A/N: In this story, Ash is a blend of flawed and relatable, much like his Sinnoh and Battle Frontier days. He's not perfect, but he's learning, growing, and still full of the charm we all love.

Chapter 6: Lesson Learned the Hard Way

"Ms. Johanna is your mother?" Ash asked, his wide eyes darting between the two Sinnoh natives. His surprise overshadowed any logical connection he could have made earlier. With their uncanny resemblance, he couldn't believe he hadn't figured it out sooner—or at least asked.

"Yes," Dawn replied, equally surprised to see her mother sitting there. Her gaze flicked between Johanna and the mahogany-haired woman beside her. "What are you doing here, Mom?"

"I work here," Johanna replied casually, her warm tone laced with curiosity. She gestured to the woman sitting beside her. "This is my friend Delia, Ash's mother. She owns this place." Her smile softened as she added, "And you must know each other, I assume?"

"Dawn, right? Nice to meet you!" Delia chimed in, waving the two pre-teens toward the empty chairs at the kitchen table. "Come, join us."

"Y-Yes, thank you, ma'am," Dawn replied with a polite bow of her head, following Ash to the table. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Ketchum."

"Please, just call me Delia," the older woman said warmly. "Your mother and I have been friends since we were your age! We even traveled to a few regions together," she added with a nostalgic smile. "Can I get you two something to eat?"

"Yes, please, Mom," Ash replied immediately, his stomach growling in perfect synchronization. "That's why I brought her here."

Delia laughed as she tied her apron back on and headed toward the kitchen.

Johanna, meanwhile, leaned forward with a curious look. "So, are you two in the same class?"

Ash noticed that Dawn was busy admiring the decor of the restaurant and didn't seem to hear the question, so he answered. "Yes, Ms...err Mrs Johanna." He

Johanna chuckled softly, realizing this was the first time Ash learned she had a daughter. "I actually prefer Ms.," she corrected with a playful smile before giving them both a knowing glance. "Did you pick Dawn up from school, Ash?"

"Yes," Ash replied simply as Dawn finally started paying attention to the conversation.

"May I ask why?" Johanna's tone was light, but there was a hint of motherly suspicion behind it.

Dawn froze, her eyes wide as she stared at the table. She didn't need to look up to know her mother's expression—it was that look sickly sweet look of an interrogator.

"Well, uh…" Ash began, scratching the back of his head. "There was this classmate of ours who asked her—ahhh!"

He was abruptly cut off by an elbow digging into his ribs. "Ow! What was that for?" he hissed, rubbing his side.

"Ssshh!" Dawn whispered harshly, her cheeks flushed. "You're hungry, aren't you? Don't waste any more energy talking or you might pass out!"

Ash gave her a confused, slightly annoyed look but held his tongue.

Johanna, however, wasn't about to let the moment go. "If you don't want Ash to waste energy, then why don't you tell me what happened, Dawn?" Her tone was sugary sweet, but her sharp gaze made Dawn gulp.

Dawn nervously laughed, shifting in her seat. "Oh, uh, it's nothing important, really…"

"Oh, it sounds like a good story," Delia chimed in as she returned, setting plates of food in front of the kids while Mr. Mime followed behind with plates for Johanna and herself. "Go ahead—tell us while we eat."

Johanna's piercing smile remained fixed on Dawn, who squirmed under the weight of her mother's curiosity. Ash, despite his earlier jab to the ribs, looked like he was enjoying the moment a little too much.

:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:

Kenny stormed into his apartment, his frustration palpable as he fumbled with his keys, his hands trembling with anger. The door finally gave way, and he slammed it shut behind him, striding straight to his bedroom. Dropping onto his bed, he buried his face into the pillow, muffling a growl of frustration.

Dawn's rejection played on repeat in his head, intertwined with his humiliating defeat against Ash. The fact that she had chosen to spend time with Ash over him cut deeper than any insult. It wasn't fair. "Why him?!" he hissed under his breath, gripping his pillow tightly before throwing it against the wall. He wanted to scream but bit it back, fearing his neighbors would hear.

