pokemon Fighting Dreamers

Twinleaf, Sinnoh.

It had been a couple of days since the 'arrival' happened, Dawn and Akari had been getting along quite well, Dawn gifted her an outfit to blend in, it was quite similar to Dawn's, but with a different choice of colors, they looked much like twins.

"And then that Ursaring chased Arezu all night long." Akari ended her anecdote while the two were talking together in Dawn's room.

"Wow, poor her." Dawn laughed a little.

"Hey, Dawn." Johanna walked into the room. "There's someone looking for you in the front door."

"Really? Who is it?" Dawn asked.

"She calls herself Danika, it seems like Chloe sent her." Johanna explained.

"Chloe sent her?" Dawn then remembered her last talk with her friend. "T-The time portals!"

"Perhaps it's someone who can help then." Johanna said with a light of hope, considering how Dawn mentioned they could stop existing depending on how the situation went and her daughter hadn't done much progress up to that point.

"Danika..." Dawn thought. "Yes, Chloe mentioned her to me once, she works for an organization that investigates Legendary Pokemon."

"Organization? You mean, like the authorities you mentioned?" Akari asked. "A-Are they here to dissect me?!"

"S-Stay here." Dawn told her. "We can't be sure, ok?"

"Uh, as you prefer." Akari accepted and Dawn went downstairs to meet Danika in the front door.

"Hello there, you must be Dawn!" She greeted the girl. "My name is Danika, I'm a member of the M.E.W. division of Project RKS."

"Uh, p-pleased to meet you." Dawn said as the chaser entered her house. "Chloe told me a few things about you."

"Oh, how nice." Danika smiled. "She told me some things about you too, according to Chloe you had some questions about time portals, is there any way I can help?"

"I...uh, sorry, I didn't know you were coming." Dawn explained. "I mean, no offense, but why would your organization go through the trouble of coming all the way to my house just for that?"

"No need to worry." She told her causing Dawn to raise an eyebrow. "It's just a favor for a friend, it's fine...besides, Sinnoh is kind of a priority at the moment."

"How so?"

"Well, I shouldn't tell you, but..." Danika hesitated a brief moment but eventually gave in. "There was a little time problem here in Sinnoh recently."

"T-Time problem?" Dawn stuttered.

"Don't worry, it wasn't anything serious." Danika assured her. "But have you seen something weird around here?"

"What exactly do you mean with weird?" Dawn asked while doing her best to not look suspicious.

"I mean, anything that could look out of place... or out of time, I guess."

"...No, n-not at all." She answered without making eye contact.

"Hmm, then what were you calling Chloe for?" Danika insisted.

"It was nothing, really, uh... just a silly question from friend to friend, sorry for making you come all the way here for nothing."

"...Well, if you say so." Danika shrugged shoulders and pulled out her Rotom Phone. "Let's trade numbers, ok? Please, call me if there's a problem or if you see anything suspicious."

"I-I will." Dawn accepted and they exchanged numbers. "Thank you."

"Well, if that was everything then I guess I'll take my leave." Danika waved goodbye and started to walk outside the house.

"Of course, sorry again for the bother." Dawn then closed the door and ran back to her room.

"She was definitely lying..." Danika said to herself as she hid a small round device next to Dawn's house and then continued to walk away. "But we'll see later about what."

Meanwhile, Dawn returned to her room where Johanna had been hearing the whole conversation along Akari.

"Why exactly didn't you tell her?" Johanna asked.

"I don't know..." Dawn said. "I don't quite trust her."

"And who would you trust with something like this, uh?" Her mother asked again. "I thought you'd ask Ash by now, but it seems like you don't trust him either!"

"I-I do trust Ash!" Dawn exclaimed. "I'm sure he'd help me find a solution to this!"

"If you're so sure then why haven't you called him already?!" Johanna continued.

"I...I just don't want to bother him." Dawn kept trying to avoid the actual reason. "He's a champion now, h-he must be busy."

"If he was such a great friend, he wouldn't be busy for you, would he?" Johanna sighed. "If you're gonna keep acting like this then I'll just call Ash myself."

"Don't you dare!" Dawn inadvertently shouted. "I-I mean, I told you I'd find a solution to this and I'm going to do it!"

"...That's pretty easy to say, isn't it?" Johanna held her head and walked out of the room.

"I can't with all this..." Dawn said to herself as she sat on the edge of her bed. "I already had enough problems and now... if Chloe sent that girl then she must've been of trust but I'm not sure, there was something odd about her... now that I think about it, what was Ash doing with Chloe?" She thought, considering how Chloe didn't seem to be much impressed when Dawn told her stories about her travels with Ash, she then took in consideration how Chloe broke up recently with her boyfriend. "...argh, don't tell me she likes Ash too, I've had enough of this weird tournament."

"Dawn, is everything ok?" Akari sat next to her.

"Akari..." Dawn looked at her ancestor in silence for a moment, their striking resemblance was almost ridiculous, especially now with those clothes she gifted her, Akari's hair was still slightly longer, but that was it. Heck, she somehow resembled her more than Salvia did. "It's... it's a little hard to explain."

"Perhaps I could help you somehow, I may be outdated of this whole situation, but I do have some knowledge I could share with you."

"You think?" After giving it some though, Dawn considered that was the best idea at the moment. "Have you... been in love before?"

"I'm afraid not, there have been a couple people... interested in me." Akari's face showed some disgust for a brief moment. "But I've never felt a connection, I'm still waiting for the correct person, do you have love problems perhaps?"

"I do..." Dawn admitted laying on her bed. "I'm not sure about what to do, he's...let's just say he's pretty popular, you get that?"

"You're competing for you love." Akari said and Dawn gave her a nod. "That's a little exciting, isn't it?"

"Exciting isn't the word I'd use." Dawn sighed tired. "My situation is that...there's this chance that might help me, but I'm a little scared of taking it... just how far would you be willing to go for a love?"

"Well..." Akari thought about how to come up with a proper answer. "If that person is worth it then I'd do all I could."

"All you could?" Dawn continued to ask. "Even if it wasn't the right thing?"

"If it's the right thing for you and that person, then I guess so." Akari nodded. "A friend once told me that's it's not always black and white-"

"But your heart always knows what's right." Dawn ended the phrase. "Yes, I've heard that too..." Dawn stood silent for a moment and then took her phone in hand to make a call which was quickly answered.

"Yes, Dawn?" May looked at her with a rather confident smile.

"Alright May, you win." Dawn gave her a serious stare. "We're going after Ash together."

"I knew you'd open up your eyes." May answered.

While May and Dawn started to talk, Akari simply looked at the conversation from her side. 'So this is about the Ash she mentioned before.' She thought. 'I hope everything turns out fine, seems like he could help me get back home... I wonder how's everyone in Hisui."

Talking about Hisui.

"What's the report, Lian?"

"I'm sorry, Irida, but she's just nowhere to be seen, it's like the earth swallowed her whole."

