Hey! Did ya miss me? Of course you didn't! So I planned to get this out earlier but I ran into a wall, then I got kidney stones and was in and out of the ER for a couple days, and then Christmas and the new Star Wars, but enough excuses. I'm better, I got my drive back, and I've seen the movie three times!
~Somewhere underground Kalos~
"Sir. You sent for me?" A man said saluting his master. He stood in a mostly pitch-black room. The only sources of light were a dimly lit computer monitor and the lights from the hallway outside the room.
"Yes, I did. Did Agent 2's report come in yet?" A man asked turning around his swivel chair. There in the very back of the room sat a single man. All features of the man's body and face were shrouded in a blanket of shadows.
"Uh… yeah. From what I gathered from the report, Ketchum is not the same as he was a year ago." He reported "Agent 2 reported that he was completely rude and untrusting to him. He is currently monitoring the boy at Sycamore's and will inform us if anything new comes up."
"Good. It seems putting agents undercover in every professor's lab in the 6 main regions was a good idea after all."
"However, Agent 2 reported also that he is not as far along in the process as you had hoped he would be by now," 'Whatever that means.' he silently added. "and he says that his friends are the direct cause of this, especially the girl. If I may ask, why have we not taken care of them already?"
"We're in no position to be harming anyone, Jim."
"Kane. My name is Kane." He clarified
"Not important." He shrugged off almost instantly. "Anyway, it's a shame they didn't give in to Oak's offers, but we can't just go around eliminating whomever we want. Yet." He said in thought. "The blonde and his sister are important members of Kalos society and his little girlfriend rarely leaves his side these days. At the moment our top grunt couldn't handle his Infernape or Charizard. And even I would fall against his Greninja. That's why he must become one of us."
"What?" Kane asked raising an eyebrow.
"Did you think I did all of this for the fun of it? Targeting a kid? Turning his close friends against him? Making him untrusting and angry? It's all been for him and his pokemon!" The man said standing up.
"Could you clarify? You lost me."
"Tell me. What is the best way to defeat an enemy?"
"Yveltal?"
"You make them your ally." He responded coolly. "There won't be a pokemon like Greninja or a trainer like Ash again in our lifetimes. If we want to achieve our goals we need the boy." He said as he paced back and forth. "If you were to go anywhere near his friends he'll never join us. He'll destroy us."
"So how do we get him to join us?" Kane asked raising an eyebrow.
"We need to make him think he needs us. That he has no other choice. And so I turned his friends and family against him in hopes he would give up, giving us our chance. While it didn't work exactly the way I wanted, thanks to those kids, it forced him to grow stronger faster than his previous rate of progression molding him into an even stronger trainer than I had hoped." Soon he will be one of us. He just needs incentive."
"I guess it does make sense." Kane said "He is the boy who took down Team Galactic, Team Plasma, and various branches of Team Rocket."
The man just laughed. "Those rookies?!" he chuckled. "Believe me, if Ketchum were to reach his true potential, they could all take him on at once and still lose without him breaking a sweat."
"He didn't seem that tough to me. He's just a kid! What are you leaving out?"
"Patience. First things first," The man smirked. "how's of our little project coming along?"
Kane sighed. "Sir were at 80% completion but we can't go any further without making our presence known. If our power and radiation levels go any higher, someone's bound to notice and come investigating."
"Do any of our staff have any pokemon that know Trick Room?"
"I'm not sure. That's not my area. Why?"
"In theory using the move Trick room could cut off all radiation and power signatures allowing us to move forward." He said with determination. He turned his swivel chair back towards his monitor and began typing. "It says here one of my undercover workers at Birch's lab owns a Gothitelle who knows Trick Room." He peered back at his employee over his shoulder. "I want her called back here and in the lab immediately. I don't care what she's doing at the moment, I need that Gothitelle, be sure to make the call. Once our project is completed we can enter Phase 2 and begin our conquest of Kalos." He turned his attention to his computer screen.
"SIR!" A new voice screamed from behind him.
