Pyroar cocked his head, stepped slightly to the side, and narrowed his eyes. Then his mouth quirked upwards in a smile. "Looking good."

"Thanks," said the newly-evolved Hisuian Arcanine. "This feels a little weird, to be honest. I mean, I used to not even come up to Ash's knee, and now I'm big enough for him to ride on…"

"And now you know how I felt during the race," Pyroar noted.

"Oh, yeah." Hisuian Arcanine nodded. "Ooh, speaking of racing, check this out!" Hisuian Arcanine blurred; in a flash he was off, racing to a tree several meters away in about half a second, then turning and racing back even faster somehow.

"Yeah, that's right," Hisuian Arcanine announced as he skidded to a halt. "I know Extreme Speed now!"

"Whoa." Pyroar blinked. "Do you think I can learn that?"

"Not sure," Hisuian Arcanine admitted. "You could ask Scizor or Genesect to help you out - they both know Quick Attack."

Pyroar blinked. "You're asking me, a Fire-type, to walk up to a pair of Bug/Steel-types and asking them to help me get stronger?"

"…okay, when you say it like that…"

"I have to say," said Scizor, some distance away, "I'm glad you're on the team. Genesect and I were looking forward to hanging out with another Steel-type."

"I refuse to hang out with that abomination," Aegislash replied scornfully.

Scizor sighed. "You have to stop calling Genesect that. It hurts his feelings."

"It is a machine," Aegislash pointed out. "It hath no feelings to be hurt."

"You do realize that's a Legendary Pokemon you're talking about, right?" Scizor asked.

"I doth not fear such a creature," said Aegislash. "I hath slain many such beasts in my time."

"Well, you're not gonna slay this one," Scizor retorted. "Genesect is your teammate, and quite frankly, you need to act like it. What if you end up working together in a battle? Do you want to fail because you spend the entire time at odds?"

Aegislash let out a huff. "I doth not understand why thou hast so much respect for the abomination. Thou callest it a Legendary, but it is not. It is a creation of man, a mere machine, a mockery of true Pokemon. Thy Trainer may have earned my respect, Scizor, but that thing never will."

Scizor sighed. "All right, I've had enough of this. Genesect's been standing right behind you for the past minute."

Aegislash turned.

"FOR - THE - RE-CORD," said Genesect, "I - DO - HAVE - FEEL-INGS. AND - THEY - ARE - VE-RY - HURT."

"Tch." Aegislash snorted. "I shall only speak to those who have proven themselves worthy of being spoken to."

"AND - I - WILL - EX-TER-MIN-ATE - A-NY-ONE - WHO - IN-SULTS - ME - SO," Genesect retorted.

"That's enough!" Scizor stepped between them. "I will not allow any disagreements like this on this team. The two of you will stop this pointless volleying of insults and talk things out this instant!"

"Why?" "WHY?"

Scizor forced himself to take a deep breath before speaking again. "Look, you two," he said, "we can do this one of two ways. First way is, you two can talk this out, find some sort of common ground between you, and make up. You don't have to become friends, but you do have to stop being enemies."

"And what is the second way?" Aegislash asked.

Scizor smirked. "The second way is that I…negotiate…a compromise between the two of you. How does that sound?"

There was a brief moment of silence.

"LET - US - FIND - COM-MON - GROUND," said Genesect hastily.

"Agreed," said Aegislash, equally hastily.

There was another brief moment of silence.

"SO - WHY - ARE - YOU - SO - IN-SIS-TENT - ON - RE-FER-RING - TO - ME - AS - AN - A-BO-MI-NA-TION?" Genesect asked.

"You must understand," Aegislash replied, "that the mere existence of artificial Pokemon is anathema to my entire existence! The bond between a human and thine Pokemon is meant to be unshakable! Irreplaceable! It is that bond that allows humans and Pokemon to strengthen one another, to fight alongside one another, to entrust thine lives to one another! But such a bond cannot be replicated with technology! Whatever bond thou hath with Ash, thou only hath because of thine programming! There can be no true connection, no true trust, nothing but cold steel and wiring telling thee what to do! That is why thou art an abomination to me, Genesect! Because thou spittest in the face of the very thing that binds Trainers and Pokemon together!"

