It had originated as a bad joke in his youth. It had haunted him through schooling and training alike, and even during his brief military service.

He had been fortunate enough to have done his time during a period of peace, and thus he was free from having a title added to his list of titles that he would like to never apply to him.

He was Charles Goodshow. Pokémon League President, Economics Professor, Pokémon Master by a few standards, League Karaoke Champion five years running (and would have had it for twelve years running if not for that night when Diantha participated), the enemy of fixed matches and arch-enemy of corruption.

It all made for a good show, as the name play on his joke would go each and every show and tell, chalk board math problem, or such similar activity, and he was already well aware he would enter the non-battler League hall of fame upon retirement or death unless he did something extremely scandalous.

What he was not was a killer. He had never taken a life by his own hands or actions in his seventy-five years of life, and he planned to keep it that way.

Killing was never a good show. It didn't make you a man.

Of course countering a well-entrenched and toxic ideal was not his job as Pokémon League President (his side hobby of novel writing was the time and place for his philosophy and thoughts on the world, history, and people).

Managing Leagues made for far better shows by comparison, and he had to say that looking at what he was seeing from this year, especially if he was also thinking about last year, really made him smile.

Maybe it was something about the peace that was doing it, people being allowed to follow their dreams and not the needs of the many, or perhaps just a simple result of population increase. Maybe it was just the alignment of stars and no result of humanity being at cause.

Whatever the reason was, a glance at the rookie Trainers from both this year and the previous crop made his heart flutter for reasons unrelated to being nearly eighty.

Talent, it was talent and drive and spark everywhere. Rookies like Black Gaiman and Vermell Arcer won last year's Leagues in the midst of stronger competitors overall, especially in rookie Trainers like Snyder and Beedle, with this year looking like it was going to keep up that trend.

That wasn't even taking into account the future, especially if his old college roommate's whispers from Alola were any indication.

He might be able to get 'fist bumping a Kahuna' off that bucket list he made that time Agatha and Alder had a drinking test he officiated (and later got involved in as a seventh competitor, or was it the sixth. He honestly could not recall sometimes).

It was a concentration of top notch Trainers that he had never seen previously. Normally every year had, between all the Leagues, a dozen or two Trainers with the qualities to be greats. They didn't always pull off what the expectations had of them through some combination of bad luck and family issues.

See Sinnoh's Reggie and Kanto's Casey Snagem.

Yet when they did achieve it, it was glorious to see.

On really rare occasions you found someone even better than great. Such Trainers were people like the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, who was a quality of Trainer that he had rarely ever seen.

And then you had people like that Tobias fellow, who he had no idea what he was or why he did things. Nor where he was for that matter, he never responded to the mass email about karaoke.

A knock at the door drew his attention, and after he called that it was open it swung open to reveal a young woman, dark haired and stern looking.

Electra Artisian. Head of League finances.

Manager of sponsors and confectionaries.

Someday he really should make use her vacation days and take some time off, before he found it appropriate to use that modern lingo about rods and posteriors to describe her personality. He would like not needing to do so, he liked a clean tongue.

"What brings you to my office? Is there something wrong in the numbers?"

She shook her head before explaining.

"No Mister President. No one is obviously skimming funds. However, I did overhear a few concerns from some people in ethics that I'm not sure will go through the proper channels on its own, but I feel warrants your time."

Translation, she agreed with what they were saying, but figured that the Ethics chair would not pass it on.

He nodded, letting her speak.

"They are concerned about the likelihood of a rise in people using unfair advantages in upcoming and future Leagues. We all know that there is something making more of them, and the odds that we won't have at least a few in every tournament going forward puts the fairness of the entire sport into question. More concerning, the controversy's effect on revenue and sponsorships would surely be negative."

He nodded, though in a way that made her know he got what she was talking about.

"You're worried about Bloodliners."

It wasn't a question, and she didn't need to confirm that it was what she meant.

He turned to the shelf he kept memorabilia of his years on. When he noticed her eyes finally move in tandem with his, and landing on the framed newspapers he had on the sides of said shelf he continued.

"I've seen so much change I doubt that you can really comprehend. When I was a Trainer people were fighting to not have gender equality in the sport. The female Trainers I knew had to not only sharpen their minds, but thicken their skin against the jeers and barbs from fans and opponents alike. Years after that we had to overcome controversies about foreign Trainers competing, particularly ones from farther afield. The jeers I heard as a youth were the same, despite the changing of taunts from gender to their places of birth. I doubt I need to remind you of the controversy when the first competitors who were open about their sexuality became a thing, and I can tell you that the jeers then were the same as the previous times, just clad in a new coat of paint. Such bad press is hardly new, and it always ends the same way."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"No challenger, be they female or gay, could as seriously break the rules as a Bloodliner. Despite the jeers there were no matches won because the female Trainer flashed the male Trainer at a crucial moment. Meanwhile the possibility of Pokémon manipulation is quite real, and something that does create an inherent advantage."

"We have a word for that already, and before whatever is going on with today's youth. It's called cheating, and we will deal with cheating with the same severity as we always have. What you are suggesting is that we bar people for the chance of cheating, which I don't think I need to remind you is a very slippery slope."

He was an old man, and he had seen so many changes play out the way Bloodliners were. Frankly he didn't even think that the numbers were really that different.

People said that about things like sexuality, ignoring the difference between the number of people with non-heterosexuality, and the number of people open about their non-heterosexuality.

It didn't matter what change was going on, the path it took was always the same and he wasn't going to be as mad as to think that this time it was different and they had to make a stand.

Madness was saved for his private life, and his ever expanding shelf budget.

That would not be a good show, especially as it could easily be one of his last. He was old after all.

She looked at him like he was a fool, but didn't say more. She did however, move to change the subject to something else.

Probably because he didn't hint that she should walk out of his office.

"You know, I've always sort of thought that eight badges are too easy. People strive for it, and how many just peter out. Then at the end of the day, it's not even that tough of a challenge for people who aren't really going to amount to anything. How many people in the larger conferences are basically cannon fodder for the actually good Trainers, and how many of those are really unnecessary. A tougher qualification could lead to smaller, more intense Leagues. We wouldn't really lose much revenue compared to the optimization. All it would cost are a few dreams easily given up."

He was silent as he digested Electra's points before giving his rebuttal.

"Dreams save us. Dreams lift us up and transform us into something better. To let any dream die prematurely, to not have the best shot to become true, I cannot be party to such a thing. In trying to prevent dreams that might not be able to come true from playing out tragically, you will stop dreams that had a chance. There is no net that only catches what you want."

Electra looked right back at him, with an intensity that made him wonder if there was more to her thought about the League difficulty than just her role as a financial expert. She was never a Trainer from what he knew, but he knew nothing about her family.

"A noble stand, but such stands can only go so high before they go back down again. You've done good things, but you aren't going to be around forever nor is your health perfect. There will be a League without Charles Goodshow by death or retirement, and I'm not the only one who has a vision going forward you won't like."

The last bit was less a threat in tone, and more a comment about other possible successors. With that she turned and left the office.

The last words did leave him with a reminder of something that he had observed in his time.

Everything would eventually change. Just as the Snagem Trainer generation gave way to the generation of Cynthia, and now these new Trainers would one day give way to another generation in time, the League wasn't unchangeable either.

One couldn't stop change, all one could do was impart your ideals and see the next era know your views and reasons as they themselves made their own calls.

The world on all ends had benefited from decades of a growing peace, and hopefully it would keep doing so.

Unlike a growing percentage of people, he had lived through both eras. He knew that this one was far better.

Elsewhere

"Iris, it is time."

Iris's eyes shot open as she jumped to her feet, finding Misty at the opening to the Secret Power generated cave, a patient look in her eyes.

In the back of her mind, Iris could not help but notice a few odd things about her surroundings.

The cave that had likely been formed by Psyduck seemed older than what was common, feeling like it had been in use for far more than a single night.

She always tended to pick up on a few more environmental details than the others did. It was part of the reason she never tripped on roots during runs.

Something that everyone else would probably pick up on was the lack of furniture in the cave. No beds, no dressers, the only such thing present being a shelf that held what she believed were trophies.

