Author's Note: Hey everyone just wanting to let my peeps know I'm still here and got another riveting chapter here for all my readers. So this one I hope you'll have a good time reading as this one has another character coming in so I hope you guys will like and please let me know what you think. Anyways also please leave your comments to share on your thoughts and I'll be back for the next chapter to be loaded very soon as well as turning to the Ring Around Ashi series on AO3 so please enjoy.

Disclaimer: Blue Kitsune does not own Fairy Tail or Pokemon

Chapter 18 - Memories in the Rain and Another Fateful Encounter

It had only been a few days since they had departed the hidden village in the forest, and they were still making their way toward Vermillion City for Ashi's and Toshi's next gym challenge. After their last shortcut nearly ended in disaster, they all agreed to stick to the main road instead of trying any other routes. They didn't want to take any more risks that could jeopardize the group's safety. It was better to stick with what they knew and not explore alternative options at this time.

(Yeah…nope! No more shortcuts for this party! No siree!)

However, it hadn't been such a total waste of everyone's time as they did get something well worth it for all their troubles. Not only did some of them manage to acquire new Pokémon to add to their team, but they also welcomed one more person to their extensive party with Lisanna having decided to accompany them on their travels. Everyone welcomed the ivory-haired teen with open arms and were glad to have her joining them on this journey, especially for the two Ketchum siblings, though their reasons differed from the rest.

Neither of the two Dragonslayers had ever expected nor imagined that they would stumble upon another mage like them or their dad out here. While they had so many questions they both wanted to ask her, they realized it would have to be done with no prying ears listening in on such a delicate subject.

Also, they had to make sure to give Lisanna a heads-up and make her aware of not revealing their special abilities among the others. Seeing that Ashi had decided to speak with her on this the first night in once everyone was fast asleep, she took the Takeover mage to someplace more secluded for just the two of them to discuss things.

Lisanna seemed to have figured out what Ashi was up to, as she too had her own interest in having this open heart-to-heart discussion with her since it came to her attention that Ashi had powers just like hers. They got down to business the moment they were far away from the campground. With the moon and stars above as their only witnesses, they shared everything with each other while processing what the other person had to say during that ongoing conversation.

It was truly astonishing, especially for Lisanna, as her mind was still reeling from all the information she received from Ashi right there and then.

To think that she wasn't the only mage from Earthland who had been brought to this other dimension! It was such a huge relief to hear this. However, when the Dragonslayer recounted the event that happened on the Whirl Islands about ten years ago—where her father had suddenly vanished after battling against the mysterious Draconian entity that had been there too—Lisanna began to believe it might have also been from the same world as hers given Ashi's vague description of it; both sure it had to be more than anything that was merely a coincidence it show up as it did back then.

Though everyone's assumptions about what happened to him varied, Ashi clung to the belief that her dad wasn't truly gone. It was why she and her brother had both decided on traveling together once they got their Pokémon trainer licenses; they were hoping to locate his whereabouts on this journey of theirs.

Though it may seem like a daunting task since she had no clue where to even start—and some might even say it was a hopeless endeavor to cling to such a belief—every internal instinct told her that their father was still alive. She would not rest until she saw actual proof with her own two eyes, even if it meant traveling to the ends of the Earth to find him!

Lisanna could very well understand Ashi's feelings on this since she would probably do the same thing if either her siblings or any of her friends from Fairy Tail had suddenly disappeared without a trace. She and everyone in the guild would have searched high and low for any sign of them despite it seeming futile with the odds being against them. It didn't take much for her to make up her mind; she had already decided to lend her services in helping the Dragonslayers search for their missing father.

"After all," she said as she clasped her hands around Ashi's and looked her right in the eyes, showing how committed she was in this, "we at Fairy Tail never let the impossible hold us back from achieving anything once we put our minds to it. Knowing that if he's out there, all we have to do is keep searching, and we'll see you guys reunited with your dad in no time at all!"

Ashi felt touched by Lisanna's kind gesture and couldn't help but show her gratitude by immediately wrapping her arms around the other teen and holding her close. The Takeover mage didn't mind this at all; she welcomed it, actually. Feeling the closeness of their bodies like this felt reminiscent of the kind of hugs her sister used to give her, making Lisanna miss that as she tightened her hold on the older teen, burying her face in Ashi's chest and trying her best not to cry at just thinking of her own siblings who were not with her.

They remained like this for a little longer before eventually letting go and seeing the written emotions displayed on their faces but finding comfort in one another's presence as they were.

"Thank you," Ashi whispered to the mage, feeling glad to have her here with them. "I can't tell you how much this means to me having you with us and sure my brother would tell you the exact same thing."

"Yeah, I'm glad too." Lisanna smiled warmly up at her. "We'll stick together, no matter what? That's what friends do."

In that moment, they felt an immediate bond being forged between them with a shared promise to support and watch each other's backs during their journey together. For the first time in a long while, Ashi felt a glimmer of hope wash over her as they made their way back towards the others, falling asleep contentedly as a sense of peace enveloped her.

She thought about how wonderful it would be when that day came to see their missing dad again—how he'd be overjoyed at seeing them and basking in the wonderful reunion of having their family whole once more with him back in the fold. It put her mind at ease to think this might be a sign of what may someday come now that Lisanna was with them.

With the Takeover mage now part of their group, things quickly fell into place. It was like being back in the guild with her closest friends for Lisanna, and she got along well with everyone. It was comforting to have that familiarity while also getting to know her new comrades. Her bond with Toshi was particularly strong, and it was clear to all that they had become close in the days leading up to this moment.

The group also noticed how Lisanna's Pokémon had formed friendships with their own. Her Parischu and Ashi's Pikachu were often seen cuddled up together and even shared food during mealtime. The group speculated that it wouldn't be surprising if the two Electric-types eventually produced an egg together, and they were sure their trainers would be thrilled. Aratiri's reaction to being around the Parischu made it obvious that he was developing feelings for the cute and quirky Pokémon who openly flirted with him.

(Sora took every opportunity to tease him, while Aratiri in retaliation, attempted to use Thundershock on the mischievous Litten who dodged his attacks and playfully taunted him with a Cheshire smirk!)

The day had been uneventful for the group as they journeyed along Route 24. After hours of walking, they decided to take a short break to rest their sore feet and tired muscles. As they all settled down, Toshi and Lisanna excitedly set off to search for wild Pokémon.

"Come on, let's check over here!" Lisanna exclaimed as she grabbed Toshi's hand and led him towards a cluster of bushes. Toshi blushed at her touch but followed eagerly, happy for any opportunity to spend time with his crush. The rest of the group watched with amusement, thinking how cute they looked together and suspecting that Lisanna might have feelings for Toshi too.

However, Aratiri and Leida (Lisanna's Parischu) were not going to let them wander off unsupervised. They followed behind the two, making sure they didn't get into any trouble. After hearing about Ashi naming her Pokémon, Lisanna also wanted to give names to her own three Pokémon. Everyone thought it would be a fun activity to do together, so they took their time coming up with names for each one. Ashi helped out by giving suggestions when anyone got stuck. Now, all of their Pokémon had names that made them happy.

Brock glanced at his watch and saw that it was already half past three. They had eaten an early lunch earlier, but he decided it would be beneficial to replenish their energy with some nutritious shakes. He took out his compact blender and set it on a nearby rock, then gathered the necessary ingredients from his bag to create the perfect smoothie.

Meanwhile, Steven was on his Rotom phone, verifying their progress and also checking the weather forecast for the day. It predicted a high chance of rain in their area later on, so he started looking on the map for any nearby vicinities that they could get to before the downpour arrived.

