Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Okay... This room doesn't look...too bad..."

Gordie was the first to step into the hotel room. He had his Rotom Phone on and was currently recording the entirety of the room, choosing to do a sweep of it from left to right. Ash entered next, and he scanned the room as well. While it did not look particularly outstanding compared to a Pokémon Center, it didn't look like it was dilapidated or out of use for a long period of time either. The surrounding walls were colored in a hue of pale-yellow, and the two beds were of average size, capable of holding one person each and nothing more.

Ash then focused on the folding doorway at the opposite side of the room. It was closed and locked, but judging by what he observed outside, it likely led to one of the Vecht Hotel's many balconies. He approached a bedside table and opened its lone drawer, which revealed a key inside. Acting on a hunch, the Pallet Town native took it, inserted it into the keyhole of the other doorway, and unlocked it. Once he did, he folded the doors open, and what he saw next truly stunned him.

It was an unobstructed view of Bellum Town in all of its glory. Ash could see the vast expanse of land; the rows and rows of buildings and structures comprising the town; and all the way down to the man-made harbor from which he, Bea, and Gordie came.

"Well," Ash piped up, "it certainly beats sleeping in the middle of Obstagoon territory."

"Pika," Pikachu replied in agreement.

Though he saw the view as well, Gordie tightly pursed his lips with apprehension. With a noncommittal, judgmental hum, he then approached one of the beds and tested the firmness of its mattress. Once he did, he pursed his lips even tighter.

"The bed's not soft, though," he remarked.

Then, he sauntered across the room, towards the bathroom, leaving Ash to approach the other bed. As the raven-haired boy tested the mattress's firmness, he overheard Gordie gasping, then grunting with disappointment.

"This bathroom's small and cramped!" the rotund boy called. "It doesn't even look like anyone's cleaned it in weeks! The toilet can barely fit between the tub and the sink! UGH!"

Ash blinked in surprise, his auburn eyes still trained on the mattress. "Wait, whaddaya mean the bed's not soft, Gordie?!" he called. "This one's pretty soft."

"It is?" Gordie poked his head out of the bathroom doorway, just in time to see Ash pushing down on the mattress with a calloused hand, confirming its softness. "Awwww, jeez! One bed's firm and the other's soft. Where'd they pluck the beds from, a landfill?!"

"Aw, come on, Gordie. At least we've got a good view of the town!"

"Yeah, because our room's in the top floor..." The rotund boy stepped out of the bathroom, his flabby skin crawling with utter disgust and discomfort. He promptly began recording himself with his phone as he began poking at both of the bed mattresses, testing their individual firmness for himself. "Yeesh! This place is so going on Hotel Horrors."

"Ahem."

Ash looked towards the doorway and saw Korrina standing there, her hands on her hips. Her Lucario coolly stood beside her, his eyes closed.

"Hey, Korrina!" he greeted with a smile.

"Hey," Korrina replied, though she continued watching Gordie as he filmed every nook and cranny of the room. "Uh, does your friend do this all the time?"

"Hm?" Ash looked at Gordie as well, just in time to see him apprehensively open the drawer for a dressing table, as if he was expecting an Ariados to be hidden inside, waiting to pounce. "Yeah. He's a vlogger. He's recording our entire journey through Galar."

"A vlogger, huh?" Korrina smiled nostalgically. "I remember trying to introduce Grandpa to Pokévision. By the time I was done, he looked like his head was about to explode like a bomb!"

Ash struggled to contain a snicker. "To be honest, things like that aren't my style either. I prefer to be out in nature for as long and as much as possible."

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu squeaked.

Korrina nodded. "Yeah, so I've noticed. So many times too."

"Heh heh heh." Then, once his chuckling died down, Ash shrugged hopefully. "But, I suppose learning stuff like vlogging has its uses too." In that moment, the boy noticed a peculiar absence and looked over Korrina's shoulder. "Hey, uh, have you seen Bea?"

"Bea? Oh." Korrina pointed to her right, further down the hallway outside. "She's staying in the next room. That's where Carter's staying at too."

Ash's bright expression immediately fell upon hearing that name. He could imagine Bea being stuck in the room next to his, being chewed out by her mentor at every opportunity. It was an unbearable thought to have, knowing the strict and no-nonsense yet kind and insightful girl was sharing the same space as someone so ruthlessly judgmental.

