

"Hello, Pikachu," Lucario said kindly. 

"Hey, there," Greninja echoed, giving the electric mouse a small nod. 

"I'm going to become a Pokemon trainer in just one week! Greninja's going to be my first official Pokemon, but I'll still be picking a Kanto Pokemon to have as a starter too," Ash continued, feeling a wave of excitement at the thought of finally beginning his journey. "Lucario's not really going to be my Pokemon, but he's staying with me anyway so he can teach me how to be an Aura Guardian!" 

"Really? You're going to become an Aura Guardian?" Pikachu asked, blinking. Ash nodded. "Wow. Aren't they supposed to be really rare, though? That's really cool that you're going to learn how to be one." 

"Thanks, Pikachu," Ash replied cheerfully, smiling brightly. "The training is kind of hard, but all the stuff I can do now is so cool! I can do so many things that I thought were just made-up stories before. I can even talk to Pokemon now!" 

"Yes, and he does it at every opportunity. I think a few of the Pokemon at Professor Oak's ranch even taught him a few new words that his mother would not be happy to hear him saying," Lucario interjected, giving Ash a half-stern, half-affectionate look. 

"Hey! But I thought ex-expanding my vocabulary was a good thing?" Ash complained. 

Lucario shook his head fondly. "Well, yes, Ash, but you certainly don't need the f-word in your vocabulary." 

"Oh, really?" Greninja interjected, a playful look entering his eyes. "And what word would that be, exactly? Do you mean the f-word as in fun?" 

Ash laughed as a horrified look entered Lucario's eyes. "No, Greninja–" 

"Alright, I think we get the point, Ash-" the jackal tried to interject, but to no avail-

"-it means the f-word as in fuck!" 

Chapter Text

On the day he was set to begin his Pokemon journey, Ash was up and raring to go at the crack of dawn. By five-thirty, he was already dressed and on his way downstairs, careful not to make too much noise in case he woke anyone up. At this time of the morning, the only other member of the household who was awake was Lucario, although that was simply because the ancient Pokemon was used to getting up at ungodly hours. Indeed, when Ash arrived downstairs, Lucario was already seated in the living room, looking wide awake despite the fact that the sun hadn't even risen yet. 

"Good morning, Ash," Lucario greeted him. "All ready to go, I see." 

"Of course! I've been waiting for this day forever!" Ash said cheerfully. 

Lucario chuckled, patting him fondly atop his head. "Well, I hope you're alright with waiting for at least a few more hours. The lab won't be open until ten-thirty, you know." 

"Hey! I'm not a Lillipup!" the raven-haired boy protested, ducking away from his mentor. 

"Of course not, Ash," the jackal replied, looking more than a little amused. "Now, since you're already awake, we might as well do some meditation. I'd let you run around and play, but I'm afraid it's still a bit too early for that." 

Nodding, Ash sat down on the floor across from Lucario, crossing his legs and straightening his back as he had been taught. As he closed his eyes and began to breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling slowly, he became aware of the world fading away around him. A sense of peace washed over him like a tall glass of water on a hot summer day. He was dimly aware of the excitement that had previously been whirling at the forefront of his mind, but it had been pushed to the back now, allowing him to think more clearly. 

"That's enough for now," he heard Lucario's voice say, sounding as though it were coming from the end of a long tunnel. "Well done, Ash." 

Slowly, Ash opened his eyes again to find himself seated in the same position in his living room. Lucario was still seated beside him, and, as he looked around, he saw that Greninja had joined them and was lounging on the couch. The sky outside the window was also quite a bit lighter as well, and he guessed that he must have been meditating for quite a while. 

"Damn, I think that's the longest I've seen you stay so focused yet," Greninja remarked, grinning down at him. "You've been sitting there for at least an hour and a half." 

"Two hours, actually, he started about half an hour before you woke up," Lucario corrected the frog Pokemon. He ruffled Ash's hair and added, "Your concentration is improving by the day, Ash." 

"Thanks, but why do you keep petting me?" Ash complained. 

"Sorry, Ash. Force of habit," Lucario apologized. 

"And you have to admit, your hair is very tempting to mess with," Greninja added. Ash shot him a look, and he added, "Oh, don't give me that. It's not like it can get any worse, can it?" 

"Hey! My hair isn't that bad!" he protested. 

"No, Greninja has a point there, I'm afraid," Lucario interjected, giving him a look of mingled sympathy and amusement. 

Ash sighed, knowing that they were right. No matter what he did, his hair never wanted to lie flat. It didn't necessarily bother him-after all, he had never taken his appearance into much consideration-but it did earn him a few questioning looks from his teachers when he arrived at school looking as though he had just rolled out of bed. He really didn't know why it mattered to them; as long as he was dressed appropriately and arrived on time, did it really matter what his hair looked like? 

Apparently taking pity on the child, Lucario consoled him, "It's alright, Ash. Sir Aaron's hair was the exact same way. It used to drive Lady Rin insane." 

"Really?" Ash asked, grinning. Lucario didn't talk much about the relationship between Sir Aaron and Lady Rin, so he was always eager to hear more. "So were they like, you know...?" 

"No, nothing like that," the jackal answered. "There were certainly others who thought that of them. However, Sir Aaron was more interested in his duties as an Aura Guardian than anything and Lady Rin always said her love would always be all for the subjects of her kingdom, not for a single person. But they were very, very good friends." 

Ash nodded thoughtfully, pondering over Lucario's words in his mind. "I think that's good," he announced. "Romance is kind of weird if you ask me. But having friends is the greatest feeling in the world! Isn't it?" 

"I couldn't agree with you more," Greninja agreed, slinging an arm over the boy's shoulders. "What about you, Lucario?" 

Lucario smiled fondly at them. "There couldn't be anything better." 

Ash was the first to arrive at Professor Oak's lab that morning, along with Greninja and Lucario. Since most of the town was aware of the presence of the two Pokemon by now, neither of them bothered to stay hidden. Professor Oak allowed them inside while they waited for the rest of the starting trainers to arrive. He wondered why Gary hadn't shown up yet, having expected his rival to be the first one at the lab, then decided it didn't concern him. 

There were four Pokeballs placed on a small table, which Ash guessed were meant to hold the four Pokemon that were available for him, Gary, Melody, and Brianna to choose from. Still, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of confusion. Much like all the other regions, there were only three official starter Pokemon. What sort of Pokemon was in the fourth Pokeball? 

As he continued to ponder over this question, Ash suddenly became aware that something felt very, very wrong. A wave of distress and anger was coming from the Pokeball at the far end of the table, causing his aura to writhe and churn. In an instant, he was on his feet, racing over to the Pokeball. Whichever Pokemon was inside, it was clearly suffering. 

"Ash, wait! I wouldn't go near that one if I were you," Professor Oak warned him. 

"But Professor, there's something wrong," Ash protested. 

"Don't touch–" 

Before Professor Oak had even finished speaking, however, Ash had already picked up the Pokeball, pressing the catch to release the Pokemon inside. There was a flash of white light as a familiar yellow mouse Pokemon appeared in front of him, cheeks sparking angrily. 

"Pikachu?" Ash exclaimed. 

"Hey, old man! This is for putting me in that blasted death trap!" Pikachu yelled, firing off a Thunderbolt at Professor Oak. 

"Pikachu, what are you doing here?" Ash asked, stunned. 

At the sound of his voice, the electric mouse turned around, his eyes widening in shock when he saw Ash, Lucario, and Greninja. "It's you! You're the ones who saved me the other day! Er...I'm sorry, what were your names again?" 

"It's okay! I'm Ash, and these are my friends, Greninja and Lucario," the messy-haired boy replied cheerfully, gesturing to each Pokemon in turn. 

"That's right. It's good to see all of you again," Pikachu said, nodding. 

"It's good to see you as well, Pikachu. Though if I may ask, how did you get inside that Pokeball in the first place?" Lucario inquired. 

As Pikachu opened his mouth to respond, Professor Oak groaned and slowly got back to his feet. "A-Ash, I told you not to touch that Pokeball. That Pikachu is very dangerous." 

"Dangerous? What do you mean? I know Pikachu and he's really nice," Ash argued, frowning. 

"I caught him two days ago when I found him lurking around my lab. Every time I let him out of his Pokeball, he shocks me," the aging researcher explained. 

"Connect the dots, old man," Pikachu snarked, to which Ash, Lucario, and Greninja had to suppress snorts of amusement. 

"I don't know what the problem is, Professor, I've been here for at least five minutes and Pikachu hasn't tried to shock me. Maybe it's just you," Ash suggested cheekily. 

Letting out a sigh of defeat, Professor Oak shook his head. "Well, Pikachu was meant to be the fourth Pokemon for you and the others to choose from, but since you seem to be getting along so well, I suppose you might as well take care of him." 

"Really? Awesome!" Ash said excitedly. Bending down, he added, "Hey, Pikachu, is that alright? Do you want to come on my journey with me?" 

"Sure thing! As long as we're in agreement that I don't have to stay in a Pokeball," Pikachu agreed. 

Ash grinned. "Don't worry, that's fine! Greninja and Lucario won't be staying in Pokeballs either." 

"Really?" Pikachu asked, looking at the other two Pokemon with interest. "So do you two not like Pokeballs either?" 

"I don't mind them, but if I can, I'd much rather walk around," Greninja answered. 

"And I'm not much fond of enclosed spaces, especially after being trapped in a staff for over seven centuries," Lucario added. 

Pikachu blinked, evidently trying to figure out whether Lucario was being serious or not. "Oh, er, that's...um..." 

Lucario grinned, pleased by the effect his remark was having on Pikachu. "Long story." 

"Well, seeing as you already have your starter, I suppose there isn't much point in making you wait around for the others. Why don't I give you your things and you can be on your way?" Professor Oak suggested. 

"Sure thing, Professor! Thanks!" the raven-haired boy replied cheerfully. 

Fifteen minutes later, Ash was heading out of the lab with his new Pokedex, a map, Pikachu's Pokeball, and a Pokeball that he had quickly used to officially catch Greninja as well. It had been agreed upon long ago that Lucario would not officially be caught by Ash but would still travel alongside him in order to continue training him as an Aura Guardian. Greninja had joked at the time that perhaps Lucario should consider catching Ash, to which the jackal had responded by grabbing a toy Pokeball and chasing the boy around the Ketchum household. 

"So where are we off to first, Ash?" Pikachu asked from his perch on Ash's shoulder-coincidentally enough, the same one that had been claimed by Greninja when he was still a small Froakie. 

"Let's see..." Ash mused, checking over his map. "Got it! Let's head through Viridian Forest. Pewter City is just past Viridian Forest, and we can challenge the gym there!" 

"Sounds good to me. I'd like to get a good battle in," Greninja remarked. 

"Then it's settled! We're off to Pewter City!" he declared. "Come on, Greninja, Lucario. Bet you can't keep up with me!" 

Pocketing his Pokedex and map, Ash took off in the direction of Viridian Forest with Greninja and Lucario hot on his heels. As he ran, he wondered what sort of people and Pokemon he was destined to meet on his journey. How many would turn out to be sworn enemies, casual acquaintances, or lifelong friends? What sort of places would he visit along the way? Would the world be as impressive as his mother had always promised it would be-or perhaps even more so? 

A surge of excitement coursed through his veins, propelling him onward with a sudden burst of speed. It was the first day of the rest of his life, and Ash swore to himself right then and there that he was going to make the most of every second. 

Chapter Text

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Fallon Miller rolled her eyes, slamming her pillow over her head as the sound of her brother, Damian, banging on the door sounded from outside her room in the Pokemon Center. Even after two months, she still didn't see why her parents thought forcing the two of them to travel together had been a good idea. Every single day, Damian made sure to wake her up at the most ungodly hours imaginable so he could catch Pokemon. If this was what her parents had in mind when they told them that this would be a good sibling bonding experience, she was going to look into finding a new family. 

"Get up, Fallon! I want to catch more Pokemon and you're wasting the day away!" Damian's voice sounded from the hallway as he continued banging on the door. 

"I'm coming, Damian! For Arceus' sake, is it too much to ask that you give me a few minutes to get ready?" Fallon yelled back. 

"Well, hurry up, then. I'm tired of waiting for you to stop being lazy," he snapped. 

Groaning in annoyance, Fallon slowly got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Although only a year older than her, Damian had never shown any hesitation in asserting his perceived superiority. Ever since they were small children, he had taken every opportunity possible to boss her around. At first, it had started off with him being too controlling during games, telling her that she had to play a certain character or that she wasn't doing something right. Now, at eleven and twelve years of age, it had reached the point where Fallon sometimes felt as though she couldn't even sit down without Damian finding something to criticize about her. 

Once she was finished getting ready, she grabbed her bag and stepped out into the hallway. She hadn't even made it two steps, however, when her brother yanked her by the arm and started pulling her down the hallway. Fallon winced in protest as his grip threatened to cut off the circulation to her arm. 

"Damian, stop! That hurts!" she exclaimed angrily, trying to twist free. 

He let go but then proceeded to shove her rather roughly, causing her to stumble back and forcing her to throw her hands out against the wall to stop herself from falling. Straightening up, Fallon dusted herself off and glared indignantly at her brother. 

"What was that for? Why do you have to do that all the time?" she asked furiously. 

"If you would move a little more quickly, then I wouldn't have to," Damian shot back. "I told you that I wanted to catch more Pokemon, didn't I? It would be nice if you actually listened to me for once." 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Fallon muttered, turning and walking down the hallway. 

"And where are you going now? The exit is the other way," he demanded. 

"If you want to catch more Pokemon so badly, then go for it. I want to have breakfast first," she called over her shoulder. 

She heard Damian sigh behind her. "Fine, but make sure you save me a blueberry muffin. It's the least you could do." 

"Whatever," Fallon replied dismissively. "See you later, I guess." 

Without waiting for a response, she continued on down the hallway, veering to the left into the cafeteria. At this time of the morning, there weren't many customers yet, which meant she had full access to most of the buffet. At the moment, the only other occupants in the cafe were a boy with messy black hair who looked to be close to her own age if a bit younger, a Pikachu, and two Pokemon that she knew from her studies to be a Greninja and a Lucario. Fallon felt a jolt of surprise to see a boy with such powerful-looking Pokemon, and two from entirely different regions no less, but they appeared to be busy, so she figured it would be best not to bother them. After grabbing an apple and a glass of orange juice as well as the muffin Damian had requested, she took a seat two tables away from the boy and his Pokemon and began to eat. 

I should feed Charmander while I'm here too, Fallon thought, glancing down at the lone Pokeball on her belt.  

Pulling a small bowl out of her bag, she poured some of her fire-type's favorite Pokechow into it. Once she was satisfied that there would be enough to tide him over until lunch, she pulled Charmander's Pokeball from her belt and released the orange lizard Pokemon. 

"There you go, Charmander. Breakfast is ready," she said cheerfully. 

"Char! Charmander, char," Charmander replied happily, taking a pawful and swallowing it in one bite. 

"How long do you suppose it will take to get to Pewter City?" a voice asked suddenly. 

Startled, Fallon looked up, glancing around the cafe. The voice had been much too deep to belong to the boy at the other table, but she couldn't see any other people in the cafe besides him. Was her mind playing tricks on her, perhaps? It wouldn't have been a surprise given the early hour. As she was looking around, trying to figure out where the voice had come from, she accidentally made eye contact with the raven-haired trainer. 

"Hi, there!" His voice, as she had expected, was considerably higher than the one she had heard not even two minutes ago. "Is everything okay?" 

"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, sorry," Fallon replied awkwardly, averting her eyes. "I just thought I might have heard something, that's all." 

"Ah, that would have been me. I apologize for startling you," Lucario spoke up, bowing slightly to her. 

Fallon laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "No, it's okay. I'm kind of glad to know I actually did hear something. I thought I might be losing it for a minute, no thanks to my brother. He's the one who insisted on making me wake up at six in the morning." 

"Where is your brother?" the boy asked, frowning. "You came in here alone." 

"He went out to catch Pokemon. That's why he wanted to get started so early," she explained, rolling her eyes. "I'm supposed to be saving this muffin for him, but if he doesn't show up by eight o'clock again, I'm going to eat it myself. Anyway, I'm Fallon Miller, and this is Charmander." 

"Charmander, char!" Charmander piped up. 

"Nice to meet you! I'm Ash Ketchum, and these are my friends, Greninja, Pikachu, and Lucario. Well, Lucario's not really my Pokemon, but he's staying with me so he can teach me how to become an Aura Guardian," the boy introduced himself eagerly. "I've also got a Pidgey, but she really doesn't like waking up early, so she's still sleeping for now. I'll feed her later, though." 

"Oh." Fallon blinked, startled by Ash's enthusiasm. "It's, uh, nice to meet you too." 

"Pika pika!" Pikachu replied happily. 

"Greninja, gren, ninja," Greninja greeted her, bowing. 

Ash grinned at her. "You must be on your Pokemon journey too, right? So that must mean Charmander was your first Pokemon, then. How long have you two been traveling together?" 

"I am and he is. We started traveling about two months ago," she answered. Rolling her eyes, she added, "Our parents made my brother and I travel together because they thought it would be a good bonding experience. I don't know if they ate something funny that day or something, but so far I don't feel particularly bonded with him." 

"You've mentioned your brother twice now. Do the two of you not get along, then?" Lucario inquired. 

"That would be an understatement," Fallon told him, sighing. "He's a year older than me, so in his mind, that means he knows better than me about everything. I can't do anything without him bossing me around." 

"I'll bet that's really annoying," Ash remarked. 

"You can say that again," she agreed. 

They continued talking for another fifteen minutes or so before Ash excused himself and his Pokemon, saying that they had to get going to Pewter City. Fallon was a bit disappointed to see them leave so soon; she had enjoyed talking with Ash and wasn't looking forward to Damian's return. Still, she understood the desire to get to the next town as quickly as possible, so she simply wished them well and suggested they meet up again another time. 

It was well past eight o'clock by the time Damian returned, looking rather pleased with himself-even more pleased than usual if that was at all possible. He strode over to her table, snatching the muffin off the plate without bothering to thank her for saving it. Already being used to her brother's attitude, Fallon did her best not to let him annoy her and simply returned Charmander to his Pokeball, placing his now-empty bowl back into her bag. 

"You should really train Charmander more, you know. That thing's so weak, it can't even beat the easiest opponent," Damian snarked through a mouthful of muffin. 

"First of all, chew with your mouth closed, thanks," Fallon shot back, disgusted. "Second, I didn't ask for your input, Damian. Charmander's still small and he's doing just fine." 

"He got knocked out in one hit by that boy's Squirtle yesterday," her brother snorted. 

"Squirtle's a water-type, what do you expect? And he still beat that Oddish, didn't he?" she challenged. 

"Yeah, well, Oddish is a grass-type, right? Charmander should have beaten him," Damian sneered. 

Fallon huffed irritably. "Oh, I see, so it's not fine when Charmander loses to a Pokemon that has the type advantage over him but it's expected that Charmander will beat any Pokemon that he has the advantage over?" 

Damian gave a long-suffering sigh. "Fallon, I'm only trying to teach you what's best for you. A weak Pokemon has no place on any trainer's roster. You could be a great trainer if you stopped favoring weaklings all the time." 

"You don't know anything about what's best for me. And I don't need to take your advice on raising Pokemon either. Charmander is a great Pokemon, and he is not a weakling," Fallon growled back. "Maybe you should start worrying about your own Pokemon, Damian, and let me worry about my own." 

To her relief, the conversation stopped after that, although Fallon could still feel Damian's eyes boring into her as he chewed crossly on his muffin. She stared down at Charmander's Pokeball, sighing internally. What Damian had said was wrong, it just had to be. True, maybe Charmander didn't win every single battle, but that was to be expected, wasn't it? And he was still working hard and growing stronger every day. Just because he hadn't been born powerful didn't mean he wouldn't be one day. 

Anyway, what did Damian know about strength? He didn't even bother training his Pokemon; he only knew how to rely on natural power. If a Pokemon wasn't already capable of beating Mew as soon as he caught it (perhaps a slight exaggeration, but that was beside the point), he dismissed it as "weak" and "worthless" before sending it back out again, sometimes even throwing its Pokeball away as well. 

Letting out a sigh, Fallon turned her head to look out the window, thinking wistfully about how much better her life would have been if she'd had someone like Ash for a brother instead of Damian. 

Chapter Text

The stars shone brightly in the clear night sky overhead as Ash lay down on the grass, trying to regulate his breathing after an intense training session with Lucario. His mentor had decided to work on honing his speed that afternoon, so Ash had spent the past three hours having footraces against Greninja. Of course, seeing as Greninja was one of the fastest Pokemon in the world, he hadn't stood much of a chance at winning, but Lucario kept him at it until he was able to stay on pace with the frog-ninja Pokemon for at least five minutes straight. Everything in his body ached by the end, but it had all been worth it. During the final race, Ash had managed to keep up with Greninja for five and a half minutes before his legs collapsed from underneath him, sending him sprawling into the grass. 

"Not bad, Ash. For someone with such short legs, you can move quickly," Pikachu remarked from his place on the stump he had claimed as a seat. 

"Ugh...thanks, Pikachu," Ash groaned, unsure whether to take the electric mouse's comment as a compliment or not. 

He felt Greninja reach around to help him sit up as a cold glass of water was pressed into his hand. Nodding in thanks to Lucario, who had been the one to give it to him, he took a long, slow sip, breathing a sigh of relief as he felt his temperature cool slightly. Once he was finished, he placed the empty cup on the ground and made to lie down again, only for the Aura Pokemon to stop him. 

"Lucario?" he questioned tiredly. 

"You can't lie down yet, Ash. You need to stretch your legs out a bit," Lucario said gently. "I know you're tired, but if you lie down after running like that, your legs are going to cramp up." 

Instantly recognizing the danger, Ash nodded and struggled to his feet, wincing as he did so. Lucario was right; his leg muscles had tightened up slightly during the time he had spent lying on the grass. His legs shook and he very nearly fell over again but was caught just in time by Greninja and his mentor. 

"Are you okay, Ash?" Pidgey chirped, looking worried. "You look like you're hurt." 

"Ah...no, I'm okay. Just a little sore, that's all. Thanks, Pidgey," Ash said as reassuringly as possible. His entire body certainly felt as though it had been set on fire, but he didn't think he was injured, per se. Just a little overworked. "My legs feel like they're made of jelly, though." 

"That's normal when you push yourself hard enough. Walk it off and they'll return to normal eventually," the Aura Pokemon told him. 

Ash nodded, leaning against Greninja's shoulder as he took a tentative step forward. "Did I at least do alright today?" 

Lucario smiled and squeezed his side gently. "You were incredible today, Ash. I'm proud of you." 

Ash smiled brightly, feeling a surge of joy–it meant a ridiculous amount to him that he was. 

"Now, I want you to breathe in slowly while you walk. Three steps for each inhale, and three again for each exhale," Lucario instructed. "It's going to be hard because your mind is naturally going to want to inhale as much air as quickly as possible. But doing it this way will be better." 

Together, the three of them began to make their way around the clearing. Ash walked slowly, supported by his friends, breathing in and out the way Lucario had instructed. It certainly was difficult, but he fought against the temptation to start gasping for air. Eventually, however, his patience paid off as his breathing returned to normal and he regained the ability to walk without support. 

"Finally! That feels a lot better!" Ash exclaimed happily, breathing a sigh of relief. 

Skipping over to the log he had placed his bag beside, he began pulling out several food bowls for Greninja, Pikachu, and Pidgey, which he filled with two cups each of their favorite types of Pokeblock and Pokechow. Lucario typically gathered berries for himself from the land and as such didn't like the idea of accepting food from another person or Pokemon–although he had made an exception for half of the chocolate bar Ash had bought at the Pokemon Center in Viridian City. When he was done feeding his Pokemon, he pulled out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for himself. 

"Eat up, everyone! We've got more training to do tomorrow, so make sure you give yourselves lots of energy, okay?" Ash told his Pokemon enthusiastically. 

"You got it, Ash!" Pikachu replied, giving him a thumbs up. 

"So who will you be using against the Pewter City gym leader?" Greninja asked, taking a bite of his own food. Ash had never quite been able to replicate the recipe his mother used for water-types that Greninja loved so much, but the frog-ninja Pokemon assured him that his own creations were perfectly fine. 

He thought for a moment, pondering over the question. "Pikachu and Pidgey, definitely. Lucario I can't use because he technically isn't my Pokemon, plus he's too strong anyway. I think you're a bit too strong for the first gym too, but if things get bad, I'll switch you in for one of them. But I think Pikachu and Pidgey can handle it, right guys?" 

"Right!" Pikachu agreed. 

"You bet we can!" Pidgey piped up. 

Ash smiled happily, reaching over and petting the two smaller Pokemon gently. Although they hadn't been with him for very long, at least not compared to Greninja and Lucario, they were growing stronger every day and he was confident they would be able to take on the first gym without much of a problem. The only problem he could foresee was that Pidgey was a flying-type, thereby making her a poor matchup against a rock-type gym such as the Pewter City gym. That, and there was a good chance the gym leader there used a member of the Geodude line, which would make Pikachu's electric-type moves useless. 

Evidently, Lucario had thought of the same thing, for he remarked, "If you're going to use Pikachu and Pidgey, you should consider teaching them moves that will be good against rock-type Pokemon. Right now, Pikachu's strongest move is Thunderbolt and Pidgey's is Gust, neither of which are likely to do well against the Pewter gym since the gym leader there likely uses a Geodude. You should consider teaching Iron Tail and Steel Wing or, if you'd like, you could try teaching Pikachu Hidden Power." 

"Hidden Power?" Ash repeated. He vaguely remembered the move from one of his schoolbooks, but he couldn't recall much about it. 

"It's a move whose type and power depends on the Pokemon using it," the Aura Pokemon explained. "Hidden Power is a good way to get some offensive coverage because a Pokemon can learn a move with a typing that they normally wouldn't be able to." 

"Oh! So maybe Pikachu could learn a grass-type or a water-type Hidden Power?" he asked, finally getting what Lucario was trying to say. 

"Exactly. Well done, Ash," Lucario praised him. 

Ash grinned happily, then thought for a few moments. "I...I think Hidden Power sounds like a good move, yeah. But I think I should also teach Iron Tail too. It sounds like Pikachu could learn a Hidden Power with any typing, so he might not get one that's good against the Pewter gym. Is that okay, Pikachu?" 

"Sure, no problem. I'm always up for learning a new move," the electric mouse answered, still munching away at his Pokechow. 

They remained there for a long while after that, talking over their plans for the gym battle. At one point, Ash leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head. As he did so, his gaze tilted up toward the sky, and he felt his eyes widen. The stars were shining brighter than ever, twinkling merrily overhead, almost as if they were laughing and dancing. 

"Guys, look! Look at the stars! Aren't they so cool?" he asked excitedly. 

"They certainly are," Lucario agreed, chuckling fondly. 

"Hey, look! That kind of looks a bit like a Bulbasaur, doesn't it?" Greninja asked, pointing up toward a spot in the sky. Ash looked up as well, quickly seeing the Bulbasaur constellation as well. 

"It does! That's so awesome!" he cheered before noticing another one. "Hey, that one kind of looks like an Eevee!" 

"Isn't there a song about stars that kids like to sing? I think I heard a few children singing it once," Pidgey spoke up. 

"There is! It goes like this!" Ash replied. Taking a deep breath, he began to sing softly: 

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are

Up above the world so high

Like a diamond in the sky

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are." 

One by one, the rest of his friends joined in, their voices filling the night air as they sang together, not caring if anyone overheard them. As Ash's countertenor mixed with Lucario's baritone, he thought the stars seemed to glow even more brightly, almost as if they were asking for an encore. 

Chapter Text

It took another two days to reach Pewter City. During that time, Ash trained with his Pokemon at every opportunity possible, wanting to make sure that they would be ready for anything the Pewter City gym might throw their way. Although they wouldn't be partaking in the actual battle, Greninja and Lucario still trained alongside Pikachu and Pidgey, even assisting the newer members of the team. Greninja worked with Pidgey on increasing her speed while Lucario spent several hours teaching Pikachu how to channel his energy properly in order to use moves other than electric-type ones. In the end, their hard work had paid off, and Pikachu mastered both Iron Tail and Hidden Power (which, fortunately, turned out to be grass-type for him) while Pidgey had evolved into Pidgeotto and learned Steel Wing.

"Look! There it is!" Ash exclaimed excitedly as the Pewter City gym came into view.

"Ready for your first gym battle, Ash?" Greninja asked from beside him, slinging an arm around the boy's shoulders. 

"You bet! We've been ready to go for ages, right Pikachu?" he asked, grinning 

"Yep! Those rock-types don't stand a chance!" Pikachu agreed, flexing his muscles. 

Lucario laughed lightly from Ash's other side. "I like your confidence, Pikachu. I'm sure you and Pidgeotto are going to do wonderfully today."

As they continued along down the street, Ash took in the sights and sounds of Pewter City. It was a bit larger than Pallet Town (which, to be fair, wasn't saying much), but it still had the same down-to-earth vibe as his hometown. Most of the city was surrounded by rugged mountains and rocks, which made sense considering the gym's typing specialty. The mountain range was quite impressive, and he wondered what sort of Pokemon might be hiding inside 

"Let's go check out the mountains when after the gym battle! I want to meet some of the Pokemon that live there," he suggested excitedly. 

"Sounds good to me. I'm always up for finding a new teammate," Greninja agreed. 

"Indeed, and climbing those mountains would be a good way to increase your endurance," Lucario pointed out. 

Pikachu rolled his eyes playfully. "Leave it to you to always be thinking about training, Lucario," he remarked.  

Far from being perturbed, Lucario simply smiled serenely and replied, "Indeed, and that is why I have been able to attain the level of power I have. If you train your body day in and day out, you too will be able to reach your full potential one day. Others may tell you that there are shortcuts you can take, but you shouldn't listen to any of them. Hard work and dedication is the only way to go." 

Suddenly, the Aura Pokemon paused, the appendages on his head rising upward. At the same time, Ash became aware of the presence of two approaching trainers. He was about to turn around to see who it was when the sound of arguing reached his ears. 

"I was only doing you a favor! Charmander is too weak, and you need to learn to accept that! You're not training him the way you should be!" the first voice, a boy who sounded to be close to Ash's own age if a bit older, was saying. 

"I didn't ask for your help, Damian! And there's nothing wrong with the way I'm training Charmander!" his companion retorted angrily, and Ash felt a stab of shock. Even after only one conversation, he recognized Fallon's voice. 

Turning around, Ash saw Fallon walking beside a tall boy with long blue hair, a pink t-shirt covered by a brown vest, and a pair of sunglasses perched on his forehead. The two siblings were utterly engrossed in their argument, and as such hadn't noticed Ash and his Pokemon up ahead. Damian wore an expression of cold disdain as he looked down at his sister, while Fallon seemed ready to either swing at him or tear her own hair out at any given moment. 

"Nothing wrong? That puny little thing can barely defeat any opponent!" Damian scoffed. "Face it, Fallon. He's never going to amount to anything. Training him is a complete waste of time, and you're stupid for even thinking otherwise." 

"Arceus above, what a bully that boy is," Greninja remarked in disapproval as Lucario narrowed his eyes in anger. 

"Alright, so maybe Charmander doesn't win every single battle. So what? He's doing his best and that's all I'd ever ask of him," Fallon shot back. "And I don't see how it's any of your concern anyway. He's my Pokemon, not yours, so it's not your problem if he wins every single match or none of them at all. Maybe you should stop worrying about me and start focusing more on your own Pokemon." 

"I don't know why you're so bothered. Nurse Joy fixed him up just fine, didn't she?" Damian snapped. 

"Yes, she did, no thanks to you," she growled. "It's not about whether he's fine now or not! There was no reason for you to have Vaporeon attack him!" 

Damian seemed to be about to respond before he caught sight of Ash, Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu. "Hey, what are you doing over there? Are you eavesdropping on us or something?!" he shouted angrily. 

"Damian, what are you–?" Fallon started to ask before she too noticed Ash and his Pokemon. Her face broke into a delighted smile. "Oh! Hi there, Ash, everyone! I didn't think I'd be running into all of you again so soon." 

Damian rounded on his sister. "Do you know them?" 

Fallon gave him an irritated glare. "Not that it's any of your concern, but yes. We met a few days ago in Viridian City while you were out catching Pokemon. I–" 

"Shut up. I didn't ask for the story," he cut her off. Whirling on Ash again, he snarled, "I believe I asked you a question, punk. Why are you eavesdropping on me and my sister? Answer me!" 

"Like I'd eavesdrop on you," Ash scoffed. 

"Oh, really? So you just happened to be standing around like a bunch of idiots in the middle of the road for no reason?" Damian asked mockingly. He narrowed his eyes. "I don't believe that for a second! Tell me the truth or else!" 

"For Arceus' sake, would you just cut it out?" Fallon exclaimed, sounding exasperated. "We're in the middle of the city, Damian, it's only natural that someone is going to overhear us whether you like it or–" 

Before she could finish speaking, Damian suddenly grabbed Ash by the shoulders and began shaking him very violently. In the next instant, he found himself on the receiving end of an Iron Tail from Pikachu, an Ice Beam from Greninja, and an Aura Sphere from Lucario. As Damian staggered back and fell to the ground, groaning in pain, the three Pokemon stood in front of their trainer-or, in Lucario's case, student-protectively. 

"Damian! What did you do that for?" Fallon shouted furiously. "Arceus above, just leave Ash alone! He's not doing any harm!" 

"If you touch him one more time, hell, if you even look at him the wrong way one more time, we'll be sending what's left of you home to your mother in five separate boxes," Greninja snarled. 

Although Damian couldn't understand exactly what Greninja was saying, it was impossible to miss the rage in his eyes or the Night Slash the frog Pokemon had pressed up against his throat. His eyes widened in fear as he tried to back away, but a Psychic from Lucario kept him in place. 

"Apologize to Ash," Lucario growled, his eyes flashing. Upon hearing the jackal speak in human tongue, Damian's eyes practically bugged out of his head. 

"Now!" the Aura Pokemon spat. 

"I-I'm s-sorry," he stuttered. 

"And what are you sorry for?" Lucario demanded. 

"I-I'm s-sorry for grabbing you and s-shaking you, A-Ash," Damian managed to choke out. 

"What do you think, Ash? Is that good enough?" Pikachu asked. 

Ash shrugged, rubbing his still-throbbing arms. "I suppose it will probably have to be for now. I doubt I'll be getting much better out of him anyway." 

Nodding, Greninja and Lucario stepped back, albeit very reluctantly. They didn't take their eyes off of Damian, however, nor did they move away from their protective stance in front of Ash. Damian slowly got back up to his feet and dusted himself off, his face red with anger and humiliation as he whirled on his sister. 

"Thanks for nothing! You made me look like an idiot!" he spat. 

"That was your own–" 

"Save it, you worthless piece of trash! Arceus, if I had an apple for every time you've made my life hell simply by existing, I'd be able to end world hunger! You know what, I'm going to go catch some more Pokemon, and don't you even think about following me! I don't want to see your face for the rest of the day!" Damian snarled. 

Before anyone else could say or do anything, he spun around in the direction he and his sister had come from and stormed off. Fallon watched him go for a moment before throwing her hands up in the air, letting out an incoherent scream of frustration and anger. A moment later, she turned back to Ash and his friends, looking utterly exhausted. 

"I'm sorry about that," she sighed. "He's been driving me mad all day." 

Lucario winced sympathetically. "I know you said you don't get along with your brother, but I must admit, I didn't expect things to be so..." 

"Terrible?" Fallon supplemented, smiling ruefully. "Yeah. And it's only getting worse too. At this point, I'm pretty positive he hates my guts. But never mind that for now. Are you okay, Ash?" 

"I'm fine," Ash reassured her because he truly was fine. "But what happened between you two? We heard some of what was going on, and it seems like things got pretty...well, intense. Is Charmander okay? What happened to him?" 

"Charmander's fine. Nurse Joy really did fix him up as good as new," she answered, smiling gratefully at his concern for the fire-type. "As for what happened, well, he got on the wrong end of a Hydro Pump." 

"How did that happen?" Pikachu asked with Ash quickly translating for Fallon. 

She let out a sigh. "Earlier today, I decided to do a bit of training with Charmander. We've been working on Flamethrower for a couple of weeks now, so I set up a few targets for him to practice on. Nothing living, just a few rocks and dead branches. While we were practicing, Damian came by and decided to have his Vaporeon attack Charmander with Hydro Pump." 

"What?!" Ash exclaimed in outrage with Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu echoing his sentiment. 

"Yeah. As you can probably imagine, I was pretty pissed at him for that. I'd have liked nothing more than to punch his lights out, but the attack knocked Charmander unconscious and I wanted to get him to Nurse Joy to get him checked out," Fallon replied bitterly. "Luckily, there was nothing seriously wrong with him. I confronted Damian about it, but all he did was tell me that he was helping me out by teaching me that Charmander was too weak, and, well, you pretty much know what happened after that." 

Ash felt a twinge of sympathy for the ginger-haired girl. He had thought he'd had it bad with Gary, but the way Damian behaved made the professor's grandson seem like the greatest gift Arceus had ever bestowed upon the world. Even worse, Damian was supposed to be Fallon's brother. Ash couldn't imagine ever treating one of his family the way he treated her. 

"You know you're not worthless, right?" he spoke up again. "You're really awesome and really nice too, Fallon. Damian's an idiot for being so mean to you." 

"He's right, you know," Lucario said. Placing a paw on Fallon's shoulder, he continued gently, "I hope you know that you don't deserve anything he says or does to you. There is nothing, nothing, that justifies him treating you the way he does." 

She gave them a sad smile. "Thanks, Ash, Lucario. That means a lot, really." 

"Have you tried telling your parents about what's going on? They might be able to help," Ash suggested. 

"Unfortunately, I've learned the hard way not to do that," she answered, wincing. "Back when we were nine and ten years old, we were at the park one day and Damian threw me off the swings. I wasn't too badly hurt-just a scraped elbow and knee-but I still went and told my parents. They scolded him, and when they finally let him go, he came back and started screaming at me about how stupid I was and telling me that I was nothing but an ugly little tattletale that nobody liked. In front of at least fifteen other kids, mind you, all of whom apparently thought that what he said was the funniest thing they'd ever heard." 

Her eyes flashed with a mixture of rage, sadness, and humiliation at the memory, her hands shaking slightly. "We knew those kids from school, and most of them were in my class. You can imagine the sort of teasing I had to deal with for months after that. For about three months, most of them wouldn't even call me by my name. It was always 'Snitch' or 'Tattletale' or something of the like. Even my teacher slipped up one day and called me Tattletale while taking attendance, but she at least apologized for it and gave me a piece of candy to cheer me up. So after that, I learned not to say anything when Damian did something to upset me because it only ever made things worse." 

"I'm so sorry, Fallon," Lucario sighed sadly with Greninja and Pikachu expressing similar sentiments. 

"It's alright, it happened a long time ago. I've moved past it now. I just don't really like thinking about it," she answered with a shrug. Shaking her head, she grinned cheerfully and continued, "Anyway, enough about my monster of a brother. I assume you're on your way to challenge the Pewter City gym, right? If you are, I'm heading that way myself, so we could all go down together if you'd like." 

"Sure!" Ash agreed happily. "That sounds awesome! You can challenge the gym first too if you'd like. I don't mind having to wait a little bit longer. You're our friend and friends should always put each other first!" 

"Alright, then. Thank you, Ash," Fallon replied, smiling brightly. "We'll make sure to put on a good show for all of you." 

Together, they continued on the path toward the Pewter City gym, ready to take on whatever challenges the upcoming battle might throw their way. 

Chapter Text

The lights in the Pewter City gym were out when Ash, Fallon, and the Pokemon entered, shrouding the battlefield in darkness. Thanks to his aura vision, however, Ash was able to detect the presence of a teenage boy at the opposite end of the gym. This person, he assumed, was the Pewter City gym leader. He also noticed eight children seated in the upper row of what must have been the gym's stands; were they family members of the gym leader, perhaps? 

"Hello," he called out into the darkness. "We came here for a gym battle today. If the lights aren't working, we can come back another time after they've been fixed." 

As if in response, at that moment, the lights suddenly flickered on. For the first time, Ash was able to get a good look at the Pewter City gym leader. Across the battlefield from him stood a tall boy of about fifteen years old with tan skin, dark brown hair, and, clearly visible even from his vantage point, extremely calloused hands. The faces of the children up in the stands were also revealed, and Ash noted that they bore several striking similarities to the teenager across from him. 

So they must be siblings of his, then, he thought to himself. 

"That was just a trick to scare new trainers," the older boy explained. "My name is Brock, and I'm the Pewter City gym leader." 

"Nice to meet you," Ash replied cheerfully. "I'm Ash Ketchum, and these are my friends, Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu. I just started my Pokemon journey, so this will be my first gym battle." 

"Hi, there," Pikachu said, waving. 

"Hello," Greninja echoed with a small bow. 

"Good afternoon," Lucario greeted Brock. 

At the sound of Lucario's voice, Brock's jaw fell open in shock. "You-you can talk?!" 

"Yes," the Aura Pokemon sighed, evidently weary of the constant shock his ability to speak in human tongue seemed to elicit from every passing trainer. "It's an ability I picked up after years of training my aura." 

"I see," Brock responded, recovering quickly from his shock. "That's quite impressive, I must say." 

"My name's Fallon Miller," Fallon spoke up, introducing herself. "I've just become a trainer too, so this will also be my first gym battle." 

"Very well, then," the brown-haired teenager said politely. "Which of you will I be facing first, then?" 

"Me," she answered. 

Brock nodded. "And how many Pokemon do you have with you right now, Fallon?" 

"Right now, only two," Fallon admitted. "I haven't really gotten around to catching too many." 

"That's alright. In that case, we'll have a two-on-two battle," Brock said kindly. Turning to one of the boys up in the stands, he called out, "Forrest, will you come and referee our match?" 

"You got it, Brock!" a boy who looked to be oldest among the children up in the stadium called back, flashing a thumbs up. 

Ash walked over to the stands with Greninja, Pikachu, and Lucario as Forrest leaped down onto the sidelines of the battlefield, nodding briefly to them as he passed. Taking a seat in the front row, he tapped his fingers against the metal bench, feeling his heart racing with excitement. Although he wouldn't be partaking in the battle, he had never seen a gym battle in person, and there was something just as thrilling about being in the stands as he imagined it would be standing across from Brock when his turn came. Greninja noticed his excitement and grinned at him. 

"Looking forward to the match, Ash?" the frog Pokemon asked. 

"You bet! I've never gotten to see a gym battle before. I can't wait to see what it's like!" Ash said happily. 

"I'm looking forward to it myself," Lucario admitted, his eyes gleaming. "Of course, I've seen plenty of battles before back in my time, but this is far more...refined than the ones I knew." 

"Refined? What do you mean?" Pikachu asked curiously. 

"Back in those days, battles were every man-or, well, Pokemon-for themselves. There were no terms agreed upon before the start of the battle," Lucario explained. "Which meant that more often than not, you could find yourself facing at least a four-on-one match. Not to mention it was far more common to fight to kill, which I will hazard a guess and say that this isn't the case for gym battles." 

"Oh no, definitely not," Ash agreed, wincing at the thought. "You'd go to jail for a long time these days if you ever tried to kill someone else's Pokemon. Or any Pokemon, really." 

Turning back to the battlefield, he saw that Fallon had taken her place on the opposite side from Brock. Even from where he sat, he could clearly make out the nervousness in her posture, her hands wringing together and her eyes darting from side to side. Her legs were starting to tremble as well, and she began to open and close her right fist as though trying to regain feeling in her fingers. 

"Poor thing," Greninja murmured, looking worried. "She looks petrified."

"No thanks to her brother, I'm sure," Pikachu remarked, a note of anger entering his voice. "Being around him probably hasn't exactly done wonders for her self-esteem. She's probably thinking she's going to fail her Pokemon." 

Without thinking, Ash jumped out of his seat, leaping over the railing and back onto the battlefield. He knew that he wasn't supposed to be on the field right before a match, but at that moment, he didn't care. Fallon needed someone to be there for her, and he was going to make sure to support her. 

"Fallon!" he called out, quickly getting her attention. "Fallon, don't look so worried! The battle hasn't even started yet. You don't have to freak out yet." 

"That's easy enough for you to say," she groaned. "You're not the one about to have a gym battle in five seconds." 

"Maybe not," Ash agreed. "But that doesn't mean I don't get how you feel. I'm a trainer just like you, remember? So is Brock, even if he's a bit different from you or me. And it's okay to be nervous. Everyone gets a little bit scared before a battle; I'll bet even Lance does. Maybe you'll completely mess up. Maybe everything that could possibly go wrong will go wrong. But you've still got to just go out there and do it." 

"I know," Fallon murmured, her eyes flickering briefly to his face. "But...what if I mess up? My Pokemon have been working so hard for this day, and I'd hate to let them down." 

"Then that's okay! We all mess up from time to time," he reassured her, smiling brightly. "All that matters is that when you fall down, you get back up again. And again, and again, and again. As many times as it takes until you finally come out on top! That's what separates the good trainers from the great ones. After all, lights always shine their brightest in darkness, right?" 

She blinked. "I...I suppose that's true..." 

"Right!" Ash replied, giving her an encouraging nod. "And don't forget that we're all supporting you. No matter what comes next, whether you win or lose, we'll be standing behind you. Don't worry. I know you can do it."

"Fallon." Brock's voice sounded much closer, and Ash turned to see that the Pewter City gym leader had come over to their side of the field. "It doesn't really matter whether you win or lose. That isn't what a gym battle is about–it's not what any battle is about. And truthfully, a badge is nothing more than a small scrap of metal that someone decided you had to collect in order to enter the league championship. At the end of the day, what truly matters is whether you've grown alongside your Pokemon. You'll become a much better trainer if you lose and learn a few lessons every so often than if you win all the time and learn nothing." 

For a moment, Fallon didn't reply. Finally, however, she took a deep breath, exhaling slowly and turning back to Ash and Brock, a more confident look entering her eyes. 

"Alright. I'm ready now," she stated, sounding far more sure of herself. 

"Excellent," Brock said, smiling kindly at her. "Then in that case, let's get started." 

Ash returned to his place in the stands between Greninja and Lucario as Brock went back to his side of the field. As he sat down, he felt Lucario pat him on the shoulder. Down on the battlefield, he could still see a trace of anxiety in Fallon's posture, but she was making a clear effort not to let it overwhelm her again. 

"The gym battle between the Pewter City gym leader, Brock, and the challenger, Fallon Miller, is about to begin," Forrest announced. "Each side will have the use of two Pokemon. The match will end when either side's Pokemon are unable to continue. Furthermore, only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokemon." 

At that, Lucario gave Ash a questioning look. "Why only the challenger?" 

Ash shrugged, having never known the reason for the rule himself, but Greninja answered, "I suspect it's because gym leaders are supposed to help nurture trainers' growth, not relentlessly crush any newbie that crosses their path. And let's be honest, they'd all be capable of it. You have to go through some pretty intense training in order to qualify for being a gym leader. And I expect it's also because it's a good way to let trainers learn new strategies involving Pokemon substitution." 

"That makes sense," Lucario agreed. 

Down on the battlefield, Brock had already revealed his first Pokemon. Ash recognized the small rock with long arms as Geodude, one of the most common rock-type Pokemon in the world. Geodude typically weren't known for their strength, which he supposed was part of the reason Brock had selected him for his gym team. After all, it wouldn't do much good if the first Pokemon a new trainer had to face in a gym battle was a Mega Tyranitar or something of the like. He glanced over at Fallon, wondering what her first choice would be. 

A moment later, he got his answer. Pulling a Pokeball off her belt, she called out, "Staryu, come on out!" 

There was a flash of white light as a brown starfish-like Pokemon with a red jewel where a face might otherwise have been materalized in front of Fallon. Ash grinned, recognizing the water-type from the class field trip to the aquarium when he was six years old. Fallon had made a good first choice. 

"You may have the first move, Fallon," Brock offered graciously. 

"Thanks, Brock. Alright, Staryu, let's start things off with Water Gun!" Fallon commanded. 

"Dodge it, Geodude!" Brock countered quickly. 

Staryu fired off a jet of water toward Geodude, with the rock and ground-type dodging out of the way at the last second. The Water Gun slammed harmlessly into the wall as Geodude hovered off to the side, grinning. Of course, Staryu didn't have a face and as such couldn't have any sort of expression, but Ash could still feel the mingled frustration and amusement from the Star Shape Pokemon. 

"Is that all you've got?" Geodude taunted. 

"You wish. I'm just getting started," Staryu growled back. 

"Rapid Spin!" Fallon called out. 

"Hold it right there, Geodude," Brock ordered. 

"Hold it?" Pikachu repeated, looking utterly bewildered. "What's he playing at? Why isn't he trying to dodge or fight back?" 

His question was soon answered, however, when Geodude suddenly reached out and grabbed the spinning water-type, gripping them tightly. Staryu struggled and writhed violently, but the Rock Pokemon held on strong, not giving a single inch. And unfortunately for Staryu, they were facing away from Geodude and, therefore, couldn't sneak in a close-range attack. Geodude took advantage of the Star Shape Pokemon's temporary immobility to strike them with several rapid-fire Rock Throw attacks. 

"Staryu!" the young girl exclaimed worriedly. "Staryu, you've got to get yourself out of there!" 

"It's over," Brock commanded. "Geodude, throw Staryu!" 

"Water Gun!" Fallon ordered, her eyes flashing with worry. 

It was a last-second decision, borne of clear desperation, but it worked. As Geodude flung Staryu away, somehow, the water-type managed to twist itself around to get a decently close-range Water Gun off. The attack struck the Rock Pokemon directly in the face, sending him flying backward into the wall. At the same time, Staryu came crashing back down to the ground. Both Pokemon remained lying on the battlefield, and Ash didn't need his aura to know that they had been knocked unconscious. 

"Both Geodude and Staryu are unable to battle! Trainers, please switch out your Pokemon," Forrest requested. 

"Thanks, Staryu. You were awesome," Fallon said, smiling softly as she recalled her fallen water-type. 

"Well done, Geodude. You've earned yourself a good rest," Brock said, doing the same for his own Pokemon. Pulling out another Pokeball, he called out, "Onix, you're up next!" 

Fallon's eyes widened as Onix appeared in front of her, which Ash couldn't blame her for. At almost thirty feet in height, the Rock Snake Pokemon was a positively fearsome sight to anyone who hadn't come across it before. She stared up at it, biting her lip in obvious worry, and he remembered suddenly that she had said she only had two Pokemon available to fight. Which meant...

"Her last Pokemon is Charmander," Lucario stated, looking grim. "That's not going to be a good matchup against Onix." 

However, it seemed that Fallon wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. "Charmander, let's get going!" 

There was another flash of white light as the small orange lizard appeared on the battlefield. At the sight of the giant rock-type looming over him, his eyes widened almost comically. 

"Holy Arceus! How did that thing get in here?" Charmander exclaimed. 

"Charmander, this isn't going to be an easy fight, but I have full faith in you," Fallon said, smiling encouragingly. "So let's do this together, alright?" 

"You got it!" Charmander agreed enthusiastically. 

"We'll be taking the first move this time," Brock stated. "Onix, use Slam!" 

"Dodge and then use Flamethrower!" Fallon countered. 

Moving with surprising speed for a Pokemon of his size, Onix began charging toward Charmander. Before he could slam himself down onto the smaller Pokemon, however, the lizard-like Pokemon rolled out of the way before sending a Flamethrower in Onix's direction. The attack hit its mark, but given that Onix was part rock-type, it barely seemed to affect him. 

"Fire-type moves aren't going to do much against my Onix," the older trainer informed her. 

"I know that, but Flamethrower is Charmander's best attack. Besides, even minimal damage adds up," she pointed out. 

"Yeah, and learning Hydro Pump didn't exactly work out," Charmander snarked. Ash grinned to himself, both at Charmander's comment and the mental image of the small lizard using such a powerful water-type attack. 

"Let's go for another Flamethrower, Charmander!" Fallon ordered. 

"Rock Slide!" Brock shouted. 

Once again, Charmander sent a jet of flames flying toward the Rock Snake Pokemon, who made no attempt to dodge even as he was struck straight in the face. As soon as the smoke had cleared, Onix let out a roar, his body glowing white as several heavy-looking boulders began falling from the sky toward Charmander. He managed to dodge most of them, but tripped at the last second and was struck by the final two medium-sized rocks. Somehow, he managed to remain standing, but it was easy to see that he was in pain, his body scratched and bruised. 

"Oh no, Charmander! Are you okay?" Fallon exclaimed, sounding horrified. "Do you still want to continue?" 

"I...I want..." Charmander said through gritted teeth, his entire body heaving as he fought to stay upright. 

"He can't do it," Lucario murmured, watching the small fire-type worriedly. "He's not going to be able to keep this up for much longer." 

And at that moment, Fallon seemed to come to the same conclusion. As Brock ordered another Slam from Onix, she cried out, "Stop!" 

Onix froze in his tracks as everyone in the gym turned to the ginger-haired girl. Fallon raced over to Charmander, who had dropped down onto his side, and scooped him up gently in her arms. 

"We can't continue on like this, Charmander. I know how much we've both been looking forward to this, but this isn't a battle we're going to win," she stated softly. 

Charmander looked up at her, and Ash could feel the sadness and guilt coming from the Kanto fire starter. "I'm sorry, Fallon." 

Although she couldn't understand exactly what he had said, the tone of his voice left little doubt as to what he had been trying to convey. Giving Charmander a reassuring smile, she replied warmly, "You don't have to be sorry! You did your best, Charmander. I couldn't have asked for more from you." 

Tapping the now-sleeping fire-type gently on the side of the head, she recalled him to his Pokeball. Straightening up again, she stood up and faced Brock. In a clear voice that rang out across the battlefield, she announced calmly, "I forfeit the match." 

"Very well, then. In that case, the battle goes to Brock, the gym leader," Forrest declared. 

Ash, along with his Pokemon, leaped down onto the field to meet Fallon. He was somewhat surprised to realize that, upon sensing her emotions through his aura, she didn't appear to be too upset by her loss. There was a small bit of disappointment, naturally, but it was overpowered by a sense of acceptance, determination, and a desire to get Charmander and Staryu to the nearest Pokemon Center as quickly as possible. She stood tall and proud, her head held high despite the outcome of the match. 

"You were so great!" Ash exclaimed, and although she had lost, he meant every word. "That was so cool, Fallon, really. Charmander and Staryu are both awesome Pokemon!" 

"They really are, aren't they?" Fallon agreed, smiling cheerfully. She chuckled sheepishly and added, "Would have been nice to get the win today, but oh well, what can you do?" 

"You did the right thing in forfeiting the match," Lucario commended her. 

"He's right," Brock agreed, coming over to join the group. "No matter what, a trainer should always strive to put their Pokemon's health and safety first. You've shown me a maturity today that most new trainers take much longer to reach. And for that, I would like to present you with this." 

He pulled a small object out of his pocket, which Ash quickly recognized as the Boulder Badge. Fallon's eyes widened and she looked between the badge and Brock, her face shining with confusion. 

"I...but why? I didn't win," she pointed out, clearly bewildered. "I thought you had to win the battle in order to get the badge." 

"The rules say that, yes, but a gym leader can also choose to give badges to trainers whom they feel have earned them," Brock explained. "I told you earlier today that wins and losses aren't what matters in the long run. By choosing to protect Charmander by forfeiting the match rather than forcing him to continue fighting injured in a battle that he likely would have lost anyway, you demonstrated to me that you understood what I told you and took it to heart. That is what I like to see out of trainers, and that is why I'm choosing to award you with the Boulder Badge." 

For a moment, Fallon looked at the badge, a hesitant expression in her eyes. After a while, however, she shook her head firmly. 

"Thank you, Brock. I appreciate the offer, I really do. But I can't accept a badge like this," she said respectfully. "The rules state that you have to beat the gym leader in order to earn the badges. I didn't win the match today, so I shouldn't get the badge. If I accept a handout, it's just going to give other people an excuse to say that I didn't earn my way into the Pokemon league fairly." 

"Are you certain?" Brock questioned. 

"I am," Fallon replied confidently. "We'll come back another time and earn the badge for real." 

He studied her for another moment, then nodded and pocketed it with a small smile. "I thought you would say that. You continue to impress me, Fallon." 

"Thanks," Fallon chuckled, looking rather sheepish. "I guess you could say it's a talent of mine." 

They all laughed at that, and Ash felt a surge of excitement rush through his veins. Tomorrow, it would be his turn to take on Brock. Every moment that Pikachu and Pidgeotto had spent honing their new moves would be put to the test, and he intended to see them pass with flying colors. 

Chapter Text

When Ash had elected against using him in the Pewter City gym, naturally, Greninja had been a bit disappointed. He and Ash had done everything together for three years now, and he would have loved nothing more than to help him earn his first gym badge. But he understood why he had made the decision. At the risk of sounding arrogant, Greninja knew he was too powerful for many of the early gyms. Even if he held back, he could easily crush both Geodude and Onix in just one or two moves each. That wouldn't do anything to help Ash grow as a trainer. Besides, Pikachu and Pidgeotto had been working hard to prepare for this battle, and it wouldn't be fair to them to take this opportunity away. 

Still, it wasn't all that bad. Even if he couldn't participate in the actual battle, Greninja was more than happy to support Ash on the sidelines alongside Lucario, Fallon, and Charmander, who had come out of his Pokeball to watch the match. The fire-type was bouncing up and down in Fallon's arms, unable to control his excitement. It occurred to Greninja that this was probably one of the first battles Charmander had ever gotten to witness. 

"Looking forward to the match?" he asked, grinning down at the little orange lizard. 

"You bet! I've never gotten to see a gym battle before! This is going to be so awesome!" Charmander replied eagerly. 

"They are quite fascinating, I must admit," Lucario agreed. "Although it is still quite jarring to see Pokemon battle by following a human's commands. I'm tempted to let Ash catch me officially just so I can see what it's like for myself." 

Fallon blinked. "Er, no offense or anything, but how have you never seen a trainer battle before? I mean, even if you were a wild Pokemon before meeting Ash, you must at least have seen one or two, right?" 

"Well, you do tend to miss a lot being trapped inside a jewel for over seven hundred years," the Aura Pokemon remarked as casually as if they were merely discussing what to have for lunch. 

She stared at Lucario, looking utterly bemused. "Um...you're not serious about that, right?" 

"Oh no, that story is one hundred percent true," Lucario assured her, looking extremely pleased with himself. 

"Oh." Fallon didn't appear to know what to say to that. "That's, uh...really...nice?" 

"I'm not sure if nice is the right word, but it was awfully refreshing waking up after such a long nap," Lucario replied. 

Greninja rolled his eyes. "Lucario, stop trying to shock everyone like that." 

"Well, I had to have some fun," the jackal huffed. To Fallon, he added, "I'll tell you the full story later, but for now, let's focus on watching Ash's battle." 

"I'll be looking forward to hearing it," she answered. It was easy to tell that she didn't really believe Lucario but was too polite to say anything. 

They turned their attention back to the battlefield, where Ash and Brock had already taken their places on their respective ends of the gym. Forrest was once again acting as the referee while the rest of Brock's siblings had taken their seat up in the top row again. Greninja couldn't imagine having so many younger siblings; all the noise would drive him mad after a week. And now that he thought about it, why were all of Brock's younger siblings at the gym anyway? They were clearly still small; shouldn't their parents have been watching them? 

"The gym battle between the gym leader, Brock, and the challenger, Ash Ketchum, will now begin," Forrest announced. "Each trainer will be allowed the use of two Pokemon. The match will end when either side's Pokemon are unable to continue. In addition, only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokemon." 

"I wonder which one Ash will choose first," Lucario mused. "Pikachu or Pidgeotto..." 

His question was answered a split second later as Ash turned to Pikachu and asked with a grin, "So, you ready to go, buddy?" 

"You bet I am!" Pikachu replied, jumping down off of the boy's shoulder, his cheeks sparking. 

"I must say, Ash, you're an unusual challenger. Not many trainers would bring an electric-type to my gym," Brock remarked from the other side of the field. 

Next to Greninja, Lucario furrowed his brow, looking a little ticked off. "Yes, but any Pokemon could beat a rock-type gym with the right sort of training. And it's not as if Geodude and Onix are particularly difficult opponents." 

"Don't worry about him, that's just a tactic gym leaders use to try to get under their challengers' skin," Greninja assured the Aura Pokemon, having seen it used a few times during his life. "They want to see if you can keep a cool head, so they'll say or do things to intentionally try to upset you and cause you to lose your focus." 

Fortunately, Ash didn't appear to be bothered by the comment. "Maybe, but if there's any electric-type in the world that can pull off a win here, it's going to be Pikachu." 

"Well, I like your confidence, Ash," Brock chuckled. "In that case, I'll not keep you waiting any longer. Geodude, let's go!" 

He pulled a Pokeball off his belt, releasing the small rock-type from inside. Greninja held his breath, watching as Pikachu and Geodude stared each other down. Technically, Geodude had the advantage purely because of typing matchups, but after watching Fallon's battle the previous day, Greninja wasn't too impressed with his strength. Still, Brock was a gym leader for a reason, so there had to be more to Geodude than met the eye. 

"We'll start things off today. Geodude, use Rock Throw!" Brock commanded. 

"Reflect it back with Iron Tail!" Ash countered. 

Greninja watched as Geodude hurled about three or four medium-sized rocks in Pikachu's direction. As they hurled toward him, the electric mouse's tail glowed silver as he swung it back and forth, sending the rocks flying back toward the Rock Pokemon. Most of the rebounded rocks bounced off the gym walls, but one of them struck Geodude directly in the face. 

"Yay!" Charmander cheered, bouncing up and down on Fallon's lap. 

"That was a good move from Ash," Greninja remarked, feeling a surge of pride for his best friend. "Those rocks would have hurt Pikachu more than they hurt Geodude, so it's good that he found a way to dodge the attack while also dealing a bit of damage himself." 

"That was amazing, I never would have thought to do that," Fallon breathed, her eyes wide. 

Of course, being a dual rock and ground-type, the reflected Rock Blast hadn't done much damage to Geodude. Still, even a little bit of damage was better than none at all. Right now, Ash stood in the lead, but for how long that stayed the case remained to be seen. 

"Hidden Power!" the messy-haired trainer ordered quickly, evidently not wanting to give Geodude too much time to recover. 

"Counter it with another Rock Throw, Geodude!" Brock shouted. 

Pikachu spun around in the air, firing off several oddly-colored orbs toward Geodude. At the same time, the Rock Pokemon charged up another Rock Throw, hurling the stones back at the electric mouse. Both attacks collided in the middle of the battlefield, kicking up a cloud of dust that sent Greninja and the others in the front row into a coughing fit. Brock's siblings, being as high up as they were, didn't appear to be feeling anything. 

"N-nice one, Ash and Pikachu," Lucario coughed. 

"I can't see anything down there. How are they supposed to continue the battle?" Fallon asked, her eyes squinting as she tried to see through the cloud of dust. 

"Oh, don't worry. They'll be just fine," Greninja replied, grinning to himself. 

Finally, some of Ash's training with Lucario was about to be put to the test in a real battle. 

"Geodude, let's finish this off with Tackle!" Brock ordered. 

Thanks to his sharpened senses, although he still couldn't see him, Greninja was able to hear Geodude flying like a bullet toward Pikachu. With bated breath, he watched as Ash stood a few paces behind Pikachu, a grin on his face. 

"Coming up on your left, Pikachu! Dodge and use Hidden Power!" he called out. 

What happened next could only be described as something out of a movie. As Geodude hurtled closer toward Pikachu, the sound of paws leaping off the ground could be heard, followed by a small explosion. When everything had settled down and the dust had finally cleared, the rock-type was lying on the battlefield, unconscious. Pikachu stood over his fallen opponent triumphantly as Forrest went over to check on Geodude. 

"Geodude is unable to battle! Pikachu wins!" the younger boy announced. "Gym leader Brock, please send out your next Pokemon." 

"Thanks, Geodude. Return and take a good rest," Brock said gratefully, recalling his fallen Pokemon. 

"Yes!" Fallon cheered, punching the air triumphantly. 

"Just one more to go," Greninja told the group, feeling his heart start to beat nervously. 

One more battle left, one more Pokemon to defeat, and Ash would win his first gym badge. All he had to do now was beat Onix. The battle was in his hands. 

"Onix, you're up next!" Brock called out, releasing the Rock Snake Pokemon from inside his Pokeball. 

The gigantic snake-like Pokemon appeared on the battlefield with a mighty roar that shook the stadium. Ash narrowed his eyes as he looked between Onix and Pikachu for a few moments, apparently having an internal debate about something. What it was, Greninja had no idea, although he did notice that Pikachu was panting slightly. Although he hadn't taken any direct damage from Geodude, he had still used up a fair amount of energy during the battle. Allowing him to continue to battle could prove to be disastrous. 

Fortunately, Ash seemed to come to the same conclusion. "Pikachu, come back for now! You were awesome, now take a break," the boy called out. 

"No problem, Ash. Thanks for the battle," Pikachu agreed cheerfully, jumping back onto Ash's shoulder. 

Pulling out Pidgeotto's Pokeball, Ash shouted, "Pidgeotto, I choose you!" 

There was a flash of white light as the bird-like Pokemon appeared, soaring high above the battlefield. She flapped her wings, her eyes narrowing as she stared down Onix. Greninja was impressed; most Pokemon would have been shaking in terror if they found themselves face to face with a massive Pokemon such as Onix, but Pidgeotto didn't appear to be the least bit fazed. Indeed, if the glint in her eyes was anything to go by, she was looking forward to the battle even more now. 

"Alright, Pidgeotto. Let's start things off by using Quick Attack!" Ash called out. 

"Rock Slide, Onix!" Brock ordered quickly. 

Pidgeotto's body glowed white as she began speeding toward Onix as the Rock Snake Pokemon let out another roar, sending countless rocks and boulders raining down from the sky. Fortunately, she managed to dodge all of them, quickly striking Onix in the face with Quick Attack. The attack didn't do much damage, but it did cause the massive rock-type to rear his head back, shaking his head as he tried to clear it. 

"Not bad at all, Ash, but you're going to have to do better than that," the Pewter gym leader stated, a small grin on his face. "Onix, use Rock Throw!" 

"Steel Wing along the ground and then fly up as fast as you can!" Ash countered. 

Alright, so he must be trying to...er, never mind, what the hell?

Greninja exchanged a glance with Lucario, who looked just as puzzled as he felt. What on earth could Ash be planning now? 

"What's that all about?" Fallon asked, frowning. 

"I don't know," Lucario admitted. "He must have a strategy, but..." 

"Who cares? This is so awesome!" Charmander cheered. "Go Ash and Pidgeotto, go!" 

At that moment, Pidgeotto's wings glowed silver as she went into a nosedive, heading straight for the gym floor. And at that moment, Greninja realized what Ash had been planning. 

As Pidgeotto leveled herself out, her wings dragged across the sandy floor, kicking up a trail of dust behind her as she flew toward Onix, nimbly dodging his Rock Throw attack. Once she was only a few feet away from the Rock Snake Pokemon, she suddenly shot upward, kicking up a cloud of dust behind her. Unable to react in time, Onix let out a cry of pain as he found his eyes filled with sand and dirt. 

"Yes!" Greninja cheered, punching the air. 

"Brilliant!" Fallon exclaimed. 

"Onix, just stay calm!" Brock called out worriedly as the massive rock-type shook his head from side to side, still roaring in pain and rage. "Try to sense where Pidgeotto is by listening for the movement of her wings!" 

But Onix was in far too much distress to do anything except thrash about wildly, much less try to find Pidgeotto. He continued to shake his head back and forth, trying in vain to clear his eyes. 

"It's over for them now," Lucario stated with a grin, though his eyes betrayed his concern for the rock-type. 

"Finish it off with Steel Wing!" Ash ordered. 

Once again, Pidgeotto's wings glowed silver as she sped toward Onix, who was still writhing in agony. Before he even had time to sense her, she struck him hard across the chest with Steel Wing. The rock-type let out one final roar of pain before crashing to the ground, sending a shockwave across the gym. 

"Onix is unable to battle! Pidgeotto wins!" Forrest declared. "Which means the victory goes to Ash, the challenger!" 

"You did it, Pidgeotto!" Ash cheered, his eyes lighting up with the childlike delight that always melted Greninja's heart. 

"They did it, they won!" Fallon exclaimed excitedly as Charmander did a very odd-looking victory dance. 

Greninja and Lucario, for their parts, leaped over the railing and down onto the battlefield, racing over to the messy-haired boy. The frog Pokemon hugged his trainer tightly while Lucario high-fived Pikachu and Pidgeotto before ruffling Ash's hair fondly. As Ash attempted to break away from the Aura Pokemon, laughing in protest, Brock approached the group from the other side of the field. 

"Well done, Ash," the teenager stated, a smile on his face. "That was one of the best battles I've had in a long time. As proof of your victory at the Pewter City gym, please accept this Boulder Badge." 

Ash accepted the badge, beaming with delight, before his eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, wait! I almost forgot!" 

Puzzled, Greninja watched as Ash turned around, racing back toward his bag. He dug around for a few moments before removing a small vial triumphantly and running back over to the group. 

"Here you go! You can have these eye drops for Onix!" he announced, smiling brightly as he held out the bottle. 

Brock looked startled for a moment before smiling as well, accepting the gift. "Thank you very much, Ash. This should have Onix feeling better in no time." 

Ash blushed slightly, laughing a bit as he turned back to Greninja and Lucario. "So, where should we head off to next? Cerulean City is supposed to be pretty great; maybe we could try there?" 

"Fine by me," Lucario agreed. 

"I don't have a problem with it," Greninja replied amicably. 

"What about you, Fallon?" Ash asked, turning to the ginger-haired girl. "Are you coming with us too?" 

At that, Fallon's expression fell slightly. "Er, I think I should actually meet up with Damian again," she admitted, though her expression betrayed just how much she did not want to do this. "My parents were pretty adamant about us traveling together, and I don't want to get on their bad side. But I'll be sure to meet up with you all again another time, though." 

"Oh." Ash's face fell, but he quickly plastered a bright smile on his face again. "In that case, let's make a promise to keep working hard toward our goals until we see each other again! Right?" 

"Right," she agreed, some of the misery leaving her eyes. 

They shook hands before Fallon turned around, walking toward the exit. Greninja watched her go, feeling a pang of worry in his chest. He knew, of course, that the decision to abide by her parents' wishes was ultimately up to her-but he couldn't help wondering if they should have fought harder to convince her to stay. 

Chapter Text

It only took about two minutes and thirty-five seconds for Fallon to regret her decision to return to traveling with her brother (not that she was counting or anything). Ever since learning that she had chosen to forfeit her match against Brock, Damian had been talking her ears off nonstop, telling her how she had wasted his time by choosing to fight in a battle that she should have known from the start was a lost cause. The fact that he hadn't actually been present at her match and therefore hadn't had any of his time wasted seemed lost on him. 

"I told you, Fallon. I told you all along that Charmander couldn't pull it off," he snapped for what felt like the millionth time in the past fifteen minutes alone. "But did you listen? No, of course not. You insisted that you knew better. You insisted that he was strong enough. And look where that got us! We wasted an entire day because of you!" 

"I don't suppose you would mind telling me how I wasted your day?" Fallon asked coldly. "You weren't even at my battle! You were probably off catching whatever Pokemon you could find. If anything, you should be thanking me! At least you didn't have to see my face for an entire day, right? Just like you always talk about." 

"We could have been on our way to the next city a lot earlier if you hadn't decided to have a gym battle," Damian snarled. "Why can't you do anything right, Fallon? Honestly! Sometimes I think we would all have been a lot better off if Mom had just dumped you in the river when you were born or left you out in the forest for the Pidgey and Beedrill to pick at!" 

She clenched her teeth, her fists shaking as she resisted the urge to punch her brother in the face. "Funny, I could say the same thing about you," she spat. 

Damian made a very strange gesture, as though he had been about to strike her but then immediately changed his mind and lowered his arm to his side again. "Just follow me and don't speak unless I speak to you first," he growled. 

Barely suppressing her anger, Fallon rolled her eyes and trudged after her brother. The few hours of happiness she'd had during the day she had spent with Ash and his Pokemon seemed so long ago now, leaving nothing but misery in its wake. For one single day, one single, incredible day, she had been able to experience true friendship. But now she was back with her brother once more, and she didn't know how long it would be until she saw Ash and his Pokemon again. 

If Damian were the only person she had to think about, she would have abandoned him a long time ago. But she still had her parents to worry about, and as much as she disliked her brother, Fallon knew she couldn't just up and leave them. They at least had always treated her well and done their best to keep Damian's bullying at bay, even if they hadn't always been the most successful. Then again, nobody was successful at keeping Damian under control. He had always done whatever he wanted, regardless of whatever consequences were pushed upon him. Her parents would be heartbroken if she left her family, and that was the last thing Fallon wanted on her conscience. 

"By the way, Mom and Dad said they wanted to talk to you," Damian announced abruptly, not even turning around to face her. 

"Oh. Did they say what it was about?" Fallon dared to ask. 

"No, they didn't," he snapped. "Don't you think I would have told you if they did? Honestly, Fallon, you can be so stupid sometimes." 

She bristled immediately. "It was just a question!" 

"And it was a stupid one," he shot back. 

"How? All I asked was what Mom and Dad wanted to talk to me about! How was I supposed to know they hadn't told you?" Fallon asked indignantly. 

"Well, maybe you would have known if you had stayed with me instead of running off with that idiot boy and those freaky Pokemon of his," Damian snarled. "Do you even care about your family, Fallon? Because all you ever talk about is how much you hate being around me." 

"Excuse me?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "First of all, Ash is not an idiot and his Pokemon are not freaky! Second of all, who are you to accuse me of not caring about my family? Did you forget that you were the one who told me that you didn't want to see me?" 

"You just met a talking Lucario and you don't think that's freaky?" Damian asked scathingly, conveniently ignoring her second question. 

"How is it freaky? He was just using Telepathy," Fallon retorted. "Legendaries and psychic-types can do the same and you don't seem to find anything freaky about that." 

"That's different! They're supposed to be able to use Telepathy," he snapped. "Lucario isn't meant to be able to use it. He's not a psychic-type and he's not a legendary either." 

"Just because you haven't met any non-psychic Pokemon who can use Telepathy doesn't mean it's never happened before," she reasoned. "And why does it matter so much to you anyway? Who cares if Lucario can speak human tongue?" 

"It's not normal," Damian insisted. 

"So?" 

Apparently realizing that he wasn't going to convince her that there was something wrong with Lucario being able to use Telepathy, her brother abruptly changed tactics. "Fine, then, but what about that Ash kid? Doesn't it seem strange that he has two powerful Pokemon with him? He can't have been a trainer for very long, so how do you suppose he got them?" 

"It's really none of your business," she retorted coolly. Admittedly, she had been wondering the same thing, but she wasn't about to give Damian the satisfaction of hearing her admit to that. "Nobody else has any problem with Ash having Greninja and Lucario, so you shouldn't either. You're just jealous because you know you'll never have Pokemon half as good as they are." 

"Jealous? Me?" Damian spluttered indignantly. "Are you out of your mind? There's no way I'd be jealous of a punk like him! He probably stole those Pokemon anyway!" 

Fallon rolled her eyes. "Look, Damian, you're my brother and I love you and all-" 

"No, you don't," he interrupted, scoffing. 

"Fine, you're right," Fallon acknowledged. "But that's beside the point. For someone who isn't jealous of Ash, you're sure doing a lot of whining about him." 

He sneered at her. "Of course, I should have expected that you would take his side. And you wonder why I say you don't care about your family." 

"Believe what you like," she snapped. 

Not that she would ever say so out loud, but part of Fallon understood why Damian was so put off by Ash and his Pokemon. It was unusual for a new trainer to have two powerhouse Pokemon at his disposal, and it was unusual for a Pokemon such as Lucario to be able to use Telepathy. Under any other circumstances, she probably would have been just as surprised. But what Fallon found the most unusual about Ash, Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu wasn't the fact that Ash had two extremely powerful Pokemon that most elite trainers would give their left arm to have on their team or the fact that Lucario was capable of speaking human language. Rather, it was the fact that she had been able to hold an entire conversation with them–multiple, as a matter of fact–without getting shouted at, belittled, or shoved around. 

Charmander had been the happiest she had seen him in quite a while as well. Her little fire-type was always on edge around Damian, not that she could blame him. But despite only knowing Ash and his Pokemon for a few hours, Charmander had shown no hesitation in befriending them. And Ash, unlike Damian, had been nothing but supportive and encouraging toward Charmander, telling him that he would be rooting for him to beat Brock next time. 

But now they were back with Damian again, which meant Charmander would once again have to be on his guard. Fallon hadn't forgotten about her brother using Vaporeon to attack the little lizard Pokemon. The mere thought of it still filled her with rage, and she quickly tried to quash it down before she did something she regretted. Really, Damian was lucky that Charmander hadn't been seriously injured. If he had been, she wouldn't have let him get away with all of his limbs intact. 

What now, though? Now that they were traveling together again, how long would it be until Damian pulled something similar? And if or when he did, how far would he go to ensure that, next time, his plan didn't fail? 

Fallon shook her head, trying to toss the increasingly dark thoughts away. No, she was being ridiculous. There was no way he would take things that far. He had probably just gotten carried away the first time. Damian was many things-arrogant, a bully, and embarrassingly jealous, to name a few. But an attempted murderer? No, that was much too far even for him. 

Right?

Chapter Text

It had only been a handful of hours since they had left Pewter City, and already Ash was severely regretting his decision to traverse the mountains. Lucario certainly hadn't been joking when he said the climb would be useful training. His body hadn't ached this much since the afternoon he had spent racing Greninja in the forest and combined with the almost unbearably thin air, it made for a truly torturous experience. Every step made his legs feel as though they were made of lead and his lungs felt ready to burst. Still, Ash had never been one to complain about a bit of rough training, so he pushed onward, ignoring his body as it practically screamed for him to stop. 

"Ash, wait," Lucario called out, worry tinting his voice. "Ash, you need to slow down and take a break. You're going to collapse at the rate you're going." 

"I'm okay," Ash panted, still struggling up the mountain. 

"Ash, no. You need to slow down," Greninja insisted. "You've been walking nonstop for the past three hours. You can't keep going like this. It's not healthy." 

"It's fine, really. I'm not even that tired," he lied. "What's the big deal anyway? I've walked a long time without stopping before." 

"Yes, but walking through the forest is a lot different from climbing up a mountain," the Aura Pokemon pointed out. 

"At least take a break for five minutes. After that, you can keep going again," Pikachu implored him. 

Ash was about to respond, but at that moment, his foot caught on a loose rock, causing him to fall forward. Fortunately, with the incline as steep as it was, it was only a quick fall forward and he managed to catch himself just in time. Unfortunately, when he tried to get back to his feet again, he found that he lacked his usual strength in his legs and couldn't quite manage it. He managed to push himself onto his knees, but that was as far as his exhausted body would allow him to go. 

Eventually, he gave up and sighed. "Alright, so maybe I am a little tired." 

Greninja shook his head. "Here, get onto my back. I can carry you the rest of the way." 

