"Aren't our mission meetings usually on Fridays?" Goh commented.
"Dad said he has important news to bring up, so we're meeting today so we can prepare for tomorrow." Chloe said.
"I hope it's for something interesting, and for once not just a battle." Ash sighed. He hadn't had a non serious battle in a while. The most easy going one was against Brock, and even that one had high stakes.
"I'd like to go back to Galar, I never got my Dynamax Band from Honey." Serena commented.
The four trainers stood in front of the large globe, waiting for Professor Cerise to say something.
"Do any of you know what this is?" Professor Cerise said pulling up a photo that looked like a large tree.
"Another aura tree?" Goh asked.
"Something related to Celebi?" Chloe said, tilting her head.
"Lumiose Tower, hours after my loss to Alain." Ash said.
"That happened years ago, why is it being brought up now?" Goh asked.
"It's where half of you are going this weekend. Ash and Serena your presence has been requested in Lumiose. With the vine issue finally stopped, Xerosic arrested, the city restored, and the Zygardes in a garden, they want the trainers that fought off the attack to attend a ceremony." Professor Cerise said.
"It'll be nice to be in Kalos, see some of our old friends." Serena said.
"If they want to see us." Ash said quietly. Tierno and Shauna still hadn't fully warmed up to them being like this.
"So, you brought us all here to tell us that those two are going on a trip." Goh commented.
"Not quite, we're screening new applicants this weekend and I wanted you two here for it anyways." Professor Cerise said.
"New applicants? For what?" Chloe asked.
"A local, junior research team." Parker said excitedly, "And I'll be leading it!"
"Chloe doesn't lead her team, there is no guarantee you'll lead yours." Professor Cerise commented.
"More researchers means we'd have to explain us in more detail, doesn't it?" Serena asked.
"When Parker said local, he meant extremely local. Going to his school levels of local." Ash said. "I brought this idea up before we even left. Get a new group of kids, around the same age we were when we joined, and have them do the smaller, and more localized jobs while we go for the more risky and far off ones."
"So we have to do in person interviews with younger kids, while Ash and Serena…". Goh began to complain.
"Get about twenty reporters asking why we look the way we do, and what we've been up too." Ash pointed out. "We should get packing, probably have something formal for it."
The next day
"It's all set, Clemont said he's more than happy for us to stay with him tonight and tomorrow." Ash said, putting away his phone.
"Got your old team together?" Serena asked.
"Yeah, Goodra is still there, and I'm hoping to put Charizard up against Alain's while we're there." Ash said, grabbing a bag. "We should be going."
The next afternoon
"And here they are, all gathered for the first time together since Team Flare's attack. The hero's of Lumiose City." An announcer said.
"It's been quite a while." Alain said as photographers took photos of them.
"Yes, between my work with Steven, your work with Professor Sycamore, and Ash's journeys, it's been hard getting us together." Sawyer said calmly.
"You don't have to talk like I'm not here." Ash whispered between them. "I'm short, not deaf."
"Shauna." Serena whispered.
"Serena." Shauna responded.
"Can we drop the animosity, we used to be friends." Serena said.
"I know I haven't been the best friend, and it's been hard for me to accept this version of you, but I've also missed having you as a friend." Shauna said.
"If you're willing to look past my different appearance, I'm willing to look past the last few years." Serena said.
"I'm really happy to see you two made it." Bonnie said to Trevor and Tierno.
"We may not have been the strongest trainers." Trevor said.
"But we were integral parts of stopping the remaining vines." Tierno said calmly.
"I wasn't even a trainer when the attack happened, I was just saying I know you were in other regions in the middle of projects when this was announced." Bonnie said.
Shortly after the mass photos and interview
"Okay, everyone knows the rules." Clemont said.
"No, does someone want to explain it?" Tierno asked.
"Battle Royale style. We each get one Pokémon, last one standing wins." Ash said with a smirk.
"Because we know how that will end." Bonnie pointed out.
