Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the new series. As mentioned in the last chapter, this is just a fun side chapter where Ash meets new characters who appeared in Mondstadt after the events of Storm Terror like Bennett, Fischl and Klee. Ash will still interact with other current characters for a bit. Remember this takes place a few days before Ash made his decision. Enjoy.

New Faces

...

A few days ago...

Shortly after calming Dvalin and his intense encounter with La Signora, Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario wandered through the streets of Mondstadt. The city was buzzing with life, and despite the peaceful atmosphere, Ash's mind was anything but calm. The conversation with Venti lingered in his thoughts, his words swirling like the autumn leaves dancing in the breeze.

"What do you really want to do, Ash?"

Even now, he wasn't sure how to answer that. His heart tugged in different directions—returning home, finding his other Pokémon, discovering the truth about his heritage. The uncertainty gnawed at him.

As the trio strolled, they quickly became the center of attention. Citizens stopped in their tracks upon spotting the young hero with excitement flashing in their eyes. People gathered around, offering words of gratitude, some even requesting his autograph.

"You were amazing out there!" one man cheered. 'The way you fought beside the Honorary Knight and the Knights of Favonius—it was like something out of a legend!"

Ash chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "I really appreciate it, but it wasn't just me. Aether, Paimon, Venti, Diluc, and Jean—they all played a huge part too. And my Pokémon!" He gestured to Pikachu and Lucario, who both perked up at the mention. "I couldn't have done it alone."

His humility only seemed to endear him further to the people.

"Spoken like a true hero," a woman said with a warm smile.

Some citizens, however, were less willing to let him downplay his role.

"You're too modest, young man!" an elderly vendor insisted. "You were the one who defeated the dragon!"

Just then, a small girl, barely past her knees, stepped forward with something clutched in her tiny hands. She held up a drawing with her eyes sparkling with admiration.

"Mister Ash! I drew this for you!" she chirped.

Ash knelt down, gently accepting the picture. His eyes widened. The drawing depicted the climactic moment of the battle—him standing with his aura ablaze, fusing it with Aether's dull sword, the final strike cutting through the corrupted blood clot plaguing Dvalin.

His breath hitched. "Whoa… this is amazing!" He grinned at the little girl. "Did you draw this all by yourself?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! My mama and I saw someone taking a picture of you during the battle, and I copied it!"

Ash's brows furrowed. "Wait… someone took a picture?" He exchanged glances with Pikachu and Lucario.

Who could've done that?

Before he could ponder further, the girl tugged at his sleeve. "Do you like it?"

Ash quickly pushed aside his curiosity and beamed at her. "I love it! Thank you so much!"

The girl giggled with delight as Ash ruffled her hair.

A few moments later...

As Ash and his Pokémon wandered through the bustling streets of Mondstadt, they soon arrived at the Adventurers' Guild. Standing behind the counter, as always, was Katheryne, the ever-poised receptionist. Upon spotting the young hero, she offered him a small, knowing smile.

"Ah, if it isn't the hero of Mondstadt," she teased lightly. "What a rare honor to have such a distinguished guest visit our humble guild."

Ash chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "C'mon, Katheryne, you don't have to say it like that."

She tilted her head slightly with amusement flickering in her eyes. "And here I thought you were starting to enjoy all the attention."

He sighed playfully. "I don't know about that. I think people are just excited now, but it'll probably die down in a week or so."

Katheryne hummed. "If you say so." Then, she gave a quick glance around. "Hmm… I don't see the Traveler or Paimon with you today. Are they off on a mission?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, Aether and Paimon went with Amber on an assignment. Amber actually asked if they could borrow my Dragonite for extra air support, so I let it tag along."

Katheryne nodded in approval. "That makes sense. Having a reliable flying companion must be a great advantage in the field." Pikachu and Lucario listened as they stood beside Ash. "I do hope the sudden fame isn't becoming too much for you, though. Mondstadt can be quite… enthusiastic when it comes to celebrating its heroes."

Ash laughed. "Nah, it's fine. Everyone's just happy that things turned out okay. Honestly, it's nice seeing people smiling again."

Katheryne smiled at his sincerity. "That's a good outlook to have. But if you ever need a break from the spotlight, the Adventurers' Guild always has assignments to keep you busy."

Ash grinned. "I'll keep that in mind."

