Allison Illuminated
6/19/20
::
CALIBER
::
"I'm so glad you've chosen Dusknoir Realty," Brian said, leading Ash along the elevated walkway. "We were so excited to get such an esteemed client, and to introduce you to Galar! Now, if you'll follow me, your apartment is just down this way…"
Motostoke City was alive under the early morning sun. Ash spun around, trying to soak in every sight he could as he followed Brian, his realtor, and Brian's Dusknoir down the red brick streets and beautiful industrial bridges over the River Irwell. Pikachu sat on top of his head, following his gaze, and Riolu dozed in his arms. Enormous gears turned on the sides of buildings, dipping down to the docks and the water past tiers of elevated walkways, where people and Pokemon went about their everyday business.
"So cool…" Ash breathed. "Hey, Brian, what are all the gears for?"
Brian spun around, walking backwards and throwing his arms wide. Dusknoir mimicked his motion, moaning. "About a century ago, Galar underwent a massive industrial revolution," he explained. "Thanks to the marvels of technology, we harnessed the natural energy of the world, which allowed our region to grow to the technological and economic powerhouse it is today. The gears are all part of an elaborate steam-and-water-powered mechanism that runs the entire city and generates enough power for all of Southern Galar. A lot of the working class folk around here work on keeping the city running smoothly – if you're around at five, when the shifts change, you'll see tons of workers with Klingklangs and Psychic-types headed out to dinner, or workers with fire-types off to the foundries."
"Noir…" Dusknoir agreed, its singular yellow eye flashing eerily.
Ash and Pikachu shivered in unison, and Ash grinned, scratching the back of his head. "All sort of people live in the city, huh. And they must have jobs and everything… I guess I've never given it much thought before."
"Not everyone's lucky enough to travel like you, Mr. Ketchum," Brian said, giving Ash a knowing look. "Lots of folks find a few close companions and settle down. You'll find the Pokemon people train usually have a hand in what profession they pursue. But, here we are! Your new apartment!"
Down a flight of stairs, round a bend, they came across a beautiful red door built into the side of a grand brick rise overlooking the window. Ash gasped and went to the railing; from there, they had an incredible view over the city walls out to the Wild Area. Green and blue stretched as far as the eye could see, untainted wilderness, without routes or signs of habitation. Pikachu jumped off his head with an amazed 'cha!'
"The Wild Area…" Ash said to Pikachu, looking down at his best buddy. "You ready to get back out there and explore some more?"
Pikachu nodded. In Ash's arms, Riolu's eyes fluttered open; Riolu made a noise of surprise at the vista before them, the little flicker of aura Ash felt in his mind jumping to life in excitement. Unable to keep the wild grin off his face, Ash subconsciously reached back to Riolu, sending his own aura over his Pokemon's in soothing waves. Riolu preened, curling into his chest.
"Ahem." The jangle of keys startled Ash – he turned back to Brian, who was tapping his foot, a Klefki floating up and down behind him in annoyance. Brian raised an eyebrow. "Your apartment?"
"Oh. Right."
Tearing his eyes away from the incredible sight, Ash tugged Pikachu away and let Brian lead him into his apartment. He thought about what Brian had said. Pokemon determine what jobs people can do, huh… I wonder if Brian has a Klefki just for being a realtor! He must have to deal with all his keys somehow…
And I'm going to be a Pokemon Master because of my Pokemon, too…
The apartment was… nice. Delia had hired Machoke Movers to help with the move, and a team of two Machokes and a Machamp were busy tidying up the last of his furniture. There was a small kitchen with a green-curtained window and a living room with a couch and a TV. His bedroom was small, but nice, and the adjoining bathroom was fully stocked with toiletries.
"What do you think?" Brian asked as Ash reemerged from his new bedroom. "You gave me quite the generous budget to work with, so I wanted to choose a place to impress that's still appropriate for a young man's first apartment. You like it?"
Ash glanced at the couch, where Pikachu and Riolu both had fallen asleep together, and shrugged. "It's a nice place," he said. "And the view is amazing. I don't think I'll be spending much time here, though…"
Dusknoir crossed his arms, and Brian sighed, looking disappointed. "Oh, well. I suppose it can't be helped. I help lots of trainer types, and the young ones never seem to understand the value of a good home. I do hope you'll come around – there's a lot of good a soft bed and a homecooked meal can do for you. Dusknoir and Klefki understand."
Klefki chimed in agreement, darting around Dusknoir's head.
"Thanks for everything, Brian," Ash said. "I'll make sure to call if I need anything."
"You do that. Take care, Ash."
The door clicked shut, and Ash was left alone in his apartment, with only his Pokemon and the television for company. He turned to look at his new living room, sighing. Many times he'd come to a new region knowing nobody and nothing. This felt a little more permanent, though. Ash didn't know if he liked the feeling.
::
"Alright, everyone, come and take a look!"
In a flash, Ash's Pokemon popped into existence in his living room. Bayleaf jumped right to Ash's side in the entryway, nuzzling his leg, while Infernape and Oshawott both looked around in interest. Dragonite, who barely fit inside, ducked his head, watching Ash in uncertainty. Ever since Gengar had decided he wanted to stay around Cerise's laboratory instead of coming to Galar with Ash, Dragonite's confidence had been shot – the pseudo-legendary was uncomfortable around Ash's older Pokemon, and Ash hadn't quite figured out yet how to remedy it.
Time. All it would take was time. A solid journey through Galar would bring his team together for sure.
Ash knew it.
"Alright, guys," he said. "Welcome to Galar! I figured I'd show you the apartment Mom made us get before we head out – I figure we can make it all the way to Lake Axewell tonight, assuming we…"
He stopped talking on the realization that none of his friends were listening to him. Infernape had yawned and curled up on the couch around Pikachu and Riolu, who were fast asleep, and dozed off, radiating a light heat around his smaller companions. Dragonite, too, had curled up on the carpet. Oshawott bounced around the kitchen, digging through the empty refrigerator, teetering precariously on the edge of the counter, hyper-actively exploring his new surroundings. And Bayleaf…
Ash sank to the ground, leaning against his front door, and sighed, putting a hand on Bayleaf's flank. Bayleaf settled down next to him protectively, giving him an apologetic "Bay." Laughing to himself, Ash scratched at the base of Bayleaf's neck, remembering how he'd done the same when they'd traveled Johto together, and watched his Pokemon make themselves at home like they had nowhere else to go.
