A New Path

by TheCouchEffect

Ash has finally achieved his dream after so many years. He has become the champion of a Pokemon league. Despite this victory, he feels lost with no sense of direction. Weeks after his victory, he is framed for a crime he didn't commit. Unwilling to accept guilt, he will be drawn into a battle to clear his name and bring Team Rocket to justice before they can become unstoppable.

22. Double Booked

Kanto, Sevii Islands, Three Years Ago

Anabel hated hospitals.

She understood they were meant to be a place of healing and hope. They saved thousands of lives every day. She certainly wouldn't want to go back to a world where they didn't exist.

That didn't mean she had to like them.

Despite their best efforts, the stench of death, chemicals, and stale air permeated the building. Their food was bland and produced en masse, sucking every ounce of joy out of it. Worst of all, depending on what region you were in? It could utterly wipe out what little wealth the average person had built up over their life.

Not to mention the fact that people only ever came here for two reasons: they were either going to die themselves… or someone close to them was.

Anabel was fortunate she was neither.

It had been close. She'd gotten into a nasty fight recently on her vacation. While she'd gotten the leg up on her enemies, it had been far from a flawless victory. Even two weeks later, her body ached at the slightest movements. Sleeping was all but impossible; she could only ever keep her eyes shut a few hours before the doctors would start shouting or a machine would go off.

It was… tiring.

Fortunately, there was a silver lining to all of this.

They allowed her to keep Espeon outside of her ball. While the cuddles were nice, she appreciated having someone she trusted to talk to most of all. The nurses tried, but… it just wasn't the same. Her partner was curled up at her side, resting her chin on Anabel's thigh.

After all, she knew when they were lying, when they were exhausted, and every emotion they felt.

At the moment, Anabel was sitting in her room and munching on a plate of grilled Pidgey. No spices; just salt and pepper with a side of lettuce and week-old tomatoes with a glass of Oran Berry juice. She'd long since given up trying to get anything tasty out of this place.

The purplette stretched her arms above her head and glanced out the window. It was about midday right now. With the TV off and the sun illuminating the room, it was the perfect time to catch up on her reading.

Just as she was about to pick it up, there was a knock at the door.

"Ms. Romanov?"

The voice was rough and gravely, like the owner had smoked a carton of cigarettes a day for the past twenty years. The wrinkled, pale face of an old crone with graying blonde hair and charcoal eyes greeted her. She wore a simple purple dress and a frayed green scarf around her neck. In her hand rested a simple wooden cane.

Anabel frowned. "That's me, but you can call me Anabel. Who are you?"

The woman shut the door behind her and moved forward, her cane clacking against the tile floor. Yet as she moved forward, Anabel saw how flawless her gait was. However old she may have been, her legs worked fine. There was no reason for her to use a cane.

It set her on edge.

The deceptive crone chuckled. "My, my. I know I'm old, but to think I've become that unrecognizable. Used to be I couldn't even step outside without being swarmed." She gave a toothy grin. "Agatha Monad of the Kanto Elite Four."

Her eyes widened. What was one of them doing visiting her? While she may have had a small following as a Frontier Brain, she was small beans compared to Agatha. Members of the Elite Four were the most prestigious people around.

Even someone like Agatha, who was notorious for hating the attention, had a larger following than most Gym Leaders.

"It's nice to meet you, but why are you here?" Anabel asked.

Agatha ignored her, gesturing to the table beside her bed. "Do you play?"

Anabel glanced at the table and the chessboard that sat atop it. One nurse had brought it a few days ago after noticing how bored Anabel was. A kind gesture, but not one she could take advantage of with no one to play with.

Not when Espeon detested board games.

"I know the basics, but I'm not very good." She admitted.

Agatha's toothy grin widened. Predatory amusement rolled off her. "You must not have had a very good teacher, then. Indulge an old woman with a game, will you?"

She had a feeling she was making a mistake, but…. "Alright. Just go easy on me?"

The old crone's eyes twinkled with sincerity. "But of course."

It was a lie.

Soon enough, the board was set, and Agatha sat opposite her. Anabel had chosen the black set while her opponent took the chance to move first with white. She didn't mind. It'd give her the chance to see what the old woman was doing and plan accordingly.

"Black? Interesting choice." Agatha moved her knight forward in her first move. "Do you know why it is black moves second, my dear?"

Anabel frowned, edging one of her pawns forward. "I never thought about it. I just thought that was how things were done."

"You're not alone. Most people don't bother thinking about it much." Agatha said, as they continued their game. "The truth is just as simple, but much more amusing."

She blinked. "What is it?"

"Superstition, my dear." The old crone snickered. "Centuries ago, people believed that black was a lucky color blessed by Arceus itself. It was commonly accepted that allowing the lucky color to move first would be unfair to the opponent. Thus, a compromise was made."

"Letting white move first out of good sportsmanship." Anabel narrowed her eyes at the board. "Wouldn't it have been simpler to just use a different color, though?"

"Ah, but we Humans love our rules. Someone has to move first, and the easiest way to decide is through color coordination." Agatha instructed. "No matter the color, we'd have found a reason to justify it."

"I see." She didn't. "You still haven't told me why you're here?"

Much less challenging her to a game of chess.

"I wanted to meet the hero of the hour."

Anabel froze. Espeon raised her head from the purplette's lap, narrowing her eyes at the old crone. Both of them could feel the guarded curiosity coming from Agatha. It set them both on edge.

"What do you mean?" Anabel asked.

"It was you who saved these islands, wasn't it? From Team… whatever their name was. There's so many of them nowadays it's hard to keep track." The click of a chess piece against the board was heard. "It was mighty impressive, especially for a girl your age."

Anabel scratched Espeon between the shoulder blades, noting the tension in her partner. "It was nothing."

Agatha scoffed. "Oh, come off it. There's a time and a place for humbleness, girl. Stopping the massacre of an entire island chain isn't one of them."

"I didn't do it on my own." She mumbled.

"No, you didn't. A number of Trainers, first responders, and civilians also stepped in to help. They are to be commended." Agatha pushed her queen up and leaned forward. "None of them charged into the lions' den, however."

It wasn't like she was planning on it. She'd come to the Sevii Islands for a relaxing vacation. Some time soaking in the sun and kicking back with her Pokemon. An adventure through the island to practice some of her photography. Maybe even find a local to share an adventure or two with.

She'd barely been here two days when the madness began.

Wild Pokemon driven into a mindless frenzy and devouring everything in sight. Communications with the mainland had been cutoff. A mysterious group in magenta launching a takeover of the island with their own powerful monsters and weapons.

Worst of all was that most of the people on the island… they hadn't been themselves. While they weren't as ravenous as the Pokemon, they acted more like drones than people. Hunting those unaffected through the streets.

It'd been hours before she found anyone else unaffected by it all. A mismatch of shopkeepers, vacationing Trainers, firefighters, and the local Nurse Joy. There may have been more on other parts of the island chain, but she never met them.

"We were just doing what we had to do so we could survive." Anabel sighed. "None of us wanted to hurt the people of the islands or their Pokemon. Our only choice was to go after the main group."

"And what a stand you all made." Agatha croaked. "While your group set fire to the city center as a distraction, you snuck into their base and fought their leaders. Quite soundly beat them too, if what I hear is right."

Anabel shrugged. "It wasn't too difficult. Most people think having a team of Dark types makes them immune to Psychics."

It didn't take him or his men long to figure out that debris hurtled at sixty miles an hour hurt like hell regardless of what you were.

She hummed, narrowing her eyes at the chessboard. She and Agatha were clashing on the left flank of the board. Anabel had done her best to protect her king, but she'd lost a lot of pawns to do it. She'd need to tread carefully.

"It doesn't end there, though, does?" Agatha prodded. "The chaos didn't end with their defeat. There was something else, wasn't there?"

Anabel closed her eyes and held Espeon close. "An idol."

Agatha's face softened. Her wrinkled hands reached out to hold Anabel's, tracing comforting circles into her palm. "What did you do?"

"There was this… pull to the idol. It compelled me to touch it." Anabel mumbled. "It wasn't like a Psychic. They push and break through defenses, then build them back up afterwards. Trick your mind into thinking everything is alright. This was different."

"How?" Agatha prodded.

"Something inside of me wanted to touch it. To hold the idol and never let it go." Anabel frowned. "My mental barriers were strong; if something had tried to break past them, me and my team would have known."

"What happened when you touched it?"

"I… I don't know how to describe it."

Agatha tightened her grip, but not enough to hurt. "Try. This is important, my dear."

"It felt… wrong." She eventually said. "The colors were too bright – like some artist's nightmare smearing colors all over the darkness. Every sound was like a dagger to my ears. My skin… it felt like a prison that I had to claw my way out of. Then something drew me in."

