Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the additional scenes and content added to a story. Well, with Frozen behind Ash and the others, their next stop is...San Fransokyo. And don't be surprised if Ash is treated like a celebrity when he's there because in reality...the Pokémon anime TV series does exist in the Big Hero 6 universe, where Ash will learn some spoilers within his future success. A fellow author suggested the idea as a twist. It's a good way for Ash to see his own future before he even does something.


XXXIV

San Fransokyo - I


The skies above San Fransokyo were cast in a pale green hue as a dark portal tore through reality, swirling ominously before depositing two sinister figures onto the Bridge of San Fransokyo. Maleficent, in her dark robes, strode forward with her staff tapping ominously against the concrete. Behind her, Pete waddled, grumbling and rubbing his arms from the chill of the interdimensional travel. Pete looked around at the unfamiliar cityscape—gleaming towers, neon lights, and cars honking in the distance.

He frowned. "Geez, Maleficent, this place ain't got nothin' but weird buildings and flashy lights. You sure this black box is even here?"

Maleficent's eyes narrowed with icy disdain. "I am certain, Pete. The secrets within that box are far too important to abandon because of a few dead ends."

Pete crossed his arms. "Yeah, but so far, all we got is a goose chase! Maybe that Xigbar guy was just yanking our chains. He always had that smug look, like he was hidin' something."

With a sudden flare of green flames around her staff, Maleficent turned sharply to face him. "Mind your tongue, fool. That 'smug look' hides centuries of knowledge. If he mentioned the black box, then it exists—and it holds power beyond your comprehension."

Pete gulped, backing off. "Alright, alright! Sheesh… just sayin'."

Maleficent turned back to face the horizon, the wind whipping her cloak. "This world is… different. But I sense something here—faint echoes of darkness buried beneath all this technology."

Pete scratched his head. "You think the locals know anything?"

Maleficent smirked. "Doubtful. But it won't matter. Once the box is found, no one—not Sora, not even Xehanort's forgotten shadows—will stop what's to come."

"Ugh...do you ever listen to yourself talk at times, witch?"

Suddenly, a low, distorted snort echoed from behind, drawing Maleficent and Pete's attention. A swirling portal of darkness had formed just off the side of the bridge, shadowy tendrils creeping outward as if to infect the clean, futuristic skyline. From the void stepped a familiar figure—cloaked in black, silver hair falling past his shoulders, a cold, hostile glint in his eye.

Riku Replica.

"Well, well…" Maleficent sneered, turning to face him. "If it isn't the Organization's failed puppet."

Replica's glare sharpened. "Watch your tongue, witch. You've got no business in this world. This is Organization XIII's domain now."

Pete took a nervous step back. "Uh, hey! Maybe we should just—y'know—let the bad guys work out their turf stuff…"

Maleficent ignored him, clutching her staff tighter. "The black box is mine to claim. I don't answer to shadows pretending to be real boys."

Before the tension could spark into a full-blown clash, another ripple of darkness bloomed into view, and from it stepped a more poised presence—Young Xehanort.

"You've overstayed your welcome, Maleficent," he said calmly. "This mission is beyond your comprehension. You're playing a game that ended long ago. I suggest you leave… before we remove you."

Maleficent turned towards him with a harsh scoff. "Still hiding behind younger versions of yourself, I see. Tsk. Pathetic." Despite the jab, her eyes narrowed. The presence of two Organization members… this wasn't a fight she needed—not yet. Her time would come. She turned, swirling her cape with theatrical flair. "Enjoy your foolish errand, boys. But mark my words… this isn't over."

With that, she stepped back into the shadows with her and Pete's forms vanishing into a swirl of green fire and smoke.

Young Xehanort and Riku Replica exchanged a look.

"She's getting desperate," Riku Replica muttered.

Young Xehanort smirked with slight amusement. "Let her chase shadows. It won't change what's coming."


Meanwhile, in the vastness of space…


The Gummi Ship cruised through a colorful nebula, stars twinkling like tiny gems around the ship as it zipped through hyperspace. Inside the cockpit, Ash was at the helm, hands steady on the controls, eyes focused forward—though his blush said otherwise.

"I swear," Ash growled, shooting a side-glare toward the snickering duo behind him, "If either of you say one more word about me and Elsa to Aqua… I will personally crash this ship into the nearest asteroid."

Sora leaned back in his chair, whistling innocently. "What? I didn't say anything… yet."

Donald, with his arms crossed and his beak twitching with amusement, muttered, "We're just saying, if someone's heart is that connected to a certain queen, maybe Aqua deserves to know—"

Ash immediately jerked the ship just slightly to the left, causing a minor bump that made Donald squawk and grab the edge of his seat.

"Oops. Asteroid turbulence," Ash said with a smirk.

Goofy chuckled from the co-pilot's seat. "Gawrsh, fellas, maybe we should just let the captain focus on flyin'."

Sora snickered but gave Ash a mock salute. "Alright, alright! No snitching. Scout's honor. But you gotta admit…" He leaned closer, teasing, "You and Elsa do make a pretty cute couple."

Ash's blush deepened as he muttered under his breath, "I'm seriously going to eject you both into space…"

After all the teasing died down, a strange, awkward silence filled the Gummi Ship.

It lingered… and lingered… until time felt like it was moving in slow motion.

Donald let out a loud groan and slumped in his seat. "Uuuugh. I'm bored! How long 'til we get to the next world?"

Sora sighed, kicking his legs over the side of his seat. "Feels like we've been flying for hours. Why don't we have, like, a movie player or something in this thing?"

Goofy scratched his head thoughtfully. "I suggested installin' one last time we visited Radiant Garden, but Chip and Dale said it might mess with the ship's navigation systems."

Ash blinked, glancing over his shoulder. "Wait—hold up. Who are Chip and Dale? I've been flying with you guys for a while now and never seen them once."

Sora chuckled. "Oh, right! They're the two chipmunks who actually built the Gummi Ship. Super smart mechanics. Tiny, but full of energy."

Donald nodded. "They run the tech back at Radiant Garden. Kinda like our ship's mission control."

Ash blinked a few times. "So you're telling me… I've been flying a ship built by talking chipmunks this whole time?"

Sora grinned. "Yup!"

"Great," Ash muttered, gripping the controls tighter. "Next, you're gonna tell me there's a talking toaster running maintenance in the engine room."

Goofy laughed. "Well, not a toaster, but we do know a talking clock—"

Ash turned slowly with wide eyes. "I'm not even gonna ask."

Suddenly, the Gummi Ship's dashboard lit up with flashing lights and a loud beep-beep-beep echoed through the cockpit.

Donald squinted at the alert. "Did you hit a wrong button or crash into an asteroid again?!"

"What?! No—shut up!" Ash growled, yanking the controls to the side with a sharp jerk. The whole ship veered slightly, jostling everyone around as Donald squawked and clung to his seat.

