My Wings

by DestinyHead123

This vast world is filled with uncertainties, from ancient myths to urban legends. Stories passed down for centuries have become intertwined with current cultures, producing this reimagined world in which our hero, Ash Ketchum, chases the answer to an age-old question. What does it mean to be a Pokemon Master? – AU, adult characters, real-world cultures

8. Homecoming I

A/N

New story arc! I know Ecruteak City was a slow burn, and I don't intend for future arcs to be that long for a while. Things will pick up from here, and we have a lot of things to cover in the next few chapters. Some are old topics from Caged Wings/Fallout, and others are new to set up future events. Either way, I'm super excited for the upcoming chapters! I'll save any further discussion for the endnote, so enjoy!

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Chapter 8

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Monday, March 22nd

Within the main terminal of the Ilex Airport, an announcer's voice echoed from the intercom to provide an update on the flight schedules. "Attention passengers of flight thirty-three, the gate will be opening in five minutes. We recommend you have your boarding passes out and ready to make this process as smooth as possible."

It was just past ten o'clock at night, and Ash scratched at his chin as he stood in line for flight thirty-three bound for Vermilion City. After a year in Ecruteak City, returning to the modern setting of Goldenrod City was a bit surreal. Everything was so much louder, so much faster. The carriages that were pulled by Pokemon through the streets of Ecruteak City were replaced by cars and trucks with loud horns in Goldenrod City. Ash found it hard to believe that he lived in this environment for the majority of his life; it felt so foreign to him now.

Their trip back to Goldenrod City took five days, as opposed to the three it took when Ash first arrived. However, this was due to some detours Koji took to show them more of the area. For example, there was a preserve in the woodlands between Route 35 and 36 that was maintained by a small group of trainers and a field researcher who worked for Professor Sheldon Elm. The area was dominated by bug type Pokemon, a hefty portion of which were Kakuna guarded by swarms of Beedrill. The field researcher, a man in his thirties named Arnie, advised them to steer clear of the areas patrolled by Beedrill. They were extremely territorial, and it was wise to avoid aggravating these Pokemon.

The Beedrill aside, there were dozens of other bug type Pokemon that they were allowed to see. Ash got to listen to the wonderful melody of a Kricketune and watch as Volbeat and Illumise danced in the air as couples, while Gary took at least a hundred pictures of these Pokemon with his Pokedex. According to Arnie, several of these bug type Pokemon migrate to coastal areas in late spring and early summer and return to the woodlands during the fall and winter. He suggested that Ash try to visit a coastal city to see the migration because of what a truly spectacular event it was. With all of this in mind, Ash's favorite part of their time in the preserve was when he got to sample the honeycomb made by the Combee. It was absolutely delicious!

They spent a full day at the preserve, and that detour added about half a day each way to the original length of their trip. Despite this, it was a planned detour, and they were right on schedule to catch their flight. Early in the evening, they arrived at the last leg of their journey where Ash and Gary would be leaving Koji and Rapidash to reach Goldenrod City on foot. They stopped in a clearing, one that was familiar to Ash. He didn't realize it at first as Koji invited them to sit down for their last meal together, but this was the same clearing where Ash first met Koji's Rapidash almost one year ago.

It wasn't until a pair of Nidoran poked their heads out of the bushes and approached them that Ash remembered this clearing. He remembered the poor first impression he made with Rapidash, and how the Nidoran dashed away from his presence.

"What are you afraid of?"

But now, he had a better understanding of who he was…and who he wanted to be.

"So, Ash, tell me who you walk with,"

"I walk with Pokemon," He stated.

This time, the Nidoran approached him and Ash welcomed them. They allowed him to scratch their chin as a greeting and he offered a portion of his meal once they began to lounge with Rapidash. As he observed all the Pokemon around him, Frogadier, Growlithe, Wartortle, Umbreon, Rapidash, and the Nidoran, Ash recalled what Koji said to him last year.

"'The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.'"

Ash wasn't sure how far he'd gotten since Koji first said this to him, but he was certain that his journey had begun.

"Hey Ash," Gary's voice snatched him from his memories. Ash saw that there was a gap in front of him. "Come on, we're boarding the plane!"

Ash hastily pulled out his boarding pass as he joined Gary. Once the attendant gave them his stamp of approval, they passed through the gate and entered the corridor that led to their plane.

---

Tuesday, March 23rd

Gary yawned and stretched his arms above his head as he and Ash rode an escalator down to the main entrance of Vermilion City Airport. Once he lowered his arms, Gary rubbed at his eyes again and Ash took a glance back at him.

"You really didn't sleep at all during the flight?" Ash inquired and Gary shot him a leer.

"I don't know how you fell asleep with the baby crying behind us the whole time," Gary retorted and Ash shrugged his shoulders.

As they disembarked from the escalator, Ash pointed to the main entrance and took off at a brisk pace. As he came close to the door, a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Can you slow down a bit?" Gary asked him as Ash turned back to him. "I mean, do you even know where to go at the moment?"

Ash deflated somewhat and furrowed his brow. "I kind of wanted to start by going back to my old house, you know," Ash said but as he got to study Gary's expression and his bloodshot eyes, he made another offer. "But we could head to a hotel or something for you to get some sleep."

Gary rumbled his lips. "I've only got sixty-five dollars, which I doubt will get us a hotel room. I have to call gramps and have him wire some money for us," Gary replied. "I guess heading to your house could help us kill some time. I mean, it's only…" Gary whipped out his Pokedex to check the time. "Six-thirty. I'm not sure if he's awake yet."

"I have forty dollars left over from the money your grandpa gave me last year," Ash explained. "That should be enough to pay for a taxi across town unless you want to take the bus. It'll be slower and you can get some sleep."

Gary cringed. "Ugh, take the bus?"

"The bus is a flat cost," Ash said. "I'm not sure how much the taxi will cost since we'd be riding across town. Plus, we'll probably have to buy breakfast."

"Fair point," Gary noted through pursed lips. "I guess we're going with the bus."

With their plan in mind, they stepped out of the airport and into the steamy air of Vermilion City. Gary groaned as the heat latched onto his skin, though he was thankful there was an awning that provided shade for the length of the sidewalk. Ash scanned the roadway and spotted the sign for the bus stop further down. As they approached the stop, Ash went to the sign where the schedule was posted and breathed a sigh of relief.

"The next bus is in ten minutes," Ash said to Gary as they took a seat on the bench to avoid getting swept away by the people going in and out of the airport. It was just the two of them on the bench. Gary crossed his arms and leaned into the wooden seat, closing his eyes just a bit. Seconds later the bench started trembling, and Gary opened one eye to look at Ash. His leg was shaking, to the point where Gary could feel it.

Gary rolled his eyes and gave a sigh. "What are you thinking about?"

"Huh?" Ash asked as he looked at him.

"What's on your mind?" Gary repeated his question.

"Ah…" Ash gave a weak chuckle. "Believe it or not, it's now starting to hit me that I'm back home. I'm feeling the nerves now."

"What's there to be nervous about?" Gary asked him. "This is friends and family you're going back to, right? They should be happy to see you."

"I don't know what to expect, so I'm trying not to get my hopes too high," Ash reasoned.

"I hear ya," Gary noted. "But that doesn't mean you should get too low. It'll work itself out."

Ash took a deep breath and sent a nod to Gary. There was no reason to freak out, not yet at least. He wasn't sure what was waiting for him here, from his seat at this bus stop, he could see the cityscape in the distance. He wasn't going to run.

---

Their bus arrived right on schedule and the duo boarded. Ash purchased a bus pass from the driver and used that to pay the fare. The bus was relatively empty considering the time of day, so Ash and Gary had total freedom to select their seats. They went to the back of the bus, and Gary heaved out a sigh of relief as he accepted his invitation to sleep. Ash sat across the aisle from him, though he stared out the window to watch as their journey into Vermilion City began.

Just as Gary felt himself starting to drift into a dream, he felt something buzzing against his chest. It was his Pokedex resting in the pocket of his jacket. With a groan, he took out of the device to answer it. It was Samuel Oak.

"Mornin' gramps," Gary said as a greeting once he put the device near his ear.

"Good morning," Samuel said cheerily in return. "How was your flight?"

"Everything went smoothly. We're already in Vermilion City," Gary explained.

"That's good to hear. How does it feel to return to the modern world again?"

"I'm not really sure about what to say," Gary answered. "I don't think it's hit me just yet. I didn't get to sleep on the plane so I'm a zombie more or less."

"Not to worry, I have one of my research fellows coming to pick you all up at the airport," Samuel explained. "He'll take you to the Hidden Cove where you can get a room to catch up on your sleep."

"Oh…uh, we kind of left the airport already. We caught a bus and we're headed for Ash's old house," Gary noted as the bus hit a bump and he jerked in his seat.

"I see, Ash isn't wasting any time," Samuel remarked. "I'll let my research fellow know where you're going."

"Does he need the address?"

"No, this young man knows where to go," Samuel said and Gary didn't give the subject any further thought. "I know you must be tired, but I want to talk about one more thing, Gary."

"Go for it," He said flatly.

"I'm still surprised you decided to travel with Ash," Samuel stated. "Do you care to share your reasoning on the subject?"

"Not at the moment," Gary answered.

"That's alright, I thought it was worth it to at least ask," Samuel said with a chuckle. "I don't know where you and Ash intend to travel first, but feel free to pay Pallet Town a visit at any point. Daisy and I will always be there," He added as an aside. "Daisy says hello, by the way."

"Thanks for the offer, gramps," Gary replied. "We'll see what happens."

"Great…" Samuel said, but Gary could hear another voice in the background. "No, he didn't say anything to you."

