It's been a little bit, hasn't it? Not nearly as long as it usually takes, mind you. But still, a while. Been busy dealing with stuff like rent, electricity, trying to find more ways to make money. You know, the usual adulting stuff lol. But when I have spare time, I come back here and write! After all, I left you all on quite the cliffhanger! It's time to see what happens during this detour into the Hisui Region! No anonymous reviews to address this time, so we can dive right in! Enjoy everyone!

I own nothing except the story.

"The…Hisui Region? How did I…" Ash pressed his head between his hands, wracking his brain for any sort of answers as to how he'd gotten here. But for all his efforts, all he managed to do was give himself a massive migraine, as he groaned in both pain and frustration and laid back down in order to rest. "I don't understand…why can't I remember anything?!"

"Easy, dear boy!" Laventon knelt down in front of the agonizing teen. "Medicine may not be my specialty, but I do know that stressing yourself like this can't be good for you!"

It made sense, as no matter how hard he tried, nothing was coming to Ash. His mind was in a complete fog. He took a deep breath as he attempted to calm down as the professor suggested. Panicking obviously wasn't going to get him anywhere.

The environment around him was serene enough. A sandy beach, an ocean breeze - it would honestly be relaxing if his situation wasn't so dire. Plus, the swirling vortex in the sky didn't exactly seem friendly. Everything else though, there didn't seem to be any immediate danger. But just as he was starting to settle in, a sharp pain went through his head while he was pondering the area around him. "Oh man, that hurt."

"What happened, Ash? Are you alright?"

"I…don't know." He looked out towards the water, as a sudden sense of longing invaded his heart, along with an extreme loneliness that washed over him. "I suddenly thought how someone I know would've really liked this place."

"Who?"

"I don't know…" Ash's eyes began to water a bit, as he hastily wiped the tears away before they could fully form. "All I know is…whoever they are, they're really special to me. I can feel it."

"I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for you, Ash." Laventon shook his head. "If you'll allow me, I'd like to take you back to the village. It isn't safe here, what with all the Pokémon roaming about."

Ash raised an eyebrow at that. "Why would Pokémon being around make things unsafe?" He then looked down at the three Pokémon staring up at him curiously. "These three don't seem dangerous at all."

"Ah," Laventon smiled. "My little ones have been tamed, if you will. I believe there was once a time where humans used Pokémon as slaves, but those days have since passed, and Pokémon now roam free across the Hisui Region. I've never been one to resort to barbaric methods, but now taming and studying Pokémon is infinitely more difficult."

Something about that caused another twinge to go through Ash's mind, as he winced and looked down at the three Pokémon. Cyndaquil he recognized, but the other two…based on their colors, he could guess that one was a water-type and the other was a grass-type, but that was as far as he could guess. But what Prof. Laventon said, about Pokémon being dangerous - it rubbed him completely the wrong way as he stood up and shook his head. "Being a Pokémon Trainer is the greatest thing in the world. Humans and Pokémon are supposed to work together to get stronger and form a bond that will last forever!"

"Is that what it's like where you're from?"

"Yes." Ash nodded resolutely. "I don't remember much, but I remember that. In fact, I'm a Pokémon Trainer myself!"

"Fascinating!" Laventon's eyes widened with excitement. "And where is your partner?"

Ash froze, the distressed frown reappearing on his face as he struggled to remember, and another sharp pain went through his head as he staggered back. "I know I have one…but I can't remember what it is!" Ash trembled in frustration, shouting out his anger at his own inability to remember. "I hate this, what happened to me?!"

"Oh no!"

Ash was pulled out of his own pity party by Laventon's own shout of concern. "What is it?"

"Ash, my boy, I know you're upset, and I completely understand…but it seems you've startled my little ones! Now they've gone and run off!"

"Oh…sorry about that, Professor."

"It's quite alright. But if you wouldn't mind, would you be able to help me round them up before they get too far? I'm afraid I'm not very athletic, and throwing Pokéballs isn't my strong suit."

Ash's eyes widened a bit. "You have Pokéballs?"

"Why yes, you recognize them?"

"Of course I do…that's how all Pokémon Trainers capture Pokémon so they can start training them."

"Interesting. How do you make yours?"

"Make?" Ash shook his head. "I mean…I guess someone has to make them, but really I just buy them from a store. You have to make your own Pokéballs?"

"Of course, and it is a tedious process to be sure." Laventon reached for one of his Pokéballs, showing Ash the primitive object as they searched for his wayward Pokémon. "We use tumblestones and the husk of an apricorn for the body, and a firework mechanism indicates the successful capture of a Pokémon. So far they've been extremely useful for our research, but they aren't always reliable."

"Yeah," Ash chuckled. "That happens sometimes for me too. The best way to capture one is to challenge a Pokémon to a battle and weaken it first, then that's when you can go in and make the catch!"

"Well, you certainly seem confident in your abilities!" Laventon smiled. "So would you please assist me in rounding them up again? I beg you!"

"You don't have to beg! Of course I'll help! Lead the way!" Ash pumped a fist, his headache finally starting to fade as he watched Laventon turn and start to run after the three little Pokémon. He was about to follow, when he felt an odd chill go through his whole body. "What the…?" Slowly turning towards a nearby patch of grass, he spotted a glowing object, and then his ears picked up a bizarre beeping sound coming from said object. "Hey…what's that?" Ash slowly made his way over, the beeping sound calling to him in a way that prompted him to pick up the object.

A sense of familiarity washed over him as he gently examined the device. The sleek, smooth cover was very cool to the touch, not unlike another device which he somehow felt he should know about but couldn't remember. The body was pure white, but had golden trim on both sides in an ornate shape. He'd never seen anything like it before…and yet…he couldn't shake the feeling that this was meant for him. "I wonder what this is."

That's when Ash noticed that the device actually had hinges and could be opened, so he did, and what he saw caused him to gasp as a blinding light erupted from the screen while an almost physical force seemed to push against him, causing him to turn away until the light faded to the point he could look at it. "Wha…what is this thing?!"

"Ash Ketchum, I bestow open thee this Arc Dex and thy mission: seek out the Lake Guardians, create the Red Chain, and save the universe."

"Save the universe?" Ash narrowed his eyes. "What the heck is that supposed to mean?! I can't remember anything about my past, and every time I try I get a splitting headache! Save the universe? I can't even save myself!" He glared at the device as if it was responsible for his woes, and yet in spite of that, he just couldn't shake the feeling there was more to this mystery than he understood.