In a way, they didn't. This little apartment in a tucked-away corner of Motostoke was his home now, his registered address, his base of operations. Ash Ketchum from Motostoke City. For now, at least.
"I guess it's alright if we stay the night here, huh, Bayleaf," Ash said.
"Bayleaf…"
Bayleaf tickled Ash's chin with her leaf, which Ash batted away, getting to his feet. "I suppose we better find something for everyone else to eat. What do you say? Up for an adventure to the Pokemart?"
"Bay bayleaf bay!"
Pumping his fist, Ash grabbed his phone and his hat, beckoning for Bayleaf to follow him. This was what he'd come to Galar for, wasn't it? To connect with his Pokemon, his old friends? Going to the supermarket with Bayleaf was a good a way to accomplish that as any! "Oshawott!" Ash called, startling Oshawott into tripping face-first into the sink. "You're in charge!"
Oshawott clambered out of the sink and pointed at himself, eyes shining. "Osha?"
"Don't burn down the house!" Ash backtracked, waving his hands. "Or flood it! Just… You're the only one who's awake – stay out of trouble and tell anyone who asks Bayleaf and I went out shopping. I… Uh… trust you?"
The glint in Oshawott's eyes turned devious. Ash exited the apartment and locked the door before he had a chance to second-guess himself, giving Bayleaf an apprehensive look.
"I'm going to regret that, aren't I?"
::
"Oshawott, how in the name of Arceus did you get shampoo inside of the freezer?!"
::
They made it to the shores of Lake Axewell a day later.
Motostoke's walls loomed behind him; before him, the Wild Area stretched as far as the eye could see. Ash hefted his camping gear on his back, patting his pokeballs at his belt, walking down the beach to the water's edge. He drew his phone and scanned over the map of the Wild Area, plotting his course of action. Everywhere he looked, Wild Pokemon wandered around, enjoying themselves on the lake-shore in clusters.
Ash had found last night's stay to be surprisingly enjoyable, considering they hadn't left his apartment. He'd made a basic stir fry Brock had taught him years ago which Pikachu, Riolu, and Infernape had all enjoyed, while the rest ate some high quality Hoennese Pokeblock he'd gotten at the Mart. He had unpacked his trophies and unloaded his boxes, then went out to watch the evening stars, thinking of Solgaleo and Naganadel. His new bed was soft and big enough for Bayleaf, who stuck to his side from the moment he'd let her out of her ball, and Riolu to curl up next to him. They had awoken well-rested and prepared to take on the world.
"Alright, Pikachu, here's the plan," Ash said. He crouched down at the waterside so he could look at Pikachu eye-to-eye. Pikachu nodded, listening intently. "Professor Cerise said that Professor Magnolia lives south of here, down by Route Two. So, we cross the Wild Area, get a sense for the land and get in some solid Championship Cup matches, and make for Wild Area Station! I mean, we could take the train right from Motostoke, or fly directly on Dragonite's back, but what's the fun in that? Sounds good?"
Pikachu gave his agreement, jumping onto Ash's shoulder. Ash nodded to himself, resolute, setting his course, and began to make his way around the lake bed.
It was a beautiful day, but the Wild Area could shift climate on a dime. A strange mist covered the island in the center of the lake; thunderheads gathered to the north. The terrain grew steep fast, but with his years of hiking experience, Ash could breeze across the terrain, confident in his Pokemon and their ability to handle any threat. Pikachu could beat just about anything, but he was carrying his A-Team – or, what would be his A-Team. Infernape and Pikachu were probably his true A-Listers right now. Not even a legendary would slow him down.
Relaxing and settling into the pace of travel, Ash released Riolu, who barked happily and started running around in circles. "Let's work on Quick Attack!" Ash called, pushing on his fledgling bond with Riolu to emphasize his words. Riolu skidded to a halt, raising an enthusiastic paw. "Keep running, but try to put some power behind it, alright? Like you would for Vacuum Wave, but instead of expelling it, I want you to hold it in your body and use it to go faster. Okay? I know you got this!"
Pikachu added on his own advice, gesturing and demonstrating his own quick attack. Whatever his best friend had said seemed to do the trick, because Riolu was zipping around twice as fast within a few minutes, Quick Attack energy flickering in and out around his body – a few days of work, and Ash knew Riolu would have it down.
Pikachu scampered over, giving Ash a smug look. He offered a fist, which Ash bumped. "We got this," he said confidently. "Now, let's go find some Championship matches."
::
"Here we go-zz!" the Rotom Drone exclaimed, spinning in midair. "This official Pokemon World Championship match between the challenger Ash Ketchum, ranked #1512, and the defender, Shane Brown, ranked #1232, will now commence! Each combatant may use two Pokemon; the match will start when both contestants send out their Pokemon!"
Ash stood confidently on his side of the clearing, adjusting his hat, Pikachu and Riolu watching at his side. He had a plan – there was no way Shane would take him down.
Shane was a few years younger than him and wore a shaggy coat styled after a dog Pokemon, his hands thrust in his pockets. "Ha!" he called. "If you think you're gonna take me down with a Pikachu and a Riolu, you've got another thing coming!"
"Hey, I've got six here." Ash drew a pokeball from his belt, smirking. "You won't know what hit you."
"On your marks… Battle, begin!"
"Stoutland, go!"
"Infernape, I choose you!"
Infernape burst onto the battlefield with a loud cry and a dramatic burst of flame, much to the dismay of Shane, who looked from his Normal type to Ash's Fighting-type. "What?" he exclaimed. "But I thought you were a beginner!"
"Nah," Ash responded. "Just new to the PWC. Are we gonna get this battle started or not?" Infernape mimicked his non-nonchalance, letting the Stoutland's intimidate roll over him. Gulping, Shane scanned Infernape with his Pokedex, scratching his head.
"Whatever, we'll hit him with the best we've got! Stoutland, Giga Impact!"
"Dodge and use Close Combat!"
Sidestepping Stoutland with ease, Infernape let the other Pokemon crash into the dirt, Giga Impact's cooldown hitting hard, before pouncing on Stoutland, raining down blows onto its defenseless flank until it crashed to the ground, unconscious.
