Helpless

by Epoxy-Resin

The disabled population is the world's largest minority of which anyone can become a part of at any time. "Peekaboo," said misfortune and jumped the already weakened boy. Ash wouldn't be Ash if he didn't try to get up again, though he's going to have to face he won't be able to do it on his own.

28. How Much More Can They Take

First update of the year 2022! Not as soon as I imagined it would be but I still managed to publish it before the second month of the year ends so that's a small victory I will cherish for now. A lot is going on here, a lot of start-ups which possibly don't make much sense now but bear with me. This chapter is also a long one as another update might take a while again since I don't have a prospect of any more free time, just like the while I used to write this chapter. Still, I will manage, thank you for having been so patient already.

Also, I've been meaning to ask, how do you all feel about lore? I enjoy world-building in stories, I would like to do something special for the Shalour Gym part of this story. Let me know if that's something you would be interested in, please.

Enjoy!

---

Clemont jumps up with a snort, instantly turning to his desk because he finds his hands empty. But he remembers that he fell asleep whilst looking at his phone… looking up Ash's past. So to find himself tucked in his bed all neatly and warm and his phone put neatly on his bedside table means that Ash, who sleeps in the top of the bunk bed, has seen what he was researching. And he's mortified and thus, jumps out of bed way sooner than usual, rushing downstairs in the hope to catch the teen to explain himself.

His father seems confused to see him in the state he's in, all frazzled and still a bit sleep drunk but Clemont's not having any of it.

"Dad, where is he? Where is Ash?" he asks, looking around as if the boy's hidden somewhere.

"… Out? He needed to do an errand for his uncle's friend, Steven," the man answers calmly, putting the basket of bread on the table. "Why? Did something happen?"

A lot happened, Clemont still isn't over the fact that Ash somehow got tiny pokémon to make the Bouffalant escape and thus, making the area unsafe and the appointment to get him a ride pokémon invalid. Next to that, he woke up last night, around three in the morning, to see the teen hover above the bed. There isn't that much space left between the ceiling and the top of the bunk bed but he had heard movement and the next thing he knew, the flashlight of his phone showed that Ash wasn't touching the mattress at all, yet still looking very much asleep.

"I don't get it," he says, sinking into the chair where he has skidded to a stop in front of earlier.

"What's the matter, Clemont?" Meyer asks. "Is there some way I can help you?"

"Ash did something yesterday and I just… he's not at all who he used to be, dad," Clemont utters and he feels so lost.

The internet showed him pictures of a happy child with an equally happy Pikachu on his shoulder, there were videos of Ash's losses and victories but he acts so differently now. So… hurt, almost. Like he's defending himself for something, scared that he'll get hurt somehow. Because the Ash he knows, is broody, thoughtful and mostly silent. The Pikachu on his shoulder is keeping a close eye on his surroundings, the happy-go-lucky act of the two has gone completely. So while Clemont wanted to get answers and resorted to the internet to find them, he didn't get them… instead getting way more questions than before.

"People aren't static. And you know that he's had an accident, he doesn't have a prosthesis for show," the man says and the teen gets a hunch that his father is getting annoyed with him. "Something happened yesterday and it upset him greatly, even I could see that and I was glad someone came to his help. And here you are, trying to judge him for something he's clearly willing to talk about if only you could gather the courage to ask him."

"I… I guess I just wanted to apologise for searching him up on the internet."

Meyer shakes his head and tells Clemont that he still has a lot of growing up to do. And while this statement isn't meant to be an insult, it hits home to the teen anyway. He's been told he's smarter than most kids, they've given him responsibilities that go beyond those a teenager should ever be left in charge of and now he's told he still has a lot of growing up to do? Sure, he'll do it once he has a bit of time and is left alone for once! But first, Clemont is determined to find Ash and tell him that what he did was wrong as he would hate that the boy would feel bad because of him and he'll go from there. Perhaps he ought to get himself dressed properly first, though.

But to find the teen, Clemont would have to travel quite a bit, as Ash is sitting in a rather luxurious setting at the west side of Lumiose. He doesn't feel quite at home here but he's not looking as scruffy as he used to, the pokéhelp jacket gives him a bit of a designer edge. Steven is here too, though, for now he's been silent but the teen knows that won't last long. And then, a lady approaches them and this time, it's not Ash's politeness to call any woman a lady, this one is a proper lady. In fact, she has a similar presence to Cynthia though more subtle. Her eyes are what give her away, she has this look in them that tells him more than her mouth ever could. This is Kalos' champion.

"Ash, can I introduce you to Diantha?" Steven then says and the lady sticks out her hand towards him, which Ash lightly shakes.

"Enchanté," she says.

"Thank you, likewise," he answers and she seems surprised. "I've tried to polish up my French a bit but I didn't get very far," Ash adds per explanation.

"Far enough for me, thank you for your effort. Not a lot of people go through the trouble of mastering a new language, after all, even if it are bits and pieces."

"Quite," Steven says and that's about the moment where the teen knows he must've messed something up. Again. "Ash, Diantha is here to help you."

"With?" he asks, figuring that this lady is quite capable of solving issues but how can she or he address something he's not aware of?

"You've denied a ride pokémon, Ash. That's not normal."

He falls silent. It's never been his intention to full out deny any of the lovely pokémon there, he's never been sniffed and licked so much in his life, every single ride pokémon there would've been more than fine for him. But the idea of the Bouffalant kept in complete solitude, how they're mistreating it by locking it up… he just couldn't let go of it. And while he's happy that the pokémon's free right now, even if it's at the cost of the entire ranch needing to close down, how can he trust anyone inside that ranch to treat him or any of the other ride pokémon with the best intentions? If they can mistreat one, innocent pokémon, then how can he be sure they're not doing it to another one?

"I don't think they're the right kind of people to raise ride pokémon, that's all," he says, looking down as he figures he must appear a bit obtuse. "They're mean and they locked up a pokémon and they thought that I'm part of the scum class, instantly looking at me, pointing fingers when the Bouffalant, they had locked up escaped, even while I was with Mrs. Grace. But the thing is, if they didn't lock up the pokémon, it wouldn't have needed to escape-"

"Whoa, whoa, hold on, that's a lot of information," Steven utters and reaches out his hand to pat the boy's hand. "First off, scum class?"

"Criminals," he answers and the man sighs.

"What makes you think that they would've assumed you would be part of such a group, Ash?" Diantha asks.

"I may or may not have heard a conversation I wasn't meant to hear. But I travelled to the ranch with Mrs. Grace's daughter and two of Mrs. Grace's colleagues were egging Mrs. Grace on, saying I'd get Serena pregnant or hurt."

Steven's face becomes thunderous but the lady stays perfectly calm.

"And the locked up pokémon?"

"A Bouffalant. It's a bad idea to lock up a pokémon at all, let alone a bull. All that while Unova is one call away, they could've called for help at any given moment."

"And did you set it free?"

"… It bothered me. And I may have touched a Skiddo. But I didn't touch the door or the locks."

"So there is no footage of you being actually responsible for setting a dangerous and badly treated, possibly traumatized pokémon free?"

"No. That's why they had to let me go. Yesterday turned into a weapear shaped issue so the ride pokémon was the last thing on my mind. In fact, I kind of told Mrs. Grace she could stuff the idea somewhere the sun doesn't shine and I kind of regret it… but I can't turn back time. And I don't think I can go back to apologise either. So that's why I refused."

"A series of misunderstandings, I'm sure," Diantha says and much to his surprise, still sounds pleasant enough. "If you would like, I can make another appointment for you."

"Maybe. I'm not sure I can trust them though."

"Hm. I don't suppose you know the name of the two colleagues that were egging Mrs. Grace on?"

"Euhm… Moira, I think. And Gladys. Or Clarice. I'm not sure but it's one of the two. Why? Do you know Mrs. Grace?"

"I do," Diantha answers. "Which is why I find it very odd that you wouldn't place your trust in the most highly esteemed ride pokémon trainer but I guess everyone has their weakness."

"I seem to draw that out of everyone," Ash remarks dryly. "Including Gym leaders."

"Ah yes, I've spoken to them about that. I suggest you to not take it too personally, I didn't investigate the matter solely on your behalf, there have been many complaints of them acting out on experienced trainers, not taking them seriously. But I suppose the Shalour Gym leader will be someone you will enjoy talking to, he's a bit on the rougher side but he shows sympathy where it's due. Though he will be retiring soon, he just has a few issues with his successor, Korrina."

