Surmount

by HDK315

Although they travel down a long, merciless road that has overwhelmed all but the very strongest to eventually throw in the towel, they do so with unrivaled resolve and convictions. This is the story of Ash Ketchum and his beloved family of Pokemon, and how they became the greatest of all time. Cover by Atenburgh.

40. Yes, Father

Janine sat her nearly empty bowl down on the outdoor counter, turning on her stool to face the collection of mingling rookies. At her feet, Bullbasaur silently watched the commotion, head tilted with curiosity.

Fuchsia always made such an event out of Opening Day. The day bordered on being a festival in this city, and the newly licensed trainers could enjoy a variety of activities and fun gathering before heading out. Most sane greenhorns would never even consider heading north or east into Fuchsia's wilderness, but the teleportation service was commonly used to bring them to a more appropriate starting area such as Cerulean or Cherrygrove. Others still would make their way northwestward, crossing the bridge over the ocean connecting Fuchsia to the road leading to Celadon, or Viridian if they chose to stray from the path.

By now, all of the new first years in the city had received their starters and Pokedex, and the curious, nervous excitement could be felt all throughout, as though it was being carried by the breeze itself. New trainers got to know their starters, participated in a more controlled, sanctioned event for a chance to make their first catch, chatted with one another over games or food and finally have their long awaited first battle before officially departing.

Janine's first couple of hours with Bulbasaur had been… mildly embarrassing. To her frustration, the grass type had not expressed much interest in her, his own trainer, and wandered off on his own for her to find like a needle in a haystack. The girl had been beside herself for longer than she wished to admit, but after finding him, she had managed to remember her training and ease him in. He was a quiet creature, or at least seemed to be in the short time she knew him, and she needed to be conscious of that whilst attempting to get over their differences.

She had looked forward to showing him around her home before preparing to set off, and also held onto hope that they could enjoy the activities with the other trainers and starters as well. It would make for an ideal bonding opportunity, after all.

She was not too surprised when things didn't go her way.

Walking amongst the other rookies, Janine felt like her body was made of knives. The other kids parted the moment they recognized who she was. Some stared at her and Bulbasaur.

Respect and fear. The girl appreciated the former, but it always came in a combination. Whenever she did have a chance to properly talk to any of the other kids, even prior to today, they spoke like they were walking on eggshells, or treated her as inherently above them, living on a pedestal. She was either the scariest or most regal person in the room, and both were rarely offered in moderation. There was a time where a part of her enjoyed being the "special" one, it felt good to be noticed.

The longer it has gone on, the less fun being "noticed" had become. Father had put a stop to any notion of taking advantage of such an image early on. These people were to be protected, not lorded over. The people of Fuchsia looked upon the Kyo Clan as the benevolently bladed shield that kept the streets clean and the filth of the underworld away. A bladed shield that would guard you from any daring threat, and turn around and stab you if you should ever become one yourself. The longer this went on, the more Janine realized that this was reflected among her peers, neither of whom saw her as one. She too, was looked at by them the way the forces of Fuchsia Gym were looked upon by everybody else. A part of father's body when they were together, and the child of the Gym Leader when they were apart.

In what may have been setting herself up for disappointment, Janine had found herself hoping that things would be different from today onwards, now that she and her peers each had a Pokemon. After all, they were on equal footing now. Instead, the exact opposite had happened. Although more than occasionally discomforting, her peers on prior days had rarely been too unreasonable about it. Nervous, but not terrified.

On this day, however, everything was amplified. It was as though the Bulbasaur walking at her side was not a creature, but a weapon. A gun that the daughter of Leader Koga would pick up and shoot you with if you looked her in the eye the wrong way.

"I-I am flattered you would ask me, J-Janine, but I… I wouldn't stand a chance."

"I barely passed the Exam as it is, I don't deserve to be your first battle."

"There isn't much point because I already know I would lose. I need more experience first."

"You shouldn't be bothering with me, I'm not on your level."

It took Janine longer than it certainly should have, but she realized with apprehension that Bulbasaur was getting the looks just as much as she was, and that her starter was becoming just about as nervous as everybody else.

So now, she sat alone at the outdoor booth, enjoying a bowl in hopes of taking a break from such things. The seats near her had emptied when she sat down and ordered her food, disappointingly giving her and Bulbasaur the area to themselves. Her starter was not looking at her, instead staring into the mingling trainers who came and went. Although he had promised not to wander off again, it seemed they were back to square one in every other area, assuming they had ever left.

As she looked around, she occasionally noticed a few rookies stealing glances at her. Before her eyes had the chance to light up, they would look away with haste the moment they realized she was looking back at them. People did not wish to be caught staring. She wondered how they would react if she made her way over and told them she did not mind…

During simpler times, she recalled with mild nostalgia the rare few that would attempt to kiss up to her and earn her favor. For the first time in a long time, she found herself wishing for such people to show up. Thinking along those lines made her mentally kick herself for such arrogance; she had been taught well to avoid such people. But if she were to indulge just once, she would at least get something out of it. She knew better than to try, feeding her own ego would be a disgrace, especially on such a special day as this.

Still… she could not sit here forever. She wanted to get at least one battle in before leaving the city, and maybe even catch something if she was lucky. But there was also the matter of Bulbasaur, who seemed to regret his association with her more and more by the minute.

"Bulbasaur…" as she looked down at her starter, he raised his head very slowly. Obedient, but in no hurry to see her face and look her in the eye. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat, and she forgot what she was planning to say. It came back to her a second later, and she stood up from her seat. "Come on, let's keep looking."

Even in compliance, he seemed anything but eager. Her heart sank.

/

Karen patted Umbreon's head, her partner sitting on the large table in front of her seat as she looked over the three other people present: Lance, Lorelei, and Bruno.

"I'm glad you weren't late this time, Karen." the ice master said. Although her tone lacked derision, Karen couldn't help but mildly scoff. Why did she have to bring it up at all?

"Of course I wasn't 'late this time'," the dark master quipped. "This isn't just some standard meeting. But speaking of which, I'm assuming the hag isn't gonna be here?"

"Unfortunately," Lance's sigh was audible. "She won't listen to reason. I tried convincing her to slow down and let others take the wheel, but she's leading the Rocket hunts as we speak. It feels like her physical shape was bolstered overnight; I can't remember the last time I saw her this active."

A small sting of guilt poked at Karen's chest as she pushed back her silvery hair. "The Rockets have been extra careful about their movements, ever since we retaliated after Lavender. Has she… made any real progress?"

"She purged a research facility last night." the Champion confirmed. "No sign of the Master Ball, unfortunately, but plenty of other things the Rockets are known for, like rare candies. That'll all be in the reports, but anyway, we should proceed. Agatha has agreed to sign off on whatever consensus we come to in her absence."

"That's not like her," Bruno commented as Umbreon ceased licking his paw and planted his bottom down on the table. The dark type was as invested in the meeting as the humans present. "Leaving decisions to anybody but herself."

'That is a wicked understatement.' Karen thought. Agatha was as controlling and thorough as they came, and she was insufferable for it. But ever since what happened in her hometown, to the sacred tower no less, her priorities had become singular. The young woman loathed to admit her concern.

"I will make her slow down," it was rare to see Lance so worried. He was known for being a showman, connecting to the people of Indigo in the most larger than life ways one could picture. Now, even as he hid his emotions underneath his business face, they seeped through like cracks in a container of liquid. "But for tonight, we have the upcoming S.S. Anne cruise to go over. Charles Goodshow still wishes to attend and host the event, should it happen. Due to concerns regarding recent Team Rocket activity, Magmortar's Heartbeat has canceled, so there might not be a band unless he finds a replacement."

"I will still be on board, of course." Lorelei continued for him. "For protection, as much as a VIP guest. Annette Racewood's family is urging her to cancel, but I received word directly from her that she still fully plans to attend."

"Which brings us to Horace Bluewall," Lance picked up. "His manager, Emerson, spoke to Mr. Goodshow just this afternoon. In exchange for Horace's attendance, she demands he be paid compensation should the ship be attacked with him on it."

"How much?" Lorelei inquired.

"A quarter of a million."

Umbreon was not startled when Karen's hand collided with the table beside him. "That's absurd!"

"Try to be more empathetic, Karen." Bruno's voice remained untouchably calm as he reprimanded her. "We are talking about the life of a teenage boy a year and a half younger than you."

"Yeah, but, like…" she resisted the urge to yank on her hair, knowing she would only earn a scolding. 'Fucking decorum.'

Lance's large hand set a paper down in front of himself. "Goodshow has already signed off on the agreement. Horace will sign the contract once I and at least two Elite Four members have given our signatures." He turned his attention away from the contract, but kept it on the table. "We'll read through that in a moment, but most importantly, Lorelei, you said you have heard back from the Champion Cynthia, right?"

"Just a little before we started," Lorelei confirmed with a nod. "I reached out to the Sinnoh League for help with additional security, and Elite Four Lucian has expressed interest in coming, along with some of their forces. They would be stationed at the guard ship."

Karen found herself echoing Lance's sigh. It was reassuring.

"Just to be safe," The dragon master responded. "Lucian should not be the only master aboard the guard ship. Are there any volunteers between us?"

Lorelei's brow furrowed. "I would like to remain aboard the S.S. Anne itself as originally planned," she said. "That way the people on board would have direct protection as well."

"That seems logical to me." Bruno nodded in agreement. "You are well suited for aquatic defense."

"I'll do it." their eyes turned to Karen as she straightened her posture and crossed her arms. "I'll lead the guard ship with Lucian."

/

'We are in Fuchsia City.'

Ash wondered how many times he had repeated that sentence to himself as he passed his Poke Balls to Nurse Joy. He was a little bit more anxious when handing her Nebula's, and was quick to inform her of the anesthetic that Caesar claimed she had been given.

"We will be extremely thorough when examining her system," Nurse Joy's voice was as reassuring as ever, and Ash quietly thanked her when she handed his Pokedex back to him. "The Scarfists were fairly active in the area that I used to work at, and we have some useful data on the drugs in their possession. Please rest assured she's in good hands with us."

"I know she is," Ash smiled softly before lightly bowing his head. "Thank you, Nurse Joy."

With a now empty belt, he turned his attention away from the counter and made his way back to the group - which was now smaller than it had been when they arrived; Only Janine and Aya waited for him. Further along, he could see Connie with Akira, Len, Typho, Toxicroak and the police officers. Akira seemed to be talking to the latter while Connie stuck closer to Len.

Aya's arms were crossed, and though Ash himself did not quite pick up on it, her smile was slightly strained from the baggage of the ordeal.

"It's good to see you in person again, Ash." Her voice was not, which could have been what distracted him from it.

Along with the fact that he shared her sentiments. The occasional video call (which for Ash usually only lasted a brief moment before leaving her and Janine on their own) aside, the last and only time he had truly seen the Ace Trainer was long before he and Janine had paired up, and incidentally just after he had captured Tempest, which now made it seem even longer to him.

"How have you been?" he asked. Just out of his line of sight, a small grin formed on Janine's lips.

"Extraordinarily busy." the green-haired woman admitted. "And unfortunately," her expression turned apologetic as she looked at Janine. "I'm afraid I can't stay with you both for long. I've been asked to look after Connie and question her while the police get a hold of her family. She'll likely be here at the Center for the time being."

Although her brow furrowed, the understanding on Janine's face won over disappointment. "Okay… it was really good seeing you."

"You'll be seeing plenty more of me," Aya's smile lost its strain. "We have a lot of proper catching up to do. You'll be the first to know when I'm available." her niece's face brightened a bit before the Ace Trainer excused herself, leaving Ash and Janine alone as she left to join Akira and the others.

Ash watched her go for a moment before a nudge grabbed his attention. Janine was beside him now, purple eyes studying his face with analytical concern. "You are okay, right…?"

He moved his hand to pat her back. "Really Janine, I'm fine. But what about you?" He knew she had been off up until they got to the city, and now that things had settled down, his memory slowly shifted back to just before they were separated. It did not surprise him, given everything that had happened, yet after all the time he had spent with her, something in his head quietly told him that something else was wrong.

Reaching up, she brushed a strand of hair that had come loose from her ponytail. "Don't worry, I am fine… now." she crossed her arms, releasing a breath. "We're all safe, and they have been arrested."

Ash bit his lip, before changing the subject. They were all safe. Forgetting the events of the day would be out of the question, but for now, there was no need to linger on it. And as those thoughts faded away, he slowly found them being replaced with the realization that he was tired, and that it was getting late.

"And, well…" he allowed himself a grin. "We finally made it. How long have we been talking about Fuchsia City, anyway?"

That seemed to improve her mood. "I feel like I'd rather not know." Ash found himself agreeing; it occurred to him that he had never gone this long between major cities, and his battle with Sabrina was a more distant memory than he was comfortable to admit. It felt so weird to think that, given how things used to feel like they had happened yesterday. What had… everything since Saffron done to his sense of time?

He was about to say something again, when another previous thought entered his mind, as if it was a reminder. Fuchsia City was Janine's city. His best friend's home. And those people talking to the police officers were her family. All of a sudden, there was some sort of prickly sensation inside of him, all too familiar: It was anxiety.

And the Gym Leader… the last time he and his team had faced off against someone with a comparable reputation, they had not been ready, not even to test themselves properly, and they had been punished for his miscalculation with his team being wiped out and fortunate to not have been pulverized. That was not going to happen this time, regardless of what odds Koga would stack against them, but the thought of him being Janine's father of all people…

He managed his words all the same, but was frustrated by the awkward pause. Tired or not, it had kicked some of the wind from his sails. "So… are you going home, now?" Back in Cerulean, Misty had stayed at the Center, rather than going to wherever her house was. And in retrospect it made sense, given how unhappy she was to see her sisters. But what about Janine?

… This had been their last day traveling together. It had not even registered with him until now. Of course they'd still be seeing each other until then, but they would be splitting up when he was ready to leave Fuchsia, an almost surreal thought. He could barely remember the last time he had traveled solo.

She nodded to him, straightening her backpack on her shoulders. "Yes, it would be best to leave soon. Our clan resides in the city's southeast Shadowblood district. The Gym is the base of operations, of course, but our village is also there, the main mansion chief among them."

'Mansion…' Ash repeated in his mind. He was not surprised, but hearing the word from her mouth was certainly different from thinking it. He tried not to focus on a city district being called "Shadowblood".

