It was good to be home. It was always good to be home. Almost always, anyway.

Just a week ago, even the comfort of kicking off his shoes at the door, and waiting on his mother's soothing voice, calling for him to freshen up for dinner hadn't been enough to pull Ash Ketchum out of his slump. By stirring the wrath of Team Rocket, he'd put himself, and Peeks, and Dawn— everyone in peril. He told himself that, at least, until his girlfriend and best friend told him otherwise. But, last week was just one blip on the radar. One unsightly, persistent blip.

But, a blip, nonetheless, part of a wider adventure. An adventure that'd started with a word of advice from his childhood friend and rival, Gary Oak, to tackle the Gym Challenge a second time, while Dawn joined him to take on the Contest Circuit. She had four out of five ribbons.

Ash, though, had finished what he'd started. A quest that'd started with Gary ended with him, as well, after he revealed himself to be the Viridian Gym Leader. In spite of all obstacles, Ash and his Pokémon triumphed, with newfound power and stronger bonds. He and Peeks could return to Pallet with their heads held high, and Dawn at their side, pursuing their dreams in tandem.

They didn't expect to step into the comfort of the Ketchum residence, though, to find Delia with the company of two guests, sitting on her sofa. A brunet young man with recognizable athletic gear, and his very own Pikachu with an unkempt tuft of fur atop his head.

Their resemblance to Ash and Peeks was almost uncanny.

"Hey, Ash!" The youth greeted, with that Pikachu perching on his shoulder. "Long time, no see."

"So, Mom," Ash started, scratching his cheek. "Don't tell me you mixed me up with a lookalike, again."

The remark nearly made the duo fall over in exasperation. "Agh, c'mon, Ash… Don't tell me you don't recognize me! I haven't changed that much."

"Oh, don't you mind, Ash! He's always been a joker," Delia chuckled. "He gets it from his mama, though. I told you I was pulling your leg, that one time!"

"I know, I know. I just couldn't resist!" Ash laughed, walking over to hold a hand out. "It's great to see you again, Ritchie! And you too, Sparky!"

"Well, at least one of us hasn't changed much!" The teen chuckled, taking Ash's hand in a firm shake. "Right back at you! It feels like it's been forever! Same for you, Pikachu!"

"Pika-Pikaaa!" Sparky chirped in agreement, sounding scratchy as ever. He walked up the length of Ritchie's arm, turning to offer his tail to Ash's Pikachu.

"Pi-ka!" Peeks walked down Ash's arm to meet Sparky halfway. He turned around as well, their tails overlapping for the tried and true Pikachu tail shake!

"Ritchie and Sparky… Ash, who are these guys?" Dawn asked. "I don't think I've heard you mention them, before."

"Well, it's been a long time since I've seen them," Ash explained, retracting his hand as Sparky and Peeks returned to their respective trainers. "Dawn, these are Ritchie and Sparky! We're friends, from earlier on in our journey. And guys, this is Dawn!" He gestured to his companion.

"Hi!" Dawn waved, smiling brightly. "Any friend of Ash is a friend of mine. Oh, and you haven't met my partner Pokémon—"

Before Dawn could finish her sentence, a flash of light burst from her belt. Empoleon stood tall, striking a knightly pose. "Empoleon~!"

"Oh, look at you, Empoleon! You've fully evolved~!" Delia cooed, hopping up from her seat to hold his metallic wing. "I saw you on television, but I don't think it did you justice! Oh, I remember when you were just a little Piplup…!"

Empoleon squawked happily, eating up the praise, to the group's amused exasperation.

Ritchie chuckled, returning his attention to Ash and Dawn. "Miss Ketchum told me about you, Dawn! It's great to meet you."

"Likewise! Hey, but um…" Dawn blinked, pointing at Ritchie. "That's a Pokémon Ranger uniform, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I was about to ask about that!" Ash volunteered. "What'd I miss?"

"Aha, it is! Well… It's exactly what it looks like!" Ritchie answered, grinning. "I've become a Pokémon Ranger, full-time!"

"No way. That's awesome!" Ash laughed, exchanging an excited glance with Peeks. "Congratulations, you guys. But, hey, another question. What brings you to Pallet Town?"

"Oh, right, that." Ritchie took on a more stern expression. "Well, I'm actually stationed outside the region, most of the time. But, I'm here on Ranger duty, regarding recent Team Rocket activity."

As quickly as Ash'd stepped out of the murky waters of their recent incidents, he'd been dropped right back into them. "Oh." He uttered, unable to utter much else, as his stomach dropped like a rock.

The sympathy on Ritchie's face was apparent, as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… I'm really sorry about that. Your mom got me up to date. But, hey! On the bright side, Pallet Town seems to be in the clear. I was actually out on patrol, but she insisted that I stop in for a bit."

"Well, that's a relief," Dawn said. She hadn't forgotten Gary's admissions, back at the Gym, about how they'd attracted danger to Ash's hometown. No doubt, her boyfriend felt the same.

"I'm actually headed to Vermilion tomorrow, for a different mission," Ritchie explained. "As long as nothing out of the ordinary shows up, overnight."

"Aw, seriously…?" Ash frowned, shoulders slumping. "So we have to split up, right after running into you? That's a bummer."

"I wouldn't be so hasty!" Delia interjected, after having lauded Empoleon with praise. "I actually forgot to tell you two, but Misty gave us a call, after all the commotion. She was concerned about you, and she also wanted to let Dawn know that there's a Contest upcoming in Cerulean, fairly soon! I can't quite remember the date…" She hummed, shaking her head.

"Wait, Misty had the heads-up on a Contest?" Ash asked, frowning. "That's weird."

"Well, she is a Gym Leader," Ritchie pointed out. "It makes sense that she'd know the goings-on in her own city."

"Brock also checked in to give his condolences, but he's been quite busy. He apologized for not dropping in."

"Aw, with our luck, we'll see him sooner or later," Ash dismissed. All-in-all, he felt a little lighter to know that his oldest friends had been worried about them.

"But, hey, that's perfect!" Dawn exclaimed. "If we want to make it for that Contest, we're going to have to get to the mainland. So, we can leave with Ritchie and head in that direction, anyway!"

"Hey, that's a great idea!" Ash beamed. "What do you think, Buddy? We can hit the road with our old pals, again!"

"I think it sounds great!" Peeks cheered. "It'll be nice to catch up, Sparky!"

"Pika-Pikaaa!" Sparky agreed.

"Now, with that said," Delia cut in, "I insist that you leave in the morning. It's already after dark."

"That's…" Ash yawned loudly. "...not a bad idea! I think jet lag is beating my-"

"I still want to do a bit more patrolling," Ritchie cut in before Ash could possibly catch a scolding. "Just to be on the safe side. So I guess I'll catch up with you all, in the morning."

