He was obsessed with Laverre City.
The November chill gave everything that true-blood autumn look, all yellows and reds and oranges. Black-eyed susans and chrysanthemums were planted everywhere, matching the warm tone of the city. The houses and buildings were done in a tudor style, with wooden beams and stone walls.
Ash kicked a small pile of leaves as he walked through the cobblestone streets. His night spent in the Pokémon center was much needed, and he felt 10x more refreshed after a shower and a good night's sleep. No nightmares plagued him.
Route 14 had been rainy and miserable, and he wasn't looking forward to trekking back through.
With how many puddles and rivers he passed, Ash saw more of his constant shadow. He almost didn't notice it anymore, having seen it out of the corner of his eye since he could remember. But there was little opportunity to see it over the past couple months. Mirrors only offered the briefest flashes, and for a period of time Ash avoided his own reflection for a long while.
But once more, flashes of gold, red, and shadows were his secret companions.
It offered a restored level of comfort even as existential questions still plagued his mind.
He allowed the thoughts to fade, instead focusing on his destination. It was still early in the League season for Kalos, having just completed their conference a few months ago. Lucky for him, it meant there wasn't a scramble to get badges just yet. That being said, Ash meandered over to the gym, in no rush, but with life in his veins at the prospect of a good battle.
As much as he wanted Libra and Styx to practice against their greatest weakness, Valerie wasn't one of the hardcore battlers in Kalos. Yes, she was a Master, but her passions lay more with her personal business.
Plus, there was always the risk of toxic levels of Fae energy exposure with his Dragons. Especially Styx.
Hemlock hasn't had a tough battle in a while, so he'd be his priority if Valerie only wanted a one-on-one.
The gym was easy to find, what with it being smack dab in the middle of the city with an enormous maple tree growing out of it. It reminded Ash of the pictures he saw of Ecruteak City.
There was a distinct lack of advanced tech here, which somewhat added to the aesthetic. Ash pulled one of the front doors open and looked around inside. Huh, very Johto-esque.
There were bonsai trees situated on every shelf or table while bamboo framed the oil paintings and pictures on the walls. Behind the counter, the entire wall was stone with gently trickling water cascading down.
"Hello, here for a battle?" Ash's eyes drifted from the waterfall to the girl behind the desk. The pink blossom in the girl's brunette hair matched her silk kimono.
"Yes, but not a badge. I just want to work on type disadvantages." The girl blinked a few times before shrugging and clicking the keys to the old computer.
"Well, she has time for a three-on-three before her next battle. That work?" Ash thought for a moment about who else he'd like to use, realizing one battle may not be at a disadvantage. But he nodded and got the go ahead to find the field. Through another pair of double doors, his eyes widened at the layout.
A thin moat surrounded the field with arched stone bridges situated on each side. More bonsai trees were expertly scattered around the edges of the room. Even the field looked more appealing than normal.
Ash walked across the bridge and waited a few moments before the doors on the other side opened.
Well, he could see why Valerie had a career as a runway model.
The woman glided towards the field like she wasn't wearing six inch heels. The billowing sleeves of her colorful kimono just barely avoided dragging on the ground. Something about her eyes was off as she took in the sight of him, but he couldn't place it.
"Good morning, Blossom tells me you're here for practice?" Her voice was slightly higher in pitch than he'd heard before, but for some reason it was soothing.
"Yes, I'm an aspiring Chaos Trainer and although my Pokémon practice against my Fairies, I figured more couldn't hurt."
Valerie brought her sleeve-covered hand to her mouth and giggled, eyes crinkling. "How wonderful, I'd be happy to help. What approximate badge-level are you?"
Ash rocked his head side to side as he thought. "Let's go with five." Valerie nodded and gestured to his trainer box before she spun and floated to her own. She brandished a Level ball, pausing to kiss it, before releasing her first Pokémon.
Ash drank in the sight of the Deceiver Pokémon. Such a cute little thing with such wicked teeth. The Mawile swayed in place, huge jaws hidden behind it. Mawile were tricky, convincing actors as their classification implied.
In response, Ash released his own performer.
Valerie visually perked up at the sight of the Morgrem, her head tilting inquisitively. Hemlock's nostrils flared as he tried to sense any frustration in the room, dagger-sharp claws flexing.
"Don't underestimate it, don't let it fool you." Hemlock tapped his claws together, his only sign that he understood what Ash meant. Valerie smiled serenely, hands tucked into her sleeves.
"Swords Dance."
"Keep your distance." Hemlock launched a Dark Pulse, concentrated into a single beam, but Mawile danced out of the way, returning fire with a quick Flash Cannon. Hemlock narrowed his eyes and side-stepped the long-range Steel attack.
"Master Fake Out." Hemlock cackled and multiplied. Over a dozen clones started darting around the field, one or two swooping in close every so often. Mawile was snarling, its gaping maw lashing out and clamping down on clone after clone.
The Steel and Fairy type cried out when a Drain Punch sapped its strength, and again when a Thunder Punch caught it in the abdomen.
"Dance, my love!" Without pause, Mawile spun and fired a surprising Ice Beam that froze everything around it, including Hemlock and the clones. The Morgrem had to catch himself with his hands when his feet were suddenly stuck to the ground.
The following Flash Cannon was expected, really.
Hemlock hissed in pain until Ash called "Drain Punch!", the ice shattering upon impact. "Feint Attack!"
"Iron Defense." Ash pursed his lips when Hemlock bounced off the stationary Mawile, but then blinked when his fist was subsequently engulfed in flame. Huh, he learned Fire Punch.
The heat melted right through the protective metal layer, and Mawile stumbled away from the pain. Jaws whipped around and latched onto Hemlock's burning fist, electricity coursing into the Galar native's body. Gritting his teeth, the other fist crackled with stolen electricity and slammed into the underside of the developed horns. However, that just made teeth dig deeper in Hemlock's arm.
Sometimes the Morgrem didn't think things all the way through.
"Iron Head!" Mawile's entire massive maw took on a silver glow, snapping like a spring to launch Hemlock away. The Morgrem landed on his feet, but skidded and fell to his knees when he tripped. His arm was bleeding from multiple deep punctures.
"Flatter." As Mawile approached, Hemlock stayed on his knees and threw his arms out in front of him, subtly glowing with the manipulative energy. The Deceiver Pokémon paused in its approach, shivering lightly with the power boost then listing dangerously to the side.
"Sandstorm, Stockpile."
Well shit, he didn't expect that.
Mawile proved its dedication to its trainer, managing to fight through the confusion. Hunkering down, its giant jaws covered its body like a tent as the winds began to whip and howl around them. The topmost layer of the field became airborne, the strength of the storm building and shearing off more of the dirt field.
The raging storm was thick, making it difficult to see. "Don't let up, Feint Attack." He squinted his eyes, just barely making out Mawile's outline due to its beige coloring, allowing it to blend.
Stockpile forced the Pokémon using it to be immobile and curled up, almost like Defense Curl. Yes, Mawile will be harder to damage, but it wouldn't be able to fight back until Stockpile finished.
He grinned when he heard the cry of pain from their opponent.
"Iron Defense!" Valerie was certainly on the defensive, Ash would have to proceed with caution. She didn't become a Master by lying back and taking punishment without returning it somehow.
"Burn!" Now or never. Mawile had heightened its defense multiple times at this point. Hemlock was rather jealous.
The scream of pain made Ash internally wince.
That was Hemlock.
