pokemon Fighting Dreamers

"Roxie?"

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

"Uh, nice to meet you again." Ash greeted her. "Are you lost?"

"Nah, I'm not lost, I just don't know where I am." Roxie laughed. "I got separated from Vic, Mar-Mar and Gloria, still trying to find a good nickname for her...hey, where's your girl?"

"Uh? You mean Bea? Well she is..." Ash looked over his shoulder, honestly hoping not to see her at the moment, luckily for him, there was no one behind him and he sighed relieved. "Looks like I lost her."

"And why do you look so happy about that?" Roxie asked as Pikachu gave Ash a dead stare, he was getting tired of all this drama.

"Uh...is complicated."

"Eh, whatever you say, why are here tho?"

"Bea and I were on a train, the Rolycolys that powered it escaped so we followed them here."

"Well, I know you're always doing charity and stuff, but why not just take a flying taxi and let the train crew round up the Rolycolys?"

"I, uh...I needed a bit of fresh air, that's all."

"...Sure." Roxie didn't quite believe him. "Have you caught a Toxtricity already by the way?"

"I haven't, you?"

"Me neither, Mar-Mar says they're rare, but she knows where they are so its a matter of time, alright, seems like I'll keep you company, lets start looking for the others."

"Sounds good." Ash said. 'At least I'll spend some time with a girl that doesn't like me.' He thought.

'Maybe this is my chance to tell Ash that I like him.' Roxie thought on her side.

"Pika Pi...(I think we all know where this is going)" The mouse jumped off Ash's shoulders to walk on the ground, foreseeing what Roxie could do.

Meanwhile with Bea.

"So you three got separated from Roxie?"

"Unfortunately, yes." Victor nodded.

"We have to find Ash!" Gloria exclaimed.

"And Roxie too." Marnie added.

"I-I have to show him I've grown stronger!" The Scottish continued.

"This mine is quite dangerous too, we should get out as quick as possible." Victor Said. "It's been abandoned for a while after all."

"And why did you guys came here?" Bea asked.

"Gloria saw a Snom and she followed it here." Marnie answered.

"I-I have to battle with Ash!"

"Gloria, could you focus on the current problem?" Victor tried to shut her.

"S-Sorry! I'm kinda nervous." Gloria stammered as she searched in her coat for her Ash plushie and then gave it a hug, calming herself down. "There, much better."

"Wow, I knew you really idolized Ash, but girl, you're totally lost for him." Marnie said.

"Welcome to my life." Victor sighed, considering he was been the one that has listened to Gloria's cheers for 4 years, of course, Ash was a great guy, he had to recognize that, but Gloria's idolizing was annoying from time to time.

"Ash was my reason to become a trainer after all." Gloria said as she looked at the plushie in her hands. "Knowing that he'll participate in the Galar League, that I might get a chance to fight him there...you have no idea how much that inspired me to become even better, if we fight in the league, I know I don't have much chance to win, but I have to make sure it goes down in history, I need to at least give him a worthy challenge...to be honest, all I want is for him to tell me -Great job, champ, I'm proud of you- after the battle, if he said that to me, I'd die happy." Gloria blushed, lost is her thought as she imagined the scene.

"Hey, I'm already proud of you." Victor said.

"Anyway!" Gloria ignored her brother. "Let's find Ash and Roxie, maybe they found each other like we found Bea, what could those two be up two?"

"I think can make myself the idea." Marnie giggled as Bea sighed.

"Let me see something..." Victor pulled out his Rotom Phone. "As I suspected, there's no map of this mine, like I said it's been abandoned for a while now."

"There's no signal to call them?" Bea asked.

"I'm afraid not." Victor continued. "But to be fair, there's never signal in this kind of situations."

"Then let's start moving." Bea said leading the way. "...Ash and I really need to talk."

"Another dead end." Ash sighed looking at a wall.

"I'm trapped in here..." Roxie started to sing. "And I wonder if I'm...gonna make it through...make it through the night."

"Roxie, could you sing something happier at least?" He asked.

"Hey, I'm just trying to put on the mood." She laughed. "That reminds me, I saw your presentation with that girl May in the World Contest Finals."

"You did?" Ash asked. "Wait, you like contests?"

"Of course! I-I mean, what?" Roxie quickly retracted what she said. "Those girly girl things? Are you crazy? I'd rather watch paint dry, HA! No no no no no, Garbodor is the one who likes them, I just happened to be with him while he watched it and..." Roxie blushed at the memory of the show. "I didn't know you could sing like that..."

"Well, I'm glad you liked it, but it was my first time singing in a stage like that."

"FIRST TIME!" Roxie shouted.

"Yeah, but I don't think my performance was that great, May did most of the work honestly."

"ARE YOU NUTS?!" Roxie exclaimed holding him by the neck of his chest. "Ash, you have one of the most beautiful voices I've heard in my life! And believe me, I've heard a lot, you're so invited to one of my future shows as a guest star! We're gonna bring down the house!"

"Uh, well, thanks, I'll take it into consideration...but now that you mention that, I saw your presentation in Wyndon the other day."

"What? Really?" Roxie blushed even more at that.

"Yeah, I was with Maylene and Candice in Sinnoh when it happened actually, your song helped them to get together."

"Glad to hear that." Roxie gave a proud grin. "Never underestimate the power of music, Ketchum."

"I honestly think it's amazing what you did with your music." Ash continued. "Writing a whole song based on those letters, while giving a response and making it all rhyme and sound so great, you're really talented."

"Oh, stop it..." The rocker gave him a playful punch as they both laughed. "But if you saw the show, did you hear my message to you then?"

"I didn't, Bea turned off the TV before you could say it, what did you have to tell me?"

"Well, I...I just wanted to tell you that I think you're really cool and I hoped we could meet again soon."

"Uh, that's it? Well thanks." Ash replied. "...Wait, I'm having a Deja Vu."

"It's just that being with you makes me feel amazing." She continued as her face turned even more red.

"Uh, Roxie?"

"I made a whole cheesy love song and everything, but I'm gonna cut straight to the point."

"Wait, don't tell me you-"

"I like you Ash!" She exclaimed. "You make my heart beat like a wild drum! I know this is sudden, but I was... wondering if we could go out or something."

"..." Ash simply had a dead stare.

"Ash, you there?" She tried to call him back.

"Roxie..." Ash sat down on the ground. "Roxie, not you too."

"Ouch." Roxie said. "And they say that the worst he can say is no."

"Roxie, you don't get it." Ash tried to explain, but she interrupted.

"I-Is it because of my chest, right?! I heard you were hanging around with that Flannery girl!"

"Wait, how did you know that?"

"S-So what if I'm flat!" She shouted arms crossed. "Chest isn't everything you know? What about my freckles? Do you like them?"

"Roxie, that's not the point, you're already the fifth girl that has confessed to me."

"Wow, fifth?"

"Yeah, I mean...wait, let me recap, Nessa, Flannery, Jasmine, Candice, Bea...no, wait Candice doesn't really count, I mean she liked me but she never confessed and she's with Maylene now, so yeah, you would be fifth...no, wait I'm kinda suspicious about Korrina too, you may be sixth, I think, well, until I can clear that up with her, you would still be fifth...and whatever happened with Sonia...gosh, this is a mess."

"Oh, well, I don't mind some good competition."

"Of course, and Bea says she's taking this as a challenge, do I have a ticket that says 'prize' stick to me or something?"

"Well, those buns you got back there definitely look like a prize to me."

"Cut it off." Ash said standing up.

"Chill out, man!" Roxie got closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck to look at him directly. "Hey, if I kissed you now, would it be your first kiss?" That question made Ash blush.

"Uh, yeah it would, but-"

"Gosh, you're such a bottom." Roxie giggled at him.

"Apparently every girl in Unova has a version of that phrase." Ash sighed annoyed as the girl pulled their faces even closer. "R-Roxie, get off me."

"Come on, Ash, you're all alone with a girl in a cave, that doesn't give you any ideas?"

"Roxie, I've been alone with a girl in a cave far more times than you might think."

"Good response, I'll give you that." Roxie gave in and released him. "Guess I'll have to save my Naughty Purrlion outfit for later."

"Your what?"

"Well, let's keep looking for the gang." Roxie was about to give the first step, but she stumbled on a rock and fell face first. "...F*cking Karma." She trailed off in the ground.