In the center of the cave was bedding, but it was the sort Iris used before she met Ash and Misty and was still fine with using.

They were not fine with using it.

Misty's odd choice to forgo the bed, a choice she had trouble thinking of a reason for as Misty would not do so unless absolutely necessary, was not the only thing that was odd about her.

For one, she was without clothing. Iris had no issue with it, for Misty's reasoning for clothes was quite solvable with changes in their relationships and absence from the social crowds that made humans put the things on in good weather. However she had no idea how Misty had been talked into the idea.

Second, she was older than she should be. She was not as old as Ash's mother, but she was certainly closer to that age than she should be.

Finally her stomach looked off, and there was only one reason Iris could think of for it, as it did not resemble human fat. Misty was pregnant, though Iris had no way of saying how far along in it.

It seemed to not be so far along as to hinder her walking, but that was all Iris could tell.

Yet this, and everything else, was going on entirely at the back of her mind. Consciously the thoughts were not changing her behavior at all.

"You needed the sleep, but Ash and Dawn should be back for that competition in _. They will be expecting us."

Iris nodded, and followed Misty as they moved, though there were two things odd about it.

For one the movement did not feel like she was really going somewhere, the secret base cave just seemed to fade and a cliff edge replaced it.

The other question she had was who was Dawn? That seemed to be a name, but Iris knew no one by the name.

Even if it did feel somewhat familiar.

Standing on the edge of the cliff, as the morning sun began to crack through the clouds, Iris had another question.

Where was Anabel?

"Anabel cannot be here right now, but she will be back soon. She, Serena, and Belladonna are dealing with Team Rocket's actions at Twist Mountain."

That answered that question, but it raised more. Twist Mountain, the Unovan Mountain?

The clouds parted as Charizard became visible in the distance, flying in at a speed that Iris again found strange. Far too fast, and without the proper dispersal of clouds, Charizard had landed before her and Misty, and two people jumped off of it.

The one on Charizard's left was probably Dawn, and Iris was still struck by the odd feeling she knew her somehow. However she did, the Dawn that she was currently seeing was similarly older like Misty (and presumably herself), but perhaps younger by a year or two. With blue hair, she was similarly unclothed like Misty was, and pregnant as well.

Iris could not say if she was more or less pregnant than Misty though.

"Ah, finally I am out of clothing. I cannot remember why I ever bothered with the things, can you Pikachu?"

"Pikapi."

Her gaze was then moved to Ash on the right, and even as she didn't react, subconsciously she was seized with horror.

Like Ash, Misty, and the mysterious Dawn Ash was older and lacking clothes, though he was not pregnant.

Instead his right eye was missing, replace with a giant gouge that ran from the top of his skull to right near his jaw. It was a massive scar.

Instantly upon seeing it the way it came to be flooded her mind, they had just killed Hunter J and freed her family, and Ash had proposed to them that he would take her as one of his mates and travel the world.

That had infuriated them, and he and her father battled. That was when Ash had lost his eye.

"Iris, Misty, glad to see you. You are looking beautiful as always. Iris, seeing as you have recovered from the injuries my father left when we killed him, want to get pregnant again?"

Ash's statement was said as friendly and honest as most anything he said, and consciously she nodded.

Unconsciously, she was screaming in horror at the injury that he had suffered.

…

While the screaming stayed internal, Iris's eyes snapped open quite externally, revealing that she was still on the tree branch she had fallen asleep on just outside of the house of Ash's mother.

It had all just been a dream. None of it had actually happened, except the thoughts that created it.

But those thoughts….

She jumped off the tree, landing on the grass with a crack of the plant, palms pressing against the grass. She didn't hear Axew wake, and that was for the best.

She just needed to breath, to calm her thundering heartbeat and she doubted she could talk right now.

That dream...that nightmare…

It had not been entirely bad, she could not say that most of what she had seen had bothered her. J dead, Ash's father dead, all of them living together simply…but Ash.

She shivered again.

She had no issue with the idea of Ash having scars. She had no problem with scars in general. However the way that scar had come about…

She slammed her head into the grass, not wanting to remember the brief but vivid images that dream had given her of how Ash had gotten that scar.

Everything was going perfectly before that thought had entered her mind. She had a goal to get her parents back and destroy J, she had an idea of life after that. She had even somewhat bettered it based on advice from others such as Meliae.

Yet the fear of the moment that linked those two would not leave her.

"Breakneck Blitz!"

The power surged through both himself and Pikachu before being unleashed in a massive tackle by Pikachu towards the defending target.

Said target wasn't just standing still though.

"Alright Dragonite, Horn Drill!"

The Professor's command was met by the dragon-type in question leaping into the air and flying towards the charging Pikachu, spinning like a drill into the Z-Move head on.

The two attacks collided for a moment, before Horn Drill was quickly overpowered and Dragonite was flung back.

Dragonite's heels dug into the ground first, and it was likely through the combination of that and the Horn Drill that it used that it was still standing.

Panting like Drake's Dragonite after going through all the rounds of battle it did with him sure, but still standing.

"Oh my, and to think that's even with Multiscale halving the force! Medic!"

So Dragonite was barely standing, even with a good landing, Horn Drill taking the attack partway, and an ability that halved damaged.

Ash, even if he did feel a rush of exhaustion come on from the Z-Move, had to grin. Z-Moves were so amazing, perhaps even as much as science!

"Pikapi." 'Do all Dragonites have that ability, or just this one? Because I feel far too exhausted to still have them stand after doing that.'

As Pikachu panted out a complaint and Chansey responded to Professor Oak's call to start healing his Dragonite, the old man turned to him with a wide grin.

"Simply incredible. I don't claim to be an expert on Z-Moves, but the power that showed was simply incredible. To think that you managed to create the crystals for it."

"I'm just as surprised as you."

Really he was. Just when it seemed like he had a clue on what went on in his life, he'd find out something new.

He half expected to wake up one day and find out he could turn his toast into mega stones. Then the Sceptilite he had would have company.

The Professor dug into his jacket eagerly, talking as he did.

"Move expertise is handled by a young Professor named Kukui in the Alola region. I don't see him that often, and the person I more often talk to over there is my cousin Samson. He's the funny one of the family, and he studies regional variants. I've always been asking him to send me some for study, and if possible Trainers from Alola with such Pokémon on top of it all, but it never works out when we try to arrange things. He runs a school you see, but he does have time to send me less time-consuming things."

One such thing was possibly what the Professor just removed from his jacket, a flash drive with the same symbol as his Z-Ring on it.

The Professor held the flash drive out, which he took and held up to Pikachu, who sniffed it before looking oddly at the Professor.

"Young Kukui also works with my cousin, and he's familiar with all the poses for Z-Moves. This flash drive has all of the moves on it step by step, and can be uploaded to the Pokédex."

The Pokédex hummed in his jacket pocket approvingly, as the Pokédex did whenever it was told it could get data drives of information placed inside of it.

Ash nodded in thanks, though stopped mid-nod as he realized something.

"Professor, how exactly did me having a Z-Ring come up, and probably more importantly the Z-Crystals that I didn't get from anyone?"

The Professor smiled at him in a reassuring way.

"My cousin and I talk about all sorts of things, many of which are more dangerous than your ability to create Z-Crystals. If anyone spied on us that would probably be looked into after about three rounds of much more immediately concerning subject matter."

What he said though, didn't really reassure him.

"When you say immediately concerning…"

"If I ever end up in prison or get declared a wanted man who’s on the run from the law, with or without a similar thing happening to a man whose name rhymes with Fastings, that's what I mean. You might want to skip town if that happens, in case they actually decide to take note of what came up about our sponsored Trainers and students as part of their investigation."

Ash stared at the Professor in concern, as the old man chuckled.

"I have lived, and continue to live, a perilous life."

That was probably about as much as he wanted to know, and so the topic was allowed to drop and to go on to talking about how his training had been going.

"Hey Iris, did you ever go to Alola?"

It wasn't the obvious question to ask after a jog up one of the steeper hills in the area, but it was what came up.