"Let me have the phone," Gary recognized that as Daisy's voice and winced as she began to shout at him. "Some kind of brother you are, Gary! I haven't seen you in two years and you can't even say hello!?"

"Yeesh, no wonder it was so quiet in Ecruteak City, I didn't have to talk to you there," Gary said in reply and Daisy fumed.

"Don't expect a warm welcome from me whenever you visit the lab!" She promptly ended the call and Gary rolled his eyes.

A few moments later, his Pokedex buzzed to resume the call. It was his grandfather again who apologized on Daisy's behalf.

"As I said, visit the lab anything time and while you're traveling, don't forget to fill some of the Pokedex entries if you have the opportunity," Samuel reminded him. "I saw some of the pictures you took in that preserve a few days ago. They were outstanding."

"It was no sweat, gramps," Gary responded. "And I'll be sure to fill out the Pokedex as best I can."

Samuel thanked him and ended the call this time. With a sigh, Gary tucked away his Pokedex and leaned back into his seat to get some sleep. It was about an hour they spent on the bus, and Gary wished that they sacrificed their money to take a taxi instead. He couldn't get a moment of peace on the bus as they traveled through Vermilion City. The bus was packed with people making their commute to work and kids trying to get to school. Conversations were taking place all around him, and Gary struggled to drown out all the voices.

Ash, on the other hand, found himself marveling at Vermilion City as they passed through the downtown area, the heart of the city, and eventually, they reached the northern residential area where he spent ten years of his life. The mid-rise apartment buildings and shared duplexes were practically on top of each other, but it was a welcome sight to Ash. He was home.

"You look terrible," Ash noted as he and Gary disembarked from the bus on a street corner. The bus doors shut behind them and the vehicle rejoined the traffic on the busy streets.

"I'll get some sleep at some point," Gary muttered in reply, and he motioned for Ash to take the lead. Ash did just so and took him through the streets that he knew like the back of his hand. Despite his near five-year absence, hardly anything had changed. Everything was exactly where he left it. It was like time stopped just for him, and perhaps…he could continue from where he left off.

They traveled down a few blocks and passed a park that Ash stopped to stare at for a few moments. "We're close," He stated and they pressed forward. The next time Ash stopped was at the front steps of a small, two-story house. Gary looked up at the box-like building and frowned. He wondered how anyone could tolerate living so close to their neighbors. There was hardly any space between them, nothing more than a tiny alleyway. No garage for their cars, or a yard for the kids.

"This is it," Ash announced as he looked up at his house. "It'll work itself out," He whispered and with a breath, he ascended the small staircase to the front door. He raised a hand and knocked on the door.

Ash felt as though his heart was sitting in his throat. He didn't know what was waiting behind that door. Was Cassidy going to answer? A grown-up Casey? Or maybe a total stranger…

A voice called out from within the house, and Ash heard footsteps approaching the door. He swallowed as he heard the locks turning, and the door was pulled open to reveal a young woman. A familiar-looking brunette.

She tilted her head as she looked at him, her brow wrinkled as her eyes scanned his face. It was like a competition to see who could find the answer first, but while Ash's mouth hung open, the woman in front of him looked up to his hat and it all came together with the following exclamation.

"Ash?"

Now that he heard her voice clearly, Ash realized who he was looking at.

"May?"

"Oh my god, get in here!" She grabbed him by his forearm and yanked him into the house, shutting the door once he was inside. "Is that really you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Ash responded but May interrupted him.

"Alright mister, we're going to make a deal right now, and you're going to agree to it," May said as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Uh…wait, what?"

"I'll be asking all the questions to start, and once I'm satisfied, I'll answer any questions you have," May explained to him. "I'm sure you have a lot of them, don't cha?" She paused and Ash gave a reluctant nod. "So then, deal?"

Ash pursed his lips as he hesitated.

"Oh, come on, Ash," May appealed to him. "Common courtesy is 'ladies first,' right? That means this is the part where you agree to be interrogated."

Ash stifled a laugh. "Same old May," He noted, shaking his head. "And it's not that I don't want to agree, I'm just a little surprised that…"

Ash paused when he heard a knock at the door and he realized that they left Gary outside. May opened that door, and they were greeted with a leer from Ash's traveling companion.

"Sorry, Gary," Ash said weakly and Gary's gaze shifted to May. "Gary, this is May. May, Gary."

"She's a friend of yours?" Gary asked after Ash's introduction, and May gave a nod. "So, is normal for people in the big city to slam doors on their guests?"

"That's not fair, I thought you were just some guy on the street," May exclaimed, though she realized she raised her voice and her cheeks turned pink.

"To be fair, you didn't come up the steps with me," Ash added and Gary transferred his glare back to Ash.

"Sheesh, what's got you in such a bad mood?" May asked him.

"He didn't get to sleep during our plane ride here, or on the bus, so he's a little cranky," Ash offered as an explanation. Upon hearing this, May made a gesture to the living room nearby.

"The couch is right through there, you're welcome to get some sleep there if you want to," May suggested and Gary cracked a small smile for her. He thanked her with a small nod, removed his shoes, and disappeared into the living room.

May shut the front door and invited Ash to follow her into the kitchen. He did the same as Gary and left his backpack at the front door. As he passed the entrance to the living room, Ash leaned in to check on Gary and saw that he was face down on the sofa, snoring already. With a laugh, he continued down the corridor and joined May in the kitchen. She was in the pantry, retrieving a few items, but she told Ash that he was free to take a seat at the table. Everything about this kitchen was exactly as he remembered it, from the seating arrangement to the placemats on the table.

The familiarity brought a smile to his face.

And that feeling continued as May returned to the kitchen and set her collection down on the counter to make breakfast. There was a cloth hanging on the handle of the oven which she grabbed and raised to her head, tying the back of it in a knot. It was the same red and white bandana that she wore all the time in high school.

Some things didn't change…

"So, what was it that you were surprised about?" May asked him to resume their conversation.

"Oh…I was just surprised to find you of all people here," Ash replied. "And I guess I was a little surprised that you're so willing to talk with me too."

"Well, I'll be honest and admit that I probably wouldn't talk to you if not for Brock," May noted as she went to the fridge to take out a carton of eggs.

"Brock," Ash repeated. "He's still in Vermilion City?"

May glanced over her shoulder at him and stuck out her tongue. "I'm asking the questions here."

"Can't you make an exception for this one?" Ash pleaded.

"Well, considering that, at one point, I thought you murdered my best friend's dad, and then like four years later, you got exonerated, I really don't know what to think of you at the moment," May revealed and Ash swallowed his words. "I want to know the truth, and I hope that you can understand why I want to know to know the truth."

"No, I get what you're saying, May," Ash said as he placed his forearm on the table and invited her to proceed with her 'interrogation.'

"I had no idea that you were exonerated. Brock gave me a call last year to give me the news, but again, I wasn't really sure what to believe," May reminded him. "I think the best person to answer my questions would be you, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah," Ash nodded.

"So, start at the beginning of this whole mess for me, and we'll go from there," May said with a motion for him to begin.

---

"And then in February last year, I got the news that I was getting released," Ash concluded his tale as May leaned against the kitchen counter, her arms crossed in front of her chest. She chewed on her bottom lip, wrestling with her thoughts on everything that Ash shared with her.

"Why didn't you say anything before graduation?" That was the first question that May asked. The obvious question. The question that should've been answered years ago.

Ash heaved out a sigh. "I've been asking myself that for a long time," He muttered. "I only really have myself to blame, because everyone wanted me to talk and I wouldn't. I just…" He shook his head. "I wasn't listening to anyone."

May raised her eyebrows. If there was anything that she really appreciated about Ash while they were in high school, it was that he was always listening.

She looked up, trying to recall where she was during the month that led up to Ash's arrest. Could she have done anything to change the outcome? May licked her bottom lip. She wasn't sure.

"The only thing I can really say," Ash went on as he shrugged his shoulders. "I made a decision, and I had to live with the consequences."

"I…I know what you mean," May noted with a nod. "I did the same thing around graduation."

Ash furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"

May tilted her head and gave him a narrow glance. "Still not your turn yet."

Ash rolled his eyes. "Still a pain in the butt, huh May?"

"And you wouldn't have it any other way," She said cheekily. Ash stifled a laugh and cracked a smile for her.

Her questions continued. "So, you got out of prison a year ago, what have you been doing since then?"

He scratched his shoulder as he tried to summarize the last twelve months. "When I got out…I wasn't really myself anymore. Or at least, not the person you knew. I mean, even now I'm not really that guy anymore, but I'm better than I was last year," He paused for a few moments.

May waited for him to continue, but eventually, she decided to give him a nudge. "It's okay Ash. I'm not the same person I was in high school either. We're supposed to change."

"I agree with you, but I didn't change for the better. I lost sight of all the things that made me…me," Ash confessed as placed a hand on his chest. "When they let me go, I had to regain all of that. It took me the last year to become what I am in this moment, and I still find myself questioning whether this is alright."

May swallowed the response that sat on the tip of her tongue. She watched Ash closely from across the room as he twiddled his thumbs.

"Like I said, I can't change what happened, and I know that I hurt a lot of people in the process. But all I can do now is focus on trying to make it up to those people, and being the best person that I can be." Ash concluded.

May let a giggle escape her lips. "Well, you might not believe it, but you're still the same old Ash," She remarked. "Insightful and driven…just like I remember."

Ash forced a grin. "Thanks."

"So, what have you been up to? Have you been working? Are you still a Pokemon trainer?" May inquired to keep the conversation going. It was then that Ash realized he didn't answer the question she asked originally.