"Uh, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Roxie sat in the ground rubbing one of her knees. "But I think I hurt my leg."

"You sure?" Ash helped get up so she could stand back in her feet, once Ash let go, Roxie stood up for a moment, but then dropped on her knees.

"Weeeeell, how inconvenient." She smirked. "Looks like you'll have to carry me." Roxie then laughed at him.

"Is it really that bad?"

Roxie simply raised her arms with a smile.

"...Fine." Ash reached out to her and squatted, Roxie quickly wrapped her arms around his neck again and Ash stood up carrying her bridal style, luckily she was pretty lightweight.

"My thank you, Mr. hero." Roxie smiled as she traced circles with her index finger on his cheek.

"...don't make me drop you." Ash said annoyed.

"That's kinda hot."

"..."

Back with Bea, she was leading the way while the rest of the group was some step backs, Bea seemed rather angry so they didn't want to bother her, but Gloria finally decided to go and walk next to her, Victor was about to do the same, but Marnie gave him a sign to stand back along her.

"Hey, what's the matter?" Gloria asked seeing Bea's lost look.

"Ash is the matter...or maybe I am."

"Ok, Bea, what did I miss?"

"Well, let me see..." Bea tried to find the best way to resume the recent events. "You remember Flannery, right? She went with us to Sinnoh then she confessed to Ash there, then we met this girl Jasmine and she confessed to Ash too, then some days ago we met with Nessa again, I spend a day with her, we got along, but then...but then Ash kissed her...it was just in the cheek, but I was really mad, mad enough for him to realize about my feelings, I finally confessed to Ash too, but now...it feels like everything is upside down, he says he likes me too, but he's feeling weird about the other girls and...and I think he's still mad at me for hiding the truth from him all that time."

"...Holy Mew." Gloria said after processing all that.

"Yeah, I'm really lost with all of this and it looks like Ash isn't doing any better."

"...Hey, you remember our deal right? That I'd help you get together with Ash?"

"Uh, yes Gloria, look, I appreciate what you did, but you don't have t-"

"It's alright." She assured her. "I know you really love Ash, I'm still nowhere near to be as close to him as you are, I'll still help you...Ash is too much for me anyway."

"Don't say that, Gloria, you're an amazing girl and I'm sure you know Ash the most out of everybody."

"That may be truth, but...eh, I don't know, I'm happy that I stayed here in Galar with Victor, but maybe if I had gone along with Ash, we could have...no, forget it."

"Gloria..."

"Still, I'm glad you finally told him."

"Well, I...I realized that if I kept hiding my feelings from Ash then nothing would ever change, so I decided to speak out cause I wanted something to happen."

"I see..."

"Hmmm..." Victor made a worried face after hearing everything, those two apparently forgot Marnie and him were right behind them.

"Something bothers you?" Marnie asked him.

"I just don't think it's fair that Gloria holds back her feelings because of Bea." He whispered to her. "I don't have anything against her, but-"

"I get it." Marnie interrupted. "You're just worried about your sister."

"Marnie, I know more than anyone how much she loves the guy...maybe it's my fault."

"Your fault?"

"You heard those two, Bea confessed recently, if I had just let Gloria go with Ash without complaining...geez, she has such a crazy personality, she knows so much about him, I'm sure she would have gotten Ash for herself by now."

"Vic, that was her choice, Gloria stayed with you cause she wanted to, but don't worry so much about it, I'm sure our favorite Scottish knows what she's doing."

Victor looked back at his sister and sighed. "I hope you are right."

Back with Ash and Roxie, he just realized something after he has been carrying her and enduring her teases for 5 minutes.

"Hey, now that I think about it, couldn't you ask one of your Pokemon to carry you?"

"Sorry, Ketchum, it's too late to escape, you'll be my ride." Roxie then hugged his head. "Hey, your hair smell nice."

"Oh, that's it!" Ash suddenly let Roxie fall on the ground.

"HEY!" Roxie complained rubbing her butt and Ash simply sat in the ground again, resting his back on one of the walls of the cave, Roxie then stood up in front of him.

"My legs are hurt..." Ash said sarcastically.

"... What's the deal, Ketchum? You're so cold all of a sudden."

"I already told you the problem, all these girls confessing to me left and right and...and I'm here acting like an indecisive idiot, I already couldn't make up my mind before and now I have to deal with you as well."

Roxie then squatted Infront of him "Well, you are an idiot, but as far as I know, you've never been indecisive, I've seen how you make choices during a battle without a shadow of doubt, why is this different?"

"You can't expect me to compare this to a Pokemon battle." He said. "Roxie, do you really like me? Like, you actually want me as your boyfriend?"

"Ketchum, I've spent like 51 nights awake writing songs about you, because my brain wouldn't let me sleep thinking about you, if that ain't true love I don't know what it is."

"And I'm flattered." Ash replied with a blush. "But what would you do if I rejected you?"

"I may or may not smack my bass on your head until you pass out and even then I may or may not keep going."

"Now I'm kinda scared." Ash answered. "And think about me having to deal with other four girls that like me as much as that."

"Well, you do have a point...let me try something." Roxie then got closer to Ash and rested her head on his chest causing them both to blush.

"...Should I even ask what are you doing?" Ash said.

"I'm just listening... the sound of your heart...it's drumming like crazy, I love it...you're nervous, aren't you?"

"I have a girl clinging to my chest, what do you think?"

"Am I a pretty girl?" She asked with a smug smile.

"...Uh, well...um...yes, you are." He admitted, what else was he supposed to say? Roxie simply gave another laugh.

"Heh, as confident as you may think I'm acting, I'm really nervous too, everytime I get close to you, I feel like my heart is gonna explode...Still, am I really the cause of your beat?"

"...I'm not sure." Ash was honestly tired of saying that sentence.

"Wanna know something? Back when we had our battle in Unova, I honestly thought you were a dork, but you really proved yourself, you were the first person in forever who managed to beat me and the more I thought about it, the more I realized I would love to have someone like you by my side..." Still resting on his chest, Roxie looked up to him.

"... Don't look at me like that." He pleaded to no avail.

"I'm just adorable, aren't I?" Roxie asked with yet another giggle. "Hey, you said you were having a hard time choosing even before me, so now that I spoke out how do you feel?"

"Somehow even worse."

"So you do like me?" Roxie asked.

"I think so..." Ash interrupted himself with a sigh. "No, sorry, Roxie but I can't just keep doing this over and over again, I...as charming as you are, I already have too many troubles." Ash pushed Roxie slightly so he could get up.

"That's all you gonna say?" She asked standing as well.

"...Sorry, I don't want to be harsh on you."

"Well, you weren't being harsh until I told you my feelings, you just praised my songs some minutes ago, or didn't you mean that?"

"Yes, I did...but the longer this goes on, the more I wonder what should I do."

"Fine." Roxie gave him a disappointed look. "Let's keep moving, I'll stop bothering you."

"...Still, I do think they're cute." Ash got her attention again.

"Cute? What thing?"

"Your freckles." He answered placing both of his index fingers on two of the spots on her face, Roxie blushed madly at that and Ash smiled content of returning some of the teasing at least. "You asked me if I liked your freckles and well, I do."

"So that's how you wanna play?" Roxie quickly returned to herself and took one of Ash's hands, licking one of his index fingers quite suggestively.

"H-HEY!" Ash pulled his hands away in embarrassment as he became the teased once more.

"You made a good move, I'll admit it..." Roxie game him another grin. "But you just started a war you cannot win, sweetheart."

"I...I guess we'll see...wait, did you hear that?"

"Sounds like Rolling Stones." Roxie said, the two then followed the noise and eventually found the group of Rolycolys.

"Cark!" The Carkol roared at them as he stood in front of his group.

"You must be the leader, right?" Ash asked.

"Carkol!" The minecart gave a stomp.

"Listen, we don't want to fight, but we need you to get back to the train.

"Kol!" The Carkol took another step forward as he released steam from his body.

"Pikachu?" Ash called him and he prepared for battle, he then scanned their foe with his Rotom Phone. 'Carkol, the Coal Pokemon, it forms coal inside its body. Coal dropped by this Pokémon once helped fuel the lives of people in the Galar region.'

Carkol was the one to make the first move, aiming at Pikachu with a Flamethrower.

"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu easily outpowered the move and landed a direct hit on Carkol.

