Sir Aaron picked through the fruit bowl he had served himself for breakfast. The morning was slow, everyone seemingly still half asleep. Exhaustion from the previous night's events still clinging on to the lab residents with a crooked warm hand.

Ash and Goh sat at the dining table, the former eating with one eye closed, and Goh barely touching his food. The Pokémon seemed energetic enough. Even the new arrivals, Pichu and Pikachu had been chatting with their mouths full almost throughout the meal, with Raboot looking on them in mellow disgust. Riolu had tried to sit as close to the Lucario as possible when eating, and Sir Aaron knew that he'd have to remind his future self not to tease his partner about. Umbreon had followed Amanda up the stairs when the young woman left to take the shower, she had forgotten to do last night.

"Well, aren't we a lively group this morning," Sir Aaron said.

"I think my spirit still in bed," Goh said.

"It's not," Ash said.

"And how would you know…Oh, never mind," Goh groaned and rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands.

Ash had a mischievous smile on his tired face.

Sir Aaron told himself not the laugh.

Footsteps came down the stair case, drawing the knight attention, and at the sight of his niece the knight nearly spat out his tea.

Amanda, was dressed in a black long-sleeve leather jacket with a navy-blue shirt underneath, tight dark blue jeans, with short black leather boots, that only came up past her ankles. Her hair was in the same style as last night, short and spikey, black with blue streaks, and still keeping her ears hidden from view. A pair of blue rimmed spectacles sitting on her nose. However, those weren't the fashion choice that made the knight freeze.

It was the black ink that painted her eyes, and lips. The black made her look paler, more corpse like. The ink surrounding her eyes and placed on their lids, made the white of them pop out, drawing attention towards them and their odd emptiness. While the black of her lips drew attention to the ring in her nose, and caller ribbon tightly bound around her neck.

By Arceus, please let this be a fashion choice, and his niece actually wasn't part of a thrall.

"Well, I take you all aren't morning people," Amanda said.

"Nope," Ash said.

"I hope you'll be awake when we need to get on our flight," Amanda said.

"Are you hungry?" Sir Aaron said, "I could try to make you something. Just nothing to complex, I'm still learning the new appliances."

"That won't be a problem, I can cook for myself," Amanda said, walking into the kitchen and one of her black clawed hands (how in Arceus's name did her get her nails to look like that?) pulled a knife from the magikarp shaped holder.

Umbreon growled, red eyes fixed on to the blade.

"Calm down, I'm not going to hurt myself," Amanda said to her partner.

"So, I'm related to a goth, tech-head, ninja girl, who can cook?" Ash mumbled.

"Did not see that coming," Goh said.

Lumiose City had seen better days. The city of light, was still just as stunning as it always had been, but Ash could still pick out small cracks and breaks in the buildings. Scars made into the structures from the wounds that Team Flare left behind. A year may have passed since the destruction, but everything still felt fresh.

Ash swallowed and forced himself to look at the tower before him. Prism Tower was one of the first structures that was restored after the attack. The blue crystal plates glistened in the sunlight, reminding everyone of the tower's name. It looked just like when Ash had first seen it; tall, inspiring, beautiful, a challenge to all those who entered, just begging every trainer to try to concur it. Once Ash felt all that when he looked at Prism tower. Now though, it carved a pit of dread in his stomach and gave him flashes of a city burning from the view of its peak.

"Wow," Goh said, "The gym is inside there?"

"It's quite the stunning site. I wonder how they built it," Sir Aaron said.

"Lots of cranes," Ash said.

"Pi" Pikachu nodded.

"So, you've actually been inside, ketchum?" Amanda said.

"Yeah, I have. Quite a few times," Ash said.

"There was a rumor going around a while ago, that the gym leader only allowed trainers inside if they meet certain requisites. You must have made quite the impression if you have a leader like that on speed-dial," Amanda said, as she started walking towards the entrance.

"Oh, that! The four badges thing, that was a misunderstanding," Ash said, "You see a robot took over the gym."

"Riiight…" Goh said.

