Chapter Text
Ash Ketchum was a young boy who had always dreamed of becoming the number one Pokémon Trainer in the world. No matter how many battles he lost or how many obstacles stood in his way, his determination never wavered.
At the moment, Ash was exploring the Alola Region alongside his friend and research partner, Goh. The two had been given a special task by Professor Burnet and Professor Kukui: to investigate a series of strange, powerful waves that had been detected near a small, uninhabited island close to Melemele Island. According to the professors, the waves didn’t seem natural, and that alone was enough to spark Ash’s excitement.
Riding on their respective Pokémon that allowed them to travel swiftly and safely through the skies, the boys soared over the sparkling blue ocean. The warm Alolan breeze brushed against their faces as the island slowly came into view, its jagged cliffs and dense greenery standing out against the horizon.
Once they landed, they began to explore the island on foot. The sand beneath their shoes was soft, and the air was filled with the distant cries of wild Pokémon hidden within the forest.
“Hey, Ash! Ash! Focus!” Goh called out, his arms crossed as he watched his friend splashing around near the shoreline.
Ash was crouched by the water, laughing as Pikachu stood beside him. The Mouse Pokémon happily sent small splashes of water flying toward its trainer, its cheeks sparking faintly with excitement.
“Hey—no fair, Pikachu!” Ash yelped as water splashed into his face. Pikachu laughed, letting out a cheerful, “Pika pika!”
Goh let out a tired sigh, shaking his head. “You never change,” he muttered.
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, painting the horizon in shades of orange and purple, Goh glanced around thoughtfully. “It’s getting dark,” he said. “We should set up camp before it gets too late.”
Ash nodded, wiping the water from his face while dodging another playful splash from Pikachu. “Yeah, you’re right.”
He stood up quickly, grinning with his usual enthusiasm. “I’ll help you, Goh!”
With that, the two boys gathered their supplies, unaware that the mysterious waves they were sent to investigate might soon reveal something far more dangerous.. yet exciting, something that they never expected.
After they had finished setting up camp, the two boys finally allowed themselves to relax, sinking into the foldable chairs they had brought along. The gentle sound of the ocean waves filled the air, mixing with the distant cries of nocturnal Pokémon beginning to stir.
“Haaa~ nothing tastes better than food after a long day, right, Pikachu?” Ash said cheerfully, his mouth still full as he spoke.
“Pika!” Pikachu nodded enthusiastically, its head buried deep inside a mountain of Poké Food piled high in its bowl. Crumbs clung to its cheeks as it happily munched away. Beside him, Cinderace was eating his own bowl of Poke cood.
Goh, who had been quietly watching the interaction, let out a soft laugh. Shaking his head, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen lit up as he scrolled through the information they had gathered earlier.
“Ash, we’ve got to explore the east side of the island tomorrow,” Goh said, glancing up briefly. “That’s where the waves were detected. Right now, we’re camped on the west side, so we’ll need to head out early if we want enough time to investigate—”
As Goh continued explaining their plan, Ash nodded absentmindedly, clearly only half-listening. His attention drifted back to Pikachu, who was now licking the last bits of food from its bowl with obvious satisfaction.
“Uh-huh… yeah… east side,” Ash mumbled.
Goh paused, narrowing his eyes. “You are listening, right?”
“Totally!” Ash replied instantly, flashing a confident grin.
Though unconvinced, Goh sighed and put his phone away. After finishing their meal and cleaning up the campsite, exhaustion quickly caught up to them. One by one, they retreated into their sleeping bags as the island grew quiet beneath the starlit sky.
Hours passed.
The camp was wrapped in darkness, lit only by the faint glow of embers from the dying campfire. Suddenly, Pikachu’s ears twitched.
The Mouse Pokémon slowly opened its eyes, sensing something was wrong. A strange noise echoed faintly through the night, low, rhythmic, and unfamiliar. Pikachu sat up, its cheeks sparking softly as it listened closely.
“Pika…?” it whispered, alert now.
Whatever it was, the sound was coming from deeper within the island.
Pikachu quietly padded over to its trainer and began patting Ash’s face repeatedly with its small yellow paws. The boy groaned in his sleep, turning his head from side to side as he lazily swatted the paws away.
“Pikachu… use Thunderbolt…” Ash mumbled, still fast asleep.
Pikachu froze.
