Agatha leaned back against the bench she was seated at, eyes drifting upwards towards the sky. The last signs of orange sunset were fading, giving way to a progressively starry night. Lavender Town's signature breeze was felt all the more at this time of day, although it did not get so much as a shiver out of her. Slowly, the blonde girl's eyes moved to the boy seated next to her. Samuel had changed into a somewhat thicker sweater as the outside air turned cooler.

The comfortable silence between them had lasted a good bit for now, but she chose to break it after some thought. "That Charmeleon of yours hits pretty hard, you know."

The battle with the trio of poachers had been a success. Although it had not been an easy fight, Agatha and Samuel had begun to gain momentum after the Raticate had been taken out. Gloom's debilitating arsenal had proven hand-in-hand with Charmeleon's power and aggression, and despite the criminals' best efforts, the two rookies had fallen into something of a rhythm while taking control of the fight, and the girl inwardly confessed to feeling some satisfaction watching her Gloom set Samuel's starter up for the knockout. By the end, only Drowzee had been left, weakened and at the fire lizard's mercy just as the police had shown up.

They had not gotten off without a light scolding, of course. Two thirteen year old rookies taking on a group of criminals (that outnumbered them three to two, no less) was far from a favorable picture in Officer Jenny's eyes, but the role they had played in the arrest (and buying time for the police to arrive on the scene) had still received its due acknowledgement from the overall thankful chief.

Now, the two of them were just outside the Pokemon Center. The three poachers were behind bars, their backgrounds being investigated to see what other areas they may have struck prior. Their captives had all been looked over by the medical staff, with Yami staying the night at the Center after being diagnosed with a concussion. Growlithe and her family had been released recently, the mother canine's leg injury thankfully not serious and easily treatable. Anya and Trish had accompanied the two trainers to pick up Gloom and Charmeleon, who had both just been released, but went home to their families afterwards due to their curfews (the time had snuck up on all four of them), leaving Agatha and Samuel to linger behind at the nearby bench. Above them, they could see a couple of Gastly floating by, heading in the direction of the tower.

"I'm sure he'd be proud to hear you say that," Samuel turned to look at her. "Your Gloom was pretty creative with his spores. You basically gave us those openings for free."

Agatha's lips stretched into a satisfied grin. "You did a good job taking advantage of them." After a moment or two, she looked off in the direction she knew the cherry field was in. "Thanks for… coming with me. The fight might have been a lot more difficult without your help."

Samuel shook his head lightly, understanding in his features. "I wasn't going to let those poachers have their way with them like that. I've read up on those mills recently, it wasn't even a question to get involved."

"That makes two of us then," Agatha sighed. "It all turned out alright, though. Thankfully, my folks know that I'm a big girl, as long as we didn't get hurt." Another round of silence between the two. Although the reminder of the events earlier in the day had brought back some of the stress, it was soon slowly washed away by the breeze. The ordeal was over now, and none of the damage would be permanent.

Nothing irreparable had taken place today.

Subconsciously, Agatha had begun scooting closer to Samuel. Neither rookie had noticed until they were almost right next to each other, and although the boy felt a nervous tense for a moment, that quickly relaxed on its own as the two leaned back and watched the sky. By now, the orange was pretty much completely gone, and the stars were gently poking out one by one. Pidgey, Pidgeotto and Spearow were returning to their nests, most fairly quiet, but the occasional bird letting out gentle calls as they glided through the air above them.

"Nighttime in Lavender really isn't all that spooky," this time it was Samuel who broke the silence, a light grin adorning his face as he watched a Pidgey trailing behind a Pidgeotto with perfect rhythm.

"Mhm," Agatha hummed. "So many people make easy assumptions about us, but in the end, we're simply a home." her eyes shifted to the tower in the distance. "My home, and I'll always be happy to come back."

"I'll be sure to spread the word."

Still looking up, the blonde girl's head slightly turned to the brown haired boy. Her tongue hesitated for a moment before she said, "So, you're leaving in the morning, right?"

With a small breath, Samuel nodded. "I've been holding off on Leader Benver for a while now. I really shouldn't procrastinate; not sure if I'll win, but I need to actually try for once. So it's back to Saffron after tonight."

Agatha studied him for a moment before nodding as well. "I'm going to be staying for a few more days. I'm thinking of Cerulean next. I can meet you at the inn to see you off." She offered.

"Thanks," he replied. "And thanks for all your help this past week, too." his eyes shifted to his backpack leaning against the bench. "I learned even more coming here than I hoped, I'm glad we ran into each other."

"That's not the only reason, now is it?" she teased.

"Of course not!" The boy's giggle was soon matched by her own. By now, poachers had left their minds, the atmosphere as easy as could be.

Agatha's quick laughter subsided, leaving a fond grin in its wake. "I'm glad we did too. It's been a lot of fun, and… well, I hope you have the same luck elsewhere. You're really serious about that dream of yours."

Samuel's cheeks flushed just a bit. "It's the world to me. Not fully sure how it will take shape in the long run, but however it does, I'm not going to rest." there was excitement in his tone, but a bit more subdued by the serene mood. "What about you? You're going to become a Master, right?"

"Definitely. That's not exactly going to be easy either, but I welcome the obstacles. The past four months have been really fulfilling." as she shifted in her seat, her head turned to make eye contact with him. It felt a lot different when they were right next to each other. "I've had the honor of seeing your endeavors first hand, so I'll be rooting for you."

Samuel's throat almost locked under her gaze, but he quickly smiled, returning the eye contact. "Same here. I'm sure we'll both make it to the Conference this year too, after seeing how you fight."

She giggled. "You only saw a taste, I'll have you know."

A somewhat stronger breeze directed their attention to the shaking leaves on a nearby tree, swaying comfortably and rhythmically in the wind. The lights from the Center and nearby posts shined over the darkening area as the previously approaching evening had arrived. Samuel realized that his sweater was not fully zipped to the top, and quickly fixed that as his eyes took note of a Haunter dancing a bit of a ways off. Agatha eyed the ghost with fond familiarity before it vanished into thin air, and suppressed the tempting giggle.

The surroundings had grown a bit quieter after that, the sounds of birds almost completely vanishing. A couple of older trainers walked through the doors to the Center a few meters away, likely just finishing some late checkups before heading over to the Applecorn Inn to turn in for the night. The sight reminded Samuel to check his watch as Agatha brushed a strand of hair behind her.

"It is getting late," the boy commented, as though it had just now fully sunk in. Looking up at Agatha, the two made eye contact again, and he felt something turn in his chest, noticing an unreadable difference in her eyes as they studied one another's features. "Would you… like me to walk you home?"

Her lips formed into a small, relaxed grin. "I don't have a curfew anymore, that was lifted when I became a trainer." She paused for a few seconds as her hand slowly made its way to his. "I can… spare another fifteen minutes or so."

Samuel wasn't sure if it was her tone or her touch that quickened his heart rate, but he found himself less and less focused on their surroundings as Agatha's fingers rested against his palm. Not breaking his gaze, it seemed as though she may have moved slightly closer again at some point. He tried to muster a reply… but instead, chose to wrap his other arm around her shoulder. Gently pulling her forward a bit, a hint of red appeared on her cheeks as she leaned in and closed the remaining distance.

As their lips touched, both rookies paused for a second. Just a second, taking in the soft, pleasantly unfamiliar contact, reading one another for a final time, before their muscles relaxed, and their arms wrapped around one another in full. He leaned in more to match her as their lips pressed together again, this time staying that way as their surroundings ceased to matter.

/

Agatha's cane gently rested against her chair as she sat back. Her perfect posture did not match the look on her face, a somewhat empty frown that left little room for anybody else.

"I'm glad you called, Agatha. How are things over there?" Professor Oak sat on the other side of the screen, Clefable next to him. The fairy Pokemon wore an expression that almost matched the ghost Master.

"It's all over the news, I presume." Agatha waited a few moments before speaking. Her usual edge was absent from her tone as she brushed a strand of gray-blonde hair behind her head.

"Every corner of Indigo." Oak's face was a thousand word picture of concern. "Soon it will be world wide. I imagine Fuji's already been blasted with phone calls from every direction."

"You would be correct," once more, it took her a few moments to respond. "First thing in the morning, and I already missed the chance to talk to him. He has not been able to leave his lab." On the other end of the screen, the Professor looked like he was about to say something, so she quickly spoke again. "The three kids in the tower were all rescued. Initially, it seemed like Koga's daughter was the only one who made it, but Officer Jenny found Caleb and Ketchum. They got themselves out."

Oak's brow furrowed, but he let her continue as Clefable glanced at him knowingly. "And how are they?"

Agatha's breath caught in her throat for a moment. The sight of her was almost foreign to the professor, the flickering image of the vindictive, spiritedly blunt woman giving way to the reality of the hollow frown keeping the dam of heartbreak contained. "From what I know… Trish's grandson has not left his room. Lacey told me that he was crying nonstop, and Trish had to force herself in. She hasn't left his side since." the older woman chewed her lip before continuing on. "I do not know of Janine or Ketchum's status, other than that they are here in the Pokemon Center. I understand the latter is one of yours."

"Mhm." Oak nodded. "His mother… woke up to the news. She raced to the lab in her pajamas. She's been trying to get a hold of her son now."

"He might not even be up."

