Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

a life in this world for a life in this world makes much more sense, don’t you think?

“Huh?” Ed blinks.

you are correct in all of your assessments of the Gate. The Truth tells him. and it is also True your Life's Passion for your Life's Purpose is equivalent. however, for your brother to continue to live his life in this world, i think it's fairer that you aren’t able to. i'll take you and put you somewhere else, Alchemy intact, and put your brother back.

Ed wants to yell, wants to scream about the unfairness of it all. Wants to beg to be in the same world as his baby brother. But he’s too tired. Everything aches, and his soul itself still hurts from fighting Pride. As long as Al is alive and in his body with their family friends, he’ll take whatever he’s dished.

“Will he know what happened to me?” Ed asks, quietly, and the Truth cocks its head, considering.

i think so. it won’t do either of us to have him lose himself in an attempt to bring you back from a place where you are not. It is silent for a moment for, and then. i will have to take your arm back for this. I will return your automail completely as it was before you fought the dwarf.

“Thank you.” Ed murmurs because he’s so tired and can’t do anything else.

They stand together, in the void before Ed’s Gate, and the Truth says:

remember, Alchemist - be thou art for the people. that will help you in your new world.

And Ed is dragged through his Gate.

Ash has made his first friend in Kalos.

Though maybe he doesn’t count, because he’s definitely not from Kalos, and he’s already friends with Alexa. But Ash thinks he counts, and that’s what matters.

Anyway, new friend!

Edward, he’d called himself. He doesn’t speak any language Ash recognizes - and he knows a lot of languages. Especially now that he’s traveled through six regions. What he does speak sounds, to Ash’s ears, like a mix of Kalosian, Galrain, and something else that he hasn’t heard spoken before. So their conversations are a mix of mime and pointing.

Edward is... probably not from this world. At least, that’s what the feeling in Ash’s gut says, and Ash has a pretty good gut when it comes to things like this. His eyes are like Ash’s - far too old and tired for his youthful face. They’re even the same age! Almost, Ash still has a month to go.

His Aura looks a little weird too, but Ash doesn’t actually know how to do much more than see the Auras and the tether’s between people, so he’s not sure if that’s a ‘from another world thing’ or not.

Ed’s aura is, for the most part, bright blue - like Zekrom’s lightning - and gold - like Uxie’s head. The only bits that aren’t are his right arm and left leg, which are a bright, swirling white that spreads like splinters up to where his brain is. Ash has no idea what any of that means, but it’s interesting nevertheless.

He doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt people, though, and Pikachu doesn’t seem to mind him, so Ash thinks he’s gotten pretty lucky with His First Friend In Kalos.

“A library would probably help.” He tries, first in Galarian, then in Kalosian. At the shake of a head, he gestures to the bookshelf on the wall of the Pokémon Center they’re sitting in. Understanding flashes in the other Ed's golden eyes, and interest. He makes a ‘go on’ gesture.

“We’ll find one.” Ash says, “You can stay here at night. I’ll book you in for tonight. I’ve got something to do -” He’s not explaining the gym challenge. Not with the language barrier. It will take too long. “I’ll meet you here tomorrow morning?” He repeats it again in Galarian, but pauses halfway through when Ed shakes his head. He understood enough to get the gist.

Ash gestures for Edward to follow, and Pikachu jumps up onto his shoulder, chirping. He pushes himself up and wanders after him. Ash leads them over to the huge map of Lumiose on the wall of the Pokémon Center, and notices how Ed stiffens as he stares at it.

The shape of a city isn’t the weirdest thing to freak out about; Ash himself gets jumpy whenever the weather takes an unexpected turn for the worse (side effect of both Shamoutii and almost freezing to death that one time. He doesn’t hate his life, because he has so many friends and loves them all too much to hate the life that brought them together, but sometimes it’s a close thing.) He just points to the library, which, thank Arceus, is nearby, and drags his New Friend towards it and away from the map.

They part ways at the library because Ash has a gym to fight, and he shoves some money into Edward’s hands. “For food.” He says, and when Ed looks like he’s about to argue, continues, “I have so much money. Just take it.”

He’s got a gym to battle, after all!

Or not.

Several hours, an electrocution, two new friends, a Team Rocket encounter, and meeting Professor Sycamore later, he’s almost forgotten about Ed.

He feels incredibly bad, but Froakie’s still healing up, and he thinks Ed will understand. The older boy seemed reasonable. Maybe - Ash is good at understanding people, not reading them.

Then Team Rocket shows up again, and Garchomp is on a rampage, and he’s throwing himself off Prism Tower to save Pikachu, and himself being saved by Mega Blaziken, and he passes out in his Pokémon Center rented bed, exhausted.

Serena stares at the TV screen, because she knows that boy.

At least, she thinks she does. The eyes and hair look the same, and she swears the voice sounded the same as it had all those years ago - if, slightly older.

She stares, until her mother hollers that dinner is ready, and she gets up, grumbling and groaning as she goes, because all her mother is going to talk about is Ryhorn racing.

She glances back to the television, still reporting on the Garchomp rampage in Lumiose City, and Professor Sycamore is asked to make a statement.

She narrows her eyes, and an idea forms in her head.

“Maman?” She asks, poking at her steak “Would you... could I, maybe, uh...” she trails off, unsure how to ask.

“Could you what, Serena?” Her mother prompts, gently. Serena takes a bite and chews, then asks.

“Could I go on a Pokémon Journey? Go to Lumiose and get a starter, travel Kalos...”

She trails off, suddenly unsure. Does she really want to do this? Is it a spur of the moment thing, it might not even be Ash.

“If that is what you want to do.” Her mother says, slowly, carefully “Then I will support you.”

Serena frowns, “I’m sensing a but...”

“This seems very sudden.” She is informed You’ll sleep on it today, and if you feel the same tomorrow, you can go.”

Serena smiles up at her mother “Yes maman!”

“Now eat your steak. You’ll want your protein if your going to be any good at Ryhorn racing!”

She groans into her dinner. Its always Ryhorn Racing.

Chapter Text

Ed has done his best to get the gist of this world as fast as possible. Never has he ever been more grateful for his above-average intelligence, because picking up a new language - albeit one that has similarities to Amestrian - is not a quick or easy task.

He focuses on it, listening to Ash talk, watching him mime, and trying to pair up the noises he makes to the ones that Ed knows.

Ash is a weird kid. His eyes are tired in the way Ed’s are, but he’s so cheery in an intense way that makes the hair on the back of his neck stick up. He’s also, seemingly, made it his mission to help Ed - a person he found in a literal dumpster (because the limb-stealing bastard had a sense of humor) out in between what he’s been doing himself - the Gym Challenge, whatever that was. He reminds Ed of Al, back when they were kids and everything was bright and happy - that cheerfulness and need to help. It makes something in his chest hurt.

Maybe he was trying to keep an eye on Ed. He’s pretty sure the other kid knows he’s not from this world - he’d done a very bad job at hiding it from him, specifically. But he’s not getting the sense that Ash is trying to do anything other than be a decent person, and Ed’s pretty good at getting a sense of people, no matter what anyone else says.

While he’s at the Library that Ash led him to before he ran off - shoving some money into his hands for food - he cracks down on as many books as he can find. He’s not fluent in the language by the time he resurfaces from his reading-induced apathy, but he can string together a sentence and get meaning from someone else.

He wanders around the city to stretch his legs and stops at a cafe, lured by the smell of food. He stares at the pastries and buys the cheapest one he can get for the money Ash has given him. He starts wandering back to the library and almost trips over a small, green, and white creature.

“Shit, sorry.” He coughs, turning then frowning.

Right. Pokémon.

He’d done some reading on them, because they seemed to be everywhere. Ash had a yellow, overgrown mouse-looking thing he called ‘Pikachu’, and the librarian who’d directed him to the language section of the library had a purple cat with a split tail she’d called ‘Espeon’.

He looks over the little one. Green helmet-thing with pink horns. Little white body that looks kind of like a dress.

“Raaa.” It murmurs, shying away from him.

“Sorry.” He says again, because the poor thing looks terrified. “Look, here.” He hands his half-eaten pastry to it. “I’ve eaten some of it, but it should still be good. Unless you can’t eat pastries, then I’d look real fucking stupid.”

“Ra?” It murmurs, taking the food. It looks at the pastry for a moment, then breaks it in half and hands the eaten bit back to Ed.

“Oh.” Ed blinks, takes it, and bites into it. “Uh, thanks?”

He watches the little Pokémon - and he needs to learn what it's called - as it munches on the pastry, then looks up at him.

“You all good?” He asks, “Nothin’ hurt?”

He’s speaking Amestrian, and he wonders if the little Kalosian Pokémon understands what he’s saying. Maybe they’re like normal animals, and they hear and sense the meaning rather than the words themselves.

“Ralts!” It chirps, and Ed gets a sense that it’s happy.

“Okay, cool.” He sighs, standing up, “That’s good. I gotta’ go now, glad you're okay.”

And he turns and leaves.

He pretends not to see it out of the corner of his eyes for the rest of the day, peering out behind shelves and table legs. Then, when he makes his way back to the Pokémon Center, he loses sight of it entirely. He feels... a little lonely, but he can’t place why.

He settles with the tablet the Librarian had given him - “Free with every Library Card!” He’d eventually deciphered “Can’t have young Pokémon trainers running around without a way to borrow books, can we?” He’d grinned and laughed with her, then borrowed every book on what the ever-loving fuck Pokémon Trainers were - and was about to look up what the little Pokémon that was stalking him was, when the news turned on.

Rampaging Garchomp, he translates, internally, kid climbing up Prism tower- holy fuck is that Ash?

So apparently, his new friend/guide is either an insanely competent fifteen-year-old, just flat out insane, or has no self-preservation. As a former insanely competent fifteen-year-old - currently insanely competent sixteen-year-old - he’s pretty sure it's all three. He’s proven right when the kid jumps off the giant tower.

He keeps a laser eye on the TV to make sure that the flaming comet - another Pokémon, he presumes - actually saves his new friend (his friend something in him screams, then damn Greed rubbed off on me) - then he stumbles up to his room to pass out.

He manages to hound Ash down in the morning, “I watched the news.” He says, fiercely, “Off a building?”

“I had to save Pikachu,” Ash says, ignoring the mouse in question, slapping his head with its tail.

Ed feels his eyes soften because the unrepentant tone is so familiar, and he is hardly one to judge. He shakes his head to make his disapproval known, but leaves it.

“Are you heading back to the Library?” Ash asks, and Ed shakes his head again, holding up the tablet.

“They showed me how to work it.”

“Then you can come with me!” Ash cheers, “I’ve gotta’ meet with Clemont and Bonnie at Sycamores' lab.”

Ed blinks, frowns, then nods. Sure. He might as well.

Ash walks with Ed in the direction of Sycamore’s lab. He’d mentioned him to Clemont and Bonnie, saying that he was traveling with someone, which was why he couldn’t stay the night, and Sycamore had insisted he bring his friend over in the morning.

Ash was just happy he got to do it - both of them could do with a Pokedex, and Sycamore could (maybe) set Ed up with a starter.

