pokemon Fighting Dreamers

'I've...I've done it now.'

"My name is Saito."

'He never deserved this...I was just being selfish.'

"I'm from Stow-on-Side, I'm the daughter of a Gym Leader."

'I...I just wanted to start from scratch...was that really a bad thing?'

"I've been lying to you since we met."

'If I had told him from the beginning...'

"You don't know me."

'Everything would have been okay... what's wrong with me?'

"Bea doesn't exist."

"What...what are you talking about?" Ash asked.

"I-I'm sorry." That was all she could stutter while she kept crying.

"That's not...Bea, you can't be serious."

"Ash, for once since you met me..." She hold her tears again to look at him. "I'm being completely honest."

"T-That's not funny." Ash continued.

"Don't make this harder than it already is."

"It can't...it can't be like that, Bea!"

"My name is not Bea!" She shouted standing up.

"But..."

"I...y-you...Look out!" The statue was about to tackle them and Bea quickly moved Ash and herself out of the way as Zacian stumbled onto a wall. "A-Ash, are you okay?!"

"You... you're telling all you've tell me about you has been a lie?"

"N-No! Not everything."

"Not everything?!" Ash stood infront of her. "And how am I supposed to know the difference?!"

"If could just let me-"

"And you're only telling me because some giant statue is trying to kill us?!"

"T-This isn't how I wanted it to be!"

"Were you even going to tell me at all?!"

"Ash, calm down." Sabrina talked.

"YOU CALM DOWN!" Ash shouted.

"RAAAR!" The Zacian statue jumped and tried to attack them again, Ash quickly summoned yet another shield stopping it.

"You...no, you're not...no, no, NO!" Ash punched the shield and this was sent flying along the statue, destroying it into pieces against the wall.

"Ash...Ash, listen, I-"

"BEA!" He shouted giving her a stare she has never seen before. "...you still have the chance to tell me this is all an awful, out-of-season april fools joke."

"..." She simply lowered her head.

"You...why?"

"I thought...I thought you wouldn't accept me for who I really was."

"And what is that?" He asked. "Who...who are you?" Ash felt a lump on his throat as he gave that question.

"I-I'm your friend!"

"Are you?! Or was I just a cover story to you?! ...were you ever really my friend?"

"I-"

"Well, apparently not!" Ash kept interrupting her. "Cause you didn't trust me enough to tell me!"

"Just let me explain-" Bea tried to reach out to Ash, but Pikachu jumped down and stood in her way.

"PIKAPI!"

"You're not understanding!" Bea called again, the group then heard a rumble and saw the pieces of the statue started to rejoin, forming Zacian again.

"Zamazenta said those things were invulnerable...argh, can you call your sword or not?!"

"I..." Bea joined her hands and tried to focus, but the energy wouldn't stay together. "I still can't...I thought this would help me, but...w-was it really worthless?"

"You're seriously saying that you'd never tell me if we weren't in this situation?!"

"I'd...I'd rather don't, but... Ash, if you could let me-"

"Let you what?! Do you even understand what's going on?! You're saying you've been lying to me since day 1! So I don't know who you are? I've been fully trusting with everything! And now you tell me you never told me even your name!"

"...I know how this must look, but...I'm still Bea, despite everything, I'm still your friend...I know I shouldn't have don't that, but I had no other choice..."

''Yes, you had! You could have tell me the truth since the beginning! You could have just stood me up on that god damn date! You could have simply rejected my offer to travel together and leave it like that and none of this would have happened!'' Those words sounded too familiar to her.

"You're right...I could have found another way, but I chose that."

"Why?! Why did you do all that?!"

"I-I wanted to stay with you!"

"And you think that gives you the right to lie to me?!"

"That's not what I'm saying! Haven't I done enough things for you to trust me?!"

"You have, but..."

"Then please, listen to me...I'm just...I-I'm a person with troubles, alright? I've been through many awful things I don't want to remember and I...I feel safe with you, I feel like everything is gonna be okay, remember all those times I've said that being with you makes me happy?"

"...yes."

"That was true, that couldn't be more true... I already told you, you're the most wonderful person I've ever met and I know...you deserve something better than me, but please, don't give up on me now, you said you'd never hate me, that you'd help me...that it was a solvable problem..."

"...And it is." Ash answered, he sighed and did his best to calm down.

"T-Then please, help me solve it!" Bea tried to reach again, but Pikachu wouldn't let her.

"I...I'm sorry." Ash sighed again and held his head. "You know I've been stressed lately and this..." Ash looked at her, she was still crying and that look caused a heavy pain on his chest. "I'll give you the benefit of doubt, but you better have a good explanation."

"...thanks." Bea sighed relieved.

"After all you've done for me...I think I have to give you a chance at least, but..." Ash was interrupted by a howl as the Zacian statue finally formed again and looked at them. "That thing won't give up..."

"I...I can do this." Bea took a step forward and the statue started to run at her, Bea then joined her hands and closed her eyes. 'I finally told him, but I have to make it out of here alive to explain...just focus.' She thought.

'It's alright now, Saito.' Zacian's voice sounded in her mind. 'I've heard everything, you're doing well...Just hold on...and let go.'

Bea took a deep breath and prepared a swing with her empty hands. "I'm... I'm done running." a light blue sword finally appeared on her hands and once she felt it, Bea swung it with all her strength, slashing off the head of the statue.

"She finally did it." Zacian smiled

"You were faking to be asleep again!" Zamazenta complained.

The head of the statue fell pretty close and it quickly returned to its body to look at Bea again, the girl took a firm hold of the sword and pointed it at the statue. "My name is Saito! And I'm the sword hero!" She shouted. "And if you have a problem with that, then I'll cut you into loup until you accept it!"