"Oh..." he said.

Korrina immediately noticed Ash's downcast expression and furrowed her brow with concern. Then, she put her finger on her chin and began quickly thinking of something. After a few seconds of awkward silence, she snapped her fingers.

"Ah-ha!" she exclaimed with a bright smile.

Ash's head perked up like an alert Watchog. "Ah-ha? Whaddaya mean 'ah-ha'?"

"You know, since Bea never told you about the legend of the Isle of Armor, I might as well do it myself!"

"The legend of the Isle of Armor?!" As expected, Ash's attention was piqued, and all thoughts about Bea were forced to the rearmost corner of his mind. "Wow! Tell us all about it, Korrina!"

"Pika-pika!" Pikachu cried with excitement. His beady auburn eyes were gleaming with wonder.

"The legend of the Isle of Armor, ehhh?" asked Gordie. His attention was finally averted from the dressing table, and he aimed his Rotom Phone in Korrina's direction. "Now this is something that I should record for my fans' enjoyment!"

Korrina's smile became brighter. "That's awesome! Well, then-"

She was about to begin her explanation when she felt a finger tap on her shoulder. The Shalour Gym Leader turned and saw, to her surprise, Bea standing right behind her. Her expression was cold and stoic as usual, but her frown was more pronounced, indicating her annoyance. Beside her right leg was her ever-trusty Machop; she had evidently summoned it from its Poké Ball in her own hotel room.

"Hold on there, Korrina," the tan-skinned girl said, sounding as calm as one can be in her situation. "If anyone's going to recount the Isle of Armor's legend, it will be me, a girl experienced in the ways of the Galar Karateka. Not some glorified girl with a Lucario."

"...I'm gonna ignore that last sentence," Korrina replied. She stepped aside, allowing Bea and Machop to enter the hotel room. "B-By all means, though."

"Hmph."

"Hey, Bea!" Gordie greeted, just as he began recording with his Rotom Phone. "B-By the way, could you complain to your mentor that the quality of the beds is inconsistent and-"

"I'll do no such thing, Gordie," interrupted Bea. "I happened to overhear your curiosity about the legend, and after many botched attempts at educating you tourists-" She shot Ash and Pikachu an irritated glance. "-All there is to know about the island, I am going to seize this opportunity to finally do so. Nothing more, nothing less."

Ash and Pikachu both chuckled at the same time and sheepishly scratched their cheeks.

"S-Sorry for ignoring you all those other times, Bea..." Ash said.

"Pika, pika," Pikachu added apologetically.

"Hrm..."

Bea promptly walked over to the center of the room and sat down, making sure her legs were crossed. Machop followed suit, and the Superpower Pokémon and its Trainer then looked up at Ash, Gordie, and Korrina with expectant looks. In an instant, Korrina and Lucario sat close to Bea, and that was when Ash and Gordie realized what they were expected to do. In a rushed manner, the two boys sat around to Bea as well, with the group quickly forming a circle. Ash sat right beside Bea and looked into her face, his auburn eyes gleaming with enthusiasm, something Bea was forced to ignore.

"You guys are all aware of the legendary birds, I assume?" she asked.

"Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres?" Gordie replied. "Well, who hasn't?"

"I've met them several times before," Ash piped up.

"Pika, pikachu," Pikachu squeaked in agreement.

Korrina and Gordie glanced at Ash incredulously, with the latter instinctively aiming his phone at him. Bea too gawked at her traveling companion for a moment before clearing her throat, catching the attention of the others.

"A-Anyway," she said, "they play a significant role in the legend. Normally, the legendary birds do not reside on the Isle of Armor, or anywhere else in Galar, for that matter. But they have been here once before, many millennia ago. And that was because of the calamity that befell the Isle."

"Calamity?" Ash asked, piqued.

Bea nodded. "The Dark Titans."

"The...Dark Titans...?" asked Gordie. Then, his eyes started to widen. "Wait, don't tell me-"

"I'm afraid so." Bea clenched her fists, just as a sensation of foreboding fell upon the room. "They're dark counterparts of the legendary birds, hailing from an alternate reality that is the complete opposite of ours in every way."