Ed would be a good fit for Froakie. Ash muses. They’ve both got an air of confidence about them. Plenty of attitude and a good heart under it all. But then again, Ed was probably too inexperienced in battling for the water-types' taste.

They’re about halfway to the lab when Pikachu starts sparking.

“What is it, bud?” He asks, turning. Ed does too, slipping into a practiced defensive stance that gives Ash a very slight pause, because for a moment Ed looks dangerous. Then he blinks, and the feeling is gone.

“Hello, you.” He mutters, catching sight of the Ralts following them. He crouches down, and Ralts comes running up to him, crying a little delighted “Ra!”

“You’ve met?” Ash asks, curious, delighted. Because Pokémon don’t just stalk random people for no reason. Mostly.

“Mm,” Ed hums, “Yesterday, Library.” He mutters a bit in his language, then says, “Ate with it. Her? Him?”

“You shared your food? Ash prompts. Pikachu is still on his shoulder, picking up on his excitement. He can’t, but Ash can see it. The slow creeping of a Bond Tether towards Ed from Ralts. He’s been here for one day.

“Yes.” Ed murmurs, “It's been following me since. I don’t...” he frowns, clearly not knowing the words. But Ash can put it together because he’s good at this. Edward showed a small Pokémon a kindness he didn’t have to, the psychic type reciprocated and decided it wanted a trainer, and this one specifically.

Ash himself has never trained a psychic type, but he knows they’re always more certain in who they want to train them, especially telepathic and empathetic inclined ones.

“You should catch it, ” Ash says, because Ed would seem less suspicious as a 16-year-old if he had a Pokémon already. Because Ralts clearly wants to follow Ed wherever he goes. The tether glows between them, as it curls into Ed’s aura, colouring the white cracks a faint lavender, for a moment.

He frowns and looks up at Ash, “Catch?”

“mhm.” Ash nods, “Did you read up on-”

“Catching. Battle Circuit. Yes.” Ed hums, brow furrowing, “Are you sure?” That’s directed at him, then he blinks and looks at Ralts. “Do you want to be caught?”

Ash’s heart swells.

Ed has been in this world for a single day, and he’s also grasping something that takes most trainers their entire adolescence to learn. The Pokémon's opinions are just as valid as yours. If the Pokémon doesn’t want to be with you, then you shouldn’t force it.

Pikachu coos, clearly approving as well, even if he can’t see the glowing tether between the two of them.

“Ra...” The Ralts says shyly, moving closer. Ed frowns, “I don’t have a- the- Pokeball.”

Ash had been buzzing, because this is exciting! This is wonderful! He can actually teach someone how to battle and train - he’d almost gotten there with May before she’d decided to be a co-ordinator, and Dawn had accepted some help back in the beginning (not that he’d ever begrudge his friends their Dreams. His is so important to him to do that to someone else.) He has to stop, though, because he hasn’t picked up any since arriving in Kalos either.

“We’re going to Sycamore’s lab anyway, and he’ll be able to get you some Pokéballs and a Pokédex.” Ed blinks up at him, and Ash wonders if he was speaking too fast, but then he looks down as Ralts hugs his leg. He sighs, “Lab. Yes.”

Ralts floats itself up to Ed's shoulder as he stands and settles, hanging off and hiding itself under his long golden hair. It’s down, which presumably makes it much easier.

They arrive only a little later than they meant to, which Ash counts as a win, because he’s so rarely on time for anything. He notes Ed eyeing the books on the shelves jealously, and thinks about how he’d compared the gold in Ed’s Aura to the gold of Uxie’s head.

“Ah, Ash! Bonjour!” Professor Sycamore calls from the banister, where he’s speaking with Clemont and Bonnie. Ash startles because he hadn’t noticed them, and Pikachu immediately ditches him to go say hi to Bonnie. He grins and waves back up at the three of them, “Is this your friend?”

“Yeah, This is Edward.” Ash says, “He doesn’t speak a lot of Kalosian yet, so we’re sticking together for now!” Which isn’t far from the truth, not really. He hopes they stick together afterwards, too. Statistically, a voice that sounds like Max’s mutters in the back of his head if he sticks around you, he’s bound to find out how to get home.

Ed is stiff as he waves, eyeing Professor Sycamore’s lab coat. Which is great, they can bond over a natural distrust of scientists! “Bonjorr“

“Bonjour.” Sycamore corrects, gently, “It is fantastic to meet you, Edward!” his eyes are soft and kind, and makes Ash think of Professor Oak, back when he was younger.

“Call me Ed.” He says, and Ash watches as he slides into a skin that looks more personable, more easygoing. Huh.

“That’s Clemont and Bonnie. They saved my butt yesterday.” Ash gestures. Ed nods, eyeing each person critically, Ralts clinging to his soon-to-be trainer's leg. “Like I said, Ed.”

Clemont waves, flushing a little for some reason, and Bonnie bounds down the stairs to crash into Ash and give him a quick hug and introduce herself. Ralts hides itself in Ed’s long Red coat, and Pikachu laughs at him, the traitor.

“Ed’s not a trainer yet, and Ralts,” Ash explains, quickly, nodding at the little psychic type, “Has gotten very attached to him. I was just bringing him ‘cause you told me to, but...”

“Ah, yes!” Sycamore smiles, and that is a man who loves his job. It reminds him of Professor Birch’s enthusiasm, “Ed, Ralts, follow me, I shall get you set up! The rest of you, meet me when you are done conversing.”

Ed and Ralts trail after the Professor, and Ash walks over to Clemont with Bonnie on his tail, and “Hey Froakie!” He crouches down, and the little frog croaks at him.

“You feeling better?” He asks, “And is Garchomp okay?” He directs that last at Clemont.

“Tired.” The boy tells him, “But okay. Cosette says that she was concerned when you weren’t here this morning. She thought she’d hurt you.”

“We’d better go say hi then!” Ash grins, lifting Froakie up and feeling warm when the water-type settles. “C’mon!”

Serena frowns, looking between her two favourite hats. She needs to pick one given that its recommended to only take a small bag on your journey, and she’s already stuffed her Makeup bag, travel baking supplies and sewing kit into hers, but she can’t quite decide...

“Serena?” Her mother calls, and opens her door “If you want to get to Lumiose before night, you’ll want to leave soon. What on Xerneas’ green earth is taking you so long?”

“Mère, which hat should I wear?” she spins around, showing off each hat. “This one, or.... this one!”

“hmmmm....” her mother looks between the two offered hats. “I like this one best.”

“Okay!” Serena smiles at her, placing the other one on her head.

“If you knew which one you wanted, why did you ask for my opinion?” her mother asks, frowning, and Serena grins at her, cheekily.

“Because I knew whichever one you didn’t pick was cuter!”

Her mother looks entirely unamused “I see...”

About an hour later, she’s walking away from Vaniville town, up the path towards Aquacorde town, waving at her mother as she calls reminders about practicing her Ryhorn racing. Hah, as if.

She makes it to Aquacorde at by around midday and stops at one of the many cafes for lunch.

“From here,” she finds herself saying aloud “I have to go through the Aquacorde half on Santelune Forest, skipping the city entirely, so that I can get to Lumiose today.”

Sycamore’s lab will likely be closed to visitors by then, but her mother gave her enough funds to book a night at a hotel before she got her trainer ID and could stay at a Pokemon Centre for free.

So, more walking it is. Her feet already ache.

Serena finishes her lunch and thanks the waitress, before setting off once again.

Chapter Text

Professor Sycamore leads Ed and Ralts to a different room in the Lab. Ed wants so badly to crack into the books on the shelves he’s seeing, but he has a sneaking suspicion he wouldn’t understand a lot of it. Not yet, at least.

“Here we are!” Sycamore opens the door to an office area and pulls a brown messenger bag off a shelf. “I’m sure you’re aware of all of this, but I am supposed to go over this for every trainer I hand these out to. Let me know if you don’t understand what I’m saying, and I’ll go from there. Ralts might be able to help.”

Ed nods, frowning. Ralts coos, and he feels a little... nudge is the only word he can describe it, what he feels in his brain. Right. Psychic type.

“I give something like this bag to every new trainer. In it, there is a Pokedex and a Holocaster in the front pocket here.” He flips it open to reveal a thin red square device and a blue device attached to a lanyard. “We used to give out Pokegear, but since Lysander Labs started sponsoring my research,” he gestures with the lanyard, and hands them both devices to Ed.

A small, timid voice accompanies the next nudge, translating the words Ed doesn’t understand into Amestrain in his head. He puts the holocaster around his neck and looks at the Pokedex, yelping when it slides up into a rectangle.

Please input full name:

A keyboard appears on the screen, and Ed, after an encouraging nod from Professor Sycamore, types in ‘Edward Elric’.

Trainer Registered.

The device shrinks back into a square.

“You just point that at a Pokémon, and it will give you information about it.”

Ed blinks and points it at Ralts.

Ralts. The Feeling Pokémon. A Psychic and Fairy Type. It is highly attuned to the emotions of people and Pokémon. It hides if it senses hostility. If its horns capture the warm feelings of people or Pokémon, its body warms up slightly.

Information about abilities and moves appears on the screen, and Ed decides he’ll ask Ash to walk him through it later.

“In here, there is a town map and a set of Go-goggles, should you travel somewhere with heavy rain, snow or in the middle of a sandstorm.” Sycamore pulls each item out and places it back into the bag. “Each trainer begins with ten Pokéballs, and there are some potions, and in this berry pouch are some Lum berries, which heal status conditions.”

He hands the bag over to Ed, and he slings it over his shoulder, sliding the Pokedex into one of his pockets, next to his watch.

“Usually, I give a new trainer the option between three starters - Froakie, Fenniken, and Chespin. However, you have already bonded with Ralts here, so instead,” Professor Sycamore hands Ed a Pokéball, full-sized.

“You can use this one to catch it.”

Ed takes it, saying “Thank you, Professor”, and crouches down to be somewhat level with Ralts. He holds out the Pokéball, and the psychic type puts its hand on the button in the middle.

He starts when the ball opens, and Ralts turns into a mass of energy, going inside. The Pokéball shakes once, then there is a click.

Ed stares at it for a long moment, then presses the button again. Ralts appears in a glow of energy and throws itself at Ed’s leg.

“Fantastic!” Professor Sycamore says, delighted, “You are all set! Let’s go to the others now. I assume they will be with Garchomp.”

The Professor leads them to an outdoor area at the back of the lab, where all sorts of Pokémon are fluttering around. Ed recognises exactly none of them, and holds his Pokedex up to one who looks like three honeycombs stuck together.

Combee. The Tiny Bee Pokémon. A Bug and Flying Type. The trio has been together from birth. It constantly gathers honey from flowers to please Vespiquen. It collects and delivers honey to its colony. At night, they cluster to form a beehive and sleep.

Ash spins around from where he’s petting the large purple land-shark looking Pokémon - Garchomp, he recalls, from last night.

“Ed! You got a Pokedex! Which means that you’ve also caught Ralts, right? That’s awesome. C’mon, I’ve gotta introduce you.”