Leon seemed to have notice the potential storm as well, as he gazed up at the grayish clouds looming above them. They did seem to be heading in this direction for sure and hopefully they had some time on hand to be able to reach the nearest Pokémon Center and—

"How about Flubber?" Leon was snapped out of his thoughts by Raihan's voice, prompting him to turn and look at where he and Ashi were standing off to the side. He noticed the expression on her face, a mix of disbelief and irritation directed at the Hammerlocke gym leader for what he had just said.

Raihan seemed oblivious to the attention they were drawing as he continued, "If you don't like that suggestion, how about Cushy? I mean that one doesn't seem so bad does it?"

"Are you serious right now?! Why would I even call them that?" It may seem strange to onlookers, but the group had a feeling it had to do with the small, greenish blob-like Pokémon nestled in Ashi's breast pocket. The creature was happily nibbling on one of the Poffins (which begs the question: where was its mouth?!) that she had just given it. It showed little interest in anything else, content to enjoy the treat provided by its trainer.

(Although technically Ashi didn't catch it, nobody argued otherwise as it clearly preferred to be around her and bask in her company more than anyone else's.)

The Pokémon was an unprecedented and intriguing specimen that had caught the group's attention from the moment it appeared. All of them attempted to scan it with their Pokedex, but even the National Dex had no data on it. This could only mean one thing: they had come across an unknown species. It was a thrilling discovery for all of them, and everyone was eager to study it and uncover its type and capabilities before sending it to the Professor for further analysis.

(They were certain that Professor Oak would be thrilled to hear about Ashi's unique find of the century. They could already imagine him boasting to his fellow professors about how one of the trainers he sponsored stumbled upon such a remarkable discovery, and they couldn't wait to see the envy on their faces!)

Leon had observed Ashi dedicating hours to scribbling in her journal, both for research and for adding sketches. The Pokémon she was studying happily posed for her, sometimes even doing funny little movements for her and the group's amusement. The girls found it oddly charming, and they all enjoyed holding the soft and squishable body of the Pokémon, making it seem even more cuddly.

As Raihan kept suggesting ridiculous names, Ashi's brow began to twitch with irritation. But Raihan was persistent and determined to come up with a name for the new creature. "...How about Squishymarshmallow? Or Slimer; that could work too?"

Ashi tried to stay calm by counting in her head, but she was already past the hundreds and becoming increasingly aggravated. She couldn't help but exclaim, "Are you serious?! We're not calling it Slimer!" (No way JOSE!)

"Come on! What's wrong with that one?" Raihan still had more names to suggest, but Ashi was reaching her limit and everyone else could see it.

"Why would I want to give it a name like that? It's not slimy!" (Squishy, yes. But slimy? Absolutely not!).

Everyone could confirm Ashi's statement, especially Misty, who felt the need to speak up for Ashi's sake and point out the oblivious gym leader. "I have to agree; that just sounds so wrong on so many levels!"

(Slimer bleh!) Misty cringed at the thought before turning to her Pokémon, Slowpoke and Oddish, who stood beside her. "You guys also think it's not suitable, right Momo? Poppy?" The two Pokémon nodded in agreement with their trainer.

"Slow!/Odd!" The orange-haired teenager smiled and reached out to pet Oddish on the head, earning a grin from the Grass-type. It was heartwarming to see how well Oddish had adapted since becoming her Pokémon, and how Moana (Starmie), Laguna (Goldeen), and Ronan (Seel) made her feel like part of the team. It took Misty some time to come up with a fitting name for her new Pokémon since most of her names were water-related. However, when Ashi briefly mentioned another evolution form other than Vileplume, Steven showed Misty an image of Bellossom on his Rotom, which she found adorable and decided would be a great evolution for Oddish someday.

But in order to do that, she would need a Sunstone, which she told herself she could find along the way while Oddish evolved into Gloom. She was glad to see how well Oddish and Momo got along as good buddies.

Poppy was even building up a tolerance for Slowpoke's spicy tail bites, determined to become immune to it for the sake of their friendship. It was heartwarming to see such dedication from them. Meanwhile, Misty turned her attention once again to Ashi and Raihan, who were arguing openly until Leon stepped in to intervene.

"Alright everyone, let's calm down. How about we take a break and enjoy some of Brock's delicious drinks!" Leon suggested, hoping to diffuse the tension before Ashi could unleash another Kalos Suplex on Raihan. His suggestion was met with agreement as they were all feeling thirsty after their heated argument.

Ashi gave Leon a grateful nod for trying to help. She wished that Raihan would take the hint and stop using those silly names, but she knew he wouldn't give up easily. So she decided to take this opportunity to relax as they made their way towards Brock, who was busy serving drinks and making sure everyone's cup was full.

Brock handed Ashi a specially made drink, which she eagerly accepted and took a few sips of. The bittersweet beverage instantly lifted her mood thanks to the antioxidants from the powdered mixture.

"Wow, this is really delicious, Brock! The matcha and mago blend together perfectly," Ashi commented with Leon by her side, relieved to see that she was starting to calm down. He noticed the odd Pokémon suddenly perk up at Ashi's words and took note of its reaction. "Hey Ashi, what did you say was in this again?"

Ashi looked puzzled, thinking he had heard her mention the ingredients already. But she repeated, "Well, based on what I can taste, there's some mago mixed with the matcha powder that Brock used. Why do you ask?"

Leon's attention was focused on something else, causing Ashi to follow his gaze to the Pokémon nestled in her pocket. It seemed to be listening intently as Leon spoke loudly but kept its eyes fixed on the cup in Ashi's hand. "So it has matcha in it..."

Ashi also noticed the Pokémon's intense interest whenever someone mentioned matcha. She felt it wriggling out of her vest pocket and watched as it climbed up to her shoulder, fixing its gaze on the foamy green liquid inside the cup itself.

"Do you like matcha?" Ashi asked, realizing that it would make sense since the Pokémon's bright color matched the drink in her hand and it seemed to enjoy bitter Poffins the most. The Pokémon responded with a single blink, indicating that it did indeed like matcha very much.

"Would you like us to call you Matcha then?" The Pokémon blinked once more, confirming its new name.

Ashi smiled at the Pokémon before saying, "Matcha it is then. That doesn't sound too bad." The others agreed and even Raihan, though a bit disappointed that his name suggestions weren't chosen, thought Matcha was a fitting name. (I still would've went with Slimer though, but whatever!)

"So, now that we have a name for this little guy, we still need to figure out which Movesets it can use. Any ideas?" Raihan's question was met with thoughtful consideration from the group. They all knew that it could probably use basic attacks like Tackle or Quick Attack, but they hadn't actually seen it in action yet. Before anyone could speak up, they heard the sound of running footsteps approaching, and Toshi and Lisanna appeared with huge smiles on their faces and a Poké ball held proudly in Toshi's hand.

"Guess what, guys? We found another Pokémon and I caught it!" Toshi exclaimed.

"That's amazing! And we have news too. We finally decided on a name for this blob here," The Hammerlocke gym leader pointed his finger towards Ashi's Pokémon as both trainer and Pokémon shot him a glare. Ignoring their disapproving looks, he announced, "It's officially named Matcha now."

Lisanna joined Ashi's side and spoke with a warm smile directed towards the newly christened Pokémon. "Matcha, eh? I think it suits them perfectly!" She reached out to pat the Pokémon's head, causing it to close its one large eye in contentment. Ashi turned to her brother, making sure he didn't feel left out, and asked, "So you caught yourself a new Pokémon? That's fantastic! What did you catch?" Everyone turned their attention to the young boy, who proudly pressed the button on his Poké ball to enlarge it.

"Behold! I present to everyone...Houdini!" As the Pokémon emerged from its Poké ball, they observed a bipedal mammal covered in mostly yellow fur. Its face was shaped like a kite and had a small pale snout as well as pointed ears. The creature's eyes were closed, revealing black skin between its joints and along its neck. Brown extensions sprouted from its shoulders and chest, and it had three digits on both its hands and feet, with shorter fingers than usual. Its long tail sported a brown band near the end.

