Ash's Little Sister

The Past Revealed

I challenge the next two gyms, easily winning each battle. Ever since my fight with Ash a week ago, I've gone through the days in a sort of haze. My Pokémon stay in their Pokéballs, except when they're on the field of battle. On my trudge to Spikemuth, I hear a familiar voice behind me.

"Sapphire!" I turn around to see Leon. He strides toward me, a serious expression on his face.

"What's going on with you and Ash?" I frown.

"Nothing. Everything's peachy." Leon shakes his head.

"Don't lie to me. Ever since your battle with Bea, you both seem down in the dumps. I watch each of your battles, but in the last two, you've lost your spunk." I shrug.

"But I still won." He nods.

"Because your Pokémon have been making up for your loss of spirit. You rely on unpredictable strategies to win, but lately you've been fighting like anyone else. The only reason you won is because your Pokémon are strong." I sigh.

"It doesn't matter. I lost the one person who meant the world to me." Tears well in my eyes.

"I was awful to Ash. I said things that I didn't mean because I was so angry and defensive." I throw myself into Leon, my tears soaking his shirt.

"I pushed him away because I was too scared to tell him that I'm afraid. I don't know what's happening to me, or why, but I can't figure it out on my own." Leon wraps his arms around me.

"Talk to me." He leads me over to a rock big enough for two people to sit on.

"What's going on?" The story comes tumbling from my lips. The strange abilities I've been developing since starting my journey, the dreams, my kidnapping, and finally the big fight with Ash. I watch his expression change from confused, to bewildered, to contemplation. I sigh.

"You don't believe me, do you?" He frowns.

"Show me." My eyes widen.

"Show you what?" He stands.

"Show me these abilities you say you have." I stand and dust myself off.

"It's easier when I have a partner to help channel the energy." I'm about to grab Lucario's Pokéball before Leon holds a hand out.

"Use me." My eyes widen.

"What? I've never channeled the Dynamax energy through a human." He nods.

"I want to feel it." I hesitate, but eventually take his hand.

"Let me know if I hurt you." He smiles.

"Don't worry about it." I close my eyes, finding the Dynamax energy that glows bright red in my soul. I easily connect with it, drawing it to the surface without much effort. I channel it through the veins in my arm and into the hand that's holding Leon's. He gasps when he feels the power flood into him.

"You weren't kidding." I open my eyes, seeing the red light glowing in his eyes. He looks strong and powerful as the energy suffuses him. I stop channeling and the light in his eyes vanishes. His face darkens.

"So it was Rose and Oleana who sent those men after you?" I nod.

"Yes. Is there something you can do about that?" He shakes his head.

"That would be up to your brother." My heart pounds when I hear how easily he calls Ash my brother. There's nothing I want more than for us to be brother and sister again, but that bridge has long since burned. I avert my gaze to the ground.

"I'm sure Ash wants nothing to do with me after the way I treated him." Leon puts a hand on my shoulder.

"Blood doesn't make a family." I glance up at him.