"Now Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped forward and slammed his tail, tossing Carkol back down.

Carkol then stood up and roared as the coal on his back fired up and shot itself as projectiles at Pikachu, knocking the mouse off his feet for a moment.

Carkol then ran at Pikachu surrounded in flames and tackled him down with a Flame Charge

"Pikachu, use Surf!" Pikachu jumped up and summoned a wave, crashing down the minecart in a clean hit, it seemed like the battle was over thanks to Carkol's typing, but the mine cart suddenly roared, his body then started to expel a huge amount of steam and shine as it stood in two legs and increased his size.

"LOSSAL!" The newly evolved Pokemon roared.

"Let's see." Ash pulled out his Rotom Phone. 'Coalossal, the Coal Pokemon, While it's engaged in battle, its mountain of coal will burn bright red, sending off sparks that scorch the surrounding area...Side note: Coalossal ability is Steam Engine, his speed gets boosted to the max after being hit by a water or fire move.'

"And couldn't you warm me about that earlier?!" Ash shouted as the Coalossal started to move around at an overwhelming speed despite his size.

"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu attacked, but Coalossal avoided it, he then stood in front of Pikachu as his eyes turned bright red and he expelled a powerful Fire Blast at him from his mouth.

"Iron Tail!" Pikachu tried to hit but Coalossal avoided the move with his speed again, the coal Pokemon once more attacked shooting scorching coal and left Pikachu burned.

"I need a Burn Heal!" Ash said starting to search on his backpack.

"Don't worry, Ketchum, I got you covered!" Roxie exclaimed releasing her Galarian Weezing which activated his Misty Surge ability, summoning the Terrain and curing Pikachu from his burn.

While this happened, Coalossal stood in front of the Rolycolys and used Fire Blast on all of them, activating their Steam Engine ability so they could escape, once all the Rolycolys were far enough, Coalossal used Fire Blast again, setting on fire the section of the mine that Ash and Roxie were on and then escaping as well, following the Rolycolys.

"Let's Rock Out! Toxapex!" Roxie called onto the starfish. "Give us a Surf!"

"Wait!" Ash tried to stop her, but Toxapex used the move and summoned a giant wave, she turned off the fire, but washed away Ash and Pikachu along it, Roxie jumped just in time to fly on top of her Weezing and avoid the wave, she then descended next to Ash who was coughing water in the ground.

"Thanks, Toxapex." Roxie said returning her two Pokemon as she got closer to Ash. "Hey, you good?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ash answered. "Let's keep moving, we have to stop those- ACHOO!" Ash suddenly sneezed. "Oh, that's just great...''

"Geez, you're all wet." Roxie said. "Well, just take off your clothes for now, before you catch a cold."

"You do know that's a myth, right?" Ash trying to ignore the proposal.

"Are you totally sure about that? I mean, if you do get sick, you'll most likely have one of those anime episodes where all the girls that like you take care of you while you lay in bed, sounds cliché but it'll work, so, take off your clothes now or see me and the other girls in nurse outfits later, what would it be?"

"...why do this kind of things always happen when I'm around girls?" Not willing to take the risk, Ash took off his backpack, cap, vest and shirt but he stayed with his pants and shoes on.

"That's it?" She asked with a smug grin.

"Roxie, I'm not that desperate."

"I'm sure I heard something over here." Gloria said walking closely and then turning around the corner. "There you are Roxie! ...A-A-Ash!" The Scottish covered her eyes embarrassed, but still moved her fingers just enough to look at the shirtless Ash.

"Oh, hey Gloria." Ash greeted her and the rest of the group walked to them as well.

"How is it going fellas?" Roxie asked. "This ain't the aftermath of anything despite the looks."

"What are you doing alone with a shirtless Ash?!" Gloria shouted and covered her own nose, which was starting to bleed out at the sight of Ash.

"Yeah, what she asked!" Bea complained as well.

While this happened, Victor suddenly felt an urge to look at Marnie.

"Hey, why are you looking at me like that?" Marnie asked him.

"I was just..." Victor scratched the back of his head. "Just, uh, checking if you weren't-"

"Wait, you thought I'd be onto him too?!"

"Uh..." Victor looked away embarrassed.

"Vic! You're my boyfriend! Don't you trust me?!"

"I'm just considering the fact that you're the only girl in this cave that doesn't like him, y-you can't blame me for being a little worried!" He pointed out.

"YES, I CAN!" Marnie exclaimed. "And look who's talking! Don't think I don't know what you were doing with those pictures of Melony in your Rotom Phone!"

"I-It's not what you think!" He stuttered blushing.

"She's older than your mother, Vic!"

"S-Someone send me those pics by mail, I swear!"

"Look, I don't mind that you stare as long as I'm your focus, but you have to trust me a bit more!"

"Uh, right, sorry." He apologized a Marnie made a pout.

"... Although Ash does look good with his hair wet." Marnie admitted.

"W-What?!"

"Ha! Got you!" She smirked at Victor.

"Uh...haha, yeah, sorry again, that was a good joke."

"Yeah...joke." Marnie trailed off.

"It was a joke, right?"

"..."

"Marnie, it was a joke, right?"

"..."

"Marnie?"

"Why don't you go ask Melony's big mommy mil-"

"Roxie! You sl*t!" Gloria exclaimed. "You-You sack of poorly packaged Rapidash sh*t!"

"Did you drink cider recently by any chances?" Bea asked her.

"What's the matter? That Coalossal burned the place and my Toxapex used Surf to save our souls." Roxie giggled at Gloria's rant. "Ash was just a bit unlucky to not get out of the way in time, not saying I don't like the sight tho."

Bea was about to complain, but the Scottish took the lead again.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?!" Gloria accused Roxie while trying to not pass out from the sight of Ash. "You're just like Bianca! She told me that she always pushed him to the water so she could see him wet and shirtless!"

"You met with Bianca?" Ash asked. "...Wait, she did that on purpose?"

"Why do you think you were the ONLY person she ever knocked to the water?! Uh, here." Gloria took off her grey wool coat and gave it to Ash. "Put this on, warm yourself."

"Gloria, that's n-"

"PUT ON THE COAT BEFORE I DIE OF A HEMORRHAGE!" She exclaimed while still nosebleeding.

"Ok, ok!" Ash gave in and put on the coat.

"There, uh, how is it?" Gloria asked covering her nose again, calming herself just a bit, now that Ash was covering himself.

"Quite warm." Ash answered. "Thanks a lot."

"No problem, I'm glad it fits you, it was a bit too big for me anyway, you look...great...wait a second Ash, is...W-W-Wearing my clothes! ..." The poor girl then imagined an scene where Ash would smell the coat to get her scent.

-Gloria, you smell so nice- The Ash in her mind told her while he sniffed the coat. -How about you try on my clothes next?-

Back in reality, Gloria's face went blank and she finally passed out due to the nosebleed.

"Gloria!" They all exclaimed.

"I'm ok..." She said weakly, Ash then reached out to her. "Hehe...hey, is it hot in here or is it just me?"

"I...no, it's definitely getting hotter...The Rolycolys!" Ash shouted. "They all activated their Steam Engine ability! The heat they're producing could be dangerous in a closed place like this mine!"

"That's a...quite intelligent observation." Victor pointed out.

"We have to find them!" Ash was about to walk away, but Bea held his wrist and stopped him.

"We need to talk." She began.

"...I already told you I'm sorry." Ash quickly answered.

"Ash, this is not about that bite."

"Bite?" Victor, Gloria and Marnie asked in unison.

"SHUT!" Bea shouted. "Ash...we can't just keep running from this, we need to talk."

"Bea, I know that, I swear I want to, but-"

"But you don't know what to say! I get it! That's alright! Trust me, it took a month to figure out what to tell you, but I won't let's this go on anymore, If I have to lock us in a room and vaporize the key until we come clean then God damn it, Ash Ketchum, I'll do it!"

"Bea..."

"COAL!"

The horde of Rolycolys suddenly rolled back to the group and surrounded them, like Ash said, they were all expelling a tremendous heat to the point that the rising temperature became dangerous to the trainers.

"These guys are gonna get us fried!" Marnie exclaimed.

"Roxie, release your Weezing!" Victor said he put his backpack on the ground.

"On it!" Roxie did as told and called him again, the Poison/Fairy then activated his Misty Surge, but it didn't help the situation at all.

