"…"-Normal talking
'…'-Thinking and Pokémon talking
The next morning, Blake was just hanging with her teammates, minus Yang who was making her final preparations for her first match with Sun, for the time being. She couldn't stop worrying about Ash, despite only knowing him for a whole day. Then again, he was a motivation to her when she was younger to become a great Pokémon Trainer.
"What do I do? I can't seem to get Ash to open up…oh my god this is totally ironic from our first year at Beacon." Blake said while looking outside a window.
"Blake, we know that something's up with Ash. And besides, if anyone can do it better, it's you." Ruby said with a look of sadness.
Blake looked at Ruby with a bit of frustration.
"But how!?" She yelled.
Weiss immediately got in between to two of them.
"Okay, okay calm down you two. We don't need another Nevermore swopping in and kill more people right now. Blake, you know we got your back. I made this kind of mistake before, many a few more times that I'll admit to, but no more." Weiss said.
"IDEA!" Ruby shouted with excitement.
"Dare I even ask?" Blake asked with tending to her hearing after her team leader's shout.
"Since you guys got two days until your next match, how about you two just chill out, let your Pokémon train together and take a load off?" Ruby suggested.
"Wouldn't hurt. Especially since we got matches coming up as well. You guys got plenty of time." Weiss said.
Blake looked away out the window again and thought. She needed to be in sync with Ash if they were gonna win this tournament. What was there to lose?
"Alright, but first I need to find him." Blake said while still looking outside.
Back with Ash, he was on the rooftop at the hotel he and Blake were staying at. He held his arm that had new bandages. He began to ponder more of what to do for their upcoming opponents. He did some digging, and he learned that Jaune and Pyrrha were next.
Just then, his Pokedex buzzed. Ash looked and saw that Blake was contacting him.
"Hey Blake. What's up?" Ash asked.
"Where are you? I was wondering if we can talk in person?" She asked.
"On the rooftop in deep thought. Sorry I kinda bailed out earlier." Ash said while looking away a bit.
"That's one of the reasons why I wanted to talk to you in person. Don't move, I'll be there in a moment." Blake said before she hung up.
Ash just looked at the Pokedex after she hung up for a moment or two. He put it away and continued to look onward.
After a little while, Blake arrived, and she stood by him.
"Ash, you keep doing this to yourself. Why are you avoiding us? You know that more Grimm are gonna be coming after you and we won't be able to help all the time. Sure, I know of your PTSD and your anxiety, but just talk to us." Blake begged.
Ash slowly looked towards her.
"It's not that I want to avoid any of you. It's just-" "Just what Ash? You think you can do this on your own?" Blake interrupted him.
"No! This is a very personal matter. After what Serena did, I have no idea what they're next move will be. If I'm their target, that'll make you a secondary target. I seen clichés like these when Team Rocket had been on my ass for years ever since Viridian City in Kanto. I just made new friends; I don't want to lose them like I lost the friends that I once had." Ash yelled a bit at her.
Blake's eyes widen a bit from his yell. Ash then looked away again and closed his eyes.
"Blake…I'm sorry. It's just that-huh?" Ash stopped when Blake held his hand and smiled.
"That you think you have the worlds problems on your shoulders and think you have to be the big hero than all of us?" Blake asked. Ash nodded. "Tell you what. We got two days until our next match. How about our teams do some resting at our spot?" She asked.
"I guess you're right. Tomorrow, we'll get into some training. Plus, I think I'll teach you guys a few new tricks up our sleeves." Ash said with a grin.
"That's more like it." Blake said while smiling bigger.
They left the hotel, and they were making their way back to their spot where they're Pokémon first met. Ash winced from the pain from his arm, and Blake looked at him after he winced. She didn't say anything though, but she still wanted to bond with him.
"KETCHUM!" Someone shouted behind.
Ash's heart twisted as he recognized that voice. He and Blake looked and saw Iris, Max, Misty and Cilan were heading right towards them.
"You…" Ash growled angrily.
Blake held his shoulder and held him back a bit.
"What do you want?" Blake asked with anger herself.
"Just to catch up with Ash." Misty answered, but they all knew that it was a lie.
"Spare me the pleasantries Misty. After what you all did years ago, I want nothing to do with you assholes anymore." Ash spat at them.
"You want to know why we did it? You got in our way of our dreams and think that yours was better than ours in every way. And besides, you've always been a twerp to me Ketchum." Misty yelled.
