Obsession

by TheeRose

Someone once said, "Obsession spurs only brilliance or madness." Ash wonders which applies to him. After losing the person that matters most to him at a young age, a change of fate leads him down a path of either greatness or desolate failure. With an unlikely starter, an obsessive personality, and a sarcastic-streak a milewide, he's willing to bet his life that it's the former.

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Detour

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Lunch was pleasant. Misty took him to this amazing place that served a risotto to die for. They ate in relative silence, an arduous task for someone as animated as Misty. Toward the latter half, she opened up more, telling him that her uncle took them to this place every holiday. It wasn't incredibly expensive, nor was it exceptionally gaudy. No, it was a reasonably humble establishment that put love into their food. Ash savored the mouthwatering taste of their expertly crafted meals. He made a note that if he ever visited Cerulean again, he would stop by Jocelyne's Factory again.

When morning came, they were evacuated from Cerulean soon after Ash had his pokemon healed. They both stocked up on supplies the night before. After dinner, the two watched television until Misty called it a night. Ash chose to study, brainstorming a few initial and wildly incomplete strategies to use against Erika. It was far too early to formulate a working plan. But he had to keep his mind busy with something.

Misty offered to take him on a tour of Cerulean City. Ash accepted almost immediately. He needed to get the blood flowing through his legs after a few days of inactivity if he wanted to travel down to Celadon painlessly.

It was truly a magical place, with crystalline blue buildings shimmering in the sunlight. Each building was a marvel of modern architecture, its face decorated with tall glass windows and gently arching balconies.

The sprawling metropolis of Cerulean City stretched out in every direction, its architecture a symbol of power and grandeur, filled with towering skyscrapers, glass facades, and neon signs. A wide river meandered through the city, leading into the ocean to the east. The warm amber of the setting sun bounces off the city's buildings and glistening windows, and there's a palpable air of elegance and sophistication about the place.

The sun glistened off the clean lines of these great structures as if it were kissing them before setting beneath the horizon.

Cerulean City's cityscape was a patchwork quilt of blue and cream, hints of green, and glints of silver reflecting from its many towering skyscrapers. The buildings were gleamingly fashionable and bore a graceful air about them.

The fragrance of flowers filled the air as he wandered through the magnificent metropolis. Sweet and salty aromas wafted from the saltwater river, and the sweets flowed from the cafes nearby, and the comforting smell of freshly baked bread floated from bakeries in the distance. The salty sea breeze brings a hint of ocean mist and seaweed to the city's shorelines.

Everywhere Ash looked, there were sleek towers running straight for the sky and thick steel bridges that connected one part of town to another. To his left was a wide river, its edges lined with lush trees; beyond existed a vast sea dotted with ships and distant islands on which he could make out tiny white specks that must have been people or buildings.

In this moment, Ash felt awed by its glory: it seemed the very opposite of his hometown. It exuded grace and style. This was what it meant to be stylish. As he strolled down this broad boulevard, cerulean by name but not color.

Cerulean City was almost always alive with chatter, a melodic harmony of laughter and conversation echoing through its streets while automobiles constantly cruised the streets and highways. From the peaceful babbling of the river to the gentle lapping of waves against its shores, the sound of life surrounds. Along the riverside, waves lapped against the docks with a gentle rhythm. The wind was calm today. While the bird pokemon soared overhead, screeching in delight, Ash watched them ascend.

But now, hours later, the sun had set, and the fleeting orange that decorated the sky presented a stunning picture. Now, however, the sky was a chilling dark blue, and the stars peeked out from their mysterious folds.

The city at night was a breathtaking sight, illuminated by lampposts and exorbitant streetlights that cast a spearing light over the paved roads. The sky was canopied with stars, and a bright full moon illuminated the cityscape. The steel bridges that connect one part of town to another stand tall and proud, reflecting the water below like a mirror. On the banks of the river, there are trees silhouetted against the skyline, and distant islands in the sea are dotted with twinkling lights.

They chose to leave after midnight, but only after enjoying a smidge of Cerulean's nightlife. She once warned him that Cerulean was only ever truly awake at night. Ash, for all his knowledge, did not grow up in a city like this—a city of millions and millions. In Pallet Town, with a population of a scarce few thousand, people slept at night and woke in the day. People here, however, only seemed to come alive when the sun flickered behind the coast.

The streets were lit up with colorful neon signs, storefronts, and street lamps. Ash, his toothpick firmly set clenched beneath his teeth, admired the soft glow that radiated from the porches of the stunning restaurants. Lanterns constructed of metal, stone, and breathtaking dark wood provided that very soft glow.

The night sky is illuminated by a blanket of stars, making the city sparkle like a million diamonds on a velvety canvas. The river reflected the light of the sky, creating a shimmering pathway that seemed to stretch into eternity.

As they continued down the street, the sound of music caught Ash's attention. He followed it until they stumbled across a small outdoor music festival, enjoying some live bands and street performers. There were jugglers, acrobats, fire breathers, and even a human cannonball!

Ash was mesmerized by it all as he watched the performers put on an incredible show. He had never seen anything like it before—it was a celebration of life in all its forms. The music blared from speakers as couples danced in the street while others ate delicious food from nearby vendors.

Misty laughed at his shock and brushed closer to him as he viewed the show with wonder. She watched, a soft warmness sparking in her belly as his excitement only grew when pokemon began doing tricks. A tamer presented an Ekans while a brave performer blew fire brewed from a mixture of oil and his own partner, a Magmar spewed even more. Their efforts wrought a stunning ring of pure fire.

"Come on, I want to show you something." Ash, his heart still hammering in his chest, allowed Misty to drag him across town.

They paused at an attractively homey restaurant. The exterior of it was painted with vibrant colors that made it stand out from its neighbors. Inside, there were bright lights, checkered tablecloths, and a variety of delicious smells emanating from the kitchen.

The two stepped in, and Ash was immediately taken by the charming atmosphere. Misty opted for them to sit outdoors on one of the terraces. The waiter was a friendly man who offered him a menu full of delicious delicacies that originated from all around the Kanto region.

The menu boasted an array of seafood dishes—from succulent lobster to freshly caught bass—all cooked in unique Cerulean style.

Misty eagerly ordered something off the menu while Ash was still choosing. The waiter lingered patiently, and finally, Ash just ordered the second item on the menu. The waiter politely reclaimed the menus. Ash and Misty waited for their food to arrive, but as he did, he watched Misty rest beneath the cordial light that radiated off the lantern above her.

He couldn't help but take in how beautiful she looked under the night sky. With every gesture she made, how wide her smile was when she laughed, her eyes seemed to shimmer like stars—something he'd never seen before.

"Why did you bring me here, of all places?"

"Why? You don't like it?"

Ash stifled a smile. "I didn't say that. I'm just wondering why here, of all places, we passed five other restaurants on the way here." An embarrassed smile stretched across her lips. "Is this one of your favorites?"

"Yeah," she said quietly, still smiling, adverting her gaze. "I haven't been here in a while. And it's always so nice here."

It was beautiful, Ash admitted. "As long as the food's good, I'm okay."

"Of course, you would care about the food more than anything else."

"Yes," he said, painstakingly droll, "it's not like we're at a restaurant or anything." Misty rolled her eyes, but there wasn't an ounce of irritation in them.

Soon, their meals arrived. A luxurious lobster platter was presented before them. The crustacean was cooked to perfection, its shell a vibrant red-orange and its meat a bright pink-white contrast. Its bed of greens was lightly dressed in a fragrant butter sauce, and the dish's overall presentation made clear the lobster's delicate texture and exquisite flavor. Luscious buttery sauce pooled around the bottom, pristinely accentuating the lobster's delicate texture and flavor.

The aroma of the dinner filled the air with a succulent, savory scent. Garlic, lemon zest, paprika, and cumin were some of the aromatics that surrounded them in their delectable delight.

Misty marveled at her plate of freshly fried calamari, the edges golden brown with a light dusting of lemon pepper. Accompanying it were diced vegetables and fresh herbs. The dish was garnished with lemon wedges and accompanied by a tartar sauce, adding a pleasant tanginess to the meal as well as a colorful mosaic of bell peppers and onions decorating the plate.

The smell of sea salt, garlic, and citrus hung about them both like an enchanted fog. A smokey aroma from the frying oil lingered around them, and even the tartar sauce bore a remarkable odor, bearing a hint of vinegar and garlic. Aromatic and savory, the smell of fried calamari wafted through the air.

Finally, they finished their meals and paid the bill. They finished it off with a tall, creamy milkshake, a perfect end to their delightful dinner. They thanked the waiter and stepped outside under the stars. The night may be one he would never forget. He had never quite seen a city like this. He had shared an amazing evening with her. He never thought he would cherish her company, but he did.

They left the restaurant still talking, their bellies full of delicious food. As they continued their journey across town, they were filled with a new sense of energy and anticipation for what lay ahead. The night was young, and the possibilities were endless.

Hours passed, and their bags had been packed. It was time to leave Cerulean City.

He had places to be and deadlines to maintain. Nevertheless, as they exited the main boundaries of the city, he found himself a tad reluctant to fully depart. It was pleasantly unique to the life he had lived for the past sixteen years. He wondered if there were other cities like Cerulean or if this one was truly unique amongst the rest.

Such thoughts hung over his mind as he and Misty exited the city.

The wind began to howl as they wandered through the streets. He could feel eyes watching him from the shadows; feral pokemon stalked him in the night. Disquieting whispers carried throughout the city with each gust of wind.

When midnight arrived, the perimeter boundaries of Cerulean City were chillingly quiet; only the occasional screech of an avian pokemon pierced through the night. Along the riverside, waves lapped against docks with an eerie rhythm. The wind grew stronger now, whistling like a banshee while light, infrequent raindrops fell from the sky like tears.

The night was heavy with humidity and absolutely still as Ash and Misty plunged forward into the dense forest. The rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant hooting of an owl were their only companions, along with the palpable sense of danger that seemed to be lurking in the shadows. As they trudged further away from Cerulean City, the trees grew thicker and more foreboding until even fewer glimmers of starlight ceased to penetrate beyond the endless, massed canopy overhead.

Pitch blackness surrounded them, forcing the companions to rely on other senses to navigate their way through the unknown territory. Every snap of a twig sent shivers down their spines, and every thump of their hearts seemed deafening in the stillness around them. Despite the late hour and ever-encroaching darkness, neither of them showed any sign of faltering, for every step brought them closer to Celadon City.

For hours, they propelled forward, gradually making their way through the woodland. Eventually, they stumbled into an open area.

"Stay here," he urged Aron and Clefable. "Keep Misty company—" keep Misty safe, "while I look for firewood."

"Are you sure that's smart? Going off on your own?" Misty probed.

"It's nothing I haven't done a dozen times."

Ash trudged through the stygian depths of the forest, Gastly ever at his side. He conscientiously foraged for logs that would burn well. The trees seemed to whisper as he paced through their shadows; a peculiar life hummed from the brambles and shadows. His heart thrummed its own rhythm as trepidation began to fill him, but still, he moved forward into the unknown.

The quiet creaking of tree branches and chirping of unknown creatures echoed throughout the murky depths. His heart thumped wildly as he progressed further; he could feel unease engulfing him, but he knew he had to stay focused and march onward. He had Gastly with him. He wasn't concerned about wild pokemon. Not with Gastly here to watch out for him. Every corner he turned unleashed fresh dread, yet Ash refused to let it affect him.

Ash trudged through the dank woodland, gathering timber for their fire. His heart pounded in his chest as they ventured ever deeper into the ebon depths of the forest. Gastly's specter-light bobbed along behind him, a small comfort in this land of dread and despair.

With the wood that they required, he went back the way he came. Ash managed the load of kindling back to their encampment. As he drew nearer, a somber Misty welcomed his return with stoic silence. She waited expectantly in the shadows, a flashlight trapped between her creamy thighs. Bags grew under her eyes. He had been unable to shake the ones that had been under his eyes for days now.

Ash immediately set to work adding wood to a fire in the center of their camp. Gastly hovered close by, providing an eerie yet comforting light in the darkness of night. The ghost flew around them, watching as Ash tried several different logs before settling on one that would catch quickly and stay lit.

With each piece of wood tossed into the pile, Ash could feel his uneasiness ebb away. With every flicker of flame from the fire, Ash felt a sense of confidence return. The light caught on the dust billowing through the air and cast it in bright hues of yellow, red, and orange. A dull, pale glow emanated from the ghost's translucent frame as he, too, enjoyed the heat. Misty's pokemon remained within their balls while Aron, Clefable, and even Gastly basked in the comforting warmness.

The campfire blazed in the night, sending tendrils of fire and smoke into the starless sky. The looming trees made a serrated canopy above them, their gnarled trunks shifting and warping as the flames configured shadows to blanket them in their grasp. The mist floated around them like a ghostly shroud; glimmering shades of blue and pink shone eerily in the light of the campfire. Everywhere they looked was cast in deep, ravenous browns until it seemed like even the air was dripping with shadows.

The wood around them was dark and ancient, stoic sentinels to time immemorial. A light mist weaved through the air, glimmering scarlet and lavender from the mesmerizing blaze.

The campfire roared, its flames dancing and flickering as the logs fizzed from the heat. The chirping of crickets was replaced with a thousand whispers, secrets that only the darkness could tell. The light of the fire illuminated the surrounding darkness, exposing a million tiny eyes that watched with curious vigilance.

The night air was filled with the aroma of burning wood, and the orchestra of cricket chirps and cicada buzzes seemed to have been composed only for their ears. Suddenly, the shadows of the forest were broken by bright flashes of heat while smoke rose and swirled in the air like dancing spirits.

Shadows moved in the depths of the trees, their silhouettes shifting like waves on a stormy sea. The very woodland was shrouded in an ominous silence that promised danger beyond what any of them could comprehend.

The campfire wafted the scent of burning wood and sap through the air, mixing with the smell of moss and wildflowers that grew fresh between the pine trees. The pungent smoke slipped into the forest like a ribbon, flowing down to ingratiate itself with the smell of soil and pine needles, creating an inviting atmosphere in this dark forest.

Ash's eyes shone like glowing embers, reflecting the raging inferno that hissed in the clearing. The blistering heat of the flames was soothed by the marginally less hot drafts of air that whispered across the campground. He watched the fire leap into the night sky as each log was added to it. Its golden flames danced in his eyes and reflected off his pale skin, a baleful beacon lighting the darkness all around.

Misty was exhausted. Ash could see it in everything she did. She sat motionlessly, just staring emptily into the flames. Despite the warmth and light of the fire, her eyes glimmered with fatigue that only enhanced her fragile beauty.

She was drained beyond endurance; her entire being seemed to radiate a profound weariness. Ash observed each of her motions, or lack thereof, and could not help but be captivated by the frail beauty that seemed to envelop her like a cloak. Her gaze languorously turned towards the flicker of the firelight, revealing an almost bottomless fatigue that no amount of warmth or illumination could extinguish.

The night was thick in the air and hung like a pall in his lungs. He exhaled deeply, letting the oppressive darkness swallow up his words. "You should go to bed," he murmured, watching as it stirred her from her stupor of exhaustion.

