May stirred her iced coffee she hastily made at home, her hand slowly becoming numb to the frosty surface of her glass mug. She slowly made her way towards the living room couch, placing her drink onto the coaster to prevent water leaking to the table. After a week of living here, the Hoenn native had essentially treated this place as her own home now, and while she was still looking for a place of her own, she dearly wished she could stay here just a little longer.

'I'm just seventh wheeling here.' Is that even a word? Admittedly, May was thoroughly surprised by her friends' love and dedication to the relationship they all shared. Initially, May was surprised and maybe weirded out when she saw the girls' daily routine and interaction with Ash.

The Pallet town native's daily routine consisted of waking up in the early to prepare coffee for all of them, and after becoming the world's greatest barista, he goes down to the nearby bakeries and coffee shops to buy the homebaked pastries and cakes for them. It was a wholesome feeling to say the least, waking up to breakfast already waiting for you. May was certainly astonished that Ash was even brought breakfast for her, buying her favorite butter laced croissant from the Kalosian bakery. It was weird really, no one has done this for her before, well maybe her parents but that was a given. Her ex-boyfriend Drew? Forget about him, he would only roll off the bed 30 minutes before class starts, so most of the time they are forced to skip a hearty breakfast.

Having breakfast with a close group of friends was something she strangely missed, it felt like she was apart of something, someone who was appreciated and loved by others. It was an indescribable feeling for the brunette, but it was certainly nothing short of joy and wholesomeness. She forgotten when was the last time she had a decent conversation with someone over breakfast, so having close friends who are talking about how they plan to spend their day was really fun and amusing to hear.

Even if most of their time are spent with Ash.

Of course, Ash's efforts of providing for them didn't went unrewarded. Whether it is a long held embrace between lovers, a passionate Kalos kiss that involves tongue-o-war or an innocent peck on the cheek, Ash was thoroughly rewarded for his efforts. At first, it was really weird seeing different girls kissing him. How on earth did jealousy not become a major issue was beyond May.

But through interacting and talking to the girls, she slowly began to realize the significant importance of Ash and their friends to them. From Bea's struggles of finding her place among this world, to the harrowing experience in Eterna city for Dawn, May came to the conclusion that Ash had a very positive impact to their lives, enough to make all of them fall for him.

He was a down to earth and unassuming person who wants what's best for you. That was the perfect description for him and May could honestly see herself dating someone like that. N-Not that she wanted to date Ash, but it was certainly strange being the only single one of the group when only a month of ago, she was the one who has a boyfriend and all of them were single.

The coordinator snapped back from her train of thoughts and back to reality when she noticed Ash sitting down on the sofa next to her. Currently most of the girls were out for their club activities and hobbies, the Pallet Town native had made it clear to them that while all of them are in a relationship, they shouldn't compromise their hobbies and club activities just to spend time with him, a thought that they agreed wholeheartedly.

She stared at her only male roommate who was scrolling through his phone, doing something of "significant importance". She bit her lower lip and gave a hefty sigh, maybe not now.

Although she was quickly accepted by everyone, she had a hard time approaching or even talking to Ash. Not because she hated him, quite the opposite. She was very grateful that he took her in and even saved her life during the hazardous trek to Snowpoint temple. She never properly thank him for saving her either, so that was another factor for her nervousness.

But the main reason why May has not talked to Ash or even seek out a conversation with him was because of his relationship status. She didn't want to draw false conclusion from the others whenever she talks to Ash. She was very conscious of the distance she has to maintain with Ash as she didn't want her roommates think she was trying to steal him away from them. So in order to prevent their newfound friendship from fracturing, May decided to stray away from Ash and just stick to hanging out with the girls.

Unfortunately for her, Ash was an observant soul who was fed up by the distance she was keeping.

"May?" The brunette turned to Ash who smiled warmly at her, gosh that darn smile. Why does he have such a warm and comfy smile that sends a blaze down her heart?

"Y-Yes?" The Kanto native sat closer to her, sending alarm bells off in May's head. Why is he getting so close to her? Is he attempting something on her? Isn't he in a relationship with 5 other girls? Is that not enough to satisfy his lust and-

"Are you okay?" -concern?

"What do you mean?" He placed the couch pillow on his lap as his eyes caught the attention of his Lycanroc giving a loud yawn on his makeshift bed. He stared at the brunette and frowned at how quiet she was whenever she was around him, so he assumed that she was uncomfortable around him.

"You're avoiding me." The silence from his roommate was concerning. Did he offend her? Did he step on personal boundaries? He was sure he didn't do anything to piss her off.

"Did I do anything wrong? Or are you uncomfortable with-" May shook her head. Ash has been a gentleman to her and honestly, he has been very courteous and kind to her. I mean he bought breakfast for her even though she never asked for it.

"No Ash, you've been really nice to me. It's just- I don't know, I feel like I'm an outsider." The raven haired teen nodded, not really surprised by May's confession. He could understand her sentiments given that she just barged into their lives so suddenly. But he never viewed May as an outsider, sure she wasn't part of his usual social circle or harem for that matter, but he did treat her like a genuine friend.

"You're not an outsider May, everyone likes you." His firm and warm tone was music to May's ears. She had always thought of him as a geeky and quiet nerd, but she can tell he had a significant glow up over the past few months. More muscular, more confident and more charismatic, Ash was an ideal boyfriend who would treat you right.

Which made May very conflicted over her current situation.

"But I'm not paying any rent." The excuse was pretty lame given that everyone else does not pay the rent too.

"The others aren't either, I already paid for everything." In a sense. Ash did feel like the man of the house who is providing for his spouses. It was a weird feeling since it fueled his ego and sense of self-confidence.

"But it make sense for them since they are your girlfriends, me? I'm just some random girl." Ash was getting worried here, what can he say to comfort her? He was at a loss here since May sounded so dejected and insecure. There was no shadow of a doubt that her insecurities was caused by the horrible break up with Drew.

"May you're not just some random girl, why would you ever see yourself like that?" She shouldn't lower self-esteem like this, no one should be labeled themselves as some random individual. Ash had always make a special effort to ensure that each of the girls are special and unique, but he knew he was being bias since he was in a relationship with all of them.

"Hey, Drew is an ass, he doesn't deserves you. You're a wonderful girl, you are a nice person." Because he never knew May on a personal level, all he can say is these general and hollow compliments to her. But judging from how she interacts with the girls, he could tell that May wasn't really the wild and party person he thought she was. In fact, she seemed to be a chill person to hang around with. Ash had a solid hunch that May changed her personality just to fit in with Drew's friends, and this laidback and more relaxed side of May was the real her.

"Why are you so nice to me? I mean both of us barely interact." Ash frowned, did he really need a reason to be nice to others?

"Well the girls like you, that's a good enough reason to be honest." May raised her eyebrows, seemingly not believing his words. Was it that simple?

"Really?" Ash nodded with a smile.

"Really." He wasn't lying, unbelievable. To think he would treat her so nicely because she was well acquainted with his girlfriends. It was an embarrassing situation of May but she secretly happy for someone to treat her so nicely despite not knowing them on a personal level.

'I guess it explains a lot about Ash's character.' She was starting to understand why Misty and Dawn were so attracted to him now.