"Oh, hello Jessie of Team Rocket. How are you? You know you should've stayed at Cerulean City as the weak link to the Sensational Sisters." Ash retaliated. Misty growled as her face turned red and she pulled out a large mechanical hammer from her back. "Some things never change." Ash said out of annoyance.
Blake looked at the hammer and her eyes widened, and her ears shot upwards.
"Perhaps we should just go. And besides, we have preparations to make for our match in a couple days." Blake said as she pulled Ash away, to which he did so gladly.
"Your Pikachu would be ashamed of you right now!" Iris yelled, causing Ash to freeze.
"Especially since you left it to die in Alola." Max taunted him more.
Ash began to shake as his anger was getting out of hand, and tears were pouring out of his eyes. Blake saw this and knew that things were gonna get ugly. It only made things scarier that red aura began to radiate from his body.
Ash shot his body around and summoned Divine Elemental and began to stomp towards the traitors, who were shocked to their core that the Keyblade came out of nowhere. He then aimed the crown at Iris's neck, causing her to freeze up.
"NEVER! BRING! PIKACHU! UP! LIKE! THAT! AGAIN!" Ash shouted as his eyes also began to glow red.
"Where'd that come from!?" Cilan asked with fright.
"Wouldn't you like to know!?" Ash growled at Cilan as electricity began to channel through the Keyblade.
Blake pulled out Gambol Shroud and took a ribbon from the katana and threw it at Ash. It began to latch around torso, and she pulled him. Ash looked at her as she was looking at him with a scared look. She then slightly shook her head.
Ash's aura faded and his eyes stopped glowing. He then lowered his Keyblade and dismissed it.
"If you want to cause more trouble, tempt us both again and see what happens." Blake threatened.
"Come on guys, let's get out of here before we have to watch him relive his past and his greatest failure ever." Max said as the four of them began to leave.
"JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Ash shouted as they left. Blake released him and got in front of him. She was more concerned for him. "I'm sorry Blake, and thanks for the restrain." Ash said while looking down.
"I'm just glad that no one was hurt. Come on, let's get going." Blake said as she took his hand and gently pulled him.
They returned to their spot where their Pokémon met and became a team.
"GO!" Ash and Blake shouted as they sent out their teams. When all twelve Pokémon came out, they eyed their trainers.
"Alright everyone, we got two days until our next match. So, for the day let's have you guys rest up for the day, and we'll train tomorrow." Ash said.
"Take some time to get to know each other more, and maybe learn more from one another. The better we bond, the better our odds." Blake suggested to them.
Their Pokémon agreed and they roared from it.
Grace quickly went to Ash and was showing signs of worry.
'Ash…you did it again. When will this stop?' She asked.
"Until they feel my pain, and I can be at peace." Ash answered. She hugged him tight as she began to tear up. "Grace…it's gonna be okay." He added.
"You two are very close. It's almost like she has feelings for you Ash." Blake teased him while her Pokémon chuckled at them.
Ash and Grace looked back at each other and she blushed from that. She even shoved him away while looking away. Blake and their Pokémon chuckled at them.
"Anyway, you all can do as you wish for the day. Just stay out of trouble and if you see anyone that seems suspicious, or any Grimm nearby, wipe them out." Ash said to everyone.
'What of you two?' Data asked.
"We'll be doing the same." Ash answered.
'I see.' Data said.
'Just promise us that you won't do anything stupid.' Granite said with concern.
"Just as long as trouble doesn't find me first." Ash said with a bit of a chuckle. Granite approached and slightly hit his back, causing him to fall forward. "Right…right." Ash said while wincing.
"Come on Ash, how about we go watch Sun and Yang's match?" Blake asked.
"Sure. I could use a breather." Ash said while fixing himself.
'I'm going with you.' Grace insisted when she grabbed her trainers' hand.
"Grace…" Ash said while looking at her.
'My purpose is to protect you. Especially since…I really don't want to mention it.' Grace said while looking at his injured arm.
"Ash? Why is she looking at your arm?" Blake asked with concern.
"She knows it's still injured. I'll be fine I promise." Ash insisted.
Blake just looked with a very uncertain look. She wasn't buying it, but she rather not push him.
"Come on. Sun and Yang's match is coming up." Blake said.
"Let's go." Ash said with a smile.
The three of them left for Amity Colosseum. They got good seats for the battle with Sun and Yang's match against Cilan and Iris. It came as no surprise who they were cheering for.
