Episode 26: A Split Path.

Jamie Stanton walked around the streets of Nimbasa City, it looked more or less normal especially considering a few weeks ago, but that wasn't the case.

Unfortunately, due to the 'terrorist' attack—dubbed by the news crew—the Music Festival was cancelled. All money that they had received worldwide went into patching the city back up and making some new renovations along with the construction.

Jamie thought back to even before all of this, when the News in Unova was that there was a bombing in Castelia City. Something told him that there just something big happening in Unova and even events like these were just beginning.

Honestly… the things Jamie had to do…

But now he was on his way to Nimbasa Haven, one of the fanciest hotels in Nimbasa City. There was someone there he wanted to check on.

Unfortunately for Jamie, that someone he was looking for was (very) sadly at work.

A volunteer work he loathed with all his might, but because of his good nature, he refused to abandon it… even though his mind argued vehemently not to go back into that Arceus forsaken place because he had just recently recovered. Seriously!? He honestly thought that if he had explained to them he was injured they would give him an easier time.

One problem: he couldn't speak to them. And he was in no way getting a piece of written paper near their faces with them thinking he was asking for their autograph.

No trust me; he actually tried using his telepathy this time, but they ignored him. Wait no, they thought it was their own voices giving them inspiration for a new scene. They somehow thought, a young teenage boy's voice… was their own creativity talking to them?

Anto hated showbizz.

This refusing to abandon shtick is really biting him in the back isn't it?

" Arceus on high. Are you drunk or something? Why do I suffer so?" The young boy, who still had not completely healed from his injuries, found himself standing on a stage train tracks. Or rather, being tied up to the train tracks while wearing a Mareep costume.

But that wasn't the worst part. Oh no no no no no no.

The two new directors decided to do a little experiment. They asked any volunteer to help them with directing this one scene in the movie. Many applied, of course, willing to show off their artistic ideals. But the two directors found—nay—fell in love with this winner's simply ingenious vision.

A megaphone was just put on.

"Alright, nerds!" Wes screamed from his new temporary director's seat in between the other two main Directors while wearing a fancy black, cinema Beret you would sometimes see on directors. "This scene has got to be nailed perfectly! If any detail is off it will ruin the whole movie!"

"If I am allowed a will, I hereby bequeath all my earthly possessions to the ground, my only friend in breaking all my falls." Anto decided then for anyone in the great beyond to hear him.

Wes then spoke out. "First thing first, get that stunt double out of the tracks, he' isn't tall and handsome enough to be the stunt double!"

That surprised Anto a lot. He was actually allowed out of the suit, and then Wes pointed at the guy who once wore the metal suit that punched the mute a while back into his place.

"Hey you double," Wes screamed with his obnoxious mega phone to the amnesiac. "You aren't needed, so go whatever it is you do, but you're not getting paid."

However, Anto did notice the quick wink Wes gave him before shouting out something outlandish, but supposedly brilliant to the director about the rest of the scene.

With that, Anto thought that maybe it is time to do what he wanted to do now.

He very quickly got off the stage/set as the yahoo who replaced him started screaming in panic.

Anto had recovered quite well after the recent events despite his injuries and the loss of his necklace. His body seemed to heal quicker than normal as if that was some small mercy in that his body could last longer through all the wear and tear he was putting it through in the first place even though it was never intentional.

The festival itself was cancelled after the hostile takeover. All participants took a few days of themselves to gather their bearings before staying to help rebuild, or continuing their journey before this. Arran, Sebastian, Black, The Sinnoh Trio, and the Hoenn trio were such people that had recently left, but did promise in helping Nimbasa City in their own way. Some of the special guests also said their condolences before leaving, but not before at least helping the city in some way before they left.

Speaking off the event, Alder and Marshall came to Anto after things had calmed down a bit and asked what exactly was going on. Apparently Alder and Marshal were used to some psychic abilities since one of the elite four members was a psychic specialist herself, and dabbled a bit in many psychic powers with telepathy being one of them. So when Anto explained to him mentally what had went on, they were mildly calm about someone talking in their minds as a form of communication. The boy explained much as he could, but honestly couldn't recall anything before his journey. Whoever was after him, knew why he was like this and were very desperate to bring him back. Marshall himself suggested that Anto be submitted to the authorities for safety, until Alder intervened.

"Now why would we do that?" Alder privately asked Marshal.

His student looked very surprised at his Master's nonchalant sentence. "This boy is clearly a target to a dangerous and powerful group of people, his life is in peril if he stays out!"

"You forget Marshal, they actually almost had him. The Police, and even us, were almost powerless to stop the mysterious group of terrorists, but this boy, even though out gunned, was able to escape and save the other hostages by him and his Pokémon alone. If our enemy really is Dimension Enterprise, then we really can't send him to the authorities. That enterprise has quiet strings and agents all over the place remember? Anto's best chance at surviving this, his best chance at finding his past and stopping these people, is by continuing his Pokémon journey."

Anto then smiled and told both of them he already had this exact conversation with his friends. Then he told Marshal that he was determined to see this through.

The fighting type elite stayed silent for a second. "You better prove to me your resolve… once you step into the league. I will have a battle reserved for you. Simply make sure you survive long enough to get here."

Anto promised to be there, and promised Marshall that he was going down.