"That doesn't seem ideal," he sighs but shrugs. "I'll see it when I get there. And it could take a while, I don't think I'll be returning to the ranch any time soon."

"That depends," she says, a tiny, mischievous smile on her face, she actually looks more than slightly amused now. "I'll let you know."

And with that, she stands up and leaves, her skirt billowing with the wind the motion is creating. Steven, however, sighs deeply so Ash turns to him.

"I'm sorry," is his automatic response.

"Hm? I'm not bothered, all I know is that the two people you've name-dropped will never find a job ever again," the man says and in turn, shrugs as well. "I suppose that asking you to forget about them is too much to ask for?"

"Err… I can try?"

"Good enough for me. Also, if you don't like Mrs. Grace that much, let me know that she's never spent that much time with a pokémon for the pokémon to take over personal treats."

"… Pikachu's been acting like me since the fourth month he's been with me, though."

"Her interventions last three weeks to six weeks maximum. Ride pokémon are based on character, after all, if the spirit to care for isn't there, it won't ever qualify."

"But then I wonder why the Bouffalant was ever imported to Kalos if Mrs. Grace said that it didn't like children."

"Not every ride pokémon is trained for children, Ash. Whether or not the pokémon was brought in as an experiment, as it would definitely broaden their horizons should they be able to train ride pokémon for adults too."

"Oh…"

"So please try and be lenient towards the pokémon, it will get better from here on."

Ash nods, it's not a hard promise to make, the pokémon usually are the better part of every situation he's been in. But he wonders what it'll be like, he's grown accustomed to Pikachu being there… but the ride pokémon he's been introduced to are big. Bigger than what he remembers. Charizard big, actually. And he's not seeing any kind of said pokémon on the streets so is it socially acceptable to ride a pokémon here? Or is he just going to aim a bigger beacon at himself? But it seems like this ride pokémon request is kind of a big deal, he didn't know that it would end up being a hot potato to tell Mrs. Grace to stuff it but well, he wouldn't be himself if he didn't manage to screw something over, hm?

And as he is accompanied back to the Prism Tower, he encounters a very apologetic boy. He's got no clue what Clemont is so upset about so he grabs him by the shoulders and thankfully, that stops the boy from rambling on.

"What are you talking about?"

"I looked you up online, that's a very rude thing to do-"

"It's not though."

"… Huh?"

"It's not. You can look all you want, just know you're not getting that kid in front of you ever again."

"Oh."

"More importantly, seems like we'll be needing to go back to the ranch sometime too. I think champion Diantha isn't happy with what happened there."

Clemont's mouth snaps shut with a 'click'.

"What."

"You heard me. And don't look so surprised, you know my uncle is the champion of Johto, so why wouldn't Diantha be interested to see me? And the things that happen around me?"

"B-but champion-"

"Yeah?"

"… Whatever upset you isn't going to have a good time," Clemont offers weakly, whatever fight he seemed to have in him seems to have faded quickly. "Please tell me it's not Serena's mother you've taken offence to?"

"No," he says flatly, just because Mrs. Grace is on thin ice since she didn't do anything to him. Yet.

Thankfully, Clemont seems to have said something to Meyer and if there's ever been anyone who seems to actively listen to him, next to Lance -but his uncle offers practical solutions instead of just listening to the issue itself- this man has achieved it. And while it comes as a surprise to him, Ash figures that this has something to do with the 'certain level of awareness' Meyer's mentioned earlier, he must've grown used to needing to keep an eye out for the kids in his house, from what he's seen so far, he feels like Clemont seems very quick to draw conclusions and that's dangerous.

"So, a pokémon escaped and they blamed you, hm?"

"A pokémon they think will go rogue escaped and they suspected me until they saw the camera footage that I didn't approach the stable at all. But I got their attention because I complained about it. But all I know is that an alarm went off when I found a pokémon I was interested in and the pokémon appeared to be interested in me. So yeah, that didn't happen."

"But you'll be invited again, right?"

"Yeah but that could take-"

His phone lets out a humming noise, it vibrates in its pocket and it catches him off guard. So he takes out his phone before realising that this is very rude, he's been speaking to someone.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to," he says and he's about to put his phone back into his pocket when he notices the man's growing smile. "… Sir?"

"You really are a polite one, aren't you? Go ahead, Ash, it might be important."

And yes, as it turns out, it's very important. In fact, Ash realises now that he has several contacts in his phone he doesn't really recognise but he sees Diantha's on the message she's sent him and well…

"Err… So yeah, I've gotten my other invitation. This afternoon, at two."

"Oh, that's wonderful, I can get you guys there by car. I've been in the mood to drive around recently so this is the perfect excuse."

… Yes, the perfect excuse to keep an eye on him too but it's fine, now he can't stall and has no other option than to come along. Gosh, Ash has to keep calm because he has this feeling like this hot potato could get even hotter. But it is an issue that needs addressing, if only for the fact that this 'highly esteemed' trainer of ride pokémon shouldn't lock up another pokémon ever again.

---

Bonnie's basically the only one pleased to be back, she's instantly surrounded the moment she enters the field, the Skiddo remember kindness, after all. Ash, however, is taken to a different field and Diantha is there too… Funnily enough, Clemont's father doesn't respond so awestruck to her presence at all, he just nods to acknowledge her and that's it. Mrs Grace, in turn, is acting a lot more professional now, though.

"The ride pokémon have a moment to run free every day," she says and smiles. "They don't mind being petted whilst they're running free either and you've told me you are good with pokémon so this shouldn't be a problem. And if it is, know that I'm behind you."

"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Grace."

Again, she smiles and now he wonders if she's still mad.

"I'm sorry for what I said yesterday."

"That's nice of you to apologise. I apologise as well, yesterday was a hot mess but let's look forward from now on, okay?"

"Okay."

So he lets it all behind him and approaches the first pokémon he sees, it's an Arcanine who raises its head in interest and he's got his hands on it quite quickly. And once he's got the attention of most, Ash is a bit bewildered and in over his head because he's not sure what he's looking for. All these pokémon will be wonderful, he knows but he's… he's dangerous. And just when he thinks he's decided on the Arcanine, as it's following him in his heels, which is also the biggest pokémon here, he hears hooves. Loud ones and they're rapidly approaching. He only has the chance to turn around before he gets faced with the Bouffalant racing towards him. And with his experience with bull pokémon, he doesn't even think twice about running, it's the worst you could do, no one has ever been fast enough to outrun a pokémon that's built up out of hormones and muscles anyway.

There is another pokémon beside him, though, when he looks up he sees a… Ponyta? Is that-

He doesn't have the time to look up again, the Bouffalant's reached him but the pokémon skids to a halt in front of him and Ash's put out his hands so now the creature presses its wet but warm nose against them, in greeting.

"Hooo," he sighs. "That was a close one."

"Ash!"

The Bouffalant turns towards Mrs. Grace, which cools down her enthusiasm to intervene but the pokémon's ear flicks once and its attention is on him again. And then the creature does something odd, something Ash hasn't seen in his Tauros yet. It runs off a bit before doing a binkie! And he's only ever seen that with Phanpy, when the young pokémon was elated by something.

"… How old is this Bouffalant?" he asks and sighs when the woman can only shrug.

The return of the pokémon isn't received well but it's kind of clear that the Bouffalant isn't a threat, it lays down when Diantha approaches it, a pose that's asking for a proper groom. Some of the fur on the side is matted, after all.

"Thank heavens, you're docile," she sighs and pats the pokémon's side, drawing a lazy 'moo' out of it.

Ash's whisked from the field and brought in 'more safe' territory though the trainers can guide the Bouffalant back to a stable but it's an open one this time and the pokémon gets the grooming it desired. Mrs. Grace is quick to approach him again but she looks like she's way out of her league on this one.

"I was told you were special, boy but there seems to be something in this universe trying to prevent you from getting a ride pokémon," she sighs but straightens, adding a valiant statement that makes the teen smile. "But not on my watch! You're getting a ride pokémon whether the universe wants it or not. So, did you see one you like or…?"

"I liked the Arcanine but I-I," he hesitates to finish because he's not sure. "There was a ride pokémon by my side when the Bouffalant charged, right? Did you see who it was? Was it a Ponyta?"

"Oooh, you mean Bonbon? Yes, he's a Galarian Ponyta," Grace answers. "He's a gutsy one, he won't leave you if he likes you but that being said, he's not shown much love to anyone. But if he really stood by you, that's a sign he does like you so if you want, I'll go get him for you."

