Chapter 14: Catching Up
The mood inside of Cabin D-4 was upbeat, as for the first time in over five years the gang was back together. Ash had finally been reunited with his closest friends. The air was filled with cheerful voices as everyone had stories to share of their lives over the past five years.
"Okay, I think the first thing everyone wants to know is where have you been all these years?" Dawn asked.
"Well, I wandered around for a couple of years before finally settling down in Unova," Ash said.
"You were in Unova this whole time?! Then how come Cilan and I never found you?" Iris inquired.
"I mostly kept to myself. In fact the only person in Unova that knew I was there was Professor Juniper," Ash said. "Of course, that didn't stop Misty from finding me." Right then Iris looked in Misty's direction.
"So that time I brought you to Castelia City you knew he was there, didn't you?" Iris accused.
"Not really. Professor Juniper told me he lived on an island that I could only reach by taking a boat from Castelia City," Misty explained. Iris slapped her forehead in annoyance.
"All this time. You were in Unova all this time," she groaned.
"Don't feel bad, Iris. I didn't know either," Cilan said. "In fact, none of us knew."
"The important thing is that he's here now," May said.
"Yeah, you're right," Iris agreed.
"So Max, how's your journey going?" Ash inquired, changing the subject.
"It's great. I've got a lot of strong Pokémon and they're all helping me earn a ton of badges," Max bragged.
"You know, before Dad let him start his journey Max had to prove he could handle being a trainer," May stated.
"How?" Ash wondered.
"In a battle against Dad. Max didn't have to win, but he did have to prove that he understood the basics of being a trainer," May explained.
"I used all the lessons I learned traveling with you and I managed to beat his Slakoth in a one-on-one battle," Max said.
"You beat Norman?!" Ash gasped.
"It wasn't easy, but Max managed to pull off a close win," May said. "That really caught Dad by surprise. He wasn't expecting Max to be that good right out of the gates."
"I bet. I'd love to see how strong you are for myself," Ash said.
"I found out how strong he was when he challenged me at the Gym a while back," Daisy commented.
"He challenged the Cerulean Gym? How did he do?" Ash wondered. Daisy averted her gaze slightly before answering.
"He… won," she sighed. "It was just barely, though. If Dewgong had just stayed standing for a second longer I would have won."
"Regardless of who won it was a great battle," Misty stated.
"Yeah, you're right about that," the eldest Waterflower agreed. "In fact I would love to have a rematch with you."
"Sounds good to me. Once this tournament is over I'll come challenge you at the Gym again," Max promised.
"Okay, it's a deal," Daisy agreed.
"I've got to warn you, Max. She's tough. She took me to my limit when I challenged her," Ash warned.
"I really wish I could have been there to see that," Max sighed. "I bet Lucario and Dewgong had a great battle."
"They did. Both Pokémon gave it everything they had in that battle," Misty said.
"It was one I certainly won't forget any time soon," Ash said. "I'm sure Lucario won't forget either."
"And I'm sure Lily and Violet won't forget how you embarrassed them either," Misty snickered. Ash couldn't help but laugh before responding.
"The looks on their faces after Pikachu and Zorua beat them with one shot each was priceless," he commented. "It was one of those moments you wish someone would have had a camera just so you could relive the moment over and over again."
"Speaking of Pikachu and Zorua, are they… close?" Dawn wondered.
"Very," Ash answered. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, it's just that… you remember how Buneary acted around Pikachu while we were in Sinnoh, don't you?" Dawn asked.
"Of course I… oh no, why didn't I think of that before?"
"Why didn't you think of what before?" Daisy asked. It was then Brock realized what Ash had.
"Buneary's crush," he said, to which Ash nodded.
"Buneary has a crush?" Daisy inquired.
"Yeah… on Pikachu," Dawn answered.
"Well, where's the problem with that? All Buneary has to do is tell Pikachu how she feels about him, right?" Max assumed.
"It's not that easy," Ash said.
"Why not?" Max wondered.
"Like I said, Pikachu and Zorua are very close," Ash repeated.
"How close?" Cilan asked.
"Well, to put it bluntly, they're in love with each other," Ash replied.
"Wow. I had no idea they were that serious," May commented.
