Good News?

Ash ran through the halls as fast as he could, he had to tell the others how he felt before it was too late. He knew from experience that coming so close to the end of a journey meant new plans and opportunities could come up for everyone, and that he had to say it before those opportunities could arise.

"Guys?!" He called out. "Clemont, Bonnie… Serena?!" Ash had looked everywhere; every room, every hall, every bench, the others were just nowhere to be found. Pika-pika, Pikachu said as he tried to comfort Ash, whose face was now sinking more than a Muk's. "Where could they have all gone Pikachu? There's only one way to go with all the other roads closed and this cold weather, and they wouldn't just leave without saying anything?" ZZZZAAAAAH! Suddenly, Ash heard a familiar sound of thunder; it was Clemont's Luxray, using a Wild Charge attack. "That came from the battlefield, let's check it out." Pikachu nodded in agreement as Ash ran to the back of the Pokémon Center. When he got out there, Ash saw a ferocious battle of electric-types going on. He wasn't surprised to see Clemont and Luxray on one side, but the most shocking thing was who was on the other side. Bonnie and Dedenne: It was Luxray VS Dedenne in what looked like some sort of sibling quarrel.

"Now Luxray, use Thunder Fang!" Clemont cried out. Luxray charged up its teeth with surging electricity and charged straight for Dedenne.

"We're not going to be beat that easily!" Bonnie boasted. "Dedenne, slide under Luxray to dodge!" NENE, the mouse Pokémon cried out as it slide under Luxray, effectively avoiding the Thunder Fang. "Now use Nuzzle!" Dedenne quickly rubbed on its cheeks, charging up electricity, and then gave Luxray a powerful shock straight to the belly. Luxray powered down its Thunder Fang and stumbled back, sparking with electricity, as Clemont let out a gasp of worry that Luxray was now paralyzed. "It's all over now, use Tackle!" Dedenne bolted towards Luxray, running with fiery determination in its eyes, but Luxray and Clemont both looked down and gave a sudden suspicious smirk, which made Bonnie gasp in panic.

"You're right Bonnie, it is over," Clemont said with certainty. "Luxray, use Iron Tail!" Luxray shook off the sparks and hit Dedenne upwards with a solid steel tail, then jumped up after it to slam it back down with another hit. After the dust cleared, it was obvious who the victor was, but Bonnie didn't care and just ran up to Dedenne to care for it. Clemont straightened his glasses and walked up to the both of them, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a Sitrus Berry. "Dedenne is resilient, it'll be fine, but this Sitrus Berry should help speed that up." Bonnie took the berry and started feeding Dedenne. Before long, the mouse Pokémon was up and running around again, full of more energy than before they even started the battle. "You had a good strategy Bonnie, but you forgot, electric-type moves can deal damage but can't paralyze electric-type Pokémon." Bonnie opened her eyes wider and face palmed herself.

"Doh!" she let out. "Of course they can't." Bonnie looked down, clearly upset that she'd lost, with her partner Pokémon.

"But, it was still a great battle," Clemont said as he kneeled down to reassure her. "You lasted longer than I was expecting. I have to admit, I'm actually really proud of you." Bonnie's eyes lit up, and a big smile spread across her face; hearing those words from her Gym Leader big brother meant the world to her. The two of them smiled, while Luxray and Dedenne played together a little bit in congratulations.

"That-was-awesome!" Ash shouted as he broke the silence, and ran up to the both of them. "Bonnie, that was terrific, the way you were in sync with Dedenne as you battled with it!" Bonnie smiled even more as one of her best friends, someone else she looked up to, gave her such high praise. "And Clemont, that fake out with Luxray, acting like it'd been paralyzed when you were just waiting for Dedenne to come in for the final blow was great! And, Luxray learned Iron Tail too! Fantastic!" Clemont just rubbed his neck and blushed a little in humility.

"Heh, thanks," he said. "Luxray and I have been working on that for a while. We've actually been watching you and Pikachu a lot so we could perfect it." Ash smiled and glanced at Bonnie as he started to realize how weird it was that the two of them had battled.

"Say, why were you guys battling anyway?" he asked. Clemont and Bonnie both got an awkward look on their faces and they looked to each other before explaining.

"Well, I was trying to help Clemont finally find a good girlfriend for him," Bonnie explained. "Then he snatched me up with his Aipom Arm and started going on about how embarrassing it is again."

"So she said," Clemont began. "If you think you're so sure you can do without my help, why don't we settle this with a battle?" Ash became a little shocked but understood just where this was going. "I tried to tell her the outcome was inevitable, but she refused to listen to me, as usual. But, at least something good came out of it." Bonnie started to pout again as Ash looked at her, expecting an explanation.