There should have at least someone to watch over him, but Alder thought against that as well. He merely mentioned a certain silver haired boy wearing a blue long coat, taking charge in saving his 'friend' in the events prior.

"With friends like that, the boy is already in good hands. We're just going to have to take a risk and gamble on him." Alder explained.

After that, Aster and Summer had some things to talk out. Apparently some Pokémon Rangers were sent here afterward and he hadn't really seen them since. He wondered what was going on between them now, but he couldn't help but feel something was going to change soon. He didn't know what.

So with this all in mind, Anto decided that perhaps, with his new free day, and now wearing his first old get up since the one he received from Valarie was torn up—the old Union Jack shirt and black and white jacket he originally had—he would finally challenge the gym of this city.

"So, with the gym destroyed, where exactly will we have our battle?" Takezo asked while standing on Anto's shoulder.

"I was told she had been meaning to change the gym locations for a while now…" Anto answered back before looking to Sentinel walking beside him, who seemed less lively than usual… even though he was a ghost.

"You alright Sen?"

"What… what happened to me?" Sentinel asked.

He was referencing during the last fight with everyone cornering them, at the absolute worst timing, Sentinel fell to his knees and couldn't move properly, let alone drag them all into the Phantom Force attack and into safety. It almost seemed like his body was just failing on itself. Not only that, the delta Pokémon was feeling an immense amount of pain during it. If it wasn't for Valarie saving them then…

"I don't really know. When Nurse Joy took a look at you, despite being a Pokémon she had never seen before, she said you over all looked fine. Maybe it's something deeper, like your DNA? You said it yourself you were born in a lab."

"Hmph. Even when I'm finally out, I can't escape…" The ghost dragon skeleton muttered.

Takezo and Anto shared a look. What could they say about this?

"Hey Sen, whatever happens, we'll be there for you. I won't forget my promise to you." Anto told him.

That seemed to do the trick as Sentinel's flame grew just a bit brighter. "Thanks Anti. … I wanna fight this battle." Sentinel said.

"Alright thanks. Having a dragon type in an electric gym should increase my chances of winning!" Anto thought excitedly. However there was one little problem to all of this. "But I still have no idea where Elesa is right about now."

Anto wondered what to do until he noticed Takezo suddenly jump off his shoulder. He didn't have time to react to that because he got run into and blindsided by someone before getting tackled down into the concrete.

"That's not fair…" Anto thought and whined to himself before his senses came back. He tried to see what punk had the guts to do—"Bianca?" Anto managed to recognize the blonde clumsy girl on top of him, and was surprisingly close to his face now that he thought about it.

The girl groaned herself before realizing she was on the boy with familiar amber eyes. "Anto?" She asked before another voice called from behind her.

"Bianca! Get back here!"

The two quickly got up, as soon as that happened, Bianca yelped as she looked back and hid behind Anto. Takezo, who had jumped off before the boy was tackled, walked up to his trainer along with Sentinel.

There was a slightly pudgy man running up to them looking quite peeved. As soon as he saw Bianca he pointed at her.

"There you are! We are going home now!"

"I don't want to dad!" Bianca yelled as she grabbed onto Anto's jacket hard, surprising the boy to see that this man was Bianca's dad. They looked nothing alike…

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to go on a Pokémon journey!? Even more so with recent events!? Nimbasa city went dark during the hostile takeover! No one in the city is even talking about it!" The dad screamed, and gasped for breath, as if he had been chasing his daughter for quite some time.

Anto briefly went over what the pudgy dad said. Apparently, during the hostile takeover, the fake Team Plasma cut off Nimbasa City from the entire world and made their commands known only through the city. The rest of the world only seemed to realize they were attacked when the Champions and League members revealed what happened inside.

That threw them all for a panic for sure.

"But I don't wanna leave! I'm having fun with my friends and my Pokémon!" Bianca yelled out.

"It's too dangerous—you boy, get out of my way!" The dad pointed at Anto.

"No! Anto please stay!" Bianca shouted back, completely ignorant of how close she was to Anto.

"Bianca, I'm mute, not deaf!" He inwardly thought to himself. Why did Bianca always have to shout his poor ears off?

"Who is this boy?!" Suddenly the dad's anger found a new medium to lash out against: a new male friend that his daughter did not talk about.

Anto really didn't want to spend his day off like this.

"He's my friend, Anto! He's a cool guy, he even drove us off a cliff from a stolen motorcycle and we didn't get hurt that much!"

Anto's eyes widened. Why did she say the absolute worst thing to say?

"You what!?" The father looked on to the boy with something akin to murder.

"Then he drove off into an evil group of trainers and crashed that same bike into a row of machines that exploded like a Fourth of July party!" No longer scared, but for some reason now excited retelling a short version of Anto's misadventure some time ago, Bianca adamantly exclaimed this fact while Anto could only watch on in horror. He could have spoken telepathically to them, but he didn't want to always rely on this. Yes, he was regretting this decision greatly.

"That's it! We are going home, and we are going home now!" The dad roared and stepped towards the girl.

Anto was quite honestly scared, who was he to get in the way of a raging father? He felt like one of those television boyfriends—even though he definitely wasn't Bianca's—that met with their dream girl's nightmare dad.

But the way Bianca was clinging on to his shirt desperately as her father stepped forward… Anto inwardly sighed before steeling himself and stepping forward, making the dad stop right in front of him.