After that declaration, the statue sat down like the Zamazenta one did, the two statues then looked at each other and their eyes turned white as a section of the chamber suddenly opened revealing a treasure chest.

"You okay?" Ash walked to Saito along Sabrina and Allister.

"I'm...fine." Saito looked at the sword as it disappeared in thin air.

"Suddenly I don't feel that special with my powers anymore." Sabrina giggled.

"To think all of this was hidden next door." Allister looked at the chest. "Let's see what's this is all about."

The group walked to the treasure chest, seeing two more inscriptions in the walls next to it.

"Traveler, there is no path. The path is made by walking"

"Gray clouds are also part of the landscape."

Ash and Saito read and then looked at each other, Ash still had an untrustful look, that look was honestly scary for Saito, she sighed and walked to the chest, it was made of a rusty golden metal, but she opened it with her strength without much difficulty.

"What is..." Bea took out the only thing inside the chest, a brown/blue glowing cylinder.

"All of that for a cylinder?" Sabrina asked.

"Oh, this is an Enigmo memory." Allister said taking the object in his hands.

"A what?" Ash asked.

"An old device from Galar's early years based on a special extinct creature's power, it works like a recorder, let me show you." Allister pressed both ends of the object, its glow died for a second, but it then illuminated again showing a blue projection of the kings the statues were based on.

"Is this thing on?" One of them asked.

"I think it is." The other answered waving.

"Well, hello, if you're seeing this, then congratulations, you are the sword and the shield heroes."

"We're the originals and we're leaving you this message to...what were we doing this for again?"

"They just told us to do it and leave it here."

"Sorry, we're still new in all of this, we were simply two blacksmiths who tried to do the right thing."

"After we forged Zacian's and Zamazenta's weapons and they defeated Eternatus the people of Galar named us kings."

"I can't stand someone trying to brush my own teeth."

"Back to the important point, we just wanted to warn you, but by the time you find this message some of the clues must have shown themselves already, like Dynamax Pokemon capable of using more than three moves or gathering all the energy around, blocking others from doing Dynamax as well for example."

"So that's what happened..." Ash remembered his battles against Coalossal and Allister.

"Do you know how to stop it?" Saito asked.

"Girl, they are holograms." Sabrina said. "They can't hear you."

"Unfortunately, once it starts, there's no chance to stop it, you'll simply have to prepare yourselves."

"Eternatus is the most powerful being in existence, stronger than the Unovan Dragon, stronger than the Ultimate Light, stronger than Shadow Lugia...maybe even stronger than Arceus itself if he manages to gather enough energy, it has to stopped no matter the cost."

"We know it sounds scary, but we faced it first-hand and we made it out alive, together."

"So we're sure you'll do great too, you'll both face countless hardships, but you'll be fine, just as long as you have each other."

"So stay together, heroes...you've got a world to save, we're leaving Galar in good care, this time, Eternatus will be done for good."

The holograms then disappeared and the four statues turned to dust as they flew off in the wind.

"If those things were really invulnerable they would have helped in that fight." Ash said.

"So you are the two heroes." Allister gave Ash the memory and then looked at Saito. "Stow-on-Side…You mentioned being the daughter of a Gym Leader...that means you're Habe's daughter."

"A-Allister."

"Don't worry, he won't hear anything from me." Allister assured. "We're just coworkers, I don't have to tell him anything, I'm good at keeping secrets as you can imagine."

"Thanks a lot." Saito said.

"Don't worry, now, as interesting as this event was, I'll have to leave, I need to inform the chairman of what happened here." Allister said his goodbyes and walked away, leaving Sabrina with our heroes duo.

"I guess I'll take my leave too." Sabrina was about to snap her fingers, but then she thought of something. "Hey, Ash, may I know your next stop?"

"Uh, we were going to Wyndon." He answered.

"Then I'll take you there."

"You mean teleport us?" Saito asked.

"Of course, just put a hand on my shoulder and I'll take you."

"What do you say?" Ash asked Saito.

"I guess a ride never hurts."

Ash and Saito put a hand over each of Sabrina's shoulders and she nodded.

"Off we go." Sabrina snapped her fingers and in a flash of pink light, the trio appeared in front of the Rose Tower. "And there you have it."

"Wow, your powers are really convenient." Saito said.

"They have their perks." Sabrina admitted.

"Thanks, Sabrina."

"Thanks to you, Ash." Sabrina reached out to him and cupped his face, giving Ash a kiss on his forehead and causing some pink sparkles to appear there afterwards. "For everything."

"Heh, that tickled a bit." Ash said embarrassed. "Uh, what was that for?"

"Let's say it's a little surprise tool that will help you later." Sabrina winked as she snapped her fingers. "See ya soon."

The Gym Leader disappeared, Ash and Saito were once again left alone and they simply looked at each other in silence.

"I..."

"I'll be going in." Ash interrupted her.

"Oh... r-right, your reunion with Rose... I'll be in the center." Saito was about to walk away, but Ash held her wrist.

"We'll...talk about this there, ok?" He asked.

"...Of course, see ya there." Saito walked away and Ash stood there, looking at her, Saito knew he was doing so, but she was too afraid to look back.

Meanwhile with Sabrina, she teleported herself infront of the Celadon Gym, where her friend Erika was attending the flowers along her Vileplume.

"Oh, you back already?" Erika asked.

"Yup, it was nice." Sabrina answered.

"Nice, uh? How is Ash?"