From her seat on a gnarled root Iris nodded.

"Not for any long period of time, but I have been there. Why do you ask?"

He held up the Z-Ring on his arm.

"Just wondering."

Iris didn't seem to have anything that jumped out as a must say thing, though the conversation wasn't forced to stop there.

'I've heard it's a nice place for vacation, but a bit expensive to live in if you want anything that can't be produced there. The people there are pretty nice from what I've heard. I've also heard it doesn't have Gyms, but something else.'

At Anabel's point Ash's curiosity was peaked. What could replace Gyms?

"If it's a tropical island, I wonder if it has any rare Water Pokémon. All I saw from it were the Pokémon that Lilo girl had, and none of them were water-types."

True. Of all of the Alolan Pokémon he had heard of, all but the Geodude variant had come from Lilo's Pokémon, and none of them had been Water-types.

"Well maybe we all can go there someday and see for ourselves."

"Yeah, that sounds wonderful."

'I wonder if Team Rocket would follow us too?'

Anabel, Misty, and he all laughed a bit at the image, though as the laugh went on he felt a bit of red trace across his cheeks.

'We' go there? That sounded sort of…datey wasn't the word. What was a better word…

Honeymooney?

Wasn't that what taking someone to a tropical island was? Especially given that he did know they found him…

He looked away as the laugh faded away, unsure if he also saw similar red on Misty and Anabel's faces or not.

His gaze rested for a moment on Iris, who oddly wasn't laughing or blushing. That drove the blush back for a moment.

"Iris, is something bothering you?"

That drew her attention his way, a bit of confusion on her face.

"I mean, if you're worried we'd all just want to go on vacation and forget about what we want to do…"

"I know what you mean."

Iris's response wasn't one of anger for potentially forgetting, it was something else.

Though before Ash could press the issue, a loud strike of thunder shook the hilltop and the sky darkened.

'This wasn't in the forecast….quickly I'll teleport us!'

The Pokédex tried to protest about 'distantly detected barometric data of urgent urgency', but the complaint went unheeded.

He did get ranted at from it about 'incomplete major data' for a good few hours though, and how he had cost him gaining 'as complete data as at Seafoam'.

It had taken a bit of work, but he was pretty sure that Boldore had what she was looking for.

"Alright Boldore, Return!"

Boldore's entire frame glowed white as the attack built up power. On the opposite end of the field stood Serperior, body completely still.

Aimed at such a target Boldore lunged, the attack moving at a faster speed than before, and with more force.

Ash wasn't exactly able to tell that scientifically, but the charge had a different force to it the same way one could feel a car moving faster as it passed you by.

By that metric, there was certainly more force to it.

Serperior swung a glowing green tail of Leaf Blade to counter. The two attacks struck, sparks going off from impact before Leaf Blade won out and knocked Boldore back.

The white sheen faded away, and Boldore slammed her limbs into the ground in frustration.

"Bol." 'It still isn't enough.'

"It's better, and it was against a Leaf Blade. That would have worked against anything else."

Boldore let out a frustrated sigh despite his comment, and trotted away with an almost tangible funk.

Ash watched her as she walked away, though before he could move to go after her Serperior stuck her tail in his way.

He could easily have jumped over it, but it was a clear message.

"Ser." 'That would not have helped.'

"Maybe, but I am worried. She's been like this since Cinnabar. I thought that Return would have been enough."

Perhaps he should have worked on Rock Polish instead. Speed was always a good way to work on problems.

Serperior watched the trotting Rock-type for a moment before giving her own piece.

"Per." 'It was a good move, but there is a more effective way.'

"So I should have figured out how you do Rock Polish?"

Serperior shook her head at his declaration, before lifting her tail up and having it glow blue. It wasn't Aerial Ace though, as a stream of water began sprinkling from the end of it.

Aqua Tail, Serperior's fifth move.

"Serper." 'No, that wouldn't have worked. Even with just my tail, I'd have caught her with my attacks and won out. No, if we want to help her with her power problem evolution is the only answer.'

He looked at the grass-type warily as he considered her point

"You know I'm the 'you don't need to evolve' guy, quite possibly to a point I probably qualified for a jacket with lettering on the back declaring myself that. Embodied, that's the word for it right?"

"You are looking for the word embroidery. Embodied is more of saying 'I am the thing'. Though another word you might be looking for is monogramed."

"Yeah, what the Pokédex said. Vocab was not my strong point in school."

There was probably an argument that Pallet Town's school wasn't really good at vocab teaching either, but that wasn't the point.

Serperior shook her head at his word stumble.

"Ser."

'Yes, you aren't the type to jump on that sort of thing quickly. As much as I'd have found it amusing for someone to have gotten on Oshawott's case to get off his butt and get evolved, I know that is hardly who you are. You are our favorite idiot after all, even if you are doing a pretty good job of no longer warranting being called that much these days. However, I like to think that you are aware that there is a time and place for seeing where that might be what is needed.'

Ash shifted uncomfortably at Serperior's point. There was truth to it, but it still wasn't something he was eager to go and do.

"Yeah, but normally there is a point where everyone sees a reason to want to evolve. Charizard wanted to fight Aerodactyl, Bayleef needed more power to save me, Gliscor needed to save me from falling, and Pignite had something to prove. If that really is what Boldore wants, the rule would be that she'd do it."

"You have no idea how tempted I am to blare a meme at you at my highest volume right now."

Both Ash and Serperior's attention were drawn to the Pokédex in Ash's jacket pocket.

"Ser".

'I am not sure what that means, but don't do it. At any volume.'

"I will remind the Regal Pokémon that I cannot understand her. The reminder aside, despite what Boldore might want, a Boldore does not evolve like most Pokémon. Such a Pokémon species, similar to ones such as Kadabra and Pumpkaboo, require a unique form of stimuli that other species, including Slurpuff and Scyther, experience when they undergo a specific process."

The Pokédex then named something that Ash had no idea how to spell, or even how many letters it had.

"This process can be replicated in several ways, a few specific to the species of each Pokémon. However a common manner of doing so involves the use of a trading machine and the specific energy the device gives off that can accomplish this."

At the mention of trading, Ash felt a very familiar unease creep over him. Serperior looked at him, quite likely because his face was probably displaying an odd quirk or shade.

"Ser."

'I take it there is a trauma I am not familiar with involving you and trading, that I'll presume happened when you were less my idiot, and more the idiot that Pikachu told me stories over with the aid of camp fires, skits, and Oshawott playing you?'

"Yeah…"

"I take it the concept of a round trade isn't something that has crossed your mind."

Part of Ash wanted to ask if trades really came in shapes, but it would be a bit much.

"What I can't get is how Delia's kid managed to actually do it."

Iris stopped mid-step, the name of Ash's mother catching her attention. She idly noticed a pair of men, probably older than Delia but not at a point of being what a human would call old, playing some sort of game on a park table as they talked.

Iris was pretty sure it was chess, but she would not be surprised if she was wrong.

The man who had made the statement tapped some sort of time recorder, not noticing her as the other one spoke up.

"I hear you. If I had to make a bet on which kid would leave this place and start making a name for himself, I'd have chosen that Gary kid hands down. Smarter, better head on his shoulder, and a big name at the end of him. Sure everyone here knows Delia, and we all love her, but you take one step out of this town and she's about as relevant as whoever lost the last rep election."

"Hush, he'd have won if his campaign manager tipped at that restaurant in Viridian. It was a midterm."

"But you don't remember his name…."

"…Make your move so we can go back to talking about the kid."

The second man chuckled and moved a piece on the board, before tapping the time keeping device again.

"What a world we live in. Ignoring those two rich city brats two Trainers leave Pallet Town, and it's the one who eats more than he thinks who comes back a rising star while Oak's grandson is nowhere to be found. Did he die?"

"Nah, the old man would be mourning if that happened."

They had not said anything to warrant it yet if she had to be honest, but Iris felt her legs rooted in place and her fist trembling a bit in anger as they kept talking. The way they doubted Ash's ability just wasn't right and it ground on her nerves like nails on a chalkboard.

