Chapter Text
To Tajiri Takemoto, time slipped by too quickly. The day came and there was little he could do about it, but watch. He lamented that he hadn't even gotten to know his grandson for a Moon, but the gods had been generous enough to have let him have words with the pup while he was so young - experience and mistakes had taught the old jackal to be thankful for what he had been given instead of what could have been. Instead, Takemoto chose to celebrate and cherish what time he had remaining.
At the back of his mind, he knew Ash still desired to leave, not just the Capital, but also Citrine itself. Even worse, the old jackal feared that once everything was said and done, his grandson would cut himself off from his inborn gifts, his birthright. What value the pup saw in cutting himself from his own senses, his own nature, Takemoto did not understand, he could not understand. The lucario chose to… set such feelings aside, hoping that in the end, his grandson would make the correct choice.
The elderly lucario looked upon his grandson for what might have been the final time in Moons. The young pup busied himself by lifting the crates and cargo into the hold, reveling in his strength as he moved containers nearly five-fold his size and dozens of times his weight with ease. Meanwhile, his closest comrades assisted where possible, like sworn brothers sharing the same burden.
Victreebel and Goldeen flew around the ship, cleaning off the last remnants of vandalism and graffiti that covered the ship; apparently, the criminal was still at large. Staryu and an eevee focused on reading several texts and charts, whilst Dexter and James examined the strange metallic wiring throughout the ship, a function that made no sense to the jackal. Misty consoled her adoptive daughter whilst the little egg tightly held onto Smolive, both little children crying as they bid their goodbyes. Others had their own duties, making sure the departure would be completed as smoothly as possible.
All labored except for Psyduck and Onix. The duck had an excuse, one did not force the crippled to work without just cause. As for the rock snake? He was apparently secreted away, through some means.
Aside from the travelers who prepared to board their ship, there were other came to see them off. The Emperor and his mother stood a respectable distance away, present yet not personal, as much as the little pancham would have wanted. Kyuko, the priestess, stood beside the royal court discussing some unknown topic with the Dowager Empress. A particular scholar and a merchant lord were present, but Takemoto chose to deliberately ignore their presence; it would not have been good to ruin the mood for everyone else.
Nostalgia warred within the old jackal. Distant memories of when it was his journey, his trail nearly overwhelmed him. Nearly forgotten faces, long buried scents, and more made themselves known, overlapping with the here and now. So much was different, yet the constants remained the same: a young riolu set out to sail the seas with his friends, all to partake in the Quest, the grand challenge established in reverence to when Citrine truly began.
Ash abruptly stopped, from his position on the boarding riolu turned to look at his grandfather, worry in his eyes. "Gramps? Is something wrong?"
The lucario shook his head. "It is simply nostalgia. Carry on, grandson."
"Oh, okay!" Ash nodded his head and then went to excitedly push up another box onto the ship.. There were very few crates left.
Takemoto sighed. Sooner or later, his grandson would be done and then he and his friends would be at sea, not likely to return here.
The lucario sensed the presence approaching from behind him before he heard the metallic feet stomp against the stone roads. "This was always going to happen. It is the way of this world that the young must one day leave their elders and pursue their own path, the only question then is when that day comes." Tungsten, Sensei of the Erinite Dojo spoke.
"I regret that it came on this day," the lucario muttered in reply. "It is unjust that I only got to see him in such a short amount of time." After living alone so long, realizing that there was a future for his household imbalanced him. He did not want the pup to leave, not while there was… so much to teach him. Yet, when it came down to it, could he really force the pup to stay behind, like he tried for his rebellious Hanako?
Tungsten grunted. "Makes you wonder what our parents thought when we left them on our own adventures, doesn't it? Mine often wrote about whether or not I received enough daily sunlight."
"My mother and father kept running through my pack, I recall. If I had so much as a hairbrush out of place. Often, they would ask embarrassing questions in every letter I received, especially if I forgot any garments." Takemoto sighed, though a small part of him looked back on those days quite fondly. He frowned, remembering his own children, his own worries and frets when they left on their own adventures. "I suppose it is natural for parents to worry, especially since Ash is the last of my line… and the only one of my blood willing to speak to me."
"If you could meet her, perhaps, Hanako may be willing to forgive you?" Tungsten offered. "It has been over two-hundred Moons. Surely, that is enough time to reconsider her position?"
Takemoto shook his head. He didn't have a full grasp of what actually happened to his daughter, but for them to even speak to one another, would have meant that they had to breach the walls of Citrine. That was something that was simply not going to happen - not after the mutual violence they committed against the gardens - he had to get new trees after that. No, that rift between parent and child would likely remain for the foreseeable future.
"I see," Tungsten sighed. "It was worth a try, but it is understandable."
Takemoto's grandson shouted loudly as he fell into the bay, apparently having tripped in his excitement. Bulbasaur pulled him out with his vines, whilst Charizard blasted him with a jet of hot air. The riolu pup laughed at himself.
Takemoto tried to keep his face neutral, yet even he couldn't help but smirk at the young jackal's joy. Oh, he was so much like Satoshi in that way.
Another presence moved close to the old lucario, prompting him to turn his gaze. He saw Ash's closest friend, Pikachu, shamble over.
"Hey, uh, Mister Tajiri… Sir?" the Electric-type muttered, his heart trembling with uncertainty. "Can I have a word with you?"
Takemoto raised an eyelid, focusing on the rodent. He could sense his hesitation, his fear. The jackal raised an eyebrow. "About what?
"About… about Ash?" Pikachu answered, his voice breaking. "I want to talk to you about him, since we're going and all."
Takemoto slowly nodded his head. He then turned to face his peer. "Sensei, I believe I must speak to a member of my clan."
"By all means, we can resume later," Sensei Tungsten shifted his body down. "Perhaps over tea."
"Huh?" Pikachu blinked in obvious surprise. "Clan?"
Takemoto smiled at the child, a laugh escaping his throat. "I have prepared… going away presents." Admittedly, his original intention was more selfish, in that hope to coerce his grandson to leave his mad desire, by saddling him with riches and wealth. But no, the old jackal had grown wiser since the dispute with his daughter - he couldn't force a decision. He only hoped that Ash would make the correct choice.
The lucario extended a paw towards Pikachu. "Come with me, let us speak."
Ash shivered as the cold sea water from the bay clung onto his fur, like being trapped in wet clothes. Sure, the riolu could have easily lifted something as heavy as he was, but the dampness that surrounded him disgusted him. The Fighting-type shook himself, casting off some of the water, but it wasn't enough.
"Hey! There's this move I heard about!" Charizard said excitedly. "Let me try!" He rapidly flapped his wings and breathed out hot air in an attempt to dry him, blowing off the water like a living hair dryer.