"Congratulations, Toshi! You caught an Abra!" Brock exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "I didn't even think there would be any out here on this remote route."

Toshi nodded proudly, "Yeah, I know right? I mean, the only things we've seen so far were a bunch of Spearows and that's it."

The memory of their previous encounter with those fierce birds sent a shiver down both Toshi and Aratiri's spine, but they quickly brushed it off. "Anyway, Lisanna suggested we keep going and eventually we stumbled upon this little guy over there." Toshi gestured towards the sleeping Abra.

It was pure luck to have found the elusive Pokémon while it napped in the middle of its natural habitat. Initially, Toshi had wanted to wake it up and challenge it to a battle, but the Takeover mage warned him that the psychic type might flee upon noticing them. So they decided to approach it stealthily instead.

Once they had finalized their plan, Toshi called out his Bulbasaur, Silas, and they put their strategy into action. With a combination of Stun Spore and Leech Seed, Silas drained the Abra's energy while simultaneously keeping it paralyzed. Finally, they threw a Poké ball at the weakened Pokémon, which was quickly captured as the ball settled without much resistance.

(To be honest, the Abra didn't even try to escape. It was too tired to bother moving and decided to let them catch it so it didn't have to exert any more energy. Being caught would make things easier for the Abra, and it pretended to be asleep the whole time.)

The group took a moment to admire the sleeping psychic Pokémon, with a large snot bubble indicating that it was still peacefully snoring away. Then Misty turned to Toshi and asked, "Did you scan it at least?"

Toshi blinked in realization; he had completely forgotten about using his Pokédex. He quickly reached into his pocket and aimed it at his latest acquistation.

Abra, a Psychic Power Pokémon. It sleeps eighteen hours a day, but employs telekinesis even while sleeping.

"Well, that's very informative," Toshi said with a hint of disappointment. He eagerly reached for the Pokedex to check out its moveset, but his excitement quickly turned to dismay as he saw that the only move listed was 'Teleport.' But Toshi wasn't one to let setbacks discourage him, and he immediately thought of ways to train and improve his new Abra.

"I'm sure it can learn new skills as we go along! We just need some time and effort," Toshi said, trying to stay positive.

"Unfortunately, that won't be possible," Steven interjected, knowing the importance of clarifying this issue for the young trainer. "Abra can only naturally learn Teleport and nothing else for now. The only way to teach it other moves is by using Technical Machines."

"Wait, seriously?! Ah man…" Toshi had been excited about catching his first Psychic-type Pokémon, but now it seemed like he wouldn't be able to use it in battles without TMs, which were costly and he didn't have enough money for even one. Feeling dejected, Toshi wished he could hide from the world.

Seeing Toshi's disappointment, Leon approached him and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Toshi. Abra's Teleport ability can still be quite useful in certain situations. And lucky for you, I happen to have a few spare TMs with me." He always made sure to bring some along in case they were needed on their journey. Hearing this offer, Toshi's face lit up like it was Christmas and his birthday combined.

"Really? Oh my Arceus! Thank you so much!" Toshi exclaimed while Ashi herself could see that Leon was sincere in his gesture to help out the young trainer.

Leon went to retrieve the TMs from his backpack and found a couple that would be suitable for Abra. Just as he was about to bring them over, they all felt something wet hit their skin. Looking up, they saw that the sky was overcast and it soon started drizzling.

"Perhaps we should save that for later and find some shelter first before it gets worse," Lisanna suggested, noticing everyone nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, good idea! Let's do that!" The group quickly gathered their belongings and took off as the rain picked up intensity, frantically searching for any place to take cover.

"Look over there, I think I see a cave down that way!" Misty pointed out, spotting a dark crevice in the distance. With a burst of speed, they all made their way towards it, desperate to escape the downpour. The cave was dimly lit, with water dripping from the ceiling. Thankfully, there were no signs of any creatures inhabiting it, making it a safe haven for them.

Completely drenched and shivering from the cold rain, the group rubbed their arms in an attempt to generate warmth while surveying their surroundings.

"Phew! It's raining Meowths and Growlithes out there!" Brock exclaimed as he removed his vest to wring out the water before laying it on a nearby boulder. The others followed suit, peering outside at the heavy rainfall in the woods.

Raihan wrung out his headband before placing it next to his hoodie. "Yeah, although where we come from we use Yampers instead of Growlithes when describing storms like this."

Lisanna tilted her head in confusion, her damp hair sticking to her cheeks and neck. She was about to ask for an explanation when they were interrupted by a loud crack of thunder reverberating through the sky. Raihan simply pointed upwards with a smirk, signaling that this was exactly why.

Now safely huddled together in a dry place, they set out to find materials to help start a fire. The ground was littered with branches and bits of moss, damp but not completely soaked through. Then Sora used Ember to ignite it, sparks flying as the flames eagerly lapped up the dry kindling. They all gathered around the warmth of the fire, grateful for its light and heat in the midst of the storm.

"Well, it looks like we're stuck here until its passes. Anyone know how long that will be?" Misty saw to ask while Steven quickly opened the app on his phone to check the forecast. "According to this, like it could last a couple of hours or so," he answered after he read what it had to say about this.

"Guess we'll just have to wait it out," Ashi sighed, leaning back against a smooth rock wall.

"What should we do in the meantime?" Toshi wondered aloud, glancing around ant his companions who all seemed deep in thought.

"We could tell spooky tales," Raihan suggested, but Ashi's stern expression made him quickly reconsider. "Or...we can focus on strategizing for your upcoming gym battle and start working on some tactics." He turned to Toshi, who perked up at the mention of his match and eagerly agreed.

"Yeah, let's do that!" Toshi knew that Raihan had recorded most of his past battles and he was sure to have valuable insights for his team. He and Lisanna got up and joined Raihan, sitting on either side as he opened up the videos one by one. They watched the clips together while Raihan offered his own thoughts and suggestions based on his personal opinions.

Lisanna could see how intently Toshi was listening, mentally storing all of the information for future training sessions. She couldn't help but compliment him on his impressive performances in the previous battles and thought he had great potential to go far. Toshi blushed at her words, but thankfully she didn't notice as her attention was still focused on the video. However, Raihan couldn't help but notice how flustered Toshi was getting and found it amusing to see his crush unknowingly complimenting him.

(Oh Toshi, Toshi, Toshi! You have no idea that battling isn't just about Pokémon, there are other challenges down the line.)

Perhaps it would be wise for Raihan to take Toshi aside and offer some words of wisdom, so the young man could better navigate his feelings towards Lisanna.

Then again, Raihan couldn't deny that he enjoyed watching Toshi's reactions around her; it made things more lively and provided some entertainment during moments like this.

Meanwhile, as the three of them delved into battle strategies, the rest of the group found ways to entertain themselves. Steven and Brock decided to explore the innermost parts of their temporary dwelling with flashlights in hand, promising to return soon. Misty took the opportunity to relax with a light novel she was halfway through, using her pack as a makeshift headrest.

Ashi quietly observed the other occupants of the room, each lost in their own activities. The fire crackled and popped in the background, casting a warm glow over the scene. Even the Pokémon had found ways to keep themselves occupied. The two Electric-types, Leida and Aratiri, snuggled together for warmth while a towel served as their makeshift blanket.

Sora lay nearby, his wet fur slowly drying in front of the fire as he dozed off into slumber. Ashi felt a small weight move on her chest and looked down to see Matcha had crawled out of her pocket to join the others by the fire. The grass-type Pokémon made its way over to the nearest occupant, which happened to be Litten, the fire cat. Litten lazily opened one eye as Matcha approached, then closed it again with a contented sigh as the green blob snuggled up next to him.

The Dragonslayer couldn't help but smile at the sight before turning her attention to the mouth of the cave. Rain poured down outside, accompanied by distant rumbles of thunder. Leon noticed Ashi's somber expression and couldn't help but wonder what she was thinking about.