"Yes, I would like that."

"Can I just ask why, though? We do train our ride pokémon to get their riders out of dangerous situations so why would you pick the sole one of this entire domain who doesn't?"

"I usually don't need help in those situations. But having someone with you always makes a situation better. Like Pikachu only… the ride pokémon will also be a chance for me to escape, next to being a bit of extra support. If you know what I mean."

"I don't need to, as long as Bonbon does, it's fine," she says and suddenly, she's all sunshine and happiness.

And Serena does get to keep Bonbon's pokéball with her but that's alright with Ash. He vows he'll go to Galar one day because now that he has the Ponyta in front of him, he's completely in love with it. He's told that Bonbon is discoloured and has moments where it will not want to come out of his pokéball but that's all fine to Ash. You're never in control of anyone, anyway. You can ask, yes but never control. Unless drastic measurements were used, like machinery that took all options of choice from whatever or whoever they were controlling.

But whatever doubts he has are whisked away when he hears Bonbon's voice in his head. It startles him at first, as only the legendary pokémon dare to do it. So either this is a brash pokémon or it trusts him. Seeing that the Ponyta only has eyes for him, Ash figures that it's the latter more than the former. Thought Bonnie likes him too and that earns her a soft lick on the cheek on the rare occasion where Bonbon turns away from him.

"And, was it worth all the trouble, Ash?" Meyer asks when they're all travelling back to Lumiose.

"Dunno but I'm glad it's over," he chuckles. "It was a hassle and a little over the top. I mean, I wonder when something will go right for any of us without needing someone of a higher power to literally force the hand of whatever is opposing us from reaching our target."

"I think that's about the reason why the police were created," Clemont says.

"You mean, officer Jenny?" Serena asks and she scoffs straight after. "I don't know if they'll be any help, they're usually quick to shoot to action but they're just as quick to let whoever they've arrested go, allowing them to somehow escape."

"I think Clemont meant a different kind of police," Ash responds and the teen next to him nods. "Like the international police and the G-men, for example. They do a bit more than just arrest people. They'll shadow and infiltrate, they'll do mass investigations. Everything officer Jenny doesn't do or fails to do, basically."

"But officer Jenny caught us when I took Pikachu from you by accident, though?" Bonnie pipes up and the boy can feel Clemont tense up beside him.

"No, it was a woman, yes but not an officer Jenny," he replies tensely. "She was intense, she didn't need a gun, her eyes could've shot bullets instead."

"Yeah, people don't take lightly to pokéhelps being stolen," Ash sighs.

"Still lucky it was yours being stolen, I don't have any doubt we and the whole of Kalos would've been sued if it was anyone else. But thankfully, I can repay you with fire noodles which are surprisingly easy to find as no one actually likes to eat them," Meyer quips.

"I would have definitely sued you because I don't trust adults," the teen replies, smiling sunnily at Meyer's reflection in the rear-view mirror. "But kids? They usually take care of pokémon."

"And adults don't?"

"Kids take pokémon for innocent, selfish reasons. Adults take pokémon for criminal and selfish reasons."

No one tells him he's wrong, not even Meyer corrects him. Because he's right and Ash hates that people from a different region recognise the idea, the whole concept that still allows pokémon to love people who are not worth it. He can't do much for them, though, when he asks how they know about this, they refer to issues in a different region. As if there isn't any trouble here… Ash doesn't believe it but he lets it slide, for now. He'll just be pleased he has a nice pokéhelp and think about how he'll tackle the Shalour Gym and how he'll get there. But one day, he swears, he'll find out what's giving him that eerie feeling in Lumiose, which he doesn't feel in the safe home inside the Prism Tower, the building that almost, if it wasn't for his own quick thinking, was his doom.

---

Meyer is trying to do his best to find a spot in the public parking lot when his phone goes off. And he basically flings it at Bonnie, who's able to catch it perfectly well and she's also able to read the message her father received on it. Ash is pretty amazed but when Bonnie tells the man that professor Sycamore wants to talk to him, he's suspicious.

"Why wouldn't he just tell me that?" he asks, frowning when seeing his phone's screen is devoid of any notification whatsoever.

Clemont looks at him with a frown too.

"Whatever his reasons is, it will be justified, I guess," the boy says and shrugs. "Will you be able to manage on your own?"

"Sure, the pavement in Lumiose is flat enough for me to walk on," Ash answers but when Clemont nods slowly, he gets the impression that that's not what the boy meant.

Too late to turn back now and most of all, he might not be as mobile as he used to be but he's still not a coward. So he'll face professor Sycamore on his own, even if it's a trap. Meyer tells him to come straight back to the Prism Tower when he's done and Ash promises him that he will… but as soon as his odd group of friends have disappeared out of view, the feeling he's gotten ever since arriving in Lumiose returns full force. Ash wonders what it is, why it feels so daunting. He's got foresight, for goodness' sake, he'll be ready for trouble even when the trouble isn't there yet so why does he feel like it'll nab him from behind? Like it could jump out of the sewer drains any moment now?

As eerie as it feels, he's sure he'll be alright, he's got Pikachu on his shoulder all the time. Also, he's got Necrozma hanging around him, the pokémon is following his every move and while he enjoys this attention, it also makes for a perfect backup plan, just in case something happens. Not sure if the feelings he's got about Lumiose City are justified, he goes inside the laboratory and picks up on a hard strung mood. The assistant is nice enough, she seems to recognise him and it relieves her to see him, or so he notices. She takes him to the professor, who seems busy typing. Not busy enough to not notice him, though.

"Ah, bonjour," he says but it's not nearly as merry as Ash remembers him as.

"Hello, professor, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, certainly. Take a seat over there, I'll be with you shortly."

Ash does as asked and feels a little awkward just sitting here. So he looks around for a bit, figuring that the professor won't mind it. The laboratory is a semi-public place, after all, a lot of people have been here, after all. Something is lingering here, though, the teen can still feel the tension from before, it doesn't seem to come from professor Sycamore himself but more the general area, like he has had an argument in here just now. But he knows that this is none of his business, he shouldn't meddle or he might end up creating a professor Oak 2.0 issue.

An odd group of pokémon comes hovering through the door, Ash's interest is peaked, of course, but just when he fears they'll just move along into a different corridor, the tiny creatures float over towards him. One settles down on the hand he holds out and Pikachu gets one right on top of his head. The little pokémon doesn't weigh anything, though and it's so adorable that not even his moody partner complains about it. More start to gather on his arm and one goes to sit down on his cap, he can see the creature's little legs stick out from under the rim It's all very sweet but he doesn't want to move and disturb the peacefully seated pokémon to scan them. So he just enjoys it for a little, while biting back his burning curiosity at wanting to know what pokémon they are.

"I see you get on well with the Cutiefly."

"I do," Ash says and smiles at the man. "That's a fitting name for them too, they're cute."

"I'm glad you like them. And that they like you," the professor answers as he straightens… which causes the creature on the boy's hand to stiffen and look up. "As you can see, they aren't comfortable near everyone."

"Oh no, what happened to them?"

"Poacher," is all professor Sycamore says and now the teen's sitting here, stewing in anger.

These pokémon aren't even the size of his thumb, what the hell kind of poacher would feel like it's alright to go after something so defenceless and scar them for the rest of their lives? By now, Ash knows that poachers don't care about the mental wellbeing of their 'prizes' but most would be going after rare pokémon. Judging from how many there are now sitting on him and Pikachu, he feels like this is a common pokémon in the region it naturally belongs to.

And as the professor approaches him, despite being calm enough, he does chase the pokémon away. The man sighs ruefully as he sits next to the boy but doesn't make another remark about the Cutiefly. Heaven knows how often professor Sycamore has tried to approach them, Ash can imagine it getting a bit bothersome so he doesn't press the matter.

"Are you okay, professor?" he asks and the man nods, as if automatically.

"I want to give you something, Ash," professor Sycamore says and puts his hand down his pocket, getting out another marble that Ash can easily identify as another mega stone.

"… A mega stone?"

"Yes, it is for Charizard."

"Great, then the only one I'm missing is Sceptile," the teen remarks dryly as he's given the marble.

He knows this is an expensive gift, he shouldn't be ungrateful but Ash doesn't hold mega evolution in high regard. This doesn't mean he won't ever use it, he's still sitting on the idea of how and where to mega evolve both Glalie and Heracross. The teen once held the idea to use them in Gym battles, to spice things up just in case the Gym leaders have a mega stone as well. But all he's seen so far is that they have a mega bad attitude towards him and certainly aren't looking to entertain him. That just means he's going to have to search for a better opportunity, despite having put his hopes up for the meeting with the Shalour Gym leader. He hopes he can get there before the man retires…

"How do I ever let Charizard hold it?"

