The Battle Subway

Ash and his friends went their separate ways for the day, Hilda decided to check out the north side of the city while Zach and Skyla headed for the southeast as they headed for the fairground. Meanwhile Ash and Cilan headed directly south towards the Battle Subway while Brock went to scope out the area for a good place to take Elesa later that evening.

Ash and Cilan arrived at the Battle Subway and immediately noticed there was a bit of a line to wait in but fortunately it wasn't anything like the day before, only a couple of trainers could be seen ahead of them so it'd only been an hour or two depending how fast the battles went. Cilan tapped his chin before withdrawing a notebook and a marker. "Tic tac toe to pass the time?"

"Sure!"

Cilan won the first round and Ash ended up turning things around in the second, the two kept exchanging wins but there were a few points where Cilan won twice in a row which brought the final tally thirty to Ash's nineteen.

"Next!" The receptionist called out as Ash and Cilan stepped towards the ticket booth.

"Hello, I'm Ash Ketchum and this is my friend Cilan. We're here to challenge the Battle Subway twins!" Ash eagerly exclaimed while Cilan began quivering from excitement. He was as excited to be aboard the subway as Ash was about the upcoming battle.

"Ash Ketchum and Cilan, got it." The receptionist typed into the computer and printed out a pair of tickets which she handed out to the pair. "Those will get you aboard the Battle Train, good luck!"

"Battle Train?" Ash questioned while Cilan uttered out a squeal of excitement.

"It's a special modified subway cart that is completely empty inside and wide enough to support a tag team battle! The tunnel and tracks are specially modified too, the Battle Train just loops in a circle and doesn't reach the main tracks!" Cilan eagerly exclaimed while shaking and quivering like a fanboy that just met his favorite idol or celebrity.

"Electric attacks won't harm it?" Ash questioned. He may not be the brightest when it came to non-Pokémon related subjects but even he knew that Electricity wouldn't normally mix well with a vehicle.

"Nope!" Cilan eagerly shook his head. "It's modified to withstand pretty much most attacks, though given how Pikachu's supposedly 'suped up' by Zekrom I'd pass on using him just in case."

"Good idea, sorry buddy." Ash gave Pikachu a comforting pat.

"Pika." Pikachu waved it off with a smile. He didn't want to risk them all getting killed.

The two followed the green line towards a subway train where a pair of twins could be seen waiting dressed up in train conductor outfits. They looked exactly identical to the other as far as physical appearance was concerned, both were in their late twenties and had short white hair and blue eyes. Most people wouldn't be able to tell the two apart if they weren't wearing different colored jackets and hats. While one's outfit was primarily white, the other's was primarily black.

"Hello and welcome to the Battle Subway!" The one dressed in white spoke out. "The name's Emmet!"

"And I'm Ingo," The twin dressed in black spoke out. "Are you two ready for a tag team battle?"

"Yes!" Cilan squealed out while shivering from excitement. "The name's Cilan and this is my friend, Ash!"

"We're ready!" Ash excitedly exclaimed while gazing towards the twins as his fists clenched from excitement.

Ingo and Emmet stepped back as the train doors opened up. "Come on in then!"

Ash and Cilan followed the pair onto the train and rested their eyes briefly upon the battlefield before heading towards the opposite end as the twins already claimed their half.

"Alright we're keeping this nice and simple, each of us will utilize a single Pokémon each in a tag team style battle. You may fight whomever you want on the opposite team, just keep it clean." Ingo stated.

"You two okay with that?" Emmet questioned.

"Yes!" Cilan squealed out.

"Yep!" Ash firmly nodded his head.

"Then let's go!" Ingo and Emmet shouted while simultaneously throwing Pokeballs into the air. Ash and Cilan quickly did the same.

"Pansage, I need your assistance!"

"Kingler, I choose you!"

"Cookie!" Kingler cried out as he burst from the Pokeball.

"Pansage!" Pansage screeched out while a large mole that had razor sharp blades atop his head and hands burst out alongside what appeared to be a group of sentient gears clustered together.

"Excadrill!" The mole shouted out.

"Klink!" The gears cried out.

Ash quickly withdrew his Pokedex as he hadn't encountered either Pokémon before. "Who are those Pokémon?"

"Excadrill the Subterrane Pokémon, it can help in tunnel construction. Its drill has evolved into steel strong enough to bore through iron plates."

"Klinklang the Gear Pokémon, the gear with the red core is rotated at high speed for a rapid energy charge."

"Seed Bomb!" Cilan shouted out.

"Pansage!" Pansage screeched out as multiple large seeds burst from his arms. The grass monkey swiftly began hurling them towards his opponents, the seeds immediately exploding upon impact and knocked the pair back.

"Hammer Arm!" Ash shouted out.

"Cookie!" Kingler's pincer glowed bright blue as he quickly crawled across the field before swinging at the gears, smashing them across the battlefield.

"Gear up!" Emmet shouted out.

"Klink." Klinklang's gears began grinding as he rested in place.