"I don't need to be carried," Ash protested, shaking his head. "I'll be able to walk on my own in a few minutes. Besides, I'm probably too heavy for you to lift me anyway." 

"With all the calories you burn doing all those exercises Lucario puts you through, I very much doubt that," the Ninja Pokemon retorted. 

"But you've been walking a long time too. I don't want you to have to get too tired carrying me around," he argued back. 

"It's alright, Ash. We're Pokemon; we're meant to be able to handle traveling like this," Lucario spoke up gently, hoisting him onto Greninja's back despite Ash's protests. "Don't worry. If Greninja starts getting tired before we reach the other side of the mountains, I'll take over from there." 

"Or I could just walk myself," Ash objected, although the look on Lucario's face told him that wasn't going to be an option. 

With a sigh, he resigned himself to his fate. As much as he loved his friends, Ash often wondered what he had done to get stuck with the most overprotective Pokemon in the world as his companions. They seemed to find every excuse possible to fuss over him, refusing to let him take on any sort of moderately dangerous task. The number of ground rules Lucario had laid out for his safety made Ash's head spin. Sometimes, he suspected that his mother had put him up to it. 

Still, it wasn't all that bad. Despite their overprotectiveness, Ash couldn't have asked for better friends (and, in Lucario's case, a better mentor). For as long as he could remember, Ash had always gotten along better with Pokemon than other kids, and his friendships with Greninja, Lucario, Pikachu, and Pidgeotto seemed to emphasize that. He even had to admit that there was something rather nice about being carried around on Greninja's back, not that he would ever admit it out loud. 

"How long until we reach the bottom of the mountain?" he asked. 

"Probably another hour or so, why?" Lucario inquired. 

"When we get down there, let's settle for a bit and get something to eat for lunch," Ash suggested. "None of you have eaten since breakfast, right?" 

"Neither have you," Greninja pointed out. "But sure, a lunch break sounds nice." 

Ash just shrugged, deciding it wouldn't be prudent to mention the fact that he wasn't feeling particularly hungry. The day's events so far were starting to catch up to him, and all he wanted to do was lie down for a quick nap. He let out a small, quickly stifled yawn but unfortunately wasn't fast enough to escape Lucario's notice. 

"It's alright, Ash, go to sleep. You've had quite the day already. We'll wake you up when we get down the mountain," the jackal said softly. 

For once, Ash didn't protest. Instead, he simply closed his eyes and rested his head against Greninja's shoulder. As he felt himself drifting off to sleep, the last sensation he had was of Lucario's voice murmuring softly beside him.

When Ash finally came around again, the first thing he noticed was that it was oddly dark out. At first, he wondered whether they were in some sort of cave until he realized that the ground was much too soft. As his eyes adjusted to what little light there was, he realized that they were in the middle of a forest. Confused, he looked around, eventually spotting the moon shining high above the trees. 

What the heck?!

"Good evening there, sleepyhead," came an amused-sounding voice from behind him. Spinning around, Ash saw Lucario and Greninja leaning up against a tree, watching him with cheerful yet tender expressions on their faces. 

"Wha...why is it so late? How long have I been out?" Ash asked, still trying to make sense of his surroundings. Then a sudden realization hit him. "Wait! We were supposed to stop for lunch earlier! You guys still need to eat! Why didn't one of you wake me up sooner?" 

"Relax, Ash. Greninja and I took care of feeding everyone today. Pikachu and Pidgeotto went to bed about an hour ago," Lucario informed him soothingly. 

"I still should have been there," he insisted stubbornly. "One of you should have woken me up." 

"We did. Or at least we tried. But you were completely out of it," Greninja informed him. "In the end, we decided it would be best to just let you sleep. Besides, you needed to rest, Ash. Anyone could have seen that." 

"But I wasted the entire day!" 

"No, you didn't," Lucario said gently, walking over and placing a paw on the boy's shoulder. "You won your first gym badge and you climbed a mountain for three hours. That's not a waste of a day." 

Ash wasn't sure whether he believed that or not. True, it wasn't as though he hadn't done anything all day, but he had still wasted several hours sleeping when he could have been training his aura or devising a battle strategy for the next gym. More importantly, it was his responsibility to take care of his Pokemon. He should have been there to feed and train with them. Of course, Ash trusted Lucario and Greninja to handle things, but it was the principle of the matter. 

"Now that you're awake though, we do need to have a talk about you overworking yourself like that," the jackal continued, a stern note entering his voice. "Ash, it's admirable that you want to work so hard, it truly is. But there is such a thing as doing too much, you know." 

"But I didn't even do that much today," Ash protested. 

"Perhaps not today alone, but you've been pushing quite the busy schedule for a while now," Greninja spoke up. 

"That's not even-" 

"Tell me, Ash, what do you usually do on a daily basis?" the frog Pokemon interrupted. 

He blinked. "Er, well...I usually wake up around dawn with Lucario to do my meditation. Then I'll feed all of you breakfast and have something to eat myself. After that, I'll hold a quick training session. And then I'll pack up my belongings and we'll keep traveling for an hour or so, and Lucario will train me on using my aura to sense the other Pokemon in the area. When we find another spot to settle down, we'll have lunch and I'll either hold another training session or Lucario has me do some sort of exercise to work on my speed, strength, or endurance. Once we're done with that, we'll keep traveling. And then...oh...I guess I do kind of have a busy day..." 

"Right," Greninja agreed. "And Lucario's right, it's admirable that you want to work so hard. But we don't want you pushing yourself to the brink of collapse again. It's important to take breaks every once in a while." 

"But if I take too many breaks, I could fall behind," he objected. 

"Is that what this is about? Are you worried you're not progressing fast enough as an Aura Guardian?" Lucario inquired. 

Ash hesitated. "Well, not exactly, but..." 

He fumbled around for a moment, trying to figure out how to explain himself. No, he didn't think his progress had been too slow, not that he had too many options to use as a standard to compare himself against. But Ash knew he still had a long way to go, and more importantly, he had never liked sitting around when there was still more work to be done, more training sessions to be had. For every hour he spent lounging around, it was just another reminder of everything he could have accomplished during that time if he had simply chosen to be...what was the word again? Oh, right, proactive. 

"Ash, you've been a wonderful student and I couldn't have asked for a better one," the Aura Pokemon said gently. "But you're not going to do yourself any favors if you keep pushing yourself the way you have. I want you to become an Aura Guardian just as much as you do, but it's more important to me that you take care of yourself. And that means taking care of your basic needs, not just not throwing yourself into life-threatening situations." 

"And that goes for me as well," Greninja told him, placing a webbed paw on Ash's knee. "You're my best friend, Ash. I'd rather spend an entire day doing nothing if it means you won't make yourself sick." 

"I'm not sick, though," Ash pointed out. 

"Perhaps not yet, but you will be if you continue going the way you have," the Ninja Pokemon replied. 

Ash opened his mouth to reply, only for another yawn to overtake him. A wave of tiredness washed over him, and he felt a twinge of surprise. Surely he shouldn't be this tired; he had just woken up from napping nearly all day! Maybe Lucario and Greninja were right about him overworking himself. 

"Sleep now, Ash. And tomorrow, you'll be taking the day off. No waking up at dawn, no having races with Greninja, none of it. You'll have the entire day to relax," Lucario told him. "Don't worry about training. We'll make sure that everyone gets some battle practice in." 

Too tired to argue, Ash simply nodded. "Okay..." 

For the second time that day, he closed his eyes, allowing a wave of sleep to wash over him. Just before he dozed off, he felt Greninja and Lucario settling down beside him, keeping him company as the world faded away around him and dreams that he couldn't begin to make sense of if he tried filled his mind. 

Chapter Text

True to their word, Lucario and Greninja ensured that Ash didn't wake up until the sun was high in the sky the following day. While he slept, they took care of feeding everyone, making sure to keep quiet for his sake. Pikachu and Pidgeotto were more than a little concerned for their trainer but relaxed when Greninja assured them that he was fine and that he just needed to rest up a little. 

"He's going to be okay, isn't he?" Pidgeotto asked, still looking rather worried.

"Of course. He's just been working a little too hard lately. He'll be fine with a day of rest," Lucario replied confidently. 

"He does tend to go all out, doesn't he?" Pikachu observed. 

"That he does," Greninja agreed. 

Silently, Lucario turned his gaze onto the messy-haired child, still sleeping peacefully not even ten feet away. Despite the peacefulness of the forest, neither he nor Greninja was willing to stray far from Ash. With the amount of trouble the boy got himself into, it had been well-ingrained into their minds to keep a close watch on him at all times. Lucario was half-certain that if he so much as blinked, he would open his eyes again to find out that Ash had somehow made it halfway to Sinnoh. 

"When do you think he'll wake up?" Pikachu asked. 

He shrugged. "I don't know. Whenever I suppose." 

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Lucario thought Ash looked a bit paler than usual. He showed no sign of waking up either despite the fact that it was almost noon. But other than that, Ash didn't appear to be unwell, so he figured he was probably just letting his worry get the best of him. Besides, Ash was young and strong. It would take a lot more than a bit of overwork to knock him down. He just needed to rest a little, and soon, he would be back to his usual self. 

Still, it was concerning that Ash had pushed himself to the point of collapse in the first place. Lucario wondered if the talk he and Greninja had with the boy the previous night had done any good. While he admired a good work ethic as much as anyone, he would much rather Ash be healthy and safe instead of constantly working toward some sort of accomplishment every minute of the day. In a way, that was probably his own fault. He had spent close to three years now training Ash in using his aura, and it seemed that his own tendency to go overboard had rubbed off on the boy. With a pang of guilt, Lucario realized that he couldn't remember the last time Ash had taken a day for himself, a day where he didn't have to worry about training of any sort. 

"Greninja?" he spoke up, turning to the Pokemon that had been at Ash's side ever since he was still small. "Did Ash seem...ill or unwell in any way when you were carrying him down the mountain?" 

Greninja blinked. "You mean despite being so tired that he passed out from two o'clock in the afternoon until past ten-thirty at night?" he asked. Lucario nodded, and the frog Pokemon frowned. "Well, I did notice that he seemed light...but then again, Ash has always been on the smaller side, so that might not mean all that much." 

"I'm not sure," Lucario mused, feeling a pang of worry. "He does burn a lot of energy during the day...has he been eating enough?" 

"I think so?" Greninja replied, blinking. "He's never really complained about being hungry before, so I figured he was alright." 

His worry increasing all the more, Lucario glanced back over at the still-sleeping Ash. At first glance, he didn't appear to be underfed in any way, so at least that was a good sign. Maybe Ash was just naturally short and thin and his diet didn't have anything to do with it. Even so, that was just one more item to add to the list of concerns about the young trainer's health. 

"Well, we'll just have to make sure that he eats a good meal when he wakes up," Pidgeotto decided. 

"Good idea," Lucario agreed, instantly feeling better. Of course, they would all pitch in to make sure that Ash took care of himself. "And one of us should monitor him from now on to make sure that he's actually getting enough food." 

"I can do that," Greninja volunteered to the surprise of no one. He had helped care for Ash even before Lucario had ever met the boy. If anyone could be trusted to make sure Ash was happy and healthy, it was him. 

Suddenly, a soft rustling noise sounded from Ash's sleeping bag. Turning his head, Lucario saw that the messy-haired trainer was finally waking up. Ash yawned and rubbed his eyes as he sat up, still looking rather out of sorts. 

"Good morning there, Ash," Lucario greeted his young charge softly. "Or, well, good afternoon I should say." 

"Good morning," Ash replied, yawning. 

"How are you feeling today?" Greninja asked, reaching out and placing a webbed paw on the boy's forehead. "Are you sick? Do you need us to get you anything?"

Ash shook his head, looking a little more awake now. "I'm alright, yeah, just a bit tired. But I don't think I'm sick, though." 

"Are you hungry?" Pikachu piped up, scampering over to Ash. "We can get you something to eat for lunch if you'd like." 

"That does sound good, actually. I am pretty hungry," he agreed, perking up slightly. 

That's a good sign, right? If Ash was sick, then he probably wouldn't be hungry. So the fact that he actually wants to eat means he's probably fine, Lucario thought hopefully. 

Feeling a bit more at ease than a few minutes ago, he opened Ash's bag and began sifting through the contents, searching for something that could serve as a decent meal. There weren't a lot of options, so eventually, he settled upon two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and a can of orange juice. Lucario unwrapped the sandwiches and opened the can for Ash before taking it back over to the child, who looked at him with a grateful if slightly exasperated look on his face. 

"Thanks, Lucario, but I'm not dying, you know. I can open my food myself," he objected. 

"I'm sure you can, Ash," Lucario replied, gently patting the boy on the shoulder. "Now, eat your food. And remember, you're going to take it easy today." 

Rolling his eyes but grinning all the same, Ash began to dig into his meal. All the while, Lucario kept a close eye on him, checking to make sure he wasn't showing any sign of illness. But he seemed to be enjoying his sandwiches just as much as he always did, and eventually, he found himself relaxing again. All things considered, Ash seemed perfectly normal. Perhaps he had gotten a little too carried away with worrying about his charge. 

As Ash was starting on his second sandwich, Lucario's aura senses caught wind of a presence lurking behind the trees. A split second later, Ash noticed it as well and turned his head in the direction it was coming from, a curious look on his face. Closing his eyes, Lucario used his aura vision to locate the presence and quickly spotted the outline of an Eevee hiding in the shadows about twenty feet away from their camp. 

Ash had realized who their new companion was as well. "Eevee? Are you there?" he called out. "You can come out now. I promise we're not going to hurt you." 

There was a brief moment of silence, and Lucario began to wonder if Eevee would run away. Then, slowly, she crept out of her hiding spot and began to inch her way toward Ash, her ears twitching nervously. Lucario noticed that she was quite a bit smaller than most of her species, so much so that he wondered if she had only hatched recently. 

"H-hi," Eevee greeted Ash shyly. "I-I'm sorry if I was bothering you. I didn't think you could see me." 

"That's okay! Hi there, Eevee," Ash reassured her, smiling brightly. "My name's Ash. It's awesome to meet you." 

"Thanks," the little fox Pokemon replied, blushing, before her eyes widened. "Wait! How did you understand what I said?" 

"I'm training to become an Aura Guardian," he explained cheerfully. "Lucario over there is teaching me how to use my aura so I can help protect people and Pokemon. But I won't be a real Aura Guardian for years." 

Eevee's eyes widened as she turned her attention onto Lucario. "Really? Does that mean you're an Aura Guardian?" 

"I am, yes," Lucario confirmed, smiling kindly at the little Pokemon. 

"Wow!" Eevee breathed, her eyes shining in amazement. "That's so cool!" 

"Well, thank you," he chuckled. "I think it's rather cool myself." 

"Hey, Eevee, do you want something to eat?" Ash spoke up, drawing the fox-like Pokemon's attention back onto him. He was holding out the second half of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "You can have this if you'd like." 

She sniffed at it curiously. "What is it?" 

"It's a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. My mom made it for me, and it's really good," he informed her brightly. "Go on, go ahead and have it! You'll really like it, I promise." 

"Ash, that's supposed to be your lunch," Lucario reminded him. 

However, Ash just waved him off. "It's fine, don't worry about it! Besides, I already had a whole other sandwich plus half of this one. I'll be okay." 

Lucario shook his head fondly and watched as Eevee stepped forward and took a tentative bite out of the sandwich. As she chewed, her eyes lit up and she quickly gobbled up the rest. He grinned to himself; it looked as though the peanut butter and jelly sandwich had won yet another Pokemon over. 

"That was so good!" Eevee exclaimed, staring at Ash in amazement. Then she frowned. "But I took your food. I'm sorry." 

"Nah, that's okay! I like sharing food," Ash assured her, still smiling happily. "A good meal is always best if you have someone to share it with, right? Besides, I've got plenty of food. It's not like I'm starving or anything like that." 

As Ash and Eevee continued talking, laughing and joking as easily as if they were old friends, Lucario suppressed a small smile as he turned his attention toward a playful debate between Greninja and Pikachu on whether pecha berries were good or not. He might not have been a psychic-type, but he didn't need to be able to see into the future to know that when they left their campsite again, they would be doing so with one more member in their ranks. 

Chapter Text

It only took a few minutes for Eevee to fall in love with her new life as one of Ash's Pokemon. The young trainer was one of the kindest people she had ever met (not that she had met too many of them, but even so), making sure that she and all of his Pokemon were well-fed and watered. He didn't even bother to ask for anything for himself, although Lucario and Greninja took it upon themselves to make sure he was taken care of as well. It didn't hurt either that Ash was an excellent battle strategist, at least for someone his age. 

Since it was her first day on the team, Eevee had chosen to sit back and watch as the other Pokemon trained. In her mind, it was easier to get to know her new surroundings simply by observing them. Ash had joined her as well, explaining that Lucario and Greninja had insisted on him taking an easy day-something about him overworking himself or something like that. The two of them chatted happily and got to know each other better with the raven-haired boy occasionally calling out suggestions to Greninja, Lucario, Pikachu, and Pidgeotto. 

"So, do you guys always train like this?" she asked, watching as Greninja fired off several Ice Beam attacks toward Pidgeotto while Lucario guided her in dodging them. 

"Mostly, yeah. Nothing like a bit of good battle training to get you fired up and ready to go, right?" Ash answered. 

"You're not wrong there," Eevee agreed. "Is that how you got such strong Pokemon like Greninja and Lucario already, then? By training all the time?" 

Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, yes and no. I've actually known Greninja since I was seven, back when he was still a Froakie. That's why he's so much stronger than Pikachu and Pidgeotto-I've only had them for a couple of weeks. But they're making really good progress. As for Lucario, he's technically not really my Pokemon, but he stays with me so he can teach me how to use my aura. I met him a few weeks after I met Greninja in the Kingdom of Rota-interesting story there, you'll have to ask him to tell you it later." 

"Oh, wow." Eevee blinked. "So you've been learning how to become an Aura Guardian since you were seven?" 

"Eight," he corrected her. "It was my birthday when I met Lucario. That's why I was in Rota in the first place-my mom planned the trip as a gift for me. I'll have been training for almost three years now soon-my eleventh birthday is in a month." 

She nodded, then asked, "Is training to become an Aura Guardian very difficult, then?" 

"It can be, yeah. But it's totally worth it," Ash told her, smiling brightly. "I've learned how to do so many amazing things that I didn't even think were possible before I started. And Lucario's been an awesome friend and teacher too. Even if he's overprotective like my mom-Greninja is too, actually." 

"And for good reason," came Lucario's voice, half-exasperated, half-amused. Eevee looked up to see that the jackal had joined them and was taking a seat on Ash's other side. "Unless you'd like me to tell Eevee here about all the times you've given both of us heart attacks?" 

Ash grinned cheekily back at him. "I don't know what you're talking about, Lucario. I know how to behave myself." 

Lucario rolled his eyes but smiled all the same. "Sure, buddy. Keep telling yourself that." 

Eevee laughed at the scene taking place before her. Somehow, she could sense that this was something that occurred on a regular basis. It was refreshing to see a human who genuinely thought of and treated Pokemon as equals. She had heard far too many stories of trainers that had abandoned Pokemon for, supposedly, not performing well enough in battles for them. Her own mother, a Flareon, had been left in Viridian Forest after losing against the gym leader from that city. But although she had only known Ash for less than an hour, she could already tell that he would never stoop to such a level-he would be incapable of it. 

"So, Eevee, any idea what you want to evolve into?" Ash asked, turning back to her. 

"Evolve?" she repeated, surprised. 

"Sure! You've got a lot of great options to choose from, you know," he told her excitedly. "You could choose Flareon, a fire-type. Or Vaporeon, a water-type. There's also Leafeon, a grass-type, and Jolteon, an electric-type. You could evolve into Espeon, a psychic-type, or Umbreon, a dark-type. Or you could choose Glaceon, an ice-type. And last but not least, there's Sylveon, a fairy-type." 

"Wow," Eevee remarked, blinking as she felt her head spin. "That's a lot of options to choose from. I'm not even sure which one I want to go with. What if I make the wrong choice?" 

"That's okay! You've still got a lot of time to decide," Ash answered, smiling encouragingly. "And even if you choose not to evolve, that's totally awesome too! You're a great Pokemon no matter whether you stay an Eevee forever or not." 

"Thanks, Ash," she replied, blushing. 

"No problem," he said cheerfully. "And hey, don't worry about making the right choice. There's no such thing as choosing the wrong form to evolve into. Just do whatever makes you happy!" 

"Really? So you wouldn't mind if I evolved into Sylveon? Even though Sylveon is...well...kind of pink and girly?" Eevee checked. Not that she was sure whether she wanted to evolve into Sylveon or not...but then again, she also wasn't sure that she didn't want to. But she hadn't expected a boy to be alright with her potentially turning into such a feminine-looking Pokemon. 

Ash cocked his head to the side. "What's wrong with pink and girly? Pink and girly things are still just as great as anything else. Besides, I think you would make an awesome Sylveon! I've never actually seen one in real life, but I have seen pictures of them and they're really pretty and cute. And fairy is a really strong type too." 

"I like pink too, it's just that I didn't think you would. Most of the male Pokemon I know don't," she admitted. "They act like boys aren't allowed to like girly things or something like that." 

"Ah," Ash scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. "That's just a bunch of garbage. Nobody says anything when a girl likes things that boys usually like, so why does anyone care when a guy likes things that girls usually like?" 

"They are very nice," Lucario spoke up, a fond smile of remembrance on his face. "I remember when I wasn't training with Sir Aaron, one of my favorite things to do was go out with Lady Rin while she shopped for dresses. Although, I draw the line at actually trying them on myself." 

"Did she make you do that?" Ash asked. 

"She did once, yes. We were searching for a birthday gift for a young girl," Lucario answered. "The girl was about the same size as me, so Lady Rin asked me to try on the dress so we could make sure it would fit properly. I'll admit it was a bit embarrassing, but it fit perfectly and the girl loved it. That made it worth it, although I don't plan on being used as a model again." 

"Aw. That was really nice of you," Ash complimented the jackal, smiling. 

However, Eevee was focused more on another part of Lucario's story. "Wait. I might have misheard you, but...did you just say Lady Rin?" 

"No, you heard correctly. I did indeed say Lady Rin," the Aura Pokemon confirmed. 

"But-but-" Eevee broke off, feeling her head spin. "But-Lady Rin lived over seven hundred years ago! How is it possible that you knew her? And you went shopping with her? And bought a birthday present for a little girl with her? How? How is it possible?" 

Lucario chuckled. "Oh, yes, pardon me for not mentioning. I happen to be over seven hundred years old myself. Quite a long story there." 

Eevee fainted.

Chapter Text

"You know, you take way too much enjoyment out of doing that," Ash deadpanned to Lucario. 

It had been at least a good twenty-five minutes now, and Eevee still hadn't come round again. The little fox Pokemon was still unconscious, lying on top of Ash's sleeping bag that he had given her as a temporary bed. After she had passed out, he had immediately checked her over to make sure she wasn't sick or injured. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be anything seriously wrong with her, so he figured it was Lucario's story that had shocked her a little too much. 

Lucario smiled back at him. "Well, I have to have some fun." 

Greninja walked over to join them. "Are you trying to shock everyone with your backstory again?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

"He's not just trying, he's succeeding too," Ash informed the Ninja Pokemon. Lucario, meanwhile, looked even more satisfied with himself. 

Greninja shook his head. "You know, if you keep throwing around the fact that you're over seven hundred years old like it's no big deal, sooner or later someone's going to think there's something wrong with your head." 

"Something tells me that's more than already happened," Ash remarked. "I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with his head, and I actually saw him come out of the staff." 

"Oh, is that so?" Lucario growled playfully, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Be careful who you call crazy, Ash. You might just regret it."

"Yeah? And who's going to make me?" he asked, sticking his tongue back out at the jackal.

In response, Lucario suddenly picked him up and slung him over his left shoulder. Ash let out a mingled shriek of laughter and protest, trying in vain to free himself from the Aura Pokemon's grasp. Lucario, however, didn't even twitch and simply continued parading Ash around as though he were a doll. The rest of his Pokemon stood by and laughed at the scene, making no move to help him. 

"Say, Pikachu," the jackal remarked casually. "Didn't you say there was a stream somewhere north of here?"

"Don't you dare!" Ash said warningly-it didn't have quite the effect he was going for considering he couldn't stop laughing.  

"Yep," Pikachu confirmed, grinning. "It's about a five-minute walk from here. The water's nice and cool too." 

"Perfect. Looks like you'll be going for a swim, Ash," Lucario said cheerfully, turning and beginning to walk in the direction of the stream.

"No, no, no!" Ash laughed, still struggling to free himself. "Guys, help me!" 

However, the others just grinned back at him. "Sorry, Ash, but you're on your own there," Pidgeotto informed him. 

Ash pouted. "Greninja? What about you?" 

"What, and get taken out by Lucario too?" Greninja asked teasingly. "Sorry, Ash, but even I know better than that." 

"Looks like you're on your own here, kid," Lucario told him, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "Don't worry. It's a nice day for a swim, isn't it?"

"Noooooooo!" he half-shrieked, half-laughed. "Lucario, Lucario, don't! I take it back! I don't think you're crazy!" 

"Much better," the Aura Pokemon replied cheerfully, placing him back down on the ground. 

"You know, if you wanted to prove that you're still sane, that didn't exactly help," Ash told Lucario, quickly scooting away from the jackal in case he changed his mind about tossing him into the stream. Lucario, however, just growled playfully.

Suddenly, there was a groan from Ash's sleeping bag. Turning his head, he saw that Eevee was finally beginning to stir. As he walked over to check on her, she sat up, looking around the makeshift camp.

"Oh! Hi, Ash," Eevee greeted him, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. "I just had the craziest dream! You wouldn't believe it. There was a Lucario who told me that he was seven hundred years old! And he was friends with Lady Rin! Can you believe that? What a crazy dream, huh?" 

"Er...that wasn't a dream, actually," Ash said slowly, shooting Lucario a look. "Lucario is over seven hundred years old and he was friends with Lady Rin...he's right here, you can ask him yourself." 

"Huh?" Eevee looked around, finally spotting Lucario standing behind Ash. "N-no way! You're real? So that dream really wasn't a dream, then?" 

Lucario chuckled lightly. "I do apologize for the shock I gave you earlier. You could say that was my way of entertaining myself, but if you'd like, I'll tell you the full story." 

"I-I think I'd like that," she agreed, still looking rather flabbergasted.

"Very well, then. But this will take a bit of explaining, so I ask that you do not interrupt," he replied. 

"I won't, I promise," Eevee said solemnly. 

Lucario nodded, then asked, "First of all, I trust that you're familiar with the story of Sir Aaron?" When she didn't answer for several moments, he prompted, "Well? Are you?" 

She remained utterly silent. Finally catching on, Lucario laughed and told her, "Alright, you can interrupt me if I've asked you a direct question. So, are you familiar with the story of Sir Aaron?" 

"Yes, of course. I think almost everyone in the world must know it by now," she answered quickly. 

Ash decided not to mention the fact that he hadn't known the full legend when he met Lucario, given his childhood tendency to wander off, fall asleep, or zone out before a story was finished. Greninja had mentioned to Lucario that he had once accidentally called Rota "Rome", and the jackal hadn't stopped teasing him about it for two days straight. 

"True, very true. Well, as you know, Sir Aaron was an Aura Guardian, as well as a knight who served under Lady Rin," Lucario explained. "He was also my mentor and trained me in the ways of using aura so that I, too, would one day become a true Aura Guardian. Now, in order for you to understand what happened, first I need to explain what aura is. Aura is, in a basic sense, the life force of every living creature. And Aura Guardians are special trainers or Pokemon capable of manipulating aura in order to protect others." 

"How do you do that?" Eevee asked, evidently forgetting her promise not to interrupt. 

However, Lucario didn't seem to mind. "There are several different ways. To start with a basic one, the move Aura Sphere is an attack that channels one's aura and forms it into a bright blue sphere. It's a move that my species have been well-known for, although Sir Aaron was able to create an Aura Sphere as well...and so can Ash, as a matter of fact. I don't know if the same holds true for other human Aura Guardians, but I imagine it would. Aura Guardians are also capable of seeing the aura of other living beings, which comes in handy during battles when visibility is limited. And the last one that I'll tell you about for now, as well as the most important one to this story, is the ability to give one's aura to another Pokemon or human in order to heal them or, in extreme cases, save their life."

The fox Pokemon blinked. "So, are you saying that Sir Aaron gave his aura to the Tree of Beginning in order to save the kingdom?" 

"That is correct," he replied. 

"I don't get it, though. What does that have to do with you somehow ending up seven hundred years after your time?" she questioned, tilting her head to the side. 

"I'm getting to that, don't worry. As you'll know from the legend, there was a battle set to take place that would have destroyed the kingdom. I had gone out to see if there was a way to stop the fighting, but the two armies were dead set on attacking," Lucario continued. "They weren't interested in our kingdom, only in destroying each other. We just happened to be caught in the middle. When I realized there was no way to stop them from fighting, I contacted Sir Aaron, and he decided to go to the Tree of Beginning to ask Mew to help him save the kingdom-Mew resides within the Tree. Her life force is what gives the Tree strength, and in turn, the Tree is also the source of Mew's life force. If either one of them were to die, the other would soon follow-but I'm getting off-topic here. Before he left to go to the Tree of Beginning, however, Sir Aaron sealed me within his staff." 

"But why?" Eevee asked, looking shocked. 

"Because of how far the Tree's roots extend, it requires a substantial amount of aura. Choosing to give your aura to the Tree results in almost certain death," he answered. "Sir Aaron knew that if I went with him, I would die alongside him. He chose to spare me that fate and instead sacrificed himself in order to save the kingdom. However, because only a person with the same aura as Sir Aaron would be able to free me from the staff-and even then, only if they were close enough for me to draw enough aura from them in order to escape-I spent seven hundred years asleep in that staff." 

He made no mention of the fact that he had originally believed Sir Aaron to be a traitor, not that Ash had expected him to. While the loss of his friend and mentor didn't weigh on Lucario the way it had during those first few days after their adventure to the Tree of Beginning, he still didn't like to discuss it much.  

Eevee winced sympathetically. "That must have been a shock, waking up after being asleep for so long." 

"It was," Lucario confirmed, wincing at the memory. "To tell you the truth, I didn't even realize it had been so long at first. It felt as though it had only been a few days-or perhaps even just a few hours." 

"I still don't understand one thing, though. You said that only a person with the same aura as Sir Aaron would be able to free you from the staff. Why does that make any difference?" Eevee asked curiously. 

"That's a good question. You see, the staff isn't just any ordinary staff. It was a special one created for Sir Aaron when he became a full Aura Guardian. The jewel that rests on top, the one I was asleep in for seven centuries, is designed so that it will only ever react to his aura signature," the jackal explained. 

"I...I think I get it now," she said slowly, nodding. "So after you woke up and got out, is that when you met Ash and Greninja?" 

"It was, yes, although Greninja was only a Froakie at the time," Lucario replied. Shooting a small smirk at the frog Pokemon, he added, "He was a lot smaller and cuter back then too, I still wonder where it all went." 

Greninja scowled at Lucario. "I resent being called cute, even if you are talking about my pre-evolved form." 

"Too bad," the Aura Pokemon teased him, to which Greninja just rolled his eyes and shook his head. 

"Lucario started training me in using my aura a day after we met," Ash told Eevee, hoping to avoid a fight-even if it was only a playful one-between the two powerhouses of the group. 

"And you've been training for...what was it again? Three years now?" she asked. 

"Almost three years, yes," he confirmed. 

She nodded, then asked, "Are you going to get a staff too when you're done training? Like Sir Aaron?" 

Ash blinked, realizing he hadn't thought about that before. From what he understood, it was common for fully-fledged Aura Guardians to carry them, although he wasn't sure if they had to or they simply chose to. If he had to carry a staff, he supposed he would, although part of him almost hoped he didn't. It seemed as though something that big would tend to get in the way a lot.

"I...I'm not sure, actually," he answered, glancing over at Lucario. "That isn't going to happen for a long time, so I didn't really think about that." 

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," his mentor assured him. 

As Eevee continued to question Lucario about his old life in Cameron Palace, Ash turned to look up at the sky, watching as a flock of Spearow flew overhead. The sun had passed its peak now, and although he was still a bit tired, he had to admit that taking a day of rest had done wonders for his health. And tomorrow, he would finally be able to go back to his usual routine of training, which meant he would be able to throw all of his energy into helping his Pokemon prepare for their upcoming gym battle in Cerulean City. 

Thinking about their upcoming battle made Ash remember meeting Fallon-and Damian, although he did his best to forget about him-in Pewter City before that particular gym battle. With a small pang, he recalled the look of reluctance on her face as she departed from their group to continue traveling with her brother again. Of course, he had faith that he would see her again-but he wondered how long it would be and if she was alright.

Chapter Text

It took another three days of traveling to reach Cerulean City. During that time, Greninja made sure to monitor Ash at every possible moment to make sure he wasn't overworking himself. Although the raven-haired trainer insisted that he was completely back to normal, that didn't stop him from worrying. After living with Ash for three years, he knew better than anyone about the boy's tendency to hide it when he was in pain or feeling ill until he quite literally couldn't anymore. Greninja wouldn't have put it past Ash to pretend to be fine when he was still sick. 

As soon as they arrived at the Pokemon Center, Ash took Pikachu, Pidgeotto, and Eevee to be looked at by Nurse Joy. While they waited for their friends' checkups to be finished, Greninja decided to have a quick sparring match with Lucario. Ash stood off to the side, occasionally guiding Greninja but keeping silent for the most part, allowing the two Pokemon to work off their pent-up energy. At one point during the match, Greninja used Night Slash to repel an Aura Sphere from Lucario; while doing so, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a boy with purple hair walking up to Ash. 

"Those your Pokemon?" the boy asked. Hearing his voice was enough for Greninja to develop an instant dislike for him. His voice was hard, cold, and aloof, and although he couldn't clearly see the boy's expression, Greninja could practically feel his disdain for Ash. 

"Maybe," Ash replied shortly. Judging by his tone, Greninja could tell that he wasn't particularly impressed with the purple-haired trainer either. "What's it to you?" 

Deciding it would be in Ash's best interest to abandon his battle with Lucario for now, Greninja signaled to the Aura Pokemon to stop before walking over to join his friend. The purple-haired boy gave him a slightly appraising look for a split second before turning his attention back to Ash. 

"It's nothing to me. It just seemed odd that a newbie like you would have such powerful Pokemon, that's all," he replied coolly. 

Ash cocked his head to the side. "Aren't you a new trainer too?" 

"No," the boy answered. "I've been on my journey for almost a year now. I'm Paul from Veilstone City in the Sinnoh region. What's your name?" 

"Ash Ketchum. I'm from Pallet Town here in Kanto," the raven-haired boy told him. 

"Pleasure to meet you," Paul said in a tone that suggested it was anything but. "So, Greninja and Lucario are your Pokemon, then? I have to admit, it's impressive that someone like you managed to get Pokemon as strong as they are." 

"Someone like me?" Ash repeated, and Greninja growled at the thinly veiled insult. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" 

Paul shrugged. "Nothing. Just that I don't usually see new trainers with powerful Pokemon. I'd have expected you to have a Pidgey or something like that. Good for you, though. I really don't think anyone should bother with weak Pokemon, you know? It's a waste of time and effort when you could just as easily catch a stronger one and save yourself the extra trouble." 

Oh, how nice. He's one of those trainers, isn't he? Greninja thought to himself, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Beside him, Lucario narrowed his eyes disapprovingly at the purple-haired Sinnoh native. 

Out of all the trainers he had come across, the ones who gave up on their Pokemon because they deemed them to be too weak were among the most intolerable in Greninja's mind, second only to the ones who went out of their way to hurt their Pokemon. Although, judging by what he had seen of Paul so far, he wouldn't have put it past him to do exactly that. The Sinnoh native reminded Greninja far too much of one of his old trainers, a girl named Kate, the daughter of a wealthy businessman and, quite possibly, the one he despised the most out of all the trainers he had gone through in the past. 

Kate had been fifteen years old when he met her, already extremely accomplished as a trainer, having been through the Hoenn, Johto, and Unova leagues and placed at least within the top eight in each conference. When he had first joined her team, initially, Greninja had been thrilled. Not only was it a new beginning, but it seemed as though she knew what she was doing. The Pokemon she had on her spoke highly of her as well, so he thought it would be the start of a new friendship. 

How wrong he had been. 

He hadn't even been on the team for twenty minutes when she decided to work with him in a battle training session. Which would have been all fine and good, except for the fact that she took every opportunity to berate him for one perceived misstep or another. No matter what he did, nothing seemed to be good enough for her. He was too slow, or his attacks weren't strong enough, or his defense wasn't high enough, or she thought he should have known Hydro Pump even though he had only learned Bubble a week ago. Even worse, none of his new teammates made any move to help him. Instead, they had simply stood by and watched as Kate relentlessly verbally assaulted him, tearing down every ounce of his self-esteem (never that high to begin with at the time) in the short yet somehow also impossibly long thirty-minute training session. 

Greninja had stayed on the team for another day before deciding that he couldn't take it anymore and returning to Professor Sycamore's lab. Of course, Kate hadn't bothered to look for him, not that he had expected her to. He still wondered why her Pokemon had spoken so highly of her at first but accepted that it was possible that she at least treated them properly. 

And why wouldn't she? From what he knew, they were the team that had carried her to the top eight in the Hoenn league, the top four in the Johto league, and earned her second place in the Unova league. They were treated with respect because they had made themselves worthy of her respect. The very thought made Greninja seethe with indignation. 

He snapped out of his reverie to hear Ash snap back at Paul, "Oh, so is that what you Sinnoh trainers do, then? Just give up on your Pokemon because you don't think they're good enough for you?" 

"It's what I do," Paul corrected him. "Right now, I've only got Grotle on my team. He's the only one who's proven to me that he has what it takes to win." 

"Huh. Interesting," Ash remarked. 

"Interesting?" Paul repeated, narrowing his eyes. "What's interesting?" 

Ash shrugged. "Well, nothing much. It's just that if every Pokemon you've ever trained was too weak for you except Grotle, are you really sure it's the Pokemon that are the problem? Maybe you're just not a very good trainer." 

Paul's face flushed red as his face twisted in embarrassment and anger. Beside Greninja, Lucario covered his mouth with a paw, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter as he desperately tried to keep his amusement at Ash's verbal jibe from rising to the surface. Greninja, however, showed no such restraint and was laughing heartily, which caused Paul's face to turn even redder. 

"You're one to talk! There's no way a newbie like you could have trained up those Pokemon," he snapped, nodding to Greninja and Lucario. "I'll bet they're not even your Pokemon, huh? Admit it. I bet you stole them from someone!" 

"Actually, Greninja and Lucario have been with me for three years now," Ash retorted. 

Paul sneered at him. "Oh, I see. You're one of those spoiled brats whose dads give them everything they want. That's what happened, right? Your dad knew that you would never amount to anything as a trainer, so he gave you two powerful Pokemon. Yeah. It figures. Of course you can't do anything on your own." 

"My dad is dead, actually," the messy-haired boy replied coldly. 

"Oh, sorry," Paul said, not sounding very sorry at all. "How did he die, then?" 

"I don't know. Why don't you dig up his corpse and ask him yourself?" Ash snapped. 

The purple-haired boy's eyes flashed as he opened his mouth to respond. Fortunately, at that moment, Nurse Joy walked out with a cart containing two Pokeballs and Pikachu, who was sitting up front. As soon as she arrived, the electric mouse leaped onto Ash's shoulder as the boy picked up Eevee and Pidgeotto's Pokeballs, placing them back on his belt. Paul watched the scene silently, a thinly-veiled look of disdain on his face. 

"Bye, then," he sneered. "I'd ask you to have a battle, but it doesn't seem like you'd be worth my time." 

"Yeah, whatever, weirdo," Ash said, rolling his eyes. 

Paul scowled, then turned and strode away from the Pokemon Center. Greninja watched him go, occasionally glancing up at the sky to see if a meteor would suddenly fall from the sky and conveniently land right on top of where the Sinnoh native was standing...

Unfortunately, a few moments later, Paul disappeared from sight without so much as a pebble falling on him. 

Damn it. Couldn't be that lucky, I guess. 

Chapter Text

Very early the next morning, Ash was up and ready to head to the Cerulean gym for his second gym battle. After spending the previous week training almost nonstop, he was confident that his team had what it took to pull out a win. Pikachu's electric attacks were stronger than ever, and Eevee had learned both Swift and Charm which, while they certainly weren't the strongest moves in the world, would be helpful in getting a few guaranteed hits off as well as lowering their opponents' attack. Pidgeotto had made progress as well, replacing Gust with Air Slash. 

The sun still hadn't risen yet, so Ash decided to begin his meditation exercises for the day. Settling down on the floor, he straightened his back and closed his eyes, breathing in and out slowly. As he continued to inhale and exhale, he began to feel the room fade away around him as a sense of peace washed over him. His heart, which had previously been beating rapidly against his chest in anticipation of his upcoming gym battle, slowed to a more steady, rhythmic pace. 

An hour or so into his meditation, he heard the sound of Greninja beginning to stir. Peeking one eye open, Ash saw his frog-ninja Pokemon walk over to the balcony that looked over the Pokemon Center's battlefield, staring out over the edge. Curious as to what he was thinking about, Ash abandoned his meditation and went over to join Greninja. 

"Morning," he greeted the Ninja Pokemon cheerfully. 

"Good morning, Ash," Greninja replied, smiling down at him. "Finished with your meditation already?" 

Ash shrugged. "I've been at it for over an hour, I don't think I need to do much more today. Besides, we've still got our gym battle coming up and everything. I've got way too much energy to just be sitting around." 

"Fair enough," Greninja chuckled. 

"What are you doing up so early anyway?" he asked curiously. "It's only four in the morning. Even Lucario isn't up yet." 

At that, Greninja's expression dimmed slightly. "Ah...nothing much, really. Just thinking about that kid we met yesterday." 

Ash grimaced at the reminder of the unfriendly Sinnoh native. It had only taken a split second for him to dislike the boy. Perhaps that was unfair of him, but there was something about Paul that had felt...off, for lack of a better term, the moment he laid eyes on him. To Ash's utter lack of surprise, Paul had then proceeded to validate his assumptions by not only callously questioning the cause of his father's death but also by advocating for abandoning one's Pokemon. 

And maybe that was just how things were done in Sinnoh-he wouldn't know, he had never been there himself. But Ash couldn't imagine ever abandoning his Pokemon for any reason, especially not for something as trivial as losing a battle every once in a while. He was the trainer, after all. It was his responsibility to make sure that his Pokemon reached their full potential and were happy under his care. It wasn't their responsibility to relentlessly crush every single opponent that crossed their paths and earn him the title of Kanto's champion. 

"Yeah, he was..." Ash trailed off, not sure what word he could use to describe Paul that would be strong enough.  

"I've known trainers like him," Greninja told him. "They don't care about their Pokemon's feelings or if they get hurt or not. All that matters to them is winning matches. And even then, even if you do manage to win all the time, it's still not good enough for them. No matter what, as soon as they find a better Pokemon, they'll throw you out as if you're nothing. Which is probably what most of us are to them anyway." 

"I hate trainers like that. I could never imagine abandoning any of you just because you didn't win a few matches," Ash stated, putting as much disdain into that one four-letter word as he could muster. The very thought of anyone treating their Pokemon in such a way made his blood boil. 

"I know you wouldn't. You'd never be capable of anything like that," the frog Pokemon answered, smiling slightly at him.

"I'll bet Paul and Damian would be great friends, though," he remarked, allowing a sneer to enter his voice. "Assuming that either of them is even capable of making friends, of course." 

Greninja snorted with laughter, then frowned. "Speaking of Damian, I wonder how Fallon's doing. I hope she's still alright. She didn't look too happy when she had to go back to him, did she?" 

"No, she didn't," Ash agreed, letting out a sigh. "Then again, who would be if they had to travel with him of all people?" 

"I wish there was more we could do to help her," Greninja murmured. "Why do you think she went back to him anyway? I know she said her parents wanted them to travel together, but..." 

That question had been weighing on Ash's mind as well. Of course, it was possible that Damian would rat her out to their parents if she chose to leave him, but from what he understood, she still had a good relationship with them. She had always spoken highly of them during the few times they had come up in conversation. At the very least, the thought of them doing anything to hurt her just because she didn't want to travel with her brother anymore seemed extremely unlikely. 

Then again, perhaps it was because she thought so highly of her parents that she had chosen to stay with Damian. Perhaps she simply didn't want to disappoint them. Somehow, though, Ash wasn't sure if that sounded better or worse than the other option. 

If Fallon valued her parents' approval, that was one thing. Ash could empathize with that; he valued his mother's approval as well, and, although they weren't his parents, his Pokemon's as well. But it was concerning that she seemed to think that not disappointing her parents mattered more than whether she was happy or not.

Two hours later, Greninja was once again sitting in the stands, watching as Ash battled Misty Waterflower for the Cerulean gym badge. Pikachu had made quick work of Misty's first Pokemon, a Starmie, knocking them out with a Thunder followed by a Quick Attack. In what Greninja assumed was the interest of fairness or perhaps just desire to keep the battle going a little longer, Ash had chosen to swap out Pikachu for Eevee in the second round against Staryu. 

She was doing well for herself too, Greninja thought as he watched Eevee gracefully dodge a Water Gun from Staryu. Her strength wasn't quite at the level of him or Lucario or even of Pikachu and Pidgeotto, but she was quick and clever. Staryu looked utterly hapless as Eevee danced and twirled around them-or at least Greninja assumed they would if they'd actually had a face. 

"Stay calm, Staryu! Use Water Gun!" Misty called out frantically. 

"Dodge and use Swift, Eevee!" Ash countered. 

Eevee rolled out of the way as Staryu fired another jet of water toward her before leaping back up to her feet, sending a flurry of stars in the Star Shape Pokemon's direction. Unable to dodge, Staryu was sent flying past Misty, slamming hard into the wall. Miraculously, they managed to get back up, but the red jewel on their center was blinking rapidly, indicating that they were close to collapsing. 

"Staryu!" Misty cried out, worry edging her voice. 

"Eevee's doing well," Lucario remarked. 

"She is," Greninja agreed, feeling a surge of pride for the newest member of their family. "One more move should be enough to win the battle." 

Sure enough, at that moment, Ash ordered another Swift from Eevee. Knowing that there was no hope of dodging the attack, Misty attempted to counter by having Staryu use Protect. Unfortunately for her, Staryu barely had enough strength to remain standing, let alone use any sort of move, defensive or otherwise. Eevee's attack struck them dead on, sending them flying into the wall once more. This time, they didn't get back up. 

"Staryu is unable to battle! Eevee wins!" one of Misty's sisters-Lily, Greninja thought her name might have been-announced. "Which means the victory goes to the challenger, Ash!"

Misty sighed, but smiled as she recalled Staryu to their Pokeball. "Thanks for all your hard work, Staryu. You've earned a good rest."  

"Yes!" Greninja cheered. 

"You did it, Eevee!" Ash exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with excitement. 

"I did it! I won my first gym battle!" Eevee said happily. 

Ash beamed at her and knelt down, reaching over and petting her behind her ears. "You were amazing today, Eevee. And you were too, Pikachu. I couldn't have asked for better from either of you." 

"Aw. Thanks, Ash," Pikachu said cheerfully. 

Eevee smiled up at Ash as well, her eyes gleaming with pride and happiness. Then, without warning, her body was enveloped in a bright silver light. As Greninja watched in awe, her body seemed to lengthen, the fur around her neck disappearing to be replaced by what appeared to be a bow. A second bow appeared on her right ear, and four feelers formed as well, two attached to her ears and the other two attached to the bow around her neck. Her ears lengthened as well before the light finally faded, revealing that Eevee-no, Sylveon now-had lost her brown fur coloring in favor of mostly white with pink and blue highlights. 

"Sylveon," Ash breathed, his eyes wide. Then his face broke into a delighted smile. "You evolved! That's so awesome!" 

"I thought it was time," Sylveon replied, looking pleased with herself. 

"I see what Ash meant now about her species. She is very pretty," Lucario remarked to Greninja, who nodded in agreement. "Not that she wasn't already before, of course." 

Greninja leaped down from the stands with the Aura Pokemon following close behind as Misty and her sisters walked over to Ash, Sylveon, and Pikachu. Misty was carrying the Cascade Badge with her, but the four Waterflower sisters' attention was entirely fixated on Sylveon. Not that Ash seemed to mind; he himself still seemed too excited over Sylveon's evolution to realize that he still needed to take his badge. 

"That's, like, so awesome," Daisy exclaimed. "I've like, never seen a Sylveon in real life before!" 

"Me neither," Misty agreed. "She's so cute, Ash." 

"She is," Ash said proudly, reaching out and petting Sylveon, who crooned happily, leaning into the gentle touch. Then his eyes widened. "Oh! That reminds me..." 

Pulling out his Pokedex, he aimed it at the newly evolved fairy-type. As he pressed a button on the pocket machine, a robotic voice sounded from the speakers. 

"Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokemon, and the evolved form of Eevee," the Pokedex stated. "Sylveon is a fairy-type. Once a fight breaks out, it will unflinchingly charge at dragon Pokemon that are much larger than itself. Wrapping the ribbonlike feelers around its trainer's arms allows it to sense its trainer's feelings. This Sylveon is female and has the ability Cute Charm. Its known moves are Swift, Fairy Wind, Shadow Ball, and Charm." 

"Whoa. Those are some awesome moves!" Ash exclaimed. 

"Thank you," Sylveon replied, blushing. 

"I should really get you and Pikachu looked at, but as soon as we're done, let's do a bit of training and test out those new moves, yeah?" he suggested. Sylveon smiled in agreement and nodded, and he recalled her to her Pokeball. 

Greninja couldn't help feeling amused that Ash seemed to be more excited about the prospect of training with Sylveon than about the fact that he had just won his second gym battle. Indeed, the messy-haired boy hadn't once made mention of his victory. He wondered how long it would take for the realization to finally hit Ash. 

He got his answer a moment later when Ash jumped back to his feet, slinging his backpack that Lucario had brought over to him on his shoulder. "Thanks a lot for the battle, Misty! Let's meet up again sometime and have another one, yeah?" 

"Definitely," Misty agreed instantly.

Ash grinned and turned to leave, only for the young redhead to call out, "Ah, Ash, aren't you forgetting something?" 

"Huh?" Ash blinked, turning around again. "I am?" 

I knew it, Greninja thought in amusement. Beside him, Lucario looked about ready to burst out laughing. 

Misty smiled and shook her head, walking over to Ash and handing him a teardrop-shaped badge. "Here. As proof of your victory here at the Cerulean gym, please accept this Cascade Badge." 

"Oh yeah," Ash chuckled sheepishly, blushing slightly. "I guess I got a little distracted over Eevee evolving. Thanks, Misty." 

"No problem, Ash," the Cerulean gym leader assured him. "Now, go out there and win the Pokemon league!" 

"We'll do our best," he promised. 

As they were turning to leave the gym, however, at that moment, the tent flap swung open to reveal the same purple-haired boy from the previous day. Greninja rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to bang his head against the wall. And the day had been going so well too...

"My name is Paul. I challenge you to a gym battle," the Sinnoh native stated, still in the same cold, disdainful voice. Catching sight of Ash, he added, "Oh, it's you again. So did your Pokemon manage to pull off the win after all?" 

Instead of responding directly, Ash casually placed his Cascade Badge inside his case before pocketing it, walking deliberately toward the exit. As he was about to pass Paul, he stopped suddenly, gave the purple-haired trainer a look that suggested he was something extremely slimy he had found on the bottom of his shoe, and said, very clearly, "Ew." 

Chapter Text

After an intense training session with Sylveon, Ash was more than ready to hit the road again. Not that Cerulean City wasn't an incredible place, but he preferred to stay on the move rather than remaining in one city for too long. The way he saw it, the more time he spent traveling, the more opportunities he would have to explore the world. Of course, this was probably slightly flawed logic considering the world wasn't actually going anywhere, but Ash's almost-eleven-year-old brain didn't care to comprehend this. 

Unfortunately, it seemed that his Pokemon-namely Greninja and Lucario-had other plans. Before Ash could bolt out the doors to the Pokemon Center, he was stopped as Greninja grabbed his arm, effectively holding him in place. He paused and turned around, waiting for the frog Pokemon to let go of him, but his grip remained as firm as ever. 

"What's the matter?" Ash asked, blinking in confusion. He had checked and double-checked to make sure he had everything on him, so he couldn't imagine why Greninja was stopping him now. "Is something wrong? I didn't forget anything, did I?" 

"No, you didn't. But Lucario and I talked, and we thought it would be a good idea for you to talk to Nurse Joy," Greninja informed him. 

"What? Why?" he asked, startled. 

"After what happened last week, we want to make sure you're not getting sick. Lucario asked Nurse Joy to run some tests on you," the frog Pokemon answered. 

"Oh. But I feel fine," Ash argued back, frowning. 

"It's mostly just to be safe. Since we're going to be away from civilization for a while, we want to make sure that you're healthy before we set out again," Lucario explained, and Ash found that he couldn't exactly argue with that logic. "Don't worry, it shouldn't take too long." 

Pikachu frowned. "I thought Nurse Joy only worked on Pokemon?" 

"That's generally true, yes. But she's also qualified to treat humans," Greninja answered. 

Well, it didn't look as though they were going to change their minds, so with a sigh, Ash resigned himself to his fate. While he loved them dearly, Greninja and Lucario's overprotectiveness was getting a bit out of hand. He just couldn't see why it was necessary for him to have a checkup with Nurse Joy. It wasn't as though he had actually fallen ill, right? All he had really needed was one day of rest. His energy levels were back to normal for the most part, and he was able to go through his daily routine without any issue. 

"Hey, so what was the deal with you and that kid with the purple hair earlier?" Pikachu asked suddenly, snapping him out of his thoughts. "You looked like you didn't like him much. What's that all about?" 

"Oh, Paul?" Ash snorted. "You're right, I don't like him." 

"What did he do?" the electric mouse inquired. 

"Put it this way. If he and Damian ever met, they'd probably be best friends," he answered grimly. 

"He's one of those trainers who believes Pokemon should be abandoned for not winning enough battles," Lucario interjected, a dark note entering his voice. 

Pikachu grimaced. "Yeah, I can see why you don't like him now." 

"And that's not all he did," Greninja added, growling slightly. "The stupid, pathetic little brat also had the nerve to pester Ash about his father's death." 

"He did what?!" Pikachu exclaimed, his eyes wide with indignation. 

"Yeah. Apparently, he thought I was one of those rich, spoiled kids whose dads give them everything they want," Ash told the electric-type, rolling his eyes. "When I told him that my dad was dead, he thought it would be cool to ask how he died." 

"Ash had a pretty great comeback, though," Greninja said, grinning over at the raven-haired trainer. 

"Really? What was it?" Pikachu asked eagerly. 

Ash laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Nothing much. I just told him that if he wanted to know how my dad died, he could dig up his corpse and ask him himself." 

Pikachu nearly fell over laughing. Even Greninja and Lucario, who had been there the first time, bore identical smirks of amusement. Perhaps it wasn't the funniest comeback in the world, but it had effectively put Paul in his place, so that was more than enough reason to laugh in Ash's opinion. 

Nearly seven years had passed since his father's death, since that fateful day in the garden. Although his absence no longer pained him the way it once had, that didn't mean Ash wanted to discuss what happened with any passing stranger. He especially didn't want to discuss it with someone like Paul, who barely seemed capable of human emotion as it was. Ash very much doubted whether Paul would be able to feel anything if someone he cared about died-or, for that matter, whether he actually had someone he cared about. 

"You were pretty young when your dad passed away, weren't you?" Pikachu asked. 

"Yeah. Four years old," Ash answered, letting out a sigh. "Of course, I was too young to really understand what was going on at the time. It wasn't until I was six that I even really knew what death meant. But I always knew that he was gone even though I didn't realize what it really meant to be gone forever." 

"I'm sorry, Ash," Greninja said softly, reaching over and placing an arm around his shoulders. 

"It's alright. I've had almost seven years to get used to it," he said with a shrug, leaning into the comforting touch all the same. 

It took another fifteen minutes of waiting before Nurse Joy was finally ready for him. As soon as his name was called, Ash followed the pink-haired nurse to a room in the back of the Pokemon Center. To his surprise, it looked exactly like the rooms he had visited during doctor visits for his yearly vaccinations. There was even a bin filled with toys and children's books, as well as a jar of lollipops for smaller children after their shots. 

"Whoa! What's all this doing here?" he exclaimed. 

"This is the room where I treat any trainers who come in sick or injured and can't get to the hospital," Nurse Joy explained, smiling kindly at him. "It's not much, but it gets the job done. Now, I'm sure you'll want to get back to traveling soon, so let's get started, shall we?" 

Ash nodded. "Will this take long?" 

"Not at all. I just need to check your temperature and your heart rate, and that should be enough for me," the pink-haired woman assured him. 

"Don't worry, Ash. We'll still be able to get a good few hours of traveling in when this is all over," Greninja said soothingly, patting him gently on the shoulder that wasn't already occupied by Pikachu. 

"Alright now, Ash. Do you mind lifting your bangs out of the way so I can take your temperature?" Nurse Joy requested. 

Ash did as he was asked, allowing her to place the thermometer just an inch or so away from his forehead. For a split second, there was nothing but silence before the thermometer suddenly let out a long, soft beeping noise, indicating that it had made a successful reading. Pulling it away from his forehead, she looked down at the display, nodding to herself and making a note on her clipboard. 

"Temperature looks good. Ninety-eight degrees," she announced. "Now, I just need to check your heartbeat." 

Fortunately, the second test only took about two minutes at most by Ash's estimation. Once he was done, Nurse Joy continued scribbling down notes on her clipboard. Out of curiosity, he tried to read it to see what they said, but her handwriting was either completely ineligible or he just didn't know how to read upside-down. 

"Well, everything looks good," Nurse Joy remarked, turning back to Ash. "I don't believe you're ill. Just make sure to keep taking care of yourself, alright?" 

"I will," Ash promised, already on his feet and bolting toward the door. "Thanks, Nurse Joy! See you again next time!" 

"Ash, wait! Slow down! You don't want to tire yourself out too quickly!" Greninja called after him. "Arceus above, how does a kid with such short legs move so quickly?" 

But Ash had no intention of slowing down. Instead, he put on a burst of speed, racing past several bemused trainers as he raced out of the Pokemon Center. Why would he ever slow down now when he was feeling better than ever? There were more adventures to be had, more corners of the world to be explored, and they were all right at his fingertips. All he had to do was keep going. 

Chapter Text

"Come on, everyone, hurry up! I want to get to Vermillion City for our next gym battle!" Ash called over his shoulder, racing through the forest. 

"Ash, slow down! We still have at least two days of traveling left!" Lucario shouted after him. "You're going to tire yourself out if you keep running around like that!" 

Rather than heeding the Aura Pokemon's advice, however, Ash simply laughed and continued on his way. It was clear that no matter what, he had no intention of slowing down whatsoever. He hadn't stopped running since they had packed up their camp that morning, which, judging by the position of the sun, had been at least two hours ago. Despite his worry over Ash's apparent lack of concern for his well-being, Greninja couldn't help being slightly impressed. Clearly, the training Lucario had put him through to strengthen his endurance was working. 

Still, he could save admiring his best friend's stamina for later. If Ash didn't slow down soon, he was going to collapse again. Putting on a burst of speed, Greninja sprinted forward, catching up to Ash just as the raven-haired boy stumbled over a fallen branch. He staggered forward and dropped down onto one knee, his shoulders heaving as he gasped for air. 

"Are you okay?" Greninja asked worriedly, bending over to check on his trainer. 

"Yeah...yeah, I'm okay," Ash panted as he finally got his breathing back under control. He shook his head. "Whoa. That was something else." 

Lucario came to a halt beside Greninja, his arms folded and a look of mingled exasperation and amusement on his face. "And this is why we told you that you needed to slow down once in a while." 

Ash rolled his eyes. "You know I'm fine, right? I'm not about to pass out or anything. It's going to take a lot more than that to get me down." 

But when he tried to stand up again, his legs gave out almost immediately. He was only kept from falling over again by Greninja catching him around the middle. The raven-haired boy took a few more deep breaths before straightening up again, nodding gratefully to Greninja. His legs wobbled slightly, but fortunately, he managed to remain standing this time. Even so, Greninja didn't release his grip on Ash, not wanting to risk him collapsing again. 

"Are you sure you're okay, Ash?" Greninja pressed him 

"Yeah. My legs do kind of feel like jelly, though," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I did push myself a little harder than I thought." 

"You think?" Pikachu snarked, though his eyes betrayed his worry for the messy-haired boy.

"We should find a place to stop and rest for a bit," Lucario decided, his eyes filled with concern. "Just for a couple of hours until you get your strength back." 

It was a mark of how tired Ash must have been that he didn't argue. Instead, he simply nodded, allowing Greninja to guide him through the forest as they searched for a suitable place to rest. As they walked, Greninja could feel Ash's heart pounding against his chest and was startled by how rapidly it was beating. He knew Ash had been running hard for quite some time, but should it have been beating this quickly? 

Eventually, however, it began to slow, and Greninja found himself relaxing. Perhaps he was just letting his worry get the best of him. At the end of the day, Ash was still young and strong. Running all the time might tire him out, but it wouldn't do anything more than that, right? There shouldn't have been anything to worry about. 

Suddenly, the group came to a halt as they found their path blocked by a Bulbasaur. The small grass-type growled menacingly at Ash, his vines swaying back and forth as though threatening to strike the raven-haired child. Greninja narrowed his eyes at Bulbasaur as Ash stared back, affronted and more than a little bewildered. 

"Get out of here, human! You're not welcome here!" Bulbasaur snarled. 

"What? Why?" Ash asked, clearly stunned. 

"This place is for Pokemon only! No humans are permitted beyond this point," the grass-type snapped, either not realizing or not caring that Ash had been able to understand him. "Leave at once or I will make you." 

"What do you mean? This is just some dumb forest," Ash scoffed. "I don't see any sign anywhere that says I'm not allowed to be here. Besides, we're not staying anyway. We just need to pass through so we can get to Vermillion City." 

That was the wrong thing to say. Far from being appeased, Bulbasaur's eyes flashed as he lashed out at Ash with Vine Whip. Before he could strike, however, Greninja snatched the vines out of the air, spinning the dinosaur-like Pokemon around before sending him bodily into a tree. As he lay there, stunned, Lucario's eyes flashed blue as he lifted Bulbasaur into the air with Psychic. Bulbasaur struggled as he tried to free himself, but Lucario's hold remained firm 

"Listen and listen well, you stupid weed," Greninja hissed, walking up to stand beside the Aura Pokemon. "I don't know what your problem with humans is, but leave Ash out of it. He hasn't done anything to harm you or this forest-or any of the Pokemon living around here." 

"That's what you think! Humans are all the same! Can't trust any of them!" Bulbasaur growled, still fighting to free himself. 

"I think I would know better than you considering I've been with Ash this whole time," Greninja snapped back. 

"Take this as a warning. The next time you choose to attack Ash, you'll be lucky if you can walk at all afterward," Lucario snarled. 

"What on earth do you think you're doing?!" 

Spinning around, Greninja saw a young woman with medium-length blue hair dressed in overalls rushing toward them. Her eyes were alight with righteous anger, which immediately sent a thrill of indignation through Greninja. If she was who he thought she was, then she had a lot of explaining to do. 

"What are you doing?" the woman repeated, glaring at Ash. "Tell your Pokemon to release Bulbasaur at once!" 

Ash shrugged. "Fine, if you say so. Hey, Lucario, can you put Bulbasaur down?" 

"Certainly," Lucario replied, giving the woman a mock salute before dropping the grass-type unceremoniously onto the ground. 

"What was that for? I'll give you five seconds to explain why you attacked Bulbasaur!" the blue-haired woman snapped. 

"Really? Well, in that case, I'll give you five seconds to explain why your Bulbasaur tried to attack me for no reason!" Ash shot back. 

"That didn't look like no reason to me," she sneered. 

"Is that so? Then what would you say if we told you that we were just trying to pass through this forest to get to Vermillion City when your Bulbasaur stopped us and tried to force Ash to turn back?" Lucario asked, his eyes flashing. At the sound of his voice, the woman's head snapped toward him. 

"Y-you can talk?" she exclaimed. 

Lucario rolled his eyes. "Yes, I can talk. Brilliant observation. Now answer the question." 

She stared at him for a few more minutes before finally managing to collect herself. "Well, then you shouldn't have been trespassing. If you had just turned around, then Bulbasaur wouldn't have felt the need to attack." 

"Trespassing on what?" Ash asked, looking as exasperated as Greninja felt. "This is just some stupid forest! It doesn't belong to anyone, and I don't see any signs anywhere saying that walking through here is a crime." 

"This place isn't just a forest. It's a village where I treat sick and injured Pokemon," the woman explained. "The reason you haven't seen any signs is that I want to avoid an overflow of trainers coming in and trying to catch the Pokemon living here." 

"Right. This is the stupidest village I've ever seen, then," the raven-haired boy snarked. "Who are you kidding? There's no village here! It's just a bunch of trees!" 

Her eyes flashed angrily. "I'm going to ask that you leave us at once." 

"Sure, sure," Ash said, rolling his eyes. "For your information, I wasn't even going to catch any Pokemon. We just needed to pass through to get to Vermillion City. Maybe you could explain that to Bulbasaur, though you'll probably have to use a lot of pictures and small words for him to be able to understand." 

With that last parting shot, he turned around, walking past Bulbasaur and continuing down the path. Greninja followed after him, eager to get away from the woman and her strange Bulbasaur. He wasn't sure if the whole "hidden village" thing was just a game she had thought up as an excuse to attack random passersby, but he wasn't about to stick around and find out. Hopefully, this experience would teach her to control her Pokemon a little better in the future. 

"What a weirdo," Ash muttered. Greninja noted happily that he was able to walk without support now. "Hidden village, yeah right. Since when does a forest count as a village? 

"Well, she did say it was hidden," Pikachu pointed out fairly. 

"Hidden. Yeah, more like nonexistent," Lucario sneered. 

"Besides, I could sense other Pokemon in the area, but none of them were sick or injured," the raven-haired boy added, and Lucario nodded in agreement. 

"Let's keep moving for a bit longer. We don't want to risk running into that woman or Bulbasaur again," the Aura Pokemon suggested. 

That was more than fine as far as Greninja was concerned. All he wanted was for the next few hours to pass in peace. It had already been a long day, and it wasn't even time for lunch yet. If he ever had to see that woman and her Bulbasaur again, it would be too soon. 

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side in this case. They hadn't even been walking for five minutes when Ash suddenly let out an exasperated groan, spinning around and glaring at a bush about twenty feet behind them. 

"You can come out now," he said irritably. "I know you're there, so there's no point in hiding!" 

Greninja glanced between his best friend and the bush, utterly bewildered. What-or rather, who-could Ash have been talking to? His confusion quickly changed to annoyance, however, when an all-too-familiar frog dinosaur stepped out. 

"You!" he snarled, feeling his temper flare. "What are you still doing here? We're leaving your pathetic little village, isn't that enough for you? Why are you still following us?" 

"Melanie sent me to make sure you keep your word. Everyone knows you can't trust a trainer and their Pokemon to keep their promises," Bulbasaur growled back, glaring at Ash. "If I hadn't followed you, I'll bet you'd have turned right around and tried to catch one of the Pokemon from the village. 

Ash rolled his eyes. "Again with the hidden village? There's nothing there! Why can't you find some other game to play?" 

"Game?" Bulbasaur repeated, now looking highly offended. "For your information, kid-" 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, I don't care," the boy interrupted. "Look, we were on our way out anyway, so you can stop following us now. Go tell Melody you did your job." 

"Melanie," the grass-type corrected him, seemingly out of habit. "And nice try, but you're not getting away that easily. I know what you humans are like, Ash. So I'll be watching your every move until I see once and for all that you're out of our way."

"Whatever. Come on, Greninja, Lucario, let's go. If Bulbasaur wants to follow us like an idiot, let him. It's not like he can stick around forever, right?" Ash sighed. 

It was jarring for Greninja to hear Ash speak about a Pokemon with such distaste. In all the years he had known him, he had never seen Ash treat Pokemon with anything but kindness. All of the Pokemon in Viridian Forest seemed to adore him, and he was friends with most of the Pokemon at Professor Oak's ranch. Then again, he couldn't deny that Bulbasaur had more than earned Ash's dislike. 

Bulbasaur narrowed his eyes. "If you think-" 

Finally having had enough, Greninja fired an Ice Beam at the Kantonian grass-type, effectively freezing him in place. He glared furiously at Greninja, but being frozen in a block of ice was unable to retaliate. Ash, Greninja noted, looked a bit uncomfortable but did not move to defend Bulbasaur as he normally would have. Pikachu wasn't even giving the grass-type the time of day. And Lucario, always the noble and just one, simply stared down at Bulbasaur, looking utterly unimpressed. 

Well, he should have seen it coming, Greninja reasoned. If getting attacked by Lucario's Psychic wasn't enough to teach Bulbasaur a lesson the first time, perhaps being turned into a Pokemon popsicle would. Anyone who wanted to mess with Ash would have to go through them first. Besides, it wasn't as though they had killed him or even seriously injured him. He would be fine as soon as Melanie found him. 

"Come on, Ash. Let's get out of here before he thaws out," he decided. 

Ash nodded, then frowned over at Bulbasaur. "Er...he's going to be okay, right?" 

"He'll be fine. We're not far from where we met Melanie. She'll come looking for him shortly, I'm sure," Lucario assured him. "In the meantime, it's more important that we get out of here and as far away from this...hidden village...as possible." 

"You don't have to ask me twice," Greninja remarked. 

It was a shame, really, he thought to himself. All things considered, Bulbasaur seemed to be a tough, spirited Pokemon. Perhaps if they had met under different circumstances, they could have all been friends. 

On second thought, there was no way that was true.

Bulbasaur was fuming. 

As if trespassing on his village wasn't enough, the boy had also had the nerve to insult Melanie and allowed both Greninja and Lucario to attack him. It had taken over half an hour for Bulbasaur to thaw out of the ice, but as soon as he was free, he had immediately stormed off in the direction he had seen Ash and his Pokemon go off in. He knew that what he was doing was risky, especially given that Greninja and Lucario were clearly still angry with him, but he didn't care. One way or another, he was going to teach the human a lesson he wouldn't forget for a long time. 

"Tch...humans. Can't trust a single one of them," he muttered to himself. 

The logical part of Bulbasaur's mind told him that Ash hadn't actually done anything to any of the Pokemon in the village. He had, as he had stated himself, simply been passing through. But he quickly brushed the thought aside. He knew what humans were like. In all likelihood, it had just been a ploy to get Bulbasaur to let his guard down so he could sneak around and capture one of the village's Pokemon. 

He conveniently ignored the voice in his head telling him that Ash was much too young to have thought of such an elaborate plan. 

Maybe he wasn't being entirely fair, but Bulbasaur didn't much care about that. He had seen all too many times the effects left behind by trainers who abused, neglected, or abandoned their Pokemon. They were the Pokemon he had sworn to protect inside the village, after all. While all of them recovered to some extent, many of them remained scarred for life, both in a physical and an emotional sense. If getting knocked around, frozen solid, and shouted at by a small boy was what it took to protect them, then Bulbasaur would gladly go through all of that and more in a heartbeat. 

It didn't take long to find Ash and his Pokemon again. They had set up a small camp about two miles away from the village, so by all intents and purposes, they had kept their promise about leaving. Bulbasaur hovered in the shadows, debating whether or not to turn back. 

Then he shook his head. He couldn't afford to abandon his plan now. The Pokemon at the village still needed him. They were counting on him to protect them, and he would make sure he kept his promise no matter what he had to do. 

Still, he remained still for a few more moments. His two previous encounters with the boy and his Pokemon had taught him not to go charging in wildly. The last thing he needed was to be turned into a Pokemon popsicle again. 

Luckily for him, they didn't appear to have noticed his presence yet. Bulbasaur watched silently as Ash pulled two more Pokeballs off his belt, releasing two more Pokemon from inside. The first he recognized as a Pidgeotto, but try as he might, he couldn't put a name to the second one. She shared enough physical characteristics with an Eevee that she was most likely the evolved form of one, but she wasn't any of the ones that he recognized. 

Maybe she comes from another region?

As he was pondering over this question, the strange-looking Pokemon walked up to Ash, crooning softly. Ash smiled down at her and reached out to pet her gently behind the ears. She leaned into his touch, a contented smile on her face. Pidgeotto did the same, and Ash reached over to pet her as well. 

Bulbasaur stared in shock. What was going on?

"Hi there, Sylveon, Pidgeotto. Had a good day so far?" Ash asked softly. 

"It's been great! Nice and peaceful," Sylveon answered. 

"That's good to know," the messy-haired trainer said, grinning. "I'll bet you're hungry now though, yeah? Don't worry, I'm about to get food ready for all of you." 

He walked back over to his bag, setting it down and pulling out several food bowls that he filled up with Pokechow and a few treats that Bulbasaur didn't recognize. Even from where he stood, however, he could still taste their heavenly aroma. The jackal-Lucario, Bulbasaur was fairly certain-didn't have a bowl of his own but chose instead to pick a few berries off a nearby bush...as well as a chocolate bar from Ash's bag. 

Ash rolled his eyes, but the smile on his face was visible for everyone to see. "Really, Lucario?" 

"I did tell you to be better at hiding it next time, didn't I?" Lucario teased him, taking a bite out of the sweet. "Mm...raspberry. Not a bad choice, though I'd go for the black cherry-flavored bar next time." 

"Hey, the raspberry one is my favorite. If you want to get black cherry-flavored chocolate, you can buy it yourself next time," Ash complained. 

"With what money, exactly?" the jackal drawled. 

The raven-haired boy paused, then corrected himself, "Fine. Next time, you can pick out a black cherry-flavored chocolate bar and I'll buy it." 

"I'll take you up on that," Lucario replied cheerfully, smirking. 

Greninja shook his head, leaning onto his side from his position next to Ash. "I still can't believe that your biggest weakness is chocolate of all things." 

What's going on here?

This wasn't how things were supposed to be. Humans were supposed to be cruel and self-centered, treating their Pokemon as if they were nothing more than tools to be used in battle. Yet here Ash was, smiling and laughing with his Pokemon as if they were friends...as if they were equals. Despite his complaining, he showed no real sign of anger or annoyance over Lucario stealing his chocolate bar, and he put their needs before his own. Bulbasaur noticed that all of the Pokemon were eating happily while Ash had yet to take any food for himself. 

He couldn't take it any longer. Abandoning all pretense of caution, Bulbasaur burst into the clearing, drawing everyone's attention onto himself. All at once, the laughter in their eyes disappeared to be replaced by anger and disdain. 

"Not you again!" Greninja groaned, glaring down at him. "Why can't you just leave us alone? Haven't you caused enough trouble for us today?" 

"It's okay, Greninja," Ash sighed. Turning to look at Bulbasaur, he added wearily, "Look, I'm sorry if we're still in the...hidden village or whatever, but we've just set up camp and we're not going to be traveling again for at least a couple of hours. I promise I'm not going to bother any of the Pokemon here, so can you please just go away? This is getting really old." 

"That's not why I'm here," Bulbasaur defended himself, ignoring the fact that it was, in fact, exactly why he was there. 

"Then why are you here?" the Pikachu atop the boy's shoulder demanded. 

Instead of answering directly, Bulbasaur turned back to Ash. "Why do you treat your Pokemon the way you do?" 

Ash blinked, looking utterly bewildered now. "What do you mean? There's nothing wrong with the way I treat them. Look at them. Do they look unhappy to you?" 

"That's the point. Why do you treat them with such kindness and respect?" the grass-type elaborated. 

"Well, why not?" Ash looked, if possible, even more confused. "They're my friends. Aren't friends supposed to be kind to each other?" 

That was certainly a new one. In all his life, Bulbasaur had never known a human to refer to Pokemon as his friends. He scanned Ash's face, looking for any hint of insincerity but found none whatsoever. The boy was telling the truth; he did consider his Pokemon to be his friends. 

"But...you're a human," Bulbasaur stated, his mind still refusing to comprehend the way his world had just been tilted on its axis. 

"I am," the dark-haired boy agreed. 

"You're a human. And humans can't be trusted. Humans don't think Pokemon are their friends," he insisted. 

"Arceus above, help me. Here we go again," Greninja muttered. 

Rather than rising to the bait, however, Ash just tilted his head to the side and frowned. "I don't get it...is Melanie not human or something, then?" 

"What? Of course, she is! What are you talking about?" Bulbasaur asked, utterly bewildered. 

"If you think all humans are so bad, then why do you hang around her so much?" he pointed out. 

"Yes, well...she's an exception," Bulbasaur defended himself. "She's proven that she can be trusted." 

"How? By sending you out to attack any trainer that happens to walk through the forest?" Lucario deadpanned. 

"What makes you think you know everything about humans anyway? You live in the middle of a forest," Ash challenged him. 

"Excuse me? In case you've forgotten, your Greninja and Lucario attacked me!" he snapped. 

"I didn't tell them to. They were only defending me. Besides, you were the one who attacked me first," the raven-haired trainer argued back. "And you were the one who refused to let things go even after we had already left." 

Bulbasaur opened his mouth to argue but paused as he realized that Ash was right. He was the one who had attacked first, and while Greninja and Lucario had both attacked him, he couldn't recall Ash ever asking them to do so. And from what he had seen, the boy wasn't interested in harming any of the Pokemon in the village. True, he had been trespassing, but the village was a well-kept secret. Maybe Ash truly hadn't been aware of its existence. 

"Alright," he sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry." 

Ash studied him for a few moments, then smiled brightly. "It's okay! I'm sorry too for, you know, calling you and your friend stupid and everything." 

Bulbasaur dipped his head in acknowlegement, watching in slight bemusement as Ash began rummaging through his bag. After a few moments, he pulled out a tin of Pokemon treats. He shook a few out onto his palm and held them out to Bulbasaur. 

"Here you go! These are some Pokemon treats my mom taught me how to make especially for grass-types," Ash said happily. "And they're made with berries, so they can make you feel better too!" 

Slowly, Bulbasaur stepped forward, sniffing cautiously at the treats. At once, he felt as though he were floating on cloud nine as the scent of his favorite berries washed over him. Before he knew it, he had gobbled up every last treat in Ash's hand. As he swallowed the last mouthful, he smiled contentedly at the boy. 

"That was incredible! And you said your mom taught you how to make this?" he asked in amazement. If humans could create something so delicious, then perhaps at least some of them weren't as bad as he had thought. 

"She did," Ash confirmed, grinning. "Glad you enjoyed it." 

Bulbasaur opened his mouth to respond when a sudden realization hit him. "Wait a minute! How can you understand me?" 

At that, Ash and his Pokemon all laughed. "I was wondering when you would ask that. Lucario's teaching me how to become an Aura Guardian. I can use my aura to understand Pokemon speech now." 

