Chapter 11: Training Day.

Ash and Iris made it to the TM shop, which looked like many of the warehouse buildings in town. The two trainers and their Pokemon looked like kids in a candy store. Normally Ash never used these things, but whatever advantage he could get right now, as long as it didn't really hurt his Pokemon, he'd be willing to take. The shopkeeper gave the two trainers a suspicious glare, mostly at Iris. Ash scowled right back at him before going back to browsing. Pikachu couldn't really tell the multi-colored devices apart, and Ash looked like he was struggling as well. Iris gave him an amused chuckle.

"Ash you little kid, don't tell me you can't tell these apart?" Iris said with good-natured teasing.

"I've never really used these, so no Iris." Ash admitted. Iris just smiled.

"Well I happen to have very good eye with TMs. My sixth sense is telling me that this one right here is perfect for Pikachu!" Iris said confidently while picking a random TM.

"'Tada, Wild Charge!" Iris proclaimed. Ash and Pikachu looked at it.

"Iris, this says Rock Tomb." Ash said in a deadpan manner. Iris's face didn't change reaction until her eyes moved to actually check the TM's label.

"Sixth sense huh?" Ash asked in a teasing manner while Iris put the TM back.

"Smarty pants." Iris mumbled, putting her now folded arms together while making a pouting face. Ash and Pikachu laughed.

"Excuse me mister, can you help us out. We're looking for a TM for Dragon Dance?" The Kanto trainer asked.

"Sure, it's right here, but I doubt you hooligans can afford it." The shopkeeper said with a sneer, getting out the TM.

"Who says hooligan anymore." Both trainers and Pokemon thought, minus Axew.

"Oh come on, it shouldn't co-AHHHH! Why does it cost so much!?" Iris asked, seeing the move she craved was way out of her price range.

"Sorry, but Dragon type TMs are a bit more expensive. If you don't want anything else I suggest you let the other customers shop." The TM shop owner requested, in spite of the place being empty.

"That pricing is totally unfair…" Iris mumbled.

"Well then little dragon girl, I suggest you get on out of here." The shop owner said with an annoyed look on his face.

"Don't worry, I'll pay for it." Ash said simply, causing Iris to look at him, while the shopkeeper scoffed.

"I doubt a ten year old child like you could afford this." The storeowner muttered.

Before Ash could correct the man, the two trainers were pushed aside by someone familiar to Iris. This was the same guy who took her wallet. He pulled out two Poke Balls in a threatening manner.

"Alright, hand over all your money, and your TMs!" The thug cockily demanded as he unleashed his Watchog, and Vanillite. Iris was about to protest, and have Axew attack, but the sight of the Ice Pokemon caused her and Axew to shriek in terror.

Ash got in front of Iris and threw out a Poke Ball. "Tepig, Ember, Pikachu, Purrloin, take him down!" Ash commanded. The Fire Pig spewed out hot fire on the floating Ice Pokemon. Purrloin added her Shadow Claw to finish it off. Once the Ice type was gone, Iris decked the thug across the face, and pinned him to the ground. Axew, with Pikachu's help, knocked out the Normal type. Ash helped Iris finish the robber off with a good whack of his Aura staff. When it was all over, the shop owner came out from under his desk to see the two smiling kids and their Pokemon.

"You saved me from being robbed. Thank you, thank you both! How can I repay you?" The man asked.

"Oh you don't need to do that." Ash said, while Iris reclaimed her wallet from the thief.

"No, I insist, here Missy, take the Dragon Dance TM, and boy, take one TM of your choice." The shopkeeper said while the two trainers looked at each other, smiling.

The two pairs of humans and Pokemon left the shop with smiles on their faces.

"Wow that was really lucky." Ash admitted. Iris and Axew were still squealing over the Dragon Dance TM. While to Ash it wasn't that big a deal, but to Iris any move that would get her closer to becoming a Dragon Master was like gold. He noted that she looked even cuter all happy and excited like this. He couldn't help but be as excited for his next Gym Battle. He was actually looking forward to battling again.

However, Iris spotted someone she didn't want to see. She let out a small yelp, and quickly ran to hide in a nearby tree, leaving her friends and her Pokemon confused.

"Iris, what are you doing?" Ash asked.

