pokemon Fighting Dreamers

"Lucario?"

"Why, hello!"

Ash and his Lucario were both in a dark room, Ash was standing in his usual clothes while Lucario was meditating in the ground.

"You're talking?" Ash asked. "...Uh, this is a dream, right?"

"It is, but I am your real Lucario." He explained. "It wasn't my intention at the moment, but it looks like we finally managed to make a connection."

"A connection?"

"An aura connection I mean, it took us a while, but it seems like the more you use the powers that Zamazenta gifted you, the more your aura grows, I'm sure we'll be able to communicate in the real world in no time, although I wish I've had a more active role in that." Lucario laughed. "I was supposed to teach you, but it seems like you already had much more knowledge than me."

"So, those moments when I heard you talk, you were actually doing so?"

"More or less, we started to have something back then, but it wasn't complete, not just yet.

"I...look, sorry about happened with Riley, I-"

"No, Ash, that was my fault." He interrupted. "My father was always one of those with high expectations and I put impressing him over listening to you, that was my mistake, still, despite what you saw, we mostly got along...I still remember the day he sent me off...he told me I had potential, that I needed to find an aura user of my own, someone who I could both learn from and teach to...I asked him how would I find an aura user...he simply said that I'd know how to and...it took me months, but I managed to find you, now we just need to keep deepening our bond."

"So what do we do now? What do I have to do for that?" Ash kept asking.

"Ash, just...be yourself, that had always been enough."

Ash suddenly woke up with a yawn and looked at his team, they were all sleeping on the floor of his room, kinda dangerous with Infernape there now that he thinks about it, anyway, Lucario was mediating next to the egg that Valerie gave Ash, he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his trainer, giving him a nod, Ash smiled and did the same.

Once the morning came, Ash and Bea met in the door of the Pokemon Center, the plan was to go to Peonia's house and then she'd take them to dig up the fossil Ash needed, the duo walked outside of the center and a group of four Pokemon was awaiting for them.

"Oh, hey, Swords of Justice." Ash waved at them as he saw them.

"SWORDS OF JUSTICE?!" Bea exclaimed.

"Yeah, I told you about them, didn't I?" Ash asked to Bea.

"Y-You did, but the fact that you're so unsurprised...should I bow or something?"

"Fancy meeting you here, chosen one." Cobalion was the first to talk.

"We were paying a visit to Calyrex and he told us you helped him." Terrakion continued.

"So we thought we might as well check on you and see how you've been doing." Virizion ended.

"Hello, Ash!" Keldeo said happily.

"Keldeo!" Ash squatted in front of him. "It's been a long time."

"It sure has, Ash, and that's why I would like to challenge one of your Pokemon to a duel!"

"A duel?" Ash was a it weirded out by the sudden proposal.

"Correct, I want to show you how strong I've become and I also want to see what your Pokemon are capable of in battle!"

"Well, we'll gladly fight with you then."

"Perfect, is Oshawott still part of your crusade?"

"He is, well, he's not Oshawott anymore." Ash answered as he stood up and released Dewott.

"Hello! You remember me right?" Keldeo asked at the otter.

"Of course I do." Dewott answered at him.

"Dewott, Keldeo challenges you to a duel." Ash explained. "What do you say?"

Dewott simply smirked and took both his Scalchops. "It'll be an honor to fight a Sword of Justice."

"Then it's decided." Keldeo said.

"Very well, swords to the front." Cobalion stood between the two Water Types, Dewott raised a Razor Shell and Keldeo activated his Resolute Form and made a Secret Sword with his horn, the two clashed their edges slightly and then jumped back, preparing themselves to fight.

"The duel begins now!" Cobalion stated stomping the ground and Keldeo quickly made the the first move, jumping and shooting an Hydro Pump from his hooves that knocked Dewott back, Keldeo then formed a Focus Blast on his mouth and shoot it at him.

"Air Slash!" Ash ordered and Dewott quickly made the move cutting the enemy attack in half, both halves flew away and exploded to the sides, Dewott then ran at Keldeo and made some slashes, Keldeo manged to avoid the first ones, but he was ultimately brought down by the Air Slash.

"You've grown stronger, but I did so as well!" Keldeo jumped back once more and his horn was surrounded by green energy, the energy forming on it took the straight shape of a lance rather than a curve sword. "Here it goes!" Keldeo jumped at him with a Megahorn.

"Air Slash!" Dewott barely had time to block it but Keldeo manged to break through and land a direct hit on his chest.

"Revenge!" Dewott built up energy and landed a strong uppercut on Keldeo sending him flying away a bit.

"Hydro Spear!" Dewott used Aqua Jet with both his Scalchops in front of him.

Keldeo did something similar, impulsing himself forward with the Hydro Pump from his hooves while charging with a Megahorn and outpowering Dewott leaving him on the ground, Keldeo then charged a Secret Sword and tried to slash down Dewott but he moved away just in time with an Aqua Jet that he redirected to then hit Keldeo.

Keldeo jumped again with a Secret Sword, aiming to slash down Dewott.

"Block and Revenge!" Dewott blocked the move with a Razor Shell, his whole body was then covered by bright red energy, he landed the uppercut with a jump, launching Keldeo back and six red-glowing cards of energy suddenly came from Dewott, spinning around him.

"How unusual." Virizion said.

"What's that?" Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone to scan the move.

'Dewott has learned Trump Card, it's a normal Type move, each one of those cards has a random secondary effect, tell him to choose one.'

"Well, Ash you've finally done it." Bea said. "All those years pulling out trump cards and now you have a literal one."

"Alright, Dewott, just pick one!" Ash ordered, Dewott nodded and slashed through the card in front of him, the card then flipped, the other five cards disappeared and the flipped card shot a strong Blizzard at Keldeo.

"Let's try that again, Trump Card!" Dewott repeated the motion, this time an holographic Emboar appeared from the chosen card and rammed against Keldeo but he stopped it with a Focus Blast, making it disappear.

Dewott was starting to have quite some fun with the randomness, so he used the move on his own, this time, the blades of his Scalchops turned red.

"That's a..." Terrakion trailed off.

"Sacred Sword." Cobalion nodded.

"Go get him!" Ash exclaimed and Dewott jumped at Keldeo as the two traded cuts back and forth.

"Trump Card!" Dewott made the move again and this time he turned invisible.

"How the-" Keldeo was interrupted by some hits, he then jumped back and spun around using Hydro Pump, luckily hitting Dewott and causing the effect of the card to disappear.

"Enough of your tricks!" Keldeo exclaimed with a Secret Sword.

"Fine, Air Slash!" Ash and Dewott decided to play clean and went back to the good ol sword slashing, although Keldeo proved to be more skilled, landing a quick series of slashes and then launching him back.

"Hydro Spear!" Keldeo stood waiting for them with his Secret Sword as Dewott flew at him, a big explosion took place, both Pokemon were thrown back and tried to get up, struggling to get back on their feet, after a few seconds, Keldeo managed to stand up and Dewott was the one to fall defeated.

"The duel is over!" Cobalion stated. "Keldeo stands victorious, congratulations."

"That was... outstanding." Keldeo said between pants, barely able of keeping himself up.

Ash then went with Dewott, giving him a Revive and a Full Restore, the two then walked to Keldeo and Ash gave him a Full Restore as well.

"Thanks, Ash." Keldeo said.

"You both did your best, that was a great battle." Ash said.

"I'm gonna win the next." Dewott assured to Keldeo.

"I'll be looking forward to a rematch, thanks, Dewott, one day, let our swords clash again."

After that "usual" encounter, the Swords of Justice continued their travel and Ash and Bea went to Peonia's house, she was waiting for them and then she took them to a large expanse of flat land with diverse geography, there were grassland areas, forests, deserts and a rocky area with mountains could be seen far away, quite different from most of the snow covered Tundra, with dozens of Fossil Pokemon roaming around.

"Welcome to the fossil park of the Crown Tundra!" Peonia introduced them to the place.

"So, I have to catch one of those?" Ash asked looking at the Pokemon.

"Nope, this place may be full of fossil Pokemon, but they're all protected." Peonia started to explain. "We're trying to repopulate their species, I'll take you two to the digging site, there you can find your own fossils and we'll take them to a friend of mine to restore them."

"Corv!" Ash's Corvisquire suddenly appeared flying above them.

"Uh, Corvisquire?" Ash asked as the Pokemon sat on his cap. "What are you doing here?"

"CORVISQUIRE!" Sonia called out as she ran at them along her Boltund. "W-Why did you, uh, Ash? Oh, thank God it's you, he simply flew away and I thought I'd lost him."

"Didn't expect to see you here, Sonia." Ash said.

"I'm just visiting a fellow scientist." The professor explained. "She's very respected in the field, Corvisquire seemed rather bored in the lab so I decided to bring him with me, I'm really sorry, I know I should have told you, but I didn't want you to get worried, I promised I'd take care of your Pokémon."

"Sonia, is no problem at all." Ash assured her. "I can tell you took care of Corvisquire very well."

"This scientist wouldn't happen to be your friend, Peonia?" Bea asked her.

"It is actually, I already met Sonia because of her, hello there."

"Nice to see you, Nia." Sonia greeted her.

"Doesn't your name ends with Nia too? Ash asked.

"...wait a sec."

"Sonia, Peonia! You're finally here!" A woman wearing a lab coat and a very organized and clean appearance. greeted the two as she walked to the group. "And I see you've brought your friends, hello, hello, my name is Cara Liss, I am a fossil researcher."

"Nice to meet you, name's Ash, she's Bea."

"There, there, Peonia told me you want to dig up some fossils, correct?"

"That's the plan." Ash said. "You're gonna help us out?"