As Ash waved goodbye to Katheryne and turned to explore more of Mondstadt, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario turned around just in time to see a young boy with white hair and bright green eyes sprinting towards them. He wore a rusty pair of goggles perched atop his head, a sleeveless cream jacket, blue cuffed shorts, and a yellow bandana tied around his right arm. However, before he could reach them, his foot snagged on an untied shoelace, and—

THUD!

The boy crashed face-first into the ground, skidding across the stone pavement. Ash and his Pokémon winced.

"Whoa! Are you okay?" Ash hurried over, crouching beside him while Pikachu and Lucario looked on with concern.

The boy groaned, then quickly sat up, dusting himself off as if nothing had happened. "Ahaha, yeah, I'm fine! This kinda thing happens to me all the time."

Ash blinked. "Uh… really?"

"Yep!" the boy said with a grin, giving a thumbs-up. "No big deal!" Still baffled, Ash reached out and helped him to his feet. Once standing, the boy beamed. "Oh, right! I almost forgot! Name's Bennett! I've been wanting to meet you for days now!" Suddenly, his eyes sparkled with admiration. "You're so cool! The way you took down Stormterror, that blue energy thing you did, your friends here—man, I wish I could be like you!"

Ash sweatdropped, rubbing the back of his head. "Ahaha, thanks, I guess?"

Bennett sighed dramatically. "Too bad I've got this awful bad luck… If I tried anything like that, I'd probably get struck by lightning, fall into a hole, and get chased by hilichurls all at the same time."

Ash tilted his head. "Huh? Bad luck?"

Bennett quickly waved it off with a laugh. "It's nothing, really! Just… my life."

Still confused but deciding not to press further, Ash shrugged. As he turned to leave, Bennett suddenly perked up with his expression shifting to nervous excitement.

"Uh, hey! I was wondering… would you and your little friends here wanna grab lunch with me? It's on me!"

Ash blinked. "Wait, you don't have to do that."

Bennett grinned sheepishly. "I insist! You're like a role model to me, and I'd love to treat you guys!"

Ash hesitated, not wanting to take advantage of the guy's kindness, but the eager look on Bennett's face made it impossible to refuse.

"…Alright, if you're sure," Ash finally said.

"Awesome!" Bennett cheered, pumping a fist in the air—only for a strong gust of wind to blow through, sending his goggles flying off his head. "…Huh. That's just my luck," he muttered, scratching the back of his head as Ash and his Pokémon sweatdropped again.

Moments later, at Good Hunter...

Bennett scratched his head sheepishly. "Man, I swear I had it with me… Maybe it fell out on the way here?"

Ash shook his head with a small chuckle. "Don't worry about it, Bennett. It happens."

Pikachu and Lucario, however, exchanged a knowing look, as if silently acknowledging that this was probably just another case of Bennett's infamous bad luck.

He couldn't seem to find his Mora anywhere.

Sara crossed her arms and let out a small sigh. "Bennett, this isn't the first time you've 'lost' your Mora, is it?"

Bennett laughed nervously. "Ehehe… well, you know me."

Before he could apologize again, Sara turned to Ash with a warm smile. "In any case, since you're the hero who saved Mondstadt, I think we can make an exception. This meal is on the house."

Ash blinked in surprise. "Wait, seriously? You don't have to do that."

Sara waved off his concern. "Nonsense. Everyone in Mondstadt is grateful for what you've done. Consider it our way of saying thank you."

Bennett grinned. "Wow, talk about lucky! Thanks, Sara!"

Sara shot him a teasing glare. "Don't push it, Bennett."

Ash hesitated for a moment, but seeing Sara's firm expression, he finally nodded. "Alright, I appreciate it. Thanks, Sara!"

A few moments later...

As the group finished their meal, Ash stretched his arms with a satisfied sigh. "Man, that really hit the spot! Thanks again, Sara!"

Pikachu and Lucario nodded in agreement, both looking just as content.

Sara smiled. "Anytime, hero." Then, she turned her gaze to Bennett, raising an eyebrow. "And you—just because I let it slide this time doesn't mean you get free meals forever. You will pay me back next time, got it?"

Bennett chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "O-of course! I promise, next time for sure!"

Ash laughed at Bennett's reaction. "Guess you have a bit of a reputation here, huh?"

Bennett sighed dramatically. "Yeah… you could say that."

As they stepped away from Good Hunter, Bennett suddenly turned to Ash with a sincere expression. "Hey, Ash, I just wanted to say… thanks for hanging out with me today. I know you're super popular and busy, so this really means a lot."