"He shouldn't be." Even on a screen, Oak was beginning to find eye contact coming a bit more difficult. "I managed to calm her down, at the very least. The reports say he is… physically uninjured. That was enough to at least get her to eat. I am going to wait a couple more hours before trying to get in touch myself." His hands ran down his face, and Clefable patted his side, knowing what the professor was thinking. "Gary was… in Lavender quite recently. I don't want to even think of the alternative."

"He wasn't, Samuel," Agatha spoke as gently as the mood allowed. "That's the important part."

It might have been the woman's attempt at soothingness that reminded Oak of his original thoughts. "Agatha…" his face only turned slightly serious. "I know you're dodging the question I want to ask. How are you?"

Agatha stared at the screen for what felt like two eternities from her perspective. From his, it must have only been five or six seconds. There were few people on the planet she'd allow to see her in such a state; a person she could and would never wear a mask around. The tear began trickling down her cheek as her lips started to tremble.

"I went outside this morning…" even as she started the words left her, not finding their way back for several more seconds. "Everything feels wrong, Samuel. There's no chill in the air, nothing's watching you from a distance, or tagging your shadow. There's no… tower overlooking you." The tear soon found company, and the progressive shakiness in her voice would have made her words more difficult to understand for most people other than the Professor. "It's not even Lavender Town anymore. It's like a person who was stabbed in the heart and lungs."

"Agatha…!" Oak's arm moved to reach out, only for him to quickly remember that he was talking to a screen. He held his tongue, seeing that she was not yet done.

The woman took a breath, managing to regather herself before speaking once more. "They… got Yami, Samuel. All of the ghosts are gone, but most of them escaped. He was abducted." One hand ran across her face, and the other through her hair. "No doubt he got careless about trying to play the hero. He was always far too docile to pull that off, yet he never seemed to realize it." Her fingers tapped against her cane. "The tower is gone, pretty much. So are most of the graves. Countless buried Pokemon in and surrounding it… they're assessing the damage, but who knows how long it will take?" she chewed her lip, but the tears did not quite come this time. "Including Sage's grave… She had been there for two years now."

"You haven't located it?" Oak asked gently.

"I have not tried yet," she confessed. "And… I want to, but…"

"You don't have the energy." The professor deduced. "Don't force yourself."

"She was my starter."

"I can't imagine what you're going through," he said. "But trying to force it is not going to help you. The League forces are looking through everything, and if the worst is true… I don't want you seeing that for yourself. Not right away."

The oldest member of the Elite Four sighed a deep, hollow breath. "Samuel…" There was a hint of gratitude to accompany the emptiness this time.

"I'm sure Lance and the others have already encouraged you," Oak patted Clefable's head in hopes of assuaging the fairy Pokemon's concerns. "So now it's my turn. You were more affected by this than any of the personnel out there right now. It's healthier this way."

The weakest of small smiles struggled to make its way across the woman's face. "I… can't believe I let a bunch of Rockets do this…"

"You did not let them do anything. Please Agatha, take it easy for today. Maybe even for a while."

"Not too long," she refuted. "The response to this attack was immediate, and will continue to be. I need to be a part of that." she released a breath through her nose. "The area was swept by our forces last night, but the Rockets have already cleared out. We found remnants of a camp, but they were all completely picked clean. It's infuriating how thorough they are when scurrying back to their holes." she ran a hand across her face. "You don't need to be worried about me, Samuel. I'll take a day or two. I need to visit Trish as well. Lacey also wants me too. Kimberly running away after the accident with Knighter was bad enough, and now Caleb almost…" her face likely would have fallen if it had not already. "I know that woman's doing everything she can to help him, but I also doubt she's giving any of that kindness to herself. She never forgave herself for Knighter's death, either. That Scyther was her granddaughter's best friend, and now…"

"Her grandson almost died visiting his grave," Oak finished. "Please send the Beacons my condolences."

"They'd be happy to hear from you,"

"They certainly will," he assured. "But I need to get a hold of Delia's son for now. Before the morning is over."

"Best of luck then. You don't mind if I call you again tonight?"

"You can call me five times if it's needed."

A split second, not so hollow chuckle escaped Agatha's lips as she reached for the button. "I'll be seeing you, then." After the two exchanged goodbyes, she turned off the connection. A voice greeted her as she rose to her feet.

"I was hoping I'd catch you here."

The ghost Master turned to meet the source of the voice, and her expression found a comfortable neutrality at the emerald-haired woman approaching her. "Anya…"

/

Seated at her bed in the Pokemon Center's hotel room, Kris fidgeted with restless unease as her eyes lingered towards the window. The open curtains gave way to the morning sunlight as she stared for a few seconds, before huffing and gazing back at the door. Almost every other party associated with the League and currently in the area were outside cleaning up the mass of rubble that was once Pokemon Tower, or taking care of the myriad's worth of other tasks throughout town that had resulted from the events of last night. With her left arm in a sling, she was excluded from all such activity, although she had sent the members of her team not in the Center's care to assist.

That left her isolated in her room, amidst the clashing of the desire to visit Janine as soon as possible, and the fear of facing her mentor's niece. She had turned on the TV for a moment, but five minutes of the news had immediately sent her finger to the remote's power button. With that, the room was as quiet as she was unoccupied, her body desperately trying to get her to move around, get out of her pajamas, put on a uniform, or do something.

Though startled, she was almost relieved by the knocking on the door. It was only 10:00 AM, but she felt as though she had been staring at the clock for half of the day. Forcing herself to stand, she made her way from her bed to the door. Her navy-blue hair, not tied into its signature pigtails, fell beneath her shoulders as she stood to move.

"I'm coming!" she called. Moments later, she reached the door and opened it, her face somewhat lighting up to see Klark standing in the doorway. "Oh, uh…" trying to push down the awkwardness in her eyes, she gestured into the room. "Come in."

The red-haired man wore a steady expression as he entered, but there was consideration in his eyes as he turned back to look at the teen. Kris felt a little bit better at that, but the restlessness had not yet gone away. "How's your arm?"

"Still hurts," the Ace Trainer replied, unsurprised that that question was what he had led with. "Not broken, but they don't want me moving it. It only really hurts when I do, so the sling helps. At least, for that." The last word was a grumble.

"And… apart from that?" Klark remained standing as Kris returned to sitting at her bed, It wasn't quite as agitating with somebody else in the room, but she still found herself shifting every now and then nonetheless.

Though she tried to keep looking at him, she felt her eyes grow downcast at the question. "You… you were there." was all she could get out at first.

Klark studied her face for a moment as the girl struggled to make eye contact. The previous night had been completely normal until it wasn't. It had been like a switch had been flipped, one that could not be turned back off. "You responded to it really well."

"And what did I do?" huffing, Kris nearly spat out the words. "One of the most sacred places in Indigo was destroyed, Team Rocket got their hands on that… thing, and I still don't even know what it is, I'm not allowed to work or even move my arm, and all of the ghosts in Lavender, part of the town's literal identity, are gone. They're probably scattering across the entire Region in a panic, and who the hell knows what incidents might occur from that alone!" She stopped to breathe. "I thought Caleb and Ash were dead for a good fifteen minutes, too. It felt like my heart had stopped. I could barely even function, and I'm supposed to be…"

Finally taking a seat at the chair by a nearby desk to look her in the eye better, Klark waited to respond, to see if she would say anything else. When she did not, he spoke. "You're not blaming yourself for this, are you?"

"I know I'm not at fault," she reassured, brushing a strand of navy-blue hair behind her head with her good arm. "That doesn't really matter for a person in my line of work. I had a job and I failed to do it. The Celadon attack was already recent, and now this happens just as things have gotten back to normal over there."

"Nobody could have expected the tower to be attacked."

"Exactly…" she almost whispered out. "Because it's Lavender Town. Quiet. Team Rocket have been so… audacious, ever since they took Leader Wade from us. Their activity has completely changed… and increased." she chewed her lip. "And… What have we done?" After a deep breath, she summoned the strength to lock gazes with him in full. "Have you seen the reactions to this?"

"I have," he nodded gently. His ability to keep his composure soothed her somewhat, but also produced a mild sensation of envy in the girl. He was so… seasoned. The thought brought on a realization; of just how much he must have seen throughout his career. It was a thought that she quickly forced herself to push down as she continued.

"People are panicking, Klark." Finding her voice a little bit better, she was grateful that he was going out of his way to let her talk. "This attack was so successful because the League never thought it would happen. Why would they? But now that it has, it just… feels like negligence. First a bustling metropolis like Celadon, now a calm town like Lavender. And Mt. Moon, a tourist site, before all of that. It's going to start feeling like there isn't anywhere safe in Indigo. Especially Kanto. How much more can happen before people lose faith in the League?" she breathed through her nose while biting her lip just a little bit too hard. "There have already been a few nasty comments on major websites…"

Klark nodded along to her words. "The Indigo League has centuries to its name, and it's always protected its people. Being the oldest governments, it and the Sinnoh League have always been something of a role model for others of their kind to follow." his eyes found their way to the window for a few moments, before returning to her as he kept speaking. "People rely on that work for security and peace of mind, and people like you make a job out of ensuring it's a fact of life." Taking a deep breath, he let out a sight as his face softened a good deal. " So they'll start blaming you for not being able to provide it."

