Undisclosed location

There was a time when he could have consider himself a good man.

That had been years ago, and he could no longer do so.

He told himself he was doing good things, that no matter what he did to see those things done, that it would be for the greater good.

The only good that he had left.

He placed a hand on the growth tank, sorrow the only emotion on his face. He both hated and adored the tank as it kept him from his greatest treasure but also made that treasure a possibility.

"Amber…forgive me."

It had taken far longer than he'd hoped for to find the way to stabilize the recreation of human body and flesh in a stable form that would not die.

Again, and again, and again! Over and over he'd failed but each with failure he'd been given a clue towards the road of success.

It had taken decades, and to do so he had to learn things in the last year that he suspected could destroy the world if they ever got out.

Forget what was upstairs, the things he had learned could tear a world apart, and he'd have learned those things a thousand times over if it would finally bring her back to him.

Had he taken robotics and computer programming, perhaps it would not have led him down this path. He could have simply used metal and circuits to revive his daughter, the same technology that they had developed for Subject # 150 to flash learn techniques could just as easily have been used to recreate her memories in bytes as it would in this new, perfect attempt.

Sadly he had always understood how to transcribe DNA into RNA better than making code work. He was a mechanic of flesh, an electrician of nerve impulses.

A servant of evil, crafting something that could only be used for horrible things.

They had been tasked with creating the strongest Pokémon as the payment for bringing his daughter back.

At some point it had started to be a bit of an enthusiastic project, and not something they were merely obliged to do. Among those people, they had started to dream of what the most powerful Pokémon would be like.

He could say they succeeded, if their calculations were correct.

Those calculations having joined that hit and run in his nightmares.

He moved towards the stairs, though his gaze lingered on the tank of his personal use.

He would succeed this time. Amber would be back, and then he could see that project shut down.

He had plans to see it end. He could summon the G-Men, or even another criminal organization if casualties seemed likely to be heavy. He would disappear first, he and Amber both.

They'd be far away when the island was burned to the ground, along with # 150.

He sealed the door behind him in the deepest basement before he ascended upward. No point in letting just anyone down there.

The last thing he wanted was to find one of his fellow scientists watching his daughter's rebirth incubating. They would not be looking in hope and determination if they were doing that, he feared.

Getting to the floor they kept # 150 on would take a while, and it left him time to think.

He was getting on in years; perhaps he would need to update his life insurance policy. It would be terrible twist of fate if he did die and left Amber alone. More money, more regularly, perhaps he could make that part of the G-Men's deal for his amnesty. He did have other sensitive information they could benefit from, even if he kept the darkest secrets to his own mind.

No point in trusting any organization with that information. It didn't matter if it was Team Rocket or the G-Men; that information leaving him would only end in tragedy. Some things were better left untold, no matter to whom it might be told. Even a person with the best of intentions could cause mayhem and destruction with the things he knew.

A part of him wondered if he should upgrade Amber beyond what was needed to ensure she would be reborn. There was nothing wrong with augmentation after all, and he had downloaded all of his knowledge as a test for the latest memory implantation process. He could easily give her all his knowledge along with his replication of her memories. She'd be a doctor at birth.

He had already altered her genetic code when he determined what made a Bloodliner a Bloodliner to ensure she'd survive, so what was the harm of further modifications for the same purpose?

Another part declared that was going too far, and his daughter was perfect as it was. If he made her a genius capable of running miles in record time, what did that imply about the original? That she was weak and could be made better?

The part that had thought of doing so countered that if he did die and she started to suffer unintended side effects of cloning, it would be best she knew how to work on herself genetically, and with enhancements beyond that she could even eclipse him and create a better world, perhaps even being the second coming of Professor Oak.

The negative part of him then started listing off historical tyrants! Loudly, while the positive part of him countered just as loudly about all the benefits it would bring her.

Upon realizing his mind had two distinct voices shouting in it, his decision was made.

"You know what, this is clearly an indication that I am in fact deteriorating mentally. Augmenting it is as a backup in case I need to be put into the loony house to ensure Amber's survival."

His declaration only got part of him shouting at him again, which was not an argument so much as a blaring signal of his growing madness, so he ignored it and finished walking up the stairs.

If his fracturing mind was so determined at making historical references about the dangers of genetic engineering as loudly and annoying as possible, perhaps it needed to be reminded at what a truly dangerous genetics experiment looked like.

Subject # 150.

If his daughter could be someone who could take over the world, than # 150 was someone who could destroy untold swaths of it. Not could be, was.

Or worse still, # 150 could reach the point it was more the equivalent of the apocalypse in a single living entity than a mere bringer of destruction.

He closed the door behind him at the top of the stairs, locking the top door with the same heavy duty protection as was on the bottom, with the resolute reminder that he had it within him to stop that from ever coming to pass.

Only to be greeted by fire.

The lab was in flames, smothering itself in smoke.

He immediately began coughing, glad that he had snuck in those backup generators for his basement lab. If the fire could be contained, perhaps he could still…

The smoke parted, and all thoughts in him were replaced with terror.

For the one who parted the smoke was the Pokémon whose creation gave him the chance to revive his daughter.

The Pokémon that haunted his nightmares, a terror and despair as great as seeing his own daughter struck by an automobile.

Subject # 150.

Designation, Mewtwo.

A bipedal creature, gray in body bar a long purple tail. Human-like, but inhuman in a way few Pokémon were, round digits for fingers and toes. The skin was glistening, and he wasn't entirely sure if it was from bursting out of the incubation tube, or something natural about it.

Like uncannily reflective plastic, the skin was not something he had ever seen in nature. Fitting, for this creature was not born.

It was made.

It looked at him, eyes burning with a rage with an uncanny intelligence to it. It was a mind sharper than that of any other Pokémon.

It felt almost human. An angry human.

As a blue glow formed around it, the doctor knew that he was about to die.

He would die without Amber coming back, and she was liable to be lost with him and this entire island. In trying to recover a life unfairly lost, he had created something that was a threat to everything in the world.

No matter the afterlife he found himself in, he would willing walk to his punishment for what he had done.

Seconds after declaring so, there was no more of him. Only ash.

On an island with a lot less fiery death

Like Gringy City, Cinnabar seemed to be in the improved category of places this go around.

The original one he had visited had become a soulless tourist trap, a place that had been consumed by uncontrolled capitalism and greed and lost all sight of what it was originally meant to be. Innovation and morality having been traded in for trending market focused detritus that was fully under the sway of those opposed to freedom.

He'd have never phrased it like that, but he could see someone saying that. Most of them looking like Blaine's disguise, interestingly enough.

This Cinnabar was a lot less of that. Sure, there were tourist shops and a lot of tourists, but it wasn't nearly as concentrated or as thick.

He could actually see places that didn't seem meant to cater to tourists, for one thing. The Battle Club was certainly not there originally.

Though he could say that about the Kanto Battle Clubs in general, though if they were in Kanto originally he doubted one would have been in Cinnabar.

"This place seems busier than Seafoam, I wonder why that is?"

Iris's question could be answered by himself. It was something he had seen signs for while they were here, so he could say it was still in effect.

"This island has hot springs."

Iris's interest was piqued by his point, though the interest seemed to vanish when she looked into the skyline of the island nervously.

"Hot springs are often around volcanoes."

Her comment was made in a way that was heavy on the worry.

"I'm pretty sure it's not going to blow up anytime soon."

'It's smoking'.

Anabel's point made him freeze mid-step as he tried to figure out the best way to counter the idea that a smoking volcano was a sign of imminent doom.

"If it isn't creating any earthquakes, it's fine. Plus, if it was about to blow up, would there really be so many tourists around?"

Ash hoped tourists didn't do anything stupid in the next few seconds to prove they were not a barometer for doom.

…

It was more of about two minutes really, but they did spot a kiosk about volcanoes that did in fact confirm the Cinnabar Volcano was not fully active.

It did tell Ash that an active volcano did release toxic gases that could kill a living creature in seconds that wasn't specifically adapted to it, which did make him wonder how getting the Volcano Badge the first time did not kill him.

Or die from the other times he was around bubbling volcanoes.

Perhaps they were just less dangerous in the old days.

…(*)

The Cinnabar Battle Club was rather lively that day. Ash found it unusual that there were so many Trainers, and from what he managed to pick up among the screaming, all of them were trying to call dibs to challenge Blaine.

"Butt out, you idiot, I got here first!"

"You're just a noob, I'm coming for my final badge!"

"No fair, I want my rematch, now!"

The last one was familiar to Ash, a guy he had fought once before getting that invitation he could never answer, but ignoring him, with so many people waiting to challenge Blaine, what was he supposed to do? Would he have to get in the line and wait for his turn?