"Look boy, this is a family business! So step away!" The dad pointed and poked the mute's chest very hard.

Anto shook his head and stood his ground, he was to be honest scared again, but then again, his friend needed help.

"What was that?!" The father looked very angry, making Anto feel very nervous. He actually winced and stepped back, but struggled to keep his composure.

Bianca felt the boy in front of her step back and start to shiver as her dad Intimated him. "Dad, I want to continue on my Journey!" Bianca said adamantly, stepping out from behind Anto. "And I… and I… will battle you for my right to continue!" She declared.

The dad seemed to calm down and huff at the challenge. "If that is what it will take, then I accept!" he said before he released his breath and gasped for air again. "On second thought, we will have our battle later tonight at eight! You know I have a bad condition if I exercise too hard."

"You did bring your blood pressure medicine, right dad?" Bianca asked worryingly, all previous emotions at the conversation a while ago dropped at the sight of her father's health.

"I got it. I got it. I just let it at my motel. The dang place was sure expensive…" The dad said before leaving, but not before giving one last glare at Anto before limping away.

Anto exhaled after he realized he was actually holding his breath for some time during that fiasco.

"Anto!" The girl begged and came uncomfortably close to the boy. "I need your help! Please train me!"

The boy felt himself pressured when Bianca came up to him with the most pleading eyes that he ever saw.

He just wanted his badge so he could finally get out of this city! And this was supposed to be his day off from those blasted and evil directors who keep asking for too much of him!

You know what? Anto had enough of this crap placed on to him, he was going straight to find Elsea, win her challenge and leave this city at long last!

In actuality, Anto slouched, silently groaned, and then nodded at Bianca's request.

"Oh thank you-thank you-thank you-thank you-thank you!" The girl squealed in delight and hugged the boy. "I don't stand a chance a gains my dad the way I am! You gotta teach me how you did those cool battling techniques your Pokémon did during the festival!"

Anto agreed by simply nodded his head. He started to take out his old note pad and pen before writing out to Bianca that they needed a spot to train.

Bianca was eager and quickly ran ahead of Anto, claiming she knew the perfect spot to train.

Anto watched ahead as the girl ran before he could truly gather his thoughts together. Why hadn't he just declined this? Why was he going to spend the day helping someone else train rather than him taking on the badge?

He complained all he wanted to, deep down, the amnesiac boy knew why he had offered to help her even with his entire mind and body screaming to get away.

The amnesiac had too much of a caring heart.

[Meanwhile…]

Elsewhere in the Police Station, Summer was sitting down on a seat with Flow laying on her lap.

Since Aster was here, there was a lot of things she had to explain to the Ranger HQ: from the MIA status of both Jack and Keith, to the possibility that Dimension Enterprise may be hiding more secrets than they ever let on. The drastic change of situation made the Ranger Union recall all of their members and formulate a better strategy before moving out.

However, this meant one main thing: Summer was going to leave the gang.

She had the most information as to what was going on, so it was most likely her to brief everything she could to the higher up so they would better understand the situation.

In best case scenario, she would be gone for a while and be sent back to Unova. Worst case, she would get sent elsewhere far from Unova to truly confirm her theories she made with her friends, but all situations meant she had to leave Unova, immediately.

"We aren't staying with Anto and the others?" Flow asked softly, not wanting to separate from all her friends.

Summer smiled sadly, and petted Flow's head softly. "I wish we would, Flow, I really do wish we can. But… the only way to help Anto, and prevent something like this from happening again is to do our job elsewhere. And…" Summer thought back to how Jack and Keith were injured, how she was sent flying, and all her events leading up to this moment, focusing more on the parts where she struggled, and her friends she met during this adventure.

"I need to become stronger. So I can protect them and catch them when they fall." Summer decided. Even after all of this, she still felt somewhat responsible from the very beginning of all of this. But that would change; she was going to do all that she could to right her wrongs. "You can stay with Anto if you want, Flow."

"I don't wanna leave you Summer. I'm staying with you." The delta Pokémon told her.

"Thank you… but now what do I tell everyone?" Summer said.

"Summer?"

The Pokémon Ranger turned her head. She blinked at surprise to see that person in the station.

"White?"

[Back with Anto.]

Anto and Bianca were out in the park. All of Anto's and Bianca's Pokémon were out. Besides Anto's irregular four Pokémon, Bianca's party consisted of a Dewott, a Lampent, a Meinfoo, and a Gothorita.

The eight Pokémon met and greeted one another and introduced themselves to each other. Anto actually noted that her Pokémon party was actually pretty solid and had a lot of potential. He paid attention to how his Pokémon seemed to have a 'counterpart' in Bianca's Pokémon.

Dewott was a close range user, using his Razor Shell as a blade much as Takezo would, and was actually inspired by Takezo when the normal type demonstrated his sword play all the way back against team Snagem.

Lampent, the ghost and fire Pokémon, seemed to connect somewhat to Sentinel, being attracted to Sentinel's ghost flame and asking questions that Sentinel himself had no ideas.

Ohko was well, Ohko. Meinfoo seemed dumbfounded at the other fighting type's character, but could see the strength and battle perception Ohko had from exchanging a few friendly punches.

