After the turmoil and mayhem of the preceding days and even weeks, one would expect an uneventful day among it all, right? A day where nothing at all goes awry, on this vacation?
But, of course not.
"What in the world was that!?" Dawn had shouted, her voice drowned out by the sounds of rattling explosions nearby.
Flashes of light from around the block terrorized Nimbasa's busy districts, causing a localized panic. Parents grabbed their children and fled whatever this noise was, while a couple of seeming trainers stood by with Poké Balls at the ready in their hands.
Ash and Dawn were among those trainers. Before they could take any action, though, the commotion's seeming source rounded the block. It was a huge, stampeding Pokémon; one that in that short time, Ash, Dawn, Pikachu, and Empoleon could only assess to be a huge, magenta and black insect that was built a lot more like a steed, sporting huge jagged horns, and a human woman with sleek, black gear riding atop them.
"Hey!" Dawn shouted, shaking a fist at them. "What's the big idea!?"
The girl went entirely ignored as the two sped by. "Pin Missile!" The woman ordered, the mysterious Pokémon skidding to a halt in the middle of the street. Turning their head, they fired bright, explosive needles back in the direction they'd come from.
Without particularly good aim, the needles looked like they were sent to disperse a crowd more than anything. Unfortunately, this left an errant missile flying directly towards the band of teenagers and their starters.
Before any of them could think to act, a burst of light materialized from Dawn's belt. Absol appeared, and threw herself at Empoleon in a full-body tackle. He was knocked into Dawn, who was knocked into Ash and Pikachu. The four were knocked over, and out of the way of the needle.
It struck concrete mere feet away from them, exploding violently. Smoke and chunks of roadwork obscured their vision, as the group gathered themselves.
"That was a close one…" Ash groaned, brushing himself off. He inspected himself, finding that he'd skinned his knee on the sidewalk, but thankfully nothing worse. "Everyone okay?"
"I'm not hurt, at least."
"Pol."
"No need to worry… All thanks to Absol!" Dawn praised, petting the Disaster Pokémon's horn. "You saved us, girl!"
"Sol," the Dark-type grunted. "Ab!"
Her second cry alerted Ash, who only barely scrambled his way out of a dark shadow that shot by. "Woah! Another close one… Now, what the hell is going on, here!?"
"Are you all alright!?" A woman rolled up on a motorcycle with a sidecar, tires screeching to a turning halt beside the group. With teal hair, copper eyes, and a beige police uniform, she appeared to be an officer of the law.
"Officer Jenny…?" Ash echoed his thoughts. She looked quite different from those in the regions he'd been to; not that it was important, at the moment.
"We're just fine," Dawn answered. "But what was that!? There was a woman on a giant Pokémon, and she was being chased by something else…!"
"I received a distress call, just now," Jenny explained. "There have been reports recently of a Pokémon Hunter in the area. I take it neither of you have heard of Anima…?"
"Anima? We haven't," Dawn shook her head.
"Another Pokémon Hunter…" Ash snarled through his teeth. It was like some kind of sick joke. Even in another region, people like this were out there mistreating Pokémon!
"Stay safe, and alert any authorities you can find if there's more trouble," Jenny instructed, before revving her motorcycle and taking off.
"Ash, you heard her!" Dawn spoke up, dusting herself off after Empoleon had pulled her to her feet. "If she was crazy enough to run through a city firing off attacks everywhere, she was definitely guilty of something! We have to do something!"
Ash tightened a hand into a fist, but didn't respond.
"Ash…?"
He shook his head. The guilt and urge to act was overpowering, but he felt frozen in spite of it. "I want to, but… We'd just be throwing ourselves into another mess, all over again?"
"We talked about this, Ash." Pikachu's ears pinned back on his head. He, himself, felt frightened, but he felt compelled to speak, with yesterday in mind. "What happened wasn't anyone's fault. Didn't you say at Silph, that if someone's in trouble, we have to do something?"
"I did… but look at what happened to you!" Ash argued.
"I already told you," Pikachu shouted back, "I'd go through it all again, if another Pokémon doesn't have to!"
Ash exhaled heavily. "Dawn, did you see which way they went."
"To the left of this block," Dawn pointed. "Now let's hurry, or we won't catch up!"
"Pol!" Empoleon slapped a wing to his chest, and ran towards the nearest alleyway. Acting on his own, he fired a continuous Ice Beam down its entire length before letting up.
Ash, Dawn, and Absol followed, and gasped.
"Empoleon!" He gestured to his back.
"I get it," Ash beamed. "He wants us to slide with him! C'mon, Dawn!"
"Empoleon!" Dawn huffed. "Of all the crazy… Alright! You go first, then Ash, and then I'll go!"
The penguin took a running start before going belly-first, followed by Ash, who lunged and held onto the steel protrusions on his back. Dawn was next, throwing her weight around Ash.
The built up weight and momentum was enough to send Empoleon shooting down the icy path, with Absol close behind; all just in time for another cry of Pin Missile to hit their ears. Green flashes dotted the next street, from their narrow view, before they came to a halt at its end.
The magenta blur kept on moving upon their exit, but the smaller shadow was now stumbling. With a dusty, mangy crimson mane, they moved sluggishly, and collapsed in the middle of the road.
"Is that…?" Dawn started.
"...A Zoroark!" Ash finished. He sprinted to the downed Pokémon without another thought; people were scattered and frightened, refusing to go anywhere near the illusionist. He crouched by the Pokémon, he and Pikachu looking them over. "Hey, are you okay?"
A low growl was the Zoroark's answer. They bore their fangs at Ash, parting the red markings that resembled facepaint for razor-sharp canines. Icy blue eyes lingered on him, but they looked glassy and unfocused; as if they were in a daze.
Most notably, Ash noticed, was a sickly streak of purple across their muzzle. "They're poisoned." The trainer shrugged off his bag, quickly rummaging through it. "Just stay put, Zoroark. It's okay. You're gonna be better in just a minute… Dawn, you go ahead!"
"But, Ash-"
"We're gonna lose track of that creep! I'll handle things and catch up with you, after!"
"...Right." Dawn nodded, and settled herself atop Absol's back. "Absol, do you think you can take me to them? Your danger sense hasn't failed us, yet!"
"Sol!"
She nodded, and recalled Empoleon, tapping the Disaster's side with her heel. "Let's go!"
"Good. Now, let's get you better," Ash held the bulky potion in his hand.
A Full Restore. They were pretty expensive, but after the last few incidents, Ash had made sure to stock up on at least a couple, just in case. He pulled out the bulky beige canister filled with green fluid, pointing the nozzle towards the Dark-type. "Here. This'll make you-"
The Zoroark lunged before he could finish his sentence; jumping to pin and slash at Ash!