"Gotcha," he nodded back. He almost said "It's been a long day", but held back. Everyone knew it had been a long day, there was no need to keep saying it. "Sounds like, uh… quite the place."

"You'll see for yourself soon enough" she replied, glancing back at the others. "It's certainly a ways from here, but I'm sure we can leave soon, and you don't have to worry about your team. Once our Pokemon are cleared, the Center can transfer them to the Gym directly, so there won't be any need to make another trip in the morning."

Ash nodded with a subtle grin. It was certainly a convenient perk. His smile faded into mild confusion a moment later, though. "Wait, we…"

She looked back at him with a more relaxed smile. "Of course; you did not think I would leave you alone at the Center, did you?"

He blinked. "You mean, you're asking me to come too? Like, to stay over?"

Janine nodded, as though it were a simple offer. "If you're okay with it, of course. Are you?"

He blinked again, and suddenly he was looking past his friend, worried he'd just appear stupid if he looked directly at her too long without saying anything. He had seldom stayed over at anyone else's home, having only been babysat by Trucy's grandparents enough times to be counted on one hand without using every finger. Sleepovers with peers were never even considered a possibility, and he could remember the mild jealousy he occasionally felt whenever any of his classmates talked about making arrangements.

This was hardly a "sleepover", though. He was being invited onto the Kyo Clan's direct property, the same family that governed Fuchsia and the surrounding territory from the Gym. One of Indigo's longest running dynasties…

…He willed himself to look back at Janine, and couldn't tell how his silence was making her feel. It must have been what had snapped him out of it. He could feel the anxiety returning, after seemingly having only left for a split second, but…

He still nodded, face only somewhat red. "Yeah, sure. I mean, if it's really okay."

Her lips curved up. "I'm surprised you did not expect me to offer."

Before he could think of a response, they turned to see Akira and Typho approaching them, the large Tangrowth following his trainer from behind. Akira no longer wore his mask, allowing Ash a full view of his features. Somehow, they brought out his green eyes even more.

"Aya already informed you she will be staying with the girl, correct?" Ash wasn't offended when he only looked at Janine.

"Yes, for questioning right?" she confirmed.

"Correct," he nodded. "Len will remain here as well. Though much older than her, we thought it best to leave another child in her company. She's… beyond distressed." The way he spoke those last few words told Ash everything, regardless of how much he thought he could already tell. "They will begin trying to find and contact her family immediately, and will personally provide transport. As for us, we best get to the village now. It's already dark, and you should preferably get somewhat settled in.

Janine nodded, before gesturing to Ash right next to her. "I would like for Ash to come with us as well. If need be, I'll speak to father about it myself."

"Hmmm…" Ash felt his stomach knot as Akira and Typho studied him for a fleeting moment, before nodding. "Alright then, let's get going."

/

The aesthetic of Fuchsia City was very different from any of the other major cities Ash had been to up to this point. Upon arrival, the immediate distinction was the fortified nature of the city's perimeters. Being not too far from the mountain range, Fuchsia City already had its fair share of natural defenses, even if not to the extent of Pewter, but the perimeter itself was was clearly built to be closed off and guarded, almost like a wall housing the buildings.

And yet the city proper felt far from isolated and closed off in it's own right; in fact, it almost felt the opposite. It was blended with nature, and a far cry from the stereotypical urban area being its own separate world. The roads were different in a way he could not put his finger on, trees and other vegetation shared the area with the buildings.

The architecture itself was rather eye opening, being extremely different from anything he had found in a place like Saffron or Vermilion. It lacked the skyscrapers that sought to poke the stratosphere, and coupled with the road more closely resembling greatly hardened mud than concrete, contributing to the city feeling much more inviting to surrounding trees, other plants, and soil, everything felt a little bit suburban, at least in comparison to what Ash had grown used to over his trials. It was certainly not Pallet or Lavender, and he knew the city itself was as big as one would expect, but the atmosphere was not overwhelming or grandiose. Janine had spoken before about how Fuchsia City prided itself on blending the natural world with the city that existed within it, and now that he was here, he could see what she meant. Photos did not capture the feeling that walking through gave him.

The buildings were also much more eye-catching up close. Perhaps it was just the current neighborhood, but the curvy, elongated roofs of the buildings gave them quite the attractive appearance. There was also something modestly festive about the city lights that added their own flavor to the night.

What was not surprising was the activity. Cities rarely slept, after all, and perhaps the amount of people he saw was the crucial reminder that this was not a suburb or town like Pallet and Lavender. Fuchsia City was indeed a city. In the current area they were passing through, his nose enjoyed the scents of nearby food, which doubled as a reminder that he had not yet eaten dinner. People were eating outside at what looked like an outdoor bar, and for some reason the rare sight felt like the most normal thing in the world.

It wasn't until he glanced at Janine that he realized there were eyes on them. Her face was one of cracking stoicism as Ash became increasingly aware of the attention passerby were giving her and Akira. And, by indirect extension, him.

"Back at home, everybody knows who I am. My name is attached to the Gym Leader, after all." All of a sudden, that conversation did feel like it was yesterday, and the night before that had been-

Ash's eyes widened, and he momentarily slowed, almost stopping entirely before catching himself. 'NO.'

Typho made a noise, and without looking directly at him, Akira's eyes moved in Ash's direction. "Are you okay, Mr. Ketchum?" His question seemed to divert Janine's focus away from the onlookers.

"Oh, yeah." Ash answered, suddenly feeling like a Pidgey trying to blend in with a flock of Taillow. He was thankful when Akira said nothing more, continuing to lead the group while Typho followed from the rear. The large Tangrowth's presence almost felt like a shelter from the glances and mutterings of the people looking on.

…Had they been paying attention to them the whole time? Ash had been so fixated on taking in the beautiful scenery and activity that he had completely overlooked the attention that their group had been receiving. Looking over to Janine, he could see her previous expression returning after the fleeting moment had passed. "Are you alright?" he tried to whisper.

She briefed steadily before giving him a slightly strained smile. "I'm home."

/

Fuchsia Gym was the behemoth Ash had come to expect from all Gyms he visited, and much like the others, had its own completely different look and aesthetic, while still undeniably being a Gym. This one almost felt like a cross between a mansion and a fortress, and although it shared some architectural traits with many of the other buildings in the city, it immediately stood out because of it. Jainine's face became unreadable as she gazed up at the Gym while they approached, but her gaze soon shifted to the gates just in front of the building, and the people there.

Two guards, one male and one female, stood on either end of the gate, looking alert and vigilant, but not like statues. It was the figure in the middle that drew in the group's attention, like a gravitational pull.

He was a tall man with spiky, darkened teal hair and black eyes that looked like they would drill through a person, compared to Sabrina's seemingly x-ray visioned gaze. He wore a deep purple uniform that immediately had Ash thinking of how ancient warriors of old would dress, and a crimson scarf that wrapped around his neck that would have most likely flowed behind him like a mane were the breeze strong enough.

Leader Koga's eyes were like a weapon. Even giving a neutral gaze, they resembled a blade ready to stab into their target the moment the poison Master glared, and Ash found himself grateful the moment never came. He had been cornered by Caesar just hours ago, but the man awaiting them was the most deadly person he had met today, and almost dared to tell himself of his entire travels, even as a bright red "R" briefly entered his mind.

Ash was entirely fixed on the Gym Leader until the corner of his eye alerted him to Janine stepping forward. The stoicism on her face was strained with tension as she passed by him and Akira without a word, her eyes a pair of magnets that only the man in front of them could attract.

Janine stopped a somewhat short distance (yet one that almost felt extremely specific and calculated) in front of Koga before lowering her head and sinking to a knee. "Father."

"Stand up, Janine." Ash could not decide if he was grateful to hear Koga's voice, or if it only heightened everything else about him. Even with just three words, there was a focus and delivery to the Fuchsia leader's speech that few he'd met could match, Sabrina maybe even being the only one entirely. His voice was like a button being pressed, with Janine wordlessly rising to full height the moment he finished the extremely short sentence. Her eyes did not leave his. "Welcome home. It is good that you are unharmed."

"Thank you, father." Janine had never been a stranger to stoicism; her professionality had been on full display many times, but the tone she spoke in was somehow foreign to Ash. There was something automatic about it. Rehearsed, once again.

"It goes without saying that there is much to discuss." Koga lowered his crossed arms down to his sides, which did nothing to alter the way he looked and sounded. "On multiple subjects, in fact. But that is all best saved after you are rested and settled. Now then…" he was looking at Ash now, and although his head had not turned comically fast, it felt instantaneous. "You are Ash Ketchum, I presume?"

The moment Koga had directed his attention towards him, Ash had already felt as though a sword was being pointed in his direction. He was not sure what being spoken to added to that mix, but it certainly did add, and Ash wondered if he could will himself into shrinking.

Instead of trying, he lowered his head in a bow, silently wondering if it was about to be chopped off. "Yes, Leader Koga. It is an honor."

"The early reports have spoken of you, and what you did." Koga's voice was an unreadable form of neutral, and although Ash had a good idea of what "what you did" referred to, it was impossible to detect the poison Master's opinion of such, if he even had one.

"As you may have also learned, father," Koga's focus returned to his daughter. Janine spoke in a similar but not entirely identical tone to before, and every word came out with deliberate perfection. "Ash is a good friend of mine, and has been traveling with me for quite some time. I request that he and his team be permitted to stay here during his time in the city."

When father and daughter looked at each other, Ash wondered if Koga was examining every inch of Janine and her expression. With the girl's back to him, he could not be sure what she was doing in comparison.

It did not take Koga very long to answer. "Very well, I will arrange one of the guest rooms immediately, and contact the Pokemon Center to transfer his teams to us in the morning." he turned around, and the crimson scarf indeed flowed like a mane. "Now then, let's go."

/

The sky above them was like a painting as Ash looked up at it. The stars decorated the black of the night beautifully, and was quite the backdrop for where they currently were.

"Shadowblood Village" as it was called, was clearly more than just a Gym and a mansion. Being the home and Center of a prestigious clan, the village was very much its own campus. Beyond the Gym (the only publicly accessible part) was a pathway leading through a large field and collection of buildings. The size of the area very much made it feel like its own "village", and despite being tired, he couldn't help curiously looking around as Koga led the way through. He had not seen anything quite like it in the past.

"That barn is where the Miltank and Tauros live," Ash followed Janine's finger, his friend speaking up after noticing. "And beyond that is the orchard."

"You have your cattle and crops?" Ash blinked. The latter did not surprise him too much in context, but he had not considered the former.

"We've grown our own produce for about as long as we've been in power," Akira explained. "Shadowblood Village is built on some of the best soil in the entire Fuchsia area, and most fruits and vegetables you can think of are freshly farmed right here at home. The same can be said for our milk."

Janine continued as though she was a kid describing her backyard. "We do not have the variety of built in habitats of the Oak Corral or Safari Zone, but the residential area also accommodates our Pokemon, so our teams will be taken care of once they are released from the Center tomorrow morning." she looked behind them, where Typho was still following. "Typho takes care of many of the Pokemon kept here. His nickname is Uncle."

Ash managed to keep his awe silent. 'She lives here…?'

The thought hung in his head as they were led through the residential area. Ash was not too slow to note the water nearby being a good place for water types. Ahead of the massive mansion towering over them and the surrounding houses (very much the main attraction next to the Gym itself) was a large training area complete with a sizable dojo.

"So you guys train there?" the boy spoke up, choosing to distract himself from how many times bigger the mansion likely was from his and his mother's house back at home.

"Yes," Ash was a bit surprised when Koga chose to answer in their place. "Our mansion has its own built-in dojo as well, along with a battlefield. But we have a dedicated section of the village entirely for just about anything related to training, both for Pokemon and humans."

"Humans…" Ash mostly suppressed his blush after realizing the detail he had missed. "That's right, you're a… warrior clan."

"Indeed," the Gym Leader confirmed, gaze firmly locked ahead as the boy stared at his back. "In addition to our Pokemon, the people of our clan are trained for combat as well."

At that affirmation, Ash glanced at Janine, who simply remained silent.

They were at the entrance of the mansion now. Its appearance reminded Ash of the Gym, albeit with the qualities that spoke "fortress". It very much resembled a home more than a stronghold, albeit an enormous one that, even in the night, looked like the most expensive thing he had ever seen.

Koga wordlessly led the group inside to the entrance hall. Now, everything was in full view: The lights were on, a beautiful chandelier hung overhead and Ash chose not to bother guessing what it was made of. The carpet beyond the foyer looked comfortable enough to use as bedding, and covered the curved double staircase leading to the upper floors. There was so much to take in, but no pause was ever offered.

Instead, Akira simply laid a hand on his shoulder to gain his attention. "I'll show you where to leave your shoes, Mr. Ketchum. Then I'll show you to the guest wing, you can pick whatever room is ready."

"Ummm, okay." Ash wished he had said something slightly more intelligent.

Janine's gaze helped him focus a bit. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah, same."

/

With dinner having already been well before their arrival, Ash was offered some leftovers to take to his room, which he accepted. After setting his food on the table, he endured growling stomach a little bit longer to look around.

The "guest room" was bigger than his room back at home. It was on the second floor, but still elevated enough for the window to offer a good view. The curtains were a neutral blue fabric with Poke Ball patterns, and much like seemingly everything else in the building, Ash knew he would get nowhere wondering how much they cost. The room as a whole was essentially everything he would expect from a bedroom, but the word expensive kept entering his mind. Even the simple things did not feel so simple when he looked at them. How was the desk crafted? The dresser? The paint on the walls? He wondered if it was all in his head, but the sight of the bed convinced him otherwise. It was a perfectly normal sized bed, but briefly sitting down on it immediately flooded his mind with the desire to hide under the covers and enjoy dozing off. His hunger was the only thing that resisted the temptation, but he was proven right once he had finished eating, changed into his pajamas, and did exactly that.

When he awoke, the clock read 8:17 AM. The exhaustion lingered as the rest of his body struggled to wake up. He wanted to rest a bit longer, but managed to force himself up to avoid falling asleep again.

As he fully woke up, it took a moment for him to register where he was, and the inner prickly sensation returned, entirely unwelcome. The boy suddenly felt small, and even smaller when he opened the door and cautiously stepped out and into the hallway. His surroundings felt alien, and for some reason the fact that his best friend lived within these walls did not ease that notion. It was a magnificent, beautiful and scary place.