"Hmm...just keep looking."

"Look, with due respect and all that, it's been five days and-"

"I don't care if you have to move every single damned rock in Hisui! I want you to find her!"

"But-"

"I'm giving you a simple order, warden! Have I been clear?!"

"...Of course, my lady." The young man tipped his hat and left the room, just at the same time an older woman entered it.

"I see you're still focused on this." She began to talk. "But perhaps those efforts could be worthless."

"What are you trying to say, Cyllene?"

"You know our job is a dangerous one, Irida, and this world can be cruel and cold, it is entirely possible that she had simply died."

"She's not dead..." The clan leader clenched her fists. "I-I'm sure of it, I would feel it."

"...And what if you're wrong?"

"If I'm wrong...then at least I should find her and give her a proper funeral, don't you think?"

"That's it if there's anything left to find." Cyllene replied. "Why so much effort for a simple lost girl?"

"Because she's not just a simple girl to me...she's important."

"I see..." Cyllene nodded as she left the room. "Do as you wish, but this will be up to your clan, I won't make my man waste time, we've got more important tasks."

As Irida was left alone she returned her eyes to a map that her Glaceon was watching, marked with red crosses in the places they've been looking for her friend. "Come on, Akari, just where in the world are you?"

Meanwhile in Wyndon.

"Y-You wanted to see me, Mr. Rose?" Bede asked him as he walked inside the chairman's office, Rose was sitting on his desk waiting for him. After the incident in Stow-on-the-Other-Side, he left the town just before Rose arrived to check the damage, Allister explained him everything and Rose then called Bede, asking him to go to his tower to talk.

"Young Bede..." Rose began to talk as he sat down infront of him. "Have I mentioned you that back when you were all alone and I took you under my wing, when I saw talent in you... that you reminded me a little bit of myself, back when I was young?"

"Y-Yes, of c-course." Bede stuttered. "You've told me that a few times."

"Yes I did...I saw your potential, so I gave you a chance at success... but you've wasted it, I am truly disappointed, you took things too far."

"I-It was just a stupid mural!" Bede exclaimed.

"It was part of Galar history!" Rose responded breaking his calm demeanor. "Think about all the mess that the media will make about this; And everyone is going to blame me!"

"I-I was following your orders! You told me to search for Wishing Stars and I knew there were many behind the mural! Didn't you take them anyway?"

"We did..." Rose admitted calming down a little, he then took on his hand the Wishing Star that was resting on his desk. "They'll serve their purpose, but that doesn't change what you did... out in the open, for everyone to see... you are clearly not a worthy Gym Challenger... so from now on you're disqualified and banned from the Galar Pokemon League."

"You... y-you must be joking, right?" Bede asked after processing that for a few seconds. "You're disqualifying me from the Gym Challenge?! But you're the one who endorsed me! There are a hundred different ways we could sort this out! Why are you choosing the worst possible option?!"

"Are you questioning my authority?" Rose glared at him.

"I'm... q-questioning your objectivity!" He stuttered.

"Well." Rose stood up from his chair and looked down at him. "You are out of line."

"Please, give me another chance!" Bede prostrated infront of Rose. "I-I will prove your faith in me was well placed!"

"I'm done giving chances, Bede..."

"This all because of Ash, isn't it?!" He suddenly stood up and pointed at Rose with anger on his eyes. "That idiot just keeps getting in my way! H-He's your new favorite, right?! You're disowning me because of him, aren't you?!"

"...The employees will show you the exit." Rose turned his back on Bede as two Macro Cosmos Employees entered the office and stood infront of Bede. "You're banned from my tower as well."

"B-But that's not fair!" Bede kept shouting. "This place is my home and y-y-you've been like a father to me!"

"...This is no longer you home." Rose continued without looking at him. "And I was never your father."

"You can't do this to me!" Bede exclaimed and tried to approach Rose, but the employees held him and started to force him out of the office. "This isn't fair! I was only doing what you asked me to do!"

"Well, one problem less." Rose said to himself as they finally took Bede out of the office. He then watched outside of the window as a flying Charizard approached the building. "And another one of its way, it seems."

After plenty of tussle, the employees finally managed to take Bede to the bottom floor, just at the same time Ash was being received by Oleana in the front door of the building.

"All I ever did, I did to make you proud!" Bede continued to shout as the employees kept forcing him to the front door. He then managed to set himself free but the employees quickly grabbed him again. "Tell me how proud you are, Rose! Tell me! TELL ME!"

"What's happening here?" Ash asked.

"The chairman told me he'd disqualify Bede from the challenge after what happened in Stow-on-the-Other-Side." Oleana explained.

"Bede..." Ash watched as the employees finally kicked him out of the building, he then decided to go and see him, and there he was, kneeling down in the floor crying.

"Uh, Bede, are you-"

"Hehe, of course!" He shouted without looking at Ash. "Of course you're here! Coming to gawk at me now that I've lost all I've ever worked for to get!"

"I'm not here to gawk at you." Ash responded and Bede started to laugh.

"N-Not like it matters...you no longer have to w-worry about catching up with me, right? ...I already had all my badges, I-I was only waiting for the day... but this is not the end!" Bede stood up and tried to clean his tears, but he was still crying profusely. "I'll b-become the next Galar c-c-champion! O-One way or another! ...And you..." He finally looked at Ash. "This is all your fault! You took everything from me! ...I'll make you pay for this..." After his menace, Bede ran away, getting lost in sight between all the crowd of the street.

Ash sighed and walked back to the tower, Oleana then started to guide him to Rose office, however, there was someone else who also needed have a conversation with Rose.

"Rose, we need to talk." Leon bursted into the office.

"Of course." Rose sighed and put down some papers. "But please make it quick, I have a reunion in a few minutes."

"And who's that reunion with?" Leon asked standing infront of the desk.

"Well, it's with Ash."

"That's exactly what I wanted to talk about." Leon took off his cap to rub his temple. "What's your deal with that kid?"

"What do you mean?" Rose asked. "I always show interest in new trainers."

"We both know this is different, first you invite him to Galar and give him a free entrance to the league, then you give him a VIP pass and now you're inviting him to a private reunion in your office, what for?"

"I don't see anything wrong with giving a little edge to young promises, you didn't seem to mind when I first told you he'd be coming to Galar, besides, don't you get tired of always sweeping whoever ends in the finals against you? Don't you want a nice challenge for once?"

"Let me get this straight, you think that kid can beat me?"

"What I think doesn't matter."

"It doesn't?!" Leon slammed his palm on the desk. "You're Rose Cosmos! Tycoon, businessman, owner of half Galar!"

"As I said, what I think doesn't matter, only what he thinks...besides, I find it rather amusing how you keep calling him a kid, considering you were not much older than him when I endorsed you and you defeated Peony."

"Don't change the topic." Leon replied annoyed.

"I'm not doing that." Rose gave a small smirk. "But I do feel like you're overthinking this. Leon, if you're so sure of your unbeatable champion who has a Charizard status then you shouldn't worry about him, right?"