"Incredible! Infernape delivers a one hit knock out! Ash Ketchum takes the lead!"
Shane's eye twitched. "Stoutland, return!" he called, raising his pokeball and returning Stoutland in a beam of red light. "How strong is your Infernape, anyways? You took my Stoutland out in one hit!"
Ash stared at Infernape, a little stunned. "He's, uh… Well, we went to semis at the Lily of the Valley conference a few years ago because he pulled out a crazy win in quarters, so he's got a few notches under his belt."
"A few? Wasn't that the conference where that crazy Darkrai guy won?"
"Oh, yeah, Tobias." Ash made a face. "He sure fell off the map, didn't he."
"Whatever. Good luck beating my closest partner. Bolthund, go!"
Bolthund was a canine Pokemon with a lean blue and yellow body and a zigzag tail, its eyes holding the same ethereal quality as Yamper, which made Ash immediately assume that Bolthund was Yamper's evolution. He whipped out his Pokedex, scanning the electric dog to make sure he was correct.
"BOLTHUND, THE DOG POKEMON, AND THE EVOLUTION OF YAMPER. THIS POKEMON GENERATES ELECTRICITY IN ITS LEGS TO KEEP IT RUNNING STRONG. BOLTHUND CAN RUN STRONG FOR THREE STRAIGHT DAYS."
Fast, Ash thought. We can use that.
Pikachu and Riolu cheered Infernape on as Infernape stared down Shane's Bolthund, beating his chest to intimidate the other Pokemon. Bolthund pawed the dirt, lowering its head to charge, and a competitive glint reentered Shane's eyes. He threw an open hand to the battlefield and called, "Bolthund, use Wild Charge!"
Like a dart, Bolthund shot toward Infernape, electrical energy flaring to life around its body. Ash's eyes widened. Really fast. "Dodge!" he called, and Infernape twisted out of the way, letting Bolthund skid past. Bolthund skidded to a halt and charged again, coming in for a second round, but Ash was ready. "Counter with Mach Punch!"
Rearing back, Infernape met Bolthund head-on with his fist. The collision sent static and dust across the battlefield, and Bolthund went flying into the dirt. Little jolts of electricity ran up Infernape's arm, but Infernape shook them off.
Ash thought hard, not keen to let Bolthund stagger back to its feet. Dig is super effective, but it's too slow and Bolthund is too fast. Shane clearly prefers physical moves. Next time there's an opportunity, we end it. Time to distract.
Some trainers liked to goad their opponents. Ash preferred to kill them with kindness.
"Wow, your Bolthund is awesome!" he called. "You must really like dog Pokemon, huh? I didn't know you could find Lillipup on Galar, either."
Shane smirked, crossing his arms. "You can't!" he boasted. "They're only on the Isle of Armor! It's an elite training ground off the west coast – I went there to hone my craft! And I've always loved them – I've been training my Growlithe too, but he's not ready for a serious battle like this."
"Same with Riolu," Ash agreed, reaching out to Riolu with aura. Riolu barked happily, waving from next to Pikachu. "But let's end this! I'm going to make it to Master Ball tier so I can take down Leon and become the World Champion!"
"Funny," Shane said, brushing his lip. "I was thinking the same thing! Bolthund, use our secret weapon – Play Rough!"
Ash's eyes widened. A fairy type move! But it won't be enough.
"Infernape, Dig to dodge then use Flamethrower!"
Diving into the earth, Infernape avoided Bolthund's charge. Bolthund skidded to a halt, shrouded in pink, looking around for its opponent, only for Infernape to explode from the ground behind it in a blaze of flames and launch a blistering Flamthrower into the small of the dog's back, sending it flying back toward Shane. Bolthund collapsed to the ground. There were swirls in its eyes.
"Match! In a 2-0 victory, challenger Ash Ketchum, ranked #1512, defeats defender Shane Brown, ranked #1232! Congratulations Ash!"
"Bolthund, return!" Shane walked across the battlefield and offered Ash his hand, which Ash shook. "Good match, mate," he said. "You're crazy strong. What're you doing in normal tier? You've got to be Great Ball tier, at least, with that kind of skill."
"Thank you," Ash said, grinning at the praise. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, and Ash patted his partner's cheek. Returning Infernape, he patted the pokeballs at his belt, and met Shane's eyes.
"I'm counting on it."
::
Ash sat cross-legged in a grassy grove of berry trees, hands on his knees, the waters of Lake Axewell visible through the trees at his back. According to his Rotom Phone, he was nearly halfway around the lake, and nearing the Rolling Fields region of the Wild Area. The solitude of the forest surrounded him as he sat in quiet thought, contemplating his next moves. Curled up in a ball, Pikachu snoozed on his sleeping bag – Ash wasn't ready to go to sleep, though. He had too much on his mind.
Padding over, Riolu came up to Ash's knee, giving an inquisitive bark. He placed a paw on his leg, and Ash smiled down at his youngest Pokemon. "Hey, Riolu," Ash murmured. "Wanna sit with me?"
Riolu nodded. He mimicked Ash, settling down into a cross-legged position and closing his eyes. Ash closed his eyes as well, breathing deeply, and reached for Riolu, feeling the flicker of aura. It was warm and reached deep within him.
And Riolu pushed.
The forest melted away as Ash was assaulted by a sense of [connection], a wash of blue and emotion, brought about by a wave of [instinct] from somewhere deep within Riolu's mind. He knew this feeling. Sir Aaron had taught him to harness it, once, in the fight at the Tree of Beginning. It resonated deep within Ash's [core], rising through his [soul], reaching out into the infant mind of his Riolu. He wanted to teach Riolu [warmth], show him [family] and [willpower], but Ash couldn't control the connection and went too deep and there was-
[pain] [death] [aura] [power]
He showed Riolu legends come alive, and Riolu cried out in pain.
Abrupt, Ash cut off the connection, gasping. Sweat covered his brow – he clutched his head in his hands, grunting at the pain that spiked through his brain. For a moment, his vision swayed blue, making the world around him swim, the same blue film that glowed to life in Riolu's eyes.
"Pika?" Pikachu poked Ash's side in concern – only then did Ash realize he'd toppled onto his side.
Ash squeezed his eyes shut, drawing back sharply from Riolu, earning another cry from his Pokemon. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't mean to show you that. I didn't mean for you to see Arceus or Yveltal. I didn't mean for you to see what happened in Rota."