Ash gave him a lopsided grin and patted his shoulder. "What are you talking about? I had a great time. You're a good guy, Bennett."

Bennett's face turned slightly red, and he quickly looked away. "Aw, come on, don't say stuff like that! You'll make a guy all emotional."

Ash chuckled. "Well, it's the truth!"

With that, the two shared a laugh before parting ways, though Ash had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time he and Bennett would cross paths.

Sometime later in the day...

As Ash admired the flowers at Flora's shop, he couldn't help but smile at how lively Mondstadt was. Pikachu sniffed a bundle of Windwheel Asters while Lucario stood nearby, observing the surroundings. Flora, the young shopkeeper, was beaming with excitement.

"I can't believe the great hero of Mondstadt is blessing my shop with his presence!" she chirped, clasping her hands together.

Ash chuckled sheepishly, scratching his cheek. "Ahaha, I wouldn't say all that. I just thought your flowers looked really nice."

Before Flora could respond, a dramatic voice suddenly echoed from behind.

"Hark! Fate has guided me to this most fortuitous encounter!"

Ash turned around and blinked in confusion at the sight before him—a girl with striking heterochromatic eyes, on which the left side was covered by an eyepatch, golden blonde hair tied in elaborate twin tails, and dressed in an extravagant purple-and-black gothic outfit. At her side, a black raven flapped its wings.

"Behold! You stand before Prinzessin der Verurteilung, the sovereign of the Immernachtreich, the one who walks between shadow and light!"

Ash stared blankly. "Uh… what?"

The girl dramatically placed a hand on her hip and lifted her chin. "I, Fischl, have been chosen by fate to witness this world's grand design. And you, traveler from beyond, are an anomaly unlike any other! The stars whisper your name, heralding a destiny intertwined with the celestial tapestry!"

Ash blinked again, utterly lost. Pikachu tilted his head, and Lucario crossed his arms, equally perplexed.

The raven let out a weary sigh. "Ah, please forgive my lady's… unique manner of speech. I am Oz, her loyal companion. She merely wishes to express her intrigue at your presence."

"R-Right…" Ash hesitated, still trying to process what just happened. "So… you're saying you wanted to meet me?"

Fischl nodded. "Verily! For the moment I gazed upon the tales of your valor, I knew our fates were entwined! But pray tell, what manner of mystical beasts are these by your side?"

She pointed at Pikachu and Lucario.

"Pika?" Pikachu blinked, glancing at Lucario, who simply sighed.

"They're called Pokémon," Ash explained. "Pikachu and Lucario are my partners."

"Pokémon…" Fischl murmured, struggling to pronounce the word. "Ah! Surely they are akin to the enigmatic familiars of my homeland, creatures bound to their masters through fate's decree!"

Ash scratched his head. "Uh… sure? I guess?"

Once again, Oz stepped in. "She means to say that your companions intrigue her, as they seem unlike any creatures from Teyvat."

Ash nodded, finally somewhat understanding. "Well, they're not from Teyvat, so that makes sense."

Fischl gasped, clasping her hands together. "As I suspected! You hail from a realm beyond our own, a traveler guided by destiny itself!"

Ash let out a nervous laugh. "Haha… yeah, something like that."

Fischl clapped her hands together, gleaming with excitement. "Ah, rejoice! For fate has decreed that our destinies shall intertwine in a glorious banquet to commemorate this most fortuitous encounter!"

Ash blinked, trying to process her words before glancing at Oz for help.

The raven let out another small sigh before translating. "My lady wishes to share a meal with you in celebration of your newfound friendship."

Ash nodded in understanding and offered a small, polite smile. "Oh, uh, that's really nice of you, but I actually just had lunch not too long ago…"

Fischl gasped as if Ash had uttered something truly unthinkable. "Nonsense! A hero of your caliber must not shy away from the bounty that fate bestows upon him! Such an opportunity must be seized, lest the celestial threads unravel before our eyes!"

Ash sweatdropped, unsure of how to respond. "Uh, really, it's okay—"

Before he could finish, Fischl suddenly grabbed his wrist, gripping it with surprising strength. "Come! I know of the perfect place where we shall revel in merriment and forge the bonds of camaraderie!"

"W-Wait! Hold on—!" Ash tried to protest, but Fischl was already dragging him away with an unstoppable enthusiasm.

Oz let out another long-suffering sigh. "Alas, once my lady has made up her mind, resistance is futile."

Pikachu and Lucario watched the scene unfold in silence before exchanging confused glances.