"Ah, oui, I can give you something to give him easy access. Do you need anything for the other pokémon?"

"Something for Heracross would be nice. Glalie's, comfortable holding it in his mouth."

"That won't do, someone could take it from him," the professor says, shaking his head as he stands up and leaves the room.

Leaving the teen wondering who the heck would be stupid enough to put their hands in a Glalie's mouth. Like, anyone in front of one gets a good view on how big the teeth of the pokémon are and yes, Glalie will bite down quite happily, don't you worry about that. Ash is still confused when the professor returns.

"Professor?"

"Oui, mon petit?"

"Have you like… ever seen a Glalie? Up close?"

"I have, yes."

"… You would stick your hand in its mouth? For real?" he asks, genuinely concerned for the man's mental wellbeing.

"I would not, no," the professor answers and doesn't meet his eyes, much rather focussing on sifting through the box of parts looking for something. "But there would be people desperate enough to get to that mega stone."

"Well…," Ash says and looks away, at nothing in particular, feeling a bit exasperated. "Desperate or not, they're not going to get their arm back, even if they reached the mega stone."

"You don't know that."

He does, though. Glalie's mad fast but alright. If the professor is stuck with the idea of…

"Wait… are you giving me this-" he asks, holding up the marble. "-to keep it safe? Are you afraid someone is going to take them?"

"I would state that there weren't any Cutiefly's on you but that would seem a bit silly."

"Professor!" he exclaims, alarmed. "I can't keep that safe! I-I'm weak, I-"

"Are you?"

The look the professor gives him could melt ice. Ash squirms uncomfortable and stills.

"Sorry," he squeaks. "I… For a region that's apparently free from criminals, I didn't expect to be the one to keep this mega stone safe."

"I didn't know before," professor Sycamore replies curtly. "Promise me you will protect them with your life."

"I promise. It's an easy promise, the mega stones are stuck to my pokémon. I'll hurt anyone trying to touch them and I'm not beyond hurting them badly. But if you feel like it's an idiot capable-"

"I am pretty sure that, if they have your Glalie, they will have ways to keep its mouth open to get to the mega stone. And no, telling it to swallow the stone isn't an option either. They might kill your pokémon to get it, they're also not beyond hurting a pokémon or person badly."

"You know what, you're right, Kalos doesn't have criminals," Ash concludes. "This region, on the other hand, has pokémon and human abusers. Wonderful. I would've liked a warning about that too."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realise. But I don't want you to get involved, I've given everyone I trust a mega stone to keep both them and the stones safe."

Ash nods, he knows enough. So there's a group trying to collect all mega stones, huh? Sounds a bit like Team Plasma but with stones that have a lot of power behind them. The teen can't imagine doing something different with the mega stones but then again, leave it up to criminal teams to screw something up, huh? But once he gets the items that will guarantee the pokémon having the stone onto them, just like he is wearing the choker all the time -Arceus help the person who gets close enough to him to take it from him- Ash hesitates.

Because Glalie's been having issues with his jaw ever since mega evolving. Also, Heracross has become more aggressive, as if wanting to prove he's ready for this mega evolution. And Charizard… they've only recently come to the conclusion that attacking each other isn't worth it. Charizard also understands the consequences of attacking him as well… but will he remember that when mega evolved? What guarantee does he have that it won't hurt both him and the pokémon? And as if the professor can see the doubts he's got, he puts a hand on his shoulder.

"Mega evolution is a complicated thing, Ash. I've been researching it for many years and nothing will give you a hundred percent guarantee that will be successful but there is also not a guaranteed failure. Follow your instinct, I trust you to make the right decision."

Hurray for the vote of confidence but Ash's stomach is churning uncomfortably during the entire way back to the Prism tower, he isn't dealing well with all the information he's gotten so far. Also, he's not sure how well Charizard will react to having a bracelet around his wrist. Heracross wouldn't give a damn what's on his horn, as long as it makes it look stronger, his buddy won't mind. And the teen knows Glalie's going to be bummed out about needing to spit out the mega stone, he's seen the pokémon play with it in his mouth but yeah… he's not going to put Glalie in unnecessary danger. If his pokémon gets caught, they can just slide it off the thingy, then there's no need to cause Glalie any unnecessary harm.

"Dear lord, Ash," Steven's voice then says from behind him. "You look so mad and sad at the same time, what's happened to you?"

He whirls around, startled because he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. Thankfully, though, Pikachu is still on his shoulder, looking about equally bothered as he is.

"Can you not do that, please, Steven? I'm not feeling well."

"I'm sorry," the man wheedles, zooming over towards him, deftly avoiding passing Pikachu in the process. "What's happened?"

"Someone scared professor Sycamore and in turn, he scared me by not telling me everything. So my mind fills in the gaps with possibly even worse details."

"Care to tell me what scared you so much, then?"

"Someone is hunting mega stones."

The man looks at him as if he just told him tomorrow wouldn't come.

"What?!"

"Professor Sycamore has been handing them out to those he can trust to keep them safe. That includes me."

"Ash, I need you to have this, then," he says and blast, it's another marble, attached to a chain this time around.

"What the hell? Why? Why is everyone giving me these when I have so many doubts about using them?"

"Whether you use them or not, that's up to you. But give this to your Sceptile, he can keep it safe."

"Not without me, he can't," Ash replies, plenty frustrated as he does accept the chain. "Now the entire team I brought from home can mega evolve but what good will it do?"

"Because you don't look like you have almost an entire team worth of pokémon who can mega evolve," Steven says and finally, someone says something that makes sense to him.

"They'll hit jackpot if they catch up with me."

"I've heard about the ride pokémon you've chosen. Dastardly little pokémon you've picked out there, if there's one type you don't want to mess with, it's Fairy-types or Psychic-types. And yes, the Galarian Ponyta is both of them so trust me, that little pokémon is going to get you out of trouble and save you out of bad situations when you have it with you."

"I'm not allowed to have his pokéball with me. So if someone, like you just did, decides to jump me, they have me."

"Not quite."

"Whatever made you decide that you wanted to split from the group of friends you've just made?"

"… Professor Sycamore asking to see me and not them? I mean, it's not that deep. Also, I'm re-joining them now and getting the hell out of this city that's giving me the heebie-jeebies."

"Hmm, you're best off being near them, kiddo, trust me. Clemont might not look like much but he's been a Gym leader before Clembot and he wasn't an easy target to beat. And that's why trainers were mean to him and also why he's decided to stop it, that it wasn't worth the hassle."

"People usually aren't worth the hassle. The part that rubs me the wrong way is that he's left his pokémon in charge of a robot that's proven to be absolutely merciless, unable to be stopped even when the opposing party calls for it to stop. How is a mechanical heart to know sympathy? How will it know it's pushing a pokémon too hard, beyond what it can do, without eyes that can see the pokémon?"

"Tell him that, Ash. Because if anything, you're going to be the only trainer that will be able to change his mind."

"Change his mind? I'm not sure if I can but I'm going to try because I will give up the entire challenge and go home if I have to fight against a robot to get the Gym badge, a robot that defies everything I respect in a trainer."

"… Right. Let me get you back to the Prism tower."

Ash just follows, the mega stone is joined with the other one, the items to put inside the stone is made odd, metallic sounds as he walks. Steven is walking slow enough as well, is he not looking well? Or has the man grown accustomed to walking next to him? He did follow him, must have been since he got out of the laboratory. Talking about the laboratory, what did happen with the professor? Who in the right mind would go to a regional professor and ask them flat out to give them all their precious research material, if not data? It's like asking professor Oak to hand over all the details of the trainers he's following.

"Ash!"

He looks up and sees Bonnie run over towards him, she stops in time before gently hugging his middle tightly.

"What did the professor want?" she asks.

"I can show you in a little while. Do you think your papa has a big room where I can let out a couple of pokémon?"

"No, the house isn't big to have more than two pokémon. But you can use the gym, if you want?"

"So a murderous robot can attack us again? No thanks, I'll wait until we get to the open, then."

"The open?" she asks, eyes wide.

"Outside, in the woods. There are open spaces in there, perhaps even a field. I'll show you what professor Sycamore wanted me to do over there."

