Sorry Guys for the delay I'm currently working on a new fic and my exams so yeah Chapters will be shorter and will take longer to upload.
After trudging through dense foliage, the train slowed as they approached a rail switch. If flipped, the track would turn left instead of continuing straight.
Ash unfolded the map and studied it intently. "The left path just circles around the island's edge. The right one, though? It leads deeper inland. Both have marked locations nearby."
Serena leaned over slightly, peering at the map. "We should head deeper inside. If we're lucky, we might find some scrap or even weapon upgrades."
Ash nodded, a grin tugging at his lips. "Deeper it is. Onward!" He reached up and gave the train horn a solid pull, the sound echoing into the forest.
Serena, already at the controls, pushed the throttle to full speed.
As the train rumbled forward, Ash leaned back in mild disappointment. For something meant to hunt down a monstrous spider-train, this little engine felt painfully slow to him. "This is like riding a sleepy Snorlax," he muttered under his breath. "But, I guess it'll do."
Serena chuckled at his complaint but kept her focus on the tracks ahead. The dense forest began to thin slightly as they pressed deeper into the heart of the island. The sense of adventure—and danger—was just beginning.
As the train approached the marked location, Ash signaled Serena to stop. The train screeched to a halt in front of a small wooden house. Ash hopped off, his boots crunching against the dirt, and approached the man lounging outside on a creaky chair.
The man looked up, squinting. "Hey there! Haven't seen you around before. You're not with Warren, are you?"
Ash shook his head with a smirk. "Nope. We're the Archivists—monster hunters."
The man's expression softened with relief. "That's good to hear. We need all the help we can get. My barn's fallin' apart, and I've got scraps stashed inside. If you patch it up, you can keep whatever you find. Name's Tony Tittle, by the way."
Ash tilted his head. "And where might this barn be?"
Tony motioned to the map Ash held. "You've got a map, right? Let me mark it for you."
As Tony marked the map, a chilling sound broke the forest's stillness—the unmistakable growl of the monstrous spider-train, Charles. The atmosphere grew heavy as the distant thudding of its monstrous wheels came closer. The ominous sound of boss music filled the air.
Ash took a step back, his instincts sharp. "Oh, well, Tony, you're very kind, but… my partner here doesn't really like third parties."
Tony turned to see the horrifying, grotesque figure of Charles bearing down on them. His face twisted in terror. Before he could react, Ash leapt back onto the train, his hand gripping the rifle.
"It was nice knowing you!" Ash yelled as he manned the weapon. Serena revved the train to life, and they sped off just as Charles descended upon the poor man. Tony's blood-curdling scream echoed behind them as the boss music faded into eerie silence.
"A shame," Ash muttered, shaking his head. "Tony was a kind guy."
Serena glanced at him. "But we've got the barn's location now."
Ash grinned, his mood instantly lightened. "Exactly! And scraps mean upgrades. Let's keep moving!"
"You know, I'm a little surprised you didn't try to save that man," Serena said, her tone casual but curious.
"We can't afford to save everyone right now, not with my current level," Ash replied, his gaze momentarily drifting downward to her chest. "We're only here for my Pokémon. Besides, I've learned something important from all my dungeon dives."
Serena turned fully toward him, folding her arms, which unintentionally accentuated the very thing distracting Ash. Her cerulean eyes narrowed as she caught his gaze slipping. "Hey, my eyes are up here. I don't mind your weird fascination with my chest, but when I'm talking, I expect an answer."
Ash forced himself to meet her eyes, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "So… I can look whenever you're not talking?"
Serena sighed, her lips twitching into a reluctant smirk. "Yeah, sure, but finish what you were saying first."
Ash straightened, trying to focus. "Right, what I was saying is... there's nothing wrong with being selfish or kind. But trying to be a hero? That's just plain idiotic. You can't save everyone, and you shouldn't try—especially if it makes things harder for yourself. If it's someone I don't know, and saving them puts me or my friends at risk? Yeah, I'll let them die without a second thought. But for my friends? I'd lay down my life for them without hesitation."
Serena studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "That's… a very Ash-like answer. Pragmatic but oddly noble in its own way." She shook her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Still, you're lucky I like you enough to let you off the hook for staring so much."
Ash smirked, leaning back confidently. "Well, you did say I could look as long as you weren't talking."