"I'm gonna beat him." Leon assured him.

"If you do so, then great, I'd be proven wrong, but until then...just don't bother the boy again."

"Again?"

"What? You think I didn't hear about your little fight in Postwick?" Rose let out a short chuckle. "Did you really forfeit?"

"I DIDN'T FORFEIT!" The champion shouted.

"Then what happened back then during that fight?" Rose asked unfazed.

"Have you forgotten how am I?!" Leon exclaimed again. "I am the star! I am the idol! I am the king! this league is nothing without me!"

"That's what you think?" Rose simply raised an eyebrow. "Leon... the stars turn off, the idols fall, the kings get old... this business on the other side, it's eternal... it may not be your time, yet, but you shouldn't hold onto it that much... or when you lose it, you could lose yourself too."

"..." Leon simply glared at Rose and left the office. And as if it hadn't been enough for the champion, just as the same moment he was leaving and closed the door behind him, Oleana was arriving there with Ash.

"Fancy meeting you, champion." Oleana greeted him.

"You..." Leon glared at Ash.

"Nice to see you again, Leon." Ash waved at him. "It's been a while."

"Sorry, I'm rather busy..." Leon walked past them and was about to leave, but then he remembered Sonia's errand. "Argh..." He looked back at Ash as he searched in his pocket and offered the chip to him. "Here, Sonia wanted me to give you this."

"Oh, this must be for Dracovish, thank you." Ash answered taking it. "Wow, this looks amazing, she really went through all this trouble, I must thank Sonia too, she's very talented."

"Yeah... Sonia's awesome." Leon looked at him in silence for a moment. "Ash... I'll see you in the league." The Galar champion left the place and Ash looked at him go, somewhat feeling his tone wasn't exactly friendly.

"Mr. Ash, please, the chairman is waiting for you." Oleana called him.

"Uh, sure I'm going..." Ash answered as he entered the office.

Meanwhile in the center.

Just like yesterday, Bea woke up in her room feeling light as a feather, but she woke up a little later, the last day was amazing, but it was also quite exhausting.

Bea then took her Rotom Phone to check the hour, it was 10:00 AM, probably the latest she had ever woke up in her life, but she felt happy about that, she then noticed Ash had sent her a message.

-Already went with Rose, Pikachu's in my room, I left the door open so go check him if you can, I'll see you later, love you-

"I love you too..." She answered with a blush and a smile, still not totally believing how great things played out. Bea jumped out of bed and took a shower, she then quickly changed herself, although she wasn't totally sure about what she was going to do that day, perhaps she could finally buy some new clothes. Bea checked herself one last time in the mirror, she adjusted her hairband and prepared to leave, but as she approached the knob of the door, she felt goosebumps in her whole body.

"That was weir-" She was about to complain, but someone suddenly knocked the door. "Uh? Maybe it's just Ash." She thought as she opened the door, but there she found Genta, the two stood silent for a moment, Bea put of surprise, while Genta tried to find the right words.

"...Nice to see you're safe and sound at least." He was the first to talk.

"G-Genta, what are you doing here?" She stuttered.

"I'm really sorry Miss Shinka..." He took a short bow. "Perhaps, we both knew this wouldn't work out."

"What are you talking about?"

"Your father has found out about you... I'm afraid I'll have to take you back home."

Back with Ash.

"Nice to finally meet you in proper conditions, son." Rose smiled to Ash after Oleana left him in the door of his office.

"Mr. Rose." He greeted him offering a handshake which Rose accepted. "Here I am, like I promised."

"Of course, welcome, come in, come in." The chairman guided Ash to the chair infront of his desk and then sat on his own chair. "Can I offer you something? Water? Bubbly? A shot of rye?"

"Uh, no thanks, I'm good." He didn't even know what that last thing was.

"Very well Ash, I caused you all the trouble of coming here so I'll cut straight to the point." Rose took a short pause before starting his introductions. "We both know that you're quite a promise of a trainer, so I want to offer you a sponsor partnership agreement between you and my Macro Cosmos Enterprises."

"Sponsor?" Ash asked. "I... I appreciate it, Sir, but I'm-"

"Before you say anything else." Rose interrupted him. "I know it's a lot to digest, but think about it, this isn't the kind of offer I go around making everyday, son, we're talking about your future here."

"I understand that, actually, I've been thinking about my future a lot lately."

"That's good!" Rose gave him a smile. "And that's why you should really consider my offer."

"I know Sir, and sorry, but I've never liked the idea of sponsors, I've always wanted to forge my own path."

"I have no intention of making you abandon your ideals, son." He continued. "I've seen plenty of your battles, and let me tell you, young man, you gave me goosebumps, I knew at once you were no mere trainer, you're an artist and I just want to help you, I just want to make sure you have access to whatever resources you need to continue doing exactly what you're doing."

"Again Sir, no offense." Ash was still trying to be as respectful as possible. "But I prefer to run independent."

"No offense taken, Ash I completely understand, I sympathize, strike that, I empathize." He suddenly slammed his desk, but still maintained his smile. "I guess you don't like the idea, because you think of Macro Cosmos as a huge corporate congIomerate... but I wiII have you know I stiII remember working aII night to rise from poverty... I built this enterprise from beIow the ground up... so even if people see my company as some money-hungry empire, in my heart we're still independent."

"That's really nice, but-"

"You said you were thinking about your future." Rose interrupted him again. "Think about how much this will help you and your loved ones, I understand you may feel overwhelmed, but aII you have to say is yes, that's aII I need to hear... and I can make so many things happen for you and for those important to you, are you ready for that? Are you ready to say yes, Ash?"

"...I do appreciate your offer." Ash looked down for a moment. "But after all I've been through I just don't think that's kinda the deal for me."

"Come on, son." Rose kept insisting. "Are you scared of the power, money and resources? That's all I'm offering to you."

"It's not that but... my Mother once told me that people who have too much money or power... start thinking that the rules everybody else plays by, don't mean anything to them."

"Well, I can assure you, that has never happened to me, or what? Do I really look like a bad guy to you?"

"No, that's not what I'm saying, I just-"

"Ash, you're so naive" Rose tried to fake a laugh. "...I suppose you met with Leon while he was leaving, right?"

"Yes, I did." Ash nodded.

"I was the one who introduced him to his current life." He said. "The leagues, the battles, he is a champion thanks to me, I saw talent in him back then just like I'm seeing in you right now, and look at Leon today, one of the strongest trainers in the world, one of the most influential people in Galar, venerated by the whole region, wouldn't you like that? Being someone who everyone looks up to?"

"I already have people that look up to me." He answered with a satisfied and proud smile. "I'm...I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Rose, in fact, I owe a lot to you, I mean, I probably wouldn't have come to Galar if you hadn't invite me, I wouldn't have met a very important person... but I simply can't accept you offer."