"What about you?" she asked, her voice weighed down with fatigue. Ash just shook his head, unwilling to burden her further. Even now, neck deep in her own weariness, she was worried for him.

"I'm only going to stay up for a little while longer. I'll get some rest later," he said. Ash knew it was an empty promise—that she would be asleep before she managed to sink into the folds of her sleeping bag before oblivion swallowed her whole.

As if on cue, she found herself unable to even zip it up. With a soft smile, he approached and took over the task for her. Gently lifting her head and positioning it upon the pillow, he sealed her in until only a small sliver of light could peek through the hem.

Aron peeked out from the hedge of shrubbery he buried himself beneath. It may not have been stone or rock, but it would have to do. His blue eyes dotted beneath the shroud, quietly observing his surroundings. Although every now and again, he would study Ash from afar.

His human had yet to shred the melancholy that hung above him. The ghost and the fairy may have been ignorant of it, but Aron saw past the unfeeling façade. The lack of sleep may have been an issue before they met, but he didn't like how prevalently it blotched him now.

Aron frowned. His only question now, however, was when this human had become his human.

Clefable laughed as Gastly floated above him. The ghost's face contorted wildly as he let out maniacal laughter. First, his eyes screwed together, then they widened too, in comical proportions, until Ghastly opened his mouth so wide that all his horrifically serrated teeth were revealed. Clefable, being the creature of life he was, merely tittered even more, completely unaffected by the frightening display. If anything, it seemed to fuel his excitement.

His frown persevered, and the blue-eyed pokemon crawled out from his self-formed burrow. He trotted over to where the human rested. The heat brushed against his armor.

Aron stepped back. Though he moved closer when his human's hand wandered out and gently grasped his head. Aron tilted it, attempting to remain unfazed by the machinations, but internally he wondered how he could possibly know that it felt good to have a patch of his armor caressed right above the bridge of his disguised nose.

Ash smiled lightly as slight vibrations wove through the little one's body. His smile turned even softer when he saw Clefable and Gastly entertaining themselves. For such conflicting types, he was surprised at how well they got along. Even their personalities differed. Yet Clefable seemed to relish Gastly's mischievous and rambunctious behavior.

"You and I are quite a bit alike, aren't we?"

Aron simply hummed, his blue eyes vanishing. Slowly, the strength abandoned his legs, and he slopped down on his stomach. Ash snorted. He continued to pet his head for a few more minutes before leaving him before. Ash, mindful of Aron at his heel, found himself transfixed by the flickering fire pit.

His thoughts swirled with the fire, and in his weakness, he felt himself get overtaken by them.

Nurse Joy managed to stifle the police for another day. He spoke to them. He gave them the standard answers to their very standard questions. They left after only ten minutes of inquiries. But the G-Men, Ash only wished they would have been so quick.

They arrived only hours passed Eight AM the following day. They, however, could not be persuaded to wait. They wanted to meet with him immediately. Oh, Ash was excited to meet the great "G-Men." They were spies, government agents, real badass folk. That's what everyone else said. Nothing about what Jonah did was badass. He was a loose cannon with just as many problems as him. Only, he went around killing people.

Ash remembered their visit vividly. He remembered their clothing—everything, How the room looked, exactly what time it was, how warm it was outside in the tiny little Pokemon Center stationed just above a quaint hill. Ash recalled how big of a pain it was to trek down that hill. Besides the nurse assisting him with his physical therapy, that downwards, grassy, and stoney slip had been his first steps. He never lost his balance after the first few. Wouldn't have been pretty if he had. Not very time-efficient, either.

"We just want to begin by saying; we are terribly sorry for your loss."

"My loss?" Ash had looked up to them. They wore plain suits and even plainer haircuts. Not a single thing about them was unique. One was dark-skinned, and the other was pale-skinned. They both had the same brown eyes, though. They were uncanny. They were the kind of eyes you just get shivers for some reason from looking at. "I didn't lose anything. Not even my favorite jacket."

"Nevertheless, Mr. Ketchum, we are sorry for all that you have suffered."

"Man, can you at least try not to sound like you're reading from a script?"

One looked at his partner, Two. Yeah, Ash got so bored with them that he began naming them since they refused to give their own names, of course. He wasn't made to sit in bed for hours. He was made to be active, not be screwed down to a bed for hours on end. Just being anchored to a chair and information plastered in front of him to digest made him antsy. At least learning gave him an excuse to sit and be inactive. It occupied his mind, eased his jitteriness. Here, now, in a hospital, he just felt helpless.

Just like in that cave.

All of it vexed him to no end. He couldn't stand, much less continue his adventure. Not yet, he had forced himself to chant.

But he would be.

"We understand that you witnessed some… peculiar things while within Mt. Moon."

He looked at the partner of One, more bemused at their wording than anything. Strangely, part of him felt vindicated that all his thoughts and theories on them were shaping to be true. Another part of him felt horror that he was correct.

"And we just want to make sure that nothing you witnessed that unfortunate day is… unfortunately misconstrued."

Misconstrued. The nerve of these chuckleheads.

"Oh, yeah. Real peculiar," he drolled. "No… there was nothing peculiar about it. Nothing confusing, either. It was all real simple. Simple for me, at least. Maybe not for you or your League buddies."

"Mr. Ketchum, we ask that you remain on point here."

"Right." Ash spat out a handful of aching chortles. "Right… because you are all just shining examples of that. On point and focused. You know, if you guys, and I'm talking to the tape recorder that's hiding inside your jacket pocket—" Two glanced at One. "If you G-Men had put half the effort into investigating Team Rocket as you are me, then you guys may have prevented this shit show."

"What did you see when you were down there?"

Ignoring his little tangent. Couldn't say he had been surprised. It wasn't like he said it for them. Just for all the bureaucrats that were going to review the tape when it landed on their nice, refined mahogany desks.

"Interesting stuff. You know, pokemon in cages. People being buried alive. Me and my friend included. Had to watch a few dozen pokemon mourn the deaths of their trainers while they tried digging their way out of a mountain. That was fun."

"How many criminals were within Mt. Moon?"

"Criminals? So we're not even saying their name now? Treating them like they don't exist?"

"We are not quite sure if it was actually Team Rocket."

Ash snapped up, his blanket slipping off the bed and drabbling on the floor. He jabbed a finger into One's fat, fugly face, words already spewing from his mouth.

"You listen here. That's what you all said last time. You wanna keep believing it? Fine. Fuck off. Go do it somewhere else. You want my statement? Then it goes on record: Team Rocket lives. You want something else on your report? Here! Why don't you go to the families who lost their sons, their daughters, their brothers, and sisters—give them your useless, manufactured sympathies! Maybe then you'd actually get some excitement!"

"Mr. Ketchum, please calm down."

"I'll do that. Just because you asked," he spat, looking them dead in their eyes. Some emotion sparked in their gazes. Ash couldn't bring himself to care. "Go bother the police. I already told them everything I knew."

"Mr. Ketchum—"

"Leave before I give you all a reason to."

… The last thing they saw of me before they deserted the room was my glare tapered to their backs.

The hour of twilight was fleeting. As the crimson sun slowly reached its peak and transfigured the forest with its brilliant light, vibrant energy filled the air. A faint but growing murmur ran through the forest, the birds emerging from their sleep and their chittering ripping through the stillness of the dawn. Ash could sense it in each breath he took, a palpable hum that seemed to resonate within him.

The interview could have gone better. He should have reacted better, kept his cool. Ash knew that. It just… it didn't sit right with them. They were figureheads. Emotionless mouthpieces spewing lines and words that were not their own. Useless drones. Hearing them speak about those that died flipped something in him.

Maybe they would believe this time. Team Rocket lives… They did, and he could only hope that they realized that before another set of years passed. Ash snorted, deflating, stoking the ashes in the pit. Who was he kidding? They probably wouldn't. Not until it was too late.

He should have kept his head on straight. Reacting in such a way, he regretted it. If Professor Oak had witnessed his particular outburst, he would have chided him down to the bone. Studying biological challenges and navigating through scientific obstacles for hours straight would have been the least of his concerns.

Professor Oak was certainly unique in his choice of reprimand, Ash would give him that. In all his years, Professor Oak had never needed to resort to laying a hand on him. It was something Ash always admired him for. His control never waned. No matter what infuriated him.

The birds were awake now, their melodious chirps echoing off every leaf and branch, a chorus that threatened to soothe his ire.

The fire had been quenched. Its dying embers illuminated the darkness of night like a faint glimmer from a distant star. Yet, Ash refused to stoke the blaze. He simply watched, a stoic sentinel waiting for the morning sun to crack through the trees and banish away the shadows that kept him company.

He did smile down at Aron. The little one had fallen asleep an hour ago while had still been messaging his metallic cap.

The blaze of the fire had been snuffed out, leaving nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash and embers in its wake. But Ash didn't stir to rebuild it—he just sat there, watching and waiting patiently until the rays of dawn fought through the gloom of night, bringing a faint brightness to his world of shadows.

The sun's rays began to creep through the windows, but Misty was still lost in slumber. He studied her sleeping figure, admiring her beauty for just a moment.

Misty hadn't stirred as the sun rose, and her gentle breath caused his chest to swell with pride. He gazed upon her, marveling at how far they'd come during their travels through this tumultuous world. Before he woke her, Ben returned his pokemon to their balls. They had long since passed out. He didn't wish to disturb their sleep and allowed them to continue it inside.

He gently tapped her bag to wake her. He softly tapped her bag to wake her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips when he saw her eyes flutter open. She grimaced, her eyesight running shoddily.

"What time is it?" she inquired groggily. A yawn ripped through as she rubbed her eyes and stretched.

Ash flicked his gaze to his analog watch. "Half past six."

"Wake me back up in an hour." Misty plopped back into her sleep bag.

Ash methodically gathered his items as she cocooned herself tightly within her snug sleeping bag. Her movements were eerily silent, like a wraith withdrawing into the night. He watched, shaking his head.

"Come on, Misty. We have to leave. Unless you want to be stuck in the middle of a storm."

A groan echoed from her sack. "Storm?" she slurred. "What storm?"

"Thunderstorm. It swept into Cerulean last night, and it's heading south." Ash sighed when no reply came. He clutched the fabric at her feet and ripped the sleeping bag off her. Exposed, Misty glared petulantly. "You hate me now, but you're gonna hate the world a whole lot more if we get stuck in this."

"Fine," she grumbled, on her feet and stretching. "At least give me a few minutes to freshen up."

He gave her ten before they eventually had to resume their travels southbound. After she was finished, Misty still looked exhausted. They were still days out of Celadon. If it had been a normal day, given how long they traveled last night, he would have been more than happy to let her compensate for her lack of sleep with a slow start. But he couldn't take any chances, not with that storm.

The sun shone brightly, its golden rays gleaming through the trees of Route 5. The forest was alive with the chirping of birds and buzzing of insects, a pleasant melody that filled the air with a calming presence. Misty marveled at the beauty of nature, her mood already lifting from her foul distaste. Ash only hoped she didn't encounter a bug-type of some kind. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia at that, recalling their first travels through Route 1.

They pressed on southwards, the day hanging heavy and humid around them. Heat shimmered off the meandering path in hypnotic waves as they traveled. From time to time, they would pause, gazing into the thickets of brambles and woods with curiosity. Wild pokemon stirred from their slumber, and others flew in daring arcs through the air through the turgid canopy.

Misty gasped in wonderment at the sheer variety while Ash brought some familiarity to them both by sharing anecdotes of past encounters.

Wild pokemon fluttered about between trees, some even coming close enough to get a good view of them. Misty inched even closer, inspecting the various kinds of creatures that roamed them.

As they ventured further into the depths of Route 5, they encountered small cascades of crystal-clear waters that trickled over rocks and plunged off gentle slopes. Everywhere they looked, shimmering streams wound through the vibrant foliage, a soothing melody that accompanied their journey. Glistening waters wound their way down from rocks and cascaded through valleys in unison with their footsteps.

It sparkled like jewels, and its shimmering currents moved swiftly between the winding banks and boulders that rose majestically from the depths below. Tiny droplets sparkled like diamonds against the deep brown of the jagged stone lining its banks.

The meandering river stretched out before me like a bejeweled snake, weaving its way through sun-drenched meadows and mysterious forests. Its azure waters glinted in the sunlight, cascading over rocky ridges and tumbling through gentle rapids. Tiny droplets sparkled like diamonds against the deep brown of the jagged stone lining its banks, and a captivating mystery hung in the air as I gazed upon its depths.

The river roiled with a soothing white noise. Misty's pulse began to slow to the rhythm of a placid lullaby, carried on the ripples and eddies along its length. As she squatted down, filling their canteens, a chorus of strange notes crept up from the depths. The occasional splash of a water-type pokemon or enigmatic amphibian gave the music a discordant harmony—creating an exquisitely captivating melody from the orchestra of nature.

Misty grinned, her hand sailing through the cold river's depths. It was like liquid silk, its ebbing currents an exquisite balm that soothed both body and mind. The current flowed over her skin like a silken embrace, its gentle caress feeling like gilded, thin fabric against her fingertips. She marveled at the sensation and smiled. She imagined it to be like a thousand velvet fingers gliding over her skin in a loving embrace.

Though her moment of peace had been disturbed. She hadn't heard it at first. It was only when the impacts became loud enough to visibly shake the trees beside her that she became aware of the heavy sounds. She glanced up from the rushing river. Cautious, she moved her knees from the grass and moved closer to Ash.

He was already scanning the forest.

He found nothing.

The pounding and various sharp noises persisted.

Avian pokemon abdicated the canopy, entering that atmosphere in a surge. There are momentary squawks, or almost as loud as the struggle deeper into the woodland.

Even though the sun was planted directly above them, there was still a latent shadow cast by the congested, unrelenting canopy of soaring, titanic trees. Vegetation crawled up those trees, and Ash spotted those light leaves crawling up the trees, wobbling and waving.

It was the only warning he received for what came next.

A figure darted out from the trees.

It collided directly with one, tearing it into two.

Misty stepped back, and Ash went forwards. His eyes squinted even further until they were vague slants.

It was a pokemon. That much he was sure of. However, what kind it was remained a mystery. Judging by its shadow and the height, he theorized, it stood; it must have been bipedal. Its fur was an obscure brown and somewhat shaggy with ruffled ends that stood anxiously.

Bipedal. Tall. Over six feet… with shaggy brown hair.

Ash's eyes swelled.

The pokemon picked itself off the tree and bolted. Another pokemon met it head-on. This one he could undeniably identify. It was short, bearing a curved body, and much like the other one, it stood on two legs. Besides sharing its bipedal nature, that's where the similarities ended both in its physical stature and its physiological nature.

The Graveler battled against this tall pokemon. Ash was cautious in naming its opponent. Those pokemon, while not obscenely rare, were dangerous to encounter in the wild. If he was right about Graveler's opponents, which he was almost certain of his assessment, then this Graveler had no chance at all.

