GS ball unlocked

Chapter 38, Trying to understand

The two didn't really know where to start. After all the fighting they did and seeing the Kalos Queen break down left a nasty feeling in their mouths. As much as they wanted to blame each other it would only make the situation worse.

Palermo as a person knew she was a bit susceptible to showing tough love. The boy must've interpreted it wrong and saw it as a challenge since he always was so eager to prove himself. At the slightest hint of someone doubting him he went defensive and showed his confidence in everything he did backing it all up. She started with her first question.

''Why do you purposefully want a Sky Battle?''

Ash on the other hand didn't understand why Palermo was against him having a Sky Battle with Team Union. Ever since they showed themselves and explained the ''Rules of Conduct'' he'd been going along wanting nothing more but to beat them at their own game. He knew if he went through the ranks their leader would show up eventually carrying the GS ball.

''And why exactly are you like this to me?''

''I've seen how sure you are of yourself. These are dangerous people.. I can see Serena cares about you a lot. You're not a specialist in that area of battling. He challenged you to a Sky Battle for a reason. He must have years of experience while you only a few hours at most.'' She worried about his safety. Sky Battles were allowed under strict regulations but this would be a no holds barred battle. Everything goes and that would include attacking the other trainer. Sure the boy won't do that to his opponent but can you say the same about his foe?

''It's the only I can get back what I'm after. They stole something a friend of mine had and he asked me to get it back. That's the whole reason I came back here in the first place. They wanted me and so here I am.''

''I know you were a key player five years ago in stopping Lysandre. Aren't you sacred what could happen to you now? Team Flare might've had a different motive than they do, I can tell they're a bit more open than them and especially to you.'' This was the whole reason she didn't like Serena being around him. Team Union might've been a remnant of Team Flare and were targeting him specifically since he had a hand in their leader's disappearance. Sure Serena helped that time as well but him and Alain were the first line of defense that time.

''Why are you so compliant when it comes to them? There's a reason you came here and I want to know why.''

''I don't see why I should involve you in this. This is my problem.''

''And yet you involve all your friends in this.''

Serena knew the danger when she first went with him. Reports of the Laverre City ball, Hotel missile and the Battle Chateau mayhem which that group was associated with the producer wanted the current Kalos Queen in eyesight.

''I've been protecting Serena this entire time and it was her who wanted to come with me ever since I came back to Kalos. Even if Shauna didn't tell me about the knight who's after she would've come with me either way. Few things can stop her when she made her mind up.'' He wanted to clear that it was him that asked Serena to go with him on this dangerous mission. Before Shauna came to him and told him about that one knight in particular Serena forced him to take her with him.

''I get the feeling.'' Palermo and Ash did have something in common. Both were well known with the honey blonde performer and knew just how persistent she can be in some cases. Ash remembered how she went up in his face forcing him to take her with him.

''You still didn't explain why you're here. And details this time.''

''There's a Pokéball they stole from a friend in Johto. I'm here to get it back.'' Palermo wasn't satisfied with this. No way he travelled across the world for a regular Pokéball. Those things were extremely cheap and pretty much everyone could get their hands on one. Ash coming all the way here for one ball didn't make sense unless it was a Masterball of some sort.

''There has to be more than that. What's so special about it?'' As reluctant as he was to tell her the full story he started by saying that he once had the GS ball which he, Professor Ivy, Professor Oak and Kurt couldn't open not knowing what's inside. He continued on until the point where they are now in time.

''So you are friends with Kurt the Pokéball maker and one day he contacted you saying it got stolen and send you to get it back correct?''

''That was the plan. Although I was only expecting one thief and not a whole team again.''

''Repeating my question. Why do you follow their rules?''

''If I beat them with the rules they set up it takes me one step closer to the GS ball. Now you owe me an answer. Why don't you want me to have a Sky Battle?''

''It's because I don't like Flying type Pokémon.''

For the first time when the producer said something Ash didn't have any comeback. Wasn't a Kalos Queen supposed to love all types of Pokémon no matter looks, typing or behavior? Only going from the description Serena gave of Palermo, she loved Pokémon as much as she herself did. Not coming along with her was partially his fault but a Kalos Queen disliking a type was unheard of.

Then why were they here at the first place? If the producer hated Flying type Pokémon so much she willingly surrounded herself with them. The conversation shifted from moot to tense. He could see her stiffen up and not willing to say anything more.

''I'm only doing this for them. I don't want to be here at all. I hate this place. If there was any other place as safe as this I would go there instead.'' She turned around and asked herself if she should tell him. This was a closely guarded secret of hers and been bottling it for a few decades now.

From the way she shook Ash could tell she was about to shed tears. Whatever happened must be a bad memory for her and might even be something her students and Shauna didn't know.

''Then why here of all places? What happened?'' Showing compassion for the first time in the presence of the producer. She'd been bottling something up and it might help them both bring a tiny bit of closure.

''I once had a student named Francine. If you didn't know she was a Kalos Queen in the time gap between my reign and Aria's. She was my very first student. Just like Serena and Aria trained beneath me. She begged me to become her mentor. I wasn't really accepting anyone but she was pestering me so much that eventually I conceded. Sounds familiar?'' Throwing in a small joke in her story. Ash understood about who she was talking about. It was hard not to know.

''She loved to fly. She gained fame because of her Skydances. She and her Pokémon were always in sync and it always seemed she flown with them during her performances.'' Fondly remembering her.