Pikachu's eyes widened. He looked back and forth between his trainer and Riolu in panic, waving his arms, and Ash didn't have to understand the language of Pokemon to know Pikachu was alarmed he'd shown some of their darkest moments to Riolu. Not Yveltal. Not when Pikachu had almost died.
Riolu cried out again, pitiful, and pawed at Ash's chest. Ash gathered him up, uncomprehending, then realized Riolu's fledgling presence was clawing at the mental defenses he had erected between them, trying to reestablish their connection. Scared, but unable to stand the fear in Riolu's eyes, Ash let Riolu back in, letting the terrified child's anguish wash over him. "Shh," he whispered, stroking one of Riolu's ears, trying to calm his Pokemon down. He imagined the fields of Gracidea. Serenity. Washing away Riolu's fear with calm.
His eyes slipping shut, pressing close to Ash's chest, Riolu fell asleep, surrendering himself completely in Ash's arms. The bond between them, stronger than it had been before their [connection], pulsed with a quiet peace and happiness.
Ash and Pikachu exchanged a long glance.
"I think I might be in over my head this time," Ash said, still running his fingers through Riolu's short, coarse fur. "I'm no Aura Guardian… All I know is what Sir Aaron taught me, and he only was with us a short time. I don't want to hurt Riolu."
Pikachu placed a steadying paw on Ash's arm. "Pikapi chu pi pika," he said solemnly.
"You're right. Whatever happens, we're in it together. We'll do right by Riolu, buddy. I swear."
::
"Oshawott, I choose you!"
"Dragonite, I choose you!"
"Go, Bayleaf! Show 'em what we've got!"
"Match! In a 2-0 victory, challenger Ash Ketchum, ranked #1394, defeats defender Alita Blackcross, ranked #1301! Congratulations Ash!"
"Match! In a 2-0 victory, challenger Ash Ketchum, ranked #1283, defeats defender Rei Hamura, ranked #1104! Congratulations Ash!"
"Match! In a 2-0 victory, challenger Ash Ketchum, ranked #1101, defeats defender Brawn Punchman, ranked #1027! Congratulations Ash!"
::
"Last call for the train to Wedgehurst Station! All aboard! Last call for Wedgehurst Station!"
Panting, Ash slumped into a booth of the train to Wedgehurst, panting from having sprinted up the platform to catch the last train of the day. His back and shoulders ached from running with his heavy camping gear; he still had a lingering headache from his accident with Riolu three days earlier. Sitting down was a blessing. As the train pulled out of the station, heading south, Ash let his head fall back and caught his breath, reflecting on his journey through the Wild Area.
Lots of trainers had crossed his path, and he'd battled every day, shooting up the World Championship rankings at an insane rate. Clearly, with every additional win, the ranking system recalibrated to accommodate his skill – a skill that came from using fully trained Pokemon. Even his battle with Dragonite had gone far smoother than the last, now that Dragonite had committed to becoming as strong as he could be. The result was stark – and surprising.
Have I been holding myself back? Ash wondered. He'd spent so much time training new Pokemon, he'd never taken the time to reach the top with the ones he already had.
How strong was Ash already? Why was he even on this training trip?
The Wild Area was a vast expanse, and Ash had made the trek in four days flat, without relying in flight or a bike. He'd encountered token resistance and flattened everyone in his path. Team Rocket were still no-shows. Between his phone and the shoreline, he hadn't gotten lost at all. The thrill of exploration and the sense of adventure had both been there, but diminished.
Ash sighed, looking to Pikachu. "Am I going through the motions?" he asked. "Do I really want to be traveling?"
Pikachu shrugged, pawing at a ketchup packet he'd snatched off the refreshments cart that had passed by.
Self-doubt wasn't a new phenomenon to Ash, but he hadn't felt it this strongly since he'd been defeated by Wulfric two years ago, the day that Greninja had left him. Everything had fallen into doubt then, just like now, and it had taken a snowball to the face to wake him up.
He knew what he wanted – to be a Pokemon Master. His superior battling already showed the Galar trip was a step in the right direction. But why not take it to its logical extreme? Bayleaf, Dragonite, Oshawott, they were strong but they weren't able to go toe-to-toe with a legendary yet. Riolu wouldn't be ready for real battle for months, perhaps a year. Was Ash limiting himself?
He considered the alternative. A quick flight to Hoenn to retrieve Sceptile from his mate, leaving the cute litter of Treckos back near Littleroot. A call to Kanto would have Charizard at his side in moments. If Ash went to Kalos, he felt certain he would be able to convince Greninja to return to his side. And in his sixth spot, there were options. He could flex in Lycanrock. Goodra. Melmetal.
Sceptile and Charizard had beaten legendaries. Greninja might as well have been a legendary. The others were his close friends, companions – but they all had lives. Obligations. Children, even. Just like Ash's traveling companions, his Pokemon had grown up.
And who was Ash to keep them from what they wanted? Goodra and Greninja weren't even his Pokemon anymore; he'd released them.
I chose my Pokemon because they chose me, Ash decided. They may not be my strongest yet, but they make up for it in loyalty and determination. Sceptile, Charizard, Greninja, they've all already peaked in strength. But I want to grow. I want to become stronger with my Pokemon; I want to build a team that can fight together, stick together, stay by my side. I could bring them to me, but sooner or later, they would have to leave again.
Still, Ash thought as the train pulled into Wedgehurst, something was missing. He was dissatisfied with his trip so far. Part of his sense of adventure was lost. What was missing?
Wedgehurst was a small country town, and there were Wooloo everywhere. Ash blew past the small town center, ignoring the boutique and the berry shop, making a beeline for Route Two. As he walked, he whipped out his phone and clicked through to his PWC ranking.
#994. Great Ball tier.
Leon was #1. Lance was #2. Cynthia was #3.
He had a long ways to go.
Bump. Ash stopped short when he hit something, putting away his phone and looking down to see a young girl in a green hat and a wool coat on the ground, glaring at him. "Hey, mister, watch where you're going! You hit me!"
Ash offered her a hand, wincing. "Ah, sorry," he said. "I was a little distracted."
Letting him pull her to her feet, the girl glared at Ash. "Hmph! What's so special about your phone, anyways? Don'tcha want to see the world!" She threw her arms wide, and Ash looked around.