And in a flash, the tall pokemon evaded a hail of stones and lunged. It battered the short, round pokemon with an onslaught of brutal, vicious, and unrelenting blows. The more mightier-statured pokemon held the round one above its head before plowing it into a series of thick, turgid trees.

Wounded, Graveler picked itself up and rolled out of the clearing, fleeing. Clearly, that barrage of attacks had wounded it enough to the point where it felt truly threatened—not to mention whatever wounds it may have sustained before the battle was dragged into their sight.

Ash dragged his blinking gaze to the victor of their quarrel.

"Ash," Misty's quiet, whispery voice entered his focus. "Is that… is that a—"

"Ursaring? I was beginning to wonder if I was seeing things." Normally the assigned protocol for witnessing an Ursaring in the wild was turning and running back the way you came. They were ambiguous and violent creatures.

Even trainers that had been on their track for more than a year still did not feel comfortable with trifling with Ursarings. They were extraordinarily violent. Their bursts of putrid rage were eerily similar to Gyarados'.

Only, on average, they tended to be weaker. And this Ursaring was damaged.

Perhaps…

"Thank you, love, for clearing that up."

"I don't like that voice. What are you going to do?"

Ash smiled and told her his plan.

Ursaring glanced over at the two humans. A simmering roar was the only warning they would receive. The male human whispered a sentence down the female. He then approached. Movements slow and gradual, arms by his side and hands open, obviously empty. The human was not foolish enough to enter his reach, but he made his point by approaching so close.

"That was an impressive battle." Ash's gaze scoured Ursaring's attenuated eyes searchingly.

Ursaring grunted. Was that supposed to make him feel a certain way?

"How would you feel about another? Only, you won't be fighting for life, but your future." The pokemon's eyes slanted combatively. "You win, you get to say, "I beat two strong pokemon today." If I win… when I win, well, I get a strong pokemon to join my team. I hear your species never back down from any challenge. How about you and I put that theory to the test?"

Ursaring huffed. He allowed his arms to fall, and a growl funneled up through his throat.

Ash smirked. His hand—slowly and deliberately—pulled out a shrunken great ball from his waist. As Ursaring met Clefable in the open field, it snorted, unraveling its claws. Ash, in return, aimed his open palm at his current adversary.

"Dazzling Gleam."

Clefable softly cried as she released a swirling bout of light energy. Ursaring obdurately stood there and took the blow. He, Ash realized, staggered continuously, struggling to resume his footing. But when he did, he rushed Clefable, his arm swimming with illumination. Clefable absorbed the damage with his defenses, and he needn't be ordered for his next attack. He utilized Rock Smash, stamping a strike clear into Ursaring's chest.

Ash thought it was over right there.

But Ursaring stood back up. Even as blood leaked from its already severe chest wound from the battle prior. He grunted—it was a guttural sound, really. Just creating that noise must have anguished his throat awfully. Ash made a sound of surprise when Ursaring rushed just as fast as before. It wasn't, not in the least, deterred by its agony. Ursaring slit a gash down Clefable's thorax. Its claws shone dangerously, and Clefable moaned as that laceration opened across his body.

"Dazzling Gleam."

Clefable barely recovered quick enough to muster the power to unleash his attack. Ursaring skidded across the road. It growled, the hairs on its chest smoking. A burn revealed itself, and Ursaring deflated. Its knee was barely able to catch it from falling face-first.

Right as Ash was about to ready an ultra-ball, Ursaring blustered furiously.

It slashed its claws down at his sides, carving slices into the earth. Ash marveled at the pure emotion in its eyes and how Ursaring pulled itself to its feet and charged recklessly once more.

Ash took no pleasure in giving this order—he knew it would be the final one of the battle. "Rock Smash."

Clefable jabbed his stocky palm into Ursaring's face. He doubled over, laying on its back. Ursaring scratched at the ground, desperately trying to stand. Ash shook his head, simply stunned at the pokemon's tenacity. He'd taken more damage than any pokemon he'd ever seen—and was still conscious. Moreover, he still wanted to fight.

What pokemon was willing to throw themselves into harm's way like that? Ursaring was frantic in his attempts, its urgency duplicating every second. The more he struggled, the more fluid leaked from his injuries. Ash walked closer to it when he was sure Ursaring could no longer lift a finger, let alone attack him. He knelt down to him, taking one final moment to stare into its eyes.

And at that moment, he understood him.

Because he was staring at another version of himself.

That desperate clinginess to the idea of success. It would never fail; it had to be the strongest; it had to be the fiercest fighter it knew. So, it would accept any challenge, no matter who was dealing the cards. It was against his very nature—not the nature that was bred into him by his species' natural instincts, but the nature it created to succeed. Even as he lay, beaten so severely, he remained defiant. Strong. Unyielding.

In that tiny, fleeting second before Ursaring's eyes fluttered dazedly, Ash respected the pokemon more than he would ever respect himself.

The yellow-black ball warped the ferocious pokemon into a different reality.

One that it knew no more pain.

… one that it knew no more struggling.

Ash scanned the ultra-ball with his Pokedex.

"Ursaring, the Hibernator Pokemon, the evolved form of Teddiursa, a normal-type. It is an omnivorous hunter, and while it does have a preference for meat, it does enjoy berries. In forests, it is said that there are many streams and towering trees where an Ursaring gathers food. It walks through its forest collecting food every day. With its ability to distinguish any smell, it unfailingly finds all food buried deep underground. Although it has a large body, it is quite skilled at climbing trees. It eats and sleeps in the treetops while also ambushing smaller prey from the canopies.

This Ursaring is male and knows the moves: Hammer Arm, Slash, Scary Face, and Brick Break. Ursaring has the Egg Move(s): Close Combat, which is locked until further notice. Its ability is Guts, which powers up its attacks sharply if ailed by a status condition."

Ash's smile could be seen all the way over from where Misty was standing.

You and I will get along just fine…

"That was so reckless!" Misty shouted, having already bolted back to his side. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

"No more stupid than saving a pretty, yet all too foolish girl from a Gyarados." Misty blubbered about while Ash wove his hands through Clefable's silken skin. The corpulent pokemon trilled. "Yet another successful battle. What is this? The fourth one this week?"

Clefable merely shrugged. He hadn't been keeping track. Ash wasn't all that surprised. Clefable lacked any sort of vanity whatsoever. It was stunning, really, to see a pokemon lack any brand of egotism. Even Gastly had his own fair share, and he never gloated.

"Wonderful job as always, my friend. I'll let you have a nice rest before we stop. I'll heal your wounds then."

Clefable trilled once more as he evaporated into the swirling red mist and to the pokeball.

Misty glanced down at her feet. "I didn't know you thought I was pretty," she murmured, her gaze still aimed at the ground, hands at her side.

"I wasn't lying when I said you were more attractive than your sisters."

She blinked, her gaze suddenly flying up to his. Although he was busy shedding the grass and dirt from his pants. She was thankful for that. She didn't want him to see the heat resting irritatingly on her cheeks.

"I thought you were just saying that to make me feel better."

He chuckled as he picked wads of grass from his boots and thorns from his pant legs. "Your self-preservation's almost as low as your self-appreciation. Seriously, you don't look in the mirror at all while you wear those shorts or that shirt, for that matter?"

Again, her cheeks flushed. "What do you mean by that?"

Once more, he chuckled. "I'm just saying there's a lot to cover, and those shorts are fighting a losing battle. Your shirt's barely better off."

Misty wasn't a twig at all. Curvy in all the right places and busty. Ash, at first, thought she was deceptively so, but the way he would catch those glorious globes wobble or tremble as she breathed heavily, there was nothing deceptive about them. Her rear was even more prodigious than her bust, and that was saying something.

How could she be ignorant of how gifted she was in every single apartment? She had a figure and assets that would make boys drool and girls fume, a voice that made others just shiver from listening to, and a cute face with a flawless complexion and soft, unblemished skin. In the beginning, he thought her ignorance was a ploy; a charm of hers. But no, she genuinely did not know that she was actually more beautiful than ninety-nine percent of the girls he had ever met. That included grown women as well, well into their twenties, thirties, and forties.

If possible, the warmth on her face worsened.

"If it bothers you or if it's too noticeable, I can change into something else."

He looked up at her while still crouched to the floor, his lip curling in a way that sent shivers down her spine.

"Who said I wanted that?"

His chuckles filtered through the entire forest as they continued their trek. Misty purposely followed behind a decent distance away, steam practically rushing from her ears. She didn't know it was more embarrassing, the fact that he found her immensely attractive, or the fact that he admitted to it in such a teasing and abashing fashion.

… or the fact that she loved every second of it.

---

The sprawling city of Saffron shone in the hazy light of day.

Stark towers of steel and concrete loomed, supporting a menagerie of sights and sounds. Jewels of color glimmered on the streets below as vendors peddled their wares and merchants haggled over goods. To the north, Mt. Saffron took on a fiery hue in the sun's rays, and tall trees laden with golden leaves spread out far into the horizon. Soft wisps of cottony clouds drifted overhead, painted in a spectrum of white, pink, yellow, and blue.

It was truly an opulent capital, held aloft by towering spires of marble and ragged stones, a marvelous trading scene, home to Kanto's most promising engineers, and ground zero for technological advancement. If you believed the newspapers, anyhow. Ash wasn't so quick to.

A mesmerizing array of silver, blue, and yellow lights illuminated the high-rises, reaching the star-strewn night sky. The towers and skyscrapers gleamed in the night sky, reflecting the silver, blue, and yellow city lights onto the decadent open plain below. The open plain on which the city had been constructed was punctuated by a thick grove of trees, whose shadows danced upon the towers and skyscrapers.

The buildings were huge rectangles with clean lines; their fountains and statues jutted out into the sidewalks with little consideration for traffic. There was no signage and no decoration save for luminous digital billboards advertising new tech gadgets.

Ash was staggered by the massive scale of the architecture he encountered; huge rectangular structures with clean lines dominated the skyline, dotted by fountains and statues jutting out into the pedestrians' domain.

The streets looked like they were made of glass, the sidewalks glowing with luminescent lights that reflected off the ground like stars across the night sky.

Ash once read that Saffron possessed an ingenious public transport platform, with dozens and dozens of trains sprawling underground all throughout the city of fifteen million residents and spanning over a thousand square miles. There were even extensive transport systems above ground, featuring busses and their massively lengthy and expedient cable cars.

The trains were a thing of beauty forged from metal and glass. They snaked through the bustling city in a majestic procession, their sleek hulls veiled by the tunnels spread all throughout the majestic city.

The vivid hues that streaked across them were like a shimmering rainbow—bright yellows and vermillion reds, icy blues, and silvery whites, all perfectly complementing the silver-tinged tracks that knotted above them. They moved with grace and poise, enveloping the cityscape as if some master artisan had crafted them.

The cars frankly were awe-inspiring, Ash thought as he and Misty rode within one. He distracted himself with the why and simply enjoyed Saffron's stunning views and the cable car's graceful curves and bright colors that shone like beacons in the night.

The panoramic windows allowed them to observe the swarming city below as it traveled swiftly along its elevated cable tracks. Metallic poles and beams illuminated in silver ran overhead, completing the majestic composition of these stately vehicles ticking away on the rails, working their way through the thronged streets of the metropolis with a silent grandeur.

Ash and Misty's cable car eventually reached their destination, and they disembarked to explore the city more in-depth. The sun was shining brightly, and the streets were bustling with people from all walks of life. After some shopping around, Ash and Misty made their way to one of the city's many eateries for lunch.

The small diner had a cozy atmosphere, filled with regulars who welcomed them in with warm smiles and friendly conversation. The menu was simple but delectable; just as the food was. Misty opted for a classic burger, while Ash decided on a savory grilled cheese sandwich with fries and low-fat bacon on the side.

The food was fantastic; the grilled cheese sandwich was especially savory, with melted cheese oozing out from between two golden slices of bread, while Misty's burger came out juicy and perfectly cooked. Even the lettuce was fresh and crunched with every bite.

Since when was lettuce ever fresh on a cheeseburger?

Misty refused to question it. She just savored her sandwich.

The pair washed down their meals with some freshly brewed root beer, giving them a refreshing sugary kick that kept them energized as they continued exploring Saffron City. Well, it did for Misty. She was sensitive to sugar and couldn't really ingest caffeine unless she wished to have an energy high for the next several odd hours.

Ash was cursed with different issues. Working alongside Professor Oak for years and years granted him his own problems. Professor Oak was a stimulant junkie. He downed coffee by the liter. While Ash wasn't quite so vigorous in his diet, and he was beginning to wonder if that man's heart was superhuman, he drank more than the average amount of coffee as well.

He downed a few cups, hoping for a surge of energy during this droll midday.

As they finished up their meal, Ash, energized, couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer myriad of cultures he encountered in Saffron City; people from all over the world had converged here to start a new life or simply pass through for business or leisure. It was truly an amazing sight to behold.

With full stomachs, Ash and Misty left the diner to continue wandering through Saffron City, taking in its sights and sounds as they went along. Everywhere they looked, there were activities going on—art galleries hosting exhibitions, movie theatres playing cult classics, sporting events happening at nearby stadiums or parks; it seemed like there was something for everyone here. It truly felt like the perfect city, even if it was a bit too populous for Ash's liking.

With full stomachs and an uptick in motivation, Ash and Misty continued their travels. They stopped at a nearby store to replenish their traveling supplies, including extra MREs and water for their pokemon in case they had a bad night of hunting. Considering Carvanha and now Ursaring were the only carnivores on his team, it seemed a little excessive, but Ash was always a fan of overpreparation rather than the opposite.

Once they were done there, they headed for the Pokemon Center to ensure that they all were in optimal condition.

At the center, Nurse Joy did her best to quickly get each pokemon checked out. After she finished, Ash and Misty took their time to take a look around and buy some items such as pokeballs, potions, safety gear, and medical supplies—Ash had forgotten to refresh his stock at Cerulean City. Misty required more mundane items. Hair spray, lotion, protective sunscreen, and a new pair of gloves at Ash's advisement.

When she asked why, Ash simply told her, "You never know when you'll need a pair of gloves. Better you have them and never use them than to need them and not have a pair at all."

With their new belongings secured in their traveling packs, they both stood outside the store. The two trainers didn't stay long; it wasn't long until they were off again. However, just as they neared the outskirts, Misty paused consideringly.

"Do you mind if I do something for an hour or two?"

"Like what?"

"Get my nails done for a while." Misty disappointedly scraped her nails together. The paint had all but fallen off, and their edges were overgrown and chipped. "A massage wouldn't feel too bad either."

Ash didn't really have a problem with it. He wasn't in much of a rush to get to Celadon City. It wasn't like he was going to challenge Erika right away, either. He would take at least a week to try and prepare his pokemon.

Sure, he had done a little bit of studying on his next challenge while they were still in Cerulean City, but he still hadn't done nearly enough to feel confident about facing another gym leader.

He didn't want to fall into the trap of approaching these challenges laxly. Erika would not be as massive of a disappointment as the sensational sisters were. Erika may not have had the most stunning reputation among gym leaders, but she was still competent and respected for her abilities.

