pokemon Fighting Dreamers

"My, my, I knew Mythicals were strong, but handling two Mega-Evolutions like that is seriously remarkable." Drasna said.

"But you can tell she's already exhausted." Cynthia said. "I happened to be with Ash when he stumbled upon that Meloetta, she may have some moves, but she's far from being an experienced battler."

"And the biggest challenge is still remaining." Juan added. "Even with Mega-Evolutions taken into account. Dusknoir is still Phoebe's strongest Pokemon." He said as the girl stared at her ace's Ultra Ball and hugged her close to her chest.

"That girl... She looks rather worried, don't you think?" Lorelei asked.

"Hmp, I guess so." Karen replied. "But I wonder why. Ash is the one who has everything in the line here. Is not like she has anything to lose here, does she?"

"I feel like there's more to this battle than what we know." Marshal said.

"Yeah, for example, that smaller barrier that appeared after they shook hands." Lance said. "They kept talking, but we couldn't hear anything and then they shook hands again."

"It sounds like they had an extra agreement besides the champion, or Kahuru, title." Bertha said. "Agatha has explained me that sorta thing."

"Ash didn't tell me anything about an agreement." Iris said. "Maybe I should asked him about that."

"Do you know anything, Cynthia?" Diantha asked.

"Why are you suddenly asking me about this kind of things?" Cynthia asked.

"I'm just saying; you're the one who's not staying in the same hotel as us for some reason." Diantha replied. "You're surely investigating Alolan culture and all that right? Know anything about the Kahuru stuff?"

"Well... It's much like what Phoebe explained, if she wins, she'll basically be the new champion, but... The details I found are not that clear, but I believe that what Bertha said it's right, both the current Kahuru and the challenger can place a condition on the other if they lose."

"Hmp, then what could they have possibly agreed to?" Clair asked.

"Something tells me we're about to find out." Goodshow answered and everyone set their sights on the battlefield again.

"You're all I have left, buddy." Phoebe whispered to the Ultra Ball. "Please, we have to win this for Acerola... And for me... Come on by, Reaper!" She shouted tossing the ball and releasing her Dusknoir on the battlefield.

"Meloetta..." Ash trailed off while looking at her.

"This is nothing." She answered standing up again. "He's the last one, right? I can do this... We can do this."

"Dark Pulse!" Dusknoir quickly opened his mouth and the attack landed cleanly onto Meloetta, who was unable to dodge it due to the exhaustion. "Dynamic Punch!"

"Close Combat!"

Dusknoir dashed to Meloetta with both fists surrounded in red energy and the two Pokemon collided with a punch, but Dusknoir managed to overpower the Mythical and then landed and uppercut that sent her flying up.

"Quick Attack!" Meloetta descended at high speed and tried to tackle Dusknoir, but he blocked her with his fists. "Stone Edge!" Meloetta then summoned the rocks again and hurled them at Dusknoir, forcing him to back down.

"Ugh, I-I think my throat is fine now!" She shouted.

"Alright, then Relic Song and Psybeam!" Meloetta jumped up as she sung and changed forms with the notes of the Relic Song flying towards Dusknoir to then be joined by the Psybeam that came from her gem, both attacks exploding upon contact and pushing Dusknoir back again.

"Ice Punch!" Dusknoir once again dashed towards Meloetta, this time with both fists covered in ice.

"Dazzling Gleam!" Meloetta fired the beam from her hands, but Dusknoir used the ice to block it and then grabbed Meloetta by her neck and started choking her. "S-Shadow Ball!" Ash shouted and Meloetta started tossing them left and right, while Dusknoir protected himself with his other fist as he continued to choke Meloetta, until the Mythical raised both hands in the air and formed a giant Shadow Ball and let it fall over the two of them, causing an explosion that separated them, leaving both Pokemon on the floor close to their trainers, with Dusknoir being the first to stand up, Meloetta did the same, but ended up falling to her knees while holding her neck again.

"It's over... Let's finish this, Reaper!" Phoebe shouted activating her Z-Ring and doing the corresponding poses along with Dusknoir, who then became surrounded by swirling dark energy.

'There's no way Meloetta can take that.' Ash thought. "Unless..." He trailed off while quickly looking inside his pocket before pulling out another Z-Crystal. "You used two Megas? Then we're using two Z-Moves!" Ash shouted placing the Z-Ring in place and activating it. "Meloetta, please bear with me a little longer!"

"A-Ash, I can't." She answered. "I-I swear I want to, but i can't do anymore, e-everything hurts so much..."

"I know it hurts! I've been there with all of my Pokemon! I feel the same pain they feel!" Ash answered. "But if this Elite Four battles have showed me something is that surrendering isn't an option. It's okay if we lose, but only after we give everything we have!"

"I... A-Alright!" Meloetta answered standing up again with difficulty. "If you're not done yet, then I'm not either!"

"Right, then follow my moves!" Ash said and Meloetta turned around to see him directly and mirror his moves while surrounding herself in purple energy.

"Black Hole Eclipse!" Phoebe shouted and the swirling energy that surrounded Dusknoir gathered on his hand taking the shape of a black and red sphere that he tossed at Meloetta, the sphere then expanded and created a black hole that sucked Meloetta inside before shrinking down and creating a massive explosion that kicked up plenty of dust, but after this settled Meloetta could be seen still standing now in her pirouette form while being surrounded by purple energy.

"Impossible..." Phoebe trailed off.

"Devastating Drake!" Ash shouted and Meloetta stomped the ground, causing the purple energy to take the shape of a Dragon that roared to the skies before taking flight along with her.

"Dark Pulse!" Dusknoir opened his mouth and fired again, but the dragon flew around the battlefield and dodged it to then dive down towards him.

"Ice Punch!" Dusknoir prepared both fists with the attack and crossed them in front of him, with the Dragon slamming itself onto Dusknoir and creating a fiery explosion.

"Dual Chop!" Ash shouted and Meloetta emerged from the flames with a pirouette, feet first and using the Dual Chop to drill through Dusknoir and then slid on the ground panting heavily before Dusknoir dropped defeated.

"Dusknoir is unable to battle! Meloetta is the winner and the victory goes to Ash!" Kukui shouted and the stadium was filled with cheers.

"Alright!" Acerola shouted and the rest of the girlfriends took her into a group hug. "H-He really won..." She said with a big smile to then run downstairs.

"H-Hey, wait, Acerola!" Bea shouted.

"Way to go, kid!" Dahlia shouted. "Hahaha... Uh, what? Who's talking?"

"R-Reaper..." Phoebe trailed off in disbelief.