The man let out a long sigh and looked back over his shoulder to see a new face pushing Kane to the side grabbing his full attention. "I didn't call for you. You should know better than to show up unannounced and uninvited." He said dangerously
"A thousand pardons sir! But your second in command ordered me to come straight here! I have news on the boy with the Minun!"
"Alright." He said smiling wickedly. "You have my attention. Just stop yelling." He ordered calmly. "You have his location?"
"Yes sir. He's leaving the North Kalos Airport as we speak. He's scheduled to arrive at Sycamore's lab later today."
"Good. Have our agents at Sycamore's keep an eye on him while I get a few grunts over there."
"What's special about this kid, sir?" Kane quizzed.
"Beyond his amazing ability to laugh his way through all of his problems? Absolutely nothing." He sneered. Weirdly enough, the sneer quickly turned into a grin. "But tell me, what would you say if I could give you anything and everything you ever wanted at the snap of my fingers?" He asked snapping his fingers in front of him.
"I'd say that's too tall an order for one man, even you sir." Kane responded
"Maybe for me, but not for Jirachi." He responded
"Jirachi's just a legend made up by that ex-Magma circus jockey." Kane said
The man just shook his head "So pessimistic," he said "never underestimate the wonders of the world of pokemon. This kid carries around a Jirachi with him at all times."
"Are you sure?"
The man just nodded. "Infinite wishes has a nice ring to it doesn't it?"
XXXXXXXXXX
~Sycamore's lab~
"Professor?!" A boy called opening the front door to the lab. Anyone who had ever been to Hoenn could immediately tell who his ace was. He was obviously partnered with a Minun seeing as he had its likeness all over his shirt and on the legs of his pants. He had shoulder length brown hair topped off with a lightning bolt hat. And, of course, on his shoulder sat the Cheering Pokemon itself, Minun. "Are you here?!" He called again, looking around the room. "It's Abel! Pine did say Sycamore didn't have anything scheduled today, didn't he?" The boy asked turning his head towards his partner who just nodded in response. "Then we must be at the wrong place." He guessed. "I knew it was a bad idea to let you read the map!" He scolded himself.
"Minun!" The pokemon retorted defensively. "Mi-NUN!" It shrieked letting out a high electric shock onto his trainer causing him to fall over.
"Jeez, buddy," He said coughing and rubbing soot of his shirt. He rose slowly to ensure his wouldn't lose balance again. "I was just kidding buddy." He complained.
Just seconds after he saw the professor in question rush into the room. "Ah! Abel! I thought I heard a commotion." He exclaimed walking up to the young boy. "Pine has told me all about you!"
"Ditto, Professor. Although, you could have at least had someone here to welcome me in. I thought I had the wrong place." Abel laughed to himself.
"Ah, yes. So sorry about that. I was aiding Ash, Pikachu, and Serena, with some of my infinite pokemon knowledge." He said tapping a finger to the side of his head a couple times.
"Who?" He asked tilting his head. "Are they your employees?"
"No, no, Ash and his pikachu live here, and Serena comes over almost every day to make sure he's alright. Ash, Serena, come here quick!" He called turning his head.
The two teens entered through the same room Sycamore came from, both in their trademark outfits. Pikachu sitting on his trainer's right shoulder.
"Ash, Pikachu, Serena, this is Abel and Minun. He came from Johto to challenge the Kalos League. But I've asked him to stick around here for a couple weeks to help with research before he leaves."
"Nice to meetcha." He said happily. Abel smiled and stuck his hand out to Serena.
"It's great to meet you too." She said taking his hand and shaking it. Abel moved from Serena over to Ash sticking his hand out hoping to repeat the process. Just before their hands shook he glanced at the pikachu sitting on his shoulder.
"What happened to your friend?" He asked pointing at the aforementioned mouse.
Ash quickly pulled his hand back towards himself breaking the handshake halfway through. "I'm going to see my pokemon, Dawn and Paul now. Bulbasaur said he's going to need help at the corral today. Thanks for the help Professor, if you need me just call." He finished turning away and proceeding out of the room.
XXXXXXXXXX
~Hallway leading to the corral~
"So, what if he thinks I'm a jerk? I don't care what he thinks. He and I aren't friends, nor do we need to be." Ash told his companion. "You know it's gotten exceedingly hard for me to socialize."