"Of course, of course, but first things first, you need a proper introduction to the process, we revive Fossils in Galar in a different matter compared to other regions, let's give you an example, follow me." Cara liss took them to her personal area of the digging site, where she had a reviving machine, she then took a Root fossil and put it inside of it, once she activated the machine, the fossil was turned into a grey card with a Lileep image on it. "Meet step 1." The researcher presented them the card.

"A card?" Bea asked.

"Correct, this card serves as a fail-safe." Cara Liss started to explain. "Fossil Revival doesn't always goes smooth, sometimes it might come up broken or corrupt and believe me, you don't wanna see how that looks like, the main purpose of the card is to help us analyze the fossil Pokemon before fully reviving it, but we need something else first." Cara Liss then presented a long silver device with a rectangular casing on the end of a short handle and a screen on both the front and back, it also had a small array of black buttons for each side. "This is the Fossil Holder, a special device made by me, it will analyze the data of the card and then we'll use it to materialize the Pokemon, let's see what it has to offer." Cara Liss opened the casing and inserted the Lileep card inside of it, the information of the Pokemon then appeared in the screen.

Pokemon: Lileep.

Type: Rock/Grass.

Gender: Female.

Ability: Storm Drain, immunity to Water moves and healing after being attacked by one.

Moves: Ancient Power, Energy Ball and Sludge Bomb.

Fossil Date: 100 million years old.

Status: Stable.

"Seems like everything's in order, restoration time." Cara Liss then took out the card of the device and passed it through a red slot on the holder. "Fossil Slash!" Once the card was passed, it started to shine brightly, Cara Liss then let the card fall on the ground and a Lileep took its place.

"Now, if you allow me." Cara Liss tossed a Poke Ball at Lileep and the Pokemon was caught without effort. "That's how we do it."

"And what happens to the card?" Bea asked.

"Once the Pokemon is caught by a Poke Ball the card is completely deactivated, we can't turn it back, but we can still return it to a card if it hasn't been caught." Cara Liss explained. "Well, you wanted fossil Pokemon, didn't you? Go ahead, children, dig, dig and see what you can find."

"Alright, I'll start searching." Ash said. "What about you, Bea?"

"Guess I'll try to get a fossil too." She answered.

"Well, I already came all the way here." Sonia said. "I suppose a new helper for the lab wouldn't be that bad, whatcha say, Boltund, you'll help me find one?" She asked to her Pokemon who have a bark of approval and started to sniff the floor.

"Time to dig!" Peonia exclaimed as she released her Tyrantrum who roared happily besides her. "Alright, Bea, you can just start anywhere around here and...hey, where did Ash and Sonia go?"

Bea looked around noticing the two mentioned where nowhere to be seen. "What in the- They were here 5 seconds ago!"

"I wonder why those two would go alone in the first place." Peonia said.

"Not this shit again..." Bea sighed as they started to look for them.

Not far away, Boltund still had his snout on the ground leading the way while Ash and Sonia were following.

"Uh? Looks like we got separated from the rest." Ash didn't even noticed until he looked back, his mind has been a mess lately. "Are you sure there are fossils around here?" He asked to Sonia.

"Actually Ash." Sonia stopped walking and her Boltund did the same. "I wanted to talk with you in private."

"Is, uh...is there a problem?"

"Not exactly a problem, but I'm thinking about that little kiss that you gave to Nessa."

"U-Uh, I suppose she told you..." Ash said embarrassed.

"More or less."

"SONIA! HE KISSED ME! HE KISSED MY CHEEK! IT WAS HOURS AGO AND I STILL DON'T BELIEVE IT! I FEEL LIKE I COULD DIIIIIIIE!"

"Please, I beg you to make her stop." Valerie said desperately.

While the two continued their conversation, Bea and Peonia had just found them, but Ash and Sonia haven't noticed it yet.

"I guess we should-" Peonia was about to talk, but Bea covered her mouth, she then hid behind a nearby rock and Peonia followed her. "What are you doing?"

"I...I just to hear what they're talking about." Bea answered.

"Looks like you made Nessa very happy, didn't you?" Sonia laughed and Ash blushed at the memory.

"That was...it's a bit embarrassing."

"So you finally settled with her?" She asked.

"I...no, I mean, I thought I could, but... everything has been quite complicated lately."

"Complicated, uh? ...if you don't mind I ask, how's the thing with Bea?" She asked as the aforementioned payed as much attention as she could. "I kinda saw she was a bit closer to you than usual."

"...Bea just confessed to me." Ash said. "She's already the fourth girl that does so and I really don't know what to do."

"Fourth, uh?" Sonia asked a bit surprised. "But Nessa was still the first, right?"

"She was, then Flannery, then Jasmine and now Bea and...and why do I feel like all this crazy thing is far from over?"

"Crazy?" Whitney giggled looking at her Ash plushie. "How can you something like that, Ashy? The only crazy here is this world that stands in our way, but don't worry my dear, one of these days there will be nothing between us, I'll make sure of it...even if I have to do it with my own hands."

"Hey, May! Is there something you need?"

"Dawn...we need to talk, it's about Ash."

"Those chills again..." Ash said.

"Well, I feel like the deal you're making about this is a bit too big." Sonia continued. "Doesn't every guy wants to be swamped with chicks like you are?"

"Look, is not that I don't like having them around, but knowing they all like me, knowing they're waiting for me to say something, is...it really worries me."

"So you're having a hard time choosing, that's the thing?"

"You're making it sound as it was something easy."

"Well, if you can't choose then...why don't you just go out with them without letting the others know about it?"

"What?"

"Just confess to them separately and don't tell the rest, you could go out with all of them and that should give you time to get some kinda free trial with each one and after you decide you simply dump the rest, give them the good old "It's not you, it's me" easy, right?"

"I would never do something like that!" Ash quickly answered. "What you said is just plain wrong, I...I could never lie to any of them."

This statement caused Sonia to let out a short giggle. "Good, because if you had even considered that idea, I would have told Boltund to Thunder Fang you into oblivion."

"Uh?"

"It was a catch, Ash, I know you're too noble for that kind of things, but if you can't choose and "cheating" is totally out of the picture then what's your plan?"

"I...I don't know and I really don't understand why are all these girls suddenly interested in me."

"As always Ash, way too humble."

"Why does everyone calls me that?!" Ash exclaimed tired.

"Just think about it for a second, even if you ignore your status as trainer and champion, you're just the full package, your looks aren't half bad, you study, you're relatively athletic, you're kind and thoughtful, you're quite popular, you're sociable and easy to get close to, yet very serious when the situation demands it, what's not to like?"

"W-What with all that sudden praise?!" Ash exclaimed blushing as Sonia gave him a laugh.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Sonia got a bit closer to him. "If I told you that I like you, what would you say?"

"EH?!" Ash exclaimed concerned, another confession was the last thing he needed today, meanwhile, Bea was about to walk in, but Peonia stopped her and tried to calm her down.

"T-Theoretically speaking of course!" Sonia stuttered, trying to calm Ash. "I know you don't know me that much yet, but you grew fond of Nessa in relatively short time, I'm sure that if we hang out for a bit you'd get to know me, so if that was the case and I told you, what would you say?"

"Well, I..." Ash thought for a moment. "I can tell you're a charming girl."

"Oh, really?" Sonia asked smiling.

"Y-Yes, I'm sure you are, but..."

"But?" She asked with a teasing look.

"...Didn't you want me to be with Nessa, anyway?" Ash looked away and tried to change the topic.

"Weeeeell, that's still up to you, but you told me that you think Nessa's great, that you like having her around, that she's really beautiful and kind and when I asked you if you loved her...you said that if you had the chance you'd like to, didn't you?"

"I...yes, I did." He admitted with a sigh.

"...So if no one else has confessed, you and Nessa would already be a couple?"

"I guess...that's a possibility." Ash said as Bea felt a pain in her chest.

"Still, you mentioned two other girls, right? How are they?"

"Where should I even start?" Ash tried to calm himself and smiled with a blush. "...Flannery is so enthusiastic and energetic, she's a bit perverted and things can fly over her head sometimes, but she's still a great girl, Jasmine is far more reserved, but she's so gentle and sweet and...just like Nessa, they're both really beautiful."

"I see..." Bea was about to walk away, but Sonia asked one more thing before she could.

"Well, that leaves Bea, mind to keep going?"

"Bea is...Bea is simply wonderful, we've been through so many things since we met that it's almost ridiculous, but I treasure each one of those moments, at first I only thought of Bea as a friend, but with all of this...I honestly love everything about her." Ash then let out a short laugh as he blushed even more. "Funny how most of those moments it feels she was trying to make a move on me and I didn't even realize it...after she confessed, she has gotten way more assertive, it's... it's honestly adorable, despite being so tough, she's way more cute that she thinks."

Bea was trying to hide her blushing face while Peonia giggled at her.

"Well, that makes it sounds like you're gonna choose Bea in the end." Sonia pointed out.

"That makes sense, but...how do I know I'm not only saying that because I spent the most time with her? What if things had played out different? I just don't feel like I'm being fair with the rest."

"What do you mean with fair?"

"I know it sounds weird, but... it's because I feel weird about them, when they confessed I started to feel something for them too, but that just makes me feel guilty as well, it may be as you said, I may be just making a bit too big deal about this, but I don't want to hurt them, they're all important to me...Sonia, you just weren't there, the passion in their eyes, the way they shared their feelings with me, I can't even imagine how much courage it takes to tell someone how you feel...how am I supposed to tell them it was all worthless? How would I look them in the face after that?"

"Boy...you're in quite a pinch, aren't you?" As Sonia said this, her Boltund suddenly smelled something, Bea and Peonia though it was them so they decided to retreat for a moment.