"Something?" Agatha asked.

She didn't know what else to say. When the world fell away and the idol pulled her in, it was almost like her mind was trying to protect her from what she was seeing. Trying to describe it is like trying to recall a dream you had years ago.

"I don't know how long I was under that thing's grasp, but a headache hit me all at once. There was such intense pressure behind my eyes and inside my head, it felt like I was going to pop."

"You said you were pulled in." Agatha observed. "Pulled where?"

Espeon licked her hand comfortingly. "Somewhere dark, but also not at the same time? It was like… a perversion of reality. Nothing seemed right. Rotten trees that continued to sprout fresh fruit. Deformed faces that lacked a mouth yet still screamed in vain. Even the very air itself was sickly sweet, like it was contaminated with something foul."

"I see…"

Anabel pressed on. "Geometry was wrong. There were circles with sharp edges or triangles with eight angles converging on one another. It was like I was in a place without time or space. I could breathe, but no matter how much I took in, it was never enough. Thinking back, I don't even think I really had a body…."

Agatha leaned back with a frown. "It sounds torturous."

She didn't know the half of it. "It was like I was awake and asleep all at once. Wading through a world I didn't understand. My entire being was under assault all at once. Then… it appeared."

The old crone tightened her grip on her cane. "What appeared?"

"I don't know. A… a deer, I think. Massive – easily taller than most buildings, not to mention as blue and black as an ocean at night. And the smell. Imagine drowning in a sea of flowers all at once. Just being around it hurt."

Agatha's frown worsened. "What did it do when it saw you?"

"It spoke. And everything hurt so much worse."

Anabel shuddered and clenched her eyes shut, trying to block out the memory of what the creature was. A part of her wanted to stop talking about it, but something about Agatha pushed her to keep talking. Like she had to finish the story no matter what.

After a moment, her nerves settled down, and she smoothed out her sheets to rest her shaking hands on Espeon. "It didn't speak like we do, or even how Pokemon speak. It ripped open my mind and beamed everything into me."

"Everything? Could you explain?"

"Thoughts, feelings, concepts, worlds. It was like it was trying to force its existence onto me and… make me part of it."

Arceus preserve her.

"It's a god. I don't know what of or where it's from, but that thing held more divinity than any Legend I've ever met. It was so happy to see me, but that joy? I wanted nothing to do with it." Anabel shivered. "It knows what we are. How we live. It wants to live with us – improve us. But that's not the worst part."

"I find that hard to believe." The elder muttered. "What could be worse than what you've described so far?"

"It knew me." Anabel whispered. "I-I don't know how, but it was almost like… like we had met before? It asked if I'd missed it – if I was ready to become one with it yet. If we were all ready to become one with it."

Espeon growled in displeasure.

"I tried to tell it that I didn't want that. That all it would do is hurt us if it did." She sighed. "I don't think it heard me, or didn't want to hear me. I was an insect compared to it. Then it just toyed with me. Forced itself inside of my memories and lapped them up. I could feel its eyes on my eighth birthday. I could feel its breath on my neck when I got my starter. Hear its voice whispering to me when I got my first crush."

"Yet you survived. Here you sit in the hospital about to make a full recovery." Agatha said. "You must have fought it off somehow."

Anabel laughed bitterly. "You'd think so, wouldn't you? I tried, but it was like it knew what I was going to do before I did. Almost like it had seen it all before." She shook her head. "I got the sense it was laughing. If it weren't for Espeon, who knows what would have happened?"

Agatha glanced down at the purple fox. "What did the lass do?"

She smiled at her partner and scratched her between the ears. "However long I was in there with the thing, Espeon must have noticed my distress. She snatched the idol out of my hands and smashed it into the ground."

The relief she'd felt when she was away from that creature had been unlike anything she'd ever felt before. It was a blessing she'd passed out soon after. Otherwise, she'd have broken down into hysterics and likely kept going when the others arrived.

"The idol must have been acting as a link to the creature, and amplifying its hold over the islands. Lucky us that your team was strong enough to resist and destroy the damn thing." Agatha patted her on the shoulder. "Thank you for sharing."

Anabel glared. "You can thank me by telling me what that thing was. You obviously know what it is."

For a moment, she feared Agatha would deny it. Keep her in the dark and walk out of her life without so much as a second gland. Mercifully, the old crone merely smiled and leaned back, nudging another of her chess pieces into position.

"The creature you met was Xerneas, the so-called Life Pokemon, as far as Kalosian mythology is concerned." Agatha snorted derisively. "That little peek into its consciousness you got? You just saw what its ideal form of life is."

"Xerneas…." She mumbled. "If it's a Kalosian Legend, what's one of its artifacts doing here in Kanto?"

"Bah! Worthless lines on a map are what they are. Do you truly think Legends care what Human cultures latch onto them?" Agatha sneered. "Those things have wandered our world since its creation. Long before mortals existed. It's not hard to believe they did the same for our ancient ancestors."

A fair point. Even in the modern world, Legends still migrated between Regions frequently. Even if they avoided Humans nowadays rather than receive worship, that didn't stop the awe people felt at seeing foreign Legends roaming the land.

"I just don't know what it meant. You'd think a creature that rules over life would be kind and warm, not… not that." Anabel shivered. "What did it even mean by all of that, anyway? Did we miss it? Become one with it? From the sounds of it, the thing is already walking the world."

Agatha hummed. "In a sense. Xerneas takes millennia long hibernations. As for the latter… who knows? Legends are notoriously hard to understand." She said, "If I had to make a guess? It's not nearly as benevolent as our myths lead us to believe. Not that the rest of the world will ever know that."

After what she'd gone through? She didn't doubt that for a second.

"Checkmate. I win."

Anabel blinked and looked down at the board. To her shock, Agatha was right. While she'd been so focused on matching her moves on the flank and forcing all her pieces there, she'd neglected to focus on some of Agatha's own pawns. Her earlier capture of the woman's queen had come back to bite her when a pawn reached her side of the board.

Inevitably ending in her king being attacked from both sides and trapped.

"Impressive. You must have a knack for strategy." Anabel said.

Agatha scoffed. "Please. Chess is hardly a test of strategy, my girl."

She tilted her head to the side. "It's not?"

"Hardly." She drawled. "Despite what the movies may tell you, a skilled chess player is neither a genius mastermind nor a brilliant general. All it shows is someone with basic critical thinking skills and a good memory."

"I thought old kings and queens would play the game in the past to train for war?" Anabel asked.

"Perhaps they did. That was before the advent of modern weapons technology or the Pokemon strengthened to new heights." Agatha instructed. "In real life, battles aren't fought on a 16x16 board of wood; no two armies are exactly the same; and tossing troops lives away hardly wins out in the end."

Anabel chuckled. "It sounds like you hate Chess."

"Oh, I love it. But it's a game just like any other. Those who claim otherwise need a good lesson in humility and a breath of fresh air." Agatha rolled her eyes. "You did well, child. Much better than Samuel ever did. Dumb bastard never could get his head around it."

Anabel and Espeon both shared a look. "Samuel?"

The Elite Four laughed. "No one important, my dear, despite what some may tell you."

"I see."

She really didn't.

Agatha nodded. "Yes… yes, you'll do nicely. I have to admit, you've impressed me. A lot more than I thought you would." She said, "You'll make an excellent agent."

Anabel frowned, shifting in place. "Agent? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about recruitment, my dear girl." Agatha explained. "You may know me from my time in the League, but I also work for a group called Interpol. Perhaps you've heard of them?"

"Only a little. They're global police officers that work for the United Regions, right?" Anabel asked.

"A very simplistic explanation, but not inaccurate." The aging woman said. "It's true that we hunt criminals, but we also protect our people from anything that might threaten them. Rogue Legends like Xerneas are at the top of our list."

"It sounds important." Anabel looked away. "And you want me to join you? Just because I helped free these islands?"

"No modesty, brat. You saved these islands; no one else. More importantly, you got a glimpse into the mind of a Legend and came out the other side alive and sane." Agatha praised. "We'd be fools not to want you with us. Not to mention your Psychic abilities will be very useful in our line of work."

"I've already got a job, though. I'm a Frontier Brain." Anabel said.

"Bah! The life of a glorified entertainer just like the League's Gym Leaders and Champions." Agatha sneered. "Prestige, wealth, glory; all worthless in the grand scheme of things. All that strength, and they use it for nothing important. What I'm offering you is a chance to do something meaningful with your life."

Anabel didn't want to admit it, but she agreed with Agatha. Battles had stopped being fun for her a long time ago. Nowadays, it was just a job she did to help provide for her family and fill the time in the day. As wonderful as Scott could be as a boss and lovely as the other Frontier Brains were…

Being one of them left her feeling hollow. Like there was something more she was meant to do.

