#after it took four of my pokémon to take down her garchomp

[goldensunset]

so, it's been a few months. got bored and had nothing else to do so i was like hey let's rechallenge the elite four and cynthia right. yeah uh. so. it's going Real Bad

[gladdyator18]

MERCY! - TickleTober2021 Day 2 (Begging)

Summary: Eragona was feeling down after losing a battle against a trainer. She was happy for the trainer beating her, but it still stung. Luckily, her beloved and trustworthy Pokémon are always there to make their trainer smile again.

Word Count: 1883

*If speech is italicized, that means the Pokémon are speaking (i.e. “Eragona, you’re home!” Libby said). Eragona can understand her Pokémon (new chapter to my fanfiction where she wishes upon Jirachi to understand her Pokémon)*

“Congratulations! You were very strong!” Eragona said earnestly.

It was a beautiful, summer afternoon and Eragona was off from Elite Four duties. On her way back to Gladiolus City, a trainer had challenged her to a battle, and she gladly accepted. Unfortunately, she had lost. Eragona takes her losses relatively well, but the feeling still stung.

“Thank you, Eragona! That means a lot coming from you!” the trainer said.

The trainer’s Grumpig let out a happy cry that made Eragona smile. Eragona’s Dragonite, Soren, and Eevee, Libby, both let out happy cries in return.

“Thanks again for the battle, Eragona,” the trainer said, “I feel a lot stronger now.”

Eragona couldn’t help but chuckle and proceeded to place a hand on the trainer’s shoulder.

“You were always strong. You did just beat me in a 1-on-1 battle, did you not?” Eragona asked.

The trainer’s face broke into a bashful smile.

“Well, I better get going,” Eragona said, “My other Pokémon are probably restless at this point. If you ever want to battle me again to train, give me a call.”

She then gave the trainer a contact card.

“Thanks again!” the trainer said.

Eragona smiled and gave the trainer a two-fingered salute.

“Happy traveling!” she said.

She then climbed on her Dragonite’s back and the large Pokémon flew into the air. Once in the sky, Eragona breathed out a shaky sigh. Libby looked at her trainer with worried eyes and let out a cry.

“I’m fine, Libby,” she said, “You needn’t worry about me...”

Libby let out a cry and nuzzled her cheek against Eragona’s, feeling her fur absorb a tear. Once Soren arrived home, he landed in the back of the grand house and was soon surrounded by Eragona’s other Pokémon. They all let out their unique cries as they greeted their friends and master. Eragona hopped off Soren and smiled at her beloved Pokémon.

“Hello again, old friends...” Eragona said sadly.

Every smile faded when the Pokémon heard the tone in their trainer’s voice. Eragona’s Flygon, Flyra, walked up to her trainer and let out a concerned cry. Eragona smiled and placed a hand on her Pokémon’s cheek.

“I’m fine, Flyra...” Eragona said.

She then proceeded to remove Libby off her shoulder and placed her on the ground. Taking out her Pokéballs, she had released her Dragonair, Zora; her shiny Noivern, Boombox; and her Garchomp, Jet.

“I just want to be left alone for a bit...” Eragona said.

Eragona then walked past her many Pokémon and walked inside the house. Her Pokémon all looked at one another with concerned looks.

“What do we do about Eragona, you guys?” Libby asked.

“What even happened?” Drake the Salamence asked, looking up at Soren.

“I lost against a trainer who challenged us...” Soren replied regrettably.

“Well, all of us here lost a battle at least once or twice; Eragona knows that. I know I have. It’s nothing to be so bummed over.” Charcoal the Charizard said.

“But if you know Eragona, she doesn’t really like to lose,” Jet commented, “Even though she’s taken losses better than she did when she was younger, the feeling of losing still stings.”

The other Pokémon agreed with their trainer’s strongest member.

“Well, what do we do?” Libby asked, “I hate seeing Era like this... If only we can get her smiling again...”

The other Pokémon soon started pondering on what they could do to help. That’s when Cream, Eragona’s shiny Goodra smiled widely.

“I have a great idea!” Cream said.

“What is it?” Zora asked.

The Goodra smiled and explained her plan to her friends. The others couldn’t agree more with the plan.

“Libby, can you go get Eragona?” Zora asked.

“You can count on me!” Libby said excitedly.

The Evolution Pokémon sprinted happily into her home in search of her trainer. She eventually found Eragona in her study reading a book. Libby let out a friendly cry to get her attention. Eragona twisted her neck to face Libby and she smiled. Eragona held out her arm and Libby happily sprinted over, causing her to bounce up and run up her trainer’s arm to her shoulder.

“What is it, Libby?” Eragona asked.

Libby then let out multiple cries and started pulling on Eragona’s scarf.

“Okay, okay,” Eragona chuckled, “I’ll come with you.”

Eragona lifted Libby off her shoulder and placed her on the ground. Libby then wagged her tail and sprinted towards the backdoor.

“It’s working!” Libby thought happily.

Once Libby was outside, Eragona eventually emerged from the house. Looking around, she saw her Pokémon all staring at her.

“What’s going on?” Eragona asked, “Is everyone alright?”

“We are fine, master. It is you who is not.” King the Tyrantrum said.

Eragona tilted her head to the side and raised a brow.

“What are you talking about? I’m okay like I said before.” Eragona said, her tone sounding a bit annoyed.

“With all due respect, Eragona, you’re not okay, even though you claim to be,” Zora said, “Soren told us what happened.”

The Dragonite still looked ashamed and disappointed.

“Losing that battle wasn’t your fault Soren. It was mine,” Eragona said, “But I was happy for the trainer’s victory.”

“Even though it stung?” Flyra asked.

Eragona’s breathing hitched as she took in her Flygon’s words. Eragona then breathed out a sigh and sat on the back porch’s steps. All her Pokémon huddled closer to her.

“You’re right. I’m not okay.  After losing that battle, I felt... weak. Like, I know an Elite Four’s job is to win and lose battles and to set examples for young trainers, but it still hurts to lose,” Eragona confessed, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you all worry...”

Eragona brought her legs up to her chest and held them tightly. Libby walked up to her trainer and butted her head gently against Eragona’s leg.

“We understand how you feel, Era. We all feel the same way when we lose,” Libby said, “But we take those losses to make us stronger.”

Eragona looked up and gave a small smile. She lifted a hand and placed it on her partner’s head.

“Thank you, Libbs,” she said before looking up, “Thank you all.”

The other Pokémon smiled sweetly at their master.

“Okay! We got her smiling!” Libby said excitedly, “Now, onto phase 2!”

“Phase 2...?” Eragona parroted.

That’s when Cream walked up to Eragona and gave a big hug. Eragona was surprised at first but soon melted into her Pokémon’s gooey embrace. Eragona was soon lifted into the arms of her Goodra and was brought over to the others.

“Cream, what are you doing?” Eragona asked.

“You’ll see!” Cream said excitedly.

The Goodra soon set her master down on the ground and stepped back. Looking around, Eragona saw 19 pairs of eyes staring her down.

“Uh, guys...?” Eragona began, “What’s going on?”

“We just wanna see our master smiling again!” Flyra said, “Is that so wrong?”

That’s when Libby pounced on Eragona’s stomach and started nuzzling her soft fur all over her. Eragona couldn’t help but giggle at the tickly feeling.

“Ehehehe! Lihihihibby, stohohop!” Eragona giggled.

“Yay! She’s laughing!” Kaiba the Altaria chirped happily.

Kaiba then walked up to her trainer and started using her fluffy wings to playfully attack Eragona’s sides. The Dragon-type Elite Four twisted and turned every which way to stop the tickling.

“Guhuhuhuhuys! This is so unecessahahahahahary!” Eragona cried, “Please, stohohohop!”

“Not until you’re smiling for the rest of the day.” Jet commented.

Eragona tried to glare at her Garchomp, but it was proven quite difficult.

“Not you tohohoo, Jehehehehet!” Eragona giggled, “Chahahaharcohohohoal! Hehehehelp!”

“With pleasure, master.” Charcoal said.

The Flame Pokémon trotted up to his trainer and started nuzzling his snout on Eragona’s neck, his warm breath making the sensation worse. Eragona let out an adorable squeal and dissolved into adorable giggles.

“Nohohohooo! Charcoal, you trahahahahaitor!” Eragona said.

“Aw, look at our adorable trainer! All cute and giggly!” Libby teased.

“Libbyhyhyhyhyhyhyhy! No teheheheheasing!” Eragona giggled.

Libby only giggled and continued to tickle her trainer, causing Eragona’s giggles to escalate in volume.

“AH! Charcohohohohoal! Don’t lihihihihick mehehehe!” Eragona giggled out, “Thahahahat’s wohohorse!”

Charcoal chuckled and continued to nuzzle his snout into Eragona’s neck. The other Pokémon were smiling widely as they watched their trainer giggle freely. They missed this side of her, and they were happy to see it once more.

“Ooh, I want a turn!” Cream said.

The Goodra soon hugged Eragona from behind and nuzzled her gooey head under her arm. Eragona squealed and started letting out hearty laughs.

“CREHEHEHEAM! NO! DON’T DO THAHAHAT!” Eragona cried.

“She’s laughing properly now,” Cora the Dragalge said, “Good.”

Eragona struggled against her Pokémon as she fought through her laughter, but Cream’s hold on her was firm but gentle.