"Pika?" Pikachu tilted his head.

Lucario sighed. "Luca…" (I think we just lost him…)

At Good Hunter, once more...

As Ash stepped into Good Hunter once again, he was immediately met with Sara's blank stare and the slight downturn of her lips. She crossed her arms, giving him a look that screamed, Really?

Ash chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh… hey, Sara. I'm… back."

Sara sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Didn't you just eat here earlier?"

Before Ash could answer, Fischl dramatically gasped, placing a hand over her chest. "Nay! Could it be that the great hero hath already partaken in a feast before this momentous occasion?"

Ash blinked at her theatrics, before turning back to Sara with a sheepish nod. "Yeah… I was actually here earlier with Bennett."

Another gasp from Fischl.

She stepped back as if she had just uncovered some grand secret. "Verily, the threads of fate have already intertwined thee with Sir Bennett, the gallant yet misfortunate knight of destiny?"

Ash blinked, completely lost. He slowly turned to Oz for help.

The raven simply sighed and said, "Yes."

Ash sweatdropped. Well… that's a lot shorter than whatever she just said. Despite his mild confusion, a thought popped into Ash's mind, making him turn back to Fischl. "Wait… how do you know Bennett?"

Fischl immediately straightened up, flipping her hair back as she began another long, grandiose speech, her voice filled with flair and drama.

Ash stared blankly as she rambled on, already regretting his question.

Once again, Oz stepped in with the much-needed translation. "My lady and Sir Bennett are fellow adventurers. They have undertaken various quests together, though my lady prefers to phrase it in a more… unique manner."

Ash slowly nodded. "Uh-huh… yeah, I, uh, totally got that."

Pikachu and Lucario exchanged glances before sighing.

Ash could only hope Fischl wouldn't talk like this the entire time they were hanging out.

...

Later that evening, at Angel's Share, the ever-bustling tavern owned by Diluc, the atmosphere was lively with the chatter of patrons enjoying their drinks. However, Diluc himself looked less than pleased as he shot a glare at a certain bard who was currently helping himself to yet another glass of fine wine—without paying.

"Venti," Diluc's voice was low, laced with irritation, "This is not a free sampling event."

Venti waved a dismissive hand. "Ah, come now, Master Diluc! I was just inspecting the quality of Mondstadt's finest. You wouldn't want me to sing praises about subpar wine, would you?" He grinned, swirling the drink in his hand. "Besides, I fully intend to pay… eventually."

Diluc groaned, rubbing his temples. "I don't take 'eventually' as currency."

Before their exchange could escalate, the tavern door swung open. Ash walked inside, dragging his feet and clutching his head. Behind him, Pikachu and Lucario followed, both equally exhausted.

Ash slumped onto the counter with a tired groan. "And I thought she would never stop talking…" he muttered under his breath.

Venti, immediately perking up at the sight of his traveler friend, leaned in with a teasing smile. "Oho~! Could it be that Mondstadt's newfound hero is already worn down by the weight of his fame?"

Ash groaned into the counter. "Not exactly…"

Venti chuckled. "Well then! A little wine might be just what you need to lift your spirits!" He raised his glass playfully.

Before Ash could respond, Diluc cut in sharply. "He's underage. The only thing he'll be drinking here is juice." His tone left no room for argument.

Venti huffed, dramatically crossing his arms. "Tsk, such a stick in the mud, Master Diluc! You do know that a little wine never hurt anyone, right?"

Diluc shot him a glare. "You're lucky I don't throw you out for the three months of unpaid tabs you've racked up."

Venti pouted, looking scandalized. "That's slander! …Mostly."

Meanwhile, Diluc placed a chilled glass of fresh fruit juice in front of Ash. "Here. On the house."

Ash looked up, surprised but grateful. He smiled weakly. "Thanks, Diluc."

Venti, watching the exchange, gasped dramatically. "Wait, why does he get free drinks, but I—"

Diluc shot him another glare.

Venti immediately shut up, sipping his stolen wine with an exaggerated sulk.

"Meanie..."

...

Ash and his Pokémon made their way back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters for the night, exhaustion from the day's events finally catching up to them. However, the moment they stepped inside, something unusual caught their attention.