Its ears drooped slightly as it stared at its trainer. After trying again, and failing to wake him, the Mouse Pokémon puffed up its cheeks, sparks crackling faintly around them. Clearly, Ash wasn’t going to wake up on his own.
With a determined squeak, Pikachu leaped back and unleashed its signature move.
“Pika—CHUU!”
A burst of electricity filled the tent in a flash of blinding light.
“GAAH!”
Ash jolted upright with a sharp gasp, smoke curling off his clothes as his hair stood on end. His face was lightly covered in soot, and his heart pounded wildly in his chest.
“Pikachu! What was that for?!” Ash shouted, his expression twisted with irritation as he rubbed his face.
But Pikachu didn’t wait to be scolded.
The moment Ash opened his eyes, Pikachu bolted out of the tent, its tiny feet kicking up sand as it disappeared into the darkness.
“H—Hey! Pikachu, wait!” Ash cried, panic instantly replacing his anger.
He scrambled out of his sleeping bag and rushed after his Pokémon without a second thought. The cool night air hit him as he burst out of the tent, the moonlight illuminating Pikachu’s yellow tail as it raced ahead.
“Pikachu! Where are you going?!” Ash yelled, his footsteps pounding against the sand as he chased after it, unaware that whatever had disturbed Pikachu’s sleep was drawing them both deeper into the island’s shadows.
and Cinderace were jolted awake by the noise. Goh let out a light groan as he pushed himself out of his tent, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
“Guys… what’s go—hey, wait!” he called out when he noticed Ash sprinting away from the campsite.
Without wasting another second, Goh took off after them, Cinderace close behind. But Ash and Pikachu were already far ahead, their figures quickly disappearing into the darkness of the island.
Ash didn’t stop running until Pikachu suddenly skidded to a halt. The chase had led them deep into the forest, where towering trees blocked out most of the moonlight. Leaves crunched beneath their feet as Ash slowed down, catching his breath.
Pikachu stood frozen at the edge of a small clearing.
In the center of it, a portal hovered in midair.
It glowed with an eerie, swirling light—colors twisting and folding into one another like liquid glass. The air around it vibrated faintly, sending ripples through the grass and causing the trees to creak unnaturally.
“What the…?” Ash muttered, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Pikachu, curiosity getting the better of it, took a few cautious steps forward, its tail twitching.
“Wait! Pikachu!” Ash shouted, panic rising in his voice. “We should get Goh and call the Professors first!”
But before Ash could reach out, the portal suddenly pulsed.
A powerful suction force erupted from its center, whipping leaves and dirt into the air. Pikachu cried out as its small body was lifted off the ground, dragged toward the glowing void.
“Pika—!”
“PIKACHU!” Ash yelled, lunging forward as the Mouse Pokémon was pulled closer and closer.
Fear gripped Ash’s chest at the thought of what might happen to his partner. Without hesitation, he sprinted forward, throwing himself toward Pikachu. He wrapped his arms tightly around the Mouse Pokémon, pulling it close and shielding it with his own body as they were dragged into the portal.
“Pikachu!” Ash shouted, his voice swallowed by the roaring wind.
“ASH!”
Goh’s voice echoed from behind them.
The last thing Ash saw was Goh’s figure bursting into the clearing, arm outstretched as he ran toward them. The portal’s light flared violently, engulfing everything in a blinding glow.
Then—
Everything went black.
Ash woke up with a sharp gasp, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled to catch his breath. He quickly pushed himself upright and looked around.
He was in a forest.
Tall trees stretched high above him, their leaves forming a thick canopy that filtered the sunlight into scattered beams. Strange billboard-like stands were placed nearby, their surfaces had pictures and figures of people wearing costumes. Ones that Ash wasnt familiar about.
“Where… am I?” Ash muttered, his voice quiet and uncertain.
Fragments of memory rushed back to him.. the glowing portal, the violent pull, and Pikachu being dragged away. His eyes widened as panic set in.
“Pikachu?” he called out urgently. “Pikachu, where are you?!”
There was no response.
Ash’s heart pounded as he scanned the area frantically. He turned in circles, searching the forest floor, the trees, anywhere Pikachu might be hiding. Then his gaze suddenly locked onto something near a large tree not far away.
At the base of the tree, neatly stacked together, were eight Poké Balls.
Ash froze.