Ed tenses when Ash grabs his right wrist, half because being touched so suddenly is weird, and half because he’s nervous he’ll have to explain the automail. He’s been mostly focused on learning Kalosian and what the ever-loving fuck Pokémon were, then what the prosthetics technology was in this world. Given the advanced nature of technology here, he wouldn’t be surprised if something akin to automail existed. But he wasn’t about to accidentally admit to having a prosthetic that doesn’t exist.

Don’t reveal all your cards until absolutely necessary. Hawkeye had told him, back when he first joined the military. Your automail is nothing to be ashamed of, but it could very easily be a secret weapon in a dangerous situation.

Ed, who had been raised by the combined badassery of Trisha Elric, Sarah Rockbelle, Pinako Rockbelle, and Izumi Curits, had always respected Hawkeye’s opinion more than the Bastard, who had given him the exact same not advice two hours before.

His nerves are unfounded, because Ash doesn’t seem to notice, tugging him over to the group gathered around Garchomp. Ralts timidly steps out towards the small blue frog Pokémon near Garchomp's foot. It doesn’t seem to care beyond what Ed can only describe as a polite “Froak.” The young girl - Bonnie - crouches down and chirps excitedly, “Hi! I’m Bonnie!”

“Raa...” Ralts murmurs, shyly, but seems to like her enough to allow itself to be picked up.

“Big Brother, look!” Bonnie cheers, and Ed is reminded painfully of Nina. Of Elicia. Bonnie’s older than the two of them combined (older than Nina will ever be), but for a moment, a strange mix of the two is all he can see.

“Bonnie.” Clemont sighs, exasperated, and turns to Ed, presumably to apologise, before he chokes up slightly, and his face goes bright red. In his peripheral vision, Ed notes that Sycamore has moved away to talk with two other people in lab coats. His assistants, maybe?

After a moment of staring, and Ash crouching down next to Bonnie, the two talking a mile a minute, Ed goes to talk, but hesitates, searching for the word. Ralts’ horn glows slightly, and the timid voice from before translates what he wants to say into Kalosian for him.

“Do I have something on my face?”

Clemont squeaks, “No! No- I uh - Sorry. About my sister. She’s really excitable, and really likes Pokémon-”

“As long as Ralts is okay with it, she can hug all she wants,” Ed says, after the quiet because Ralts is its own Pokémon, and Ed knows how siblings are (Al. Nina. Elicia. His heart burns. He’s a terrible older brother).

Clemont settles, but only slightly, and holds out his hand. “Ash introduced us earlier, but, uh, I’m Clemont. My sister’s Bonnie, and over there’s Bunelby.” He points at a brown and grey rabbit taking a nap in a patch of sunlight next to Pikachu.

“Edward. Or Ed.” He says taking it “You’ve met Ralts.”

Clemont flushes again, nodding.

“What’s the plan, then?” Ed asks Ash, “’cause you're doing the... gym challenge, right? You mentioned that on the way here.”

“Right!” Ash nods from where he’s sitting. Garchomp has buried its head in its lap, and the blue frog is sitting on the larger Pokémon’s head. “I wanted to challenge the Lumiose Gym first, but you need four badges under pain of electrocution.” What. Clemont flinches, which is... interesting. “So I’m gonna head to Santelune and see if Alexa’s sister is back, and challenge her first. Then I’ll figure it out from there.”

He grins at them, “You’re all welcome to come, if you want!”

It's such a sincere offer that Ed is slightly taken aback. But he’s nothing if not good at re-adjusting. “I’m still learning Kalosian.” He points out. “And Ralts can only do so much.” He also wants to stick with the only person he actually somewhat knows in this new world.

“We’ll come!!” Bonnie cheers, and Clemont squawks, but doesn’t disagree.

It’s three hours after Clemont meets Edward for the first time. They’re sitting outside the Pokémon Center, waiting for Ash to register for the Kalos League.

“Would you register, Ed?” He asks, trying not to stare at the way the leather around his legs makes his muscles incredibly obvious. “For the league.”

“Maybe.” Ed shrugs, eyes fixed on the guide on his tablet, where is has some care tips for psychic-type Pokémon. “I’ll watch Ash’s match in Santelune and decide then.”

Clemont hums, keeping a quiet eye on Bonnie, who is lying on her stomach with Ralts and Bunelby on the ground. It's a little strange because at 16, Ed should probably know if he’s interested in battling or not. But that’s a pretty personal thing to focus on, so he shouldn’t ask about that.

“How’d you and Ralts meet?” He asks because that doesn’t seem too personal. Just a genuine inquiry.

“I wasn’t looking where I was going and almost tripped over him,” Ed explains, leaning back and stretching. Clemont tries not to be too obvious when he looks away. “I gave him some of my pastry, and he started stalking me. Ash noticed and insisted we stick together.”

Clemont hums again. He thinks of Shinx and wonders how he is. Wonders if he’s forgiven Clemont for leaving and not coming back. He shakes his head and turns to look back at Edward.

He’s only two years older than Clemont, but Ed is slightly shorter. Ed’s hair is golden, compared to the regular blonde of him and Bonnie. His eyes are a striking gold, and so are his freckles, under the sun.

Clemont feels a little plain, sitting next to him.

“Hey Ed, if you're sixteen, how come you haven’t gone on a Journey yet?” Bonnie asks, pushing herself up to sit.

“Bonnie!” Clemont admonishes, despite his own curiosity, because he has suddenly decided that it is personal. And besides, Clemont hasn’t been on a Journey yet either. He’d been busy with school, then he’d become a gym leader and was planning on waiting for Bonnie to be ten. He guesses that if he sticks with Ash and Ed beyond Santelune - beyond figuring out how to get his gym back - this will count.

“Don’t worry about it.” Ed tells him, “I get what little siblings are like.” Then he turns to Bonnie, “I’ve always had other stuff going on in my life, and it just... didn’t happen.”

“Until now!” She gasps, stars in her eyes “’cause you came here and met Ash and Pikachu and Ralts?”

Ed laughs a little. “Exactly.”

She’s so pleased by the answer, she goes right back to lying on the floor with Bunelby and Ralts.

“You have a younger sister?” Clemont asks, because that’s what he’s decided to focus on, instead of the way the Ed leant forward in the sunlight made his hair blaze gold and his eyes sparkle.

“Brother.” Ed corrects “And my... guardians’ friend has a daughter, and she calls me big brother.”

Clemont nods, “Then you’d be good with kids, huh?”

Ed makes a face, but doesn’t answer because Ash comes bounding out of the Pokémon Center with Pikachu on one shoulder and Froakie on the other, waving a badge case. Clemont feels a little swoop in his stomach at the blinding grin.

He feels terrible every time he looks at Ash, because it is his fault that the older boy got electrocuted by his robot in his gym. He hopes, when he plucks up the courage to tell them about this, he can be forgiven.

“Registration, get!” Ash cheers, and Bonnie leaps up off the ground with a grin, making a “duh duh duh duh!”

“Are you sure you’re okay with us coming with you?” Clemont asks, a sudden burst of anxiety in his gut. “Not that we’ll be in the way! Or anything. But- you know.”

“Of course!” Ash frowns, “We’re friends, yeah? And a Journey’s always more fun with friends!”

Clemont flushes, because they’ve known each other for a day, but Ed raises an eyebrow, and Bonnie looks so hopeful, and Ash’s face has gone from beaming confidence to a tentative concern. And Clemont is a weak man.

“Of course.” He smiles. Bonnie whoops and grabs Ash’s hand to tug him along. Ed walks in step with Clemont after them.

“Good choice.” Ed murmurs to him, “I think you’d regret it if you stayed here. And Bonnie’s certainly happy about travelling.”

Clemont startles and thinks about the first half of that statement. He finds that he agrees. Then he says, from one older sibling to another, “Isn’t that what it's all about?”

Ed smiles back at him, something very tired in his eyes.

Serena stumbles into Lumiose with aching feet, looking at her town map as it downloads the most recent data for the largest city in Kalos. She is eternally grateful for the closeness of the nearest hotel with decent reviews when it loads, a place called The Lunar Horn, because she’s been walking all day.

The owner, a kindly looking person in their seventies with a Delcatty asleep on their desk, whose name-tag reads Madam Camille Calvet, welcomes her with a laugh “New trainer are you? I swear, you youngsters make up half my business.”

Serena smiles politely back at her, and hands over the money for a single nights stay. ““I am, yes.”

“Good timing on your part, arriving today.” Madam Calvet tells her, handing over the room keys ““Just yesterday some crooks broke into Professor Sycamore’s lab and dosed his Garchomp with some chemical that increased aggression. I didn’t understand most of the science talk, but it sounded like the poor thing was in a great deal of pain. And there was that boy who climbed the tower to calm her down! Now if my grandson had that drive, he’d be doing something with himself, rather than rotting in his mother’s basement.”

“Lucky me.” Serena agrees, voice a little weak “Do you think the Professor’s lab will be open tomorrow?”

“Certain of it.” Madam Calvet nods “Once, about five years ago, a Kangaskhan punched a hole through the side of the building, and it was open all through reconstruction.”

“Well that’s good.” Serena breathes ““Thank you, Madam Calvet.”

“No worries, deary.” The old lady pats her on the back. “May Cresselia watch your slumber.”

Chapter Text

The path to Santelune, down route four, isn’t supposed to be a long one. There’s a garden with Flabébé and Budew running around just outside the city, and both Ash and Ed are staring. Clemont supposes neither has seen a Flabébé before; they’re not very common in Eastern regions, where Ash is from.

Ed raises his Pokedex to one.

Flabébé. The Single Bloom Pokémon. A pure Fairy type. It draws out and controls the hidden power of flowers. The flower Flabébé holds is most likely part of its body. When it finds a flower it likes, it dwells on that flower its whole life long. It floats in the wind's embrace with an untroubled heart.

“Fairy type.” Ed murmurs, “Like you.” He glances at Ralts.

“The Fairy type is a pretty recent discovery.” Clemont says, unable to stop himself, “Their type energy is really similar to normal and psychic, see? It was only recently that technology got advanced enough to differentiate it.”

Ed turns to him, eyes sharp, “Type energy?”

“Yeah. Think - what we call ‘types’ is a sort of energy that the Pokémon gives off.” Clemont explains, “Each Pokémon gives off an energy that corresponds to a point on an 18 by 18 plane. We used to think it was 17 by 17, but then the fairy type was discovered.”

Ed hums, and Clemont immediately feels self-conscious. He probably didn’t want to hear all of that.

“It's so cool!” Ash gushes, energy to blinding and infectious that Clemont automatically feels better for it, “We keep on finding out new things about Pokémon - like Professor Sycamore’s studying Mega Evolution, and the Fairy type. And new Pokémon are constantly being discovered!”

“Really?” Ed asks. He looks at Clemont, though, and he gratefully takes the chance to talk.

“Documented is perhaps the better term. Because most of the Pokémon that are ‘discovered’ as such are revived fossils, myths turning out to be real, or Pokémon from newly league-associated regions. Galar and Paldea, for example, have only recently signed on to being a part of the ILA, and as such, a lot of Pokémon native to those regions have been newly documented in other regions that never really had cause to include them in their Pokedex.”