"He's doing great it seems." Sabrina decided to ignore the whole Saito/Bea topic, she could have looked inside the girl's mind to learn a bit more, but she decided to leave it to Ash. "I mean, we were attacked by two giant statues, but I guess that's the usual for him."

"I see, he could really use some time to relax, don't you think?"

"You're suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

"Maybe..." Erika giggled. "I'd just like him to pay me a visit that's all, it's been such a long time."

"Well, we agreed to have a rematch later so I guess I could bring him here...I mean, you didn't properly battle him either, did you?"

"Most of the Kanto gyms didn't actually."

"Hmm..."

"Miss Erika!" A young girl with a female Pikachu riding on her head entered the Gym running and stood infront of the two leaders.

"Oh, hey there, Elaine." Erika greeted her.

"I-I'm back for our rematch! Just like I said!" She exclaimed.

"Of course, please follow me." Erika walked to the battlefield. "We'll do your aromatherapy later, fine, Sabrina?"

"Sure, I guess I can wait." Sabrina answered and then looked at the girl. "So you're Elaine, you've been a hot topic with the Kanto Gym Leaders lately."

"Pleased to meet you, yes, my name is Elaine, Elaine Ketchum."

"...Ketchum?"

Meanwhile with Ash, he went to the reception of the tower and a Macro Cosmos Employee told him where to find Rose, Ash followed the instructions and walked to the elevator, pressing the button to the 57th floor, he was there alone with Pikachu and the mouse was giving him an angry look.

"...I know what you're thinking, I should have told her to explain herself now, but...I need a bit of time to process all of this...I guess she needs some time too...when I'm done with Rose, I'll go with her and we'll sort this out, I don't want to just give on my friendship with Bea...I mean...Saito...I already thought that hiding that she liked me was a lot, but this is..." Ash's thoughts were interrupted once the elevator stopped as it reached the designated floor. "I just hope this day doesn't gets more difficult..."

"Ash?"

"Uh?" Ash looked at the person who called him once the door of the elevator opened. "Hey there, Nia."

"N-Nice to meet you again." Peonia greeted him as he walked outside of the elevator. "You came for that offer Uncle Rose was going to give you, right?"

"Yup, were you with him?"

"I was, but you just missed him, Uncle Rose left along with Oleana on his helicopter, I didn't hear that clear, but it sounds like there was a problem with some guy named Bede."

"Yeah, I met with Bede, he destroyed the Stow-on-the-Other-Side mural, he said Rose told him to look for Wishing Stars."

"W-Wishing Stars?" Peonia quickly remembered the blueprints she saw on Rose's tablet.

"Yeah, but Allister said that Rose wouldn't do that, maybe I should ask him myself...you're saying he's not here?"

"I'm...afraid not." Peonia looked down.

"Is there a problem, Nia?"

"It's nothing, I'm just..." Peonia took her Rotom Phone in her hand and sighed, worried about those blueprints. 'I can't tell him...Uncle Rose is not a villain.' She thought. 'I'm just misunderstanding all of this, I'm sure it's nothing to worry about...I just need to find a conversation topic so he doesn't suspect and forget about all of this.'

"Nia?"

'But what can I talk about?' She kept thinking. '...Maybe I can just talk about the weather, that's a classic.'

"You okay?" Ash called her again and she finally looked at him.

"...Ash, I like you." She said.

"..."

"..."

"EH?!" The two exclaimed.

"And that's a seven." Pikachu sighed. "How long will this torture go on, man?"

"Well, uh...I guess that's a topic." Peonia simply looked at Ash who was silent and still. "...You're not going to say anything?"

"You...like me?" Ash asked slowly.

"Yes." She nodded.

"...you sure?"

"Yes."

"You like...me?" Ash asked again.

"T-That's right! Get it through your head!" She exclaimed.

"I...I think I just misheard you." Ash tried to deny it.

"You totally heard me!" Peonia pointed at him.

"I don't thi-"

"I LIKE YOU ASH KETCHUM!"

"C-Could you...stop screaming?" Ash asked her. "Everyone's looking at us."

Peonia looked around at the group of Macro Cosmos employees who were looking at the conversation, she glared at them and they all returned to their duties.

"Sorry, I...I like you." Peonia continued. "But ...I don't want to."

"Oh, well, that makes sense, goodbye." Ash walked past Peonia, but she stopped him grabbing the back of his vest.

"You're seriously not gonna ask me to elaborate further on that?!"

"Uh...do you wanna elaborate further on that?"

"Look, I was gonna confess after our battle, but... I was there with Bea while you were talking with Sonia so I decided to keep it for myself for Bea's sake, I felt like there was something between you guys, after all, you are traveling with her, I couldn't know when would be the next time we would meet and you two just know each other so much."

"Yeah..." Ash looked to the sides.

"And since you said there were other girls, well, no offense, you're a great guy, but I'm not that fond of the idea of getting into some kind of bitch slap fight to get you... still, you are my first crush, I don't wanna give up on my feelings, but I know it wouldn't work out, things are already complicated for you and I don't want to be just another one of the bunch, you said there were four girls, right?"

"Uh...six now, actually." Ash answered embarrassed. "...seven with you."

"Don't act like you don't know what Sabrina had going on!" Pikachu exclaimed slamming his tail on Ash's head.

"See?! You really still haven't made up you mind?! Bea hasn't done any progress?!"

"Well, Bea and I...we kissed...two times."

"Two times?!" Peonia exclaimed. "S-So you two are already together, right?"

"...No." Ash answered blankly.

"You serious?!"

"Look, this day has been really weird and-"

"Even after two kisses you still can't settle with her?!" Peonia pointed at Ash accusingly as he backed down a little.