"Ha... Suck on that." Meloetta said before falling to floor and Ash quickly ran to the battlefield and carried her on his arms.

"Are... You okay?" He asked.

"Heh, yeah, that was... Fun." She answered while still holding her neck. "Thank you for believing in me."

"Thanks for the help." Ash answered. "Sorry I couldn't do more to avoid you getting hurt."

"Hey, it's fine, this is all part of battling, isn't it?" Meloetta asked.

"I... Lost..." Phoebe trailed off as she recalled Dusknoir and once she did so, the pentagram in the battlefield started to illuminate and Ash quickly ran outside of it, the pentagram then closed up in the shape of a pyramid and dashed to Phoebe, leaving her inside it. "N-No..." She stuttered as the pyramid illuminated brighter before disappearing in thin air, the ghostly chain that joined Ash and Phoebe's wrists then appeared again, but this time Phoebe's end opened only to lock around her neck before disappearing making Phoebe stare at Ash in fear before running away.

"...You're not going to go after her?" Meloetta asked.

"No, I just hope she understood the message." Ash answered and the four Tapus then descended and surrounded him.

"That was an awesome battle, guys!" Tapu Bulu shouted.

"Yeah, normally we wouldn't be okay with a Legendary or Mythical participating in this kind of challenge, you know?" Tapu Fini added. "This isn't quite the same as your friendly battle against Hapu.

"Anyway, since Meloetta here is quite inexperienced in battle and your foe used Two Mega-Evolutions in a row, I guess we can say the match was even." Tapu Lele added.

"You both did great." Tapu Koko added. "I didn't expect you to have such a warrior spirit, Meloetta."

"Heh, thanks, Uncle." She answered.

"I'm not your uncle." Tapu Koko replied.

"Either way, you better show us some moves in our next girls night out. See ya!" Tapu Lele added before floating away being followed by Fini and Bulu.

"So, uh, what will happen with Phoebe now?" Ash asked.

"She has to accept your terms as the loser." Tapu Koko replied. "Nothing more, nothing less." He added before floating away and Meloetta stretched before starting floating as well.

"Well, what are you gonna do now?" He asked.

"I'll be taking my leave for the moment." She answered before starting to float up. "But don't worry, I'll be closer than you think... And don't forget to thank Miku for bringing me here." She answered before she started shining bright only to disappear afterwards.

"Well, that..."

"ASH!" Acerola shouted running to him and jumped to his arms giving him a lip kiss and cupping his face while he held her. "You did it! You won!" She shouted with a big smile and tears in her eyes to then hug him.

"Uh, Acerola..." Ash said and the girl noticed the whole crowd of the stadium was looking at them and the camera was focusing on them and showed the two on the giant screen of the stadium.

"Who... Is this... Little BITCH?!" Lorelei asked up in the VIP section and the rest of her group simply stared at her, with the exception of Iris and Clair, who both had their jaws in the floor due to the scene in the battlefield, meanwhile back down there, Ash looked around and wondered what to do, staring at the rest of his girlfriends, who all seemed just as clueless.

"Is this... Really the way to reveal everything?" He asked himself while looking down at Acerola who was trembling again.

"I-I-I..." She stuttered before the silence of the stadium was interrupted by a loud laugh that came from the microphone that Dahlia was holding.

"Oh, my, would you look at that!" Dahlia said. "If it isn't that girl from earlier, hah, she told me she was Ash's biggest fan and today was her birthday, so she had to go and take the opportunity for that kiss, huh? Hahaha, oh, this poor boy, he has all these girls swarming around him." She said and the crowd started laughing as well, meanwhile Ash and Acerola simply looked at Dahlia who gave them a wink.

"Uh... Hehehe, yeah, sorry about that, Mister Ketchum!" Acerola shouted so the whole stadium could hear. "I-I just couldn't resist your beautiful face, I'm very sorry. I-I know you must have someone special in your life, too bad I can't be that one." She said to then sigh and run out of the stadium.

"My, that was quite the save." Zoey said up in the stands with May by her side.

"Pfft, fortunately he's running out of those." May said to then stand up and stare at Ash. "Five days remain, Ash Ketchum."

Meanwhile in the Mansion.

"Thanks again for staying with us today, Korrina." Meray said to the girl and her Lucario, while they were all at the backyard, with Emma being a few meters away from them and Kimia being far in the back still working on Lillie's Magearna while having some earplugs in her ears, to avoid any noise from distracting her.

"Sure, it's no bother." Korrina replied. "I needed to... Clear my head anyway; so, what are we doing?"

"We're having Emma's first aura class!" Meray exclaimed to then look at the girl in question. "You ready?"

"Sure, I guess." Emma replied. "It still feels weird to be outside without the suit."

"Well, if you want to keep feeling that way, I want you to do your best here." Meray replied. "Remember, we only have six days before the aura inside that shard runs out, so let's get to it, first things first, do you know what aura is?"

"Uh, yeah, an Interpol member who's Looker's friend explained me once." Emma answered. "Aura is this spiritual energy, the essence and inner power of every living thing."

"That's a very good; and accurate, description, Emma." Meray replied. "So yeah, Aura is the power that's inside, in theory, every living being has it, even humans, thought most of them have it in very small amounts, some are capable of increasing the amount of aura they can produce, which allows them to use it in very different ways, but you, have no aura at all, it may be a side effect of the modifications your body has been through."

"Guess that makes sense." Emma said. "From what I understand, my "real body" is barely even there, I'm basically energy in a human-looking box at this point."

"Correct, but that's why we need you to start producing aura." Meray said. "According to what Ash explained me, aura is able to stop the decay of your body and slowly revert it."

"Alright, enough setting up, what exactly do you want me to do?" Emma asked.

"Let's start with the most simple stuff; Lucario and I will show you." Meray said to then look at the Pokemon. "Let's make a small Aura Sphere, can you?" She asked and Lucario nodded to then put his hands together and formed a small Aura Sphere in between them. "See that? All you need to do is place your hands together and focus, you may do a similar thing when using some moves, but this is different; don't think of fire, ice, thunder or any of that, just focus on yourself, in your memories, in what you're feeling right now and drive all those thoughts in between your hands, like this." She said to then repeat Lucario's motion and form a small yellow Aura Sphere in her hands.

"Aight then." Emma sighed and closed her eyes before placing her hands together, but nothing came out.

"Calm down and breathe slowly." Meray said. "The last thing you want to do is pressure yourself, just... Go to your happy place."

"I don't really have that, except for... Mimi." Emma whispered and did her best to focus, eventually her body started shining with orange light and a small orb formed in between her hands.