"An alternate reality?" Ash asked incredulously.

"Pika?!" Pikachu squeaked.

"Yes. A reality where evil reigns supreme. And to think, the Dark Titans were only a fragment of that reality that had only managed to make its way into ours through a cavalcade of statistical anomalies. We were quite lucky all those years ago, because the Dark Titans were powerful in their own right too.

"First there was Dark Moltres, the Fiery Demon. It was a master of dark energy, and it was guided by its emotions, which comprised nothing more than rage, hatred, envy. Wherever it went, death and misery followed. It thrived from suffering, which it inflicted many times over on many communities.

"Then there was Dark Zapdos, the Electric Brute. It couldn't fly for long periods of time like the other Dark Titans...but it made up for this shortcoming with its breakneck speed. And then there was its need to challenge others and defeat them in battle, no matter what the cost was. It was bloodthirsty in that regard.

"And finally, there was the worst Dark Titan of all. Dark Articuno, otherwise known as the Cold Warlock. Dark Moltres and Dark Zapdos were insatiable, uncontrollable, and feared on their own. But Dark Articuno, it was the only one that could reign both in, and that was when they were at their absolute worst. And even without Dark Moltres and Dark Zapdos, the worst of them all would have to be Dark Articuno, because while the other two preferred physical combat, Dark Articuno simply relished in psychological warfare. It was able to penetrate the minds of its opponents and torture them with their worst fears or greatest insecurities."

"Arceus," Gordie commented. "All three of them sound truly awful on their own."

"They were," replied Bea. "And with their three powers combined, they were able to devastate the Isle of Armor dozens of times over. The real legendary birds tried to intervene, but they were no match to the powers of their dark, alternate counterparts. And the Dark Titans were ready to inflict that same kind of destruction across the globe too, had Urshifu and the Hero not arrived."

"Urshifu and the Hero?" Ash repeated, intrigued.

"Yes. Back then, they were like a Trainer and their Pokémon, but they were more than just that. They were members of the Galar Karateka. Extremely skilled members. Even Master Carter would bow before them in respect."

Ash shifted uncomfortably at the sound of Carter's name, but he allowed Bea to continue.

"Using their skills in Galar Karate, Urshifu and the Hero defeated the Dark Titans and sealed them away in three spheres. The Hero found the perfect hiding spots for those spheres and hid them there. Legend has it that those spheres are still somewhere on the Isle, hidden from the scrutiny of the public."

"I sense a but coming up!" Gordie remarked.

Bea glared at him with a disapproving frown. "But, in spite of this victory, Urshifu and the Hero knew, deep down in their hearts, that this concealment wouldn't last forever. They only managed to weaken the Dark Titans, not send them back to the reality from which they came. They knew the Dark Titans would recover from their wounds one of these days, and when they did, they would rise again and try to what they had started. So they started teaching Urshifu's child, Kubfu-"

"Wait, Urshifu had a child?" Ash interrupted.

"Pika?!" Pikachu squeaked.

"Yes." Bea shot the two of them another disapproving frown. "Don't tell me you two forgot all about evolution."

"Heh heh heh..." Ash sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "I mean, I've never seen an Urshifu before, I assumed it would be one of those rare Pokémon with no evolved or pre-evolved forms."

"Well, Urshifu does have a pre-evolved form, and its name is Kubfu."

"Okay, okay! I'm sorry for doubting you, Bea."

Bea pursed her lips ambiguously before continuing. "A-Anyway, as I was saying, Urshifu's child Kubfu began learning the ways of Galar Karate from its parent and the Hero. It even began learning the most mystical and antiquated techniques, stuff that only the most dedicated and traditional of Galar Karateka would pursue. It honed its talents and trained itself to the bone until it evolved into another Urshifu and had a Kubfu child of its own."

"And lemme guess," Gordie piped up. "This new Urshifu taught its child everything it knew about Galar Karate too."

Bea shot Gordie an annoyed glance, but she replied, "Yeah. It's a process that's continued for many generations, to this day. Even after the numbers of the Galar Karateka dwindled to what you see today, there's an Urshifu training its Kubfu child somewhere on the Isle."