"Is it Plasma?!" The Dark type hissed, looking around and getting rallied up.

"No, if a lady with a clipboard asks for me, please, please, don't let her know that I'm here! Heck, just say you don't even know me!" Iris whispered in a worried tone.

"Huh?" Ash mumbled as the woman Iris spoke of appeared right before him, causing the Kanto trainer and his Pokemon to yelp.

"Pardon me young trainer, could I borrow a moment of your time?" The woman asked in a friendly tone.

"Um, sure." Ash said, unsure of how this would play out.

"I'm with Unova's Child Services, and I've been looking for a missing child. By any chance, have you seen someone who looks like her?" The woman asked, showing Ash her clip broad. On it, Ash could see an old photo of a very young and small Iris. Ash would have remarked on how cute she looked if not for the sad look on Iris's face.

"The girl's name is Iris; she's a runaway from the Village of Dragon's foster home. I've been trying to return her for quite some time." The older woman explained. Ash realized that Iris hadn't really mentioned anything about her home life before. It hurt knowing that his friend and possible crush didn't have any family. He also remembered Iris's request and the almost frightened tone of her voice. She clearly didn't want to be discovered.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I've never seen this girl or anyone like her before." Ash lied. The Child Service woman gave him an unconvinced gaze. In the tree, Iris had to cover her and Axew's mouth. The Dragon Trainer was sweating bullets, praying to the dragons to have this woman leave her be.

"Are you sure? Someone like her would be easy to spot, given her ridiculous hair and all." The woman offhandedly insulted.

"My hair is not ridiculous!" Iris thought, stopping every ounce of herself from saying that out loud.

"I don't think here hair's ridiculous at all! I think it's pretty. Pretty cool that is!" Ash defended his friend, while giving out more information than he wanted.

"You sound like you know her…or that you've met her at least once. If you're having trouble remembering, I'm sure I can refresh your memory…I assure you that I can make it worth your while." The woman said, giving a bribing gesture. Iris had heard this offer many times before. This would be it; her so called friend would show his true colors. She thought he would sell her out like all the selfish little kids before him had, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. Being hunted by her was bad as it is, but now Team Plasma just made things worse.

"Do you think I'm stupid!?" Ash shouted, causing the woman and Iris to be taken aback.

"Excuse me?" She snapped, while Iris skipped a beat.

"This is just another one of your stupid plans to steal Pikachu, or my other friend's Pokemon, isn't it Team Rocket!" The Kanto trainer accused. Never in all of Iris's life had she been glad that she had been wrong.

"I have no idea what you're going on about kid!" The Child Service worked muttered.

"Oh take off that stupid wig already! I know it's you Jessie!" Ash demanded as he grabbed a large chunk of the, less than moral, adult's hair. She gave an enraged scream as he and Pikachu assaulted her hair. After a few more yanks and shrieks, Ash and Pikachu soon realized how wrong they had been.

"Whoops, wrong person." Pikachu muttered.

"Ummm sorry?" Ash said, trying to save face, which only got him assaulted by the social worker's clipboard.

"YOU LITTLE TWERP!" The woman screamed as she attacked him again. A few blocks down, the actual Team Rocket watched what was happening with popcorn at the ready. Iris and Axew watched their friends being chased around by the enraged woman, who was about to pull out her own Pokemon.

Pikachu never gave her a chance to send it out to battle, as he Thunderbolted her into the sky. For the trio of Pokemon crooks, it actually felt good see that happen to someone else. However, when the purple cat turned her head in their direction, they vanished. Meowth still felt the sting of her claws from the last fight.

"She's gone now." Ash stated, knocking on the tree. Slowly, the Dragon Master in training and her Pokemon came down from the tree.

"Uhhh, thanks for that guys." Iris said, sounding embarrassed. She wasn't really sure what to say since part of her dirty laundry had been aired out to her friends.

"Eehhh, don't sweat it Iris, I didn't really do much." He said, seeing her smile.

"Well you did more than you realized. Trust me on that." Iris spoke.

An awkward pause then occurred, the two teenagers unsure of what to say next. Ash wasn't sure if he she should ask about Iris being a runaway, an orphan, or just leave it be.

"Did you plan that whole Team Rocket bit?" The Dragon Trainer asked out of curiosity, while quickly changing the subject.