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried, tumbling off Ash's shoulder. He stood back up, cheeks crackling.
"Don't… do it, Buddy!" Ash struggled out, grappling with the beast's wrists. "Just.. knock it off, you…!" He heard cries of concern from bystanders, but ignored them. It was all he could do to squirm and veer his head to avoid snapping jowls. "I know you're… scared! Ow!" Her crimson claw dug into his arm. "But I'm… trying to help you!"
The hard-headed trainer and the maned fox got caught in a hectic wrestling match. Using his wits in vital split-seconds, Ash managed to obscure himself in the back of her crimson mane, which he couldn't help but notice was awfully dirty, and managed to grab her in an armlock.
'Crap. The Full Restore!' In the initial scrap, he'd dropped it. "Pikachu! The potion!"
Pikachu grabbed the Full Restore in both paws, and tossed it. "Catch!"
"Got it!" Ash snagged it in one hand, fumbling with the rectangular container. "Just… stay… still…!" He managed to point the nozzle towards the both of them, and pressed the nozzle.
The Zoroark cried out in response, before stopping completely. Eyes wide, they felt their strength returning. Confusion left them still for a moment, before they realized that, through some trickery, their wounds had healed.
"Agh!" Ash was immediately thrown violently aside, leaning on his back in the middle of the road. By the time he'd sat up, the Zoroark was already dashing off.
"Ash! Are you okay?" Pikachu dashed over, brushing the blood trickling from Ash's cut away with his tail. "For everything that's happened, you're no less reckless."
"You can scold me for it later." Ash flipped onto his feet, and tossed a Poké Ball. "Pidgeot!"
"Pidgoo!" Pidgeot spanned her wide wings, landing beside Ash and Pikachu. Head tilted, as if she already knew why she'd been called out. "Djo."
Ash blinked, puzzled. But, he wouldn't look a gift Ponyta in the mouth; he climbed on board, joined by Pikachu. "Follow that Zoroark," he pointed toward the quickly disappearing shadow.
With a cry, Pidgeot took off, soaring over Nimbasa's panicked streets. Her Keen Eye ability served her well, guiding her on a steady and sure path.
"Thanks, girl, I owe you one. We've got a Pokémon Hunter to stop! Dawn should be up ahead, somewhere, keeping track of them, with Ab-"
"Pidg," she cut him off, as if to say that she already understood.
"You get it. You must've been listening in…" Ash hummed to himself. This was beginning to make sense. "I was wondering how you already knew to give us a ride."
"You should have more faith in my intuition, you know," a motherly voice chided. "I'm not sure exactly what's happening. But I felt your distress and urgency behind that toss. You wouldn't call me out so suddenly in a crowded area, if not for that."
"Oh. Yeah. I guess that makes sense," Ash answered. A beat, before he exclaimed, "wait, did I just understand you!?"
Pidgeot had lost track of the Zoroark through an alleyway, and hovered around above for a better view. She tilted her head. "Did you not, before? We've conversed many times."
"No, I mean… I'd get you, usually. But I'm, like, actually hearing you! Like, the Aura thing!"
Though she couldn't afford to pull her eyes away, he felt her feathers bristle. Through their link that he now knew of, he felt the warmth of her sentiments. "So, the same thing you've managed with Pikachu. How nice."
"I'm just… surprised," Ash admitted. "After everything it took with Pikachu, that was so easy."
"You really shouldn't be," Pidgeot replied. "We've known each other since we were both young and puny. Maybe it isn't always a climactic struggle. Maybe you just need to listen a little more."
"Maybe…" Ash echoed, although the thought was still sinking in. "I think you're right; it was anticlimactic, huh."
"Although I have to say, I am happy. You hearing my every word is a nice development."
"It's great, isn't it?" Pikachu interjected, cutting a mischievous smile at his trainer. "We won't have to play charades for you, anymore."
"H-hey!" Ash bristled, frowning. He recalled that very day last year, soaring on Pidgeot's back, just like he was now. "I figured it out, didn't I?"
"You did," Pikachu ceded. "But now you can do it a lot faster."
Ash snorted, though he couldn't feel any bitterness. For a moment, he allowed himself to smile, before Pidgeot's tailing of Zoroark led them towards a far seedier-looking part of Nimbasa.
Dawn's chase had brought her, certainly, to the road less traveled. In pursuit of the hunter and her Pokémon, she'd come from crowded, colorful business districts to grimy alleys, unkempt buildings, and tattered remains of safety and construction signs. Abandoned skeletons of buildings with intentions long obsolete laid vulnerable, awaiting rust, rain, and the elements.
"Venoshock!" The thief cried once more, her magenta steed spitting vile, green venom.
"Detect!" Dawn cried. Absol assessed the incoming slime, and bounded over it. Dashing from a pile of bricks to land atop a large, unfinished pipe. Her weight nearly buckled under her, forcing her and Dawn to cling on for balance. "Absol…!"
The Disaster Pokémon was suffering steadily worsening venom flowing through her. A blue streak across her snout remained from the enemy's Toxic, and although she'd ignored it at first, the effects had gotten cumulatively worse. "Sol…" She denied her trainer's worries hoarsely.
"Lie down like the dog you are, and desist," the villain shouted. "You value your life, don't you?"
Dawn grit her teeth, and started reaching for another Poké Ball.
"Ab," Absol grunted, catching her attention. She nodded her head skyward.
Dawn followed her line of sight, and gasped. Not far behind the villain was a steel girder, suspended by an old, inactive crane. She understood Absol. "Night Slash, now!"
Absol swung her crescent, launching a mauve blade of energy. It sliced through the crane's pulley, freeing the girder to plummet. Dawn could see the terror unfold in the criminal's posture. Though, she wasn't in danger of being crushed. That would've put her Pokémon in danger, to say nothing of whichever she might've stolen, too.
As it were, the massive object crashed through unfinished infrastructure, bringing down an avalanche of broken cement, dirt, and debris. When the dust settled, the path forward was sealed off; Dawn had prevented her escape.
"You vermin…!" The hunter hissed. "Use Pin Missile!"
Another round of bright, explosive needles rained down upon Dawn and Absol.
"Detect!" Dawn shouted. Absol attempted to scan the move, but venom surged through her again, and her knees buckled. "Absol!"
With the last of her strength, Absol bucked Dawn and kicked her back off the pipe. It was all she could manage, before the barrage pummeled and obscured her.
Dawn hit the dirt and mud on her rear, shielding her eyes from blinding lights, dirt, and smog. The fall had hurt, and she was sure she was filthy, now. But that was wholly unimportant as she stumbled her way into the debris. "Absol… Absol! Where are you!?"