"AWW, SHUT UUUUUPPP!"

The female screaming voice, along with a large Overheat flaming stream fired up to the air got people to calm down, and everybody glanced at the source. A fiery red-haired girl about fourteen and her Flareon had been the ones responsible for the scream and the attack to get the crowd to be quiet. Ash could have sworn the girl's skin looked a little bit red, possibly out of anger for the noise or the effort of shouting atop her lungs to get everyone to quiet down.

She needed a deep breath before she could continue.

"Now that we're all calm here, this is the situation. Grandpa is too busy with his research work today, so he can't accept any challenges at least until tomorrow."

Grandpa? Gym Badge? Cinnabar? Was she Blaine's granddaughter? That was a thing this time round?

Also, she mentioned something about Blaine doing research work. Was it on the history of riddles or something?

"Mr. Don George, if you were so kind?"

The male possessor of Jenny-Joy syndrome tightened his belt before continuing.

"Of course. Listen everybody, we're doing a mini-tournament here and now. We'll have rounds of one-on-one battles in a sudden death elimination, and depending on the ranking, we'll determine the order to challenge Blaine. Does everyone agree?"

There were some mumbles, but most of them were apparently Trainers with four badges or above, so most of them felt confident enough to accept. Those who didn't just left, leaving about a dozen and a half Trainers including Ash and discounting Misty, Iris and Anabel.

For some reason, though, the red-haired girl with the Flareon looked at him, and for some other reason her eyes sparkled as she ran towards Ash and spoke in excited glee.

"You! Yes, it's you, there's no mistaking it!"

"Er… me?" Ash said a little uncomfortably taking a small step back since this girl didn't seem to have a sense of personal space.

"Yes, you! Ash from Pallet Town, aren't you?" Her excitement built with every word spoken, and as she did so her skin seemed to continuously get a bit more blush-pink as the temperature around her suddenly raised. Hopefully that didn't mean...

"Yeah, it's him, but please give him some room for breathing, will you?" Misty intervened, thankfully, and she apologized quickly enough.

"Oh, sorry, I'm Alish by the way. The local Gym Leader is my Grandpa Blaine and I'm always on the lookout for new Trainers to challenge him. I saw your matches in the Lavender Battle Dome and the Fuchsia Tag Tournament, you were incredible! I was wondering when you would come here to challenge my Grandpa!"

Ash chuckled nervously, apparently his growing fame had reached as far as Cinnabar, but it still felt awkward. Meanwhile, he could see through the corner of his eye that Misty seemed to be trying to hold back the urge to push her away from him, but it didn't look like the girl was attracted to him or anything. At least she was refraining from making physical contact.

"I... thank you, I guess I feel flattered."

"Hey, I'm hoping you win this, I'll be rooting for you! Kick their butts!"

And without further words, the girl went to the spectators' seats, while Don George registered everyone's info for the improvised tournament. Ash figured it wouldn't hurt to get his Pokémon to do some additional training before the Gym battle.

The matches went one after another without much difficulty, in fact, in the semifinals his opponent preferred to back down before fighting him when he found out who he was. That sucked, and he was quite glad he had decided to not bring Charizard out against the guy. Now it was just him and the other guy coming for a rematch. Don George then walked into the referee box.

"The final match between Raymond and Ash is about to begin. It'll be a one-on-one battle and the Pokémon who remains standing will be the winner. You guys ready?"

Ash nodded in acknowledgement of George's request.

"Ready."

Raymond didn't give a 'ready' as he took out his Pokéball, but he did have something to say.

"Tsk, I don't know what the ruckus about you is. No matter, you'll be a good warm up before my rematch with that old duff. Golem, go!"

As the Rock-type appeared on the field, Ash considered his choices. In the past timeline he had been able to beat the guy with almost no trouble. Time to see if he could do the same now, but just in case, he'd be careful.

He'd have Pikachu fight him if he popped up again, but for now he'd be a bit more by the book.

"Squirtle, I choose you!"

"Squirtle!" The turtle landed with a flip and stared at their opponents. Just as Don George gave them the signal to begin, Raymond gave him a glance and then burst into laughter.

"Hahahahaha! No really, you don't seriously believe that little squirt has a chance against my Golem! At least use a Wartortle, then you might actually last ten seconds."

"Only one way to find out. Squirtle, Water Gun!"

Squirtle fired a high-pressured water stream, hitting Golem so hard in the face that he rolled backwards until he almost left the field's boundaries. Raymond's smug smirk all but vanished in an instant.

"Golem, fire Rock Blast! Don't let that pipsqueak make fools of us!"

He thought he heard Alish mutter something about it being 'too late for that', but he couldn't say for sure.

Golem rolled forward to get himself upright again and several of his armored plates glowed, firing chunks of rock at Squirtle. Pretty big, but nowhere near as fast as Boldore's. They were no problem for them.

"Iron Defense and Counter-Shield!"

"Squirtle!" 'Hope this works.'

Squirtle retracted into his shell and it took a metallic layer for a couple of seconds. Boldore had been kind enough to teach him a stronger defensive move to replace Withdraw, so when the first projectile hit, he barely felt a thing despite being sent flying. Using the same momentum he began spinning as he fired water through his shell's holes, deflecting the following rocks with little difficulty as he arched back like a flying saucer and struck Golem himself. Squirtle landed on the other side without problems and turned around, ready for the next move.

Raymond's next command was tinted with sharp anger.

"Golem, use Rollout and crush that little squirt!"

"Counter with Water Pulse!"

Squirtle formed a water sphere in his hands, the fruit of recent training to pass the move limit, making it bigger than usual thanks to his training with Misty and her Gyarados in her recent push to additional training. The water ball was thrown, stopping Golem dead in his tracks and trapping him in a great bubble that burst a couple seconds later, splashing all over the field. Golem fell to the ground with a loud slam, and when he got back up, his eyes were spinning and disoriented.

"Golem, snap out of it!"

"Use Return, Squirtle!"

The faster they ended the battle, the better for them. Squirtle leaped forward as his fist glowed white, delivering a hard punch right at Golem's face, sending him rolling backwards. He managed to right himself, but was still dazed by the confusion.

"What the hell, how did that attack hit so hard?! And from an unevolved starter Pokémon!"

Raymond's disbelief was matched only by the resolution of his response.

"We're stronger together, that's how! Squirtle, finish this with Brine!"

"Squirt...TLE!"

And with that single command, all the damage Golem had suffered from the previous attacks was capitalized by the salty water stream, dragging Golem through a trench and splashing water all over the place. After that last hit, he rolled one last time and stopped moving, unable to get back up.

"Golem is unable to battle, Squirtle wins! Victory is for Ash from Pallet Town!" Don George's declaration was followed by a fist pump into the air Squirtle and Pikachu joined him in

"Yeah!"

"AAARRRGHH, NO, NOOOOOOOO! HOW COULD I LOSE LIKE THIS?!" Raymond's cry rang out as he fell to his knees, despondent. From her seat though, Alish did not seem sympathetic.

"Just like you lost to my Grandpa, you jerk! Now that you've lost again you should scram!"

Raymond grunted something Ash didn't get, but after seeing Squirtle donning his shades and crossing his arms, as if saying "Deal with it", he finally left in a huff. Ash and Pikachu approached to high five with Squirtle. They had won the right to challenge Blaine first, that was great.

With the club now getting a bit cleared off of people, Alish approached to congratulate him, along with the rest of his companions.

"Congrats, I knew you'd kick that idiot's butt all the way to Viridian," she said. Ash still felt a little awkward to see her so excited, and even his friends seemed a little embarrassed at her fiery enthusiasm. "Well like I said, my Grandpa can't take your challenge until tomorrow so... do you guys have a place to stay?"

"Come to think about it, we haven't had the chance to check in any hotel, and the Pokémon Center is full." Misty's tone was filled with dread, as if she could from across time and space remember how busy these hotels could be here.

"Oh, that's no problem. You can come to our Inn, we offer discounts for Gym challengers and also..."

Right then, everyone's stomachs growled loudly. Why did that always happened?

"And we can offer you a buffet dinner too. What do you say?"

…

They said yes, and after a fairly unremarkable check in they settled in until the big day tomorrow.

…

The slope of the volcano was easy enough to teleport to, and it was remote enough they could be generally unnoticed on it.

It was the best place for her to train with Ash before the Gym battle.

"Shattered Psyche!"

One such training was seeing if the new trick would be an option for Ash in the next battle.

Ash was thinking on how to use the technique on someone who wasn't overconfident, before her Kadabra could attempt to teleport out of the way he had Butterfree use Sleep Powder.