Ash and Ed both stare at him, naked enthusiasm on Ash’s and an intense interest on Ed’, and Clemont flushes. Before he can apologise for rambling, Bonnie leaps up, “My brother is so smart! He’s got all these rules and regulations memorised, it's so cool.”

Ed smiles at her, “It must be awesome, having someone so smart as an older brother.”

Clemont squeaks, and his expression must be particularly funny because Ash snorts at him.

“It is! Except for when he’s being an idiot, and that happens all the time.” Bonnie glares at him, and Ed laughs.

They continue until they leave the garden and enter the actual meat of route four. wild Ladyba flutter around, and a Skitty runs across the path.

“Ralts is probably from around here somewhere.” Clemont tells Ed, “There have been sightings of wild Ralts along Route Four and in the Garden for years now.”

Ed looks down at Ralts, who is floating down by his elbow. The psychic type whines a little and moves closer to his elbow. “I don’t think we’ll be looking for them.” Ed murmurs, and Clemont grimaces.

As they walk, a tree shakes and something small tumbles out, landing on the ground. A Dedenne rights itself and grips the berry it fell with. Pikachu chirps and jumps off Ash’s shoulder, running over to the other electric type.

“Who’s that Pokémon?” Ash mutters, reaching for his Pokedex.

Its voice is different from Ed’s Pokedex - likely having the data from the previous regions uploaded to it, and therefore an older voice module.

Dedenne. The Antenna Pokémon. An Electric and Fairy type. Its whiskers serve as antennas. By sending and receiving electrical waves, it can communicate with others over vast distances. It uses its tail to absorb electricity from power plants or from outlets in houses, and then it fires the electricity from its whiskers

“Dedenne.” Ed murmurs, then “It looks kind of like Pikachu. If you squashed him and painted him orange.”

“What are they doing?” Bonnie asks, because Pikachu and the Dedenne are standing to attention, electricity sparking between them. Literally.

“Some electric types can use electricity to communicate,” Clemont explains to her, sure he’s explained this before. Bonnie doesn’t seem to be listening to him, transfixed on Dedenne, then she whirls around to him.

“Catch it for me, please, Clemont!?”

He yelps, because what? He glances at Ash, who looks encouraging, and then at Ed, who shrugs, but the look on his face is considering. He looks back down at Bonnie, whose eyes are shining. He is a weak man.

“I’ll catch it. But you have to look after it, yeah?” He tries for serious, but Bonnie only squeals, delighted. She picks up the berry that fell and goes to give it to the Dedenne

He draws out the Pokéball, frowning in concentration, but before he can throw it, a red and grey streak swoops out of the sky and steals the berry.

“De-de-ne!” The Dedenne cries and bounds a few steps towards the Fletchling in the tree, then flees. The flying type lets out what sounds like a laugh, and Froakie steps forward, determined.

“I think he wants to get back at Fletchling for stealing the berry.” Ash comments, sounding a little delighted. Battle trainers. Clemont thinks, Are a different breed entirely.

Ed raises his Pokedex with a frown.

Fletchling. The Tiny Robin Pokémon. A Normal and Flying type. These friendly Pokémon send signals to one another with beautiful chirps and tail-feather movements. Despite the beauty of its lilting voice, it's merciless to intruders that enter its territory.

“Is it friendly or merciless?” Ed asks, quietly to himself. He is ignored as Froakie lunges towards the bird, throwing some frouble.

The Fletchling dodges easily, and chitters another laugh, and Froakie throws a Water Pulse, which is evaded by Fletchling’s use of Double Team. Clemont grimaces. This is one speedy Pokémon

“Froakie.” Ash calls, “We need a strategy-”

Ed yells something in another language that, judging by the tone, is some kind of curse, and Ralts yelps, hiding in his coat. They just managed to dodge out of the way of Fletchling’s retaliatory Peck.

Ash lunges forward and catches Froakie in his arms, as Fletchling swerves back up. “Froakie.” He soothes, “I get you're not used to teamwork, but right now we’re not gonna’ get anywhere without a strategy.”

Froakie goes limp with a grumbling “Froa-kiee”

Fletchling's wings start to glow, and Clemont calls, “That’s a Razor Wind! Watch out!”

All of them just manage to dodge, again. Ash crashes into a tree, and his Pokémon both make anguished noises.

The Fletchling flies off, and Froakie scowls after it. Ed holds out a hand to Clemont, and he flushes.

“Why was Froakie so mad?” Bonnie asks, and Ash grins at her, lopsided, and it makes Clemont’s stomach do loop-de-loops.

“I think he wanted to get back at it for stealin’ the berry, is that right?”

Froakie flushes, looking embarrassed, and Bonnie scoops him up in a delighted hug.

“We were kind of useless there, weren’t we?” He asks the older boy, feeling incredibly self-conscious.

“A little.” Ed agrees, “But battling is Ash’s thing, isn’t it? It’s his Pokémon that demanded the match.” Then he frowns, “That’s how it works, right?”

“Kind of.” Clemont agrees, a feeling of shame running through him, because he’s a gym leader. Battling is also his thing. He was, once, confident enough in his skills that he set a recommended four badges before challenging him, to give himself and the challengers a good fight.

He doesn’t know where that confidence went. Charred by Clembot’s malfunction, most likely. All he’s got now is Bunelby, who is wonderful, but not the type he specialises in, and whatever’s in his head.

He glances at Ash, who has sat down with Froakie to talk out a strategy, and the feeling of inadequacy grows. Because Ash is strong and brave and didn’t hesitate to lunge into an active fight to calm his Pokémon down. Didn’t hesitate to run after a rampaging Garchomp. Didn’t hesitate to jump off a building to aid his Partner.

He looks back at Ed, who is an entire enigma wrapped in a mystery, but smart enough to learn most of a language in two days, who’s also an older brother, but so much more sure of himself than Clemont. Who carries himself with the air of someone who knows exactly what hey can acomplish.

Maybe, if he travels with them long enough, he’ll learn how to be brave and strong, how to be smart and confident. Maybe he’ll be able to get his gym back.

Ash bemoans not being able to lure Fletchling back to the clearing, and Clemont steps forward, eager. “I’ve got something that might be able to help with that.”

Clemont, Ed thinks, as the boy takes out his machine, would get along with Feury. Then his heart aches, because he’s never going to see Feury again. Never going to see Breda or Falman or Havoc. Never going to see Hawkeye, or Mustang, or Darius or Heinkel. Never going to see Ling or Winry or Al again.

He doesn’t regret it, because as long as Al is alive, as long as he gets to live out his life doing whatever the hell he wants, Ed will be fine. It still hurts, though.

The machine, he decides to focus on, because anything else hurts too much, looks like the record player in the military archives. According to Clemont, it’ll (hopefully) lure Fletchling back to them.

“What do you plan on doing once you and Froakie beat Fletchling?” Ed asks, and Ash frowns.

“Catch it? Sometimes, when a wild Pokémon respects your strength in battle, it will allow the Pokéball connection to work.”

“I see.” Ed murmurs, deciding that he needs a moment to start reading on his library-gifted tablet again. Or ask Clemont, he seems like a fountain of knowledge, at least where the scientific side of things is concerned.

“Okay!” Clemont calls, and the two of them make their way over to the siblings. “So, may I present the Flying-type Pokémon Attracting Machine! It’s meant to emit different types of frequencies that attract different types of Pokémon! If we dial it up like this...” He spins a dial, “And turn it on, it should attract flying-type Pokémon!”

“Science is so cool,” Ash whispers in awe. Ed debates asking Clemont for the blueprints for the materials. His hand itches with the desire to perform Alchemy, but from his research, that would immediately cause immense suspicion.

Bonnie scowls next to him, “His naming skills need some work.”

Ed ruffles her hair. “You got that right.”

She grins up at him, and his heart aches. He ignores it (he’s good at that).

Clemont turns it on, and in line with Ed’s luck, everything immediately goes to shit. The machine shrieks, and all of them clamp their hands over their ears.

“You sure this is the right frequency?” Ed calls to Clemont, who already looks devastated.

“I’m sure-” He’s cut off by a loud buzzing, and Ed snaps into action instantly, grabbing Bonnie by the shoulders and yanking her behind him.

A swarm of human-sized and shaped bees with large drills for hands arises from the bush.

“Maybe it's not high enough!” Clemont yells and cranks the dial.

Ed swears viciously enough that even Havoc would blush, and plants his feet.

“Ralts, eyes on Bonnie.” He calls, lifting his hands.

His Pokémon drops and floats over to the eight-year-old and crawls into her arms. Ash seemingly had the same idea, because Froakie hops onto Bonnie’s shoulders.

One of the large bugs gets too close to him, and he decks it as hard as he can with his automail arm. It shrieks, flying backwards. Clemont yells in dismay about something, but Ed can’t take his eyes off the swarm and-

The machine explodes.

Ralts glows and tries to grab all of them with his telekinesis, but Ed knows without knowing that he’s not strong enough. He tries to think at Ralts what he wants and-

He hits the ground roughly, as do Clemont and Ash. Pikachu is wrapped in his trainer's arms, and Froakie lands on Ed, then hops over to the other boy.

Bonnie lowers much slower, trembling in the air with the effort for Ralts to carry them. Clemont scrambles up and catches his sister out as it becomes too much. He sets her down, and Ralts scrambles from Bonnie to Ed.

“You did so well,” Ed tells him, picking up his panic. “I’ve fallen further, and Ash has made it clear he doesn’t care how hard he hits the ground.”

Ash lets out a pained-sounding laugh, and Clemont helps them both up.

“Thank you, Ralts, Ed.” He whispers, “I’m so sorry, I must have got some calculations wrong. This is my fault - Xerneas, I should have tested it more before even considering taking it out-”

“Hey!” Ash grabs a trembling hand. Bonnie is clinging to her brother's leg, eyes a little wild with fright. “It was still so cool. It managed to summon a whole swarm of Beedrill, and hey!” He points to the sky, “It kinda worked, didn’t it?”

Circling up above them, tittering with laughter, is the Fletchling.

“Huh. It must want a rematch, too.” Ed muses, glancing at Ash and Froakie. Pikachu scowls, scrambling up to his trainer’s shoulder and jumping onto Bonnie’s, squeaking with what sounds very much like rage. The girl giggles, a little breathless.

Ash tears off with Froakie to battle the flying type, and Ed turns to Clemont, “None of us are badly hurt.” He points out, “Yeah, you should probably be a bit more careful, but failures’ part of the process.”

“None of us are hurt because Ralts was fast enough.” Clemont points out, “and you immediately tried to defend Bonnie when the Beedrill showed up.”

“That was so cool!” Bonnie yells, suddenly bursting back to life, and startling a laugh out of Ed, “You, like, changed, and suddenly it was like you were in charge of everything, and then you punched that one that came towards us, and it went flying. You have to teach me how to do that!”