Now he was impressed. Although he didn't know much about Aura Guardians, he had heard enough stories to know that they were very highly respected not only by other trainers but by Pokemon as well. The most popular story among the Pokemon back at the village was about an Aura Guardian, one by the name of Sir Aaron. If Ash was training to become one, that spoke volumes about his abilities. 

"Wow," Bulbasaur said finally. "That's impressive. How long have you been training?" 

"Almost three years now," Ash told him. 

Three years...so he must have been extremely dedicated to his training, then. Bulbsaur felt his opinion of Ash increase ever so slightly. Becoming an Aura Guardian was obviously important to him if he was willing to dedicate so much time to training at such a young age. 

"Is that your goal, then? To become an Aura Guardian?" he asked curiously. 

"It's one of them, yeah," Ash agreed. 

"One of them?" Bulbasaur repeated. "What are the other ones?" 

Ash opened his mouth to respond, then paused. "I don't know, really. Winning the Pokemon league, I guess. That would be nice since I know it would mean a lot to my Pokemon. But mostly I just want to be able to travel the world and make friends with lots of people and Pokemon." 

There he went again, shattering every belief Bulbasaur had previously held about humans into a thousand pieces. Ash certainly was a strange one, that was for sure. Yet Bulbasaur found that he didn't mind being proven wrong. It was reassuring to know that there was at least one more human in the world besides Melanie that he could trust. 

"You know, you're a great Pokemon, Bulbasaur," Ash told him, smiling sincerely. "If you weren't busy protecting your village, I'd ask you to come along with me. I'm sure we'd get along great. But I understand that you have to stay here." 

"Yes...yes, I do..." Bulbasaur said slowly, his voice trailing off at the end. 

Apparently noticing his hesitation, Ash frowned. "What's wrong?"

Bulbasaur didn't answer, choosing instead to remain silent as he mulled over the messy-haired child's words in his head. What Ash had said was certainly true. He was supposed to stay to protect the village. It was his job to protect the Pokemon inside from poachers or trainers looking to cause harm. He didn't want to imagine what Melanie would think if he chose to abandon his post now.

But, on the other hand, almost all of them were fully healed, at least from a physical standpoint. And Melanie was more than capable of taking care of them on her own. None of them had any trainers, which meant they would have to get used to living in the wild at some point. He couldn't be around to protect them forever. Perhaps it would be in their best interest if he decided to move on and let them learn how to take care of themselves. 

Besides, Bulbasaur had to admit that the thought of traveling around the world sounded extremely appealing. Not that he was unhappy living in the village, but he had never gotten a chance to explore the wonders that lay beyond the forest. Now, however, it looked as though he would finally be getting his chance. 

His mind made up, he turned to Ash again. "If it's alright, would you mind waiting a little bit longer to leave again?" 

"Sure, but why?" Ash asked, looking puzzled. 

"I'd like to come with you, but before I go, there's just something I need to take care of," Bulbasaur explained. 

Greninja narrowed his eyes at him. "If this is a trick of some sort..." 

"It's not. I really do just need to take care of something," he insisted. 

"Well...alright, then. We can wait for you," Ash agreed finally. 

Bulbasaur dipped his head gratefully toward the boy before turning around and walking back in the direction of the hidden village. A new life full of adventures and new friendships awaited him-but he wasn't about to leave his old one without saying goodbye. 

Chapter Text

The first thing Fallon noticed when she woke up was that the forest was suddenly much warmer and softer than she remembered. As her eyes adjusted to the light, however, she realized that she wasn't in the forest at all, but rather inside a hospital room in the Pokemon Center. Fallon blinked, staring around herself in confusion. She didn't remember reaching the Pokemon Center last night, so how on earth had she ended up here? 

"Oh, you're awake!" 

At the sound of the voice, Fallon turned to see Nurse Joy entering her room along with Damian. She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off as her head suddenly gave an extremely painful twinge. Wincing, she rubbed her forehead, trying to rid her vision of the stars spinning before them. 

"Careful there, dear," Nurse Joy said gently, sounding worried. "You hit your head pretty hard when you passed out. You're going to be in some pain for a while." 

"What...what happened?" Fallon muttered as her vision finally-thankfully-cleared. 

"You fainted while we were on our way to Vermillion City. Nurse Joy said you were dehydrated or something," Damian told her. "I had to drag you all the way here myself." 

The veiled comment about her weight wasn't lost on her. She was about to snap back a retort when she noticed the black eye her brother was sporting. There was dried blood around his nostrils as well, and he looked surlier and meaner than ever. 

"What happened to you?" she asked, startled. 

"None of your business," Damian snapped back. 

Fallon narrowed her eyes but, not wanting to get into a fight with her brother in front of Nurse Joy, decided to let it go for now. Turning back to the pink-haired woman, she asked, "Is it alright if I feed my Pokemon in here? It's been a while and I'm sure they must be hungry." 

"Of course, Fallon," Nurse Joy replied kindly. 

Nodding gratefully, she slowly climbed out of bed and pulled Charmander, Staryu, and Jolteon's food bowls. Once she had filled them up with what she figured would be a decent amount of food for them, she turned to pull their Pokeballs off her belt. When she did so, however, she was shocked and horrified to find that there were only two Pokeballs. And she knew instantly which one was missing. 

"Charmander's missing!" Fallon cried out. 

"What do you mean?" Nurse Joy asked, looking alarmed. "Are you sure?" 

"Yes, I'm positive! His Pokeball is always right here, but it's gone now!" she exclaimed, pointing to a notch on her belt. 

How had this happened? She always made sure that she had all of her Pokemon with her before going anywhere. Fallon rubbed her forehead, trying to think of how Charmander's Pokeball could have gotten lost. Had it fallen off her belt when she had passed out? That seemed to be the most likely scenario...but if that were the case, surely someone would have noticed by now, right? 

"Did you know?" she demanded, whirling on Damian. "Did you know that Charmander's Pokeball was gone? What have you been doing this whole time? Why didn't you go look for him?" 

"I didn't know!" Damian defended himself. "I was a bit more concerned with getting you here! Which, by the way, you still haven't thanked me for!" 

"What do you mean, you didn't know? I only have three Pokemon on me as it is! How could you not realize that I was one short?" Fallon asked furiously. "You know, Damian, sometimes you can just be the stupidest person on the planet from here to Alola!" 

Barely resisting the urge to slam her fist into his face, she stumbled back to her feet and shoved past her brother, heading straight for the door. Before she could get very far, however, she was stopped as Nurse Joy grabbed her arm gently. Fallon spun around, staring at the pink-haired woman in bewilderment and anger. Did she not realize that she had something important to take care of? 

"What are you doing? Let me go! I need to find Charmander!" she snapped. 

"You can't." Despite her rudeness, Nurse Joy's expression showed no anger or hurt, only compassion. "It's too dangerous for you to go out there right now. You're injured and there's a storm going on outside. It's going to be raining hard until at least tomorrow morning. I can't risk you getting yourself sick." 

"But what about Charmander?" Fallon asked desperately. "I can't just leave him out there! If it's really raining as hard as you say, then he could get hurt!" 

"Don't worry. As long as Charmander stays in his Pokeball, then he'll be protected from the weather," Nurse Joy said soothingly. "But if it would make you feel better, I can send someone else out there to look for him."

Fallon opened her mouth to refuse, wanting to insist that she was perfectly fine and capable of finding Charmander on her own. Then she realized that the chances of her convincing Nurse Joy to let her leave the Pokemon Center were slim to none. Reluctantly, she closed her mouth again and nodded slowly.

"Okay," she agreed quietly, feeling hollow inside.

Nurse Joy smiled sympathetically and patted her on the shoulder. As miserable and worried as she was, however, the comforting gesture did little to soothe her.

I'm sorry, Charmander. I'm so, so sorry. 

Nurse Joy had certainly been right about the severity of the rainfall. It was pouring hard outside, to the point where Fallon could barely see out the window. She leaned against the armrest of the chair she had claimed for herself as she stared outside, only vaguely aware of the other patrons in the Pokemon Center's lobby. Every so often, someone would come over to offer her a drink or something to eat, but she declined each time. 

Two hours had passed since she had woken up to find Charmander's Pokeball missing, and she still had yet to see any sign of him. The more time that passed, the less optimistic she felt about ever seeing her fire-type again. Her worry, anger, and despair had settled into a hard lump in her stomach, making it impossible for her to even think about eating. Even the offer of her favorite soup wasn't enough to sway her. 

Damian was nowhere to be seen, having chosen to go out in the storm to see if he could catch any rare Pokemon. That was perfectly fine with her. Although it probably wasn't fair of her to do so, Fallon couldn't help holding him at least partially responsible for Charmander's disappearance. Even if he had been concerned about getting her to the Pokemon Center-which she highly doubted he had been-it shouldn't have taken him much to notice that she was missing a Pokeball. 

Anyway, it had been mostly his fault that she had ended up in that situation in the first place. Thanks to his insistence that they kept moving until they reached Vermillion City, she hadn't had time to stop and take a drink of water. It was no wonder she had passed out from dehydration, then. 

Suddenly, the sound of the door bursting open startled her out of her thoughts. Glancing over her shoulder, Fallon was startled but happy to see Ash, Lucario, Greninja, and Pikachu rushing inside the Pokemon Center. Her happiness quickly changed to horror, however, as her eyes fell on the bundle wrapped in Ash's arms. 

"Charmander! No!" she cried out, rushing over to the group. "What happened? How did he get like this?" 

"Not now," Lucario said urgently, placing a paw on her shoulder. "We'll explain in a moment, but we need to get Charmander to Nurse Joy first." 

Fallon bit her lip, nodding as she stepped aside to allow Ash to rush past her along with Greninja and Pikachu. Meanwhile, Lucario took her arm gently and led her back over to her armchair. She sat down reluctantly, her heart still pounding rapidly against her chest in horror and fear. 

"What happened to your head?" the Aura Pokemon asked. 

"I hit it when I passed out, but never mind that now! What happened to Charmander?" she asked desperately. "How did you find him? Where did you find him?" 

"We found Charmander on a rock about a mile away from here," Lucario told her. "He looked a bit tired and ill, but he said that he was waiting for you." 

"What? That doesn't make sense!" Fallon exclaimed, utterly bewildered. "His Pokeball fell off my belt when I passed out. I wouldn't have left Charmander on a rock to wait for me! And where was his Pokeball? He never comes out of it unless I tell him to!" 

"I know, I know," Lucario soothed her, placing a paw on the back of her left hand. 

Fallon let out a sigh, rubbing a hand over her eyes. Still, she was relieved to know that Lucario didn't believe that she had abandoned Charmander. In the midst of her relief, however, it took a few moments for her still-lagging mind to catch up with the situation. 

"Lucario..." she began slowly. "If Charmander wasn't inside his Pokeball...then where was his Pokeball?" 

At that, the Aura Pokemon's eyes softened and he shook his head. Fallon stared at him, feeling her worry increase even further if that was at all possible. What could possibly be so bad to make Lucario look at her like that? 

"Lucario?" Fallon asked hesitantly. "What happened? Tell me. I need to know, please." 

"When we came to the Pokemon Center earlier today," Lucario began gently. "We ran into your brother. Or, more accurately, we overheard him talking with a group of trainers." 

"And...what was he saying?" she inquired. 

The jackal hesitated, then replied, "He was telling them about how he had tricked Charmander into staying on that rock. Of course, he made it sound as though he was Charmander's trainer. When we confronted him and told him that Charmander would die if he was allowed to stay out for too long, especially with the approaching storm, he..." 

He trailed off, evidently not sure how to continue. Not that it would have mattered much if he had. Fallon's head was spinning far too much for her to focus on anything Lucario was saying at the moment. If what Lucario was telling her was true-not that she thought he would lie to her-then that meant...

"He...well, he told us that he knew," Lucario finished, snapping her out of her thoughts. 

"He knew," Fallon repeated. 

She was no fool. She knew instantly what the Aura Pokemon's words meant. But knowing what they meant and accepting them were two entirely different things altogether. 

"That...that can't be right," she insisted, shaking her head. "There's no way he would have done that. I mean...I know he doesn't like Charmander and everything, but that's too much even for him. He might abandon Pokemon every now and again, but he wouldn't try to kill one." 

"But he did," Lucario said softly. "I'm sorry, Fallon. I wish I could tell you differently. He told us that he intended for Charmander to die so that you would have no choice but to choose a stronger fire-type." 

But Fallon barely heard a word Lucario was saying. In her mind, she began to replay every conversation she had ever had with Damian concerning Charmander, wondering how she could have let something like this go amiss. How could she have missed all the signs? 

It was no secret to her that Damian hated Charmander, though why he disliked him the most out of all her Pokemon was still lost on her. They argued seemingly every other hour about her supposed affinity for "weak" Pokemon. And she had heard him comment on more than one occasion that she should have released Charmander long ago and saved them both a lot of trouble. So no, the fact that Damian had wanted Charmander out of the way for quite some time wasn't lost on her. 

But never in her life did she ever imagine he would go as far as to try to kill her Pokemon. 

What sort of trainer was she? How could she have let something like this happen? There must have been at least one or two signs that Damian would try something like this. Now, because of her negligence or at least her pathetic belief that her brother had at least a single shred of humanity in him, Charmander was in critical condition. If she had only been a little stronger, if she had only been able to hold on just a bit longer before she passed out, none of this would have happened. 

Then she shook her head, tossing the guilt aside. No, she couldn't blame herself. She hadn't done anything to hurt Charmander. The fire-lizard Pokemon's condition was entirely Damian's fault and no one else's. He had been the one to trick Charmander into staying on that rock. As her guilt finally faded, however, it was quickly replaced by another emotion altogether. 

Rage. Pure and utter rage. 

Ignoring Lucario's call for her to wait, Fallon leaped out of her chair and made a beeline toward the exit. As soon as she opened the door, she was hit by a blast of cold air, but she just ignored it, pushing her way onward. Her feet pounded heavily against the dirt path as the rain continued to fall steadily, soaking her through to the bone. 

She was going to find Damian. And one way or another, she was going to make him pay if it was the last thing she did.

It didn't take long for Fallon to find her brother. He was only about a mile and a half away from the Pokemon Center, apparently still on the lookout for rare Pokemon. Despite the fact that he must have been freezing, he refused to turn back. Instead, he remained under the shelter of a tall tree, scanning the area silently. 

Through the blood roaring in her ears, Fallon could hear Damian mutter to himself as he pulled out the remnants of a broken Pokeball. Although she couldn't hear everything that was being said, she did manage to catch the words "Charmander" and "serves both of them right". 

And at that moment, she snapped. 

Charging forward in a blind fury, she tackled her brother to the ground, sending them both sprawling into the mud. Despite being bigger and heavier than she was, Damian had been utterly unprepared for her attack, and her anger seemed to be lending her strength. He writhed and twisted beneath her, but she held firm, refusing to give even an inch. 

"You stupid, pathetic, horrid demon!" she shrieked in rage, slamming her fist down onto Damian's nose. 

"What are you doing? Get off of me!" he snarled up at her, trying in vain to push her off. 

"Shut up!" Fallon raged, slamming her fist down onto his nose again. "You don't get to speak anymore! I'm the one who's going to be doing the talking now!" 

"I don't know why you've always had an issue with me, Damian." 

Punch.

"But really, I don't care."

Punch. 

"You've always been a monster. That's all you'll ever be!"

Punch. 

"So I learned to live with it because our parents were so desperate for us to get along."

Punch. 

"And what a surprise, you were never interested! Really, though, I didn't expect anything else. So that didn't mean much to me." 

Punch. 

"But then what do you do? You go and try to kill my Charmander!" 

Punch. 

"You left him to die alone out in the middle of the forest!" 

Punch. 

"You made him think that I abandoned him!" 

Punch. 

"And why? Oh, right! Because you didn't think that he was strong enough!" 

Punch. 

"And you know what, maybe this was partially my fault. I've let you get away with too much. Well, guess what, dear brother of mine? Starting today, that's going to end!" Fallon snarled, continuing to rain blow after blow upon Damian's face. "I'm going to make you pay for every awful thing you've ever done to me, and I dare you to try to do something about it!" 

She continued punching her brother in the face over and over, her blows seeming to grow stronger with each passing second. Through the dark red haze that clouded her mind, the only thing she could think of was to cause Damian as much pain as possible. He had been allowed to get away with tormenting her for too long now. It was time someone finally taught him that there were consequences for his actions. 

But because of this, she didn't notice that her hands were slowly turning red from his blood. 

She didn't notice the moment that he stopped struggling, falling limp beneath her. 

She didn't notice the way his eyes stared without seeing, still filled with fear. 

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her, pulling her away from Damian. The unexpected touch snapped her back to reality, and Fallon found herself on her knees in the middle of the woods beside her brother's unmoving body, breathing heavily, her hands stained red and the knuckles on her right fist throbbing painfully. Someone gently turned her around to face them, and as her vision cleared, she was able to recognize Lucario. 

"Lucario..." she said hoarsely, her throat feeling oddly dry and scratchy. 

"Shh. Just breathe, Fallon. Try to calm down," he soothed her. 

Fallon closed her eyes, nearly passing out again as the full weight of what she had just done finally hit her. "Oh Arceus, I...I..." 

"It's okay. Everything is going to be okay," Lucario murmured softly, still holding her steady. "I just need you to breathe, Fallon. Can you do that for me? In and out, just like that." 

And she tried to do as she was told, she tried to breathe in and out as Lucario had instructed. But no matter what she did, her heart continued to pound rapidly against her chest, making it impossible to breathe normally. Her knuckles were throbbing harder than ever, she was soaked through to the bone, and she felt as though she were simultaneously falling from the sky and being crushed under the weight of a mountain at once. 

Oh Arceus, what have I done?

Chapter Text

In the years to come, Fallon wouldn't have been able to tell how she was able to make it back to the Pokemon Center. Nor would she ever know how long she sat in the lobby, only half-listening as Lucario talked softly to her while Greninja and Ash sat beside her, offering comfort with their presence. Her mind felt as though it had decided to detach itself from her body and Lucario's voice sounded as though it were coming from the end of a dark tunnel despite the fact that he was sitting less than two feet in front of her, the feeling of his paw on her shoulder the only thing keeping her grounded in reality. 

Her brother was dead. She didn't need to hear Lucario's confirmation to know this; she had seen the evidence for herself. That much had been clear despite the frazzled state her mind was in. Her brother was dead, and, well...she wasn't really sure how she felt about that. 

He deserved it, she tried to tell herself. He's done nothing but hurt you for years, and he tried to kill Charmander. He would have killed Charmander if Ash and his friends hadn't found him on time, and if Charmander lived, he would probably have made sure he didn't fail next time. You did what had to be done.

But no matter how many times she repeated the words in her head, they sounded hollow and empty. She had murdered her brother. No matter what else he had done, he was still her family, and she had killed him. Maybe not intentionally-she certainly hadn't wanted to kill him, just make him suffer a bit of pain for trying to murder Charmander. Still, she doubted whether that mattered much in the end. 

"Fallon?" Lucario probed her gently, snapping her back to reality. "Can you hear me?" 

At the sound of his voice, Fallon looked up, finally seeing the Aura Pokemon clearly for the first time since returning to the Pokemon Center. She blinked and nodded, glancing over at Ash, Greninja, and Pikachu, who were still seated beside her. She searched their faces, looking for any sign of fear or hatred but found only gentle concern. Rather than making her feel better, however, the hollow pit in her stomach seemed to deepen even further. 

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, her voice still hoarse. "I never meant for that to happen." 

"We know, Fallon," Ash said softly. 

"Is Charmander going to be okay?" Fallon asked, trying to push the night's events out of her mind. 

She didn't much care what happened to her at this point; she could handle whatever the law had to throw at her. After all, a murderer like her deserved to be punished. Right now, her only concern was making sure that Charmander was alright. As long as he was alive, that would be enough for her. 

"Charmander's alright now. He's asleep in his room, but he'll be ready to go by tomorrow morning," Ash told her, smiling slightly. "He's in the room next to Damian's-we tried to tell Nurse Joy that it wasn't a good idea, but there weren't too many options left for your brother." 

For a moment, all Fallon could feel was pure joy. Her thoughts didn't extend much further than the fact that her Charmander was going to make a full recovery. Then the rest of Ash's words finally hit her and she frowned. 

"She put Damian's body in one of the hospital rooms?" she asked, frowning. "Why would she do that?" 

"Body?" the raven-haired boy repeated, looking confused. Then his expression cleared. "You thought he was dead?" 

"Yes. After Lucario pulled me off of him, the way he looked..." 

"You didn't see what you thought you saw," Lucario explained. "You were a little...overenthusiastic...but you didn't kill him. Knocked him out cold, yes, but you didn't kill him. I doubt whether you'd be strong enough to kill anyone simply by punching them, no offense or anything." 

"But..." Fallon shook her head, trying to wrap her head around this new information. "But I saw him. He was just...staring at me...as if..." 

"He wasn't," the dog-like Pokemon reassured her. "I can't explain why you saw what you thought you saw. Maybe your mind was simply playing tricks on you. But I promise you, he isn't dead." 

At that, Fallon felt the weight on her shoulders disappear. Damian was alive. She wasn't a killer after all! And as overwhelmed by the day's events as she was, the tears came before she could stop them, blurring her vision as they streamed down her face. Her entire body was shaking violently and she was gasping for air, unable to breathe. Everything she had been holding in for years, all of the pain that had been inflicted by her brother's constant torment of her, the horror of believing herself to be a murderer, and the relief of finding out that she had been wrong in her assumptions came bursting forth all at once. There was nothing she could do to stop it. 

"Shh. It's okay, it's okay," Lucario said softly, and through a blur of tears, she could feel him squeezing her hand gently as Ash wrapped her in a comforting embrace. "You're alright, Fallon. You're okay." 

And for once in her life, for the first time in what felt like years, she believed that everything was going to be alright as well. 

Fifteen minutes later, Fallon found herself sitting in a chair beside Charmander's bed in the Pokemon Center. She watched as her fire-type's chest rose and fell steadily, a peaceful expression on his face. All things considered, he was looking much better than she had been expecting. At the very least, if she hadn't known any better, she would never have guessed that he had been at death's door not even three hours ago. 

"Fallon?" Nurse Joy probed her gently. "Can you explain what happened tonight?" 

The question finally brought her back to attention. Remembering at last why she was there in the first place, Fallon took a deep breath, searching for a way to explain herself. 

"Well, I'm sure you remember earlier, I woke up and found Charmander's Pokeball missing," she began slowly, and Nurse Joy nodded. "In order for you to really understand, there's something you need to know. For some reason, Damian has always hated Charmander. I don't know why, but ever since I picked him as my starter, he's always had it out for him. He keeps telling me that I need to release him because he's too weak. Not long ago, he had his Vaporeon attack Charmander with Hydro Pump for no reason." 

Nurse Joy frowned. "Go on." 

"After I woke up and found Charmander missing, Ash, Lucario, Greninja, and Pikachu brought him in, and...well, you saw the state he was in," Fallon went on, nodding over to her sleeping fire lizard. "Lucario told me that they found Charmander waiting on a rock, which didn't make sense because I hadn't let him out of his Pokeball before I passed out. And he told me...he told me that they overheard Damian boasting to a group of trainers about how he had tricked Charmander into staying there. And that Damian admitted that he meant for Charmander to get caught in that storm because it most likely would have killed him. He wanted to force me to pick a new fire-type for my team. So..." 

She hesitated for a moment, feeling her heart pounding rapidly against her chest. Here it was. The moment of truth had finally arrived. Once she confessed to her crimes, there would be no turning back. Officer Jenny would probably be at the Pokemon Center within the hour, and then...well, she wasn't entirely sure. She knew she would have to suffer some sort of repercussion for her actions, but she couldn't begin to fathom what they might be. 

One thing was for sure, though: whatever the law had to throw at her now, it couldn't possibly be anywhere near as bad as what she would have faced if she had actually killed Damian. 

"I went out earlier tonight," she said at last. "And..." 

Before she could continue, however, Lucario suddenly spoke up. "Nurse Joy, would it be alright if I continued the story from here? I can tell you what happened tonight, and I think it would be best if we didn't force Fallon to relive these events. She's had a hard enough day as it is." 

"Of course, Lucario," Nurse Joy agreed, smiling kindly. 

Fallon blinked. What on earth is he doing?

"After I told Fallon about what happened to Charmander, she decided to go looking for his Pokeball. And she found it. Unfortunately, as you probably know yourself, Damian was still out there as well, searching for more Pokemon to catch," the jackal explained. "As soon as he saw her with Charmander's Pokeball, he attacked her. He was determined to force her to get rid of Charmander one way or another. Fallon managed to get out of the way, but when she did, he fell forward and knocked himself out cold. It was a bad fall too. She got his blood on her hands as she was trying to move him to get him back here. But it wasn't her fault. She was only defending herself." 

"It's true," Ash piped up. "I was there too when Damian jumped at her. I wanted to help her, but everything was over too quickly." 

"Greninja, gren, ninja ja," Greninja said, nodding fervently. 

"Pika pika!" Pikachu added. 

Fallon couldn't believe her ears. Her friends were lying to Nurse Joy's face to cover for her. But why? She had punched her brother into the hospital. Why would they even consider helping her after everything she had done? 

"And you all saw this?" the pink-haired woman inquired. 

"We did," Lucario confirmed. 

Nurse Joy let out a sigh, nodding. "I admit that I had my concerns about Damian, but I'm supposed to be fair to all patrons, so I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. But it seems as though I was right to be worried. Thank you for explaining what happened, all of you. I'll call Officer Jenny here, and you can rest assured that Damian will be punished for his actions." 

"Thank you," Fallon whispered, not trusting herself to speak any louder. 

The kind-looking nurse smiled gently at her before getting up and walking out of the room, presumably heading off to send her message to Officer Jenny. Fallon, for her part, turned back to Charmander's sleeping form. He had rolled over onto his side now, the flame on the tip of his tail getting stronger by the minute. 

She could relax again now. Her friends' plan had worked, and she didn't have to worry about being tossed in prison for however long it might have been. Tomorrow morning, she could continue on her journey just like normal. 

But before she could do that, she had one more-no, two more things to do. 

"Ash," Fallon began hesitantly. "If you don't mind...would it be alright if I traveled with you from now on?" 

A couple of weeks ago, even a couple of days ago, she wouldn't even have questioned what his answer would have been. However, things had changed since then. Ash had just seen her beat up her brother, and Fallon wouldn't have been surprised if he wanted nothing to do with her. He might have helped cover for her, true, but that didn't necessarily mean he would be alright with her being around him. 

To her surprise, however, he beamed at her. "Of course! It would be great to have you with us!" 

"Really?" she asked, startled. "Do you mean that?" 

"Yeah! You're our friend, right? And friends should always stick together no matter what!" Ash said confidently. 

"Thanks, Ash," she chuckled, instantly feeling a bit better. "And there's just one more thing..." 

Once again, she hesitated, steeling herself as she prepared for what she was about to ask him to do for her. Her head and heart felt as though they were engaged in a civil war, her mind screaming at her to reconsider while her heart insisted that she was doing the right thing. Both sides were making compelling arguments if she did say so herself. But there was no point. She already knew what she had to do. 

"I want you to take Charmander," Fallon said finally. 

There it was. She had told her truth for the world to hear-or, at the very least, Ash and his Pokemon. It was too late to take anything back now. Her heart felt as though it were being ripped in half, but still, she refused to take back her words. 

Damian was alive. And while that was a good thing in the sense that it meant she wasn't a murderer, it also meant that he would undoubtedly try to hurt Charmander again as soon as he had the chance. Officer Jenny would most likely arrest Damian and he would probably spend at least a few years in jail or in some sort of correctional facility, but he wouldn't be there forever. As long as her brother was alive, Charmander would be in danger for however long he stayed under her care. 

"Why?" Lucario asked softly, looking stunned. 

"It's too dangerous for him to stay with me. I know Damian will at least be out of the way for a bit, but he won't be forever," she explained, feeling more miserable with each passing second. "Once he's free again, I...I'm almost positive he's going to want revenge. And if Charmander is still with me, he's going to be his first target. Damian's already tried to kill him once, and I wouldn't put it past him to try to kill him again. But if I'm not his trainer anymore...then maybe that will be enough to get him to leave him alone." 

"What about your other Pokemon?" the Aura Pokemon inquired. 

"Damian doesn't care one way or another about them. I don't think I have to worry about him trying to hurt any of them," Fallon answered. "It's only Charmander that he has a problem with, and while I really don't know why, it's obvious that it's only gotten worse over time. And at this point, I don't see any possible way for things to get better." 

"Fallon..." Ash said quietly, looking at her with sorrow in his eyes. 

"Please, Ash," she begged, hating how desperate she sounded. "Please do this. If not for me, then do it for Charmander. I'm not doing this because I don't want him anymore, you have to understand that. He's an incredible Pokemon and I couldn't have asked for a better starter. But he's never going to get the life he deserves if he stays with me." 

Ash studied her carefully for a moment, then nodded. "Alright," he agreed. "I'll take him." 

"Thank you," Fallon breathed, feeling a sigh of relief escape her lips. "You have no idea what this means to me, Ash." 

"You're going to have to explain to Charmander about what's going to happen," Lucario reminded her gently. 

"I know," she agreed, reaching out and stroking the Lizard Pokemon's head. "And I'm sorry, I really am. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to protect him and that things had to end up the way they did. I'm not the trainer he deserves to have, but I hope he knows that if I could, I would give up anything to turn back time and stop him from going through everything he's had to go through because of me." 

One day, she would be happy with her decision, she knew. But for now, she was exhausted by the day's events, and the grief of losing Charmander formed a hard knot in her chest. She didn't know how she would be able to handle the next several weeks, months, or possibly even years, able to watch her very first Pokemon flourishing under a new trainer but no longer able to guide and care for him in the same way she would have if he were still hers. 

But it had to be done. There weren't many things that Fallon wanted from her Pokemon. She didn't care if they lost every single battle or if they weren't pretty, cute, or cool-looking. Indeed, the only thing she really wanted was for them to be safe and happy. And that was the only thing she wanted for Charmander-even if it meant she was going to lose him. 

Chapter Text

Needless to say, Charmander was less than thrilled about the prospect of parting with Fallon. Upon hearing the news that he would be transferred over to Ash's care, the Lizard Pokemon had immediately tried to stuff himself inside Fallon's bag, only for the young redhead to pull him out again. Even so, he refused to leave her side, clinging to her arms desperately as she tried to untangle herself from him. 

Watching the scene before him, Greninja felt torn. On one hand, he understood where Fallon was coming from. Damian had already tried to kill Charmander once, and there was no reason for her or any of them, really, to think that he wouldn't try it again as soon as he had the chance. But on the other hand, he would be lying if he said he didn't have a great deal of sympathy for Charmander's feelings on the matter as well. Greninja couldn't imagine what it would feel like if he had to part ways with Ash. 

"Charmander, please listen to me. I know you want to stay with me, but I need you to go with Ash from now on," Fallon pleaded gently. 

"But why?" Charmander cried out. "Don't you like me anymore?" 

"Of course she does, Charmander. It's nothing to do with that," Lucario said softly. "She loves you very much. But it isn't safe for you to stay with her anymore." 

"Why not?" the little orange lizard demanded. "Why isn't it safe? What's wrong?" 

"Because if you do, Damian will try to kill you again," Ash answered bluntly. 

Charmander blinked, staring at the messy-haired trainer in confusion. "W-what? When did Damian try to kill me? I know he told me to stay on that rock, but that doesn't mean he wanted to kill me, right?" 

"But he did," Ash said softly, his eyes filled with compassion. "He told us himself. You remember that storm last night, right? He wanted you to get caught in it because a storm like that would most likely kill you, and he wanted to force Fallon into picking a new fire-type. If we hadn't found you in time, you would have died." 

For a few moments, the Lizard Pokemon just stared at Ash, his eyes wide. Greninja could almost hear the thoughts whirling in his mind as he tried to think of another excuse for Damian's actions, another excuse that explained why he had apparently been left to die out in the forest. But the facts were indisputable. Charmander was no fool; he must have been well aware of what Fallon's brother thought of him. And there was no logical reason for him to leave Charmander alone in the forest, especially when everyone had known about the approaching storm.

Fallon gently placed Charmander back on the floor, reaching out and petting him. "It'll be alright, buddy," she said softly. "We're all going to be traveling together from now on, so it's not like you're never going to see me again. You'll just be under Ash's care from now on. But I'll still be around." 

"You're not going anywhere?" Charmander asked, peering up at her. 

"Nowhere," she promised. "It'll be like nothing ever changed." 

"And I'll take care of you," Ash added. "We'll get stronger together, and you're going to be great friends with everyone, Charmander. I just know it. And Fallon will still be with you even if she isn't going to be your real trainer anymore." 

The little lizard looked over at Ash. "You promise?" 

"I promise," Ash replied solemnly-or at least as solemnly as a not-quite-eleven-year-old boy could manage. He smiled encouragingly down at Charmander. "You're going to have a great time getting to know everyone. You'll see."

"Yeah! Ash is an awesome trainer and everyone's really nice! You're going to love being part of the team," Pikachu said cheerfully. 

Seeing that Charmander was still hesitant, Greninja bent down to talk to him. "Think, Charmander. Do you really think Fallon would give you over to Ash if she didn't know for certain that he was going to treat you properly? Or that he wasn't going to take you away from her forever?" 

"N-no, I suppose not," the Lizard Pokemon agreed uncertainly. 

"Believe it or not, Charmander, I understand how you're feeling," Lucario spoke up, bending down so that he was eye level, or at least as close to eye level as possible, with the tiny orange lizard. "I know what it's like to have to separate from someone you care about. And I'm not going to say that there's going to come a day that you don't miss Fallon because a part of you will always wish for things to be the way they used to. But you learn to live with it. You'll form new bonds with new people and Pokemon. And don't forget, she isn't going anywhere. Maybe things will be a little different than how they used to be, but she's still going to be a part of your life." 

"Charmander," Fallon said softly. "No matter what, I'll always be your friend." 

Charmander continued to stare at Fallon for several moments, his eyes filled with sorrow. Finally, however, he nodded and walked over to Ash, allowing the boy to tap him gently over the head with an empty Pokeball. Greninja watched as he was sucked inside, the Pokeball shaking a few times before lying still and emitting a soft ding, signaling a successful capture. 

That's it, Greninja thought. Ash caught Charmander, and he's part of our team now. 

But unlike with previous captures, there was no sense of satisfaction, no sense of excitement at the prospect of a new teammate. Everyone would be thrilled to have Charmander around, Greninja knew, and he knew as well that they would do everything in their power to keep the little fire-type happy. Right now, however, they were still exhausted by the events of the previous night, and the grief in Fallon's eyes that she was desperately trying to hide tugged painfully at everyone's hearts. 

Ash stood up, placing Charmander's Pokeball on his belt before walking over to Fallon. "It's going to be okay," he said softly, smiling gently at her. "I'll take good care of Charmander, I promise." 

"I know you will," she murmured. 

"And hey, who knows? Maybe one day, you'll be able to have him back again," he added. 

Fallon smiled sadly but didn't look convinced. "Maybe." 

Before any of them could say anything else, however, they were interrupted by a shout of rage from further down the hallway. Greninja groaned silently as he recognized Damian's voice. Exchanging a resigned glance with Ash, he crept down the hall alongside his best friend, listening intently as the sound of arguing reached their ears. 

"What do you mean, you're suspending my license for six years? You can't do that!" Greninja heard Damian snap. "I didn't do anything wrong! I'm innocent here, I tell you!" 

"Is that so? Then would you care to explain why you attacked Fallon in the middle of the forest last night?" a voice that he recognized as Officer Jenny's asked coldly. 

"I didn't attack anyone!" Damian said hotly. "Where's your proof that I even did anything?" 

"I have statements from four witnesses who all say they saw you jump her when she wasn't looking," Nurse Joy spoke up. Her voice was hard and angry, nothing at all like the sweet, kind woman he was used to hearing. 

"They're lying!" he snarled, and Greninja could easily picture the blue-haired trainer struggling against Officer Jenny and Nurse Joy as he tried to fight his way to the door. "They're all lying! I never did anything to anyone! That stupid little bitch made it all up! I swear to Arceus, I'm going to kill her! I'll snap her neck! She deserves to die for this! I'll make sure that nobody ever finds 'what's left of her! I'll gouge her eyes out and leave her to be picked at by the Spearow and Pidgey! And once I'm through with her, I'll get that stupid Charmander if it's the last thing I do! I'll-" 

"ENOUGH!" Officer Jenny shouted, effectively silencing Damian. "Young man, I think I've heard quite enough out of you. You'll be coming with me, and if you even think about trying to resist, I'll see to it that you never train another Pokemon again!" 

At the sound of the door opening, Greninja quickly ducked into a nearby room along with Ash, Fallon, Lucario, and Pikachu. Through the crack in the doorway, he could hear Damian snarling curses at Fallon, Ash, Charmander, Nurse Joy, and Officer Jenny as he was dragged out of the Pokemon Center. As soon as the voices had faded away, Greninja turned to face Fallon, who had taken a seat on the edge of the bed. 

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly. 

Although she couldn't understand him in the same way that Ash could, she got the gist of it. She nodded silently, her face still pale and her eyes wide. Greninja felt a pang of sorrow for the young girl, but he couldn't blame her. He himself had been shocked by the fury and vitriol Damian had been spitting at her (or, well, about her), so he couldn't imagine how she must have felt about it all. 

"Well," Lucario remarked, looking stunned himself but making an obvious effort to hide it. "I suppose all's well that ends well, then." 

"Yeah, but my parents still don't know about this. They think Damian and I are still traveling together," Fallon pointed out, biting her lip. "I can't imagine what I'm going to say to them." 

"I don't think you'll have to worry. Officer Jenny will probably send them a message, won't she?" Ash reminded her. He smiled encouragingly at the ginger-haired girl. "Don't worry about it! I'm sure they'll understand. And we'll figure out what to do together from now on, right?" 

"Right," she agreed, perking up slightly. 

Ash's grin widened before he suddenly spun around, rushing out of the room. "Race you to the cafeteria, Fallon!" 

"Hey, no fair!" Fallon laughed, chasing after the messy-haired boy. "You got a head start!" 

"Ash, don't waste your energy! We still have a long day of traveling ahead of us!" Greninja shouted after his best friend. 

Shaking his head to himself, he watched as Ash, Pikachu, and Fallon disappeared around the corner and out of sight. Once again, the boy's tireless energy never ceased to amaze him, and Greninja could already tell that he and Lucario would be in for a long day of chasing Ash around the Kanto region. Still, he couldn't deny that it had its benefits. At least it provided Fallon with a much-needed distraction from losing Charmander. 

"Arceus above, does he ever stop running?" Lucario asked in fond exasperation, shaking his head. "I can't remember the last time he sat still, do you?" 

"I suppose when he's sleeping...though I'm pretty sure I've seen him sleepwalk at least a few times, so who knows?" Greninja joked. 

Lucario rolled his eyes but smiled all the same. Much like Greninja, it was impossible for him to ever truly be annoyed with Ash. "Come on, let's make sure Ash didn't crash into the buffet table again." 

Greninja nodded and picked up Ash's bag, waiting for Lucario to do the same with Fallon's. Together, the two Pokemon made their way down to the Pokemon Center's cafeteria, ready for a good meal as well as the start of their adventures with the newest members of their little family. 

Chapter Text

The difference between traveling with Damian and traveling with Ash and his Pokemon was almost unbelievable. For the first time in her life, Fallon no longer had to walk on eggshells every time she so much as breathed. She didn't have to look over her shoulder every five minutes to make sure that nobody was going to attack her Pokemon while they were training. And she was allowed to speak without being shouted at, belittled, or hit. It almost felt too good to be true, and more than once, she found herself pinching her arm just to make sure she wasn't dreaming. 

If there was any downside to traveling with Ash, it would probably be that she still had to see Charmander every day. But despite the painful twinge she could feel in her heart every time she watched Charmander engaging in a practice battle with Pikachu or chatting happily with Bulbasaur and Sylveon, Fallon made a conscious effort not to dwell on what she had lost. It wasn't as though she would never see him again, she reminded herself, even if things wouldn't be quite the way they used to. As long as he was safe, that was good enough for her. 

At the moment, Fallon was walking through the forest with Ash, gathering berries to be made into medicine and Pokeblocks later. For once, none of his Pokemon were accompanying him, as they had all chosen to remain back at the camp in order to train and rest up. In fact, Lucario and Greninja had both made an effort to get the raven-haired boy to take a break as well but to no avail. Somehow, despite the fact that they had been walking nonstop for almost three hours straight, he still hadn't lost any energy. Fallon didn't know how he managed it; her own legs were aching horribly, but Ash barely seemed affected. 

"Ash, can we slow down?" she called out. "My legs hurt and we've been walking for hours." 

"Huh?" Ash turned around, his expression filling with guilt at the sight of her lagging behind. "Oh, yeah. Sorry about that, Fallon. You can sit down and I'll see if I can find any good berries around here." 

"Thank you," Fallon breathed in relief, taking a seat on a fallen tree. 

As she watched, Ash scanned the small clearing, looking for any berries that they might be able to add to their recipes. Eventually, he spotted a tamato berry bush hidden behind a bit of fallen debris. While he filled up the rest of his basket with the spicy fruits, Fallon turned her attention to a Pidgey nesting in a nearby tree. The little bird Pokemon was munching happily on an oran berry, chirping happily with each bite. She smiled to herself, the sight of the contented expression on Pidgey's face sending a feeling of warmth coursing through her veins. 

"Done! That should be plenty for now!" Ash declared suddenly, taking a seat beside her on the fallen tree. 

"Glad to hear it," Fallon chuckled, finally turning her attention away from the Pidgey. "Picking the tamato berries was a good choice. Charmander's going to love those ones. Spicy Pokeblocks and Pokemon food are his favorite. Must be a fire-type thing, I guess." 

"Must be," the raven-haired boy agreed, grinning. He stretched his arms behind his head and added, "So, do you want to head back now or do you want to stay here a bit longer? I'm not really in any hurry to go anywhere, plus I'm pretty sure the others still want to rest. Blegh." 

Fallon hesitated for a moment, then replied tentatively, "Well, if you're not in any hurry, why don't we take a walk? I'd like to explore the forest a bit more if that's alright." 

"Sure thing!" Ash said happily, smiling brightly at her. "A walk sounds really awesome, actually. And maybe we'll even meet some new Pokemon along the way! Wouldn't that be so cool?" 

"Very cool," she agreed, inwardly marveling at how easily he had agreed to her request. If she had been traveling with Damian, she wouldn't even have dared to ask. 

Together, they walked out of the clearing and down an unfamiliar path in the forest, taking care not to let any of the berries spill out of the basket. Every few minutes or so, Fallon would stop to admire a patch of flowers or a mark left on a tree by a long-ago Pokemon battle. She had never been given the chance to take in all of the sights, sounds, and scents of the Kantonian wilderness, so she was making sure to take every opportunity to make up for lost time now. Part of her felt guilty for forcing Ash to stop so often as well, but if he was at all annoyed with her, he didn't show it. 

"Oh! Look at these!" she exclaimed as she spotted a patch of bluebells. "Aren't they pretty?" 

"They are," Ash agreed, coming over to look at the flowers as well. "Sylveon would like those. But I'd feel bad picking them." 

"Me too," Fallon admitted. "Still, at least we get to look at them, right?" 

She continued to gaze at the bluebells, trying to commit every detail about their shape and color to mind. It was times like these that Fallon desperately wished she had a camera. But her parents had taught her how to be practical with her spending, and as much as it pained her, she had to admit that a camera wasn't exactly high on her list of necessities. She already spent enough on food and medicine as it was. 

"Hey, Fallon?" Ash spoke up again suddenly. "When we get to Vermillion City, do you want to challenge the gym first, or should I?" 

"The gym?" Fallon repeated, blinking. "Oh! No, you don't have to worry about that. I've actually decided that I won't be taking on the gyms just yet." 

After losing to Brock, she had done some serious soul-searching (or, well, as serious as a girl her age could get) and came to the conclusion that she simply wasn't ready. As much as she dreamed of winning the Pokemon league like any other trainer, she couldn't deny that she still had a lot left to learn. Besides, with all the professions the Pokemon world had to offer, Fallon wasn't about to commit to one lifestyle just yet. The last thing she wanted was to regret the path she had chosen. 

Ash looked puzzled. "How come you're not challenging them?" 

"Oh, well, no reason, really," she answered with a shrug. "I'm just not sure I'm really ready to take on the gyms yet, you know? I mean, I'm sure my Pokemon are, but me? I don't know." 

"Yeah, that's fair," he conceded. 

"I also just want to make sure that the path I choose is the right one for me," Fallon added. "I mean, there are so many options out there for us as trainers. We could become doctors, we could become coordinators, we could become scientists and research fossil Pokemon, we could become the Pokemon league champion. And that's not even half of it. I don't want to pick one and then wake up twenty years down the road and realize that my life doesn't have any meaning." 

Ash cocked his head to the side. "I think I get what you mean, but isn't it kind of our job to add meaning to whatever we choose to do with our lives? I mean, if we keep waiting around for the perfect life to fall into our hands, we'll just be sitting by forever. Sometimes, what we do doesn't have a clear meaning, so why not just make our own?" 

It's not that simple, Ash. If I knew how to add meaning to my life, I'd have done it by now, she thought tiredly. Out loud, however, she asked, "What gives your life meaning, Ash?" 

She fully expected his answer to be something along the lines of Pokemon battles or his aura training, the latter of which she had quickly learned was extremely strenuous after she made the mistake of volunteering to join Ash and Greninja in a race around the forest. Given the messy-haired boy's tendency to charge headfirst into everything as well as his seemingly tireless energy, she figured that anything that added meaning to his life would have to reflect those qualities. To her surprise, however, his actual response was very, very different. 

"Well..." Ash spoke up again after a few moments. "It's probably going to sound weird, but...it's really just the small things." 

"The small things?" Fallon repeated, blinking in confusion. "What do you mean?" 

"The small things. Like the way Sylveon sits next to me during meals so she can be the first to be petted afterward," he explained. "Or the way Lucario smiles after I've finished an aura training session that lets me know I've done a good job. The way Greninja lets Charmander get away with sneaking up on him and pranking him because he knows it makes him laugh." 

Fallon snorted with laughter at the last one. At the same time, however, she felt touched. Even if Charmander wasn't her Pokemon anymore, it still meant the world to her that Greninja was making such an effort to keep him happy. 

"And that's not all either," Ash went on. "There's also the way the sky looks when the sun goes down. And the way the stars shine at night. The way the world goes quiet during those times because it's the perfect time to think without having to worry about being interrupted." 

"Wow," Fallon remarked, feeling slightly awed. "When you put it like that..." 

"See?" he said, beaming at her. "Don't get me wrong, it's awesome to want to be like someone like Lance or Professor Oak. But you and I aren't Lance or Professor Oak. We're not the champions of Kanto, and we're definitely not world-famous researchers. And most people in the world aren't and won't ever be either. But that's all okay. We aren't going to become legends and have our stories passed on for generations, but our stories will still mean the world to our loved ones." 

She shook her head. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're a lot older than almost eleven years old." 

"Yeah...sorry," Ash chuckled, looking a bit sheepish.

"Oh, don't be sorry. That was a good speech, actually," Fallon admitted, smiling back at her friend. 

"Thanks!" he said happily, grinning. 

Ash Ketchum was certainly something else. On one hand, he certainly acted the way she would expect an eleven-year-old boy (or almost in his case) to behave, running around constantly and laughing at everything and nothing. On the other hand, there were times, such as now, when he would say something that made him seem wise beyond his years. 

And maybe he was right, she reflected. Maybe she didn't have to worry about what the right path was for her, but rather making the path she chose feel right. If nothing else, she at least knew that she wanted to be a trainer that her Pokemon were happy with. She might not have been an Elite Four member or a mega evolution guru, she might not even have ever won a gym battle, but she could at least give her Pokemon the life they deserved. From there, though...well, she would just have to wait and see. 

Lost in thought as she was, Fallon didn't notice the moment when Ash suddenly stumbled forward. When she finally came back to reality, she was horrified to see the messy-haired trainer sprawled out on the ground before her, unconscious. 

Chapter Text

When Ash awoke again, he was puzzled to find himself in a hospital room inside a Pokemon Center. As his eyes adjusted to the light, he became aware of a gentle pressure on his right hand. Blinking rapidly to clear his vision, he turned his head to see Greninja, Lucario, Fallon, and Pikachu sitting by his bed. Greninja was grasping his hand gently, and as their gazes locked, the frog Pokemon's eyes lit up with relief. 

"Ash! You're alright!" he exclaimed happily, hugging him tightly. 

"I...yeah, I'm fine," Ash mumbled, rubbing his eyes. "What happened?" 

"You passed out. Gave us all quite a fright too," Lucario told him from his seat next to Greninja. He scanned Ash's face, his eyes filled with worry. 

"I...I passed out?" he repeated, stupefied. 

"While we were out on our walk," Fallon explained. "We were talking, and then you just...I don't know. It all happened so fast." 

Lucario glanced over at the young girl. "Did he seem at all tired to you?" 

She shook her head, frowning. "No, not at all. Actually, he had even more energy than I did." 

"I don't remember being tired either," Ash spoke up. "It's like Fallon said, we were just walking and, well, the next thing I know, I'm waking up here." 

"But Nurse Joy didn't seem to think there was anything wrong..." Greninja said, looking even more worried. 

Ash just shrugged, not knowing what to say. Truth be told, he was as confused as everyone else. Why had he passed out? He supposed he could understand it happening if he had pushed himself too hard, but he didn't remember taking things that far. But if Nurse Joy hadn't been able to find anything wrong with him, then what other explanation could there be? 

"Could it have been dehydration?" Fallon suggested. "I passed out from dehydration not too long ago-you know, when Damian decided to..." 

"But I had a drink of water while we were setting up our camp, and that was only an hour before that," Ash pointed out. 

"Oh yeah, that's true," she noted. She frowned. "Have you ever passed out like that before?" 

He hesitated for a few moments, trying to rack his brain to see if he could remember another time it might have happened. When he came up with nothing, he shook his head and replied, "No, I'm...I'm pretty sure this was the first time." 

"I've been around Ash for almost three years, and I haven't seen him pass out like that either," Lucario informed Fallon, who nodded. 

"Nor I," Greninja added. 

Pikachu, who had remained silent up until this point, spoke up. "Maybe you're starting to come down with something? I mean, with how much you run around all the time, if you're starting to get sick and not resting up, your body isn't going to respond to it very well." 

Ash tilted his head to the side. "I guess, but I don't feel sick," he pointed out. "I feel fine. I don't know why it happened, but it could have just been some freak accident, right?" 

Even as he spoke the words, he could tell that his friends weren't convinced by them. Not that he could blame them in this case; it was odd that he had fainted out of nowhere. But he felt perfectly fine and he hadn't ever passed out before, at least not that he could remember. Maybe it was just a freak incident. 

Then again, how often did anyone pass out for no reason at all? In fairness, Ash had only seen a handful of people faint during his lifetime, but there had always been a reason behind it. One of the boys in his class, Mark, had passed out at the sight of blood in a film the class had been watching. A year later, a girl named Anna had fainted in the middle of a lesson on type matchups-something to do with her blood sugar, he didn't remember exactly what had happened. And he could faintly recall seeing his father pass out in the living room just weeks before his death, although Ash wasn't sure if the two events were connected or not. He knew his father had been ill, however, having heard him whispering about it with Delia when they thought he was asleep. 

Not that he knew much about his father's illness, he realized. The only things he really knew about it were what he had been able to pick up on from eavesdropping on his parents, most of which included words he couldn't begin to comprehend. Ash did, however, recall hearing his name brought up a few times in conversation, although he had never been able to figure out what context it was being used in. 

"Well, one thing's for sure," Greninja said, snapping him back to reality. "Freak accident or not, you'll be staying in that bed until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest. And we'll see how you're progressing from there." 

"Aw," Ash groaned. "But we've got our gym battle coming up soon. And I wanted to do some more training with my aura." 

"The gym isn't going anywhere, Ash. Right now, it's more important that you heal up," Lucario said gently. 

"Heal up from what? I'm totally fine!" he protested. "Really, there's nothing to worry about." 

The jackal sighed. "Ash, I'm not a doctor and I certainly don't intend on pretending to be one, but even I know that nobody just faints out of nowhere. We might not know what's wrong, but that doesn't mean that everything's all fine and dandy. If you don't take at least a little time to rest, then whatever it is will only get worse." 

"But-" Ash started to argue back only to be interrupted by Greninja. 

"It's only going to be for one more day, Ash. We're not asking you to stay in bed forever," the frog Pokemon soothed him, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

"I guess so," he sighed in disappointment, accepting defeat for now. What had he done to get stuck with the most overprotective Pokemon in history? "I was just looking forward to having my gym battle, that's all." 

"I know, and I'm sorry. But we don't want to risk you getting sick," Greninja said softly. 

"And hey, don't worry! We'll all be here to keep you company," Fallon piped up, giving him an encouraging smile. "It'll be alright, Ash. The day will pass by before you know it, and you'll be out of here in no time." 

Ash grinned back at her, feeling slightly cheered by her enthusiasm. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Even if he was confined to his hospital bed for a day, at least he wouldn't be alone. But then the rest of Lucario's words registered in his still-lagging mind. 

"Do you really think there's something wrong with me?" he asked, turning back to the Aura Pokemon. 

"I don't know, Ash," Lucario sighed. "I told you before, I'm not a doctor. I don't know why you passed out, but I doubt it was for no reason. If there is something wrong, we can only hope that it's something minor." 

"Alright," Ash murmured. 

It wasn't the most satisfying answer in the world, but what else could he do at this point? Nurse Joy hadn't been able to find anything wrong, and none of his friends were doctors. The only thing he could really do was rest up so that he could get back to traveling.  

Fortunately, any talk of his health ceased after that. For the next hour, Ash sat back and tried to relax, laughing along with the others as Greninja recounted a story of a prank he had pulled on one of his old trainers. Of course, having been friends with the frog Pokemon as long as he had, he was already familiar with the tale, but that didn't really matter. He appreciated the attempt at entertaining him nonetheless. 

"You should have seen his face when he got out of the shower. His hair had turned bright pink!" Greninja told them, earning a fit of raucous laughter from the rest of the group. 

"Brilliant," Fallon snickered after Ash had translated the story for her. "That must have been expensive to get fixed. His parents probably weren't too happy about that." 

"Have you pranked all of your trainers?" Pikachu asked. 

Greninja shook his head. "Nah, only two or three of them. Most of the time, I wasn't with them long enough to think of a good one." 

"How long does it take you to think of a good prank?" Lucario asked curiously. 

"Depends," the frog Pokemon answered. 

"On what?" 

"A few things. One, on how creative I'm feeling that particular day. Two, on how stupid the person or Pokemon I'm pranking is." 

"I've been trying to think of a prank to pull on Lucario for a while now, but he always seems to see it coming," Ash admitted with a sigh.

The jackal smirked at him. "And you will never get away with it."

"I'll think of something, just you wait," he threatened, narrowing his eyes.

"I'm sure you will, Ash," Lucario replied cheerfully, patting him on the shoulder. 

Ash tried to glare at Lucario but failed and ended up cracking a smile. "I swear I'm going to get you one day."

"Don't worry, Ash. I haven't been able to prank him yet either," Greninja reassured him.

Ash chuckled and turned his head to look out the window, noting absentmindedly the rain that had started falling outside. He watched as the droplets splattered the glass, blurring what he could see of the world beyond the confines of the Pokemon Center. In the distance, he could hear children laughing and splashing about in puddles, and he smiled to himself. At least someone was enjoying the weather.      

No, staying in the Pokemon Center for one day wouldn't be so terrible. His friends were still there to keep him company, and as long as they were around, it was impossible to be too bored. And his health was perfectly normal, of that he was almost certain. As soon as his one day had passed, he would be back to his normal routine as if nothing had happened. All he had to do was be patient. 

Chapter Text

The gray clouds darkened the sky overhead as rain fell steadily, the droplets splashing down onto the branches swaying in the gentle breeze before falling to form puddles on the ground. Through a small gap in the clouds, Greninja could faintly make out a ray of sunlight, but it provided little warmth. Of course, being a water-type, the rain didn't affect him much, but he could have done with a little less cold. 

He didn't have time to worry about that, however. A few yards ahead, Ash was standing with his back facing toward him, gazing out into the forest. Despite the fact that he was practically soaked to the skin by now, the messy-haired boy didn't appear to be bothered by it. He didn't even appear to notice how cold it was even though he was only wearing a short-sleeve jacket, jeans, and a pair of sneakers. Instead, he continued to stand there, watching something that apparently only he could see. 

"Ash, come back. We need to get inside," Greninja called out. 

There was no response. Thinking that perhaps Ash just hadn't heard him over the rain, he raised his voice and called out again.

"Ash, let's go. You're going to get sick if you keep standing out here in this weather," he insisted. 

But Ash just continued to remain silent, still staring out into the forest. Frowning, Greninja took a few steps forward. Maybe he was still too far away. 

"Let's get back inside. I don't want you to catch a cold, and you must be freezing," he pleaded. 

Still nothing. Greninja stared at Ash, hoping, waiting for a response, but it never came. 

What was going on? Ash had spaced out on occasion before, but he always came back down to earth as soon as Greninja called out to him. Why was it suddenly so difficult to get his attention now? Greninja felt a pang of worry, wondering if he had said or done something to upset his friend. 

But before he could ponder this possibility any further, Ash suddenly turned around and looked directly at him. His normally spiky hair had been completely flattened and his clothes were soaked through, but he was smiling that same sweet, bright smile with that same look of childlike wonder in his eyes that never failed to melt Greninja's heart. As he watched, Ash gave a small wave before slowly turning around again and walking deeper into the forest. 

"Ash?" Greninja called out in bewilderment. "Where are you going?" 

He didn't expect to get a response, so he was unsurprised when Ash just kept walking. With a sigh, Greninja broke into a jog. Whatever had gotten into the boy now, it could be addressed once he had gotten him inside and out of the rain. 

This time, however, something was different. Whereas it would normally only take him a few moments to catch up to Ash, for whatever reason, he couldn't do it this time. No matter how much he quickened his pace, somehow, Ash continued to draw further and further away from him despite the fact that he still appeared to be walking at the same speed he had started. Within minutes, Greninja was running at a full sprint through the forest, but it was no use. Ash was still walking ahead, just barely visible through the rain and the thick grove of trees. 

"Ash, come back! Wait for me!" he shouted desperately. "Where are you going? I can't keep up with you!" 

But it was no use. Exhausted and unable to run any longer, Greninja staggered forward and dropped onto his knees. Breathing heavily to catch his breath, he watched in despair as Ash continued to walk away from him, growing smaller and smaller until he disappeared from view.

Greninja awoke with a start, his heart beating frantically against his chest and the same cold sense of dread still gripping him. As his mind slowly returned to the present, he stared around the hospital room frantically, checking to make sure Ash was still there. When he saw the raven-haired boy sleeping peacefully on his bed, he breathed out a sigh of relief, leaning back against the armchair he had claimed for himself. 

Tonight was the fifth night in a row that he'd had that dream. Every single night, it went the exact same way. He would find himself standing in the middle of a forest in a rainstorm, calling out to Ash so they could go back inside and get out of the weather. Rather than heeding his warnings, however, Ash would simply smile warmly at him before turning around and walking deeper into the woods. No matter how fast Greninja ran or how much he pleaded with him, the boy never returned to his side. Instead, he would just keep walking further and further away until all Greninja could do was watch helplessly as his best friend disappeared into the rainstorm. 

He wasn't entirely sure if he believed in the notion that dreams had hidden meanings, so he didn't know what to make of it. Greninja just wished that Ash wouldn't walk away from him for once. 

A quick glance at the clock on the nightstand told him that it was only half-past one in the morning. It would be at least another few hours until Ash and Lucario, the earliest risers of the group, were awake. Closing his eyes, Greninja tried to fall back asleep, but fear of entering the same dream sequence prevented him from being able to do so. In the end, he gave up and got out of his armchair, slowly making his way over to the other side of the room and staring out the window. 

"Greninja? What are you doing awake?" came the extremely tired voice of Lucario from behind him. Turning around, he saw the jackal sitting up from his own chair, rubbing his eyes tiredly. 

"Oh-sorry, Lucario. I just wasn't sleeping very well. I didn't mean to wake you," Greninja apologized. 

Lucario shook his head. "No, it's alright. I just woke up because I wanted a glass of water. Is everything alright with you?" 

He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. It's like I said, I just haven't been able to sleep tonight." 

"Worried about Ash?" the jackal asked sympathetically. "It's alright, I'm worried about him too. But he's a strong kid; he'll be fine." 

"It's not just that," Greninja corrected his friend. "I mean, it's part of it, don't get me wrong. But it's also just that...well..." 

He hesitated briefly, unsure whether to continue. Even though Lucario was one of his closest friends, he still didn't feel like admitting that he'd had a bad dream. Of course, Greninja knew how ridiculous he was being-everyone had nightmares from time to time. It was perfectly natural to be woken up by them. Yet somehow, his pride prevented him from opening up. 

As it turned out, however, he didn't need to. Lucario studied him carefully for a few moments before inquiring softly, "Bad dream, then?" 

Startled, Greninja snapped his head around to face the Aura Pokemon. "How did you know?" 

"I might not be able to synchronize with you the way Ash is able to, but I've known you for three years, Greninja. I know what you look like after you've woken up from a nightmare," Lucario told him seriously. "So, do you want to talk about it?" 

Greninja shook his head. "It's...I mean, I don't know. It's kind of stupid, to be honest. I've just been having this dream where I'm out in the forest, trying to get Ash to come out of a rainstorm, but I never can. And the dream always ends with him disappearing. And it's happened five nights in a row now, and every night it plays out exactly the same way." 

Even to his own ears, it sounded utterly ridiculous. He probably wouldn't have believed the story was true if he hadn't been suffering through the recurring nightmare himself. Rather than teasing him or laughing, however, Lucario just frowned thoughtfully. 

"I see...well, if you've been having the same dream five nights in a row, that's probably not a coincidence," the Aura Pokemon mused. "So there must be a reason behind it." 

"You believe me?" Greninja asked, startled. 

"I do. And I want to help get to the bottom of it," Lucario answered, still studying him carefully. "You've been with Ash for three years and never had any nightmares like this until now, so I don't think it has anything to do with a fear of being abandoned..." 

"No," he interrupted, shaking his head. If there was one thing Greninja was absolutely certain of, one truth that he knew in his heart of hearts, it was that Ash would never abandon him. 

"-but I can't really think of a lot of other possibilities," the jackal finished. "Dream interpretation was never really my thing."

"No kidding," Greninja snorted, though without any annoyance or malice. Stifling a yawn, he added, "Don't worry, I never bothered to learn much about it either."  

It was far from the most helpful talk he'd had with Lucario, but at this point, Greninja was too tired to mind. Nodding sleepily, he walked back over to his armchair and sat down, keeping one eye trained on Ash's still-sleeping form. He struggled to stay awake, not wanting to take his eyes off of the boy. After a few minutes, however, his exhaustion won out and a wave of darkness blanketed his mind. 

Chapter Text

The next morning, Ash was feeling refreshed and ready to get back on the road to Vermillion City. After a quick meditation session with Lucario, they went to the cafeteria to join Fallon and the others for breakfast. Since it was only seven in the morning, the cafe was mostly empty aside from Nurse Joy and a few other early risers. As he settled down at one of the tables with a plate of sausage and eggs and began to dig into his meal, Greninja and Lucario came to sit down beside him. Ash frowned, noticing the tired, sleep-deprived look on the frog-ninja Pokemon's face. 

"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly. 

"I'm alright, Ash. Don't worry about me," Greninja said gently.  

Ash frowned. "But you look like you didn't sleep at all. What happened?" 

"It was a long night, that's all," the frog Pokemon answered. 

"Oh. Do you want to go back to sleep after breakfast?" Ash offered, tilting his head to the side. "We can stay for one more day. I don't mind waiting a little longer." 

Greninja ruffled his hair. "Thank you, Ash, but I'll be alright. I can always take a nap later." 

Fallon shook her head. "Why is it that you're fine with sitting down and taking a break when everyone else is tired, but when we tell you to take care of yourself, it's impossible to get you to stop running around everywhere?" 

"Believe me, Fallon, we ask ourselves the same thing every day," Bulbasaur piped up from where he was munching on a Pokeblock. 

Ash rolled his eyes, reaching over to pet his grass-type's head. "Who needs parents when I've got all of you to fuss over me?" 

The others chuckled, and soon, the conversation at the table turned to more casual topics. Per Lucario and Greninja's instructions, Ash would be staying in the Pokemon Center until later that afternoon. Fallon was planning on having a quick training session with Staryu and Jolteon, so she offered to take the rest of his Pokemon out to join them. He agreed readily, not wanting to deprive his friends of an opportunity to train just because he was confined to his hospital room for a few more hours. 

"Make sure you all work hard, okay?" Ash instructed his Pokemon cheerfully. 

"Okay!" Charmander piped up. 

"We will!" Bulbasaur and Sylveon promised. 

"Naturally," Pidgeotto replied, doing what he assumed was the avian version of a bow. 

"You got it, Ash," Pikachu said, giving him a thumbs-up. 

He smiled and reached over to pet his friends, trying to ignore the pit of longing he could feel forming in his stomach. There was nothing he would have loved more than to be able to join them in their training session today. But Lucario and Greninja had been insistent, and Ash knew there would be no arguing against their wishes. Besides, it wouldn't be all that bad. It was only a few more hours, after all. He had made it this far, hadn't he? 

Of course, there was also the lingering question of why he had fainted in the first place, but Ash tried to push that to the back of his mind. It wasn't as though he had ever really gotten sick before unless he counted the occasional cold, but even those were few and far between. Maybe he had simply been more tired than he had realized and it had all caught up to him at once. 

Before he could ponder this much further, however, they were interrupted as Nurse Joy approached their table. "Excuse me, but is one of you Fallon Miller?" she asked politely. 

"That's me," Fallon spoke up, looking puzzled. "Is everything okay, Nurse Joy?" 

"Everything is fine, dear. I just came to let you know that I received a call from your parents," the pink-haired woman answered. 

"O-oh, really?" Fallon asked, trying to appear casual, although Ash could still see a hint of worry in her eyes. "What did they say?" 

"Not very much. They just wanted to let you know that they're hoping to check in on you soon. Your mother asked me to pass on a message to tell you to call them later," Nurse Joy informed her. 

"Ah, okay," the redhead sighed. "I, uh, I guess I'll call them later, then." 

But as she spoke the words, Ash couldn't help noticing that she refused to meet Nurse Joy's eyes. As soon as the kindly woman had left, Fallon let out a sigh, pushing her half-eaten plate of waffles away and slumping back in her seat. 

"Great," she groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Ash, do you think you could do me a favor? Find some berries that are poisonous to humans and make me a smoothie." 

"I, uh, I don't think I should do that..." Ash said nervously. 

Fallon sighed, allowing her forehead to drop onto the table. "Ugh. Well, I suppose it was inevitable anyway. Why now, though? Why couldn't they have just waited a little longer...like a few years...or maybe just forever?" 

"I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about, Fallon," Lucario said soothingly. "Your parents are good people, aren't they? I'm sure they'll understand when you explain what happened between you and Damian." 

"I don't know," she admitted, now staring down with her hands in her lap. "I mean, I know they've always been good to me, but this feels different somehow, you know? He was their son. What if they blame me because he got his license suspended and probably ruined his life?" 

"That won't happen," the Aura Pokemon comforted her. "If your parents love you as much as you say, then they'll understand. You just need to talk to them." 

"Besides, Damian didn't have much of a life to ruin anyway," Ash piped up. 

She laughed a bit at that, some of the worry in her expression disappearing. "Yeah, he really didn't, did he?" 

"Nope!" he answered. Giving her a reassuring smile, he added, "And hey, don't worry! If you're really that scared about talking to your parents, I can come with you when you call them. You know, to offer-uh, what's the term again, Greninja?" 

"Moral support?" the frog Pokemon suggested. 

"Moral support! Yeah, that's it," Ash agreed. 

"Really?" Fallon asked, blinking. "You don't mind?" 

"Mind? No way! I mean, it's not like I'll be doing anything else until this afternoon, right?" he pointed out. He grinned and added, "Besides, I'd do anything to help a friend." 

"And I'll come too," Charmander piped up. "It would be great to get to talk to Christine and Daniel again." 

Fallon smiled slightly, obviously having gotten the gist of the little fire-type's words. "Alright, then. Thanks, Ash and Charmander." 

"Anytime," Ash replied, beaming back at his friend. 

Another fifteen minutes passed, and eventually, everyone was finished with their breakfast. After depositing their empty plates on the cart for the used dishes and silverware, Ash, Charmander, and Fallon headed over to one of the video phones while the others went back up to Ash's hospital room. Fortunately, it was still fairly early and the other patrons had already left the cafeteria, which meant Fallon would be able to speak to her parents in private. 

"So your parents' names are Daniel and Christine?" Ash asked, trying to make conversation as Fallon began punching in some numbers on the keypad. 

"Yeah. Did Charmander tell you?" she inquired, glancing over at him. 

"Sort of. He said that it would be good to talk to them again," he explained, and she nodded. "There were two kids in my class named Daniel and Kristine. But they were brother and sister, and everyone called them Dan and Kristi. Also, Kristi spelled her name with a 'K'." 

"Ah, yeah. My mom's name is spelled C-H-R-I-S-T-I-N-E," Fallon said, smiling as she punched in another number. She shook her head. "I have to question the names she picked for me and Damian sometimes. I mean, there they are with some of the most normal-sounding names ever, and then they go and name us Damian and Fallon. What's up with that? How come they couldn't have picked something like Colin and Erin instead?" 

"Fallon isn't that unusual," Ash pointed out. "And your name is really pretty too. Besides, I have kind of a weird name too. I was named after a bunch of gray dust that gets left behind after a fire. Also, it makes you cough a lot. Don't ever try to climb up the chimney in your house." 

She chuckled and shook her head, turning to punch the last number in on the keypad. But as she raised her finger, the smile on her face dropped abruptly. Ash watched as Fallon stared down at the keypad before letting her arm drop back down to her side, a look of utter defeat on her face. 

"Fallon?" he asked worriedly. "What's wrong?" 

"Fallon?" Charmander said softly, reaching out toward his former trainer. 

"I...I can't do this," she whispered, staring down at her feet. "I can't talk to them. I can't face them." 

Ash didn't know what to say. Fallon's head was bowed and her shoulders slumped forward, her eyes downcast. She didn't just look defeated, she looked hopeless. As he watched, trying to think of something he could say or do to make her feel better, she turned around and slid down the wall, coming to sit on the floor with her head on her knees. 

"I'm sorry," Fallon whispered, and it seemed to Ash as though she were speaking both to him and to someone who wasn't even there, but he sat down next to her and placed an arm around her shoulders all the same. "I'm sorry you have to put up with me. I don't mean to be like this. I'm sorry." 

Chapter Text

Fallon stared blankly ahead as Jolteon and Pikachu engaged in a practice battle, a glass of water clutched loosely in her hand. Although she was supposed to be assisting with the Pokemon in their training session, she could barely bring herself to pay attention to anything that was going on around her. The darkness that had temporarily dissipated after joining Ash's traveling group had suddenly returned in full force. She felt as though she were trapped under the weight of a thousand stones, able to see the light on the other side but not quite strong enough to free herself. 

What's the matter with me?

Why was she so weak? Here she was, free from her brother, free to finally have the journey she had always wanted, and yet she couldn't move on. She couldn't even bring herself to speak to her parents. Her parents, who had never been anything but kind and supportive of her, and she couldn't do something as simple as giving them a call when they were probably worried about her. What sort of a daughter was she? Maybe Damian had been onto something all those times he told her how worthless and pathetic she was. 

No, Fallon thought firmly, tossing the thought aside immediately. Regardless of anything, she knew she hadn't done anything to deserve to be spoken to the way Damian had with her. His opinion of her was his problem and his problem alone. 

But still, why couldn't she summon up the courage to give her parents a call? 

Logically speaking, she knew she didn't have anything to worry about. Officer Jenny would have told her parents what had happened-or, well, at least what she had been led to believe happened. They had never blamed her for Damian's actions before, so Fallon knew that her concerns about them doing so now were entirely unfounded. Yet at the same time, she just couldn't rid herself of whatever it was that was keeping her from talking to them. 

What made it even worse was the fact that she knew Ash and his Pokemon were doing everything they could think of to help her, and yet she was still a complete disaster (to put it lightly). It just didn't make sense. She had the greatest support system she could have asked for. And she wanted to get better. That was the thing. By all logic, moving on should have been a piece of cake. Yet somehow, for reasons she couldn't even begin to figure out, it just wasn't enough. 

"Fallon?" 

"Hello, Lucario," Fallon murmured, not even bothering to look up. 

"Are you alright?" the Aura Pokemon asked softly. "You're looking a bit down." 

"I'm-" Fallon tried to say "fine", but almost instinctively, her eyes shifted over toward Lucario. When she saw the gentle concern in the deep red eyes, she found that she couldn't bring herself to lie to him. Instead, she shook her head and said bitterly, "I think I'm just completely, irreversibly screwed up." 

Lucario didn't say anything. He simply sat there silently, waiting for her to gather her thoughts enough to continue speaking. 

"I'm just...I don't know," she sighed, staring down at her feet again. "I'm just so tired of being miserable all the time, but I just can't seem to do anything about it. You've all done so much to try to help me. I don't know why it isn't working. I want to get better, but it's not enough and I don't know why. And I just wish I could be a better friend to all of you because I'm sure you must be sick and tired of having someone like me constantly dragging the mood down." 

"Fallon. No," Lucario said firmly, placing a paw on her knee. "You are a good friend and we most certainly are not sick of you. It's not your fault that you aren't well right now." 

"I know," Fallon murmured. "I just wish things would get better for me." 

The sound of a window opening overhead made her look upward. Glancing in the direction it had come from, she saw Ash peering down at her from the balcony of his hospital room. Even from her vantage point, Fallon could see the concern in his gaze. She smiled as reassuringly as possible, not wanting to worry him even more than she already had that day, which fortunately seemed to do the trick. He hesitated briefly, then nodded and closed the window, disappearing back inside. 

"How's Ash doing?" Fallon asked Lucario, eager to get the conversation off of herself for a bit. 

"He's frustrated with being shut up in his room, but he's alright. Actually, Ash was the one who told me to come to check on you," Lucario admitted. 

Fallon wasn't surprised to hear that. No matter what, Ash always seemed to be more concerned with everyone else's health and happiness than his own. She really didn't know how he did it. How was it possible for him to care so much about others and not at all about himself? 

Alright, well, maybe it was a bit of a stretch to say that he didn't care at all about himself, but it was definitely less so than she and everyone else would have liked. 

"I think you should speak to someone," Lucario said suddenly, bringing her back to reality. 

"Speak to someone?" she repeated, blinking. "What do you mean by that?" 

"I mean I think you should speak to someone about how you've been feeling about...well, everything that's happened," the jackal told her. 

"Like who?" Fallon asked dubiously. "I don't have any friends aside from you guys, and I can't talk to my parents about this. Who else do I have left?" 

"I want you to start seeing a therapist," Lucario clarified. 

"But if talking to my friends doesn't help, then how will talking to some random stranger be any better?" she pointed out skeptically. 

"Therapists aren't just random strangers. They've been trained to help people cope with various mental health issues," he explained. "They can provide the help that the rest of us might not necessarily be able to." 

Fallon hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do. Lucario's suggestion certainly had its merits; that was undeniable. But what if it wasn't enough? She had already exhausted all of her other options. If this didn't work out, she didn't know what she would do then. 

At the same time, though, what other choice did she have? If there was even the slightest chance that it would help her, then she had to take it. Didn't she? She might not have known whether it would be the right decision in the long run, but she knew that she would hate herself forever if she let this opportunity slip by. 

"Alright," she agreed finally, exhaling slowly. "I'll do it." 

Chapter Text

As it turned out, there was just enough time left in the day for a walk-in appointment with a therapist just down the street from the Pokemon Center. After a quick late lunch, Fallon went over to the counselor's office along with her friends. Along the way, Ash and Lucario walked beside her, helping to calm her growing nervousness about her upcoming appointment. She felt a bit guilty about delaying their return to traveling even further, but nobody else seemed to mind much. 

"You're going to be fine," Ash told her, smiling brightly. "Whoever you talk to is going to be there for you just like we are. And they're going to know how to help you. But you have to let them help, okay?" 

"He's right, you know," Lucario spoke up. "I know talking about everything to someone you haven't met yet can be frightening, but remember, your therapist isn't your enemy. And anything you discuss with them will be purely confidential. They just want to help you get better." 

Fallon nodded, glancing over at Ash. "Are you sure you don't want to get back on the road?" she asked tentatively. "I mean, I know we were supposed to head out again today, and now because of me we're going to have to wait until tomorrow morning..." 

However, Ash just laughed and waved her off. "Nah, don't worry about it. If it helps you, I don't mind waiting a little bit longer. Besides, Greninja and Lucario would probably keep me in bed for the rest of my life if they could." 

"Greninja gren, greninja," Greninja scoffed, though his voice betrayed the barest hint of amusement. 

"Pikapi, pika!" Pikachu added. 

The raven-haired trainer rolled his eyes. "Alright, so apparently all of them would keep me in bed for the rest of my life if they could." 

Fallon chuckled lightly at that, but she couldn't deny the truth of Ash's statement. Nor could she deny the fact that his Pokemon had more than enough reason to be so overprotective. The mystery of what had caused him to pass out was still lingering at the back of everyone's minds. She had overheard Lucario talking to Ash about getting more tests done, but the messy-haired boy had adamantly refused, stating that he didn't want to spend even more time in the hospital. After some arguing, it had been agreed that they would let it go for now, but if the same thing happened again, Ash would go in for testing. 

Personally, she had a few theories about what was going on with her friend. But she wasn't a doctor, so she didn't say anything. 

"What are you going to do while I'm having my appointment?" she asked, deciding to break the silence. 

"Not much, really. Everyone's pretty tired from training, so we'll most likely just walk around town for a bit," Ash answered with a shrug. 

"Sounds like fun," Fallon remarked wistfully. 

"Yeah. Hey, what do you say we all go out for dinner later?" he suggested. "I overheard a few trainers talking about a ramen shop around here that's supposed to be good." 

"Sure thing," she agreed cheerfully. She wasn't about to turn down an offer of a bowl of ramen. 

"I'll gather some berries for myself, but you all have fun," Lucario said. "Ah, here we are." 

Looking ahead, Fallon saw that they had stopped in front of a very plain-looking building. This, apparently, was the office where she would be speaking to her therapist. She wasn't entirely sure what she had expected, but it looked oddly...normal. Almost dull, as a matter of fact. Not that she had expected anything extravagant, but would it have done any harm to at least paint the walls a slightly brighter color? 

Then she shook her head. The colors of the building had nothing to do with why she was there. She could criticize their choice of decor all she wanted later, but for now, she had an appointment to make.