With that Kadabra was vulnerable, and he would not have been able to take that attack and still stand.

However there was more to battling than exchanging move per move.

"Vee!"

Eevee may not be able to hear her, but she was good at reading moods as well as what was needed in a battle at the moment.

That in this case was interrupting the buildup on Butterfree, and Quick Attack was the move to do so.

The speedy tackle struck Butterfree just before the move launched, causing the energy to spiral out of Butterfree into the air like pink fireworks instead of the intended attack.

"Free!?"

Butterfree's confusion was followed by a thump as he skidded on the rocky surface of the volcano for a few feet before Ash was able to jump down and catch him.

Holding Butterfree and with an unspoken decision to end the training match right there, she returned Kadabra to his ball for healing later as she floated down to where Ash was standing, followed by Ash's Boldore who skidded down on her three feet.

"I can't believe you managed to do that."

Ash breathed his surprise as Eevee jumped onto her shoulder and mewed in protest.

'Actually, she made the move, I just thought we had to do it. Still, even if you are getting better at using the move at more power, you still don't have experience in using it against opponents yet.'

"Some time at the Battle Club…"

She admired Ash's optimism; it was something she tried to share whenever possible. However this was not quite the time to be that way.

'Will not make it ready to go against a Gym Leader. If Eevee can throw a Z-Move off with Quick Attack, I am quite sure any Pokémon with that move can do so. Last I checked, most Fire-types in Kanto can learn that move.'

She had actually heard the Pokédex mention that once, of the Kanto Fire Pokémon had records of (by that meaning no Moltres data), only the Growlithe and Magmar families could not use it. Even then Arcanine could use Extreme Speed, which was Quick Attack 2.0.

'It's not nearly ready to be saved for a secret weapon. If the Gym Leader didn't use Fire-type Pokémon or some other type Butterfree wouldn't do well against I'd say at least have it on you in case of a large amount of Pokémon. Not even the four Pokémon Janine used, more like five or six. As it is now it would only be a bad choice.'

Sound advice was not always pleasant, but it was important to heed none the less. Disappointment covered Ash's and Butterfree's faces, and Pikachu offered a few words of shared disappointment with his Trainer and first capture.

However Ash quickly recovered, with a determined grin on his face as always.

"Well I guess that that means I'll just save the Z-Move for the next Gym. So, who would be a good choice who isn't obvious?"

Discussing the question went on for a good half hour further into the night.

…

Their hotel, other than being a place to stay that wasn't boiling over in either intense heat (like a secret base on the volcano slope) or occupancy, had a different clientele than the other hotels.

It attracted a lot of offbeat types, including visiting scientists to the Research Laboratory and the musicians who played at other hotels for in-guest entertainment.

Apparently giving them a place to stay was not part of the paycheck, or perhaps it was a case of getting more money if you didn't do that even after getting separate rent.

If she was more curious she'd probably see if she could pick up on which was the case.

Regardless a green track-suit wearing young man finished his guitar practice slash free entertainment for the Big Riddle Inn guests and took his leave as a different musician, one much older than the track-suited youth, took his practice spot and set his harp in place and begun stroking the strings.

It took only a few notes for Anabel to begin feeling her eyes water. The musical instrument was channeling emotion through the notes in what she could only describe as a super-effective manner.

Or was it just that she was more sensitive to lingering emotions in things than others? She noticed Iris and Ash over at the buffet; perhaps she'd ask them if they were feeling the same thing.

The music continued to play, seconds turning into minutes of the emotionally charged music as she closed her eyes, feeling a bit self-conscious about the effect she was feeling from it.

However with her sight closed, she felt the emotions of the notes even stronger, and heard their meaning more clearly.

The tune being practiced, a practice of allowing emotion to be conveyed purely through the plucking of strings, was being channeled from the man's heart.

From the part of the heart his wife held, and still held even after her death some time ago.

She was drawn in before she could really think about it to exact about the time, and she got the impression of something that happened decades in the past.

Of a day that many did not soon forget, when an angry youth and a pack of Gyarados leveled cities.

Even today the emotions he felt towards her, both loving and sad, were pure and strong, channeled through his fingers and strings. The emotion wafted through the air and towards her and all others present.

Including the man's current wife.

Morbid curiosity drew her towards the woman, little details coming to her about her.

The man's wife of thirty-four years, second love of a man who lost his first to a madman. She had known the first wife, and had affection towards the husband even before her death.

It turned to love in the time it took to recover from devastation.

The woman knew quite well where the music came from. It came from the part of the man's heart that belonged to another woman.

The other woman.

The woman who was dead for twice as long as Anabel had been alive and a good few more years to spare.

And yet, she smiled sadly at the music. Not smiling in victory, but in knowing where the music came from and appreciating everything that was put into it.

Anabel could feel the faintest hint of an emotion, a less positive one, also present. She couldn't name it unless she really went into the woman's feelings, but it was there.

Yet it was so small and restricted it didn't seem to really affect her appreciation of the music, her view on her husband, or his first wife.

After a few more minutes the man rested his hands, the music falling silent. After a few more moments for her eyes to clear up she opened them up again, and let out a deep exhale to let out some of the feels from that experience.

Her gaze then rested on Iris. She wasn't looking at her, instead having gotten into a surprisingly vivid discussion about the nature of teriyaki sauce with Misty for some reason, yet she was reminded of that conversation they had under the waterfall.

Was that what Iris thought she'd be like with Ash and other women? Quite possibly even without that little black dot of negativity to the whole thing?

Regardless of what Iris did or didn't mean, the song did prove that such things did exist outside of Iris's view of the world.

The question now was for Iris to prove if it applied to her just as much as it did the musician's wife.

…

After the buffet dinner, Ash found himself enjoying an after-dinner soak in the hot-spring that Blaine had at the Big Riddle Inn.

It was a bit different from the original one, beyond the fact that Blaine actually had customers this time around.

The barrier between the bathing areas seemed more solid. Was that because the Gym secret entrance didn't need to break it down to open?

(Also was that an intentional design choice by Blaine originally? Hard to tell with the crazy old man).

It seemed a bit better at muffling sounds from the other side, though he couldn't remember just how much he could hear Misty back in the day so maybe it was always like that.

Regardless of the exact reason, his thoughts drifted to the next day's battle.

Blaine used Fire-types, which were weak against Ground, Rock, and Water-type Pokémon, along with the occasional Rhydon. He had no idea just how many Pokémon Blaine would be using. He used three Pokémon last time, but he could easily change that up.

The obvious Pokémon to use were Squirtle, Kingler, and Boldore, but type would not be the only factor.

Anabel wasn't wrong in pointing out just how fast a lot of Fire-type Pokémon were in Kanto. They weren't a bunch of Slugma.

Plus he was pretty sure all of them could use Solar Beam, and by not being in a volcano Blaine would have all the sunlight he could need.

He would not be able to get away with not using Charizard, and Pikachu was always with him. That just left a single other Pokémon.

Assuming he didn't decide to leave Kingler behind, Kingler might be a bit more vulnerable to speed than Squirtle and Boldore were, and using two Water-types could make him vulnerable to some odd strategy.

If Erika was able to use rain and Janine Stealth Rock, who knew what sort of tricks a man of science could pull off.

Anabel had suggested Goodra as an option, setting up Rain Dance could work. Of course there were also Ambipom and Tauros, who Ash could see doing pretty well. If a Magcargo came up Primeape could be a good choice if Yawn was around, as Primeape's ability was Vital Spirit.

He'd probably not use Pidgeot, seeing as he didn't think Blaine would have a Gym open enough to really let his Flying-type use her full potential.

Could he possibly use Farfetch'd?

A few splashes idly broke his train of thought. Some people were leaving the pool and others were coming in, not a problem. He could take the heat for quite a while longer before he'd need to get out for a bit for a cooling shower.

The sound of displaced water came his way, and soon a trio of guys within the area of his age had waded over to his end.

As he was sitting on the end where the water was being pumped into the spring, they were probably here for the feel of the water flow…

"…So this is the fence? Gotta be a hole here somewhere."

Or not.

Ash glared at the trio as they examined the dividing wall closely before giving them a piece of his mind.

"What do you think you're doing?"

His accusing tone stopped the trio's wood examining before turning his way with blunt expressions.

"Gee, we're three hot-blooded fellows looking for a peeping hole in a hot-spring. What do you think dumbass?"

"You know that is what creeps do, right? Also I'm fairly certain that's illegal."

The trio did not seem perturbed by his comment.

"What, you don't want to see the babes? Sure there are some Grans, but there are some real stunners over there. Like that redhead. She's got all the stuff."