"A stardust for your thoughts?" His playful comment drew Ashi's gaze towards him. She raised an eyebrow at his offer.

"A stardust? Isn't that a bit extravagant for my thoughts? You don't even know if they're worth such a gift!" She replied with a slight grin. Leon chuckled and approached her side. "Well, I can't help but be curious about what goes on inside that head of yours. So I'm sure I can spare something of value if you don't mind sharing."

Ashi's eyes softened at his words. She shifted slightly, crossing her legs as she glanced out at the stormy world beyond the cave.

"It's just...this rain reminds me of a similar situation from my past." Leon's interest was piqued, and he took Ashi's silence as an invitation to continue.

"It was right around the time I should have started my Pokémon journey. But, well...you know," she gestured vaguely. They glanced over at the others, seeing Toshi and Lisanna engrossed in a battle video with Raihan. They listened to his pointers and suggestions before turning back to their conversation.

"To keep up with my studies, I sometimes volunteered at the Professor's Ranch. One day, he sent me on an errand to pick up deliveries in the next town over. On my way back, it started raining just like this."

Ashi remembered the heavy downpour and how her borrowed bike from the Professor's kept getting stuck in mud puddles. She had eventually abandoned it and ran through the rain, seeking shelter until the storm passed. Just like they were doing now in the safety of the cave.

"I managed to find a secluded alcove to wait out the storm, but it was already occupied by a territorial and injured Pokémon. It was clearly not happy about my sudden intrusion," Ashi explained, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a deep scar on her forearm where the creature had bitten her in its initial reaction. Leon examined the size of the bite marks, trying to imagine what kind of Pokémon could have left them before Ashi continued her story, pulling down her sleeve again.

"I underestimated its strength, considering its injuries. But even in its weakened state, it put up a fierce fight when I tried to subdue it. Its wounds were severe - broken ribs, a deep cut across its stomach - but that didn't stop it from attacking me. I did my best to keep it from harming itself while also trying to understand the situation."

"It must have been through quite a battle before you stumbled upon it," Leon remarked, his face illuminated by the flickering fire as he listened intently to Ashi's account.

Ashi nodded. "That's what I assumed. But I couldn't just leave it there in pain. Despite its initial distrust towards me, I knew I had to help."

"It sounds like it eventually came around once it realized you weren't a threat."

"That's right," Ashi confirmed. "After treating its wounds and showing no intention of harming it, we formed an unlikely companionship during the rest of the storm."

She remembered how the Pokémon had initially stayed on guard, keeping a watchful eye on her. But as time went on and she showed no signs of harm, it gradually relaxed and even sought warmth by snuggling against her side. Ashi even sacrificed her jacket to wrap around its shivering body.

Ashi closed her eyes, reminiscing about the memory with a small smile on her lips. She absentmindedly rubbed at the scar tissue on her arm as she continued, "I remember feeling its small body against mine as we huddled together and listened to the sound of nature outside. Its gentle claws would scratch at my shirt as it slept peacefully in my arms, and I couldn't help but be soothed by the calming rhythm of the rain."

They sat in a comfortable silence, enveloped by the crackling fire and distant rumble of thunder. The warm glow of the flames danced across their faces, casting shadows that flickered against the walls of the cave.

"And then what happened?" Leon finally ask, his voice gentle yet curious. Ashi's smile faded into a sad sigh as she gazed into the fire, lost in thought. "I woke up a few hours later to find that the storm had passed and the Pokémon was no longer there."

The only evidence of its presence was the faint coppery smell of blood lingering in the air and the deep bite marks it had left on her arm. Though healed, they served as a constant reminder of her encounter with the creature. Sometimes, on days like this when it rained heavily, she could feel a tingling sensation in her arm and would be transported back to that moment.

"I often wonder if it made it out okay; did it manage to survive on its own? Did it find a kind trainer to care for it?" These thoughts weighed heavily on her mind, but she couldn't shake off the feeling of sadness that accompanied them.

"I'm sure it did because you were there to help them when they needed it and most likely are doing fine for themselves thanks to you," Leon replied softly, placing a comforting hand on hers.

"Yeah, but still…" Ashi trailed off, turning to look at the fire crackling in front of them. The rain outside seemed to create a barrier between them and the rest of the world, cocooning them in a bubble of tranquility.

Leon noticed a stray lock of hair fall over Ashi's brow and reached out to tuck it behind her ear. She turned to face him with a soft smile before their eyes locked for just a moment, sending shivers down both their spines. The loud crack of thunder interrupted their moment, causing them to break eye contact and turn back towards the rest of the group.

"Wow, it's really pouring out there!" Toshi exclaimed as the sound of thunder reverberated through the cave. Brock and Steven returned from their exploration and joined the group, huddling closer to the fire.

"Looks like we might be stuck here all night if this keeps up," Toshi sighed.

"At least there aren't any bugs in here!" Misty chimed in, relieved that at least one worry was taken care of since they arrived in the cave.

As the group took to settled in with their sleeping bags, the sound of rain providing a peaceful background for some to drift off into a quick slumber. They figured they would just wait and see what happened while getting some shuteye in the process. No one seemed to mind as they got comfortable, closing their eyes and taking it easy, hoping the storm would pass soon so they could continue on forward without any further delays.

After over an hour had passed, Ashi was the first to stir when she noticed the warmth in the cave fading. As she opened her eyes, she saw that the fire was dying down. She looked around for more kindling to throw on, but found that they had used everything in this part of the cave. Realizing she may have to venture deeper into the cavern to find more, she quietly got up and crept away from her sleeping companions, grabbing her flashlight from her pack.

Fortunately, Steven and Brock had left markers indicating their path, making it easier for Ashi to navigate through the open passages. With her flashlight pointed towards the ground, she searched for any potential sources of fuel. After some time, she stumbled upon a sizable pile of dried leaves and branches. It looked like it could have been a resting spot for someone or something, but neither Steven nor Brock mentioned seeing it during their exploration. Assuming whoever left it had moved on, Ashi felt relief wash over her as she quickly gathered as much kindling as she could carry in her arms.

As she was about to head back to the group with her bundle in tow, an abrupt noise caught her attention. Ashi turned towards the source of the sound, her heart pounding in her chest. The noise bounced off the cavern walls, making it difficult to pinpoint its origin. She strained her ears to listen carefully, trying to identify what could have made such a strange noise deep within the cave.

It sounded like…something was in pain and needed help. Without hesitation, Ashi dropped the kindling and followed the echoing cries further into the cave, her flashlight casting eerie shadows as she went. The air grew colder and a sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach, but she pressed forward, determined to find the source of distress.

As she rounded a corner, her light illuminated a small figure huddled in a crevice, its body trembling and weak. It was a Pokémon that Ashi had never seen before; its appearance resembled that of a small green reptilian dinosaur with pale, straight tusks protruding from its mouth. Its eyes were shut tight and surrounded by dark grayish-green ovals. It had a short snout with large nostrils and a dark violet collar marking encircling its neck. Its limbs and tail were short, with three digits on its forelimbs and two on its feet. A tall, dark horn sprouted from its head.

Ashi was taken aback by the sight of them, but she couldn't ignore its whimpering and labored breathing. It was clearly in need of help, and Ashi's heart went out to it.

Approaching slowly and with caution, Ashi knelt down beside the Pokémon, speaking to it in a gentle voice. "Hey there little one, don't be afraid, I'm here to help." The creature regarded her warily, too weak to move from its spot. Ashi noticed a small puddle of half-digested food and bile nearby and surmised what had happened.

"Oh dear, you poor thing!" She made sure not to jostle the creature as she carefully lifted it off the ground. It barely weighed anything in her arms, and she could feel its ribcage sticking out. She wondered how long it had been left out here like this. But now wasn't the time to dwell on such thoughts; she needed to take action. She ran back to where her friends were and quickly informed them of the situation.

