This all felt so familiar.
The sweat flying from Ash's brow, nursed by the immense effort he was putting in to stay ahead. Hopping over a sweep of Rosa's feet, he kicked at her side. His heart was pounding, and the morning heat of early summer wasn't helping matters any. He was grateful they'd begun before sunrise.
The decision to endure the foot planting into Rosemary's rib cage. Long ago, she would've ignored the meager pain stoically. Today, she flashed a cocky grin, and locked Ash's shin between her arms, turning to spin him in circles before chucking him towards a nearby hill.
Like he would have in ages past, Ash recovered gracefully, rolling onto his back and springing upward. Like Rosemary, he too would have suppressed any outward feeling and charged back wordlessly. But he was no longer just Aaron. "Your time at the P1 paid off," he exhaled, leaning into his forward gait to sprint at the Lucario. Ash swung a right hook.
She weaved, locking his wrist under his arm. With her trainer trapped, she wagged one paw at him, tutting. ~And yours didn't. Never waste breath that you need to put behind a punch. Don'tcha remember telling me that?~
A fist to the stomach knocked the wind out of Ash, making him double over. He grit his teeth, yanking on his trapped hand with all of his might. With a roar of effort, he swung Rosemary over his head and threw her to the ground. He pressed his foot down upon her chest beside her spike, pinning her weight to pull his arm free.
"Can't say I do…!" He showed a toothy grin, satisfied he'd turned the tides against her, and rolled his shoulder. "Also, that doesn't mean a whole lot coming from someone who doesn't have to open her mouth to talk."
Rosemary snorted. ~What was that thing Max said to get on Koda's case, back on the island..?~ She hummed thoughtfully, and raised a glowing paw towards her trainer. ~Oh, right. Skill issue.~
An Aura Sphere hit Ash, sending him flying in a cloud of smoke. He hit the grass beside Delia's garden, coughing and dusting himself off. "You know we agreed that using Aura is a forfeit."
Rosa walked over, offering him her paw. ~Worth it.~
Just as Ash took it and hoisted himself up, the back door to the Ketchum home swung open. Delia stepped out, cupping her hand over her mouth. "Oh, dear… Is everything alright out here, you two!? I know I just heard an explosion!"
~Nothin' serious, Grandma! Just me winning.~ Rosa waved, puffing out her chest.
"Now, Rosemary," Delia chided, "no one likes a sore winner."
"More like sore loser," Ash muttered.
"That goes for you too, Ash," Delia tacked on. "Now I'm thrilled you two are out getting exercise early in the day, but try not to get too rough. You've just finished healing up, Ash. I know you don't want to go back to the emergency room."
~We're fine! We agreed on no headshots,~ Rosemary volunteered.
"Well, good. At any rate, I was about to get started on breakfast, but I realized that we're running low on flour… Can you two head over to the market and grab a big bag for me?"
"Oh, sure!" Ash answered. "No problem."
"Great! We also need some eggs, and vanilla extract, and some fresh leppa juice…"
Rosa frowned. ~This is going to be more than 'a few things,' isn't it.~
"Get ready, girl. You've had Riley's training, but you haven't seen anything yet."
"Oh, just consider it your first task for your new kingdom~!" Delia reached inside for the counter and retrieved a wooden spoon. She waved it like a scepter. "Rations are needed for our people to thrive, so we need our finest knights on the case! So says Queen Mom… Or, Queen Grandma!" The brunette laughed behind her hand. She'd gotten caught up in her own world.
Ash looked over at Rosemary, laughing tiredly. "This is gonna be a thing from now on, isn't it…?"
The Lucario nodded solemnly. ~I can already feel it.~
Even the busiest part of Pallet Town wasn't all that busy. A couple of stores clustered together were basically all the hamlet had, outside of the Pallet House itself. The elderly were already up, bright and early, going about their day, while younger business owners started to set up shop. The "CLOSED" signs on stores were being flipped to "OPEN" one at a time as they walked by.
~I don't remember most cities we've been to starting the day this early,~ Rosa remarked.
"They don't, but that's Pallet Town for you. Early to bed, early to rise…!"
"You're unbelievable!" A girl's voice drew the duo's attention. A brunette with long, choppy hair ran up to them, cracking a lopsided grin. "All over the news for being a badass, and you're talking like a grandma. Once a dweeb, always a dweeb, huh?"
Rosemary's eyes narrowed. Before she could open her mouth, Ash opened his.
"Would you believe I'm here to pick up flour for my mom, too? I'm a total goodie two-shoes." He clapped his hand on his Lucario's shoulder. "Cut me some slack! I'm trying to set an example for my girl, here. If she sees anymore of the real me, she'll start cutting classes and leaving whoopee cushions on chairs."
Rosa looked up at Ash, her gaze hardened. ~What's a… whoopee cushion?~
Though the teenager looked slightly bewildered by the Lucario's words, she bit back a grin behind her knuckle. "Well, that's one thing that hasn't changed. Loser or not, you were always funny."
Ash feigned disappointment, shrugging with his palms up. "I'll take what I can get."
The girl's expression softened. "...You really made a difference, y'know?" She shook her head. "How's your Pikachu doing, by the way? Word got around town quick."
"He's doing a lot better." Ash smiled, running a hand through his hair. "It's been a tough recovery, but things are good. That's all I can ask for."
The other nodded and gave him a punch in the arm before turning on her heels. "Yeah, yeah. Don't get sappy. Just go ahead and win the League for Pallet Town, you hear me?"
Ash watched her retreating figure and laughed. "Oh, I will! That's a promise."
With the conversation effectively over, Rosemary tilted her head. ~Pa, who was that?~
"She was one of my bullies, growing up." He watched her eyes widen in real time. "Kids can be cruel. In Pallet Town, especially. I was a loud kid with big dreams. It drew a lot of attention."
~You don't seem mad,~ she observed.
"Nahhh." Ash smiled, shaking his head. "Life moves on, and you forget about a lot of the old scrapes. Hell, I barely remember what any of 'em even said to me anymore. People grow up."
Rosemary decided to internalize that as his next lesson to her, atop many others. The exchange settled in silence, and they went on to retrieve their groceries, just as Delia had asked.
"That was great, Mrs. Ketchum!" Misty chimed happily. Her plate was empty, after she'd scarved down several more pancakes than she ordinarily would. Complete with whipped cream and strawberries, it'd just been irresistible!
"A luxury as always," Brock agreed. Unsurprisingly, he was first up from the table to bring his dishes to the sink.
"Oh, you're too kind!" Delia chirped. "Oh, Brock, please. I can handle that. You're a guest!"
"Sorry! Force of habit." Brock laughed. Part of him felt awkward just sitting around, though the wary gaze out of the corner of Mimey's eye told him that he was better off listening to Delia. Fighting over a broom with the Psychic-type hadn't been one of his proudest moments.
He felt awfully grateful when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it!" he volunteered, happy for a cure to his restlessness. He left the kitchen to go attend the door.
"At this time of morning?" Peeks looked up from his plate, with whipped cream still smeared over his muzzle.
"I wonder what's up?" Ash asked.
"Ash!" Brock called out from the other room. "This one's for you!"
Ash looked over to his friends and shrugged before walking to the door, Peeks on his shoulder. A Pidgeotto was hovering in front of them with a small wooden box, labeled by a bit of parchment that read his name and address.
"Oh! Thank you, Pidgeotto." Ash took the parcel into his hands. "Hey, Buddy. You mind getting them-"
"I'm on it!" Peeks agreed before his trainer finished his sentence, running off to the kitchen.
In the meantime, Ash opened the note to read it aloud.
"Dear Ash,
What's orange, sunny, and bawls like a waterfall? I know you're no good at riddles, so I'll throw you a bone. It's your Torkoal! He's graduated with flying colors. The power of Drought is all yours, kid. Given you're not a Fire-type aficionado like myself, I tutored him in the short-term sun. Wouldn't want your sea dwelling critters to dry up! And it's all done in time for the League.
P.S. I've seen the news. You really do have a knack for getting into trouble, don't you? Best of wishes to you and your friends. Make sure to win with fiery passion.
Regards, Blaine."
"He really is a talker, isn't he?" Brock hummed.
"Talkative enough for me to run to the kitchen and back before you were done," Peeks quipped. Ash hadn't even realized the rodent boarding his shoulder. "Here!" He leaned forward, holding out a strawberry with a dash of whipped cream to Pidgeotto. "For your troubles."