After a minute later, the riolu felt better once most of the water dried off of him. Yet, it came at a cost. The riolu's thin hair all stood out on end, making him look like a blue puff ball of cotton candy, like those furfrou when their fuzzy bodies weren't trimmed.
Charizard shone his teeth in a nervous grin, desperately trying not to laugh.
Bulbasaur shook his head. "It might be a lost cause."
"I mean, it could be worse." Ash giggled. He looked so ridiculous, didn't he? The riolu pressed his paws against his hair, pushing them back down by force. It would take a bit before it stopped standing up, but it wasn't that different from being covered in electrical burns and charred hair.
"Hey, Boss! The ship's loaded!" Squirtle called out as he walked down the gangplank. The turtle then abruptly stopped and blinked. "Oh, wow. That's… that's quite the accident."
"Yeah, it looks silly, doesn't it?" Ash smirked. He shook himself again, this time, managing to get his pelt back in order.
"A little." Charizard nervously twiddled with his fingers. "Hey, so, what are we supposed to do now?"
"ATTENTION EVERYONE!" Jessie's voice blurted out from atop the ship's bridg, a voice louder than one would expect from an eevee. "THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING! EVERYONE, SAY YOUR- What do want JAMES?"
"You're not the Captain!" The pikachu contested. He put the captain's hat over his head.
In response, Jessie stole the hat and glared at the pikachu.
James snatched the hat back and returned the hard look.
"They're still fighting over that?" Ash said, incredulous at the whole thing. They had spent all week working on the ship and they hadn't decided on who was captain?
"Yup." Squirtle shook his head and crossed his arms. "Jessie and James, they're partners in theory, but they definitely bicker about the most pointless things."
"Enough already!" Meowth butted in and took the Captain's hat from the two of them. "Can we just get ta da point and get outta here?"
Jessie and James looked like they were about to pounce on the cat, but at the same time, Victreebel and Arbok reluctantly positioned themselves in front of Meowth, guarding him.
The two former humans turned their heads away from each other. "Fine," Jessie snorted. "We're about to board."
"Everyone say your goodbyes," James continued. "Share last minute parting gifts and final words!"
Ash just rolled his eyes at the two of them. Sometimes, he had to wonder how they got anything done when they did stuff like this all the time. On second thought, maybe they should fight each other more, because this level of dysfunction was probably what kept them from successfully nabbing Pikachu. Still, they had a point, he had to say his goodbyes to those present.
He turned his head and noticed a raichu approach. No, it was that raichu, the one that he had met when he had first arrived in the Capital, half crazed and suffering from a then unknown illness. She walked over to her, a nervous expression on her face.
"Uh, can I help you?" the boy spoke, trying to address her the only way he knew how. Unlike everyone else who was either a friend of Ash or someone he at least knew, the rodent was a relative stranger. His only words to her before now were when he tried to calm her down just a few weeks ago.
"No, yes…well." Raichu radiated this both frustration and embarrassment. She stumbled over her words. "I… this common rat humbly wishes to thank the heir of the Tajiri family for… services rendered?" She clasped her paws together before lowering her head to bow.
"Uh, you're welcome?" Ash rubbed the back of his neck, not sure how to feel about how… formal she was being. He also didn't really do much for her, other than heal her. Everyone else did all of the work.
"Did I… offend?" Raichu's nervousness spiked.
"No," Ash quickly added. "I mean, I didn't really help you except at the start when I healed you. I think that's more Cinder or Dexter who treated you. And Gramps was the one who let you stay in his house. I was just… there."
"All the same, I don't know if I would have survived to go through all of that if it wasn't for you," Raichu's ears drooped. "I was so scared for so long, I was worried I'd die. It's because of you, I'm here able to thank you."
Ash donned a satisfied smirk. Like a soothing rain washing over him, he could feel the gratitude Raichu felt for him. "I'm glad you're… able to thank me," he said. "Though, you really should thank the others, too. In fact, I see Dexter coming by!" The riolu pointed.
Am I needed for something? The possessed Pokédex flew by, seemingly unaware of what was going on. I overheard you talking about me.
"Hey, Dexter!" Squirtle piped up. "We were! Hey, Raichu wants to thank you."
"I do!" Raichu spoke up. "You are a strange Maiju, but if it wasn't for your oddities, I might not have received proper treatment. I am thankful that you were able to show me what others needed of me."
Dexter froze mid air, sputtering a rambling mess of words. I uh… yes… I… The Pokédex vibrated back and forth, seemingly unsure of what to do or say. Happy to serve. He finally uttered.
Ash eyed the Pokédex, sensing an odd sense of bashfulness from him. Then again, this might have been the first time a stranger properly thanked Dexter for… anything. After all, before this, he wasn't even truly alive.
Raichu nodded her head. "Yes." The rodent frowned as she cocked her head to the side. "Now that I've done my business, I won't overstay my welcome. You have other matters to attend to." The Electric-type then walked away, scurrying uncertainty.
Ash wondered what she meant by that, but he didn't have to ponder that question long as his grandfather and Pikachu approached. Their presences were heavy though, like the two of them carried something on their shoulders.
The old lucario carried a large pack of some sort, big enough that the riolu felt he could have jumped in and rode inside. The riolu walked over to meet him, his team following beside him.
"Grandson," Gramps spoke, "I feel these will be our final words until the Tournament. So, we must make these words count."
The riolu nodded his head solemnly.
"We've only known each other in such a brief amount of time, yet I will cherish these moments for as long as I live," Gramps said softly.
"Same here, Gramps," Ash called out. Even despite everything they disagreed with, they did kind of want the same things; they wanted that familial connection, something that neither of them really had much of. Plus, it was kind of cool to spend time with his grandfather, having never had the chance to do that before. Now, he kind of knew why Gary liked to brag about Professor Oak being his grandfather.
"Have you decided where you're going?" Gramps asked then.
"Uh, not really, but towards Turquioise Reef?" the riolu frowned. He and his friends had a short talk about where to go, but there were quite a few options. "Maybe to Heliotrope Peaks? You said something about that a week ago."
"I see."Gramps uttered, slight approval radiating form him. He knelt down and drew a bundle of scrolls from his pack. Blue ribbons and bronze seals bound each scroll. He offered it to Ash. "I cannot offer you much in the way of aid, it is considered… impolite to aid you too much on your quest, but I can present you with your birthright, as well as something for some of your friends."
Ash took the scrolls and noted that each ribbon possessed a name. One was Ash's but the others were addressed to Squirtle, Charizard, Bulbasaur, and Dexter respectively. The riolu passed the scrolls to their intended recipients, though Dexter couldn't exactly hold his scroll.