“LET ME GOHOHOHO! PLEHEHEHEASE!” Eragona laughed.

“Aw, c’mon, master! When’s the last time you let loose and just laughed?” Jawbreaker the Haxorus asked.

Eragona couldn’t process the question her Pokémon asked, nor could she hear it over the sound of her laughter. The other Pokémon looked at one another, and then back at their trainer. They all grinned with the same idea in mind. When Eragona cracked her eye open, she saw her other Pokémon creeping towards her.

“NONONONO! STAHAHAY AWAHAHAHAY!” Eragona cried.

Her protest did nothing to stop her Pokémon from pouncing on her, all nuzzling her lovingly. Eragona couldn’t help the shriek that escaped her mouth.

“AAAAHHHHHAHAHA! NOOOHOHO! STOP TICKLING MEHEHEHE!” she cried.

“This is way too much fun!” Libby commented, “Come on, Eragona! Laugh some more!”

And laugh Eragona did. In truth, she enjoyed this; she needed this. The stinging feeling of losing that battle was nonexistent. She was happy and grateful for her Pokémon’s loyal and compassionate nature.

“OKAY, OKAHAHAHAY! THAT’S ENOHOHOHOUGH!” Eragona laughed, “PLEHEHEHEASE! STOP, STOP, STAHAHAHAP!”

“Geez, she’s beggin’ a lot!” Boombox said, “She only ever begs when Cedric tickles her.”

“You know what you have to say, master,” Zora said, “You do this all the time with Cedric, so this shouldn’t be any different.”

Eragona felt her cheeks heat up at the mention of her boyfriend’s name.

“YOU GUYS ARE SO CRUHUHUHUEL!” Eragona cried.

“Us? Cruel? Why I never!” Lumia the Ampharos said in mock offense, “We’re only trying to make you feel better.”

Lumia then proceeded to send small shocks to make her trainer buck and laughter escalate in volume.

“AAAHAHAHA! OKAY, I’M SOHOHOHORRY!” Eragona laughed, “PLEASE STAHAHAP! I C-CAHAHAN’T!”

“Again, you know what you have to say, Eragona~!” Kaiba said in a sing-song voice.

Eragona growled through her laughter. Even though Eragona loved every minute of this and didn’t really want them to stop, she was surely going to blackout if they didn’t.

“OKAY, FIHIHIHINE! MERHERHERHERHERAHAHAAAAAA!” Eragona laughed, “MERCY! MERCYHYHYHYHY!”

All at once, the tickling came to a halt. Eragona laid sprawled out on the lawn, panting heavily. Libby walked up to her trainer and bumped her cheek against hers.

“Are you okay, Era?” Libby asked.

Eragona breathed out and sat up. She looked around at her Pokémon and smiled.

“I’m fine,” she said, “For real this time.”

Her Pokémon only smiled. That’s when they all embraced their master in a large hug. Eragona was caught off guard at first but soon melted into their embrace.

“Thanks, you guys,” Eragona said, “I needed that...”

[jace-the-writer-guy]

Quick headcannon for Lillie: She became the Kanto League champion after moving there so her mother could recover.

///I really like this idea, and I wanted to do something special with it. Since I'm going off of Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, I had to figure out something different for this and I hope you all like it. I may have gone overboard with it! Also, nothing in this is at all related to Covid-19. I just needed something to replace Lusamine's condition from the original Sun/Moon's ending///

Lillie's journey through Kanto had been insanely difficult for the last two years. Nothing at all prepared her for what would come before she started her journey. Her mother had fallen extremely ill, and it came to light that the illness came from something she had come in contact with in Ultra Space to go after Necrozma. As Lillie had heard from her girlfriend Kaitlyn soon after Lusamine had been hospitalized, Guzma had not been spared from the same illness and had been in bad condition back home in Alola. Kaitlyn herself had become sick as well, which was almost too much to bear for the hopeful Kanto champion to learn that her mother, her girlfriend, and the man she started to look at as another big brother were suffering with the same sickness. Thankfully Kaitlyn was much more resilient to the sickness, but it had still left her bedridden for a good while. Their Pokémon had been free from the illness thankfully as well. Lusamine had been taken back to the Aether Foundation as they had the most knowledge of Ultra Space, and she along with Kaitlyn and Guzma were being treated there. A renowned researcher named Bill had journeyed with them as well to try to aid in their treatment as well with the knowledge he had from personal experience .

Before Lusamine had been taken back home, she had given her daughter her Bewear to watch over her and help her begin her journey.

Both Kaitlyn and Lusamine both had urged Lillie to begin her journey and that they would both be okay, and Lillie had done so after receiving Bewear from her mother and Froslass from Kaitlyn. Her journey was extremely slow. It had taken her almost two and a half years to eventually earn her final badge. From what she had heard recently, Kaitlyn was doing well while in the last stages of recovery, and Guzma and Lusamine both were on the road to recovery but were still rather weak. But just the thought of the three recovering well filled Lillie with burning determination as she went through the Elite Four with Bewear, Froslass, and her other Pokémon by her side.

"Well well... it looks like you've beaten me..."

The words had come from Kanto's recent champion, the former champion of the Sinnoh league, Cynthia just moments after Garchomp had fainted following a final Ice Beam from the Froslass and before she returned Garchomp to his ball. Lillie was speechless along with the crowd filling the stadium's seats. She was down to just Froslass after she returned Bewear to his ball when he finally fainted after defeating three of Cynthia's Pokémon. It had been a difficult battle as the thoughts of her mother, girlfriend, and Guzma flowed through her mind. She knew she just couldn't lose this battle, and she didn't.

"I-I won?" Lillie asked in disbelief.

Cynthia grinned an nodded. "You did. You've shown your trust in your Pokémon and they've shown theirs in you. Lillie, you are the new champion of the Kanto Pokémon League."

There was nothing Lillie could do to keep from erupting in cheers for herself as she ran to hug Kaitlyn's tired Froslass and the crowd began to erupt in cheers and applause of their own as well. "Frossss..." Came the reaction from the ice type Pokémon, and Lillie hugged her a bit tighter.

"Thank you for trusting me, Froslass," Kaitlyn said, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "We have so much to tell Kaitlyn and mom when we see them again."

Cynthia stepped forward and placed her hand on Lillie's shoulder after the noise from the crowd had died down. "As a mother and as a friend of Lusamine's, it hurts me to know that you've gone through the pain you have of knowing what happened to her. She's going to be so proud of you when you show her that you've become champion, and I'm willing to bet your girlfriend is going to be over the moon in joy."

Lillie looked up to Kanto's former champion and blinked away tears. "Th-thank you, Cynthia."

"Now, let's go to the back and get your Pokémon healed and get you registered as champion."

Lillie nodded and returned Froslass to her ball, and she followed Cynthia from the center of the stadium to the Hall of Fame. There she saw the hanging banners of all past Kanto champions including Blue, Red, and Cynthia herself. Cynthia had Lillie place all her pokéballs into the recovery/record machine, and all of them began to pop up onto the screen above it as they were healed and recorded into the Hall of Fame. Clefairy, Ribombee, Blastoise, Umbreon, Bewear, and Froslass. Lillie couldn't help but smile as she saw them appear on the screen, and she inserted her trainer card into the card reader for her own information before placing her hand on a screen.

Cynthia couldn't keep a smile from growing on her face as Lillie was entered into the Hall of Fame. She knew something that Lillie didn't. "Congratulations on your victory, Lillie. Some would say a team like yours wouldn't be able to make it here, let alone make it to the Elite Four, but those people are wrong. All Pokémon are strengthened by the will of their own trainers, and any can achieve great things alongside their trainer. You and your team earned this victory, and you've all earned every ounce of my respect."

Lillie was essentially beaming from the praise she received from Cynthia. She felt her body shivering in excitement and pride. "What will you do now that you aren't Kanto's champion anymore?"

Cynthia hummed in thought. "I think I'll take a vacation to Alola for a little while, and then journey to Johto to become champion there next."

Lillie smiled at the answer. "Good luck, Cynthia."

"Thank you. Now let's go face the crowd again."

Cynthia led Lillie out of the Hall of Fame after the new champion retrieved her Pokémon, and the bright lights of the stadium blinded her for a moment before her eyes adjusted to them. The night sky was beautiful and filled with stars as the full moon was high in the sky, and the crowd began to erupt in cheers once more as Lillie and Cynthia reappeared and on the display, all of Lillie's team were shown. Lillie looked around at the crowd cheering her name for a moment before her eyes fell on the center of the arena.

And she gasped.

There in what seemed to be good health were Lusamine and Kaitlyn, both of them smiling from ear to ear at her with the former looking quite thin still as she was using a wheelchair to aid her. Lillie thought she was hallucinating from the adrenaline that was coursing through her, but it was real. Her mother and her girlfriend were there. She saw Lusamine say something to Kaitlyn, and the Alolan champion made her way toward Lillie at a fast pace. Lillie ran for Kaitlyn in kind and the two soon embraced in in a tight hug as the crowd slowly quieted down to give the two their moment.