Unlike the Cerulean City gym leaders, who were only lusted after, not respected.

Erika was the ideal blend of what the Sisters did and a serious gym leader. Granted, he would prefer if Erika was even more focused on her duties, but she wasn't negligent. At least, not that he'd heard.

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Really?" Misty asked, a tad skeptical. Rightfully so, he supposed.

"Misty, I have a schedule to keep, but I'm not gonna drag you along. If you want to take a few hours to relax, then I'm not going to complain."

"Wow," she mumbled, stunned. "You're actually being nice."

"Don't feel special. The only reason I'm being nice is because being despicable and acrimonious to you doesn't seem to work."

"What? So you think that being nice is what's going to get me to leave?" Misty chuckled, her scratchy voice accentuating the gesture. "Not likely, buster."

With a sly smile, Misty turned around and began to walk away. Her hips swayed as she walked, rear straining in those shorts. Ash admittedly allowed his gaze to linger for a second longer than he would have liked before shaking his head in amusement as Misty disappeared into the crowd of people that flooded the streets.

Ash was left alone in the bustling city lanes. He had a few hours to himself, and he figured it would be best to use it on something productive. He knew that if he wanted to succeed against Erika, he would need to get his team up to speed. That meant finding a suitable training field for him and his pokemon and getting Ursaring on board.

He scoured the streets of Celadon City for any signs or directions that could lead him to a suitable training ground. Eventually, he stumbled upon an old man who looked as if he'd been around since the beginning of time itself—a small smile lit up his face when Ash approached him with questions about where he could find a good training area.

---

"Ah, so you're looking for a place to train your pokemon?"

He was an old man approaching his seventies. Though he walked with a limp and hunch, he still towered over Ash and really everyone else on the street. Slight in stature, but Ash could still see the wry muscles beneath his shirt. He probably hadn't exercised a day in years. That stubborn layer of muscle still refused to expunge itself from his old, haggard body.

Ash spied the way he gripped his cane. Or rather, the hand he used to clutch it. They were aged and wrinkled, covered in sparse patches of thick hair. Exactly as he would expect from a man of his age. Maybe even a man of an even more advanced age. However, there were marks even droves of wrinkles could not disguise. Pale, white spots, all of varying length and thickness. All utterly random and spanning across them in a stochastic fashion.

"I am."

"Lad of few words? Can't say I blame ya. Not really much to talk to. Just an old man standing in the way of your dreams."

That made him pause. "What?" Ash asked slowly and flatly.

"Eh." The old man wove him off as if he didn't see enough reason in continuing. "You must be a traveler. Everyone in this city knows that the training yards, the ones worth a jar of piss, anyhow, are up north."

What an odd conclusion to arrive at. A few lines of dialogue and already a correct assessment. He's smart, but not that smart. Just observant.

"You're a traveler as well. Or at least, you were."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep remindin' me on what I was. I can use a refresher."

"And a trainer."

The old man stalled. "And how would ya know that?"

"I never specified what training yard I needed. I could have been talking about track."

"Not with them short ass legs." The old timer smacked Ash's shin with his battered cane. Ash nearly retaliated. He would, just not with force.

"And no one would immediately assume traveler," Ash retorted, his eyes searching. "Tourist. Vacationer. New resident. Not a traveler. That's specific."

"And I wasn't wrong."

"Never said you were wrong."

"Then what is this all about, then?" he whinged. "Some stupid ass need to prove you're the smartest in the room?" Ash's lips twisted, parting into a laugh, amused and flabbergasted. "What? You want my approval like I'm your daddy?"

"You're the one that started this."

"That right?" he laughed, then coughed before laughing again. "Ain't that just a fabulous piece of information. I didn't know that. You must be a real smart lad."

Ash was close to breaking out into a fit of chuckles at the absurdity of all this. He was catching caustic remark after caustic remark, all for nothing. He hadn't insulted the old-timer. In fact, he was respectful—as respectful as he could be, at least. Ash had to glance around to make sure he wasn't being punked. He half expected to see a row of cameras posted behind the folds of an alley, recording his reaction.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked, genuinely curious. "I can't remember giving you any disrespect."

"And yer memory's flawless, is it?" he sneered, his crooked and cracked yellow teeth peeking through.

Again, Ash shook his head. Usually, he was the disrespectful and unrelenting one. He wasn't used to being outmatched in wit and vitriol. Nevertheless, he wasn't going to attack an old man—physically or verbally. He didn't make a habit of swinging at low-hanging fruit.

Passing by him—the old man shuffled in front of him. Ash overtook him the next time around. Feet away, he couldn't resist; he glanced back and saw the old man glaring straight into his gaze. "Thanks for the directions."

The elder whiffed the air before grinning sickeningly.

Strange old geezer... were Ash's last thoughts on the matter.

He strode up the minor road-laid hill. More than a dozen speeding cars raced passed him. A mile into the city, and he was beginning to wonder if the bastard had lied about the training fields.

He stumbled upon a line of grand courtyards a few hundred meters ahead. Each was unique; some boasted trees and other vegetation, while others were adorned with faux rock formations and made-made hills. Three of them, however, were featureless and void, nothing but flat grassy lands in sight.

Ash chose the only unoccupied forested courtyard. He placed himself under the clutches of light shadows cast by a substantially large and delightful tree. He released Clefable, Gastly, Aron, and Carvanha.

"All right." He drew them closer. "You four have a new teammate."

Clefable whispered and cried brightly, waving his hands while the other pokemon eyed him. Gastly tittered inquisitively. Aron cocked his head but did not offer other words. Carvanha was similarly disinterested.

"This isn't a meet and greet, though. You're here as a buffer. He's aggressive, and I'm almost certain he's going to attack." Now, Carvanha showed some interest. Surprise, surprise. "Only attack when or if he does. Okay? Not a moment before."

Clefable nodded politely while Gastly hovered above his head, squawking, laughing—he was making all sorts of noises, honestly. It was like he was constantly testing himself, seeing how many different kinds he could muster.

"Get ready."

Ash tossed the ball a half dozen meters away—in the very center of the field. Ursaring appeared, already standing tall and his claws at the ready. Its roar seemed to shake the leaves that layered the tree above him.

"Ursaring." Ash took a step, hands at his side. The aggressive pokemon spied the pokemon standing behind him and snarled. Especially at the pink one. "Do you remember our battle?"

His sneer deepened. Right. Of course, he would be infuriated at the result. Ursaring were known to be prideful. They tolerated absolutely no blotches on their "record." They effortlessly kept track of their battles. Ursaring despised losing just as much as they abhorred being slighted.

Sounds awfully familiar, Ash thought. I just can't place my finger on what.

"You lost." Again, he snarled, inching forward ever so slightly. His claws were deceptively aimed down at the ground. Less intelligent trainers would have assumed that Ursaring was surrendering his ire. Ash knew differently. They were expert hunters. You don't become an expert hunter until you learn subversion. That goes for trainers, as well. "Now, unless—"

Ursaring leaped.

It all happened so quickly.

Ash stepped back—the sole of his boot struck the grassy earth. Gastly was already at his front. Clefable's hands were raised, and Aron was already bolting in the gap of his legs.

Ursaring swiped, but his meaty claw never reached him.

Ash blinked.

Ursaring stopped.

Midair. Like he was frozen in time.

He glanced down. His pokemon matched his state of confusion. At least, until he spied a woman up and across from him.

She was behind the railings, one level above him. Her raven hair flowed down past her neck and wove in a sudden brush of wind. Although, she wasn't alone.

A sleek, streamlined Alakazam stood at its side. It—him, a male, he saw, had one spoon aimed down at him. Not him. Ursaring. It was using its psychic energy to halt Ursaring's assault.

He thought he recognized her in his first glimpse, but the Alakazam all but confirmed it. Those burning, violent eyes were merely the icing on the delectable cake that was this woman.

"You didn't need to do that." The woman minutely cocked her head as if to ask, "No?" Ash stepped closer to the slope, staring up at her and her pokemon. "My pokemon would have handled it."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I was not willing to take that chance. You may trust them with your life, but I am not quite so swift to take part in your sentiments."

How could she know—

Right.

Ash was embarrassed to even have that thought flicker in his thoughts.

"You read my mind."

"I apologize."

He didn't expect an expeditious apology. He didn't expect one to begin with. Ash thought she would shrug him off or lie.

"I do not appreciate having my integrity questioned."

Ash snorted derisively. "And I don't like having girls rummage away in my skull, no matter how beautiful they are, yet here we are."

"You have a tongue on you," she said, stoic and expressionless. Ash did not allow himself to feel unnerved by it.

Ash smirked, flicking a toothpick between his lips. "And you'd be amazed at what I can do with it."

"Besides speak incessantly?" she questioned. "It would be your first time doing anything besides tasting your unsavory meals and speaking your ill-founded words."

Did she... did she just call him a virgin?

"I do not like speaking the obvious, but when I am faced with ignorant dunces, I am forced to."

Is... this what it feels like to be on the other end of the tongue-lashings? This wasn't nearly as fun as giving the remarks. Who would have guessed?

Ash jabbed his thumb at his airborne pokemon. "You mind letting him down? I can practically feel the blood pouring out of his brain already."

"Can you control him?"

"Sure."

She did not reply as deftly this time. "Very well," she said eventually. Her Alakazam, without being ordered verbally, at least, ceased his control over his Ursaring.

"Appreciate it," he said off-handedly. "Clefable, Sing."

The blissful harmony of sounds included high-pitched notes from a soprano, low humming from a baritone, and the gentle croon of a tenor. The notes blended together in a magnificent harmony, producing a peaceful and soothing ambiance. The singing was soft and unfeigned, calming his mind and Ursaring's.

The taller pokemon collapsed from its momentum being forcefully halted and from the effects of the attack.

The woman watched as the brazen young man crouched before the feral pokemon. He even had the nerve to kneel in front of it, mere inches from his face. The boy smirked, his toothpick churning from chewing on the moistened end.

"You're angry. Not at me, though. No, you're angry at yourself, and you have to make everyone regret it." Ursaring glared spitefully, unable to mount the rage capable of launching a fury-stricken assault. "You lost. I won. We made a wager. You knew the risks. You were just arrogant enough to believe I stood no chance of winning. Well, I did. I know your word means nothing to you. But know this—you could have said no, and I would have walked away."

Ursaring scoffed feasibly. Like that was the truth, it thought venomously.

"What would I gain from lying to you now? You don't trust me. You may never will." The boy thought differently, however, the woman hummed. Words spoken for the feral's pleasure, then. "But I intend on making you the strongest version of yourself—stronger than you could ever be on your own."

Ursaring spat. It did not believe him. The boy apparently picked up on such opinions as he said, "I beat you, didn't I?"

Not the smartest thing to speak to a feral pokemon, but not incorrect. The Clefable's harmonic singing eased its rage, as it could foster effective thoughts and stratagems. He could see the logic in this boy's words. Ursaring, when infuriated, were wholly incapable of such feats.

That's why he had his Clefable utilize Sing in such a way. It understood its psychology, its mind, without ever intruding into it. Or had he?

The woman tilted her head, inquisitorial.

My friend, is this boy Sensitive?

The Alakazam needn't employ his gifts to foster a cogent and compelling answer.

He is not. His mind is precociously developed for a human child of his years. Abnormal. Not yet open to our capacities.

She had long since grown capable of understanding her partner's abrupt speech and gauche speaking patterns.

Potentially?

Potentially.

It denied her negligibly trivial and fleeting theory, but it kindled a new array of thoughts for her to reflect upon.

"Do we have an understanding?" The trainer questioned, his voice firm and strong. Good. He was competent. He knew how to handle savage, undomesticated pokemon well.

Ursaring growled, but his thoughts conveyed comprehension over his standing.

"Good."

The woman frowned imperceptibly. How could he distinguish a positive result from that? The feral did not infer any emotion outwardly other than disgruntled irritation and mild rage.

The boy is a scribe for other beings' sensations.

The woman's frown moderately deepened. I will ponder on this at a later date.

The boy questions your appearance.

He is a teenager. His lust is understandable.

Hormones affected them all. Teenagers felt them more strongly than others.

I am not speaking on your sexual appeal, Friend.

She glanced down, and his words reached her ears.

"Why are you here, Leader Sabrina?"

She understood now.

"You recognize me."

"I know everything about you."

Her very gaze glinted. Ash's head tweaked. An instinct reaction. Like a rubber tool to the base of the knee. A reactive kick that he could not halt.

"You do not."

"I know more than you think."

"Yet you remain ignorant in many things. I know. Your thoughts are as obvious as many others."

Ash smirked. "And here I thought I was unique."

"Everyone wishes that they are. Most are disappointed to find they are not—not in the way they wish, leastways."

"And you didn't answer my question."

He was set on his attempts to search for her reasons for being here. Sabrina was almost tempted to bring those reasons to light. They would escape him, however. A waste of breath, she concluded. It would bring her no satisfaction to inform him that she had saved his life by chance an accident. She would allow him to think she was there for a reason, even if his theories were unfounded.

"You already have your thoughts on the matter. Adding my own is pointless."

He chuckled a tiny tad. Now she was speaking aloud. Man, this woman was a pain. He wished she would just pick already. "You're right. I probably wouldn't believe what you said anyway." However, he could learn other things about her reply. It wouldn't be useless. He could still learn plenty. Ursaring devolved, and a flurry of red particles, Ash clipped his pokeball on the strap located on the small of his back.

"If you truly find my presence unsettling, I can leave."

I have that effect on everyone.

There was no sadness in her thoughts. Not anymore.

She had grown accustomed to the curses that arrived with her gift long ago. Her friendships crumbled in fear of trust being broken. They could not stand the idea, the mere possibility, no matter how slight she tried to assure them that it was that their thoughts could be violated. That the sanctity of their mind could be destroyed.

Ash dragged his knuckles across his skull. "You can rummage around in here all you want, but allow me to give you a little warning. My head is not a nice place to be."

"I do not intrude on memories."

"Just thoughts, then," he commented blithely.

She was quiet for a moment. "My presence makes you uncomfortable. I apologize. I'll leave then."

Ash's brows levitated higher into his brow. That was unexpected. She could deal her own biting remarks, but she couldn't take them. A woman of Sabrina's reputation, being that sensitive was… surreal. Everyone claimed that she was an unfeeling master tactician, possibly capable of conquering the entire League one day. Clearly, she wasn't unfeeling.

"I never said that."

His voice halted her retreating movement. With a swift but indecisive turn, her back was no longer aimed at him. His thoughts were not misleading to his words. That was rare. Sometimes, others would claim in her favor that her abilities did not unsettle them. They wished that to be true, but it wasn't. It was a fear they felt incapable of tempering.

This child, this trainer, did not have such concerns. How positively, unfeasibly, unlikely.

"You are an odd one."

"Lady, you have no idea how many times I hear that. It may as well be told to me daily," he said, grinning roguishly.

So it would seem. "Would you like some help climbing out of that field?"

Ash returned his other pokemon, bidding them his appreciation quietly. "Sure. It would save me the walk up."