Pidgeotto scarfed down the berry, chirping his gratitude before taking off to continue his route.
"You did mention Torkoal being off to train, didn't you?" Brock recalled. "Well, that's great! And talk about perfect timing."
"You're not kidding!" Ash smiled down at the Poké Ball in his palm. Like the tortoise, it was warm. "Alright… I think it's about time we give Professor Oak a visit!"
It was inevitably going to be a busy day. Professor Samuel Oak knew that, himself, even as he waited on the kettle for his morning cup of tea. He knew it would be when Kingler seemed more chipper than usual, and when he'd heard from Vermilion's Officer Jenny, the previous night.
He didn't quite expect everything to happen at once. But, the kettle reached its high-pitched whistle just as the doorbell rang from the front of the lab. "Ah…! Tracey! Could you please…?"
"I'm on it, Professor!" Tracey put down his routine checklist for the day to approach the front door. He turned the knob, opening it to reveal… well, a crowd!
Ash and Peeks were first and foremost, with Dawn, Misty, and Brock surrounding him.
"Mornin', Tracey!" Ash greeted.
"Pika-chu!"
"Nice day we're having!"
"Hope we didn't drag you out of bed," Misty teased.
"Aha ha…! Not at all, not at all. Come on in!" Tracey stepped back, allowing the group of five to step inside. He was surprised to find that Rosemary tailed behind them all. "...Ah. Rosemary! I'm surprised you're not leading the group. You should've arrived faster than anyone," he chuckled.
Rosemary looked up at Tracey and shrugged. ~I'm not a fan of crowds.~
"Of course!" How silly of me." Tracey shook his head, bemused, and closed the door behind her.
"My, oh my… You're all here, bright and early! I've only just had time to heat up my morning tea." Professor Oak walked into the room while blowing on the steam from his fresh cup. "Would you all like some?"
"No thanks," Ash shook his head. "I'm already fired up and full of energy!" Just as he said so, his eyes widened. A pile of sludge was creeping up behind the Professor. "Professor! Look out!"
"Ah…? Look out? Whatever do you- yipes!" Professor Oak exclaimed as a giant mass of sludge lunged at him, tackling the man in a putrid embrace. Unfortunately, that meant his teacup was sent careening into the air as a result.
The group collectively gasped. Even Ash wasn't close enough to grab it!
"Ki…!" Before the cup could break, however, it was pinched between two ends of a large, red pincer. Kingler had caught it delicately in his massive claw. "Kuu-ki Kukiii," he scolded, waving his other claw at the perpetrator.
The perpetrator, of course, was Muk. He sulked, hanging his head. "Muuuuk…"
"Kingler…!" Ash exclaimed.
"What a save!" Dawn cheered, clapping her hands together.
"To think such a powerful claw could be so precise," Brock marveled.
"Leave it to a Water-type~!" Misty cooed.
"Ah… Thank you very much, Kingler. You're a helpful companion as always," Oak sighed out, as he squirmed free of Muk. "You'd be surprised at how precise his claws can be. He's actually become quite adept at calligraphy, over the past couple of years."
"That true, Kingler? You've been working hard here with the Professor?" Ash smiled brightly, petting the top of the crustacean's head while careful to avoid his spines.
Kingler handed off the tea to Professor Oak, before slapping Ash's back with his claw. "Ash, when I'm here, I'm doin' one of five things. Eatin', sleepin', trainin', poetry, and keeping the inside of the lab in order. An' I'm good at all five."
"Oh, it ain't that bad without your help," Muk grumbled. "I keep the place lively and warm!"
"You keep it foul, 's more like it."
Ash shared a look of bemusement with Peeks. The mouse only shook his head.
"Well, as you can see, your Pokémon are quite a handful, in terms of company," Professor Oak chuckled, now sipping from his recovered cup. "But I'm sure you're eager to see the others, before the group is rounded out! The others might not be here for a couple of hours…"
"I sure am! I haven't really had time to see everybody, since…" He could see the concern unfolding on his friend's faces, already. He shook his head. "Well, you know! But, that's in the past. I've got a lot of friends to catch up with; I hope all of you can keep up!"
"As thrilling as it'd be to keep pace with the Pokémon Whisperer, I think I'll save my strength," Brock teased. "I was wondering if you could lend me Meema, so I could give her a twice-over."
"Oh, right! No problem." Ash tossed Meema's Poké Ball, calling on the Illusion Pokémon.
Meema blinked twice, looking about her. She didn't seem to know why she was out. ~...Hello.~
"Morning, Meema! I was hoping to give you another check-up, if that's alright?" Brock asked. "I was actually hoping to develop a proper formula for Zoroark and Zorua food, too, while I'm at it."
~That should be… fine.~ Meema nodded. Although she looked a tad self-conscious, Ash noticed that she'd let her guard down. ~Would you want to see Rura as well, then?~
"That's a great idea!" Brock agreed.
"You know, as long as you're working with them both, I'd love to see if I could sketch them!" Tracey picked up a sketchpad and pencil. "A parent and child are always an excellent subject, and they're both looking to be in great form!"
Meema tilted her head at Tracey. ~While I don't see the purpose of that, very well. Dawn?~
"Of course!" Dawn lightly tossed Rura's Poké Ball. "Rura! Spotlight!"
Rura appeared from his ball, his tail wagging wildly behind him. ~What is UP, everyone!~
"Works for me," Ash shrugged. "So, it's just me and you girls, huh?"
"Thanks, but I think I'll have to pass on making the rounds. I was dying to go see all of your Water-types!" Misty gushed, clasping her hands together.
"How could I have seen that coming?"
"I think I'll join Misty, actually," Dawn added. "After everything lately, I know that Empoleon would just love a nice relaxing swim!"
"And we can't deny him, can we?" Ash chuckled. "Too bad, but it sounds like we're all set!"
"I'll be sure to call you all over when the time is right," Professor Oak said. "Go have fun, now!"
"Ah… What a nice day~!" Ash cheered, stretching his arms high over his head as he stepped out into the sunny outdoors. The lab's expansive evergreen fields always ignited nostalgia in him. The scent of fresh-cut grass touched his senses, and a gentle breeze carried his coattails.
"You said it. Absolutely perfect for preparing for the final stretch!" Peeks agreed.
~Looks like everyone else is getting in on it, too,~ Rosa pointed out.
Indeed, Brock and Tracey were accompanying Meema and Rura to a scenic spot nearby. Meanwhile, Misty led Dawn and Empoleon towards their destination, knowing the Water-type locale better than the other two combined. The penguin marched with gusto, chanting a merry tune.
"I think Empoleon's just happy to stretch his wings," Ash chuckled. As he watched his friends retreat, though, another caught his eye. Bulbasaur was dashing his way, rapidly approaching!
"Bulbaaa!" The Seed Pokémon cried happily, throwing his weight towards Ash. He collided with the trainer's torso with a 'thud,' before the latter held him securely with one arm. He didn't stop his show of affection, nuzzling his forehead into Ash. He muttered a muted, solemn admission into his chest. "I was quite worried about you."
Hearing the low rasp of Bulbasaur's voice arranged into human words made Ash smile. "I know. Well, there's nothin' to worry about now, okay?" He winked. "We're not all the way better, but we're getting closer all the time. Am I right, you guys?"
~Right-o,~ Rosemary agreed.
"What Ash said!" Peeks agreed.
"That's wonderful news." Bulbasaur pulled back, smiling up at his trainer with glimmering red eyes. With his troubles settled, he held up a vine, and Ash bumped his fist against it. He reached for Peeks, and met his paw just the same. "Ah, Rosemary. You've grown."
She smiled and shrugged. ~Haven't we all? 'Course, I have a few hundred years' head start.~
Bulbasaur blinked slowly and shook his head. "I see those rumors weren't just rumors… Right, then." He hopped out of Ash's arms, walking back towards the wooded area. "I assume you'd like me to guide you to the others?"
"I was actually hoping you could take me to the Fire-types, yeah!" Ash nodded. "I've got someone they're gonna wanna see."
"The roaring, loud, and brash crowd, eh…? Not a problem. They're usually pretty predictable." Bulbasaur continued walking, waving a vine to coax them along. "Follow me."
"They're usually right around here. There's a nice rock formation where they like to lounge in the sun and boast," Bulbasaur explained. He'd led them into the wooded area beyond the ranch's green hills.
