Ash's Story (Part 6: Unova)

Chapter 38: Route of Hidden Voices

The Rondez-View Ferris Wheel moved slowly above Nimbasa City, carrying Alice and me higher than the streets, the Gym lights, and the noise of the amusement park below.

For once, nobody else was in the car with us. Golly, Eve, Iris, and Cilan had taken the next cars after Alice reminded everyone that the Ferris Wheel was not meant to become another group meeting.

The city opened beneath us in circles of color. Gear Station's roof shone in the distance, the runway Gym glittered like a stage, and the roads beyond the city stretched toward places we had not reached yet.

Alice sat beside me, close enough that our knees touched. "So this is where you battled Hilda and showed her what Tepig really wanted?"

I looked down at the turning lights. "Yes. I revealed to her that I was the king of Team Plasma, and I wanted her to understand Tepig's choice."

Alice did not flinch at the name. She knew that old part of me existed, even when I hated how it sounded in my own mouth.

I continued quietly, "It brings back memories I do not always know what to do with."

Pikachu sat on my lap, watching the view through the glass. His meaning came soft but steady. "Old wheel. New seat."

"That is one way to say it," I whispered.

Alice leaned her shoulder against mine. "You are not alone in this seat anymore."

The words stayed with me as the Ferris Wheel climbed higher. Hilda had faced me here before knowing everything. Tepig had chosen, I had revealed a piece of my old identity, and another road had changed because one Pokémon's pain had finally been heard.

My bag began to ring.

For a second, I thought it was my Rotom Phone, but the sound came from the lost phone we found near the amusement park. I took it out carefully, and Alice looked at it with immediate curiosity.

I answered while the car rocked gently above Nimbasa. "Hello?"

A girl's voice came through, nervous and bright. "Hi. Is this Ash?"

"I am," I said. "So?"

"Wow, so you are a boy, Ash?" she asked, sounding surprised. "It is a little annoying that we cannot see each other, right? Just so you know, I am a girl."

I glanced at Alice, suddenly aware that this was a strange call to answer inside a Ferris Wheel car with my girlfriend beside me.

Alice smiled, but there was a warning softness in it. "Relax, Ash. I know you did not drop the phone on purpose just to meet a mysterious girl."

"That is good," I said quickly.

The girl laughed from the phone. "Did I call at a bad time?"

"No, it is fine," Alice said, leaning closer so her voice reached the speaker. "I am Alice."

"Oh! Hello, Alice. I am Yancy," the girl said. "Well, that is the name I am using right now."

That answer made Alice and me look at each other.

I asked, "Are you sure you cannot pick up your phone yet?"

"I want to, but work is still busy," Yancy said. "I promise I am not trying to cause trouble. I just wanted to talk a little, since you are keeping it safe."

"That is fair," I said. "What do you want to talk about?"

Yancy sounded relieved. "Maybe hobbies. What do you like doing, Ash?"

"Pokémon battling is probably the biggest one," I said. "Training too. I also do music with Alice."

"So Pokémon battling is your hobby?" Yancy asked. "I see. That sounds kind of fun. Maybe I should take it up too."