"A friend was waiting for me when I got out of prison. He offered me a place to stay in Pallet Town, but that was just for a few days. After that, I went to a place in Johto called Ecruteak City," Ash explained and May looked upward.

"Ecruteak City?" She repeated. "I've never heard of it."

"It's an old city that not many people visit. Believe it or not, they don't have internet or phones," Ash pointed out and May's jaw dropped.

"How do they survive!?" She exclaimed and Ash snorted.

"They do a lot of work to maintain their way of life through farming, managing their shops…plus, everyone lives with Pokemon and they work together so it all just kind of works out for them," Ash explained and May raised her eyebrows.

"You found a place with other Pokemon trainers?"

"Not exactly, they just live with Pokemon. It's different from actively training with Pokemon," Ash added. "But it was the perfect place to help me get back into Pokemon training."

"Does that mean you have new Pokemon?" May asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

"That's right," Ash confirmed. "Would you like to meet them?"

Ash was sure that Frogadier and Growlithe would love to come out of their Pokeballs considering this was the first time in ages that he kept them stored away for an extended time. However, May raised a hand to stop him.

"Just a heads up, you have to be really careful as a trainer now," She stated, and Ash noticed the shift in her tone. Her voice grew quieter, and her expression more reserved. "Things have changed in Vermilion City."

"I've heard things here and there," Ash said with a nod. "But not enough to really understand what happened."

"Truthfully, I didn't pay much attention to it either," May confessed. "It all started not too long after you were arrested, but I was distracted at the height of it all. I just remember the news reports where this group from Kalos called the Vanguard were working with the police to find and capture any Pokemon trainer in Vermilion City."

"The Vanguard…" Ash whispered. He grabbed his forearm tightly to conceal the tremble in his hands.

That name gave him chills.

"Is that all they've been doing? Arresting Pokemon trainers?" Ash asked her, but May shook her head.

"I'm sorry, I'm not the best person to ask," May replied and Ash narrowed his eyes.

Ash narrowed his eyes. "Do you still have questions that I need to answer?"

May stuck out her tongue for a moment. "I was being impatient, Ash, sorry," She admitted. "I wasn't expecting you to just show up at my doorstep out of the blue. I've had all these questions, but I'm sure you have even more questions, right?"

"Can you tell me anything about the Vanguard?" Ash asked her again.

"That…I can't help you with," May shook her head again. "I was…distracted when they first came to Vermilion City and I didn't pay much attention to what was happening. I'm sorry, I don't think I know anything worthwhile that you would want to know."

"That's alright," Ash said softly as he looked down. Having received his license to start asking questions, Ash felt like a dam that was about to burst. There was so much that he wanted to know. But as he looked to May, one person, in particular, came to mind. "How is Dawn?"

"Dawn?" May repeated as she raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ears. May sighed deeply before she proceeded. "Truthfully, I fell out of contact with Dawn after graduation. That summer, things got really crazy after her dad died, plus she was planning her move to Kalos to attend college. Once she moved, it was impossible to keep up with her, plus the time zone differences. I don't really know how Dawn has been doing."

"But you…saw her at graduation, right? By then she must have known about her dad…" Ash noted as he looked to May. He was biting down on his lower lip as he wrestled with his next question. "How was she at graduation? Was she okay?"

"She seemed fine," May said slowly. "And you know Dawn was no good at hiding things…but nothing about her that day seemed any different from how she normally was. But now that you mention it, I remember her speech…" May paused a put a finger against her chin. "God, her speech. She practiced that thing to death whenever we got together before graduation…and then when she got in front of the podium, she gave an entirely different speech. I'll never forget it because her subject was different and the whole time she was talking…it kind of sounded like," May looked to Ash. "Like I was listening to you."

Ash didn't know what to say.

"It's weird, I had a chance to talk to her before the ceremony and she was fine…but now you've got me wondering if I couldn't see through Dawn that day," May said as she crossed her arms. Ash felt his chest grow tight as May said this.

"Look, May," Ash interjected. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here to dig up stuff from years ago. I guess I kind of had this expectation that I'd come back and find things the way I left them. I don't know why I even considered that idea…"

May stifled a laugh. "It's okay Ash. I understand what you're feeling. I mean, if I were in your shoes, I would've been hoping that everyone like my family and the Jive Steppers are still together."

At the mention of the old dance group, Ash couldn't help but wonder about the whereabouts of his closest friends. May explained that they all moved out of Vermilion City, and unfortunately, she lost contact with all of them except for Brock. It was through Brock that she learned that the Jive Steppers went away. According to May, she was doubtful she would've been able to keep up with their group of friends since she had her own commitments. And she was willing to bet that their friends were all in similar situations since leaving Vermilion City.

It was a sobering thought to Ash. The idea of returning to all of his loved ones at once was shattered by the passage of time. Time stopped for no one, so of course, things must have changed for them all. A new person stepped into the kitchen, serving as yet another reminder of this.

A small boy, with a head of green hair and blue eyes. He was about as big as the Macy that Ash remembered, so he had to be about four or five years old.

"Mommy, someone is sleeping in the tv room!" He exclaimed as he approached May to tug at her pant leg.

Ash blinked as May stooped down to address the boy, planting a kiss on his forehead as a greeting. "Good morning, Milo! That's a friend who needs to rest."

He studied her for a moment before he accepted her answer. Then he caught sight of Ash and concealed himself behind May.

"Don't be scared, Milo," May continued. "This is an old friend of mine. His name is Ash."

She nudged him out from behind her with one of her legs and she motioned for Ash to approach him.

"Ash, this is Milo, my son," May stated and she had to hold back her laughter as she saw Ash's expression. "I guess you've got more questions for me, huh?"

Ash didn't answer and instead, he came close to Milo, kneeling down so that he was at eye level with him.

"Hello, Milo, it's nice to meet you," Ash said and he extended a closed fist to Milo. He responded by giving Ash a fist bump with both of his small hands, and he beamed proudly. May offered to take Milo back to the living room to put the television on for him, and she promised him that breakfast would be ready soon.

When May returned, she resumed her preparations for breakfast. "So, anything you want to ask about?" She glanced over her shoulder and shot him a smirk.

"How's Drew?"

May pouted. "That's not what you're supposed to ask."

"Well, I think it's safe to say Drew is his father, right?" Ash's assumption was spot on.

"Yes, he is," May answered as she set a pan on the stove and turned on the gas stove. "As for how Drew is doing…I don't know. I lost contact with him too."

Ash scratched his head for a moment, his brow knit. "I see you've been on your own little adventure," Ash noted. "So, you've been raising Milo by yourself?"

"For the most part," May replied. "My mom comes to visit a lot, and Max, my brother if you remember him, stops by when he's not too busy with school."

"And uh," Ash paused as he raised his brow. "Wow, I'm realizing just how much things have changed. I mean, I didn't imagine any of my friends having kids or something like that," He placed a hand on his chin, a thoughtful smile on his face. "And what's it like? How do you feel being a mom?"

"I was so scared at first," May said with a laugh. "When I found out I was pregnant, my dad kicked me out of the house…but my mom helped through everything. She helped me find a place to live, and she showed me everything I needed to know. Without her, I don't think I would've gotten this far. Thanks to her, I realized that there are lots of things that will scare the hell out of you, but when you hike up your pants and face them down, you'll realize it's not impossible. Hard as heck, definitely. But not impossible." May repeated as she cracked open three eggs into a bowl, and Ash saw a prideful glow on her face. "Milo will be starting pre-kindergarten classes in the fall, so once he's all set there, I'm going to start working again so that I don't have to count on my mom for everything. It's the least I can do since she's been such a big help."

Ash felt his smile grow. This wasn't the same May he was talking to, even though she would remind him of that high schooler from time to time.

As May came close to finishing breakfast, she revealed that she made enough for everyone, and invited Ash and Gary to join her and Milo. Ash rose to his feet to awaken his companion who still had his face buried in the couch cushions.

"What?" Gary asked groggily as he raised his head.

"We're in luck, free meal," Ash said with a grin and that helped Gary to subdue his irritation over being woken up. Ash then guided Milo back to the kitchen and helped him get situated at the table while May set out a buffet-style breakfast for them. Once Gary arrived, she invited everyone to dig in, though Ash and Gary respectfully allowed May and Milo to claim their portions first.

"So how did the two of you meet, Ash?" May inquired with a gesture toward Gary. May's question was posed to Ash, but since he was currently working through a mouthful of eggs and pancakes, Gary stepped in to answer for him.

"We actually knew each other back in Pallet Town as kids," Gary began. "I used to spend the summer there with my grandpa and that's how we first met. Two years ago, I went to Ecruteak City to start practicing as a Pokemon trainer, and Ash showed up there last year. We're training partners, although I used to beat the pants off of him."

Ash nearly choked on his food. He needed a few seconds to swallow with the aid of a sip of juice before he shot a leer at Gary.

"I seem to remember Wartortle getting flattened in our last battle," Ash pointed out.

"We were going easy on you," Gary retorted as he waved off Ash's comment.

"Do you want to take this outside?"

May giggled as she watched their back and forth, but a knock on the front door gained her attention. "I'll be right back, Milo," She said to her son who nodded before she rose from her seat. May disappeared into the corridor, and as she opened the door she grinned. Footsteps came stomping into the kitchen which alarmed the occupants of the room, and they all looked to the newest arrival which caused Ash to drop his knife and fork. They clattered against his plate as he jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair in the process.

It only took a glance for him to recognize the person standing at the entrance of the kitchen. He now possessed a scruffy little beard on his chin, and his hair was as wild as ever, but it was still Brock!

He came rushing at Ash and grabbed him by the waist to hoist him into the air. This effort was short-lived as Brock returned Ash to his feet with a comment about Ash's weight. "When did you get so heavy?"