Ash's hands balled into fists under the water at the remark, he really did not like the grin the Trainer had on his face when he was talking about someone who could only be Misty. He didn't see any other redheads here after all. Except for Alish he guessed, but that was just another name to put forward in the 'don't be creeps' argument. Also no word about the legality?

"Sure she's a stunner, but she's a tad too tall for my taste, and don't even get me started on that really tall one with the exotic skin. Where do you even get skin like that? Now that lavender-haired friend of hers…." The second of them licked his lips when talking about Anabel, and it made him glare at them even more. Ash could feel his fingernails digging into his palms as he tried to keep calm and resist the urge to physically defend his friends.

"I mean, how could you not want to see them in all their…?"

"Pretty sure he's their friend actually. I saw them check in together."

The third fellow interrupted the question of the first, drawing the attention of all three on him as more than the guy 'interrupting their fun'.

Though this fact didn't really cause them to go 'oh, that's why he's telling us not to be creeps. We should totally stop being creeps'.

They just looked confused.

"What, you travel with three attractive girls and you don't want to see them au naturel, as the Kalosians would say?"

"Or do you already see them that way, and you want to be the only one who does? Did your mother never teach you to share? I mean, all we'd be doing is looking, while you can probably do a lot more than just looking."

Ash leveled a long glare at them.

Sure, with the recent admittance to himself that he did find them attractive sparked by knowing they found him attractive, he wouldn't mind the sight. But peeping on them, even ignoring the entire part about moral and most likely legal consequences, would not be worth the fact that it would likely be quite easy for Anabel to tell that he was doing so.

All that would do would make him look like scum to her, and she'd probably inform Misty. She'd react the same way.

So no, he was not going to stare through a hole in the fence at them. There was no way that would end well for him even if he didn't get thrown in jail.

Plus, if he really wanted to see one of them naked, he could just ask Iris. It wouldn't be the first time that had happened after all.

While he maintained his glare at them, internally Ash wondered where that thought had come from. Why on earth would that come up?

What brought it up, indignation at them thinking he was like them? A bubbling of snark kept internal? Puberty?

He had invoked puberty as being rarely a problem for his life, was it now getting back at him for saying that by making itself a lot more bothersome?

Did it team up with Karma, and his jokes with Bulbasaur about it were now coming back to haunt him?

The question of if Karma had decided to punish him was promptly answered when the water began to enter the pool at a hotter temperature. The trio winced and tried to suck it up, before leaving the fence woozily, a tad pink as they got out the sides of the spring, needing a cold shower before they could get back into the water safely.

The water returned to its old temperature soon after, leaving Ash soaking in the water, quite glad to see those jerks were gone.

Though due to the direction the conversation had eventually gone, it became necessary for him to take a bit longer to leave. The trio's words causing certain thoughts and images to appear in his mind that resulted in a bodily reaction that wasn't really publicly acceptable. .

Curse puberty, even if it wasn't plotting with Karma.

Hopefully Togepi was asleep by now in his room, which would let Pikachu sleep too. He might be a bit longer than planned.

…

Meanwhile on the other side of the fence…

"Be careful how close you get to the fence, or how long you hang around there. Grandpa has motion sensors in place that will react if someone stands too close for too long, and then you'll be steamed out."

Alish's point only made half sense to Misty, who stared at the fence in confusion.

"I get on the guy's side, but why the girl's side?"

Sure if she knew for a certainty that Ash was directly in line of sight of a hole she might, or maybe or possibly…but it seemed more likely she would catch sight of an old man.

"Because an old lady snuck in the screwdriver, not an old man."

The morning

Iris did not particularly sleep well on beds, nor inside of buildings. The only time she could really say a bed worked for her was after the Sabrina attack, and that was quite different.

She was aware of why they were using a hotel; she was there when it happened. She did not think it would be nearly as strange as the others thought it would be if they had declined and found a place to use Secret Power.

Though with how many people were on this island, she agreed that finding a place as quiet as the inn would probably be difficult, she could see the benefit.

Regardless she would not have gotten the best sleep. Either because of the noise, or because of the softness and staleness.

She watched the moon as it made the last stretch of night glow. She wouldn't be able to go back to sleep.

"Ax."

Her brother was still asleep though, still within the confines of the room even with the fresh air from the open door she had stepped through. He was not so affected by the stale air and unnatural softness like she was.

It was a good quality.

Was it one she would ever learn? She could not say she could teach them, but she was aware that regaining beds as a constant was new to them.

It was something they could just as easily do, they just chose not to.

Her lack of sleep did get her thinking, though in a way she did not normally do.

Nor was she particularly happy to have thought of it.

She could see a quite nice future ahead for themselves. Among them, and the most brilliant of all, was the utter defeat of J and the freedom of her family.

Though she had to admit, the idea of the future with everyone and possibly others living together was catching up in appeal to their rescue and avenging. They were rarely in conflict though, as she usually did see the rescue involve all of their talents in some way or another.

What she was not fond of thinking of however, was the possibility that the family that raised her, and the family she formed to rescue the first family, might not become a single large whole.

She had been jolted awake by the travels sought by the Dragonite, and the travels sought by Ash, Misty and Anabel, being in such conflict.

And being asked by both to make a choice of which of them she wanted to be with.

What was the right thing to do in that situation? She was aware that at some point, you could easily leave a group to form your own. It was a sign of maturity in many species.

Even humans did it.

But the idea of declaring that option after so much work to get them back…Iris had to admit it was an odd thing to do. To spend so much time accomplishing something, and not being a part of it when it was all over.

It was not something she liked thinking about, but now that she had…she could not forget it.

Especially as she could not figure out how time affected the choice. Would reaching the choice too quickly mean that there would not be time to try to have them all come to love travelling on their own away from civilization, and would a long time mean that there would be more possible sources of conflict?

May Ash battle well that day, to banish the question away from her.

Pallet Town, also early morning

The Professor should be smiling today.

There was plenty going his way. His research was going well, the investor interest in the tech he had worked on with Boxer was high and both of them could finally relax around the sight of numbers, and despite his fears from some odd casting choices and story changes in pre-release material that reboot of a show he liked from two decades ago was actually good five episodes in.

And yet, there was a simple problem.

"Hey Gramps, you won't hear me for a while. I need to do something serious. See you at Indigo."

His grandson. That was the last he had heard from him a while, and he was worried for him, even as that phone conversation continued to linger in his mind.

What had happened to his grandson to warrant such a choice? Where was he? Was he going to be alright?

How would he know if something happened to him? The world may be safer than in his day, but that just meant plungers didn't need to also be capable of fighting off Grimer attacks from the toilet.

The fact that plungers didn't need the bayonet attachment did not mean that his Grandson couldn't get eaten by a swarm of some and he'd never hear from him again.

He still wasn't sure if his decision to not tell Daisy that her brother was out of reach at the moment was a good decision or not on his part.

A knock at his door removed him from his family worries.

"Come in!"

His shout was followed by the door swinging open, and a familiar set of steps approaching him.

"Oh Professor, pardon me. I just….just want to talk."

It was Delia. The Professor nodded at his old friend, who took a seat on one of his couches. She did in fact seem worried about something.

She also looked a bit tired. Did she not sleep all that well?

"Go ahead my dear. Talking and being talked to is literally part of my job description, and I appreciate conversations that don't require a citation list every so often."

He took his own seat as she yawned, confirming his suspicions about her lack of sleep.

"Ash is in Cinnabar, right?"

He nodded to Delia's question. He was there earning his sixth badge after defeating the Fuchsia Gym, even if he really didn't need to be doing so.

"Are you worried about making everything look nice before he comes here? A ferry from Cinnabar to close enough to here isn't that fast moving, and I doubt he'll be picky about the state of the home. Trust me dear, after traveling for days a single dusty mantle isn't going to drive him to contempt."

There was also the fact that Ash Ketchum was not a stickler for cleanliness, but that was beside the point.

"No, that isn't it. I'm honestly just worried. Little old me, worry-warting over my fifteen-year-old son like he's still my little baby."

"They never stop being your little babies, even when they're dead."

His morbid comment on his own experience caused Delia's eyes to drift to a family photo from nearly two decades ago, from shortly before he became a Grandfather.

"They never do, do they. Ash can get taller and taller, and I can only see that little boy sucking his thumb. Yet, I can't help but worry what my little boy's seen and experienced since he's left. Manipulative Gym Leaders, falling out of the sky, I don't even want to know why he has all of those affectionate Grimer…"

Both their eyes drifted to the doors to see if any of them were present with an interest to smother. Thankfully it was not the case.