"Why am I even telling you all these things?" Ash asked.

"Do you have anyone else to talk to?"

"...Not really." He admitted. "I was gonna tell my mom, but I'm not sure if she'd be very disappointed or very happy."

"Well, I'll be here if you need me, I could even be your onee-san."

"I think I'm a bit too old to have one of those."

"So if you were younger you'd like to?" Sonia rested her arm on Ash's shoulder.

"T-That's not what I said!" Ash stuttered with a massive blush.

"Gosh, I totally understand why Nessa likes teasing you so much, you're just a cutie pie" Sonia poked Ash's nose as she kept laughing, man, if Bea had watched that someone would be already in past tense. "Serious talk, Ash, I do want you to be with Nessa, she's my best friend and she likes you a lot, and most importantly, I know you'd make her very happy...but if you and I get along too well, I could end up falling for you too and considering your situation that would definitely be a trouble, right?" She laughed again as Ash sighed tired.

"Sonia, I don't think you should joke with that kind of things."

"And what if I'm not joking?"

"I..."

"I said you didn't have to worry about me...for now." She gave him a wink. "I'm still rooting for Nessa tho, still, four girls is not that much when you think about it, I saw this weird show in TLC the other day, if they all like you that much and you can get them to get along, then I guess you could-"

"Guys!" Peonia called from above as Bea and her flew on her Aerodactyl and then descended to them. "Here you are."

"Why did you go away tho?" Bea asked pretending she didn't hear most of their conversation.

"Sorry, Boltund smelled something and we just got separated from the group a minute." Sonia answered. "Nothing wrong with that, right, Ash?"

"Uh...yeah."

"Alright, everyone, let's do what we came here for." Peonia offered and the group started to dig along their Pokemon, like the fossil expert said, it didn't took them long to find something, Peonia found a Helix Fossil, Bea found a Skull Fossil, Ash found a Fossilized Fish and Sonia found a Fossilized Drake, after picking up everything they went back to Cara Liss who was waiting for them.

"Alright, alright, what did you guys being me today?" Cara Liss asked.

"I'll go first if you don't mind." Peonia offered the Helix fossil to her friend and this was turned into a card by the machine, Cara Liss then put it in the holder to check the information.

Pokemon: Omanyte.

Type: Rock/Water.

Gender: Male.

Ability: Swift Swim, doubles speed on rain.

Moves: Shell Smash, Meteor Beam, Hydro Pump and Ice Beam.

Fossil Date: 200 million years old.

Status: Stable.

"Here we go." Cara Liss activated the card and the ammonite appeared.

"Bow down to Lord Helix!" Omanyte said in his language as Peonia tossed a ball and caught him easily.

"There, who's next?" Cara Liss asked.

"Guess I'll go now." Bea took a step forward and gave her the skull fossil, Cara Liss then repeated the process.

Pokemon: Cranidos.

Type: Rock.

Gender: Male.

Ability: Mold Breaker, may ignore foe's abilities.

Moves: Head Smash, Thunderbolt and Dragon Pulse.

Fossil Date: 100 million years old.

Status: Stable.

"Seems good to go." Cara Liss summoned the fossil and Bea got closer to him.

"Hey there, my name is Bea, I'll be your trainer." Bea greeted the Pokemon and the latter tried to headbutt her, but Bea could move away in time.

"Look out, look out, Cranidos are very hot-headed." Cara Liss explained. "If you want to catch him, he wants a battle, it should be easy, fossils revived tend to return to life in low levels."

"Well, if that's the case, let's make it fair." Bea released her Clobbopus. "I still haven't seen what Clobbopus can do, but I'm sure he'll do great, give me your best."

"Clo!" The octopus raised his arms, ready to go.

"Crani!" The fossil stomped the ground, preparing for battle.

"Let's starts with Bind!" Clobbopus jumped and grabbed Cranidos trying to squeeze him, but due to the size difference, he didn't do much, Cranidos then swung him around getting Clobbopus off him.

"Nidos!" Cranidos' head was surrounded by white light and then rammed at Clobbopus to hit him with a Head Smash.

"Circle Throw!" Clobbopus waited until Cranidos was close enough and grabbed him using his own momentum to toss him over his head and crash him to the ground.

"Great job!" Bea cheered on, Cranidos then lowered his head as the dome on it shone with a yellow light, shooting an electric beam at him. "Look out!" Bea warned him, but Clobbopus received the Thunderbolt directly.

Cranidos then opened his mouth, shooting a Dragon Pulse at the octopus.

"Jump and Bind!" Dodging the move in time, Clobbopus fell on Cranidos' forehead, covering his eyes with his arms, Cranidos then tried to crash him against a rock but Clobbopus jumped away again, leaving Cranidos to crash himself instead.

"Circle Throw!" Clobbopus grabbed Cranidos by his head again, tossing him over to the ground.

"Cra!" Cranidos quickly got up charged electricity on his head to use Thunderbolt again, Clobbopus suddenly jumped and fired a Mud Shot from his mouth stopping the attack and blocking Cranidos' Vision.

"Now Liquidation!" One of Clobbopus' arms was surrounded by water as he landed and uppercut and the a then a low blow ultimately defeating the dino.

"Down it goes!" Bea said as Clobbopus walked to her. "Hey, you are small, but you pack quite a punch." She cheered as the Pokemon jumped to her hands, Cranidos then regained conscious and Bea walked at him. "Well, was that hot enough for you?" She asked and the Pachy smiled at her. "Welcome to the group." Bea offered a Heavy Ball and Cranidos was caught without resistance, the Poke Ball then shrunk itself as Bea already had a full team.

"Congrats, Bea." Ash said and then showed the Fossilized Fish to Cara Liss. "Alright, my turn."

"Oh, that's no good, this fossil is broken." Cara Liss explained while examining it.

"Broken?" Ash asked. "Seems like a normal fossil to me."

"Oh, what about mine?" Sonia asked as she handed over the Fossilized Drake.

"This one is broken too." Cara Liss answered with a sigh. "What a shame, we always find perfect fossils from other regions, but the fossils that are native to Galar are always broken and can't be revived."

"Then I guess we'll have to look for new ones." Sonia stated.

"Hmmm, this two in specific are a bit curious tho." Cara Liss replied. "It would almost seem like this part of the Fossilized Drake can connect with this part of the Fossilized Fish... maybe I can...no, that would be wrong...but what if it works? ...Imagine all the recognition." The researcher started to laugh.

"Uh, you okay, Cara?" Peonia asked.

"Hehehe! Peonia, I just had a wonderful idea!" Cara Liss quickly activated the machine. "I'll combine these two fossils!"

"You're gonna what?!" Peonia exclaimed.

"Wait a second..." Ash said. "Cara Liss...Careless...I'm starting to think this wasn't a good idea."

"Don't worry, guys, I'm a professional!" Cara Liss then pressed the button and the two fossils were absorbed together.

After the usual process, the machine expelled the card and Cara Liss shower it to everybody. "Ta-da!"

"But the image isn't showing." Bea pointed out.

"Well, sometimes happens." Cara Liss said confident. "Let's try seeing it on the holder."

Pokemon: ?

Type: ?

Gender: ?

Ability: ?

Moves: ?

Fossil Date: ?

Status: Inconclusive.

"That's not a good sign." Peonia said. "Cara Liss, we should get rid of that card."

"You're really telling me that you aren't at least curious?" Cara Liss gave a grin and took the card in her hand.

"W-Wait!" Peonia tried to stop her to no avail.

"Fossil Slash!" Cara liss activated the card and the creature that was summoned from it was...a bit hard to describe.

"What is that thing!?" Sonia exclaimed scared as she hid behind Ash.

"Look at this!" Cara Liss said thrilled. "The head of the Fossilized Fish, the green back legs, red claws and tail of the Fossilized Drake, the spiked tail function as a neck, it has fins at the bottom of the jaw, it's so unique!"

"I...uh..." Peonia couldn't focus her words.

"To think we could have done things like this long ago!" Cara Liss exclaimed with a laugh as she looked at a pile of broken fossils. "Things that no one could do before!"

"Girls, can I say it?" Ash asked.

"Go ahead." Bea replied.

"Fine by me." Sonia added still hiding behind him.

"Yeah, I'm..." Peonia continued. "I'm still trying to process all this."

"You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could that you didn't stop to think if you should." Ash finally said the phrase as his group took a closer look to the fossil, who was just standing still, looking at the nothingness.

''You took two completely different creatures and mixed them into a whole new specimen.'' Peonia said while walking around the Pokemon. ''How is this even possible?''

''Life, uh...finds a way.'' Cara Liss shrugged shoulders.

"You know? I think it's a bit cute." Bea said.

"Yeah, in a cursed mindless kind of way." Sonia added, still too scared to look at the creature directly.

"Uh...hello there." Ash put a hand over the fossil's head, finally causing him to react, it then took a few steps back and looked at its surroundings as it struggled to stay on its feet. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you, my name is Ash and-"

"VIIIIISH!" The Pokemon suddenly charged an Ice Fang and tried to hit Ash with it, since Sonia was behind him, Ash quickly formed a shield protecting them both, the creature then desperately roared to the skies as it started to run around, crashing against rocks without direction.

"Cara Liss, return him to his card!" Peonia exclaimed.

"S-Sure, just let me-" Cara Liss pressed the button on the device that would have returned the fossil back to a card, but the holder showed the image "error" on its screen. "It doesn't work!"

"Because his card was broken, just like him!" Peonia shouted again.

"Let me see if I can fix it." Sonia took the device in her hand.

"Guys, let's try to stop it, but don't catch it." Peonia said. "If you do we won't be able of retuning him to his card."