"So now," she said discouraged. "*Sigh* I'm not allowed to try and talk to anymore girls to try and pair up my brother." Ash just placed his hand over his mouth and giggled a bit, as Clemont grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered something.

"I know she's not really gonna stop," Clemont whispered. "But, that should get her off my back for at least the next week." Clemont and Ash both started to laugh a little under their breath, while Bonnie just looked at them, annoyed. Just then, Ash stopped laughing and remembered just why he'd run out there, looking for them, in the first place.

"Oh, I almost forgot why I came out here!" Ash said in shock. Bonnie and Clemont looked at him, confused, and grew a bit concerned.

"Is everything alright Ash?" Clemont asked.

"Nothing bad happened, did it?" Bonnie continued.

"Wha-No, no, no, nothing's wrong," Ash began. "It's just…" Ash paused for a second, trying to figure out what to say. He took a deep breath, and figured out how to continue. "I'm sorry." Bonnie and Clemont just got even more confused as Ash tried to explain. "I know I haven't exactly been cheery since the Kalos League, even though I keep saying I'm fine. But, the truth is, I'm a little more shook up than I said. It's not that I lost though, that just means there's still so much for me to learn. It's just the fact that I still need to get out there and learn it, and now I know how I'm gonna do that." Ash raised his arm towards his friends as he said the next part. "I'm going to go traveling again, to the Alola region… And, I want you guys to come with me." Bonnie and Clemont's eyes widened as they became a little shocked about what Ash was proposing. "Every time I start a new journey, it's always just me and Pikachu. Sure, in the end I have great new friends traveling with me, but I'm sick of going in alone. This time, I want to start something new with the great friends I've already got." Ash finished explaining, and Bonnie and Clemont just looked at each other about it.

"All of us?" Clemont said, hopeful.

"Yeah, all of us," Ash answered smiling. Clemont didn't know what to say; he was having mixed thoughts about traveling out of his home region, whether or not Bonnie was really ready for something like that, and how this could affect his responsibilities as Gym Leader. He simply had no idea of what to do, until Bonnie stepped next to him and grabbed his arm.

"Please Clemont?!" Bonnie said excited. "Please can we go?! I don't want to stop traveling together, and I want to see all kinds of new places and meet a lot more new, cute, Pokémon! Please, please, can we please?!" Clemont saw how much Bonnie wanted to go, but just thought about if he could even more. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Voltage Badge he had been carrying with him. It was the first one he'd ever designed for the Lumiose Gym. All he did was stare at it, trying to figure out what to do, until he just closed his eyes and finally made up his mind.

"You know what," Clemont started. "You're still not done learning to become a Pokémon Master, and I'm still not done learning from you. I'm a lot stronger because of it, and I want to keep becoming stronger. So, if you're going somewhere new to do just that, I don't want to fall behind. I'm in!" Clemont gave Ash and Bonnie a hearty look as the both of them smiled in utter joy.

"YAY!" Bonnie said jumping around. "Happy, Happy Bonnie!"

"That's fantastic!" Ash said as he jumped into the air, happier than even Bonnie could express.

"So, did you talk to Serena about this yet?" Clemont asked.

"Not yet," Ash explained. "I was having trouble finding you guys, but as soon as I see her, I'm gonna grab her by the hand, look her right in the eyes and say…" Before Ash could finish that sentence, a robotic arm suddenly came from out of the bushes and grabbed Pikachu, Dedenne, and Luxray. "Pikachu!"

"Luxray no!" Clemont cried out.

"No! Dedenne!" Bonnie said, starting to cry a little. Ash clenched his fist as he became angrier and angrier.

"Alright, that's enough!" Ash called out. "I know you guys are there, so why don't you just come out!" Ash's hunch was dead on, as a giant Meowth balloon, covered in a cartoonish winter jacket came out from behind the trees, with 3 coated familiar faces in the basket.

Prepare for trouble, you're finally learning,

And make it double, soon your ears will be burning.

To protect the world from devastation,

To unite all people within our nation!

To denounce the evils of traveling afar,

You're not leaving so easily, so stay right where you are!

Jessie!

And, James of course!

Team Rocket blasts off with Pikachu in hand,

Stay put, as we use it to take over a new land!

Meowth, that's grand!

Wobbuffet!

"Team Rocket!" Everyone cried out at once.

"Hahahaha!" Jessie cackled. "If you think you're traveling to some new region with these Pokémon, then you are sadly mistaken!"

"These are going to be fine members of Team Rocket's new Electric-type Pokémon Posse!" James said.

"And that'll help us power through the Team Rocket Ranks come promotion time!" Meowth cried out.