"All muscle," Ash said in return, flexing a bicep for him. Brock took a step back and just stared at Ash. He looked at him from head to toe.

"Is this…is this really Ash Ketchum that I'm talking to?"

"Is this really the good ol' Brock-o?" Ash asked in return. Brock raised a hand and they hooked at the thumbs to pull each other close. Brock squeezed Ash with all his might and Ash returned the gesture.

At long last, they separated and Brock took a glance at the table. "This is the first time I see you in years, and of course I find you eating!" Brock exclaimed. "Guess I shouldn't be surprised."

With another glance at the table, Brock saw another familiar face there, though he didn't seem too concerned with the reunion as he continued to eat.

"Well, well, fancy meeting you here," Brock exclaimed at the sight of Gary. With his mouth full, Gary gave Brock a two-fingered salute as a greeting.

"You know Gary, Brock?" Ash inquired and he received a nod from his friend.

"Yeah, we met in Pallet Town when I was working for Professor Oak at his lab," Brock explained and Ash raised his brow. Brock shot him a smirk, "Don't be surprised, I've been busy while you were away."

Ash returned the smile, but now as he had the opportunity to ask questions, he didn't hesitate. "How is everybody doing? How are Cassidy and the girls? Are they alright?"

Brock's smile faded at the mention of them. Ash felt his chest grow tight as he saw the change in his demeanor.

"What's wrong?" He asked and he looked to May. She wore a frown.

"Uh…" Brock took a deep breath and motioned for Ash to take a seat. They all returned to the table, Ash constantly shifting his gaze between Brock and May as he awaited an answer. Once they were settled, Brock began to speak. "After you were arrested, Cassidy had another heart attack. She didn't make it through that one."

Ash's vision blurred as he looked down at his hands. "Wait…hold on." He shook his head. "She's…she's dead?"

Ash raised his head, looked at Brock, and a nod was his answer. He needed a few moments as the room became quiet. Gary set down his knife and fork. Brock and May remained silent as they watched Ash closely. Only Milo made noises, smacking his lips as he ate the scrambled eggs on his plate.

A rather shaky breath from Ash broke the silence. He clutched his stomach and groaned. What did he expect? He wasn't sure…but he never once considered the idea of learning that someone he loved was dead. However, the tightness in his chest would have to wait.

"What else?" His voice was hoarse as he forced out this question.

"Ash, there's no need to push yourself. This isn't something that you can rush," May pointed out.

"And I can't wait any longer," Ash stated as he put his palms together. "I've spent too long wondering what's happened."

When Ash looked at Brock a motioned for him to continue, his best friend obliged. "After Cassidy died, the girls were taken back into foster care. All of us tried to adopt them but…" Brock shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing went our way. You don't need to worry, they were separated for a few months, but both Casey and Macy were adopted by two really nice couples. I got a chance to meet both of them, and they're good people. I've got pictures if you wanna see them."

"Nothing current," Ash interjected. "I want to see how they look now for myself."

Brock nodded and fished his phone out of his pocket. He had the perfect picture in mind, one from just over four years ago. It was of the day Casey and Macy were reunited after their separation in foster care. Brock allowed Ash to take his phone and study the picture closely. Tears welled up in the corner of his eyes as he saw his sisters, zooming in on their cheerful smiles. It felt like he was being crushed from head to toe. He shattered the small home that Cassidy created for those two girls.

"God…" Ash whispered.

Gary shifted in his seat; his brow raised. Compared to what he saw of Ash in Ecruteak City, this was a brand-new side of him. So withdrawn at some points, and then a proud grin the rest of the time. Seeing him cry made Gary bite down on his lower lip. He wasn't sure how to contribute to the conversation…or if he was supposed to. With the latter seeming to be more appropriate, Gary thought it would be best to excuse himself, leaving his breakfast half-eaten. As he left the kitchen, he stopped beside Ash and placed a hand on his shoulder with a quick reminder of what he said at the airport. "It'll work itself out."

Once Ash set the phone down, he rubbed his eyes and then looked at May. "So that's why you live here…?"

May nodded slowly. "I found this house on the market a few months after, but yeah," May said before she raised her hand. "But I wasn't trying to take your home or anything like that."

Ash furrowed his brow. "Why would I think of anything like that May?" He asked her and forced a smile. "If anything, I should be thanking you. Everything here is just like how I left it. Even if it's not the same, at least some of my memories are intact."

With Brock and May as a source of answers, Ash unloaded every question that he could think of. It was hard to catch up on everything. One question led down a roadway of events, which of course, branched out to even more events. Most of his friends left Vermilion City. Old rivals were traveling across the world.

Everything changed.

"Oh, it's almost nine o'clock," May noted with a glance at the wall. She'd been part of the conversation for longer than she intended to be. "I've got some errands to run with Milo, so this is where we'll take our leave."

May took Milo upstairs to get dressed for the day. When she returned to the kitchen, she set a pair of house keys on the table in front of Ash.

"I don't know if you planned on staying here," May explained to Ash. "But you're more than welcome to. It is your house after all."

Ash gave her a grin, and she gave a wink in reply. May and Milo went on their way, while Ash and Brock made the promise that they would clean up the kitchen. Ash cleared the table and Brock washed the dishes as they continued their conversation.

"I want to see them," Ash announced.

"The girls?" Brock asked in return and Ash confirmed with a nod. Whatever Ash wanted to do; Brock would do. "Who do you want to see first?"

"Macy," Ash said instantly.

---

9:38am.

Ash sat in the passenger seat of the 'Regal,' the refurbished car that Brock purchased years ago. It was still in good condition, though the upholstery seats were worn and the decals on the hood of the car were faded. Running his hand across the dashboard, Ash grinned at the familiarity. This felt good.

Their trip to the east side of Vermilion City took no more than twenty minutes, using the thruway to reach the upper echelon of the city. The area they went to wasn't the high-end mansions that Ash knew around Diglett's Boulevard, but Brock parked in front of an upscale home that was perfect for a family. The front gate had a plaque on the front of it that read 'Quinn's Household.'

"This is it," Brock said as he shut off the engine.

"Man, Macy moved up," Ash commented and forced a laugh. Brock raised his brow in return and Ash reached for the door handle.

"Before we go," Brock interjected as he put a hand out. "Some things you might want to know…" He paused for a second. "Their names are Ivan and Natasha Quinn. When I first met them, they were very, very protective of Macy. I don't know how either of them will react to you, so just stay positive."

"Thanks for the heads up," Ash said with a nod to him. They left the car together and approached the gate. Ash chewed on his lower lip as he studied the property, the well-maintained yard, and front porch, and even the gutters were in good condition. Clearly, Macy's parents could provide anything she needed.

They reached the front door and Ash hit his gut twice before he pressed the doorbell. A lengthy chime could be heard from within the house, and they waited about twenty seconds before some footsteps approached the door. The locks were undone, and the door was opened fully to reveal a sharply dressed man with dark hair who raised his brow when he recognized Brock.

"Brock?" He began. "What are you doing here? And who's this?"

"Hey Ivan, it's good to see you," Brock replied before he motioned to Ash. "This is my friend-"

"I'm Ash Ketchum," Ash announced for himself.

Ivan's stance tightened as a frown formed on his face. "Uh, great. I'm on a conference call right now but…" Ivan looked down as he scratched his chin. "Come inside. I just need a few minutes to finish speaking with a client."

Ivan stepped aside from the doorway and invited them in. Once they were inside, he led them to the living room before he returned to his home office, leaving the young men to speak amongst themselves. Ash looked around the living room, taking it all in. His first day back in the modern world was a lot to take in. He'd forgotten how rooms were typically designed as opposed to the style in Ecruteak City.

He walked around the living room while Brock took a seat on one of the sofas. Ash approached an abstract painting on the wall and tilted his head. The paint strokes were erratic with splatters and blotches layered on top of each other. It reminded him of the painting he'd done in his previous home, none of which he checked on while he was present there earlier. His eyes were then drawn to the picture frames that rested on the mantel, and Ash approached to take a closer look.

For a moment, he regretted looking at these pictures of the Quinn family. He saw Macy at different points in time during the last few years. He saw her as he remembered her, the adorable 'munchkin' that was small enough for him to carry around like a football which often caused her to giggle hysterically. But then…he saw her grow, right before his eyes. He couldn't take his eyes away from what he assumed was the most recent picture. She was missing two of her front teeth, but that did little to stop Macy from giving the camera a broad smile.

But even in her older state, Macy was still hoisted into the air by Ivan in this picture. The two of them smiled from one ear to the other. He felt a tickle in his chest.

"Ash?" Brock's voice helped Ash to regain his focus.

"Hmm?" Ash turned and found Ivan in the living room. Both he and Brock were looking at Ash, waiting for him to join in the seating area. "Oh, I'm sorry."

"No, I should apologize. I didn't mean to keep you guys waiting," Ivan replied as he took a seat in his recliner.

"It hardly felt like a wait," Brock pointed out.

Ivan crossed one leg over the other and leaned into his seat as he looked at Ash. "I'll get right to the point, Brock told me that you were bound to visit someday," Ivan commented with a gesture toward Ash. "And here you are. I'm sure you're here to see Macy, am I right?"

Ash gulped and gave a nod. "When we used to live together, I was kind of like her…older brother."

"I'm very familiar with how she viewed you, Ashy," Ivan's tone became low as used Macy's nickname for Ash. He pursed his lips before he continued. "But quite frankly, I'm not sure if I want her to see you again."

Ash felt his stomach drop as Ivan made that statement.