"Clobbopus, Circle Throw!" Bea called onto the Pokemon who managed to take down the fossil for a moment with a quick movement.

"ECIOHCRUOY!" The hybrid screamed and got up as its lower jaw was illuminated by a blue light and he bit down Clobbopus, rising him up and then smacking him into the ground, knocking out the octopus easily.

The hybrid then looked at Cara Liss and rammed into her as Peonia and Sonia barely had time to move away, the fossil launched Cara Liss flying up.

"Aerodactyl!" Peonia released her Pokemon who caught Cara Liss midair and lowered her slowly, although she fell face first. "Are you okay?!" Peonia exclaimed helping her friend to get up, she had a lost look, her face and clothes were now covered with mud and one of her shoes was missing.

"That power was...Amazing!" Cara Liss exclaimed. "...I mean I think he broke me some ribs, but it was amazing nonetheless! I need to do more mixes!"

"Sonia, how's the holder?" Peonia asked.

"I need more time." She answered still checking the device.

"EVILEMTELTNOWUOY..." The creature trailed off. "EIDEMTELTNOWUOY!"

"Cinderace, what is he saying?" Bea asked.

"I...don't know." The rabbit answered.

"You don't?"

"I understand pretty much the same as you, it's all gibberish."

"EHTAERBTNACEHTAERBTNAC!"

"Absolutely nothing." Cinderace said.

"Cinderace can't understand him." Bea said to Ash.

"That will be a problem."

"DRAAAAAAAA!" The Fossil roared and used Earth Power, creating various explosions in the ground and running away as it did.

"You want to go after him, don't you?" Bea asked.

"You know me very well, don't you?" Ash replied as they both shared a laugh.

"Let's go after him!" Peonia broke the moment. "Sonia, take care of Cara Liss!"

"Be careful!" Sonia said.

"RETAWDEENIRETAW!" The pokemon shouted as it kept destroying random rocks, Ash, Bea and Peonia were following up close along the rest of their Pokemon.

"Brave Bird!" Ash and Bea shouted as one, Rufflet and Corvisquire attacked together, but they were both stopped by an Ice Fang, frozen and smacked onto the ground defeated by the fossil.

"That thing is really strong!" Bea exclaimed as they returned their Pokemon.

"Another reason to calm him down." Ash answered. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" The rodent jumped and attacked, but the move was stopped by Earth Powers as the fossil ran away again.

"Hitmontop, Drill Run!" Bea ordered and the latter jumped to attack, but the fossil's teeth this time turned light pink, he bit down Hitmontop causing a punk explosion and living the Johto Pokemon defeated.

"One shot again?!" Bea exclaimed as she recalled him.

"Must have been a Psychic Fang." Peonia said.

"ENOLAEMEVAEL!" The creature shouted again, now aiming at Chesnaught, the grass starter summoned a Spiky Shield, but the fossil attacked into an Ice Fang, ignoring the pain of the spikes and turning the shield into an icy dome, freezing Chesnaught inside, the fossil then summoned an Earth Power, exploding onto the Chesnaught and leaving him defeated.

"NEKORB!" The Pokémon shouted to the skies again and the team started to back down, the fossil then crashed its head into the ground, breaking beneath everytime it did, he then aimed at Ash's Zigzagoon with an Ice Fang again.

"Zigzagoon!" Ash's Weavile quickly took him out of the way and the creature broke the ground again.

"RET...aw..." The creature trailed off, sitting exhausted for a moment.

"It's down!" Bea exclaimed. " We have to-"

"No, wait!" Ash stopped her and looked at his Lucario. "Cinderace can't understand him, you think you can sense his feelings with Aura? maybe we can find out what's the trouble."

Lucario nodded and put a paw infront of him, trying to feel what the fossil was feeling, Lucario quickly sensed his energy and frowned.

"What's the matter?" Ash put a hand over Lucario's shoulders, he felt the aura surge through his body as a series of screams resounded in his head.

'...can you hear him?' Lucario asked in his mind.

'I...I'm hearing you.' Ash answered.

'Like I told you, we're getting closer.' Lucario smiled again. 'Now focus on the creature, what is he saying?'

'I...think.' Ash tried to focus on the energy of the creature.

"DNTEEAEWIERAWRT!"

"Come on, talk to me.' Ash said on his mind.

'Focus, Ash.' Lucario said.

'WTERANEIEDTERWA!'

'I almost got it...'

'WAWANEEDITERTER!'

'He's trying to...'

'WATER! I NEED WATER!'

'Water! ...he wants water.'

'Great job!' Lucario as Ash took his hand off and their temporary connection was cut. "Ra..."

"Almost there." Ash answered and then looked at Bea. "He said he needs water!"

"I think there was a pond nearby." Bea said.

"Infernape! Take the nimbus and fly up, try to find a pond or any water body!"

"Nape!" The monkey answered and took off.

The fossil suddenly got up again and roared. "WALLAMIRP!"

"What is it now?" Bea asked at Ash as he put a hand over Lucario's shoulder again to try and understand.

"PRIMAL LAW!" The creature shouted as the ground began to shake, all the colors of the landscape and the sky turned into a blue, purple and pink pattern with an oil painting-look, resembling the day turning into dusk, the hybrid was then surrounded by blue pulsing energy.

"Uh, Peonia what's going on?" Bea asked.

"I-I don't know!" She stuttered.

"Oh, you don't know? Miss Fossil expert?!"

"It's the first time I see something like this, alright?!" Peonia then looked at her Pokemon, who were surrounded by the same light as the hybrid. "Whatever he did, it looks like it only affects fossil Pokemon."

"If he's made out of two fossils, wouldn't that be a problem?" Ash asked.

"Uh..."

"SEGAFOECROFEHTHTIW!" The hybrid cried out again, his aura started flare and create waves of energy, multiple explosions occured in the ground, way bigger than they were before, most of the Pokemon backed away a little for safety.

"Go, go, move!" Weavile quickly took Zigzagoon out of the way as they took cover behind a rock.

"What is this? What is all this?!" Zigzagoon exclaimed holding his head.

"Hey, hey, you okay?" Weavile asked him.

"I can't do this!" The raccoon started to hyperventilate and Weavile tried to calm him down.

"Hey, hey, look at me, you can't do this? we can't do this? who cares? Are you up for this? Are you? Look, I just need to know, cause the sky is purple...okay? Look, the sky is purple, we're fighting something that looks like a Georgia O'Keefe painting... and I used to work for a dude that almost rewrote the entire universe, none of this makes sense, but I'm going back out there because it's my job, okay? And I can't do my job and babysit you, It doesn't matter what you think you're capable of or what you used to be, if you go out there, you fight, and you fight to win. If you want to stay in here, good, I'll come back for you later, but if you step out this rock, you are part of the team." Weavile took a pause and Zigzagoon simply looked at him. "Alright, good chat." Weavile said as he walked back to the battle. "Yeah, the sky is purple and I thought Distortion World was already weird."

Weavile jumped with a Night Slash, hitting the fossil on his head, but not doing much, the hybrid then bit one of his arms and smacked him against the ground, it then charged a Dragon Rush and Weavile braced himself for the hit, but Zigzagoon's eyes suddenly turned green and a Grass Knot rose from the earth, wrapping around the fossil and stopping him for a moment, the creature started to move violently to set himself free but the vines managed to hold on.

"Good work." Ash sighed relieved. "That should give us some time, but what should we do?"

"FLESRUOYMORFUOYGNIVASTNIA!" The creature broke the vines and tossed Weavile away, setting his sight on Zigzagoon again.

"J-Just what's your deal with me?!" Zigzagoon exclaimed as the fossil charged an attack of Psychic Fangs exploding onto him.

"Zigzagoon!" Ash and Weavile shouted, but a white light started to shine brightly behind the fossil, the Normal Type had moved away just in time, Zigzagoon then jumped at the fossil, knocking him back with an Extreme Speed, the hybrid tried to bite him, but Zigzagoon used the move to get away from its grasp and repeatedly crash against him in a Zigzag pattern, Zigzagoon then stood in front of the fossil and raced forward at a blurring speed, disappearing in a burst of wind too fast too be seen and ramming onto him from all sides several times, Zigzagoon then stood still for a moment, right in front of the creature again, the latter was still willing to fight and tried to bite him down, Zigzagoon dashed forward to him again, leaving an arrow-shaped trail of light on the ground and causing a explosion, the dust quickly cleared and it looked like the fossil hadn't take much damage, but Zigzagoon had now evolved into a Linoone, the Normal Type then dashed until it was infront of Ash, Weavile then went with him as well and Linoone gave him a grin.

"Guess you can take care of yourself." Weavile said as Ash scanned him. "Linoone, the rushing Pokemon, It uses its explosive speed and razor-sharp claws to bring down prey. If facing an obstacle, it makes a right-angle turn to evade it, Linoone's moveset has been updated: Extreme Speed, Grass knot, Shock Wave, Ice Beam.' Ash was about to congratulate the Hoenn Pokemon, but the fossil roared again as it started to run in their direction.

"We have to keep him down, Linoone, Shock Wave!" The stripes on Linnone's body turned yellow, as five arrow-shaped lightning rushed from him at the fossil, stopping his run and knocking him back a little. "Now Grass Knot!" the stripes now turned green as a group of vines rose from the ground and kept the fossil down, like the last time, the fossil started to struggle trying to set itself free but the vines were now stronger.

"Fernape!" The monkey called flying above the fossil, the hybrid then jumped at him breaking the vines, holding Infernape with a Psychic Fang and smacking him out of his cloud and to the ground, the creature was about to bite him down, but Cinderace quickly jumped with a Sucker Punch and protected him.

"Infernape, are you okay?!" Cinderace asked reaching towards him.

