Hard Enough - Chapter 363 - Ash's departure

Ash watched as Altaria was recalled, officially ending the War game between Brock and Clair with Brock’s overwhelming victory.

Ash nodded. “Yeah! That’s the way!” he cheered.

Mum, who had been sitting on the other couch next to Mr Mime, sniffed. “Really, I can’t see the point of sending so many pokemon out all at once. There’s more drama when it comes to one-on-one matches. The best part of this show was when Titan squared off against Clair’s Dragonite!”

Ash’s mouth flapped in the wind as he tried to come up with an argument. Eventually, his mind caught on an idea. “It’s about trying new cultures! Also it was bigger and faster paced!”

He pointedly avoided mentioning how it replicated what a true no-holds-barred fight was actually like.

Mum was still twitchy about his proposed plan to go to Orre.

Ash had thought Sabrina had been joking when she said she’d tell Mum! How was he to know she’d actually do it?

The show cut to the commentators who were in a television studio instead of a nearby box like a normal pokemon fight would.

“Wow what a match! There were a ton of moments in there and despite the chaos you can really see that both trainers went into this with a nuanced plan!” declared one of the announcers.

They then turned. “What’s your take on this Champion Lance?”

“Once again, Brock demonstrates why he was so sorely missed during the end-of-year Ace Tournament. His pokemon all pack some serious punches and he is always cultivating a new angle. I had no idea that Cradilly could tank water-type moves, nor draw them in. It seemed strange that he’d attached it to his Rhyperior, Bertha at the start but now it appears a wise move.”

“True that!” The female announcer proclaimed with a winning smile. “People are well aware of Bertha’s threat when she comes onto any field! For those viewers who haven’t heard, there is also a notice regarding Bertha that an Egg between herself and Titan will be gifted to a successful applicant. Terms and conditions apply so please read the sheet on the Pewter pokenet page as they have digital applications set up!”

The male lead turned back to Lance. “Now Brock’s announcement of the egg give away wasn’t the only point that was going to be raised tonight was it?”

Lance chuckled, “Indeed it wasn’t although whoever does win the right to the egg will certainly be one to watch next season I have no doubt.” Lance adopted a stern expression.

“However, what I have to say next concerns many people. The Blackthorn Clan have authorised me to declare that they will be sending a squadron of Dragontamers into the coming fight of Fiore and Orre. They will be working as peacekeepers and aide providers first and foremost!” 

“Oh? The Blackthorn Clan are getting involved?”

Lance nodded. “Indeed, as one of the pillars of Johto, and therefore a significant contributor, it is important that the Blackthorn clan lead the way going forward. I have spoken with several other prominent individuals who will also be taking part.”

“Anyone we might know?” asked the female announcer.

“Koga will be the lead agent on this operation,” Lance informed. “Also the newest Elite Four Member, Karen. From there we also have volunteers from Saffron, Viridian, and Ecruteak Gyms.”

“Sabrina?” gasped the announcer, only for Lance to cough.

“Ah, sorry, Kong, my apologies. Sabrina has emphatically mentioned that she has no desire to take part in the war beyond supporting relief efforts. Kong will be leading the charge.”

"Kong? Who was that again?" he muttered, a vague image of a Primeape in a suit forming in his mind while the show he was watching switched to advertisements.

"Pikaaaaaaa," Pikachu groaned, knowing precisely what his trainer was thinking.

Ash's Mum shot him a look. "Didn't you lose to him in Saffron?"

Ash coughed. "No? Maybe?" The image resolved itself into that of a smug Karate Master beating his Butterfree and Pideotto. "Oh yeeeeah," he murmured as it started to come back to him.

Mum shot him a worried look. "I'm really not sure you should be going to Orre if you forgot something like that."

"This is completely different!" Ash replied, stealing one of Forrest's favourite phrases.

"Hmmm, have you got clean underwear packed?" she asked, causing Ash to splutter in shock.

"Mum!" he whined only for the television show to thankfully return from commercials.

“What of Hoenn? Has there been any movements from Wallace? You and he were both…” the female announcer bit her lip for a moment. “Both seen together at the recent Aide party, no?”

“Veronica! You can’t expect Lance to kiss and tell!” admonished the male host.

Lance’s grin twitched. “Hahaha, I can firmly state that there was nothing romantic going on. Wallace was purely betting to drive up the donations that would be given to the Orange Archipelago.” 

