The following morning, Johto's skies echoed with cries as Ash and Pikachu clung desperately to Kara's arms. Kara, effortlessly flying through the clouds, grumbled under her breath as she glanced down at her noisy passengers. They'd been yelling for the better part of the journey, and it was wearing her patience thin.
"Would you two stop screaming?" she snapped, rolling her eyes. "I'm not going to drop you… unless, of course, I have to, if it'll shut you up."
Ash, still gripping her arm with all his might, managed to shout back, "It's not our fault this is new to us!" His voice was equal parts defiance and thrill. Pikachu echoed his Trainer's sentiment with an excited "Pika!"
"Humans," Kara muttered, shaking her head. "So fragile."
Despite her complaints, Ash was awestruck by the experience. They'd flown by all kinds of methods—Pokémon, planes, and balloons—but soaring this way, carried by someone with natural flying ability, was on a completely different level.
After what felt like a high-speed blur through the skies, Kara spotted their destination and began to descend, aiming for the shelter of Ilex Forest, a few steps from Azalea Town. She landed with practiced ease, setting Ash and Pikachu down before folding her arms with a skeptical frown. Ash and Pikachu both lay on their backs, panting as if they'd just run a marathon.
"You two are unbelievable," Kara sighed, half-annoyed, half-amused.
Ash, still catching his breath, shot her a look that was somewhere between a grin and a glare. "Not everyone's used to zipping around like that, you know."
Kara shook her head, but a small smirk tugged at her lips. "Well, get used to it if you're planning to keep up with me." Just as she finished speaking, she heard a familiar, icy voice crackling in her earpiece.
"Commander," Brainiac's voice filled her head, cold and precise, snapping her out of her lighthearted moment.
Kara's expression hardened instantly. "I'll be right back," she muttered to Ash before moving to a shaded spot among the trees, safely out of earshot.
"Report," Brainiac's voice demanded, tinged with impatience.
Kara straightened, her voice low. "I'm continuing to observe the region's lifeforms and habitats, as you instructed. They're… unlike anything I've encountered. This region may be worth further study."
A scoff crackled through her communicator. "I sent you to conquer this world, not admire it. Have you forgotten your purpose, Warrior?"
Kara clenched her fists, forcing herself to remain calm. "I'm simply ensuring there's nothing that could jeopardize your plans," she replied, her voice steely. "If I act recklessly, I risk exposing myself and jeopardizing the mission."
Brainiac was silent for a long moment, and then, begrudgingly, he replied, "Very well. But don't forget, Commander, your mission is to subjugate this world, not to waste time indulging in curiosity. I expect results soon. Or you'll face the consequences of your failure."
The connection severed with a final click, leaving Kara standing in silence, her jaw tight. She took a moment to compose herself before returning to where Ash and Pikachu were catching their breath. Ash looked up curiously, sensing something was amiss.
"Everything alright?" he asked, brushing a few stray leaves off his shirt as he sat up.
Kara forced a neutral expression, pushing away Brainiac's threat. "Nothing you need to worry about." She turned, glancing at the trees surrounding them. "Now, where exactly are we?"
Ash stood up, eager to move past the moment of tension. "We're in Ilex Forest, right outside Azalea Town. It's known for being a peaceful place, and it's full of amazing Pokémon."
Kara raised an eyebrow, the forest suddenly seeming more interesting. "More of these creatures you call 'Pokémon'? Fine, then. Show me what makes them so fascinating."
After what felt like an hour of wandering, Ash and his group found themselves staring at the same massive tree they'd seen three times before. The realization hit hard—despite his confident demeanor, Ash's questionable sense of direction had gotten them lost.
Kara crossed her arms and gave him an unimpressed stare. "So, this is the Monarch of your world?" she scoffed. "Some leader… Can't even find his way out of a forest."
Ash shot her a mildly frustrated look. "Hey! It's been a while since I was here, alright?"
Kara rolled her eyes. "Excuses, excuses."
The sun had started dipping below the trees, casting the forest in a gloomy twilight. Shadows grew longer, and the sounds of unseen Pokémon rustling in the undergrowth added a subtle but undeniable eeriness to the air. Pikachu stayed close to Ash's side, his ears twitching at the faintest noise.
Kara gave Ash a teasing smirk. "Don't tell me you're getting scared, kid. Afraid of a few little noises in the dark?"
Ash straightened up immediately, trying to mask his unease. "I'm not scared, okay? It's just… dark. And there are probably wild Pokémon around here."
"Uh-huh," she said, feigning belief, her smirk widening. "So, just to be clear, you're not a coward?"
"Of course not!" he retorted, getting more annoyed by the second. But before he could continue, a sudden beam of light broke through the trees, illuminating the area and silencing both of them.
Kara immediately tensed, shifting to a defensive stance. Her eyes narrowed as she prepared to deal with whatever—or whoever—was approaching. But as the figure drew closer, Ash recognized a familiar face.
"Wait… Maizie?" he called out, relief mixing with his surprise.
The girl blinked, then a smile tugged at her lips as she stepped into view, holding a flashlight in one hand and a basket of acorns in the other. "Well, well. Imagine running into the World Champion here, of all places," she teased, the light of her flashlight dancing on Ash's face. "Looks like someone's lost… again."
Ash scratched the back of his head, laughing sheepishly. "Guess some things don't change…"
Kara, meanwhile, observed the reunion with a frown, crossing her arms as she watched Maizie interact with Ash so familiarly. She noted the confident, almost amused glint in the girl's eyes as she continued to poke fun at Ash.