"That's well and good," Delia replied, "but there's no way you'll be out and about all night, without some proper rest. Once you finish up, you can take up the guest room and get some shut-eye. Okay, Ritchie?"

"Aha ha…" Ritchie laughed nervously, billing her offer properly as an order. "Yes, Miss Ketchum!"

"Then, it's agreed," Dawn cheered. "We'll all head out for Vermilion in the morning!"

"Right!"

"You bet!"

"Pika!"

"Chu!"

"Empol!"

The following morning, after a lengthy goodbye from Delia, teeming with good wishes and embarrassing parental advice, Ash, Dawn, Ritchie, and their partner Pokémon set off from Pallet Town. Departing from grassy hills and low valleys brought them to the uphill climb of Route 1.

"Hm-hm-hmm-hmm-hmm, hm-hm-hm-hmm-hmm-hmm…!" Ash hummed a steady, cheery tune, marching up that same old slope, with his same old partner, with the same old breeze nudging his bangs, as he marched forward with gusto.

"Off we go, off we go… Off we go into the unknown…!

Off we go, off we go… Where we'll end up, who knows!"

Peeks echoed Ash's humming, singing in his own native tongue.

"Hey, I recognize that tune!" Ritchie said excitedly. "It's a favorite with beginning trainers!"

"Yup!" Ash nodded. "I remember listening to it tons, before I started my journey."

"Me, too… My mom didn't like it, though," Ritchie muttered, scratching his cheek.

"What?" Dawn asked, raising a brow. "Why not?"

"Honestly, she didn't really want me to be a Pokémon Trainer," he replied. "Frodomar Town isn't particularly big on Pokémon, and she wasn't the biggest fan of me getting on that path. I'd always end up humming it at dinner anyway, though," he laughed. "I was just so excited!"

"I remember being so excited to leave, I couldn't sleep!" Ash boasted. "That's how I wound up being late, so I was left with Peeks as my starter Pokémon."

"Thank goodness for your enthusiasm, huh?" Peeks answered, cutting Ash a smirk.

"You know it, Peeks!" Ash winked.

"Peeks? That's new," Ritchie observed. "I don't remember you nicknaming your Pokémon."

"Only when they want one," Ash replied. "He took a liking to the name, recently!"

Ritchie nodded. "On that note, believe it or not, Sparky wasn't even my starter Pokémon!"

"Wait, what? Really!?" Ash gawked, as did Peeks.

"But, he's always out of his ball!" Dawn added.

"Not always," Ritchie shook his head. "And, yeah! Zippo - my Charizard - was mine! I just happened to catch Sparky when I was in Viridian Forest!"

"Y'know, Professor Oak has said that Peeks was from there," Ash pointed out. "Maybe these two grew up near each other, and didn't even know it!"

"I… didn't even know many other Pikachu, to be honest," Peeks said sheepishly. "I was still a Pichu, when I left."

"For real, bro?" Sparky blinked. "Talk about hasty. I waited 'till I evolved to leave the nest!"

"Hey, not to cut in," Dawn cut in, "but speaking of adventure… Are we really going to travel to Vermilion City on foot? Our last trip there took us a couple of weeks. We can't afford that."

Ritchie shook his head. "Not if I can help it. I just wanted to get onto Route 1, before we figured out some fast travel. But first, do you guys have any Flying-types that can carry you?"

"I have my Togekiss," Dawn volunteered.

"And I brought Staraptor!" Ash added. "Are you gonna fly with Zippo?"

"Afraid I can't," Ritchie answered. In the meantime, his eyes were darting around the environment of Route 1 analytically. "Being a Ranger means that you're only supposed to carry one personal Pokémon on you, if even that. So, I just have Sparky."

"Wait, so, how're you…?" Dawn started to ask. "Oh! I get it, now!"

"This ought to be interesting," Ash smirked. "Let's see what Ritchie can do!"

"I think we've gotten far enough to where the trees might be big enough for…" The brunet trailed off, muttering something under his breath. He approached a nearby tree that was definitely on the larger side, dense with leaves in bunches wide enough to support a substantial nest.

In fact, Ash swore he recognized that particular nest. "Hey, uh, Ritchie, you might not wanna…"

Unfortunately, at the distance he'd made from the group, Ritchie couldn't quite hear Ash. "Okay, Sparky! Use Brick Break on the tree! Just enough to rattle it, okay?"

Sparky lunged at the tree, winding up a paw. "Chuaaaa…!" He cried out, striking it with his paw.

Vibrations shot up and through the bark, making leaves rustle and fall. They didn't stop after the initial strike, though; in fact, they only grew harsher. Furthermore, an ear-rattling shriek echoed to the heavens.

A Fearow emerged, spanning their wings to flap them, quickly and irritably. They craned their long neck, scanning the plains of Route 1 for the disturbance. Rather than Ritchie and Sparky…

"Hey, uh, Buddy." Ash frowned. "I think he's staring right at us."

"How lucky are we."

"Fearrr!" Fearow's sharp gaze stopped on Ash and Peeks, and the Drill Pokémon wasted absolutely no time in dive bombing towards the two. His sharp, pointed beak led the charge.

Ash and Peeks each vaulted in different directions; Fearow's beak missing Ash by a hair, and Peeks by a greater distance, thanks to his speed.

"Hey, come on!" Ash scolded, landing gracefully on his feet. "Can't we just talk this out!?"

"I think he mistook you and Peeks for me and Sparky!" Ritchie exclaimed. While Ash was busy keeping his distance from the angry, familiar Fearow, he had no time to correct him.

'If only I had Pidgeot on me…' Ash thought to himself, on the backfoot from another one of the bird's jabs. Before Fearow could strike, though, his beak crashed against the sturdy metal of Empoleon's Steel Wing.

"Pol!" Empoleon guarded Ash with both of his wings, acting as buffer between him and Fearow.

"Are you alright, Ash!?" Dawn called out.

"Yeah, I'm fine! Thanks, big guy. I owe you one!" Ash praised. In the meantime, Peeks regrouped by his side. "Alright… I guess we have no choice but to fight! Peeks, use-"

"Wait!" Ritchie shouted. "If you aggravate them more, it might attract a lot of commotion."

'He's right,' Ash thought, swallowing. 'It's not like we couldn't deal with a bunch of Spearow, but who wants that kind of fight, if you don't need one…!?'

"Besides, I started this, so it's my responsibility." Ritchie declared with narrowed eyes. He reached for the holster on his hip, and clipped his Capture Styler onto his wrist. "C'mon, Sparky!"

"Pi!" Sparky took to the air, and fired a miniature Thunderbolt that shot past Fearow's head.