The two hosts smiled smugly at him and Lance showed a bit of teeth in his smile.

Mum giggled. “Oh, he’s so fun to tease!” 

Ash tilted his head. “Huh?” he asked.

Mum coughed. “Nothing dear, just a pokenet meme getting passed around!”

“Mum… you’re not taking everything the pokenet says as true right?” Ash asked.

Mum pouted. “Ash Ketchum! I’ve been around and I know not everything you hear or read is true! This is just a community of people that trade jokes… and the occasional farfetch’d recipe,” she muttered quietly.

Ash raised his eyebrows at her only for Mum to cough. “It’s a fun-loving group alright! And some of the people on it are apparently quite highly educated! I think one of them is Professor Elm!”

“How would you know that?” Ash asked curiously. 

“Oh, he posts images of his work online… It’s—” her eyes darted towards Mr Mime who was walking around with an apron dusting the room. Mum coughed. “—interesting work, but it has sort of doxed who he is.”

Ash had questions about what sort of images these were. What was Elm’s specialty? Before he could ask, the television claimed his attention once more with Lance coughing.

“While Wallace wasn’t committing to the war, serious aid has been given and there have been several developments by specific individuals.”

Lance coughed. “Drake of the Elite Four has asked for a period of long service leave and has apparently offered his resignation.”

The studio on the television which had previously been rather jolly in tone suddenly became tense as both hosts leaned forward for this revelation. 

“Drake of Hoenn’s Elite Four?” gasped one.

Lance nodded. “There were also the announcements from the previous Gym Leader of Rustboro , they are moving to help.”

The male host tilted his head. “So a rock type specialist, yes? Weren’t they retiring?” 

Lance nodded. “They have chosen their successor.” As the host’s eyes lit up Lance raised a hand. “I will leave that to them. I won’t steal their thunder, but if you’ve paid any attention to the Gym in question, you’ll have a good idea of who is taking over.”

“That’s going to be quite the reshuffle for the Hoenn’s next circuit of young trainers,” mused one of the hosts. “That will be three of the main gyms changing hands!”

Lance coughed. “Six actually, I know Norman has taken over the Petalburg Gym, and that Flannery is set to take over Lavaridge, but there is also going to be a change with the Mossdeep Gym, and with Wallace taking on the mantle of Champion Juan will be stepping up once again. I have also heard about a formal challenge for a Gym in Dewford to be recognised."

The hosts blinked. “Oh my, that… is quite the reshuffle.”

Lance inclined his head. “Watson and Winona will stay in position along with several lesser Gyms, retaining their leaders.”

Ash felt an itching at the mention of the other region. One that held a lot of appeal to him. 

If the Orre situation hadn’t occurred, Ash would be planning to sweep the Battle Frontier before running into the Johto side of the Indigo League with his final year as a young trainer being spent honing his pokemon in Hoenn, but perhaps another region might be better if all the Gym Leaders were going to still be ‘fresh’ so to speak. 

Sinnoh seemed quite appealing and surely within a year or two he’d be able to travel there?

“How are your friends dear?” Mum asked.

Ash smiled only to grimace a second later. “Good, Forrest was happy when he won but he was a bit miffed to learn I was going to go help out in Orre.”

Mum’s hands tightened on the remote. She gave a noncommittal hum that had Ash ducking his head slightly.

“But we talked about it. He’s not going cause apparently his family has a bit of a history with fighting,” he muttered. 

Mum nodded. “They do, yes, so I’m glad he’s listening to his family.”

Ash winched. “Mum I… I just feel like I can’t sit still while I know—” Mum raised her hand to him only for her chin to quiver.

“You’re so like your father!” she gasped as she turned her head away.

Before Ash could even think about what he should do Mr Mime was at Mum’s side offering her a handkerchief. 

“Miiiime,” crooned the psychic pokemon as it sat by her side.

“Thank you, Mr Mime,” Mum said as she dabbed at her eyes. She turned back, and Ash lowered his head.

He wanted to apologise for making her cry, but at the same time, he knew it was empty. “I need to help people.”

Mum nodded. “Of course, dear. I’m glad you’re using your head, your father…” Mum’s lips thinned. “Well he was a leap before you look sort of man that couldn’t be tied down.”

Ash nodded, he’d heard lots of things like this about dad growing up. 