"I- I never got to thank you for saving my life." Ash blinked, where did this come from? She already made it clear that she was grateful for his hospitality, there's no need for her to express her gratitude every Tuesday.

"Huh? Are you still on about that? I don't mind if you are staying with us-"

"Not that, I meant what happened in Snowpoint." Ash paused and stared at May's sapphire's eyes, he recalled the memory of the avalanche coming for May and her friends, as well as the split second decision to order a Light Screen barrier to shield them from the white death. Had he not reacted sooner, she won't be here today.

"It wasn't just me, Sabrina saved your life too." At the mention of the psychic teen, May smiled and thought back to the numerous hangout sessions she's been joining recently. Although she started out shy and quiet, the open and friendly nature of the girls quickly brought out the more sociable side of Sabrina. Ash was pretty happy with Sabrina's willingness to socialize with them, though he can't say he was fond of the constant stares she was giving him when she thought he wasn't looking.

'That might become an issue.' It's not like he think ill of her, quite the contrary, he thinks that Sabrina was a cute girl who deserves to be spoiled by a loving boyfriend. But unfortunately for the psychic teen, he can't fulfill that role because he already have 5 needy girlfriends who constantly want his attention. Not to mention that he wasn't sure how the girls would feel about his sentiments. Personally for Ash, he thinks the Saffron city native was just void of affection and was seeking it from the closest person possible, which was him.

That being said, he won't mind being her boyfriend should an oppurtunity presents itself.

'Arceus Ash what the hell is wrong with you?' He feared this would happen, this harem thing is fueling his damn ego too much. He dearly hoped he doesn't become a dick head like his father who thinks he can screwed around with other girls and tug their heart strings as if they were objects. This was the main reason he was so against the harem route in the first place.

Amidst his guilt and self scolding, May continued her words as she oblivious to Ash's inner conflict.

"She's been hanging out with us a lot lately." Ash snapped out of his thoughts and turned to May, nodding to her words as he tried to bury his thoughts about Sabrina.

"It was Korrina's idea, she's always one for approaching others." Korrina was a very friendly person, but don't be deceived by her friendly nature. She can be vicious and cold if intimidated or angered, Ash had seen her unleashing her rage and anger onto other boys when they try to hit on her after she politely turned them down. It was terrifying seeing this gentle and sweet person seething in anger, though he has to say Korrina did looked pretty hot being angry like that.

Yeah, he needs help.

"She's nice a girl." Nice would be an understatement, she can be such a cutie too especially when he calls her Korri in public. Seeing her flustered and embarrassed expression on her adorable red face was certainly amusing and satisfying to watch.

"They all are." All of them are nice and sweet. Even Bea who was once cold and unapproachable showed her more sweet and soft side to others, but most of the time it was reserved exclusively to him. The way she would ask him to pat her head when he greets her good night was super adorable, especially when she would cling onto his chest and purr like a Litten when the others aren't looking. She was still very shy of how she display her love for him when the others were around, and to be frank it was endearing to see her like that.

"Is that why you like them?" Ash scratched the back of his neck, there were many reasons why he likes them. Looks, personality, the experience they have together, Ash didn't know where to begin.

"There's a lot of reasons why I like them all, but their kind hearted nature is one of them. They are all so supportive of each other that it really warms my heart seeing all of them together. Plus they are hot, so yeah." May chuckled at Ash's blunt honesty, they were all really beautiful so she could understand Ash's desire to ensure the harem works between all of them. Though it got May thinking if Ash was planning to have more girlfriends, it didn't seemed farfetched considering the girls were fine with sharing him.

"So any plans of expanding your harem?" Ash almost jumped from his seat when he heard that, he stared at a grinning May and shot her a bewildered look.

"W-What?" May shrugged and leaned behind the sofa, slowly getting comfortable talking to Ash in a casual manner.

"You seemed like you're building a harem." He cringed internally, see this is the reason why he was so against this. Everyone would think he was a playboy who wants more girlfriends by his side while in reality, he just wants everyone he loves staying together. But he could see where May was coming from given that she looking from an outsider's perspective.

"I was pretty against this actually." May noted the serious and firm tone in Ash's voice, which made her realized that Ash never planned to expand his polygamous relationship. She softened her gaze and sat closer to her, hoping that he wasn't mad at her for indirectly accusing him of being a player.

"Serena told me that you took weeks to accept the idea." It would have been more had it not been the incident Snowpoint. He lowered his gaze to the table, his mind flashing back to the frozen abyss that he fell through.

"I don't want to sexualize this or build a harem just to satisfy my own hormones, I do care for them. The only reason I agreed to this was because all of us are so tight-knitted. That the dynamic of our relationship would forever be changed if I date even one of them." May would have called Ash's a liar had she not seen the genuine and sincere friendship the group shared. So she can imagine the awkward scenarios if Ash dates just one of them while the others just sit there awkwardly.

"I can understand that." Ash sighed and held his pillow close to his chest, staring at the ceiling above him.

"To be honest, sometimes I still can't believe that I have 5 girlfriends." May smiled wryly, who the hell says that with such a straight face?

"Alright you can stop flexing now." Ash chuckled and place the pillow down next to him, it sounded ridiculous saying that outloud.

"It's hard to sound humble when I put it like that huh?"

"Yeap, but it's nice to know that you are dedicated to this, you're 10 times better than Drew ever was." The raven haired teen turned to May, sensing the bitter tone in her voice. He gave a soft gaze to the brunette, not liking the fact she was comparing her relationship to his.

"I don't think you should compare me to him, he's not an example of a good boyfriend, or anything really." May giggled at Ash's dry tone, liking the shots he was giving to her ex. She sighed and stared at him, biting her lower lip as she slowly spoke her words out in a low and soft tone.

"Harley told me you went to talk to Drew a few days ago." Ash looked away from May, cursing the fact she was aware of it. She sighed at his reluctance to talk about the topic and placed her clenched fists on her lap, staring at him with a soft smile.

"There's no need for you to do that you know." Ash narrowed his eyes and turned to May, how could she say that?

"And let him think that it's alright to leave a girl homeless? You shouldn't let him push you around like that, it's not okay." May sighed in frustration, while she appreciates Ash's concern and care for her, she wouldn't want him to waste his time Drew. The last thing she wants is for Drew spreading false rumours that Ash was dating her, subsequently destroying her friendship with the girls.

"I just want to move on from him, I would appreciate it if you stop intervening for me." The firm and steely tone of May made Ash sigh. In hindsight, he probably caused more harm than good. Drew might think May was the one who asked him to confront him, which would lead to a lot of uncomfortable run-ins for the two. Not that their relationship wasn't strained already.

"Alright." Hearing the begrudging tone from Ash, she sat closer to him and held his arm without thinking. She wasn't angry at him, far from it. She was flattered that he was standing up for her, but Ash shouldn't be doing this for her sake. It wasn't worth it.

"I don't mean it like that, it's just that I don't want you to get in trouble that's all." The Pallet teen noted the sudden closeness and contact from her, but didn't questioned it since he might make the situation more awkward. He noted the soft and sweet tone of concern from May and smiled.