"Guys! Guys! Wake up!" Ashi's panicked voice echoed off the walls of the main cavern, jolting her friends awake. Groggily, they sat up and rubbed their eyes, looking at her with confusion.

"What's going on, Ashi?" Leon asked, concern etched on his features as he quickly stood up, followed by the rest of the group. Before she could even answer, Raihan, now fully awake, peered over to see what Ashi had in her arms and immediately recognized the Pokémon.

"Holy Magikarp! That's an Axew!" The Hammerlocke gym leader exclaimed, causing everyone to take a closer look at its condition. Its pale skin and labored breathing were not a good sign. Lisanna and Brock rushed over to get a better look, their faces filled with worry.

Realizing the dire situation, Steven quickly pulled out his Rotom phone to check for the nearest Pokémon Center. It was only ten miles away, possibly even closer if someone used a flying type to get there faster.

Already thinking ahead, Raihan summoned his Flygon and heard Zephyr let out a fierce roar upon its release. He gestured for Ashi to hop on in front while he secured her safely behind him. Turning to the rest of the group, he shouted above the storm's howling winds.

"I'll take Ashi and the Axew to the Center and meet you all there. Hopefully it's still open at this hour." Giving Zephyr a signal, Raihan took off into the stormy night sky, expertly navigating through the turbulent weather towards their destination.

As they flew through the rain and wind, Ashi held onto the shivering Axew tightly and whispered words of comfort to it. She made sure her jacket was wrapped around them both for warmth and protection from the elements.

Raihan squinted through the rain, keeping a lookout for the Pokémon Center. Finally, he spotted its familiar logo shining like a beacon in the distance. "There it is!" Ashi exclaimed, her heart racing with hope. Urging Zephyr to go faster, Raihan landed just outside of the Pokémon Center doors. Ashi quickly pried herself from Raihan's hold and rushed inside without hesitation.

The nurse at the front desk was taken aback by the sudden entrance of a drenched teenager holding a swaddled bundle. "We have an emergency here! Please help!" Ashi pleaded frantically.

As soon as Nurse Joy's eyes landed on the gravely ill Axew in Ashi's hold, she sprang into action with a sense of urgency. Without hesitation, she pressed a button on her monitor, sending out a signal for assistance.

In a matter of moments, two Chansey came rolling out from the back with a gurney. Ashi carefully placed the Pokémon down before they pushed it toward the medical room behind them. She was ready to follow but felt a hand grab her shoulder, halting her in place. She turned to see Nurse Joy standing beside her, ready to speak.

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait out here," Nurse Joy said firmly. "We can't allow anyone into the room while we attend to the patient."

Ashi looked like she wanted to protest, but upon further thought, she realized that Nurse Joy was right. She would only get in the way and hinder their efforts to treat the sick Axew. Reluctantly accepting this reality, she watched as Nurse Joy disappeared into the back, leaving her alone in the lobby with rainwater dripping onto the linoleum tile.

She remained rooted in place until Raihan waltzed in. Seeing her without Axew by her side, he immediately guessed that it was already being tended to. He walked over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before guiding her towards one of the many empty chairs waiting in the room. With gentle encouragement, he urged her to sit down. "Don't worry, Ashi," Raihan said reassuringly. "Everything will be okay, I promise."

He then went off to look for towels for himself and Ashi, as they were both drenched from the pouring rain. He brought extras for when the others arrived, as he predicted they would also be drenched and in need of warmth. As expected, they arrived looking like wet Rattatas and gratefully accepted the warm, fluffy towels before joining Raihan in the lobby.

Leon approached Raihan to inquire about the situation, not wanting to bother Ashi who seemed lost in thought. After speaking with Nurse Joy, Raihan returned with a small sigh of relief. The news wasn't as dire as he had originally feared. The Axew would need to be observed overnight as a precaution, but it seemed to be on the road to recovery. It was a young Axew, only about a week old.

"We were lucky to bring it in when we did," Raihan explained. "The nurse thinks it must have eaten something it shouldn't have and got sick from it. They've put it on an IV to replenish its fluids, and I believe the little guy is going to pull through."

This was a huge relief for all of them, as they all feared the worst. With the professionals taking care of the Axew, they could now focus on warming themselves up and getting some food.

Ashi turned to her brother and Lisanna, who seemed relieved as she relayed the news to them as well. Raihan suggested they grab a quick bite in the canteen while waiting for updates on Axew's condition.

They all agreed and headed towards where the cafeteria was supposed to be. But as they approached the entrance, they heard loud commotion coming from inside. The voice of a girl shouting could be heard even outside: "—MAVIS alone! Who would do such a thing!"

This word triggered a memory in Ashi; she had heard Lisanna use it before in their earlier conversations. She shared a glance with the Takeover mage, who also caught wind of this as well.

The rest of their group didn't know what was happening but followed them inside to find two trainers in a heated argument. Other people were gathered around, standing behind one trainer who was towering over a young preteen. Despite being smaller, the girl stood her ground and glared back at the older trainer.

"Nobody asked you to interfere, brat! Why don't you scram and let the adults handle this? You might get hurt if you stick your nose into things that don't concern you!"

"Yeah!/You tell her, Damien! Listen to Damien, little missy!" The people behind Damien cheered him on, looking down at the pink-haired trainer who was clearly angry. Ashi kept an eye on them, ready to intervene if necessary. But then something caught her attention - a familiar energy slowly emanating from the girl. It became clear that anyone in the room with heighten sense to feel it too.

It was clear to Ashi, her brother, and Lisanna that the situation could quickly escalate if someone didn't intervene. The girl in front of them seemed ready to unleash her powers, and Ashi knew she had to act fast before things got out of hand. She stepped in between the two trainers with a calm but authoritative demeanor.

"What's happening here?" Ashi asked as she and her friends made their presence known to everyone else in the room. They needed to keep their attention on the confrontation to prevent any violence from breaking out. Damien and his group were taken aback by their interference, but the girl spoke up and explained what had happened.

"I'll tell you what's going on! I found two injured Pokémon along the trail earlier and brought them with me for treatment. But then I overheard these guys talking, and this jerk was bragging about leaving behind a 'Charmander' and 'Bulbasaur' at the same location where I found them. He said they deserved to be abandoned and all his friends agreed!"

Ashi and her friends turned to glare at Damien and his group, feeling outraged and appalled. If looks could kill, Damien and his gang would have been buried underground as those with abilities like Ashi's felt an urge to unleash their strongest attacks on them.

"Is this true?" Ashi's voice was low and dangerous, causing even Toshi and Lisanna to step back in fear. The tension in the room was palpable.

Damien sneered when he realized he had been caught, but he showed no remorse. "So what? They were weak—useless Pokémon. I did them a favor by leaving them behind! Survival of the fittest, you know."

Before anyone could react, Ashi grabbed Damien by the collar of his shirt, her fury evident in her eyes. "You heartless coward! How dare you call yourself a trainer when you show no respect for your own Pokémon? You're not supposed to treat them like garbage, and you did it in such a callous manner!" Ashi could feel her canines lengthening in her mouth, and her draconian instincts were taking over, tempting her to incinerate Damien into ash. But before she could act on her impulses, someone called out her name.

"Ashi, stop! Calm down!" It was Leon's voice, and his words managed to reach her despite the anger coursing through her veins. The Galar Monarch understood how she felt, but he also knew that giving into her desire for revenge wouldn't solve anything.

"He's not worth it, Ashi. Don't stoop to his level," Leon continued, trying to calm her down.

Reluctantly, Ashi's grip released from Damien's collar and she gave him a piercing glare before turning to rejoin her friends. Damien seemed completely oblivious to the danger he had just narrowly escaped and couldn't resist making a snide remark as she walked away.