Anabel closed her eyes. "This is a lot to take in. Can I have some time to think about it?"

Agatha stood up and nodded. "I'd be disappointed if you didn't. Rest. Recover from your wounds and enjoy the rest of your vacation. You can give us your answer once you're done."

"How will I contact you? Do you guys have a hotline or something?" Anabel quipped.

"We'll know." Agatha's shadow almost looked like it was laughing and coiling around her. Just as soon as Anabel noticed, however, it disappeared.

Nothing creepy there. Nope. Not at all.

"If I join… can I tell people I trust?" She asked.

"We'd prefer you be discreet, but you're free to tell those you trust. So long as you keep it brief and don't go into detail about what happened on these islands." Agatha sighed. "We're having trouble keeping things under wraps as it is. If news about the true cause of the attack got out, it'd be disastrous."

As callous as it was to hide the truth from the world, a part of her agreed with them. No need to make the rest of the world fearful of the dark. They had enough to worry about as is. They didn't need horrific Legends thrown on top of it all.

"I hope to see you again soon, Ms. Romanov. I believe you have the potential to do great things."

---

Arceus had a sense of humor.

With how often Pikachu's life went south, they had to. Comedians claimed that every success had to be met with immediate and ironic failure. He didn't know how true that was, but after years of reaching new heights of strength and glorious achievements, he expected fate to punch him in the gut every chance it could.

It was what he got for being partnered with Ash.

All he knew was that if he ever met Arceus again? He'd zap the bastard to a crisp. You know… once he got over the crippling terror that came with facing the creator of everything. Assuming he found a way to actually hurt them as well. He still remembered the attacks of an entire city and the combined forces of the Myth Trio bouncing harmlessly off them.

Those damn plates… they were cheating!

Pikachu's current problem was the perfect example of that bastard's sadistic humor. He and Ash had finally returned to a sense of normality by competing in a tournament again. Sure, they were on a mission with Interpol to draw out Team Rocket, but that wasn't a big deal. If he just didn't think about it, he could pretend they were back in the good old days.

Minus having to stay inside a Pokeball, anyway.

As seemed to be the case for them nowadays, every brief moment of happiness was dashed in an instant.

When the scent of an old friend hit his nose and the sound of her paws reached his ears, Pikachu had given up any hope of a peaceful day. That chill in the air wasn't just his imagination, not when he saw other people's breath on the air.

Glaceon – May's Glaceon – was near and coming straight for him.

So, he did the only thing he could think of that would solve this problem: He turned and ran away as fast as his paws could carry him.

It was cowardly, but he couldn't help it. When he found out they'd come to the festival for the mission, Pikachu had known it was inevitable they'd run into May. Between her orchestrating the festival and Interpol needing them to stand out as contenders? The odds were stacked against them.

Despite this, Pikachu had been hopeful they'd fly under the radar. The whole reason he consented to staying in that Arceus damned ball was to protect Ash's identity. Even if they met May, they'd be fine as long as the mask stayed on and his partner didn't say something stupid.

A tall ask whenever May was involved, but Interpol had taught Ash to think before he spoke. That small flicker of hope was all he needed.

Unfortunately, Pikachu had forgotten one key detail… a Pokemon's nose never lied. The instant Glaceon was let out of her ball and recognized his scent, she must have come running.

Sprinting through the crowds of people walking the street was difficult when you were his size. Most people never looked at the ground and might step on him by accident. With how many Humans and their Pokemon were out today, there wasn't much room to maneuver either. His one saving grace was the gaps between their legs he could dash through.

"Stop running!'

Unfortunately, his pursuer was just as small as him. Almost as fast, too. It was a blessing from above that she wasn't trying to blast him with ice or create obstacles with her attacks. With so many people around them, they could get hurt if an attack missed.

Neither of them was willing to let that happen, and he wasn't going to fight her. He just hoped she could say the same. Otherwise? He'd be in for a rough time if he couldn't lose her.

As the two dashed by a nearby restaurant, he leaped up onto one of the outdoor tables. The family of four sitting there all reared back in shock, followed quickly by shouts of anger as he sent their food scattering to the ground.

He'd already hopped to another table before any of them could do anything. Soon enough, he'd ruined the meals of dozens of people and scampered off. While the Humans tried to give chase, he was gone before any of them were even out of their seats.

More importantly, the suddenly frantic Humans blocked Glaceon's path long enough for him to vanish from sight.

Snickering in triumph, he dashed down a nearby alley behind a garden shop a ways away from the restaurant. All he needed to do now was vanish and he could find his way back to Ash-

He skidded to a stop just short of a brick wall. Instead of a clear path to another street, a dead end greeted him. That was fine. He could still salvage this. All he had to do was keep running until he found somewhere more crowded. Then he could-

"Got you!"

He flinched and spun on his heels, cheeks sparking defensively. The frostbitten fox stood at the entrance of the alley and blocked his escape. A chill ran down his spine and his breath came out in visible huffs. The air was biting, but not yet dangerous.

That would change in an instant if this came to blows.

He'd need to channel all the charisma and wit he'd acquired over the years.

An audible gulp escaped him as he raised his paws placatingly. A nervous laugh bubbled past his lips, and he tried his best to smile. "H-hey there, Glaceon. Long time no see, huh? You're looking good today. New diet?"

She growled.

Pikachu was about to rip out his tongue and stomp it into the dirt.

Glaceon took a step forward, the crystal tips of her fur glinting in the sunlight. "You have five seconds to tell me why I shouldn't freeze you solid."

"My good looks?" He joked.

Arctic energy formed in front of her mouth.

He frantically shook his hands from side to side. "I don't even know what you want me to tell you!"

"You and Ash!" She growled. "Why are you two here?"

Pikachu looked away. "I… I don't think I should say."

"You'd better think again." Glaceon demanded. "Your trainer is a killer hiding behind a mask. If you don't tell me why you're here, I'll make sure everyone learns the truth."

He wanted to refute her. To tell her that Ash wasn't a killer, nor the monster the media made him out to be. But… Alola had taken what little innocence he still had and forced him to sully his hands with blood.

"He was framed, Glaceon." He opted for instead. "Team Rocket took control of his mind and forced his body to kill her."

The Ice type scoffed. "You expect me to believe that?"

Pikachu frowned. "Not the group that followed us. It was the others that were behind it. They're worse than you can imagine." He told her. "Please, Glaceon. You know me and Ash. Do you really think we'd do something like that?"

"A lot can change in a few years. Ash could have become anyone over his journey, and you've always been unflinchingly loyal to him." She retorted.

"And he earned that loyalty by proving to me what a good man he is!" Pikachu all but shouted. "He didn't just save my life, he's saved countless people! Not just friends or people he knows, but random strangers he's never met before!"

Glaceon allowed the arctic energy to dissipate, a frown splitting her face. "That's true…."

"Arceus' sake, he's saved May more times than I can count! He nearly drowned to protect her!" He pressed on. "Doesn't that earn him the benefit of the doubt?"

She glanced away, silent.

He pounced on the opening and took a cautious step forward. "You know what a powerful Psychic can do, Glaceon. How easily they can control someone's mind." He said, "What makes more sense? That someone controlled Ash and forced him to commit the crime? Or that he just snapped out of the blue after achieving his dream and killed a random woman he'd never met before?"

Her eyes were clenched shut as she growled. "I don't know!"

"Yes, you do." Pikachu softly said. "I know you must have heard a lot of bad things about him. I don't blame you for believing them, but please… just trust us? At least until we give you a reason not to."

"I'm insane for even considering this, but…." She sighed. "Fine. I'll trust you two for now."

He let out a breath of relief. "Thank you- "

"Don't think this means I'm letting you two off the hook!" She snapped. "If either of you step one toe out of line, I'll freeze him solid. And as for you? I'll make sure you learn how painful frostbite can be firsthand. Got it?"

He gulped. "G-got it!"

"Good. Glad we got that sorted out." A tiny smile spread across her face. "It is good to see you again, Pikachu. I'm glad you're alright."

He was too. Here he'd been expecting to have lost his tail to winter's icy grip. Looks like fate was finally shining on him!

Pikachu smiled, moving to get around her. "Yeah, it's great to see you, too. Come on, we should probably get back to- "

Her tail swept out and pushed him back. "Oh, no you don't. You're not escaping me that easily." She drawled. "You didn't actually think I was gonna let you walk away before you answered my questions, did you?"

He cringed. "… is it bad I thought I might?"

"I guess it's true that Trainers and their Pokemon take after each other. You and Ash are both dense as a rock." She snorted. "Now, tell me exactly what you two have been up to the past year and why you're here. Spare no detail."

