Chapter Text
Kanto. 2/06 19:15 P.M
A normal day in the Kanto region, as it always is at this time of the year, close to summer.
Wild pokémon prowl here and there, some tame, some more daring, but in short, everything
you can expect.
However, normality for many does not always last long; and there are times when it is convenient, since otherwise it may come late and feel strange to some people's feelings.
Pallet Town, home of the Ketchum family.
Delia knew that that day was the final of the Eight Masters Tournament, and that her son Ash was going to be there disputing his second chance to be world monarch again. However, this year he would not be fighting against Leon as it happened last year, but it was another boy of his own age against whom he was going to fight... Someone who had become famous since the Coronation World Series began.
And yet, his story is heartbreaking and painful for those who hear it. She doesn't even seem to enjoy it because of the simple and almost emotionless reactions she always has.
There are hardly any photos of him on the internet, except for the videos of the battles and broadcasts that took place live.
She couldn't sit still for a second. She was too nervous as she called Professor Oak -
already the third time - still to no avail.
— Please, I only ask you to take it... - he begged in a low voice. - This is very important to
him...
Several beeps of waiting had sounded, and she was beginning to lose hope again, until
suddenly the peculiar voice of an older man sounded through the RotomPhone's speaker:
— Delia?
She put the cell phone to her ear almost immediately.
— Professor?
— I just saw your missed calls, sorry I didn't answer sooner. - he explained with a certain serenity.
— What is going to happen in the end? - she asked anxiously, as she could no longer bear to wait.
— It's confirmed: they're going to place her under arrest in a few moments, I just left the police station, I'm going with them. She's outside Palette Town, so it won't take long.
Delia let out a brief sigh of relief.
— Our efforts have not been in vain...
— No, everything went according to plan. I feel sorry for Lance, who has not been able to participate in the WCS to help us in our research for months now...
— It was of his own free will. - she added. - I can never thank him enough.
— Of course, it's largely thanks to him. - he replied.
A brief silence pervaded the conversation, but Oak suddenly spoke determinedly:
— Delia...
— Yes, Professor?
— You will be able to adopt the child. The police have confirmed to me that you will be able to get custody of him.
She shows a big smile on her face, with a hopeful gleam running across her eyes.
— You're going to be a great mother to Lero. It's not just me telling you, the authorities have said so too. Now, you know that boy is on the autism spectrum, right?
— I don't care where or how it is; I just want my new son to be able to have the life he deserves, away from that woman who..." he growled loudly. - I can't even say it....
— I'm going to have to hang up soon, Delia. - he interrupted hastily. - I'm about to arrive at this woman's house, I'll let you know as soon as she's arrested.
— And what do I do about the child?
— You have to go to the city hall of Viridian City, we have left the adoption papers ready for you to sign them immediately. Excuse me, I have to hang up.
— I can never thank you enough, Professor Oak.
— We are here for everything, Delia, you
know that. And with that sentence, the
caller hung up.
She knew then that there was nothing to lose.
* * *
Wyndon Stadium, Galar.
— Feraligatr can't fight! Lucario wins this round!
Lero watched as his water-type best friend lay on the ground, unconscious.
What the hell was happening to him? He had defeated Dragonite, Sirfetch'd and Gengar in a chain, and only making use of Delphox and Lapras, and then suddenly Ash defeated these two with only Dracovish, which was really creepy for him, but then he was able to defeat it with Totodile's evolution, which gave him an advantage, but didn't save him. He had used the Dinamax band to use on Delphox, so he was in a real tight spot.
The same thing happened to him as always: every time he reached the end of a competition,
he never knew what was going on, he always advanced relentlessly, and then went blank, not knowing how to continue.
The picture looked like this: Kangashan still had Kangashan out of only four Pokémon on his team, while the current world champion, who had found it so difficult to win until a while ago, still had two out of six. Pikachu was eager to go out into the arena, but something told
him that he wasn't going to get the chance this year.
— Keep it up, Lucario, there's nothing left to win this thing!
— Lucario! - exclaimed the bipedal Pokémon.
Lero looked down, taking the last pokeball that would decide everything. It had been his ace
up his sleeve since it all started... Could he save it?
Then, without a word, he opened her close to him and she appeared on the spot, with her typical smile and her little calf in the pocket of her belly; but seeing the excessive anxiety accumulated in the boy she became worried with great notoriety.
— Please, you have to help me! All three have fallen and you are my only hope!
She then turned around and looked at her opponent: both pokémon and trainer were staring defiantly at the two of them. She saw the scoreboard indicating that she was the only one standing, while the opponent still had two left.
Leroy pulled out the kangaskhanite and held it out to him.
— Help me, I don't want to lose, I have to win, please! You are my only chance to get out of here! If I don't win this, it's all over!
She then smiled confidently, directing one of her hands towards the megastone, touching it with one of the hooves, reacting instantly and enveloping it in a powerful, brightly colored light. When this ceased, the even larger mother and daughter, who had emerged from the pouch, could be seen. Mega Kangaskhan struck a proud pose as the audience broke into applause.
— I'm not going to be left behind either! - exclaimed Ash. Mega Kangaskhan moved into attack position. - Lucario, by our bond of friendship, mega evolution! - And pressing the stone, the same thing happened until the process was complete, the crowd erupting again in enthusiastic cheers.