Fearow snapped to attention, turning his long neck almost all of the way around to glare at the perpetrators over his shoulder. "Fearow!?"

"Yeah, you've got the idea," Ritchie called out. "That attack was from us! And we were the ones who shook down your tree, too. So, let's leave our other friends out of this, okay?"

"Fearrrr!" The incorrigible leader of his flock cried, and dove towards Ritchie and Sparky.

Meanwhile, the brunet took several careful steps back towards the tree.

"Ritchie!" Dawn cried, as Fearow charged a whirring Drill Peck. "Watch out!"

In just a blink, Fearow shot closer to the teenager, beak at the ready.

"Just a moment… Now, Sparky!" The Ranger sprung back, planting the sole of his shoe up against the bark. With a grunt of effort, he sprung aside, while Sparky did the same.

Fearow's eyes shot wide open in a panic. He'd picked up way too much speed, and there was nothing he could do to stop him from—

Crck!

…from jabbing his beak deep into the tree. The bird flapped his wings erratically, pushing his talons against the bark with muffled cries. Almost up to his nose, he'd gotten himself stuck!

"Alright!" Ritchie aimed his styler with one hand supporting the opposite wrist. With a flick of his thumb, he launched the Capture Disc past Fearow. The disc pulled into a tight spin, orbiting him.

With a grunt of effort, Ritchie drew several circular patterns with the trailing light of the Styler. The top obeyed his every motion, spiraling around Fearow, before a ring of light closed in on the Flying-type. Fearow was illuminated in a glow, before the Disc returned to Ritchie's Styler.

Despite being trapped in place, Fearow's posture slacked.

"Hey, I think it worked!" Ash exclaimed. 'But, there's no way that Fearow will just play nice.'

"Hey, so… Sorry about that." Ritchie slowly walked over to Fearow, gently running a hand along the top of his beak. "I need your help, but it's not doing either of us favors for you to be stuck like that. Let's get you out of there, okay?" He cupped the underside of Fearow's beak. "On three."

"One… two… three!" Ritchie and Fearow pulled back at once, freeing the latter from the tree. The bird stumbled back haphazardly, before regaining his balance. "Fear…!"

"Great! There we go. Now, listen Fearow," Ritchie said, gentle, but firm. "I need to catch a ride from you. Do you think you could lend me a hand?" As he asked, he reached into his bag, and offered an oran berry to Fearow.

Fearow stared at the berry, before snapping down upon it. While still keeping a surly and curt demeanor, the Drill Pokémon spanned his wings to express his agreement to Ritchie's terms.

"I don't believe my eyes," Peeks muttered.

Ash didn't, either. But, this was as good a time as any. "Hey, that's great! So, all's well that ends well, right?" He put on a smile, holding an upturned hand out to the same Fearow who he'd hit with that stone, years ago. "Let's all work together-"

"Fear!" Fearow snapped at Ash's hand, forcing him to retract it. The cold gaze told Ash that he was having none of it.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" Dawn huffed. "I thought everything was fine, now."

"That is odd," Ritchie replied. "They're not foolproof, but Capture Stylers usually quell hostility."

"Whatever. I'll live. Let's get moving." Ash exhaled through his nose, walking a safe distance away; a hand slid into his pocket. He tossed a Poké Ball with his opposite. "C'mon, Staraptor!"

The Predator Pokémon appeared beside Ash, trilling happily. "Staraptor~! …Star?" Even as he held out his wings and let Ash aboard, he tilted his head back at his trainer.

"...Right. No need to worry!" Dawn echoed Ash, and called out Togekiss. "Sorry, Empoleon. You're gonna have to go away for a little while." Her starter complained, but complied.

Ritchie boarded Fearow last, and took off after Dawn, who left shortly after Ash.

The open plains and gentle waters of Route 1 quickly looked insignificant from the altitude Staraptor gained. It was an angle he wasn't used to seeing, for a place so familiar.

The trainer breathed a heavy sigh, letting his hands nestle in Staraptor's well-kempt plumage.

"Star…?" The dogfighting bird trilled a concerned sort of tune.

"Oh, it's… nothing, Staraptor." Ash muttered. Peeks's weight on his shoulder reminded him that he's supposed to be more honest, now. "It's just that Fearow. The day Peeks and I left home, I accidentally hit 'im in the head with a rock. He and his whole flock made us run for our lives."

"We almost didn't make it," Peeks added. Ash could still hear a note of bitterness in his tone.

"Anyway, after all this time, I guess I was hoping that we could patch that up. But I must still have a ways to go, when it comes to befriending Pokémon. Y'know?"

"Is that what the fuss was all about!?" A shrill, borderline-flamboyant voice echoed over Staraptor's squawks. "How long ago did you say that you started your journey, again?"

"Uh, about five years, now," Ash answered. It clicked for him, then, that he could hear Staraptor, too. Only then did he notice how hard he'd been gripping his feathers. He relaxed his hands.

"Are you telling me you're letting yourself be dragged down over a dolt who'd bother with a five year grudge!? Bah! Ignore him," Staraptor trilled. "You've got the better bird in your corner."

The warmth Ash felt made him ease his posture again. He involuntarily smiled. "Yeah… I do have the better bird, don't I? Several better birds." He thought of Pidgeot, and the others.

"Thanks, Staraptor."

"Hey, Ash!" Ash overheard Ritchie over the winds. "Did you say something, up here?"

"Huh…?" Ash looked back to Ritchie, who was understandably keeping his distance from himself and Staraptor with Fearow. "...Nah, it's nothing!" Ash shook his head.

"Hey, by the way!" Dawn pulled up beside him with Togekiss. "I never got to ask. How do you and Ash know each other, Ritchie?"

"Oh! We actually met at our first Pokémon League, at the Indigo Plateau," Ritchie explained.

"Yeah, we made friends there. But, since we were both in the tournament, we were rivals," Ash added. "If one of us was going to win, we'd have to fight eventually!"

"Oh, that must've been so exciting…!" Dawn leaned forward on Togekiss with sparkling eyes. "Making a friend and getting to battle for the first time in a big tournament. I bet it was the best!"

Only the wind could be heard over the awkward silence that followed.

"...Uh, guys?"

"Well, it's…" Ritchie trailed off. "How do I put this lightly?"

Ash raised his hand. "I've got it, Ritchie. It's fine. I already decided my past losses aren't gonna get the better of me!" He boasted, thumping his fist against his chest. Though, his bravado quickly deflated. "But, honestly. I had a pretty embarrassing defeat, back there."

"I wasn't satisfied with it either, actually," Ritchie said. "There was no point in dwelling on it, especially since you had it worse than me. But, still…"

"Was it that bad?" Dawn asked. "What even went wrong?"

