Chapter 25 Rustbolt City

When they arrive at the Pokémon Center, they find Rodney already there, waiting for them. He greets them with an excited grin. "Hey, guys! You won't believe it—the taxis are back in the city! I wonder who managed to sort things out with the company boss..."

Elena chuckles, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "I wonder who that could be," she replies, her tone teasing.

Rodney, oblivious to the hint, stretches his arms above his head, letting out a tired yawn. "Well, I'm beat. I need to get some rest so we can be ready to earn our third badge tomorrow. See you all in the morning."

With that, he heads upstairs, leaving Ash and the others to reflect on the day's events as they settle in for the night.

After settling in, Ash and his friends decide to take on some quests at the Pokémon Center's quest floor. As they explore, they encounter a dancer, his outfit vibrant and his movements fluid. He greets them with a smile. "Hello! I'm the leader of the 'Rustbolt Breakdancers.' I was supposed to meet my crewmates here, but they haven't shown up... Maybe you could help me find them?"

Ash nods, eager to assist. "Sure, Rustbolt City is big, but we can help you track them down."

The dancer's face lights up with relief. "Thanks! I think they're scattered around the city, probably dancing as usual. Remember, there are five of us in total!"

With their mission clear, the group heads out to search for the missing dancers. The first dancer is found just a block east of the Pokémon Center, grooving to a rhythm only he can hear. The second is discovered west of the Center, near a cleaning man who watches the dancer's moves with mild amusement. The third dancer is spotted at the bustling central plaza, drawing a small crowd with their energetic performance. The fourth is found near the Game Corner, lost in a world of spins and flips.

Thanks to the convenience of the taxis, Ash and his friends are able to gather the dancers quickly and bring them back to the Pokémon Center.

"Thank you, dude!" the leader exclaims, clearly grateful. "This meeting is important—we have a show in one week, and we need to start training!"

As a token of appreciation, he hands Ash a Quick Claw. "Take this. It might come in handy on your journey."

As they continue exploring the quest floor, Ash and his friends come across a young boy who is crying, tears streaming down his cheeks. Concerned, Alice kneels down beside him and gently asks, "Hey, what's wrong?"

The boy sniffles, trying to speak through his sobs. "Ahhh... sniff... Can you... sniff... Can you find my little... sniff Zuppy for me? sniff"

Ash exchanges a glance with Alice before nodding reassuringly. "A lost Pokémon? Of course, we'll help you find Zuppy."

The boy looks up at them, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and tears. "Oh, thank you... sniff so much! If you sniff go to my house... sniff my Mom will give you Zuppy's favorite Pokédoll... sniff She'll hand it over if you tell her... sniff that you're helping find Zuppy! sniff"

Ash pats the boy's shoulder gently. "Don't worry, we'll do our best to bring Zuppy back to you."

When they arrive at the boy's house, they are greeted by his mother, who looks concerned. "Rustbolt is such a big city; it's easy to get lost in it!"

Alice steps forward and explains, "We're here because your son asked us to help find his missing Zuppy. He mentioned that we would need Zuppy's favorite Pokédoll to lure it back."

The mother's eyes widen with worry. "What? My son's Zuppy is lost again... Oh no, I can't believe it... But you're searching for it on his behalf? That's so kind of you! Here, take Zuppy's favorite Pokédoll. Zuppy will definitely come to you when you show it to him."

The woman hands the Pokédoll to Ash, her expression a mix of gratitude and concern. With the doll in hand, Ash and his friends head out to search for Zuppy. They eventually find the missing Pokémon near the Game Corner, the sight of its favorite toy immediately grabbing its attention.

Back at the Pokémon Center, the young boy's face lights up with joy as he sees his beloved Zuppy. "Oh, WOW! You found my Zuppy! Thank you so much! I can't believe you actually did it!"

Ash smiles, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "We're just glad Zuppy's safe and sound. He was really happy to see his favorite Pokédoll."

The boy, still beaming, offers Ash a TM as a token of his gratitude. "Here, take this for your effort. I don't need it, but maybe it'll help you on your journey."

Ash accepts the TM for Protect with a nod. "Thanks, this will definitely come in handy. Protect is a great move for keeping Pokémon safe in tough battles."

As the boy recalls Zuppy into its Poké Ball, Ash gives him a reassuring smile. "Zuppy's lucky to have a trainer who cares about him so much. Just keep a close eye on him, and I'm sure he won't wander off again."

The boy nods, his expression determined. "I will! I'm going to take Zuppy home now and make sure it doesn't run away again. Thanks again for everything!"

