Well, here it is, the fifteenth part of the fifth and final installment in my 'Heart' series on the right day as promised. Trouble is in the Wetlands as the months' long feud between the native Pokémon and the invading bug types, Sevipers, and their leader Florges reaches a head with Goodra's return and stand against the Pokémon who'd inadvertently exiled him from the area. What will happen when these two fully evolved Pokémon clash and is there more at play in the Wetlands than a simple feud over a spring? Time to find out in the second Part of Ash's adventure in the Wetlands. That is all the administrative stuff I have for this Part and as there are no guest reviews to respond to or questions to answer I will leave this off here but do please keep your reviews coming as I love hearing from y'all. That is it for this pre-Part note which means that it is once again time to sit back which and enjoy the latest installment in Heart of Champions. Part CCIV: Guardian of the Wetlands.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.

Part CCIV: Guardian of the Wetlands

The moment Florges gave the order a line of Pinsirs who'd fallen back from Goodra's counter to avoid being hit by it stepped forward their finger claws glowing with power that they then slashed and projected an attack at Goodra and the Pokémon around him. Goodra set himself but as he did Wooper stepped forward with a cry of his own along with several of his fellow Woopers, four Quagsires and a handful of Lotads and all of them blasted out Water Gun attacks to counter the Pinsirs' attacks.

The two attacks clashed in the air and exploded, canceling each other out and ending the attacks there and then. Florges wasn't going to sit idle though and she gave another order this time to the Beedrills and Yanmegas around her to attack Goodra and his friends from above. Pikachu wanted to join in from where they were watching but Ash had to stop him.

"No Pikachu, Keanan was right when he told Dawn and May that this isn't our fight." Ash said as the Yanmegas' wings glowed and they blasted down some likely flying attack while the Beedrills shot off what had to be a Poison Sting or similar attack from their stingers. "It's the Pokémon who live here's fight so it is best we stay out of it. Goodra, you got this my friend, protect your home!"

"Pi, Pikachu." Pikachu said understanding what Ash was getting at and lending his own support for his friend and teammate.

"Goodra." Goodra said as he got in the way of the flying type attacks and took them on his chest, they were painful but he was a fully evolved and strong Pokémon defending his home he could take it and more to accomplish that. "Goo, Goodra."

As he did three Gulpin hopped forward and fired off poison type attacks of their own at the ones that the Beedrills had sent. Again the attacks hit each other and exploded only this time more smoke was created and through it the Lotads fired off what looked like an ice type attack that hit and downed several of the Beedrills and caused the remaining ones to buzz angrily backwards through the air.

As that was happening Goodra unleased another Dragon Pulse attack that slammed into one of the Yanmega's faces blowing up and sending it flipping back and knocking it out of the fight as the ones around it scattered. However, the one that Florges was riding was higher and further back than the rest of the swarm so she wasn't affected by it all.

"The forces are evenly matched." May noted as they watched. "And the types really aren't strong or weak other than the matchup between the leaders. This is a lot better than I feared it would be and Goodra is rallying his friends with his strength."

"Yeah they may win." Dawn said as she cheered. "Go Goodra, win this for your friends!"

"Pip, Piplup!" Piplup cheered as well.

"You've got this." Ash said as the Sevipers slithered forward and Florges ordered her Yanmega to fly down towards the ground clearly aware that its lackies couldn't handle Goodra. "Looks like you got Florges's attention, this is it, beat it!"

"Er, Ash, quick note." May said. "Florges is one of those female only species, you can call her a she as there's no doubt as to her gender similar to how Pikachu has a gender specific trait."

"Oh right." Ash said as Florges leapt off her stead and into a small pond before Goodra before hopping out of it and onto the grass in front of him. "Beat her Goodra! You got this buddy!"

"This is it, a battle of the bosses." Dawn said. "I'm surprised that they decided to fight this out this early into the conflict."

"Likely the evenly matched nature of it." Ash said as Florges and Goodra stared at each other for a moment now that the fighting had subsided. "It would be a pointless stalemate and slugfest that could damage the area if the others fought. Better to end this with the bosses early than anything else. Plus I bet Florges feels like she has the advantage in this matchup given types and past experiences. She's in for a rude awakening if that's the case."

"Goodra can stand up to a fairy type now." Dawn agreed. "This will be good."

"Well there's a moment so let's find out more about Florges." Ash said pulling out his Pokedex and using the lull in the battle to scan her to get some basic information on the species. "I think I recall seeing Trevor's in the Wallace Cup now that I see this one but it had a white thing around its head not a blue one like this one has."

"Florges, the Garden Pokémon and the final evolved form of Flabébé." The Pokedex chimed as Ash took in the green Pokémon with two long leaf like protrusions from the base of what looked like a stem that led up to its neck with white arms, head upper and upper chest though there were some black things on her chest as well. "Long ago, nobles would often ask Florges to create beautiful gardens for their castles."

"Huh, not the most helpful and I don't get why it's not part grass type as well." Ash said as he put away his Pokedex. "Or why this one is blue and the one Trevor has is white."

"That's due to the flower." May said. "There are 5 different colors depending on the flower they chose as a Flabébé. Shauna's Floette has an orange flower for example while Bonnie's Flabébé has a red flower if I recall. This one clearly had a blue flower as a Flabébé. The last color is yellow by the way."

"Interesting." Ash said. "Kalos has a few Pokémon with various differences like that."

