The unlikely trio arrived at the Celadon City Pokemon Center. Even though it was supposed to be one of the big cities in Kanto, there weren't many people around.
However, someone spotted and recognized a person in the group. "Ash!" A young voice made the trio look to see a little girl run up and give the raven-haired teen a big hug.
"Molly!" Ash kneeled and returned the gesture to the little girl. "It's great to see you again."
The little girl with a blue ribbon let go of the hug and looked at Ash's new travel companions. "Where's the scary old lady that traveled with you?"
Back in Saffron, Sabrina crushed her coffee mug by accident.
"She wasn't scary," Ash forgot to deny the old part. "But I want you to meet Wes and Bea!"
The girl gasped in awe when looking at the two. "Wow! Do any of you have cute Pokemon too!?" The girl asked.
While Molly seemed to wear down the Galar Gym Leader and the Savior of Orre, Ash saw a familiar face walking over to him specifically.
"Hello, Ash."
"Oh! Mr. Hale!" The raven-haired teen looked elated to see the man.
"Please, Ash. I've told you to call me Spencer." He said before he looked over to Molly. "Dear, do you mind if I have a word with Ash?"
"No problem, Papa!" The girl quickly said before she convinced—via masterful art of teary Lillipup Eyes—the two grey-haired trainers to bring out their Pokemon for Molly to cuddle with.
"Ash," Spencer spoke with a calm but serious tone. "Do you mind if we step out for a second?"
The teen nodded as he walked with the man toward the backyard of the Poke Center. Since Celadon City boasted a Grass Gym, this particular Center held a lovely garden with many assorted flora, plants, and trees.
"What did you want to talk about, Mr. Hale?"
The man laughed as he led the two to sit in a somewhat remote area. "Ash... you know I've been dating your mother for two years, right?"
Ash nodded.
Spencer Hale was a long-time friend of his mother. The two met as teenagers while Spencer studied under Professor Oak and became fast friends. Spencer was there for Delia when Ash's father passed away, and she returned the favor when Molly's mother died of childbirth. During Ash's 3-year apprenticeship in Professor Oak's lab, the Hale family stayed over with Ash and Delia. This was because Hale wanted to spend more time with Molly but didn't want to leave her alone in their mansion in Greenfield. Seeing as his excursion was near Pallet Town, and one of his co-workers had a family in the area, he asked Delia to house them for a week or two. And Delia agreed without hesitation. While Ash got to know and play with Molly again, he swore his mom and Mr. Hale acted differently than usual. It took some time and explanations from his mom that she admitted the two started dating.
Ash didn't quite understand, but if it meant that Mr. Hale and Molly got to spend more time with him and his mom, he welcomed the change.
So with all of that, Ash wondered why Mr. Hale was stating the obvious.
"Well, I've known your mother for a long time. And life...tends to go in directions not even a psychic Pokemon can predict properly." Spencer Hale rubbed his hair with his hand as if he was nervous. "But it's odd that it brought us back toget..." He shook his head as Ash kept a blank smile on his face.
Spencer Hale seemed to steel himself as he looked at Ash in the face. "Ash, this is important. I am in love with your mother. I think I've been in love with her for a long time. And spending time with her again made me think really hard about this... I want to ask for your mother's hand in marriage. And I wanted to know what you think about it."
...
Pokemon combat and adventuring were something Ash could get behind. But something as big as this? The teen was stunned.
Seeing almost thirty seconds go by with Ash Ketchum even blinking, Spencer coughed into his hand. "I'll let you think about it. Molly and I will leave by tomorrow at lunch, so I hope I can have your answer before then. If not, I'll wait."
The kind man left, leaving Ash alone in silence. Though silence and Ash Ketchum didn't mix, along with the fact his mind seemed to have a thousand thoughts but not a single one seemed to make sense.
Ash was so lost in thought that both Bea and Wes ended up looking for the teen.
"Ash? Is something the matter?" Bea asked first, concerned for her new friend.
Although they didn't know him long, seeing the blank look on the excitable teen's face was something neither trainer liked.
"My uh. My mom's boyfriend just asked me if I'd be Okay with him asking for my mom's hand in marriage."