Gothorita and Lily seemingly clicked and seemed to be talking about what looks good and how sometimes their friends were a bit much.

Looking at all of them, he wondered what exactly he could do to make Bianca a better trainer in time of her father. From what Bianca said, her father had this powerful Darmanitan that could go into Zen mode. It was his only Pokémon, but from her stories, it must really be powerful, maybe more so than the one he fought against in that team fight with N.

Looking over, besides Mienfoo, most of Bianca's Pokémon had the potential to at least handle her father's Darmanitan.

Bianca was reading what was on the paper Anto had just given her after looking over her team.

"Bianca, I'm going to need to know a bit more information before training. So let's battle four on four." The blonde girl read before brightening up. "Oh! OK! Come on guys it's time to battle!"

…

The battle… umm… Anto was at a loss for words.

… Besides, you know by now, being mute.

Bianca had the same amount of badges as Anto, and Anto himself thought he needed to get stronger in order to survive out here in Unova, but he was honestly surprised at how… one sided he and his Pokémon defeated Bianca. He actually felt kind of bad. I mean, for once he should be happy he could actually win easily in his journey, but right now, it made him feel like a jerk.

Or maybe it was simply because his style of battling was completely different from that of Bianca? Bianca made a lot of rash commands to her Pokémon while her opponents, the mute, was more used to a much more analytical and defensive style of battling that helped him survive against stronger opponents. There was also the glaring fact that Bianca didn't really seem to be in the wavelength of her Pokémon. She called out moves as she saw fit, instead of considering which Pokémon moves would be comfortable for her Pokémon's own style of fighting, and seemed to ignore what their opponent was trying to do.

When Anto battles with his Pokémon, he lets them do what they want in a fight and adapts the strategy for them to move and counter their opponents' moves. Bianca relied on overpowering and outlasting her opponents and was rather lacking in adapting to her opponents.

Speaking off, Anto's four Pokémon stared at their sparing partners all sprawled on the floor who were all tired from their solo spars.

"Hmm," Takezo spoke out, making his other three allies look at him. "So this is what it's like on the over powered side. … It is less satisfying than I imagined."

Lily elbowed Takezo lightly, as if to shut him up for saying something insensitive.

Bianca fell to her knees after somberly recalling all her Pokémon. "Oh who am I kidding? I can't beat my dad. I'm doomed." She sadly said before sitting on a bench and burying her face into her hands.

The mute sighed silently before calling back his Pokémon. He didn't know what to do at this situation, he could try to cheer her up, but he couldn't exactly speak, and mentally linking with her now just seemed… out of place. He didn't want to always rely on it.

Instead, Anto just sat on the opposite side of the bench form her.

He didn't know that right beside him, Bianca was having an inner turmoil.

"… How do you all get to do that?"

Bianca's sudden words made Anto look at the girl in surprise. She removed her hands from her face and simply stared at the ground, her face devoid of all energy she had prior to all of this which made her look more pitiable. But what did she mean by that?

Bianca actually looked somber, tired, and sad before leaning on the bench and slouching hard on it. "I can't believe it. Even you are really amazing, Anto. You, White, Black, Cheren… everyone around me has this amazing skill and talent with Pokémon, and then there's me."

The air turned quiet for the two of them. Bianca then continued on.

"Black is aiming to become the Pokémon Champion, Cheren is aiming to be a stronger trainer, and White is just a talented battler over all and is already working in a high end job behind her mother! Even you!" She looked at Anto with eyes that just screamed 'why?' at him. "I was here when those terrorists attacked. When things were horrible, you still went along—you even were able to hold your own and survive against them despite all the odds thrown at you, and survive!"

After yelling, she slouched, as if losing what little energy she had left in screaming. She then spoke softly. "And then… there's me… bumbling around just chasing Pokémon I like. I feel… left behind by everyone…"

After finally saying this, she folded her knees and huddled into a ball form, hiding herself to wallow in misery.

Anto looked at her reflectively for a minute before scribbling something down on his notepad.

Bianca heard that and looked up at Anto looking to be writing a lot, her eyes were somewhat misty, but she dried them as Anto gave her his notepad again.

"… First off all, what happened to me was an accident. I didn't want any of that to happen at all," She started, skipping over the fact that 'any' was heavily underlined in his paper. "Second, I get where you're coming from…" She trailed off a bit looking at the brown eyed boy who was urging her to continue.

"I don't really know much about myself, and the more I try to learn, the more dangerous things seem to get. It's coming to the point where I don't think I want to know who I was anymore and maybe just live out my life in hiding. I envy other people for actually having their memories, for actually having fun on their adventures while I seemingly have to put my life on the line every week…" Bianca read out that part in surprise before looking towards Anto and taking a break from reading what he said. "Anto… I-I didn't know."

The boy simply smiled reassuringly and motioned her to continue reading.

Bianca blinked but continued on reading what the mute had written down. "I'm also afraid. Afraid of what will happen to me once I learn about my past. What will happen to me right now? But what keeps me going is the question: did I leave anyone behind in my past? Are they still waiting for me somewhere? And are they wishing I was safe or even alive? The thought of them being sad over me… I don't know why, but it hurts me a lot more than all the falls, the physical pain, and the crap I deal with every day…." Bianca paused and looked ahead at what Anto wrote down. "… But most of all, my Pokémon and my friends are all enjoying spending time with me, and I can't bring myself to end this for myself without thinking about them. Bianca, it's really your choice if you want to continue your journey or not, but I don't think you should compare others to yourself, no one can ever be you, and you can never be them. So Bianca, are you really content with letting it all end like this?"

