After bolting from the restaurant, Ash entered his barrack with Pikachu slipping in behind him just before he slid the door closed and locked it tight. He pressed his back against the wooden door and slid down to the floor, trying to take deep breaths and process what just happened. Pikachu looked up at his friend with a hint of concern and confusion of his own.

"What the heck happened back there?" he asked his trainer.

"I don't know…she caught me so off guard with that kiss I just…I couldn't process it for a minute…" Ash struggled to explain.

"You're in a serious relationship with May!" Pikachu forcefully reminded him.

"I know that! I love her!" Ash spat back at him. "I was in shock when Akari kissed me! My head went fuzzy!"

"And what if May had seen you do that?!"

"I know she'll be mad but you gotta believe me! I wasn't kissing Akari at all! She kissed me!"

"Then why didn't you stop her and tell her the truth?!"

"I just panicked ok?!" both of them sighed and a silence fell across the room for a few moments. The frustration between them began to settle and Pikachu took a deep breath before speaking up again.

"You need to tell Akari before this goes any further..." he informed Ash.

"Right…I know…I just hope she'll understand…" he sighed.

"I'd be hoping that May doesn't kill you when she finds out..." Pikachu mumbled. Ash sighed and stroked his best friend's head and each of them gave the other a small smile.

"Thanks, buddy…I needed that." Ash said softly.

"You're welcome…" he replied. Taking one more deep breath to shore himself up, Ash opened his door and headed back towards the restaurant as Pikachu followed him. The two of them entered the Wallflower again and Ash went over to the table where Akari was still seated. However before Pikachu could follow, he noticed Akari's Pikachu walking up to him, so he decided to hang back with her.

"Hi there." She greeted him.

"Hi. Is something wrong?" he asked.

"I just thought we should give Akari and Ash some privacy." She explained.

"That's nice of you, but I don't think the conversation will last all that long." He replied.

"Maybe, but I actually did want to spend time alone with you." She added, a small blush forming across her cheeks. Pikachu's ears perked up in surprise when he saw the blush and was quick to heed the advice he had given to Ash.

"Pikachu, I'm sorry but you need to know that I have a mate." He said, gently but firmly.

"Oh...I'm sorry I…I didn't know…" she said, her voice going soft as her ears drooped down in disappointment.

"It's ok…I'm sorry if you felt like I was leading you on...I never wanted to hurt you and…I hope we can still be friends." He added.

"Yeah...don't worry I'll be fine…" she assured him.

"Some lucky male out there is just waiting for you I know it…and one day you'll find him." he promised her.

"Thanks…I hope so…your mate is one lucky girl…" Meanwhile, Ash walked over to Akari, who heard his approaching footsteps and looked up at him with a hint of surprise that he had come back.

"Ash...?" she wondered.

"Hey Akari…" he greeted her awkwardly.

"Hi...look about what happened earlier I…" she stumbled over her words.

"No Akari it's my fault…I should have told you the truth from the start. The girl that came here with me…she's my girlfriend." He came clean.

"Oh...I'm sorry I didn't know..." she said quietly.

"Really it's ok…I just needed to be honest with you…and I'm sorry I wasn't right away…" he apologized.

"So you're probably more worried about her being missing than you let on huh…?" Ash took a deep breath as he rubbed the back of his head to come up with a suitable answer.

"Yeah I am…but she's strong and can hold her own…and I'm sure she's looking for me too…I'll find her soon enough." He assured her.

"Sure…" Akari's voice trailed off as a thought crossed her mind. "But you've seen how dangerous Hisui can be…what if she's not fine?"

"What?"

"There's a lot of dangerous places in Hisui…not to mention all the hostile Pokemon out there…heck even the fall could've killed her depending on where she landed…I'm just wondering if you've thought about what you'll do if she's not fine…" she explained further.

"Well, I…" he stammered. Of course, the possibility that May wasn't fine had entered his mind, but it was never one he had really considered. He had watched her go from a young and inexperienced trainer to one who could go toe-to-toe with him in battle and became a Top Coordinator all on her own. There wasn't a real question in his mind that she could handle herself normally. But Akari's words reminded him of how much even he was struggling to get by in this place. The thought of it made him go pale with fear at the horrible images his mind began to conjure up. However, he was quick to shoo them away before he went into a full-blown panic. He resolved not to think like that. May was fine. And he was going to find her. "It doesn't matter. I'm going to find her and she'll be just fine when I do."

"I see…well...thank you for being honest with me...I hope I haven't ruined our partnership...I still think we can do some great work together..." she replied quietly.

"It hasn't. I still see you as a friend. Not to mention a great partner." He promised her.

"I guess I can live with that..." she answered with a small smile. She was obviously hurting by the realization that Ash wasn't going to return her feelings, but she was willing to let him go. Especially if his girlfriend was indeed ok as he predicted. But if she wasn't…then Akari wasn't even sure herself what she would do. Either way, there was still a bit of hope in her heart. And for now, that would be enough for her. "I think I'll go to bed for the night then..."