"Oh," Wes said as he and Bea were caught off guard by that. "Was it that guy we just met?"
"Yeah."
"He," Wes didn't know why he wanted to speak up more. Quiet wasn't something he expected this group to have. "He seems nice."
Ash gave a small smile. "He's pretty cool."
Bea sat down next to the teen in a way that usually didn't fit the intense girl. "I had a similar experience."
"You did!?" Ash looked at the taller girl as if seeking answers.
"My father... was strict in training me. When he met my stepmother... he changed. He became... lax. I saw her bring sides of my father I never imagined, and she and her son were nice to me." Bea said. "Perhaps it's not the same for everyone, but he's willing to ask your permission reminds me of my stepmother. She was kind and gentle with me before marrying my father."
Ash and even Wes took in what she said. "What about your real mom?"
"I never met her. Or I don't remember her." Bea looked up. "The only one who I call mother now is my stepmother."
"Don't you... feel bad for forgetting her?" Wes may not have known Ash for long, but he could tell he was asking more for himself than for Bea.
"I... do," The Galarian Gym leader admitted. "I sometimes wonder if she would be anything like my current mother..."
When Bea didn't continue after, Ash turned to the other trainer. "What about you, Wes?"
"My parents," What was there to talk about Wes' parents? Seriously, what was there to talk about? He never met either of them. "The only thing I know about those two is how much I don't know about them. I didn't exactly grow normal in Orre." That and they were more than likely dust in the wind. Orre wasn't exactly a paradise to grow up in, not that Wes wanted his two new travel companions to ask more questions.
"Do you think about them?"
Ash was honest and sincere. Wes couldn't find himself being even remotely sarcastic toward a topic he wondered about more than once in his life. "Sometimes. But we're all different on that."
A few seconds went by with no one saying anything. It was different from how the group started out so far.
"... I don't want to forget my dad," Ash looked downward.
"You won't," Wes found himself speaking without thinking. "I didn't know them, and I still haven't forgotten about them."
The Snagger rubbed his head. "Anyway, I'm not good at this kind of stuff, so I was gonna ask for both of your help after we got our Pokemon healed."
Bea and Ash looked at Wes. "Help with what, Sifu?"
"Stop calling me that," Wes whispered before shaking his head. He took out a familiar Ultra Ball and tossed it into the air before catching it.
"I need your help to purify a shadow."
The trio of trainers all had their Pokemon out in a circle, all looking inward.
"So," Wes looked at the two. "Does anyone need me to repeat the plan?"
"I get it, but you never mentioned how you were going to..."
"It's a long story, so it's better to show you than explain," Wes responded to Ash's question before preparing the Ultra Ball. "Alright, on my mark. Get set."
Bea's fighting types and Ash's Team Luckless (Except El Almohada and Belfast) readied themselves into a fighting stance.
Wes' Pokemon did the same before the Snagger threw the Ultra Ball. "Go!"
After a burst of light, a black Charizard roared before a shadowy aura appeared around its form.
Astro moved in first, slamming a Force Palm into the right cheek of the fire and flying Pokemon. That action allowed Prince Nidorino to use Rock Tomb to capture the starter's lower torso. It was a domino effect as Bea's Machamp closed the distance and used two hands to grab and pin the black Pokemon's wings and the other to clamp its jaw from opening.
Everyone else did their best to assist in restraining the Charizard. Help from Wes' ghost and psychic Pokemon forced the Shadow Pokemon to submission, combined with all the other Pokemon that restrained him.
Wes took out something neither Bea nor Ash expected: a flute. It looked ornate and ancient before the Snagger started to play a calming tune.
The tune felt soothing, but even those without aura-sensing or psychic prowess could feel a shift in the air as Wes played the melody. The black Charizard suddenly struggled harder until everyone else realized their jobs and did their best to restrain the trashing Pokemon.
Soon enough, they all saw the noticeable dark aura of the Charizard turn green before shattering. The black Charizard slowed down and relaxed. Though, the other Pokemon still remained on guard.
'It's okay, fellas,' Umbreon relaxed, as did the rest of Wes' Pokemon. 'He should be good for now.'