"Oooh, okay. Dad's found you fire noodles, they look spicy. Brother's glasses fogged up when he had a look at them."

"Sound like good fire noodles, alright," Ash chuckles and he has to laugh when he sees Steven's expression.

"Fire noodles?" the man repeats dumbly.

"You saw the mukbang I did for Orre, right?"

"Yeah, but to eat them for a purpose is one thing but to eat them for enjoyment is another thing? You actually like them?"

"I do, I do."

Steven pulls a face like he doesn't believe him but Ash isn't going to bother, it's his choice to believe it or not. Seeing the man follows inside after being invited in by Meyer, who came to check up on Bonnie, he'll get to see it for himself. And honestly, having the whole table watch him eat is less than ideal but seeing that he has no issues eating the noodles, they lose interest in it soon enough, leaving him to eat in peace.

---

Something's still making his stomach churn and no, it's not the fire noodles. He's just eaten his second serving and he's sated so now he's scrolling a little on his phone, seeing everyone is chatting it up with each other, with Bonnie being cute with Dedenne. This time he focuses on the new numbers he's got on his phone and he sees Galar's champion, Leon added to it. So he introduces himself and ends his message asking a bit about his Charizard and how he can get as big as that, also adding that he has a Galarian ride pokémon he knows he's going to love to bits. That he doesn't get an instant answer is normal, there's a chance it's midnight over there so he leaves it be. But the other numbers… if professor Sycamore has been sending everyone mega stones…

And Steven, despite being an avid stone collector, confessed to him that he doesn't collect mega stones, so how did he get the stone for Sceptile? And more importantly, does he have a stone himself? Also making him a target for whoever is looking to collect all the stones for themselves? Ash can't have that, who knows to what desperate measures the idiot wanting to collect all the mega stones will go to eventually. So he uses all the numbers he has, all over the world, and send them all the collective message that, if they have a mega stone, to not lend it or the pokémon it belongs to out under any circumstances whatsoever. And it's a funny message, he has been able to make sure that the message will disappear after being read so no one will be able to pin anything on him. The message has come in clear too, Steven looks straight at him and nods before turning back to Meyer who is obliviously chatting away… but also turns to his phone when Steven is distracted by a sudden visit from Bonnie and her Dedenne.

And Meyer also looks at him before nodding so now Ash knows enough. Clemont and Bonnie's father isn't someone you would want to meddle with. Hence why he didn't seem awkward near Diantha, he's met the woman before. Hmmm, now he's wondering how far his message went but he gets the fright of a lifetime when he stares at his past messages, including the bloody group chat that made his and his friends' lives hell, his phone goes off! Right in his hands! He nearly flings it up against the ceiling but fumbles to catch and answer it, all while Serena giggles, having been the only one to see him act this silly.

"Hello?" he asks, not having had the sense to look at who was calling him.

"Hello, Ash, I hope I didn't wake you up?"

"Oh, professor Brunet!" he sighs, relieved. "No, no, I was just looking at my phone when you called, I got a bit startled but I'm alright. What can I do for you?"

"I may or may not have some news for you, I hope you won't be too shocked but I need you to know that there have been Ultra Beasts spotted in Kalos. New ones, to be exact."

His pulse went up but he forces himself to remain calm.

"Oh? Do you know who they are?" he asks, keeping his voice as flat as possible, he's got younger kids near him and him being scared might also make them scared. And that's not fair towards the Ultra Beasts.

"Yes, they have been identified. There is UB Adhesive or also called Poipole. You shouldn't be afraid of it, it's is playful and will not attack people. But UB Assembly and UB Burst have been seen charging at people. They are respectively called Stakataka and Blacephalon."

"You think they could try and find me just like the others have?" Ash asks, keeping his voice low.

"Possibly. Space distortions can happen everywhere in the world, at any given moment. And often, the pokémon left there is left in a panic and go look for something they can identify with," the professor says and she pauses a bit as if to give the teen a moment to breathe. "I feel that, since an appearance of previously spotted Ultra Beasts involved you, there might be a chance they will come to find you as well. Just so you know you ought to be properly prepared if you were to go out in the open."

Wonderful, that's exactly like he was planning on doing but he's not so sure now. But he thanks the professor for the information, though Ash isn't sure if he would have liked to remain unaware of another possible assailant or if he's now glad that if he sees something odd, he can now put a name on it. Besides, he's changed since the 'last' spotting of the Ultra Beasts, as professor Brunet called it so perhaps they won't go as far as to attack them.

"Ash? Everything okay?" Steven asks.

"I'll live," he answers, figuring he shouldn't panic, it's not like the Ultra Beasts are currently spawning inside the living room.

"Alright," Meyer says. "What's the plan then, fellows?"

"I'd like to leave today," Ash answers, looking sideward, at Serena and Clemont. "If that's okay with you guys?"

"Sure, I'm okay with that," the girl answers.

"So it's official, then? We're going as a group?"

And Ash blinks, he thought that would've been obvious but Clemont needs it to be official, huh?

"On one condition," he says and now it's the boy's turn to blink in confusion. "When I challenge the Lumiose Gym, I get to battle the actual Gym Leader. Not the problematic robot."

"… Okay," Clemont says. "On the condition that you tell me why you feel the robot is problematic?"

"Because it didn't stop when you told it to. Because it threw out challengers just asking for instructions or directions. No matter how brilliant you are, no matter how advanced your robot is, you can never tell what a person or pokémon will do or react like. And that's what makes it problematic to me, the fact that it can act out if you ask it a normal question that has nothing to do with pokémon battles or the Gym at all, just because you didn't plan it inside its system to respond with something like 'I don't care about that, ask me something else'."

"Ah."

"Not to mention the fact I mentioned to Steven, that it can't see if a pokémon is too hurt to continue or in trouble."

"Alright… Alright, I'll… I'll fight you, if that's what you want, Ash."

"It is," the teen says, nodding and feeling pleased with himself.

And apparently, this was the right way to approach this, Meyer takes him to the side when the other go and prepare themselves to leave -Ash is always prepared to leave anyway- and smiles at him.

"Steven told me that he had asked you to try and drag Clemont out of his shell but I didn't think you would get this far today. Thank you for doing this for my son, Ash."

"You're going to have to put up with the robot for a little while longer, though," Ash says, feeling a little sad for all the trainers who will get the wrong idea about the Lumiose Gym. "Travelling with me is special and I feel that it will be a lot more special still, now that I've become who I am today. Clemont might change a lot during this, he might actually decide he might not want to be a Gym leader any longer after the battle with me. The thing is, will you also be ready to accept that?"

"Of course, he's my son and he'll remain that way, no matter what he does. I just want him to find his purpose in life, I can't handle watching him sit around and burn out from pure boredom."

"He won't be bored around me. But I won't be here forever, you know that, right?"

"No, I get that," Meyer sighs and rubs his forehead. "Just… try and have a bit of fun too, won't you Ash? Just now, you looked so sad and yet you seemed so happy with the ride pokémon."

"I'm not static if that's what you mean? I have a lot of feelings. In fact, I have a lot of everything," he snorts because he can feel the angry version of himself raging inside his Aura, getting stronger and stronger with every doubt and worry he gets -and boy, has he gotten a lot extra today! "Don't worry about it, I'll be happy to be out and about again, now that I don't have to worry about falling face first in the mud or getting stuck on a piece of land going uphill, I'm all for freedom and the outside."

"Good," the man says and suddenly, he's all smiles again. "Try and keep out of trouble too, right?"

"Define trouble?" Ash asks and now Meyer stares at him. "If you think a big pokémon popping in for a visit is trouble, we might have an issue already," he clarifies.

"Oh, no, no, I meant the reason why you sent that message. That's the trouble I've been referring to."

"Kindly have a chat with professor Sycamore, he's the one who set me off."

"I'm sure you filled in a lot of details yourself, you've got a keen intellect on those kinds of things, I can tell," the man says but shakes his head ruefully. "Not that you should have any knowledge about it, you're far too young, you shouldn't have needed to understand, shouldn't have been able to understand and warn others, that should never have needed to be your role in all this. But you do and that's something I can't change," he adds, shrugging.

"Yup. I'm hoping people will leave us alone during the entire journey, actually but I feel like that's wishful thinking. After all, I got to know you through trouble too."

"Mm," the man nods and stays quiet afterwards, Clemont seems to have gathered… a massive backpack?

"Yo, what are you planning on doing out there?" Ash asks, pulling wide eyes at the backpack sticking out from behind the teen's shoulders.