"T-There! It's working!" Meray exclaimed. "So your aura is orange? I don't think I've seen that before."

"What do I do now? Do I toss it?" Emma asked.

"Eh? No, no, no, this isn't an attack, remember, it's a test." Meray said. "Now you have to guide the aura in that sphere back to your body. Let's show her, Lucario." She said and both Lucario and her took a deep breath as their Aura Spheres got smaller and eventually disappeared. "There, now it's your turn."

"Here I go..." Emma took a deep breath as well and separated her hands a bit, with the Aura Sphere getting smaller and disappearing as well. "It... Worked?"

"You did it!" Meray shouted. "Oh my gosh! You're doing so great!"

"Well, you're quite a decent teacher." Emma replied. "At least you're more helpful than those people at the Interpol."

"So is she fine now?" Korrina asked.

"Not yet, but this is an amazing first step." Meray said. "You've started producing aura, but that's still a small amount, so we'll do bigger and bigger tests, that way your body can get used to the bigger amounts."

"Sounds like a good plan." Emma answered. "But getting it right on the first try feels a little too good to be true; are you sure I did it myself? What about this necklace thing?"

"I already had that covered; I told you I was the one to prepare that necklace for you." Meray replied. "It'll spread its own green aura around your body to help keeping it together, but you can't use it in any other way; that's why your aura was of another color; you did all that yourself, so give yourself some credit."

"...Heh, thanks." Emma replied with a smile.

"That's... I think the first smile you've given since you got here." Korrina replied.

"Yeah?" She asked. "Well, sorry about that, but as you may imagine, I don't have much reasons to smile."

"Alright, let's make the next exercise then." Meray said, but before they could continue, the group heard the backdoor of the house being opened and saw Anabel and Danika coming from inside the house.

"Uh, sorry for barging in, no one was answering the door and... Emma?!" Anabel shouted.

"E- T-That's Essentia?!" Danika shouted.

"What did you-"

"H-Hey, calm down!" Meray said standing in front of Emma to then look at the visitors. "W-Who are you two?"

"Those uniforms..." Korrina trailed off. "They must work for the Interpol."

"Yes, they do." Emma said. "I know these two."

"You're... That person who Emma mentioned." Meray said looking at Anabel. "Y-You have aura as well... You both do."

"I, uh... I felt a strong aura from here, I thought Ash had already returned from the stadium." Anabel replied. "Was that you, Emma? You... You've been here all this time? How did you even meet with Ash?"

"That's... Not your problem." Emma answered.

"W-Wait, you were the one who threw that building we saw in the news, weren't you?" Danika asked.

"And what if I was?" She asked.

"I don't like where this is going..." Korrina whispered while preparing her Key Stone.

"Emma, you... You have to come with us." Anabel said. "Listen, I'll take you back to the Interpol and-"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Emma shouted. "I escaped for a reason, don't you think?!"

"Listen, what happened with those girls was-"

"YOUR FAULT!" Emma shouted. "If you can't even stop four random girls, then obviously you can't protect me either! ... Besides, I saw those reports you had about me, I know you weren't planning to help me nor release me."

"T-That's not true!" Danika shouted. "W-We were looking for a way to help, but your state is too delicates and complex, we just needed more time."

"I gave you time, I gave you 2 years of my life; and everything just got worse since then!" Emma shouted to then hold Meray by her shoulder. "This stupid girl has helped me more in 24 hours than you did in 24 months!"

"W-Well, uh... thanks, I guess." Meray answered.

"I... Wait, how did you see those reports?" Anabel asked. "...Calem! Y-You went with him, weren't you? You made him hack us again! Ugh, of course, how else could've you known about Xerosic being in that jailbreak, when I get my hands on him-"

"You leave Calem out of this!" Emma shouted stomping the ground and causing it crack and summon an Earth Power beneath Danika and Anabel, with the latter barely having time to protect themselves with a barrier that was pushed back. "Calem actually helped me too! And he comforted me while I was at the Interpol, unlike all of you!"

"E-Emma, wait!" Meray shouted. "If you use your Pokemon powers without being ready, the aura inside the shard will run out faster!"

"Tch, of course." Emma rolled her eyes while Anabel put down her shield.

"How... How are we supposed to help if you don't let us?!" Anabel shouted before suddenly tossing a pink Aura Sphere at Meray, but Korrina quickly dashed in front of her and slashed the sphere in two with her blades, leaving both halves to explode behind them.

"Heh... I may not have much aura, but training with Lucario has taught me a thing a thing or two." Korrina said.

"What should we do, Miss Anabel?" Danika asked.

"... Listen, I'll take care of these three." Anabel said. "You get back inside the house and look for your Urshifu Totem, I can sense it close, we might need it."

"Are you sure we have to-"

"I'm giving you an order, Danika!" Anabel shouted and Danika sighed before running back inside the house.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" Korrina shouted dashing at her with a shield before pushing her back to Emma and Meray.

"I don't want to fight you." Anabel said. "I didn't come here for this; but I need to take Emma with me."

"Well, we're not letting you!" Korrina shouted standing up again as her Lucario growled by her side. "Isn't that right?" She asked to Meray.

"...Yes!" Meray nodded placing her hands together and forming a spear out of yellow aura. "Oh my gosh! I can't believe that worked... er, I-I-I mean, T-This is the Ketchum Household! And if anyone dares to attack it or any of its inhabitants, they have to deal with all us!"

"You two..." Emma trailed off while looking at them.

"So is this how it's going to be?" Anabel asked releasing her Metagross, Alakazam and Espeon.

"...It's how it has to be!" Emma shouted and Korrina also released her Mienshao and Machoke while Mega-Evolving her Lucario and as the battle started, Kimia, who was still working on Magearna finally ended up catching up some of the noise.

"Ugh, could you people put down your noise?! I'm trying to concentrate!" Kimia shouted finally turning around and taking off her earplugs only to see the six Pokemon trading attacks with each other, while Meray deflected an Aura Sphere from Anabel using her spear, leaving it to land in front of Kimia. "... What in the hell is going on here?!"

Back at the stadium.

Outside of the building, while everyone was focused with Ash and Acerola. Meloetta materialized back in her human form, but ended up falling to her knees yet again afterwards.

"M-My, that fight took more energy from me than I expected." She said letting out a heavy sigh while holding her neck again. "I-I'm just glad everything worked out..."

"Hey, Miku!" Someone shouted from behind and she saw Rosa, Hilda and Roxie running at her, with the latter carrying her bag in her hands.

"Here you are! What the hell happened to you!" Roxie shouted.

"You just disappeared after that flash, you had us really worried." Rosa said.

