The following morning, Ash was at the beach training when someone walked up to him. "Hey, little dude, what are you doing up so early?" he asked in a surfers tone of voice.
"Oh I train early in the morning, it just relaxes me I guess," Ash said taking a break.
"Ah, I see, we all have different ways to bond with nature," he said. "From your hair color and style, you're Ash Ketchum aren't you," he points out.
"Yeah, that's me, and I take it that you're the gym leader," Ash said.
"Yup, now tell me, little dude, will you challenge me now or later?" He asked.
"Maybe around the afternoon, I don't want to rush right now," Ash said.
"Excellent, little dude, but when you're ready just swing by the gym," he said before jumping into the ocean.
Seeing that his morning training is up, Ash went to take a shower. "Welcome back," Brock said, "So how was your training?" He asked.
"Good, ran into the gym leader by the way," Ash replied, getting ready to take a shower.
"Hey, Ash when did you get a tattoo?" Max asked as the soul bond mark wasn't there the previous day.
"Oh that, I decided to get a tattoo that's all," Ash shrugged his shoulders but in doing so caused the bolts of lightning to move.
"Think you can help me with my contest before you have your gym battle?" May asked, seeing him exit the shower room.
"Sure, I can teach you a couple of things," Ash said.
On the field, Ash taught May a couple of Contest like strategies with her current Pokémon, "Ash can I ask what the difference between Coordinators and Trainers is?" May asked.
"Well as you've most likely realized; Coordinators are all about stylizing the moves of their Pokémon going for then moves that can easily be changed, while trainers go for moves that have a lot of power behind them, like Hyper Beam and the like," Ash began. "But what they don't count on is the power and stamina, for example, Trainer like to use the more devastating attacks but don't have the stamina to keep fighting while Coordinators have the stamina but don't have the power to make the attacks hit harder for the battle round," he added.
"Has there ever been a person who is both a Coordinator and a Trainer?" May asked understanding that both sides have their pros and cons.
"If there is a person like that then I wish him or her luck as keeping track of where the contests are going to be is a nightmare-inducing headache," Ash said, "Not to mention that with each gym badge won it's only going to get a whole lot harder if they can't keep up the power level," he added.
"So what you're making me do is to increase the power and stamina of my Pokémon before teaching them on how to control it," May guessed.
"Yup, now let's get back to work," Ash said.
Spending most of the morning helping May, Ash decided to bring in Pidgeot to help Taillow with its long-range attacks.
Dewford gym
"Alright, little dude, let's get this battle underway," he said when he saw Ash and his friends enter his gym, which is similar to an actual gym with all the equipment.
"This is a gym battle between Brawly, the Gym Leader, against Ash Ketchum, the challenger," the ref broadcasted. "This will be a two on two battle and it will be decided when all three on one side is unable to battle, trainers please release your Pokémon."
"Ride the waves Machop," Brawly shouted.
"Lock and load Taillow," Ash responded.
"Battle begin," the ref shouted.
"Taillow; Quick Attack and Wing Attack," Ash instructed drawing the first injury of the battle.
"Fast little guy," Brawly said blinking.
"Most of my Pokémon are the speed and power type so I know how to train them," Ash explained.
"Machop: try and hit Taillow with Focus Blast," Brawly ordered.
"Taillow fly under it and unleash Air Slash," Ash countered and luckily Air Slash was able to hit Machop despite it being a new move. "Now Quick Wing," he followed up.
"Defend yourself with Cross Chop then grab it for Seismic Toss," Brawly commanded.
Quicker than Ash was expecting, Machop grabbed Taillow by the wing pulling it into a hug before jumping into the air. "Taillow: Agility to get out of there followed by another Air Slash," Ash called out.
It seems that while Machop held on too tight for Agility to work there was an explosion when Air Slash activated causing Machop to let go while Taillow had to adjust itself mid-flight. "Taillow, are you alright?" Ash asked receiving a nod.
"What about you Machop?" Brawly asked seeing Machop stumbling to get up before kneeling over panting as he was out of breath.
"Machop if you can please use Focus Blast one more time," Brawly instructed.
"Counter it with Air Slash," Ash ordered.
Halfway on the field, the two attacks caused an explosion as smoke and dust went flying, "Now Quick Wing one more time," Ash shouted winning the match.
"Machop is unable to battle Gym Leader please send your last Pokémon," the referee said.
"Fight on, Makuhita," Brawly shouted revealing his final Pokémon.
"Taillow return," Ash said switching Pokémon, "Roar Raksha," he shouted revealing his Electrike.
"Raksha: Swift followed by Quick Attack," Ash shouted.
"Makuhita try and predict where Electrike is coming from then use Arm Thrust," Brawly shouted.
Closing his eyes, Makuhita felt each attack coming from every direction but making a quick turn behind him, Makuhita thruster his arm on Electrike's faces causing Raksha to slide back. However, it seems that Electrike used Thunder Wave right he collided with the opponent's palm.
"Raksha: Thundering Howl," Ash shouted as the combined attack sent Makuhita tumbling back, "Now Wild Charge plus Quick Attack," Ash said following up.
Paralyzed, Makuhita did put up a good fight by using Arm Thrust but Raksha was able to quickly recover, "Makuhita is unable to battle and with both of the Gym Leader's Pokémon unable to battle that means Ash Ketchum is the winner," the referee announced.