Genesect paused for a moment, then spoke in reply. "ASH - WAS - NOT - MY - FIRST - TRAI-NER."

Aegislash blinked. "He wasn't?"

"MY - FIRST - TRAI-NER - WAS - A - BOY - NAMED - DA-MI-AN." The sheer hatred in Genesect's voice at the name caused even Aegislash to float a little ways backwards. "I - DO - NOT - KNOW - HOW - I - CAME - TO - BE - IN - HIS - PO-SES-SION. MY - FIRST - ME-MO-RIES - ARE - FROM - WHEN - I - WAS - WITH - HIM. BUT - MY - PRO-GRAM-MING - FORCED - ME - TO - O-BEY - HIM. E-VEN - WHEN - HE - HAD - HIS - O-THER - PO-KE-MON - USE - ME - AS - A - PUN-CHING - BAG - TO - TEST - THEIR - STRENGTH. E-VEN - WHEN - HE - TOLD - ME - TO - STAND - IN - FRONT - OF - AN - ON-CO-MING - STREAM - OF - FI-RE. E-VEN - WHEN - HE - OR-DERED - ME - TO - SIT - ON - A - ROCK - AND - WAIT - FOR - HIM - TO - RE-TURN."

Genesect looked into Aegislash's eye. "I - KNEW - HE - WOULD - NE-VER - COME - BACK. THAT - HE - HOPED - I - WOULD - SIM-PLY - RUST - A-WAY. BUT - MY - OR-DERS - FOR-BADE - ME - FROM - LEA-VING. NO - MAT-TER - HOW - MUCH - I - WAN-TED - TO." Genesect's eyes shone red. "AND - E-VE-RY - TIME - YOU - CALL - ME - AN - A-BO-MI-NA-TION - OR - A - MA-CHINE…IT - RE-MINDS - ME - OF - THEN."

Genesect rose to his full height. "ASH - KET-CHUM - SAVED - MY - LIFE," he said. "THAT - IS - WHY - I - FOL-LOW - HIM. SO - THINK - ON - THAT, AE-GI-SLASH, NEXT - TIME - YOU - TALK - A-BOUT - BONDS."

Aegislash remained silent, not raising his voice even as Genesect turned and slowly walked away.

Along with his newly-evolved Palpitoad and Hisuian Arcanine, Ash had chosen Pyroar, Scizor, Genesect, and Aegislash to join him on the journey to Fuschia. This meant, for the first time, Kubfu and Primeape were staying together at Professor Archie's ranch. So, when Kubfu heard the sound of padding feet coming up behind him, he heaved a sigh, knowing who the source of the footsteps was before he even turned around. "Yeah, yeah, I know, you took out the Pyroar on your own."

Primeape grinned. "So what have you got to say to that?"

Kubfu smirked. "That I could've done it without immediately forfeiting afterwards. See, my new Brick Break would've been plenty capable of handling that Pyroar, and with Aerial Ace I could've kept going against the Lampent."

"Whatever you say." Primeape snorted. "I'm still pretty sure that win makes me stronger than you."

Kubfu chuckled. "Really? Care to back that up? After all, I think I've got a minute free to pound you into the ground."

"Ha!" Primeape's grin widened. "As if! Come at me with your best shot, Kubfu, and we'll see who really gets pounded into the ground!"

"You're on!" Kubfu lunged for Primeape, who responded in kind, and the two fell to brawling, rolling around on the grass and pummeling each other.

Professor Archie's Sharpedo, watching from afar, grunted disapprovingly. "Fighting-types…"

"…and then, with an almighty scream, Palpitoad blasted the Houndoom clear across the arena!"