"Here it goes!" Victor took out a small cyan sticker and he put it on Weezing's bigger head, Weezing was then surrounded in a blue aura for a few seconds and the smoke coming from his chimneys turned from pink to white causing all the Rolycolys to cool down.

"Great, it worked, that was an Ability Patch." Victor explained. "Weezing's ability changed from Misty Surge to Neutralizing Gas, which nullifies any other ability in the surroundings."

"That's my bro." Gloria cheered finally standing back up.

"You're really a fast thinker, Victor." Ash said.

"Thanks, but that's just my hobby." He answered.

The team then heard another roar and Coalossal walked slowly towards them and he was surrounded by red energy as spark surged out of him, the Neutralizing Gas nullified his Steam Engine too, but the heat surrounding him just kept increasing.

"That it the Carkol that was with them, right?" Bea asked.

"Uh, yeah." Ash answered mildly relieved that she forgot the topic for the moment. "It evolved while fighting Pikachu."

Coalossal suddenly started to shine bright red as he grew in size, quickly reaching the roof of the cave and causing it to crack, Coalossal then kept growing, going through the roof and destroying it.

"That's a-"

"It Gigantamaxed?!" Bea exclaimed seeing how the Pokemon changed form.

"Bea, didn't you say that a Pokemon needs to have a trainer to Gigantamax?" Ash asked.

"That's how it is supposed to work." She said.

"You remember what Zacian and Zamazenta told us? About how the Dynamax energy is getting stronger everyday?"

"You think that's the cause?"

"I do, and if the energy is enough to make him Dynamax then-"

"Then maybe we can too!"

"SSAL!" The giant started walking and destroyed a portion of the cave, our group avoided being hit and Coalossal left a hole big enough in one of the walls to let them escape.

"Bea, you follow me?" Ash asked.

"Of course!" She assured him as she looked at Cinderace who gave him a nod. "Gloria, any of of you guys have a Dynamax band?"

"Marnie and me!" She answered.

"Then help us out!" Ash said. "Let's stop that Coalossal before we he causes more damage."

"At your service!" Gloria called her Inteleon. "You heard him, Marnie!"

"I'll do my best!" She answered releasing her Grimmsnarl.

"Inteleon, Gigantamax!"

"Grimmsnarl, Gigantamax!"

"Pikachu, Gigantamax!"

"Let's try this...Cinderace!"

The four trainers activated their bands, but they couldn't gather enough energy and their Pokemon stayed in their normal forms.

"It didn't work!" Marnie said.

"Great, what now?" Gloria asked.

The Coalossal roared again, the coal on his back fell down like meteors creating various explosions all around, the Pokemon managed to destroy them with their own attacks, some of the meteors exploded on the ground and caused an earthquake, Coalossal then repeated the move and a giant crack appeared in the ground, with a lava river flowing at the bottom of it.

"Is that real lava?!" Roxie stood in the edge and kicked a small rock that got burned once it reached the lava. "Alright, yeah, it's 100% lava."

"COA!" The Furnace on Coalossal's body suddenly opened and expelled a huge stream of fire, the whole group managed to avoid by just ducking, but in the movement Gloria's plushie of Ash fell off her coat and to the crack.

"No, no, no, no!" Gloria shouted and jumped inside the crack to get the plush.

"Gloria!" Victor called her.

"Vic, go after her!" Ash said. "We'll take care of Coalossal!"

"It's very easy to say that, right?!" Bea exclaimed as they avoided another attack from the giant.

"I...no, Ash, you go." He said.

"What?"

"Trust me, It'll be better that way." Victor gave a sincere smile, Ash didn't understand but he simply nodded.

"If you say so...Dewott, Dracovish!" Ash released the two water types. "We need to stop that Coalossal, Weezing already got rid of the Steam Engine so shower him with Water Attacks, Pikachu, you stay with them, got it?"

"Dew!"

"Uno!"

"Kapi!"

After leaving the Pokemon, Ash then jumped inside the crack to follow Gloria.

Gloria jumped down the crack, landing in one of rocky areas, she looked with her sight for the plushie, finally spotting right in the border of the lava river, Gloria smiled and tried to reach it, but the ground beneath her cracked slightly and released a small stream of lava from the crack, Gloria flinched a little but she quickly calmed herself, she was about to give another step until Ash finally reached her and held her wrist.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Ash exclaimed.

"I have to get it back!"

"Gloria, it's just a plushie!"

"No, it's not!"

"What are you-"

"You don't get it! I know I'm sounding childish, but that is way more than a plushie!"

"Gloria..."

"I-It's too precious for me! I can't just lose it!" Gloria set herself free to run at the plush and Ash quickly followed her, the ground beneath them cracked again and the lava started to surround them, Ash made a quick movement and took Gloria in his arms, his shield then appeared beneath them just in time to protect them as it floated on the lava as a raft.

"Gloria, are you okay?!"

"I..." Gloria looked back at the plushie and watched how it sunk in the lava and burned. "I...I'm fine."

Ash sighed relieved and put her down, Gloria then sat on the shield and brought her legs close to her chest with a lost look in her face.

"Are you sure you aren't hurt?" Ash insisted and she simply nodded. "...Look, I understand that it was important to you, but it couldn't be worth risking yourself."

"I just wanted to..." Gloria's eyes suddenly widened. "A-Ash! You're bleeding!"

"What?" Ash noticed Gloria was pointing at a burn on the back of his right hand which was oozing a bit of blood. "When did-"

"N-No! no, no, this is all my fault! Y-You're gonna-"

"It's cool, it's cool!" Ash tried to calm her down. "It's just a burn, don't freak out." Ash then searched in his backpack for some bandages and wrapped them around his hand, much like he did to Bea back in Sinnoh. "The lava must have splashed me a bit while I picked you up, but it's weird, I didn't feel when it happened."

"I-I'm really sorry, I can't believe myself, I put us both in danger."

"Gloria, why was that plushie so important?"

"That plushie...That plushie was the first thing I ever got of you, I brought it some days after I saw your fight with Brandon and I've been carrying it with me since then, everytime I looked at it I remembered that battle and it pushed to be become an even better trainer, I always had it while I fought, because everytime I battled, I felt...I felt like you were there, supporting me and cheering on me."

"You...wow." Ash was just lost of words.

"Do you...think I'm weird?" She asked.

"What? No, Gloria, no way, it's just, you said you were my fan, but I didn't think you held me in such a high esteem."

"Of course I do...Ash, I don't know if I've been clear enough, but you aren't just my role model, you're my hero, I've been looking up to you for years now, yes, you told me I should do my own thing and you're right, but you can't change the way I feel, I want to be like you... that's my goal."

"..." Before Ash could say anything, a bright light shined from his backpack.

"Ash, what is that?" Gloria asked.

"My Pokemon egg!" Ash exclaimed.

"All that heat might have helped with the incubation." Gloria said as Ash took the device out of his backpack and opened the incubator, the egg then started to shine brightly and cracked into various fragments of light revealing a Flabébé gently floating with the wind.

"A Flabébé..." Ash trailed off as he scanned the newborn. 'Flabébé, the Single Bloom Pokemon, It draws out and controls the hidden power of flowers. The flower Flabébé holds is most likely part of its body. Flabébé's moves are Energy Ball, Moonblast and Aromatherapy.

After the Rotom Phone explained, Ash and Gloria quickly noticed that it wasn't just a normal Flabébé, her upper half was white like it normally would be, but the lower half was blue instead of green and the small crown in her head was red instead of the usual yellow and even with both of those things, the feature that gave it away the most was the peculiar flower that Flabébé was holding onto, it had three big petals patterned in red and black.

"You're not the usual Flabébé, are you?" Ash asked as the Fairy simply tilted her head.

"Maybe it's just shiny?" Gloria asked him.

"No, it's something else." Ash looked at pictures of shiny Flabébé and none of them seemed to match, besides the flower was too different. "I'm not sure where, but I've seen that flower somewhere before, I might ask Valerie later...wait a second, you know Aromatherapy?" Ash asked. "You might be exactly what we need, little one."

"Flabé?" The fairy asked floating in front of him.

"I think I get the idea." Gloria said. "But we still need to get out of here, can this thing fly?" The Scottish tapped the shield a few times.

"I'm not sure, but I don't want to risk ourselves for now." Ash then released Infernape who was floating on his cloud. "We need a ride, buddy."