Grasping for a distraction, Kenny grabbed his phone, hoping to drown out his emotions with a game or a video. Instead, his heart sank as he saw a barrage of missed calls and messages—every single one from his dad. His stomach twisted. Panic replaced his anger as he quickly called back, dreading the reason behind the onslaught of notifications, hoping nothing bad happened to his parents.

The phone barely rang before his father picked up, his voice booming with barely contained rage. "About time you decided to call back!"

Kenny flinched, holding the phone a bit away from his ear. "S-Sorry, Dad. My phone was on silent. I was at school—"

"Don't give me excuses!" his father cut him off sharply. "Your school counselor called me today. Care to explain why he says there's video evidence of you vandalizing another student's bike?!"

Kenny froze, the blood draining from his face. His pulse quickened as his mind raced. The knot in his stomach tightened, threatening to make him sick. "Dad… I…" he stammered, unable to come up with anything coherent.

"I don't want to hear any excuses," his father snapped, his voice heavy with disappointment. "Your counselor wants to speak to me in person tomorrow, but I can't afford to take a day off for this nonsense. Your mother's coming over to handle this instead. She'll be at your apartment before noon. You will go with her to the school and explain yourself. Do you hear me?"

"Yes… I understand," Kenny whispered, his voice shaky as tears welled in his eyes.

"You better," his father replied, his tone softening just slightly. "Kenny, why? Why would you do something like this? What's gotten into you?"

Kenny bit his lip, the tears threatening to fall. "I don't know… I wasn't thinking," he admitted, his voice breaking. "I was upset… about school… about other stuff. I made a stupid mistake. I'm sorry, Dad."

His father sighed heavily on the other end of the line. "Upset or not, that doesn't excuse your behavior. What were you thinking, Kenny? I didn't raise you to act out like this."

"I know… I'm sorry," Kenny choked out, tears now streaming down his face. The weight of his actions and the disappointment in his father's voice crushed him.

"Being sorry isn't enough," his father replied firmly. "You're going to have to face the consequences of your actions. Apologize to the person you wronged. Own up to what you did. Understand?"

"Yes, Dad. I will," Kenny said, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt like a child being scolded, but he knew he deserved every bit of it.

His father's tone softened further, though it still carried an edge of frustration. "Kenny, we all make mistakes. I don't want to hear about something like this ever again. Got it?"

"I understand. It won't happen again. I promise," Kenny replied, his voice filled with guilt and resolve.

"Good," his father said with a final sigh. "Your mom will be there tomorrow."

"I will, Dad. I swear."

With that, the call ended, leaving Kenny sitting in silence, the phone slipping from his hand onto the bed. He stared blankly at the floor, his father's words replaying in his mind. He felt the weight of his actions pressing down on him like a heavy burden.

:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:

"I'm fine, Mom. Misty and I are doing great," Serena said, her voice light and casual as she lounged on the small balcony of the apartment she shared with her friend. The cool night breeze tousled her honey-blonde hair, and her blue eyes wandered across the star-filled sky. One hand held her phone to her ear, while the other absentmindedly twirled a lock of her hair. "How about you?" she asked, though her mind was far from the conversation.

Her mother began talking about the Rhyhorns, recounting their antics back home in Kalos. Serena smiled faintly but found her thoughts drifting elsewhere—toward a raven-haired boy who had been occupying her mind more and more lately. She caught herself wondering why she felt so drawn to him, why his goofy grin and determined eyes lingered in her thoughts longer than they should.

"That's great, Mom," Serena finally said once her mother finished the story. "Anyway, would you mind going to my room to check something for me?"

"Sure, what do you need?" Her mother's voice grew curious as faint footsteps echoed through the line.

"There's a box under my bed," Serena explained, leaning forward slightly in her chair, her excitement building. "Inside, there's a small wooden box with souvenirs and a photo from that Summer Camp in Kanto when I was six or seven years old."

"Got it," her mother replied, and the rustling sound of her moving things around could be heard faintly through the phone. "I'll open the small box now, 'kay?"

"Yes, Mom. Can you take pictures of what's inside? Especially the photo." Serena's heart raced in anticipation. That photo—she hadn't thought about it in years, but something deep down told her it might hold answers to the questions stirring in her heart.