Goofy calmly pressed a button on the console. A screen flickered to life, showing a sleek, glowing city suspended high above a futuristic landscape.

"Well, would ya look at that," Goofy said with a smile. "Looks like a floatin' high-tech metropolis."

Sora's eyes lit up instantly. "A city?! We're going to a real city?! This is awesome!" He bolted from his seat and practically jumped on Ash's shoulders, shaking him with excitement. "Come on, Ash! Let's go already!"

Ash groaned, swatting Sora's hands off him. "Alright, alright! Sit down before you give me a heart attack!" He muttered under his breath, "Man, I really wish Aqua was here to deal with this chaos…"

Donald snickered. "She'd probably make you fly loops just for fun."

Ash sighed, shaking his head as he angled the ship towards the glowing city. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this…?" he muttered.

"Because you probably will!" Sora grinned, already gearing up in his seat like a kid going to the amusement park for the first time.


San Fransokyo - The Bridge


As the Gummi Ship touched down on the outskirts of the city, the group stepped out onto the massive red bridge of San Fransokyo—the iconic suspension bridge stretching high above the sparkling bay. The sun was already beginning its slow descent beyond the horizon, casting a warm golden hue across the skyline, glinting off the futuristic skyscrapers.

Sora stood in the middle of the walkway with his mouth slightly agape and his eyes darting left and right as he took everything in. "Whoa… so this is what a big city looks like!"

A standard sedan honked as it passed them, followed by a bus and a food delivery bike. Nothing fancy—just the usual flow of city life. But to Sora, it was all amazing.

"There's so many people! And those big things with wheels—those are the buses, right? And look at that building—it's so shiny!"

Donald crossed his arms and let out a small groan. "Would ya stop acting like a tourist? You're gonna get run over gawking like that."

Sora just laughed with his hands behind his head. "C'mon, Donald! Let me enjoy it! I've never been anywhere like this. Back on Destiny Islands, we barely had a dock."

Ash, trailing behind with Goofy, watched Sora with a small, amused smile. "Let him have his moment," Ash said. "This is probably the most excited I've seen him since the Gummi Ship's snack stash was restocked."

Donald rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well… that didn't end well either."

Goofy chuckled. "Gawrsh, he's like a kid in a candy store. Kinda reminds me of when we first hit Traverse Town."

As they continued walking, Sora darted from one side of the bridge to the other, marveling at billboards, streetlights, and even a guy walking his robot dog. Ash couldn't help but chuckle. It was nice, seeing his friend so happy and carefree—especially with everything that had happened back in Arendelle.

"Let's just hope this city's calm lasts longer than five minutes," Ash muttered.

Sora grinned back at him. "You know better than anyone, Ash—trouble follows us everywhere!"

Ash gave a half-hearted sigh. "Yeah… I know."

As the group strolled further along the grand red bridge of San Fransokyo, a lightbulb went off in Sora's head.

"Hey! I gotta show Riku and Kairi this place!" Sora exclaimed, already digging through his pockets.

He pulled out his Gummi communicator with a determined grin, only for it to immediately flip upside-down in his hands. He poked at the device repeatedly, buttons lighting up in random colors as odd beeps echoed from the screen.

Goofy scratched his head in confusion. "Uh, Sora? Maybe wait 'til we actually do somethin' here first."

Sora waved him off. "Nah, they gotta see this! Maybe I can even take a selfie with that giant billboard over there."

Donald groaned with his arms crossed as he tapped his foot. "You don't even know how to work that thing, do ya?"

"I do! …I think," Sora mumbled, still jabbing buttons like he was mashing a game controller.

Ash, trailing behind, let out a long, deep sigh. "Alright, give it here before you accidentally call every world on the map."

Sora sheepishly handed it over. "Thanks, Ash. I'm not exactly a tech wizard…"

"Yeah," Ash muttered, "I figured that out after you made it flash Morse code at that vending machine."

After a few precise taps and swipes, Ash managed to pull up a connection. The screen lit up—only it wasn't Riku or Kairi.

It was Yuffie.

"Hellooo~? Oh! Ashy, it's you! Calling for a date already? Gosh, you're moving fast," she said with a playful wink.

Ash's face turned bright red. "Wha—n-no! I didn't mean to call you, I was trying to—uh—fix Sora's—!"

Yuffie pouted. "Aww, rejecting a girl so fast? You wound me, hero boy~."

Before Ash could dig himself any deeper into the awkward hole, a thunderous BOOM echoed across the bridge. The ground shook violently, knocking everyone off their feet. Screams from nearby civilians rang out, and black smoke billowed into the orange-tinted sky.

Ash quickly gripped the communicator. "Yuffie, gotta go—definitely not a date!" he blurted, frantically ending the call.

"Smooth," Sora snickered, climbing to his feet.

"S-S-Shut up!" Ash snapped.

The group sprinted towards the rising pillar of black smoke that twisted into the sky like a serpent. The once peaceful cityscape now crackled with the tension of chaos. Cars screeched to a halt, panicked civilians ran for cover, and the scent of scorched metal lingered in the air.

"Whatever caused that explosion, it's still close," Ash stated.

Just as they rounded the bend of the bridge, a whoosh of yellow past them, followed by a CRASH! A young woman in sleek yellow armor—mounted on four glowing disc wheels—slammed into a parked taxi, denting its side and sending sparks flying.

"Whoa!" Sora flinched. "Did anyone else just see a flying person?!"

Donald blinked. "She just zipped by like a comet!"

Goofy pointed. "Look! More comin' in!"

From the other side of the smoke, a young man in sleek purple armor sprinted into view, accompanied by a red-armored, balloon-like robot soaring beside him.

"Go Go!" the boy shouted with urgency as he ran towards the downed girl.

Ash and the others turned towards the duo—but as the armored boy caught sight of them, his gaze locked onto Ash, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"H-Huh…?" the boy muttered.

For a second, it looked like he was staring at a ghost.

Ash tilted his head. "You okay…?"

The armored boy blinked hard and shook his head, snapping out of it. "Not now," he said under his breath before rushing to the fallen girl's side.

The white robot in red armor landed her and immediately began scanning with its glowing visor.

"Assessment complete," the robot spoke calmly. "Subject has suffered a minor concussion and mild cranial trauma. Vital signs stable. Recommending immediate rest and observation."

Sora rushed over to them. "She just took a serious hit. What happened out here?"

The boy looked up with his eyes still flicking toward Ash every so often. "Some kind of shadow creatures ambushed us—just appeared outta nowhere. Go Go tried to intercept them, but they knocked her straight into that taxi."

"Shadow creatures?" Donald echoed. "That sounds like—"

"Heartless," Ash finished grimly. "They're here too."

Baymax gently lifted Go Go in his arms with practiced care. "I will take her to safety," he informed. "Please proceed with caution."