Infernape helped them both get on the cloud and it started to float up, taking them out of the crack.

"You see that giant over there?" Ash looked at Flabébé and pointed at the still rampaging Coalossal. "Do you think you can use Aromatherapy to calm him down?"

"Bé..." The Pokemon started to float up to Coalossal, Infernape then took the nimbus close to the rest of the group lowering it enough to let Ash and Gloria jump out of it.

"Ash, Gloria!" Victor ran at them. "You guys okay?"

"Just some burns." Ash answered. "We'll be fine."

"Wait, is that?" Marnie looked up at Flabébé who floated up until she was in front of Coalossal's face, the Gigantamax roared at her but Flabébé stood still, her flower then glowed bright gold releasing a sparkling green powder from it, once the powder reached Coalossal, his body became outlined in light green and waves of green energy moved around his body, calming him down, Coalossal then sighed tired and dropped down on his back, causing a massive earthquake that sealed the cracks.

"Alright then." Ash took a free Poke Ball and this grew in size, he then tossed it to the Gigantamax and the Pokemon was absorbed, the ball fell to the ground leaving a crater, it wagged three times and gave it's signature sparkles, confirming the capture as it returned to it's normal size.

Ash then went for the Poke Ball and took it, Flabébé then descended back to him. "Uh, hello there, thanks for the help, I was the one taking care of your egg by the way." He explained. "My friend Valerie gave it to me, so I guess I'll be your trainer, what do you say?" Ash offered another Poke Ball, but Flabébé ignored it, she reached out to Ash's bandaged hand and released a stream of pollen over it.

"Flabé!" The Fairy smiled.

"Did you just?" Ash took off the bandages and saw that the burn on his hand was fully healed. "Wow, thanks, Flabébé." He said and the Fairy nodded, Flabébé then flew back to the Poke Ball and pressed the button, getting caught without trouble. "Hmmp, I caught a Coalossal and a Flabébé!" Ash made his pose with both Poke Balls on hand and his Pokemon that were outside joined him.

"Congratulations!" Gloria cheered on him.

"Thanks, oh, right." Ash took off the coat and offered it to her "Here, your coat Gloria."

Gloria then blushed since Ash was shirtless again and she remembered that fantasy of hers, the girl quickly pushed the coat back to him. "N-No! Please keep it, I have plenty of those!" She stammered.

"Gloria, that's not necessary."

"Ash, I'm serious, it's the best for everyone that you keep it." She insisted.

"Uh...well, ok, thanks Gloria."

After Gloria calmed down, Ash released Coalossal and told him to guide the Rolycolys back to the train, Coalossal obeyed and guided the horde, before the Rolycolys entered the room where they powered the train, Coalossal took a piece of coal from his back and put it on top of one of the them naming him the new leader of the group, the goliath then reached out to Ash and gave him a nod.

"Welcome." Ash returned the gesture and recalled him to his Poke Ball.

"Thanks for the help, guys." One of the crew members said. "Now all aboard, we'll get back on track in a minute."

"I guess this is goodbye again." Gloria said.

'At least I'll finally have a chance to talk with Ash.' Bea thought.

"Gloria...where are you guys going now?" Ash asked.

'GOD DAMN IT!' Bea shouted in her mind, kinda guessing what Ash would say next.

"The plan is to go to Stow-on-Side, it'll be Marnie's sixth badge and Gloria's last."

'Ash, please don't! Please don't!' Bea kept exclaiming in her mind at the mention of her hometown.

"So you got seven badges already?" Ash asked at Gloria and she nodded.

"Yup! Fire, Water, Grass, Psychic, Poison, Steel and Ghost!" She listed her achievements with a proud grin.

"Is that so? Well, would you guys mind coming with us to Stow-on-the-Other-Side for a moment?"

"Uh, what for?" Victor asked.

"I'd like to give you something, Gloria." Ash explained. "But it is in my house and I need it to be sent here, we were going to Stow-on-the-Other-Side and it is the closest center so if you come with me, I can ask your gift to be teleported there and I'll give it to you right away, how does that sound?"

"G-Give me something?" Gloria was about to go with the typical 'you don't have to' , but considering who Ash was, both on his own and for her, she was extremely curious to what that gift could be. "Vic, can we go?"

"Sure, I mean, you and Marnie already fought that Gym, but a little deviation won't hurt, there's still plenty of time."

"Alright!" Gloria exclaimed happily as she went inside the train, with Victor, Marnie and Roxie following her.

"You don't mind it, right Bea?" Ash asked her. "It'll be just for a moment."

"...How long do you think you can keep ignoring me?" She asked, assuming Ash was only trying to win some time.

"...I know how this must look, but I really want to do this for Gloria, we'll talk in the center, okay?" He offered.

"Ash-"

"I promise." He interrupted her complaint. "After I give Gloria her gift, we'll talk, if you want to break the knob of the door so I don't escape you can do it."

"...You better stick to that."

To thank the group for all the trouble of the Rolycolys, the train crew let them enter the train for free, Ash left for a moment to make a call and then returned to them.

"There, I already asked for your gift to be sent." He said to Gloria. "Once we make it to the Stow-on-the-Other-Side Center, I'll call again so they teleport it here.

"Geez, the tension is killing me." Roxie laughed. "Just tell us what it is, Ketchum."

"Sorry, but this a surprise for Gloria and I'm not gonna ruin it, we'll be in Stow-on-the-Other-Side in half an hour anyway so you won't have to wait that long to find out."

"Ash, I want to have a rematch with you, is that ok?" Gloria asked.

"Of course." Ash quickly answered. "I'd like to see how you've grown."

"Thanks! If you don't mind I'd like it to be 3 on 3, is that okay?"

"You're up!"

"ALRIGHT! Come follow me, there's a battlefield in the middle wagon, let's go there!"

"I'm right behind you!"

Ash and Gloria ran through some wagons until they made it to the battlefield, both of them quickly got in their positions.

"Alright, I'll be the referee this time." Victor said as Bea, Marnie and Roxie took seats to watch the battle. "This will be a simple 3 on 3, trainers, release your first Pokemon!"

"Let's go, Eiscue!" Gloria released a penguin-looking Pokemon with a large ice cube for face.

'Eiscue, the Penguin Pokemon, this Pokémon keeps its heat-sensitive head cool with ice. It fishes for its food, dangling its single hair into the sea to lure in prey.' Ash's Pokedex gave the explanation.

"Coalossal, I choose you!" Ash called onto the Goliath as he scanned his moves. "Tar Shot, Fire Blast, Scorching Sands and Coal Cannon, understood." He said and then looked at his fan. "Show me how stronger you've got, Gloria!"

"O-Of course! I'll give you my best!" She assured him.

"Gloria has been waiting for this." Marnie said. "She's been training like crazy."

"Well, let's see what she can pull of this time." Bea said.

"Rock him down, Gloria!" Roxie cheered on.

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

"Use Icicle Crash!" Gloria was the fist to attack and Eiscue formed a set of sharp icicles that flew off to Coalossal who couldn't dodge due to his size and low speed.

"Let's try this, Coal Cannon!" Coalossal roared as the coal on his back turned bright red and shot itself at Eiscue like Sharpnel, the move caused various explosions, but once the dust cleared, Eiscue could be seen undamaged. "What the-"

The ice on Eiscue's face suddenly broke down, revealing a much smaller round head.

"Use Hail!" Gloria exclaimed as the penguin raised his hands in the air and a cloud formed on top of them, snow then started to fall and Eiscue's face regained its squared shape.

"Eiscue's Ice Face will protect him from most damage." Gloria explained. "And the Hail will restore it everytime it fades, you'll need something more than that! Blizzard!" The penguin expelled a cold wind that was powered by the Hail and caused Coalossal to back down.

"Use Fire Blast!" Coalossal expelled the move and it passed through the Hail but it was blocked again by the Ice Face, which broke down once more.

"We can do this all day!" Gloria exclaimed as the snow started to regenerate the head again. "Blizzard!" The move hit Coalossal cleanly again.

"Coal Cannon again!" Coalossal tried to put more power in the move, but the scene repeated as the Ice Face blocked it entirely.

"Icicle Crash!" Eiscue shot the ice chunks, knocking Coalossal back as the snow regenerated his head again.