"It's not as easy as you think!"

"Maybe it's not as complicated as you think! Just go and tell her, hey Bea, do you wanna Bea my girlfriend?"

"..."

"I'm trying to ease this thing!"

"I told you, things with Bea have been weirder than usual... and you say you like me, if I did that, if I ended up with Bea... would you really be okay with it?"

"...I guess it would hurt me a little." Peonia admitted with a sigh. "I'd probably move on later, but I do want to be with you... I could just go with the classic 'as long as you're happy', but I feel like I need more than that...some kind of closure at least..."

"Closure? ...look Nia, it's obvious we're both confused about this, so I think it'd be better to-"

"Shut up." Peonia said cleanly grabbing Ash's shirt to pull their faces closer, making them both blush. "If you...Y-You're the one causing all these problems! If you had just settled with Bea none of this would be happening!"

"Uh...N-Nia, what are you doing?"

"I'm just..." She held his clothes tighter and looked down for a moment. "I'm just trying to prove a point."

"Well, it better be a good one-" Ash was interrupted by a sudden kiss on his lips, he didn't even had time to react as Peonia pulled back just as quickly. "Uh..."

"How's that?! Did you like that?!"

"Uh...y-yes." He answered. "...Does your lipstick has berries or something?"

"STOP BEING SO GOD DAMN CUTE!"

"N-Nia, calm down."

"You calm down! Argh! Why can't you just settle down with one girl?!" Peonia started to shake him and Pikachu gave the two a controlled Thunderbolt to try and calm down the situation.

"S-Sorry, I..." Peonia let Ash go and took a few steps back. "D-Did I really just?"

"Yes, you did." Ash answered as Peonia covered her lips embarrassed. "...if you really don't want to like me, why doing all this?"

"I thought this would help...I thought this would make me forget about you..."

"You thought that kissing me would help you forget about me?" Ash asked.

"I'm new in all this, ok?! ...and now I think I like you more...I can't... that was my first kiss...a-at least I didn't steal yours...Bea is truly a lucky girl."

"Nia..."

"Y-You know? It's kinda funny, I overhear my Dad planning something to make me fall for you, but it seems like I did that myself...if I know I'll end with a broken heart...If I know you won't choose me...then why can't I just give up on you? ...Come on, just do it."

"Do what?"

"J-Just reject me! Do it now!"

"I can't...I can't just do that."

"Why not?! You don't even know me! Why do you care about me?!"

"I've...seen enough, Bea told me something similar when we met, you and I may not know each other for months or years, but we did plenty of things, we had our moments, Nia, the reason why I can't just reject you is the same reason you fell in love with me, those feeling you have, I can't just cut them like they don't matter."

"...You're just too perfect." Peonia gave him a weak smile but her brightness quickly died down. "And that's exactly the problem..." Peonia pushed Ash away and then ran to the elevator.

"W-Wait! Nia!" Ash tried to stop it, but the door closed before he could. "I..."

"Just reject me! Do it now!"

"Why can't I...just do it?''

"Why can't I just move on..." Peonia asked herself, the elevator stopped in the first floor and she ran out of the tower, ending up in the center of the city where she sat in a couch. "I can't believe it, what was I thinking? ...Why did I kiss him?"

"Uh, who did you kiss Peonia?"

"B-Bea!" She exclaimed looking at the girl infront of her.

"Uh... fancy meeting you here..." Saito gave an accusing glare. "In Wyndon..."

"I-I..."

"After all you're a Gym Leader now."

"Uh..."

"You surely were with your uncle in Rose Tower...just where I left Ash..."

"F-Fine, I kissed him!" Peonia gave in. "Please, don't punch me!"

"Sigh, if anything I would expect Nessa to do it, I thought you wouldn't try it."

"I...I though that too, I wanted to leave him to you, but I...I'm so confused, Bea!"

"I'm confused too...Nia, I messed up."

"What happened?"

"I was...I was hiding something from Ash and...I'm afraid he might think he doesn't know me anymore."

"I don't think that would be a problem, we all got secrets, he shouldn't judge you because of that."

"This is not so simple." Bea sat next to Peonia. "I did things I shouldn't have...when you two...you know, what did he say?"

"What did he say when you did it?"

"..."

"..."

"Yeah, I think it's better to not get into details...Ash will probably come here, so I'll go back to Freezington." Peonia stood up and walked to the door of the center. "If...if he tells you about this, just tell him I'm sorry."

"Nia?"

"I feel like...the only way I could give up is if I know someone else won, so... I'm rooting for ya, I wish you and Ash the best." Peonia walked out of the center and waved goodbye at Bea as she left.

Back with Ash, he was standing outside of Rose Tower, trying to look for Peonia with his sight to no avail.

"...I guess best I can do is return to the center." He gave in and started to walk away, Ash was worried with all his thoughts and he wasn't paying much attention to where he walked. "Why does these things keep happening, as if I wasn't confused enough with Bea...Saito... now's the deal with Peonia, why does everyone... likes me?" Ash eventually bumped onto someone, he turned back to see a slender girl with long maroon hair braided in a side ponytail and held by a flower scrunchie, she was wearing something similar to a school uniform and an Eevee was being carried in her arms.

"So?" She asked.

"What?" Ash said.

"You bumped on me." She glared at him. "Aren't you going to apologize?'

"Uh...sorry about that?"

"Hmm..." The girl simply started to walk away. "Watch where you're going next time."

"Well, I guess not everyone likes me." Ash scratched the back of his head and looked down, noticing the girl had dropped her ID card, Ash quickly took it and walked on her direction.