Tears began to stream down both girls' faces as the two began to cry tears of absolute joy, finally able to be with each other again after such a long time. Their embrace lasted for well over a minute in silence, the two just crying into each other's shoulders, uncaring as the whole of the Kanto region were watching them either in the stadium or from their homes. Eventually, the two separated from the hug, their hands on each other's shoulders as they looked each other in the eyes. Then, they leaned forward and shared a soft, comforting kiss while two pokéballs on Lillie's waist began to shake violently. The two ended their kiss as both Froslass and Bewear exited their pokéballs in the presence of their original trainers. As Bewear ran to Lusamine, Froslass was hugged by Kaitlyn in a warm embrace.

"Fross! Froslass!" Froslass exclaimed as she was hugged by her trainer.

Several more moments ticked by as the reunion took place, and Kaitlyn finally found the strength to speak. "I'm... r-really happy to see you again, Lillie. And y-you too, Froslass."

Lillie sniffled a few times as she looked at her girlfriend, still in shock to see her. "Y-you're really here... I-I'm happy t-to see you too, Katie. I-I thought you were still recovering..."

Kaitlyn shook her head, smiling brightly still. "Not me. I'm symptom free, except for a little weakness in my knees. Lusamine is still really weak, but she didn't want to miss you becoming champion. You did amazing, sweetie."

"A-and Guzma?"

"Same shape as your mom. The last I saw, he was kicking up a fuss every time the Aether employees walk him around to get his strength back."

Lillie couldn't help but giggle at that. "S-sounds like him. Is... that sickness contagious?"

Kaitlyn quickly shook her head. "Nope. Bill found that out when Guzma coughed in his face on accident. All the Aether employees are okay, and all our Pokémon are still okay too."

"That's really good to hear..." Lillie breathed a sigh of relief at the information.

She then looked past her girlfriend towards her mother, who was quietly speaking with Cynthia. She stepped past Kaitlyn and approached her mother. The two noticed her and Cynthia stepped away to let the two speak. When Lillie got to Lusamine, she just knelt down and hugged her mother tightly as she did with Kaitlyn. Lusamine shuddered a bit, but she smiled again before weakly returning the embrace.

"You did it, Lillie..." Lusamine murmured in her daughter's ear, "I knew you could."

"I-I missed you s-s-so much, m-mom..." Lillie said, tears falling from her eyes once more as she cried into Lusamine's shoulder.

"I've missed you too," Lusamine shakily reached a hand up and placed it on the back of Lillie's head, "In that bed I laid in for the last two years, all I could do was listen to Gladion read the updates you sent every day. It gave us all the strength to keep fighting, even Guzma though he'd never admit it. You gave us all a reason to fight that virus."

"I-I'm so glad you're all okay. I was so worried that I might not see any of you ever again... I-I-I was so s-scared..."

The fear in Lillie's voice broke the dam that held back Lusamine's tears, and the Aether President began to cry tears of absolute relief, and the last remnants of her fear vanished. "I was scared of that too. I spent so long being blinded by what happened to your father that I lost my connection with you and Gladion, and I did such horrible things. I was scared that I would never be able to mend my bonds with you both... Now that fear is absolutely gone, and I'm happy to have that chance again."

Lillie sniffled a bit more and buried her face in Lusamine's shoulder even more. "I-I love you, m-mom. I-I always have."

"I love you too, Lillie. I'm so sorry for everything I put both you and Gladion through..." Lusamine pulled away from Lillie and looked her in the eyes, and she smiled, "I-I am so, s-so proud of you. You've grown to be such a strong, beautiful young woman and I'm so proud to call you my daughter. I wish I could have been here through your entire journey."

Lillie smiled and wiped tears from her eyes before hugging Lusamine again, and then Bewear wrapped his large arms around them both to hug them. "Weeaaaar!" He exclaimed in happiness, knowing that Lusamine was okay.

"Two champions that are girlfriends..." Cynthia remarked from a short distance away to Kaitlyn, who was still hugging her Froslass, "I don't think I've ever heard of that before."

Kaitlyn was smiling widely at the sight before her and she wiped tears away from her eyes. "I knew she could do it one day. I just really wish me and Lusamine could have been here for her."

"But you're here for her now in her greatest moment, making it even greater. That's what matters the most."

"Yeah... you're right."

"And you both were always with her in her heart and her thoughts, and through the Pokémon you both trusted her with."

Kaitlyn went over to Lillie and Lusamine after Bewear had finally let them go, and she and Lillie shared another kiss. "I'm really proud of you too, Lillie. You did amazing."

"I have you to thank for it," Lillie replied, "Without Froslass and Bewear, I don't think I could have won. And without you saving me on that bridge and giving me the inspiration to become a trainer... I would have never been here to be able to have this moment. Thank you for everything, Kaitlyn. I can't believe it's been almost five years since then."

"Neither can I. I love you."

"I love you too-gaah!" Lillie was caught off guard when Bewear pulled them both and Lusamine into another hug.

Cynthia chuckled at that and turned to face the crowd that all of them had nearly forgotten about in the moment. "Ladies and gentlemen, your new champion!" She motioned toward the middle of the group hug, "Lillie!"

The crowd began to cheer once more and if the stadium had a roof, it would have surely been blown off. The end of the Kanto League Challenge was capped off in one of the greatest moments in its history, the reunion of the new champion with two of those closest to her that had been battling an unknown and very debilitating sickness for the last two years as the crowd had discovered.

It was a special moment for all to witness, but it was even more special for Lillie, Lusamine, and Kaitlyn.

[meltangospelhour]

Notes on Reverie & Discipline: Chapter 2

Format: 1st Person Narrative

Chapter Rating: R / +17 [Smut, smut, smut]

Summary: This story was written after and based upon the 2020 GOFest that's been collecting dust. It's a first person recollection of thoughts after certain events, as well as repressed feelings coming to the surface between three characters in particular.

Chapter 1 // Chapter 3

Candela

In the sense of Pokémon types, Steel and Ice have quite a bit in common. In the world outside of Pokémon, these rules apply, too! Steel needs fire to be born. It must be tempered and strengthened. Too hot, and the steel can lose its strength. It isn’t an issue of control--the steel has to know when to step away from the fire and show its strength on its own. It must accept its limits. Through fire, steel can also be reborn; combined with more elements to restore what’s lost in the flame, and properly worked into something possibly more brilliant and better than before. Steel fears fire because it never knows what it might become on the other side of those flames. If it stagnates and never exposes itself to the heat, it risks rusting and crumbling into something unsalvageable.

Ice, on the other hand, must be exposed to fire to become water. In order to protect itself, it must suffer, evolve, and conquer its enemy in its new form. A fire too hot can evaporate it. But, even then? Water isn’t defeated; it finds new life in a different form; rain, or snow. And it becomes ice once again. It has a fluid and harmonious cycle that moves like Suicune. Even through its most ravaging moments, it’s still graceful. If ice wants momentum, it has to discover fire. Some ice is content staying in the cold darkness. But, if the ice becomes restless, it has to change form.

It’s also helpful to fire at the forge by cooling the steel down so that it isn’t consumed beyond repair. Water is their mediator.

Does that mean…

... Water marries fire and steel?

…!

These kinds of parallels helped me understand Pokémon types, and helped me teach trainers who gravitate towards certain types. As far as Steel and Ice goes, I appreciate both types, but I’ve come to prefer the occasional company of dragons and even ghosts alongside my fire.

You don’t even have to specialize in dragons to behave like a dragon, but some people just… are.

“Little fangs like Raihan?”

“Nope.”

“Salamence maw like Leon’s beard?”

“Nah-uh,”

“Garchomp stance like Cynthia?”

“...Perhaps? Huh, she does kind of stand like one--”

“A tail.”

“S-sonia!”

That was the topic of discussion Sonia and I were having. I had an assignment at the mobile lab with Professor Willow. Professor Magnolia (Senior) called in for a remote collaboration between our laboratories. While Willow stepped out to grab a few extra components from his Jeep, Professor Magnolia (Junior) and I had our own banter while performing the initial setups necessary for our work to begin. For a little, almost as a ritual with these remote collaborations, I'd spoken with her about a nameless entity who was dear to me, but had been weighing on my mind. I described their appearance to her, abstaining from photos, and let her vivid imagination do the rest. I couldn't tell if she believed me, was humoring me, or genuinely enjoyed the way I spoke about them.

Why and when did I start telling her? Right; that night she wanted to talk outside of work, after I’d finished my inspection of a new Valor facility. She’d mentioned how she'd felt for Leon, and wanted someone close, but distant, to confide in.

Somewhere along the lines of Sonia’s confession, I’d let my mask slip off.

“...Wow, I think I can really relate to that,” I said, like a fool.

"...What do you mean?" she asked.

Why did I answer? Because it felt good. Perhaps my heart needed it more than I’d care to accept. Since that night in the field over a year ago to this day, I felt like a pressure cooker. I opened up some parts of myself to the Professor, but only the parts that mattered to him. Sonia saw the parts of my heart I’d kept hidden from everyone else, and only the parts that related to the story.

(The way she spoke of Nessa and the conflict she felt in her heart between her and Leon… That was rather relatable, too. But I didn’t want to admit it made no sense to say so.)

Looking at it, she's been the one I've opened up the most to. We'd only spoken for a few months over the course of the project and a few video calls. Just as she had wanted in me with the topic of Leon, I found Sonia to be familiar enough to open up towards, but enough of a stranger to where she wouldn't pry. She doesn't know me well enough to put the pieces together.