"Dark Pulse, Trip up, Burn!"
Ash smiled grimly when the next agonized wail was Mawile's.
He listened closely, but when no further sounds could be heard over the rushing of the storm, he called Hemlock back to him.
The Devious Pokémon trotted out of the storm as it died down with a slight limp on one side. He was holding his ribs, but wasn't moving too gingerly. Dark blood was slowly dripping from the puncture wounds on his arm, but otherwise he was in relatively good health.
He'd done exceptionally well. "Good job." Hemlock fluttered his eyes in a fake swoon, eliciting a chuckle from his trainer. "Yeah yeah, let's give Bane a chance." Hemlock saluted him before being returned.
He waited patiently for the rest of the storm to die down, and when it did, he saw Mawile had been returned and Valerie was readying a Friend ball.
"That was very well done, Ashton. My Gem hasn't been defeated that soundly in many moons. I'm surprised your Morgrem survived her makeshift Power Swap enhancement. Let's see how you do against Baron."
From the hand crafted Pokéball emerged a Mr. Mime, a creepy smile firmly in place. Ash gave himself a few seconds to scrutinize the Kanto native. Mr. Mime, like most Fairies, were tricky. But this one even more so with their masterful use of barriers.
Ash pressed the release of his Heal ball, letting his 'Drapion' take the field.
He and Bane had agreed upon the Fang Scorp Pokémon to put Valerie on the defensive, hoping the illusion's perceived typing would dissuade any Fairy attacks.
Let's see how it goes.
"Hone Claws."
"Encore-"
"Taunt!" His heart pounded harshly in his chest at the barely avoided pitfall. If that Encore had landed, he would have been trapped. A horrible technique that forces a Pokémon's memory to create a temporary loop, repeating the most recent command until it wears off. "Agility Bomb." This was his best shot. It was doubtful Valerie would let another Taunt lock away Mr. Mime's biggest advantage again.
Bane rushed forward, the 'Drapion' looking a bit out of place moving so quickly, but as he closed the distance, the bubbling, putrid Sludge Bomb slammed into the Psychic and Fairy type, making it stumble.
His eyes were furious, as were Valerie's. "Focus Punch!"
"Shadow Ball!" The two attacks collided, but Ash certainly wasn't expecting a second immediate Focus Punch to come arcing towards Bane.
But his Zoroark was well trained, the Drapion illusion jumping back and narrowly avoiding the attack going through it. It wouldn't have struck his true body, but it would have given the illusion away. Bane used the opportunity to invisibly dart forward and rip a Night Slash through Mr. Mime's spindly legs. Stumbling, the Fairy gaped in a silent shout of shock.
Ash pressed the advantage.
"Rapid fire." Mr. Mime threw up his hands in a failed reflex to throw up a barrier as the Ghost attack struck again. He crossed his fingers. Mr. Mime were notoriously fragile, and he was hoping he could end this quickly.
Nope.
Through the barrage of Shadow Balls, Bane returning to his illusion, his opponent pushed himself to his oddly shaped feet, eyes suddenly much less annoyed. There went the Taunt.
"Frenzy."
Oh no… that didn't sound good.
Mr. Mime Teleported away, and then it was an assault.
A Focus Blast made the illusion flicker and a yelp echo, three barriers exploding to life and boxing the 'Drapion' in. A second Focus Blast completely shattered the illusion, Bane appearing in his fox-like glory, wincing with pain from the super effective attack.
Ash was prepared for the Dazzling Gleam.
"Dig." Thank goodness a barrier wasn't under his feet, Bane disappearing underground. Mr. Mime didn't waste time waiting, instead glowing with the telltale light of Safeguard and Calm Mind.
But Bane's stealth and speed were his biggest strengths even injured, and his opponent didn't see the Aerial Ace coming. The fox didn't even let Mr. Mime hit the ground before he was chasing after, a Night Slash sending the mime crashing into the field.
Unfortunately, Mr. Mime was experienced and learned from his mistakes.
Without warning, Bane was trapped. Six transparent barriers formed a glass cage. A glass cage that was slowly getting smaller.
Ash swallowed at the cruelty, eyes darting over to see Valerie's serene expression hadn't changed. His teammate pressed clawed paws against the shimmering barriers, arms straining trying to hold back the shrinking cage.
Squeezing his fists, Ash's mind worked a mile a minute. Bane's cerulean eyes met his; panic restricting pupils to pinpricks. Night Slashes cracked the barrier, but it repaired itself instantaneously. Dark Pulse was much the same, Night Daze caused the barriers to ripple like water but they too remained stalwart.
Ash could feel his heart in his throat.
Bane hated cages. Ash hated remembering why.
"Copycat!" Bane's eyes widened with understanding before he glowed ever so slightly. Mr. Mime was caught off guard when a barrier almost flattened him. "Mirror!"
See how they felt when cruelty met cruelty.
When Mr. Mime returned his attention to the cage, his mouth opened in a silent scream. Because there, trapped in his cage with a terrified expression, was his trainer.
Valerie slammed fists into the barrier, tears streaming down her face where she kneeled. Unheard through the psionic cage, he could see her mouth screaming.
Mr. Mime vanished the barriers in an instant, rushing forward.
Psychic Pokémon relied on cold logic to control their powers. Any emotional interruption destabilized focus, weakened telepathic connections, and warped psionic intentions. That's all to say, Mr. Mime did not hear his trainer behind him, did not expand his awareness to discover the duplicity.
Did not consider his bond with his trainer would be preyed upon.
Valerie fell, vanishing in a sudden flicker, Bane landing in a dangerous crouch with teeth bared. He met Mr. Mime's emotional rush with a deadly Night Slash to the chest.
"Bathe him." Bane opened his mouth wide, throat glowing red before a torrent of flame enveloped the mime.
Bane cut off the stream, slouching and panting with exhaustion.
Chest wound deep and cauterized, the mime didn't get back up.
Ash hid his discomfort.
The Zoroark huffed and spat a small flicker of flame in the direction of Mr. Mime to show his ire but didn't attack further. The fox lumbered over to Ash, letting his trainer run fingers through his messy mane; the gold beryl hair ornament never failing to make him smile. His own pendant felt warmer against his sternum for a moment.
"That… Hm." Ash looked up at Valerie, her dark eyes scrutinizing. She held the Friend ball consideringly, looking between it and Bane. Then she started giggling. It was a manic, slightly unhinged sound that Ash hadn't expected from the serene Master. "We will have to prepare for situations such as that." She tucked the ball up her sleeve, trading it for a Love ball. "Release your last Pokémon, Mr. Ketchum! I find myself enjoying this match." Her smile was wider than the polite expressions Ash had seen so far. He felt his own grin widen in response.
People tended to forget Fairies were grouped with Darks and Dragons for a reason.
Running his fingers through black fur once more, Ash returned the somewhat shaken Zoroark and swapped the Heal ball with a Luxury ball.
Both Pokémon appeared, beautiful and deceivingly delicate.
Sagitta swooped through the air, spinning as she climbed and arcing until she hovered in front of Ash. Her echoing screech somehow sounded like wind chimes, though the declaration of challenge was unimpeded.
Valerie's eyes flashed with interest as she stared at the opposing Fairy.
In front of the Master was the graceful form of Sylveon, ribbons fluttering in an invisible wind. Tall ears swiveled, both twitching towards the Togekiss. The Fairy Eeveelution looked unconcerned, muscles relaxed but eyes alert.