"Alright. Should I send them to you?" her mother asked as Serena heard the soft creak of the wooden box being opened.

"Yes! Thanks so much, Mom!" Serena said, her voice brimming with gratitude. "I just want to see if I've met some of them at school." She switched her phone to speaker mode, her fingers already navigating to her inbox, eagerly waiting for the pictures to arrive.

The first loading circle appeared on her screen, slowly spinning as the photo was downloaded. Serena's chest tightened, her excitement mixing with nerves. By the time the second and third images began to load, she could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears. Something told her that photo might confirm what her heart had already suspected.

:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:

"…and that's how it all happened," Dawn finished recounting the entire story about Kenny, including how Ash ended up picking her up from school. She even mentioned Chloe's input on the situation but made sure to stress it was just an opinion.

"Oh my, that's adorable," Delia chimed in, a playful smile lighting up her face.

"Huh? How's that cute? Their whole… 'friendship' thing is, I dunno, kinda weird," Ash muttered, shoveling food into his mouth without much pause. He didn't expect a response and continued eating like a vacuum. Ironically, he failed to recognize how strange his own relationship with Gary was—a mix of rivalry and camaraderie that most wouldn't call typical friendship. Still, he considered Gary a friend, albeit the type you rarely talked to on social media.

Johanna let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. She wanted Dawn to socialize, make meaningful friendships, and learn the value of connection. However, this kind of 'friendship' Ash described was far from what she envisioned for her daughter—at least, not yet. "Ash, thank you for helping Dawn, but I think we should let her handle this herself from now on. You don't have to pick her up every day," Johanna said with a tone that mixed gratitude and practicality.

"Yeah, Ash. I'm fine," Dawn added, setting her spoon down and wiping crumbs from her lips. "Besides, I didn't even know your mom owned a restaurant or that you helped out here after school. Is that why you didn't join any clubs?"

Ash paused mid-bite, swallowing quickly before replying. "I don't really mind helping out here, but if you're sure you're okay, then alright." He hesitated for a moment but shrugged it off. Honestly, it wasn't like being around Kenny was going to hurt Dawn. From his perspective, Kenny just wanted to be friends with her. What was so bad about that?

"Wait, did I hear that correctly?" Delia interrupted, her tone taking a sudden, scolding edge. "You didn't join any clubs so you could help us here?"

Ash nodded, not seeing the issue. "Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

Delia sighed, her expression softening but still serious. "Ash, I appreciate all the help you give us here, but I don't want you to miss out on experiences you could enjoy. Clubs are a great way to learn new things, meet people, and maybe even help you get closer to your dream of becoming a Pokémon Master."

"But I like helping here," Ash argued, crossing his arms defensively. "I enjoy spending time with you, Ms. Johanna, and Mr. Mime."

The two mothers exchanged knowing smiles. While they appreciated Ash's sentiment, they also knew he was holding himself back from opportunities he might regret missing later. Johanna stepped in gently. "Ash, you want to be a Pokémon Master, right? You need to explore everything your school offers. You'll gain skills and experiences that might surprise you."

Delia nodded, her smile widening. "Unless you're planning to give up your dream to work here full-time, which I wouldn't mind—but I think I'd rather see you achieve your goals."

Ash sighed, rubbing the back of his head. Deep down, he knew his mom was right. "Okay, I get it. I'll think about joining a club."

"Good!" Delia said with satisfaction, picking up her glass of water. The group returned to their meals until Delia broke the silence again. "So, about the CCTV footage. Did the school identify the culprit who damaged your bike?"

Ash had almost forgotten about the CCTV, this revelation of Johanna and Dawn being mother and daughter temporarily took over his mind. He had mostly let go of his earlier anger about the incident. The school was handling it, and honestly, he didn't want to escalate things. Still, he couldn't dodge his mom's question. "Yeah, they found out who it was."

"Who is it? Did they report it? Are they paying for the damage?" Delia pressed.

Ash nodded, trying to keep his answers short. "Yup."

Delia narrowed her eyes. "So, who is it? Their name isn't 'Yup,' is it?"