Soon after leaving the guest wing, but not soon enough to be immediate, it also occurred to him that he did not know his way around here. He had not memorized anything when following Akira, who had hardly given him a tour of the place. His automatic instincts had told him "breakfast", but he had no idea where that was, or what he would be allowed to take for that matter. He was only a guest.

His thoughts were interrupted by a figure exiting a nearby room. He was a neatly dressed blonde man who the boy's first guess told him was somewhere in his late twenties. The man perked up upon seeing him, and Ash prepared to explain who he was, when the man surely and understandably asked.

Instead, the man calmly but quickly walked over to him. "You must be Ash Ketchum."

"Yes." Ash tried to straighten himself in the man's presence. He wasn't wearing a tux or anything, but it almost felt offensive to slouch while looking him in the eye.

"It's nice to meet you," the blonde man's tone of voice was honest and not phoned in, but Ash still could not help but feel something was rehearsed about it, as though this man spoke the five words a thousand times. "I am Brooks, one of the clan's chefs. Janine said you may not wake up as early, I'm assuming you're hungry?"

At Ash's nod, Brooks began leading him to the dining room. They passed a few other people along the way, and he once again felt small each time. There was no hostility on anybody's faces, but their expressions were sharp and foreign, and even the way they walked nearly gave him pause.

'They're warriors.' He told himself. That's what he was surrounded by.

Upon arrival, Ash found himself blinking. It was a room entirely dedicated to dining, and yet it was much bigger than his home's kitchen. Through a doorway was another room, with food laid out on a table near a tall refrigerator and freezer that stood side by side. The dining room itself housed the longest table he could remember seeing, yet it did not rob the room of space. A few people were eating there, not paying him much mind, yet the table still felt rather empty and unoccupied for its size.

"Breakfast is prepared and ready," Brooks explained. "Please feel free to help yourself to whatever is to your liking." There was reassurance in his voice, as though Ash had voiced a hesitance or question about what was and was not off limits, even though he had not. It wasn't too hard to realize why, and he mentally thanked Janine with mild embarrassment. These people clearly weren't worried about running out of food.

"Thank you, sir." He managed a smile, wanting his gratitude to be authentic, but was not ready to be left on his own just yet. "Do you, uh, know my team's status? I was told they would be transferred here from the Pokemon Center in the morning."

Brooks nodded. "Your Pokemon were transferred here roughly a half hour ago, along with Janine's. You won't need to worry about them; they're being fed, and Janine's currently with them in your absence. She believes her presence will assure they are better acclimated."

'She's the best.' Ash told himself. He wouldn't dawdle joining them, but at least he knew there was no need to rush for fear of keeping his friends waiting.

"If you do not need anything else at the moment," Brooks continued, "I must check on the dishwashing." Ash thanked him again, and the chef excused himself.

He could already smell the food even before going to make his plate, and the selection was far from lacking. He helped himself to a pancake (just one, it was huge) with warm applesauce on the side. Making his way to the table, he purposefully chose an open spot not too close to anybody, thankfully not attracting too many eyes as started to eat. For the second time in his life, he wondered if his mom's cooking had found a rival.

The meal was fairly quiet; a few words were exchanged between a couple of people passing by, and a couple more people entered the dining room and ate their own food amidst light conversation, but nobody spoke to him, and he was left alone with his thoughts. There was a lot he wanted to think about, and he was not sure where to start. There was training to be done, and he needed to begin thinking about the battle with Koga and when they would be ready to challenge him. Part of him felt that would be best saved for when he was back with his team, and yet the thoughts prodded him even as his mind drifted elsewhere.

There was a lot to do in Fuchsia. Just from last night alone, he found himself wanting to explore the area in between training. The Pokemon Center would likely have trainers he could battle to further prepare himself for the Gym, but there was something else that came to his attention:

Fuchsia City was the home of the Safari Zone. It was a place that needed little introduction to him: A vast, open area where wild Pokemon of all species, habitats, and even native lands were kept. Much like Professor Oak's Corral, the key to the Safari Zone's success was the wide variety of built in habitats accommodating nearly any kind of Pokemon. It was a famous attraction to tourists and just about anybody affiliated with Pokemon, but to trainers, it was also a goldmine.

The Safari Zone had no shortage of "common" Pokemon, but what made it such a treasure trove was the rare Pokemon that could be found. Certain species that you were not nearly as likely to find in the wild. The Safari Zone also played a rather large role in Indigo's foreign regulation system: As the number of foreign Pokemon throughout the land increased ( due to to foreign trainers releasing them into the wild and breeding with the native Pokemon), the League worked to maintain a controlled ecosystem by gathering the foreign species found in the wild and either returning them to their native land, or placing them in the Safari Zone. Foreign Pokemon were perfectly possible to find in the wild, although many species were still considered rare and lucky finds. The Safari Zone being used to contain them, however, made it even more attractive of a place for trainers to visit.

Not just any trainer could take part, however, which was where one of two issues lay. Applications and background checks were required for permission and approval. Another unrelated but equal pressing matter was what dominated Ash's thoughts, however.

He already had six Pokemon.

"Six" was the magic number in Pokemon training. It was the number of Pokemon used in "full battles", the highest form of competition. The final round of a major tournament, the Top 16 of the Indigo Conference, the Elite Four defending their positions from challengers, or the Champion defending his/her position from them.

It was also, under normal, default circumstances, the number of Pokemon a trainer was allowed to carry at once. Any additional teammates were to be transferred to whatever lab or other facility the trainer was registered to; in Ash's case, Professor Oak's Corral. Surpassing the six Pokemon limit required special circumstances: It required far more to have no limit at all, but trainers of certain importance had a limit of carrying nine Pokemon at a time instead. This was a luxury also afforded to those who acquired eight badges, as those who have officially qualified for the Conference were also permitted to carry up to nine, but Ash was only halfway there, and for as exciting as it would be to finally make another addition to his team, doing so would require compromise. He would no longer be able to travel with everybody at once. Training would become more complicated. A variety of convoluted elements that were not in play right now would be thrust upon them out of the blue.

He had grown complacent. Tempest had been captured so long ago, and ever since then, Ash had been carrying a complete team of six with him, and nothing more. So much time had passed since then, and so many things had happened, that he had gotten used to having six. It was all he needed… for the time. But he knew it was the bare minimum, and that meant he had to find a way to plan around the compromises any future catches would bring about. With The Safari Zone in Fuchsia City, now was as good a time as any…

As good as his breakfast tasted, it gradually became secondary to the boy's brainstorming. He was nearly finished with his pancake when he noticed an approaching figure stop in front of him.

She was an old woman, likely in her early sixties if he needed to guess. Her red hair was laced with a shade of gray, wrapped in a thin ponytail that went just under her shoulders. She wore a velvet shirt with blue sleeves extending from underneath.

"I did not mean to startle you, Mr. Ketchum." as she spoke, a few sets of eyes landed on the pair, as if some of the others in the dining room realized that she was talking to him now. He pushed down the apprehensive feeling, but she must have noticed something on his face, because she turned back to look at the others, who averted their gazes.

"I apologize if you're feeling uncomfortable," said the woman. "But I can assure you there is no hostility, they are simply curious. May I sit?"

Ash felt weird granting "permission" when he was the guest, but still nodded nonetheless. The fact that he did not even need to scoot his chair over and make room reminded him of the table's size.

"Perhaps I'm not one to talk," she admitted while planting herself in the chair next to his. When she turned her head, Ash found he wasn't uncomfortable with the immediate eye contact. Her eyes were a vibrant pink. "I am Ruunia, and you are Ash, I presume?"

"Yes," he nodded. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hm," she hummed for a moment, spotting another onlooker glancing in their direction from the corner of her eye. The brief redirection of her attention assured it was only a glance before she returned her focus to the boy. "You seem rather out of your element, Mr. Ketchum."

"Is it obvious?" Ash hoped he wasn't blushing.

"Heh, you look like a Caterpie crawling between two single-files of Pidgeotto." he was definitely blushing now. "No need to be embarrassed, I am aware that you come from a much more modest environment."

"Pallet Town," he confirmed. "In my house, uh… the kitchen is the dining room."

"Very different indeed," Ruunia replied. "We fancy ourselves a disciplined folk, but even I can confess that Leader Koga's child inviting a guest to our grounds so fervently is bound to pique an interest or two. Someone as promising as young Janine vouching is quite noteworthy."

'She wasn't that "fervent" about it.' Ash thought to himself with lingering embarrassment. "So, uh…" Although she carried the same vibe as the others, Ruunia's behavior had decently helped, and Ash preferred not to leave her being the only one making an effort, even if it meant latching onto the most predictable starting point. "Starting point" he reminded himself, only being the key word. "How are you related to her and Koga-I mean, Leader Koga?"

"I'm not." Ruunia answered with simplicity as he briefly returned to what was left of his pancake. "I am part of the Kyo Clan, but I am not part of the Kyo family that leads the clan. My parents were both pupils of the Gym Leader of that time, neither born nor married into. Does this make sense?"

He nodded. "Yeah… sounds like a pretty big clan."

"Very much indeed," she affirmed. "We have been around since the Kanto Unification War."

"When the first Champion united the territories under Indigo." Ash said.

"Correct. Fuchsia, as you may know, is very… intertwined, with that origin. It was the home of eventual Champion Albert Seiza before he fled across the Region in the uprising. And of course, Mutiny King Travash, the man who usurped Fuchsia and led the opposing side." She drummed a fingernail against the surface of the table. "Our clan's history is incredibly engraved in that time period."

"So the Kyo Clan from back then fought in the war?" Ash's mind began to wander with his words. "Fuchsia opposed the Champion, who led Pewter, but your clan is so close to the League…"

She smiled strangely at him, although it was not an uncomfortable expression. "I suppose the story is a long one, for an outsider, at any rate. But it seems you have finished eating, and I imagine you wish to see your team sooner than later."

"Yes," Ash admitted. "I was told Janine was looking after them, so I'm not worried about them or anything, but I don't want to keep them waiting. I haven't seen them since-" he held his tongue, but soon realized there was no need.

"I am aware of what happened yesterday, Mr. Ketchum. I certainly understand, although I wouldn't mind us getting to know each other later on. You are a friend of young Janine, after all, and I imagine you will be with us for a moment. Would you be willing to spare the time?"

Although the apprehension lingered, it was hardly dominating. Ash returned her smile with a nod. "Of course. I'll be sure to find you, Ruunia."

"That pleases me," she affirmed while rising to her feet. "Now then, why don't I personally show you to your friends?"

/

A deep sigh left Janine's lips as she fidgeted in her seat.

The book was right in front of her face, yet she could barely focus on it. Her cluttered mind seemed to focus on everything except for the words on the pages, from the previous day, to her father, to the glances and chatter from last night, to Ash, to watching the twelve Pokemon dig into their food.

They were currently in a comfortable lodge not too far from the mansion. Only Ivysaur had been to Shadowblood Village before, but she had been quick to explain everything to their teams, particularly Ash's due to their trainer's absence. Afterwards, the group's Pokemon freely enjoyed their breakfast while waiting for him. For as much weight had left Janine's shoulders seeing all twelve in one place and in one piece, the juvenile surge of frustration persisted the longer she çontinued trying to read. The poison specialist was not sure how long it took for her to give up, but with a huff (that she was embarrassed to have made out loud), she closed the book and resigned herself to watching them.

The sight of Nebula was a collective relief for everybody, especially Pikachu, who predictably ate close to the Staravia. Her left wing, while mostly healed, would still be on the sore side, with advisement not to exert for the next couple of days. The bird whined about being effectively grounded, but the sympathies from the rest of the group cushioned the blow, even if only a little bit. As Pikachu ate, his eyes would occasionally wander to his friend's left wing, and Nebula knew she was picturing what it may have been like when she was shot down. She tried to ignore the lingering soreness in her wing in hopes of easing his concerns, but already knew that that too, would only cushion things.

Next to Phenom, Tempest was the fastest eater. As was common, his evolution had sped up his appetite and heightened his hunger, which he would progressively adapt to over time. For now, eating bordered on being all the Kingler could think about, devouring his food with little regard for manners. Although he spared a couple of words for Tentacruel and Skrelp, the food in his larger bowl (which janine had requested be filled to the utmost, in addition to available seconds) was all that earned his attention until he finally noticed Valiant approaching him.

The Kirlia had left his bowl nearby, only partially touched as he looked over his teammate. The river crab was far bigger than him now, which only gave him minor pause in his advance. By now, Phenom also surpassed him in height, the observing dinosaur having been snuck up on by a bit of a growth spurt over the course of their travels through Fuchsia. The young psychic tensed as Tempest slowed - then stopped - his messy eating to look back at him. With some effort, the two found each other's eyes as Valiant took a breath.

And said thank you; for protecting him. And congratulations.

Tempest blinked at the emotion Pokemon, but soon found the rest of his teammates (Janine's Pokemon included) voicing approvals of their own. Some congratulated him for evolving, which he had been especially set on ever since the appointment with Mr. Fuji in Lavender. Others commended him for the battle, or for keeping the remaining group safe. Even Nebula chirped in for a second, despite not being in the best mood.

A weird, awkward feeling momentarily replaced a small portion of the Kingler's hunger before he replied back with his own comments, namely how Golbat had shown up just in time, or (with an approving grin) how Pikachu had stopped Caesar and his Kadabra from getting away. Realizing that Tempest was saying this in front of Glaceon, the mouse grew somewhat bashful, and wished he could shrink into a molecule when the ice type directly echoed the comment, looking right at him.

Toxtricity saw his opportunity to chime in, punching a fist against his hand while reminiscing how he and Pikachu had toppled a juiced up Vigoroth together. By now, the electric type was prepared to flail his arms in fruitless plea, but was silently grateful when Beedrill cut in to remind the punk Pokemon that she was the one who dealt the finishing blow, in spite of the electric/poison type's insistence that his move was still the biggest.

Breakfast became lively as the group chattered away, only Pikachu and Nebula being mostly quiet, even if some of the rest were more talkative than others. The sight convinced Janine to put away her book entirely - it wasn't like she was making much progress with it anyway. "I'm really glad you're all okay. We'll be… safe, here in the city."

