Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

You know, there were two kinds of silence. One was of the type which comes from the lack of noise. Ash called that the external kind. And then there was another. This silence existed inside you. No matter what goes on outside.... whether it was crowded or quiet, whether it was sunny or rainy weather or even if there was a big fight outside, the voice of this silence was so loud that it enveloped everything else. Maybe it was his weird way of thinking. But Ash did like both kinds and disliked them at occasions as well.

Now the silence of the Hulbury Pokemon Centre wasn't helping. After a long day of Hulbury Hydro Rumble and the TR fiasco followed by the news Kenny informed him of which was then later continued further by meeting Victor, Ash felt like today was an extremely long day. He just wants to rest to be honest. Just hit the bed and lose himself to the sleep. But there were things that he needed to do. Important things. And one of those things included this.

Talking to Prof. Kukui about what was happening in Alola and why didn't he inform him. Although, the tone wasn't as serious as one might think. The silence of the Hulbury Pokémon Center was a heavy thing, pressing down on the boy who sat motionless in the dim blue light of the video booth.

Outside the glass, the lobby was a cavern of long shadows and the rhythmic, mechanical breathing of the healing stations. This was one of those moments when Ash didn't appreciate the silence. It honestly made him feel suffocating and nauseating, especially after the news Kenny gave him.

And Ash was worried sick, overthinking about everyone. He already called Mom and Prof. Oak to ask about their well being and his pokemon. Looks like they were doing well. He also thanked Prof. Oak for feeding his Kingler Max Soup. Apparently some pokemon that can Gigantamax need that soup to achieve their G-Max form and some other stuff that Prof. Oak told him about. But since he was too exhausted from the day, he zoned out, completely missing everything Prof. Oak said.

Apparently, he and Prof. Magnolia were doing joint research on Gigantamax and their effect on a Pokemon's brain. Huh? Wonder what was that about?

And now finally, he was having the last talk of the day on the video booth with Prof. Kukui. The screen flickered and brightened to reveal the familiar, sun-drenched face of Professor Kukui. Although there were little *static* disturbances here and there, the talk was going rather well. 

"And is everyone else alright? Prof. Burnet?"

Kukui reassures Ash. "Yes Ash, she's alright. Currently resting."

"You look a little winded." Ash remarked casually. He looked a little tired and his posture was a little slump. But his eyes gleamed like diamonds. There was contagious happiness behind those eyes.

Kukui rubbed his head sheepishly. "Well you noticed huh? Since Burnet is pregnant, I've been doing chores for her. It's not an easy job I tell you but I'm so excited. And it's a good thing she's sleeping right now." The love and affection for his upcoming child was palpable in his tone. He sounded so excited, as if a child was promised the world's biggest gift on Christmas. It was just so.... so..... geniune. Like Ash had no other word to describe the delighted man, soon to be father. And he was soon going to be a brother too. Ash screamed internally.

"Huh? Why's that?" Ash asked playfully.

"Well if she found out that I was talking to you and didn't inform her, then she would be taking my class next." He said in a faux-scared tone. And then his voice became tender. "She's missing you too. We both are."

Ash smiled. "Me too." His smile shrunk. "Professor, about that other thing...."

Prof. Kukui mirrored his own expression. "I know. And don't worry. These portals aren't as frequent as you think of them to be. And there aren't any "vanishing incidents" either. At least not in Alola, especially due to this ."

That made him feel he could breathe again. A wave of relief washed over him. "What of Mallow? Lana? The rest of my friends?" Ash asked excitedly. Now he could talk more freely. It was as if a heavy burden was lifted off his shoulders.

"They're doing extremely well, as well. Mallow is soon going to open her second Restaurant. Maybe her brother will run it. It's all in the air right now. Lana is helping her. Sophocles has got an invitation as an intern in Mossdeep Space Centre. He's surely enjoying & appreciating the Blast Burn of opportunities."

Ash grins. "That's amazing. And Lana? Kiawe?"

Kukui chuckles. "Well Lana did catch some new water pokemon but she's keeping it a secret."

"Aw...."

"And Kiawe, well he's studying under Olivia. She says that he's making progress at Extremespeed and it won't be long before he can be qualified to be a Kahuna as well. For now, we're making him a Trial Captain."

"Trial Captain?"

Kukui adjusts his glasses, a smug grin on his face. "Well that's a Present you'll know about when you visit Alola. We've been developing the league as well. A prim and proper Alola league for our Champion who is working so hard for us." The light in Ash's eyes dimmed a little.

"Is that so? That's awesome." But his voice lacked the earlier enthusiasm. And Kukui noticed this.

"Is something wrong? You sound tired, as if hit by a Drain Punch. Are you feeling okay?" Ash shook his head, removing the slugginess from his expression. Prof. Kukui was as sharp as ever.

"Oh yeah yeah, I'm completely fine. Just tired from a long day."

Kukui smiles proudly at Ash. "Look at you acting so grown up. I'm so proud of you, working so hard as to represent Alola and its power to the world outside. Kiawe is talking all day about how he'll surpass you." He said fondly.

Ash tried to smile but his lips hurt. For some reason, keeping up the smile seems to be a tedious chore. But he still tugs up his lip. "But most of all, keep yourself safe and healthy. Nothing is more important to me and Burnet than you. And to Alola as well." Ash tried to ignore the uncomfortable heavy feeling in his stomach. There was this lurching feel. So he quickly diverts the topic.

"What of Lillie? And Gladion?" Prof. Kukui did seem a little off put by Ash's question. Whether it was something because of Lillie and Gladion or Ash abruptly changing the topic, he didn't know.

At that Prof. Kukui shrugged. "No clue. We've been trying to contact them. Especially Rotom Dex is giving his all in this Endeavor, but we're unable to establish contact. Who knows where they're right now?"

Ash nodded. "Well they'll be fine." He was sure of that. "Did the weights arrive? I forgot to ask."

Kukui nodded. "Two weeks ago. Everyone is already fired up, training alongside those weights. Melmetal nearly ate them." He said with a sheepish smile as he remembered how his and Ash's Incineroar had to work together to stop him. "Rowlet is the most fired up for some reason alongside Lycanroc and your Incineroar."

Ash grinned. "That's good. Tell everyone to keep training extremely hard. No slacking. I will surely need their help sooner or later."

Kukui nodded. He seemed to agree with that sentiment. Galar was one tough cookie. In fact, one of the toughest cookie. The fan in the Pokemon Centre was going on in its usual pace, with an annoying *clack* *clack* sound. "That they will. Take care Ash. Show 'em the power of the Alolan Champion. And make sure to take care of yourself & your pokemon. And do tell me more about your Passimian next time you call me."

There was a pause. Prof. Kukui stared at his face for some reason.

His voice became soft. "And call me soon as well. We both miss you." Ash doesn't utter anything and just nods. His attention is more towards the fan producing that unpleasant annoying sound. Yup. It was that fan.

That is what was making his annoyance flare up. "Soon a third member of our family will greet you too." Kukui gives an energetic goofy smile. Ash couldn't help but mirror it. But his lips still hurt. "Catch you later, Alola Champion." He playfully adds like a parent teasing his child. Prof. Kukui ends the call.

Ash feels his lips hurt from maintaining the smile that long. He doesn't get it.... He feels happy for everyone. He should be genuinely happy for everyone. Everyone is growing. Everyone is progressing. Then why does he feels the need to put up a smile? Shouldn't he be content? Then why was there this feeling of inadequacy.

Like he's not giving it his all. He's lacking. Not standing upto everyone's expectations. Not being able to fulfill everyone's expectations. He has trust and hopes of so many. He cannot let them down. This feeling..... It was a different kind. And Ash definitely didn't like it. It was kinda unpleasant. And odd. More like pungent. It was like a hole. A deep black abyss kind of thing. 

Ash Ketchum didn't move for several minutes after the screen went black. He sat with his hands resting on his knees, his reflection stared back at him from the darkened monitor—hollow and unfamiliar. The "Alola Champion" was a title that had always sounded like a celebration, but tonight, in the salt-heavy air of Galar, it felt like a debt he wasn't sure he could repay.

Ash shook his head, running his hand through his messy hair. Or maybe he's just thinking too much from having a long day. Although sleep is going to be a rare commodity today. He has to do alot of work tonight. It was still evening. 

Ash went towards the restroom and started washing his eyes. The cold water splashing on his face did help a little.

The silence of the Hulbury Pokémon Center was a heavy thing, pressing down on the boy who sat motionless in the dim blue light of the booth. Outside the glass, the lobby was a cavern of long shadows and the rhythmic, mechanical breathing of the healing stations. See, he hated silence at times like these.

He looked down at his lap, where Pikachu was watching him with wide, concerned eyes. The yellow Pokémon let out a soft, questioning "Pika-pi?" and nudged Ash’s hand with his cold nose. 

"I'm okay, buddy," Ash whispered, though the words felt brittle. He stood up, the chair scraping against the slate floor with a harsh sound that echoed into the rafters.

He walked through the lobby, his boots clicking rhythmically. He passed a map of the Galar region pinned to a corkboard, the various "Power Spots" marked in glowing purple. To any other trainer, those marks represented adventure and the thrill of the Dynamax. To Ash, tonight, they looked like eyes—thousands of them, watching, waiting for him to prove he belonged at the top of the mountain.

He reached the stairs leading to the dormitories, but he paused at the window. From this height, he could see the Hulbury lighthouse cutting through the mist, its beam sweeping over the dark, churning seas. Somewhere out there, Paul had vanished. Somewhere out there, the past was bleeding into the present through jagged rifts. And he was powerless to do anything.

He thought of Prof. Kukui’s goofy smile and the pride in his voice. He thought of Kiawe’s burning determination to surpass him. He realized then that he wasn't just afraid of failing; he was afraid that the "Ash" they were all so proud of was a version of himself he was struggling to maintain. And coming to that realisation, it was a truth Ash didn't want to confront himself. 

He adjusted his hat, pulling the brim low over his eyes to hide from the security cameras and the few late-night trainers lingering in the cafe.

He went to the lobby of the Pokemon Centre. He saw Victor sitting there with his Pikachu, Puka. He waved at them before approaching Nurse Joy. 

"Here Nurse Joy!" Ash handed her the 4 pokeballs and the rest of his team. "They all worked really hard today. Please take good care of them." She gave a kind smile. 

"Don't worry, I will."

Ash gave a tired smile and sighed. "Let's go Pikachu."

"Pika!" Pikachu, bless his kind heart, knowing that he was extremely exhausted today refused to go with Nurse Joy.  He knew that he hated silence and being alone, especially after a bad news. That's why he refused to leave his side today at all.

That was the reason as well why he wasn't riding his shoulder now. Because he knew Ash was dead tired today. Even excluding his Water pokemon, his current team was practicing and training extremely hard as well, as if today was the last day on Earth, especially Pikachu who was training like a mad man. And still he didn't go to Nurse Joy. See, that's why Pikachu was his number one pal and partner.

Nonetheless, it was a good thing no one was slacking. Despite his Hulbury Hydro Rumble event being today, his rest of the team - Grookey, Rookidee, Passimian, Eevee..... oh...... Oh right! Eevee wasn't here. She was in the daycare. He shook his head. He wasn't doing anything wrong. Like Marnie said, Eevee just was not made for battles the way she was. It was just impossible. You cannot cut down a tree with a blunt axe, as they say. It was just useless effort on his part, trying to force her to battle and making her transform into something she wasn't and something she couldn't be, due to her condition. It was just arrogance and foolishness on his part.

Still, the rest of his team excluding Eevee was training in the Pokemon Centre field area today, on their own no less. With Rookidee around, no one dared to slack off. After Pikachu, she was the one who was the most obsessed with training. She never slacked off and never allowed anyone else to do it either, with the sole exception of Eevee. Eevee...... huh? He wondered if he should have taken the weights he gave to Eevee away from her. He could have used them elsewhere in the meanwhile.

Ash hummed to himself, looking at the ticking clock. Thirty minutes past Seven. He saw a large figure entering his peripheral vision. "Victor." He greeted casually.

"Hey Ash!" His Pikachu, Puka jumped down from his shoulder and started talking to his Pikachu. They both seemed to be busy chattering with one another in their language. "Everything good? You seemed to be in quite the hurry after meeting me."

Ash sheepishly grinned. "Sorry about that. It was just one thing after another." The man raised his purple eyebrow. Ash shrugged, not wanting to discuss much about it just gave a short summary. "You might have heard of the weird distortions happening all over the world at the moment. I was kinda worried about everyone." Ash was glad that Victor didn't seem to push the topic.

Still, it looks like time hasn't been treating Victor well. The man looked like he aged a few 100 years, and not in a good way. Tired eyes, wrinkled skin and poor posture was all that defined him now. There were few streaks of white hair mixed with his purple hair.

He didn't look anything like the man who conquered the biggest wave in Seafoam Islands, HUMUNGADUNGA. Ash was quite surprised at that. He looked like a dead man who lost all hope. Ash wondered what was wrong with him. And that reminds him, he never asked Victor what was he doing here.

So Ash asked him the obvious question on his mind. "What are you doing here in Galar? I thought you would have been spending a nice and quiet life on Seafoam Islands, teaching youngsters about surfing or something." He did want to ask about his poor condition with how he was looking, but looking at his condition, Ash had the feeling that he wouldn't appreciate the blunt question. Victor seemed to ponder about how to answer him when Nurse Joy arrived.

"Oh, why if it isn't Mr. Victor? Can I do something for you?" Victor chuckled. "No. No. It's all right. Just meeting an old face here." He pointed towards Ash.

The nurse turned towards him. "You know him?"

Ash shrugged. Kinda. He met him long ago. But saying that right to his face would be a bit rude. That reminds him.... "Nurse Joy, about the other stuff I talked to you about. Where can I buy it again?"

Nurse Joy seemed silent for a moment, recollecting her memories before recognition flashed in her eyes. "Oh that!" She exclaimed. "Follow the adjacent path to the beach and you'll find plenty of shops in that line. Tell you what, can you buy some medicines as well. Some pokemon here at Centre might need it. I was supposed to go earlier but...."

