Chapter 165 Memories from Sadness Part 3
Ash and Pikachu are still in Sigmund's memory, and they are now having a funeral, it is actually the same scene where he saw back in the void after the Glass Workstation.
Mother: Lizzy- I'm so sorry- I'm so, so sorry...
Priest: We are gathered here today in loving memory of Elizabeth Connal, who, in death as in health, shall depart from us as a beacon of light, life, and a reminder to spare gratitude for what small joys we may yet have...
Ash and Pikachu feel that they are out of Sigmund's body, and they find a stairway and walk there, hoping to get out of the place, but he finds himself in the orphanage.
Ash: I guess we're not done here?
As he tries to walk back upstairs, he finds Sigmund standing in front of him.
Sigmund: So, old man, you finally went out... Yet, despite your will, there's no point in hanging onto a property like this. This house holds only sour memories. Reminders of when the world first turned its back on me... I could have saved her. I surely could have- But no. I must stay focused on the future. The property value is all I need to start my own home... A place where children can go to be away from people like him... A controlled, safe environment. There will be no more like Lizzy... Because I can save them.
And then Sigmund disappears, Ash realizes that this is why Sigmund has become the way he is right now. He feels bad for him, but there is nothing that can do to change, so he just goes back downstairs again.
Just then, he feels sinister energy as he walks toward one of the rooms, and a girl appears in front of them with Umbral energy, but Ash doesn't know who the person is, only that she looks just like a boy, and her name is Euphie. Whoever that is, Ash decides to get rid of the Umbral energy, so he battles the girl.
Euphie goes for Rotom first, and Ash goes for Krookodile to battle. Krookodile has been a help in battling Jirachi, and thanks to the Healing Shard, it is fully recovered and it goes for Crunch, dealing a lot of damage, but Rotom goes for Will-o-Wisp, causing the burn on Krookodile. But in the end, it is defeated by Krookodile's Dragon Claw. The second Pokemon is Mismagius, and it uses Dazzling Gleam powered up with Nasty Plot to defeat Krookodile, so Ash goes for Aegislash next. Using the King's Shield, it blocks the Shadow Ball, and it defeats Mismagius with his own Shadow Claw.
The third Pokemon is Decidueye, and it goes for the Z Move Never-Ending Nightmare to defeat Aegislash, so Ash goes for Infernape to battle next. Infernape goes for Flamethrower and eventually knocks out the Pokemon. The fourth Pokemon is Hoopa, much to Ash's surprise, and it goes for Psyshock to defeat Infernape. So Ash goes for Absol, mega-evolving it, and defeats the Pokemon with Night Slash.
The fifth Pokemon is Mawile, and it also goes for Mega Evolution and defeats Absol with Play Rough. Ash goes for Greninja and does the Bond Phenomenon and defeats Mawile with the Z Move Hydro Vortex. And the final Pokemon is Mimikyu, after breaking the disguise with Night Slash, Mimikyu goes for Play Rough, but Greninja is still standing and defeats Mimikyu with Water Shuriken.
Euphie: But I don't want... to wake up. (Notices Ash after the Umbral energy ends) Who the hell are you? I shouldn't be here. You probably shouldn't be here either. But here we are. Do you know this place? I've been here a number of times in the past. Though, I can't say for sure that it's the same past. (Leaves) Move. I'm going ahead.
After the girl leaves, all Pikachu and Ash have are confusion.
Ash: Who is that guy?
As he goes downstairs, he finds himself in another memory, Anna, Noel, Laura, and Charlotte are still in the Orphanage, and Euphie just walks in from the door.
Anna: Hi! Who are you? Why are you all mopey?
Euphie: (Confused) Um.
Noel: Anna, you can't just ask people why they're mopey.