"Very well." She smiled back at him before realizing the close proximity between them, instead of letting him go, she ignored the voice of rationality and reason in her head and leaned onto Ash's shoulders, shocking him at May's sudden closeness.

"I'm actually jealous." The raw unfiltered honesty from her was something he didn't expect, but he didn't want to ruin the mood so he decided to let it be.

"Hmm?"

"I never seen Misty and Dawn smiled so much before, even back when were roommates in the old place, they were never bubbly or excited like this. You really brightened up their lives and that's not an exaggeration. I just wish- never mind its nothing." He knew what she wanted to say, but he wasn't willing to accept it. She has just broke up with her boyfriend and now was in a state of absolute mess. He would never take advantage of her fragile and vulnerable state, just to increase his harem count to fulfill his ego and lusty hormones.

"You will find your perfect partner May, trust me." He pry her off him, giving her the message that perhaps they should maintain some distance. The brunette nodded and got off him, embarrassed at what she has just done. She lowered her head meekly, grateful that Ash didn't throw a huge fit about it.

"Thanks Ash." Poor girl, he really hopes she finds someone who would treat her right. His lycanroc who seemed to be starving of headpats from him started to nuzzle his leg, causing Ash and May to smile at the rock's types adorable action. He glanced at the clock and noted that it was time for his usual walks.

"I'm going down for my evening walk around the park, do you need anything?" May shook her head, pausing when she a thought ran through her head.

"Nah I'm good, well maybe buy me some bubble milk tea." The boy from Pallet chuckled and stood up, stuffing his wallet and pokedex back inside his pockets. He went to his room and grabbed Lycanroc's pokeball and house keys, hoping that the clear sunny skies would persist.

"Alright what do you want?" He returned back to the living room and crossed his arms, staring at May who was in a relaxed position. She was showing an awful amount of skin to him, enough to make him notice May's busty and curvaceous body at least. The brunette gave him a cheeky smile and took her phone out, hoping to distract herself with her social media feeds.

"Surprise me." Ash raised his eyebrows, this girl seemed to trust him way too much.

"I will get fermented despair for you then." May processed his words for the briefest of moments before her face settled into one of displeasure.

"Fermented despair- get something nice!" He grinned at her outburst, finally she was showing some of her feisty side. Honestly he didn't know what fermented despair is, he just thought of something that sounds absolutely horrible just to troll May.

"Fine, fine." Still he wasn't completely heartless. He knew May like citrus and berry flavours, so he probably would get something along those lines.

"Come on Lycanroc, let's go for a walk." He clapped his knees as Lycanroc walked towards him, its the perfect oppurtunity to bring the rock type out to stretch his legs. With Ash and his pokemon out of the house, May's thoughts drifted back to the handsome teen who took her in and pondered about his words.

'Perfect partner.' Maybe, just maybe.


"One Vivillon's delight please." Ash stood in front of the bubble tea shop and slipped in the money on the counter. After spending what seems like ages browsing through the different drinks on the digital menu board, Ash had finally settled on a drink called Vivillon's delight and no, the drink isn't made of the flesh and soul of an innocent butterfly. It is called Vivillon's delight because of how colourful the drink was, inspired by the memorizing patterns of a Vivillon.

The Kanto native stared at his rock type who became the object of affection of the customers. Alolan pokemon are a rare sight in Sinnoh, so something as rare as a dusk form Lycanroc was definitely eye catching. He grinned when he watched his wolf of a pokemon smiled in delight when the children petted his mane, seemingly enjoying the attention he was receiving.

"Sir your drink is ready, please enjoy." Ash smiled and took the drink that came with a convenient cup holder. He would have ordered a drink for himself had it not been the amount of sugary drinks he consumed for the past few nights. So for his body's sake, he refrained himself from buying the diabetes inducing drink. After giving a grateful nod, Ash and his Lycanroc made their way back home. The leisurely walk they had earlier went smoothly, the lack of parkgoers and the cool breeze of the evening wind made the experience all the more enjoyable.

Amidst the quiet walk back home, Ash noticed that they were a few men following him discreetly. Shady, rough looking and gruff, Ash became very wary of his surroundings. He narrowed his eyes as his Lycanroc sensed his trainer's anxiety, it feigned ignorance seeing that his trainer was trying his best to appear oblivious to what's happening.

'More and more people huh.' The number of people following him were getting ridiculous, did they think he won't spot them? For Arceus sake they were all wearing black clothing, akin to a burglar who was robbing in bright day light. Ash calmed his nerves and spotted a taxi in a distance. His mind went overdrive and opted to not lead them to where he was living, given that he didn't want to endanger the girls he loved.

He got into the car and recalled his Lycanroc hastily, wondering if he was being paranoid or not. He glanced at the rear view mirror of the car and frowned when he noticed the people who were following him entered a shady looking van that remained stationary.

Man, did they looked utterly stupid and obvious.

'Why are they following me?' His anxiety was through the roof by the mere shook from his Lycanroc's pokeball reassured him that his loyal rock type is with him. The taxi driver finally turned to Ash after readjusting the mirrors, he gave him a smiled and asked where he was going. The young teenager glanced at the digital clock of the cab before a smile crept onto his face.

As the taxi moved to the address Ash gave, he gazed at the rear view mirror of the cab, scowling when not one but three vans following him. His first thought was that they were poachers who were keen on stealing his rare dusk form Lycanroc, not surprising given that he was practically showing the wolf pokemon off. Still, the fact they would follow him on bright day light was weird, well evening light given that nightfall was approaching soon. He turned to the cold drink in his hand and sighed, looks like May won't be getting her bubble tea after all.

After 15 minutes of a grueling drive, Ash finally reached his destination and as he expected, he was still being followed. He handed the cabbie a generous tip and disembark the car, smiling at the sight of the familiar looking house before him. The streets surrounding him was quiet with only the street lights shining onto the stone brick pavement. With a deep breath, Ash knocked on the house in question, waiting for the occupant of the house to greet him.

'He should be home at this time.' As the door opened, Ash disappeared inside the house, alerting the people who were following him. They turned to their leader who held a walkie-talkie to his mouth, with the urgent and gruff voice coming out from it.

"Follow him." With the command being issued, the men exited their van with their pokeball enlarged in their hands. Clad in their mask, they enter the house from the back. They surveyed the large empty battlefield and once they were certain the coast was clear, they called out their pokemon.

"Go." The Bisharps and Weaviles made a mad dash to the backdoor, dismantling the padlock with the mere swipe of their razor sharp claws. The sound of heavy metal fell to the ground and soon enough, the pokemon who gathered outside of the battlefield started to rush into the house, with every intent to terrorize and wreck havoc.

"Aura Sphere." The bright powerful blast of pure energy sent shockwaves, lighting up the entire house in a brilliant blue light. Moments later, their pokemon made a hasty escape back to them, confusing and shocking the humans at what just happened. Their eyes widened when a staunch Lucario and a fiery Blaziken emerged from the door, glaring at them as they tossed away their fainted pokemon to aside.