"Hey, wait!" Ash called the girl but she didn't hear him. "That's just great...Hey, you!" Ash called again as she was running towards the girl.

"That boy again?" She finally noticed him and then started to escape.

"Hey, why are you running?!" Ash shouted.

"Because you're following me!" She shouted as well.

"But I have your-"

"Eevee, Sand Attack!" Her Pokemon jumped from her arms and swoop her tail along the ground, summoning a small sandstorm that blocked Ash's vision just enough to let her escape.

"Argh, why does everything I do has to turn into some sort of side quest?" Ash asked as he coughed. "Next thing you'll tell me is that I need to go climb a tower of falling water to learn how to breathe properly...let's see." Ash looked at the ID on his hand and spotted the address. "Cerise Lab..."

After searching a bit with the help of his Rotom Phone, Ash and Pikachu made it to the lab without much trouble, thinking that would be the hardest part.

"This is the place, now I just need to give it back." Ash knocked the door and he heard some steps approaching it, he simply waited and the door was opened by the three Officers Jenny who were pointing at him with their guns. "...sure." Ash sighed.

"That's him officer! That's why I called you!" The girl exclaimed pointing at Ash and standing next to her parents and their assistants. "He's been following me the whole day, I bet he's some kind of sex offender or worse!"

"Hey! I was just following you because you dropped your ID!" Ash defended himself. "I've been trying to give it back to you!"

"That's impossible because I keep my things organized!" She complained again. "I have them in color specific sheets and-"

"All right, look, I'll give this back to whoever it belongs to." Ash interrupted her and took the ID on his hand to read her name out loud. "Koharu Cerise! You know her? Have you met her?"

"Oh." The face of the girl, now identified as Koharu, blushed in embarrassment as everyone was looking at her with accusing glares. "God, I don't know what's wrong with me lately."

"Hehe, alright officers, it seems like this was all a misunderstanding." The professor and father talked as the Jenny put down their weapons.

"Well, Koharu, I think you owe someone an apology." Her mother said.

"I-I...give me back my ID." Koharu sighed and walked to Ash, taking the card and walking back to the lab without saying anything else.

"Well...why don't you come in?" Koharu's father asked. "I think we should offer you some tea at least."

"Uh...yeah, I guess I'll accept that."

The Jennys left the place and Koharu's parents took Ash to the living room, Ash sat in a couch and waited, after roughly five minutes, Koharu was the one to come with the tea, with quite an unfriendly look. "My...my father made me do this." She said.

"Sorry about that." Ash said as she out the tea on the table and looked at him. "...I'll just take it and then I'll leave, fine?"

"..." Her glaring intensified.

"Uh...maybe I can leave now and-"

"I'm really, really, really sorry about earlier!" She exclaimed suddenly putting her palms together in front of her.

"Uh...what?"

"I can't believe I just jumped into conclusions like that, I feel like I'm losing my mind, I am...I'm sorry, I've never been exactly the friendliest person in the world, but lately I've been seriously sour."

"Her boyfriend broke up with her recently." Koharu's father said offscreen. "Maybe that's the reason."

"DAD!"

"Sorry, sorry." He apologized and walked into the room as well. "Hey, Ash, you're a trainer, right?"

"Of course!" It may sound strange but Ash was glad that for once, people didn't know he was a champion.

"That's perfect! I know just the way to apologize for all the havoc, Chrysa!"

"Yes, sir?" She called.

"Please prepare a set of starters for our friend Ash." He said. "I think that's the least we can do."

"At your service!" She made a salute and ran to do her work.

"That's not necessary, sir." Ash said.

"Well, I insist."

"I do too." Koharu added. "If you don't take it as an apology, as least take it as a gift for a trainer."

"Fine, I guess it'll be okay."

After having their tea and preparing everything, the family and the lab crew met Ash in the living room, where they brought the Poke Balls for him.

"Please feel free to choose one, these are the three starters in Galar." Chrysa offered as she took the three Poke Balls in hand and released them one by one. "Sobble, the water type, Scorbunny, the fire type." Fire and Water starters stood in front of Ash. "And lastly Grookey, the grass..." The third Poke Ball simply popped open with nothing inside of it. "Where did Grookey go now?"

"Uh, over there." Koharu pointed at the roof and there was Grookey hanging from a lamp.

"Hey, wait a second." Ash searched on his backpack and presented him the stick he dropped. "This is yours right?"

"Groo!" The monkey jumped to Ash's free shoulder and he offered the stick which was quickly taken by the Grass type who smiled at him.

"So you had his stick all the time?" Koharu asked.

"Yeah, I met him back in Hulbury and he dropped it while he was leaving." Ash explained as Grookey nodded.

"Hulbury?!" The professor exclaimed. "He went all the way to Hulbury and came back?!"

"Looks like it." Ash said as Grookey jumped to his head and sat on it.

"Apparently you were chosen instead." Chrysa offered Ash Grookey's Poke Ball and he took it. "Please, take care of him."

"What do you say, Grookey?" Ash asked looking up at him. "Would you like to come with us?"

The monkey jumped in front of him and nodded. "Welcome to the family then." Ash returned him and strikes his signature pose.

"We wish you the best." Chrysa then returned Scorbunny and Sobble.

"Again, I'm really sorry." Koharu added.

"I assure you Koharu, there are no hard feelings." Ash said.

"Thank you." She replied as her Rotom Phone suddenly ringed. "Excuse me a second." Koharu then left the room for a moment and accepted the call.

"Hey there, Chloe! How is my bestest, smartest and prettiest friend today?"