Everyone opened the scrolls and read them out. "Huh, what's this?" Charizard asked, almost embarrassed.
"Papers, identification papers," Squirtle filled in. "Really important identification papers."
Ash looked over his scroll and scanned it up and down. It started off with his family name, then went on to his given name. Following that came a large number that he assumed to be a date: 3781. There was also a small genealogy, listing his mother and grandfather on one side and his father on the other. There were spaces for things such as where he went to school or even if he had been given any astral… somethings, but those were empty.
It's a relatively complete identification, given the technology level. Dexter turned to his own scroll. No computers, no instantaneous record keeping. Everything is done by hand. No serial numbers.
"Hm, right below where the papers guess when I was born, there's a date: adopted in… today?" Bulbasaur noted. "Wait, we're adopted?"
"Yup," Pikachu confirmed, presenting his own scroll.
"I took the liberty of doing so. I know that none of you have your own families, instead being bound to my grandson," Gramps said calmly. "You may not be of our blood, but I believe your loyalty should be rewarded. In many ways, you were already part of the family, I am simply making is so Citrine acknowledges that."
Ash looked at Dexter, thinking about how the animated Pokédex contained not only the riolu's own identification, but also the registrations for each and every member of his team. In a way, Gramps was right. The only change now was that as far as the law was concerned, his friends were not simply his pets or followers, but actually part of his family. He smiled. "Wow, that's. That's great!"
"Yeah, Boss," Squirtle agreed, a wide smile on his face. "Think there are any benefits?"
"Or responsibilities?" Bulbasaur reminded, lightly amused. "It is a big deal, I wager. Not sure how much, but I'm here."
"Less so these days," Gramps sighed. "The Tajiri household was divested of most of its assets."
Charizard looked at his scroll, near completely frozen as he just kept looking at it. Ash sensed a great deal of emotions coming from the dragon, though nothing necessarily bad if he was reading the Fire-type correctly. It made the big dragon seem vulnerable.
Dexter was similarly transfixed on his papers, committing them to memory.
Pikachu walked over to Ash, his expression hard to read. The riolu could sense that weight on the mouse's shoulders grow as he looked at the jackal.
"Need help, Pikachu?" Ash offered. He didn't like to see people suffering or in pain, even more so now that he could feel it. He wanted to be there for everyone's needs.
The mouse shrugged. "No, not really. Just, had things on my mind." He pursed his lip. "Hey, so, now that we're all in the same family, does that mean we're like brothers or cousins or something? I didn't exactly figure out how this family stuff worked if you got adopted."
"I don't know. I never had cousins, not near ones, anyways." Ash replied, putting a paw on his lip. Then a strange idea formed in his head and he grew a vicious smirk. "Wait, if Gramps was the one that adopted you, doesn't that make you my uncle?"
Pikachu's jaw dropped, his eyes growing wide. "Wait, what?" Whatever sullen feelings the mouse felt vanished in an instant, replaced by sudden shock and embarrassment. "I'm younger than you." He turned to the others.
"Still my uncle," Ash stuck out his tongue, taunting him.
Gramps could barely stop the laughs from escaping. "I suppose that is… one way of interpreting that." He gave Pikachu a look. "You may wish to contact Hanako about correcting that."
"I will," Pikachu muttered. "But first." Electricity built up in his cheeks as he charged up.
Ash laughed. He saw this coming a mile away once he pointed out the obvious thought. "Gonna have to catch me first!"
Lightning shot over his head, narrowly missing him.
The riolu took this as his cue to run.
Cinder did as was natural to her and simply faded into the background. She wandered through without being noticed, even without donning a disguise. Everyone seemed to be wrapped up in their own conversations, paying little attention to their surroundings. The air filled with a bittersweet flavor, like tears and honey mixed together.
People were sad for their departure, but at the same time, many were excited about the idea of going to new lands to face even stronger foes. Or even just sight seeing appealed to them.
The zorua wandered by Ash, narrowly getting struck by a stray bolt of lightning as Pikachu chased after the riolu. The fox wisely walked away, towards where Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charizard looked out at the sunset. Nearby, the Empress quietly observed, passive and distant as a glacier, whilst her son fidgeted on a seat.
However, the last group was what caused Cinder to stop her tracks. Her Master, along with Sir Fjord and Sensei Tungsten, spoke amongst each other.
"It uncomfortably resembles Mantling, I admit." the ferrothorn spoke. "There are a number of similarities, what he created resembles the normal overlap of Essence Maiju experience while donning a Mantle, except… deeper."
"Maybe he studied a Mantle," Fjord proposed. The samurott took a step forward. "There's even books on the subject, if you got the money for it."
"Except he clearly had no understanding of proper alchemy," Sensei Tungsten spoke. "Why, if he did, he'd understand you're supposed to transmute the lead completely before having a non-poison adapted Maiju consume it."
Cinder walked behind a sign. Were they talking about Verge? She only knew that because lead poisoning was a common affliction amongst his victims.
"It's not needed to initiate a Mantle. Most practitioners don't even have an initiate's knowledge," Master Aspen interjected.
"And yet, he clearly was on to something quite esoteric." Sensei Tungsten nervously tapped his metallic pods. "I don't think he determined this on his own. Maybe someone showed him."
"It is possible, yes. Though, we may not know the answer." Master Aspen agreed. He then paused, shifting his head towards Cinder's direction.
The fox nearly leapt out of her own shadow. Instinct demanded she hide away, but her Master's voice subdued those fears.
"Zorua, is that you?" her Master called, using her pre-naming address.
"Y-yes," her voice cracked. She walked into view. "I was just… wandering a bit."
"I see." Master Aspen then turned to his compatriots. His steely eyes moved up and down her body, as if examining them for the slightest defect.
Cinder wondered if she had done something wrong, having heard something that she wasn't supposed to. It was like an exam day, except she hadn't done any of the studying she had been assigned.
"Have you come to say your goodbyes?" Master said finally.
Cinder stared. Admittedly, she had forgotten about speaking with her Master, having been wrapped up in the packing and preparations. That was somehow more troubling than her initial fears.
"I see," Master Aspen spoke again. He looked the fox another time and then brought a feathered hand near to her head. "Are you taller?"
Cinder blinked, not expecting that response. Why was her Master commenting on her height of all things? "I… don't know. I never thought about growing much. I'm not a little kit anymore and I'm not expected to grow that much until I evolve."
"And yet, you've definitely grown," Aspen commented, bringing a feathered had to his beak. "Perhaps it is simply the change in posture? Or perhaps you've been eating better than you were before."