After finishing reading, Bianca stared at the notepad, but she wasn't quite looking at it. She was deep at thought and wondering what she was going to do.

She closed her eyes for a second, inhaling deeply… and then breathing out.

Her eyes snapped open, revealing that she was determined now more than ever.

The blonde girl stood up and looked fiercely at the mute sitting next to her and handed him back his notepad. "Anto! Let's go to the Pokémon center for my friends then we'll try training again! I have an idea… and I don't want to leave my journey! There's still things I need to learn and my dad needs to learn that!"

Anto smiled and nodded. It looked like she had her answer.

[Elsewhere]

Tracey had just finished his call with Professor Oak. He stayed silent for a second before thinking things through.

"…" He stayed silent for a second, staring at the video phone he had just finished before he dialed down a number. "Hello? Is this Kalos? Could you please send a message to all Kalos Pokémon Centers? If a trainer by the name of Ash Ketchum appears, please tell him to call back someone named, Tracey Sketchit as soon as possible. Thank you."

He closed the phone, but by now there was still one more call to make.

"Hello?"

"… Why bonjour, Mr. Sketchit!" The professor at the opposite end of the line greeted with a smile. "To what do I owe this call from Professor Oak's assistant?"

"Professor Sycamore. This is urgent. What can you tell me about Mega Evolution and Mega Pokémon?"

[Later that night.]

"Anto, I'm nervous! Maybe this was a bad idea after all!" Bianca paced back and forth in worry at the arena she and her father were supposed to meet.

The mute boy simply sighed and walked up to Bianca, grabbed her shoulders, and then motioned her to breath in… and breath out.

Bianca copied the boy. "OK, calm down… I can do this… you and your Pokémon have been helping."

"Bianca!"

The two young teens turned over to see Bianca's father, coming in with a strange, over the top red scarf and looking as if he was some kind of poser superhero without a mask or cape.

The dad pointed almost demonically at the two of them. "You! Get away from my daughter!"

The two looked at each other before realizing that they were close with Anto putting his hands on her shoulders. They both took a step back in a flustered state.

"Bianca, it's time to finally go home." Her dad said, catching his breath a bit. However, Bianca turned to her father with a serious look on her face and took out a Poké Ball.

"Dad!" Bianca declared pointing to him. "We're going to battle and if I win, you let me on my journey! That was our promise, and I'm not backing down!"

"Tch! Stubborn little… do you have any idea… fine! The battle will be one on one! But know this Bianca, I will not hold back, and I'm making sure you come home where it's safe!" The father shouted as he took out his Poké Ball.

Bianca looked back at Anto, who simply nodded and stepped back. Bianca stepped into the battlefield, and then threw her chosen fighter. "Come on out, Dewott!"

Bianca's starter Pokémon appeared on the field, seemingly ready for the fight at hand.

Bianca's dad did a very stylish and over the top posing before throwing out his Pokémon. "Go Red Flash Darmanitan!"

'Well that's a long nickname.' Anto sweat dropped at the feat.

Still, despite the flashy name, the Pokémon Bianca's dad pulled out looked much larger than the regular Darmanitan. It was obviously better raised and must have been with his trainer for a long time. Perhaps when he was in his prime, Darmanitan and his partner were a force to truly be reckoned with.

'Come on Bianca, Dewott, show us what you got.' Anto folded his arms and looked back at the girl. Takezo jumped to his shoulder, also wanting to see how well this would all work out.

"Dewott, Water Gun!" Bianca pointed out in command. Her evolved starter inhaled before unleashing a stream of water jetting towards her father's Pokémon.

"Red Flash Darmanitan, set yourself ablaze!" Her father countered.

The night became brighter as the fire ape Pokémon spontaneously combusted with a mighty flame. As soon as the Water Gun hit, steam exploded into the battlefield.

"Wh-what?!" Bianca cried out.

Anto got tense. Her father was a much better battler than the mute originally thought he was. Instead of dodging the attack, he withstood it and erected a barrier of fire for the water attack to hit and create a steam cloud throughout the battlefield. The flames were obviously strong enough to douse a water attack of Dewott's caliber, but the key part of this strategy was the fact how Bainca's Dad was using the gap between experience against his own daughter. The steam clouds blocked vision that was already impaired during the night, and both Dewott and Bianca have been taken in surprise at this tactic rather than quickly adapting to the situation, but this meant her father and his Darmanitan must already repositioning themselves to counter attack from the smoke while their opponents are disoriented.

The amnesiac's fears were realized as Darmanitan burst out of the smoke and rammed into Dewott from a blind side. The water type held on though, and slid a good distance from the attack which greatly slowed down the momentum.

Bianca panicked and glanced towards Anto, who just gave a small motion to breathe in and out. The blonde trainer nodded gratefully once before looking back into the battlefield.

"Darmanitan, Superpower!" Her dad called out as Darmanitan rushed over to the smaller Water type with his fist glowing with mystic power.

"Stand your ground Dewott! Just like Takezo did!" Bianca called out.