"Yup," Ash said again, stuffing his mouth full to avoid elaborating.

"Ash!" Delia scolded, rolling her eyes. "Swallow your food and answer me!"

With an exaggerated gulp and a drink of water, Ash finally relented. "It was… uh, Kenny. I don't know why he did it. Maybe he slashed a bike at random without realizing it was mine. Boredom could make you do things, I guess"

The table fell silent. While Ash seemed to genuinely believe his explanation, the others weren't so sure. Johanna, Delia, and even Dawn suspected Kenny might have been acting out of jealousy. Still, none of them voiced their suspicions, choosing to leave it at that for now.

As Johanna began gathering the plates, Ash spoke up again, his tone sheepish. "Oh, uh, Ms. Johanna? Dawn was actually the girl I told you about last week—the one I almost hit with my bike. I just thought I should apologize now that I know she's your daughter."

Johanna froze mid-step, nearly dropping the plates. She placed them down carefully before turning to Ash with her trademark sweet-but-unnervingly-stern smile. "Don't worry, Ash. I believe it's the girl who suddenly appeared out of nowhere in your way who should be telling me about this. Right, Dawn?"

Dawn's eyes widened as she turned to glare at Ash, silently asking why he'd brought it up. She met her mother's gaze with a nervous smile. "Uh, yeah, about that… I kinda forgot to mention it."

"Forgot?" Johanna repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Or did you just decide not to mention it?"

Dawn gave an awkward laugh, tapping the side of her head with her knuckles. "Oops?"

"I'll, uh, take these to the sink!" Ash said hastily, grabbing the plates from Johanna's hands and making a quick escape. A bead of sweat rolled down his face as he darted toward the kitchen, leaving Dawn to face her mother's lecture on responsibility and recklessness.

:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:

"What a small world," Goh remarked, leaning back in his chair after hearing Ash and Dawn's story.

Chloe found herself enjoying the change in conversation. It was a refreshing break from the endless Pokémon-related debates Goh and Ash usually dragged her into during lunch. "So, what club are you thinking of joining, Ash?" she asked curiously.

"I'm planning to apply for the same one as Goh's," Ash replied, his usual confident grin in place. "That is if they're still accepting applicants. I just hope there's an open spot left."

"How about you, Chloe? Still not interested in joining a club?" Dawn asked, her tone light and encouraging. "Most of the non-sports clubs accept new members all year round. You could always try a few until you find one that feels right."

"I'll think about it," Chloe answered with a shrug, though her tone betrayed her disinterest. Internally, however, she realized something—if Ash joined Goh's club, she'd likely be walking home alone from now on. The thought left an unexpected pang in her chest, though she masked it well.

"Hey."

The group turned to see Gary approaching, his signature smugness subdued for once.

"Ash," he began, his tone almost professional. "Our homeroom teacher told me what happened with Kenny and your bike. Did you do something to him that might've provoked it?"

Caught off guard by Gary's rare moment of sincerity, Ash chose to respond civilly. "No, I didn't do anything to him. We barely even talk, so it's not like we've had a falling-out or anything. The only time we interact is when he asks for my weekly class fund contribution. Which I already paid in full last time."

Gary nodded thoughtfully, though his lips quickly curled into a smirk. "Should've figured you wouldn't start a fight. You're too much of a wimp for that, Ashy-boy."

Ash scowled at the jab, but Gary didn't give him a chance to retort. He turned to Goh instead. "Anyway, Kenny's been stripped of his role as male sergeant-at-arms. We're not holding an election for a replacement, though. Instead, I suggested to Miss Chrysa to transfer his responsibilities to you. And she approved."

"Wait, what?" Goh's face contorted in surprise and then annoyance. "Why me?"

"Because you're the vice representative, and we need people who actually contribute to keeping the class running smoothly." Gary's tone was smug, but his eyes carried a genuine seriousness. "Every Friday, you'll collect the contributions from our male classmates and report to Serena with the record book. Got it?"

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Goh snapped.

"It's already been decided, so suck it up," Gary replied, crossing his arms. "Class needs structure, and this is part of the job. Don't slack off."