Alakazam's one extended spoon wove languidly. Ash blanked as he felt his body move at the behest of someone else. His feet were lifted from the grass. He kicked out, stunned, even though he asked for this. He watched as one meter became five until his feet were settled back onto the pavement. When they touched the cement, they felt odd, like they somehow didn't belong.

"Levitation is awkward for those who experience it for the first time. I apologize for the disorientation." She was even apologizing for such a middling reason.

It was… almost endearing. She really wasn't what he expected her to be. Not at all. "It's fine. I don't think I'd ever do it again, but it was… cool, I guess."

"You dislike the fundamental idea of losing control over your own actions." While Ash didn't appreciate the cold matter-of-fact ascertainment, one that she already knew to be accurate, so it wasn't like he could dispute it, he couldn't find it in himself to be angry at her. If she meant this comment to hurt him, she would have worded it differently.

She spoke this fact like it was trivial, as if she was speaking about the weather or another casual truth that everyone else recognized. The sky was blue. Clouds were white. Mountains were tall. Snow was cold.

"This I relate to."

She was afraid of losing control of her… powers. The idea of extraordinary human beings unsettled him. Science confirmed the boundaries between pokemon and their remarkable power and human beings. They were born with no gifts, except if you believed in the old tales about "Aura" and "Knights" and literal human conduits of power that occurred naturally thousands of years ago.

Then he learned about psychics. They were a mysterious lot, even in the scientific fields that were specifically designed and devoted to understanding them. After years of research, the only concrete information they could label as iron-clad information, it was utterly random to be born with the capabilities of utilizing psychic power. There were no biological markers at all, no different layers of genes, nor any abnormalities located in the brain like they expected.

There were no physical differences or discrepancies between psychics and normal human beings. They just inexplicably bore the talent of manipulating such otherworldly energies. They could read minds, interpret thoughts, understand feelings, and communicate with other pokemon mentally, especially other psychic pokemon.

They were known to be the more unsavory kind of people to interact with. Ash, of course, knew this, and he listened to the rumors about Gym Leader Sabrina—for how numerous they were.

There was a chance she was manipulating him, speaking solely for his benefit and knowing precisely what to say due to her actually being in his mind. That was a possibility. But looking into her eyes, he did not see evil or malevolence. Not like the monsters of Team Rocket.

Her eyes looked… sad. And for some inexplicable reason, his heart clenched every time he looked into them as if his own stabbing melancholy had struck him.

"You are curious about my abilities. You can ask. I know you are curious," she said, hands conjoined at the small of her back.

"Not that curious," he commented.

"I interrupted your training session."

"Really? I thought you saved my life."

Sabrina continued as if she hadn't been interrupted at all. "If you would like, we could have a battle. Of course, not a sanctioned one. Just one between two respective trainers."

"No thanks," Ash said derisively. "It'd be a waste of time for both of us. Even if you have pokemon that can match my own, You're still far in a way superior to my own abilities."

"Do you believe that because of my psychic capabilities?"

"Why don't you look and see? The answers are right there."

There. Just then, she showed a bit of frustration. It was gone almost as soon as it formed, but she did feel frustration. She also showed it. Gym leader Sabrina wasn't the unfeeling monster they claimed her to be. That much he knew now.

"Do you happen to have the time?"

Ash flicked his sleeve. "Half-passed one."

"I must be going then. I have a battle scheduled in ten minutes." That disappointed him a little. She was smart. Nowadays, it was rare to speak to others who knew what they were talking about. "Since I ruined your training session, and I have inferred that you wish to train elsewhere, would you like Alakazam to take you?"

Right. Teleportation. Psychics were capable of that. He wasn't surprised that it was, moreover, that she was actually offering to provide such a service. But she was offering…

"Saffron Mountain."

"That is well within his distance." She paused almost imperceptibly. Only Ash knew that she never paused. She never even stuttered. It was a quality of her that he had just pieced together. "I see you wish to go there to investigate if the whispers of the Tyranitar population are true."

"That is freaky; how easily you can do that. I'm not complaining, though. It saves me the time of speaking."

Another imperceptible change in her appearance. Only it wasn't indistinguishable to him. He saw the minor twitch of her eyebrow and a very, very slight glint in her eyes.

"You are a very peculiar young man. Most do not see it that way."

"What do you want me to say? I don't like to waste energy on things I don't have to. You reading my thoughts helps."

"You are lazy," she corrected, and he shrugged indifferently.

"Maybe. I spend all my energy on traveling, training, and studying. Speaking to others is so tiresome."

Sabrina's lips twitched. Ash couldn't believe it. "Of that, you and I are in agreement," she said. "But allow me to ask this of you. What do you, a rookie trainer, expect to do if or when you encounter a Tyranitar? Surely you are not so arrogant to believe that you would be a match for it."

"Not a Tyranitar. But maybe a Pupitar or a Larvitar."

"I see. You are taking a substantial amount of risk venturing into Mt. Saffron. I thought I would share previous experiences—" Her eyes glinted before she harshly averted them, an indistinct blush rising to her cheeks. "I did not wish to see that."

Ash smiled, but even in her state, she could see past the empty facade. "I told you, my mind is not a nice place to be."

"You are not angry."

He should have been, shouldn't he? This woman, based on principal, already knew him better than Misty. He had been traveling with Misty for more than a month now. Yet. He had just met this woman ten minutes ago.

"I thought you already knew."

"Just because I can peer into the thoughts of others does not mean I always do so, and I can witness everything all at once. If I were to do that, even my mind would be fractured beyond repair."

He sighed. "Normally, I would gloat here, tell you how dumb you were for searching my head for buried treasure. But honestly? I can't even muster up the desire."

"Yes. Before, you would have taken great pleasure in doing such things."

"I guess I still do," he admitted smilingly. "But you have been nothing but nice to me. Maybe I'm growing soft."

"Or perhaps you have trauma that you refuse to face, and it's weighing down on your psyche, altering your personality to shield yourself from the horrors that you survived."

Ash considered it. For all of three seconds. "Nah," he said. "I'm just being nice for once."

"I see."

Yeah, she didn't buy that. Not for a second. It's kinda hard to lie to someone that can read your every thought. It wasn't really her that he was lying to, though. Not that he would ever admit that. Not to himself, not to her, not to anyone.

"This is my phone number." She handed him a slip of paper. "Your perverted thoughts on the matter are unwelcome." Ash smirked knowingly. She glanced away after a moment. "Please keep your mind professional."

"You're the one in my head," he said, his smirk lengthening by the second. Though it halted when a small stone struck the corner of his cheek. Yelping, he massaged his face and glared scornfully at the smug Alakazam.

"He does not appreciate your thoughts."

"I can tell. But I don't mind graduating from thoughts onto full-blown action."

"If that is your shrewd, unoriginal order of asking to sleep with me, then I am afraid I must refuse. Understand that I am giving you my number so that you may call me if you find yourself entrapped by… an unfortunate situation that I would warn you of—if I stood a chance at convincing you to choose otherwise, that is."

"So if I call you, you can get the magical teleport train to whisk me from danger?"

"Despite your exceedingly crude methods of explanation, yes."

He merely smiled. That was part of his charm. Sabrina smiled back, her eyes twinkling in the light of the setting sun. "Be safe," she said before turning away and walking out of sight.

As soon as she was gone, Ash felt the wind pick up around him as if it were calling him to some faraway place. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he felt himself being lifted into the air by an unseen force. His body spun in circles until, finally, he opened his eyes.

Ash stared up at Mt. Saffron, his eyes wide with awe. He had never seen anything like it before—it almost seemed glowing in the twilight. He was standing at the bottom of Mt. Saffron, surrounded by its majestic beauty.

The tall, snow-capped mountain peaks glistened in the bright sunlight, and the lush green vegetation that filled the valley below was awe-inspiring. Ash felt his stomach churning as he looked around in wonderment. He felt dizzy and nauseous from being teleported here so suddenly, and he quickly turned away to vomit on the ground out of sheer fear and disorientation. He had never experienced anything like this before, and it left him feeling completely overwhelmed.

After a few moments, Ash regained his composure, but he still felt uneasy about what had just happened to him. He took a few deep breaths as he tried to make sense of it all, but nothing seemed to add up in his mind.

Its tall, snow-capped peaks glisten in the sun, surrounded by lush green vegetation that fills the valley below. The mountain towered high above, casting a soft orange glow in the twilight sky as if it was its own personal sunset. Wisps of clouds roll across its peak. Dozens of craggy cliffs jutted out from every level of the mountain.

Banishing the trepidation he felt, he began his ascent, his spiked boots slipping on the rocky terrain. The terrain was stony and treacherous, and Ash's spiked boots slipped on the loose stones several times, but he kept his footing, determined to reach the top.

The path became increasingly tricky as Ash continued his way up the mountain, but he pushed himself forward with determination.

He had been climbing for what felt like hours, but he was still far from the peak of Mt. Saffron. With every inch he climbed, he felt as if a new challenge was being presented to him—the air seemed thinner, and it became harder for him to breathe; his muscles were sore after each grueling jab of his axe; and the treacherous winds blew fiercely against him, threatening to blow him off course at any given moment.

He took a break when he needed to rest and eat and drink, but he was still exhausted by the time he reached the halfway point of his journey. He was determined to make it to find some sort of opening—some level that he could explore and find life. He kept going despite his fatigue.

The sun began to set as Ash kept climbing higher and higher up the mountain. The air was thin and cold. It was hard to breathe, even with his acclimated and trained lungs. The traversable terrain dwindled as well. Obstacles stuck in his way, with large boulders slowing his ascent that he had to climb around or over.

He paused for a moment as a cool breeze blew against him, taking in the sight that lay ahead of him. The city loomed large in the far distance, surrounded by rolling hills, lush forests, and tranquil valleys.

Ash felt like he had been climbing forever. His arms and legs ached from the strain. They were quivered, his muscles throbbing, begging for reprieve. He refused to grant his body the sweet release it incessantly begged for. If he gave up, here and now, he would die.

It was as simple as that.

His body's needs could eat dirt and die for all he cared.

He was in control. The body merely housed the mind. That was its only purpose.

Yet, as his breathing labored from the altitude, and even more sweet soaked through his outfit, he began to have doubts—doubts that he struggled to squash as he did earlier on when his body was fresher. The sun was beating down on him relentlessly, and he felt beads of perspiration trickle down his face. He looked up to see how far he still had to go, and it seemed like an eternity away.

He wanted to stop, but there was no way he could give up now. He had come too far already; he couldn't turn back now, even if he wanted to. He slowly started to climb again, taking one step at a time. His fingertips were numb from gripping the rock so tightly, and his feet slipped more than once as they tried to find purchase in the slippery stones beneath them.

The mountain seemed endless before him; it was a never-ending struggle against gravity and fatigue that made it seem impossible for him to reach the top. He kept going, pushing himself harder with every step.

His back throbbed, a spasm shooting through him,

Ash kept climbing.

His axe slipped, missing its mark. He almost tumbled, releasing his grip and falling.

Ash kept climbing.

His boots scraped against the mountain. He no longer possessed the strength to inject the blades into the earth. Instead, he pried them into the stones. Still, his feet hurt.

Ash kept climbing.

He heard roars and animalistic cries split through the air. They were loud, nearly deafening. Ash looked up to see where the noise was coming from, and he noticed a clearing of some sort in the sizable cliff that jutted out from the mountain's flank. He stumbled forward, his mind racing as he figured out what the source of the loud noise was.

Ash kept climbing.

Those fifty meters had been his quickest but also his most difficult. His axe dug greedily into the ridgetop. Crumbs of dirt and granules of stone splattered out onto his face. He flinched. His axe dragged away, inches from dipping off the cliffside.

Ash grit his teeth and pulled. Every muscle in his body screamed, furious at him for forcing them to do this. He was so delirious that he began to hear voices in their protests. Ash told them to "Fuck off" before yanking himself up, inch by inch, only pausing when his pulsating, anguished abdomen touched the cliff.

Vibrations rushed through the thin layer of fabric on his stomach. He could barely muster up the strength to look up. The screams were still there, but they were no longer as loud or vigorous as before. It sounded like they were trapped in a long, dark echo. With newfound resoluteness and more than a little trepidation, Ash glanced up from the soiled ground he had become content with lying on.

He found nothing around him. His palm scratched against the craggy dirt. Initially, his legs refused to work. Ash pulled himself to the mountain's ledge.

His fingers clutched a minor, protruding rock. They gave out the second he applied any weight to them. Though in his scramble to not fall, he found his knees scrunched up to his chest.

He stood on those and slowly, gradually, and weakly pulled himself up while leaning against the mountain's face. Ash staggered, faltering weakly as his entire body spasmed. Even his eyeballs were sore. His feet shook in his bladed boots. His gloved hands trembled against the mountain's hull. The cries he overheard only made him angrier. The vibrations that he felt radiate through his gloves all throughout the mountain didn't help.

Ash came up here for one reason and one reason only. To search and perhaps find a pokemon worthy enough to join his team. He did not ignore his all but overwhelming fear or his memories of mountains just to retreat—he did not climb this mountain, he did not trudge through hours of pain and suffering to get to where he was now just to retreat back the way he came.

Absolutely not. He would search for a worthy pokemon, or he would leave the mountain—disappointed but fulfilled, knowing that he did all he could.

His first step forward was not a pleasant one. His knees nearly gave out at first. He bent, clutching his back. That was the most painful, but his knees outright buckled and refused to take him another step. That is, until he began to drag his feet and brush aside his pain. It wasn't important. He could lament about his broken, run-down body later.

Twelve steps later, Ash knew, he counted each and every one of them, and he precariously trod closer to the screeching. It became louder with every quaking, wobbly, and lurching step closer. Eventually, he found a round, disfigured spire of earth. There was a fortification of earth before him.

He braced his shoulder against the spire and listened, taking in hastened breaths of air. Full breaths were few and far between.

Trembling, he turned and walked further into the clearing. Another set of cries entered his ears. He clutched one, grimacing. The sharp notes only added to his agony.

As he walked closer to the source of the cries, Ash realized that they were not just any cries. They were the cries of a wounded pokemon—cries of others battling against each other. His heart lurched as he thought about the pain the poor creature must be in.

He took another step forward, ignoring the agony in his own body, and focused solely on the task at hand.

He overlooked the expansive mountain range jutting out from the edge of the rocky terrain. The cliff was made of foul grey stone and stalwart edges, with a steep incline that rose up to the sky. The sun hurled long shadows across its face that granted it a stark and imposing silhouette.

As Ash continued to scan the mountain range, his eyes finally settled on a small figure lying on the ground, its body stowed away in a tiny crevice, barely deep enough to veil itself. It was a pokemon, and it appeared to be in a great deal of pain.

Ash's heart ached as he watched the creature writhe in the ditch. He knew he had to help it, but he also knew that approaching an injured pokemon in an environment was exceedingly dangerous. He took a deep breath and carefully made his way down the steep incline.

It wasn't until his throbbing feet touched the fringe of the ditch that he saw what nearly claimed the little one's life.

There were four of them. Two of each species. The species Ash recognized them instantly.

