Locked Away, Chapter 30

After he was checked out of the hospital, given the prescription for his drugs and had everything linked to his trainers account, Ash fled to the center of the city where the laboratory was.

Once there, Ash didn't actually get to meet Professor Sycamore in person; he was only able to speak with his assistant Sophie, who handled Ash's pokemon, pokedex, and was also the woman who called the ambulance for Ash. Apparently, he had made it to the laboratory, but once he got there, he passed out—Everything after working at "The Colosseum" had been a massive blur to Ash, so he wasn't surprised to hear this.

He thanked Sophie, sent his regards to the professor, and head out back onto the road before night fall. However, before he left the laboratory, he talked with the assistant about a froakie that would have been with Sycamore just around two years ago; Ash had been informed that said froakie had ran off on his own after being rejected by one too many trainers.

Froakie was still around, which meant that Ash had to travel to all of the important spots where he might find the water pokemon; more importantly, he also needed to find goodra, talonflame, hawlucha and noivern. If he was lucky, they would all be together. If he wasn't lucky, he would have an incident much like Sinnoh and Hoenn, where he walked around in circles; and this time, travel was going to be gruesomely slower without the assistance of charizard.

Sophie advised Ash to send charizard back to Gary until he healed, because the pokemon would not be flying for some time—what ever 'incident' that had managed to mangle his right wing the way that it did, did a wonderful job of it. How could he say no to the advice of a pokemon professor? Ash didn't want charizard to get hurt worse.

In the end, Ash sent charizard back, in favor chimchar, and was now walking and taking trains when he could. Togepi liked to berate him about his recklessness like a certain redhead used to, and even more than that, both pokemon were convinced that Ash should call to explain what happened. Save Gary telling her, but Ash decided against his better judgment. As far as he knew, Gary didn't know anything and he was going to wait to talk with her again until he could see her in person. A lot had happened, and he needed to clear his head.

With his wound patched, his ego slightly brushed, his schedule for taking his drugs accounted for, and his pokemon taken care of, Ash was ready to begin his trek though the region.

XOXs

For the first time since the start of his journey, Ash lucked out with noivern and talonflame—the two flying pokemon found perch in Santalune City, where he had his last stop before heading to the pokemon league in his dream. Apparently, they had met by accident a little over a ago, but stayed together since they both had frequent, reoccurring dreams about Ash. Ash had gone south from Paris to look for his pokemon, though the league was much, much smaller than he had ever remembered it, and so he turned back around, deciding that the best place to search for hawlucha would be west, back towards the shore.

In favor of having eyes on the sky—he traded totodile and snorlax for noivern and talonflame, the two flying pokemon were able to scout for his pokemon above large areas, while Ash, togepi, chimchar, and pikachu walked. When passing through route fourteen, and later route twelve on his way to the coast once more; he keep watch for any sign of goodra—but like most dragon type pokemon, he was finding they were all absent.

Chimchar, pikachu and togepi had taken to training frequently with the two fully evolved pokemon during their spare time. Since Ash wasn't flying everywhere like he had with charizard around, they seemed to have a lot of spare time. They spent the better part of the month competing in small, unranked tournaments and pokemon battles in order to win some money. For the first time since he woke up, he felt like a real trainer again, battling trainers and pokemon, talking with other trainers—though none of them seemed familiar.

As opposed to the other regions, France wasn't as commonly known for its battlers, or its coordinators, and had the highest population of non-trainers in the entire league. This dislike of battling created the change of presentation of the region. "Kalos" was exchanged years ago for the title "France", and the place turned into a tourist trap for other regions. For this reason, many of the stronger pokemon, including dragon and fairy type pokemon moved south back to Johto and Kanto.

In the end, winning battles wasn't difficult for an area where battlers were scarce, so Ash and his pokemon enjoyed simple victories while battling was treated more like a hobby and less of a life-style. When he returned to Kanto, he knew that the game would be much different.

While "showcases" did not exist in this world, pokemon modeling did—as did a form of pokemon acrobatics, several types of racing, different performances, shows, and entertainment plummeted through the region like a poison. Pokemon centers were few and far in between, and the allure of the region spurred several different popular tourist. Families spent their time at the five different cities revolving around beaches and boardwalks. The adults, looking for a good time, or a nice, relaxing time out in Paris, or other parts of France toward the east.