His breath caught in his throat as he stared at them, recognition hitting him all at once. Without thinking, he broke into a run, skidding to a stop in front of the stack.
“These are…” he whispered.
His hands hovered just above the Poké Balls, his mind racing with questions. Why were they here? Who placed them there? And most importantly-
Did one of them belong to Pikachu?
Ash grabbed one of the Poké Balls with trembling hands. His fingers tightened around it as hope and fear twisted together in his chest. Taking a breath, he threw it upward.
The Poké Ball burst open in a flash of white light.
“Pika!”
A small yellow figure leapt out—and Ash’s breath caught.
“Pikachu!” Ash cried out, his voice breaking with relief.
Pikachu didn’t hesitate for even a second. It rushed straight into Ash’s arms, clinging to him tightly as Ash dropped to his knees and hugged his partner back just as fiercely.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Ash whispered, burying his face into Pikachu’s fur. “I thought I lost you…”
“Pika… pika,” Pikachu replied softly, pressing its head against Ash’s chest.
Before Ash could say anything else, the remaining Poké Balls began to shake.
One by one, they burst open.
The first released a towering, dragon-like Pokémon, its orange scales gleaming as massive wings stretched outward instinctively.
“Charizard!” Ash cheered, his face lighting up.
Charizard wobbled slightly, disoriented at first. But the moment its sharp eyes locked onto Ash, its movements stopped completely. For a heartbeat, it simply stared, then let out a deep, familiar growl, lowering its head slightly in recognition.
Ash smiled. “Hey… it’s good to see you again.”
The second Poké Ball opened to reveal a tall, green Pokémon with a long neck, two sharp crests atop its head, and narrow yellow eyes rimmed in red. A twig rested between its lips.
“Sceptile! Buddy!” Ash called.
Sceptile nodded calmly, eyes closed as usual—until it opened them and saw Ash standing there. Its eyes widened, and the twig slipped from its mouth, hitting the ground with a soft thud.
The third Poké Ball burst open.
“Gengar!”
The Shadow Pokémon emerged with a mischievous grin, its red eyes immediately locking onto Ash and Pikachu. It let out a low snicker before melting into Ash’s shadow, its laughter echoing faintly.
Ash sighed, though he couldn’t hide his smile. “Still doing that, huh?”
Another flash of light.
“Lucario!”
The Aura Pokémon stepped out, senses flaring instantly. Without even sparing Ash a glance, Lucario leapt into the surrounding trees, scanning the forest with focused intensity.
Ash scratched the back of his head. “Guess you’re still on guard duty…”
Then—
“Lycanroc—whoa!”
Lycanroc exploded out of its Poké Ball and immediately tackled Ash to the ground, licking his face enthusiastically. Ash burst out laughing, struggling to sit up as Pikachu laughed alongside him.
“H-Hey! Easy!” Ash laughed. “I missed you too!”
Another Poké Ball opened.
“Infernape!”
The Flame Pokémon landed smoothly, eyes bright as they met Ash’s. A wide grin spread across its face as it began demonstrating powerful new moves—flames flaring proudly around its fists.
“Whoa, Infernape! You’ve been training hard!” Ash said in amazement.
Before things could escalate, Pikachu zapped Infernape lightly, clearly unimpressed.
“Pika!”
Infernape froze, then growled.
“Uh-oh…” Ash muttered.
Infernape immediately chased after Pikachu, who yelped and sprinted around the clearing as sparks and flames narrowly missed the trees.
“Hey! Not now!” Ash shouted, though his smile never faded.
Finally, the last Poké Ball began to glow.
A familiar, quiet presence emerged.
A Pokémon with frog-like features, calm posture, and piercing eyes stood before him.
“Greninja…” Ash whispered, gasping softly.
Greninja looked at Ash, surprise flashing through its eyes—followed by something deeper. Relief. Happiness. A bond that words could never fully explain.
It nodded slowly.
Ash stepped forward, his heart racing. “I didn’t know you were still with me…”
Greninja held his gaze, eyes shining, as if to say: I always was.
As Ash looked around the clearing, at Pikachu in his arms, at his strongest partners, his closest friends, he noticed the same expression on all of their faces.
Shock.
Disbelief.
And recognition.
“Um… guys? Why are you all looking at me like that?” Ash asked nervously, forcing a laugh as he glanced between his Pokémon.
Their expressions didn’t change.