A small figure peeked out from one of the rooms, moving suspiciously. She looked no older than ten, with pale skin, bright orange eyes, and blonde hair tied into pigtails. Her elf-like ears twitched as she muttered to herself, peering out cautiously as if making sure the coast was clear. The little girl wore a red flat hat adorned with a feather, light brown gloves, and a fluffy scarf with a pom-pom. A dark red backpack rested on her back, with a small stuffed toy—Dodoco—peeking out. She had on a red coat with black and white details, a gold clover emblem, a white skirt, short fluffy pants, and brown boots decorated with clover symbols.

It seemed like the guard who was supposed to be stationed nearby had gone on night patrol, leaving her unchecked.

Ash, raising a brow at the odd sight, approached her carefully. "Uh… what exactly are you doing?"

The moment the girl heard his voice, she froze before letting out a high-pitched squeak. She spun around in alarm with her wide eyes darting left and right. "Ah! Jean?! I-It's not what it looks like! I wasn't sneaking out—" She trailed off as she got a good look at Ash with her expression instantly shifting from panic to pure excitement. "Wait a minute! You're Ash Ketchum!"

Ash blinked in confusion as the girl practically vibrated with excitement. Pikachu and Lucario exchanged glances.

"You know me?" Ash asked in confusion.

Klee nodded eagerly. "Of course! Even though Jean locked me in my room, I heard so many stories about you! You're the hero who helped save Mondstadt! And you have super cool creatures with you!" She clapped her hands together, sparkling with admiration.

Ash rubbed the back of his head, unsure how to react. "Uh, thanks… but why were you locked up in your room?"

Klee's excitement suddenly shifted to nervousness. She twiddled her fingers and looked away sheepishly. "Well… I accidentally blew something up again… and Jean said I needed to reflect on my actions…"

Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario all stiffened. "You what?" Ash repeated in shock.

Klee pouted. "It was an accident! I really didn't mean to!"

Ash sighed. "Jean must've had a good reason to ground you…"

Klee puffed up her cheeks but quickly grinned again. "Oh! I almost forgot! My name's Klee! I'm one of the Knights of Favonius!" She puffed out her chest proudly.

Ash blinked, looking between her small frame and her innocent smile. "You're a Knight?"

Pikachu and Lucario exchanged skeptical looks. Klee giggled at their reactions. "Yep! I'm a real Knight! And I'm really good with bombs!"

Ash felt a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. "That's what I'm afraid of…"

Soon they heard faint voices.

It was Jean and Lisa.

Their voices were getting louder, almost as if they were heading towards them. Klee's panic visibly spiked. She gasped, quickly grabbing onto Ash's jacket and tugging at it with desperation.

"Ash, please! Hide me or else Jean will be so angry with me!" she pleaded with her wide, orange eyes shimmering with the most pitiful puppy-dog look imaginable.

Ash grimaced, already regretting what he was about to do. "Ugh… fine," he muttered.

Klee beamed and immediately crouched behind Pikachu and Lucario, who both exchanged wary glances before awkwardly positioning themselves to block her from view.

Jean and Lisa finally rounded the corner, Lisa looking pleased while Jean seemed exhausted.

"You see, Jean?" Lisa said with a smug smile. "A little fresh air won't kill you. It's good for your health~"

Jean let out a tired sigh, rubbing her temple. "Lisa, you dragged me out of my office."

Lisa chuckled. "Details, details~"

Before Jean could argue further, both women noticed Ash standing awkwardly in the hallway, whistling innocently with his hands behind his head. Pikachu and Lucario stood just a few feet away, stiff as statues, with their arms oddly raised outward as if trying to shield something from view.

Jean raised an eyebrow. "Ash?"

Lisa gave a sly smile. "Well, well, what do we have here?"

Ash kept his forced whistling going for a few more painful seconds before stopping abruptly. "Uh… hey, guys! Fancy meeting you here!"

Jean folded her arms, giving him a look that screamed, I know you're up to something. "What are you doing standing around so late?"

Lisa waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, come now, Jean. Don't scold the poor boy. He's just stretching his legs, aren't you, cutie?"

Ash let out a nervous chuckle. "Y-Yeah! Stretching! Super important!"

Jean sighed, but her sharp gaze flickered to Pikachu and Lucario, who still looked painfully unnatural in their stance. "What are they doing?"

Pikachu and Lucario exchanged a quick glance before Pikachu squeaked out a response, "Pika!" while Lucario simply crossed his arms, nodding.

Jean frowned.

Lisa leaned forward with an amused smirk. "Hmm… it almost looks like you're hiding something~"

Ash tensed with his sweat growing cold.

Busted.