Ash watches as the boy heads off, feeling a sense of satisfaction from helping out.

With their quest complete, Ash and Alice bid farewell to Delia and Elena, who smile warmly as they wave goodbye. The city of Rustbolt beckons with its many attractions, and after some thought, the pair decide to finally check out the Game Corner—a place they've been curious about but had yet to visit.

As they step inside, the atmosphere is lively, filled with the sounds of cheerful chatter and the flashing lights of various games. They make their way to the Lottery Corner, where an attendant named Felicity greets them with a bright smile. "This is the Pokémon Lottery Corner. I'm Felicity, your attendant today. If the drawn number matches the ID No. of any of your Pokémon, you could win fabulous gifts. Would you like to check today's lucky number?"

"Sure, why not?" Ash grins, eager to try his luck. Alice nods in agreement, her curiosity piqued.

Felicity takes a moment to look up the day's lucky number. "Your Loto Ticket number is 57051. Now, let's see if it matches the ID No. of any of your Pokémon."

Ash and Alice watch with anticipation as Felicity checks the numbers. However, she soon looks up with a slight frown. "I'm sorry. You didn't get a match... Please do visit again."

Ash chuckles, brushing off the disappointment with his usual optimism. "Well, you can't win them all. Maybe we'll have better luck next time."

Alice smiles, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It was fun to try, though. Besides, we've got plenty of other things to explore in the city."

Ash nods in agreement, his excitement undiminished. "Exactly! Let's see what else the Game Corner has to offer."

With their interest piqued by the lively atmosphere of the Game Corner, Ash and Alice decide to explore further after their lottery attempt. However, as they start to approach the game machines, they quickly realize they don't have a coin case—a necessity for participating in the games.

Ash scratches his head with a sheepish grin. "Looks like we jumped the gun. We can't play any of the games without a coin case."

Alice chuckles, sharing in the slight disappointment. "I guess we'll have to come back another time when we're better prepared."

Deciding to leave the Game Corner for now, they exit back into the bustling streets of Rustbolt City. As they consider where to head next, Alice suggests they check out the Rustbolt Landfill, a place she had heard about but never visited.

Curious, they make their way north to the landfill, weaving through the industrial areas of the city until they arrive at the large, open site. The area is filled with piles of discarded items, but amidst the junk, Ash's keen eyes spot something shiny sticking out from beneath a heap of scrap metal.

"Hey, what's that?" Ash says, pointing toward the glinting object.

They approach it cautiously, and as Ash reaches down, he pulls out a somewhat dusty but intact coin case. "No way! It's a coin case! What are the chances?"

Alice grins, impressed by their unexpected find. "Well, that's lucky! Now we can head back to the Game Corner and really see what it's all about."

Ash nods, his excitement renewed. "Definitely! Let's give those games a try."

With their newfound coin case in hand, the two friends leave the Rustbolt Landfill, ready to return to the Game Corner and finally join in on the fun.

With the coin case now in their possession, Ash and Alice make their way back to the Game Corner, excitement bubbling between them. The atmosphere feels even more thrilling now that they can fully participate.

Inside, they quickly spot two main attractions: the slot machines and the Voltorb Flip tables. Ash's eyes light up as he sees the rows of slot machines, their flashing lights and spinning reels calling to him.

"These look fun! Want to try the slots first?" Ash asks, already imagining the thrill of hitting a jackpot.

Alice nods, though her gaze is drawn to the quieter yet equally intriguing Voltorb Flip tables nearby. "Sure, let's give it a go! But I also want to try Voltorb Flip afterward—it looks like a mix of strategy and luck."

They exchange a grin, agreeing to try both. Ash leads the way to the slot machines, where he eagerly inserts a few coins. The reels spin with a blur of colors and symbols, and Ash holds his breath, hoping for a winning combination. The first spin doesn't yield much, but the excitement of the game keeps him going.

"Come on, big money!" Ash says with a grin, pulling the lever again. The second spin brings a small win, which makes Ash pump his fist in the air. "Not bad! I think I'm getting the hang of this."

After a few more spins, they decide to move on to Voltorb Flip. Alice takes the lead this time, sitting down at one of the tables. She explains the rules to Ash as they play—a mix of logic and guessing where Voltorbs are hidden, trying to avoid them while flipping over numbers to increase their score.

Alice narrows her eyes in concentration, carefully selecting which tiles to flip. "This game really makes you think. It's not just luck—you have to be careful with every choice."

Ash watches, intrigued. "Yeah, it's like a puzzle. I can see why you wanted to try this one."