"…And worse, if he's met people who don't see him as just a friendly boy, but something to be afraid of."

Oh yes, that would probably worry her from time to time.

"I'd love to tell you that wouldn't ever happen, but I'd be lying if I told you that isn't possible. Animosity is as likely an obstacle for him to face at some point as a hailstorm or a great storm. All anyone can do in the face of such things is to stand strong and weather the storm until it passes, as they usually do."

He specifically avoided referencing something that was inevitable, as it was possible to keep things similar to Bloodliner status hidden.

He still had old buddies from the day coming out. He'd never have guessed his old partner in elementary sciences was pansexual.

"Yet, I think he can get through it. He's a wonderful kid, and anyone who can look twice at him can see that. Plus he has friends with him who are just like him who can help him through it."

He was still getting data from his machines about all four of them after all, even if he never went up to him and said that his two new companions were like himself and Misty.

It was certainly interesting data, though he wasn't sure he could make it into anything major yet.

Delia seemed to wince when he mentioned Ash's companions, and at his curious look she elaborated.

"That's not helping me sleep either. I'll admit it's silly of me, but I can't help but think you know. My little wonderful boy and three girls. All alone…and Ash isn't as oblivious as we all joke."

It was probably not going to help, but the Professor couldn't help himself. He raised an eyebrow at Delia and pointed out, in some amusement, the irony.

"I distinctly remember you talking to me once, not that long ago, about Ash not noticing how many girls found him attractive, and now you are worried about him doing so. How times change."

Delia blushed at the reminder.

"Well, I guess I did ask for it. I'm just half-worried I'm going to get told I'm going to be a grandmother when he gets back here is all, quite possibly multiple times over."

"Ash isn't completely oblivious, but he isn't that aware."

The two laughed that bit off. It was probably true, he knew the boy fairly well, and Delia infinitely more so.

Ash certainly could have started noticing girls more while traveling with several, but it was probably a new thing. Factoring in youthful awkwardness and Delia was certainly not going to be told anytime soon she was going to be a grandmother.

Still, they should see Ash and his friends soon, and when that happened Delia could hopefully stop having dreams about her son going through innocence destroying trials of barbed put downs and hatred filled glares, or her being made a Grandmother before she was thirty-five.

Then she could start having new concerns. Like the fact that when Ash returned, the attention girls had for him would be amplified with that of his gained fame.

If he came back with something more, like perhaps a few more inches of height or muscle, Delia might need to barb the windows. Oak kept those thoughts to himself however as they would probably cause her more stressful and sleepless nights.

Back on Cinnabar

The Gym that had, in one timeline, become a shamble stood proud and tall this time around.

It was built better too, instead of looking more like a shed than an actual Gym it was built from stone. A glowing lamp in the shape of a Volcano Badge glowed from the entrance, and flanking the path into the Gym were two Arcanine statues.

'Well, this is it. You ready?'

Ash nodded at Anabel's question, Pikachu sparking his cheeks in agreement.

A team was assembled, options were in hand, and he checked what Pokémon could possibly learn Stealth Rock.

If Blaine used that Rhydon again, or a Magcargo, Numel, Camerupt, Torkoal, Chimchar, Monferno, Infernape, or that Alolan Marowak he only just found out was a thing, he would not give them a chance to set up the way Janine did.

If it never came up, he still had everything he could need to win this battle.

The wrist that held his Z-ring seemed to gain a few pounds of weight as he thought that.

Perhaps not everything, but he doubted that not having it would cost him this fight.

The moment they stepped in front of the Arcanine statues, a recording played.

"I am both terror and protector, often to the very same. It is by the lead of those I follow that makes me noble or ignoble."

Oh joy, a riddle.

"Sounds like he's describing a Pokémon."

Misty's observation did seem right. He could see how that would be referring to a Pokémon, more so than any comment made about wigs and firefighters in the past.

Still, following both noble or ignoble applied to pretty much every Pokémon, and he wasn't sure how being both scary and protective would narrow it down.

He had seen scary Togepi after all. Terror was relative.

"It's also probably a Fire Pokémon of some sort."

Again Misty offered a good point.

"We could just smash the door through. Excadrill could probably do it."

Iris offered a point that he probably should save for the last resort.

But on the point about it being a Fire Pokémon, that did narrow things down.

Pikachu pointed to the statues, and Ash thought about it for a moment.

An Arcanine was certainly a noble Pokémon, and it could likely be ignoble with the wrong owner. He could see Arcanine protecting something too, even if it wasn't its own pups.

He struggled to imagine Arcanine as scary though. That seemed more like something you'd call Houndoom…

Memories of that Houndoom and the Mareep farmer flared in his mind, and he couldn't help but think he had it.

"What is Houndoom?!"

Iris looked at him oddly for how he said it, but the doors let out a correct sounding jingle and slid open.

…

The arena was honestly a bit standard looking, like a dirt version of the one the Gym Leader had suspended above lava.

It wasn't really until one saw it without lava and chains that it really was shown to be bog-standard.

As opposed to swamp standard, Ash suspected.

The origin of phrases aside, Blaine was currently on the other side of the arena, staring at him as if he was nuts.

Beyond not being sure why Blaine was doing so, Ash did have to blink to make sure it was in fact Blaine he was looking at.

Sure he wasn't partially cosplaying as a hippie this time around, but all the hair on his head was now gone. He did have a mustache though, and was dressed instead in a white lab coat with a pair of black shades covering his eyes that were much smaller than his original ones.

Also he had a cane, though he seemed to be more using it for the effect than full need of it. There seemed to be something on the bottom of the cane's rounded tip, but Ash wasn't sure what exactly it was as Blaine's hand rested there.

Was he going to do that Willy-Wonka thing with the cane at some point? That seemed oddly likely for some reason. Or was what Ash noticed at the tip of the cane going to come into play.

For some reason, Ash's eyes kept being drawn to it.

"How on earth are you still alive?"

It took Ash a moment to realize that he was probably referring to Sabrina, which probably also factored into his 'are you nuts' stare.

"Careful planning and good friends."

Blaine shook his head at the response, though he did seem to be looking at him in a different way. As if Blaine was processing observations so minute about him that Ash couldn't even figure them out.

Or he was plotting a riddle, one of the two.

"I see. Clearly you are one who possesses not only talent and drive, but also luck. That's certainly important. Therefore it is clear I'm going to have to pull out more of the stops than usual to see if you're ready. After all, Giovanni is notoriously prickly, and I may be the last stop worth your time."

At Blaine's declaration a metal cylinder dropped from the ceiling, before stopping a few inches from the ground. Floating there, two slots extended out of the cylinder's side, each jutting out a pair of flags.

"Judge program initiating. Gym Battle to begin. Each side is to use five Pokémon each, with no substitutions allowed for the defending Gym Leader. When one side is completely depleted, the battle will be decided."

The cylinder was one of those judging robots. Neat.

"Five on five, I can do that. I was ready if you wanted to go a full six on six!"

Blaine chuckled at the idea.

"Certainly possible, but that would be a bit long. Five is plenty!"

As Alish, Misty, Iris, and Anabel moved to take their seats, Blaine held up and threw his first Pokéball, which revealed a bubbling lava creature with a black shell.

Or as it was more commonly known…

"Magcargo, the Lava Pokémon. Magcargo's bodies are made of a material very similar to lava, and can interact with lava without disintegration. However, it is not in fact lava and is thus safe to be in contact with. In some countries, having a Magcargo or Slugma slither across your back is considered quite relaxing."

"Car?"

Magcargo seemed confused about the idea of such an action being considered enjoyable, and Ash had to share the sentiment.

Still he remembered what Magcargo could do, and he had the perfect counter for it.

"Go!"

Ash threw his Timer Ball, and out exploded Primeape, who snorted loudly at the Magcargo. Blaine chuckled at the sight of Primeape.

"Good, good. I see what your thought process is, and I can appreciate it. Now, let's see if you are more than just good ideas."

"Begin!"

At the robot's declaration, battle began swiftly.

"Use Heat Wave!"

Magcargo's mouth opened up like a tear in the not-lava form of the form, letting loose a stream of visible red heat right at Primeape.

"Use Thrash on the ground and block it with the dust!"

Primeape promptly began punching the ground, punching up a dust cloud.

In proving that you didn't just have to kick up such a thing, the Heat Wave was blocked. He could almost see Blaine grin.

Primeape then jumped over the dust cloud, fists still flaring and still lunging at Magcargo.

"Thrash is an ongoing attack."

The Pokédex's comment was followed by Primeape landing right next to the slug and continuing to punch away at the slug, striking at the side again and again.