"Why? Do you care about me or something?" He asked with a weak laugh.

"Yes!" Cinderace exclaimed visibly worried.

"Oh..." Infernape blushed at the response. "That's..."

"I-I mean, it's not that I don't, but-"

"CRRRRAAAAAA!" The fossil quickly ran at them again.

"Dewott, Trump Card!" The otter quickly made the move and the chosen card shoot himself at Dracovish, summoning a quicksand trap beneath him and stopping him momentarily.

"Infernape, did you find the pond?" Ash asked and the Fire starter nodded pointing in a direction, just as this happened, the hybrid managed to break out from the sand.

"Linoone! Drag his attention, we have to lead him to the pond!"

"Line!" The badger landed another Extreme Speed on the fossil's head and the latter started to chase him hastily in anger, Linoone then followed Infernape who jumped to his cloud and flew from above, the two quickly made it to the pond and the fossil ended up falling onto hit after failing to hit Linoone with a Dragon Rush.

"You think that'll calm him down?" Bea asked and the creature rose from the water, the remaining Pokemon were preparing themselves to keep fighting, but Ash took a step forward as the creature approached him.

"Listen, we're not gonna hurt you!" He exclaimed at the fossil. "I don't know if you're getting this or what, but I know you're in there!"

"EMTNSISIHTYDOBYMTNSISIHT!" The fossil rushed at him with an Ice Fang and Ash quickly rose his shield to stop him.

"I don't know if you can't stand understand me but I know you can see me! So watch me! Look at me!" The creature took a sudden step back, Ash sighed and put down the shield.

"Ash!" Bea exclaimed.

"Stand back!" He look back at them and then back to the creature, taking another step forward to it. "I'm not gonna hurt you..."

The sky and the landscape returned to their normal colors, the fossil panted exhausted and stopped moving, Ash took another step forward and put a hand over his head, receiving something similar to a growl in return.

"There." Ash patted his head and the fossil sat down. "You are...you are just scared, aren't you?" He asked and the fossil gave a weak smile.

"I did it guys!" Sonia suddenly appeared behind them along her Boltund and Cara Liss, she then pressed a button in the holder, the fossil turned back to a card and this time his image was visible. "Sorry it took me a while."

"It's alright, Sonia." Ash said. "Looks like he just needed some water."

"Never the mind." Sonia said taking the card. "I'm gonna discard him."

"Discard him?" Bea asked.

"It's the usual process when the revival goes wrong." Sonia started to explain. "The holder will disintegrate the card entirely, it'll be like he was never here."

"Well, something was clearly wrong with this one." Cara Liss said. "Fine, what's two more fossils? I can always start again, make another hybrid."

Despite being concerned by what Cara Liss just said, Sonia was about to press the designated button.

"Wait." Ash stopped her. "Is that going to hurt him?"

"I'm...not sure." Sonia said. "But it's not like we're gonna do anything with him, are we?"

"We..." Ash looked at the card for a moment. "No, please, don't do it."

"What?" Sonia asked.

"I'll take care of him." Ash tried to take the card, but Sonia pulled it away from him. "Hey, we already brought him here." He tried to reason with her. "It would be unfair to simply erase him like nothing."

"Are you sure, Ash?" Sonia still wasn't confident with the idea. "You experimented first hand all the chaos he can cause."

"He was just scared." Ash answered. "Can you blame him?"

"Sonia, this is Ash we're talking about." Bea stepped in. "I'm sure he can do it."

"...Peonia, what do you think about all this?" Sonia asked her.

"Ash managed to calm him down somehow." She answered. "I think it's worth a shot."

Sonia looked back at Ash and sighed defeated. "Fine, but please don't make me regret this." She finally gave him the card and Ash looked at it with a smile.

"Alright then...can I?" Ash pointed at the holder and Sonia gave it to him, he passed the card and summoned the hybrid again, the creature quickly ran back to the pond, yet struggled a lot to stay at the surface.

"Now the problem is that he can't breathe outside of the water, but with those legs he can't swim either." Ash explained.

"That's unfortunately specific." Sonia said. "But I think I can make something for that, give me a sec." Sonia left the scene for a moment and Cara Liss reached around to the fossil.

"I can't believe we almost got him erased, I mean, just look at this amazing creature!" Cara Liss exclaimed from the edge of the pond looking at the fossil. ''Well, I built it myself, so now I shall name it...from now on, you'll be know as...Dunklestego Caralissian!'' The fossil and every other creature present frowned at that idea. "What? You don't like it?"

''Well, he does needs a name..." Ash said as the creature walked outside of the pond for a moment and stood next to him. "How about..." Ash looked at the Pokemon as he thought for some seconds. "...Dracovish? Do you like that name?'' the fossil stood still for a moment and then it simply smiled with a nod.

''Dracovish it'll be!'' Ash exclaimed happily and the fossil bit his head softly.

"Here it is!" Sonia came back with a device that looked like a metallic black belt with two water containers attached to it. "I think this will help your situation." Sonia got closer to Dracovish and put the device on the highest part of his neck, right beneath his head. "You might feel a little pinch." Sonia warned as she activated the device which started to supply water to Dracovish's body.

"There, how does it feels, Dracovish?" Sonia asked.

"...Uno! Lalala!" Dracovish gave a wide smile.

"Aaaaw, you're just a little bean, aren't you?" Sonia asked as she hugged Dracovish's head.

"Thanks a lot, Sonia." Ash said.

"No problem, you don't need to refill the tanks by the way, they absorb the water droplets of the air, it was an old experiment of mine without much of a practical use, but I'm glad it has a purpose now, this is just a prototype tho, it's very sturdy, you can use him for battles, but the system's core might last one or two weeks, I'll make a finished version once I get back to the lab and I'll send it to you."

"That would be amazing." Ash said as he got closer to Dracovish with a Poke Ball on hand. "Alright, Dracovish, welcome to the family." Dracovish smiled again, She tossed the Ball softly and he was caught cleanly.

"Now you meet the requirements." Peonia said. "Ready for this?"

"You bet." Ash answered putting Dracovish's Poke Ball Infront of him, while Peonia did the same with Tyrantrum's.

Next day, the group went to the Freezington Gym owned by Peony, it was still damaged because of the birds' doing, but it would still resist a fight and since this was a test battle, no public was allowed, Bea, Sonia, Rose and Peony were all in the stands, Cara Liss also went to see the battle so she could "behold the power of her creation" as she said, Infernape and Cinderace were also in the stands.

Ash and Peonia were walking through the tunnel of the stadium together, both in their Gym uniforms, Peonia's was dark grey with white triangles on the sleeves and a Tyrantrum footprint on her chest, her number was 079.

"Nervous?" He asked.

"Maybe a little bit." She answered. "This could define who I get to be for the rest of my life."

"I'm sure we'll do great."

"...Ash, promise me you're not gonna hold back."

"That's a promise." He assured. "And you?"

"Not even an inch." She smirked. "Hey...what you did yesterday... understanding Dracovish and standing for him...that was amazing."

"I only did the right thing." He said. "As I said before, Dracovish was just scared."

"I would definitely be scared too if I was in his position."

"Yeah...so, you ready?"

"I...yes, let's do this."

Ash and Peonia then walked to the battlefield where Oleana was awaiting for them. "Welcome, I shall be acting as the judge and referee of this battle." She said standing in the battlefield.

"Very well, younglings, show us what you got." Rose said from the stands.

"Get crazy, hey, kids!" Peony shouted.

"Go ahead, Ash!" Bea cheered on.

"I'll be cheering on both!" Sonia said.

"Show them what you got, Dracovish!" Cara Liss continued.

"This will be a test battle between the Gym Trainee Peonia and the Gym challenger Ash Ketchum." Oleana started the explanations. "This will be four on four battle without Dynamax, the challenger is forced to use at least one fossil Pokemon and he's not allowed to switch, did I make myself clear?" Ash and Peonia nodded. "Trainers, take your position and release your first Pokemon!"

"Let's do this! Aerodactyl, blow them away!" Peonia was the first to call out.

"Totodile, I choose you!" The Johto starter came out of his Lure Ball and quickly starting to dance around.

"Totodile, please focus!" Ash said.

"If both trainers are ready then the battle begins now!"

"Aerodactyl, Dragon Breath!" Peonia made the first move and a powerful blast of blue and black energy was shot from the fossil's mouth.

"Block it with Metal Claw!" Tododile's claws turned silver as he crossed them to block the attack, he then jumped and slashed Aerodactyl right on his face several times. "Water Gun!" Totodile expelled a swirling shot of water, impulsing himself away.

"Double Team!" Aerodactyl created various copies of itself that flew around Totodile.

"Dance around with Water Gun!" Totodile did as told, effectively making all the clones disappear with his attack.

"Argh! Dual Wingbeat!" Aerodactyl wings glowed white and he flew down to attack Totodile with them, but the latter simply danced around avoiding his hits. "Then Smack Down!" An orange rock was fired from Aerodactyl's mouth.

"Metal Claw!" Totodile spun on his place using the move to break the rock. "Now Ice Punch!" Totodile jumped again, his hand covered in a icy glow as he punched Aerodactyl on one of his wings, leaving it frozen and causing the Ptero to lose altitude.

"Use Superpower!" Totodile was outlined by red energy, he then jumped, curling himself into a ball and smashing against Aerodactyl, knocking the latter out of the skies.

"Well, that little guy has some moves." Sonia laughed.

"Ash is no joke..." Peonia trailed off as her Aerodactyl got up and smacked his frozen wing against the ground to break the ice, she then looked up at his uncle who was looking expectantly, the decision was up to him after all. "Time to get serious." Peonia whistled and Aerodactyl flew at her. "Listen, this guy is really strong." She started to explain. "Seems like we'll have to do it, but we won't if you're not okay with it."