Ash nodded. That was no issue. Nurse Joy scribbled something on a paper and handed him the bills. "Thank you Ash." Ash nodded and stared at the paper. How could someone even read what was written on this paper? The handwriting was utterly unrecognisable. Was it some sort of code? Because if not, then he could frankly say that her handwriting was a war crime.

She turned to Victor. "Would you like to rest sir? Or need something else?" Victor shook his head. "No need for that doc. I'll be joining this young man for a walk."

"Sure. The more the merrier." Ash exclaimed. Puka climbed back on Victor's shoulder and cheered. Ash turned to Pikachu.

"Hey bud, how about you rest in the Pokemon Centre for a while. I'll return soon." But Pikachu refused the offer, shaking his head & running ahead of them. "Pika pika." He called out to the pair as if calling them slowpokes. Ash smiled and Victor chuckled as they both followed suit.

_______________________________________

"Thank you for the medicines." Ash announced, leaving the store. 

"All right. Be sure to visit us again." The shopkeeper called out. Ash walked out, finding that Victor was waiting for him outside. 

"You didn't have to wait long, did you?" Victor refuted the claim. "Not really. Well Nurse Joy meds are taken care of. What about the stuff you wanted to buy?"

Ash yawned, pointing ahead. "My shop is a *yawn* bit far from this sector. We've got plenty of time. In the meanwhile, how about you tell me about yourself? You said you needed my help with something." 

"Oh, no no. I wouldn't like to impose."

Ash waved him off. "Eh..... Don't worry about it. Plus we've alot of free time to kill." He turned towards him with a thoughtful expression. "And it must be something very important that you wanna discuss with me, since you've been waiting for me from that long and even joined me on my errand run."

Plus during the whole walk, he was fidgeting and hesitating as if pondering on how to initiate the conversation. Something was weighing down on his heart. No use delaying the inevitable. There's no time like the present, y'know.

The streetlamps of Hulbury flickered to life, casting long, amber glows over the cobblestones. The evening air was thick with the scent of fried seafaring snacks and the sharp tang of salt. Ash matched Victor’s slow, labored pace, the young Champion’s energetic stride dampened by the visible weight the older man carried.

Up close, Victor looked fragile. The legend who had once stood tall against the towering crest of Humungadunga now seemed to be bracing against a wind only he could feel.

His shoulders were hunched, and his eyes—the same startling blue as Puka’s—were clouded with a deep, haunting exhaustion. He didn't look like a man who had conquered the sea; he looked like a man who was being slowly pulled under by it.

"You're right, Ash," Victor said finally, his voice barely audible over the crashing surf nearby. "I didn't come to Galar for the scenery. And I didn't join you on this walk just for the exercise."

He stopped walking and leaned heavily against a stone railing overlooking the lower docks. Puka sat on the ledge, his ears drooping, looking out at the horizon where the purple sky met the black ink of the ocean.

The orange glow of the sunset had already faded into a deep, bruised indigo long ago as they walked. The bustling sounds of the Hulbury shops began to thin out, replaced by the rhythmic slap-slap of the tide against the pier. "Hulbury, this is my home. I'm from Galar actually."

"Wait really?"

Victor nodded. "Yup. Hulbury is my hometown and I used to be local surfer here. I travelled around the world to follow my passion." The twinkle in his eyes returned for a brief moment. "In my old age, I thought to visit my hometown to live the rest of my remaining life here."

Ash chuckled. "You're talking like an old man Victor. Stop talking as if you're on your deathbed. You're still young, in your 50s or something." Victor raised his hand in exasperation. "Well many people have said the same to me to be honest. I just can't help it, talking like an old man that is." 

Ash adjusted the strap of his bag, glancing sideways at Victor. The man’s breathing was shallow, and he seemed to be favoring his right side, his hand occasionally drifting to his ribcage as if to steady something shifting inside. "Is something wrong?" Ash asked. Victor shook his head. "No. Nothing like that."

The silence between them had grown up to a comfortable quiet between the two trainers, but there was a weighted stillness to the man as if holding a secret he didn't know how to speak.

"So, Ash," Victor said, his voice rasping slightly. He looked down at Puka, who was trotting ahead with Pikachu. The blue-eyed Pikachu looked vibrant and healthy—a stark contrast to the fading man beside him. "The truth is... I’m looking for a favor. A big one."

"Sure, Victor. Anything," Ash replied, his typical optimism cutting through the evening air.

Victor stared at Puka's tail as it bobbed in the distance. "I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. Puka is... he’s special. You know that. He’s got the sea in his blood." Ash nodded. That was true. Puka was one of a kind Pikachu. Victor kept on speaking.

"But a Pikachu like that needs the right kind of environment. I’m searching for an ideal place... a place where someone can look after Pokémon with real care. Somewhere they won't be treated like a trophy or a tool, but like family. Somewhere safe." Ash blinked. Like a daycare or something? Well I suppose Victor's concern isn't unfounded. He thought.

Say his Eevee for example. She was used as a breeding machine to produce other specimen of Eevee with something called perfect IVs. Granted Eevee volunteered for it herself but there's no guarantee that some other daycare wouldn't actually like to abuse her to make money. Similarly, there was no guarantee that some other institutions wouldn't try to do the same thing willingly with Puka.

Then there are stuff like Pokemon Hunters and Black Market traders who buy pokemon from such institutions or daycares for heavy price. And Ash was sure that many would willingly give up the pokemon in their care for few extra stacks of bill. "Well I guess you're right about that." Ash muttered.

Victor smiled. "Glad you see the reason." He didn't mention the agonizing aches in his marrow or the diagnosis that the doctors in Kanto had whispered behind closed doors. He didn't mention that every breath felt like pulling glass through his lungs. He only looked at his partner with a gaze so fiercely protective, it was almost painful to witness. And Ash did notice this. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

"I-uh...." He fidgets again. "I need to know he'll be okay," Victor added, his voice dropping to a whisper. "If I... if I ever have to go on a long trip where he can't follow."

Ash blinks. Something about what he is trying to say and what he's trying to communicate doesn't add up. Still oblivious to the terminal shadow hanging over the older man, gave a casual shrug and a bright smile. "Oh, if that's all you're worried about, I know the perfect spot! There’s a great daycare here in Hulbury, and I know the man who runs it personally."

One of his pokemon resided there after all. "Actually, I was going there to check on my Eevee whom I left there. You can meet the man and decide for yourself."

Ash pondered for a few moments. "My friend Brock also knows a daycare that lies just outside Hulbury. He has personally worked there as well. You can also check that out. It’s a huge ranch with plenty of space to run and people who really love Pokémon. I visited that place as well."

Victor stopped walking for a second, his shoulders dropping as if a physical weight had been lifted, even if just by a fraction. "A ranch, huh? With people you trust?"

"The best. And you don't have to take my word for it. Check out the daycare for yourself and then decide." Ash told him, suddenly stopping to look back at him. "Why? Are you planning a big trip or something?"

Victor let out a long, weary sigh that turned into a soft chuckle. "Something like that, Ash. Something like that." He looked at the boy—the young boy from Kanto, now a Champion who carried the hopes of a region—and for the first time in months, the crushing anxiety about Puka’s future felt manageable.

"I'd like to hear more about this ranch," Victor said, his posture straightening just a tiny bit. "While we walk to your shop."

"Sure." And Ash started telling him about the two ranch.

_______________________________________

Deep below the surface of the Hulbury harbor, the dark, murky water was disturbed by the rhythmic, creaking pedals of the Magikarp Submarine. Inside the cramped, dimly lit cockpit, three pairs of eyes were glued to the periscope, tracking the golden glow of two tails moving along the distant pier.

"Look at that, James! It’s like a double-stuffed crust pizza, but with yellow rodents!" Jessie hissed, her face pressed against the cold glass.

James adjusted his monocle, squinting at the sight of Ash and the weary familiar old man, whoever he was supposed to be. "Indeed Jessie. The twerp is practically gift-wrapping them for us. And that other Pikachu... He has those blue eyes. He looks quite rare. They’d fetch us a fortune on the vintage collector's market—or at the very least, look divine in the Boss’s parlor."

"Forget the parlor! Think of the promotion!" Meowth cackled, his claws dancing over a series of rusty levers. "We bring in the Twerp’s Pikachu and a rare, blue-eyed 'Pikachu' variant? The Boss won't just give us a bonus; he’ll give us our own zip code! We’ll be eatin' premium canned tuna on a private beach by Tuesday baby!"

"But we just got our clocks cleaned by that giant crab," James reminded them, a hint of trepidation in his voice. "My dignity is still somewhere in the stratosphere."

"Zip it, James!" Jessie snapped, her eyes flashing with renewed greed. "That was a stadium match with witnesses. Out here, in the dark, with just one old man as backup? It’s like taking candy from a Happiny." She thought about her words and reconsidered. "Or a Pidgey actually." Definitely Pidgey, not Happiny. "They're vulnerable, they're distracted, and most importantly, they're alone!"

"The Twerp's got his guard down 'cause he's playin' nursemaid to that fossil," Meowth added, steering the sub closer to the stone pillars of the pier. "He thinks the danger's over. He thinks the night is for heart-to-hearts. He's about to find out the night belongs to Team Rocket!"

"Prepare the capture capsule!" Jessie commanded, her voice a low, theatrical growl. "And make sure the rubber lining is extra thick. We don't want any 'shocking' surprises like last time."

"Ooh, can we use the 'Snag-o-Matic 3000'?" James asked excitedly, reaching for a red button. "It has that lovely velvet padding so the cargo doesn't get scuffed."

"Whatever keeps 'em quiet!" Meowth grinned. "On my mark... we surface and strike. Two Pikachus for the price of one. It’s a clearance sale, and we’re the only ones with a coupon!"

The Magikarp sub let out a low, mechanical hiss as it began to move, its painted eyes staring up through the water at the unsuspecting forms of Ash, Victor, and the two Pikachus.

_______________________________________

The neon signs of the electronics district cast long, colorful reflections onto the wet pavement as Ash stepped out of the store. He looked positively thrilled, a sharp contrast to the heavy mood of their earlier conversation. Tucked into his belt was a thick pocket memo he’d picked up at the stationery shop, and his backpack seemed a little more lopsided than before.

"Who knew performing well in the Hydro Rumble would get me such a great deal?" Ash chirped, patting his bag. He’d managed to snag three items for the price of two—a bargain that clearly appealed to his practical trainer instincts.

Victor watched him, a faint, puzzled smile on his weathered face. He’d expected Ash to be looking for a new Rotom Phone or perhaps a high-end camera, but the boy hadn't spent nearly enough time at the display cases for a purchase like that.

He’d gone in with a specific goal, grabbed what he needed, and was back out in minutes. Victor briefly wondered what could be so essential to a Champion in a Galar electronics shop, but he kept the thought to himself. It wasn't his place to pry into the boy's shopping list.

Victor tapped his feet against the curb, waiting for Ash to catch up. "You bought your stuff?"

"I did! It's all tucked away in here," Ash nodded, patting the backpack.

"Hmmm..." Victor hummed, and they resumed their walk. They transitioned from the paved streets back to the soft, shifting sands of the shoreline. The rhythmic whoosh of the Galar Sea filled the air, the incoming tide rising just enough to erase their footprints almost as soon as they made them. It was a peaceful, if transient, sight.

"So, this way..." Victor paused, looking at the darkening horizon.

Ash picked up on the hesitation immediately. "Yeah, this way leads toward the path for the ranch and daycare I was telling you about. If you want, we can check out that other daycare outside Hulbury too, but..." He looked back toward the town lights. "I don't think Nurse Joy will appreciate us showing up with her medicine this late if we take the long way around."

Victor nodded slowly, his gaze lingering on Puka and Pikachu, who were currently racing each other across the wet sand, their tails occasionally sparking in friendly competition. "No, you’re right. The medicine comes first. But I’d like to see the path, at least. Just to get a feel for the area."

"Pikachu, we're going to the daycare buddy. This way." Ash called out.

Pikachu clearly excited as could be seen from his tail perking up, raised his paw in affirmation. "Pika pika!"

Puka mimicked him following Victor. "Pikah!"

____________________________________

A few dozen yards out at sea, a familiar periscope cut through the crest of a wave like a shark's fin.

"Look at 'em," Meowth whispered, his voice vibrating through the cramped tin can of the submarine. "Just walkin' along the beach, thinkin' about their day. They're practically beggin' to be bagged!"

"Patience, Meowth," Jessie hissed, shoving him aside to get a look. "We wait until they’re further away from the streetlights. If we strike now, some nosy sailor might see us and call the authorities. I want these Pikachus delivered to the Boss without a single witness to spoil the surprise."

James was busy checking the pressure gauges. "The Sub-Magikarp is at optimal stealth depth. We can shadow them right alongside the pier. Once they hit that stretch of dark sand near the cliffside... we strike."

"I can already smell the promotion," Meowth sighed happily. "And the smoked pizza. Lots and lots of pizza with extra cheese."

"And jelly filled doughnuts. Don't forget them." James wailed.

"Yeah, them too." Meowth added.

_____________________________________

The Tanaka Daycare sat nestled just beyond the salt spray of the main harbor, protected by a tall, whitewashed fence that hummed with the soft sounds of a dozen different species. The facility was an interesting mix of traditional Galar masonry and modern, climate-controlled enclosures.

"Mr. Tanaka? Hello?" Ash called out as they pushed through the gate.

A tall man, balding and slightly portly, came jogging toward them, panting slightly. He wore a uniform with a small, embroidered Pokémon Daycare logo. "Ah, Ash, my dear boy! What brings you here? Here to see your Eevee?" He asked jovially.

Ash’s expression flickered—a brief shadow passing over his eyes before he managed a nervous laugh. "Ah... not really. I actually wanted you to meet Victor. He’s looking for a good daycare, and I recommended yours."

Mr. Tanaka bowed politely, and Victor returned the gesture, his blue eyes scanning the property with a quiet, judgmental look.

"Renovation is going extremely well! The work is running smooth," Tanaka said with a hearty laugh. "The daycare is going to complete its thirty years soon. As you may know, my name is Tokio Tanaka. People refer to me as 'the old Tanaka.' Don’t be worried by my balding head—these old bones still have a lot to offer!"