Serena rolled her eyes, unable to suppress a laugh. "Just don't make it too obvious, Mr. Hero."
Ash glanced back at the map, pointing to a spot ahead. "Stop here. We're close to that barn," he said, his tone confident.
Serena slowed the train to a halt, and the two quickly set off to the marked location. After some time scavenging, they returned to the train, their inventories loaded with scraps they had looted from the barn.
"Well, that was easy," Serena remarked as she dusted her hands. "No monster interruptions, no unnecessary heroics—just a good old-fashioned heist."
Ash smirked as he tossed the scraps into a pile. "See? This is why being practical works. Now we've got enough to upgrade this hunk of metal into something half-decent."
Serena crossed her arms, her lips curving into a sly smile. "Just try not to get too excited over your 'master plan,' Ash. We've still got a murderous spider-train to deal with."
Ash chuckled, already reaching for the tools to start working. "Oh, don't worry. I've got plenty of excitement to spare for Charles."
Ash opened the system, and a blueprint to upgrade the train materialized in front of him. Along with it, a surge of knowledge on how to repair and enhance the train flowed into his mind like a downloaded file.
"Alright, let's get to work," Ash muttered, rolling up his sleeves.
Thankfully, the system had a failsafe—time outside the train froze whenever repairs or upgrades were underway. This meant they didn't have to worry about Charles ambushing them while their ride was in pieces.
With Serena handing him tools and monitoring the system's progress, Ash set to work. Hours passed in the blink of an eye, and by the time he stepped back, the train's defenses were upgraded to Level 3, and its speed had been boosted to Level 2.
"Not bad for two hours," Ash said, wiping grease off his hands. "Now, this thing might actually outrun that spider-train."
"Good," Serena replied with a grin, leaning against the train's side. "Because I'd rather not find out how fast Charles can be when he's hungry."
As soon as the train's upgrades were complete, time resumed, and Ash and Serena quickly climbed aboard, assuming their positions. Not long after they began driving, the eerie sound of multiple legs stomping at a rapid pace echoed through the forest.
"You're annoying," Ash muttered as he manned the rifle and locked his sights on the incoming monstrosity. Without hesitation, he opened fire.
The rifle's rapid-fire rounds unleashed a deafening barrage, the recoil intense—but not for Ash. He'd handled RPGs, rocket launchers, and LMGs during his dungeon-diving adventures. A little kickback was nothing to him.
Every bullet found its mark, lodging deep into Charles' grotesque face. Black ichor oozed profusely from the wounds, dripping down its horrifying features.
Thanks to the train's speed upgrade, they were now nearly evenly matched with the monstrous spider-train. Combined with Ash's relentless assault, Charles was kept at bay.
Ash didn't let up, but the rifle suddenly overheated and went into cooldown mode. Serena shot him a concerned look, but before Charles could take advantage, the pain seemed to overwhelm the creature. It let out a distorted screech before retreating into the darkness.
"That's right, creepy crawler! Don't show your ugly face again, you waste of space!" Ash yelled after the rapidly disappearing form of Charles, shaking his fist for extra emphasis.
Serena let out a relieved breath. "Well, that was... eventful."
Ash grinned, patting the overheated rifle. "Guess the upgrades paid off. Next time, I'll make sure this thing doesn't overheat, and we'll finish him for good."
"He shouldn't bother us for a while, but he must have an amazing healing factor. We might only have a few hours to rest," Serena said, sounding exhausted.
She had plenty of experience dealing with dangerous situations in dungeons, but she had always relied on Ash being at full strength. Even now, she wasn't in real danger—not with Ash around.
But unlike her, Ash was used to solo dungeon dives, fighting powerful creatures for days without rest. His endurance was inhuman. Meanwhile, Serena was starting to feel the weight of exhaustion. It had almost been a full day since they arrived, and while Ash remained as energetic as ever, her eyes were growing heavy.
Ash noticed.
"Hey, Serena, you should take a nap for a while. I'll handle the train," he suggested.
Serena blinked at him sleepily. "Are you sure? What if Charles—"
"I'll wake you up if anything happens. But trust me, you need the rest," Ash reassured her.
Serena hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright... just for a little while," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes as she settled into a more comfortable position.