Ash glanced towards the smoke-filled street ahead. "Guess the city's welcome committee brought Heartless to the party."

Hiro stood up straight. "Whoever you guys are… if you can fight, I could use your help."

Sora grinned and summoned his Keyblade with a twirl. "You had me at 'fight.'"

Goofy raised his shield. "Time to give these varmints a warm city welcome!"

Ash gave Hiro a nod. "Let's move."

Moments later...

Ash and the group arrived at a chaotic scene. Three more figures, one in which was donning a monster costume of some sort, were fighting desperately against a strange group of Heartless—ones Ash had never seen before. The creatures hovered in the air with an eerie grace. Their golden, cone-like bodies shimmered under the city lights, intricate gold patterns spiraling around them like runes. Each wore a curled black hat trimmed in gold, and the Heartless emblem pulsed ominously on their bodies. Their heads—if they could be called that—were pitch-black spheres that darted in unnatural, twitchy movements.

"What… kind of Heartless are those?" Ash muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"I have never seen them before either…" Sora noted. "But they do look kinda fancy looking."

Donald squawked. "They're casting spells—watch out!"

Across the bridge, Honey Lemon ducked behind a damaged car, flinging a chemistry ball that exploded into sticky pink foam. One of the Heartless simply phased through it.

"This foam's not holding them!" she shouted.

Wasabi sliced at another with his plasma blades, but the Gold Beat zipped backwards just out of reach and blasted him with a quick burst of thunder magic, sending sparks flying off his armor. "That's cheating!" he growled, rolling out of the way.

Fred popped up behind a car with his monster costume's claws raised high. "Okay, okay! Time to unleash my Secret Weapon! I've been saving this for a dramatic moment!" He struck a dramatic pose, then inhaled deeply and let out a weird war cry, "RAWWWR! SUPER ATOMIC FLAME TORNADO—ACTIVATE!" He spun in place… and shot out a few tiny sparks from his claws.

Everyone paused.

"...That's it?" Donald deadpanned.

Fred panted, bent over from dizziness. "Still… working… on execution…"

One of the Gold Beats floated forward, aiming a thunder spell directly at Fred.

"Oh, crud—!"

Before it could strike, Ash leapt between them, deflecting the spell with his Keyblades.

"Hang on! We'll take it from here!" Ash shouted, pushing forward.

Sora grinned. "Let's see what these golden guys are made of!"

Ash and Sora dashed forward. With a swift motion, Ash hurled his Oathkeeper and Oblivion into the air. They spun like twin boomerangs—arcs of light streaking across the sky—before slicing cleanly through two Gold Beats mid-cast.

SHRRAK!

The Heartless shattered into a burst of black mist and golden sparks, vanishing into the air with a shriek.

Ash called the blades back to his hands before launching them again in opposite directions. They tore through two more Heartless with pinpoint precision.

"Dang, Ash!" Sora shouted with a grin. "Leave some for me!"

Not wasting another second, Sora leapt high into the air, spiraling mid-spin as he came crashing down with his Keyblade, cleaving through one Gold Beat that tried to float away from Ash's barrage. His Keyblade left a glowing arc in the sky as he dropped, landing in a crouch. He launched off again in a blur, dashing between two more Heartless and slicing through both with a smooth, acrobatic combo.

"Ha! These guys are toast!" Sora cheered.

From behind a flipped-over taxi, Hiro's jaw nearly hit the pavement.

"Whoa… they're insane," he muttered.

Fred's eyes were sparkling with awe behind his mask. "It's like watching real-life anime!"

Go Go, still holding an ice pack to her head, blinked. "Okay, I'm starting to believe the 'space weirdos' theory."

Wasabi just stood frozen. "They didn't even flinch… They just—cut through them."

Honey Lemon held a data scanner in one hand but had completely forgotten to take notes.

Baymax tilted his head slightly. "Observation: high agility, advanced combat tactics, and unusual light-based weaponry. Diagnostic: impressive."

Ash and Sora regrouped, standing amidst the fading smoke and Heartless particles.

Ash lowered his weapons and looked back at the stunned Big Hero 6 team. "You guys okay?"

"Okay?" Hiro laughed, stepping forward. "That was awesome! Who are you two?!"

Sora smiled and rested his Keyblade on his shoulder. "We're just travelers. Helping out where we can."

Ash smirked faintly. "Name's Ash. That dork is Sora. The duck and dog? Donald and Goofy."

"Hey!" Donald squawked in annoyance, glaring at Ash for the lousy introductions.

"Garsh, we don't mind," Goofy chuckled.

Fred didn't even blink when he heard Ash introduce himself. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped like a drawbridge within his monster costume.

"Wait a second… Ash? As in—Ash Ketchum?!" he gasped, pointing a shaking finger.

The others blinked.

"Wait...you mean that dorky-looking kid that has been popping up in the recent seasons?" Go Go asked, rubbing her temple with the ice pack. "Okay, maybe I did hit my head too hard…"

"No way…" Hiro muttered, squinting. "It can't be…"

Even Honey Lemon gasped with her eyes sparkling with surprise. "The Ash Ketchum? From the anime?!"

Fred was already vibrating like a soda can in a paint mixer. "Black hat, Pikachu sidekick, born in Pallet Town, eternal ten-year-old—ASH KETCHUM?! I watched every episode! You're like—legendary! Well, more than that now as you just become the world champion by beating the undefeated Leon!"

Ash just stood there with wide eyes, completely lost. "Huh?! Wait—what?! World Champion? Leon? I'm so lost...And how do you guys even know my name?"

That only made the Big Hero 6 team more suspicious.

"Uh…" Hiro raised a brow. "You're kind of famous? You're the Monarch of your TV show, movies, games, and toys?"

Go Go eyed him skeptically. "Unless you're gonna tell us you're not the real Ash Ketchum."

Ash's confused expression only deepened. "Okay, okay, hold up—what is going on?! I've never been here before!"

"...So you're saying you're an imposter from the real Ash Ketchum then?" Wasabi asked, folding his arms.

Fred gasped dramatically. "Multiverse theory confirmed!"

Before Ash could answer, a sharp pain shot up his leg. "OW!" He looked down to see Donald pulling his foot back from a swift kick to his shin. "What the heck, Donald?!" Ash growled, hopping in place and clutching his leg.

Donald waved his feathery arms angrily. "You numbskull! You can't just tell people you're from another world! That's against the rules!"

Ash blinked. "Wait, that's a thing? Since when?! No one told me that when I was traveling on my own!"

Sora winced. "Yeahhh, we kinda skipped that part, too. Donald takes the world order real seriously."

Goofy nodded. "Gawrsh, it's to protect the balance of the worlds, Ash. Can't let people know there's more than one out there."

Ash groaned and rubbed his face. "I swear, first Aqua, now this… What else did I miss?!"