"Fight them first." Regaining his composure, the commander gave swift order in hopes of overwhelming the two fighting types. The multitude of dark and ice types on their team seemed to be biting them back as they were extremely ineffective against fighting types. However with sheer numbers by their side, they would certainly decimate the two-

"Burn them all." Gurkinn gave a simple order as he emerged from the backdoor with Ash standing next to him, glaring at the very men who followed him. Within seconds of the order, Blaziken summoned a fiery storm that engulfed everyone in the field, trapping all of them into a firestorm. Almost immediately, Gurkinn's other two fighting types went to action as they started to takedown the opposing pokemon amidst their distraction and panic.

"Ash take care of the ones on the right, Lucario would be under your command." Lucario gave a curt growl of obedience as it blasted a Crobat with his paw, sending it flying to the nearby flaming vortex. It jumped to Ash as it began to form an aura link with him, subsequently allowing Ash to better read his mood and command him more efficiently.

"Lucario Extremespeed, Lycanroc Rock Tomb to block them." His loyal wolf summoned a barrage of boulders in the air, walling off the parts of the battlefield to restrict the opposing pokemon's maneuverability. Lucario executed the command faithfully and dashed around the field, striking all the multiple pokemon one in fell swoop as he aimed at their lower half of their body. Not wanting to be outdone by the younger man, Gurkinn cornered the high level Bisharps and Crobats, gazing upon the bloodthirsty glint in the foul pokemon's eyes. Twisted and corrupted by their trainers, these once peaceful and docile pokemon now live for the brutal glory of combat.

"Blaziken deal with the Flying types, Mienshao Force Palm the Bisharps." Blaziken unleashed a stream of flames to the flying types, burning them whole as Mienshao nimbly dodged the attacks from the Birshaprs and Ratictaes.

"All units, aim for the boy." The sudden shift of attention alarmed Gurkinn as the beaten up pokemon started to swarm their way towards Ash, sending the old man's heart pounding as they hurled their injured bodies and blunt claws towards the young teen.

"Blaziken protect Ash!" The Hoenn starter dispatched the last opposing Bisharps with one flaming roundhouse kick, quickly rushing to Ash's side as Lucario formed a bone staff to help fend off the assailants. As the numbers began to pile, Ash knew that his Lycanroc was at his limits at the much powerful pokemon were beginning to outpower him.

"Lycanroc Accelerock to me." Using the remnants of his strength, Lycanroc channeled earth's innate geo powers and rushed towards Ash, knocking away the pokemon who stood between him and his trainer. Gurkinn narrowed his eyes to the men who tried to assassinate Ash as each the opposing pokemon went down one by one. If he had to count the number of fainted pokemon, it would be around 20-30. Which was absurd considering Ash was just a student who only had a Lycanroc and a Pikachu, there's no need for such large and terrifying forces for a young child.

"Lucario Heal Pulse Lycanroc." With the powerful pokemon assuming a more supportive role, Mienshao took over and easily swiped her whip like limbs onto a crippled Yanmega, knocking it out before it could use Air Slash onto Ash. The trainer from Pallet wiped the sweat that gathered on his forehead, the heat of the vortex was getting to him but he could tell that the harsh flames were slowly dying off as Blaziken's red eyes started to turn normal.

With their pokemon all down, the commander issued a hasty retreat, hoping to recuperate their strength.

"None of you are going anywhere." Gurkinn's cold and authoritative tone sent chills of horror down their spine, as they attempted to flee with their pokemon lying unconscious on the ground, Blaziken leaped high into the air and landed in front of them, halting them in their tracks as they fell to the burnt ground out of fear.

"Why are you targeting Ash?" The Pallet town native stood behind Lucario and Lycanroc, they stood in front of him in a protective stance, growling bitterly at his assailants. The assassins however steeled their nerves and remained silent, sealing their lips tight.

"We aren't telling you anything." Already expected such response, Gurkinn turned to the Aura pokemon and gave him a nod.

"Lucario." The Life force pokemon's eye glowed bright blue and engulf the leader of squad in a shimmering light. His eyes glowed and soon found his mind going numb to the warm sensation washing over him, slowly but surely, he was succumbing to the influence of the pokemon. Once Gurkinn was certain the man was under Lucario's powers, he decided to press the questions.

"Let's start over again shall we? Who sent you here?" Ash was mildly terrified by the soulless eyes from the man, seemingly under the influence of mind control.

"Our boss Giovanni and Galactic's leader Cyrus sent us here to target Ash Ketchum." His comrades widened their eyes as they attempted to stop him, only to have Blaziken holding them in place with his sharp and strong claws.

"Proton-" They struggled to free themselves from the strong grasp, only to fail when the Hoenn fire type tightened his grip, drawing bruises and blood from the amount of pressure he was applying. Satisfied that this Proton was under Lucario's subjugation, Gurkinn continued.

"Why?" Ash was not surprised that the two criminal organizations sent their lackies to hunt him, he had foiled their plans of extracting Articuno's powers and exposed their secrets and plans to the world. Naturally, this would have caused them to have a fierce vendetta against him, though Ash can't say he was thrilled of his current situation.

"He is a threat to our future conquest of Sinnoh." Conquest of Sinnoh? How ambitious are these people? Gurkinn crossed his arms and sighed, not liking how the conversation was going. He was afraid that Ash's loved ones would be caught in the crossfire, he was particularly worried for his granddaughter.

"Who else did you intend to target."

"We only receive orders to target Ash." The Kanto native shrugged, a mixture of relief and horror washed over him.

"That's fine by me, as long they don't hurt others." Gurkinn sighed at Ash's nonchalant nature before turning back to Proton, wondering if he could extract more information from the man.

"Where is your boss located." The look of panic and horror on the Rockets and Galactics eyes were amusing to watch.

"I don't know, he does not reveal his locations. I am merely following his orders." Gurkinn frowned at the news, they certainly were playing safe. These men were merely puppets and pawns, no one of significant importance. Still, the former Kalos gym leader still had one burning question.

"Why such large numbers? Ash is just a student." Ash was curious of this as well, had it not been Gurkinn's powerful and brave pokemon, Ash was certain that he would need to make a mad dash to the local police station, though he wasn't sure if they can handle such forces.

"He has the aid of a Legendary pokemon, our boss views him as a major threat." It was odd for them to think that Articuno is under Ash care, though given that he had battled along side with her, it wasn't hard to see why. In all honesty, the lack of fire types in their arsenal was dumbfounding, if they were planning to take on Articuno, where is your Electric and Fire types? The brief worry of reinforcements waiting in the shadows was enough to make Gurkinn to pursue the question.

"Is this everyone? Where are the rest of your men?"

"They are all gathered here." He didn't trust his words wholeheartedly but Proton was under the influence of Lucario, unless you have the mental fortitude of a psychic type, you are vulnerable to the Aura's pokemon powers. Satisfied with his interrogation, Gurkinn signaled his Lucario to let the man go, rendering him unconscious as he fell to the ground.

"Ash, call the police, I will ensure none of them are leaving." The Pallet town native nodded and reached for his phone, dialing the number as quick as possible. Within minutes, a few patrol cars arrived and immediately the cops arrested the Galactic and Rocket grunts. The fainted bodies of their pokemon lying on the backyard was certainly hard to watch for Ash, but he knew that it was for the best that they stay down for the moment. After a brief conversation with Gurkinn, the patrol officers confirmed his status as a former gym leader and started to carry out their duties, by setting up a perimeter around.