"I'm aware of the fact that you were exonerated last year, so I understand that your character isn't quite what I thought it was previously," Ivan continued. "But…that still doesn't change the results of your actions. Your sudden disappearance affected Macy in more ways than I could describe."

"If I could interrupt, sir," Ash cut in, and Ivan allowed him to continue. "I know that my actions affected a lot of people that I care about. If I could do it over, I would. I would change everything to get back the last five years…but I can't." Ash gripped his forearm tightly as he shrugged his shoulders. "Today is my first day back in Vermilion City, and I'm only just starting to understand how much I affected other people. If you don't mind, I'd like to know more about what Macy's been through."

Ivan tilted his head as he studied Ash. He wasn't sure what to expect from Ash, and his original intention was to turn him away immediately…but, he could see Ash wasn't ignorant of what transpired. In fact, it was clear Ash wanted to know everything.

"She cried…a lot," Ivan said with a sigh. "She was so little at the time; she didn't really know how to express what she was feeling still. She missed what she recognized as her family. She missed you," Ivan said this flatly as he stared at Ash. "Between the sudden transition to foster care, and then to our house, nothing was familiar to her. Admittedly, it was a poor decision on our part to separate her from her sister, Casey, but we resolved that thanks to Brock," Ivan sent a nod to Brock. "Seeing her sister again helped Macy's transition as she learned to live with Natasha and myself. But it still took her a long time to adjust and accept her new life."

Ivan paused for some time as he gripped the arm of his chair. He looked to Ash and saw that he was leaning for his seat, teetering back and forth as he waited for Ivan to continue.

"With time, she started to make progress. Natasha said that Macy was a daddy's girl," Ivan remarked with a little smirk. "Perhaps I spoiled her a bit too much, but seeing her smile always made it worth it…"

As Ivan continued, Ash broke eye contact with him. Listening to him gush about Macy confirmed everything that Ash wanted to know about him.

"She's at a very good point right now, and I don't know how seeing you will affect her," Ivan concluded as Ash refocused on him. "As I said, this isn't done out of spite, but I don't want to unearth those feelings that she's probably forgotten."

Forgotten…

Ash swallowed his instinct to snap at Ivan. Macy wouldn't forget him!

Would she...?

"Ivan, you can't do that to him," Brock vouched for Ash. "Don't you remember the day Macy was reunited with Casey, and what that did for her? Macy was adopted when she was only a few months old, and Ash was always around her for almost three years. He has every right to meet her!"

"No," Ash interjected which startled Brock. "I don't have the right. I mean, in all honesty, I have no right to come barging back into Macy's life. Look how much her life has changed while I was gone," Ash motioned to the house she lived in, and then her father. "I have to respect the fact that her life has gone on without me. I want to apologize to her for everything but if that means jeopardizing what she's gained, then I'd rather not speak to her."

Ash made eye contact with Ivan once again.

"I'm really glad that you took her in," Ash continued. "I can tell just how much you love her. Just so you know, when I was younger, I found a way to buy anything for Macy. There was nothing I couldn't get her, or at least, that's what I thought. But as it turns out, you're the one thing that I couldn't get her. A dad that really loves her and has her best interests at heart."

Ivan took a glance at Brock, and while Ash wasn't aware of it, his friend put his palms together to silently plead for Ash's case. Ivan returned his gaze to Ash and there was no denying what he saw. This was a young man who was trying to make amends. It wasn't fair to deny him that.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Quinn," Ash said as he rose from his seat. "You don't have to tell Macy that I was here."

"Ash, slow down," Brock called out as Ash made his way toward the exit of the living room.

"Wait, Ash," Ivan's voice forced Ash to stop. He looked over his shoulder. "I…will allow you to see Macy."

Ash's eyes widened as he heard this.

"Of course, I have to talk with my wife about this…but I'll make it happen," Ivan said with a small nod toward Ash. "When she gets home from school, I'll bring her to meet you. There's a park near where she used to live, I'm sure you're familiar with it?" Ash nodded slowly. "I'll meet you there around four o'clock."

---

10:01am.

Gary groaned as he rose from the couch a second time. This time he slept for roughly an hour and a half, which eliminated the constant drowsiness he was experiencing after their plane ride. He would've preferred to sleep on a bed, but he knew better than to occupy a bed in someone else's house without so much as asking beforehand.

He heard a crunch as he shifted his leg on the couch and looked to the other end of it. There was a piece of paper taped to his pants leg, which he was willing to bet was Brock's doing. Removing the paper, he saw that there was a short note written on it that was addressed to him.

'Dear Gary, Ash and I are heading out to meet with one of his sisters. Not sure when we'll be back, but May said you're free to stick around the house. Knowing you, I'll bet you want to have a battle, so I thought I'd let you know that typically trainers meet on the outskirts of Vermilion City. You can find the location on the PokeHub. There's a bus that you can catch to get across town, but you'll have to go by foot the rest of the way…'

At the mention of a place to battle other trainers, Gary felt a smirk form on his face. That was just what he needed to wake himself up completely. Plus, this would be a great opportunity to see how he would fare against some real competition. Thankfully, Brock left all of the information that he would need to get on the right bus for this small trip along with the money needed for bus fare.

Gary grabbed his backpack, jumped in his sneakers, and rushed out the door. He locked the door on his way out and followed the instructions Brock provided. Two blocks away was a bus stop where Gary would board the express route to get across Vermilion City in under an hour. Once he disembarked from the bus, he would be located near the shipping yards on the southern strip of Vermilion City. From there, he relied on his Pokedex to reach his destination as he used the navigation feature on it.

He traveled alongside the enormous shipping yards for a little while, marveling at the cargo ships and freighters. Soon enough, the yards came to an end and Gary saw was given a clear view of the ocean that stretched out to the south of the metropolis. The beaches here were picture-perfect, though the location was undesirable due to its proximity to the shipping yards. It was at least another twenty minutes before he started to see some beachgoers, and that was with the shipping yards far off in the distance now.

Soon enough, he reached what he considered to be a public beach that was sparsely occupied. The area grew quieter as the metropolis began to shrink in the distance. His Pokedex pinged, informing him that he was entering Route 11. It wasn't much farther. The coast became empty for some time, and Gary viewed this as an opportunity to let Wartortle and Umbreon stretch their legs. It was the first time they could get out of their Pokeballs today.

Of course, releasing them near the ocean probably wasn't the best idea considering Gary wanted to get somewhere. Both Umbreon and Wartortle wanted to play in the water, and when he insisted that they go, Umbreon hissed vehemently at him. So, Gary took it upon himself to take a break. He'd only been walking for about thirty-five minutes, so he hardly felt tired. Some palm trees dotted the coastline, and he took shelter from the sun beneath one. From there, he quietly watched Umbreon and Wartortle as they frolicked in the water. All was fine until a stray Water Gun from Wartortle doused him, not that Gary could complain. It did cool him off.

Finally, after fifteen minutes, his Pokemon were satisfied, and their trek continued. They walked for another ten minutes, time which Wartortle and Umbreon spent chatting as they walked in front of Gary before Umbreon's ears twitched. He could hear something in the distance. He dashed ahead of them, prancing across the sand with ease as he went to the top of a particularly tall sand dune. Gary and Wartortle had to ascend it more carefully, but when they arrived at the top, they could see a gathering of people in the distance. At the center of this group were two Pokemon exchanging blows.

Gary smirked, glad that his destination was in view. He raised his Pokedex to take a picture of it from afar before he tucked the device away.

"Let's go!" Gary called out and the three of them went dashing down to the battle site.

Their arrival went unnoticed as everyone was engrossed with the Pokemon battle taking place. It was between a Watchog and a Scyther. Gary joined the crowd and searched for a spot where he could observe the battle without any obstructions while his Pokemon were allowed to move to the front of the audience considering their height.

It only took a few moments of observation for Gary to see that Scyther was a bad matchup for Watchog. Scyther was simply too fast, not to mention he hovered over the ground so his footwork was not dulled by the sandy terrain. With moves such as Agility to heighten his speed, Scyther was a blur as he whizzed around Watchog, slicing away with his scythes. However, Watchog's trainer wouldn't give up so easily.

With a call for Mean Look and Confuse Ray, Gary was startled by what Watchog did next. Mean Look was a move that was often personalized by the user, but they were similar. However, this was a Watchog exclusive. The yellow strips on his fur began to glow, dimly at first, but then they flashed. It halted Scyther for a few moments, time which allowed Watchog to locate him and make eye contact. This applied the Confuse Ray which left Scyther dazed, and suddenly the tables were turned as Watchog took control of the battle. He followed up with a Hyper Fang, specifically targeting the junction of Scyther's back that met one of his wings to immobilize him completely.

Watchog concluded the battle with a combination of Focus Energy and Slam, delivering a powerful blow to Scyther's abdomen that forced him to concede the battle. Gary nodded, impressed with how well Watchog handed Scyther despite the obvious disadvantage.

He observed three more battles, taking pictures with his Pokedex of the participating Pokemon. As each battle continued, Gary found himself shaking. He wanted a battle too! But just as soon as one battle concluded, another pair of trainers would step onto the sandy battlefield and start a new one.

"Hey," Gary said to the young man standing beside him. "How do I get a battle? Do I just jump in and challenge someone?"

There was a snort before he looked to Gary. "No, there's an organizer to keep things civil. You'll find her right over…there!" He pointed to a teenage girl who stood at the edge of the battlefield, chatting with the last pair of trainers who just battled. "Talk to her, she'll get you an opponent."

Gary thanked him and slipped out of the audience so that he could get around the crowd. As he did so, he took a closer look at the setting. While most of the trainers were huddled around the battlefield, there were others spread out around the beach, some playing with their Pokemon while others sat around a chest cooler, offering water or juice to anyone who came by for a fair price. Gary would be sure to pay them a visit later on. Once he found his way to the girl he was searching for, Gary had to wait and watch as she mediated the exchange of prize money between the two trainers.