Hiro looked between Ash and the rest of the group. "Okay, okay, hold up. So, you're saying that you are a different version of the Ash Ketchum that we watched? Is that how you're here? Are we talking sci-fi crossover level right now?"

Fred was already scribbling ideas for his next fan comic. "Dude, this is the best day ever."

Honey Lemon tapped on her tablet, already pulling up theoretical energy signatures. "I need to study your aura."

Go Go sighed. "Yeah. Definitely a concussion…"

Baymax, scanning everyone, simply stated, "Stress levels: elevated."

Ash sighed deeply. "This is gonna be a long visit…"


Hiro's Garage


Hiro led the group—Ash still wearing a completely baffled expression—back to his garage hideout. The doors slid open with a hiss, revealing rows of gadgets, monitors, tools, and the faint hum of cooling fans from Hiro's advanced computer rig. Ash looked around, impressed, but still trying to shake the feeling that he'd somehow wandered into a science fiction film.

"I still can't believe you guys knew my name…" Ash muttered as Hiro typed rapidly on his keyboard.

"You're about to believe a lot more," Hiro said, pulling up a file.

Then—click.

A high-resolution image popped up on the largest screen.

It was a much younger version of Ash—noticeably different in style, almost cartoonish compared to how he looked now—wearing a crown and holding up a large championship trophy with the biggest smile on his face.

Ash's eyes bulged.

"...IS THAT ME?!" His shout echoed across the entire garage. "Why do I look like I... got de-aged?!"

Fred, out of his monster suit and now wearing a Big Hero 6 hoodie, rushed forward with the energy of a caffeine-fueled superfan. "Okay, okay, so get this—your art style changed! It's canon! Some say budget cuts, others say it was the creative shift. Either way, boom—chibi vibes."

"...Chibi what now?" Ash blinked, clearly overwhelmed.

Fred ignored him and launched into full lecture mode. "So! After the Kalos League, where you almost won the finals—dang, so close, man—you headed to Alola!"

"Alola?" Ash tilted his head. "That's a region?"

"Oh yeah!" Fred nodded excitedly. "You enrolled in Professor Kukui's Pokémon School—met all kinds of new faces: Mallow, Lillie, Lana, Kiawe, Sophocles, and Gladion—he's kinda like a rival/anti-hero with family drama vibes," he added with finger guns.

Ash's jaw was practically on the floor. "Wait, hold on—what do you mean enrolled? I went to school?"

Fred nodded so hard his beanie almost flew off. "And you aced it, bro! Battled through trials, faced Totem Pokémon, and became the first-ever Alola Champion!"

Ash looked like his brain had blue-screened. "...I won?"

Fred spun around, clicking a few more files, bringing up battle footage, more pictures, and fan art. "Oh, you think that's it? You then met this trainer named Goh—cool dude, kinda femboy vibes, but awesome—and together you traveled across every region."

"Every region?" Ash asked in a daze.

"And then—boom! World Coronation Series. You fought all the legends—Leon, Cynthia, Steven—you name it! And guess what?"

Ash stared at the monitor, almost afraid to ask. "...I won that too?"

Fred grinned ear to ear, dramatically pointing at the screen like it was a holy relic. "World Champion, baby!"

Ash stumbled back into a chair, stunned silent. "This… This is like someone reading the last chapter of my life before I even lived it…"

Go Go raised a brow, arms crossed. "Guess we're spoilers: the anime edition."

Donald flailed his arms in frustration. "This is why we don't go around telling people about other worlds!"

Goofy chuckled. "But golly, I think Fred would've exploded if he didn't."

Hiro leaned on the desk, watching Ash. "If that really is your future… you've got one wild ride ahead of you."

Ash let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temple. "And I thought traveling with Sora was weird…"

Fred raised his hand. "Uh, technically, you also met alternate versions of yourself in the movies. And don't get me started on Pikachu talking."

"...Pikachu talked?!" Ash shouted again.

Fred turned to the others. "Okay, someone get popcorn. This is going to be amazing."

Before Fred could dive deeper into his spoiler-fueled lecture, Go Go suddenly raised a hand to stop him with her brows furrowed in skeptical thought. "Okay, okay—hold up," she cut in. "If what you're saying is true, and there are multiple Ashes across dimensions or whatever—then why does this one…" Her voice trailed off as her gaze locked onto Ash.

He blinked. "Uh… what?"

"…Look so matured?" she finished slowly, her eyes narrowing as she scanned his appearance again.

Honey Lemon leaned in excitedly beside her with her eyes sparkling. "And a little more… lewd and cuter!" she practically squealed, both hands clapped to her cheeks as she stared openly.

Ash blushed. "H-Huh?!"

Honey Lemon, now visibly drooling, pointed with giddy fingers. "That sleeveless top! The open sides! The armpit exposure! Ash, you are serving."

Go Go coughed into her fist and looked away with her cheeks tinted pink. "Yeah… what she said…"

Ash took a self-conscious step back, now blushing even harder. "W-Why is everyone suddenly falling for my outfit?!" he muttered under his breath. "Ugh… thanks a lot, fairies…"

Donald groaned, covering his face. "We told you that outfit was weird!"

"No, you didn't!"

Sora was half-laughing. "I mean, they're not wrong, Ash. You do look kinda like a JRPG poster boy right now."

Fred suddenly interrupted the chaos by whipping out a massive, clearly well-loved script binder with Ash's face scribbled on the cover in glittery stickers. "Aha! According to this," he declared, thumbing through pages rapidly, "This specific Ash variant began diverging from canon continuity during the post-Kalos arc—after a dimensional shift brought on by an unstable Heartless rift fused elements of his heart with the worldline of Kingdom Hearts!"

Everyone froze.

"…Wait, what?" Hiro blinked.

Go Go stared blankly. "Where did you even get that?"

Fred beamed and held up the script dramatically. "Online forums. Deep web. Possibly stolen from a fanfic archive. Doesn't matter—it's lore now."

Ash groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "I'm gonna need, like… five explanations and a nap."

Honey Lemon didn't even hear. She was already sketching a new outfit design. "Do you mind modeling for me later, Ash? That torso definition needs to be studied!"

Go Go muttered behind her, "I was gonna say abs, but she beat me to it…"

Sora leaned toward Donald and Goofy. "Do we ever get that kind of attention?"

Donald huffed. "I better not!"

Goofy smiled. "Gawrsh, I think Ash has a fan club now."

Fred looked up from the script. "And we're just getting started! Did you know there's an alternate timeline where Ash becomes a Gym Leader—and one where he stays with Serena—oh and one where Pikachu turns human!"

Ash held up both hands. "OKAY, pause! One alternate me at a time!"

Before Fred could spiral deeper into his alternate-timeline shipping manifesto, Wasabi cleared his throat and raised a hand.

"Okay, sorry to interrupt the... whatever this is—" he motioned vaguely at Fred's fan-script and Honey Lemon's dreamy expression, "—but something's still bugging me."