Cinder looked at herself. She hadn't changed all that much, had she? Then again, so much of her daily routine had changed, that maybe it had an effect on her, one she hadn't noticed. She did participate in regular training sessions, though not as much as the others. And walking nearly everywhere had given her exercise she had largely avoided until recently. And the food? She hadn't had so much variety in her life before, spiritually or physically.
"Hm. Have you turned into furniture lately?" Master Aspen learned close. "It was one of your habits, especially amongst strangers."
"Not as much lately," Cinder confirmed. Maybe, that was a sign that she had changed. Why, she probably would have turned into a potted plant or a road sign at least once today, if she hadn't…. outgrown most of that habit.
"Good, good," Master Aspen sighed. "I'm glad you're progressing well into your career as a traveling alchemist." Traveler being the rank between an apprentice and a master, where one traveled to gain experience.
"She really turns into furniture when she's scared?" Fjord bellowed, the idea somehow amusing to him.
Cinder scowled at the samurott, annoyed at his laughter. Annoyance overrode whatever fear and hesitation she might have had. "What's so funny about that?"
"You're just like your dad!" the samurott continued to laugh. He didn't even bother trying to suppress it.
For the second time in that conversation, Cinder stood there, at a loss for words. "My… my father did that, too?"
"Yes…" Master Aspen nodded solemnly. "It was a habit he had when we first met him, one that you've instinctively inherited."
"Yep, back when we were all young and bright eyed, old Buttons was a scared little kit," Fjord answered, his laughter dying down. "Why, back then your mom had to basically volunteer him for most things until he got a little bit more confidence. Took him forever to stop trying to become part of the background the moment a loud noise startled him."
Cinder stared at this glimpse into the kind of person her father was. It sounded uncomfortably close to how she herself was. It made her wonder, did she share any more habits from him? Perhaps her workaholic tendencies? Her curiosity? But then, a realization stole her attention "Wait. My father's name was… Buttons?"
"Your mother had an odd sense of naming things," Fjord grunted.
Brock patiently watched as Ash, Misty, and Cinder bid their goodbyes; the riolu with his grandfather, whilst buizel quietly consoled Togepi and Smoliv, and the zorua with her Master.
The lycanroc had his own team with him, most of them idling about. Onix had already been safely stored in a Pokéball, having gone into hibernation like before. The rest of his team were there by his side. Or in one case, directly on him.
"Oh, wow, it's bright outside!" Zubat shouted, hanging upside down from one of Brock's neck spikes. It was an awkward fit, with the bat dangling on an uneven slope, but she didn't seem to mind. The lycanroc could barely feel her weight.
"It is," Brock confirmed. It was a good day, one where the sun's warmth seemingly filled every part of him, even despite the slightly chilly air around him. He looked up at the sky, his eyes staring up at that warmth. He could feel within himself, something resonating as he bathed in its glow. It was almost strange to think that not too long ago, he was almost scared of it. What harm was there in enjoying the day?
"Surprised you can tell, being blind and all," Geodude commented as he looked over the bat.
"Just cause I don't got eyes, I can't feel!" Zubat replied, extending her wings before grooming herself. "Besides, it's kind of warm."
"Warm?" Vulpix butted in, almost sounding offended. "I'm losing heat badly. I'm burning more calories just keeping my temperature stable." She scrunched up her nose. "... I think I am, at any rate."
"No, that's right. That's how homeostasis works. It's how every warm blooded creature works, really; if it's colder than you'd want, you burn more energy to warm your body; it's just for Fire-types, they just have higher warmth demands than normal," Brock answered then laughed. "I'm surprised you know about this."
Vulpix shone her teeth in an awkward grid. "Uh, well, I picked things up from a… documentary. Apparently, that's why a lot of Fire-types like volcanoes; the warmth is apparently nice to have."
"I don't think I'd like that very much," Kyuko uttered, joining in the conversation. "I'd very much like not to smell of brimstone."
Brock turned and saw the ninetales priestess approach. She had been present with the rest of the group, though she kept her distance, until now. "Brimstone, you mean sulfur?" He said.
"Huh, what's wrong about a little sulfur?" Geodude bounced forward. He looked confused, as though the concept was foreign to him.
"It stinks!" Vulpix answered, sticking out her tongue in emphasis. "Like, I know some Fire-types don't mind it, but I don't want to reek of the stuff!"
"Sulfur itself doesn't actually have an odor, in its pure form. But in many of its compounds, it smells like rotting vegetables." Brock added. It honestly made perfect sense, once he pulled out his knowledge of geology. Sulfur in its various forms were readily found in volcanoes. While both foxes present were practically immune to actually being harmed by the intense heat, the threat of being constantly bathed in an odor they didn't like bothered them more.
"Huh, the more you know," Geodude answered back, nodding his head. "I guess that makes as much sense as anything."
"Oh, so have you come to wish us goodbye?" Zubat called out. The bat threw herself of of her perch and spun directly into flight. "I mean, you were already but uh… this is more direct!"
"Yes, you can say that," Kyuko sighed. She turned towards Brock. "I have come to say my goodbyes, especially to you, Brock…and Vulpix."
The lycanroc''s nostilled filled with the scent of wondrous perfume, the odor of fresh lilacs and sweet cherries. She looked so beautiful there, her body graced by bright, near-golden fur, her body almost toned to learn perfection. Her teeth bore a pearly white complexion, perfectly shaped into an ideal arch. Her eyes shone, like little gemstones. There was no denying it, Kyuko was a vision of vixenly beauty, one that sagas and poems could be written about.
An urge filled the wolf, the kind of urge where in a different life he would have fallen on one knee and proposed on the spot. But Brock had changed. He set aside his feelings, subding his desires even as much as he heart wanted to step forward. No. He simply couldn't make a commitment, not to anyone, not yet. "You want to say goodbye to us?"
"Yeah. To the two of us?" Vulpix eyed the other fox skeptically.
"Indeed," the older fox answered. "I realize that it is unlikely we will see each other again, unless you decide to move to the Capital. So, I wish to say what needs to be said."
Kyuko took a deep breath. "Brock, you are strong and passionate, as is befitting of one bearing your coat. It is both your best quality and your greatest weakness. Master it or it will master you."
Brock nodded his head solemnly, knowing just how true those words were. After all, there was a reason why he fell madly in love with every girl he met. There also now the added problem that he reveled in his more predatory instincts, but that wasn't nearly as common of a problem.
Kyko then turned to Vulpix. "As for you, I will say this. You are young, but you have a great deal of courage and strength from your convictions. Temper yourself, learn from your mistakes, and you will prosper. You have great potential."