One sidelong look from Ash gave her a pretty good idea that it wasn't a matter of what, but who.

"Oh."

"Y'know, we never did get to have another battle after that," Ash added, smoothing that last inconvenient truth over. "What do you say, Ritchie? How about we finally give it a follow-up?"

Ritchie frowned. "I really feel like we should stay on course… But, on the other hand, we're going to have to make a stop on the way to Vermilion, anyway, to let our Pokémon rest and have a break for lunch. I guess we can work one quick battle in, after that," he winked.

Ash and Peeks both grinned, pumping their fists in tandem. "Okay, Ritchie. You're on!"

It was hard to say exactly how long they were in the air. Maybe an hour or two. Regardless, though, rumbling stomachs and Fearow's dwindling patience agreed that it was time for lunch.

Somewhere between Pallet and Vermilion, the group found a clearing in a forest ideal for setting up camp. Ritchie bid farewell to Fearow with a Sitrus Berry as thanks, and Ash and Dawn set to gather firewood, before starting up a flame. A large, portable pot was set up over the heat, as Ritchie brewed a scent so savory that it drew Ash and Dawn to it like moths to a flame.

"Ash, your mouth is watering," Dawn pointed out as she gently pulled him away from the pot by the shoulder.

"Heh, thanks…" Ash sheepishly rubbed his neck. "It just smells really good!"

"Eheh, it does, does it…?" Ritchie smiled sheepishly, as he continued to stir. "I like to think I've gotten pretty good at it. It's important to be able to make a meal on short notice, especially with the time that Rangers spend on patrol. Plus, I traveled on my own, so I learned by necessity."

"I guess not everyone has a Brock with them, huh?" Dawn remarked.

"Mm-mm," Ash shook his head. "Actually, I regret not asking Mom to teach me some stuff before I headed up to Mt. Silver."

"You're kidding. You were at Mt. Silver!?" Ritchie turned to his friend, eyes wide.

"You bet I was!" Ash huffed, proudly pointing his thumb towards himself. "Professor Oak gave me permission to train there. After traveling Sinnoh with Dawn, I spent a few months up there, giving everyone the chance to power up with nonstop training! Hell, we even battled Moltres!"

"Ha, you're kidding!" Ritchie's smile widened. "That's amazing. I actually got to meet Moltres, too! When I was traveling through the Sevii Islands. I ran into them at Mt. Magma!"

"Y'know, it's funny," Dawn giggled. "How eerily similar you two are!"

"It's like Ash said, way back when," Ritchie replied. "We're a couple of Pokémaniacs!"

"You bet! And, speaking of Pokémon…" Ash puffed up his chest, beaming with pride. "Ritchie, you haven't met my Lucario, yet, have ya?"

"Your Lucario…? Oh! I don't think I saw her!" Ritchie's eyes widened. "Is she with the others?"

"Mhm," Ash hummed, and turned to the group. "Hey, Rosa! C'mere!"

Rosemary, who'd been among the other Pokémon, approached Ash with several quick leaps. with her head tilted. ~Yeah? What's up, Pa?~

"Oh, there she is…! A real Lucario." Ritchie cooed, letting the ladle's bowl sink into the stew to lean forward in interest. "And hey, that's telepathy… That must be your Aura! Right?"

~You betcha. Pretty cool, huh?~ Rosa boasted.

"I'll say!" Ash cheered, throwing an arm around the Lucario to pull her in. "But, what else would you expect from my daughter?"

"Your… daughter?" Ritchie echoed, blinking.

"Well, sure! I hatched her egg. It was part of my training as an Aura Guardian," Ash explained. "She wasn't comin' out for anyone else, am I right?" He teased, ruffling the top of her head.

~C'monnn, Pa.~ Rosa grumbled, shrugging his hand off. A purple blush showed through her fur.

"Oh! I didn't know you were an Aura Guardian! I've heard talk of it from other Rangers before," Ritchie replied. "I actually don't know a lot about it, though. You can use Aura, yourself, then?"

A blue bundle of light gathered in Ash's palm. Its warmth radiated, teal reflecting in the eyes of Ash, Ritchie, Rosa, and Dawn. "I sure can. At least, I learned to do it along with Rosa. But, really… Being an Aura Guardian means a lot more than just the powers that come with it."

Ritchie's eyes lingered on the orb, until it disappeared. "I can only imagine… It must be a big responsibility, right?"

To that, Rosa averted her eyes.

"Mhm," Ash nodded, frowning. "It's the Code of the Aura Guardian. What was it Riley said… 'To protect those we treasure, no matter the sacrifice.'" The teen's face screwed up at those words.

"Ash…?" Dawn frowned, reflexively resting a hand on his shoulder.

"That's a pretty heavy code," Ritchie said, frowning. "A lot to put on a trainer and a baby."

~I'm not a baby anymore,~ Rosa grunted. ~I have a job to do. Being grown means being responsible..~

"And, you are responsible!" Ash reassured her. "You've grown a lot in the past few months."

Ritchie's eyes arrowed, for a moment, but if he'd had anything to say, he kept himself composed. "It's definitely good to have a sense of responsibility. I'm sure you've done a great job, but-"

"She's done an amazing job," Dawn added, taking Rosa's paw in her hands. "Whenever the chips have been down, our girl Rosa's pulled through! She should be proud-"

~Quit lying to my face, will ya!?~ Rosemary yanked her paw away, and squirmed her way out of Ash's embrace. She leapt past Ash and the gathered Pokémon, dashing off into the forest.

"Rosa!" Ash called out, extending a hand. But, she didn't slow for him at all. He dropped his hand, grumbling.

"...I didn't think her pride took that much of a hit," Dawn said, retracting her hand to hold it over her chest. "She was such a big help, back at the base, and she's barely said a word about it, since."

"If she's been quiet about something so horrible, that's probably not a good sign," Ritchie replied. "Besides. Lucario sense people's feelings. If you're not feeling one hundred percent, I'm sure she's sharing in that, too."

"I mean, I'd be lying if I said I was," Ash grumbled, fiddling with his cap. "But, I don't want my little girl to suffer because I'm having problems."

"Well, a trainer and their Pokémon are going to share their problems, whether they want to or not," Ritchie reasoned. "Besides… It's not just Lucario, or Aura. Pokémon are intuitive about that sort of thing in general."

Ritchie's gaze turned towards the gathered group, and Ash's and Dawn's, with him. While the majority of the group had been conversing among themselves, Ash's Noctowl alone had watched the Aura Pokémon sprint off into the wilderness. Without a word, he flew off, chasing her into the dense woodlands.