Gengar slowly slipped out from Ash’s shadow, eyes glowing mischievously. It floated around him for a moment, scanning the ground as if searching for something. After a few seconds, it let out a quiet chuckle and disappeared again—only to reappear beside Ash, holding a jagged piece of glass in its hand.
“Gen~gar.”
Gengar pressed the shard into Ash’s palm.
“…Huh?” Ash tilted his head in confusion before lifting the glass.
The moment his reflection came into view—
“AAAAAAAH! WHAT HAPPENED?!” Ash screamed, nearly dropping the shard.
Staring back at him was a younger version of himself. His face looked softer, his features less sharp—and worse yet, when he glanced down, the forest floor seemed closer than it should have been.
“Why am I shorter?!” Ash yelled, spinning around in panic. “Wait—why do my hands look smaller?!”
He rushed over to Greninja and stood beside it, comparing their heights. His heart sank.
“I—I was taller than this!” Ash protested. “I was at least… at least up to your shoulders!”
Greninja looked down at him silently, eyes narrowing slightly in concern.
Ash grabbed his hat, tugging it down hard over his head as if that would somehow fix things. “Okay, okay, this is fine. This is totally fine. I’ve been turned to stone, electrocuted, frozen, and thrown into another dimension before—this is probably just another weird Pokémon thing, right?”
No one responded.
Behind him, Charizard let out a low sigh and crossed its arms. Sceptile pinched the bridge of its nose. Lucario shook its head slowly, already sensing how long this was going to take. Lycanroc sat down, tail wagging, clearly unbothered.
Pikachu climbed up onto Ash’s shoulder and patted his cheek.
“Pika…”
Ash slumped slightly. “You’re not surprised at all, are you?”
The Pokémon collectively sighed.
They all knew one thing for certain
This was going to take a while.
In the meantime, Gengar had turned invisible, silently drifting away from the clearing to explore the surrounding area. Phasing through trees and shadows with ease, it moved toward the unfamiliar sights beyond the forest.
What it saw made it pause.
Beyond the treeline stood massive buildings that towered unnaturally high, their shapes sleek and angular, nothing like the towns Ash had traveled through before. Bright lights flickered across enormous billboards, stretching far above the streets. Symbols, colors, and moving images flashed across them endlessly, advertising things Gengar didn’t recognize.
Floating closer, Gengar observed the humans below.
As it drifted invisibly through the streets, the Shadow Pokémon began to notice it, small, unmistakable signs that set this world apart. A man in a strange costume casually extended his arm, which stretched far beyond normal length to grab something from a high ledge.
A woman with another strange costume floated a few inches above the ground as she talked to people that looked like the police, her feet never quite touching the pavement. Sparks crackled from another person’s fingertips as they laughed with a group of friends.
“Gen…” Gengar muttered quietly.
These humans had powers.
Gengar floated higher, watching as the city truly came alive. Heroes in brightly colored costumes leapt across rooftops with incredible speed. One landed heavily on the street below, cracking the pavement with sheer force, while civilians barely reacted, this kind of thing was clearly normal here. Sirens wailed in the distance, not in panic, but in routine.
Gigantic billboards flashed across the skyline.
HERO AGENCY RECRUITMENT OPEN
STAY SAFE — TRUST YOUR LOCAL HERO
QUIRK COUNSELING AVAILABLE
The Shadow Pokémon’s eyes narrowed.
This wasn’t just a different region.
This wasn’t even the same world.
It slipped through a wall and hovered inside a tall building, where rows of screens showed live broadcasts of heroes subduing villains, reporters shouting excitedly as destruction unfolded behind them. The people watching barely flinched, sipping drinks and chatting as if it were everyday entertainment.
Gengar felt a strange chill.
A world where power was common.
A world where humans wielded abilities like Pokémon.
A world that thrived on conflict.
Turning invisible once more, Gengar rushed back toward the forest, phasing through concrete and steel, urgency replacing its usual playful demeanor.
Ash needed to know.
This place wasn’t just dangerous because it was unfamiliar.
It was dangerous because his trainer is now younger, weaker, and without the laws of Pokémon battles protecting him - had been dropped into a society where power decided everything. But first, he needed to get something first.
Night had fallen quietly over the forest.
Ash sat on a fallen log, chewing slowly on an apple as the soft sounds of crickets and distant city noise blended together. The glow of the towering buildings beyond the trees painted the sky faintly, an unfamiliar contrast to the wilderness around them.
