Pokémon: Tears of the Fallen

Chapter 28: You Should've StΔyed ΔwΔy

"For when great immorality grimly begins dominating, fallen people shall rise from darkness forever; good prevails eternally."

Alain keeps training with Barry, Ash, and Zoey each day. Skip 6 days to Friday, August 17th. Still in Eterna City. 11:50am in the same forest they've been training at; all bags are packed.

Alain: "I want Barry to still have some training fresh on his mind without sleeping afterwards, so we're gonna vigorously train today with periodic breaks. We leave for Floaroma Town around 5:30pm and get there close to late evening. Any questions?"

Kenny: "Yeah, what--"

Alain: "No questions."

Ash: *sighs* "How are you people not used to that by now?"

2:08pm after some training.

Kenny: "Since you know where Fushigi is, if you just get the Plate quickly and we leave, we won't have to fight, right?"

Alain: "Wrong. The Tekiyoku knows we're about to come across Fushigi."

Zoey: "How do they know that?"

Alain: "Giratina wrote some history books when it hid the Plates. These books had which region had which Plates, but not the cities nor locations. Giratina won't reveal where each Plate is since it's an enemy of Arceus. To defend its life, when Arceus was captured by the Tekiyoku, it told them where the books were, so that they'd believe Arceus about Manipulation, which it told them about because they demanded a way to get power. Believe it or not, those books were hidden here in Eterna City."

Ash: "Oh man, really? Between this and the statues, I knew this place gave me the creeps."

Alain: "The Tekiyoku knows that Shizuku and Fushigi are the two Plates I knew the locations of. So since this is the last Plate in Sinnoh, they know it's Fushigi and they'll follow us as soon as we leave this town. They'll attack shortly after we get there to try to stop me from getting it so soon. So be ready for what should be a big fight."

Barry: "With Zoey and me as Manipulators now, we'll send them away in no time! They can wire transfer their fines to us electronically later!"

3:29pm. Everyone separates for a 30-minute break. Dawn walks up behind Ash while he's talking to Pikachu. She reaches out to tap his shoulder, but hesitates.

Dawn: *extremely nervously* *thinking* (Come on... ask him to hang out... But... But I...)

She turns to walk away.

Ash: *turns around* "Hey, Dawn! Wanna walk together?"

Dawn: *gasps, then smiles* "Oh, uhh-- y-- yes, I'd love to!"

3:35pm. The next break has already started. Ash and Dawn walk through the city.

Ash: "Well, I don't have a lot of time before I gotta get back to training, but I'm glad to spend more time with you!"

Dawn: "Me, too! You've made this entire trip worthwhile!"

Ash: "That's so nice, thanks! Anything new on your mind today?"

Dawn: "Uhh... well I, umm..."

Ash: "What's the first thing you're gonna do after this mission is over and the world is back to normal?"

Dawn: "Probably clean my shoes!"

Ash: *laughs* "It's gonna be great when things are calmed down. You and I can single-handedly bring back many beloved traditions of the world, like open gyms back up and leagues, and so on!"

Dawn: "I'd love that! We'll do everything together and bring smiles everywhere!"

Ash: "I wouldn't want it any other way! .... Well, it's about time for this next battle. Psychic Plate, here we come!"