"So, the bunch of you do Pokémon Contests? Like, all the time?" A scruffy-headed Sparky asked, before dipping his face into the bowl of creamy stew laid out before him. He resurfaced, licking the broth off his face without a trace of shame. "That's totally amazing, bro!"

"All the time, indeed!" Empoleon boasted. "Whenever there's a ribbon to win, we'll be there!"

"I think that's rad," Sparky chirped. "Puttin' on a dazzling show, and looking pretty! But, I'm more of a brawler, myself," he boasted, demonstrating with a volley of punches that amounted to shadow boxing. "You dig?"

"Hold your Horseas," Buneary interjected. "Contests don't stop at looking pretty. They can express all sorts of things! That means strength, too." She, herself, shadowboxed with her ears.

"And knightly valor!" Empoleon boasted, posing with his wings like a shield and a blade.

"Andbein'shockinglycute!" Pachirisu spat, doing a somersault.

"As well as the beauty of flames!" Typhlosion added.

"Royal elegance, as well," Togekiss sang.

"And, I… um." Rura paused, as the little wheel in his head spun. "...get to piss people off!"

"Pffha! I like this one," Sparky laughed.

"Rura!" Meema scolded. "Language, please. But, with that said… From the little I've heard of these Pokémon Contests, I have to give them my praise. For, Dawn's team was mighty enough to rescue their dear comrade."

"Hey, hey. No need to go there," Typhlosion scolded. "We just walked out of that mess!"

Empoleon, as well, made a zip-the-lips- motion with his wing.

Meema shrank and bowed her head. "My apologies. I didn't mean to speak out of turn."

"It's fine,"

Peeks denied, shaking his head. He huffed, sitting quite close to Sparky. He licked some of the stew's broth off his paw. "Don't worry, Meema. It's not like I can just ignore my problems and run away from them, you know?"

"True that, bro," Sparky replied. Still, even he looked concerned, head and ears tilted. "But hey, hold the phone. What did happen, anyway? Mrs. Ketchum told us about it, but she wasn't there, y'know?"

"I would like to know, too," Staraptor agreed. "If that's okay with you, Peeks. I've heard rumors, but nothing more!"

"Yeah, ditto," Donphan grumbled. "Again, if you don't mind."

"I guess context would help, wouldn't it?" Peeks agreed, before lapping up more stew. It was easier to talk over a tasty meal, he realized. "So, it started when we were in Saffron City…"

The darker, denser forests were perfect for a Lucario. Navigating them was a breeze, with Aura, when one wanted to get away. Of course, they were ideal for a keen-eyed Noctowl, just as well.

Noctowl sailed through gaps in the trees. Light occasionally filtered through the foliage, highlighting his lustrous gold and scarlet feathers as he turned his head every which way to scout for the fleeing Lucario. His Foresight worked its magic, and spotted her not before long.

Rosa was sulking, sitting atop a boulder a short distance away. Noctowl swept in, stopping atop a nearby branch.

~Leave me alone!~

"Teammates don't do that," Noctowl replied calmly. "The others might be worried about you."

Rosa grumbled. Her posture slacked. ~...Pa's warned me not to run off, before. It causes trouble for him. Him and everyone else.~

"And I'm certain he's had good reason for doing so," Noctowl replied. "What do you say to a deal, Rosemary? You can tell me what's troubling you, and then you come back to the group?"

~...Fine.~ Rosa agreed. ~I know I threw a tantrum, back there. I shouldn't'a. I just… didn't feel like I deserved the praise! We rescued Peeks, yeah. but everyone's still hurting. I can feel it.~

Noctowl glided over and landed on the edge of the rocky perch she'd taken. "And you feel responsible for their feelings?"

~Ever since I was born, I've been receptive to bad vibes. Pa calls them that,~ Rosemary explained. ~When people are feeling sad, or angry, or if they just plain enjoy hurting others. I feel this… really strong urge to just jump those bad vibes and pummel them away! Why can't I do that? Why can't I do more!?~

Noctowl tutted, shaking his head. "You truly are Ash's offspring."

Rosa turned towards Noctowl, frowning. ~Whaddya mean?~

"Ash is just like you, child. Nosy. Heroic. At the first whiff of an injustice, he jumps headfirst into his troubles, as if the whole world is his responsibility."

~I… I don't buy it,~ the Lucario shook her heard. ~He's so mature. Even when he does help out, he thinks things through! …Most of the time, at least!~ She recalled him jumping from Silph Co. She recalled him telling her, specifically, that it was stupid. That she shouldn't imitate him.

"You haven't known him long enough," Noctowl replied. "Ash was just the same. He loves the world. He loves Pokémon. That's what draws all of us to him. But, it can be his biggest deficit. He won't accept anything less than justice. That's a burden that a child should never carry."

~I guess that makes sense. He wasn't always grown enough to be my Papa, huh.~

"Need I remind you, he's still a tad youthful," Noctowl pointed out.

~Yeah… Yeah!~ Rosemary hopped onto her feet. ~I get it, now!~

"Do you?" Noctowl tilted his head.

~Pa has a lot on his shoulders. So, I'm just gonna have to grow up enough to pick up the slack with him!~ Rosa grinned, raising a paw and closing it into a fist. ~Thank ya, Noctowl!~

"That's… not quite what I-!" Noctowl sputtered. Before he could finish his sentence, the Lucario had sprinted off, back towards camp. He breathed a heavy sigh. "...Not quite what I meant. The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?"

He flapped his wings, and took off to follow her. "One cannot pour from an empty cup."

"...And I finally got through to him. Ash started hearing what I was telling him. I could tell, because his words sounded less like irritating radio static. He was answering the real me," Peeks explained, with the vested interest of Dawn's Pokémon, Sparky, Staraptor, Donphan, and Meema. Even Rura, surprisingly, was listening without a peep.

"I really, really appreciated it. I wouldn't have broken free without him."

~If I may interject,~ Meema replied, ~You're saying that Leader heeding your words broke this wretched curse?~

"It did," Peeks nodded. "I felt like I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and I could run towards it. Until then, it just… I hated the feeling. That feeling of lonely bitterness. No Pokémon should have to deal with that."

~...I see,~ Meema replied. ~This seems to be in line with Leader's values.~

"But, hey! You seem to be feeling better than you did afterwards, right?" Empoleon asked.

"I am!" Peeks answered. "I actually feel a lot better… pardoning the occasional nightmare."

"Well, that's no good," Donphan grumbled. "Y'sure that's better?"

"Believe you me," Empoleon replied, "it's better."

There were other hushed words of concern, and Peeks appreciated it."Besides. I have to be strong, too, or Ash will shoulder too much of the burden again. You know how he is."

"Hey, bro, it'll be okay." Sparky consoled, patting Peeks's back with his tail. "As long as you got each other! Just like me and Ritchie, y'know?"