"Pika Pika!" The mouse said to its trainer form atop his shoulder.
"Maybe I did overreact a little...but it's still a raw subject alright. " He countered
"Pika. Pikachu."
"Look, I know he didn't mean it, it's just...I'm perfectly fine with the group of friends I have. I don't see the need to make any more. When he pointed out your cybernetics it just reminded me of what might happen if I let him get close."
"Pika..." He responded sadly.
"Maybe you're right, buddy." He said solemnly. "Maybe I do need to regain some of my old self. Thanks for the talk buddy." He said reaching up and scratching behind the rodents ear.
~Back with Sycamore~
"Was it something I said?" He asked no one in particular. "I do have a knack for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time." He thought out loud.
"Don't let it get to you." Serena said walking towards him. "Ash is complicated. He would have reacted to anyone that way. Give him time and he'll open up to you."
"Indeed. He's very untrusting these days but I'm sure you two could get along, in fact you remind me of him from days past. Just give it time." Sycamore added
"Really?" Abel asked. "I don't see the similarities." He stated.
"Yes well, he's had it rough as of recent." Sycamore replied.
"What do you mean?" Abel asked.
"The short version is, a year ago, some of his friends and family attacked him and his loyal pokemon, and one of them shot and critically injured his best friend Pikachu. He and his pokemon left his hometown of Pallet and moved in with me here at the lab." Sycamore explained.
"He's actually a very warm and caring person, he just doesn't trust outsiders." Serena chimed in.
"I don't know exactly how to feel about you calling me an outsider." Abel said to Serena.
"Sorry," She said. "That's just what he calls people he doesn't care to associate with."
"Before a year ago, you and him would've been so alike people might not have been able to tell you apart from each other." Sycamore finished
"That's too bad. But I could still do without the attitude, it's not like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders."
'If only you knew how many times he's indirectly saved your life' Sycamore thought "Anyway, how about a change of subject," Sycamore said smiling at the boy. "Now then, can I see it?" Sycamore asked.
"Oh, right. I forgot you wanted to see him." Abel responded.
"See who?" Serena asked.
"My pokemon." Abel responded simply. "Come on out Jirachi!" He exclaimed throwing a pokeball into the air.
When the light faded, a small pokemon floated before them. Its body and head were white and it had yellow ribbon like structures on its back and a yellow star formation atop its head with blue tassels on the top, left, and right.
"Professor, Serena, this is my friend Jirachi, the Wish Pokemon!"
"Oh, it's adorable." Serena gushed. "Hello cutie, I'm Serena."
'Hello, Serena. My name is Jirachi.' It responded.
"Amazing, it talks!" Sycamore said leaning forward towards the wishmaker. "So, this is the legendary Jirachi, huh? And it can really grant anyone a wish?" He asked
"Yes and no. He can give you what you want, but he can't create things so whatever you wish for he's forced to steal. That's why we've agreed not to wish for anything right Minun?"
The little pikachu clone nodded his head in response.
"I have to get Ash and the others! He'd love to meet another legendary pokemon!"
'Ash?' Jirachi asked. 'I wonder...' And with that Jirachi took off after Serena.
"Jirachi!" Abel shouted. "Where are you going, pal?!"
~Sycamore's Corral~
Meanwhile Ash and Paul were getting some much-needed downtime and, of course, decided to spend it with a one on one.
"Alright Staraptor, hit him with your best Steel Wing!" Ash called. Extending his hand toward Paul and his Honchkrow.
The Sinnoh bird elevated itself further into the air and whipped its left wing into a wingspan formation and the feathers and flesh quickly mutated to pure steel. It kicked off through the wind and towards a very calm crow, its single metal wing spread out.
"Take the move! Stay exactly where you are!" Paul ordered.
Per his orders the Boss pokemon didn't move an inch from its original spot ready to receive whatever damage Staraptor was dealing.
'Something's not right here,' Ash thought to himself. 'What's he up to? Staraptor's got a lot of damage on him, best to pull out in case.' He thought. "Staraptor, fall back!" He yelled.