In the shattered remains of the pipe she'd perched on, the Disaster Pokémon laid on her back, unconscious. Dawn bit her lip, gently brushing the back of her hand through her fur. "Girl… Thank you. You deserve a good long rest, after this. Sit tight, and I'll handle the rest."
Absol returned to her Poké Ball, and Dawn stood, assessing the aftermath. Left, right, and center, there was no sign at all of the villain or her Pokémon, despite the blocked path. "Darn it…!"
The gray and crimson shadow of Zoroark dashed through, blowing by Dawn to inspect the area.
"Zoroark…! She made it," Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. "Then, where's Ash?"
"Dawn!" Pidgeot dipped from the skies immediately afterward, swooping down nearby. Ash hopped off of her, with Pikachu boarding his shoulder. "Dawn, what happened? Where's Absol!?"
Dawn held up her Poké Ball. "She got knocked out, saving me."
Looking her over, Ash frowned. Her sundress was muddied and torn in several places. "You look real roughed up. I'll have to thank her later… What about the hunter?"
"She lost us, after that last attack. I haven't had time to look for her, yet. You didn't see her, either?"
"None from me," Ash shook his head. "But, Zoroark is sure she's around here somewhere. Right?"
The aforementioned Pokémon poked their head out of a broken window with a sullen expression. Apparently, the abandoned buildings held no sign of her. But, their scent was near…
"Pika…" Pikachu sprung to hang over the window sill, his ears hanging low. He'd even scurried into narrow passages and rooms, but little could be found, aside from the occasional Bug-type he didn't recognize. Stout, crimson bugs had taken their territory very seriously. He quickly scooted his way back out.
"Bummer… I guess that would've been too obvious, huh." Ash shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning against an ashy, crack-riddled brick wall. A glance to the left sparked his attention.
"Check it out." Ash squinted, peering down a path laid with moss and broken cement. Past another apartment or two laid what had to be city limits; half-finished buildings and construction projects were scattered across flattened ground. It was even more of a wasteland than the projects they now dwelled.
"Maybe she's hiding out there. Whaddya think?"
"It's probably the only route she had, after I blocked off the path forward," Dawn concluded.
"It's worth a try. Whaddya say?" Ash turned his attention to the fox perched above, and his companion alongside her.
The huge mass of red and black fur sprung from the window, making a mad dash towards their destination, springing over railings and small, purple, feline-like pokemon that hissed in return. Whether they were cooperating with the group in any capacity was up in the air, but that matter could wait.
"Looks like we got our answer. C'mon!" A waiting arm was held out, quickly boarded by Pikachu, before Ash took off in pursuit of the Illusion Fox, and the culprit.
"We're right behind you!" Dawn asserted, hurrying along as quickly as she could manage in her summer wear.
Scolipede had been returned to their ball, for the sake of inconspicuousness. The last thing she needed was its stature or bright colors drawing any attention, so the Bug-type sat in its Poké Ball on her hip. Her back was pressed to a dingy wall, with light leaking into the unfinished apartment complex mere feet away. A pile of rubble, cinder blocks, and building equipment sat at the room's end, with a high ceiling looming overhead. If she could stay out of the light, then surely the children and that Zoroark would-
It was a thought she never got to finish, when her headset buzzed. She grunted, and tapped it, getting an earful of a gruff voice shouting through.
"Ay, Anima! I thought I told ya to meet me out by the slums with my Zorua! I'm not paying ya to sit on your ass!"
Anima scowled. Big city clients were so obnoxious. "I was on my way, but a few kids decided to play hero. I'll be over as soon as they're out of my way. Your Pokémon is healthy and secured, so try having a little patience."
"I'm not paying you to dawdle! Agh, it must be one of those wack job tree-huggers that've been popping up lately… If you can't handle that, then I'll find a different hunter!"
That exchange seemed to startle the cub cooped up in the cage she held with her free hand by a handle. The enclosure rattled with their fussing about, two cerulean eyes peering through the device's air holes. ~Meema! Meeemaaaaa!~
A scratchy, youthful boy's voice echoed in Anima's head, making her scowl. It being one of the rare variants of Zorua who could speak was one of the reasons it was fetching such a pretty penny. But if its damn mother heard it… "Would you shut up!"
"Who are you telling to shut up!?" The man's voice hissed through the headset at full volume. "You've got some nerve, talking to a client!"
"No, I wasn't… I'll be with you within the hour. You'll be thanking me for keeping them off your-"
The hunter suddenly felt the support of the wall behind her crumble and falter, leaving her to stumble and flail back by the weight of the caged Pokémon within her grasp
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bloodthirsty icy blue through the crumbling wall. Crimson claws broke the surface and swiped, and she gasped. A sharp sting slashed down the length of her face, but it didn't register. Not really. Falling on her rear, she couldn't mind the slash down from her cheek to her jawline, nor the splinters of broken glass from the broken headset. The faint buzzing and sparks of the damaged bluetooth were a footnote; dwarfed, like she herself in the shadow of her new guest.
The Zoroark stood in the way of daylight, eclipsing it from Anima's view. Even hunched over, with her wild, unkempt mane, she made the hunter feel oh-so-small. The wispy glow of her gaze screamed murder, and Anima was having none of it, scuttering and crawling backwards before leaping to her feet, struggling with the weight of the cage to throw Scolipede's Poké Ball.
The massive space her Pokémon took up gave her breadth, and she ran up the pile of debris in the back of the lobby, standing above it all. She managed this just in time for the two runts and their rodent to show their faces.
"There you are!" Dawn shouted, shooting a glare at the hunter. "You're way too slippery for your own good!"
For the first time, Dawn, and then Ash, got a clearer picture of the villain. A tall, toned woman with sickly green hair in a short cut, a long bang swept over her forehead. Shades with a Gyarados Tooth headset equipped disguised one of her eyes, with the other half of the headset thoroughly broken, and a dark, simplistic outfit allowed her to blend in with the dingy setting.
"Give that Pokémon back, right now!" Ash barked, finally catching up to Dawn.
"I've had it with your persistence… Scolipede!" Anima gestured forth.
"Hang tight, Zoroark," Ash said, grabbing a Poké Ball. "We'll fight, too!"
As the venomous insect reared back, the Zoroark was made painfully aware of every obstacle around them. The huge vermin standing in the way of her cub, in their direct line of sight. The two other humans and their servants with the same aim, behind her.