Fields, fields, and more fields. A Wooloo here. A Miltank there. Fletchlings winged through the air; Skwovets skittered along the fences and the grass. The most thrilling thing Ash saw was a blue turtle species he didn't recognize, and it looked like a rather standard water-type to him. He made a mental note to track one down and scan it with his Pokedex later.
"I've seen the world," Ash said, coming across more dismissive than he intended. "This looks like a pretty ordinary farmland to me."
"Why, you!" The girl puffed out her chest. "I won't let you insult my home like that! Battle me!"
Ash blinked. The girl couldn't be older than ten, and she only had two pokeballs at her belt. The determination in her eyes told him she wouldn't back down, though, and he sighed.
"How long have you been a trainer?"
"Two days!"
"Right." Ash glanced at Riolu, raising an eyebrow, and Riolu pumped a fist in determination. Ash could feel his resolve. "Alright," he said, turning back to the girl. "One on one. Sound good to you?"
"Deal," the girl said, drawing a pokeball.
"He-ey! Hey Gloria! What's the big holdup?!" A boy ran toward them from the direction Ash was heading – he had dark skin and a blue jacket with furry edges. "You said you'd head to Professor Magnolia with me – oh, who's this?"
Gloria settled into a battling pose that looked cool to her and amusing to Ash. "He bumped into me and then he insulted Wedgehurst, Hop!" she hollered. "I'm gonna take him down!"
Hop gaped at Ash in outrage. "Yeah! Teach that guy a lesson! Go Gloria!"
Ash raised his hands in a placating gesture, grinning good-naturedly. "Hey, hey, I didn't mean to make a big deal," he said. "I'm just a little distracted today, that's all. I'm Ash Ketchum, nice to meet you."
Gloria glared at Ash, her face scrunching up in suspicion, and ignored his greeting. "Let's do this! Sobble, go!"
Sobble appeared on the battlefield, and Ash's eyes widened; he'd never seen one before. He held up his Rotom Phone, scanning the Sobble with the Pokedex.
"SOBBLE, THE WATER LIZARD POKEMON. WHEN SCARED, THIS POKEMON CRIES. ITS TEARS PACK THE CHEMICAL PUNCH OF 100 ONIONS, AND ATTACKERS WON'T BE ABLE TO RESIST WEEPING."
"Sobble!"
Ash nodded to Riolu. "Riolu, you're up. Remember what we've been working on."
"Woah," Hop said, his moment of righteous indignation forgotten. He squatted to get a better look at Riolu, who was busy staring down a frightened Sobble. "What kind of Pokemon is that? I've never seen one of those before."
"Who cares? I'm gonna take it down! Sobble, use Water Gun!"
She's headstrong, Ash thought. Kinda reminds me of Misty, actually. Or maybe that's just the water type. "Riolu, dodge and use Vacuum Wave!"
"Block it with your Water Gun!"
Sobble geared up and spat water at Riolu – Riolu easily got out of the way and shot a Vacuum Wave back, but Sobble was quick enough to whip around and counter with a Water Gun, exploding the pulse of martial energy.
Gloria grinned. "Awesome! Now, use Pound."
"Dodge with Quick Attack!"
As Sobble chased Riolu around in circles with a glowing fist, Ash gave Gloria an appraising look. "Hey, you're pretty good for a newbie," he said. "Sure are a lot better than I was at your age. You could go far with some training."
"Thank you! I'm gonna beat the gym challenge and become the best trainer in Galar. Leon doesn't stand a chance!" Gloria exclaimed.
"Yeah," Hop agreed. "Not against our dynamic duo! And I'm gonna beat my bro first! There's no way I'll lose to anyone!"
"No, I'll beat him first.
"No, I will!"
"Your brother is Leon?"Ash asked.
A shadow crossed Hop's face for a moment, but it was gone before Ash had a chance to revise his question. "Yup," he said, grinning and folding his hands behind his head at the same time that Gloria called, "Water Gun!"
"You're good, but you'll have to work harder if you want to take down Riolu," Ash said, tipping his cap. "Riolu, jump and use Quick Attack!"
Sobble cried as it looked up into the sun, where Riolu had jumped, and got a foot to the face for its efforts. Skidding across the battlefield, Sobble struggled to its feet, looking up at Gloria with watery eyes.
"Don't give up, Sobble," Gloria said intently. "It's secret weapon time. Get close to Riolu, now!" Sobble ran across the battlefield toward Riolu, who readied a Vacuum Wave, but Ash held his command, wanting to see what Gloria had up her sleeve. "Now, Whirlpool!"
Sobble pitched its head back and spat out a spinning, uncontrolled vortex. Ash widened his eyes. That's a powerful Whirlpool for such an untrained Pokemon – I wonder whether it's an egg move or if she had a TM reader. "Riolu-"
Before Ash could yell a command, the vortex came down around Riolu.
Crying out in pain, Riolu was swept away into the water. Ash clenched his fists, thinking fast – Riolu only had two moves, and Quick Attack would be useless without purchase. He wasn't about to lose to a ten-year-old, even with his newest Pokemon. Suddenly, he stiffened as Riolu's aura flared to life, and his vision took on a blue tinge. Without a command, Ash knew to tell Riolu to bring his arms together across his chest and release his aura in a supercharged Vacuum Wave.
The whirlpool shattered. Riolu floated in the middle, his ears rising, arms outstretched, his eyes glowing with Ash's, staring down at a petrified Sobble. Ash outstretched a hand. Riolu landed a kick on Sobble's solar plexus, knocking it out.
Riolu landed gracefully, the aura fading from their eyes, and fell to one knee.
Gloria and Hop both stared at Ash with wide eyes. "Woah…" Hop breathed. "What was that?"
"Uh…" Ash chuckled, feeling rather winded, and absently returned Riolu, patting his ball. "I'm not exactly sure, to be honest. I let you fight Riolu cause he's a baby, hatched less than a month ago. I know that was aura, but beyond that…"
"So cool," Hop breathed.
Kneeling at Sobble's side, Gloria returned Sobble. "Thank you," she murmured. "You did great." She looked up at Ash with serious eyes. "You're really good, huh? I noticed you have six Pokemon, and if Riolu was so strong after just a month, they must all be really powerful. I'd like to battle you again, someday, when I get stronger."