"Too late." Paul replied quietly. Staraptor's Steel Wing collided directly on Honchkrow's head. Paul smirked knowingly. "Use payback!" Honchkrow quickly was engulfed in a dark aura before channeling it into a single beam. "Finish him!" Honchkrow proceeded to shoot the unprepared Sinnoh bird point-blank causing the pokemon to fall to the ground out cold.
"Staraptor is unable to battle! Honchkrow is the winner! The battle goes to Paul!" Dawn decreed gesturing toward the boy with Piplup mimicing her moves.
"Staraptor!" Ash called running to his fainted pokemon.
"Don't worry Ash, I got this," Dawn called. "Togekiss come out!" She yelled holding the pokeball in her hand, outstretched in front of her. The pokeball open and after a flash of light, Dawn's Togekiss sat awaiting orders. "Use roost on Ash's Staraptor!" Togekiss surronded the fallen bird with glowing feathers endowed with healing abilities successfully reviving Staraptor.
"Looks like I win, Ketchum." Paul said smuggly watching Honchkrow join the other pokemon playing in the corral. "One would think the more you train the better you get, but you've gone a little soft, haven't you?" He said walking towards him
"You got lucky." Ash responded. "It won't happen again."
"I disagree. You made a rookie mistake I'd expect from Sinnoh Ash." Paul shot back "I can't believe you fell for that! I knew using a move that deals double the damage I would've take to you would be useful but I didn't think it'd work on you."
"Do you always have to gloat over your opponent when you win? It can't be what Dawn see's in you." He said back. Closing the gap between them to now a mere 20 feet.
"Maybe she likes it when I gloat, and at least I'm man enough to make a move, Ketchum. In any case that makes the score 30 wins to 23 wins, me." Paul taunted walking closer towards him.
"You've got it backwards! I've got 29 wins and you have 24," He retorted pointing a finger at him. "You may have this win but your memory's fading." He taunted back.
Dawn and Piplup stepped between the two boys. "Paul! Ash! If you two are done measuring your-"
"Ash!" Serena interrupted running up to the group of friends. "You're not going to believe this! That guy with the professor has a legendary pokemon with him!"
"What?" Dawn asked.
"I saw it! It's adorable! It can talk! It can grant-" Serena said rapidly
"Serena, slow down. I can't listen that fast." Ash said putting his arms out in a calming gesture.
"You're seeing things." Paul replied. "I've met my fair share of rare and legendary pokemon, and trust me, they don't fancy being captured by pokemon trainers. They much rather live out in peace. It's why they rarely show themselves." He informed her.
"But-" Serena started.
"Not only that," Ash interrupted. "But it would take an extraordinarily strong trainer to be able to weaken one enough to catch it, something I doubt that kid is capable of."
"But Ash," Serena said finally getting her words in. "I saw the Jirachi with my own eyes!"
'Jirachi?' Ash thought. 'Oh no.'
'ASH!' Another familiar voice yelled. The four turned to see the wish pokemon floating its way towards them. 'Friend Ash!' It screeched excitedly.
"Jirachi? How are you doing buddy? And more importantly, what are you doing here?"
'When my trainer found my crystal prison, Lady Arceus let me out of my crystalized state so I could enjoy life!' He explained looping through the air happily.
"It's adorable!" Dawn yelled. She quickly set down her penguin partner and ran up to the star shaped pokemon and wrapping her arms around it. "You are so, so, so, so, so cute!" She said rocking it back and forth in her arms quickly.
"Dawn." Ash said simply.
Dawn colored realizing what a bad impression she must be making. "Sorry, Jirachi." She said letting the small pokemon out of her grip.
"Jirachi, these are my good friends, Dawn and Paul." He introduced pointing at them respectively. "I met the both of them after my journey in Hoenn. I'll have to remember to video call Brock later so you can see him." He told himself.
'What about Max?' Jirachi asked excitedly.
"What about him?" Paul said rudely, earning a glare from Dawn.
'Is Max here, too? I missed him as well.'