"Well then did he crash somewhere? What a waste of his potential, if it was ever there at all. I mean Ketchum and that other kid completely trounced him at that tournament."

"He did make it to the final round."

"It was a sixty-forty race, and that scowling kid from coal country was the big six & zero. I'm also being rather generous in saying that the Oak kid was even forty."

The man who was talking promptly scowled when the other man did something that had a piece he moved be taken by the other man, who shook his head wistfully.

"Life's not all about beginnings and ties. Luck plays a big part in it too. Sometimes some people have good luck and some people have bad luck."

"So what you're saying is that Oak gave his son a crappy Pokémon who could only get him crappy Pokémon in return, and Ketchum some sort of unnaturally powerful rodent? Well I guess that would make it easier for him…"

"That is not the case at all," Iris interrupted. The last line the man has spoken was enough to warrant a response, which drew the attention of both men her way.

The one who was just talking looked at her in confusion.

"And you are who exactly?"

The other player shook his head.

"I thought you kept up with what is going on. This girl's one of Ketchum's traveling friends who're staying with Delia while he's back in town. Ivy right?"

"Iris."

The man who had misnamed her apologized for the misnaming, though the man who had gotten her to talk looked her over in a look that suggested that he wasn't impressed.

"Oh yeah, now I remember. You're one of those Unovan types right? Don't exactly sound like one. Here I thought that Unovans were fond of their big public speeches and rallies, and here you are all butting in because I have an opinion you don't like?"

He got up and sauntered up to her, shorter than her but still able to have his eyes bore into her own.

"It's my opinion, and one I am quite sure of, that your boyfriend got lucky. The only reason he isn't hiding off in shame somewhere for failing is because he got some sort of unnaturally strong Pikachu, and that's why he's the most famous person in this town who's not growing liver spots right now. What, you going to say that he had to work really hard, or got randomly accosted by thugs or something like that? Well here's the deal Ms. Isshu, he only got out of that because of said funky rat. Had he gotten anything else he wouldn't be here."

Iris could feel her Bloodliner abilities itching to react to her instinctive need to defend her friend's honor.

"….Sorry, I don't think he's medicated today. He's always forgetting to get them refilled."

The other man apologized quickly, but that didn't quite register as she stared him down. Part of her felt the need to threaten him with claws, but she was aware of the issue of doing that and controlled herself.

That did not stop her from growling at him though, which seemed to confuse her.

"You some sort of animal? I know Unova is nuts but growling…"

"You should not assume that you know anything. Regardless of how strong Ash and Pikachu were when they left, they had to learn how to survive and get stronger. They are still learning, and I am helping him, but it is what they are doing, and not how they started, that got them as far as they have." Iris said, cutting the man off. The growl stayed in the tone of her voice as she corrected him.

"Want to speak like an actual person and not like you are some sort of weirdo? Is it so hard to say 'shouldn't'?"

"Oh, there you are Iris..."

Misty's words stopped as she approached, perhaps caught off guard by what was going on.

It was not that she wanted to deal with this jerk too, as she felt Misty's arms wrap around her waist and begin pulling her back, even as the other older man did the same with his counterpart.

"Thank you miss, you might have helped me stop something before it could get ugly."

Even as Misty dragged her away (Iris herself not making it difficult), she continued to glare at the old man as he in fact made it difficult for the other older man.

Iris felt Misty's arms tense around her in relation to what the man had said but knew that the redhead wouldn't react to it publicly, especially while they were in Ash's home town.

"I don't know what sort of wonky adventures Ketchum had, but I ain't wrong! The boy got lucky, that's the only reason he's being lauded!"

The man's shout did make Iris decide on something though.

Recently she had been thinking more about the future, something sparked by that night of worry in Cinnabar when she had to think to herself 'and then what'.

Ash had recently commented about how odd it felt to be home after being away, and with it the question of if it would ever feel the way it once did again.

Whatever the future would be, she would encourage it to be a future that was not in this town.

…

It had taken a bit of a drag to get Iris out of that situation and into a place to talk to her.

"Did you think I was going to attack that man?"

It wasn't so much a question, she had seen it in her eyes. Iris couldn't hold it against her if Misty thought that, especially after she told them of her own experiences in the wild with her Dragon family.

Misty turned to her after a few seconds. "Not really. It wasn't like he was threatening to hurt him or something, was it?"

"Were you not upset by what he said about Ash?"

Once again, it wasn't really a question. Misty grimaced slightly and looked away for a bit, but she quickly looked at her again and spoke with determination.

"Ash doesn't care about what others think about him, so why should we? We both know how hard he's worked to get this far. That man doesn't know what he's talking about. Heck, he's probably frustrated by his own failure and so he finds it easier to feel envious of other people's luck."

Iris decided not to press any further, since she knew Misty was right. Something she had learned in the wild was that, indeed, some were born with a better potential than others, but it depended on the amount of effort to develop it, and sometimes with hard work and dedication it was possible to overcome said advantages. And what some might call 'luck', for some others was the choice to take a chance or not, and what you did with it.

"Changing the topic, is there something bothering you?" the redhead suddenly asked, catching the wild girl off-guard.

"Something like what?"

"I don't know. I mean, since Cinnabar it seems like you've got something weighing on your mind. If you need to talk about it…"

Iris glanced into Misty's eyes. The redhead looked genuinely concerned, and being honest, inside she did feel the need to tell someone how she felt. Maybe she should share it with Ash and Anabel too.

"Yes, there is something. Misty, you have a long-term goal, right? It is something to determine the rest of your life."

"I guess it is, at least with some things." Misty nodded.

"Well, you know my goal is to be stronger, to find that J woman and rescue my family. I have that much clear but… I have been wondering what I will do after that."

"What do you mean?"

"I have traveled around the world my entire life with them, but now, since I met you guys… I feel like I would like to do it again," the dark-skinned girl explained. "What I mean is, part of me would like to see the world again… through a human's eyes, if that makes any sense. I have experienced the world from a dragon's viewpoint until I met all of you and now I have been wondering what I might have missed out on by not seeing things as a human."

Iris saw Misty raised her eyebrows. Maybe she was a bit surprised at her choice of words, and that didn't surprise her, given that she herself had said before they perhaps weren't 'exactly" humans. Her contact with them had been minimal, but the truth was that the more she traveled with Ash and the others, the bigger her curiosity for human society grew.

And then, her other half, the part of her that had been raised with Dragon Pokémon, felt that was like betraying those she considered her real family.

It was like her human and Pokémon sides were in conflict with one another inside her. Would she be betraying one side if she chose the other?

"Well… I don't see anything wrong with that," said Misty. "It's not like you're just going to up and leave your family never to see them again, are you?"

Iris tilted her head. That was what she was worried about, but the way Misty had worded it, it seemed rather obvious that it didn't have to be like that. It didn't erase her worries, but it relieved them somewhat.

"Look, I don't think I'm the best person to say this, but there's a time we all have to grow up and separate from our families to achieve our goals," Misty said firmly. "Some have to do it earlier than others, but whether you choose to keep in touch with them or not after that, it's all up to you. As for me, I'd rather sever all of my ties with my sisters, but you don't have to do the same with your family, do you?" Misty placed a hand on Iris' shoulder. "In the end it's entirely your choice on what you do, so just do whatever you feel is best for you."

From that perspective, it made sense. Iris's real worry came from, in the case of starting her own family with Ash and the others, she'd be forced to sever her ties with her Dragon family, or worse, never to see them again. It didn't have to be that way, did it?

On the other hand, that didn't ease her other worry. What would she do once she had rescued her family from Hunter J? Ash and Misty at least had a goal that would take them to something bigger in the long run, but she… what could she do, should she choose to integrate to human society?

Maybe she should learn more, and she'd find something among all those Pokémon competitions humans enjoyed so much.

It had been the post oven, pre removal doldrums of muffin making. There had been nothing to do at that point.

Pikachu was still asleep, and he hadn't taken up coffee.

"What was your dad like?"

If it had been boredom to bring it up, or the fact that his tiredness had made him not consider the ramifications of asking it, but the question was none the less posed.