"Really?" Ash asked, his auburn eyes gleaming with awe.

"Or so the legend goes." Bea glanced out of the open balcony. "No one's seen an Urshifu or a Kubfu for a long time ago. No one's even seen the spheres that the Dark Titans were locked away in. The Hero hid them away really good. Suffice to say, no one's worried about them nowadays."

"Wait, what about the Hero?" Ash asked curiously. "What happened to him? Or her?"

"...They died, obviously."

Ash sweat-dropped with embarrassment. "O-Oh. I-I was just, well... I was expecting something more about the Hero in the legend, but-"

Bea cut him off. "If you're talking about some prophecy that says whoever gets to control Urshifu, they become the next Hero, then you can forget about it, Ash. Other legends featuring Urshifu describe it as a fiercely independent Pokémon. It wouldn't bend over for just anyone. It only trusts those who adhere to the old ways of the Galar Karate."

"Wow," Gordie replied sardonically. "Sounds like your precious mentor Carter would fit that bill quite nicely..."

Bea closed her eyes. "I appreciate the praise, Gordie, but even Master Carter would not live up to an Urshifu's standards. A person who could ever hope to command an Urshifu must be knowledgeable of even the most outdated and antiquated of Galar Karate principles and techniques. For example, this person must be spiritually pure and have shunned all of his worldly, material possessions in favor of complete immersion with nature. In layman's terms, he must spend his days in the forest, meditating, with no home to go to."

"And you mean to tell us that your mentor doesn't do any of that stuff?"

"He goes home to his handmade hut in the woods when night sets in."

"A handmade hut would count as a home?!" Gordie aimed his Rotom Phone at himself. "Didja hear that, guys? The Galar Karateka sure were crazy in the old days!"

"They weren't crazy at all, Gordie." Bea opened her eyes and glanced at her traveling companion with disapproval. "Galar Karate, during its formative years, was about completely purifying one's heart and soul through a spiritual union with the lands, seas, and skies. That spiritual union is called...well, a Union. And a Union isn't something that can't be formed so easily. Galar Karateka spend their entire lives immersing themselves in nature, with the hopes of establishing it, and only a select few have reported success."

"What's this Union like?" asked Ash.

"The Galar Karateka are bound by law to not say a thing about it, Ash," Korrina replied. "Everything that we know about what happens comes from secondhand accounts, and those are pretty vague too."

"Galar Karateka who succeed in establishing a Union are reported to have transcended the boundaries of time and space whenever they form a spiritual union with nature," Bea added. "They forget all of the concepts that anchor other people to the world, like truth and ideals, life and death, tradition and modernity. If I were to describe it as a sensation, it'd be like...feeling as if you're sitting outside of the Universe."

Ash blinked, impressed. "Oh, wow..."

"Pika..." Pikachu added with awe.

The boy's intrigue was escalating by the second. "How does someone go about doing that? Forming this Union?"

"You can forget about it, Ash," Bea replied flatly. "It's just like I said earlier, you have to forget about everything you love and cherish, and just let your surroundings take over."

"Really? I have to forget about everything I love? Even my friends and family?"

"Yes, even them."

"Even Pokémon battles?"

"Yes, even that."

"Even Pikachu?"

"Yes. Even him."

Ash looked at Pikachu disbelievingly. "Wow... I...I can't imagine even forgetting about Pikachu..."

"Pika-pikachu, Pikapi," Pikachu replied.

"To walk the path of Galar Karate, the old Galar Karate, requires an unspeakable amount of personal sacrifice," explained Bea. "In the ancient world, there wasn't a lot of material possessions and concerns at stake, so it was relatively easy for someone to commit themselves to establishing a Union, should they decide to pursue that path. Even the most average person could have pulled it off. But with the modernization of human civilization, it became harder for people to let go of the things they cherished."

"And that's why Galar Karate became more of a casual pastime than a grand pursuit to many," a new voice said abruptly. Everyone glanced at the doorway and saw-

"Master Carter," Bea greeted. She stood on her feet and bowed, as did her Machop.

Carter nodded back. "I see you're educating your friends on the history of our school."

"Yes. They were asking about the legend behind the Isle of Armor, so I decided to inform them about it."