A series of shrill cries erupted from the back yard. "Oh shoot! Those critters are getting hungry," he gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that. Give me a moment. You can join me in the meantime if you like."

"Go ahead," Victor said, gesturing for the man to attend to his duties.

"No problem at all," Ash added, waving him off.

As the manager hurried away, Victor turned to Ash. "Mind if I walk the perimeter? I want to see the grazing fields."

"Actually, Victor, do you mind if I stay here? I wanted to check on something," Ash said, his eyes having a soft look to them.

"Of course, Ash. I’ll be back in a bit." Victor began to walk along the ranch fence, his posture stiff, soon catching up with Tanaka to pepper him with questions about the care quality and the night-shift security.

Ash stood alone by the main building, leaning against the one-way viewing glass of the nursery wing. On the other side, the world was peaceful. He saw frail Pokémon being nursed back to health, a group of playful Ditto mimicking a sleeping Snorlax, and then—he saw her.

The black Eevee with green colour fur. His Eevee.

She was curled up on a soft cushion, batting lazily at a hanging bell toy. She looked healthy. Her coat was shiny, and her breathing was deep and rhythmic. She looked... happy.

Ash curled his fingers into a tight fist, the knuckles turning white. He swallowed hard, trying to force down the bile of guilt rising in his throat. He knew the logic: Galar was a region of giants, of high-pressure stadium battles and ruthless Gym Leaders. Eevee wasn't ready for that kind of intensity. Bringing her along would have been selfish; it would have broken her spirit. Leaving her here was the "right" choice—the responsible choice.

But as he watched her through the glass, a stranger to his own partner, the "right decision" felt like a heavy stone in his gut.

The sound of footsteps on gravel brought him back to the present. Victor and Tanaka were returning, the older man looking slightly more impressed than before.

"I see," Victor was saying. "But isn't it a bit too hard to handle these many Pokémon by yourself?"

"Not really," Tanaka sighed, scratching his chin. "I have two workers, but they’re on holiday. I thought I could handle the ranch alone." He gazed around the facility, his smile turning a bit melancholic. "But all of a sudden, especially after Gym Challengers get a real taste of Galar's power... they start abandoning their Pokémon or leaving them here indefinitely. It’s sad, really. But business keeps booming in a twisted way."

Ash nodded, his heart sinking. To hear that Pokémon were being dropped off like unwanted luggage just because they couldn't win a badge... it made the heavy feeling in his stomach even worse. The region felt like the perfect home to Paul or trainers like Shamus or Damien. And the worse part, it wasn't all black and white. They had their own issues, their own stories and their own helplessness. The region of Galar..... Somehow it was aiding in this process, this cycle of helplessness.

Alongside development, there was constant birth of pain, pressure and frustration. Dreams felt like noose around the neck. The work culture and the process, it was toxic in a way despite all development.

"Oh... by the way, Victor," Tanaka said, turning to the older man. "How do you know Ash? He told me you’ve lived here before. I thought Ash was from Kanto."

"We go way back," Victor said, though he glanced at Ash, noticing the boy’s lingering gaze on the nursery window.

"Oh, Ash here is a wonderful lad!" Tanaka interjected, unaware of the tension. "He actually helped me yesterday, controlling the Pokémon and taking care of them. Quite the talented lad he is—has a real way with 'em!"

Ash forced a small smile, but his mind was still on the other side of the glass. Still he continued.

"Oh no, no," Ash laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as the praise started to stack up. "You’re giving me way too much credit, Mr. Tanaka."

The daycare manager shook his head vigorously. "Absolutely not, Ash! It’s hard to find people equipped to handle all sorts of Pokémon. Even my trained workers have specializations—some prefer the small ones, others only work with the experienced lads. Few can handle the young ones because they're so unpredictable. But you? You’re adaptable."

Victor stood back, his arms crossed over his chest. He wasn't looking at the fences or the nursery anymore; his blue eyes were fixed entirely on Ash with a quiet, appraising look.

"Is that so..." Victor muttered to himself, his voice barely a breath. He seemed to be weighing the manager’s words against the boy he had known years ago.

"It’s not that big of a deal," Ash insisted modestly. "I’ve just dealt with a lot of Pokémon at different stages on my journeys. I guess I got lucky this time; the group here at the ranch was pretty easygoing."

Ash, completely oblivious to the heavy, calculating intense look Victor was giving him, turned back to Tanaka. "Mr. Tanaka, about that favor I asked you for?"

The manager nodded, his expression shifting into something slightly more business-like. "I remember. Go to the room on the right. The file is already set up in your name." He gave a little greedy smile, rubbing his palms together. "Just remember my payment, eh? It’s hard work for an old man like me."

"Yeah, I remember," Ash sighed.

He glanced one last time toward the nursery. It was a relief to know Eevee was taking her medicine on time. She was disciplined in that regard and her calmly resting and playing here amongst others meant that his decision was in the right direction for the time being. She looked calm, her spirit steady for now. Ash decided it was best not to go in and disturb her—taking away her training weights now would only confuse her. A few more days, he thought. Let her stay in this peace a little longer.

"She’s quite a lively one, though," Tanaka laughed, interrupting Ash's thoughts. "She found the supplies, spilled all the paint, and started playing in it! She apparently loves painting even more than the sandbox. She practically redesigned the entire nursery wall herself."

Ash’s chest swelled with a brief, genuine spark of pride. "Good girl. That’s my Eevee." 

"And she ruined a freshly painted wall," Tanaka added dryly.

Ash immediately facepalmed, his pride turning into a grimace. "She’s new to the place. Don’t worry, I’ll pay for the damage." But still, she liked painting huh? Who knew? Painting and playing in the sand..... Ash pondered for a few moments before nodding to himself.

The old man waved him off with a chuckle. "Eh... don’t sweat it. It wasn't hard to fix. Stuff like that is normal around here."

"Right. Well, I'll go take care of that file," Ash said, quickly bolting toward the side room to settle the administrative "payment" Tanaka had requested.

Inside, the room was quiet, lit only by the hum of a laptop. Ash sat down, pulled the screen toward him, and navigated to the folder marked with his name. He began working through the data entry and logs Tanaka had struggled with—the "payment" was less about money and more about Ash’s personal help he asked for in return, for helping with the daycare's work. For that he also took care of the digital work of daycare. Within five minutes, the task was done. Ash stepped back out into the lobby, looking a little bored by the paperwork but refreshed to be moving again. Phew.... I'll have a long night ahead.

"All set," Ash announced, adjusting his cap coming back to the lobby.

"Excellent," Tanaka beamed. "You're a lifesaver, Ash."

Victor stepped forward, his expression unreadable as he looked at the sprawling ranch one last time. "Thank you for the tour, Mr. Tanaka. Your facility is... impressive. I have a lot to think about, and I'll make my decision soon."

"Take your time, Mr. Victor! A partner like yours deserves the best," Tanaka replied with a polite bow. Victor returned the gesture and Ash waved at him.

As the duo walked out of the gates and back toward the dark shoreline, the evening air felt cooler.

"He seems like a good man," Victor said quietly as they walked. "A bit eccentric, but he cares. Is that why you chose him for your Eevee?"

"Yeah," Ash nodded, his hands in his pockets. "He is a malleable guy."

Victor hummed in response, his gaze drifting to Puka. "A malleable guy huh?" His eyes drifted towards Ash and his Pikachu. "I guess I should keep my options open in that case."

____________________________________

Unbeknownst to them, the "peace" of the night was about to shatter. Behind a cluster of jagged sea rocks just past the daycare property, a metallic clank echoed.

"Now’s the time!" Jessie hissed, clutching a launcher. "The Twerp is distracted by his 'feelings' and the old man is movin' like a Slowpoke!"

"Launch the Snag-o-Matic!" Meowth whispered, his claw hovering over a glowing red button. "Double Pikachu jackpot, here we come!"

____________________________________

The peaceful night air was suddenly shattered by a twin thwip-thock sound. Two reinforced, transparent capsules shot out from behind a jagged sea rock, vacuuming the unsuspecting Pikachus inside before they could even let out a spark.

"Pika!"

"Pikah?!"

Ash and Victor froze, staring at the hovering glass spheres now suspended by high-tension wires.

"What the—?! Pikachu!" Ash shouted, spinning around. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

"A voice of confusion, how sweet to the ear!" a familiar, theatrical voice boomed from the shadows.

"To answer the question, we're drawing quite near!"

The massive Magikarp submarine breached the shallow surf with a dramatic splash, and three figures struck a pose on its metallic back, illuminated by a poorly aimed spotlight.

"Prepare for trouble, we’ve doubled our haul!"

"And make it double, we’re standing quite tall!"

"To protect the world from devastation!"

"To unite all peoples within our nation!"

"To denounce the evils of truth and love!"

"To extend our reach to the stars above!"

"Jessie!"

"And James!"

"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now, or prepare to fight, fight, fight!"

"Meowth! That’s right!"

"Wobbuffet!"

The silence that followed was broken only by the sound of a distant buoy and Ash’s heavy, rhythmic sigh. He didn't even look angry yet—he just looked exhausted. He slowly raised a hand and slapped it against his forehead with a resounding thwack. Ash's Pikachu looked at them with the most exasperated deadpan look ever. He didn't even bother shocking the capsule.

"Not again," Ash muttered through his fingers. "Don't you guys ever take a night off? It's like 9'o clock in the night! This is twice in a single day."

Victor, standing beside him, blinked in utter bewilderment. He looked at the talking Meowth (Did that Pokemon just speak human?), then at the woman with the gravity-defying hair, and finally at Ash. "Ash... do you... know these people? Is this some kind of Galar welcoming committee?" They looked very familiar. Like he has met them somewhere. But he cannot put his finger on it.

"Yes I know them. They're called a headache, Victor," Ash replied dryly, finally dropping his hand. "And they never, ever leave me alone. They’ve been following me since Kanto. Honestly, I think they spend more on gas for that sub than they’d ever make selling Pokémon."

"Hey! We heard that, you twerp!" Meowth shouted, shaking a claw at him. "This ain't a hobby, it's a career! And tonight’s the night we finally get our retirement fund!"

"Exactly!" Jessie smirked, tapping the side of the capsule holding the blue-eyed Puka. "Two rare Pikachus for the price of one ambush. We're geniuses!"

"Nah, you guys are migraines." Ash replied sourly. "See, can't we do this tomorrow? I'm kinda tired today."

James nodded, staring at his fingernails as if he never heard Ash. "It was quite a sophisticated maneuver, if I do say so myself. The 'Double-Bubble Snag' worked flawlessly."

Victor blinked. "But wasn't your plan was simply throwing two automatic capsules to catch our Pokemon."

"Hey, that still requires training you old geezer."

Victor tilted his head. "Really?"

Ash stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as the comical annoyance began to shift into frustration. "Alright, enough with the jokes. Return Pikachu and Puka right now, or you're gonna regret it!"

"Let me think about that," Jessie said, putting a finger to her chin. "Mmm... no! I think we’ll keep 'em!"

"Yeah!" Meowth cackled. "We got 'em in insulated glass! Your shocks can't reach us in here, so whatcha gonna do, Twerp? Throw a rock?"

Ash’s eyebrow twitched. He had no other pokemon on him either, all of them being with Nurse Joy instead. So, he looked at a jagged, moss-covered boulder sitting by the tide line—a rock that easily weighed as much as a Donphan—and his eyes snapped with a primal, "I’m-done-with-this" energy.

With a grunt that sounded suspiciously like a Highland Games competitor, Ash hoisted the massive stone over his head.

"Wait, what is he—?" Meowth started, his whiskers quivering.

CRASH!

Ash launched the boulder with the trajectory of a catapult. It slammed into the side of the Magikarp submarine with a metallic CLANG that sent tremors through the water. The sub rocked violently, sending Jessie and James tumbling into the cockpit.

"He actually threw a rock!" James shrieked, clutching his rose. "What happened to the traditional pokemon battles!" Well they did attack the twerp knowing that he would not have any other pokemon than Pikachu on him. But that didn't mean they expected this.

Ash wasn't finished. He stomped over to another rock, this one even larger and encrusted with barnacles. He hoisted it with a vein-popping heave and took aim again.

"Return! Them! Now!" Ash punctuated each word with a throw, each boulder comically larger than the other.

THOOM! The second rock skipped across the water like a pebble and smashed into the Magikarp's dorsal fin, snapping the spotlight.

"Hey! Stop dat! You're scuffin' the custom paint job!" Meowth yelled, frantically trying to steady the sub. "Use the grabber arms! Do somethin'!"

Victor stood on the sand, his jaw practically hitting his chest. He looked at the two-ton boulders flying through the air, then at the teenager with the scrawny arms who was currently lifting a third rock—a flat, heavy slab of granite.

"Ash..." Victor stammered, his blue eyes wide. "I knew you were a Champion, but I didn't think you meant in... shot put?"

WHAM!

The third slab sailed through the air, hitting the glass cockpit and causing a giant crack to spider-web across Jessie’s face (or at least, her reflection).

"This is unrefined! It's barbaric! It's... it's really heavy!" Jessie screamed as the submarine began to tilt dangerously to the left. "James, fire the smoke screen before he decides to throw a mountain!"

Ash was already eyeing a nearby sea stack, his fingers digging into the stone. "Give 'em back!"

Meowth’s face turned a shade of pale that matched the moonlight. "That was supposed to be a rhetorical question! I didn't think the twerp was actually gonna channel a Golem! Jimmy, do something before he starts bench-pressing the pier!"

"Right! Initiating the Emergency Evasion Protocol!" James shrieked, his fingers dancing over a row of brass toggles. "Launching the Team Rocket Balloon!"

With a series of mechanical clunks and whirrs, the battered Magikarp sub began to fold in on itself like a giant piece of origami. From a small, hidden compartment in the center, a device shot upward into the night sky. In a burst of pressurized gas, it inflated into the familiar, smug-faced Meowth balloon.

Victor watched the entire mechanical transformation with his jaw practically hitting the wet sand. "Wow... they're actually good," he muttered, genuinely impressed despite himself. "That submarine just turned into a hot air balloon. The engineering is... sophisticated."

"This isn't the time to praise their R&D department!" Ash yelled, his voice cracking with exasperation as he dropped a fourth boulder into the surf with a massive splash.

