"First off, welcome back everyone. It's been a while since we've all been here to go over things." Professor Cerise said to the group.
Ash looked around, while there weren't many of them, what he said was true. Between his amnesia, and Goh having to leave abruptly, it had been a bit since they all were here. It was nice to see the lab back to how it used to be.
"Ash, Goh you two need to check on the Pokémon, make sure everything back there is, well normal for here. Chloe, you work with your mom on cleaning up the house side. Ren and Chrysa you're with me cleaning up, and organizing the main lab. Any questions?" Professor Cerise spouted off. "Yes Ash?"
"Why are we doing this?" Ash asked, the thought on everyone's mind.
"There's going to be a camera crew and news reporters coming through here tomorrow, so I want everything to look nice." Professor Cerise said.
"We're going to be interviewed!" Goh said amazed.
"No, you three will be on camera for a bit, but this is more to do with the research we've accomplished here. They will mostly be speaking to us three." Professor Cerise said, referencing him, Chrysa and Ren.
"So we aren't getting any credit for what we're doing!" Ash exclaimed angrily.
"Ash, I chose the ones who would be part of the main interview for good reasons. Chloe had stage fright, and that might extend to being camera shy. You weren't even you when I gave the names. Then Goh, well at that point it was a coin toss between him and Ren." Professor Cerise admitted. "They may interview or film you, but you aren't required to do much. You will have the day to yourselves."
In the park
"Ash, just calm down." Goh said.
"I'm calm, I'm super calm!" Ash said very stressed.
"Look, I'm not happy about it either, but we are still getting credited for our work, we just don't have to be on camera all day." Goh said, having been there when this all started.
"I guess I could use the time to find a challenger." Ash said.
"See, that's a great idea!" Goh said enthusiastically. "Now come on, we still have a lot of ground to cover."
In the kitchen
"Mom, where am I expected to be tomorrow?" Chloe asked earnestly.
"We'd like you to be here." Talia said calmly.
"No, I mean I'm one of the labs researchers, but I'm also dad's daughter. Which side of the lab should I be on?" Chloe asked.
"Well that's a good question, what side do you feel you're a part of?" Talia responded.
"I don't know. I want to be known for how I've helped, but at the same time I want to support dad as part of his family." Chloe said concerned.
"Maybe there will be time for you to be both." Talia said, embracing her child.
The next day
"Chloe? Goh? Where's Ash?" Professor Cerise asked.
"Research field." Goh said making sure he looked good.
"Swellow use Aerial Ace! Totodile use Waterfall! Torterra use Leaf Storm! Muk use Sludge Bomb!" Ash's voice called out.
Professor Cerise followed the sounds to find Ash in a battle against, himself? Ash was fighting several of his own Pokémon.
"Ash what are you doing! The news crew will be here in a bit!" Professor Cerise freaked.
"Relax, just trying some new tactics against my dragon type Pokémon." Ash said, looking at a notebook.
"Ash, you're needed up there." Professor Cerise said.
"Okay, I'll go get ready for the five minutes I'll be on camera." Ash said, reluctantly.
After the initial introduction, and quick overview of how they helped, Ash, Goh, and Chloe retreated to Ash's room.
"So what did you do this time to make my dad angry?" Chloe asked.
"Nothing, and why is it we always go to my room?" Ash asked. "I was trying to figure out another way to fight dragons anyways."
"Neutral ground." Goh and Chloe said in sync.
"Hmm, email from the Lumiose Gazette? What would Alexa want?" Ash asked rhetorically.
Hey Ash, saw your battle against Drasna. Hope you're doing okay. If you want a chance against dragon types, take a look at these Pokémon I found in Glimwood Tangle. Noivern could barely touch them.
-Alexa
"Where's Glimwood Tangle?" Goh asked over Ash's shoulder.
"Galar, another reason to go there, that Professor Cerise won't allow." Ash said sinking into his chair.
"What if we gave him a reason, that look kind of like a Ponyta. What if we caught one from here in Kanto, and for research caught one in Galar?" Chloe offered.
"Do you think that'll work?" Ash retorted.
"He went crazy about the Farfetch'd so I don't see why not." Chloe responded.
"Well, then that brings up problem A, where are we going to find a Ponyta. I don't have any flyers with me, and I don't think your dad wants us in the labs field right now." Goh said.
"I have some." Ash responded holding up pokeballs.
Shortly afterwards the three trainers were on Charizard, Dragonite, and Noivern heading towards Fuschia.
"Reports show Ponyta often gather West of the city." Goh said looking at his phone.
"Everyone know their part?" Ash asked.
"Yep, I get there attention, while you pick one off, and then Goh goes in for the capture." Chloe said.
The plan went south immediately. As soon as Ash tried picking one off from the heard, they all began chasing after him.
"Noivern use BoomBurst!"
The attack sent some of the group back, but many were still after him.
"Shouldn't we help him?" Goh asked.
"He did his part, now you do yours. Ash will be fine." Chloe said.
Out in the distance was a single Ponyta that had been injured from Ash's attack.
"Noivern into the air!" Ash yelled climbing on, thinking he'd be safe. Suddenly he was surrounded by Rapidash that had sprung up.
"Of course. Noivern! Keep climbing!" Ash said, trying to get away.
Up and up they flew, eventually to high for their pursuers to follow. Looking back down, Ash saw the Ponyta and Rapidash waiting for him. He had Charizard and Dragonite, so heading back to the lab immediately wasn't an option.
"Charizard! Dragonite! We're going down fighting!" Ash called out the other draconic pokemon. "Noivern use Boom Burst! Charizard use Blast Burn! Dragonite use Hurricane! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
The four attacks scattered the heard, clearing a landing area for Ash.
"Let's go you two! They'll be back soon!" Ash yelled to Goh and Chloe.
Back at the lab
"In local news, a group of young trainers disturbed a large group of Ponyta and Rapidash, quickly leaving the scene after it began. More on this at eight." A newscaster said.
"When I wanted to have the lab be on the news, this ain't what I had in mind." Professor Cerise scolded. "You all will be held responsible for any damages caused."
"No, it was all me." Ash said walking up. "I was the one who flew to Fuschia to try and get a Ponyta, I figured with that I'd be able to go to Galar to get a Ponyta from their for research."
"Ash it was a group of trainers." Professor Cerise interrupted.
"Can you tell who they are? Last I checked I'm the only one with a Charizard, Dragonite, and Noivern around here." Ash said standing his ground.
"Very well, if that's what you say happened, I have no choice but to believe you." Professor Cerise said angrily.