"We were worried about you, too." Valiant turned to her, speaking telepathically to translate what he was saying to the rest. "There's still so much to do, though…"

"There is," her eyes fell on Nebula. "But I'm certain Ash wishes for a couple of easy days first." she added, trying to be reassuring.

Tempest grunted. When the "easy days" were done, he'd be more than ready to have a go at Glaceon. With a smirk, he added, now that he's the strongest of the team.

Glaceon huffed at his challenge, not sure whether to smirk or stick out her tongue. She was willing to wait to shut him up.

When the door opened, all heads quickly turned to see Ruunia lead Ash into the room. For the first time that day, he beamed, and Pikachu and Phenom were quick to rush over to him, momentarily leaving behind what was left of their food. As they drew closer to him, it abruptly occurred to the boy how much bigger the Tyrunt was than when he had first hatched. The realization inspired him to consider rereading Elacia's notes.

"Good spirits, I see." Ruunia's pink eyes scoped all parties in the room before falling on Janine last.

The girl rose to her feet and offered a small bow of the head. "Good morning, Ruunia."

"You as well, miss. I hope you know your absence has been felt these past few months."

"I am flattered." She smiled and made stiff eye contact with the old woman. "I see you two have met?"

"Introducing myself was only polite," Ruunia affirmed. "And how have things been for? You seem to have done well for yourself." She looked at the girl's team, most of whom eyed her with curiosity.

"I am fairly satisfied, yes." Janine replied steadily. "And it seems things have been going fine here as well? This place has not changed an atom."

"Only difference was you not being here, I can assure." Ruunia said. "I'm sure there is much to talk about, but I'll leave you all be for now." turning back to Ash, she nodded a farewell. "Good to meet you, Mr. Ketchum." As he gave her his own goodbye, she departed without another word.

Nebula was the first he went too. Pikachu followed him on the way, and would have climbed to his shoulder had he not still had a bowl of food waiting for him. The Staravia looked up to meet her trainer's eyes, feeling somewhat soothed as his hand rested on her head. "I'm really glad you're okay, Nebula." Her responsive coo eased him as well before his gaze traveled around the room. All twelve Pokemon - and Janine - were accounted for. It almost made the brawl with the Zangoose feel like a dream. Perhaps it was the sight of Tempest that reminded him it wasn't. "I never got the chance to really congratulate you, did I big guy? You sure saved our skins out there."

He half expected a satisfied smirk from the crab, or a clicking of the pincers. Instead, what he got was a decently comfortable smile, albeit the accompanying gurgle was not any less satisfied. Finally, he nodded gratefully to Janine, who had been watching him since Ruunia left. "Thanks for looking after them. And sorry I didn't get up earlier."

"I assure you it was no big deal," the girl sat back in her chair, feeling a bit more relaxed at his arrival. "How did you sleep?"

"I had a good night, for the most part…" Ash admitted that last one with mild hesitance. He could feel Valiant staring at him. "Things just feel…" After trailing off, he could see the frown halfway forming on her face, and he wasn't sure if finding a way to finish his sentence would have improved or worsened things.

"You're uncomfortable, aren't you?" as if a base instinct, the girl's eyes darted to Valiant.

"I'm not trying to…" Ash paused to find his words. It helped. "I'll admit, I… didn't really consider you inviting me over."

Janine had known it was coming, and to her frustration, felt a fist in her stomach. Before leaving home, most kids her age struggled making it through a conversation with her, even pleasant ones. Inviting a potential friend over was as out of the question as anything in comparison. The boy in front of her was the only peer who was neither ignorant to nor deterred by who she was.

"I thought you would prefer that over staying in the Center alone." her hands rested on her lap. 'That was my excuse.'

The guilt on his face was like a second punch.

"That's not what I was trying to…" all of a sudden Ash could feel the atmosphere around him shifting. The reunion was over: All of the emotions had settled in, and now the twelve Pokemon in the room were either trying to focus on their meals instead, or unable to decide. Valiant's attention shifted from one trainer to the other every now and then, picking at his bowl more slowly than he ever recalled eating before. "I've just never really… done this before."

"Done…" Janine repeated before the understanding set in. It made sense. "You mean slept over at a friend's home."

She was not sure how his nod made her feel. "I've been babysat at my neighbors' house before, Trucy's grandparents. And my mom babysits her sometimes, so she's stayed over with us." Janine recalled Ash telling her a few stories about Trucy. "Apart from that, no."

It was so much easier for her to consider it all now, of all times. The Oak boy's clique had made sure that no kid their age would be caught dead with Ash in their house, let alone spending so much as a night. Janine could feel a hollow bitterness behind her eyes as she recalled her confrontation with the spiky haired boy back at Benver's Lodging.

"Forgive me, dearest friend." She chose to stand up when saying that. "I did not consider your feelings."

Ash hated that her apology exacerbated his discomfort, and was relieved when it seemed he managed not to show it. "Janine, I'm not trying to make you the bad guy in this. I just thought I should explain myself. You did nothing wrong."

That was a bit relieving, but she still said. "I apologize nevertheless-"

"I'm sorry." he felt ironic interrupting with an apology. "You've never had anyone over like this before, right?"

Janine bit her lip. It was a practice she had started getting used to away from home, but doing it here, she suddenly felt uneasy, and a little bit grateful that nobody else was there to see. "I have not."

The two trainers studied one another, and the silence proved comforting. It was like that sometimes.

"I'm glad you wanted me over," Ash broke the silence after the tension had evaporated. "It means a lot."

"Thank you," she sat back down. "But I mean it; I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable."

"I know that," he sat next to Pikachu and Nebula, and saw Valiant focusing more on his food from the corner of his eye. "I was mostly thinking about… I know you."

"But not my family," she confirmed. This wasn't just "staying at a friend's house" for him. There were so many factors in play. "Aside from Ruunia, have you met anyone else?"

"I apologize if you're feeling uncomfortable, but I can assure you there is no hostility, they are simply curious."

"Chef Brooks." Having finished his bowl, Pikachu climbed to his trainer's shoulder, smiling at the welcoming nudge Ash offered. "Nobody's given me trouble, I just don't really know how they see me."

She didn't seem too surprised to hear that. "I doubt anyone was expecting me to bring a guest back, especially after being gone."

"Ruunia did say something like that," he confirmed. "She said everyone was curious about me." he raised a hand. "But that's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I promise. But how did you sleep?"

"No nightmares," she said. "There is a lot on my mind, though." Ivysaur moved beside her, and she turned her head to the window while gently patting his.

"Last night," he started, and she looked back at him. "Is it always like that?"

"Just about everybody here knows me," Janine nodded. "I'm used to it, but I'm also used to being away."

"Where nobody knows you." Ash scratched Nebula's neck. "Like how I didn't…"

"Yeah."

At this point, their teams had gone back to mingling. Only Pikachu, Nebula and Ivysaur chose to stay with their trainers, while the others split up discussing anything from the travels through the wilderness to get to the city, what they thought of it so far, plans for training, the upcoming Gym, or basic, aimless conversation.

Ash's focus remained on her, and the look on her face brought his mind back to multiple conversations in the past.

Once more, he took the leap.

"I know how you feel, Janine." Ash rolled his eyes as Pikachu removed his cap, placing it backwards on his own head and posing to an amused Nebula. The bird definitely seemed cheered up. "I'm sure I do, anyway. I really miss my hometown, but to be honest, there's so much I don't miss that it makes nostalgia a bit weird. I know it's not the same, but being away for so long really has me thinking, too. Once I go back, I'm going back to Gary's group, and all the other kids who follow them around."

"It will be different this time." Janine said. "You are different. They will be in for a big surprise when they see who you've become."

"Hopefully it's that simple." he said, giggling as Pikachu passed the cap to Nebula, who wore it sideways while Ivysaur chuckled from next to Janine. "Next to Gary it should be easy, but it's not the same kind of thing. He has two friends on the road, who are also trainers now. Angelina and Sarah, they've both made life rough for me too. If I run into either of them they'll try to cause trouble for sure. But I'll just battle them, that is easy. Going home to the whole crowd? I'm not afraid of them, I won't take it. But I know it's going to happen. It won't be a chance encounter like it's been with Gary."

"You've made plenty of friends away from home," Janine observed. During downtime, the duo had had plenty of casual stories to share. Ash had told her about Rick, Emily, Laura, Maria, and Ryan. She had met Misty, and obviously Caleb. "But Pallet Town is its own bubble. An ignorant bubble. It's like stepping into another world."

"And that's how you feel, right?" Ash studied her face. "You've gotten to know people who don't know you're…" he gestured his hand around the room. "All of this. Wipe the slate clean. And now you're back here."

The smile on her face was small, but something about it spoke to Ash. There were a lot of things about Janine that did.

The look faded as her purple eyes stiffened. "But as you said, you're not going to let them win, right? Your so-called "peers", I mean."

"Them?" Ash snorted. "They've already lost. I'm not looking forward to seeing them, honestly I'd prefer to just never run into any of them again. But I can't go home without that happening, so I'll be ready. Shove my badge case in their faces, or tell them off. Whatever works. I'm not gonna brag but I am gonna make a point. And if I hurt their feelings they can go crying to Gary."

Janine's eyes were radiant. "I'm happy to know the new Ash Ketchum."

"And I only know one Janine, like I told you back in Lavender." Pikachu handed the cap back to him, and Ash looked the poison specialist in the eye with all of the confidence - and none of the anger - that he had directed towards Gary. "Kyo Clan or not, you're still the best friend I can ask for. Anyone who's afraid of "Leader Koga's daughter" doesn't know what they're missing."

And with that her mind was cluttered again. All she could do was blink once as her eyes found it difficult to meet his. Only this time, the clutter did not last too long. "Ash, I… could take everything you just said and say it back to you, and I'd mean every word, but you deserve more effort than that."

"You've done plenty for me already." he insisted.

Her lips cracked slightly upwards. "And there we are again."

The silence that nearly came was cut short by two sets of escalating giggles. At first they were quiet, and hardly audible, but the volume increased, and for a moment, even the shame she felt over such childish behavior faded.

It lasted just long enough for the pair to be content, before she left her chair to stand next to Ash, who was getting ready to rise himself as Pikachu and Nebula joined the others - without his hat. Ivysaur followed her at first, but broke off midway through when Pikachu and Nebula did, following them instead.

"On that note," she nodded in the Staravia's direction. "Nurse Joy wanted me to relay that Nebula should not be flying for roughly the next two days. But you were planning on settling in for now anyway, right?"

"Yeah." Ash nodded, attention falling on the Staravia, who was now conversing with Beedrill as Ivysaur went to Tentacruel, Valiant and Phenom. Pikachu was going to join them, but changed course when he saw Glaceon headed in that direction as well, instead going to Tempest and Skrelp, where she had previously been. "I'm gonna be here for a while. Big to-do list, and it's not even fully written yet."

'Which prolongs us splitting up.' Janine did not say it outloud, although the sad smile still made it to her face before her expression shifted to an encouraging glint. "Well, nothing writes a to-do list like a tour." Her hand lightly gripped his shoulder. "Honestly, it's a day on its own to show you around. Even outside of the mansion, there are the training grounds, the orchard, farm, the village has a lot. And that's not even getting into the city itself. Should we go soon now that-"

The door opened, and her mouth sewed shut.

Akira entered the room. His black ponytail was tied identical to the previous night, and his green eyes quickly surveyed the room, unresponsive to the gazes of either trainer's team as he made his way to the pair. Ash, up close, saw Janine's expression lose all ease. The girl's face turned steel and focused, exchanging head bows with her cousin before saying so much of a word. "Akira. Good morning."

"Good morning, Janine." he repeated before briefly directing his attention to Ash. "And to you as well, Mr. Ketchum. I trust you are doing well?"

Disappointment came over Ash. Once more, he felt the atmosphere slipping away, but he nodded and straightened his posture as his and Akira's eyes met. "I have, sir. I hope the same goes for you."

"It does." There was something about Akira's response that felt different. The inflection had changed, a little bit more pleasant, albeit still stoic.

"I was planning on showing Ash around today," Janine spoke up, and Akira's attention landed back on her. "The village and the city."

The original tone returned in his reply. "Of course, we did not have the chance last night. I'm sure your father would be willing to leave that to you, but he wishes to see you before he leaves for work. I've been sent to bring you to him."

Janine's steel expression turned stiff. "Immediately, then." she affirmed, not noticing Valiant's gaze.

"Yes." his hand absentmindedly tugged on his belt, where nine Poke Balls rested. "I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about, but he is on a tight schedule after last night."

He did not need to say anything else for her to know. "Understood, cousin. I…" her stiff face morphed into a half frown as she looked back at Ash. She was offered an understanding nod, and with a breath, returned her focus to Akira. "He is in his office, I presume?"

"He is," Akira confirmed. He briefly placed a guiding hand on her back as she walked past him. Ash made sure his posture remained straight as Akira looked back at him next. "My apologies, Mr. Ketchum, but Leader Koga wishes this to be private."

"I understand, sir." Ash nodded, feeling Pikachu on his shoulder once more.

Janine looked back, pausing with another breath. "Would you mind watching the others?"

"Of course," he responded quickly. He owed her for that anyway, given that she had just done the same.

"Thanks…" her eyes grew less stiff than the rest of her face. "I'll be back."

There was a small void when she and Akira exited the lodge and headed back to the mansion, and without realizing it, Ash found himself planted in a chair. Pikachu (now on his head), Tentacruel, Beedrill, Valiant and Ivysaur looked to him, while the others looked quietly at the door before mildly mingling.

"Is something wrong, Valiant?" the Kirlia must have realized he had been looking at Ash a bit differently than the rest, and glanced away with a blush.

"It's fine, Ash. So what's the mansion like, from what you've seen?"

/

Koga's office in the mansion was a lot different than the one he had in the Gym. This office was more of a private study area, which Janine knew her father had a history of retreating to when things were quiet. When she entered the room, she almost instinctively turned her head to the books on the shelf, as if suddenly remembering her poor attempt at a reading session.

The Gym Leader was at his computer - reading, but not typing. The screen darkened as she closed the door, and the next thing she knew, he had risen from his seat, both eyes on her.

Janine could feel herself shrinking as Koga assumed full height, walking from behind the desk to approach her. Silence was its own chamber surrounding him. The only sounds were his footsteps, and when he stopped in front of her, nothing could be heard until he spoke.

