Author's Note: This is word emphasis

Chapter 8

On the way to Oreburgh City:

With tips from Pidgeot Starly is working on Aerial Ace with some help from his trainer as well. Ash's traveling group had grown by two, his father, Red, and the dark type specialist Hotaru had decided to travel with them as well. Natsuki was currently with Hotaru having practice battles between their pokémon. Of course, her heart wasn't in it at the moment, but that didn't stop her from training her pokémon. It just about killed Ash that all he could do for Natsuki right now was be there. Red was infuriated himself, and the rest of the Original Dexholders...well, Yellow was making a trip to Twinleaf Town with Sapphire, Green, Crystal, and Moon. Oh yes, the Dexholder females were going to tear Platina a new one for what she had done, and take her PokéDex as well. The Understander was going to be in for a rough time of it, especially once her high society friends found out both of her daughters wanted nothing to do with her, her husband was starting the process to file for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and then after Volkner and Natsuki meet she'd get hit with a custody suit as well.

All told, she was going to get bitch slapped by cold, hard, unforgiving reality. Dawn is currently brushing Buneary while her baby Eevee sleeps on her lap. It pained her that her older sister had suffered so much, and her father had let her know that he was going to file for divorce. Dawn honestly didn't care at this point. Her mother had made her damned bed, and now she could lie in it. If it made her a damned outcast then so be it. Natsuki had been hurt enough, all because her mother had been punishing her for the fact that Natsuki even existed. Platina had been the one to get knocked up, to use Uncle Dia's words, and Natsuki had gotten the short end of the stick. Hell, Platina could have given her to Volkner, and that still floored Dawn, her big sister's father happened to be the Sunyshore Gym Leader.

Red watches over Natsuki carefully. He knew damned well she actually needed someone to be a parent to her. Dia couldn't come with them, but she trusted him enough, probably because Ash got his personality from Red himself. He also knew she wouldn't allow herself to be vulnerable around anyone else either. Once Ash takes a break from training Red nods to Natsuki, and Ash gives an understanding nod back. It was time to get his girlfriend to vent again. No one thinks anything of Ash leading Natsuki deeper into the woods. Hotaru had been discreetly filled in on what had gone down between Natsuki and her female genetic contributor. If the girl only felt safe enough to vent with either Ash or his father...no one would blame her.

Once far enough away that no one would hear anything that was said Ash sighs, " You have to let it all out before it poisons you, Nat, you know that. "

Natsuki frowns, yeah, she did, but that didn't mean she had to actually accept it. Ash forces her to meet his look, " I am not going anywhere, Nat. It's just us right now, you and me. I can't even begin to understand what it must be like for you, but I can be the shelter in your storm of emotions. "

It almost physically pained him to see such astonishment in her eyes, had she never been allowed to show emotional weakness? He's ready when her iron control over her emotions crumbles, easily supporting her weight. He says nothing as he holds her close, he knew it would be a long time before the emotional damage done to her was even remotely close to healing. He also knew she would never return to Sinnoh after this, she hadn't wanted to return anyhow. He understood that better too, with everything that had come to light.

With the others Hotaru's new Honchkrow, Erebus has yet to return from a simple scouting mission, and that was when they meet a lady by the name of Rosebay. Brock's new Croagunk keeps him from flirting while she informs the group of her observations. Red smirks wickedly, and elsewhere Blue, Green, and Yellow all shudder. Red was in a TROLLING MOOD. Yes, with Red it needed to be in all capitals as well. " This is the perfect opportunity to use my newest pokémon too! "

Every Original Dexholder shudders as one except for Gold, he'd been the one to give Red this particular pokémon. Red, The Battler/Fighter had an actual Zorua in his possession now. Unknown to Red Giovanni shudders as well. Red can't resist the urge to cackle as he calls out his Zorua whom takes on Aero's appearance, and heads out to find out what was up. Just because Zor was new did not mean Zor was not a powerhouse in his own right. Red was someone that could kick your ass with a new, inexperienced pokémon because his battling instincts were that damned good. Oddly enough Jessie, James, and Meowth weren't behind this scheme, they were Pearl and Big Pearl fishing at the moment while the two humans also looked after their eggs. This scheme was the work of Clay and Allison. Clay has orange hair and Allison has neon green hair. This Team Rocket pair has no idea what they're in for.

They had never believed in the horror stories told to new recruits about The Battler/Fighter. They would soon find out the hard way those tales were not exaggerated in any way. Red would even be nice and send them to Silver via Teleport Transport too.