"Coalossal, Tar Shot!" The Goliath shot a ball of tar from his mouth, the tar then stuck over Eiscue's small head, both blocking his vision and stopping the snow from regenerating the Ice Face. "Now Fire Blast!" This time Coalossal could land the move successfully and it caused a massive explosive thanks to the tar.

"Use Scorching Sands!" Coalossal swinged his arms around creating a tornado out of hot sand and tossing it at Eiscue causing another explosion, after the impact, Eiscue was left with a burn and he fainted a few seconds later because of it.

"Eiscue is unable to battle! Coalossal is the winner!"

"...Thanks, Eiscue." Gloria recalled him and switched Poke Balls. "It was my fault, I got overconfident, you're up, Indeedee!" Gloria called out releasing a male of said species as Ash quickly scanned it. 'Indeedee, the emotion Pokemon through its horns, it can pick up on the emotions of creatures around it. Positive emotions are the source of its strength.'

"Let's keep going Coalossal!" Ash said, receiving a roar in response.

"Psychic Surge!" Indeedee obeyed and activated his ability, surrounding the battle with pink Psychic energy and powering himself up.

"Scorching Sands!"

"Expanding Force!" Indeedee absorbed the surrounding psychic energy and formed a pink orb between his horns, he then shot a pink energy beam that went through the sand and exploded onto Coalossal. "Do it again!" Gloria ordered and the scene repeated, this time knocking Coalossal to the ground.

"We need to be faster Coalossal, use Fire Blast on yourself!"

Coalossal quickly understood the idea and stood up, aiming a Fire Blast to the ground, engulfing himself in flames and activating his Steam Engine Ability to boost its speed to the max.

"I knew you would come up with an strategy like that!" Gloria said. "And that's exactly why I chose Indeedee! Psych Up!"

Indeedee spun his arm in a circle Infront of him as an spiral appeared and he copied Coalossal's stats changes.

"Don't mind if we take your speed! Drain Punch!"

A red orb appeared on Indeedee's hand and he ran at Coalossal with an explosive speed, punching him to the wall and then healing himself.

"Now Tri Attack!" Indeedee crossed his arms and three orbs formed around him, shooting fire, ice and thunder against Coalossal.

"Coal Cannon!" Coalossal shot the move and beat out the Tri Attack, but Indeedee used it's speed to simply avoid it, Coalossal tried to reach up to him, but Indeedee simply kept avoiding, even if both had their speed boosted, Indeedee was already naturally faster.

"Tar Shot!"

"Tri Attack!" Indeedee countered and fire part of the move set the tar in fire midair, stopping it from reaching him.

"You know you could have just used the Tri Attack to activate Steam Engine, instead of waiting for him to do it himself, right?" Victor asked.

"Uh...Expanding Force!" Gloria ignored the embarrassment and the blast of energy exploded right onto Coalossal's face. "Drain Punch!"

"Fire Blast!" Coalossal tried to counter, but Indeedee's speed impulsed through the flames, landing a hit that effectively knocked him out, as the Rock/Fire fainted, Indeedee's Psych up boost also disappeared and the Psychic Terrain faded.

"Coalossal is unable to battle! Indeedee is the winner!"

"Now that's better!" Gloria cheered on the butler as it took a bow to her.

"You did great." Ash recalled the Pokemon to switch. "Flabébé, I choose you!" Ash called onto the fairy who floated softly in the battlefield.

"Alright Dee, let's go easy on this one, she's still a newbie." Gloria said and the Psychic nodded.

"Expanding Force!" Indeedee shot the attack again but this was a bit weaker due to the effect of the Psychic Terrain having disappeared, Flabébé managed to avoid it simply floating away.

"Moonblast!" Flabébé's flower illuminated with a pink light, it's petals closed and it shot a moon shaped orb at Indeedee exploding onto him.

"Tri Attack!"

"Energy Ball!" Flabébé spun around and various green orbs stopped the Tri Attack to keep going and hit the butler.

"Fine, no more Mr. kind, Drain Punch!" Indeedee jumped at Flabébé and landed a quick blow, knocking the fairy out of the skies.

"Expanding Force!"

Flabébé still hadn't recovered from the hit, her flower suddenly started to emit black and red sparks, Indeedee shot the attack, but this was absorbed by the tip of the flower, Flabébé's whole body then illuminated as the flower absorbed energy from the surroundings.

"What is..."

"D-Drain Punch!"

Flabébé pointed the flower at Indeedee and it shot a massive black and red beam stopping Indeedee and sending him flying to a wall, the Psychic then fell on the ground defeated and Flabébé dropped in the battlefield panting.

"...What the hell was that?" Gloria asked.

"Well, Indeedee is unable to battle! Flabébé is the winner!"

"Wow...Rotom, do you know what move was that?" Ash asked.

"I'm afraid I don't have data for whatever that was." The Phone stated.

"Hmm...thanks Flabébé, now return, that was a great first battle, but I don't want you to wear yourself out." Ash recalled the Fairy and then looked at her foe. "Gloria, I'll count Flabébé as fainted for now, okay? I don't think she can take anymore."

"I understand." Gloria answered.

"Then that means the battle is down to a 1 on 1." Victor said as Gloria went for her last option.

"Let's go, Inteleon!" Gloria released her starter who stood in the battlefield and pointed at Pikachu.

"So Drizzile..." Ash trailed off as he scanned the water starter. 'Inteleon, the Secret Agent Pokemon, the evolved form of Drizzile and the final evolution of Sobble, its nictitating membranes let it pick out foes' weak points so it can precisely blast them with water that shoots from its fingertips at Mach 3.'

"He evolved during our lastest Gym battle." Gloria said. "Inteleon has been waiting for this, please, let him fight Pikachu."

Ash gave Gloria a nod and then looked at his partner. "Pikachu, I choose you!" The rodent jumped off his trainer's shoulder to stand in front of the lizard.

"Time for the true rematch! Inteleon, Air Slash!" Inteleon drew lines in the air with his index finger, he then pointed at Pikachu and the lines turned into arrows that shot themselves at the mouse.

"Iron Tail!" Pikachu jumped in the air and broke away the arrows, slamming his tail onto Inteleon.

"Snipe Shot!" Inteleon got up and pointed at Pikachu again, this time a water orb formed on his finger and shot itself at Pikachu way faster than the arrows and exploding onto him.

"Inteleon, use Shadow Ball!"

"Knock Off!"

Inteleon formed the attack on his hand and tossed it, but Pikachu broke through and punched him right on his chest.

"Now Thunderbolt!"

"Counter Shield!" Inteleon drew lines in the air again, but this time he spun around and the arrows orbited around him at high speed, creating a small tornado that deflected the Thunderbolt.

"Watery Grave!" Inteleon formed a Shadow Ball with his hand, he then pointed at it with his other hand and shot a Snipe Shot through the ball, combining the two moves into a hazy purple bullet that exploded onto Pikachu.

"Pikachu, Surf!" The rodent jumped summoning a wave.

"Not this time!" Gloria exclaimed and Inteleon jumped in the air, using the membrane on his back to glide towards Pikachu and kick him out of the wave, he then landed on to of him, stepping on Pikachu to keep him on the ground. "Snipe Shot!" Still with Pikachu under his feet, Inteleon shot the water bullet creating an explosion, but once the dust cleared Pikachu was still able of continuing.

"Thunderbolt!"

Inteleon jumped away to try and avoid the move but he was hit nonetheless and fell to the ground, yet still willing to keep going.

"Thunderbolt again!"

"Counter with Shadow Ball! Inteleon did his best, but the Thunderbolt pushed the Shadow Ball back to him, he blocked with his arms to take the hit and another explosion occurred and while his defensive posture protected him from most of the damage, the attack paralyzed Inteleon's hands, leaving him unable of using most of his moves for the time being.

"Use Knock off!"

"Fell Stinger!" Inteleon raised his tail,pointing the tip at Pikachu as it glowed green and shot a wave of green blasts of energy that knocked Pikachu down.

"Camouflage!" Gloria exclaimed as Inteleon suddenly turned invisible and the Fell Stingers started to come from all directions hitting Pikachu, after a few successful hits, Inteleon could feel the paralysis on his hand had disappeared, so he stopped hiding and stood Infront of Pikachu to face him directly.

"B.A.A.T.H.!" Gloria exclaimed.

"The what?"

