"Cinderace use Pyro Ball!"
Cinderace landed in the center of the group of the four trainers and their Pokémon before launching up and sending the boulder straight back at Eternatus.
"There's our opening!" Ash said, seeing Eternatus momentarily stunned. "Charizard! Pikachu! Let's go!"
The three flew into the air, quickly approaching Eternatus. As it readied an attack.
"Charizard use Dragon Rush! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
The two attacks sent Eternatus's attack off corse firing into the distance.
"Hope that didn't hit anything." Ash said. "Charizard use Flamethrower! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
The two attacks managed to send Eternatus off. For now there were bigger issues to take care of. As Ash landed, his thoughts were confirmed, Goh had saved them, now he just had to figure out who that girl was.
Goh watched as who he could only assume was Ash approach the group. Ash looked far different than the last time he'd seen him. Gone was the overly girly demeanor, now between the slim body, and below average height, Ash was much more on the adrogynous side only leaning slightly on the feminine path. His dark hair just grazing his slim shoulders.
Chloe was unmistakable with her purple hair, still in an overly large braid. Though a major change being her glasses, she didn't have those lasts time they'd seen each other, had she?
Serena, while he hadn't known her long, seemed mostly unchanged, her hair was in a pixie cut, but she was still oddly buff, and tall.
The fourth member Goh was clueless on this guy. The dark blue hair, strong figure and cleft chin were an intimidating combination.
"Goh, is it really you?" Ash asked.
The once healthy looking guy, appeared to be mostly skin and bones at this point, his hair unkept, and his clothes were fairly worn and tattered.
"Yeah, not how I planned on seeing you guys again." Goh admitted. "Oh and this is Marnie, the girl from the train."
"Hi." Marnie said, waving from a few feet away.
"Idiot." Chloe said punching Goh's arm, before wrapping him in a hug. "I missed you."
"Did I miss something?" Goh asked in confusion.
"In the past five seconds, no. In the past five years, a lot." Seb said coldly.
"Thought you were dead." Chloe said wiping away tears.
"You thought I was dead!" Goh exclaimed.
"No one has seen or heard from you in three years, your parents eventually felt it was easier for them to believe you were gone, than to keep hoping you'd show up one day." Ash said.
"You left to fix one mistake, but caused more pain as a result." Chloe huffed.
"Guys, we still have Eternatus to deal with." Serena pointed out.
"What's the plan?" Seb asked.
"We get the sword and shield from the Slumbering Weald and get Zacian and Zamazenta to help us stop it again." Ash said as if that was something obvious.
At the Slumbering Weald
"It's so foggy, I can barely see in front of me." Chloe complained.
"That means they're close by, they probably know what's happening." Ash said.
"So do we just roll over and beg?" Seb joked.
"Last time they kind of just appeared." Goh commented.
"I see the shrine up ahead." Ash said, pushing through some bushes.
"Look brother, the children have arrived." Sordward said.
"I hope they weren't looking for any gifts, they just ran out." Shielbert said, showing the Rusted Shield.
"Hey, give those to us!" Goh shouted. "They don't belong to you!"
"I don't see your name on this." Sordward said, looking at the Rusted Sword.
"We have you outnumbered, just drop the items, and we can end this peacefully." Serena warned.
"I don't think so, see we need these to save Galar from Eternatus. Or rather to prove that those legendaries aren't needed to save it." Shielbert said.
"You're the ones who released it! What do you mean save us from it!" Marnie argued.
"I don't recall seeing that, do you brother?" Sordward said.
"I didn't see anything, I'm just doing my part to stop these unfortunate events." Shielbert said.
"Just let's talk this out." Chloe said stepping forward.
"Uhuhuh, one more step, and we'll destroy these right here." Shielbert said, as their Sirfetch'd walked forward.
"Your plan won't work." Ash said sternly. "I sent Eternatus packing back in the wild area."
"Then we'll just draw it out, dynamax Pokemon seem to be a tasty treat for it." Shielbert said.
"And I do believe there are eight arenas packed with that energy." Sordward said.
The two grabbed onto a rope ladder, as a helicopter flew them away.
"Ash? What do we do?" Goh asked.
"We play their game, and we win. We split into two teams. Goh and Marnie, are you two in?" Ash asked.
"Of course." Goh said.
"Galar is my home, it would be kinda sad if it was gone, or worse those two ran it." Marnie said.
"Okay, Chloe and Marnie. You're with me, we'll check out Stow-on-Side, Ballonela, and Circhester stadiums. Seb, Serena and Goh, you three tackle the Turffield, Hulbury, and Motostoke arenas. I'll send a message to Leon to have him on high alert at the Rose Bowl, and Raihan be ready in Hammerlocke." Ash said. "And Goh, you'll need this."
"Registeel?" Goh said in confusion. "How'd you know I'd be here?"
"He didn't, Ash has been carrying that, hoping to find you for four years." Chloe said.
"I thought you said I was dead." Goh questioned.
"I never give up on anyone, ever." Ash said. "I'll see you guys once we're done. Remember stop them from summoning Eternatus, and get the ancient weapons back."
"Goh, are you sure about this?" Marnie asked. "You know how I am around people."
"Don't worry I trust them." Goh said.
"Both of them?" Marnie questioned.
"Well, at least Ash." Goh said, kissing Marnie on the forehead. "For good luck."
"Be careful out there." Seb said.
"I will be. Don't forget about Friday." Chloe said.
"How can I forget if you keep reminding me." Seb joked.
"See you when it's over." Chloe said giving him a quick kiss.
"Ash, don't forget to take it off." Serena began saying.
"I know. I've done it before on missions." Ash said.
"I'm just trying to be supportive." Serena said. "Is this still about that night?"
"I said that I'm over that, just drop it." Ash argued.
"Ash, please just talk to me." Serena said.
"We should get going, we've got a lot of ground to cover." Ash said.
Authors note
Lots of changes this chapter. New relationships, mysterious struggles, and a story arch based on one from the games. Also just for reference, the ages are now
Ash 18, and gives a straight answer
Seb 18, but older than Ash
Serena 17, and memorized everyone else's birthdays
Goh 16, but doesn't remember the date
Marnie 16, but refuses to tell
Chloe 15, still taller than Ash though.