 There wasn't much to see in the small town, but Ash was determined to make the most of the next hour and a half while they waited for Fallon's appointment to finish. Fortunately, if there was one thing he was good at, it was finding enjoyment in small things, and he was only too eager to explore after being trapped inside his hospital room. The raven-haired boy dragged Greninja and Lucario in every direction possible, trying to make enough time to visit every shop in town before it was time to meet up with Fallon again. 

"Ash, slow down! The shops aren't going to go anywhere!" Greninja called after him. "And we don't need you passing out again either!" 

"Oh, come on. I'm fine," Ash pouted, sticking his tongue out at the frog Pokemon. "Besides, there's so much to see! I want to explore before I have to go back to the Pokemon Center tonight." 

"Explore what, exactly?" Lucario asked, looking amused. "This is one of the smallest towns I've ever seen." 

He shrugged. "Yeah, but we've never been here before, have we? So there's still a lot for us to do." 

"Fair enough," the jackal conceded. 

Ash grinned triumphantly and was about to respond when a sudden cry of alarm caught their attention. Spinning around in the direction it had come from, he spotted a group of trainers near the Pokemon Center, all staring up at something in the sky. He followed their gazes to see a large, Meowth-shaped hot air balloon being piloted by a woman with pink hair, a man with long lavender hair, and a Meowth. But the sight that made Ash's blood boil, however, was the net attached to the base of the balloon containing three stolen Pokemon: a Flareon, an Exeggcute, and a Poliwag. 

"You thieves! Give us back our Pokemon!" a young boy shouted. 

"I want my Poliwag back!" a girl cried. 

"You won't get away with this!" another boy who appeared to be the girl's brother raged. 

However, the two thieves just chuckled cruelly. Doing what was perhaps the stupidest pose Ash had ever seen, the woman called out, "Prepare for trouble, is that-" 

Ash had no idea where the woman was planning on taking her impromptu recitation next, but he knew he wasn't going to stand around and find out. Snapping his head around, he ordered sharply, "Greninja, Night Slash on that net! Pikachu, deflate that balloon with Iron Tail! Lucario, get ready to catch those Pokemon when they fall out of the net." 

If Lucario was at all surprised about Ash giving him an order, he didn't show it. Almost too fast for him to see, Greninja and Pikachu rushed forward, leaping almost impossibly high into the air. Greninja's Night Slash sliced clean through the net, freeing the stolen Pokemon, all of whom were quickly saved from a fall to certain death by a well-timed Psychic from Lucario. Pikachu's Iron Tail punctured a large hole in the balloon. The three Pokemon thieves let out shrieks of rage but were powerless to do anything as they were sent back down to earth as well. 

"That was uncalled for!" the woman spat, climbing out of the ruined balloon. 

"We're here on an urgent mission from the boss!" the man protested. 

"Now you give us back those Pokemon, twerp!" Meowth hissed threateningly-or at least as threateningly as a cat less than half of Ash's size could manage. 

Ash didn't bother to be surprised that a Meowth could speak in human tongue (and, unlike Lucario, without using Telepathy). He was going to teach these Pokemon thieves a lesson they wouldn't forget anytime soon. Closing his eyes, he summoned up everything Lucario had taught him over the past three years and charged at the stunned group. Using his aura to channel his strength into his fist, he delivered a blow to the man's stomach that sent him crashing to the ground. The woman snarled and moved to strike him in retaliation, but an Aura Sphere from Lucario quickly put her out of commission. Finally, Greninja finished off Meowth with an Ice Beam as Ash knocked the man unconscious for good measure. 

Dusting himself off, Ash turned around to see the three rescued Pokemon and their trainers staring at him in undisguised awe. He chuckled lightly and waved at them as he went back over to Lucario and Greninja, who ruffled his hair fondly. 

"That was excellent, Ash," Lucario said, pride lacing his voice. 

"Thanks, Lucario," Ash replied, beaming. "You guys were all really awesome too. I think we taught those idiots a lesson, didn't we?" 

"That we did," Pikachu agreed, grinning triumphantly. 

He chuckled and walked over to the three trainers, all of whom were still looking at him with the same expression of amazement in their eyes. "Are all of your Pokemon okay? I have medicine for them if any of them are hurt." 

"N-no, they're okay," the girl spoke up, stammering ever so slightly. Then she rushed forward and hugged him. "Thank you so much. I don't know how we can ever repay you. If you hadn't come along when you did, who knows what would have happened to our Pokemon?" 

"We really owe you one," the first boy agreed. 

"No problem. I'm just glad they're all okay," Ash reassured them, tactfully freeing himself from the girl's embrace. "What are your names?" 

"I'm Lianna, and this is my brother, Darryl," the girl said, indicating herself and the second boy. 

"My name's Brendan. I'm a friend of Lianna and Darryl," the first boy introduced himself. 

"Nice to meet all of you! I'm Ash, and these are my friends, Greninja, Pikachu, and Lucario," Ash said cheerfully, gesturing to his Pokemon partners, who had joined him at his side. 

"Pleasure," Lucario said politely, nodding to the three trainers. 

Predictably enough, their eyes bugged out of their heads. "You-you can talk?" Darryl exclaimed. 

"I can, yes. I learned how to use Telepathy after years of training," Lucario explained. Ash noticed that his voice bore none of his usual irritation at the typical shock he received over his ability to speak in human language. Perhaps he thought that Darryl, Lianna, and Brendan had already been through enough without being snapped at as well. 

"Do you know who they are?" Ash asked, jerking his head in the direction of the still-unconscious thieves. 

They all shook their heads. "No idea," Lianna answered. "We were just on our way to the Pokemon Center to check into our rooms when they came out of nowhere in that giant balloon. But we've never seen them before in our lives." 

"But we did notice that the two humans were both wearing crop top shirts with the letter 'R' on them," Darryl added. 

Ash nodded, having seen the same thing. He also recalled the Meowth mentioning something about a boss. It didn't take a genius to realize that they were obviously working for someone, but whether it was a ring of petty Pokemon thieves or something far greater remained to be seen. 

Well, whoever they were, Officer Jenny could deal with them. As if on cue, right at that moment, the blue-haired police officer pulled up on a motorbike, screeching to a halt beside the ill-fated group. 

"I just received a call about a group of Pokemon thieves in the area. Are these them?" Officer Jenny asked, gesturing to the unconscious humans and Meowth. 

"They are," Ash confirmed. 

"They were about to steal our Pokemon in that balloon over there," Lianna said, nodding over to the destroyed hot air balloon. "But Ash and his Pokemon saved them." 

"Is that so?" Officer Jenny asked, giving the boy a look of approval. "In that case, my thanks are with you. I came as fast as I could from Vermillion City, but it looks as if you're the true hero for today." 

"Thanks," Ash said, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "But it's really Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu who did all the work. All I did was knock out the guy with the weird lavender hair." 

"Then I must thank all of you as well," the blue-haired officer replied, nodding respectfully to the aforementioned Pokemon, all of whom waved in acknowledgment. To Darryl, Lianna, and Brendan, she added, "You can rest assured that these criminals will be spending quite a bit of time behind bars." 

"Thank you, Officer Jenny. That's a relief to hear," Brendan said sincerely. 

"Now nobody else will have their Pokemon snatched up like ours were," Lianna added. 

Officer Jenny smiled briefly before attaching the three thieves to the back of her motorbike and speeding off, leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. Ash watched her go, grinning inwardly to himself. He was going to have quite the story to tell Fallon later when they met up again after her appointment. 

Speaking of which...

"Hey, what time is it? Fallon should be about finished by now, right?" he asked, turning to Lucario. 

"I think so, yes," the Aura Pokemon confirmed, glancing up at the sky. "We should start heading back just in case." 

They bade a quick farewell to the three trainers, all of whom thanked them one last time. As Ash walked beside Lucario and Greninja, enjoying the feel of the gentle breeze on his face, he was able to push the incident with the Pokemon thieves to the back of his mind. Now that Officer Jenny had them in her hands, they wouldn't be a threat to anyone anytime soon. 

"I wonder how long they'll be in jail for," Pikachu remarked suddenly. 

"Don't know, but I hope it's for a long time. Thieves like them deserve nothing but the worst," Greninja replied, an unusually savage look in his eyes. 

"You can say that again," Ash agreed fervently. His Pokemon were like family to him. The mere thought of anyone stealing them from him made his blood boil. 

"They're nothing but a bunch of low-life criminals who like to destroy everything they touch. I'd be willing to bet they were going to sell those poor Pokemon for a profit," Lucario spoke up, his voice edged with anger. "And that Meowth is a traitor to all Pokemon for helping them. Any Pokemon who would willingly work alongside humans aiming to cause harm to Pokemon or other humans is a traitor." 

"I wonder why he's with them?" Ash wondered aloud. "I mean, what would he even gain by helping a couple of Pokemon thieves? They're not even good at their job if they're trying to steal Pokemon in broad daylight, and I don't think they're doing anything for him." 

"Who knows? Why do Pokemon thieves do anything?" Greninja asked, shrugging. 

"True," he agreed. Then he brightened. "Hey, Lucario? I just remembered something." 

"Yes, Ash? What is it?" the jackal asked curiously. 

"We met another Pokemon today that can speak human like you! And he's not a psychic-type or a legendary either!" Ash told his mentor cheerfully. "Which means that you're not the weird one in the group anymore!" 

Lucario's response was to bop him playfully on the nose. 

Chapter Text

While Ash and his Pokemon were dealing with the Pokemon thieves, Fallon found herself sitting in a cozy office across from a kind-looking woman, leaning back against the soft couch cushions. She rested her head on her arm, staring out the window as she tried to formulate a response to the question she had been asked not even five minutes ago. Yet no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't think of anything to say. 

All in all, her first session so far had gone well. She hadn't been expected to unload all of her troubles at once as she had feared. Her therapist, Marci Summers, had started off simple, asking her basic questions about herself such as her name and random interests such as her favorite color, her favorite book, and her favorite movies. By the time they had moved onto Fallon's family life, she had felt comfortable enough with Marci to explain the dynamics between herself, her parents, and her brother. 

"My mom and dad are great. They've always been super nice to me and did their best to make sure I had everything I needed," Fallon had told her. 

Marci had nodded, making a note on her clipboard. "And what about your brother, Damian?" 

"Oh, him?" she had asked, grimacing. "He's...awful, to put it lightly. He treats everyone as if they're nothing, especially me. Our interactions mostly consist of him telling me how much he hates me or how worthless he thinks I am, and that's on a good day. And he's pure evil. Did you know he had his license suspended recently because he tried to kill one of my old Pokemon?" 

"No, I didn't know that," Marci had said, her eyes widening ever so slightly. "Would you like to tell me more about that?" 

And so Fallon had told her everything. She had told Marci about Damian's hatred for Charmander, his belief that the fire-type was weak, and that she was wasting her time trying to train him. How he had constantly told her that she needed a stronger fire-type. She told her about how everything had come to a head on that fateful evening when, after she had fallen ill while walking to the next Pokemon Center, Damian had taken advantage of her situation to leave Charmander to die in an oncoming storm. 

"If my friends hadn't come along when they did, Charmander wouldn't be alive today," she had stated. 

"And how did that make you feel when you found out what Damian had done?" Marci had asked. 

Fallon had blinked in confusion. What sort of a question was that. "Well, furious, of course. Livid. I mean, he tried to kill my Pokemon. How else was I supposed to feel about it?" 

"Were you just angry?" the older woman had pressed. "No other emotions that you can think of?" 

She had thought for a few moments, trying to remember and make sense of the tangled mess her heart and mind had been in that night. "I mean...I guess I kind of felt shocked in a way. I knew Damian didn't like Charmander, but I'd never really thought that he would go as far as to try to kill him." 

"So would you say you felt betrayed?" Marci had prompted. 

"I guess? I mean, I don't know if 'betrayed' really fits in this situation," Fallon had replied with a shrug. "I always knew Damian was a horrid, awful person, it was just that I always thought murder would be too far even for him. But sometimes, part of me feels like I should have seen it coming." 

She had sighed, leaning forward with her hands clasped together in her lap. "That's...that's why I chose to give up Charmander, actually. He wasn't safe with me. Even after Damian was arrested, I still felt like I had to give him up. He's training with Ash-he's one of my best friends-and so far, everything's going well. I've been traveling with Ash ever since...well, ever since everything happened." 

"I see," Marci had murmured. "And how has it been, seeing Charmander training under Ash? I can tell by the way you talk about him that you two must have been close." 

"I do miss him a lot," Fallon had admitted. "But I know I did the right thing. He's safe and happy with Ash, and anyway, it's not as if I'll never see him again. As long as he's okay, then that's all I really care about. I'm happy as long as he's safe and happy." 

"But, well...that's why I'm here today, honestly," she had confessed, relieved to finally be getting to the heart of the matter. "Because I'm not happy. I still can't stop thinking about what Damian did. It's easy enough to handle during the day, at least most of the time, because at least then, I have other things to distract me. But when I'm alone, when it's nighttime out..."

Fallon had trailed off, momentarily lost in thought as she recalled all the nights she had spent staring up at the sky (or, in some cases, the ceiling of her room in the Pokemon Center), feeling her insides burn with rage at the memory of her brother's attempt on Charmander's life. The feeling grew so intense at times that she found herself looking down at her body, convinced that she must have been on fire. It was almost unbearable, an all-encompassing agony that threatened to eat away at her very soul until she felt as though she would either scream for help that she felt would never come or die in its hellish grasp. Yet somehow, she just couldn't let go of it, couldn't move away. 

"I just can't let go of it," she had admitted finally, feeling a strange mixture of shame and relief at getting it out in the open. "And I want to. So badly. I don't think I could ever explain how badly I just want to be able to move on with my life. But I can't, and I just don't know why. I mean...I have everything I could ever ask for. My friends have all been wonderful to me, better than I probably deserve considering how much I must drag the mood down. They want me to get better. I want to get better. But it's just not happening, and it doesn't make any sense. And I need to know because I hate that I'm still letting my brother have this much power over me, and I just...I don't know. I don't know what's wrong with me, and I don't know how I'll even begin to try to fix it." 

After that, she had paused for a few minutes, trying to catch her breath. Part of her had felt embarrassed about unloading all of her demons onto a woman she hadn't even known for an hour yet, but another part of her, the part that she was desperately clinging onto, felt at peace. Maybe she had come on a bit strong, but it had felt good to finally get at least some of what had been plaguing her mind off her shoulders. 

But then Marci had asked the question that had brought her to the position she was in now. "Do you think that you would feel better if you tried to forgive your brother?" 

At first, she had been incredulous. "Forgive? Why should I forgive him? He tried to kill my Pokemon!" she had snapped. "He's a monster! And you want me to just go up to him and say, hey, it's all good? That's it? He tries to kill my Pokemon, my friend, and...what? I start inviting him over for cookies?" 

"Forgiveness doesn't mean you have to reestablish a relationship, Fallon," Marci had said gently. "It just means letting go of your rage toward him." 

"But isn't that the same thing as letting him off the hook?" she had asked in confusion. 

"Not necessarily," the older woman had explained. "Think about it like this. Imagine that there's a rope that's been lit on fire. This rope represents the pain your brother has caused you. One end is tied around his neck, and you're holding the other end in your hands. Right now, you're both getting burned. But if you let go of the rope, he'll still be getting burned, but you won't be suffering anymore. Your hands will have scars that will take time to heal, but you'll finally be able to begin the healing process for real. That's what forgiveness is, Fallon. It doesn't mean absolving Damian of his crimes. It means letting go of your anger so that it doesn't cause you pain anymore." 

Now, Fallon found herself staring out the window, mulling over Marci's words in her head. The analogy made sense, at least from a logical standpoint. She could certainly see why letting go of the rope would feel liberating. But at the same time, she just didn't know how to. Even though Marci had reassured her that it wasn't so, she couldn't help feeling that if she let go of her end, Damian would somehow be able to free himself from his end. 

But at the same time..what good was it doing? She wanted Damian to suffer the same anguish she had, first over nearly losing Charmander, then over believing she had accidentally murdered her brother, and finally over having to give up the little fire-type for his own safety. That was the problem, though. Damian wasn't capable of caring for anyone besides himself. He would never know the pain of having to lose a loved one because he didn't know how to feel love. The burning rope wasn't affecting him because he didn't have the emotional capacity to feel any semblance of guilt for his actions. She might as well have lit herself on fire and allowed him to pour gasoline over her for all her rage toward him was doing for her. 

One thing Fallon knew for sure, though, was that she was tired of burning herself. She was done with being in pain all the time. There was no telling if her scars would ever fully heal, but she had to at least try. 

"How do I do it?" she asked finally. "How do I let go of the rope?" 

"You don't have to do much. Just close your eyes and take a deep breath," Marci instructed gently. "And once you do that, I want you to repeat the phrase 'I forgive you.' As many times as you need." 

Fallon nodded, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I forgive you," she whispered. 

"I forgive you." 

"I forgive you." 

"I forgive you." 

As the minutes ticked by, she repeated the phrase word for word, never moving from her position on the couch. Slowly but surely, as Fallon continued her mantra, she felt the fury that had been scorching away at her insides melt away into a calm oasis of peace. 

Chapter Text

Having never been to Vermillion City before, Ash wasn't entirely sure what to expect when he set foot inside the city for the first time. He knew the city's gym leader was an electric-type user, so he supposed Vermillion City would have something to reflect that. Maybe there would be a massive power plant or some sort of electrical grid. 

One thing he had definitely not expected to see, however, was a long line of trainers and injured Pokemon stretching nearly halfway around the block. 

"Arceus above!" Fallon exclaimed, coming to a stop beside him. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the scene before them. "What did that to them?" 

"I don't know," Ash murmured. "But I don't like the look of this." 

Greninja walked up to his other side. "This has the look of something Pokemon hunters would have done, but...I don't know. I can't sense any malicious presence anywhere around here." 

"Perhaps they left already," Lucario suggested, his eyes dark with anger on the wounded Pokemon's behalf. 

"Maybe," Ash agreed, feeling his aura churning with rage. If this was the work of Pokemon hunters or more Pokemon thieves, he would see to it that they paid for their crimes. "Come on, let's figure out what's going on." 

Together, they began making their way toward the long line outside the Pokemon Center. As they walked, every so often, Ash found himself having to dodge out of the way as more trainers rushed past him, their Pokemon clutched in their arms. From what he could see, all of them were in varying states of consciousness. Fortunately, it didn't appear as though any of their injuries were life-threatening, but some of them would definitely be bearing the scars of whatever had happened to them for a long time. 

Suddenly, Ash stopped dead in his tracks as a familiar trainer caught his eye. There, standing at the very end of the line was Paul, clutching an unconscious Grotle in his arms. The purple-haired Sinnoh native was tapping his foot, doing his best to appear cold and unconcerned, but Ash could sense the waves of fear coming from the other boy. He felt a pang of confusion. This was Paul, the same boy who had stated aloud that he only cared about Pokemon if it meant they would win battles for him. And yet...

"Is that who I think it is?" Lucario asked, staring in shock at the purple-haired trainer. 

"Who do you mean?" Fallon inquired, looking puzzled. "Ash, do you know that guy?" 

"Yeah. His name's Paul," Ash explained, still not taking his eyes off the Sinnoh native. 

"Friend of yours?" 

"No," he answered instantly, shaking his head. "He's...well, to be honest, he's kind of a jerk. Okay, he's a massive jerk. He thinks Pokemon are only good for winning battles, and he's told us before that he abandons his Pokemon if they can't win enough for him." 

Fallon grimaced. "Okay, yeah, he does sound awful." 

That was certainly the understatement of the century. Yet, even so, Ash couldn't suppress a pang of sympathy for Paul. For all his talk about how Pokemon were just tools to be used in battle, it definitely appeared now as if he was genuinely worried about Grotle.

In all likelihood, he was just worried about the prospect of losing his strongest (and, most likely, only) Pokemon and having to "waste time" finding a new powerhouse. But still, something about Paul's expression tugged at Ash's heart. Maybe, just maybe, there was a small part of the Sinnoh native that truly cared for his Pokemon's well-being after all. 

Before he fully realized what he was doing, Ash found himself walking up to the purple-haired boy. Upon hearing him approach, Paul spun around, glaring hostilely at him. But with the distress Ash could sense coming from the other trainer in waves, it failed to have the effect he was evidently hoping it would have. 

"What do you want?" Paul snapped. "Don't you have something better to do than waste my time?" 

"What happened to Grotle?" Ash asked, refusing to rise to the bait. "Who did this to him?" 

"Not that it's any of your business, but it was Lt. Surge," Paul replied harshly. "We had a battle against him, and we lost. And now Grotle's ended up like this. There. Now you know the story." 

"Lt. Surge?" Fallon spoke up, sounding shocked. "You're telling me that a gym leader did this?" 

Paul spared her a brief glance. "Who are you?" 

"Fallon Miller, but that's not important right now. So did a gym leader really do...this...to all of these Pokemon?" Fallon asked impatiently, gesturing to the long line of trainers. 

"Yes. Apparently, he's known for being a harsh battler," Paul answered shortly. He narrowed his eyes. "I'll admit I underestimated him. I didn't truly expect him to take our battle as far as he did. But you can rest assured that I won't make the same mistake twice." 

His words were exactly what Ash would have expected out of someone like Paul, someone who only saw Pokemon as a means to meet an end goal. Paul's aura, however, told a different story entirely. And there was no mistaking the way his hands shook ever so slightly, only to still mere seconds later as he was evidently forcing his emotions back under control. For the first time, Ash felt a stab of reassurance that the boy standing before him did have it in him to care about others after all. 

One thing was for certain, though. No matter what else he might have thought of Paul, he couldn't just walk away when Grotle was in the condition he was in. 

"Let me heal Grotle," Ash offered quietly. 

Paul snapped his head up. "W-what?" he asked in disbelief. "You want to heal Grotle? Why? Why would you care about my Pokemon?" 

"Because Ash cares about all Pokemon," Lucario spoke up, drawing Paul's attention onto himself. "It doesn't matter whether they're his own or not. He only cares that all Pokemon are safe and happy." 

"But why would you care about my Pokemon?" Paul repeated. "We're not even friends." 

Ash tilted his head to the side. "Is not being friends really a good enough reason not to help someone when you see they need it?" 

The other boy just stared at him, apparently unable to think of an answer. Ash smiled softly before placing his hands on Grotle's battered body. His hands emitted a bright blue glow as his aura was transferred over to the injured Pokemon. Slowly but surely, the wounds on the grass-type's body began to heal. 

Lucario had once told him that this was the most dangerous aspect of being an Aura Guardian, that transferring his aura to another living being meant that he was prepared to sacrifice himself for others. Fortunately for Ash, however, Grotle's injuries weren't severe enough to require a full transfer. By the time the Sinnoh grass-type was fully healed, he felt slightly winded but no worse for wear. 

"There you go," he said cheerfully, reaching out to pet the turtle-like Pokemon. "Feeling better now, Grotle?" 

"Much better. Thank you, sir," Grotle replied quietly. Ash grimaced slightly at being referred to as "sir" but otherwise smiled back at the grass starter. 

He looked over at Paul to see if he would receive any sort of thanks from him, but the purple-haired trainer remained utterly silent, staring down at the ground. Ash sighed inwardly, brushing it off for now. It looked as though some things would never change. 

At least Grotle's okay, he reasoned. Turning back to his friends, he said aloud, "Come on, let's head on down to the gym. I'd like to give Lt. Surge a taste of what he's got coming to him." 

"Let me take him on," Pikachu requested. "I've heard Lt. Surge uses a Raichu. I'd like nothing more than to get a crack at one of those." 

"You're on, buddy," Ash agreed, grinning. He paused for a moment. "How many Pokemon does Lt. Surge use?" 

"One," Paul spoke up suddenly, making him jump. He hadn't realized the other boy had been listening in. "His Raichu is the only Pokemon he uses. I suppose he thinks he doesn't need to use a second Pokemon...with the way he battles, it's probably a fair assumption." 

"Right," the raven-haired boy replied, still slightly put off by the interruption. Brushing it off, he reached up to scratch the little electric mouse behind his ears. "In that case, Pikachu, the show's all yours." 

"Let's go, then. This is one battle I don't want to miss seeing," Greninja said, his eyes glittering. 

Together, they turned around and began to make their way toward the Vermillion gym. Before they had gotten very far, however, Ash stopped as Paul suddenly called out his name. Turning around, he saw the purple-haired boy looking back at him with an odd expression on his face. The moment their eyes met, however, he looked down at the ground again as if he were too embarrassed to meet his gaze. 

"Is everything okay?" Ash asked in confusion. 

"Yeah. I just wanted to say...well, er, I just wanted to say...thanks," Paul muttered, his face turning pink. "You know, for helping Grotle and all that. It...it really does mean a lot to me." 

Ash stared at Paul in stunned silence for a brief moment before smiling brightly, feeling a twinge of happiness. "It was no problem." 

Paul hesitated for a fraction of a second before offering a fleeting smile in return. It was gone before Ash could be entirely sure of what he saw, though, and a moment later, the other boy had turned away and was walking toward the city's entrance, presumably off to train Grotle for his rematch against Lt. Surge. 

"Huh," Fallon remarked, staring after the Sinnoh native. "That was something else. He's a weird one, alright." 

"You can say that again," Greninja muttered. Evidently, he still wasn't willing to forgive Paul for his earlier treatment of Ash. 

Ash, however, just smiled and hummed to himself. Who knew that Paul had a heart after all? Maybe, if they kept running into each other, the two of them would learn to become friends someday. 

On second thought, that sounded like a terrible idea. 

Chapter Text

The lights in the Vermillion City gym were dim as Ash walked in through the doors, flanked by Greninja and Lucario with Pikachu on his shoulder and Fallon taking up the rear. Upon entering the gym, Ash saw that it wasn't exactly one of the more impressive ones in the Kanto region. There wasn't even a stand for spectators to sit in, just a single, sandy, plain-looking battlefield. It certainly wasn't what he would have expected out of an electric-type gym leader. Still, he hadn't come to admire the gym's aesthetics. 

Standing at the far end of the battlefield was a giant of a man, well over six feet tall with arms that were thicker than both of Ash's combined and short blond hair. Even from across the gym, Ash still had to crane his neck to look up into his face. Beside him, positively dwarfed by the man's sheer size, was a Raichu. Ash narrowed his eyes, knowing instantly who this man was: the Vermillion City gym leader, Lt. Surge. 

"Well, what do we have here?" Lt. Surge's voice boomed out across the field. "Two more little babies and their puny Pokemon. Come to challenge me for a gym badge, then?" 

"Is this guy for real?" Fallon muttered from behind Ash. 

"I am," Ash replied, stepping forward. "My name is Ash Ketchum, and I'm on a Pokemon journey." 

"Is that so? Which of your Pokemon will you be using, then?" Lt. Surge asked, eyeing Greninja and Lucario appraisingly. "I expect it will be one of the two standing beside you, am I right?" 

"Neither, actually," Ash shot back. He was liking Lt. Surge less and less with each passing moment. "I'll be using Pikachu." 

Lt. Surge's laughter threatened to shake the roof of the gym. "Ha! Do you really think your puny little Pikachu stands a chance against my Raichu?" 

I think a lot of things right now, actually, but I'm not going to say any of them out loud, Ash wanted to retort. Pushing down his rising anger, he snapped, "I came here to have a Pokemon battle, not to talk. If you're not going to have one with me, tell me now and I'll find another gym to challenge." 

"Alright, kid. But it's going to be your funeral," the burly gym leader snickered. Snapping his fingers, he pointed to a young man standing on the side of the field whom Ash hadn't noticed before. "You! Referee our battle for us!" 

"Arceus, does this guy know the meaning of manners?" Greninja asked, keeping his voice low so that Surge wouldn't overhear. "Whatever happened to please and thank you?" 

"He probably had it electrocuted out of him, not going to lie," Ash snarked under his breath, earning a series of chuckles from his friends. "Whatever. Come on, Pikachu. Let's teach this jerk that we're not going to bow down to a couple of bullies." 

"I thought you'd never ask," Pikachu said, his face twisted into a grim smile. 

As much as he hated to admit it, Ash knew that Lt. Surge's arrogance wasn't entirely unfounded. Cruelty didn't necessarily indicate a lack of ability. After all, if the condition of the Pokemon waiting to be treated by Nurse Joy was any indication, the gym leader's skills as a trainer were extremely high. He would have to take care not to let the gym battle get out of hand too quickly. If he was going to win, then he would have to find a way to force Surge to battle on his terms. 

That also meant he wouldn't be able to beat Lt. Surge using strength alone. Not only did Raichu have the advantage of size, using sheer brutality wasn't Ash's battling style. What was it that Lucario had told him just a few months before the start of his journey? If he tried to copy someone else's battling style, that was the easiest way to lose a fight. More importantly, Ash knew that he would never be capable of attacking Raichu with the same level of cruelty that Surge had shown to his previous challengers' Pokemon. 

No matter. We've got our own battling strategy, he thought to himself. 

"The battle between the gym leader, Lt. Surge, and the challenger, Ash Ketchum, will now begin," the young man announced. "Each trainer will have the use of one Pokemon. The battle will end when one trainer's Pokemon is unable to continue. Ready? Battle, start!" 

"Raichu, let's put an end to this match quickly! Use your Body Slam!" Lt. Surge ordered with a smirk. 

"Hope you'll enjoy being scraped off the gym floor into a jar, kid," Raichu snarked as he leaped high into the air. 

"Not going to happen! Pikachu, wait until Raichu's just above you, then dodge!" Ash countered. 

Pikachu nodded and readied himself, his cheeks sparking slightly as he lured Raichu in. At the last possible second, he leaped to the side, sending his evolved form crashing to the gym floor with a painful-sounding thud. Raichu was able to get back up fairly quickly, but it was clear that the unexpected crash had winded him. 

"Oof...ow..." Raichu moaned. 

"Raichu, don't give up! Use Take Down!" Lt. Surge ordered. 

"Not so fast! Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Ash called out. 

Before Raichu even had time to ready himself, Pikachu's body was enveloped in a white glow as he sped toward the larger Pokemon, slamming into his abdomen. Despite being less than half of Raichu's size, thanks to a bit of training with Lucario, Pikachu could hit hard and the added speed gave his Quick Attack a bit of extra force. His attack sent the larger electric-type staggering backward, grunting audibly in pain. 

"Raichu! What are you doing?" Surge cried. "Take Down again!" 

"Run around the gym, Pikachu! Make it chase you!" Ash countered. 

"What in the world?" he heard Fallon ask in confusion. "What's he up to?" 

"Just wait and see. He's got a strategy in mind, trust me," Greninja replied-rather a moot point seeing as Fallon couldn't understand a word he said. 

Soon, however, it became apparent just what Ash had been planning. Evidently, in some sort of twisted grab for power, Lt. Surge had elected to evolve his Raichu as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for him, this also meant that Raichu had never learned the speed attacks he was only capable of in his second evolutionary stage. He was having to expend a large amount of energy trying to stay within striking distance of Pikachu, a feat made all the more difficult by his greater weight. 

"How...are...you...so...fast?" Raichu panted, already gasping for air. 

"Well, it's like they always say! Small and fast wins the race!" Pikachu taunted over his shoulder. 

"That's...not...how it...goes," the exhausted Mouse Pokemon protested. 

"Too bad. It is in my world! And sorry to say, buddy, but you're living in my world now." 

Finally, too exhausted to keep going, Raichu collapsed onto the ground with a grunt. Before Lt. Surge had the chance to think of another attack, Ash took the opportunity to finish off the match for good. 

"Now, Pikachu! Finish him off with another Quick Attack!" he shouted. 

Once again, Pikachu's body was encased in the same white light as he sped toward Raichu. As exhausted as he was, the larger Mouse Pokemon had no hope of dodging the attack. With a loud thud, Raichu fell to the gym floor, unconscious. Just like that, the match was over. 

"Raichu is unable to battle! Pikachu's the winner! Which means the victory goes to Ash, the challenger," the referee announced. 

"Yes!" Ash cheered, racing over to Pikachu, who leaped back onto his shoulder. "You did it, Pikachu! You were so awesome!" 

"We won, Ash!" Pikachu exclaimed happily. 

"Great job, Ash and Pikachu! That was amazing!" Fallon greeted them as she raced over to his side along with Greninja and Lucario. "Pikachu, you were so cool! You took down Raichu like it was nothing!" 

Greninja reached out and slung an arm over Ash's shoulders. "Nice work there, kid." 

"Very well done," Lucario agreed, smiling softly. 

Ash beamed back at his friends when a shadow suddenly loomed over him. Turning around, he saw Lt. Surge approaching their group, holding a small lightning-shaped badge in his hand. 

"Congratulations, Ash. As proof of your victory against me, take this Thunder Badge," the massive gym leader said. His tone, filled with arrogance before, was benign and friendly now. 

"T-thank you," Ash stammered, accepting the offered badge. 

"Why are you suddenly being so nice?" Fallon blurted out. 

She was staring up at Lt. Surge, a look of indignant bewilderment on her face. Despite being less than half his size, she didn't appear to be at all intimidated by him. Ash was impressed. Fallon didn't look particularly strong at first glance, but she was far tougher than many gave her credit for. 

"What are you playing at? Just ten minutes ago, you were insulting all of us and calling us weak! And that's not even to mention what you did to those poor Pokemon you battled earlier!" she ranted. "And why do you feel the need to go as hard as you do anyway? Most of the trainers who battle you are still new! They're still learning how to be trainers! You're a gym leader, you're supposed to be preparing them, not relentlessly crushing them like flies!" 

Far from being offended, however, Lt. Surge just chuckled. "Kid, you answered your own question right there. I battle the way I do because the trainers who face me are new. It's how I teach them." 

"I...what?" Fallon asked, blinking in confusion. 

"Look, kid. As you said, the trainers who battle me are new. And that means they haven't seen what the real world has to offer," Lt. Surge said seriously. "In the real world, there are trainers who will go even harder than I do. Gym leaders and Elite Four members especially, but you'll also meet the occasional run-of-the-mill trainer who's not afraid to be brutal if it means winning matches. I'm doing my part to prepare them for what's to come." 

"No." 

In all honesty, Ash hadn't meant to interrupt. But as he listened to Lt. Surge's defense of his actions, he couldn't stop himself. He stood in front of the burly gym leader, glaring up into the man's face. 

"I disagree," he snapped. "I get that you think you're doing the right thing. But there's a line between being tough and being cruel, and beating newbie trainers' Pokemon into the emergency room crosses it. You aren't teaching them anything by doing that. And if you are teaching them anything, it's that they should fear Pokemon battles because some jerk like you might think it's all fun and good to try to seriously injure their Pokemon! How many trainers' dreams do you think you've crushed because you don't know how to 'teach' without being unnecessarily violent?" 

With that, he turned around and started walking toward the gym's exit, flanked once again by Lucario and Greninja. Just before he left, however, he turned around to fire one last parting remark over his shoulder. 

"Thank you for the gym battle, Surge. I hope you learn to be better in the future," Ash said bitterly. 

Chapter Text

Out of everything Greninja had planned on his agenda for the day, boarding a luxury cruise liner definitely hadn't been anywhere near the list. He had intended on spending the day training or perhaps seeing some of the sights in Vermillion City before it was time to head out on their journey again. But once Ash and Fallon had noticed the line for the cruise ship, their fate had been sealed. Sometimes, Greninja thought that he and Lucario had too much trouble saying no to the kids. 

Still, all things considered, being stuck aboard the St. Anne, as he had learned the ship was called, wasn't as bad as it could have been. In fact, Greninja had to admit that it was rather enjoyable. True, the close quarters of the ship made it difficult to train the way he normally did, but he was able to find a few wandering Pokemon to spar with and Lucario was always down for a quick practice match. Besides, seeing how excited Ash was made it well worth the sacrifice. 

"Isn't this so cool? Just look at how big this ship is!" Ash exclaimed happily, staring around the massive liner in awe. "I'll bet it's even bigger than our house! Probably bigger than two houses." 

"I would have to agree with that assessment," Greninja remarked, feeling a twinge of amusement. 

"Hey, Ash! Look at what I got!" Fallon called out. Turning around, Greninja saw her running up to the group clutching two corndogs. 

"Whoa! Cool!" the raven-haired boy exclaimed. "Where did you get them?" 

"They're selling them at a vendor back that way," she answered, jerking her thumb over her shoulder. "I got one for each of us." 

"Thanks! I was getting kind of hungry. Lucario ate my chocolate again," Ash told her, glaring playfully at the jackal. 

Lucario just smiled and patted Ash's shoulder. "Well, I have been telling you to get better at hiding it, haven't I?" 

"What's the point anyways? Even if I did find a better place to hide it, you'd still find it eventually," he complained. 

Lucario smirked and ruffled the boy's hair fondly. Privately, however, Greninja thought that Ash had a point. The Aura Pokemon had a notoriously strong sense of smell, able to pick up the faintest scent on the wind. No matter where Ash hid his chocolate, Lucario would know instantly where it was. 

"Well, whatever. At least it wasn't the raspberry chocolate this time," Ash grumbled, taking a bite of his corndog. Immediately, his face lit up again. "Yum! This is so good!" 

"That was a quick mood change if I've ever seen one," Pikachu remarked with a small laugh. 

As they continued to explore the ship, Greninja quickly discovered that there was another added bonus to being on board. With the boat as crowded as it was, it was impossible for Ash to run around the way he normally would. The raven-haired trainer looked a little put off about this, but Greninja couldn't help sending a silent prayer of thanks to Arceus. At least he wouldn't have to worry about Ash getting himself hurt again. 

Eventually, they found themselves on the deck of the ship, staring out over the water. It was a bright, sunny day with very little cloud cover and a gentle breeze blowing through the air: a perfect day for a cruise. Greninja looked over the railing at the clear blue ocean below, feeling a twinge of mingled longing and happiness. Being a water-type, he felt right at home in the sea. He glanced over to his left and saw that Lucario was taking the opportunity to test Ash's aura abilities. 

"Can you tell me what you see, Ash?" the jackal asked. 

Ash furrowed his brow slightly, his eyes closed tight. "There's a family of Goldeen swimming under the ship right now. And a bit further away and to the left, there's more Goldeen and a couple of Staryu. They look like they're playing. And...actually, it's mostly just Goldeen and Staryu for miles, but there are a few Corsola in the water too. Oh, and a few Gyarados too. But it seems like they're pretty peaceful for now." 

"Excellent. Well done, Ash," Lucario praised him. 

"Thanks, Lucario," Ash replied happily, beaming. 

Fallon looked at him curiously. "Just how far can you see with your aura, Ash?" 

"Right now? I'd probably say about...four miles, maybe?" the raven-haired boy estimated, furrowing his brow. 

"Four miles?" Fallon whistled, looking impressed. "That's pretty cool." 

Ash just shrugged. "Nah, it's not that great. Lucario can go a lot further than that." 

"I've also been training for much longer than you have," the Aura Pokemon pointed out. "And besides, four miles is impressive for where you are now, Ash. Very impressive." 

The messy-haired boy smiled happily at that before something seemed to catch his eye. Without warning, Ash ran back over to the edge of the deck, peering out into the water. Greninja felt his stomach drop as Ash suddenly jumped to the other side of the railing, balancing so that only his left hand and his heels were still on the ship. 

"Ash! Come back over here!" Pikachu, who had gotten knocked off of Ash's shoulder in his sudden jump over the railing, cried out worriedly. "You're going to fall!" 

"Guys, come look at this! There's a golden Magikarp down there!" the raven-haired boy said eagerly. 

"Really?" Fallon asked, rushing over to the side of the boat as well and looking down. "Whoa, you're right! I can see it too!" 

Ash grinned and gestured wildly for Greninja and Lucario to join them. Unfortunately, in doing so, he lost his grip on the railing. He let out a cry of shock as he slipped off the deck, only for Greninja to catch him and pull him back on board at the last second. 

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly as he scanned the boy for any sign of injury. 

"I'm okay!" Ash, who had all but recovered from his near fall, replied cheerfully. "See? Not even a scratch!" 

Lucario half-sagged against the railing, his face ashen. "Arceus above, Ash, just how many heart attacks are you planning on giving us?!" 

"Hmm...I don't know. Maybe around five?" Ash replied cheekily, grinning back at the Aura Pokemon. The jackal just looked at him sternly, and he sighed. "Alright, alright, I get it. Not funny." 

"You really should be more careful, Ash," Fallon told him, frowning. "One of these days, Greninja and Lucario aren't going to be around to save you, and then what?" 

"I'll be fine," he said, waving her off. "I can take care of myself." 

With that, he turned around and skipped back inside. Greninja sighed and shook his head, quickly following after his trainer. He loved Ash, more than anything, but the boy's recklessness was going to put him into an early grave. Sometimes, Greninja thought Ash might have had a death wish. At the very least, he had absolutely no regard for his own personal safety. 

That was what worried him the most. Ash cared so much for everyone else, even those whom he barely knew, yet he never seemed to give it a second thought when he put himself in harm's way. So far, he had escaped without too many scratches. But Fallon was right in saying that he couldn't trust that Greninja and Lucario would always be there to save him-or that anyone would be there to save him. Yet, even so, the reality of her statement clearly hadn't sunk in. 

"You know," Greninja said once he had caught up with Ash. "Fallon's right, you know. We aren't always going to be around to help out. And you really do need to start being more careful." 

"Yeah, I know," Ash admitted. 

"Then why don't you ever do it?" he asked. 

Ash shrugged. "I guess I just don't want to have any regrets." 

Greninja blinked, confused. "Elaborate, please?" 

There was no response from the messy-haired boy at first. His brow was furrowed, but not as though he were annoyed. It seemed as though he were pondering his response to Greninja's question. 

"My dad's illness wasn't something that forced him to stay in the hospital for long periods of time and for the most part, he acted just like any normal dad. I...well, I sort of knew something was wrong because he went to the doctor a lot, but I didn't really get it at the time. So the way he died was still kind of unexpected," he answered finally. "I mean, it was just a regular old day. We were out in the garden, enjoying the sunshine. And then the next thing I know, he's dead. Just like that. Once I understood what had happened, it kind of got me thinking...well, that could happen to anyone, right? We never really think about it, but no one really knows when they're going to die. My time might come in eighty years or in eighty seconds. So I decided that I was going to live the way I wanted to because if I happen to end up on the wrong end of a meteor falling from space, I don't want to die thinking about all the things I wanted to try but didn't because I was too afraid of getting hurt." 

Greninja remained silent for a few moments after Ash had finished his speech, pondering over the boy's words in his head. Being an adventurer himself, he could certainly see Ash's point about not wanting to worry too much about safety, at least not all the time. But there was a fine line between being adventurous and being plain reckless that he felt Ash still didn't understand. Not only that, but there seemed to be a deeper message hidden behind the raven-haired trainer's words that Greninja didn't want or know how to begin to unpack. 

"I get that," he said finally. "I really do. But wanting to experience a full life doesn't mean you should throw yourself headfirst into danger at every opportunity. It's still important to take your safety into account. Don't forget, even if there are some things you might not get to experience by being cautious, there are just as many things that you'll never experience if you snap your neck falling from a tree or something. With the right balance, you can still live a full life while also getting to live a long life." 

Ash smiled at that, but there was a hint of sadness behind his eyes. "Yeah, I guess I can see your point." 

Greninja frowned worriedly, wondering what it was about the mention of living a long and full life that was apparently bringing his mood down. But he didn't have the courage to ask, and it didn't seem as though Ash was intent on elaborating on the subject either. 

So instead, the two best friends just stood there together in silence, oblivious to the dark gray clouds forming in the sky outside. 

Chapter Text

Wave after wave crashed over the St. Anne as the boat was rocked violently from side to side. Thunder roared overhead while lightning flashed across the sky, and a heavy gust of wind threatened to blow the ship off course. Rain pounded the deck, causing the terrified and panicked passengers to slip and slide as they desperately tried to reach the rescue boats. The ship's captain was trying to maintain order, but in all the chaos and confusion, it was becoming impossible for him to do so. 

Ash bit back a yelp of fear as a particularly powerful gust of wind sent him barreling toward the edge of the deck. Quickly, he grabbed onto the railing, barely managing to steady himself as he scanned the deck for his friends. But with the sheer number of passengers on the deck, it was impossible to figure out who was who. 

Fortunately for him, he had other methods of searching. 

He closed his eyes, scanning the ship with his aura as he tried to search for his friends. It only took a split second for Ash to locate them, but almost immediately, he was presented with another problem. Somehow, Greninja, Lucario, Fallon, and Pikachu had all ended up on opposite sides of the boat. From what he could tell, Pikachu and Fallon were both below deck, but Lucario and Greninja were trapped among the flood of trainers trying frantically to escape. 

Great. That's everyone accounted for. But which way should I go first? Ash thought in frustration. 

As he was trying to make up his mind, another wave crashed over the deck. Ash jumped backward, trying to avoid being soaked. In doing so, however, he slipped on the hard, wet surface and fell onto his side, sliding down the length of the ship. This would have only presented a minor problem had it not been for the fact that the gap underneath the railing was the perfect size for Ash to slip right through. 

Before he could plunge into the raging waters below, however, a familiar webbed paw shot out and pulled him back on board. With Greninja's help, Ash got back to his feet, only to stumble backward almost immediately as his feet slid out from underneath him. Fortunately, someone else was there to catch him from behind. 

"Are you alright?" Greninja asked worriedly while Lucario held him steady. "Are you hurt?" 

"I'm okay, yeah. Don't worry," Ash answered, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. It was true, however; aside from being soaked through to the bone from the rain and falling onto the deck, there didn't appear to be anything wrong with him. "Nice weather we're having, huh?" 

Lucario snorted. "You could say that." 

"I think Fallon and Pikachu are both still below deck. We should meet up with them," he suggested. A man carrying two young children nearly knocked him over again, and he added, "Would be good to get out of this crowd too." 

"Let's hurry up, though. If this storm keeps up, the ship won't be sailing for much longer," Greninja pointed out. 

Ash nodded and turned to head for the stairs that would lead to the bottom deck. Unfortunately, he soon realized that he was in no position to be able to walk with the ship being constantly rocked from side to side. Every time he tried to take a step forward, he would find himself stumbling several feet to the left or right. In the end, Greninja had to hold him steady as they made their way back down to meet up with Fallon and Pikachu. 

When they arrived below deck, Ash spotted Fallon and Pikachu huddled up against the wall, desperately trying to keep from sliding back and forth. With nothing to hold onto, however, it was proving to be a moot point. Nevertheless, Fallon managed to stagger back to her feet with Pikachu in her arms before stumbling over to Ash, Greninja, and Lucario. The jackal reached out to hold her steady while Pikachu leaped forward to take up his customary position on Ash's shoulder. 

"Are you okay?" Ash asked. 

"Fine, yeah. We just got a little stuck down here," Fallon assured him. "With everyone freaking out and running around everywhere, it was impossible to get out." 

"It's not much better up there either," he informed her, pulling a face. "I think everyone's going to end up getting trampled if they're not careful." 

"Most of the other passengers should have gotten off by now. We should be able to get around more easily now," Lucario remarked. 

"Then let's get moving before it's too late," Greninja suggested. 

As it turned out, however, they were a split second too late. At that moment, another wave crashed into the ship, toppling it over onto its side and sending Ash and his friends sprawling across the floor. The last sensation Ash had was of the back of his head striking the wall before his world went black. 

 The first thing Ash noticed when he came around again was that he had a pounding headache. Wincing, he pushed himself onto his elbow as he rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his vision. As he struggled to regain consciousness, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist, helping him to sit up. He looked over to his right to see Lucario kneeling down beside him, holding him steady with a concerned look on his face. 

"Alright there, little buddy?" Lucario asked softly. 

"I...I think so, yeah," Ash answered slowly, reaching up to touch the back of his head. He could feel a small lump forming, but other than that, there didn't appear to be anything wrong. "What happened? Where are we? Are we still on the boat? Did everyone else get off?" 

At that, the others exchanged worried looks. Ash glanced between his friends, bewildered. What on earth had happened while he had been asleep? Surely someone would have realized they were missing and come to get them, right? 

"Ah...you might want to see for yourself," Greninja spoke up finally, his voice hesitant. 

Confused, Ash got to his feet and, with Lucario and Greninja's help, made his way over to the window. And almost immediately, he realized that something was horribly, horribly wrong. 

The world outside the ship had gone almost completely dark. Only a faint ray of sunlight shining through from somewhere up above provided any source of light. A massive rock face loomed over them, its smooth surface surely impossible to climb. Yet, even so, none of this was as terrifying as the sight of the school of Goldeen that swam past the window. 

Ash stared out into the deep, dark depths of the ocean, feeling a sinking pit of horror in his stomach. How were they going to get back to dry land now? 

Chapter Text

Despite his initial terror, Ash managed to pull himself together fairly quickly. There was no time to panic. While the ship appeared to be in good condition (considering it was stuck somewhere in the middle of the ocean), he knew it would only be a matter of time until the water started getting in. And without anyone else to call to for help, the task of escaping the ship rested solely on their shoulders. 

"Right. So, does anyone have a plan on how to get out of here?" he asked, glancing out the window again. 

"Not yet," Lucario admitted. 

"The ship flipped upside-down when it sank, so the deck is beneath us now while the hull is above us. But the water has already started flooding the deck area, the water pressure is going to be too high for any of us to pull the door open," Greninja explained. 

"Then that means we'll have to get out through the ship's hull, then," Ash decided. He frowned for a moment. "Let's see...we'll need to find a way to break through the hull. Charmander's flame could do it, but I don't like the thought of what might happen when the hull is burnt through..." 

"Leave it to me. I should be able to break it with Aura Sphere, and the water won't hurt me," Lucario offered. "Once we're able to escape, Ash and Fallon, grab onto a water-type Pokemon as quickly as you can. I'll be able to swim up on my own." 

Ash nodded, but Fallon frowned and replied, "That's all fine and good, Lucario, but how are Ash and I supposed to hold our breath that long? We must be hundreds of feet underwater. Even if we don't have to swim on our own, that's still going to be an awfully long way up." 

"Don't worry. Water-type Pokemon are exceptionally fast swimmers. You'll be back on the surface before you know it," the jackal reassured her, and she nodded. 

There was no time to waste. Together, with Greninja and Lucario's help, they made their way to the upper part of the flipped boat. Up top, there was only a poorly-lit corridor. Ash, Greninja, and Lucario had no trouble making their way through, but Fallon was struggling to navigate her way around in the darkness. Once or twice, Ash could hear her bump into the wall, followed by several curses of annoyance. 

"Hey, not to be a bother or anything, but is there any way we could get some light in here? I'm going to knock myself out if I keep bumping into things like this," she called out. 

"Oh-sorry, Fallon," Ash apologized quickly. Pulling out Charmander's Pokeball, he called out, "Charmander, light the path for us!" 

The tiny orange lizard appeared in a burst of silver light, smiling happily as usual. Fortunately, the flame on his tail was more than enough to illuminate the hallway. Fallon let out a sigh of relief as she was finally able to see the path in front of her. 

"That's better. Thanks, Ash, Charmander," she said gratefully. 

"No problem!" Charmander chirped happily. 

"I think after this, I can safely say that I'm never going on another cruise again," Ash announced. 

"Agreed," Fallon replied. 

"You can say that again," Pikachu spoke up. 

A few meters ahead, Lucario was still leading the group down the corridor when he came to an abrupt halt at the end of the hallway, forcing everyone else to stop suddenly as well. Ash tensed, the waves of worry he could feel coming from his mentor causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. With no small amount of trepidation, he made his way to stand next to the jackal-and immediately realized what had Lucario so concerned. 

Standing beneath them was a raging inferno. The floor had broken away somehow, leaving a massive gap between where they stood and the next hallway on the other side. There was no way Ash and Fallon would be able to cross on their own, and while Lucario and Greninja wouldn't have much of a problem, there was still the issue of getting everyone else safely to the other side as well. 

"Now what?" Fallon asked, turning to the jackal. 

Ash frowned as he stared across the gap, all too aware of the flames raging beneath them. If he had to take a guess, he would estimate that there were at least thirty to forty feet separating them from the other side. It was much too far for him and Fallon to jump, and the only flying-type they had, Pidgeotto, was too small to carry them across on her own, so...

"Leave it to me. I'll be able to help you across with Psychic," Lucario reassured them. 

Nodding gratefully, Ash stepped side to allow the jackal to cross to the other side. What would have been an impossibly large gap for a human to traverse was little more than child's play for Lucario, and he was safely on the opposite end in no time. Once he was across, he nodded and beckoned Ash and Fallon forward. 

"Are you two ready?" he called out. 

"Ready," Ash called back. To Pikachu, he added, "Hold on tight, buddy." 

"You got it," Pikachu replied, giving him a thumbs up. 

A moment later, he felt a swooping sensation in his stomach as he and Fallon were lifted off the ground. Before he had a chance to get used to it, Lucario was depositing them safely on the ground beside him. Ash staggered back to his feet, his head still spinning from the speed of his flight over the inferno. 

"Alright, Ash?" Lucario asked. 

"Yeah, I'm okay. That was something else, though," he noted, shaking his head to try to clear it. 

Greninja joined them a split second later, and the group continued on their way down the hallway. They hadn't gone very far when Lucario came to a stop once more. The Aura Pokemon studied a spot on the ceiling for a few brief moments, a thoughtful frown on his face. 

"This looks like as good a spot as any," he decided. 

"Then let's get out of here quickly," Ash suggested fervently. 

Lucario nodded and began firing one Aura Sphere after another at a weak point on the ceiling. After a few moments, a hole burst open as water began flooding the ship. Quickly, Greninja grabbed ahold of Ash while Fallon tied herself to Staryu. Giving a thumbs up to show that they were ready, the two trainers took one final breath as they were plunged into the chilly ocean waters. 

Fortunately, Lucario's claim that they wouldn't have to worry about accidentally drowning turned out to be accurate. In what felt like no time at all, Ash found his head breaking the surface. A few feet away, Fallon and Lucario popped up out of the water, the latter looking perfectly calm as if swimming up from hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface was something he did every day. 

"Everyone alright?" the jackal asked. They all nodded. "Good. Now let's try to find a way back to dry land." 

Ash nodded and closed his eyes, tapping into his aura to try to get a better look at their surroundings. Unfortunately, he quickly realized that his own aura powers weren't strong enough to be of much use in this situation. There was nothing he could see except seawater for miles in every direction. He did, however, notice a school of Gyarados lurking in the water about half a mile from where they were, which he quickly informed the rest of the group of. 

"Do you think they'll come this way?" Fallon asked, looking worried. 

"I don't think so. They seem pretty peaceful for now," he answered. "But I can't see any land for miles. Lucario, can you sense anything?" 

Lucario nodded. "There's dry land about six miles east of where we are." 

"Six miles..." Ash mused thoughtfully. "That doesn't sound like that bad of a swim." 

Fallon shook her head. "I will never understand you, Ash." 

"We're not swimming that," Greninja disagreed. Ash gave him a look, and he continued, "Not that I don't think you're capable, Ash, but we don't know what the weather will be like in a few hours. If a storm picks up again while we're in the middle of the ocean, it's going to be bad news for all of us." 

"Oh, alright," Ash sighed. "But how else are we going to get back on land, then?" 

"There's a piece of driftwood over there. We could try floating on that," Fallon suggested, pointing to a large wooden plank that was just big enough to hold all of them. "And we could use a few of the smaller pieces as oars." 

It was as good an idea as any of them could come up with, so they quickly swam over to the piece of driftwood and climbed aboard. Privately, Ash had to admit that he was relieved to not have to swim the six miles to the nearest shore. He was already exhausted from the day's events, and with his adrenaline already fading, he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep for the next month. Stifling a yawn, Ash rubbed his eyes, trying desperately to keep them open. 

Greninja noticed. Placing a paw on his shoulder, the frog Pokemon said softly, "Go to sleep, Ash. We'll wake you up once we've reached dry land." 

Nodding, Ash closed his eyes and curled onto his side, resting his head on his backpack. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt Greninja reach over to brush his hair out of his face, murmuring something that he was too tired to even begin to comprehend. 

Chapter Text

Somehow, Ash wasn't surprised when he found himself confined to the Pokemon Center with a cold two days later. He was, however, rather miffed about the fact that he was the only one who had fallen ill. Not that he wanted his friends to be sick, but it was awfully boring being stuck in bed all day. Add on the fact that his cold was giving him a massive headache, and the entire experience made for a truly miserable existence. 

"I hate hospital rooms," he complained, his words coming out distorted due to his stuffy nose. "How many times do I have to get stuck here?" 

"I know, Ash, and I'm sorry, but you need to rest up. It's the only way you're going to recover," Greninja said gently. 

"Yeah, I know," Ash sighed. "Why did I have to get sick now, though?" 

"Well, you did just spend a good six hours or so floating in the middle of the ocean," Fallon pointed out. 

"So did you, and you don't seem to have anything wrong with you," Ash reminded her. 

"Yes, but you're forgetting the fact that you also spent more time getting rained on than I did, plus I heard from Lucario that you almost fell off the ship during the storm. And I haven't even gotten started on the fact that you keep to a much busier daily schedule than I do. With all that in consideration, it's really no surprise that you got sick," she replied. 

Ash just shrugged, letting out a sigh. Her words made sense, but that didn't exactly make him feel any better. It certainly didn't change the fact that he was once again stuck in the hospital with nothing to entertain himself with. And just when he had finally gotten out and was planning on getting back to a normal routine too. 

"Oh, cheer up, Ash. It's just a cold. You'll be out of here in no time," Pikachu reassured him, patting him on the shoulder. 

"How long is 'no time,' exactly?" he asked dubiously, raising an eyebrow. 

"Well, if you do as you're told and rest, you can be out of here by tomorrow morning," Lucario answered, giving him a stern look. 

He frowned, but sighed and nodded all the same. "Fine." 

"Much better," the Aura Pokemon said cheerfully, ruffling his hair. 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ash mumbled, leaning back against his pillow. 

Normally, he would have put up much more of a fight about being confined to bed rest yet again. But his cold seemed to have decided to take an unusually high toll on him, and he barely had any energy left to keep his eyes open. Or maybe that was just the fact that he hadn't slept in a proper bed since the night before his gym battle against Lt. Surge. Had it really been only a few days since then? It felt as though it had taken place a lifetime ago. Either way, Ash wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep for at least a year. 

"Feeling okay, Ash? Do you want anything to eat? Maybe some hot soup?" Fallon offered, sounding concerned. 

Ash pondered the offer for a moment, then immediately decided against it. Just the thought of eating anything sent an almost overpowering wave of nausea over him. He clenched his teeth, trying desperately not to retch. After a few moments, the urge to vomit finally went away. 

"No thanks," he coughed at last. "I'm not very hungry right now." 

"Go to sleep then, Ash. You can see if you feel like eating when you wake up," Greninja ordered softly. 

Nodding tiredly, Ash closed his eyes and turned over onto his side. Despite his pounding headache, he was too exhausted to stay awake any longer. He had barely rolled over when a wave of sleep washed over him, his friends' voices fading away as the world fell away around him. 

The stars were still scattered about the darkened sky when Ash woke up again. He yawned and rubbed his eyes, noting absentmindedly that his headache seemed to have disappeared. His nose also felt much less stuffy than before, and he didn't feel as though he were about to collapse again. On the other hand, his throat was extremely dry, although Ash supposed that was only to be expected. After all, when was the last time he'd had anything to drink? 

Unfortunately, as he looked around his hospital room, he quickly came to another realization. He had no way of getting a drink in here. There was a sink across the room, true, but he couldn't see any cups anywhere. That seemed strange. Perhaps they had run out and Nurse Joy just hadn't restocked them yet? 

Guess that means I'll have to see if I can find a fountain, then, Ash thought ruefully. 

Quietly, he climbed out of his bed and tiptoed his way across the room, careful not to disturb his friends, who were fast asleep in the chairs beside his bed. Ash noted that Fallon was nowhere to be seen and assumed that she must have found her own room to stay in for the night. Not even bothering to put on his shoes, he walked over to the door and pushed it open, wincing slightly at the creaking sound it made. Fortunately for him, everyone else was too fast asleep to notice anything. 

"Ash? Where are you going?" 

Spoke too soon there, he thought regretfully. Turning around, he answered, "I just needed a drink of water, Lucario. I'll go back to bed afterward, I promise." 

"Why don't you just get a cup from the sink over there?" Lucario asked, rubbing his eyes tiredly. 

"I was going to, but I didn't see any cups," Ash explained. 

"They're underneath the sink in that cabinet. Nurse Joy put them away while you were asleep," the jackal told him, pointing to a small cupboard underneath the sink that Ash hadn't noticed before. Sure enough, when he opened it, he discovered a small stack of plastic cups inside. 

"Oh." 

Lucario chuckled, half-sleepy, half-amused. "There you go. Now, get your water and then go back to bed. You'll be out of the hospital in a few hours, alright?" 

"Okay," Ash agreed, nodding. 

As he turned to fill his cup, a soft snore told him that Lucario had fallen asleep again. Ash drank his water slowly, breathing out a sigh of relief as the dryness in his throat finally faded away. Tossing his cup into a nearby trash can, he turned to go back to bed when something on the counter caught his attention. 

A manila folder was sitting on top of the counter, part of its contents peeking out from inside the folds. Nurse Joy must have left it there by mistake. He stared at the folder, silently debating whether to open it. On one hand, he knew he shouldn't be touching something that didn't belong to him. But on the other hand, it wasn't as though anyone had to know that he had looked. A little peek never hurt anyone, right?

Making up his mind, Ash opened the envelope. At once, he realized two things. Number one, the name on top of the first piece of paper inside was his, so technically speaking the folder did belong to him. Number two, his assumption about it being some sort of medical file had been correct.

Being just barely eleven years old, most of the terminology used in his files meant nothing to Ash. He scanned through his folder, trying to make sense of the strange words being used. There were a few that he recognized, but not enough to understand what was being said. 

Just as he was about to close the folder and put it away, a small line at the bottom of the page made him stop dead in his tracks. 

Diagnosis: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - Terminal

Chapter Text

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disorder of progressive muscle weakness. The condition typically affects boys, although girls can be carriers. Dystrophy is caused by a lack of protein known as dystrophin, which is necessary for muscle function. This condition can occur at any age, although most will occur during childhood. 

Most patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy will require a wheelchair before their teenage years and the life expectancy for those with this form of muscular dystrophy is their late teens or early twenties. The symptoms include, among others, trouble walking, difficulty standing up, breathing difficulties, and lung and heart weakness. 

Ash stared down at the book in his lap, feeling a hollow pit forming in his stomach. Once again, most of the language used in the book he had...borrowed...from the shelf above the sink meant nothing to him. He had never been interested in science when he was in school, so the idea of someone being a "carrier" for a disease was as foreign as humans learning how to fly unaided. The one part he did understand, however, was the sentence that listed the life expectancy for someone with his illness. 

His first thought was to assume that there must have been a mistake. There was no way he could be so close to death, right? All throughout his life, he had been mostly healthy aside from a cold here and there. Maybe Nurse Joy had simply gotten his chart mixed up with someone who had the same name. Granted, his last name wasn't a very common one, but with the sheer number of people in the world, there had to be at least one other person named Ash Ketchum. Didn't there? 

But the more he thought about it, the more Ash began to remember certain events in his life...events that he had, at the time, brushed off as nothing more than momentary accidents. 

He remembered falling over unexpectedly during a walk in the park with his mother despite the fact that there had been nothing to trip him up. He remembered how out of breath he used to feel during gym class at times even when most of his other classmates were virtually unaffected. He remembered Delia giving him protein shakes and other supplements that tasted absolutely horrendous as a way to "strengthen his bones", whatever that was supposed to mean. Most of all, he remembered all the times he had struggled to get back to his feet and had to rely on Greninja and Lucario to help him around but had assumed it was simply a result of being overworked. One by one, the memories washed over him until he felt as though he would drown in them. 

Am I really going to die soon?

How had this happened? Why was it happening to him? What had he done to deserve something like this? 

It wasn't fair. There was still so much he wanted to do with his life, and now it looked as though he would never get the chance. He wasn't going to get to live a full life. His body had decided to give up on him before he had the chance to. True, he might have at least a few years before he actually died, but what about when his legs stopped working? What would he do then? How could he travel if he couldn't walk? His heart clenched painfully as he realized that he would never achieve his dream of becoming a Pokemon master or an Aura Guardian. 

And it wasn't just that either. He would never know what it felt like to navigate the world as an adult. He would never get married and have a family of his own-not that he was sure whether he wanted to get married or not, but it would have been nice to at least have the option. He would never know what it was like to grow old and spend his final days in peace with the friends he had made during his life. He would never be able to mentor new trainers or get a real job. His life had been stolen from him the moment he had been born. 

Almost absentmindedly, Ash glanced over to where his friends were still fast asleep. Did they know about his diagnosis? Judging by the way they were all sleeping peacefully, he would have to assume they didn't. 

He couldn't even begin to think of how to tell them. It was difficult enough to grasp the concept of his own mortality; how could he tell his friends that he would be leaving them in a few years? Greninja was his best friend, and they had sworn to stick by each other's side forever. And Lucario had dedicated so much of his time to teaching Ash how to be an Aura Guardian, and now it looked as though he would die before he ever completed his training. 

Not wanting to look at the book any longer, Ash stood up and went to place it back on the shelf. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but he thought his legs felt a bit weaker than normal. Setting the book down, he went and sat down on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the floor, his heart still sinking horribly into his stomach. 

He wondered if it would hurt to die. 

There was no way he was going to get back to sleep tonight. Silently, he got back up again and crept toward the door. Fortunately, this time he managed to make it outside without waking up any of his friends. Ash walked slowly down the hallway, dimly aware of the sound of his feet hitting the floor as he made his way further and further away from his room. At this time of night, the corridors were utterly deserted, so he had the entire Pokemon Center to himself. 

It didn't take long for Ash to reach the back door. He slipped outside and into the night, letting the door shut quietly behind him. The moon and stars were shining as brightly as ever overhead, and the crisp, cool air brought a surge of clarity to his mind. 

He would make do with the hand he had been dealt. Even if he was fighting a battle with a predetermined winner, he would make sure he didn't go out silently. For however much time he had left, whether it was a few years or even just a few months, he would make sure to live so that he didn't die with any regrets. Just as he had told Greninja he would. 

I'll find a way...to make the limited time I have left last forever. 

Chapter Text

Ash still hadn't returned to his room by the time the sun came up. Greninja found him outside at six in the morning, still staring out toward the forest. There was an air of sorrow about the boy, but it quickly disappeared as he turned to Greninja and gave him a bright smile. He patted the seat beside him as an invitation to join him, which the frog Pokemon was more than happy to accept. 

"Everything alright, Ash?" Greninja asked, placing a hand on Ash's shoulder. 

"Yeah, just wanted to come outside and relax for a bit. Why?" he responded. 

"Nothing. It's just that you look a little down about something," the frog-ninja Pokemon explained. "Want to tell me what's going on? You know you can tell me anything, right?" 

Ash smiled softly, but Greninja couldn't help noticing that it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I know. And I appreciate it. But it's really nothing, I promise." 

"Well...alright, then. If you say so," Greninja replied. 

It was obvious that there was something Ash wasn't telling him, but he knew better than to push the matter. Knowing Ash for as long as he had, Greninja had long since learned that when something was bothering the raven-haired boy, it was best to let him come to him with his problems on his own. Constantly pushing for him to tell him what was going on would only make him clam up even more. Still, he couldn't help wondering what could have happened between last night and this morning to make Ash's mood drop as drastically as it had. 

Maybe he's just feeling down about being stuck in the hospital again, Greninja decided. That seemed to be the most likely scenario. 

"Well, never mind all that. Let's go get some breakfast. I want to get back on the road as soon as possible!" Ash declared, jumping to his feet. 

Greninja chuckled. "Alright, Ash. Let's go." 

The rest of their friends, not counting Lucario who was always up at the crack of dawn, were still waking up by the time Greninja and Ash got to the cafe. Lucario smiled softly at Ash as the boy sat down next to him, pushing a bowl of cereal in front of him. Ash murmured a word of thanks and began digging into his breakfast, eating with much less enthusiasm than normal. 

"Ash?" Lucario asked, looking worried. "Are you okay?" 

"I'm alright, yeah," the boy reassured him. 

Lucario frowned, but much like Greninja, he knew better than to force Ash to open up. Instead, he placed a paw on his shoulder, offering comfort as Ash continued eating his cereal. The jackal's deep red eyes were filled with sorrow, and he was grasping Ash's shoulder as though afraid he would disappear if he let him go. Greninja felt a pang of fear. Did Lucario know something about what might have been upsetting his best friend? He couldn't see anything wrong, personally, but he knew that Lucario could pick up on things with his aura that the regular human or Pokemon eye could not. 

But now wasn't the time to worry about that. Ash needed him, and Greninja would gladly move the entire Kanto region if it meant he could cheer up his little buddy. Silently, he sat down on his other side and reached up, ruffling Ash's hair gently. Ash smiled at him, and Greninja was relieved to see his eyes light up a little. 

"Can we go out and train later?" the raven-haired trainer asked, turning to Lucario. 

"Sure, bud," Lucario agreed softly. "We'll start traveling again as soon as Fallon wakes up, okay?" 

"Okay!" Ash agreed, smiling brightly. 

To Greninja's relief, the prospect of a morning of training seemed to do the trick in reinvigorating Ash's spirit. He went back to his breakfast with much more fervor than before, swallowing the last mouthful in no time flat. As soon as he was done, he jumped to his feet, practically dragging Lucario to the door. 

"Come on, let's go! I bet I can beat you in a race this time!" Ash urged, bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet. 

Alright, alright, I'm coming. You can stop dragging me now," Lucario chuckled. 

"Oh, fine," the messy-haired trainer sighed dramatically. Then he perked up. "I'll see you outside, then!" 

With that, he let go of Lucario's arm and sped toward the door, disappearing in a blur. The jackal stared after Ash for a few moments before turning to Greninja, a mixture of exasperation and amusement on his face. 

"Well, I think someone's feeling better," he remarked dryly. "Shall we go catch up to him, then?" 

"Yeah, and let's hurry up. Knowing Ash, he's probably made it to Kalos by now," Greninja joked. 

When they arrived outside, however, they discovered that Ash had encountered a small interruption in the form of a certain purple-haired trainer. Ash and Paul were talking casually, no obvious signs of animosity between the two boys despite their history. Greninja felt his own dislike for the Sinnoh native decrease slightly. Perhaps seeing Ash save Grotle had sparked a change in Paul after all. 

"Yeah, so as soon as Fallon's up, we're going to hit the road and it's off to the Celadon gym," Ash was saying. 

"The Celadon gym?" Paul repeated, wrinkling his nose in obvious disgust. "I wouldn't go there if I were you." 

Ash blinked, looking confused. "Huh? Why not? Is it hard or something?" 

Paul shrugged. "I wouldn't know. I tried to challenge the gym, but they wouldn't accept. Apparently, Erika-that's the gym leader there-got mad because I said I didn't like her perfume." 

"What's liking perfume got to do with a gym battle?" the raven-haired boy asked. 

"Don't ask me. Those girls are obsessed with it, I'm telling you," Paul replied, rolling his eyes. 

"Yeah..." Ash hesitated for a moment, then went on, "I think I'd still like to at least challenge the gym, though. Charmander hasn't really gotten much of a chance to battle, and a grass-type gym would be a good place to start. As long as I don't say anything about their perfume, I should be okay, right?" 

"If you say so," the purple-haired boy replied skeptically. "Don't say I didn't warn you, though." 

"Sure," he agreed, grinning. 

"Ash, are you ready to begin our training session?" Lucario asked, approaching the two boys. Greninja followed close behind, giving Paul a brief once-over. 

"Oh! Yeah, I am. Sorry, Lucario," Ash apologized quickly. 

Paul glanced between mentor and apprentice, a look of mingled bewilderment and interest on his face. "Training session?" 

"Yeah. I'm going to be practicing using my aura," the raven-haired boy explained. 

"Ah," Paul's face cleared up. Then he frowned. "Wait...so your Pokemon is training you?" 

Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well...technically speaking Lucario isn't my Pokemon. I actually met him during a trip to Cameron Palace for my eighth birthday. I suppose I could catch him, but I wouldn't be a very good trainer for him." 

"I'm sure you wouldn't be that bad," the Sinnoh native told him, evidently not realizing where Ash was coming from. 

But Greninja understood completely. Lucario, thanks to years of training his aura under Sir Aaron and also growing up in a time where war was much more prevalent than it was now, was at a level that far exceeded Ash's skills as a trainer. Simply put, there was nothing Ash would be able to do to help the jackal increase his strength. That wasn't a knock on his abilities; it was just a simple fact of life. 

"If you'd seen Lucario fight, you'd think differently," Ash disagreed. 

"Well, thank you, Ash," Lucario chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. 

"Greninja is my Pokemon, though," he added, ducking away from the Aura Pokemon's paw. "I met him as a Froakie when I was seven, not long before I met Lucario. We've been together ever since, and he even has this really cool power called the bond phenomenon that we can use in battle. But Greninja's a little too strong for most of the gyms so far even without it, so I haven't used him in any real battles yet." 

"I still haven't managed to beat Lucario yet, though. But I'm working on it," Greninja remarked, to which Lucario smirked at him. 

"So...you said that Greninja's a pretty strong Pokemon and you're still training him, but Lucario's too strong for you?" Paul repeated. "Just how powerful is Lucario, exactly?" 

"Put it this way. The last time we used our bond phenomenon power, which was really just to test it out, Professor Oak estimated that in that form, Greninja would be able to beat or at least draw with a legendary Pokemon," Ash began. He paused for a moment, then continued, "Well, we battled Lucario in that form, and he still won pretty easily." 

Paul's eyes widened. "No kidding?" 

"Yep," he answered, grinning. "Told you he's really strong." 

"That was a while ago, though. I'm sure you'd fare better against me by now," Lucario remarked. 

"We aim to," Ash answered, smiling cheerfully. Turning back to Paul, he added, "Hey, so my training should only take about an hour or so. If you're not in too much of a hurry, maybe we could have a battle after I'm done?" 

"Sure thing," Paul agreed. "I've only got two Pokemon on me, so does a two-on-two battle sound alright?" 

"Of course!" Ash agreed happily. 

"I'm going to have to ask that everyone else clear off the battlefield for now, though. We're starting with combat training first, and I don't want us to hit either of you," Lucario instructed gently. 

"Sure thing," Greninja agreed. "I'll keep the walking grape out of the way, don't worry." 

Walking over to the sidelines with Paul, he turned and watched as Lucario charged at Ash, who ducked out of the way just in time. As he was rolling away, he kicked out his left leg in Lucario's direction, but the jackal easily sidestepped it and fired an Aura Sphere. Ash, evidently realizing there was no way to dodge this time, swung out a fist and batted it back toward Lucario. The Aura Pokemon managed to destroy it with a punch of his own, but it was clear from his expression that Ash's method of counterattacking had caught him by surprise. 

"I see what Ash meant now," Paul murmured, obviously to himself. "That Lucario really is strong." 

Greninja just grinned to himself. Little did Paul know, Lucario wasn't battling Ash with even half of his full strength. 

As he continued watching his friends sparring with one another, it was clear to see that whatever had been bothering Ash earlier that morning was no longer weighing on his mind. Still, Greninja couldn't help wondering what had gotten him so down in the first place. 

And whatever it had been, how long would it be before it came up again? 

Chapter Text

As soon as Ash and Lucario had finished their training session, the raven-haired boy wasted no time in starting his battle with Paul. After all of the Sinnoh native's talk about battling with power, he was eager to see how they matched up against each other. Besides that, it had been a while since his Pokemon had been allowed to engage in a real fight. The gym battle against Lt. Surge felt like a lifetime ago. 

"Are you ready?" Ash called across to his opponent. 

"I am. I just want to make one request before we start," Paul called back. "In the second round, I'd like to battle Greninja. And I want you to use your bond phenomenon form." 

Whatever he had been expecting Paul's request to be, it certainly hadn't been that. For a moment, Ash stumbled over his words as he tried to formulate a response. Beside him, Pikachu, Greninja, and Lucario's eyes all widened in shock. 

"A-are you sure?" he stammered after a few seconds. He didn't want to say no, but at the same time, he had to know that Paul understood what he was asking for. "I mean, I meant it when I said Greninja's strong enough to take on a legendary Pokemon in his bond form. Unless you've got a Mega Rayquaza hidden up your sleeve, I really don't think..." 

"Exactly my point," Paul replied, nodding. "I want to see if he's really as powerful as you say he is." 

Ash hesitated for a split second, debating on whether or not to accept. Without being arrogant, he knew that Greninja would easily take down any Pokemon that Paul had in his possession, and that was without his Ash-Greninja form. No matter what, Paul's second Pokemon wouldn't stand a chance. But at the same time, Paul was clearly intent on facing Greninja. What sort of friend would he be if he refused? 

"If that's what you want," Ash agreed finally. 

"It is," the purple-haired trainer answered. 

"I just hope you know what you're getting into," Lucario said sternly. 

The two boys took their places on opposite ends of the battlefield. As they waited for the signal to start the match, Ash debated with himself on which Pokemon to use first. In the end, he settled on Charmander, knowing that the little fire-type would need a few more practice battles to be ready for the Celadon gym. Thanks to his aura, Ash could sense that Charmander was close to evolving and hoped that battling against Paul would give him the extra push he needed. 

"Grotle, stand by for battle!" Paul ordered, tossing out his first Pokeball. 

"Charmander, I choose you!" Ash called out, doing the same. 

There were two flashes of light as both Pokemon appeared on the battlefield. Charmander and Ash stared down Grotle and Paul, sizing up their opponents. Although Charmander had the type advantage in this matchup, Ash knew better than to rely on that. He might not have seen Grotle battle for himself, but he could sense that the grass-type was a strong Pokemon. They would have to take care not to underestimate him. 

"Get ready, Charmander. Remember, don't underestimate your opponent just because he happens to have a type disadvantage," Ash warned his Pokemon. 

"Got it, Ash," Charmander chirped happily. 

"We'll take the first move," Paul called across the field. "Grotle, use Leaf Storm!" 

"Flamethrower, Charmander!" Ash countered. 

Grotle reared back on his hind legs before slamming his front paws into the ground, sending a whirlwind of razor-sharp leaves in Charmander's direction. Undeterred, the fire-type unleashed a powerful jet of flames, burning up the Leaf Storm attack. To add insult to injury (or, in this case, perhaps it would have been better to refer to it as injury to insult), Charmander's Flamethrower ended up being strong enough to singe Grotle. It wasn't enough to knock him out, but the Sinnoh grass-type let out an audible yelp of pain all the same. 

"Yes! Great job, Charmander!" Ash said excitedly. 

"Ugh...not bad, kid. But it's going to take more than that to get me down," Grotle grunted, wincing at the burn mark on his back.

"Challenge accepted," Charmander replied, grinning cheekily.

"Keep up the good work, Charmander! Use Flamethrower once more!" the raven-haired boy ordered.

"Protect!" Paul countered quickly.

Charmander fired another Flamethrower in the grass-type's direction, but Grotle quickly formed a shield around himself, easily blocking it. Never one to give up, however, as soon as the shield was lowered, Charmander reignited the attack. This time, Grotle only just barely managed to avoid taking the fire-type attack straight to the face by rolling to the side. Even so, he received yet another burn mark on his side for his efforts. 

