Key

Bold text = Location in chapter/Pokedex entries/Pokemon moves

Italic text = Flashbacks / Emphasis

'Italic text' = Thoughts

"Italic text" = Telepathy

***** = Curse word (insert whatever) (though if it has a letter before the * then there's already a curse word in place)

"(text)." = Meowth translates Pokespeech

Ash's team(ON HAND):

- Pikachu

- Croagunk

- Pidgeot

- Buizel

- Meowth

- Gible

- Teddiursa (shiny)

- Oshowatt

+ 2 slots for new Pokemon

Paul's team(ON HAND):

- Torterra

- Honchkrow

- Magmortor

- Electivire

- Weavile

- Drapion

- Ninjask

+ 3 slots for new Pokemon

Paul assumed Ash was unstoppable.

He could fall of a cliff, get impacted by fire, and even face an allusion by Stantler (that memory he can at least look back on with amusement).

Yet never did he expect Ash to be beaten like this, let alone because of him.

As he looked upon Ash's more pale then usual body, his mind phased through the five long, and excruciating days it took for Ash to now have the mostly like chance of waking up.

Day 1

"We're going to be battling crazy people in this region even more aren't we?"

He didn't know when he started talking out loud, but he couldn't help it when for the next couple of hours since the attack, to distract himself, leading to scrolling through his Rotom phone for any new information on the next Unova gym leaders.

Apparently one is a model and hosting a fashion show on Wednesdays?

He quickly made not to not have Ash and him meet her then, especially if what the article says of letting her challengers model a custom design outfit from her if they won. And no, he wasn't scrolling away past that beat red after seeing some of the male outfits, and so not imagining Ash in said get up.

He swore he saw enough on screen when Ash was at the Wallace Cup, he did not need to see such in person.

Day 2

"Honestly I just fell asleep from researching too much on other gym leaders, really!"

Nurse Joy came by awhile and saw Paul seem to wake up...and by Ash's bedside!

Paul's cheeks turned warm, and he mentally swore not to do such again. Really, he just fell asleep, he was planning to go to his rented room truly.

It didn't help the other Nurse Joys all seem to look at the pair with bright smiles.

He never one into conspiracy theories, but the one where Nurse Joys would gossip of the possibly trainer crush of another which each passing by, might just be true.

It didn't help also that Meowth and Pikachu seem to be eating up said gossip...and sharing it like crazy to Paul whenever they came to visit Ash.

Day 3

"Your either immortal or crazy."

Paul groaned as the results of Ash's medical status came back exactly as days prior.

Ash lost a lot of blood from the attack, and so his body is now in a resting position.

Nurse Joy (Which one? Paul never could tell them apart like anyone else honestly) says the only thing that's remain is the giant claw scar on his back.

"What he needs is lots of rest and liquids, especially once he wakes up. He'll be a little dizzy when he does, but after losing so much blood, it's only natural. The IVs hooked up are helping, but he will need to take it easy for the next couple of days prior to waking up."

She might of said some actually medical terms and explanations, but honestly all Paul could hear was of the word blood.

He never had a fear of blood before, not even as a little kid if he scrapped his knee for instance. Even back when he trained his Pokémon to extreme, he never did so to the point of injury blood wise.

Yet the moment the claw from the Zangoose marked on Ash's back, the blood spraying on the trees, the grass, it seemed to never end.

Paul put the clipboard of the results back on clip in the front of the bed, his hands he didn't even realize were shaking.

"What is wrong with me?"

Day 4

"You need to wake up already Ketchum, I cannot deal with gossip nurses any longer, nor your gossiping Pokémon."

"Well sorry purple twerp, but your stuck with said mons."

Paul glared at Meowth, whom alongside Pikachu were on the left side of Ash's bedside for their daily check up.

His and Ash's other Pokémon he already knew were pushing and and shoving to get a glimpse of the raven teen's condition.

"Yeah lucky me."

Pikachu rolls his eyes at the pair, before looking at Ash with a solemn look.

Meowth sees that, and chuckles before patting Pikachu on the head, "Relax, the twerp has handled legendries of all shapes and sizes! He'll bounce back soon. What's that blue haired twerpette's saying? No need to worry?"

Pikachu smiles and nods, hugging the cat to his embarrassment.

Paul secretly took some pictures with a smirk, at least something came of this day.

Day 5

"So he literally rode on his Charizard to battle Entei?"

Meowth nods recalling the moment, "Oh yeah, but that's not even the craziest battle of legends he's fought. Did he tell you one of those Frontier Brains has an Articuno?"

Paul's eyes go wide, "Your kidding!"

He then shakes he had and nods, "Okay never mind, if Brandon has all the Regi trio, it won't surprise me another has some legendary by their side."

Meowth shrugs as he looks out the window, with Pikachu outside with the rest of the mons on babysitting/training today, "He also used Charizard back then too, only difference is he actually won against that ice bird."

He nods, remembering how Ash spoke in Sinnoh of beating all the Frontier Brains, "So, what brought you to join Ketchum? Thought you were that pink and purple duo's Pokémon."

Meowth chuckles, "Jessie and James? Nah, I wasn't a caught mon till the twerp. Plus the three of us quit Team Rocket, and thanks to the twerp's defense for us, and the three of us giving what information we could of Team Rocket, we decided to go live out our dreams. Mine happen to be become stronger, and who better than the twerp to get a mon's potential out there?"

Paul looks outside as well, before back at Ash. He wasn't the kindest to Ash at first sure, but even he (not that he'll admit it) saw how Ash could bring out the best in his Pokémon. Even if back then he was too clouded in his strive for power to truly see it fully, at least not till the Sinnoh league.

"Sometimes, I wonder what would of happened if I had been kinder to Infernape, to Ash, to anyone honestly. I couldn't think but of power back then, and so much I'm surprised Ash nor anyone else tried to get my trainer license revoked

Meowth looks back at Paul, his eyes filled with sympathy, "Well for one thing, you aren't the worst trainer out there. Sure Infernape didn't have it good from your training and demeanor, but you changed for the better in the end. Infernape saw that, the twerp saw that, and one day perhaps you will too."

Paul opened his mouth, though he honestly was quite speechless (no not nearly in tears), that what happened next he was ever so glad happened.

"He's right you know, haha 'Meowth that's right'. Many don't change for the better, heck I've meet worst trainers to their Pokémon then you before. What makes you different is you changed over time, even back in Sinnoh, small but there. Did you not realize you spoken down to your Pokémon less and less with each of our battles and encounters? How you didn't just release every Pokémon you caught? You've changed, and all the more will be better when you realize that too."

Meowth meanwhile, unable to hold back his tears, hugged the raven teen's head with a smile, "Twerp! I knew you were going to be fine!"

Paul just sat there, his eyes on the teen he saw now with just as much life as he's seen every time they meet, but it seemed more so now as Ash looked him in the eyes.

His heart beat fast, his cheeks reddening...

"So...what's there to eat?"

Paul nearly fell off his chair, Meowth falling face first on the bed sheets before getting up and shaking his head with a smile.

"Well some things never change."

A/N: Okay not the longest chapter ever...but honestly I'm happy with this. The fact I was able to write even a bit is amazing. Now if I can only think ahead and get some more written! (:'

Until next time!