"They've been together for the better part of five years. It's only natural that they develop strong feelings for each other," Ash said.
"You've got a point," May agreed.
"What about Buneary? Has she gotten over her crush?" Iris wondered.
"I don't know," Dawn answered. "Part of me doesn't think she has, at least not completely."
"If she hasn't we'll know soon enough," Ash said.
The mood outside amongst the Pokémon was just as joyous and upbeat as it was inside with their trainers. For Pikachu and the other veteran members of Ash's team this was a long-overdue reunion, but for the new members it was an opportunity to forge new friendships.
"(It's great to see all you guys again,)" Pikachu said.
"(It's great to see you too, buddy. I gotta say we were all real worried once we heard what happened in Pallet Town,)" Piplup stated.
"(Things were real rough for a while, but we pulled through,)" Pikachu said.
"(And it looks like you guys made some new friends along the way,)" Pansage observed.
"(We've got some new friends, but I can see some things have changed with all of you as well,)" Pikachu commented. Looking around Pikachu took note of the changes that had happened to the others during their five-year separation. The most noticeable one was the inclusion of Max's team, but there were other noteworthy changes as well. Iris's Axew was now a Fraxure, Brock's Chansey had evolved into a Blissey, Dawn's Quilava was now a Typhlosion and May's Wartortle and Skitty were now a Blastoise and Delcatty.
"(We've been training real hard and getting stronger too,)" Typhlosion stated.
"(We kept hoping that we'd run into you again one day and show you how strong we've gotten,)" Pansage added.
"(Well I can just look at all of you and tell you've each gotten much stronger since the last time we were together,)" Pikachu praised. "(I'd love a chance to face you guys in battle.)"
"(Maybe we can get in a few during the tournament,)" Blastoise suggested.
"(Sounds good to me,)" Fraxure agreed.
"(Me too. It'll be a good way to keep me and the others loose for our battles in the tournament,)" Pikachu added.
"(Speaking of the others is that cute little Zorua there single?)" Piplup wondered. Pikachu knew exactly what was on Piplup's mind, but unfortunately for the Penguin Pokémon his romantic bubble was about to be burst.
"(Sorry, buddy. She's taken,)" he said.
"(Aw man, are you serious?!)" Piplup groaned.
"(Afraid so,)" Pikachu confirmed. Right then the Pokémon in question strolled up to them.
"Did I miss something?" Zorua inquired.
"(Just another one of Piplup's romantic dreams turning into a nightmare,)" Pikachu stated.
"I take it that happens often," Zorua assumed.
"(Just when he sees a cute face,)" Pikachu replied.
"I see. And who was the cute face he saw?" she asked.
"(You,)" Pikachu answered. Upon hearing Pikachu's answer Zorua blushed slightly. As soon as she got over it she approached Piplup and placed a paw on his shoulder.
"I'm flattered that you think I'm cute, I really am," she told him. "I think you're kinda cute too, but I've already got someone." Zorua then leaned against Pikachu who responded by placing his arm around her. Seeing this made Piplup's jaw hit the ground.
"(N-No way! You can't be serious!)" he shouted.
"(Why are you so surprised? Pikachu told us he and Zorua were a couple,)" Togekiss stated.
"(What?! When?!)" Piplup asked.
"(When he introduced everyone. He clearly stated that Zorua was his mate,)" Venusaur recalled. "(All of us heard him.)"
"(Well, maybe not all of us,)" Crustle said. As they continued to discuss Piplup's lack of attention Pikachu noticed someone wasn't there. As he looked around his eyes soon fell on the one Pokémon that hadn't joined them.
"(Oh no…)" Zorua noticed that Pikachu appeared distracted. She followed his gaze and saw him staring at Buneary sitting off alone. She recalled what Pikachu had said about her and realized that seeing him return with another female by his side must have been a shock to her.
"Do you… want to talk to her?" she asked.
"(It's more of a need to,)" Pikachu replied.
"Do you need me to go with you?" Zorua offered. Pikachu just nodded as he was too busy thinking of what he would say to Buneary. As they got closer they noticed that Buneary didn't even turn to face them. They stopped a couple of feet away from her.