Pikachu sighed. "I guess there's no escaping it. Fine. Just promise not to tell anyone, okay?"

"Who would I tell? May? She wouldn't understand even if I tried."

---

"I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine."

Everything was not fine.

Ash had been hoping for a peaceful day. With his match behind him, all he wanted was a quick bite to eat before vanishing. Sure, Interpol might have sent him a mission briefing, but that was fine. A little surveillance couldn't hurt. All he had to do was remain unseen, and he could essentially treat it like a day off.

Instead, Arceus decided to have another laugh at his expense and drop the last person he wanted to see in his lap.

Arrogant prick.

At his side, May groaned in embarrassment. "No, it's not." She said, "I don't know what's gotten into her. I swear, she's not normally like this."

Maybe not with other people's Pokemon, but this was par for the course with Pikachu. The two had always been close during their journey together. Even after Ash and May parted ways, their Pokemon never lost their excitement at seeing each other.

Though, if Glaceon was anything like May, then he doubted Pikachu was having a pleasant conversation with her. A part of him worried his identity could be revealed, but he pushed it to the back of his mind. If Glaceon tried to attack him or take his mask off, then there was nothing he could do but defend himself and try to get away.

"I'm sure there's a good explanation." He told her. "As long as Pikachu is alright, there's no need to worry."

May gave him a skeptical look. "You sure about that?"

It wasn't hard to see why she'd be skeptical.

While tracking their path had been easy thanks to his team, it wouldn't have mattered even if he had returned them all. The carnage Pikachu and Glaceon left in their wake would have been impossible to miss. Angry customers screaming at wait staff, children crying, food scattered on the ground, and more than a few upturned tables.

If Petrovic could see this, he'd be laughing.

"… I'm sure that whoever's behind this is long gone by now. No need to cause any trouble by sticking our nose in other people's business." He eventually said. "No one likes a busybody who can't leave well enough alone."

He could feel the collective eyes of every Interpol agent rolling at the thought. Minding your own business was a joke as far as their group went. They were paid to stick their noses where they didn't belong, after all.

She chuckled and nudged him with her elbow. "Normally, I'd be offended you'd even suggest I look the other way… buuuuut I really don't feel like dealing with dozens of hangry customers today."

"Lucky me." His synthesized voice said.

"No need to sound so enthusiastic." She rolled her eyes. "Most guys would be thrilled to spend some time with me, you know."

Most guys weren't international criminals wanted for murder and working for an intelligence agency.

"You can be offended later. Let's just focus on finding our Pokemon first." He said instead.

May laughed again. "Fair enough. At least we know we're heading in the right direction."

Lilligant's laughter reached their ears. "She's not what I expected of a famous Coordinator. I can see why you like her, Master."

Ash ignored her. With his Pokemon leading the way towards Pikachu, they were naturally kept out of their balls. Unfortunately, that meant he was forced to listen to their running commentary on the crisis he was going through.

Latias floated down from the sky, a cheshire grin on her face. "I'd say it's a little more than 'liking' her, if Pikachu is right."

Lilligant gasped in mock surprise. "You can't mean what I think you mean?"

The dragoness nodded gravely. "Afraid so. He wants to… hold her hands in public!"

"Oh, how scandalous!" Lilligant cried.

They were silent for a second… before immediately descending into fits of laughter at his expense. None of them could see his eye twitching in annoyance, but he knew Latias felt every ounce of it through their connection. Just like he could feel how much his suffering amused her.

No more whipped cream for dinner would sort that out.

Bewear rolled her eyes and held her arms above her head. While most stared in dumb awe of her, those who had traveled to Alola took it for the warning it was and bolted the second they saw it. It was very good at clearing their path, he'd give her that.

"You two are so childish. Let the boy have his fun." Bewear chided. "He's far too serious for someone his age."

"Your team is really impressive, Spartan." May said, completely oblivious to their conversation. "Are they all you have, or are there others?"

"There are others, but most of them are back at the lab."

Or out in the field with other agents. Or training for the job and resting between missions. Probably even a couple getting ready for retirement as they got older. With Interpol's reserves at his fingertips, the variety he had at his disposal was practically limitless.

"Ooh, a lab? Anyone I'd know?" May asked.

Ash side-eyed her through the mask. Not that she could tell. "That depends. Have you ever met a man named Magician?"

She blinked. "Their name is Magician?"

"They're a very eccentric person."

And sadistic… Ash still shuddered when he thought of that man. His tech was second-to-none, but good lord, did he take a strange amount of glee in watching things explode. Arceus help them if he found out Latias could regenerate entire limbs…

"Well, I can't say I have. I doubt I'd forget them if I did." She glanced up at Latias in admiration. "I still can't believe you have a Latias on your team. She must see something in you worth following."

Latias floated down next to May, humming in agreement. When May reached out to stroke her neck and stretch between her shoulder blades, the dragoness moaned in delight. "Oh, that's the spot! Her hands are so soft! Arceus, she has the fingers of an angel!"

May smiled. "I think she likes me."

It was a small mercy Latias was keeping her telepathy a secret.

"You know, this is the first time I've seen one up close. Her feathers are a lot softer than you'd expect." May said. "I wonder if a Latios would be the same."

Ash frowned. "A Latios?"

She nodded. "Yep. You're not the only one with a Legend competing, you know. There's someone with a Latios as well… I think his name is Tobias?"

He remembered. That man was perhaps the strongest opponent Ash had ever faced. Anyone with command over a Legend deserved respect, let alone multiple. That took a strength of character and martial prowess most just didn't possess.

Even at his strongest, Ash wasn't sure he could beat him. It'd taken his entire team just to beat two of Tobias' own, and even then it had come down to luck just to get that far. It was a shame Tobias never competed in a tournament after that one again.

Ash would have given anything to fight him again.

Even if his love for battles had waned since joining Interpol, he couldn't deny that old excitement bubbling to the surface at the thought of it. A battle with a man like Tobias was once in a lifetime. Only someone like the undefeated Leon would be a more exciting battle.

A shame he'd never get the chance to fight him.

"I'll be honest, I'm kind of hoping you and that Tobias guy get a chance to battle. Seeing your Latias and his Latios dancing through the skies." May chuckled. "It might just top the battle you had with Harley. Nice work, by the way."

"You sound happy I won," He observed.

She tapped her chin, humming in thought. "I wouldn't say happy you won so much as glad Harley lost." She shrugged. "Sorry if that makes me sound like a bad judge. I tried not to let it influence me, but… let's just say Harley isn't the nicest of people."

"I noticed." He said.

Latias snorted. "I don't think you have any room to talk, Ash. You've been breaking spirits since the festival started."

It was for his cover, damn it! He didn't actually mean any of what he said!

"That doesn't make it better~" She sang.

Bewear held out her arm and stopped them all in their tracks, sniffing the air. "They're close by."

Ash frowned. "Where?"

Before she could lead them forward, Pikachu and Glaceon stepped out of a nearby alley. Rather than covered in blood or battle wounds, they looked… fine. Almost chummy, even. That wasn't at all what he expected.

May ran over to Glaceon and picked her up by the armpits, hoisting her up to eye level. "What were you thinking? You can't just chase after random Pokemon!"

Glaceon looked away. "You'd understand if I could tell you…."

Ash glanced down at Pikachu. Even through the mask, his silent question was obvious. Pikachu nodded and gave him a thumbs up. He took his partner's word for it and stepped forward, placing a hand on May's shoulder.

"It's fine. They didn't cause too much trouble. No harm, no foul."

May sighed. "You're lucky Spartan here is so forgiving. You are still going to have a long talk about this later."

While May enlarged her Pokeball to return the ice fox, Ash did the same to his own team. He made a point of saving Pikachu for last so May could see him physically returning Pikachu to his ball. Anything to wipe away suspicions about who he was.

"So, I know you said everything was fine, but I still feel bad about interrupting your lunch," May eventually said. "Why don't you let me make it up to you?"

Ash turned to walk away. "You really don't have to."

Her hand wrapped around his arm and pulled him back. "I want to!" She said, "It's the least I can do, really. My parents made sure I learned how to apologize to anyone I inconvenienced."

Ash tried to pull his arm gently from her grip. "Really, it's fine- "

"My brother canceled on me at the last minute to train. I'm not surprised, but just a little disappointed after all the trouble I went through to get the tickets." May went on. "There's an exhibit of modern heroes being hosted by the UR. Do you want to come with me?"

Ash could only stare in silence. Of all the sick jokes that the universe could play on him, this had to be the worst one. Here he was, trying his best to avoid being around anyone that could ferret out his true identity, and what's the first thing that happens when one of them gets him caught alone?