"Yeah, that's what I thought! All you girls think you're tough, but what you really need is a man to show you how it's done. Maybe it would be better if you were on your back and—"

Before he could finish his sentence, a loud thud interrupted him as he was knocked to the floor with blood gushing from his broken nose. The entire room turned to see who had struck him and saw Steven standing over him with a fierce expression. His right hand was tightly balled into a fist, knuckles red and swollen from the impact.

"Show some decorum, you vile ingrate! How dare you speak in the presence of everyone here?" Normally composed, Steven was driven to anger upon hearing what Damien had said to Ashi and the other girls in the room. He knew Raihan or Leon would have taken the first shot if he hadn't stepped forward.

"Ou othefucer! Ou rok mee ucing ose!" Damien struggled to stem the bleeding from his nose while pinching his nostrils. But before anyone could respond or retaliate, another voice cut through the tension as two figures entered the room.

"I think that's quite enough for now." Nurse Joy appeared on the scene, accompanied by Officer Jenny who had been called to handle a matter of great urgency.

"I'm here to speak with one of you about a specific issue that's been brought to our attention - namely you there!" The policewoman pointed at Damien, who froze upon seeing her. "It has come to our attention that you have thirty Pokémon with you, which exceeds the limit unless you have a special license. According to Nurse Joy, who checked your file, you don't have the necessary paperwork. This means you are illegally holding them from being transported to your sponsor for their care, which is also a count towards abuse and negligence. We'll need you to come with me to the station for further questioning."

"What about them? They tried to attack us and that guy hit Damien here!" Officer Jenny looked over at Steven, noting his injured hand. "It's best to settle things civilly without resorting to violence, but if this happens again there will be dire consequences. This is your first and final warning, sir. Now if you'll excuse us."

Damien was escorted out of the room as Officer Jenny grabbed his arm, a mixture of pain and anger on his face from his broken nose. He shot one last dirty look at Ashi and her friends before being dragged out of the Center toward the waiting cruiser outside.

Nurse Joy then addressed the rest of the group, giving them all the same warning before Damien's friends took their leave without another word. This left only their group in the room as they felt the tension slowly dissipate into a sense of relief mixed with unease.

The group let out a collective sigh of relief and stumbled towards the nearest table, collapsing into chairs to catch their breath. "Man, that was intense," Toshi said, running a shaky hand through his hair. Brock nodded in agreement. "No kidding, Tosh!"

"I can't believe that guy! I would've punched him in the face for what he was about to say!" Misty seethed with anger, and Lisanna shared her sentiment. In fact, if she were being honest, she would've probably gone even further and taken a page out of her sister's or Erza's book by thoroughly thrashing him until he could barely stand (though Mirajane would most likely have crushed his pitiful manhood into smithereens and the Requip Knight might have performed castration in a particularly torturous manner for his actions and insult towards women). The group tried to calm their murderous thoughts, though the girls couldn't help but still have some ideas in their heads if they ever saw Damien again. But then someone loudly cleared their throat.

All eyes turned to the girl they had just helped moments ago. She wanted to express her gratitude to them for standing up to the jerk who had insulted her.

"Thank you all for what you did back there. Especially you," she directed her thanks towards Ashi and the Dragonslayer, who smiled down at her. "It was no problem at all," Ashi replied. "Why don't you join us? Pull up a chair if you'd like." She glanced at everyone else at the table, who all nodded in agreement.

"Really? Thank you so much!" The girl eagerly found an empty chair and dragged it over to sit near Raihan and Brock. "By the way, my name is Sherria Blendy." As each person at the table took turns introducing themselves, Sherria's eyes widened when it came to Lisanna's turn. "Wait, Lisanna! Oh my Mavis, I can't believe it!"

She then moved to tackle the startled girl in front of everyone and began to babble excitedly. Ashi and Toshi immediately shared a thought: Sherria must be from the same world as Lisanna. They became worried, knowing that if she mentioned anything about magic or being from Earthland, the others would surely become curious and they would be in trouble.

"I was going insane thinking I was all alone in this strange place. I mean, what in all of Earthl—" Before she could finish her sentence, Lisanna rushed to interrupt her. "Oh yes, I know exactly how you feel! It's so good to see you here too... um..." Lisanna struggled to come up with an excuse, but luckily Ashi came to her aid. "Oh, is this the Sherria you were telling me about, Lisa? Your pen pal from Fiore?"

Remembering that Lisanna had mentioned there was also a place called Fiore in her realm and one in this world too, Ashi's diversion worked perfectly. Lisanna caught on and quickly nodded her head. "Yes, my pen pal from Fiore! How silly of me not to realize that. It's been so long since we last wrote to each other, I never imagined you would show up here in Kanto."

Sherria's expression shifted to one of confusion, but as Lisanna and Ashi exchanged a knowing look, she seemed to understand that it was best to play along for now. They promised to explain everything later. With a smile and nod, Sherria joined in the charade.

"Oh my goodness! I completely forgot to tell you I was coming by, Lisa! Silly me," she exclaimed, throwing her arm around Lisanna's shoulder and nuzzling her cheek against hers. "I was just bursting with excitement to see my bestie again!"

"Yep that's right besties!" Lisanna sheepishly played along, while Ashi scanned the group for any signs of doubt or disbelief. Some wore skeptical expressions, as if the two girls had suddenly sprouted extra heads. But no one spoke up to challenge them, much to Ashi's relief.

With this act successfully pulled off, the group relaxed and enjoyed the remainder of their evening without any further interruptions. As curfew approached, they headed towards the nurse's station to inquire about lodging. Offered a spare bunk in their room, Sherria happily accepted and they all settled in for the night.

Hours passed and Misty fell into a deep sleep. Ashi waited until she sensed her breathing become steady before getting up, finding Lisanna and Sherria already awake as well. The three quietly made their way down a dark hallway until they reached a more private area where they could talk freely.

They found themselves in a viewing room where trainers could observe the treatment of injured Pokémon. Inside were the Axew they had brought with them as well as the ones Sherria had discovered. Ashi's gaze rested on the Axew while Sherria and Lisanna focused on the Charmander and Bulbasaur in incubators nearby.

"Damien really did a number on these poor creatures," Sherria sighed, her voice heavy with sorrow. "I've seen some brutal things in my time, but this...this takes the cake."

"I felt the same when I saw them," Lisanna chimed in, her eyes fixed on the Bulbasaur who bore deep scars from its former trainer's abuse. "It breaks my heart to see them so defenseless and alone."

"How could anyone be so heartless?" Sherria wondered aloud, her voice laced with anger and confusion. Ashi took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, her eyes shifting from Sherria's concerned gaze. "Because not everyone sees Pokémon the way we do," she began slowly. "To some, they are mere tools or commodities. They forget that these creatures have feelings and emotions just like us. People like Damien and his friends simply cannot understand our compassion towards them."

Sherria nodded understandingly, though it did little to ease the discomfort in her heart. "I see. It's just hard for me to accept that people can be so cruel," she admitted, her voice breaking slightly.

Ashi and Lisanna exchanged a knowing look before scanning their surroundings to ensure no one was within earshot. With the coast clear, they headed towards a nearby door that led inside. "Let's hurry," Ashi whispered, gesturing for them to follow. "We don't want anyone coming down here and catching us."

Confused but trusting in her friends' judgment, Sherria followed them into the room. Her eyes widened at the sight of Charmander's tank, which Ashi swiftly opened with ease. With careful concentration and precision, Ashi channeled her magic through her glowing green palm, tending to Charmander's internal injuries and mending its bruised ribs. The two girls watched in amazement as the flames on Charmander's tail grew stronger and its scales became more vibrant orange under Ashi's healing touch. (One down, two to go.)

Lisanna stepped forward to assist with the grass-type Pokémon, noticing its restlessness. She gently massaged its bulb while Ashi continued her healing magic on their injuries, keeping a watchful eye on Bulbasaur's improving condition.