"Yeah Vivillons are like that as well though they are apparently regional." May said. "Max said that Owen's Alcremie is like that as well, has various colorations depending on how its evolved."

"As fascinating as this is we should focus one Goodra." Dawn pointed out. "That's more important right now."

"Right." Ash said snapping back to the battle. "Go Goodra!"

Down on the battlefield the two leaders locked gazes as they faced each other unaware of Ash and the girls' conversation on the cliff above them. Florges had a cool glare in her eyes and a frown on her face as she dared this former Goomy to challenge her, she'd sent it flying once before and since that change she underwent almost three years ago now she had nothing to fear from a dragon type so she was ready for Goodra. She couldn't send him flying again, he was too big for that, but she still had the overwhelming advantage over him she felt.

Goodra for his part still had a flicker of fear for this particular fairy type as she was the one who'd sent him flying and traumatized him when she attacked his peaceful homeland and his friends though he did his best not to show it. However, he was no longer the same, scared, Goomy who had never known conflict until Florges's invasion that he once was and this time he wasn't going to let her win.

No, this time he was going to beat her and send her away from the Wetlands. Despite this conviction, he still took a slight step back from Florges as the trauma of that day came back. Of all the fairy types, only Florges still held this hold over him.

"Goodra!" Ash called out getting Goodra's attention as he'd seen Goodra's hesitation and Goodra turned to look up at his trainer. "You can do this, you're strong now and remember when we met, we made sure that you'd never fear a fairy type again. You're not the same Goomy who fell on me all those months ago, you're so much stronger now and have already beaten a fairy type so believe in yourself and defend your home, you can do this! I believe in you Goodra."

"Goodra." Goodra said with a smile at Ash as he felt the love and support his trainer had for him in his voice while Pikachu chimed in with his own support and Goodra recalled his great victories and all the training he'd had that year so he knew that he could do this as he turned to Florges a steely look in his eye. "Goodra."

"Florges." Florges said a small smile gracing her lips for the first time in a long time, this was going to be interesting at least though she still expected to win. "Florges!"

At that Florges leapt back a pace and blasted out a Petal Blizzard attack at Goodra. However, Goodra met it with a Dragon Pulse of his own that intercepted the Petal Blizzard causing both attacks to blow up and created a smokescreen through which he charged at Florges. His dragon type attacks may not work on her but they could be used in other ways, Ash and his friends on Ash's team had taught him that and after watching that dragon master go down to Ash the other day Goodra had noted that there was more to his type than just attack move power.

No, a dragon type should be able to use his body as well and he showed that by charging at Florges through the smoke intending to whip her with his tail using it as not in a move but as power itself. He'd seen how that Noivern that Glalie and Mimey had faced used its wings to mitigate damage and he recalled the tales that Lucario, Conkeldurr, and Hawlucha had regaled them with of the fighting tournament that Lucario had won where they used their bodies and muscles and not their moves in the fights and now it was Goodra's turn to try it out.

Alas Florges was ready and she leaped back to avoid that Goodra's attempted attack and putting herself on a larger, grassy area in the process. That was part of her plan because as soon as she was on the grass she moved her arm and a ring of green light shot out from the ground around and over Goodra's feet causing it all to glow before returning to normal. It was unexpected and did nothing to Goodra who looked a little confused at it.

"What was that?" Ash asked even more confused that Goodra was at what Florges had just done. "It looked like an area attack and I'm sure I've seen it before but I can't place it."

"Grassy Terrain." Dawn said. "I have faced it in the Contest back in Cremini Town. It's a move that increases the power of grass type attacks and I think it has an added effect but I can't remember what it is only that it surprised Noelle as it affect Spiritomb as well for some reason. Anyway, Ash is right, between the moves and the appearance it's hard to believe that Florges is a pure fairy type, you really would think that it would be a dual grass and fairy type."

"Yeah that is confusing but there are Pokémon out there like it." May said as Florges's flower collar thing glowed and the then a blast of grass type power all three knew well was fired from Florges and at Goodra, well from her and several flowers that had suddenly bloomed around her as part of Grassy Terrain. "And that would explain it, she's using Solar Beam so she knows three grass type moves."

Goodra countered though with another Dragon Pulse that intercepted the Solar Beam just like it had with the Petal Blizzard and again the two moves blew up and negated each other. Florges wasn't done, however, as she used a second Solar Beam from just the flowers, boosted by the Grassy Terrain, to fire off smaller beams that missed Goodra and slammed into his friends behind him.

The Gulpins were hurt by the power but as poison types they were resistant to grass type attacks. The issue was the Woopers and Quagsires, they were dual water and ground types so a powerful grass type attack that was boosted by another attack really hurt them.

"Goodra?" Goodra asked his friends worried.

"Wooper." His best friend Wooper replied battered and as he did Florges fired off another Solar Beam at them. "Wooper!"

This time Goodra fully twisted to take the hit on his back as Wooper cried out about the incoming attack. It hurt but he was resistant to grass type attacks so he could take the hit pretty well even with the boost it had as he shielded his friends again but all these hits were piling up. Still, he'd do it for his friends but as he did Florges saw her opening and leapt into the air as she borrowed power from the moon.

"Wooper!" Wooper yelled more frantically now as he recognized this move from before as it had been the one to blast Goodra away back when he was a Goomy.