They invite him out to the one place his surveillance target is scheduled to appear. He'd been concerned about blending in before, but if people just thought he and May were out together? Either as friends hanging out or a potential couple on a date?

Pryce would never suspect a thing.

Ash sighed. "… I guess that sounds fun. Lead the way."

She pumped her fist into the air. "Awesome! Don't worry, I'm sure this is gonna be a ton of fun! Just you wait and see!"

This was going to be a long day. Somehow, he just knew it….

---

He hated when he was right.

It was funny. Back during his journey, Ash loved to be in crowds. The cacophony of voices speaking over one another, the press of warm bodies against each other, and the general sense of life was amazing. No matter where in the world you went, an excited crowd could break down any barriers and spur you on to try new things.

Not so much anymore. Nowadays? He hated it. Just being in one made him feel vulnerable. Too many people all around him made it impossible to protect his back. Any of them could have been tailing him or hiding a knife to slide into him once he let his guard down.

It was times like this that made him miss the old days. Ignorance truly was bliss….

He tensed up when May nudged him with her elbow, barely stopping himself from lashing out. "Hey, you alright? You've been kind of quiet." May asked.

Ash shook his head. "I'm fine. Just focusing on the exhibition."

She hummed in curiosity. "I didn't know you liked history."

He didn't, but it was all part of the job. Most of the world's problems could be traced back through history to some event decades prior. Wars, famines, financial crashes, assassinations; all of them had roots in the past. As an agent, it was his job to learn from the past so he could solve modern problems.

Ironically, it also made him despise the rich. The amount of disasters and suffering caused by unchecked greed and ambition… It disgusted him.

One thing he could always respect, however, was heroes. No matter what walk of life they came from, anyone willing to stand in defense of others deserved his admiration. This exhibition was the perfect place to show off heroes from around the world, regardless of their home Region.

It was an outdoor affair. Rather than hosting it all inside of a sterile room, the organizers chose to do it outside. Various statues, paintings, and booths had all been set up around a stage that allowed the chosen speakers to regale the crowd with tales of heroes.

Pryce was one such speaker. While he wasn't up just yet, Ash could see him sitting on stage and drumming his fingers along the edge of his cane. Given the fanfare surrounding his Spartan persona and the Hoenn Princess at his side, it was almost guaranteed the old Gym Leader noticed him.

No sign he suspected anything, though.

Then again, if he really was a criminal, would Ash even be able to tell? Only the smartest and cruelest criminals made it to old age. Someone like that would have learned how to hide their suspicions with the grace of a master con artist.

Just then, the old man's eyes swept over the crowd. Rather than panic and potentially give himself away, Ash glided through the crowd towards a nearby booth handing out flowers. It was held in honor of some Kalosian hero they'd yet to hear about, but that didn't matter.

All that mattered was it was a convenient way to ward off suspicion.

With May trailing close behind him, Ash plucked a single flower from the booth. It was a beautiful shade of dark purple with a soft, creamy smell that reminded him of the early spring. Memories of walking through fields of these during his journey were clear as day.

He turned and held it out to May.

"Here."

She flushed and hesitantly held it between her fingers, "Oh, um… thank you. They're beautiful." She took a deep breath and sighed in contentment, "You picked a good one. Lilacs are my favorite."

Ash remembered. While most people would normally have gone for a rose or a lily, May had always gravitated towards lilacs. He never did figure out why. All she told him when he asked was that it had something to do with flower language.

All these years later, and he still had no idea what she meant by that.

The surrounding crowd quieted down as the announcer on stage tapped the microphone, drawing everyone's eyes towards them. They cleared their throat, smiling politely for effect. Looming behind them was what must have been a statue beneath a thick red curtain.

"Alright everyone, our next guest speaker is ready to begin. He's- "

Pryce strode forward and took the mic from them, "I can speak for myself." With a dismissive wag of his fingers, the announcer stepped back, "My name is Pryce Willow Harper. Some of you may know me as the Frozen Demon of Johto's Gym circuit. What many of you likely don't know is that I originally hailed from Kanto."

The crowd began to whisper amongst themselves. They'd all come here to hear about modern heroes. As famous as being a Gym Leader made him, Pryce was not that. Everyone knew how harsh he could be on overconfident challengers.

For Ash, however, his mind spun. If Pryce was from Kanto, that strengthened his connection to Team Rocket. If he remembered the history of the group right, they could trace their origins back over two decades to the aftermath of the Great War. Circumstantial, but the man was old enough and in the right area for a connection.

Ash silently cursed his luck. If only the man's file hadn't been classified. Then he'd know for certain instead of having to do all this guesswork.

"Unfortunately, it looks like someone at the UR does know. So, I was unfortunately nominated to tell you all the story of a modern Kanto hero." Pryce yawned and stretched his arms over his head. "Let's get this over with."

May snorted. "Well, he seems like such a peach."

She didn't know the half of it.

Pryce snapped his fingers.

The curtain was thrown off the statue.

And a gasp escaped the crowd.

Up on stage, a marble statue of Giovanni stood before them in all its glory. Rather than an immaculate and imposing image, however, it was anything but. The statue was noticeably chipped and destroyed, with half the man's face missing. Graffiti covered every surface of the statue in vulgar imagery and garish neon orange. The most glaring offense was the word 'LIAR' painted across his chest in big, bold letters.

Pryce turned and smiled wryly. "Oh my. Whoever could have done that?"

Ash could hazard a guess.

Chuckling dryly, Pryce turned back to the crowd. Behind him, the organizers and stage hands were frantically trying to remove the statue as fast as possible. Even as the crowd whispered amongst themselves, the old fossil up on stage pressed on.

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes. Kanto's modern hero." He said. "Giovanni Sakaki Cassano. The self-proclaimed strongest trainer in the world; Kanto's Bloody Baron; and, of course, the man with the worst fashion sense in the world. Don't believe me? Ask him why he still wears that horrible orange suit."

"I'm beginning to think there's tension between those two." May whispered.

Ash snorted and nodded in agreement.

"He was your average teenage boy most of his life. Full hormones and impotent rage, more than a few haircuts he regrets, and enough mommy issues to drive a therapist to drink. He was destined to be your run-of-the-mill Pokemon Trainer. The good old days." Pryce chuckled, and the crowd laughed with him. "Then, the Great War happened."

The crowd stood in silence.

"I'm sure I don't need to explain the tragedy to you all. Johto's rebellion and Kanto's refusal to back down kicked off a conflict unlike we'd seen before. Like any good, patriotic Kantonian, Giovanni enlisted to serve his Region." Pryce sighed. "And he was rewarded the same way everyone else dumb enough to fall for it was: by being tossed into the meat grinder."

May shifted uncomfortably next to him.

"The boy got his start as a trench raider along the Johto border. Some would call it bravery, others stupidity that made him choose that. Regardless, he was an effective tool for Kanto. He first gained prominence when he captured a Johtonian general in the second year of the war."

"But that's not where he made his name. Oh, no. That came in the final year of that dreadful conflict." Pryce drawled, twirling his cane in his hands. "Kanto's little alliance had all been crushed under Unova's boot. Their fleets sunk, their army on the verge of mutiny, and a starving populace. Nothing more than stubborn pride kept them from surrendering."

Ash remembered his history lessons. Not much about the war was taught in Kanto schools. It was a period of great shame for the Region, and those alive didn't want to relive everything they went through. To be frank, he only learned more about it since joining Interpol.

Kanto didn't like to admit how crushing its defeat had been. Least of all that Johto had long since surpassed them as a Region.

"Of course, good old Gio couldn't just get with the program and give up like his fellows. No, he still had some fight left in him. He wasn't about to let Johto and Kalos' armies just march into Kanto, not when his home was the first city they'd reach."

"So, the boy crafted a devious plan. While the remnants of Kanto's border defenses retreated inland with their invaders hot on their heels, he climbed to the summit of Mount Silver. And just when they thought victory was at hand… he collapsed the mountain range on them, burying them under an avalanche of stone and snow."

Pryce cleared his throat. "Kanto dubbed him a hero after that, and the papers called him the Bloody Baron. He was a symbol of Kanto's strength, held up as an example of what all good Kantonians should aspire to be." He snorted. "Two weeks later, Kanto gave their unconditional surrender to Unova's alliance."

It didn't take a genius to understand the crowd wasn't as excited about this lesson. They'd come to hear tales of bravery and generosity, not the doom and gloom of wartime. Tourists from Kanto seemed especially unhappy, grumbling among themselves and glaring at Pryce.

The man in question almost seemed to be taunting them with his smile.

"But as some of you may know, little Gio's story doesn't end there. No, like an alley cat dragged out of the rain, he just refused to fade away." Pryce droned on. "After the war, he led the reconstruction efforts. Built a company that revolutionized industry, played a pivotal role in rebuilding Kanto's economy, and became a Gym Leader to inspire the young. A success story if ever there was one."