As a result, his mom's eyes were no longer on the newspaper she was reading (Unovan tax percentage decrease bill defeated by arm wrestling), and rather on him in curiosity.

"Your grandfather? Is there any reason you're asking? I don't mind, it's just a bit random, that’s all."

Having to explain what could possibly prompt his question would be tricky.

"Well you see, there was this thing in which he came up…."

His mom rose her hand up before he continued.

"If it's anything remotely similar to how you ended up catching a dragon-type I had never heard of in the sky, despite neither of you having wings, I don't want to know."

He bit his lip trying to find a way to say that it wasn't like that, despite the fact the incident did involve kidnapping, exhaustion, and minor breaking of the laws of physics. His mom quickly waved him off.

"You look like you're trying to figure out if it is or not, so let's skip over what it was and spare my nerves. How did he come up?"

"Well, about me."

The words sounded awkward, even as he remembered what had been applied to make him want to ask.

That his grandfather did not want him to be born. Exactly how true was it?

His mom flinched, though she seemed to know what he meant.

"I have no idea how that could have possibly come up, it was only between the three of us and no one else, but it was true. He would have been quite happy if you never were born. However, I know he'd have changed his mind if he met you, and I'm not just talking about when you were a little baby."

Given how often he had ended up going backwards in time even before this new reality, that wasn't as out of the question as his mom made it out to be.

She took a sip of her coffee before continuing, leaving the potentially interesting what if about a random time travel incident leading to a meeting that never would have been on the side.

"Ashton Ketchum wasn't a bad man, he was quite a good man actually. If he wasn't I'd have never named you after him, though if he had lived to see you I'd probably have named you something else. Like Casey, or maybe Bob. I was always somewhat partial to Satoshi myself, your grandmother's side of the family had names like that."

"However, he was always a bit rough around the edges. He wasn't a guarded or a reserved man, and he didn't have problems with drinking or drugs or anything like a lot of men of his generation did, but there was always something unpolished about how he expressed himself in anything. If it makes any sense, try to imagine that everything he did from love to concern to scolding me about my skirt lengths was always more of a rough draft instead of a more complete version of itself. I'm sure that if he had been born a few decades later a psychologist would have had a word for it, but that wasn't really something done when he was born. I always knew that, though I won't lie and say it didn't hurt when he gave a first draft equivalent of a 'this is why you can't go to that party on a school night' talk, or the 'I care about your future' talk. I knew it wasn't him being deliberate, but it still wasn't ideal."

Ash wasn't sure what to say, and his mom was able to continue.

"I do mean what I said though. He died hating that man, and he would have preferred that you weren't born at the same time, but he would have loved you as much as my mother did, and perhaps even as much as I do. You have his smile, and he'd have been happy to see someone bring it out much easier than he could even when he wanted to. You also have his need for a razor, but he'd have probably laughed about that if I brought it up, as he always did."

The last part was said in a way that he wasn't entirely sure if his mom was telling him to use that wax he got from Seafoam, and to avoid getting roped into that time sink he moved onto a topic that was perhaps more unnerving to go into.

In part because it did involve a bit of fudging details.

"Around the same time that came up, I also was pointed to a few people who happened to look like me. Especially in the ways that I don't look like you…"

"I am in no position to claim offense to that, nor do I have any interest in doing so. If they were from the same family I sincerely apologize for the sense of betrayal and world shifting that they may have experienced. If they weren't, well can't say I'm surprised."

Unlike the possible barb at himself and his namesake, there was no mistaking the tone his mom had as anything but disdain, though entirely aimed at his father and not at any of the others involved in it all.

The shift away from talking about the yesteryears Ketchums (Ashton, Hanako and Delia) to him possibly going on to figure out which sibling to mention to his mother and in what context was prevented by the ding of the muffin timer.

Not coincidentally, he also heard the footsteps of Pikachu, Misty, and Anabel the moment it went off.

…

'You know, have you thought about looking at possible opponents?'

Anabel's question had been raised as the last of the muffins were consumed.

"That would be a pretty good idea, after all we didn't really get much of a chance to watch much of it last time."

Who in the cable company thought that putting the channel into pay-for-view just as the tournament began was a good idea had created a rather toxic stink in both Pallet and Viridian, created a mass change in service providers in the area, and had gotten legislative action. Needless to say no one had been happy about it, for even the other providers didn't like the new legislation being out there telling them what they could or could not do.

Hence why Delia's tone had an annoyed edge to it when she talked about it. He'd have a similar edge if it came up, but that hadn't happened this time.

"It would be perfectly legal to do so. What one does before you get onto tournament grounds at tournament times is of no concern of the League."

At the sound of the Pokédex his mother eyed it oddly, though that was to be expected given that she was not used to the talking machine like they were. For her it speaking up was akin to the microwave offering up advice on auto repair.

The nervous eying of the device continued as it began displaying the data, present in the form of pictures, words, and rather unnecessary narration.

He caught some of them, but he did miss a few. He'd review the data later.

"Corey Gareth Oakton, Rank 2nd, Pokémon Pidgeot, Scyther, Hitmonlee, Sandslash, Rhyhorn, Venusaur, Gengar. Random Trivia, This individual is the same age as that trio of brothers and beat the blue-haired one of them twice in his career.”

“Neesha, Rank Top 4, Used Pokémon Blastoise, Dewgong, Wigglytuff, Vileplume, Rapidash, Ninetales. Random Trivia, Neesha is an orphan with no last name who now lives in a nice home she pays for with League winnings.”

“Fergus Blueman, Rank Top 4, Used Pokémon Gyarados, Vaporeon, Tentacruel, Golduck, Nidoqueen, Kingdra. Random Trivia, This individual is a perennial favorite among type enthusiasts who none the less question the use of Nidoqueen.”

“Ringo S. Beedle, Rank Top 8," Before the image could scroll down further and go into information, his mom tapped the image with a finger. This stopped it in place, and she looked at Ash, then the image, then back to him.

"Is he who you meant?"

All eyes were then on the Pokédex's image, which featured someone who, like many Ash had seen, resembled himself. Dark hair, a tall build, a pair of marks on his cheeks.

However there were some differences from his as well, and it wasn't simply the fact the guy had red eyes. For one thing, the guy was massive and covered with muscles the likes of which Ash had rarely seen. He was pretty sure that some of them looked larger than Max's head. The jaw and face seem more rugged and angular than what he'd seen on himself, Red, or the others. The guy was wearing a shirt that failed to cover up his muscled chest, and was posing for the shot kind of oddly in his stance and hand gesturing, though Ash didn't really notice that part.

Ash couldn't help but be drawn instead to his eyebrows though, as he noticed something about them. At the end of them, where they reached the farthest side of the face, they pointed upward in a sharp yet somewhat curved point.

It was a type of eyebrow Ash had a feeling he had seen before somewhere…

"So this guy…is he who you were talking about earlier?"

At his mom's question, he shook his head.

"No, I had never seen him before. I was talking about other people."

His mom looked back at him in surprise, then at Ringo again, then back at him.

"So you've met people like him, and then we just randomly see another one on a list like this. What are the odds of that?"

Larger than you might think, but that was another talk entirely. With that the image was allowed to scroll again, which led to an image of him posing oddly again, but this time with Pokémon. Among them a Pichu on his shoulder, which seemed oddly clashing with the way he looked.

"Known Pokémon, Pichu, Rhyperior, Machamp, Dodrio, Marowak, Exeggutor, Hitmontop, Blissey, Magmar. Random trivia, many suspected he would have gone much farther in the tournament had a mistake in the medical care of his Rhyperior not flared up at an inopportune moment in his battle with Corey. The mistake was revealed to have been the result of sleep deprivation on the part of a Nurse Joy. As it is, he is confirmed to not be competing this year as his mother hurt herself and his help is required on the family farm until she fully recovers."

So he wasn't going to be a factor in any case. So this information was pretty much entirely pointless beyond adding to his list of siblings.

Still, there were more Trainers to go through.

"Phil Ein, Rank Top 16, Used Pokémon Golem, Persian, Magneton, Hypno, Venomoth, Crobat. Random trivia, Phil did better last year than his last two times at the League and hopes that going forward he'll be more noticed by the larger battle landscape.”