''Francine performances always had flawless executions and always left the crowd in all sorts of emotions. Flying all over the place as it were. She was a risk taker. Kind of like you are right now.'' She could see some resemblances of Francine in Ash and it scared her. All the signs were there.

''One day I received a call. She…flew into a ravine. People looked for her for days, weeks, months. But never found something. Even her Pokémon were missing. Since that time I never took on another student for decades. I distanced myself from showcases to focus on other forms of entertainment and to get distracted not thinking about her. Everything to get my mind off her…'' Ash already knew what she meant. But if Francine was the reason she never wanted to do anything with showcases anymore begs the question.

''Don't put this on Flying type Pokémon. Just because something happened to her doesn't mean you can put the blame on them.''

''I know I shouldn't. But it's so difficult seeing one since she loved them so much.'' She know it was wrong too have this mindset. But it was so inrooted into her mind that for decades she didn't change her attitude towards them. In the beginning she drowned herself in work just to get her mind of things and not to deal with her problem with the specific type.

''So why did you train Serena and Aria then?''

''Aria was just so stubborn. She just would take no for an answer.'' This is what Palermo always meant with their would never be another Queen like Aria again. Despite Serena's achievements, it was the red headed performer that rekindled her love in showcases.

Ash could see where this was going and understood her situation. Serena did tell him she wasn't shy of tough love and he might've seen it wrong. Despite reading up on social etiquette there still might be some things missing in that area. Just another thing to train up with.

''I want Serena to be safe as well. Thinking about it being my fault that he's after her instead of me is just…''

''Infuriating and makes you lash out in frustration even if you don't mean it?'' With all her experience she ended his train of thought. Their ways conflicted but they had the same goal in mind. Keeping everyone safe with their methods and even ignoring other people's advice cause their way was supposed to be better.

''I can now see why she wanted you. You're a good friend.'' The first bit of kind words from Palermo to Ash. Even if she meant it he couldn't enjoy it. Not after all the things he did to her.

''Lying, cheating, arguing with the people she loves. I didn't even know she was the Kalos Queen ever since I came back. Some friend I am.'' The old lady found it strange he didn't know. A new Kalos Queen is always a major occasion in Kalos and even other regions at least had some sort of report on it. Had he'd been living under a rock for so long?

''Where did you train?''

''Mount Silver.''

''Close enough.'' If he left for Mount Silver right after his Kalos journey and been there for five years without a news report it made sense why he didn't know at the time. And it also explained where all that power and confidence came from.

''Truce?'' The old woman held out her hand in apology. Most of their differences weren't settled but at least put on ice for the time being. Time and place for everything Palermo figured. First thing on her mind was Serena and how exactly she and him were going to make up for every nasty little thing they did the last few days.

Ash shook her hand for now. Hoping that this act would to make the Kalos Queen at least a fraction happy and cure her of her depression. Seeing something white on his rest Palermo rolled up his sleeve and took a look at the wristband he was carrying. Her eyes widened at seeing the shiny ring with the yellow crystal placed inside it.

''Where did you get that?'' She hadn't seen one of those since forever.

''What's it to you?'' The mood changed again for the worse. What was it to her in how he acquired a Z-ring in the first place. But the truce factor played in and he decided to tell her. It was the least he could do after she poured her heart out about her first student.

''I got it in Alola from the Island Guardian of Melemele Island. Tapu Koko gave it to me.'' Reaching for something in her pocket she pulled out a wristband similar to Ash's. It looked pretty much worn down and not well kept as his was.

''I've received mine from Tapu Bulu.'' Contrasting the ring was a green crystal in the middle. Ash recognizing it as the Grassnium-Z he also possessed.

''You have a Z-ring too?''

''Perhaps these rings also give an indication of the kind of character you are. The guardians are sometimes battling against each other to see who's the strongest. Maybe their situation applies to us as well right now.''

Tapu Koko is a special Pokémon that protects the area where it lives. It's called the guardian deity of Melemele Island, one of the islands of the Alola region. Although it's known as a guardian deity, it's a fickle Pokémon, and will not necessarily come to your aid if you need help.

Ash and Pikachu battled against it on multiple occasions. Every time they've grown stronger the Guardian challenged him and Pikachu to a battle. Every time the two had a feeling they got closer to beating him until his in Alola came to an end. Maybe on a return trip one day he could find and challenge the Pokémon again.

Tapu Bulu, despite its fearsome power it is largely inactive, leading some to consider it a lazy Pokémon. It has is quite peaceful and does not like to cause trouble. For this reason, it rings the bell on its tail to alert others of its presence in order to warn them of its arrival. The ruined Tapu Village stands as another example of the guardian's wrath.

One day a project developer had the bright idea to build a mall on top of sacred ground. Tapu Bulu thought otherwise and stories went about he scared the humans away swinging around tree trunks on its arms destroying everything around it until they would flee. The situation the two found themselves in resembled the Tapu's. Both characters had a similarity to their Z-ring granters and it was only logical they clashed on different levels.

''Do you know how to use it?''

Z-rings despite their regularity in Alola weren't given out that easy. Only if the Island Kahuna's had a good feeling about the trainer or a reward for performing an amazing feat that benefitted the island they were on.

''I feel like I've been giving a lot of demonstrations with it lately. I can show you the poses though.'' He told her. That wouldn't do. Having a Z-ring is one thing. If his story about Tapu Koko is true and he knew how to use it would be a good step into trusting him fully.

''Show me.''

Ever since I came up for the concept for this story this part had been in my head for about a year now. Feels good to finally get it out.

See you around.