Pikachu and Ash just gave the girl sheepish looks. "Not really." Both of them admitted. Purrloin rolled her eyes. Iris started laughing at the circumstances.

"Ash…you are such a haha…Okay lets go train. I saw a Battle Club nearby." Iris cheerily told her friend and his Pokemon. Iris took Ash's hand and dragged him along laughing. Iris was glad to know that Ash was a true loyal friend.

Cheren couldn't believe what Bianca made him watch. It was a cartoon about a chubby, happy go lucky kid, with a gem on his belly button, who had crazy adventures with his three alien family members. It was so weird and pretty good. They just finished an episode of the kid making a new friend with a lonely girl with glasses. The show was silly, moving, and the artwork was interesting.

"So, what do you think?" Bianca asked while cuddling with her Minccino.

Cheren turned away from the screen. "Is there more?" He asked, thinking he could train after at least a few more episodes. Bianca looked overjoyed since the network was playing a marathon. "So why does his dad live in a van?" Cheren asked.

"You'll find out more about Greg later." Bianca said, beaming as the theme song came back on. Normally Cheren would get annoyed by a shows theme song being played over and over, but this one he didn't mind at all.

"We are the Crystal Gems!" Bianca started to sing along, which in Cheren's opinion, only made it better.

Ash whistled at the equipment in the Battle Club. It seemed more like an actual gym for humans, but also had Pokemon and battling in mind. Iris was already on a dancing mat, training Axew with Dragon Dance. Pikachu and Purrloin got off of Ash while he pulled out Oshawott, who was fixated on the large indoor pool, Pidove, Lady Snivy, and Tepig, who was looking very nervous.

"Hey guys…okay, so we had a bit of a rough morning. That fight wasn't our best, and something tells me the fights are gonna get tougher. So let's…Tepig, why are you crying?" Ash said in a worried tone of voice. He bent down to the Fire Pig's eyelevel, as the other Pokemon also gave worried looks. Well, Oshawott was giving Tepig an annoyed look.

"A-Are…Are you gonna get rid of me?" Tepig asked between sobs.

Ash picked up the pig. "What, no, I'm not going to get rid of you Tepig." His trainer assured him. "Whatever made you think I'd do that?" Ash asked the Fire type after wiping his tears.

"Cause…because I'm the weakest here, and that's what my last trainer did." Tepig admitted, causing both Ash and Iris's hearts to break.

"Oh, so he was one of those kinds of jerks." Ash thought to himself. It wasn't that surprising, since Ash and Iris had to fight N to rescue the poor little Fire type. Iris gave Tepig a calming cuddle.

"Are you sure you're last trainer didn't dump you because you cry like a little bitch?" Oshawott mumbled. That earned many a smacking from Pidove, and Purrloin. Lady Snivy used this as an excuse to use Vine Whip to lightly choke the Water otter's neck. Partly because of her irritation at his stupidity, and also partly because of the loss she suffered from his next evolutionary form.

"Now who's crying like a little bitch Oshawott?" Pikachu asked, snickering.

"Guys, knock it off." Ash ordered to the others. Once the bickering had stopped, he turned his attention back to his troubled friend "Tepig, I'm not going to get rid of you. I'll never abandon you, or any of my friends! And if you think you're weak then I'm just going to make you stronger and more awesome than ever before!" Ash declared, making the pig's frown and doubts vanish. "In fact I know a guy that understands what you went through Tepig, and I think you two should talk…" The trainer said while pulling out a Poke Ball. They all watched a tall, lean, but powerful white, orange, and red Fire/Fighting monkey beat his chest with pride. Tepig couldn't help but be awestricken, inspired by him. "Hey Infernape, good to see ya buddy." Ash said. Pikachu gave his old Sinnoh teammate a high five. Purrloin was taken back to her memories, while the others weren't sure what to make of him.

"Hi Ash, sup Pikachu? It's great to see you guys again. Oh, new friends, hi!" Infernape greeted, waving at the Unova team. Pidove waved back, Oshawott and Lady Snivy weren't sure what to say, but the Grass Snake gave a polite bow. He was strong and she would give him that respect. Tepig smiled.