Both were bipedal. The first one's body was scarlet red, and yellow flames crawled up from its lower half. Another pokemon remained at its feet. A younger, vastly shorter one—its pre-evolved state. Only, its body wasn't quite as muscular as its mother or father, and the red that covered its body was lighter, pinkish almost.

A Magmar and a Magby.

The other family was much larger in sheer size. The father or mother—mother, Ash decided on, sported a massive waist and gargantuan hands that were grossly out of proportion with its body. The smaller, younger one seemed to have black, round boxing gloves for hands, a paler body, and vertically slanted eyes.

A Hariyama and Makuhita.

Both families struggled against one another. Father against mother, son against... son. Distinguishing a Magby's gender was a troublesome affair.

They battled without the class and grace of a trainer-orchestrated struggle. This was just that. A brutal, unrelenting struggle—a battle to the death.

They struck venomously, neither holding back. Not even the younglings. For one reason or another, they fought. Food. Territory dispute. Personal issues. The possibilities were endless, and Ash could not care less about them.

As he drew closer, he could see that the pokemon was badly hurt. Its body was covered in deep gashes, and its breathing was ragged and shallow. Ash knelt beside it and gently touched its gloomy, dark green scales. The pokemon flinched at his touch but didn't lash out. It was too weak to fight.

Those four... they were fighting over food. This pokemon, this Larvitar, was their prey. They were struggling to eat, to feed their own ravenous hunger.

The law of the wild. Ash had done his studies. He had watched videos of pokemon feeding, hunting... it paled in comparison to witnessing it all mere feet away from the families themselves.

He fished through his backpack and pulled out a small first aid kit. He carefully cleaned the wounds and applied a healing ointment. The pokemon moaned, but Ash didn't give up. He worked tirelessly, tending to each wound until the pokemon's breathing became more regular and its body relaxed.

Ash knew he had to act fast. It wouldn't be long until a victor was determined. He was sure that if the family was weak enough, he would be able to overcome them. But he would rather not combat wild pokemon on a mountain. Ash had no idea how many of them were up here. He knew from experience that some pokemon actually preferred human meat.

That tidbit of information was chilling enough. Just another reason, one amongst many, to practice caution and expedite this process—

Ash turned.

His foot refused to pivot correctly, and his shoulder bashed against the slope. Rocks and round stones drained from the downward slope. They clattered to the floor, and Ash glanced up, spotting the rival families cease their battle.

Fuck.

Ash blinked, and he was already gone. Larvitar was in his grasp. He pointedly ignored its light cries and futile kicks as he ran from the pokemon that were not fighting one another again but also dashing after him.

Even the most infantile of pokemon would be stronger and more powerful than the most athletic and physically gifted human being. Not only was this one young—not infantile, but it certainly wasn't in its prime either—but it was also quite weak, both from its wounds and from its lack of natural strength. Its wounds weren't weak enough to cause such a degree of crippling weakness unless it was a below-average example of its species.

Ash sprinted as fast as he could, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew he couldn't outrun the wild pokemon forever, but he had to keep going until he found a safe place to hide. He looked around frantically, searching for any sign of shelter.

Then, he saw it.

A small cave opening on the side of the mountain.

It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. Ash ran towards it, clutching Larvitar tightly in his arms. He could hear the wild pokemon getting closer, their angry growls echoing through the air.

With one final burst of energy, Ash dove into the cave, rolling to a stop on the hard ground, and sharply yanked on a brush of weed protruding out from the entrance, sending a pile of rocks tumbling into the entrance. He looked up, panting heavily, and saw that the wild pokemon had stopped at the entrance to the cave. They were snarling and snapping, their eyes fixed on Ash and Larvitar.

Ash knew he was in trouble. He had nowhere to go and no way to defend himself or Larvitar. He looked down at the wounded pokemon in his arms and felt a surge of protectiveness wash over him. He couldn't let anything happen to this little guy.

Suddenly, one of the wild pokemon lunged forward, its jaws snapping shut just inches from Ash's face. Ash flinched back, but he held strong.

He knew he had to act fast if he wanted to survive this. His eyes darted around the cave, looking for anything he could use to defend himself. There wasn't enough room to summon one of his own pokemon, not that one would be capable of defeating them.

That's when he saw it—a sharp rock jutting out from the cave wall.

Without hesitation, Ash lunged towards the rock and grabbed it with all his might. He turned to face the wild pokemon, his heart racing with adrenaline. The pokemon were still snarling and snapping, but Ash could see a hint of fear in their eyes now that he was armed.

Only, he realized, after a splitting roar tore through the air, that they weren't apprehensive of him. No, something else—

A blur rattled his vision. Ash's heart stopped in his chest. A flicker of sickly, yellow-green jabbed itself into his gaze.

Another roar. Distinct. Powerful. Commanding.

His mouth went dry.

This was not the roar of a pokemon.

That was the roar of a dragon.

The muscles in its yellow and black face rippled. Its red eyes gleamed as it roared once more. The four other pokemon—the two fire-types and two fighting-types cowed in the presence of a dragon. Though, the red of it was the same red that captured his attention. It was the mightily curved twin blades that protruded from its maw.

The Hariyama struck it, but the dragon merely shrugged off its blow—as if it hadn't affected it all! The dragon snorted before ducking and swiping. Its bladed horns gouged into the Hariyama, yanking it away from the cave entrance. A pillar of flame stabbed into the dragon's craning torso. It wove its tail, effortlessly batting away the Magmar.

However, its strikes did not put it down for good. The little pokemon attacked as well, and the Hariyama knocked it back as it was overwhelmed.

Ash grit his teeth. There was a gap in the entrance now. He could run—weave his way through the battling titans. The "why" of this dragon intruding hadn't even occurred to him. He was too stunned and high-strung to ponder on anything other than a method of escape. For some peculiar reason, it was helping him.

I'm sorry.

Larvitar was sucked into an unoccupied ultra ball. He couldn't run with Larvitar in his arms. Maybe if he was healthy and fresh, but no, not in his current state. He could barely hold him now. And he also couldn't fight.

Yes, he possessed a fairy-type, but Clefable was not quite the dragon slayer his type hailed him to be. Not yet. Worrying about them would just slow him down. He needed to just run and focus on running and only saving his own skin. If he had to look over his shoulder just to ensure that his pokemon were safe, then he wouldn't be running as fast as possible.

He clipped the ball to the small of his back and then ran, cutting through the exit of the cave and passing the titanic creatures as they continued to battle behind him.

Ash's feet clapped against the rocky terrain of the mountain as he ran, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could hear the dragon behind him, its mighty roar echoing through the air. The pokemon below were still trying to fight it off, but Ash knew that he had to put some distance between himself and them if he was going to stay alive.

He reached a plateau on top of the mountain and kept running, weaving through trees and leaping over rocks as he made his way further up. His heart raced wildly in his chest as he pushed himself forward, never looking back. He felt like he was flying—soaring through the air—as he ran atop the mountain with nothing but the wind around him and a fierce dragon at his heels.

The sun shone brightly above him and illuminated everything around him with its brilliant rays of light. The sights were breathtaking—lush green forests stretched out before him, rolling hills dotted with colorful wildflowers sparkled in the sunlight, and waterfalls cascaded down from towering heights into deep pools below.

Even though Ash was running for his life, he couldn't help but marvel at how beautiful it all looked from up here.

But then a loud screech pierced through the air, bringing him crashing back down to reality—

An avian pokemon speared down at him. Ash ducked to the right and fell. Wind assaulted his ears, and they popped. He yelled, plummeting and plummeting and plummeting.

Until his stomach and face smacked against a stony surface. Groaning, he turned over on his back, his jacket ruffled and smeared with dirt and various other stains. He spied, through his haggard gaze, that same avian tear through the air, its wings spread wider than he could see.

He didn't know where he found the strength to run again, but he did. He scrambled to his feet and sprinted through the mountain range, dodging odd rock formations that threatened to clothesline him if he dared glance away for even the slightest second.

The avian pokemon followed him, its sharp talons reaching out towards him with deadly precision. Ash yelped as it brushed against his shoulder, its sharp claws slicing through the fabric of his shirt.

But he kept running. He ran until his legs were sore and weak, and he could barely stand up anymore. But still, he kept going.

Thoroughly desperate and panicked, a decent idea finally presented itself in his terror-addled mind. Ash foraged through his jacket until—

His X-transceiver found his grasp. His fingers moved in a blurred, panicked flurry, dialing another as that same screech appeared. It was closer. He could hear its wings flapping ragefully. The phone line opened—he slid under a branch-like protrusion. It dialed and dialed before he heard a voice.

He did not wait to even listen to it.

"Teleport me!" he shouted; he positively roared like that dragon. "Now, now, now! I don't have any—"

A yellow figure appeared a dozen meters from his twelve o'clock. Ash skidded to a halt, reactionary. Though he began running to it, slower this time, his momentum was all but lost.

Alakazam clutched him in an aura. The last thing Ash saw was its calm, pacifying eyes.

He blinked, and suddenly, he was no longer on that mountain.

His knees kissed the floor. A carpeted floor. Grimy sweat splattered the stunning carpet.

Ash glanced up. Sabrina's eyes met his own.

"Pokemon Center," was all he could mutter before his entire body gave out. His consciousness did not abandon him, but his will to sustain his weight did. His adrenaline vanished cruelly, leaving him submerged in the abominable aches, pangs of agony, the wild throbbing, spasms, and cramps that claimed his muscles.

With his last remaining strength, he retrieved the odd pokemon ball on his belt. His hand punched the floor, and the ball fizzled out of his smutty palm. Nevertheless, a light enveloped him, the ball, and Sabrina as they all snapped out of reality.

---

The nurse of the Center tended to his wounds carefully and with a gentle touch. She was experienced in treating such injuries, having seen many trainers come through her doors after similar experiences. She applied antiseptic ointment to his cuts and scrapes, bandaging them up carefully and making sure that they were not too tight or constricting.

She used a special machine to scan for any internal damage he may have sustained from the fall. Thankfully, no major damage was found, and she was able to give him some pain medication for his sore muscles. Of course, with their protocol, the nurse also gave him very helpful advice about how to better protect himself from wild pokemon, as well as reminding him of the importance of being prepared at all times when out in the wilderness.

Right, like having your own teleporter on speed dial wasn't prepared enough.

By the end of it, his entire torso was wrapped in a thin layer of medical wrapping. He was still sitting on a bench while he began sliding his shirt back on.

"It's better than we thought," one of the nurses said, her brows furrowed in concern. "Larvitar sustained several deep lacerations all over his body. His left arm is severely sprained, and his right leg is badly swollen."

Ash nodded grimly, dreading what he was about to hear next.

"It could take a few days or even a week before he'll be able to move around freely again," the other nurse added, her voice gentle but firm.

Ash let out a long sigh as he watched Larvitar resting in the hospital bed.

As he sat there, lost in thought, a familiar voice interrupted his musings.

"What happened to meet back in a few hours?" Her brash voice was a welcome change. Though, it faded soon after her jest had been played. "I talked with one of the doctors on the way in. He'll pull through. It was a really brave thing you did, Ash. And stupid. Don't forget, stupid."

"She is not incorrect," Sabrina said. Misty frowned at the older girl's presence and how close she sat with Ash on the bench. She wasn't unaware of who she was. Her skepticism of her presence here only furthered when she realized exactly who she was. "I warned you that it could be dangerous. I just did not think you were idiotic enough to get in the middle of two feuding families. You did not think."

"That doesn't sound right," said Misty and Ash snorted.

"Thrills and curiosity," he mumbled to them for his reasoning. That, and in his frustrated, exhausted zeal, he wasn't willing to leave Mt. Saffron without something to show for it. When he'd seen the gaping pit of stupidity he'd stepped into; it was already way too late to turn back.

"But because of you, this little guy is still breathing." Misty gave his shoulder a light squeeze. "You should feel proud in that—even if you think you're not a hero."

"Pokemon die in the wild all the time," said Sabrina. "It wasn't smart, or wise, to intrude on the natural order of things in a natural habitat he was not familiar with."

"That's just not true—"

"He knows it to be true, same as I," said Sabrina, curt and correct, as always.

Ash took two years of solely studying pokemon habitats. It was a short sting compared to the professors and learned men and women who devoted their entire professions to researching pokemon habitats. While true, he still learned quite a bit. He knew exactly what occurred within them. A great deal of pokemon were omnivorous. They ate animals, pokemon, humans, and plants, alike. There were the hunted when there were hunters. It's the natural order of things, as Sabrina alluded to.

"What do you plan on doing with the little guy?" Misty hadn't been glancing at Ash when she asked. Her gaze was stuck on the sleeping pokemon. White blankets covered most of his body. He had an IV injected into one of the stubby arms. Blotches of medical wrapping contained his own wounds. Just seeing an injured pokemon, especially one as tiny and cute as this one, made her stomach freeze over.

"Keep him," he answered eventually. "What other choice do I have?"

"You could let him go. I'm not saying you should do that or even that you have to. But it is something to consider," said Misty.

"Again, what choice do I really have? Send him back into the wild or pop him right back down on that mountain and let him die?" It wasn't even a possibility that he entertained.

Sure, he wanted to catch a Larvitar or a Pupitar, but he didn't want it to be like this. He wanted to battle it, struggle with it, test its strength and vigor. Not stumble upon it in a ditch and nearly lose his own life trying to save it.

"You have a bond with him. Otherwise, you would not be so naive or reluctant to release a pokemon back into the wild. You captured him for a sole practical purpose. That practical purpose has subsided."

"She's right, you know," said Misty, surprisingly gentle. "You saved his life. You've done enough. You shouldn't feel forced to take care of him anymore. You've done more than what any other person would have done. Everyone else would have run or hid."

"I caught him," Ash said eventually. "He is my responsibility. I don't regret capturing him."

You only regret how, thought Sabrina.

"What is troubling you?"

He snorted, wiping his nose, ignoring the pang that stabbed into him as he rubbed a chafed slit along his left nostril. "Why don't you just read my mind?"

"You're comfortable with her doing that?" the redhead asked queerly.

"No, I'm just asking her to do it because I hate it so much." Ash grimaced when his triceps throbbed as Misty laid a soft, for her, smack against it.

"No need to be a smart ass."

"Do you even know who I am?"

Misty rolled her eyes.

Ash looked over at Sabrina. Her gaze locked on to his immediately. She knew what he was going to ask. The question had been floating around in his mind for the past five minutes. "Do you believe in fate?"

Misty frowned, puzzled by the question. Sabrina, however, understood exactly what he was asking. She did not hesitate in her answer.

"I do not. I do not believe that every one of our actions are predetermined, that each step we take in this world is forethought by a higher power. Do you? Fate. Destiny. Do you believe in it?"

Ash pulled the folds of his skin down, exposing the throbbing red veins and the whites of his eyes. He caressed his forehead, his brain pounding in his skull from a headache that just refused to lessen.

Do I? He questioned. Do I believe in destiny?

"If you would have asked me yesterday—if you would have asked me when we first met, I would have made a wisecrack and called you an idiot for even asking me."