"Florges!" Florges said as she sent the blast of moonlight that was Moonblast at Goodra.

Goodra managed to turn in time to take the super effective fairy type attack to the chest. He let out a howl of pain and staggered from it but as the smoke cleared Goodra was still standing there, his desire to protect his friends and finally stand up to this evil fairy powering him on as he grimaced in pain from the hit, it was the first one that had really affected him since the whole battle began.

"You're still in this fight Goodra!" Ash called out as Florges prepared another Moonblast. "You can win this! This Florges has nothing on the Pokémon you've beaten this year! Show your friends how much stronger you've become!"

"Pikachu!" Pikachu added encouragingly.

"Goodra." Goodra agreed as he switched to one of his moves that would work but not the best move he had as he looked up at Florges his mouth open and a ball of blue light forming there before he roared as he prepared his attack. "Goodra!"

"Woah is that Ice Beam?" Dawn asked. "Somehow I forgot that Goodra knew that move though now that I think about it I'm sure he used it on Dragalge in our training battle before the Lumiose Conference."

"Must be." May said. "It's a useful move for the situation."

"Florges!" Florges said as she sent out her next Moonblast as the Ice Beam formed in Goodra's mouth.

"Do it Goodra!" Ash yelled putting all his love and support into his words.

"Goodra!" Goodra roared and he blasted out the Ice Beam.

The ice type attack shot across the battlefield and into the Moonblast only unlike with his Dragon Pulse blocks this wasn't a block but instead cut straight through the Moonblast and slammed into Florges's chest blasting her back and out of the sky to slam into the ground hard. It was the first time any of the Pokémon had landed a hit on her and Goodra wasn't done as he opened his mouth and with another roar sent out several balls of filthy sludge.

"Piplup!" Piplup wailed in Dawn's arms where he'd been this entire time as Goodra staggered from the hits that he'd taken and stumbled so that the final ball of sludge was blasted in an arc towards them. "Pip, Piplup!"

At that Piplup leapt out of Dawn's arms, turned and tried to run away causing her to crouch down to try and stop him from doing so but he'd already scurried through her legs running for safety without realizing that in the process he'd sealed his own fate. Naturally that meant that the sludge flew over Dawn and slammed into the back of Piplup's head sending him sprawling and cursing Ash's various dragon types who kept doing this to him.

Naturally Goodra didn't notice this as the other balls of sludge arc over and down onto Florges who was trying to get up. This was the very move he'd learned as a Goomy to counter fairy types and had helped assuage his fear of them. He'd used in his win over that Spritzee and now he was going to again as the Sludge Bomb rained down and slammed into Florges's back.

She didn't stand a chance and let out a scream of pain from the super effective attack and was driven into the ground by it though she wasn't poisoned by the attack at least. However, Ash noted that there was more to her pain than the hit, it sounded like she felt like she'd failed and as the sludge cleared and a battered and badly hurt Florges lay on the ground, her army of bug types and Sevipers around her looking worried for her, Ash noticed that she had tears in her eyes as Goodra turned back to his friends to celebrate his victory.

"Something's up." Ash said stepping forward. "I, I think…"

Ash didn't finish as Goodra turned back to Florges and walked towards her, the bug types scurrying back. They knew why she was here and were helping her save her offspring but they too had been misled though right now they didn't want to mess with this Goodra as they knew that they weren't a match for him.

"Goodra." Goodra said seriously as he looked down at his defeated foe, his fear for her finally gone now that he'd landed that poison type attack and he unloaded all the pain and suffering she'd caused him and his friends onto her as she lay there. "Goodra, goo, Goodra, Goodra, goo, goo, Goodra."

"Florges." Florges tried to explain as she looked up at Goodra from her spot on the ground, tears flowing from her eyes now as the dam broke and the fear and sadness she'd been keeping at bay flowed out as she tried to defend her actions. "Florges!"

"Goodra." Goodra said as he began to order her to leave the Wetlands and never return because of all the needless trouble, strife, and trauma that she'd caused. "Goodra, goo, Goodra."

"Florges!" Florges wailed as she tried to tell Goodra that she'd done what she had for her daughter, her precious Floette who was sick and needed the water from the healing spring here and that some humans and a Meowth had told her that the only way to get it was to attack because she wouldn't be allowed to get it otherwise though she was starting to see that she was wrong on that front. "Flor, Florges."

"Goodra." Goodra said. "Go…"

"Goodra stop!" Ash shouted from the cliff as he got it and before the girls could react he leapt off the cliff he was on and slide down it to hit the ground below where he rolled and popped up to run towards Goodra and Florges. "I think there's been a misunderstanding here."

"And there he goes." Dawn said. "I guess he couldn't help but get involved now that it's over though I think he's seen something we can't see. This is Ash after all, he really knows Pokémon which is one of the reasons why we fell for him."

"True." May said trying to keep the pain from her voice. "Should we help?"

"No, leave it to him." Dawn said as she walked to the edge. "Let's stay back and make sure the wild Pokémon are ok as some of them on both sides look like they could use a little first aid."

May nodded and the girls began to climb down and help out. This was something between Goodra and Florges so really only Ash should be involved, all the while Piplup grumbled behind them as he got up to go wash the sludge off him in one of the tantalizing pools of water he'd seen in this area.

"Goodra?" Goodra asked as he turned his head to Ash confused as Ash reached them with Pikachu not far behind having followed Ash to lend his own aid if need be. "Goodra?"

