The Rise of Ash

All characters belongs to Hasbro, and Gamefreak, Nintendo for Ash and all of his Pokemons, and also Equestria Girls form the same company

ShiningShadow1965

Chapter 3

As the Ponyta's looked at me with a strange expression Twilight asked me,

"What do you mean who we are?"

"I was asking who you are to me I see Ponyta's talking to me and not on fire that in my book is a bit strange to me." Ash replied,

"Really? Being on fire is not something I would enjoyed normally on this wonderful day." Rarity replied,

"I'm so sorry I implied that its something that I normally see but…...Anyway let me introduce myself my name is Ash Ketchum and I'm a Pokemon trainer and you are?"Ash asked,

"I'm Twilight Sparkle Princess Celestia student in magic and my friends here are…." Before she could introduced the other of the mane 5 when a cyan blue blur appeared in front of Ash,

"Hey Ash my name is Rainbow Dash the fastest flier in the Young Flyer competition three years running and manager of the weather here in Ponyville and all around loyal fan of the WONDERBOLTS!" As she shouted the last part Ash had held his hooves over his ears not to lose any hearing from Dash extremely loud voice,

"Now hold on there sugarcube don't make Ash go deth here, sorry about Dash she can be doing things without thinking., the name is AppleJack."As she extended her hoof towards Ash he shook it and a pink blur landed on Ash but this time the blur is on Ash's head,

"HiyadoingmynameisPinkiePieyouareonecutecoltcanibeyourfriendmarefrienddoyoulikepartieshuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh…..."Ash was so confused and wondered,

"how the heck she is doing this in one breath impossible."

"Pinkie! You got to stop doing that you are confusing that poor colt." said the alabaster white unicorn with the perfectly styled mane and tail,

"Oh i'm sorry Rares." The Pink one jumped off his head and cleared her throat and proceeded to say,

"Dear young man I am Pinkiemania Diane Pie and I'm the resident party planner in this fair town of Ponyville."

"Now Pinkie, you are acting still silly stop this instant." Huffed Rarity,

"Okie, dokie, lokie Rarity." As Pinkie smiled at Ash, at this point he was weirded out by the pink pony and try not to think about it when the alabaster pony introduced herself towards Ash,

"Darling I'm so sorry, that Pinkie can be a hoofull at times my name is Rarity and I owned and run my own shop called the Carousel Boutique in which I design all the clothing here in Ponyville and Canterlot." As she extended her hoof towards Ash he received said hoof from Rarity and pat if softly and said.

"It's a pleasure Miss Rarity." She looked at Ash and a tinge of pink blush appeared on her cheeks and responded.

"It's so good to have a gentlecolt in our midst being very polite to us girls what do you think?" But before any of the girls answer a soft angelic tone from the back of the hospital her fur and wings were that of butter yellow pegasus with a very shy disposition,

"Um…...um…..Hello there Ash my name is um…...um is Fluttershy…..." As she spoke so softly that Ash had to pay close attention to the very timid pegasus.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Fluttershy, It's ok that you are shy around new ponies, you remind me of Jasmine a very good friend of mine."After that comment Fluttershy was surprised by the colt's word and started to blush faintly on her cheeks. After the introductions were done Ash was feeling a bit hungry when his tummy roared a bit. Ash was embarrassed about and said,

"Sorry about that I guess all this rest made me hungry…..." At this point Pinkie invaded Ash's space and said.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, I got something really sweet for you to eat no it's not me but a cupcake."After she said that a cupcake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles was put in the colts mouth and she zipped back to the rest of her friends and waited for a reaction from Ash as he chewed the cupcake he was surprised the taste, the sweetness, and the love she put in the cupcake and hummed in delight on how this confectionery treat was made and he just smiled. Pinkie was ecstatic with joy as she threw confetti up in the air and with a shout says,

"HE LOVES MY CUPCAKE, WOOHOO,."

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh….." As the other mares shushed Pinkie's outburst and Twilight saying,

"Pinkie keep it down we are in the hospital remember?"