They were in their way. They were all in their way. Ghastly wisps of cyan leaked from their eyes. Deep violet and sunset red hues leaked from their disproportionately large paws that dug into the dirt. With a feral shriek, the Zoroark slammed their forelegs into the building's dingy foundation. A shockwave of warm and cool hues expanded in an explosive bubble.
Thunderous explosions and strong winds sent Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu flying back for a rough landing, while Scolipede suffered a direct hit, rearing back and hissing with disdain.
"Ugh…" Ash groaned, sitting up to adjust his visor back into place. "Buddy, Dawn. You alright?"
"Pika-Pika," Pikachu affirmed, boarding Ash's shoulder again.
"I'm fine… But what's Zoroark's deal!? We're on their side!"
"I don't think they know that," Ash said, frowning. "They put up a huge fuss when I healed them; they don't trust us at all. Especially with their own on the line, if that Pokémon is theirs…"
He could look back on the Game Corner. How desperate he'd been, when his own child's life had been in peril. Looking at the Pokémon's back turned to them, his heart ached.
A Pokémon so opposed to help, even in a time like this… They had to be so lonely.
"I just wish we could show them, somehow, that we're with them… But for now, fighting's clearly off the table."
"Maybe," Dawn hummed. Her eyes widened, as a thought struck. She leaned in to whisper to Ash. "If they won't let us fight, then we can at least help them get their baby back."
Ash nodded. "Sounds good, but how do we do it?"
"You stay here," Dawn hushed. "I'll sneak around and make a distraction, somehow. I'm an expert at taking the spotlight," she winked.
Ash smirked, nodding. "I'm leaving it all to you." In the meantime, though, he pulled out his Pokédex, pointing it at the Zoroark's foe.
"Scolipede: The Megapede Pokémon. Highly aggressive, it uses the claws near its neck to dig into its opponents and poison them."
"A Bug and Poison-type," Ash recounted off the screen. "That explains why they were poisoned earlier. And they're at a disadvantage."
Zoroark paid that absolutely no heed, lunging at Scolipede with claws leaking a mauve trail. Night Slash was aimed right at the insect's jugular.
"Toxic!"
Nasty, purple venom was spat directly at the Zoroark. Instinctively closing her eyes, they were bathed in venom, falling to the ground. They hissed in pain, as purple sparks and bubbles emanated from them.
"They're poisoned again!" Ash grimaced. "And they ran right into it…"
"Honestly, I'd take it too," Anima thought aloud, "but no one would want a Pokémon stupid enough to run into the same trick, twice."
"You…!" Ash snarled. He had no time to focus on the hunter, though, as Scolipede cried and stomped its many hooves in tandem without prompting. A red aura surrounded them, denoting some kind of increase in stats. Ash aimed his Pokédex at them. "Dexter?"
"Scolipede's Hidden Ability: Speed Boost. The Pokémon's speed stat increases every turn."
"Use Steamroller!' Leaping and tucking into what looked to be a giant magenta wheel, Scolipede revved and sped across the battlefield, crashing into Zoroark with remarkable speed.
"That speed's going to be a problem," Ash said to himself. Meanwhile, the Dark-type struggled to their feet. Their paws were leaking wicked energy, and were slammed against the earth.
"Pin Missile!"
A barrage of needles fired towards the expanding dome of Night Daze, striking and puncturing its bubble. Crimson, violet, and emerald hues splashed over the field, canceling one another out.
A red aura overtook Scolipede, again. Their speed increased further.
Zoroark, once again, paid it no heed. Throwing themselves at Scolipede, they slashed repeatedly at them with Night Slash. This time, the Megapede leaned, ducked, and contorted their body in succession, expertly moving around the fierce attacks.
"Venoshock!"
Scolipede threw their head around, and spat nasty green ooze at the Dark-type, who stretched into an ashy blur. Avoiding the larger Pokémon's move, they stopped nearby. They gained their own red burst of light, subsequently; Ash recognized this as Agility.
Zoroark immediately followed by striking the debris-laden ground with Night Daze.
"Use Steamroller!"
Retracting into a spinning wheel, Scolipede bounced and launched off to crash into the top of Night Daze's collision made the shockwave waver and burst, launching the Megapede safely skyward.
Slow, tactful steps brought Dawn around the perimeter of the unfinished building; any misstep on this uneven, disorganized construction site could either result in a sprained ankle or catching the hunter's notice, Dawn figured. She'd already nearly tripped into several ditches in the process.
Hanging close to the wall, she peered around what was clearly meant to be a window. 'Maybe there'll be a better view of a way in from here,' she thought, scouting the ongoing battle. The hunter still stood on the pile of rubble, towards the back. Though from her location, Dawn could see the top half of another window gap, only partially buried by construction supplies and debris.
It wasn't far from the woman, either; that could be her way in!
The deafening boom of Night Daze drew Dawn's attention before she moved onward. Scolipede bounced high towards the ceiling, still curled and poised to continue their attack. Despite that, the Zoroark showed no caution and lunged toward them.
Dawn bit her lip. 'They've got momentum and gravity against them, there! They're…'
"...attacking wildly, without any strategy at all!" Ash thought aloud. "Zoroark!"
Scolipede unfolded, smacking Zoroark brutally to the earth.
"Target in crosshairs," Anima said. "Venoshock!"
Sickly, venomous slime plummeted and struck the Zoroark with a loud 'smack.' The Illusion Fox howled and writhed, succumbing to acute venom that coated and dirtied their fur & mane. Green sparks danced of their body, snapping at them.
"Zoroark!" Ash exclaimed in horror. "What is that move…? It looked like it hurt a lot!" He pointed his Pokédex towards Scolipede.
"Venoshock: A Poison-type attack. The user drenches the target in a special poisonous liquid. Its power is doubled if the target is poisoned."
The Illusion Fox struggled to pull themselves up, despite it all. Not even bothering to shake off the venom, they hunched over, breathing heavily. A hoarse, pained howl sounded as a battle cry.
"This is horrible…" Ash watched the scene with genuine worry and distaste. "Zoroark's been chasing an opponent with moves that are totally deadly to them, to get their baby back… They haven't even used their fourth move, at all!"
Zoroark stumbled forth, making a sloppy attempt to keep even footing. Brandishing a paw that leaked violent Dark-type energy. They were readying a Night Slash.
Ash's eyes snapped wide open. He knew exactly where this was headed.
The hunter, atop her pile, smirked. "Venoshock."
"Zoroark!" Ash sprinted, shrugging Pikachu off his shoulder. He heard his starter's cry, but there was simply no time. He could only barely catch up to the stumbling Zoroark, and his vision started to be filled with sickly green. He lunged and hurdled over the Illusion Fox.