“Think he’d be proud of me?” he asked quietly.

Mum launched herself at Ash and almost tipped them both over the lounge. “I know he would and so am I for that matter!” she proclaimed even as the lounge teetered.

Ash stiffened as Pikachu launched himself away to escape the impending crash only for a psychic glow to form around the furniture and drag them back down.

“Mr Mr Mime!” chided Mr Mime as he brandished a feather duster at Mum and Ash. 

Ash shot an incredulous look. “It wasn’t my fault!” he gasped while Mum giggled causing Mr Mime to shift his focus onto Mum.

“Oh, thank you once again Mr Mime! You’re always so dependable!” she shot Mr Mime a fond look that had him huffing.

Ash shifted to the side. “What was that about leaping and looking?” Ash asked pointedly.. 

Mum glanced at him only to blink and giggle. “Oh, it seems I’m a bit the same with leaping before I look!”  

Ash laughed with her, and for just that moment, Ash felt that everything was going to be alright.

Then a hammering at their front door caused them to pause. A moment later, the front door opened. “Hey Auntie Delilah!” called Daisy Oak. “I brought Gary over for a play date!”

“I’m not some kid!” growled Gary as the siblings walked into the room. Ash stared. It had been… well almost a few years since they’d just walked in like that. They used to be over here almost all the time with how Mum looked after them when Professor Oak was busy.

But then Ash and Gary had their falling out and… Ash and Gary stared at each other with an air of uncertainty. 

Then Gary sneered. “Wanna head out back, leave the girls to their.. gossip?” he suggested and Ash launched himself off the couch only to almost trip on a loose cushion. 

Gary smirked. “Heh, still a klutz Ashy boy?”

Ash rose, ready to spit something back only for Mum to giggle. “Oh you two boys are friends again? How wonderful! I knew you both going on your journey would make you mature up a little!”

 Ash and Gary almost refuted it only for Mum’s smile to turn… challenging?

Ash and Gary shared a look and decided to drop it.

Mum turned to Gary. “Are your cheerleaders still around?”

Gary blushed. “No, I don’t need them anymore, so they left. They’re also not going to be following me for the next circuit!” 

“Oh?” Mum adopted a coy look. “And what about Mia?”

“S-she’s busy. She went to the Battle Frontier when it first opened!” he muttered dejectedly.

Daisy patted him on the back. “Don’t worry, you’ll see her again soon.”

Gary rolled his shoulder to dodge Daisy’s pat and stomped off to the backdoor. “Are you coming or what?” he called to Ash. Ash followed him out the back, where several of his pokemon were lounging around. The backyard leading onto Professor Oak’s reserve meant he could easily see his pokemon whenever he wanted.

Primeape was sparring with Charizard, with both pokemon pausing when Ash showed up.

Gary sniffed at them as he settled on the back step. Ash took a moment to look over his pokemon before taking a seat next to him.

Gary worked his jaw. “I didn’t get the chance to ask during the party. What was it like? Down in Shamouti?” he asked, staring straight ahead.

Ash matched him, not letting his head turn in the slightest. 

“It was scary,” he admitted. “There was so much going on, and people were getting hurt. I was just running around doing what people told me, and before I knew it, everything was done.”

They both watched as Primeape landed a solid blow against Charizard.

Primeape began to crow victoriously, only for a vicious tail to sweep around and knock him off his feet.

Before either pokemon could get too heated Ash clicked his tongue once. 

Charizard looked only to bow his head while Primeape locked eyes with Ash and took a step forward only to stiffen as Ash didn’t so much as twitch.

Primeape swallowed and marched off to relax atop a branch in the tree.

Gary glanced towards Ash in consideration.

“Do you think you’re better off for having gone through what you did?” he asked.

Ash shook his head. “No.”

Gary blinked. “No?”

“Not stronger, I don’t think fights like that make you stronger Gary… at least I didn’t feel it. What I felt was more… aware of the way the world is. How some people are cruel and others are kind. That… that led to something else, I think?” Ash grasped at the air in front of him. “I’m not doing a good job of explaining it.”

Gary shook his head. “Nah, I get it. A little. Some situations change the way you look at the world and those around you.”

Ash snapped his fingers. “Yes! That!” 

Gary smirked. “I always was smarter,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, but I’m a better trainer!” Ash crowed.

“Oh yeah?” Gary growled, turning to lock eyes with Ash.