Everyone looked over.

"If Ash is here," Wasabi said in concern, "Where's Pikachu? And the rest of his Pokémon?"

The room fell dead silent.

Ash's smile faded instantly. His gaze dropped to his feet as the atmosphere shifted like a cold draft had blown through the garage. The light, playful mood came to a screeching halt.

Go Go shot Wasabi a side glare. "Dude…"

Wasabi raised his hands. "What?! I didn't mean it like that—I was just curious! Honest!"

Ash gave a soft chuckle, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's okay, Wasabi. You meant well."

He lifted his head slowly, looking at the group. "To be honest… I kinda forgot for a while. Got caught up in everything. The action. The laughs. The... alternate versions of me…" His voice softened. "But yeah. My world was consumed by the Heartless. Everyone's gone. Pikachu... my friends… my Pokémon… all of them."

Silence.

Even Fred closed his binder.

Ash's fingers curled slightly at his sides with a bittersweet smile. "Guess I just didn't want to deal with it yet."

Honey Lemon's heart broke instantly. "Aww…" She stepped forward with her arms outstretched. "You need a hug. C'mere."

Ash blinked. "W-Wait, I—" He glanced at Hiro, who gave an apologetic shrug.

"She's a hugger."

Before Honey Lemon could glomp him, Go Go crossed her arms with a smirk. "Hey, back off, sunshine. I'll hug him."

Ash's eyes widened. "Wha—?!"

Fred let out a dramatic gasp and dropped his script binder. "Oh my GOSH. Are we witnessing a live triangle arc?! I SHIP THIS—hard!"

Everyone groaned in unison.

"Not the time, Fred…" Hiro sighed, rubbing his forehead.

Donald and Sora, of course, didn't let the moment go to waste.

Sora leaned over with a teasing grin. "Sooooo, Elsa, Honey Lemon and Go Go now? Not bad, Ash."

Donald jabbed an elbow into Ash's ribs. "We're definitely telling Aqua."

Ash turned red as a tomato. "I swear, you two—"

"Ship it!" Fred yelled again from the background.

Ash groaned and buried his face in his hands. "This is worse than losing to Tobias."

Just as Ash was about to crawl into a metaphorical hole and never return, Baymax tilted his head and stepped forward.

"I am detecting elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and a sharp rise in body temperature," Baymax reported in his usual calm, robotic tone. "Ash, you appear to be under emotional distress. Would you like a hug?"

Ash blinked. "Honestly? That doesn't sound—"

"HOLD UP." Honey Lemon bolted in front of Baymax, throwing her arms wide like a soccer goalie. "I called dibs on hugging Ash first!"

Go Go immediately stepped in with her eyes narrowed. "You didn't call anything. I said I'd hug him before you."

Honey Lemon gasped. "You were joking!"

"Was I?" Go Go smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned closer to Ash. "I'm just doing my part for morale."

Ash's eye twitched. "Why is this happening...?"

Baymax, still unfazed, looked between the two girls. "My hug is medically approved."

"YEAH WELL SO IS MINE," Honey Lemon fired back.

"Technically, mine is full of adrenaline," Go Go added, nudging her shoulder against Ash with a cheeky grin.

Ash stood frozen, caught between a literal medical-grade hug bot and two girls having a civil war over hugging rights—for him. His expression shifted from overwhelmed to utterly exhausted.

"I hope the Heartless show up and take me now," he muttered under his breath.

Fred bounced up beside him with his usual wide grin. "C'mon, buddy! You should embrace the love—literally! You've leveled up in character development, romance route unlocked, classic anime stuff!"

Ash turned to him slowly with a deadpan stare. "You're just another Sora."

Fred gasped. "Another Sora?! How dare you?! I'm clearly more of a sidekick comic relief with hidden protagonist potential."

Sora chimed in with a smug grin. "He's not wrong, though."

Ash groaned again and looked straight at Baymax. "Just hit me with a tranquilizer, please."

Hiro chuckled as he watched the chaos unfold. "Okay, okay—before things get any weirder," he said, glancing at Honey Lemon and Go Go still side-eyeing each other, "We should probably do the whole introduction thing."

He stepped forward, motioning to his team with a casual grin. "I'm Hiro Hamada. And this," he said, gesturing to the large white robot beside him, "Is Baymax—personal healthcare companion and one heck of a backup in a fight."

Baymax gave a small wave. "Hello. I am Baymax. Your blood pressure has stabilized, Ash. Congratulations."

Ash gave a small, nervous smile. "Uh, thanks, I think?"

Hiro continued. "This is Go Go Tomago. She's basically our speed and attitude specialist."

Go Go gave a small nod. "Sup."

"And that's Honey Lemon. Brains, chemistry, and boundless energy all rolled into one."

Honey Lemon sparkled with a peace sign. "Hi-hi! Don't worry, Ash, I'm still claiming that hug later!"

Ash turned pink again. "Y-You really don't have to—"

"Moving on!" Hiro cut in quickly, pointing to the tall, broad-shouldered guy adjusting his gloves. "Wasabi. Precision. Power. Also the only one here who insists on cleaning everything after every mission."

"Someone's gotta keep the gear clean," Wasabi muttered. "And the van. And the floors. And—"

"And now—" Hiro sighed, already bracing himself. "Fred."

Fred leapt forward like a performer on stage, dramatically flipping his cape… that he wasn't wearing.

"I am Fredzilla!" he boomed, striking a ridiculous superhero pose, fists clenched to the sky. "Lover of monsters! Defender of justice! Collector of rare first editions, and future team mascot-slash-legend!"

Go Go rolled her eyes hard enough to tilt her entire head. "He does this every time."

Wasabi groaned. "We can't take him anywhere."

"Fred." Hiro pointed at him flatly. "Please don't scare the guests."

Fred flashed Ash a giant grin. "Too late. I'm your number-one fan now, bro. We're bonding later."

Ash gave Sora and Donald a blank stare. "What kind of city did you bring me to?"

Sora just chuckled. "You'll get used to it. Somehow."

Donald crossed his arms with a deep frown. "I still don't like that Fred guy."

"Rude," Fred whispered dramatically, clutching his chest.

Hiro cleared his throat after Fred's grand introduction finally settled. "Ahem. Right… anyway, we're Big Hero 6," he said with a proud smile. "And from the looks of it, I don't think we need much of an introduction from Ash."

Ash rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh, guess not."

"But," Hiro continued, glancing over at the rest of the group, "I am curious about your friends. I mean, we know your names… but—what's your deal?"

Donald fluffed his feathers proudly and stepped up first. "I'm Donald Duck!"

Goofy followed with his signature chuckle. "And I'm Goofy!"

"You guys know I already introduced you earlier, right?" Ash muttered under his breath.

Donald waved that off. "That wasn't informal! This is a proper intro!"

Ash rolled his eyes.