A sturdy hemp rope was lowered from the basket as it ascended. Jessie, James, Meowth, and a confused-looking Wobbuffet grabbed hold of it, their legs dangling over the ocean. Most importantly, the two glass capsules containing the Pikachus were hooked onto the rising rigging, bobbing in the air just out of reach.

"So long, Twerp! We're going for today!" Jessie jeered, looking down from her swinging perch.

"You might have the brawn, but we have the buoyancy!" James added, striking a triumphant pose even as he swayed precariously over the waves.

"Pika-pi!" Pikachu pounded on the glass, his cheeks sparking in vain against the reinforced insulation. Next to him, Puka let out a low, crackling growl, his blue eyes glowing with a frustrated intensity.

Ash gritted his teeth, looking up at the rapidly ascending balloon. The comical frustration was gone now, replaced by the sharp, focused glare of a Champion who had just realized he couldn't solve this problem by throwing rocks anymore.

The night air whipped around Ash’s ears as the shore became a distant, dark line below as the young boy jumped. He didn't look like a regional Champion right now; he looked like a determined Mankey on a mission.

Hand over hand, Ash hauled himself up the swaying hemp rope with a rhythmic, manic speed. His face was a mask of sheer, stubborn focus, turning a shade of frustrated crimson that matched the "R" on the balloon above.

"Wait, Ash! That's—that's remarkably high!" Victor shouted from the surf, his neck craning back so far he almost lost his balance. He watched as the boy bypassed the laws of physics and common sense alike, dangling hundreds of feet above the churning Galar Sea without so much as a safety harness by jumping impossibly high and catching the dangling rope.

Up in the basket, the Team Rocket trio was busy high-fiving and imagining their names in neon lights at Headquarters.

"Ah, finally," James sighed, hugging his rose to his chest. "The sweet, succulent taste of a victory well-earned. No more boulders, no more Hydro Rumbles, just us and our promotion."

"Pika-pi!"

"Pikah!"

The frantic cries from the capsules made Meowth peer over the wicker edge. His jaw didn't just drop; it unhinged. "Uh, guys? We got a stowaway, and he ain't payin' for a ticket!"

Jessie and James leaned over, their eyes bulging. There was Ash, comically scrambling up the rope like a frantic Aipom, his legs kicking in mid-air as he gained ground with every second.

"What is with you today?!" Meowth shrieked in genuine annoyance. "Is dere a sale on persistence? Go home! Sleep! Buy a hobby!"

"Ash, be careful! Don't let go!" Victor’s voice drifted up, thin and worried. The old man was pacing the sand, clutching his chest. He had seen some reckless surfers in his day, but this was a different level of lunacy. Is this what they do in Alola? Victor wondered, his mind reeling. The magazines said he was the 'Alola Champion.' I thought they meant Pokémon battles, but is he the Champion of Extreme Gymnastics? What are they feeding the kids in those islands?! Malasadas and sheer spite?

Pikachu slammed his body against the glass, sparks flying in useless arcs against the insulation. "Pika! Pika-pi!" There was no space to hit the capsule with the momentum of Iron Tail and so, he just kept blasting the capsule with Thunderbolt.

"Hang on, Pikachu!" Ash yelled, his voice strained as he reached the halfway point. A sudden gust of wind sent the balloon lurching to the left, and for a terrifying second, Ash swung out over the open ocean like a pendulum.

"Wobbu-Wobbu!" Wobbuffet added, looking down with a mix of salute and pity.

"He's almost at the capsules!" James panicked, reaching for a heavy sandbag. "Quick! Cut the rope! Shake the balloon! Do something ungentlemanly!"

Ash dangled from left to right like a pendulum as the winds howled. His grip was slipping and Pikachu could notice that. They were at dangerous heights.

Ash nearly slipped and Pikachu felt his breath hitch. "PIKA-PIIIII!!!" 

The night sky over Hulbury was suddenly illuminated by a flash so intense it rivaled the town’s lighthouse. Inside the insulated capsule, Pikachu’s worry had hit a breaking point. A massive, desperate Thunderbolt erupted, filling the glass sphere with a blinding, jagged white light. The heat from the trapped electricity began to bake the interior, making the air shimmer and hiss.

"PIKA-PI!" Pikachu screamed, his voice raw with terror as he watched Ash dangling precariously from the swaying rope, buffeted by the high-altitude winds.

"It’s gonna blow! The insulation is meltin'!" Meowth shrieked, shielding his eyes from the glare.

James, panicked and fearing for the integrity of the balloon’s rigging, grabbed a pair of heavy-duty shears. "I’m terribly sorry, Twerp, but safety first!" With a sharp snip, the hemp rope was severed.

Ash’s grip vanished as the line went slack. For a heart-stopping second, he hung suspended against the stars before gravity took hold. "Waaaaaaah!" Ash’s scream echoed through the night as he plummeted toward the dark, churning waters below.

"ASH!" Victor roared from the shoreline, his heart hammering against his ribs.

Up in the capsule, Puka’s blue eyes widened. Through the blinding white glare of Pikachu’s electricity, he saw a faint, shimmering blue outline wrap around the struggling Mouse Pokémon who clenched his eyes shut and curled his paws, blasting the capsule with dangerous amount of electricity. It was a resonance—a pulse of energy that seemed to vibrate with the very rhythm of the ocean. It was thinking, barely noticeable. But it was there. A stark blue outline inside the glowing capsule.

As Ash hurtled toward the surface, the water below didn't just wait for him. It responded. To Puka's shock, a massive column of seawater swirled upward, rising far beyond the natural tide, forming a soft, spiraling cushion. Ash slammed into the liquid pillar, the force of his fall neutralized by the supernatural surge.

The water collapsed back into the sea with a massive splash, and a moment later, Ash’s head bobbed above the surface. He gasped for air, spitting out salt water, his eyes immediately locking onto the receding silhouette of the balloon.

"Pikachu! I'm coming for you." He yelled, his voice carrying over the waves. Neither he nor the glowing Pikachu in the sky seemed to realize that in the dark night, the ocean itself had just reached out to save him. 

Victor, despite his aging bones and the ache in his chest, dove into the surf and swam toward the boy with a powerful, practiced stroke. He reached Ash just as the Meowth balloon began to catch a tailwind, drifting further out over the sea.

"That... that was too close, Ash," Victor panted, treading water beside him. He looked up at the balloon, then back at the spot where the water had risen to meet them. His blue eyes were narrowed in deep thought. "But look. They’re getting away with our partners."

Victor’s voice didn't sound like that of a tired, aging man anymore. It carried a certain weight that seemed to refl6 through the very salt in the air. "This is getting out of hand," he growled, his eyes locking onto the flickering light in the sky. "PUKA!!!"

Up in the glass prison, the blue-eyed Pikachu snapped her head toward the ocean. In an instant, she was enveloped in a potent, dark blue aura—a color so deep it looked like the midnight trenches of the sea.

Ash’s Pikachu stopped his thunderous assault, his fur standing on end as he watched his companion. The air inside the capsule didn't just feel electric anymore; it felt heavy, pressurized, like being miles underwater. Puka’s entire body began to glow with that stark, haunting blue, mirroring the ancient light in her eyes.

Beneath the swaying balloon, the Galar Sea began to rumble.

"Uh, James? Why is the basement movin' up to the attic?!" Meowth shrieked, clutching the wicker siding.

With a roar that sounded like a thousand Ursaring, the ocean literally came to life. A massive, impossible wave—the ghost of a Humungadunga—rose out of the flat water, towering hundreds of feet into the air. Ash watched with a slack jaw, the salt water dripping from his hair as the moonlight caught the crest of the monstrous swell.

CRACK-BOOM!

The wave didn't just hit the balloon; it slapped it out of the sky with the disdain of a Legendary Pokémon.

"WE'RE BLASTING OFF TO THE BOTTOM OF THE—!" Jessie’s scream was cut short as the wall of water hammered the Meowth balloon downward. The fabric groaned and tore, and the basket was driven straight into the churning surf with a colossal impact.

The ocean smoothed over almost instantly, leaving only the wreckage of the balloon bobbing in the foam. The two glass capsules, cracked but buoyant, floated near the center of the debris.

Ash blinked, his brain struggling to process the sheer scale of the Move he had just witnessed. "That... that wasn't Surf. That was... that was the whole ocean!"

Victor stood tall in the water, the weary slump gone from his shoulders for a fleeting moment. A sharp, confident smirk played on his lips—the look of the man who had once conquered the Big Monday.

"Don't just stand there catching Wingull, Ash," Victor said, his voice brimming with a sudden, youthful energy. "Let's go get our partners."

The moonlight glinted off the bobbing debris as Ash and Victor reached the wreckage. The water around them was still humming with the aftershocks of the massive surge.

"Pikachu!" Ash shouted, his arms cutting through the surf.

Pikachu’s capsule was hissing, thick plumes of steam rising where the intense Thunderbolt had cooked the interior air. The structural integrity of the glass had reached its limit; as Ash reached out, a web of fractures spider-webbed across the surface. With a sharp crack, the sphere shattered, and Pikachu launched himself through the spray, burying his face in Ash’s soaked shoulder.

"Pika-pi! Chu!"

"I’ve got you, buddy. I’ve got you," Ash laughed, treadling water as he squeezed his partner tight.

Nearby, Victor was struggling with the locking mechanism on Puka’s capsule. "Hang on, Puka! Just a... just a second more..." He fumbled with the latch, his breath coming in ragged hitches.

But Puka didn't wait. The blue aura around her intensified. To Ash and Pikachu’s sheer amazement, the seawater began to swirl in a tight, violent vortex directly around the glass. It looked like a miniature drill made of pure ocean. With a dull thump of hydraulic pressure, the capsule didn't just break—it was crushed inward and then discarded like a piece of paper. Puka emerged from the center of the whirlpool, her fur completely dry, and drifted into Victor’s waiting arms.

Ash and Pikachu just blinked, treading water in stunned silence. Knowing Puka could sense waves was one thing, but watching a Pikachu command the ocean like that, to see it create waves, manipulate water..... It was something else entirely.

"Good job, Puka," Victor whispered, his voice thick with emotion. For a fleeting second, the weary, sick man vanished. In the way he held his partner and the sharp, knowing glint in his blue eyes, Ash saw him—the True Victor. The legend who hadn't just ridden the Humungadunga, but had seemingly become one with it.

The moment of awe was rudely interrupted by a series of wet, miserable coughs.

The Team Rocket trio, looking like drowned Rattata, bobbed to the surface a few yards away. They were clutching the remnants of their wicker basket, which was the only thing keeping them afloat.

"I... I think I swallowed a Magikarp," Meowth wheezed, spitting out a piece of seaweed.

"My hair..." Jessie moaned, her signature style now drooping like a wilted Arbok. "It’s ruined! It’s an ecological disaster!"

James just stared blankly at the sky. "The Snag-o-Matic... was not... sea-rated..."

Standing on a jagged sea rock, Ash and Victor shared a look of pure, weary mutual understanding as they shrugged at each other feeling sorry for the Team Rocket trio (TRio).

Pikachu, sensing the moment was ripe for a little payback, hopped off Ash’s shoulder with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He paddled through the surf with full casual confidence, coming to a stop right in front of the shivering, waterlogged trio.

Jessie, her hair hanging like a wet curtain over her face, squinted through the salt. When she saw the yellow ears bobbing in front of her, her eyes widened into dinner plates.

"Is... is that...?" she rasped, her hands shaking as she reached out. She scooped the Pokémon up, holding him high above the wreckage of the basket like a soggy trophy. "YES! I'VE DONE IT! LOOK, YOU FOOLS! I'VE CAUGHT THE PIKACHU!"

James’s face instantly transformed from a mask of despair into a radiant, tearful beam of hope. "Oh, happy day! The promotion! The private islands! The unlimited supply of vintage tea sets!"

"We're back in business, baby!" Meowth cackled, dancing a little jig on a floating piece of wicker. "I can practically taste the premium, Magikarp dishes already! We caught him fair and square—well, damp and square!"

"Wobbuffet!" the blue Pokémon cheered, appearing out of nowhere to salute the "grand" achievement.

The trio shared a moment of ecstatic, delusional triumph, hugging each other and sobbing with joy. But then, a very specific, very familiar sound began to cut through the sound of the waves.

Crackle. Snap. Pop.

The realization hit them all at once. The color drained from their faces, turning them a shade of ghostly, translucent grey.

"Wait a minute," James whispered, his voice trembling. "We don't have the... the insulated... glass thingy..."

"It’s not in the capsule," Jessie whimpered, looking down at the yellow mouse in her arms.

Pikachu gave them a wide, toothy, and thoroughly naughty grin. He tilted his head to the side, his cheeks glowing with a rhythmic, intensifying hum. "Pika... chu!"

"It's gonna shock us," Meowth deadpanned, his whiskers drooping.

The sparks increased, dancing across Jessie’s wet sleeves.

"It's definitely gonna shock us," James squeaked, trying to pull his hand away but finding himself stuck in the huddle.

The Thunderbolt was nearly ready, a blinding sphere of golden energy beginning to envelop all of them.

"It's already shocking us!" Meowth screamed.

"PIKAAAAA-CHUUUUUUUUUUUU!"

A massive, roaring column of yellow lightning erupted from the center of the wreckage. The blast was so powerful it vaporized the salt spray and sent a shockwave across the surface of the water. Team Rocket didn't just fly; they launched like a rocket with a faulty guidance system.

"WE’RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN—DROWNING WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIER!"

The trio spiraled higher and higher into the indigo sky until they were nothing more than a tiny, twinkling star that vanished with a faint ping against the moon.

Ash and Victor took a deep sigh of relief after the whole incident was over. One mistake and they could have lost their partners forever.

____________________________________

The walk back to the Pokémon Center was framed by the rhythmic, low-energy hum of the town’s night life. The adrenaline from the battle and the sight of the impossible wave had drained away, leaving an awkwardly heavy silence in its wake.

Ash broke it first, his voice cutting through the sound of their footsteps on the damp pavement. "So... that was something."

Victor fidgeted with the hem of his jacket, his gaze fixed on the ground. He seemed to be searching for a profound way to explain what had just happened, but he eventually settled for a quiet, lame, "Yeah."