...Unless she mentions it to Willow. Fortunately, she never did. Their talks, like with myself and her grandmother, always remained casual, yet academic.

Even after four years, no one else really knows the entire story, aside from--

“From how you've described them, I think they'd look almost like a Garchomp. Wouldn’t you think?” she asked.

“...I can see it, but this person is a Mawile. At least right now.”

“Who’s a Mawile?” Willow’s voice startled me when he stepped inside of the mobile lab. I didn’t think he’d be back so soon.

“S-steven Stone is!” I replied. I gave Sonia a knowing wink, then swapped chairs with the professor.

“Really?” Willow replied. “He seems more of a Metagross!”

I could only grin and agree. A Metagross? Certainly.

🔥🔥🔥

I talked! I talk... a lot. And I talked throughout our lunch. I have more than enough to talk about. Whenever Professor Willow gets that look in his eye, that tension where he wants to clearly ask me something that might be a hard subject to bring up with me, I’ll do one of two things:

Give him a very long-winded answer that only exhausts him and never gets to the point. (With him being an introvert, I take advantage of his lack of conversational stamina outside of work-related things.)

Stop talking and instead answer him when I’m ready.

Within our group, Professor Willow knows the most about what happened between Arlo and myself. Lately, after our annual festival, he seems much more on-edge. Perhaps he noticed I'd been tense? I realize that this isn’t the time to push his words back. I’m quiet as I chew my food, but I chew it more slowly. I make eye contact with him. His bottom lip trembles, he carefully chooses his slowly-spoken words as he speaks to me:

“...Y’know; I was thinking back to the other weekend at the festival, and I just wanted to make sure everything was alright after your encounter with Arlo.”

“Of course it is,” I reply, making sure to add enough delay to be organic, but not so much as to make the professor assume I was hesitating; or worse, lying. “I’ve made my peace with the fact that I want to incinerate him for what he’s done.”

“I mean, when you rode off with your Rapidash like that--”

“I was still angry,” I quickly interrupted.

“I see.” The Professor looked relieved. “The both of you must have been so very close.”

...Why are you prying again? Don’t pry, Professor; I’ve told you everything that I’ve wanted to tell you. I could tell you wanted to ask me more on our walk back. How much did you want to know? How much of it was vital to our work?

How much of it could be considered ‘professional?’

Someday, I’ll tell you everything. It’s not time yet; not today.

“We were,” I choked up. I could cry on cue, but it was especially easy to do today; the food we had ordered was pretty mediocre and I had nearly gagged on it a few times. Besides wanting to eat on time, I wasn’t even sure why I continued to eat it beyond not wanting to disrespect the professor for insisting upon treating me to a meal. I should introduce him to better eateries in the area. He himself isn’t a bad cook, and I had already handled our breakfast; but we just didn’t have the time to do any extra cooking with our deadline for the data Professor Cerise and Doctor Fennel had commissioned us for.

This was a good cue to leave the table. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I need to go for a walk. I’ll be back to finish my section in a bit.”

I left behind the guilty face of the professor, and, even after my return, kept my back turned to it as much as possible in the sanctuary of data. My Vulpixes fought over my lap, eventually compromising that there was enough room for the both of them as I took down notes that would have to be categorized and elaborated upon later.

I have two phones: one for my work, and one for my personal life. I don’t dare mix the two; it’s important to remain organized with this kind of thing. Maintaining a certain image as a leader is important; but having an access point for a more grounded life is also required for that balance to even exist. I had considered getting a Poryphone instead of a Rotomphone for my personal use. Despite lacking certain features, the security on those phones were immaculate.

But, I got a two-for-one deal. Hard to resist!

It was on my personal phone that I also received some very odd notes that I couldn’t trace the origin of. Today, it buzzed in the middle of my work. I checked the message:

[Beautiful]

I didn’t know what it meant and I tried not to assume. Even so, my cheeks felt warm upon just reading the word.

{Is this a new passcode?}

[The progress that everyone has been making has been beautiful.]

Oh.

I smiled.

{We couldn’t have done it without your help! These little details you’ve sent us have been giving us the edge!}

I put my phone aside, hands back on the console… then reached for the phone again. I was curious about something...

“You okay, Candela?”

Hands back on the console. Was I smiling too much? Willow swore up and down that he could see my smile from 100 meters away. I don’t think he was lying; I have a rather radiant set of teeth, if I do say so myself.

“Everything’s fine!” I bent my head back while my Vulpixes licked at my chin.

They only did this to me when I felt tense.

--

Summer, after the festival; I remember riding off and standing in that field. What would be dismissed as a ride of emotional impulses was really a chance to be alone with my thoughts. I could still hear Blanche’s voice echoing in my ear.

...That was part of the problem.

When the wind hits the grasses in this field, it almost sounds like the sea. They bend back and roll like large, looming waves over a storm. On a summer night like this, it’s easy to smell the fresh greenery and any fragrance from nearby berry shrubs along the edge. It brought back memories.

Desires.

Even my Rapidash is weary to graze due to the fact it may disrupt the tranquility.

...Or, that’s what I’d like to think. It'd filled itself up with berries and other treats during the festival. Still, I encouraged it to take a few bites of grass; it would help with digestion. I made sure the food offered for both humans and Pokémon weren’t junk, but they could still be considered quite indulgent, and everyone caught up in the revelry could be prone to overeating. I fully expected to return to Spark nursing a tummy ache before dinner.

Because I had my hand running down Rapidash's back, I felt its muscles seize up. No words were needed to ask what the matter was; immediately following this, I felt a heavy presence around me. The beauty of the twilight field had to fall upon the backburner while preparing myself for what may be there.

It wasn’t a Pokémon. Pokémon were easy to sense. You’re around so many every day that you understand the signature of a curious or passing creature, versus a human with intentions.

My Rapidash lifted its head and focused on something, but didn’t attack. I soon felt soft fingers over my eyes. My mind immediately processed the oddity of the situation. If my Rapidash wasn’t attacking, then who--

Who did I want it to be?

Your heart had to be racing as fast as mine.

Hug me from behind. I want to feel it.

Apologize for making me wait.

Make it up to me?

Take your hair down; it's only you and I now.

“Who--!? Wait--”

Soft fingers. Manicured nails. The person is pressed against my back and I can tell they are… This is either a D or an E cup--

“S-sonia!” I cried whirling around and cupping her hysterically laughing face in my hands. "Sneaking up on people like that is my bag!"

“Sorry, Luv! Willow sent me to find you! He said you weren’t answering your phone, but that you must’ve not gone too far off. Lo and behold, here you are! Ready to eat?” Her Yamper had followed, and it was running circles around my Rapidash. Quite a cute sight that helped me get my mind off of things, for the moment.

“I…” I should eat on time. I really didn’t want to. I wanted to stay out here and think… And wait for… nothing? But this was once a year we all got together like this. And this year was really special: Sonia and Professor Magnolia had come all the way to Galar to celebrate with us, so it would be incredibly disrespectful to say no.

While cradling her Yamper in her arms, Sonia and I mounted my Rapidash, and rode back to the festival grounds in no time thanks to its speed.

--

Like yin and yang, my Vulpixes were curled up together at the foot of the bed. It looks so pretty, the way their fluffy tails embrace one another when they’re asleep.

Yin and yang; fire and ice.

Contrasts are nice. Sometimes people are so alike in these kinds of differences.

I laid in bed, on my back and propped up against my pillows so that I could look out into the wilderness and towards the horizon from the window walls. When I had a lot on my mind, sometimes meditating upon the glow of a fire helps me sort through my thoughts. Tonight, I was met with an array of the most powerful flames in the universe: the stars themselves. With no moonlight to disrupt them, their twinkling in glowing bands across the sky would be my fire tonight. Starpieces and stardust shattered across the vastness.

[Beautiful.]

That message. I wanted to see it again. I had been getting messages to my personal phone like that for years.

I didn't know who it was from, and I foolishly and perhaps dangerously played with the idea that it was from someone specific.

I reached for my personal phone. I wanted to send them, whomever they were, a photo of what I was seeing.

Why, though, was I was projecting so much upon this mysterious informant? I wanted so badly for this to be something that you’d read in some novel full of the perfect mix of action, adventure, romance, and intrigue. I love burying myself in stories like that! I always think about the one I read about a spy and the budding romance between them and the faceless entity they sent information to. In the end, everyone was successful; but the spy couldn’t reveal their identity. The faceless entity, revealed to be an empress, was left with a legacy of peace throughout her empire, but forever wondering who that person was she found herself confiding in. The spy, happy but broken hearted, had to leave the empire and assume a new identity.

...Come to think of it, I kind of hate that story.

Still, that’s not me. I’m not an empress. There are a lot of things that come with my duty. Maybe I haven’t realized the full scope of my potential in this role. Words from the past resonate in my mind that remind me that I never would in full, which made me ideal for this role. That’s what keeps me from becoming a greed-driven leader in the vein of Giovanni, and made sure I continued to improve and persist with a healthy sense of ego, confidence, and empathy.

The potential for power is there. Always there.

I want the power to take away from Giovanni just like he’s taken away from us.

From me.