"Oh no it won't!" Ash yelled. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Pikachuuuuuuuuuu! Pikachu let out a powerful shock, but it did no good.

"Hehehe!" Meowth laughed. "Our Super Electric Pikachu Pinching Conductor Cage makes taking off with your zappy little pals practically a 5 star resort retreat!" Pikachu just kept zapping and zapping, but all it did was flow from the bars up to Team Rocket's balloon, turning on a series of appliances they had.

"Ah, there's nothing like central heating to help take the chill off in winter," Jessie said. "Sorry twerps, but Pikachu's just powering up a plethora of powered appliances we have plugged in!"

"And now, we'll use that juice to get away from the likes of you!" James said.

"Toodeloo!" Meowth said. Two twin jets extended from the sides of their balloon and started blasting them off using Pikachu's power.

"No Pikachu! Luxray! Dedenne!" everyone said one-by-one.

"MmmMm! Pass the Pomeg Juice please," Jessie said.

"With Pikachu powering us, pinching Pokemon is a breeze!" James said.

"Hercules!" Meowth cried out in concurrence. Before they could get any higher a pink, glittery, wind came out from behind them and knocked them off course.

"AAAAH!" they all cried out.

"Okay, who's the wise guy?" Jessie said discombobulated.

"One thing's for sure, they knocked the wind out of our sails," James said dizzily.

"Let's bail," Meowth muttered. WOBBUFFET!

"Ash! Clemont! Bonnie!" They all looked down, ahead of them, to see Serena and her Sylveon running towards them. Ash gave a stern smile and nod towards her and grabbed his PokéBall.

"Greninja, cut them down now!" Ash cried out, releasing Greninja. The dark blue frog Pokémon jumped up as high as its powerful legs could take it, and sliced open the cage holding the 3 electric Pokémon. "Pikachu!" Ash ran to catch Pikachu, just barely grabbing onto him before hitting the ground. Luxray fell to the ground on its feet, and Clemont ran up to it, while Bonnie ran ahead and fell on her behind as she barely caught Dedenne in a big hug.

"Eh?" Meowth said starting to snap out of it. "That little twerpette just stole our free electricity!"

"Grr, I've had enough!" Jessie growled. "Gourgeist, let's finish this heist!"

"Okay Inkay, you too!" James said as he and Jessie both released their Pokémon. "Inkay, use Psybeam!"

"Gourgeist, use Seed Bomb!" Jessie ordered. The two Pokémon unleashed a powerful barrage on everyone from above, but Serena wasn't going to take that lying down.

"Sylveon, use Protect!" she exclaimed. "The pink, ribbony, Pokémon raised an impenetrable shield that had saved everyone just before it hit.

"Luxray, use Wild Charge on Gourgeist!" Clemont exclaimed.

"Dedenne, use Nuzzle on Inkay!" Bonnie exclaimed in sync. The two electric Pokémon unleashed their thunderous attacks and knocked back both of the enemy Pokémon back into the balloon in a sparky display.

"Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Ash cried out. Pikachu gave its signature growl as it hit them with its most powerful attack, blowing up their balloon and sending them flying.

"Looks like we're blasting off agaaaaain!" Team Rocket cried out as they were sent off into the horizon. Everyone hugged their Pokémon in joy as they were relieved they had done it again.

"Thanks, Serena," Ash said to her.

"We're lucky you came along before it was too late." Clemont continued. Serena smiled, as she hugged her Sylveon for a job well done.

"Not a problem," she answered. "It was a team thing." Ash chuckled a little as they all enjoyed another victory against Team Rocket.

"Huh? Hey, where were you anyway?" Ash asked. "I've been looking all over for you guys, but you just vanished into thin air." Serena returned Sylveon to its PokéBall and became concerned about how much she'd made them worry.

"I'm sorry," she replied. "I couldn't find an open phone at the Pokémon Center, so I had to go to a payphone a short ways down the road. Luckily, I just finished my call before I saw Team Rocket's balloon with all the Pokémon trapped. Speaking of which, I've got some big news!"

"Hey, so does Ash!" Bonnie interjected. "Go on Ash, tell her!"

"That's okay Bonnie," Ash said. "Mine can wait. What's up Serena?" Ash said that thinking whatever she had would be something from home, unaware that he would soon be wishing he'd never let her go first. Serena took a bit of a breath to help her prepare to say it, and then she blurted it out."

"I just got off the phone with Palermo," Serena started. "She's a big time talent scout for Pokémon Performances. She saw me at the Master Class Performance and she offered me an apprenticeship… I've decided to take it." Everyone's eyes opened wide in awe as Serena told her the good news. They all ran up to her to hug and congratulate her on making it so far towards her dream. Everyone that is, except for Ash…