"(Buneary?)" Pikachu called. Her ears twitched as she finally turned to face them. There was a slight glimmer of hope in her eyes, but when she saw Zorua standing next to Pikachu the glimmer faded and she turned away from them again.
"(Please, Buneary, talk to me,)" Pikachu pleaded. He walked over to her and stood in front of her, trying to look her in her eyes.
"(I know seeing me after all these years with another Pokémon by my side must have been a shock to you, but believe me when I said I never meant to do anything that I thought might have hurt you in any way,)" he explained.
"(I know,)" Buneary said, finally ending her silence. "(Truth be told I'm not even mad about you finding someone else. It's just… I guess that even after being apart for all these years my feelings for you haven't changed.)"
"(Buneary…)" Pikachu said.
"(When we first heard about what happened we were all worried, but I don't think anyone worried as much as me. I spent every waking moment worrying about you. It got to the point where Dawn and everyone else worried about me more than anything else,)" Buneary explained. "(Eventually I came to terms with what had happened and realized that I… I would probably never see you again. And yet, here you are after five years. So much for that plan.)" As Pikachu looked at Buneary he couldn't help but feel the need to do something to help her feel better. Before he could make a move, though, Zorua walked over and stood next to him.
"You know, Pikachu went through the same thing," she said.
"(He… did?)" Buneary wondered.
"Oh yeah. When I first met him he talked about all the friends he met over the years, and the one he spoke about the most was you," Zorua explained. "In fact I'd say he was just as worried about you as you were about him."
"(Really?)" Buneary questioned, to which Zorua nodded.
"Every day he'd wonder where you were, were you safe, were you happy," Zorua told her. "But the one thing he wondered the most was whether you still remembered him. That thought alone scared him more than anything."
"(It's true,)" Pikachu confirmed. "(If it hadn't been for Zorua I don't know what I would have done.)" He glanced to his side at Zorua and smiled. The Tricky Fox Pokémon returned his smile. Pikachu then felt a presence on his other side. Looking over he saw Buneary leaning against him.
"(I could never forget about you,)" she said. "(No matter what you'll always have a special place in my heart.)" The next thing Buneary knew she felt Pikachu pull her into a hug.
"(Thank you, Buneary. I needed to hear that,)" he said. After a while Buneary returned his hug. Zorua was content with watching them. This was something she knew both Pikachu and Buneary needed.
Back inside the cabin Ash and the others were still telling and listening to stories of various events that had taken place over the past five years.
"I bet he was shocked by that," Ash commented.
"You have no idea. He may have though he had an easy win coming his way, but I showed Drew what happens when you underestimate me and my Pokémon," May bragged.
"You should have seen the look on his face when May's Delcatty dropped Roserade with her Blizzard," Max snickered. "Talk about priceless."
"I bet," Ash said.
"So Ash, is the tournament the only reason you came back?" Dawn wondered. At that moment Ash's face took on a serious look.
"I wish it was, but in truth I'm here for a more dire reason," he responded.
"What?" Iris asked.
"Team Rocket," Ash answered. As soon as he mentioned their name the entire cabin went silent.
"Team Rocket? Are you sure?' Brock asked.
"I'm positive," Ash replied.
"But I thought they went silent after the attack on Pallet Town," Cilan stated.
"Not entirely. Their operations in Kanto went silent, but their activities in the other regions picked up as a result," Ash explained.
"If that's the case then what makes you think they're planning something here in Kanto now?" May wondered.
"I've got informants on the inside providing me with information, and according to what they've told me Team Rocket may be planning a major operation in Kanto as we speak," Ash answered.
"How did you manage to get informants on the inside?" May asked.
"More importantly who are they?" Dawn added.
"Jessie, James and Meowth. After I saved their lives they agreed to help me bring down Team Rocket," Ash explained. For the second time the cabin was left silent.
"After all the years we spent fighting against them I can't imagine them turning on their own organization," Max commented.
"Once they heard what happened in Pallet Town they were eager to help me bring Team Rocket down," Ash responded.
"So wait. Does that mean they had nothing to with the attack?" Brock inquired.
"They didn't even know there was an attack until I told them," Ash answered. "After I told them about the attack they wanted to quit, but I convinced them to help me bring down Team Rocket."