"Ash, my boy! I need your help, please!"

The cry for help from Laventon was all Ash needed to be yanked away from his pondering. He stuffed the device into his pocket and ran to chase down the Pokémon Professor, who was anxiously watching his three Pokémon run around wildly. "Sorry, Professor! I'm here!"

"Alas…yet another miss." Laventon turned and grinned sheepishly at the young trainer. "I'm glad you've come to my rescue, my new friend from the sky! I tried catching my little runaways by tossing some Pokéballs their way, but as you can see, I'm not the best at this sort of thing."

"No problem, Professor Laventon!" Ash pumped a fist. "Just let me have a go at it, I'll catch 'em for ya!"

"Thank you, my friend! But first let me tell you a bit about these three first, so you know what you're getting yourself into!" Laventon turned his attention to the bird-like Pokémon first. "Now, that one is Rowlet! Rowlet can photosynthesize like a plant, and apparently it battles using its sharp feathers."

"A plant? So it must be a grass-type!"

"That's my understanding as well!" Laventon nodded and then turned when he heard another Pokémon cry out. "That one over there is-"

"Cyndaquil!"

Laventon's eyes widened. "You recognize it?"

"Yeah! Cyndaquil is a Pokémon we have back where I'm from! See how its back is all fired up? It's because it's probably excited, or maybe it got spooked by something!"

"Remarkable!" Laventon exclaimed with excitement. "So it seems these Pokémon exist elsewhere as well! What a fortuitous revelation! You are a wonder, dear boy!"

"Thanks! But what's the story on that one, Professor?" Ash pointed towards the nearby pond, where Laventon's last Pokémon was playing.

"Ah, the Pokémon near the pond is Oshawott. Oshawott naps while floating on the water, and it can battle using the shell-like object on its belly!"

"Cool! So, ready to let me catch these little guys for ya?"

"Oh, yes, I almost forgot! You'll need these!" Laventon handed Ash an entire armful of Pokéballs, causing the boy to fall over from the sudden weight distribution. Laventon was not even fazed as he continued his rambling. "Pokémon truly are strange, marvelous creatures! Perhaps one of the strangest things I've seen is that each and every Pokémon are actually able to shrink themselves down to minuscule size! That's where the Pokéballs come in!"

Ash stood back up and dusted himself off. "Honestly I never thought about it before. I guess that's one way to look at it."

"Do you have another theory?"

"Got me, I'm a trainer, not a Professor." Ash turned to look at the Cyndaquil, whose flames had only just started to die down. "Speaking of which, let me get to work!"

"Oh, by all means!"

Ash nodded and grabbed three Pokéballs, as he slowly made his way over to the Cyndaquil. It saw his approach and watched him carefully. "Hey little guy, you can trust me." Ash came a little closer, pausing briefly when the flames on Cyndaquil's back started flaring up again. "Whoa, take it easy. I get it, you're probably feeling a little anxious. Believe me, I'm right there with you. But I think we'll both be safer if we protect each other, whaddya say?"

The Cyndaquil didn't move for several moments, staring Ash down as if searching for any possible threat. Finally, the flames died down, and Ash smiled as he gently tossed the Pokéball at Cyndaquil, capturing the small fire-type without so much as a struggle.

"Incredible! You not only caught that Pokémon, it seemed to implicitly trust you!" Laventon exclaimed with eyes sparkling with wonder. "It seems you've quite the knack for this Pokémon catching business, Ash! Jolly useful skills to have around here!"

"Thanks! Honestly, if there's one thing I do remember, it's that if you can get a Pokémon to really trust you, it'll be a lot easier to catch them, even if you don't battle them first!"

"Remarkable! And stranger still, you don't seem fearful of Pokémon in the slightest, in spite of the deadly threat they represent."

Ash frowned, but chose not to respond to that comment. The idea that Pokémon could be seen as a serious threat to humanity just rubbed him the wrong way.

It didn't take Ash long to figure out what made Rowlet and Oshawott tick, and within minutes, all three of the Pokémon were captured, as Ash handed the now-filled Pokéballs back to Prof. Laventon. "There you go Professor! Three Pokémon, as promised."

"Thank you very much indeed! It was truly fascinating watching you work, Ash. Most people are afraid to even approach Pokémon, let alone capture them, but you made it look like it was second nature!"

"Well like I said, it's all about trust." Ash shrugged. "So…what now?"

"Well, the three Pokémon you've just caught have only just arrived at the village to help with our research. They won't yet listen to anyone…" Laventon rubbed his chin in thought. "As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, they bolted from the village almost as if they knew you'd come falling…" He crossed his arms. "Perhaps there's a reason you're here now."

Ash's eyes widened as his mind was brought back to the strange device he'd placed in his pocket, and the cryptic message within. "Professor, have you ever seen anything like this before? It's apparently called an Arc Dex."

"No, I can't say that I have!" Laventon took the device and examined it himself. "An Arc Dex, you say? What an odd device…could it be…guiding you somehow?"

"That's what I'm thinking too. This message has to mean something." Ash took the device back and stared at the message still flashing at him on the screen. "I can't really explain it, but it's almost like I know this thing belongs to me…and it's telling me I have a job to do while I'm here."

"Well, Ash…if you'll indulge me for just a moment…with your unparalleled ability to catch and even tame Pokémon, I believe we can help each other! If your goal here is truly to catch all Pokémon, then that goes hand-in-hand with my goal, which is to create this region's first ever complete record of its Pokémon!"

"You mean…a Pokédex?"

Laventon reeled back in shock. "H-How did you know?!"

"It just sorta came to me…like an instinct." Ash looked back down at the odd device in his hands. "Actually…let me try something." Taking another look, Ash pressed some buttons on the device, surprised by how his fingers seemed to navigate the menu options without him even having to think about it, as if it was muscle memory. "I…I know how to use this thing." Ash's eyes were wide as he soon made it to a massive list of Pokémon, with sorting options based on number, category, or even size and weight to name a few. As he set the device to look through fire-types, it didn't take him long to find what he was looking for, and with a press of a button, a voice echoed out of the speaker.

Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon. Normally mild and even-tempered, Cyndaquil will shoot a scorching flame out of its back when upset.

"Good Lord, how did you do that?! That's a perfect explanation of Cyndaquil's base nature as a species!"

"I…don't know." Ash shrugged. "But I think…yeah…" A smile began forming on Ash's face. "This was my Pokédex! Where I come from, a lot of trainers have one of these! And they're filled with all sorts of useful information about almost every Pokémon there is!"