However each time Primeape did punch it, Magcargo seemed to change color slightly, and with each punch afterwards the Thrash did a bit more.

At least to him, he couldn't really speak for Magcargo.

However he could say that after about seven punches Magcargo started doing something really odd.

It was dodging the punches with rapid twists and curves of its body.

Primeape stopped punching when Magcargo flattened itself to have both his fists go right through where Magcargo's head once was.

"Pri?" 'What the fuck?'

"Heat Wave!"

Before Primeape could swear again a Heat Wave struck right in Primeape's center of mass, blowing the angry Fighting-type and leaving Primeape clutching his face.

Swearing loudly about Magcargo's mother and things that were probably physically impossible to do.

"I thought you would be prepared for a repeat of what you went through in your battle with Janine, and if you would have an anti-Magcargo strategy in place. That's why you brought a Pokémon that would be immune to Yawn. In fact, my regular Magcargo I'd be using about now is in fact trained to use Yawn and set up Stealth Rock. However, this isn't my regular Magcargo. It's my fancy one!"

"Car!"

Magcargo followed Blaine's declaration with a snort of flames from its nostril.

"I see. I suspect that Magcargo has the ability Weak Armor. It's an ability that sacrifices defensive power for speed each and every time it is struck. Primeape's rapid punching was turned against it."

The Pokédex's explanation of what was so fancy about this Magcargo was helpful, though it didn't really give him a way to counter it.

Primeape glaring at Magcargo while muttering dark things under his breath that were not appropriate didn't help.

"Alright Magcargo, Will-O-Wisp!"

Blue flames bubbled out of Magcargo's body like bubbles, before they suddenly fired in the direction of Primeape like rapid fired bullets.

He didn't need to order Primeape to dodge them as he bounded past each of them nimbly, eyes flashing in fury as he got right in Magcargo's face, fists glowing for a Cross Chop attack.

Just as he saw the faintest flicker of Will-O-Wisp bubble out of Magcargo's face.

"Return!"

The blue flame floated through Primeape's energy form, barely missing a direct hit as he pulled Primeape back. The Timer Ball twitched angrily at the early dismissal.

…

"I haven't seen Ash need to do that since Vermillion, and even that seemed more like a personal call and not strategic at all."

Misty's worried observation was true, but Anabel didn't see the need to be so concerned so quickly.

The plan the two had been working on had been overcome by equally clever thinking for Blaine. In a game of I know you know I know, he had come out on top.

However it was better to have Primeape unburned, if heated in anger, than affected by a status. Though that would mean they still had to deal with Magcargo's flexible form. The best solution to that would be an attack that covered an area of effect.

The best Pokémon Ash could use against that was someone like Ambipom or Goodra.

And seeing as Ash had a Heal Ball in hand…

…

"Goodra, I choose you!"

His purple dragon dropped onto the field in an oomph, as Blaine grinned.

"Interesting…Recover!"

Magcargo's pseudo-lava began to turn gold, though Ash had an idea for how to stop it.

"Use Rain Dance!"

"Goo!"

A dark swirling cloud formed over the field, sending water droplets falling down across the field. The moment that the rain began hitting Magcargo the gold color faded away as the Fire-type began wincing, as if each light rain drop was akin to a downpour of heavy rain.

The flinching cancelled out the healing, though Ash wasn't entirely sure if it was doing damage. Magcargo was letting out bouts of steam, but he didn't see Weak Armor activate.

Though part of Ash had to wonder if the use of Weak Armor had made the rain bother Magcargo more than it normally would.

Regardless, it did leave an opening, and he'd be taking advantage of it.

"Dragon Breath!"

Goodra bellowed out the breath attack, which engulfed the still wincing Magcargo. Blaine flinched and covered his eyes as the attack landed, only to grit his teeth as Magcargo was blown out of it, wincing in paralysis as well as continued rain assault.

"Again!"

A second Dragon Breath struck Magcargo again, and this time the slug was lying on the ground, still steaming from the rain droplets.

"Magcargo is unable to battle!"

The robot said it, and with that he was in the lead.

…

"Using rain offensively, when did he think of that?"

At Alish's question Misty had a small smile.

"If I'm being honest, I don't think he woke up today and said 'Rain Dance can make Magcargo stop moving'. I honestly think he thought it might work and tried it out on the spot."

Alish stared at Ash as if she had trouble believing such an idea just came to someone randomly.

…

Blaine returned Magcargo, muttering something about Weak Armor's unintentional side effect before looking back his way.

"Not bad, though I hope that isn't all you've got."

"'Course not. Me and my Pokémon have a lot more up our sleeves."

"Pikapi." 'Yeah, you haven't seen what I can do yet.'

Blaine chuckled, though only at his own line if Ash had to guess.

"If that's the case, then I intend to see all the tricks you have. Arcanine!"

And with that his second choice appeared, the same form as the statues outside, but made of living flesh and fur.

Unlike Magcargo the rain didn't seem to bother it. The fur perhaps?

"Dragon Breath again!"

"Dragon Pulse!"

As Goodra attacked, Arcanine countered with its own Dragon-type move. The shiny green ball flung itself forward, piercing through Goodra's attack with some difficulty and striking Goodra right in the center.

Goodra took the attack with little issue though, but Ash wasn't going to assume the damage was nothing.

"Good, now Iron Tail!"

"Bide!"

Ash's command may have been given later, but Goodra's red glow flared up just as the Iron Tail landed. The slammed tail seemed to have a bit more oomph to it than Dragon Pulse, but Goodra took the attack like a champ. The red glow intensified.

"Use Headbutt before backing off to a safe distance!"

Arcanine slammed its head into Goodra's stomach before using said stomach to bounce back, glaring at Goodra as the red light flared up in full and Goodra fired the white energy beam.

"Protect!"

Arcanine stomped its feet into the ground before a blue bubble formed around itself. The Bide energy struck against the barrier with blinding force, but Arcanine was completely unaffected.

Goodra was panting heavily. Clearly this was not going to be a good matchup.

"Goodra, return and take a good rest."

And so he made his second substitution of the match.

…

"Should we be concerned?"

Iris's question was not an unwarranted one. This was an atypical turn of events.

Was it just bad luck, or perhaps had there not been enough time for Ash's team to recover from the battle with Sabrina?

Anabel wasn't sure if declaring lingering exhaustion to be the cause, though she couldn't think of any particular issue.

Even with his recent endeavor in figuring out Z-Moves, as well as Iris's own training, his own Pokémon were getting plenty of training.

Though it was also possible they were just thinking too deeply about this and it was just a minor turn of events warranted by the specifics of the battle.

"Neither Goodra nor Primeape were beaten, so Ash still has the advantage."

Misty's declaration was followed up by Alish's own point though.

"Yeah, but unless Goodra is the last Pokémon Ash sends out, it won't have enough recovery time to make up for even two of Grandpa's attacks."

What was Ash going to do? He could try and avoid revealing his hand and take Primeape out, though she suspected Ash would not be doing that.

She suspected a third Pokémon would be appearing.

…

There were two options Ash considered for this round, and it took him a few moments to pick one that felt just right.

"Boldore, I choose you!"

And with his choice, his third Pokémon appeared before Arcanine, who tilted its head at Boldore in surprise.

It probably wasn't expecting to see a Unovan Pokémon.

The rain cleared away, and the battle began anew.

"Flamethrower!"

"Sand Attack!"

Sand shot out of Boldore's eyes, cancelling out the flame. He heard Blaine give a 'tsk' in approval, and with that Ash kept up the momentum.

"Alright, now use Rock Blast!"

Boldore's center crest shown white as the projectile was fired. Arcanine dodged the attacks and came in closer to Boldore.

"Iron Tail!"

"Iron Defense, then follow it up with Headbutt!"

Boldore shimmered with the heightened defensive tactic as Iron Tail struck. The impact rang through the stadium, before Boldore hopped up and slammed into Arcanine.

The solid blow knocked the dog back, who shook his head a bit and glared at Boldore.

Boldore for some reason though, didn't have a 'I landed a solid hit' elation about her.

"Dore." 'That didn't seem to do nearly as much as I thought it would'.

Arcanine growled something to Boldore, which made Boldore wince.

…

Alish's attention was peaked after Arcanine growled.

Misty was quite sure of what she noticed, and for good reason.

It was the same way she would see Iris react if Axew chirped. And she was quite sure it was the same way she would when Psyduck had something to say.

…

"Tell me Ash, how long have you had Boldore?"

Blaine's question caused the battle to temporarily pause, and Ash had to find the best way to put it.

"Since just after the Tournament in Fuchsia, but we've done a lot of training in the meantime."