Alice smiles as she successfully avoids a Voltorb and flips over a high-numbered tile, earning a solid score. "It's definitely challenging, but that makes it more fun."

They spend a while enjoying both games, laughing and cheering each other on with every small win and close call. The mix of chance and strategy makes their time at the Game Corner both exciting and rewarding.

Eventually, as the day draws on, they decide to wrap up their gaming session, satisfied with the fun they've had.

"That was a blast!" Ash says, pocketing the few coins they have left. "We'll definitely have to come back sometime."

Alice nods in agreement, still smiling from their gaming adventures. "For sure! Who knows, maybe next time we'll hit the jackpot."

With that, they leave the Game Corner, heading back to the Pokemon Center.

That night, under the soft glow of the moon, Ash decides to do some late-night training. The city is quiet, with only the distant hum of the occasional car breaking the silence. Ash steps into a small clearing near the Pokémon Center and sends out Beopup, who looks up at him expectantly.

"Beopup," Ash begins, pulling out the Razor Claw from his bag, "if you hold this, you'll evolve into a Werehide—just like the one we saw with Damon."

Beopup nods, his eyes gleaming with determination. He takes the Razor Claw in his mouth, and almost immediately, his body begins to glow with a bright light. Ash watches in awe as Beopup's form shifts and grows, the light intensifying before finally fading to reveal his newly evolved Pokémon: Werehide.

Werehide: The Full Moon Pokémon. Dark Type. Evolved from Beopup at night while holding a Razor Claw. A vicious and rarely tamed Pokémon, in ancient times, Werehide were thought to be cursed humans that became Pokémon every full moon.

Ash smiles as he reads the Pokédex entry, but then looks down at his Werehide, who is anything but vicious. The Pokémon gazes up at him with loyal eyes and affectionately licks his face.

"But mine is very tame," Ash says with a chuckle, patting Werehide's head.

Just then, Elena approaches, her footsteps soft on the grass. "Little bro, can we talk?" she asks, her tone serious but gentle.

Ash turns to her, sensing the weight in her voice. "Sure, what's on your mind, Sis?"

Elena looks at him intently, as if searching for something. "I want you to be honest with me. Is that okay with you?"

Ash nods, giving Elena his full attention as she asks, "What do you think of Alice?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Ash replies, caught off guard by the question.

Elena sighs softly, her expression thoughtful. "Even though we were reunited not long ago, I can see how you two are around each other. You go out of your way to make her happy, and she does the same for you. I want to know the truth behind it."

Ash feels his cheeks flush slightly as he tries to find the right words. "Well, we hadn't seen each other for so long—not since we lost our memories after... after my father's death. But when we got our memories back, I started feeling nervous around her, and..."

Elena raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. Ash takes a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Sis, do you think... do you think I love her?"

Elena's eyes widen in surprise at his straightforwardness. "Ash, I didn't realize you were this direct." Then her surprise melts into a warm smile. "So, when are you planning to confess to her?"

Ash hesitates, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. "I... I haven't actually thought about it..."

Elena tilts her head, her expression turning more serious. "Why not? Is it because of what you went through?"

Ash looks down, knowing exactly what she's referring to but still feeling the sting of those memories. "Experienced what?" he asks, though he knows the answer.

"About the betrayal," Elena says softly. "Mother told me about it. I can't believe people would do such things. You and Mother didn't deserve that."

Ash nods, his voice quieter now. "Before I remembered Alice, I was in love with two people... Serena and Lillie. But after what they did to me, to my Pokémon, to Professor Oak, and to Mother... I don't know if I can ever love again."

Elena reaches out, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Ash. I know you can. I guarantee that Alice is nothing like them. She cares deeply about you and your Pokémon. And don't forget, she's an Aura Trainer just like us—that makes her perfect for you."

Ash looks at his sister, her words slowly easing the doubts in his heart. "So... what should I do?"

Elena's smile grows as she reveals her plan. "You're in luck. The Gym Leader of this city is a Dancing Queen, and she's also my best friend. I've asked her to host a dancing ball in your honor. This will be your chance."

"A dancing ball? You want me to dance with Alice?" Ash's eyes widen in panic, and Elena notices him starting to sweat.

She laughs softly, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "I know you're nervous. Mother sure did love making us read all those romance novels back in the day. But don't worry. All you need to do is relax. I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

With that, Elena heads back inside the Pokémon Center, leaving Ash alone under the night sky. Pikachu and Werehide stay close, their concerned eyes watching their trainer, who now finds himself lost in thought.

Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, I add a little sibling talk to let Ash realize his feelings to Alice. I hope you like it.

New Evolution: Rushot, Werehide