Finally, it was time to attend to the shivering Axew curled up in a corner of the room. Its brow was furrowed in distress, most likely due to a nightmare. Ashi's heart ached at the sight and without hesitation, she reached out and cradled the trembling Pokémon to her chest. She hummed a soft lullaby while gently stroking its back, her hand glowing with healing magic. The room was filled with a sense of calm as Ashi's soothing voice and touch eased Axew's fears, reaching out to wash away all its fear with her comforting presence by its side.

It always seems more quiet in the dark

It always feels so stark

How silence grows under the moon

Constellations gone so soon

The soft melody of Ashi's lullaby drifted through the room, a comforting presence in the darkness. Lisanna and Sherria watched in awe as the Axew's breathing steadied and its tiny form relaxed in the Dragonslayer's gentle embrace.

I used to think that I was bold

I used to think love would be fun

Now all my stories have been told

Except for one…

Ashi felt the Axew stirring in her arms and watched as its sleepy eyes met hers, their fuchsia hue gazing deeply. She flashed a smile at the small dragon-type and continued her gentle singing, watching as it yawned before settling its head back down on her chest, falling back into peaceful slumber.

As the stars start to align

I hope you take it as a sign

That you'll be okay

Everything will be okay…

After gently placing the sleeping Axew back into its tank, Ashi and her two fellow mages left the room quietly. They stepped outside to enjoy the fresh air, relieved that the rain had stopped. The smell of damp soil hung in the air, a pleasant reminder of nature's ability to rejuvenate.

The trio found a spot to sit and began talking, with Sherria sharing her story. As they listened, Ashi and Lisanna learned how Sherria knew the Takeover mage - it turned out she was from a timeline a few years ahead of Lisanna's. This surprised them, but then Sherria revealed more about what happened in her world. She had been involved in an epic battle against the Alvarez Empire, led by a powerful mage named Zeref. In her final moments, she used something called Third Origin to protect her friends, but because of her extensive injuries and draining of her life force and magic beyond the limits, she perished and thought that would be the end for her.

However, when she woke up in this strange world, she had somehow reverted to a younger age and still retained some of her magic, although not at full strength yet. It had been slowly recovering during the weeks she had been in this dimension.

As they processed the shocking revelation and tried to piece together how they ended up in this strange world, Ashi's thoughts drifted towards her father. She remembered her mother's words about him somehow crossing over into this world upon his death. Seeing the two other mages come to the same realization made her feel less alone.

"It seems like what happened to the two of you may be similar to what happened to my father. He must have crossed over from your world to this one when he passed away. At least, that's what my mom said," Ashi said, voicing her thoughts.

"Yeah, that does seem like the most plausible theory," agreed Lisanna. Sherria also seemed to be coming to terms with it.

"This is...I don't even know what to say," she murmured, overwhelmed by the weight of their situation. They all leaned back and gazed up at the clear night sky. The moon cast a soft glow upon them, and Sherria looked up at the stars before turning to Ashi and changing the subject to something lighter.

"You know, what you did for those little ones back there was truly noble of you," she said, referring to Ashi's efforts in treating the injured Pokémon in the ICU. Lisanna also thought highly of Ashi's actions.

"Ashi, that was incredibly kind of you. I'm sure they'll recover and find better trainers in the future," she said. Ashi shrugged humbly.

"I hope so. Right now, they will be transported to Professor's ranch back home along with Damien's other Pokémon while he is held accountable for his actions. The Professor will ensure they receive proper treatment and keep tabs on their progress. It may take time and effort for them to heal from their physical and emotional scars, but we will see how it goes."

"Yeah, but they should make a full recovery now that someone is looking out for them. That's something at least." Before Ashi could agree with Lisanna, they heard some rustling in a nearby bush. The girls all turned their heads to see what it was. When they saw the creatures that emerged, two of the three mages stared in awe while Sherria squealed happily upon seeing them.

"Oh! Looks like my friends here decided to come over and say hi to you guys!" Sherria didn't pay attention to their reactions; she was too busy greeting the Pokémon approaching them.

One was a small avian with a round body mostly covered in vibrant greens, with striking yellow-and-red wings adorned with thick black stripes. It also sported a bright red crest on top of its head and had three-toed feet and three tail feathers in the same vibrant red hue. Its almond-shaped eyes were a deep brown and its beak was a contrasting bright yellow.

Perched on Sherria's head was another Pokémon, this one resembling a butterfly with big, blue eyes and black antennae with rounded tips. Its face, underside, and limbs were a soft gray color, while its wings were predominantly black with large splashes of yellow, red, and blue. The top pair of wings had a line of glowing yellow at their edges, while the lower wings had long extensions with round tips at their bottom.

Last but certainly not least, zooming above their heads was a white-furred flying squirrel with beady black eyes and a cute tiny nose on its face. Its ears sat atop its head, rounded and black with sections of yellow and white on the inside. A hood-like pattern adorned its head with spikes extending above its face. Its three-fingered arms were connected by wing-like membrane flaps in a bright yellow hue, and it had small white feet and a jagged black tail. But most distinctively, it had two glowing yellow sacs on its cheeks emitting sparks of electricity.

Both Ashi and Lisanna couldn't take their eyes off the Pokémon, especially when they saw that another mage had managed to acquire creatures not native to this area. Curious, the Dragonslayer asked how she got them.

The Godslayer finished petting the Emolga perched on her shoulder, causing it to nuzzle against her cheek in return. Laughing, Sherria turned to answer Ashi's question.

"I don't know, really. I was wandering around here trying to figure out where I was and how I got here. That's when I stumbled upon these little ones. I don't know where they came from or why, but we just clicked and they've been with me ever since, keeping me company all this time. And honestly, just look at them!" Sherria picked up the Natu resting on her lap and held it close to her chest, "Aren't they super adorable!"

Ashi and Lisanna couldn't help but smile at Sherria's enthusiasm. Even Lisanna couldn't resist agreeing with her fellow mage, knowing the feeling all too well with her own Pokémon.

"Yeah, it happened the same way for me when I found mine. Let me introduce you to one of them." Lisanna took out Leida's Poké Ball and released the Pachirisu inside, who curiously looked around before noticing the other Electric-type present. The two approached each other and began rubbing cheeks, creating static between them like Leida had with Ashi's Pikachu last time.

While Lisanna and Ashi were focused on the two getting along before everyone, Sherria couldn't take her eyes off the strange device Lisanna had use then place back on her belt.

"Whoa, what is that? How does it work?" She was fascinated by the magical tool Lisanna held in her hand. Ashi and Lisanna explained the purpose of Poké Balls and how they were used to capture different types of Pokémon.

"So you're saying I can keep these little ones safe with me at all times? And if I ever need their help or just want to spend time with them, I can call them out?" Sherria was amazed by the idea and Ashi showed her how to use a Poké Ball on the Pokémon before her. This way, Sherria wouldn't have to worry about someone else capturing them if she was the first one to catch them. She captured all three of the Pokémon using the spare Poké Balls Ashi had given her and safely placed the red and white ball in her pocket.

"That's it? It seems so simple!" Sherria was surprised by how handy and convenient this little gadget was for carrying around her Pokémon.

Ashi nodded, her long red hair swaying with the motion. "Yep," she confirmed, "but I would like to advise you to be extra careful about not losing them or getting them stolen." Her blue eyes held a hint of concern as she continued, "You have to be aware that there have been some people who've been targeting and trying to steal other trainers' Pokémon. Mainly, this one group that calls themselves Team Rocket has been causing trouble for us lately."

Sherria's face registered shock at this news, but Lisanna backed up Ashi's words with a solemn nod. Memories of her own encounter with the notorious trio came flooding back and she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of worry for her fellow Mage.