Pryce walked around the stage, dragging the mic behind him. The attendants didn't seem happy, but no one was going to stop him now.

"Thirteen years ago, Kanto suffered devastating changes in its climate. Thunderstorms that never ended, blizzards in the middle of summer, and infernos that burned entire communities to the ground." He said. "It was a disaster that could destroy the region."

Ash remembered. He'd been about six or seven at the time, but no one could forget how terrified people were that their homes would be next. As a kid, he'd been more concerned about seeing Pokemon and playing with toys, but even he had been scared when he heard what was behind it all.

"Kanto's Legendary Birds were on a rampage. No one knows what caused it, and most were too concerned about evacuating to fight back. All anyone knew was that they were converging on Viridian City." Pryce lifted his cane to point at the statue being carried off stage. "And he rode out alone to face them."

Ash hummed in recollection. While recent events had tarnished his opinion of the man, he couldn't deny he still respected Giovanni. Every Kantonian child heard the story of how the great Giovanni took on the Legendary Birds and won. No matter who you were, Giovanni was everyone's favorite Gym Leader.

The others were all just fighting for a distant second place.

"No one knows quite what happened when he fought them. All anyone remembers were horrible sounds of battle coming from Viridian Forest, darkened skies, and terrible quakes that shook the city for days," Pryce drawled. "But in the end, he drove them off and returned a hero. And all of Kanto joined together to proclaim him the strongest trainer in the world."

May nudged him with her elbow. "That's pretty impressive. I knew he was strong, but not like this. I saw him battle my dad for a charity event once, you know." She whispered. "He wiped the floor with my dad. His Persian took all six of my dad's team out. It was unbelievable."

Ash didn't doubt it. Norman was the strongest Gym Leader in Hoenn, but Giovanni was on another level. Most people thought he deserved to be a Champion with his strength. Before this all happened, Ash would have said the same.

His old Giovanni action figures were probably still in his room somewhere.

"Well, I do believe that's enough out of me. Arceus knows I've gone on long enough. But I think I can speak for all of us when I say I'd love to see dear Giovanni take on reigning Monarch Leon in the upcoming World Coronation Series. Put the questions to bed about who the strongest really is." Pryce tapped his cane on the ground. "I, for one, know who I'll be rooting for."

Once the man left the stage, the crowd's chatter picked up again. Everyone had something to say about the presentation he just sat through. Whether it was admiration for Giovanni's strength and heroics, disdain for Pryce's disparaging tone towards Kanto, or even speculation on how strong Giovanni really was, everyone had something to say.

Ash didn't. Whatever Giovanni may have done in the past, he was still a criminal. A monster. The head of Team Rocket and responsible for all their crimes. All this did was cement his distrust of Pryce. That man had far too much joy in mocking Giovanni when he could.

He was connected. Ash didn't know how, but his gut told him the two knew each other. Whatever doubts he may have had before were gone now. Interpol was right to put the man under surveillance.

Ash reached down to take May's hand. "Come on."

"What the-" She gasped but followed along. "Where are we going?"

Wherever Pryce was. He couldn't afford to lose the man in the crowd.

"Food. I'm hungry. Why don't you let me treat you to something nice?" He said instead.

She chuckled. "Who knew there was a charmer under that mask? Alright, Spartan. Lead the way!"

---

Max groaned. "Ugh, I feel so full."

"I know what you mean. It's like I'm gonna explode any second now." Rosa held her stomach, but the smile she wore was anything but regretful. "Still totally worth it."

Kirlia groaned, bobbing her head in agreement.

Max glanced at his partner. "You okay? Wanna get in your ball until you feel better?"

Rather than answer, her Pokeball telekinetically lifted off his belt. She bopped the button and was sucked inside. He snatched it out of the air just before it fell to the ground, rolling his eyes and clipping it back onto his belt.

She could be so dramatic sometimes.

"I wish I could do that." Rosa complained. "Just retreat into my own little world where I can't feel any pain. That's the dream."

He could see the appeal. Despite what some conspiracy theorists believed, Pokeballs were completely safe for Pokemon. They didn't just create the perfect environment for them to live in. They also kept them from aging, prevented the spread of deadly diseases or wounds, and completely numbed all pain while inside. Even the most potent of toxins could be treated given enough time inside one.

"You know, you wouldn't be in so much pain if you didn't eat so much." He pointed out.

"Don't you use your logic on me!" She groaned. "I couldn't help myself! What were those puff pastries called? The ones with the cream and that glaze on top?"

He blinked. "The carbayones?"

"YES! Gods, they were so good!" She moaned just remembering the taste. "I can still taste them even now."

Max chuckled. "Fair enough. I just wish I had the recipe for their gazpacho. I could eat that all day."

She scrunched up her nose in disgust. "I still don't know how you could eat that stuff."

"You didn't even try it. How would you know how it tastes?"

"Max… they shoved a bunch of veggies in a blender and stuck it in the fridge for a couple hours, then charged you through the nose for it." She said, "They sold you a smoothie with a fancy name and some bread sticks. You got scammed."

"Can it really be called a scam if I enjoyed it?"

"That depends. How much are you going to regret it once you come down from your food high?"

"Better than you when you get hit by a sugar crash."

They held each other's gaze for a moment, sparks flying between their eyes. Neither of them was willing to back down. They waged a silent war of attrition and judgment, fueled by pettiness and differing opinions on food.

Max snorted. Rosa chuckled. Soon, they were both laughing together at the absurdity of it all. Even if they hadn't known each other that long, they got along surprisingly well. It was easy to tell when they were joking, and when they were serious.

He wondered why.

Rosa's Xtransceiver dinged with an alert. She blinked and glanced down at it, raising it up to see what the alert was. After a moment, her face split into a massive smile and she pumped her fist in the air.

"Aww, heck yeah!" She cheered, drawing confused stares from those around them. "This is gonna be amazing!"

"What's got you so excited?" He asked.

"I just found out who the opponent for my match tomorrow is gonna be!" Rosa said. "Go ahead, guess!"

Considering how excited she was? It could only have been one person. "Spartan?"

"Yep!" She confirmed. "We've got a match scheduled for tomorrow once he's had enough time to rest from his Contest today."

"I guess that makes sense." Max said. "It'd be pretty bad if you force people to battle with a weakened team."

She scoffed. "Bah! Let him get all the rest he wants. Tomorrow's the day I knock him out of the tournament. He had a good run, but it's about time he saw what a real Trainer is capable of!"

"It's always refreshing to see young Trainers so confident in themselves." A harsh voice cut through the air.

Rosa froze, her fist suspended in the air.

Max blinked and turned to see one of Johto's Gym Leaders, Pryce, standing behind them. His scarf blew in the gentle breeze of the day, and he balanced himself atop his old wooden cane.

He smiled and stuck his hand out. "Pryce! It's good to see you again!"

Pryce chuckled, smiling brightly as he returned Max's handshake. "You too, Max. How's your father doing?"

"He's doing good, sir. He really appreciated that gift you sent him for his birthday last year." Max said. "The Togepi is doing really well under his care. He says it's close to evolving and should be good enough for Gym battles soon."

"I'm glad to hear it. If anyone could raise it right, he'd be the one." Pryce said. "I'm hosting an art gallery in a couple of months. Ice sculptures mainly, but the proceeds will go to Pokemon preservation efforts. If you could mention it to your dad?"

He nodded vigorously. "Of course! I'm sure he'd love to go."

"Excellent. Now, would you care to introduce me to your friend, my boy?" He gestured to his side.

Shoot. He'd completely forgotten about that. He turned to Rosa, but paused before he could say anything. She still hadn't moved from her spot, as motionless as a statue. He couldn't even be sure she was still breathing. When he reached out to touch her, she suddenly gasped and flinched away.

"Hey, are you alright?" He asked. "You look a little pale."

Rosa gulped and licked her lips. "I-I'm fine. Just a little hot, you know?" She mumbled, her voice strangely husky.

Max frowned. She was sweating now that he looked closer. Her eyes seemed smaller, too. "It's all these clothes you're wearing. You should really take some of them off."

Who wore two sweaters and a scarf in the middle of summer? It just didn't make any sense. None of it did.

She shook her head, her buns bouncing as she did. "I'm fine. Don't worry so much, four-eyes." She straightened her back and held her hand out. "Hello there, Mr. Pryce. I'm Rosa."

The elderly Gym Leader shook her hand. Despite her prior words, she seemed to shiver at his touch. It almost looked like Pryce's smile grew, but Max's eyes must have been playing tricks on him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my girl." He drawled. "So, you're planning to beat that Spartan fellow tomorrow?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir. I won't let anything stop me."