He was already upside-down when he felt the searing venom permeate his shirt. It seared his back, and he cried in pain. But, it didn't hit Zoroark. He hit the dirt before her.
Stopping short, the Zoroark was stunned still. Icy blue hues fixed on the human who'd thrown himself in their path. They watched him wrestle and tear his button-up off of him, and discard the burning clothing. The human desperately flicked poisonous slime off of his raw skin, and allowed himself to fall on his side, afterward. Nothing about this made sense.
"Agh… ugh, that hurts," the teenager hissed. He held the pink, toughened skin spanning down his shoulder blade from Moltres's burn. The steady, unpleasant sensation of a burn tickled his scarred flesh. But, that wasn't important. "Hey," he managed, voice a little strained.
He smiled at the Zoroark. "You okay…? You shouldn't be running into moves like that, y'know."
~Yet, you did the very same,~ a low, motherly voice reverberated in the trainer's mind. The fox's eyes were narrowed, incredulous. ~Why.~
Ash blinked. He recalled the other Zoroark in Crown City speaking, as well. But that was hardly important, right now. "That's simple," he replied. "You were in serious trouble, and I didn't want to see you get hurt!"
He could see the gears turning in the Pokémon's head on her face. The struggle to adjust to new information. ~You're human. To go so far to help a Pokémon you don't know… This goes against everything I know of your kind. You had no incentive to put yourself in peril.~
"Do you always need a reason to help somebody?" Ash winked, before seeing a flash out of the corner of his eye. Green explosive needles rained towards the two.
Zoroark shoved Ash behind her, and bashed the earth. An expanding Night Daze caught herself and the trainer in its bubble, detonating the incoming Pin Missile. Smoke lingered across the battlefield.
Sitting up, Ash stared at the Pokémon's back. "What was that about helping people you don't know?"
~I know you as the human who saved me, now,~ she answered. ~I was repaying my debt.~
Ash smirked. It felt nice to know that he'd touched her heart, at least a little. Maybe there was more to this Pokémon — 'No, of course there is! She's someone who's not used to help; she just told me that. If I want to work with her…'
He thought back to Pidgeot's words, earlier.
'Maybe you just need to listen a little more.'
"Listen, Zoroark," Ash started. "I understand that you don't trust outside help. Or, people in general. But can you at least let me help you save your baby?"
~...For him. That will be fine.~
"Perfect!" Ash flipped back onto his feet. "Now, hear me out. If we're gonna beat these guys, we have to use our heads."
Zoroark nodded. ~Do you have a plan?~
"Leave it to me," Ash boasted, a glint in his eye. "I'm pretty good at this kind of thing. That's a big part of what being a Pokémon Trainer's all about!" He gestured a hand outward. "Now, use Nasty Plot!"
Zoroark, for the first time in this fight, focused her mind on the task before her. That dreaded Scolipede, and their wretched master… they would both pay severely for what they'd done. A potent crimson aura washed over her. Her special attack rose sharply.
That, in itself, spurred Ash's thought process. 'Wait, hold on. Scolipede's Speed Boost hasn't gone off, recently… that must mean it's maxed out!' Much like his battle with Blaine had shown him, a stat can only increase so many times before the effect dies out. Ash smirked.
"Now's our chance to catch up to them, Zoroark," Ash shouted. "Agility! Charge in!"
"Venoshock!"
The most potent of poisons fired at Zoroark again, this time falling far short of hitting its target. Dashing erratic patterns, she quickly closed the gap between herself and Scolipede.
"Night Slash, and aim low!" Ash called. A necessary distinction, as the fox's eyes had already been training on the most vital parts of the Megapede's neck. She decided to trust the human's instincts, and slashed at their legs, instead.
Still faster by a fair margin, Scolipede sprung far above the raking claws coming for them.
"Gotcha," Ash smirked, with his signature glint in his eye. "Night Daze!"
Anima cursed under her breath, when she caught onto the position the trainer had put her in. "You dirty, conniving—!" Her words were deafened by Night Daze and the resulting explosion.
Twice as potent and twice as large, the sunset hues of Zoroark's attack sent Scolipede flying, and unearthed some of the terrain supporting Anima's footing. She stumbled and fell, clinging to solid rock to anchor herself.
"Yes! That's the way!" Ash grinned, pumping a fist. He felt a bit guilty doing so, when Zoroark recoiled from bubbling poison.
~Your tactics are well-polished,~ she praised, righting herself. ~I can see how you came to be a leader.~
"I couldn't have done it without your power," Ash replied, giving a thumbs-up. "That's the great thing about teamwork!"
The open window gap was a bit tougher to squeeze through than Dawn had imagined, once she'd found it. She had to crouch and duck her head, and crawling on the rubble filling up the bottom half was uncomfortable, to say the least.
She had to tread carefully, or any loose rock might catch the hunter's attention. From Dawn's vantage point, the woman was mere feet away from where she snooped. 'She's right there… but, how am I going to get to her and grab that cage without her noticing me, first?'
The iron prison in question sat firmly in the woman's hand. Through small breathing slots in the metal, a pair of baby blue eyes peered through, and spotted the snooping teenager.
~Hey!~
A scratchy, boyish voice rang in Dawn's head, startling her. She shifted, knocking a few rocks loose. Luckily, an explosion from the battle below seemed to cover it up. Had she been hearing things!?
~You! Yeah, you! Help me!~ The voice sounded again.
Telepathy, it seemed. That wasn't Rosa's voice, nor was it Ash's. Thinking back on it, the Zorua in Crown City had done this, too. But, she couldn't quite answer him without alerting the thief. Maybe if she simply thought her answer back…? 'That's what I'm here for! No need to worry. But first, I need to stage some kind of distraction so I can get you out of there!'
~Thank goodness! I really thought I was done for…~ He'd heard her, then. ~Ooooh, I know! You should kick her!~
'Kick her!?' Dawn frowned. 'That sounds like a bad idea. How would I even get away with that?'
~C'monnn! It'll be hi-larious!~
'I'm not trying to be hilarious, I'm trying to save you!'
~C'mon, c'mon! Do it!~
Dawn's cheek puffed out in irritation. This little brat wasn't listening at all. 'I'm not kicking her!'
~You should!~
'Be quiet! I'm trying to think of a plan.'
~Do it. You won't.~
'That's exactly what I said! Er, thought…?'
"Night Slash!" Ash's voice could be heard from below. Dawn looked over in time to watch the Zoroark throw herself at Scolipede with razor-sharp claws. A split-second surge of poison made her howl, though, and completely lose her footing.
Scolipede lifted their front legs, and brought their weight down atop Zoroark, pinning her.