Ash nodded. "You bet! I'll hold you to it," he said. "You're taking the Gym Challenge, right? I'm in Galar to train for the World Championships, so maybe we'll cross paths. Was that Whirlpool a TM? That was definitely a surprise, for a trainer on your level."
Gloria nodded, and abruptly glared at him. "And I'm still mad that you bumped into me! But I guess you're alright otherwise."
"Hey, I know!" Hop exclaimed. "We're supposed to go down at see Professor Magnolia at the end of Route Two, but now we've got to go back to Wedgehurst to heal up Gloria's Sobble. Do you want to go with us? We can tell you all about Galar and you can show us your awesome Pokemon and everything! It'll be great!"
Gloria inclined her head, giving Ash an evaluative look. "Could be nice."
Ash looked from Gloria to Hop, both kids watching him with enthusiastic eyes, Hop bouncing in anticipation. Two years ago, he would have said yes in a heartbeat. Ash knew this drill. A chance encounter led to a group adventure, a group adventure led to travel partners, travel partners led to lifelong friends. But… He wasn't on the same level as these kids. He was eighteen and they were ten; he was climbing the ranks and they were finding their first Caterpies; he was a seasoned, veteran trainer with a goal and an elite team, and they were, well, kids. And Ash knew he could train them himself – he was good enough to take on a protegee – but he realized he didn't want to. He'd been in a pseudo-apprentice relationship before. At four years younger than him, Dawn had always been somewhere on the lines of friend and student, in the same way Brock had both been his friend and his mentor. But the age difference had become overwhelming.
So, Ash found himself taking a position he'd rarely, if ever, taken before.
He turned them down.
"Sorry, guys," he said, scratching the back of his head. Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder. "I'd love to come, but I'm trying to make good time down Route Two and I have a campsite in mind for tonight. You can have my number, though. If you ever get in a tough spot or need anything, feel free to call."
Gloria and Hop both groaned in disappointment, but Ash felt like he'd made the right call. They exchanged numbers and went their separate ways – the kids backtracked, and Ash wandered off down Route Two, deep in thought.
::
Ash set his campsite up along the lakeshore, near the purple-roofed building he knew was the Professor's lab. He preferred camping near water; there was less risk of getting lost at night and easy access to clear water. He made a curry for dinner – the local cuisine had recipes in every shop, and it was cheaper than the Kantonian food he preferred – and set up a proper tent, rather than laying out his sleeping bag under the stars like he had his past few nights.
All his other Pokemon were asleep except for Dragonite. Ash and Dragonite sat together by the dying embers of the fire, watching the stars.
"I'm glad you came with me, Dragonite," Ash said, looking at his larger Pokemon. "I know you're uncertain. But you've really shown me that you can overcome anything, like how you got over your problem with flying, so I know that once we get you some solid combat training, you're going to kill it."
"Dragon…" Dragonite sighed, flexing his wings. "Dragonite nite."
"I get what you mean. You miss Gengar, don't you. You two got really close fast." Ash put a calming hand on Dragonite's side, and Dragonite smiled at him. "We'll go and visit Gengar, I promise. And… I think you'll bond with the team. Infernape is super cool, and Bayleaf's a total sweetheart."
Dragonite pointed a wing at Oshawott and raised an eyebrow.
Ash laughed, shaking his head. "I don't know what's up with Oshawott. He's always been a bit of a wildcard. I have honest-to-Arceus no idea why he wanted to come, or why he would even want to be on my Championship team, given that he's a total slacker – but then he goes and pulls out that crazy 2-0 against that girl with the Gothorita the other day! I'll figure it out. Sooner or later. Probably."
Dragonite snorted, and Ash scowled at him.
"Hey, just cause I traveled Unova with Oshawott for a year and never figured out what made him tick doesn't mean I can't now."
Shrugging, lumbering to his feet, Dragonite yawned and waved goodnight to Ash. Ash waved back, watching Dragonite find a spot on the lakeshore and curl up, and sank back against the stump he was leaning on, withdrawing into his own thoughts. With all his Pokemon asleep, he was alone to think.
Hop and Gloria made a good team. They'll go far, Ash thought, especially if Gloria sticks with battling for a living. If Hop is anything like Leon, he'll be just as good. There were other winning factors there, too. The easy camaraderie, the rivalry, the knowledge about Pokemon that appeared to already be present. He mentally wished them luck on their journey together.
That's when it hit him right in the face – the thing that was missing. Companions. Ash was lonely.
Oh. Right.
Ash hadn't traveled alone, well, ever. He wasn't used to it; without companions to fill the time and create diversions, the journey across the Wild Area had felt fast and empty. Maybe he needed to learn how to be alone, though, if he couldn't even entertain himself for a week without getting agitated. Or maybe he was still reeling from quitting his job and moving – that was possible too. Delia, Professor Oak, Professor Cerise, even Goh had treated the move more seriously than he had. Perhaps that had been a mistake.
What good was being a Pokemon Master if he had nobody to celebrate his accomplishments with? What good was traveling without companions?
"I need people too, huh," Ash murmured to himself, pulling an empty pokeball out of his pocket and turning in over in his hands. "Pokemon are great, but they're not enough to keep me happy."
Clenching a fist around the pokeball, Ash resolved to stay connected to friends while he was in Galar.
There were two routes he saw. First of all, Ash figured he could find a permanent home base to return to after training excursions, somewhere with people and food and warm beds. A center for Pokemon training, of sorts. He could find a gym and become an associate, or spend time in the Pokemon League, although Galar didn't have an Elite Four. Really, Galar's battling culture was more professional, less amateur – there were fewer trainers and the trainers there were had both fame and accolades, corporate sponsors, more in the vein of a profession than a passion.
He'd heard about a dojo on the Isle of Armor and a strong communal culture up north by Ballonlea, but none of the ideas particularly appealed to him, so Ash set the thought aside.
The other option was to find a traveling companion. One who didn't mind moving around a lot, or the erratic schedule and habits of an elite trainer. Either he could wait until he stumbled across someone who fit the bill – Ash knew he had a crazy knack for that kind of luck, but that could happen tomorrow or take weeks – or he could canvas people he already knew.
He pulled out his phone and got to thinking.