"Astounding! And here I am writing things down inside of a book!" Laventon leaned in to grin at Ash. "Ash, I believe we have a unique opportunity here. Please, will you help me create Hisui's first complete Pokédex? By studying your device and having you capture Pokémon for me, we could be on the verge of a scientific breakthrough! What do you say? Will you help?"

Ash didn't respond at first, his mind still reeling after his sudden remembrance. Could that message inside his Pokédex…or Arc Dex now, be the key to regaining the rest of his lost memories? He'd already remembered what a Pokédex was just by tapping into some latent muscle memory, maybe there was more to rediscover. Honestly, he didn't have a better plan, so throwing caution to the wind, Ash grabbed Laventon's outstretched hand and gave it a firm shake. "Professor, you've convinced me! You've got yourself a deal!"

"Excellent! Well then, Ash, whoever you are and from wherever you may be, I welcome you with open arms! We've a Pokédex to complete! First things first, let's get these Pokémon back to the village! Then we'll sort out your lodgings and find you some proper clothes and a meal and all that."

It was at that moment Ash's stomach growled loudly, causing the teen to grasp his stomach and groan from the discomfort. "Thank goodness, I just realized I'm starving!"

"Poor boy, who knows how long it's been since you last ate? Well, no time like the present then! Follow me, onward to Jubilife Village!"

Upon arriving at the village, the first thing Ash noticed was how everyone stopped what they were doing to give him weird looks. It was plainly obvious that he stood out like a sore thumb, and he got this bizarre sense of unease just from watching everyone whisper about his presence.

For his part, Prof. Laventon was doing his best to try and keep Ash's focus off of the fact that he was the oddball in this large group of people. "Jubilife Village! It's come a long way thanks to the tireless efforts of the Galaxy Expedition Team! This particular road is known as Canala Avenue by the locals. Fun fact, the village was built barely two years ago! So you can imagine there's still much to do and not a lot of people to do it."

"Hey, Professor," Ash jogged a moment to sidle up next to the scientist. "Why is everyone looking at me like that?"

Laventon sighed. "Unfortunately my boy, we're in a very difficult time collectively here in the village. Strange occurrences are taking place, and everyone is on edge. I have to confess, you aren't the only one who's fallen from the sky since the space-time rift opened."

"I'm not?!" Ash gasped, briefly looking back up into the sky where the rift was ominously swirling. "Who else is here?!"

"Another young man was found not too long ago, and strangely enough, he also shows promise as a Pokémon catcher. He's not nearly as skilled as you are, however. Perhaps you'll meet him soon!"

"I hope so…maybe he's someone I know."

"That would make sense! After all, if you both are from the space-time rift, perhaps you come from the same world beyond!" Laventon suddenly froze in his tracks. "Oh botheration! I'd almost forgotten!"

"What is it, Professor?"

"I need to go report that we successfully recovered the three runaway Pokémon! Might I ask you to wait for me at the canteen?"

"The what?"

"It's an eatery within the village. Perhaps you'll be able to satisfy your hunger there! You'll never find better potato mochi anywhere!" Laventon pointed down the other street. "It's just across the bridge and to the left. It's called the Wallflower! Just tell them you're a friend of mine and you should have no trouble!"

"If you say so, I can't wait to finally get something in my stomach!"

"Very well then! I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Ash watched as the professor ran into the large building up a set of stairs, and that's when the Arc Dex in his pocket began to beep. "Again?" He looked at the screen, seeing that the building mentioned by Laventon had been highlighted on it, on a map that was now bizarrely pulled up on the screen without Ash's prompting. "What is going on here? There's no map feature on a Pokédex unless it's to show where wild Pokémon can be found…it shouldn't be able to do this…"

The growling of his stomach removed any curiosity he had. "Ugh, it's really starting to hurt…guess I'm gonna find out what potato mochi is, I can't wait anymore!"

He bolted across the bridge, following the directions given to him until he found an older man standing in front of a building. "That must be it!" Ash rushed over, a grin on his face as the smell of food wafted up his nostrils. "Oh man, whatever's in there smells really good!" But his excitement faded almost immediately when the older man regarded him with a look of distrust.

"Well now…aren't you awfully suspicious?"

"Uh, what?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "I'm just standing here, you know, like a customer?"

"And filled with disrespect as well?" The man scowled at him. "The Wallflower's for Galaxy Team folk only! We don't have seats for outsiders! Move along!"

"Say what?!" Ash raised a fist and scowled right back at the man. "Look, Professor Laventon told me to meet him here!"

"Ah yes, the professor." The man scoffed at the mention. "He seems to have a bad habit of bringing in strays who fall out of the sky and disrupt our already fragile way of life. Well, I tell you I won't stand for it! Now leave my establishment before I summon the Security Corps and have you thrown out of the village!"

"Hold on, Beni!"

Ash looked over to see a young man about his age running towards them, an annoyed frown on his face as he sidled up next to him.

"Oh, Lucas, it's you." The man apparently named Beni drawled. "Here to come to your kin's rescue? Well it won't work! No means no around here!"

"Really?" The boy crossed his arms. "Well we'll just see what Captain Cyllene has to say about that when she finds out you're turning me away again. Or did you forget that I'm a member of the Survey Corps now?"

"I have to serve you, Lucas. This other outsider does not share that privilege."

"Look, I don't need this." Ash finally spoke up with a scowl. "You don't want me here? Fine, I'll find someplace else to eat."

"Ha! Good luck." Beni chuckled mirthfully. "Please, by all means, go out and search for food. If we're lucky, a wild Pokémon will have their way with you and free us from your disruptive influence."

The sheer callousness of that remark caused Ash's blood to run hot, and his eyes started flashing a faint shade of blue. Fortunately, Lucas stepped in again before things could escalate anymore. "Listen, Beni, I've been trying to earn your trust as best as I can. The Survey Corps seem to trust me, why can't you? I'll take personal responsibility if anything goes wrong."

"That means very little coming from you, boy." Beni grumbled before turning his back on them. Several moments later, he looked over his shoulder to grumble at them. "I'll bring you both a plate, and tell Laventon I'm putting it on his tab."

"I'll make sure he gets the message." Lucas rolled his eyes. "Thank you, Beni."

"Yeah, whatever."

As the grouchy old man stepped inside the establishment and closed the door behind him, Lucas sighed and turned to face Ash. "Sorry about him…he doesn't really take kindly to outsiders, could you tell?"