“Bartholomew Jarelson the second, Rank Top 16, Used Pokémon Arcanine, Umbreon, Machamp, Tauros, Alakazam. Random trivia, This old man requalified himself for League competition after a lull of forty years as something to do in retirement. He doesn't need to do this, he does it because he wishes to and probably also because he gets bored like many old men do.”

“Tiana Rickelson, Rank Top 16, Used Pokémon Rhydon, Exeggutor, Hypno, Lapras, Pinsir, Machamp, Slowbro, Random trivia, Tiana is a master user of the Trick Room technique, and Ringo made an odd face during their match when Slowbro started moving faster than his Dodrio.”

“Tom Ato, Rank Top 32, Used Pokémon Clefairy, Fearow, Slowpoke, Oddish, Mankey, Beedrill, Raticate. Random trivia, he doesn't look like you despite somewhat similar tastes and genetic testing I hacked into confirms he isn't related to you.”

“Ann Chovy, Rank Top 32, Used Pokémon Dugtrio, Wigglytuff, Starmie, Golduck. Random trivia, contrary to her name she actually prefers olives on her pizza.”

“Caesar Salad, Rank Top 32, Used Pokémon Onix, Crobat, Ninetales, Pinsir. Random Trivia, he's the nephew of Professor Cycad and occasionally helps out his uncle during the off season.”

“Mandi, also known as 'The Astounding Mandi', Rank Top 256, Used Pokémon Exeggutor, Seadra, Golbat. Random Trivia, this individual suffered a massive upset by the rookie Ringo. Normally he places much higher, in which he was seen using Weezing, Mr. Mime, and Electrode."

By the time that Mandi had come up though, everyone had moved on to dish cleanup.

"Hey, don't you all ignore me! I am not a background television!"

Much to the indignation of the Pokédex.

As had been requested previously, none of them were battle Pokémon meant to go against his big opponents. One Vivillon, the first to evolve, was up for battling new Trainers, but had never expressed interest in going beyond that.

"Toge!"

Said Vivillon was thrown to the ground by a yellow energy funnel, the origin of which was the cheering Togepi.

"Pika…" 'I don't even want to know when you get the time to train him.'

At Pikachu's statement Charizard gloated about his time management skills. Ash avoided asking where he'd even learn such skills as he tended to the downed Vivillon with Heal Pulse.

'You know, I'd like to see Togepi ready for the League. I think we can do it.'

Ash was glad that he had tended Vivillon enough, or he'd have had to deal with the issue of stopping mid-way as the statement caused him to freeze up in shock.

"Pipipi!" 'What!? You cannot be serious. He's a baby, and the League is the League. It's fierce, and filled with Hydreigons and Drapions and competent Meowths!'

Pikachu's shocked statement was followed by a quick, almost cough like response.

'Phanpy.'

It might have been funny to let Pikachu try and explain how that was different, but he'd like to save his buddy from digging himself into a hole. So, after giving Vivillon a quick boost to fly away and picking up the still cheerful Togepi, he cleared his throat to get the two's attention.

"In the end, it's my decision and we have more time than last time to make the call. Charizard, I'll bring Togepi to the League if you can show me that Togepi can handle himself. If not, he'll only be in the stands. Got it?"

Pikachu and Charizard looked at each other, before looking back at the still giggling Togepi. Charizard nodded.

'Deal. Come, let's see if you can learn how to burn things!'

At that invitation to arson Togepi jumped out of his arms and followed the flying Charizard. Pikachu watched Togepi run off in a way Ash could only call forlorn.

"…Buddy, what's up?"

Pikachu turned around, but he didn't let him point out 'the obvious'.

"Ever since we've gotten back you've gotten more worrywart for Togepi, even though he seems better at actually defending himself. He's not just waggling for a win anymore."

"Pikapi." 'You do remember that things are more dangerous here. Getting near a nest caused a duo of Pidgey to attack us, the Spearow tried to kill us for even less reasons than usual, Beedrill even more so, and Paul is even more Paul even without drinking whatever Misty's sisters were drinking. If Togepi goes to the League…'

Pikachu didn't look him in the eye as he gave his reason.

"Okay, ignoring the fact that you aren't giving me the real reason, I'm calling foul. Sure everyone can break limbs more easily, but the way you're talking about it Togepi would get put through a meat grinder the moment I send him out. I wouldn't even send Togepi out against anyone more threatening than Mandi unless Charizard gets Togepi juggling houses. Or gets Togepi to evolve, one of the two. What's really bugging you?"

Pikachu took a deep, self-steadying breath before turning his way.

"Pikachu-Pi." 'Remember when I said I might have been the father of Misty's Azurill? Well, that was the thing. Might was the keyword. Now though…'

What Pikachu was saying took a moment to sink in, and it hit him like a dogpile of his Pokémon.

"I take it…you aren't talking about the Grimer."

Pikachu nodded.

"Pi." 'Me and Raichu….it happened the first day we were back. I…haven't known quite how to put it into words. This is…new to me. A step that I never had full, concrete knowledge of taking.'

So that was why Pikachu was reacting to Togepi so much. Ash wasn't entirely sure what to say.

"I'm sure you'll be great buddy."

That was probably the safest thing to say. Pikachu looked ready to mutter something in response, possibly a comment of 'can't be any worse than yours', but he held his tongue.

Thus an awkward silence for a minute as the trees rustled in the breeze.

"Pi." 'This is the part where a human asks another if they want to be a godparent, whatever that is…'

"Do you even need to ask?"

Also he was pretty sure that, as the Trainer of the eventual Pichu, he'd fulfill what a godparent was regardless of if Pikachu asked. However Pikachu didn't need to know that.

…

He has asked Iris to come along for a weekend in the hills for an increased intensity of training.

Other than the fact that training was the main reason he had come back home and that training benefited from change ups to focus on different areas from time to time, he had ultimately decided to go into the wilderness for training because of her.

Ash was many things, but he wasn't so unobservant he hadn't noticed that something was bothering Iris, and he had hoped that getting her back into her element might help, either by getting it off her mind or having her be more willing to explain what was bothering her.

She declined, though as he had already set things up for doing so she had been left behind and thus the training had lost one half of its intended purpose.

The other half though…

Primeape's purple clad fist shattering a stone in half was proof of the other half going rather well.

Primeape had learned to use Throat Chop.

With Primeape bouncing up and down in a cheerful display at his accomplishment, Misty spoke up.

"So, what does that make that now?"

"Five I think. With Primeape we have my lead Tauros learning Double Edge, Muk Brick Break, Anabel's Kadabra got the hang of Recover, and your Staryu got Power Gem down pat."

"Six actually, Psyduck learned Psychic."

Oh yeah, he did. Ash had just forgotten because he really couldn't tell the difference.

"Psy!"

Psyduck's complaining declaration aside (at least Ash presumed that was what it was, he had no idea what Psyduck was saying), the trip was productive, and no one could argue that.

It wasn't as productive as he hoped it would be in another way though.

A sharp odor suddenly assailed his nose, a natural smell that preceded a natural event.

Rain.

Everyone from Anabel to the Zubat that had come along with Togepi reacted to the smell around the moment he had picked it up.

'With Kadabra I can get everyone…'

Anabel's declaration was cut short by the ring of yellow electricity that flew from the sky and struck her.

A Thunder Wave.

"ROOOOOO!"

The sound that followed the Thunder Wave down from the clouds, and was itself followed by a bolt of lightning that Primeape barely avoided, was quite familiar to Ash.

"Zapdos."

As if summoned by him whispering the name, the dark clouds parted in a mighty gust, revealing the yellow and black bird.

Every inch of the bird was sparking, and the eyes of the legendary bird glared down at them angrily, though in a way that Ash suspected that Zapdos had already been in a bad mood before it had noticed them, just to make things even worse.

He quickly stepped in between the legendary and the sparking, paralyzed Anabel.

"A Legendary bird Pokémon, and the data I had previously only gotten a small fragment of. You have made up for causing me incomplete data the other day. Now, if you really want to make it up to me you can capture it."