"Yeah," Peeks agreed, smiling. "Honestly, that's all I want…"

"...To have Peeks by my side," Ash said. Detached from the conversation between the Pokémon, perhaps unaware just how close his sentiments were to his partner's.

"Well, I wouldn't worry about that," Dawn said. She set her hand on Ash's shoulder, and smiled. "We worked hard to get him back, Ash, and to help him recover, too. Peeks will be with you, as long as you want him there. Do you remember when we first met?"

"Yeah," Ash laughed. "I do. Peeks and I got separated, and as it turned out, Dawn found him for me! That's actually how the two of us met."

"And I wouldn't rest until you two were back together!" Dawn winked.

"Well, I think that says a lot!" Ritchie said. "As long as you have people you care about supporting you, you'll always find a way to stick together… Oh! Speaking of that, look!"

Ritchie pointed towards the denser forests, where a blue blur suddenly appeared. Rosa sped towards the small group of humans, stopping a short distance from them.

"Rosa!" Ash exclaimed. "There you are."

~Hey, Pa. Ma. Ritchie.~ Rosa bowed her head. ~Uh… Sorry. I was acting stupid. I won't go runnin' off on you, again.~

"You promise?" Ash asked, reaching over to ruffle her head.

~C'monnn.~ She whined, shrugging his hand off. She was trying hard to hide the smile on her muzzle, but it wouldn't quite go away. ~I promise! Everything's just had me in a funky mood. I overheard the stuff about Uncle Peeks, too… Are you and him gonna be okay?"

"Aw, Rosa… Of course we are!" Ash smiled, closing a fist. "We just need time, is all."

"You know," Dawn interjected, "you and Ritchie said you were going to battle, earlier. Why not battle with Peeks? That's always a great way to connect with your Pokémon!"

"Hey, that is a great idea!" Ritchie agreed. "We could make it a one-on-one. C'mon, let's wrap up lunch so we can get to it." He got up to clean, starting by pouring the leftovers into a thermos.

"Sure! We'll help out. Just… one sec!" Ash leaned over and held each of Dawn's shoulders, before pulling her in to kiss her on the lips. He lingered for a moment, before pulling back.

~Oh, gross.~ Rosa muttered, averting her eyes.

"Wh…" Dawn palmed her cheek, which was glowing a faint pink. "What was that about!?"

"I, uh…" Ash laughed, scratching his cheek."I don't know. You just really get me, y'know? I like how often we're on the same wavelength… Hah, damn, that sounds arrogant."

That answer was enough to make Dawn glow. "It's okay to be a little arrogant!" She huffed, hands on her hips. "It's a sign of self-worth!"

Ritchie looked over from his cleaning up, laughing. "You could call it arrogant. But if you want to look at it in a nicer way, you could say that it's nice to have someone you can count on."

"Dawn's always in my corner," Ash boasted, gesturing a thumb towards himself. "...Oh, right. I guess it's a little obvious now, but Dawn and I are a thing!" He pointed to her as well, grinning.

"Huh?" Ritchie blinked. "Oh, yeah, I know. Your mom told me about it, Ash."

"She, what, now!?" Ash exclaimed.

"Aw, man…! So much for our big reveal," Dawn sulked, hanging her head.

"Erm… I'm… sorry?" Ritchie trailed off, a bead of sweat trickling down his cheek.

"Well, no matter!" Ash collected himself, pumping a fist. "Big reveal or not, we've got a battle to get to!" He turned to the gathering of Pokémon, and called out for his partner. "Oi! Peeks!"

Peeks perked up, running over to Ash. One ear stood up at attention. "What is it, Ash?"

"Here's the deal. Rosa was worried about how the two of us are doing. So why don't we show everyone just how in sync we are, and have a battle with Ritchie and Sparky? You and me!"

"Sheesh… We're still worrying everyone, huh?" Peeks rubbed his neck. "Sorry about that."

~Don't be!~ Rosa shook her head. ~Just give it a try!~

"Yeah, dude." Sparky dashed over, nudging Peeks with his elbow. "Let's get out there and make some noise! We've never really battled each other, anyways."

"Well… I guess that's true." Peeks inhaled, and exhaled. "Alright! Count me in, Ash!"

"Alright, Ritchie. It's time for a proper battle! Don't ya think?" Ash challenged from one end of the clearing. Peeks stood in front of him on all fours.

Opposite of them were Ritchie and Sparky. "I'd have to agree!" Ritchie replied with a smirk. "We never did get to battle Pikachu versus Pikachu, even at the Indigo League. You ready, Sparky?"

"Pi-ka!" Sparky raised a paw, hopping from one foot to the other to shadowbox.

"Oh, right. Speaking of that," Ash whispered to his partner, "is that gonna be okay with you? You had a lot of trouble with Gary's Ditto, the other night. I wouldn't want you to…"

"It's fine!" Peeks interjected, cutting Ash off. "It's… fine. It's not me. It's Sparky." The mouse stared at his paws, and took a deep breath. He couldn't start trembling, again. Ash needed him. "I'm going to have to conquer these things, sooner or later. Best we start with a friend, right?"

"...Right." Ash nodded. "Okay. Then we're good to go, Ritchie! Dawn, can you make the call?"

"You've got it!" Dawn had been sitting with hers and Ash's Pokémon on the sidelines, before she jogged over to a midway point between the competitors, and raised a hand. "This will be a one-on-one battle between Ash and Peeks, and Ritchie and Sparky! Aaand… begin!"

"We'll start this with our favorite move!" Ash shouted. "Peeks! Thunderbolt!"

"Then, we'll do that, too! Sparky, you use Thunderbolt!" Ritchie countered.

"Pika…!"

"Pikaaa….!"

Ash's Pikachu leapt to the air to execute several flips, while Sparky, in comparison, stayed grounded. Lightning enveloped both from head-to-toe, before firing in unison. "Chu…!"

The two Thunderbolts met, illuminating the forest with an overpowering gold. What started as a struggle between flashes of lightning, though, quickly became one-sided, as Peeks's Thunderbolt cut through Sparky's. Tried as he might, the wild-haired mouse couldn't hold it off.

Sparky shrieked, and was sent flying back through the air before recovering on all fours. "Pika!"

"Woah… Check it out! You two have gotten a lot stronger!" Ritchie praised. "I've never seen a Thunderbolt that powerful… I guess I'll need a different approach, if we want to win."

"We've been working really hard," Ash smirked. But, this was no time to rest on his laurels. He waved a hand through the air. "Peeks! Follow it up with Iron Tail!"

"Chua…!" Peeks landed before leaping into another somersault, coating his tail in steel.

"Sparky! Use Brick Break!" Ritchie commanded.