"... It's because I saved you, didn't I?" Vulpix frowned. "I took a hit so you could escape."
"Indeed," the ninetales confirmed. "Honor demands I respect you for that, if nothing else. Just, please don't be reckless again."
"I thank you?" Vulpix muttered, unsure of what to say.. She scrunched her face. "...I wouldn't mind being a bit like you when I get older or I evolve. You do look beautiful and you do serve an important role in your community."
Kyuko grew a small, satisfied smirk. "I thank you for your kind words, Vulpix." She hummed slightly. "Perhaps one day, when you've evolved and you find yourselves in the Capital, I can take you to some of my favorite places."
"That… would be nice," Vulpix confirmed.
Brock snorted as he saw the two foxes converse. The funny part was, despite seemingly being at odds for the longest time, they were more alike in so many ways. Both were foxes who grew up in the big city. Not only that, but they took pride in their appearance, largely as a result of what profession they saw themselves in. In contrast, Pikachu, who was raised wild, was very different from either of them.
"TIME TO BOARD TWERPS!" Meowth's voice bellowed loudly.
"YEAH! GET HERE OR GET LOST!" Jessie added her voice.
"AND NO STOWAWAYS!" James shouted, too.
Brock's ears twitched. "It looks like it's our time to go."
"Yup! Come on, let's get going." Geodude hopped towards the boarding plank.
"Yahoo! And they even have good places to hang on now!" Zubat flew over.
Vulpix walked forward after the two of them.
Brock was the last to leave. He took one last look at Kyuko before turning his back to her. She was pretty and she smelled nice. A part of him felt like he could gush about her and all woud be right in the world, but he remembered the fox's words. He got a grip on himself and turned his away.
He walked up the plank, just after Vulpix.
The young fox turned to a glance at him. "You know, I was expecting something… different," she commented. "Like, I saw that look on your face."
"Yeah, I nearly waxed poetically about her," Brock muttered gloomily.
"So, why didn't you?" Zubat flew by, dive bombing as she did.
"Because things are different when everyone wants you," Brock answered in a dry tone. As a human, he often tried to woo the affections of every girl he came across, all in a desperate hope one of them would say yes. Here? It sometimes felt like every girl wanted a piece of him, enough to the point that it got stressful. All of that attention definitely changed how he approached things.
"Oh. I guess that makes sense." Vulpix gave him a thoughtful look as she walked onto the deck. She then visibly deflated. "You know, I'm not looking forward to being in a flammable ship surrounded by the ocean on all sides."
"No one is," Geodude said back. "It's going to be a whole lot of sitting and waiting. But at least we got things to do. Like boardgames or books.."
"Yeah, things to do," Brock muttered. His eyes shifted towards a small satchel at his side. Though he couldn't see it, he felt it and the tiny stones within, each no bigger than his claws. While he didn't like the idea of going into the open ocean, the lycanroc had decided on a plan to keep himself occupied during the trip.
Misty quietly patted Togepi's back as her little egg cried into her fur. Togepi bawled her eyes out, holding onto her tight. The little Pokémon wailed incoherently, tears dripping like a small flood. The little tyke had finally met someone her age, but now that she was leaving her first friend; Togepi simply did not know how to deal with her emotions.
The two of them were already on the ship, waiting for Team Rocket to turn on the engine and leave the harbor. The buizel took a deep breath and stood as her little one's rock, knowing what she was going through. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here, let it all out," she urged. "It's okay to be sad when you say goodbye."
"Buh why?" Togepi whimpered, half coherent. "Why goodbye?"
"Because goodbyes are something that just… happens," Misty struggled to explain. She honestly had no idea how to relate the idea in a way that was helpful for the little egg to understand. "You can't always be with everyone, especially if someone lives somewhere you… aren't going to be, so you have to say goodbyes when you leave someone. Goodbyes are something you'll have to do with everyone."
"... You, too, Mommy?" Togepi asked, looking up at her with innocent eyes.
Misty froze, looking at her adoptive daughter, blindsided. A part of her wanted to evade the question, to let Togepi believe that she would always be there by her side. Yet, would she have been doing more harm than good if she let her believe in a lie? Probably. "Yeah. Remember when I sent you to the daycare to be watched by Smoliv's family? You said goodbye to me then."
"But not like… this?" Togepi complained. "That was… not like this."
"Not like this," Misty agreed. "That goodbye was short, only a few hours while you got to play with Smoliv. But now you're going to leave Smoliv behind and that goodbye could last… a long time."
Togepi deflated. "Will you goodbye for a long time, Mommy?"
"Yes." It felt like she tore off her own arm to say, but this was the truth to it. One day, Misty and Togepi were going to be separated for a long period of time. Hopefully once Togepi got older, but hardly anyone knew the future. "I don't know when, I don't know, but one day, I'll say goodbye to you and you to me."
She put on her best smile and then tried to change how her little egg thought about saying goodbyes. "When you're older, maybe you'll go off on your own adventure one day. Perhaps you'll go traveling? See sights? Meet new people? Make friends?"
"But why can't you come?" Togepi demanded in a weak voice.
"Because, Dear Togepi, some adventures, you have to go on your own!" Staryu interjected, adding her own flavor of mirth. "Why, since when did you ever hear of many heroes having their parents around them when they're big and strong already? Practically never!"
That seemed to resonate well with Togepi, who looked on at the starfish with curious intent.
Misty rolled her eyes, amused at Staryu's choice of words. She had a good feeling this might have been inspired by something he saw. Still, it put things into terms that Togepi could understand. "But that's not right now, Togepi. You're still very little. And that means… you adventure with me."
Togepi's expression brighted. "Ooh? That's… that's great, Mommy!" she shouted.
Misty gave her a bright smile and gently patted her little girl's head. "You've still got a lot of growing up to do, okay? That means a whole lot of learning, first."
"Uhuh!" Togepi nodded.
"Now, let's go make sure we wave goodbye to Smoliv, when it's time, okay?" Misty told her. "Goodbyes, don't have to be all sad. They can be fun, too."
Togepi hesitated, but she listened to the buizel's words. "Uh. Okay, Mommy!"
Staryu echoed a laugh, his gem shining. "And because of that, we should be happy when we say goodbye to your friend, Smoliv, right?"
"Right!" Togepi repeated, a big smile on her face. Then, abruptly, the little egg burst from Misty's arms as she dashed all the way to the ship's railing. She tried to jump onto it, but the little egg was too short to climb up. Not that it stopped her.
"Togepi!" Misty and Staryu called out at the same time.
Both ran towards the little egg, barring her way. "Togepi, what are you doing?" Misty said immediately.