"Hard to miss." Ash held his hand out. "Lucas, right? Thanks for the save. Although I gotta say, he didn't seem all that fond of you either."

"Well…there's a reason for that." Lucas looked into the sky towards the tall mountain, where the mysterious space-time rift was swirling. "I fell out of the sky, too."

Ash's eyes widened. "You're the other person that Prof. Laventon brought into the village?"

"Yeah…the only thing that kept me from being totally ostracized was the fact that I'm pretty good at catching Pokémon. I guess I just…have a knack for it."

"I don't think so." Ash shook his head. "If you're really like me…then that means you were probably a Pokémon Trainer too. How much do you remember from before?"

"Not much, really." Lucas sighed and took a seat at the nearby table, where Ash joined him on the other end. "I washed up on Prelude Beach where the professor and Akari found me and brought me into the village. Before we got there, the professor found a wild Pokémon he wanted to catch, and before I knew it, they were handing me Pokéballs and I caught it for them."

"And Prof. Laventon wanted you to help complete his Pokédex?"

"Yep." Lucas smirked. "I guess he gave you the same speech?"

"Pretty much." Ash crossed his arms and leaned against the table. "So…you really don't remember anything?"

Lucas frowned again. "Anything I do remember is hazy at best. I…I remember that I had a partner, a Pokémon. But what it was I couldn't tell you…" Lucas bowed his head and stared at the table for a moment. "I know it makes me sad whenever I can't remember. I also remember that humans and Pokémon regularly worked together and were even friends…the way people live out here, it's just…" He shook his head. "So…different."

"Finally, someone who understands." Ash smiled slightly before looking around the village at all the passersby. "Everyone here is so…on edge. Just mentioning Pokémon looks like it'll make all these people panic, but I can't figure out why!"

"That's because Pokémon are dangerous, ruthless creatures!" Beni slammed the plate of potato mochi in front of the two teens, much to their shock as they looked up at their server. "You can never know what sort of unnatural powers they might possess! Why, even you should know this by now, Lucas. You've already been on the receiving end of their wrath during your short time here!"

"Wait, what?" Ash looked at Lucas with concern. "What happened?"

"Beni's overselling it." Lucas rolled his eyes. "I had this trial I had to pass to join as a member of the Survey Corps. I had to catch a Bidoof, a Starly and a Shinx all in one day. I managed to catch the first two no problem, but that Shinx seriously seemed to have it out for me." He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a bite mark that still seemed fresh. "It got its teeth into me real good, but thankfully Akari was there to help, not to mention the Rowlet that Prof. Laventon gave me. I caught the Shinx, brought all three of them back to headquarters, and I was given official membership in the Survey Corps."

"I fail to see how a scar like that doesn't leave you mentally scarred."

Lucas rolled his eyes again at Beni. "The Shinx was scared, it wasn't attacking to be mean. It was just protecting its territory. We do the same thing whenever wild Pokémon get a little too close to base camp, what makes us any different?"

"For starters, we're not mindless beasts."

Ash was about to shout a rebuttal, but Beni went back inside without another word, leaving Ash with his mouth hanging open awkwardly. "You know what?" He finally said as he crossed his arms and turned to Lucas. "I don't think I like that guy."

"Well if you wanna eat, you better get used to being nice to him, especially if you're gonna be sticking around to help the professor."

"Great." Ash sighed and took a bite from one of the potato mochis, shrugging at the taste. "I guess it's alright…smelled better than it tastes. Man, what I wouldn't give to know how I got here." He pulled the Arc Dex out of his pocket and looked at it, not noticing until several seconds later the stunned look on Lucas's face. "What?"

"That…that machine!"

"What about it? You recognize it?"

"No…but, I have something similar to it!" Lucas pulled a device of his own out of his pocket. "This is called an Arc Phone! Or rather, that's what it is now. One of the few things I remember is that I had something called a phone, and when I got here, it…transformed!"

"That's what happened to me! Except this wasn't a phone, it was literally a Pokédex, just not the kind that the professor is working on."

Lucas's eyes widened. "That's right…now I remember, I had a Pokédex of my own too…seeing yours brought the memory back."

"If you had a Pokédex, then that means you were definitely a Pokémon Trainer." Ash smiled. "Maybe if we keep working together, we'll be able to jog each other's memories enough to remember everything we've forgotten!"

"I definitely wouldn't mind that! Say, my Arc Phone had a weird message on it when I found it after I landed…it told me to seek out all Pokémon. Did yours say anything?"

Ash's face turned serious. "Yeah, it said I had to find the Lake Guardians and something called the Red Chain…" Ash paused, deciding to leave out the part about saving the universe for now. "Are there any lakes around here?"

"I mean…yeah, there are." Lucas shook his head. "But I don't know anything about Lake Guardians. Maybe they're Pokémon too?"

"Honestly, that's the only thing that makes sense to me." Ash took another hesitant bite of the mochi. "I just hope that by helping you guys out with your Pokédex, I'll be able to solve this riddle. Maybe I'll run into those guardians and they can somehow bring my memories back."

"Nothing would make me happier, dear boy!" Professor Laventon walked up to the teens and joined them at the table. "Well, Ash, I'm glad to see you've met your fellow sky-faller, Lucas!" Laventon turned his attention to Lucas. "Forgive me for saying so, Lucas…but as talented as you clearly are, you'll have some serious competition in Ash here. Not only did he catch three Pokémon in rapid succession, but he was able to convince them to come along willingly before doing so!"

"For real?" Lucas laughed. "Man, hey can you take all the dangerous jobs from now on? I swear, Akari just loves throwing me into the fire just so she doesn't have to be the one to do any battling."

"You've brought her up a few times now." Ash tilted his head curiously. "Who's Akari?"

"Oh, Akari's awesome!" Lucas's eyes seemed to brighten as he spoke about her. She's the one who helped me get used to how things are done around here. She's a part of the Survey Corps too, and honestly if it weren't for her, I don't know if I would've lasted this long."

"She sure sounds awesome alright." Ash nodded. "You talk about her like she's really special," Ash felt an odd pang in his chest after he said that, similar to the one he experienced at the beach. Another missing memory, he figured. He shook his head to try and get back to the discussion at hand. "So, could you introduce me to her?"

"I'd love to, but she's actually out in the field right now doing some work since early this morning. I honestly don't know where she is right now." Lucas shrugged, a small sigh escaping his lips. "Akari's been by my side almost the whole time since I got to the village, I guess it was only a matter of time before she got called in to do some work of her own again." Lucas snorted. "Although as amazing as she is, I'm betting she wishes I were there so that I could battle for her, it's not her strong suit."