“These are good…” Ash said between bites, glancing over at Sceptile and Greninja.
Sceptile leaned against a tree nearby, arms crossed, while Greninja sat calmly beside Ash. Both Pokémon had gathered apples from the surrounding area earlier, moving silently and efficiently through the forest as if protecting their trainer without saying a word.
Suddenly, a familiar chill passed through the air.
Gengar popped into view with a wide grin, its arms overflowing with apples—far more than any of them could eat. Tucked between its fingers were several thin, green pieces of paper.
“Gen~gar!”
“Oh—nice timing!” Ash said with a small smile. He took a few apples from Gengar and passed them around to the others. Pikachu happily accepted one, nibbling at it while sitting on Ash’s shoulder.
Ash glanced around the clearing. “Lucario still hasn’t come back yet…” he murmured, a hint of worry creeping into his voice.
Greninja noticed immediately.
The ninja Pokémon stepped closer and gently placed a hand on Ash’s shoulder.
“Gren… Nin-ja ja ja.”
Ash looked up at it, then nodded, understanding without needing words. “Yeah… you’re right. Lucario’s probably scouting. He always does.”
Greninja gave a small nod in return.
As Ash reached for another apple, his eyes landed on the green paper Gengar had brought back. He paused, picking one up and examining it closely. Symbols, numbers, and unfamiliar faces were printed on it—but the idea felt strangely familiar.
“…Wait,” Ash said slowly. “Gengar… this green paper—”
He looked up at the Ghost Pokémon. “Is this money?”
Gengar nodded enthusiastically, floating in place with a proud grin.
Ash let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his head. “You really went exploring, huh?”
He stared at the bills in his hand, his expression shifting from amusement to concern.
Pikachu glanced up at him. “Pika…?”
Then, a sudden thought crossed Ash’s mind.
“Gengar,” he said gently but firmly, turning toward the Ghost Pokémon. “Don’t steal from others, okay?”
Gengar froze.
Its grin slowly faded as it lowered itself to the ground, shoulders drooping. The Pokémon looked genuinely guilty, eyes dimming as it let out a quiet, apologetic sound.
“Gen…”
Ash sighed, immediately softening. “I know you were trying to help,” he added, kneeling down and giving Gengar a reassuring pat. “Just… next time, let’s do things the right way.”
Gengar nodded slowly, perking up just a little.
At that moment, footsteps rustled through the bushes.
Lucario emerged from the trees, calm as ever, holding a familiar bag in one hand.
Ash’s eyes widened instantly.
“Hey—! That’s my bag!” Ash exclaimed as he rushed over. “Lucario, where did you find this?!”
Lucario held it out to him without hesitation, its eyes serious.
Ash took the bag carefully, his hands trembling slightly as he opened it.
Inside were neatly packed Poké Balls—his Poké Balls. Alongside them were Potions, Revives, Max Revives, various berries wrapped in small packets, and even his old compact fishing rod folded neatly at the bottom.
And nestled between the supplies—
“…Nuggets?” Ash blinked, lifting one up in disbelief.
He stared into the bag, stunned.
“Huh… that’s odd,” Ash muttered to himself as he rummaged through the bag again. “I could’ve swornmy bag didn’t have all of this before… nor did i remember bringing it with me into the portal”
He pulled out another item, then another, frowning slightly as he tried to remember packing them. After a moment, he shook his head and laughed it off.
“Hm, Ah- maybe Goh brought my bag and threw it in the portal before it closes! And the insides, maybe the Professors gave me extra supplies before we left!” Ash declared, nodding confidently to himself. “Yeah, that’s gotta be it.”
Pikachu tilted its head. “Pika?”
Ash grinned. “You know how they are. Always worrying.”
He dug deeper into the bag, fingers brushing against something familiar. His eyes lit up as he pulled it out.
“My Rotom Phone!” Ash exclaimed. “Alright! That makes things way easier.”
He quickly tapped the screen, the device lighting up as if nothing strange had happened at all. Ash scrolled eagerly, already forming a plan.
“Okay,” he said, crouching slightly as the Pokémon gathered around him. “Since we’re definitely not in Melemele anymore, let’s check where we are now.”
He typed into the search bar. “Kalos… or maybe Unova? Could be somewhere I haven’t been yet.”