Ed laughs and looks at Clemont for help. He has gone bright red again and chokes, so he turns back to Bonnie.

“I’d have to talk to your brother about it.” He decides, finally, “But knowing how to defend yourself when your Pokémon aren’t around is useful.”

Bonnie turns her puppy-dog eyes on Clemont, then Pikachu goes running towards Ash and Froakie, and she goes bounding after them.

“What do you think?” Ed asks Clemont, and he squeaks “Self defense is important. And she's not going to have a Pokémon for... two more years?”

(If he can help protect her in any way, maybe it will make up for failing Nina)

Clemont face becomes serious very fast. “Yes, I- I know. I- if you were willing, I wouldn’t mind learning either. I-”

Ed waves him off “I don’t usually ask about things unless I mean to do them. Learn that.” He tried to fuse as much Riza Hawkeye into that order as possible.

“Fletching Caught!” Ash’s voice carries over to them, interrupting, and Bonnie’s cheering follows.

“Sorry for missing it.” Clemont smiles, and Ash laughs, bright and happy.

Ed watches Ash release the Fletchling from its Pokeball, and it does a little loop in the air. Bonnie scolds it for stealing the berry. The bird looks only slightly cowed, and he expects far more berry stealing in the future.

Serena knocks on the door of Sycamore Pokémon Labs and opens them tentatively.

“Hello? Professor Sycamore?”

She hears footsteps up on the banister, and the man himself appears, “ah, Bonjour! Would I be correct to assume you are a new trainer? Here for your first Pokémon?”

“Yes.” She steps deeper into the building “I’m Serena Yvonne.”

“And I am Kalos’ very own regional Professor, Augustine Sycamore! Welcome. Sophie, could you please..?” He turns to a woman in a lab coat behind him, and she nods, darting off.

“Would you be comfortable stepping into my office?” The Professor asks her.

Serena nods, “Of course, Professor.”

“Right this way then!”

Serena hurries to catch up with him, and when she does, asks “Professor, could I ask a question about the boy from the news last night? The one who helped calm down Garchomp.”

“Ash? Of course!”

Serena’s heart sores, and the handkerchief is warm in her pocket.

“Is he still in Lumiose?” She asks, hopeful.

The Professor opens a door and waves her in, shaking his head “Unfortunately not. He left for Santelune city yesterday morning.”

“Ah.” Serena hums “I see.”

Professor Sycamore walks her through Pokédex set up and Holocaster, and after he’s handed her ten pokéballs, the woman from before, Sophie, walks in with a tray holding three pokéballs.

“Thank you, Sophie.” Professor Sycamore smiles at her ”Serena, this is one of my assistants, Professor Sophie Mugo.”

Sophie greets her, quickly, then excuses herself, pointing out she has plenty of work to do.

“Now Serena.” Sycamore lifts the three pokéballs “Almost every new trainer who comes by my lab gets a choice of these three Pokémon.” He throws the pokéballs in the air, realising the Pokémon inside.

“Chespin, Froakie and Fenniken. Which will you pick?”

Chapter Text

Bonnie is so excited.

Yeah, Clembot went nuts, and Clemont can’t get into his own gym, and they haven’t told dad what’s going on. But they’ve made new friends!

Bunelby, for one.

But also Ash and Ed and their Pokémon!

And both of them are so cool. Clemont certainly thinks so, too, if the blushing and and stuttering means anything. He said that they were just sticking around with a Battle Trainer to try and get his gym back, but Bonnie knows better.

Ash is super brave and kind and he and his Pikachu are super close, like Heroes and their Partners are in the stories. And Froakie apparently didn't want any trainer until Ash came along, so there's obviously something really cool about him.

And Ed is super smart, like Clemont is. Bonnie's never learnt another language, but she does know its hard, and Ed learnt a whole new one in two days. He's also been keeping up with Clemont's rambling in a way Bonnie hasn't ever been able too.

And the Pokémon are all awesome too! Pikachu is both adorable and strong, because not just anyone can beat her brother. Froakie's a gentleman and was so determined to make Fletchling be sorry for stealing Dedenne's berry, and Fletchling is fast and cheeky. Ralts is a sweetheart who managed to hold her up for long enough that she didn't take the tumble that Clemont, Ash and Ed did.

They all said they weren't hurt, but they'd all definitely been bruised. Bonnie had seen it. She's so grateful.

They've stopped for lunch, after the excitement of the morning, and Bonnie has a napkin and is wiping the dirt of Pikachu. The electric type chirps at her, happily.

"Stroke his tail." Ash offers to her, from where he's helping Ed pack away the camping table for Clemont.

Bonnie hums, and does it, and Pikachu chirps again, even happier than before.

"Oh he likes that!" She exclaims, and the three boys smile at her.

Pikachu stretches, and leaps away to climb up onto his trainers shoulder, and Ash barely moves.

Ralts lifts a pan with his psychic and moves it over to Clemont, who takes it with a hum of surprise. "Thank you."

"Raa…" He murmurs, then runs over to Ed to cling to his leg.

Fletchling lands next to Bonnie, preening, and she gasps aloud. "Hey Ash? Can I help Fletchling clean her feathers?"

Ash glances up, "If she's okay with it. Just remember, you've gotta be careful."

"Right." Bonnie nods, determined. Ash hands her the feather-brush that he'd said he always had on hand.

"I've caught a bird Pokémon in every region I've been to so far." he laughed, when Clemont expresses his surprise at him simply having one on hand, "My friend, Brock told me to just start carrying one around instead of buying a new one each time." 

Bonnie gently helps Fletchling clean, the little flying type chirping happily each time she gets some gunk out of her feathers. When she finishes, she sets the brush aside and asks if she can feed Fletchling a berry.

She's given one, but before Fletchling can take it, a small, orange blur swipes it out of her hand.

"De-de-ne!" It calls, cheekily, from a distance, chowing down on the berry.

"Oh why you!" Bonnie yells, sick of wild Pokémon stealing berries she's actively trying to give other Pokémon.

"I think Fletchling might have deserved that one." Ed muses, walking over "Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the Dedenne from before, isn't it? It's got the same small patch of darker fur on its leg."

Bonnie hadn't even noticed that, and judging from the way both Clemont and Ash blink, they probably hadn't either.

"It would make sense." Clemont says "If its trying to get back at Fletchling for stealing it's berry from earlier."

Ash gives his Pokémon a look that's something like the one that dad gives Clemont when he stays up all night tinkering, exasperated but soft, and Bonnie leaps up to her brother.

"Catch it for me, please Clemont? You promised."

"I did." Clemont sighs, lifting a Pokeball. Before he can throw it, the little electric type shrieks and bolts.

"After it!" Bonnie yells, and Ed looks mildly unnerved.

Pikachu and Bunelby chase to to a system of burrows, and Bonnie has no idea what's going on under the ground. Until it rumbles, Bunelby leaps out, but Pikachu and Dedenne do not.

"Well shit." Ed says, sounding tired, as Ash scrambles to see if he can find Pikachu, then sends up Fletchling to do the searching.

"That's a bad word." Bonnie sniffs "Daddy says I'm not allowed to say bad words until I'm fourteen."

Ed looks… sad. Really sad. "Sorry, Bonnie."

"Is it my fault?"

Clemont makes a noise, that sounds garbled.

"You could easily blame yourself." Ed says, sounding far away "But In this case, I don't think so. The cliffside here's very eroded. Something would have happened, even if we'd gone about it differently. And even if you are directly at fault, that doesn't mean you're guilty."

Bonnie sniffs, and Clemont crouches down next to her "We'll find them. They can't have gotten too far."

Ash throws back a thumbs up, looking a little insane "Pikachu can handle himself. He'll look after Dedenne too."

Ed raises an eyebrow, and ruffles Bonnie's hair and strides forward to Ash. Ralts pats her hand, and then floats after him.

"I don't know if I feel better or not." She says to Clemont, as they walk. "I don't really get it. How can I be at fault but not guilty?"

"You remember how I taught you about cause and effect?" he asks, and she nods, brow furrowing, "I think, what he's saying, is that in this case, that even though the cause can be traced to you, you aren't responsible for the effect."

"Like you and your machine, earlier." Bonnie realises.

Clemont frowns "I guess, yeah. Like my machine earlier."

Ash can only be relieved when Fletchling comes circling back, chirping that he's found Pikachu. He'd meant it when he'd said to Bonnie earlier that Pikachu could look after himself, but still.

His skin itches. Nothing good ever happens when they're separated.

Ed bumps his shoulder with his own, and says "Fletchling would be more panicked if something had happened, yeah?"

"Yeah." Ash agrees, because Fletchling is more panicked, is chirping found them. safe. sickness.

What sickness?

"Fletchling found them!" Ed calls back to Clemont and Bonnie, and Ash only feels slighly bad that he's sped up without the siblings, but even though Fletchling says safe she also says sickness and and Ash can only be worried.

"That's good." Clemont calls back, and Bonnie comes running up behind them, and grabs Ash's hand as she speeds past.

"I'm sorry." Bonnie mumbles "Ed says its not my fault that this happened, but I still feel bad."

Ash feels a swoop deep in his gut, but ignores it, because Bonnie's a child and she shouldn't be blaming herself.

(Ash should have noticed. Should have been calmer. He's been so excited since he got to Kalos he's forgotten he has to slow down. By the swords, Ash, you're such a kid.)

Fletchling leads them to the spot by the cliff side where Pikachu and Dedenne are. The relief that pierces Ash's chest when Pikachu yells "Pikapi!" and leaps into his chest is a physical thing, and so overwhelming that he almost doesn't notice Dedenne sparking sadly.

Ed crouches next to the electric/fairy type, and frowns. "Is it sick?"

"Electricity drain." Clemont calls, huffing as he catches up with them "Its common when electric types overexert themselves."

"Do we need to take it to a Pokemon Center?" Ed asks, picking it up. Dedenne looks so small in his hands.

"No, actually! We just need to supply enough electricity that it can get back on its feet. I've been." He cuts off, and frowns "I've been developing a portable generator that uses static electricity to supply enough for a charge, based on my- I mean inspired by the Electricity Showers that some cities have."

"But your not sure if it will work." Ash asks, and Clemont grimaces.

"After earlier, I'm not sure bringing out a Prototype would be the smartest idea. I could easily accidentally overcharge Dedenne, and then we have a whole different issue. One that I don't have a prototype to fix. It would probably be safer to just run the rest of the way to Santelune"

"Overload is really hard to get to, though." He points out, hoping for the love of Mew that this specific instant isn't a thing that Pikachu is wierd about. He has never trained another electric type.

"…true." Clemont mutters, and being relieved is a feeling Ash is getting aquainted with today

Pikachu whines, and he makes up his mind.

"Get it out. If overcharge happens, we can get Dedenne to cook some berries for lunch."

Ed is sitting with Bonnie, quietly assuring her that Dedenne will be fine. Ash moves over to them as Clemont sets up the machine, and hears;

"See? cup your hands like this…" he says softly, and when Bonnie does he gently placed Dedenne in them. Ash watches a bond tether coil around Bonnie's buzzing, orange aura, and Dedenne snuggles into her hands.