Ash scanned their opponent, briefly cataloging its appearance and wondering if Mirae would exhibit any similarities upon evolving.
"Naoko has been with me for many years. I feel you will adequately challenge her."
"We'll do more than that."
Valerie's grin stretched her face. "Promises, promises."
Their Pokémon exploded into motion.
Misty Terrain rippled across the field just as Air Slashes tore at the ground, producing violent pink whirlwinds of mist. Naoko disappeared within the sparkling fog, her coloring giving her a surprising amount of camouflage.
Sagitta didn't stay still, racing low over the field, twisting and spinning to disrupt the shifting cover hiding her prey. Air Slashes fell from her wings like afterimages, carving deep lacerations into the ground and risking the same for any who got caught in their path.
As she tilted down to twist and change directions, four ribbons shot from the mist, tying tightly around Sagitta's small feet.
The Togekiss was yanked to a halt, eliciting a shocked squawk. That squawk turned into a cry of pain as the ribbons turned orange with flame.
"Shock Wave!"
"Fire Lash!"
Ash ground his teeth against his flinch as Sylveon's Mystical Fire extended past her retracted ribbons, encased in a thin layer of psionic energy. The makeshift Fire Lash struck Sagitta twice before she could create enough distance, her beautiful feathers smoldering.
"Wind Tunnel." Ash barked the command, and Sagitta carried through. Her wings glowed pale blue with the energy she was calling, and then she directed it.
Misty Terrain was blown away like it was dust, leaving Naoko out in the open and braced against the headwinds. The Sylveon grit her teeth, the interspersed Air Slashes glancing off the thin Light Screen barrier that moulded to her fur.
"Spear!" In a surprising bit of precision, a small orb of energy gathered in front of Naoko's fleshy bowtie before being shot out as a thin, condensed dart. The extreme winds cut off abruptly as Sagitta was struck in the chest.
Flailing and falling for just a moment, Sagitta caught herself and twisted away to avoid another spear of Psyshock.
Sylveon didn't stay stationary now that she was out in the open, Quick Attack and Dazzling Gleam obscured her form, making it difficult for Sagitta to land a direct hit. Controlled, intermittent Psychics would wrench the Togekiss's wing, or her foot, or her head at significant moments, further affecting her accuracy.
Ash hated feeling like he was put on the back foot, and he knew Sagitta felt much the same.
"Starfall!"
Naoko's baby blue eyes widened in panic at the veritable meteor shower of Swifts, her protective Dazzling Gleam searing the eyes with the power she put into it. While a majority of the stars were from the many, many Double Team clones, Naoko had no way of differentiating which ones would hurt.
The real Swifts may not penetrate the Dazzling Gleam barrier, but their destabilization certainly impaired the Sylveon's vision.
That paired with Sagitta's unmastered Extreme Speed left Sylveon airborne.
Naoko snarled, ribbons snapping out to soften her fall, orienting her body to allow a Moonblast to successfully clip Sagitta's wing.
A furious screech made the recovering Sylveon's ears twitch, but she didn't hesitate to add a Reflect to her energy-based armor.
Ash was impressed by the Eeveelution, she was layering defensive techniques until she was almost untouchable. Misty Terrain, Light Screen, Reflect, Dazzling Gleam, and Psychic to defend, distract, and avoid.
Naoko was a defensive strategist, and the only way forward was relentless offense.
He was cursing himself for delaying Sagitta's learning of Steel Wing, Aura Sphere, and Psychic.
"Ancient Power!"
"Evade."
Stony arrows were torn from the field, raining down and shattering into fragments. Naoko danced around, mixing Quick Attack and Psychic to dodge, lashing out with steel-coated ribbons to smash the ones she couldn't dodge. It was a genius variation of Iron Tail.
The battlefield was soon littered with holes, forcing the Sylveon to focus so she wouldn't trip. A light Fairy Wind below her kept her steps light. Senses were pulled in every direction, not allowing the Eeveelution to counterattack.
The more Naoko dodged, the longer Sagitta carried on. Serene Grace weaved its magic, and soon Sagitta was faster, arrows accelerating, stone denser and harder to break. Ancient Power's potential to empower the user a blessing to the Togekiss.
"Swap and Up!"
Valerie weighed the options, and she made a call. Arrows slammed into her Sylveon, bruises already blooming beneath thin fur. But it allowed a psychic tether to strike Sagitta head on.
Skill Swap stole Serene Grace.
Psych Up copied her enhancements.
Moonblast knocked Sagitta from the sky.
Ribbons were there to catch her and reel her in.
Ash was there to protect her.
"Flamethrower!" Naoko howled, the fur and skin of her thin ribbons blistering beneath the flames, and Ash had to grit his teeth against the sympathetic pain he felt flare in his own arms. "Protect 1!"
The basic dome of energy burst from Sagitta's body, forcing the ribbons back and freeing the Togekiss. But she didn't flee.
Instead, she threw herself at the snarling Sylveon, talons carving through pink fur while Naoko's Hyper Voice made Sagitta thrash her head in torment. The Togekiss tried to disengage, but Sylveon ensnared her in blistered ribbons.
Dual Wingbeat slammed into Naoko's head, then her jaw, then finally her throat, forcing the Hyper Voice to an early end. Yet their opponent pivoted quickly, ribbons coiling around Sagitta's wings and pinning them to her sides. Mystical Fire glowed ominously, sizzling, crackling smoke rising from Sagitta's feathers.
She was enveloped in red light before Ash consciously realized what he'd done.
His chest was heaving, the hand holding the Luxury ball shaking.
He wouldn't let anyone else burn.
Exhaling slowly, Ash let his hand drop, clipping the Luxury ball back to his belt. Sagitta would be upset, no doubt, but one flight with Mirae and she'd forget it ever happened.
He wouldn't though.
Shaking out his shoulders, he didn't have time to ruminate on what he'd just done as he saw Valerie gliding towards him, Naoko trotting at her side. When the two stopped a short distance away, he had to crane his head back to look the Master in the eye. Her heels let her tower over him, but he was pretty sure she would still be taller without them. This close, he finally realized what was up with her eyes.
Much like her Sylveon, she had no sclera. Just enormous dark gray irises that blended with pupils. It was slightly terrifying. He shook it off and held out a hand.
Valerie disregarded the hand, instead leaning forward to place two chaste kisses against either cheek.
Ash startled, much to her amusement. "Oh don't be surprised. That pink dye in your hair is a real attention grabber. And a trainer who doesn't like to see their Pokémon hurt? What a combination." He really couldn't tell if she was being sarcastic or not. She was a Fairy Master, afterall, and Masters reflected the Pokémon they trained.
"Thank you for the match." He was disappointed in his reflexive end to the battle. It hadn't been over, and he was sure he could have devised a way out of the bind. More importantly, he couldn't let this happen again; couldn't let it become a habit.
Couldn't end a battle every time his Pokémon risked being burned.
Logically, he knew even if they did get burned they could be healed in no time, with zero lasting effects. But emotionally…
Just another straw to add to the Camerupt's back.
"I was happy to be your opponent." Naoko crooned in agreement, the fierce fighter from before replaced with a calm Fae. "Here, as an aspiring Chaos Trainer, you'll get some use out of this." From her sleeve, she pulled out a pink TM disc. Ash took it and read the label; Dazzling Gleam.
"I've actually been looking for one of these, I appreciate it." While Sagitta could learn it naturally, many Pokémon needed the help of the TM.