"Call me a liar, all you want," Ash said, "You're going to be proven wrong."

Inside the gym was the same. The halls dressed in dark metals, with large tubes lining the pathway. Arches of yellow lightning dancing and jumping inside each cylinder of glass. Pichu squealed with curious excitement, jumping off of Amanda's shoulder and running over to one of the tubes. Pikachu quickly followed suit, but other one exchanging a few chattering words before racing between the tubes on the right.

Electric types, always so excited.

Ash smiled at the playful scene. Pichu seemed the be the most playful of Amanda's team. The small yellow fluffball was always the first to jump into the fray. Umbreon was like her trainer, reserved and aware. The dark type was always by Amanda's side (the right side usually), keeping pace and keeping close. Ash knew there was a third Pokémon on his cousin's team (there was a third pokeball on her belt with an aura signature), but they hadn't come out of the ball yet.

"Welcome to the Lumiose Gym," a robotic voice spoke once the group reached the end of the hall, "What is the purpose for your visit?"

"We're here to meet some old friends," Ash said.

"What is the name on the appointment?"

"Ash Ketchum and guests."

"Ash Ketchum, and guests identified."

Gears and machinery hissed and groaned as the door slid open.

"Gym leader Clemont has been notified of your arrival, please enjoy your stay."

"AI activated door, and security system?" Amanda said, "This is might be just as good as you say."

"Ash!" A squealing voice called, and a head of a golden blonde hair suddenly ran in to Ash, short thin arms hugging his waist tightly.

"Heya Bonnie!" Ash said quickly returning the hug.

The young girl was maybe an inch or two taller, but still utterly adorable. Her sunny blonde hair, bouncing as she danced on her tippy toes. Big blue eyes, blooming with joy as she looked to meet Ash' brown. Her smile infectious.

"How have you been?" Ash said, with a cheeky smirk, "Didn't you come up to my chest last time I saw you, are you shrinking?"

Bonnie shows her head passionately, "No."

"Dene nene!" A small brown mouse Pokémon popped his head out of Bonnie's purse.

"Pika!"

"Pi?"

All the small electric types suddenly joined up on the floor. Pikachu and Dedenne jumping and squealing; friends united once more. While Pichu watched on, seemingly waiting for an appropriate time to join in. Though the smaller mouse didn't have to wait for long, Pikachu quickly introduced Pichu to their old travel companion and they all started to play and chatter like they had known each other all their lives.

"Bonnie, this is Goh…" Ash said, pointing to his friend, and then continued to introduce the rest of their group in a similar manner.

Bonnie greeted everyone with a smile, and even tried to hug Riolu, but the puppy squirmed out of her grip to hide behind Lucario. The only person that Bonnie didn't seem all that pleased to meet, was Amanda. Bonnie's baby blue eyes narrowed and began to burn with wild fury.

"Ash! How could you do this to Serena?!" Boonie screamed whirling around to face him.

"What?" Ash said, completely confused.

"She liked you! She kissed you! And now you're hanging out with another woman!? I thought better of you," Bonnie said.

"What?" Ash repeated.

Amanda snorted, "Bonnie sweetie…Ketchum's my cousin. And way to dumb for me."

Okay, rude…Well, at least Bonnie didn't look to angry now. Why was she so upset at Amanda in the first place? Was it really that shocking that Ash had family? Maybe the little girl thought that Amanda was his sister, and was jealous. Over the journey through kalos, Clemont and Bonnie had kind of become his honorary siblings and vise versa.

"What's with all the yelling?" Spoke a voice that came from a bespectacled face, with a blonde head a hair. A similar appearing robot following behind the young man.

"Clemont!" Ash said, running up and hugging his friend, "How's it been?"

"Well, not to bad actually. So, I can't really complain. We managed to open up a few months ago, so, we've been rather busy," Clemont said, "You have been too I see? I mean you aren't really the type to call."

"Yeah, thanks for being so cool about this," Ash said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Hey, nothing can be weirder then the malamar incident. It's fine, beside you gave me an excuse to take an off day from the gym," Clemont waved him off.