"Yeah, we couldn't even finish watching the battle." Hilda added.

"S-Sorry, gals. That flash really hurt my eyes." Miku replied standing up. "I had to back off for a moment."

"Are you feeling okay?" Rosa asked. "We can take you to a hospital or something."

"Nah, don't worry, I honestly overreacted, it's no big deal." She answered.

"Gee, just don't do something like that, okay?" Hilda answered. "And YOU!" She shouted to then suddenly grab one of Rosa's breasts. "I told you it was nothing!"

"H-Hilda, were in public..." Rosa answered while blushing and Miku and Roxie simply stared at each other.

"You're... Quite a suspicious fella, Miku." Roxie said handing over the bag.

"You think so?" She asked taking her bag. "I feel rather average." She added with a nervous laugh that stopped once she saw Ash approaching the group.

"I've been looking for you, Miku." Ash said with the Premier Ball in his hand. "Uh, girls; could you please leave us alone?"

"Heh, guess I can do that." Roxie said glancing at Miku one last time before walking past Ash, but not without giving his ass a little slap that left Ash blushing while Rosa and Hilda also followed Roxie, leaving Ash alone with Miku.

"I guess this is yours." Ash said handing over the Premier Ball and Miku took it in her hands. "Sorry, uh, Meloetta ended up going away instead of going back inside."

"Ugh, I knew I forgot something!" Miku shouted. "I-I mean... she'll surely comeback soon, she likes to wander off from time to time."

"Anyway, thanks a lot, both of you." Ash said. "I honestly thought the battle was lost; you really saved me."

"It's nothing; I'm glad I was able to help." Miku replied. "But, Ash, uh... Can I ask for a little thing in exchange?"

"Of course, whatever you need." Ash answered.

"W-Whatever?" Miku replied with a blushing smile. "Well, I'd like... To kiss..."

"A kiss?" Ash asked.

"Yes, uh, you know, I've never kissed anyone before." She replied. "D-Does it bother you?"

"Eh? N-No, I guess you just surprised me a bit." Ash answered. "Again, you really saved me so..." Ash walked to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure I can do it?"

"Y-Y-Yes!" She exclaimed with a huge smile and Ash smiled as well before pulling her closer to kiss her lips, with Miku nibbling on his lower lip before the two separated, leaving them both blushing as Miku covered her mouth and had stars in her eyes.

"S-So, that's how it feels..." She whispered. "Uh, t-thanks a lot, I, uh, I should be going with Roxie and the others now, uh... See ya around!" She said to then walk past Ash as well.

"Uh, Miku? Can I tell you something before you leave?" Ash asked and the girl turned around to see him.

"Yes?"

"If you really want to keep this up, uh..." Ash blushed even more before looking directly at her. "Uh, you should probably try to fake a different voice so other people don't suspect."

"What do you..." Miku wondered before hearing a *ping* in her head and her face became as red as it could be. "I-I-I-I... I-It's not what you think, I... GOODBYE!" She shouted to then run away while Ash looked at her disappear in the distance.

"So... I just kissed a Pokemon, huh?" Ash asked himself. "Oh, well, the girls already left to go to the mansion, so I probably should-"

"Hey, Ash!" A voice shouted from above and Ash saw Caitlin descending in her floating flower long with Shauntal, but this time Dahlia was also accompanying them.

"Nice to finally see ya eye to eye, kid." Dahlia said once the flower landed and the three women stood in front of him.

"Likewise; thanks a lot for the save from earlier." Ash replied. "I seriously didn't know what to do."

"Well, I'm glad to help, but it wasn't my idea, you see?" Dahlia said. "You should be thanking these two."

"That's right, we saw Acerola running downstairs after you won and we kinda guessed what would happen." Shauntal said.

"So Shauntal quickly came up with an excuse and I used telepathy to quickly explain Dahlia the situation and had her repeat Shauntal's idea." Caitlin added.

"Right, I forgot you used to be part of the Sinnoh Battle Frontier, Miss Caitlin." Ash answered.

"Eh, it's not like did much over there." Dahlia said. "Darach was the one doing the battles while He simply looked from above."

"Still, thanks a lot to you three." Ash said. "Specially to you, Miss Dahlia; considering this was the way you found out about my relationship and still decided to help me even though you didn't know me."

"I've seen enough of ya, kid. You have done more than impressing me." Dahlia replied. "We had a reunion once with the Emerald Brains; and man, they had lots to say about ya. Glad to see they weren't exaggerating. Not sure who's luckier here, you or your girlfriends, heh." She said to then give him a wink.

"Well, I-"

"Yeah, yeah, before she joins you as well, we have to tell you something else." Shauntal replied. "The reason Phoebe is doing all this."

"What do you mean? She's doing all this for Acerola, right?" Ash asked.

"She's doing this for Acerola, but not just because of her." Caitlin said. "She's also doing this for herself, she used to be in an abusive relationship with Sydney, another member of the Hoenn Elite Four; their relationship didn't start out as that, Sydney was very caring at the start, but he became manipulative and controlling over time."

"Phoebe managed to break up with him; that's part of the reason she ended up abandoning Hoenn." Shauntal said. "The point is that because of your harem, Phoebe thinks you'll end up doing the same as Sydney and become worse over time."

"There's no way that'd happen." Ash said.

"We know, Ash." Shauntal said. "And your girlfriends know it too; but Phoebe doesn't; she can't see beyond her trauma apparently."

"Well, now that she's your girlfriend it sounds like everything will get more complicated." Dahlia said.

"Well, Phoebe is not my girlfriend." Ash said. "Like yeah, that was the accord and all that, but there's no way I'd force her.

"We know that too, Ash." Caitlin sighed. "But you heard Phoebe, this is some mystical stuff we're dealing with, I don't think she has much of a choice."

"Hmm...Hey, does Acerola know about Phoebe's past relationship?"

"She must know Phoebe broke up with someone, but I don't think she ever got the details." Shauntal replied and left Ash thinking in silence but this was interrupted by a ring from his Rotom Phone that he quickly picked up.

"Kimia?" He asked.

"Ash, we have an emergency!" She shouted. "Someone's attacking Meray and the others! We you need you back in the mansion RIGHT NOW!"

Meanwhile with Team Rocket.

"So, I take it we have a deal?" Courtney asked in front of Giovanni while he was sitting on his desk.

"...We do." He answered. "Sounds like something easy enough to do... But you have quite some guts to come and ask upfront something like that from me."

"You said you wanted my help, my help is not free." Courtney replied. "I imagine you understand that."