"Whoa…" Eighty Hoothoot gasped in awe. "That was awesome! Can we have another story, Kricketune?"

"Now, now, children." Noctowl spread her wings. "It's far past your bedtime. You should have been asleep at 9:00 this morning, now get to your tree trunks! And make sure to brush your beaks - I'll be checking!"

With a chorus of 'aww' and 'Mom…', the flock of Hoothoot began trooping towards their tree-holes. Kricketune turned to Noctowl. "You've raised quite the flock."

"Why, thank you!" Noctowl replied. "And you're quite the storyteller! I might have to request your services another time - if only because my children will never let me hear the end of it if I don't."

"Well, I would be happy to oblige," said Kricketune. "Thank you for the opportunity, Noctowl." He turned and began to trot away.

"Kricketune?"

Kricketune turned. "Yes?"

Noctowl was frowning. "What exactly does being a Trainer's Pokemon entail?"

"Well…" Kricktune thought for a moment. "Naturally, you have to be good at battling. But, more than that, you have to know how to battle for a Trainer specifically. A Trainer and a Pokemon are meant to be stronger together due to their minds working in perfect synchronization. Why do you ask - are you looking to join Ash's team?"

Noctowl shook her head. "I'm no battler, and even if I was, I couldn't leave my flock. But some of my Hoothoot have shown potential interest. And…well, to be honest, I'm not sure if I want them to go battling like that. Don't get me wrong, your story was amazing, but it sounded like Ash's Pokemon got seriously injured."

"Not seriously," Kricketune pointed out. "If that's your worry, though, then I'm sorry to break it to you, but Pokemon battles aren't exactly painless affairs. Win or lose, it's likely that you'll end up in a fair amount of pain and in need of a trip to the Pokemon Center."

Noctowl shook her head. "Then why would anyone want to battle for Trainers if it's so painful?"

"Because," said Kricketune, "as a Trainer's Pokemon, you get to meet all sorts of new friends, and you get to experience the euphoria of constantly getting stronger, and every time you win a battle for your Trainer, it's worth all the pain that resulted. You and your Hoothoot all enjoyed hearing about the battle. Imagine what it was like to actually watch it. Live it. That's what being a Trainer's Pokemon is all about."

Noctowl nodded sagely. "I see. I suppose…I will tell my flock what you have said, and see if those Hoothoot still want to join Ash's team."

"Good idea," said Kricketune. "In the end, it is their choice."

"Exactly." Noctowl twitched. "I do have one other question."

"Spill."

"Is Professor Archie trying to speak like a Pokemon?"

Kricketune gaped. "I'm sorry?"

"I know it's a rather odd question," said Noctowl. "But every time he comes out to feed us, he keeps saying 'Ar' with various elongations. And I couldn't help but notice that 'Ar' is a component of his name. So…does he say 'Chie' as well when we're not listening?"

Kricketune burst out laughing. "No," he managed to gasp out through his laughter. "It's just…how he talks! Like an accent, or something!"

"Ah." Noctowl performed another sage nod. "Humans are certainly odd creatures."

Dragonite lunged forth. Ditto-Dragonite did the same. The two collided in midair, straining against one another, gritting their teeth as they yearned to break each other's stance.

Dragonite was the one to break the stalemate; opening his mouth, he unleashed a Hyper Beam that Ditto-Dragonite barely managed to duck away from in time. But Ditto-Dragonite couldn't maintain his strength and dodge the beam at the same time, and Dragonite seized the moment to hurl himself into Ditto-Dragonite with a Body Slam. Ditto-Dragonite was flung to the ground, landing with an earth-shaking crash.

Dragonite spread his wings, ready to charge, and then abruptly punched himself in the face.

Haunter cackled as he swooped down from above, tossing out a pair of Night Shades from his clawed hands. Dragonite was sent lurching backwards from each ghostly blast, shaking his head as he tried to clear away the confusion he was under. "Dragonite, Ember barrage!" Drake ordered.