He also notices Ed calm, as if holding Dedenne had made him tense. Before he can wonder at it, Clemont announces that he's done.

"Presenting the Electricity Generator! As I said before, it uses static electricity to recharge electric type pokemon suffering from electricity drain. Just place Dedenne here…"

Bonnie carefully places Dedenne where Clemont indicates, under a rubber board and her aura has a greenish tinge. Ash grabs her hand, trying to offer some comfort. Ed holds Ralts close to him, and Ash thinks he's worrying about what type of illnesses his Partner could come down with.

"Okay, now we just turn it on…" Clemont pulls the lever.

The machine starts up, the board moves back and forwards incredibly fast, and Ash knows how static electricity works, he has an electric type as his Partner. Still…

"Science is so cool!" He finds himself gushing, because when it's not being used to end the world, it really is.

Dedenne perks up quickly, and looks very happy to absorb as much electricity as possible. Pikachu makes a jealous noise on his shoulder, and Bonnie's aura returns to its bright orange.

Then, because Ash's luck is absolute Tauros-shit, the machine starts to go haywire. It speeds up, far to fast to be needed, and Dedenne bounds out.

"Clemont." Ed snaps, alert, sounding almost like Officer Jenny. "Turn it off."

"Uh, I uh…" the blonde lifts the lever in his hand, very broken.

Ed swears violently, - or at least, Ash assumes he's swearing - in several languages Ash has no clue about, grabs Bonnie and yanks her away from the malfunctioning machine.

Ash, thinking yeah that's probably smart, grabs Clemont and does the same.

When the machine does explode, they are well out of the blast radius. Dedenne leaps out of the way too, and bounds towards Pikachu, cheeks sparking.

"Now that shes' better, can you catch her, Clemont?" Bonnie asks, shoving running right past the remains of the Electricity Generator. Ash is forever wowed by humanities ability to keep moving forwads.

"The only people who will be doing any catching today is us!"

Ash groans, spinning on his heal to the sight of Team Rocket's baloon. How is that thing so stealthy?

"Who in Truth's limb-stealing name are you?" Ed snaps, and Ash realises that Ed has never met or heard of these two before.

"Oh? A new twerp?" Jessie looks far too interested "Well, we can't be rude and not introduce ourselves now, can we?"

"Of course not!" James agrees, and Meowth makes a snide comment about collective intellegnce level that Ash elects to ignore for his own mental health.

They launch into their motto, and Ed looks a mix of confused and horrified. He turns to Ash.

"Team Rocket." He explains, as the trio gets to their names "They're bad guys who are obsessed with stealing people's Pokemon, usually Pikachu."

Ed tilts his head "Like some kind of poacher?" And Ash frowns, because are they?

"Sort of." he decides on "Poachers usually catch Pokemon to sell because they look pretty, or something like that. Team Rocket catch pokemon because they're strong and they want to give them to their boss."

Ed opens his mouth to ask another question, but the ignoring of the trio's motto has been noticed.

"Hey! We're introducing ourselves to you and you can't even be bothered to listen!" Meowth yells, and James sniffs.

"Perhaps New Twerp is so close to the ground he couldn't hear us."

Ash notices the minute something snaps in Ed, and his Aura flashes, for a moment, entirely red.

"Who are you calling so short that he can't hear a person three steps above him?!" the older boy screams in rage. Ash is taken aback. From the look of things, so is everyone else.

Ralts - and Ash recalls that their species are incredibly in tune with emotions, especially of their trainers - lunges forward into a battle stance. Then looks suddenly unsure. Because he's never battled before.

Ash recovers first, because everyone has their vices. Cilan pretends he's soup when taking a bath, Brock falls in love with every girl he meets. He's seen weirder than insecurity about height. Pikachu jumps forward as well. And, surprisingly, so does Dedenne.

A small, blue Pokemon takes the battling stage on Team Rockets side. Ash lifts his Pokedex, as Dedenne luges for it.

Inkay. The Revolving Pokemon. A Dark and Psychic type. It flashes the light-emitting spots on its body, which drains its opponent's will to fight. It takes the opportunity to scuttle away and hide.

"Inkay! Psybeam!" James calls, and Ed yells for Ralts to aim a confusion back.

Ash - who thinks that Team Rocket is perhaps one of the worst ways for Ed to learn how to battle, yells "Pikachu, Thundershock."

Ralts' attacks hits, and Pikachu's Thunderbolt stopps the Psybeam before Dedenne gets close. When she does, though, she rubs her antenna-whiskers and slams into Inkay, electrocuting it.

"Oh that was adorable!!!" Bonnie squeals "Clemont, you have to catch it when they're done!"

Clemont makes a pathetic whine, and Ash can only feel sorry.

James orders Inkay to fire off another Psybeam, and Ralts only just manages to jump out of the way. Ed calls for a Double Team, and he responds instantly.

They're fast learners.

Pikachu and Dedenne Spark at each other, and Meowth yowls, "Aw, that's not fair, I don't speak electricity!"

"Pikachu, Tunderbolt!" Ash calls again, realising what they're planning whilst Inkay spins, trying to parse out which Ralts is the real one.

Dedenne joins in the lightning, and Inkay is thrown into the a balloon and blasting them away. He squints after them, trying to figure out where they landed, then decides he really needs to stop trying when it comes to those three.

Ralts's double team dissolves, and the small psychic type runs over to Ed, who lifts his Partner up, whatever rage had been powering him before gone in an instant.

"That was great!" Ash calls, "Especially for your first battle!"

"Raaa…" Ralts murmurs, shyly. Ed smiles at Ash, softly.

"Will those three be okay?" He asks, not worried, but a little concerned. Ash groans;

"They'll show up again before long. They always do."

Ed looks a little unsure, but nods.

"Piiii" Pikachu calls, and Ash looks over to where he and Dedenne are communicating. Dedenne looks considering, for a moment, then follows the trail of her Bond Tether towards Bonnie and chirps.

"I think does want to come with us." Ash laughs, and Bonnie squeals, delighted.

Clemont lifts the Pokeball he'd pulled out earlier, and throws it with a little "Pokeball, go!"

It clicks, sucess and Bonnie grabs it, letting Dedenne out.

Ash leaves Clemont to lecture his sister on looking after her new Partner, and Ed, who is poking at the ground where Clemont's machine exploded, picking up little pieces of metal and examining them.

He picks up Pikachu and holds him close, settling down with his Partner's presence.

"I don't know who to pick." Serena whispers, looking between the three of them.

"Use your Pokedex." Professor Sycamore suggests "That will give you some extra information."

"Oh! of course." Serena gasps, pulling the small device out and pointing it at each of them.

Chespin. The Spiny Nut Pokemon. A pure Grass type. The quills on its head are usually soft. When it flexes them, the points become so hard and sharp that they can pierce rock. Such a thick shell of wood covers its head and back that even a direct hit from a truck wouldn't faze it.

Froakie. The Bubble Frog Pokemon. A pure Water type. It secretes flexible bubbles from its chest and back. The bubbles reduce the damage it would otherwise take when attacked. Beneath its happy-go-lucky air, it keeps a watchful eye on its surroundings.

Fenniken. The Fox Pokemon. A pure Fire type. Eating a twig fills it with energy, and its roomy ears give vent to air hotter than 390 degrees Fahrenheit. It intimidates opponents by puffing hot air out of its ears.

"Huh." Serena murmurs, looking over the three again.

She has no idea what she wants to do with her journey, but she can hear her mother in her ears, telling her that Chespin and Froakie would help her keep rowdy Ryhorn in line.

She huffs, and makes her descision, crouching down.

"I'll take Fenniken, if that's okay Professor."

"Of course!" the Professor says, returning the other two to their balls, and handing the third to Serena. "I hope the two of you have a wonderful journey full of new discoveries."

Serena lifts the fire type, who gives a little happy "Fen!" and goes says goodbye to the Professor.

As she leaves, a very tall man with a mane of flaming red hair is talking to Professor Mugo and another women.

"Thank you, Professors." He says, voice awefully familliar in a way that Serena can't quite place. He sees her and raises an eyebrow "I assumes this means that Professor Sycamore is free?"

"Free isn't the word I'd use." the second woman, whose nametag reads Cosette Pedunculate, says, sternly "We're always busy here, even without crooks causing rampages. But if you must, I'm sure he'll make time for you. But can you please book a meeting next time!"

"Of course, Professor Pedunculate." The man says, smoothly. "I just wanted to check in on him, after the break in."

"Of course, Mr Lysander." Professor Mugo nods, blushing a little "That's very kind of you."

The man turns to walk up the railing, and Serena hurries down, as to not get in his way.

She knows where she recognises the man now. Mr Lysander, CEO and head of Lysander labs. He's always on the Tv, talking about whatever new thing his lab had discovered.

He stops at the top of the stairs as she reaches the bottom. "This world… there is so much ugliness in it. My desire… it is to make one far more beautiful…" He shakes his head and continues.

"Fen?" Fenniken chirps, and Serena holds him close, a little unnerved.

"Okay." Professor Mugo sighs "Serena, hon? You get moving. If you need anything, the labs phone number is already on your Holocaster. And, if you find a pair called Senia and Dexio on the road, they're the lab's fieldworkers, they'll help you out."

"Thank you, Professor." She says. "Remind me, Santelune is…"

"Down Route Four." Professor Pedunculate tells her "Good luck."

Chapter Text

Santelune city is incredibly different to Lumiose city, is what Ed thinks first, after finally arriving. They'd camped the night on the route, and just arrived that morning. Where Lumiose city had been large and bustling, somewhat similar to the cities in Amestris, Santelune is much smaller, and feels more like Dublith than any city, though with the futuristic look that Ed has realised is everywhere in this world.

The thought of Dublith makes his chest hurt, so he busies himself with looking at the wide, concrete slopes that take up an entire section of the city. People whizz past on roller skates, and Ed is glad to recognise something.

Roller skates were one of the few good things to come out of Amestris. Not that Ed had ever skated before, he'd been a bit to busy trying to bring his mum back to life, then trying to get Als body back.

He tears his eyes away. They are here so that Ash can participate in a gym battle. Not for Ed to fulfil a childhood fantasy.

The boy in question is practically vibrating with excitement. He'd settled down considerably since he and Pikachu had reunited, and Ed makes a mental note to try to prevent such separations from happening again.

Nevertheless, he's so excited he runs into a pole.

"Ash!" Bonnie yelps, running forward. Clemont whines from somewhere behind all three of them, and Ed turns to see him barely keeping up.

A second mental note, then - either manage the walking speed better, or make Clemont run a marathon every morning. He'll decide later.

"You all good?" Ed asks Ash as he stand up, and the younger boy laughs, entirely too happy.

"I've hit harder!"

Ed doesn't like the sound of that, but he can hardly judge. Pikachu seems to agree with his sentiment, nipping his trainers ear lightly.

The sound of a camera shutter snapping makes them all jump.

"So sorry!" A blonde woman calls to them, "It's just, you and your Pikachu looked so Photogenic in that moment! I just had to capture it!" She waves her camera.