"So," Maizie continued, glancing over at Kara with curiosity, "who's your friend? I didn't realize the Champion had recruited a… bodyguard?"
Ash hesitated, unsure of how to introduce her. "This is, uh… Kara. She's kind of… new to this world."
Kara just gave a curt nod, her expression steely. "I'm here to observe," she said simply.
Maizie nodded slowly, looking intrigued. "Well, nice to meet you, Kara. Maybe next time, you can help Ash stay on track." She chuckled, gesturing for them to follow. "C'mon, I can get you out of here. My grandpa's going to wonder where I am anyway."
With a grumble, Kara fell in line behind Ash, who eagerly followed Maizie's light through the dense forest. Her gaze drifted to Ash as he and Maizie exchanged stories, laughing about their last encounter in Johto. Kara couldn't shake a strange feeling. The ease and warmth in their conversation was foreign to her, but it also piqued her curiosity.
The cool night air settled over Azalea Town as Kara perched herself on Kurt's rooftop, gazing down through a cracked window at the cozy scene unfolding below. She could see Ash sitting with Kurt and Maizie, their conversation warm and easy as they reminisced.
Kurt's weathered voice carried up to her ears. "It's hard to believe how much you've grown, Ash. Seems like just yesterday you were that determined kid traveling with Misty and Brock, always getting yourself into some kind of trouble."
Ash laughed, scratching his head with a nostalgic smile. "Yeah, I really miss those days. I guess all that trouble paid off, though. It feels crazy that I actually made it to World Champion."
Maizie nodded, her expression soft. "You've come so far, Ash. I think everyone in Johto is really proud of you."
Kara's heart clenched a little as she listened. She knew what it meant to follow orders, to climb ranks, to earn power. But this kind of connection, this pride and warmth? She'd never had that. She wasn't even sure she could understand it. For her, everything had been orders and expectations, a life filled with duty and discipline.
She closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift into a memory she rarely revisited. She thought back to that moment on her home planet when Brainiac had stood before her, cold and calculating, as he appointed her his second-in-command.
In her memory, she was standing on a metallic platform in Brainiac's ship, its walls glowing with alien technology. He had studied her intently with those unreadable, mechanical eyes, assessing every movement, every breath.
"Kara Zor-El," he'd said, his voice devoid of warmth or emotion. "You have shown dedication and a fierce will to survive. That will serve you well in this new role. From now on, you are my second-in-command, the Warrior. Do you understand the responsibility this entails?"
"Yes, mentor," she had replied, standing tall. She had felt a strange thrill of purpose—something she clung to, though it felt cold and distant.
"There will be no failure, Kara," he'd continued, his eyes narrowing. "You are to carry out my will. This is your purpose now. Loyalty to me and our mission is your only priority."
Even now, she could remember the way her heart had seemed to harden in that moment, the weight of his words crushing whatever hope or sentiment she might have once held. She had vowed to become the perfect weapon, the unyielding warrior Brainiac wanted her to be.
But listening to Ash and Kurt laugh downstairs, that sense of envy grew stronger. Ash had mentors who guided him but still encouraged him to be himself. Brainiac demanded her obedience, reducing her to a tool, her own identity lost in the shadows of his cold ambitions.
She opened her eyes, staring at the moonlit forest around Azalea Town, feeling an unusual longing tug at her. The quiet town, Ash's carefree laugh drifting up to her, and the memory of that cold metallic platform were like two worlds clashing inside her. She hadn't realized how much she yearned for something else—something… more.
Kara was so lost in thought that when Ash draped a blanket over her shoulders, she almost jumped. She glanced up sharply, her usual tough demeanor faltering as she met Ash's gentle smile.
"I thought you could use one since it's a little chilly tonight," he said, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, offering her a friendly wave with his little paw.
Kara blinked, momentarily taken aback, then quickly averted her gaze. She felt a faint blush creep up and turned away. "I don't need your pity, human," she muttered gruffly, though the blanket was warm, and she found herself pulling it closer.
Ash just chuckled, undeterred by her prickly response, and took a seat beside her. "You seem deep in thought," he said, glancing at her thoughtfully. "Is something bothering you?"
Kara huffed, crossing her arms. "Mind your own business," she replied curtly, avoiding his gaze.
Ash, still curious, tilted his head. "You know, you keep calling me 'human.' Isn't that what you are, too?"
Kara's expression shifted, her gaze hardening. "It's... complicated," she answered, her voice distant. "Something a human like you wouldn't understand."
He gave a soft sigh, looking up at the night sky for a moment. "Well... I just wish you'd feel like you could tell me things," he said, his voice gentle but tinged with genuine concern. "You don't have to keep everything to yourself, you know."
Kara remained silent, her gaze fixed ahead, as if unwilling to show even the slightest vulnerability. Ash, sensing he wouldn't get any more answers tonight, rose with a small, resigned sigh.
"If you ever need someone to listen, I'm here," he said, his words quiet but sincere. He then turned and made his way back inside, Pikachu giving her a small wave before following after Ash.
As they disappeared into the house, Kara looked up at the moon, the blanket still snug around her shoulders. After a moment, she muttered softly to herself, almost too quiet for anyone to hear, "If only things were that simple."
The night's chill seemed to fade just a little as she sat there, caught between the path she had always known and a new, unfamiliar one ahead.