"Have you heard about the attack at the Viridian Pokemon Center, first night of the Season?" Kris asked, Klark nodded. "There was backlash back then, too. From the report I read, it was just a couple of incompetent Rockets acting on their own, but the whole reason it even happened in the first place was because of low security. Nobody was really expecting activity on the same night most of the trainers in the city would be leaving."

"Complacency, just like last night." Klark deduced. 'She really is educated for somebody her age. Her rank isn't for show.'

"Mhm," her face fell. "That fear is going to become anger at some point. We let our guard down again. What if people start taking matters into their own hands? They're not equipped for this, we are, but we're not…" she trailed off, huffing in frustration as one leg kicked at the empty air.

The agent studied the girl and the mixture of emotions swirling on her face. Somewhere between embarrassment towards her own behavior and uncontained anxiety. Everything she had said was educated and well thought out. Panic was never an easy emotion to keep under control, and if the league could not convince the civilians that they were safe, let alone the families of trainers on the road, the end result could prove catastrophic. Though Team Rocket were entirely at fault for all that had taken place over the past few months (to say nothing of Leader Wade's murder towards the end of the last Season), it was hard to call the criticisms of the League unwarranted. Not with the deaths of innocents, destruction of a museum and sacred landmark, and the rest of the collateral damage left in the organization's wake. It would all pile up eventually, and sooner rather than later at the current rate things were headed in.

Crossing his arms, Klark allowed a few extra seconds for the young Ace Trainer to gather herself before replying. "I'm sure your superiors are having the same thoughts as you are, Kris. Even now, I can guarantee that they are having conversations about how not to let that happen." he looked out the window once more. "This… was a wake up call. I promise you're not the only one who heard it."

Her eyes were downcast again. "Even so…" she breathed through her teeth. "I would've been at a loss for what to do next, if it weren't for…" as she trailed off, Klark knew what she was thinking. Soon, her face tightened. "The Rockets won't stop here. They're going to try and keep their momentum, so… I need to keep mine. And just like them, I have to slip through the cracks." she gestured towards her arm sling. "Once my arm is better, I'm going to be in Viridian. I'll be working under Giovanni for the foreseeable future."

Now it was Klark's turn to tighten his face. "Of course… just be as careful as possible. And don't make any moves of note without talking to me or Looker first."

"You're right…" Even as Kris spoke, she could feel her face beginning to pale despite her best efforts. "How… how do you do it?" She managed eye contact. "Undercover work, I mean…?" her eyes almost closed themselves, resulting in them being half open for a few seconds as she looked the man over. "You've been following the Iron-Masked Marauder cases for over two years now, and you've obviously been involved in a lot beyond all of that. This whole time, you've been…" she gripped her pajama pants with her good arm, finding the floor abruptly interesting as her face almost shook. "So… how? How do you keep this going even after everything you've seen?"

He eyed her understandingly, giving her a few moments so she'd be able to properly listen to his answer. "It's not a secret, honestly. I was taught the "job face", but that doesn't mean I always have it on. It catches up to me more times than you might think."

"So…" she spoke carefully. "What made you want to do it? You know why I'm an Ace Trainer, but what brought you to the International Police?"

Klark drummed his fingers against the arm of the chair for a few seconds. "Did you know that I'm from Alola?"

"I… might have."

"My family works for an organization called the Aether Foundation. You might've read up on them, but their goal is Pokemon preservation. And care. It's an admiral cause, and my sister chose a career somewhat in line with it, being a breeder, but during my travels as a trainer, I sort of just started leaning towards law enforcement on instinct. I was always raised with Pokemon care in mind, and so was she, and I've been to the Foundation numerous times myself as a kid, so people like the Marauder were what really drove me to pursue police work."

"So… at first you wanted to catch poachers?"

"Yes," he paused for a moment, as though recalling past memories, some not quite pleasant. "I figured that was my way of doing my part. My parents offer hospitality by working at the Foundation, shelter and protect. I catch the bad guys that they protect Pokemon from. That was my idea back when I was young and green." he nodded after a breath, running a hand over his hair. "Sooner or later, my career just… expanded into what it is today. But the roots of my drive were always there, that's why Pokemon Hunters have been such a large part of my work." his eyes lingered towards her arm sling for a moment. "Particularly certain ones. There's a reason I've been chasing after Marauder for as long as you said… I never caught him. Not yet, at any rate. If it wasn't for J's empire in Sinnoh, he'd probably be the worst of them all."

"Hmm…" Kris hummed. "That makes sense, I guess. So it was your childhood, then?"

"I never went through what you did," Klark emphasized. "I was just influenced." his brow furrowed. "What do you plan on doing after your… private assignment? Catching him is the reason you joined the League, so what comes next?"

"..." Kris was silent for a good while. "I… have never really thought about 'what comes next'." she finally confessed. She rubbed her eyes, fearing they might water for a moment, but it was thankfully unfounded as she readjusted her posture. "This is my life. It was personal, and, be the change I wanted to see in the world."

Klark wanted to say 'You'd probably make a good agent yourself.' But he did not.

After a few moments of more comfortable silence, Kris glanced up at the clock, narrowing her eyes at the time before looking back at him. "Thank you… for saving Janine last night. I wouldn't have been able to face Aya if anything had happened to her." as Klark nodded with sincerity, she looked away again. "Not that I'm doing much better now…"

"You don't want to visit her?"

"I definitely do," Kris affirmed. "I just don't know what to say."

"It might come more naturally to you than you think," standing up, Klark approached her, gently resting a hand on her good shoulder. Though she initially tensed at the contact, it didn't take long for her to relax. "You're about to go on a very dangerous mission. You'll wish you spoke to her if you don't."

"..." Looking up at him, the Ace Trainer managed a weak smile. "Yeah… thanks."

/

As Ash's eyes opened, a foggy feeling overtook his head. For a moment, he instinctively pulled the covers back over him, trying to squeeze his eyes back shut before beginning to wake in full. Restlessly, he pushed the blanket off of him and sat up, rubbing his head as his eyes trailed down the bed. He had a bit of a headache, and…

Looking around, he suddenly noticed that his team was not in the room with him. Pikachu wasn't at the foot of the bed, and everyone else was absent. Why…

Eyes widening a bit, Ash wished he had not asked himself that question, or that he had remained out of it for a little bit longer. It was too late to stop the memories, however, as they all came back one by one.

Hissing through his teeth, the boy gripped both sides of his head. The aching was getting a bit worse, and he could feel the first signs of tears trying to make their way out of his eyes. He quickly rubbed them, trying to shoo away whatever wetness that wanted to roll down his cheeks. He couldn't let Janine see him like this-

Looking around, he noticed she was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the rest of her team. Both their teams were in the Center's care, all accounted for. Caleb was safe as well, although the two of them were separated quickly once the police had found them. After…

He shook the thoughts out of his head, or at least he tried too. They just kept coming. Eyes making their way to the end of the room, his gaze fell on the door leading to the small balcony outside. After a moment or two of consideration, he found himself craving fresh air, and quickly made his way outside. A small bench big enough for two rested on the balcony, which made sense given this was a two person room, but Ash barely paid it any mind as he gripped the railing.

Being outside in Lavender Town, he had expected a chill to run up his spine the moment he stepped out the door. For the air to feel just a hint colder than it normally should be. For the hairs on his back to raise ever so slightly, as though he was not alone, like something was lurking off in the corner. After all, daytime or not, this was a ghost town, and one could feel the ghosts everywhere.

But no such feeling came, There was no chill, no sensation of being watched, and no tingling in the spine. It all felt… normal. Like any other town.

…

… It was so wrong. And that realization brought another detail to his attention as his eyes scanned the outside world: There was no looming tower. No giant monument gazing out at him from the center of Lavender, visible wherever he went.

His eyes widened again as he saw it. He saw Marauder's masked face. He felt the hunter's hand on his shoulder, his thumb on his chin. He heard the panicked chatter of the ghosts, and felt Caleb gripping onto his shirt for dear life. And Tyranitar's roar, and Yami being sucked into that device, and Pikachu and Eevee going missing, the tower collapsing, and the falling rocks in the cavern, and… and…

…

"GAH!" he raced back into the hotel room, not even bothering to make sure he had closed the door to the balcony behind him. Gripping the top of his head, he urged the aching to go away, as though pushing down would push it out of his system. It was only a dull ache, hardly unbearable. And yet… it was unbearable. A persistent sensation of discomfort that refused to go away.

At this point, his eyes finally landed on the digital clock. On some levels, he finally became a bit more aware upon realizing the time. 11:02 AM.

Come to think of it, it had not just not felt like a morning in Lavender Town outside. It… had not really felt like an early morning in general. Had the sun been high up? It explained why Janine was not here, either. Even though they had gone to bed extremely late last night (Ash vaguely recalled it being past midnight at the time), she was still an early riser at heart.

As if on cue, the sight of the clock seemed to trigger a rumbling in the boy's stomach. The hunger also appeared to push away his pesky headache, and it gave him something to focus on other than-

Collapsing tower.

Squeezing his eyes for a couple of seconds, he quickly headed out of the door and into the hallway.

/

"Excuse me, Nurse Joy?" As he approached the front counter in the lobby, the pink-haired woman looked up from her keyboard, the same way she always did when offering somebody service. As her eyes fell on him, however, her expression progressively changed, a realization overtaking her and bringing forth a soft frown.