Hiro blinked. "I see..."

Before he could dig too deep, Sora suddenly stepped forward with a grin and that familiar sparkle of mischief in his eyes. Donald caught it first and started shaking his head, mouthing "No—stop." But it was too late.

"I'm Sora!" he announced proudly. "Keyblade wielder and—" He glanced at a framed photo of Big Hero 6 striking their action pose. Inspiration hit like a thunderbolt. "—Leader of the legendary KEYBLADE HERO 4!"

Suddenly, dramatic music burst out of nowhere as the room dimmed and a spotlight flickered overhead. Sora struck an exaggerated battle stance. Caught off guard, Donald and Goofy instinctively struck awkward action poses, confused but too far in to stop it.

The lights pulsed.

Ash just… stood there.

Deadpan.

Silence followed.

A long, long silence.

Even Baymax's internal fans stopped whirring for a beat.

The entire Big Hero 6 team just stared at them with their eyebrows lifted in confused sync.

Somewhere, a lone cricket chirped in the distance.

Go Go raised an eyebrow. "Was that… supposed to happen?"

Wasabi blinked. "Did they bring their own light show?"

Fred was the only one who lost it. "YESSSSSSS! Keyblade Hero 4! I LOVE IT!"

Ash turned to Sora slowly, completely unamused. "Sora…"

Sora smiled sheepishly. "Too much?"

Ash didn't respond—just stared.

Donald facepalmed. "Why are we friends with him again?"

Goofy laughed. "Aw, he just got a lil' excited."

Fred clapped Sora on the back. "Don't listen to them, man. That was epic."

Sora gave him finger guns. "Told ya someone would appreciate it."

Honey Lemon whispered to Go Go, "They're kind of adorable in their own… unhinged way."

Go Go sighed.

Goofy tilted his head in thought. "Gawrsh… wait a sec," he said, rubbing his chin. "Donald and I don't even have Keyblades. Only you and Ash do."

Donald blinked. "Huh… he's right."

Sora's proud expression slowly deflated.

"Which means…" Goofy continued, "We're actually one Keyblade short to be the Keyblade Hero 4 because Sora only has one, while Ash has two."

Everyone turned to look at Sora.

Sora paused, glanced around at the group, then sheepishly folded his hands behind his head. "Hehe… okay, yeah, maybe I didn't think that all the way through."

Ash sighed and facepalmed, groaning slightly. "I can't believe that's the part you're all hung up on."

Hiro chuckled. "I mean… he's got a point. Branding's important when you're a superhero team."

Fred threw an arm around Sora's shoulder. "Dude, you just need a fourth Keyblade, that's all! Easy fix. Maybe Donald or Goofy gets one in the next saga!"

Donald lit up. "I'd make a great Keyblade Master!"

Goofy grinned. "I dunno… I think I'd look real cool with one, too."

Sora looked between them. "Okay, now I'm worried."

Wasabi groaned. "Guys, it's just a name…"

Go Go deadpanned with her arms crossed. "Welcome to our world, Ash."

Ash ran a hand through his hair. "You guys are just… a whole other level of weird. No offense."

Fred proudly grinned. "And you love it."

Ash sighed again. "Why do I feel like I'm traveling with two Soras now?"

Sora beamed. "Because you are!"

Donald just groaned louder. "One Sora is already bad enough."

"Hey!"

"So..." Go Go decided to change the subject. "About those shadow monsters earlier? What are they?"

"And why couldn't we touch them?" Wasabi added, crossing his arms. "They phased right through our attacks like we weren't even there."

"But you two—" Go Go pointed to Ash and Sora, "—You cut through them like they were made of paper."

Fred chimed in dramatically, "Because Ash is a multiverse-leaping anime icon, after all!"

Go Go rolled her eyes but added, "Still… this Ash isn't like the one we know. That Ash barely had Aura powers. This one… is way more—"

"OP," Fred finished for her with a spark in his eyes. "Like super anime-tiered OP."

Ash sweatdropped and scratched the back of his head. "Y-Yeah, it's… kind of complicated."

Before anyone could press further, Sora stepped up, trying to ease the tension.

"Let's focus on the Heartless part," he said. "Those things we fought? They're called Heartless. Creatures born from the darkness in people's hearts."

"They invade worlds and corrupt everything they touch," Ash added.

"They're not from your world," Sora continued. "And unless you have the right tools—like a Keyblade—you can't really do much to stop them."

"That explains that at least," Honey Lemon said, nodding thoughtfully. "But still… why here? Why now?"

"That's the million-munny question," Ash said, crossing his arms.

Baymax tilted his head. "I detected unusual energy signatures just before the attack. Unknown origin."

"Same old story," Go Go muttered. "Trouble shows up. We handle it. Except now we've got monsters from literal darkness, and two guys with magic weapons and a duck."

Donald puffed his chest. "HEY! I do more than just quack and yell!"

"But seriously…" Hiro said, stepping forward, "If you're willing, we'd really appreciate your help. Something tells me this is just the beginning."

Ash and Sora exchanged glances.

Sora nodded with a big grin. "Count us in."

Wasabi crossed his arms tightly with his brow furrowed in thought. "I don't wanna be a spoilsport or anything—but how exactly are we supposed to help if we don't even have a plan?"

The question hung heavy in the air.

Hiro tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Good point…" His eyes suddenly lit up with an idea. "Wait! I've actually been working on a side project that might help—something that could level the playing field a bit!" He darted towards a nearby workbench with Baymax trailing close behind. "Give me a sec—I'll grab a set for you guys to try."

Sora tilted his head. "What is it?"

Hiro rummaged through a metal cabinet before holding up two sleek, high-tech visors. "I call them: AR Devices! Augmented Reality overlays—enhanced scanning, combat data, target tracking. I've been developing them to train with simulations, but I think they'll sync up just fine with your skills."

Ash blinked. "...So basically sci-fi goggles?"

Hiro chuckled. "Way cooler than goggles. Trust me."


Meanwhile...


High above San Fransokyo's glowing skyline, atop a shadowy building surrounded by steel beams and buzzing neon signs, Young Xehanort stood alone. The wind whipped his silver hair as his golden eyes observed Hiro's garage with silent amusement.

"So this is the world fate has chosen to stir..." he muttered to himself with a sly smile.

Behind him, a ripple of darkness twisted into form—a swirling portal.

From it stepped Riku Replica.

"You took your time," Young Xehanort said without turning.

Riku Replica scoffed. "You try navigating data-locked archives under a surveillance system. I'd like to see you not set off alarms." Despite the irritation in his voice, he reached into his coat and held out a small object—a red microchip etched with a skull icon. The surface pulsed with a faint purple glow.

Young Xehanort finally turned with his eyes narrowing. "That's it?" he asked.

"The original memory chip from the first Baymax," Riku Replica confirmed. "Twisted by darkness. Corrupted. It's perfect."