"All this made no sense to me." Ash said as he panted and looked between Florges who was still on the ground and Goodra. "Why would she attack so suddenly in the first place when the Wetlands is a peaceful area where Pokémon get along? Why again when you got back? What's going on? She has to have a reason for her hostility. Pokémon are supposed to be friends so why has she done this? Let her explain and let's see if we can help her. That's what we should do as it could end this feud right now. This is a place of peace and harmony, let's find a peaceful resolution to this. Plus you've shown you're strength, Goodra, she can't beat you."

"Goodra." Goodra agreed as a battered Florges looked up at Ash her eyes wide and still brimming with tears but she'd heard the kindness in his voice and sensed that his heart was good. "Goo, Goodra."

"Florges?" Florges asked her voice hesitant as she didn't believe that this could be true. "Florges?"

The only humans Florges had met had been the two who'd told her of the spring, through that strange cat Pokémon that called itself a Meowth and which could speak the human tongue, and that it could help her child heal. She'd been so distraught over Floette's condition at the time that she'd not noticed if their hearts were good or not, she'd taken them on their word because that Meowth had vouched for them.

That was why she'd believed the trio when they said that the Pokémon in the Wetlands wouldn't accept an outsider so she had to assemble an army and invade it to claim the spring as her own if she wanted to heal Floette. She'd get the spring to heal her child and in return she'd let the humans have some of the water for their own purposes.

She'd done so and invaded with an army of bug types and Sevipers, the latter of which had been rounded up by the female human's own Seviper, and claimed it as her own. That had been months ago though and still Floette hadn't recovered, though she'd not gotten much worse at least and Florges was really worried now.

To add to it the spring was lower now because of the water that had been taken so she was going to ask the humans and Meowth about it. However, when she tried to find them she realized that the humans vanished after getting what they wanted and she had no idea what was going on so when she heard Goodra's return she'd come to confront him and stop him from interfering as it sounded like he would.

However, she'd lost and realized that she was no match for this powerful Goodra, he was no longer the weak Goomy she'd briefly met before but a strong Pokémon thanks to a strong and compassionate human. A human who had rushed in and realized something was up and stopped Goodra from exiling her, which he could do as he had the strength to manage it, and that would doom her child.

Florges sensed the kindness in the human's heart, a kindness that she now realized that she'd not felt in the ones who had tricked her, and the way he'd made Goodra so strong showed her just how good he was. Perhaps, perhaps he'd listen and help her if she took him to Floette. She wasn't evil, she was just a scared mother wanting the best for her child.

"You're not a bad Pokémon, are you Florges?" Ash asked her and she shook her head at him. "I thought so, there has to be something else at play, right?"

"Florges." Florges said with a nod. "Flor, Florges."

"Goodra?" Goodra asked as he heard what she was saying now and wanted confirmation of it. "Goo, Goodra?"

"Florges." Florges said tears in her eyes again as she pleaded with Goodra to get his human to help her and her child out. "Flor, Florges."

"She's here for a reason right? One that would explain her behavior?" Ash asked Goodra who nodded. "Is it a friend? Keanan said that the spring heals Pokémon's minds and bodies so I bet she wanted it to help out her friend and for whatever reason she attacked so that she could use it rather than just asking."

"Florges." Florges nodded though Floette was her daughter but still it was roughly what the human, Ash as Goodra called him, was saying so she'd go with it. "Florges, flor, Florges."

"Goodra." Goodra said nodding, he wasn't sure how to say that it was more than a friend so he just confirmed that to Ash and it all began to fall into place and he turned to tell her how the Wetlands actually worked. "Goodra, goo, Goodra."

Florges just looked up at Goodra her eyes wide as Goodra explained that there had been no need to attack their home, they were peaceful here and if she needed the spring to heal her Floette then she should have asked, they'd have gladly shared it with the two fairy types and welcomed the bug types and Sevipers as well. The Wetlands were for all Pokémon, she was welcome to it she didn't have to attack. He understood that she was a mother helping her child but still she'd caused so much pain and strife when she didn't need to.

"Florges." Florges said as she apologized and hung her head in shame as she had to take responsibility for her own foolishness before she looked up pleading now. "Florges, flor, Florges."

At that she launched into a tearful plea for help from Goodra and his human. Floette was still sick and the water wasn't working the way that it should be for some reason. She needed help now because the humans she'd first trusted were gone so could they please come to the spring to aid them. Goodra nodded at that and turned to Ash.

"Goodra." Goodra said pointing to the large rock formation in the distance that had the small lake or large pond under it as that was where the spring was located. "Goo, Goodra."

"We have to go there?" Ash asked and Goodra nodded. "Is that where the spring is?"

"Goodra." Goodra confirmed with another nod.

"And Florges's friend as well?" Ash asked to which Goodra nodded again. "Alright let's go. Take Florges, she can't stand yet I think but we're going to need her with us for this."

"Goodra." Goodra said nodding yet again before he bent down and scoped Florges into his arms as he turned his head to tell his friends the situation and what was really going on while May and Dawn looked after them. "Goodra, goo, Goodra."

"Florges." Florges called out to her own army from Goodra's arms telling them to stand down and apologize, she was in the wrong and they all had to make amends for what they'd all done. "Florges."