The bed is extra comfy tonight, and my thoughts are too scattered to really appreciate it. But then, my phone buzzes in my hand, and my heart palpitates so hard that it gives me pain; who is it? I don’t want to check it out of fear of who it won’t be; and I don’t have to, at this hour! But, I do anyway. Not many people can reach me on this phone. So, it must be important.

Ah, it’s a call.

It’s Blanche.

I suddenly felt guilty. Why? All of the reasons that I could think of weren't rational.

“Hey,” I answer, my voice trudging through an unexpected yawn.

“Candela,” Blanche replied, curt, but soft. Unexpectedly breathy. They must’ve been alone. “Did I wake you?” they ask.

“Nah-uh,” I answer. “Everything alright?”

A pause. I noticed, when they are nervous, Blanche’s hesitation lasts as long as whatever is about to come out of their mouth next. They’re rehearsing in their head whatever it is they’ve prepared to say.

“...I simply wanted to see if you were doing alright. You’ve not said much since the battle; likewise, you spent most of your time with Sonia during dinner. Not wanting to interrupt as well as enjoying my own conversation with Professor Magnolia-Senior regarding the Dynamax phenomena, I figured that I would inquire about your well-being at a later time. My original plan was to contact you in the morning; however, I’ve found that I cannot sleep until I am reassured that your mind is at peace, tonight, Candela.”

Blanche’s voice remained fluid and stable enough to make me tense, until they uttered my name in that serene tone. It was like skidding across slippery ice and landing in soft, powdery snow. There was something in their voice that conveyed that; like a cooling, gentle breeze. “I… I appreciate that,” I told them. “I’m fine. Like I told the Professor, I made my peace with everything that’s going on with Arlo.”

“...Have you really, Candela?” Blanche suddenly snapped. There was a rock under that powdery snow. It’s 2AM, neither of us should be on edge at this hour. Especially not Blanche, of all people. “Have you really given up on him so easily?”

A Charmander on a sinking raft, its tail barely above water. Just that quickly, that’s what I felt like.

Too many people dismiss Blanche as lacking emotional intelligence. Just because they have a hard time expressing themselves in ornate and nuanced ways doesn’t mean they miss the cues of others. It’s a requirement for both a team leader and a good Pokémon trainer to be able to read people in their entirety. What wasn’t being done and said could often be louder than what was being done and said by the subject. While I certainly didn’t dismiss them, I must’ve let my own guard down around them.

But where, and when?

Perhaps I never had to. There are premium seats in this theatre, and I may have offered one to this particular someone without realizing it. I’d given Blanche an angle where they could peek behind that mask.

Well, I can’t throw you out. What do you think of the show? One of these days, I’ll give you a personal performance!

...Wait; what am I saying? What am I even thinking? This is Blanche, not--

“...I have to, for now,” I replied, my voice heavy with fatigue and emotion. “If I focus too much on him, I’ll bring everyone down and Team GO Rocket will gain an advantage. We have Pokémon to rescue and protect, Blanche.”

“You’re behaving in a manner that is unlike yourself. Perhaps it is my fault for reaching out to you at an inconvenient and, frankly, selfish hour. If you want to end this conversation, then I implore you to be direct with me, Candela.”

I was confused by the accusation. On one hand, they were exactly right; I hadn’t written off Arlo, but I knew how to juggle. On the other hand? They were behaving in a way I’d never seen from them. For them to be this concerned, it’s incredibly sweet.

...And now I felt guilty again. But why?

“...It’s fine,” I murmured. “I like hearing your voice.”

“...As do I yours,” they replied, that soft, drifting snow returning. “Listen, Candela?”

“Yes, Blanche?”

“I would like for us to meet up sometime, outside of comparing notes. I would demand a visit right now, but, outside of emergencies, that’s an irrational thing to do at this hour.”

It really isn’t, Blanche. I could recall more than a few incidents in the past between myself and a certain someone meeting up late at night. That being said, I really wanted to sleep.

I wanted to return to those thoughts, the sound of windswept grassy fields, arms encircling my waist...

"Stop by tomorrow," I said. "We'll have brunch."

--

I awoke to a bouquet of red and white mottled roses being delivered to my home.

I'd gotten them every once in a while after becoming leader, but could never trace the sender. Always anonymous. They were among my favorites. Some arrangements would contain them with a mix of pure white and deep red, almost black blooms. They weren't ever sent for any particular event; not even on my birthday. And even then, it would come exactly a week or two after that with a gift of some kind of precious jewelry often depicting a cute Pokemon or my initials. There was no other discernible pattern. Sometimes, they'd follow consecutive days. Others, a month would pass. It made no sense.

I had already planned on using this arrangement for the centerpiece that would be on our brunch table. Blanche had arrived on time, as always…

... With their own bouquet.

Carnations and peonies in red, pink, and yellow. So vibrant and exciting, I was almost taken by surprise to see Blanche choosing such a brilliant array of colors.

"I saw them on the way over and thought it would be a reasonable gesture of sentimentality. They…" Blanche looked away from me and extended their arm out to offer the bouquet. "... Reminded me of you."

They cleared their throat, as they often did when they felt as if their comfort zone were thawing out from under them. I cradled the bouquet and thanked them.

The roses had to go into the bedroom. For now, Blanche's gift would take their place, front and center.

🔥🔥🔥

Brunch was nice. We enjoyed our meal out on the balcony to take in the fresh air of the wilds. The heat of the summer sun had yet to kick in, so it was a pleasant late morning for us both. I even suggested going swimming before the afternoon rains arrived, but Blanche seemed unusually hesitant at the idea of taking up one of the few outdoor activities they truly enjoyed.

...I'm now more than certain my joking about not needing a swimsuit is what incinerated that idea. To go skinnydipping with close friends didn't bother me, but I respected Blanche's boundaries.

Spending a quiet day together at home was pleasant enough. I felt a certain bliss around Blanche. The sound of the rains made for a lovely and cozy summer afternoon. No words were necessary to be exchanged at some points; being so close to one another, lazing around, going through my study’s library and indulging the books, and feeling alone in the world together, was something I hadn't felt in a long time.

(Not since--)

I was in the other room, looking for an artifact that I had that I wanted to show Blanche before I sent it off to Lenora, per Cynthia's suggestion.

I felt an eerie quiet; not even the patter of little paws that followed the tension of suspecting mischief.

"Blanche?" I called out, and found myself running through my house to find them again.

I felt a knot in my stomach, a chill of cold anger and tension that felt new, yet from a familiar source I had yet to pinpoint. That guilt again. No, it's… not pure guilt. Was it ever guilt? I can't find another word for it.

How fast was I running?

Had I run through the entire house!?

This whole time, Blanche had been in the study with me, and had never left during my frantic outburst. My study, which was filled with all kinds of oddities related to my research and adventures, housed everything from precious children’s books containing accounts from young trainers on their first years of battle, to forbidden tomes filled with notes smuggled from the laboratories of notorious scientists like Colress and Ein.

One would think that I would be worried about them finding those latter things, but they were well aware of the gamut that my collection spanned and the types of material a researcher could amass.

However, my fears and reaction were justified.

Blanche stood at my desk with a picture frame in their hands, their concentration upon it, intense. I only had one photo on that desk, at the time.

"...I had never paid attention to the photography you kept in your home, Candela," they said, speaking at a slower pace than normal, which implied the weight of the thoughts that bogged their mind against potentially calloused calculations. "Acknowledging them was often unrelated to our note sessions. So, I had refrained."

I fought hard to hide my emotions, but, even with their slight glance, I could tell they knew something was up with that picture they held.

"...And yet, I had seen this picture several times with my mind in a different place than before," they continued, never once looking up at me. "The angle that I was often positioned and my proximity made me dismiss it quite often. But now…"

Would Blanche be able to recognize the man with his arms around my waist in that photo we took during our vacation to Wyndon years ago?

Hair down, the rays of sunlight captured in the photo obfuscated the true color of his locks, but the lushness was undeniably his. Without the huge spectacles and the bratty sneer, the princely, cherubic face that rested on my shoulder in the photo was unobstructed in its undeniable sweetness and felt like it belonged to a completely different person. Without that coat and those bulky gloves, his athleticism was pronounced to the point where it was clear he was a higher ranking performer in Team Valor; his hands, elegant and large, were soft and well-manicured in a way that mirrored his upbringing. My arms were reaching up and behind his head to pull him closer to my own for the photo.

"Salacious. He's practically groping you."

I suddenly realized that recognition was irrelevant; Blanche knew about my past, so seeing photos of us together on its own shouldn’t have alarmed them. It was the positioning that we had taken the photo in that had given them pause, as well as it sitting out so brazenly upon my desk. The picture itself was pure in its intentions, but Blanche's appraisal was correct; that purity was an untainted passion between two people eager to toss themselves into the fires that blazed from the most primal depths. I gently took the photo out of their hands and tucked it away into my desk drawer. "...Perhaps it isn't the most appropriate photo to have out when guests are around," I muttered. “That just comes to show you how little company I have here these days!”

From behind, a pair of arms suddenly went around my waist.

I had hugged Blanche countless times, only to be met with an awkward pet in return of some kind, or the feeling of their body relaxing against my touch after initiating the affection; yielding without much reciprocation.

This was different. Those arms were trembling, and I was tense.

Now I knew exactly why I felt this guilt. I didn't even need to ask why Blanche was carrying on like this. I felt guilty because there was something growing between us that I had chosen to ignore; that I had flung into the flames that weren’t yet hot enough to scorch it away. I’d been stifling a magnetism that was hard to resist, and one that I was afraid to allow.