"Ooops sorry about that I get so excited when new ponies are here in ponyville and the really cute ones loves my cupcake."After she said that she looked at Ash with that big smile of hers and Ash thought,

"Is that pony that is called Pinkie Pie called me cute? No way, really?…..."

But before he could say another thought Twilight interjected with a question,

"So tell me Ash how did you wound here in Equestria?"

"Well I was walking in the woods going to a new town, after things were getting bad in my town and I needed a new place to visit, actually I've been there before and decided to go back there and think and clear my mind on the matter in my old town."

"What was happening in your old town that you have to leave in the first place" Twilight asked,

"I can't talk about it right now it's still hurts in my heart, give me time and I will explain it to you, if that's ok with all of you." Ash responded, the mane 6 looked at each other and nodded in agreement till Fluttershy said this to Ash,

"I'm so sorry what you went through, but when you tell us we will be here for you Ash no matter what and face this as friends."

Ash smiled as he felt his heart was soothed a small amount of his pain dissipated and like this kind gesture and words that came from the shy animal caretaker before he could say anything else another pony entered the room it was a white earth pony with a pink mane and tail,

"Alright ladies Ash he needs his rest, i'm going to check on is vitals you could come back later for the next visiting hours."The mane 6 nodded and as they were leaving the room Twilight said this,

"Thank you Nurse Redheart, and Ash we will come back later and talk more if you are up for more conversation."

"I would love that thank you all again for saving my life." Ash replied,

"It's nothing any one of us would do for a friend."As they walked out Ash was thinking for a bit when he heard those words "friends….."as a small smile formed on his muzzle and felt warm all inside of his body.

Meanwhile, in Everfree forest….

As a steady groan was heard several beings were waking up from that mysterious portal that appeared that sucked them towards this world and separating them from someone one spoke as he woke up,

"Damn what happened I was with Ash on his shoulder one minute then a flash and now I'm here where ever here is." As that statement was said a yellow with some black stripes that looked like a mouse but something was different he was wearing pants with a strange symbol of lightning encased in a ball with the stream of the lightning extending out in many directions, in which it was held by a belt. As the pokemon was feeling around and noticed the strange clothing on him he was surprised on how he got this pants and how it was put on him, but before he could figure out more about his appearance when he heard two more voices in a short distance running towards him one was a male another was a female as they approached him they were shouting,

"PIKACHU!….PIKACHU!…..THERE YOU ARE!"As the two were approaching Pikachu, he was in shocked as he see the two and knows them by their names of Blaziken and Charizard but their outlook is different first Blaziken is clothed with a very tight body black body suit that accentuate his firm muscles and six pack that is very noticeable and also he is wearing something else of a red gi that is around his waist the top portion that is tied off with a black belt and his blonde hair is flowing and long tied off with a black band, to see what is ahead of him from his blue eyes as he pointed at Pikachu with his black fingerless gloves. The other is a Charizard a female to be exact as she is literally flying towards Pikachu as her flame red top with a fire emblem of a fire ring that is yellow and orange with a tinge of a light red and also she is wearing shorts that accentuate her hourglass figure as she basically tackled Pikachu on the ground and nearly smothering him with her double d's breasts.

"Pikachu i'm so glad we found you." Charizard said,

"Mmmmmmuffffff, mmmmmmm, offffffffffff" Pikachu trying to say and breathe through those breasts.

"Oops sorry." As Charizard released him from her grip and waited till Blaziken arrived with them as he strolls up he looked at Pikachu and snickered a bit at Pikachu fur being all fuzzy and not straightened out,

"Boy you look like you been mobbed by several of your girlfriends till Char decided to have you all by her lonesome."

"Shut up Blaze before I make crispy chicken out of you." As Char shakes her fist at the fighting type before a slight pink tinge of embarrassment was on the bridge of her muzzle, Blaze got a good laugh before he went serious and spoke to Pikachu,

"Well I'm very glad your ok but where are we and the others are not too far behind us and this forest Is giving me the creeps and we need to be out of here soon." As Pikachu looked over the two he knows something is up and Blaze bought up some good points on where are we and why are we changed to these forms and finding Ash is top priority at this point he looked at the two and told this,

"Your right gather the others and get them here with me I got Ash's scent its strong it leading me away from this forest hurry please."