"Good morning, Janine." His voice was one of perfect stoicism, not conveying anything except for the point he wished to deliver, as it always did.

Janine's gaze was glued to his eyes, and the urge to take a step back was not acted on, her muscles instead choosing to lock themselves in place as she dared not look anywhere else. "Same to you, father. You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes, sit." His hand may have been pulling on an invisible leash when it gestured to the seat, she moved to the chair at his desk the moment he made the motion. Soon, he was sitting across from her, and she found her eyes flickering to the folder in front of him. There were a couple of papers sticking out, a rare sight.

"I wish we had longer to catch up," the Gym Leader confessed. "But my work this morning can't wait. So, the time we have should not be wasted."

"I understand, father." she kept her focus on him even as her head nodded. The fluctuating clutter in her mind cleared out and vanished, settling her racing thoughts in exchange for a hint of the color on her face. A bit more of it disappeared when he looked at her directly.

With a sigh, Koga spoke as though he wished he were talking about anything else. "I could think of more ideal uses for that time, of course, but preference does not equal importance." she watched him open the folder, with sudden apprehension that its contents were more specific than she realized. "Team Rocket has seen a disturbing surge since the start of the Season. Not just in activity, but in membership. And you, my daughter, have been involved in much."

"Never by choice," she dared to speak without prompt. "We were attacked, multiple times. I was always in the same place as their target."

"Indeed." it was the only response she received before Koga rested the papers on the desk between them, now free of the folder. "On Opening Day, after you left Fuchsia, a pair of Rockets attacked the Viridian Pokemon Center after dark."

"They were nothing," her response was simplistic and blunt. "Merely a pair of delusional lackeys, you were there." The memory was more odd than frightening, now that it had been so long ago.

Koga said nothing, but his eyes and nod told his daughter that he agreed with her. Then his focus returned to the papers, and the apprehension was back. "What was not delusion, was what took place in Celadon City. You were at the museum when it was attacked."

Now the girl's tongue stiffened, but she knew she was expected to respond. "Yes, father. I was."

"You were also at Lavender Tower," Koga's inflection did not shift. "You have met Rocket Executive Silver and the internationally wanted Pokemon Hunter, the Iron-Masked Marauder, face to face. Just last night, the Scarfist Company, known Team Rocket sympathizers, attempted to abduct you and your friends."

Janine needed to hold her breath to keep it under control. For a moment, she looked to her side, wishing Ash was there, but quickly corrected herself and returned her gaze to her father.

"Keep your eyes on me when I am speaking." he reminded her anyway.

"Yes, father." she hoped her voice was not weaker than before.

Breathing through his nose, Koga paused for a moment, and a second, as his eyes looked down on the papers in front of him. When they returned to Janine, she was perfectly still. "I could not have predicted these any more than you, especially to occur in succession. Of course, neither of us particularly care about the incident at the Center."

"No, father." she truthfully shook her head, for as much as she preferred that was the prioritized subject.

"You are alive and unharmed, of course, but I cannot neglect either of these." Koga's hands folded over the desk for a moment, and then his posture became perfect. When he sat back just right against the chair, he was as looming as when he stood.

"I understand…" she inwardly cursed herself for trailing off, and straightened herself as though doing so would make it easier to speak. "I… being there was…" her eyes fell. "I cannot truly describe it. I saw a collection of our history smashed to pieces. A monument for burial was defiled."

"Beyond abhorrent," Koga agreed. "How do you feel, Janine?"

It took a moment or two, but Janine realized she was almost blinking back tears. She fought to keep her cheeks dry - without reaching up to touch her eyes. "I… saw a skeleton the night Lavender was attacked, and after leaving I realized that was just… one of many. I've been having dreams about that and Celadon. And last night, a lot of the ghosts that fled the town without a home, they were in… this thing that could've given them cardiac arrest." she breathed, and was worried to meet his eyes, but knew he would insist. "I don't stop thinking about it. I have plenty of quiet nights, but they always come back. I go to bed wondering if tonight is going to be one of those nights. And it lingers even after I wake up."

He was studying her. Koga's expression changed a little after she was finished, but still carried the same immovable strength it always did and would. "I was not expecting you to see things like this in person so soon, but we as a League have done a poor job predicting their activity. For that, I assume responsibility." He was still studying her. She did not feel like shrinking this time, but she wished for the ability to move. To not be confined to a chair as the set of eyes across from her scanned her down to the muscle. "You being unharmed aside, I hope you have learned much from these ordeals."

Documentary footage. Text from the books she had read. News reports. The events of the past month or so. All of them had a place in Janine's head when she gave a stiff nod. "Incidents such as this are what makes our role so important, is it not?" her eyes mildly darkened. "The thought of how much more could happen were it not for the League…"

"Our family once contributed to such, many generations ago." Koga's sturdy expression was not as hollow as hers. "Our ancestors learned the worst of tricks and used them in the worst of ways. But a weapon's purpose forges its identity just as much as its capabilities. That is why we swore to use everything passed down to us in service of justice and order." With the papers returned, his hands removed the folder from her view. "You are very frightened, but do not make the mistake of forgetting as a result. Team Rocket will see retribution. Along with the supporters who aid them in their deeds, like the Scarfists."

"Good." she shivered as she said it, but she meant it. "They are pigs with big heads that belong on an iron stick."

"As I trust you will remember." he nodded solemnly. "I can offer nothing but my apologies for what has happened to you, and if it were up to me, it never would have until you were ready, which you are not." The last few words cut into her, and Janine was completely still again. "But you will be at a later time. You have admirably grown already, after all. To my confidence. That is why it is important for you to make use of this."

"How… father?" he must have realized there was more that she was trying to say, because he did not speak even when the opening was there. "I… I don't know how to make it go away."

"That's because it doesn't." His voice was gentler, but not soft. "I have told you before, to my regret. There are some things that don't get easier, no matter what. One merely becomes strong enough to handle them. And you, my daughter, are strong. You have a strong core, have found strong means of using it, and carry a strong drive to. What happened to you and your friends has already happened; there is no means of erasing it."

"So what do I-"

"I have not finished," she flinched; of course he was still talking, that should have been clear! "I have told you in the past, when teaching you about the worst of the world, not to forget any of what you learned. Do you remember that?"

She swallowed her saliva, using the brief pause as an opportunity to ready her tongue, and speak with a steady voice. "Yes, father."

Folding his hands over the desk, he leaned forward an inch, and she almost leaned back an inch. Just before he spoke, she mirrored his hands, but did not move otherwise. Neither pair of eyes dared to look anywhere else in the room, except at the other, the most important place in the building.

"Experience comes in a myriad of forms, many of which one does not ask for. I was never as young as you when I had them, but I have seen things in this world that are best forgotten. But for someone of my position, forgetting is irresponsible. It's ignoring an important lesson. And sometimes, our minds will not allow us to forget, regardless. Your experiences at the museum and at the tower will always have happened. And now they try to torment you."

The pause did not feel like an invitation to talk, so she nodded at him. Maintaining eye contact did not require effort, and staring into his gaze almost sucked Janine in; nearly lost in thought wondering what was passing through his mind.

"You have always been strong, my daughter, and you have only tapped the iceberg's tip. Do not let that be disrupted, or taken from you. Do not let experiences like that sap away your strength."

"Endure them…?" Janine asked with caution.

But Koga shook his head. "If all you do is try to endure something, it will chip away at you. Instead, you make use of it. Accept that you have it, but not that it exists. Make your bad memories an experience, and your nightmares a reminder. Turn your suffering into a lesson that will make you stronger and wiser."

She blinked. "Like a weapon."

"Of a sort," he answered. "You've been raised to know why the League, our clan, among other things, are necessary, and now you know firsthand. No matter how much something hurts, never forget. Just learn."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" She kept her face even, but her purple eyes betrayed her as the image of a skeleton, of Marauder entered her mind.

"It was never easy for me," Koga answered with a shake of the head. "It is a process that will not get easy, but that you will progressively be strong enough to handle, as I said." he reminded before taking a brief pause, allowing her a moment before continuing. "As I also said, you will be ready eventually. For the next Gym, for the Conference, and for… things such as this. The time when you are ready will come, but you should never wait for it. You work to prepare for it, long before. Do you understand that?"

Janine stared into Koga's eyes. 'Make my nightmares a reminder. My suffering a lesson.' To learn, rather than forget. To know, rather than endure. To understand why she is among those who bear such an obligation.

"Yes, father."

"...Good…" she was relieved when he leaned back closer to his seat. "Now, outside of certain demons and pests, you have had rather the eventful journey so far, as I should hope. Three badges, an attempt at a fourth, and you've made it all the way back here, from the north instead of the west. The long and difficult way. Nowhere near halfway through the Season. It's a pleasing synopsis, I have to say. Your performance could not be commended enough."

She felt the color in her face restore, and responded with a silent nod and a glint of pride in her gaze.

"And you truly believe you are ready to challenge our Gym?"

If Janine's posture could be any straighter, it was. All strength had returned to her eyes as she opened her mouth. "I am, father."

"Hmmm…" the Gym Leader's fingers tapped the table. "Then I will hold you responsible for keeping that word. You have nine days, and how you use them is to your discretion. I do not need to tell you, but know that I will be as prepared as I expect you to be, as I always am."

She nodded, her expression unchanging. "Of course."

"That is good to hear from you," his tone was sincere and approving, until he moved on. "Before I dismiss you, I feel it is also appropriate to mention the guest you have brought into our home."

Again, she stiffened. She knew that he would mention Ash sooner or later, but it had hardly been the dominating thought for either of them.

"Ash Ketchum," she echoed. "He is from Pallet Town. We paired up back in Celadon and have been traveling together ever since. Our plans for the foreseeable future had been compatible, and we had also been through the…" her expression changed. "Museum, together."

"I see." as the poison Master continued, his face and tone carried their neutral stoicism as much as ever. It was next to impossible to truly tell what or how the Gym Leader was thinking, even for her. "Not many first years could reach this point at this time. I've known that you were an exception, but the majority would be rather unassuming in that position. I am sure you could understand if I was taken aback. What would you have to say about him?"

He was studying her again, but she was no longer stiff. Steel, but not rigid. Focused and not cluttered.

"Ash is a treasured companion and friend." Janine's tone matched her face as she continued looking Koga in the eye. "As much as my own team. I have gotten to know him since we ran into each other at Suzie's salon. On the road, at camp, staying together at the Centers. His own journey has changed him, too. I watched him fight a battle that was very important to him, and win, independently. He was right next to me, going through the same things as me after the…incidents, and it's helped us understand each other." her lips cracked up, forming a tiny smile of affectionate confidence. "He is very strong, and he has a big heart." She finished with a nod. "And he is just as ready for your Gym as I am, father."

He nodded along as she finished, expression still the same. "You certainly have a lot of confidence in him."

"Ash is an extraordinary trainer, father." she affirmed. "He has four badges and made it all the way here just like I did. He did not need me to carry him along the way, he exceeds all expectations. I've seen his progress in real time, as both a trainer and a person."

"Yes, you have." her father agreed. "And if your opinion of him is half as high as you insist, I will not ignore it." without warning, he rose from his seat, and Janine felt herself shrinking once more. "I will await meeting him properly for now; later tonight. Until then, it is about time I take my leave. You are dismissed as well."

Rising to her full height, the girl offered her father a bow before turning to the door. When she was halfway through, his voice froze her. "Janine,"

"Yes?" she looked back at him, hand still holding the door.

"Remember our talk. Everything."

She swallowed again, but did not look away. Never looked away.

"Yes, father."

/

"Down this way, Leader Koga." The guard led Koga, Akira, and two women clad in black into the chamber.

No longer in Shadowblood village, on a separate side of Fuchsia, a section of a prison. The walls were stone, and the lighting was dim. Beneath ground with no windows, one could enter and forget the sun existed. The moment Koga entered the room, his eyes were trained on the shirtless man suspended in an upright position just above the floor, the shackles on his wrists stretching his arms out in a tight grip. Four additional armed guards surrounded him, awaiting the Gym Leader's arrival.

Caesar's large muscles were on full display, as were multiple scars. He was likely to leave with many more.

Drenched in his own sweat, the exhausted prisoner sneered in their direction as Koga, Akira, and the two women entered the room. All eyes were on him, but his followed the poison Master, an avalanche of rage and frustration communicated in a silent gaze.

"Caesar Faylist," Koga scanned the clipboard for a brief refresher before handing it to one of his escorts. "I would ask if you had a pleasant first night and morning, but all evidence to the contrary."

"The demon Gym Leader in the flesh," Caesar smirked through grinded teeth. His hair was even more disheveled than usual. "Come to play with your food, as your kind often does?"

"We are here for business," Koga stated, unfazed by the prisoner's words and expression. Stopping in front of Caesar, the poison Master crossed his arms, and his sword-like gaze pierced through the boiling pot of rage that were the poacher leader's eyes. "How easy or difficult it is depends on yourself. I hardly expect cooperation from somebody like you, but you are welcome to surprise me."

"Tch, and what surprises would want from me, mighty ninja leader?" Caesar's voice was one of twisted, pained sarcasm. "I am certain I could never guess, it's hard to remember with me and my employees stuffed away like waste."

Koga's static expression hid the disgust towards the poor excuse for a human suspended in front of him. "You made the choice to be a waste of space, thus you are dealt with as one." Unclipping a ball from his belt, Koga released a Beedrill close to him in height. The poison bee's red eyes glowed in the dim light as they narrowed at Caesar, and his stingers may have been twice the size of the average Beedrill. Caesar's chest turned, and the expression on his face twisted and shifted, but the anger and disgust in his gaze never fully left. Behind the dangling prisoner, Akira released Typho.

"I lived my life refusing to be controlled," the poacher leered with cautious hostility as Beedrill kept his focus on him, ready to raise a stinger at a moment's notice. "Did I fuck up? Yes, I fucked up by being caught. That's my only regret."

"Ah, yes indeed…" Koga nodded in affirmation. "You have always had history with 'refusing to be controlled', founder of Scarfist Company." The two black-clad women silently stood on either side of the prisoner as Koga's pupils continued to be swords pointed in his direction, just as much as Beedrill's stingers. "Ever since you were a Gym Trainer."

