"So Ash, how are you doing?" Chrysa said, poking her head into his cabin.
"You tell me. I'm stuck in a wheelchair on a boat, and I can't even get dressed by myself." Ash complained.
"If it's any consolation, Fred said he'll do anything to make the rest of the trip as nice as possible." Chrysa said, setting Ash's lunch down.
"My team got hurt, and it's my fault." Ash said. "There's not much he can do to make it better."
"From what I understand, it's because of your quick thinking that you four are even here recovering." Chrysa said. "Don't beat yourself up over what you didn't do."
"Couldn't if I wanted to." Ash said with a smirk.
"Do you want help with your lunch, or are you okay?" Chrysa asked.
"I'll be fine, I'm just annoyed at how helpless I am otherwise." Ash said.
"My advice, play that card on Serena, I bet she'd do whatever you ask." Chrysa said with a mischievous smirk.
"One more thing, how's everyone else doing?" Ash asked.
"Chloe is recovering…, she's still a bit confused as to what's going on, and where she is. Goh is in pain, but otherwise his usual self. He's been with Ren a bit today. Then Serena, well she came out surprisingly well, considering how you three are, and she said she'd visit you later." Chrysa said.
"Thanks Chrysa. It's good to know they're all okay still." Ash said.
"No problem Ash, call if you need anything." Chrysa said, leaving the room.
"Okay lunch, it's just you and me." Ash said, grabbing the sandwich with his good hand.
"Pika?"
"nom?"
"How're you two doing now?" Ash asked. Pikachu his first Pokémon and Snom the stowaway had been the only Pokémon out in the runaway cable car, and while tires seemed to be doing fine.
"Pi." Pikachu said hesitantly. Normally he would quickly jump into Ash's lap or on his shoulder, but even Pikachu knew it might not be a good idea.
"Let me finish eating buddy, then you can relax here." Ash said, understanding what Pikachu had wanted.
"Good to see you're eating, let's me know you're still you." Serena said with a laugh.
"How'd you get in?" Ash asked.
"Your door was unlocked. Anything I can help you with?" Serena asked.
Chrysa's parting words rang in Ash's head. Plus Serena had asked if she could help, but did he really want to do that?
"Can you just stay, and talk with me for a bit?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, is there something you wanted to talk about?" Serena asked, sitting on the bed.
Pikachu jumped at the chance, finding a comfy spot on Serena's lap to be petted.
"Do you think, do you think I could have done more?" Ash asked.
"Ash, it's broken bones, a few weeks and you'll be back to normal." Serena said.
"No, I meant yesterday. Do you think I could've kept us all from being injured, if I just tried harder?" Ash asked.
"If you're asking if I think you messed up, the answer is no. If you're asking if I think you have the power in you to have kept us all safe, then yes. I think you could have kept us safe, if you had more experience with your powers, and had more time to prepare it." Serena said.
"But, I mean look at us." Ash tried arguing.
"Exactly my point. You are in the worst shape out of the four of us. Between you and Corvinight, we're alive, and be happy for that." Serena said. "Also, I don't think Chloe or Goh noticed, but you were using your aura to lift that bag all day."
"How did you notice?" Ash asked.
"I didn't, but I can put two and two together. That bag probably weighed fifty pounds at least." Serena said.
"I came prepared." Ash defended.
"Did you think we'd need an anchor?" Serena said with a laugh.
"Funny, I did have rappelling gear though." Ash said.
"Well, once you're done with lunch, I'm taking you out of here." Serena said.
"It's good quicker if you hadn't moved it when you sat down." Ash said, pointing behind Serena.
"Sorry, and I think I owe you whatever was in this cup." Serena said holding the empty cup.
"I think it was chocolate pudding." Ash said, looking at Snom, who currently had a brown face.
After Ash had finished what was left of his lunch. With Pikachu and Snom in his lap, Serena wheeled them out of the room, and out onto the boat proper.