"Drill Run!" Excadrill's body resembled a gear as he curled up his body, he began rapidly spinning in place before flying towards Pansage.

"Dodge with Acrobatics!" Cilan shouted out.

"Pansage!" Pansage excitedly cried out as he backflipped out of the way causing Excadrill to crash into the ground behind him.

"Low Sweep!" Cilan shouted out.

"Pan!" Pansage swept towards Excadrill's feet, knocking the mole onto his backside.

"Crabhammer!" Ash shouted out.

An aquatic veil surrounded Kingler's pincer as he lashed out, bashing it against Klinklang. "Klink..."

"Discharge!" Emmet shouted out.

"Klink!" Electricity crackled around Klinklang before firing off towards Kingler, giving the crab an electrical shock.

"C-Cookie!" Kingler cried out as the electricity surged through his veins.

"Fury Swipes!" Ingo shouted.

"Excadrill!" Excadrill lunged towards Pansage and began rapidly slashing at him causing the monkey to screech out in pain.

"Pan!"

"Seed Bomb!" Cilan shouted out.

"Pansage!" Pansage screeched out, multiple seeds burst from his arm and were quickly sent flying towards his opponents.

"Klink."

"Drill." The two grunted out as the seeds exploded against them.

"Whirlpool!" Ash shouted out.

"Cookie!" A large whirlpool formed in front of Kingler and was sent flying towards his opponents with a thrust of his pincer. Klinklang and Excadrill cried out, Excadrill desperately flailed about in a helpless manner as the two were sent twirling about within the powerful water storm before they were sent flying out as the storm died down. Klinklang and Excadrill crashed against the wall with a large thud before going limp as swirls formed within their eyes.

"Alright, we did it!" Ash excitedly cried out.

"I just won a Pokémon battle on a train, this is a dream come true!" Cilan excitedly exclaimed before the two shared a high five in celebration of their victory.

"Well done you two!" Ingo exclaimed while the brothers clapped their hands after they recalled their Pokémon.

"You beat us, which is quite the accomplishment. You two must be incredibly skilled battlers." Emmet spoke while withdrawing a box from his pocket, holding it out to the two in offering. "Take your pick from the contents of this box." He offered while opening the lid to reveal a collection of evolutionary stones and other such items Ash recognized such as a Razor Fang. Though he didn't recognize the evolutionary stone that looked as if it were made out of ice. He tilted his head in confusion before Ingo spoke up.

"That's the Ice Stone," Ingo explained upon following his gaze. "It helps Eevee evolve into Glaceon in the absence of an Ice Rock. They're not exactly common outside of Alola so it's natural you wouldn't know what it is."

Cilan stared at the Leaf Stone for a moment before picking it out of the box. "I'll take this." He turned to Pansage and dropped to a knee while offering it to his long time friend. "Pansage, we've never really had a chance to discuss this before now but now that we have the opportunity I thought I'd offer it to you. You don't have to take it yet if you're not ready but-"

"Sage!" Pansage enthusiastically reached for the Leaf Stone as soon as Cilan placed it on the ground. He began doubling in size while the green along his body began growing out and looking more like patches of grass while the bush atop his head changed shape and shot upwards, coming off as a mix between a mohawk and a tree shrub. The cuteness that once lined his face was gone and replaced with a look of confidence as the newly evolved Pokémon screeched out.

"Simisage!"

"Simisage the Thorn Monkey Pokémon, it strikes its enemies with a thorn-covered tail. The leaf on its head is bitter." Ash glanced towards Simisage's tail and flinched upon imagining what it'd feel like. Cilan ended up getting a bit of a taste when he reached to hug his newly evolved Pokémon causing him to jump back.

"Ow!" He rubbed his shoulder before giving Simisage a proper hug.

"So Ash, have you made your decision yet?" Emmet questioned.

Ash stared at the box for a moment before shrugging as he closed his eyes. He moved his hand around at random before grabbing something, he opened up his eye and noticed a Dusk Stone in his grasp. Ash pocketed the stone before thanking the two brothers.

Ingo and Emmet nodded towards the pair and began heading for the train controls to prepare for arrival at the train station, the two began fiddling with the controls when the train suddenly braked in place while the lights within the car and tunnel shut off. Leaving the group in the pitch black of the tunnel.

"What just happened?" Ash asked.

"A blackout, don't worry. I'm sure it'll be over soon." Ingo commented while withdrawing a flashlight. "Care to pass the time with charades?"

"Oooh, I'd love to!" Cilan enthustiastically exclaimed while Ash simply shrugged.

Brock arrived at the Nimbasa Gym roughly an hour before the blackout, a bouquet of flowers in his hand as he waited patiently for Elesa to exit the Gym. He didn't have to wait long as Elesa soon stepped out while still dressed in her fashion attire from the previous day. "Hello Brock, where are we going?"

"You'll see," Brock took her hand and guided her through the city before coming to a stop a couple of blocks from the Gym. "Here we are!"