"It's not just any backpack, though," the teen grins and his glasses get all shiny, making for a pretty mischievous look.

So he doesn't question it any longer, though he's got doubts on whether this boy is strong enough to pull such a hefty bag along with him. And he's not going to offer up Bonbon to carry it, Clemont's just going to have to sift through and take the bare necessities if he can't handle it. Serena pulls wide eyes at the bulky backpack too but she doesn't say anything, she just pulls a face at Ash, telling him enough.

"Let's get going, then," she says, when Bonnie happily bounces along, with a terribly cute Pikachu shaped backpack on her back, as well as her tiny shoulder bag draped around her, where Dedenne is also looking ready to leave. "Tell me when I need to get Bonbon out, yeah?"

"Will do," Ash says, looking on in amusement how Meyer is coddling with his daughter, shedding fake tears on 'how she's already grown so much' and how he'll miss her.

But they do leave yet they pass the widest boulevard and that's hard on Serena, there are stores here and even Ash's interest is peaked when he spots a nice case of varied brushes and soaps, for all kinds of pokémon.

"Guys, we're not even going to get out of Lumiose City before dark if you keep lingering like this," Clemont complains.

"Mm-hm," he says and plainly pulls Serena into the store with him, leaving the other teen to baulks outside of it.

And honestly, it doesn't take long, the girl's selected a nice, pinkish-red hat that suits her nicely and Ash gets his box of brushes. Yet the boy isn't done complaining yet.

"All done?"

"That hotel shouldn't have made me work for money if I can't spend it," Ash grins and opens the box, revealing the glorious selection of brushes. "And also, I don't know what pokémon I'm going to get but I'll be damned if I can't care for them properly."

"Oh."

"What's this brush for?" Bonnie asks, pointing at possibly the only one she might remember having used before.

"For tiny haired pokémon like Pikachu and Dedenne. Looks, here's an even smaller one, that's going to be perfect to get the bits between Dedenne's toes."

"Isn't that going to tickle?" she asks, looking at the pokémon and back at him. "He's ticklish…."

"Maybe," Ash grins. "We'll just have to see, right?"

Bonnie seems alright with that and finally, they start moving again. But if Clemont is going to complain at every small stop they make, especially when he's outnumbered, they're going to have words. The boy seems fine after a while, though and he's walking right next to him while Serena and Bonnie take the lead.

"What kind of pokémon do you have on you?"

"Hm? Oh, Bunnelby and a Chespin professor Sycamore told me to look after," the teen answers, seemingly not caring too much. "You?"

"I've taken Charizard, Sceptile, Heracross, Gible and Glalie with me from home. And I have a Froakie and a Fletchling caught."

"Whoa, you can have ten pokémon with you?"

"Yeah, I mean, you ought to know by now I'm not an ordinary trainer, right?"

"No… No, that's right."

They walk in relative silence to the exit that's supposedly going to take them to the part straight to Shalour but of course, it's under maintenance. Serena doesn't even bother asking for more information after hearing the complaining trainers talk to the apologetic workers, no use in giving these people any more grief than they'll already be getting throughout today.

"We'll just have to take a detour to get there," she says. "That'll take us a couple of days extra, though, if my map's correct."

"I'm alright with that, I don't mind being outdoors."

"I'm fine too," Clemont says and Bonnie had already looked excited at the prospect of a detour so that's what they eventually decide on.

After a good hour of walking, that's already gotten them out of Lumiose City and into the trees, Ash kindly asks for a little break. This has been the longest he's ever walked, after all and soon, he's going to have to ask Serena to get Bonbon out. The girl seems to notice as much and calls out the pokémon, who starts grazing straight away. After a good half hour of rest, Ash decides he's not going to feel any less hurt so that's when he's going to ride Bonbon and oh, this feels so much better. The saddle is soft and the footrest gives his leg the support it very much needs without the weight of his body resting on it. Next to that, the sound of the Ponyta's hooves make a nice, calming sound that varies on what the pokémon's walking on.

"You seem to be alright there, huh?" Serena asks, walking right next to him as if to keep near Bonbon too, just in case.

"This is nice," he admits. "More than I thought it would be."

"Must be nice, not needing to walk," Clemont pipes up.

"Yeah, perhaps you should've taken a bigger bag with you," she shoots back and that shuts the teen up straight away.

Which is funny because Ash doesn't get the impression that they dislike each other, yet they give sharp commentary straight away. He doesn't want to say anything, though, if they have some sort of issue with each other, they're just going to have to discuss it between each other. He can't risk getting in between them and making the issue larger than it would be if he didn't interfere, after all. Besides, it's a peaceful way to travel, being seated on Bonbon, who carries out his task with pride and even after three hours of walking, the pokémon doesn't seem tired. And yes, Ash would know, he can check.

"He's a pretty impressive ride pokémon," Ash says when they've found a decent place to set up camp and when Bonbon has gone out to graze a bit more, not too far away from them.

"They get a lot of training throughout the years," Serena answers and he trusts her opinion, seeing she grew up watching her mother train the pokémon. "The pokémon are especially trained on stamina, some are more inclined to carry weight for a short time and some are to carry less weight for a long time. Bonbon is the latter one so he'll be able to carry you for long periods of time."

"So I just can't get fat, huh?"

"Ash, you get so nervous so quickly, I don't think you can get fat enough that a ride pokémon can't carry you any longer," Clemont pipes up, finally having caught up with them… and he looks tired and sweaty.

"Clemont," he chides. "What's inside that backpack, man? You're suffering!"

"Don't change the subject so easily," the teen complains but sighs in relief when he drops the bag on the ground with a loud thud… too loud a thud, actually. "I didn't think I brought along so much but it's so heavy."

"Perhaps we can help?" Ash suggests.

Clemont just shrugs and seems more inclined to rest against the backpack than to open it. And that irks Serena, who pulls the bag from behind him, not just causing the teen to fall backwards with a shout but also to cause a much higher squeak from inside the bag, one only Ash seems to have heard.

"What was that?" he asks, his curiosity piqued by the noise.

Pikachu's ears are pointed upwards but slightly titled back, has his partner heard it too?

"We'll find out in just a sec," Serena huffs and opens the flap of the bag with a grand gesture, only to pause and look into the backpack with wide eyes. "Why did you pack Carbink with you, Clemont?" she asks, bewildered.

"What do you mean, Carbink?" the teen asks.

"This!" she says and tilts the bag over so the pokémon Ash safely assumes are called Carbink fall out… as well as something else, or rather, someone else. Someone who looks straight at Ash as soon as they see the light of day.

"You seem familiar?" the much daintier creature than the lumpy but funny looking Carbink says and she flies over towards him. "Have we met?"

"I don't think so, no. I've never been here either so I don't think we've met before."

"Oh."

"P-princess, you strayed from the path!" a Carbink with an old voice says, zooming over. "You still remember what's at stake here and the task you're meant to carry out? How could you have been so careless?"

"I can recall it was your idea to rest and it was you who chose this spot to rest," the pokémon answers, not bothered at all by the protest of the Carbink by her side. "And no, I haven't forgotten about my task but do you have an idea? If so, I would like to hear it."

The Carbink remains silent but it's thanks to Bonnie that they know the dainty pokémon Ash feels is a special one -hence why it may know who he is, or at least have heard from him- is called Diancie and that she is looking for another legendary pokémon called Xerneas.

"I'm incapable of performing a task necessary to keep my kind safe," she says sadly. "Xerneas would know what to do."

"How would it know what to do that no one else but your kind can know it?" Ash asks, feeling like the pokémon called Xerneas possibly doesn't have the right answers either.

Even pokémon can believe in tales and he's certainly feeling slightly panicked… something is coming but he's pretty sure it's not coming here to help. Or that it's Xerneas at all.

"Xerneas is the bringer of Life, it knows everything!" the pokémon squeaks in protest.

"Life?" the boy repeats and feels like he could help Diancie out.

Clemont gives him a look from the side of his eyes which is a sign Ash knows as 'be careful' and so he shuts up, even when the dainty pokémon tells him that, yes, Xerneas is the bringer of Life itself and that it should know the solution to her problem. The teen knows all too well that she means Aura, though but he's not sure if he can teach a pokémon anything. Necrozma's teaching is still fresh in his mind but he can't make head or tails out of Riley's teachings so how is he supposed to get a being like Diancie to bring out her Aura?

But perhaps he can help her, if his Aura lures pokémon to him, he might as well let it show a bit and see if it can attract Xerneas to him. Might take a while until they see a result of it but they have time, don't they?