The familiarity the roller skates gave him leaves in an instant. Is that what cameras look like here?

Ash laughs, and sounds entirely too used to having his photo taken unannounced "It's no problem, ma'am!"

Clemont looks scandalised, and whispers to Ed "You're supposed to ask permission before you take a photo of someone! That's Camera Etiquette 101!"

Bonnie rolls her eyes at her brother, then gives Ed a very 'what can you do' look, which makes it hard not to laugh.

"Hey, er, miss…"

"Viola." The woman grins, fingers twitching on her camera as Pikachu and Ash make the same confused expression.

"Viola! Which ways the gym?"

Something fierce glint in Viola's eyes, she glances over at the rest of them. Her eyes stop, suddenly, on Clemont, but she moves on fast. Interesting.

"To the east! It's just by the entrance to the Santelune Bug Sanctuary, just turn right from the Pokémon Center." She nods towards the red building.

"Thanks miss!" Ash yells over his should as he takes off. Ed waves as he moves to catch up, and Clemont calls; "Slow down! Not all of us are athletes!"

"Your just slow." Bonnie mutters, as the two catch up to Ash and Ed. Ash is still twitching every second he stands still, but Ed is focused on one of the screens in the window of the Pokémon center.

A Pokémon with similar colours to Ralts, but taller and with eyes for the world to see dances around a battle field, attacking a large buffalo with wild hair. The trainers, one a red and orange haired man, who recalls his defeated Pokémon with a booming laugh, and the other black haired and wearing all white, move to shake hands.

Ralts is staring at the tall Pokémon. Gardevoir. Ed recalls. One of the possible evolutions of Ralts.

"That's Diantha, in the white." Clemont says, startling Ed.

"Sorry!" He blushes, when Ed glares at him "I mean, the lady on the screen. Her name's Diantha. She's the Champion of Kalos" He sounds awed. "And the man is-"

"Alder." Ash offers "Unova's Champion. He's a bit of a goof, but a really strong trainer." There's a mix of respect and weariness, and Ed would bet his pocket watch that Ash has met the man and not been all that impressed with his behaviour.

Champion. He thinks, trying to recall what he'd read. The strongest trainer in any given region, both with their Pokémon and mentally. Has a hand in the governing of their home region. If defeated in an official match, they must relinquish their title to the challenger.

"Do you plan on battling her?" Ed asks Ash.

"If I get the chance, yeah." Ash nods, then bounces from foot to foot "Can we go? I've got a gym to fight."

Bonnie, who was staring at the interview with Champion Diantha that is now playing, turns to them. "Yeah come on! I want to see Ash battle!"

Ralts leaves reluctantly, and Ed looks down at his Pokémon. He'd stared at the battle with such an awe filled expression, and Ed wonders…

He has no idea what he's doing, beyond following Ash around. He doesn't even know what the options are.

He thinks of that first moment, when the blue-haired Team Rocket member - James? - had insinuated he was short. Ralts had shot out in sync with his desire to fight. He thinks of the moments after, too, where he'd tried to recall what little he knew about battling and seem somewhat competent in the face of two assholes. If Ash hadn't stepped in, the two of them probably would have lost.

Not that he wouldn't have jumped straight to physical violence if he had lost, but it's the thought that count.

He thinks, maybe, if Ralts wants to, they might try head for the league, too.

Ash stops in front of the Santelune gym, excitement coursing through his body. Pikachu is matching his energy beat for beat.

It's been so long since they've fought a gym.

"Helio!" A small voice chirps and a familiar electric type comes running up to him, jumping up into his arms. He catches it, and looks up with a grin to see her trainer running up to them.

"Helioptile! Alexa! Hey!" He calls, and the journalist stops with a laugh.

"Hello Ash. And…" She looks over his companions. "You've made some new friends!"

"Yeah! This is Ed, Clemont and Bonnie." He gestures to each of them "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?"

"When Viola called me to tell me she was back, I figured it wouldn't be long before you came here." She opens her arms, and Helioptile jumps into them then scrambles up onto her shoulder "And there's a scoop that needed investigating here, so I figured I'd come here myself instead of sending one of my assistants to do it and watch your gym battle whilst I'm here!"

"That's great!" Ash says, delighted. "But, uh, where's your sister?"

He peeks around her into the gym building.

"That would be me!" The photographer from before calls. "I'm Viola, Santelune city gym leader. When Alexa told me a challenger was on the way, I had to come check you out."

"So are you a photographer?" Ed asks, sounding a little off, but Ash can't place it.

"Oh no, I am." Viola smiles "Most gym leaders have their own hobbies and other jobs they do on the side. I'm a photographer, and like most bug gym leaders, I help out with the bug type sanctuary of my region. Along with some other stuff."

Ash knows. The Sensational Sisters were actresses on the side, Jasmine ran the lighthouse, Roxanne was a teacher, Fantina a co-ordinator and Skyla's a pilot.

"Huh." Ed murmurs, his voice still odd "I wonder what the Lumiose gym leader does."

Clemont squeaks. Bonnie coughs.

Ash ignores the whole thing, and grins at Viola "I guess you know I'm here to challenge you, then?"

"Oh yes." Viola grins back, eyes glinting in the way of passionate battle trainers everywhere. "Let's get to the field, shall we?"

Alexa groans, in the way of the family of passionate battle trainers everywhere, as they move into the gym.

Viola gestures to the other end of the field, and Ash makes his way over and pivots to face her. Alexa leads his friends over to the watching deck, right next to a an indoor garden. Pikachu sparks next to him, delighted to be in a gym again, just like him.

The referee stumbles in huffing, and has a quick and quiet conversation with their boss. They are clearly used to spontaneous battles, however, as they quickly take their place and take a deep breath, before calling out to the field.

"Alright, the gym match between the leader, Viola, and the challenger, Ash Ketchum, is about to begin. Each party is allowed to use two Pokémon each. Switching Pokémon will be allowed after a knock out. Send out your first Pokémon."

Viola raises her hands in the way Todd used to to get a image of how a photo might turn out. "I've got my eye on victory, and nothing's going to ruin this shot. Now, lets go, Surskit!"

The little bug type takes the stage. Ash grins "Alright, Pikachu, I choose you!"

His Partner leaps onto the field with a delighted "Pika!"

"Alright." The referee calls "Battle Begin."

"Pikachu, quick attack!" Testing the waters.

"Protect"

Pikachu crashes into the barrier Surskit throws up, and uses it as a spring board to jump up as Ash calls "Iron tail."

"Dodge it!" Viola calls, and Pikachu's tail hits the ground, cracking it. Surskit slides, much stiffer than their species usually does on the water, but elegant all the same. Pikachu does a little flip to land on his feet, and Ash calls for an Electroball.

Viola orders Surskit to counter it with Ice Beam, and Ash grins, feeling his blood pumping. He calls for another quick attack, which does manage to connect, but only because Viola's calling her next instruction.

"Right, Surskit, lets make this field more our style. Ice Beam!"

Ash yells at Pikachu to stay light on his feet, then grits his teeth as the ground freezes over.

He hates Ice battle fields. The only times they haven't caused him grief were when he trained Lapras and Glalie. His own Ice types.

"Okay, Pikachu, Iron tail!"

He misses twice, as Surskit skates around, and he himself slips and stumbles and gets struck by Signal and Ice Beams. He manages to land the third, but its too much.

A final Signal Beam slams into him, and sends him flying.

"Shit!" He hears Ed yelp, and Ash darts over to where his Partner landed. He nods at the referee.

"Pikachu is unable to battle. Leader Viola, would you like to switch Pokémon?"

Viola shakes her head. The Ref nods, and turns to Ash.

He thinks, for a moment, and decides the risk of Ice Beam is worth the lack of Ice Battle field.

"Fletchling! I choose you!" He calls, heart thumping.

Its going to be hard to beat Viola. Ash has always loved a challenge.

Serena had had… a day yesterday, certainly.

She'd left Sycamore's lab and walked the scenic route towards the Route 4 gate. Fenniken had picked up small twigs along the way to snack on, and she herself had bought a cookie from Cafe Introversion on the way.

The garden outside of Route four is gorgeous, with Flabebe and Ladyba fluttering around. Combee buzz from flower to flower, and she catches sight of a Pachurisu darting behind a tree.

The road beyond is… urgh. There's charred ground in two separate places, which she assumes where battle grounds, and she grabs some plastic out of the river. It looks like it was part of one of those inflatable boats. People of the past had spent so much time ensuring the entire world had easy ways to deal with pollution, but there are still so many careless people still! It's ridiculous.

The sun begins setting, and she gets nervous.

"I don't want to sleep outside." She whispers to Fenniken. "Its gross and- oh!" She catches sight of a woman in a striped dress behind a tree. "Excuse me, miss? How close are we to the nearest Pokémon Center - oh!"

She turns, and Serena realises that she was talking with a Vespiquen. Who is not happy.

Serena turns and bolts, the buzzing is right behind her. Fenniken leaps up and shoots of one, two, three embers, which seems to convince the bug type that chasing them is not worth it.

The Nurse Joy that had come across her had led her to a Pokémon Center for the night, and checked her over to make sure neither she nor Fenniken had been injured, then sent them up to bed.

But, its a new day, and she's in Santelune city. She's near the gym. At the gym, actually. She'd put Fenniken in his Pokeball to make the treck from the Antoris Pokémon Center faster.

She enters the gym, and is so absolutely excited that Ash is right there that she almost doesn't notice he's in a battle.

"Oh, hello!" An woman calls from the viewing deck. "You can watch from up here."

Serena blushes, because she is embarrassed that her almost-mistake was viewed by four people. She makes her way over to the group - three blondes and the woman.

She sits next to the one whose hair is closer to gold than blonde, and they hold out their hand; "Edward. Call me Ed."

"I'm Serena." She shakes it.

Ed jerks a thumb to the rest of the group. "That's Alexa, and the siblings are Clemont and Bonnie. And Ralts" he nods at where the Pokémon in question is standing at the edge of the deck.

All three of them offer waves and smiles. Bonnie gets up to shake her hand "Your hat's really cute!" She gushes, eyes sparkling. A small Dedenne pokes its head out of her bag and chirps at her.

Serena blushes again. "Thank you."

"Alright, Fletchling!" Ash's voice calls up from the battlefield, and Bonnie squeals, darting up to where Ralts is standing.

Serena finds her own eyes drawn back to the field. A Surskit and Fletchling are on the field, and the referee calls;

"The challenger has chosen his second Pokémon! Battle, recommence!"

Chapter Text

"You can watch from up here!" Alexa calls suddenly, unprompted, and Ed turns to look in the direction she's waving.

There's a kid - around Clemont's age, standing there. Long brown hair, red skirt, pink hat and bag. She startles a little at Alexa's call, and turns to them, tearing her eyes away from the battle.

Ed holds out his flesh hand when she sits next to him, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "Edward. Call me Ed."

She smiles a little at him, and shakes it. "I'm Serena."

Ed jabs a thumb at his companions, "That's Alexa. the siblings are Clemont and Bonnie. And Ralts." He nods at his Pokémon, who is looking at the ongoing battle with interest.