"Dac...tyl!" The Pokemon nodded and Peonia did the same.

"Alright then." Peonia searched in one of her pockets pulling out a Hexagon-shaped chocker that she put on Aerodactyl's neck and a orange bracelet that she put on her wrist, both of them with a respective stone.

"Oh, boy." Ash said worried.

"It's time to break the chains that divide!" Peonia shouted, raising the bracelet and activating her Key Stone as Aerodactyl flew to the skies. "To rule land, sky and sea! Life cannot be contained! Life breaks free!" Aerodactyl dove down in the battlefield, creating an explosion and roaring the dust away, revealing his new form.

"That's not good..." Ash said. "And I can't switch Totodile back." Despite this enemy power, Totodile wasn't fazed at all, he was still jumping around, this caused Ash to laugh a little, he wasn't going to give up just like that. "Alright, let's do this, Superpower!"

"Smack Down!" Aerodactyl roared as all the rocky parts on his body glowed white and shot orange stones at Totodile, stopping his run and sending him fly away.

"Dual Wingbeat!" With his newfound speed, Aerodactyl flew at Totodile, smacking him down with his wings.

"Ice Punch!" Totodile jumped and tried to land the move, Aerodactyl bit him mid air, but Totodile still made the move on his face, the fossil then tossed him up to the skies. "Dragon Breath!"

"Metal Claw!" Totodile crossed his arms again to block the move which impulsed him even higher.

"Dual Wingbeat!" Aerodactyl took flight up to him.

"Ice Punch!"

"Double Team!" Aerodactyl divided himself in various copies and Totodile missed the mark, the real Aerodactyl then flew over him, smacking him down with the Dual Wingbeat. "Smack Down!" The rain of stones fell onto the Water starter and Totodile was now fainted in the ground.

"Totodile is unable to battle! Aerodactyl is the winner!" Oleana exclaimed as Peonia smiled.

"Thanks Totodile, you did your best." Ash said recalling him.

"Nia took the wheel!" Peony cheered on.

"Quite impressive." Rose added.

"Alright, Aerodactyl, switch in." Peonia recalled the Flying Type and changed Poke Balls. "Bastiodon, roar!" She released the Ceratopsian which stomped the ground.

"Let's do this, Bayleef, I choose you!" Ash called upon his second Pokemon, who jumped to him and started snuggling. "Bayleef, I missed you too, but I need you to concentrate, alright?" Bayleef then nodded and jumped into the battlefield.

"Let's start with Rock Blast!" Peonia exclaimed as the four spots on Bastiodon's head shot several grey rocks at Bayleef.

"Vine Whip!" Bayleef responded the aggression and used the move to whip back the rock at Bastiodon, although he didn't take much damage from them. "Use Headbutt!" Bayleef tackled him head-first, but Bastiodon's defenses let him took the hit without effort and the the Steel type knocked her away.

"Give them a Thunder!" Bastiodon roared as an orb of Electricity formed from the spikes on top of his head, shooting an electric blast at Bayleef, knocking her down again. "Use Avalanche!" Bastiodon's eyes glowed white a grey cloud appeared in the sky and several chunks of ice fell from the sky aiming at Bayleef.

"Razor Leaf!" Bayleef swung her leaf around shooting several copies of it, turning the rocks into mere crystals.

"Vine Whip!" Bayleef quickly hit Bastiodon with her vines.

"Fine then, Metal Burst!" Bastiodon took some more hits and then roared, shooting a silver burst of energy that exploded onto Bayleef. "Thunder!" Bastiodon used the Electric move again, this time leaving Bayleef paralyzed.

"We got you sealed!" Peonia exclaimed. "Thanks, Bastiodon, return!" She recalled her Pokemon and switched.

"Another recall?" Bea asked.

"Peonia really wants to win this one." Sonia said.

"What are you up to, darling?" Rose asked himself. "And of course, Ash, how will you respond?"

"You're up next! Blaze, Tyrantrum!" The Tyrant let out a mighty roar as he was summoned in the battlefield.

"Vine Whip!" Bayleef managed to break through the paralysis and used her vines to hit Tyrantrum a few times and then she wrapped them around his neck. "Razor Leaf!" Still holding him to ensure the hit, Bayleef attacked aiming at Tyrantrum's face.

"Try and stick chaos inside a cage but it'll aways end in a rampage! Fire Fang Spin!" Tyrantrum suddenly bit the vines as he set them in a fire that reached Bayleef, the latter tried to let go but Tyrantrum had her in his grip, he then spun Bayleef around, smacking her against the ground as he did.

"Body Slam!" Bayleef jumped and let herself fall over Tyrantrum's face, but the latter simply tossed her away.

"Fire Fang Bomb!" Tyrantrum gathered fire in his mouth, he then jumped in the air and came down, biting Bayleef down and creating a huge fiery explosion that left the Grass type defeated.

"Bayleef is unable to battle! Tyrantrum is the winner!"

"Thanks girl, you did your best." Ash said recalling her.

"Not trying to brag, but I got you 2-0." Peonia said.

"We're not done yet!" Ash replied. "Let's try this out, Dracovish, I choose you!"

"Uno! Lalala!" The hybrid exclaimed happy to help Ash out.

"Rise, my beautiful creation!" Cara Liss exclaimed. "Riiiiiiiiiise!"

"Die, monster." Tyrantrum said as he looked at him. "You don't belong in this world!"

"It was not by my hand that I am once again given flesh." Dracovish answered. "I was called here by the humans!"

"Dracovish, Primal Law!" Ash made the first move as Dracovish roared and the scenery changed colors, boosting both of the Pokemon in the field, yet the aura emerging from Dracovish was much bigger.

'That's kinda risky considering all my Pokemon are fossils.' Peonia though. 'But then again, Dracovish gets double boost...our turn, Sandstorm!" Tyrantrum let out a fearsome roar summoning a sandstorm. "This will slow him down." She said, but Dracovish made a sound similar to a laugh.

"Uh, Dracovish?" Ash called him. "Wait, are you hearing those guitars?"

"Do you like...MY BITE?!" Dracovish exclaimed.

"Your what?" Tyrantrum asked.

"MY BITE!" The fish laughed one more time. "Shall I go now? ...SAND! SAND! SAND! I'M GONNA STEP ON THE SAND!" Dracovish suddenly ran around Tyrantrum at Mach speed.

"What the-" Tyrantrum tried to ask but he was crashed by a Dragon Rush.

"That's Sand Rush for you!" Ash smiled. "Ice Fang!" Dracovish suddenly jumped and bit Tyrantrum on his neck, creating an icy explosion.

"Head Smash!"

"Dracovish, Fishious Rend!"

Tyrantrum's crown illuminated but Dracovish bashed him with his jaws before he could make the move.

"Earth Power!" Dracovish roared and the explosions from beneath the ground damaged Tyrantrum.

"Now Dragon Rush!" Dracovish roared again, his speed increasing greatly thanks to the sand storm, charging at Tyrantrum with all his strength.

"There's no use! Dragon Tail!" Tyrantrum suddenly stood up as his tail was surrounded by blue energy, he smacked it onto Dracovish sending him flying, Dracovish was then returned to his Poke Ball against his will.

"That was-" Ash saw confused how something similar to an holographic lock was Infront of Dracovish's Poke Ball.

"There." Peonia sighed relieved. "Dragon Tail will keep him back, now you're forced to switch and you can't use him until your next Pokemon is knocked out, not only that will give us time until the sandstorm passes so you can't use that Sand Rush, but the Primal Law effect is still active and I know Dracovish is your only fossil, so now that boost is all ours."

"Well, you're definitely a smart one." Ash said.

"My, thank you." Peonia laughed. "I try my best."

"Nia got him totally cornered!" Peony cheered on.

"Not just yet." Bea said. "Just wait and see."

"She's right." Rose agreed. "I know very well just how much Ash likes to turn the tables."

"Don't give him a break, Nia! But Keep going, Ash!" Sonia kept trying to cheer on the two.

"Torterra, I choose you!" Ash's fourth and last option stood ready to battle.

"You got it, pal!" Infernape cheered on him.

"Hello there!" Cinderace greeted him.

"Oh? So that's your girlfriend, the others told me about her." Torterra laughed at the two.

"G-Girlfriend?!" The two fire starters exclaimed.

"Boy, when I get back to the lab those guys will get it." Infernape said.

"U-uh, well, that's..."

"What did he say?" Bea asked.

"Nothing! He didn't say anything!" Cinderace stammered.

"Use Fire Fang Eruption!" Peonia restarted the battle and Tyrantrum bit the ground and picked a giant rock, burning it up with the fire on his mouth and then tossing it at Torterra.

"Leaf Storm!" Torterra shoot a storm of sharp leaves at the rock and destroyed it, the attack kept going and hit Tyrantrum but he wasn't much fazed.

"Fire Fang Spin!" Tyrantrum gathered fire on his mouth again and ran at Torterra.

"Iron Head!" Torterra's head was surrounded in a silver light, suddenly, several metallic plates were shot from hit and hit Tyrantrum on his jaw, stopping his run.

"A long range Iron Head?!" Peony exclaimed surprised since he has seen that move a million times, yet never like this.

"What did I tell you?" Rose smirked.

"Giga Drain!" The spikes on Torterra's back turned into three long vines and much like Bayleef before him, Torterra wrapped them around Tyrantrum's neck while the vines drained energy from the dino to him.

"Fire Fang Spin!" Just like he did with Bayleef, Tyrantrum bit the vines with fire and this reached to Torterra, Tyrantrum then tried to toss him, but due to Torterra weighting a lot more, he couldn't make it and simply pulled him a little and the vines were then retreated.