"Mr. Ketchum… good morning, how are you feeling?"

Stopping in front of the counter, Ash took in the gentle features of Joy's face. Her presence had comforted him before, and now, his eyes fell on her as though he was looking for a vial of miracle medicine. It did not last long before he gave up, however, simply breathing out of his mouth before asking. "I'd like too… Can I pick up my team, please?" After noticing his hunger back in the room, it had become more and more apparent on his way down to the first floor. His stomach was completely empty, begging for him to put something in it. But as per routine, this step came first. "Or do they need more time?"

Nurse Joy read him for a moment, and for the first time since arriving in Viridian, he found her gaze uncomfortable. Thankfully, that feeling went away as she spoke. "Most of your team has recovered, but Eevee's injuries will take a little bit more time to heal." she turned to face her monitor, but quickly returned her eyes to him even as she prepared to type. "However… With your approval, it's been requested that all six remain in our care until tomorrow morning."

Somewhat caught off guard, Ash reached up and brushed a hand against his hair. He had gotten more used to the cap's absence at this point, although just the thought of such brought back memories of Damian's Charmeleon nearly roasting him alive, and the cap falling off of his head and taking the full brunt of the blast as Janine pulled him to safety. And that brought him back to the destruction of the museum, and then the tower, and before that Mt. Moon-

He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before abruptly remembering where he was. Nurse Joy's face was dressed with concern, but he spoke before she could. "Why is that?" Thankfully, his question did not sound like anything other than that when it came out. No frustration over being separated for a day, just curiosity.

Nurse Joy took a bit longer to answer than usual, continuing to look the boy over for a bit. Finally, she turned back to start typing on the keyboard, but did not talk until she paused to look back at him from the monitor. "You see… after what happened at the to- what happened last night," there was a slight change in inflection as she corrected herself. "The staff and I have been advised to keep them for evaluation. We understand that your team is very young; the Krabby being the oldest member biologically but still viewed as adolescent. We think it is for the best that they be looked over more than just physically, which will require keeping them for an additional day." she turned back to quickly type something up, before returning her attention to him. "However, this is all your choice. It will only be done with your consent, and you are permitted to collect them now if you wish."

Rubbing his eyes to remove whatever fatigue lingered in them, Ash allowed the pink-haired woman's words to sink in for a moment or two. Maybe even three. If he accepted her offer, he'd go the full day without his team, and…

He wanted Pikachu to climb his shoulder, and to watch him and Nebula talk. He wanted to see Valiant and Eevee discussing their training together whilst listening to Phenom passionately inform them of his progress. He wanted to watch Tempest trying to improve Surf further, whilst honing the other new moves that he was currently in the midst of learning.

But all he could picture was the states of their faces, and how looking at any of their six expressions would be like looking in a mirror. How they would feel the same way, looking at each other, or even at him himself.

He felt a pain in his chest as he replied. "Okay, I accept." The nature of the nurse's nod predictably indicated that that was the answer she had hoped for. Ash did not blame her; a true trainer always put the team first. It was part of being a leader.

He was in the midst of turning away when her voice brought his attention back to the counter. "Before you go, Mr. Ketchum," she waited until he was facing her in full once more, her face gentle as can be. On any other day, it would have warmed his heart. "Speaking of which, the League would like to talk to you as well. No reports or questioning, just to check up on you." In true Nurse Joy fashion, she simultaneously remained both gentle and professional as one can imagine as she spoke. "Of course, again with your consent. It can be done in your room, or at the station. Anywhere private that you would feel most comfortable at."

"..." Ash took another breath as he stared at her. He wasn't studying anything in particular; not her nor the counter that she was seated behind. But his eyes nonetheless would not look anywhere else. Finally, he found the question he had wanted to ask. "Will Janine be there?"

She seemed hesitant to speak for a moment, but fought through that with what appeared in his eyes to be ease. "Janine politely turned down the offer."

He felt a small pit form in his starving stomach at the answer. After another moment or two, he shook his head, doing his best to smile. Politely, like she had. "I'm… I think I'm good. Thanks, though."

He turned away again, but she called to him one final time. "One more thing, Mr. Ketchum!" he felt his eyes grow downcast before raising his head to turn back and face her. Out of nowhere, he felt himself craving to be called "Ash".

"Yes…?"

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

The pink-haired woman breathed through her nose as she set down a slip of paper. "Two people have been wanting to speak with you this morning. Delia Ketchum and Professor Samuel Oak. They've both called from his lab in Pallet. I was asked to inform you right away."

Something in Ash's face brightened as the name's were spoken. An image popped into his mind, of him racing into his mother's arms and burying his face into her chest. She'd wrap herself tightly around him, completely concealed from the outside world, to where her touch was the only thing he could feel or imagine. She'd speak to him soothingly, while rubbing his back and hair with her wonderful hands, and give him a warm, freshly cooked meal that would envelop his whole insides in the same comfort that her embrace granted him. For a moment, he could actually feel himself smiling, before the expression slowly fell.

A conversation with a screen… would not give him any of that.

He could almost feel the tears returning to his eyes as he looked up to meet Nurse Joy's gaze once more. He needed to be alone before…

Breathing through his nostrils, he began to turn, but not in full. He still wanted to look at her, not brush the woman off. "I'm… I'm fine, thanks."

For the first time in the conversation, Nurse Joy seemed genuinely caught off guard, with some lost composure not easily regained. "Mr. Ketchum… I think for you this would be-"

Ash felt a pang of guilt in his chest as he interrupted her. "I just want to get some food," he pleaded. As he turned back to fully address her, she read the expression on his face, which matched the hint of desperation in his tone of voice, as her arms fell to her sides. "Just… tell both of them that I'm okay. And that I said thank you."

Letting out a deep exhale through her nostrils, Nurse Joy bit her lip, retaining the grip for a full three seconds before slowly nodding. "Okay, that is all, then. Sorry for keeping you."

Nodding back at her, he suddenly felt… apologetic, and offered a quick bow of his head before turning back and moving in the direction of the cafeteria. Even as his eyes watered, his stomach growled in desperate anticipation.

/

Lavender Town's church would be highly active all day, for the next few days in the wake of recent events. Janine had known this ahead of time, but was still sure to check as she left the Center that morning.

Walking down Lavender's road felt far too much like any other path to be normal. She must have gotten used to the atmosphere of the town more than she thought, because the absence of the chill down her spine simply increased her discomfort. The normalcy bombarded her from every direction as she made her way down the road, doing her best to ignore the townspeople she passed by.

One thing was not normal, however, and that was Ivysaur's absence. Almost every time she took a walk, since day one of her journey, her starter would always be there with her. Other members of the team rotated between accompanying her and staying in their balls, but he was a constant. A frequent extension of her body that she could always look to the side and see at her feet.

It was isolation, now. No Pokemon walked beside her. When she touched her belt, she did not even feel any Poke Balls. All were still in the admittedly trusted care of the Pokemon Center, being evaluated for their psyche. And they would remain that way until first thing tomorrow morning.

It was upon realizing this that she craved Ash. She craved her friend's face, and his voice. She craved the meals they shared, and the aimless conversations. Ones that she had little opportunity to have with her "peers" back in Fuchsia City. Ones that she had gotten with the various trainers she had briefly encountered on the road, or in Pokemon Centers. Ones that she, first and foremost, consistently got with him. Another constant.

It was a satisfaction that she knew was unavailable to her, however. Ash was still sound asleep when she came to in their room, and even after she had finished breakfast. She was pretty sure her ponytail was uneven this morning as well. And if he saw her face right now… and she found herself fearing the look on his.

It was all just another reminder.

It was a good thing he had been asleep. Feeling as though she had dodged a bullet, her legs continued to carry her across the road, almost on autopilot, but still not quite, before the church came into view. As she approached more closely, she could hear the music, and when she peaked through the door…

The place was full.

She sighed through her nostrils, the emptiness in her chest carrying her backwards away from the door before anybody saw her.

How many graves had been destroyed last night? How many buried Pokemon, bodies broken or worse, were no longer there to be mourned. How many trainers had entrusted their fallen friends' remains to the safety and security of a place as peaceful as Lavender Tower, a place that they could visit whenever they needed or wanted to pay their respects?

The skeleton hung from the broken casket in front of her.

Her eyes widened, and her gasp would have been quite audible if her hand had not shot up to her mouth whilst she staggered back. She almost lost her balance, briefly feeling her body beginning to fall backwards. Training kicked in at the last second as she righted herself, and she stood still for several more seconds, body unmoving as the music of the church continuously entered her ears. It was soothing yet changed nothing, as images continued to roll through her desperate to be cleansed mind. Finally, she turned and ran, steadying herself into a jog as she made her way behind the building.

'Monsters, monsters, MONSTERS.'

/

Her posture was all wrong as she sat under the shaded bench a few feet from the patio in the back courtyard, a wooden ceiling shielding her from the sun as she watched the water from the fountain roll down into the nearby pond. Though not teeming, the sight of a few Poliwag poking their heads to the surface occasionally greeted her.

Her legs were hugged against her chest as she peaked upward from the shade, before looking back at the church. From here, the music was only faint.