With Sun and Yang
Sun and Yang glared at Cilan and Iris. They were told about them curtesy of Blake. Yang was not having any of this for what they said and did to their new friend.
Flashback
Sun and Yang arrived at the locker room getting ready for their upcoming match.
"You know Sun. I think after this we have a big date for our victory. Plus, dad would want to see you again." Yang said with glee.
"You bet. And besides, I haven't seen him in some time. Taiyang sure likes having me around." Sun said.
Suddenly, Yang's scroll began to buzz. She saw that Blake was calling.
"Hello!" Yang sang after she answered.
"Yang, you won't believe who me and Ash ran into while we were heading out towards our spot for our Pokémon to train and rest." Blake said.
"Did you guys kill more Grimm without me again? You know how much I love Grimm hunting." Yang said with an annoyed voice.
"No. We ran into a few of the traitors Ash warned us about. Two of them are the ones that you and Sun are facing. Do not hold back and don't listen to anything they say. Trust me, I might've saved your asses on this battle." Blake warned them.
"Thanks Blakey. I'll treat you to a Magikarp sandwich when we are done as a thank you." Yang said.
"FISH! Love you!" Blake yelled with happiness.
"Love you too!" Yang yelled before she hung up. She then slowly turned towards Sun with a bigger smirk. "My beloved Sun-shine, we are gonna have a bit of fun with this." Yang sneered a bit.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, but if it's aiding a friend, count me in." Sun said with the same smirk and his tail wrapping around his waist.
Flashback ends
"I heard what you guys did to our friends earlier. And I'm afraid that you won't be getting out scot free." Yang said as her eyes began to glow red.
"If you're referring to Ash, he's only a kid in a man's body that deserves to be humiliated by us." Iris retaliated.
"Oh! It's on!" Yang and Sun yelled as they pulled out their Pokémon.
"The next battle of the First Round is about to commence. Sun Wukong and Yang Xiao Long Vs. Iris Ariusu and Cilan Dent. This will be a double battle with all combatant's using two Pokémon each. When one sides loses all four will end the match. Furthermore, there will be no substitutions until the battle ends." Glynda announced.
"Time to bring out an exquisite five-star startup with Semisage!" Cilan yelled as he sent out his grass type wise monkey onto the field.
Semisage LVL 88 Grass Gluttony
Solar Beam Dig Crunch Gunk Shot
"Time to bring out the terror of my strength! Go Excadrill!" Iris yelled as she sent out her oversized mole on steroids with attached drill parts on his limbs ready for battle.
Excadrill LVL 90 Ground/Steel Sand Rush
Sandstorm Drill Run Metal Claw Swords Dance
"I'll show you how it's done. Come out Flareon!" Yang yelled as she sent out her fire fox with an attitude onto the field.
Flareon LVL 90 Fire Flash Fire Quick Claw
Flare Blitz Baby-Doll Eyes Lava Plume Quick Attack
"Guess I'll bring the heat too. Come on out Heatmor!" Sun yelled when he sent out his anteater made of fire onto the field.
Heatmor LVL 91 Fire Flash Fire
Fire Lash Bug Bite Stomping Tantrum Thunder Punch
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled.
Suddenly, Flareon's Quick Claw began to glow.
"YES! Sun, you think Heatmor can take the heat?" Yang asked. Sun nodded. "Alright! Flareon, use Lave Plume!" Yang yelled.
'Tick…tick…' Flareon said as she began to glow. 'BOOM!' She screamed as a powerful burst of flames and smog blasted out of her body. Excadrill and Semisage got a full doze of that attack. Meanwhile, Heatmor began to absorb the attack and began to glow.
In the smoke, Semisage fainted and Excadrill barely stood up.
"Semisage is unable to battle. Flareon and Heatmor take the win!" Glynda yelled over the cheering crowd.
Cilan returned his defeated Pokémon and looked at their opponent with anger.
"I guess I'll have to pull out the big gun. Stunfisk, go!" He yelled as he sent out his flounder with galvanize in its body.
Stunfisk LVL 90 Ground/Electric Sand Veil
Thunderbolt Scald Discharge Charge
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled.
"Excadrill, use Sandstorm!" Iris yelled.
Excadrill began to channel sand all around with his claws. He began to blow the sand around, given the advantage to Cilan and Iris. Meanwhile, Sun and Yang were now struggling to see.