Once this was finished, they went on their way which allowed Gary to approach her. She was awfully short, with lengthy purple hair and a black and white cap resting on her head. He tapped her on the shoulder and she looked back at him.

"Hey there, I heard I have to talk to you to get into a battle," Gary began and she gave a nod.

"I don't think I've seen you before," She noted softly.

"Ah, this is my first time here," Gary replied. "I just came into Vermilion City earlier this morning."

"Oh, well it's nice to have you," Then her voice became stern. "There are two rules to battle here. Number one, don't lie about the money you wager on the battle. If you can't pay the prize money, don't expect us to let you battle here after that. And rule number two, respect your opponent. A lot of the trainers here are actually police officers, so you don't want to make a bad rep with them."

"Police officers?" Gary repeated in question, but then he shrugged it off. The background of his opponent didn't matter, so long as they were good.

"Since it's your first time here, I'll give you an easy opponent to start. How much do you want to wager on the battle?" She inquired and Gary gave a weak chuckle. He dug out his wallet and counted the bills he had left.

"Uh, what's the minimum?" He asked in return.

"You don't have to bet anything, I mean, none of the officers wager anything on their battles. But typically, the regular trainers are trying to earn some extra money, so I thought I would ask." She explained and Gary gave a nod.

"I'll keep my money then," Gary replied. He didn't see the need to gamble, especially when his wallet was almost empty, and he had no source of income. The risk wasn't worth it. Or so he thought…

His first opponent was a young man named Warren who was partnered with a Mankey. The battle was very simple. Gary compared Mankey to Ash's Frogadier, and with those comparisons in mind, he followed the strategy that he used against Ash with Wartortle, which proved to be very successful. Protect was used to block any big sources of damage, all the while Wartortle wore Mankey down with a barrage of Rapid Spin and Aqua Jet. Mankey's frustrations grew as he was denied every opportunity to return some of the punishment he was receiving, but even with his anger providing some additional motivation, he was left beaten and battered by Wartortle. Warren conceded the battle despite Mankey's protests and complimented the performance of Gary and Wartortle.

Their convincing victory over Warren summoned a new opponent, one that Gary had the privilege of watching earlier. Calvin, previously known as 'Watchog's trainer.' Their contest was much closer than the first, though Gary's observations from Calvin's earlier battle played a part in his victory. Wartortle's stout defenses were too much for Watchog to break through in a neutral engagement, so Calvin called upon their combination of Mean Look and Confuse Ray to stun Wartortle just like he did to Scyther. Unfortunately, this powerful combination required eye contact, and Wartortle countered by withdrawing his limbs and head into his shell to use Rapid Spin. Even moves such as Hypnosis were rendered ineffective, which only left one option for Calvin and Watchog – fight it out with Wartortle in a contest of sustained damage. Switching between moves such as Low Kick and Hyper Fang, Watchog searched for an opening, but Wartortle selectively countered with Protect and wore him down over time.

"Not bad," Calvin stated after their battle ended as he approached Gary to shake hands. "How come I haven't battled you before?"

"Today is my first day in Vermilion City," Gary answered. "I thought I'd come to check out the trainer scene and, you know, test myself against some of you."

"Ah, fresh meat," Calvin remarked with a twinkle in his eyes. "Someone call Duncan. We've got a sacrifice for him!"

"Sacrifice?" Gary said in question and Calvin chuckled.

"No one likes to battle Duncan, so he doesn't see too much action these days," Calvin explained. "I'm sure he'd appreciate a battle with ya," A few shouts earned their attention. "And here he comes now."

A burly man came barging through the audience, coming straight onto the battlefield. "There's an opponent for me?" Duncan asked and Calvin made a gesture to Gary. "Aha! Alright kiddo, get ch-er ass on the sideline, and don't give up too quickly!"

Gary grew weary as Duncan called upon his partner, a Tentacruel. Once Gary confirmed that Wartortle could continue to battle, Duncan suggested that they move their battle down to the water, an idea that captivated the audience. Gary didn't love the idea, knowing full well that while Wartortle was a water type, he had little to no experience in actual water combat. Their time in Pallet Town and Ecruteak City never put them in a position where water combat was required. This was going to be a brand-new experience for them…or so he thought.

What they went through was hardly an 'experience.' Tentacruel manhandled them from the moment the battle started, trapping Wartortle with his tentacles and bathing him with moves such as Poison Sting and Toxic. The effectiveness of the poison increased as Wartortle's stamina was sapped, leaving him unable to defend himself as Tentacruel dragged him underwater and crushed him with Wrap. Soon enough, Wartortle resurfaced, floating on his back with swirls replacing his eyes which marked the conclusion of the battle. Tentacruel did Gary a favor and brought Wartortle back to the shore.

"Ah, I was hoping for a better showing than that," Duncan bellowed with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "Someone get Casey and tell her to bring some pecha berries for this kid."

Gary shot a leer at Duncan but ignored his comments as he kneeled down to check on Wartortle. After a few moments, the same girl that was acting as the organizer arrived with three pecha berries which she provided for Gary.

"I'm sorry," She began as Gary fed one of the berries to his partner. "I wouldn't have let you battle Duncan without a warning. I stepped away for a few minutes, so of course, these boneheads decided to take advantage of you." She sent a leer at the likes of Duncan who grinned in return.

"Can you blame me, Casey?" Duncan asked her in return. "I hardly get to battle anyone these days. I couldn't help myself!"

"Well, if you'd lighten up a little, maybe the others wouldn't mind facing your Tentacruel?" Casey suggested.

Duncan rumbled his lips. "Lighten up? Where's the fun in that?"

"Huh?" Gary muttered as he looked at Casey. "I'm pretty sure Ash said he had a sister named Casey. You wouldn't happen to know Ash Ketchum, would you?"

Casey's head snapped to the side to meet Gary's gaze at the mention of Ash. "I'm his sister, foster sister," She corrected herself. "How do you know him?"

"I know him from Pallet Town, but we crossed paths in Ecruteak City last year. We became training partners," Gary explained and Casey's face lit up. What was previously a rather stone-faced girl, now possessed shimmering eyes and rosy cheeks.

"Brock told me that they released him from prison, but I didn't want to believe it. Not until I saw him for myself," She said. "Do you know where he is now?"

"Both of us came to Vermilion City actually," Gary answered and Casey became giddy!

"He's here?!" She exclaimed, though she returned to her usual straight face. "What's he doing right now?"

"Ash left me a note that he was going to see his other sister," Gary answered and Casey's expression softened.

"I was going to demand that he bring his ass here to see me today," Casey said, but she wore a soft smile. "But if he's going to see Macy, I'll leave him be. I know he's going to need some time with her. In the meantime," Casey took a glance around the beach as the crowd was now situated around the original battlefield on the dunes. "I have a friend who will probably want to meet you since you've been around Ash. Wait here."

Gary attempted to follow Casey, but his attention was drawn back to Wartortle as the pecha berry began to work its magic within him. With a sigh of relief, Wartortle accepted the second berry in his hands and devoured it on his own.

"Well, it's good to see you're doing better," Gary commented as he gave Wartortle a pat on the head. Wartortle took a glance around the beach and Gary could tell who he was looking for. "Umbreon went back to watch the next battle while you were out cold," Wartortle frowned at that.

Umbreon's behavior since evolving was impossible to predict. While he was consistent in directing his vitriol toward Gary, it was a coinflip whether he would be in a good mood to deal with anyone else. Wartortle spent the most time around him, and even Wartortle struggled to befriend the often temperamental dark Pokemon.

"I know he hasn't really warmed up to us, me especially," Gary muttered as he rolled his eyes. "But he'll come around. He's still adjusting to all the changes he went through."

Wartortle gave a nod of agreement and Gary gave him the third and final pecha berry. There was a shout that gained his attention, and Gary spotted Casey returning, though this time she had company. A man trailed behind her with his hands in his pocket, his wild golden hair practically shining in the sun. Behind him was an Ampharos who ambled across the sand, trying to hide from the sunlight in the shadow of her trainer.

"This was the friend I was talking about," Casey said as the group neared Gary. "This is Volkner and his Ampharos. They used to train with Ash back when he was still in Vermilion City."

"Oh," Gary raised his brow as he studied Volkner and his partner.

"So, is it true?" Volkner asked him. "Ash is back in town?"

"You got it," Gary replied with a nod.

"And you used to practice with him?"

"Yeah, I still do from time to time. At one point we battled like every week, and our battles were usually a toss-up."

As Gary revealed this, a crooked smile formed on Volkner's face, and Gary swore that he saw a lightning bolt flash across Volkner's eyes.

"Oh man, now you've got me all riled up," Volkner said as he studied Gary. "I want to battle you, now."

Gary didn't back down under Volkner's intense gaze, his excitement starting to bubble forth. There was something about Volkner that reminded him of Ash. He wanted to find out what that was.

"Let's do it," Gary agreed.

"Well, I know there's no stopping you once you get like this," Casey muttered as she left them, heading to the group. She interrupted the current battle with a shout that Volkner was going to battle someone, and everything stopped.

Every single trainer that was scattered around the beach came to watch. What was a fairly decent-sized audience was now a crowd around the battlefield as Volkner and Gary took their positions on the field. While Volkner called upon Ampharos, Gary could tell that Wartortle wasn't in any condition to battle, and especially not against an electric type.

"Umbreon!" Gary called out as he looked to his partner that stood on the sideline. "You're going to battle!"