"But I wanna say goodbye when I'm happy!" Togepi complained.
"Just… let me help you with that. I'll help you up to a box, okay? That should be tall enough to get you to look at your friend." Staryu offered.
"Okay!" Togepi initially agreed.
Staryu led Togepi over to a small stack of boxes and helped the little egg to stand ontop of them.
Misty sighed, glad that at least this way her little baby wasn't going to endanger herself with supervision. She walked to follow the two of them, just to make sure there were no other problems.
But then she caught the silhouette of a goldfish appearing near her. "Goldeen?" she turned to the source.
"Present." The goldfish floated near her, the metallic ring attached to her tail fin glowing softly as she did. "That was an amusing sight. And to think, this is perhaps the first real goodbye Togepi ever made."
"She's growing up fast, isn't she?" Misty slowly nodded her head. Before this all happened, she never really noticed Togepi's development before. In the time before, she always carried the little egg around, making sure she was taken care of and pretending to be her mom. But, ever since Misty became a Pokémon, she had to give more and more autonomy to her little egg, just because Misty couldn't do everything like she used to.
"Still, it's good for her, to have made a friend, even if they have to part ways for now," Goldeen spoke.
"It was the right choice to get in touch with that daycare," Misty agreed. And to think, she had never taken her little Togepi to meet anyone her age before.
As they spoke, the engine in the hold roared to life. It was near silent, but the mechanical whirring sound of the propeller churning the waves drew her attention. From her position, she could feel the clumsy, awkward spin of the machine as tested itself.
Then, Meowth stood at the ship's wheel. "Alright, da ship's aboutta move!" the cat shouted.
"That means waving goodbye!" James added.
"One last time!" Jessie finished.
Misty walked over to Togepi. Her little egg bounced on top of a barrel, Staryu by her side. She leapt up and down shouting down to Smoliv who echoed her actions from the harbor. From all over the ship, everyone aboard the ship shouted their own farewells. Ash, Pikachu, and Squirtle raised their mitts. Brock howled, his cry reaching far and wide. Even Cinder raised her voice, something she practically never did before.
Misty chooses to join in, adding her own voice to the chaotic cacophony. "We'll see you again, someday! Thanks for having us!" she said.
Despite everything that happened in the Capital, the buziel still felt like she enjoyed herself. If nothing else, it had made her think about things she hadn't before.
On the docks, the others returned the sentiments. Mister Takemoto, Sir Fjord, Scholar Aspen, that priestess, and even the Empress, all raised their paws and their voices, wishing the people on the ship well. It was almost like something from a storybook.
The ship broke from the docks, without its sails unfurled. Its propeller cut through the water, leaving a churning mess of bubbles in its wake.
The crowd at the docks shrunk as the distance grew, their voices muffled by the intervening space. In a short, yet agonizing lengthy amount of time, they became specks before fading away entirely.
The ship quieted immediately, as everyone had said what they wanted to say.
Togepi collapsed and started to snore. Misty caught her little egg and gently brought her safely down the barrel with the said Staryu.
"Looks like she exhausted herself saying goodbye," Staryu commented.
"Let's get her downstairs,." Misty proposed.
Staryu nodded his body in agreement. He lifted Togepi onto his back and gently carried her by levitating with almost surprising ease, whilst Misty kept her precious child stable in the air. They took care not to drop her or disturb her as they went down the stairs into the hold, now divided into a small section of sleeping areas ever since the redesign. Finding the room assigned to them, they found an appropriate sleeping mat and draped a tiny blanket over Togepi's little body.
"Sleep tight and sweet dreams, little fairy," Misty whispered in her ear.
Togepi didn't reply, instead tossing and turning as she curled into her shell.
Goldeen smiled at the sight. "We should probably take care not to disturb her. We wouldn't want to wake up something so precious," the fish whispered.
Misty nodded her head.
"Let's get to the main hallway," Staryu suggested.
Without any further words, the three of them left the room and then split off in different directions afterwards. Goldeen went off to play Mahjong with Arbok and Cyclizar, apparently gambling pocket change. Staryu left to make sure Psyduck was attended to.
As for Misty? She simply wanted to be alone, as alone as one could be on a sailing ship, at any rate. Others were present, but they did not disturb her.
Misty needed to think.
The buizel wandered off to the top deck, her head swimming with thoughts. Ahead of her stood the ocean, as vast and as enchanting as it had always been. She felt its current, its sway within her heart, as though it were part of her own body. It was all around her, all encompassing, but also inviting, reassuring as though it were an old friend.
In a way, it was.
Misty had always felt a connection to the sea and water in general, a pull that completely shaped her life and defined her dreams and aspirations. As a human, she always thought it was something about how she was raised in a Water-type Gym, how she was inspired by her parents as they managed it. And while that likely was an influence, the buizel now knew that connection was real and tangible in a way very few things were.
This was a part of who she was; her affinity with water was a fact, no matter what form she took.
Misty then frowned as she then went onto her next thought. It was something she should have realized the moment that she could understand what Staryu and Goldeen were saying. Now that she had a moment to think, she knew she had to resolve what it all meant. Even if she was still stuck in Citrine for the foreseeable future, she needed to recognize something.
The buizel recognized a simple and indisputable fact: pokémon were people, too. People who had their own lives, their own dreams.
And her dream of being the greatest Water-type Pokémon trainer in the whole world revolved around capturing hundreds of Pokémon to put them all on her team. Back then, it was just something she thought she had to do, to prove her true mastery over her chosen type. Every trainer caught Pokémon and she wanted to be the best Water-type specialist ever, so she had to do that.
But now, she had to wonder if catching Pokémon at all was not a good thing to do. If every Pokémon was their own person, she would be trapping them in her Gym until they complied to her every whim. They would fight her battles for her, they would no longer have their own lives. Misty's dream would have taken the dreams of others away.
She fumed, not liking this outcome. She still wanted to be a great trainer and she couldn't just give up just because of a little setback. Maybe she could work around needing to capture Pokémon by getting volunteers and offering them a salary, but that was possibly hundreds of Pokémon who she'd have to convince and talk to. How was she even supposed to attempt something like that?
No, no. Maybe wha-
"Hey, Misty?" the voice nearly startled the buizel out of her fur, but she recognized the voice.
She spun around and glared at who distracted her. "ASH! Can't you see I'm busy?"
"You're busy… watching waves go by?" Ash asked, obviously skeptical. The riolu shaded his eyes with a paw, as if looking ahead. "Yeah, I can see how that'd make you busy," he said with very unsubtle sarcasm.
Misty crossed her arms and pouted. She didn't like the fact Ash had just shown up and disturbed her just when she was thinking up a solution to what she was thinking about. "Please tell me you didn't come to me because you felt me or anything!"