Bonnie gets up to come over and shake Serena's hand. She compliments the older girls hat, and she blushes.

"Oof." Clemont mutters "Out to a signal beam. That'll be an unpleasant headache."

"So what is the Gym Challenge meant to test, exactly?" Ed asks, turning back. A thousand questions he wants to ask, but too many would be suspicious "As I understand it; gyms themselves are meant to be a training ground for any sort of trainer, and then the gym leader is a final test."

Clemont hums "You're correct. For any trainer not interested in the Gym Challenge, a gym is simply a place to train and get stronger. But for trainers aiming for the league they are to challenge the leader and defeat them in battle, and sometimes in a second, less battle oriented test. The Cyllage city gym leader, Grant, has his challengers do a rock climb with their Pokémon to test their perseverance."

Clemont, Ed thinks, knows an awful lot about gym rules. Its not the weirdest thing to have a lot of knowledge about. Al could rattle off every butterfly found in Amestris and their exact life-cycle. But it is interesting.

"Huh. Does Viola have a secret challenge?" Ed asks Alexa, who makes a so-so motion.

"My sister has a real eye for the bonds between trainers and their Pokémon. She less so tests them, and more so tries to capture a photo of them displaying it. The better the photo, the less Gym Trainers she has to fight."

"Gym trainers?" Serena asks, brow furrowed. Ed mentally pumps his fist, he's not the only one asking questions.

"Some gym leaders." Alexa explains "Take on apprentices of a kind, and they get to be in the employ of the gym and battle the regular trainers who come in. My sister has a few. Usually, the help non-battle trainers, but she'll call them in for build up to official matches."

"Ash and Pikachu must have really impressed her, if she skipped straight to the battle." Bonnie gasps, and Alexa smiles at her.

"They did. Though, that might be partially my fault. I told her that he was coming and she did some research. That's why she's going tougher than him than she usually does on trainers with no badges."

"Once a Battle Trainer - what trainers, like Ash, who aim to take on the league are called." Clemont continues, sounding rather irritated that his explanation was interrupted, "Once they defeat the leader, they are awarded a gym badge. There are, of course, other ways to get badges, if you for some reason can't travel. Once a Battle Trainer collects eight gym badges in a league season, they are invited to participate in the League Conference. The winner is invited to challenge the Elite Four of the region, and if they beat all four, are invited to challenge the Champion."

"And if they win that, they're considered the strongest trainer in the region!" Bonnie cheers "They get, like, a government role. And super famous."

"Razor Wind!" Ash calls, louder than before, cutting into the conversation, and Surskit hits the ground in in an explosion of dust. Ed, not for the first time, wonders at the physics of this world. There is no way something that light created that much dust.

The court is covered in ice and sticky cobwebs.

"Surskit is unable to battle. Leader Viola, select your next Pokémon!" The referee calls, and Viola sends out a large butterfly. Ed raises his Pokedex.

Vivillon. The Scale Pokémon. A Bug and Flying type. Meadows pattern. Vivillon with many different patterns are found all over the world. These patterns on this Pokémon's wings depend on the climate and topography of its habitat. It scatters colorful, toxic scales from its wings during battle.

"Toxic?" Serena whispers, concerned. Ed has to take a deep breath and remind himself that the rules here are different. Insects are ten times larger and can shoots beams of ice, Butterflies with toxic scales are hardly the weirdest thing he's seen here. Pikachu is an electric rat, for fuck's sake.

"Viola's Vivillon doesn't know any poison type moves." Alexa assures her "But, you know, battle trainers need to be prepared for everything. Ophelia has poison types covered for Kalos, though."

Serena makes a slight, pained noise. Ed glances at Ralts, who is more concerned with the battle than discussions of poison.

Fletchling spins forward with a glowing beak, but is very easily stopped by a Psychic and Gust into the cobwebs.

"Now Vivillon! Solar Beam!" Viola calls, and Ash yells to Fletchling to peck her way out of the webs. She isn't fast enough.

"Fletchling is unable to battle. The challenger has run out of Pokémon, which means the match goes to the Gym Leader Viola!"

Ash holds up Fletchling's Pokeball, and the bird is sucked into it.

"You are always welcome to re-challenge me when your ready." Viola says, as she and Ash move to shake hands.

Ed pushes himself up to pick up Ralts, who looks very dejected at the loss. He murmurs "Raa…." and Ed hums.

"He'll win next time I'm sure." Clemont says to an equally dejected Bonnie. "And, it was wonderful to meet you, Serena. I hope we see each other again."

"Oh!" The girl jumps, as if she wasn't expecting to be addressed. "Right, yes. It was lovely to meet you too."

Ed waves over his shoulder and makes his way to Ash. He looks pretty dejected too.

"I underestimated her." He mutters to Ed, who knows the feeling well. Ling put on a wonderful act precisely for that to happen, and then kicked butt. Or at least, Lan Fan and Fu would kick butt. And Mei is literally twelve years old. One of the most competent twelve year old's in the world, but still a twelve year old. He himself was quite often underestimated, back home where no one expected the Youngest State Alchemist to actually pack a punch.

"You did." He agrees "But you won't do that again, will you?" Clemont and Bonnie catch up with them, and they begin to walk towards the Pokémon Center.

Ash nods, eyes glinting. "I've gotta train."

Ash doesn't like being tense. But he can't help it when he's separated from Pikachu. He's worried about Fletchling too, of course, but he doesn't have incredibly solid proof that their separation is Always Bad.

Like he had said to Ed, he'd underestimated Viola. First gyms are usually far easier.

There had been something burning in Ed's eyes when he'd said "You won't do that again, won't you?" It had sounded more like an order. And he'd sounded like he was used to giving them.

Ash decides that he's not going to focus on that, because he has to do strategy. He won't be able to come up with something if he's wondering about what Ed's life used to be like.

"Um. Hi!"

Ash jumps and turns, and he's always more easily spooked when Pikachu's not nearby.

"Hi! I'm Ash!" He slaps a grin on his face. The girl looks… familiar. But he can't really place where he's seen her before.

She holds out a bag. His bag "I know. I- You left this at the gym."

"Oh!" He'd been so caught up in his head that he hadn't even noticed leaving his bag behind. Grow up, Ketchum. "Thank you!"

"Your welcome." She says, and blushes. "I-uh- Did you-"

"Oh, Serena!" Clemont calls, running over from where he was trying to distract his sister from flirting with random women for him. Bonnie runs after him, abandoning her task, waving excitedly. The lady looks incredibly relieved. Ed follows at a much calmer pace. "Hello! I didn't think we'd see you again so soon!"

"Ash left his bag in the gym." Serena explains, smiling "So I came to deliver it."

"You've met?" Ash asks, looking between his travelling companions and Serena.

"She caught the tail end of your gym battle." Ed explains, and smiles at her. Serena flushes again.

"Yes. Fletchling did very well." She says to Ash, and he grins with pride. Before he the conversation can continue, the front desk of the pings. He runs over and catches Pikachu as he jumps. He takes Fletchling's Pokeball too, and thanks Nurse Joy.

"But, how did you get here from Antoris so fast?" Serena asks her, and she laughs.

"Oh, you must have met my cousin!"

Ash, well acquainted with the various Joy's, Jenny's and other such families, does not react. Ed, on the other hand, looks incredibly concerned.

"Those are some strong genes" He murmurs, as a blushing Serena asks for Nurse Joy to look over Fenniken.

"Of course. It is my job." She smiles, then looks at Ed. "Would you like me to look over your Ralts, too?"

"Sure." Ed nods, and places Ralts on the counter. The little psychic type murmurs a little sadly, but goes.

"Oh, Hey Alexa." Ed says as he turns around. Ash spins to.

"Hello Ed." She smiles at him, then looks at Ash "I've come to offer my assistance with training to take down my sister. My Noivern knows Gust, see."

Ash feels a lightening. That's one issue down, and if he uses Froakie's froubles as a stand-in for the Sticky Web, that's two. All he needs to do is figure out the Ice Battle fields.

Alexa sends out her Noivern, and Ash ties a pair of balloons around his Pokémon.

This exercise is, mostly, endurance. How long can they hold out whilst in the face of a gust. Can they figure out a way to steady themselves in the face of it.

The first time, the answer is no. He lunges to catch the two of them, and after a few encouraging words, sets them at it again.

Alexa calls for a second gust, and both of his Pokémon brace themselves. Froakie watches very judgementally, and Ash is half-tempted to chuck a balloon on the water-type and see how he fairs, but he refrains.

Pikachu and Fletchling hold on longer, but end up getting blown away again.

He wishes, for a moment, Pidgeot was at Professor Oak's lab, because she had a powerful gust and was a wonderful sport. But Pidgeot is in Viridian Forest, protecting her flock. None of the other birds are very good sport; Unfeazant is as vain as she is fast, Staraptor would only sulk that he wasn't the one actually battling. Swellow and Noctowl don't know Gust.

He groans on the floor. He hasn't been in the training groove in a few months. Travelling through the Decolore islands made him rusty.

"Uh… Ash?"

Serena waits in the center with Ed, Clemont and Bonnie, waiting for Fenniken and Ralts to be finished with their checkup.

She stares out after Ash. "He's very dedicated, isn't he?"

Ed hums, and Bonnie grins at her "Ash is always saying that its his dream to be a Pokémon Master!"

"What even is a Pokémon Master anyway?" Ed asks, and Serena is glad she's not the only one who doesn't know.

"Its a kind of like." Clemont frowns, and wrinkles his nose "The wording is terrible, but it's someone who has a deep understanding of all Pokémon. And is an incredibly good battler. Amongst other things."

"That's frustratingly vague." Ed murmurs, and Clemont gives a little shrug. Serena wonders how that can be a goal, if the guidelines are so vague. She wonders if Ash cares.

"Excuse me miss, sir?" Nurse Joy calls. "Your Pokémon are all good to go."

Ralts jumps off the bench and makes his way to his Partner, hugging his leg.

Serena pats Fenniken on the head before returning him to his Pokeball.

"Do you not put Ralts in his Pokeball?" Serena asks, curious. Ed looks at her, considering, then replies.

"Is he meant to be?"

"Not necessarily." Clemont explains "Ralts is considered a 'small' Pokémon, which means he should be good to be out of his Pokeball in almost all instances, like Pikachu. Its just that most trainers carry their Pokémon in their Pokeballs when travelling."

"Huh." Ed hums, but makes no move to put Ralts in his Pokeball. She flushes and looks away, towards the field where Ash is.

The four of them make their ways outside. Alexa is scratching her Noivern under its chin, complementing it's skill. Ash is sitting of the ground, looking deep in thought. Fletchling and Pikachu are on a shoulder each, and Froakie is taking a nap on the nearby bench.

The handkerchief is warm in her pocket.

Serena plucks up the courage to walk across the field.

"Uh… Ash?" She calls. He looks up at her, startled.

His eyes are a lovely, warm shade of brown. She remembers the deep kindness he'd shown her, all those years ago.

"I- um. I have to know. Do you… remember me?"