As she looked up, it was another thought that occurred to her. Lavender Town was normally somewhat dim. Even in the daytime with shade to block out the sun, the sunlight… would not be overtly bright. The lighting was always dim. Like you were always in the shade. Now, it was like going outside anywhere else on a sunny day. The presence of the ghost Pokemon were felt nowhere, and their absence was felt everywhere.

Sucking in some air, she closed her eyes, but all she saw was the skeleton. The gloating Rockets as they cornered her. The masked hunter who had spoken so audaciously on sacred ground. Ash's terrified face as Caleb clung to him…

…

Somewhat uncharacteristically, her hiss escaped her teeth. She tried to picture her hands guiding Ash to properly stir a pot at just the right rate. Her telling the boy about the book she was rereading, and a couple of her favorite warrior stories. Him telling her a somewhat wacky tale about something that had transpired back in Pallet Town where he came from, like the time Professor Oak and his Electrode had teamed up to clear out a flock of Spearow, to make way for the rookies that would be leaving Pallet Town on Opening Day. Her and Suzie working together to form a game plan for training Toxtricity. Her and Toxtricity themsles working to execute said game plan as properly as possible. Tentacruel and Skrelp working on Surf together. Even something as simple as reaching down to pat Ivysaur on the head.

Such images washed through her mind every now and then, in and out, but it would always prove to be extremely temporary. Everything kept coming back to the tower. The one permanent image in her mind.

Squeezing her eyes shut would not help. Opening them to observe the surrounding area offered her no comfort or distraction. The church doors were open. But so many people were there…

…

"I couldn't find you inside, but I figured you were nearby."

The sudden voice jolted her, but she quickly noticed how familiar it was, so she turned somewhat more easily as Kris approached her. The moment she caught sight of the now casually dressed Ace Trainer, however, her eyes quickly widened, focused on nothing but the arm sling.

"It's not broken," Kris quickly reassured. Stopping in front of Janine, she eyed the spot next to the younger girl. Before the older girl could ask anything, the poison specialist nodded, and kris took a seat. "I'm just not allowed to use it for a bit. I'm gonna be fine."

Massaging her ponytail (which still felt somewhat uneven) Janine managed a weak smile. "G-Good, I'm glad…"

With her good arm, Kris did not hesitate too long to grip the purple haired girl's shoulder. "I heard you did not want to speak to the League… are you sure?"

Janine exhaled. She had not even been thinking of it at the time… but in hindsight, it made sense to hear that question come. "It was… mostly on impulse." she admitted. She was seated a bit better now, knees no longer hugged to her chest, and feet on the ground somewhat properly. Nevertheless, her hands did not leave her knees as she looked on ahead towards nothing in particular. "I did not want to talk to anybody."

Kris hesitated for a bit longer before responding, although Janine was not looking at her to see her frown. "Is there… anything you want to say to me?"

"..." After hearing the older girl's words, Janine abruptly felt a progressive sense of appreciation that kris was sitting next to her. It had already been there, but was tiny. It was growing now.

But the question had also brought her knees back up to her chest, and under her chin as Kris rubbed the younger girl's shoulder.

"They… One of the caskets was broke right in front of me, K-Kris…" Janine's tone began to fall apart, unsteady. "T-There was a sk-sk-skeleton… hanging right out of it…"

Kris' face quickly turned to a sheet as her hand left Janine's shoulder, almost to the older girl's mouth. "Mew… you didn't see…"

Janine suddenly felt something hot in her eyes, which were growing wetter. A quick sniff seemed to suppress most of it as she choked out her next sentence. "T-The League is… they've been protecting this land for four centuries, haven't they?" Once more, she wasn't looking to see Kris' gentle nod. "Without them… Indigo would just be chaos. There'd be no peace or protection. Father told me so much about how things used to be, and how even Mew himself wished for the land to be governed properly. If you take it all away, the whole land would just be consumed by war and distrust again. The League is glue… it keeps everything together. It'd the only thing that can." Finally, she turned to Kris, and the blue-haired girl felt a stab of pain in her chest and stomach when she saw Janine's reddened eyes. "S-So why… why do they want to destroy all of that? Why is Team Rocket so determined t-to break it all up?" the younger girl's hands tightened around her knees. "Why did they try to violate the Moon Stone? Why was a whole museum's worth of priceless history destroyed in just a day? Why was a burial ground for living things targeted?!" her hands gripped her head, feeling a minor pulse in her forehead, and quickly she felt Kris' gentle grip on her back. "Why do scum like that even exist in this world?! Where in Mew's name do their thoughts even come from…?!"

"Janine, calm down." The poison specialist's sobs came out softer than they likely would have otherwise as the Ace Trainer pulled her in closer. "Y-You're right about everything, Janine…" Kris struggled to steady her voice, but it came more naturally as she progressively went on. "The League exists for a reason. All Leagues do. What Team Rocket wants is twisted and abhorrent."

"Then why do they want it?" Janine asked.

Kris chewed her lip, the expression in her eyes changing as unwanted images passed through their mind. "Hate… can do a lot of things, Janine." she started, rubbing the younger girl's back. "Sometimes, people are filled with it, and there can always be a myriad of potential reasons and causes. It's a very strong emotion, and if somebody filled with it finds the wrong finger pointing in the wrong direction, I've seen what happens." She exhaled through her nostrils, deeply, as her face turned grim. "The leading members of Team Rocket specialize in that on a large scale. It's scary… seeing what they've built. But it's the truth. That's why these things happen." Breathing again, her eyes were drawn to the nearby grass. "People can be warped, and you can't always predict how or why. That's why you need to always remember what you think is right, even when things are at their worst."

Janine sighed, the older girl's grip beginning to ease her nerves, albeit slowly. "And… what happens next?"

'I can't answer that. Nobody knows what Team Rocket's next move is.' Kris' face tightened, remembering earlier that morning. "We start being ready. But that's not your job, it's mine. We won't be blindsided ever again."

Feeling steadier, Janine pulled away, crossing her arms as her next breath came more easily. Looking back to the pond, she could see a few more Poliwag playing in the background; slapping one another with their tails whilst squirting out water. Although a little bit far away, she could have sworn she had also heard a giggle or two.

"...Thanks for coming to find me," she looked back at Kris with a stable smile. "I did not want to be alone, but…"

"You felt like you did?" the navy-blue haired girl deduced.

"Yeah…" nodding for a second, Janine looked back out to the pond. "I want to talk to Ash really badly… about what we discussed before, and everything else. See how he's doing and tell the truth. But…" she shook her head lightly. "Everytime I think about seeing him I feel apprehensive. And I couldn't figure out what I wanted to say to the other people at the League." she scratched her ponytail. 'I know they're just trying to help…"

Kris patted the younger girl's shoulder. "Nobody's forcing you. Clear your head in whatever your best way is." she glanced back at the church. "To be honest… I'm going to be going on another mission soon. An important one." She and Janine met one another's gaze. "And I'm hoping to make sure something like this will never happen again. So, would you like to hang out for the day? I'll be leaving in a couple, so starting tomorrow I'll have to start planning."

Understanding graced Janine's features as she nodded back with a smile. "Sure thing."

/

"Thanks for coming by." Just outside the Beacon household, Trish took a deep breath as she sank into one of her backyard chairs. The tension in her muscles unfortunately did not fully leave, but the act provided enough relief for her to notice as Agatha and Anya eyed her.

"Lacey wanted us to come," Agatha's eyes shifted to the house for a moment. Caleb's aunt was now keeping the boy company inside. "How has the boy been?" She knew the answer, but it was hard to find any other way to start the conversation. It was the reason they were here, after all.

"He stopped crying for the most part, thankfully." Trish looked back towards the house for a moment before focusing on her two friends. "But every now and then he gets a bit watery for a moment."

Anya took a seat in the closest chair. "Is he talking to you?"

"We're not forcing any conversations." Trish averted her gaze. "He'll be seeing a doctor soon, but I want to wait until he's more openly willing to talk. I won't wait too long, though."

Staring at her friend for a good moment before taking a seat of her own, Agatha ran a hand through her hair as she looked around the backyard. It had been a fair bit since she had last been here; she usually visited the Beacons at the bakery, but it was closed today. A lot of places in Lavender were. Almost as though the entire town had shut off like a light switch. "How have you and Lacey been?" she said finally.

"That hardly matters," Trish did not look the ghost Master in the eye. "We weren't the ones in there." her hand rubbed her forehead. "I shouldn't have let him go. That meeting stopping the rest of us should have been an omen."

"It was Knighter's birthday last night," Anya reminded. "A yearly tradition for you guys, it only made sense."

Agatha nodded, a darkness passing over her eyes as her fingers instinctively brushed her belt. "This is Team Rocket's doing. Those delusional maniacs are at fault for everything that took place last night. You had nothing to do with it."

"The attack, perhaps…" Once more, Trish could not look at either woman. As she trailed off, both Agatha and Anya immediately knew what she was getting at.

"Don't say it Trish," Anya tried to speak softly, but perhaps the softness was what failed to dissuade her.

"It's my fault Caleb had any reason to go there in the first place!" Trish's tone was a hushed hiss, and Agatha's heart broke at the emptiness in her friend's eyes. "Because I…"

Agatha was about to open her mouth to respond, but the words would not come.