"Fine, I give in...Of course I understand, no hard feelings." Rose stood from his chair as he looked for something on his pocket. "Here, I have one more gift to you." He took out a Luxury Ball and offered it to Ash. "There's a little Cufant here, he's been EV trained and IV bred, perfect Nature and Ability, the best of the best, I hope he'll help you."

"Thanks Mr. Rose." Ash gave another smile as he took the Luxury Ball and then released the small elephant. "A Cufant..." He said as he scanned the Pokemon with his Rotom Phone.

'Cufant, the copperderm Pokemon, if a job requires serious strength, this Steel-Type will excel at it. Its copper body tarnishes in the rain, turning a vibrant green color... Cufant's moves are Steel Roller, Steel Beam, Power Whip and Whirlwind.' Ash's eyes widened for a second after he heard the moveset that the little guy had on him.

"Yup, he's a fighting machine." Rose assured. "It could have been shiny too, but I prefer the normal better. Cufant, meet Ash, he'll be your trainer." He introduced them as Cufant offered his trunk for a handshake.

"Welcome to the team." Ash accepted the gesture and looked at Rose again. "I'll promise I'll take care of him."

"I know, I know, that little guy has been waiting for quite a long time for a worthy trainer, I'm sure you're the one, and I hope that having him will help you reconsider my offer just a little bit more, I'll keep it open for you, son, I know all you need is some time to think and you'll eventually accept it."

"Uh...Mr. Rose, if I can ask something, what happened with Bede?"

"Oh, right..." Rose let out a chuckle. "He told me you 'got in his way' ...thank you for that."

"Thank you?" Ash asked weirded out.

"I'll admit that Bede had potential, but...sigh, he's always been quite inestable, taking down the mural was too much, I had to get rid of him."

Ash was a little worried by that choice of words, but he decided to ignore it. "I saw him while they were kicking him out." He explained. "He was...crying."

"What did I tell you? Inestable." He answered without much care on his frame. "...He'll be fine, but he'll need to find another profession, he's simply not fit to be a trainer."

"Well, I hope he'll be okay too...uh, thanks for everything Mr. Rose, I won't take anymore of your time." Ash was about to leave but Rose put a hand over his shoulder.

"Just one last thing, son." Rose showed Ash his Rotom Phone which had the picture of his kiss with Peonia. "The new employee of the month sent me this."

"Uhm..." Ash was surprised by the fact that Rose had that photo, but then he remembered there were plenty of employees close to them when it happened, not to mention they were inside of a building that was most likely flooded with security cameras.

"Well, while I knew Peonia and you would get along, I'll admit I didn't expect something like this."

"I-I'm really sorry, Mr. Rose." It just came to Ash's mind that he has been talking to the uncle of the girl that kissed him the other day. "I-It's not what it looks like, I-"

"Calm down, Ash." Rose laughed. "Sorry? No, no, no, please, you think I'm gonna act like those overprotective parents from the movies? We both know she was the one who started, but that's fine, you're both young, actually, I'm quite happy that Peonia found her special someone in you, most boys would go after her just for being part of my family, but I know you wouldn't do such a thing, I'm sure that having you as my nephew-in-law will be great, you know what? I'll pay the whole wedding, scratch that, I'll even pay your honeymoon... because you won't disappoint my dear Peonia..." Rose's happy expression suddenly turned into a cold glare. "Will you?"

"I..."

"Of course you wouldn't!" He laughed and gave Ash a small pat on his back. "That's Ash Ketchum for you, and don't worry, this picture won't go anywhere, I know just how annoying media can be, although I might show it to Peony later, hope you and Peonia sort this out as quick as possible."

"I...y-yes, I have to talk with Nia." That was all Ash could answer.

"Very well Ash, as interesting as this reunion was I'm afraid I'll ask you to leave." Rose started to guide him to the door. "I have another meeting right now."

"Sure, uh...thanks again, Mr. Rose." As Ash left the office, he bumped on a blonde girl accompanied by a Liepard, she had her hair in a short ponytail, her eyes were green and she was wearing a black delivery employee outfit, while carrying a big round backpack with her.

"Y-You-" She stuttered recognizing Ash.

"Uh? Do I know you?" Ash asked.

"I-I- No, but I know you!" She answered with a smile. "Y-You're Ash Ketchum! Who wouldn't know you?"

"Ah, here you are, Kerry." Rose greeted the girl. "Seems like everything played out well, sorry Ash, but this reunion is private."

"Sure, sorry about the bother." Ash then left the office along Cufant and Rose closed the door.

'He...didn't recognize me.' The girl thought relieved. 'Thank Arceus for contact lenses...why...w-why am I trembling?'

"Very well, Domino." Rose talked at her as he sat back on his chair. "That backpack has what I'm expecting?"

"Of course..." Domino put the backpack on his desk and opened it revealing a Time Gear.

"How amazing." Rose muttered as he took the gear. "The power of time, in the palms of my hands...the salvation...is one step closer."

"Yeah, whatever." Domino rolled her eyes uninterested. "Look, getting this thing was a total pain the ass. I had to fight these dudes that looked like the Wild Kratts and I barely made it alive with just one gear, so our common acquaintance hopes you do your part."

"And I will..." Rose looked at his reflection in the gear. "For Galar I'd use every tool."

Back with Bea.

"Take me...home?"

"I'm sorry...please, don't make this anymore difficult, I pretty much pleaded your father to let me do this mission because I knew you'd fight back with anyone else."

"Genta, I'm not going back." Bea quickly answered.

"Why not? If you had really wanted to go away you would have left Galar by now."

"But I don't want to leave Galar, I really enjoy being away from home, but...I'm traveling with someone else."

"And does that someone knows about all this?" He asked. "Who you are? What you've done?"

"H-He does, I...I was hiding it for a long time, but I told Ash everything."

"Ash?" Genta thought for a moment until he realized something, but he continued focusing on the problem in hand. "...Please, just come with me, no fights, no struggles, just accept you duty as a member of your family."

"I'm not going to do that! You should know by now how I feel about all that!"

"...I'm asking one last time Miss Shinka, come with me, by fair means."

"I told you I'm not going anywhere!" Bea prepared Cinderace's Premier Ball.

"That's how you want to do things?" Genta pulled out a Poke Ball as well, but he sighed and put it back on his pocket just as quickly. "...Fine, as you wish."

"...Just like that?" Bea asked.

"You're old enough, I assume you understand the consequences of your acts. Your birthday was yesterday, wasn't it?" He asked and Bea nodded. "...it's your decision, I'll leave you be, but this will be the last order I take from you, I can't protect you anymore, I'll tell your father everything, I wanted to do this by fair means, but if that's how things are going to be... listen, Takeru and his troop will be looking for you... I suggest you and your friend to leave this city as quick as possible, the mission is bringing you back unharmed, but... you know they don't care much about collateral damage." Genta looked down and closed the door between them.

"W-Wait, Genta!" Bea quickly opened the door again, but he had already disappeared. "I-I-...no, no, no..." Bea quickly started to pack her things and once she was done, she ran to Ash's room where Pikachu was still sleeping.