Despite Gary's abrasive demeanor, the group couldn't deny his dedication to his role as class representative. For all his arrogance, he took his responsibilities seriously.

"Any news on what's going to happen to Kenny?" Dawn asked, her voice tinged with concern.

"He's been suspended for a month," Gary said flatly. "That's all I know."

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a paper envelope, tossing it at Ash, who caught it with ease. "That's from Kenny's mom. It's to cover the cost of fixing your bike. Oh, and apparently Kenny also 'borrowed' the money you prepaid for your class fund contribution. He admitted to it. No idea what he spent that much money on, but his mom paid it back, so I've updated the record."

Ash's group gasped in unison at Gary's revelation. Without sparing them another glance, Gary smirked and turned to leave. "Smell ya later," he called over his shoulder.

"Kenny did what?" Goh muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Slashing Ash's bike and spending his money… What's gotten into him?"

"Never mind that," Ash said, brushing it off with his usual optimism. "My bike's already fixed, so it's not a big deal anymore."

He opened the envelope, transferring the cash to his wallet, fully appreciating the gift from Dawn. As he tucked it away, he grinned at his friends. "So… who wants ice cream? My treat."

Chloe, Dawn, and Goh shot to their feet, their excitement lighting up the room. Chloe grabbed Ash by the wrist, dragging him toward the door. "What are you waiting for? Let's go!" she exclaimed, her usual composure cracking in the face of her enthusiasm.

Dawn and Goh followed close behind, practically skipping as they raced to catch up. The laughter and chatter of the four friends echoed down the hallway, the earlier tension from Gary's revelations quickly forgotten in favor of sweet treats and good company.

:･ﾟ(ꈍᴗꈍ)･ﾟ:

"I've been funding your research for five years now, and yet, you've yielded no satisfactory results! You even let another specimen die just last month!" a distorted voice roared over the phone, laced with anger and frustration.

Dr. Fuji, a man in his late fifties, took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. His dark gray hair was streaked with white, a testament to the years of stress and relentless work in his lab. His eyes were looking at a framed photo of a younger version of himself, with a green-haired woman and a blue-green-haired girl holding a sun hat in her hands. Adjusting his glasses, he replied calmly, "We are making remarkable progress with this last specimen. We've applied everything we've learned from the previous failures. This three-year-old subject is proof of that progress."

A loud thud echoed through the line, as though a fist had slammed against a wooden desk. "And what happens if this 'last one' dies too?" the voice spat. "What will you have to show for all these so-called discoveries then?"

"That's why I'm requesting additional funding," Fuji countered, his tone measured despite the tension in the air. "If this specimen fails, we'll create new ones, using the knowledge we've gained so far. Every step brings us closer to success."

Before he could elaborate further, a deafening explosion rattled the lab. Screams echoed in the background. Fuji's eyes widened as he tightened his grip on the phone. "I'll call you back," he said curtly, ending the call and rushing toward the commotion.

Bursting into the main lab, he was greeted by chaos. The room, filled with machines, computers, and empty capsules, was now a scene of horror. His team of researchers hovered in the air, surrounded by an eerie blue energy. Their faces were twisted in agony, tears streaming down as they clawed at their throats, choking and gasping for air.

"Dr. Fuji, run!" one of them managed to scream, their voice raw with pain.

But Fuji couldn't heed the warning. He too was lifted into the air, an invisible force wrapping tightly around his throat. The pressure was immense, stealing the breath from his lungs. He strained to move his head, his eyes darting toward the source of the chaos.

And there it was—the creature. Its glowing, malevolent eyes burned with fury, pulsating with the same blue energy that filled the room. Even as the life drained from his body, one thought flashed through Fuji's mind: We succeeded.

The creature's eyes flared one final time, and a wave of blue energy erupted from its body. The blast was unstoppable, obliterating everything within a kilometer radius. Dr. Fuji didn't live to witness the destruction.

A/N: Thank you for making it to the end of this chapter!

To those who've stuck around despite the rough patches in my writing, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Though I've decided to write mainly for myself, any feedback is deeply appreciated.

Thanks again!

-Areyem Meyera