"You remember it was me. Agatha, Anya…" Trish's eyes were on the grass. "I'm the one who messed up preparing Knighter's medicine. The overdose killed him. That's why Kimberly left… and that's why he was in the tower in the first place." she dared to look up, in full view of two of the only people she would trust to see her with such an expression. "If he was still alive, she'd still be here, and Caleb never would have been in that tower last night."

Agatha and Anya exchanged looks, all too familiar with the story. It was a miscalculation that haunted Trish Beacon more than any ghosts lurking in the tower ever could. The result haunted Agatha herself almost just as much. At the time, Sage's passing had still been fresh in the ghost Master's mind, and though she had known the Ninetales slept peacefully within the walls of Lavender Tower, the absence of her starter left her feeling destabilized from head to toe. The way she moved, the way she thought, the way she operated had all felt off balance for some time. When Kimberly Beacon had run away from home, the oldest Elite Four member had of course immediately taken it upon herself to lead the search party and find her, which should have been an easy task for a Master ghost specialist.

Had she been too distracted with her own lingering grief? Was that why a ten year old girl of all things had eluded her? The especially disturbing detail was how Kimberly had completely dropped off that radar shortly after. Occasional sightings westward, and then… nothing. The opportunity to nip the situation in the bud had slipped from her grasp, and she was left empty handed.

It had always been hard to figure out what to say to Trish regarding the topic. The woman had never stopped blaming herself and probably never will. It had been her mistake that led to the Scyther's death and the aftermath, but Agatha would never dare throw that in her face, yet she always came up short when thinking of what to say to console her, to say nothing of her own failure to locate her friend's granddaughter.

Even saying "Caleb wasn't hurt" would do little to help as it only applied to the boy's physical condition. The ghost Master suppressed gritting her teeth. The only response she could think of was how she would hunt the Rockets down one by one, for whatever consolation that could provide her friend. But she knew Trish was not thinking about that, either.

Looking between the two women, Anya sighed. "Listen, you two…" she looked to Agatha first. "I know you're looking for an easy answer to all of this, and you need to stop. You're just going to hurt yourself trying to make everything go away." Before Agatha could respond, Anya rose from her seat and looked to Trish, gently approaching her. "I know you're still thinking about what happened to Knighter and Kimberly, I'm not saying you shouldn't be. But that doesn't mean this was your fault. You'll just be torturing yourself if you keep saying 'what if'." her hand rested on her friend's shoulder. "You can be there for Caleb without it being at your own expense. This doesn't have to be anybody's fault. It shouldn't be."

Trish stayed quiet for a moment, absorbing her words before looking back at the house. "I'm not really sure where to go from here, to be honest. Making sure he sees someone is a given, but I never imagined terrorism would arrive on our doorstep like this."

'Nor did I.' Agatha could not help but think bitterly. "I'll make damn sure that isn't forgotten," she paused just long enough to mentally kick herself for swearing. "Doubtful they'd come back now, but the important part is everyone feeling safe. It'll take a long time for that feeling of security to come back, but I know Lance wouldn't object to extra personnel occupying town just for reassurance." noticing her cane was about to fall over, she readjusted it against her chair. "I'll make sure Caleb gets the best support as well. Fuji will be a good presence for sure, but I have a couple contacts who specialize in circumstances like these. Speaking of which… I'd like to speak to the boy myself if he's willing."

"I'm sure he'd be willing to see you both," Trish responded. "Although… he did ask about that Ash boy recently. He saved him from the tower." her eyes narrowed. 'I would have tried to invite him over right away, but…"

Anya nodded. "He and that Janine girl are likely going through just as much right now." her eyes trailed off in the direction one would take to go to the Center. "What an atrocious experience for your first year as a trainer…"

/

The night was a fair bit cloudy, leaving about half the stars in the sky to be blanketed by silhouettes. Such shadows occasionally passed by over the moon, although they did not remain there for long. Nighttime was once the time of day where the most ghosts came out from their mutual shelter within the tower, drawn to the darkness of the late hour. Tonight, such lurking did not take place. No ghosts played in the shadows or roamed the town. And no human citizens were used to such a thing.

Plenty lurked in Ash's mind, however. He had spent much of the day in isolation, only coming out of his room to eat meals (which were painfully slow). His team was not there for him to watch TV with, and any attempts to do so himself left him incapable of focusing on whatever show he browsed through the channels for. Even a particularly amusing cartoon (which he had never seen before, but likely would have enjoyed quite a bit in any under situation) could only offer him a few fleeting chuckles before everything came back to him, and a special re-airing of the previous Season's Whirl Cup had only provided him with a dampened adrenaline rush.

Nurse Joy had relayed a message from Kris, offering to hang out for the day, and he had almost accepted, but politely turned it down. He had quickly regretted that decision after returning to his room, yet had never attempted to rectify the choice to his frustration. When Janine had returned to the room that evening, neither rookie could muster more than an awkward greeting and flat question of how the other's day had been. It felt like they were playing cat and mouse with each other's gazes, each trying to look one another over yet simultaneously trying to look everywhere else except at them. He was grateful for when he had finally gotten to bed, finally giving him the opportunity to close his eyes.

Except he knew it wouldn't be that simple, and was proven right. No matter how tired he got, his mind would refuse the sleep his body craved, and perhaps his body was in on it as well. He closed his eyes again and again, inviting fatigue to overtake him, but no matter how heavily his eyes felt, no slumber would ever come. He was left changing which direction he faced multiple times over, body wrapped in his blanket and sheet as no sleep nor comfort would answer his call.

Sleep, invited or not, had taken him unnoticed. And he had not realized such until the image of Tyranitar and the collapsing tower had shot his eyes open. He wasn't sure how much longer he had spent once again trying to let it all take him, for he did not have the energy to get out of bed or even raise his head to check the digital clock. Falling asleep had still come with just as much difficulty the second time as it had the first, however, until it once again snuck up on him at a time he could not remember. This time it was the cavern, and a confident yet indecipherable speech from the gloating Marauder that stole it all away.

Now, he was lying awake for the third time that night, body unwilling to do anything but continuously move in place underneath the covers as the images continued to move around in his mind. Closing his eyes was just as likely to produce the image of a Rocket as it was to produce an image of blankness.

Just like in real life, they always showed up, they refused to go away and they wouldn't leave him alone!

"GAHH!" Ash finally tossed the covers off of his body, giving himself room to sit up and hold his cheeks as he released a breath. It was only a few seconds later when he realized that his eyes felt warm and wet; he was so out of it that he could not pinpoint how long they had been like that, or even whether or not they had just started.

After a moment or two of just sitting there, lacking in the motivation to do or even think anything, his eyes finally moved to the digital clock. He wanted the night to be over, so that he could finally move on from the next day, which seemed to be forever from now. But he did not want it to be morning; he just wanted to sleep. To rest. To forget.

…2:09 AM. He could not feel any disappointment or relief as he read those numbers. They were just numbers.

Summoning the strength to get out of bed, he felt his feet press against the carpet as he made his way to the bathroom. He did not know why he was walking in this direction, but decided halfway through that he would take a quick shower. When he actually got to the bathroom and turned on the light, however, he decided he was not in the mood. Why had he come in here?!

He felt a bit more awake after turning on the light, a feeling that lingered even as he turned it back off and made his way back to the bed, even if it was forced. As he placed a hand on the covers and prepared to lie back down, his eyes moved to the end of the room, landing on the door that led to the small balcony outside.

The boy chewed his lip. Would breathing be easier outside? Would it suddenly feel quieter there than in here? Or did he hope to hear the sounds of night-prowling Pokemon, within the comfort of civilization? His feet were carrying him to the door before he could process his own answer. He didn't spare Janine's bed so much as a glance as he walked by it. But as he opened the door, his presence alerted somebody that he had not realized had already been sitting on the balcony's bench.

Janine's head turned, almost startled, as Ash stepped out onto the balcony, and he froze under her gaze. He froze under hers as well, and as his hand slid off of the door, the two of them could only stare. Her purple hair was out of its ponytail, falling freely beneath her shoulders.

"Hey…" he managed to get out.

"Hey…" was her response.

…

There were night critters making the occasional noise or two, but Ash did not put in the effort to process what Pokemon were which. It was the only thing either rookie heard as the game of eye-contact cat and mouse resumed.

Finally, Ash mustered up some words, eyes falling on the empty space in the bench next to her. "Can I sit?"

She blinked for a moment, processing the question one second later before scooting to the side just a little bit. "Go ahead."

The surface of the bench was predictably hard, but in his fatigue, his bottom sank into it without much of an effort needed. After a moment or two, he glanced at his friend. Janine's head was tilted, slightly looking away from him, but she must have sensed his attention, as she was soon looking back. Up close, her eyes looked a little… red. It took a moment for both of them to realize they had lost the game of cat and mouse, almost out of nowhere, but acceptance seemed to sink in as they just… stared.

She definitely had bedhead, and as his hand instinctively scratched his hair, he realized he probably did too. He didn't shift at the realization, though. She had already seen him, and he had seen her. Any efforts to correct that felt… pointless.

Perhaps it had always been pointless. The one person that he both wanted to talk to and was available in person, yet he deliberately spent the day avoiding her. Maybe it would have been easier to not put odd, unexplainable effort into something so meaningless. To just look her in the eye earlier that evening and try to say something other than the awkward bare minimum.

"You couldn't sleep either?" Breaking the silence, Ash looked forward towards the view the balcony overlooked.