"Using Flamethrower alone isn't going to win you the battle, Ash," Paul called across the field. 

"That's what you think," Ash replied with a grin. 

Still, there was something about the Sinnoh native's confidence that sent alarm bells dinging and blaring in his mind. So far, Charmander had managed to at least singe Grotle with two super effective attacks while the Grove Pokemon hadn't been able to land a single one. That didn't exactly bode well for Paul. Yet somehow, the purple-haired trainer still looked completely confident, as though there were something he knew that Ash didn't. 

What are you planning, Paul?

A moment later, he got his answer. With a knowing smirk on his face, Paul shouted, "Now, Grotle! Earth Power!" 

Ash's eyes widened in shock for a moment before an idea came to him. "Hurry, Charmander! Dodge the attack by jumping onto Grotle's back!" 

It was a risky move, but as it turned out, one that paid off well. Before the Grove Pokemon had time to unleash what would surely have been a devastating attack, Charmander leaped forward, latching himself onto Grotle's back. Caught by surprise, Grotle was forced to cancel his Earth Power as he tried in vain to shake the Lizard Pokemon off. 

"What the heck?" Paul exclaimed, shocked. 

"This is your chance, Charmander! Finish it off with one last Flamethrower!" Ash ordered, immediately taking advantage of the opportunity that had just presented itself. 

Paul didn't bother ordering Grotle to dodge, not that there would have been much of a point. With Charmander latched firmly onto his back, there wasn't much the grass-type could have done. Even so, Ash gave him credit for standing there and taking a full-powered Flamethrower at such close range without flinching...that is until he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. 

"That's enough! Grotle is unable to battle. As it is, the first round goes to Charmander and Ash!" Lucario, who had taken up the position of referee, announced. 

The Sinnoh native let out a sigh but smiled all the same as he returned Grotle. "Well done, Grotle. Take a rest, yeah?" 

"Yes!" Charmander cheered, dancing around excitedly. "I did it, I did it!" 

"You were awesome, Charmander!" Ash said happily, rushing forward and hugging the little orange lizard. "I knew you could do it!" 

Charmander beamed back at him before a bright white glow enveloped his body. Startled, Ash fell back slightly as his friends all gasped in shock. He felt a thrill of excitement, knowing exactly what was happening. 

When the glow had finally faded, Charmander stood a few inches taller. The shape of his head had changed slightly, and there was something that resembled a horn of some sort protruding from the top. His claws were longer as well, and his skin had changed from pale orange to a deep vermillion that seemed to glow red in the morning sunlight. He smiled back at Ash, his eyes gleaming with delight. 

"What do you think, Ash?" Charmeleon asked, grinning. 

"What do I think? I think this is the best thing ever!" Ash replied excitedly. "You've been working so hard, Charmeleon. And I know how much you've been looking forward to evolving." 

"Yep. Now there's nothing that can stand in the way between us and the Celadon gym badge, right?" the newly-evolved fire-type answered. 

Ash nodded in agreement, then asked gently, "Hey, Charmeleon, I hate to do this, but is it alright if you sit out the next round? I promised Paul before our battle started that I would use Greninja for the second match." 

"That's okay, Ash. I understand," Charmeleon reassured him. 

Patting the fire-type lizard on the head gently, Ash stood up and faced Paul again as Charmeleon ran over to join Lucario. The Sinnoh native's eyes were gleaming with anticipation, his second Pokeball already grasped in his right hand. He grinned to himself; clearly, Paul hadn't been joking around when he said he wanted to battle Greninja. 

"Ready?" he asked. 

"You know it," Paul replied with a smirk. 

"What about you, Greninja?" Ash asked, turning to his longtime friend. 

"You know I'm always ready," Greninja retorted, smiling playfully. 

"Get ready to meet my second Pokemon, Ash," Paul called out. "Drapion, stand by for battle!" 

"Drapion?" Ash repeated, startled. 

There was a flash of light as a large, purple scorpion-like Pokemon appeared on the battlefield. The dual poison and dark-type let out a growl, clicking his pincers challengingly at Greninja. Ash stared at Drapion in mixed awe and confusion. He could sense that this Pokemon was powerful-not as powerful as Greninja, perhaps, but still powerful. But where had Paul managed to get a Pokemon like this? They didn't exist anywhere in Kanto as far as he knew, nor did their pre-evolution, Skorupi. 

"How did you get a Drapion?" he asked, unable to hide his surprise. 

"Drapion actually belongs to my older brother, Reggie. I asked him if I could borrow him for this battle," the other boy explained. "Or, well, if I ever got a chance to battle you." 

Ash blinked. "You asked to borrow your brother's Pokemon just to battle me? Why?" 

"I might not be able to use aura like you, but Reggie's been a trainer for years. So I know a strong Pokemon when I see one," Paul answered, nodding to Greninja. "I'd have asked to battle Lucario too, but seeing as he isn't yours..." 

"Yeah," Ash agreed, quickly snapping out of his momentary shock. He grinned at his rival. "So...ready to see what Greninja and I are made of, then?" 

"The question is, are you ready?" Paul retorted, smiling back in obvious anticipation. 

Ash smirked and closed his eyes, reaching into the depths of his aura until he found the ever-present link he shared with Greninja. He connected their auras together, feeling his heart rate increasing to match that of the frog-ninja Pokemon's as he did so. Around him, he could hear Paul gasp in astonishment, but although the other boy was only a few yards away from him, his voice sounded as though it were coming from the end of a long tunnel. 

Greninja? Can you hear me? 

Yes, I can hear you. 

Good. Then let's do this. 

Slowly, Ash opened his eyes again just in time to see a veil of water erupt around Greninja. As his vision linked together with the frog Pokemon's, the veil of water burst open, forming a gleaming shuriken on his back. Greninja's appearance had changed to match that of Ash's as well, and the raven-haired boy could feel the waves of increased power coming from the water-type. 

"What in the world is that?" Drapion exclaimed. Paul could only stare in awe. 

Been a while since we've used this, hasn't it, Ash? Greninja spoke inside his mind. 

You can say that again. Good to know we've still got it, huh? 

I never had any doubt. 

"We'll let you take the first move, Paul," Ash called across the battlefield. 

His words seemed to snap Paul out of his stupor. "R-right, then! Alright, Drapion, use Cross Poison!" 

"Let's show them what we can do, Greninja. Use Water Shuriken!" Ash commanded. 

Drapion crossed his pincers in front of him, forming a glowing purple X before firing it in Greninja's direction. Rather than attempting to dodge, Greninja simply reached over his shoulder, yanking the gleaming shuriken off his back. As another one formed in its place, he hurled his Water Shuriken toward Drapion, slicing right through the Cross Poison and striking the scorpion-like Pokemon in the face, knocking him out cold. 

"Holy mother of-!" Ash felt a momentary twinge of surprise as he heard Fallon's voice. When had she gotten here? 

"Drapion is unable to battle! And as such, the victory goes to Ash and Greninja...Arceus, that didn't take long at all..." Lucario announced, his voice trailing off into a still-audible mutter at the end. 

Ash broke off the connection with Greninja, watching the water-type revert back to his normal form as his own heart rate decreased back to its usual speed. Still reeling from the sheer power he had shared with his frog Pokemon, he walked over to Paul, who was returning Drapion to his Pokeball. The purple-haired trainer looked back at him, his eyes filled with awe and a new sense of respect. 

"You weren't kidding when you said Greninja was a powerful one," Paul remarked, chuckling. Despite what would have been a humiliating loss to anyone else, he didn't seem at all bothered. "We didn't stand a chance against you." 

"I'll say," Pikachu piped up. Ash gave him a warning look, to which he ducked his head apologetically. 

"What's going on here anyway?" Fallon asked, walking over to join them. "I thought you weren't going to use Greninja's special form unless it was absolutely necessary?" 

"We weren't," Ash answered. "But Paul specifically requested it, so I wasn't about to say no." 

Fallon nodded. "Fair enough," she conceded. She smiled slightly as she added, "And hey, I see that Charmander evolved." 

"You know it!" Charmeleon agreed, flexing his muscles for his former trainer. "Now I'll be readier than ever to take on the next gym!" 

Placing his Pokeballs back on his belt, Paul squared his shoulders and walked over to Ash, grasping the raven-haired boy's hand in a firm handshake. Ash blinked in surprise for a moment before tightening his grip around Paul's hand slightly, returning the friendly gesture. 

"Let's battle again sometime, yeah?" Paul asked. 

"Definitely," Ash agreed. 

Paul released his hand and took a step back, a warm yet challenging gleam entering his eyes. "Stay on your guard, Ash. My Pokemon and I are going to keep on getting stronger, and then one day, we'll be able to go toe-to-toe with you and Greninja. And you and I will stand atop the Pokemon league one day as champions." 

Ash didn't answer, instead simply smiling and giving a noncommittal nod. Taking a deep breath, he looked up at a passing cloud overhead as he heard Paul turn and walk away from the group. 

You know I'm not going to be around for you forever, right?

Chapter Text

Before long, the group was on their way to the Celadon gym. With a few hours to spare until the gym was open, however, Ash had decided to take the opportunity to explore the town for a while. Fallon had decided to join in as well, and the two children practically dragged Greninja and Lucario in every direction possible, trying to take in all the sights Celadon City had to offer. Somehow, they had managed to buy two bags of cookies, a new hat for Fallon, and a set of pins shaped like Bellossom, Vileplume, and Oddish within an hour of exploring. 

As the group continued traveling around the city, Lucario couldn't help noticing that Greninja was lagging behind slightly. There was a distracted look in the frog Pokemon's eyes, and he seemed oddly tense about something. Concerned, he fell back a few steps until he was matching the younger Pokemon's strides, trying to figure out what could be bothering him. 

"You know, they say that frowning causes premature aging," Lucario told Greninja, trying to lighten the mood. 

Greninja's mouth twitched slightly. "I thought the saying was that frowning causes wrinkles?" 

"Oh, whatever. It's essentially the same thing anyway," he replied, waving a paw dismissively. More seriously, he added, "But really, is everything okay? You look a little worried about something." 

"I...well, it's about Ash," Greninja admitted, glancing over toward the messy-haired boy. "When we used our bond form today against Paul and Drapion, something felt...different." 

"Different in what way?" Lucario inquired. 

"I don't know. Like it was weaker somehow, I guess," the frog-ninja Pokemon answered with a shrug. 

"Well, it has been a while since you used it. Perhaps you're just a little out of practice," Lucario suggested. "Give it a few more tries, and I'm sure it will feel back to normal in no time." 

However, Greninja just shook his head. "It's not like that. The connection itself still felt as strong as ever. But...there was something off about Ash. I can't really say what it was, though." 

Now that he thought about it, Lucario realized that there had been something off about Ash, and he wasn't just referring to the boy's unusually downcast mood. When he and Greninja had utilized their bond form, he had momentarily tapped into Ash's aura to check to make sure he would be able to sustain the connection after not using it for so long. His aura had been churning ever so slightly, but it was faint enough that even Lucario wouldn't have noticed had he not been looking carefully. At the time, he had simply chalked it up to Ash's lingering sadness affecting it, but now he wondered if there was something else afoot as well. 

For that matter, why had Ash been so sad that morning anyway? He knew the boy wasn't fond of staying in the hospital, but he had known he would be allowed to leave today. There was no reason for him to get so down over that. And Lucario couldn't think of anything else that might have happened between last night and today to affect his mood as greatly as it had. 

A feeling that he hadn't felt since realizing that he had woken up several hundred years after his time was creeping up inside his chest again. Something was very, very wrong with Ash. That much was obvious. But he couldn't begin to think what it was or what he could do to help his little friend. 

"He did just get over being sick. Perhaps that's what you were sensing," Lucario suggested, trying to remain optimistic. 

"Perhaps," Greninja agreed. 

Lucario's attention was distracted for a moment as Ash suddenly stumbled and fell up ahead. He felt a momentary twinge of concern, but Ash quickly sprang back to his feet, looking no worse for wear. There was a bit of dirt and dust on his jeans now, but he didn't appear to be injured. 

"Are you okay, Ash?" Fallon asked, looking worried. 

"Yep! Guess I just wasn't paying attention to where I was going," Ash said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. 

It certainly wasn't the first time Ash had fallen over, and he did appear to be unharmed. Yet still, something in Lucario's gut was telling him that something wasn't right. He couldn't quite place his paw on what it was, but he couldn't help thinking that Ash's sudden fall had something more to do with than just being distracted. A quick glance over at Greninja told Lucario that he was having similar thoughts as well. 

Maybe I'm just being paranoid? 

In his defense, it was difficult not to be. With the amount of danger Ash managed to throw himself into, Lucario often found himself checking up on the young trainer even when he knew he didn't need to just to make sure he was still safe and in one piece. There were times when he wondered whether his student had a death wish. He loved Ash more than anything, but the child was going to send him to an early grave. 

Actually, considering I've technically lived over seven hundred years, I guess it wouldn't really be that early at all. 

Somehow, even his favorite joke about his age wasn't enough to quell the worry he could feel churning in his stomach.

 "The battle between the Celadon gym leader, Erika, and the challenger, Ash Ketchum, will now begin! Each trainer has the use of three Pokemon. The match will end when one side's Pokemon are both unable to continue. In addition, only the challenger will be allowed to substitute Pokemon." 

Lucario sat down next to Greninja in the stands, watching intently as Ash pulled out Charmeleon's Pokeball from his belt while trying not to gag at the powerful scent of perfume coming from Erika's shop. While he was all for people doing whatever made them happy, he thought that she had gone a little overboard with her perfumes. They didn't necessarily smell bad, but the sheer amount of fumes was about to give him an asthma attack. 

"Charmeleon, I choose you!" Ash called out, breaking into a small coughing fit at the end. 

Across the field, Erika gave Ash a look of concern. "Are you alright, Ash?" 

"Y-yeah, thanks," Ash answered, getting ahold of his breathing as Charmeleon appeared on the battlefield. 

"No, he's not alright," Greninja scoffed beside Lucario. "These perfumes are enough to make anyone gag! Who thought it was a good idea to let her run a shop?" 

"If you're sure, then," Erika replied dubiously. Shaking herself off, she tossed out her first Pokeball. "Tangela, let's go!" 

A strange Pokemon that appeared to be covered in a mass of blue seaweed appeared on the battlefield in front of Erika. Lucario stared down at the little grass-type intently, trying to analyze her. She didn't appear to be especially powerful, but seeing as she was a gym leader's Pokemon, he knew better than to underestimate her. There must have been a reason Erika would send her out to battle Charmeleon. 

"A Tangela," he heard Ash mutter to himself. "Right, then. Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!" 

"Dodge and use Stun Spore!" Erika countered. 

Charmeleon took a deep breath, firing a jet of flames in the Vine Pokemon's direction. At the last second, however, Tangela rolled nimbly out of the way before sending a cloud of yellow powder back at the fire-type. Unfortunately for her and fortunately for Charmeleon, the move's poor accuracy ended up coming into play, and Stun Spore missed Charmeleon completely. 

"Don't give up, Tangela! Stun Spore one more time!" Erika ordered. 

"Dodge, then Swords Dance!" Ash called out. 

Once again, Tangela sent a cloud of yellow dust toward Charmeleon, only for the Lizard Pokemon to duck out of the way. Before he could use his Swords Dance booster, however, the grass-type fired off another Stun Spore. This time, Charmeleon wasn't able to move out of the way in time and was paralyzed. 

Uh oh. This does not bode well.

"Charmeleon!" Ash cried out. 

"Ugh...don't worry, Ash. I'm okay," Charmeleon grunted, wincing slightly. 

"That's the way it's done, Tangela! Now, use Vine Whip!" Erika commanded. 

Judging by the look on Charmeleon's face, Lucario doubted whether the fire-type would be able to break through the paralysis in time to counter Tangela's Vine Whip. Ash seemed to be thinking the same thing as well and was frowning thoughtfully. 

"What now, Ash?" he murmured, half to himself. 

And just in the nick of time, the answer seemed to come to the young boy. With a grin, Ash called out, "Charmeleon, catch that Vine Whip and then hold it down!" 

Somehow, Charmeleon was able to snatch the vines flying toward him out of the air before pinning them down to the ground. Tangela cried out in shock, trying to struggle free, but her efforts were in vain. Even under the effects of Stun Spore, Charmeleon's greater strength won out. 

"How in the world?" Erika exclaimed. 

"If our movement is going to be restricted, then we'll make sure you can't move around freely either. Right, Charmeleon?" Ash asked, grinning. 

"Right you are!" Charmeleon agreed. 

Fallon laughed. "Brilliant! Catching a Vine Whip isn't a real move, so paralysis wasn't able to stop Charmeleon from doing it." 

"And seeing as those vines are still attached to Tangela..." Greninja's voice trailed off, but there was a knowing smirk on his face. 

"But Charmeleon's still paralyzed, so will he still be able to attack anyway?" Fallon asked. 

"Who said anything about attacking?" Greninja replied mysteriously. 

A moment later, it became clear as to just what Ash's strategy had been. With Tangela unable to move, Ash took the opportunity to toss a cheri berry in Charmeleon's direction. His plan worked, and the Lizard Pokemon was quickly cured of his paralysis. Then, without missing a beat, he ordered another Flamethrower. The flames traveled up Tangela's outstretched vines, striking the grass-type directly in the face. She let out a cry of pain before falling over, unconscious. 

"Tangela is unable to battle! Charmeleon wins!" the referee announced. "Gym leader Erika, please send out your next Pokemon." 

"Thanks for all your help, Tangela. Take a good rest," Erika praised her Pokemon as she returned Tangela to her Pokeball. 

"That was a close one," Greninja murmured to Lucario. "Good quick thinking, though." 

"Agreed. Let's see what else Erika has up her sleeve," Lucario replied. 

"You're pretty good, Ash, but this is as far as you'll get!" Erika stated confidently. "Weepinbell, come on out!" 

She tossed out her second Pokeball, releasing a Pokemon that resembled a Venus flytrap onto the battlefield. The Flycatcher Pokemon narrowed his eyes at Charmeleon, spinning around in a challenging manner. Never one to be intimidated, however, Charmeleon growled back, the flame on his tail flaring up slightly. It was clear that neither Pokemon planned to give an inch. 

"Still want to keep going, Charmeleon?" Ash asked. 

"Of course!" Charmeleon replied, flexing his muscles. 

"Great! In that case, use Swords Dance!" the raven-haired boy commanded. 

"Vine Whip!" Erika shouted. 

Charmeleon's body glowed silver for a brief moment as his attack power was boosted. While he was preoccupied, however, Weepinbell took the chance to strike him across the face with a Vine Whip, sending him stumbling back a few paces. Fortunately, seeing as it was a grass-type move, it didn't appear to hurt all that much, but Erika had managed to land the first blow and it was clear that her confidence had skyrocketed because of it. 

"Alright there, Charmeleon?" Ash called out, sounding concerned. 

"Never better! It's going to take more than a weak Vine Whip to get me down," the fire-type assured his trainer. 

Unfortunately, Weepinbell had heard as well. "You want to talk about weak, huh? Then why don't you get a load of this?!" 

He fired off another Vine Whip, catching Charmeleon by surprise and wrapping him up tightly. The fire-type struggled to free himself, but Weepinbell was surprisingly strong. Try as he might, Charmeleon simply couldn't break free. Lucario felt a pang of worry. What was Ash going to do now? 

"Great work, Weepinbell! Now, use Giga Drain!" Erika called out excitedly. 

"Charmeleon, return for now!" Ash said quickly. 

Charmeleon nodded briefly to Ash as he was returned to his Pokeball. In his place, Ash sent out Pidgeotto, who quickly dodged a third Vine Whip from Weepinbell. She smirked down at Weepinbell, who growled up at her, frustration shining in his eyes. But there was nothing he could do. The tide of battle had turned once more in Ash and Pidgeotto's favor, and everyone in the gym knew it. 

"Don't give up, Weepinbell! Use Poison Powder!" Erika ordered. 

"Blow it back with Gust, Pidgeotto, and then follow up with Air Cutter!" Ash countered. 

Weepinbell spun around firing a cloud of purple dust toward his opponent. In response, Pidgeotto flapped her wings rapidly, creating a powerful gust of wind that sent the powder flying right back toward him. Since Weepinbell was part poison-type, he wasn't affected by the reflected status move, but it did blind him long enough for Pidgeotto to knock him out with a powerful Air Cutter. 

"Weepinbell is unable to battle! Pidgeotto wins," the referee declared. "Erika, please send out your final Pokemon." 

Lucario breathed a sigh of relief, smiling with pride down at Ash as the raven-haired boy stroked Pidgeotto's head fondly. The battle had looked tense for a few moments, but as usual, Ash had come up with a flawless strategy to pull out the win. 

Erika's final Pokemon turned out to be Gloom, while Ash sent out Charmeleon for the final matchup. The Lizard Pokemon seemed to be fully recovered from his battle with Weepinbell, firing a jet of flames toward the ceiling with a challenging roar. Lucario chuckled fondly to himself. If there was one thing Charmeleon was not, it was a quitter. 

Unfortunately, it quickly became clear as to why Erika had Gloom on her team. 

"Dear Arceus, what is that horrid smell?" Pikachu exclaimed, looking as though he were about to be sick. 

"That's Gloom. They're known to smell absolutely awful," Greninja replied, not looking much better. "I don't envy Ash and Charmeleon right now, having to be down there with that." 

No kidding. Arceus, please let this match end soon, Lucario prayed fervently. His species was known for their unusually strong sense of smell, so while Gloom's stench wasn't exactly overpowering, it was affecting him much more greatly than he would have liked. 

Fortunately, even if Arceus hadn't heard his prayer, it seemed that Ash had. Clearly making an effort not to gag, he ordered a Flamethrower from Charmeleon. He didn't miss a beat, and Gloom was quickly knocked out, forcing Erika to return her to her Pokeball and ridding the gym of the foul odor that had accompanied her arrival. 

"G-Gloom is unable to battle! Charmeleon wins, which means the victory goes to Ash, the challenger!" the referee announced, clearly startled by the sudden end to the final match. Not that Lucario could blame him. 

"Yes! You were so awesome, Charmeleon!" Ash cheered excitedly, running up and hugging the fire-type. Charmeleon returned the gesture enthusiastically, his tail flickering in triumph. 

Erika let out a sigh but smiled all the same as she walked over to Ash and his Pokemon. At the same time, Lucario, Greninja, Fallon, and Pikachu jumped down from the stands to join their friends. Lucario walked over to Ash, reaching up and ruffling the boy's hair. 

"Good work today, Ash," he praised his student. 

"Thanks, Lucario," Ash replied, beaming. 

"You really were great today," Erika agreed, approaching Ash with a bright, multi-colored badge shaped like a flower. "And as proof of your victory here at the Celadon gym, please accept this Rainbow Badge." 

"Oh! That's a pretty one!" Fallon exclaimed, staring admiringly at the badge. "It looks just like a flower." 

"Thank you, dear," Erika said kindly, smiling at the younger girl. "You know, if you want to challenge me, you could win one yourself." 

However, Fallon shook her head. "Nah. I'm actually not doing the gym circuit just yet. But maybe in a few months or so. We'll see." 

"We will indeed," the teal-haired gym leader agreed. 

Ash placed the Rainbow Badge in his case, next to his Thunder Badge. A quick glance at the case's contents told Lucario that Ash had earned half of the number of badges required to enter the Indigo Plateau league conference. After being on his journey for a mere three months and a few days, he was making excellent time. 

But the easy part was over now. Lucario had learned from Greninja that the fifth gym in each region was where the battles began to get more and more challenging. Almost anyone could pass the halfway point, but the final four gyms were what proved whether a trainer had what it took to take on the league championship. There were several trainers who had their league aspirations ended because they failed to earn the required eight badges in time. 

They couldn't worry about that, however. Whatever happened in the future would happen. Right now, the only thing that mattered was that Ash had earned his fourth gym badge. 

"What now?" Ash asked, turning to his friends with a beaming smile. 

"Well...there's the Saffron gym, I think. We kind of passed over that one," Fallon suggested, though she seemed rather reluctant. "But I've heard some rumors about the gym leader, Sabrina...seems like she's kind of a creep..." 

"In what way?" he asked, tilting his head to the side. 

"I don't really know. People say that she has psychic powers and that she went mad because of them. Some even say that she kills challengers who lose to her in battles," the ginger-haired girl answered. 

"That probably isn't true. A gym leader wouldn't be allowed to stay on as leader if she killed people, would she?" Lucario pointed out. 

Fallon shrugged. "Probably not. But still, there must be a reason as to why those rumors got so popular. So she probably at least does something, even if she isn't necessarily killing anyone." 

Lucario had to admit that she had a point. Even though he doubted that Sabrina was a murderer, there had to be a reason as to why everyone feared her so much. He felt sorry for her. Psychic powers were difficult for any human to control, and it seemed as though hers had gotten out of hand, turning on her as well. But he couldn't dwell too much on that. If the Saffron gym was going to endanger Ash in any way, he couldn't allow the boy to travel there. 

"Are there other gyms we could challenge instead?" Lucario inquired. 

"I can help you with that," Erika spoke up. "A few months ago, the league opened up a brand new gym in Lavender Town. The gym leader there, Charlotte, specializes in ghost-type Pokemon. And don't worry, I've met her before and I promise you she's completely normal." 

"That's a relief. I wasn't looking forward to getting attacked by some evil psychic woman," Ash remarked, to which everyone laughed. "So, Lavender Town it is, then! Let's go, I want to get there as soon as possible!" 

"Well, seems like someone's back to normal," Greninja muttered to Lucario as Ash turned and sprinted out the gym doors. "Should we go catch up to him, then?" 

Shaking his head fondly, Lucario quickly jogged after the messy-haired boy, catching up with him just outside the gym. The excitement of winning his fourth badge had quenched the faint, lingering sadness Lucario had sensed in Ash. His attention was, once more, focused entirely on his path to the Pokemon league. 

Four down, four more to go. 

Chapter Text

Two days later, Fallon received a message that she was scheduled to have another appointment with Marci. After promising to meet up with her friends again in Lavender Town, she boarded a bus that would take her back to her counselor's office. Throughout the ride, she stared out the window, wondering what Marci would think of the progress she had made since their last appointment. 

Personally, Fallon thought she had come a long way. Thoughts about Damian no longer plagued her every hour, and she no longer felt a pang of guilt every time she looked at Charmander-no, Charmeleon, she reminded herself. While she still wasn't sure what sort of trainer she wanted to be, she had gotten around to spending more time with her Pokemon. They seemed to appreciate the extra attention they were receiving if nothing else. 

But on the other hand, she still hadn't been able to work up the courage to give her parents a call. That was what bothered her the most. Her parents had never been anything but wonderful to her, and although she had resented Damian for quite a while, her anger had never turned on them. Yet still, she just couldn't bring herself to talk to them. Even among all the progress that she had made, she still remained utterly stagnant in that one regard. 

Part of her had wanted to talk to Lucario or Ash about it, but they seemed to have their own problems to deal with. Fallon had noticed the unusually downcast air around Ash on the morning of his Celadon gym battle, but her attempts at asking him what was bothering him had been met with a cheerful denial of anything being wrong. She had given up eventually, accepting that her friend would come to her if he wanted, but that didn't stop her from seeing Lucario and Greninja whispering worriedly to each other. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were talking about. 

The bus came to a stop, jolting the young girl out of her thoughts. Glancing out the window, she realized that they had arrived at her stop. Grabbing her bag, she quickly thanked the driver before hopping off, making her way over to the familiar gray building. 

"Hi, there," Fallon greeted the man working the front desk. "I'm supposed to be here for an appointment with Marci?" 

He nodded, barely glancing up at her as he scanned his clipboard. "Name, please?" 

"Fallon Miller," she replied, wondering internally what it was with receptionists never looking visitors in the eye. 

"Let me see...ah, yes, right here. She'll be ready for you in about five minutes if you'd like to head down to her office," the man said, making a note of something on his clipboard. 

"Thank you," Fallon answered briefly before turning and walking down the hallway, eager to get away from the unfriendly receptionist. 

Marci's office was exactly the same as she remembered. The same two couches sat across from each other, separated by a glass coffee table and a plain red carpet. On top of the coffee table, there was a stack of magazines, none of which looked particularly appealing. A bookshelf sat in the corner of the room, utterly barren aside from a few children's books on the lowest shelf. One difference that Fallon did notice, however, was the addition of a vase of flowers on Marci's desk. 

"Good afternoon, Fallon," Marci greeted her with a friendly smile. 

"Hi," Fallon said, still glancing around the room as she took a seat on the couch across from her counselor. "Nice flowers." 

"Thank you. They're a gift from my fiance," the older woman replied. 

Fallon looked at Marci, her interest piqued. "Oh, I didn't know you were engaged?" 

Marci nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "Yes, we just got engaged a week ago. But we've known each other for quite a while now." 

"Congratulations," she replied sincerely. "When's the wedding, then? Or do you have a date picked out?" 

"Not yet," Marci answered, laughing. "It's still a bit too early for that. But we both agreed that we'd like to be married within a year at least." 

Briefly, Fallon wondered what it would be like to get engaged to someone someday. Of course, being only eleven years old, she was a long way away from that particular milestone. She doubted whether she would even start dating until she was fifteen if she ever decided to start at all. Still, it was an interesting prospect to think about. How did two people know for sure when they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together anyway? 

"So, how have you been since the last time we talked?" Marci asked, effectively bringing her back to reality. 

"Oh...well, pretty good, actually. I've been traveling a lot with Ash, and he's been great. And so have his Pokemon," Fallon answered, blinking. "I had to leave for a bit to come here and also just because I wanted to catch a new Pokemon, but we're meeting up again in Lavender Town for his next gym battle in a few days." 

"Lavender Town? That's quite an interesting choice for a gym match," the older woman remarked. "Are you planning on visiting the Pokemon Tower while you're there?" 

"The Pokemon Tower? You mean that giant tower that's supposed to be a massive tombstone?" Fallon clarified. She shuddered. "No thanks. I don't think I'd like being around so many dead Pokemon." 

"Understandable," Marci chuckled. "Well, other than that, is there anything you've been wanting to talk about with me?" 

"There...there is, actually," she answered, shifting around slightly so that she was sitting on her hands. "It's...well...it's about my parents." 

"I see," the woman said, nodding. "Are they doing alright?" 

"I, uh, I actually don't know. See, that's what I wanted to talk about. I...I haven't actually talked to them yet," Fallon admitted. "I want to, I really do...but...I don't know. I just can't. And I don't know why. My parents have always been great to me, and I know they're probably worried because I haven't called in ages. But I just can't do it." 

Marci nodded slowly, looking thoughtful. "Are you worried that they'll blame you for what happened to your brother?" 

"I...I don't think so, no," she answered, shaking her head. "They've always been fair to me, and even when Damian used to get in trouble, they never said it was my fault. So I don't think they'd start now." 

"Then is it possible that you're upset with them about something?" her therapist inquired. 

"What? No!" Fallon exclaimed, shocked that Marci would even suggest such a thing. "My parents were the good ones. Why would I be angry with them?" 

"Just because your parents are good people doesn't mean they've never done anything to make you angry or upset. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. And being upset with our family members is a perfectly natural feeling," Marci told her. "Your parents might very well have hurt you, but neither you nor they are aware of it." 

"But what could that be?" she asked, bewildered. 

"I don't know. They're your feelings, remember that," Marci replied. 

Fallon sat there for a few moments, utterly stumped. What had her parents ever done to her? For as long as she could remember, she had always been able to trust them with everything. There was nothing they had ever done to hurt her, at least not that she could think of off the top of her head. Maybe her reluctance to call them had nothing to do with them at all and she still had her own issues to work through with herself. 

But the more she thought about it, the more Fallon began to realize that Marci was right. She knew that her parents loved her and wanted her to be happy, that much was true. At the same time, however, she recognized that a part of her felt that they had enabled Damian's actions by not doing more to curb his growing arrogance and bullying tendencies when they were younger. If they had only done more to control him, perhaps things wouldn't have escalated to the point they had. And she hadn't forgotten that it had been their idea for her and Damian to travel together in the first place. While Fallon could appreciate her parents wanting their children to get along better, she felt they should have realized by that point that it was never going to happen. 

"It probably sounds selfish, but I guess I just wish they had done more to protect me," Fallon admitted finally, crossing her legs. "I don't know. They've always known that Damian had...issues...but I guess it just feels like they never took them seriously enough. I feel like if they had, maybe things wouldn't have gotten so bad. But I don't really think that's their fault either, you know? I mean, he was-is-still their son, and they probably just wanted to believe he would grow out of it someday. So I don't know if I deserve to be upset with them because I don't think they meant for it to hurt me." 

"You aren't being selfish, Fallon, and you absolutely deserve to feel upset with anyone who hurts you," Marci reassured her gently. "Your parents might not be aware that their inactions hurt you, but that doesn't mean that your feelings aren't real. It is possible to have good intentions and still cause pain to others." 

The amount of relief Fallon felt at hearing that she wasn't being unfair by being angry with her parents was so overpowering, she almost felt embarrassed. It was amazing how good it was to know that her feelings were valid and that she didn't have anything to feel guilty about. She thought she might have known it deep down, but it was still nice to hear it from someone else too. 

Now that she had cleared that hurdle, however, there was still one question left to address. "But how do I bring that up to my parents?" she asked. "I really don't think they meant to hurt me, and I'm afraid I'll hurt their feelings if I go about things the wrong way." 

"Well, I can't promise for certain that they won't be sad," Marci warned her. "Nobody likes to hear that they've hurt someone else-well, some people do, but we won't get into that today. My suggestion would be to make it clear to your parents that you know they love you and that you understand the way you're feeling about what happened doesn't necessarily match their intentions. But you do whatever you feel is best." 

"Okay," Fallon agreed, nodding slowly. "I think I can do that." 

"Good," Marci said, smiling kindly. "And if it would help at all, I can be there when you talk to your parents. Or you could invite your friends along as well." 

Fallon nodded. "I'd like that." 

She wasn't completely settled yet, and she still wondered how her talk with her parents would go. But as long as she had her friends by her side, Fallon knew she would be ready for whatever response they might have. 

Chapter Text

Ash skipped merrily through the hallway in the Pokemon Center in Lavender Town, careful not to make too much noise in case he woke up any of the other guests. Despite the fact that the moon was still high in the sky outside, he just couldn't fall asleep. There were only a few hours left until his gym battle against Charlotte, and Ash was even more eager than usual to get it started. Not only was she the first ghost-type gym leader in the Kanto region, but her gym was also located inside the Pokemon Tower, which was said to be haunted by the spirits of dead Pokemon. He wasn't usually one for supernatural stuff, but he was excited to see if the rumors were true. 

Fallon had been less than pleased when she learned of the location of the Lavender Town gym. She was certainly brave, but she was adamant about the fact that she did not like graveyards. Apparently, being around so many dead Pokemon creeped her out, which Ash could honestly see. In the end, Lucario agreed to wait outside with her while Ash had his battle. 

"Fire beats grass, grass beats water, water beats fire," Ash recited softly to himself, the old lesson from his earliest days in school playing over and over in his mind as he walked down the hallway. "Grass beats water, water beats fire, fire beats grass. Water beats fire, fire beats grass, grass beats water." 

He repeated the mantra over and over, trying to keep himself entertained. Eventually, however, reciting the type matchups of the starter Pokemon lost its appeal, and he moved onto other typings. 

"Fairy beats dragon, dark, and fighting. Dragon-type beats dragon, but it can't touch fairy. Dark beats ghost and psychic. Ghost beats ghost and psychic, but it can't touch normal. Normal doesn't beat anything," he continued on. "Psychic beats poison and fighting. Poison beats grass and fairy. Fighting beats dark, ice, rock, and normal, but it can't touch ghost. Grass also beats rock and ground. Water beats rock and ground too. Fire beats bug, steel, and ice. Bug beats grass, dark, and psychic. Ground beats rock, steel, electric, and poison, but it can't touch flying. Electric beats water and flying, but it can't touch ground. Flying beats fighting, grass, and bug. Rock beats fire, ice, bug, and flying." 

On and on he went until he could no longer think of any more type matchups to list. When he had reached the end of the list, he decided to turn his attention away from Pokemon altogether. 

"Twinkle twinkle, little star. How I wonder what you are?" Ash sang softly. "Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the-oof!" 

The rest of the lyrics were cut off as he stumbled unexpectedly and fell forward, crashing hard onto the vinyl floor. His head struck the hard surface, sending a wave of agony through him. Ash remained sprawled out on the floor in pain for a few moments before slowly pushing himself up onto his knees, feeling the world spin slightly as he did so. 

"Ugh...that kind of hurt," he grumbled to himself. "Guess I need to start paying better attention to where I'm going..." 

As the throbbing in his head finally began to fade, however, Ash slowly began to realize that something felt...different, so to speak, about his legs. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the world was still spinning slightly, but try as he might, he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. He turned his head over his shoulder, staring down at his legs as he tried to figure out what was wrong with them. 

What in the world? 

Unfortunately, the next wave of dizziness proved to be too much to handle, and he collapsed forward onto the floor, unconscious.

 When Ash came around again, he was displeased but unsurprised to find himself back in the same white hospital room (albeit in a different Pokemon Center this time). As he sat up, he felt a familiar webbed hand brushing his hair out of his eyes. Blinking tiredly, he turned to see Greninja, Lucario, Fallon, and Pikachu standing around him, identical expressions of worry on their faces. 

"Are you feeling better, Ash?" Greninja asked gently. 

"I...I think so," Ash replied slowly, reaching up to touch his head gingerly. It was then that he discovered the bandages wrapped around his forehead. "What...what happened?" 

"We don't know. Greninja found you unconscious in the middle of the hallway," Lucario answered. His tone was half-curious, half-stern as he continued, "And what were you doing out in the middle of the night anyway?" 

"I...I was taking a walk because I couldn't sleep. And sometime last night, well...I remember falling and hitting my head," he explained, trying to remember exactly what had happened the previous night. "I'm not sure how it happened. Maybe I tripped over something. But I don't know what happened after that, so I guess that's probably when I passed out." 

All in all, Lucario seemed satisfied with his explanation. Even so, however, Ash could still sense a twinge of concern in the ancient Pokemon's aura-as well as in his other friends' auras as well, now that he thought about it. Truthfully, he couldn't really blame them. He still wanted to know why he had fallen over so suddenly the previous night as well. And there was something else too, something that was only starting to come back to him now. 

"There's something else that happened too," Ash spoke up again. "When I fell, my legs felt...weird." 

"Weird in what way?" Fallon asked curiously. 

He shook his head. "I don't know. I can't really describe it. They didn't, like, hurt or anything. They just felt...I don't know, different somehow." 

"I see..." Greninja mused slowly, looking concerned. "And how do they feel now?" 

Ash hesitated for a moment, trying to see if the strange sensation he had felt the night before was still lingering. But it was gone, leaving his legs feeling as normal as ever. It was as if nothing strange had ever happened. 

"Fine," he answered finally. "Normal, actually." 

Greninja nodded slowly, exchanging a small glance with Lucario, who spoke up, "Well, Nurse Joy says you'll be staying here for at least another day or two. She wants to monitor you to make sure your head injury isn't too serious." 

Ash, having more or less expected this, simply nodded in resignation. With a sigh, he turned and stared out the window, gazing forlornly at the sunlit grass outside that he wouldn't get to set foot on for an entire day now. Possibly longer if something went horribly wrong and forced him to stay in the hospital for an extended period of time. Not that he thought that was really a possibility-but then again, he also hadn't believed he would end up in this situation in the first place. 

"Here we go again," Ash grumbled. "Another day of being stuck in the hospital for me." 

"I know, Ash, and I'm sorry. But you need to stay here if you want to heal. Okay?" Lucario comforted him, reaching out and squeezing his hand gently. 

"Yeah, I know. I'm just sick and tired of always getting stuck here," he sighed. 

How many more times would his journey have to be put on hold because he just couldn't stop collapsing everywhere? How many times would he have to postpone his gym battles? How many times was he going to get stuck in the same white hospital room? Ash was the type of person who needed to be on the move at all times, and his repeated hospitalizations were starting to take their toll on him. 

If this kept up much longer, he didn't know how he would be able to handle it. 

Greninja sat down on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, we're going to head out to the town for a bit. Do you want us to get you anything? We could bring you back some raspberry chocolate if you'd like." 

Ash remained silent for a few moments, fiddling with his thumbs. In all honesty, candy was the last thing he needed or wanted at that moment. The only thing he wanted was to get out of the hospital. But he realized that his friends would only worry more if he declined his favorite sweet, so he forced a smile onto his face and nodded. 

"Sure," he agreed as cheerfully as possible. "That sounds really good." 

Greninja nodded, reaching up and ruffling his hair gently. "Alright, bud. Now, get some rest, okay?" 

Instead of answering directly, Ash just nodded and turned to look out the window again as his friends began to file out of his room. A few moments later, he heard the door shut quietly behind them. Despite Greninja's instructions, however, he remained awake and sitting up, staring outside long after they had gone. The sun was still shining outside, but somehow, it didn't seem quite as bright as usual. 

It wasn't just the fact that he was once again stuck in the hospital that was weighing down on him. It was the fact that he knew why he had fallen last night. He knew what the strange sensation in his legs had been. And he knew that from here on out, things would only continue to get worse. At this point, it was only a question of when. 

From what he could tell, his friends still didn't know the truth. But Ash knew that wouldn't last forever. Every single day, every single moment that went by, he knew he was inching closer and closer to the point where it would be too late. Sooner or later, he would have no choice but to tell his friends what was happening to him. And he still couldn't even begin to think of how to have that conversation. 

How much longer can I keep this up? 

Chapter Text

When Delia Ketchum arrived in Lavender Town for a meeting with Nurse Joy, Greninja hadn't honestly thought there was anything terribly wrong. She was Ash's mother, after all, so of course, she would want to make sure her son was alright. Admittedly, he did find it a bit strange that she chose to come now, considering Ash had fallen ill several times before. However, he tried not to judge her too much. Delia had her own life as well, and it was possible that she just hadn't found the time to check in on Ash until now. 

Looking back on this day later, he would realize that perhaps he should have been a bit warier. Perhaps that way, the news he received that evening wouldn't have hit as hard as it did. 

Greninja's first clue that something wasn't right was when Nurse Joy requested Lucario's presence at the meeting. Much to his annoyance, he hadn't been invited, though he suspected that was because Lucario was the only Pokemon that Nurse Joy would be able to speak with. That was strange enough by itself, but coupled with Delia's unexpected visit, and there were suddenly alarm bells creating a cacophony in Greninja's mind. Hoping to satiate his curiosity, the Ninja Pokemon hovered in the shadows outside the empty lobby, where Nurse Joy, Delia, and Lucario were having their meeting. 

"Thank you for coming today, Mrs. Ketchum," Nurse Joy said quietly. "I hope traveling here wasn't too difficult." 

"Not at all. Is everything alright with Ash?" Delia asked, sounding worried. "I heard he's been ill recently." 

The pink-haired woman sighed. "That's what I wanted to discuss with you. First of all, I trust that you're both aware of Ash's condition?" 

Condition? Greninja wondered, leaning in ever so slightly. What on earth is she talking about? What condition?

Lucario looked just as clueless as he felt. "What do you mean?" 

"You haven't informed them yet?" Nurse Joy asked, glancing at Delia. 

She shook her head. "I haven't informed anyone yet. Not even Ash. His father and I both agreed that we would tell him when he was a teenager because we thought it would be easier for him to understand that way. The nurses and doctors we spoke to about our decision agreed that it was our right to decide." 

"I understand," the kindhearted nurse said gently. "However, I called you in today because Ash's condition seems to be progressing faster than we originally thought. If you wait until he's a teenager to tell him..." 

She let the rest of her words die away, but the implication was still there nonetheless. Delia bowed her head, misery etched in every line of the auburn-haired woman's body. At the sight, Greninja felt a painful clench in his stomach. 

Something was terribly, terribly wrong. 

Lucario glanced between the two women, denial and confusion fighting for dominance in his expression. "I don't understand. What's going on? What condition are you talking about?" 

"Is it alright if I tell Lucario?" Nurse Joy asked, looking at Delia. 

Delia nodded sadly. "I suppose there's no sense in keeping the truth from anyone now." 

"Very well," Nurse Joy agreed, giving her a sympathetic smile. Turning back to Lucario, she continued, "I'm afraid there's no good way to say this, but...Ash has muscular dystrophy. Duchenne muscular dystrophy, to be precise." 

Never having been interested in anything medical-related before, the diagnosis meant nothing to Greninja. However, he could infer enough from Nurse Joy's tone that it didn't mean anything good for Ash. Lucario seemed to pick up on this as well, for his face fell in obvious worry. 

"I-I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with that," the jackal answered. "What is this Duchenne muscular dystrophy you speak of?" 

"To put it in as simple terms as I can, it's a disease that causes progressive muscle weakness in boys," the pink-haired nurse replied. "That means that as Ash gets older, he's going to have more and more trouble with things such as standing up and moving his arms. Eventually, he'll no longer be able to walk. And..." 

Every word that Nurse Joy spoke felt as though a Karate Chop was being delivered to Greninja's chest. The only thought racing through his mind was that his best friend was going to lose his ability to walk. And judging by her tone, there didn't seem to be any way to stop it. Granted, he knew that this was something that happened to a lot of humans, but most of them were already elderly. But Ash was only eleven years old. How had something like this happened? 

"But...but how?" Lucario spluttered. "We've been taking good care of him! How could he...?" 

"I'm afraid it's not like that. There's nothing you could have done to prevent this from happening. The truth is, Duchenne muscular dystrophy is an inherited disease...which means that Ash was born with it," Nurse Joy explained. 

Lucario sounded ready to burst into tears as he croaked out, "But...but that's the worst of it, right? Ash, he'll...he won't be able to walk, but he can still live a full life?" 

Greninja was all too familiar with the saying that curiosity killed the cat. It was commonly used among adult humans and Pokemon to discourage nosiness in children. What a lot of people tended to forget, however, was the second half of that phrase saying that satisfaction brought it back. 

But if this was the satisfaction he would get, he would much rather have stayed dead. 

"No," Nurse Joy said softly. "I'm afraid not. You see, in the final stages of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Ash will begin to experience lung and heart problems. They're going to get worse over time as well. We can monitor it, but just like with the rest of the disease, there's nothing we can do to stop it permanently. And...it's likely that he won't survive past his teenage years." 

And as Lucario hunched forward, his shoulders beginning to shake, Greninja's entire world shattered around him. 

Chapter Text

Ash knew something was wrong when neither Lucario nor Greninja returned for several hours after his mother's meeting with Nurse Joy. The two veterans of the team were always so punctual, not to mention they constantly preached about getting a good night's sleep. For them to suddenly be late in returning to their room was so unlike them, Ash might have gone out searching for them if he wasn't absolutely certain they could take care of themselves. Still, that begged the question, if Lucario and Greninja weren't in any danger, then why were they so late? 

Fallon did her best to reassure him, as did the rest of his friends. "I'm sure they're fine, Ash. Something probably just came up, or maybe they felt like spending some time alone. It probably gets tiring being around everyone all the time," the redhead pointed out reasonably. 

"Yeah, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about," Bulbasaur reassured him. "They'll probably be back any minute now." 

Ash half-smiled, glancing toward the door with a small sigh. "Yeah, I know. I'm just kind of worried. It's not like them to be late." 

"Now you know how the rest of us feel having to run after you all the time," Charmeleon joked. 

"I guess I do," Ash agreed, chuckling quietly. 

Deep down, however, he had a sinking feeling he knew exactly why Greninja and Lucario hadn't returned to the room yet. The sorrow in his mother's eyes as she'd hugged him briefly earlier that evening gave little doubt as to what their meeting was about. In a way, he almost hoped that Lucario and Greninja would stay away a bit longer, if only because it gave him more time before he finally had to face the reality of telling the rest of his friends what was going to happen to him. 

Maybe it would have been better to just get it over with–like ripping off a bandage, as some would say. But how was he supposed to tell them that he was going to be leaving them soon, that they would never accomplish their dream of traveling the world together? It wasn't as though they didn't already have their own problems to deal with. Placing the weight of his impending death on their shoulders seemed awfully selfish. 

But at the same time, Ash knew it wouldn't stay a secret forever. Eventually, they would realize that something was wrong, and there would be no choice but to tell them. His recent hospitalizations had already started to arouse suspicion. Besides, they weren't just his friends. They were his family too. Didn't that mean he owed them the truth, even if it was going to be difficult to cope with? 

The only thing he needed to ask himself was, if the situations were reversed, would he want his friends to tell him that they were sick? If Greninja, Lucario, or any of his other friends had a deadly illness, would he want to know even if it meant also knowing there was nothing he could do to save them? 

Before the question even finished crossing his mind, he knew what his answer would be. 

Taking a deep breath, Ash spoke up, "Hey, guys...there's something I have to tell all of you." 

"Sure, Ash. What is it? Is everything okay?" Pidgeotto asked, looking concerned. 

He shook his head. "Not yet, sorry. I, er, I need to find Greninja and Lucario first. They need to be here to hear it too. So just, uh, wait for me, okay?" 

"Alright, Ash," Sylveon agreed. "We'll be waiting." 

Nodding gratefully, Ash stood up and headed toward the door. Walking was a bit more of a challenge than it should have been, which only fueled his belief that it was time to tell everyone the truth. Even though he didn't know much about his illness except for what he had read in that book, he could sense that he didn't have much time left. 

I wonder what the afterlife will be like, Ash thought to himself, feeling a pang of sadness. Then he chuckled. I wonder if there even is an afterlife. 

His family had never been especially religious, so he wasn't sure if he believed in life after death. In all honesty, he could see arguments for both sides of the issue. Of course, nobody knew for certain because anybody who would be able to confirm or deny the existence of an afterlife wasn't exactly in a good place to be able to do so. 

He wondered which option would feel better. On one hand, the idea that he would just stop existing after death wasn't exactly a comforting thought. But on the other hand, if there was something more after this life, he couldn't help wondering how he would move forward without his family. 

Ash broke out of his thoughts to see that he had arrived at the entrance to the lobby. He took a step forward, the sound of Lucario and Greninja's voices reaching his ears from the other side of the doorway. Before he could walk in, however, he froze as he realized exactly what they were talking about. 

"What are we going to do?" Lucario's voice tore at Ash's heart, choked with grief. Although he couldn't see the Aura Pokemon's face, he knew that he was crying. 

"I don't know." Unlike Lucario, Greninja wasn't crying. Instead, he just sounded hollow, as though he would never feel anything again.  

Lucario made a strange noise that sounded like a poor attempt at getting his emotions under control. "This can't be how it ends, it just can't! Ash, he's...I...I can't lose another friend. Not again. Not like this." 

A pang struck Ash's heart as he realized that his decision to tell his friends about his illness had come too late. Much, much too late. 

For several long, agonizing moments, he stood frozen in place, not knowing what to do. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. They weren't supposed to find out like this. Ash hovered outside the doorway, torn between wanting to comfort his friends and wanting to run back to his room and hide in the safety of his hospital bed where he could pretend, at least for a little while, that everything was okay. 

But he knew that nothing would ever be okay again, at least not completely, and when he thought about it, he didn't have the heart to leave his friends when they were in so much pain. 

Before he could reconsider, he stepped forward into the lobby. Greninja and Lucario were sitting beside each other on a bench along the far right wall, their heads bowed and their shoulders hunched forward. Upon his arrival, however, they looked up, their eyes meeting his. And once again, Ash stopped dead in his tracks as the full force of their sorrow struck him like a knife to the chest. As a matter of fact, he was almost certain that would have been a more preferable option. 

Lucario's eyes were red-rimmed and swollen, tear tracks still visible on his face even from all the way across the lobby. Upon meeting Ash's gaze, he quickly squeezed them shut, though it did little to prevent more from leaking down his cheeks. Greninja's eyes were dry and he showed no sign of having cried that Ash could see, but the shattered, hopeless look on his face told him all he needed to know about how the frog-ninja Pokemon was taking the news. His grief seemed beyond tears. 

"Greninja, Lucario, I...I wanted to tell you, I just..." Ash's voice trailed off, his words failing him. 

"You knew?" Greninja asked softly. His voice held no anger or accusation, only sorrow, and unimaginable pain. "Oh Ash, I'm so sorry." 

That was the final push he needed. Without thinking, Ash raced the length of the lobby toward his friends. As he reached them, he found himself being swept up into Greninja's arms, the frog Pokemon holding him tightly against his chest. Lucario, having gotten himself under control by now, moved in on the hug as well, his head resting on top of Ash's. 

"I love you both. I'm sorry, guys," Ash said softly, his voice muffled slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." 

Chapter Text

It was well into the night by the time Ash, Greninja, and Lucario returned to the boy's hospital room. Upon their arrival, a heavy silence immediately fell over the room. Although the rest of their friends couldn't have known what had transpired down in the lobby, the looks on their faces were enough to tell them that something wasn't right. Without a word, Ash sat down on the edge of his bed with Lucario and Greninja on either side of him. 

"Guys? What's wrong?" Fallon asked softly, looking worried. "Why do you all look so sad?" 

Ash twiddled his thumbs for a few moments, unsure how to begin. If he was being honest with himself, he didn't even want to begin. It was one thing to admit the truth of his impending death to himself, quite another to voice it out loud to his friends. Perhaps it would have sounded foolish to some, but there was something about telling them about his illness that made it feel all the more real. 

But at the same time, he knew he had to speak up eventually. He had promised, after all. And if there was one thing he swore he would never do, it was to break his promises. 

"Well...do you remember when I said I had something I needed to tell you guys?" Ash began finally. They nodded, incomprehension showing in their eyes. "Yeah. So, uh, the thing is, I...I'm sick." 

The others blinked. "Is that all?" Pidgeotto asked, clearly surprised. "Why didn't you just say so? Do you need one of us to get Nurse Joy for you? Or maybe some hot soup and medicine?" 

"No, no, it's fine. It's not–well, it's not quite like that," he explained, stumbling over his words slightly. "My illness, well, it's–it's a bit more serious than that. But I don't need medicine, or at least not yet. I probably will eventually though, I don't know. Once everything starts..." 

He broke off, realizing that he was rambling. Shaking his head to clear it, Ash continued, "I mean, the point is that I–I'm not exactly doing great. And-and I probably won't ever be doing super great again." 

Greninja and Lucario both flinched visibly at that. Ash leaned against the frog Pokemon's shoulder slightly while allowing Lucario to squeeze his hand. The others looked between them, half-concerned, half-fearful. For several moments, nobody made a sound. Finally, however, Pikachu spoke up again. 

"What do you mean, Ash?" the electric mouse asked. 

"I...I mean I'm dying, Pikachu," Ash blurted out quietly. 

He let out a sigh, leaning his elbows against his knees. There it was. The bandage had finally been ripped off. Now all there was left to do was wait for his friends' reactions. 

"You-you aren't actually serious about that, are you?" Charmeleon asked finally, looking utterly lost. 

"Well, I-I actually am," he admitted, staring down at his hands. 

"But-but that can't be true!" Sylveon protested, her eyes wide. "You've been fine this whole time! I mean, okay, so you got a little sick a few times, but you always bounced back, haven't you? How could you be dying?" 

"I mean, it's probably not going to happen anytime too soon. I've still got a bit of time left," Ash amended hastily. "It's just that I've got this illness and it's not going to get better. Or at least that's what everyone's saying." 

Before he had even finished speaking, they were already shaking their heads. "That can't be right, Ash. There must be something that can be done," Fallon insisted. "Medicine has come a long way. And doctors and scientists are coming up with more and more every single day. There has to be some sort of treatment for your illness. Something, at least." 

"There are certain treatments that can help mitigate the effects for at least a period of time," Lucario said quietly, his voice still hoarse from crying. "But nothing will be able to stop it permanently." 

"That's just what Nurse Joy said, though. She might be wrong," Bulbasaur argued back. "What if we took Ash to a doctor in another region? They might know how to help him." 

"I've heard that Sinnoh has great doctors," Pikachu added. 

"And if it's not medicine you need, then what about surgery?" Fallon suggested. "There are all kinds of different surgeries that can be used to save people's lives. Removing blockages from the stomach, vital organ transplants, removing tumors, bypass surgery. You name it, they've got it. I'm sure we could find a surgery that could save you. My parents are good friends with a doctor in the Unova region. I could talk to them about asking him for help." 

Ash just smiled sadly. Just as he had expected, his friends were already coming up with every possible plan to try to find a cure for his illness. Sooner or later, though, they would realize it was hopeless. Meanwhile, he was just trying to commit every experience he had shared with them to memory. Who knew how much longer he would have to share new ones with them, after all? 

"How much longer?" Pidgeotto asked softly. 

"I don't know. Hopefully at least a few years, but I guess you can never really tell with these things," Ash answered. 

"Well, then we'll just have to use whatever time we have left to work on finding a way to cure you," Fallon assured him. "Don't worry, Ash. I know there must be something we can do. Or somebody anyway. It's going to be hard, but nobody ever said this medicine stuff was easy, right? We've just got to keep looking until we finally find what we need." 

"Ash?" Greninja asked softly, reaching out to place a webbed paw on the messy-haired trainer's knee. "What do you want to do? It's your choice, after all." 

For several moments, Ash remained silent, internally debating on how to answer. On one hand, he was extraordinarily grateful for his friends' determination to save him. Even at only eleven years old, he knew that friends like them didn't come around often. There wasn't anything in the world he would have traded them for, and he hoped they knew how much they meant to him. He wasn't sure whether he had the heart to refuse their help. 

At the same time, however, he couldn't shake the feeling that they were fighting a losing battle. From what he could understand of the book he had read up on his diagnosis in, Duchenne muscular dystrophy had been around for centuries, possibly even longer. If nobody had found a cure by now, then it seemed unlikely that there would ever be one. And if someone did find a cure, it would probably come much, much too late to be of any use to himself. 

Still, it seemed as though his friends were determined to try, and who was he to refuse? It wasn't as though it could hurt to at least try. And maybe their efforts wouldn't be in vain after all. Maybe they would stumble upon the exact medicine or treatment needed to save him. Doing so would be no less than a miracle, but Ash was more than used to having odd things happen to him that shouldn't have happened. 

"If that's what everyone wants," he agreed at last. "It couldn't hurt to at least look, right?" 

"That's the spirit, Ash," Fallon replied, smiling at him. "We'll find something for you, just you wait. Even if it means we have to knock on every doctor's office from here to Galar, we're not going to stop until we've found a way to cure your sickness." 

"Thanks, everyone," Ash said quietly. Turning to Lucario and Greninja, he went on, "There's just...there's just one more thing I wanted to ask." 

"Sure, Ash. What is it?" Greninja asked softly. 

Taking a deep breath, he replied, "From now on, no more nights at the Pokemon Center when I get sick. I mean, unless it's really, really serious, obviously. But if it's something small like a cold, then I don't want to have to stay in here. I want to stay outside with everyone else, where I can still live like a trainer and enjoy camping with my friends. If I need to, I'll stay inside a tent to stop myself from getting anyone else sick. No more bed rest, though. Not unless I have to. I don't know if we'll be able to find a cure, but if we don't, then I'll only have a few years left at most. And if I'm really going to spend the last few months or weeks of my life slowly getting worse, then I don't want to spend the time I have now while I'm still mostly okay going in and out of the hospital all the time." 

"I want to live," he implored them, silently pleading with them to understand. "At least while I still can. There are a lot of things I'm probably never going to be able to do, and I've gotten used to that by now. But I don't want to waste whatever time I have left. I want to experience as full of a life as I can because I get the feeling that pretty soon, I...I won't be able to...I'll just be..." 

Ash gripped his knees tightly, feeling a few tears roll down his face. The truth of his inevitable death struck him like a battering ram to his chest, leaving his heart shattered and his lungs feeling as though they were being held under miles of water with no hope of ever reaching the surface. It suddenly hit him just how little time he had left, and even that was likely to become lesser and lesser. 

Beneath the agony and grief, however, there was a simmering sense of defiance. If he was going to pass on in a few years or even just a few months, he would make sure he went out fighting. He wasn't going to spend the rest of his life waiting for his final day to arrive; he would make sure he got to enjoy as many of the joys life had to offer as possible. 

But first, he needed Greninja and Lucario to agree to his request. 

"Please," Ash said softly. "I need this, don't you see? I can't live the rest of my life in fear all the time. There's not enough time for that. But I need you to be with me on this too." 

Greninja and Lucario hesitated briefly before the frog-ninja Pokemon reached out and pulled Ash closer to him, securing him against his side. "Alright, Ash. We promise. From now on, no more hospitals unless it's absolutely necessary." 

Ash smiled up at Greninja. "Thank you." 

Sitting there with his family, wrapped up in the comforting embrace of the first and best friend he could ever have hoped for, he made a promise to himself. No matter what, he would make sure to live the rest of his life so that when his time finally came, he wouldn't be leaving with any regrets. 

Chapter Text

Unable to sleep that night, Ash snuck out of his room and headed out of the Pokemon Center, hoping for a bit of fresh air. It was a clear, warm night, so he didn't bother to put on his jacket. As he stepped outside, however, he was puzzled as he felt a chill brush over him despite the fact that the weather report had said it would be in the low seventies all night. His questions were soon answered when, as he glanced around the sleeping town, he noticed a young woman with a Gengar. She noticed Ash watching and smiled at him, beckoning him to come closer. 

"Hi, there," she greeted him. "My name's Charlotte. Did you want to come and meet Gengar? She's really friendly."

"Hello!" Gengar said happily, waving a stubby arm. 

"Charlotte?" Ash blurted out. "Does that mean you're the Lavender Town gym leader?" 

"I am, yes. Gengar here is my partner," Charlotte replied, smiling proudly. "And what's your name?" 

"My name's Ash! I'm training to enter the Indigo league in a few months," he told her excitedly. "And I'm also training to become an Aura Guardian. Lucario's my mentor, and he's a really, really awesome teacher. I met him when I was eight years old when my mom took me on a trip to Cameron Palace for my birthday." 

"I see," Charlotte said, chuckling at the boy's enthusiasm. "So, you say you're training to enter the league? What Pokemon do you have on your team so far?" 

"All sorts! I've got Greninja, Pikachu, Pidgeotto, Charmeleon, Bulbasaur, and Sylveon," Ash said happily, beaming with pride at the thought of his friends. "They're all really, really strong too. Greninja's my best friend; I've known him since I was seven. Lucario travels with me too, but I didn't catch him, so he isn't really my Pokemon. We just won our battle against the Celadon gym a week ago, so we decided to come here to challenge the Lavender Town gym next." 

"Well, we'll be looking forward to your battle," Gengar replied, giving him a warm yet challenging smile. 

Ash beamed happily. "Thanks, Gengar! I promise we'll all work really, really hard to win." 

Charlotte blinked, evidently startled at his apparent ability to understand Pokemon speech. But she chose not to comment on it, instead remarking, "It sounds as though you have a wonderful team of Pokemon, Ash." 

"The best," he agreed readily. "I couldn't have asked for better Pokemon or better friends. They've been with me through everything, and I just hope that we can pull through this together."

His smile faded slightly as he thought back to his conversation with them earlier that night. Their desire to find a cure for his illness meant more to him than he could ever begin to express. But he couldn't help wondering how much of a difference it would make. And if it didn't work out, what then? How was he supposed to move on knowing that he would be leaving his friends–his family–behind? 

"Is everything alright, Ash?" the dark-haired woman asked, looking concerned. 

"Huh? Oh! Y-yeah, everything's fine," he said quickly, shaking off his increasingly dark thoughts. "Just, uh, got a few things on my mind, I guess." 

"If you say so," Charlotte replied skeptically. "But feel free to let me know if anything is bothering you, alright? Gym leaders aren't just here so we can battle passing trainers, you know. It's also our job to ensure the safety and happiness of every person and Pokemon in the Kanto region." 

"Thanks, Charlotte," Ash replied, smiling brightly. 

She smiled back at him before recalling Gengar to her Pokeball and heading back in the direction of the gym. Rather than going back inside himself, however, Ash simply sat down on a bench and looked up at the sky. There was a thin wisp of cloud covering the moon, but other than that, the night sky was as clear as ever. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the bench, enjoying the quiet stillness of it all. 

These were the moments that made life worth living. Of course, Ash loved a good Pokemon battle as much as the next person, but they certainly weren't what made his life fulfilling. Instead, he found much more joy in smaller things that others might not necessarily appreciate.

The smell of freshly-cooked eggs in the morning. The way the corner of Lucario's mouth twitched into a half-smirk whenever he teased him. How Fallon was always the last member of the group to wake up. How despite the way she groaned in annoyance every time someone came to rouse her, she never failed to greet everyone with a smile on her face when she met them for breakfast. The sound of muffled giggles as the younger Pokemon pranked Greninja. The way the sun had felt when he was finally allowed outside after being hospitalized the first time. That night he and his friends had sung "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" underneath the clear night sky.    

"Mind if I sit down here with you?" 

Startled, Ash looked up to see Paul standing in front of him. "Oh, uh, sure," he agreed, moving over to give the other boy more room to sit. 

Paul nodded gratefully and took a seat beside him. The two trainers sat in silence for several minutes, neither of them knowing quite what to say to the other. Finally, however, the Sinnoh native spoke up again. 

"So, what are you doing out at this time of night?" he asked. 

Ash cocked his head to the side. "What, are you nocturnal or something? You're out here too, you know."

"True," Paul acknowledged, chuckling slightly. "If you want to know, I came out here because I was hoping to catch a ghost-type Pokemon. I'm challenging the Lavender Town gym tomorrow, and it would be useful to have one. And the night's always the best time to catch ghost Pokemon. But then I saw you over here, so I decided to see what you were doing." 

"Oh," Ash said, grinning. "Honestly, I just couldn't sleep, that's all." 

"Is everything okay?" the other boy asked, looking concerned. 

"Fine, yeah. Just one of those nights, I guess," Ash assured him, only half-truthful. Fortunately, Paul wasn't able to see through his facade. 

"I've had nights like that before," Paul said quietly. His face pinked slightly as he continued, "My brother always said that taking a walk helps you when you have a lot on your mind. If you'd like, we could..." 

"Sure," he agreed almost instantly. "And maybe we can find a ghost-type Pokemon for you, yeah?" 

The look of pure relief and happiness on Paul's face made the corners of Ash's mouth quirk upward. Trying to avoid embarrassing his friend, however, he avoided commenting on it. Dusting himself off, he stood up and quickly fell in step beside the purple-haired boy as they made their way toward the forest. 

Neither of them said much to the other as they walked through the dimly lit woods. Unlike when Paul had first approached Ash, however, the silence wasn't awkward. Ash was perfectly content to just enjoy his friend's company, and he figured that Paul must have felt the same. Besides that, there was something about being outside in the middle of the night that made conversation seem utterly unnecessary. 

Suddenly, Ash sensed the aura of a nearby Pokemon. He came to a halt as he quickly pinpointed the direction the other Pokemon's aura was coming from. As he was about to let Paul know of it, however, he felt the other boy grab his hand suddenly. 

"Look up there! Isn't that a Haunter?" Paul asked excitedly. 

"It is," Ash confirmed. He waved up at the ghost-type. "Hi there, Haunter!" 

"Hello!" Haunter replied cheerfully. "Did one of you come to have a battle with me? This forest gets awfully lonely, and it's been forever since I had a good one." 

"He wants to have a battle," Ash translated for Paul. 

Paul stepped forward, his eyes gleaming. "I'll battle you on one condition. If I win, you'll join my Pokemon team." 

"Sounds good to me," the ghost-type replied, grinning excitedly. "Get ready because here I come!" 

"Grotle, stand by for battle!" Paul called out, tossing out the grass-type's Pokeball. 

And as he watched Haunter's Shadow Ball collide with Grotle's Leaf Storm, as he saw the determined gleam in Paul's eyes, Ash felt the familiar sensation of warmth rush through his veins at the sight of his friend's happiness. 

Chapter Text

Paul hadn't been entirely sure what to make of Ash when he first met the boy. A casual observer would quickly decipher that Ash was bright, positive, and happy, not to mention a good friend to his Pokemon. Yet at the same time, he had a tongue that could leave a person bleeding for days. Every emotion was betrayed in his eyes, and he hadn't needed to say a word for Paul to know just how much Ash had disliked him. 

For that reason, he had taken an instant dislike to the other boy himself. If there was one thing Paul couldn't tolerate, it was not being in control. He was a battler first and foremost, and in a battle, it was always critical to get the upper hand over one's opponent. And in order to be able to do that, one had to be in control–they had to know their opponent's strengths and weaknesses, what they would do if they found themselves in a pinch, and what buttons to press to throw them off their game. There was no room for weaklings on his Pokemon team either. Any Pokemon that couldn't pull their weight had to go, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. 

But when it came to Ash, it was as though all of his philosophies went right out the window. No matter what, Paul hadn't been able to bait the raven-haired trainer into an ill-fated battle. He had done everything he could think of to rile him up, but aside from a few sharp retorts here and there, he hadn't been able to push him to his breaking point. In a way, it both irritated and fascinated him, and Paul had made it his mission to get Ash to react one day, if only because he hoped to defeat the Kanto native in a Pokemon battle. 

It was no use. Nothing he did ever worked. And then, in one fell swoop, Ash managed to turn all of Paul's beliefs on his head.

When the raven-haired trainer had approached him outside the Vermillion City Pokemon Center, he hadn't honestly been expecting him to want to help. Nor did he think he deserved it if he was being honest with himself. Paul certainly hadn't done anything to endear himself to Ash, mocking him for his friendship with his Pokemon. If Ash had chosen to walk on past without sparing him a second glance, he couldn't say he would have blamed him. 

But he didn't. Instead, he had stayed and even helped to heal Grotle. Despite their previous animosity, none of it seemed to matter to Ash when faced with an injured Pokemon. 

Paul hadn't understood. Why had Ash helped him? He certainly hadn't deserved it, and his pride wouldn't allow him to ask. Ash's response, when questioned about his actions, had only served to puzzle him even further. 

"Is not being friends really a good enough reason not to help someone?" 

In a way, he reminded him quite a bit of his brother. Reggie was always talking just like Ash, preaching constantly about friendship and trust. Once upon a time, Paul had eaten up his brother's teachings like a child in a candy shop. After seeing Reggie get utterly destroyed by Brandon, the final frontier brain, he had become disillusioned with the overly idealistic beliefs. Being friendly and trusting certainly hadn't helped Reggie in his battle against Brandon. Clearly, sheer power was the only way to go if he wanted to reach the top. If Reggie had been the one to heal Grotle that day, Paul could safely say without a doubt that he wouldn't have taken his brother's words into consideration. Actually, it was debatable as to whether he would have allowed Reggie to heal his Pokemon in the first place anyway. 

Somehow though, Ash had made him stop and think. He couldn't quite place his finger on what it was, but there was something about Ash that made him want to be better, both as a trainer and as a person.  

His aura powers were something else entirely, but that was a topic Paul didn't know if he wanted to get into. 

They continued along through the forest together, taking care not to trip on any hidden tree roots or fallen debris. Ash, being an aura user, could easily maneuver his way through the forest without any issue, but he kept his pace slow so as not to leave Paul behind. Rather than commenting on this, however, Paul simply looked down at the Pokeball in his hand, which held his newly-caught Haunter. 

Ash caught him looking and grinned. "So, are you planning to evolve your Haunter before your battle tomorrow?" 

"I might," Paul murmured thoughtfully. "I'd have to find someone to trade with, though." 

"No worries! I can help you there," the messy-haired boy offered. "I'll talk to one of my Pokemon and ask them to help us do a temporary trade. That way, you can get a Gengar!" 

Paul grinned. "Think I might take you up on that." 

Suddenly, without warning, Ash suddenly grabbed ahold of a nearby tree branch and swung himself upward. Paul felt his heart drop momentarily, half-expecting Ash's momentum to send him flying over the next branch. Instead of crashing to the ground, however, the Kanto native landed safely on another branch a few feet above the first. He continued this method of climbing until he had reached the top of the tree, where he sat triumphantly, swinging his legs. 

"Hey Paul, come on up here! The view is awesome!" Ash called back down. 

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea..." Paul said uncertainly. 

"Aw, come on, you don't have to worry! The climb is really easy," the other boy cajoled. "Trust me, I know you can do it." 

There Ash went again, convincing him to do things he never thought he would be willing to try in that mysterious way of his. Shaking his head in amusement, Paul grabbed ahold of the first branch, swinging himself upward in the same way he had seen Ash do. Within minutes, he had reached the top of the tree, where Ash moved over to give him room to sit. 

"See? I told you that you could do it," Ash said, smiling brightly. He laughed and leaned back. "This is awesome! Greninja and Lucario would never let me do something like this. And just look at that view!" 

Paul did so–and immediately found his breath taken away. From where they sat, they could see all around the Kanto region for miles. The moon and stars shone brightly in the sky, now so close it was as though they could reach out and touch them. A sense of serenity filled the air, leaving his heart feeling at ease. 

"It's...it's really nice," he said finally, struggling to find the right words to describe it. 

But if the beaming smile that spread across Ash's face was any indication, the other boy had understood all the same. 

They stayed up there for a few more minutes before deciding to head back down. The sky was beginning to lighten, which they both took as their cue to head back to the Pokemon Center. Once they had reached the ground, Ash dusted himself off and turned to Paul. 

"I should probably head back now. Lucario and Greninja aren't going to be happy if they wake up and find out that I'm gone," he said sheepishly. 

Paul chuckled lightly. "Fair enough. I'll see you around soon, yeah?" 

"Definitely! And don't forget, we need to evolve your Haunter tomorrow!" Ash agreed. "And hey, we should do this again sometime. It was fun, wasn't it?" 

With that, he turned around and skipped off, leaving Paul staring in awe after him. 

Chapter Text

Ash stood across from Charlotte, his eyes narrowed against the dust billowing about the gym as her Haunter's Ominous Wind collided with Pidgeotto's Air Slash. The raven-haired trainer could faintly hear his friends shouting words of encouragement from the sidelines, but he barely paid them any attention, instead choosing to search for an opening to attack Haunter. Unfortunately for him, it was clear that Charlotte wasn't a trainer who let her guard down easily. Every possible opening that appeared was quickly blocked, and he could tell that Pidgeotto was beginning to grow frustrated. 

"It's alright, Pidgeotto, just stay calm! We'll find a way out of this," he called out. 

"We'd better because I'm getting really tired of this stupid Haunter playing games," Pidgeotto growled. 

"How is it that Haunter can hit Pidgeotto anyway? I thought ghost-type moves don't work on normal-types," Ash heard Fallon remark curiously. 

"They can't, usually. My guess is that Haunter must be holding an item that allows him to hit Pidgeotto," Paul answered.

"It looks like there's something on Pidgeotto's leg," Fallon commented.

"You're right," Paul agreed. "That looks like a Ring Target to me. So that would explain why Haunter's ghost-type moves are working."

"But how would Haunter have been able to get the Ring Target onto Pidgeotto anyway?" she asked, clearly confused.

At this, Lucario spoke up, "Charlotte probably had him use Ominous Wind as a modified version of Fling. That would be my guess." 

"Wow. I never would have thought of that," Fallon whistled. "She's definitely earned her spot as a gym leader."  

"Your Pidgeotto has been raised well, Ash, but I'm afraid this is where the match ends!" Charlotte called over to him. "Haunter, use Shadow Ball!" 

"Air Slash!" Ash countered quickly. 

Once again, Pidgeotto's Air Slash clashed with Shadow Ball, effectively blocking the attack. While blocking was certainly helpful, however, he knew they wouldn't be able to win unless they were able to hit Haunter. He narrowed his eyes. There was no choice. Clearly, trying to attack from a distance wasn't going to work. They had to try to get in close and get a direct hit. The only question now was how they were supposed to do that while avoiding all of Haunter's long-range moves. 

"Shadow Ball once more!" Charlotte ordered. 

"Fly up and dodge!" he shouted. 

"You can't run forever, you know," Haunter teased the bird Pokemon. 

"I don't plan on it," she hissed back, shooting straight upward to avoid the Shadow Ball. 

Pidgeotto can't fly straight in. He'll see that coming a mile away, Ash mused to himself. But at the same time, if we fly around too much, it will be obvious what we're trying to do. So...

At that moment, Pidgeotto dived back toward the ground to avoid an Ominous Wind attack, kicking up a small cloud of dust as her feathers brushed against the gym floor. And just like that, an idea flashed into Ash's mind. 

"Steel Wing on the ground, Pidgeotto! Kick up a sandstorm!" he commanded. 

"That's not going to work, Ash! Use Shadow Punch!" the dark-haired woman ordered. 

Before Pidgeotto had time to charge up her Steel Wing, a ghostly fist struck her in the chest, sending her tumbling back several feet. To her credit, she shook it off almost immediately, flying back up and glaring defiantly at Haunter. Ash gritted his teeth. No matter what he tried, it seemed that Charlotte was always two steps ahead of him. 

"Frustrated?" she asked, borderline taunting. "I don't blame you. Ghost-types really are something else, aren't they?" 

"Don't start celebrating yet. The battle isn't over," he retorted. 

"Quite correct, Ash. So let's remedy that, shall we?" Charlotte replied, smirking. "Haunter, use Shadow Ball!" 

"Steel Wing!" Ash countered quickly. 

Haunter spun around with a grin as he fired off another Shadow Ball in Pidgeotto's direction. Rather than trying to dodge, however, the flying-type stood her ground. Her wings took on a silver glow as she caught the ghostly purple orb between them, sending it back toward her opponent. Caught by surprise, Haunter was unable to dodge in time and took his own attack full in the face. While it wasn't quite enough to knock him out, it did plant another idea in Ash's mind. 

"Are you alright, Haunter?" Charlotte asked worriedly. 

"Ugh...yeah, I'm good," Haunter grunted, struggling to get back up. 

"Great! In that case, use Shadow Punch!" she shouted. 

"Mirror Move!" Ash ordered. 

Once again, a ghostly fist shot toward Pidgeotto, striking her in the chest. She winced in pain for a brief moment before recovering quickly, her body glowing briefly before sending a Shadow Punch of her own toward Haunter. There was no way for him to dodge the attack even if he wanted. Yet somehow, instead of looking alarmed, Charlotte merely grinned. 

What's she playing at now?

"Destiny Bond, Haunter!" she commanded. 

Ash's eyes widened. "Pidgeotto–"

Too late. 

The copied Shadow Punch knocked Haunter out cold. As soon as he fainted, a great shudder ran through Pidgeotto's body as she, too, collapsed on the battlefield, unconscious. Ash looked down at his fallen Pokemon's still form, wincing. They had managed to take out Charlotte's first Pokemon, but it hadn't been without a cost. 

"Pidgeotto and Haunter are both unable to battle! Trainers, please select your next Pokemon," the referee, a woman who looked as though she could be Charlotte's sister, requested. 

Ash walked over to Pidgeotto, who stirred slightly as he approached. "Thanks for everything, girl. Take a good rest now, alright?" 

"Thank you, Ash," she murmured, giving him a tired smile as he recalled her to her Pokeball. 