The screen blinked.
Then—
Nothing made sense.
Ash frowned, leaning closer. “Huh?”
The map refused to load familiar region borders. No Kanto. No Johto. No Kalos. Just strange symbols, unfamiliar city layouts, and names he’d never heard before.
“…That’s weird,” Ash whispered.
Pikachu peered at the screen, ears twitching. “Pika?”
Ash swallowed, a small knot forming in his chest. “This doesn’t look like any Pokémon region…”
Behind him, Lucario stiffened slightly, aura flickering with unease.
Ash’s fingers trembled slightly as he typed again and again into his Phone.
“Diantha… Cynthia… Steven…” he murmured, trying every Champion he knew.
Nothing.
No profiles. No records. No regions tied to their names.
Ash slowly lowered the phone, his grip tightening around it. “Where… are we?” he asked quietly, his voice barely louder than the rustling leaves around them.
Before anyone could respond—
BOOM.
The ground shook violently as a distant explosion tore through the night. A bright flash lit up the sky beyond the forest, followed by a thunderous echo that rolled through the trees.
“W-What was that?!” Ash yelped.
Instantly, his Pokémon snapped into action.
Charizard spread its wings protectively, stepping in front of Ash. Sceptile moved to his left, sharp eyes scanning the treeline. Greninja crouched low, already blending into the shadows, while Lucario stiffened, aura flaring as it sensed chaos and hostility in the distance.
Pikachu climbed onto Ash’s shoulder, sparks dancing anxiously across its cheeks.
Before Ash could even take a step—
Gengar surged forward.
“Gen!”
The Shadow Pokémon wrapped its arms around Ash and lifted him effortlessly off the ground. Ash barely had time to gasp before he and Gengar vanished, reappearing several meters away as it fled deeper into the forest.
“H-Hey—!” Ash exclaimed, clinging instinctively.
Behind them, the rest followed without hesitation.
Lycanroc sprinted ahead, ears flat, teeth bared. Infernape leapt from tree to tree, flames flickering along its arms. Greninja and Sceptile moved silently through the underbrush, while Lucario stayed close, constantly checking Ash’s position, Charizard flied ahead, as Infernape were on top of him.
Another explosion rang out—closer this time.
Trees trembled. Birds scattered into the night sky.
Ash looked back over Gengar’s shoulder, heart pounding. Beyond the forest, orange flames licked the skyline of the city, smoke billowing upward like a warning signal.
“This isn’t a Pokémon battle…” Ash realized aloud, fear creeping into his voice.
Lucario glanced back at him, eyes sharp.
Ash watched his Pokémon move around him, forming a protective barrier without being asked. The sight made his chest tighten in a way he hadn’t expected. Even in a world that wasn’t theirs, even with everything unknown and frightening, they were still watching over him.
“…Thanks, guys,” Ash said softly.
He took a breath and looked around at their tired but alert faces. “Maybe we can check out the explosion tomorrow morning,” he suggested gently. “When it’s safer.”
One by one, they nodded.
Charizard gave a low, reassuring rumble as it settled down behind Ash, its massive wings folding protectively around him. Sceptile and Greninja positioned themselves in front, alert even as they rested. Lucario sat close, eyes half-closed but aura still spreading outward like an invisible shield. Lycanroc lay near Ash’s feet, tail flicking lazily, while Infernape perched nearby, flames dimmed but ready. Gengar drifted just above, fading in and out of view like a silent guardian.
Ash lay down in the center of them all.
As Charizard’s warmth spread through his back, Ash felt the cold of the unfamiliar night fade away. Pikachu curled up against his chest, letting out a soft, content sound.
“Good night,” Ash whispered.
Just before Ash fully drifted off to sleep, he felt a familiar warmth settle nearby—a bit hotter than Charizard’s steady heat, but controlled.
Infernape had taken position on a low rock beside the group.
Its flames burned low and calm, not roaring, but steady—enough to keep the night air warm without drawing attention. One arm rested against its knee, the other loosely clenched, eyes half-lidded but sharp. It wasn’t sleeping.
It was keeping watch.
Ash smiled faintly, eyes already heavy. “You’re on night duty, huh?”
Infernape didn’t answer, but its flame flickered slightly in response.
With Charizard’s warmth at his back, Pikachu curled against his chest, and Infernape standing guard nearby, Ash finally let himself relax.