"Glad to hear it." Pryce tapped his cane against the ground twice. "A word of advice? Don't get distracted by that Latias of his. It's nothing special."

"It's a Legend, though." Max pointed out.

Pryce jabbed Max in the chest with his cane. "And this is made of mahogany. That doesn't make it special." He snorted. "If you approach an enemy believing they're unbeatable, then you've already lost. I would hope whoever trained dear Rosa would have taught her that."

She flinched. "O-of course. Don't worry! Nothing'll get in my way! You can count on it!"

Pryce chuckled. "Glad to hear it." He placed a hand on her shoulder, leaning down and whispering in her ear. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but slowly nodded. He pulled back and nodded. "Well, it's about time I head off. Enjoy the rest of your day, kids."

Rosa kept silent.

Max frowned and narrowed his eyes, watching Pryce go. "Yeah… you too."

He took a few steps forward. "Oh, and Rosa? I'll be watching your match tomorrow. I look forward to seeing your victory."

Max watched the man walk into the crowd. People flowed around him like water, unconsciously moving out of his way. Soon enough, he'd vanished from sight completely. Before he could figure out how he did it or why Rosa seemed so strange, something else drew his attention.

"Max! What are you doing here?"

His heart sank. He slowly turned around, as if was about to face a firing squad. Rather than staring down the barrel of a gun, however, his sister's sapphire eyes flared daggers into his own. He audibly gulped.

Spartan was at her side, but Max didn't have the time to think about that right now!

"H-hey, May. I was just um… uh…."

Dang it, brain! Don't fail him now!

"He's on a date." Spartan's synthetic voice cut through his stammering.

In that moment, Max swore a blood oath of vengeance against this man.

May gasped and clapped her hands together. "A date!?"

Max and Rosa locked eyes. Their cheeks flushed red, and they leaped away from each other. She refused to look at him, and he coughed into his hand.

"It's not a date!" Max all but shouted.

"W-we were just getting some food. Paldean. As friends, you know?"

May's grin only turned more predatory. "Mhm. Sure. Just a couple of buds grabbing a bite to eat. I see how it is." She ruffled his hair faster than he could pull away. "I'll forgive you for lying about training. I can see you had something more important on your mind."

What he wouldn't give for a meteor to strike him right about now….

Rosa moved past them both and jabbed Spartan in the chest with her finger. Up until then, he'd been staring past them into the crowd. Now, he was focused on the Unovan Trainer.

"Is something wrong?" He asked.

"Have you seen the roster for tomorrow's battles?" She demanded.

Spartan stared emotionlessly at her from behind his mask, "No."

"Guess I get to break the news to you, then. We're facing each other tomorrow." She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fist. "I'm going to trounce you."

"I see."

Rosa scowled. "You don't believe me. Well, I don't care! You better go all out against me, you hear? I'll make you regret it if you hold back!"

"She's intense." May whispered into his ear. "I had a feeling you'd take after dad in that department."

Okay, no. He was not doing this!

"What are you and Spartan doing together?" He frantically asked. Anything to divert the conversation. "Isn't it weird for a judge and a contestant to be seen together?"

May rolled her eyes. "He helped me find Glaceon when she chased after his Pikachu. I figured I'd pay him back by showing him around the festival for a little bit." She flicked him on the forehead. "Besides, I had an extra ticket and needed someone to go with me since you bailed on me."

Max frowned, staring at Spartan again. Glaceon had chased his Pikachu? That was odd. She didn't normally chase down random Pokemon for no reason. The only one she ever really did that with before was Ash's Pikachu, so why would she do it with Spartan's?

Why….

"Anyway, I don't want to interrupt the not-date the two of you are having." May teased. "I think Spartan and I should get going. Let you two have some fun."

He thanked every god watching that he'd returned Kirlia before May showed up. If he hadn't, he already knew the sheer suffering they'd put him through would be unimaginable.

"Ooh, I'm too fired up to just relax now!" Rosa snatched his hand and dragged him behind her. "Come on, Max! You and I have some training to do!"

He yelped. "But I-"

"No buts! Only train!"

May's laughter echoed in his ears. "Have fun with your girlfriend, Max!"

Sometimes, Max hated his sister.

This was just another one to add to the pile.

---

Arceus was laughing at him.

Some people liked to call him paranoid, but Ash knew better. There was no way his luck was just naturally this bad. It just couldn't be!

As panic-inducing as May's presence had been, it had been useful. It let him follow Pryce around without arousing too much suspicion. While everyone was looking at them, no one looked beneath the surface. In their eyes, it was just two people having fun at an interregional festival.

Anyone who took one look at May would know she wasn't a spy. She didn't care about how many exits were in a building or check her surroundings. Her body language was too open, and she wore her emotions on her sleeve. Most would just discard her as any other civilian and move on.

Something had tipped Pryce off, though. Ash didn't know what, but one moment the man acted like he didn't know they were following them, then the next he acted like he was trying to shake a tail. He'd lost them in the crowd, but Ash might have been able to find him again… if it weren't for the woman at his side.

He'd already messaged Looker to let him know. Hopefully, he or some other agent would find Pryce and continue the surveillance. There was no chance Ash could find him now.

The one mercy of the day was that Max hadn't stuck around. He didn't want to think of how stressful it'd have been if he were with them as well. He'd have to go easy on Rosa tomorrow as a way of saying thanks.

At the moment, he was leaning over the railing and looking out at the ocean. The waves crashing against the docks accentuated the laughter of the children and the chatter of the adults. It was… reassuring. For all the stress and horror he'd seen since joining Interpol, this was proof that their work mattered.

If people could live carefree lives and enjoy their happiness? Then all the pain was worth it.

"You know, most people come to festivals to have fun."

He glanced behind him to look at May. She still had the lilac tucked behind her ear from earlier, and two candied apples in her hands.

"I was wondering where you went," He said. "And I am having fun."

May grinned. "Could have fooled me. You really pull off the silent, broody persona well." She leaned against the railing with him and extended an apple towards him. "Want one?"

He looked back out over the ocean. "I can't."

"What, you not have a mouth or something? Afraid to take off your mask?" She teased.

Thankfully, Ash had spent the entire afternoon coming up with the perfect defense for just that sort of question.

"I have severe third-degree burns all over my face."

Her eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her. "Oh! I-I'm so sorry." She lowered her candied apple. "Is it… alright if I ask how it happened?"

"When I was younger, I took in a Fire type. Their former Trainer had abused them to make them stronger. Constantly doing the bare minimum to tend to their wounds and pushing them harder than the others. All so they could take advantage of their Blaze."

She scowled. "That's despicable. I can't believe there are Trainers willing to hurt their Pokemon like that just to get an advantage in a battle."

"Lots of Trainers don't care about anything but winning. Some will even intentionally poison or burn their Pokemon just to take advantage of a useful ability." Ash shrugged. "And the League is split on how to handle it."

From a practical point of view, Ash could see the advantages. If your Pokemon could grow stronger from those afflictions or being hurt prior to the battle, then there was no reason not to if they agreed to it. The issue was some Trainers didn't care about what their Pokemon wanted or the pain they went through.

Interpol trained him to prioritize victory at any cost, but if that cost didn't need to be paid? Then there was no reason to be so heartless.

"Anyway, eventually they were abandoned. Tied to a signpost on the side of the road and told to wait. Despite everything, they were loyal enough to believe in their Trainer's word. By the time I found them, they'd nearly died from standing in the rain."

"That's horrible." May mumbled.

It was more common than she thought. The sad reality was he had taken in more than one Fire type with the same story. All of them were abused and abandoned by Trainers who either didn't know how or didn't want to raise them right. Any Pokemon could go through it… but Fire types seemed to go through it more than most.

He felt dirty using their stories like this, but it needed to be done. The best lies were mixed with the truth. This was no different.

"I did my best to raise them. Help them heal and grow. For a while, everything was going well. They trusted me, they were getting stronger, and I couldn't have been prouder of them." He sighed and held his head in his hands. "But they couldn't control their Blaze. One day, it got bad. They nearly hospitalized their opponent from how uncontrollable they were."

"I tried to help them. Calm them down and get their fire under control. It… didn't work." He continued. "After I woke up in the hospital, I realized I couldn't give them what they needed. So, I left them with someone who could. And I've been wearing the mask ever since."

"Do you know what happened to them after you left?" May softly asked.

"I still keep in touch when I can. They're doing well. Much happier now that they aren't battling anymore."

It should have concerned Ash that he could lie this easily to an old friend… but it didn't. It just seemed natural.

"I'm so sorry." She bowed her head. "Are you worried about what people will think if they see your face?"

Yes, but not for the reasons she believed.