If someone was looking for a cultural experience, they would head south east, to Snowbelle city and Vaniville, which shared many common cultural aspects to vineyards and roses. North was the industrial section—Laverre city, Dendemille and Anistar city were dedicated production capitals, and produced everything from pokeballs, to gym badges... though Ash wondered why a region that partook in neither of those, would house the largest facilities in the industry.

When Ash arrived in on route eleven, outside of Genosenge about a month and a half into his journey, it didn't take him long to discover hawlucha. The pokemon was still trying to keep peace in the area, using his strength and strong sense of justice to protect weaker pokemon.

However, the pokemon also refused to travel with Ash, as it already had another trainer. When Ash was introduced to the trainer, he noticed the boy was no older than eleven, with sparking, brown eyes and dark hair- a lot like how Ash was with hawlucha. According to the fighting pokemon, the boy needed more help than Ash did, but if Ash ever need help—he would be there.

Ash traded numbers with the young boy, whose name was Hiro, and promised to keep in touch. Hawlucha gave a hearty hello and goodbye to his former companions, and Ash promised to keep in touch before he watched the pokemon leave.

Hawlucha wasn't one to wait around for anyone. He followed a strict code of just and he would find someone else to help in this world, the same way that he helped Ash in his dream world. So it wasn't surprising to see hawlucha doing exactly that. As they watched Hiro leave with Hawlucha at his side, he saw the boy trip up over his feet, and Ash chuckled while scratching his cheek. To be fair, Hiro really did need the help.

XOXs

Two months in, he found himself seated once again in what used to be known as 'Lumiose City, at a bench looking up at the Eiffel tower, formerly 'Prism tower'. Somehow, after all of his walking, he ended up back here, staring up at the tower he had fallen off of in his dream world. That was when froakie noticed him before. Would Ash have to do something as insanely spontaneous to earn his attention once more? Though, Ash wasn't so sure jumping off the tower was a great plan, unlike his imaginative world, he wasn't likely to survive—and he wasn't brave enough to keep pushing his luck.

If Ash learned nothing at all from the incident in the ocean, it was that he had one too many close calls.

But what had really brought Ash back to Paris, was the wanted add posted in one of the local pokemon centers for a greninja that was 'causing mischief' in downtown Paris. While that didn't fit Ash's greninja's personality, maybe he, too, was trying to cause a scene to get Ash's attention?

Regardless, the pokemon was wanted for breaking an entire case of crystal sculptures. Ash snickered when he heard that, unable to believe that a pokemon could be wanted for criminal activities the same way a person could—though it didn't surprise him, he found the ordeal rather funny.

"Well pikachu, togepi..." Ash hummed. "We can hang out here for a few days to see if he comes back, what do you think?" Ash asked the duo while swaying his feet back and forth beneath the bench. Togepi made a sort of strangled noise, while pikachu slumped beside Ash and let out a weak, tired 'chaa', indicated that he was tired.

Ash couldn't argue; traveling took a lot from him as well, he had to replace his sneakers and jeans a few weeks ago—both had been worn into dust, and that didn't even start the money he forked out to replace the supplies he lost out in the ocean. To make matters worse, he had to pay the hospital bill, which was a hefty two grand for spending two days there, and pay for his prescription drugs. Luckily, it healed with no problems, but he had also been a bit smarter about his actions as well.

If he saw something that was cruel, or unjust, he wrote it down in his new journal, rather than trying to fix it himself. Misty was right, destruction and grand arson only got him so far before his poor decisions were counter affective.

With a sigh, he smacked his lips together, watching the sun dim in the distance, and the bright lights of the tower slowly fade on.

In the gentle hum of city, across the street from where he sat, he saw for a very brief moment, the familiar cut of blonde hair that painted his dream world pink before he woke up. He sat up, knocking pikachu over and off of the bench as he leaned forward to squint his eyes, her back was already to him, but it was as clear as day—that was Serena the 'princess' of Paris.