Give or take six Gyms, a League, and a crazy organization interested in controlling a legendary Dragon. Plus some ferry stops, and all the training in the meantime.

Blaine adjusted his shades before speaking again.

"How long has it been a Boldore?"

Not sure where Blaine was going with this, Ash offered up the date he found out Boldore had evolved.

"I see. Too long to still be on cloud nine about it, and too short to have fully mastered itself."

Ash wasn't sure what Blaine's point was, but if it was something bothering Boldore…

"Boldore, you still up for battling?"

At his honest question Boldore gave an affirmative nod.

"Then let's see if we can work through what's on your mind. Rock Blast!"

Boldore's crest began glowing as Blaine shook his head.

"Protect!"

As Arcanine threw up the shield Ash had a brainstorm.

"Hold it in for a bit!"

'Bol?' 'The attack?'

She sounded confused, as if she was wondering if he was talking more about the bathroom than the battlefield. But regardless of it she did so, and the white light of Rock Blast stayed put, if starting to glow brighter and more intensely.

The Protect flickered, and Ash saw the chance.

"Fire!"

And Rock Blast was released, flying right into the post-Protect Arcanine.

Five of the blasts.

Arcanine was knocked down by the attack before struggling back up, and then slipping back down in defeat.

"Arcanine is unable to battle!"

Blaine returned Arcanine with a thankful mutter, before looking at him and Boldore with a thoughtful eye.

"Rapidash, let's go!"

And after the moment of thinking came the third Pokémon, who nickered loudly as it stood before Boldore.

"Rapidash, the Fire Horse Pokémon. Rapidash and its pre-evolved form, Ponyta, are associated with mountainous terrain as much as they are the open plains. A master Rapidash Trainer once won a race against a bullet train, though such speed is not going to be a factor in this battle."

The Pokédex factoid of the day was noted, and Ash looked over the fiery racer for a moment.

This was not going to be the best battle for Boldore. Even if there were no bullet trains to race, speed would be a problem.

"Take a rest Boldore."

He wished he hadn't noticed Boldore wince as he returned her. Whatever was bothering her, he'd work with her about after this.

Until then…

"Primeape, I choose you!"

His stomping Fighting-type was back out.

"Begin!"

"Megahorn!"

At Blaine's command Rapidash reared up, the horn atop it glowing and growing larger. Rapidash crashed all four hooves back on the earth before charging forward, horn lowered for stabbing.

"Cross Chop!"

Primeape crossed his arms, which gained a white sheen as the two attacked collided. The impact was roughly equal, and both ended their attacks with interest in resuming the offensive.

"Seismic Toss!"

"Defend with Flame Wheel!"

Before Primeape could grab it, Rapidash was surrounded by a flaming ring of fire. Primeape cursed loudly, with words he wasn't sure the exact meaning of beyond 'his mom would not approve', as he flared his hands around in an attempt to reduce the heated feeling they most likely had.

Rapidash charged forward with the flames, which Primeape avoided with a quick dodge.

"Mega Kick!"

From behind the flames Primeape lunged, his foot glowing blue.

The foot struck Rapidash in the rump, causing the horse to stammer just as the flames flickered away.

"High Horsepower!"

Rapidash's back legs kicked at Primeape, who avoided a hoof to the face by a hair.

Primeape promptly muttered a curse he knew his mother knew he knew, but she'd still not like ever saying aloud.

Rapidash righted itself around so it was facing Primeape directly again.

"…Tell me something, you're still working on move limits. Let me guess, only a few Pokémon you own have managed to pass it by?"

"Four, why?"

Blaine frowned.

"I previously declared that I may be your last battle before the League, as Giovanni is talented but about as pleasant as volcanic gas to deal with. I'm changing my declaration and saying that you would do well to spend the months before the League fixing that, and working on power for that matter. You are clearly too talented to have that limit cripple you when the League comes."

"Pikapi." 'Because power is clearly something we don't have.'

Pikachu's muttering was part defensive about him being told off, and part confusion on the idea that they weren't powerful enough.

They hadn't exactly abandoned the idea of hitting things real hard as a strategy.

…

While the statement was made without seeing how strong Ash's team was in full (as Boldore and Primeape were newer Pokémon chosen for specific strengths in this battle despite being among the weaker of Ash's battling Pokémon, and Goodra was probably somewhere in the middle if she'd had to guess), it was true that Ash could do with more power battling skill.

However, Anabel could not say that it was because he wasn't training towards that. It wasn't that he didn't have an idea of what he was doing.

Honestly it was just that others, like Paul or Red as she had noticed, put a lot more focus into that training than he did.

She couldn't peg it towards them doing more work. They were just more efficient at doing it.

Ash's training let them adapt more, but they were going to need a lot more time to match what those two were doing.

They'd need to see if that time would also need to be spent here after this battle.

…

"Double Team!"

Primeape swore again as the battle resumed with a spinning ring of Rapidash duplicates, which quickly grew to a second ring that kept spinning around Primeape, cutting off his movement.

Primeape kept bouncing around the center of the ring, fists ready for any looming attack should it come his way, in whatever form that may be.

The first attack was a series of Megahorns, which Primeape avoided by ducking.

The second attack however…

"Inferno!"

Was an attack Ash had little experience with. It wasn't Ice Beam, that was for sure.

But it was still something to avoid.

"Primeape, use Mega Kick on the ground!"

The idea he had in a mere microsecond to avoid the fire bursting off the Rapidash vortex was one-upped in execution by Primeape.

He did it with both feet, stomping the ground with such force he leapt into the air fast enough to avoid the attack.

In addition, the kick off into the air left behind a wave of energy and displaced air that, combined with the fire of Inferno, wiped out the dupe Rapidash, leaving only a staring Rapidash, and a Primeape who Ash was pretty sure was about to hit the science class point to cease rising, and begin descent.

There was an equation to it Ash didn't remember off the top of his head. It had some sort of number minus another number after the first number was multiplied in some way…

Math. He didn't argue it wasn't correct, but he was having enough trouble figuring out his original age, and that was probably just addition.

Or at least hopefully it was just addition.

"Primeape, Cross Chop!"

Regardless of the math, Primeape was falling, and with a spin to point right at Rapidash Cross Chop would have amplified power.

"Flame Wheel!"

Rapidash reared up and formed the wheel of flames before leaping at Primeape, the two attacks colliding in midair.

As was common in such scenarios, an explosion went off.

…

"How did a pair of fists generate an explosion?"

Misty's question led Iris to look at her like she just asked why leaves were on twigs.

…

The explosion cleared up after a moment, revealing a still standing Primeape.

A Primeape who was breathing heavily, a tad woozy on his feet, and muttering words under his breath that reminded Ash he needed to buy some more soap in the near future, but standing none the less.

Rapidash however, was lying on the ground.

"Rapidash is unable to battle!"

And with that, Ash was up by three.

Blaine returned Rapidash with a thanks to it, before looking at Ash with a thoughtful look.

"You know, I normally would not do this. It's more something to save for just above what you are technically battling for. However, if I am the last stop worth your time, you probably should be ready for this. From what I've seen this year, you'd be a fool to not be aware of it."

With that vague statement, he picked up a Friend Ball and threw it into the air, which exploded into the form of a Houndoom.

However, it was a Houndoom with a lot of white around its muzzle, and a look to it that made Ash think of Professor Rowan.

The 'scary old man' look. Not to be confused with the other flavors of old man.

…

"He brought him out?"

Alish's comment drew Misty's curious gaze, and so the granddaughter elaborated.

"He's the oldest Pokémon he has. He's been with him for longer than I've been alive, and he's mostly retired. He used to be one of the Pokémon for Badge 8 challenges. I mean, I guess with old age he probably qualifies for a 7th badge, but still…"

Misty stared at the old dog for a moment, before her eyes went wide at the sight of the ring around one of Houndoom's horns.

It had a Mega Stone on it.

…

"Wait, Mega Houndoom's a thing!?"

Ash's surprised declaration got Blaine's attention, who looked at him in surprise.

"So you know how Mega Evolution works? Did you manage it?"

"No, I actually fought one a while back."

Blaine look a bit put out at this realization before shrugging.

"Well, I guess I didn't need to substitute that Charizard out. Still, I can't really return him without officially forfeiting, and the Mega Evolution helps with his arthritis. Alright, let's do it!"

And with that he slammed the cane into the ground, from which the odd bit Ash had noticed before flared up and sent tendrils of light flying towards Houndoom.