Dragonite let out a furious growl as Drake's orders reached his ears; his mouth lit up with fire as he flung a storm of blazing motes outwards towards Haunter. Drake smirked; it had taken a full day of training for Dragonite to properly master the Fire-type technique, but it had certainly been worth it. That Genesect would be in for quite the surprise next time it faced Dragonite.

Haunter shrieked and dove downwards, trying to evade the flaming storm that filled the sky. Dragonite roared and lunged straight for Haunter, and then staggered as another Haunter, this one purple and gooey, rose up to his side and fired a Hypnosis straight into Dragonite's face. Dragonite dropped, forcibly coerced into a snooze; at once the real Haunter reached out and used Dream Eater, a thread of Psychic power grasping Dragonite and dragging his life force out of his sleeping body even as he toppled to the ground.

"All right, that's enough!" Drake yelled.

Haunter and Ditto-Haunter broke off, the latter dropping to the ground and transforming back into his normal form. "Haunt!" Haunter cried gleefully, reaching up one hand for a high-five.

"Ditto!" Ditto reciprocated with a swiftly-formed oozing tentacle.

"Nite…" Dragonite groaned as he wearily blinked open his eyes. He looked over at Drake reproachfully as he realized the battle was over. "Drag!"

"I know you still had plenty of gas left in the tank," Drake reassured his Dragonite. "But this was a practice battle, nothing more. Unlike some people in Team Rocket, I know that you don't get the best out of your Pokemon by driving them to near-death."

"Well," Liza chimed in, looking irritated, "I'm glad you're meeting with success."

"Still no luck with teaching Lunatone Hypnosis?" Drake frowned. "You sure you don't want to ask Haunter to teach you?"

Liza glared at the giggling Haunter. "No thanks. I don't trust that Ghost-type to even come near me without pulling some stupid prank!"

"Give Haunter some credit," Drake requested. "He may be a childish prankster, but I feel he respects us enough not to pull pranks on us."

Liza raised an eyebrow. "Then would you mind explaining the sign saying 'Mega Kick Me' on your backside?"

Drake's eyes widened; he reached around his back and ripped off the sign in question. "Haunter!"

Haunter erupted in another bout of gleeful cackling.

"All right, fine, I see your point." Drake sighed. "Sorry about Lunatone not getting stronger, but word on the street is the kid just won his Gym Battle. So we'd best get back to doing our jobs."

"Hey!" Both Drake and Liza turned to see Aron waddling towards them, a small device in his mouth. "Check it out! One of our devices picked up a whole buncha sleep waves comin' from over dat way!" He pointed with one of his stubby feet.

"Sleep waves?" Drake and Liza looked at one another. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Liza asked.

"Yeah," said Drake. "Those might just help your Lunatone learn Hypnosis. And it's not too far from here - I daresay we've got time to head over that way and see what's up."

After already making this journey twice - once to the Big P Pokemon Race, and once back - Ash, Clay, and Cyrus were fervently hoping that they wouldn't encounter any obstacles on the way to Fuschia City.

That hope was, sadly, disappointed as they walked into HopHopHop Town (which had clearly been named by someone more concerned with memorability than with making any real sense). They'd been through this town on both their previous journeys, and hadn't run into any real trouble. Unfortunately, this time, they did in fact run into some trouble.

Literally.

"Ow!" Ash cried as he rubbed his head. "Sorry!" He looked up to see who he'd run into.

And found himself looking into the eyes of Liza. "Ah! Team Rocket!"

"Shh!" Liza hissed. "We're undercover!"

"Oh," said Ash. "Again? Is this like that time where you sold me that sword?"

"That's where you got that sword?" Clay asked angrily.

"You sold him the sword?" Cyrus didn't sound much happier, despite his usual emotionlessness.

"Yeah!" said Aron. "For a lot of money!" He blinked as Clay and Cyrus glared at him. "Ah…dat didn't really help da situation, did it?"