"NRGH! Heatmor, quick use Fire Lash!" Sun yelled while getting sand out of his eyes.
'Take…this!' Heatmor yelled just as a whip made of flames came out of his mouth and attempted to hit Excadrill. The attack was a hit, but Excadrill was still standing.
"That's it! Now use Drill Run on the Heatmor!" Iris yelled.
Excadrill formed his body into a drill and began to spin right towards Heatmor. The attack was a direct hit, and it severely crippled Heatmor.
"OH NO! FLAREON QUICK! USE ANOTHER LAVA PLUME!" Yang screamed in fright.
'RIGHT!' Flareon shouted before she started glowing again. She then exploded once again, but this time Excadrill was prepared as he used Drill Run away from the attack. 'Dammit!' Flareon yelled with frustration.
"STUNFISK NOW! USE DISCHARGE!" Cilan shouted.
Stunfisk began to channel electricity out of its body. The electricity shot in all directions but did nothing to Excadrill due to its immunity to electric attacks. Flareon and Heatmor took the hit, and Heatmor was defeated.
"Heatmor is unable to battle! Excadrill and Stunfisk take the win!" Glynda yelled.
The crowd cheered from that battle. Sun was upset that Heatmor was defeated and returned it.
"Heatmor buddy, you rest up. I'll avenge your defeat." Sun said to his defeat comrade. He then looked at his opponents with anger while pulling out his next Pokémon with his tail. "Infernape, it's your turn!" Sun yelled as he threw the ball and sent out oh fighting monkey.
Infernape LVL 93 Fire/Fighting Iron Fist Charcoal
Fire Punch Acrobatics Laser Focus Blast Burn
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled.
"Infernape, use Fire Punch on Excadrill!" Sun yelled.
'OPEN WIDE!' Infernape yelled as he charged at Excadrill and his fist began to channel flames. His fist collided with Excadrill's face, knocking him out.
"Excadrill is unable to battle! Flareon and Infernape take the win!" Glynda yelled.
Iris returned Excadrill with anger. She was done fooling around.
"YOU REMIND ME SO MUCH OF HIM! HAXORUS! GO!" Iris shouted as she sent out her ace Pokémon.
Haxorus LVL 94 Dragon Mold Breaker Dragon Gem
Slash Giga Impact Dragon Dance Draco Meteor
Meanwhile, the Sandstorm buffed Flareon, who was already severely damaged from the previous attacks. This caused her to faint.
"OH NO!" Yang screamed with fright.
"Flareon is unable to battle! Haxorus and Stunfisk take the win!" Glynda yelled.
Yang returned Flareon and a tear fell from her eye.
"Flareon sweetie, you just rest. I'll make it up to you tonight." Yang whispered before putting her Pokémon away. She then grew very angry. Her eyes turned red, and her hair was on fire, activating her Burn semblance. "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THAT! GO STEELIX!" She screamed as she sent out her massive snake made of metal onto the field.
Steelix LVL 92 Steel/Ground Rock Head
Stone Edge Double-Edge Steel Beam Sand Tomb
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled.
"Alright Stunfisk, use Scald on Steelix!" Cilan yelled.
Sunfisk got onto its tailfin and inhaled. It then fired off a burst of boiling hot water at Steelix.
"Steelix, look out!" Yang yelled. The Steelix moved to the side and he dodged the burst of water. "NOW FOLLOW UP WITH STEEL BEAM!" Yang shouted.
'This is gonna be get GREASY!' Steelix shouted the pun before inhaling. A large silver ball of energy began to charge up from the steel of his own body. He then fired a powerful blast of steel right at Stunfisk, knocking it out. A trade off for this was that Steelix severely damaged himself severely. 'Worth it.' He said while toughing out the pain.
"Stunfisk is unable to battle! Infernape and Steelix take the win!" Glynda yelled.
Cilan returned Stunfisk and stepped away, leaving Iris to fight the two Pokémon by herself.
"Battle commence!" Glynda yelled again.
"Infernape, use Acrobatics!" Sun yelled.
'Going up!' Infernape yelled as he began to charge forward, creating an afterimage of himself. He then began striking at Haxorus multiple times. 'GET SOME!' He shouted as he attacked.
"SHAKE IT OFF! USE DRACO METEOR!" Iris screamed.
Haxorus threw off Infernape and began to channel a ball of orange energy in his mouth. The Dragon Gem also began to glow. The gem dissolved into his body, giving the attack more power.