Dawn bit her lip. 'There's no time for goofing off… Zoroark's in trouble! Maybe I can just use one of my own Pokémon. I bet Buneary would-'
~JUST. KICK. HER.~
"I'M NOT KICKING HER." Dawn blurted out, before slapping her hands over her mouth. Ash, the hunter, and even Scolipede looked over, making the girl freeze. Her position had been given away.
"Ohhh… darn it!" Gripping the hems of her sundress, Dawn scrambled to her feet and charged the bewildered thief. She reared her foot back, and kicked Anima in the hindquarters.
The hunter yelled in a combination of pain and bewilderment, losing hold of the Zorua's cage, which soared into the air.
Dawn moved to catch the cage, yelping as it came down with far more weight than she'd expected. She stumbled to catch her balance, nearly falling down the slope, herself. "G-gotcha!"
Anima, meanwhile, had a painful tumble down the gravel and debris, landing by her Scolipede. The Megapede turned their head around to follow the commotion.
"They're distracted; perfect!" Ash exclaimed. "Use Nasty Plot, and then give 'em your best Night Daze!"
The Scolipede's grip had loosened slightly, allowing Zoroark the breathing room to gather her vindictive thoughts. Not to mention, the room to free her forelegs, and smash them against the dirt. She lacked the range to give the attack her all, but the ground below her still gave into a crater.
Scolipede was still sent flying. This time, right through the ceiling. The flooring to the second level fell through in huge, broken fragments towards Anima and Zoroark, alike.
The former scuttled back in a panic, while the latter was yanked out of the way by Ash.
Anima cursed her luck, and recalled Scolipede on their way back down. "You miserable brats…! You've gone and lost me a client! You'll pay dearly for this." Reaching for her belt, she pulled off a dark, round capsule, and threw it at the ground; turning away from the impact.
A bright, blinding light seared the eyes of anyone looking towards it. She'd set off a flashbang. Ash guarded Pikachu and Zoroark's eyes, hiding his own with his visor. Dawn had turned away, clutching the cage close to her. It was a harsh, unpleasant experience, soon enough coming to an end.
"Where is she…?" Ash groaned, blinking repeatedly to adjust to the dingy lighting of the skeletal building. "I don't see her anywhere!"
"I think she got away," Dawn replied, carefully setting down the cage she'd secured. "But, she's the least of our problems right now."
"Yeah, you're right," Ash agreed, supporting Zoroark with his side that hadn't been seared with poison. "We did it, Zorkark. We won."
~...Rura.~ Zoroark wheezed, leaning a majority of her weight on Ash. ~Where is Rura.~
"Rura…?" Ash asked. "You mean your Zorua?"
"Way ahead of you!" Dawn pulled out Janine's hairpin, fiddling with the lock on the ironclad box. After a moment, it popped, and one of its sides popped open.
Inside was, indeed, a Zorua, who immediately leapt into Dawn's arms. ~Freedom!~ He chirped, scuttling up to Dawn's shoulder before perching atop her head. ~Thanks, kicking lady.~
"The name is Dawn," Dawn huffed. "D-A-W-N. And, you're welcome."
"Freeze! This is the Nimbasa Police!" Jenny's voice could just barely be heard over the screeching of tires. The officer rushed into the abandoned building, accompanied by a canine-like Pokémon with excessive brown, cream, and blue fur. She came to a halt when she saw the scene before her. "You kids…!"
"We handled it," Ash boasted, albeit tiredly, flashing a peace sign. "Zoroark's baby is safe."
"You did what, now!? I don't recall…" Officer Jenny shook her head, collecting herself. "Do you know the whereabouts of the perpetrator?"
"She threw down something that made a bright explosion and got away," Dawn explained. "She said something about us losing her a client."
"Then, that's the Pokémon Hunter, alright… There's no doubt left." The aqua-haired woman tutted. "She can be dealt with later. I'm more concerned about the well-being of these Pokémon, and you couple of kids. You all look like you're in terrible shape!"
"I've seen better days," Ash said flatly. "But, it was all worth it to help a Pokémon in need."
The Zoroark he was shouldering, meanwhile, stirred. ~Rura. You're…~ Before she could finish her thought, she fully collapsed onto Ash. The teen struggled to prop her back up.
"Zoroark!"
~Meema!~ Rura hopped off of Dawn's head, running over to paw at his mother. ~Meema, say something!~
"Meema…?" Ash echoed, shaking his head. "Officer Jenny, Zo… Meema needs to get taken care of, immediately! She took lots of damage, and she's been poisoned by Toxic! I gave her my last Full Restore, too…"
"Even if you did have one, such duress would still require a good medical eye," Jenny replied, frowning. "You'd better get her to a Pokémon Center. I don't suppose we'll have time to stop by the Precinct."
Ash, Dawn, and Pikachu paled at that suggestion. "We'd… really rather not," Ash pleaded.
"Piiikachu," Pikachu pleaded.
"That's very understandable, with the day you've all had. I'll give you both a ride back, and you can explain what happened to me on the way." She paused, scrunching her nose. "I'm sure Nurse Joy will offer you both a fresh change of clothes, too."
Ash nodded, seeing no issue with that plan. Except for just one thing. "But, Zoroark's not ours. I'm pretty sure she's a wild Pokémon. And you can't exactly carry her like Rura, either."
"Then the only option, for now, is to catch her," Officer Jenny deduced the obvious. "Unless you'd rather I take care of it…"
"No, no! I'll do it," Ash protested. "She's not very fond of humans, and she's only really warmed up to me." Rummaging through his bag, he pulled out an unoccupied Poké Ball. He tapped it lightly against the Illusion Fox's snout, capturing her in a ray of light. The sphere began to wobble in his hand.
~H-hey! What did you do to Meema!?~ Rura protested, clawing at Ash. ~Where'd she go!?~
"It's only temporary," Ash promised, reaching to ruffle his head. "We just need to get your Meema some help." After several wobbles, the Poké Ball clicked. He heard Dexter drone on about new data in his back pocket, afterward.
"Alright then," Jenny said, offering Ash a hand up. "Then let's get moving."
"Ow!"
"I told you, this would be a lot less painful if you didn't move."
Now, this was a feeling he hadn't particularly missed. The continuous sting of having a scar cleaned and disinfected, while a Nurse Joy scolded him to stay still.
"I'm trying," Ash huffed, keeping his hands folded in his lap to occupy himself. "Believe me."
"And you're doing quite well," Joy praised, blotting at freshly irritated scar tissue. "A lot better than most. I'd ask if you have experience, but your repertoire of scars gives me the answer. Honestly… this burn of yours is fairly fresh! When did you even acquire this, and how?"