"Ka?" The mouse woke up and looked at Bea.

"P-Pikachu, we have to leave!" She exclaimed.

"Chu?" The mouse simply looked at her, without understanding the reason.

"I-It's, uh...A-Ash told me to meet him in the city." She decided to lie once again. "H-He asked me to bring you with me."

"Pi..." Pikachu was still untrustful of her with the whole situation, but he eventually gave in and helped Bea pack Ash's things on his backpack and then jumped to her shoulder as they left the center.

Sonia's lab, Wedgehurst.

"Alright Nia, explain me this again." Sonia was pouring some tea for the new Gym Leader. While she returned to Wedgehurst after visiting Nessa and Valerie, she found Peonia in a train onward the Tundra and the two decided to stop at the lab.

"I kissed him, Sonia!" She exclaimed with worry. "I-I kissed Ash right on the lips like it didn't matter!"

"So you are after Ash too."

"N-No! I mean yes, I guess, but I don't want to! I want him to be with Bea, that'll be the best for everyone!"

"Then why did you kiss him?" Sonia asked.

"Because I love him!" Peonia exclaimed causing Sonia to raise an eyebrow.

"...Nia, are you hearing yourself?"

"I-I just wanted to...I wanted some kind of last breath, I was going to give up, but I wanted to feel like I tried something at least...m-my confession suddenly came out my mouth on its own and so..."

"And so you kissed him." Sonia continued as Peonia blushed. "On the lips."

"WHAT WAS I THINKING?!" Peonia shouted.

"Hmm...Did he like it?"

"I-I..." Peonia rewinded the scene as she had been doing the last few days. "Y-Yes, uh, it was something quick, but he said he liked it..."

"And I bet you liked it too." Sonia asked with a teasing voice and Peonia gave her an embarrassed nod.

"...What's wrong with me? I've made it worse, I wanted to move on and forget about him, but now I can't stop thinking about that kiss, I-I'm too embarrassed and ashamed to look at him face to face again, but my heart just keeps throbbing, I need to see him, I need to come clean, I need to kiss him again!" Peonia quickly covered her mouth after hearing that last sentence that came out of her mouth.

"You need to?" Sonia put emphasis in that word to tease her again causing Nia to blush even more. "Well, that's quite a direct declaration."

"...I do want to kiss him." She admitted. "I want to explain him how I truly feel, I want him to hug me close, I want to... be his girlfriend..." Peonia smiled for a brief moment at the idea. "He-he didn't want to reject me, he said that my feelings were important to him... that gave me a bit of hope."

"Then why not giving it a try?" Sonia asked.

"Because I can't have any of those things... I swear I want all that and so much more from the bottom of my heart, but that doesn't matter, he's gonna chose Bea. I know it! And Ash knows it too! ...and yet, I can't move on... something in my heart tell me it's still worth a shot, that I somehow still have a chance... why is this happening?"

"Yes, I get the feeling." Sonia put a hand on Peonia's shoulder in a effort to comfort her. "Love is the best and worst thing in the world, don't you think?"

"Why did it have to be him?" Peonia continued. "Out of all the boys in the world, why did I have to fall in love with the one that was just out of reach?"

"Believe me girl, you're not the only one in that boat."

"You mean?" Peonia looked at her and Sonia nodded. "But who?"

"Well..." Sonia twirled her hair for a moment as she blushed much like her friend. "I-I'm not entirely sure yet, but-"

"Excuse me, Professor Sonia." Her Rotom Phone interrupted floating next to them.

"What now?" Sonia asked slightly annoyed. "We're having an important talk here."

"You have a call Miss, it's Ash Ketchum." The phone explained and both girls' eyes widened.

"Oh, boy." Sonia said in a worried tone.

"D-Don't tell him I'm here!" Peonia shouted.

"Fine, fine, just calm down and be quiet." Sonia quickly prepared herself and answered the call. "Hello there, Ash, how's everything?"

"Oh, I'm fine." Ash answered from outside Rose Tower as he showed the chip to the screen. "I just met with Leon, thank you for sending it, but how do I use this?"

"Of course, let Dracovish out and I'll give you the instructions."

Ash did as told and Sonia greeted the fossil which smiled at her, while Cufant gave the hybrid a confused look.

"It's pretty simple actually." Sonia started to explain. "Just take off his current device slowly and then press the chip against his upper neck."

"Understood." Ash followed her indications and the chip attached itself to Dracovish's skin, the fossil then started to breath normally and ran around with a wide smile.

"Looks like it worked!" Ash said excited.

"Call me master scientist!" The professor laughed confident. "Nobel prize, Sonia, Nobel prize."

"Thanks again, Sonia."

"No problem, as I told you, it was an old experiment without much use, I'm really happy we got a purpose for it, besides, I'll always be glad to help you, cutie pie." He called him with a wink causing Ash to blush a little his reaction caused Sonia to smile and blush as well. "Heh, don't think I forgot about our little chat."

"Yeah, I was just thinking about that talk with had." He replied. "Uh, you were right, Bea and I are now together now."

"He's..." Peonia was about to talk after hearing everything, but she quickly covered her mouth.

"Uh, what was-"

"YOU WHAT?!" Sonia shouted interrupting Ash.

"What?" Ash asked.

"B-But what about Ni-Ni-Nessa?!" The professor complained almost giving away who was next to her, although she was now worried about both her friends.

"Uh..." Ash was unsure about what to say.

"D-Did you just forget about her?!" Sonia continued to shout.

"O-Of course not! I-I've been thinking about how to tell her, but-"

"A-Ash, you can't do this to her! She loves you so much! She's gonna be so heartbroken..." Sonia tried to focus on Nessa again while she watched as Peonia simply looked down, taking a grip of her skirt. "Y-You know how much hope you gave her with that kiss?!"

"I know, I did feel something back then... but I'm already with Bea, w-what am I supposed to do? ..." Ash thought for a moment and looked firmly at the professor. "Sonia, promise me you won't tell Nessa about this."

"You want me to-!"

"I'll do it!" Ash interrupted her. "Please, if she... If she's gonna find out, then I want to be the one who tells her, that's the least I can do!"

"Ash..." Sonia looked at him with a rather disappointed look.

"Sonia, please promise it." He repeated and the professor sighed.

"...I promise." Sonia gave in. "But you better don't drag this much longer."

"Thanks, I'll go to Hulbury as soon as I can to tell her." Ash was about to cut the call, but Sonia stopped him.

"Ash, Nessa asked Valerie to make her a wedding dress." She said. "You should have looked at her face when she saw it, when she told us how much she loved you...if you...I-If she ends up..." Sonia looked at Peonia again, she was definitely about to cry. "A-Ash Ketchum, I'm never going to forgive you!" Sonia was so worried about her friends that she couldn't even form a proper menace so she just cut the call and approached the girl. "N-Nia, I'm so sorry."