The various bug types chittered at that and the Sevipers hissed as they all trusted Florges so if she said that she'd made a mistake then she did and thus they would do as she said. With that done Goodra began to run towards the spring with Florges still in his arms. Ash and Pikachu ran after him and turned his head to shout to the girls as he ran.

"We're off to the spring to sort this out." Ash called to Dawn and May. "Florges was just protecting a friend so this has been a big and unfortunate misunderstanding. I'll leave this to you, come to the small lake with the mountain thing when you can, that's where the spring is."

"Did, did Ash just run off again?" May asked as she looked up as Ash, Goodra, and Florges ran off towards said lake. "Yup and he has Florges with him now. Looks like he was right about there being something more at play than a simple feud."

"For as dense as Ash can be in certain areas he does know Pokémon like no one else does." Dawn said. "Now come on, we should make sure things are good and our Pokémon can help."

May nodded and they let out their Pokémon, including Pinsir in Dawn's case as she would be useful in dealing with the other Pinsirs present Dawn felt, and began to work as Florges's army came over to apologize and offer their own aid. The misunderstanding was being sorted out but it was far from over as Ash, Goodra, and Florges headed to the spring to end this feud at last.

It didn't take them too long to run to the lake and them up a natural path in the rocky outcrop and to the mouth of a cave where water flowed out and over the cliff into the small lake below from where it flowed out all over the Wetlands. This was where the spring's source was and Florges directed Ash and Goodra into the cave, the pair running into the water and wading in it as they slowed down and walked deeper in.

"Florges." Florges said, she'd recovered somewhat on the run over and at her words she Goodra put her down and so that she was up to the base of her stem thing in the water and took the lead as they waded through the water which seemed to glow blue around them with a light all its own. "Flor, Florges."

Ash and Goodra just followed her as they entered a small cavern in the cave were a small pool was that Florges led them into as it was what fed the into the waterway they'd just waded through. It was only ankle deep though so Ash was able to ignore the water as Florges took them over to a small natural basin in the rock that had very little water in it to show them what was inside it.

Inside the basin and partially covered by the water was a small Pokémon that looked a bit like a miniature version of Florges minus the large leaves on its base, those were also smaller, and no blue collar bouquet thing but rather it was holding a blue flower. As Ash looked at it he recognized it as a Pokémon that Shauna had but he couldn't recall it's name at that moment.

"Florges." Florges said sadly as she walked over to the basin, the water wasn't enough to heal her child only prevent her from getting much sicker, and picked up the Pokémon cradling it in her arms as she turned to show it to Ash and Goodra, to show them reason why she needed the spring as it was clear that the Pokémon was very sick with its eyes closed as it breathed slowly. "Florges."

"So that's the reason." Ash said as he pulled out his Pokedex and scanned it to find out what kind of Pokémon it was. "Let's see what it is."

"Floette, the Single Bloom Pokémon and the evolved form Flabébé." The Pokedex chimed. "Floette appear in flower gardens to welcome new blooms with a graceful dance."

"That's the Pokémon you evolve from." Ash said as he put the Pokedex away. "That would certainly explain why you're caring for her. She does look really sick."

"Florges." Florges said with a sad nod. "Florges."

This was what she needed help with, she had to do something but the water just wasn't healing Floette. She had no clue what would help her child get better and with the lower levels of the water she was getting desperate.

"We need to do something." Ash said. "But what? What can…"

"Bellsprout."

The sound startled them and they all turned to see that Keanan's Bellsprout had waded into the cavern and its owner wasn't far behind it. Ash hadn't expected to see the old man here but he was and he quickly made his way to them with Bellsprout as he looked around the cavern and noticed the water level in the basin.

"I see, it is as I feared." Keanan said.

"What is?" Ash asked. "Also why are you here Keanan?"

"Huh, oh right, well when the attack happened I noticed something disturbing." Keanan said as he looked to Ash, Goodra, Florges, and a sick looking Floette in Florges's arms which would likely explain everything about Florges's behavior. "The water levels had dipped so I went to check them in my house and I noticed that the healing properties were weaker. The moment I realized that Bellsprout and I rushed to the spring's source to see if we could detect a problem here and there is one."

"Florges?" Florges asked her eyes wide at that.

"Unfortunately it would seem that the lower the water level the less the healing properties." Keanan said. "I'm not sure why but the whole balance has to be right for the properties to be there so I came here to check it out and this confirms it. There isn't enough water to heal properly."

"Florges!" Florges exclaimed as she realized her mistake. "Flor, Florges, flor, flor, Florges."

"Do you know something?" Ash asked and Florges nodded. "I see, can you show us? We're here to help."

"Goodra." Goodra confirmed.

"Florges." Florges said with a nod and she carefully put Floette back in the basin and hurried out with Goodra following.

"So she was looking after a Floette." Keanan said. "Given the nature of the species and the fact that that Florges is a Blue Flower Florges and the Floette the same color flower I wouldn't be surprised if that's her child."

"That would explain it." Ash said. "Can you keep an eye on Floette? I think I may be able to help."

"Of course." Keanan said and he and Bellsprout remained to make sure that Floette was safe as Ash headed out to follow the two fully evolved Pokémon.

It didn't take him long to find Goodra and Florges, they'd climbed down a different path and to the small lake blow and Florges was pointing at something on the rocks that was under the overhang of the cliff. As Ash reached them he saw that it was a pair of blue machines that were cold and silent but they looked like some kind of pump as there were tubes from it to the lake and more out the back that went into the mountain and led to who knows where. Worse though there was a stylized red R on the side of it and it all made sense to Ash now.