Valerie smiled, dimples visible this close. "I'm overjoyed I could help. Now, I, too, have a request." Ash tilted his head to show he was listening. "I'm a fashion designer, and I was hoping I could make you an outfit, and in exchange, you'll wear it in events that receive media attention."
He blinked. "Uh… why?"
Valerie smiled in a way that reminded him of Hemlock. Naoko sat at her feet, headbutting her trainer's leg and receiving an affectionate pat. "I find myself wanting to create something for you, something that blends your eyes and your… let's say vibes. You're strong, and I suspect you'll be battling in some high-stakes matches. It'll be good advertising for me while also satiating my desire to sew something."
Ash thought for a moment before shrugging. "I don't see why not. What did you have in mind? I've never really seen any of your designs."
The leader clapped, eyes actually sparkling, before holding out her arms and twirling in place, Naoko copying the spin. "This is one of my designs. I blend the traditional styles of Johto with the modern haute couture of Kalos. Much of my brand is based on Pokémon and their natural coats, patterns, and silhouettes."
Now that Ash looked, he could see her outfit was inspired by Aromatisse.
She pressed her palms together and lifted her hands to rest against her chin. "I can see something traditional, perhaps a cape, though nothing as ostentatious as Lance's, something more understated. Princely, but comfortable. Red of course… But what Pokémon? Perhaps…"
Ash was pretty sure Valerie was now stuck in her own imagination with the way her eyes glazed over and she wasn't really making much sense. But he decided to trust her judgment, she was famous in Kalos afterall, and not just for being a Gym Leader.
"Will I need to stay in town or can it be mailed?"
Valerie jerked out of her reverie and took a moment to process the question. "Oh! I can send it. I'll need your measurements. I have a battle in a few minutes, but if you could come back in an hour we can get that all squared away."
Ash nodded. "Great, I'll see you in an hour." Naoko waved with her damaged ribbons, though the burns already looked to be healing.
After dropping his three Pokémon with Nurse Joy and grabbing some coffee from a little cafe rather than confront his turbulent thoughts, Ash headed back to the gym. The coffee steamed in the brisk November air as he walked to the door. Blossom pointed down a hallway "Second door on the left." Nodding his thanks, he headed down the hallway and stepped through the door.
It was colorful chaos.
Fabrics of all shades and patterns and materials were scattered around the room, fashion mannequins draped with cloth and half-finished outfits. The walls had drawings taped up all over, some he even recognized. A plush Shelgon had needles sticking out of it sat on a table, leading to Ash swallowing a chuckle.
In the center of the multicolor tornado was Valerie. Her exquisite kimono had been exchanged for a stylish pair of linen pants and a halter top. Raven hair had been thrown up into a messy bun held in place with two long needles. She caught sight of him and smiled.
"Welcome back. If you would." She gestured to the slightly raised platform in the middle of the room. Trying to hide his discomfort, Ash shrugged off his jacket and stepped onto the platform.
Her strange eyes caught sight of his forearms, an interesting expression crossing her face.
From then on Valerie was in a flurry of motion. One moment she'd be measuring some part of his body and the next she was flinging different colored fabrics on his shoulder and humming to herself.
Ash just let it happen.
Letting his eyes wander, he saw a desk with a few framed photographs that caught his attention. There was a group picture of eight women dressed in traditional kimonos, each with a hand on an Eeveelution sitting in front of them. There was a picture of an obviously young Valerie embracing an older woman dressed in a similar kimono to the group picture. The last photo showed Valerie standing with a few women in front of what must be the first boutique she opened in Kalos.
He looked away when Valerie asked him to hold out his arms. As gently as possible, she adjusted the position of them so she could get a more accurate measurement.
He didn't expect to be there for an hour, but what could you do?
When he was finally released, he huffed and sat down where he had been standing. Rolling his neck, he groaned at the tension that had built up there.
"Oh, don't be such a wimp." Ash blinked and turned incredulous eyes towards the designer. Her expression hadn't once changed from the polite serenity she wore easily, but amusement danced in her eyes.
"Easy for you to say." He glanced pointedly at her boots which also had a six inch heel.
"Beauty is pain, darling."
"No it's not." If his words startled her, she didn't show it. But something in her expression made a hollow feeling well up inside. Maybe it was the slight downturn of her lips or the tension around her eyes, but it screamed an emotion or experience he couldn't understand.
"Anything worthwhile requires sacrifice. You know this." Valerie's voice was sharper than before, eyes hard.
A somber silence fell between the two. Coughing to dislodge the lump in his throat, he stood to throw his jacket and shoes back on and turned to face the Fairy Master.
Any traces of unspoken pain were gone from her features. She held out a surprisingly calloused hand, Ash quickly clasping it. "We have your information on the computer, we'll call you when I'm done so we'll know where to send it."
"I look forward to seeing the finished product."
"Just remember there is no reward without risk." If Valerie's smile was a bit thinner this time around, neither said anything. She squeezed his hand gently and withdrew. Ash nodded once before he spun around and walked out, once again cursing himself for his needless words.
It was easy to forget that to become unyielding weapons, Masters were first forged in fire.
"Not a word."
His team exploded into shrieks of laughter, Nettle even falling to the ground in its distraction.
They were two days from Lumiose.
And here he was, looking like a damned Gastrodon, dripping in mud. He turned to glare at the perpetrator, Hemlock (who else) who was cackling on his back beside the swampy expanse.
Where Ash was.
Because he fell in.
Because his Pokémon are assholes.
"I can't wait for training tomorrow."
That did nothing to shut everyone up.
With all the dignity he didn't have, Ash stood up, the wet plop of mud falling into the water threatening to restart the laugh attacks. His t-shirt was caked, and his pants not much better.
Normally, he'd be laughing along or pretending at his annoyance, but not today.
He was extremely irritated, his scars relentlessly burning the past few days and making it hard to think, let alone train, but he did his best to hide it. He didn't want to ruin his teammates' fun.
Trudging through the sludge, he stepped onto the damp grass. Reaching up, he grabbed a handful of mud from his hair and whipped it at Hemlock.
'Have fun getting mud out of your nose, you demon.'
As the Morgrem snorted and gagged on the mud that now painted his face, Ash stalked away to stand below a stream of water coming off a perfectly formed branch. He knew he wouldn't be able to get 100% clean, but anything was better than the walk of shame through Lumiose.
The last five days had been filled with rough training and some clashing heads. The rain had gotten on everyone's nerves, but none more so than Castor and Sagitta. They were both grumpy for the duration of their trek back through Route 14, and their bad moods seeped into everyone else's.
But Ash's bad mood took the cake.
Sagitta's battle with Sylveon had stuck with him more than expected. Nightmares filled with melting feathers, scarred wings, and stolen freedom.
The tension and animosity between his teammates only deteriorated Ash's mental state. Ash woke up three days in a row to choked down screams and arms blazing in agony.
It hadn't been a good trip. He was starting to see a pattern; if he had a bad night of sleep from a nightmare, his arms would flare up throughout the following day.
Sometimes he wondered if he could really live with these scars. He knew his brain was working against him, and with all the spite Ash was known for, he fought through all the self doubt.
Most of the time.
He avoided the topic when Grimsley asked.
Thus, many of them had short fuses at this point, none more so than Ash. But a little comedic relief was needed, even if Ash was the butt of the joke.
He'd do anything for his teammates.