"What did you do now, Dawn?" She asked with a cold stare.

"Uh, well, here's a better question, what do you know about time portals?"

"Time portals? Not much honestly, I guess I could ask Danika and Quillon, but what for, Dawn?"

"It' just a...uh, I'm just wondering for something personal." Dawn obviously tried to avoid the topic.

"Dawn?" Ash asked standing next to Koharu and looking at her through the screen.

"...sure, bye, Chloe." Dawn simply sighed and cut the call.

"That was weird." Koharu said.

"You're friends with Dawn?" Ash asked her.

"We are." She nodded. "I met her during a field trip our family was doing in Sinnoh some years ago, I suppose she's your friend as well."

"You bet, we traveled through Sinnoh together!" Ash answered with a smile.

"Traveled, I...wait a second, you're Ash...you're Ash Ketchum!" Koharu gasped in realization.

"Uh, yeah, did she tell you about me?"

"You're Ash Ketchum! Y-Y-YOU'RE A CHAMPION?!" Koharu stammered.

"And here we go again." Ash sighed.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry sir, please forgive me." She continued.

"Did you just call me sir?" Ash asked.

"O-Of course not, M-My lord!"

"...uh-"

"Please, have mercy! I didn't know you were a champion!"

"CHAMPION?!" Koharu's father walked in as well. "Please, it was just a misunderstanding." The professor knelt infront of Ash. "Please, don't close our Lab."

"What?"

"Please forgive us, we didn't mean to anger you." Koharu's mother came in as well.

"You guys..."

"Please man, this is my first job in years, I can't just lose it!" Ren continued.

"Could y'all-"

"Y-You can take me as a tribute if you want!" Chrysa was the last to join the plead. "Just let the Cerise keep their lab."

"Tribute? No, guys, calm down, I'm not gonna close anything."

"S-So I'm not good not enough for a tribute?" Chrysa started to cry.

"Of course not! You're ridiculously cute!" Ash said.

"Uh..." Chrysa blushed embarrassed.

"Don't make me call the Jennys again." Koharu's mother glared at her.

"Good day professor!" Danika suddenly entered the lab and noticed that everyone was kneeling in the ground. "Uh, what did I miss?"

"Hey, Danika." Ash greeted her.

"Ash! You're here!" She exclaimed excited. "Boy, this is great! I'VE GOT SO MANY QUESTIONS! ...but, seriously, what are you guys doing?"

"Chloe disrespected Ash!" Chrysa exclaimed.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"I-I mean...this was just a misunderstanding." Ash still tried to calm down the situation. "There's no way I'd want to close your lab, I wouldn't do anything to harm you."

"A-Are you sure?" Ren asked.

"Guys, seriously, it's no problem at all." Ash continued and they all finally calmed down. "There."

"Hehe, sorry about that." The professor apologized. "You know, you don't meet a champion everyday."

"Instead of a champion you were acting as if I was some evil monarch." Ash said.

"Well, now that the situation passed I'd like to talk with you." Danika said. "I just need to ask you some things about Legendary Pokemon, I promise it'll be fast."

2 hours later.

"And Keldeo's favorite food are Darumaka Lunch boxes." Ash ended his explanations.

"Lunch boxes, got it." Danika answered taking notes. "I think that was the last one Ash, thank you, this information is invaluable."

"Well, most of those were just random details I learned on the road, like Diancie liking dresses, they're not exactly lore, I'm not sure how they'll help you."

"Everything here somewhat matters, Ash, you better believe it." She said. "Every bit of information here is an step closer to our goal to find the origin of the species as a whole, for both Pokemon and humans."

"Well, I hope Quillon and you reach that goal, you can call me if you ever need help."

"Thanks; and be sure we'll call you for a mission one day."

"Here's what you asked, Danika." Professor Cerise walked in along Koharu and offered the girl a USB.

"Thanks a lot, professor." She answered taking it.

"What is that?" Ash asked.

"I'd like to tell you, but it's classified." Danika put the USB on her pocket and winked. "Still, thanks again, I'll get going."

"Oh, wait a second, Danika." Koharu called her. "You'll be back to the base in Sinnoh, right?"

"Correct." She answered. "Need something?"

"My friend Dawn called me earlier, I've been trying to contact her, but she doesn't respond, she said she had some questions about time portals."

"Time portals, uh?" Danika quickly remembered her mission with Dialga, but she couldn't tell them about that.

"Yeah, could you perhaps give her a visit once you return to Sinnoh?" Koharu continued. "She said it was something personal and if she called me just for that it could be something serious."

"Sure, leave it to me...Dawn? she's the Twinleaf girl, right?"

"That's her." Koharu said.

"I'll be on my way then." Danika nodded and left the lab.

"I guess I'll take my leave too." Ash said to Koharu. "Thanks for everything, I promise I'll take care of Grookey."

"I'm sure he'll do great with you, Grookey's always been a free runner."

"Well, bye then Koharu."

"Chloe." She said.

"What?"

"You, uh... it's my nickname, you can call me Chloe if you want to, most of friends do, they say it's easier to remember."

"Well, thanks...Chloe."

A few hours later.

"So…you finally told him." Cinderace was simply looking at Saito arms crossed while the girl was holding her head on the bed of her room.

"Cinderace, I've ruined everything."

"I guess this is the part where I say I told you so."

"I'm sorry…for everything, all those things I said."

"It's alright, I told you, people say dumb things when they're scared."

"I really mean it, you're more than a Pokemon, you've been like a savior to me…if it wasn't for you, I don't even know what would have been of me..."

"...Thanks, and I forgive you."

