Bonus Chapter Part 7

(Luna)

Ash and Luna are now in the dining room located in the New World of their castle, and they have been preparing a giant feast for their family and Taka. Ash is also wearing his Dark-type outfit. Ever since Luna decides to tell him how she is actually a trans, Ash doesn't mind and tells her that he loves her even though she was a boy before. And that's why they have a relationship.

Luna: I very much appreciate all of your help with the preparation. I do hope that you're having spent the effort to assist in serving all of this will not cheapen your own enjoyment of the meal. I suppose some say that food tastes all the more delicious after working hard. Personally, I find that to be only a small contributing element. To me, the food tastes best when I can share it with someone else.

After that, Gardevoir comes from the door and notices them.

Gardevoir: Luna, darling- Oh, my word! That smells positively delicious!

Luna: Everything is ready. Would you see the others in, Gardevoir?

Gardevoir: On the double! (Leaves by teleporting)

Luna: (Looks at the table) Ah, perhaps I should have found a proper tablecloth.

Ash: Or perhaps not, I think it is already good-looking.

Luna: After everything, I'm simply grateful just to be able to create an evening like this.

The first to come in is Radomus and Delia, who is surprised to see the table.

Radomus: Ah, I see you're really putting the facilities to use. That's probably best.

Luna: It would be a true shame to have halls as grand as these, and no one to fill them with.

Delia: Anna will be a moment, by the by.

Gardevoir: I don't think I'll ever get used to so casually having the endless gaping void just between our doors... Perhaps I should be making more liberal use of my Teleport.

Luna: Personally, I think it adds a much-deserved bit of charm.

Gardevoir: Well, you would.

Then Noel, Heather, and Lin also walk into the room, and they are surprised to see the food on the table.

Noel: That's a lot.

Luna: It is, perhaps, possible, that we've overdone it.

Ash: But we would not have wished to leave any of you to want.

Lin: Good thing I'm hungry right now.

Taka: (Walks in) Oh. Uh, should I really be here?

Luna: Unquestionably. Please, take a seat.

Then Serra also joins in as the whole group of the family is here.

Serra: Did you really do all this by yourself? And to think I had trouble keeping more than frozen meals on the table...

Luna: Of course, it was not all done alone. Ash set everything up here, and I also had some help with the cooking. Isn't that right?

Ash: You bet.

Serra: Oh. Delightful...

Radomus: And for what occasion have we gone to all this extent?

Luna: No particular occasion. Or rather, perhaps the lack of one is exactly why. I find it both ideal and necessary to dedicate time and effort to circumstances such as these without requiring the permission of such things as 'occasions'. Times are busy, and they get no less so as the days pass. It is easy for one's priorities to take them apart from those they care for. As your responsibilities multiply and our hours shorten, is it not best to have someone who, not only willingly, but with revelry, delights in caring for you? For many, this person is easily overlooked. For others, we find it mutually in each other. For myself, I am filled with peace at having the opportunity to be that person. I can think of a few greater joys than being able to share a heartfelt meal with my family. After all, that is exactly what each of you is. Bizarre, unconnected, and altogether makeshift, you are the family I hold dear. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Ash smiles as Shade also joins in the party with Anna, and they all have a meal together.

(Mars)

Ash: There you are, Mars, what are you doing?

Ash finds Mars standing at a rock in the New World, and she is looking into the stars. Ash is also in his Normal Type outfit, and both he and Mars already confess to each other.

Mars: Hello Ash...I was just thinking about something.

Ash: Care to tell me about it?

Mars: I find how similar Team Meteor's goal is compared to Team Galactic, and I can't believe this is how the New World looks like...

Ash: I see...though I can't say for sure what your former team did is right, but...do you think this is what you want?

Mars: To be honest, I don't know...When I heard about the New World, I was thinking if Cyrus would be here somewhere, but then again, I have already moved onto the past, and there is no point in thinking those things.

Ash: I see...

Then they decide to watch the stars together for some more.

(Noel)

Noel: Good game.

Ash is watching the battle between Noel and his challenger in the Rhodochrine Tree, and Noel manages to win his opponent with Clefable. Ever since Dr. Connal's Orphanage is closed, Noel's gym is now located inside the Rhodochrine Tree.

Trainer: Okay, how do you get to use a Clefable though?! Aren't you supposed to be the Normal Type Leader?!

Noel: An exception was made because it was registered during its prior classification. Many leagues allow wild cards anyway.

Trainer: Mrrgrgrr...

Noel: Besides, a Clefable is not the worst wild card I could have pulled on you. It's a shame, but you'll have to try again later. In the meantime, you should probably get your Pokémon some care.

Trainer: I'm gonna be back this time tomorrow and punt you into the moon!

Noel: Tomorrow, then.

After the challenger leaves, Noel turns to his brother.

Noel: Thanks for refereeing. I like battling here. Much better than the blank room beneath the orphanage. It's different than anywhere else I've fought. It feels like me.

Ash: I'm glad that you like this.

Noel: Other people probably see it differently. But maybe it's like the AI test. The AI passes if other people can't tell whether or not it's not a real person. Other people might see different colors here, and call it the same thing. Even what we see as color is just the absence of itself. But it doesn't matter, as long as it makes us feel the same way. If that's the case, then we know it's real. Everything from the pigments to our bonds is there despite being invisible. There are probably more things like that. I want to find them someday. I want to paint them, too.

Ash: That's the spirit. By the way, I told Lumi we could get bubble tea after I was done. Want to join us?

Noel nods as they all head down to the bottom of the tree to find the others.

(Radomus)

Ash and Radomus are now inside the castle as Ash is playing chess with Radomus.

Ash: Checkmate, Dad.

Radomus: What? Nonsense. The knight blocks.

