Part 37

Ash shoved the front door open and stepped inside, letting it close behind him with a dull thud. His backpack slid off his shoulder and hit the floor, but he didn't care. His jaw was clenched, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he trudged further inside. His mind was still clouded with everything that had happened today—the fight, the scolding from Lysandre, the stares from everyone in class.

But before he could make it to his room, a voice stopped him cold.

"Ash," Delia's tone was sharp, her arms crossed as she stood in the living room. She had been waiting for him.

Ash exhaled sharply through his nose, already knowing what was coming. He turned, his expression unreadable. "What?"

His mother's eyes narrowed. "Don't 'what' me." She took a step forward, shaking her head. "Do you have any idea how humiliating that meeting was for me today? Getting called to the principal's office because my son was involved in a fight?"

Ash kept his gaze on the floor, his jaw tightening.

"I raised you better than this," Delia continued, her voice laced with disappointment. "Ever since we moved to Kalos, you've been... different. Picking fights, shutting people out, barely even talking to me anymore. This isn't the Ash I know."

Ash's fists clenched at his sides. He knew she was upset—she had every right to be—but hearing her say that, hearing her act like he wasn't himself anymore, only made the frustration bubble more inside him.

"I didn't start the fight," he muttered, finally meeting her eyes.

"That doesn't matter," Delia snapped. "You were in it, Ash. Do you think that's okay? Do you think this is how you should be acting?"

Ash gritted his teeth. "I didn't ask to be dragged into Lysandre's office, okay? I didn't ask for any of this."

Delia let out a sharp breath, placing a hand on her forehead. "Well, neither did I, Ash. But there I was, sitting in that office with the other parents, listening to how my son—my son—is becoming a problem." She lowered her hand, looking at him with tired eyes. "Do you know how that made me feel?"

Ash hesitated. A small pang of guilt crept into his chest, but his frustration still lingered. He looked away, his voice quieter now. "I didn't mean to make things worse..."

"But you did." Delia's voice softened slightly, but the disappointment remained. "And I just don't understand... why?"

Silence hung between them for a long moment. Ash knew she wanted an answer. Maybe even needed one. But the truth was, he didn't really have one. He just felt... lost.

But saying that out loud? He wasn't ready for that.

"...I don't know," he muttered instead, turning toward the stairs. "I'm going to my room."

Delia sighed, watching as her son trudged up the steps, shoulders tense, expression unreadable. She wanted to reach him. She needed to reach him. But for now, all she could do was watch him slip further away.

And that, more than anything, broke her heart.

Meanwhile, beneath the dazzling lights of Lumiose City...

Neon signs flickered across towering skyscrapers, Prism Tower loomed in the distance, and the hum of traffic mixed with the chatter of people enjoying the evening rush. But not everyone was here for leisure.

Three figures moved through the city with sharp focus, their footsteps quick, their eyes scanning the busy streets. Cilan, Chili, and Cress—known to most as the Striaton Brothers.

"Ugh, this city's way too big to search on foot," Chili groaned, adjusting his waistcoat in frustration. His red hair stood messily on end as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "We've been running around all day, and we still haven't picked up a single clue on those clowns!"

Cress, ever the calm and composed one, adjusted his tie and sighed. "Patience, brother. A rushed investigation leads to careless mistakes. Team Rocket is skilled in deception. If they've gone underground with the Meteonite, we'll need more than brute force to find them."

Cilan, standing between them, pressed a finger to his chin in thought. His sharp green eyes reflected the city lights as he scanned their surroundings. "We know they're still here in Lumiose. The Meteonite is too unstable to transport long distances without protection, and Team Rocket—no matter how foolish they seem—wouldn't risk detonating it prematurely."

Chili crossed his arms. "Yeah, yeah, we know that. But where the heck are they?" He kicked a stray can in frustration. "This is bad, Cilan. If they use that Meteonite, they could cause a disaster! We're talking city-wide destruction!"

Cress nodded grimly. "And let's not forget the energy stored inside it. If Team Rocket finds a way to harness it, they could create a weapon unlike anything we've seen."

A tense silence settled between the brothers.

Cilan finally spoke, his voice low and serious. "This isn't just about Lumiose City anymore. If they activate that Meteonite, it could send energy shockwaves beyond Kalos. We have to find them before they make their move."

Chili huffed, cracking his knuckles. "Well, we better find 'em fast, 'cause I'm not about to let a bunch of crooks destroy our city. We need to get a better vantage point."

With that, the three brothers pressed on, the lights of Lumiose City flickering around them as they continued their search for Team Rocket—before it was too late.

Few more hours later...

The night in Lumiose City had settled into an eerie stillness. The vibrant hum of the metropolis had faded, leaving only the occasional whoosh of passing cars and the distant murmur of late-night pedestrians. From their vantage point on the rooftop of a towering office building, Cilan, Chili, and Cress remained still, their eyes locked onto the endless sprawl of city lights beneath them.

Cilan knelt near the edge of the roof, his sharp green eyes darting from street to street. His posture was rigid, focused, waiting. The mission tonight was delicate—there was no room for error.

Chili, on the other hand, was growing restless. He let out a tired groan and stretched his arms behind his head. "Okay, we've been up here for hours. When is something actually gonna happen?"