At the mention of the name, Dewott closed his eyes before recalling a previous conversation he had with the uncanny swords master.

"How are you so strong with a blade!?" Bianca's Dewott recalled saying before he motioned both his arms towards his shells.

"That is your first false assumption," Takezo's voice resounded in Dewott's head as he snapped his eyes open to see Darmanitan readying to launch his fist right for him. "I am not strong, I simply continue to better myself as time flows on."

"Better myself?" Dewott tilted his head slightly as the attack zoomed into him, dodging the fist and the energy surrounding it. He grabbed both his shells and swung them towards the enclosing Darmanitan, igniting both shells into Razor Shells and cross slashing the chest of the fire ape as his motion made him fly past.

The Darmanitan flinched from the attack and put a hand on his chest where Dewott hit him, but despite the critical hit that was supposed to be a type advantage, Darmanitan still held on, rather it looked he was ticked off.

"I suppose it is best to be simple."

Bianca's Dad called out. "Rest! Turn into Zen mode and use Psychic!" The Darmanitan quickly retracted, his fur complete changed color, and fell asleep. Whatever damage they had managed to pull was already healing, but now there was a psychic glow to Darmanitan before he shot out a blast of psychic blast towards Dewott.

"Dodge!" Bianca yelled and her Starter quickly ran and avoided being caught in psychic energy.

"Keep blasting!" Her father countered.

Bianca put laser focus on the timing of the attacks as her Dewott kept dodging the attacks.

"I can only give you some basic stances to practice off, but your Mentality must change know if you wish to truly be strong."

After Dewott dodged another attack, Darmanitan started charging again for another psychic attack. She waited for this, paying close attention to how Anto relied on split second counter attacks before unleashing heavy combos on his enemies. She was going to pull this off, everything else, she would trust her Pokémon.

It was the half second just after Darmanitan aimed and released his attack.

Bianca did not look deterred in the slightest. "Now Dewott! Water Gun!"

"What do you mean?"

The water type slid, still moving and avoided the blast of telekinetic energy once more, but this time inhaled and blasted a stream of water towards his enemy.

"Darmanitan, Psychic on the Water Gun!" Bianca's dad called out.

The sleeping ape, while slightly caught off guard, was able to power up a quick enough Psychic to freeze the water mid air before touching him.

Bianca's dad smiled.

"Each fight, even practice, you must give your everything. Enter each fight as if it were your last, and there will be no second chance."

"Now! Go all out, Dewott!" Bianca quickly cried.

Right beneath the captured water attack, Dewott came sliding under the attack with both shells primed with Razor Shell attacks.

Bainca's dad, and by some sense Darmanitan, was surprised to see Dewott already so close. Did that mean they expected the Water Gun attack to fail and followed up on it while the Psychic attack was used on it!?

With his partner cheering him on, Dewott slashed Darmanitan with both of his blades.

"Each time you swing, pour your soul and entire being into them. Make all your hits with your last, pushing every ounce of strength and will into them."

And Dewott continued slashing, dancing around the large ape as he did so. Darmanitan long dropped his first Psychic that was holding the Water Gun and tried to blast him with another Psychic, but Dewott, simply side stepped to either side, or even jumped above the sleeping fire type, just to slash at him and weaken his focus over the attack.

Each strike looked like it wasn't doing much, but the longer Dewott moved around unpredictably, after each strike, it looked like Darmanitan was starting to lose his psychic hold on even making himself levitate.

"For I… tend to have that situation handed to me more than I would admit." That was the last thing Taekzo told him with a smile before their training ended.

Dewott gave one giant vertical slash with both of his Razor Shells.

Bianca's father panicked as he saw his pokemon start to waver from an attack like that. "That's it! Red Flash Darmanitan, wake up and enflame yourself again!"

"Back off Dewott!" Bianca acted fast at the command of her father.

The water type backed off as another explosion of flames burst from Darmanitan, waking him up and revealing the fire type looked quite injured. However, Dewott himself was looking quite fatigued, seemingly giving much effort into that assault.

"Why do you fight so hard Bianca? I only care for your safety! I don't want to see you get hurt!" Bainca's dad cried out.

"Dad… I know you care about me. I know that you just want me to be safe, but I need to grow up and face the world, even if it is dangerous! I have to grow up and live my life and find my own way! Dewott, end it! Razor Shell!"

"No! Darmanitan Flare Blitz! Don't let her win!"

The two Pokémon burst with every last ounce of their energy before rushing at each other. Two opposing lights, solid, glowing blue and brilliant, wild red clashed at each other!

Then both lights died down in an instant as both Pokémon passed by each other.

The air around the field became silent as everyone stared at the two unmoving Pokémon.

Dewott fell first, before catching himself and falling into his knee, gasping for breath.

Darmanitan turned around—before he fell into the ground unconscious.

"I… I lost…?" Bianca's dad stared in shock. "Wh-When did my little girl get so…?"

"Dad."

Bainca's dad saw Bianca had come in front of him, Dewott was still on the ground, but seemingly being watched by Anto and a rather proud Takezo.

"… Alright you win. I remember our promise—" Bianca's dad was interrupted when the blonde girl ran up and embraced her dad.