Amidst the red and blue lights that came from the sirens, the purplish blue skies painted an ominous picture for the young teen as the sudden realization of what is happening came to him in full force. His mind went over to his beloved mother, what if they decide to hurt her and use her as a hostage? Panic consumed him and before he could even make a phone call to her, Gurkinn sat down next to him in the doorframe.

"You okay?" The stressed and exhausted look on the young lad was hard to watch.

"I need to make sure my mom is alright." The older man sighed and shook his head, watching his Lucario applying Heal Pulse to his Blaziken's legs.

"Relax, I already asked the officers to do that." Utilizing his status and privileges as a former gym leader, Gurkinn managed to pull some strings and asked for some favours. His priority was his granddaughter and Ash's loved ones, so it was reliving to Ash that Gurkinn seemed to take care of everything for him.

"I- this is so messed up." Messed up would be an understatement, Ash shouldn't have to deal with this. This job belongs to the authorities yet here he was, seeking help and refuge from a retired gym leader.

"Indeed, to think they would try to target a young boy, despicable." The Kanto teen surveyed the burnt battlefield, feeling guilty that he brought his own problems and troubles to the old man who's quiet and relaxing evening was disrupted thanks to him.

"I'm sorry, I caused you so much trouble." Gurkinn patted the young boy's back, dismissing his guilt-ridden attitude.

"Don't be, you made the right decision to come to me." He was admittedly surprised when Ash showed up in his front door alone, but after a hasty explanation from the young boy, he took charge of the situation almost immediately.

"I'm scared they might hurt my friends." He would never live it down if they started to target the ones he loved, especially if they are aware of his relationship with the girls. He would be more than happy to surrender himself to them if they promised not to bother them. Though admittedly, that thought wouldn't sit well with the girls.

"I understand what you are going through Ash, but stay strong. You have me to look after you." After spending so much time with the old man, Gurkinn was like a father he never had. Strong but respectful and kind, he was what Ash strived to be. The fact he was dating his granddaughter only made Ash feel like Gurkinn would be his future grandfather-in-law, a thought that made him smile like an idiot.

"You shouldn't be involved in this Gurkinn, no one should." The old man punched his shoulders lightly, giving Ash a sly grin that showed his playful nature.

"What! And let my granddaughter's boyfriend to die?" Lycanroc had an amused smile on his face when his trainer's body froze. The Pallet town student managed to thaw himself and slowly turned to the man who raised his eyebrow at him, waiting for him to say anything really.

"W-What?" Gurkinn chuckled at Ash's flustered and panicked tone. He managed to stay calm during the confrontation with the Rockets and Galactics when they try to aim him, so to see him having a panic attack right now was quite entertaining.

"I know you two are dating." It was over, Ash was certain he would meet his end today. Not in the hands of highly trained terrorists, but by the hands of a disapproving grandfather. There's no way Korrina told him right? She never raised the issue with him, so it was unlike her to do something without consulting him, especially when it comes to their relationship.

"She told you?" Gurkinn moved inside the house and relaxed onto the couch, with Ash following him in a timid and anxious fashion.

"Nope, she didn't need to. I'm her grandpa, of course I know what's going on in her life. The day she asked if she could moved in with her friends, I knew something was up. I guess she didn't want me to find out that both of you are dating heh." He may be laughing, but Ash was certain that underneath the jovial smile, Gurkinn was seething with anger. The old man smirked at his quiet mood before giving a small sigh, raising his phone up with his right hand.

"I already called Korrina, her friends and her are on the way." Ash was not looking to the conversation he would have with them. As much as he want to reassure them that this attempt on his life was a one time thing, he couldn't guarantee their own safety. Worse still, Korrina might blame him for dragging her grandfather into such a precarious situation.

"Crap." The livid look on Ash's face made Gurkinn chuckle, he patted Lucario and Mienshao's head as he eyed the burnt battlefield behind his house.

"I will make some phone calls to your school, it is their job to protect their students." Ash didn't want to involve others into his own problems, but given that he was absolutely powerless, he needed others to look after him and the girls. His pride won't allow it, but for the sake of the ones he love, he would begrudgingly accept it.

'I hope they don't charge me for security.' He could foresee the hefty bill he has to pay.

"Thank you Gurkinn." The humble and grateful words from Ash made him smile, he walked to the backyard with his phone in hand, pointing his other finger to the fridge as he just remembered something.

"Don't mention it, oh and don't forget the drink in the fridge." Right May's drink, hopefully she won't be too upset of the late delivery. He wondered would she tag along with the girls too, seemed likely given they were a tight knit bunch.

"I won't." His Lycanroc set his head on top of his lap, feeling exhausted from all the fighting he did. His trainer managed to calm himself in times of strife, it was admirable really. However, the thought of people targeting his trainer did concerned him, and they did so publicly too. They were sending a message to Ash, a horrifying one.

"I live here, let me and my friends pass." Ash and Lycanroc exited the front door when he heard Korrina's loud strained voice, he sighed inwardly and quickly walked to them as they tried to push pass the officers guarding the area. The girls' eyes lit up at the sight of him and rushed towards him, embracing him tightly.

"Ash are you okay?" He won't be if they keep hugging him like this. The Lycanroc trainer rubbed their backs soothingly before letting go, a soft and gentle smile plastering on his face.

"I'm alright, sorry that I worried you." He felt Bea checking his body for any sign of injuries as her hands brushed against abdomen, limbs and chest. She gave a sigh of relief before leaning onto his shoulder, her eyes brimming with concerned and worried emotions. The Kanto teen felt the girls hugging him tightly, finding much comfort in their warm and soft bodies.

"Is grandpa okay?" Ash managed a nod to Korrina's question, the old man seemed to fare much better than he did.

"Yeah he's upstairs." He felt Korrina let go of him as she rushed into the house to find her grandfather. Amidst the warm and silent hugs, Ash gently pry all of them off as he ushered all of them to enter the house. His eyes caught May standing not far away from the group as she awkward stood there. He could tell she was concerned over him but decided not to do or say anything to avoid giving false signals.

"Hey May about your drink-" The brunette shook her head when Ash mentioned the bubble tea he promised to buy for her, this was not the time to talk about that!

"Are you still on about that? You got attacked-" He calmed her down as he approached her, placing his hands on her shoulders as she frantically shouted for his safety. The sudden closeness between the two raised eyebrows amongst the girls as Dawn lean to Bea and Serena's ears for a whisper.

"Told you something would happen between them." The two girls manage to give a small defeated sigh, while Misty rolled her eyes over Dawn's mischievous nature. To be absolutely frank, she did foresee May having an interest in Ash. Not in deep romantic way, but more of a curious manner. The polygamous relationship the girls shared with Ash piqued May's interest, especially after the horrendous break up with Drew. Naturally, she would begin to compare Ash to her ex, slowly realizing that Ash is more of a better candidate for a boyfriend than Drew would ever be.

But given the genuine worry in her voice, Misty wondered how much longer before May fully accepts her feelings to the raven haired teen, even if it is surface level.