Caesar's eyes flashed. "Koga," he snarled like a dog. "You are treading on some rapidly melting ice, there."

"Over two decades since your expulsion, and your obsession with illegal equipment and misuse is stronger than ever." Koga's gaze bore into the disheveled man with nothing but confident, fatal judgment. "You never stopped loving your experiments, or finding use for them, no matter how immoral. A trove of Pokemon, from common to protected species, sold on the black market to foul customers, no less Team Rocket." He shook his head for a moment, but nothing in his face nor voice changed. "Eighteen children of ages ranging four to nine years old, abducted by your gang and sold to the Rockets to be groomed into terrorists. At least two of those kids are dead now, and the number was just shy of becoming nineteen had yesterday gone as you intended. And yet, you only regret being caught before you had the chance to do more. Have I understood the details, Scarfist?"

"You understand me just about as much as you can see out of your ass." Caesar flinched for a moment as Beedrill's eyes flared, but did not stop talking. "No historically educated mind in Indigo doesn't know about what your family has done, and continues to do to this day, only this time in service of a monopoly that decides people of my tastes don't belong."

"I am not here to debate which of us is more educated, Faylist." Taking out a specially made white cloth, Koga turned to Beedrill, who nodded. The large bee leaned back in midair, exposing his abdominal stinger dripping in poison. Protected by his black gloves, the ninja master wrapped the white cloth around the stinger, applying gentle pressure as the cloth turned from white to pink. As he removed it, and Beedrill returned to his standard position, nothing dripped from the cloth.

"After years of giving our land's scum worthy representation," Koga nodded to Akira as he spoke. "You are finally where you belong, as is half of your gang."

Akira exchanged a look with Typho, the Tangrowth easily separated one of his vines from his body. Taking the vine in his hand, Akira straightened it out, and felt around it with his hands. It was long and sturdy.

Caesar's eyes were locked on the pink cloth. The cloth that now carried Beedrill's most potent venom. "You want me to rat out the other half. Tell you where our hideout is so you can send your closest colleague to raid the place."

"You were only caught last night," Koga walked around Caesar, standing directly at the prisoner's side. Beedrill remained alert, left stinger half raised in the direction of the poacher's abdomen. "We have a small window of time before the rest of your gang grows suspicious. That window will be used to take them by surprise and end the Scarfists for good."

"You say that like I'll just cough it all up," Caesar's gaze remained fixed on the pink cloth in Koga's gloved hand. "Sell out to the League? Is that all?"

"For you? Unfortunately not." Koga's voice remained unchanged as the guards eyed him with mild caution. The black-clad women were as still as statues. "As the leader of a gang in Team Rocket's good graces, I don't doubt you know things that we wish to know. It could be something as serious as the purpose of the Mt. Moon and Lavender Town attacks, or what they want with the Master Ball prototype and blueprints. Or something as trivial as a small bases' location. You know something, and we will be taking it. This is the only warning I am granting you, very much more than you deserve."

Caesar's face was losing color, but his eyes had not lost all of their heat. He attempted to meet his captor's gaze, chewing his lip for a moment.

He shook his head. "No."

Koga's hand moved like lightning. The pink cloth pressed into the prisoner's naked back, and Caesar let out a guttural scream that would haunt the ears of many trained adults. The guards were steadfast, Akira and the black-clad women did not move.

The criminal's howl filled the Gym Leader's ears, and the poison master's only reaction was to apply more pressure. His target shook against the restraints holding him, his attempts at freeing himself as violent as they were fruitless. Four vines from Typho binded him further, and Koga kept the cloth pressed against the man's bare skin, rubbing it across the middle portion of his back. Howls turned to broken up wails as Caesar struggled to find his voice, and catch his breath when Koga pulled the cloth away.

The pain did not leave with the pressure, as the Beedrill poison continued to assault Caesar's skin. Eventually, the middle portion of his back would be scorched a disgusting mix of black and purplish blue. His eyes were wet, but nothing came out.

"A Beedrill's strongest venom comes from their abdominal stinger." Koga calmly passed the cloth to one of the black-clad women, who took a step back to dispose of it. "Gwyniff's diary says this was one of her favorites, albeit they did not have equipment like this cloth back then, and they did it with whips instead of vines." Arms crossed against his chest, the Gym Leader felt very little looking at the writhing man dangling before him. "Are you really so eager to put yourself through this, Faylist?"

"B-Bastards…" Between coughs, Caesar managed to get the word out of his throat. "You really think I haven't been burnt before!?"

"Understand, Faylist," Koga's voice was static, never changing. Just as his eyes never left his prey. "That the inconvenience you force upon us is meager standing next to what you bring upon yourself. Your defiance will not save what remains of your gang. You were the only member fit to lead, without you steering the wheel the rest are a disorganized pile of thugs and you know it. Clients like Team Rocket will not be so willing to invest with you and half the gang out of the picture. They were put on life support the second you were arrested. If you have any dignity in your inhuman soul, you will know to pull the plug. "

Mustering up as much saliva as he could, the criminal spat at the Gym Leader, who's gloved hand once again moved like a blur, deflecting the pointless offense. He broke his gaze only long enough to give a signaling nod to Akira, who was still holding the vine Typho had given him.

Returning the nod, Akira straightened the vine once more, took a stance, and lashed it against the burning wound spread across Caesar's back.

"GAAAAHR!" Caesar's screams returned louder than ever, only to become broken up as the strikes continued in succession. The hideous discoloration in the skin of his back became drizzled with red, and the tears building in his eyes flowed freely down his cheeks. After the first few lashes, Akira paused.

"The location of your base." Koga repeated. "Do you know anything about Team Rocket's past few operations, and how they tie together? Who else in the underworld are you in contact with?"

"F-Ffffuck you…" Caesar's snarl turned to a hiss midway through.

Koga's arms lowered to his sides. "Every fifteen minutes, another captured member of your gang will be dragged in here, alongside yourself."

The flogging resumed.

/

"It took longer than I admittedly expected," In the station's lounge, Koga sat in a cushioned chair against the wall, passing a treat to Beedrill. "But he caved in the end."

"As always," Akira answered from his side of the small, circular table, slowly sipping a mug of steaming black coffee. "But he did not know the more… crucial secrets we want." Typho stood behind him, extending a couple of his vines to offer a snack to a patrol Growlithe across the room, which was accepted.

"I never expected Faylist to have in depth details," the Gym Leader said. "But him being this in the dark is disturbing. The Rockets are guarding certain things very closely to their chest, more so than usual. Whatever overarching plan responsible for their past few atrocities is cause for even more alarm than suspected. Having said that…"

He nodded to the female clan member standing near him. Though she still wore her black uniform, her mask-like scarf was down, and her headgear was off, revealing shoulder-length blonde hair. "We know the location of Scarfist Company's hideout now. Contact the Ecruteak Gym, preferably Leader Morty himself if possible. Give them the location and request that a raid be readied immediately. One day is likely all we have before they realize what must have happened to Faylist and the rest."

The blonde clan member bowed her head. "It will be done, Leader Koga." was all she said before swiftly turning to make her leave.

Akira watched her go for a moment before turning back to Koga. "I am worried about a few of Scarfist Company's Pokemon that we have in our custody. From what we know, a few of them are not likely to pass evaluation."

"Faylist's Zangoose in particular." Koga nodded matter-of-factly. "In all but certain likelihood, he will need to be put down. Make sure Janine's friend is not made aware of that: She naturally knows of the process, but for now it is best that Mr. Ketchum remains ignorant."

"On some levels," Akira's frown was barely visible. "He is the cause of Zangoose's likely inevitable death, since he was the one who stopped Caesar in the end."

"A fact that can only hurt him if he was to know." Koga's response was simple, and his cousin nodded in agreement.

"Sensei! Leader Koga" The two and their Pokemon turned to see Len approaching them with uncharacteristic haste. They both rose from their seats before he had closed the remaining distance.

"What's happened, Len?" Akira demanded. "Is Connie okay?"

"Her parents just picked her up." Stopping in front of them, the brunette boy briefly bowed his head. As he straightened himself, his gray eyes came into view, mildly distressed. "At their request, Ace Trainer Aya enlisted a teleporter to escort them back to Sunnytown. But we have a problem."

"Yes? Speak." Koga insisted.

Len took a breath before pointing. "Out the window."

The Gym Leader's eyes narrowed in curious suspicion before walking over to the nearest window and opening the blinds. Almost immediately, something was wrong. His gaze turned skyward, and then to alarm.

"Cousin?" As Beedrill and Typho joined him and Len, Akira detected the shift in the poison master's mood. So did Beedrill. "What's happening outside?"

"The sky…" Koga backed away just enough to offer them room. "It wasn't supposed to look like this today."

On a day with a perfectly clear weather forecast, the sky above Fuchsia City was blanketed in thick, gray clouds. Just before looking away, he spotted a spark of lightning in the far distance.

/

Fuchsia City was gorgeous in the daytime. The countless weeks of travel had slowly given Ash a new appreciation for the outdoor world, in a way that he may not have fully realized until now. Nothing would ever beat the comfort of civilization, but he found himself admitting that nature had more than a little to offer. At the same time, for as overwhelming as the big cities were, there was also something to be admired about their level of grandiosity and scope, yet the modest familiarity of towns like Pallet and Lavender provided something far more simple.

Being in Fuchsia City felt like the best of three worlds. It had the size, as well as sense of scale and importance of the other major cities, yet it did not feel nearly as overwhelming in spite of those qualities. Its atmosphere was missing something present in a place like Celadon or Saffron. What perhaps went hand in hand with that was how the city felt a lot more natural than the others. They were certainly in the middle of civilization, yet there was nature just about everywhere. It must have been the most unique town or city that he had been to thus far, apart from Lavender and its abundance of ghosts prior to an incident Ash dared not dwell over at a time like this.

Today was supposed to be pleasant, after all. Fun but relaxing. It was what he and Janine were shooting for as she led the way through the city that she clearly knew like the back of her hand. Fuchsia dwarfed Pallet, yet it quickly became obvious to Ash that his friend had her home city just as mapped out as he had his hometown.

Joining the pair on their "tour" were Ivysaur (who seemed to find certain spots somewhat familiar), Toxtricity, Pikachu, Valiant, and Tempest. Ash was a bit surprised the Kingler had not elected to stay behind and break in his evolution with light training, but silently wondered if the river crab preferred to do so with him present to coach and/or observe him. Or maybe his increased appetite had persuaded him to be around when the group took a lunch break. Fuchsia's respected cuisine extended to Pokemon food, and when they did stop, the water type seemed all too content enjoying a bowl twice the size of the others.

They were currently taking their break at an outdoor restaurant that Janine had visited often before becoming a trainer. It did not take many bites of his dish for Ash to have an idea why; perhaps it was just the unique taste of Fuchsian food that made the dish feel new and exciting, but he was already starting to dread the fact that he would inevitably run out. Their Pokemon seemed to find equal enjoyment in their own food, particularly Tempest, who seemed more Munchlax than Kingler for the moment. The water type prioritized eating over talking, but was still fully listening to the light conversation as Pikachu, Valiant, Ivysaur, and Toxtricity commented on the surrounding area together, and would occasionally offer a word or two of his own before returning to his meal.

Ash could see the content nostalgia in Janine's eyes as she sat next to him, exchanged words with a waiter she clearly knew quite well, and enjoyed her food. Watching her up close, Ash could not help the mild and perhaps immature envy creeping into him as she used her chopsticks as casually as he could ever imagine using a fork or spoon. He was grateful to the waiter for offering the utensils he was used to using, but seeing how effortless Janine made it appear gave him the urge to practice.

The poison specialist probably would have been significantly more comfortable if it were not for the wandering eyes of the other patrons. Throughout the tour, occasional whispers of "she's back" "it's her" and "who's that she's with" were barely audible, and about halfway through, it became easier to tell she was putting in effort to ignore them. She thankfully appeared more at ease now, but the food could only distract her so much.

It could only distract him so much as well. Ash would catch himself glancing back whenever it felt like somebody was looking his way, or more accurately, looking her way and noticing him there by extension. The whole group had been a magnet for subtle yet hard to ignore attention. The restaurant was not too crowded, which was fortunate in some ways and less in others. It made it all the more obvious when they were being looked at on purpose rather than by chance.

Ash could have sworn he could feel the wind beginning to pick up, subconsciously raising a hand to grip his cap when a recent gust felt like it would be a strong one, but thankfully was not. He was about to return to his lunch (which was regrettably almost finished) when Janine spoke.

"Aunt Aya isn't always around, since her Ace Trainer duties take her away from home often, but whenever available, she would take me out." she reminisced Sometimes just the two of us, and sometimes with Kris. This is one of our common spots. Everything is fresh and organic, and the cooks love experimenting with specials. I usually stick to the regulars, personally, but I don't know if I've seen Kris order the same dish twice."

He offered her a friendly nod. "It's good. Although I feel like I'm the only one with a fork…" his cheeks turned the lightest shade of red.

"It's not a big deal," she assured. "Most places in Indigo do not commonly use chopsticks anymore, so it's completely normal for someone from elsewhere to eat with a fork. Besides, chopsticks aren't all we use either, compared to the old days. We keep them around as a tradition."

"Tradition," he echoed. "Fuchsia is known for being very traditional."

"Mhm," she hummed. "And we are proud to be."

A noise from Toxtricity caught his attention. Next to him, Janine purposefully did not look away from her food as he turned to look back at their Pokemon, already knowing what Toxtricity was commenting on. The pair that had just sat down across from them were the latest on the list of those who seemed to recognize Janine: A couple of teenagers with a Skitty between them. They accidentally made eye contact with him as he noticed them.

In front of him, Tempest (who was also nearing the end of his meal) leered at the pair with a smirk and began clicking his pincers. The Skitty's face turned pale, hiding behind his supposed trainers' legs as the two looked away.

Rolling his eyes, Ash reached over to tap the Kingler on the back. His shell was even harder than it looked. "Knock it off, big guy." Though he was mildly annoyed by the uninvited attention, he was hardly looking for a fight, for as much as Tempest (and Toxtricity, probably) would be open to one starting. The Skitty's reaction also made him feel guilty - Tempest had to be at least three times his size.

Tempest did not seem very apologetic, but obeyed without argument. Another gust of wind came on, this one lasting slightly longer than the first. It almost made Ash feel a bit cold.