"What did I tell you? He...he's with Bea now." Peonia tried to fake a smile as she began to cry. "T-T-That's so great, t-they're gonna be so...so h-happy together...t-that kiss, I-It didn't matter to him, d-did it?"

"..." Sonia sighed and brought the younger girl in a hug as Peonia cried out loud in her shoulder. "...This isn't fair." Sonia muttered as she started to shed some tears as well.

"A...wedding dress?" Ash now imagined in his mind how Nessa would look wearing that, waiting for him in the altar with a smile. "...I really ruined it this time."

"ASH!" Bea shouted running at him.

"Bea? What's-"

"Take your backpack!" Bea offered it as Pikachu jumped to his shoulder. "W-We have to leave!" She quickly took his arm and started to drag him away with her, while Cufant and Dracovish followed them from behind.

"What happens?! Where are we going?!" Ash asked as he tried to not stumble.

"Anywhere but here!" Bea answered as they reached the city outskirts, passing through a forest. "We can't stay here anymore, we have to-!"

"Bea, what's going on?!" He kept asking.

"I can't tell you!" She shouted striking a nerve on Ash and causing him to pull back and stop her run.

"Ash!" She tried to drag him again, but Ash took his hand away from her.

"You can't...tell me?" He asked slowly. "...After everything that happened these last days?!" Ash bursted out with some tears in his eyes. "You're still going to hide things from me?! Nothing has changed?!"

"You don't understand!" Bea exclaimed.

"How am I supposed to understand if you don't tell me?!" He kept shouting. "How am I supposed to help you if you keep it hidden?! Have you learned nothing?! Y-You told me you were this whole other person I didn't know and I accepted it! I already forgave you for everything! You know you can trust me! Why can't you just do that?!"

"Ash, I-"

"If you're gonna keep lying then..." Ash clenched his fists trembling slightly. "If you're gonna keep lying then I'm just going to leave for real this time!"

"They..." That was more than enough for her to come to her senses. "...T-They found me, Ash..." She finally admitted.

"Who found you?" He asked.

"M-My father, he knows we're here, he's sending a troop to find me, we have to get away from here!"

"I'm afraid it's a little late for that, Saito." A man in a red Karate gi suddenly appeared in front of them.

"T-Takeru..." Bea looked at him worried as Ash took her hand.

"Welp, Genta failed... no surprise there." Takeru shrugged his shoulders as a group of ten men with similar outfits in black and a horde of Primeape, Scrafty, Breloom and Poliwrath jumped from the trees and landed next to him. "We'll have to fix that, right, guys?"

Back in Wyndon.

Still with her delivery girl disguise, Domino was now leaving Rose Tower along her Liepard, thinking she'd never had to meet with Ash again. Her memory of the event was erased by Mewtwo, but that was just something temporary, the scientists in the Team Rocket base that watched everything from there restored their minds without much trouble. They decided Mewtwo wasn't worth the trouble and continued their operations as normal.

"That idiot..." The image of Ash looking at her when they met in Rose's office was now flooding her brain, he didn't recognize her, but that didn't matter, she thought he would, and because of that she flinched, he made her flinch, she stuttered, the great spy agent Domino who outsmarted hundreds of people... doubted for a pathetic mere second.

She was scared of him.

She knew it.

And she hated to admit it.

Domino was completely aware of what Ash was capable of, she made some research of him after their encounter and she's been... following him... after what happened in the Decolore islands in Unova, Domino's been keeping track of what Ash has been doing, just in case he could get in the way of Team Rocket's ambitions again.

"If he's in Galar he'll surely get in the way... It'll be my pleasure to personally beat him." As Domino kept thinking about her situation, she received a call from her boss Giovanni in her communication device.

"Mission accomplished, Sir. Rose received the gear." She informed.

"Perfect." Giovanni answered. "Retreat for now, but be aware we'll need you back in Galar soon."

"I still don't understand why you need Rose's help, Sir."

"The energy in Galar is...quite peculiar." Giovanni answered. "It is exactly what we need and Rose and his people know how to harness it better."

"You...w-with all respect, Sir, you still have not told me what this plan is all about."

"You don't have to worry about it for now, everything will be revealed when the time comes." Giovanni then gave a short smile. "Thank you for your report, Domino. There'll be a ship heading to your location to take you to your next assignment, be safe."

"Thank you, Sir." She cut the call and sighed, once again he was hiding something from her, Giovanni would always tell her everything with the most detail possible, she was her elite officer after all, she had always been involved, she had always been of trust, but they had been growing apart these last months since this operation started. "...Why is this different?" She asked herself, just like she had been doing for a while now.

Back with Ash and Bea.

"You should have taken Genta's offer." Takeru told her. "He has always been too soft, but I'll admit he's the most rational of the Gym, definitely more rational than you at least."

"I'm not taking any offers, I'm not going back!" Bea shouted.

"Your choice." Takeru pulled out a Poke Ball and then looked at Ash. "Our problem isn't with you, Ash Ketchum, yes, we know who you are, you're free to go, but we're taking the girl with us."

"Over my dead body." Ash stood firm in front of Bea as Pikachu, Dracovish and Cufant prepared themselves to fight.

"If that's what you prefer, I'm flexible." Takeru shrugged his shoulders again and called onto his Crabominable, Ash and Bea released their full teams, but so did Takeru's troop, several Bewear, Galarian Farfetch'd, Hitmonlee and Himtonchan joined the other Fighting Types. Needless to say, Cinderace, Chesnaught and Hitmontop were all worried seeing the situation they had feared to come true right infront of them.

"Those are at least 50." Ash said as he looked around. "And you and I only got 21 in total."

"Yeah, seems unfair to them, don't you think?" Bea asked confident.

"Bea, whatever happens, stay behind us." Cinderace told her.

"Last chance to surrender!" Takeru exclaimed.

Ash suddenly took Bea's hand again and they gave each other a short smile. "Not today! Today we fight!" Bea shouted and the battle began.

Attacks started to fly all over the place, the smaller Pokemon, namely Grookey, Flabébé and Clobbopus were quickly overwhelmed and Ash and Bea had to recall them, Dracovish activated his Primal Law and Cranidos and him went on rampage together, Weavile, Hitmontop, Linoone and Drakloak attacked together with bursts of speed, Lucario and Gallade were tossing Aura Spheres back to back, Coalossal and Chesnaught took the front row, acting as shields, while Pikachu, Infernape and Cinderace attacked from behind them; and while all of this happened, Ash and Bea stayed behind trying to keep track of everyone, with Dewott, Corvisquire, Cufant and Rufflet right next to their trainers in case someone passed to rest.

A Primeape then jumped from above landing right behind Bea and was about to attack her, but a sudden Water Pulse fell from the sky, giving Cufant enough time to react and knock the Primeape down with a Steel Beam that came from his trunk, Ash and Bea then looked in the direction the Water Pulse had come and the Mega Lopunny they had met before landed in front of them.