Before Ash could tell the Pokédex about the many, many things right now that were a greater priority than capturing Zapdos, the legendary Pokémon began charging another bolt of electrical force to blast them with.

Ash gulped and braced himself for the incoming fight. That was definitely gonna increase the intensity of the training.

With all the time Iris had spent training and improving with Ash, Misty and Anabel, it had been quite a while since the last time she managed to spend some time alone with her own Pokémon. She was not neglecting them by any stretch of imagination, but it was still something odd to realize when she used to spend her time sparring with her friends and little brother.

That did not mean she enjoyed it any less, however, as her own Dragon Claw clattered against Axew's own in the middle of a large clearing, her little brother wearing a confident grin on his face.

"Axew!" 'Wah! Take this!'

Axew flipped backwards and then sprinted forward claw-first, with Iris ducking just in time to narrowly avoid it. She tried to ignore the thoughts swirling in her head, attempting to keep her head on the fight like a true warrior should do.

Thus she tried to stand, just as Axew bounded for her again. She quickly held another Dragon Claw up, and the twin attacks were locked in a stalemate again. As she considered what to do, however, her little brother's grin grew larger still.

And then he opened his mouth, blasting the full force of a Dragon Breath right on Iris's face.

"Oof!" Iris yelled, her back meeting the harsh ground as she slid over the dirt, defeated.

She was quick to pull herself back up, all while her little brother jumped up and down with a giddy smile.

"Ew ax!" 'A-ha! Victory!'

Iris said nothing at that, letting Axew bask in his moment of glory while her gaze wondered down, contemplating the grass below.

"Ax?" 'Something wrong, sis?'

Iris's eyes snapped back up, and she found Axew ahead of her and staring in concern.

She shook her head quickly. "What do you mean?"

"Axew." 'Well, you're fighting was a bit sloppy here. That's not like you.'

Her brother folded his stubby arms, a serious frown on his face as he paced closer. "Ax ew ew?" 'What's on your mind?'

At that question, Iris did not know what to say. What was on her mind was easy, she was still worried of what to do once her family was rescued, a question that even with Misty's words continued to present itself with no answer in sight.

Even knowing what it was, however, her little brother was the last person she wanted to talk with about it, it was one thing to talk it over with people that did not know of her family and could give her objective advice, but it was another matter entirely to burden Axew with her worries. Maybe he could have given her better advice on how to tackle them, but he didn't deserve to be hit by those answerless questions.

"Ax?" 'Sis?'

Iris sighed, her head shaking again as she watched away from Axew. "There is nothing to worry about."

"Ax axew ax." 'Come on, drop it. We've known each other for all of my life, I can tell when something's troubling you. Are you worried for our family again?'

Iris's fist clenched ever so slightly. "Somewhat."

"Ax ax." 'Well, don't be. With all the training you've done, our new friends, and me, there's no way that evil woman will win next time! We'll find her, kick her ass, and save our family! That's our goal!'

The wild girl's eyes gravitated back to her little brother, holding his pumped fists up and showing off an excited grin, far more than she ever recalled seeing him.

She crooked her eyebrow at that. "You seem more motivated than usual. What happened?"

Axew gave a shrug, his glance wandering around the clearing as he put his arms behind his neck.

"Axew ax." 'I've just been thinking of these last few months. Sure, there was stuff like that evil Clefairy some time ago, but aside from that we've got a lot of good memories and cool adventures too. Pikachu and the others are great guys, and they all want to be stronger, too. I can't be the last wheel there just to be cute and nothing else! I need to grow into a strong Fraxure and an even stronger Haxorus, here!'

"What did we say about not rushing to evolve, here?"

"Ax ax." 'Yeah, yeah, I know. But if I don't put some work in, I'm never gonna evolve, will I? I've been the little kid long enough here. I don't know what's on your mind right now, but it's my turn to protect you now.'

Iris couldn't help but be amused as her brother continued to talk, punching the air and giving himself a tone far unlike his small form. She never spent much time considering it, but her little brother was really starting to not be so 'little' anymore.

She took a deep breath, pride swelling inside her as she patted his head. "You really would make a great warrior for our family."

Axew shrugged once more. "Ax." 'Maybe, who knows? Big brother would still be around, and you just know he's not gonna take kindly of any new 'warrior' in his turf."

That was enough to make Iris laugh, and for her brother to join in. He was right, and she could just see their big brother challenging Axew the moment they met again. Even if thinking of her family only made her worries all the more pressing, she still enjoyed looking back to her family that way.

Her eyes fell back on the confident little Dragon-type again, still able to see his concern gleaming in his eyes. If he really wanted to grow up so much, maybe he could take those questions better than she thought it would.

And so, after a moment's hesitation, she kneeled to his height, frowning. "What would you do after we save our family?"

"Ax?" 'Why do you ask?'

"You seem to enjoy your time here. So, I was wondering..."

Silence fell between the two siblings, as Axew frowned back. Iris almost regretted her question, until her brother shook his head.

"Ax ax." 'I'm not sure what to say. Beyond wanting to be stronger, I didn't think much of the future.'

"What if you were forced to choose?" Iris gulped, her words feeling heavier than ever. "Between... me or our family, for example."

Some other silence. And then, Axew shook his head and walked closer to Iris, petting her leg with a little smile.

"Ax ax." 'I dunno why you're asking, but that's an easy one. I'd always stick with you, silly."

Iris's eyes widened slightly. "Seriously?"

"Axew ax axew." 'Why wouldn't I be? You're my favorite sister, and you've always been there to help me. I want to be by your side, giving you all the assistance and fun you need on the way.'

Iris's gaze continued to stay on her brother and his stupid grin, radiant and confident like she rarely saw him. The pride and love she already felt for her brother was only growing stronger with each word he spoke.

"Axew..."

"Ax ax." 'Though, let's be honest. There's no way our family would ever kick you out. And if they did, your little bro would kick their ass back!'

Axew punched his fist into his palm, grinning wickedly. It was enough to let Iris chuckle again.

"Thank you."

"Ew!" 'No prob! If there's anything you need me for, I'll always help you out. Alright?'

Axew extended his hand to Iris, his confident grin only growing larger than ever. Iris smiled at that, placing her hand over her brother's own.

"Alright, then."

Brother and sister remained still, enjoying each other's presence for a brief while. And for once in the last few days, Iris's questions didn't feel as pressing as they used to be.

Unfortunately, their quiet was interrupted just a bit later, as a foreign voice was heard.

"Hm, weird, I could've sworn they said I would find him here. Where can that Ketchum kid be?"

Iris and Axew both turned around, until their eyes fell on someone who just entered the clearing, a man wearing a rather visible pink shirt and quite long green hair, with a smug expression drawn over his face.

…

The human appeared to be a few years older than they were, possibly twenty or so. When he noticed her he smiled in a way that was not quite out of friendliness.

"Ah, what good timing. Tell me, would you be able to point me in the direction of Ash Ketchum?"

She didn't respond, which seemed to give him an answer if the way his face morphed into amusement.

"So you could, but you aren't going to. Very well, I have time."

He walked past her, likely still in search of Ash.

Not that she'd let him do it without a good reason.

"Why are you looking for him?"

He stopped mid step, twirling around to stare her and Axew down with a smirk.

"It's quite simple really, you see I'm the Astounding Mandi, professional League Trainer."

"Ax." 'I feel like I heard that name somewhere.'

They had?

Seeing as he could not understand Axew, he continued without a reaction.

"I've competed in four Leagues, soon to be five, and I aim to compete in several more of them. However I found myself in an unfortunate position last year, placed against a rookie of unusual talent in a first round upset. It was vexing, but not something I couldn't spring back from. The fact said rookie, a Ringo S. Beedle, announced he wasn't going to compete this year made my hopes even higher for a comeback after that unfortunate setback. I'm certainly not happy that some woman broke her limbs in a rockslide, but it's one of many helpful coincidences I'm gonna reap the benefits of. Like, and I kid you not, that lug somehow met a half-sister at the League and the both of them are helping out with the family farm and sparing me their threat. I have no idea how they'd have come to that conclusion, the two look nothing alike. I've seen less built Machoke than Ringo, that Biwa girl is as well built as a Bellsprout, Ringo has dark hair, she has green… honestly they only share eye color and eyebrow shape. Not that I really care, the entire thing is just weirdly convenient."