"Mario and Luigi's Italian Cuisine?" Elesa raised her brow towards Brock. "I thought we'd go somewhere more modest."

"I thought a special woman such as yourself deserved something special." Brock spoke while offering a smile as he held open the door for her.

Elesa smiled lightly before following him inside where a man dressed in green and blue plumber attire stood waiting. "Hello! It's a-me, Luigi!" The man waved while holding out a menu to the two. "You'll be seated at table six, I'll be there to take your order shortly. My brother Mario's finishing up another batch of his famous spaghetti!"

Elesa and Brock headed for the table and got seated while looking the menu over.

"So Brock, I can tell that you and Ash aren't from around here." The two lacked the Unova accent that the other members of their group had. She just didn't know what region they were from as she never branched out her fashion line to other regions. "How far did you guys come?"

"We're from the Kanto region, we first met up about eight years ago." Brock stated while a fond expression formed as he recalled how Ash beat him by activating the Gym's sprinkler systems in order to shock Onix. "And we've been traveling together on and off for the past few years."

"I see," Elesa spoke. The two paused their conversation as Luigi arrived at their table. "Spaghetti and meatballs please!"

"I'll take a pizza!" Brock exclaimed. He heard that Unova pizza was supposedly better than pizza from other regions and forgot to try some while they were in Castelia.

"Okey dokey!"

"So do you plan on settling down?" Elesa questioned.

"Honestly the thought has crossed my mind but I don't think I'm ready to do that just yet, not until Ash finishes his journey. I was with him since the beginning and I'd love to be there at the end."

"Oh." Elesa blinked. Luigi returned rather swiftly with their orders and some water. The two thanked him before digging into their food. "So Brock, what exactly are you looking for in a relationship?"

"Well, I'd love a beautiful woman such as yourself. Somebody who loves Pokémon as much as I do and somebody who loves traveling, even when I settle down I'd still love to go traveling now and then." Brock explained. "I'd also love to have a child eventually, not rushing into that part though." He chuckled.

Elesa clenched her hand lightly against the table as she cast him a look. "Brock, I-I'm sorry but I don't think this will work between us. It's clear that you're looking for somebody to spend the rest of your life with and... I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet."

"Oh." Brock lowered his head while speaking with a saddened tone.

"But that doesn't mean you should feel down, I think you're quite handsome and any woman would be lucky to have you!" Elesa spoke while offering him a reassuring smile as she reached across the table to put her hand atop his. "I just think it'd be better to remain friends but... that doesn't mean we can't have some fun tonight." She spoke while offering him a sly smirk.

Brock smiled at her words. "Thanks Elesa," He honestly was starting to have some doubts for a while as every woman that wasn't taken shot down his advances. But even though he ultimately got rejected again, things didn't look so bad now. If he got a date now then he could get one again, maybe Hilda was right after all and he was trying way too hard at finding a girlfriend. "I'll still pay for our bill, don't worry about that-Hold up... did you just say...?"

Elesa smirked and merely nodded in response.

Brock shot bright red and began quivering as he quickly raised up a hand. "Check please!"

The Shadow Triad stood beside Colress deep within the Nimbasa Power Plant as Colress furiously typed away at his labtop.

"Remind us..."

"We're having difficulty understanding..."

"What are we doing here again...?"

Colress adjusted his glasses as he looked up at the ninja trio. "It's quite simple, we're shutting down the power to make it easier to siphon all the businesses here. Now that Team Plasma is classified as an illegal organization, we can't get funding as easily as we used to. So we're taking it by force, once it's back on we'll have a backdoor that allows us to get back in anytime we want to take just enough that it won't be noticed."

Later that night Ingo and Emmet returned safely to their shared apartment. The two bid each other goodnight before heading off for their respective bedrooms. Ingo plopped down onto the bed without bothering to get dressed as he was rather worn out from standing for several hours as there wasn't any comfortable seating on the Battle Train. He closed his eyes for a minute before shooting his eyes wide open upon feeling a falling sensation, expecting to find himself back in bed he found himself falling towards a snowbank atop a icy mountain that didn't appear to be set in the Unova region based on the surroundings. He pulled back his hand and slapped himself in an attempt to wake himself up but to no avail. He uttered out a shout as he began desperately flailing his arms and legs about as he fell towards the ground below.

"Ahhhh!" He crashed into a large snowbank and sank down deep into it as his body went limp from the crash. A large Sneasel shaped shadow appeared above him and tilted its head as it reached out to poke him with his large purple claw. Ingo grunted out but remained unconscious. The large purple Sneasel reached down and hoisted Ingo over his shoulder before carrying him towards the safety of a nearby cave.

I didn't want to it to feel like I was wasting people's time if I kept him with Elesa for the long run only for them to break up when Brock left Unova. So I changed it to a one off date, they're just friends.

Chapters 18 and 19 are meant to be a pair, like those episodes of a show where one group of characters are doing a thing while the others are doing another thing at the same time in the following episode. It's been awhile since Hilda was the focus so she has the primary focus of it.