Anna: Huh? Sure I can! In fact, I just did! Oh, forget it. Come on! I'll introduce you to everybody! (Drags Euphie)
Euphie: Wait, hold on, I just-
Anna: Okay! So, I'm Anna- Hi! And this is my Jirachi, Nostra! (Jirachi just floats around Euphie) She says 'It's nice to meet you!' Over there is my twin brother, Noel, and his Cleffa, Nomos!
Noel: Nomos is just a doll, but hi.
Anna: Anyway! That's my friend, Charlotte! She's actually really, really pretty. You just have to-
Euphie: That's enough... Please... Just- I'm not here to make friends. Least of all with a bunch of kids... Where is Doctor Connal? I had a provisional appointment with him.
Charlotte: Not the type for chit-chat and idle conversation, huh?
Noel: There's nothing wrong with that.
Anna: Except that it's boring!
Charlotte: We usually entertain ourselves with the occasional guest, but I guess not everyone's going to be into it...Especially when they won't exactly be 'wowed' by our status in the league, being in it themselves as well. Is that right?
Anna: Huhhhh? Waitwaitwait, Charlotte, what are you saying?
Charlotte: Euphie Myttelward, Reborn League Ghost Leader. Right?
Ash is surprised to hear that, but he remembers that the Ghost Leader is...Shade...
Euphie: I didn't expect to be recognized...
Charlotte: It's the celeb's life! Get used to it.
Euphie: I'd really rather not.
Anna: Oh! Nostra says the Doctor is coming!
Then they all get out of the way when Sigmund comes.
Sigmund: Ah, a visitor. Greetings, young lady. I am Dr. Sigmund Connal, but you may refer to me simply as "Doctor," And I presume you are Ms. Myttelward.
Euphie: ...Yeah...
Sigmund: Come with me to my office. We'll have a little chat, and then we can talk about your options and what you want to do.
Anna: It's not too late to run out the door and never come back!
Euphie: N- No... I... have to do this. (Leaves)
Charlotte: Ten bucks says she quits after the first day.
Anna: Wait, who's "she"?
Charlotte: Euphie, obviously.
Anna: But Euphie looked like a boy!
Noel: She did not look like a boy.
Charlotte: Sigmund even said "Ms."
Anna: I thought he just needed glasses! Don't tell me you all need them!
Noel: Anna, you're seeing things again.
Anna: I am not! Nostra, wasn't that a boy?
Just then, all of the characters fade away, leaving Ash alone, and Euphie is also by his side.
Euphie: I don't like this place. And I don't just mean the orphanage. (Walks towards the door) I've spent enough time here to know how these things work, so let's get one thing clear right now. Whatever you see here, stays here. Understand?
Ash is confused, but he can only nod.
Euphie: Good. I don't... want anyone seeing this. But here you are because this place is really awful. And I don't think we're getting out until we finish its wild rollercoaster ride. Strap in, I guess...
Ash walks into the door after Euphie, and he is teleported to the office, where Sigmund and Euphie are talking.
Sigmund: Thanks for coming again.
Euphie: Sure, whatever. Not like I have much of a choice.
Sigmund: Why do you feel that way?
Euphie: What do you mean "Why do I feel that way?" The physician isn't going to give me what I need until I get a stupid letter. And you haven't given me one. I don't understand the question.
Sigmund: You were not dragged here and restrained against your will. You chose, again, to come today. But you have rationalized it as being a choice that is not yours.
Euphie: All due respect, I see where you're going with this, and I'm tired of it already. Can we get to the part that actually matters?
Sigmund: And which part do you consider that to be?
Euphie: What do I need to do or say so that you can give me that letter?
Sigmund: (Thinks for a while) Ms. Myttleward...
Euphie: Stop calling me that.
Sigmund: Right, right- My apologies. I understand very well that you want the letter, and that prescription as soon as possible. But if a client comes in demanding painkillers, or anti-depressants, it is not always advisable to give them right away. First, we have to take an objective and rational look at the circumstances and determine if these tools are really the best course of treatment. Oftentimes, despite ideas the patient may have otherwise, they are not. We need to make sure that this is right for you.