When they arrived, however, they only found Typhlosion… Or rather, they found two. Ash's Typhlosion sat atop a rather large rock formation, chattering something or another.
A slightly smaller one, who Ash and company recognized as Dawn's, stood nearby, flexing her roaring collar of flames. In fact, a rolling rainbow of hues was igniting about her! She struck a pose, chattering proudly. "Tyy-phlo! Phlosion~! Ty…"
She glanced over and noticed they had company. Her expression sunk into a scowl, and just as well, her flames sizzled into null along with her enthusiasm. "...Phlosion."
"Oh! Typhlosion! I mean… Dawn's Typhlosion. I didn't know you were out and about!" Ash felt like… something was amiss, but it was hard to place just what. "I was here to reunite you guys with someone, but I was hoping to find Infernape first," he said, holding up a Poké Ball.
Dawn's Typhlosion sat down on the rock formation in a huff, and gestured to the Poké Ball, and then to Ash. "Tyyy-sion phlo."
"What'd she say?" Ash asked, lowering a brow.
~She said you should take that Poké—~ Rosa started, before Peeks slapped his paw over her mouth.
"Iiii don't think that's important!" Peeks laughed nervously. He was glad she took the cue and clammed up, as even he couldn't stop telepathy. "Where is Infernape, anyway?"
Typhlosion snorted in amusement. If he had any thoughts on the situation, he kept them to himself. "He's around the bend, sparring with Primeape! Lil' missy said we should give them some space, or something. So, we were just hanging until they wrapped that up." He gestured his paw like a thumb over towards his peer. "By the way, those flames? Top-shelf."
The compliment seemed to be enough to placate Dawn's, who covered her red-streaked muzzle with her paws. Her flame collar returned to life, and she gestured curiously to the Poké Ball, this time. "Typhlo?"
"...Is she telling me to do that again?" Ash asked in a deadpan tone.
Peeks shook his head. "She's actually asking if he's back, this time."
The trainer grinned and tossed the sphere into the air. "See for yourself!"
The capsule's light materialized into the one-and-only Torkoal!
"Everyone! Oh, it's so nice to see you! Boy, did I miss you, I sure did!" The tortoise greeted cheerily… before immediately starting to cry. Happy tears though, surely.
"Heeey! It's the smokestack, himself!" Ash's Typhlosion hopped down from the rock, crouching to pat Torkoal's shell fraternally. "What a nice surprise!"
" 's about time the crybaby joined us again." Dawn's own Fire-type grinned, nudging his shell with her foot in the same good humor. "How's it going? Feeling like a new man? …Er, tortoise?"
"I sure am! You bet!" Torkoal huffed proudly, expelling smoke from his shell. "I've got a new, great trick up my sleeve…! But, uh, where're the others? I at least wanted Infernape to see…"
"Don't sweat it. We'll show you the way!" Ash's Typhlosion yanked Dawn's along by the arm, which drew a dreamy sigh and sparkles in her eyes. She kept pace in leading the group.
Ash, Peeks, Rosa, and Torkoal exchanged a laugh. Bulbasaur shook his head.
A blinding flurry of fists stirred up winds in a nearby clearing. Blades of grass scattered into the air in the aftermath of dodged punches, and loud sounds of impact echoed upon each punch.
Infernape was forcing Primeape on the back foot with a vicious barrage of stomping kicks, which were only held back by the Pig Monkey's wide set, battle-hardened paws. The latter stepped back with each moment passed, before Infernape's right foot managed to slip under his guard to smash into his stomach.
Primeape wheezed, and Infernape grinned victoriously. "Gotcha, now!" He linked both of his paws above his head, coming down with a vicious ax handle.
A fuchsia fist slipped past his guard, however, and jabbed right into his throat.
"Ackh…!" Infernape hacked, falling back on his rear. "That was… uncalled for!" Before he was even back on his feet, he opened his mouth for a Flamethrower. He only sputtered embers, however, holding his throat. "What in the…!?"
Primeape snorted. "See, this is why I don't bother using Close Combat often. It's a great finisher, but only as a finisher. You're shit out of luck, otherwise, when it leaves you wide open."
"Aye… That's getting on my nerves. But, you gotta take a few lumps to leave a few lumps, I guess." Infernape massaged the growing bruise before looking up to find a crowd. His dark eyes glimmered with joy. "Ash! Everyone!" He lunged at Ash, throwing himself into his arms.
"Hey, hey!" Ash laughed, spinning around to keep himself from falling over. He swung Infernape with him, leaving the poor Peeks to cling to his cap for dear life. "I missed you too, big guy!"
"I was worried about you," Infernape grumbled, looking up at Ash with a scowl that sat somewhere between frustration and concern. His gaze lingered on the scar on his cheek.
"I know, I know~." Ash gave his Pokémon an affectionate squeeze, before setting him down. "But, forget about that for a minute! There's someone who's here to see you!"
That was enough for Infernape to detach from Ash. "Torkoal!" He grinned, leaping over.
"Infernape! What a sight for sore eyes," Torkoal said happily. "Now, hold onto your tail! I've got something to show all of ya! You ready?"
"Am I? I was born ready!" Infernape testified. A chorus of support echoed from the group.
"Alllright, then! You heard the team!" Ash announced, pointing skyward. "Let's see that Drought!"
Torkoal stood up, seemingly at ease. However, each of the red gaps in his shell took on a bright glow in succession. Suddenly, the sunlight overhead turned harsh! Intense sunbeams heated the general area.
"Wow… Check that out!" Ash laughed. His t-shirt and jacket started to feel awfully stuffy, and his gloves started to stick to his palms. But he could hardly complain about it in the face of success, and only lightly fanned himself with his hat. "You really did it, Torkoal!"
"That's what I'm talking about!" Ash's Typhlosion whooped.
"My man is SCORCHING!" Dawn's hollered.
"The beaming sun from above… It fills my heart with roaring determination!" Infernape cheered.
Torkoal started to sniffle again. "Thank you, you guys… Still, I wish Charizard were here."
One could believe that fate had a sense of humor, and they'd be vindicated at this moment. A silhouette hung overhead, with mighty wings beating in the wind. A scalding breeze rolled over the group, forcing Ash to raise his arm to guard his face from the heat.
"What the…?" Ash lifted the brim of his cap. His eyes widened. "...Charizard!?"
"Groooarh!" Charizard dove down from above and was headed right towards Ash. To the teenager's fright, the dragon's mighty jowls opened.
"H-hey, hold on!" Ash waved his hand. A friendly, fiery greeting was one thing, but under the harsh sunlight!? "Take it easy, Charizard! There's no need for ya to—!"
Charizard simply landed beside Ash with a thud and breathed a puff of smoke in his face.
Peeks coughed, and Ash waved the smoke away with his cap. "...Phew. Close one."
Charizard huffed, whipping his tail about. "Heard what happened to you, recently. You get a freebie, today."
Ash breathed a sigh of relief, as did Peeks. "What a relief… Well, hey, it's great to see you, big guy! And you showed up just in time!" He clapped a hand on the Flame Pokémon's shoulder.
"I could see it from the sky. Figured as much." Charizard looked over to Torkoal and grinned. "You've finally got it down, eh?"
"I think this calls for a celebration! Fire-type style!" Infernape cheered, hopping up and down.
"...Uh-oh." A silly, stupefied look of terror etched onto Ash's face. He lunged well out of the range of the crowd of Fire-types. Rosemary leapt a distance away, and Bulbasaur nimbly back flipped away, as well.
All just in time for Torkoal, Infernape, both Typhlosions, and Charizard to spit a roaring inferno into the sky. Streams of flame danced together in a blistering ballad of celebration. The Typhlosion even ignited their own streams with glimmers of alternating colors!
"Y'know, a warning would've been nice," Ash muttered.
"That was our warning," Bulbasaur grumbled. He, personally, was less fond of the flames than most. He stepped back a comfortable distance before something caught his eye.
A blue blur lunged at him, or rather, his bulb. Vines shot out at breakneck speed, securing themselves around the belly of the assailant.
"Herack!" Heracross chittered in surprise. He was secured in an iron grip, flailing for Bulbasaur's bulb. "H-hey, hey! What's the big idea!? Can't a guy be out for a bite to eat?"
"As I've told you hundreds of times," Bulbasaur grunted, flicking his eyes up to Heracross. "My sap is not a buffet. Need I remind you that with this harsh sunlight, I could set off a Solar Beam without any waiting time…?"