Serena blinked at Ash sleepily as he draped his jacket and shirt over her, offering them as a makeshift pillow and blanket. The warmth of his scent lingered in the fabric, comforting her more than she expected.
"Ash… aren't you cold?" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Ash smirked, adjusting the train's speed as his Nephilim features briefly flickered into view—his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. His body radiated a natural warmth, unfazed by the chill of the night air.
"Sleep tight, princess," he murmured. "I'll make sure nothing disturbs you."
Serena hummed in response, already drifting off, lulled by the steady rumble of the train and the reassuring presence of the one person she trusted the most.
Once Serena was asleep, Ash felt the effects of Ruthless Compassion seep into his mind, dulling his emotions until they were almost nonexistent. His once warm blue eyes gleamed with cold calculation, devoid of the kindness they usually carried. Now, he could finally focus on why he was truly here.
"Playtime's over," he murmured, a bloodthirsty grin stretching across his face.
"System, summon Eilie," Ash commanded, bringing the train to a halt.
A bright blue flash illuminated the darkened forest, and within moments, a familiar shape materialized. The Yveltal let out a joyful cry before miniaturizing herself and wrapping around Ash in a tight embrace.
"Daddy!" Eilie chirped, nuzzling against his chest. "We missed you!"
Ash let a rare smile cross his face as he gently stroked her feathery head. "It hasn't even been a full day, and you already miss me?"
"A day is a lot of time, I'll have you know!" Eilie huffed dramatically before her gaze settled on the jagged scar across his chest. Her eyes widened in excitement.
"You got bigger, Dad!" she exclaimed with childlike enthusiasm.
"Yeah, well, no one would take a kid seriously as a monster hunter. The system gave us adult bodies to match our roles. Neat, huh?"
"Super neat! I can't wait until you actually grow up!"
Ash narrowed his eyes at her. "Hey… What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing!" Eilie said with a cheeky laugh, still clinging to him.
"Anyway, we actually have a mission to do, but I can't personally go, so..." Ash concentrated for a few seconds, and beside him, a much weaker version of himself materialized, and truely he looked so malnourished that he could drop dead anytime.
Eilie uncoiled from his body and perched on his shoulder, tilting her head as she observed the clone. "Dad, there's something wrong with that Astral Clone."
Even though Eilie's original form couldn't express emotions through facial expressions, her tone made it clear what she thought of the clone. If Ash had his emotions right now, he might've been offended—thankfully, Ruthless Compassion kept them in check.
"I'm suppressed to just level one, and so are my skills. That's a level one clone with no consciousness. I can't afford to make it stronger, and at all times, I have to consciously control it," Ash explained.
"Oh," Eilie said, but her tone was dripping with judgment.
"Go around the island, complete all the tasks, gather scraps, and find weapon attachments for the train. Can you handle that?" Ash instructed.
"I'll do whatever you say, Dad!" Eilie chirped, flapping her wings as she flew out of the train. In an instant, she reverted to her original size. The clone hopped onto her back, and they soared away.
With that settled, Ash restarted the train, pushing it to full speed. He then sat down and closed his eyes, focusing entirely on controlling both his clone in the Pokémon world and the one here.
Time skip 2 hours later.
--
Ash's Astral Clone had completed all the tasks, but there was a catch—after every mission, Charles had appeared, hunting them down relentlessly. Now, only Charles and them remained on the island.
"Meh, it's not like I came here to save any silly humans," Ash muttered, opening his eyes.
As he did, he noticed something unexpected—Serena had shifted in her sleep, now using his lap as her personal pillow.
He blinked, staring at her peaceful face. Despite Ruthless Compassion dulling his emotions, he felt a strange warmth in his chest. He couldn't resist the urge—his fingers instinctively wove through her soft, honey blonde hair, tracing gentle strokes as he waited for Eilie and his clone to return.
Lost in thought, Ash suddenly realized something—he had given his shirt and jacket to Serena to ensure she slept comfortably. That left him half-naked. Not that he minded. With no one left alive on this island, there was no need to keep up his disguise.
A smirk tugged at his lips as his blue eyes flickered with power. His hair lengthened, turning sleek and smooth, its pure white now streaked with pitch black and deep red. Two massive wings erupted from his back—one as dark as the abyss, the other shining like the heavens. However, something was missing. He no longer radiated the same majestic aura he once had.