"Okay, I won't." Ash said. While his tone lacked any real venom, it was clearly more sarcasm.
Misty rolled her eyes. "Ash, why did you of all people get the power to read emotions?" She sometimes liked it better when Ash wasn't so perceptive. Could she even find a quiet moment with him around?
"I mean, something was bothering you," The riolu rubbed the back of his neck. "I mean, it felt…complicated…"
"Complicated is right," Misty sighed. She considered telling Ash to buzz off, but decided against it in the end. Ash, for all of his faults, was the one person who actually understood her problems; his dream, after all, was not all that different from hers. "Ash, how do you become a Pokémon Master?"
"Well…" The riolu pursed his lip and rubbed his chin. "There aren't any hard requirements, but Gary and I have always agreed that winning a Pokémon League is part of it. Oh, and being a good trainer, too!"
Misty slowly nodded her head. "So, what does being a 'good' trainer even mean now?"
"Well, Gary's always saying that he wants to get one of every Pokémon, he's always rubbed in the fact that he's got nearly every species in Kanto for Professor Oak. It doesn't help that Professor Oak always did try to compare our catches, like Gary's krabby getting into the record books because it was so big and mine being a pipsqueak before he evolved." Ash frowned. "But, I don't know if I agree with that."
"You don't?" Misty asked.
Ash spent a good minute in silence as his brow furrowed in thought. "Yeah, I don't. I didn't really think about it much, but I'd rather have Pokémon that want to share that dream with me than those that don't. I don't need one of every Pokémon in the world, I just need some friends who want to climb to the top with me."
Misty blinked. It sounded so simple, so obvious. She had been going around this the wrong way, thinking that the key to her success relied on getting as many Pokémon as possible. In actuality, what she should have been focusing on is getting Pokemon who were her friends first and foremost. Pokémon, people, who wanted to share in that dream, too.
Being a Pokémon Master wasn't simply about being a really strong trainer who has very strong Pokemon. It meant having Pokémon who wanted to be that strong.
"So, this is about you being a Water-type Master, isn't it?" Ash said at least.
Misty jolted, stumbling backwards and nearly falling off the ship's railings. "What?" She was more surprised than Ash somehow knew what was bothering her. "How? Did you read my mind or-"
"I took a guess." Ash shrugged. He knelt down and offered his paw to help her stand. "Dexter kind of taught me all of the legal stuff the other day. I figured that catching as many Water-types as you can was going to be a problem."
Misty just shook her head. The one time Ash used his head correctly and it had to be her. Well, he was a riolu; this was kind of their thing. She reached out and allowed Ash to pull her up. "Yeah, it was what I was thinking about, how I was going to do my dream without catching Pokémon." She said as she rose. She then frowned. "You know, for the longest time, I thought success was based on how many Pokémon you collect. That's why I thought of catching as many Water-types as I can."
"Gotta catch 'em all, huh?" Ash muttered thoughtfully.
Misty squinted. That phrase sounded familiar, but she couldn't remember where she heard it. "Where'd you get that from?"
"I think that's the slogan of Slyph Co or maybe some other Pokéball manufacturing company?" The riolu scratched his head. "Maybe that's why it sometimes seems like everyone's catching as many Pokémon as they can? Like, there's Damien and Gary who have dozens if not hundreds, but there's other people, too. Even the Safari Zone wanted you to use every Pokéball you had to get a new Pokéball."
"Maybe." The buizel took a deep breath, like a load on her shoulders had been lifted. She knew what steps she needed to accomplish her goal, knowing what she knew now. Being the greatest Water-type specialist in the world did not require her to enslave other people. If she had to force Pokémon to train, she was doing it wrong in the first place
… So, how was she going to deal with Psyduck? The duck actively refused to swim! A duck refusing to swim! She frowned, filing that as a problem for another time.
Instead, Misty turned towards Ash. It surprised her to know that the boy had actually thought so much about what he wanted out of being a "Pokémon Master." It showed a surprising amount of wisdom that the buizel never thought the jackal could have been capable of. Maybe, turning into a riolu awakened some dormant wisdom that he never had access to before. Or maybe Ash always had those depths to him; out of the former human kids in their group, it sometimes felt like Ash was the only one who wasn't shaken up at all about…. anything that happened within Citrine.
Then, the riolu made a nervous face. "Hey, Misty, what's with the look?"
"Just, thinking." Misty furrowed her brow. Other than some initial trouble controlling his aura powers, Ash just seemed perfectly fine with himself. He never tried to suppress his instincts like Brock nor did he have moments where his new habits bothered him like Misty, herself, had. Maybe it had something to do with Ash's parents having been Pokémon in their lifetimes?
Ash continued to frown. "Well, if you're going to look at me like that, I did think of something else."
"Like what?" Misty's whiskers twitched in anticipation.
"Being a Pokémon Master means you have to master yourself, too!" Ash smiled, pointing at himself. He laughed. "Because, we're all Pokémon, right?"
Misty looked down at herself one last time, looking at the cream and orange fur that covered her body. She was a Pokémon, a Pokémon that… needed training. If she wanted to be the greatest Water-type specialist in the world, she had to start with herself. So, that begged the question: what did that mean to train herself?
"Train yourself." Misty muttered, thinking it through what that would even look like. She imagined herself several years from now, what her dream would look like when manifested. Her imagination showed her two outcomes.
In one, she saw a beautiful young woman with long orange hair. She moved with casual grace within her swimsuit, striking poses that drew the eyes. Her voice thundered, beckoning powerful Pokémon like a gyrados to follow her command, for she was far scarier than any sea monster found in the ocean.
In other, stood a floatzel, one that had seen her fair share of battles. She looked perfect with her fur carefully trimmed and styled, drawing attention. Her eyes were sharp as her fins as she cut down foe after foe with blades of rushing water. The weasel led other Pokémon into battle, for she was the most ferocious among them.
…Strange. Both ideas actually looked very similar when she compared them like that. Maybe there was something to that, a commonality she hadn't considered before.
Misty set those thoughts aside, putting away for later. She had a better idea of what she wanted now, of what her future could look like if she set her mind to it. Only now, she had spent enough time thinking to herself. She needed to do something… or at least think about doing something. "Hey, Ash?"
The riolu squinted. "Yeah, Misty?"
"You know, it's been a while since we actually fought each other." Misty twitched her whiskers as she thought. "A proper battle, too."
The riolu's grin wide, his canine showing bright. "Yeah! Especially against each other." He raised a clenched fist and pretended to punch the air. "I've learned so many new things since we fought in Aspen's place!"