Sparky drew back a glowing fist, and lunged at Peeks. "Kah!"

The two Pikachu swung at one another in mid-air. Sparky's fist caught the broad end of Peeks's tail, pressing against the solid steel. Through grit teeth, he followed through. "Chu!"

The strike to his tail sent Peeks into a spin, as Sparky passed by without a scratch.

"They broke Iron Tail's momentum by hitting the blunt end," Ash muttered to himself. "Not bad. Follow through with Thunderbolt, Peeks!"

"Ka…!" Peeks spun and spun, landing on the tip of his toe. He was suddenly grateful for all of his training with Dawn's spinning maneuvers. His cheeks lit with electricity, preparing a bolt.

"Use Quick Attack, Sparky! Before he can fire!" Ritchie shouted.

Sparky landed and pivoted on his feet, before throwing his weight towards Peeks. He crashed into his stomach, knocking his peer back into the air.

"Follow through!" Ash roared, as his partner persevered. Peeks corrected himself in mid-air, and fired the Thunderbolt, lighting sparky with a dazzling, crackling explosion.

"Sparky!" Ritchie called out in concern. Black smoke flooded the field before dissipating, and his partner stood on all fours. "Are you feeling good to go?"

"Pi… Pika!" Sparky shook off the damage, despite his scorched fur.

Ritchie's eyes drifted between each Pikachu, and narrowed. Ash could swear he saw a conspiratorial glint in those blue hues. "There it is," the brunette said. "My hypothesis is good to go!"

"Hypothesis…?" Ash stood upright, raising a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Huh? Don't worry about it," Ritchie said coolly. "You'll find out."

"Hah!" Ash snorted. "You hear that, Peeks? I think we're being taken for a ride, here."

"We are, are we?" Peeks grinned. Stoking his competitive spirit was just the kind of distraction he needed. "I hope you guys aren't counting your Torchic before they hatch, Sparky."

Ash couldn't understand Sparky's retort, but the rodent's stuck-out tongue told him everything he needed to know. "Yeah, well, let's show 'em what we can do! Peeks, use Volt Tackle!"

"Gladly!" Peeks cheered, sprinting forth. An electric aura surrounded him, snapping violently.

"Okay, Sparky. Get ready, and wind up your Thunder Punch," Ritchie instructed. Sparky heeded his order, pivoting one foot behind the other, and his right paw behind him. Lightning crackled up the length of his arm and through his closed fist.

"Thunder Punch…?" Ash frowned. "But he just said we're stronger. Why would he go for a head-on clash?"

No matter the reason, Peeks was already mid-lunge, throwing himself at Sparky.

"Now! An uppercut!" Ritchie shouted.

"Chuaaa… Pi!" Sparky swung his fist in an arc from below, bashing it into Peeks's chin.

Lightning snapped in all directions, scorching the grass, before a shockwave blew through the clearing to put out any embers that'd been lit. Sparky grit his teeth, struggling heavily against Peeks's weight and momentum. He planted his foot in the dirt as leverage.

Peeks, meanwhile, stubbornly pushed his chin into the other rodent's fist. But, ultimately, Sparky's follow-through sent him soaring into the air, shooting right past him!

"He launched him!" Ash gasped. Sparky recoiled and shook the static off his paw, but he could see Peeks writhing from the shocking recoil of Volt Tackle. He was stranded in mid-air.

"Good going, Sparky!" Ritchie praised. "Now, Brick Break!"

Sparky shook off his numbness and lunged for Peeks, wielding two glowing paws over his head.

"Fight him off with Iron Tail!" Ash urged, as Sparky was already looming over his partner.

All Peeks could do was raise his tail and coat it in iron, as Sparky's fists both smashed into the tough surface. Gravity favored Sparky, pushing them both towards the grass.

"He was jumping Peeks before he could get momentum for Iron Tail," Ash mused to himself. "He was trying to take advantage of Volt Tackle's recoil, the whole time!"

Peeks pressed against his rival's weight until his back hit the grass. Gritting his teeth, he swatted Sparky with his tail, forcing both of them to part and skid across the terrain.

"Not bad, you guys! Not bad," Ash praised. "But let's see how you handle our speed! Peeks, Quick Attack, now!"

"Got it!" Peeks agreed, propelling himself at blinding speeds.

"Thunderbolt, right in front of him!" Ritchie ordered. Sparky executed it with efficiency, blasting the grass in front of Peeks with a scalding bolt.

Peeks skidded to a halt, squinting and covering his mouth. He couldn't see his opponent, nor could he smell him, with the ichor in the air.

"Now, Sparky! Thunder Punch!"

A gold flash broke through the smoke, forcing Peeks to narrowly step out of its path. Sparky hopped through the veil, jabbing at Peeks relentlessly. "Ka! Chu! Pi-ka!"

Peeks backed off and sidestepped, suffering a jab to the gut before hopping out of the smoke.

"They used the smoke to attack close-up," Ash observed. "Fight back with Iron Tail!"

"Roger!" Peeks chirped. "Chua…!" His tail started to solidify, but not before a Thunder Punch socked him in the face, breaking his concentration. The next attempt ended in a punch swatting his tail away.

"He can't get enough breathing room for a counterattack," Ash muttered, gritting his teeth. ~Buddy, we need an out, here.~

~You're telling me!~ Peeks thought to himself, relying on Ash's bond. He was feeling short of breath and irritated, ducking and dodging. ~We need a way to shake them off…~

Before Peeks could finish his thought, a Thunder Punch clipped his cheek. Sparks danced off it in abundance, from his and Sparky's electricity reserves, alike.

"...Without moving!" Ash's eyes widened. A spark of inspiration was born in his mind, and in his gut, he knew it was in Peeks's, too. "Peeks! Volt Tackle!"

"At that close range…!?" Ritchie exclaimed, raising a brow.

"Pi… Ka!" Peeks threw out his arms, tensing his body to unleash a sudden pulse of gold. Volt Tackle's aura flashed to life without a charge, for but a moment.

But, a moment was enough to jolt through Sparky and repel him, making him slide back on his hind legs. "Pika…!?"

"What was that!?" Dawn exclaimed, leaning her weight on her knees. "I've never seen them do that before!"

"There! Now, catch his feet with Iron Tail!" Ash ordered, waving a hand.

Peeks leaned his weight onto one paw, and swept his Iron Tail under Sparky, striking him at the knee. The other Pikachu was knocked off his feet.

"Hang strong, Sparky! Thunder Punch!"

Sparky landed in a handstand, vaulting off of his paws to come in for another strike.

"Let's try it again, Buddy!" Ash urged. "Pull back!"

Peeks focused his lightning in his cheeks, and illuminated with another burst of lightning. The shock propelled him away from Sparky, leaving him to slide across the grass on all fours. "Pi…!"