"Okay. Goodnight Akari. And…thank you." He replied. Akari gave him a small nod and then left the restaurant, heading to her barracks with her Pikachu followed her, leaving Ash and his Pikachu to themselves. Pikachu hopped back onto his friend's shoulder and gave him a small smile of approval.

"Good job Ash." He congratulated his friend.

"Thanks, bud. I'm glad that went pretty smoothly." Ash nodded.

"Me too. We should get some sleep too before tomorrow." He suggested.

"Yeah. Sounds good to me." Ash agreed as he picked up their dinner and returned to his barracks for the night.

The next morning began like any other, with Ash yawning as he slowly woke up to the sun shining into his room. Pikachu was still sleeping as Ash got out of bed and stretched out his muscles. However just as he went to wake his best friend, Pikachu's ears perked up and he lifted his head abruptly.

"Huh?"

"Pikachu? Is something wrong?" Ash wondered.

"I thought I heard something outside." Pikachu answered as he jumped off the bed and ran over to the door.

"Really? What was it?" Ash wondered as he followed.

"Something familiar…" Pikachu answered as he slid the front door open a crack to look outside. Just as they both peered outside, a Glaceon walked by down the street outside and their eyes widened in surprise. "Glaceon?!"

"Was that-" Ash couldn't even finish the sentence before Pikachu darted outside and ran after the Ice Type. "Pikachu wait!" he called as he ran after his Electric Type. Pikachu ran after the Glaceon, but as he got closer he stopped and drooped his ears.

"Wait...that's not my Glaceon..." he realized as Ash caught up with him. He looked and saw the Glaceon walking towards the Galaxy Team Headquarters next to a woman with short blonde hair and wearing mostly pink.

"She's not May's...must be someone else...I'm so sorry bud…" Ash told Pikachu as the little Pokemon's ears only drooped lower. "It'll be ok...we'll find them…"

"I know...I just…I just miss her so much..." Pikachu replied as he teared up at the thought of his beloved mate. Ash gently picked him up and hugged him.

"I know...I miss May just as much..." he whispered gently. Pikachu hugged him back and cried for a few more moments before regaining his composure.

"Thanks, Ash…I'm ok…" he said as he wiped the last of his tears away.

"It's no problem." Ash nodded. "We'll find them in no time."

"Of course, you're here." The girl with the Glaceon suddenly spoke up down the street.

"Huh...?" Ash wondered as he turned his attention to the stairs at the front door of headquarters. Standing at the bottom of the stairs was the girl from before with her Glaceon, and standing opposite her was a young man with blue hair and a large blue coat. At his side was a Leafeon. Both he and his partner were smirking at the blonde girl while she glared at him.

"Adaman." She spat.

"Irida." He smirked.

"Ridiculously early as usual huh?" she rolled her eyes.

"Better that than to waste everyone's time as you do." He fired back.

"Ug. You and your time fascination." She growled.

"You're the one who believes in a false Almighty Sinnoh." He pointed out.

"False?! How dare you! It's you who worships a fake Almighty Sinnoh!" she yelled.

"Oh boy. Looks like they're at it again." Akari's voice suddenly cut in as she walked over and stood next to Ash, drawing his attention away from the two squabbling people.

"You know who they are?" Ash asked.

"They're the Leaders of the Diamond and Pearl Clans." she explained. "He's Adaman and she's Irida."

"The Diamond and Pearl Clans?"

"They're the two clans that came to Hisui before the Galaxy Team ever settled here. They have their own settlements elsewhere in Hisui and both claim to worship a Pokemon called "Almighty Sinnoh". Only they have different ideas of what that Pokemon is like. The Diamond Clan believes that Almighty Sinnoh controls all of time while the Pearl Clan believes that Almighty Sinnoh controls all of space. It's the main reason they do not get along. Warden Mai you met yesterday is a member of the Diamond Clan." She continued on.

"I see." Ash nodded in understanding as he looked back at the two leaders, who were still arguing. He studied their features a bit and recognized more familiar faces in them as well. "Adaman is giving me so much Professor Sycamore vibes while Irida...she honestly does look a little like May…"

"Listen here you little-" Irida was about to tell Adaman off when Commander Kamado suddenly threw open the front doors and walked outside, drawing everyone's attention.

"Adaman, Irida. Thank you both for coming." He said in his classic booming voice.

"Good morning Commander Kamado." Adaman greeted him.

"Thank you for seeing us, Commander." Irida echoed the greeting, quick to straighten up and put on a polite smile.

"Of course. Please come in." he said as he headed back inside and the two Clan Leaders were quick to follow him.

"Should we go in as well?" Ash wondered as he glanced at Akari.

"I think we should talk with the Captain first. If the Commander needs anyone he'll let them know through her." She reminded him.

"Makes sense." Ash nodded. After making a quick run to change back into his clothes, Ash and Akari headed inside headquarters and went into Captain Cyllene's office. She looked up from her seemingly never-ending paperwork pile and nodded curtly to them.

"Good morning."

"Morning Captain." Ash replied with a salute which Akari also did.