Iris now remembered where Axew might have heard about this guy, but she still didn't see the reason it involved him looking for Ash.

"Woe to me to discover that those two were the first gusts in a breeze of freaky rookies. I catch a tournament and I keep seeing them everywhere. However this time I plan to be ready for them and not be caught off guard."

"So, you are here to spy on Ash and figure out how to beat him?"

"I wouldn't call it 'spying', more so than seeing him in action first-hand. I do have to track down all of the others that caught my eye and keep up with my own training in the meantime, and I have no idea where to find that grouch from coal country. Still, I can't see why you would care what I'm doing… unless you happen to have some reason to. Tell me, are you one of his groupies? I hear talk you know. Well in that case... maybe I can give Ash some advice to make up for spying on him."

That got Iris staring at him in confusion.

"And why is that?"

He looked up into her eyes as firmly as he could.

"Romance and Leagues don't mix. Infatuation is a distraction and a time bomb. You can have all of the girls swarm you while you win, but the moment you lose they all leave and the Trainer feels empty, even if you have to distract yourself trying to accommodate such temporary feelings properly. Love cannot exist while ones attention is tied to fame. It's why I won't look for it until I leave the Leagues, and I plan to do that only when I decide to. I have no plans on getting washed out by too many super rookies."

"I help Ash get stronger. Are you sure that is not just you?"

"Ax." 'Even if you aren't off with him training to get stronger'.

She ignored the true statement as Mandi looked at her in a look that had no amusement. It also had a hint that she had poked at a not-fully healed wound of some kind while doing so.

Not that she particularly cared.

"You know, perhaps I'll get in some of that training in now. If you train the kid and aren't some mere fangirl, if I can beat you I can get an even better idea of what he could be capable of."

Before she could say anything he tapped a Pokéball at his belt, which released an Exeggutor.

Axew stepped forward before she could offer to deal with this entire thing herself.

"I have no idea what that thing is, but I train my mind as much as I train my Pokémon. Exeggutor, Seed Bomb."

The Exeggutor stomped on the earth as a green bulge formed in the palm leaves on top of it.

"Dig!"

The dodging move moved faster than the bomb, Axew vanishing into the ground before the Seed Bomb landed and burst over the hole.

However Mandi shook his head.

"Psychic."

With a glow on each set of eyes Exeggutor grinned as Axew was yanked out of the ground. He struggled for a moment before calming down.

"…The little thing's been trained to not panic when held in the grip of a psychic attack?"

Mandi sounded surprised, she was not. With Anabel around, they all had gotten training in how to deal with such a scenario.

The first part was not panicking. The second was reacting with a non-restrained attack.

"Dragon Rage!"

As the draconic flames flew from Axew's mouth and straight into Exeggutor, who was sent stumbling back from the blow.

"That thing's a Dragon?"

"Dragon Claw!"

Axew slashed at Exeggutor with glowing green claws, not letting them recover. The strike tore several shreds of bark off Exeggutor, but it was not defeated yet.

"Sleep Powder!"

"Dragon Rage!"

Axew was again faster, and the ranged attack blasted Exeggutor down. This time, it seemed, for the rest of the fight.

Mandi returned the Exeggutor without a word.

"You can go now."

He glared back at her, so he continued.

"If you are still wondering if Ash can beat you, let me be clear. He can. He can beat you with any of his Pokémon, against any of your own. He can beat you himself, and I can do the same. If you have to fight him at the League, you will lose. Just accept it and go spy on someone else."

Mandi slammed both of his hands into his belt, right on top of two Pokéballs. He pulled both out, looking quite ready to throw both of them at her, when a bright light illuminated the both of them.

The source of it was Axew, who was surrounded with the light that formed around all Pokémon in the process of evolving.

She smiled widely as her brother grew before her eyes. His height and size sprang up, as both of his tusks sprang out from the front of his head wider. His little tail also grew larger, and the light peeled away to reveal a green, black, and red Fraxure.

Her brother, his body trembling with the new surge of power in his veins, didn't say a word. Mandi however, seemed to almost deflate.

"Again."

The word was said flatly, as both of his hands with balls in hand slacked at his side. Both balls dropping to the ground with a clatter.

"I fight some other no-name nobody with my Exeggutor, and some tiny Pokémon beats him. He does well in all of his other battles, but against some Magby or that dragon this keeps happening. The kid, does he have Pokémon that can evolve in the middle of battling my Exeggutor?"

"Yes."

Silently he picked up his Pokéballs and walked away. As if that was all the answer he need.

"Fraxur." 'That man is haunted by a nightmare, but it's one he lived though. It still haunts him, and it defeated him before I could.'

She nodded, their earlier conversation replaying in her mind.

Worries brought up by sleep and dreams were getting at her more than they should in the last few days. She'd need to keep them out if she wanted to keep going forward.

"Ur?" 'Sis, think I learned any new moves when I evolved? It happens sometimes, and I have no idea if it happened with me or not?'

Hearing her little brother again in his changed form snapped Iris out of her thoughts, and she took a second to admire his taller, far more powerful form, matching his earlier determination and fighting spirit. His eyes were burning with intensity and readiness to train more, to grow even stronger than he was already.

Iris smiled down at him, walking closer to Fraxure and rubbing his now reinforced scales affectionately. "Well, we can only find out of by seeing for ourselves."

Fraxure smiled back at her, quickly taking a battle stance without further words, for none were needed. Iris' smile widened, and she quickly took a stance of her own.

And then, Iris and Fraxure started training again, ready to grow together as trainer, Pokémon, and most importantly siblings.

…

A day later she and Fraxure met the others back at his mother's house.

They all mildly smelled of ozone.

He pointed his Z-ring arm, now featuring a yellow crystal, at Fraxure.

"Well…you had an eventful time back here."

"Same to you."

'If we talk about it, we should probably not do it around Ms. Ketchum. I don't think she really needs to know that we were attacked by…'

"Before you discuss your eventful time in the nearby hills and borderline mountains, you may want to do something about the unintentional gainer of my information following our Zapdos encounter."

They did not have time to question the shifty sounds of the Pokédex before the Ketchum front door opened with a bang, which was followed by Delia speeding out and hugging all of them.

Which included her for some reason.

In hindsight, he probably shouldn't have gone and challenged that Zapdos so recklessly.

In his own defense, when one did see such a rare Pokémon just flying around the hills, not attempting to capture it would be an utterly moronic thing to do.

Of course, doing so only led to a sudden thunderstorm for the boonies south of Viridian. Both of the Pokémon he had used were badly electrocuted and he himself had taken a battering after a gust from the legendary bird had blown him down a hill.

Thankfully his arm would be healed in time for the League, and his Pokémon would recover before even that. He'd put them through their paces, but he wouldn't discard them.

Incineroar and Lycanroc were his two best and oldest Pokémon, and being beaten by a Legendary Pokémon wasn't an unforgivable sin of weakness on their part.

His gaze rose up to the mural that Pokémon center had that depicted the Legendary Birds of Kanto.

When he decided to pursue Zapdos, it was just as a precaution. Maybe even training for himself and his Pokémon. He had heard talk about that year having many powerful rookie Trainers, several of which he had seen in action living up to their hype via televised events, and one of which he even battled in person.

They were obviously all beneath his level, they had to be. There was no possibility they could be better than him. He couldn't allow it.

And to ensure that was true, a Pokémon like Zapdos as his secret weapon would have been reassuring, and also the perfect test of skill in preparation of his target, and potentially the perfect counterpoint to defeat his target once he tracked him down.

But alas, that didn't happen. But that was okay, after all, who needed a stupid thunder chicken? He could make it alone, just like he always had. There was absolutely nothing to fear, nothing at all, and there never would be.

And eventually, even the mighty Ho-Oh would have to bow down to him.