With a soft rustle, Ash folded his wings around himself and Serena, shielding them both. Just as he did, his sharp eyes caught movement in the sky—Eilie was returning.
She descended swiftly, carrying something on her back. Ash's gaze darkened as he recognized it. A barely conscious, heavily battered Astral Clone.
"I really don't like seeing myself like that. You can dispel now, buddy," Ash said, shaking his head at the pitiful state of his clone.
The battered clone let out a low, zombie-like groan, lifted a trembling hand in a shaky thumbs-up, and then dissolved into shimmering mist, reabsorbing into Ash's body.
Eilie, still in her full size, tossed a large crate into the train with a thud before shrinking down and fluttering inside.
The loud impact startled Serena awake. Instinctively, she clutched onto the closest thing near her—which happened to be Ash.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Ash said with a chuckle. Their faces were barely inches apart, close enough that he could see the drowsy haze in her soft blue eyes.
Serena blinked a few times before fully registering their position. "Morning to you too… but aren't you a bit too close?" she murmured, a rosy blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Ash smirked. "Like you actually mind."
Serena scooted closer unconsciously, her fingers brushing against the bare skin of his chest, tracing the faint ridges of his muscles. Her touch sent a jolt through him, unfamiliar yet electrifying. His heart pounded, blood rushing to places it never had before.
"I really don't mind—"
"Ahem!"
Eilie's loud, exaggerated cough shattered the moment.
Both Ash and Serena froze before quickly pulling away, their faces now matching shades of crimson.
"Dad, let's focus on the mission first. Then you can explore your newfound adulthood, alright?" Eilie stated matter-of-factly, her tone laced with amusement.
Ash coughed, his face heating up. "S-State your report!" he stammered, quickly standing up and forcing himself to regain his dignity.
As Eilie began her report, Ash hurriedly put his clothes back on, doing his best to ignore Serena's teasing smirk.
"So, we just need to take down that Arthrotrain, right?" Serena asked, crossing her arms.
"Essentially, yes," Ash confirmed. "Eilie could probably handle it on her own, but since we've come this far, I'd rather take the time to fully upgrade the train first."
"Then let's do that," Serena agreed, stopping the train.
Eilie, realizing that things were about to get less interesting, sighed dramatically before curling around Ash's waist like a living belt, her warm body coiling comfortably around him.
The process of upgrading the train was mind-numbingly dull, but Ash found a certain satisfaction in it. And just like that—eight hours of relentless effort later—the train was fully upgraded. Every weapon system was maxed out, its design now closely resembling a modern train from their world, and its armor was as tough as a tank.
Ash took a step back, admiring his handiwork as time resumed around them.
"Is it finally over?" Serena drawled, her voice heavy with boredom. She was leaning against a tree, barely keeping her eyes open.
At first, she had helped by handing Ash tools, but as time dragged on, her enthusiasm faded. For a while, she found amusement in watching Ash work, his shirtless, sweat-slicked form keeping her entertained—but even eye candy could only hold her attention for so long.
"Yep! All done!" Ash grinned, giving her a smirk and a thumbs-up.
Serena instantly sprang to her feet, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Finally! Alright, let's go kill that Arthrotrain!"
"Yeah, let's do it!" Ash nodded, and the two of them climbed aboard their now fully upgraded train.
Serena started the train, and Ash yanked the horn's string, letting out a deep, echoing blast that reverberated through the air. If Charles was anywhere nearby, that should get his attention. Ash was itching to test the train's new upgrades.
While Serena managed the controls, Ash quickly checked their position on the map. As he suspected, they were close—almost at their final destination.
--
Serena was the first to spot the temple. Without hesitation, she pulled the red lever, bringing the train screeching to a halt.
"Be ready to start at full speed the moment you see me coming," Ash instructed.
Serena nodded seriously, gripping the controls.
With a powerful beat of his wings, Ash took off, soaring toward the temple's altar. The structure had three indentations, each just the right size to fit the eggs he carried.
Without touching the ground, Ash carefully retrieved the eggs from his inventory and placed them into their respective slots. He hated how weak his flying ability had become—his flight speed and duration were only one percent of what they used to be. If he pushed past his limit, there was a real chance of his wings cramping mid-air.