The trembling arms stopped where the press of delicate lips against my ear began. The movements of the one who often tensed when I came close were so suddenly confident and fluid. One elegant hand cupping my breast through my blouse; the other with its thumb hooked into the waistband of my shorts, determined towards its removal.

I trusted Blanche, and my tense body wanted to surrender to their fingers that were quickly discovering particularly sweet spots as their soft voice tenderly uttered and pleaded with me to give in. This was the logical outcome, they said. Forget the past, they said. Blanche is here to take you to heaven. This was Blanche's now, not his. You're warm. You're trembling. You're wet, and I know exactly how to handle wet.

To hear Blanche speak to me in such a way I'd never heard, that alone threatened to bring me over. I wanted to ascend, to wake up the next day in their arms, but things weren't that easy; Blanche knew it. Before I could even allow myself to utter a sweet moan that would have added more strife to our conflict with a layer of pointless jealousy destined to turn up in the future, I made them stop. Both of our hearts were racing and our breaths, heavy, with them bewildered by what had just happened, and me finding myself bent over my own desk with my clothing disheveled.

"Candela. My apologies. I'm not sure what compelled me to--"

"--It's fine," I interrupted, managing my most commanding tone possible in that state. "I think you should go. I'll see you at the next meeting in a few days."

I wasn't quite ready for a certain fire to be put out. For now, I felt more comfortable in entertaining my delusions about this made up romance behind the informant and their messages than ruining a professional relationship. Entertaining my memories and marrying them with this fantasy had given me an outlet, and the ability to avoid crossing the line.

Blanche wasn’t sorry. Blanche isn’t some naïve child. Blanche isn’t impulsive. They concocted a plan the very moment they touched that frame, down to the apology in case I backed out.

Blanche is still human; they aren’t immune to baser desires.

I hurriedly adjusted my clothing and picked up the objects knocked off of the desk from that moment. Blanche had dismissed themselves to clean up, but not before I caught the sight of them licking their fingers as they headed out to do so.

I hadn’t seen Blanche lick anything like that since Spark and I bought that cake.

I was right. Blanche wasn’t sorry. And... I’m not exactly sorry for nearly giving in.

Still...What if I let them--

No.

Blanche and I maintained our facades and I mandated that our note meetings be remote for a while, much to their dismay; their reaction very subtly expressed by them with a guilty side-glance and nothing more. For the time being, our minds were too stained with a lust we had to corral for the sake of our teams. Worse yet, the image of them licking their fingertips--after apologizing, no less-- remained with me. It wasn’t that visual alone, but the potential of what it could have led to that persisted.

I had an upcoming assignment with Willow for a remote collaboration between Professor Magnolia and Sonia. I knew he'd ask questions about my tension, and why I'd ridden off after the festival. I had to prepare myself.

Perhaps after this war is all over, Blanche, I might give you that private show. But, brace yourself; I have no idea how this is all going to end.

Chapter 1 // Chapter 3

[monkeybell]

Meeting Professor sycamore!

Third person P.O.V

After finding out that Ash needs four or more badges in order to battle against the lumiose gym leader, ash meets two new friends. But after running into team rocket once again, a froakie saves pikachu who is now very injured. Our hero's rush off to the professor's lab in order to help the wounded froakie.

Running as fast as they could go to the lab, Ash followed Bonnie who was leading the way. Clement was trailing behind, going quite slow. "Come on, this way!" Bonnie said while pointing up ahead. "Hang in there, Froakie!" Ash said while looking down at the injured Pokémon. "Clement, go faster!" Bonnie said, looking back at her brother. "I'm going as fast as I can" Clement answered, clearly out of breath. "Ash, go on without me" he said. "Got it Clement" ash said, understanding. "I can't believe how slow my brother is" Bonnie said. The two then continued to run.

A tree started to rustle, startling a woman walking by. "Unforgettable!" James said. "And embarrassing!" Meowth answered. Team rocket was in a tree! Injured themselves from blasting off. "Hurry ash, this way!" She looked back at ash and said "That's it the sycamore Pokémon lab!" While pointing to a building up ahead. This caught team rocket's attention. "It's the toddling twerp!" Meowth said, probably referring to Bonnie, "Sycamore Pokemon lab?" Jessie said. "It must be for studying Pokémon!" James said as an answer back. "I'll wager all the strong and rare Pokémon in there will make you fall over". Just then, a pokeball opened and a blue light appeared. "Wobbuffet!" It was wobbuffet! The branch team rocket was on broke and they went falling onto the solid ground.

Bonnie opened the door to the lab, running inside with ash. "Hello? Professor sycamore? Are you here?" Ash said, both him and Bonnie looking around the room for help. A big yawn was heard and professor sycamore appeared from a hallway. Ash looked his way and said "Are you the professor?". The professor looked down at what the boy was holding and saw Froakie, who had some static coming off of it. "Froakie, no!" He said as he ran up to the Pokémon. "You know this froakie professor?" Ash asked. "I sure do, Sophie come quick!" He yelled at someone named 'Sophie'. "We've been so worried about you. Your trainer has been in recent contact with us" the professor said, taking froakie from Ash's arms. Froakie looked disappointed with that and closed its eyes.

A lady, Probably Sophie entered the room. "Froakie needs help" the professor said while handing froakie over. "Right!" Said Sophie who took froakie and ran into the hallway the professor had appeared from. Ash and Bonnie looked worried about froakie as they watched it go away, "thanks, professor. We've been worried about froakie too" ash said, he continued with "So is Froakie's Trainer on the way here now?" "I'm afraid not. He contacted us to let us know he wanted to give up froakie" The professor said back. Ash was surprised with this answer. The door to the lab opened and a very out of breath Clement entered the room, trying to collect his breath. He collapsed on the ground by everyone else. "You're so slow!" Bonnie said, walking up to Clement and folding her arms. "How's froakie?" Clement asked to ash.

Froakie is in an machine, visibly weak and tired. Sophie is in the room with froakie, working on a machine to help froakie. Ash, Bonnie and Clement are looking into the room through the glass, concerned. "Poor froakie" says ash. "There's nothing to worry about" Sycamore says as he walks up to the group of three. They turn around to look at him, with a questionable face on each one of them. "Sophie is the absolute best at what she does!" He said, his face shows he believes in his statement. "Great" ash said, turning around to look at froakie again.

The professor sits down on a couch, saying "I'm professor Sycamore. I'm a Pokémon researcher working here in Kalos". "Nice to meet you! My name's Ash" says ash and then looks at Pikachu. "And this is my partner, Pikachu!" "Pikachu!" Says Pikachu who also raised his paw, excited. "My name's Bonnie. And this is my brother, Clement!" Bonnie said. "It's truly an honor to meet you, Professor Sycamore!" Clement said, happy to see the professor. Ash talks again, "Pikachu and I got here today from Pallet Town in Kanto". "From Kanto?" The professor said. "Right! I'm traveling on a journey so I can become a Pokémon Master!" Pikachu agrees with Ash. "Then welcome! Forgive me for not thanking you yet for saving Froakie. It's much appreciated" said Sycamore. "The truth is Froakie saved us! So what's the deal with Froakie's trainer? What happened that would make him give Froakie up? " Ash said, wanting to know an answer. "Well, one of my numerous responsibilities is to give Trainers their very first Pokémon. Froakie's a Pokémon meant for new Trainers. But this particular Froakie is a bit different refusing to listen to its Trainer during battle. There have been times when Froakie ran away simply because it didn't like its Trainer! And several Trainers have come back to my lab just to return it" was the professor's response. Everyone was surprised by that answer.

"You mean more than one?" Said ash who looked sad, as did Pikachu. Bonnie and Clement shared a look at each other, shocked. "I'm sure Froakie acts that way for a reason." Said Sycamore. "So Froakie's had a hard life." Bonnie said. "I've heard quite a few rumors about a new Trainer's first Pokémon like that but it seemed absurd so I never believed them!" Was Clement's response, All of the sudden, a noise was heard. The group looked and saw a lady with a garchomp who was looking at froakie, worried. "Oh! Check it out! It's a Garchomp!" Ash said with excitement in his voice. The professor got up and walked over to garchomp, saying "Garchomp lives here at the lab. It has a good heart".

Sycamore came up to garchomp, "Garchomp, how are you feeling?" And touched its face. Garchomp gave a happy response and as soon as it did, froakie opened its eyes. Although Froakie still seemed weak. Garchomp looked back at froakie, still worried. "Froakie will be fine. Don't worry. You can thank these people" The professor said to reassure Garchomp and then looked back at Ash, Bonnie and Clement. Garchomp turned around to look at them. Ash was the first to approach the dragon type. "Nice to meet you, Garchomp!" Ash said. "Pika Pika!" "You really care a lot, don't you? Froakie's going to be okay. Promise!" Says ash who pats Garchomp on his head. Garchomp happily agreed with ash. Bonnie walked up to the professor and asked "May I pet Garchomp too, please? I've never seen a real Garchomp before!" Sycamore replied with "Of course. Garchomp would really like that!" He lifted Bonnie up so she could reach the Garchomp.