"Calm down, I'm alright aren't I? Your drink is in the fridge by the way." Ash rubbed her shoulders in a soothing manner, relaxing her stiff and tensed muscles almost immediately.

"What?" Ash chuckled at her bewildered expression and pointed towards the house behind him.

"I managed to buy it before I got attacked, hopefully the ice didn't fully melt." Diluted drinks are never fun to drink, hopefully the cool fridge managed to slow down the melting of the ice. The Hoenn coordinator sighed as she couldn't bring herself to shout at Ash, this dummy has wrong priorities!

"You- gosh." She storm off to the house, leaving a bemused looks on her friends' faces.

"You still owe me the money!" The Kanto teen managed to shout his words to May, hoping to lighten up her mood and spirit. Learning that your roommate was a victim of an assassination attempt is not exactly fun or thrilling. The teen with a harem gave a small sigh before turning to Misty who grinned at him .

"What?" She wrapped her arms around his and leaned onto it, feeling slightly possessive over him.

"Nothing." He didn't pressed any questions given the others weren't exactly happy, they walked towards him and hugged him tight to him, seemingly wanting a piece of him to themselves.


Gurkinn turned off the lights of the living room after everyone has headed upstairs for the night. He made the suggestion that all of them should stay over for the night as he has his powerful pokemon on guard. He too shared Ash's concerns and paranoia, but given the heavy police presence around the surrounding area, he was certain that the Galactics won't try anything foolish.

The old man gave a tired sigh and sat by the couch to relax his old fragile body. He had made an effort to help set up the sleeping bags and mattress in his granddaughter's room. It was a cramp space but all 6 of them should be able to sleep in the room no problem. As for Ash, he was sleeping his room to give the girls some space and privacy, though given their relationship together, Gurkinn suspected they don't mind his company.

"Grandpa?" Gurkinn smiled when he heard Korrina's voice from the stairs. He heard the sound of stairs creaking with every step she took and soon enough, he found her sitting next to her.

"It's late, you should be sleeping." Her granddaughter nodded and clenched her fists on her lap, which alarmed the elder man. She must be here for a reason, maybe she wanted to talk to him? He smiled and ruffled her hair like a little girl in an attempt to ease her anxiety.

"What's wrong Korrina?" The teenager was shocked at her grandfather's moment of affection, it was unlike him to do something like this. She wasn't a little girl anymore, but perhaps in her grandfather's eyes, she will always have been a little girl.

"It's about Ash." Korrina muttered softly, careful not to raise her voice since she might disturb the girls' sleep.

"I know, you two are dating right?"

"H-He told you?" Gurkinn gave a small chuckle at Korrina's livid expression, these two are really alike. He cleared his throat to assume a more strict tone before giving her a firm look.

"Korrina I'm your grandfather, you can't hide these things from me." The skating enthusiast rubbed her arms and stared at the coffee table in front of her, past memories of Ash getting injured and getting swept off by the avalanche instantly filled her mind.

"I'm worried for him." The old man stared at his Blaziken who gave a soft caw, nudging his to trainer's shoulder to get him talking.

"I am too, but that's why he needs our support."

"Thank you for helping him grandpa." In retrospect, her grandfather would automatically help anyone who in dire need of aid. He has always been a heroic and staunch individual who always love to help others.

"Well I'm not going to abandoned him, he is my precious granddaughter's boyfriend after all!" Gurkinn gave a small grin and tousled her long blonde hair as he watched the embarrassed and shy red blush crept onto her face. He assumed a more relaxed and playful, a far cry from his usual gruff and strict demeanor.

"But you better be careful, those friends of yours seemed to be very attached to him too." She gripped her fists tight, should she tell him? They have always been close, but can he handle something as serious as a polygamous relationship? In her grandfather's eyes, she has always been a prim and pure girl who never showed much interest in boys. Now, throw in Ash into the equation and things had gotten interesting, to say the least.

"That- grandpa can I tell you something?" The strained and timid voice from her made Gurkinn nod in reluctantly, bracing from what seems to be a hard topic for his granddaughter.

"Mhmm." Korrina sat further away from him and hugged her knees together, averting eye contact from the older man who only had a worried of concern resting on his face. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes shut, hoping to Arceus that her grandfather won't rage in anger.

"I- I'm not the only one who is in a relationship with Ash. The girls, they are all in love with him. We share him together, as our boyfriends. I know! I know you are disappointed in me and think I'm some failure and sl-" Between her loud shouting and her tightened fists, Korrina was bracing for the inevitable shouting or even slap of disgust from her grandfather. But that never came and instead, a soft and warm hand rested on top of her hair.

"Don't you dare to say that about yourself!" She hesitantly opened her eyes and saw the gentle face of her grandfather, she bit her lower lip and felt tears started to form in her eyes as she couldn't handle the wave of emotions washing over her.

"B-But I-" Gurkinn pulled her into a snugly hug, patting her back soothingly, similar to how he would comfort her after a nasty fall from during her skating sessions. He pulled back and gave an old man sigh to her granddaughter, not showing any hint of anger or even shock.

"I know Korrina, I already knew you and your friends are in a relationship with him." The absolute look of distraught on her face were quickly mixed with horror and despair. She frantically calmed her emotions down, not believing her grandfather's words.

"But how!? None of us tell a soul." Korrina was certain that none of the girls told any of their parents or friends. Essentially, she was the first girl to inform her caretaker regarding their relationship together. Gurkinn scratched the back of his neck as he turned to his Blaziken, his beloved fire type starter shook his head in a disappointed manner, knowing what was coming up next.

"Bea's diary." Amidst Gurkinn low and whispering tone of guilty, The anxious and timid demeanour she had earlier quickly turned into one of horror and anger. She slapped his old shoulders and glared daggers into his eyes.

"Grandpa how could you?" The old man waved his hands in the air, trying to justify his accidental peak into someone else diary.

"Hey! I was cleaning your room and I accidentally stumble upon her diary. I just so "happened" to read the page that detailed about her feelings regarding her relationship with Ash." Korrina sighed and crossed her arms. She knew Bea had her own personal diary, but she respected her privacy too much to even sneak a peek into it. To know that her strict and disciplined grandfather would do something as despicable as this was shocking.

"Are you mad at me?" Gurkinn noted that Korrina's tone of anger has turned back into one of solemnness. He glanced at the ceiling above him and forced a smile, recounting the complicated mix of emotions running through him when he first unraveled his granddaughter's polygamous relationship.

"Initially yes, I was shocked at how could you be in this kind of relationship. But over the course of time, when I got to know Ash more and more through our dinner conversations, I got a firm grasp of his character. At first, I was sure that you and him were dating given that you practically brought him to our household every Friday. But when I saw how Bea interacts with him, how you brought up the girls in your daily conversation, and finally Bea's diary which cemented my suspicions, I knew that all of you were in a relationship in him."

"You are disappointed in me right?" The old man sat closer to her, placing an arm over her shoulder as she refused to look at him. The strained and hurt tone from her was heartbreaking, enough to make him forgo his harsh and demanding attitude he frequently displays.