The moment the last egg settled into place, they began to glow, releasing an overwhelming surge of energy. The power gathered into a brilliant, multicolored beam that shot straight into the sky.
Ash watched the spectacle for a moment, admiring the radiant display. Even Eilie stirred from her nap, awakened by the sheer force of the energy.
She uncurled from his waist and floated beside him in her miniature form, observing the beam with an unimpressed expression.
"What a flimsy energy," she muttered.
"You can tell what it is?" Ash asked.
"Yeah! Can't you?" Eilie tilted her head.
"Did you forget? I'm just Level 1. The only thing I've got going for me right now is my Nephilim race," Ash reminded her with a sigh.
"Oh, right... Sorry," Eilie mumbled before looking at him seriously. "Dad, are you sure you don't want my help?"
"Yeah," Ash said firmly. "Stay put, no matter what happens. We can handle a small fry like Charles."
His confidence was unwavering.
"Aah~ well, you should know that we're in danger," Eilie said in the flattest tone possible.
"Oh, that's fine then—wait, what?" Ash blinked in confusion.
Before he could react, the temple's roof exploded in a shower of stone and dust. Charles emerged from the debris, his grotesque form silhouetted against the night sky. However, his attention wasn't on Ash—it was fixated on the beam of energy. The monstrous arthrotrain latched onto the beam, devouring it hungrily, his entire body pulsating with an eerie glow.
Ash didn't waste a second. He flapped his wings with everything he had, propelling himself toward Serena and the train. Seeing him approach, Serena started the engine at a slow pace, but the moment Ash landed, she slammed it into full speed.
"Y'know, that's the first time I've ever been that startled," Ash admitted, breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down his face as he manned one of the newly upgraded weapons—currently configured as a sniper rifle. His wings trembled with exhaustion, and as he steadied himself,few feathers from his black wing fell away, revealing the leathery membrane beneath.
"What happened? I saw Charles, but he went straight for the energy instead of attacking us," Serena asked, gripping the controls.
"That creepy crawler is evolving," Ash muttered, adjusting his aim. His eyes locked onto Charles, watching as the monster's body convulsed, shifting and growing. "Those weren't his eggs—they were his energy source."
The arthrotrain was no longer just a nightmare on wheels. It was changing, becoming something far worse.
In mere seconds, Charles grew to the size of the temple itself, reducing the ancient structure to rubble with a violent burst of dust and debris. His monstrous form surged forward, chasing after the train at terrifying speed.
His body had changed—his six legs had become longer and jagged, their edges lined with glowing red veins that pulsed with unnatural energy. Each step sent tremors through the ground, closing the distance between them faster than expected.
"Serena, leave the controls and help me!" Ash called out, not taking his eyes off the towering nightmare behind them.
He zoomed in through the sniper's scope and fired rapidly at the arthrotrain's joints. As expected, even the armor-piercing rounds ricocheted harmlessly off the creature's hardened carapace.
"So, aim for the head, huh," Ash muttered under his breath, adjusting his focus.
"What do you need, Ash?" Serena asked as she rushed over.
"I'll shoot, you switch!" Ash instructed.
Without wasting another moment, he took aim again—this time targeting Charles' eyes. The sniper rifle roared, and both of the arthrotrain's glowing red eyes exploded in a gruesome spray of black blood.
But Charles didn't slow down.
As soon as his eyes burst, they regenerated almost instantly, the dark ichor pulling itself back together like living tar. Worse, he was gaining ground—fast.
Before Ash could even say Flamethrower, the machine was shoved into his hands.
In a blur of motion, he detached the sniper rifle and locked in the flamethrower attachment. A burst of searing flames erupted from the weapon, slowing Charles down considerably. However, considering the arthrotrain was still just outside clawing range of the train engine at full speed, it wasn't much of a victory.
Without hesitation, Serena thrust a rocket launcher toward him. Ash repeated the swap just as quickly, launching two rockets in rapid succession.
Before the rockets even made impact, he had already switched back to the rifle. The moment the explosions struck Charles, Ash unloaded a rapid-fire barrage at the same time.
This time, Charles roared in genuine pain.
"That works, I guess. Let's keep using this strategy until we reach the bridge," Ash said. Serena gave a firm nod.