He placed Pidgeotto's Pokeball back on her belt, walking back over to his side of the field. Despite the fact that he had just lost a Pokemon, Ash felt more exhilarated than ever. Pidgeotto had been knocked out, true, but Haunter was down as well, so the playing field was still even. Besides, Charlotte was quickly proving to be the most fascinating opponent he had ever battled. If this was how he felt while fighting her, he could only imagine how the rest of his gym battles would be. 

That was in the future, however. For now, he had a match to worry about. And his next Pokemon–and final one, for that matter–was going to be his trump card. 

"Surprised, Ash?" Charlotte asked with a grin, though not a malicious one. "That's the beauty of Destiny Bond. If the target faints that turn, it takes its attacker down with it." 

"I'll admit I wasn't expecting that," he replied, chuckling. "But we won't be falling for that trick again." 

"Excellent. That's what I like to hear," she said, pulling another Pokeball off her belt. "So let's make this final battle a good one, shall we? Gengar, it's your turn!" 

"Sylveon, I choose you!" Ash called out. 

There were two flashes of light as each trainer's respective Pokemon appeared on the battlefield. Ash grinned to himself as the familiar ghost-type took her place on the opposite end of the field. Sylveon's fur bristled slightly as she growled challengingly at Gengar, who narrowed her eyes back. An unspoken message passed between the two Pokemon. No matter what, neither of them was going to give an inch. 

"You've done well in coming this far, Ash, but I'm afraid your run ends here!" Charlotte declared. "Gengar, use Sucker Punch!" 

"That's what you think! Sylveon, use Calm Mind!" Ash ordered. 

Gengar's Sucker Punch failed as Sylveon closed her eyes, her feelers billowing about as she increased her attack and defensive stats. Not one to be deterred, however, Charlotte quickly ordered a Shadow Ball. It hit its mark, but thanks to her increased defense, Sylveon barely seemed to feel a thing. She grinned over at Gengar, who smirked in response. 

"Was that supposed to hurt? Because that kind of tickled," she joked. 

"That was only a taste of what I'm capable of, kid," Gengar replied, still smirking. 

"You're doing great, Sylveon! Use Calm Mind once more!" Ash commanded. 

"Sludge Bomb!" Charlotte ordered. 

Sylveon closed her eyes once more, her body glowing briefly as her stats were boosted yet again. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Sludge Bomb typically wasn't the most accurate move, the super effective poison-type attack hit her dead on, splattering her with a sickly purple liquid. While it still wasn't enough to knock her out, it had done considerably more damage than Shadow Ball. She staggered slightly, shaking her fur to try to get rid of the disgusting ooze. 

"Are you alright, Sylveon?" Ash asked in concern. 

"A bit sticky, but I'm alright," she replied, giving her fur one last shake. 

"Well done, Gengar. Use Sludge Bomb one more time!" Charlotte ordered excitedly. 

"Dodge and use Calm Mind one more time!" he countered immediately. 

Gengar fired another Sludge Bomb in Sylveon's direction, who rolled out of the way before boosting her stats with one last Calm Mind. At this point, her attack and defensive stats were about as high as they would ever be. But they couldn't afford to attack just yet. They still didn't know all of Gengar's moves, and the last thing Ash wanted was for Sylveon to be caught on the wrong end of a Destiny Bond. 

"You can't boost forever, Ash," Charlotte informed him. "Sooner or later, you're going to have to attack if you want to beat Gengar." 

"Says who?" he asked jokingly, but even he recognized the truth in her words. 

Ash pressed his lips tightly together, analyzing his options. Charlotte was practically goading him into attacking, which would seem to answer his question about whether Gengar had Destiny Bond as one of her attacks. The only question now was what to do about it. 

Destiny Bond...it's a move that causes the user to faint if the target faints on that turn...but only on that turn...that's it!

"Sylveon, charge in and use Shadow Ball!" he ordered. 

Charlotte laughed as Sylveon began to sprint toward Gengar. "Bad move, Ash! Gengar, use Destiny Bond!" 

"Now, Sylveon, grab Gengar with your feelers and guide her away!" Ash shouted. 

Sylveon rushed forward, firing off a Shadow Ball as Gengar's body glowed violet, bringing a promise of certain doom. Just before the super effective attack could strike, however, Sylveon caught her with her feelers, yanking her to the side. Her Shadow Ball crashed into the wall, doing a bit of damage to the gym but leaving Gengar utterly unharmed. 

"Moonblast!" he called out. 

With her senses knocked awry after being hurled so unceremoniously through the air, Gengar was unable to charge up another Destiny Bond in time. Sylveon's Moonblast struck her in the face, sending her flying into the gym wall. There was a loud crash before the ghost-type fell to the ground, unconscious. 

"Gengar is unable to battle! Sylveon wins! Which means the victory goes to Ash of Pallet Town," the referee announced. 

"Yes! You did it, Sylveon!" Ash exclaimed happily. 

"We won, we won!" Sylveon laughed excitedly as she jumped up into his arms. 

Charlotte sighed, but smiled warmly as she recalled Gengar to her Pokeball. "Thanks for everything, Gengar. You've earned yourself a good rest." 

Ash walked over to greet his friends, who had all rushed onto the field to meet him after his battle had ended. As per usual, Greninja hugged him while Lucario ruffled his hair playfully in congratulations. He returned their greeting before untangling himself from his frog Pokemon just in time to see Charlotte approach him. She was still smiling, and in her right hand, she held a small purple badge that glowed like a jewel. 

"Well done, Ash. That was the best battle I've had in a long time," she said, her expression betraying no bitterness despite her loss. 

"Same here," Ash agreed, smiling happily. 

"It sure was!" Sylveon chirped. 

"You were pretty great," Paul admitted, giving him a nervous-looking smile. Ash thought he saw the other boy's face turn pink, but he couldn't be entirely sure. 

"You were. Especially that last move," Charlotte agreed. "I thought for sure we had you with that Destiny Bond." 

Ash chuckled quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Truth is, I'd already guessed that Gengar had Destiny Bond as an attack." 

"How?" she asked, looking utterly stumped. 

"When you started trying to get us to attack Gengar," he explained. "Sylveon's special attack is already one of her highest stats, so after using Calm Mind so many times, any long-range move would have knocked out Gengar instantly. There's no way you would have wanted her to attack unless you still had a way of taking her down too." 

Charlotte whistled, looking thoroughly impressed now. "I'll admit that's why I was trying to goad you into attacking, but I didn't expect you to see through that. Most challengers I've faced don't ever see the bigger picture. You've got a bright future ahead of you, Ash." 

He smiled at that, trying to ignore the small pang he felt at her words. "Thank you." 

"And as proof of your victory here at the Lavender Town gym, I present you with the Spirit Badge," she continued, handing him the purple gym badge. 

Ash accepted the badge, placing it beside the Rainbow Badge inside his case. With his Pokemon's victory today, he only had three more badges to go until he was allowed to enter the Indigo League. The thought was both exhilarating and daunting in a way. Had they really come this far in such a short amount of time? 

Their journey was far from over, he knew that much. In the morning, he and his friends would once again be off on their journey, this time headed toward the Fuschia City gym. The gym leader there, Koga, was a master of poison-types, and Ash was already looking forward to what sort of challenge he would present. 

For now, however, he was more interested in seeing how Paul's new Gengar–and whoever else he chose–would fare against Charlotte and her ghost-types. 

Chapter Text

As soon as he had finished healing his Pokemon, Ash went back to the stands with his friends to watch Paul's battle against Charlotte. Fortunately, Pidgeotto and Sylveon had only suffered minor injuries, so he was out of the Pokemon Center within ten minutes. He settled back down in between Greninja and Lucario as usual, allowing Pikachu to reclaim his spot atop his shoulder. Fallon grinned at him as he sat down, reaching over and clapping him on the shoulder. 

"Hey, I know I've said it already, but nice battle. That was some clever thinking at the end," she said cheerfully. 

"Thanks, Fallon," Ash replied, smiling brightly. 

Down on the battlefield, Paul's Grotle stood face to face with Charlotte's Haunter. Ash watched as the purple-haired trainer ordered a Leaf Storm, which Charlotte quickly countered with Ominous Wind. The two attacks collided in mid-air, the force of the impact causing a cloud of dust to kick up in the middle of the gym. Ash shielded his eyes against the billowing storm just in time to see Grotle attack with Leech Seed. Fortunately, the attack hit this time, and Haunter let out a cry of pain as his health was sapped away. 

"Ugh...I don't feel so good..." Haunter groaned. 

"This battle just got a whole lot easier for Paul," Ash announced happily. "Now even if an attack misses, he's still guaranteed to do damage. And if he switches Pokemon, Leech Seed will still heal whoever he chooses next." 

"It was pretty clever, I'll give him that," Fallon acknowledged. 

"Still, Leech Seed isn't a strong move. He'll need more than that if he wants to win," Greninja pointed out. "Especially because Haunter is part poison-type, so a grass-type move isn't going to do much damage." 

"Grotle knows Earth Power, right? That would work well against a poison-type," Fallon suggested. 

"True, there's just one problem. Haunter's ability is Levitate, which cancels out his ground weakness," Lucario reminded her. 

"Oh, yeah," she remembered, grimacing. "Good luck to Grotle then, I guess." 

Grotle fired off another Leaf Storm, which was once again countered by Ominous Wind. At this point, Ash was beginning to worry. He remembered his teachers explaining that moves like Leaf Storm drained a Pokemon's attacking power after each use, most likely due to the amount of energy it required to fire. Whatever the case, if Paul kept using Leaf Storm, sooner or later Grotle wouldn't have enough power left to fight. 

"Your Grotle has been trained well, Paul, but I'm afraid you seem to have forgotten something," Charlotte announced, smiling confidently. "The more often you use Leaf Storm, the weaker his attack power becomes. Grotle must be feeling the effects by now." 

"She's got a point," Pikachu spoke up, sounding concerned. "What's Paul going to do about that now?" 

To everyone's surprise, however, Paul was still smirking confidently. "You're right, Charlotte, but Grotle and I have a few other tricks up our sleeves. Now, Grotle, use Worry Seed!" 

The Grove Pokemon began to growl menacingly at Haunter, his body glowing a shade of dark purple. At the same time, small black sprouts began to grow around Haunter, sprinkling him with an eerie-looking powder. A shudder passed through the ghost-type's body, though the attack didn't appear to have caused him any pain. Ash stared in confusion. What was Paul trying to do now? 

"Worry Seed?" Fallon echoed his thoughts, sounding just as confused. "What's that for?" 

"I'm not sure," Ash answered, racking his brain as he tried to recall exactly what the attack did. "Worry Seed, Worry Seed...I know I've heard of it before but I can't remember what it does..." 

A moment later, they got their answer. With a grin, Paul called out, "Grotle, use Earth Power!" 

"Earth Power?" Pikachu asked, looking confused. "But I thought ground-type moves couldn't hit Haunter." 

But instead of floating away unharmed, Haunter let out a cry of agony as the super effective shook him back and forth, tossing him unceremoniously through the air like a rag doll. Charlotte's eyes widened as her Pokemon dropped back to the ground, somehow still conscious but barely hanging on. 

"Finish it off with Bite!" Paul ordered. 

"Quickly, Haunter! Destiny Bond!" she cried out. 

Unfortunately for her, the command came too late, or perhaps Haunter was simply too weak to move anymore. Grotle's teeth sank into the ghostly Pokemon's arm, knocking him out instantly. The group in the stands waited with bated breath for Destiny Bond to kick in, but it never did. 

"Haunter is unable to battle! Grotle wins," the referee announced. "Gym leader Charlotte, please send out your next Pokemon." 

"Yes!" Ash cheered, feeling excitement bubbling up inside him. "Paul and Grotle did it! They won the first battle!" 

"Not bad," Fallon acknowledged. "I still want to know how that Earth Power was able to hit Haunter, though. I thought he had Levitate as his ability." 

Ash nodded, frowning. "Yeah, he does. Huh...Levitate...ability...wait! That's it! I can't believe I forgot!" he exclaimed, his eyes widening. 

"What is it?" Pikachu asked. 

"Worry Seed! It changes the target's ability to Insomnia! That's why Earth Power hit," he explained excitedly. "Because Haunter didn't have Levitate when Grotle used it!" 

"That explains it," Fallon agreed, nodding. "Good move from Paul, then." 

He grinned in agreement, then turned his attention back to the field. A wave of anticipation washed over Ash as Charlotte's Gengar appeared on the battlefield. Grotle had been returned to his Pokeball as well, which could only mean one thing. 

"Gengar, stand by for battle!" Paul called out, tossing out his second Pokeball. 

There was a flash of light as the Shadow Pokemon appeared in front of Paul. Right away, Ash noticed that Paul's Gengar was a bit smaller than Charlotte's, although he supposed that was only to be expected. After all, she must have had Gengar for years while Paul had only caught his yesterday. He also noticed that the two Pokemon weren't floating above the ground, which likely meant they didn't have Levitate. 

"Neat, Paul. So you have a Gengar too?" Charlotte asked, looking delighted. 

"Yeah. I just caught him yesterday with a little help from a friend," Paul answered, giving Ash a sideways half-smile. 

Greninja cocked his head to the side, glancing over at his trainer. Ash, however, was too enamored with the impending battle to notice the amusement in the frog Pokemon's eyes. He did, however, notice a pink tint on Paul's face, which puzzled him slightly. What was going on with him? 

"Right. Let's not waste any time," the gym leader declared. "Gengar, use Shadow Ball!" 

"Protect!" Paul countered quickly. 

Charlotte's Gengar fired off a dark purple orb toward Paul's Gengar, who quickly formed a shield, effectively blocking the attack. As soon as the shield was lifted, however, the larger Gengar struck with another Shadow Ball. This time, the younger Pokemon wasn't able to protect himself in time. He stumbled back slightly but got up fairly quickly, looking rather miffed about being the first one to get hit. 

"Ouch. That had to hurt," Lucario remarked, wincing sympathetically. "Good move from Charlotte to keep attacking like that, though. She's certainly not a gym leader for nothing." 

"Yeah, and with how much stronger her Gengar looks, Paul could be in for a rough ride," Fallon commented. 

"Are you alright, Gengar?" Paul asked in concern. 

"Ugh...yeah, don't worry. I've had worse than that," he answered, grunting slightly in pain. 

"Great! Then use Shadow Sneak!" the Sinnoh native ordered. 

"Sucker Punch!" Charlotte countered.  

Unlike when she had used it against Ash and Sylveon, this time, Sucker Punch was a direct hit. Paul's Gengar cried out in pain but recovered just enough to be able to get off a Shadow Sneak. The attack hit, and Charlotte's Gengar stumbled forward onto one knee, breathing heavily. A moment later, however, she got back up again, looking a little worse for wear but no less ready to battle. 

"This isn't good," Fallon murmured from beside him. "Charlotte's Gengar is just too strong. Paul can't keep this up much longer." 

"And with only Grotle in the back, he'd better come up with a plan quickly," Lucario agreed, looking pensive. 

But despite being in what many would consider an impossible situation, Paul still looked as calm as ever. Ash felt a pang of confusion. Based on the way things looked, the battle was all but lost. What did he have up his sleeve now? 

"Shadow Ball, Gengar!" Paul commanded. 

"You use Shadow Ball as well!" Charlotte countered. 

Both Gengar fired off their respective attacks, colliding in the middle of the field. For a moment, it looked as though it would be a stalemate. At the last second, however, Charlotte's Gengar's Shadow Ball overpowered Paul's, leaving the smaller Pokemon with no way of escaping. By all intents and purposes, it looked as though the battle was over. Until...

"Destiny Bond!" Paul called out. 

Charlotte's eyes widened in horror, but it was too late. The smaller Gengar's body took on an eerie glow for a brief moment just before the Shadow Ball struck him full in the face. As he fell to the ground, a great shudder passed through Charlotte's Gengar as she too collapsed onto the gym floor, unconscious. 

"Both Paul's Gengar and Charlotte's Gengar are unable to battle! And as Charlotte no longer has any usable Pokemon, that means the victory goes to Paul!" the referee announced. 

"Yes!" Ash cheered excitedly. "They did it, they won!" 

"That was pretty cool," Fallon agreed, a little more muted but no less bright. 

"It was," Greninja piped up. "The way Paul and Gengar turned Charlotte's Destiny Bond trick onto her was brilliant. He has the makings to be a brilliant trainer one day." 

"He does," Ash agreed, feeling a surge of excitement. "And one day, we're both going to be at the top of the Pokemon league together." 

But even as he spoke the words, some of his excitement dimmed slightly. For deep down, he knew that he wouldn't be able to keep that promise.

Chapter Text

Fallon knew it was high time she scheduled the meeting with her parents. She had been putting off talking to them for so long, and she knew they were probably worried about her. In fairness, it wasn't entirely for lack of wanting. With the reveal of Ash's illness, she had dedicated her time to taking care of her friend. But she couldn't wait much longer. If she wanted to put her past behind her, she needed to speak to her parents. And she wanted her friends to be there too. 

The only problem was, Fallon didn't know how to ask for their support. It was one thing for her friends to find her a therapist, quite another to ask them to sit by her during such a heavy meeting. Not to mention with Ash's health the way it was, the last thing Fallon wanted was to cause more trouble for him. She knew that no matter what, he would willingly drop everything to be there for her. Somehow, that only made her even more reluctant to ask. 

Still, she would need to get it over with eventually. Besides, she reasoned, it wasn't as though she were asking for anything too extreme, right? All she wanted was for her friends-her family–to be there while she talked to her parents. 

"Star?" Staryu trilled, tilting their head slightly to the side. Fallon smiled tiredly, feeling the concern the water-type was unable to express. 

"Jol? Jolteon?" Jolteon asked, rubbing his head gently against her arm, taking care not to shock her. 

"Cleffa?" her newly-caught fairy-type chirped. 

"Thanks, you guys. I'm okay, I promise," Fallon murmured, reaching over to pet them one by one. "I've just got a few things on my mind, that's all." 

"Clef?" the little Pokemon asked. 

She shook her head. "It's okay, it's not anything that you need to worry yourselves about. Why don't you go over and play with Ash's Pokemon? I'm sure they'd love the company." 

Her Pokemon were still reluctant to leave her side, but after an encouraging smile from their trainer, they turned and scampered off. Fallon watched as Cleffa, Jolteon, and Staryu approached the other Pokemon, all of whom welcomed them eagerly. The younger and meeker Pokemon were playing tag while the more battle-hungry ones hosted a training session. Ash stood off to the side with Greninja and Lucario, occasionally calling out commands as Pidgeotto and Charmeleon engaged in a practice match. 

She felt a sad smile spread across her face as she watched Charmeleon's Flamethrower clash with Pidgeotto's Air Slash. The fire-type had come such a long way from the little Charmander he used to be, and she couldn't have been prouder of him. But it was bittersweet as well. Try as she might, Fallon couldn't help wondering how things might have turned out if she had been able to keep him as she had planned. 

Maybe if things had gone differently, she wouldn't be in the situation she was in now. Maybe if her parents had taken Damian's behavior more seriously, she wouldn't have had to give Charmeleon up in the first place. 

Her old Pokemon was only the tip of the iceberg too. Fallon couldn't help wondering what her life might have been like if something had been done about her brother while they were still little. Passing it off as a childhood phase might have worked for a while, but eventually, her parents would have had to realize there was something seriously wrong with him. 

But they hadn't, or maybe they had but just didn't want to admit it to themselves. And that was perfectly understandable. Fallon couldn't imagine a single parent in the world that would want to admit that their child was a terrible person. At the same time, however, it became more difficult to appreciate this fact when she struggled to pick out any good memories from her youth. Even though she knew her parents hadn't intended to hurt her, it was impossible not to resent them, at least slightly, for her lost childhood. 

Fallon's resolve strengthened and she took a deep breath. There was no use in delaying the inevitable any longer. Pushing aside the last of her worries, she stood up and walked over to Ash, Lucario, and Greninja, who turned around and smiled when they saw her coming. 

"Hi, Fallon! What's going on?" Ash asked cheerfully, though Fallon noticed he seemed a little miffed about something. 

"Not much," she replied, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on with you?" 

"Oh, nothing," he answered, waving her off. "Greninja and Lucario just keep asking me if there's something going on with Paul or whatever...but I don't know what they're talking about and they won't explain." 

"Ah," Fallon chuckled. She had noticed the interest Paul had shown toward Ash, but she hadn't thought that anyone else had seen it too. As it turned out, however, apparently the only one who wasn't aware of the Sinnoh native's feelings was Ash. "Don't worry about that, Ash. You'll understand when you're older." 

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So what did you want anyway?" her friend asked, tilting his head to the side. "Is everything okay?" 

Fallon nodded, pushing aside another twinge of nervousness. "Yeah, yeah. Everything's fine. It's just...well, there's something I needed to ask you guys." 

"Of course, Fallon. What is it?" Lucario asked kindly. 

"Well, you see...um, you know my therapist, Marci?" she began slowly. They nodded. "Um, well-she thought it would be a good idea for me to talk to my parents. You know, about...well, everything, really. And if it wouldn't be too much trouble...I, er, that is...I'd like it if you guys were there too. When I go over to talk to them, I mean." 

The request took a good two minutes longer than necessary, mostly given the fact that she couldn't stop stammering and stumbling over her words. When she had finally gotten out everything she needed to say, Fallon waited with bated breath for her friends' response. She didn't have to wonder long. 

As soon as she had finished speaking, Ash was nodding vigorously. "Of course we'll come! Right, guys?" 

"There's no question about that," Lucario agreed. Greninja didn't speak, but he nodded firmly and gave Fallon an encouraging smile. 

"You sure?" Fallon checked just to be safe. "I know it's asking a lot of you. I mean, you don't even know my parents. And I'd hate to have to delay Ash's journey any longer than we already have." 

"Ah, who cares about that? You're our friend! Of course, we're going to be there for you," the raven-haired boy insisted. "A few days isn't that big of a deal." 

"Ash is right," Lucario said firmly. "And you don't need to be nervous about asking us for help, Fallon. You can ask us anything. It doesn't bother us." 

"Thanks, everyone. I just didn't want to be a burden, that's all," Fallon replied, smiling slightly. 

"You? A burden? No way!" Ash exclaimed. "There's no chance you could ever be a burden on anyone." 

"Thank you, Ash," she chuckled, thinking how it was ironic that most people would probably feel that way about him. 

"When do you plan on meeting with them?" the Aura Pokemon inquired. 

Fallon thought for a brief moment, then replied, "Tomorrow, I think. I'll...I'll give them a call later tonight and ask if we can meet at Marci's office. Let's say...how about noon?" 

"Good with me," Ash agreed instantly. Lucario and Greninja nodded along. 

She nodded and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. With her plan set in motion, there was no turning back now. Tomorrow, she told herself, she was going to speak to her parents and get everything she had been holding back out in the open. And then maybe, just maybe, she would finally be able to start putting the past behind her. 

The following day, just as they had planned, Fallon was sitting in Marci's office at noon, facing her parents, who had seated themselves across from her. Ash and Lucario sat on either side of her, while Greninja was beside his trainer. Everyone in the room was silent except for Fallon, who was laying out everything she had gone through for her parents, just as Marci had instructed. 

At first, she hadn't known how to begin. As angry as she was, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her parents. She reminded herself, once again, that no matter what, they had always had her best interests in mind. But once she began, she found that she couldn't stop. 

She told them, point-blank, that she was having trouble trusting them anymore because it was their unwillingness to curb Damian's bullying that had caused things to go as far as they did. She told them that she didn't blame them for the way he had turned out, but it was impossible not to resent them a little because she felt it should have been obvious that they were never going to get along. She explained that their desire for her and her brother to have a good relationship had, albeit unintentionally, driven the two siblings to the point where Damian had tried to kill one of her Pokemon. 

"I loved Charmander-Charmeleon-you know that," Fallon told them quietly. "He was my first Pokemon, and I wanted to grow with him as a trainer. That was always my plan. But that's never going to happen now. I had to give him up because if I didn't, he would always have been in danger. I know it's not entirely your fault and you can't control Damian's actions, but I just wish that something could have been done sooner. That way, I might have been able to keep him." 

"I'm not mad because you wanted us to get along. I get why you did, and I'll admit that for a while, I wanted to be friends with Damian too. At least while we were still little. But I realized that it wasn't going to happen. Because Damian's bullying wasn't just a phase, Mom, Dad. It's who he is. He's not a good person, he's incapable of showing empathy or compassion. I've never seen him be kind to anyone, not once. And I just don't know if you didn't realize the same thing or if you did but you were hoping he would grow out of it." 

"I know you didn't mean for me to get hurt, but at the end of the day, that was the result of your actions. That's why I haven't called lately. I love you both and I know you love me, but I need to trust that, if or when Damian ever gets out of...wherever he is...that things won't go back to the way they were. That I won't be asked to establish any sort of relationship with him because I can't do that. Not anymore. There's no chance we're ever going to be friends, and I need you two to be on my side on that matter. I'm not trying to make you choose between us. If you still want to have a relationship with him, that's okay. He's still your son. But I can't do that, and I just hope you understand that." 

Fallon finished her speech, taking a deep breath and leaning back against the couch. She felt Lucario place a paw on her shoulder and gave him a fleeting smile, letting him know she was grateful for his support. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for her parents' response. 

"Oh, Fallon," her mother said softly, her eyes filled with sorrow. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. Your father and I never wanted to hurt you, I promise." 

"I know," Fallon murmured. "But it doesn't change the fact that it happened." 

"No, it doesn't. You're right. And we can't tell you enough how sorry we are that we hurt you," her father spoke up. "We suspected a long time ago that Damian wasn't ever going to change." 

"Then why didn't you do anything about it?" she asked. 

"We did, or at least we tried. We hoped that by disciplining him, he would learn to be kinder to others. But that didn't happen, so we began to wonder if he felt that we favored you because he was so often in trouble and you never were. Of course, there was never any favoritism, but he might not have seen it that way," her mother explained. "That's why we asked you two to travel together. The hope was that if he was away from us, maybe the two of you would be able to get along better. But we should have realized that it was a poor decision on our parts, and it isn't fair to you that you were put in the position that you were in." 

"And we're sorry that you've been feeling like this for so long," her father continued. "We should have done more to protect you so that you wouldn't have to be afraid to come to us. None of this was your fault, Fallon. You haven't done anything to feel ashamed about, and we promise that from now on, we're going to do better. You're absolutely within your right not to want to be around Damian, and we're going to make sure we keep you safe from him if and when he gets out of jail." 

"Thank you," Fallon murmured, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. 

"We love you, sweetheart. And we promise that from now on, we'll do a better job of making sure you know that," her mother promised. 

"I know," she replied, smiling slightly. "I love you both too." 

The talk with her parents had gone better than she could have ever imagined. Of course, she hadn't expected them to blame her, but that hadn't stopped her from worrying about how the confrontation would be received. As it turned out, however, she hadn't needed to worry at all. Her parents had been nothing but accepting and repentant, and at long last, Fallon felt that she could move on fully with her life. 

But still, she wanted to make sure that they knew she wasn't going to hold it against them. Hesitantly, she asked, "So, I know you're probably pretty busy right now, but would it be okay if I brought my friends over for dinner tonight or tomorrow night? We've got to get back on the road for Ash's journey soon, but I really want them to try some of your roast beef, Mom. It's my favorite dish, and I know they're going to love your cooking. And Dad, maybe we could make some apple pie for everyone?" 

"Of course, sweetheart. That is if your friends would also like to join?" her mother asked, glancing at Ash. 

"You bet! Thanks a lot, Mrs. Miller," Ash replied cheerfully. Fallon suppressed a small smile at her friend's enthusiasm. 

"Please, dear, call me Christi. And I'm the one who should be thanking you for taking such good care of my daughter," the older woman said kindly. "I know we haven't been the best to her, and we're glad to see that she's made such good friends." 

"No problem! Fallon's really great, you know. It's been awesome having her around," the raven-haired trainer said, smiling brightly. 

Fallon chuckled lightly, catching Lucario's gaze out of the corner of her eye. Keeping his voice low so that the others didn't overhear, he murmured, "We're proud of you for doing this, Fallon, all of us. You're a brave kid, you know. And things are going to be better from now on, I promise." 

And for the first time in what felt like forever, she believed him. 

Chapter Text

Fallon's praise for her mother's cooking was certainly accurate, as the rest of the group discovered later that evening. The meat was cooked to perfection, and the mashed potatoes were melt-in-your-mouth warm. Even Lucario, who rarely touched human food unless it was to steal Ash's chocolate, couldn't resist taking a few bites of the roast. And the apple pie was the perfect dessert to finish off a fantastic meal. 

After dinner, it was too dark to travel anywhere, so Christi and Eric invited the group to stay the night. Everyone agreed readily, even Ash, being too tired to even think about heading back to the Pokemon Center. Once the dishes had been washed and put away, Christi set up sleeping bags in the living room for everyone. Surprisingly, the bags were extremely comfortable, and within minutes, everyone was fast asleep. 

Everyone, that is, except for a certain raven-haired boy. 

It only took a few minutes for Lucario to realize who was missing. Knowing how restless and reckless the boy could be, he had quickly learned to keep at least one eye on Ash at all times. When he noticed the absence of the head of messy black hair, Lucario immediately focused his aura, trying to sense where he had gone. He quickly located him out in the front yard, probably seated out on the Millers' front porch. 

Of course, Lucario thought to himself, chuckling silently. Whenever Ash couldn't sleep, he preferred to find a quiet place to relax and look up at the stars. It wasn't the first time he had snuck off somewhere in the middle of the night. 

Careful not to wake anyone, he stood up and crept toward the front door. Pushing it open, Lucario stepped outside and into the unusually warm night air. Just as he'd expected, Ash was sitting on the porch swing, staring up at the starlit sky with a peaceful expression on his face. If he was at all aware of Lucario's presence, he gave no indication. 

When Ash was calm, it was a sight to behold. The child was always so full of energy, raring to go at every waking moment, and it was one of the things Lucario loved so much about him. His tireless enthusiasm reminded him so much of himself in his younger days, it was impossible not to adore Ash for it. Even if it was a struggle keeping up with him sometimes, he knew there wasn't anything about the boy he would ever change. 

But at the same time, it was so rare to see Ash take a few moments to just sit still that whenever it happened, Lucario found himself watching the boy indulgently if he was fortunate enough to catch him. He stood, half-hidden by the shadows cast by the porch light, looking on as Ash went yet another night without sleep while still looking no worse for wear. And in that moment, not for the first time, he decided that the boy was crazy. 

He was the most insane, mad, brilliant, incredible person Lucario had ever known, and there he sat in his own little world in which none of his troubles existed, and neither did anything nor anyone else except the peace and stillness of a warm summer night. 

Lucario had been standing outside for a good five minutes at this point, long enough that Ash, with his aura training, must have been aware of his presence by now. But he continued to stare silently up at the sky, perhaps not wanting to shatter his illusion of isolation, and Lucario found that he was alright with that. 

Sir Aaron had been his first friend, and there were still days that Lucario missed him dearly. No matter how much time passed, he knew he would never forget the man who had trained him into the Aura Guardian he was today, who had taught him the skills he was now attempting to pass onto the child sitting a mere ten feet away from him. Even when he had believed that his former master had betrayed him, there had still been a part of Lucario that had been deeply grateful for everything Sir Aaron had taught him. 

It was strange. Despite Sir Aaron and Ash having nearly identical auras, the two of them were as different as night and day. They shared the same love of Pokemon and the same desire to see justice done, true, but that was about where the similarities ended. Sir Aaron was as calm and steady as a lake, always giving off an air of serenity even when the situation was anything but. Ash was like a firecracker, bursting out in an explosion of loud, vibrant colors, so bright that Lucario found himself wanting to look away sometimes. But he never did for fear that Ash would slip away, for fear that the one time he looked away would be the one time he failed to protect him when he needed it the most. 

Then again, Ash had been a small child when Lucario first met him, whereas Sir Aaron had been a fully-fledged Aura Guardian. If he had met his former master when he was still a young boy himself, perhaps he would have found that Sir Aaron bore a lot of similarities to Ash. For a moment, Lucario tried to picture the deceased Aura Guardian as a tireless bundle of energy, bouncing off the walls at every waking moment. He found that he could not. 

Slowly, Lucario found himself drawing closer to the messy-haired trainer. As he approached, Ash turned his head to look at him. His eyes betrayed no surprise at seeing him, which confirmed Lucario's suspicions that he must have already realized he was there. 

"Hi, Lucario," Ash greeted him, smiling brightly. "Want to come and sit with me? It's really comfortable over here." 

"Alright," Lucario agreed, taking a seat next to the young trainer. He gazed at Ash appraisingly and asked, "Are you feeling alright bud?" 

Based on Ash's demeanor, it didn't seem as though there was anything troubling him. Perhaps he was just having trouble sleeping and there was no real reason for it. Nevertheless, Lucario felt he had to check on him anyway. Even though Ash constantly insisted he could take care of himself, it was impossible not to feel responsible for his well-being. 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm okay. Just couldn't sleep, that's all," Ash assured him quickly. "Guess it's just one of those nights, you know?" 

"I understand," he murmured, feeling a surge of relief at having his suspicions confirmed. "All the same, you should get to bed soon. You'll want to be well-rested if we're going to hit the road again tomorrow." 

"I know. I'll go back inside soon, don't worry," the messy-haired boy answered. 

They sat in silence for a few moments, the only sound coming from the faint rustling of the wind in the trees. After a good five minutes, however, Ash spoke up again. 

"Hey, Lucario?" he asked softly. 

"Yes, Ash? Is everything alright?" Lucario inquired. 

Ash hesitated for a moment, then replied quietly, "Thanks. You know, for...well, for everything." 

Surprised, Lucario took a moment to gather himself before answering, "You're welcome. But...what brought this on, if you don't mind me asking?" 

Instead of answering directly, however, Ash simply smiled again and turned to look back up at the sky. He never answered the question. 

Lucario didn't expect him to. 

Chapter Text

Paul had made no secret of his displeasure with Reggie after he had lost that battle against Brandon. It wasn't necessarily the loss that upset him–after all, it was inevitable that even the greatest trainer in the world would lose a battle every once in a while–but rather the fact that he had chosen to give up on being a trainer afterward. Despite Reggie's attempts at reassuring Paul that he wasn't giving up on training for good, only until he was satisfied that he had learned everything he needed to know to become a great trainer, his little brother had refused to listen. In the end, the younger brother had stormed off, vowing that he would be the greatest Pokemon trainer in the world and prove that he could do what Reggie couldn't. 

Ever since that day, Reggie had barely seen or heard from Paul. The only times the younger boy ever called was when he needed to send over a Pokemon, and even those were few and far between. Reggie suspected that Paul was simply catching and releasing Pokemon as he pleased, always looking for the strongest of the bunch to aid his journey. It pained him to think about his little brother becoming like one of those trainers, but as long as Paul refused to have anything to do with him, there wasn't much he could do about it. 

Needless to say, when he was awoken by a call from Paul at seven-thirty one morning, his first assumption was that his brother needed him to take care of a Pokemon for him. 

"Hey there, Paul," Reggie greeted the younger trainer. "Do you have a Pokemon you wanted to send over to me?" 

To his surprise, Paul shook his head, suddenly looking uncharacteristically embarrassed. "Uh, no, actually. I just...I was just calling to...to check in, I guess." 

"Oh?" Reggie asked, unable to hide his astonishment. "That's...surprising, I'll admit. Is there something going on?" 

"No, not really. It's just that I haven't called in a while, and...well, I thought it was time," his brother answered. 

"Well, I won't say that I'm not pleased to hear from you," he replied, smiling. "So, how have things been on your journey so far?" 

"It's been great, actually. I just won a badge from the Lavender Town gym about a week ago," Paul answered, a proud smile twitching on the corners of his mouth. 

Reggie blinked. "The Lavender Town gym? I didn't know that town had a Pokemon gym." 

"Apparently, it's a pretty new one. An alternative to the Saffron gym or something," the younger boy explained. "The Saffron gym leader, Sabrina, has been behaving oddly recently, and there are rumors that she's dangerous. So they opened the Lavender Town gym so trainers could still complete their journey without having to run into her. The gym leader there, Charlotte, is pretty good. She uses ghost-type Pokemon, so she's a bit more difficult than most." 

"Well, you still managed to beat her, so that says a lot about you," Reggie commented. 

Paul rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, maybe. I had a bit of help, though." 

That didn't sound like Paul at all. Normally, the purple-haired boy would have accepted his brother's praise with nothing more than a callous dismissal, that is, if he even chose to acknowledge it at all. It certainly wasn't like him to be modest. Clearly, something had happened to change Paul's attitude, but what? Not that Reggie was about to complain about this new and improved Paul, but his curiosity was spiked nonetheless. 

"If I can ask, Paul, what brought this on anyway?" he asked, careful not to word his question in a way that might offend his brother. "No offense or anything, but it's been a while since you called just to have a chat. And...pardon me for saying so, but you seem...different." 

"Different how?" Paul inquired, looking puzzled. 

"Well...happier, I suppose," Reggie answered. 

For a few moments, Paul didn't answer. He was frowning, but not as though he were annoyed at the question. Rather, he seemed to be trying to decipher the best way to respond. Reggie waited patiently, knowing he would speak up when he felt like it. 

"I–well, the truth is, I met a...a friend," he said finally. "A boy named Ash, I think he's around my age. I didn't like him at first, I thought he was too happy and easygoing on his Pokemon. And he's a bit mean sometimes too." 

"I assume that this Ash had something to do with why you're calling now," Reggie stated, and the younger boy nodded. "So what happened to change your opinion of him?" 

"He healed my Grotle," Paul answered simply. 

"He...healed your Grotle?" Reggie repeated, surprised. "Do tell me more." 

Paul sighed. "I had a battle against Lt. Surge, the Vermillion gym leader. I'd heard rumors about how brutal of a battler he was, but I underestimated him. I thought for sure that since he was only the third gym leader, that he couldn't possibly be as bad as everyone said. But that turned out to be a mistake. We were beaten badly, and Grotle was hurt. I was going to take him to the Pokemon Center to get healed up, but because Surge had hurt so many other Pokemon that day, the line was going to take forever. And...well, that's when Ash came over. He saw what had happened to Grotle and offered to heal him for me." 

"And you accepted?" he asked. 

"Ah, well, he kind of just did it," Paul admitted, looking a bit embarrassed. He looked down at his feet. "I couldn't understand why he was helping me. I mean, I didn't like him, and I was under the impression that he hated me too. But the thing is, when I asked him, I found out that it didn't matter what he thought of me. Not when it came to helping Pokemon. And maybe he could sense that...that I actually did care about Grotle...even if I'd done my best to pretend that it was all about strength. Either way, that was when I decided that...that, maybe, a Pokemon or a trainer's worth isn't all about how strong they are in battle." 

Reggie smiled slightly to himself. Although Paul was still staring down at his shoes, it was impossible to miss the faint blush that tinged his cheeks. It was clear to him exactly what was going on. Rather than commenting on it, however, Reggie simply nodded. 

"Well, I'm glad to see that this Ash person has been such a good influence," he replied finally. 

"I-I guess so, yeah," Paul answered, his cheeks turning, if possible, even redder than before. "He, uh, helped me out a bit with the Lavender Town gym." 

"That so?" Reggie asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Paul nodded. "Yeah. I caught a Haunter, but I didn't know who I could trade him with. So Ash offered to trade with me. If he hadn't done that, I don't think we could have beaten Charlotte."

"I'm sure you would have done fine regardless, but I'm glad to hear that you've made such a good friend," Reggie assured him. "So besides Ash, have you met any other trainers?"

"Yeah, there's a girl named Fallon that's traveling with Ash," the younger boy answered. "She's pretty cool, but I don't think she's too fond of me yet. We don't fight or anything, but she usually just ignores me whenever I run into them."

"Give her time, I'm sure she'll come around," he counseled him. "Anyone else besides Ash and Fallon?" 

His brother frowned, the corner of his lip curling distastefully. "There is one other boy, Gary–he's the grandson of Professor Oak, and he's the worst. He thinks he's the greatest trainer in the world just because he has a famous grandfather. And he has an army of ditzy cheerleaders following him around like a bunch of lost Lillipup. I don't think I'll ever be friends with him." 

"Is he a good trainer?" Reggie asked mildly. 

"He's alright, but he's not as good as he thinks he is," Paul answered with a shrug. "The last time I saw him, he had four gym badges. Which is decent enough, I guess, but not exactly what you'd call the greatest trainer in the world." 

"Well, he's a kid too. Give him time to settle down," Reggie said wisely. "After all, every young trainer goes through a phase where they think they're the greatest the world has to offer." 

"Ash doesn't," Paul said immediately. "He doesn't think he's the best trainer in the world. Even though it kind of seems like he is; he's got a lot of great Pokemon, and they all really like him." 

"I think we've established at this point that Ash is special," he chuckled. 

"Yeah, he is," Paul agreed, his face reddening once more. "Well, uh, I should get going now. Training and all that. But, uh, would it be alright if I called again sometime?" 

"Of course, Paul. Take care," Reggie agreed, smiling warmly. "Oh, and Paul?" 

"Yes?" his brother asked, looking curious. 

Reggie leveled a serious gaze at the young trainer. "Be careful with Ash. Be kind to him. I might not know him myself, but I can see that he means a lot to you. Don't lose what you have with him." 

"Don't worry," Paul answered, looking back at the breeder to let him know just how serious he was. "I don't plan on it." 

Chapter Text

"Do I seriously have to drink this?" Ash complained, frowning in disgust at the thick brown liquid in his glass. 

It had taken another week of traveling to reach Fuchsia City. During that time, although Ash hadn't suffered any other health scares, Greninja and Lucario (along with the rest of his friends, of course) made sure to keep tabs on him at all times. Upon their arrival, Lucario had contacted the Nurse Joy working in the city's Pokemon Center, and informed her of Ash's illness. Since there was no way to prevent the spread of the disease, only to slow it for a certain time, she had prescribed a special protein shake to help strengthen his muscles. 

Unfortunately, the protein shake happened to be one of the most disgusting things Ash had ever laid his eyes on, second only to Damian and maybe Gary on his worst day. It was a thick, murky sludge that looked less like a drink and more like the contents of someone's regurgitated breakfast. If it were only unappealing in looks, that would be one thing, but as it happened, the shake also emitted a horrendous, sickly-sweet odor. 

"Yes, you do," Greninja said sternly. "It's for your own good, Ash. And it's not a big glass either. Just a few sips and it will all be over." 

"Define 'a few'," Ash muttered cynically, eyeing the glass distastefully. Indeed, it looked to be at least a good twelve ounces, which meant it would take more than a few sips to choke it all down. 

"It's not that bad. And I thought you liked chocolate," Bulbasaur piped up from where he was enjoying his own breakfast by Ash's feet. 

He shrugged. "Yeah, I like chocolate, but not like this. This doesn't even smell like chocolate. And it looks horrible." 

"Just one glass, Ash, and it will be over before you know it," Fallon coaxed him. 

"Why couldn't I have just taken a pill or something instead?" the raven-haired boy grumbled. 

"We'll see about that next time. For now, we need you to finish your shake," Lucario replied. He placed a paw on Ash's shoulder. "It's alright, Ash. One drink, that's all we're asking." 

With a sigh, Ash realized that there was nothing he could do to get himself out of this. One way or another, he was going to have to drink his protein shake. Before his nerves could fail him, he grabbed the glass and brought it to his mouth, swallowing it in several gulps. It was just as awful as he had expected, entirely too cold and with an extremely uncomfortable, lumpy texture. Once he had finished swallowing, he dropped the glass back onto the table, coughing and trying hard not to retch. 

"Arceus, that was horrible," Ash gagged, hanging onto the edge of the table. "Never again. I am not doing that again. We're getting the pills next time, and that's final." 

"We can arrange that," Greninja agreed, patting him on the shoulder. "Good job, Ash." 

"Thanks, I hate it," he grumbled. 

"Ah, come on, that wasn't so bad, was it? And at least it's over now," Pidgeotto said gently. 

"Don't forget, this is supposed to help you. Things could get a lot worse quickly if you don't keep your strength up," Charmeleon reminded him. 

"I know, I know," Ash sighed. 

Privately, he wondered what the point of these treatments was when they wouldn't make any difference in the long run. His disease would win eventually, and it would be as if all their work was for nothing. But he didn't dare say this out loud. Even if he couldn't prevent the spread entirely, a delayed death was still the second-best option. And as long as it allowed him to keep traveling for as long as possible, there really wasn't anything to complain about. 

That also reminded him that he had a limited amount of time to work with. If he was going to make the most of his journey before the inevitable, that meant he couldn't afford to sit around wasting time. With that thought in mind, Ash sprang to his feet, grabbing his backpack and heading toward the door. 

"Come on everyone, let's go! I want to challenge the Fuchsia City gym today," he declared, waiting impatiently for his friends to join him. 

"Ash, slow down! It's still early in the day, you know. You can challenge the gym anytime you want," Lucario called over as the rest of the group scrambled to catch up with the energetic young trainer. 

Far from being deterred, however, Ash just grinned. "Exactly. It's still early, which means it's the perfect time to go. Because I don't know about you, but I have a lot of plans for today."

One hour later, Ash skipped out of the Fuchsia City gym with a Soul Badge in hand. The battle had been hard-fought, seeing as none of his Pokemon were particularly strong against poison-types. In the end, however, Charmeleon and Sylveon managed to triumph over Koga, the latter turning the tide by learning Psyshock during her battle against Koga's Golbat after Charmeleon was knocked out. That was all Ash had needed to swing the battle in his favor, and it had been smooth sailing from there. 

As elated as he was to have won his sixth gym badge, however, he knew there was still a long road ahead of him. In the interest of time, rather than waiting for Nurse Joy to heal up his Pokemon, he decided to transfer a small amount of his aura to heal Charmeleon and Sylveon. The two Pokemon watched with interest as their wounds slowly faded and their aching muscles were left as good as new. 

"There we go. Is that better?" Ash asked, reaching out to pet the two Pokemon. 

"A lot better, thanks, Ash," Charmeleon replied, standing up and stretching his arms above his head. 

"That was one hard battle," Sylveon remarked. "Who knew that a Golbat and a Venomoth could be so strong?" 

"Well, Koga is the sixth gym leader for a reason," Pikachu pointed out. 

"All the same, you were both awesome today," Ash added, smiling proudly at his friends. "Really. I couldn't have asked for better from either of you." 

"Well, I take it that you must have won a Soul Badge, then?" 

At the sound of the voice, Ash grinned and spun around, jumping back to his feet. "Paul! It's been a while. How are you doing?" 

There was a faint blush on Paul's cheeks as their eyes met, one that Ash had grown accustomed to seeing whenever the purple-haired boy was looking at him even if he still didn't understand the meaning behind it. Oddly enough, everyone else around him did seem to know, at least if their expressions of mild amusement were anything to go by. Ash mulled it over for a few moments, then decided it wasn't worth the headache. Maybe he would figure it out another day. 

"I-I'm doing alright, actually," Paul replied, sounding oddly shy in a way. "It's good to see you." 

"Well, it's great to see you too," Ash said sincerely. Paul's face flushed even deeper, and he frowned slightly. "Are you okay?" 

"Y-yeah! Yeah, I'm okay," the Sinnoh native reassured him quickly. 

Ash was almost positive he heard Fallon mutter, "Someone's got it bad." 

"So anyway, did you get a badge from the Fuchsia gym?" Paul asked, evidently trying to regain some dignity. 

"I did, yeah. Koga's really strong, but Sylveon and Charmeleon pulled through in the end. Isn't that right, guys?" Ash said proudly, beaming down at his Pokemon. 

"Sure is!" Sylveon agreed. 

"You bet," Charmeleon echoed. 

"You were planning to head to the gym too, right?" Ash asked, turning back to Paul, who nodded. 

"Yeah, I was. I...I thought today would be as good a day as ever. The team's been working hard, and I think we could win," the purple-haired boy answered. He glanced down at his feet briefly and added, "And...if it's not too much trouble, I'd like you to stay and watch our battle." 

In all honesty, Ash had been planning to hit the road immediately after healing up Sylveon and Charmeleon. But it wasn't as though they couldn't delay their departure for at least another hour or so, and besides, Paul was a friend. There was no real reason for him to refuse, and for whatever reason, he seemed to care deeply about Ash staying for his gym battle. Why that was the case, Ash didn't think he would ever know, but the last thing he wanted to do was hurt his friend's feelings. 

Smiling brightly, he replied, "Sure, of course! That sounds really awesome, actually. And I know you and your Pokemon are going to do great!" 

Ash loved all of his friends, truly, he did. But he was going to lose his mind if he had to keep wondering why Paul's face seemed to go red every time he said anything to him. 

Chapter Text

Growing up the way he had, Greninja had learned to be wary of everyone he met. To this day, the only exception to that rule had been Ash. Even Professor Sycamore had borne the brunt of his misgivings, although he had quickly warmed up to the Kalos researcher as well. Of course, it made for a lonely existence sometimes, but Greninja felt it was safer that way. Better to have just a small group of friends he could trust with his life, he reasoned, than to have a worldwide social network of friends who would turn on him the moment it suited their needs. Besides that, at least he was free to be himself around his friends. He had seen the way some of the other Froakie at the breeding center behaved, acting one way when they were in a group and another when they were alone, and it always puzzled him. Didn't it get tiring pretending to be someone they weren't? 

And while he wasn't against giving second chances, it took Greninja a very, very long time to fully let go of a grudge, especially if the person in question had done something to hurt one of his loved ones. The way he saw it if someone hurt you once, there was no reason to believe they wouldn't do so again, whether intentionally or otherwise. Anyone could swear up and down that it would never happen again all they wanted, but old habits die hard. 

Needless to say, when Paul began to exhibit feelings for Ash, he was less than pleased. 

Even though the Sinnoh native appeared to have changed his ways, Greninja hadn't forgotten the cruelty with which he had treated Ash during their first meeting, nor had he forgotten Paul's callous dismissal of Pokemon as just tools to be used in battle. Someone like that wouldn't fit well with Ash, not at all. 

To his relief, Ash seemed completely oblivious to Paul's crush. In a way, he supposed that was to be expected. After all, Ash was only eleven years old; it wasn't as if most boys his age were interested in dating. That suited Greninja just fine, but he was wary of what was to come when or if Ash finally decided to start pursuing a relationship with someone–or, more likely if Paul decided to shoot his shot. 

In a way, he knew he wasn't being fair. Paul was still a kid as well, one that couldn't be much older than Ash. Children had impressionable minds, and Greninja wouldn't have been surprised if someone had taught him that cruelty was the best method for training Pokemon. But even so, he was only so willing to accept that as an excuse. After all, one would have to be blind to believe that abusing a Pokemon would yield any positive results whatsoever. 

Lucario had noticed his misgivings about the purple-haired trainer as well. One night, while Greninja was watching over Ash as he slept in his room in the Pokemon Center, the Aura Pokemon pulled him aside to have a talk. 

"Yes?" Greninja asked quizzically. "What's the matter?" 

"You don't like Paul." It wasn't a question, but Greninja nodded anyway. 

"You're right, I don't. I don't trust people like him," he answered. "You know how horrible he was to Ash when they first met, and now it's like he's...I don't know. Being friends is one thing, but you and I both know that Paul wants more than that." 

"I know," Lucario agreed. "All the same though, don't you think we should give him a fair chance? I have my misgivings too, trust me, but don't forget that Paul's still a kid too. Not even older than Ash." 

"I haven't forgotten that," Greninja assured his friend. "And if this is what Ash wants, then I promise I'll be okay with it. It's just that..." 

He trailed off for a few moments, the old pain welling up in his chest again. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't forget just how little time Ash had left. His illness was like a dark cloud that followed the group everywhere, never going away despite their attempts to escape it. 

Even though Ash had done his best to hide it, Greninja knew that it was weighing on his mind as well. He had seen the distant, sorrowful look that flashed occasionally across his best friend's eyes when he thought nobody was looking, only to be replaced by his trademark smile moments later. The weight of one's approaching death would be difficult for anyone to bear, and the last thing Greninja wanted was for an unpleasant relationship to add to that. 

"Look, I don't know if Ash feels the same way about Paul. And I don't know if he'll ever be interested in dating. It's too soon to tell," Greninja spoke up again at last. "But...I've come to terms with the fact that...well, he is going to...to die soon. And that means that if he does start dating, he won't have a lot of opportunities. So I just want to be sure that the person he chooses is a good person. Someone who deserves to be with him." 

"I understand that. Trust me, I do," Lucario said softly. "But by that same token, it's not going to do Ash any favors if we chase away anyone who might have even the smallest crush on him. He's...you're right, he's not going to get a chance to grow up, at least not really. And I want to make sure he's happy too. We have to let him make his own decisions at some point, though." 

Greninja nodded silently, reaching out and brushing a webbed hand over the boy's forehead. Not for the first time, he marveled at just how young Ash appeared while he was asleep. During the day, he was as free-spirited and hardheaded as an eleven-year-old boy could be expected to be. At night, however, the Pallet Town native displayed a softness and vulnerability that made Greninja want to hide him away from the rest of the world if it meant Ash wouldn't ever get hurt or be in danger again. 

"He hasn't grown at all, has he?" he murmured, half-amused, half-wistful. "I think Ash is just destined to be eternally tiny, don't you?" 

"Probably," Lucario agreed, chuckling quietly. "I don't think he's gained more than two inches since we first met. Makes it a lot easier to pick him up, though." 

Greninja laughed as well, then reached over to brush some hair out of Ash's face. "It's hard to believe that our Kanto journey is almost over. I mean, just two more badges, then the league, and that's it. I know the league isn't actually scheduled for another four months, but time passes quickly around here." 

"It really does," the jackal murmured. 

"What are you going to do once the league is over?" he asked, glancing over at the ancient Pokemon. While traveling around Kanto was one thing, he wasn't sure if Lucario would want to go to Johto or another far-off region like Unova or Kalos. "Ash is probably going to want to travel to other regions. Are you going to stay with us or go back to Rota?" 

"Stay with all of you, of course. What else would I be doing?" Lucario answered, looking surprised. 

"Well, I wasn't sure. I mean, you did spend most of your life in Rota. And traveling around Kanto is one thing, but leaving your home region entirely is another," Greninja explained. 

"I understand. But the Rota from my past is gone now. My home is wherever all of you are," Lucario said firmly. His eyes softened as they passed over Ash's sleeping form, and he added, "Besides, I don't intend to lose another friend so soon. And with Ash...well, no matter where we are in the world, it's always a better world with him in it." 

"That it is," Greninja agreed softly. "That it is." 

Chapter Text

The next Pokemon gym, as Ash and his friends soon discovered, was located on Cinnabar Island in the middle of a sleeping volcano (or at least everyone said it was sleeping). Its location was enough to tell Ash exactly what type the gym leader, Blaine, specialized in, and he quickly set about planning his strategy. Aside from Bulbasaur, Ash was confident that his Pokemon could take on a fire-type easily, but he was wary about having them so close to the volcano. Charmeleon would be able to handle it easily and Greninja would be protected somewhat as well, but the rest of the team was questionable at best. 

"Why are they even allowed to have a Pokemon gym inside a volcano anyway?" Fallon asked incredulously. "What if it erupts during the middle of a battle or something? I know gym leaders are all about finding ways to challenge trainers and all that, but there's a difference between challenging and endangering." 

"Well, they did say the volcano is dormant," Ash pointed out, though he couldn't deny that he shared her misgivings. 

"Dormant, not extinct. That means it could and probably will still erupt again," she retorted. 

"I understand your concerns, believe me. But unfortunately, we can't exactly ask Blaine to move his gym," Lucario spoke up, sounding rather pensive. "So we'll just have to work with what we've got. You'll be using Charmeleon, I assume, Ash?" 

He nodded. "Yeah. Since Charmeleon's a fire-type, he should be able to handle the volcano's heat pretty well. Right, buddy?" 

"Right you are, Ash! That volcano's got nothing on me," the chameleon-like Pokemon boasted. 

Ash chuckled, reaching out to pet Charmeleon between his horns gently. As the fire-type leaned happily into his touch, he surveyed the rest of his team, frowning as he tried to decide who else should come along to the Cinnabar gym. 

"Let's see...Greninja, I know I said I wouldn't use you in any official battles until the league, but with the gym where it is, we might have to change our plans," he mused, glancing over at the frog Pokemon. 

"That's alright, Ash. It's probably safer that way anyway," Greninja reassured him gently. 

Nodding gratefully, he turned his attention to Bulbasaur next. "So we've got Charmeleon and Greninja...I don't know how many Pokemon Blaine uses, but to be safe, let's pick a third member. Bulbasaur, I'm sorry, I know you haven't really gotten a chance to battle for real, but I think it's best if you sit this one out too." 

"No apologies needed, Ash, I'm no fan of the heat. Fire and such, no thank you," Bulbasaur answered, shuddering. 

"Fair enough," Ash laughed. He turned to Sylveon, Pikachu, and Pidgeotto next, trying to decide between the three. "Okay, and...huh...let's see..." 

"I'll go," Pidgeotto volunteered. "I'm close to evolving, but I'm not quite there yet. This battle should be just what I need to give me the final push." 

He nodded in agreement, gently stroking Pidgeotto's feathers. "Right, then. So we've got Charmeleon, Greninja, and Pidgeotto taking on the Cinnabar gym. Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Sylveon, I'm sorry that you won't get a chance to battle this time, but you'll be fighting the Viridian gym if that's okay?" 

"You got it!" Pikachu replied, giving him a thumbs up. 

"Right," Ash said determinedly, jumping to his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get to training, everyone!"

After a successful afternoon of training, everyone was more than ready for an evening of fun and relaxation. As it turned out, Cinnabar Island was connected by two water routes, meaning there would be a beach nearby. Upon realizing this, Ash wasted no time in sending Pidgeotto out to locate said beach, which she did so just mere minutes later. To everyone's delight, they discovered that they weren't far off–only about an hour's walk away. 

When they arrived at the beach, they discovered that it was mostly empty aside from a few wild Pokemon here or there. This suited them just fine, however, as it gave them more room to play. The wild Pokemon didn't pay them any attention either aside from giving Greninja, Sylveon, and Lucario a few curious glances. 

"This is so awesome!" Ash exclaimed as the sea air ruffled his hair. "It's been forever since we got to play at the beach!" 

"Race you to the water, Ash!" Fallon called over to him, taking off toward the water's edge at a sprint. 

"You're on!" he called back, taking off after her. 

They hit the water at almost the exact same time, diving underneath the waves. Although they were still in their traveling clothes, neither of them cared much that they were getting soaked through. Fallon splashed a bit of water at Ash, who growled playfully while splashing her back. Greninja joined in as well, and the friends began a three-way water fight. This, eventually, turned into a four-way water fight as Greninja ducked out of the way of one of Ash's attacks, resulting in Lucario getting hit in the face instead. 

"I'll get you for that one, Ash," Lucario growled, though his eyes were shining with amusement. 

"Catch me if you can!" Ash shot back, sticking his tongue out at his mentor. 

This proved to be the wrong thing to say as, before he could even grasp what was going on, he found himself being scooped up into Lucario's arms. Ash half-laughed, half-shrieked as the Aura Pokemon tickled him mercilessly before dropping him back into the water. He resurfaced a moment later, laughing so hard he felt as though he might bust a gut (whatever that meant). 

"Do you surrender now?" Lucario teased him. 

"Never!" he declared, grinning from ear to ear. "I am Ash Ketchum, the supreme overlord of this beach, and I do not surrender to anyone!" 

"I think the supreme overlord of the beach needs a reminder on who's really on top here," Greninja joked, flicking a bit of water at Ash. 

Ash grabbed at his heart, pretending to be offended. "How could you, Greninja? And here I thought you were on my side." 

"Sorry, Ash. I think Lucario's corrupted him," Fallon informed him cheerfully. 

"Isn't anyone here on my side?" 

"No, Ash, no they are not," Lucario replied, patting him on the shoulder. 

"Very well, then," Ash cackled, slowly lowering himself into the water until his chin was just barely above the surface. "You win this time. But I'll be back for revenge someday!" 

He continued lowering himself until he was almost completely submerged aside from the very top of his head. Above the surface, Ash could hear his friends nearly dying of laughter. After a few moments, he popped back up again, taking a gulp of air. 

"Wow. You sure didn't surrender for long," Fallon commented, prompting another round of laughter. 

Eventually, Ash and Fallon began to grow cold, so Greninja and Lucario put an end to the water for the day. By now, the sky was beginning to darken, so the group decided to set up camp on the beach for the night. After the two trainers had set up their tents and changed into dry clothes, they sat around a campfire built by Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Charmeleon to tell ghost stories. 

Ash smiled to himself as he looked around at his family, thinking, not for the first time, just how lucky he was to have all of them.

Greninja's species were well-known for their sensitive hearing. On top of that, his bond with Ash seemed to make it so that he was always aware of what his best friend was up to at all times. No matter how hard the raven-haired boy tried to sneak around, he could never seem to get one past Greninja. 

Therefore, it was no surprise when, late that night, Greninja was the one who awoke to find Ash standing near the water's edge, staring out toward Cinnabar Island. 

"Everything alright?" he asked, walking over to the young trainer. 

"Huh? Oh, yeah, everything's fine," Ash replied, smiling slightly at him. "Just...well, just couldn't sleep, that's all. I think the excitement of today hasn't quite worn off yet." 

"Understandable," Greninja chuckled, ruffling the boy's hair. "And we've still got a lot more to look forward to as well." 

"We sure do," his best friend agreed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I can't wait to battle Blaine! And we get to see a real-life volcano up close! I mean, I know it's dangerous and all that, but it's so cool!" 

"It is," he admitted. 

Ash beamed at him. "You know, this journey has passed by so quickly. Sometimes, it feels like I just left Pallet Town yesterday, you know?" 

"Oh, I know the feeling, believe me," Greninja agreed. There were still times when he looked at Ash and saw the innocent little seven-year-old he had met in the woods that fateful day. 

"But at the same time, we've gone to so many amazing places and seen so many things! We've had great battles, we've made new friends, and we've had so much fun while doing it all," Ash went on. "And there's still so much more I want to do too. I'm just...I'm just glad I got to do it with all of you. That I'm going to do it with all of you." 

Greninja smiled softly. "We're glad that we got to do it with you too, Ash." 

They remained in silence for several moments, taking time to just enjoy each other's company. As the stars glittered overhead, Greninja felt his heart warm as he glanced over at the messy-haired boy. He looked down at the ruthlessly kind, insane, incredible child he had grown attached to so easily, and all he could think about was how much he loved. 

With his thoughts on the track they were, it was a few moments before he realized that Ash wasn't smiling anymore. The raven-haired boy's shoulders were tensed up, and as Greninja watched, he saw tears beginning to roll down his face. 

He didn't know if he could bring himself to ask what they were for. 

Chapter Text

It was impossible not to notice that something was different about Ash the next morning. Whereas he had been all smiles the day before, now, he was quiet and subdued, barely touching his breakfast. Lucario couldn't get him to focus on his aura training either, and after half an hour, they decided to take a break for the day. Unfortunately, the prospect of taking a day off did nothing to improve Ash's mood, and the messy-haired boy spent the morning wandering aimlessly along the beach. 

Fallon suspected that she knew what was bothering her friend. Although Ash had put on a brave front for his friends ever since finding out about his illness, the knowledge of his inevitable death had to be weighing heavily on him. He was strong, stronger than most people she knew, but even he had to have his limits. The only question was how to get him to open up about it. 

"Hey, Ash," she greeted him as he returned to the campsite an hour or so later. "How's it going today?" 

"Huh? Oh, hey, Fallon," Ash replied, still looking rather weary. "Not bad, I guess. Just...thinking a bit." 

"About what?" Fallon inquired. 

He shook his head. "Not much, really. Mostly about my next gym battle. Trying to think of a strategy and all that." 

She nodded slowly, then asked, "And...how are you holding up with everything else?" 

"You mean with being sick and all that?" Ash asked. Fallon nodded. "I mean, I'm not going to lie and say that I'm doing fantastic. But I'm at least doing alright." 

"Are you sure?" Fallon checked, eyeing her friend appraisingly. "Something like that has to be a lot to handle for one person. If you want, we could talk to someone about getting help. And I don't mean in terms of finding doctors." 

"That's alright, Fallon. I appreciate it, really. But I promise I'm doing fine," he said politely. "You don't have to worry about me. I've got everything under control." 

She recognized the dismissal in his words, so she nodded reluctantly and went over to pack her belongings for the ride over to Cinnabar Island. If Ash wasn't ready to accept help now, she couldn't force the issue. Nevertheless, Fallon resolved to talk to him again sometime. Even if he didn't want to admit it now, sooner or later, he would have to realize that he couldn't carry the weight of his diagnosis on his shoulders alone. 

The ride over to Cinnabar Island took at least a good half an hour. When they arrived, Fallon wasn't surprised to see that the island was mostly unpopulated. Being so close to a volcano–multiple volcanoes, in fact–it made sense that there wouldn't be too many residents. This only fueled her belief that the island was too dangerous for a gym even further. 

On the bright side, Ash seemed to perk up when they set foot on land again. Perhaps his approaching gym battle was driving away whatever thoughts had been plaguing his mind that morning. As soon as they had reached the island, he turned to race off toward the Pokemon Center, pausing only momentarily to call his friends over. 

"Come on, everyone! I want to get to the gym as soon as possible," he declared. 

"Seems like someone's feeling better," Lucario chuckled as Ash turned and sped off toward the Pokemon Center. Nevertheless, there was a hint of worry in his crimson-colored gaze as he watched Ash's rapidly retreating form. 

"Greninja, gren, ninja ja," Greninja replied, a sorrowful look in his eyes. Clearly, he wasn't fooled by Ash's sudden upbeat attitude either. 

"Yeah," Fallon murmured. "Yeah, I guess so." 

Their concerns about Ash were validated when, just under ten minutes later, they caught up with him at the Pokemon Center. Inside, the raven-haired boy was standing off to the side, leaning against the wall with a glass of water in hand. Even from her vantage point, Fallon could easily make out the mingled weariness and pain in his eyes. It was also difficult to miss the small bottle of pills in his other hand. As soon as Ash spotted them, however, he quickly plastered a smile on his face and placed the bottle in his pocket. 

"Hey, guys," he called out, making an obvious effort to sound cheerful. 

"Hey," Fallon replied, glancing pointedly at the pocket Ash had stuffed his bottle in. Fortunately, he seemed to get the hint. 

"Oh, sorry. I was just getting my medicine from Nurse Joy," the messy-haired trainer explained. "Just...you know. Wanted to keep my strength up and all that. And I really don't want another one of those shakes." 

"It was that bad, was it?" Lucario asked, looking faintly amused now. 

"Beyond," Ash agreed, screwing up his face in disgust. "These pills are so much easier. And they don't take as long to finish." 

"So, did you find out where the gym is?" Fallon asked, deciding to change the subject. 

"I did, yeah. But apparently, there's some sort of test you have to pass to even be allowed into the gym," he answered, pulling a face. "A bunch of riddles or something like that." 

"Greninja, gren," Greninja spoke up, patting Ash on the shoulder reassuringly. 

"Pika pika, pikapi," Pikachu added. 

Ash smiled back, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, you're right. We'll be able to solve the riddles just fine. Thanks, Greninja, Pikachu." 

He took one last sip from his water glass before placing it on the counter. Dusting himself off, he squared his shoulders and continued, "Anyway, let's head off! I want to get my seventh gym badge!" 

Once again, Ash turned and skipped out of the Pokemon Center, not even stopping to wait for his friends. He was doing such a good job of acting like his usual cheerful self that Fallon was almost convinced it was real. Almost. But after getting to know him over the past few months, she had learned to tell when he was being genuine. This was definitely not one of those times. The only question was what had changed between last night and today since not even twenty-four hours ago, Ash had been as energetic and happy as ever. 

There wasn't enough time to worry about that now. Besides, Ash was clearly focused on his gym battle, so it wasn't as if he would be too interested in listening anyway. But even so, Fallon resolved to keep an eye on her friend. Even if she couldn't convince him to get the help he needed, she could at least be ready in case she needed to do any damage control.

"Keep it up, Pidgeotto! Use Air Slash!" Ash called out. 

"Fire Blast, Magmar!" Blaine countered. 

Fallon watched with bated breath as Pidgeotto's Air Slash collided with a Fire Blast from Ninetales, creating an explosion in midair. After Greninja had easily defeated Rhydon and Charmeleon had drawn to Ninetales, there was just one victory left in order to secure a win at the Cinnabar gym. But Magmar was Blaine's most powerful Pokemon, and more to the point, he had weathered the heat of the volcano for years. While there was no doubt Pidgeotto was a strong battler, the terrain left her at a clear disadvantage. 

Of course, if Pidgeotto couldn't pull it off, Ash was still allowed to use Greninja again. But Fallon knew her friend wouldn't accept that option. He had made it explicitly clear before the battle that he would only use the frog Pokemon in one round, knowing that Greninja could easily sweep the entire match if he felt like it. If Pidgeotto lost this round, then Ash would forfeit the rest of the match. 

"Come on, Ash, Pidgeotto," she muttered to herself, keeping her eyes trained on the battle. "You can do this." 

"Use Headbutt!" Blaine shouted. 

"Steel Wing!" Ash ordered quickly. 

Steel Wing? Fallon repeated in her head, frowning in confusion. But Magmar's a fire-type. A steel-type move isn't going to do anything to him. What's that all about? 

A moment later, she got her answer. As Magmar charged headfirst toward Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokemon's wings suddenly became coated in shining silver. Just as he was about to connect, she charged forward as well, turning gracefully to the side. Once again, the two attacks collided, sending Magmar reeling backward in pain. It wasn't enough to knock him out, but the blow had clearly done some damage. 

"Ouch," Fallon winced. "That looked painful." 

"Oh, don't worry. It was only a Steel Wing. Magmar will be fine once he shakes himself off," Lucario reassured her. Sure enough, a split second later, the Spitfire Pokemon looked as battle-ready as ever. 

"Not a bad move, Ash, but I'm afraid you've left yourself open! Magmar, use Thunder Punch!" the Cinnabar gym leader called with a small smirk. 

Faster than what Fallon would have believed possible, Magmar charged forward, his fist crackling with electricity. Pidgeotto didn't even have time to react before his fist collided with her chest, causing her to cry out in pain. She watched in horror as the flying-type crashed to the ground. Judging by the tension of her muscles, she hadn't been knocked out yet, but one hit would be all it took to change that. 

"Pidgeotto, are you okay?" Ash asked frantically. 

"Pidge...pidgey..." Pidgeotto grunted, struggling back up. To everyone's amazement, her eyes suddenly blazed with defiance. "Pidgeotto!" 

As though her final cry had called upon some deeply-buried power, Pidgeotto's body was suddenly enveloped in a bright white glow. Through the blinding light, Fallon could just barely make out the changes of evolution beginning to take place. Pidgeotto's body began to grow as the feathers on top of her head and tail elongated slightly. Her wings grew larger as well until they were about the size of a six-foot-tall human from one tip to the other. 

"Pidgeot!" she screeched as the glow around her form vanished in a burst of light. 

"Nice one!" Fallon cheered. 

"You did it, Pidgeotto–I mean, Pidgeot! You evolved!" Ash exclaimed in delight. The bird-like Pokemon gave a soft cry of her name in response. 

Still, she knew the battle wasn't over yet. Evolution wouldn't negate the damage already sustained during the battle, and Magmar still looked as ready to go as ever. If Ash and Pidgeot were going to pull off a win, they would need to even the score quickly. 

"Your Pidgeotto may have evolved, Ash, but you still won't win this round! Magmar, use Fire Blast!" Blaine commanded. 

"Air Slash, Pidgeot!" Ash countered. 

Magmar let out a roar as the kanji-shaped fire-type attack shot toward Pidgeot, who quickly flapped her wings, generating large gusts of wind. This time, however, something about the attack was different. Instead of slicing through the air like knives, Pidgeot's Air Slash began to form a vortex of powerful, whirling winds. Fallon's eyes widened. She knew that attack. 

"Awesome, Pidgeot! You learned Hurricane!" Ash said excitedly. 

Fire Blast and Hurricane collided in midair once again. Unlike last time, however, Hurricane did what Air Slash couldn't. The flying-type move easily burst through the Fire Blast, landing a direct hit on Magmar. He let out a roar of pain as he was hurled into the air temporarily before being tossed unceremoniously onto the ground, very nearly landing in the lava. 

"Holy–" Fallon broke off, barely managing to stop herself from cursing. "That was close!" 

"Don't worry, the lava wouldn't have hurt a fire-type like Magmar," Lucario spoke up again. "Right now, the one he really needs to worry about is himself." 

"Why do you say that?" she asked curiously. 

In response, the jackal pointed back toward the battlefield. Following his gaze, Fallon saw that Magmar had begun stumbling around in an almost drunken stupor. His eyes were unfocused and glazed, and he didn't seem to be responding to any of Blaine's attempts to get him to refocus. 

"Confusion?" she inquired, turning to Lucario. "When did that happen?" 

"It's a potential side effect of Hurricane," the Aura Pokemon explained. "Fairly rare, but it can happen. So unless Magmar can snap out of it..." 

She didn't need him to finish his sentence. 

"You can do it, Magmar! Focus and use Fire Blast!" Blaine roared. 

"One more Hurricane, Pidgeot! Do it!" Ash ordered quickly. 

Even before he was finished ordering the attack, Fallon knew what the outcome would be. Magmar, already weakened by one Hurricane and confused on top of that, was in no position to even think about dodging, much less attacking back. He was struck head-on, the flying-type attack hurling him into the air once more. When he crashed back to earth, this time, he didn't get back up again. 

"Magmar is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins! So the victory goes to the challenger, Ash!" the referee announced. 

"Alright! You did it, Pidgeot! You were so awesome!" Ash cheered, hugging his newly-evolved Pokemon. 

"Yes!" Fallon exclaimed happily, feeling a surge of joy for her friend. "They did it! They won!" 

Once more, she was reminded of just how incredible of a trainer Ash was, even with his admitted lack of experience (at least compared to more elite ones) It had been a tough battle, easily the hardest one yet, but in the end, he and his Pokemon had managed to pull it off. They had done it even though, by all accounts and purposes, Blaine should have won easily. Now, there was just one more gym battle left to win in order for Ash to secure his spot in the Indigo league. And while Fallon had no doubt that the eighth gym would be the most difficult battle of all, she also knew that as long as he and his Pokemon worked together, they could overcome anything.

Unfortunately, the group's good mood wouldn't last for much longer. 

When they arrived back at the Pokemon Center to get Ash's team healed up, it only took one glance to realize that something was terribly, terribly wrong. Nurse Joy wasn't at her usual spot at the front desk and nor was her helper Pokemon, Chansey. Down the corridor toward the hospital rooms, they could make out a small commotion, but it was difficult to tell exactly what was going on. 

"What do you think's going on?" Ash asked, glancing over at Fallon worriedly. 

"I don't know," she admitted. "Let's go check it out. Someone could be in trouble." 

"Good idea," Lucario agreed. "But be careful. We don't know what we might be walking into." 

Slowly, the group began to creep down toward the corridor. As they drew closer, they were able to better make out what was going on just a few doors down. Fallon froze, her heart sinking as she listened to the conversation. 

"It's alright, dear, just relax," Nurse Joy was saying, her voice soft and soothing. "Here, let me adjust your pillow for you." 

"T-thank you," a young girl's voice coughed weakly.

Fallon felt a pang of horror. Even without seeing the girl, it was obvious that she was dying. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Ash had gone rigid. 

"N-Nurse Joy?" the girl spoke up again, her voice sounding even weaker than before. "Will...will you tell my Pokemon that I'm sorry? I'm sorry I won't be able to finish our journey. Tell them I'll miss them too...and tell them not to be sad. And make sure that...whoever their new trainer is...that they'll take good care of them." 

As she was speaking, Ash covered his face with his hands, shaking his head. He rubbed his temple with his fingers, breathing out a pain-filled sigh as he leaned against the wall. 

"Gren?" Greninja asked worriedly, reaching out toward the boy. 

"Ash?" Lucario inquired softly. 

But Ash didn't respond. Instead, he turned around and walked briskly out of the Pokemon Center, disappearing out the exit. 

Chapter Text

Fallon found Ash wandering around a few yards away from the Pokemon Center, clutching his bottle of medicine. The young trainer was leaning against the side of a building, rubbing his fingers over his forehead. Upon seeing her, however, he quickly stuffed the pills back in his pocket, plastering a smile on his face. But once again, it was all too easy to see that he was only putting on an act. 

"Hi," she greeted her friend uncertainly. "Is everything okay?" 

"Hi, Fallon. I'm okay, yeah," Ash answered, quickly straightening up. "I just...I needed some fresh air, that's all. And...it was time for my second dose of medicine today anyway." 

She just nodded, watching the raven-haired boy closely. Despite the fact that he still had his trademark smile on his face, the tired, faraway look in his eyes hadn't faded. As she continued studying his features, Fallon saw the smile slip from Ash's face momentarily to be replaced by an expression of deep sadness. When he realized that she was still looking, however, he quickly forced it back to one of upbeat cheerfulness. 

"Ash," Fallon began slowly, unsure how to approach the topic. "I know that this really isn't any of my business, but...I'm going to guess that the medicine there isn't actually for your sickness?" 

Ash hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I've...just been feeling a bit off lately, that's all," he replied quietly. 

"Off in what way?" she pressed. 

He remained silent for a while afterward, long enough that Fallon wondered whether she had pushed things too far. Before she could apologize and end the conversation, however, he spoke up again. 

"I...I don't know. Hearing that girl asking Nurse Joy to say goodbye to her family for her...I guess it just reminded me that I'll probably be doing the same not too long from now," Ash replied, at last, his voice hollow. 

"I see," Fallon murmured. 

"Anyway, we should probably head back now. I'd like to get on the road to Viridian City soon, you know?" he went on, turning to head back to the Pokemon Center. Before he could get very far, however, Fallon caught him by the arm. 

"Ash, wait a minute," she ordered as gently as possible. "I know you've got a lot on your plate at the moment. Are you sure you're dealing with everything okay?" 

"I'm sure, thanks," the raven-haired boy answered. 

But Fallon wasn't quite ready to let it go that easily. "You know, you can ask for a therapist too. All the stuff you're going through...I mean, that's a lot for anyone to handle on their own. It might be good for you to talk to someone just so it's not so...bottled up, I guess." 

Ash just shook his head. "I appreciate you trying to help," he said firmly. "But I promise, I've got everything under control." 

With that, he turned around and walked back toward the Pokemon Center. Fallon watched him go for a few moments, shaking her head to herself. No matter what Ash said, she knew he wasn't handling things as well as he claimed to be. He had never exactly been a good liar. Unfortunately, as long as he continued to live in denial, she didn't know what she was supposed to do to help him.

"Concentrate, Ash. Come on, I know you can do it." 

Fallon shook her head, watching as Lucario tried to guide Ash through a meditation session. Despite his seemingly unending levels of energy, the messy-haired trainer was usually surprisingly good at it. She had seen him maintain a meditative state for up to two hours at a time. After asking about it, she had learned that it had less to do with being calm and more to do with being able to focus. 

Today was different, however. They had been at it for a good fifteen minutes, and Lucario still couldn't get Ash to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time. Fallon could tell that both of them were growing increasingly frustrated and quickly readied herself to step in just in case things turned ugly. 