The Charizard raised its brow. 'He?!' A decidedly female voice responded as her tail fire lit up.
'She was good until you said that,' Espeon stepped away from his brother.
Because everyone relaxed, no one expected the Charizard to roar and rush for the Umbreon despite multiple Pokemon holding on to her.
"Whoa! We gotta stop them!" Ash was about to move when he felt a tug on his shoulder. The raven-haired teen looked back to see Wes shaking his head.
"It's fine. Once purified, Shadow Pokemon revert to their normal state. I guess this one had a naturally fiery temper. Best to let her vent it out. Think of it more as bonding for my Pokemon." Wes and Espeon promptly ignored the cries for help that Umbreon screamed as the Charizard yelled for his bones.
Bea walked up, eyeing the flute Wes held. "What is that? Is it some magical artifact?"
Wes held the ornate flute with unexpected gentleness. "I guess? Legends say that this thing could summon Celebi and bring the kindest memories back to the person using it."
"Celebi? You met Celebi!?" Ash's eyes widened as he heard the name of the mythical Pokemon.
"I wouldn't call it that. It appeared, touched a Pokemon with a green light, and disappeared after." Wes was expecting some epic beast to be able to travel through time. He was mildly disappointed to see some kind of onion fairy. That was the opposite reaction Rui had, who wanted to use the time flute to pet the creature when it came again. Wes continued on while looking at the flute. "The point is that the Time Flute was meant to be a one-time-only use. But when I left Orre, I found out the instrument had lingering energy from Celebi, almost as if to say it could purify Shadow Pokemon on its own now. ...Huh... it's like it knew I'd still need the ability to purify Shadows..."
Ash raised his brow when he heard this. "So why don't you use it on the Tyranitar?"
"The thing about that is that there needs to be some shred of the Pokemon's personality and memory while they're shadow-fied. XD-0 is the work of a mad scientist to completely weaponize a Pokemon. The flute doesn't work on something they turned into a living weapon. And honestly? I'm still trying to find a way to purify the thing."
"That's horrible that people would do something to that Tyranitar." Bea narrowed her eyes before they softened. "But to think you still haven't given up on it."
Wes looked away, not knowing how to deal with praise. "More like there's nowhere else for the thing to go. I can't exactly release this thing back in the wild."
'Why not release this one!?' Umbreon managed to yell even as he avoided a swipe of a Dragon Claw.
Ash saw one Pokemon in his group who could have stopped all of this but was obviously having a lot of fun holding on to the Charizard's tail.
"Jigglypuff, could you please stop her?"
The pink puffball looked over to Ash before nodding. 'Yoom-tah!'
It was quite the sight to see a small, round, and pink object suddenly yank an angry Charizard—with multiple Pokemon piling on her—with ease even Bea's Machamp couldn't replicate. With a second pull, Jigglypuff whipped the Charizard down to the ground and knocked everyone else off the fire and flying type.
'Alright!' The happy Pokemon skipped to the Charizard, who was in disbelief she got stopped by something smaller than her arm. 'Be nice to everyone else now. Okay, friendly friend~?'
Bea's Machamp stared into the sky. 'Did. Did I just get thrown by a puffball?' If one was paying attention, it sounded like the fighting type who could crush a mountain was having an existential crisis.
'Yeah, he's pretty strong.' Ash's Riolu fixed his hat.
Wes walked up to the Charizard. "So, how are you feeling?"
The black Pokemon snapped out of her stupor before looking at Wes. 'It's you! You're that trainer that stole me from that glasses punk!'
"Yeah. I only did it to tick him off. But I'm not like him; if you have somewhere else you need to be, I'm more than willing to let you go. Thought I'd ask first." The Snagger watched the dual type stand back to full height.
The Charizard reached for her head. 'I gotta admit, it's nice not having an ear-splitting headache every waking moment. Thanks for that.' The dragon-like Pokemon looked around. 'I think I'll stick with you guys.' She looked over to the Jigglypuff. 'Strong Pokemon tend to attract other strong Pokemon. And I always love a good battle!'
Ash perked up after hearing that. "A battle?!"