Behind the Pokémon, Klee held her breath, her tiny hands clenched in silent prayer that Jean wouldn't see her. If Jean caught her, it was straight back to her room with no explosions for who knows how long!

Jean stepped closer, eyeing Ash suspiciously. "Ash… move aside."

Ash gulped.

Uh-oh…

Just as Ash and Klee were about to be completely caught red-handed, salvation arrived in the form of Kaeya, who strolled in with his usual smirk.

"Master Jean, Lisa, aren't we stalling a little too much? The night isn't getting any younger," Kaeya drawled, casually placing a hand on his hip.

Jean sighed, rubbing her temple. "Fine, fine. But we will talk about this later, Ash." She shot him a firm glare, making Ash flinch.

"Y-Yeah, of course!" he stammered, nodding dumbly.

Kaeya chuckled at the exchange before turning his attention back to Ash. "Why not join us, young hero? A night of celebration sounds fun, doesn't it?"

Ash tensed at the invitation. "Uh..." He forced a nervous laugh. "I appreciate it, but I'm pretty wiped out after today."

Jean quickly interjected before Kaeya could push further. "Kaeya, you know he's underage. The last thing we need is for him to pick up any bad habits from you."

Lisa giggled. "Oh, Jean, you're so uptight. Let the boy live a little~."

Jean folded her arms. "He's living just fine, thank you very much."

Kaeya let out a dramatic sigh. "Well, if you insist. But next time, Ash, you owe me a drink—non-alcoholic, of course." He winked.

Ash chuckled awkwardly. "Sure... next time."

Jean gave Ash one last stern look before following Lisa and Kaeya out of the hallway. The moment the doors shut behind them, Ash and his Pokémon collectively exhaled in relief.

"That was way too close," Ash muttered, wiping his forehead.

"Pikaaa..." Pikachu groaned.

Lucario merely crossed his arms, letting out a low sigh.

Before Ash could fully relax, Klee suddenly threw her arms around him in a grateful hug. "Thank you, Ash! You're the best!"

Ash chuckled nervously, patting her head. "Uh, yeah… no problem."

Klee pulled back with a bright grin. "Oh! I know how to make it up to you! Let's go fishing together!"

Ash blinked. "Fishing?"

Klee giggled, rocking on her heels. "Mhm! You'll see!"

Something about her innocent smile sent a chill down Ash's spine. Pikachu and Lucario exchanged wary glances.

"...Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Ash muttered to himself.

Klee just kept giggling. "It's gonna be so much fun!"

Ash gulped again.

...

The next morning, Ash, Pikachu, Lucario, and Klee found themselves near the outskirts of Mondstadt. The fresh morning breeze rolled over the grass as birds chirped in the distance. Ash glanced back toward the city, relieved that he had somehow managed to sneak Klee out under Jean's radar. He wasn't sure how long they had before she found out, but for now, they were in the clear.

Klee bounced on her heels with hands clasped excitedly. "Yay! I'm so happy you guys came fishing with me!"

Ash smiled, though he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, about that… I don't see any fishing rods. Did you forget to bring them?"

Klee tilted her head before giggling. "Oh, silly Ash! We don't need fishing rods!"

Ash blinked in confusion.

Pikachu and Lucario exchanged wary glances.

"Wait... then how are we supposed to fish?" Ash asked.

Klee's grin widened. "Like this!"

Before Ash could question her further, Klee reached into her backpack and pulled out a round, red object.

A bomb.

Ash's eyes widened. "Whoa, whoa, wait—Klee, what are you—"

Too late.

With a gleeful giggle, Klee heaved the bomb straight into the pond.

BOOM!

The explosion sent water and steam shooting into the air, rippling outward with a shockwave that nearly knocked Ash off balance. Pikachu flinched, sparks crackling from his cheeks, while Lucario instinctively raised its arms to shield itself.

A second later, dozens of fish rained down, flopping onto the ground right at Klee's feet.

"Ta-da! Bomb fishing!" Klee declared proudly, throwing her arms up.

Ash, Pikachu, and Lucario stood frozen as they stared at the aftermath. The once-peaceful pond now had small ripples of steam rising from it, and the fish—completely stunned—lay scattered across the grass.

Ash finally let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing his temple. "Ooooh... so this is why Jean keeps you locked up."

...

Well, that was fun imao. I enjoy writing it, especially the Fischl and Klee interactions with Ash. The next chapter will be the two years time skip. But it won't be posted until the next PokéHearts update is completed.