Young Xehanort extended his hand, revealing a seething black cube in his palm—a Darkube, flickering with energy like a living creature straining to escape. "And with this, it will soon serve as the perfect candidate as its vessel." Young Xehanort turned his gaze from the cube with a dark smirk forming on his face. "For now, there's no need to rush," he said calmly. "Let our new... ally enjoy himself."

The sound of shifting fabric echoed through the rooftop shadows as a figure stepped forward. From the darkness emerged Robert Callaghan—once the esteemed professor, now fallen into vengeance and shadow. The former Yokai. His long coat flowed like smoke, and his Kabuki-inspired mask gleamed menacingly under the city lights. But something was different this time. His eyes, once sharp with intellect, now glowed faint purple—tainted with darkness.

"Callaghan," Riku Replica said with a sneer. "Or should I say... Yokai again?"

Callaghan's voice was a deep rasp, distorted by the corruption in his heart. "They took everything from me. My daughter. My name. My future." He clenched his fist, and dark microbots oozed up from the building's steel structure like a sea of black snakes, writhing and forming around his arms like gauntlets. "You gave me power again," Callaghan growled. "And now I'll repay that favor... by crushing Hiro Hamada and his little play-heroes."

Young Xehanort nodded in approval. "Just remember our deal. You distract them. Wreak your vengeance. We'll recover what we came for... undisturbed."

Callaghan didn't respond. He simply turned with his army of twisted microbots slithering after him like a black tide as he vanished over the rooftop's edge—descending into the city's heart with one goal:

Revenge.


Back inside Hiro's garage, the team gathered around as Hiro instructed the Keyblade wielder how his AR devices worked. "Alright," Hiro said, handing one to Ash and the other to Sora. "Slip these on. They'll help you see things hidden to the naked eye—including cloaked Heartless."

Ash adjusted his visor over his head. "Kinda cool... Feels like I'm in a sci-fi movie," he said with a small grin.

Sora plopped his on without hesitation. The second he did, his eyes widened in horror. "WAAAH! HEARTLESS!" he shouted, pointing towards the corner of the room. Without warning, he summoned his Keyblade and began flailing at the empty air.

Hiro ducked instinctively. "Hey! Calm down! There's nothing there!"

"YES, THERE IS!" Sora yelled, spinning around, knocking over a nearby stool. "IT'S RIGHT THERE!"

Ash facepalmed, sighing. "You've had this thing on for ten seconds, and you're already breaking stuff."

"Take off the visor, man," Hiro urged, motioning for him to remove it.

Sora hesitated, then lifted the visor. The Heartless vanished.

"Wha...?" He blinked, flipping it down again—the Shadow reappeared.

Up.

Gone.

Down.

Back again.

Goofy chuckled, "It's like peek-a-boo for ghosts!"

Hiro finally explained, "The AR visor scans digital and metaphysical frequencies—basically, it sees things from alternate dimensions or cloaked in other forms. I'm still fine-tuning the detection. But there's more. It can analyze and project data... like power levels."

"Power levels?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

"Yup. Touch the icon on the side. It's a touchscreen."

Ash did so, and his visor interface shifted to a scanning mode. He turned toward Hiro.

"Target acquired: Hiro Hamada. Estimated power output... moderate." A voice echoed in the headset.

Next was Baymax.

"Baymax. Medical and combat unit. Power rating: high."

Ash scanned Go Go, then Honey Lemon, then Wasabi—each rating unique with flashy data displays and short bios.

Then came Fred, who was practically vibrating in place. "DO ME! DO ME NEXT!"

Ash aimed the visor.

"Fred. Energy output: unpredictable. Potential: ridiculous. Category: wildcard."

Fred gasped. "YESSSSSSSS. I always knew I had secret potential!"

Ash chuckled, but hesitated when the group looked at him expectantly.

Go Go raised an eyebrow. "Well? What's yours?"

Ash rubbed the back of his head, glancing away. "Uh... maybe we should skip me for now."

Fred leaned in closer, grinning. "C'mon, don't leave us hangin'! We wanna know if you're, like, a Super Saiyan!"

Ash groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm about to regret this...?" He let out a small sigh, then turned to his friend. "Alright, Sora. Why don't you try scanning me?"

Sora perked up. "Me? Sure! I got this!" He tapped the side of his visor with confidence, then frowned when nothing happened. "Uh… is it this button? Or… maybe that one—wait, no—OH, I opened a settings menu… hold on, now it's in Spanish—"

Donald slapped a hand to his face. "Why did we let him touch technology...?"

Ash's eye twitched as he watched Sora flip through multiple windows on the visor like he was trying to unlock a cheat code. "Sora, it's literally just one icon. The big one. In the middle."

"I'm touching it!" Sora protested, randomly swiping at the display. "Why is this harder than unlocking a world gate!?"

"Because those don't require basic tech literacy," Ash muttered.

Goofy leaned over Sora's shoulder. "Gawrsh, I think ya opened the brightness settings again."

Sora groaned. "This thing hates me."

"User error detected," the visor chirped in monotone.

"Even the tech is roasting you now," Donald snorted.

Ash shook his head with a smirk, stepping in. "Okay, here—this button." He gently pressed the right icon for Sora.

"Initializing scan…" the visor announced.

A beam of light swept over Ash, and after a second of processing, the results flashed across Sora's screen.

"Whoa…" Sora blinked. "It says… Ash Ketchum. Combat potential: extremely high. Keyblade compatibility: optimal. Aura affinity: awakened. Power level… ?"

Fred's jaw dropped. "Did it just give you question marks?!"

Go Go squinted. "That's... either terrifying or awesome."

"Both," Honey Lemon whispered with sparkles in her eyes.

Ash groaned. "Great. Now I'm officially a walking enigma."

Donald leaned over Sora's shoulder, nodding at the visor. "I told ya the duck had good instincts. We've got a mystery boy here."

Ash rolled his eyes. "At this point, even I don't know how strong I am."

Fred beamed. "I'm calling it now—Ash is an anime protagonist glitch in the system!"

Ash ignored Fred and glanced back towards Hiro. "Well… it works. Even with Sora's stellar tech skills."

"Hey!" Sora snapped, crossing his arms. "I got it eventually!"

Hiro chuckled, clearly amused. "Well, I'm just glad it's functioning. With you two using the AR visors, they can serve as excellent practice tools for the whole team. Real-time training simulations, power reads, enemy threat mapping—pretty useful stuff."

Fred suddenly threw both fists into the air with explosive energy. "YES! Time for SHUGYO!"

Ash blinked. "Shugyo…?" He glanced at Sora, who shrugged.

Go Go sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's Fred's way of saying 'intense training.' It's a nerd thing."

Fred gave a proud thumbs-up. "It's from my favorite anime! Shugyo means pushing yourself past your limits—sweat, pain, screaming, running up waterfalls—y'know, the good stuff!"