"So I've heard." Carter stared at Ash and Gordie. "Do not be carried away on whether the legend is authentic or not. It's less of a legend and more of a fable for those who strive to establish their own Union. Something to encourage them and keep their morals consistent."

"Well, we were just curious-" began Ash.

"You wished to see an Urshifu and a Kubfu in person, did you?" Carter interrupted.

"H-Huh? We-Well, y-yeah." Ash raised a clenched fist and gave Bea's mentor a determined smile. "I've made it my life's mission to meet and befriend all the Pokémon the world has to offer!"

"And I've made it my life's mission to record all of them for my vlog!" Gordie added.

"Is that so?" However, Carter scowled at them. "Then I suppose you two will forever be unsuccessful in your endeavors."

Ash blinked incredulously. "Pardon us?"

"Urshifu and Kubfu can sense the intentions of people, even from great distances. It's like a sixth sense. And they make sure they stay away from those they deem to be unworthy." Carter approached the two boys and looked down at them. "I have no doubt in my mind that your motives would be considered unworthy to them."

"Excuse me?!" Carter shot up on his feet, affronted. "What exactly is so wrong about recording Urshifu and Kubfu on my vlog?!"

"Or meeting and making friends with them?!" added Ash.

Carter simply closed his eyes and turned away. "So it seems that you two have gleaned absolutely nothing from the tale. Galar Karate is all about distancing oneself from the material world and dedicating oneself to the spiritual world. Emotion has no part in the practice, and it absolutely shouldn't."

"Ah, wow," Gordie snarled, his eyelid twitching nastily. "No wonder you're such a KJ, then."

Carter slowly, calmly looked over his shoulder. "Oh? How so?"

"You don't see any sort of fun in the material world. Or, rather, you refuse to see it."

"You wouldn't either, young child, if you kept that phone of yours in your pocket for at least a single hour." Carter briefly glanced at Ash and Pikachu, who hadn't spoken at all but were scowling up at him. "If you walked down the path of the Galar Karateka, then I assure you, you would have a lot to learn about the world that surrounds you."

Ash and Gordie opened their mouths to protest, but Carter flicked his head away and walked out of the hotel room. Bea watched him go with a flat, emotionless expression on her face. As for her Machop, it was looking between him and the boys, evidently torn over whose side to take. Once Carter had departed from the room, Korrina, who hadn't said a word and fallen silent throughout the entire conversation, abruptly stood up and stretched out her arms.

"Well, that just about concludes the legend of the Isle of Armor, you guys!" she exclaimed, her normally cheerful, upbeat voice sounding a little shaken. "So, whaddaya suppose we should do next, Ash?"

However, Ash wasn't listening to Korrina. Instead, he shot Bea a disapproving glance.

"I...I can't believe you didn't stand up for us on this, Bea," he said.

"What're you talking about?" Bea replied. She looked at the raven-haired boy and gave him a pronounced frown. "That is indeed the way of the Galar Karateka. The way of Galar Karate itself. Why do you think I've been so insistent on sleeping outside all the time?"

"I thought it was some environmentalist trend you were trying to follow-" began Gordie.

"And what about all of my training methods? You know, making myself a punching bag for my own Pokémon? Running till my muscles were literally shredded? Doing one-armed pushups with rocks on my back? Where do you think I learned all of that from?"

"Look, Bea," Ash replied, "I understand he's your mentor and all, but-"

"But what, Ash?" Bea crossed her arms. "Master Carter taught me everything I needed to know about the world."

Ash blinked slowly, and his mouth went slightly agape. "And what about us, Bea? What about me and Gordie? A-Are you saying we didn't teach you anything you needed to know about the world?"

Bea hitched her breath. She felt so compelled to argue against Ash's point, but before she could even utter a decibel, the memories she had of the past couple of months flashed through her mind. How she, Ash, and Gordie worked together to help a Galarian Ponyta find its mother. How Gordie roped her and Ash into filming a special promotional video for one of his sponsors. How she and Pikachu got separated from the boys, leaving her to take care of Pikachu by herself. How the three of them jumped in to save a girl named Marnie from a group of hooligans harassing her.

How she first met Ash, in the depths of a cave in the Wild Area...