"Of course I do. I'm a businessman at heart, after all." Giovanni replied. "Very well, tell Domino and Millis to give you a tour and get you a room, get yourself comfortable. Colress will be waiting for you tomorrow at the lab so you can do your part... Assuming what you've been claiming is true."

"You saw how I fixed that watch in a matter of minutes with nothing but a screwdriver." Courtney replied. "Now that Xerosic is dead, I'm your best option to continue his works; believe me, I'll be of much more help than he could've been, as long as your respect your part of a deal."

"Of course, I'll get some of my men to take care of it right now." Giovanni answered and Courtney stared at him before walking away and leaving the office, finding Millis and Domino waiting for her outside."

"So how did it go? Millis asked.

"We understood ourselves." Courtney replied. "I'll be working with Team Rocket for the moment. Giovanni said I could trust you two to show me around and find me a place to stay."

"Sure, we can do that, right Domino?" Millis asked her.

"Uh, yeah, of course." Domino replied. "But hey, that thing you mentioned you'd ask from Giovanni in order to join, what was it?"

"...Maybe I'll tell you another day." Courtney answered.

"Oh, well, follow me!" Millis said guiding the tour, with Courtney following her and Domino giving a frown before doing the same.

Back in the mansion.

"Use Gravity!" Anabel shouted and her Metagross' eyes illuminated with blue light before the whole backyard was surrounded by a blue dome that intensified the gravity around and made the girls and their Pokemon fall to the floor and left them unable to move, but Anabel, Espeon and Alakazam were unaffected by this. "Now Zap Cannon!" Alakazam put his spoons together while Espeon gathered electricity in front of her gem and both shot a massive blast of electricity that knocked out Lucario, Mienshao and Machoke, while Kimia's shiny Mega-Gardevoir, who had also joined the battle, was forced down to her base form; and Kimia was standing aside trying to avoid the Magearnas from getting themselves involved and damaged.

"So that's that." Anabel said staring at the group while the Gravity was still in effect. "Have you had enough, Emma? I'll ask one last time, come with me peacefully!"

"SHUT UP!" Emma shouted and slowly managed to overpower the Gravity and stood up again.

"Emma, I don't want to hurt you! Just stand down!" Anabel shouted.

"It's too late for either of those things..." Emma replied.

"Looks like I'll have to use force to subdue you." Anabel said. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry... I'm so sick of that word..." Emma answered and Meray got to reach her ankle and transferred some of her aura to her.

"Go for it!" Meray shouted.

"Your call, teacher!" Emma shouted teleporting away to then appear again in front of Metagross and form an Flame Burst in her hand before landing an uppercut that sent Metagross flying up with an explosion only for Emma to jump up towards him and send him back to the ground with a Night Slash, breaking down the Gravity dome once he hit the ground. Emma then dashed down using Acrobatics and tried to tackle Anabel, but she was stopped by a barrier from Alakazam before Espeon pushed her away with a Psybeam and she landed next to Meray and Korrina while they were still recovering from the effects of the Gravity.

"Emma, I understand how you feel, but-"

"DO YOU?!" She interrupted Anabel. "Do you have any idea of how much this hurts?! About how it feels to have my body rip itself apart?! I want to cry and... And I don't even know if my eyes are real anymore! I don't know if I am real anymore!"

"Emma..."

"BEAST ON!"

"Beast what?" Korrina asked before Danika broke down a window and jumped from it with her Urshifu Totem in hand as this released blue aura that surrounded Danika while she fell towards the group and landed in front of them slamming her first on the ground and causing a shockwave that sent the three girls and their Pokemon flying away while Danika stood up and the energy surrounded her moved to her side to form the spirit of her Urshifu.

"Huh, nice entrance." Anabel said. "Took you long enough."

"Sorry about the delay, this mansion is seriously huge." Danika said. "This thing was also next to a sleeping Hoopa, which complicated things further, uh... Anyway, what did I miss?"

"Ugh... So that's how it feels fighting people with powers..." Emma said struggling to stand up to then look at Korrina doing the same. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just give me a second." Korrina said with a thumbs up.

"Hey, tea... cher?" Emma turned around to see Meray and saw her laying unconscious in the floor with a bleeding cut in her forehead.

"M-MERAY!" Kimia shouted running towards her along the Magearnas while her Gardevoir picked the girl up and Kimia quickly went to check her vitals.

"Is she-"

"No, no, she's fine!" Kimia said with relieved sighed. "I-It's just a bruise, oh, thank goodness." She said, but Emma simply stood up while looking at the injury and apparently was unable to hear what Kimia was saying as a static sound surrounded her eyes.

"Of course... This always happens..." Emma trailed off. "Everyone who actually tries to help me ends up like this... I promised Ketchum I wouldn't kill anyone else." She said staring at Danika and Anabel. "But that girl was very important to him... And to me, for that matter... I can only hope he won't mind." She said to then form two Dragon Claws in her hands and ran towards the Interpol agents.

"Heyjin!" Danika shouted and the Urshifu spirit ran towards Emma and blocked her with her arm to then push her away. "Surging Strikes!" She said and Urshifu attacked Emma with a flurry of punches and kicks surrounded by water, Emma managed to block most of them with her Dragon Claw, but Urshifu managed to land a clean hit right on her face that pushed her back. "Aqua Jet!" Urshifu surrounded her whole body in water and landed a shoulder tackle on Emma's chest, but the girl quickly hugged the Urshifu by her arm.

"Big Mistake." She said to then released a powerful Discharge from her body that stunned the Urshifu just enough to let her nail her claws into Urshifu's chest and rip the spirit in half, forcing it back to the totem.

"EH?!" Danika shouted.

"Zap Cannon!" Anabel ordered and both Espeon and Alakazam fired the attack together, while Emma quickly slammed both fists onto the ground summoning another set of Earth Power eruptions that stopped the Zap Cannon and kicked up plenty of dust, letting her dash to the Psychic Pokemon and knocked them both out with Night Slashes.

"Heh... Out of tricks already?" Emma asked with her pupils pitch black again.

"Ice Punch!" Danika shouted releasing her Azumarill and Sawk, but Emma quickly grabbed Azumarill by his ear and Sawk by his neck before tossing them both away with rather ease. "...Uh, time out?" She asked before Emma jumped to them and tried to nail her Night Slash on them, but was stopped by a shield from Anabel.

"Emma, this isn't-!"

"I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" Emma shouted again while her blade were starting to break though Anabel's shield. "I finally understand it, you people from the Interpol were all scared of me... Well, there's nothing I can do to control your fear, only mine. AND I'M NOT SCARED OF YOU!" She exclaimed shattering the shield and knocking both girls to the floor.