Ash hummed, counting back the months. "About six months ago, give or take. And, uh… I got burned by a Moltres." He felt Joy's work on him pause for a good, long moment. "I'm not lying."
The cleaning continued. "If you're telling the truth, then I'm led to believe that Kanto's reputation for poor safety standards isn't unfounded. Goodness… and throwing yourself in front of a Venoshock with the state you were in!? That's a pattern of alarmingly reckless behavior, young man."
Ash, surprising even himself, could only smile. The whole exchange felt oddly routine. Nostalgic, even, for those days at the foot of Mt. Silver. "I get the feeling I'm never going to stop hearing these sorts of things…"
"That's a very concerning thing for someone your age to say, Ash."
"I know," he said. "I'll do better." He wondered whether he'd break that promise, again. That train of thought led him to change the subject. "How's Zoroark?"
"You can see her, if you'd like. I'm just about…"
"Ouch!"
"...done. Now, until the ointment settles in, you can wear a patient's gown to visit her."
Ash took one of the pale teal gowns, wrapping it around himself before following Joy into a different wing of the center's back corridors. Through one window, he saw a plump, pink and cream colored Pokémon that he now knew as Audino dealing with an excitable Rura.
The next one down, painted a less cute and cuddly picture. Meema was laid out on a large cot, with several wires and IVs hooked up to her. Her vitals continuously played on a monitor, and although Ash didn't understand them, they seemed to be stable.
"Poor gal…" Ash frowned, planting a hand against the glass. "That damned hunter!"
"Sadly, I can't say that all of this can be owed to today's incident," Nurse Joy said from beside him. "She seems like she's recently been starved. Either she's an escapee of someone who didn't care for her well… perhaps a poaching ring, along with her cub… or she simply had poor luck in the wild. The latter would be quite odd, though, as Zorua seems to be in decent health."
Ash's hand tightened into a balled up fist. The whole thing made him so terribly angry. Another Pokémon, suffering for no reason at all. "Meema…"
"We do have her on fluids right now, though," Joy continued, "and she seems to be making a steady recovery." Ash breathed a sigh of relief. "She should be in good health after a good night's rest. But, you'll have to keep a close eye on her."
"Hm?" Ash looked up to Nurse Joy, blinking.
"Make sure she eats, and keep her on a steady, high-protein diet. I can write you some prescriptions on your way out and send you off with a sample; they should be available at any Poké Mart." The Nurse smiled, turning to head into Meema's room.
She was already under the impression, clearly, that Ash intended to keep her. Each word from Joy's lips made the prospect of explaining the situation harder. Ultimately, the door shut behind her. He just didn't have the heart to.
He leaned against the glass before jolting up, reminded of his wound. Crossing his arms, he sighed.
Dawn was gently running her hand over Absol's snow-white fur, while browsing a trainer's magazine in the Center lobby. The Disaster Pokémon had, luckily, already been treated and returned to her with no serious injuries. She, herself, had been given a blue courtesy blouse to wear until they returned to the hotel.
She was more focused on Absol, really, than what she'd been reading, so Pikachu and Empoleon had taken the reading material to look over for themselves.
"Dawn!" Ash entered the lobby, wearing a temporary top to match. Nurse Joy followed closely behind, with Rura in her arms.
"Ash!" Dawn was quickly on her feet. "Is everything okay…?"
He held up a Poké Ball in the palm of his hand, wearing a smile that seemed half-hearted. "She's gonna be okay."
"She will be," Joy added, "and I'd like to add that Zorua is doing just fine. Although, he was a bit difficult with his vaccinations…"
~Those hurt!~ Rura complained, hopping atop the lobby's counter. ~But now I don't have to worry about getting rabies. Whatever that is!~
"Well, thank goodness." Officer Jenny approached the group, holding a hand out. "I'm glad to see that everything seems to be in order. Now, if you'll just give back Zoroark, I'll happily return her to the wild."
"Oh? You're not keeping her in your care?" Nurse Joy asked, looking a tad concerned.
"She was merely caught for the sake of transport, as I recall," Jenny explained.
Ash hesitated, staring at the capsule in his hand. "...Officer Jenny, can I have a moment?"
"I don't see why not, I suppose," Jenny agreed. "I'm sure this has been quite the stressful… Young man!?"
Ash turned towards an open space in the lobby, and triple-tapped the Poké Ball's button in his palm. The flash of light that left it, then, was distinctly blue, and its glow shattered with Zoroark's presence. The Illusion Fox had formally and functionally been released.
Meema sat up from a hunched position, blinking slowly.
"I understand your sentimentality," Jenny scolded, "but this is a wild and potentially dangerous Pokémon. I can't think of any good reason to…" She cupped a hand over her mouth, after realizing that her statement had caused a mild panic inside the Center. "Remain calm, everyone, please! I was only speaking in a matter of caution!"
Ash ignored the ruckus, stepping forth and crouching in front of the Zoroark with a smile. "There you go, gal. You're free now."
~I… don't understand.~ Meema said slowly, studying the trainer's face. ~You'd already captured me.~
"The whole reason we got involved in the first place was for your kid's freedom," Ash explained. "We just had to get you somewhere to be treated. Now that you're safe, you can both have it back!"
Meema continued to stare at Ash, as if his words were foreign to her. ~I will concede that my preconceptions of humans might have born a few errors. You, Ash and Dawn, have my gratitude. The rest of your pack, as well,~ she'd add, looking to Pikachu, Empoleon, and Absol.
She nodded her head towards Rura, who hopped down to accompany her to sit before Jenny. The elder bowed her head. ~I am in these caretakers' debt, as well. We'll come with you quietly.~
~Now, wait just a darn minute!~ Rura yipped, rapidly shaking his head. ~What are you even talking about? We're staying with them!~
~Rura,~ the mother scolded. ~We've burdened these humans long enough. It's not becoming to overstay your welcome.~
~You're being so DUMB about this!~ He barked back, only to shrink under her sharp, motherly gaze, one ear flopping over. ~I mean… Think about it! It's for our own goods! Did you see how tough and smart they both were!? The Battling Guy helped you win, and Kicking Lady kicked that jerk's butt! Besides, look — because of them, I can't get rabies!~
~...They are both dependable,~ Meema conceded. She pondered her child's argument, closing her eyes. ~I wouldn't mind you having a steady source of food.~ She turned to Ash, and bowed. ~If you will allow us, we will make ourselves useful.~
~...Rura.~
Catching on, he rolled his eyes and also bowed.
"Uh… yeah," Ash trailed off, masking his bewilderment with a half-smile and a raised brow. "Of course we'll have you! The truth is, I was actually going to ask you, myself. I need to make sure you stay good and healthy, after that whole fiasco. I just wanted you to know it was your choice."