"Se—Sere-" Ash started, his mouth forming a slow stammer before he realized a shadow hopping behind her. His eyes narrowed, and he was to his feet a moment later, rushing across the busy street to trail her himself—while also keeping his eye trained on the moving shadow. Behind him, togepi and pikachu had followed after, but they weren't as quiet.

Ash wasn't trying to be quiet anyways, so when Serena turned around and all but slapped him, he was thrown off guard.

"Stop following me, you creep!" She shouted, pumping up her fists as if she would fight him. Ash took two large steps back, having learned there was nothing more deadly than and angry woman and shook his head in his defense.

"I'm not following you!" Ash gasped, blinking at her several times.

"Liar! I've been trying to lose you for the last hour!"

"Then why would I suddenly show myself now in the middle of the street?" Ash asked in a snippy tone, calling out her daft confusion. Her crystal blue eyes blinked once and then twice, and then she recoiled her statement with an authentic blush and shrug of her shoulders.

"Oh, I'm sorry." She chuckled weakly, earning a look of exasperation from Ash.

"But," He said quickly. "I did run over here because I saw someone following you, or something." He confirmed with a raised finger that made her face fall quickly. Her bubble burst.

"Oh." She mused weakly as togepi and pikachu caught up with him and stood at his feet.

"Not to worry, we'll help you." he laughed awkwardly as the small mouse cutely twitched his ears at Serena, as if passing his own hello. The blonde looked at the two pokemon before clasping her hands together.

"How adorable!" She cooed, snatching the two of them up in one swoop. "What kind of pokemon are these?"

Ash turned at her, removing his attention from watching the shadows and smiled. He pointed to each pokemon. "This is my pikachu, and this is my togepi."

While pikachu immediately warmed to Serena, enjoying the gentle squeeze of her arm, togepi was less enthusiastic, and began to physically struggle to be released; so much that it bit her arm, and jumped out onto the sidewalk.

"Ow! It bit me!"

"Togepi, why did you do that?" Ash scolded, staring bitterly at the egg while it shrieked up at him.

"Toge, toge bri!" it yelled, and Ash could feel sweat swelter down his neck as he pursed his lips.

"She's not replacing anyone." He told the small egg while squatting down beside the egg and patting its pointy head. "So just relax."

Serena smiled beside him, scratching fondly behind pikachu's ears while she watched their interaction. At least one of his pokemon was nice.

"What's your name, anyways? I'm Serena, but you might have already known that from all the signs..." She laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck innocently while Ash stood straight and smoothed his jacket.

"My name is Ash Ketchum." He added weirdly, giving her a tilted smile that turned her blood cold.

"N-no way." She hissed, her eyes wide, her pupils dilated. Ash blinked once, watching her mouth fall open and her grip on pikachu released. Nervously, he looked around him. Maybe she saw a ghost?

"Something wrong?" He asked while scrunching his face. Serena gasped and then shook her head.

"You're supposed to be dead!"

Stunned, Ash shook his head back at her. "No, I'm alive." He answered back, as if it were the simplest answer in the world.

"No, you electrocuted yourself!" She argued, dropping pikachu in her brief panic as she took a large step away from him. "I saw the news papers!"

His face contorted oddly, and his fists tightened. "Do—do you know me?"

"Yes! We met when we were kids at a summer camp!"

Astounded, Ash's mouth fell open and he shook his head once, and then twice, and then looked at pikachu who gave a shrug while togepi looked away angrily. Good to know that wasn't a part of his dream.

XOXS

Since Serena was still likely being followed, and it gave Ash a good excuse to talk with her, they spent the rest of the evening catching up.

"Still..." She mumbled earnestly. "Ten years...That's a really long time"

Ash nodded and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah..." he scoffed.

She looked at him with bright eyes, a large, comforting smile on her face. "Transitioning must have been terrible! It must feel like you're in a completely different world!" She mused with a gasp that made him chuckle at her amazed nature.

"You have no idea!" He admit, her accuracy was spot on—Ash was in a different world. But he wasn't going to tell her that.

"So why would someone be following you, anyways?" He asked while flicking his wrist, a grumbling togepi threw out a snark reply from Ash's backpack and the trainer clucked his tongue unhappily at the eggs sass while pikachu chuckled.