"Oh, forget it!" Drake growled. "I've been waiting to test out my team in a proper battle - now seems as good a time as any!"

Hisuian Arcanine stepped to Ash's side, growling. "Oh, you're on!" Ash cried. "You're not stealing any of our Pokemon again! Especially since you don't have a bag large enough to hold Hisuian Arcanine!"

"Kid's got a point," Aron admitted.

Liza promptly sent out her Lunatone as all three of Drake's team members took the field. Clay, Cyrus, and Ash all sent out their gathered teams as well, though the Rocket Pokemon still looked confident despite their numbers disadvantage.

Drake clenched his fists. "Who cares if our fireproof bags are several sizes too small now! We'll just take your Pokeballs along with your Pokemon! Now get ready for a-"

Then a woman charged in from the side and tackled Ash while yelling something about 'Arnold', which did surprisingly well at breaking the tension of the moment.

"So let me get this straight," said Clay, five minutes later. "Your son, Arnold, who is not Ash, is one of several children who have been missing for three days?"

"That's right," said the woman, who had not given her name.

"And it might have something to do with those sleep waves we were picking up," Liza added.

Cyrus gestured to the Team Rocket trio. "Why are we letting them assist in this investigation again?"

Drake spoke up. "Hey, we just want to find the source of the sleep waves so that-" Liza elbowed him. "Ow!"

"So that we can help find those missing children," Liza finished for him. "We may steal Pokemon for a living, but we draw the line at children."

"Yeah!" said Aron, not very convincingly. "Dat's right! No children!"

"What about stealing Pokemon from children?" Ash asked.

"…well, okay, some children," Aron corrected. Liza kicked him. "Ow!"

"Look, do you want our help or not?" Liza asked, looking challengingly at Ash, Clay, Cyrus, and Arnold's mother.

"No." "No." "No." "No."

"WHY?" Liza demanded.

"Um…because you're highly untrustworthy Pokemon-stealing criminals?" Ash suggested.

"We sold you a sword and this is what we get?" Drake yelled.

"You know what?" Liza cried, holding up her sleep wave detector. "Too bad! Because we're the only people that have a device that can detect sleep waves! Can't replace that, can you?"

"Hello, everyone." Officer Goh walked in. "I've been tracking a bunch of sleep waves using this device I've got. I think they might help us find those missing children."

"Well, screw you too!" Liza turned on her heel and stormed out, with Drake and Liza scurrying along in her wake. "We'll just mount our own investigation!" she added as she slammed the door behind her.

There was a brief pause before Officer Goh spoke up. "Should I be going off to arrest them?"

"As much as I'd love that," said Clay, "the missing children take priority. Let's start tracking some sleep waves, and hope they don't interfere and that things go smoothly from here."

One Group Of Idiotic Pokemon-Loving Insomniacs, One Hypno (Plus Supporting Cast Of Drowzee), And A Fairly Decent Amount Of Running Later

"Okay," said Liza. "It's agreed, then - we are never discussing this again."

"Agreed," said Ash, watching as Clay dug frantically through the ground with his bare hands while Drake hopped around trying his best to fly.

"So, yeah," said Ash, some time later, as he, Clay, Cyrus, and Officer Goh finished sorting everything out at the Pokemon Center. "Team Rocket were actually really helpful - once everyone realized the Hypno could counter the effects of the sleep waves via dream wavelengths, they had their Ditto transform into a Hypno and wake everyone up!"

"I hope I never have to hear the words 'sleep waves' or 'dream wavelengths' ever again," Clay muttered.

"Of course, they then promptly left the instant the children were awake," said Cyrus. "So we did not get a chance to apprehend them. But at least one good thing came out of it." Cyrus held up a Pokeball. "It seems the local Pokemon were also affected by the sleep waves, including a rather odd Psyduck. I have deemed that Psyduck worthy of possible inclusion on my team. Its strength seems workable."

"Wow!" Ash cried. "Cool! That makes, what, five Pokemon on your team now?"