"So they've been helping you fight against them for a while now," Cilan assumed.
"Yeah, and let me tell you they've been a big help, even more so since Purrloin joined them," Ash said.
"They got a new member?" Dawn asked. Ash nodded in response.
"Purrloin is an expert at stealth. Information gathering is an easy task for her," Ash explained.
"So have they found out where Team Rocket is going to attack?" Brock asked.
"Yeah," Ash said.
"And?" Iris urged.
"They're going to attack… here." For a third time the cabin was in a state of silence as everyone tried to process the information Ash just revealed to them.
"H-Here? A-Are you sure they're going to attack here?" Dawn questioned.
"I wish I wasn't, but the info they obtained all but confirmed that Team Rocket will launch an attack here sometime during the tournament," Ash said.
"But why here, and why now? Don't they realize that the strongest trainers in the entire world have gathered here for this tournament?" Max asked.
"Yeah. I mean, it would be real stupid if they tried to attack while the tournament was going on. All the trainers here would stand together and fight against them," Dawn stated.
"Not to mention all the Gym Leaders, Elite 4 members and League Champions are here too. If Team Rocket did try something they'd be overwhelmed in no time flat," May added.
"Under normal circumstances I'd say you were right, but this is Giovanni we're talking about. He has a plan, and he'll stick to it no matter what," Ash argued. "He's going to attack. We just don't know when."
"So all we can do is wait," Brock sighed.
"What if we tell the tournament organizers about this. They could shut the tournament down so we can focus on stopping Team Rocket," Iris suggested.
"That would more than likely cause a panic amongst the crowd and make it too easy for Giovanni to launch his attack," Ash pointed out. "Besides, the only people I want to know of this for now are the ones in this room. No one else is to know about this unless I say so." Everyone quickly agreed with him.
"So, what do we do until then?" Dawn asked. Ash glanced around the room briefly before a knowing smirk appeared on his face,.
"Well, you could get ready to cheer me on to victory," he suggested.
"Wait, what?!" Max gasped.
"I said all of you can get ready to cheer me on to victory," Ash repeated. "After all I do plan on winning this tournament."
"Not if I have anything to say about it," Max challenged.
"Don't forget about me. I didn't come all this way to lose," Bianca declared. Seeing the three of them so fired up got everyone else wondering who would be the one to win it all.
"So, who are you betting on winning the tournament?" Dawn asked.
"My money's on Bianca. I want to see a Unova trainer win this," Iris declared.
"I too would like to see a Unova native emerge victorious," Cilan agreed.
"What about you, May?" Dawn inquired.
"Like you need to ask. Of course I'm rooting for Max," she stated.
"I guess we should have figured that," Dawn admitted.
"Well what about you, Dawn? Who are you picking to win?" Cilan asked. The Sinnoh coordinator took some time before replying.
"Well… if I had to pick one of them… I'd have to go with Ash," she answered.
"He does seem to be the safe bet," Brock commented.
"So does that mean he's your pick too?" Dawn inquired.
"Just like Iris and Cilan I want a home-region trainer to win, and even if he doesn't live here anymore I still consider Ash a Kanto trainer," Brock responded. "That doesn't mean I'm not rooting for everyone else."
"Of course. We want to see all of you make it deep in the tournament," May said.
"We will. You can all bet on that," Ash declared.
"No doubt!" Max agreed.
"No one's going to stop us!" Bianca added. While they continued to discuss the tournament Misty and Daisy were having a conversation amongst themselves.
"That was a good move by Ash, don't you think?" Daisy commented.
"Yeah. He got everyone's mind off Team Rocket and back on the tournament," Misty said.
"Yeah. So, who are you picking to win?" Daisy inquired.
"I think you already know the answer to that one, Daisy," Misty replied.
"Yeah, I suppose I do," Daisy admitted, glancing in Ash's direction. Regardless of which trainer emerged victorious in the end one thing was certain. This tournament would be filled with exciting battles and awe-inspiring moments that no one would ever forget.
Despite knowing that a Team Rocket attack could happen at any moment Ash and his friends are still focused on winning the tournament. Who will emerge victorious? FInd out in the next chapter of Regrets & Redemption!
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