"...Bah. Alright, alright," Heracross grumbled, crossing his arms. Bulbasaur released him, and he quite literally buzzed off. "You're no fun."
"Some things never change," Peeks sighed.
"You're not kidding," Ash laughed. "But hey, uh, Bulbasaur. Is it just me, or were you much faster than usual back there? I know you're quick, but I've never seen your vines move like that."
"Now that you mention it, I do feel more lively than usual under the sunlight… How odd."
"Sounds like something to ask Professor Oak about later," Ash shrugged. "But, for now, I wanna see more of you guys! There's still a lot of Pokémon to catch up with around here, y'know?"
"I think I'd like to accompany you," Bulbasaur smiled. "It's been too long since we've spent time together."
Ash looked over his shoulder to where the others seemed to be occupied. Rosemary ran up to Charizard after the flames subdued with her paws stationed on her hips.
"Huh. It's the runt." Charizard grunted, showing a hint of a smirk. "You look stronger, now."
~I'm a lot stronger.~ Rosa grinned, flexing one of her arms. ~And a lot more experienced.~
"That so? Then, let's see it." Charizard's tail crashed into the ground. "Your next attack better not tickle."
Ash smiled and continued on with only Peeks and Bulbasaur in tow.
The trio ventured deeper into the wooded territory of the ranch after Ash had suggested visiting Dawn, Misty, and the Water-types next. Although Bulbasaur knew the path by heart, and Ash and Peeks weren't far behind, something felt… off.
"Hey, is it just me, or is it unusually dark for this time of day?" Ash asked, looking about.
The trees were particularly dense around this area, but not so dense that sunlight wouldn't make it through the brush. That didn't seem to be the case today, however… At maybe nine or ten in the morning. Ash hadn't been keeping track. Either way, this was wrong.
"Not just dark," Bulbasaur replied. "Am I the only one feeling chilly? It's summer." He hastily rubbed the ends of his vines together to create friction, trying to keep them warm. When it proved futile, they retreated under his bulb for warmth.
"Now that you mention it, it is chilly," Peeks agreed. He then felt a chill brush his nose. It twitched, and then he sneezed. A snowflake went flying in the process. "Is it… snowing!?"
A light snowfall had befallen their path, which only seemed to be getting darker. Peeks hopped into Ash's jacket, which he buttoned up to keep his partner snug. "Something's not right."
A clue, perhaps, lay right in front of them. A wispy purple flame hovered like candlelight.
The three exchanged a look, and followed the wisp. Another light appeared before their eyes, and then a third. The flames orbited in a circle, before the area within it sank into a void.
"Hey, is it just me, or…?" Ash trailed off. He felt a chill run down his spine, and his arms tightened around his Pika-partner.
"...is something really weird happening, right in front of us!?" Peeks squeaked.
"Stay alert." Bulbasaur narrowed his watchful eyes. "Whatever it is, it isn't right."
A huge slab of ice rose from the void, within the wisps.
"W-w-what is that!?"
Violet flames highlighted a frozen horror. An inky form inhabited the ice, with a wide, frozen grin, and eerie red eyes. Whatever was inside had been chilled to the bone.
Ash, Peeks, and Bulbasaur screeched in horror, clinging to each other for dear life!
Then, the ice shattered. A howling and hooting Gengar floated upside down, slapping his knee. Though, he stopped every few seconds to shiver, as a blue chill washed over him.
Two more haunting howls joined the chorus, as their shadows floated around the terrified trio.
Their grip on one another slowly relaxed as horror crept into realization, and further into annoyance. "...Oh, you tricky bastards," Ash grumbled.
"Ohohoho~! And don't you forget it, Mister Ketchum!" A shadowy silhouette mostly defined by a witch's hat swept through the snow, which by now, was waning away. "I warned you of my wit, did I not!?"
"Kehehehe! We got you, boss. You all should've seen your faces!" Glalie chortled, joining the ghouls in their celebration. "Not bad, eh? I was the one to freeze this guy solid!"
"And I supplied the Night Shade!" Gengar cackled. "Aww, what's with the long faces? You guys are sour sports. You haven't changed a bit since our bout at the tower, Ash!" He tugged on his cheeks to pull his face into a sad scowl. It didn't last long, as he was quickly laughing, again.
"Yeah, yeah. Hilarious." Ash now sat on his rear in the grass, drumming his fingertips on his knee. "I get that part, but how'd you pull the rest of that off?"
"Oh! Oh! I also helped." Mismagius volunteered. "The Phantom Force that gave Gengar his dramatic entrance? It was moi! Ah, and the Icy Wind as well… My Fearsome Freeze's Ice Beam would have simply frozen you all solid~! And, we wanted a fright, not a fight!" Even as she said so, she cozied up to the floating Glalie, who looked to be in high spirits.
Gengar, however, didn't.
"Awww, don't go knockin' yourself out there, Puddin'! None of this woulda worked without your snazzy entrance!"
"That entrance was for me, y'know," Gengar scowled.
"Puddin'!?" Ash enunciated, making a face. "Hold on a minute."
"I had no idea you two were… well." Peeks looked between the floating duo, blinking.
"What, couldn't ya tell!? Should they be more in your face about it!?" Gengar exclaimed.
"I dunno, should we?" Glalie asked, taking his friend's complaints quite literally.
"Oh, if it wasn't quite obvious, then we must be louder!" Mismagius exclaimed, orbiting the Face Pokémon. "A fairy tale romance, born from the bitterest recluses of the KanJoh heights… A warm soul behind a bitter shell, whisking a lone Misdreavus away~! I could simply cry."
"I could puke," Gengar complained. To make his point, he spawned a trash can seemingly from nowhere; miming getting sick in it, before his corporeal form seemingly seeped away. The trash can now sported his eyes and mouth, still scowling. "I've been a third wheel here for weeks! We're supposed to be the three amigos, n. Not two lovebirds and their extra."
"Ah, don't be like that!" Glalie rolled his eyes, and knocked the illusory can over with a Headbutt that made Gengar poof back to normal. "You're still one of us! Unless you're jelly."
"Yeah. Right. I'm jelly on friggin' rye."
Ash and Peeks laughed awkwardly.
"Now I think I know how Brock felt," Peeks quipped.
Ash could only nod, and clear his throat. "Ahem. At any rate.. Congratulations, you two! I had no idea you had somethin' cookin, but I can only be happy for the both of ya!"
"You say that," Bulbasaur grumbled, "but the three of them spending so much time together has just made my life more difficult."
"Your work never ends," Peeks shook his head. "With that said… I think we've gotten seriously sidetracked here. Should we get back to our original destination?"
After their detour, Bulbasaur led Ash and Peeks to the ranch's most prominent body of water — the lake, overlooked by a cape. Standing at the edge of the cliffside, Ash scanned the crystalline waters with his hands on his hips. "They should be around here, somewhere…"
"Hey, Ash!" Dawn's voice called out. The roaring sound of what sounded like a speedboat rang in the young man's ears, almost canceling out Dawn's raspy voice, but not quite. "Over here!"
Dawn sat on Empoleon's back, with her hands placed on the large steel protrusions for balance. She wore her pale pearlescent swimsuit, while the penguin surfed his way over to the cape at rapid speeds.
Empoleon, himself, squawked out, waving to Ash. "Hey, Dad! Peeks!" A beat. "Oh, Bulbasaur! I couldn't quite see you, there."
"Pip— Empoleon," Bulbasaur grunted back, eyes widening. "...You've grown."
"How gracious of you to notice! I've been told," he boasted, sitting up in the water to tap his wing against his chest. "But, I'm more than happy to be reminded!"
Unfortunately, sitting up so quickly knocked a yelping Dawn into the water.
"...Whoops."
"Sheesh…" Dawn surfaced again, coughing up freshwater behind her wrist. "Warn me next time, big guy!"
"You guys didn't tell me you were going for a swim." Ash said.
"Well, you didn't ask!" Dawn countered.
"You snooze, you lose, Ketchum!" Misty surfaced nearby as well, holding onto Ash's Croconaw. "I've been spending some time with your lovely water types. Even if they are goobers… Your Crawdaunt nearly pinched me!"
"Kehehe~!" Crawdaunt surfaced, snapping his claws tauntingly.
"Crawdaunt!" Ash chided, waving a finger. "I've heard you've been making a stink here, lately."
"Don't know what you're talkin' about." Crawdaunt insisted on playing dumb.