"How's that!? It looks like we're onto something!" Ash boasted, leaning into a battle-ready posture.

"I think… we are!" Peeks agreed, in the midst of catching his breath. "Let's try it again!"

"You've got it, Buddy! Give it another try!" Ash agreed.

"Ka!" Peeks leaned his weight forward, and expelled another burst that fired him towards Sparky. Illuminated with flickering lightning, he came closer and closer to Sparky. "Kaaaa…! Chu?"

…Only for the lightning surrounding Peeks to die out.

"Sparky! Brick Break!" Ritchie urged. His partner complied with haste, striking Peeks with a decisive right hook. The other mouse was spiked off the terrain, bouncing back onto his feet.

"Phew… Hey, so what's this about?" Ritchie asked, wiping sweat from his brow. "And if you're going to attack us, why not just use a regular old Volt Tackle?"

"I…" Ash stood upright again, scratching his cheek. "I'm not sure. Peeks and I just had this feeling, in the middle of the battle. Like we tapped into something special. Y'know?"

"Yeah… same… here!" Peeks agreed through haggard breaths.

"That's just what you come to expect from Ash and Peeks," Dawn gushed from the sidelines. "When the chips are down, you can always count on them to improvise something wild!"

"Is that so…?" Ritchie ran a hand through his messy hair. "Well, I can't say I'm not impressed! I've never seen this side of you two, before. It just makes me more excited! Right, Sparky?"

"Pi-ka!" Sparky emphatically agreed.

"He's looking pretty tired though," Ash continued. "Volt Tackle is a nasty move with only so much juice in it, after all. So, what do you say we shelve that little trick for now?

"Sounds… like a good idea," Peeks agreed. "Besides. We've still got plenty more up our sleeves!"

"Well said, Buddy!" Ash said. "Now, use Quick Attack!"

"Pi-ka! Pi-pi-pi…!" A silver streak tailed Peeks's rapid shot towards his foe.

"One more time, Sparky!" Ritchie coached. "Thunderbolt!"

"Piii… Kah!" Sparky stayed grounded, firing a bolt right in Peeks's path.

"Now! Slide into it, Buddy! Iron Tail!" Ash roared, as his partner acted in unison. Throwing the weight of his lower body into his launch, he slid on his back towards the incoming shot.

"What're they up to…!?" Ritchie narrowed his eyes, as the scene unfolded. Thunderbolt never hit the ground, as it was ultimately drawn to Iron Tail, coursing through the jagged limb in rings and flickers of gold. The Ranger gasped.

"Now, send it back at 'em!" Ash cheered, punching the air.

"Chaa…!" Peeks pivoted his weight onto his right forepaw, catching himself in a breakdancing motion that he completed with several swift swings of his body. Arcs of lightning fired in sequence at Sparky, forcing the mouse on the backfoot.

"Chah!?" Sparky ducked one bolt, only for a second to zap his feet. He yelped, stumbling back.

"Now, finish it!" Ash cried. "Iron Tail!"

"Pi…!" Peeks flipped to his feet, and sprinted forth. With glimmering gold and silver coating his tail, he was already set to leap at Sparky, spinning his entire body around. "Chua….! Pi-ka!"

By the time Sparky righted himself, he could only stare on like a Deerling in headlights. Iron Tail collided with his skull. An echoing 'thud' sounded through the clearing.

Swirls danced in Sparky's eyes, and he collapsed on his back, immobile.

Dawn peered over at the results, and raised a hand. "And that's a wrap! Sparky is unable to battle! The winners are Ash and Peeks!"

"Alllright!" Ash cheered.

"We won!" Peeks chirped, jumping for joy.

"I'll say! You sure did," Ritchie agreed, in the middle of spraying Sparky with a Max Potion.

"Pikaaaa!" Sparky cheered, after wriggling himself out and standing upright. "That was AWESOME, YO!" He dashed over, offering Peeks his tail.

"Aha, I'll say!" Peeks rubbed his neck, and turned to shake Sparky's tail. "You were great, too!"

"That was a blast!" Ash praised, offering Ritchie his hand. The brunet met it with a firm shake.

"That it was," Ritchie laughed, meeting Ash with a firm shake. "I really liked those cool tactics of yours. They caught me totally off-guard."

"Yeah? Honestly, we don't know what we were doing there either," Ash admitted, rubbing his neck. "It was just a feeling we had in the moment!"

"Well, still. I'd say that means that your bond is reaching new places all of the time!"

"Ha, I can agree to that! What about you, Buddy?" Ash grinned, turning to his partner.

"That sounds just great to me!" Peeks agreed, as he jumped up to meet Ash halfway.

Ash reached out and bumped his fist against Peeks's tail with a laugh.

~That was so cool! SO gosh-darn-flippin-cool!~ Rura yipped, running over to hop in circles in the presence of Ash and company. ~I wanna do stuff like that! Can we train now, Dawn? Can we, can we, can we!?~

~Rura! Please.~ Meema bound over to pick him up by the scruff. ~We're already imposing.~

"I'm kind of feeling in the mood to train myself," Dawn agreed. "If that's alright with you, Ritchie?"

Ritchie grumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… I suppose that's only fair. Just one round though, alright? I'll use that time to find another Flying-type so we can hit the road."

"Great! Alright, Meema. Can you help me get Rura started?"

~If that is what you wish, Dawn.~

Ritchie left to scout for a Pokémon to recruit, and Dawn began coaching Rura, with his mother's help, and the other Pokémon spectating. In the meantime, Rosa took advantage of the commotion to approach Ash and Peeks.

~Hey, so… You two were amazing!~ Rosa gushed, bunching her paws together. ~I was really worried before, but Papa, you and Uncle Peeks were totally united in that battle!~

"Ha, I guess we were, weren't we?" Ash grinned, brushing his index finger over his nose.

"The battle was your idea to begin with, right?" Peeks pointed out. "So I think we owe you a thank you, Rosa!"

~Aww, well… Yeah! When you put it like that, I guess you do both owe me!~ Rosa boasted, nose in the air and paws proudly on her hips.

Peeks snorted, a bead of sweat rolling down his head. "Well, I won't be adding points for modesty."

"Remember who her mom is," Ash replied, laughing. "But, anyway! That's exactly how it should be. When a trainer and a Pokémon are together…"

"...They can do anything!" Peeks finished.

~Right! We'll keep fighting together!~ Rosa volunteered, holding a paw out. ~All of us.~

"Right on!" Ash cheered, meeting her fist with his.

"Cheers to that!" Peeks hopped up to complete the gesture with his stubby paw. Naturally, that vow wouldn't be complete, without one peppy little Electric Mouse's inclusion.