Wes saw the teen perk up. A small idea came to his mind before turning to the Charizard. "How about it? We could have one battle with someone here."
"Oh! Oh!" Ash raised his hand. "Can I do it!? I've been meaning to try out how Belfast does in a battle!"
'What did he just say?' The Ditto, currently in the form of a Pikachu-Belle, looked over to the masked Drowzee beside her.
El Almohada only patted the current shoulder of the shift shaper. 'Te acostumbras amiga.'
'... What did you just say?'
Because of her stupor, it didn't take long for Belfast to realize that she was in the middle of a battlefield, facing down a towering and menacing Charizard that moved fast despite almost a dozen Pokemon trying to pin her down.
'I'd say you look weak,' The Charizard snarled in a way steam ignited in her maw. 'But if your anything like that puff ball from a while ago, I'm not going to hold back!'
'Please don't not hold back.' The dressed-up Pikachu whispered.
Ash felt pumped as he stared down the Charizard and Wes from the other side. He pushed his hand out, 'Alright, Belfast! Let's try out your Transform move!'
'R-Right!' The clothed, fake Pikachu tried to gather courage as she did everything she could to perform the move that saved them from Team Rocket.
Now, Ash and everyone else expected the Ditto to take on the form of Charizard. It's what they're known for doing. So, many watching the practice battle widened their eyes when Belfast took the form of... Regieleki.
'I-I,' Belfast moved her... thunder limbs around. 'I did it! I transformed again! It feels so good to use Pokemon Moves!'
"Belfast," Ash blinked before he adjusted his eyes to his Pokemon's bright form. "Shouldn't you have turned into Charizard?"
The false Regieleki turned to Ash. Although she currently didn't have a face, Belfast was obviously confused as her trainer. 'What? I can change into something else?'
Ash tilted his head.
However, the Charizard unfurled her wings. 'Huh! You do look tough! Alright, let's throw down!'
The fire type rushed off to hit Belfast. But seeing as she was currently in the form of living energy, the Ditto dodged the attack easily.
Perhaps too easily.
When everyone turned, they saw Belfast farther away from everyone else.
Ash used his psychic powers. (Belfast, you alright?)
(Huh? Yeah. Yeah! Still-um. I'm getting used to this body. It's so weird!)
'A speedy one, ain't ya?' The Charizard smiled. 'Alright, let's see how you deal with this!' As she shouted this, fire gathered in her maw before firing off a Dragon Pulse in Belfast's direction. But since she was in the form of a Legendary, even that attack looked like it moved in slow motion. Belfast danced around, feeling more confident as she realized how easy it was to dodge attacks.
(Alright, Belfast, let's use Thunderbolt!)
The Ditto gathered energy into her limbs before firing an impressive bolt of thunder that even fully evolved electric Pokemon would have trouble replicating. However, the direction of the attack went upward, completely missing the intended target.
Everyone noticed that Belfast was no longer in the same spot where she launched the attack. Instead, she was on the opposite side of the field.
Wes noticed something as Belfast struggled to control the wild power and speed of her new form. "Charizard, when I give the signal, use your fastest Dragon Pulse."
The Black Charizard looked over to Wes before nodding once. The Snagger waited before he spotted Belfast charging up another electrical attack...
"Now!" The Black Charizard followed her new trainer's command, unleashing her fastest Dragon Pulse on Belfast mid-attack. Her movement slowed as she tried to use another Thunderbolt. As such, the attack nailed her body head-on. As the explosion settled, Belfast's Ditto form fell from the smoke, taken out by the powerful hit.
"Belfast!" Ash and the rest of Team Luckless ran up to their newest friend.
'Not bad, you're a much better trainer than that punk.' Charizard looked over to Wes before the Snagger nodded and recalled the new member to his party.
In the meantime, Ash scooped up Belfast as much as he could. "You did great! We'll have to work on your transformation move and that form you keep taking."
'Ughhh... battling... hurts...' The Ditto groaned as she transformed her body back into a dressed Pikachu.
Bea and Wes walked over to Ash.
"Your Ditto has copied the power of a Legendary," Bea looked to Ash. "If you can train her properly, your team will be most formidable."