Mahogany Town:

Silver stands up straighter and starts rubbing his hands together, eerily mimicking Green in a money making scheme. He was about to get actual dirt on his father, he just knew it. Thirty minutes later Clay and Allison land at his feet, and he smirks as he reads the note attached to Clay. He'd have to thank Red for this somehow. Gold had already given him a Zorua, and yes, Silver was terrified of the mere notion of Red having a Tricky Fox Pokémon dammit. Still, Red had given him such a good gift, he had to thank him somehow.

Way to Oreburgh City:

Everyone just stares at the sheer carnage Zor had caused in the name of freeing the flying types that had been caught, and dammit all, Erebus had actually helped Zor do it too. Red just cackles merrily as he hugs Zor, he was so going to get Gold a pokémon he didn't have for breeding purposes. It had been too damned long since Red had been able to let his INNER TROLL out dammit. Travelling with his son was the best decision he had ever made. Inwardly Hotaru is swearing her ass off. Her hime was dating someone that had Trolling in his genes. Fuck her life. Still, she was having fun getting to know Dawn, maybe Dawn would be up for a little fun? Hotaru was very firmly bisexual, and honestly didn't care whom she dated.

With Ash and Natsuki the blonde has cried herself to sleep, and Ash just settles in, leaning back against a tree, " You can show yourself, James. "

" What's going on, Original Twerp? " James asks.

" What do you know of the Berlitz Family? " Ash asks him, he knew James came from money.

" They're worse than my parents. Nanny and Poppop are cool, but my parents, well, you've met them, and Jessebelle. The Berlitz's are all about appearances, connections, opportunities, why? "

" Dawn and Nat's mother is of those Berlitz's. " Ash says.

James winces, " Platina is their mother, no wonder Girlfriend Twerp, and yes, that is her official designation, is not comfortable here in Sinnoh. I was the only one she ever got along with, and we met when she was four, I believe. Even then Girlfriend Twerp loathed any and all forms of formality. "

" Well, let's just say Platina fucked her eldest child up emotionally. She's apparently resented Nat all her life for merely existing, when, as Dia put it, Platina was the one to get knocked up. " Ash says, " Now my dad and I have to get Nat to actually vent all the emotions she's repressed up until this point. He had to battle her for four and a half hours before she finally realized she was allowed to actually vent her emotions. "

James curses under his breath, anyone that could battle with The Battler/Fighter himself for four and a half hours…" How pissed was she? "

" Glacially, enough to freeze an Articuno in its tracks. " Ash deadpans.

" Anything we can do to help? " James asks.

Ash sighs at this, " I'm not sure, though maybe a Girls Day Out could work as long as a truce is maintained. Nat isn't the type to go for fashion though, she prefers to talk about battle styles, techniques, moves…"

" Got it, I'll let Jessie know. She's been dying for some female companionship. " James admits.

Time Gates:

Sailor Pluto swears under her breath, where the Fuck was the Hime? Why the Hell hadn't the Hime even been a blip on anyone's radar save for that damned abomination's! Sailor Saturn was a blight upon the senshi, and should not even be allowed to exist! However, she was the Hime's most trusted senshi, which damned well meant she had to be tolerated, and it pissed Pluto the Hell off! Why the Hell was it that Saturn was the only one that could even sense that ungrateful bitch to begin with!

Floaroma Town:

Mamoru smiles to himself, very self-assured of the fact that he would win his princess over easily. His philandering ways from his last life had yet to change either. So many Lass and Beauty Class Trainers just loved him playing doctor for them. He had a good life going, and not once did he stop to consider that his philandering ways was what had kept Princess Serenity from choosing him as a suitor herself. She'd been forcefully engaged to the asshole, and had been disinclined to allow him anywhere near her. He had never, as Endymion, gained access to her bedchambers once. Sailor Saturn had always been there to deter him. Some Lass and Beauty Trainers would come back with their younger sisters for another session of him playing doctor.

He pauses when he hears a knock on the door, and he smirks when he sees the local Jenny, Evelyn Jenny that is, " Mamoru, it's so good to see you. I fear I have an affliction only you can cure. "

Mamoru beckons her in, " You do look rather fevered, perhaps you should remove some clothes to help cool you down? "

Evelyn grins at this, " Wouldn't you rather perform a full physical, Doctor Chiba? "

He licks his lips at this, " I believe I would, follow me to the examination room, Officer Jenny, and I will get right on that, and this will be a full exploratory physical examination. "

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Pokémon.