Misty was a gym leader, on track to replace Agatha in the Elite Four, and she was tethered to Kanto. Brock had his nursery, likewise. May was busy with contests, and Dawn was even busier – Dawn had always been more successful than May. Ash hadn't the slightest clue what Cilan was up to these days, but he also didn't think Cilan would be much of a help as far as training went. Iris was a gym leader. Clemont was a gym leader-
"Man," Ash said. "I really do have a talent for picking up gym leaders, don't I?" He snickered, the double meaning not lost on him.
Serena was busy with her performances in Hoenn. Lillie was running the Kanto gym circuit. Kiawe, Sophocles, Lana, and Mallow all had obligations on Alola. Those were his closest friends, all of whom had lives they couldn't drop to travel with him again on the flip of a dime.
Ash widened his horizons. It wasn't about who was his friend – it was about who could help him grow strong.
Paul would be an excellent training partner, but Ash had no interest in dealing with his sour attitude, and he certainly wouldn't subject Infernape to spending extra time around the man. Riley stood out as an obvious candidate to help Ash with Riolu, but Ash had never been a friend of the man, only an acquaintance. A few ridiculous ideas crossed his mind – Kukui (too fatherly, also the champion of Alola), Drew (ugh), even Team Rocket (Ash tried and failed to imagine living with Jessie and James. It hurt his brain).
Rats.
Unless…
There was one solid candidate: Alain. Alain was Ash's equal in skill and Ash knew he could get on well with Alain. He understood Ash's style and he was more than competent enough to help him improve. True, he came as a package deal with Mairin… Ash liked Mairin. Who knew, maybe Mairin had gone from a bumbling kid to a competent battler over the last few years. He could see-
"What am I doing?" Ash said, clutching his head. Am I really suggesting asking Alain to move across the world to help me? Why would he even want that? He beat me in the Lumiose Conference. I had a training partner with Goh, before I uprooted my life to move to Galar.
Glum, Ash curled up into a ball, watching the rippling lake reflect the moonlight. I don't know what I'm doing.
Pikachu, Infernape, Bayleaf, Dragonite, Riolu, Oshawott. An unbalanced, chaotic team with power levels and skillsets so variable he couldn't find a common thread. Picked on a whim, a day of consideration, to take on masters like Leon? What was he, crazy?
Well, maybe a little bit.
Staring at his phone, Ash sighed. So there was nobody he could easily ask to come and hang out with him. Maybe he just needed to call someone, preferably not his mother. Delia would give him an 'I-told-you-so.' Flipping open his contacts, Ash scrolled through the long, long list of phone numbers he'd collected over the years, until he found himself staring at Serena's contact.
Serena would have good advice for him. She always did. Wasn't it three AM in Hoenn right now, though?
Ash hesitated, debating whether to call or not, not wanting to disturb Serena. Taking a breath, he hit the call button. I'll leave a message if she's asleep, he decided. It'll be fine.
"Hello?"
Ash's eyes widened. "Hey," he said, relaxing into the stump. "What's up?"
"Ash!" Hearing Serena's voice took a weight off of Ash's shoulders, and he smiled in spite of himself. "I- I didn't know you would call tonight. It's been a while."
"It has," Ash agreed. "What, two months? Maybe three?"
"I think it's been three," Serena said. "I called you after you won the Manalo Conference, right? Then right after you got back to Kanto…"
"Yeah… Kanto…" Ash sighed, eyeing a Barraskewda in the water that told him, definitively, that he was not in Kanto. "That's actually kind of why I was calling. A lot's happened since then, and I'm not sure what to do."
"Tell me everything. Where are you, Vermillion? I heard something from Clemont about a job?" Serena sounded uncertain, which was how Ash knew it had been too long since the last time they'd talked. Cringing, he tried to figure out what he wanted to say.
"Actually, um, I'm in Galar?" Ash said.
There was a pause. "Really? Galar? That's pretty far away from Vermillion."
"Yeah. It is. You wanna hear the whole story?"
A few minutes later, Ash had explained everything – quitting his job, moving to Galar, recommitting to his dream, choosing his team, even his struggles with Riolu. Talking to Serena had always been easy; he valued her opinion, and she was an excellent listener.
"I think that's incredible, Ash," Serena murmured, her voice cutting through the background chorus of Kricketot and Nincada. "Really. It's so mature of you to want to focus in on becoming a world champion, and that you knew that's what you wanted even after you had a perfectly good job lined up with Professor Cerise. I don't know if I could be that strong."
"But I've got no idea what I'm doing," Ash said, holding the phone tight. "I'm all alone in a new region and I don't know how to take my training to the next level. I want to make a path for myself but I'm lonely here. I… I don't know. You get what I mean? I know I'll become a Pokemon Master, but I don't know exactly how to get there right now."
"I get it."
"I admire you, really." He laughed quietly, letting the empty pokeball fall back into his pocket. "Heading off to Hoenn alone and doing contests. I'm out here for four days and I'm doubting myself, and you're-"
"I'm not in Hoenn anymore," Serena said, cutting Ash off. "The Wallace Cup happened. I won. Now I'm back in Vainville."
"At home?"
"Yeah."
"Doing what?"
"...Nothing."
"Oh."
"I know I should be heading out to get back into Performing, now that I've mastered being a Coordinator. Aria's already come by and offered to hook me up with a brand deal, if I want, so I can take it professional. I could call her whenever I want to, but I haven't." Serena exhaled. "Mom's so mad at me. I've spent all my time at home – training a little, but mostly resting and hanging out with my Pokemon. I've got money and opportunities, and I have no reason not to be- But- Ugh."
"You know, I really get it," Ash said. "I won the Alola League, and suddenly everything is different."
"I feel the same," Serena admitted. "Winning the Wallace Cup… It was nothing like what I thought it would be. I got on the podium with Dawn – she's your friend too, right – and I realized that I've worked so hard to become the best performer but I don't even know what I want. Don't get me wrong, Ash, I love it. I love the spectacle and acting and my Pokemon. But as a career, I'm really not sure what I want. It seems like suddenly I have to think about a job and a place to live, and Mom wants me to move out, and…"
"Come with me."
"Huh?"