Introductions were repeated, for the newcomer. However, the subject of conversation quickly swapped over to clembot.

Living suits of armor? What's next? Talking candles?

"You haven't seen a Disney movie, have you?" Bonnie said.

Lucario was looking over the robot, suspicion on his face, and in his soul. Sir Aaron was trying very hard no to appear fascinated, however his aura was practically bleeding it. Amanda? Ash couldn't really read her all that well. Her face, her eyes even more so, always appeared indifferent. Blank. Forget reading her aura, she was still a stranger to him, and Ash was still too inexperienced. He could only understand Sir Aaron's soul, when the knight wasn't actively masking it.

Still, she was currently circling Clembot, while muttering so there must be some form of interest.

"Something interest you?" Clemont said, looking at Amanda.

"His outer shell is comprised of both plastic and metals. I assume the metal is used to protect the vital parts of his operating system, while the plastic on the limbs is to make it lighter, for better mobility?" Amanda said.

"Uh, yeah actually," Clemont nearly stuttered, "You like robotics?"

"Well, not really. I'm more of software girl rather than hardware. Though, I'm guessing his AI is pretty sophisticated? He reacts to my movements in real time, and I'm guessing that he's wired into the building due to the similarities of his voice with the one on the speakers."

"Uhm, well yeah."

"That's impressive coding. What type of syntax?"

Clemont relaxed, smiling, "I've always been attached to C++."

Amanda hummed, "I'm more of a Snap! girl. I just hope you're able to crack encryptions."

Clemont pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose, the lenses gleaming, "That's what you called me here to do isn't it?"

Bonnie made a squeaking noise, and her blue bell eyes lit up with stars. It was a very familiar expression, one that Ash seen many times on the young girl's face while journeying through kalos. Oh no.

"Amanda's smart. Pretty. And can understand Clemont's science talk," Bonnie said practically bouncing up and down, "She's a Keeper!"

The little girl dashed forward with great excited energy. Got down on one knee and… "We'll you please take care of my brother!"

…And that was the most shift in expression Ash had ever seen on Amanda's face… "What?"

"Bonnie, I told you to stop this a million times!"

Somethings never change.

Alright for the rather eccentric personality that her cousin had, Amanda had to admit, Ash had connections.

"Good friends are the people who are skilled and reliable. That's why you must ensure that you are beneficial to others. Relationships are all about exchange. If you give something, you'll receive something." That's what her mother had told her.

While Amanda was quite confident Ash didn't subscribe to that particular ideal, he still managed to put in practice. She honestly had no idea that he had a gym leader in his back pocket. Then again someone who was well traveled should have a number of allies, especially a champion. Even if his region was small.

Clemont was everything that Ash had promised him to be, and once the surprise marriage proposal was rejected by the both of them, she could see that his lab was near fascinating. Amanda wasn't that into engineering or robotics, but Constance and Carter were. Her little brothers breathed this stuff, and they were good at it. When they were four, they had taken apart the game consoles they got for their birthday and rebuild them into little gadgets that either worked like a charm or blew up. Professor Gen hadn't even gotten mad, only tested their IQs and sent them off too school, a year early and had them skip three grades. Amanda didn't like that they had some of their childhood taken away, but if their good grades kept them in Mother's good favor, then it couldn't have been too bad.

At least they weren't like Amanda, who wasn't smart, and had chosen to study what could be considered a useless degree in her family's mind.

"Whoa…." Clemont murmured, "I'll give team Rocket a complement. This is good encryption. I understand why you couldn't get through all this on your own."

"I probably could've," Amanda said, "I just don't have the time, everyday that Riley is still captive could be his last."

"You really care about Riley, don't you?" Uncle Aaron said.

In the short time that Amanda had known her, 'uncle', she hadn't been very impressed. He wasn't the great strategist knight that the legends made him out to be. He didn't even have a plan as to fix the Team Rocket situation. Now, she could give him the benefit of the doubt, anything time that modern technology or pop-culture references were made he did look lost (apparently Both she and Ash enjoyed old memes, but she wouldn't let her cousin know that). Despite that he listened with some form of earnest whenever, either Ash or herself was talking. Probably trying to forge a dead bond, between strangers. Like an idiot.