Yet you find yourself asking me that very same question in search of answers that you do not have, nor are you even sure they exist.

He tiredly pinched the bridge of his nose, a long breath leaving his tired body, like a final gasp from a bedridden patient finally leaving this realm.

"But then you asked me if I wanted you to take me anywhere. I chose Mt. Saffron. I chose it. Why would I do that? I hate mountains. You know why." Misty looked between them, even more confused than before. "Why would I do that? I spent hours climbing a mountain. Hours. Then I climb up at the perfect time to save Larvitar. And now he's my pokemon. Am I supposed to just believe that's blind luck? Pure chance?"

Sabrina felt for his turmoil. Yet another dangerous occurrence he managed to navigate. Once more, he escaped death where others may have faltered and been subjected to its cold, unfeeling grasp. He was confused. She searched for answers. He searched for a rational explanation in a gray area of life where only probability existed.

"It was pure chance," Sabrina told him. "But chance is not what you think it is. Chance is probability. A million micro-decisions that you and others have made which lead up to one significant moment. That is all probability is. In truth, I have felt what you are feeling now myself. We witnessed something so spectacular that our prior experiences prevented us from believing in them fully. So we question it. We erroneously ponder on the odds that led us there, and when we discover that those odds were not in our favor, we begin to question if it was fated."

Ash's head ducked, and Misty simply sat at his side, grasping his shoulder in silent comfort.

"I don't believe in fate, Mr. Ketchum. I do not fancy the idea of not being in control of my own."

He quietly nodded, glancing down at his strained hands. Even now, cramps and spasms shot through them. His thumb casually jerked, and his fingers crossed, and he could not command them to reset themselves.

"And I don't believe in it because if I, even for a second… it will undermine everything I have done and everything I will do. It'll make everything meaningless."

"For what is life without free will?" Sabrina continued for him, her lips twinging. "I see you are a fan of Arthur C. Williams."

"Hey, I know him. I read one of his books in high school," said Misty, amazed by her memory and stunned by the nostalgia.

"I read "The Concepts of Life" when I was young."

That was his largest and most comprehensive work. Sabrina was surprised that he read it already. Even though he was a fan, That was a very advanced book. Not many could understand the text it was written in, nor the words used, never mind the message.

"How old were you?"

"Twelve, I think. Eleven or twelve, one of those two."

Most adults went their entire lives without reaching the reading level to actually comprehend that novel. He read it when he was twelve. That was almost unbelievable. It would have been truly unbelievable if she hadn't intruded into his mind and seen for herself how advanced it was. That, and she could tell quite easily if he was lying. That helped as well.

"That is quite impressive," she said. "If you are interested, I could show you more of his work. It is not as advanced as The Concepts of Life, but it is still quite interesting."

"I would like that."

"Since you're not leaving without Larvitar, and he hasn't been released yet, I guess we all have time to relax for a bit," Misty admitted. She got her nails done, but honestly, a nap in a cozy hotel sounded really nice right about now.

"Send me the address of where you're staying. We'll meet back up later and grab a bite together."

"As long as you don't leave me again," Misty said humorously.

She may not have liked the idea of Ash spending time with Sabrina. He seemed actually interested in the older girl's proposal. Maybe Sabrina wasn't what people claimed her to be. If she knew that, then why was she still feeling a knot in her stomach as she left the Pokemon Center?

Sabrina nodded and smiled. She had a few items to take care of before they headed off, but she was more than willing to show Ash some of the works of Arthur C. Williams. She led him to her gym and down a winding hall and opened the door to a cozy library with shelves lined with books from floor to ceiling.

"This is quite the collection," Ash said in awe as he looked around the room.

Sabrina smiled proudly and gestured for him to follow her as she walked further into the library.

She stopped at one particular shelf and pulled out an old book with worn edges and faded lettering on its spine - The Tales of Life by Arthur C. Williams. She handed it to Ash, who took it gingerly in his hands. He opened it up, revealing page after page filled with vivid descriptions of life's wonders—from the beauty of nature's landscapes to the intricacies of human emotions felt in moments both ordinary and extraordinary alike.

Ash was captivated by each word that he read, feeling as though he could relate so deeply to what was written on each page that it almost felt like they were written just for him—like every thought expressed through words was something he had experienced himself in his own life somehow or another.

As Ash continued to read, Sabrina watched him intently, admiring the way his eyes scanned each page with such intensity. She couldn't help but feel a sense of attraction towards him, and she knew that it was more than just a fleeting glimmer of physical attraction.

"Williams is one of my favorite authors. Everything he writes is just... it feels important. I am at a loss on how to explain it."

Ash nodded in agreement, still engrossed in the pages of the book. He felt a sense of connection to Sabrina, as if they were both on the same wavelength when it came to appreciating literature. He looked up at her and smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

"I know what you mean," he said as they devolved into a quiet, sparse conversation.

He explored every inch of the library, spotting books he had torn through years ago, some that he wanted to read in the future and others he hadn't even heard of before.

---

Ash couldn't believe his luck. After all the worry and stress about Larvitar's health, he was finally cleared to take the little Pokemon with him on his journey.

When he arrived, Nurse Joy had already prepared a full statement. Sabrina was at his side, and it wouldn't be long before Misty arrived, either. Nurse Joy gave Ash one final checkup before sending him off with some words of caution.

"Remember, Larvitar is quite weak. He was fortunate that he had no severe injuries. He's light for his height and weight. I would recommend starting him on a diet to help him gradually reach a normal, healthy weight. You can find that on your pokedex. It has all the information you'll need for the little one."

"I'll make sure he turns out just fine."

Nurse Joy nodded. He was a younger trainer, it was inordinately uncommon for a rookie to train or obtain a pseudo-legendary pokemon, but his track record thus far was spotless. He also had a few important characters willing to speak on his behalf.

There was no stress in her when she handed him back Larvitar's pokeball.

"No strenuous activities for at least two-to-three days. We managed to heal the sprain, but the swelling remains. What I am most concerned about is the malnutrition. If his mother wasn't there to protect him, then either she was… or she abandoned him. Judging by his size and overall lack of physical strength, I am willing to assume it was the latter."

Ash sighed. That made a lot of sense. "The runt of the litter."

"Hopefully, that does not change the way you feel about him." There was more than one meaning behind her words. Ash noticed them without much thought.

"If he's not interested in training or battling, you'll see me back here later on," he told her. "I'm a trainer. Not a caretaker." That was the reality, and he wasn't one to ever run away from the truth, no matter how despicable it was or how hard of a pill it was to swallow. "He'll be better off in the hands of someone else that can give what he truly needs if it isn't strength he wants."

She didn't like the idea that he was only interested in the little pokemon if he was a battler, but at least he was honest in his expectations. He wasn't demanding that Larvitar battle. He wasn't demanding that he train. It may have sounded crass and without grace when he said it, but now that she thought about it, it was for the best.

The young man was honest about who he was and what he expected from Larvitar. Instead of being angry and disgruntled with the little one on the off chance that he did not wish to train and battle, he presented a viable alternative. He showed no ire. Perhaps it was the matter-of-fact or blank voice he used that made her immediately think that he was a bit cold in his statement.

Nurse Joy smiled if only a smidge. "That's very mature of you. I only wish other trainers surrendered their pokemon to the Center rather than callously leaving them in a wild area they can't possibly thrive in."

Ash left after exchanging a few more words with the resident Nurse Joy. Sabrina had been quiet during the whole ordeal. He assumed that she felt it wasn't her place to speak on the matter, that it was his pokemon and not hers. Unfortunately, he would have to ask her for help for one last thing.

He did exactly that as they reached the training grounds after a brief train ride north. Ash didn't envy how many people recognized Sabrina on the short ride. One or two boys even asked for an autograph. She expressionlessly signed their papers or their photos. One even had a calendar.

Merchandise, he realized. That surprised him more than it should. There was merchandise made for every single pokemon in existence. It was a bit foolish to assume that prominent trainers wouldn't have calendars and that it would stop at animals and pokemon themselves.

"You know what I'm gonna ask you to do?" Ash asked her as they were both in a light forested training ground. They both stood beneath a tree, blanketed by its wonderful shadows, shielding them from the harsh orange glare of the sunset.

"I do, but I cannot recommend this course of action. It's thoughtlessly easy for me to peer into another's mind. But to take a third party along with me is dangerous. You are not trained as I am. You do not possess my gift. This could very well tear your mind apart."

Of course, it would. Just something else that had to set him back. He needed to know. He needed to know what Larvitar went through.

There were things that didn't add up.

Why did that dragon, why did that Haxorus interfere? It saved their lives, but for what purpose? What could it possibly gain?

He needed to understand. The mystery that shrouded Larvitar; he possessed the answers. They were trapped within his mind. He needed to know what he knew before he spoke with him.

And now that wasn't possible.

Unless it was. Just not in the way he thought at first.

"Can you show others memories? Like, for example, can you show me yours?"

"Memory transference is an advanced practice, but I am an advanced practitioner." She then nodded. "I see what you want me to do. This is significantly less dangerous. If I am going to do this, then I need to understand what you are looking for."

"Play it by ear. I need to understand what he's like. What his past holds."

"That I can do. Whenever you're ready to begin," she said.

He took a breath and then released the small, weakened, but still relatively healthy pokemon. It seemed the medical treatment worked perfectly. He walked with a wobble and favored his left foot. That must have been the soreness Nurse Joy was talking about.

Cautiously, he brought himself down on one knee, lowering himself to him. That way, he didn't perceive him as large of a threat.

"Do you remember me?"

The little guy nodded. It was a timid bob of his head, really. His eyes gleamed with uncertainty.

"I know I should comfort you. It's the normal thing to do. Rub your back, give you a shoulder to cry on. Whisper comforting words in your ear." So this human was telling him, Larvitar thought. "But I'm not the best when it comes to feelings."

Which is why I need to do this.

He bid Sabrina a nod. With Larvitar facing him, she crouched behind the little pokemon, and before he could turn in fright, her palm found the dip of his head. Instantly, a red glow stabbed into her eyes. A similar gleam grew into his. Ash watched them both, cautiously observant. The first sign that anything was going wrong, he was gonna nab Larvitar and move as far away from her as possible.

He trusted Sabrina more than he should have. But he didn't trust this psychic mumbo jumbo. An ethereal power beyond human comprehension—being controlled and utilized by humans themselves. A power that granted otherworldly, inconceivable abilities. Yeah… what was there to distrust?

It ended sooner than he thought it would. The light from their eyes faded within ten, maybe fifteen seconds. Larvitar is nonexistent. Brows grit together, and he jabbed a finger in Ash's face. Words squabbled out of his mouth, no doubt accusations being thrown.

Again, he nodded. She summoned her Alakazam, a protector, just in case Larvitar felt threatened and decided to attack either one of them while they were both indisposed.

The arrival of another Pokémon only served to unsettle Larvitar more. The second both Sabrina and Ash took on a psychic glow, Larvitar pounced. But he barely got off the ground when an outline appeared around him. He paused midair, and Alakazam shook his head in disappointment.

And here he thought he had finally met a rock and dark creature with manners.

When Ash blinked, he found himself in a world that was not his own, a world that he did not recognize, nor would he ever find any recognition in it, even if he stayed for a thousand years.

A cold chill coiled down his limbs.

There wasn't a draft in here, just as there was no light.

He felt completely and utterly alone.

His chest felt empty. His body was like an empty husk. He couldn't even feel his heart beating. He couldn't feel anything besides that cold chill in his own recollections. It was all dreadfully empty. Everything he spied on was just a black room that stretched on for eternity. A featureless cube. Or was it a cube? He couldn't tell. It was just black and black and black. Boundless. Endless. Perpetual.

And cold. So cold…

Until it wasn't.

It was no longer empty. Sabrina stood at his side. Her hand was on his before he had even seen her appear.

"Watch." Her voice was garbled. Incomparable and so different from what it was before. He opened his mouth, but no words left him. They did not just refuse to leave his gullet, but they refused to rumble in his chest. "Do not attempt to speak. Just watch."

Ash turned, and so he watched.

For hours, he watched. For days, he observed. Until the images had faded. Sabrina's narration of the events ceased.

Ash could barely recall what he had witnessed. He could scarcely follow it all.

Nurse Joy's theory about him being abandoned by his mother was true.

It wasn't that long ago. Months maybe. Perhaps a year or two at most. Ever since then, Larvitar had been living day-to-day. He struggled for food every hour. He fought and ran to escape death. Larger, more vicious predators hunted him every day. He should have died ten times before, but somehow, he survived each time.

Larvitar just refused to die. Its mother had been a freshly evolved Tyranitar. He could tell from the memories. Its scales weren't all that developed when Larvitar's egg hatched. However, by the time that it had been abandoned, the mother was already fearsome. She had several more children, all stronger than the runt. The laws of nature dictated that the weak get left behind or die. The Tyranitar opted for the former.

Ash couldn't help but feel victorious for the little one. He struggled every day and refused to die. His fate, humorously enough, was to die alone on that mountain mere days after it had been abandoned. Yet somehow, he survived. Not just for a week, not just for a few months, not even for a year. He survived longer than even Larvitar thought. There wasn't an hour that he wasn't terrified, though. It was just a baby.

Larvitar weren't supposed to hunt until they were at least eight to twelve months old. That was usually a duty that the fathers or mothers opted to take. The little one learned this skill quickly, even though he rarely ensnared live game.

Larvitar adapted. He became a scavenger. He ate whatever he could find. Dead, leftover meat, berries sprouting from a bush, weeds crawling beneath a crevice. Anything and everything he could find, he ate. There is a sense of strength that Larvitar had that his siblings wouldn't.

Over time, Ash stopped feeling sorry for him and began respecting him instead. His case wasn't a tragedy. Larvitar was a product of his own birth. If he died, then it would have been a tragedy. But the constant battles, the never-ending struggle between life and death, made him stronger. That taught him skills other Larvitar at his age would be oblivious to. His abandonment made him stronger, smarter, more resourceful, and capable in every way. Even if he was malnourished, even if he was physically weaker than the others, he still had skills they lacked.

And thus, he realized he didn't even need to ask Larvitar if he wanted to battle. That was all Larvitar knew. Struggling, clawing for everything he had. This would be nothing new. The only thing that would be different in his life was now. He wasn't fighting to survive, he was fighting to become stronger, and that was all Larvitar ever truly wanted. He wished to prove that he wasn't a mistake, that he wasn't a runt, that he wasn't worthless, and that he deserved more than what he got.

Ash sympathized with him. In some ways, they were alike. Neither of them refused to be what everyone said they would be. His lack of natural talent made everyone think that he would be nothing, that he wouldn't be a capable pokemon trainer, and that he would just be average at best.

Those of his litter, including his mother, thought Larvitar was just a weakling runt that would die within days. That he wasn't worth the trouble of looking after and protecting, he was just a weakling. That's all he was. To everyone else on that mountain, Larvitar was just an easy meal. Ash knew otherwise. He would not be a weakling. It was a vow Larvitar had made himself, and Ash was willing—more than anything to see that he kept it.