"No, I would never be disappointed in you. You make me very proud Korrina, you train hard with your Riolu and you always strive to improve and better yourself. I couldn't be more happy to have such a wonderful and beautiful granddaughter such as you." The honest and raw tone from her grandfather made Korrina smile, she turned to him and felt incredible small. It was as if she was back in Kalos again when her grandfather would often read her bedtime stories before she goes to sleep.

"R-Really?" The old man gave an affectionate smile and nodded firmly.

"Mhmm. Look, I'm not sure how it works between all of you, but I know he genuinely loves all of you." The Kalos teen was astounded at how accepting her grandfather was. He was an old school man who believes that a relationship should be serious and long-lasting, something special and sacred shared by two people. Her polygamous relationship goes against everything her grandfather stood for.

"But how can you accept this so easily? Aren't you against this kind of forbidden and scandalous relationship?" Gurkinn patted her shoulders and gave a deep breath sigh as the cool air of the night finally works it magic. He glanced at the empty living room before him and gave a small smile.

"Korrina, I haven't told you about the village where I come from have I?" Village? What does that have to do with this?

"No? But what does it have to do with this?"

"Listen first. It is a well known fact that every village and town in Kalos have their own custom and traditions. The one I came from had always accepted polygamous relationships from the start. In the olden days, it is normal for a husband who has multiple wives. But most of the time, those relationship are reserved for capable and great men." She always knew her grandfather came from a small and secluded village, where strength and honour are valued over wealth and glory. But she never knew that harems were widely accepted in her grandfather's time, as most polygamous relationship began to be frown upon after ancient times. That being said, there was a comment he made that stirred her interest.

"Great men?"

"Strong, kind and honourable, qualities that would make a perfect husband. My point is Korrina, Ash fulfills those criteria and characteristics. His strong sense of justice and unfaltering attitude in the face of danger makes him a great partner to have. Did you know the reason he came to me was because he didn't want to bring the danger to all of you?" Korrina gave a small nod. When she first received the call from her grandfather, she couldn't believe her ears and rally all the girls to his place. She was so scared and worry that Serena tried her best to calm her down, sadly to no avail. At first she was puzzled why Ash would go to her grandfather out of people, but she theorized that her grandfather's high leveled pokemon and formidable battle skills would help shelter him from harm, and he was right.

"He always have our best interest in heart." Gurkinn beamed at Korrina's soft and emotional tone, there was doubt Ash made a lot of sacrifices for them.

"Exactly, look I am always one for keeping old traditions alive, especially in the modern day society where old traditions and customs are slowly fading away. In fact, Your great-grandfather has multiple wives too. Despite the backlash and name calling they received, they managed to persevere through and proved to the world that all of them can be happy together, and they did." Korrina was at awed at her grandfather's story, this must be a family kept secret. She never knew that her great-grandfather had multiple wives.

"I didn't know that!" The curious and childish wonder from her made him smile.

"Of course, I even kept this secret away from your parents. So this would be our little secret." Korrina giggled and nodded as Gurkinn reached for a pinky promise, an act she reciprocated. Her lips curled downwards as she rubbed her thighs together, her voice all low and soft.

"Are you really okay with this? Old traditions are important and all, but how about your own personal feelings?" Gurkinn gave a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. It wasn't easy accepting the fact his granddaughter is sharing a boy with 5 other girls, even though he came from a village where polygamy is normal, it was still difficult for him to accept it. But after observing her interactions with Ash and her friends, he was pleasantly surprised to find the lack of jealousy between all of them. Something which is very apparent in harem relationships.

"It was hard for me to accept at first, that my little Korrina found someone she likes. When you told me that you were skating with Ash, I knew you were serious about your relationship with him. Not even I, your wonderful grandfather has the luxury to go skating with you, but this boy who you only met for a few months managed to snatch my spot! Unbelievable." He exaggerated his words as he shook his head in a somewhat disappointing manner, earning a small pat from Korrina who sheepishly smiled at him. She has always skated alone because not many people can keep up with her speed and flow, but Ash was different. She was willing to slow down and help him learn the basics, to the point where he can even keep up with her.

One day, he would surpass her.

"Is that why you were okay with it when I moved out?" Her decision to move out wasn't without resistance, Gurkinn didn't like the fact he couldn't see his granddaughter everyday and that she would a city drive away from him. But, she was no longer a little girl and it was time for her to grow up. He can't hold her hand forever now can't he?

"In a sense. This is a next step for your relationship right?"

"He wants to show his dedication to all of us." Buying a house for all of them to live and to ensure each of them get attention from him, Ash had pretty much cut all of his gaming time to spend it with his girlfriends. Which to be fair, is a far better deal.

"I see. I'm sure you know this, but not many people would be supportive of your relationship. There will be many trials and tribulations, people would be jealous and angry of your happiness you all shared together, but please know that your grandpa would be with you every single step of the way." Korrina felt her eyes swelled as she wrapped her arms around her grandfather's neck, hugging him close to her as the old man gave a pain gasp from the sudden movement of his old aching bones.

"Grandpa!" He sighed and patted her back, nice to see her being so bubbly and cheerful again.

"Haha okay okay." She let him go and grinned at him, the Korrina he knew and loved returning back to him in front of his very eyes. He steeled his gaze and spoke more firmly, bringing back his strict and discipline tone.

"If he treats you and your friends fairly and kindly, then I don't see any problem. That being said, if he tries to abuse his position, don't hesitate to let me know." Chances are, Ash won't abuse his power and position like this. But humans can change, and rather quickly to.

"Ash won't do that grandpa, he is very conscious of it." The Pallet Town native had always reminded the girls and himself that their relationship is still experimental. He always treat them kindly and sweetly, the constant affection and daily conversations he provides was always welcomed.

"Just as a precaution." Korrina sighed at her grandfather's protective words, but gave a small nod nevertheless.

"Thanks grandpa, I- I was so worried that you will hate me." Gurkinn pushed apart the strand of hair that covered her face, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I would never hate you Korrina. No matter what happens, I still love you." Another breathtaking hug from his granddaughter caused Gurkinn to gasp for air, he turned to his Blaziken for much needed aid, only to receive a smirk as a response. Slowly, he felt her let go of him as she shot him a childish and jovial smile.

"Good, now go get some sleep, you still have school tomorrow." It would be a pain to drive all of them back to school since he needs to drive back and forth to fetch all of them, but he will still do it.

"Alright. Thank you for everything grandpa." The genuine tone of gratitude made Gurkinn nod, he knew this was a hard conversation for Korrina to bring up, so he was relieved that she seemed happy with his reaction. In all honesty, he wasn't exactly keen that his granddaughter is sharing a boy she loved with 5 other girls, but he will try his best to support her. After all, that is his job as a grandparent right?

"Night Blaziken!" She ascended the stairs and waved good night to all of them, earning a cheerful response from his Blaziken.

"Blaze!" His starter turned to him and patted his stiff shoulders, seemingly proud at how he handled the conversation. The old man stretched his back and sighed in content when his bones gave a satisfied crack, exhausted from everything that has happened today.


"Miss Lorelei are you certain about this? There's no need for you to personally handle this." The principal of Jubilife school leaned forward with his hands clasped together. He eyed the beautiful woman before him with a concerned expression plastered on his face, not believing the idea she was suggesting to him.