"You again?" Bea asked the rabbit, she looked at the girl for a moment and then smiled as she jumped into the fray and started to help Ash's and Bea's Pokemon.

Now with the help of Lopunny, it was easy to notice that Ash and Bea had the advantage, more than half of the enemy troop's Pokemon were already down, while our heroes didn't have anyone fainted yet.

"Hmm..." Noticing the situation, Takeru returned his Crabominable which was fighting Hitmontop, he then jumped between some trees, going above the Pokemon and landing right next to Ash and Bea.

"Don't give another step...or jump." Ash warned him.

"Well...you still owe me a rematch, don't you?" Takeru released Crabominable again as Cufant, Corvisquire, Dewott and Rufflet put their guards up. "Let's end this mess, one on one."

"Bea, wait-" Ash tried to warn her, but she was too angry to listen.

"Rufflet, Rock Slide!" The bird took the front row and summoned an avalanche of rocks that came from the sky falling at Crabominable.

"Blizzard!" Takeru ordered and Crabominable opened his mouth, shooting a cold wind that froze the rocks and pushed them back at Rufflet, hitting the bird cleanly.

"Ice Hammer!" Crabominable's arm was surrounded by ice as he charged against Rufflet and knocked down the bird. "Ice Hammer again!"

"Dewott, use-"

"No, Ash!" Bea stopped him. "This one is ours! Aerial Ace!" Rufflet quickly stood up and dodged the attack, slashing Crabominable with his wings.

"Scald!" Crabominable opened his pincers and shot a stream of hot water at the bird.

"Brave Bird!" Rufflet flew around the attack and charged against Crabominable at full speed, knocking the crab out of his feet. "Brave Bird again!"

"Use Blizzard!" Crabominable expelled a cold wind again, Rufflet tried to break through with the Brave Bird, but it wasn't enough and his wings froze solid, causing him to fall on the ground.

"Ice Hammer!" Crabominable raised his arm and tried to smack the bird with it again.

"Rufflet!" Bea called out and Dewott was about to intervene, but Rufflet stopped the Ice Hammer with his talons. "Use Crush Claw!" Bea kept going and Rufflet's claws were surrounded by red energy, he slashed Crabominable back and then used the claws to break the ice around him. "Brave Bird!"

"Ice Hammer!"

Both moves collided, but Crabominable managed to send Rufflet flying back. "Now Blizzard!" The crab shot his cold wind again and this time Rufflet was frozen completely solid. "Focus Punch!" Crabominable gave a straight Jab that broke through the ice, sending Rufflet flying back once again, and although the ice broke from the impact, the bird was now shivering from the cold. Corvisquire was about to fly into the fight to help him, but Rufflet looked up to him and shook his head, causing Corvisquire to nod and fly back to Ash and Bea, Rufflet then let out a cry and charged against Crabominable with a flurry of Crush Claws.

"You're doing great! Keep going!" Bea cheered on as Rufflet landed various Crush Claws on Crabominable's face.

"Focus Punch!" Crabominable responded the aggression and punched Rufflet to the ground, the Ice type then raised his arm and lowered with force, Rufflet quickly stopped the move with his claws, but Crabominable kept pressing him down. "Blizzard!" Crabominable once more opened his mouth with a cold wind and Rufflet was being frozen solid again.

"R-Rufflet!" Bea called out.

"Dewott, Razor Shell! Cufant, Power Whip!" Ash ordered them to intervene, they prepared their moves and ran to the fight, but Corvisquire flapped his wings infront of them and stopped them. "Corvisquire?"

The bird looked firmly at Ash and then at Rufflet who was struggling to get out of the situation. "You can do it, fella." Corvisquire told him, still standing in the way of Dewott and Cufant.

"Heh, you called me fella." Rufflet smiled at him as he was frozen completely, but the ice suddenly started to glow bright red and then broke into pieces as Rufflet's glowing silhouette started to grow.

"Not this again..." Before Takeru could react, a Unovan Braviary was now infront of his Crabominable with quite an angry look.

"Braviary..." Bea smiled as the bird looked back at her, the eagle then grabbed Crabominable's face with his talons and took him up in the air, he then sped down with him and flew away last second, crashing Crabominable in the ground and leaving him defeated. Braviary then let out a mighty cry as it charged against the remaining enemy Fighting Types with a Brave Bird, knocking out several of them.

"No!" Takeru shouted as they almost ran out of Pokemon.

"We've got this!" Bea exclaimed looking at Takeru. "So now you're the one who should escape!"

"You think this is over?!" He shouted. "My mission is to bring you back! And I promise you, I'm going to do it! One way or another!"

"We're out of options, Takeru." One of his partners told him. "And with all those Pokemon, I don't think we should get physical."

"We don't have to." Takeru searched for a small blue cube on his pocket. "This girl isn't the only one with trump cards. Cover me!"

"On it!" The troop tossed various small black bombs to the ground creating a smoke screen.

"Ash, stay close!" Bea told him.

"I'm fine, but what about our-"

"Pika!" A cry from the mouse from heard and once the smoke dissipated, Takeru cold be seen holding a squared transparent cube trap where Pikachu was being held inside.

"Well, a trio of idiots sold me this for 10 pokedollars, who thought It'd help someday?" Takeru said. "Alright kid, you know how this goes, you want your buddy back? Then give us the girl."

"Bea's not going with you!" Ash shouted firmly as their Pokemon charged attacks.

"Bea, uh? Well, I guess you'll both have to go then." Takeru snapped his fingers and the rest of the troop returned their Pokemon and tossed more smoke bombs to the ground, disappearing in the screen of thick fog. "See you in a while, Saito!" His voice was heard in the distance followed by a laugh.

"Braviary!"

"Corvisquire!"

The duo called their birds and both flapped the fog away, they then took flight high in the sky trying to spot Takeru and company, but they were nowhere to be seen, after a few minutes searching around, the birds returned to their trainers without and shook their heads worried.

"They're gone." Ash said looking around at their teams. "At least they didn't take anyone else, but... Pikachu."

"A-Ash, I'm sorry..." Bea stuttered scared of what he'd say now.

"Hey, it's alright, this isn't your fault." Ash tried to calm her down as he analyzed the situation. "...but it seems like we have to go to Stow-on-Side."

"What?" Bea asked with fear.

"They're obviously keeping Pikachu as a bait and that's the only place they'd take him."

"Ash, I can't go there." She admitted with pain in her voice. "I know Pikachu is really important to you, but I can't do it."

"Bea... I understand you're scared, but what if it had been one of your Pokemon? ...What if it had been Cinderace? You wouldn't go to save her?"

She simply shook her head silent, this caused all her Pokemon to took a few steps back, something that she noticed. "I'm... sorry, guys." That was all she could mutter. "I just... I don't want to go back there."

"I guess your life was even worse than what you told me then..." Ash replied with mix of understanding and disappointment in his tone. "But I have to go, so if you're not coming, that's fine, I would never force you to do it, you'll be safer far from there anyway, but I can't just abandon Pikachu... so I'll have to leave you for now, we'll meet again once I get him back, alright?"