The rock-type pokémon and her hatchling took one last look at their partner, who was overly anxious and wrinkling the sides of his shirt tightly with his hands.
— Help me... I can't go on... - he was very tired, and tears were continuously flowing from his eyes.
— Khaaan! - they both exclaimed, even more determined than ever.
Both mega pokémon stared into each other's eyes, and while Ash grew more and more excited to be world champion again, Lero just quietly prayed that they could beat him so he would never have to worry again in his life.
And then the round began, which, although it was brief, was not without setbacks, although in general the surprises were for Kangashan, that although he managed to hit his opponent's attacks, Lucario was able to go two steps ahead, and when he thought he had been overtaken, he took another step. He was still a little weak, but he could continue.
— To the ground!
She plunged into the earth, leaving it invisible to the eyes of the audience, the use of digging could be heard noticeably underneath the sand. He tried to follow her gaze to where he thought the sound was coming from; that was all he could concentrate on at the time.
— Lucario, use Double Team! - commanded Ash, and it immediately split into several copies that spread all over the area, meanwhile, Ash realized that his hands were wrinkling the sides of his T-shirt - and sometimes of his shorts as well - and there were several reddish areas on his fingers, as if they had been beaten. His eyes were somewhat red, teary as well, and his breathing was very labored. His messy hair and the steady rise of his chest from anxiety made him look vulnerable.
— I will win... - Ash could hear those words from Lero. - I deserve it, I'm going to win, whether you like it or not, because I want to live in peace!
And at the same time Mega Kangashan appeared from being buried and started attacking all the copies with Terratemblor, without much success.
— We'll see about that! Now, Aura Sphere! - Ash ordered again, but the rival pokémon used Giga Impact to defend itself, which caused accurate damage to the biped, scaring its trainer, but seeing that it was still resisting, he ordered again with immense momentum and verve. - Put an end to this once and for all, Aura Sphere!
— Don't let him do it!
Kangaskhan and his calf were about to do so, but the strong current of air and light caused by the invocation of the attack caused the vision to be obstructed, even Leroy had to cover his eyes.
— Don't do it! L-let me win! - Leroy exclaimed. - I deserve this, I don't ever want to go through this again!
Ash's adrenaline was interrupted. He looked at the boy: he had fallen to his knees and was begging her while crying. He could tell he was having a hard time.
— That's all I ask, please!
Suddenly, his face began to ring something, but of what?
Lucario then prepared to launch its big attack. Ash was about to say something, but by then it was too late.
— NOOOOOOO!
When the dust mist from the attack melted away, it could be seen that mega Kangashan was
still standing, but her calf was not. It was trembling, and with all its might it looked like it was trying to resist.
She was doing it for her child. She didn't want him to suffer again.
But the reality of exhaustion hit. With one last sidelong glance, she let out a groan:
— Khan...
And then, the effect of the mega-evolution was undone in a huge explosion. As the mist dissipated, Lero confirmed what he had feared most: Kangaskhan had been defeated, lying
face up and unconscious.
— NOOOO!
To Ash's surprise, he ran with all his might until he reached his partner's side.
— Don't give up, please get up, you have to fight again! - he exclaimed in desperation as he sobbed. - Please, for me, don't give up, you have to defeat them, please do it for me!
There was no answer for him.
He had lost again in a final, as always happened to him.
What the hell had he done wrong? Why did he always draw a blank when he was about to come close to victory?
He hugged her tightly by the torso and began to cry, disconsolate. The audience was dismayed by this and held their breath, maintaining a slight silence.
Meanwhile, Dan came over to make sure it was official. He climbed down from his Aegliash, confirming that Lero had lost, but Lero wouldn't stop crying; you could tell he was in pretty bad shape. Ash was also worried about him, as was Lucario, who had returned to his normal state.
— PIkapi... - said Pikachu.
— Wait a moment. - he asked. He motioned to Dan to let him talk to his rival, squeezing his shoulder by way of consolation, but was greatly surprised to see Lero react sharply, standing up quickly and letting go forcefully.
— You've ruined everything for me! - he exclaimed with great energy, leaving his voice. - You've ruined my life!
Everyone was stunned by what he said.
— Hey! But-but you were great, I even thought that...! - Ash tried to make him see that he had been champion, but then his opponent stepped forward, clenching his fists with all the strength he had.
— I can't even have my own life in peace because someone wants to become world champion again! You are selfish! - he continued shouting. - I'm going to die alone and in the street because of you, because of you, because of you!
Dan was about to intervene, but from everything he was hearing, he was paralyzed with shock. Meanwhile, the blue-haired man watched him in surprise and still unable to process what he was saying.
— Please calm down!
— Selfish! - he shouted at her again. - My mother was right, I'm a useless person that no one will ever love, no one, no one...!
And then he tripped and fell backwards, crushing his arm, which caused him great pain. Ash stepped forward and held out his hand for him to get up, beginning to sense that there were things wrong with him. However, Lero returned Kangaskhan to his pokeball and began to flee the way he had entered the arena as he kept sobbing loudly.
— Wait! - tried to stop him by chasing him, but in the end he disappeared into the darkness of the entrance hallway.
Everyone had found out who this strange boy was. Even Ash remembered: his mother had talked about that news with him some time ago.
He had to help him, and to his good fortune, the original mother was already under police arrest. And as world champion, he wasn't about to leave Lero alone.
No one would.