"You got it Pikachu." As they both said this and went in different directions to gather all Ash's pokemons no "his friends" Pikachu thought as he sits and closes his eyes he inhaled deeply in the air to make sure Ash's scent is still there and wondering how this world will treat us at this point.

Elsewhere…..

In the ruins of a once great city there is nothing left of life anywhere where the children played the birds are singing a beautiful tune there is nothing but dead silence and graying skies above but the last building of hope still stands in the face of all despair. Where there is some people left holding out for something that is in need to activate something that will give them a chance to live, as these hallowed halls has so much history as it was interrupted by a loud noise,

"WHAT'S THE HOLDUP? WE HAVE ENOUGH STORED MAGIC TO ACTIVATE THE PORTAL, WHAT'S GOING ON?"

"Sir the separation of the magic has to be right or the portal will collapsed completely or blow up in our faces General sir."A growl that escapes his lips knowing that time is short and this operation needed to done and now. But he knows these things take time but in any other circumstances he will wait but not at this point, because there is a creature the size of three cities combined is standing there a few thousand yards give or take is literally at the front door that's why it is so important to rush things a bit as the workers were setting up a makeshift gateway towards their destination. Before it was more easier as the statue of a general in the past riding a horse and at the base a way to enter to equestria, but that idea as many other in the past was crushed and reduced to dust. But at this point if the doctor's calculations are correct we can make a portal at this point of location…..Who could of imagine the whole magic returning to this realm in a school no less Canterlot High was possible he smiled as he remembers the friends he had here in these hallowed halls and the never ending friendships he made as a teen but right now he is in charge of the very last army in this realm as General of the Marines a four star of course as he looked outside as once the office window of the principal of this school, thank goodness the elements and the principals are safe with their families here at the school ready to jump through the portal when its finally activated. "May God bless us for this trip it's our only hope for survival, and I hope our scout has everything prepared for our arrival and an update on our intended target, and hopefully the next phase of this operation and prepare the subject what is in store." As that thought in Rodrigo's mind was interrupted by the clearing of the throat by one individual who is with a ragtag team of students who volunteered to be in Rodrigo's unit to help out and keep the moral up while they go out in that dangerous wasteland in search for food, water, and other tech needed for the gate.

"Yes Sentry, report."

"Sir, the gate is powering up and we have a stable portal right now."Flash answered,

"That's good get everyone elements first, then families, and then the principals and after that the rest let's…..."

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!, ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR"

"WHAT THE HELL!…." As Rodrigo reached for the radio on the desk he screamed on the mike.

"WHAT IS GOING ON!? REPORT!"

"SIR THAT DAMNED CREATURE HAS STARTED TO MOVED TOWARDS US WE NEED TO SLOW IT DOWN BEFORE IT DESTROYS THE SCHOOL….."

"WHO IS THIS?"

"PRIVATE DUMB BELL SIR!, With Private Score, and Hoops on the North side SIR!" As Rodrigo pondered on the any solutions he ran out of the office and got on the intercom system and made this announcement.

"ATTENTION TO ALL SURVIVORS GO TO THE PORTAL TAKE JUST ONLY FOOD AND WATER AND THE CLOTHING ON YOUR BACK. ELEMENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE ELEMENTS GO FIRST AND PRINCIPALS WE WILL HOLD OFF THE CREATURE AS….."

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!"

"DAMMMMIT WE NEED MORE SOLDIERS HERE ON NORTH SIDE ASAP!"But before the soldiers arriving to the area a large boom outside on the front of the school has collapsed the front doors rendering the school almost non existent but the school structure still held as the remaining hope of students and soldiers shooting at an impossible foe not feeling any pain.

"WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF AMMO SIR WE GOT GRENADES AND ALREADY CLAYMORES AROUND THE PERIMETER BUT THAT IS NOT GOING TO STOP THAT THING." Dumb Bell said,

"WHAT ABOUT THOSE SPECIAL MINES THE DOCTOR RIGGED UP WITH THOSE SPECIAL ROCKS FROM THE GEOLOGY CLUB ARE THEY ARE PREPPED?"Rodrigo asked,

"Yes they are but we need a team to lead that creature to it to damage it but what if it dosen't work?" Asked Dumb Bell,

"Do not question that we loaded with enough obsidian to kill gods ten times over."