"Uh, shouldn't we stop her?" Korrina asked.

"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?!" Kimia asked as Emma approached Anabel and Danika while breathing heavily.

"Guess... You people were right." Emma said raising up her blade. "I'm just too dangerous."

"That's enough!" Ash shouted from above and jumped off Caitlin's rose to then form a shield in his hands and toss it down, making it land in between Emma and the Interpol girls while Ash formed another shield to use it as a platform and descended slowly to then land in front of Emma. "Emma, put that down!"

"These girls attacked us!" Emma shouted. "They work for the Interpol! They were trying to take me with them! They hurt Meray!"

"Y-You were the one who attacked us first!" Danika shouted. "We wanted to do this peacefully!"

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" Ash shouted. "Listen, you all have some explaining to do and I imagine you all have your excuses and want to blame the other, but I know one thing and is that neither of you is a bad person, so I want everyone to calm down right now... Emma?"

"...You're the boss." She answered dissipating her attack as her eyes returned back to normal.

"Danika?"

"Yeah, uh, sorry about that." Danika replied.

"And you, uh..." Ash stared for a moment at the person who was accompanying Danika who was also smiling at him. "Anabel? ...Is that you?"

"Heh, it honestly surprises me that you recognized me." Anabel replied to then approach him. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"It sure has." He answered. "Wow, you look... So different."

"You've also changed quite a bit." Anabel replied. "But that's still the same face I fell in love with."

"EH?!" Danika shouted.

"You..."

"Still, as much as I'd like to make this about us, it seems like we have another matter in hands." She said to then look at Emma. "Ash, as you just heard, I'm working for the Interpol now; and you must know that Emma was under our custody until she broke out."

"I know, but I can't let you take her with you, Anabel." He answered.

"Why not? Don't you trust the Interpol?" Anabel asked. "Don't you trust me?"

"I do trust, but... Emma here doesn't." Ash said. "She has already been through way too much; and with due respect, considering what she's been telling us, you people didn't help her much while she was there."

"We tried our best, Ash." Danika said.

"Your best wasn't enough!" Emma shouted again.

"Calm down..." Ash repeated. "The point is that we have a way to help Emma, she accepted our help and promised to not cause any more trouble while she was here. So I'm sorry, Anabel, but Emma is under my protection. I'm afraid you're the ones who'll have to trust me."

"I... Guess that's only fair." Danika said to then look at Anabel. "Isn't it, Miss Anabel?"

"...Well, Ash, if it's you then I suppose there's not much else to do..." Anabel answered to then softly cup his face. "But, hey, I was wondering if we could talk in private for a minute, maybe I could find another way to convince you to- AGH!" She suddenly shouted pulling her hands back.

"Uh, Anabel?" Ash called her.

"I..." She froze in place to then look at her gloves before staring at Ash. "I-I need a moment!" Anabel shouted to then run away.

"Miss Anabel!" Danika exclaimed following her.

"Uh, who were those girls?" Caitlin asked landing on her rose along with Shauntal and Dahlia.

"A pair of assholes..." Emma trailed off. "Thank you for defending me, Mr. hero, you and... Teacher!" She suddenly shouted running back to Meray and Ash followed her.

"Is she okay?!" Emma shouted.

"She's fine, she's fine." Kimia said. "They just knocked her out, that's all." She added while Ash released his Flabebe who used her pollen to heal the injury as Ash caressed Meray's face.

"I'm really sorry, I should've gotten here sooner to stop the fight." Ash said.

"Hey, don't worry about it. The good thing is that you got here before anyone got seriously injured." Korrina said while Ash simply stared at the unconscious Meray.

"Yeah, but... What if I didn't?"

.

Meanwhile inside the Mansion, Danika finally caught up to Anabel and found her panting heavily on the kitchen.

"What's the matter?" She asked before Anabel took off her gloves and showed her palms were bleeding. "M-Miss Anabel?!"

"Calm down, this isn't as bad as it looks." Anabel replied to then take a deep breath and started washing her hands.

"W-When did that even happen?!" Danika shouted.

"These injuries are the result of a psychic shield." Anabel replied.

"Psychic shield?" Danika asked.

"A complicated defensive spell created to block any attempt to use another spell against a person." Anabel explained. "I tried to see if I could make him change his mind about Emma while I was holding him and the shield reacted to that... But Ash certainly wouldn't have created one on his own."

"Then who put that shield on him?" Danika asked and left Anabel thinking in silence for a moment.

" ...Ugh, you got to be kidding me." Anabel said facepalming to then hold Danika by her wrist before snapping her fingers with her free hand, teleporting the two away with a flash of purple light and bringing them to the entrance of a Gym in a crowded city.

"...Right, that just happened... Where are we now?" Danika asked.

"Welcome to Saffron City's Gym. Just stay close to me." Anabel answered before walking to the front door and Danika followed her; and once the two were inside Anabel took another deep breath. "SAAAAAAAABRIIIIIIIIIIINAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

"You called?" Sabrina asked appearing next to them.

"AH! What the hell?!" Danika shouted.

"You little!" Anabel quickly formed a small aura sphere in her hand and tossed it to Sabrina, but she teleported away and the attack missed the mark to then explode onto a wall.

"My, looks like someone isn't in the mood." Sabrina said appearing at the entrance of the Gym with a smirk on her face.

"How dare you?!" Anabel shouted.

"Dare what? You're the one who came unannounced to my house and tried to attack me." Sabrina answered.

"Don't play dumb with me!" Anabel shouted repeating the attack, but Sabrina teleported to avoid again before appearing behind Anabel's back and pulled down her ponytail.

"Calm down, will you? I don't wanna fight today." Sabrina whispered to her ear and Anabel clenched her teeth before her eyes suddenly turned purple and she released a huge burst of energy that sent Danika flying away, while Sabrina teleported away again before the attack could hit her.

"Danika! I told you to stay close!" Anabel shouted.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking." Danika replied while laying on the floor.

"Geez, I really cockblocked you, didn't I?" Sabrina asked appearing in front of Anabel again. "Perhaps you wanted to use your powers on him for something else too... Something regarding you."

"SHUT UP!" Anabel shouted tossing the energy orb again, while Sabrina quickly interlocked fingers in front of herself to then separate her hands, while creating a web of energy in between them that caught Anabel's attack and bounced it back at her, making it explode on her stomach and sending her flying away and left her in the floor next to Danika.

"Huh, looks like Erika's therapy sessions are finally paying off." Sabrina said while approaching the two. "Wanna talk now?"