Ash didn't let Pikachu walk. Even though his own legs felt like lead and his clothes were still damp with sea spray, he kept his partner tucked firmly in his arms. He held him with a protective grip, taking solace in the steady heartbeat against his chest. Pikachu was safe. He wasn't a star in the sky or a trophy in a Team Rocket vault.

"I knew Puka could sense waves, but..." Ash glanced back at the dark Atlantic, where the water now behaved like normal, obedient liquid. "To see him control the ocean itself... that was..."

"Unexpected?" Victor offered tentatively.

"I was gonna say straight-up unbelievable, but yeah, unexpected works too," Ash replied with a shrug.

Puka nuzzled his cheek against Victor’s, a soft, crackling spark of affection. Victor’s expression softened into a genuine smile. "Well, saying he can control the ocean itself is a bit of a stretch, Ash. Puka can create waves. You could say he’s a Pikachu that can use the move Surf."

Ash’s eyes widened, his typical trainer enthusiasm finally bubbling back to the surface. "That’s amazing! A Pikachu using Surf? I thought it was just rumors from drunk sailors...."

Puka grinned, looking slightly embarrassed as he rubbed his head, while Victor allowed himself a rare moment of pride. "Well, he is my partner," the old man said, his voice regaining a hint of that legendary gravel.

But then, Victor’s tone shifted. He slowed his pace, looking at the boy who held the title of Champion. He remembered just reckless he was, just to save his Pikachu, one of the most common pokemon in Kanto that could be found just about anywhere. To put his life at risk on a moment's notice, without any flicker of doubt. "Tell me, Ash... what do you really think of Puka?"

"He's awesome!" Ash said without a second of hesitation. "So cool. I wonder if you could do that too, buddy?"

"Pika pika!" his Pikachu cheered, puffing out his chest. Puka watched them both, his blue eyes thoughtful as he remembered the raw, blinding power of the Thunderbolt he’d witnessed in the capsule and that blue outline he did.

Victor hummed, his gaze turning inward. "Tell me... between your Pikachu and mine, if you had the option to choose one as a starter... which would you choose?"

Ash shrugged immediately. "My Pikachu."

Victor stopped walking, his expression serious. "Remember, the question is if you had the choice to choose between Puka and your Pikachu back when you first started. Knowing what Puka can do... would you still choose yours? No hesitation?"

Ash paused, looking down at the yellow face he had seen every day since he left Pallet Town. He thought of the shocks, the losses, the victories, and the quiet moments between journeys. "I dunno, is this a trick question?" Ash asked, looking up at Victor. "Whether it was as a starter or as a partner or as a random pokemon, I would choose my Pikachu. I’m sorry, but Puka—no matter how special he is—just isn't my Pikachu."

In Ash’s arms, his partner gave a smug, triumphant grin, even flashing a quick victory symbol toward Victor. "Pi ka ka!" He laughed like an old man.

Ash smiled sheepishly, nodding toward the blue-eyed mouse. "No offense, Puka."

"Pikah!" Puka shrugged.

Victor let out a long, shuddering breath, and for the first time that night, the tension seemed to leave his face entirely. A relieved, peaceful smile touched his lips. "That's a good answer, Ash. That's the only answer that matters."

The neon signs of the Pokémon Center loomed ahead, casting a sterile blue glow over the sidewalk, but the air between the two trainers had suddenly turned ice-cold.

​Ash hummed, his mind still working through the logic of their earlier visit to Tanaka’s. "But still, with a special power like that, no wonder you're looking for a trustworthy daycare for your partner for the trip," he said, trying to be supportive.

​At those words, Puka’s ears didn't just droop; they wilted against his head. Victor’s face crumpled, the brief spark of "Legendary Surfer" being swallowed once again by a deep, hollow sadness. Pikachu narrowed his eyes, his tail twitching as he looked back and forth between the two. Even he could feel the shift—the way the atmosphere had suddenly become heavy with an unspoken finality.

​Ash hugged his Pikachu a little tighter, the fabric of his damp jacket squelching. "If it was my Pikachu, I dunno if I would even be able to trust anyone else with its care. Especially in a region like this where people like battling so much. No offense but Puka doesn't seem to like or looks to be a battle type anyways." He admitted. Victor nodded. So he did catch that. He has a good eye.

​Ash knew he was lucky. He had his fair share of what people would classify as "special" Pokémon, but he also had Professor Oak’s ranch and Professor Kukui’s home. He knew his family. But in a place like Galar? Where the pressure to win was a crushing weight and trainers like Paul—at least, the old Paul—were the standard? Ash wouldn't trust a single Poké Ball to a stranger here. The thought of some rich, snobby brat buying his way into a daycare’s "special inventory" made his blood boil.

​"So," Ash said, trying to lighten the mood as they reached the sliding glass doors. "How long is your trip, anyways? Are you heading back to Kanto or somewhere further?"

​Victor stopped walking just short of the sensors. He didn't look at the doors. He looked at Ash, his blue eyes desperate.

​"Ash," Victor started, his voice cracking. "I need a big favor. Another one. Probably the biggest I've ever asked."

​Ash blinked, stopping and turning back. He gave a casual shrug, though a small knot of worry began to tie itself in his stomach. "Sure, Victor. What is it?" Somehow, this seemed different.

​Victor took a shaky breath, his hand trembling as he reached up to stroke Puka’s head one last time. "I want you to keep him. I want you to take Puka with you."

​Puka instantly erupted into a frantic series of protests, his little paws scrabbing at Victor’s vest, his voice a series of heartbroken "Pikah! Pih-Pikah chu!" Ash froze mid-step, his foot hovering over the pavement. The silence of the night rushed back in, deafening and sharp. He stared at Victor, then at the blue-eyed Pikachu who was currently begging his partner to take back the words.

​"Wait... what?" Ash stammered, his brain struggling to catch up. "Victor, you can't be serious. Puka is your partner. He’s... he’s the other half of the Legend!"

Ash blinked, his brow furrowing as he studied the older man. Something about the way Victor was standing—the slight tremor in his hands and the hollow weight in his posture—made it feel like there was an entire conversation happening beneath the surface that he was completely out of the loop on.

​Still, Ash tried to keep the mood light, waving a hand dismissively. "Oh, come on, Victor. Just because I said those things doesn't mean all daycares are like that. We can still visit Mr. Tanaka, or even that other one outside Hulbury I was telling you about. Besides," he added with a sheepish grin, "I'm a trainer, not a caretaker. I don't even have a daycare license!"

​But Victor didn't laugh. His expression remained unnervingly serious, his blue eyes locking onto Ash's. "I don't think you're getting the right meaning of my words, Ash. I’m not asking you to watch him for a weekend. I want you to adopt Puka as your Pokémon."

​The air seemed to still. Ash blinked again, his mind racing to find a logical reason for such a request. "Huh? But... why? Like, don't worry, Victor! It’s not like someone is just gonna buy Puka from a daycare because he’s special. I didn't mean to scare you with that talk earlier." He let out a nervous, forced laugh, hoping to break the tension.

​Victor let out a soft, dry chuckle, but it lacked any real mirth. "Don’t worry about that, Ash. I’m not worried about the daycares. I just want you to be the one to take care of Puka in my absence."

​Ash’s gaze drifted to Puka. The blue-eyed Pikachu was frantically fighting against Victor’s hold, his little paws pushing against the man's chest while he let out heartbroken, protesting cries. The sight made Ash’s chest tighten. He looked at his Pikachu who was watching the scene with a look he couldn't describe. 

Puka was telling somethings to Victor. Some things, things that were not good. If Pikachu's expression was anything to go by.

​He looked back at Victor, his voice dropping several decibels, the humor finally drained away. "Victor... just where are you going? And how long is this trip of yours supposed to be, anyway?" They entered the Pokemon Centre.

The sliding glass doors of the Pokémon Center hissed open with a sharp ding, and the cool, sterile air of the lobby rushed out to meet them. Standing directly in their path was Nurse Joy, her arms crossed and her foot tapping a rhythmic, annoyed beat against the tiled floor.

​"Just where were you both?" she asked, her voice tight with professional frustration. "Do you know how late it is? and why—" She paused, her eyes scanning their drenched clothes. "Why are you both soaking wet?"

​Ash rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, water still dripping from his cap. "Sorry, Nurse Joy. There were some... complications. Nothing to worry about! As for why we're late—" He glanced toward Victor, catching the older man’s stiff, uncomfortable posture. It was clear Victor wasn't ready to explain anything about Puka or the stealing accident. Ash gave a quick, nervous shrug. "Well, we took an impromptu swimming lesson. I asked him to show me a few things."

​Nurse Joy blinked, her expression shifting from annoyance to pure disbelief. "What? Are you nuts?" Her tone sharpened instantly. "That was incredibly stupid and reckless of you, young man!"

​Ash tilted his head, completely confused by the sudden spike in her intensity. He knew it was late, but 'reckless'? Did he say something wrong?

​The fuming nurse turned her gaze toward Victor, her voice rising. "And you, Mr. Victor! You’re supposed to be older than him. Don’t you have any common sense? To do something that taxing in your condition?"

​Ash’s brow furrowed. Condition? What was she talking about?

​Nurse Joy, completely missing the look of mounting confusion on Ash’s face, continued her tirade. "Honestly, I know you’re a great surfer, but even you know patients are supposed to be back in the hospital before curfew! It’s almost ten now!"

​"Nurse Joy," Ash finally interrupted, his voice steady but laced with a growing sense of dread. "What exactly do you mean by 'condition'? And 'patient'?"

​She paused, her anger flickering out as she looked between the two of them. "You don't know? I thought you might have known, since you both seemed so well-acquainted."

​"Know?" Ash repeated, his heart beginning to sink. "About what exactly?"

​Nurse Joy sighed, her shoulders dropping as a wave of sadness washed over her features. She looked at Victor, who had gone remarkably still, before turning back to Ash. "Mr. Victor here has bone cancer," she said softly. "Last stage."

​Ash’s eyes widened, the world around him feeling suddenly very small and very cold. Beside him, Pikachu’s jaw dropped in silent shock. It felt like Hulbury had it out for him—it was just one revelation after another, each heavier than the last.

__________________________________

Delia Ketchum walked out of the bathroom, drying her hair with the towel. "I wonder what my Ashy is doing right now?" She spoke to herself, looking at the vast sky. Honestly, that boy was very reckless. Who knows what he even does half of the time? Is it too much to ask for, as his mother, to take care of himself. Be a little selfish! Why was her son always surrounded by troubles?

"He sounded so weary and burned out Mimey." When he called her, he was all sweaty and panting, a frantic look on his face plastered alongside with horror and worry. It almost gave her a mini heart attack. She never saw him so worried before all of a second before calling her. Then there's this haunted and tired look on his face that she sees often, whenever he calls her.

Mr. Mime tilted his head. "Mime!?"

Delia clicked her tongue. She doesn't want to push him or put him on edge by asking him too many questions or forcing him too much to reveal about his adventures. 

He rarely tells her what he goes through and the sheer worry eats her alive. She never wants that in her insecurity or in her panic she pushes her boy far away that he cannot come or feel uncomfortable to discuss with her when he's in actual trouble. She doesn't want to lose her only world, but........

But then, there's the guilt. What if something happens to him that could have been avoided if she pushed him a little? If she was a little bit forceful. A little pushy. Yes she may lose his trust but at least he would be alright, even if he might dislike her.

No matter what option she chooses, she loses as a mother. She loses what means her the most in this world.

Suddenly from outside, in the garden, there was the sound of flower pot breaking. Delia's eyes sharpened. A thief? She nodded to Mr. Mime who nodded back. She quickly picked up a broom and slowly walked towards the door, the wooden floor *creaking* under her feet, following Mr. Mime who walked in the front. Honestly, why did everything sound so loud when you actually try to keep it quiet? The door slowly opened with the sound of the cracking old wooden door. She really needs to renovate her house properly. 

Mr. Mime slowly walked ahead. In front of his feet, there was a black heap of..... something near the broken pot. Something was there, hidden under the black plastic cover. Shivering. "Careful Mimey." She cautioned instinctively. Mr. Mime nodded. They both surrounded the black heap and in an instant, Mr. Mime removed the black plastic.

And inside the plastic there was..... "A pink goblin and a clown?" Delia blinked. Weird. That was the first thing that came to her mind. Really weird. They were hurt, but also looked very weird. "Are they pokemon?" She never saw these kinds of pokemon and she attended nearly all of Prof. Oak's camps but, she never saw these pokemon.

The two pokemon were shivering and they were hurt as well, trying to hide from her, not looking at her in they eye. She crouched down. "Don't worry...." She put her hand forward, not touching them or invading their personal space. They were terrified of something. She cannot be too forward.

She let them be comfortable enough, so that they can approach her. The pink goblin stared at her for a few seconds before pain hit his shoulder and he clutched it. Delia in worry put her hand forward but the blue clown smacked her hand away with its cane. Mr. Mime immediately got ready to attack but Delia shook her head and gave him a look.

Mime stopped, but didn't lower his guard. Delia smiled harmlessly. "I won't hurt you. Nor do I have any intention of capturing you." She spoke earnestly. "Let me take a look at those wounds. Then you all can leave. I won't stop you. But it's dangerous to be out at night with these wounds. Especially with the Spearows nearby." The two looked thoughtful. Delia smiled. "Don't worry. You're free to leave whenever you want. But at least bandage your wounds." The two pokemon stared at one another before one of them nodded. And the two followed.

"Let's take them inside Mimey!" Mr. Mime nodded and followed them from behind, while still looked ready to pounce on them.

"Mime. Mr. Mime!" Mr. Mime gave a salute and carried the two pokemon inside like two brats, carrying them by their leg and back shoulder respectively. Delia smiled walking ahead.

__________________________________

The sterile, white-walled hospital room was quiet, save for the rhythmic hum of a heart monitor that felt too slow for a man who had once raced the fastest breaks in the world. Victor sat propped up against the pillows, his gaze fixed on the moonlit Galar Sea visible through the window.

​A soft, hesitant knock echoed from the door. "Come in," Victor said, his voice a raspy shadow of the one that had commanded the waves hours ago.