Umbreon turned up his nose and remained in place, much to the amusement of the audience. Gary wanted to snap at Umbreon, but he held his tongue as he heard the laughter around him. Thankfully, Volkner's Ampharos came to his rescue. Gary saw a bolt of lightning crackle around her, and suddenly Umbreon's back became rigid as he glared at her. Ampharos merely giggled, and Umbreon hissed, showing his fangs at her. Ampharos was hardly threatened, and instead, she performed her little trick again. A lightning bolt danced around her, and Umbreon arched his back and hissed again.

Now motivated, he took his place on the battlefield, eager to wipe that smirk off of Ampharos' face. While Umbreon was upset, Gary was struggling to contain a smile. Umbreon was a little brat, obnoxious, and even insufferable sometimes. Seeing him irritated with Ampharos filled Gary with a bit of glee, and part of him hoped that Ampharos would be able to back up the confidence that she carried herself with. Ampharos achieved that…and so much more.

Gary was willing to say that Duncan and Tentacruel beat him and Wartortle soundly. What Volkner and Ampharos did was complete and total domination.

Umbreon used his speed as his strongest weapon, but Ampharos methodically stripped him of his major advantage. Gary saw footage of Ash battling with Pikachu, and the little electric Pokemon could be downright oppressive at times. Ampharos knew how to do that all the time with her electrical mastery that stunned her opponents. Once Umbreon was struggling even to move, Volkner called for a combination of attacks, neither of which Gary recognized, but the audience knew it.

There was a flash of light, and Umbreon was rendered unable to battle. "That's why they call him the Golden Flash," Gary heard whispers around him while others marveled at Ampharos' display. While disappointed with the short showing from Volkner, the audience remained to support the next battle while Gary, Casey, and Volkner reconvened down at the shore to treat Umbreon with a few lum berries.

"I should apologize, we kind of got carried away," Volkner began with a hand on his neck, Ampharos mimicking his actions. They both looked down at Gary who was offering Umbreon a lum berry, but his Pokemon scowled at him in return. Wartortle stepped forward to offer one, and Umbreon was far more approachable to him.

"It's not a big deal to me," Gary said in reply. "I had a feeling you would be strong," Although, the battle was so one-sided that Gary couldn't begin to understand the gap between them.

But this was what he left Ecruteak City for. He wanted to travel, meet strong trainers, and learn what else he could do to improve.

"You said that your battles with Ash are usually a toss-up," Volkner noted and Gary nodded. "I'm anxious to see Ash, and I want to hear what you think about him as a trainer."

Gary paused at first. He'd never actually shared his opinion of Ash, despite the amount of time he spent analyzing Ash. Where to start?

"Ash is…hard to gauge. At one point, I was definitely better than him. Then we were equals, then he jumped out in front. I'd catch up, maybe get a leg up, and then he'd find another way to surpass me. It's weird, but it always feels like he finds some new level to jump to when you least expect it..." Gary paused as he shook his head. "Sorry, it's kind of hard to explain this."

Volkner stifled a laugh, impressed with Gary's insights. They reminded him of his own. "While you might think it's weird, I do agree with you," Volkner began. "I was more a mentor for Ash, but he and his Pikachu would always surprise me. It looks like he's still got that magic working for him."

Gary looked back to Umbreon, watching as he got back on all fours and shook out his fur. The effects of the paralysis he received during the battle were beginning to fade, but Gary gave the second lum berry to Wartortle to pass to Umbreon just to be sure.

"I'd like to make a request from you," Volkner said and Gary looked at him. "I want you to bring Ash here. I want to battle him."

"Not today," Casey cut in. "He's busy, and I'd prefer if he came tomorrow anyway. I didn't bring Pikachu with me."

"That's a good point, I'm sure he'll want to see Pikachu after all," Volkner said with a nod, and the agreement was set in place.

Ash would be brought to the beach tomorrow to face Volkner.

---

Brock couldn't be happier!

Today, he saw his best friend in person for the first time in years! There was no better feeling in the world than this. He crushed Ash in a hug when he first saw him, though Brock was flabbergasted by how much size Ash put on. Prison life had a positive effect on Ash's physical conditioning, producing a young man that Brock couldn't push around anymore. At least…not if he didn't want to get hurt.

There was so much that Brock wanted to tell Ash, but his friend's top priority was learning what happened to his family during the last few years. Brock could understand that, and he took a backseat as he helped Ash get into contact with Macy's parents first. Things went well at the Quinn household as Ivan agreed to meet them later that afternoon with Macy, which left them with a block of time and nothing to do.

So, Brock decided to get the conversation rolling. He wanted all the details on what Ash was doing since he was released. That led to Ash sharing his experiences in Ecruteak City and with the pair of Pokemon that were accompanying him. At the mention of Ash having new Pokemon, Brock was eager to reveal that he had a Pokemon partner of his own, so they made the trip out to Route 11 where they could safely show off their Pokemon.

During that ten-minute drive to Route 11, Brock filled the time with tales of his adventures. Brock grinned with pride as he told Ash that he joined the staff of the Hidden Cove and worked his way from the ground up. He started as nothing more than a maintenance worker, but he eventually became Charles Goodshow's protégé, and later a research fellow working under Samuel Oak. Ultimately, Brock found himself dedicating almost three years to working on the Pokedex alongside Samuel Oak. Since Ash knew nothing about the Pokedex or the development of this device, Brock did his best to explain everything he could about it, which was a lot for Ash to digest all at once.

But listening to Brock talk about the Pokedex reminded Ash of when Brock could talk endlessly with Tierno about dance moves. His attention to detail was always one of his strongest points, and that was on full display as a Pokemon researcher. That aside, the Pokedex sounded amazing!

"You've been working on an encyclopedia about Pokemon?" Ash asked for clarification.

"It's way more than that," Brock replied. "Professor Oak says that it's a database designed to help people get to know Pokemon, regardless of their level of interaction with Pokemon. We recently launched the second prototype of the Pokedex, but we're still a few years away from a finished product, or at least that's what Professor Oak thinks."

"Wow, you've been doing some incredible stuff, Brock!" Ash remarked.

This was just some of what Brock did over the last few years. His work on the Pokedex led him to travel to different regions to meet with many researchers to see what other features could be added to the Pokedex, as well as field testing some of these features. And Brock did all of this with a Pokemon partner in tow, who Ash finally got to meet when they arrived at a clearing in the woodlands of Route 11.

Brock tossed a Pokeball into the air to release a canine Pokemon who was happy to be outside of his Pokeball, excited to see Brock, and then ecstatic when meeting Ash. Brock's partner was a Rockruff, a Pokemon from Alola who was given to Charles as a gift but left in Brock's care. The two formed a partnership and the rest was history.

Now that Ash met Brock's partner, the expectation was that Ash would reveal his own Pokemon. The first one he called out caused Brock's jaw to drop. He couldn't believe it when a Growlithe was released from her Pokeball, the very same Growlithe that came with Rockruff from the Aether Foundation. Rockruff couldn't contain himself as he tackled her as a greeting. While Growlithe was normally irritated with Rockruff for doing this years ago, she made an exception during their reunion. Ash explained that he met her at Professor Oak's lab, and she took an odd interest in him. He couldn't really explain it, but she wanted to travel with him, so he brought her along with him to Ecruteak City. In hindsight, Ash was glad she came along. She was exactly what he needed. Good company that didn't let him wallow in loneliness.

Next was Frogadier, the Pokemon that Ash was training with. Of course, Ash immediately offered to show them what they were working on and that put a smile on Brock's face. It was just like old times now. Brock took his distance with Rockruff and Growlithe, and they watched Ash and Frogadier demonstrated some of their stances and forms. As they shifted through their stances, Ash revealed that this was their first practice today, so they were a little out of sync. Gradually, their actions started to harmonize and Brock took note of something he'd never seen before. Wings on Frogadier's back! They were small, but as the two of them moved in unison, his wings would flutter. There was no mistaking it. There was something special between Ash and Frogadier.

The two of them continued to converse to pass time. Ash popped a question, though he knew the answer. "Are you still single, Brock-o?"

Brock lowered his head as he confirmed. "I'm just waiting on 'the one.'"

"Well as far as I can tell, every girl you meet is 'the one,'" Ash remarked with a laugh.

"My mom has been chewing me out, though. She says I can't keep chasing girls forever," Brock said with a huff.

"You can't though," Ash pointed out.

"Says you," Brock muttered before he gave Ash a hard stare. "Wait a second, you went to Ecruteak City and you haven't said one word about the girls! What are they like? Exotic, beautiful, babelicious?"

Ash scratched at the back of his head. "They were...pretty."

Brock hung his head. "Of course, these are the details you don't pay attention to! You're what, twenty-two years old? I know you love Pokemon, but that single's life is going to be the death of you."

"Like you're one to talk. I'll have you know, I went on a date or two while I was in Ecruteak City," Ash pointed out, though he quickly regretted this.

"You what?" Brock screeched. "What was she like? Details man, details!"

Ash burst into a fit of laughter. It didn't matter how many years passed, or what career Brock was pursuing…Brock was still Brock.

While Ash took some time to get to know Rockruff with his Frogadier, Brock was given an opportunity to speak with Growlithe. He kneeled down and thanked her for looking after Ash. She yipped in reply, wagging her tail as she did so. Then Brock made a promise with her, a promise that this time, he would walk be there when Ash needed him.

---

4:02pm.

Ash sat beside Brock on a bench within Sunset Park, periodically asking Brock what time it was.

"They'll be here soon," Brock assured him. "So…if she doesn't recognize you, are you going to tell her that you're her older brother?"

Ash frowned, but he did consider this possibility. Macy went five years without seeing him, and based on what Ivan said, Ash doubted his name was brought up with Macy. There was always a chance she still remembered him, but Ash wouldn't fault her if she forgot him.