"Maybe you should come with us then," Lisanna suggested, turning to Ashi and saying, "I mean, it might be a good idea since now we know there are more like us. Who knows what sort of trouble Sherria might run into if she's by herself?"

The thought had crossed Ashi's mind as well, and she couldn't help but agree with Lisanna. Sherria's powers were still not at full capacity and she lacked the means to defend herself, even with her Pokémon by her side. It would be safer for her to join their group, where they could all look out for each other. But Ashi also made sure to give Sherria and Lisanna a stern warning: magic should only be used in dire situations, to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention.

"Let's all remember our promise to keep everything within this group," Ashi reminded them, emphasizing the importance of secrecy. "We don't want to become bigger targets than we already are."

Feeling overwhelmed by emotions and grateful for the newfound companionship, Sherria rushed into a tight hug with her two new friends. They welcomed her with open arms and let her cry freely into Ashi's chest. The weight of her fears and worries finally released, Sherria felt a sense of relief as she hugged them tightly.

After comforting Sherria and assuring her that everything would be okay, the girls headed back inside. As they settled into their beds, thoughts of what awaited them tomorrow filled their minds. With another mage by their side, their journey was bound to bring new challenges and unexpected turns. But for now, they closed their eyes and tried to get some rest, hoping for a brighter future ahead.

Asharia 'Ashi' Ketchum - Age 18, Trainer (Beginner)

Team Ashi -

*Litten (m) - Sora

Pikachu (m)- Aratiri

Clefairy (f) - Altette

Noibat (m) - Alucard

*Bulbasaur (f) - Hinata

Tag-along - Unknown Pokémon (?) - Matcha

Satoshi 'Toshi' Ketchum - Age 10, Trainer (Beginner)

Team Toshi -

Charmander (m) - Aelius

Pidgeotto (f) - Makani

Cleffa (m) - Piyovelt Phelpia Pi Alphonse Piyoderika nickname 'Pip'

Bulbasaur (m) - Silas

*Abra (m) - Houdini

Leon Jordan - Age 20, Trainer (Advance) Galar Champion x5

Team Leon -

Charizard (m) - Benimaru

Dragapult (m) - Tatsuo

Rillaboom (m) - Mori

Cinderace (m) - Homura

Inteleon (m) - Kiyomizu

Mr. Rime (m) - Shimo

Raihan Tarsha - Age 23, Trainer (Advance) Hammerlocke Gym Leader

Team Raihan -

Duraludon (m) - Argyros nickname Argo

Sandaconda (m) - Kahli

Goodra (m) - Gale

Flygon (m) - Zephyr

Misty Williams - Age 12, Trainer (Beginner)

Team Misty -

Starmie (?) - Moana

Goldeen (f) - Laguna

Seel (m) - Ronan

~G~ Slowpoke (f) - Momo nickname 'Sweetie'

Oddish (f) - Poppy

Brock Harrison - Age 16, Trainer (Intermediate) Temp Pewter Gym Leader

Team Brock -

Geodude (m) - Rocco

Onix (m) - Callan

Zubat (m) - Zane

Steven Stone - Age 25, Trainer (Advance) Hoenn Champion

Team Steven -

Metagoss (m) - Magne

Skarmory (m) - Silver

Aggron (m) - Slate

Lisanna Strauss - Age 12, Trainer (Beginner) Secret Ability - Takeover Mage

Team Lisanna -

Sawsbuck (m) - Prancer

Flabébé (f) - Fleur

Parischu (f) - Leida

SOON TO BE PART OF THE GROUP:

Sherria Blendy - Age 12, Trainer (Beginner) Secret Ability - Sky Godslayer

Team Sherria -

Natu (f)

Beautifly (f)

Emolga (f)

Professor Oak's Ranch

Ashi's Pokémon:

*Litleo (f) - Sekhmet

*Luxio (f) - Yoruichi

Scyther (m) - Masamune

On loan: Beedrill (f) - Suzumebachi

Toshi's Pokémon:

Beedrill (m) - Zorah

Litleo (m) - Simba

Luxio (m) - Thor

Butterfree (m) - Clodius

Transfer ownership to Delia: Clefable x2 (m) Rune, (f) Aurora

Omake - The Axew's Prespective

(It's so cold, and I'm so hungry…I'm scared!) The bitter chill has seeped into every inch of the small Axew's body, causing him to shiver uncontrollably as he lays on the cold, stone ground. Hunger gnaws at his belly, but fear keeps it from venturing too far from its enclosure in search of food.

(I want my Memma...Where is my Memma…) The little dragon Pokemon's mind wanders to a name that brings feelings of comfort and warmth, but cannot recall who or what that is. All he knows is waking up in this dark, damp cave with no one but itself for company.

Desperate to ease the ache in his stomach, the Axew ventures out and discovers a bush full of berries. The first bite is bitter, but the taste gradually becomes more tolerable as it fills his empty belly with the juicy fruit.

But soon after indulging, a fiery pain begins to churn in his stomach. Nausea overtakes the young Pokemon, and the Axew spends the next few minutes retching up the berries it had just consumed back in his small nest. Curling into a tight ball, he waits for the discomfort to pass but it seem to make the pain even worse and thought he'd be left like this waiting for the inevitable.

Suddenly, warmth envelopes the Axew as he heard an unknown voice speaking and then is gently cradled in someone's arms. A steady thumping sound echoes against his ear, providing some strange sense of comfort as they rush out of the cave and into the pouring rain that was outside. Barely conscious, the Axew hears multiple voices and feels something warm and smelling nice wrapped around his shivering body while being carried out into the storm and then moments later finding themselves inside a very bright, warm cave that seem to smell very odd yet allowing his mind to focus on his savior but then feeling was being dragged away from them. (No don't go! Don't leave me!) But he was too weak to say it as he was brought to some other room and then feeling himself being poked and prodded and then a strange yucky taste was inserted into his mouth and then a object into his arm that pierce through his thick skin. He could barely strike at them for touching him but was drifting in and out before feeling his subconscious surrendering to sweet oblivion before he was push inside another room that had two other occupants there as well.

As he slumbers, the scuffling sounds of the odd machines nearby that monitor them was beeping and while he didn't know how long he had been here yet couldn't stop thinking about where his Memma was and not able to dream well as it saw nothing but creepy shadowy figures and wishing someone would make them go away. Suddenly he felt himself being lift and once again cradle in strong familiar arms, holding them against a firm body and hearing the thump-thump that sound so relaxing to its ears.

It always seems more quiet in the dark

It always feels so stark

How silence grows under the moon

Constellations gone so soon

That voice! He knows that because he remembers them being the one who had been speaking so gently to him back in the cave and now here they were! (Was this, could this by my…)

I used to think that I was bold

I used to think love would be fun

Now all my stories have been told

Except for one…

Slowly, his heavy eyelids struggled against the weight of drowsiness, as if they were being pulled down by invisible hands. Fighting through the haze, he gradually regained his awareness and saw the dimly lit room surrounding him. As he looked up, his eyes finally focused on the figure cradling him.

It was a woman with long, flowing scarlet hair that cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall. Her gentle face was bathed in a soft glow from the light outside the room, making her seem almost ethereal.

(Perhaps this is Memma, the one who saved me.) His thoughts were jumbled as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. But it was hard not to be captivated by her presence - her voice was like a soothing balm that calmed his mind and body. He couldn't resist resting his head on her chest, feeling the steady rhythm of her heartbeat and finding a sense of safety in her embrace as she gently rocked him to sleep.

As the stars start to align

I hope you take it as a sign

That you'll be okay

Everything will be okay…

(Memma, my Memma…) He was able to sleep soundly after hearing her sing and finding himself feeling at peace knowing Memma had at long last found him, that his Memma came for him after all this time. He fell asleep dreaming of her and feeling content as he thought of her gentle voice and kind smile, making his dreams all the more pleasant before the sun rose in the sky.