"Alright, relax. Bane, you won the free for all challenge, so you get to choose our training for tomorrow night." The Zoroark puffed up with pride, and bared his teeth in a grin when Libra 'gently' knocked him with her elbow.
The free for all challenge had been a 'last man standing' battle. If you were knocked onto your back, you were out. In all honesty he had expected Libra to win. She weighed the most, all muscle and thick scales.
But to his surprise, Hemlock and Castor had made a temporary alliance to knock down the Totem. Nettle hadn't lasted very long, dive-bombed by Sagitta. Mirae was tricky and small, and had been one of the last ones standing. But when he couldn't hide behind or underneath Styx, he was taken out quickly. He had been the one to knock out Castor, which had been impressive.
But Bane had used his illusions and instincts to win. Illusioned as a Joltic, the smallest Pokémon thus far, he scuttled around until he got close to another and took them down.
Hey, the only rules were no maiming.
Bane had taken out Hemlock, Styx, and Mirae.
It had been fun, and that night his team had been a little less on edge.
Ash tried to shake out his wet hair, but the sleep deprivation headache didn't like that, causing his skull to pound. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to will the migraine away.
His team was still laughing behind him, and he struggled to focus on their joy. Breathing slowly and meticulously, he tried to reign in his sensory overstimulation. Ash felt himself wincing at every plop of a raindrop hitting a leaf, every pinprick of cold on his skin, every pulse of blood at the base of his skull.
Breathe
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inh- "Hey, you!"
Fuck.
Ash choked down a gasp and turned towards the nasally voice that called out to him. A teenager around his age was standing a short ways away, seemingly unbothered by the relentless rain and deadly glare Ash was sending him.
He looked stupid, wearing a pink shirt under a brown vest with fringe hanging from the hem and breast pocket. The idiot had sunglasses perched on his blue hair even though the storm clouds blotted out the sun.
Gritting his teeth against the pain radiating from his head and his arms, Ash mentally tried to will the guy away.
"The name's Damian."
Please stop
"You have a couple strong-looking Pokémon."
Be quiet
"What do you say to a battle?"
It burns
"If you win, you get one of my Pokémon."
Don't say it don't say it
"But if I win, I get yours."
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
Ba-dum
Blood rushed in Ash's ears, drowning out his surroundings, leaving only Damian as the sole object of his focus.
Time seemed to stop. Just for a moment.
Then the fury came.
In that moment, it all boiled over. The straw that broke the Camerupt's back.
And Ash didn't recognize himself.
A strange haze surrounded him, like he was watching from an outside perspective as he broke.
He knew his eyes gained a crazed, wild glint and he bared his teeth, oddly sharp canines bared threateningly like an enraged Salamence. Sound was muted as he stalked towards Damian, the smug grin dropping, replaced with uncertainty, then panic.
Even through the detachment, Ash felt horror well up inside as he struck the other teen, sunglasses landing in the muddy grass. Blood dripped down Damian's face, and the teen looked like a child, stunned as he pulled his hand away from his nose to stare at the blood.
Ash struggled against the sudden restraints on his chest and forearms, growling in pain as Libra's rough scales scraped against his inflamed scars and Bane stood between the two humans.
Damian scrambled away, tripping and falling on his back in his haste to get back. His parting words were spat so venomously, Ash would remember them years from now.
"Fucking freak!"
Damian was far away when Ash finally shattered.
The sobs that wracked his body pulled him to his knees, white-knuckled fingers squeezing fistfulls of rain-soaked soil.
He couldn't do this
Ash felt unfamiliar moisture stream down his face and get lost in the rain, his heart on the verge of collapse from how heavy it felt. Ash heaved for breath, feeling like he'd never catch it again as his hands clenched the grass.
He was drowning in it all.
And even still, his arms burned.
"Already tapping into our Sovereign's spirit, isn't he?"
Ash's tumultuous mind froze, his breath suddenly turning to ice in his throat. His body felt heavier, like gravity had doubled. He could feel his teammates around him, but none had reacted. They didn't even seem to notice the voice. Styx was looming over him protectively, the others forming a circle around his pitiful, collapsed form.
He looked up, and saw a familiar face.
Unnatural, otherworldly, starved, tired.
The boy.
This was the first time he has ever deigned to speak to Ash, and there was a hollow, echoing aspect to his voice. It cracked like TV static but still sounded young.
In the stormy skies, he looked half-dead, and Ash would have thought he was if not for the feeling of… something too similar to Nettle. To himself.
The boy's grayish skin was tinted purple, odd marks all over his bared skin looked too much like stardust in a nebula. Black hair didn't seem to realize it was raining, instead floating like it was fog caught in a light breeze. This close, Ash could see dead blue eyes even as the skin around them changed in opacity.
He didn't sink into the waterlogged earth. It was like the boy didn't weigh anything.
But in his arms sat Cosmoem. Still sleeping and ever inert. There was no struggle in the boy's frame as he held a Pokémon that even Styx could not move.
Why the Tapu Legends allowed him to take the mysterious creature, Ash didn't know.
Beside him sat a Pokémon Ash didn't recognize, though his mind was moving too slowly to even begin to sort through his memories. It was distinctly canine, though it was dead. Skeletal legs, shaggy fur that mimicked the boy's hair with its ephemeral quality. A crumbling, broken gravestone sat atop its head.
The boy leaned closer, his eyes now mere inches away from Ash's.
"We're both a little dead inside now, aren't we?" Dark amusement sparked in dull eyes, a tired grin displaying inhuman fangs. "But don't worry, you'll be like me soon enough." The ominous words were offset by an almost lonely wonderment, a hopeful disbelief that spoke of unquenched innocence.
He looked at Ash like one would an idol.
The canine at the boy's feet wagged its tail and pressed against the boy's hip. A part of Ash was screaming at him, telling him to demand answers and finally learn why this… boy has been following him for almost three years.
But Ash was tired.
The boy's image flickered and he was a few feet away again. "One Chosen to another, I hope your Ascension is kinder than mine."
And he was gone.
He stared at nothing for a long while.
Styx was wrapped tightly around him, Nettle and Mirae curled up against his chest. Libra was nearby, offering protection from the rain to Castor and Sagitta as the three kept watch. Hemlock and Bane had somehow wiggled into the donut Styx had formed with her body so they were pressed against Ash.
Many of them didn't understand what happened, but they understood explosive expressions of emotion. Most commonly rage. But they didn't understand the confusion and foreboding that draped around his shoulders like a cape.
Most saw nothing wrong with what Ash did. Pokémon fought, it was natural.
Ash wasn't a Pokémon.
But after his interaction with the boy…
He had been called by the Kalos Police Force hours ago, and he was barely able to force words out. They had to call Professor Oak as his sponsor, then Dr. Grimsley as his therapist, then Champion Alder to verify the Rocket encounter in Unova.
It was a huge clusterfuck.
His mental stability was in question, his trainer license was threatened to be revoked, and mandatory therapy was even brought up before Grimsley proved he was already working with Ash.
Damian was from an influential family, and if Ash had been a regular trainer, there would have been serious consequences.
But with the combined might of Oak, Alder, Grimsley, and his 'heroic' track record, he was let off with a verbal warning. Especially since Damian already had a mark on his license for unethical release.
He had gotten very lucky.
But the worst part was the look of pity on Oak's face.
The look of painful understanding on Grimsley's.
He didn't speak of the boy.
Ash was half convinced he'd imagined him again.