"You know I can control my chair with this." Ash said, referring to a small joystick by his right hand.
"I know, but this is more fun." Serena said.
"Where are we headed exactly?" Ash asked.
"Downstairs, in the cargo hold." Serena said. "I think you'll like what's down there."
At the cargo hold
"I don't think it should be eight seats though." Goh said.
"People other than you four might be using it, and they might be larger groups." Ren argued.
"I understand that, but I'm saying go with benches. You'd be able to fit more people." Goh pointed out.
"Hey guys, look who I got to finally come out of their room." Serena said.
"You didn't give me many options." Ash pointed out.
"Ash, good to see you on your, I have too, not hat won't work either." Goh said, struggling to find the right words.
"Glad to see you're doing okay too Goh. So what are you two trying to figure out?" Ash asked.
"Come on, we'll show you." Goh said.
Ash took the moment to regain control of his own movement, following quickly behind them.
"Is that the cable car?!" Ash said astonished. He hadn't gotten a great look at it yesterday, but seeing it now, it was in bad shape.
"Yeah, after Corvinight easily carried it, we thought it might be a useful piece of equipment to have when we're flying in Kanto." Goh said.
"A bit of frame work and she'll be as good as new." Ren added.
"Once we have seats, windows, doors, and a better bar for Corvinight." Goh pointed out.
"Hey, Ash already has his seat." Ren joked. "Sorry, too soon?"
"It's fine, it'd be nice if we could use it like that and Chloe's Corvinight agreed to it." Ash said.
"So are they letting you work on rebuilding it down here?" Serena asked.
"No, right now we're just coming up with ideas." Ren said. "Once we get it to the lab, then the fun begins."
"Well, we'll let you get back to your fun." Serena said confused. "We're going to visit Chloe."
"Good luck with that." Goh said, as they left.
Above deck
"Okay Serena, enough." Ash said. "Goh was one thing, but seeing Chloe right now, I don't know about that."
"Ash, she wants to see you, don't stress yourself out so much." Serena said.
"But, but, aha!" Ash said, grabbing and pulling a brake. "Ow." Ash moaned, the wheelchair having pivoted from one wheel being stopped. Thankfully he was strapped in, but it still hurt.
"You probably deserve that." Serena said. "But if you're really not ready, I'll take you back, and then get your chocolate pudding replacement cup."
Ash laid down on his bed, he was exhausted, despite not doing much. Between using his aura powers and his body having to heal he was running on fumes quickly.
"Come on, it should be just up ahead." Ash heard a voice say.
"Goh, I'm feeling dizzy." Another voice said.
"Ash, can you open up?" Goh asked from outside the door.
Ash nodded to Pikachu, who managed to open the door.
On the other side was Goh, his arm in a sling, and Chloe, who looked ready to fall over. Laying Chloe down on a bed, Goh quickly shut the door and dimmed the lights.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you two, but what's going on?" Ash asked.
"Something isn't right." Goh said.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"It's hard to explain, but things have just felt off." Goh said.
"Are you sure?" Ash asked.
"You're more in tune with the world, haven't you felt somethings off?" Chloe pointed out.
"My powers have been weird all day, can you be more specific?" Ash said.
"Well, how did Ren get that car down there?" Goh asked. "The entire room is underwater."
"There's probably a way in it for larger cargo." Ash said.
"Then I have a good question, how did you not notice Snom?" Chloe said.
"He's small, and likes to…". Ash paused realizing how unlikely Snom being there was.
"Then there's me, I may have a concussion, but even I know my mom wasn't on the boat when we originally left." Chloe said.
"Okay, so let's say we are trapped by something, why have me visit you two, and what about Serena, is she a part of this?" Ash asked.
A loud banging outside Ash's door startled the trio
"Chloe, come on out we need to keep you safe!" Eva said.
"Why is Eva concerned?" Ash said.
"Exactly what we've been trying to say." Goh said.
"Pikachu, get ready!" Ash said.