"Florges, is this what's causing the water to go down?" Ash asked and Florges nodded, she hadn't been sure until that old human had said it was going down and then she remembered this thing as she'd come across it while looking for the humans and Meowth when the water wasn't working and thus had taken Goodra to it as it had to be the cause. "And was it set up by two humans in white clothes who had a small cat Pokémon that could speak like a human?"

"Florges!" Florges said her eyes wide as she nodded emphatically at that shocked that this human knew of the other ones she'd encountered. "Flor, Florges."

"Damn, well this is just like them." Ash said with a sigh as Florges looked surprised that Ash seemed to know the humans. "See, those three are part of an evil human organization called Team Rocket, they've been a nuisance to me since my first day as a trainer almost a decade ago, and they're always coming up with schemes that me and my friends have to stop."

"Florges?" Florges asked a little confused. "Flor, Florges?"

"If I had to guess they likely had one for the healing water here and used your grief over Floette to their advantage." Ash explained as he got the feeling Florges was asking for more context. "They're skilled at manipulating Pokémon though usually their schemes fall apart before they can be completed because of us, and there's almost always some massive explosion as part of it. I bet they set you up for this, got what they wanted, and fled without caring for the consequences. They're going to pay when I next see them."

"Goodra." Goodra said with a nod, he'd evolved into a Sliggoo to beat them once so he knew them well and explained that the humans in question were bad humans and the Meowth with them was a bad Pokémon. "Goodra, goo, Goodra."

"Florges!" Florges said her eyes wide, appalled and ashamed at what she'd done. "Flor, Florges."

"We need to destroy it." Ash said as he backed up from the machine an idea in his mind. "And then replenish the water in the area. That should sort this out. Goodra, use Dragon Pulse on it."

"Goodra!" Goodra roared as he blasted off a Dragon Pulse.

"Florges!" Florges added doing her own part as she sent a Petal Blizzard at the machine as well the anger at how she'd been manipulated clear in her voice.

The two attacks hit one side each and it blew up, the force rocking them but they weathered the explosion. Alas it didn't do more than just get destroy it and confirm that it was a pump machine but at least it wouldn't be an issue should Team Rocket return though Ash was unaware that they'd already left the region following his win in the Lumiose Conference and were elsewhere in the world right now.

"Alright Goodra, let's do this." Ash said. "Rain Dance."

"Goodra." Goodra said as he tipped his head back and blasted a ball of water out of his mouth and up at the sky.

He put even more power into it than usual and a second later rain clouds formed all over the vast Wetlands and the downpour began, much to the girls' shock as they were still dealing with things and hadn't expected the sudden rain but as it fell they turned and headed with all the Pokémon to the spring knowing Ash was there and likely the reason for the rain. Ash didn't know this, the just smiled as the rain filled the area and restored the water levels to normal.

As he did Florges looked at Goodra before stepping forward herself, her eyes closed, and activating Grassy Terrain. She put as much power as she could into the move and the glow of it radiated out of her and covered the same area as the rain as it worked with the rain to revitalize the Wetlands, her own contribution to it for what she'd done and hoping that it helped out in some way.

This just added to the girls' confusion but again Ash didn't know this as he marveled as the trees began to get stronger and flowers bloomed all over the Wetlands. The damage was being reversed and it was thanks to Goodra and Florges working together.

"Ash, Goodra, Florges, come back here." Keanan called out from the mouth of the cave above them as the rain fell. "Whatever you lot did, it's working."

"Goodra." Goodra said looking to Florges.

"Florges." Florges said hope in her voice for the first time in ages as she turned and hurried back to the cavern Ash and Goodra right behind her. "Flor, Florges."

She got there just as she heard the cry from her child and she saw, tears in her eyes, as Floette opened her eyes in the now overflowing and glowing basin of water and floated into the air. She was healthy again; the healing properties were back.

"Florges." Florges said happily as she embraced Floette as Ash and Goodra followed them in while Keanan and Bellsprout went out as the rain subsided to explain everything to a now wet and very confused pair of girls who were with their own Pokémon as well as the wild ones that had been fighting only a few moments ago. "Flor, Florges, flor, flor, Florges."

"Goodra." Goodra smiled as they waded into the water in the cavern spring. "Goo, Goodra."

Floette saw this and floated up to Goodra to take his hand as she took her mother's as well and held them between her. It was a sign of peace between the two Pokémon, that things had been resolved, and they as the day began to draw to a close there would be a new era in the Wetlands come dawn. To add to it Wooper made it to the cavern having run on ahead as the rain fell knowing that Goodra was behind it and rushed Goodra to join in and the Pokémon laughed, smiles on their faces as they celebrated.

Ash watched all of this and as he did he realized something, something that he had to do even though he didn't like it. It had been many years since he'd done this, he'd only just finished his second year as a trainer the last time but it was the right thing to do and he turned to head out and make sure things were going well as the celebration continued. He didn't go unnoticed though as one of the Pokémon saw him leave and realized what was going on and that there was something that could be done that only that Pokémon could do.

The next few hours were a bit of a blur for Ash as he helped explain everything to Dawn and May as they dried off and told them what was going on. As he did Goodra, Florges, Wooper, and Floette came out and the full story was told to all the Pokémon so that they knew why the invasion had happened and who was truly behind it.