He was tearing at the seams and he didn't know how to stop it. But Styx, his wonderful partner, believed she could keep him whole with her brute stubbornness. She's been curled around him since the incident, almost ten hours at this point.
He loved her.
He loved his entire team, offering their silent or aggressive support. It helped, even if just a little.
He could keep going for them.
He could keep trying.
He entered Lumiose and got some looks of disgust, but he really couldn't find it in him to care. Too exhausted after everything that happened. However, if he darted into the first Pokémon center he came across, that was between him and Nurse Joy.
Newly showered, Pokémon being healed, and his clothes in the wash, Ash pursed his lips when his eyes caught the videophones. Sighing, he slumped over to them and sat down. Oak picked up on the first ring. His face was solemn.
"How are you feeling?"
Ash pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I don't know what to do."
"You keep fighting."
Ash snorted without humor. "I thought I wasn't supposed to."
Oak just frowned at him in thought. "I'll reword it. You just keep trying, Ash. You keep going. Right now you're climbing out of a deep ravine and it's a slippery slope. Backsliding is expected."
"But this wasn't backsliding! This was me hitting an all new low. I can't keep doing this!" Ash's voice cracked, and Oak looked devastated.
"Ashton Red Ketchum, you have never been one to quit, and I will not allow it to happen now. You have been hurt and traumatized and betrayed by your own body, there is no doubt about that. I know it seems bleak, times like these are always darkest. But you need to look for the light, something to fight for. And I think you already know what that is."
Ash closed his eyes, oddly numb at the fact he knew what Oak meant. His teammates were his driving force. He had to be strong enough to help them reach their goals.
He knew he couldn't give up now. But it was so hard.
The two were silent for a few minutes before Oak broke it. "Tell me about what else has happened in Kalos."
Grasping the distraction with both hands, Ash spoke and his shoulders lost some of their tension. "I liked Laverre City. Won two out of three matches against Valerie, and she's making me an outfit for some reason." Ash let some confusion show when Oak's surprise turned to delight.
"Well, that's- ha-, very nice of her." Oak lifted a fist to his mouth to stifle the chuckles. He caught sight of Ash's stormy expression and all traces of joy died a swift death. "Sorry." He coughed. "Valerie was an extremely popular model back in Johto; the face of The Kimono Girls. She moved to Kalos when she went into fashion design. She's very successful. You just keep making powerful friends, don't you Ash?"
Oak made pointed comments like that quite often, and Ash didn't know how he was supposed to respond. He was too tired to make sense of it all.
"Anyway," Oak waved the silence aside, "what can I do for you?"
Ash paused for a moment, an internal war pushing and pulling. He tugged his sleeves down. "Uh, can- can I talk to Houndour?"
The Professor gaped. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Ash understood. He'd just hit rock bottom. It would be naive to think he couldn't sink lower, but honestly, what did he have to lose? He was already at rock bottom.
Grimacing, Ash looked away from the screen and picked his cuticles. He'd been thinking about this for a while, even before his super fun emotional breakdown. Every time his team had some sort of bonding opportunity, he felt guilt, hot and shameful, well up inside. He couldn't take Houndour yet, he wasn't ready, but he owed her an explanation.
"Yes."
"Okay, Ash." Oak's voice was still wary, but some pride eked into it, and he shared a moment of deliberate eye contact with the teen before leaving the frame. Ash frowned deeply and tapped his shaking leg. He'd been able to watch videos of Houndour and Houndoom when he'd been with Grimsley, and the psychologist had continued sending him new videos. But this was something else. This was a huge step.
But again, how much further could he sink? He was tempting fate with that, but he honestly couldn't dredge up the energy to care at this point.
He absently remembered a quote he'd stumbled upon back in Pallet. 'When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change.'
About eight minutes passed before there was movement. A black shape hopped up on the chair and peaked over the edge of the desk.
Ash's heart stuttered with a mixture of panic and fondness.
Houndour's whole body was shaking with excitement, her tiny little tail trying to wag and instead causing her to wriggle erratically. But she didn't get closer to the camera, and for that Ash was thankful.
"Hey girl." His weary voice was a bit more choked up than he wanted, but the impatient twitching of the canine was endearing so he swallowed thickly and tried for a small smile. "Have you been good for the Professor?"
Houndour gave a quiet bark, her tongue lolling out. His heart skipped a beat at the sound, he couldn't tell if it was in fear or affection. He took a deep breath and released it slowly. He knew Oak was just out of the frame, ready to hop in if things started to spiral.
Ash bit his tongue and squared his shoulders. Houndour noticed the change and sat back with wide and innocent eyes. "I'm sorry for abandoning you at the Ranch. It wasn't fair to you, especially after your last… trainer." Houndour's ears flattened and she hung her head. "I just… after that Houndoom hurt me, I can't- it scares me. You scare me."
Houndour whined, low and pitiful and full of sorrow. Ash squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and released a breath. "I'm working on it. We all want you home, but I need a bit more time. Can you do that for me?"
He didn't know what he was expecting, but the determined bark and serious eyes made something loosen in his chest. Houndour looked for all the world like she'd wait forever for him. His eyes stung.
"Thank you. We miss you." Houndour whined and shuffled a little closer to the camera, her eyes pulling at his knotted and jagged heartstrings. "Soon. We'll be together soon." Her tongue lolled back out and she gave a toothy grin.
Ash didn't wait for the Professor to get back in the frame before he shut off the connection. He braced his hands on his knees and hung his head, sucking in lungfuls of air. His trembling fingers squeezed a few times before he straightened.
Mew, the guilt and stress was eating him. Houndour didn't deserve this.
Yet wedged beside the guilt was a new flame of resolve. He'd get there, he'd get better, even if it was uncomfortable. This was a fight and he was willing to do what was necessary. Team Rocket have taken a lot from him, more than he could say, but he wouldn't let his Pokémon suffer as well.
He took one more deep breath before standing, ignoring the side-eyed looks he was getting from others in the lobby. Digging his hands into his hoodie's pocket, he leaned against a wall waiting for his team to be ready.
Forcibly, he wretched his thoughts into order.
Tomorrow, he'd leave for Camphrier Town so he could see Parfum Palace. There were Flabébé all over Route 7, which he had considered catching before he caught Sagitta. The chances of coming across another Shiny Stone were next to none.
Valerie's Mawile had definitely interested him, though. He might try to find one.
When they were ready, Ash collected his team and went around back to feed them dinner. His team was still subdued, knowing something was wrong. Nettle was aggressively affectionate and Styx stayed close.
Ash couldn't help but frown at the state of his Pokémon. They were filthy. Sighing, he turned around and dug out the special soaps he got in Laverre and called over Mirae first. The Pokémon centers had stalls and hoses to use if trainers didn't want to pay for grooming services.
He decided he'd get as many clean before the sun went down and finish up tomorrow morning.
Being very careful of Mirae's emerging changes as he grew closer to evolution, Ash scrubbed the kit clean even as his hands shook. Luckily there was a mounted heat fan nearby. The Eevee was more than happy to curl up underneath to stave off the November chill.
Nettle was next, the old toothbrush he had was put to work getting under the purple and fuschia scales. Then Hemlock grumbled the entire time, his face still flaking with dried mud. Ash couldn't use soap on the Morgrem or else it would strip the unique oils from his fur.
Ash was exhausted, mentally and emotionally, but this made him feel better. He was doing something for his Pokémon.