After a few more minutes of unsuccessful meditation, however, Ash shook his head and stood up. "I'm sorry, Lucario, I guess I'm just not feeling too great tonight." 

Immediately, the Aura Pokemon's gaze softened. "Why didn't you just say something before? Are you feeling sick? We can call Nurse Joy if you'd like." 

"No, no, I...I don't think it's anything like that. I'm just having trouble clearing my head at the moment," Ash mumbled, not quite meeting Lucario's eyes. "Do...do you think we could try again later? I think I'll just...go for a short walk if that's okay." 

"Greninja, gren? Ninja?" Greninja asked, stepping forward. 

The raven-haired boy shook his head. "It's alright, Greninja, but thanks. I...I think it's best if I just go on my own tonight." 

"Ninja, ja?" the frog Pokemon inquired softly. 

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just need a bit of time, that's all," Ash replied, a forced smile on his face. 

Not waiting for anyone else to say anything, he placed Pikachu gently on the ground before turning and walking off toward the forest. The sky was beginning to darken, but Fallon wasn't worried about that. She knew Ash could use his aura to maneuver through the darkness, and she doubted he would stray far from the campsite regardless. What did worry her, however, was that if he happened to run into danger, he wouldn't be in the right state of mind to defend himself from it. 

"Fallon?" Lucario's voice broke into her thoughts, and she turned to face the jackal. "Did Ash seem alright when you talked to him earlier?" 

Fallon hesitated for a moment. The honest answer was "no", but she didn't know if she could say that out loud. Whether she approved of it or not, it was ultimately Ash's decision as to whether he wanted to talk about his problems with someone, and so far, he had made it clear that he didn't. But at the same time, she couldn't help feeling that if she didn't say something, he would keep bottling things up and make his stress even worse. What even was the right decision? 

Either way, she was growing a new appreciation for the phrase "caught between a rock and a hard place." 

"He seemed...decent enough," she replied finally. "At least he said he was okay." 

"But did you think he seemed okay?" the Aura Pokemon repeated. 

"I..." Fallon trailed off, shaking her head. "I don't know. Maybe." 

She could tell that Lucario wasn't satisfied with that answer, however. He studied her for a few moments, an unreadable expression in his eyes, before speaking up again. 

"You know, if there's something going on with Ash, we want to know," he said quietly. "We want to be able to get him the help he needs." 

"I get it, trust me. But I really can't tell you anything else right now," she replied. 

Lucario gazed at her appraisingly for a few more seconds, then nodded. "Alright. But the second you notice anything that concerns you, I want you to talk to me, okay?" 

"Yeah," Fallon murmured. "Maybe. See you in the morning, Lucario." 

Instead of heading into her own tent, however, she stood up and walked off in the direction she had seen Ash leave in. 

Things couldn't continue like this. One way or another, she had to make Ash see sense. It had only been one day, and already his stress was interfering with his aura training. While the last thing she wanted to do was betray her friend's trust, it was only a matter of time before Lucario and Greninja–not to mention the rest of Ash's Pokemon–realized what was going on. More importantly, Fallon didn't want to see Ash suffering the same way she had after she had lost Charmeleon and gotten her brother incarcerated. 

It didn't take long to find Ash. Just as Fallon had suspected, the messy-haired boy hadn't wandered off far. She discovered him about twenty yards away from the campsite, still hidden from the rest of the group and playing catch with a small Aura Sphere. At first, he didn't react as she approached him, but as she drew closer, he finally put it out and turned around to face her. 

"Hey, Fallon," Ash said quietly. "Is it time for bed? I was just about to head back in a minute." 

"We're...getting there," she answered. "But I was actually hoping we could continue our talk from earlier." 

Once again, Ash shook his head. "Thanks, Fallon, but as I said earlier, I'm doing alright." 

"Are you sure?" Fallon inquired, giving her friend a searching look. "Because from what I saw today, you don't seem to be doing all that great." 

Ash didn't say anything in reply, but the pensive look on his face told her that she was right. Deciding to take his silence as an invitation to continue, Fallon pressed onward. 

"This isn't good for you, Ash. You need to talk to someone," she said seriously. She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Either you do it or I will." 

"Fallon–" he protested, but she cut him off. 

"No, listen to me. You can't keep bottling up your stress like this. It's like allowing yourself to be buried alive," Fallon interrupted. "You'll start off thinking everything's fine, that it's really not as dangerous as it looks. But eventually, you'll be suffocating. I know, believe me. I've been there." 

"It was only one bad day," Ash argued back. 

"Today was just one bad day," Fallon corrected him. "What about tomorrow? Or the day after that? What's going to happen when you have too many bad days to handle? I might not know a lot about being an Aura Guardian, Ash, but between that and being a Pokemon trainer, I don't think you can afford to take that chance." 

He just stared at her, hesitation flickering in his gaze. Without another word, he took a step back in the direction of the camp. Before he could leave, however, Fallon placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"Ash, you can ask for help," she told him softly. 

At that, Ash stopped briefly, glancing over his shoulder at her. There was a moment of silence before he gave the barest of nods. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Fallon knew then that she had accomplished what she had set out to do. 

She wasn't surprised to find Lucario and Greninja still awake when they arrived back at the camp. Being Ash's two closest friends, it was natural that they were worried about him. Deciding to give the three a bit of privacy, she gave Ash an encouraging nod before heading off in another direction, staying close enough that she could hear what was going on but far enough that they could still talk comfortably. 

"Are you alright, Ash?" Lucario asked gently. 

"Yeah, I guess. I just...wanted to talk to you two," Ash replied in a voice that barely reached Fallon's ears. "Do you guys have a moment?" 

"Of course. What can we do for you?" the Aura Pokemon inquired. 

Although she couldn't hear anything that transpired between them after that, the way Ash twiddled his thumbs as he spoke to Lucario and Greninja told Fallon all she needed to know. Satisfied, she headed off toward her tent to turn in for the night. Hopefully, she thought to herself, Ash would be able to get the help he needed to cope with his sickness. 

Chapter Text

In the end, Ash found that he wasn't quite ready to see a licensed therapist just yet. He could accept that he needed help, but he didn't want to talk to a complete stranger. As a compromise, however, he agreed to talk more with Lucario and Greninja. Although neither of them had any sort of training in mental health care, Ash trusted them more with his personal feelings than anyone in the world. 

Greninja and Lucario, for their part, were happy that Ash was finally opening up about his problems, albeit concerned that he had been bottling them in for so long. They couldn't help wondering just how long he had been putting on a fake smile just to stop them from worrying. If there was one thing Ash was not good at, it was admitting when he needed help. The fact that he was doing so now meant things must have gotten absolutely unbearable. Lucario even decided to put Ash's aura training on hold, which sparked a protest from the boy until he reassured him that it would only be temporary. 

"So," Lucario spoke up, gazing at Ash from where he was sitting cross-legged in front of him. "Not having the best few days recently?" 

Ash shrugged. "Not been having the best few anything recently, really." 

"Do you want to talk about what set this off?" Greninja asked gently. 

"I don't really know," Ash sighed. Hearing the dying girl in the Pokemon Center had caused him the most anxiety recently, but if he was being honest with himself, he hadn't been fully okay since...well, since before discovering the truth about his illness. "It's just that...I mean, I've known for a long time that I wasn't going to live forever, obviously. I literally saw my dad die. So I knew it was something that would happen to me eventually, but now that it's probably coming up really soon...it's just been a lot harder to handle than I thought." 

"That's understandable," Lucario murmured, his eyes soft with sympathy. 

"And the thing is, I'm trying hard to be positive, I really am. I want to enjoy however much time I have left of...of being able to lead a normal lifestyle," he went on. "But I don't know when that will happen, and knowing what my illness is going to do before it kills me...I just don't know how to handle that. Every day, it feels like I'm getting weaker, but I'm not sure if it's actually the disease or if I'm just freaking myself out. And...and when it does happen..." 

He broke off, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him as his chest tightened. Dimly, he was aware of Greninja placing a webbed hand on his shoulder, the only thing keeping him somewhat grounded in reality. Rubbing his head to clear the headache that was beginning to form, Ash took a deep breath and looked up at Lucario again. 

"I don't know what I'm going to do then," he said quietly, clenching his fists around his jeans to stop them from shaking. "I don't want to die, I really don't. But being confined to a wheelchair, not being able to do the things I like doing now, having to have someone help me from place to place...or worse, being stuck in the hospital all day...that doesn't sound like a life worth living either. And the thing is, I know it's inevitable, and I've been trying so hard to convince myself that it's not going to be that bad, but I just can't." 

"Ash, you know we wouldn't just leave you alone in the hospital, right? We'd stay by your side no matter what," Greninja said softly. "I know it wouldn't be as exciting as getting to travel around, but we would make sure you weren't bored." 

"I'm sure you would. But it's not just the idea of being bored or alone that bothers me," Ash answered. "We all made a promise to reach our goals together, and now that I'm not going to be around for much longer...well, I just don't know if it was all worth it anymore." 

"That's not true! Of course, it was worth it," Greninja insisted. "Ash, meeting you has always been the best moment of my life. There's nothing in the world that could change that." 

"You say that now, but do you really think you'd feel the same way if we'd known all along what was going to happen?" he asked dubiously. "If we'd known that I would die so soon after meeting you, you'd probably have decided to pick a different trainer." 

"Ash, listen to me when I say this. Even if you'd have died the next day, I still would have picked you," the frog-ninja Pokemon said firmly. "It never mattered to me how much time we would have together. I just wanted it to be with you." 

Ash just shrugged, looking back down at his hands. He wanted to believe that Greninja was telling the truth, he really did, but he just couldn't. Maybe he believed he would have still picked Ash as a trainer if they had known how short their time together would be, but there was no way of knowing for sure. Besides, if it really came down to it, Ash was convinced that if Greninja had a choice, he would have chosen a trainer who could be there for the long haul. The frog Pokemon had gone through enough abandonment as it was. 

"Don't you remember what Professor Sycamore told us?" Greninja asked, placing a webbed hand on top of Ash's much smaller one. "The bond phenomenon means our souls are intertwined. I was always meant to be with you. And I knew that from the moment I saw you playing in Viridian Forest with Pidgeot. And yes, I would have always chosen you no matter what." 

"That doesn't exactly make things better," Ash muttered. 

It was irrational, but there was a part of him that wished Greninja had said he would have picked another trainer. Not that he didn't appreciate his friend's loyalty, but the mention of the bond phenomenon had only reminded him that there would come a time when Greninja had no choice but to choose someone else. That there would come a time when they would be separated once again–this time permanently. 

"So this is what's been bothering you, Ash? Do you think we regret meeting you because of what's going to happen?" Lucario inquired, his expression sorrowful. 

"Sort of? I mean, it's that and also just that...I don't know," Ash admitted, shaking his head. "I mean, like with you, Lucario, I know you didn't have to train me. You could have stayed in Cameron Palace if you wanted. But you offered to teach me how to use my aura anyway, and I wanted to, I really did, and I still really want to. And you spent so much time training me, but now that we know I'll probably never become a true Aura Guardian, it...it just feels like I wasted your time." 

"Ash..." Lucario's voice wavered slightly, and he took a deep breath before continuing, "Ash, no. You haven't wasted my time at all. You've been the best student I could have ever asked for." 

"But I'm not going to become an Aura Guardian now," he pointed out. 

"No, you probably won't," the jackal agreed. "But I knew that was a possibility from the beginning. However long you were going to live didn't have any bearing on that. I always hoped that you would be able to complete your training, but what I really wanted more than anything was for you to at least learn how to control your aura. And you've done a wonderful job of that, Ash. Maybe you won't make it as far as we'd hoped, but you made a lot of progress, and that's nothing to feel ashamed about." 

"Ash," Greninja spoke up again. "If we don't manage to win the Pokemon league this year, are you going to feel like all of us wasted your time?" 

He snapped his head up. "What? No! That's ridiculous!" he cried in disbelief. "Of course, I wouldn't think you guys wasted my time! You've all been working so hard. Just because we might not win doesn't change that." 

"And you'd say you've been working hard on your aura training, haven't you?" the Ninja Pokemon pressed. 

"Well...I mean, yeah," Ash replied, unsure where he was going with this. 

"So if you agree that just because we might not win the Pokemon league this year doesn't mean all our training was a waste of time, why do you feel like you wasted Lucario's time just because you're probably not going to become a full Aura Guardian?" Greninja asked. 

"I–" Ash started to reply, then broke off as he realized he couldn't think of an answer. "I don't know." 

"Ash, when I say you haven't wasted my time, I'm not saying that just to stop you from feeling guilty," Lucario said gently. "I think you know me enough to know I wouldn't lie to you. So please, believe me when I say there isn't a single part of me that regrets deciding to train you to become an Aura Guardian." 

Ash studied his mentor's face for a moment longer, then nodded. "Okay," he said softly. "I believe you." 

His heart was still weighing heavily, and the cold lump that had settled itself in the pit of his stomach hadn't quite disappeared. He sensed that it would take a while to come to terms with the fact that he was going to die soon. But as Greninja pulled him into a hug, Ash felt that the burden might be just a little easier to bear. 

"We'll talk again soon," Lucario promised, and Ash nodded. 

"Feeling any better?" his frog Pokemon inquired kindly. 

"I don't know. But I think I'll be okay," Ash murmured. 

And it was true, he realized. "Okay" didn't mean "spectacular" but it wasn't "horrible" either. If nothing else, he could at least rest easy knowing that his friends would stay by his side no matter what. 

Chapter Text

The last person Ash had been expecting to run into when the group reached Viridian City was Gary Oak. After not seeing him for his entire journey, Ash had nearly forgotten that his old childhood rival even existed. And in all honesty, he had more important things to worry about. Yet now here he was, standing in front of Ash with the same cocky, self-assured expression he always seemed to have on his face. 

"Well, well, if it isn't Ashy-boy," Gary taunted him, smirking. "Come to lose at the Viridian Gym, then?" 

"What do you want now, Gary?" Ash asked testily. Beside him, Lucario, Pikachu, and Greninja eyed the chestnut-haired boy with distaste clear in their gazes. "Can't you just go bother someone else? Or at least learn to take a hint when you're not wanted." 

"Who's this moron?" Fallon inquired, glancing over at Ash. She didn't even bother to look in Gary's direction. 

Before he could answer, however, Gary interrupted, "Come on, surely you must know who the great Gary Oak is." 

"Oak, huh?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "So you must be related to Professor Oak, then?" 

"That's right," he replied smugly. "Like what you see, then?" 

Instead of answering right away, Fallon cocked her head to the side and gave the Kanto researcher's grandson a brief once-over. She took in his confident, almost arrogant stance before shaking her head and scoffing dismissively. 

"I don't see much," she retorted. 

For a brief moment, the smirk on Gary's face dropped. Almost instantly, however, he recovered and smirked back at Fallon, who just rolled her eyes. Ash grinned to himself, thoroughly enjoying seeing his friend put Gary in his place. 

"Come on, don't make me laugh. Are you seriously telling me that you don't know who the future champion of the Indigo league is?" he asked incredulously. 

"I might not know who it is, but I'd be willing to bet it won't be you," Fallon shot back. "Do you actually have anything going for you other than being a famous researcher's grandson?" 

This time, it was Ash's turn to interrupt. "Nope, nothing at all. That's the only reason anyone at school actually cared about him. It definitely wasn't for his winning personality, that's for sure." 

"Makes sense to me," she agreed. She glanced over at Gary again and added, "This guy really isn't much to look at, and I doubt he's anywhere near as great of a trainer as he thinks he is. I don't even need to battle him to figure that out." 

"Ha! You're just saying that because you're too scared to battle me," Gary sneered. 

Ash rolled his eyes. "Please, if any of us are scared of anything, it's that your face is going to turn up in one of our nightmares tonight." 

"I'm pretty sure that's already guaranteed, sadly," Lucario interjected. 

"Anyway, whoever you are, if you're such an amazing trainer, then why is it that nobody in this Pokemon Center cares about you?" Fallon asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "I mean, surely everyone would want to meet the great future Pokemon league champion, right? Where's your little fan club? Why isn't anyone coming up to you, asking for an autograph? How come everyone who walks by us doesn't even look at you?" 

"It's cool that you think you're the best person alive, Gary, but unfortunately we can't all live inside your imagination," Ash added. 

"No kidding. How is it that this moron is Professor Oak's grandson?" Fallon snorted. "I know everyone says the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but I think this one rolled out into the street and then got trampled by a herd of Rhyhorn." 

Gary scowled at them. "You think you're so funny now, but just wait until we meet again at the Pokemon league! Then you'll really be sorry!" 

"Oh, so what? You can't take it when someone doesn't fall to their knees and worship you, so you're going to get mad at us for a confrontation that you started?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She shook her head. "Typical. Just what I'd expect out of someone like you. Come on, Ash, let's not waste any more of our time on him." 

"Too right," he agreed. 

Unfortunately, it seemed that Gary wasn't willing to let things go that easily. As Ash and his friends were walking away, the brown-haired trainer yelled after them, "You know what, forget about meeting at the Pokemon league! I'll bet you won't even make it past the eighth gym! A loser like you wouldn't stand a chance against it!" 

"Tell me if it looks like I care at all what you have to say," Ash called over his shoulder. 

With that, they left Gary fuming in the Pokemon Center, laughing as they strode out of the building. Perhaps he was being petty, but Ash couldn't suppress a surge of satisfaction at getting under his rival's skin so easily. After spending his entire childhood watching Gary grow up as the favorite of Pallet Town, it was nice reminding him that he wasn't as special as he thought he was. 

Had they been a little bit mean? Maybe, but then again, this was Gary Oak they were talking about. He was so arrogant, any sort of criticism simply bounced off of him. Ash was certain that he would be back to his usual unbearable self within the next five minutes. Fortunately for them, they wouldn't have to be around to witness it. 

"That was great," Greninja snickered as they headed toward the Viridian gym. "You two both really showed him." 

"It was our pleasure," Fallon replied, grinning. 

"I wonder where he's been all this time, though," Lucario noted, looking thoughtful. "We haven't seen him at all since we left Pallet Town." 

"Who knows? I'm definitely not complaining, though," Ash remarked. "In fact, it would have been nice if I just never had to see him again. He always used to talk about how he was the greatest Pokemon trainer in Pallet Town, and it looks like that hasn't changed." 

"I'm definitely on your side on that one," Fallon agreed. "Greatest Pokemon trainer in Pallet Town, yeah right. And in other related news, Charmeleon is now the fastest swimmer in Kanto." 

"I'll bet Gary probably got his rear end kicked at the Viridian gym. That's why he's so convinced we're going to lose," Pikachu spoke up. 

Ash was about to respond when his aura was very rudely jolted awake by a powerful presence coming from the direction of the Viridian gym. It felt as though the weight of an entire mountain was pressing itself down on his shoulders, nearly sending him to his knees. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and as Greninja steadied him, he felt almost lightheaded. 

"Arceus above," Lucario breathed, coming to a sudden halt. 

"What's going on?" Fallon asked apprehensively. "Something about this place doesn't feel right." 

"You can feel it too?" Ash inquired, glancing over at her. 

She shrugged. "You and Lucario can probably feel it better than I can, but I can tell there's something wrong. Whatever it is, it's making me nervous." 

"Join the club," Pikachu muttered, his fur bristling and his cheeks sparking, though the latter didn't appear to be intentional. 

"I'm not surprised. If my senses are correct, there's a legendary Pokemon inside that gym," Lucario told them gravely. He frowned as he added, "But...I don't understand. There aren't many legendary Pokemon in Kanto, and I encountered all of them at least once during my time training under Sir Aaron. And they have very distinctive auras as well. I would recognize them anywhere...I don't recognize this one." 

"Maybe it's a new one?" Ash suggested. 

"Maybe," his mentor agreed. 

"There's only one way to find out," Greninja spoke up. Out of everyone in the group, he looked to be the least affected. "Let's just hope it isn't anything too crazy." 

The Viridian gym was dark when they entered, aside from a single lightbulb on the opposite end of the stadium. Having already seen this trick in the Pewter City gym, however, Ash wasn't bothered by the lack of light. However, the aura of the mysterious legendary Pokemon was stronger than ever now, causing his stomach to twist into nervous knots. Trying to push it aside, he focused his attention on the man standing at the edge of a balcony on the other side of the gym. Although his face was hidden in shadow, Ash was almost certain there was a smirk on the man's face. 

"I am Giovanni, the leader of the Viridian gym," the man introduced himself. "And who might you be, little boy?"

Ash frowned slightly at the 'little boy' comment but chose not to rise to the bait. "My name is Ash Ketchum, and I'm from Pallet Town. I came here to challenge you for the Earth Badge." 

"Is that so?" Giovanni asked, sounding faintly amused now. "Well, then, seeing as I have nothing better to do, I accept your challenge. We will have a three on three Pokemon battle. Now, let's see how you fare off against my Golem." 

There was a flash of light as the rock-type appeared on the battlefield. Ash studied the Pokemon for a few moments, frowning to himself. Bulbasaur would be the obvious choice here, but he suspected that Giovanni would expect him to use a grass-type. Making up his mind, he turned to Pikachu and grinned. 

"You up for it, buddy?" he asked. 

"You know it!" Pikachu agreed, jumping onto the battlefield. 

"An electric-type. A very bold strategy indeed," Giovanni remarked, borderline mocking. "Very well, then. Golem, use your Tackle attack." 

Tackle? Why only that? Ash wondered, startled. Pikachu's defense isn't his strongest, sorry buddy, and one ground-type move would likely knock him out if he didn't manage to avoid it. Why didn't he go for an Earthquake or something like that? 

Well, if Giovanni wanted to order weak attacks, he wasn't about to complain. "Pikachu, dodge and use Iron Tail!" 

Ash wasn't worried about Pikachu being able to dodge. If there was one area that the rock-type was severely lacking in, it was speed–which also just happened to be one of Pikachu's strongest areas. With Golem being about as fast as a grocery store shopping cart, Pikachu was easily able to sidestep the Tackle attack. The electric mouse spun to the side before leaping high into the air, spinning around as his tail glowed bright silver. Pikachu's Iron Tail crashed down on top of Golem's head, knocking the Megaton Pokemon out cold. 

"Golem is unable to battle! The winner is Ash's Pikachu!" the referee, a burly-looking man, declared. Much like Giovanni, his face was hidden in shadow. There appeared to be a marking on his shirt as well, but Ash couldn't make out what it was. 

"Nice! That was easy!" Pikachu cheered. 

"It was," Ash murmured. "Too easy..." 

Something wasn't adding up. Golem might have been weak to steel-type attacks such as Iron Tail, but his species were among some of the strongest defensively in the Kanto region, if not the entire world. On top of that, he was a gym Pokemon. Not that Ash doubted Pikachu's strength, but it was hard to believe that a single attack should have knocked out a gym leader's Pokemon as though he were a mere Caterpie. 

Ash shook his head, tossing his thoughts aside. He would have to worry about that later. Right now, there was a second battle to win, and as Giovanni released his Kingler, he knew exactly who he was going to choose. 

"Bulbasaur, I choose you!" he called out, releasing the grass-type from his Pokeball. 

The Seed Pokemon appeared on the battlefield in another flash of light. Despite the fact that Kingler easily dwarfed him, Bulbasaur didn't even flinch as he glared challengingly up at the crab-like Pokemon. Kingler clicked his pincers threateningly, but Bulbasaur merely stared back at him, unblinking. 

"My, quite a bold Pokemon that one is. Very well, then. Use Crabhammer, Kingler," Giovanni ordered. 

"Vine Whip, Bulbasaur!" Ash countered quickly. 

Once again, Kingler was no match for Bulbasaur in terms of speed. Before he could even power up his Crabhammer, the grass-type had struck him across the face with Vine Whip. The crab-like Pokemon was sent flying into the air before crashing to the ground. Ash didn't need to hear the referee's call to know what the outcome would be. 

"Kingler is unable to battle! The winner is Ash's Bulbasaur." 

"What was that about, Ash?" Bulbasaur asked, turning back to the raven-haired trainer. "I thought this was supposed to be a gym battle? That was easier than battling a newborn Magikarp." 

"I don't know either, Bulbasaur," Ash murmured, frowning. "This doesn't make sense to me." 

Defeating one gym leader's Pokemon was a single attack was unusual enough in itself, but it could still be chalked up to strength and a bit of good fortune. But for the same thing to happen twice and at the final gym...no, there was no doubt about it. There was something bigger at play here. 

For a moment, Ash reached out toward the powerful presence with his aura. He thought about Lucario's declaration that there was a legendary Pokemon hidden within the gym, as well as the way Golem and Kingler had been tossed aside so easily. And just like that, everything finally became clear to him. 

"What's going on?" he heard Fallon whisper. "Those battles looked way too easy." 

"That's because they were meant to be that way," Lucario answered gravely. Ash could feel his mentor's eyes on his back. "And it looks like Ash has realized the same thing too." 

"Realized what?" she repeated, sounding confused. 

"Let's stop playing games already," Ash said impatiently, glaring up at Giovanni. "I know you have a legendary Pokemon in here somewhere. That's why those battles against Golem and Kingler were so easy, isn't it?" 

Giovanni chuckled. "My, my, perhaps you're more perceptive than I gave you credit for. In that case, be prepared to meet my most powerful Pokemon!" 

"Those battles against Golem and Kingler were just supposed to lure Ash into a false sense of security. Make him believe that his victory was inevitable," Lucario told Fallon. "But the truth is that..." 

This time, Giovanni didn't pull out a third Pokeball. Instead, he picked up a remote and pressed a button, revealing a hidden door within the wall. As it slid open, Ash found himself face-to-face with the strangest-looking Pokemon he had ever seen. 

The Pokemon was tall, towering over even Greninja and Lucario. Although it stood on two legs, it had a distinctive cat-like appearance about it, complete with a long tail. Most of the Pokemon's body was covered in armor, but what little was still visible was pale purple in color. The Pokemon wore a helmet that hid most of its face aside from its eyes, which glowed bright blue before Pikachu and Bulbasaur were lifted into the air with Psychic before being dropped back onto the ground.

"...Giovanni never had any intention of letting Ash win," the jackal finished. 

"Meet my most powerful Pokemon. It can never be defeated," Giovanni gloated.

Ash wasn't too sure about that. He suspected that there was a way he could beat whoever this mysterious Pokemon was. It was a feeling he'd had ever since realizing there was a powerful legendary inside the gym in the first place. But there was one more test he needed to perform to make sure.

Closing his eyes, he reached deep into the recesses of his mind with his aura. He quickly located the ever-present link he shared with Greninja, but there was a second, slightly weaker link as well-on his end, at least. Ash quickly latched onto the second connection and sent a message toward the other end. 

Who are you?

What is this? A human who can use Telepathy?

It's complicated. 

It always is, isn't it? 

The Pokemon's voice was mocking now, but Ash didn't bother getting angry. The brief conversation had confirmed all he needed to know. With a grin, he turned around and motioned for Greninja to join him. 

"Well, if you're going to bring out your most powerful Pokemon, I think it's only fair that I bring mine out as well," Ash said, grinning. 

The man atop the balcony scoffed. "Ha! Even if that thing is your best, it doesn't stand a chance Mewtwo. No ordinary Pokemon would be able to defeat it." 

Mewtwo? What kind of a name is that? Ash wondered. Aloud, he replied, "Greninja is a he, Giovanni, and trust me when I say he's far from ordinary. In fact...what do you say we show them what we're made of?" 

"I thought you'd never ask," Greninja replied, smirking. 

For the second time in a matter of minutes, Ash closed his eyes, this time reaching for the link he shared with Greninja. Unlike when he had tried to connect with Mewtwo, however, this time, he felt the frog-ninja Pokemon reaching out toward him as well. His heart rate began to increase until it matched that of Greninja's, and Ash could sense the immense power surging through the Ninja Pokemon. 

A veil of water erupted around Greninja, creating a swirling vortex before bursting open to form a large, gleaming shuriken on his back. As Greninja's appearance changed to match that of Ash's, an immense surge of power burst out from the Ninja Pokemon. Through his friend's eyes, Ash could see Mewtwo and Giovanni step backward in shock. 

"What is this?!" the Viridian gym leader exclaimed in disbelief. Almost instantly, however, he collected himself and chuckled darkly. "Well, no matter. Your Greninja can transform all he wants, but he's still no match for Mewtwo. Now, Mewtwo, you know what to do." 

Mewtwo's eyes glowed blue once more from beneath his helmet as the legendary Pokemon attempted to use Psychic to lift Greninja into the air. The key word being tried as Greninja was utterly unaffected by the attack. Ash could feel Mewtwo's frustration increasing as he powered up his Psychic once more, only to be met with repeated failure. 

What's going on here? Why do my attacks not work on you? 

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be battling!" Giovanni snapped, instantly turning on his Pokemon. "Do it again!" 

Ash narrowed his eyes. "Greninja, use Water Shuriken!" 

Greninja reached over his shoulder, ripping the shuriken off of his back before hurling it toward Mewtwo. But although the water-type move made contact, the cat-like Pokemon barely appeared to be affected by it. In response, Mewtwo attempted another Psychic, but, much like the first two attempts, the attack was unsuccessful. Greninja retaliated again with Water Shuriken, but once again, Mewtwo barely even blinked. 

It's no use. That armor is too strong, Ash muttered to Greninja telepathically. We've got to find a way to get it off of him. 

"What have I told you before? It's no use," Giovanni gloated, and although his face was still hidden, Ash could almost hear the smirk on his face. "There is no way you're going to defeat Mewtwo." 

"We'll just see about that! Greninja, use Ice Beam!" Ash shouted. 

Mewtwo, apparently having realized that Psychic was useless, chose to attack with Shadow Ball as Greninja fired off an Ice Beam. The two attacks collided in the middle of the field, creating a small explosion that covered the arena in a cloud of smoke. As the smoke swirled around the battlefield, Ash could sense Mewtwo charging toward Greninja, powering up another attack, though one that he didn't recognize this time. 

There was no time to worry about that, however. Quickly, Ash called out, "Greninja, use Double Team!" 

"You got it," Greninja replied, instantly splitting himself into at least twenty different copies. 

"Here he comes," the raven-haired boy warned him. "Get ready to use Ice Beam again!" 

A moment later, Mewtwo burst out of the smoke, his tail glowing green. He spun around, knocking out each of Greninja's Double Team copies one by one. The frog Pokemon was able to fire off an Ice Beam that struck Mewtwo on one of the only exposed spots on his body, but not before his tail made contact with Greninja's shoulder. A burst of pain struck Ash as Greninja was sent stumbling backward slightly before regaining his balance, glaring up at his opponent. Ash frowned slightly. That attack had hurt more than he knew it should have. 

A fighting-type move?

"You okay, Greninja?" he called out. 

"I'm fine, Ash, don't worry," Greninja grunted. "I'd like to get back at him for that, though." 

That's what you think, Mewtwo shot back. I am the most powerful Pokemon in existence. You do not have any hope of defeating me. But I will entertain your attempt for a little while longer. 

"Gee, are all legendary Pokemon like this?" Ash muttered to himself. "Never mind that, then. Greninja, use Water Shuriken!" 

Once again, Greninja reached over his back and hurled a shuriken toward Mewtwo. And once again, thanks to his armor, the legendary Pokemon was utterly unfazed by the attack. Ash shook his head in frustration, letting out a hiss. There was no use. They had to get the armor off of Mewtwo somehow...but how? 

"Why don't you give up? You must see that your efforts are in vain," Giovanni taunted him. 

"Not on your life!" Ash retorted defiantly. "There's no way I'm going to give up now! Not after we've worked so hard to get here." 

"Brave words, but is there anything behind it? Pardon me, but it seems that even though Mewtwo's psychic-type moves aren't working, your Greninja has taken more damage. One more hit and this battle will be over," the Viridian gym leader replied coolly. 

"We'll just have to see about that! Greninja, use Ice Beam!" he commanded. 

Greninja fired off another beam of ice toward Mewtwo. This time, however, the strange cat Pokemon used his Psychic on the Ice Beam, sending it back toward Greninja. The returned attack struck the Ninja Pokemon in the face, sending a sharp twinge of pain through Ash's forehead. Seeing as it was an ice-type attack, however, Greninja was able to shake it off almost instantly. 

Unfortunately, they quickly discovered that it had only been a cover for Mewtwo's real attack. 

He hovered above Greninja, his tail glowing green once more. Before Ash could say or do anything, the attack came crashing down on Greninja once more, sending him rolling backward. The attack nearly knocked the wind out of both trainer and Pokemon, and although Greninja was able to stand up again, Ash could tell that the second hit had severely weakened him. 

"Greninja! Are you alright?" he exclaimed worriedly. 

"Ugh...yeah, I'm okay. But I'm telling you, he can really hit you," Greninja grunted. 

This can't go on like this. Mewtwo's obviously realized that psychic-type moves don't work on Greninja, Ash thought to himself, racking his mind for some sort of strategy. I want to attack with Dark Pulse, but we need to get that armor off of him first. But in order to do that, we'd have to stop him in his tracks long enough to destroy it. Wait...that's it! 

"You battled well, Ash Ketchum, but I'm afraid this is where your journey ends," Giovanni said calmly. "Mewtwo, finish the job." 

"Not this time! Greninja, use Extrasensory and stop him in his tracks!" Ash countered. 

Against an ordinary Pokemon, Mewtwo likely would have easily broken through an Extrasensory...or any type of psychic-type move, really. However, as Ash himself had stated, Greninja was far from ordinary. And as Mewtwo struggled to free himself, he put the second part of his plan into motion. 

"Now, Greninja, hold that Extrasensory while using Water Shuriken to destroy Mewtwo's armor!" he called out. 

Without once releasing his hold on Mewtwo, Greninja began chipping away at the armor with Water Shuriken. The psychic-type (at least Ash suspected he was a psychic-type) struggled fiercely, but it was no use. Through Greninja's eyes, Ash watched as the frog Pokemon continued striking the armor, creating visible dents and scratches. He was a bit surprised to see that it could be damaged so easily. Clearly, it wasn't as sturdy as it appeared at first glance. 

"Just a few more hits should do it," he muttered. 

As if on cue, after two more Water Shuriken attacks, the protective metal shattered like glass. With it being destroyed, Ash was finally able to get a clear look at his opponent for the first time. Mewtwo glared down at him, his eyes gleaming with clear disdain. 

"It's over for you," Ash declared, spinning his cap around. "Greninja, use Dark Pulse! Let's put everything we've got into it!" 

He could feel Greninja reaching out toward him once more, drawing an extra bit of strength from their shared connection before firing a pulsating beam of dark purple energy toward Mewtwo. The dark-type move struck him square in the chest, causing him to gasp out in pain. It wasn't quite enough to knock him out, but Greninja quickly fired off a second one as well, effectively finishing the job. 

For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence. Even Ash couldn't bring himself to celebrate, too shocked by the outcome of the battle to do much of anything except stare at Mewtwo's unconscious form. Everyone and everything seemed to be frozen in time as the occupants of the Viridian gym tried to comprehend what had just happened. 

"He...did it," Ash heard Fallon say in awe. 

We did it, he thought in exhaustion as Greninja reverted back to his regular form, breathing heavily. We really did it. 

Ash hadn't quite noticed in the heat of the battle, but now that the adrenaline was wearing off, he was acutely aware of just how tired he was. His entire body felt weak, as though he had just run five miles up a mountain while carrying a load of bricks on his back. The Pallet Town native wanted nothing more than to celebrate the victory with his Pokemon, tell them how proud he was of them, but he just couldn't remain standing any longer. 

The last thing he heard was Greninja's voice calling out in horror before he collapsed onto the ground, unconscious. 

Chapter Text

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as Greninja watched Ash's eyes roll back in his head as he started to fall toward the rocky gym floor. Fortunately, he managed to snap himself back to reality just in time to save his best friend from what would surely have been a painful headfirst collision. He stumbled a bit underneath Ash's weight-the boy was far from heavy, but he was undeniably exhausted after his battle with Mewtwo–before standing up again, adjusting his grip on the messy-haired trainer. 

Lucario rushed over to them, gazing worriedly at the child in Greninja's arms. "Ash? Ash, can you hear me?" 

Ash didn't even twitch. Greninja shook his head, moving his arm underneath the boy's head to offer a little more support. 

"There's no use. We have to get him to the Pokemon Center," he said urgently. 

"What about his badge?" Pikachu asked. "He won the battle. Isn't he supposed to get one now?" 

"Don't worry about it," Lucario assured the electric mouse. "Leave that to me." 

Greninja watched as the Aura Pokemon somersaulted high into the air, landing gracefully on top of the railing. Giovanni stepped back in obvious fear, but Lucario merely snatched a small, leaf-shaped badge from the man's pocket. 

"We'll just be taking this," he said calmly, leaping off the balcony to join the rest of the group again. 

All the while, Mewtwo watched the exchange from afar, his expression unmoving as the Pokemon and Fallon clamored with worry for the raven-haired boy. None of them paid him any attention, however, too focused on getting Ash to the Pokemon Center. With Greninja still carrying the boy, they rushed out of the gym without so much as a backward glance, leaving Mewtwo and Giovanni alone in the dark. 

As they ran, Greninja kept glancing down at Ash, desperately hoping that he would stir, but it was to no avail. He remained limp and still in the frog Pokemon's arms, the only sign that he was even alive coming from the faint rise and fall of his chest. There was no indication that he was aware of anything that was happening around him. 

When they reached the Pokemon Center, to their relief, it was mostly devoid of trainers. As a matter of fact, the only occupants were a group of giggling teenage girls and, on the opposite side of the room from them, Paul and Gary, the latter of whom looked to be having an intense argument. Not particularly interested in what was going on between them, Greninja simply rushed to the front desk with Lucario at his side. 

"Oh, my," Nurse Joy gasped when she saw Ash. "Whatever happened here?" 

"We don't have time to explain. Please, can you help him?" Lucario pleaded. "He's sick, he needs urgent care now." 

"Of course, right this way," the pink-haired woman agreed. 

She stood up from her desk and turned around a corner, disappearing from view momentarily. A few seconds later, she reappeared in the doorway between the lobby and the hallway, this time pushing a stretcher. At once, Greninja placed Ash down gently, careful not to jostle him too much. Once he was satisfied that the boy was comfortable, he stepped back, his heart weighing heavily in his chest as he watched Nurse Joy wheel Ash down the hall. 

"Was that Ash? What happened to him?" 

Greninja turned to see Paul standing just behind the group, looking at the spot Nurse Joy had just wheeled the stretcher away from. Gary, however, was nowhere to be seen, and he guessed that the other boy must have left the Pokemon Center already. He felt a momentary stab of anger. Ash and Gary had never been friends, certainly, but didn't it bother him at least a little that his neighbor was in such bad condition? 

"What happened?" Paul repeated, looking worried. "Is he going to be okay?" 

"He passed out after his gym battle," Fallon replied, barely sparing the Sinnoh native a glance. "We think he'll be okay, but we have to wait for Nurse Joy to come out and say so." 

Paul just nodded, still staring toward the doorway. Greninja tried to push aside his misgivings, reminding himself that no matter what had happened between Ash and Paul when they first met, the Sinnoh native obviously cared deeply for him now. And he had stayed behind to see if Ash was alright when Gary had left without a second thought. That had to count for something, right? 

"So, what were you and Gary arguing about anyway?" Fallon asked abruptly, turning to look at Paul for the first time. 

"Oh, uh, nothing much, honestly," Paul stammered, his face turning pink. "He just...said a few things that I...well, I mean..." 

"What did he say?" Lucario pressed. 

"Well, he...he was saying some things about Ash. That he was weak and wouldn't stand a chance against him," the purple-haired boy admitted. "I told him that he was lucky to be allowed to breathe the same air as Ash and that without his last name, he was nothing." 

"Ouch, but true," Fallon agreed, grinning broadly. 

Lucario exchanged a knowing look with Greninja before replying, "Well, it's nice to know that Ash has you to stand up for him." 

"Of course," Paul agreed. "Ash, he's just...I mean, he..." 

"Oh, we know," Fallon replied, a knowing smirk on her face. "We know."

 To Greninja's surprise, Ash was awake and sitting up when they were finally allowed to see him again. Even more surprisingly, he appeared to be in relatively good spirits, smiling and waving at his friends as they entered. But as he drew closer, Greninja could see the tiredness in the boy's eyes that he was trying desperately to hide. He felt his heart sink slightly. The world just didn't want to seem to give Ash a break, and it was clear that it was taking a toll on him. 

"Feeling alright, bud?" Greninja asked softly, taking a seat beside Ash's bed. 

"I'm okay. Nurse Joy just said I worked myself too hard," Ash answered, smiling despite clearly being exhausted. He brightened considerably as he added, "But hey, we won! We beat Giovanni and Mewtwo!" 

"That you did," Lucario agreed, ruffling the boy's hair. "Which reminds me..." 

He pulled out the Earth Badge and handed it over to Ash, whose eyes lit up at the sight of it. It was clear that he had forgotten all about it. Thanking Lucario, he placed the badge inside the last empty slot in his case, holding it out for everyone to see. 

"Check it out! We finally did it! We got all of our badges!" he exclaimed happily. "That means we can compete in the Pokemon league now!" 

"Congratulations, Ash," Paul said, smiling shyly at the Pallet Town native. 

"Thanks, Paul," Ash replied, beaming back at him. "Have you gotten your last badge yet?" 

At that, Paul shook his head, looking rather sheepish now. "Ah, no, not yet. I'm, uh...still doing a bit of last-minute training, actually." 

"Well, Mewtwo's a tough Pokemon, so you'll have to be ready for him," Fallon told him. 

"Mewtwo," Paul repeated, frowning slightly. "That's the second time someone's mentioned him. Who exactly is this Mewtwo anyway?" 

"Honestly, we're not really sure ourselves," Ash admitted. "It seems like he's some sort of legendary Pokemon, but I've never even heard of him before. Giovanni said he's supposed to be unbeatable, though." 

"But you beat him," the purple-haired trainer pointed out. 

Ash nodded, his expression half-proud, half-embarrassed. "Yeah, well...I mean, I'm lucky that I have Greninja on my team." 

"And don't you forget it," Greninja joked, poking Ash playfully in the ribs. 

"Any advice for taking him on?" Paul asked. 

Privately, Greninja didn't think that Paul stood a chance against Mewtwo no matter how many tips and tricks anyone gave him. But he kept that thought to himself. Even if his efforts were most likely in vain, it wouldn't do any good to crush his spirits now. He doubted that Ash would appreciate that, and while Greninja didn't particularly care for Paul, he hated the thought of upsetting his best friend. 

"Well, I would suggest bringing a dark-type of some sort. Or a Pokemon that can at least learn dark-type moves," Ash replied, looking thoughtful. "Mewtwo's a psychic-type, so you'd have the advantage. Oh, and a bug-type or a ghost-type would be good too, actually. But you've also got his armor to worry about, so maybe a strong fighting-type would be good in that case. You know, just so you can get it off of him." 

"Armor?" the Sinnoh native repeated, blinking. 

Ash nodded. "Yeah, Mewtwo was wearing some sort of special armor when we started our battle. Greninja managed to destroy it, but Giovanni's probably got extra copies stashed away somewhere." 

"Hey, Ash?" Pikachu spoke up finally. "How did you know that Mewtwo was going to be a psychic-type? I mean, most trainers who come across a Pokemon they've never met would test out their options first, but you looked like you knew from the start that Greninja would be able to beat him. So how did you do that?" 

"Honestly? It was partially because I knew I would need to use the strongest member of my team to beat him," Ash answered. "But when we first realized that Mewtwo was there, that was when I figured out that he was a psychic-type." 

"How?" Fallon asked. 

"Greninja was the only one who wasn't bothered by Mewtwo's presence," the raven-haired boy explained. "Everyone else was, even Lucario, but not him. And since dark-types are immune to psychic-types, I figured that had something to do with it. The conversation I had with Mewtwo before our battle confirmed that." 

"Conversation?" she repeated. 

"Lucario's been teaching me how to speak telepathically, but I still haven't gotten very far with it yet," Ash told her. "In order for it to really work, I need the Pokemon I'm talking with to be a psychic-type or another Aura Guardian. And since Mewtwo obviously wasn't an Aura Guardian, that meant he had to be a psychic-type of some sort." 

Fallon gave a low whistle. "Wow. That's pretty cool." 

"Indeed," Lucario agreed, squeezing the boy's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, Ash." 

Ash smiled back at him, then turned to speak to Paul again. "So, when are you planning on challenging the gym?" 

"Well, now that I know there's a legendary Pokemon in there, I might hold off for a few more days," Paul replied. He hesitated, then asked nervously, "So, uh...maybe you could come to watch it? If you want, I mean." 

"Sure," Ash agreed instantly, smiling happily at the other boy. "That would be awesome!" 

Seeing the way Paul's eyes lit up, Greninja began to feel that maybe the Sinnoh native wasn't so bad after all. Not that he thought Ash was interested in dating, at least not right now, but if he were in the future, he supposed he could accept it if Paul decided to shoot his shot. As long as Ash was happy, he couldn't really complain. Greninja just hoped for Paul's sake that if he did decide to confess, he would be able to do it before he ran out of time. 

Chapter Text

Later that night, Ash was lying in bed, unable to sleep. Now that the excitement from his battle against Giovanni had worn off, he was being forced to confront the memory of his collapse. It had been easy enough to ignore what had happened at first, but lying in his room, with nothing to occupy him except his thoughts and sleeping friends, he couldn't deny the truth any longer. As much as he wanted to pretend everything was fine, the aftermath of the battle had proven one thing for certain: he was losing strength, and quickly. 

Just a few weeks ago, he would have been able to make it through the battle with Mewtwo with no problems whatsoever. Well, he might have been a bit tired at the end, but Ash doubted he would have passed out the way he had. Granted, Mewtwo was a legendary Pokemon, but he and Greninja had spent months perfecting their bond phenomenon form against the likes of Lucario who, while not a legendary Pokemon himself, was definitely stronger than Mewtwo. There was no reason he should have collapsed so easily. 

The worst part about his illness wasn't even that he knew he was going to die. It was that he knew how much worse things would get before he did, and he had no way of knowing how much time he had left. He was trying his best to remain optimistic, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore his steadily worsening symptoms. The worst part was, it was difficult to tell how much of it was him actually getting worse and how much was just his mind overreacting and making a big deal out of nothing. 

When he had first learned about his diagnosis, Ash had been prepared to pass away by twenty at the latest. These days, however, there were times when he wondered if he would even make it to fifteen or sixteen. 

Don't think like that, Ash scolded himself. You're not dying just yet. Nurse Joy said you were fine, remember? Just because you passed out doesn't mean that you're going to be a permanent patient in two days. 

Of course, it was easy enough to tell himself that, but lying alone in the dark, it was difficult to keep his mind from wandering down an increasingly dark path. 

Knowing he wouldn't be able to get to sleep that night, Ash climbed out of bed and headed toward the door. Before he could pull it open, however, he was stopped as someone grasped his shoulder gently. Turning around, Ash was unsurprised to see Lucario and Greninja standing behind him. They always seemed to know when something was bothering him, almost as if they had a sixth sense for eleven-year-old boys whose minds wouldn't leave them alone. 

"Are you okay, Ash?" Lucario asked softly, still keeping his grasp on the boy's shoulder. 

"I...no," Ash admitted, shaking his head. "I just...I can't sleep tonight, that's all." 

"Do you want to talk about it?" Greninja offered.  

Ash thought about it for a few moments, but when it came down to it, he didn't think he was in the right state of mind to talk things over. He was too tired for any sort of conversation anyway. Right now, all he needed was a bit of fresh air to clear his head. 

"Not right now," he replied finally. "I just wanted to take a walk and, you know, clear my head a little. Can we do that?" 

"Of course," Lucario agreed. His gaze softened as he added, "Just remember we're here to talk whenever you need it, okay?" 

"I know," Ash said, smiling slightly at the ancient Pokemon. "I haven't forgotten." 

The streets of Viridian City were quiet as Ash, Lucario, and Greninja wandered through them. Even the usual nighttime Pokemon had gone silent, perhaps content to enjoy the serenity that came with the lack of the usual hustle and bustle of traveling trainers. A few houses still had their lights on, but most were darkened, their occupants presumably having gone to bed for the evening. Ash envied their ability to just block out whatever else was happening in the world, taking advantage of some much-needed rest. 

Suddenly, the sound of voices arose from the direction of the Viridian gym. Ash felt a twinge of apprehension as he heard Mewtwo and Giovanni, seemingly arguing. 

"Why do you keep me chained outside of battle? Are we not partners?" Mewtwo asked. Even from several yards away, Ash could feel the anger radiating off of the mysterious Pokemon. 

"What's this all about?" he whispered to Lucario. 

"I don't know. We'll have to wait and see," the Aura Pokemon answered, just as softly. 

"Of course we are. Why would you ask such a ridiculous question?" Giovanni replied calmly. 

"I am no fool. You do not treat me the way that boy treated his Pokemon. He treats them as if they are his equals, but you...no. The only times you agree to have anything to do with me are when you need me to battle for you," Mewtwo said, and his voice was almost matter-of-fact now, not angry. That quickly changed, however, as he continued, "So I will ask you one more time...are we truly partners?" 

There was a long moment of silence, and Ash could feel Greninja and Lucario tense up beside him. His own heart was pounding rapidly in his chest. The few minutes he had gotten to know Mewtwo had been enough to let him know that the legendary likely wasn't someone who would ever become a friend, but even he didn't deserve what was about to happen to him. 

"No," Giovanni answered at last, and there was no guilt in his tone whatsoever, no remorse. "We are not partners and we have never been. Your only use to me is to do my bidding." 

"You..." Mewtwo hissed, the sudden burst of rage from his aura nearly knocking Ash off his feet. "You liar! You're just like all humans! All you care about is using Pokemon as tools in battle! Mark my words, Giovanni, I'll see to it that you'll regret this one day if it's the last thing I do." 

The roof of the Viridian gym burst open as Mewtwo shot through the opening, taking off into the night sky. Although he didn't appear to have any wings to speak of, his psychic powers kept him above the ground. Just before he disappeared from view, Mewtwo turned around momentarily and locked eyes with Ash. His expression was calculating, and try as he might, Ash couldn't read the emotion emanating from his aura. 

Then he turned around and was gone, leaving no trace that he had ever been in Viridian City except for a destroyed gym and a stunned, silent trio. 

Chapter Text

It didn't take long for word to spread around Viridian City that the gym had been closed for repairs. By noon the following day, the Pokemon Center was filled with angry trainers, all of them demanding compensation for having wasted supplies and time traveling to a city only for it to have been for nothing. While Ash could understand their frustration, he felt sorry for Nurse Joy at the same time. She wasn't responsible for the destruction of the Viridian gym, but unfortunately, being the bearer of bad news made her an easy target for blame. 

"This isn't fair! I walked for a week to get here! How could you all let something like this happen?" 

"There aren't even any other gyms around! What are we supposed to do now?" 

"I thought you were supposed to be good at your job or something. This is ridiculous! You're going to hear from my dad, mark my words!" 

"Talk about anger management issues," Paul's voice remarked from Ash's side. "I know they're upset about the gym being closed and all, but you'd think the world just ended with the way they're acting." 

Ash glanced over at his friend, raising an eyebrow. Unlike the majority of the trainers in the lobby, the Sinnoh native was perfectly cool and calm. Despite the fact that he was missing out on his gym battle as well, Paul didn't look the least bit bothered by it. Instead, he was simply leaning against a table with a glass of juice in hand, watching the chaos unfold. 

"You don't seem all that upset about it," Fallon pointed out, voicing Ash's own thoughts aloud. 

Paul just shrugged. "There are still other gyms I could go to. It's not like I have to challenge this one. Anyway, if there really was a legendary Pokemon at the Viridian gym, it's probably for the best that it's been closed down now. Not like I would have stood a chance anyway." 

"Yeah, about that..." Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "There actually isn't a legendary Pokemon at the gym anymore. Mewtwo's gone." 

"Gone?" Paul repeated, blinking. "What do you mean, gone?" 

"It means exactly what he says. Mewtwo's not there anymore," Lucario interjected. 

The purple-haired trainer simply stared between Ash and Lucario for a few moments, bewilderment as clear as day on his face. Ash could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to process the information he had just been given. He didn't blame him; it was almost unheard of for a gym leader's Pokemon to up and leave on a whim. Finally, however, he shook his head and turned back to Ash. 

"Tell me everything," Paul requested. 

"Well, Lucario, Greninja, and I were on a walk last night, and we heard Mewtwo and Giovanni arguing," Ash explained, keeping his voice low to avoid drawing any attention. With the other trainers still shouting various threats at Nurse Joy, it wasn't entirely necessary. "And, uh, long story short, Giovanni told Mewtwo that he didn't see him as an equal and that all he was to him was a tool to win battles..." 

"He said what?" Paul asked in disbelief. 

Ash nodded, feeling a surge of anger on Mewtwo's behalf. "Yeah. So anyway, Mewtwo took that about as well as you'd expect. He swore that Giovanni would regret what he did someday and left...and kind of destroyed the gym in the process." 

Paul blinked, then shook his head. "Well, it certainly sounds like you had an eventful night last night." 

"I feel kind of sorry for Mewtwo, though," Fallon spoke up. "I don't know if he really thought Giovanni was his friend or anything, but that had to be awful for him." 

Ash was about to agree when the sound of shattering glass interrupted him. Spinning around, he saw that the mob of trainers had turned on each other now and were hurling various objects at one another. Nurse Joy was trying desperately to calm everyone down, but as usual, her efforts were in vain. 

"Please, stop fighting! You're going to get someone hurt!" she exclaimed. 

"Arceus above, has everyone in this Pokemon Center gone insane?" Fallon asked in disbelief. "It's just a gym battle! What the hell is going on here?" 

"Don't worry, we'll handle this," Lucario said grimly. "Greninja, Pikachu?" 

At Lucario's signal, Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt toward the sky, effectively silencing the squabbling trainers while Greninja froze everyone in place with Ice Beam. Lucario stood in front of the crowd, his eyes flashing with anger as he glared down at them. 

"You are all being as stupid as a Slowpoke!" he snarled, and if they could, Ash was certain that the frozen trainers' eyes would have widened in shock. "Look at yourselves! You're destroying a Pokemon Center over a gym battle! A gym battle! I understand that you're disappointed, but that does not justify acting like a herd of wild Tauros! You should all be ashamed of yourselves. I have half a mind to report all of you and have your trainer licenses revoked!" 

With that, he turned to Nurse Joy, bowing gracefully. "I apologize for the destruction to your Pokemon Center. Please, allow us to assist you in cleaning up." 

"Oh-thank you, but that won't be necessary," Nurse Joy replied. She still looked a bit shell-shocked, but she smiled warmly at Lucario. "I'm sure you and your friends must be busy. I wouldn't want to delay your journey." 

"It's no problem! We're happy to help!" Ash piped up. Although he did want to get back on the road, he hated the thought of leaving Nurse Joy to clean up the mess in the Pokemon Center alone. "I've got all of my gym badges anyway, so it's not like we really have anywhere too important to be." 

"Yeah, and it's going to take a lot of time to clean this up by yourself," Fallon added. 

"I don't mind helping either," Paul spoke up. 

Nurse Joy hesitated for a moment, then smiled. "In that case, thank you. I won't forget about this, I promise." 

One by one, they broke off into groups, each of them picking up a broom and a dustpan. Ash stuck close to Greninja while Fallon paired off with Pikachu. Lucario, Paul, and Nurse Joy formed the final group. Together, they set to work, sweeping up the shattered glass, splinters, and other various pieces of debris scattered about the Pokemon Center floor.

 In the end, it took almost two hours to clean up the mess created by the angry mob. During that time, Lucario slipped away from the group to report the trainers that had nearly destroyed the Pokemon Center. Officer Jenny was less than pleased when she learned of the damage they had caused, and everyone involved–which turned out to be about seven people–received a three-month suspension. This effectively disqualified them from competing in the Indigo conference that year. 

"Serves them right," Fallon commented unsympathetically as they were leaving the Pokemon Center. "I'll bet they're the types of kids whose parents always let them get away with everything. Well, the real world always hits a spoiled brat sooner or later, doesn't it?" 

"Too true," Ash agreed. 

"It will be nice when the real world finally hits Gary," Paul remarked, venom dripping from his voice as he spoke the Pallet Town native's name. 

"If only," Ash said wistfully. "I'd be okay with anything hitting him at this point, though." 

"Speaking of which, did you know that people can die from having coconuts fall on their head?" Fallon asked. 

Ash blinked. "Really? They can?" 

She grinned back at him. "Yep! And on a completely unrelated note, I thought it would be nice for Gary to take a trip to Alola." 

"Well, that's not a very friendly attitude there, children," Lucario said in mock disapproval. 

They laughed together, not caring if anyone heard them. Once everyone had calmed down, Ash turned to Paul again. 

"So, which gym were you thinking of challenging next?" he asked. 

Paul looked thoughtful. "I hadn't really thought about it yet," he admitted. "Maybe Sabrina's gym...but I was hoping to avoid meeting her if I could. Or I could try Erika's gym again if I can handle all the perfume this time." 

"Well, I'm sure you're going to do great either way," Ash said, smiling encouragingly at his friend. 

"T-thanks, Ash," Paul stammered. Then he paused, tilting his head to the side. "So, what are you going to do now?" 

Ash hesitated for a moment. Even though he wasn't coming out and saying so, he knew that Paul was hoping he would come to watch his gym battle. Why his presence mattered so much, he still had no idea. It was something Ash didn't think he would figure out for a long time, that is, assuming he ever managed to figure it out at all. 

Regardless, he wanted to watch Paul's final gym battle. After all, he had agreed to be there the day before, and he wasn't one to break his promises. At the same time, however, he had made that promise under the assumption that the battle would be taking place in Viridian City in a matter of days. Now, however, he had no idea when or where Paul's last match would be happening. 

He hated to disappoint his friend. But if Ash was being honest with himself, he was tired. How could he not be after spending months traveling around the Kanto region? It had been a good journey overall, but he desperately needed a break. And he hadn't seen his mother since he left Pallet Town, and he missed her. 

"I think I'm going to head home for a bit," he answered finally. "It's been a while since I was back there, and I kind of just want a small break before the league. Things have been so insane lately, and I'm kind of just tired." 

"Oh..." Paul trailed off, seeming to deflate for a moment before quickly putting a smile back onto his face. "I get that. It's okay, Ash. So...I guess I'll be seeing you at the league conference, then?" 

"Of course," he agreed cheerfully. With a small smirk, he added, "Just make sure you're ready for us." 

"Same to you," the Sinnoh native retorted playfully. He hesitated for a moment, then added, "And hey...take care of yourself, okay? I mean it. I just...well. You know." 

Ash blinked, staring in surprise at Paul for a few moments. Once he had recovered, however, he nodded enthusiastically. 

"Don't worry," he promised. "I'll be okay." 

With that last vow, he shook Paul's hand one more time before turning away, ready to head back to Pallet Town with his friends for some much-deserved rest. 

Chapter Text

Even after nearly a year, Pallet Town looked just the same as Ash remembered it. A peaceful aura hung over the small village, the sound of children laughing and playing at the local park ringing out through the air. Several of the more adventurous wild Pokemon could be seen poking their heads through the trees surrounding the edge of Viridian Forest. They always retreated whenever someone drew a little too close for comfort, however. 

As he entered his hometown, Ash paused for a moment, taking in the familiar sights and sounds he had missed so much. He had loved every minute of his journey (well...almost every minute of his journey), and he wouldn't trade everything he had experienced for the world. Yet, at the same time, there was an undeniable comfort to home that couldn't be replicated by any of the other towns, cities, or major landmarks he had visited. 

"It feels great to be home again!" Ash said happily, beaming at his friends. 

"It sure does, doesn't it?" Greninja agreed. 

Fallon stopped just ahead of the group, surveying Pallet Town. "So this is your home, Ash?" 

"Yep!" he replied cheerfully. "It's not really the biggest place in the world, but it's amazing! Everyone's really friendly here...well, almost everyone. You're going to love it here." 

"Yeah, it's really nice here!" Pikachu piped up. Then he paused. "Hey, I wonder what other Pokemon Professor Oak has at his lab now. It would be cool to meet some new friends." 

"Well, I say we should go and find out," Lucario suggested. 

Professor Oak was busy working as usual when Ash and his friends entered the small laboratory. The aging researcher was hunched over a stack of papers on his desk, reading them intently. Ash felt a mild pang of curiosity, but that was the extent of his interest. While he was more than happy to participate in hands-on research, he had no fondness for extensive reading. The text was always too small, and sometimes it felt as though the author was only using words to fill up space. 

"Hey there, Professor," Ash greeted the older man. 

"Hm?" Professor Oak looked up from his research, his face splitting into a wide smile when he saw the group of friends. "Ah, Ash! It's good to see you again. And you as well, Greninja and Lucario." 

"It's good to see you as well," Lucario replied as Greninja bowed respectfully. 

Professor Oak nodded, then turned to Fallon. "If I remember correctly, your name is Fallon, right?" 

"Yes, that's me. It's good to see you're doing well, sir," the young redhead answered politely. 

"Indeed. I'm sorry to hear about your Charmander, but I applaud you for taking such good care of his happiness," the elderly professor stated. 

Fallon blinked, clearly surprised. "You knew about that?"

"As the professor of this region, it's my job to keep track of the Pokemon I send out to new trainers. That means that if something goes wrong, I'm alerted instantly so I can figure out a new course of action," Professor Oak explained. "Sometimes, if a trainer loses their starter Pokemon before they've had the chance to catch another, I'll have a new one given to them." 

"Interesting," Fallon remarked. "Well, Charmander's been doing great since he joined Ash's team–actually, he's a Charmeleon now." 

"Still just as friendly as ever, though," Ash piped up. 

"That's good to hear. It's not uncommon for a Pokemon's personality to change when they evolve, and that can sometimes cause trouble for trainers," Professor Oak commented. 

Ash nodded, thinking back to the day another trainer a few years older than him, Mallory, had evolved her Eevee into a Flareon. The incident had taken place about a year before he met Greninja. She had acquired the fire stone while on her journey, and she had been eagerly awaiting the chance to use it. Unfortunately, nobody had predicted what would happen after Eevee evolved. The previously sweet, kind, and gentle Pokemon became suddenly bad-tempered and aggressive, a common trait in fire-types. No matter what she did, Mallory couldn't get Flareon to listen to her anymore. Eventually, it was decided that Flareon would be sent away to be rehabilitated after she attacked a young Oddish at the lab. Nobody knew what became of the fire-type after that, and Mallory had moved away shortly afterward, so it wasn't as if Ash could ask her now. 

It wasn't an isolated incident either. The stories of Pokemon becoming suddenly disobedient and aggressive after previously being docile before evolution were well-documented. Of course, it didn't happen to everyone, and Ash was relieved that he had been one of the luckier trainers so far. 

"Hey Professor, is it okay if I show my Pokemon around the lab? I'd really like them to see the sanctuary," Ash requested hopefully. 

"Of course, Ash. Go right on ahead," Professor Oak said graciously. 

"Awesome! Thanks, Professor," he exclaimed happily. 

He led his friends out to the ranch that surrounded the lab, closed off by a small wooden fence. The sanctuary was filled with Pokemon, some of which Ash recognized but others whom he had never met before as well. A few of them glanced over curiously as the group entered, but most of them seemed content to just go about minding their own business. 

One of them, however, was only too happy to greet them. 

"Ash! You're back!" a familiar voice exclaimed joyfully. Ash turned around to see Eevee racing toward them. Well, who had been Eevee, except–

"Espeon?" he asked in shock. Then he grinned. "You evolved! Congratulations!" 

"Just a few days ago," she informed him, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I decided it was time." 

"Well, you're looking great, Espeon," Ash replied, reaching down to rub her head gently. 

"Indeed," Lucario agreed, looking upon the smaller Pokemon with interest. Ash remembered that his mentor had never come across most of Eevee's evolutionary branches before. 

"Thank you," Espeon said, smiling warmly. Glancing up, she added, "It's good to see you again as well, Greninja, Pikachu." 

"You too," Pikachu agreed, jumping off of Ash's shoulder to bump his head playfully against the psychic-type's shoulder. 

Something seemed different about Espeon's aura now. While she still had some of her old childlike innocence, there was an air of maturity about her that hadn't been present when Ash had left on his journey. Her evolution, it seemed, had brought about the personality change that Professor Oak had been talking about. 

But then again, it didn't seem as though this change was for the worse. Espeon was clearly still as friendly as ever, but perhaps she wouldn't be quite as willing to roll around in a puddle of mud anymore. And if Ash was being honest with himself, he wasn't the exact same person he had been when he left on his journey either. For one, he didn't stumble over longer words as much as he used to anymore. Maybe it wasn't so much evolution that had changed them as it was the time that had passed–maybe this was what growing up looked like. 

"Hey, why don't I let out the rest of my Pokemon so you can meet them?" Ash suggested. "Fallon, you can let yours out too. I'm sure they'd love to meet everyone." 

"Good idea," Fallon agreed. "Alright, everyone, come on out!" 

There were several flashes of light as the two trainers released their Pokemon. Pidgeot, Bulbasaur, Charmeleon, and Sylveon took their places beside Ash while Jolteon, Clefairy, and Starmie went to stand beside Fallon. All seven Pokemon looked at Espeon curiously with Charmeleon and Jolteon, being the boldest of the group, stepped forward first to approach her. 

"Hi, there. My name's Charmeleon," the fire-type greeted the Sun Pokemon. 

"And I'm Jolteon," his companion and former teammate piped up. 

"It's nice to meet you two," Espeon replied warmly. "I'm Espeon, but you probably knew that already." 

One by one, all of Ash and Fallon's Pokemon stepped forward to greet Espeon. Ash was pleased to see that everyone appeared to hit it off instantly, becoming fast friends with the psychic-type. Even the newest member of the group, Fallon's recently-evolved Clefairy, had no problem warming up to her. To the surprise of no one, Espeon quickly took interest in Sylveon, having never seen the fairy-type form of her evolutionary line before. 

"You say your kind was discovered in Kalos?" she asked curiously. 

"That's right," Sylveon confirmed. "My branch is a pretty recent addition to the Pokedex. If I remember correctly, your kind was discovered in Johto, right?" 

"Indeed," Espeon answered with a nod. 

"I wonder if there are more evolutionary branches out there," Jolteon spoke up. "I mean, for the longest time, people thought that Eevee could only evolve into me, Flareon, or Vaporeon. So there's probably more, right?" 

"That would make sense," Sylveon agreed. 

"What other forms do you think Eevee might evolve into?" Espeon interjected. 

"I don't know," Jolteon admitted. "Maybe a ghost-type? That would be kind of cool." 

While the three Pokemon were discussing their evolutionary line, Charmeleon and Bulbasaur began engaging in a practice battle. Pidgeot stepped aside to watch over her teammates, ensuring that they didn't cause any damage to the lab. Starmie went over talk to a few of the other water-types at the ranch, all of whom greeted them happily. And Lucario and Greninja remained by Ash's side as always, content to look upon the happy Pokemon but not feeling the need to join in. 

Ash smiled to himself, taking in the scene for himself. Yes, indeed, it was good to be home again. 

Chapter Text

"...and then this really powerful Pokemon came out! He was really, really tall and wore a bunch of armor," Ash said, gesticulating wildly with his hands as he recounted the story of his battle against Giovanni at the dinner table later that night. "The Pokemon said his name was Mewtwo. Have you ever heard of a Pokemon like that before, Mom?" 

"No, I don't believe I have. That's wonderful that you got to meet a brand new Pokemon, dear," Delia replied, smiling kindly. 

Lucario sat back, watching fondly as Ash entertained his mother with tales of his adventures through the Kanto region. Coming back to Pallet Town had done wonders for the young boy. There was a spark of life in his eyes that hadn't been present for several weeks, and he was practically bouncing out of his chair with energy. Best of all, his plate was almost cleaned off, although it was still taking him longer to eat than usual since he kept stopping to tell another story. 

Even at nearly twelve years of age, Ash still had the same childlike innocence he had possessed when Lucario had first met him. He was older now, certainly, and had grown up because of the struggles he had dealt with, but he was still the same kind, sweet, slightly naive boy that had visited Cameron Palace on his birthday. It was the boy's bright, happy aura that had endeared him to Lucario nearly instantaneously. 

"I can't wait for the league to start! We've all been working really, really hard to be ready," Ash continued excitedly, pausing briefly to swallow another bite of spaghetti. "I bet there are going to be lots of really, really strong trainers there." 

"There usually are. But don't worry, you're going to be just fine," Greninja replied, patting the raven-haired trainer's shoulder. 

"Yeah, I know. I'm not the one battling anyway," he answered cheekily, to which Greninja growled playfully and poked him in the ribs. 

"That's true," Fallon teased. "Your Pokemon are the ones doing all the hard work." 

"Well, you know what they say. Work smarter, not harder," Ash retorted, although he was grinning. 

"Unfortunately, Mr. I-Like-To-Run-Around-All-Day, from what I've seen, you do neither." 

Unable to come up with a satisfactory retort, Ash crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at Fallon, much to the amusement of everyone else at the dining table. Fallon, being the older and more mature of the two, copied his expression and sent it back toward him. 

"Well, how did the rest of your journey go, dear? Did you make more friends?" Delia asked, effectively drawing her son's attention back to her. 

Ash nodded enthusiastically. "You bet! I also made friends with a guy named Paul. He's from the Sinnoh region, but he's traveling through Kanto now. Apparently, he's been on his journey for a year longer than me." 

"That sounds wonderful. I'm glad to know you've made such good friends," his mother replied kindly. 

"Yeah. Paul wasn't that nice when I first met him, though. But he got better," he admitted. "We're really good friends now." 

Lucario exchanged a half-resigned, half-amused glance with Greninja. Almost everyone at the dinner table was well aware that Paul wanted something else besides friendship with Ash. Besides Delia, the only person who still didn't know was Ash himself. Even after all of the blatantly obvious hints Paul had been dropping, the raven-haired boy remained completely oblivious. Part of Lucario wanted to take Ash aside and explain what was going on, but most of him was content to let him remain unaware of his friend's crush for now. 

It was hard not to sympathize with Greninja's wariness of the Sinnoh native. Although Paul had clearly changed for the better, Lucario couldn't forget the way he had treated Ash when they first met. Not only that, but Ash was still so innocent. He was still only a child-not even yet a teenager. Lucario wasn't entirely sure when human children typically started dating other people in this day and age, but he didn't think he wanted his twelve-year-old student going out with anyone just yet. In fact, if he had a choice, he would much rather Ash wait until he was at least fifteen. Not that he would stop him if he chose to start dating sooner (although the way things were now, it didn't seem like that would be the case), but he wanted the boy to remain innocent for as long as possible. 

Of course, spending several years of his life during a time where war was almost constant, he knew that he couldn't protect Ash from the cruelty of the real world forever. Indeed, the boy was already all too familiar with the unfairness of fate. Still, that didn't stop him from wanting to try, and if it would have made a difference, Lucario would have hidden Ash away in some remote haven if it meant he would never be hurt or scared again. 

"Hey Mom, can we have raspberry tart for dessert?" Ash asked hopefully. "Please?" 

"Of course, sweetheart. Why don't you help me clear the table, and then I can start baking?" Delia agreed. "And don't forget to take your medication too." 

"Yay! Thanks, Mom," Ash said happily. Turning to Fallon, he asked, "Want to help me with the dishes? Mimey usually does, but I think he's still busy sweeping. If we work together, we can get them done twice as fast." 

"Well, I can't argue with that," Fallon laughed. "Sure, Ash, I'll help clean up." 

"Yay!" Ash cheered, turning and racing off into the kitchen with several plates in hand. "I get to wash!" 

"Well, they're certainly enthusiastic," Greninja remarked to Lucario. "I don't think I've ever seen a kid so excited about washing the dishes. Most of them would just complain about it." 

"I guess anyone would be willing to do a bit of extra work for some raspberry tart," Lucario chuckled. 

"I mean, can you blame them? Raspberry tart is pretty good," Pikachu piped up. "And Ash loves anything raspberry-flavored." 

That was certainly true. As a matter of fact, raspberry chocolate bars were the only ones that Ash wasn't willing to share with Lucario. Of course, that didn't stop the jackal from sneaking a piece every chance he got. Somehow, he had managed to avoid being caught, although that was only because Ash usually concluded that he had eaten an extra bar and forgotten about it. 

"Hey, look! Bubbles!" Ash laughed happily as he scrubbed a plate with a sponge. 

"Aw, no fair. I wanted to play with the bubbles too," Fallon pouted, although if the smile twitching at the corners of her mouth was anything to go by, she wasn't truly upset.  

As he watched the young boy washing the dishes, his aura sparking with childlike delight at the soapy bubbles in the sink, Lucario felt his heart soften as warmth filled his chest. 

I love you, Ash. 

Chapter Text

Later that evening, Greninja sat down on the couch beside Ash, watching a rerun of the previous year's Indigo league conference. After a filling (albeit delicious) dessert of raspberry tart, all anyone wanted to do was curl up for a relaxing evening before it was time to go to bed. At the moment, the battle taking place on screen was currently tied, with both sides having lost five Pokemon each. However, the red trainer's Vespiquen was currently matched up against the green trainer's Arcanine, which was almost certainly going to spell disaster. 

"Use Flamethrower, Arcanine!" the green trainer, a girl of about seventeen with short black hair, called out. 

"Fly up and dodge it, Vespiquen!" her opponent, another girl with blond hair, countered quickly. 

Vespiquen shot up into the sky, narrowly missing a jet of flames as it shot past her. Not to be deterred, however, Arcanine simply fired another Flamethrower attack toward her. The bug-type managed to dodge the second one as well, but Arcanine was relentless, sending off one attack after another in her direction. With the relentless stream of fire coming toward her, it was impossible for Vespiquen to find an opening to counterattack. 

"That girl had better think of something quickly if she wants to win this match," Fallon commented. "Because right now, it sure looks like Arcanine has this in the bag." 

"Didn't this match take place last year?" Ash asked, tilting his head to the side. 

She shrugged. "Yeah, but it's not like I watched it. And even if I did, this is only the second round. I don't think I would have remembered it anyway." 

"How many rounds are there in a league conference?" Lucario asked curiously. 

Fallon paused for a moment, frowning. "Let's see...there are usually one hundred and twenty-eight trainers in each conference, so...seven rounds, I think." 

"And what happens if there are too many trainers?" the jackal inquired. 

"Well, that's never happened before since not everyone gets their badges in time for the league," Ash piped up. At Lucario's questioning look, he explained, "You have to get all eight badges at least a month before the start of the conference. Depending on when you start your journey, that's not always possible. So once all one hundred and twenty-eight trainers have gotten their badges, they stop accepting registrations." 

"But the Indigo league is a smaller conference anyway, so they don't usually have that problem," Fallon added. 

"What kind of sucks is that if you don't earn all eight badges in time, your progress for the next league is reset. So if a trainer only earned seven badges for this year's Indigo league conference, they would still have to start again at zero for next year," Greninja spoke up. 

"I guess that's kind of fair, though. I mean, you don't want anyone to start off with too much of an advantage," Lucario pointed out reasonably. 

Greninja nodded in acknowledgment, turning his attention back to the battle which was, miraculously, still taking place somehow. Personally, he agreed with Lucario's assessment, but he knew that not everyone felt the same way. In a way, it was hard not to sympathize with them at least a little-after all, it had to be difficult knowing that all of one's hard work had gone to waste, and not even always because of something within their control. Still, that was where a bit of foresight always came in handy. 

As he focused on the match again, Vespiquen dodged another Flamethrower from Arcanine. Neither Pokemon looked particularly worse for wear, which Greninja assumed meant that no one had been able to land an attack. Unfortunately, that also meant that Arcanine still had the advantage since he at least had come close on several occasions while Vespiquen hadn't been able to do anything except dodge. 

"Come on, Vespiquen," he heard Ash mutter. "You can do this." 

"You're rooting for Vespiquen too?" Greninja asked, glancing over at the boy. 

"Well, everyone else probably thinks Arcanine is going to win," Ash explained, smiling cheerfully. "So I really, really want Vespiquen to pull it off." 

Greninja chuckled, reaching up and ruffling the raven-haired boy's hair. That was just like Ash to think that way. 

"Use Fire Blast, Arcanine!" the green trainer ordered. 

Here we go again, Greninja thought to himself, groaning inwardly. Vespiquen's just going to dodge and dodge until she runs out of energy. That girl had better think of something quickly. 

As it turned out, however, the Vespiquen's trainer had come up with a new strategy. With a small smirk on her face, she called out, "Double Team, Vespiquen!" 

The Beehive Pokemon formed several copies of herself, surrounding a now very confused Arcanine. Unable to determine which was the real Vespiquen, the fire-type froze in place, his head swerving from side to side and his fur standing on end. 

"Wait, you mean to tell me that Vespiquen could have done this the whole time?" Fallon asked incredulously. "Why didn't that girl just order a Double Team earlier? She probably wasted a lot of energy just flying around like that." 

"Well, no one says that league trainers are all geniuses," Ash replied snarkily, to which everyone chuckled. Even though he was hoping Vespiquen's trainer would come out on top, it seemed that he wasn't above poking fun at her either. 

"Toxic!" the blond-haired girl shouted. 

With nowhere else to turn, Arcanine was forced to stand in place as he was enveloped by a swarm of purple energy. The Legendary Pokemon let out a shriek of pain as his health was sapped away by poison. Greninja winced with sympathy, knowing that, unlike regular poison, the damage from Toxic would only grow worse over time. To his surprise, however, Arcanine's trainer didn't look the least bit fazed. 

"We prepared for exactly this type of situation, Arcanine! Eat this pecha berry!" the dark-haired girl called out. 

Ash blinked. "I thought you weren't allowed to use healing items? Only healing moves?" 

"That's only for the quarterfinals onward. Anytime before that, it's fair game," Fallon explained, to which Ash nodded in understanding. "Either way, I guess her strategy isn't going to work this time...although at least she did manage to get some damage in." 

But when the pecha berry was tossed in his direction, rather than chewing it up and swallowing it, Arcanine seemed to be unable to take a single bite. From what Greninja could see, it almost seemed as if the berry was stuck in his mouth, preventing him from being able to swallow. He spit it out and tried again, only to be met with the same results. 

"What's happening?" Pikachu asked, speaking up for the first time. "Why can't Arcanine eat his berry?" 

"Good question," Greninja replied, frowning as he tried to think about what he knew about Vespiquen's lineage. "The only thing I can think of that would keep him from being able to eat berries is..." 

He trailed off as the answer flashed into his mind. "Of course...that Vespiquen probably has Unnerve as her ability." 

"Unnerve?" Ash repeated, tilting his head to the side. "I thought Vespiquen's ability was usually Pressure." 

"It is. I guess she must have gotten lucky," he remarked. 

"Huh," the raven-haired boy commented. "I guess that would explain why Arcanine hasn't run out of strength to attack yet, though." 

The tide of battle had finally turned. Unable to eat his pecha berry, Arcanine had no choice but to keep allowing his health to be drained by Toxic. And unfortunately, seeing as both trainers were on their final Pokemon, his trainer couldn't switch him with anyone else to stall the damage being dealt. Vespiquen, apparently sensing that the odds were finally in her favor, hissed challengingly at Arcanine, her stinger glistening ominously. 