"People would be disgusted. They either wouldn't want to look at me or wouldn't be able to stop staring." He shrugged. "It's better for everyone if I keep the mask on. And that I eat in private when I can."

"Then why did you say you wanted to grab something to eat?" She asked.

Because he needed a way to convince May to tag along with him while he tailed Pryce.

"I am hungry. I was planning to let you eat, then take my leftovers back to my room." He shrugged. "It seemed like the polite thing to do after you took me to that exhibition."

She socked him in the shoulder. "That was a gift for your help earlier, you dunce." She said, "You can't repay me for my repayment. That's like… way too much repayment! You don't want to start an endless cycle or something, do you?"

He rolled his eyes. Not that she could see. "Fair enough. No food, then?"

"Nope." She popped the P. "Don't worry. These candied apples should be enough for me."

That was a relief. He didn't think he could sit through an entire meal with May without slipping up. Something about her always made his tongue loose.

"Huh. Well, would you look at that?"

Ash blinked and followed May's gaze. A pair of Luvdisc breached the surface of the water and looked up at them. May hummed and tossed them her spare candied apple to enjoy. While one caught it in their mouth, the other chirped in thanks before they both dived back below the water.

"You know, Luvdisc have some pretty fun folklore here in Hoenn." She said, "They say that any couple who sees one is destined to have eternal love. Some people even go out of their way to catch one as a gift for their partner."

Ash looked away. "Sounds like an interesting tradition."

She shrugged. "I never put much stock in it myself." She admitted. "Relationships take a lot of work. It's not as simple as seeing a single Pokemon and making all the problems go away. If you love someone, you need to work for it."

He chuckled. "That's a mature way of looking at it."

"It's the only way that works." She laughed. "Not that I can't appreciate romantic gestures and fairy tales, mind you. I love them as much as anyone else. But let's just say that if that worked? My life would be a lot different."

It was best Ash not dwell on that. They'd run into Luvdisc many times during their journey together. Once, they'd gone swimming with a school of them. Digging into what that implied wouldn't do either of them any good.

Not now.

The two stood in silence for a moment. Neither of them knew what to say. What could they do? As far as May was concerned, she hardly knew him beyond what little he'd told her. As for Ash? Every time he spoke, he risked tipping her off about who he was.

A gasp from his side drew his attention back to her. "Oh no! Where did it go?"

Ash frowned. "What happened?"

"I lost something!" She dropped her candied apple to the ground, frantically looking for whatever it was she lost.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. Tell me what it is, and I can help you find it."

She sighed. "It's a gift from an old friend. Half of a ribbon that we split before parting ways." She told him. "I just don't know where it could have gone."

Of course… it had to be that. The last gift either of them had given each other. A tangible reminder of their journey together and all they'd been through. Why did it have to be that?

"It must have fallen out of your pocket. No one would steal half of a ribbon." They were worthless unless they were whole, after all. "As long as no one threw it out, we should be able to find it. Where did you last have it?

"I could have sworn I had it when I went to get the snacks."

"Then let's check there."

With how focused everyone was on having fun, he doubted anyone would go out of their way to pick up random bits of trash they saw on the ground. The cleaners especially wouldn't come out unless it was a big mess.

May grumbled, but followed his lead. While he could have worried about backtracking everywhere they went today, Occam's Razor said that the simplest solution was often the correct one. If she last had it at the candy apple cart, then chances were it was somewhere over there.

If not? They'd just have to retrace their steps.

Sure enough, it was exactly where he thought it would be.

The vendor nodded and reached beneath the cart, pulling out the half ribbon. "Yeah, it fell out of the lass' pocket when she was walking away. Damn near threw it out before I realized it was a Contest ribbon."

May gingerly took it from the man, rubbing the back of her head. "Thank you… I don't know what I'd have done if I lost this."

"No problem." They shrugged. "Not sure why you keep that thing, though. It's worthless cut in half. I'm sure if you brought it to some officials, they could issue a replacement."

A bitter smile worked its way across her face. "It's alright. This one is… special. I can't replace it."

As they walked away, May glanced back up at him. "Thank you, Spartan. You have no idea how much this thing means to me."

He refused to look at her. "You don't need to thank me- "

"No, I do." She stressed, poking him in the chest. "This ribbon is all I have to remember an old friend. If I lost it? All I'd have are my memories."

And memory was a fickle thing. More than anyone knew until it was too late.

"I see. Well, I'm sure he appreciates knowing you value it so much." Ash said. "I'm sure that wherever he is, he's thinking of you, too."

She laughed sadly. "Yeah… I hope so." She grabbed him by the wrist. "Come on. We may not be able to grab lunch, but there's still plenty we can do! Now I've gotta pay you back twice as much for all your help!"

He didn't protest. He knew it was pointless by now. Instead, he let her drag him behind her and snaked his hand into one pocket of his trench coat. Inside, he traced his fingers over the other half of the ribbon he'd split with May.

It was one of the few things from his old life he'd been able to keep. A constant reminder of all he'd lost… and everything he had to fight for.

---

"Thanks for walking me back to my hotel room."

Ash glanced back at May. The sun had already set a while ago; the moon having long since replaced it. After they'd found her half of the ribbon, they'd spent the rest of the day enjoying the festival. Watching exotic performances, listening to music, and even finding a few fun games to try out.

It was a waste of time. Interpol and Looker would have wanted him to focus on finding Pryce. Anabel would have told him to get some rest back in his room. Petrovic… well, he'd probably have just mocked him for failing or not saying no to May.

It didn't matter. It was… nice. Even if it was only for a few hours, just being able to relax and pretend things were normal helped. No international crime syndicates to stop, no life or death struggles, and no potential rampaging Legends. Just an afternoon spent with an old friend.

You never knew what you'd wind up missing until it was gone.

"It was no problem." He told May. "Thank you for spending the day with me. It was more fun than I thought it would be."

"Of course it was. You had me with you." She chuckled and unlocked her door. "I had fun too. I'd say we should do this again, but I'm still a judge for now. We should probably wait before hanging out again."

That wasn't going to happen.

"That's fine." He told her. "I should let you go. I still need to get back to my hotel."

"Alright. Good luck with your match tomorrow. I'll be watching." With one final wink, she stepped into her room and shut the door behind her.

Once the door clicked shut, Ash stuffed his hands in the pockets of his trench coat and started walking back down the hall towards the elevator. Just as he turned the corner, he found Drew leaning against the wall with his arms cross.

"Have fun today?" The Coordinator asked.

So, Drew had been following them? That was concerning, but nothing to really worry about. Not tonight, at least. Ash ignored the greenette and kept walking down the hall. He stepped inside the elevator, but seconds before the door could close, Drew stuck his hand in the door and stepped inside.

Drew stood against the far wall and chuckled. "Man, you pull off the brooding, silent type really well. I didn't think you had it in you… Ash."

Ash froze. His heart hammered in his lungs. His instincts were screaming at him to prepare to fight. Instead, he slowly turned to look at Drew. Rather than hostile or arrogant, however, a comforting smile was on the Coordinators face.

"Good. Now you're listening." His smile was confident but tense. He was more than prepared to fight if it came down to it. "I think it's time you and I had a little talk, Ash."

---

Hello everyone. Sorry for the delay, I got caught up with work for a bit. What'd you all think of the chapter? I hope it lived up to expectations. Some more set up for the villains, showing off a little bit of Anabel's backstory, and adding in a dash of tension in Ash's life. It was pretty fun to write, if slow. Don't worry, we'll get to some battles next chapter.

Once again, thank you to my beta's Echoh and Legacy of Time for their help. They really helped make sure this was up to snuff.

Normally, I'd end the AN here and let you all head on your way, but I promised to end the competition and reveal Interpol's commanders this chapter. So, without further adieu:

Kanto: Agatha, the Wretched Old Crone

Johto: Lance, the Dragon Master

Hoenn: Joseph Stone, the Titan of Industry

Sinnoh: Riley, Guardian of the Abyss

Unova: Professor Juniper, the Savant

Kalos: Diantha, the Duchess

Alola: Olivia, the Kahuna

Galar: Melony, the Coming Storm

Paldea: Professor Sada, Old Mother Time

The Director: AZ

And there we go. All of the Commanders for the regions currently in canon that I've dubbed important enough to know, alongside the Director of the organization itself. A lot of people made some really good guesses, and more than a few guessed some of them correctly. Unfortunately, many also guessed too many times per region that I had to disqualify them just to keep things fair.

In the end, the winner of the competition is Stick Surfer on AO3 with two points. Congrats dude.

Anyway, that's enough out of me for now. Hopefully you all enjoyed the chapter, and I'll see y'all next time. Be sure to leave a review and let me know what you think. Have a good one!