Haxorus then fired the blast into the air. Everyone watched as it exploded into the air, and it began raining down dozens of energy blasts towards the field. The attacks successfully hit Infernape. Infernape was then sent flying backwards from those blasts, knocking him out.
"Infernape is unable to battle! Haxorus takes the win!" Glynda yelled.
Sun returned Infernape and backed away, leaving Yang to face off against Iris. Just then the Sandstorm subsided.
'I can't afford to use another Steel beam, because that'll put Steelix in a very tight spot. There's only one way I'm getting out of this.' Yang thought to herself. "Alright! Steelix, use Sand Tomb!" Yang yelled.
Steelix's body began to twirl around and began to create a geyser of sand around him. He then aimed the sand right at Haxorus, and the attack began to chip away at him.
"COME ON HAXORUS! THROW IT OFF! DRAGON DANCE!" Iris shouted.
Haxorus began to spin around. A cloud of blue aura began to radiate from his body. The result of this made him stronger physically and specially.
"NOW WHILE ITS DISTRACTED! STONE EDGE!" Yang screamed.
Steelix roared and slammed his body onto the ground. This made a giant, pointed rock of blue light shot out of the ground and his Haxorus so hard that it sent him skyward.
"HAXORUS NO!" Iris screamed with fright.
Haxorus roared as he fell towards the ground and it caused a shockwave to blast on impact. He then laid on the ground unconscious.
"Haxorus is unable to battle! Steelix wins! The winner of this battle goes to Sun Wukong and Yang Xiao Long!" Glynda announced.
The stadium exploded in cheers from the result of the match.
"YANG WE DID IT!" Sun screamed with happiness.
"SUN-SHINE!" Yang screamed too as she ran to Sun and hugged him. She then grabbed his head and kissed him hard, to which he returned it.
With Ash and Blake
"THEY DID IT!" Blake screamed happily as she got up and hugged Ash.
"HELL YEAH!" Ash shouted as he returned the hug. He then looked back at Cilan and Iris. "TAKE THAT TRAITORS!" Ash shouted at them.
Cilan and Iris heard him shout and they looked at him with anger.
"I've had enough of this. GET OVER HERE!" Iris shouted as she activated a weapon underneath her sleeve. A hook shot came out and latched onto his torso.
"Uh oh…" Ash said before he was tugged onto the field hard.
"ASH!" Blake and Yang screamed with fright.
Ash landed face first onto the ground, only to get back up quickly as Iris ran to him. He quickly pulled out his sword while Iris pulled out a cutlass from behind her and their swords clashed.
"Oh no you don't!" Blake yelled as she ran to them with her weapon out. She intercepted the attacks from Iris's attacks by using her semblance, Shadow, and created an ice clone of herself. "Freeze." She said with venom in her voice.
"H-hey! I-h-h-hate the c-c-c-old!" Iris struggled to say as she was freezing from the icy capture.
Meanwhile, Cilan was about to join the fight when Yang caught up to him. He tackled him and pinned him down. She then aimed her prosthetic arm at his face, and it began to power up for the hydraulic within.
"I hope you hungry, because eat these!" Yang yelled before her arm began to rapidly punch Cilan multiple times in the face. After multiple hits, Cilan passed out from the punches. "That's for siding with a traitor to a friend." She growled at him.
"Nice work Yang." Glynda said as she approached her former student.
"Just do what I do best Glynda." Yang said as she stood up and faced her former instructor.
"Next time let me get in on the action. I'm a Huntsman too." Sun complained about it.
Just then, officials arrived, and they took Cilan away. Some went to Iris and bound her in aura inhibitor binders.
"This isn't over Ketchum! You'll always be that little kid that I hate! I'll kill you in your sleep!" Iris yelled as they took her away.
Ash just simply watched as they took her away. Blake then held his shoulder, gaining his attention.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Yeah. Just need to get a better grip on a railing next time." Ash said. Just then, Sun and Yang approached them, and Blake and Yang shared a hug. "I swear you two are very close." Ash said while Sun stood by him.
"She's like another sister to me." Yang answered when they let go.
"Well anyway, I'm starving. Who's hungry?" Sun asked just when he joined them.
"Well…we do have that date plan, right?" Yang asked with a sexy smirk.
"Don't forget about my Magikarp sandwich you promised me." Blake reminded her before leaning her head on her shoulder. She began to purr a bit.
"Don't worry Blake. I'm a woman of my promise." Yang said while she patted her head a bit.
