Ash, Goh, and Chloe had returned to the lab late the previous night. Goh and Chloe had been oddly quiet, and only left their rooms for meals, while Ash had more or less been his regular self. He was currently in the lab's field training. 'I know I should be helping them, but I don't want to force them to bring it up, I'd rather Goh and Chloe say something first.' Ash thought to himself.
"Ash, if you have a moment." Professor Cerise said walking up. "Of course Professor. How can I help you?" Ash said snapping out of his thoughts. "It's about your mission in Sinnoh. Exactly what happened to Goh and Chloe?" Professor Cerise said worried. "We fought something that showed us our worst nightmares. It's something very few people can confront." Ash said calmly. "You're worst nightmares? So does that mean you faced yours as well?" Professor Cerise asked shocked. "I've faced my worst nightmares plenty of times. Every time I lose a battle I fear that's what I'll be remembered for, and for a lot of people that's the most they remember about me. So I keep trying, I keep pushing towards my dream. So that one day I'll be remembered for something great." Ash said excitedly.
"So, then how do we take care of Goh and Chloe's problems?" Professor Cerise asked worriedly. "I know why you're especially worried right now. I saw the memo." Ash said looking out into the distance. "We'll be going to other labs in two days." Ash said solemnly. "Yes, and I worry that they won't be emotionally ready at this rate." Professor Cerise said. "So what can we do to help?" "For now we reassure them that their fears aren't real. I feel right now Goh needs an adult to confide in, while Chloe really needs a friend." Ash said thoughtfully. "Then I'll try to talk with Goh, while you go and talk to Chloe." Professor Cerise said. "Sounds like a plan." Ash replied.
"Chloe?" Ash asked, knocking on her door. "Can I come in?" Ash finished. "Go away!" Chloe shouted. "Chloe, please just open the door. I just want to talk." Ash pleaded. "No, you think I'm too weak to be a field researcher." Chloe said, her voice shaking. "I don't think that, and neither does Goh." Ash said, trying to reach her. "Look, what we faced, it's called Darkrai. It can manipulate dreams and make nightmares real. No one thinks you can't do this, and you've been getting better and more self reliant every mission." Ash said, trying to motivate her. "I should just quit now, shouldn't I?" Chloe said defeated. "No! I mean… Chloe, I can't make that decision for you. If you want to quit I won't stop you, but the team, it wouldn't be the same without you. You're an amazing researcher and a talented battler. You beat Misty on your first try. It took me 4 tries to beat her, and that was only recently." Ash said with a small laugh. There was no response. "If you want to talk, I'm always willing to listen." Ash said glumly, walking away.
"Goh, I'd like to talk about what happened on your last mission." Professor Cerise said from the open doorway. "I can't do it Professor, I never should have caught it." Goh panicked. "Don't talk like that. You did what you had to, why don't you tell me what you saw?" Cerise asked. "Eternatus, it… it broke free. I couldn't stop it, it's too powerful. It's still out there somewhere!" Goh shouted, freaking out. "Goh! Goh! Calm down. Eternatus is safely kept sealed away in Galar." Professor Cerise said trying to calm Goh down. "How do you know that! It could be loose, and no ones been able to contact us because it destroyed everything!" Goh screamed. "Hey Professor, I was wrong. Chloe really needs her family to comfort her right now." Ash said walking up. "Perhaps you'll have better luck with Goh. He's panic struck right now." Cerise said, handing off the job.
"Hey Goh." Ash said calmly, approaching his friend. "It's coming for me. I made it angry and now it wants revenge!" Goh shouted. "Hey, hey. How about we call Professor Magnolia, just to see if they're okay?" Ash suggested. "But, but". Goh stammered. "If she doesn't answer we'll try Leon, and Sonia. Then if no one answers, we'll go to Galar and check it out ourselves, okay?" Ash suggested. "Okay, let's give them a call." Goh said a bit calmer.
"Chloe? Sweetie? We're coming in now." Professor Cerise said, coming in the door with his wife and Parker. "Is everything alright honey?" Talia asked, wrapping her daughter in a hug. "Am I not good enough?" Chloe asked, tears in her eyes. "Why would you ever think that?" Cerise asked sitting down. "I… I saw in the fog. Ash and Goh. They, they said I just slowed them down, and they left me behind." Chloe said full on weeping. "Chloe, Ash and Goh are your friends, they'd never do that, and besides they couldn't do it if they wanted to." Cerise said comforting her. "Have you talked to them about this?" Talia asked. "No, I, I I'm afraid of what they'll say." Chloe said sniffling. "I'm sure they'd agree that they still want you on their team if you asked." Parker piped in. "Bark!" Boltund yipped, licking her face. "Thanks guys, I think I'll go talk to them." Chloe said shakily.
"Sorry to bother you Professor Magnolia." Ash said over the video phone. "Not a problem children. How can I be of service?" Magnolia asked. "We just wanted to calm some fears, can we see Eternatus's pokeball, if it's not too much trouble." Ash asked. Goh was still nervous, awaiting for some relief. "Of course, just a moment." Professor Magnolia said walking off to go get it. "Ash, Goh, Can I talk to you two?" Chloe said from the doorway. "I think we have a minute, what do you want to talk about?" Ash asked turning around. "Do you two find me, bothersome?" Chloe asked nervously. "What, no! Why would you think that?" Goh asked somewhat hurt by the question. "Probably for the same reason you are worried Eternatus escaped." Ash said trying to keep things calm.
"It's just, you two keep loaning me Pokémon to get around, and I'm worried it makes things more difficult for you." Chloe said. "Chloe, we agreed to share our Pokémon with you for as long as you needed to get some of your own." Goh said comfortingly. "You did, when?" Chloe asked, surprised. "Just after you started working with us." Ash said leaning back. "You've never been a burden, and you're always welcome to join us." Goh said giving her a hug. "I'm back." Professor Magnolia said walking onto the screen. "And here is Eternatus's pokeball." She said holding up the pokeball. "Will it keep holding it?" Goh asked. "For as long as you need it to." Professor Magnolia responded.
"Hey Goh." Ash said, catching up with him. It was a bit later in the day and things had calmed down a bit. "Yeah Ash?" Goh responded turning around. "When you're ready, I'll help you to train Eternatus." Ash said with confidence. "Train it!?" Goh said shocked. "Sure, it should be just like any other Pokémon, just a bit bigger." Ash said smiling. "Thanks Ash." Goh said, returning the smile.