"Ah, it's no biggie." Misty shook her head. "Besides~! I've had the chance to hog Croconaw all to myself~!" She hugged the gator, sticking out her tongue at Ash. "Bleh."
"Hey, don't go hogging all the salt to yourself, Mist! Save some for the rest of the table," Ash teased, waving his hand dismissively.
"I am not salty." She definitely was.
"Salty…?" Dawn's nose scrunched. "What're you two talking about? Why would she be salty?"
"Oh, yeah. You never knew how I caught Croconaw, did you?" Ash asked. "See, it goes back to our journey in Johto. We were both trying to catch this fella when he was a Totodile."
"He was just the cutest, most energetic lil' thing~!" Misty cooed.
"Still am, for the record!" Croconaw replied.
"So, we both threw our Lure Balls at him, but he got caught behind some brush, and we couldn't figure out whose Poké Ball caught him," Ash continued.
"So, we decided to battle for him!" Misty added.
"And I won," Ash boasted, puffing out his chest. "Two to one. Even though Misty played dirty."
"Hey, come a little closer and say that, Ketchum, so I can dunk you."
Ash pulled down his eyelid in response.
"You… dueled over a Pokémon!?" Dawn gasped. Her eyes were wide. "That's almost romantic!"
"I… guess?" Ash made a bewildered face. After earlier this year, he didn't want to think about anything between himself and Misty in that light.
Peeks spared Ash a look of pity.
"You sound shocked, Dawn." Misty grinned, paddling over to poke at her cheek. "You jealous?"
"What? No way," Dawn denied. "I mean, of the experience, I guess, yeah."
Empoleon looked entirely unimpressed, and turned to hold his wing up to relay his words to Ash. "For the record, she still goes red as a tamato when anyone brings up the fact that you traded."
"What did you just tell him, Empoleon?" Dawn squinted. "Ash?"
"Uh, nothing, nothing!" Ash waved his hand. "Nothing important." He exhaled heavily. 'Sheesh… Have they, like, talked about this? I don't wanna lie, but there's no point in bringing it up if not.'
Before Ash could brew on his girl troubles anymore, the water broke for a mighty splash.
"Float…!" Floatzel cried out with gusto, shooting into the sky above the crashing waves and glimmering mist. He grinned cockily, before returning to the water to speed about. His tails, spinning like rotors, propelled him around the group with ease.
Empoleon narrowed his eyes, scowling. "Showoff…"
Floatzel cut him a smirk. "You mad? I know you're mad."
"Preposterous," Empoleon scoffed, folding his wings. "Why on Arceus's green earth would I be?"
"Mad that you're not fast as-"
"Oh, what a beauty~!" Misty cooed, hearts practically sparkling in her eyes. "Ash, what the hell? You never told me you had a Floatzel! Let alone one this fast and cool!"
"Well, you never asked!" Ash answered, borrowing from Dawn. "He's pretty amazing, isn't he?"
"Oh, incredibly! That speed… I know! He totally has Swift Swim, doesn't he? I can tell!"
"Guilty as charged~." Floatzel boasted, shrugging both of his paws while his tails continued to propel him about.
"He does, but it's so rare we get to make use of it," Ash shrugged. "It's come up, like, once."
"You didn't teach him Rain Dance!?" Misty balked.
"Honestly, I've thought about it," Ash rubbed his neck. "But I don't know how to."
Misty rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable… Well, you're in luck today, mister! Because I'm here!"
"You'd really help us out with that!?" Ash exclaimed.
Misty winked, wagging her finger at Ash. "Leave it to a Water Pokémon Master."
"Oh, that'd be incredible…! If Floatzel could battle in the rain all the time?" Dawn clasped her hands together. "You know, Floatzel was actually my Pokémon first."
"Wait, no fooling!?" Misty turned to Dawn, wide-eyed. "How'd you give this guy away?"
"Well, it wasn't our idea, but we actually traded Pokémon," Dawn boasted, chin up with pride. And as she started to tell the story of Floatzel and Ambipom, Empoleon cut a smirk at Ash.
"Like clockwork," he lamp shaded.
Ash let out a content sigh, sinking into the fresh green of one of the ranch's many hills. Peeks and Bulbasaur were both lounging on their backs nearby. What were they doing here, exactly?
Well, they were watching Pidgeot, Staraptor, and Swellow zip about the clear blue skies, neck-and-neck. Rounding trees that they'd made their benchmarks for a race track, they sped for supremacy among one another. Pidgeot was keeping a small lead on Staraptor, but Swellow was holding the lead for a majority of their flight.
"Swellow's speed is something else, eh?" Ash popped a pretzel into his mouth, holding a bag of trail mix that he'd brought from home. "She must've been busting her ass training, lately."
"They do this sort of thing, nonstop," Bulbasaur explained. "All of them have gotten faster, but she wins more often than not. Although, Pidgeot's maneuvering has netted her quite a few victories. Leading her own flock has done a great deal for her battle and flight sense."
"I feel bad for Staraptor," Peeks said, frowning. "It must be tough, holding third place."
The Predator Pokémon was, indeed, trailing just behind Pidgeot. Although, he was clearly putting in effort to pull a beak ahead of the colorful veteran.
"He usually loses. Although he's quick to put them in their place when they spar," Bulbasaur explained. "He's the only Flying-type I'm aware of who can learn Close Combat, of all things."
"It fetched him a nice win at the Poké Ringer!" Peeks pointed out. "Swellow's won one of those, too. Both of them are seriously tenacious… how long are they going to keep at this?"
Bulbasaur mimicked shrugging with his vines. "I usually don't stick around long enough to find out. I have a whole ranch to keep watch over, so I often arrive after they've started and leave before they finish."
Ash smiled to himself. He was proud of those guys. So, so proud. "I think they deserve a lil' pick-me-up for giving it their all out there. Hey, you guys!" He called out, cupping his hands around his mouth.
The avian trio came to a halt, flapping over to hover above Ash and company.
"Catch!" He threw a rye chip in their direction.
"Are you… throwing treats!?" Staraptor scoffed. "Well, that's just demeaning! We're soldiers of the skies — not common pigeons bobbing their heads around the park—"
While Staraptor squawked, Swellow swooped in, crunching down on the chip. "Thanks, boss!" She looked over her shoulder, and sneered at her peer. "Pansy."
The ghostly pale of Staraptor's face could only reflect horror — or, maybe regret, having missed out on something he'd now decided he wanted. His beak even hung slack. "H-hey! Could I…?"
Ash laughed, and threw a pretzel into the air. "You're up, big guy!"
"If you can grab it!" Swellow dove towards the morsel at full-speed.
"That one's mine!"
Swellow hovered towards the snack, only for Staraptor's foot to slam into her back, knocking her away. Staraptor chomped down upon the second morsel, humming happily.
"That was dirty!" Swellow squawked. "Reducing yourself to sucker punches!?"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Staraptor bobbed his head mockingly. "I could have sworn the rules amounted to 'if you could grab it.'" For his sass, the bird was greeted with Swellow's wing backhanding him.
"H-how dare you!?" Staraptor fumed, before kicking Swellow in the stomach.
"Hey, hey you guys! Gals!" Ash shouted, sitting up. "Come on!"
Bulbasaur exhaled through his nose. "Just wait."
The spat had devolved into pecking and kicking, before two huge wings whacked the brawling duo in the back of their heads, disorienting them both.
Pidgeot hovered overhead, casting a sharp look of disappointment. She tutted. "Honestly. How old are you two? Beating each other up over crumbs? Have you no shame?"
"Not particularly," Swellow replied.
"Well, it's time you learn some."
"Tut, tut… What a load of nonsense. Look at what you've started, Ash."
Up in a nearby tree, Sceptile lounged, legs and arms crossed. He was enjoying the cool shade up and away from the action, chewing idly on his favorite twig. He grinned at Ash.
Ash looked up at the Forest Pokémon, and rubbed his neck sheepishly. Before he could muster up a reply, though, he felt something… rumbling. "Hey, uh, you guys. Or is it just me, or is the ground shaking?"
It surely wasn't his imagination. The earth itself was trembling, and one look around could reveal why to everyone. Clouds of dust scattered to the wind in the wake of a whinnying, stampeding herd of Tauros. And they were getting closer by the second.
Peeks and Bulbasaur were quick to make themselves scarce. Ash, on the other hand, took an extra moment to catch on. By the time he was aware, they were already seconds away.
"Hey, hey wait…!" Ash frantically waved his hands in front of him. "Slow down, you guys…!"