Inteleon used Air Slash again, but instead of making various short lines in the air, he made two long ones, Inteleon then took them in his hands and the lines turned into two blue spears.

"IKUZE!" Gloria shouted and Inteleon rushed at Pikachu slashing him with the spears several times.

"Thunderbolt!" Pikachu jumped to charge the attack.

"Throw the spears!" Inteleon obeyed and tossed both spears interrupting Pikachu's charge and knocking him down.

"Snipe Shot!" Inteleon used the move several times, to the point he looked almost like a Gatling, but he was still unable of knocking Pikachu out.

"A.Q.L.!" Gloria shouted again, Inteleon used Air Slash once again, drawing two long curves lines, Inteleon took them by one end and the lines turned into two blue whips that he used to attack Pikachu.

"Grab the whips!" Ash tried to order, Inteleon made a quick movement and then wrapped the whips around Pikachu as he let go of them so he wouldn't use then as electricity conductors, Pikachu then shot out a huge Thunderbolt destroying the ropes as Inteleon looked at him with a grin.

"Geez, you've got plenty of tricks." Ash said.

"I've learned from the very best." Gloria answered.

"Then let's try this, Pikachu, use Surf!"

"Shot him out!"

"Use Thunderbolt on the wave!"

Pikachu made the move and electrified the water, Inteleon managed to shot him down of the wave, but this kept going to Inteleon who tried to glide away, but he was ultimately reached.

"Use Surf again!" Pikachu did as told and summoned another wave while Inteleon was recovering. "Iron Tail on the wave and then Knock Off!"

Inteleon was about to Snipe Shot him again, but Pikachu Iron Tail'd the wave causing it to splash around and distract Inteleon just enough to let him land the Knock off on his face.

"Now Thunderbolt!"

"Watery Grave!"

Both moves collided against each other, the Thunderbolt quickly seemed to overwhelm so Gloria made another move. "Use Snipe Shot to impulse it!" She exclaimed, Inteleon kept shooting and the Watery Grave turned bigger, but the move eventually couldn't contain itself and exploded, letting the Thunderbolt go though and electrocute Inteleon leaving him defeated.

"Inteleon is unable to battle, Pikachu is the winner and the battle goes to Ash!"

"That was a great battle, Gloria!" Ash congratulated her.

"We still can't make it, uh?" Gloria asked herself as she returned her starter, slightly disappointed, but proud of giving Ash a good fight.

The train then stopped and a voice was heard from the speakers. "Attention passengers, we've made it to Stow-on-the-Other-Side, please proceed to the exit if this is your station.

"That's our cue." Ash said.

The group left the train and entered Stow-on-the-Other-Side, it seemed like the classic ghost town, a huge cemetery in the back, mostly old buildings, only the center and the Gym up in a mountain seemed to be relatively modern, although there were plenty of people unlike in most ghost towns, our group then went to the center, Ash and Gloria gave their Pokemon to Nurse Joy and he then went to make the call as the rest of the group stayed in the lobby.

Ash went to the phone and made the Video Call, his mother quickly answering it from the Pallet Town Pokemon Center.

"Hi, Mom, you have what I asked you?" Ash asked.

"Just in time sweetie." She answered. "I will send it now, ok?"

"Sure, I'm ready." Ash then activated the teleporter device, which was right next to the phone, as Delia did the same back in Kanto, a small red box with a golden gift ribbon appeared in the teleporter. "Safe and sound, thanks Mom." Ash took the gift on his hands and looked back at her in the screen.

"Ash...is there a problem?" She asked noticing a slight frown on her son's face.

Despite being unsure of the idea, Ash thought that talking with her might be the best thing to do at the moment. "...Mom, do you have time to talk?"

"What a stupid question, Ash." She replied with a laugh. "I will always have time to talk with you."

"Thanks." Ash gave her a relieved smile. "This is the thing, I was asked to, uh...to choose."

"Choose what?"

"I... that's not important." Ash didn't want to give her all the details just yet. "The thing is that all the options are great in their own way and I don't know how to settle with one."

"You mean like a Starter Pokemon?" His mother asked.

"Uh, yeah, is about choosing a Pokemon actually." Ash tried to adapt to what she said. "But I feel like whatever I choose, I'll end up hurting the rest."

"So you're worried about hurting the other Pokemon you end up not choosing?"

"Yup, exactly." He nodded.

"...Ash, you fell in love with more than one girl, right?"

"WHAT?!" Ash exclaimed. "H-How did you?!"

"Honey, you've always been horrible with metaphors." She answered with another laugh. "Besides mother instinct is always four parallel universes ahead of you. You really thought you could hide something like that from your mother?" Delia then made a pout. "I almost feel offended."

"S-Sorry, Mom, I just-"

"Still, I said almost, I'm really happy to know you're trying to find your lady, although deep inside I always knew you'd be a heartbreaker."

"That's kinda the problem, I don't want to be a heartbreaker."

"Do the girls like you too?"

"Yeah, all of them definitely do."

"All of them? How many are they?"

"That's not-"

"Ash..." She gave her the 'mother knows best' stare.

"...Five, they're five." He admitted.

"My, my, my son's truly a ladies' man, isn't he?"

"Mom..." Ash covered his face embarrassed.

"Ash, is that gift for one of those girls?"

"No, I mean...is it?" Ash looked down at the box.

"I'm just saying, that's not something you'd give to someone that isn't somewhat special."

"That's not it, Gloria's great and all, but... she's...no, not this again."

"Well, for whoever it is, what will you do about those five girls?"

"What...what should I do, Mom?" He asked with an almost desperate voice. "I don't know how to approach them about this, they're all amazing, beautiful and sweet girls, they really are and I don't want to just reject them, I don't want to hurt them and lose our friendship, why am I...acting in such a stupid way?!"

"You're not being stupid honey, you're just being kind-hearted as always, putting others before yourself, you just want to make everyone happy, that's so you."

"Yes, but I can't, I can't save everyone this time, it's impossible."

"Don't say something like that, Ash, you've done plenty of 'impossible' things in your journey, that word should mean nothing to you." Delia did her best to encourage him. "You said you can't just reject them, but it's that because you're just worried about hurting them or because you really like them like they like you?"

"Mom, I...I feel so divided, my thoughts are all over the place, why is this happening? How can I feel like that with so many people?"

"...Can I tell you a story? I was in a bit of a similar situation when I was younger, besides your father, there was another man I liked too, they both liked me and...those two, they almost got each other killed because of me, that made me feel so guilty, in the end I chose your father, of course, I loved him dearly until he..." Delia interrupted her story and held back some tears, she needed to look strong at least, her son needed help. "The point is, Ash, as happy as I was with him, as happy as I was to have you with him, there are times where I can't help but wonder how everything would have been if I had chose that other person, I guess that's the type of thoughts you're having, right?" She looked at him and Ash gave a simple nod.

"What happened...to the other man?"

"He never spoke to me ever again." Delia admitted. "And that sometimes makes me sad because we had a great friendship before all that happened."

"That's a part of what worries me." Ash replied with a concerned look.

"Forget about the girls for a moment and listen to this, Ash...in the end, is all up to you...so tell me, what do you really want?"

"...I don't know what I want anymore." He answered looking down.

"Ash, look at me." His mother asked and he obeyed. "You still have a long journey ahead of you, I'm sure you'll have time to make up your mind, until then, remember that whatever you do, anything you choose, you can be sure that I'll be there to support you, I'm with you all the way."

"...Thanks, Mom, I really needed that."

"No problem sweetie, just make sure to bring my daughter-in-law here so we can get to know each other, okay?"

"...Sure." Ash answered with a weak laugh as the call was cut.

"Hmm...Kukui and Burnet will be very interested to hear about this." Delia said to herself. "Mimey, how does another travel to Alola sounds?"

After that talk, Ash went back to the group with the gift on hand, Gloria then took a step forward as he offered her the box.

"This is my little gift for you, Gloria, hope you like it."

"T-Thanks." She took it and removed the ribbon, quickly, but carefully enough to not break it, Gloria then opened the box to see its content, her eyes opened wide once she recognized the object. "Your Hoenn hat? I don't get it."

"What's not to get? I want you to have it." Ash simply said.

"A-A-ASH!" Gloria exclaimed as her face turned even redder than the box. "Are you crazy?! I can't have this!"