It had been a hectic time and took less than half an hour from the moment they arrived in the Wetlands to when Goodra beat Florges but after she was beaten and Ash realized what was really going on things had progressed swiftly from there. Such was the nature of an adventure with Ash Ketchum though, they tended to escalate rather quickly once they got underway.

Naturally Dawn and May took it all in stride, they were used to this from Ash, and for once there wasn't a confrontation with Team Rocket that had the chance for Ash getting killed because he was doing something stupid or reckless so they were happy for that. Of course they did want to teach that trio a lesson for what they did to the Wetlands and all the trouble they had caused but that was for another time. Now was a time for healing and that was just what they did as the celebrations and bonding began to signal a new era for the Wetlands.

As this was happening, Ash and Goodra headed up to a small, flat, rocky outcrop to look over Goodra's home as the sun began to set ending the bad blood between the groups with its setting so that a new day could bring about a new beginning for the Pokémon here. As the pair stood there looking out over the Wetlands together they noted that the change had already begun.

Already the various bug types, thankfully none of these Beedrills were part of the general global Beedrill collective that seemed to have sworn an eternal war on Ash and Pikachu so they hadn't bother them, and Sevipers had been welcomed to the Wetlands by the old inhabitants with open arms and were now getting along swimmingly. In addition, May, Dawn, and all of Ash's other Pokémon but Goodra were playing with them as well as they enjoyed the end of the day together.

This led to a mix of things like May's Tyrantrum being used as a playground for the Lotads and Woopers, to Greninja and Lucario telling battle stories to various Ariadoses and Sevipers, to Piplup swimming in a pond with a few other Woopers, to most interestingly enough Dawn's Pinsir being the center of attention for her species. It turned out that most of the Pinsirs present were male and they'd never seen a female as pretty and well maintained as her and all were trying to outdo each other for her attention and show off that they were the best Pinsir to be her mate.

For her part, Dawn's Pinsir was incredibly shy and bashful at all the attention which was amusing to behold while Vileplume protected her and told the other Pinsirs that they weren't strong enough for her best friend. It was a strange scene but a good on and between that and all the other ones going on Ash smiled which made what he knew he had to do next all the harder.

"Hey Goodra." Ash said finally breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"Goodra?" Goodra asked looking at Ash.

"I've been thinking and I think it would be best if you stayed here." Ash said not looking at Goodra as he felt the tears well up in his eyes. "I've been thinking about it since I saw you charge off to help your friends and now it's become more apparent after you protected them and helped solve the problems here while also welcoming Florges, Floette, and all the new Pokémon with a clean slate despite what they did after learning that there was more at play than you though."

"Goodra?" Goodra asked more confused.

"This is your home, isn't it?" Ash asked finally looking at Goodra. "The Wetlands that is. You were forced out of it by Florges when she attack it and while I know that it must have been traumatic I am glad we met so that I could help you get stronger but now you're no longer that little Goomy, you're a strong, confident, and powerful Goodra who can stand up for himself and those who he cares about. This is where you belong, I see it now, and you should stay here to protect all your friends and enable to them to live happy lives just like you wanted. Now you can do that and be their guardian, isn't that what you want Goodra?"

"Goodra!" Goodra wailed at that as he turned and embraced Ash in a hug that Ash returned tears in his own eyes as Goodra continued to wail because he knew that Ash was right as this was what Goodra wanted even if he didn't want to leave Ash's team behind. "Goodra, goo, Goodra."

They held each other for a moment but both knew that this was the right move. They also knew that this wasn't truly goodbye because Ash was the Champion of Kalos now, something Goodra had played a key role in achieving for him, so he'd be able to come back and visit his friend here when he returned to the region after that tournament at the end of the year, one that Goodra would watch with Keanan and the other Pokémon here. They both knew it but this was still hard and they held each other until their moment was broken by another Pokémon.

"Florges." Florges said causing Ash and Goodra jump a little and separate as they looked to see her standing near them at a respectful distance with Floette floating by her side. "Florges."

Earlier she'd been the one to notice Ash leaving the cavern as the Pokémon celebrated Floette's recovery and the end of the feud. She had sensed his pain so she'd kept an eye on him and this confirmed it. He was leaving Goodra here to protect the Wetlands where he belonged and it was painful for him even if it was the right decision to make. However, Florges had come to realize that that shouldn't be everything.

That was because she still needed to atone for her sins in this place and make amends for all the harm that she'd caused and she felt that if she stayed she couldn't do that. She'd healed her child but Floette wasn't a precious Flabébé anymore, she was getting stronger and it was time for her to be more independent and what better way than to learn from this Goodra and help him in protecting and maintaining the Wetlands for all the Pokémon who called it home.

As for her, she needed to get stronger, to become a Pokémon who could protect not attack with an army and rule with fear, to be a Pokémon her child could look up to the way the other Pokémon here now looked up to Goodra. She'd been naïve, misled due to her worry and inexperience, and she'd regret that for a long time.

There wasn't much she could do about the past, however, but there was something she could do for the future, she could show Floette that when you make a mistake you own up to it and work to make amends. She'd do so by taking Goodra's place on Ash's team and learning the way he did to be stronger and better so that she too could one day come back to the Wetlands and show how far she'd come just like Goodra had.