"I do a lot of ryhorn racing, like my mom." She explained. "Some people get upset that I don't always win."

"So getting followed is...normal, for you?" He winced, wondering how safe that was. Serena shrugged.

"Not really, there are so many celebrities in Paris that a ryhorn racer is the least of people's concern." She said mutely while stopping at a set of lights. They remained stationary while Ash exhaled.

"But enough about me, what brings you to Paris? This is an awful long way from Kanto."

Ash's eyes went wide and he tried to be nonchalant, but it came out in a mumble "I'm looking for pokemon."

"Pokemon?" Serena chuckled. "You really are the pokemon trainer from when I was a kid." She muttered awkwardly, chuckling as the light turned green for them to walk.

Unfortunately, they were stopped by the appearance of a blue blue swiping down, knocking Ash's cap from his head and forcing him to his knees as the pokemon landed in front of Serena and Ash, standing on the middle of the road.

"Ow!" Ash hissed, standing up only as pikachu pounced before Ash.

"Pikapi!" Pikachu yelled to Ash, drawing his attention to the pokemon that had not-so-gently knocked the sense into Ash.

"Greninja?" "A greninja!" Serena gasped, eyes wide as saucers.

Ash didn't have time to look at Serena as the pokemon rose its arms, indicating a challenge to battle. However, looking once over the ninja pokemon, Ash thought better of it—its right leg was bleeding, poorly wrapped. It didn't back down, even after listening to pikachu explain the situation about Ash's dream world.

"I'm not battling you." Ash said clearly, getting a shocked looked from Serena. She narrowed her eyes and whispered.

"Why not?"

Greninja only shared a hateful look, full of disdain and contempt. It had been watching Ash for awhile most likely; at least that was what the deep hues of his red, glaring eyes told Ash; screaming at him "why didn't you come back sooner?"

Ash didn't answer, he didn't have time to because greninja charged at him, though the attack was quickly subdued by an electric shot from his right that temporarily blinded the duo. Beside him, he heard Serena gasp and cover her eyes. For a moment, Ash looked down at pikachu, believing the electric surge came from the mouse, but when he looked up, two approaching officers in blue were talking on their radios, and pikachu was crying for Ash to do something.

"We have found the pokemon in question. We are moving in now." The woman officer called in a deep voice that send spikes into Ash's heart. From her hip, she pulled a metallic gun from the holster on her hip and alarms went off in Ash's mind as he quickly grabbed a pokeball off his belt and threw it at the collapsed frog pokemon.

In a bright light, the pokemon disappeared right as the woman and her partner drew their guns, and glared over at Ash.

"What are you doing interfering in police business?" she snapped.

"I was in the middle of a battle, and you interrupted it." Ash barked back, clearly lying. Serena made no point of correcting him. Ash couldn't believe what he saw, a human, a real person was about to publicly execute a pokemon. He couldn't believe it; in fact, he was almost terrified.

She placed her gun back into the holster and licked her teeth. "That pokemon is a wanted felon."

"Its a pokemon." Ash argued. "You were going to shoot it in public" he waved his arms around, gesturing towards the many people who stopped only briefly to watch the exchange.

"Correct, because it is an animal that broke the law." She said flatly, unimpressed by Ash's just tone.

"You wouldn't do that to a person!" Ash argued, taking a step forward.

"Right, because it isn't a person." She returned coldly, looking over her shoulder to her partner who shrugged his broad shoulders. At Ash's feet, pikachu had stepped between the police officer and Ash, and togepi had climbed from his back and propped himself on his shoulder.

The officer sighed. "Listen, kid, we don't wanna hurt you; so just hand over the pokeball and we'll be on our way."

"No way in hell." Ash scoffed, shaking his head.

"He is wanted, which means we need to take care of him." She said earnestly, trying to sound sweet, but it sounded more threatening.

Ash remained still and mortified, pikachu's electricity threatened the police officer to keep a distance, and for once, Ash had no qualms about the pokemon attacking. Typically Ash didn't believe pikachu should ever attack a human—but he wasn't so sure this woman with cold eyes didn't deserve it at least a little.