"Keep going, Arcanine! Use Take Down!" the fire-type's trainer ordered. 

Arcanine let out a growl and began charging toward Vespiquen. With his energy slowly being drained away by the second, however, there was a noticeable lack of power behind his Take Down. Greninja narrowed his eyes, feeling his heart racing. If Vespiquen's trainer could come up with a suitable attack, she just might be able to pull off a win. 

And as it turned out, she had just the attack to do the job. 

"Rock Slide, Vespiquen!" she called out. 

Just before Take Down connected, Vespiquen shot into the sky, sending a barrage of large stones toward Arcanine. The Legendary Pokemon cried out in pain as he was struck by the super effective move, each stone nearly crushing him under its weight. Once Rock Slide finally let up, Arcanine staggered for a few seconds, only to collapse onto the ground moments later as poison sapped away what little energy he had left. 

"Arcanine is unable to battle! Vespiquen wins! Which means the victory goes to the red trainer, Erin," the referee announced. 

"Yes!" Ash cheered. "They did it, they did it!" 

"Damn," Fallon remarked, whistling. "I'll be. She actually pulled it off." 

"That was impressive," Lucario admitted. "She's more resourceful than I thought." 

Ash turned to Greninja, his eyes shining with excitement. "When we battle at the Indigo league this year, let's be exactly like Erin! We're not going to give up, not even if all the odds are stacked against us!" 

Greninja chuckled, reaching out and securing his little buddy against his side. "We will, Ash. We definitely will." 

Chapter Text

It was well past ten at night by the time everyone settled into bed. Since the house didn't have a guest room, Fallon went back to Professor Oak's lab to spend the night. Ash, meanwhile, settled into his room upstairs with Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu. As he climbed into bed, he looked around at his bedroom. The floor, which had been previously cluttered with his books and toys, was now utterly spotless, meaning his mother must have cleaned it while he was away. All of his books were lined up perfectly on the shelf, and his stuffed toys had been placed comfortably on his bed. 

"Oh, look. Your Ditto plush is still here," Lucario remarked cheerfully, picking up the purple blob-like plush. "Mind if I borrow him?" 

"Sure," Ash agreed happily, more than happy to share with his friend. 

Greninja shook his head. "I think you like that Ditto more than Ash does, Lucario." 

That was certainly true. Out of all of Ash's stuffed Pokemon toys, Lucario had always liked Ditto the best, often stealing him from Ash's bed. He claimed that it was because Ditto's face made him laugh, but Ash suspected there was another reason altogether. A few days or so after they had returned from Rota, Lucario had been unable to sleep, caught up in missing Sir Aaron and struggling to adjust to his new life in Pallet Town. Ash had given the jackal his Ditto plush, which Lucario had taken immediate comfort in. Ever since then, the Aura Pokemon found every excuse to carry Ditto around, at least when they were at Ash's house. 

"Well, who wouldn't? It's a nice toy," Lucario replied, not at all bothered by Greninja's teasing. 

"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd never have guessed that someone like you would like stuffed Pokemon," Pikachu spoke up. "I mean, you've got the whole ancient, noble war veteran thing going on, but you also like candy and stuffed toys. The vibes don't really match up." 

"I can be a war veteran and like stuffed Pokemon and candy at the same time," the jackal answered with a shrug. "Besides, I spent my entire life training under Sir Aaron. So it's not as if I had much of a chance to play with things like plushes...if they'd even existed back then, which they didn't." 

"As much as I'd love to continue discussing Lucario's weird fondness for children's toys and sweets, I think it's time for us to get to bed," Greninja interrupted. A playful gleam entered his eyes as he added, "So Ash, would you like me to turn on a nightlight for you?" 

Ash rolled his eyes. "Greninja, you know I don't sleep with a nightlight. Nightlights are for babies." 

The frog Pokemon chuckled, reaching out and ruffling his hair. "I know, I know. It's just fun to tease you with that." 

After everyone had gotten tucked into bed, Ash decided to read a book before going to sleep. Maybe he was getting too old to have a nightlight on, but that didn't mean he was too old for a bedtime story. Besides, it was always a good way to relax. Once everyone was curled up around him, he opened his favorite book up to its first page and began to read. 

"Once upon a time, there was a little Squirtle who dreamed of going on a big adventure," Ash began, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb Delia's sleep. "He had always wanted to see the world outside of the pond his family lived in. So one day, he decided to pack his bag and go off exploring. He gathered food in case he got hungry, toys in case he got bored-" 

"-and a bottle of whiskey in case he ran into any idiots out on the road-" 

"-and a bottle of whiskey in case he ran into..." Ash trailed off as he realized just what he was about to say. "Hey! That's not how the story goes!" 

"My apologies," Pikachu replied cheekily, grinning. "Please do continue." 

"Right," he answered, stifling a giggle. "Anyway, uh...oh, right! So Squirtle said goodbye to his mother and father and went off to explore the world. Along the way, he met a Charmander and-" 

"-and a seven-hundred-year-old Pokemon who liked to steal candy and stuffed toys," Pikachu interjected again. 

"-and a seven-hundred-year-old Pokemon who liked to steal candy and stuffed toy-" Ash broke off again and groaned. "Really, Pikachu? Again?" 

"Oh, look, Lucario! You're in the story too," Pikachu said cheerfully. 

"Is that so?" Lucario asked, his mouth twitching in amusement. "Well, I have always wondered what it would be like to go on an adventure with a whiskey-drinking Squirtle." 

"Too bad for you. You got stuck with me instead. And you're going to be stuck with me forever," Ash pointed out cheekily, the book already having been forgotten. 

Lucario smiled down at him, brushing a paw over his cheek. "And I wouldn't trade you for anything in the world." 

Ash beamed at that before an idea entered his mind. "Hey, maybe I can try whiskey someday! How about it? Can I have a bottle of whiskey?" 

"No," Greninja replied firmly. "You will have a bottle of whiskey only when I want Delia to behead both me and Lucario." 

"Aw," Ash pouted. "Fine." 

"Don't worry, Ash, you're not missing out on much," Lucario reassured him, patting him on the shoulder. "Besides, whiskey is for adults anyway. I don't think you would like it. Just stick to being a kid for as long as you can, yeah?" 

"Hmm...well, okay. I guess I can stick to apple juice for a little bit longer," he agreed finally. 

With a yawn, Ash rolled over onto his side, snuggling up underneath the blankets. He heard his book fall to the floor, but he was too tired to pick it up. It would just have to wait until morning. As sleep began to overtake his mind, distantly, as though through a long tunnel, he heard Greninja murmuring softly to him as Lucario hummed a peaceful, soothing melody. 

"Sleep well, Ash. We'll have more adventures and tell more stories in the morning." 

Chapter Text

Sometime in the middle of the night, Greninja found himself awoken by the sound of the bedroom door creaking open. Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he lifted his head just in time to see Ash disappearing into the hallway. Almost instantly, he stood up and followed his trainer out of the room. While Greninja didn't think that there was anything wrong with Ash, he preferred to check on him just to be safe. 

As he stepped out into the hallway, he found Ash walking rather tentatively down the stairs. Greninja's first instinct was to worry that something was wrong with the boy's legs, but he quickly brushed the thought aside. It was the middle of the night; perhaps Ash was simply trying to walk downstairs without waking anyone up. There was no reason to assume that it had anything to do with his illness. 

"Ash?" Greninja called out softly, stopping the raven-haired boy in his tracks. 

"Oh...hi, Greninja," Ash greeted him, turning around to face him. 

"Are you okay?" he asked in concern, taking a few steps down the stairs. "What are you doing up?" 

"I'm fine," Ash reassured him quickly. "I just wanted to get a drink of water, that's all." 

"Is that all? Well, let me come down with you either way," Greninja offered. 

Ash hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded. Together, trainer and Pokemon crept downstairs together, taking care to step lightly to avoid waking anyone with sensitive ears. The trip to the kitchen took a little longer due to this, but eventually, they made it. Once they were in the kitchen, Greninja took out a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water, handing it over to Ash. 

"Thanks, Greninja," Ash murmured, taking a long sip from the glass. He breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah...that feels a lot better." 

"Is your throat bothering you? You're not getting sick, are you?" Greninja asked worriedly, reaching up to feel the boy's forehead. It didn't feel warm, but he knew better than to assume that meant Ash was in the clear. 

However, the young trainer just shook his head. "No, I feel fine, it's just that my throat feels dry sometimes." 

"You're sure? If you want, I could make you some tea. It's good for sore throats," the frog Pokemon offered. 

"No, no, it's fine, really. I just needed some water. Don't worry about me," Ash answered quickly, shaking his head. 

"You know I always do," Greninja murmured. 

It was certainly true, after all. Even though he knew Ash was a strong kid, there was a part of him that always worried over his best friend's well-being. There was still so much about the world that Ash didn't know, and Greninja feared the day his little buddy would lose the last of his innocence. Of course, he knew all too well that he couldn't protect Ash from everything, but that didn't stop him from wanting to try. 

Ash finished his water in just a few minutes. Instead of heading back upstairs after he was done, however, the messy-haired trainer wandered over to the dining table, taking a seat at his usual spot. Despite the late hour, he showed no interest in going back to bed, choosing instead to rest his elbow on the table as he drummed his fingers almost absentmindedly. 

"Ash? We should get back upstairs to bed. It's late," Greninja prompted gently. 

"I know, it's just...I don't think I can get to sleep right now," Ash admitted, looking down at his hands. 

"Why not? Bad dream? Is something bothering you?" he asked, taking a seat across from the young boy. 

"Not really, no. I don't think so, at least. I've just...kind of been having trouble staying asleep tonight, that's all," Ash answered, still twiddling his thumbs. "I'm not really sure why, though." 

Greninja nodded sympathetically, all too familiar with the feeling Ash was describing. Personally, he had always felt that nights, where there was genuinely nothing keeping one awake, were worse than ones where one was plagued by nightmares or other unpleasant thoughts. At least with the latter situation, there was an obvious solution to the problem. But with the first one, there wasn't, and it made it all the more difficult to fall asleep. 

Still, if there was one thing he had learned, it was that there was usually at least one reason why one couldn't sleep. Sometimes, it was just a matter of admitting to oneself that there was actually something wrong. He was sure that if he just talked to Ash for a while, they would be able to figure out what was keeping him awake. 

"Want to play a game of chess?" he offered. "At least until you feel tired enough to go back to sleep." 

"Sure," Ash agreed, smiling happily. 

They set up the board together, with Ash taking the black pieces and Greninja taking the white ones. As he mulled over which piece to move first, out of the corner of his eye, Greninja could see Ash playing with one of the knights. He chuckled quietly to himself. At only twelve years old, Ash was a long way away from being a chess grandmaster, but his childlike fascination with the Ponyta-shaped pieces never failed to make him smile. 

"Alright. Your move," Greninja told Ash, deciding on moving one of his pawns. 

"Okay, uh...this one, I guess," Ash murmured as he moved one of his pawns two spaces forward as well. 

"I'll move this one next, then," the frog-ninja Pokemon replied, moving one of his knights this time. 

The game continued in silence for a few minutes, each of them concentrating on their moves. Eventually, however, Greninja decided he needed to talk to Ash. That was supposed to be the entire purpose of this chess match, after all. 

"So, are you looking forward to the league?" he asked, still concentrating on his next move. 

"You bet! We've all been working really hard. I can't wait to see how much all of our training has paid off," Ash replied cheerfully. 

"Are you feeling nervous at all? It's natural to before your first league," Greninja inquired. 

Ash opened his mouth to respond, then seemed to reconsider his answer. "I...I don't know," he admitted. "I mean, I'm not really nervous because I know that all I have to do is try my best...and I'm not really the one fighting anyway. And I know I probably won't win the whole thing. But I just really, really want to make everyone proud of me." 

"Ash..." Greninja said softly, reaching out to place a webbed paw on top of the boy's hand. "You don't have to worry about making us proud of you. I promise you, we already are." 

His best friend hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Thanks, Greninja." 

Somehow, one game of chess turned into two, then three, then four. As they started on their fifth game, heedless of the minutes ticking by, the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs brought them both to attention. Turning around in his seat, Greninja saw Lucario standing in the entrance to the living room, a look of exasperation on his face. 

"No. Both of you, no," the Aura Pokemon said firmly. "It's past three in the morning. We should all be asleep." 

"Oh, come on, Lucario. Live a little, will you?" Greninja teased the ancient warrior. "I'll let you play Ash next if you'd like." 

"Yeah, but I plan on beating Greninja first," Ash added, grinning cheekily. 

Lucario cocked his head to the side. "Have you ever won against him, Ash?" 

"No, not yet...but there's a first time for everything!" the raven-haired trainer insisted. 

"He's got a point there," Greninja agreed. "So why don't you join us, Lucario? You can be here to witness Ash make history." 

Lucario looked ready to refuse for a brief moment, but eventually resigned himself and came over to join his friends at the dining table. He didn't object again as he settled in to watch their chess match. Greninja knew they would all pay for choosing to stay up all night the following day, but he decided not to worry about that for now because it was the perfect end to a perfect day and he had forever to watch Ash try to win a game of chess. 

Chapter Text

Ash, Greninja, and Lucario weren't the only ones being kept awake that night. Far away in a Pokemon Center just outside of Saffron City, Paul sat at a desk in his room, staring at a blank notepad as he chewed absentmindedly on the tip of his pen. The sun had set several hours ago, and there were no signs of life anywhere, outside the Pokemon Center or inside. Despite this, Paul had remained rooted to the spot throughout the night as his thoughts returned, as they almost always did, to a certain messy-haired boy. 

Even though it had only been a handful of days, maybe a week, since he had last seen Ash, Paul missed the younger trainer with a loneliness that couldn't be comforted by the crowds of people that thronged around him day in and day out. It certainly wasn't the first time he had felt this way; after all, he found himself looking forward to the next time he would see Ash again whenever they had to part ways. Over time, however, his longing to see his friend again had grown stronger and stronger until it was only his desire to complete his goal of becoming the world's greatest Pokemon trainer that prevented him from dropping everything and going off on an adventure with Ash. 

That, and the fact that Greninja and Lucario didn't seem to like him too much. Paul was certain that if they had the choice, they would have stopped him from seeing Ash once and for all. Maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was impossible to deny the looks of suspicion they always flashed his way whenever he approached the Pallet Town native. 

He wondered what Ash was doing at that moment. In all likelihood, he was probably asleep, but if he wasn't, what was going through his mind? What was keeping him awake? Did Ash ever find himself thinking about Paul the way Paul found himself thinking about Ash? 

As it stood now, the next time they met, it would be as opponents. They had both collected all eight Kanto gym badges, which meant they were both qualified to compete in the Indigo conference. On top of that, if they made it far enough into the competition, they would inevitably have to square off against each other. For a brief moment, Paul tried to imagine how it would feel to battle against Ash. 

No matter what, Paul was a Pokemon trainer first, and he knew there was nothing in the world that would make him hold back against his friend, and he felt confident that Ash was the same way. They would give each other the battle of their lives, and at the end of the day, that was the most they could ask of each other. Still, he couldn't help worrying. At the end of the day, only one of them could emerge the victor, and Paul didn't want to risk losing his friendship with Ash. 

Don't be ridiculous, he scolded himself. Ash wouldn't end his friendship with you over a league battle, would he?

It didn't sound like Ash at all to do something like that, but then again, stranger things had happened. Besides that, the Pallet Town native was the first real friend he'd ever had, even though Paul was well aware that his feelings for the boy had become something entirely different. He didn't want to lose Ash, especially not before he had the chance to tell him just how much he meant to him. Unfortunately, although he had been presented with several opportunities to do so, working up the courage was easier said than done. 

Of course, it wasn't that Paul had anything against being friends with Ash. Indeed, the fact that the younger boy had even agreed to be friends with him in the first place meant the world to him. But he wanted something besides friendship, and he couldn't help feeling as though he would be missing out if he didn't at least say something. Not only that, but not knowing what Ash's feelings toward him were was slowly eating away at him. Whatever the answer ended up being, Paul just wanted to know once and for all if Ash liked him the way he liked Ash. Even if he didn't like the response, at least he would know how to proceed from there. In all honesty, he almost wanted to scream in frustration. How was it that everyone except Ash was aware of how much he liked the other trainer? 

Shaking his head, Paul rubbed a bit of sleep from his eyes as he adjusted his chair and began to write. 

Dear Ash,

I don't know how long it will take you to get this letter-honestly, I don't know a lot about how the postal service works here in Kanto. I'm not really one to write letters, you know. Video calls are so much easier, wouldn't you agree? But I don't know if you have one at your house, so I'm stuck with this for now. For all I know, we might both be at the league by the time this gets to your house. But I guess that's not too bad. I mean, you can always read it when you get back, right? So at least you'll be seeing it eventually. 

You'll be happy to know that I've earned my eighth gym badge now. Sabrina was definitely a bit creepy, but she's really not as bad as everyone makes her out to be. Turns out, she's not some crazy murderer after all; her psychic powers just got out of control. Well, luckily for her, Gengar helped out a bit with that-I'll explain more when I see you next if you're interested. Anyway, as I said earlier, I have all eight badges now, which means we'll be seeing each other at the league. I'm looking forward to that. How about you? 

I'm sure you're probably wondering why I'm even writing this letter in the first place. A fair question, really. The truth is, I was just wondering if

There's something I wanted to tell you

I was thinking about how we're probably going to have to battle each other, and I just wanted to tell you that

Has Fallon or one of your other friends told you that I

I wish I could see you right now

I was just missing you and thinking that I needed to talk to you, even if it can't be in person or over the phone

Well, I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. You might not think so, but you've made me into a better person-and, by extent, a better trainer. I don't think I would have made it as far as I did if you hadn't taught me that the way I was treating my Pokemon was wrong. No matter which of us advances further in the league, I just wanted to let you know that I'll always be grateful for everything you've done for me, and especially for being my friend.

So...that's it, I guess. Thank you. 

Thank you for helping me catch and evolve Gengar. 

Thank you for spending that night talking to me out in the woods and especially for showing me that view from the treetops. 

Thank you for cheering me on at the Lavender Town gym. 

Thank you for being you. 

I really like

I hope

I love you.

I'll see you at the Indigo league conference. 

From, 

Paul

Paul stared for a few moments at the jumbled mess of words on the paper in front of him. Shaking his head, he tore it out of the notebook and folded it into a tiny square, placing it inside his bag. For now, this letter would remain for his eyes only. 

Chapter Text

"Welcome, everyone, to the Indigo Plateau conference! My name is Charles Goodshow, president of the Pokemon league. To your left, we have the four battlefields of the Indigo Stadium. And to your right, you will find the Pokemon Village for trainers to relax and enjoy Pokemon-themed food and activities with their Pokemon pals. Thank you, and good luck to all our participants." 

Ash stared in awe at the massive village as he half-listened to President Goodshow's announcement over the city's intercom. Beside him, Greninja and Lucario stood protectively around their trainer, gazing around at the people and Pokemon that thronged around them. Personally, Ash thought they were being a bit too overprotective (again), but he was too excited to care. Finally, after a year of hard work, he had finally made it to his first league conference. 

"Wow," Fallon remarked, coming to a stop next to Greninja. "They really went all out for this, didn't they?" 

"I know, right? Isn't it awesome?" Ash asked excitedly. 

"Well, I could do with fewer people and Pokemon hanging around, but it is nice," Greninja commented, still glancing around warily. 

Lucario shook his head. "Even after all this time, you still haven't gotten used to crowds?" 

"I just don't see what the point of having so many people gather in one small space is. It's awfully cramped, don't you think?" the frog-ninja Pokemon argued back. 

"Oh, don't be such a killjoy," Ash said cheerfully. "Look at it this way, we can make lots of new friends now!" 

He turned to skip off in the direction of one of the shops, only to stumble as his legs wobbled beneath him. With a grimace, Ash got back to his feet and dusted himself off. Fortunately, he didn't seem to have acquired any new injuries, but it was a sobering reminder that he still needed to watch his own health. 

"Are you okay?" Greninja asked, looking worried. 

"Yep! No need to worry about me," Ash assured his best friend. "Come on, let's get something to eat! Please?" 

"Sure thing, bud. Anything you want in particular?" Lucario offered, reaching up and ruffling his hair. 

Ducking away from the Aura Pokemon's paw, Ash looked around at the various stands, trying to decide which one looked the most appealing. With how hungry he was, however, there didn't appear to be an option that stood out above the rest. All around him, the scents of baked goods, caramel apples, tacos, sushi, and frozen treats permeated the air. Even the fried vegetables were making his mouth water. After scanning the shopping center for a few moments, his eyes finally fell on a hot wing stand. 

"Can we get hot wings? Please? Please?" he asked hopefully, practically bouncing up and down. 

Lucario's face blanched slightly, but he nodded. "O-Of course, Ash. Fallon, would you like some as well?" 

"You bet," Fallon agreed, grinning broadly. 

"You should get the really, really hot ones," Pikachu suggested. "I want to see if you two can handle them." 

"You're on," Ash agreed enthusiastically. 

They walked over to the wing stand, which, fortunately, hadn't attracted too much of a line yet. Out of the corner of his eye, Ash could see small droplets of sweat trickling down Lucario's face and grinned to himself. As a steel-type, Lucario had never done well near heat, which meant that spicy food was his one weakness. On the other hand, he could eat more sweets than anyone Ash knew, so he supposed it all evened out. 

"Hello, dear. What would you like to order today?" the stand's attendee, a kind-looking woman, asked politely. 

"Could we please have an extra-large container of the super spicy wings?" Ash requested. "And a side of hot buffalo sauce as well, please." 

"Ash, are you sure about this? You know these wings can be very spicy," Lucario warned him, a concerned look on his face. 

"It's okay, Lucario, don't worry! We can handle it, right, Fallon?" he replied cheerfully, glancing over at the redhead. 

"Definitely. A little spice never killed anyone," the older trainer agreed. 

Lucario muttered something that sounded like, "A little spice, my ass." 

Ash handed over a wad of Pokedollars to the cashier, wincing internally at how expensive their lunch was. He couldn't remember the last time he had spent so much on one meal. At the moment, however, he was too hungry to care too much about his wallet. Besides, if he won enough of his battles, he would earn most of it back anyway. 

Once they had received their food, Ash and his friends retreated to a picnic table in between the wing stand and a hot dog stand. Lucario sat a little ways off from the rest of the group, evidently trying to protect himself from the heat radiating off of the spicy wings. Ash, for his part, simply ignored the jackal and opened the container, feeling his face warm up ever so slightly. Peeling open the container of buffalo sauce, he picked up one of the wings and dipped it in the sauce before taking a large bite. 

Greninja's eyes widened. "Ash-" 

"What?" he asked once he had swallowed his first bite. 

"Be careful when you eat those things. Remember what Lucario said, they can be spicy," the frog Pokemon cautioned him. 

"Really? But these aren't even that bad," Ash commented, frowning slightly as he took another bite. 

"Yeah, they're not that spicy at all," Fallon confirmed, swallowing a mouthful of spicy chicken wings as well. "Do you think there was a mix-up and we got the mild ones instead of the super spicy ones?" 

"I could sample one for you," Lucario suggested. 

"But you don't like any type of spicy food. I'm not sure that's a fair comparison," Ash pointed out, to which the Aura Pokemon nodded in acknowledgment. 

"Let me try," Pikachu offered. Ash nodded and handed the electric mouse a wing, which he took a bite out of and chewed thoughtfully. After a split second, Pikachu began gasping for air and fanning his mouth. "Okay, yeah. Those are definitely the super spicy wings, no doubt about it." 

"Huh. I still don't feel anything, though," he commented as he ate another wing, this time dipped in even more of the spicy buffalo sauce. 

"Me neither," Fallon agreed. "Maybe we're just having a delayed reaction?" 

"Could be," Ash acknowledged. "Let's finish the rest and see if we feel anything." 

By the time they had finished the container, however, neither Ash nor Fallon was any worse for wear. Aside from feeling slightly warmer than he had ten minutes ago, Ash remained utterly unfazed. Greninja, Lucario, and Pikachu, who had finally recovered from the bite of spicy wings he had taken earlier, stared at the two trainers in disbelief. 

"Just...just where did you two get your tolerance from?" Lucario asked finally. 

"We're built different," Ash replied cheekily with Fallon nodding in confirmation. 

"Ash, is that you?" two voices called out, although in very different tones from each other. 

Turning around, Ash saw Paul and Gary heading toward them. Judging by the looks on their faces, it was clear that they had gotten into another argument. Nevertheless, Paul brightened considerably when he saw Ash, while Gary's scowl only deepened. Ash, for his part, waved happily to the Sinnoh native while refusing to give his neighbor the time of day. 

"You made it," Paul said, smiling nervously at him. 

"Well, of course. I wasn't about to miss this, was I?" Ash responded with a grin. 

"Tch! I'll bet you only made it here on pure dumb luck," Gary sneered, leaning against a post with his arms crossed. 

"Who invited this loser?" Fallon asked scathingly, looking the brown-haired boy up and down as if he were something disgusting she had found on the bottom of her shoe. 

Ash and the others laughed uproariously as Gary spluttered with indignation, his face turning an impressive shade of red. Fallon gave a self-satisfied smirk and leaned on her elbow, staring up at the embarrassed Oak heir. 

"How-how dare you! I am Gary Oak, the greatest Pokemon trainer in Kanto, and I'm here to win the Pokemon league," he fumed. 

"Yeah, yeah. And in other related news, Lucario here has just expressed a desire to become a can-can dancer," Ash shot back. 

"Well, he would probably prefer being a can-can dancer than traveling around with someone like you," Gary spat. 

Lucario narrowed his eyes, but before he could retort, Ash beat him to the punch. "Oh, really? I think you might be getting yourself mixed up with me, Gary. I'm also pretty sure that you're still mixing up your head and your ass. I mean, we can all see where the confusion comes in, but maybe you should try to figure that out before bothering us again." 

Everyone burst out laughing again, then quickly stopped as Gary lunged at Ash. Fortunately for Ash-and unfortunately for Gary-the shorter boy saw the attack coming and, using his aura to enhance his strength slightly, stepped to the side before delivering a kick to Gary's shins, sending him face-first onto the ground. The fall wasn't enough to do any serious damage, but he lay there for a few moments, winded. 

"I knew you were going to do that," Ash scoffed, looking down at his rival in contempt. "You're too obvious, Gare-bear. Try harder next time." 

Chapter Text

As it turned out, Ash wouldn't be taking the field for a while. He was slated to battle in the sixth slot of the day, which gave him about two hours after the start of the day's battles before he needed to be in the wings. Taking advantage of the extra downtime, Ash decided to join his friends in watching a few of the early battles. At the moment, they were watching a match between two boys whose names Ash couldn't be bothered to remember. 

It didn't help matters that the battle between the two boys was about as boring as he had ever seen. While Spiky-Haired Steven, as Ash had decided to refer to the trainer on the green corner as, was actually attempting to attack every once in a while, his opponent, Sir Bores-A-Lot, had done nothing but spam Double Team and Protect ever since the start of the third round. By all intents and purposes, the battle should have ended quite a bit of time ago since Spiky-Haired Steven had more Pokemon left ready to battle. Unfortunately, he also didn't have any Pokemon that knew a move with a guaranteed success rate, which meant it had become nearly impossible for him to knock out his opponent's final Pokemon. 

"Don't give up, Rapidash! Use Flame Wheel!" the spiky-haired redhead called out. 

"Use Protect once more, Scizor!" Sir Bores-A-Lot countered. 

"This is the stupidest battle ever," Fallon groaned as what would almost certainly have been the knockout move was once again blocked by an increasingly infuriating purple shield. "What's the point of even continuing the battle if all you're going to do is dodge? The idiot in the red corner might as well just forfeit now and stop wasting everyone's time. It's not like he stands a chance at winning now anyway." 

Normally, Ash would have said the battle wasn't over until it was over, but he had to agree with Fallon on this one. Sir Bores-A-Lot only had his Scizor left, while Spiky-Haired Steven still had two fire-types left, including Rapidash. On top of that, his other remaining Pokemon, Camerupt, had barely taken any damage throughout the match. It would take a miracle or at the very least a secret weapon to win Sir Bores-A-Lot the battle now, but if he had one, Ash was almost positive he would have pulled it out by now. 

By now, the rest of the crowd had gotten just as fed up with the red trainer's so-called strategy. Even worse for Sir Bores-A-Lot, they weren't shy about voicing their displeasure either. They were booing him incessantly, and Ash picked up on a few rather unkind phrases being thrown his way. 

"What are you, a coward? Fight back already!" 

"You're wasting everyone's time! A loser like you doesn't deserve to be in the Pokemon league." 

"You battle like a five-year-old! I could have been out with your girlfriend by now if it weren't for you! Start attacking and stop being a wimp!" 

"Who's the moron that decided to let you in here? I thought this place was only for good trainers." 

Down on the field, Sir Bores-A-Lot's face was steadily turning redder and redder. It was clear that he, too, had picked up on what the audience was shouting at him. Ash was torn between feeling bad for him and thinking that he had brought it upon himself in a way. Nobody liked watching a fight where one trainer used nothing but evasion moves, and sooner or later, their displeasure was bound to spill over as it had just now. 

"Well, this crowd certainly isn't shy about voicing their opinions," Lucario stated, although he looked more amused than annoyed. 

"Are you going to do anything about it?" Fallon asked. 

He shook his head. "Personally, I'm just as annoyed with Graveler Brain over there on the red corner as they are, so I'll let their behavior slide this time." 

"Oh, that's what you're calling him? I named him Sir Bores-A-Lot since he's about the most boring battler I've ever seen," Ash told the jackal with a grin. 

"Sir Bores-A-Lot. That's funny," Pikachu snickered. "I started calling him Dumbass Daniel." 

Lucario frowned. "And I'm going to ask that you refrain from using that language in front of Ash. We don't need him using words like that." 

"Which one? Daniel?" Ash asked playfully, pretending he didn't know what the Aura Pokemon was talking about. 

"Very funny, Ash," Lucario replied, bopping him on the nose. "But I mean it. I don't want you to let me hear you cursing." 

"Fine, then. I won't...let you hear," he replied with a smirk, receiving another bop to the nose for his snark. 

"FINE!" Sir Bores-A-Lot roared suddenly, causing everyone to jump. "If it's an attack you want, you'll get it! Scizor, use Night Slash!" 

"Bad move," Greninja stated cheerfully. 

Fortunately for everyone in the arena aside from Sir Bores-A-Lot and Scizor, the enraged trainer's decision to attack came much too late. Before Scizor could even finish powering up his Night Slash, he was struck head-on by a Flame Wheel from Rapidash. Needless to say, the dual bug and steel-type didn't stand a chance, and he was immediately knocked out cold. The audience erupted in applause, more so for the fact that the battle was finally over than out of any respect for the two trainers. 

"Thank Arceus that's finally over," Ash groaned. "Can we start a petition to never let Sir Bores-A-Lot compete in another league conference again?" 

"I second that. What a waste of time," Pikachu agreed. "The battle could have ended half an hour ago if he would have just stopped messing around." 

"No kidding. Still, I guess it's better late than never," Fallon acknowledged. 

Now that the battle was finally over, Ash was surprised and more than a little confused to realize just how tired he was. That didn't make sense. He hadn't done anything except sit in the stands all morning; there was no reason for him to be so fatigued. Unless, of course, he was tired because he had been sitting around all morning, but that didn't make much sense either. Why would he feel as if he didn't have any energy left if he hadn't been spending it? 

Obviously sensing that something was wrong, Greninja reached out and placed a hand on Ash's free shoulder. "Are you okay? You're not looking so well." 

"I don't know. I'm just kind of tired," Ash mumbled. 

No, not tired. Weak, he realized with a pang of worry. His entire body felt worn down, and he wasn't sure if he could have moved if he wanted to. 

"I see," the frog Pokemon murmured. "Well, you should still have at least an hour before your match starts. Why don't you head back to the hotel room and take a quick nap?" 

"But what if I oversleep?" he asked worriedly. 

"We won't let that happen. Besides, it's important that you're well-rested for your first match. You won't be able to battle well if you're about to fall asleep on your feet," Greninja reasoned. 

Ash considered the offer for a split second. What Greninja had said was certainly true, and on top of that, a nap did sound rather appealing. Besides, he knew his Pokemon would make sure to wake him up in time for the match. He imagined himself crawling under the covers back at his room at the hotel and let out a yawn at the thought. 

"Alright," he agreed finally, letting out another yawn. "But just a short one, okay? I don't want to take any chances." 

"Of course, bud. We wouldn't have it any other way," Lucario said gently. "Now, what do you say we head back to the hotel? I think there's a bed calling your name in there." 

Mentally giggling at the thought of his bed talking, Ash nodded and stood up to follow his friends out of the stadium. Just as he had feared, walking was more of a struggle than it should have been, but luckily, Greninja and Lucario were there to support him. Once they were out of the stands, Ash allowed himself to lean more heavily against Greninja. He was still looking forward to his first battle of the Indigo Plateau conference, but there would be plenty of time to get ready later. His friends would make sure of that. For now, Ash was more than happy to curl up under the covers for some much-needed sleep. 

Chapter Text

Fortunately, a quick power nap did the trick in restoring at least some of Ash's energy. Greninja woke him up half an hour before the start of his battle so he could prepare a strategy before heading down to the water field, where his match would be taking place. His body still felt a bit weaker than he knew it should have, but he no longer felt ready to drop onto the ground and pass out. 

"Alright, so this is the guy I'm battling," Ash murmured, looking over his opponent's, a young man named Mandi, profile. Mandi was a seventeen-year-old trainer with long blue hair who apparently had a reputation for performing magic tricks. He wasn't from Kanto but rather hailed from Goldenrod City in the Johto region. "It looks like he uses a pretty wide variety of Pokemon, so trying to beat him on typing alone probably won't work." 

"Well, the first match will only be a three-on-three. So you could probably look at which three Pokemon he uses the most often," Fallon suggested. 

Ash nodded and took her idea into consideration as he continued scanning Mandi's profile. Unfortunately, he quickly discovered that his opponent was much better at diversifying his team than he had thought. There didn't appear to be a single Pokemon that had significantly more experience than the others. Even his starter, Meganium, was on even footing with the rest of his Pokemon. 

As he continued reading, he was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Glancing up, Ash felt a rush of excitement as he recognized the blue-haired teenager approaching him. Under normal circumstances, or at the very least outside the Pokemon league conference, he wouldn't have dreamed of doing what he was about to do. These were special circumstances, however. There were no more second chances, no more redos. If he lost any of his battles, his Indigo league experience would be over. Ash didn't plan on going home anytime soon, so any advantage he could get (within the rules, of course), he would happily take. 

"If you are trying to look over my data, I'm afraid you are wasting your time," Mandi stated, his voice much higher than Ash had expected. "I'm afraid that you will be no match for the Astounding Mandi." 

Instead of rising to the bait, Ash simply leaned back in his chair, arching one eyebrow and a half-smirk playing at his lips. He didn't say a word, just continued to stare at Mandi with the same half-indifferent, half-condescending expression. After a few moments, Mandi was the first to break his gaze, walking over to sit down at a computer a few rows down from where Ash sat. 

"What are you up to, Ash?" Pikachu asked, sounding confused. 

"You'll see," Ash replied cheerfully, still keeping his eyes trained on Mandi's back. Phase one, complete.

He could tell by the tension in the blue-haired boy's shoulders that Mandi was well aware of Ash's gaze on him. Now, it was time to initiate the second act of his plan. As soon as Mandi had started typing away at his computer, Ash began tapping his foot loudly against the floor. All the while, he never broke his gaze from his opponent, and he could see him steadily growing more and more frazzled. 

Finally, Mandi turned around and snapped, "I must ask that you refrain from making so much noise! I am trying to concentrate on preparing for our battle." 

"Oh, my apologies," Ash replied, still smirking. "I didn't realize that the Astounding Mandi couldn't handle a little bit of noise." 

Behind him, he could hear his friends snickering loudly. It was clear that they had realized what he was trying to do. Mandi clenched his fists for a moment before seeming to collect himself, turning back to the computer again. But Ash could still sense his aura spiking with annoyance and embarrassment. He grinned to himself. The second phase of his plan was finished, and now, all he had to do was wait for the start of his match to begin the final act. 

Still, it would have been rather rude of him not to at least wish his opponent luck before their battle. Ash stood up out of his seat and walked over to hover over Mandi's shoulder, still tapping his foot. At first, Mandi did his best to ignore him, but soon, Ash began humming a small tune and his resolve quickly crumbled. 

"What do you want?" the blue-haired teenager snapped, spinning around rather aggressively. 

"Well, there's no need for that attitude. I just wanted to be a good sport and wish you luck before our match," Ash answered cheerfully. Much more sarcastically, he added, "Of course, I'm sure that a trainer as great as yourself, who has accomplished nothing noteworthy yet still calls himself astounding, will be a worthy stepping stone for me and my Pokemon. Oh, and perhaps you should consider taking a page out of the magician's handbook. I'm afraid you've already revealed too many of your secrets." 

With that last parting jab, he gave an exaggerated bow before spinning on his heel and walking out of the computer lab. The rest of his friends followed suit, with Pikachu taking up residence on his shoulder. Once they were outside, they burst into laughter. 

"Okay, I admit I didn't understand what you were up to at first, but that was pretty good," Pikachu snickered. 

"Did you see the look on that guy's face?" Fallon asked gleefully. "You had him totally rattled. And there are only ten minutes until your battle starts. There's no way he's going to be in the right state of mind for it now." 

"That's the idea," Ash replied with a grin. 

Lucario chuckled, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulders. "You're still our little troublemaker, aren't you?" 

"He really is," Greninja agreed, ruffling his hair. "I don't know why we let you out sometimes." 

"Probably because you're too afraid to find out what happens if you keep me inside all day," Ash suggested cheerfully. 

Their banter continued all the way to the stadium, which was still packed with spectators from the previous match. As they approached the entrance to the trainer platforms, Fallon split up from the group to find a seat in the stands. From what Ash could see, the green trainer had emerged victorious by a narrow margin. Quickly brushing this off, he stepped onto the platform with Pikachu on his shoulder. Greninja and Lucario hung back slightly, as neither of them was participating in this particular battle but still planned on offering him advice from the sidelines. 

"Oh, right, I almost forgot to mention. Gary won his first-round battle on the ice field," Greninja told him. 

"That so?" Ash inquired. "Well, I guess that just means I have to win my first battle. Pikachu, are you ready to go?" 

"You bet!" Pikachu cheered, flexing his muscles. 

Taking a deep breath, he squared his shoulders and stepped forward. Ash closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the energy from the crowd. Feeling his aura flare with battle hunger, he opened his eyes again, a grin playing at his lips as he waited for the start of his match to begin. 

It's showtime.

Sure enough, just as Fallon had said, Mandi was clearly in the wrong state of mind for a battle by the time he arrived. He showed none of the cool, calm, and collected persona he had tried to put on during their initial meeting. His aura was spiking with frustration, and his jaw was set in a hard line. Mandi glared across the field at Ash in what was most likely an attempt to intimidate him, but Ash merely smiled back and waved. 

"The battle between the Astounding Mandi and Ash Ketchum will now begin," the referee announced. "Each trainer will have the use of three Pokemon. The battle will end when either side's Pokemon are unable to continue. Ready, set...battle begin!" 

"Seadra, go!" Mandi ordered, releasing the seahorse-like Pokemon from her Pokeball. 

"Too easy. I knew you would choose her," Ash called out. "Pikachu, you're up!" 

"Who is this kid?" Seadra asked, eyeing him warily. 

Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder, landing on one of the floating platforms. Meanwhile, Seadra bobbed up and down in the water, glaring back at the electric mouse. Instead of ordering an attack as he normally would, Ash just stood there. There was no need to rush into anything this time. Mandi was already rattled as it was; all he needed to do was wait for him to beat himself. 

"If you're not going to attack, then we will! Seadra, use Agility!" the Goldenrod native shouted. 

"Pikachu, jump in the water and use Thunder!" Ash countered. 

"No!" Mandi exclaimed. "Seadra, please get out of the water now!" 

Seadra's eyes widened in horror as she, too, realized what Ash's plan was. Before she could jump to safety, however, Pikachu dove underwater and unleashed a powerful Thunder that lit up the entire stadium and beyond. Although he was nowhere near Seadra, the water from the battlefield guaranteed that the Dragon Pokemon was struck by the electric-type move anyway. She shrieked in pain as she frantically tried to swim to safety. By the time she reached the platform, however, it was too late. The seahorse Pokemon staggered about for a moment, then collapsed onto her side. 

"Seadra is unable to battle! Victory goes to Pikachu," the referee declared. 

"Well done, Ash, Pikachu!" Lucario called over to them. "Just keep it up, and you'll have this battle in the bag." 

"Great work, Pikachu! Just two more to go," Ash congratulated his friend. 

Across the field, he heard Mandi mutter something about beginner's luck under his breath as he sent out his second Pokemon. This time, it was an Exeggutor. Ash studied the grass and psychic-type for a few moments, contemplating. Mandi likely wouldn't fall for the same trick twice, and Pikachu didn't know any moves that would work well against grass-types. While Charmeleon would have an undeniable advantage, he didn't like the idea of the lizard Pokemon battling on this particular field. 

Then again, with Mandi the way he is, it might not matter, he thought to himself. Out loud, he called out, "Pikachu, come back for now. Take a break, yeah?" 

"No problem. Thanks for the battle, Ash," Pikachu agreed, jumping back onto his shoulder. 

"Sylveon, I choose you!" Ash declared, releasing the fairy-type Eeveelution from her Pokeball. 

Sylveon materialized on the platform that Pikachu had occupied just a few moments ago. While she held herself with elegance, there was a defiant air about her that Ash was certain Mandi and Exeggutor had picked up on even if they couldn't read aura themselves. Trainer and Pokemon stared at Sylveon, stunned confusion written all over their faces. It was clear that neither of them had seen another Sylveon, and it was throwing Mandi off his game even more. Ash chuckled to himself; the battle was going exactly the way he had planned it. 

"Ash, why am I battling an overgrown house plant?" Sylveon asked, having picked up on his strategy as well. 

"Hey! Who are you calling an overgrown house plant?" Exeggutor protested. 

"Sorry, Sylveon. But don't worry, this match will be over before you know it," Ash replied, raising his voice so that Mandi could hear him. 

His plan worked. On the opposite side of the field, the older trainer's jaw tightened even further. "That is what you think! Exeggutor, use Hypnosis!" 

Ah, so he's trying the sleeping strategy, then. No matter. We planned for this, after all. 

"Sylveon, use Psyshock to wipe out that Hypnosis, then follow it up with Shadow Ball!" he ordered. 

Hypnosis and Psyshock collided in midair, creating an explosion in the middle of the battlefield. Before the dust had settled, Sylveon launched a barrage of Shadow Ball attacks at Exeggutor. Caught by surprise, the Coconut Pokemon was unable to dodge in time and was struck by the ghost-type move. One of the dark purple orbs sent him flying up into the air before he crashed back onto the ground, unconscious. 

"Exeggutor is out of the match! The victory goes to Sylveon," the referee announced. 

Mandi looked angrier than ever as he recalled Exeggutor to his Pokeball. With only one Pokemon remaining to Ash's three, he had been backed into a corner, and it was clear that he didn't like it one bit. Ash stared him down and smirked, which only aggravated him further, just as he had intended. 

"You're not going to win this one! Golbat, go!" Mandi shouted, releasing his third and final Pokemon. 

"Golbat, huh? In that case, I'll be sticking with you, Sylveon," Ash said, to which the fairy-type nodded eagerly. "We'll start things off this time. Use Calm Mind!" 

"You're faster than that Sylveon, Golbat! Use Take Down before she can power up!" Mandi ordered. 

Under better circumstances, at least for him, the Not-So-Astounding Mandi might have realized that he had just made a mistake. Unfortunately, he failed to see the problem with ordering Golbat to charge head-on at Sylveon until it was too late. The Intertwining Pokemon snatched Golbat out of the air with her feelers, preventing him from coming any closer but also preventing him from flying away. She held on tightly, refusing to give an inch as she continued to boost her attack and defense power. 

"Golbat, free yourself! Use Razor Wind!" Mandi cried desperately. 

But with his wings bound firmly to his side, there was nothing Golbat could do. All the while, Sylveon kept using Calm Mind on Ash's command. Ash could practically see the wheels turning in Mandi's head as he tried to come up with an escape plan. He was more than happy to offer his assistance...but not in the way that Mandi probably would have hoped. 

"Let's finish this off, Sylveon! Use Psyshock!" Ash called out. 

Unable to move, let alone dodge, the Bat Pokemon was struck head-on by Sylveon's Psyshock. Only then was he released from her grip, but by then, it was too late. Golbat moaned in pain as he collapsed onto one of the platforms. Despite Mandi's pleas for him to get up, the bat-like Pokemon remained motionless. Ash didn't even need to hear the referee's call to know what it was going to be. 

"Golbat is unable to battle! Sylveon wins. And that means the victory goes to Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town," the referee declared. 

"We did it! Sylveon, Pikachu, you two were amazing!" Ash cheered before he was tackled in excitement by his two Pokemon. "Oof." 

"We won, we really won!" Sylveon said happily. 

"You were incredible, all of you," Greninja said, gazing at them warmly. "I don't think you could have asked for a better start to your first league conference, Ash." 

"Indeed. I imagine it's not easy to pull off a clean sweep in these battles," Lucario added. 

Ash beamed at his friends. "Well, I couldn't have done it without Pikachu and Sylveon. Did you see how awesome they were out there? They were totally unstoppable! I have the best friends ever." 

"Yay!" Sylveon cheered, rubbing her head against Ash's leg. "Friend!" 

"Yep! We're all great friends," he agreed, gently rubbing her between her ears. "Now come on, let's hurry up and find Fallon. And after that, we can check out the next battle. I heard it's supposed to be on the rock field. And then maybe we could get some ice cream. Or maybe some cookies. Oh, I know, what about more of those hot wings? Or maybe we could get popcorn! Actually, I kind of want a soda, what about you? Or maybe lemonade?" 

He continued throwing out different suggestions as they headed back outside to meet up with Fallon. Along the way, Pikachu, Sylveon, and Greninja threw in a few suggestions of their own. Even Lucario joined in. The Indigo league was only just beginning, and Ash knew that he had many more battles ahead of him. But there would be plenty of time to get serious again later. For now, he was more than happy to talk and laugh with his friends as they tried to think of a way to spend the rest of the afternoon. 

Chapter Text

One battle after another, Ash continued to fight his way through the Indigo Plateau conference. After his match against Mandi, he found himself paired up against another boy on the ice field. While his opponent was slightly better than Mandi had been, being able to draw with Pikachu with his Arcanine, Ash was still able to pull away with the victory after Charmeleon evolved into Charizard, defeating the other boy's Cloyster in the process. His next match, which took place on the grass field, was between himself and a young woman named Jeanette. Fortunately, he was able to plow through her team easily with Charizard, taking out two of her three Pokemon in one hit. 

After his battle against Jeanette, Ash found himself in the stands as a spectator with his friends, watching to see if Gary would make it through his third-round match. He and Paul had successfully made it through their battles thus far, and he was eager to see if the last of his rivals would advance as well. Personally, Ash was sure he would. Despite Gary's sour attitude and generally unpleasant personality, there was no doubt he was a talented trainer. 

"So, who's Gary battling against today?" Ash asked Fallon, who had checked the matchups earlier. 

"Some girl named Melissa, it looks like," she answered. 

Melissa, it turned out, was a short, stocky girl with cyan-colored hair. Looking over her trainer profile, there didn't appear to be anything especially noteworthy about her. Still, Ash knew better than to judge her based on that. Just because she wasn't a worldwide phenomenon didn't mean she wasn't a capable battler. 

"The battle between Gary Oak and Melissa will now begin," the referee announced. "Each trainer will have the use of three Pokemon. The match will end when either side's Pokemon are unable to continue. Both challengers are allowed to substitute Pokemon. Ready, set...battle begin!" 

"Blastoise, you're up first!" Gary called out as he released his starter from his Pokeball. 

"Victreebel, go!" Melissa ordered, doing the same with her Flycatcher Pokemon. 

Ash watched intently as Gary and Melissa stared each other down, waiting to see which of them would make the first move. He wondered which of their Pokemon would emerge victorious in this round. Victreebel had a type advantage, but Blastoise had been with Gary ever since his first day as a Pokemon trainer. While Ash hadn't actually seen Blastoise in a battle yet, there was no doubt in his mind that the water-type had to be a powerful Pokemon. 

"Victreebel, use Razor Leaf!" the blue-haired girl commanded. 

"Withdraw, Blastoise!" Gary countered. 

Victreebel fired off a round of sharp-edged leaves in Blastoise's direction, only for the turtle-like Pokemon to shrink back into his shell. As a result, the Razor Leaf attacked bounced off of him harmlessly. Despite his dislike of his neighbor, Ash had to admit he was impressed. It was clear that Blastoise had been raised well. 

"Blastoise, use Ice Beam!" Gary shouted. 

"Sleep Powder!" Melissa ordered quickly. 

The two Pokemon fired off their attacks at roughly the same time. Unfortunately, Victreebel's Sleep Powder missed Blastoise completely, leaving her vulnerable for a full-powered Ice Beam. The super effective ice-type attack struck her head-on, sending her flying back several feet. She was able to get back up again, but it was clear that she was in a considerable amount of pain. Gary smirked, and Ash knew that he had realized what this meant: one more hit like that one, and Victreebel would be finished. 

"That was a bad move on her part," Lucario remarked. "Sleep Powder's accuracy leaves a lot to be desired. She should have chosen Protect to guard herself against Ice Beam, or at least something that would have been a guaranteed hit so she could have done some damage as well." 

"Yeah, and it looks like Victreebel's in some pain right now," Fallon agreed, frowning as she looked down at the Flycatcher Pokemon. 

"I was kind of hoping Melissa would sweep him, but it looks like she's going to win this round," Pikachu sighed. 

"Don't worry, it's only the first round. There's still plenty of time for her to pull off a victory," Greninja reassured him. 

They turned their attention back to the battlefield just as Blastoise fired off a Water Gun while Victreebel attacked with Razor Leaf. The two attacks collided in the middle of the field, and for a moment, it looked as though it would be a draw. At the last second, however, Razor Leaf just barely overpowered Water Gun, striking Blastoise full in the face. This time, it was his turn to stumble as he was hit by the grass-type move. 

"Keep it up, Victreebel! Use Leaf Storm!" Melissa ordered. 

"Not so fast! Blastoise, use Ice Beam!" the Pallet Town native commanded. 

Once again, the two attacks collided in the middle of the battlefield. This time, however, Blastoise's Ice Beam beat out Victreebel's Leaf Storm. The Flycatcher Pokemon was left unable to defend herself as she was hit, once again, by the ice-type attack. To her credit, she struggled to get back up for several moments, but unfortunately, it proved to be too much and she collapsed onto the ground. 

"Victreebel is unable to battle! The first round goes to Gary and Blastoise," the referee declared. 

"Damn. Well, we all saw that coming," Ash sighed. 

"If Blastoise keeps this up, Gary's going to win this match for sure," Greninja remarked. 

As it turned out, however, Melissa was better than they gave her credit for. Her second Pokemon, a Hitmonchan, managed to take out Blastoise in just a few hits before falling in a draw to Gary's Arcanine. Soon, both trainers were down to their final Pokemon, which were a Nidoking for Gary and a Golem for Melissa. 

Both Pokemon exchanged blows for several minutes, neither side giving an inch. For a while, it wasn't clear as to which of their Pokemon would emerge victorious. Soon, Nidoking and Golem were on their last legs, but both of them were refusing to back down. 

"Do you think Gary's going to be able to pull it off?" Fallon asked, glancing over at Ash. 

"I don't know," he admitted, still staring down at the battlefield. "Melissa's pretty strong." 

"Nidoking, Horn Attack!" Gary called out. 

Nidoking charged in toward Golem, the horn atop his head glowing silver. Well, perhaps "charged" wasn't the best use of words since Nidoking moved about as quickly as a shopping cart. Still, it was a large Pokemon lumbering as rapidly as possible, and the entire stadium was shaking as a result. Ash had to hold onto Greninja's shoulder to keep from falling out of his seat. 

"Who taught Nidoking how to use Earthquake?" he complained. 

Unfortunately, the poison-type's lack of speed proved to be his downfall. As he closed in on Golem, the rock-type simply reached out and grabbed him by the horn before he could finish his attack.

"Golem, Seismic Toss!" Melissa shouted.

With more strength than Ash would have believed possible, Golem lifted Nidoking above his head before launching himself several feet into the air. There, he flipped around so that he was above Nidoking, then came down hard, slamming the ground-type onto the battlefield. Moments later, the dust cloud settled, revealing a triumphant-looking Golem standing over an unconscious Nidoking.

"This battle goes to Melissa!" the referee declared.

Ash and his friends could only stare in shock as the stadium erupted in cheers for Melissa, as well as the great battle they had just witnessed. Not that any of them would ever admit it, but they had all thought that Gary would have advanced at least a little further than he had. It just went to show, however. The Indigo league was packed full of gifted trainers, most of whom were at or above their level. Ash wouldn't have been surprised if someone had a Pokemon that could match up against Greninja. For that matter, there was probably someone with a Pokemon who could match up against Lucario. 

On second thought, there was no way that was true.

Later that evening, after the battles had ended for the day and most trainers had retreated to their respective lodgings, Ash decided to take a walk around the village. He knew he would need to be at the top of his game in order to advance past his battle tomorrow, and he wanted to make sure he had a clear mind. There would be no room for careless mistakes. Of course, Lucario and Greninja were reluctant to let him go out alone, but they eventually relented when he promised to be back in twenty minutes. 

At this time of night, most of the shops were already closed, but there were a few with their lights still on. Ash considered stopping at a few of them, but he decided against it. He wasn't feeling particularly hungry, so dessert was out of the question, and none of the toys they were selling seemed very appealing. Not that there was anything wrong with them, per se. He just didn't like them. 

Before he was even aware of what was happening, Ash found himself falling forward. Unable to catch himself in time, he slammed hard into the sidewalk, hitting his head hard against the pavement. For several moments, he lay there in pain before forcing himself back up into a kneeling position. 

"Ugh...ouch...that hurt," Ash groaned. "Can't wait to explain this one to Greninja and Lucario." 

He was about to get back up when he realized something was wrong. Slowly, Ash became aware of something dripping down his face, splattering the ground. It took him a few moments to realize that it was blood, dripping down from where he had hit his head. 

"What the...?" 

There wouldn't be any time to comprehend what was happening to him, however. At that moment, the pain finally became too much and he collapsed right there on the ground, lying in the middle of the sidewalk. 

Chapter Text

"Where in the name of all that is holy did that boy go now?!" 

Fallon watched as Lucario and Greninja paced back and forth across their hotel room, wringing his paws frantically. Five minutes had passed since Ash was supposed to have returned from his walk, and still, there was no sign of him. Part of her wanted to believe that he had simply lost track of time, but somehow, she didn't think that was the case. Ash had promised to be back in twenty minutes, and if there was one thing Fallon knew about her friend, it was that he never broke his promises.

Still, if he wasn't back now, she shuddered to think what might have happened to him. Even without taking his illness into consideration, there were so many other things that could have gone wrong. He might have tripped over something and injured himself, or another trainer might have attacked him to get him out of the way. Granted, Fallon wasn't entirely sure how likely the latter scenario was, but she wasn't willing to rule anything out yet. There was no telling what some people would do when it came to a chance at a few moments of glory. 

"Greninja, gren. Ninja ja, ninja," Greninja declared, turning and making a beeline for the door with Lucario following close behind. 

"Pika, pikachu, pika," Pikachu replied, getting up from his spot on the bed and latching onto the frog-ninja Pokemon's shoulder. 

For once, Fallon didn't need Lucario to translate their dialogue for her. It was all too obvious what they were doing, and she knew she needed to be there as well. Grabbing her coat, she jumped to her feet and raced after her friends, eventually catching up with them just as they were entering the lobby. She waved to Lucario as she followed in after them, and he slowed down his pace just enough to let her keep up with them. 

The night air was sharp and chilled her to the bone as she stepped outside, but Fallon barely paid it any attention. Now wasn't the time to worry about being cold. Ash was in trouble, and she would be damned if she left him alone after everything he had done for her. 

"Let's split up. We'll be able to cover more ground that way," Lucario decided, making a clear effort to appear in control. With the fear as clear as day in his eyes, however, it was a lost cause. "Fallon, you come along with me. Greninja, Pikachu, you two will search together. If one of us finds Ash, we'll send up a signal. Are we agreed?" 

"Ninja, ja," Greninja agreed, veering off sharply to the left. That left Lucario and Fallon to head in the opposite direction. 

As they walked through the dimly-lit streets of the Pokemon Village, a heavy silence hung in the air between Fallon and Lucario. She searched her mind for any words of reassurance to offer the jackal, but she came up empty. The truth was that Fallon didn't know what she could say that wouldn't just be meaningless comfort anyway. Telling Lucario that Ash would be alright didn't mean anything since there was no way of knowing if he was alright or not. 

No matter how hard he tried to hide it, Fallon had seen her friend's health declining as each day, week, and month passed. While he had once seemed as though he could run for miles without ever tiring, now, there were days when he couldn't even walk up a flight of stairs without becoming short of breath. He ate less as well, and although he had never been on the heavy side, Fallon had heard Lucario whispering worriedly to Greninja about how light Ash was sometimes. Even his aura training had slowed down as well, since Ash was noticeably exhausted after each training session, more so than anyone had ever seen him before. 

Aura! Fallon's eyes widened as the realization hit her. Out loud, she exclaimed, "Wait, Lucario! Why don't you use your aura to find him?" 

Lucario stopped dead, and although Fallon couldn't use aura herself, she could practically feel his self-disgust over forgetting such an obvious solution. "Of course! Why didn't I think of-?" 

"It doesn't matter," she interrupted, a bit more impatiently than she had intended. Now wasn't the time for self-disparaging remarks, however. "Just try to find him." 

If the Aura Pokemon was at all bothered by her tone, he didn't show it. Instead, Lucario merely closed his eyes, the appendages on his head rising up as he scanned the village for any sign of their missing friend. A split second later, his eyes flew open again and he veered slightly to the left and took off into the night. 

Fallon only spared a second to be startled by the ancient Pokemon's abrupt exit before she ran after him as well. Of course, seeing as she was a human, there wasn't much chance of her catching up to him, especially with Lucario in the state that he was. It was only a few seconds before she had completely lost sight of him. As it was, Fallon could only race in the direction she had seen Lucario take off in, hoping that she was still heading the right way. 

Fortunately, a few minutes later, she managed to catch up with him again. Her relief was almost immediately replaced by horror, however, as she spotted a figure lying on the ground right next to Lucario's feet. Even amidst the poorly lit streets, Fallon could easily make out a familiar head of untamed black hair-as well as the ominous liquid staining the ground around it. 

"Ash!" Fallon exclaimed, rushing toward the fallen boy. 

"He's alive," Lucario told her, but his voice was shaking. "It...it looks like he just passed out again. He hit his head-that's where all the blood is from-but he's okay other than that." 

She very much doubted that. From what she could see, Ash was very much not okay in any sense of the word. But she refrained from saying anything, however, knowing that this was just Lucario's way of reassuring himself. 

"I'll send up the signal," the Aura Pokemon murmured, still not taking his eyes off of Ash's unconscious form as he sent an Aura Sphere into the sky. It exploded in midair like a firework, but for once, Fallon couldn't find any beauty in it. 

With nothing else to do except wait for Greninja and Pikachu to show up, Fallon sat down beside Lucario as they kept watch over Ash. The Pallet Town native hadn't stirred at all since they had found him, and she wondered in fear just how badly he had hurt himself. All the while, Lucario kept his paw on the boy's shoulder, murmuring soft, soothing words of comfort that Fallon, despite their proximity, couldn't even begin to make out. She decided not to eavesdrop, knowing that whatever her companion was saying, it wasn't meant for her ears. 

It didn't take long for Greninja and Pikachu to arrive. As soon as they spotted Ash lying on the ground, Greninja immediately sprang into action. Rushing forward, he scooped Ash up into his arms, taking care to support the boy's head. Lucario jumped to his feet as well, and together, the two Pokemon ran off in the direction of the nearest Pokemon Center. 

Knowing there wasn't much she could do to help now, Fallon decided to take a few minutes to catch her breath. Even with an adrenaline rush, running at top speed all around town took quite a bit of energy. Try as she might, however, she found that her worry for Ash was too strong. Her heart simply refused to stop racing, and eventually, she gave in and went after the rest of the group. 

He's going to be fine. Nurse Joy will take care of him. Ash probably just passed out because he's been working too hard, Fallon tried to reassure herself. This is just a passing thing. He'll be back to normal in no time. There's nothing to worry about. 

It was a lie, and deep down, she knew it, but she repeated it to herself anyway. Ash still needed her (he needed all of his friends), and although she would never claim to be a doctor and therefore couldn't do anything to heal him, she still would serve him better if she ignored the sinking feeling of horror for just a little bit longer. Fallon continued onward, hoping that if she just kept moving forward, she would be able to avoid the burning question lingering in the back of her mind. 

Is this the beginning of the end?

Chapter Text

In all his life, Lucario could only remember three times that he had ever felt helpless. As a former war veteran and an Aura Guardian, it simply wasn't an emotion he allowed himself to feel often. After all, when there were people and Pokemon's lives on the line, there was no time for sitting around and wallowing in one's misery. At the end of the day, actions got results, not emotions. Even so, there were a few (very few) exceptions to the rule that he had set for himself. 

The first time was when he chased after Sir Aaron during the war that threatened to destroy their kingdom, only for his master to apparently betray him and seal him inside his staff. Despairing, he had watched for a brief, agonizing moment as Sir Aaron seemed to flee the palace, wondering if he had ever cared for Lucario or the Kingdom of Rota at all. Of course, Lucario knew now that the truth had been very different, but that didn't make the memory of the feeling of abandonment sting any less. 

The second time was when he had woken up after being exposed to Ash's aura at the celebration of his master's sacrifice. Initially thinking he had only been sealed for a few hours or a few days at the most, Lucario had been stunned and devastated to learn that he had actually been asleep for over seven centuries, meaning that everyone he had ever known and loved was long dead. Even Cameron Palace, the place he had been raised and trained to become an Aura Guardian, had been utterly unfamiliar. But Ash had been there, so small and so innocent at the time, and it had made his grief a little easier to bear. 

The third time was when Nurse Joy had informed him and Greninja of Ash's illness, that their boy only had a few more years to live and likely wouldn't survive past his teenage years. Even now, whenever he thought about that moment, Lucario still felt the heart-wrenching anguish of his soul being ripped in half, the feeling that his entire world was being taken away from him. Ash had been the most important part of his life ever since waking up in this century; Lucario could honestly say that he didn't think he would have survived the grief of losing his family, his home, and his time all at once if Ash hadn't given him a purpose. Learning that he only had a few more years to spend with his little buddy had been the worst moment of his life, and Lucario still wanted to cry whenever he thought about it. 

Yet somehow, none of those instances came close to the despair overwhelming the jackal now. Even finding out that Ash wasn't going to live a full life paled in comparison. For at least back then, there had been a sliver of hope, however illogical it might have been, that maybe there had been a mistake and Ash was actually perfectly fine. Now, however, Lucario was forced to accept the truth. 

Ash was sick. Very sick. Watching him as he lay on the hospital bed now, his head wrapped up in a bloody bandage, Lucario realized just how far the boy's condition had deteriorated. He was thin, not that Ash had ever been particularly heavy, to begin with, but this was far thinner than even he was used to. A gentle spring breeze probably could have blown him away. And while Ash had always been so vibrant and full of life before, now, he seemed pale and weak. 

Please, Ash, please wake up, Lucario pleaded silently, tracing a paw over the messy-haired trainer's shoulder. 

Dimly, he was aware of Greninja sitting on the other side of Ash's bed, holding the boy's hand tightly and gazing desperately into his face. Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Sylveon were curled up at the foot of the bed, their eyes filled with fear. Charizard and Pidgeot, who were both far too big to be sitting on the bed, had taken up spots on the floor where they could still watch over their trainer. Fallon was sitting in a chair next to Lucario, her worry keeping her wide awake despite the late hour. The group sat there in silence, watching Ash as he lay in the hospital bed and praying desperately that he would wake up and laugh with them again just as he had always done. 

Ash was the center of his world. He was the center of all their worlds. Ever since Lucario had first met him, he had always been there with a smile on his face, charming every person and Pokemon he met. There were no words that could describe just how much Ash meant to him. But now, he looked like a shell of himself, and Lucario couldn't even bring himself to swallow the lump in his throat. 

Suddenly, a soft groan broke through Lucario's thoughts. Jerking his head up, he felt his chest tighten when he saw Ash's eyes beginning to blink open. At the same time, Greninja leaned forward, tapping the messy-haired boy gently on the cheek, trying to bring him back into the waking world. 

"Ash? Ash, hey, it's okay," Greninja murmured softly. "It's alright, Ash, we're here. I'm here. You're okay. I've got you, bud, I've got you." 

"Ugh...huh? Greninja? Lucario?" Ash mumbled, looking around in confusion for a moment before his eyes finally cleared up. "What happened. Where am I? And why does my head hurt so much?" 

"You're at the hospital, bud," Lucario told him gently, silently thanking Arceus that speaking through telepathy meant that he didn't have to worry about trying to talk through the ever-present lump in his throat. "You fell and hit your head, that's why it hurts so much. We've been so worried about you." 

"Can you tell us what happened?" Greninja asked, still holding the boy's hand tightly. "How did you fall? Did someone attack you?" 

At that, Ash shook his head, using his free hand to rub his forehead. "N-no, nothing like that. At least, I'm pretty sure nobody attacked me. I just remember falling and hitting my head on the sidewalk. I'm not really sure why; I just know that I was thinking about my match tomorrow and trying to think of...wait! My match! It's in the morning! What are we going to do? I'll be let out of the hospital in time for the match, right?" 

"No, Ash," Greninja immediately refused, and Lucario could see just how much the frog-ninja Pokemon's heart was breaking for their best friend, but he held firm. "You're sick and you're injured. You won't be in any condition for a battle tomorrow." 

"But I have to be!" he protested, looking around as he pleaded for someone to understand him. "Everyone's worked so hard! We've been training for this league for months. I can't just let everyone down. I've got to be ready in time for tomorrow morning!" 

There was so much desperation in his voice, and now, in addition to the lump in his throat, Lucario could feel his eyes beginning to sting. He knew how hard everyone had worked, and he wanted nothing more than to be able to give Ash what he wanted and tell him that he would be able to leave the hospital in time for his match. But he couldn't do it. Ash's health had been deteriorating for months, but Lucario had constantly let it slide whenever the boy insisted that he wasn't tired and that he was perfectly fine, and this was where it had gotten them. Even though disappointing Ash hurt more than a Fire Blast from Moltres, Lucario just couldn't let him get hurt again. 

"I'm sorry, bud," he said softly, swallowing painfully. "It's too risky. What if they let you out too soon and you get worse?" 

"We don't care about a stupid league, Ash," Pikachu spoke up, moving up to sit on his trainer's chest. "We just want you to feel better." 

"There's going to be plenty of other leagues. We'll get another shot then," Sylveon added. 

"You're always telling us not to push ourselves too hard, so we're telling you the same thing," Charizard interjected. 

"We're family. And family doesn't let family get hurt over a dumb league battle," Pidgeot told him. 

"Listen to them, Ash," Lucario pleaded, reaching out to cup the boy's cheek with his paw. "It doesn't matter how far you made it in the league. We don't care if you don't win the whole thing. There are more important things than that. You're more important than that." 

Although he was clearly still reluctant, thankfully, their words finally seemed to reach Ash. Nodding, the raven-haired boy lay back down on his pillow, snuggling up a bit tighter under the blankets. Lucario breathed an inward sigh of relief as he tucked them around his small form, trying his best to smile at his little buddy through the pressure building up behind his eyes. Fortunately, although Ash was extremely adept at noticing emotions thanks to his training as an Aura Guardian, he didn't make any mention of the fact that Lucario's were close to spiraling out of control. The jackal prided himself on his self-restraint, but if anyone had pointed out how close he was to losing it, he was sure he would have crumbled to pieces right then and there. 

"Go back to sleep, buddy," Greninja said gently, and slowly, Ash closed his eyes and began to nod off again. "We'll all be here when you wake up."

Long after almost everyone else had fallen asleep again, Lucario remained awake, still seated in the same chair he had occupied ever since Ash had been brought to the hospital. The only other one awake, as was almost always the case, was Greninja. His longtime friend was clutching Ash's hand tightly, and it didn't look as though he would be letting go anytime soon. But his head was bowed, and Lucario could tell by the hunched position of his shoulders that the frog Pokemon was just barely holding himself together too. Silently, he picked up his chair and moved it to the other side of the bed so he could sit next to his friend. 

"Do you remember," Greninja spoke up suddenly, his voice so quiet that Lucario had to strain to hear him even with his heightened senses, "how, when you first moved to Pallet Town with us, Ash always tried so hard to make you laugh because he knew you missed Cameron Palace?" 

"I do," Lucario agreed, smiling a bit at the memory. "It was a lot to handle, moving so far away from the Kingdom of Rota. I'd lived there my whole life, and Pallet Town wasn't anything like it at all. But Ash being around made it hard to feel too homesick." 

"That was when he let you hold his Ditto plush for the first time," the Ninja Pokemon recalled, and for a moment, they both fell into a silence filled with fond remembrance. 

The night air was crisp and cool, a peaceful silence hanging over the small village of Pallet Town. Even the wild Pokemon had gone silent for the evening, not wanting to disturb the serenity. Indeed, the only sign of life came from Lucario, who was sitting on the front porch of the Ketchum household. For several moments, he stared out into the front yard, the quiet tranquility painting a stark contrast to the storm of emotions currently swirling in his heart. 

Even after nearly two weeks, Lucario was finding it difficult to adjust to life in Pallet Town. The tiny village was nothing like Rota, and although he had finally moved past the worst of his grief for Sir Aaron, being away from his childhood home felt like a gaping wound that refused to heal. Everything hurt so much, and Lucario didn't know what else to do about it except sit there in his misery, his heart breaking a little more with each passing minute. 

He was on the verge of tears when he was startled out of his thoughts by the sound of someone plopping themselves down next to him. Glancing over to his side, he saw that Ash had taken a seat beside him, clutching what appeared to be a stuffed Ditto in his arms. 

"Ash, hey, little buddy," Lucario greeted him softly, trying to smile even though he could feel his eyes starting to water. "It's late, isn't it? You should head to bed now. I'll be inside soon, I promise." 

"How come you're so sad?" Ash asked, tilting his head to the side. 

The corners of his mouth trembled, but he forced himself to continue smiling as he replied, "I'm okay, Ash, I promise. You don't have to worry about me." 

Obviously not convinced, the small child immediately placed the Ditto plush in Lucario's arms. "Here you go! You can have this. Holding my stuffed animals always makes me feel better when I'm sad, so I'll bet Ditto will make you feel better too!" 

"Thank you, Ash," Lucario murmured, a genuine chuckle escaping his mouth this time. "You're right, this does make me feel better." 

"Good," Ash said happily. "Oh yeah, and this will make you feel better too!" 

Before Lucario could ask what he was talking about, the small, messy-haired boy immediately snuggled up to him and wrapped his arms around his thin frame in a hug. Initially surprised, Lucario quickly recovered and pulled Ash closer to himself, holding him and the Ditto plush as tightly as he could and vowing to himself that he wouldn't let them go. 

Back in the present day, Lucario could feel his eyes watering slightly at the memory. Quickly wiping his paw across them, he whispered, "He's the best part of this world, isn't he?" 

"He really is," Greninja agreed. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes longer, just watching over the boy who had quickly become the center of their universe. All the while, Lucario struggled against the tears threatening to spill down his face. He couldn't fall apart now, Ash needed him to be strong, but faced with the gut-wrenching reality that he was going to lose him soon, he just didn't know how much longer he could keep it up. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, Greninja decided that for him. 

"I...I just...why? Why did it have to be him? Of everyone in the world, why him?" the frog Pokemon cried out softly before he was overtaken by quiet, gasping sobs. "Ash, he's...he's never done anything wrong! He didn't do anything to deserve this. Why did it have to be him? I...I can't lose him, Lucario, I can't. I don't care if we never win another battle again. I just need him. I need him to be here."

Lucario couldn't take it anymore. Everything inside of him shattered right then and there, and he immediately hugged Greninja, burying his face against the frog-ninja Pokemon's shoulder as his companion wrapped his arms around him in return. 

"I need him here too," he whispered, his voice and body shaking. "I need our boy to be okay too." 

Their crying echoed softly off the walls of the hospital room, a desperate plea for comfort that was never going to come. 

Chapter Text

Somehow, it didn't come as a surprise to Greninja when Ash remained asleep even after it was well past ten-thirty the following morning. Nor did it come as a surprise when Lucario stayed with him to watch over the boy even after the rest of the team had been dismissed to take their breakfast along with Fallon and her Pokemon. Needless to say, the rest of Ash's Pokemon had been more than a little reluctant to leave, and it was only after Fallon promised that they would come back right away that they finally agreed to get something to eat. Pikachu and Pidgeot had both offered to bring something back for Greninja and Lucario, but they had declined, neither of them feeling up to eating anything at the moment. 

Perhaps it was because of his heightened senses, perhaps it was simply who he was, but ever since he could remember, Greninja had always associated the people and Pokemon he met with a specific sensation, whether it was a sound, a scent, or something else. The smell of ashes and the crackling of flames was a sure sign that Charizard was nearby. Sylveon spent almost all of her time humming when they weren't in the middle of a training session. Fallon carried the scent of strawberries thanks to the shampoo she used while giving her Pokemon baths. The sound of a tail tapping against the floor meant that Pikachu was lost in thought about something. And most of all, the feeling of a warm, soothing aura was all the comfort he needed to know that Ash was there. 

He had seen enough during his life to know that there was a lot to despair about in the world. There were cruel and abusive trainers who abandoned their Pokemon whenever they saw fit, there were criminals looking to steal Pokemon for their own personal gain, there were gym leaders who didn't know when enough was enough, and, as always, there was the chance that tragedy could strike at any moment. And sometimes, it seemed that the bad guys never suffered as severe a punishment as they deserved while the ones who were trying to do good got the short end of the stick. The world was far from perfect or ideal more often than not, and yet somehow, when he was with Ash, it was impossible to feel jaded. Here was a boy who, at twelve years old and just over a year of being a trainer, still lit up with excitement whenever he saw a Pokemon even if it was one he'd already encountered several times before. Here was the boy who ran up to Lucario after he burst out of the staff, already looking to make a new friend even when the adults in the room were too scared to approach the ancient Pokemon. Here was a boy who shared his lunches with any wild Pokemon that happened to walk by. Here was a boy who loved to laugh and joke around but was always ready to lend an ear when someone needed it. Here was a boy whose very presence felt like sunshine and warmth. 

And now, it was only a matter of time until they lost all of that. 

"It's likely that Ash won't survive past his teenage years." 

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - Terminal 

Greninja had known what that meant from the very beginning, and he could still remember the suffocating despair that had sent him onto his knees. After the despair, however, came the denial. Even as Ash's health deteriorated little by little, he had clung desperately to any semblance of hope he could find. Whenever Ash had a good day, he couldn't help praying that it meant he was on the mend, and if he had a bad day, that it was only a blip in the road. Most of all, he hoped and prayed that maybe, just maybe, the diagnosis had been wrong and his best friend hadn't been condemned to an early death. 

The thing about denial, however, was that it only worked for so long. 

Denial worked until he heard Lucario crying in the middle of the night, letting out the grief and anguish he had kept bottled up when Ash was awake so the boy wouldn't worry so much about how his approaching death was affecting his friends. Denial worked until Ash started falling more and more often, to the point where Greninja couldn't pretend it was just clumsiness anymore. Denial worked until the medicine showed up in their lives. Denial worked until Ash missed an entire day of aura training for the first time in months because he was too weak to even get out of bed. Denial worked until they found Ash collapsed on the sidewalk, blood pouring from his head, and were unable to get a response out of him for hours. 

Denial worked until it didn't, and now, Greninja could no longer cling to any semblance of hope that things would turn around for Ash someday. There was only one way that this story could end. His best friend was going to die, exactly when wasn't clear, but he knew that whenever it happened, it would feel too soon. It was strange, but somehow, the more time he had to get used to the idea that he was going to lose Ash, the harder it actually became to accept the fact that he would need to let him go. When the day finally came, Greninja couldn't imagine how he would be able to bear saying goodbye. 

Ash was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He was the best thing that would ever happen to him. From that first day out in the forest, they had promised each other that they would be at each other's side forever. Greninja didn't regret making that promise, not one bit, because it had brought him the partner he had been waiting for his whole life. He just hadn't expected that forever would be cut short so soon. 

"You know, it's only going to get worse from here," Lucario spoke up again, his voice wavering slightly. 

"I know," Greninja agreed quietly. 

"Which is why I think we need to talk about taking him out of Kanto for a bit. Just so he can get treatment in another region, get an opinion from some other doctors," the jackal went on. "I...I know we can't delay the inevitable forever, but if we could just get a few more years..." 

Greninja hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Is there any way that you could...you know...?" 

He hated himself for even asking such a thing of his friend. It certainly wasn't as if he wanted Lucario to sacrifice himself for Ash, and he knew that Ash would never want anyone to give themselves up even if it meant saving him. But at this point, he was desperate for a solution and the question slipped out unbidden. 

"No," Lucario answered softly, shaking his head. "Believe me, if it was that simple, I would have done it a long time ago. But aura doesn't work on something like this. It can be used to heal injuries, but it can't be used to cure sicknesses. If I gave Ash my aura, it would sustain him for a while, but without any way to attack the source of the problem, he would just keep getting worse. And eventually, well, even aura wouldn't be able to help him anymore." 

"I figured as much," he admitted. "But that might be for the best. Even if you could give up your aura in order to save Ash, I don't think he would have let you." 

"No, I don't think he would either," the Aura Pokemon agreed, a soft smile crossing his features. "He's too good for all of us." 

"When do you think we should talk to Ash about leaving Kanto?" Greninja questioned. 

"Later. After he wakes up and after he's gotten his strength back up a little," Lucario murmured. "Right now, let's just focus on getting him through this first." 

They sat in silence for a while, watching over Ash as he slept. The messy-haired boy looked so small, lying there on the hospital bed, that all Greninja wanted to do was wrap him up in his arms if it meant he could keep him for just a little while longer. But he knew that he couldn't, so instead, he simply reached out and brushed a webbed hand over Ash's forehead. Ash stirred slightly but didn't wake, and Greninja moved to grasp ahold of his hand once again. 

"It's going to be okay, Ash," he said softly, squeezing the boy's hand gently. "You're alright. You're going to be okay." 

It was a lie and everyone in the room knew it but at this point, there weren't too many words of reassurance that would have meant anything anymore.