But then the Haxorus seeped back into the forefront of his mind. More memories found him. He did not go out searching for them. They just appeared. Somehow, deep down, he knew this was Sabrina's doing. Another memory played. Suddenly it all made sense.

The Haxorus saved their lives not to have them all for himself but rather because he was simply protecting his young. It was so simple. Ash felt like a complete dunce for not realizing it sooner.

Ash blinked again. Another gust nearly knocked him off his feet. He opened his eyes and found himself in the training field. Larvitar fell inches from him. Ash reached out and caught him before he could hit the dirt. Larvitar thrashed out of his grasp. Ash wasn't willing to allow him to slip through.

"I understand now." His quiet whisper almost ceased Larvitar's struggling instantly. "I won't force you to remain my pokemon."

He would have if he caught him legitimately. If there had been an accord between them—if he had bested him in battle. He had done neither. He just didn't have the heart to keep Larvitar against his will, not after everything he had been through.

"But I think we can help each other."

Larvitar sincerely doubted that.

"I'm a pokemon trainer. I'm not the strongest—not yet, but I am smart. Just like you."

Larvitar craned his neck. He was admittedly a little fascinated by the humans attempts. The fact that they were even talking right now confused him. He was caught by one of those balls. He understood the consequences of that he was his pokemon, whether or not she wanted to be.

"I will be the strongest trainer alive one day. I want to conquer the Elite Four and topple every champion in the world. Those are my aspirations. Yours are to evolve. You want to prove to everyone that you're strong, that you deserve to live."

So just because this human had seen a few of his memories, that automatically made him an expert in his life?

"You have a choice here, Larvitar. You can remain my pokemon, and I can train you to become the strongest version of yourself… or I can let you go. A Nurse Joy will put you up in a nice sanctuary. A place where you can live comfortably without ever worrying about another meal again. You'll be safe."

That sounded boring on so many levels. Larvitar seemed to agree on that, if nothing else.

"There is a third option. You would have be a fool to choose this one over the two. Then again, maybe you're not as smart as I think you are. Maybe you will choose this one. Or maybe you won't be an idiot. Who knows?"

Larvitar glared at the half-hazard shrug and the arrogance of this human. He didn't know what he hated more, though. The arrogance itself, or that he was beginning to like him.

"I'll let you go. You can run off in the forest. We'll never see each other again. I'll take the fine for abandonment. I don't give a crap about money. All I care about is becoming the strongest trainer alive. Our aspirations mirror one another. Surely you could admit that."

He could, but…

"He is still skeptical."

Larvitar sneered at the dark-haired psychic. He had heard of her kind before. They were said to be able to understand the speech and thoughts of pokemon. Before today, he doubted they were real. Now, he believed otherwise and despised their existence altogether.

"I don't think he likes you very much," Ash remarked, his lips curling.

"Conflicting natures. Dark versus psychic."

He shrugged at her explanation. He doubted it was something as elementary as a type. Maybe he would have if Larvitar bore the dark-typing. Did Sabrina believe that typing was inherent and already apart of his soul?

Ash would bet almost anything that it had to do with his mind being intruded upon.

"So what's it going to be?" The little one glared up at him. "Don't look at me like that. I saved your ungrateful hide."

He sniffed, and Ash rolled his eyes. Were pseudo-legendary pokemon supposed to be petulant?

"I haven't got all day. It would be nice to have your answer before next July."

Larvitar's scowl tightened foully. "I don't think he appreciates being rushed." The rock-ground type muttered something under his breath. "Nor does he like having something hung over his head."

"You and me both. And let me get this straight. I did not say that so that you would feel indebted to come with me. You're free to make any decision you want. But depending on which you decide, I will mock you for it ruthlessly."

Larvitar scoffed, itching its snout. "In our own words, he thinks you're an arrogant moron." Then the little one sighed before bobbing his head a slight bit. "Though, with great reluctance, he has decided to accompany you on your journey as your pokemon. Not because he has faith in you coming through with your promises, but because his other choices leave much to be desired."

Ash showed a smile of triumph. "You'll change your mind about me soon."

Larvitar doubted that.

"When you see how much stronger you are, you won't believe your own reflection. And when the time comes when you finally win a battle, you won't even recognize yourself. For it'll be you giving out the beatings and others wallowing in fear of your power."

That sounded more appealing coming from someone else's mouth than it did his own fantasies. He had already given this human his answer. He already told him that he would accompany him, so why was he still trying to sell him on this idea of being his pokemon? Was he truly so mad that he believed the garbage coming out of his own mouth?

A traitorous part of his mind wondered if there was some truth to his words—even just a sliver. Larvitar could not bring himself to crush it, even though he hated the idea of giving himself hope. It festered in his mind like a wonderful disease, and for the first time since he could remember, he felt himself looking forward to the next sunrise.

"You're worth more than you know."

His whisper caught him off guard. He couldn't possibly mean that, could he?

"We're going to be leaving the city soon. We'll be traveling to a place called Celadon City. I'll introduce the rest of my team to you when we reach Celadon City and begin training. You'll have to sit out for a couple of days, but once you're healed up fully, we'll start."

He didn't want to wait, though. He wanted to train. He wanted to fight. Larvitar wanted to see these other pokemon that his trainer had boasted about. If they were strong, then maybe he would consider this human's boasts to not be worthless.

Though as soon as he thought about training, he stepped forward in his zeal and tripped, his leg still aching.

"Don't worry." Larvitar only just realized that the human's hand had found his other leg when he no longer found himself falling. When he readjusted himself, he forcefully removed his limb from the human's grasp. "You're already much better off than you were a few hours ago. Give the anti-inflammatory medication some time to work, and you'll be right as rain."

It wasn't the pain he was worried about. He just wanted to train.

"He is motivated to begin battling as soon as possible."

Ash cracked a smirk. "You and me both. I know what your species is capable of. I may not know what you are capable of, but I think you and I are just as excited to see for ourselves."

Larvitar's blood boiled at the thought. Though he wondered when he had started agreeing with the human so fervently.

His thoughts dissolved, as did his body, as they filtered into a ram beam, retreating back into the ultra-ball he had been captured in. Ash slid the ball into the small of his back and looked over at Sabrina.

"This is goodbye." A strange twist opened up in her chest. It was a sensation wholly unfamiliar to her. Her previous experiences taught her to fight back against any unforeseen emotion. This one hurt in an odd, peculiar way, but it also felt… sad.

She felt sad.

How long had it been since she felt sadness? Sabrina wasn't sure of the answer to that question.

"You know, reading my mind kind of takes the suspense out of things. How am I supposed to make you weep over me leaving if you already know what I'm gonna say before it comes out of my mouth?"

Again, her lips turned. This was the third time she smiled today. She couldn't remember the last time she even smiled, much less multiple times in one twenty-four-hour period.

"As if I would ever weep over anything involving you."

He was not quite so ashamed of smiling or smirking or even chuckling. He let it out for the whole world to see. Many people are that brave. Sabrina wished she could follow their example. It just wasn't in the cards she was dealt. She can't allow herself to be that easy to see… that vulnerable.

"I don't usually say this but thank you. I wanted to hate you in the beginning." Sabrina eyed the boy strangely. "I've spent my entire life making people think differently of me. Misdirection. Letting them underestimate me. I've spent my entire life trying to prove them wrong. You see through me. I thought I would hate that. In the beginning. I did. But it's comforting, almost… knowing I don't have to hide for once."

"I am glad to have provided you this comfort." There was a change in her eyes and, well, her everything. It was almost like he knew it when he saw it.

Then she did the unthinkable.

She kissed him.

Ash gaped.

Her lips touched the corner of his cheek. He couldn't feel them. He knew they were there, but they'd only remained for a second. It was the quickest second of his life.

"Goodbye, Ash Ketchum."

Ash watched her leave. He just stood there, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

And what he was feeling.

Huh. Is this what it feels like to have a crush?

---

They left the city soon after. Ash hadn't been humbled to get Sabrina off his mind since. He hoped staring out of the bullet train's window would help dull his active mind.

This time, they headed towards the periphery of Saffron City to catch a bullet train west.

They purchased tickets from the station and hopped onto the train that would take them there.

The ride was smooth; with each passing moment, Saffron City seemed farther away from sight until it eventually became a distant memory as they passed through several other cities and minor towns on their cruise towards Celadon City.

From the window of the train, lush green landscapes flew by as they soared across the landscape at more than a hundred miles per hour. Their views were filled with towering trees, wildflowers in full bloom, lush meadows, and rolling hills stretching out before them. The sky is a deep shade of blue with white gauzy clouds speckling the otherwise clear blue sky. The sun illuminated the landscape with a warm glow. In the distance, Mt. Moon and the smaller, more minor (in comparison) Mt. Saffron could be seen as they make their way towards their destination.

The train finally pulled into Celadon City merely an hour and a half later. After disembarking, Ash and Misty looked around—the city, much like Saffron, was hectic with activity; people walking in and out of stores along the streets, cars whizzing by on their way to destinations unknown—it felt like a big city compared to Pewter, and they found that it compared more closely to Cerulean in activity and population than it did Saffron.

Well, Saffron City was the capital of Kanto and was the most populous city in the region. Ash was more surprised that Celadon was this lively in the first place.

He remembered it as more of a solemn place. Or maybe his memories were muddled. He toyed with the idea in his head as they roamed the streets of Celadon City.

Ash couldn't for the life of him remember his favorite things to do here. He'd spent years of his life here. It was really the only city he'd seen outside of Pallet Town. He tried not to think about Celadon. It was a fruitless effort.

That day still haunted him. He had allowed Misty to take the reins. She guided him all throughout the city, letting her spirit be her own guide. Ash had been so submerged in his own turbulent thoughts that he didn't even realize the direction they were heading.

Misty paused, wondering why there was a group of people gathered around in this particular part of the street. She approached and saw an info stand constructed from black obsidian material.

Then he saw it.

A large reflecting pool was the centerpiece of it all. It was surrounded by large bronze panels inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives that day. Trees surround it—the memorial Misty saw, providing shade and peace to those who visit to remember and reflect. Fountains in the pools flow in a continuous circle, representing the never-ending cycle of life. In the center is a thirty-foot red granite sculpture designed to be a beacon of hope.

Ash's blood ran cold.

"Excuse me," Misty said to an elder that sat at one of the benches overlooking the memorial. "What happened here?"

"You must be a tourist," he said. With a great sigh, he said, "What happened? We were attacked; that's what happened." Again, he sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be so crass."

"It's okay."

He smiled strenuously. "Team Rocket. They... they attacked the institute. Oh. Excuse me. The Pokemon Institute. It represented everything great about this city. Schools are a sacred thing, missy. They foster and shape the next generation. So, so many died that day. I..."

The elder stood, his paper slipping from his grasp. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I, ah, can't—" he shook his head as he limped away.

Misty transferred her confused gaze from his back over to Ash. Her confusion only mounted from there.

He was glaring at the memorial. His fists were wound so sight that his knuckles looked more white than pink. It wasn't how he was standing—his eyes were dark, like miniature pits of smoldering embers, as if the flame had all been snuffed out and only steaming gray-black remained.

There was a reason he was staring so intently. She wanted to ask more than anything, but every time when went to speak, the words refused to exit her lips. After a while, she chose to just talk about something else.

She spoke those words just fine.

"So," Misty said, desperate to strike up a conversation. He'd been too quiet ever since the memorial. Even quieter than usual. "Are you planning on challenging Erika soon?"

"No." His flat, uninterested statement made her think back to the memorial. "I need more time to prepare."

"Oh. Okay. I'm pretty Celadon has some nice training fields—"

"No." He glanced at a stretch of land that flowed upwards at an angle. Celadon was constructed on the low end of the land. Hills surrounded the entire city. "I'll train outside the city for a while."

"That's fine. If you want, I can come with you. Keep you company?"

"It's okay. You don't have to do that. 'Sides, I want to be alone for a bit."

"Oh," she said, quiet and dejected. "If you change your mind, calm me. You have my number. "

"I will."

He won't. Ash doesn't change his mind. He never does. He's stubborn and frustratingly decisive. God, Misty never realized what a damn catastrophe a mixture of those traits would be until she met him.

And yet, she didn't know what she would do if hadn't met him.

Within only half a day, he'd packed for more than a week of "travel" before venturing into the forests east of Celadon. He'd found a nice, quaint little clearing just two hours to the east.

He'd set up camp without much of a hassle. There was even a river just half a mile to the north. Replenishing his water stores wouldn't be that much of a hassle. He already had some dry wood gathered for a fire when night eventually arrived.

Everything was taken care of. He went to glance back at Missy to ask if she needed anything before he began training, only to realize she wasn't there. She was never there. He had asked her to remain behind in the city.

He knew that much.

To get his mind off the subject, he released his pokemon and focused on what mattered the most. Despite his recent bout of forgetfulness, he did not forget that this was the first time his other pokemon would meet the newest addition to the team.

"All right, everyone. You all know why you're out and about." Some excitement spawned in the clearing. "Well, aren't you all rowdy?" He questioned, a little disappointed by their lack of reactions. Gastly, the people pleaser he was, floated around and attempted to liven up everyone else. "That's right, we're here to train. Except you."

Larvitar deflated.

Carvanha sniffed him. Ash wondered if he could sense the potential he had to one day evolve into another dark-type.

"You still have some healing to catch up with. And that reminds me. Everyone, meet Ursaring and Larvitar. You all can get started on the welcoming committee; fun and games later. It's time for business now." Ash approached and gestured for the mountainous normal-type to follow him. Gastly frowned inquisitively and furtively followed.

"Let me make one thing very, very clear."

Ursaring met his gauge balefully, Ash did the same without fear. It was merely the stair that stopped Ursaring from snarling and possibly tearing this human into ribbons.

"If you harm my team, if you so much as start something, you will regret it."

The tips of Ursaring's pale teeth poked out from the bottoms of his lip. A snarl was on the tip of his tongue.

"I know how you do things. You've never seen a sack of meat you've never wanted to tear into for yourself. But my team, my friends, my pokemon are not your food. They are not here for your amusement. They are not for you to fuck with."

The beast frowned. He already gave this human his word, hadn't he?

"I know what you're thinking. I know how feral pokemon like you think. You will never be tamed. Not like them. But I'm warning you, Ursaring, you will not like the result of harming them. And yes, before you snarl and bicker, this is a threat, but moreover, it's a warning. It's the only one you're going to get."

Snorting, he cocked its head in a vague affirmative.

"Good." Ash smiled grandly and extended his arms to his sides. "Who's ready to train?"

---

This one took me a while to actually pull the trigger and update. I've had it written for a while, but I was conflicted about several things, including the quality. I think I ended up rewriting this chapter a few times in the beginning, which ate, I think, three or four weeks of production. The rest of the time was just editing, revising, and procrastinating hitting that update button.

Nevertheless, I hope you all enjoyed that chapter! If you did, please leave a favorite and follow the story. There are plenty more chapters to come. Also, if you have any critiques or things you wanna share, please do leave a review! I'd really appreciate it! Anyway, have a nice day and see you on the next update!