Ash: The knight blocks. Then I go here. Your only move is here. Here. You go here. And then the bishop. (Shows the moves)

Radomus: No, no, I can move here instead of on the turn before.

Ash: Dad, that's the knight.

Radomus: Blast.

Ash: You should try to push this pawn the turn prior, that would be more accurate.

Radomus: How did you see that...

Ash: It's not a matter of seeing it. It's a matter of knowing it. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there.

Radomus: (Sighs) You really are amazing at this, Ash.

Ash: It's not that amazing.

Radomus: Well, look here- I only maybe a Grandmaster through forged records and stolen identity, but neither am I quite so near the bottom. The fact that you so consistently wipe the proverbial floor with me is nothing to be sneezed at. Both your brother and your sister Anna, too. Every time. You appear to have inherited a talent even I never possessed. Must be your mother's, I suppose... I had no idea. I wonder if Noel and Anna ever play with each other?

Ash: From what I've heard, there wasn't much to do at the orphanage.

Radomus: And to think I asked for your help to beat Anna... Perhaps I should ask for her help to beat you.

Ash: So it was just about her?

Radomus: On the contrary, you are the one I'm playing with. To ask for your help was simply an excuse to pass time together.

Ash: Sure. And Noel didn't hate you for that...

Radomus: It isn't the most elegant play, but then, some fathers make their children go fishing. I can't imagine you'd care for that very much. I certainly never did... This seemed much more palatable. Was I wrong?

Ash: I don't know. Chess isn't very interesting either.

Radomus: Isn't it?

Ash: There's a finite number of moves that can be made each turn. It's calculable. And with modern AI, it's practically a solved game.

Radomus: Well, I suppose so... I'll do better next then.

Ash: It's fine. I don't really mind. (Notices the hat) Dad? What is this hat?

Radomus: Ah, can't you tell? I have to try hard to even stand a chance against you, so naturally, I wore my thinking cap!

Ash: ...Snrk.

Radomus: Aha! A titter!

Ash: ...Perhaps.

Radomus: No haps about it! 'Twas a snicker, a snirtle- a twitter!

Ash: Dad-

Radomus: And what starts with a smirk may evolve past a 'snrk', Into a jeer, a fleer- maybe a hearty guffaw! Once a chortle, a chuckle- someday a hee-haw! A machination of cachinnation- Crackling, cackling, a massive howl... To grin, gibe and giggle- and laugh jowl to jowl!

Ash: (Tries not to laugh) Hahah, okay already...

Radomus: You've lived too much to have smiled so little. Please forgive your old man for taking pleasure in every snort he can fleece you for.

Ash: You said your father used to take you fishing. Will you tell me about him?

Radomus: With pleasure. Where to start, I wonder... His name was as much a fiction as my own, but for quite different reasons entirely.

Ash hasn't been laughing much in front of his dad, probably because of how he cared for Anna more than he and Noel, and how he has been missing in his life for more than a decade. But Ash decides to spend some more time with his father because there is nothing to break the family apart again.

(Samson)

Samson: Seriously, there's nothing. We're being trolled.

Ash and Samson are now in the Glitch World, as Terra has prepared a present inside the place and Samson has Ash's help.

Samson: Whole lotta nothin'. Straight trolling, and you know what? I'm sorry I dragged you into it. Thought maybe your experience dealing with her would make it easy. I suppose I asked for this.

Ash: It's fine. I mean, I was surprised to experience again in the computer world.

Samson: Maybe it was a moment of weakness. Maybe it still is, since for some reason I'm still out here looking for who knows what in who knows where. "Just a simple scavenger hunt" she said. "Do it and then we'll talk," she said. What did I think was going to happen? "How bad could it be," I thought. It's not like she's going to unplug the machine while we're in here and trap us in the digital world for ages. And if she did, she'd be at least a little bit justified.

Ash: Maybe?

Samson: I forgave her for the Meteor stuff way too easily. Had other concerns, I guess. I get the nihilism. Still not super happy about it. But here we are. (Moves to another spot) Wanted to believe she'd come back and say it was all a joke. And she did come back, but it wasn't a joke. And now I have to live with myself after all of this. Damn it. (Spots the present) Wait. There's a gift box in the branches of this tree! Full color and everything- We found it! Booyah- Take that, you stupid scavenger hunt! All right, let's see what we've won!

Ash: What's inside?

Samson: It's... Just a box of... pistachios?

Terra: It's DEEZ NUTS! RAWWWWWWWWRRRRR!

Ash and Samson look at each other and now they are feeling dumb.

Samson: I asked you out on a date, and you sent me to go find a box of-

Terra: DEEZ NUTS! LOL yea what don't u get. So, d'you still wanna go out with me even after I did this to you? Cuz if u can't take the heat, you gotta get out the kitchen, bbbbinch

Samson: Yeah, let's do it.

Terra: Figures, n0rmies are too- wait wat

Samson: I know you and Ciel are already a thing, but I also know you said you weren't the type to be exclusive. And whether it's the three of us together, or you splitting us, I want in on that. In the end, I like the idea of that way more than all the traditional dynamics of the macho man and the hyperfeminine trophy. I've seen that story a thousand times on every TV. I don't need to live it too. But I don't know how a single goddamn thing you do is gonna end up. And I think I need that. To be honest, I'd have been disappointed if you just said 'yes'. But this? Elaborately pranking me with the most ancient and traditional meme as a form of self doubt? That's something only you would do. Give me more of that.

Terra: (Blushes) I-it's not like I wanted you to see through my cool but distant and aloof facade, b-baka mitai! Baka baka baka baka baka baka baka baka!

Ash can only sigh, as Samson, Ciel, and Terra can really be a great threesome.


And here is another new chapter, 10 more and we're going to end everything here. I hope you like this chapter.