"Are you saying anything you learned and experienced with us doesn't count at all...?" Ash asked, pulling Bea out of her thoughts.

"I-I didn't mean that," Bea replied in a stutter.

"Then why don't you ever speak up against Carter?" The boy's auburn eyes softened. "I know you, Bea. I know you don't really believe him when he says there's nothing in the material world to enjoy. I know you don't, Bea. Not after all of the things that we've been through."

Bea opened her mouth, compelled to say something, but once again, she couldn't muster the willpower to defend her old mentor in Ash's face. She closed it, then opened it again, only to close it once again, unsure of what to say. Finally, with blurring vision, she turned away from Ash, Gordie, and Korrina.

"That's not fair, Ash," she said quietly.

"What's not fair?!" Ash exclaimed. "Choosing between your friends and your old teacher?!"

"Yes, that." Bea clenched her fists tightly, eliciting a concerned sound from Machop. "That's absolutely unfair. You..." Her fists started to tremble. "You may not like Master Carter and his worldview, Ash, but...he still taught me things that I...I consider very important to me. And for you to think...he's absolutely wrong about everything..."

She twirled around and faced Ash. What he and the others saw next stunned them: unbeknownst to her, she had started crying.

"I cannot abide that, Ash! Not at all!"

"Yo, Bea!" Gordie exclaimed with concern. "I-It's less about whether the dude's right about the world and more about his overall attitude-"

"Which you cannot even begin to fully grasp, Gordie!" Bea snapped. "The Galar Karateka are supposed to be distant from all material things! And to do that, you must detach yourself from your baser emotions! D-Does it make a Galar Karateka sound like an inconsiderate jerk to many?! Yes! I'm not gonna argue against that! But if it's for the sake of becoming one step closer to establishing a Union, then it's a sacrifice that the Galar Karateka are willing to make! Y-You guys can't just dismiss that so easily!"

"What about you, Bea?" Ash asked. "Are you trying to establish a Union?"

Bea remained deathly silent for a moment, before replying, "And what if I say I am?"

"The things you must sacrifice in order to do that..." Gordie said. "I...I can't see you doing that. So I don't know why you are just defending this guy like he's a-"

Bea stomped her foot angrily, startling Ash and Gordie. "W-What happens between me and Master Carter is none of your business, you guys! If you're not gonna agree with him, fine! I've got no right to convince you otherwise! But DON'T you dare treat him like the enemy. He's done whatever he can to accommodate you during your stay here! And regardless of what he does or says, he's still an important person to me! A very, very...v-very important part of my...m-my life..." Bea suddenly sniffled. "So please do me a favor and at least fake your respect for him!"

Ash and Gordie tried to respond, but Bea turned on her heel and marched out of the hotel room. Machop squeaked after its Trainer, but it was unsuccessful in stopping her. The Superpower Pokémon shot Ash, Pikachu, and Gordie one last look of apology before running after Bea, calling after her all the while.

Ash also prepared to follow Bea when he felt someone grab his wrist, stopping him. He looked over his shoulder and saw that it was Korrina, who shook her head at him.

"Let her go, Ash," she said. "I think this conversation's gone on long enough."

"But-" Ash began.

"Trust me, Ash. Let her simmer for a while. Now, I may not have known Bea for a while, but..." The Shalour Gym Leader glanced at the doorway. "It sounds like you got a little too personal there."

Ash blinked and glanced at the doorway too. His auburn pupils shone with the utmost concern for his friend, the first one he made in Galar.

"Bea..."

"Stupid Ash. Stupid Gordie. Stupid, stupid Ash. He doesn't know anything. And why should he? He's just a stupid tourist. A stupid, reckless, brainless tourist!"

Bea slammed a clenched fist against the closed, mahogany door of her own hotel room. Machop stood beside her ankle, looking up at her with uncertainty. Further inside the room, her Machamp was doing push-ups, alternating between two pairs of arms, while her Machoke was sweating and panting with exhaustion from its multiple sit-ups. Beside Machoke, Carter's Throh was also doing sit-ups, but with much more ease compared to the Superpower Pokémon. Although Bea's outburst did absolutely nothing to dissuade them from their physical training, all three Fighting-type Pokémon also had their eyes trained on their Trainer, wondering what Ash did to exasperate her this time.