"Fire Fang Eruption!" Tyrantrum once again grabbed a giant rock, setting it on fire and tossing it at Torterra.

"Iron Head!" Torterra tried to counter but the rock was too big and it kept going, crashing against him. "Giga Drain again!" Torterra did as told and wrapped the move on his enemy's neck.

"Fire fang Spin!" Tyrantrum tried to repeat the scene, but Torterra quickly wrapped one of the vines around Tyrantrum's snout, stopping him from using the move. "Head Smash!" Tyrantrum rammed onto Torterra pushing him back as he stopped using Giga Drain.

"Earthquake!" Torterra got on his hind legs and then brought his front legs back to the ground with force, causing it to start shaking as green shockwaves of energy travelled along the ground to damage Tyrantrum.

"Fire Fang Bomb!" Tyrantrum jumped to avoid the Earthquake while gathering fire on his mouth and aiming at Torterra.

"Leaf Storm!" Torterra aimed the move at him and the impact caused Tyrantrum to miss the mark and land the move right next to Torterra, causing an explosion nonetheless, but Torterra stood on his feet. "Giga Drain!" Once again the turtle wrapped the vines around his head, draining his energy, Torterra then used his strength to raise Tyrantrum into the air. "Iron Head!" Torterra shoot the plates while Tyrantrum was falling and once this fell to the ground he was totally defeated.

"Tyrantrum is unable to battle! Torterra is the winner!"

"Alright, I knew it wouldn't be that easy." Peonia said while recalling her ace. "Bastiodon, roar!" The ceratopsian stood in the battlefield again. "Rock Blast!"

"We have to keep going! Iron Head!" The moves crashed in the middle of the field, but Torterra's proved to be more powerful and kept going through and onto Bastiodon.

"Earthquake!" Torterra did his move again and due to being much slower, Bastiodon didn't have time to dodge or jump. "Leaf Storm!"

"Metal Burst!" Bastiodon took part of the hit and then reacted to the aggression firing his move through the leaves and exploding into Torterra.

"Giga drain!" Torterra wrapped the vines around Bastiodon as the energy was being drained from him.

"Avalanche!" Bastiodon summoned the move and the ice chunks fell from above onto Torterra.

"Use the vines to break them!" Ash ordered, remembering what happened with Bayleef, and Torterra let Bastiodon go and used the vines to destroy the ice, he then used the vines as whips to smack them onto Bastiodon.

"Metal Burst!" Bastiodon charged the move, but Torterra lowered one of his vines and smacked it against his head, causing Bastiodon to shot the move to the ground and create a huge explosion and sent himself flying.

"Bastiodon!" Peonia exclaimed as her Pokemon fell.

"Earthquake!" Torterra made the move again and the shockwaves tossed Bastiodon to the walls, ultimately defeating him just as the Sandstorm summoned by Tyrantrum subsided.

"Bastiodon is unable to battle! Torterra is the winner!"

"Way to go, Torterra!" Infernape cheered on him.

"Ash has equalled the marker." Rose said.

"You can do it, Nia!" Peony cheered on. "That Torterra is already worn out!"

"I'm not giving in! Let's blast through! Aerodactyl!" Peonia released the Pokemon who was still Mega Evolved.

"Dual Wingbeat!" Aerodactyl flew down and slashed through Torterra several times with his wings.

"Iron Head!" Torterra tried to use the moves as anti-aircraft, but Aerodactyl's speed easily avoided the attacks.

"Smack Down!" Aerodactyl screamed and a rain of stones came down fron his body.

"Leaf Storm!" The grass move proved the more powerful as it pushed the rocks back up and smacked them against Aerodactyl along the leaves. "Giga Drain!"

"Dragon Breath!" Aerodactyl quickly countered and burned down the vines with his breath.

"Double Team!" Peonia shouted and Aerodactyl summoned even more clones than before.

"Giga Drain again!" The spikes on Torterra's shell turned into three green vines that swung themselves around destroying all the clones and eventually finding the real Aerodactyl, the vines then wrapped around him and started to pull him down as they absorbed his energy.

"Dual Wingbeat!" Peonia exclaimed once Aerodactyl was close enough, the Mega set a wing free and slashed Torterra several times, but he was still holding him with the vines.

"Don't let him go, we're almost there!" Torterra then bit Aerodactyl's tail, bringing him even closer.

"Dragon Breath!" Aerodactyl shouted out the attack while still using Dual Wingbeat, but Torterra refused to let him go.

"Hang in there!" Ash called again.

"Give it all you got! Smack Down!" Aerodactyl was now using three moves at once, but Torterra still held on.

"Wait him out, wait him out! Not yet!" Infernape exclaimed as Torterra started to glow green and his ability Overgrow activated.

"What is-"

"Leaf Storm!" The leaves on Torterra's tree started to glow green and they shoot a massive green cyclone of sharps leaves, still holding onto Aerodactyl with both his Giga Drain and his bite, Torterra added the Iron Head and the leaves stopped, Torterra finally let Aerodactyl go and the latter returned to his normal form as it fell defeated on the ground and the Primal Law effect disappeared.

"Aerodactyl is unable to battle! Torterra is the winner!" Oleana shouted as Torterra dropped himself on the ground.

"Torterra?" Ash walked to him and noticed it was fainted, Infernape jumped to the field and did the same. "Thank you, you totally carried us, now take a rest." Ash returned the turtle and returned to his side and Infernape went back to the stands.

"Wow, you...you totally turned it around." Peonia said.

"Looks like we're down to a 1 on 1, ready to end this?" Ash asked as the lock on Dracovish's ball disappeared.

"As I'll ever be!" Peonia answered.

"Dracovish, I choose you!"

"Let's do this! Power up!" Peonia released a Pokemon that was similar, yet very different to Dracovish.

"What is that?" Ash asked.

"Well, your little experiment inspired me to make my own." Peonia answered. "Dracovish meet Dracozolt."

"Wait, wait a sec." Ash said. "You're seriously telling me that after all the chaos, trouble and moral questioning we had with Dracovish you simply made another one?"

"Correct, he uses a different broken fossil in the upper part and he's over all more stable."

"Okey, let's see how this works out."

"How wonderful!" Cara Liss exclaimed.

"Dracozolt, Bolt Beak!" Dracozolt's beak was surrounded by electricity as he ran towards Dracovish.

"Ice Fang!" Dracovish lowered his head to avoid the hit and then raised it with an Ice Fang, biting Dracozolt on his stomach.

"Electro Ball!" Dracozolt started to build up energy, Dracovish let him go because of this, an electro ball then formed between the spikes on his back and he smacked it with his tail at Dracovish, electrocuting him. "Breaking Swipe!" Dracozolt's wagged his tail around, smacking Dracovish several times with it. "Bolt Beak!"

"Earth Power!" Dracovish summoned explosions from the ground, stopping Dracozolt before he could reach him. "Dragon Rush!" Dracovish charged at him while he was distracted by the explosion, knocking him back.

"Dracovish, Primal Law!" Dracovish changed the scenery and both Pokemon were boosted immensely.

"You do know that Dracozolt will get that double boost too, right?" Peonia asked.

"We wanted to meet the expectations, didn't we?" Ash replied.

"You're god damn right, Bolt Beak!" Dracozolt rammed at Dracovish with much more energy surrounding him.

"Dragon Rush!" Dracovish charged at him with much more energy as well, both Pokemon created a huge explosion, but were still willing to go.

"Aerial Ace!" Dracozolt jumped in the air as the feathers on his arms grew in size and he flew down slashing Dracovish with them.

"Psychic Fangs!" Dracovish now but him on one of his legs, tossing his enemy around.

"Fire Blast in the ground!" Dracozolt fired up the battlefield as Dracovish started to struggle breathing. "How is that? Due to his composition, your Dracovish dehydrates too fast, what are you gonna do now?"

"I just got the idea, Earth Power!" Dracovish roared and the ground exploded, quickly ceasing the fire and sending Dracozolt flying up. "Catch him with Ice Fang!" Dracovish did as told, grabbing the enemy by his tail and smacking him to the ground.

"Argh, Electro Ball!"

"Earth Power!" Dracovish tried to stop the move, but the Electro Ball broke through and damaged him.

"Now Bolt Beak!"

"Fishious Rend!"

Both Pokemon clashed against each other and neither of them seemed to give in, Dracovish made a sudden move and tried to bring Dracozolt to the ground, the latter quickly discharged his enemy with electricity, but Dracovish held on, he turned his move in an Ice Fang and Dracozolt was frozen stiff, Dracovish then raised his head and brought down his jaw with a Fishious Rend, creating a explosion and finally defeating Dracozolt.

"Dracozolt is unable to battle! Dracovish is the winner!" Oleana officially ended the battle and all the presents stood up and clapped.

"Great, Dracovish! You did it!" Cara Liss shouted.

"Huff... congratulations." Peonia said while returning Dracozolt.

"That was amazing Dracovish, thank you." Ash recalled his Pokemon as well.

"Indeed, amazing it was." Rose said while going down to the battlefield as Peony and Oleana stood next to him. "Now Peonia, you'll have to come with us for the final ranking, remember we have to be as neutral as possible."

"S-Sure, Uncle Rose!" Peonia stuttered and walked behind him, not without looking at Ash one more time. "Ash, I...thanks a lot, really."

"Good luck."

A few moments later, Ash took his Pokemon to the Pokemon Center, Bea and Sonia accompanied him and after healing them, Ash talked with his Pokemon for a moment.

"Torterra, you were incredible, you took out 3 of 4, we wouldn't have done it without you." He smiled as Infernape congratulated him as well, Ash then looked at Totodile and Bayleef who were looking down disappointed on themselves.