"Of course, the little brat isn't here. Don't tell me you actually like the little-"
"Paul!" Ash scolded in a deadly tone. 'It would break his heart if he knew what Max did. On the other hand, he could side with him too. Then I'd be fighting a wishmaker.' He thought. 'It'd be best if he didn't know about anything from back then.' He concluded. "To be honest, I haven't spoken to Max in over a year. Just haven't had the time. But if Arceus wishes it, you two will meet again." He half-heartedly assured him.
"But-" Paul started. He didn't get another word out before Dawn slapped her hand over his mouth. She was able to see what Ash was doing and wasn't going to let Paul ruin it. Ash looked back at them and saw Dawn nod knowingly.
"Hey Dawn, I think the professor wanted to see you two. Would you mind?" He asked.
"Not at all, Ash." Dawn answered. "And not another word out of you." She ordered pointing an accusing finger at Paul. As the couple walked out of the corral they passed the kid from before coming in.
"Jirachi!" "Minun!" They simultaneously called. "What have I told you about running off?"
'But I wanted to see Ash!' It whined back. 'And hopefully Max'
"You know him Jirachi? How? I found you frozen in crystal."
"I spent around a week with the little guy before he went in to that state, presumably for a long, long, time. I didn't think he'd allow himself to get caught just like that." Ash explained, a suspicious look on his face.
"Well we spent a couple days together first, then when I had to go back to Johto he asked if he could come with to see the world. He was worried if he was left on his own people would capture and abuse his powers like he said had happened before."
"Makes sense after that whole ordeal with Butler." Ash thought out loud.
"Who?" Abel inquired.
"Not important." Ash said waving off his concerns.
"Excuse me." Said a voice hadn't heard before. He, Serena, Abel and their pokemon turned to see two men standing a couple hundred feet from them.
"Who are you?" Abel asked.
"Just a couple of average joe's visiting the many pokemon here in the corral. The second said.
"They don't work here, that's for sure." Serena elaborated.
"And something tells me they aren't friendly." Ash added.
"Oh, you're overreacting." Abel said calmly. "They're probably trainers here to see their pokemon. That is why corrals exists."
"Stay back." Ash commanded. "I know all Sycamore's sponsored trainers, and I've never seen these two." He said calmly.
"Our boss is in need of that Jirachi!" The first man ordered pointing a finger at them. "Sableye, let's go!"
"You can skip the battle and just give us the wishmaker if you'd like. Heracross, fight for your master!"
"MEGA EVOLVE!" They both yelled in unison. Both pokemon proceeded to surround themselves with enough thick energy to make them impossible to see as their DNA mutated into something greater behind the scenes. Two explosions revealed a once weak muscled bug with a rounded head to now have a buff build and the once round head formed into another horn. On the other hand, the Sableye's only change was that it now hid behind a precious ruby.
"Our boss has been watching you for too long for us to come back empty handed! All we want is Jirachi!" The first grunt told them.
"Huh, guess you were right, Ash. But how'd they get in here?"
"Don't know, don't care." He answered. "Buizel, Gliscor, to my side!" He ordered. Both the sea weasel pokemon and the fang scorpion pokemon rushed to Ash's side and to a battle stance.
"No way, they want Jirachi. That makes this my fight!" Abel said. "Minun, you sit this one out! Let's go Tropius!" He yelled throwing a pokeball straight up into the air. The light cleared to show what looked like a tree with the body of an animal.
"If you insist." Ash said calmly. "Buizel, me and Gliscor can handle it."
"Wait." The second grunt interrupted. "Isn't that kid the one the boss told us not to engage if we saw?" He asked pointing to Ash.
"Doesn't matter now!" He told him. "Besides as long as we win, he'll be happy. Now that that's done, Sableye use Shadow Sneak on that Tropius!" The first Grunt commanded. Sableye was quickly engulfed by shadow and then disappeared without a trace.
"Where'd he go?! Abel asked turning his head back and forth rapidly scanning for the pokemon. Suddenly he heard Tropius cry out in pain. He couldn't believe how fast that Sableye was.
"Shadow sneak allows a pokemon to disappear into the shadows and reappear in a person's shadow. I'd advise you to wacth more closely." Ash explained.