"...You said." Bea failed miserably to hold her tears. "...Y-You said that you'd never leave me."

"And I'd never do that, but... Bea, you can't ask me to just stand by like nothing happened." Ash got closer to her and caressed her cheeks. "Believe me, you are the most important thing in my whole world right now, the last thing I want is to make you suffer even more, but I can't leave things like this, if I don't go now they'll just come back for you later... and, who knows? Maybe I could talk some sense into your father when we meet and he'll leave you alone."

"You can't reason with him, Ash."

"I have to try...for your sake." Ash continued with a firm look. "I told you it was a solvable problem and I have to find the solution...something like this is what you feared, right? That's why it took you so long to tell me?" Bea gave him a shy nod and he sighed. "Bea, you won't be able of truly moving on until we put an end to this."

"Of course, and now here I am, acting like a damsel in distress...I swear I'd like to help, but... I just can't... I feel so pathetic."

"The Bea I know is anything but pathetic, she can become a little unsure of herself sometimes, but I know I can always rely on her, maybe you can't do this now, but I'm sure you'd help with this situation somehow."

"Why are you still willing to go through so much trouble just because of me?"

"Because I want to, when I asked you to be my girlfriend I promised myself I'd never let you carry any burden alone, that's something I'm going to follow through, and the last thing we need is you feeling guilty, everything will be okay, I promise. So, can I go?"

"Go on... but p-please, be careful." Bea reached out to him to give him a hug, but this one felt different...it felt cold. "I-I'll stay in the Wyndon Center, please take care."

"I promise I'm gonna solve this." Ash looked at her for a moment and then returned everyone but Infernape, he jumped on the Nimbus along the starter and the two flew away onward to Stow-on-Side, Bea then noticed the Mega-Lopunny had been looking at the scene without moving a muscle.

"You...you really followed me all the way here from Sinnoh?" Bea asked.

"..." Lopunny simply nodded and then jumped between some trees disappearing in the distance, Bea then sighed defeated and started to walk back to Wyndon, her Pokemon were all looking at her from afar and Cinderace was the one to approach her and stand in her way.

"Where...do you think you're going?" The rabbit asked.

"Back to center." Bea answered looking down. "Didn't you hear me?"

"Bea-"

"No." She interrupted the rabbit. "I don't want your speeches, Cinderace, nothing that you say is going to change this!" Bea began to walk away again, but Cinderace held her wrist and stopped her.

"So you wouldn't go for any of us?" Cinderace asked as the rest of Bea's Pokemon got closer. "Wow... I thought I raised you better than that."

"How could I go back?!" She shouted. "You know better than anyone how much I hated everything in that place!"

"Bea, don't you get it? This doesn't have to be something bad, this is your opportunity, they finally found you, they know where you are and probably what you've done, this is the endgame now, you have to do something...yes, you are the victim here, I'm not going to argue that, but you have to take responsibility."

"Responsibility?!" Bea shouted at her starter. "I never wanted any of this!"

"I know! I never wanted any of this for you either, but what about Ash?! You think he wanted any of this? You think this was what he had in mind when he asked you to travel with him? I can't even believe that you just let him go there alone!"

"H-He's going to be fine!"

"Is he?! Your father wants you there, if Ash goes alone, what do you think it's going to happen?!"

"I don't know! I-I'm super worried, but I couldn't tell him to leave Pikachu and I just can't go there! I...I was finally happy, everything was finally starting to work out between Ash and me! And now he leaves me alone! W-Why do all the bad things always happen to me?!"

"Because life sucks sometimes! That's why if you want something you have to fight and struggle to get it, but once it's over it'll all be worth it, and that's what Ash is doing right now, he's fighting for you! He is willing to face your father so you don't have to! He isn't leaving you alone! You are leaving him alone!"

"Shut up!" What Cinderace said finally broke Bea and she feel kneeling down in the ground crying. "Shut...just s-shut up." She tried to talk with a weak voice, Cinderace then knelt infront of her and hugged Bea as she kept crying, all her Pokemon then approached them and did the same. "G-Guys, I'm sorry, you're all important to me, but-"

"I know it's unfair..." Cinderace continued patting her head. "I know you suffered, that you never deserved this, but this is the worst time to give up, you told Ash everything right before this happened, he's going there because of you, because you trusted him."

"I... I can't even imagine how he would've reacted if this happened before I could tell him."

"Exactly." Cinderace smiled. "Bea, even if you two weren't a couple already, you're just too close to separate because of this, whatever happens, you have to be there, because you know he's gonna be there for you."

"Cinderace..." Bea finally smiled and cleaned her tears as she looked at her partner. "I really don't know where would I be without you."

"Same goes for me...now go ahead, little bun, you have to catch up to your boyfriend."

"Y-Yes! We have to reach them somehow!" Bea returned everyone but Cinderace and was about to start running, but the two suddenly noticed the Nimbus flying back in their direction, and after Infernape and Ash landed next to them, the trainers looked at each other in silence for what felt like an hour.

"..."

"..."

"...Hi." Ash talked first

"H-Hi." She answered as she started to cry again, he wasn't away for even three minutes, but she felt like she hadn't seen him in days, she wanted to give him the biggest hug she could, but she couldn't bring herself to do it, she felt like she didn't have the right. "I-I thought you'll leave..." She stuttered.

"I tried to..." Ash said. "I know you don't want to go, but... I couldn't bring myself to leave you, not after all this... but I can't leave Pikachu alone either so I'll have to insist, please Bea, come with me, we can do this together, I don't care how bad things can get there I swear I'll protect you, we'll beat this obstacle together, like we've beaten all the others and then you'll truly be able to continue your life without worries."

"I...I was going to catch up to you right now actually." Bea giggled a little as she took his hands. "I'm still scared, but...I won't back down if you're by my side...Ash, please forgive me, I-I-I'm a horrible person, I just can't stop causi-" She was interrupted by a warm hug and she couldn't help but shed more tears as she hugged him as well. "I love you."

"I love you too..." He answered hugging her tighter, feeling the need to protect her. "That's why I'm doing this, I want to help you to move on, to finally be your real you...are you sure you can go?"

"I have to." Bea answered firmly. "I'm going with you...I don't care if the things get rough?"

"Cause I'm sure that you and I can make it through." Ash ended their motto, Bea finally managed to stop the tears and gave him a kiss on his lips, she wanted that moment to last forever, but she knew that was their final moment of peace, at least for the time being, a brief moment of calm and love before the storm they were heading to.

"Are you quite sure we can do this?" She asked after pulling away from the kiss and pressing their foreheads together.

"Together? I guarantee it..." He answered. "I'm with you, whatever happens. You said that if you met your father again then you'd face him and you wanted me by your side when that happened, well, that's exactly what we're going to do, it's your chance to finally put an end to this."

"...That's the only thing I want." She whispered.