"Infernape, we need your help with some heavy duty training. We've got a Gym Battle to win, and some bad guys to fight." Ash explained. The Fire ape nodded in understanding. "Also, Tepig here's got a bit got a bit of a Paul problem. Mind having a chat?" The trainer added, making things even clearer for the Pokemon. The Fire Pokemon quickly picked up the pig.

"Alright little guy, let's have a heart to heart." Infernape offered. The Fire Pig nodded his head, and the two went off for a private chat.

"Okay, Oshawott, you and me at the pool, we're doing fifty laps…" Ash said.

"AWESOME!" The otter Pokemon cheered.

"The rest of you, do some pushups, sit-ups, and flight laps around the inside." Ash told his Pokemon. Pikachu, Purrloin, Pidove, and Lady Snivy got to work while Ash and Oshawott hit the pool.

Iris and Axew had worked on sweat dancing. Iris was mostly following Axew's technique since he knew the dance by instant, but the two were out of sync, which that caused a small explosion. They were politely asked by the manager to be more careful or they'd have to pay a fine. They decided to check on their friends. Oshawott was still trying to become better at Aqua Jet, or at least keep his eyes open when doing it. Axew gave a few encouraging words, along with Pikachu and Pidove. Purrloin and Lady Snivy were too busy sparring with each other. Their trainer was still swimming laps, and Iris noticed that, like Oshawott, he swam with his eyes closed too. That gave Iris some ideas for some fun she could have when the Kanto trainer came up for air and climbed out of the pool.

"Boo!" She shouted, surprising him.

This caused the boy to lose his balance and fall back into the pool. He came out of the water, a bit annoyed, hearing his companion's laugher. Well two could play that game, and he had a plan. When Ash finally got back to the top, Iris, who was still giggling, offered her hand to him. He took it, and Iris saw the glint of mischief his eyes.

"Ash, don't you dare!" She warned. However, for the Dragon Master in training, it was far too late. With a smug grin, Ash forced his body weight downward, and both made a splash.

After the two of them dried off, Ash went to check on Tepig and Infernape, allowing Oshawott and Pidove to rest. Pikachu, Purrloin, and Lady Snivy were now in a three way sparring match. Iris took Axew to get something to drink for everyone.

"Doing okay Tepig?" He asked, patting the Fire Pig on the head. He nodded his head, smiling, and Infernape gave him a thumbs up. The three of them got on a timed treadmill; however these treadmills shot out soccer balls. This was to promote dodging, and increase speed. While Infernape, and later Pikachu, had little to no trouble with this, Ash and Tepig were having trouble. Still, they didn't give up and got better. Iris came with Axew carrying two bottles of water, seeing the Kanto trainer and his Pokemon finally run down the timer. Tepig, to add more flare shot out a long burst of fire at the last incoming balls. Tepig had learned Flamethrower, replacing Ember. Everyone in the party who saw this was impressed. Ash was grinning from ear to ear. "What I tell you buddy, you'll get stronger in no time."

The Kanto trainer and his Pokemon then sat down and Iris joined them, handing the boy a bottle of water. He drank a few sips and gave the rest to his Pokemon. "So Ash, mind if I ask a question?" Iris questioned, between sharing her water with Axew.

"Shoot." Ash said, not thinking much of what she was going to ask.

"Well since you know a part of my dirty laundry. How did you get those scars on your back?" The Dragon Master in the making wondered. That resulted in Ash and Pikachu doing a quick spit take.

"If you don't want to talk about it, I understand." Iris muttered as her friend and his Pokemon were coughing.

The Kanto trainer started to shake while looking at his friend. "No, it's fine; just…give me a moment." He requested.

Pikachu and Infernape looked downward, the Unova team could tell something was wrong, but only Purrloin and Lady Snivy had an idea of what the problem was.

"…After I lost the Sinnoh League, I wanted to be alone, and took a walk for a bit. I even left Pikachu with my friends, Dawn and Brock. I lost track of time, I got lost, and it got dark." Ash started to say before taking a deep breath. "I…was…grabbed by some guy. I couldn't see his face. He said I…I lost him money betting on me. Then he stabbed me in the back, and cut in open. Then he broke both my arms, kicked me to the floor, stabbed me in the back again, and just kept hitting me over, and over, and over again…" He went on as his body shook. Pikachu patted his buddy's head while Purrloin sat on his lap. Lady Snivy, Oshawott, Tepig, and Pidove surrounded him. Iris held his hand to calm him down. She could tell this was painful for him to talk about. "I'm not sure how I got away… After what happened, I was a bloody, broken mess. Everything felt like I was on fire. I had to limp back to the Pokemon Center. Dawn and Brock found me, thank Mew…I passed out and woke up in the hospital a week later."