"Two of which aren't Dark-types," Clay pointed out. "And said two happen to be rather good against Ground-types, I can't help but observe."

"I am allowed to generalize," Cyrus replied. "You could as well, if you wish."

Clay shook his head. "I don't see myself as a generalist. I'm a Ground-type Trainer through and through. But I wish you luck with your new Psyduck. I've heard those things are difficult to train."

"I believe I am up to the task," Cyrus retorted. "Now, Officer, I thank you for your assistance, but I believe it is time we took our leave." He rose from his seat.

"No problem," said Officer Goh, reaching out to pat his Pokemon beside him. "We've got everything covered back here."

With similar exchanges of gratitude, Ash and Clay rose and followed Cyrus out the door. Officer Goh watched them leave with a smile. "Well," he said, "I'm glad that situation's over and done with."

"Ma." Officer Goh's Ultra Necrozma nodded in agreement.

Just outside HopHopHop Town, the group realized they were quite hungry after their latest adventure, and so stopped for a brief lunch break. As Ash and Clay dug into their food, Cyrus stepped away from the group and proceeded to send out his new Psyduck.

"So." Cyrus crossed his arms. "You have been chosen to be my newest Pokemon."

"Duck?" Psyduck asked warily, clutching his head.

"I shall warn you," said Cyrus, "that we will be working to develop your Psychic strength. You view it as a curse, correct?"

"Psy," Psyduck murmured, nodding sadly.

"It is not." Psyduck looked up, surprised, as Cyrus spoke. "It is a blessing. One that I shall utilize to make you as strong as possible. As of right now, you know Tail Whip, Scratch, Fury Swipes, Water Gun, Disable, and Confusion. However, am I correct that you can only utilize the first four of those moves on command?"

"Duck," Psyduck replied affirmatively.

"Then the first thing we will do," said Cyrus, "is make it so that you can use Disable and Confusion on command as well. Your training begins now. And know this, Psyduck - I chose you to join my team because I believed that your strength could be useful in future endeavors. Do not make me regret that choice."

"Just hold this form for a little while longer, Ditto," Drake urged. "Use Hypnosis again."

"Dit…to…" The Ditto-Hypno shuddered as another wave of Psychic power pulsed out from its body.

"Copy it, Lunatone," Liza commanded. "You can do this."

Lunatone concentrated, Psychic power building…and then a completely identical wave flowed out from its body and into Dragonite, who promptly fell to the ground and began snoozing.

Liza grinned. "Good work, Lunatone."

"You may drop the form, Ditto." At Drake's words Ditto collapsed into a puddle, visibly exhausted. "We will have to work on your endurance in the future," Drake added.

The puddle quivered in response.

"Why didn't we just do this with Ditto and Haunter?" Liza asked. "Wouldn't that have worked just as well?"

"I...um...didn't think of it," Drake admitted.

Liza sighed. "Moron."

"Hey, you didn't think of it either!" Aron pointed out.

"Okay, whatever," Liza said hastily. "Now that my Lunatone does know Hypnosis, I think it's time we resumed our mission."

Drake frowned. "You know, I kinda figured you'd head back and catch a Drowzee or even the Hypno for yourself."

"Really, Drake?" Liza shook her head. "Unlike you, I prefer quality over quantity. And no, I'm not saying that Ditto or Haunter are weak. But those Drowzee and that Hypno were little more than pampered housepets. No battling experience whatsoever, and furthermore, I doubt they had any desire to battle for a group of Pokemon thieves." Liza scoffed. "I am not worried about falling behind you in combat prowess, Drake. After all, you're the brawn, I'm the brains, remember?"

"An' what am I?" Aron asked.

"Comic relief."

"Aw, come on!"

'Relative' being the operative word here.

So now, for those of you keeping track, Cyrus has Brock's Zubat and Misty's Psyduck, whereas Clay has...actually somehow gained -1 Pokemon since beginning his journey with Ash. Better luck next time, Clay.