"Dad, I know you really are scared for me and are so worried for me, but I made a promise to Black, Cheren, White, and Professor Juniper that I would journey with them and meet wonderful Pokémon!" She exclaimed with an elated look in her face. Describing about all her friends and their goals gave her joy, just being with them gave her joy, and she didn't want that to end yet. "And… I want to see it through not for myself, but for them. I'm not just taking this journey for me, I'm taking it for them, my Pokémon… and you. I don't want you to think I'm being selfish and pushing you away…" She said softly.

Her dad seemed to listen to her. He hugged her closely back. "But you're my little girl… I don't want you to get hurt…"

Bianca let go and placed a hand gently on her father's cheek. "Dad, I will always be your little girl, no matter how old I get that will never change." She smiled sweetly. "But I know I need to face the world, or how can I grow up just staying in one place my whole life?"

Her father listened to her closely, before giving a bitter smile. "Seriously, when did my daughter become such a wonderful woman without me noticing? Arceus…" He started sniffing while his eyes started to get watery at such a thought. "I feel so old…" He hugged his daughter tighter.

Bianca returned the hug and leaned her head into her father's stomach. "I had some amazing friends. … And an even cooler and super awesome dad to help me out."

"You bet your poffins your father was super cool and awesome!" The father laughed and smiled despite tears still coming down his face. He broke off the hug and started posing as he did a while ago before the battle, but this time the movements weren't over exaggerated, they were steady and true. "I'm the Red Flash! One of the best trainers in Unova! And my daughter will be a million times better than me!"

Bianca smiled back, tears starting to come up from her and in honor of her dad, she did the same pose as he did. "I will be better! And I promise I won't ever forget that… and I-I promise… I won't make you regret letting me g-going on *Sniff* t-this j-journey!"

"Hahaha… please stop Bianca, you're embarrassing me with that pose!" The father managed to say despite almost previously choking for trying to poorly hide more of his tears.

"I-I'm embarrassing!?" She stopped and walked back to her dad. "I always feel like dying when you do it!" She wined but was still so genuinely happy.

The two of them laughed and cried. They laughed and cried in each other's arms.

Anto looked on, with both Dewott and Darmanitan watching on his opposite sides. Takezo was standing nearby Dewott and watching him.

It was touching, how hard the two were pretending to ignore their tears. It was sort of dorky and adorable for them. But it also gave a slight pang in Anto's heart. Where his parent's alive? And most importantly, did they even love him?

…

The two family members finally dried their tears. "Well," Bianca's dad started. "I was so focused on this fight, I forgot to get dinner. How about I treat you to a meal, sweetie?"

"Sure thing dad!" Bianca answered before looking towards Dewott. "Oh wait! Dewott! You were fantastic! But we gotta get you healed up before dinner! Come on, Return!" She said as she recalled the injured Pokémon.

However, Bianca still ran up to Anto and gave him a hug. The boy was caught by surprise by this act and blushed hard.

"Thank you Anto." She told him before running away with a brilliant smile on her face towards the Pokémon Center.

Takezo was about to make a comment, but decided for once to let this one slide.

For now.

Anto was snapped out of his stupor when Bainca's dad walked up to him.

"… Anto right?" The dad asked since he must have heard his daughter somehow.

The boy simply nodded with some unease.

"Please, take care of my daughter." He asked simply. Anto visibly relaxed and nodded solemnly.

"You don't talk a lot do you?" The father asked.

Anto shook his head.

"Well considering her three other friends, I suppose that's somewhat of an improvement." He mused. "But please, watch over her for me as well?"

Anto nodded again, as if to say that he was giving this promise his iron vow.

The father seemingly got that and recalled his Darmantian. "… I am getting old… this is the worst feeling ever."

With that he left the mute and his Patrat all alone under the night sky.

When the father left, Anto turned to Takezo. "I can't believe even in a day off, I still can't relax."

The smaller Pokémon simply smiled and folded his arms. "You do not sound even slightly disappointed."

The amber eyed boy looked to the skies above him were the stars where shining brightly.

"No. I suppose I'm not."

[Later]

Wes sat in the living room of White's main suite after hearing everyone say their peace.

It was then that Anto came in, just wanting to go to bed and try again in reaching for Elsea's badge. The young teen was quite surprised to see many people here. Tracey, White, Summer, Wes, and even Jamie were all in the living room as if they were talking to each other.

Not to mention all of their Pokémon were out.

However the air in the room told Anto there was something more going on. He took out his Pokémon and slowly walked towards them.

"Uhh did I miss something?" Anto asked all of them.

Jamie looked surprised at Anto's mental telepathy, but only mildly. "Oh you guys were telling the truth about that."

Anto stepped towards all of them. "Oh, so you know about this Jamie… but seriously why is everyone looking at me like that?"

Wes, White, and Jamie looked towards one of the couches were both Tracey and Summer sat. The two turned to each other before Tracey sighed and spoke first.

"Anto, there is no easy way to say this. But I… Summer and I are leaving."

Everyone waited for the boy to move after he said that. He blinked several times, but didn't seem to even flinch before he finally said one word.

"… What…?"

Tracey sighed again. "Do you remember those commanders that attacked us? They used strange Pokémon that were greatly powered up?" Tracey continued on since Anto didn't seem to focus on that particular subject. "I had a feeling why this was all familiar, then I recalled Professor Oak was working with Professor Sycamore in Mega Evolution. That was what gave all of their Pokémon unbelievable power. … And by learning more about it, I think there might be a lead to defeating, or finding out if they really are Dimension Enterprise. … So… I'm going to Kalos in order to find out as much as I can, or find a clue in how those people who tried to kidnap you were able to mega evolve over a dozen Pokémon at one instant."