Janine shook her head, pushing her hair back as she looked in the same direction. "My mind is not staying in one place."

Even though the signature chill of the town was gone, the nighttime breeze was still fairly cool, causing Ash to briefly hug his clothes as he looked back at her. "I'm… sorry I didn't join you guys today. I haven't been thinking."

"I understand." The poison specialist rubbed her knees. "To be honest… I'm not sure what I'd be thinking if Kris had not shown up. Once we split up for the night everything sort of started coming back." clearly tired, her eyes started to become half shut before she rubbed them. "Not that they had ever fully gone away."

Once more, she was not looking at him, and Ash couldn't tell if it was on purpose or not. Studying her up close, the tension in her face began leaping out at him like a pop-up book. Coupled with her hair being down (which he rarely ever saw, due to her always getting up earlier), her appearance was almost entirely foreign to the Janine he knew. He couldn't help but wonder if she felt that way about him…

During that period, however, a thought had occurred to him, and he was suddenly kicking himself for not thinking of it sooner. Had he really been so out of it all day to forget something so important?

Immediately, he fixed that. "I heard you saved Eevee back at the tower," he couldn't help but flinch, mentioning the tower, but verbally pushed himself through. Janine perked up at that, looking somewhat surprised as she turned her head to meet his gaze. He gave his friend an uneasy smile. "I… thanks. I was desperate when she and Pikachu got separated from the others."

Back leaning a bit further against the bench, Janine shifted her legs, briefly averting eye contact before, as if fighting through something, looking him in the eye once more. "That… was not really me." as though embarrassed, or ashamed, she sighed. "I did find her, but I froze up. We were cornered by Rockets and then… I woke up at the Center. Apparently some guy saved us from them, and then Kris' Gardevoir teleported us out."

Ash's mind flashed back to the red haired man they had met just before… the tower had been destroyed. Marauder had called him… what was it, Klark?

In the beginning, Ash had assumed he was just another visitor paying his respects to one of the graves, like Caleb had been for Knighter. But that did not seem to be the case.

"I really did not do much in the end," Janine shifted awkwardly. "I wanted to, but…" she pulled her knees for a moment before relaxing her arms. "Do you think things could have been different? Like… if our teams had been fully evolved?"

Ash blinked. Had that ever occurred to him before? Every time Team Rocket attacked he was always potential collateral. And how could he be anything else? Compared to them, he had no firepower. And neither did she. But…

"Maybe," he admitted.

"Kris told me you saved Caleb," the girl continued. Looking down on her feet with a tiny, uneasy grin, her eyes carried a foreign expression. Something… not her. "That was brave of you, you did more than I did." she pushed a strand of purple hair back again. "...I'm sorry I couldn't do the same for Eevee. I should have done more, but I just stopped in my tracks and became a deadweight."

Staring at her, Ash could have sworn the first signs of water were beginning to form in her eyes. Without thinking, he reached out and touched her shoulder, just long enough to get her attention. "That's not your fault. I didn't know what I was doing either. And when I got Caleb, it was really Valiant who saved both of us."

As he lowered his hand, the two rookies stared again, a combination of exhaustion and restless memories allowing them to do little else.

"Did…" biting his lip, Ash hesitated for a moment. "Something happen…?" he spoke a bit more quietly, almost by accident. "Back when you found Eevee, I mean?"

Janine stared for a bit longer before swallowing. Her expression became more readable as she did. A frown. When she finally responded, she wasn't looking at him anymore. "...I…" letting out a breath, her eyes landed on her feet once more. "I saw a corpse. Or… a skeleton." As Ash's heart skipped a beat, her fingers drummed against one of her knees. "One of the caskets was broken." hissing a bit, she rubbed her eyes. "In bed, I… it just kept coming back. All day, too."

'You shouldn't have asked that.' Ash kicked himself. What was he thinking?

Turning away from her, now he was looking at his own feet as well. "I'm… sorry I asked." Images began playing through his mind, as though his question had suddenly invited the memories back.

Moments later, he felt a hand on his shoulder for a moment, bringing his attention back to her. Janine did not seem upset. Or angry, at least. "No, it's…" she paused for a moment, sucking in some of the night air. "...What about you…?" her voice was hesitant, but still spoke the words.

He blinked. "Me…?"

"When…" her hesitation won out for a moment. "He showed up, you…" she only looked away for a second before continuing. "It was like you shut down. Are you okay?"

He stared at her again. Even in his exhaustion, his mind brought him back to after they had left Celadon. When Janine had woken him up from his dream. And even before that, back at the museum… before the Rockets had attacked.

He had never really told anyone. Not really.

"I…" without noticing, he had scooted a bit closer to her. Before he could ask himself why he wasn't scooting away, she responded in kind, scooting a bit closer herself. Their shoulders were almost touching now as he took a deep breath.

"Ash…" his friend bit her lip. "What's… what's wrong?"

"I'm okay, mom. Team Rocket attacked Mt. Moon before we got there, so I wasn't hurt." The lie replayed in his head.

"Wait… you weren't there when it happened, were you…?" Janine's voice this time.

As though hoping it would make him feel more stable, he pressed his arms against his chest for a few seconds. She had shared with him. Something she probably should not have said… but still did. As he looked back to the purple-haired girl, her expression was half unreadable again, a concerned frown mixed in with something else. FInally, before he could stop himself.

"I… I lied to you, Janine." The concern on her face gave way to confusion as he started. "At the museum, I meant…" he looked down again, mildly kicking his feet in the air for a moment or two. "When we were talking about the Moon Stone, and I brought up Team Rocket's failed raid trying to steal it… when you asked me, I told you I wasn't there for it, but…" another deep breath. Here it comes… "I was. We got caught up in a big fight with the Rockets down in the caverns and… the Marauder was there. He almost killed me. He had his Tyranitar…" his eyes squeezed shut for a second. "Destroy the cavern so he could escape. The whole place was collapsing and I thought we were all going to die." with some hesitation, he looked back at her, lacking the energy to read her face. "Those… nightmares that I've been having every now and then… they're about him." Leaning back, he turned away from her, head tilting towards the sky. The black silhouettes of the clouds were still moving over some of the stars. "When I saw him in the tower, I was back in the cavern. The tower started collapsing and it was like the same thing all over again. All I could see was the cavern being destroyed. It was like I never left, I felt like I was still there the whole time."

The more he spoke, the heavier his chest felt, but as he finished, almost out of nowhere… it all started to deflate. In fact, eventually it all felt very light. The muscles in his body began to ease, not completely, but noticeably. Images were still swirling at the front of his mind, involuntary thoughts that he was struggling to push back, but one thought poked through them and to the surface.

'I said it.'

He realized that Janine hadn't spoken yet, and with less hesitance, redirected his attention back to her. Their shoulders were still close, and with his mind and body slightly more at ease, he was beginning to grow a bit more conscious of that fact.

And in doing so… he found it did not bother him.

Janine closed her eyes for a moment, clearly processing everything before re-locking their gazes. It felt easier this time. "Did you ever tell anybody?"

"Just… you," he confessed, not looking away this time. "Professor Oak only knows because it was reported." he scratched his hair. "My mom's the only person I really wanted to talk to back then, but she was the last one I wanted to know. It didn't feel like I had any options."

"That makes sense," she replied. "And… don't worry. We barely knew each other, so it's not like I can blame you for keeping that." A Noctowl's call redirected their attention to a tree not too far from the Center. "To be honest… Just telling you about the casket scared me." a tiny grin formed across her face. "But thanks; I'm not sure if or how I would have said anything if you didn't ask."

"How do you feel now?"

She looked back at him. "A bit better. You?"

Despite everything, he was smiling a bit now as well. "Yeah… I guess I really hated keeping that in, more than I thought." Something in her eyes changed yet again when he said that; it wasn't unpleasant, but… she was thinking. About something. Something else, probably.

As the night's breeze brushed against them, the two rookies leaned back against the bench, watching the clouds slowly passing through the sky as the atmosphere changed. Whatever magical fence had been there moments ago felt gone. Their progressively relaxed muscles made the exhaustion and lack of sleep a bit more apparent as time went on, but neither of them closed their eyes. For the first time in what felt like forever, yet had only been a day, a content sensation washed over them, as though riding through the chilly yet oddly comfortable breeze. Though neither looked directly at one another, they both found themselves wanting progressively less to get up, like this balcony had everything that either of them needed.

Finally, however, Janine was frowning again, chewing her lip before taking a deep breath and slowly tilting her head. As she shifted in her seat, her shoulder brushed Ash's once. Once, but the contact was split second. It was just enough to gain his attention as she spoke. "Hey… um, Ash?" though he did not respond, his eye contact told her where his attention was as she took a deep breath. For her, it felt sudden, yet also natural. Jarring, yet also natural. Hesitance chained her tongue for only a couple moments more. "The truth is… I've been keeping something else from you."

That was a bit surprising, but his only reaction was to shift in his seat, mirroring her own actions in order to better face her. He tried to give her an inviting expression, and for once, he felt that he had succeeded.

Indeed, her face did seem to ease up at the sight of his. She still looked away for a moment, before one more deep breath brought her eyes back to him. Somewhat steel. And then she spoke, with no pauses or stuttering. "Leader Koga is my father."