"Enough talk!" The second grunt hollered. "Heracross, use Megahorn on the Tropius!" The top horn began to glow and charged toward the scorpion.
"Use Stone Edge Gliscor! Knock that Heracross off its path!" He turned his attention toward Abel "Get ready, kid!" He yelled earning a nod from his teammate. "Now Gliscor!" He ordered. The ground began to shake around the Heracross.
"Tropius! Get ready for an attack! Use Dragon Dance!" Abel ordered.
"Oh no, you don't! Sableye use Icy Wind on him before that dance is complete!"
Abel looked over to see that the Heracross was on its back, presumably after being hit. "Too late, Tropius use Body Slam on Heracross while he's down!" Tropius switched attention from the Sableye to the Heracross and shot upwards into the air. Per its instructions it came down hard and fast from the air, smashing into the defenseless pokemon.
"Damn it! Heracross! Are you okay?" The grunt got his answer when his pokemon didn't get back up from the attack.
"Sableye use Dark Pulse!"
"Smash through it using X-Scissor!" Ash commanded. As the pulse approached him Gliscor tried to smash through. The pulse however was to strong and ended up directly hitting the scorpion instead.
"Gliscor! Ash called as the pokemon spiraled down into the ground. "Get up buddy! You're not done yet!" He encouraged.
"Sableye, hit him with another Dark Pulse while he's down!"
"Tropius, use Air Slash! Don't let that pulse hit Gliscor! Get in front of him and kick up some wind!"
The pokemon got in-between the attack and Gliscor and began to flap its wings rapidly.
"Good job kid!" Ash yelled noticing that Gliscor was finally getting back up. "Now use those winds to push back the attack and I'll finish this!" He ordered.
"You heard him Tropius! Use your wings!" The tropical pokemon happily obliged and started flapping its wings even harder than before. It wasn't working to the effect they had hoped, however. It managed to slow the speed of the pulse down but failed to push it back completely. "I don't think Tropius can do any more!" Abel called to Ash.
"It doesn't need to." Ash told him confidently. "Gliscor finish this with Fire Fang!" Ash commanded. Gliscor shot forward at an amazing speed toward its target as fire began to fill his mouth.
"Dodge it Sableye! Hide behind your gem!" The grunt yelled. Luckily for Sableye, the gem was more than big enough to block the attack.
"New plan Gliscor!" Ash called. "X-Scissor to knock the gem away from him!" The scorpion crossed his pinchers across his torso in an x formation and the began to glow green. As soon as enough power was built up, he uncrossed his arms swiftly firing all of the built-up energy.
"Sableye use Protect!"
"Now!" Ash told Abel who just nodded in response, despite his willingness to get to know Abel he had to admit they made a good team. It was like they could read each other's minds.
"Tropius, he's vulnerable from the side! Use Air slash while he's blocking Gliscor." Sableye was too preoccupied with Gliscor to notice Tropius in time. The air slash collided with the small darkness pokemon knocking him out cold.
"Damn it! Return Sableye!" The grunt brought his wrist up to his chest and turned a knob on his watch. "Boss! We failed, permission to teleport back?"
'Permission granted. Sending in Gardevoir now.' The disembodied voice responded. There was a small flash of pink and white lights for a moment before the aforementioned Gardevoir appeared. She left, however, as quickly as she came taking the grunts with her.
~Sycamore's office~
"That's interesting." Sycamore remarked. "Here for less than an hour and you've already been attacked in an attempt to take your pokemon." He stood in his office with Ash, Pikachu, Serena, Abel, and Minun.
"Not to mention they broke in so easily." Abel noted.
"That's actually not surprising. I've had more than my fair share of trespassers, thieves, and rival lab spies break in the premises. Luckily, I've had Garchomp and now for the past year, Ash as well. They have been more than enough to take care of any intruders." Sycamore explained. "In any case, you two managed to drive them away." He said smiling at the two. "I'm sure they'll think twice next time. We need to focus on more pressing matters. I've a room cleaned, and ready for you to move into. There's enough room for both you and your pokemon or they can hang out in the corral with the other pokemon."