"Hey, you two, cheer up." Ash said. "You may not have won a battle today, but you both did your part, Totodile, you stood your ground really well against Aerodactyl, I'm sure he took a lot of damage from you, and Bayleef, it was thanks to you that Torterra knew how to react against Tyrantrum and Bastiodon." The Johto starters smiled at this words. "Listen, I promise I'll call you again, I'm sure you two will do even better next time." Both Pokemon nodded and hugged him, after saying their goodbyes and some more teasing from Torterra to Infernape and Cinderace, Ash returned them to Prof. Oak's lab, Peonia then entered the center along Peony and they both walked until they were in front of Ash.

"What happened?" Ash asked.

"Did you make it?" Bea asked as well, Peonia simply smiled and rose her Rotom Phone, showing them her trainer ID.

"Peonia Cosmos, Gym Leader, what does that tells you?" Peony asked with a smile.

"Congratulations!" Bea, Sonia and Ash cheered on her.

''One more thing." Peonia looked into her pocket for something and showed it to Ash. "This is the fossil badge, the very first one and I'll give it to you, Ash.'' Like the other Galar badges, it had a golden outside, this one was shaped like the letter D with three triangles on the side, the inner design was a stylized Tyrantrum skeleton, the teeth were white Triangles and the skull and jaw were red rectangles along some yellow triangles on top of the head being its crown. ''Thanks for the battle and thank you for helping become a Gym Leader.''

''Thanks to you, Nia.'' Ash said taking the badge.

"Ash, there was something I needed to say, I..." Peonia was about to confess her feelings, she heard all that Sonia said and she confirmed all those things during the Dracovish chase and their battle, Ash seemed like the perfect guy, she was gonna let all that out, but she suddenly looked at Bea and considering all that Ash said about her, she thought it would be better to leave it for herself. "...good luck in your challenge." That was all that came out.

"Thanks a lot, Nia." Ash answered, while Bea though the same.

"Indeed that show was definitely something." Rose walked in along Oleana. ''I have a little gift for you too, Ash, I'd like to give you this." He presented something that looked like a golden credit card. "This is what we call a VIP pass here in Galar, only the champion, Gym leaders and a few special trainers have access to it."

"Uh, thanks, but what is it for?" He asked.

"You just have to scan it with your Rotom Phone and your max party will be increased from 6 to 16.'' Sonia explained and Ash's jaw dropped.

''Sixteen!" Ash exclaimed. "You're telling me I can carry 16 Pokemon at the same time?!''

''Of course." Rose smiled amused by his reaction. "I know a trainer like you will appreciate this a lot, this one has two charges, one for you and one for your friend.''

"I...wow, thanks, I don't know what to say."

''Well, there's something I'd like you to say since I have one last thing to ask for, after you leave this place, meet me at the Rose Tower in Wyndon so we can have a more private conversation, there's an offer I'd like to give you there.''

"Rose Tower, Wyndon, I'll be there." Ash nodded.

"Sounds perfect." Rose said and then walked away along Oleana.

"Alright, so this thing." Ash took his Rotom Phone and scanned the pass, his Rotom Phone then showed an image of his full six member team and signaling ten more empty spots next to them, one of them was taken by Dracovish. "Geez." That was all Ash could say, Bea then did the same with her Rotom Phone and both teams slots were now maxed out.

"Well, I suppose you're going with him." Sonia looked at Corvisquire who flew to Ash's shoulders as she handed over his Poke Ball and this motion was showed in the Rotom Phone.

"Thanks for taking care of him, Sonia."

"Don't mind it, still, Ash..." Sonia took Ash's cap and adjusted it. "Stop worrying so much about everything, Kay?"

"Uh...sure."

After saying their goodbyes, Ash and Bea took the first train to Wyndon, the two were now is Bea's room checking up a map.

"Alright, so Rose wanted to meet me in Wyndon." Ash explained. "This train ends up there, but it also makes some stops at Stow-on-Side and Stow-on-the-other-side...who names these places? Anyway, both towns have a gym, Stow-on-Side is Fighting and Stow-on-the-Other-Side is Ghost, we can stop there so I can get another badge and then take another train in the same trail to continue to Wyndon, still, I don't wanna take that long to get there so I guess it'll be better to only make one stop, where should we stop at?"

"Uh...other side, definitely other side." Bea said trying to look as calm as possible. "Stow-on-Side is pretty boring."

"Fine, we'll be going to Stow-on-the-Other-Side."

"Hey, can we talk ab-?" Bea was about to ask something, but Ash interrupted her.

"Good night, Bea!" He said walking to the door of the room.

"What do you mean with goodnight?!" Bea exclaimed standing on his way. "It's like 4:30!"

"Uh, well..."

"Listen, Ash Ketchum, you won't leave this room until I'm done with you!"

"...That really didn't sound okay." Ash let out a nervous laugh as Bea took a deep breath.

"Ash, I...I heard when you were talking with Sonia."

"Y-You did?"

"I did and...well, I'm flattered with the way you think of me, but...did you really mean all that?"

"I did." Ash quickly answered. "Every single word."

"...So...when you said you loved everything about me?"

"Yes, I do." He assured her. "But I already told you all that back in the mountain, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did...But I guess you also meant every single word when you talked about the other girls."

"...I guess."

"Ash! It's..., look, I know I'm sounding overpossesive, but you and I have been together for over a month! You've only been with each of them for a few days at much! Why do care about them so much?! Why are they suddenly so important?!"

"I don't know!" He exclaimed. "You think this isn't weird for me?! My head has been a mess since you confessed! I don't know why my heart suddenly acts like this, but that's just how things are! In any case I should ask you why do you still like me knowing how I fell about the other girls!"

"But what about me?! I'm right here, in front of you! They're not! Do you like me or not!"

"I love you, Bea! Okay?! I love you! Isn't it obvious?! I love you so much that it hurts not knowing what I'm supposed to do with all that! And you're not helping me feel any better!"

"I..." Before Bea could mutter her words, the train suddenly stopped.

"Uh, what just happened?" Bea asked.

"The Rolycolys are escaping!" A member of the crew exclaimed as the horde of Pokemon that powered the train ran away in a stampede led by a Carkol.

"Wait, this is a coal train?" Ash asked.

"Well, we are between route 3 and 4." Bea said. "I guess we can just call a Flying Taxi."

Ash suddenly jumped out of the window and started to follow the Rolycolys.

"Or we can go after the Rolycolys, sure." Bea sighed, but did the same. "Ash, you're only following them to avoid talking with me, aren't you?" Bea asked a few steps back.

"..." Ash simply started to walk faster.

"You said you'd stop ignoring me!" Bea shouted.

"I-I know, but it's easier said than done, we can do this later!"

"Oh, not this time, you!" Bea quickly stood in front of Ash and wrapped her arms around him with force holding him tightly in an Ursaring hug.

"B-Bea, let me go!" Ash tried to struggle his way out.

"Now I won't!" She stood firm despite the embarrassment. "Stop struggling, you know I'm stronger than you!" Bea then raised him a little so their blushing faces met. "I told you I wasn't giving up, we'll have this conversation one way or another."

"Bea! Your...y-your chest is touching me..."

"T-That's not gonna work with me!" Bea closed her eyes and looked in another direction, but still held him tightly.

"Pikachu, could you help me out?" Ash asked to his partner who was sitting in the ground simply looking at the scene, the rodent then shook his head not wanting anything to do with this. "I...Bea, I'm really sorry."

"Sorry for wh- EEK!" Bea suddenly felt a pinch in her bottom neck and she released Ash who quickly started to run away.

"But I was holding his arms..." Bea blushed madly once she came to the realization. "D-DID YOU JUST BITE ME?!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ash shouted as he kept running. "I just wanted you to let me go!"

"And biting was the best thing you could come up with to do it?!" Bea started following him. "A cheek kiss would have done it!"

"T-That's was all I could think! Your grip was too tight!"

"And biting was seriously your plan A?! Biting was the first thing you thought?! I'm gonna bite Bea in her neck?!

"Could you stop saying the word 'bite'?!"

"ASH KETCHUM! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!"

"I told you I'm sorry!" He shouted again. "At least that trick worked or God, she would have crushed me like a toothpick."

A few meters away, the Rolycolys entered a mine and Ash followed them, Bea came in shortly afterwards but then she noticed the mine divided itself in two different ways.

"Of course..." Bea sighed annoyed, she then noticed a light coming from the left tunnel so she followed it, trying to figure what he was supposed to say despite the embarrassed. "Y-You think you can just bite my neck like that and run like it didn't happen you...Gloria?"

"Bea!" The Scottish ran to give her a hug. "Bea, it's so great to see you!"

"Wow, it's been a while." Bea said as she noticed the people who were accompanying her. "Marnie, Victor, how are you guys?"

"Hello there." Marnie greeted her.

"Nice to see you're back in Galar." Victor added.

"Hey, how are things between you and Ash?" That was the first thing Gloria decided to ask.

"Ash and I are..." Bea covered her neck, remembering what just happened, it's not like Ash left a mark or anything, but the feeling was somewhat still there, that wasn't something that they would forget soon. "We're in a bit of a weird situation right now."

"Really? And where is he?" Gloria asked. "Drizzile evolved, he'd love to have a rematch with Ash!"

"We were in a train and the Rolycolys that powered it escaped so we were following them." Bea explained. "Seems like we got separated while we entered the cave."

"Dang, you too?" Marnie asked.

"Me too?" Bea then realized something. "Wait, if you three are here then where is-?"

"Roxie?" Ash found himself in front of the punk girl in a different part of the mine.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite Ketchum." She smirked at him.