"Now now, let's be kind," Laventon replied. "Akari and her partner Pokémon are still working through some rough patches. But they're getting better!"

"Yeah, you're right." Lucas nodded as he turned back to Ash. "Akari's partner is a Pikachu, it has something of a rebellious streak."

A stabbing pain suddenly went through Ash's heart. "P-Pikachu?"

"Whoa…Ash, you alright?"

"Huh?" Ash looked down to see he was clutching at his chest, the heavy ache still there as he hastily wiped away tears he didn't even know he was shedding. "I-I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me."

"Well…once I mentioned Akari's partner, you started crying." Lucas leaned in closer with a sympathetic frown. "Was…was that your partner from before you fell?"

"I…don't know." Ash looked down at his trembling hands for a few moments before clutching at his chest again. "But…something about that just sounds…right. Maybe it was a Pikachu. I really wish I could remember."

"Well, I'm truly sorry for what you're going through, Ash." Laventon said. "I imagine you and Lucas share much in common and have similar feelings. But worry not, I am confident that given enough time and hard work, you will find the answers you're searching for." The professor took a deep breath and smacked his hands against the table. "Well then, that's enough sadness for one day! Let's enjoy this delicious potato mochi and then get you set for your trial! I'm sure that like Lucas, you too will pass with flying colors and be inducted into the Survey Corps! Then dear Beni will finally come to accept you as one of us."

"I dunno about that, Professor." Lucas sweat-dropped. "He still hasn't even accepted me yet, and I've already been here working for a few days."

"Patience, my boy. Patience." Laventon gently patted Lucas's shoulder. "After all, Hisui wasn't built in a day! Now then, let's eat!"

"Professor Laventon…may I ask how you keep managing to find strangers falling out of the rift?"

Ash gulped as he faced the stoic woman that was Captain Cyllene. There was something about her that seemed vaguely familiar, and that familiarity didn't fill him with warm feelings. Maybe it was the way her eyes seemed to pierce into his soul, or the emotionless scowl across her face. Either way, looking at her made him uneasy. Still his new friends seemed to trust her, so he had no choice but to give her the benefit of the doubt. Putting aside her appearance, she didn't seem bad, at least that's what his instincts were telling him. "Believe me, ma'am, this wasn't my idea. All I really want is to be able to find a way back home, and if helping the professor with his research might shed some light on that, I'm all in."

"I see." The woman stood up from behind her desk to regard Ash up close. "Be that as it may, we've already accepted one outsider into our ranks, and now we're being asked to do the same with another. Callous though this may seem, Jubilife Village is not a refugee camp. We cannot blindly accept anyone who happens to appear out of nowhere simply because Professor Laventon believes they'll be useful."

"Come now, Captain!" Laventon spoke up. "Surely you don't think so lowly of me? If you were willing to accept Lucas as a member of the Survey Corps, then believe me when I say that you'll want Ash as a member as well. His ability to get to know Pokémon is unparalleled, even compared to Lucas! No offense, dear boy."

"That's what I like about you, Professor. You don't mince words." Lucas deadpanned. "But seriously though, Captain Cyllene. Please, at least give Ash the opportunity to go through a trial, like the one you put me through! He was lost and alone just like I was when I came out of the rift, and you all took me in and I'll be forever grateful for that! It'd be cruel to just turn him away now!"

"Cruel, perhaps. But not necessarily impractical. We're already having trouble convincing the village that you're trustworthy, in spite of the good work you've done so far." Cyllene lowered her head and closed her eyes, saying nothing for several moments before finally raising her head. "Very well, Lucas. Professor Laventon has vouched for you, and Akari speaks extremely highly of you. I will honor your request and offer Ash a chance to prove his worth to the Galaxy Expedition Team."

"Well alright!" Ash pumped a fist. "I'm ready for whatever you throw at me!"

"Do not seem so eager." Cyllene glared down at the boy. "Your task will not be quite as easy to pass as Lucas's was."

"But…my task wasn't easy at all!" The cold stare being sent his way got Lucas to shut up. "Sorry."

Cyllene turned her attention back to Ash, noting the determined fire in his eyes. "I can see that there's a certain…spark within you, Ash. If you're truly as skilled as these two say, then you should be able to solve a recent development we're monitoring." Cyllene returned to her desk, placing a piece of paper at the front for Ash to peruse. "Reports from our Security Corps indicate that in the Alabaster Icelands, there is a wild Pokémon not normally found there that is threatening the delicate ecosystem. This unidentified Pokémon appears to be very aggressive as it will battle with any Pokémon that it deems to be a potential threat, and any attempts to get a closer look have failed. Your task, Ash, will be to identify, capture, and perhaps even tame this Pokémon so we may research it."

"Captain, that's quite a tall task." Laventon looked over at Ash with concern. "Surely you don't intend to have Ash accomplish this entirely on his own?"

"Of course not. Contrary to popular belief, I do not lack a heart." Cyllene turned to Lucas. "Lucas, as you were so adamant to come to Ash's defense, I now bestow upon you the responsibility should anything happen to him, and I will hold you to the same standard I did Akari when she accompanied you."

Lucas answered with a firm nod. "I understand. Thank you, Captain. I'm sure Ash will succeed."

"Very well then, you have your orders. And one more thing, make sure you come back alive." The woman then turned to Lucas specifically once more. "Make sure he has the necessary tools."

"Yes ma'am, we'll be back as soon as we can!" Lucas turned to leave. "Follow me, Ash! We're gonna get you all geared up!"

"Right behind ya!" Ash turned to leave as well, but briefly faced Captain Cyllene and bowed respectfully to her. "Thanks for giving me a chance, I promise you won't regret it!"

Once Ash left the room, Cyllene turned her back to the Professor, who was regarding her curiously. "Prof. Laventon, I advise that if you find anymore random people falling out of the space-time rift, let them be."

"I…" Laventon's response died on his tongue, seeing the cold glare on the woman's face when she turned to look over her shoulder at him. "Understood, Captain." Without another word, Laventon rushed out of the room, not noticing the suddenly thoughtful expression on Cyllene's face.

"The space-time rift…just dropping strangers from strange lands right into our laps…what does it all mean? It cannot simply be coincidence."

After being equipped with a satchel and several Pokéballs, as well as a thick jacket to wear over his clothes, Ash was led to the Alabaster Icelands by both Lucas and the Professor. To say that he was freezing would be an understatement. Ever since he left the beach he'd been cold, but it was bearable before. Now, however, here in the Icelands, his tolerance had met its match.