"That's only in legends how do you know…..."

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!"Before his eyes a school bus landed where Dumbell, Score, And Hoops where defending the school and making sure the others escape their lives snuffed out in an instant. Rodrigo didn't have time to mourn not yet he shouted.

"MOVE BACK RETREAT TO NEXT FIRE POINT NOW! DOUBLE TIME! SENTRY GET CLOUDCHASER YOU TWO GO TO THE OTHERS AND GET THEM OUT OF HERE NOW!"

"But Sir what about you?" Asked Flash,

"I'm going to make that creature follow me and get to those mines and kill that Son of a bitch once and for all if I can't make it to the portal destroy it so the creature will not follow you towards equestria is that clear?"

"SIR, YES, SIR"

"Right now you need to go to…." Before he could finish the next sentence he was knocked out by a rock by Flash he looked towards Cloudchaser and they both nodded in unison as he took the walkie talkie and said this.

"ATTENTION TO ALL OTHER SOLDIERS REPORT TO PORTAL GATE MAINTAIN THE PLAN AND GET EVERYONE IN THAT PORTAL GENERAL IS DOWN I REPEAT GENERAL IS DOWN NEED MEDIC HERE ASAP, GO AS ACCORDING TO PLAN ME AND CLOUDCHASHER WILL GIVE YOU TIME OVER." As this was said two females came and took the General away one was Trixie and the other was Derpy after they bandage Rodrigo's head they took him away towards the portal, after this was done the two Pegasus began to take off their jackets and started to fly towards the creature since magic has returned and concentrated in one area all the students and faculty starting to imbue their characteristic from earth ponies their great strength, to the great powerful magic from the unicorns, and alicorns.

"ATTENTION TO ALL, WALK IN AN ORDERLY FASHION TOWARDS THE PORTAL WE WILL GET TO ALL OF YOU. REMEMBER AT THE OTHER SIDE WAIT FOR THE REST TILL RODRIGO COMES OUT AND SHUT DOWN THE PORTAL PERMANENTLY…..."

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!"

"DO NOT PANIC OUR SOLDIERS ARE HOLDING OFF THE CREATURE AT THIS MOMENT CONTINUE TOWARDS THE PORTAL AND WAIT AT THE OTHER SIDE."

As this was going on Flash and Cloudchaser was busy leading the creature towards one of the mines with only their sub machine guns, saw off shot guns, and pistols irritating the creature when…

"BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

"ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"IT'S WORKING."shouted flash,

"WE NEED TO LEAD THAT THING TOWARDS THE NEXT ONE, IF WE KEEP DOING THIS THEN IT WILL BE KILLED ONCE AND FOR ALL."But before the next sentence was said an acid ball nearly missed Cloudchaser as she maneuvered with ease,

"CLOUD YOU GOT BE CAREFUL THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN'T PLAY WITH."

"GOT IT."As they continue on their own mission, back at the portal nearly everyone was leaving everything was going smoothly till Trixie and Derpy arrived at the portal by teleportation thanks to Trixie skill in magic as they readying Rodrigo's body by putting him on a stretcher and ready to go through the portal when…

"CRASSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"As a body came through the wall of the school and landed nearby the trio it was Flash cut up bleeding and shaky when trying to stand up his right wing gone by the looks of it and acid splash, his head bleeding profusely and his left eye nearly closed as Trixie asked,

"What happened to Chaser?" Flash just shook his head side to side knowing she didn't make it so they bowed their heads for a bit and Derpy said,

"We need to go to alternate plan 3 now!" Flash knew of this plan, it's because he made this plan up with Derpy, Trixie, and Cloudchaser, he knew that Rodrigo was very important towards his people survival in Equestria so they handed off the stretcher towards two others members of the school as they was about to go to portal Trixie levitated a letter in a manilla envelope and was placed in the stretcher with Rodrigo as the other two students nodded and entered through the portal the three knew what had to be done and stood there waiting for the creature to appear,

"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM, ROOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR."As on cue the creature made his appearance by crashing through that section of wall that flash went through earlier as the three readied their weapons they looked at each other and smiled knowing that this is the end and to make sure their friends made it to the other side and insure their future at this point, as the three ran towards the inevitable they shouted once more.