"If she doesn't remember me, that's fine. She's got her own life now, and I don't want to intrude. I just want to see her one more time," Ash said softly.

"Alright dude," Brock placed a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Have fun."

Brock raised his other hand and pointed out a family of three that entered the park. Ash quickly recognized Ivan, though he was more casually dressed now, and he was accompanied by a woman and a girl. The pictures Ash saw while he was at the Quinn's house flashed through his mind.

"Macy," Ash whispered as he watched the trio. He couldn't make out their conversation, but Macy posed a question and Ivan made a gesture toward the nearby swing set. Macy beamed before she began to run toward the swings and Ash watched as she ran. She was no longer that toddler that he cherished. She was big enough to walk all on her own now. No one needed to hold her hand.

"Hello again," Ivan began and Ash jumped as he realized Macy's parents joined him and Brock at their bench. "This is my wife, Natasha. Natasha, this is Ash Ketchum," Ash jumped to his feet to shake hands with both of them, bowing instinctively as he did so. "And I'm sure you know who that is."

Ivan nodded toward Macy who was seated on one of the swings and she kicked her feet as she waited for her father.

"Yeah," Ash replied with a nod. "I saw some of the pictures in your house, but I guess I didn't really want to believe them until I saw her for myself. I can't believe how big she's gotten," Ash returned his gaze to Ivan and Natasha. "Is it really okay for me to talk with her?"

Natasha's expression softened with a hint of a smile.

"Yes," She stated. "It might be hard for us to admit, but you were a part of Macy's life as well."

"As I said earlier, our intention isn't to hurt you, Ash," Ivan added. "We want what's best for Macy, and we're trusting you to keep that in mind as you speak to her."

They shared a nod. Then a call from Macy gained their attention. "Daddy, I'm wait-ting!" She hollered from the swings, waving to Ivan.

Ivan made a gesture toward Macy, Ash's invitation to approach her. He thanked her parents again and made his way toward his sister. As Ash came close to Macy, she looked up at him and tilted her head. At that moment, he saw the three-year-old girl that he loved, but the usual greeting he would receive from her never came. Instead, she observed him with her wide eyes, staring at his face.

"Hi Macy," Ash began as he kneeled down to be on eye level with her. "My name is Ash, I'm a friend of your dad's," Ash revealed with a glance toward Ivan, Natasha, and Brock. Macy joined him in looking at the group, and Macy waved to them all once again, even shouting hello to 'Brock-y.' "Do you need someone to push you?"

Her eyes began to sparkle when she heard that question, and she gave a big nod in reply. Ash began the process, and Macy laughed as she rose higher and higher.

"So, Macy, what grade are you in?" Ash asked her to start their conversation.

"I'm in the third grade now." She answered.

"And do you like going to school?"

"Mhmm!" She declared. "I love school and seeing all my friends! I get to have a lot of fun at school!"

"That's good, it's important that you like school. You'll have more fun there," Ash said and Macy agreed. "Now tell me, what's your favorite thing to do?"

"My favorite?" Macy looked skyward for a moment. "I like picking flowers, oh, and I really like to draw pictures with colored pencils!"

Ash continued to pick her brain, asking every question that he could think of and Macy answered every single one. He could hardly believe it. As they spoke, Macy was satisfied with her time on the swings and brought Ash to the patch of grass that was littered with yellow dandelions, wild pansies, and violet petunias. She kneeled down and began to pick flowers from the base of the stem, and she began to braid them together as Ash's questions continued.

What are her favorite games to play? Hide n' seek, and I Spy. What's the silliest face you can make? She puffed out her cheeks and pulled up her eyelids. Ash laughed harder than he needed to, and Macy was delighted. What's your favorite time of the year and why? Spring, because she gets to see all the flowers.

"Who do you love?" Ash inquired as he laid back on the grass, staring up at the sky.

"My mommy and daddy," Casey answered without a second of thought.

"Tell me why," Ash continued.

"Because they take care of me and they always make me happy,"

Ash smiled, though it went unnoticed by Macy as she was absorbed in her project. Her words proved that Ash's initial thoughts about her parents were true. They wanted what was best for her and did their best to provide it, creating an environment that Macy recognized as safe. Everything that she shared with him continued to impress him. This was really Macy that was he was speaking to!

This was an actual conversation where she expressed her feelings. She had more experiences to draw on, and it showed. He really…he really did miss the last five years of her life. She changed so much.

"Pssssst," Macy's sound effect pulled Ash from his thoughts. He found her standing next to him with a crown of flowers in her hand. "I always make one for my mommy," She said as Ash sat upright for her to place the crown on his head. "But this one is for you."

"This is so cool," Ash exclaimed. "Thank you, Macy!"

As she stepped back from him, Ash winced as a small object around her neck reflected the sunlight into his eyes. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was the locket that he purchased for her years ago.

"You still have it," Ash whispered as Brock approached them.

"Having fun?" Brock cut in, his phone in hand to take a picture of the two of them. "Macy, gimme a nice big smile, okay?" She beamed, showing her missing teeth as she came closer to Ash for the picture. "I took a few, thank you, Macy!" Brock then looked to Ash. "I just got a call, Gary managed to get lost in the city on his way back to your house. We have to go pick him up."

Ash rolled his eyes, though he knew Gary wasn't at fault. It was his first day in Vermilion City, and he was left to travel on his own. This outcome should've been expected.

"Macy, thank you for talking with me today, I had a lot of fun," Ash said to her, and she smiled at him.

"Me too!"

While Macy remained on the field to pick more flowers, Ash and Brock approached her parents to thank them one final time. Ivan and Natasha sat on a bench, watching Macy from afar as she braided another crown of flowers for her mother.

"How was it?" Ivan inquired as he saw the large grin on Ash's face.

"She's amazing," Ash remarked. "She's grown up so much. I just finished talking with her and I still can't believe that girl is my little sister," Ash bowed to Ivan and Natasha. "I can't thank you enough for looking after her. I never intended to take her or anything, but I want to leave her in your care."

Ivan raised his brow, but he realized that Macy's former guardians didn't have a proper opportunity to let go of her. Ivan rose to his feet to shake hands with Ash once more.

"We'll do everything we can for her," He assured Ash.

---

The cloud nine Ash enjoyed was euphoric.

The reunion with his youngest sister could've gone better and it also could've gone worse. But Ash would happily live with what did happen. The only thing that was missing was Macy's proud proclamation that 'Ashy was the best!'

He would have to do without it…in fact, there was a very strong possibility that he might not ever hear it again, and he could handle that.

Brock might have spoken during their ride to the midtown mall where Gary was seeking refuge, but Ash didn't hear a word of it. His thoughts remained firmly on Macy until his stomach voiced its concern. Fortunately, Gary was in the food court of the mall, and Ash took that as an invitation to purchase the lunch that he skipped today.

Soon enough, Ash and Brock were reunited with Gary as the three of them ate an early dinner. Of course, the subject of discussion was Gary's experiences from today and his surprise encounter at the beach.

"No way, Casey was there?!" Ash exclaimed and Gary nodded.

"She left at the same time as me, and she said that she's looking forward to seeing you," Gary stated.

Ash leaned back into his seat at the table and sighed. Contact with Casey meant that he would see Pikachu.

"Are you okay?" Brock asked Ash.

He nodded. "Yeah, it's just a lot to take in, you know."

"I hear ya," Brock agreed.

"Well, this might help a bit," Gary continued. "I ran into a guy named Volkner too. I got to battle him, and he said that he wants to battle you tomorrow."

Ash looked up; his eyes wide. "Volkner…challenged me?"

"He's really strong," Gary remarked. "His Ampharos was something else."

"Believe me, I know," Ash added. He and Pikachu practiced against Ampharos for several weeks back in the day. They knew firsthand that Volkner's partner Pokemon was a fearsome opponent. "This battle will be really tough for Frogadier."

Gary wrinkled his brow. "Frogadier against Ampharos is a terrible matchup. Are you really going to accept?"

"Not like I have much of a choice," Ash reasoned with a shrug of his shoulders.

Brock chuckled. "A bad matchup isn't going to make Ash back out of a battle," Brock stated. "Plus, Casey and Pikachu are going to be there."

Ash nodded. He didn't need any extra motivation to show up tomorrow. The arrangements for him to see Casey and Pikachu were set. There was no way he would let anything stop him from seeing them again.

---

A/N

The first reunion chapter! Expectations for Ash's return home have been building, and this is only the first part of his reunion saga. I know there are lots of people that you all will want to see him interact with again, but we're not going to rush back to all of them at the same time. I'm going to stagger the return of most of the Caged Wings cast, so I've got a few here to start, and there will be more reunions in the future. This chapter is kind of a shoutout to those of you who read Caged Wings since we're finally starting to catch up with some of the characters that were left behind. Again, it is not required that you read the previous works, but the context of this chapter relied heavily on the concluding chapters of Caged Wings, as well as some of the material covered in Fallout.

This chapter was heavy to write, and even more so when I was proofreading. It was kind of surreal to revisit these characters after a time skip, especially since a few years passed for me as well. Trippy stuff...and I have more in store for the next chapter. And speaking of the next chapter, it is, in short...a doozy. One thing I learned from Caged Wings was that I took too long to reach the meat and potatoes of the story. In the next two chapters, I'm going to show a pair of my aces. It's not often I want to build hype through my own words as opposed to the story, but the next chapter is...a doozy lol.

Shoutout to MjrGenMatt for his support. We've been having a blast with the last few chapters especially, and we're really looking forward to what's ahead. Thank you all for your support! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll see you all again within a week or two!