"It's no problem! We'll put in the work..." Ash started off excited before he slowed his speech.
The teen realized what he said was tied to his 'problem' from a while ago. Spencer Hale always put in the work for himself and his mom...maybe it was time that he put the same effort into making the relationship work.
"There you go. You always did seem to think better during a battle." Wes smiled as he looked over to Ash. "So, do you have your answer?"
Ash remained silent, but the look in his eyes was a lot clearer than before.
Bea and Wes watched from a distance as Ash talked to Spencer Hale.
The two of them couldn't hear, but they could see the older man smile before kneeling to hug the teen. It didn't take long before Ash returned the gesture.
"Lucky him." Wes found himself saying.
Bea saw the wistful look on Wes' face. Although he seemed well, Bea had this odd sense of loneliness coming from the other grey-haired trainer. "Sifu, you didn't have parents, did you?"
"Grew up in an orphanage." That was a lie. An orphanage was a luxury in Orre. Considering how Rui bawled for an hour after learning about Wes' upbringing, he decided to lie about it to anyone else.
"I don't know if it helps," Bea looked almost nervous, as talking about emotions was not an obvious strong suit of the serious girl. "But if they were here, I believe they would be proud of who you are, Sifu."
"Really?" A wise-cracking thief who steals things to survive? That's what Wes thought of himself.
Bea's features softened. "You are brave, strong, and very kind. Why wouldn't they be?" She was honest in her belief in him.
Wes found himself silent. His mind tried to refute and call her wrong. But even his subconscious looked back at all the times that Rui and everyone else steered him away from a bad path; even Team Snagem taught him some honor.
"Thanks." The Snagger felt odd. Was this what people called gratitude?
"Hey, guys!" Ash came up to the two. "Spencer wants to treat us to dinner! You wanna come!?"
The two trainers couldn't answer as Molly gasped and practically begged the two to come with them.
The Snagger couldn't help but sigh. He couldn't say no, could he?
Huh. Wes looked at his reflection as he was being pulled by Molly. Why did he suddenly get this odd feeling he and everyone here looked like a family?
"It's good to hear my little Ash is doing alright," Delia sighed as she spoke with Spencer on the phone. "I was worried for him."
"I think his two new friends are good people. I learned a lot about them. One of them is a Gym Leader from Galar, and the other is an interesting young man from Orre."
"... Orre?" Delia asked while her mind remembered all those bad rumors about the region. She asked Spencer more about the young man. Spencer picked up that 17-year-old was and is a skilled trainer and that he grew up in the harsh lands without parents.
But her talk with Spencer went on, such as meeting again in Pallet Town soon and asking if Spencer and Molly could stay over again.
Delia accepted the proposal, but she became restless. Those two ideas from earlier repeated themselves in Delia's mind: "Dangerous Region" and "Orphan". And yes, she was overlooking the fact said "orphan" was a 17-year-old, (champion-level) trainer.
That's why Delia did not hang up the phone, even after the two said their goodbyes.
Instead, she dialed a new contact.
"Hello! How may I help you?" The person in the new line asked.
"Yes, hi! I would like to learn how to adopt a child legally?"
For some odd reason, Wes had this sinking feeling that he shouldn't go to Pallet Town at all costs.
The Snagger shrugged his shoulders before continuing on, blissfully unaware.
{Author Notes}
A short chapter to cool down from the last ones.
But here are some cool new changes: Ash now has a potential Step-Father! I thought that would be a fun topic to tackle for Ash.
(What was that? What do you mean no one cares about character development and studies?)
Fine. We also have a new gimmick with Belfast the (Ditto/Pikachu). She can (so far) turn into only Regieleki, giving Ash a Legendary Pokemon by technicality! I thought it would be fun to give Ash one, but I also thought just giving him one directly wouldn't be as fun. However, giving a unique twist to allowing this Ash access to that type of firepower is going to be pretty fun for future battles.
(Also, what's this? Delia having...*gasp!* Ideas!? Wes! Look out! Oh no, he can't hear me! I'm in the Author Notes!)
Anywho, hope this chapter finds you well. See y'all soon! Please support this fic with favorites, follows, and reviews! Thanks for reading!