"NOW PREPARE YOURSELF VILE CREATURE FOR THE AWESOME POWER OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!"

"I DERPY HOOVES IS READY TO DESTROY YOU, THIS IS FOR MY FRIENDS AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PASS!"

"I WILL NOT FAIL MY FRIENDS AS I FLASH SENTRY WILL GIVE MY FINAL BREATH TO STOP YOU AT ALL COST!"

As the three went headlong into battle the rest passed through the portal as the change from the human forms towards their pony counterparts something was different in Rodrigo's case as he lay there unconscious till a bright light signaling that their journey ends at this point. As the final rest came out from the portal they looked around and noticed a lush green forest but is not Everfree it's different more quieter and very peaceful until one pony with a Lyra cutie mark recognized it and said,

"I think we made it to Equestria this forest I think it's White tail forest wow it's so colorful and the air is so clean and sweet…." But before Lyra could say anymore the final three arrived and their transformation was complete with the exception of Rodrigo as he shifted around,

"Ohhhhhhhh, damn my head, what's going on…..SENTRY!, CLOUDCHASER!, FRONT AND CENTER….."After that order was made none came forward,

"WHERE THE HELL ARE THEY! ANSWER ME!"A lone pony came forward with a double swords crisscrossing with a shield in the front of the swords as a cutie mark and said,

"Those two are in other side of the portal fighting that creature, and making sure we will get through and plus Trixie and Derpy are there also with them fighting that creature also."

"NO, no, no,no They are not to do THIS! THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO DIE I PROMISE TO GET ALL OF YOU HERE ALIVE NOT LIKE THIS! NO, NO, NO, …."

"SIR..."

"WHAT IS IT!"

"The portal is acting strange it's glowing like something big is trying to come through."Rodrigo's eyes widened and knew what is coming through,

"Get everyone back NOW!, I will go back and stop this creature…."But before he could go back at the other side we see the last of the small army still alive As Derpy was crawling towards a switch that was designed to blow up the entire school that has the largest deposit of obsidian in the history of Canterlot High she looked back at her friends laying dead did their very best to slow down the creature to no avail as it slowing crawling towards the portal she smiled as she pulled the lever and screamed her final breath,

"FREEDOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!"

"KATHROOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!" As the school engulfed in a massive explosion that could be seen for miles a roar was heard and something else is happening as the planet is cracking and shaking with so many earthquakes as the largest deposit of obsidian was laying on a major fault line that lead to the core of the planet and set off a major chain reaction that literally tear the planet apart the doctor knew of this and told the General about it and he knew that someone will pull that lever and destroying that beast once and for all as the planet started to fall away and literally being torn apart the creature knew what it have to be done and disappeared in flash as the explosion was going through the portal and heading towards Equestria Rodrigo was about to step in the portal when he heard,

"THROOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM…..."

"What the Hell…...OH GOD NO….GET BACK ALL OF NOW DOUBLE TIME!" As the scream of the people was heard it was time for his magic to come forth in a shout,

"CHAOS SHIELD!" As a rainbow colored aura surrounding the portal gate as the explosion ripped through the gate Rodrigo contained the explosion and shrunk down the exploding gate and all slowly but surely till it's so small that he crushes it with his paw,

"Paw? I NEED A MIRROR…."As a Mirror was magically appeared in front of Rodrigo he looked at his face and features and noticed that he is not a pony but a being walking on two legs with ice cool blue eyes, chocolate brown fur with blonde on the top of his hair and his belly which is a natural six pack he has canine teeth to rip and shred meat and a muzzle slightly larger than a pony's he closed the compact and closed his eyes and sighed and thought,

"They didn't deserve to die like that none of them did, so young I didn't ask them to volunteer they joined up on their own free will knowing some of them will not come back it should have been me I lived a very long life, that should have been me Damn it, Damn it all to hell…..."