Ash didn't back down. "Doesn't matter, I captured him which means he is mine now."

The police officer cocked her jaw to one side. "So you admit to holding a pokemon who created acts of regional destruction?"

"I admit to having a pokemon that was being chased down by the police and almost executed in the center of town." Ash growled in return.

Beside him, Serena watched, awestruck from the exchange. Whoever Ash was now, he was a seeker of trouble...but it was oddly humbling, she hadn't seen someone so brave in years. Her face flushed gently at the thought, and she shook her head gently.

"Listen, kid." The officer cut in, emphasizing with her hand to have pikachu stop its sparks, but the pokemon did not listen in any way.

"I am not a kid!" Ash hissed venomously, gritting his teeth. "Now leave." He added, and the officer sat back, before looking at her partner. They shared an unspoken conversation, a look between their eyes that Ash knew from his dream—it was the one that Bill and Cassidy shared before they acted on terrible deeds.

When issues couldn't be solved civilly, they used force.

"Wait!" Serena called from beside the two of them before they could turn the encounter into blows. "Technically anything a pokemon did before being owned by a trainer becomes obsolete the moment it is under human care." Serena squeaked from behind Ash, catching the officers, and Ash off guard. A twisted grin spread over Ash's cheeks as he looked back to the officers—knowing that if they touched him, they would have quite the problem on their hands.

The female officer clicked her tongue, and snarled at Ash.

"You got lucky." she said, staring at his eyes. "But if I so much as see that pokemon out of its ball. I'll be there." She muttered, and Ash had half the mind to release greninja now, since she would legally not be allowed to touch it, unless challenged officially. After a second thought—he figured it was better not to stir the pot any more.

Their egos bruised, Ash watched the officers leave with a straight back. He waited until they disappeared at the end of the street before he relaxed and looked at Serena gratefully.

"Thanks for that." He grunted while approaching the pokeball he threw earlier. As he suspected, greninja was too weak to resist capture.

"No problem..." Serena mumbled, looking at Ash as if he had sprouted devil horns. "Does...does trouble follow you, or is it a reoccurring theme?"

Ash hummed innocently and tapped his finger against his lip. "It's a bit of both, if I'm being honest." he said while looking at her with lowered eyebrows, a soft gaze.

"Ah—ha." Serena said with a blush decorating her pale features as she shook her face clear of a smirk, and turned to start walking once more. Ash took one more look back at the police officers, and follow after Serena.

"Does that happen often? They were about to shoot greninja if I hadn't captured him." following the woman, Ash's voice caught in his throat.
"It happens enough." Serena hummed. "But it's not as common here as it is in other regions—pokemon here are usually pretty good." Serena said happily while Ash's face paled. He felt physically sick...but that explained a lot. First with muk, then with gliscor, and now with greninja.

"How can that be allowed..?"

"Pokemon are considered animals." Serena mumbled, but then fidgeted. "I don't really want to talk about this." She said awkwardly, but Ash felt his face heat up—he did, he wanted to know more.

"..Fair enough." He grit his teeth, respecting her wishes while also making a mental note to ask Misty later.

After a brief pause, Serena coughed to clear the tension; "Why don't you tell me more about yourself?"

"There isn't a lot to tell." He admit, though their was, he didn't think sharing his comatose dreams would mean a lot to Serena.

"Sure there is! Like, how long are you going to be in Paris, for starters? I just finished a marathon of races, so I'm free—maybe we could hang out?" Serena mused cheerfully, but Ash gave her a weak smile.

"I... would like that." He said honestly "But I have some place else that I'm needed." He admit, looking down at the ground.

"Oh." Serena hummed. "Well, how long will you be in town?"

"That's a funny thing actually... I was just leaving here very soon." Ash admit, intentionally leaving out the bit about how he was waiting for greninja. He wasn't going to tell Serena that greninja was following her because of him.

"Oh..." She said disappointingly. "That kind of sucks."

"Yeah...sorry.." he mumbled awkwardly, rubbing his neck while she inhaled.

"Maybe we will just have to catch up another day." still, she tried to keep the conversation going. "How is your mom doing?"

Ash froze at the question and offered a strange smile. "...She's fine." he admit, his disillusion flying over Serena's head.