But before they could continue, the space around them warped. Reality twisted in a blur of shifting colors, and in an instant, their surroundings had changed—Charles was now directly in front of the train, his mouth wide open, ready to devour them whole.
"No, you don't! Play by the rules, you jerk!" Eilie's voice rang out.
She grew to her original size in an instant and slapped the arthrotrain aside like an unruly child.
The last thing Ash and Serena saw before the scenery distorted again was a very annoyed Eilie scolding a very terrified Charles.
Ash let out a breath. "Even though I didn't want her to interfere, I gotta admit—that was a good thing."
"Yeah, who knew it could mass teleport?" Serena muttered, still processing what had happened.
"Well, at least it teleported us too. I'm pretty sure we're really close to the bridge now," Ash said.
Serena, however, had reached her limit.
"ARRRGH! I don't care about the game anymore! We've been here for three days—I've barely gotten eight hours of sleep, and you haven't slept at all! How the hell do you deal with that and everything else?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
Ash blinked at her outburst, then shrugged. "Habit, I guess. Or maybe it's just a Nephilim thing. But alright, stop the train."
Without another word, Serena rushed to the controls.
Charles, however, had already caught up. His massive form loomed over them once again, closing in fast.
Before he could reach them, Ash shot into the air, meeting Eilie's gaze and making a slicing motion across his neck.
Eilie's teal eyes glimmered, and in a split second, her massive tail came crashing down on Charles, crushing him like the bug he was.
"Yes! That's what you get, you filthy crawler!" Serena cheered, pumping her fist in the air.
"Should've done that a lot sooner," Ash muttered under his breath, deliberately avoiding Eilie's smug gaze.
Then, in the blink of an eye, their surroundings shifted.
They were back on Asholm.
Back in their preteen bodies.
Just as they adjusted to the sudden change, Pikachu leaped on Ash's shoulder, his tiny paws gripping on to his jacket, while Serperior immediately coiled around Serena, nuzzling her head affectionately.
"You're back!" Pikachu exclaimed, his ears twitching excitedly.
Ash smiled, rubbing Pikachu's head just the way he liked it. "Yeah, we did!"
Serena let out a breath of relief, sinking into Serperior's embrace. "How long were you two waiting for us?" she asked, her voice still carrying the weight of exhaustion.
"Ever since Eilie was called on—yes, right under the ears! Yes! Just like that!" Pikachu sighed in bliss as Ash continued pampering him. Despite the moment of peace, Ash's full attention was focused inward, feeling something shift within himself.
A system window suddenly popped up in front of both Ash and Serena.
————————————————————————
You have completed the event: Choo Choo Charles!
Rewards:
Pokémon Eggs 3
System Option Unlocked: New Game!
--
New Game
Allows the creation of a new character and the ability to switch between characters.
A new character can only be created or switched to at Level 100.
The original character will not have a level cap, but new characters will have one depending on their type.
The new character will always start at Level 1 without anything from the previous character. However, inventory and everything else will be transferred.
After reaching Level 1,000, the player can travel back in time or move to another world.
————————————————————————
As the notification faded, Ash felt a surge of energy rush through his body—his true strength returning all at once. The restrictions on his personal dimension lifted, reconnecting him to everything inside it.
For the first time, he truly understood—all life within his domain, every single being, he could sense them all. If he concentrated, he could watch them, guide them.
Space and time bent to his will.
Time, most of all.
"T-That's just absurd!" Serena muttered, staring at the system window in disbelief.
"Yeah, but… if you think about it, it's not that absurd," Ash mused, snapping back to reality. Without dwelling on it further, he turned towards their home.
Serena groaned. "Y'know what? I don't wanna think about any of this. Let's forget all the craziness and just relax in our hot spring."
"Alright—" Ash nodded and reached for the door.
Before he could even touch the handle, the door burst open, and a cyan blur slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
"Cyan!" Ash laughed as the shiny, one-eyed Sylveon tackled him, eagerly licking his face.
Her tail wagged furiously, and her feelers wrapped tightly around his torso in an affectionate grip.
"Master, you're back! I'm soooo happy!" Cyan chirped, her singular bright pink eye gleaming with excitement.
Pikachu's ears twitched. "Why are you here?" he asked, tilting his head.