"And I can promise we'll be together for a while!" Dawn chirped. "Even if the two of us go our own ways, we'll find a way for you both to stay together!"
Meema looked up at Dawn, blinking. ~...I don't understand.~
"Well… y'know!" Dawn sputtered, laughing sheepishly. "Assuming you'll let me catch Rura."
~Naturally,~ Meema replied, ~but I fail to understand why you would separate from your betrothed.~
"My betrothed?" Dawn frowned. "What would make you think that?"
"Huh? I'm lost," Ash interjected. "What's betrothed mean?"
"It means that we're engaged to be married," she plainly explained.
"W-what!?" The teenager balked, his face filling with red. "Isn't that moving things a little fast!? We're just kids!"
"I thought you said that we were growing up," Dawn countered.
"Sure, but not that grown up!" Touching his index finger to his cheek that he now found was burning, he lightly shoved Dawn by the shoulder. "H-hey, you're gonna have to exchange one of your Pokémon if you wanna keep Rura on, right? You should go do that!"
"Oh! Yeah, you're right." Taking the bait completely, Dawn nodded towards the video phones. "Absol, would you like a break? Maybe you could go back to Mom's place after all of your hard work…"
As Dawn's voice trailed off, Ash breathed a heavy sigh.
"Oh dear," Nurse Joy remarked with the utmost attempt at neutrality, hiding a giggle behind the back of her hand.
~Humans are quite odd,~ Meema said after watching the scene unfold.
"You've just wandered into an odd bunch," Ash said, winking. "You think you can keep up with us?"
~I will carry out your every word, Leader.~
"Ha!" Ash laughed, affectionately ruffling her head. "See? You're already getting the hang of it."
Blink, blink. ~I don't understand what's humorous.~
"...Oh, you're completely serious." Ash trailed off, looking just a bit terrified. "Look, you can just call me Ash. That isn't at all necessary."
~...But you are obviously the one in charge of this pack, yes?~
Ash frowned, scratching his cheek. "Maybe she is weird enough for this group," he whispered to Pikachu.
"One of us," Pikachu flatly agreed. But, he couldn't only greet their new friends with snark. He stepped forth with a smile. "Welcome to the group, both of you! Or, the 'pack,' as you call it."
~We thank you humbly,~ Meema bowed.
~Yeah! Humbly, or whatever,~ Rura yipped, hopping in place.
"I'm back~!" Dawn announced, making her way back to the group with a grin. She hoisted a Poké Ball up towards Rura.
"Awesome!" Ash cheered, hoisting up his very own Poké Ball. "Are you two ready?"
~We are.~
~Yeah!~
"Okay," Ash and Dawn cheered in unison, winding up. "Poké Ball… Go!"
The spheres were tossed in unison. Both foxes tapped them with their snouts, disappearing in a flash of light. Both fell to the floor wobbling once, twice, thrice. 'Ping!'
"Alright!" Ash cheered, reaching to pick up Meema's. "I just caught…"
"No need to worry… because Rura's mine, all mine!"
"Pi-Pikachu!"
"Em-pol!"
"Meem-OW!" Ash hoisted the Poké Ball up high, only to recoil and hold his shoulder. "I stretched the scar too far…"
"Ash!" Dawn scolded. "You have to be more careful!"
"You just said you were going to do better," Nurse Joy scolded, "honestly!"
"I know, I know…"
"Well, I think we've all had fun here," Officer Jenny interjected, "but if that's all settled, I think I'll be on my way. Take good care of those Pokémon, you two, and thank you for your vigilance. Do try to stay out of trouble, though, from now on."
"You got it, Officer Jenny!" Dawn agreed, waving to see the Officer off.
"We hear ya!" Ash said, still rubbing his shoulder. "Alright, come on out, you guys!" Tossing the ball more gently this time, Meema reappeared.
Dawn did the same, calling Rura, who quickly scaled his way back up her head. ~Alrighty! I got caught by Kicking Lady!~
"I told you," Dawn seethed, "I'm not Kicking Lady! My name is Dawn!"
~I apologize for his behavior,~ Meema said, bowing her head.
"Don't be," Ash laughed. "This is nothing out of the ordinary. But, I think this day's been lively enough… Let's get some rest and then pig out on dinner. I think we all could use a good meal."
~If Rura is able to eat well,~ Meema replied, ~That would be fine.~
"Okay, Empoleon! Use Bubblebeam!"
"Empooool!"
Carefully targeted soapy bubbles popped in rapid succession against Dawn's flowing locks. Within seconds, it was glossed to perfection, and voluminous as ever. Spinning in place, Dawn giggled and admired her bangs in the vanity mirror. "Perfect as always, Empoleon! We're set for the day, in looks and in spirit!"
"Just in time," Ash's voice could be heard muffled through the bathroom door. He stepped out, now wearing a fresh, not-acid-drenched button-up and khaki shorts. "I think we're ready to step out! Right, everyone?"
"That's fine with me," Pikachu agreed.
"Bun-Bun!"
~Roger!~
"Poleon!"
"Not so fast," Dawn said, jabbing her finger at Ash's chest. "Before that, you didn't forget to do your skin treatments, did you, Ash?"
"Agh… shoot! I knew I was forgetting something," Ash sighed. "Is this going to be a thing, now?"
"You were up all of last night tossing and turning because of your back, so yes," Dawn rebutted.
"I think you're just terrified of the idea of your boyfriend turning out looking like Frankenstein," Ash joked, sorting through his supplies from Nurse Joy.
"Ash, don't you know that part of feeling great is looking great, and taking care of yourself? I've told you, someone like you needs nothing less than the best!"
"Jeez… You really know how to turn that one on me and flatter me, huh?" Ash laughed nervously. Every time she pulled that argument, it made his heart race. It was a little stupid, but he couldn't argue with his feelings or her logic. "Alright, alright. I'll be done in a few," he conceded, shutting the bathroom door behind him."
"Honestly," Dawn huffed, sitting down on the foot of the bed, "I wish he'd learn to do it, himself."
A rapping knock on the suite door drew Dawn's attention and put the thought to rest.
"I'll get it!" Dawn announced, as the only person currently able. Could it be the hotel staff? Certainly they hadn't done anything to cause a complaint… It was a mystery to Dawn, so all she could do was open the door. Her eyes widened.
A short and stout elderly woman stood in the doorway, bundled up in a lighter blouse that suited Unova's spring more than it did Kanto's late stages of winter. Voluminous silver hair framed her face, and chestnut eyes looked heavy, lacking their usual fiery luster.
"Bertha!?"