Ash was leaning over the balcony, staring out into space. Things had begun to quiet down since beating Unova's champion. Looking down at his phone, his ranking is now at 437.
"Are you just gonna stand there all day, or could I get your assistance with a project?" Professor Cerise asked curiously.
"Oh, sorry Professor, just thinking." Ash said, putting his phone away. "What do you need help with?"
"It's the younger research team, I'd like your help with their next job." Professor Cerise said.
"I thought we weren't supposed to help them, let them experience things on their own." Ash said.
"I know I set that rule for both teams success and safety, but I'm worried about their teamwork." Professor Cerise said.
"So you want a chaperone." Ash said plainly.
"Well, I wouldn't put it like that." Professor Cerise tried arguing.
"How would you put it, because it sounds like observing without interfering." Ash said. "If you think they need it, that's fine, but if you are worried about them having no defined leader, me tagging along won't help."
"A bit of both honestly. Plus I felt you could use a bit of a break. Next mission they go on, are you interested?" Professor Cerise offered.
"Okay, let me know." Ash said.
That Friday after school
"Okay, the Pewter Museum Team is having a fossil dig site just outside of town. I feel this will be a good experience for you to get your hands dirty and really dig into the research." Professor Cerise joked. Only for a collection of groans to be uttered.
"No offense Dad, but didn't Ash, Goh, and Chloe go to that a few years ago anyways?" Parker pointed out. "We're not here to rinse and repeat what they did."
"You're not." Ash said walking up to him. "You are having experiences, and learning the steps to doing your own research, plenty of researches start by doing similar things."
"And why is she here?" The other boy commented.
"Ash is going to help out today, in case any of you find an intact fossil. Is that going to be a problem Xavier." Professor Cerise said.
"I've had a fair share of spelunking adventures, I'm more than happy to share my knowledge." Ash said.
"I have a question." One girl said raising her hand.
"Don't need to raise your hand when you say that, but what is it Lauren?" Professor Cerise asked.
"Do we get to keep the fossils we find?" Lauren asked.
"That's up to the dig site manager." Ash said. "And it also depends on the condition of it."
As the young researchers walked ahead of him, talking amongst themselves, Ash couldn't help but smile. Professor Cerise was right, a calm mission like this is what he needed, and being at a dig site meant he likely wouldn't have to do much. About an hour from the lab, they finally reached their destination. The lot had been between owners for years, some had even thought of doing construction, but nothing had come of it. Hopefully the dig site would show some promising finds.
"You five must be from the Cerise Laboratory." The curator said. "Everyone grab a bag of tools and we can begin." He said handing each of the kids a bag.
"I'm just here to lend a hand." Ash said, lightly pushing the bag back.
"Nonsense, besides we don't seem all too popular right now." The curator said.
After a quick explanation on what to do, the group quickly split up, each set on finding the biggest fossil first.
"Haha! Healthy competition, I love it!" The curator said. "Aren't you going to join in?"
"I want to let them have the fun, plus be ready if they need any help." Ash said.
Throughout the afternoon, other groups came and left with little to no success. The four new researchers refusing to leave until they had found something.
"Hey Parker, you know there's no harm in a failed assignment." Ash said reassuringly.
"Coming from the all A student, I'm not sure how true that is." Parker said, an annoyance in his tone.
"Okay, I know the anger isn't at me entirely, what's wrong?" Ash said, crouching down.
"I know you're here because my dad doesn't think we have a leader." Parker said.
"Do you?" Ash asked curiously. He hadn't seen any evidence of it, as while they got along, didn't have a set style.
"Of course. They just refuse to listen to me." Parker said angrily.
"Well, did they agree to you being the leader?" Ash asked.
"Who else would it be, I'm the only one with a Pokémon right now." Parker pointed out.
"Parker, I'm not my group's leader because I had a Pokémon first. When we started there wasn't even a clear leader. I'm the leader because I know when it's time to fall back, to call it a day, I'm the one that knows when enough is enough for the group." Ash said. "Maybe that isn't going to be you, maybe it is, but you can't force it."
"But it's my dads lab! I should be the obvious leader!" Parker tried arguing.
"Chloe isn't, and she's never had a problem with that." Ash pointed out.
"That's just Chloe's decision, I'm sure if she wanted to." Parker began arguing.
"She knows that Goh is the second best for the job after me." Ash said. "Know your place, even if it isn't in the lead."
"Hey guys. I think I might have found something." The second girl, Brittany said.
The other five and Pikachu gathered around her lot, to see what looked like a Shield fossil.
"Incredible, that fossil is normally found in Sinnoh!" The curator said. "Let's excavate it for further research!"
"Wait don't!" Ash said but it was too late as they began quickly descending into the darkness.
"Please work!" Ash said, forming an aura bubble around the group as they plummeted to the ground.
A few minutes later
"Is everyone okay?" Ash said turning on a flashlight.
A collection of yeses and one Pika was heard as Ash looked around, and then up.
"Doesn't look like we can get back that way". Ash said, not seeing where they came from.
"No signal either." Parker said looking at his phone.
"Then it looks like, that's our best option." Ash said seeing the large metal doors in front of them.