​The door creaked open to reveal Ash. He looked small in the doorway, his damp hair finally starting to dry, but his eyes were wide and filled with a heavy, newfound understanding. Victor blinked, a ghost of surprise crossing his face. "Ash? I didn't expect to see you back here tonight. I figured Nurse Joy would have tucked you and your friends into the trainer dorms by now."

​Ash stepped inside, pulling a plastic chair closer to the bed. "She did," he admitted with a tired sigh. "The others are out cold before I arrived. Between the Hydro Rumble and... well, everything else, they were exhausted. But Nurse Joy thinks we're related—or maybe she just saw the look on my face. She said I could stay up a little longer to talk to you."

​Victor let out a long, shuddering breath, his shoulders sagging. "I'm sorry, Ash. Truly. I didn't want you to find out like that. Not in a hallway with a fuming nurse."

​Ash leaned back, crossing his arms and looking at the empty space on the bed where a certain blue-eyed Pikachu usually sat. "I'm guessing Puka knows? About... the cancer?"

​Victor nodded slowly. "There’s nothing I can hide from him. He feels the tide receding just as clearly as I do." He gestured vaguely toward the door. "I let Nurse Joy take him to the Pokémon Center's play area with your Pikachu for the night to be taken care of. Honestly? I’m having a hard time even closing my eyes without him here."

​A knowing, soft smile tugged at Ash's lips. "I get that. It’s the same for me and my buddy. People think it’s weird how clingy he is, but the truth is, I’m just as bad. When we finally get to a room at night, we usually spend the first few hours just talking—well, I talk, he sparks—about everything that happened during the day."

​Ash looked out at the stars, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And when we do fall asleep, we always make sure we’re touching. A hand on a paw, or him curled up against my shoulder. Just so we know the other one is still there, you know? It probably sounds gross or over-the-top to some people, but..." He still has hard time believing Victor has cancer. He cannot even imagine what the poor man and his pokemon might be going through.

​"No," Victor interrupted, shaking his head firmly. "It doesn’t sound weird at all. Me and Puka... we’ve been similar to that...... for twenty years."

​Victor’s eyes suddenly hardened, a flash of painful resolve cutting through the fatigue. "And that’s exactly why I need you to take him away from me, Ash. Now. While I can still see him go."

​Ash was ready to protest, but Victor held up a trembling hand.

​"If we’re already separated—if he’s already with you, traveling, seeing new things, and forming a bond with a trainer he can actually respect—then when I finally leave this world, the blow won't be as hollow. He’ll have a new anchor. He’ll have you." Victor leaned forward, his voice desperate. "It’s my last wish, Ash. I’ve spent months roaming, looking at daycares and talking to researchers. I’ve even met famous Professors, and honestly? I couldn't trust a single one of them with his heart."

​He looked Ash dead in the eye, the legendary surfer's spirit flaring up one last time. "But I saw you today. You don't just 'use' Pokémon, Ash. You live for them. And Puka needs someone who knows how to keep a hand on a paw while they sleep."

The room felt smaller as the weight of Victor's words settled into the corners, heavier than any physical burden. Victor looked down at his weathered hands, his voice barely a whisper. "Puka isn't a battler. Most people wouldn't even notice that. In a place like Galar, where everything is about the stadium and the score... I just wouldn't trust many people here with him."

Ash took a slow, deep breath, the sterile scent of the hospital fading against the memory of the salt spray. "I understand, Victor. I really do. And I promise you—I'll take the utmost care of Puka. I’ll never do anything against his will."

He paused, his gaze shifting toward the window where the moonlight silvered the distant waves. "But... I still think your decision is wrong. The decision to leave him beforehand, I mean."

Victor looked up, startled by the bluntness. Ash shrugged, his silhouette framed by the night sky as the sea breeze drifted through the cracked glass, softening his expression. He slowly approached the open window.

"Loss is an inevitable part of life. We can't avoid that, Victor," Ash said, his tone turning melancholy. He stared at the moon, and for a fleeting second, the faint image of Stoutland seemed to flicker in his mind's eye. "Along with loss, the feelings of sadness and guilt... they come too. We all have to deal with that one way or another."

He turned back to the bed, struggling to find the right words to make Victor understand without rattling the old man’s fear. He knew where Victor was coming from. And as a trainer, if he was in Victor's position, he might be compelled to take the same decision as well. But he was a witness. And he could see how wrong was Victor's decision for both himself and his partner.

"He’s your partner," Ash said firmly. "What I’m trying to say is... let him be a part of your final moments. Let him see you depart so he can come to accept it. Don’t take those last moments away from him. If you send him away now, he’ll carry the guilt forever—the guilt of not being there when his partner needed him most."

Ash shuddered slightly, exhaling a long, shaky breath. "I don’t know... I just think he at least deserves that. I’ll help him. Of course, I’ll help him when the time comes. But..." He rubbed the back of his head, his legendary confidence wavering into a sheepish, lopsided smile. Just where was Prof. Kukui or his mom when you needed them. They were much better at these kinds of things than him. "I’m just not great at these talks, am I?"

He stopped mid-sentence. Tears were pricking at the corners of Victor’s eyes, glistening in the dim light of the heart monitor.

"V-Victor?" Ash stammered, his face heating up. He internally facepalmed. Great job, Ash. You just made everything a hundred times more awkward. "Uh, you should probably just... rest for now. I’ll take my leave."

Ash scrambled towards the doorway, his hand catching the handle. Before he pulled it open, he paused and cast one final, steady look back at the man in the bed—a look that carried all the weight of a Champion's word.

"Just so you know... whatever you decide, I’ll always be there for Puka."

With a soft click, the door closed behind him.

Victor sat in the sudden silence, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He looked back out at the ocean, the "Big Monday" of his life finally approaching the shore. The young man had given him a lot to think about—more than any doctor or professor ever had.

______________________________________

Ash walked out of the room, cracking his fingers. It was just one thing after another. Exercising and stretching a little, Ash put a hand inside his pocket, finding the notepad he bought today. He stared at the pad for a few more moments before walking towards the video booth in the Pokemon Centre.

With the lights of the Pokemon Centre switched off, Ash's face was only illuminated by the glow of the video booth, giving him a creepy look. He opened the video booth and inserted the Pen Drive in the booth. The particular video file opened up. Yawning again, knowing he won't get a wink of sleep tonight, Ash blinked several times before his eyes sharpened. He took out the writing pad and his pencil. He started the video. "Let's do this."

The first light of dawn hadn't even touched the horizon when the sound of heavy breathing and rhythmic thuds began to echo through the outskirts of the town, deep in the forest nearby. Ash stood in the center of the clearing, his eyes dull and tired, watching his team intensely occasionally providing pointers. He yawned. He wasn't able to sleep even for an hour. Yawning again, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

He was trying. He was really trying but...... there was just this this feeling..... this feeling that he was still away. A step away from what he was aiming for. Something akin to the result or perfection one could say he was aiming for. At least in his mind, he thought he knew what he was doing. It was mostly his gut to be honest.

Everyone was draped in specialized training weights. For Pikachu, the weighted vest was tucked cleverly beneath his yellow fur, a hidden burden he wore all day to build explosive core strength and endurance. But was he actually improving was the question. Not just the pokemon, but him as a trainer.

With how easily his team lost to Marnie.... He was feeling anxiety about his performance. Has he lost his edge? Like even if he didn't win, he still wanted to do at least some damage to her pokemon but his entire team was straight up dominated. And this was after he's a Regional Champion. He shouldn't have lost, not as a Champion at least. He should have fought better. Made better strategies. Where is he going wrong? 

Struggling against Gym Leaders! Losing to trainers who have just started recently. Poor performance as a Champion....... What in the world am I doing? He was training his pokemon and his pokemon, bless their heart, were working extremely hard as well. Ash violently shook his head, trying to put away the drowsiness.

They all were working together like madmen and yet, despite all those efforts, there just seemed no scope of improvement. And there's still nervousness lingering for Nessa's upcoming battle! And it's not like he could magically harvest time out of somewhere for extra training.

And he couldn't push extra training on them as he was making sure to work them and push them to their absolute limits. So what now? It seemed like there was darkness everywhere, no clue or answer for the questions eating him alive. He stared at his pokemon, giving it their all. It wasn't their fault. Somewhere, he must be lacking. He tried to open his eyelids which felt unbearably heavy today.

"Again, Pikachu! Faster!" Ash called out, his voice crisp in the morning air. "We don't have time for a slow buildup!"

Pikachu gritted his teeth, his cheeks sparking with frustrated energy. "Piiii ka! Piiii ka!" He leaped into the air, spinning to deploy a shimmering Electroweb. "PIKA!!!!"

Before the web could even fully expand, Pikachu launched a Quick Attack directly into the center of it, using the tension of the electric net to slingshot himself forward. To launch yourself building the charge on top of Electroweb before it touches the ground, rather than having Pikachu run over it for a while to charge up Zippy Zap, that's what they were working on for now.

The issue was, this could work as an explosive jump. But the speed needed to execute Zippy Zap by building up the charge was still not there. Quick Attack wasn't good enough.

The goal was to decrease the charge time for Zippy Zap. By compressing the acceleration phase, the move should become a blur of golden devastation, at least in theory. Pikachu slammed into a target area, leaving a smoking trench in the earth. A split second later, a massive explosion followed, the sheer shockwave alone shattering three nearby boulders into gravel. But that's the issue! That shockwave was from the explosive jump. But Zippy Zap should have both explosive power and speed. So while he perfects one thing, the other still remains.

Ash walked over, rubbing his chin as he inspected the blackened crater. "The power is there, buddy. That blast could take down a Copperajah." Ash stopped. "Or maybe make it stumble and fall down. But we're still lacking something... that transition from the web to the strike needs to be more....." Ash struggled to find the right word, finally settling on "....smooth."

Knocking down a Copperajah was alright but..... Dynamax phenomenon makes even a Wailord look like a tiny doll in comparison. The purpose of Zippy Zap is to take down Dynamax Pokemon or at least knock them down! In order to catch up to Leon, he has to surpass his limits. We both have to! Ash stared at Pikachu who looked like he understood the train of thought in his brain.

Pikachu nodded, panting as the weights beneath his fur pressed down on him. "Pika pika!". He felt it too—that itch at the back of his mind, the sense that he was right on the verge of discovering something new, something faster than thought.

"Take five minutes rest, then we go again. Try strengthening your tail to increase the power of Electroweb. Practice Iron Tail and "tail jumps" using your tail as a spring to balance yourself and jump like a Spoink from one place to another as far as possible." He kept a hand on his chin.

"Try jumping diagonally or over an obstacle. Crouch down completely before springing back up again. Remember, explosive power plus speed." Ash suggested, his tone gentle his hand reached down to give Pikachu a quick, encouraging scruff on the head. What should he do? Double the tension of Electroweb? Increase electric output of the Electroweb? Make it more elastic maybe?

While Pikachu was working on Quick Attack, maybe strengthening the Electroweb was the key, since Zippy Zap is basically a devastating and improved extra lightning Volt Tackle with the speed of Pikachu's Quick Attack. Lightning plus speed was the key. He was trying and he knew Pikachu was too. He rubbed his eyes and turned towards Grookey.

A few yards away, Grookey was transforming the forest floor into a chaotic obstacle course. He was working through a complex rotation of his moves: Grassy Glide, Razor Leaf, and Leech Seed.

The training weights on Grookey’s limbs made every movement a struggle against gravity (which was the point, duh!), forcing his muscles to adapt to a higher baseline of power and explosive movements plus maneuvers.

He started by spitting 3 Leech Seeds into the dirt. And then, he began a rhythmic beat with his stick. The sound acted as a catalyst; thick vines erupted from the earth, snatching up several massive boulders and hurling them high into the canopy. Ash watched, a little bit concerned.

"Focus on the rhythm, Grookey! Don't let the weight slow your hands!" Ash shouted over his shoulder.

As the boulders reached their peak and began to plummet, Grookey’s eyes narrowed. He fired a series of precise, spinning Razor Leaves, each one whistling through the air to quarter the falling stones. Ash smiled. Good job! When the sky literally began to rain jagged rock, Grookey shifted into Grassy Glide.

The weights made the high-speed dash grueling, especially for his muscles in his limbs (which Ash imagines, would be practically burning from his perspective), but that was the point—by training under this pressure, his natural speed on the grass would become untouchable and his stamina improve alongside his health so that he can quickly recover and stay for long during battled.

Grookey wasn't meant to be a wall or to take on attacks. He was a speedy battler, meant for hit and run tactics. Plus, a challenge was needed to surpass one's limit.

He blurred through the falling debris, dodging the larger chunks and using his stick to shatter any remaining stones with pure, raw strength. He didn't even need the power of Branch Poke; the sheer momentum and muscle built from the weights allowed him to turn rock into dust with a single swing. 

Ash watched the Chimp Pokémon finish the drill, nodding in approval. Grookey ran towards his leg, raising his head. Ash smiled and gave Grookey his favourite headpats. Seriously he loved headpats for some reason as can be seen, as he's melting into his hand..... practically.

"Better. But when you’re tired, your Razor Leaf gets sloppy. If those were opponents, they’d have an opening. Do it again—and this time, keep the beat steady even while you’re sliding! Also, it's good that you've increased your strength but you still have to dodge all chunks of rocks with Grassy Glide, no shortcuts." Grookey cheered up and ran away excitedly. "Groo Key Key!"

The morning sun began to rise over the horizon, but there was no warmth in it yet—only the cold air and reality of the grind. Ash wiped a stray bead of sweat from his forehead, his body aching from the lack of sleep and exhaustion, but his eyes remained locked on his team.

Rookidee was currently a near static picture of straining feathers and jagged rock. She had weights strapped to the base of her wings, the curve of her beak, her body, and her tail, but the heaviest shackles were around her talons.

She was desperately flapping, her wings beating against the air with a frantic, heavy rhythm as she tried to maintain her altitude with a massive boulder clutched with her talons. Her claws were buried deep into the stone, but gravity was a grueling opponent. 

She had to maintain her altitude by flying at a constant height, neither flying up, normal falling down from the The assigned height. And maintaining and balancing yourself at certain height, especially when weights were attached to you, was more tiring than..... say being overzealous and reaching a new height in one go draining your stamina in one shot.