Upon contact just like Sabrina's Alakazam, Houndoom glowed yellow and began to shift in form. Houndoom grew taller, with more growth to the bone-like ribs and horns the species had. Houndoom howled wildly as the changes continued, with a tail splitting at the end from a spade to a two-pronged trident (a bident?) and a pair of front limb bands on each limb.

Primeape looked a bit nervous at the entire thing, and the swearing stopped. That could not be a good sign.

As the light faded away and the changed Houndoom was revealed in full color, Blaine grinned.

"Well, let's see how you can do against this one. If you did defeat one before, I'm sure you can replicate the feat. If not, show me your improvement."

Ash's eyes darted to the Z-ring.

That…probably wouldn't happen again. If the only blip he had with the ring was encountering Articuno, the only way it was going to work was if one of his Pokémon suddenly learned how to use a Psychic-type move.

Which he was pretty sure wouldn't work anyway, unless Houndoom's Dark type was lost due to Mega Evolving.

"Fire Blast!"

He felt Pikachu flinch as the Mega Houndoom took a deep breath, before spewing out the very same symbol that had ended his first Gym battle with Blaine.

It flew at Primeape just as quickly as it had a lifetime ago.

OMAKE (NON CANON): SMOOCH or SLAP

"Hello everybody and welcome to a new rendition of Smooch or Slap!"

The hostess, Marian, waved from the stage as the crowd who watched this fun-packed game show let out a round of thunderous applause. Once everyone calmed down, Marian stepped forward and respectfully bowed to her fans.

"Thank you, thank you, I love you all! Our contestant today is none other than Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, let's give him a big hand too!"

Once again, the crowded erupted in applause and cheering as the Trainer with the red hat and his Pikachu stepped up to the stage and waved, the former smiling a bit nervously.

"Welcome to our show, Ash. Tell me, are you ready to play?"

"To be honest, I don't even know how I got here, but I never turn back from a challenge," The Trainer replied.

"Well, that's good to know. Alright, in case you need it, let me explain you the rules. We've brought five of your closest female friends who agreed to take part in this game. They will come over one by one, say something to you, and then you'll have to guess whether you'll get a smooch or a slap from them. You have five tries and you need to get at least three right to win. You ready?"

"Well, if I have to," The Trainer said with resignation.

"Okay. Let the first girl come, Miss Misty Waterflower!"

In the middle of another round of applause, the young redhead and future leader of the Cerulean Gym approached, dressed in a white stage dress with matching gloves and heels, Goldeen fins behind her back. Her hair was also adorned with extensions to make it look longer. She slowly walked besides Ash and standing next to him, she placed a hand in her hip and stared at him with a seemingly annoyed expression.

"Ash, I want you to know, sometimes you really drive me crazy," she said.

Ash had a little shiver and gulped before daring to take a guess. "Er... slap?"

Much to his shock and surprise, Misty's expression morphed into a flirty smile. "But you know what else? I love that you drive me crazy!"*SMOOCH!*

And thus the redhead ran off happily after smooching him on the lips. The black-haired boy was left with his mouth agape and his eyes widened like flying saucers. The crowd cheered and laughed, while the Trainer couldn't do anything but touch his lips, unsure whether he should be annoyed for failing or happy for the kiss.

"Oh, too bad, you got it wrong Ash," said Marian. "Next, Miss May Maple!"

Second girl, the future brunette Pokémon Coordinator from Petalburg arrived waving at the crowd enthusiastically. Just like Misty she had dressed herself in a very special outfit, but hers looked more like that of a dancer from the One Thousand and One Nights, with an orange top and belt exposing her belly, a long light purple skirt and a veil covering her head. She stood next to Ash with a big smile in her face.

"Hey, Ash, the dinner last night was unforgettable," she said winking at him.

"Hmm… why do I get the feeling it's gonna be a slap?" Ash asked. "Slap."

"Until you ate the last slice of cake, that one was mine!" *SLAP!*

And just as fast as Misty, May walked away in the middle of the crowd's screams and laughter. Ash had to rub his cheek and make sure all of his teeth were still in place, while Marian patted him on the back.

"Very good, you got that right! Next, Miss Dawn Berlitz!" she announced.

The aspiring blue-haired Coordinator from Twinleaf came over next. She came over wearing a pink cheerleader outfit complete with pom-poms, and performing a little routine, she landed next to Ash.

"I hope you don't mind some cheering today, Ash," she said in a cheerful tone.

"Hmm… is it a kiss?"

"But find someone else to wear this costume, this skirt is too short for me!" *SLAP!*

She came, she saw, and she slapped. Dawn walked away immediately and Ash was grateful she at least balanced it out by slapping him on the other cheek. The crowd's laughs exploded again.

"Aww, too bad Ash!" said Marian. "Next, Miss Iris!"

Unlike the previous three, Iris came over swinging on a cable hanging from the studio's roof and almost crashed into Ash and Marian, who had to step away. Fortunately, the purple-haired and dark-skinned Unovan girl was able to get a hold of herself, and everybody could admire her shrine maiden outfit, complete with her diadem adorned with leaves and a red gem on the forehead.

"Ash, we need to talk very seriously. You need to stop acting like a kid."

"Hmm… now this is definitely gonna be a slap, right?" Ash said. "Don't be too harsh with it, please?"

"So I'm starting right now to set you straight and mature!" *SLAP!*

Iris' slap was so hard it sent Ash into a spin and almost knocked Pikachu off his shoulder. The Trainer stumbled around for a few seconds and Marian had to help him regain his footing afterwards.

"Ouch, even I felt that," she said. "Well, here we are, you got two right and two wrong, so the last one is the decisive. Good luck, now here comes Miss Serena Yvonne Gabena!"

And so the last girl came over. The young Kalosian was wearing a furisode dress clearly based in a Red Flower Florges, and unlike the others the honey-blonde girl approached her friend rather shyly, as if she wasn't sure about being in that place.

"Ash… last night I saw a shooting star, and do you know what I wished to it?" the girl asked with her most tender face.

"Hmm… please tell me it was giving me a kiss," Ash replied nervously as he crossed his fingers.

"I wished to have the courage to give you this."*SMOOCH!*

And blushing more than any of the others, the girl walked away, her face hidden between her hands. The kiss was less aggressive than Misty's, but somehow also sweeter. This time the crowd gave a standing ovation and everybody began celebrating.

"Very good, congratulations Ash! You got three right, so you've cleared the challenge!" Marian announced as she applauded as well. "And that's all for tonight everyone, thank you for…!"

"Woah, woah, wait!" Ash interrupted here. "Where's my prize for winning?"

"Oh, that's right, silly me!" Marian knocked her head and stuck out her tongue. "Alright, you win a full-course dinner at the Seven Star Restaurant for you and nine more people. Hope you enjoy it! And that'll be all for tonight, thanks for coming and until next time!"

…

A good dinner was pointless with no one to share, so Ash quickly invited his dear friends to come over and enjoy his prize all together.

"Bring more ice cream!" Misty shouted after finishing her fourth chocolate and cherry sundae.

"Hey Ash, sorry we slapped you so hard," said May.

"Well, at least we held back a little," Dawn commented. "Iris on the other hand…"

"Hey, if he can't take that, he'll never be a real man," the dark-skinned girl replied.

"Here you are!"

The voice by the door got everyone's attention, and they quickly saw some familiar faces in Ash's life. These included a head covered in short teal hair, a pair of brown pigtails, and of course another head covered in light purple hair.

Angie, Macy and Anabel had just entered the restaurant, and they didn't seem all too happy. Furthermore, Latias came flying over them and before landing she took on her Bianca disguise to join them.

"Hey you five! Why didn't you call us for the game show?!" Angie protested.

"No fair, I wanted to go too!" Macy cried out grabbing her pigtails.

"You snooze, you lose, girl," said Misty, pulling her lower eyelid as a taunt. The newly arrived frowned, but fortunately Ash intervened.

"Hey, hey, we still have four empty table seats for the prize I won," He said. "How'd you like that for compensation?"

"Hmm, tempting," said Angie, "but I've got a better idea. Girls, you wanna play another round of that game?"

'Better yet', said Anabel telepathically. 'Let's do it only with smooches, so Ash has to guess where he's going to get them.'

Every girls' eyes widened, and they all turned at the boy. The smiles they gave him weren't reassuring at all, let alone when Bianca!Latias came up, as she suddenly got another idea.

"You wanna participate too? We all can play the game!"

The five girls sitting by the table turned to glance at Ash, all of them wearing different expressions, but one thing was for sure, they all seemed on board with playing the game again, only with smooches.

Ash on the other hand, wondered whether it would have been better to get only slaps, because somehow he felt he wouldn't survive so many smooches from all those lovely girls.