That was why the moment she realized that Ash and Goodra were alone she'd come here with Floette, she'd already explained it all to her child and Floette understood and accepted it as it was time Floette became more independent as a Pokémon, but she waited to make her move. Now was the time and while she hated ruining such a moment it was necessary.

"Florges?" Ash asked looking at her a little confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Florges." Florges said as she pointed to Goodra and then to Ash and interlock her small fingers before separating them and pointing to herself and then Ash and interlocking them again as it was the best way to explain it as most humans didn't understand Pokémon for some reason. "Flor, Florges, flor, Florges."

"Wait, you heard what Goodra and I said?" Ash asked trying to understand what Florges wanted and Florges nodded. "And know that I am releasing him here in the Wetlands because this is where he belongs."

"Florges." Florges said with another nod before she made the gesture between herself and Ash again including the interlocking of her fingers. "Florges."

"And you want to take his place?" Ash asked still confused but thinking he had the gist of things and Florges nodded again. "On my team?"

"Florges." Florges nodded her expression serious and determined so that there was no way that Ash could misunderstand her intentions. "Flor, Florges."

"But what about Floette?" Ash asked looking at the small Pokémon. "You went through so much for her and now you're going to leave her here?"

"Florges." Florges said looking to Floette and nodding at her and Floette smiled embraced Florges for a moment before flying over to Goodra and chatting excitedly with him as she explained her mother's decision to Goodra. "Florges. Flor, Florges."

"You're leaving her here with Goodra?" Ash asked and again Florges nodded at that. "Are you sure?"

"Florges." Florges said with another nod before she gestured to the area around them and then to Floette. "Flor, Florges."

"Right I think I get it." Ash said as he vocalized what he thought was going on so that Florges could confirm it. "She's healthy now and you want her to grow on her own here with Goodra as it's time she did that while you come with me, right?"

"Florges." Florges nodded as that was a slightly simplified version of what was going on but it was good enough. "Flor, Florges."

"Goodra." Goodra said with a smile and Ash looked at him seeing that Goodra agreed with this as well which was good enough for Ash as he trusted his friend. "Goo, Goodra."

Floette had explained the situation to him too and he got it. This was for the best and it would help Florges make amends by aiding Ash in his next endeavor in Goodra's place while Goodra and Floette protected the Wetlands as it recovered from the feud that Florges had caused. He was excited to follow Ash with Keanan and see how Ash did with Florges by his side now.

"Alright then." Ash said as he pulled out Goodra's Poke Ball and expanded it before he added with a slight tremble in his voice. "Goodra, I, I released you."

At that there was a flash of red and the connection between Goodra and the Poke Ball was severed. He was once again a wild Pokémon and there were tears in Ash's eyes as he officially released his first Pokémon since he released Lapras all those years ago. Still as he blinked them away Florges walked forward and placed her hand on the button of the now free Poke Ball.

As soon as she did the Poke Ball opened and a flash of red emerged from it and engulfed her before sucking her into it and closing in Ash's hand as it began to shake there. It was fitting, she felt, to truly replace Goodra and use his former Poke Ball as her own, it would be the start of her atonement as she grew stronger with Ash as her trainer. Well the start was when the ball clicked and the capture was confirmed a moment later.

"Alright!" Ash said loudly as he struck his capture pose on the hilltop tears still in his eyes but a smile on his face. "I caught a Florges!"

"What was that Ash?" Dawn called out from below as she looked up at him. "Please tell me that I heard that correctly and you caught the Florges that caused all this. What is going on? Why did you capture her?"

"Oh." Ash said as Goodra slapped his head and the Poke Ball in his hand burst open and Florges appeared next to him with a light chuckle, her hand over her mouth as she smiled at her new trainer's predicament. "I think I have some explaining to do."

He did but Ash was more than happy to do that as the sun set and the day ended with an unexpected change to everything and the first true step on his new journey for Ash had him releasing Goodra and catching Florges in his place, his first catch of a fairy type since the change happed and his first female only Pokémon. It was an interesting start indeed and now he had to explain the change to Dawn and May as their first adventure on their latest journey came to a close with the sun setting over the Wetlands.

Well there it is, the conclusion to Ash's Wetlands adventure with a different ending to the machinations of Team Rocket mainly because they're no longer there as well as a different ending from the episode. One of the more frequent capture questions and suggestions over the course of the Hearts series has been will Ash get a fairy type and I've never answered it because I always intended for Florges to replace Goodra on Ash's team and take his Poke Ball as a form of atonement so he was always going to get that fairy type. This also marks the first capture in Champions and yes it does mean that Florges will be part of Ash's main team going forward in Champions as well as the third time he's captured a canon Pokémon he didn't capture in the anime and second one he never intended to capture after Conkeldurr (he did intend to catch Dunsparce he just didn't have a Poke Ball at the time) and this will be the penultimate time that this happens in the series. I had considered having Dawn catch Floette but ultimately decided against it as it didn't fit with my plans for her and this gives Floette a chance to grow on her own. Lastly, for those who may be confused regarding Ash's capture of Florges when at least one other character has one, she falls under two exceptions to my rule the first being canon Pokémon so she gets more leeway there and the second is that while she's not a regional variant, she is still different to Trevor's which in the right circumstance can meet that requirement so that is why she's here. There isn't much more to say about this Part, it was different from the anime and ended in an interesting way, so I will leave it off here. As always if you like my work then please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), if possible leave a review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time.

Stringdog