"Yay! Aw, you're so cute!" She said and petted Garchomp's head. It liked the attention Bonnie was giving it. "Good Pokémon. Hey, you like me!" Bonnie and Garchomp's heads were touching together, they looked happy. Clement came up to the professor too, "Professor?" He asked. "I've heard a lot about your research on Pokémon Evolution. Is it true?" Finished Clement. "Yeah. There are a lot more Pokémon living here at the lab than Garchomp." Said The professor. Bonnie got excited and moved around in the Professor's arms. "Oh, I want to see them! I want to see them!" She kept repeating. The professor obliged and turned to the other woman who seemed to work here as well, judging by her lab coat. "Colette, look after Garchomp, won't you?" He said. Colette said "Of course. Sure thing!".

Bonnie and Clement followed the professor but Clement turned around when ash didn't follow them too. "Huh? Aren't you coming, Ash?" He asked Ash, Ash looked at Froakie and then answered back with "ya, I'll catch up later". Clement understood and walked away. Opening the door to the room froakie was occupying, ash walked inside. He went to the glass box that froakie was inside of. "Hey, Froakie, I really want to thank you for saving me." Froakie looked up at the pair. "Pikachu and I think you're awesome!" He continued with. Froakie had a small smile on his face and then closed his eyes. "I don't get it, I'd want a Pokémon like you. I mean you cared enough to save Pikachu. You're the best!" Froakie was asleep by now.

Meanwhile..

At a Pokémon center, Cami was calling her mom. "Mime jr. managed to find Olive at get this, a supermarket! By the olives. She opened up a can of them and started to eat them! Once I found her, the manager came out and I was so embarrassed. I had to pay for the olives mom! Now what am I supposed to do with a can of olives?!" Cami was ranting to her mom, Olive was in her arms, giggling to herself. "Sounds like She's a handful. You still getting along though? Bonding and stuff?" Her mom answered. "Our relationship is fine, she just likes to wander off and it scares me. What if she gets lost or kidnapped? Do I just get her a leash or buy a baby carrier and put her in that?" Olive would rather walk with Cami than be inside her Pokeball.

"I don't think you'll need any of those dear". Sometimes her mother wonders what goes on inside her daughter's brain. "You're right, I should save my money for clothes! I saw the cutest bow that would be perfect for Olive and a necklace for lopunny!" Now Sarah was just plain nervous. 'How is she not broke?' She thought. "Ok Cami, I have to go now. Take care". "Ok bye mom! Love you!". They hung up the video call.

"I say we shop first and then visit uncle Sycamore! Let's go Olive!". She grabbed Olive and held her so she wouldn't get loose again. "Have a good day Nurse Joy! You too wigglytuff." "Thanks, you too!". Off Cami went.

Back to the lab

The other Pokémon in the lab are kept in a glass room. It's big enough for everyone! Bonnie was running around and looking at all of the Pokémon she saw. Ash came into the room. "Wow! Amazing." Said ash, while looking around the big enclosure. "So ash, how is froakie feeling?" Clement asked. "Much better! Froakie's real strong!" Ash replied. "Ash, there's so many Pokémon! Too much to even count!" Bonnie said while playing with a zigzagoon. "There's even a helioptile!" Ash said. Pikachu went over to where Bonnie was and greeted the other Pokémon.

"So, Professor, what kind of evolution are you researching?" Ash asked the professor. "Well, if I told you that Pokémon may have an additional evolutionary stage, what would you say?" The professor said and looked at both Clement and Ash. "Are you serious?" Said ash. "So you're saying that Garchomp can still evolve?" clemont said. "Possibly. That's my research." "Unbelievable" Clement said, very amazed. "There have been several reports about different Pokémon evolving in a way that we researchers refer to as Mega evolution." Said the professor. "Mega evolution?" Ash questioned.

"A lot of the mechanics are still a mystery but we believe that a strong bond between Pokémon and Trainer, as well as a special stone play a crucial role". "A special bond huh?" Ash said. "What's more, a Pokémon's able to return to its previous form after it evolves this way!" "Ah! It can turn back?" Ash says. No one notices that team rocket is spying from the roof. "Mega evolution. Strong stuff!" Meowth says. "Further evolution, after evolving!" James says with excitement. "The way is clear! Every Pokémon's ours! Catching time's here!" Jessie exclaims. Wobbuffet pops out of its Pokeball and yells its name. Jessie, James and Meowth cover its mouth so the 'twerps' don't notice them.

The front door to the lab slams open and three....scientists? walk in. "Oh, fellow researchers?" Disguised Jessie says out loud. "We've come to research Mega evolution!" Definitely not James says. Sophie comes up to them, saying "you have?" Clearly confused about who these people were. The trio of scientists giggle. Froakie wakes up, looking and feeling better. He sees unknown people on the tv and is curious. "We've come to be of scientific service!" Meowth said at Sophie. Garchomp and Colette walk in as well. "I wasn't told anything about this." Sophie said to the trio scientists. "I'll check with the professor." Says Colette and walks away to go find the professor.

The disguised team rocket starts whispering to each other and Garchomp cries out. Just then, froakie comes running in, looking fully healed up. Froakie then talks to garchomp and points at the group, knowing they are team rocket. "That's the froakie that blasted us off!" Says Meowth to Jessie and James. "Then that's the one who should feel our research wrath first!" James said and pulls out an object from his lab coat. "So, let's get ready to research." Sophie was very confused at this point. "Now, please, step aside!" Said Jessie as she grabs Sophie and moves her back "This procedure is not for the faint of heart!".

"Voila!" James said as he threw the mysterious box at froakie. Before it can hit it, Garchomp steps in front of froakie and it latches onto Garchomp's neck. The box sends out a blue static and it attacks Garchomp. Garchomp starts to feel pain and froakie looks up with a shocked face. Sophie notices what's going on. "Aah! Oh, no, Garchomp!" She exclaims. "Not our intended target, but whatever! He did say Garchomp might mega evolve." Says Jessie, "let's roll with the punches! It's a Garchomp grab!" Meowth said, "Come along for the ride!" James pushes something on a screen and the blue static is back, making Garchomp's eyes a blue hue. Froakie tries to help by getting it off Garchomp's neck but it's reacts by shooting froakie off. Garchomp claws at the machine as well and then screams in pain. So loud that everyone else heard.

"Hey, that's Garchomp!" Ash says and everyone runs to where they heard the scream. Garchomp unleashes a hyper beam attack that shoots inside the lab. It hits a bookcase which destroys it and then hits into lamppost, causing the collar to malfunction. "Hold on! This isn't how we planned it!" Jessie says, "Come on, Garchomp, go with the program!" Meowth says to garchomp. James starts pressing buttons on the screen again but Garchomp is still going wild, it's eyes and collar  now red. "Garchomp, What's going on?" Ash says. Sophie goes to the professor "Professor! Those three did it!" She says. "All right, who are you?" He says to the trio.

"Prepare for trouble, alright, we're us!" "And make it double, no muss, no fuss!" Jessie and James say. Team rocket take off their disguises and reveal who they are. "Oh, no, Team Rocket!" Ash says "You guys are such annoying and bad people!" Bonnie says. "Team rocket?" The professor says, having no idea who these people are. "They're bad guys who try to steal everybody's Pokémon!" Ash answers. "Try? We succeed!" "And today, Garchomp will fill that need!" "There's nothing like doing an evil deed!" Team rocket says.

"It can't be! A talking Meowth?" The professor says in amazement. Garchomp uses Hyper beam again and aims at Team rocket. They go blasting off again. A giant hole now in the ceiling. Ash tries talking to Garchomp once more "What, Garchomp? What's going on?" He asks. Garchomp now aims another beam right next to them! It moves towards then and ash shouts out to look out. Everyone ducks away from the attack. "Hey, what was that for?" Ash asks. "Hey look at its neck" Clement says to everybody. "It's some sort of collar" the professor says "it's from those people!" Sophie tells sycamore. "Garchomp jumped in to save froakie" she continues with.

Garchomp jumps out of the building and outside. Bouncing into a different building, it falls onto the road below. It ran away. "Garchomp!" Ash yelled out of the hole Garchomp made "Garchomp must be in a lot of pain!"said ash. "What's going to happen to Garchomp?" Bonnie said. She was crying and holding onto Clement. "Let's go look for Garchomp!" Ash said. "Please be careful!" The professor said to ash, then turning to Sophie "Sophie, please make sure the other Pokémon are alright" Sophie nodded. "I wish there is a way to make sure Garchomp is alright." Bonnie said. "Then let's go too!" Clement said. Bonnie nodded to her big brother. As ash was ready to leave, Froakie stepped in front of the door. "What?" Ash said "fro!" Froakie answered. "All right! You want to come?" Ash asked. Froakie agreed and off they went.

Meanwhile Somewhere else

*30 minutes before*

Cami approached the store she saw earlier that sells clothes and accessories for Pokémon. She was greeted by a worker once inside "Hi! Welcome to PokeGlam! Can I help you find anything today?" The man, who's name was Michael according to the name tag. "Hello, I'm hoping to find some items for my Pokémon". Cami answered. "Wonderful!, I'd be happy to help. Would you mind if I could look at your Pokémon so I can see what would look fabulous on them?" He asked. Cami brought out her Pokémon. Olive the Oshawott, Foongus, Polly the Pikachu, lopunny, Mime Jr. and cherrium. "Such wonderful Pokémon! I have some ideas, follow me!".