"Ash." Iris muttered, feeling awful. She then stood up; the Dragon Trainer's mind was made up. "Well, that settles it then." She declared.

"Huh?" Ash asked puzzled.

"You're a kid who always gets into trouble, what you need is a bodyguard. So I'll just have to watch your back from now on. Don't worry Ash; you'll be safe in my hands." Iris declared with a smile on her face. Axew cheered her on.

Ash smiled at this. "Well okay Iris, but if you're watching my back, who's going to watch yours?" He asked. Iris didn't know who to think of at the moment. "You're a kid who gets into trouble too. So you need a bodyguard, and I guess I'll just have to take the job. Sound good to you?" Ash matched her offer with his own.

Iris gave it some thought. "…Well, alright then." She said as the two shook hands on the deal. Everyone noticed that both sides of Iris's talisman gave off a light glow.

"So how's Axew's Dragon Dance coming along?" Pikachu asked.

"I've almost got it down!" Axew said proudly.

"Good on you little man, ya know Ash, you should tell your new friends about Gible. I mean, you got him to learn Draco Meteor." Infernape commented. That had both Axew and Iris dumbstruck.

"…Ash is that true?" Iris asked, sounding very curious.

"Oh yeah, I did, thanks for reminding me Infernape." The Kanto boy muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

"YOU NEED TO SHOW ME! PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE!?" Iris cried out in excitement while shaking her friend like a rag doll. The Pokemon got a good laugh out of this, before returning to their training.

Ash promised that he would show his friend the Dragon Pokemon he had. However, that would have to wait till another day since it was nightfall now; the two had been training at the Battle Club for hours. Pikachu, Axew, Purrloin, and the rest had been pushed to the limit. Their trainers were in no better shape, each holding each other by the arm for support. They dropped off their Pokemon to Nurse Joy, and plopped themselves on the couch with Cilan, Cheren, and Bianca.

Seeing his friend's progress, Cheren couldn't be any more frustrated with himself. On the other hand, Bianca looked mighty pleased with herself. She managed to watch her favorite show all day, and got her new friends to watch it with her. Cilan was commenting on the animation, and Pansage jabbered about the character designs. Iris, Ash, and, later, the rest of their rejuvenated Pokemon were drawn into the show like magic…In spite of Iris's claim that she wouldn't enjoy a show for little kids. Two episodes in and she was brought to tears like the rest of them. The blond was just glad everyone could relax after a long, tiring day. It's not like Team Plasma was going to attack right away right? Sadly, naive thinking is rarely correct.

Team Plasma's Castle was as busy as always, however most if not all of the organization had come to a halt. They were to hear a speech from the King himself. This was an odd rarity for most, since the Sages or Ghetsis were usually the ones to motivate the troops. However, with the upcoming operation, and the sudden loss of Head Scientist Colress Lab Three, N took it upon himself to bring out the best of his team, to insure his ideal world. N walked past the long lavish hallways to the speech room. At the doorway he was greeted by two thin, young women. One was blond, and the other had pink hair. Both dressed in matching checkerboard black and white dresses with the Team Plasma symbol on the front.

"Oh dear little brother, aren't you forgetting something?" The blond teased as she held on to the crown of Plasma, a relic of a bygone era in Unova's history. She placed it upon his long green hair.

"A King should always look his best before meeting his people." The pink-haired maiden spoke while wrapping him in the black and white furred cape to add the finishing touches.

"Anthea, Concordia, I'm not little anymore, you don't need to fuss over me." N muttered, sounding like a pouting child rather than the leader of the group.

"No matter how old you get, or if your King…" Anthea spoke while planting a peck on N's cheek.

"You'll always be our baby brother." Concordia finished as the two gave a quick laugh, teasing the "new king and hero of Unova." as their father put it.

"I could have you both locked away in the dungeons for this insult." N growled, causing the two to give him fake, frightened looks.