“Yeah!” Ash shouted. 

Both boys butted heads, and their hands twitched towards their pokebelts, just as they closed around pokeballs the back door opened. 

“Oh? Gonna kiss? Guess Mia’s gonna be sad she missed this!” giggled Daisy.

Gary and Ash’s head snapped around.

“We weren’t kissing!” they shouted.

The older girl merely giggled and laid a tray of cookies and lemonade on the deck. “Well you two boys play nice!”

Gary snatched up a cookie and gnashed it between his teeth with Ash matching him in intensity.

“Urgh! Girls are weird! Is everything about romance with them?” Ash asked.

“Nah, just most things. You travelled with Misty, you should know that!” Gary replied as he threw back the lemonade only to wheeze when he drank it too quickly.

Ash barked a laugh only to forget that he also had a mouthful of lemonade in his mouth. His eyes bulged as instant regret struck.

Pikachu’s head swivelled between both wheezing boys only to throw his head back so far that he flopped over on his back as laughter spilled out.

After a moment, both boys pointed at the other, laughing good-naturedly. 

When the sting and laughter faded both boys settled. Ash adopted a more stoic expression. “Speaking of Misty, she’s been pretty mad. She lost her match against Yuji and he doesn’t allow you to challenge again.” 

“Oh, he’s a one and done sort of guy?” Gary asked with a playful smirk.

Ash nodded his head seriously. “Yup. One shot is all you get with him.”

Gary grinned only to sigh. “It’s not the same when you don’t get the joke Ash. Man, Misty is nothing like hanging out with a bunch of girls.”

Ash tilted his head, unsure what Gary was talking about. “Are you going to challenge the Orange islands?”

“Nah,” Gary replied. “I’m gonna meet up with Mia for the Battle Frontier. First, I’m getting my pokemon up to snuff though. Honing them with Battleclub matches and Ace challenges. It cost me a pretty pokepenny but I’m getting stronger.” Gary leaned back. “You’ve got to be at your best if you hope to face a Legendary pokemon.”

“Yeah, that’s true they have this aura about them that isn’t like the normal stuff.”

“Eh?” Gary asked.

Ash blinked. “Huh? You know Aurua, the energy in everything? Life force?” Ash clenched his fist and stared at it.

Gary glanced at Ash’s hand and then back to his face. “Are you trying to poo your pants like you did in pre—” his taunt died quickly as a soft glow emitted from Ash’s hand.

“Eh?” Gary said, leaning forward. “What is that?”

Ash grinned. “It’s aurua!” he pronounced proudly, only to exhale and let his hand relax causing the glow to vanish. “I couldn’t do that before the party.”

“Don’t you mean the Shamouti incident?” Gary corrected.

Ash shook his head. “Nah, after we wrapped up our circus act I ran into this really cool pokemon called Lucario. He got kinda weird around me, and we got to talking. He asked about my aurua training, and I admitted I’d been doing it for a while, and he showed me how to start training to emit it.”

“Wait Lucario? Are you mispronouncing Aura?!” Gary shouted, his brow twitching.

Ash coughed. “No, you were just hearing it wrong!” 

Gary stared, then he took a long breath. “ Ignoring your usual idiocy… You… met an Lucario and it offered to train you? And you’re running off to Orre instead? Ash are you…” Gary grabbed at his head. “Urgh! That is such a you thing to do!” 

Ash grinned. “Thanks!”

Gary groaned. “It wasn’t a compliment!”

“Eh, he wanted me to go to Rota which I don’t even know—”

“It’s north of Pewter! It’s not even that far! You can literally fly there on your Pidgeot!” Gary roared. “How are you my rival? I’m offended!” 

Ash just chuckled and raised two fingers in a sign of victory, only for Gary to lunge at him and cause a scuffle to break out.

By the time the sun was starting to go down, both boys were sitting on the back deck, lounging with nothing more to say.

“Idiot.”

Apart from insults, to make sure the rivalry stayed strong.

“Stink wad.”

“Muk brother.” 

“Weezing breath.”

“You two are just…” Daisy shook her head from where she was standing. “Such kids,” she bobbed her head behind her. “Come on Gary, Gramps will want us home soon for dinner.”

Gary grunted as he stood. “Smell ya later Ashyboy, make sure you come back from Orre, we still need to have our match on the big stage.”

Ash rose. “I’ll win!” he declared.