Her uncle was sentimental, someone who thought with his heart instead of his head. The modern world would eat him alive. It always did to people who were liked that.

Still, she humored his curiosity regarding Riley, her brother would most likely stick around the knight after this, "It's more out of obligation. I don't really care about what happens to him, as long as he isn't killed."

"You can't mean that. He's your brother," Bonnie said.

Oh, you sweet summer child, you just wait, people always show their dark side last, "I have seen him in thirteen years, honey. I doubt he even remembers me."

"Wait you haven't had any contact?" Goh said.

"Not, since he left," Amanda stated. Unless you count the letters he never answered.

"Maybe he got in trouble a lot and didn't want you to get hurt," Ash said.

Amanda just shrugged.

Maybe Riley was out to protect her. However, she doubted it. Thirteen years was just to long to think that he actually thought about her much. He had more important things to worry about now, anyway.

"Anyway, back to the data, you've given me," Clemont said, "I think it would be easier to create a copy and we each pick a half to work on. That way it cuts the code-cracking time in half."

"I can work with that," Amanda said, "Do you have email or discord I can contact you on, so we can communicate our findings?"

"Yeah, no problem," Clemont said, "This is actually kind of excited. I never done this type of Cyber CSI job before."

"Really?" Amanda said, "You seem to have the skills for it."

"Well, inventing and gym leading are a full-time job usually," Clemont said, "Where'd you find this data anyway? This couldn't have been an easy remote hack."

"I didn't remote hack it, I broke into the building and downloaded it directly," Amanda said.

Bonnie looked at her with starry eyes and opened mouth. Pichu, who was currently on the child head appeared fairly amused.

"You know, I'd call you crazy, but considering I've watched Ash jump/fall from prism tower, I don't have a hard time believing you," Clemont said, flatly.

Ash?

"It was for a good reason!"

Clemont snorted, "Yeah, don't worry Lucario. It was. So, Ash how have you been doing lately?"

"Fine mostly, minus the current situation," Ash said.

"Have you talked to Serena?" Bonnie said.

"Not recently," Ash said.

"Who's Serena?" Goh said.

"Yeah, I was wondering about that too," Amanda said, "You've mentioned them twice now."

"Oh, she's just a friend I met in Kalos," Ash smiled.

Amanda raised a brow at the expression, it felt too happy, to before just a fri-

"A Friend!?" Bonnie jumped up, "Ash, she kissed you!"

Oh, definitely not a friend. Unless, it was a friend with benefits situation, but Ash seemed way to young, and naïve for that.

"And…?" Ash said.

And nope. Not Friends with benefits. Her cousin was just an idiot.

Though, Amanda couldn't really judge him. Not after the years she spent as a confused Bi-disaster. And even once she figured that out, her romantic life was practically dead. Her one serious relationship ended in a horrible way, and her ex was a complete psycho in hindsight. It wasn't like she had good role models for a relationship anyway. She didn't even know how her parents even dated much less got married. They were practically strangers to each other by the time her father died.

Bonnie all but moaned in what was probably the pain of a young romantic learning about the horrors of clueless friends, and stomped over to Amanda. Tired bluebell eyes looked up at her.

"Why are boys so stupid?" The little girl asked.

"I wish I knew, young padawan. I wish I knew."

A/N:

I had to do it. I'm not sorry.

So, yeah, Amanda is a Bi Tech-head Goth Ninja. I don't really know what kind of drug trip I was on when I made her. I know that some of my readers, are worried about LGBT content, however, let me remind you this is a Gen fic. While sexualities might be mentioned, the relationships will remain platonic.

On a much sadder note. My brother has been diagnosed with Covid. My entire family is currently on lock down. Hopefully this blows over without any of use catching it from him, but your never know.

Stay safe yall.