"Thanks, professor, but I prefer it if my pokemon are with me at all times, especially now that those two came for Jirachi." Abel responded politely
"Wait a second, Abel's moving in too?" Ash asked.
Sycamore nodded in response. "As I said he's going to be helping me for a couple weeks before he sets off, so I figured that the least I could do was give him three meals and a roof."
"And it beats paying for those expensive hotels!" Abel chuckled to himself.
"So, are you just a Bed and Breakfast now, professor?" Serena asked jokingly.
"Maybe so!" Sycamore laughed. "Now the last thing to do is record your pokemon in the log, and you'll be good to go!" He said cheerily. "Follow me!" Sycamore proceeded out the door and Ash, Serena, and Abel followed.
"Professor Sycamore, what do you mean we have to record them?" Abel asked the professor.
"In here." He said opening a door to a small room. There wasn't much in the room, in fact over a third of it was taken up by a single machine. "The human brain can only maintain roughly 100 relationships at a single time. We have way too many pokemon here for one human brain to record at once, so I had my researchers build this!" He said gesturing to the giant machine. "When a new pokemon comes in I record its name, trainer, and give it a random serial number. Then in the mornings we do role call to make sure everyone's accounted for! If you'll kindly put your pokeballs in the bevels, the machine will register them in. Then, if you decide to station your pokemon elsewhere in the future, the computer will automatically delete the serial numbers of your pokemon from its systems."
"All right." He shrugged placing his pokeballs in the six available slot in the machine in front of him.
'Scanning...' The robotic voice spoke. 'Registered. Minun. Trainer, Abel Whichine. Number, 74268344.' The machine continued to beep and whir as it repeated the process with Abel's Tropius, Altaria, Typhosiion, Lopunny, and finally, Jirachi.
"Your pokemon are officially registered! If you would like a tour, I'm sure Ash and Serena would be happy to show you around." He offered.
"I'd rather go see if Paul's up for another round," Ash said cooly.
"Ash!" Serena scolded. "You can at least try to make connections, you know. You need to stop brooding around everyone you don't know, it's not healthy."
"Serena, I -"
"Pika! Pikachu!" His loyal friend scolded him. He knew there was little chance of him getting out of it with Serena on his case but Serena and Pikachu...
Ash sighed. "All right, I give. Abel grab your pokemon and follow me."
"Oh, one more thing. Ash." Sycamore said causing Ash to pivot his body back towards him. "You'll have a guest later on so be ready when I call you."
~Corral~
~1 hour later~
"And that about covers it!" Serena said cheerfully. "Well that is, besides the restricted area's we aren't allowed to enter."
'Ash, your guest is here!' Sycamore announced over the loudspeaker. 'We await you in my office.'
"Why doesn't he just tell you who it is?" Serena asked
Ash shrugged in response. "Maybe it's a surprise. Might as well go see who it is right buddy?" He asked turning his head to his companion.
"Pika!"
~Sycamores office~
Ash, Serena, and Abel walked up to the door at the end of the hallway marked 'Professor' and knocked.
"Ah, Ash! Come in, my boy!" Sycamore yelled from the outside. The three entered to see Sycamore sitting at his desk and a very familiar lilac-haired girl standing in front with her back turned.
"Anabel?" Ash asked. The girl turned around to show that it was indeed Anabel but with a few changes from what he was used to. She wasn't wearing her Salon Maiden outfit. In its place was a tight fitting black tuxedo and matching dress pants. Her hair was slightly longer as well.
"Hey Ash! Miss me?" She asked cheekily noticing the not exactly mad but definitely not happy look on Serena's face.
"Of course, but I thought Scott said you wouldn't be able to take off any more time? He already gave you an extra vacation day so you could come to my party, he needs you, doesn't he?" Ash quizzed.
"Oh, well, I quit." She answered casually.
"Wait, what?" Ash asked flabbergasted.
There you go! I got lazy at the end, but it's still just as long as my other chapters so whatever. As for shipping I don't write romance well but I recognize I gave way too much time too Serena and Ash as opposed to Anabel so I worked her back in and you can expect to see more of her. Any questions, just PM me, I'm normally pretty good at responding