"Was it supposed to be windy today?" he asked, wondering if Janine had the answer.

"No…" she replied, setting aside her finished dish for the waiter to collect. "It's a bit strange. Today was supposed to be a typical clear day."

"I guess the forecast could have been a bit… off…" he almost trailed off when he spotted Pikachu from the corner of his eye. The mouse's fur was standing up, and his ears were twitching. "Buddy?" Then he noticed Toxtricity, whose body was oddly tense as his frills seemed to vibrate. "What are you two… feeling?" The two electric types looked around before their gazes fell on him. Confusion was written on Pikachu's face, and suspicion on Toxtricity's. As Valiant looked at them, the Kirlia grew just about as tense as they were.

Turning to look at them, Janine's eyes narrowed in confused concern. "Normally that would happen in a storm," as Ivysaur began to ask Pikachu and Toxtricity what was wrong, his trainer's head slowly tilted skyward. "But there's not supposed to be one today…" After a moment or two, her eyes shone with alarm, and Ash grew alert.

"What is it?" the little bit of his remaining food was forgotten.

"Sky." her voice had changed like the flip of a switch, focused to an almost deadly degree. He followed her finger upwards, and blinked.

Gray clouds were on the horizon. And the wind was picking up again.

"That definitely was not in the forecast." The girl was out of her seat, and her behavior was beginning to catch the attention of the remaining patrons.

On any other day, it may have felt weird to be anxious about the weather, but Ash's spine tingled. Any way one looked at it, this wasn't normal. "Should we go back?"

Janine was about to answer when a new voice cut her off. "Janine! Ash!"

The girl recognized the voice in an instant, and Ash recognized it the moment he turned to see its owner: Ace Trainer Aya was running toward them, her uniform overtaking her niece as the eye magnet.

"Aunt Aya!" On a normal day, Janine likely would have looked thrilled to see the green-haired woman, but today, the girl's face and voice were as serious as someone her age could get. "What's happening?"

Aya seemed more than a little relieved when she stopped in front of the group. "I was hoping you'd be here. We need to get you all back to the village, now."

"Does this have something to do with that?" Ash pointed to the clouds, which suddenly seemed to be advancing faster than before. Unless they were always going at that speed…

"Yes." The Ace Trainer's nod was as stiff as her face was steel. Right now, she was not the woman that Ash had befriended at Bill's place, or Janine's aunt. She was a soldier. And she certainly sounded like one when she turned to the rest of the people present, almost all of whom had their gazes fixed on her at this point. "Everyone! A storm of unknown origin is coming in from the north! Get to shelter immediately!" Her voice rose across the surrounding area, and Ash was shocked at how booming her volume could be without use of a microphone. Did the League teach that too?

The frantic yet authoritative command of an Ace Trainer was not so easily ignored, especially in a city as unquestionably devoted to the League as Fuchsia. Not a single person questioned Aya's announcement, everybody moved.

The next gust of wind was stronger than the ones before, and Ash did not have time to reach up and secure his cap. He cursed out loud when it flew off of his head, but Ivysaur's vines snatched it before the wind could sweep it away.

Ash allowed himself a small sigh of relief - but nothing more - when Ivysaur wordlessly handed the cap back to him. "Thank you, Ivysaur." Ivysaur allowed himself a tiny smile and a nod, but nothing more than that. The exchange was forgotten a second later, as their focus returned to the matter at hand.

"So much for dessert…" Janine's tone and face were a mix of seriousness and dejection.

/

The thunder had started crackling right as they got back to the village. It had thankfully taken surprisingly long for the storm to start producing rain, but the group was not as dry as they would have preferred returning to the mansion. The rain itself was barely even a side event, however. Ash would remember the storm for the lightning and thunder, both of which had steadily increased in frequency until the sky above had essentially become a lightshow of electrical fireworks - and just about as loud. The wind was not modest either, but thankfully capped sooner than the lightning and thunder.

Aya had excused herself almost immediately after settling in. No doubt she had to meet with Koga and the others. Ash and Janine had asked her if she knew anything about the alarming storm, but the only thing anybody knew was that it had come from the north.

Ash tried not to let the sudden anxiety of the mysterious storm distract him. Whatever it was, the League would figure it out. That would not stop the storm itself from being a constant distraction. Closing the curtains helped with the lightning, but he could barely hear himself think with the constant thunder, especially since it wasn't exactly quiet. Janine was the same, which had thankfully given her the idea to show him around the mansion's lower level.

Ash always associated "lower level" with a basement. A dark, or at least dim, storage area beneath a house with an unmistakable smell to it. That's what it was back at home, anyway. The Kyo mansion's "basement", on the other hand, could not have been further away from that. It was essentially an entire floor of its own, and a fairly impressive one at that, complete with its own hallways and sections just like any other. And since they were underground, exploring it was a decent enough escape from the storm. Although the thunder was still audible, it was not nearly as loud down here.

Ash recalled Koga saying that the mansion had its own built-in dojo and battlefield, in addition to the one located above ground, and this lower level was where they were. The arena was a standard, basic battlefield with no gimmicks, although the field was a unique color, being a darker blue. Apparently, it was estimated to be about halfway between the size of a Pokemon Center's battlefield and a Gym's battlefield. On either side was a small set of stands for people to sit in, although even with there not being nearly as many seats compared to what he was used to seeing in the Gyms, Ash wasn't sure how likely this arena would be to see a full house. It mostly existed for casual and training purposes, after all.

Connected to the battlefield was the dojo, which was equipped to train both Pokemon and people (as Ash also recalled Koga saying). When they arrived, two clan members were sparring with katanas on one of the mats, while another was in the middle of throwing shurikens at targets, and almost every one hit perfectly - at least, that was how it looked to Ash's untrained eyes.

The other section of the "basement" almost felt like a miniature museum of sorts. Hardly a dedicated one, the clan had that elsewhere in the village, but there were paintings and replicas recording some of the clan's most significant history.

Such as the one she was showing him right now.

The beautifully framed painting was hung on the wall in a spot that ensured it would be impossible to miss. It was of an armored woman, standing amidst a clashing backdrop that split the painting in half. On the left side of the painting, the scenery behind her was a field of grass and a starry night sky. On the right side, the background was a highly contrasting rocky landscape beneath a stormy sky lit up with lightning. The woman in question was facing to the left, although her positioning ensured she would be returning the gaze of whoever looked at the painting. Her hand grasped the hilt of her sword, which rested against the ground at the tip. She had a mane of black hair that looked like it was flowing with the wind, and purple eyes. By all means, she was a strikingly beautiful woman, but her face conveyed far more than just that. Her expression was the stoic, mild glare of a warrior who had fought a thousand battles, yet barely seemed fazed. Just ready.

"Gwiniff Kyo." Janine stood next to him, head angled upwards in a mirrored position to his own as both gazed at the painting. Her voice was slightly somber, only just barely enough to be noticed. "The first leader of the clan, and my… ancestor." she went silent for a moment, and her eyes briefly fell on the plaque nearby. "It would probably be best if you heard the story at the museum. The full story. There is… a lot."

He nodded. He had not considered it too much prior, being here now had abruptly sparked his curiosity. Nonetheless, as an outsider who knew very little, learning with the full context was likely preferable.

"It's a good looking painting." he said.

She agreed. "Her brother in law was one of the greatest artists of the time, Seymour Sennfence. A lot of the most famous Fuchsian paintings of that era were done by him." her gaze then moved to the glass case near the painting. "And this…"

Ash had briefly looked at the contents of the case when they had gotten to the exhibit. Just from that quick moment, he had felt unsettled. Now, really focusing his full attention on it had brought the entire winter season to his back.

It was a mask, crafted in the shape of a crowned serpent with very real looking fangs. The mask's gaze was hollow, yet hostile. Calm, yet angry. As stoic and prepared to kill as the greatest predator. And it was to be worn on somebody's face.

"This is Shadowblood's mask." Janine's expression and tone of voice did not change when looking at the mask. No twitching, and no voice cracks. She looked upon and spoke of it as though it were a jug of fresh milk. "Shadowblood was Gwyniff's alias, and is effectively just as much her identity as her birth name. During the Kanto Unification War, it was the name she was known as. What she was referred to as. And this is the mask she wore. To those on the battlefield, this was her face. And Shadowblood was her name."

"She wore this?" Ash echoed. He knew that the Unification War had a collection of fascinating stories to it, most of all how it had ended with the founding of the Indigo League, Albert Seiza being blessed by the Guardian Mew himself.

"Indeed. It is sacred and priceless to our family." Above them, the muffled rumbles of thunder could still be heard as Janine continued. "Of course, this one is merely a replica. The real mask is the exclusive property of the Clan leader - the Gym Leader. Only they are permitted to handle the true, original mask, just as Gwyniff allowed nobody but herself to handle it back then. It has become a treasure."

'Treasure.' Ash repeated to himself. A treasure of Indigo's history, connected to the family that Janine came from. It may have been the strongest reminder he had received in the past twenty four hours. The feeling that he had stepped into a completely different world. And she had come from that world.

/

They had remained in the underground levels after the "tour" was finished. They spent most of that time simply relaxing. Talking. Commenting on some of the things they had a chance to see in the city before the storm had interrupted them. Hearing a little bit about some of the clan members he had not met yet.

Right now, probably hours later, they sat together on the side of the battlefield while Tempest and Tentacruel engaged in light sparring activities. Valiant sat next to Ash, content to simply watch rather than participate himself.

"He told you how he met that one, right, Janine?" They looked over their shoulders to see Aya approaching them. The hardened expression she had bore earlier was mostly gone. Though still in her uniform, she appeared far more casual and laid back than the other adults had been, and he found himself happy to see the green-haired woman's grin again. "Room for one more?"

"Absolutely!" Janine's eyes lit up in pleasant surprise, quickly gesturing for her aunt to sit next to her. As Aya made herself comfortable, she patted the girl's head. "And do you mean how Ash met Tempest?" At the Ace Trainer's nod, Janine offered Ash a quick, acknowledging glance before redirecting her attention back to Tempest and Tentacruel, who were practicing Surf together now. "He was hired to catch Tempest by a researcher living on Cerulean's coast. The same place he met you."

A split second chuckle sounded from Aya's throat. "Heh, I felt a bit nostalgic, I guess. I know that crab was a load of trouble back then, but from the looks of it, things turned out pretty well."

Valiant must have known Ash was glancing at him, as he was quick to return his trainer's gaze before the two looked back at the Kingler. The Kirlia's arms were crossed, but he seemed fairly content. Ash patted his head for a moment,

"There were… a lot of speed bumps," he admitted. "Some worse than others. But I'm happy with our progress. I'm glad it worked."

"Just about every great trainer has one of those," Aya replied. "A difficult teammate, I mean. You'll see for yourself too one day, Janine." When the woman locked eyes with him, Ash's lips curved up, and it almost felt involuntary. The approval in those eyes felt… comforting, yet not coddling. "I'm proud you rose to that occasion, Ash."

"Thanks, Aya." he said. Then he perked up. "So, did the storm…" it suddenly occurred to him that he had not heard any thunder for a bit, and if she was here now…

Aya nodded, her face a bit more neutral now. "It passed by. We have power outage reports mostly coming from the northeastern side of the city, but thankfully nothing catastrophic. My brother is in touch with meteorologists, and early speculation is that the storm was losing strength on land prior to hitting the city. A couple of villages to the north…" she sighed. "Got it pretty bad. And now that the storm is on the ocean, it's going to be regaining strength."

"Hopefully it doesn't hit the Sevii Islands." Janine frowned.

"I feel the same," Aya nodded. "But… if I were you two, I'd do my best to keep your mind off of that. Stuff like this isn't something you should be stressing over unless you absolutely need to. Leave it to us, trust me."

Ash was still a bit stressed, but even just hearing the news that the storm had passed through was enough to relieve some of it. So he nodded. "Alright, Aya. You know best."

"I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it." Janine agreed before realizing something else. "Speaking of… weren't you and Len with Connie?"

Ash's eyes widened. Connie! How could he forget her? The sudden storm had thrown everything off, even more than he realized.

Aya noticed the change in his expression immediately. "You don't have to worry, she's safe. In fact, her parents have already picked her up."

Ash felt his expression deflate, as well as something inside his chest and stomach. "Wait, you mean…"

"They already left?" Janine finished for him.

Aya nodded sympathetically. "Yes… her parents were… in a state, honestly. I'm not sure I've ever seen people so relieved before. They wanted to get back home with her as soon as possible. And to be honest, that's probably for the best in hindsight. They just beat the storm."

That was for the best, now that she brought it up, but Ash still couldn't help the empty feeling inside of him. Connie was safe and sound, and that was far and away what mattered to him the most, but she was also… just gone. Just like that.

Aya's arm reached over Janine, resting a hand on him. "I know you wanted to see her off, Ash. But I promise, it wasn't anything personal. Connie's parents… Len told them what you did. They know." her other hand reached into one of her pockets. "And Connie wanted to say goodbye too, see?"

She pulled out an envelope.

"Here," Aya handed it to Ash. "She wrote this letter, and asked me to give it to you."

Janine watched Ash open the envelope, but did not say anything as he pulled out the paper and unfolded it.

Dear Ash,

I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more. I was really scared, but mom says writing can be easier sometimes. Thank you so much for saving me from those bad people. I keep imagining myself back there, and it's really scary, but then I remember that you came and got me out. And you stood up to that scary boss man all by yourself. You and your Pokemon are amazing! I hope you get a hundred badges one day.

From Connie.

P.S. I'm really good at drawing, I hope you like it!

A small heart had been used to dot the "I" in her name.

Ash's eyes felt misty, and he wasn't sure if Valiant curling up against him in response mitigated or furthered it. He couldn't tell if the smile on his face was sad or content, either, and Janine was giving him a similar look.

"You saved that girl's life, Ash." he felt her hand gently wrap around his wrist, and for some reason his cheeks were a bit wet now. "Just like Caleb."

"Y-Yeah…" he couldn't stop them anymore, the tears were flowing slowly but freely, and Valiant snuggled deeper into him. Janine's free arm wrapped around him to pull him in.

"Just let it out, Ash." Aya encouraged softly.

He wasn't fully sure why he was crying, but he allowed himself too. And for some reason, it almost felt relieving.