Euphie: I already know it's right for me. So what do I have to do to prove it? Do I just need to have a breakdown in the office? It'll be embarrassing, but we can make that happen. Or is there a set of criteria I need to be meeting? This entire process is already based on the notion that I need to fit comfortably into your idea of what a man should be like. So show me the checklist, Doctor. I understand if there are laws you have to adhere to, but do you want to help me or not?
Sigmund: Very well. Tell me clearly, why do you not want to be a woman?
Euphie: Because I am already not a woman, Doctor. The question is loaded. How about I ask you that- Why do you not want to be a woman, Doctor?
Sigmund: You are deflecting from the matter at hand.
Euphie: And saying that I'm deflecting is a convenient way of dodging the question yourself, isn't it?
Sigmund: This is not MY session.
Euphie: Really? Because you sure seem to be the one running it. I don't feel like this is about my needs here. And you have more to gain from maintaining this situation than you do from actually giving me what I want and sending me on my way. So what guarantee do I have, Doctor, that you have any intention of actually working with me here? How many more weeks do I have to waste my life for one hour at a time coming here and arguing with you? Meanwhile, every other single day of the week, my body is dragging me kicking and screaming down the wrong path. While you're twiddling your thumbs and leafing through pamphlets fifty years old and written by old men who would rather die than help me be who I am, I'm STILL getting worse by the minute. So, Doctor, are you going to help me, or not?
Sigmund: (Thinks for a while before giving an answer) Get out.
Euphie: That's your answer? After how many weeks of me wasting my time, now you finally decide to say that?
Sigmund: Get out of my office.
Euphie: This is a joke.
Then Sigmund disappears, and Euphie just turns around and faces Ash.
Euphie: I never did get that letter.
Ash is confused, but he decides not to ask for more, but just as they leave the office, they are now at the battlefield in the Orphanage, it was originally where Ash was supposed to fight Noel for his gym badge. The others are here: Anna, Noel, Charlotte, and Laura.
Anna: So! What do you think?
Euphie: It... seems fine?
Noel: It's not much.
Anna: No, it's great! And newly remodeled!
Euphie: For a Normal Type arena, it looks nice.
Charlotte: I said he should have pyrotechnics installed just for fun, but Sigmund wouldn't allow it because he's allergic to fun.
Anna: So, what do you say we put it to use?!
Euphie: Sorry, what?
Charlotte: She's saying we have a match.
Euphie: Why?
Anna: For fun, and to break into the place!
Laura: To tell the truth, we heard some shouting during your session... We couldn't make any of the words out, but it sounded like you weren't having a great time. Anna suggested that maybe this would be a good way to blow off some steam.
Anna: Yeah, fighting and playing together is a great way to feel better and get to know each other!
Euphie: Is that okay?
Charlotte: Who's gonna stop us? We're all League professionals here. If someone has an issue with it, what are they gonna do about it?
Anna: No one has to know anyway! C'mon, let's give it a try! Noel and I will go first!
Noel: We will?
Anna: We will! (Rushes to the other side of the battlefield) Come on!
Noel: I guess.
Charlotte: Dibs on ref position.
Euphie: I... suppose this is happening. (Turns to Ash) Hey, I don't know exactly what kind of presence you have in this world right now, but it seems there's a place for you at my side. I don't relish the idea of going solo here. Wanna fight our way out of this blast from the past together?
Ash: Are you sure I can battle as well? I would love to. (Stands besides Euphie)
Anna: Who you talkin' to?
Euphie: No one. Just my shadow.
Anna: Okay then, Mr. Shadow! You ready to do this?
Euphie: Ready as ever.
Charlotte: 3, 2, 1- Go crazy!
And I'll end the chapter right here, as you can see, Euphie is actually a person who you guys pretty much know in the past. But I'll cut the chapter here so the next one will be the final of this request.