Anto stayed silent but turned towards Summer and Flow.

"Sorry Anto. But it looks like I'm leaving for the same reasons Tracey is." She said before explaining that Ranger Union is calling everyone back and that how she was needed in assessing the situation.

After another pause, the mute boy asked, "When are you leaving?"

"Tonight." The two of them said. They both had planes later this night.

"We were just waiting for you and to say our goodbyes." Summer spoke.

Anto took a slow sit down and looked to Wes sitting next to him.

"And you?"

The thief from Orre shrugged his shoulders. "I'm apparently free of house arrest that never existed. Might as well follow you around otherwise it'll be too boring for me to wander about."

Wes' voice was unusually indifferent and emotionless than usual. It looked like even he was troubled by this despite his kept up nonchalant attitude.

"But we'll come back. I'm sure of it." Summer said and then Tracey later agreed solemnly.

"You better keep those promises," Wes said. "I'd be awfully ticked if I find either of you broke that promise."

"This coming from a thief?" Summer teased.

"Hey, I made that darn promise of not stealing Pokémon while under you."

"What?" Jamie and White looked questioningly at Wes.

"Not important," The silver haired snagger pointed to Summer. "I'll just be quite ticked to know I made a promise to someone who doesn't keep their own promises." He scoffed and looked away.

Summer gave a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind, criminal scum."

"Oh shut it nerd. You still owe me for fixing your styler."

"Why do I owe you if you pick pocketed all that money!?"

"You have no proof I did such a thing." Wes responded calmly.

Tracey and Anto smiled at the banter between the two.

Then the mute boy looked over to Jamie. "Jamie, I gotta ask, why are you here?"

The boy looked around shyly when everyone looked at him. "I just wanted to see if you were alright. You were pretty out of it after the attack."

"Yeah…" Anto looked over to his chest where there was no longer his necklace that he wore almost every day. It was the only clue to his past and now it was gone. … What could it have even been? He felt emptier without it hanging from his neck.

Meanwhile, White watched as the air in the room turned silent again.

White then clapped her hands together, catching everyone's attention. "OK, before you guys leave, I at least have to order room service! Kalos and Almia aren't short flights in anyway."

Everyone went with White in ordering whatever they wanted for room service. The meals were good, and some of the Pokémon said their goodbyes to each other while meeting up with Jamie's Pokémon: A Slyveon, Golurk, and a rather cocky Fletchinder, but at least no one left that night in a bad note.

[Elsewhere]

"The fact that you all failed to re capture Subject 5 is… problematic," He sighed heavily. "But not salvageable at least."

"I apologize sir. I thought we made the necessary precautions, I wasn't expecting his own Pokémon and everyone else to do what they did."

"It's fine Inquisitor. Right now it is important for us to make preparations. You cut off Nimbasa from the world, but that doesn't mean the black market world didn't notice your little stunt."

[Meanwhile.]

"You wanted to see me Lysandre?"

"Alain, yes. Please watch this video. It was taken from some of our agents during the Nimbasa Music Festival black out."

"Why are you showing… wait… those are!?"

"Yes. It appears that Sycamore's studies are already being misused. Our greatest fear has been realized Alain. Sooner or later, these people will undo everything your teacher tried to build."

"Grr! Who are these people!?"

"I do not know. They almost appeared out of nowhere. However, our spies found out that they are after a boy."

"A boy?"

"Yes. Let me show you a picture of this boy. The users of Six Mega Evolution were very clear in getting this one boy out of thousands of people … If you can find this boy in Unova and bring him here, we might have an idea of who these people are."

Alain carefully caressed his mega ring. "I will hunt him down. I am not going to let these thieves destroy what Sycamore has built!"

[In another place.]

"How interesting… whoever these attackers were all aimed for one unremarkable brat."

"Perrrsian…."

"Hmm. … Domino! Make a call to Cassidy and Mitch. There's a certain boy in Unova who needs to be introduced to Team Rocket…"

{Author's Note.}

I… I am a dirty, dirty liar. I promised you all Anto would battle Elesa, but when I wrote this chapter, I couldn't write it. I'm sorry.

Also, we sadly have to say goodbye to Summer and Tracey... aww... but they'll be back! Terminator Style!

... That's actually a good idea...

The reason why I did this was to remake the cast a bit so that I could make the story open for more characters. For example, one of the OCs I was given had a very, very interesting story that I couldn't ignore. (you know who you are and thank you for this OC!)

So Next chapter should hopefully be Elesa versus Anto before he heads out to the fifth badge!

(Oi, 25 plus chapters in and I'm just getting to the fourth badge? Well this'll be fun.)

Anyway though. Happy Holidays to all my readers! Since it's almost or going to be vacation time, I'm going to try and make my new year's resolution a little early and write more for you guys! (But I have to be fair and also write my other stories for my other fans.)

But if there is anyone who has finals, you could mention it either review or PM. I will gladly wait a week before unloading all the fun stories I have planned for this month.

Thanks for reading. Please Show your support by reviewing, and following and favoriting.