"T-Thanks for giving me this…" he managed to say, when he was ready to stop.

"Don't mention it," the Ace Trainer pointed at the envelope. "The letter's not the only thing in there, remember."

Blinking (his eyes still felt a bit wet when he did that), Ash picked the envelope back up, and wiped his face with his shirt to dry some of the lingering tears. He pulled out a second piece of paper to unfold, unsure of its contents. The others looked at him curiously as he opened it up. A small, comfortable smile formed on his still somewhat wet face.

It was a drawing of a Kingler.

"She wasn't kidding," Janine's eyes twinkled. "That's a really good one."

"She was really proud when she showed it to me," Aya reminisced. "She's a sweet kid."

"Yeah…" Ash agreed. He stared at the picture for a few seconds longer before looking up to Tempest and Tentacruel. "Hey, Tempest!"

The two water types paused for a moment, looking back at Ash curiously. Tempest shuffled over to the group, and Tentacruel followed but gave him some space.

Ash's smile was stretched a bit wider when he held the picture in front of Tempest. "From Connie. It's you."

The Kingler blinked, and his face was difficult to read, outside of the fact that he was clearly surprised. Next to Ash, Valiant chuckled lightly.

"Excuse me, Mr. Ketchum."

Akira was approaching them now, his expression even and tranquil as he observed the group. "My apologies for interrupting, but Leader Koga would like to speak with you in his office before dinner. Alone."

It was sort of like someone had turned a knob inside of him. The river of emotions in Ash was slowly replaced by a new one, and he felt his hands tightening at the man's words. He looked back at Janine and Aya. The latter locked eyes with him again, giving him a small, quick nod that might have been difficult for Akira to notice. Then he looked back at Akira himself.

He stood up, carefully slipping the letter and drawing back into the envelope. Janine offered to hold onto it, for which he thanked her.

"Alright," he said. "I'm coming." Akira waited for the boy to approach him before turning around and beginning to walk.

Janine watched them go, and did not catch onto her whitening face until Valiant looked back at her. She realized she was making eye contact with the Kirlia, and looked away - not too quickly so as not to offend him. Tempest gave the envelope in her hand another look before offering Valiant a quick nod and heading back to Tentacruel.

She felt Aya's hand on her shoulder, and some of the tension in her muscles subside. She offered a small, mixed smile in response, which was returned more steadfastly by her aunt.

/

The trip to Koga's office was wordless. Ash briefly considered trying to start some small talk, but kept biting back his words, suspicious that it wouldn't have much of a point to it. Akira never looked back at him, as if the man already knew that Ash was following.

Ash's stomach clenched as his escort came to a stop in front of a door at the end of a hallway. As Akira turned to face him, the boy could see the plaque on the door, unambiguously reading "Koga's Study."

"Right this way, Ketchum." There was no hostility in Akira's voice when he stepped aside and gestured to the door. There was no encouragement. No reassurance. There wasn't anything in the man's voice, it was just a vehicle to deliver a message. There was no opinion to be expressed along with it, almost as if there was no room.

"Thank you, sir." Ash lowered his head to the soldier before walking past him. His hand gently rested on the doorknob like it was fragile enough to crumble at the touch. Then he turned it. Once he was far enough into the room, the door closed behind him, with no ceremony.

Koga was standing next to the bookshelf, reading something before his head raised. Like a homing missile, his eyes were locked onto Ash's without effort, and the boy felt stiff.

"Ash Ketchum," when the Gym Leader closed his book, Ash felt his blood going cold as he spoke his name. Koga turned away just long enough to return the book to the shelf, before his undivided attention was back on him. For a moment or two, Ash wanted to look anywhere else. At the computer, even though it was off. At the bookshelf, even though he did not know what was on it. It was a fleeting desire; he kept his gaze on Koga, and wondered if the walls surrounding them were going to start coming closer.

They were not on a battlefield, about to face each other for a badge. They were not in a lobby. They had no company. He was simply alone with one of the most powerful people in Indigo. A man who could probably reach over and kill him in roughly a dozen ways with no Pokemon or weapons involved. The look on Janine's father's face wasn't blank, but it wasn't clear, either. It was as though he had deliberately turned his face into a mask.

The master gestured to the seat in front of his desk. "Sit, please." Ash obeyed, and Koga continued as he prepared to sit across from the boy. "Last night," he started officially. "We obviously never had the chance to properly be introduced. Regrettable, that is, but I think we have a window of downtime to have a proper word." He straightened himself in his seat, one hand resting on the edge of the desk while the other remained invisible. "Now, before either of us say anything else, I want to take the time to offer you both my thanks and congratulations for defeating Caesar. He was long overdue."

"I…" Ash cursed himself for pausing after a single syllable. "It was my team who did it, too."

"Yes, it was." The Gym Leader nodded. "Thanks to your collective actions yesterday, we now have the location of the gang's hideout, and a raid is already being put together to purge it."

"Purge." Ash repeated. "As in capture, or…"

"Whichever proves to be necessary." Koga's voice did not change, and the look on his face was static. He was simply stating a fact, there was no need for fanfare to go along with it. "By this time tomorrow night, Scarfist Company will be nothing more than a memory that only exists in the books. An attractive sum will be paid to your account as well, for your service, on my behalf."

"Thank you, sir." Ash got the words out more evenly this time, and made sure he did not break eye contact. Koga's gaze felt like it was going straight through him, but even when he felt the Butterfree in his stomach, the boy would not look away.

"There is nothing for you to thank me for," Koga's tone remained static, no signs of humbleness or reassurance. "I am repaying an important service that was done. You have done more than capture one man; Caesar "Scarfist" Faylist is no Rocket Executive, or even a Rocket at all. But to the Rockets, he had value, and his gang was an appreciated asset to their farce of a cause. His capture will lead to the entire group's downfall; the Rockets will have one less spoon to keep them fed, and Indigo's underworld will become slightly smaller." The poison master only lowered his head for a moment, but even in that self contained moment, it felt slightly wrong. "That is a debt the League rightfully owes you."

The implications were a lot more clear to the boy coming straight from the Gym Leader's mouth. It was the kind of thing that was nearly impossible to consider in the moment, when he was fighting for his life, but Koga spoke of the domino effect as though it was second nature.

"Moving on," and then Koga left the subject with no spectacle, removing his hand from the edge of the table to cross his arms. "You have come to my city seeking a Soul Badge, I would naturally imagine."

Ash's eyes stayed locked on Koga's. "I have, sir."

"Hmmm…" One of Koga's hands reached into the desk, and the next thing Ash knew, a folder was sitting in front of the ninja master. "I must confess I was rather taken aback to learn that a first year with your level of experience had made his way here from the north at this time of the Season. Had it not been for the incident with Scarfist Company, I may have entertained the assumption that you relied on Janine to do the necessary lifting on the way here. Had I not known better." His gaze was back to Ash's face. "I do, however. Meaning you can not plan on me underestimating you."

His eyes were like swords again, and for a moment, Ash wondered if Koga was looking at his chest. A cold hand wrapped around his heart. "Okay."

"Do you understand?"

"I do, sir."

Koga was silent for a moment. Ash wanted him to talk, to banish that silence. But he wasn't sure if that was what he really wanted.

The Gym Leader looked back at the folder, opening it without so much as a grunt. Ash did not try to read the paper that came into view - and even if he had, it was upside down from his perspective.

"You scored a ninety overall on the Indigo League Qualification Exam," Koga looked back up at him. "A very respectable grade. It does not exactly represent your performance throughout school, however."

Ash's knuckles tightened. He was glad his hands were not visible to the Gym Leader, in case he would have gotten the wrong idea.

Koga clearly saw the twitch in his expression, though. "It seems a lot has changed about you, the sign of a productive training experience. I wonder if you've ever thought about what has spurred that."

Confused, Ash raised a brow. "What do you mean?" It was true that he had changed a lot since leaving home. He was stronger now. Had made friends. Grew more confident. Was there some special answer Koga was looking for?

"With that attitude you'll never figure it out." Koga's inflection was matter-of-fact, but Ash felt like he had just been handed a paper with a large red zero on it. The master closed the folder, setting it aside but not putting it away before making eye contact again. "You should know, Ketchum, this morning my daughter looked me in the eye and sang your praises."

"She did…" Ash's foot tapped the floor a few times, but he stopped before it could go on. He felt grateful. Anxious. Curious.

"Janine is a prodigy among the cream of the crop, but she is not incapable of recognizing the talents of others. She was taught better than to be dismissive." Koga's hands folded over the table in front of him. "That does not quite seem to be how she looks at you, however. There seems to be a myriad of forms her respect for you takes, far more than simple acknowledgement. And regardless of whatever statistics you and I are both aware exist, the fact remains that you are a trainer with four badges, and have earned both the privilege and burden of being looked at as one."

Ash's hands clenched again. Pikachu scaling an Onix and sending him on an earth-shaking collision course with an Iron Tail to the head. Eevee bashing an Espeon into submission. Gary's Wartortle failing to rise from Pikachu's final attack. A Zangoose falling in defeat in front of Tempest. They were all scenes that replayed in his mind.

"I will ask you officially, Mr. Ketchum. Do you believe you are ready to challenge my Gym?"

His question was a needle, his voice a syringe, and Ash was reminded in a manner he would never forget, that the man he was talking to may have been the most dangerous person he had ever conversed with, Caesar long forgotten. And the father of someone who he had spent over a month traveling, eating, training, and doing everything with.

The next path on the road to the Indigo Plateau went directly through this man.

"Yes…" he knew before Koga even spoke that the Gym Leader would not be satisfied with his midway pause. Or maybe he had broken eye contact by accident, but he was not entirely sure. "I am."

"You are what?" This time, Koga's voice was a weight. It pressed down against the boy's shoulders while entering his ears.

Ash released his clenched hands. He focused his gaze, embracing the bladed gaze of the poison master's eyes. "I am challenging you for the Soul Badge, sir."

Koga leaned back against his seat, but his posture remained mostly intact. "Then it is done. You did not, however, give me a satisfactory answer to my other question. So much progress you've made in over three months, but what really gives you your strength, Ketchum? Have you identified your foundation, and have you ever considered what would happen if something broke it?"

"I…" Ash blinked again, but did not turn his head. Koga's presence demanded he not. "I'm afraid I don't entirely know what you mean by that, sir." he finally confessed.

"Then think about it. I'll wait."

Ash closed his eyes, hoping a break from the atmosphere would collect his thoughts. He made sure to open them before speaking again. "I have a wonderful family who's gotten stronger alongside me. They have helped me do things I never thought I could have done, and reach places I never thought I'd be at. Like here. And it makes me happy, and feel like I don't have to worry as much about what others might think of me. I know how I think of myself. I've earned my own approval."

Koga studied Ash's face, and the boy could do nothing but wonder in what way the Gym Leader - Janine's father - was observing him. Was it approval? Plain observation? Judgment?

"It seems you are capable of a partial answer,' the master finally spoke again, after what Ash suspected was not quite as long as it half felt. There was something in Koga's eyes that stiffened his muscles again, even if only to a tiny degree. Like he was thinking of the most effective way to slip a knife between his ribs. "But I am not sure if you understand everything you have said. If you have looked for any cracks in your outlook, or conversely any strengths that may reinforce it."

It may have been the ambiguity of Koga's response that tensed his nerves more than a straightforward criticism or rejection likely would have.

"It is an answer that may come to you in time," the Gym Leader continued, pulling something out of his pocket. "I recommend you deconstruct yourself and your own journey, before I have the chance to do it for you." As if to prove his point, he did not provide Ash with the opportunity to allow those words to sink in. "You know of the Safari Zone, of course."

"I-I do, sir." Ash tried his best to rediscover the sturdiness he had spoken with before. Koga's tongue had poked a hole in his bucket.

"It is a rather special - and important, I might add - place, and one where a trainer's approach can never be quite the same." he held out the object he had removed from his pocket. It was a pass. "With my special permission, you will be permitted entrance. If you can make one visit with no prior experience going in, come out with an additional Pokemon, and prevail in my Gym, I will give you a TM of great value to a trainer such as myself."

Ash took the pass from Koga's hand, and stared at the Safari Zone logo. He was not sure what his mind should be racing about - what special move Koga was speaking of, what Pokemon he could find to add to his team, whether or not he'd walk away empty handed…

He chose to pocket the pass. The racing thoughts could wait. "I accept," his preferred, sturdy tone of voice was back, and he bowed his head. "Thank you, sir."

"That remains to be seen," Koga replied. Now he put the folder away. "Our battle will be scheduled nine days from now. In that time, you may do whatever you wish to prepare, and you will come to my Gym prepared for the longest day of your life." he spoke like his tongue was made of ice. "You are free to stay here as well, and make use of our training facilities and equipment. You are a guest of this family as much as a challenger of our Gym, and for as long as you are under my roof and looking to acquire my Soul Badge, you are expected to take both equally seriously."

"Of course, Leader Koga." Ash made sure his response conveyed the utmost understanding. In this time, Koga had either kept his expectations of him entirely hidden - or Ash had failed to gauge what they were. He would leave this study, and this conversation, not knowing what he needed to do: to prove one of the greatest trainers - and figures - in all of Indigo right, or wrong. To not disappoint him, or to surprise him.

…

But he knew what he wanted to do, and there was only one way to do it. He would, and nine days was the allotted time to plan, discover, and figure out how.

"Very well," Koga rose to full height. "And on that note, the dining room awaits us. Come."

/

This time, the large table in the dining room was mostly full when Ash and Koga arrived. Light chatter defined the mood of the room before all heads turned to the late arrivals. For a moment, Ash watched the Gym Leader, who made his way across the room and took his seat at the head of the table. On either side of him were Janine and Aya, sitting across from one another in chairs that had been empty for months. Akira was next to Janine, and Ash could see Len and Ruunia seated elsewhere.

He found an open seat about halfway across the table, hand resting on the chair for a moment as he felt a couple sets of eyes on him. Silent, he sat down and pushed himself in.

His eyes fell on Janine, who was speaking to Akira after giving a nod to her father. She saw him, and offered only a light smile before he looked away.

The cooks brought out the food, and the chatter momentarily died down. Brooks was there, but did not go to his side of the table. Another chef was soon near him and the person next to him, setting down the dishes that had must have become ready less than five minutes ago, if even that.

'We are in Fuchsia City.'