"I am not sure whether that is a wise idea."

Ash blinks, a bit confused.

"Xerneas is not near. Yveltal, on the other hand, is."

Oh… But surely that's not bad either-

"Yveltal is the opposite of Xerneas."

Yeah but then it wouldn't react to his Aura call, would it?

"It will, it is hurt."

… Now Ash has a great need to know where this supposed opposite of Xerneas is. But Necrozma blocks his Aura, from out of nowhere and yes, the teen has to admit it, he would've persisted and still call Yveltal, despite it possibly being an incredible threat to everyone here. But now he has to wait, without having his Aura to depend on knowing how someone's feeling. As jarring as it is, since it lets him see his friends as he saw all his other friends for the first time, it's also very peaceful and without this mixture of sensations, he feels peaceful as the wind hits his face.

"Ash?" he hears Clemont ask. "Are you okay?"

"I-" the boy answers and stops, having been wanting to claim he's fine but feeling a bit faint all of a sudden. "I… I think I'm going to pass out."

And the ground comes closer about a second after he's said it, yet Clemont catches him. The boy's spectacles don't do anything to hide the worry in his eyes but there isn't much Ash can do, he's never felt like this before… or has he? The world isn't filtered any longer through his sensitive feelings, so could this be what he's already suffered from? Is this how a seizure feels without his Aura letting alarm bells go off? If it is, perhaps it's okay that his Aura isn't there to create a whole light show, or else Yveltal could come anyway.

"Seizure," he says, though feels more lightheaded and dizzy than he usually is but then again, this is the first time he would have one without his Aura protecting him so he's still not sure. "Let go."

W-what? No, I can just let you lay down here?"

Ash doesn't bother correcting him, he doesn't have this bloody security bracelet on him for show. He's got this emergency button he can press and that's what he does, Clemont, the smartest of the group, is already panicking so Ash has no hope the others will know what to do. For a split second, he feels somewhat alright again so he tries to get up but no, he can't.

'Made the right call, after all,' he thinks and lays down, waiting for help.

---

It's dark when he wakes up but he's not laying on the ground, there's no grass around him. Despite still feeling a little tingly in his hands, Ash can tell when he's in a bed or not. And right now, he is in a bed and he's confused because beds don't grow in forests. It takes him a while to remember he pushed the emergency button on his bracelet and seeing it's blinking a peaceful green again, the medics have intervened. This time, he manages to straighten but he gets thoroughly sniffed the moment he does so and there are no whiskers, just smooth, shiny skin.

"Chosen, this is something you should never have needed to go through."

"… Lugia? Why are you here?"

"Because your Aura flared, Necrozma may have done the right thing at the time but to block Aura is asking for trouble. Your body responded within expectations but seeing your health lacks naturally, it was not a smart move."

"… I think I would've called Yveltal with it."

"And I think you will be seeing Yveltal anyway so it should not have mattered. It is a folly to believe that any pokémon would attack you as you are right now and by that, I mean hurt."

This isn't comforting but at least Lugia pushes him to get out of bed and get out of the room. Perhaps not what he needs right now, his head hurts and he's still confused but the smell of the outside calms him down enough to be convinced that it's a good idea to be up and running. Not literally running but well… but as he sees Serena, she's clearly glad to see him but the concern that's bringing tears in her eyes has nothing to do with him.

"Ash, we lost Bonnie," she says when she sees him search her face.

"When?" he asks, breathless from shock because they lost her right in the area he knows Yveltal is at? The pokémon he has no doubt of that it won't attack him but will likely attack everyone else?

"When you fainted. Medics came and we lost her in the kerfuffle."

What the actual flying fuck was Clemont doing, then!? He should've looked out for his little sister, now she's alone out there with no one but Dedenne, Diancie and the three Carbink! Sure, Diancie will be able to fight Yveltal for a little while but if the pokémon's angered and Bonnie doesn't have the sense to run, she's done for. Especially if she starts to cry. So he leaves Serena be, he doesn't want to upset her even further with his own feeling, he doesn't even have the time to process his own misfortune, for goodness' sake!

"Professor!" he cries out when he sees the man, among other, serious-looking men. "Professor, she's near Yveltal!"

If anything, professor Sycamore's face drops even further.

"Comment?" he utters. "Yveltal? The bringer of destruction?"

"Yes, that one."

"Putain de merde."

"You know where she is?" one of the men asks and Ash nods.

"She's got harmless pokémon with her but they're not going to be much help."

"Ash, you're not going with them-"

"Can these Arcanine be ridden on?" he asks the man, ignoring the professor's protest.

"Yes, they can be used that way. But you'll have to come to an agreement, as far as I know, the professor is in charge of your safety."

"Professor, please," he all but begs.

"Ash, you've just recovered from a seizure, you should be in bed."

"And I will have many more and spend the rest of my life in bed if I have to live my life knowing I didn't help Bonnie. She could be killed, professor, you know that as well as I do. Even if she's sensible enough to run, she will never be able to outrun Yveltal. And even if she doesn't encounter the pokémon, she could get horribly lost and you know I will always be able to find her."

"Bon Dieu, your uncle will have my head for this if he finds out," the professor groans but motions towards the Arcanine anyway. "But stay safe as well and watch out. Promise me you will back off when it gets dangerous."

"I will."

"And don't do anything stupid where I can't keep an eye on you."

That last statement doesn't sit well with Ash but he isn't going to discuss this right here and now. He needs to find Bonnie and with his entire system booted up and running smoothly again, as well as his Aura ready to go, Ash will find her, even if it's the last thing he'll do. Also, if Bonbon hadn't been there, he would've chosen an Arcanine as his ride pokémon so sliding onto the willing creature goes rather smoothly. And then they speed off, officers hot in their heels and followed by other Arcanine.

He's got help from Lugia too, the pokémon is out and about, it tells him exactly where Yveltal is and it's not far from where Bonnie is. The thing is, she must have passed the legendary pokémon to get where she is right now, which could get tricky. But is what Lugia says is true, then should he really be afraid of Yveltal? If he is assured that he won't get attacked? He gets his answer soon enough, the Arcanine is wicked fast and slows down when it spots the massive legendary pokémon who raises its large head to look at them with beautiful blue eyes full of mistrust.

"I won't hurt you," Ash says and puts out his left hand, the one he knows legendary pokémon like the most. "I want to help you but I need to find my friend first. So follow us when I do, yes?"

Yveltal moves its head in his direction when the teen sticks his hand out towards it but after a loud sniffing noise, the pokémon curls up into the same position from earlier. Gosh, it must be feeling utterly miserable, Ash feels for the creature. It's not right to just deem pokémon as dangerous, people inherently are too! The both of them mess things up and yeah, so pokémon are bigger but people have made much bigger mistakes than the largest pokémon that ever existed. He doesn't chalk up Yveltal's calmness to his own, shitty health either, this creature is badly hurt and suffering and he can't have that. So when he finds Bonnie, also curled up in a ball, shivering and in shock, he makes sure to pass by Yveltal again, giving it the signal to follow him.

Needless to say, the Arcanine run a tad bit faster now that Yveltal is looming over the line of trees and none of the officers say anything when they peel Bonnie out of Ash's hold. Now that he's free from his initial burden, as it's partially his mistake that Bonnie got lost, he will do what he's been wanting to do all that time. And that's to help Yveltal. He gathers as many of his healing supplies as he's got and goes out into the large space behind the professor's main camp building, though gets stopped by the professor once he gets out of the building. The man's seemingly seen Yveltal too but then again, it's a big pokémon, eyeing everyone and everything with much distrust. Ash can't blame it for feeling that way, though he hopes the professor won't be a pain in the ass about this.

"Ash, are you insane?"

"No, just stupid. And you told me to not do stupid things where you couldn't keep an eye on me so, have a good look at what I'm gonna do, yeah?"

"Ash, you should be in bed."

"I will be, after I've helped Yveltal."

"Ash-"

The man's words fall on deaf ears, the teen stalks off with his arms full of the healing items, towards the very dangerous pokémon still looking at everyone with mistrust. But it makes no move to attack, it remains calm and even goes to lay down when Ash asks it to. It's all very alien to the professor, while he's used to reading all about the legendary pokémon of Kalos… but seeing them up close is something very different. Also, this is Yveltal, a pokémon that has attacked everyone on sight, without good reason. It's responsible for destroying villages and killing people in a past not too long ago. Professor Sycamore would've sworn he read that the pokémon had fallen asleep somewhere but heck, he never would have suspected his camp would be so close to the resting spot of possibly the most dangerous creature in this region.