Cyan turned to him with an innocent look, her pink eye patch covering the spot where her other eye once was. "What do you mean, Pikachu? I was always here!" she said sweetly.
"Don't give me that look!" Pikachu huffed. "You were supposed to be with the clone for the final exams! What are you doing here?"
Ash chuckled, ruffling Cyan's fur as she snuggled against him. "Give her a break, Pikachu. I'm sure my clone only needs Elysia if any trouble comes his way."
Cyan purred happily, keeping her feelers wrapped around Ash's arm as she finally settled down.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx
Ash had no idea what was going on or why, but their usually relaxing hot spring bath had become unbearably awkward. So much so that neither he nor Serena could even make eye contact.
Both of them sat submerged in the steaming water, their Pokémon lounging around them. Serperior was coiled comfortably in the middle of the spring, while Cyan and Pikachu flanked Ash on either side.
"Master, what's wrong?" Cyan asked, tilting her head. As a Sylveon, she could sense emotions—even the ones Ash and Serena weren't consciously aware of.
Ash cleared his throat. "Nothing! It's just that..."
"Just what?" Serena asked hesitantly, shifting in the water.
"I don't know. My body feels... off. It's the same weird feeling I had when I was in that adult body," Ash admitted.
Serena's eyes widened slightly before she nodded in agreement. "Yeah… I feel the same way."
Pikachu, who had been quietly observing, suddenly grinned mischievously. "I think I have a solution for you two."
Ash raised a brow. "Yeah? And what's that?"
Pikachu's grin widened. "Ignore it for now and ask your moms about Pidgeys and Combees."
Ash blinked at Pikachu, his brain stalling for a second before realization set in.
"Pikachu, what the hell—"
Serena, sitting across from him, turned red instantly. "Oh my Arceus, shut up!" she splashed water in Pikachu's direction, making the electric-type snicker.
Cyan tilted her head, her feelers twitching. "Master, what does he mean?"
"Nothing!" Ash and Serena shouted at the same time.
Pikachu just smirked, tail flicking lazily. "Heh, you'll figure it out sooner or later. Just remember: Pidgys and Combees."
Ash groaned, running a wet hand down his face. "Why did I let you learn human metaphors?"
"Because I'm the best, and you love me." Pikachu grinned.
Cyan still looked confused, but she simply leaned into Ash's side, nuzzling him. "Master, if something feels wrong, maybe I should check—"
"Nope!" Ash cut her off immediately, standing up so fast the water splashed. "Nope, nope, nope—this conversation is over!"
Serena sighed, sinking lower into the spring. "Why is everything so awkward now?"
"Because you two suddenly got self-aware," Pikachu answered helpfully.
Serena groaned. "I hate that you might be right."
"Hey, Ash, I have another suggestion," Pikachu called out.
Ash, who had just wrapped a towel around his waist and was about to leave, paused mid-step. He glanced back at his Pokémon, who was smirking devilishly.
"Okay, do tell," Ash said, already feeling a sense of impending doom.
Pikachu's grin widened. "Well, there are two more solutions."
"I'm listening," Ash replied, though he was already apprehensive about whatever was coming next. Knowing Pikachu, it would probably be both embarrassing and completely ridiculous—but at least it would be in his best interest. Probably.
"First," Pikachu began, "exposure therapy. The more you're exposed to something, the less it'll affect you. You know, like how Serena got used to her killing sprees."
As soon as the words left Pikachu's mouth, both Ash and Serena's faces turned bright red. Serena, mortified, immediately sank beneath the hot water, hiding her face.
"S-So you're suggesting that we..."
"Yep!" Pikachu nodded, popping the 'p' with far too much enthusiasm.
Serena cautiously poked her head above the water, her face still burning with embarrassment. "W-What's the other option?" she asked hesitantly.
Pikachu shrugged. "Just stop bathing together. If you don't put yourselves in awkward situations, there won't be any problems."
Ash mulled it over seriously for a moment. Then, after some deep thought, he decided—no, he liked things the way they were. Even if it got uncomfortable, this was just part of their bond.
His eyes met Serena's. She was thinking the same thing.
A silent understanding passed between them before they nodded.
"Exposure therapy it is!" they both declared in unison.
Thank you all, who Followed, Favorited, Reviewed, and who took the time to read my fic I really appreciate it.