Cami enjoyed shopping for a while. She got Olive a purple bow that goes around her neck, Foongus got some miniature black glasses, Polly got a cute purple pop star dress to wear during showcases, Lopunny got a ruby necklace, Mime jr got a bow tie and cherrium got a bracelet with a flower on it that can fit on her stem. She also came on a good day, everything at the store was on sale! "Thanks again Michael!" She said to the worker before exiting the store. "Kalos is so nice, everything is so peaceful. Like nothing could go wr-" she was cut off by a huge gust of wind. She saw what appeared to be a Garchomp fly off. "....well that was interesting." Cami said while fixing her hair and making sure everything was still in her shopping bag. Cami suddenly remembered something 'wait, doesn't uncle sycamore have a Garchomp?! Was that one his?' She thought to herself, getting worried.

Cami went to investigate, worried about the Garchomp. She made her way through the city, looking for clues on where Garchomp went. Then she saw it, Garchomp on prism tower. A crowd was already forming around the tower. She suddenly saw a familiar face, it was her uncle! "Hey! Uncle Sycamore!" Cami yelled while running up to him and officer Jenny. "Cami?! What are you doing here? It's dangerous!" He said, concerned for the safety of his niece. "I saw Garchomp and it reminded me of yours so I followed it here! Is it really yours?" She said with worry. The professor only looked up at the tower and nodded. He seemed to be very very worried for Garchomp's safety.

"Hey look up there!" A guy yelled. Everyone looked up and saw a boy. "It's a boy!" "Ash!" Sycamore yelled. Cami looked as well. 'I feel like I know that boy...' Cami thought. He seemed familiar to her. Everyone was looking up at ash, amazed that a young boy was trying to help it! Ash managed to get off the weird looking collar! Then Pikachu fell off the top and ash went after him.

Everyone was in shock. "ASH!!" Cami yelled, she finally remembered. He was the boy who helped out meloetta in unova and the person who entered the unova league. Cami remembers watching it on TV, she thought he was so strong and felt something in her heart when she saw him...her mom said it was a crush...

Ash caught Pikachu but they were still falling and were getting closer and closer to the ground. Out of nowhere, a yellow blaze came flying and caught them both! It gently placed ash onto the ground. Both him and Pikachu were ok. Professor sycamore ran up to Ash, Cami followed behind, curious to see if it was really him or if she was going crazy. "Ash, Pikachu! Thank goodness you are both ok" said the professor. "We're both doing great. And Garchomp's all back to normal." Ash said. Even though they were both covered in what appeared to be dirt and possibly bruises.

The Pokémon that saved him was on the roof with another figure next to it. A rainbow flash surrounded the Pokémon. "That was Blaziken's Mega evolution. Mega blaziken!" Said the professor. "Mega blaziken?" Ash asked "another research topic for me!" Answered sycamore. "Mega blaziken! Thanks for everything!" Ash said to the blaziken.

Cami's POV

'It's him. It's really him' I thought. "Oh, hey there! My name's Ash and this is my partner Pikachu!" Ash said to me. "Hello there, My name's Cami." I held out my hand so we could shake hands. "Why don't we wait for everyone and then head on over to the lab?" My uncle said. After Officer Jenny helped get everyone down, we headed back to the lab. I met Bonnie again. She introduced me to her brother who's name was Clement. Bonnie asked if I had my own Pokémon.

"Come on out, everyone!" I said as I threw my pokeballs into the air. All six came out. "Aww! They're all so cute!" Bonnie said, "is it ok if I play with them?" She asked before touching them. "Of course!". Bonnie went over to Olive first who was happy to get a hug. They all warmed up well to her, although foongus was very shy. "Huh? Does it not like me?" Bonnie questioned, "Foongus is just very shy around people he doesn't know, he'll warm up eventually" I said and sat down on couch. "Cami, your mother tells me you've been traveling a lot. Where have you been?" Uncle Sycamore asked.

"First I stayed in unova for a bit, visiting the different cities. Then I went to Kanto and met Professor Oak! Next was Johto, I found an Pokémon egg and it hatched into eevee! In Hoenn and sinnoh I competed in contests and won a couple of ribbons, I also found Mime Jr in hoenn and Lopunny and cherrium in sinnoh! Now I'm here for my dream of becoming Kalos queen!" I did quite a lot of traveling, it was a blast seeing the world with my Pokémon. "Sounds like you've been doing a lot! I'm glad you figured out your dream, I'll be sure to cheer you on during every performance!" My uncle sounded quite excited to see his only niece all grown up.

"I have an idea! Why not come travel with us?" Ash said to me. I could feel my cheeks heat up a bit. "Oh, please please please travel with us Cami!" Bonnie said and came over to hug me. "Sure! It sounds like a lot of fun!" I said. It's nice to see people want to hang out with me, growing up I was incredibly shy and never really had friends, well human friends, I had lots of Pokémon friends. "How about you guys stay here for the night?" My uncle suggested. "Thank you professor, I think we'll take you up on that offer" said Clement.

We all started to get ready for bed, I decided to call my mom and let her know my plans. *ring* *ring* "hello? This is Sarah" my mom answered. "Hey mom, it's me, Cami" I said. She turned on the video chat and her face appeared. "Hey sweetie! Are you already? I saw that news about the raging Garchomp and knowing you, you always let your curiosity get the best of you and investigate". 'She really is my mom if she can read me like a book..' i thought. "Ya I'm ok. I'm calling to let you know that I'm going to be traveling with some new friends I made today" I say with a happy tone. "Really?! That's great! Look at my baby girl, making friends!" My mom said with happy tears in her eyes. "Mom you're embarrassing me!" A visible blush on my face. "But there's no one there that I can see" "still embarrassing!" "That's a mom's job hun". It's pointless trying to argue with her. "Oh, I've got to go. It's burrito night. Bye love you!" She hangs up before I can answer. 'Her and burritos'.

"Was that your mom?" I quickly turn around and spot ash. "Ah, you scared me! Yes I call my mom often, usually every day". I sometimes worry I call her too much but if I don't call her, she'll call cause she thinks something happened to me. "Pikachu and I are close with my mom too. Although I don't call much cause she usually makes me embarrassed, like you were with your mom!" 'How long was he watching me?!' I thought, trying to not make my crush obvious. "I just came to see you because the professor asked for you." he said and Pikachu nodded his head. "Oh, thanks for telling me ash. I'll go see him" I turned and walked away.

I easily found his office as I have visited his lab many times with my mom. "You wanted to see me?" I said when walking inside. "Ah, yes. First I want to give you your own Kalos Pokédex" he handed me a Pokédex that was bigger compared to the one Professor Juniper gave me. "You also have a Lopunny, correct? According to research, Lopunny has the chance to mega evolve! I found what I believe to be a stone that could let you mega evolve Lopunny. I'd like you to have it" he handed over a rainbow colored stone and another stone that had the same color palette as Lopunny. "Thank you uncle, I promise I'll take good care of it" I said while grabbing the items. I gave him a hug and left to go to the room I was staying in.

I grabbed Lopunny's Pokeball and let her out of the Pokeball. I found the pearl earrings that I bought back in Unova and the necklace I bought for Lopunny earlier today. After a big of work, I placed the rainbow stone in one of my earrings and Lopunny's stone in her necklace. I hooked the necklace around her neck. "This is very special and important, promise to never take it off?" I told her. "Lopun" she replied back and then placed her hand on mine. We look into each other's eyes and nodded. I returned her to the Pokeball and then put on my earrings. Looking into the mirror, I realized you could definitely tell my earrings were different. 'If people figure out what it actually is, they'll try to take it! I can't let that happen' I thought. I undid my pigtails and let my hair flow down. My medium and wavy hair covered the stone up. Looking down at my hands, I saw the mini purple ribbons. Not wanting to get rid of them, I put them in my bag instead of throwing they away. "I'll wear them again, one day, Dad" I said in a whisper. I laid down on the bed and let sleep take over.

Third person POV

Morning came and they were ready to leave. The professor gave Ash his own Kalos Pokédex. "You ready to go buddy?" He asked Pikachu. "Pika!" "Good luck with your research professor! Bye!" Once ash turned around, a white mass was thrown onto his face! It was froakie, waiting with a pokeball by it. "Froakie?" Ash asked it. Froakie pushed the ball towards ash. "I think it wants to go with you!" Sycamore said. "I can't believe it! Froakie chose you!" Clement said "It really likes ash. That's so sweet!" Said Bonnie. Ash picked up the Pokeball "you think so? So, froakie, do you wanna come with us?" Ash said. Froakie hopped over and touched the Pokeball and in it went. It shook once and clicked. "It's awesome you're coming with us, Froakie!" Said ash, the Pokeball moved in his hand, froakie agreed. "Pikachu, Froakie's our first friend in Kalos" "pika!" "Yes! I got a froakie! Yeah!" Ash said and posed.

AN: didn't think I'd make another chapter so soon but here we are! I originally made the chapter in like 2019 but never did anything with it until today. I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Sorry about not adding Serena in this chapter, I know she is in episode 2 but I didn't want to include those parts since she's not with the group yet. I apologize for any errors I may have made. Thanks for reading!

Word count: 4882 (oh my god, even more than yesterday!)