Circumstances *OLD VERSION*

Circumstances Part 4

Chapter 4: Torn Part 1

Clemont was exhausted by the time he got back to Lumiose Gym. Bonnie, who waswaiting in the kitchen while gently petting a snoozing Dedenne glared at him.

"You're so slow Clemont!"

"Hey, I can't help it okay?!" huffed Clemont as he hunched over, trying to catch his breath. "Where's Ash?"

"On the phone," answered Bonnie. "He wanted to call his mum."

No surprise there. Clemont knew that Ash's mother must've been beside herself with worry by now. Not to mention that she would need to know that Ash needed to stay in Kalos for a bit longer. In fact, now that he has recovered from that sprint home, he could hear frantic voices from the other room he assumed oneof themwas Ash's mother over the phone.

"We should leave him to it," said Clemont. "I'm gonna get lunch started."

Ash came into the kitchen 10 minutes later looking exhausted. Pikachu jumped off of Ash's shoulder to play with Riolu who had been let out of its Pokeball.

"Hey, Ash!" called Clemont as he just finished getting everything he needed together. "How did the call go?"

"As well as you'd expect," said Ash, practically falling onto a chair. "It was kinda funny at first because it was Mr.Mime that answered the phone. That look on its face when it saw me, I didn't even know they could physically make that face."

"Mr. Mime's your mum's pokemon right?" asked Bonnie.

"Yup," confirmed Ash. "It went to get mum and that's when things got a little.....intense."

"She was really worried huh?" said Bonnie.

Ash nodded with a sad smile.

"Yeah, she pretty much screamed when she saw me. Then....she started crying." Ash hid his eyes under the brim of his hat as if to conceal the fact that he had been crying too. "I told her that I needed to stay in Kalos a bit longer. She didn't like that.She wanted me to come home right away. Even when I told her that Officer Jenny wouldn't like it if I left. Luckily Professor Oak showed up and after I explained things, he was able to reassure her.Took a lot of coaxing though."

"So everything's okay?" asked Clemont.

"Yeah, for now anyway," answered Ash. "Mum made me promise to call her every day, but it's the least I could do after scaring her like that. I feel really bad."

Clemont winced at the impending phone bills, but there was nothing he could do about that.

"It wasn't your fault Ash. I'm sure your mum knows that."

Ash nodded.

"Yeah. Guess I'll go see if the battlefield's free. Can't slow downnow."

Ash got up and walked over to his pokemon. Pikachu happily jumped onto his shoulder.

"You get it huh, buddy," said Ash petting the Mouse Pokemon then turned to Riolu. "Let's see what you can do Riolu. I'll introduce you to the gang."

Riolu nodded and followed Ash out of the kitchen.

Clemont smiled. It looked like Riolu would get on very well here.

- - - - - -

Clemont watched Ash train on the battlefield. Bonnie sat beside him,brushing Dedenne's fur. After the lunch break, it became apparent that Riolu never battled in its life, so Ash was forced to teach it the bare basics. He didn't mind of course. It was like he often said:"Nothing they do is a waste of time" Ash was now teaching Riolu about dodging, having Pikachu and Hawlucha demonstrate. Clemont enjoyed watching Ash train. He always did. It was somehow just as exciting as watching an actual battle. He felt his heart race as Ash gave his pokemon clear instructions on what to do. Ash was now holding his hand out to Riolu, encouraging it to have a go. He wasn't being pushy or demanding. He was calm and patient. It was something he always admired about the teen.