Chapter 64 Big Top Arena
Ash and Pikachu arrive at the Big Top Arena, only to find that it is crowded with people who want to get inside.
Samson: Crowd's annoying. (Walks towards the crowd and yells) Hey, MOVE IT!
The sudden yell causes the crowd to quickly step aside for the path for Ash and Samson to walk through.
Samson: After you.
Ash sweatdrops a little as he enters the Big Top Arena with Pikachu. When they get there, they notice a girl in a ballerina suit is dancing, she has blue hair with a feather on her hair.
?: Ah, more latecomers still? So sorry everyone, but I'm afraid that's all she wrote! Do come back for our next show! (Notices Samson walks in) Oh, Samson. Is this the boy they were talking about? I'm surprised he's conscious.
Samson: This is... (Turns to Ash) Actually, I forgot to ask their name.
?: (Sighs) Unctuous as always, hm, Samson?
Ash: Oh, sorry. My name is Ash and this is my partner Pikachu. I think I already know Samson, but I don't think we've met...
Ciel: My name is Ciel. I'm the spotlit starlet of the Agate Circus specialty show. Aerial ballet is my forte. A pleasure to meet you, darling.
Samson: Anyway, Ash is here for the girl.
Ciel: Oh! Superb, I was worried no one would claim her. Follow me- She's just back this way.
Ash nods as he follows both of them, he also notices how some people are sitting at the stands with sleeping bags and other things with them, this place is likely to become a refuge shelter because of the Agate City. After entering the staff room, Ash notices a Telecom and also a giant computer, as well as a sofa where Aya is resting on.
Samson: She's your friend, right?
Ash: Yeah, also a Poison-Type Gym Leader from Reborn.
Ringmaster: (Walks in with Cain) Hey everyone! We've got another visitor!
Cain: (Rushes towards his sister) Aya!
Ringmaster: By the way, is something up with Terra? She just ran up, punched the community shower, and then scampered off.
Samson and Ciel just look at each other with a shrug, and Cain continues to shake Aya until she slowly wakes up.
Aya: Unnh... I feel like shit... (Notices the one shaking her) Cain?
Cain: (Sighs in relief) Oh, thank goodness!
Aya: (Mutters) Been a while...
Cain: ...Yeaaaah...(Lowers his head) Sorry about that. I was, uh... busy. How's Mom?
Aya: (Glares at her brother) Tch, don't ask. (Notices Ash) Oh, Ash, you're here as well.
Ash: Yeah, our last meeting was the fact that I was getting your badge. Hardy was also there as well.
Aya: Speaking of which, where's Hardy?
Ciel: Ah! That must be the other boy whom we observed soaring not-quite-so-elegantly over the Circus.
Ash: But why would you be in Agate City?
Aya: Hardy was supposed to show me his Gym. That's why we went up to Agate, but... I can't remember what happened when we got there.
Samson: Somethin' in the city conked the both of you out. Affects everyone in there. That's why the whole place has been closed off for who knows how long by now.
Cain: We found you sleeping in the middle of the street.
Samson: Speaking of that, boss- (Turns to Ringmaster) There any word on that sitch?
Ringmaster: We did get some information, actually, but... It's probably best not to trouble our guests with it. The only point of concern is that this sleeping ordeal has been cast over the entire city.
Cain: I almost fell victim to it too, but then Terra happened.
Ciel: Apologies for her.
Ringmaster: Ahah, she may be rambunctious, but we do have to keep her around! After all, it wouldn't do for the Agate Circus to lose one of its famous Gym Leaders!
Ciel: True, we wouldn't be the Agate Ace Triumvirate without her. Unfortunately.
Ash: (Realizes) Wait, you mean both of you and Terra are Gym Leaders?
Ringmaster: That's right! The Gym Battles make fantastic shows!
Ciel: (Bows) Flying-type Leader, at your service~
Ringmaster: Terra is the Ground-type Leader, and Samson has the Fighting-type!
Samson: Sup.
Ash frowns a little as the mention of Fighting Type Leader makes him remember Kiki's death, but thanks to Aya who changed the topic.
Aya: So... Hardy isn't here?
Ringmaster: I'm afraid not. He probably fell somewhere on Route 2.
Aya: (Concerned) Then... we need to go find him, right?
Cain: You really seem to like this guy, huh?
Aya: (Blushes) What? N-no! It's not like that. I'm just worried. That's all. And I know he would do the same for us. (Tries to stand up) So... we should go.
Samson: (Pushes her back to the sofa) Negative, little lady. You're staying right there. I'm surprised you can even walk after what Terra put you through.
Ciel: I'm afraid I must agree. It won't do at all to send you in your condition.
Cain: Ash, would you mind going to look for Hardy? I kinda wanna catch up with Aya for a little.
Ash: Sure, I'll do it for you guys.
Aya: (Glares) Now? After everything?
Cain: ...Look, I can... explain, kind of, but I never wanted to leave you alone there. I just couldn't stay. That's all the more reason I owe it to you to get back on track now, right?
Aya: ...Whatever.
Ringmaster: Oh! Hmm, if Ash is going out searching... Then I believe a change of plans is in order!
Ash: What do you mean?
Ringmaster: I mentioned that intel about Agate before, right? Perhaps you can be of help to us. We had already suspected as much, but we just confirmed that this whole sleeping spell is most definitely caused by that terrorist group, Team Meteor.