"ARGH! Why did you put that shield over Ash?!" Anabel shouted and tried to stand up, but ended up falling to her knees as she held her stomach in pain. "Y-Y-You're breaking the rules! The Bijon clan doesn't have the right to interfere in the future of other people!"

"Well, I'm afraid, you're also breaking the rules, dear cousin." Sabrina answered. "After all, the Esper clan isn't allowed to alter the free will of other people."

"I'm not altering Ash's free will." Anabel said. "I'm simply erasing some of his memories, that won't change the person he is in the long run."

"Then if we're going by loopholes, I'm not breaking the rules either." Sabrina said. "The exact accord is that the Bijon clan isn't allowed to interfere after having a vision, but by putting that barrier over Ash, I'm not directly interfering, I'm simply delaying the events, telling Ash what you want to do would have been an actual interference, but I refrained myself from doing that."

"Then why are you doing this?!" Anabel shouted.

"I just wanted to give you some time to think, cousin." Sabrina said patting her head. "I may have more power than you, but I know you're quite capable, so I'm sure you'll figure out how to break the shield eventually, but until then I want you to think if this is really the best course of action, can you?" She asked before starting to walk away. "And please leave, I need to close the Gym in 30 minutes.

"Miss Anabel, are you okay?" Danika asked standing up and helping Anabel do the same.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, ugh, let's just get out of here." She answered and started to walk away while still holding her stomach as Danika followed her.

"So, uh, that woman's your cousin?" Danika asked.

"Not in the actual sense of the word." Anabel answered. "We're both descendants from related clans, she likes to call me cousin to annoy me."

"I see, so, what are we going to do now?" Danika asked.

"Like she said, I should be able of finding out how to break the shield, I just need some time." Anabel replied. "Whatever's the case, I also need time to recharge from that teleportation, it's a really exhausting technique for me, Sabrina has a much easier time using it."

"So we're spending the night at a hotel or something?" Danika asked.

"Not necessarily, I just need an hour or two... Come with me, I think I know where we can wait."

Back with Ash.

"So they just disappeared?" Ash asked.

"Apparently, they're nowhere to be seen." Korrina replied while the rest of the girlfriends were already all together with Ash in the living room along with Caitlin, Shauntal and Dahlia, while Kimia and Emma were in their room, waiting for Meray to wake up.

"I don't wanna be throwing stones, but to disappear after having a fight like that..." Ash said.

"Hey, there must be a reason, Ash." Gloria said. "You know Danika, she's not a bad person, she's simply following orders."

"They still have to give us all an explanation." Nessa said while she was pinching Acerola's cheeks as the girl was sitting in her lap. "And you have some explaining to do as well!"

"I-I-I'm sorry, I just couldn't contain myself." Acerola replied with a nervous laugh.

"Seriously, she escaped all of us." Bea said. "Before we even noticed she was already running to you and we couldn't stop her."

"Good thing Caitlin came up with that idea." Cynthia said. "Thanks to you too, Dahlia."

"Heh, no probs!" She answered.

"Still, this situation actually got me thinking." Ash said. "I've already decided it, I'm going to reveal our relationship to the public, I'm not sure how or when, but we can't keep this as a secret forever, revealing it is the only way to make sure we can all be together, marry and have children eventually... As long as you girls are okay with that." He said and the girls were left in silence for a moment.

"I... Am a little scared of what other people may say, you know?" Skyla said. "But I'm more scared of not getting to enjoy our relationship to its full extent!"

"I think we all are." Peonia added. "You're the love of our lives after all, that's why we accepted to be part of a harem; and of course we all want to make the most of it with you."

"Yup, it's just like you said, letting the world know is the only way we can actually marry and." Selene said to then blush profusely. "... And, uh, have kids and all that."

"And everyone here wants to do all those things." Lillie said. "So I can tell everyone is okay with that idea, isn't that right?" She asked and the rest of the girls nodded.

"So whenever you're ready to reveal it, we'll be right by your side." Mallow added.

"Thanks a lot, girls." Ash said with a smile.

"Oh, well, let's move onto the next topic." Cynthia said to then approach Ash and hug him. "You and I have a duel pending tomorrow, in more than one way."

"Hey, easy there." Bea said. "You still have to wait for tomorrow, remember it's Acerola's turn tonight."

"Right, you're quite the lucky girl." Flannery said. "The Alola trio wants to have their own turn and Cynthia is waiting for after the battle, so you'll have Ash all for yourself tonight."

"If everything goes as planned I'll also Ash for myself tomorrow night." Cynthia added to then push his head in between her breasts. "I can tell you're so excited, honey."

"And after that it'll be our turn!" Lana shouted. "Right, Lillie?"

"...Maybe." She answered with a devilish smile.

"Oh, come on!" Lana shouted to then kneel in front of the blonde. "We're already the last ones on line! We're sorry for lying, okay?! What else do you want?! Don't act like you don't wanna bang him too!"

"Maybe if you beg a little harder." Lillie replied with a grin.

"That's the Lusamine blood in her, alright." Mallow said before the moment was interrupted by a knock from the front door and the group found Phoebe carrying her luggage before she entered the house in silence and ended up dropping herself in the couch.

"...Well, here I am." She said. "Do whatever you want with me, I don't care anymore..."

"Huh, I didn't expect her to actually show up." Lana said.

"Yeah, uh, you know you're not actually forced to be here, right Phoebe?" Flannery asked.

"I lost a Kahuru challenge, I don't have any kind of say in the matter anymore." Phoebe replied to then stand up. "Look at this... I don't want to be your girlfriend, Ash." She said looking at him and the ghostly chain from earlier suddenly formed around her neck again and asphyxiated her before forcefully pulling her to the floor.

"Phoebe!" Acerola shouted as she went to aid her as the chain eventually disappeared again and Phoebe tried to get back some air.

"So... As you can see... I don't get to choose what I want." Phoebe said to then sit on the floor. "This is my punishment for losing the challenge and since I was the one who started it, I have no right to complain... I've already accepted my fate..." She said to then stare at Ash. "So, congratulations in winning...I'm your... Slave from now on... Or girlfriend, whatever you want to call me."

"If that's really how you wanna play..." Acerola trailed off to then jump atop the couch so the rest of the girlfriends would look at her. "Then it's time to put my plan in motion!"

"Your plan?" Phoebe asked.

"YUP! It's barely noon and this is long due, girlfriends!" Acerola shouted. "We have to show Phoebe that our family is honest and happy! And that Ash is nothing but the best boyfriend in the whole world! So all of us will spend the rest of the day having double dates with Ash! Or well, double and half dates; because Phoebe will be an special guest in each date!"