Gary just threw a wave over his shoulder, not deigning to say anything else.

_____________

Ash exhaled a breath as he landed atop his pidgeot. The next wave of supporters for Orre was due to head out today and Ash had said all his goodbyes to his friends.

When he landed, several people glanced at him only to shake their heads. 

“Damn young ones,” muttered a grizzled old man as he stalked past.

Ash shifted, glancing around for the contact that he was to be attached to for the duration of his ‘tour’ in Orre.

“Alright rookie, good to see you’re here!” called a feminine voice. 

Ash turned to find Karen, one of the Elite Four, behind him. 

She stalked up and gave him an assessing look that reminded Ash of the few times he’d encountered a Sharpedo while on the back of Lapras. She was sizing him up, seeing how she’d attack, and she would attack.

When her smile grew Ash knew she’d seen enough to be confident. He squared his shoulders and stared back into her eyes. 

“Heh, you’re going to be a cute little assistant. You’ll be shadowing me as we move around Orre, you follow my lead kid, got that?”

Ash nodded. “We’ll be helping people right?”

Karen smirked. “Course we will, got the eyes of the world. Pay attention, and I’ll teach you a thing or two. Now, I have some other… people that are going to be joining us.”

Ash tilted his head. “Is there something wrong with them?”

“Nah, one of them is a pokemon,” Karen replied with a twitch of her lips like she was telling a joke.

“Oh?” Ash asked, unsure what had her reacting this way. Or maybe she was just trying to mess with him?

Pikachu started glancing around from atop Ash’s head. Karen glanced at him. “Is he able to go into a pokeball?”

“No!” Ash frowned. “I never put Pikachu into a pokeball!”

“Pika!” Pikachu growled.

Karen stared at them. “And what happens if Pikachu gets hurt?” She drew out a pokeball. “These have a stasis function if he gets hurt. What were you planning to do if that happened? Run him to—”

“Yes! I’d carry him the whole way!” Ash roared.

Karen blinked, only to shake her head. “Well, you’re certainly stupid enough to be in the same bracket as old man Oak, that’s for sure.”

“Huh?” Ash asked, unsure how they had gotten to talking about Professor Oak. He wanted to call it a compliment, but at the same time the way Karen had said it made it obvious it was anything but.

Karen shook her head. “Well, at least you’ll be able to talk with the Fiorians and them not instantly snap at you,” she muttered.

Karen sighed and raised her transceiver. “Alright rookie, let’s start with the obvious stuff. Why is only half your team fully evolved? You waiting for your bulbasaur and Squirtle to learn all their moves?” 

Ash blinked. “Huh? No? I let my pokemon evolve when they want, or if they want.”

Karen stared. “You realise you’re about to go into a war situaiton… with pokemon that aren’t as powerful as they could be, right rookie?”

That only got a stubborn expression from Ash. “So? We don’t need to always rely on power to get everything done! Bulbasaur and Squirtle are just as strong but they use speed, agility and—”

A hand shot out to silence him. “Right, right. I get it… Hooo jewhiz this assignment just got…” she shook her head. “Alright we’re gonna babysit you it seems.”

Pikachu growled at Karen only for her to ignore him, causing Pikachu to huff. Ash was quick to start stroking his fur to calm him down. “It’s alright Pikachu. She might be a jerk but she’s a strong jerk.”

“I can hear you, you know?” Karen pointed out only for Ash to stare right back at her.

“Yeah? And? I’m not lying.”

A creeping chill ran down Ash’s spine causing him to stiffen. A quick glance down let him know that Karen’s shadow was in the wrong position. It stared back at him and he swallowed.

“Word to the wise rookie? Don’t piss off the person in charge of your protection, I might just hold back and let nature take its course if you do,” she stated.

Ash swallowed and looked back up into her eyes. They were dark and promised retribution. 

“You won’t,” he said before he could really stop and think why he said it.

Karen’s eyebrows disappeared into her fringe. “And what makes you say that?” she asked, her words crisp and threatening.

Ash swallowed. “I—” he searched her face before he continued, “—think behind the mask you use, you’re a good person.”

Karen stared back at him only to huff. The darkness vanished from her eyes a few moments later. “I’m not for the record.”

Ash tilted his head. Was she being shy? This was sort of like Misty when she got embarrassed by something nice that Forrest had said or done.