Beach
After the gym battle and getting his badge, Ash went to the beach with Amaris and Pikachu while leaving the rest of his Pokémon at the center with Brock. Just looking out at the ocean, Ash didn't care as the waves touched his feet.
"Is something the matter my Prince?" Amaris asked.
"It's something that's been on my mind lately, but I don't know if I should bring it up to mother or not," Ash answered sighing.
"What is it?" Pikachu asked.
"My father from the Silver Millennium," Ash admitted.
"I see, if that's the case maybe you should bring it up to your mother," Amaris replied.
"Auntie, can you send me to the moon, please? I need to talk to mother about something," Ash said.
Hearing this Pluto stepped forward from one of her portals. "Of course my nephew," she said standing aside so that Ash and the Pokémon can enter.
Moon; ruins
Landing on the ruins of the Moon, Ash made a b-line for the throne room, "Mother can I speak to you?" He asked.
"Of course my son," she said appearing in front of him, "Now what is on your mind?" She asked.
"It's about father," he admitted.
"Ah so that is what's bothering you," the queen said, "You wish to learn more about him do you not?" She asked.
"Yes, but it feels wrong for me to ask without Serena as she also has a right to know?" Ash said.
"Well if that's the case then you get to tell her what I told you," she said taking him by the hand and leading him to the steps.
"Now if you didn't know you gained a lot of traits from your father, including his pack like mentality," she began.
"I didn't know that," Ash said.
"Yes, in fact, he was the one who commissioned your transformation belt as it is the one he had," she revealed, "That Henshin belt was in his side of the family for generations and passed it on to you a few years before his death. Another thing is that while you were called the Lunar Lion, he was given the title Solar Wolf. Your father was a lot stricter then I was but would always listen to both sides of the story before admitting justice," she said.
"Do you recall anything else?" Ash asked.
"Yes, you see his family magic allowed him to transform into an animal based on his personality, which is that of a wolf," she answered.
"Because while wolves can go solo they often are seen with a pack," Ash guessed.
"Yes, your father would always go his own way but would always return home when needed," she replied.
"Can I do that?" Ash asked.
"I don't know can you?" She asked back.
Closing his eyes, Ash found himself in what looks like the Silver Millennium before it was attacked.
"It's about time you came here," a gruff sounding voice said.
"Yeah well I'm still trying to collect my memories," Ash retorted turning around.
Standing before him is a silver-furred lion standing up to his thighs with the mane being a lunar white color, "I can't blame you then, so do you want to try it now or later?" The lion asked.
"Let's do it now," Ash answered.
Outside of Ash's mind, the mother saw Ash stand up before centering himself in the center of the room, "Henshin: Lunar Lion," Ash shouted before morphing into his beast form.
Hearing the roar, both Pokémon rushed into the room to see a lion grinning at them.
"Oh my, I never expected to see this," Amaris gasped remembering this form as Pikachu's jaw fell to the floor, "What the fuck," he shouted.
"Yes, I remember a lot of times when Serena and the girls would corner you before dragging you into a makeover," Serenity laughed as Ash paled remembering those times; the amount of nail polish was humiliating to him, but he powered through as it made his sister smile in joy and glee.
Transforming back, Ash asked another question, "How did father die?"
It seems that this was a question his mother wasn't expecting as tears started to form, "That is a question to be answered for another time my son," she replied.
"Of course, you don't have to answer it until you are ready," Ash said pulling her into a hug, "See you later, as I need to return to my current world," he said leaving.
Seeing him go, Serenity thought, "You would be proud of him if you were still alive my love," she said before retreating back into her portrait.
Dewford beach
Landing back on the beach, Ash and the Pokémon returned to the Pokémon Center. "So where to next?" Ash asked.
"Slateport City so we can deliver the parts," Brock answered.
"Great there's also a contest hall in Slateport as well," May said excited for her next and hopefully first contest win.
Heading to the docks, they saw Mr. Briney relaxing on a chair with Pecko sitting on his head. "Hey Mr. Briney, we need a ride to Slateport," Max called out.
"Slateport huh, of course, let's go Pecko anchors away," Mr. Briney called out.
Surfing the seas, Ash gazed out on the water, "So what's on your mind?" Brock asked as the siblings were in the back of the boat.
"Learning about my past life weighs a lot on my mind," Ash admitted.
"Ah, so do you mind telling me anything?" Brock asked.
"Well I have a three-way soul bond between me and two different girls," Ash admitted.
"Wait, what was that? Did you say soul bond and between two other girls?" Brock said actually blinking, revealing his black eyes.
"Yeah, the soul bond is the first three three-way for the first time in centuries in the Silver Millennium," Ash said.
"Think you remember anything about the girls?" Brock asked.
"The first girl is named Sorine and she's the melee fighter of the group while Ivory is the brains being the head of the Silver Millennium's Tech and Science department," Ash explained.
"So both brains and bronze huh," Brock teased.
"Please just because Ivory is the brains doesn't mean that she can't kick my ass," Ash said.
"So that tattoo on your back is the soul bond symbol," Brock guessed.
"Yup," Ash answered.
"Does your mother of this timeline know?" The breeder/doctor in training asked.
"Nope, just like she doesn't know of all my run-ins with the criminals and Legendary Pokémon," Ash admitted.
"So you have a Mega Stone for Blastoise, do you still think you'll be able to get any more?" Brock asked seeing buying one would put a dent in any bank account, for both elite and champion.
"I hope so, but who knows only time will tell," Ash hinted looking up as if he knew that Sailor Pluto was watching him.