Between teammates, he filled the public bird bath with water, dropped some oils in it, and let Sagitta have at it. She was molting the last of her burned feathers, and for that Ash was grateful. Ash finished bathing Bane right as the sun dipped below the horizon.
He was in for some backbreaking work tomorrow morning. Scales, scales, feathers, and more scales. Standing to stretch, Ash returned his teammates and headed to his room, ready to sleep in a real bed after how miserable Route 14 was.
The next morning, his eyes were bloodshot. His mind was unsure what to make of everything during the night. He slept deeply, flashes of fire and fear, but overall he felt… better. Just in case, he slid on two compression sleeves, wincing as they dragged over his inflamed forearms. They would offer a slight layer of protection for anything that brushed against the scars.
He dragged himself out of bed to finish grooming his teammates. Just as he was finishing up Libra's intensive ritual, he had a thought. He looked at his Pokédex, figuring he had time. He patted Libra and scooped up her discarded scales, tucking them away in a container.
"Okay, all done. You'll be released in a couple hours." The Hakamo-o hummed, the clanging of her scales making his ears ring. Castor whined from his spot under the heated fan, his cold blooded self unwilling to leave the warmth. "I'll buy you a solar-powered heat lamp!" The croc thought for a moment then nodded. Rolling his eyes, Ash returned them all.
He had already checked out of the center, so he hefted his pack and headed south. He had on his hat today, for once, since the sun was way too bright this morning. Ash couldn't remember when he lost his sunglasses, but he knew he needed to buy a new pair.
The city was busy today, and it made him relieved that he was leaving. Over the course of his journey, he figured he's gotten a bit better with crowds. They still made his skin crawl, but nowhere near as badly as before. Today was a bit rougher than usual after his 'episode' but he was able to manage.
Progress.
It took about 40 minutes to make it to Sycamore's lab. Jogging up the stairs, Ash strolled in and gave a short nod to the familiar receptionist. "Is the Professor available?"
"Yeah, he's back with the starters." Walking through the lab, he found the young Kalos Professor measuring and weighing the three Pokémon.
"Knock knock." The four inhabitants startled and looked at him. Sycamore's expression took on a concerned edge at the sight of Ash's bloodshot eyes and the dark bags beneath.
"Ash! Didn't think I'd see you again so soon. What brings you by?" Ash made sure to crack a smile down at Froakie, who had hopped over, before answering.
"I had a question, figured you'd be the best to answer it. I've been collecting the scales that my Hakamo-o sheds for a few months now. Do they have any properties or uses?"
Sycamore stood up from where he was crouched, shaking out his leg as he thought. "That is a good question. There are a few things you can do with them. You could sell them to jewelers, you could get them fashioned into an accessory or sewed into clothing. Uh, I know they have medicinal properties related to bone health, if tools strong enough to grind them into powders are available. I don't think they can be used as a Dragon Scale for Seadra."
Ash tilted his head in thought, absent-mindedly crouching down to pat Froakie when the Kalos Starter pulled on his pant leg. "Leader Valerie is making me an outfit, think I should send the scales to her to use?"
Sycamore looked surprised at the admission. "Wow, you're getting a Valerie original? Lucky kid. But sure. How's this, you give me five to study and I'll send the package to Val for you."
"Really? That'd be great, actually." Ash pulled his pack around delicately, making sure it didn't drag against his arms, to rummage inside. He had to wrap an arm around Froakie, who was now perched on his leg, to get the container. Sycamore's expression of amusement was ignored by Ash as he handed the box over.
Standing up, hand braced under Froakie's chest, he gestured to the box. "There has to be over a hundred in there. The first time I ever groomed Libra, there were so many wedged under other scales."
"Uh huh." Sycamore's smile was growing as Ash spoke. The teen adjusted Froakie and frowned irritably at the Professor.
"What?"
Sycamore chuckled and shook his head. He looked up and gestured at Ash. "I think Froakie chose his trainer."
Ash tilted his head. "One of the interns?" From behind Sycamore, Fennekin thunked its head against the ground. Sycamore waited patiently for a few moments before understanding dawned on Ash. "Oh." He looked down at the frog in his arms, who was relaxed and resting comfortably.
"He's been a menace since you left. He escaped the lab seven times. My son was getting fed up being on Froakie Recovery Duty. I was ready to give up and find you."
Looking down at the Water type, Ash blinked a few times. He never thought he'd get a traditional starter, with how rare they were and how only three had the secondary typing he needed. Froakie looked up at him, stubbornness radiating from every pore.
Ash grinned genuinely for the first time today. This was familiar, this excitement at gaining a new teammate.
"Alright. Can I catch him with a Pokéball I have? Figure I'll only catch one Water type." Froakie looked smug, much to Sycamore's exasperation.
"Yeah, sure, give me a moment." He grabbed the standard Pokéball that belonged to Froakie and held down the small button on the bottom after it read his fingerprint. A blue light surrounded Froakie before it faded. Ash grinned and dug around for the lone Lure ball he had.
"Ready?" Froakie grinned and smacked a webbed hand to the capture button. Froakie was absorbed in a stream of red light, the ball shaking once before it locked. Looking down at the Lure ball, he shook his head. "Can't say I was expecting this when I swung by."
Sycamore laughed and patted Ash on the shoulder, quickly retracting when he felt Ash flinch. "I feel bad for saying it, but I'm somewhat happy to get him out of my hair. He hated it here. I'm glad he found you."
Ash stamped down on the flush that threatened to stain his face. Instead, he pulled out his Pokédex and read up on Froakie's information. He couldn't believe this happened again. He hasn't actually battled to catch a Pokémon in forever.
Froakie: The Bubble Frog Pokémon. Water Type. The delicate yet flexible bubbles, called Frubbles, reduce the damage Froakie takes from attacks. Despite its carefree attitude, it is vigilant of its surroundings. Froakie is both light and strong, making it capable of jumping incredibly high.
This Froakie is Male and has the ability Torrent.
Known Moves: Quick Attack, Lick, Water Pulse, Smokescreen, Smack Down, Substitute, Double Team, Aqua Jet
Egg Move(s): Toxic Spikes
This Pokémon stands at 1'07" and weighs 17.2lbs.
Damn, for a starter, Froakie had an incredible movepool. It was a shame he would lose his frubbles if he evolved, they were very useful.
He was excited to see what his new teammate could do.
Pressing the release, Froakie materialized on the floor and sat back, grinning with satisfaction. "Yeah, yeah, you're happy now. Just wait until we start training." Froakie narrowed his eyes at the challenge.
Ash shifted his weight to the other leg and looked at his new teammate appraisingly. "Want a name? All my Pokémon have one." The frog looked like he was just asked a trick question. He blinked warily but nodded. "How does Polaris sound? Brightest star in the sky."
He tried to hide his smile as the frog nonchalantly nodded, even as he lifted his chin imperiously.
Oh, he'd fit right in.
The next few minutes were filled with goodbyes, Sycamore's quite a bit more emotional than Polaris. The Froakie bid farewell to Chespin and Fennekin before following Ash out of the lab. It was like some chains fell off as soon as the Water type hopped through the front doors. He finally had the freedom to choose his trainer.
And he had chosen Ash.
"Alright everyone, meet Polaris."
The poor, poor Froakie.
Route 5 offered lots and lots of space for his team. Which was good for the others, not good for the frog.
He looked like he was facing down against Yveltal with how he stood before Ash's team. Styx and Libra stared him down, testing his mettle, while Bane, Hemlock, and Castor started prowling around the edges. Nettle and Mirae didn't tend to partake in their intimidation/initiation tactics while for Sagitta it depended on her mood.