The very wind carried clouds of ice and snow through it, pelting the teen's face with stinging particles that left it raw to the touch. The crunching beneath his woefully inadequate shoes as he walked through the firmly packed layers of snow on the ground reminded him with every step that this world was not friendly to humans. It also didn't help that he could feel his shoes wouldn't keep his feet protected for too long, as the surface layer liquid was starting to seep into the material.

The cold went right through to his bones, and trying to keep from shivering felt like an impossibility. His joints were stiff, the inside of his nose was dry, and just breathing was becoming a burden for him. And yet, the only thing consistently going through his mind was an innate desire to cozy up and share body heat with someone. The idea seemed as natural to him as breathing, his body craving close and undeniably intimate contact with another to seek relief from the bitter temperature.

That want only left him feeling hollow and colder than ever, as he reasoned that this was something he likely did regularly with someone back home, before he landed in this bizarre land called Hisui. Whoever he did it with, his heart was shouting at him it was someone special, and he clenched his fists in frustration over the fact that he couldn't remember who that someone was. All he could do was try to focus on the task at hand, in hopes that would distract him from his inner turmoil.

There wasn't a lot of talk on the way there. Lucas seemed to be on high alert, trying to make sure that no wild Pokémon ambushed them during their journey. At one point, a wild Paras decided to get aggressive with them, hissing at them and flashing its claws in a threatening fashion before charging at them with an attack. Ash realized at that moment why the people of Jubilife Village feared Pokémon. The way the bug/grass-type went after them, it was almost as if there was some form of…resentment in a way.

Lucas was thankfully able to capture it in a Pokéball, and then compared notes with Prof. Laventon regarding the Paras's size, moves used and even aggressive nature…and the entire time, Ash pondered what he'd seen from the encounter. Lucas and his Rowlet were clearly forming a bond, but there was something about that Paras…it was almost as if he could feel the anger coming from it, like he just knew there was something he was missing.

The rest of the trip was uneventful, and it wasn't long before they made it to what Prof. Laventon called the Snowfields Camp. Fitting, if nothing else, since there wasn't much there except for snow-covered trees and mountains. As soon as Lucas built a fire, Ash felt his limbs starting to thaw out, the aching in his limbs finally starting to fade.

"Welcome to the Alabaster Icelands." Prof. Laventon said with a shiver. "Fortunately we made it here safe and sound. My thanks to you, Lucas, for that."

"Glad I could help." Lucas blew into his hands before rubbing them together. "I've never been this far up north before. Usually only the more experienced Corps members come to the Icelands from what I understand. Guess this is Captain Cyllene's way of cranking the difficulty level up to 11."

"Oh great." Ash shimmied even closer to the fire as he reached his hands out to it. "Do we know anything about this Pokémon that's causing trouble?"

"I spoke with one of the Security Corps members before we left." Lucas replied. "Apparently it's an electric-type, which isn't a lot to go off of, I'll admit."

"Actually, that's quite a helpful tip!" Laventon smiled as he pulled for his still in-progress Pokédex. "Although the Survey Corps hasn't been able to gather a lot of details about the Pokémon in this area, we have determined that the only electric-types native to the Icelands are Elekid and Electabuzz! So if we find any electric-type Pokémon different from those two, we'll have a fairly decent chance of staking out our quarry!"

"Well, you guys know the area better than I do, so I'll let you lead the way." Ash rolled up into a ball to try and conserve body heat. "That is if I ever decide to get away from this fire. It's…really cold out here."

"The sooner we get moving, the better. If the sun goes down while we're out here, it's only gonna get colder." Lucas turned to the professor. "Any ideas where we should start, Prof. Laventon?"

"Well, both Elekid and Electabuzz are commonly found at the Icebound Falls and Arena's Approach." Laventon said thoughtfully. "However, the falls are dreadfully treacherous to climb, and sorry to say my boy, you're not currently equipped for such a journey."

"I'm not equipped to be here at all." Ash deadpanned.

"Point taken." Laventon chuckled. "You may have to go the long way around, but you may be able to search Arena's Approach for our rogue Pokémon."

"Thanks, Professor." Lucas nodded as he stood up and held out a hand for Ash. "C'mon, Ash, the sooner we get going, the sooner we can head back to Jubilife Village!"

Ash didn't move at first, but finally he was able to build up the strength he needed to take the hand and get back to his frozen feet. "Alright, let's do this."

"If you find any interesting Pokémon, please take notes since we're here!" Laventon exclaimed as he waved farewell. "I'll be here holding down the fort!"

"We'll be back before you know it!" Lucas grinned and took off running, prompting Ash to follow as best as he could. "Get the blood flowing, Ash! That'll help keep you warm!"

"Doing my best!" Ash sprinted a little harder to catch up with Lucas. "The professor wasn't kidding, this place is crazy steep!"

"Yeah, that's why only experienced Corps members are tasked with coming here. This is my first time in this area too, but I at least know the way thanks to checking out some maps the Survey Corps have on hand."

"You said you've only been here a few days, right?"

"That's right." Lucas chuckled. "One day I'm in my pajamas, and the next thing I know I'm here! I've been trying to adapt as quickly as I can, and it's been tough. But, it honestly could be worse! I've made some amazing friends while I've been here! The professor, obviously…and just wait until you meet Akari! She's amazing!"

"So I've heard." Ash smirked slightly. "Hopefully I'll get that chance." He huffed as he fought to catch his breath. "Maybe it's just my frozen toes talking, but I'm starting to worry about what'll happen if I can't pass this challenge. I mean, what if we don't even see the Pokémon that they're talking about?! We can't stay out here and freeze to death!"

"Don't worry, Ash." Lucas gave a determined nod. "We'll find it, and you'll catch it. And even if we don't find it, we'll figure something out. You and me, we're in this together now. I want the same answers you do, and we're better off having each other's backs."

"I appreciate that, Lucas. Thanks!" Ash smiled and felt his strength renew as he picked up the pace, now able to fully take in his surroundings. There were ice-type Pokémon almost everywhere he looked, most of which he recognized. Snover, Glalie, Abomasnow, and there were even some he didn't recognize, like a Pokémon that seemed to just be a walking block of ice. "There are so many awesome Pokémon here!"

"Yep, and eventually we'll get a chance to catch some! Right now I don't think my team is strong enough, so we're gonna try to avoid any battles if we can help it. Like I said, the Alabaster Icelands are seriously tough to deal with." Lucas suddenly skidded to a stop, causing Ash to fall face-first in the snow since he was caught off guard. "Ash, do you hear that?!"