This also helped in sharpening Rookidee's patience and focus, especially in draining situations like the present one.

"Keep it up, Rookidee!" Ash called out, stifling a yawn that threatened to split his face. He was exhausted, but he wouldn't ask them to do anything he wasn't willing to endure. "Speed is great for a Flying-type, but if you can’t handle the pressure of a heavy hit or a powerful grip, you’ll be grounded in seconds. Your legs are your foundation—build that strength!"

With a sharp, pained caw, Rookidee’s grip finally gave way. The boulder plummeted, hitting the earth with a bone-jarring thud. She spiraled down after it, panting.

"Try again," Ash said, his voice firm but not unkind. "But take a breather first. You and Pikachu both. Recovery is part of the work."

Rookidee gave a quick, sharp salute, her eyes already darting back to the boulder. She tried to edge back toward the training zone, thinking Ash was distracted, but he didn't even have to turn around.

"I mean it, Rookidee. No sneaking. Pikachu, keep an eye on her."

The Corvid Pokémon let out a long, dramatic sigh, a comical blue aura of depression manifesting over her head as she slumped her shoulders. "Rooki... rooki..." She looked like a girl who had just been told she couldn't go to the dance. Ash smirked, satisfied.

Finally, Ash turned his attention to Passimian. While most of his species relied on teamwork and coordination, Ash's Passimian was an anomaly of raw, comical power—a physical powerhouse that made even the strongest Fighting-types look like lightweights.

"Alright, Passimian, your turn. Let's see that explosive power!"

Passimian was currently living a nightmare of resistance training. Beyond the standard iron weights strapped to his torso, several massive boulders were tethered to his limbs using Grookey’s thick Leech Seed vines. The vines were a double-edged sword; not only were they dragging hundreds of pounds of dead weight behind him, but they were actively sapping his stamina, forcing his heart and muscles to work twice as hard to maintain his energy levels.

The finish line was a jagged mark in the dirt a hundred yards away.

"Go!" Ash barked.

Passimian roared, his muscles bulging as he threw his weight forward. The boulders shrieked against the ground, digging deep furrows into the earth. Every step was a battle. He had to use his arms like pistons, digging his knuckles into the dirt to find leverage. The Leech Seed vines pulsed with a dim green light, draining his reserves, but Passimian’s eyes were fixed on that line.

He wasn't just walking; he was trying to sprint. Ash had set a timer—if he didn't cross that mark within thirty seconds, the vines would tighten, and he’d have to drag the whole mess back to the start and begin again.

The sheer, absurd strength required to move that much weight while having his life force drained was staggering, but that was the "Ash Ketchum" style of training: finding the limit and then pushing five steps past it.

"Drive through it! Don't let the vines win!" Ash cheered, his own fists clenched in solidarity. "You're the leader of this field, Passimian! Show me that strength!"

As they say, time & tide waits for none. Ash would like to add the sun in that phrase as well. The sun climbed higher, burning off the morning mist, but the atmosphere in the clearing remained thick with the scent of burnt and upturned earth.

Passimian let out a guttural roar, his knuckles white as he gripped the dirt, dragging the boulder-laden vines forward inch by agonizing inch. The Leech Seed pulse was relentless, but he refused to let the timer run out again. This was his 15th lap.

As Ash watched the display of raw power, the memory of his small, fluffy Eevee flashed through his mind. She should have been here, darting between the boulders or trying to mimic Pikachu’s speed. For a second, the quiet space where she would have stood felt cavernous.

Ash shook his head firmly, physically snapping himself out of the thought. No, he told himself, it was the right call. She needs to find her own rhythm before she joins this kind of fire. She doesn't belong here.

"Focus, Ash," he muttered to himself before raising his voice for the team. "Quick! Quick! Keep it going, all of you! Don't let your form slip just because you're tired! We’ve still got the marsh training after this!"

The Pokémon groaned in a collective, weary chorus. Before the training had begun, Ash with the help of his seasoned Water-types and Ground-type (Palpitoad duh!), he’d had them churn a specific section of the forest floor into a thick, cement-like swamp—a grueling, viscous mire designed to test every muscle fiber before making the long-distance call to Professor Oak’s lab.

"Pikachu, Rookidee, get those weights tights," Ash commanded, already starting to unlace his own shoes.

He didn't just stand on the sidelines; that wasn't his style. In a few minutes, they would all be diving into that gray, suffocating mud. They’d have to run where the ground fought back, swim through sludge that felt like lead, and crawl when their legs finally gave out.

Ash looked at the murky marsh and felt a genuine, deep-seated dread. It was going to be cold, it was going to be exhausting, and he was definitely going to have mud in places mud should never be.

"Look at the bright side!" Ash yelled, trying to rally his own spirits as much as theirs. "The river is right there! Once we’re finished dragging ourselves through the muck, it’s straight into the water for swimming drills and a long soak. Think of it as a mud bath followed by a private pool!"

Pikachu gave a skeptical, mud-colored look at the swamp, then back at Ash.

"Hey, if I'm doing it, you're doing it!" Ash laughed, though his smile was a bit strained as he stepped toward the edge of the mire. "Let's go! Last one to the other side does ten extra laps!"

With a synchronized splash and several muffled grunts of effort, the Champion and his team disappeared into the thick of the marsh, beginning the most grueling part of their morning.

The midday sun hung high over Hulbury, casting a brilliant glare over the practice field behind the Pokémon Center. The air was filled with the sharp, salty scent of the nearby docks and the sounds of training. Kinda.

"Alright, Empoleon! Cut the Surf with Drill Peck!" Kenny’s voice rang out with practiced grace.

In the center of the arena, the majestic Emperor Pokémon let out a resonant cry. "Empo!"

As a wall of water surged forward, Empoleon launched itself into a high-speed spin. The beak glowed with a jagged, spiraling energy, slicing through the wave like a hot blade through butter. The impact shattered the water into a million shimmering droplets that hung in the air, catching the light like a constellation of pearls before raining down in a sparkling mist.

"Wow," Hop breathed, his eyes wide. "That's really pretty."

"It’s so beautiful," Gloria nodded enthusiastically, her palms joined. "Cutting through the momentum of the falling water to maintain the display."

"It's awesome." Victor agreed. Bede was standing near the Pokemon Centre gate near the field, watching the performance with no concealed interest.

Marnie had other views. She sighed. Seriously what a waste of time! They could be having a battle right about now where she could get some practice in or, have a revenge match against Kenny where she was sure she could win. Like the only reason he won the last time because she didn't know the last time that he was a battler. She was sure she would beat him now. 

And really? Make your pokemon beautiful? That's kind of a time waste. She was not gonna lie. Say, Feebas for example. It looks ugly (At least according to most people!). But that ugliness is a feature of the pokemon. So when you say, make your Feebas look good or attractive, you subconsciously agree to the fact that it's ugly.

So isn't trying to portray something that's naturally ugly as pretty despite what it has been provided by the nature goes to show that you cannot accept its natural form, whether ugliness or beauty as it is. Plus most of the moves Kenny showed had razzle dazzle. Isn't that just one form of beauty? Or maybe she's just overthinking. Plus, isn't beauty subjective? Like she was pretty sure that the way Hop described Ash, he would easily call a Muk cute.

Speaking of Ash, the moment of awe was abruptly punctured by a long, loud, and incredibly unrefined yawn.

Everyone turned to look at Ash, who was blinking blearily, his head tilting back as if it were too heavy for his neck. Sensing the sudden silence, Ash waved a hand dismissively. "Sorry, sorry. Poor sleep yesterday. Just ignore me."

The group shared an uncomfortable, lingering look. The air felt heavy, but not because of the heat. Kenny had filled them in yesterday about the rifts—and about Paul. The news that one of Ash’s rivals had vanished into a tear in reality had left a shadow over the group. They didn't know how to bring it up.

Marnie glanced at Ash, her expression unreadable behind her fringe. She shrugged inwardly and turned away, ignoring him. What are we supposed to say? She thought. If this Paul guy was as important as Kenny made him sound, then some "sorry for your loss" platitude from people he’d known for a few days wasn't going to fix anything. It would just make it sting more.

Ash, sensing the weird vibe but not quite connecting the dots, looked around at their somber faces. "Uh, what’s up with you guys, anyway? Did the breakfast not sit right?" He shook his head to clear the fog. "So, what’s the plan? We can’t just stand here staring at the grass all day."

The silence was broken by two voices firing off at the exact same time.

"We’re going to the next Gym after training in the Noble facility here," Marnie stated firmly.

"We’re going to the Island," Hop declared with equal conviction.

The two of them stopped, blinking in surprise as their words collided. The rest of the group stared between them, the attention shifting from silence to a sudden, confusing fork in the road.

"The... Island?" Gloria asked, looking at Hop. "You mean the one with the rumors?"

"And the Noble facility?" Victor added, looking at Marnie. "Is that the one for high-intensity conditioning?"

Hop and Marnie locked eyes, neither one backing down from their intended destination. Ash just rubbed his eyes, looking between them like he was watching a tennis match.

And the argument began.

"Look, Hop," Marnie cut in, her voice like ice. "We have to train for Kabu. He’s a wall. People quit their entire journeys after one match with him. He’s got a 75% elimination rate. We can't afford a detour."

Ash nodded slowly. He knew that "Wall" feeling—he’d hit plenty of them in his time. He expected Hop to snap back into 'Challenger Mode,' especially since the boy usually treated any enjoyment like poison. He could get where Marnie was coming from. And he was pretty sure Hop was gonna agree with her since he thought of these extra trips as time waste as well. But he was surprised apparently as Hop just stomped his foot.

"B-but caves! Legends! Archaeology!" Hop stammered, his eyes practically sparkling. Ash blinked. Now this is a surprise. Did Hop just change while we were away?

Ash leaned over to Gloria, whispering out of the corner of his mouth. "Uh, Gloria? Context?"

Gloria didn't even look up from her tin of biscuits, crunching happily while the two rivals bickered. "Hop’s a bit of a history nut," she informed him between bites. "Used to follow Sonia everywhere on her research trips when they were younger. Back when Leon was still doing his own Gym Challenge, those two were always digging around in old ruins."

Ash blinked, surprised. "Sonia? I thought she was all about Professor Magnolia’s stuff—Evolution, Dynamaxing and what not."

"Professor Magnolia wishes," Gloria chuckled, brushing crumbs off her shirt. "Sonia’s a piece of work. She’s way more interested in old stories than the family business. Personally, I don't get the appeal of dusty old rocks." She shrugged, opening another jar of cookies. "Once I finish my Poke Jobs and get my resume in order, I’m heading straight for Prof. Magnolia’s lab to build my work experience and take over her research." She huffed. 

Victor nodded, a hint of sadness in his tone. "You sound like you've got your whole path mapped out." Ash glanced at Victor's direction for brief moments before he turned towards Gloria. He knew that. Gloria was usually reserved but when it came to Dynamax or anything related to it, she became just as much of a maniac as Clemont and his inventions.

"Unlike some people," Gloria laughed, gesturing to Hop. "He was obsessed. After Sonia quit her Gym Challenge to pursue history full-time, he was her shadow. But once Leon became Champion, Hop locked in. He made it his life’s mission to catch up."

Ash’s head snapped toward her. "Sonia was a Gym Challenger?" He looked at the arguing pair. "Wow, everyone in this region really goes for the gold, huh?" He looked back at Hop, who was now practically begging Marnie. Gloria offered them cookies as everyone munched over them, watching the spectacle.

"Plus, Hop," Marnie added, crossing her arms, "you lost to Nessa a week ago. You need to train for the rematch, not go on a field trip."

"I already won!" Hop shouted triumphantly, puffing out his chest. "Yesterday, actually!"

"Wait, what?" Marnie’s stoic mask slipped.

"Really?" Ash and Gloria chimed in together.

"Yup! That’s why my team was so burnt out when I saw you guys. Look!" Hop fumbled with his jacket and pulled out the shining Blue Badge, holding it up like a trophy.

Oh, so that's why Hop was ready to join us on Hydro Rumble event. At first even Ash was a little surprised since Hop considered them as distractions despite even Sonia telling him, it's not. He thought that maybe Hop was an ardent fan or he wanted to spend some time together since it was a long time after they split. Maybe it was all 3 aligning together 

Hop immediately pivoted back to the begging, his eyes turning wide and soulful—the human equivalent of a Yamper wanting a treat. "Please, Marnie... the Island!"

Marnie looked away, her resolve visibly crumbling. "Nope," she muttered, though the edge was gone from her voice.

"Please, Marnie," Victor added with a gentle and kind smile. Marnie's resolve crumbled even further.

She really admired Victor despite the fact that he was a dropper. For starters, he wasn't an attention begging trainer (like Ash) who used others (especially Gloria!) for his benefit. He wasn't some dual faced guy.

Second, he worked hard and always had his eyes on the goal. He had a clear path and clear answers towards his goals, unlike some people she knew, who would laze around and get by the skin of their teeth. And he was also exceptionally kind and experienced & didn't flaunt his skills. He was even better than Bede. He was the only trainer Bede wasn't able to defeat.

He had both strength and kindness without any ill-intent or arrogance alongside the drive to be better. Thirdly, he also was a Dex-holder, so automatically he was an exceptional trainer. He also passed the Pokemon Tech (the passing rate only being 5%) being the topper in the whole batch as well. She always admired his simplicity in institute as well.

So yeah, her resolve was crumbling quickly.

"Marnie... please!" both Hop and Gloria added, leaning in with the most exaggerated cutesy expressions they could muster.

Kenny joined in with a grin. "Come on, Marnie. It’ll be a good change of pace. You can all join the survey trip. It’ll be fun!"

Yep, the wall crumbled.

Marnie let out a long, defeated sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Fine," she groaned. "We go to the island."

"YES!" Hop cheered, punching the air.

Victor turned his gaze to Ash. "What about you, Ash? Don't you have a Gym battle coming up?" Marnie shot Ash a sharp glare, her eyes saying 'Don't you dare ruin this now that I've agreed.' Ash blinked noticing Marnie's glare. What's up with this girl, anyways? Like did he kick her Yamper or something?