"He doesn't know a darn thing," Bea muttered furiously as she stomped over to her bed and sat down on it. "He says all he wants to do is get along with everyone, but he's dismissing Master Carter? All because, what, he's distant and brutally honest? If he thinks that's not normal behavior at all, then he should start learning Galar Karate, the-the idiot! He really needs that lesson of self-preservation, anyway! The tourist just likes to dive headfirst into danger without thinking about the consequences! Master Carter would teach him a thing or two about saving one's own skin-"

"I appreciate the thought, Bea," a cold voice piped up.

Bea hitched her breath, shot up from her bed, and bowed her head. "M-Ma-Master Carter!" she squeaked.

Even though she wasn't staring into her old mentor's face, she could hear the disappointed expression that he was giving her.

"It seems those friends of yours are even more of a negative influence on you than I thought," he said. "I've never heard that much words coming out of your mouth before. And with such an emotionally-charged tone." Carter strolled through the room, walking past his former student. "Now I know you told me you weren't interested in establishing a Union, but regardless of the goal that you wish to pursue and fulfill, strong emotions are one of the major obstacles to your success. The more attached you feel to a certain person, object, or concept, the more the world weighs you down and away from your purpose. You remember that, right?"

"Y-Yes, Master! I-I mean..." Bea cleared her throat and said more calmly, "Yes, Master. I remember."

"When I first heard from your father that you were traveling with friends, I had my concerns," continued Carter. "And...it seems my concerns were well-founded. There are very few people in the world who truly understand Galar Karate, and I simply couldn't comprehend the statistics that it would've taken for you to meet and travel with like-minded brethren."

Bea didn't say anything. Instead, she pursed her lips while Carter continued to speak. In total contrast, Machop watched Carter with a look of disapproval, as did Machoke; Machamp averted its gaze while continuing to commit itself to its four-armed exercises.

"Now that I've met your companions, I can see why you're so emotional now, Bea. You've allowed yourself to share your presence with those who are tethered to the physical world... A world that has become more and more preoccupied with its material possessions..." Carter pursed his lips. "A world I can't even begin to understand..."

"Are you saying anything you learned and experienced with us doesn't count at all...?"

Ash's question echoed within Bea's mind, and with it, her heart felt like it was being tugged by a nagging feeling. But she knew what that feeling was. Emotions. Emotions that she felt whenever she was around Ash...

"I...I just thought that traveling with them would expose me to...to multiple viewpoints..." Bea replied, doing her best to keep her emotions in check. "I-I mean...i-isn't the point of distancing yourself from the concerns of the material world to render oneself neutral in the face of differing opinions?"

"I suppose so," said an indifferent Carter.

"Th-Then...h-how could I do that without...you know, testing myself in that regard?"

Carter blinked. "So you wished to test the strength and solidity of your resolve by allowing yourself to be in the presence of those who are opinionated and tethered to the material world, but refusing to be moved by their influence?"

"Co-Correct." Bea cleared her throat as she raised her head and stared at her mentor. "After all, you know what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."

"The unstoppable force simply goes through the unfazed immovable object." Carter wrinkled his brow. "If that really was your strategy, Bea, then I'm afraid you're not succeeding at it, judging by your...emotional indiscretions."

"It's, uh... I-It's a work in progress, Master. You can't reach the ore within a rock without chipping the rock away first."

"I suppose so..."

With that, the man snapped his fingers, prompting Throh to stop doing its sit-ups and stand back up on his feet. For an infinitesimal moment, Machoke froze, hoping this meant its sit-up regiment would also come to a well-deserved end. But Bea didn't say anything as Throh walked over to his Trainer, prompting Machoke to moan with exasperation and resume its exercises.

"Bea," Carter continued, "I'm going out to acquire some food. I know your friends won't approve of my choices for them, so you may inform them that the Vecht Hotel has a continental breakfast if they're ever interested."

"Or I could tell them there's a Poké Mart a couple of blocks away," Bea thought. However, she bowed her head again and replied, "Okay, Master."

Carter nodded curtly and left the hotel room. As soon as he was gone, Bea relaxed her posture and heaved out a heavy, emotional sigh.