"That's good." She paused, they were stopped at the section that led to the train station, and another that led into the part of town where she was living at the moment. She looked into the distance thoughtfully, and then smiled gently.

"Well, I guess I should let you get to it." She hesitated once more, pushing strands of hair behind her ear. "It's weird, but it almost feels like it hasn't been that long since I've seen you..." She laughed weirdly. "That's weird, I know, but... It doesn't feel like it's been ten years." She admit while turning to him and clicking her heels together.

Ash grinned at that, shaking his head. "You're not the first person to mention that. I must just have that effect on people." He said while rubbing his side where his most recent injury was. Serena raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"You didn't even mention my status as a celebrity—you do realize that's what I am, right?" She asked but Ash shrugged.

"I think you're just Serena." he said but then gaped. "Not like your status doesn't mean anything..." He tried to justify with a grimace, but Serena had started laughing and waved him off.

"It's okay. I understand what you mean." Serena grinned and tilted her head. "It's refreshing."

"I guess so." Ash mumbled weakly, feeling an underrated burst of warmth that was associated with the young woman. A long lost friend found once again.

"I'll catch you around?" he mumbled with a sort of weak smile; a strange feeling in his chest as he realized for the first time, that who these people are now, were not the people who knew before. Dawn, May, Max, everyone he stumbled across had some level of difference—change about them. Serena was the weirdest of all though—that light she had reflected in her eyes when ever she looked at him in his dreams was almost dull now.

"Hey, when you get back to Kanto give me a call sometime." She said suddenly, grabbing a card from her back pocket, and handed it to Ash with a sweet smile. "And I guess I'll see you around Ash Ketchum." She mused with a pleasant wink before patting pikachu on the head, avoiding togepi, and then leaving down the path opposite of Ash.

He watched her for a short time, recalling their interactions in his dream world, and then rolled his eyes so far back into his head he could feel himself groan long before the sound escaped through his mouth.

Not only did he fabricate a land of enchantment and wonder—he fabricated a crush on himself.

Slapping himself on the forehead hard, he recalled that look of adoration in her eyes, and felt his stomach lurch while pikachu snickered beside him, as if reading his mind. It was direct contrast to her eyes now, which ere gentle, but far from the idolization he framed in his mind about her.

Shuddering, pikachu let out a strangle laugh when Ash picked the pokemon up and rubbed his fist in the spot between his ears.

"Shut up." he growled, knowing well that pikachu knew the memories just as well as Ash did.

"Togeii." The egg chirped, looking at the setting sun while Ash looked over his shoulder.

That was right; togepi had a point. He was done now, technically.

"chaa?" The mouse squeaked to his trainer while Ash blinked several times.

"...I guess that means we go home...?" Ash grunted, and then felt himself smile. "We'll sort everything out from there."

Ash grinned to himself, happiness bursting from his chest with glee.

Mentally, Ash made a list while starting his walk to the train station.

Next destination: Gary's laboratory in Pallet Town. He needed to check in with all of his pokemon, and see about finding the others he had yet to find. There were still several pokemon he needed to catch up with—greninja being one of the most recent, but more than that, he wanted to spend time together, as a family once again.

Second destination: Viridian City, so pikachu could also do that. If he was lucky, Ash could steal Cole for a few hours without his mother knowing—heck, maybe Ash would give talking to his mother another try.

...But after that, he smiled warmly, staring intently at the reds in the sky. He was going to deal with other issues; namely in the form of Team Rocket, old friends, and a redhead with a temper.

Author's Note:

SERENA was hard to write for. I'm sorry that this wasn't the best-written portion of the story but oh man. She was actually really difficult to write; I almost cut her out for that reason. ;w; I'm sorry. No, she doesn't have a crush on Ash. Seriously. For anyone here that is past the age of 16, do you even remember kids from when you were seven? ...I dunno, I just couldn't see her realistically having a crush on someone she didn't know and didn't see for so many years. (also thought he was dead, just saying?)

THIS ENDS PART 2

ONCE AGAIN, thank you guys so, so sosososososo much for all the lovely feedback. :D this has finally reached 200 follows and 300plus reviews.

NINT