“Now,” she snapped her fingers in his face causing him to flinch. “Follow rookie. You’ve got to meet the others,” she ordered as she marched through the crowd. Ash followed after her.

The ‘entourage’ as Karen called them ended up being three women by the name of Molly, Rebecca, and Annabelle before the people they were waiting for showed up.

The first sign of their approach was a clanking noise followed by Pikachu shooting up to the top of Ash’s head. 

“Pika? Pikachu!” called Pikachu as he waved his short little hands excitedly.

“Well met!” called a voice, and Ash turned to find himself looking into a familiar muzzle.

“Lucario?” Ash asked in surprise.

“Pika Pi?” called Pikachu.

Lucario walked up with what looked like a knight in full armour. “We are ready to join you!” declared Lucario with a firm nod, looking at Ash.

Karen clicked her tongue. “Ahem, I’m in charge of this little international group!” she announced.

Lucario and the knight both glanced at her, only to look back at Ash and nod, causing Karen to grumble darkly.

Lucario raised a hand. “How has your training progressed? Do you have—”

Ash’s hand shot up and he concentrated hard, calling up the energy within. “I…can…do… this…” he growled through clenched teeth.

The group and indeed many people around them paused as a small flash of light emerged above Ash’s hand only to retreat back a few seconds later.

Ash shuddered, feeling suddenly tired before a wave of energy washed through him a moment later.

“How was that?”

“That was remarkable work for a week’s training sir Aaron,” Lucario replied.

“Sir Aaron?” Ash asked. “Who’s that?”

Lucario stiffened. “I misspoke!” he growled, shaking his head. “You bear a passing resemblance to an old comrade of mine!”

“Cool! He sounds like a great guy! He was a knight? Like your friend?” Ash asked, turning towards the armoured figure who was locking eyes with Karen.

Lucario coughed. “Yes, he was very… cool as you might say these days.”

Pikachu tilted his head at Lucario only to turn towards the knight and begin sniffing the air.

Something about what he smelled caused Pikachu to drop to the ground and expose his stomach. “Chaaaaa!” Pikachu wailed quietly.

The knight turned away from Karen. “You have nothing to fear from me. As a Knight of Rota I will protect the weak.”

Pikachu sat up at that and breathed out in relief. Ash scooped Pikachu back up. “Well you won’t have to worry about us! Cause we’re not weak!” he declared, puffing his chest out.

“Hmmm,” replied the knight, turning back to Karen. “Shall we board?” he asked.

Karen grunted and made a circling gesture. “Alright gang grab your things we’re loading up and shipping out!” she declared, leading the group onto a waiting ship. 

When Ash hurried up next to her Karen shook her head. “You have no idea who they are, do you rookie?”

“No? Are they important?” Ash asked. “I met Lucario during the Shamouti aide party. He was really nice and showed me how to train my aura!”

Karen shook her head. “Fuck me but I know I’m being set up now,” she growled, her head lolling back. “At this rate you’re going to end up teaching me about aura.”

“I’d be happy—”

“This is not Agatha and Oak version two rookie!” Growled Karen as she marched off. 

Ash tilted his head. He glanced to the other ladies in the entourage and they all giggled and shook their heads. Ash shared a look with Pikachu. “Girls are weird,” he muttered.

When they made it to the ship they were led into a shared cabin where another pair were waiting for them.

Karen waved him over. “Ash? Meet Wes and Rui, they were part of Orre’s Team Cipher but defected to help us out. Most of the intel we know is thanks to them or the other weirdo that has led the charge.”

“Sup!” called Wes while Rui bowed politely.

“Oh, uhmm, nice to meet you both! Glad you joined the good guys!” Ash declared.

Karen snorted. “Speak for yourself,” she muttered as she moved off to claim a seat watching the port as the ship set off. 

Ash bowed politely to Karen and darted back out to the front of the ship where he could see everything.

“Here we go Pikachu,” Ash whispered to his companion.

“Pika!” cheered Pikachu fearlessly and Ash grinned, feeling better about the future. 

_____________

A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for the continued support. 

It also goes to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter.

I saw a comment regarding Ash meeting Lucario at the Shamouti party and I couldn’t agree more that there needed to be something there. While we were Brock enteric for that party that doesn’t mean bonds weren’t formed. 

The result? Lucario and Mewtwo are on their way to Orre.

And only Karen knows who they actually are.