"But I'm not sure if Ash will...or if I will ever forgive myself for all this."

"Saito...you need to come clean, for you, for him, for everything you've done together."

"I know, but...what if he-"

"Saito...it's time you stop asking 'what if' and simply do it."

"..." Saito stood up and gave her Pokemon a hug. Someone then knocked the door and the girl gulped.

"... good luck." Cinderace said as Saito returned her, she then walked to the door, hesitating to open it at first, but giving up in shortly afterwards. "I won't give up on us." She said to herself as she opened the door and found Ash.

"Saito." Ash simply looked at her, he had already left Pikachu on his room, they had to be alone for this work out. "That was it, right?"

"Y-Yes." She answered with a stutter, Saito was starting to feel like a cornered child, Ash wasn't saying anything, but his eyes were more than enough to tell what he was thinking.

"Can I...?" Ash asked and Saito moved herself, letting him inside the room, Ash walked to the bed and sat there, Saito then sat next to him. "...You told me to let you explain..." He began. "Go ahead, I'm hearing."

"A-Ash, I-"

"I'm giving you a chance to tell me the truth, Saito." He interrupted, thinking she would dance around it again. "You can take it or I can just leave." Ash stood up and looked down at her, Saito started to shiver and she took a deep breath, doing her best to calm down.

"...Where should I even start?" She asked.

"The beginning always work."

"Here goes...I was born in July 8, in Stow-on-Side, my father is Habe, A fighting type expert and Gym Leader of that town, my mother is named Shirai...so far, so good?" She looks at Ash and he nodded, sitting next to her again. "I... there's not much to say about my most early years, of course, I don't remember much of them, but...I'm just sure I spent most of that time with my mother...she was so beautiful, thoughtful, wise and despite being a little strict, she was very kind...she would have liked to meet you...she died when I was seven...she gave me my hairband some days before it happened...she knew she was...and she didn't tell me..." The girl started to shed some tears.

"Saito..."

"I-I'm fine...I...after she passed away...I spent more time with my father, but...things weren't exactly better, he was so cold, even before he would show some kindness, but I just felt like he didn't care much about me after she died...it was like Mom was the one thing keeping him, you know...but that's part of the weird thing, considering what Genta told me."

"Who's Genta?"

"Hmm, listen, the Stow-on-Side Gym was the first Gym formed in Galar, its been serving its duty since centuries ago, the Gym and the city overall is ran by two clans, the Shinka clan, which to I belong to, it leads and represents the Gym as their leader; then there's the Kenga clan, a lower rank who serves and help the Shinka in managing the gym, from what I've heard, a Shinka saved the life of the head of the Kenga family long ago and since then they've acted as servants to try and return the favor, the Kenga most of the time cover their faces believing they're not worthy of being in a Shinka's presence, they wear outfits similar to kuroko mixed with black belts, kinda reminiscing Ninjas, Genta and Takeru are the only ones I know personally, they lead the rest of their clan and assist my father as his second and third in command respectively."

"I see..."

"What I'm trying to get to is that... Genta told me my Mom was previously selected for my father."

"You mean an arranged marriage?"

"If only it was that easy...it was an arranged marriage, but it had nothing to do with money or power, she was selected Because she was the woman who was the most biologically compatible with my father?"

"What do you mean?"

"She was selected so she could give birth to the best offspring possible, someone to inherit the Gym... just think about it for a second, I was made to be 'the perfect fit', even before I was born I wasn't meant to choose...my physical strength, it is in part due to my training, but I was born with it, it was already on my genes because of that...my Mom said that once while I was a baby two Ekans slithered onto my crib, but I strangled them and scared them away, Mom heard all the noise and she said I was just laughing while the Ekans escaped...do you believe such a thing?"

"Yeah, I...I think I do."

"Even with all that, I want to think Mom and Dad loved each other to an extend, but after she left, things just kept getting worse, the training, it was...it was intense, a day when I had to carry boulders over my back was what I considered an easy day, everyday was the same, wake up, train until your bones break, go to sleep...I actually had plenty of scars in my back...because of the training."

"On your back? But when I saw your bikini..."

"It seems like they healed." She said. "After my first encounter with Zacian, she said she healed my injuries...I guess those counted too."

"Your injuries...what exactly happened back then in the Weald?"

"I fought with Zacian." She admitted.

"You mean fight-fight?"

"Yes, fight-fight."

"Why am I not surprised?...keep going."

"I met Cinderace as an Scorbunny a month after Mom passed away, our first encounter was so weird, but I'm glad it happened...she really helped me, but... I never felt actually happy... all that training was just to be a Gym Leader, but I didn't want to be that, I felt like there had to be something more...I felt like I needed something more."

"So...you ran away?"

"Yes, after I made up my mind, I spent some weeks planning the escape with my Pokemon, Cinderace helped me pass the security system and we escaped, while camping we found Genta, he's always been the more relaxed of the whole Gym...he helped me, he gave a chance to get far enough, we were heading to Turffield, but we ended in Hulbury by accident...then I met you...it's like we were fated to meet."

"So, that day on our first date..."

"Yes...not only that, but everytime I was acting weird, everytime my mind went off I was thinking about all that...I'm sorry, I know I don't deserve another chance, but please... don't...don't leave me alone..."

"Leave you alone...?" Ash sighed. "Saito...why doing all of this? Just to stay around me?"

"I did all that because I love you, even when I wasn't sure about my feelings, that part wasn't, isn't and never will be a lie, I love you Ash Ketchum."

"You say that, but...who's the one that loves me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"When you first confessed...when you said all those things, that time you kissed me...was it Bea or was it Saito?"