Ash had spoken before he had a chance to think it through, but he doubled down. Isn't this what I want? To have a friend around? "Come to Galar with me. We're in the same place right now, aren't we? We've both accomplished so much, but we don't know what we want to happen next. We can figure it out together! I'm going to be traveling, training, but I've got an apartment in Motostoke – you can crash on my couch, and then there's a little spare room you could sleep in. We… We have time, right? We're eighteen. You don't have to rush into a Performing deal you aren't ready for, if you don't want. What do you think?"
"A-Ash… That's an- an amazing offer," Serena said. "And there's nothing I'd like better than to come and travel with you, but I don't know. I'm just… stuck. Maybe if I stay here, stay in Kalos, I'll know what to do and an opportunity will come along…"
"And stay in your mom's house?"
"I- When you put it that way, it sounds bad. No fair."
Ash smirked – he could hear her blush. "When I left, my mom told me I needed to start thinking about the rest of my life," he said. "And I don't know much, but I know I won't find it in Pallet Town, and you won't find it in Vainville either. And if you're turning down offers from Aria, then maybe what you're looking for is somewhere else…"
"I hear an 'and' there, Ash."
"And I'm kind of lonely," Ash admitted. "I'm not sure anyone I know can follow me on the path I'm on, and that scares me. I don't want to become a Pokemon Master alone. I know it's selfish of me, but you're one of my closest friends, maybe my best friend. If you're willing and able to come with me, there is nothing I'd like more than to have you by my side. When you left, we made a promise that we'd meet again when we both became stronger…"
"But I haven't fulfilled the promise yet," Serena whispered. "I don't know what my dream is any more than the first time I left home. I'm not ready; I don't know when I'll be ready-"
"You won the Wallace Cup!" Ash exclaimed. "I think that's pretty impressive. And I have to figure out what I want every time I finish a journey. It's normal. I think. I- I understand if you don't want to. I'm not expecting anyone to come with me. But if you're in the same place I am, wouldn't you rather figure it out together?"
Serena paused for a long time. She exhaled. "I would."
Ash's cheeks were warm; an earsplitting grin crossed his face, and he got to his feet, looking up at the stars. "Awesome," he breathed. "We'll be roommates, then."
"R-R-Roommates?" Serena squeaked.
Oh, right, she might not want to stay for long, especially if she takes that job with Aria. "I mean, you could always come like you're visiting, at first," Ash said, not wanting to spook away his incredible luck. "To see if you like it, right? Leave your stuff at your mom's house. You could find a job or a new Performing gig right away. That way, if it turns out you want to head right back to Kalos, you aren't committed, or anything."
"It's okay," Serena said. "I- I just agreed to it, didn't I? I can do committed. Promise! But… Maybe you're right. I won't move out right away. I don't have much faith in an apartment you own, after all."
"Hey, what's wrong with my apartment?"
"You have the fashion sense of a Zangoose!"
Ash scratched his head. "Is that a compliment?"
"Oh, you're hopeless. No. I change my mind. You need a woman's touch on any place you decide to live, Ash Ketchum"
Not wanting to risk Serena's wrath, unsure of exactly why he needed a woman's touch on his apartment, which was nice enough, Ash bobbed his head. "Yes. Absolutely." His tone softened. "I- Wow, I really didn't expect anyone to be available. Everyone's got their lives all set, it seems, and I didn't think anyone would want to travel with me, like old times. Even if we have a home base, and I've somehow managed to shake Team Rocket – I really don't think they expected me to quit my job."
"They're like weeds," Serena said wryly. "They'll be back."
"Probably," Ash agreed. "So, um… It's getting late. We'll work out details tomorrow? I need to sleep, and everything. Just… Thank you, Serena. This really means a lot to me."
"Yeah. Of course."
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Ash. I…"
"Yeah?"
"Oh. It's nothing. I mean, good night. Talk to you in the morning."
The line went dead, and Ash slipped his phone into his pocket, a silly grin on his face. Maybe Galar wouldn't be so lonely after all! There was no guarantee that Serena would want to stay, or that she would travel with him, but now he had a chance.
At the back of his mind, he remembered the escalator. The kiss. Their promise. And he wondered.
He slept easy that night.
::
[A/N] Ooh, they're going to be roommates, are they, Ash? That doesn't seem to be how Serena read the room…
Ash curbstomps his way across the Wild Area, because I'm not playing games with power scaling. His team is strong and I'm not going to waste time writing normal tier fights. Post-this-chapter, the fights will be with named characters, not OCs.
I'll be using elements of Sword and Shield freely here – we'll play it fast and loose. There will be no gameverse, and Gloria and Hop won't take over the story. Also, Hop'll be more tolerable, cause it's hard to make Hop more annoying than in the games.
Riolu's got some mysterious aura… I'm so happy there's finally a canonical reason to write an 'Ash gets a Lucario and becomes a badass' story.
Okay, anime, the fact that it's Leon vs Lance is a traversty. For the record, Cynthia is absolutely stronger than Lance, although I respect that Leon has a legitimately powerful team. My HC here is that Leon beat Cynthia in Semifinals, which caused her to slip from #1 in the world to #3. Fight me.
Oshawott is a goober. I can totally see Bayleaf going grocery shopping. Infernape is a badass and should be treated as such.
Now, onto the reviews!
Thank you to Northstar Pokeshipper, championmuru, Hall Gowrt, Hashirama 1710, Ri2, DarklighterUSA, crazydude13, likeautumnleaves1, MTWKing, MetalBatt, SnowmobilingSeal, XDSnowy, Leaflame, and a bunch of guests for reviewing! Some responses:
Northstar Pokeshipper – Not sure where you got the impression I'm a Pokeshipper, fam. I literally run Quality Controlled Amour, the Amourshipping Community. Anything and everything related to Chosen By Arceus? should not be taken seriously.
Ri2 – He caught too many Pokemon and didn't train any of them enough. He's fallen out a bit with Cilan, and never got on amazing with Iris in the first place. Also, he came in Top Eight in the Vertress Conference, which was disappointing after the Lily of the Valley Conference.
Guest – Honestly, yes? I'm going to flex Lycanroc in at some point. Mostly Lycanroc is in Alola and Ash was acting pretty spur of the moment.
DarklighterUSA – Valid. I am writing a romance here, which as a genre is big on the couple, but your point stands.
Thanks all! Tell me what you thought!
Cheers, Allie
NEXT TIME: Serena comes to Galar, and Ash and Marnie go head-to-head!