Cress, ever composed, ignored his brother's impatience as he adjusted the binoculars in his hands. His piercing blue eyes scanned the skyline methodically, sweeping over rooftops, alleyways, and finally—

There.

A shadow in the sky. A faint, familiar outline between the buildings.

Cress's eyes narrowed. He focused, adjusting the lenses until the shape came into view. A round, yellow blimp with cat-like whiskers and a wide, grinning mouth floated silently above the rooftops, just a few blocks away.

He smirked. "Found them."

Cilan and Chili immediately snapped to attention.

Chili stepped closer, peering over Cress's shoulder. "Wait, wait, wait—tell me it's not what I think it is."

"Oh, but it is," Cress confirmed, lowering the binoculars with an amused huff. "That ridiculous Meowth balloon of theirs. I swear, for a team trying to be discreet, they certainly have a flair for theatrics."

Cilan smirked slightly but quickly returned to business. "That means the Meteonite is with them. This is our chance." He stood up, adjusting his green tie as he stared toward the distant balloon. "We need to strike when they least expect it."

Chili smirked devilishly. "Finally! Let's get down there and pop that balloon already!"

But Cilan shook his head. "No. Not yet."

Chili blinked. "What?"

Cilan crossed his arms, thinking carefully. "We need to be smart about this. Team Rocket may be clowns, but they're resourceful clowns. If we charge in now, they'll scatter, and we could lose track of them entirely."

Cress hummed in agreement. "Not to mention, we don't know if they have reinforcements. If Giovanni sent backup, we could be walking into an ambush."

Chili groaned but relented. "Fine, fine. So what do we do, then?"

Cilan turned, his gaze sharp. "We wait for them to land. If they have the Meteonite, they won't risk flying too long—especially in a city as monitored as Lumiose." He exhaled, then continued. "When they're vulnerable, that's when we strike."

Chili frowned. "Okay, so we wait. But what about backup? It's just the three of us against them."

A small smirk formed on Cilan's lips. "That's where Ash comes in."

Chili and Cress both gave him a skeptical look.

"Ash?" Cress repeated. "The same Ash who just got out of a school fight and is probably under strict surveillance from his mother?"

"The same Ash who stormed out of Sycamore's class like he was ready to punch the next guy who looked at him funny?" Chili added. These three were very intelligent and could easily surveillance an individual if they wanted.

Cilan's expression didn't waver. "Yes. That Ash."

Chili raised a brow. "Alright, genius, I'll bite—why him?"

Cilan turned back to the cityscape, watching the Meowth balloon drift lazily above the streets. "Because Ash isn't just some student caught up in school drama. He's a natural fighter, and whether he realizes it or not, he hates injustice." His eyes narrowed. "He won't just stand by when he hears about Team Rocket. He'll want to stop them."

Cress considered it for a moment before nodding. "That does sound like something he'd do."

With their plan in place, the three brothers settled back into position, keeping their eyes trained on the drifting balloon.

The sound of an alarm clock blaring snapped Ash awake.

His dark eyes fluttered open, staring at the ceiling as his mind took a moment to catch up. Another day. Another day of school.

He exhaled slowly, turning onto his side and pressing his face into his pillow. For a moment, he just laid there, unmoving, staring blankly at the wall.

His conversation with his mother from the night before still rang in his head. Her disappointment, her frustration. The way she looked at him—not with anger, but with a kind of exhausted sadness that made something in his chest tighten.

"Ever since we moved here, you've been different."

Her words echoed in his mind.

She wasn't wrong. He had changed.

Ash squeezed his eyes shut. He wasn't even sure who he was supposed to be anymore. Before Kalos, things had been simpler—training, battling, traveling. Now? Everything felt like a storm constantly pulling him in different directions.

But there was one thing he did know.

He didn't want to keep disappointing her.

With a deep breath, Ash sat up in bed, running a hand through his messy black hair. His partner, Pikachu, who had been curled up at the foot of the bed, perked up at the movement. The little Electric-type stretched, its large ears twitching as it let out a small, concerned "Pika?"

Ash forced a small smile. "I'm okay, buddy."

Pikachu tilted its head, clearly not convinced.

Ash sighed, rubbing his face before looking down at his loyal partner. "I mean it this time. No more fights. No more getting into trouble. I just..." He hesitated. His fingers clenched into the bedsheets. "I just need to do better."

Pikachu studied him for a long moment before nodding, offering a soft, supportive "Pika."

Ash exhaled, a faint, tired chuckle escaping his lips. "Thanks, buddy."

For the first time in a while, he felt like he was taking a step forward.

—

The bus ride to school was a quiet one.

Ash sat alone near the back, his head resting against the window as he watched the city blur past. The buildings, the people, the bright lights of Lumiose City—they all felt distant, like he wasn't really there.

Pikachu sat beside him, its small paws resting on Ash's leg as if to silently remind him that he wasn't alone.

Ash sighed, his fingers drumming absently against the strap of his backpack.

A/N: By the way the reason for Pikachu's long absence was supposed to be because of a horrible injury it picked up during the gym battle Ash had with Korrina. Though I don't think I ever mentioned it since I didn't make a chapter on it.

Anyways next part should be out soon!