Ash rolled his eyes but stepped back, letting his team test the newbie.
Polaris had his eyes darting around to keep the advancing Pokémon in his sights. His muscles tensed and he readied himself to jump into action if needed.
He didn't run.
It would take a few days for Polaris to find his place in the hierarchy, but this initial assessment was done to see if he could handle anything thrown at him.
This little song and dance had started with Houndour, even if the innocent canine didn't realize it.
They were a pack, a unit, and new members needed to prove themselves.
Castor dove first.
Polaris launched himself to the left, only to have to roll to avoid Bane's claws. The Froakie blanched when Libra barrelled towards him, but he leapt and landed on Castor's head. Ash laughed when the croc flailed and Hemlock collided with him.
Sagitta, the little chaotic troublemaker, decided to join, dive bombing the tiny frog and sending him flying. He twisted around to land on his feet, but wasn't given any time to catch his breath before Styx's tail smacked him towards Bane.
The back and forth went on for another minute, much to Ash's shock. Obviously the Water type was just dodging, and he was struck a few times, but it still took his team of six two whole minutes to pin the frog.
He was a slippery guy.
Polaris was heaving for air by the time Styx released him. Ash made his way over and handed a sitrus berry to the frazzled frog. "Good job." The Froakie looked incredulous. "No, really, very well done. Six to one and it took two minutes to pin you? That's impressive, Polaris." The Bubble Frog seemed to calm somewhat at that, preening a bit.
Hemlock bounced over and pulled the frog to his feet and clapped him on the back. The more friendly of his teammates all approached to officially greet the newbie. Styx didn't want to, but she was second in command so it was expected of her.
Ash let everyone socialize for a couple minutes before clearing his throat. "Okay, time to warm up! Polaris, pair up with Bane, do what he does. After that, it's Bane's choice." The fox grinned widely as everyone split to go through their routines.
Deciding to join in, Ash took a spot next to Hemlock and went through the movements with him. His own conditioning had taken a hit after his injury, especially his hand-to-hand combat work. The forearms were typically used for blocking, but Ash's couldn't handle it with the pain that flared every time they were touched.
It put a real damper on things.
But he knew exercise was good for his mental state so he tried not to focus on what he's lost.
Slowly, he was learning ways to work around his injury, but some things didn't have a second option. Sometimes it was too much.
He shook off the morbid thoughts and stood at attention, ready to hear Bane's choice. The Dark type stalked back and forth with a wicked grin stretching his mouth. He'd been out of his illusion more and more lately.
The fox made a few gestures and barks at Ash, and soon the trainer was sharing his teammate's grin while everyone else groaned.
"Speed race!" Just like when he was a tiny Zorua, Bane loved sprinting. He was also a competitive little shit.
No enhancing moves allowed, the first Pokémon to complete ten 75 meter sprints wins. Mandatory 45 second rest between sprints. There was no point to training top speed if you were too exhausted to give it your all.
They learned a long time ago that every step Libra took was one meter. So that made it rather easy to measure out the length of the sprint. As she grew that would change, but for now it was a nice shortcut.
Ash was under no disillusions that he would do well. After all that had happened in the past few days, he was not at his best. Plus, there was a reason Pokémon battled and not humans. Humans didn't have the speed, durability, stamina, or strength that Pokémon did. But even so, this would be fun.
Grabbing the collapsible digital clock he picked up all the way back in Malie City, he set it up so his team could time their rest.
"3-2-1 GO!"
Well, he didn't lose. Polaris did, but only because he wasn't used to such high intensity exercise. Ash lost to everyone else though. Even Styx running.
So here they all were, doing their best not to lose their lunch as they lay on the dying grass as winter's chill crept closer.
Bane just barely eked out a win against Sagitta, her new wingspan and strength giving her a huge boost in speed. The way things were going, she might soon be his fastest teammate.
Ash swallowed convulsively a few times, waiting a few minutes until he was sure his stomach had settled before he dragged himself upright and sighed. He tossed everyone a few sitrus berries from his rapidly dwindling stash.
"For moveset practice, Bane wants everyone to pair up and work on dodging. First pair, Sagitta and Castor. Sagitta work on Aura Sphere, and Castor with Dark Pulse.
"Hemlock, you're with Styx. I want your Burning Jealousy stronger and denser, like a shield. Styx, you need more stamina with Draco Meteor. I don't care if the Dragon energy won't affect you, Hemlock, those meteors will still hurt. Nettle, you're with Bane. Work on Dragon Pulse, and Bane you need to work on Flamethrower. Finally, Mirae and Libra, yes you heard right. Mirae, work on your Ghost Swift, and Libra you're focusing on alternating between the elemental punches to destroy the Swifts.
"Polaris, you're with me." The little Froakie slowly made his way over to Ash, eyelids drooping even with the sitrus berry boost. Ash smiled and leaned down to pick the frog up. "We don't want to be close to the Draco Meteor blast zone. Come on."
Ash put a good bit of distance between him and the rest of his team. The area would be ravaged by the end of training. Setting Polaris down, he pointed at the few trees that surrounded them. "I'm testing your moves today. We're going to see how your power output, accuracy, and endurance are. Start with Quick Attack."
By the time the two were done, Polaris was about to collapse.
Most of his attacks had been perfectly controlled and had decent power. Aqua Jet must be new because he had trouble keeping the water usage constant. As for his egg move, Ash was pretty sure the little frog didn't even know he had Toxic Spikes in his arsenal. So that would take work.
As a Froakie, he would have to infuse his frubbles with the poison, but once he got stronger he'd be able to create crystalized spikes once his poison stores increased.
Toxic Spikes was an egg move for many Pokémon because they had to be born with a toxin-producing organ. Right now, the unused organ was most likely underdeveloped and would thus take time to train up.
He figured it was time to call it quits for the night. Carrying his newest teammate, Ash walked back to the group and whistled at the devastation. Dozens of craters littered the ground, Rangers would be swinging by with Meganium and Donphan to fix everything in a few days. Nature bounced back quickly in a world with Pokémon.
"Enough! Stand down. Take a few minutes, then we're going through our cool down." It had taken a lot of troubleshooting, but Ash had finally created a cool down program that all of his Pokémon could do. It was a nice group activity they could do together. It was hard with so many different shapes and sizes, but he'd figured it out.
Halfway through, Ash nudged Styx to take over so he could make sure dinner was ready for everyone by the time they finished. He grabbed a few mago berries to sprinkle on the food for Polaris.
And later, when everyone was seated around the campfire (which half his Pokémon fought over to light), bundled up and huddled together, he leaned back against Styx. Nettle on his head, Mirae in his lap, Polaris on his shoulder, Hemlock pressed against his side, Ash was calm.
Happy Holidays!
So. It was a long time coming. Ash finally had a breakdown. It was a caustic mixture of exhaustion, nightmares, constant pain, and finally a dude who pretty much asked Ash to give up one of his family members.
Violence is only sometimes the answer
We see the mysterious boy again. He speaks, but Ash would have rather he didn't.
Refresher:
Styx - Hydreigon
Hemlock - Morgrem
Bane - Zoroark
Mirae - Eevee
Sagitta - Togekiss
Libra - Hakamo-o
Nettle - Poipole
Castor - Krokorok
Polaris - Froakie
At Oak's
Unnamed - Houndour