"I think it is best that I personally handle this Mr Rowan. We are up against a group of nefarious terrorist who won't show mercy to even a young child." The Ice Queen of Kanto spoke calmly, wiping her glasses with a cloth before putting it back on. Despite her nonchalant demeanour, she was serious about the topic at hand. The life of an innocent boy is at stake here.

"But the Elite 4-" Voicing what little of logic he had left, Rowan was worried for the Kanto Elite 4 member.

"Rest assured, I have informed Lance about this. He thinks it is best for me to stay in Sinnoh for the time being so I can help monitor the situation. Assigning me as Ash's guardian is just the best of both worlds." To cut the long story short, Lorelei has offered herself to look after Ash, to become his guardian so to speak. With the recent attacks to the young teen being conducted in broad daylight, she knew that only highly skilled and capable trainers can be trusted in this position.

"I see, can't argue the idea of having a member of an Elite 4 to look after Ash. But would he agree to this? He might not want this." Although Rowan did not personally know Ash, he knew that the young boy won't want to burden others with his own problems. Admirable, but also frustrating.

"I will persuade him." The cool and confident tone in her voice made Rowan sigh. He won't have to worry about arranging a team of security personnel just to look over Ash, which puts a lot of weight off his shoulders.

"Alright, thank you for your help miss Lorelei. Your presence would definitely deter Ash's attackers." Anyone with a brain would think twice before they try to attack Ash now, her powerful and defensive oriented ice types can pretty much halt anyone in their tracks.

"Should they be foolish enough to attack him, my ice types and I are at the ready." Rowan didn't question her skills as a trainer, knowing full well that she is one of the most powerful trainers Kanto has to offer. As the elderly principal leaned into his chair, a sudden knock from his secretary made him sit upright again.

"Mr Rowan? Ash Ketchum is waiting in the lobby." Just in time too, the old man gave a nod and tightened his necktie to look more presentable.

"Thank you. I will leave it you Miss Lorelei." The Ice type trainer sipped on her hot brew tea and nodded. She watched him exit the room, leaving her alone with the presence of the ticking clock. A few minutes of impatient waiting and the doors opened once again, revealing Ash and his starter Pikachu resting on top of his shoulders.

"Ash." The warm and inviting tone from the older woman made Ash smile, he was confused why he was called here today, but he presumed it was regarding about the recent attack the Rockets and Galactics made. He looked around the room and noticed the absence of the principal, which was weird considering he was summoned by him.

"Miss Lorelei?" She sat on the office couch and placed her tea on the table, ushering him to sit next to her.

"Please sit." Not one for turning down people, he sat next to her as his starter jumped into his lap, earning a scratch behind his soft and long ears.

"Shouldn't you be back in Kanto?" She should have wrapped up her investigation of Articuno by now right? That incident was weeks ago. The older woman shook her head and crossed her legs, a calm expression resting on her face.

"I decided to stay in Sinnoh for the time being. I'm here today because I want to talk to you about the recent Rocket and Galactic attack." So it was about the attack. Ash was not really surprised that she brought it up, but he expected the principal or his teachers to be here for the conversation.

"I'm fine don't worry." Lorelei frowned at how forced Ash sounded, poor boy, he must be still recovering from the attack yet he managed to put on a brave face for others.

"You're not Ash. The fact of the matter is that you are in a very dangerous situation. You are being targeted Ash." Pikachu's ears drooped, sad that his kind-hearted trainer is being targeted by horrible and bad men. His trainer wanted to live his life peacefully, yet that idea seemed to be far away from their reach. Lorelei noted the pensive silence from the young trainer and leaned in, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Look I know this is a very scary time for you, which is why I am here." He blinked, not really sure what Lorelei was getting at. But given her close proximity and the fact he can smell her perfume, she was certainly easing his anxiety.

"What do you mean?" Lorelei pulled back and crossed her legs, reaching for her tea cup as a bewildered Ash stared at her.

"Ash, allow me to become your guardian." The Pallet town native's mind processed her words, barely registering her words. Guardian? W-What does she mean by that?

"G-Guardian?" Amused by his stuttering, Lorelei gave a nod with her eyes closed in a confident manner.

"Custodian, watcher, bodyguard, whatever you call it! I will be looking after you." He wasn't sure how he feel about this. On one hand, it was relieving that someone as powerful and as cool as Lorelei is looking after him. But at the same time, he was pulling her away from her duties as an Elite 4. He didn't want to trouble or even endanger her.

"But why? You are a member of an Elite 4, you shouldn't waste your time on a student-" She sighed at his reasoning, already expecting such response from him.

"Now don't you belittle yourself like that. You helped save Kanto from a complete catastrophe, this is the least I can do to repay back that debt." According to many sources, seasonal imbalance and erratic weather could spell doom for Kanto. He still didn't believe those words wholeheartedly but given Lorelei seemed sincere and genuine with her words, he suppose it was true.

"But still-" Lorelei placed the tea cup back to the table, looks like its time to bring out her secret weapon to convince Ash. A teasing and flirty smile plastered on her face as she leaned towards his ear for a low whisper.

"Think about the pretty girls who you are friends with, you won't want them to get hurt right?" Ash felt his face flushed from the warm and soft tone from her, he managed a nod and felt Lorelei pulled back from him, giving him a soft empathetic smile.

'She's right, even if my pride won't allow this, I can't protect the girls on my own.' None of them should be hurt because of him. He couldn't bear the responsibility and guilt if anyone of them gets hurt.

"No." Lorelei beamed at Ash's acceptance, patting Pikachu's head to distract herself briefly.

"Then let me look after you and them. I promise I won't get in the way of your daily life." She had the fun idea of becoming an educator for the school. She used to run a school back in Kanto so she did have teaching experience, so perhaps she can become a teaching for the time being. She can instill knowledge into the students and look after Ash at the same time.

"Why are you so insistent on helping me?" For all Ash knew, Lorelei doesn't owe him anything. There's no need for her to above and beyond for his sake, they were just strangers up to this point. The Ice type specialist smiled softly and sat next to Ash, shuffling closer to him as Ash stared at her with a concerned look. She pulled a familiar looking plume from her jacket and grasped Ash's hands, placing the plume in his palm.

"Articuno is very precious to me Ash. She inspired my entire career as an Elite 4, and was the reason I managed to stay true to myself. I owe you for saving her life." The raw emotions brimming in her tone seemed to indicate there was more to her story but the young lad knew to not press any questions. While he knew Lorelei had an affinity with Articuno, he never knew it was this deeply connected.

He placed the plume back to her hands, grasping them as he gave her a firm and determine look.

"Then I will be in your care Miss Lorelei." The older woman beamed at Ash's acceptance, she chuckled when he bowed at her, showing much respect and gratitude for the supposed arduous task she was taking on.

"No need to be so formal Ash, just call me Lorelei." The raven haired teen nodded and held Pikachu in his arms, giving a grin when Lorelei squeezed the Electric's mouse cheeks with adoring smile on her face. He stared at her for the briefest of moment, a thought popping to his mind randomly.

'Snow angel.'