"All I hear is the blood pumping in my ears!" Ash's voice was muffled in the snow before he got up and wiped himself off. That's when the unmistakable sound of Pokémon battling registered in his ears. "Sounds like a couple of Pokémon having a battle! And I think I hear some electric-type moves being used!"

"Let's go check it out!" Lucas rushed over to where the sound was coming from, and followed closely by Ash, he ducked behind a snowbank to avoid being seen by whatever aggressive wild Pokémon were fighting below. "Sounds like they're really angry with each other, whatever they are."

Ash pulled out one of his gifted Hisuian Pokéballs. "I'm ready for 'em."

"Alright…let's see what we've got!" Lucas peeked out from behind the snowbank along with Ash, and the boy was shocked at what he was seeing. "Whoa, that's one heck of a brawl going on down there! I've never seen a Pokémon act so aggressively towards others before, especially when an Alpha Pokémon is involved."

"Alpha Pokémon?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Alpha Pokémon are like jumbo-sized versions of other Pokémon, usually they know moves most other Pokémon don't, and they tend to be really territorial towards any other Pokémon not their own species." Lucas looked back down again. "I'm surprised that rogue Pokémon is trying to take on an Alpha and its companions so brazenly like that."

"Can you see what kind of Pokémon it is?"

"Not from here…we need to get closer. Follow my lead." Lucas crouched as low as he could as he slowly made his way towards the battle taking place, with Ash following closely behind. "Yeah, whatever it is, it's definitely not an Electabuzz, the cry is too high-pitched. But it's definitely angry."

As they drew closer, Ash gasped silently as his breath hitched in his throat. A sudden wave of familiarity washing over him, along with a burgeoning sense of excitement welling up in his heart as he tried to turn his attention back towards the battle below. "I…I think I know what it is."

"Wait, you do?"

"It's a Pikachu."

"Pikachu? Well that would definitely qualify as a Pokémon that shouldn't be in the Icelands…" At this point they were close enough to observe the battle firsthand, and sure enough, Ash's prediction was correct, as a bruised and battered Pikachu sparked its cheeks threateningly at the Alpha Pokémon in question: an angry Abomasnow and its Glalie sidekick. "You were right! It is a Pikachu!" He turned to Ash in utter shock. "How could you possibly have known that?!"

"I don't know…I just kinda felt it…and that Pikachu, it's not being aggressive for the sake of it. It…it's protecting something! That Pikachu isn't a rogue, it's trying to take down bullies!"

"Ash, what are you-" Lucas was cut off when the sound of the Pikachu crying out in pain echoed through the freezing air, as it was smashed against the top of the nearby cave entrance. "Oof, that had to hurt."

"C'mon, Pikachu…get up!" Ash's fists were starting to clench, as he watched the little electric-type desperately struggle to get back to its feet, while the massive Abomasnow loomed over it menacingly. "No…no! I gotta save it!"

"What are you doing?! Ash, get back here!"

But Ash paid him no mind, as pure instinct drove him to rush in front of the Alpha Pokémon, whose eyes were glowing red with rage. "Hey! If you wanna take down this Pikachu, you gotta go through me first!" Ash glared up at the giant ice/grass-type with his arms outstretched protectively, much to the Pikachu's confusion.

"Ash! Get out of there now!"

"You heard me, Abomasnow! So what's it gonna be?!" Only seconds later, Ash was blasted by a freezing storm of ice and snow so cold that it burned his skin through his clothes, and moments after that, everything went black.

"No! Ash!" Lucas desperately reached for his Rowlet's Pokéball in a vain attempt to initiate a battle to distract the Abomasnow, but by the time he grabbed it, it was already too late, as Lucas watched in horror as the Abomasnow unleashed a vicious Blizzard attack that blew Ash right into the cave, leaving several parts of his body covered in frost from the brutally cold temperature as he rolled to a stop just before he was out of sight. "No…"

The Abomasnow slowly lumbered forward, intent on finishing the job it started…but that's when the little Pikachu cried out its challenge once more, only this time with a fire in its eyes that wasn't present before. Lucas realized that seeing Ash sacrifice himself for it, the Pikachu's protective instincts must have doubled, as it now realized it had two things to protect.

As soon as the Abomasnow turned to face it once more, the Pikachu summoned all its remaining strength, and unleashed a Volt Tackle attack that was so bright it forced the Abomasnow, Glalie and even Lucas to shield their eyes to avoid being blinded. The impact of the little Pokémon crashing into the Alpha was heard nearly 100 yards away, as a blast of electricity surged into the sky. When the dust and snow settled, the Pikachu was gasping for air…and the Abomasnow had fallen to the ground, unmoving with swirls in its eyes.

The show of power caused the Glalie to flee, much to Lucas's utter shock. The raw power of this Pikachu was unfathomable, and all triggered because Ash had dared to intervene where he had no business to. Lucas mentally admitted that not even he would be crazy enough to get in-between an Alpha and its prey unless it was one of his own Pokémon. "That was insane…" Lucas gasped when he saw the Pikachu wince and groan, finally falling in exhaustion once it made it back to the entrance of the cave, and right to Ash's side. "Oh no…I gotta get them back to camp!"

The boy rushed in now that the coast was clear, scooping up the unconscious Pikachu and putting it under his arm for safekeeping. Then he ran over to Ash, who was also out cold. "Oh," Lucas huffed. "You are heavier than you look!" Now with Ash over his shoulder, he briefly turned to look at him…and in his periphery, he saw something that made his heart drop into his stomach. "No…" Putting Ash back down, Lucas ran into the back of the cave, and his worst fear was realized in the form of a half-frozen female, one who - based on her state of dress - had clearly been attacked by some wild Pokémon. "Akari…?"

Lucas tried to shake the girl awake, but to no avail. "Akari, wake up, please!" Heart beating a mile a minute, Lucas wracked his brain for a solution. He had no fire-type Pokémon to warm her. The only thing he could think of was to place his survey corps jacket over her frozen body. "What are you doing here, Akari? What happened to your clothes? It looks like the entire Pokémon world came after you!"

Her jacket was missing, as was her bandana, even her pants had apparently been shredded to the point where they more resembled a skirt than anything. "Don't worry, I'm gonna save you. I promise!" Lucas reached for Rowlet's Pokéball, and sent out the little owl who was looking at its new trainer with extreme concern. "Rowlet, go back to the camp, bring back help! And hurry!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Rowlet flew off as fast as its little wings would let it, leaving Lucas to desperately try his best to keep Akari and Ash from freezing to death. "Stay with me, Akari. Stay strong!"