It was a warning that rarely ever worked. Ash held his arms up, fully expecting to be trampled, or sent flying. But as he braced himself, the catastrophe never came. In fact, the rumbling had all but stopped. Instead, he felt a huff of hot air. "...Eh?"
All thirty of his Tauros were surrounding him, almost too close for comfort. Some of them were sniffling.
"Uh… guys? Thanks for not turning me into a pancake, but are you like, alright? Is something-"
That was all he could get out before the foremost Tauros all nuzzled him.
"We were worried for ya!"
"Don'tcha think we heard all what went on!?"
"Boss told us about it! Word gets around fast, y'know?"
"Are you okay? Sheesh, your face is marked up!"
"Ahaha.. hey, hey!" Ash laughed, trying to navigate between the swarm of fur and cold noses. "You guys…! I'm okay, I promise! No need to worry!" He did his best to manage the attention, ruffling their heads when he could. "It's… been a rough couple o' months! But I'm a-okay!"
He was okay, but he was choking back sniffles out of gratitude. He really loved his Pokémon.
"Aaaaaaash!" Yet another voice called out to him, now. To the teenager's horror, he realized that it was coming from above.
Up in the sky, Gliscor was soaring… or rather, he was plummeting. He was on a straightforward path to Ash, with his wings and pincers spanned in what was sure to be a dive-bomb of a hug.
A vine snapped out of the blue, however, snug around Gliscor's waist. The Fang Scorpion was hoisted in the air, and shortly afterward, Ash was also hoisted above the Tauros herd.
"Er…?" Ash blinked, taking stock of his surroundings.
"Sniffle…" Gliscor clawed at his eyes tearfully. "I just wanted to give him a hug, y'know."
"You could try not hugging him at mach speeds." A soft, motherly voice scolded Gliscor, before setting him down beside Ash. Both vines retreated into a blooming pink flower wrapped around the Pokémon's neck. Meganium smiled sweetly. "You're all suffocating the poor young man."
"Oh, like you're one to talk," Gliscor scoffed, rolling his eyes, as Ash gave him a proper hug.
"Yeah, what he said!" One of the Tauros bellowed. "Look who's talking, missy. I bet you just wanted to hog him to yourself!"
"Yeah!"
"Hit the nail on the head."
Meganium rolled her amber eyes. "Well, I can certainly say I had that one coming."
"Oh, hey, Meganium! Thanks for the save!" Ash ruffled Gliscor's head before stepping towards her. "Actually, uh… if you've got a moment." He awkwardly rubbed his neck, his face twisting up with some discomfort. "I… did some thinking, and I think, looking back, that I've finally figured out how you feel. I just want to tell you that…"
"Now, that's enough out of you." Meganium's Vine Whip promptly pushed the brim of his cap down to cover his face. She smiled, shaking her head. "I've had time to make peace, and dry my tears. When you get down to it, I'm just glad to have a trainer as good as you."
"Wait… like, for real?" Ash pulled up the brim of his hat, staring at her with astonishment. "I mean, that's great? Sorry? Congratulations?" How was he supposed to respond to an accepted rejection, again?
Before he could run his mouth anymore, Meganium snatched his hat with her vine. "Dawn better treat you right. That's my final word on the matter." She smiled, slapping the cap back playfully atop his head.
"Meganium…" Ash sniffled, wiping at his eyes again. He threw his arms around the Grass-type, burying his face in her neck with a wide smile. "Don't you worry. She's been just great!"
"As she should be!" Meganium huffed. "And you know, if this thing between you and Dawn doesn't work out…~" She punctuated her joking offer with a playful wink.
Ash laughed, affectionately patting her back. "Heh, I"ll be sure to keep you in mind."
Some hours had passed since Ash's arrival at Oak's ranch. After navigating its expansive territory to visit his many partners, he'd decided on letting the time pass with a peaceful nap.
He lay atop Torterra's shell with his arms folded behind his head, under the reliable shade cast by his tree, where Noctowl was perched. Peeks nestled into his side, and Bulbasaur lay out across his belly. Snorlax lay on his side nearby, and Tyranitar curled his armored hide up against Torterra's shell.
After much exploration and play, the group had surrendered to a mid-morning nap.
This was the scene discovered by Misty, Dawn, and Brock, who'd regrouped to find their friend. The three, along with Empoleon, approached the huddled group, recognizable by several gargantuan Pokémon conspicuously crowded together.
"He's… sleeping." Misty trailed off. "I guess the sugar crash from breakfast finally hit him."
"I'm not so sure about that," Brock laughed. "I feel like keeping up with his entourage could make anyone exhausted."
"Point taken. I don't know how he even does it," Misty shook her head. "Unfortunately for Sleeping Beauty, though, I think it's time to wake him up," she said, before Dawn held her hand up.
"Wait," she whispered. The girl failed to hold back a grin. "I've got this." Before anyone could stop her, Dawn tiptoed around Tyranitar and carefully crawled up on Torterra's shell on her hands and knees. She slowly crept up under the tree, careful not to stir any of the slumbering parties.
"What in the world is she up to?" Misty pinched the bridge of her nose.
Dawn situated herself under Torterra's tree, so that she could look down at Ash, who still snoozed soundly. She held her hand up to cover her mouth, failing to hide her ever-growing grin. Without so much as a word, she pushed the bill of his cap down to cover his face.
That was enough to make the teenager stir and grumble sleepily. "Nnn.. wha…?"
"Guess who?" Even as Dawn whispered, her mirth leaked into her voice.
"Okay, unless I slept way too long, it shouldn't be this dark out," Ash grumbled. He yanked on the brim of his cap to push it upward. When he did, Dawn's face took up his entire field of vision.
A cheeky, mischievous smile graced her lips, matched by the glint in her deep blue eyes. "It's time to wake up, sleepyhead." Her fingertips gingerly brushed one of his bangs out of his eyes.
"Do I…" Ash paused for a rather loud yawn. "...have to? I think I could stay like this for a while."
The commotion was enough for Peeks to blink the sleep out of his eyes, as well. He scrunched his nose and took in his surroundings. "...Actually, I think it is time to get up. I didn't sign up for this." Deciding he'd had enough of being extra-close to the PDA, he stretched out his back, and walked down Torterra's shell to hop into Misty's arms.
"Nor did I," a waking Bulbasaur grumbled, making his exit next.
"Oi, oi! When I said 'Sleeping Beauty,' I was kidding, Dawn," Misty scowled. "Don't be gross."
"We haven't done anything!" Dawn defended.
Brock shook his head bemusedly. "We came to wake you up to regroup. I think it's about that time."
"Oh, for real!?" Ash shot up, grinning. Any thoughts of lazing away in Dawn's arms were temporarily shelved. He slid down Torterra's shell, hopping onto solid ground. "Well, why didn't you say so!?"
"I was trying to," Dawn defended, following after Ash. "But, someone wasn't listening."
"Professor Oak told me to gather you guys. He should be here in just a couple minutes, now!"
"Then what're we waiting for?" Ash grinned, waving his hand to beckon his sleepy Pokémon along. "Let's head back to the lab, everybody!"
Torterra grumbled and stood. Noctowl took off without any fuss. Tyranitar was next to wake. Snorlax, unsurprisingly, took his sweet time, but a bit of nudging and pushing got the big glutton on board to follow.
The rolling greenery directly behind the laboratory could only be described as a full house.
Essentially all of Ash's Pokémon crowded the immediate area, some chatting amongst one another, others waiting patiently. The shining beacon that was Bulbasaur's Solar Beam had summoned one and all, as they'd all long since agreed on it as a method of gathering.
"My, my… it's really incredible, isn't it?" Professor Oak mused aloud, cupping his hand to his chin. Noticing Ash's quizzical look, he continued. "Just how many partners you've gathered, over the years. Even though you didn't challenge a foreign League this past year, you managed to pick up a few new companions."
The Professor's gaze — and Ash's —drifted to the few newcomers. Mismagius was chattering with Crawdaunt. Rosemary sat on a stump closer to the humans than the crowd of Pokémon. Meema was watching Rura play with Gengar from a respectful distance.
"It's only a few, this time… but my journey wouldn't be the same without them." Ash smiled to himself, leaning back onto a small boulder. "Mismagius, Rosa, Meema… They've all taught me some really important things about myself; about being a Pokémon Trainer. I wouldn't be as ready for the League as I am now without them. You know?"