Ash: (Sighs) I know it...definitely one of their other PULSES...but how do you know that?
Ringmaster: We got a tip- someone from the inside- who confirmed it for us.
Samson: You sure they aren't leading us on?
Ringmaster: I asked the caller that as well... They assured me, in a very flowery and over-elaborate voice, that they were just looking out for their own interests. Come to think of it, their pattern of speech was somewhat familiar... Oh, maybe because it reminds me of the way you talk, Ciel.
Ciel: I- ? I haven't the foggiest what you could mean by that.
Ringmaster: Yeah, like that. Anyway, they also suggested that the person responsible for the issue was not too far from here, and goes by the name Titawin, or "T".
Ash is confused about the name, from the Team Meteor members he has known, there is nobody who has the name.
Samson: What kind of name is Titawin?
Ringmaster: Maybe a codename. Or, I don't know; your guess is as good as mine, but it may not be as good as someone else's. (Turns to Ash) There's another Gym Leader who lives not too far from here- out by the cascade on Route 2- And I understand she was digging into Team Meteor at some point in the past. I believe her name is...Amaria Fiore.
Ash: (Delighted) Amaria! She's there?
Ringmaster: Ash, if you have to search out in that direction anyway, maybe you could check in with her and see if we could all trade notes? Ah, and you might find this useful.
Then the Ringmaster gives Ash a Powder Vial, much to his confusion.
Ringmaster: That Powder Vial will be useful for getting through Route 2. You can ask the rangers at the west gate how to use it.
Aya: Just don't forget about Hardy, okay? Um, not that I miss him or anything...
Ringmaster: Best of luck, Ash, and we'll be waiting to hear back~
Ash sighs as he leaves the Big Top Arena, and he is looking at the badge case.
Ash: I can't believe we just saw three more Gym Leaders...speaking of which, those three, Charlotte and Saphira, Adrienn, Hardy, Amaria, and Titania...that's all the gym leaders that I've not battled...I can't believe I have already met all of them...well, I'm not sure if that woman from North Aventurine Woods is Titania...
He can't believe that he is going to see Amaria again. But his thoughts also changed when he remembers Shade's visions, there might be a chance that Amaria committing suicide will happen, and he really doesn't want that to happen because he somewhat has feelings for Amaria as well.
Back at Reborn City, Delia shakes hands with Lusamine, with Adrienn, Radomus, and Gardevoir by her side.
Delia: I'm glad that you're able to come here and help us out.
Lusamine: Likewise, Delia. (Looks around) But I can't believe how broken of a place this is...
She also greets the girls, and much to their surprise, Greninja just pops out of the Poke Ball and he just left.
Lillie: Where is he going?
Delia: I guess he is going to find Ash...
Serena: Speaking of Ash...where is he? How come he isn't with you?
Radomus: Let's say that something happened in Agate City, and Ash won't be back in Reborn City until the business is done.
Gardevoir: Agate City is in a blockade, but I'm sure Ash can go through without any problem.
Clair: (Notices the Gardevoir) Was this Gardevoir talking?
Gardevoir: One Miss Gossip Gardevoir, at your service! And don't worry, dear, autographs are always free of charge.
Delia: Gardevoir. Not now, we have some serious business here.
Adrienn: Still, I can't get used to this Gardevoir's liveliness.
Aria: (Stares at Adrienn) No need to offend you, but are you a girl or a boy?
Adrienn: Ah, no need to worry about that. A lot of people ask me the same question. I prefer both, you can say I might be non-binary. If you want to use pronouns about me, you can use Xe, Xyr, and Xem.
Lisia: You really are cool, I have never seen someone who treated xemself as both male and female...
Adrienn: Anyway, back to business. As you can see, this Reborn City is messed up because of Team Meteor. And the lake was polluted.
Delia: We have suspicions that the cause might be from a PULSE Muk since my son did stop that Pokemon. However, after the PULSE is destroyed, the water hasn't returned to normal, so I have to guess there might be another one somewhere.
Radomus: As for these buildings, over there in the North Obsidia Ward was the place where the Grand Stairway is. Team Meteor wanted the ruins to be unearthed, that's why they have been destroying this city.
Lusamine: So the place that we have to help fix is this whole Reborn City, right?
Delia: If possible, the whole Azurine Lake as well. There are Peridot, Opal, Obsidia, Oynx, Coral, Jasper, Beryl, and Lapis Wards that need to be fixed. Besides Opal, can you guys split to help out the other wards?
Serena: You can count on us. Then I'll pick the Peridot Ward. What about you guys?
After discussing it for a while, Lillie decides to be at Beryl Ward, Janine and Clair are Obsidia Ward, Lisia is Azurine Lake, Mars is Jasper Ward, Aria is Lapis Ward, and Acerola is Onyx Ward. Then they decide to split up as they work in the city.
Radomus: So they were the girls who have feelings for my son, right?
Delia: According to Arceus, Ash will be having 18 girls that'll stay by his side. 9 from outside, and 9 from Reborn. They are the nine from outside. (Notices Gardevoir) And you're not going to spread the news like a report.
Gardevoir: Lame~
And this is the new chapter, as you can see, Ash is going to Route 2 and meet Amaria again, but will his worries come true? I hope you like this chapter.