"It's a fun way for the ten of us to celebrate a day we worked together despite our differences." Mairin said, holding out a Pokeball.
"On your marks. Get set. Go." Clemont said from the air.
"Charizard I choose you!" Ash called.
"Charizard I choose you!" Alain yelled.
"Charizard I choose you!" Trevor exclaimed.
"Blastoise show them your moves!" Tierno called out.
"Venusaur, the stage is ours!" Shauna cried out.
"Thwackey, give it your all!" Serena showcased.
"Luxray it's our turn!" Clemont called out.
"Dedenne let's do our best!" Bonnie said setting the Pokémon down.
"Florgess, we'll do what we can." Mairin called.
"Sceptile! Let's go!" Sawyer summoned.
"Charizard use Flamethrower!" Three trainers called out.
"Sceptile use Leaf Blade!"
"Thwackey use Solar Blade!"
"Luxray use Thunder Fang!"
"Dedenne use Play Rough!"
"Florgess use Moonblast!"
"Blastoise use Water Pulse!"
"Venusaur use Petal Dance!"
In the chaos of the larger Pokémon firing at each other, Serena's Thwackey ran straight across the arena, his target in sight.
"Blastoise return!"
"Dedenne come back!"
"Florgess good job!"
"What in the? Thwackey?!" Ash said in shock, as Thwackey ran at him. "Guys! We have a problem!" Thwackey began glowing and growing.
'Rillaboom has been added to your Pokédex.' Serena's phone declared.
"Oh no." Serena said seeing it happen.
Rillaboom picked up Ash in one swoop, and began to climb Lumiose Tower quickly.
"What do we do?" Bonnie asked.
"Return it!" Mairin said.
"We do that and Ash will drop." Alain said calmly.
"Alain, I have an idea, my Charizard will rush ahead, and knock Rillaboom off the tower. Yours is going to have to catch him." Trevor said.
"We'll need them at full power for this. It's time to Mega Evolve!" Alain called out.
An energy filled two of the Charizard as one became a Mega X while another became a Mega Y. All three rocketed into the air after the feminine trainer. The non mega Charizard to everyone's surprise was taking the lead, quickly closing the distance between him and his trainer.
"This seems all kinds of backwards." Ash complained as the gorilla Pokemon carried him dangerously to the top of the tower, completely unaware of the rescue team closing in.
"Char!" Ash's Charizard cried out as he struck Rillaboom. The gorilla released his grip on Ash.
"Is anyone going to catch me!" Ash shouted as he plummeted past the other Charizards. He was pretty sure even his aura bubbles wouldn't protect him at this height.
Ash's Charizard made a quick 180, shooting back down towards Ash, on a mission to catch his trainer, while the others calmed down Rillaboom. Charizard grabbed onto Ash, as he continued down, to let Ash to the ground.
"No time Charizard. We need to make sure they don't hurt Rillaboom!" Ash said, as he leapt onto the top platform of the tower. "Charizard use Seismic Toss!"
For a third time, Ash's Charizard outshone his mega counterparts, grabbing onto Rillaboom before shooting back down with it towards the ground.
"SERENA THEY'RE COMING IN FAST! PREPARE FOR A QUICK RETURN!" Ash yelled down.
Charizard began getting closer and closer to the ground and trainers. He was running out of time, and out of strength. This Rillaboom was putting up a fight.
"Rillaboom return!" Serena called out.
A bit later
"So it's official, Ash's Charizard is never allowed to mega evolve." Alain joked. "In all honesty, how are you holding up?"
"Despite being tossed around like a ragdoll, pretty good." Ash said. "Though we might have to move forward with working on his issues with me."
"Ash, I've been telling you we're working on it." Serena said.
"Serena, no offense, but you get carried to the top of a tower and then tell me that's progress at things getting better." Ash said. "I've seen plenty of trainers deal with difficult Pokémon, and I don't think we need an expert for this one, we just need to get him to understand I'm not a target or a toy, or something even worse."