"I would bet good money that you could say that about any one of your Pokémon, Ash. A trainer is the sum of their experiences with their Pokémon. And you can't forget the friends who have returned to you after much time apart. Not every trainer gets to have those kinds of reunions."
"I remember us talking about just that," Ash replied. "About the Pokémon I used to travel with and missed having around." He saw Pidgeot, chattering with Lapras. "About how I wanted more time with them, but I felt guilty about it. Like I was bein' selfish."
Gengar. Tyranitar. Charizard. Primeape.
They were all here. They all looked happy.
"But, now I understand. They missed me as much as I missed them. There are still things that we have to do together. Mountains we haven't climbed yet. And, now that the time's right..."
For one, the time hadn't come yet. Somewhere, out in the world, Butterfree was living his life.
Ash exhaled, and told himself that their day would come eventually, just like it did with everybody else.
"Now that the time is right… You can take one step closer to the zenith of your potential," Professor Oak finished, nodding sagely. "...Ah! And speak of the devil! Here's our last guest!"
Ash could hardly even hear Professor Oak as roaring waters drowned out his voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw roaring jets of water twisting into the sky, spraying the fields with a cool, refreshing mist that cast one and all in a colorful band of rainbow reflecting off its surface.
"WHAT IS UP, BROSKIS!"
The torrents came from one point and one point only; a brown and beige turtle shell, careening high over the fence. Still spinning and tumbling, the shell's owner popped out in all of his glory, sporting fluffy ears and an equally bouncy tail. Wartortle pulled his signature shades out of his shell, donning them in mid-air with a toothy grin.
He landed on the lush green, striking a stylish pose. "Didja miss me?"
"Yeah," Bulbasaur said, approaching the turtle while rolling his eyes. "A whole hour late. Any longer, and we might've left you behind." Despite his complaints, he extended a vine.
Wartortle bumped his fist against the vine with a variety of practiced gestures. "Oh, don't get your vines in a knot. I know I'm tardy to the party, but I had a very good reason, FYI."
"Oh, yeah? And what would that be?" Peeks prodded, smirking. This ought to be good.
Wartortle folded his arms, puffing out his chest. "I was rescuing a Skitty from a tree."
"Sorry we're late, everyone!" A familiar voice shouted from over the hill. When Ash and company walked over towards the fence, Officer Jenny sat on her motorbike on the nearby dirt path. Her sidecar meant for Wartortle was empty. "We really wanted to get here on time, but traffic was awfully sluggish on the way here. A couple of Psyduck were walking across Route 1."
Wartortle felt the weight of an entire's crowd's judgmental stares, outside of the humans who couldn't understand him. "Alriiiight, alright! So I embellished my story a little. A tiny bit."
Ash snorted in amusement, ignoring him to wave to Jenny. "Thanks for bringing him by, Officer! I'll get him back to you after the Indigo League; you can count on it!"
"I'll hold you to that, Mr. Ketchum!" Jenny saluted Ash and company in return. "Stay out of trouble, won't you?"
"We'll do our best to keep him out of it~!" Misty cooed, yanking on Ash's sleeve.
"We very much appreciate the trip!" Professor Oak waved, before Jenny was off once more. "Well then… it seems that every one of your partners that plans to fight with you is here, now."
"Right…! Okay, everyone! Group huddle!" Ash declared, clapping his hands.
Just as asked, all of his Pokémon gathered in a crowd, including Rosemary. Ash stood before all of them, inhaling and exhaling. Even as he, himself, had called for them to gather, he felt a bundle of nerves creeping up on him. His words were eluding him, until he felt a comfortable weight on top of his shoulder.
"Don't get stage fright on us now," Peeks chided, smiling cheekily. He brushed his cheek against Ash's, lighting his nerves with a bundle of lively static. It was just the jolt he needed.
"Thanks, Buddy." Ash smiled genuinely, and then patted both of his cheeks. "Okay! Let's see…"
"He never really was one for crowds, was he?" Misty asked, smiling sympathetically.
"Give him a moment," Brock replied. "It's understandable. The pressure's on."
"You can do it, Ash!" Dawn cheered, waving her hands as if she were wearing pom-poms. "Just speak right from the heart! Your Pokémon know how you feel better than anyone!"
Finding his words for a final pep rally wasn't exactly easy. But, between Dawn, Peeks, and his many, many friends before him, Ash found his strength. "You know… I realized that if I wanted to, I could make any old speech right now. About how strong we've all gotten, or about how proud I am of all of you, or how we can conquer any challenge as a team… And all of that would be true! But instead of that, I think I'd rather talk about something else."
The entire audience was quiet. They waited patiently on Ash's words—or impatiently, in the case of those with restless dispositions. It was anyone's guess what would pass his lips now.
"Ever since I started my journey… No. Ever since I was a little kid, I always talked about how I wanted to be a Pokémon Master. Everything I've done since leaving home—every road I've traveled, every friend I've made, every badge I've won with all of you—all of it, I've told myself, has been one step after another towards my dream of being the world's greatest Pokémon Master. I know you've all heard me go on about it…"
A clamor of affirmations, jeers, and overlapping wisecracks about his repetition interrupted Ash.
"Alriiight, alright. I get the point," Ash laughed, not even trying to hide his mild exasperation at their teasing. "No need to grill me about it." He cleared his throat. "I'm saying this because I've been repeating that to myself for a long time. But, there's just one thing that I never put much thought into; at least until recently. I never decided for myself what being a Master even means."
A shadow had been looming over his imagination for the past couple of months. A tall, imposing shroud seemingly without equal, whispering in his ear and bringing his deepest doubts to life. Deidra had brought everything he thought he knew about his path into question in just a couple of words. The piercing gold of her one visible eye, for a time, had felt utterly indomitable.
"But thanks to everything that's happened this year… good and bad… I think I've figured it out. A Pokémon Master is someone who understands Pokémon as well as they do themselves. If I want to be the greatest out there… I have to be able to connect to not just my Pokémon, but any Pokémon in the entire world!" He let his words hang in the air. Previously only spoken to Mismagius, they were now in the minds of every single one of his partners present today.
There were mutters among the group, then cries of affirmation. Although many of his Pokémon had no idea what he'd meant by those words before, if they'd considered it at all… No sentiment could be more Ash Ketchum if it'd even tried. That, they could all agree upon.
"A noble sentiment, if I'd ever heard one," Bulbasaur relayed. He, himself, had started his life with Ash on a bitter note, working from the perspective of an abandoned Pokémon who helped guard the similarly wounded. He'd assumed the worst of Ash until the trainer had bared his heart.
"If anyone can do that, it's you!" Infernape cheered, punching the air repeatedly. Formerly a victim of a trainer who just couldn't come close to seeing him as the full person he was, abandoning and wounding him, Infernape knew Ash's thoughtful heart better than most. It'd changed his life.
"That's what you landed on, huh?" Sceptile smirked, chewing on the characteristic twig between his lips. A Pokémon with a strong drive to fight who'd suffered a crippling heartbreak. Even though Ash was deaf to his pain due to his own deficiencies at the time, it hadn't stopped him from being there for Sceptile. "If that's the goal, then we have your back 'till the bitter end."
"I wouldn't accept anything less from you, truly!" Pidgeot cooed, somehow managing a motherly smile on her sharp, dented beak. "And you were on your way, long before you found your Aura."
The words of affirmation continued, from one partner to the next. Ash had to bite back his breaths as tears started to well in his eyes. All of his friends' approval blended together, reminding him, one and all, that he could hear every single one of his partners. The 'Window to the Heart,' as Riley had coded it, was open to all of his Pokémon… and even to a few that were simply his friends. Empoleon nearby, and Lopunny, sitting somewhere on Dawn's belt.
His window to the world of Pokémon was ever expanding.
"And, that's why…" Ash sniffled, wiping at his eyes. "...C'mon… I can't cry at a time like this!"
To his surprise, he felt something stinging his eyes and throat. A black puff of smoke clouded his field of vision, making him cough and recoil. As quickly as it'd come, it drifted away.
A sneering Charizard was the culprit. "Who the hell do you think you're fooling? You've always worn your heart on your sleeve. If you didn't, y'wouldn't be the Ash Ketchum I know."
"Could've done without the smoke, wise guy." Ash grinned, even through his complaints. But Charizard was right. There was no reason to hide tears of joy. His Pokémon knew his feelings as well as he knew theirs. He thrust his pointer finger into the sky, pointing toward the heavens.