"I'm concerned by these constant reports of strange people falling from the sky, Captain." Commander Kamado, leader of the Galaxy Expedition Team, spoke to his subordinate with his back turned to her and his head bowed in thought. "First the young man we've allowed into our ranks, and now another one that you're offering a trial to." The dark-haired mustachioed man finally turned to face the woman. "I've given you autonomy to decide how to handle these matters, Captain Cyllene, but I'm concerned that we are allowing too many outsiders to have opportunities to upset the delicate balance we've managed to obtain."

Cyllene bowed her head for a moment before responding. "I share your concern, Commander. However, if we are to succeed in our endeavors, we must have a far greater understanding of the world around us. To turn away help, even outside help, at this critical juncture would be needlessly wasteful. I see no inherent harm in allowing these boys the opportunity to prove themselves as assets to our cause."

"There's truth to what you say." Kamado turned his back to her again. "Still, the village is growing restless. Lucas's arrival has already caused concern among our people, and now this new boy, Ash - you say there's something different about him?"

"I can't explain it, sir." Cyllene shook her head. "I see a certain spark in his eyes that not even Lucas shares with him. This young man, he's special. I don't know what makes him special yet, but I intend to find out." The woman's eyes narrowed slightly. "There's an old proverb that has stood the test of time…keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. I believe Lucas is a friend, Ash I have not decided yet. But in either case, it would be wise to keep an eye on him."

"Very well, Captain. I will defer to your judgment for now." Kamado turned back around to face her again. "However, keep in mind that should anything go wrong, I will be holding you personally responsible for allowing this outsider into our ranks."

Cyllene didn't flinch, but merely closed her eyes and bowed slightly in acknowledgement. "I understand." She was about to turn to leave, when a member of the Security Corps came rushing in unannounced. "What's going on?"

"Forgive me, Captain! But I bring urgent news!" The male security guard exclaimed, still gasping for breath. "The new Survey Corps member, Lucas, he's been spotted on the outskirts of the village with Prof. Laventon, coming from the Alabaster Icelands!" The man finally stood up straight to face them properly. "Sir, they're carrying the boy called Ash, a Pikachu, and a girl that appears to be Akari with them, possibly frozen to death!"

Both of the officers' eyes widened as they rushed past the security guard, nearly knocking him over in the process. "Did you send Akari to the Icelands?!" Kamado shouted in anger.

"No, sir!" Cyllene shook her head adamantly. "I assigned her a routine survey of the Obsidian Fieldlands! Perhaps she caught wind of Ash and Lucas's trial and took it upon herself to help them and was attacked."

Kamado scowled deeply. "Recall what I said about you being held responsible, Captain!"

Cyllene had no response to that, knowing that if the reports were true, she would never forgive herself for making the decision she did. Running as fast as they could towards the path to the Icelands, it wasn't long before they ran into Lucas and the professor, and sure enough, they were dragging Ash, Akari and the Pikachu back to the village as best as they could.

"What happened?!" Kamado shouted as he took Akari from Lucas's care. "I need answers, boy! Speak up!"

Lucas, for his part, was nearly frozen himself, and he fell to his hands and knees after being freed from his heavy burden. "I-I don't…d-don't know…" He shivered. "A-Ash was…trying t-to protect Pikachu from an Alpha P-Pokémon…and that's when we…we found Akari! It m-must be…her Pikachu! P-Please tell me she'll…she'll be okay!"

"You're nearly frozen yourself." Cyllene helped the boy to his feet and supported him so he could walk. "We need to get everyone back to the village immediately. There's no telling how long Akari and her partner Pokémon have been out there. We have to act fast if they're going to survive."

"Indeed! Make way, everyone!" Kamado tossed Akari over his shoulder and started running back towards the village gate, with Cyllene and the professor following as closely as they could. "Get Captain Pesselle, Akari needs immediate medical attention!"

"Commander Kamado? What are you talking about? I feel just fine!"

Everything seemed to stop, as Kamado screeched to a halt in front of the village gate. Right there in front of him, was none other than Akari and her Pikachu, looking at him with a bewildered expression. "A-Akari…?"

"Yeah? I just got back from the Fieldlands." Akari tilted her head in confusion. "Who's that on your back? Are they okay?!" That's when Akari spotted the rest of the party coming up behind him, and she saw Lucas being supported by Captain Cyllene. "Oh no, Lucas!" She rushed over to help as well, missing the stunned looks of both the captain and Prof. Laventon when she sidled up to Lucas's free side. "Don't just stand there, Lucas needs our help!"

"Akari…" Lucas was finally able to raise his head, and his eyes widened slightly at the sight of Akari helping him walk. "It's you? But…how is that possible?"

"Lucas, you're okay!" Akari smiled seeing that her friend was alive, but the relief was short-lived as she realized what he'd just said. "Wait, you thought I was in trouble? You're the one who's half frozen!" The teen took in the shocked faces of everyone around her, and that's when she finally realized she'd missed something important. "What's going on?"

"Akari…" Kamado gently placed his burden on the ground, eyes still wide with confusion. "If you're here…then who is this?"

"Huh?" Akari walked up to her commander and looked up at him for a moment, before looking down at the ground at the girl he'd just put down. Her heart skipped a beat and she gave a fearful shout as she fell to the ground and scampered back as she gasped for air. "I don't understand!" She dared go back in for another look, and her heart again began to race…as her own reflection stared back at her. "It's…it's me."

A/N: So Ash passes the trial, but not without a price to pay. What will happen next? You'll all just have to tune in and see once I upload my next chapter, which I am in the process of writing up now! Big thanks once again to zdbztumble on Tumblr (and the official Pokeshipping Discord server) for acting as my proofreader for this installment. It's always good to have other writers check your work since they can see things that you're likely to overlook otherwise.

Also, a little PSA for all my readers. My lovely fiancée whom you all know as the phenomenal Pokeshipping fan artist HollyLu, currently has commissions open! If you're interested in maybe having a scene from your absolutely favorite fanfic (or, alternatively, maybe this one lol) come to life, she can make that happen for you! Any orders made would definitely help us out too, so just let me know in a DM if you're interested and I'll get you in contact with Holly!

With all that said, thank you all so much for reading, and if you liked it, leave a review and let me know your thoughts! Until next time dear readers!