He just shrugged, hands behind his head. "No problem here. I already registered, and Nessa isn't taking challengers for another week anyway. I’m free as a Pidgey!"

So the group's excitement for the island trip reached a fever pitch. But one figure remained detached. Bede stood several paces away, his coat immaculate despite the dusty training field, watching the display with a look of pure, concentrated disdain.

Ash, ever the optimist, turned toward him with a warm smile. "How about you, Bede? Join us as well!" His smile widened into a friendly grin.

Bede scoffed, the sound sharp and biting. "I have far better things to do than waste my time playing tour guide for a commoner like you, Ketchum. I truly envy how carefree you are—it must be wonderful to have so little self-awareness."

"Hey, back off!" Hop shouted, stepping forward with his fists clenched.

Bede’s smirk only deepened. "Why? Does the truth hurt? Look at the reality of this 'group.'" He turned his full, frigid attention back to Ash. "Basically everyone here is miles ahead of you. Hop, Marnie, Victor, and I already have two badges. You? You’re still struggling to even secure a battle appointment. You’ve already tasted defeat once, yet you have no idea if you’ll even scrape a win next time. And despite that, you’re playing around, going on field trips, and wasting the little time you have."

Ash nodded. Well that is true even if the truth stung.

Bede leaned in, his voice dropping to a condescending silk. "If I were in your position—suffocating under the weight of such incompetence—I would be training until my lungs gave out. But I suppose some people are just content with being mediocre." Ash blinked. Well he (Bede) certainly cared about him (Ash) in his own way. 

Kenny remained silent, observing the friction with a neutral gaze, while Gloria's face turned a brilliant shade of red. "You take that back!" She shouted, her voice echoing across the arena.

Ash simply placed a hand on Gloria’s shoulder and shook his head. She backed down immediately, though she continued to glare at Bede. Victor pinched the bridge of his nose. Why was Bede so troublesome?

Without a hint of irritation or without a flicker of anger in his eyes or a change in his relaxed posture, Ash asked again, "Would you like to join us on the trip?"

Bede stared at him, genuinely baffled by the lack of a reaction. It was as if he were insulting a brick wall that insisted on being polite. 

"Who knows bootlicker? I'll think about it," Bede shrugged, adjusting his glove. "Though I doubt the air on some 'mysterious island' is any better when it's being breathed by losers." He was such a distraction, that Ash. A loud, colorful, stagnant distraction. "Try not to trip over your own feet while the rest of us actually progress with the challenge. You should focus more on yourself than going on trips."

Ash didn't flinch. He just nodded as if Bede had simply commented on the weather. "The offer stands. We’re heading out soon!"

Bede’s jaw tightened, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the strap of his bag. The lack of a reaction from Ash was really annoying—kind of insulting. To Bede, a lack of retaliation was a lack of pride, and a trainer without pride was nothing more than a placeholder in the League.

"You really are a vacant vessel, aren't you, Ketchum?" Bede spat, stepping closer until he was inches from Ash’s face. "I insult your competence, your progress, and your very right to stand on this field, and you offer me a seat on a boat? It’s pathetic. You’re so desperate for approval that you’ll smile at the man holding the knife. You’re not a trainer; you’re a sycophant with a Pikachu." Ash blinked. What's up with him? Like why was he so angry? He just asked him to join them.

Ash just tilted his head slightly, his expression remaining maddeningly placid. "I just figured the more the merrier. The island sounds like it’s got some tough spots, and you’re strong, Bede. It’d be safer with more people." He still tried to reset the talk onto the conversation.

Bede let out a sharp, jagged laugh. "Safer? I don't need 'safety' provided by a group of doting children. Keep your charity. I’ll be busy collecting my third badge while you’re busy collecting seashells." He turned on his heel, his coat snapping behind him as he marched toward the Pokémon Center exit. "Don't bother looking for me at the docks. I prefer the company of people who actually intend to win."

As Bede vanished into the building, a heavy, cold silence settled over the remaining group. Ash turned back to his friends, flashing a lopsided grin. "Well, at least he thought about it! Right, guys?"

He was met with a look of pure, unadulterated disgust from Marnie. She hadn't said a word during the exchange, but her eyes were now screaming. She adjusted her backpack, her eyes narrowed into sharp slits as she looked at Ash.

"You’re a bootlicker," she said, her voice low and dangerously calm.

Ash blinked, his grin faltering. "Huh? Marnie, I was just—"

"He dragged your name through the dirt. He called you a loser to your face. He insulted everything you’ve worked for," Marnie interrupted, her lip curling in disgust. "And you just stood there and smiled like a lapdog hoping for a pat on the head. Have you got no spine at all? I thought you were a Champion, but you’re just a doormat."

Like does he have no pride? Or a spine? Does he have to get approval from Dex-holders by begging.

Marnie scoffed. That's why he was so behind.

She didn't wait for an answer. She turned away from him, her posture stiff with genuine resentment. To Marnie, who had fought for every scrap of respect in Spikemuth, Ash’s refusal to defend his honor wasn't "kindness"—it was weakness of the highest order. She hated dual faced people like him. Like everytime she gives him a chance or tries to give him a benefit of doubt, he always makes her regret it.

"Let’s go," she muttered to the others, walking toward the Pokemon Centre without looking back. "We’re wasting daylight on someone who won't even stand up for himself." Ash raised an eyebrow at her tone but shrugged nonetheless.

"Wait Marnie." Victor called out. Hop & Gloria turned towards him. Ash smiled and signalled them to go ahead with Marnie. They nodded and quickly left.

Ash stood frozen for a moment, scratching his cheek as Pikachu mirrored his confused expression. "Man... everyone’s really grumpy this morning. Maybe they didn't get enough sleep either?" "Pika!"

The practice field felt significantly emptier once the others had cleared out, leaving only the lingering scent of ozone and the distant sound of the Galar Sea. Ash stood rooted to the spot, his usual boundless energy replaced by a quiet, pensive stillness.

"They're really antagonistic towards you." Kenny noted.

"I know." Ash spoke. Still, something about how Bede just narrowed it on him didn't sit right with him. It was like Bede was angry about something different entirely. Or something else was going on, which is why Bede was frustrated. 

He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "What's your plan for now? The survey trip is day after tomorrow, isn't it?"

Kenny nodded. "It is. I'm going to have brunch. Wanna join me?"

Ash scratched his head. "Dunno. I think I'm gonna talk a walk now."

Kenny shrugged. "Fair. See you later."

"Yup!"

__________________________________

The interior of the skyscraper was a cathedral of glass and steel, silent except for the hum of Galar’s energy grid. Chairman Rose stood by the panoramic window, his back to the room as he watched the distant flicker of Hulbury.

Bede stood at attention, his posture stiff. The air in the room was suffocating.

"I’ve reviewed the footage from Turffield, Bede," Rose started, his voice a calm, melodic baritone. "And I’ve been following the reports from the Hydro Rumble. This boy, Ash Ketchum... he’s a fascinating anomaly." A smile came on his face. A smile Bede rarely saw. A smile Chairman Rose only gave when he was satisfied, when Bede used to crack jokes to lighten up his mood when he was disturbed, when he made him proud, when he.... 

Then why was he smiling now? He hasn't even met that guy, Ash. Bede didn't like the feelings pooling in his stomach.

Bede’s lip curled. "An anomaly of incompetence, Chairman. He’s a 'Champion' from a backwater region with no standing. I could take the title in Alola by tomorrow afternoon. The guy is a fraud. He was the only top-tier seed to lose against Milo, and his attempt to bypass the regulations with those 'medicine' bundles was pathetic. He’s spineless, mediocre, and isn't even a Dex holder." Bede didn't hold back.

Rose needed to know that Ash wasn't worth his time. And why even the sudden interest? He could beat him pretty easily. He was the strongest amongst all Dex-holders..... Okay, maybe not Victor but, he would soon surpass him as well. That guy Ash was a distracted wreck, no seriousness, no work ethic, nothing. He cannot possibly help with Chairman Rose mission of making Galar great again. There was no competition.

Rose turned, a faint, impenetrable smile on his face. "And yet, there is a spark there. A raw potential that transcends traditional metrics. It’s a heat I haven't seen in Leon, or even in you, Bede."

The words landed a blow straight to Bede's psyche. His chest tightened. Air was instantly knocked out of his lungs. To anyone else, it was a critique; to Bede, the orphan Rose had rescued from the cold halls of the asylum, it was a threat to his very existence. He cannot allow that. He absolutely cannot.

"He has no talent!" Bede’s voice cracked with a rare flicker of desperation. "He's a distraction. A waste of your resources. To suggest he could be anywhere near me is—"

"He will be your rival. In fact, he is the trainer with the greatest potential amongst your peers." Rose interrupted, his tone sharpening just enough to command silence. "He's a mine. And more importantly, I want him under the Macro Cosmos umbrella. His presence would be an asset to Galar’s future." In more ways than one.

Rose walked toward Bede, placing a heavy, fatherly hand on his shoulder. "I need you to bridge that gap, Bede. Use this survey trip. Increase your bond with him. Cooperate. Show him the prestige of our circle, and then... ask him to join us."

Bede looked at the floor, his vision blurring with a cocktail of jealousy and wounded pride. This was the man who had given him a name, a coat, and a purpose. If Rose wanted the sun, Bede would find a way to pluck it from the sky—so why..... Why he needed someone else?

"I understand," Bede whispered, his voice trembling as he forced his emotions back into a cold, hard box. "I will do as you ask."

"I knew I could count on you," Rose said, already turning back to his terminal.

Bede turned and walked toward the elevator. As the doors hissed shut, his expression twisted into a mask of pure, frigid resolve. "Yes, Father," he muttered to the empty air.

Rose smiled to himself. Oleana turned towards him.

"I don't think he agrees with your decision."

Rose smiled. "I know. But I also know my decision was right."

------------------- x -------------------

Bede clenched his fist. He was wrong. He was absolutely wrong. He knew father had an eye for talent but this time his decision was absolutely wrong.

But there was that fear in his heart. What if his father was right? What if Ketchum really had potential greater than them? What if he surpasses him & Chairman Rose doesn't need him anymore. He said that I had even greater potential than Leon. But if Ketchum also had hidden potential greater than him then..... Bede shook his head.

Absolutely not. Bede smirked, trying to calm himself. Ash is just a spineless fraud who wants to get into the good graces of Dex-holders like him and use them since he knows that alone, he's useless. That's why even in Pokemon Centre, he didn't even bother trying to defend himself.

But still, Chairman Rose was amazing. He could transform even a poor chap like Ash into something more. What if he becomes more interested in him and leaves him behind. He'll work twice for Chairman Rose if needs to. Hell he'll never feel the absence of Ash. He scowled. I'm sorry father. But I absolutely cannot accept working with someone as mediocre as him. 

That was the only reason. Ash was mediocre & couldn't help Chairman Rose. There was no other reason he was getting so defensive. He was just saving father from wasting his time & resources. He was enough. More than enough.

_______________________________

The coastal breeze of Hulbury, usually refreshing, now felt like a cold draft cutting through Ash’s damp hoodie. As he walked, the rhythmic thud-thud of his shoes on the cobblestone was drowned out by the low, jagged hum of a city that had already decided who he was.

"That's him, isn't it? The one from the pharmacy?"

"I heard he’s a ringer. A 'Champion' from some tropical getaway brought in to make the Chairman look good."

"Look at that Pikachu. Probably drugged up on those 'supplements' he was caught with."

"No. He's strong. I saw him battle at Hydro Rumble."

"Yeah. He's good."

"That is called a show. It's all propaganda to manipulate us."

"Yeah. Like isn't it suspicious that he & the kid in the final were friends who knew each other."

"Also these competitions are held by Macro Cosmos, the same one who tested his pokemon."

"Yeah. They are the ones who decide who wins. It's all rigged."

"No. He's legitimate."

Ash kept his head down, but the weight of the words was physical. Every sidelong glance felt like a needle. He was used to being the underdog, but he wasn't used to being the villain. In Alola, he was a symbol of the strength; here, he was a stain on the prestige of the Galar League.

He stopped in front of the massive screen towering over the town square. The high-definition display flickered with the smug, symmetrical faces of Sordward and Shielbert.

"The integrity of our ancient League is at stake," Shielbert’s voice echoed through the plaza, dripping with manufactured concern. "To allow a 'Champion' of such dubious origin—a boy doping his pokemon—to bypass the standard battles? It reeks of backroom deals."

 

 

"Indeed," Sordward sneered, flicking his ridiculous hair. "If Macro Cosmos is so desperate to recruit 'talent' that they must bribe a foreign child with a history of recklessness, perhaps it is time we question who truly holds the keys to our region. This Ash Ketchum isn't a trainer; he’s a pawn in a corporate game of chess. A fraud, through and through."

 

 

A woman nearby looked from the screen to Ash, pulled her child closer, and hurried away. Ash's eyes were covered by the shadow of his cap as he walked away towards the forest.

Ash felt a hollow ache in his chest that had nothing to do with the morning’s training. It was everything hitting at once. He thought of Eevee, still fragile and isolated in her recovery. He thought of Paul, a gyy who was supposed to be his one of the best rivals, now just a ghost in a rift. He thought of Victor’s fading heartbeat and the terrifying responsibility of Puka.

He was the First Champion of Alola, a title meant to represent the strength and spirit of an entire people, and here he was—portrayed as a common cheat in a city of strangers. The "Champion" mantle felt less like an honor and more like an anchor dragging him into the marsh he had just climbed out of.

Ash collapsed under a tree, clutching his forehead. Everything he went through hitting him all at once.

Pikachu chirped a soft, worried note, rubbing his head against Ash's jaw. Ash reached up, his fingers trembling slightly as he touched his partner's ear. "Pika pi....."

"I’m okay, buddy," Ash whispered, but his voice cracked. "We just... we just have to keep moving. Right?" He wasn't able to.

But as he looked at the sky..... he felt more alone. More vulnerable. No one.... Just no one could help him, understand him.

The Earth rumbled and the sky turned crimson.

Galar particles started flying everywhere. Ash quickly stood up. "What's happening?" "Pika!?"

And at several places, lightning bolts rained down on Hulbury.