"Yeah, same here!" Misty clenched her own fists, imagining how they'd look once water flowered around her body. Regardless of what road she took, one thing remained clear, she wanted to fight. That was what called to her.
Ash then abruptly frowned. "Wait, we should have done that before we left! Team Rocket doesn't want any battles on the ship!"
Misty frowned as well, realizing how right Ash was. In theory ship might have been good enough to withstand a fight, there was always the possibility of a fight, even a training fight breaking out could damage something important. Which meant that there was no way they'd be allowed to fight here and now. No, they had to wait.
"Soon as we land?" she offered.
"Soon as we land!" he accepted.
The Empress eyed her child with a stony expression, one perfected over a lifetime of Court life. Yet, even with as much practice as she had, her mask started to crumble, for what she saw was a rare sight, one where her duties as Empress clashed with her maternal role as a mother.
"Goodbye, Ash! Bye, Pikachu! Bye, Charizard!" Precious, little Gaozu bounced and leapt for joy with wild abandon, disregarding his titles and status for a moment and acting as all children his age did. He waved his paws in the air with the most exaggerated display he could muster, trying to make sure he could be seen even as the ship before them faded from view.
It was completely unbecoming of someone from his station. The Emperor was supposed to be as stoic and enduring as the mountain, a symbol of regal wisdom and patient contemplation. Sweet Gaozu, as a child who had only recently started education, was hardly the image of the ideal Emperor. But he was also so young; society had expectations and ideals, but reality did not care for what was ideal.
The Empress buried her ghost of a smile under stoic discipline. While she was willing to overlook her son's blatant display, she had no such excuses. Instead, she quietly did as all ideal mothers are meant to do and found satisfaction in her son's joy… even if his choice of role model was questionable.
"Hey, Momma, when's the Tournament?" Little Gaozu turned to her.
The Empress inclined her head and spoke in a soft voice. "Some Moons from now. You wish to attend?"
Gaozu nodded his head vigorously. "Yeah, I wanna!" he said. "I wanna see the fighting! Maybe Ash and his team will win!"
"The Tournament grounds are a fair distance away," the Empress reminded her child. The pangoro knelt down on one knee. "It would mean going on a ship and traveling."
The pancham's expression rapidly soured.. "Which means I can't go…" He looked like he wanted to cry, but instead he crossed his arms and stared up his mother with a hard expression. "Why can't the tournament be here?"
"Because that's where the Great Arena is and that is where the gods choose to spend their time. And that's something that cannot be changed." The pangoro closed her eyes and tried to smother her own discontentment. She understood her son's frustration. He felt trapped in the Palace, not allowed to leave its premises. While her instincts as a mother would have wanted to sympathize, as the Empress, she knew the risks involved were great. As the Emperor, little Gaozu would have a target on his back. "It would be dangerous to travel there."
Gaozu's frown started to deepen.
And yet, maybe it was unfair for Gaozu to never see the land that he would one day rule. If he was trapped in the Palace all of his life, would he even appreciate the world outside of it? After all, she had been to the Great Arena when she was young, once as a visitor, another as an aspirant. "We can consider an escort, perhaps," the Empress suggested. "Some trustworthy guardians."
Gaozu's eyes lit up. He leapt into the air and then grabbed onto his mother's leg, obvious giddiness in his expression. "Thank you, thank you, Momma!" he shouted in jubilation.
The Empress felt her heart break into parts, one part glad that her son was so overjoyed, the other worried to death for his sake. She didn't really want to allow him to travel, yet she knew that she had to give him some freedom. Perhaps, if given proper security, it might be a good thing
The pangoro ruffled her child's hair. It might have been a tad too affectionate for being public, especially in the harbor of all places, but she felt it appropriate given the situation.
"So, why have you chosen to favor this riolu?" The Empress asked, idly. She hoped to understand. "There are a few riolu in court already."
"Hm?" Gaozu tilted his head. "Oh, because he's the only one that's from outside Citrine! And he's already had all of these adventures with his friends! Why, Pikachu says that he's survived dozens, no, hundreds of kidnappings! And then they met this dragonite that was huge and destroyed a lighthouse, whatever that is! And all of this other stuff"
"I see." The widowed mother supposed that it made sense, given the life her son had been forced to live. The heavily exaggerated tales of a distant land likely appealed to him nothing else. She considered informing her son about the fact that the stories he was being told might not be completely accurate, but decided against it. Maybe once he was older, she would tell him the truth, but right now, there was little harm in letting a child's imagination roam.
"Hey, why does he call other Maiju, uh… Pokémon, Momma?" Gaozu asked suddenly. "He and all of his friends use it, so why'd they do that?"
"It's… something I will explain to you when you're older," the mother deflected. It was something she did not want to explain to him, not in his current state. The Empress gently pushed her son away and rose to her feet. "For now, let's get back to the Palace. I'll see what we will need to make it to the Tournament."
"Hm, okay," the pancham replied gloomily. Though, a smile did form on his lips at the mention of the Great Tournament. He extended a paw, which the pangoro took.
The Empress signaled to the escorts to bring their carriage.
As they went to leave, the Empress thought of the object of her son's current admiration. So much about the riolu bothered her.
The pangoro never knew Hanako personally, but nearly everyone in the Court knew of the rather public confrontation she and her father fell into. The exact reasons for what happened have been debated but never confirmed, but it was rumored that the conflict arose out of Hanako objecting to an arranged marriage. Instead, it had been said she favored a luxio than she traveled with.
When her team won the tournament, most of its members vanished, seemingly without a trace. The popular theory had always been that Hanako had been spirited elsewhere, perhaps a private island within Citrine's borders where she could live a life of relative anonymity with her chosen partner.
With Ash's arrival, they now knew where she had gone. Evidently, they were correct that Hanako had been spirited away, though not that she stayed within Citrine. Hanako had chosen to leave Citrine entirely, raising her son as an outsider with seemingly no knowledge of his heritage.
And that was just the things she knew for certain. After all, the riolu did like to wear clothes, particularly that hat of his. Most normal Maiju from abroad did not often wear or own any clothes or their own and Ash brought a hat with a rather distinctive style to it. Perhaps she had been jumping to conclusions, but there were stories of how odd Hanako's supposed lover was. She had other suspicions, as well, but she felt that the boy's age prevented him from being more than what he appeared to be: a child on an adventure.
The Empress hoped that she was making the right decision in allowing them to leave, but aside from questions of their origins, she had little reason to interrogate children. Besides, she had other problems to worry about, such as the unrest in the outer provinces; the gods know that things would be far worse if it weren't for mercenaries and private militia challenging the pirates, bandits, and rebels.