Sora's eyes lit up. "That actually sounds kinda awesome."

Baymax politely raised a hand. "Please note that overexertion during 'shugyo' may result in sprains, dehydration, and emotional trauma. I am equipped to assist with all three."

Fred beamed. "See? Now it's a real training arc!"

Ash chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, alright, Sensei Fred. Lead the way."

Hiro clapped his hands. "Alright, let's head out, team!"


I had fun writing this first part, if you could tell lol. And yup...I brought back an old foe for Hiro and the others to deal with. I hope you guys enjoy the chemistry already, especially from Fred. He's such a lovable dork. And I'm still undecided whether or not to include Honey Lemon or Go Go as a potential addition to the ongoing harem for Ash. For now, there will be some moments.


Extra scene: New Fashion


Ash has returned to Gerudo Town, but under different circumstances. One in which he fully regrets. He wore the full Vai ensemble—soft white Gerudo veil, an embroidered white top that hugged his torso a little too well, and the flowing sirwal pants that danced with every reluctant step. His exposed midriff glistened with sweat under the desert heat, and his sandals clicked delicately on the polished stone.

"Just lucky Sora and Donald aren't here," he muttered. "I know they'd never let me live this down. Exotic belly dancer… pfft. I'm a Keyblade wielder, not a performer!"

Inside the grand throne room sat Riju, whose lips curled into a mischievous smile upon seeing her dear Voe friend. "Well, well," she said, voice teasing. "Long time no see, my cute Voe friend."

Ash stood at attention awkwardly with his cheeks still burning beneath the veil. "I didn't really have a choice. You invited me."

"No Link?" Riju looked left, then right in mock confusion. "I could've sworn I invited both of you. But it seems I only got the cuter one."

Ash nearly stumbled. "W-What do you mean cuter?! Link's the hero! He should be the one doing this dress-up stuff!"

"Oh, please," Riju laughed, lounging more dramatically on the throne. "Watching Link try on clothes is like dressing a statue. But you… you're hilarious when flustered."

"I am not flustered!" Ash snapped, turning so red.

"You so are," Riju giggled. "Come on, now. I had this special design tailored just for today. The Gerudo are experimenting with a new combat-ready fashion line. I thought, who better to model it than our honorary vai?"

Ash groaned. "I don't even know what half these clothes are for."

"That's the spirit!" Riju clapped once. "You'll be trying them on right here. Buliara, bring the wardrobe!"

Buliara didn't say a word. She just turned on her heel and returned with a large chest, setting it down with a thud in front of the throne. She opened it to reveal a dazzling array of Gerudo garments—each flashier and more revealing than the last. Silks, beads, vibrant colors, even some armor pieces laced with gold.

Ash gulped. "You want me to change… in front of you?!"

Riju rested her cheek on her hand. "You're among friends. What's the matter, Voey-boy? Afraid I'll see something more than you're letting on, hm?"

"WHAT?! NO—That's not—YOU CAN'T JUST—"

Riju laughed so hard she nearly fell off the throne.

Ash backed up. "Nope! Nope! I'm drawing the line! This is beyond my dignity!"

"Oh, please," Riju rolled her eyes. "This is nothing. Be a Voe and just do it."

Ash heaved a deep sigh. There was no point talking sense into the young Chief. She was hellbent in teasing him for her own amusement. He was so glad Aqua wasn't around or else she would be taking pictures for...her research. "Fine, 'll do it," he muttered under his breath.

Riju grinned like a lioness about to pounce. "Wonderful! Buliara, curtain!"

With Gerudo precision, Buliara pulled a large screen in front of the throne to give Ash some privacy. Not perfect privacy—there were definitely silhouettes visible—but it was better than nothing.

Ash began changing, fighting with a stubborn sash that didn't want to tie. "Stupid knot… Riju is such a bully…"

"What was that?" Riju called sweetly.

"NOTHING!"

After several grunts, shuffles, and at least one moment where he tripped and crashed into the screen, Ash emerged in the new outfit.

The room went dead silent.

Riju blinked. Buliara actually raised her eyebrows.

Ash wore a desert-white wrap tunic with a flame-patterned sash, light armor plates tied to his boots and arms, and a cropped half-cape fluttering over one shoulder. His hair was tied up with a silk ribbon, and a subtle gold chain looped from his ear to his veil.

He looked… really good.

Ash tugged awkwardly at the collar. "Okay… happy now?"

Riju leaned forward with a satisfied smile. "Okay, wow. I was not expecting that. You actually look very...cute."

Ash's eye twitched. "I swear, if you tell anyone about this—"

Riju crossed her heart. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Really?"

"Absolutely not."

"Aaagh!"

Ash turned to storm out, only to be stopped by Riju.

"Wait, before you go," Riju called, raising a single finger, "we need a picture."

Ash froze mid-step. "What."

Riju stood tall with a bright, innocent smile. "To commemorate the debut of Gerudo combat fashion version 1.0, modeled by our very own honorary Vai."

"No. Absolutely not."

"Oh, come on," she whined, folding her arms under her chest and tilting her head. "You look great!"

"Nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening," Ash said firmly, backing towards the exit. "No pictures. If that gets out, I'll be a meme for eternity. Or worse—Sora will see it."

Riju opened her mouth, but Buliara stepped forward with her arms crossed, casting a shadow over Ash.

"If the Chief requests a picture," she said with a calm menace, "You will comply."

Ash looked up at her, then slowly back at Riju. "You're threatening me with a bodyguard over a photo?!"

"I'm not threatening," Riju said sweetly. "I'm insisting. Besides…" She widened her eyes in a devastating pout. "You'd really say no to this face?"

Ash looked away, groaning. "Ughhh, that's not fair. That's illegal! You're too cute to say no to!"

"Exactly," she chirped, skipping forward. "Now get your communicator ready. This is happening."

Muttering under his breath, Ash activated the selfie camera feature on his communicator. "Okay. One picture," he grumbled. "Then I get to burn this outfit and bleach my memory."

Riju appeared at his side in a flash, wrapping one arm around his shoulders and pulling him close.

"Say Vai power!" she sang.

Ash, caught between confusion and horror, barely managed a strangled, "Vai powe—!"

Click!

The communicator flashed as the snapshot was taken. In it, Ash stood stiff as a board, face crimson behind his veil, while Riju posed like she was on the cover of a royal fashion magazine, flashing a peace sign.

"Oh wow, this is perfect!" Riju beamed, peering at the photo. "Look at you! You're totally giving, 'I'm a mysterious desert princess.'"

Ash slapped a hand over his face. "I want to die."

"Don't be so dramatic," Riju giggled. "You know… I could make this official."

"What do you mean 'official'?" Ash asked, already regretting it.

Riju leaned in close, whispering with a wicked grin. "You could be more than an honorary Vai. You could be… my honorary princess."

"W-W-W-Wha—?!"