"Professor!"

He turns and sees Meyer but as soon as the man lays eyes on the massive pokémon he can't possibly ignore, he still.

"The hell…?" he asks.

"I know," the professor sighs. "It's unbelievable."

"That there's a kid caring for it or the fact that Yveltal is calm?"

"Both."

"… Is that Ash?"

"Do you believe there is anyone else on this planet who would voluntarily care for a creature like Yveltal?"

"No. No, not really. Anyway, is Bonnie back?"

"Ash found her and Yveltal, brought both of them back. Bonnie's being looked at by the medic here but I've been told that she is quite fine. You can find her inside."

"Right, stay right here, I'll be back after I've checked my daughter is okay."

That's fine for the professor, he's not coming back on his word, he will watch Ash being stupid for as long as he can. Heavens, he's glad that there haven't arrived any children for this camp yet, how would he explain questions from parents who heard their children telling them a story about the destruction pokémon, huh? Or what if one of those kids draws a picture of Yveltal? He really wouldn't want to be there for that one, how the hell do you, as a parent, respond to your child drawing a nightmare of a pokémon without any clear reason? Also, what do you do with it? Hang it on the fridge?

"I'm back."

"Welcome," the professor says dryly. "I'm glad I'm not the only one terribly worried for this selfless child."

"Well, Lance did warn me about Ash and how big of an idiot we will think he is but it's just that big heart of his steering him into directions that aren't always so bad. I mean, Yveltal's looking relaxed enough to me so he's not doing anything the pokémon isn't enjoying. And if that's the case, who are we to tell him he's wrong to care for a creature that might have done bad things… but tell that to a child who has been attacked by one. Not Yveltal but by a creature that's apparently also deemed to be evil."

"I know. I feel bad to believe that Ash thinks he's a bigger issue than a murderous pokémon."

"You know that inherent evilness doesn't exist, professor. That Ash realises it is just part of the experiences he's had. I mean, you have told him about someone you don't like here in Kalos, you should've seen his face. I'm sure he would've run from Lumiose if he were able to, he seemed so scared, so ready to fight, it wasn't nice to look at. Steven's presence might have calmed him down a tad bit but it wasn't enough. Perhaps Yveltal can change Ash's mood a bit because he looked like he could use a bit of cheering up."

"Doubtful, I don't expect anyone being cheerful so shortly after a seizure."

"Come again?"

"Ash has seizures. He had one shortly before he jumped on an Arcanine and went to look after your daughter."

"Too selfless, that one."

"As I said, good to see someone else cares for him. Be careful, though, he takes things rather literally."

"Oh?" Meyer asks, amused all of a sudden. "Mind if I asked what happened?"

"He's brought Yveltal here solely because I asked him to not do anything stupid where I couldn't see it."

The man chuckles once before starting to laugh. Honestly, though, the professor doesn't find the situation amusing at all but he's glad to hear Meyer laugh, he has gotten fewer and fewer reasons to laugh in life, after all.

"Oh, yes, I've been told how Ash has latched onto Lance. Steven told me how the boy has admitted to Lance that he never has had a father figure to trust in his life so now that he's imprinted on one person, he doesn't take kindly to patronisation like that. That being said, he listens well, though."

"Nerves of titanium too, actually. Look at that, he's not even worried."

Ash seems to know what he's doing too and there is something else. There's a reddish hue around his hands while he calmly rubs the…

"Wait, was it hurt?" Meyer asks, blinking at the scene in front of them. "Who hurt it? Or rather, who on earth would do something like that, angering a pokémon like Yveltal is like throwing a grenade in a bonfire, it'll only get worse from there on!?"

"Perhaps you can pose those questions to Ash once he's done. He most likely knew from the get-go, hence why he was so persistent to get this creature to come along with him," the professor says though knows that he will never underestimate this child again.

And honestly, if Yveltal is hurt then yes, he will have a nice chat with Ash about how he should tell him he's bringing a murder machine near society but if not… he will try and explain how much insurance money he would have to pay in case this massive pokémon did something. His ears are still ringing from the bill he got when Garchomp raged through Lumiose, he had a few sleepless nights from that letter.

"Well, would you look at that?"

The professor looks up in time to see Ash take a gentle hold of the part of Yveltal's head and he must have said something to it because the pokémon relaxed completely. And it lets out a noise that couldn't possibly be interpreted differently from something else but endearing. Hearing it come from a creature such as Yveltal is… jarring to say the least. But then the massive pokémon flies off, huge wings lifting it off the ground and it disappears back into the line of trees, hopefully possibly going back to sleep. Because the pokémon has left, it causes Ash to come back with the plethora of empty packages but his face is thunderous and he doesn't get any happier when he sees Meyer.

"Oh, hi," is all he says, though and thanks the man when he offers to take the empty packages from him.

"Do you need to replace these?"

"Please, yes. If it's not too much to ask for," the teen answers and he sounds tired, if not a bit disappointed.

"There's not a lot of things I won't do for you now, Ash. You've managed to find my little girl quickly so all she could get is a little scare."

"… I don't suppose that you can give your son a bit of extra brotherly feelings so he doesn't lose an eye on her in the first place?"

"The seizure left a great impression on him, though, mon petit, you may have difficulties experiencing it but it is scary to witness. So now Clemont is researching on how he can help you next time you have one," the professor says, trying to mediate because Meyer won't win an argument with this annoyed teen.

"He can't. All he can do is press the button on my bracelet when I failed to do it. But he saw me do it this time, I told him to let go and he didn't. So honestly, the advice I would give him is to listen to me and for the rest, he can use that big brain of his," Ash sighs and he looks so tired.

"Perhaps it would be best if you were to tell this himself, mon petit. Right now, I think it's best you return back to bed, I still stand with my former opinion and I would want nothing more for you than to rest right now. You're not okay… despite doing the best you could have done," he responds and sighs, with a smile on his face. "I couldn't possibly be mad at the sheer comfort you've just been to Yveltal, either."

"I'm glad it appreciated it, then. That it was worth the hassle, worth challenging your word."

"What exactly did you say to it just now, though?" Meyer asks and the professor doesn't tell him off for the delay, despite Ash looking like he's going to keel over.

"That it could always come to me when it needs me. That I will always welcome it when no one else will."

Professor Sycamore smiles widely but he still shoos Meyer off so he can lead the boy back to bed. This will be Ash's room for the while he'll stay here and yes, he would be happy if the teen would be willing to participate in his camp. If not, that would be fine too, a shame but he will not lock this boy up in a place he doesn't want to be. But that he got the seizure at all…

"How are you feeling, mon petit?" he asks, when the boy's in bed, looking ready to drift off.

"Just tired."

"Do you know what triggered the seizure?"

"Not the foggiest."

"Hmm… Keep calm for a few days, then. You never know."

"Mm-hm."

The professor smiles again, chances are the boy will be asleep before he's even exited the room. But that's fine, he's glad the teen gets the rest he deserves and he will be extra careful closing the door behind him so he doesn't wake him up. There are other children he can still check up on, after all, because Meyer might not be willing to tell Clemont the message Ash wanted him to relay but he will. Leaving a young girl like Bonnie alone and defenceless… To think that Ash, an only child, has more of a brotherly instinct than Bonnie's actual brother is startling but perhaps this has something to do with Ash's experience to take action to solve an issue. Clemont is more of a thinker than a doer, anyways but still… if the weird but wonderful teen hadn't been there, Bonnie might not have been found for a while. And it gets cold outside still, it's nowhere near warm enough when night comes, she could've gotten hypothermia.

The man shakes his head, he doesn't want to think about a future that has been prevented, he needs to focus on the girl who is alive and whose crying he can hear. Meyer has probably taken care of her… Ah, it's all good, though and once Ash is awake again, he will thank him for what he's done. But for now, the professor will let him rest. Having such a big heart must take up a lot of energy, after all and heavens, the image of the boy treating the dangerous pokémon so nicely is burned into his memories. He's glad he's given this teen a mega stone, at least he knows that this one will at least treat it with the respect it deserves. Unlike someone he knows, someone he is so ruefully angry at but he'll never openly admit this to anyone, he will never tell Ash about the other teen, or else this kind boy will also get angry. And the last thing the professor wants, is for Ash to get into more danger than he already put himself into.

---

End of chapter twenty-eight