"Sir there a letter for you it was on your stretcher." Rodrigo opened the letter and it was a letter written by Trixie,

"Sir, I know we disobeyed your orders but we have to do it to save everyone including you me, Flash, Derpy, Cloudchaser, and Score, Hoops, and Dumbbell, decided to play hero and make sure everyone got out and made sure that damn creature will never set foot in Equestria, but all in all we knew of the great sacrifice we must do as you approve it or not we are Rays Of Hope and we will shine brightly in the dark as it always been. Thank you for opening our eyes and making us something we thought could never happen being the responsible, respected, admired, and inspired of the great courage we have done on this day now just go on and never forget us we will be waiting in heaven for the final outcome of this war once and for all.

Sincerely,

Trixie Lulamoon

Flash Sentry

Cloudchaser

Derpy Hooves

Score

Hoops

Dumbbell"

As Rodrigo read the last passage he had a sad look on him and he knew what needs to be done and looked around till he saw in the distance a very large house with several acres of land in the distance as he approached the people he took a small breath and said,

"Okay everyone gather your belongings and head out straight ahead towards east in this direction the house is there and everything will be there for us to prepare for our next phase of this operation."

"And that is sir?"

"To assimilate in the pony society and work and earn bits to put forward in food and clothing and weapons and anything else we can think of but right now when we get to the house set up a grand dinner for everyone."

"For what purpose for this dinner" Rodrigo looked at the pony and asked him,

"What is your name?"

"Duo Blade sir."

"Well the dinner is for moral support and a remembrance for those who died to get us here I want a list of those who died in the last six months we stayed at Canterlot High and I will read those names and finally called them heroes, for their sacrifice."

"I understand after that what now at this point I understand we have a scout here already checking out the target as we speak."

"Yes she is at this point we need to get the target's attention and bring him over to see us and explain what his true path has brought him here in the first place, I hope he is more receptive and understands us and I hope our scout will not fail us." Rodrigo said,

"Have we met this scout beforehand sir?" Duo asked,

"Yes you have she been to Canterlot High for awhile now and she is close friends with our Elements."

"Sir?"

"Sunset Shimmer, she volunteered this mission and since then she has been waiting for our target to arrive and setting up the mansion and the food and other things since then. She has been actively working behind the scenes buying time for us to arrive now that we are here send out a note and post an ad in the Ponyville press newspaper she will read it and report to the house asap."Rodrigo explained,

"Sir yes, sir on it right now." As the other ponies left the area and heading towards Ponyville to complete this task Rodrigo was standing there thinking and hoping everything will go as planned right now another thought that popped up in his head that he has to be extra careful on a certain alicorn princess that he muttered one word,

"Celestia, I hope you don't interfere in our plans if you do then I will be forced to take you down any means necessary."

And now the players are on the field and ready to tackle on anything that will be thrown at them but for the time being their leader is already has a plan in place for everything and more back up plans to shake a stick at right now everything falls on Ash and his decisions to make Equestria and the other multiverses safe once and for all.

Author's note: I know this is something I was doing at the time, with the delays and such. But the reason why I write this is because of one author that really inspired me to write better love stories in the chapter of Rays of Hope, Options, and Rise of Ash that author left here dissatisfied on how he has not appreciated it here. Well, I'm going to give a shout out and applause to SaiyanUltima for his works Seeing both parts, Villian Romance Chronicles, My all time fave Truth of Harmony, and many others that are in FimFiction check them out and leave a review. The reason for this is how he written so much and so rich on the words that gives the impression of actually being there, and henceforth why I'm inspired to reach that bar in the words and how to direct them here for my readers to see and understand where I'm coming from and creating so much pleasure in my stories when you guys and gals read them and leave a review that makes my day. Please show appreciation on the authors past and present here or in FimFiction by reading their works and leave a review on how you think of the story, ok right now I'm getting my notebook out and will start writing the next chapter of Rays of Hope that is written there and will be transcribed here for my fans and thank you for hearing me out.