Ash blinked. He heard her words, but for the first few moments, that was it. He only heard them. The sentence hung in his mind for what felt like forever, just lingering there, without meaning.

…

… 'WHAT?!'

As the words themselves finally began to catch up with him and his comprehension, he blinked again, and a third time, almost trying to do a double take.

"He's… wait, he's what?!"

Janine did not seem too surprised by his reaction. In fact, it was almost like she had been bracing herself as she brushed another strand of purple hair behind her. "I'm… sorry, Ash," her tone of voice was completely sincere. "I… like I said, we barely knew each other. But…" sucking in more of the night air, she let out a deep sigh, although her facial expression remained focused and true. "I come from a family called the Kyo clan. You probably know of them; they've been running Fuchsia for almost three hundred years. My father is the current patriarch, Gym Leader Koga Kyo."

Ash had heard of them. He highly doubted anybody in Indigo had not. The Kyo were a dynasty surpassed in legacy only by the Wataru themselves within Indigo. Though the Pewter Gym's history ran even deeper, all the way back to the League's founding, it was presently a far more contained legacy in comparison to what the Kyo clan had built. Long since one of noble status, they governed over the vast Fuchsia territory operating form within its one of a kind Gym: from the city itself to the unpredictable wilderness outside of it, as well as the villages and other properties along the way, and the head of the family also held the title of Gym Leader. Consistently, said Gym Leaders were among the best of their generation, and the long standing history of the family and constant success of each Leader had brought a level of prestige to the Soul Badge that made it among the League's most highly coveted and valued. But the success and presence of the family was currently at its highest historical point under the leadership of Leader Koga: A dauntingly feared and revered Gym Leader so talented and capable that he could be an Elite Four member.

Few Gym Leaders failed to live up to the heavily, heavily prestigious standards of such an important position, but among Indigo, four were considered beyond even that: Clair of Blackthorn, Koga of Fuchsia, Giovanni of Viridian, and Pryce of Mahogany.

The Kyo were a bloodline of warriors who worked in the shadows. Their modus operandi a ruthlessness that kept everything around them clean. Feared by all they opposed and respected by all they protected, with the lingering fear of what it would be like to become their enemy. And over the generations, their specialty had become…

…

'Poison types…'

…

'From Fuchsia…'

…

Had it really passed over him without a second thought? Janine had stated the night they met that her father was a League official. And then there was her aunt… How long had they been traveling together up to this point?

He finally realized that Janine had not said anything else since, and looking her over, he could not tell what she was feeling. Just that she was reading him. Examining his body language as thorough as a scanner. All of a sudden, her gaze felt heavier. Like he may shrink if she looked at him for too long.

"You're… one of them?" It wasn't the first time he had unknowingly befriended somebody with ties to a Gym, but he had not expected it to happen twice, and certainly not in this particular form.

She nodded, finally breaking eye contact to his minor relief. "I'm really sorry I did not tell you, Ash. I've felt guilty about it for a while, and I was planning to come clean before we left for Fuchsia, and then last night happened and…" trailing off with a sigh, she looked back at him. "I did not know how to say it, but I wanted you to hear it from me. I've been keeping it a secret since leaving home, but I trust you." shaking her head lightly, she glanced back into the room, potentially trying to see the clock, but Ash did not think it would be visible from their position. "It's not like I was going to hide it forever; eventually your name is out there for everyone, especially at the Conference. You didn't deserve to find out that way."

Studying the poison specialist carefully, Ash scratched his neck, thinking back to the time he had spent with Misty in Cerulean, and what she had said. Anybody with ties to a Gym Leader could hardly just come out and say it at random. And comparatively, he had not been with her nearly as long.

"I get it," he finally said. Now that it had finally sunk in, he couldn't help but mentally kick himself looking at her. All that time, and now he was acting… looking at her was different. But should it be? "You could have told me sooner if you wanted."

"That's just it," the words hadn't left Janine's mouth quite as easily. "I did not want to. I procrastinated ever since we joined up." Despite herself, she chuckled a bit. "Going home is… it's going to be a lot of things for me. I've gotten too used to everything."

Ash frowned. "Used to it?" Used to being away from home… he knew the feeling, but he also remembered how badly he had wanted to see his mother in person that morning. If he could teleport to their house right now, he would.

Janine was staring at him again, but averted that gaze soon after. He doubted he was as analytical as she was, but the way she shifted conveyed a lot of discomfort. The silence was not as consoling anymore.

"Janine…" he finally took the leap. "You can talk to me."

His words brought her attention back to him, but she still bit her lip, breaking eye contact ever so slightly. The unreadable expression was becoming a bit easier to read. Uncertainty.

Finally, she took the leap.

"Back at home," she started off. "Everybody knows who I am. My name is attached to the Gym Leader, after all. Kind of like an extension. There are a lot of people I'm looking forward to seeing again, but… none of them are my age. I… never really had friends my age."

Gary popped into Ash's mind, surrounded by his followers. He quickly pushed the image away.

Suppressing a sigh, the purple-haired girl rubbed her neck. "Outside of the Gym, I'm the Gym Leader's daughter. Leader Koga's daughter. When he takes me somewhere important, like Fuchsia City's church, I'm part of his body. And it's no secret that he has been prepping me since I was able." she managed to look him in the eye again, although not quite as focused as before. "Kids my age never really know what to say when I try to approach them, and I never know how to start. Whenever I try to look for peers I don't find any. It's almost like they're scared of me, because they're scared of my father." Now it was Ash's turn to break eye contact, but he quickly kicked himself again and returned his attention to where it belonged. "So… I've always stuck with the people in the Gym. They're older than me, it's not the same, but I love them."

As she continued, a faint glint appeared in her eyes. A pleasant one. "And then… I left home for my journey. Almost right away… everything felt different in Viridian. My family is known everywhere in Indigo, but I'm not, not yet. I could go up to whatever other trainer my age that I wanted and start chatting like anybody else. Nothing was separating us, and being able to interact so freely with people my age just felt really refreshing."

Ash's mind flashed back again. To the first time he had spoken to Janine in Viridian at the Center, to Misty, to Rick and Emily back in Pewter, or Laura and Maria in Cerulean, to just about everybody he had met on the road, even for a quick battle. Even Paul to at least some extent.

"Heh," he could not help the small smile. "Yeah, it really is, you're right."

Almost in response, she chuckled as well, looking back towards the view from the balcony as her posture straightened out on the bench. "Traveling with you gave me that every day, you know." she looked back at him more easily this time. "I might have started taking it for granted, and it was all by circumstance, but I've really enjoyed sharing this leg of my journey with you." she looked back in the direction that the Noctowl's earlier call had come from, although the bird was long gone. "I guess I just got a bit too used to it. I did not want things to change."

Ash did not take his eyes off of her while letting her words sink into his mind. He doubted he expected any of what she had said, but piecing it together took no effort. His mind no longer gave him images of Marauder, or the cavern collapsing, or anything from last night. All he could see was the gates of Pallet Town, and himself walking through them with a Pichu.

Looking at his feet, he could see Celadon as well. How she had just… walked in while he and Suzie were talking. How nothing was the same after a simple request he had made after the attack on the museum. Tempest working on Surf with Tentacruel and Skrelp, discussing traveling plans on where to go next, sharing training ideas, cooking, or even the meaningless stuff.

He quickly shook his head though. When you were a trainer, nothing was meaningless.

"Hey…" looking back at her, he waited for her to turn her head before continuing. All of a sudden, her gaze did not feel heavy, he did not shrink. "I don't blame you for thinking any of that. I probably would have too, but the only Janine I know is the one sitting next to me." It was definitely the easiest smile he had given in the past day. "And she's my best friend."

Her expression hung there for a moment. Slowly though, he could see the emotion coming to her face, detail by detail. Somewhere down the line, it made his heart skip a beat, and then…

…

It was probably the exhaustion kicking in again, or maybe just the moment itself, but neither of them knew who pulled the other in first. They did know that the other hadn't resisted, and in the blink of an eye, both of them were wrapped in one another's arms.

It was a gentle embrace, hardly anything especially tight. But it felt tight. Like they were locked in. He could feel her hair on his face, and it didn't bother him, or even more than half register with his mind. It was just a part of it. No different from the feeling of her hands on his back.

"Let me know whenever you have a nightmare," her lips were right next to his ear, and her hushed tone of voice traveled in smoothly, with as much ease as could be. "First thing in the morning if you have too, don't wait."

He blinked for a moment, and his chin pressed against her shoulder as he nodded. "You too, okay? You can even wake me up early."

"Are you sure?"

Biting his lip for a moment, the images in Ash's brain only flickered for a second before being banished from his mind. His eyes only wettened for a moment, although they stayed that way without progressing further. "None of this is fun, but if it doesn't go away… I want you to keep trusting me."

It was her turn to blink as his words hung in her ears. Blinking back the wetness in her own eyes, her mouth formed into a relaxed grin, and he felt her chin on his shoulder next. "Of course I will," she spoke quietly again, rubbing his back. "You're my best friend, after all."

His heart skipped a beat again, but he did not move to wipe his eyes. He didn't want to break this position.

Neither of them knew how long they remained that way. Nobody was keeping track of time, but for however long it lasted, neither of them cared how long it took for them to leave the balcony and return to their room.

For the moment, this went beyond any blanket.