"But I want you to." He insisted. "I know this is not your plushie, but I thought that you might like it, since you said my battle against Brandon was so important to you." Ash then took the cap out of the box to put it closer to her face. "Can I?"

"..." Gloria took off her wool hat, letting Ash put the cap on his hair, it was a perfect match for her. "A-A-Ash...I...I can't" She quickly started to shed some tears.

"Gloria, please don't cry." Ash tried to cheer her up.

"Sorry, this is... I...you can't just give something so meaningful to someone like me..."

"Gloria, you mean a lot more to me." Ash took her by her shoulders. "Knowing that you've been cheering on me for so long... Gloria, that feels amazing, this is just a little way to show you my gratitude, I promise I will not disappoint you and you can be sure I'll be cheering on you in every battle you have, I'll be anxious to have another rematch with you.

"You... you're so unfair..." Gloria tried to use the cap to cover her eyes so Ash wouldn't see her crying, but her tears were still raining down from her cheeks. "I-If you...if you keep being so sweet with me how am I supposed to hold back?"

"Hold back?"

"Ash...A-Ash! I like you!" Gloria shouted.

"Gloria..." Bea trailed off.

"I'm sorry, Bea, but it took you long enough! Screw our deal!" Gloria shouted again. "I won't leave without saying it, not again, Ash, I love you, I-I...D-Do I really need to explain it with all I've said about you? Argh! Ash, I love you, but we can't be together, not until I prove myself to you!"

"G-Gloria-"

"You're literally leagues ahead of me, I know you don't mind it, but I do! So I'll beat in you in a battle! I swear I'll do it! You can be sure I'll do it! And when that happens, when I show you I'm as strong as you..." Gloria blushed once again as she looked at him directly. "T-Then I'll be all yours! Ok? So please! Look forward to it!" Gloria gave him a big hug and then started to run to the door of the center. "...until next time!" She simply waved goodbye before leaving the place and running away.

After a bit of silence, Victor gave a chuckle and followed his sister, Marnie did the same, Roxie then gave Ash some fingerguns and left as well, leaving Ash alone with Bea.

"Gloria..." Ash blushed by all of she said and then facepalmed himself in realization once the surprise wore off. "Of course she likes me too...Bea, what deal was she talking about?"

"Uh...back in Motostoke, Gloria helped me to prepare for our second date, she said she liked you too, but since I was closer, she'd help me instead, the deal was that if I couldn't get together with you then I'd let her try...guess she got sick of waiting."

"Six... it's gotta be six, I'm gonna end with a baseball team at this rate."

"Roxie told you too, didn't she?"

"You already knew?" He asked her.

"It was kinda obvious."

"Not as obvious as you now that I think about it."

"Let me guess, you suddenly like Roxie and Gloria as well."

"Look Bea, is more complicated than it sounds, it's not like a girl tell me her feelings and I suddenly like them back."

"That's exactly what's been happening since Nessa!"

"On my gosh, oh my gosh!" Gloria rushed back inside the Center and ran to Nurse Joy since she forgot her Pokemon there, Gloria took them back and was about to leave the place again, but she stopped infront of Ash to give him a quick peck on his right cheek. "A-Ash, just because I'm younger than you it doesn't mean that I'm a little kid...I won't disappoint you either, I promise." Gloria then ran outside of the center as Ash stood speechless.

"That's it! That was the final straw!" Bea suddenly took Ash by his shoulders. "I...I'm tired of this, I'm not gonna just sit back while every girl in this God damn world shouts out her heart to you, if I...if I have to do this then I'll do it...I'll make you focus on me, I'm gonna make you aware of me and just me."

"Bea, this isn't-"

"Ash..." She moved her hands to cup his face causing them both to blush. "You...you now what I'm gonna do now, right?"

"Uh, yes."

"And you're not gonna stop me?" Bea continued.

"It's not like I could stop you...you're far stronger than me."

"...That's not what I'm asking, you idiot."

"I-I know but-"

"Ash, listen...I know you might hate me after this, but I'm sick of holding back with you, if I want this to happen, then fine...I'll do it myself."

"I know you want, but..."

"Not this time, Ash." She interrupted him again. "I'm sick of all your buts."

Bea leaned down to him and pulled their faces closer, their foreheads touched and they were close enough to feel each other breathing, the two stood there for a few seconds thinking of all the things that led to this moment, and instead of trying to struggle out, Ash closed his eyes and Bea flinched at this, he was closing his eyes, he was letting her do whatever she wanted, right?

'Is this really okay?' Bea asked in her mind. 'Am I really doing the right thing?' She looked at him again, he still had his eyes closed, waiting for her to do something, she had already took it that far, it would be unfair to simply stop flat. 'As long as it is with him...I'm sure it'll be fine... We'll be just fine.' Bea closed her eyes and went for that final push, their lips brushed just a bit, but she suddenly turned her face to the side and rested her head on his shoulder letting out a broken whimpering sound.

"Uh, Bea?" Ash opened his eyes again, surprised by what happened...or rather for what didn't happen.

"S-Sorry, I really thought I could, but I can't do it, not only I'm embarrassed, but I feel like I'm starting to force you into this." Bea then got off his shoulder and looked at him directly again. "...I know I can't make you like me just by doing that...I'll try to find another way to get to you."

Ash thought for a brief moment, he noticed that suddenly looking her into the eyes turned into something difficult to do, a few weeks ago those deep gray eyes wouldn't be much trouble to look at, but with all this feelings and thoughts he almost felt hypnotized by them, maybe it was just the heat of the moment from that almost-kiss, but to him, everything about Bea was suddenly so perfect, her blushing face, her cute smile, even that whimper she did a few moments ago, that was just adorable, Bea just being Bea was now more than enough to make his cheeks burn. '...Is this how Bea feels everyday?' He thought.

"I...I guess I'll see you tomorrow." Bea tried to leave the scene, but Ash suddenly moved his hands to her cheeks. "Uh, Ash?" Bea blushed more than she already was by the sudden movement and contact.

'I Wanted her to do it, didn't I?' He thought. 'I closed my eyes and waited for her, I wanted that kiss to happen too...I'm not sure if this will help, but...I need to know... if this is truly what I want...'

Without waiting any longer, Ash brought their faces closer as he closed his eyes to join their lips, it was a warm soft kiss and it took a bit for Bea to process it, He was kissing her, once she finally came to herself, she closed her eyes as well and returned the kiss hugging him closer to her to deepen the kiss just a bit more, Ash then moved his hands a little to caress her cheeks, Bea shivered at this motion and Ash took that as a good sign so he continued, all their thoughts and worries vanished for that instant, the only thing that mattered was that the two were there, sharing that moment, together, the scene lasted for maybe 15 seconds, who knows? Neither of them were taking record of the time at that point, Ash then broke the kiss and looked at Bea, she was blushing madly, just like him, she was also trembling just a little with swirly eyes, the usual now that he thought about it, uh, wait, the swirly eyes were new, she was steaming from her ears too, she looked like a total mess, but Ash thought she couldn't look any cuter.

"Uh, Bea?" Ash gave a chuckle and tried to call her.

"W-W-W-Why Did You Do That?!" Bea shouted once she regained a part of her consciousness, doing her best to not fall on her knees.

"...You were about to do the same just a few seconds ago." Ash defended himself.

"Y-You don't just kiss a person like that out on nowhere!" Bea continued.

"What are you talking about? You were gonna do exactly the same!"

"At least I made a little speech for buildup!" Bea stammered. "You didn't even warn me!"

"S-Sorry..." Ash apologized giving her a bit space.

Bea quickly noticed she was being way too harsh, considering she was the one who has been wanting that kiss to happen for over a month and Ash was right, what she did wasn't much different. "No, Ash, I'm sorry...It's alright, you just, em...you took me by surprise, that's all." Bea then touched her lips with one of her hands. "You say that was your first kiss?"

"Yes, it was." Ash scratched the back of his head.

'And he gave it to me.' Bea thought '...Success.' She gave him a giggle and a smile. "...that was my first too, you know?" She told him and Ash felt a bit guilty.

"Sorry, I-"

"No, it's fine." She interrupted. "I'll take it as an apology for that bite...I really liked it."

"You liked the bite?"

"Maybe a little...N-NO, THE KISS! I mean I liked the kiss!" She stammered.

"Oh, I...I liked it too."

The two giggled together and then stood silent for a moment.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

'Uh, what now?' Both thought.