"Oh your highness, please be merciful to your sisters." Concordia fake begged.

"Will you're favorite treat grant us pardon?" Athena questioned as she pulled out N's favorite snack, cake. N almost let a bit of drool come out of his lips. Out of nowhere, one of N's friends, a Zorua, dashed onto his shoulder and happily took a bite. N did the same.

"Very well, you're forgiven, but before I make the journey to leading the first big operation, I want two stories before bed." N demanded.

"Oh of course N, now go on, everyone's waiting on you." Athena said as she wiped off N and his Pokemon's faces before N left. Their smiles vanished from sight, giving two very solemn and saddened expressions as they walked to take their places as well. Still, they dared not show their looks of worry to N, their father…if they could call Ghetsis that, forbid the King's caretakers to show their true feelings.

The King of Team Plasma stood upon the stage alone. Concordia and Athena sat beside their father Ghetsis, Colress, the Seven Sages, and Blade Dewott with his partner. N at first felt nervous, the hearts of Pokemon were one thing, but he felt so closed off from the hearts of people. While he loved his father, and sisters, he felt like he was more Pokemon than human. He quickly turned to his Pokemon friend. The Zorua's reassurance in his eyes gave him the courage to truly speak from the heart. This would motivate them to do their very best to become the heroes of the Pokemon of Unova no, of the world!

"My subjects…my friends, I need to address something. I've heard a rumor that I wish to discredit. I've heard that I like Pokemon. My subjects…my friends, I do not like Pokemon, I Love Pokemon!" N declared. "I love Fire types, Grass types, Water types, Dark types, Electric types, Normal types, Flying types, Dragon types, Ice types, Steel types, Poison types, Fighting types, Psychic types and any other type of Pokemon undiscovered. I love their unique personalities. I love their pure, loyal, loving hearts. I love their amazing talents and powers! I love every single Pokemon ever born or made on this planet! What's not to love about Pokemon?" He continued speaking while petting his Zorua friend. "What I don't love, what I don't care for at all is people. Now all of you are fine, but I cannot stand people that would capture Pokemon, use them, abuse them, and force Pokemon to fight one another for their own amusement. I can't stand how the hearts of Pokemon are ignored around the world. This needs to change, and you are all enlightened to know that!" He kept going, getting quite a few agreements from the band of grunts. "However, Unova will not change its ways, so we are given no choice but to force it to bend to our will! We, Team Plasma alone, shall be the bringers of a new age for Pokemon. We shall save all Pokemon from people! We shall make a better world for Pokemon, and punish the injustice brought by humanity. Now I must ask you all. Will you help me bring this truth to light? Will you all help bring my ideals to reality?! Will you help me crush the old world and bring in a new better world?! WILL YOU HELP ME BRING THE EVIL DOERS TO THEIR KNEES, BEGGING FOR MERCY UNDERNEATH OUR FEET?! WILL YOU AID ME IN BRINGING VICTORY?!" The King screamed at the top of his lungs with passion.

"Victory, Victory, Victory!" Became the chants of the grunts, causing Ghetsis and Blade Dewott to give unnerving smiles.

"Very well…then victory is what you shall have." N said with a satisfied smiling. "Together my fellow lovers of Pokemon, together my knights, my holy paladins of justice, together we shall become the saviors of Pokemon, the punishers of the wicked, the conquerors of Unova, the dethroners of the oppressors, and the victors of the new world order! Our new world! Follow me, and I shall make all your hopes and dreams come true! Follow me, and I shall bring you to victory!" He finished as the cheers filled the very brim of the castle.

"Hail Lord N! Long may he reign!" Ghetsis cheered, raising a glass of wine to toast his King.

"HAIL LORD N! HAIL LORD N! LONG MAY HE REIGN! LONG MAY HE REIGN!" Parroted their followers.

"Hail Plasma!" N shouted.

"Hail Plasma, Hail Plasma, Hail Plasma!" The castle's halls echoed. N reveled in his members' energies, unaware of the very uncomfortable looks in his sisters' eyes before returning to their fake happy personas. Ghetsis however, was giving a very pleased smile. Blade Dewott gave a shady grin, while Colress was impressed by the rallying behind everyone. Soon everything would be according to plan. And if anyone got in their way, they'd have hell to pay.

End of chapter.