"Ash, are you sure this is a good idea?" Chloe asked from behind Regice.
"An Ultra Guardian's job is to protect the Ultra Beasts, and make sure they return home safely." Ash said, putting on his gear. "So maybe if I can work things out with this Guzzlord, I can help the others."
"Then why are we here?!" Goh cried out.
"In case I'm really wrong." Ash said. "Alright Guzzlord, come on out!"
A week later
"Welcome back Ash." Professor Cerise said. "Now what did you learn?"
"I've spent a week in a full body cast, I've learned a fair bit of French." Ash said. "Ce Guzzlord est impossible à calmer sans lui faire la guerre."
"It's your own fault." Chloe said. "We're lucky you're the only one that was seriously hurt."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence that I could do it by the way." Ash said.
"We were right though." Goh argued. "Maybe Guzzlord can't be helped."
"So what I just give up? Are you going to give up on Eternatus?!" Ash argued.
"After its breakout, and the events following it, I kind of did." Goh admitted.
"That wasn't Eternatus's fault!" Ash countered.
"But you being in a hospital bed was Guzzlord's fault." Chloe said calming things down. "At a certain point you need to rethink it."
"I'm not giving up. Guzzlord can be good, I'm sure of it." Ash said, before catching his breath. "Just maybe not today."
"Ash!" The group cried out.
"Stop shouting. I'm just a little light headed." Ash said. "I'm going to go lie down for a bit."
Ash laid down in his bed, rolling the Beast Ball in one hand. It had taken his best Pokémon to contain Guzzlord, including Urshifu and Naganadle. Pokémon that should be on par or above the power of an Ultra Beast.
"I can't send you home because I don't know where that is, and I can't let you roam free because it's too risky. What am I going to do with you Guzzlord?" Ash asked the Pokeball. "I don't even know if you're one I met previously, or an entirely new one."
The pokeball flashed twice in his hand, then stopped instantly.
"Are you trying to break out?!" Ash said fearfully. A Guzzlord would destroy the lab easily from the inside.
The pokeball flashed once.
"Was that a yes?"
The pokeball flashed once again.
"Okay, not helpful in answering that. Show me a yes." Ash said.
The pokeball flashed twice.
"Okay show me a no."
The pokeball flashed once.
"Okay, we're making progress. There's still hope for you yet Guzzlord." Ash said. "One day, I'll be able to help you outside of this ball."
The next day
Ash had woken up early, placing Guzzlord's Beast Ball back in the safety of the aura tree. The others didn't need to know about his findings, they still weren't completely on board with it.
As Ash exited the tree, he saw Sceptile and Charizard quickly pass by.
"What's going on?" Ash asked as he saw several of his other Pokémon running in the same direction. Even Impidimp, when'd he ever leave the vents?
Ash followed the obvious trail of his Pokémon to a large open area, where they seemed to be playing? No this was coordinated, not necessarily organized, but definitely coordinated. They were passing a ball of sorts around the circle, when Cufant joined in, sending the ball hurdling straight at Ash.
"Thought you guys could leave me out!" Ash said going to hit the ball. "Ouch!" Ash said, the weight of the ball knocking him back. "No, no I'm good." Ash said waving off Urshifu, but maybe something a bit easier if I'm going to join in. Keep training, I'll be back."
As Ash searched through his room, looking for something a tad more suitable than the medicine ball his Pokémon were using.
"Where'd they even get that?" Ash asked. "But maybe if I can work on syncing with them, I can work on communicating further than yes or no questions with Guzzlord."
"What're you looking for?" Goh asked wearily. "And can it wait until 7?"
"Sorry Goh, I know I've got a small ball around here, the one we used to bounce around on long days." Ash said.
"Look, I have a hacky sack you can have if you let me sleep." Goh said tossing it at Ash. "Who makes that much ruckus at 5am?"
Back out back
"Alright guys, let's try something a bit smaller." Ash said kicking the hacky sack a few times before launching it forward.
Ash and several of his Pokémon who either weren't big enough, or durable enough for the medicine ball began hitting it between themselves.
A bit later
"How long have they been at this?" Professor Cerise asked looking at the monitor. On screen was now only Ash and Pikachu almost too far apart to be picked up, hitting it back and forth.
"Three hours." Goh said. "I gave them that three hours ago, and he never told me why."
"Did you ask?" Chloe asked.
"Well no, it was 5am." Goh said.
"Let's see what they're up to, and maybe see if Ash wants breakfast." Chloe offered.
As they left, Professor Cerise switched to another screen. Showing Ash leaving to the park at 4am, clearly carrying something.
"So what were you doing then?" Professor Cerise asked the screen.
Out back
"Hey Ash!" Goh shouted.
"Wahhh!" Ash shouted startled, rolling down the hill, Pikachu and the hacky sack following behind him.
"You're awake. What's up? Hi Chloe." Ash said, upside down at the moment.
"It's 8:30, wanna get breakfast, and why don't I get a hello!" Goh argued. "Also you owe me a new hacky sack." Goh said looking at the tattered remains of the one he gave Ash earlier.
"I saw a place on my way back yesterday, how about there." Ash said. "After I change at least."
"And shower." Chloe demanded.
"Yeah yeah, I'll be back soon." Ash reassured.