"ME WHAT?!" Phoebe shouted.

"...Mind if we join you since we're already here?" Caitlin asked.

"WE WHAT?!" Shauntal shouted.

Meanwhile in Galar.

"Vire!" Electrivire said landing in front of an abandoned building with Chloe in his arms while Magmortar descended shooting fire from his cannons and landed next to Electrivire as the hood figure jumped off his back.

"So, uh, who are you again?" Chloe asked getting to the floor as well.

"Name's Paul Shinji." He answered taking off the mask. "Come with me." He said recalling his Pokemon to then go inside the old building while Chloe followed her.

"Where are-"

"CHLOE!" Chrysa shouted running to them and took Chloe into a big hug. "You're okay! Oh, I'm so glad!"

"C-Chrysa..." Chloe looked at her before shedding some tears to then hug her as well.

"I'm also glad you're okay." Goh added walking to the scene as well. "I would've liked to go save you myself, but I couldn't blow my cover just yet... Thanks again for the help, Paul."

"Again, I'm just paying up the favor." Paul replied. "I take it we're even now, right?"

"We sure are." Chrysa said. "But thanks, Really."

"I was so close..." Chloe said. "Now Mr. Steven, Roxanne and Lisia will all probably be jailed because of me... And I couldn't even do anything, Lyla's right, I'm just an useless wimp... That's all I'll ever be."

"... That's not entirely true." Paul said. "You may not have done much in the battle, but it was because you resisted and tried to escape that I had enough time to reach the airport."

"You mean-"

"I'm not entirely sure of what's going on here; and I honestly don't want to get myself more involved than this." Paul interrupted her. "I'm training to become a Gym Leader, the last thing I need is to end up fighting the Interpol... Don't misunderstand me, you and your Eevee are ridiculously weak... But we all have to start somewhere, I guess." He said to then toss Chloe a small purple rock that she caught with her hands.

"...An Eviolite?" She asked.

"You have to get stronger." Paul said to then turn his back on them. "If you're really as frustrated as you sound for having to rely in other people, that is... I know that feeling a little too well."

"Hey... I should also thank you." Chloe said and Paul simply shrugged shoulders before walking away.

"At least it's over." Chrysa said. "Hey, listen, you can't go back to your house right now. Your dad is seriously angry about all this, so, uh, how about you stay with me until the situation calms down." She said and Chloe simply stared at the Eviolite.

"...No." Chloe said under her breath. "I'm done running."

"What do you want to do then?" Goh asked.

"I have to get to Alola. I'm going to stop those Interpol agents and then I'll tell Ash everything that happened with Dawn." Chloe said.

"Well, that sounds great and all, but... You've just made quite an scene in the middle of an airport." Chrysa said. "How exactly are you going to leave Galar?"

"I... Don't know." Chloe admitted.

"I'd like to help you more, but the guys will already suspect from seeing you with my Dynamax Band." Goh said to then sigh. "I'm sorry, Chloe, but I think Chrysa is right, you tried and failed, that's alright, it'll be the best if you lay down for the moment."

"I'm sick of everyone telling me that." Chloe said. "I can't just stand back after everything that happened, I can't let Roxanne and Lisia's efforts to go to waste."

"... If that's the case..." Chrysa sighed. "There might be someone else I can ask a favor to... I need you to come with me to the Isle of Armor."

?

"I'm afraid you won't have time for that." Amaranth said to then sigh. "Dawn Shogo... Ugh, I must admit, you've seriously surprised me. To think a single young woman and her friends could cause us so much trouble. Couldn't expect less from one of Ash Ketchum's traveling partners, I suppose... Nevertheless, you seem to have us in checkmate, I really didn't want to do this, but... For the sake of time and humanity, I'm afraid I can't let you win this hustle... I'm sorry." He sighed again before pressing the button of his device and the sphere he left in front of the cell started to rapidly pulse with red light while letting out white smoke around the room.

"Don't forget, Shogo Family, none of this would have happened if you had complied with us." Amaranth said. "You brought this on yourselves." He took a deep breath before letting go of the button and the red light stopped pulsing to then shine brightly, causing Mitsumi's eyes to widen.

"DAWN!" She shouted standing in front of her and pushing her out of the room before the device ignited and created a massive explosion that sent the whole group flying away.

...

...

...

...

...

"...Dawn..."

...

...

...

...

...

"A... Akari..." Johanna called with a blurry vision and a piercing noise in her ears while sluggishly standing up, she then walked forward with her hands in front of her and ended up touching a cold glass while her vision and hearing returned back to normal and found herself inside a different cell. "What the..." She said looking around to then find Akari laying unconscious in the floor. "Akari! Akari, are you okay?! Akari?!" She grabbed and shook to no avail, while the girl's face seemed to imply she was having a nightmare. "What just happened?"

"Ah, good, you're awake." Amaranth said walking inside the room along with Quillon.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!" Johanna shouted punching the glass of the cell. "What did you do now?! Where is Dawn?!"

"Hopefully very far away." Amaranth said. "That device I left in front of your cell was designed to teleport you here, to our Kanto base, before creating an explosion. Dawn and her team must think you're dead by now... Still, to think you also got Planet X involved in this." He said to then show Johanna's earrings in his hands. "So this is how you contacted her..." He said to then then toss the earring to Quillon, who crushed them with his hands.

"This doesn't change anything!" Johanna shouted. "D-Dawn will notice something was wrong and then she'll come for us again!"

"How exactly?" Amaranth asked. "The explosion created by the device after you were teleported was 100% real, they have no reason to believe you're alive... Please, this should be the proof that you need, we simply want to fix this time mishap, Akari will be sent back and afterwards you'll be released."

"All we need from you is to stand FUCKING down while we do our job!" Quillon shouted.

"Yes, thank you, Quillon." Amaranth said. "That's exactly why we created this trick, now that you're "dead" Dawn and her crew have no reason to keep fighting us, they had given up and we also agreed to free them of all charges... Do you need any more proof that we are the good guys?"

"Good guys?!" Johanna shouted. "You're telling me Dawn thinks we're dead! How do you think she feels?!"

"That's irrelevant." Quillon replied. "She'll find out you're alive after this is all over and then you can continue with your boring civilian lives together and forget that all this happened."

"Please, Miss Johanna." Amaranth stared at her before starting to walk away and Quillon followed him. "Just let us do our job and give up as well..."

"...When is this nightmare going to end?" Johanna asked herself before sitting on the floor to then hold Akari's head to let her rest on her lap. "Dawn... Please, whatever you do... Just don't stop."

"Sachiko..." Akari whispered in her sleep.