"Master Carter's made up his mind about Ash and Gordie. The moment he heard they're Trainers, he lost any respect he might've had for them..."

"Yo, Bea! I-It's less about whether the dude's right about the world and more about his overall attitude-"

Bea sighed once again and stood up from the bed. She wheeled around on her heel and observed Machamp and Machoke as they continued their exercises.

"Alright, you guys," she said. "That's enough exercises for today."

Using the two arms that were currently planted to the floor, Machamp shot itself back up to its feet and flexed all four of its arms to soothe the strain in its bulging muscles. As for Machoke, it heaved out a relieved sigh and sat up, hot beads of sweat dripping down its musculature like dewdrops after a rainy day. With a squeak, Machop promptly waddled over to Bea's bag and started rummaging through it.

But Bea disregarded her three Pokémon. Instead, she walked over to the balcony her room also had, the doors of which were currently open, allowing the bright sunlight and cool breezes of wind to flow inside. Stepping through the doorway and slightly leaning against the railing, Bea took in the view of Bellum Town, afforded to her by the balcony. She closed her eyes and absorbed the sounds of the citizens and tourists in the streets below, celebrating and going about their day without a care in the world...

While she was up in the topmost floor of the Vecht Hotel, all alone, torn between respecting her old mentor and sticking with her good friends until the very end...

It almost felt like she was at the top of a tall, towering mountain, all alone, suffering from the cold solitude of her current existence...

In that moment, a familiar pair of voices reached Bea's ears, and she thrust her eyes open with a soft gasp.

"Ash," she thought. "Korrina..."

It was a conversation between Ash and Korrina that she was overhearing. Although she could not hear the exact details, she could tell from their tones that Korrina was comforting Ash and dissuading him from confronting Bea.

"Ahhh, you've always been such a humble young man. It's no wonder Korrina likes you!"

Gurkinn's words from earlier filled Bea's heart with worry. From what Ash had told her about his experiences with Korrina in Kalos, it was clear the two of them were really good friends. But, of course, "friends" just didn't seem to encapsulate the sort of relationship anyone would have with Ash. Especially a girl. Bea couldn't stop herself from wondering if Ash's selfless, compassionate nature had caused Korrina to develop something for the Pallet Town native.

Just like it did with...

"Now that I've met your companions, I can see why you're so emotional now, Bea. You've allowed yourself to share your presence with those who are tethered to the physical world... A world that has become more and more preoccupied with its material possessions..."

"UGH!" Bea clutched her head. "I've gotta stop thinking like that... I've gotta stop thinking like that, I've gotta stop that, I've gotta stop that, I've gotta stop, I've gotta stop, I've gotta stop, I've gotta stop..."

She continued rambling to herself, prompting Machamp, Machoke, and Machop to look at one another with concern. But, to their relief, their Trainer quickly calmed down and leaned against the railing again.

"What am I gonna do...?" she whispered to herself. "I'm too wrapped up in my feelings, and I have a duty to steel myself and stay dedicated to my goal...and yet...I..."

She fell silent, unsure of what to say next. A breeze blew across the balcony, causing her gray hair and black-and-orange blow to flutter. It was colder than the previous breezes that she felt, cooling down the temperature on her skin. But she didn't care. Instead, she closed her eyes, as if she was in wait...

"Master..."

He felt his grip loosen.

"I fled the fight, Master..."

Not that he cared.

"I left you by yourself, when you needed me the most..."

All motivation left his body, and he allowed the forces of nature to dictate what happened next.

"I'm not worthy to be your student, Master. I'm not worthy of my title, my destiny..."

Within seconds, he fell off his savior's plumage. He could feel the blasts of air rippling below him, hear the chaotic vortex of sound envelop him.

"I should just..."

Through the cacophony of noises all around him, he could hear the sounds of humans below him. There seemed to be a festive mood in the air, a jarring mood compared to how he approached certain doom.

"I should just..."

He didn't bother anymore. Instead, he closed his eyes and waited.

The Sun shone against Bea's eyes, causing her to see red through her closed eyelids. However, when that red turned into black, and it suddenly became cooler than usual, the tan-skinned girl quickly opened her eyes.

A split-second later, a blur of white and light-gray collided straight into her face.