"...Right! That's why I can hear every one of you, today! Because I've gotten closer to that goal by traveling with you! And we're going to keep aiming higher! That's what this upcoming League is about!"
He felt the tingle along his cheek and neck, again. Peeks let off sparks, whispering in his ear.
"You've got everyone hooked. Now's the time for that big declaration we're waiting for."
Ash's grin stretched to the corners of his mouth. No pinkish scar or old wounds could damper his words, or his dreams. "Winning this conference is just our next step, as we aim to be Pokémon Masters!"
The excitement crescendoed and found its home in the belly of one insatiable beast. Garchomp stood tall and gathered his fighting spirit in his gut, and it shone so brightly that it could be seen on the outside. It rose from his core up into his maw, and Garchomp fired a Draco Meteor.
The shot eclipsed the shining noon sun before exploding in a celebration of Ash's words.
Meteors fell on the backdrop of the gathered crowd, exploding in succession. All except for one.
Standing by the fence, Empoleon turned his attention to a blazing shot falling right towards him.
"Ah! Empoleon!" Dawn gasped, fearfully awaiting the inevitable.
But that explosion that had become tradition never came. A sliver of silver cut through the air, cleaving the meteor in two. Empoleon stood proud, proudly brandishing his Steel Wing.
What was left of the meteor exploded harmlessly, highlighting his metallic plates.
Dawn breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew… That was a close one! Great job, Empoleon!"
"I guess we're not the only ones who are on the ball, today!" Ash laughed, rubbing his neck. A victory declaration came very close to an ugly damper on the good spirits.
"Now, that's a good omen if I've ever seen one," Brock laughed, folding his arms.
"Er…? I feel like I'm missing some context here," Misty added.
"Garchomp's Meteor: An omen of victory. A knight's bright verdict." Professor Oak recited to himself thoughtfully. While Tracey hopped to write down his new senryu for Dawn without even being asked, the authority on Pokémon cleared his throat, approaching Ash.
"That was a wonderful sentiment, Ash. I couldn't have expected better. But I believe it's time to move on from sentiment to the 'nitty gritty,' as they say." He saw the confusion in Ash's eyes, and continued. "That is to say, strategizing for your upcoming bout. Do you know how many Pokémon will have the chance to participate in the conference, should you succeed?"
"I haven't really thought about it. I've never made it as far as the finals before," Ash replied. His eyes widened, suddenly. "Wait a sec… Are you suggesting that not everyone will get a turn!?"
"Hold your Horsea! Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Oak chided. "Let's go through the numbers. Lucky for you, Brock has already done his research!" He gestured to the student.
Brock cleared his throat, pulling out a Pokémon League handbook. "As you may remember, the initial battles are all three versus three matches, up until the Top 16; that was where you placed on your last try, Ash," he recalled. "But, if you were to move into the Top 8, like in your following League attempts, you'd be competing in full battles with six Pokémon for the following rounds!"
"3-on-3 up until the Top 16…" Ash squinted. He tried to count on his fingers, before realizing that was a pointless endeavor. Not exactly eager to announce that, he cleared his throat. "So, what's it come out to?"
"You'll be battling in 5 rounds of 3v3, with a total of 15 Pokémon. Then with three full battles, you'll be able to use another 18. In total, that's 33 Pokémon!" Brock smiled, closing the handbook. "I know math isn't your strong suit, so I'm just going to cut to the chase. Pardoning your extra 29 Tauros, with their leader as their representative… You have just enough Pokémon to battle with every single one of them, if you manage to reach the final round!"
"Wait, seriously!? You're kidding!" Ash exclaimed. If it were even possible, he was more excited than he had been before. He turned to his roster. "You hear that!? Everyone's gonna fight!"
His many Pokémon erupted into cheers. Even the many Tauros bellowed and nudged their leader, offering him their full support in leading the charge for them!
"Isn't that wonderful?" Misty beamed. "You'll get to use all of your friends, Ash! I had a feeling you'd be pretty bummed if you walked in there and had to leave anyone out," she teased, walking over to rib him with her elbow. Ash playfully swatted it away.
"Well, duh. Of course I would've!"
"And, who would be able to blame him?" Dawn defended. "This is a tournament for everybody!"
"Well, let's not worry about if's, and's, and but's," Brock interjected before the riffing escalated. "That leaves us to get down to details: team building and strategy. Although, since you haven't met your opponents yet, deciding on teams might be a bit premature…"
"Actually, now that you mention it," Ash replied. "I've been thinking today… I've had the chance to see how my Pokémon have made friends with each other, over the years. I think I want them to be able to fight together, the way they like. Let them decide who they want to fight with! Y'know?"
"That's such a you statement," Misty exhaled. "And it's very sweet, but what about counter picking to account for your opponents? You can't get by on just a good attitude."
"It's something I'll keep in mind," Ash shrugged, "but I'm not too worried about it, either. After all, pushing us into a corner is what makes us adapt and pull out our next wild stunt! Right?"
"Oh, that's always my favorite thing about your battles!" Dawn gushed, bundling her fists together. "Seeing what kind of surprising stunt you'll pull out just gets my heart pounding!"
"If experience and memory serves, I'd say you're right!" Peeks agreed candidly.
"Right! And, when I win this league, I want my Pokémon to have enjoyed themselves as much as I did!"
"While I share Misty's concerns, I can contribute that I've also seen Ash's ideals in action," Brock volunteered. He had, after all, watched his many battles with Paul, down to their ultimate conclusion at Lily of the Valley. "Picking a team to make a point isn't new to Ash at all."
"Very well, then! Then that leaves the details of the teams, themselves, I believe," Professor Oak added. "If memory serves, Ash's Johto and Sinnoh teams have at least enough Pokémon to fight as a unit. It only makes sense to allow them to do the same, once more. Although if you don't account for Peeks, then his Hoenn team is just one short… Ah!"
Professor Oak gasped as a shadowy shroud materialized right in front of him. A witch's hat hung upside down, two beady red eyes staring into his tired eyes. "Oh! Oh~! I volunteer my services to the tropical troupe! I would just love to fight alongside my darling~!"
"Erm…?" Professor Oak blinked blankly. "Mismagius? Are you interested, perhaps…?"
"Leave that to me!" Ash thumped a fist against his chest proudly. "Mismagius wants to fight with them, so she can fight alongside Glalie. If that makes her happy, then I'm totally on-board!"
"I think he's having fun playing translator," Misty leaned over to whisper to Brock.
The doctor-in-training laughed. "I can hardly blame him. Wouldn't you?"
"Oh! I want to be in the final round!" Peeks volunteered, with his paw in the air. He took on a scarlet blush, and then laughed nervously. "...If that's alright. I don't mean to hog the spotlight."
"Are you kidding, Buddy? Of course you'll be there!" Ash agreed, before realizing that the conversation was lost on every other human. "Peeks is going to be in the final round."
~And, me!~ Rosemary volunteered, raising a paw. ~I promised I would be, didn't I?~
"Then, one of the full teams is going to require two members to take part, elsewhere," Brock hummed. "But, which one…?"
Garchomp raised a claw. "I don't mind! I wasn't part of the full battle team in Sinnoh, anyhow."
Gliscor's amber eyes started to sparkle. "That selflessness is so inspiring…! Oh, if you need one more volunteer, then I'll join, too!" He waved his claw in the air. "Wanna fight on the same team?"
"Yeah, okay!" Garchomp roared excitedly. He bashed his claw against Gliscor's.
"Well, that settles that!" Brock chuckled. "That's three teams settled, and two thirds of another…"
"Agh… This is getting confusing," Ash groaned, pinching his nose.
"Starting to regret planning your teams?" Peeks queried, leaning over his trainer's shoulder to tease him. "Picking things ahead of time like that isn't like you, usually."
"Aha ha, I can't say I thought the idea through all the way…" The trainer scratched his cheek. As he spoke, Tracey was already divvying up tables on his sketch pad, discussing possibilities with the rest of their entourage and throwing out ideas candidly. Some landed, and some didn't.
But Ash couldn't deny the warmth he felt watching all of his dear friends come together in a bid to support his dream; human and Pokémon alike. "But, no. I don't regret it. In fact, I have a really great feeling about this league, Buddy." He held up his fist towards his partner.
Peeks grinned and tapped his paw against his trainer's fist. "That makes two of us."
"And that vote of confidence is all I need. The Indigo League Conference is as good as ours!"