"I need you both to report to the Commander's office. He just sent word that he'd like to see you both." She ordered them.

"As you wish Captain." Akari complied as she headed up the stairs towards the third-floor office and Ash followed her up. Within a few minutes, they arrived in the Commander's office, which was still packed with him and the Clan Leaders. Once he noticed their arrival, he gave them a polite nod.

"There you two are. Thank you for coming. Adaman, Irida, this is Akari and Ash, two of our finest Survey Corps members." Kamado made the introductions.

"Hello there." Ash greeted them.

"Nice to meet you." Akari chimed in. Both Clan Leaders seemed to look at Ash with some curiosity, making him slightly awkward.

"So you're the strange traveler from beyond the rift." Irida commented.

"Yeah..." he replied, scratching behind his head awkwardly.

"I see..." Irida said quietly.

"Interesting." Adaman agreed.

"Now that that's out of the way, I'll explain why I called you two here. Two nights ago, a mysterious bolt of lightning came from the rift and struck one of the Pearl Clan's Lords, Kleavor." Kamado explained.

"Kleavor? I've never heard of that Pokémon before." Ash interjected.

"He's one of our Nobel Pokémon." Irida explained. "He evolved from a Scyther that was descended from the original Kleavor of the Legendary Hero."

"An evolved form of Scyther? Oh wow." Ash marveled.

"The place you're from must be very different huh?" Adaman commented.

"Heh…yeah..." Ash said sheepishly.

"Well anyway, apparently this mysterious lightning has caused Kleavor to go into some kind of frenzy." Kamado continued his explanation.

"A frenzy?" Akari wondered.

"He's gone crazy...running amuck and attacking everything in his path." Irida said sadly.

"Oh no..." Ash realized.

"I think we need to do something to stop him, but Kleavor is an important Lord to the Pearl Clan. So we can't risk hurting him without risking a war between our two clans. And we can't risk putting Hisui through such a fight. Especially right after we've finally gotten a treaty signed." Adaman added.

"Wow…" Ash whispered as the gravity of the situation began to hit him. "Is there anything we can do to calm him down...?"

"Unfortunately his Warden doesn't seem to be able to get through to him. Even his favorite foods seem to have no effect to help him calm down." Irida answered.

"Kleavor has a Warden like Wyrdeer?" Ash commented.

"Yeah. All Nobles of the Diamond and Pearl Clans do." Akari piped up.

"I think you two can find a way to quell Kleavor's frenzy without harming him. I want you to go to Grand Tree Arena where he resides and talk to his warden. See if you can come up with a way to calm him." Commander Kamado laid out for them.

"Understood." Ash nodded.

"Yes sir." Akari agreed.

"Good. Dismissed." The Commander ordered, giving Ash and Akari permission to leave the room, which they promptly did.

Soon, the two young Galaxy Team members arrived at the Deertrack Heights Camp with their Security Corps escort.

"So I'm guessing this "Grand Tree Arena" that Kleavor resides at is over that way?" Ash guessed, pointing towards a giant tree across the river.

"That's right." Akari nodded.

"Guess we have a long trek ahead then." He sighed.

"Yeah…" she nodded. "It's a good hike from here."

"Alright then." Ash said as he took a deep breath and began walking towards their destination as Akari followed close behind.

"There's a dam in the river built by some Bidoof over by the shore. We should be able to cross there to get to the Arena." Akari remarked.

"Oh perfect." Ash nodded. Soon enough the two walked onto the beach and arrived at the dam.

"I'll go first. I've crossed it before." Akari offered before she stepped up and carefully crossed the dam as quickly as she could. Once she stepped down onto the other side, Ash stepped up carefully and began his crossing.

"Be careful. It's a little unstable..." Akari warned him.

"Understood." He nodded as he jumped off the dam, but as he did he stumbled a bit when his foot snagged on one of the branches in the dam, causing him to fall onto the other side instead of landing. He fell right on top of Akari, who was standing too close, and knocked them both onto the ground as Pikachu rolled off Ash's shoulder from the sudden motion. Akari laid on her back on the ground as Ash held himself up above her with his hands, causing them both to blush deeply as their eyes locked on each other's. "S-Sorry Akari…y-you ok…?"

"I-I'm fine..." she stammered, her blush only growing deeper. Ash quickly scrambled to get off her and nearly jumped back up onto his feet, dusting off the pants of his outfit to keep his gaze off Akari as she got back up as well. "A-Alright…W-Well Grand Tree Arena just up this path..."

"Okay then…" Ash nodded, eager to get past the awkward moment as quickly as they could. After they each took a deep breath to steady their nerves, they once again began heading towards the large tree.

"Before we get there, I should let you know that the Warden, Lian, can be a bit...stubborn." Akari informed him.

"Really? Well, it shouldn't be too bad. I've been told I'm stubborn myself." Ash chuckled a little.

"Now that I believe." Akari said with a small smile. Both of them shared a small laugh as they headed down the last leg of their walk toward Grand Tree Arena.

To be Continued...