"It was just me." She answered. "That didn't have anything to do with my cover, it was my heart, my feelings... if I'm being honest there were times where I questioned myself if I was either Bea or Saito, like, what I'm doing now, is it part of the facade? Or is it really me? ...Living as Bea is so different from living as Saito, but... one way or another, I'm just me...and I swear I'm done with all this, now you know, I told you everything."

"Why do I feel like that's too little, too late?"

"I swear, I was close to telling you many times, but there was always something..."

"What if...your father finds out about...us? If he's a Gym Leader he'll be in the league, so you can't participate along me."

"It'll be fine...not like I care much about what he thinks...If I meet with him again, then I'll face him... and I'd like you to be by my side when that happens... When I escaped it wasn't some kind of rebellious phase, I really meant it, I just wanted to start over... find a way to start again, brush off the dirt and find some friends... but I found something even better...I found you... I'm not asking you to forgive me, I don't think I'll ever fully understand or forgive myself... but, please, at least understand."

"I understand, Saito." He said. "You wanted to be your own you, you weren't happy with your life...but I still feel distrusted."

"But you're not, I may have hidden those things, but... you're the person I trust the most in the world Ash, I trust you my life, every single day we've been in this crazy journey, you've helped me lots, and I've been trying my best to help you as well, those things don't matter?

Ash looked down and thought for a few seconds. "...You promise me you won't hide anything from me again?"

"I swear." Saito looked at him firmly.

Ash then looked up to her and smiled. "...I forgive you."

"You have no idea of much I needed to hear those three words." She replied as her eyes got a bit teary.

"Well, I...how do you want me to call you? I mean, Bea or Saito?"

"Bea...Bea will do."

"Are you sure?"

"Totally."

"Alright, then what should we do now, Bea?" Hearing him call him like that and seeing him smiling again was more relieving than she could imagine, Bea couldn't contain anymore and gave him the strongest hug she could.

"I just want things to stay like this forever...I love you."

"I love you too." He replied hugging her as well. "So, Bea-"

"O-Of course, no more lies." She interrupted.

"That's not what I was going to s-"

"I'd do anything you ask, anytime." Bea interrupted again.

"Bea…"

"I know, I know." She broke the hug. "You want your space and all that, but-"

"BEA!"

"S-Sorry!"

"…"

"…"

"As I was trying to say…I have one last question for you."

"S-Sure, anything!"

"...Do you wanna be my girlfriend?"

Bea stood in shock for a moment, processing what he just said. "…A-Ash, you-"

"I know we've been having troubles lately, but, after all you said… I can't even imagine how much pain you must have been through, to live like that and keep all that hidden, I understand why you did it, but if you had just told me from the beginning I would have accepted you... still, even if you didn't have the best intentions, I know you never wanted to hurt me… so I feel sure about this."

"B-But I…What about the other girls?"

"I'm not going to lie, I'm still not sure about what I'll tell them, but…I want to do this, I want to be with you, so if you're up to-"

"ARE YOU KIDDING?! OF COURSE I AM-" Bea hugged him again and kissed him on his lips as she started to cry. "Ash, I-I…I promise I'll make you the happiest man on earth."

"Hey, isn't the boyfriend supposed to say that?" Ash asked jokingly.

"F*ck your gender roles!" She shouted and then kissed him again. "Now I can do this anytime I want..." Bea held his chin and gave a devilish smile as she licked her lips.

"I-I mean." Ash looked around embarrassed. "We don't have to-"

"Did I say you could speak, Ash Ketchum?" She lifted his chin a bit more.

"Uh..." Ash simply blinked a few times mildly aroused.

"Ha! I'm just kidding." Bea gave him a kiss on his right cheek and the now couple shared a laugh as she hugged his chest. "I...I'll love you each and every single day of my life, I promise."

"I'll be in your care then." Ash gave her a little headpat and Bea blushed even more in embarrassment. "I promise I'll love you too."

"Hey... now that we're felling better..." Bea stopped the hug, much to her own dislike, and looked at him. "Peonia told me."

"...Of course she did." Ash sighed. "Look, she took me by surprise, I just-"

"I'm not blaming you, Ash." Bea interrupted him. "But can I ask which kiss did you like better?"

"Bea, this is not a competition."

"It looks like it is! Because apparently I can't let you alone for 5 minutes without you charming yet another girl!"

"J-Just why are you so jealous?

"As if you didn't get jealous too!" Bea pouted. "Ash, I...you know you'll have to reject all those girls, right?"

"I know..." Ash sighed. "And I'll do it...somehow."

"Sorry, I don't want to give you more troubles, but you know I'm kinda jealous and now that we're a couple that aspect of me will probably get worse, hehe."

"I don't know, I have to admit you're kinda cute when you're jealous."

"D-Don't just call me cute out of nowhere." Bea covered her face embarrassed.

"...Cute." He repeated with a smile as her now girlfriend tried to hide her blushing face with a pillow.

"A-A-Anyway, this day has been crazy and we both need to rest." Bea said. "Besides, you should go with Rose tomorrow so...uh, yeah, goodnight."

"Goodnight." Ash tried to leave the room, but Bea suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Thank you...for giving me a chance, despite my flaws."

"We all got flaws, Bea, they make us who we are and we have to accept them, either you learn to love the thorn or you don't accept roses..." Ash reached out to her and gave her a cheek kiss causing Bea to let out a laugh.

"Yeah, I'll definitely get used to that." Bea pulled him closer for one last lip kiss and Ash then left the room and closed the door.

"I really did it..." Ash smiled to himself. "Wait a sec, she said her birthday was July, 8?"