"YAY!" Blake yelled happily.
"I guess a late lunch sounds like a good idea." Ash said just as his stomach growled a bit.
Blake looked at him for a moment while she was also thinking about what Ruby suggested. She needed to get through to him no matter what.
"I have an idea Ash. How's about you and I do something a bit later?" Blake asked.
Ash looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
"I…suppose so? What do you have in mind?" Ash asked.
"Just a little dinner. If we are gonna be working with each other, we might as well get to know more of each other." Blake answered.
"Good point. How about we get a small snack first with the others?" Ash asked.
"Sure." Blake agreed.
Later on, everyone met up at the Pokémon Center. Yang gave Blake that sandwich she owed her. Had a small sandwich himself.
"SALUTATIONS!" A girl's voice shouted nearby.
Ash and Blake saw an orange haired girl with bright green eyes, freckles underneath her eyes, a combat skirt that's green, white, and black. She lad on black fingerless gloves that had metal braces on the knuckles. There were multiple machine parts on her back that held her weapons, she had black stockings and had rocket propel boots that enables flight. She had a big pink bow that made her hair be in a long ponytail.
"PENNY!" Ruby screamed with happiness as she tackled her best friend, who fell onto her back and laughed her heart out.
"I missed you Ruby!" Penny yelled before they got up.
"So, how's the organic life treating you?" Yang asked.
"Great! Thanks to General Schnee, I was able to maintain my previous weaponry and other accessories when I was an android." Penny answered with a big smile.
Penny Polendina was once an android that was built by Pietro Polendina, who treated her like his own daughter. She was also one of the four sacred Seasonal Maidens, the Winter Maiden. Thanks to the many uses of the magic, and a blessing from the Brothers of Light and Darkness, she was turned into a real girl with her own soul, organic Aura, everything a person has.
"My big sister did all of this for you? That's better than what Ironwood did. After his betrayal to all of us, and Remnant, he can rot for all I care." Weiss said.
Penny then took noticed of Ash and gasped in happiness.
"Ash Ketchum! The champion of Alola! I've been hoping to meet you for years now." Penny said as she approached him with her arms behind her back.
"Penny was it?" Ash asked. She nodded with her smile bigger. "I take it you know of my reputation?" Ash asked more.
"Not only that, but how you disappeared, and your past wins before going to Alola. Not to mention your actions against not one, but multiple crime organizations. And that…your arm!" Penny yelled with fright of seeing his injured arm.
Ash held his arm and backed away from her.
"Don't worry about it Penny. I promise." He half lied.
"Please, you must let me tend to it! Anyone that is a friend to my best friend Ruby is a friend of mine. I can tend to that arm faster than a Beowolf determines who the alpha is!" Penny insisted.
"I've already gotten my injury taken care of. It was very easy to manage Penny. Please…" Ash begged while backing away further.
Penny grew sad from his refusal to let her aide him. Ruby held her hand to comfort her. Penny hugs Ruby tight.
"Ever since she moved in with Ruby after many months, they're more inseparable. Although, I do wonder about Oscar." Yang said.
"Who's Oscar?" Ash asked.
"Her boyfriend. A farmer turned deadly Huntsman that aided us against Salem a year ago." She answered.
"He should be here. I miss him." Ruby said while looking away.
"I'm sure he'll turn up soon enough. Anyway, I'm gonna get ready for later Blake. See you soon." Ash said.
"Meet me by the fountain nearby City Hall. I got to make some preparations myself." Blake said. She watched as Ash left. "I don't like this. He has been so not himself ever since he arrived here." She added.
"Least you still have an idea to get through to him right?" Ruby asked.
"Yep. He and I are gonna get dinner together." Blake answered.
"Cool. Maybe we can help in some way." Yang said.
"Maybe, but this might be rather personal." Blake said while looking back at where Ash left.
The first round was continuing, and Ash and Blake are gonna get some dinner. Their Pokémon are continuing to bond and trust each other. How long can that last? Will Blake get through to Ash? Find out more next time as the story continues.
As of the time of posting this chapter, we've reached the end of Vol. 8 for all non-first members. And after seeing the volume's finale…we're in the endgame now. And from what I've heard, there is one maybe two more volumes left. And I have to say, I think I unintentionally predicted how this would play out back when I written A Vytal Destiny…oops. Well anyway, thanks for reading once again. TheD-Rock900 is signing off, see you guys next time.