Chapter 5/Final: Departure

The morning rose. A relieved Delia started making breakfast for her little champion and his extra prizes. The three snuggled close together on Ash's bed, the scene too adorable to disturb. Ash, Bianca and Meloetta slept as the rising sun and the light bled through the curtains on the window. Two days straight, Ash didn't want to get up. Was he tired from what he and Bianca did last night? Might it be that he's getting older? Could it be that he didn't want to leave her side since declaring love? What didn't matter was Bianca who allowed both her boyfriend and the Pokémon to stay close. Maybe the smell of breakfast will arouse them. After all, like Alexa said, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Meloetta awoke first and looked down at the sleeping youngsters.

("I guess their love runs deep!") she joked in awe. Exiting, she picked up the scent of food. Just as she flew down the stairs, Persian hissed at something from outside. She and Delia got outside where they viewed the new house cat snarling down at its pre-evolved form, Meowth.

"Get dis Persian away from me!" it cried. No... it couldn't be? Wearing robes and hearing the loud hiss, Ash and Bianca woke up and arrived downstairs where they realized someone from their hated group still survived.

"Meowth?" Ash gasped at the sight of the enemy, covered in cuts and scratches. "You're alive?" A surprise even to Bianca who thought with Jessie, James and Giovanni, Meowth would be among the departed.

"Would you believe dat I'm an unrestricted free agent?" You're a Pokémon, not a professional sports athlete. Persian didn't buy Meowth's story, ready to use Bite. Bianca knelt to comfort the irritated Classy Cat Pokémon.

"It's okay, Persian," she called softly. "If he's lying, you're free to attack." Lying about what? Brought in, the two wondered how Meowth was the only survivor from Team Rocket.

"First off, twerp... I'm sorry about what happened to your father. I know you were just reunited with him when he tried to summon Kyurem and..." Ash shook his head, knowing the real deal.

"There's no need for an apology about him," he grumbled. "Giovanni isn't my real dad. In fact, I never had a real dad." Meowth gawked at the new information.

"Now wait a second, twerp! If Giovanni's not daddy, how are you here?" All Ash did was bow his head.

"Believe me, it's... disturbing to talk about, even with these two around us." Better off not knowing, Meowth respected Ash's wishes not to discuss the issue further.

"It's dat disturbing, huh?" Now the focus was on Meowth and his appearance in Pallet Town.

"Anyway, how did you manage to free yourself from Kyurem's domain?" Bianca questioned. She thought Meowth found a way of escaping the legendary Pokémon's realm. However...

"I hid behind a pillar when Kyurem showed up to ruin da party! I may be a Pokémon but I have more experience talking dan I do with battling!" Talk about a sad story for a Pokémon, even Ash remembered all of his battles.

"I'll say," he agreed. "The only victory, although he cheated, was against Brock's Onix." He hadn't won anything ever since?

"Dat's not true! I've won my share of battles!" The humans found that hard to fathom. If Meowth did win more battles, no doubt he had help.

"Not by your own claws, right?" Delia shunned. Meowth was ready to come back at the mother... but even he knew that she's correct. He mulled in defeat, at least not by battling. Ash wanted to get to the reason Meowth showed up.

"Anyway, did you come by to warn us about something?" he asked. Meowth was quick to reply.

"Well, I figured dat with da boss now gone for good, Team Rocket would dissolve," he believed. "But not only did dey not break, dey were quick to choose a successor in Dr. Zager! Now dere sights are set for Kalos!" The same region Ash had planned to try.

"Are they still in the process of stealing Pokémon like before?" Flipping a nod, Meowth confirmed Ash's suspicions.

"So Team Rocket, despite losing their president, are still chasing rare and valuable Pokémon," Bianca concluded. Ash knew his duties to protect the Pokémon was far from finished. First, he had to make a choice with Meowth: keep him or banish him?

"This is... hard for me to decide. You've been with Team Rocket before I started my Pokémon career, but turning you away... I'm not one to abandon Pokémon." Not to mention Persian still not wanting him around. Delia and Bianca understood the pressure Ash was in.

"Kid, you don't need to make a choice for Meowth," he refused help. "I get it. If you don't want Meowth nearby, I'll try to find a way to survive. I'm not gonna force it on you." He got up and started to walk to the door. That's when Ash had an idea.

"Wait a second, Meowth!" The call had the Alley Cat Pokémon to stop, just a paw's reach from the door. He turned to the trainer, sentiment painting his face. "There may be something for you. I can have Professor Oak find you something for you so that you're not lonely." Meowth stood shocked, sympathy leaking from his old enemy.

"Twerp..." There's hope for this talking Pokémon yet. "You still help out despite our differences!" The matter resolved, Ash could focus on his new journey: Kalos. After breakfast, Ash took Meowth and Meloetta to Oak's lab and explained the Former Team Rocket Pokémon's dilemma to him, Misty and Tracey. A tall task ahead, Oak had to make a call.

"Professor, if Meowth is right that Team Rocket is still active and is planning on attacking Kalos," Tracy reviewed. Oak understood the details.

"The question is... Who could this Zager send now that Meowth's teammates are no longer here?" Oak wondered. To Meowth and Ash, they knew a few others from the organization.

"Dere's Annie and Oakley, plus a few other members dat have on-field training," Meowth listed.

"But I bet Cassidy and Butch would be the most likely candidates to come after us," Ash concluded. However, it didn't satisfy Misty about why Meowth was here and not with Team Rocket.

"You know, I'm rather surprised that Meowth wouldn't team up with those two or any of the other members," she scorned. Meowth felt threatened from Misty's suspicions.

"Hey, Cassidy and Butch wouldn't let anyone from another squad tag along with dem!" he argued. Even Pikachu had a point to his testimony.

("He does have a point,") he squeaked in acknowledgment. Oak had to decide and soon had a solution.

"There's a professor in Celadon University who teaches Pokémon Communication," he remembered. "I could call him up and see if he can take you in." Meowth's eyes lit up in excitement.

"You mean it?" he screeched happily. "Wow! Danks a whole bunch, Professor!" Oak smiled to Meowth's little enjoyment. Ash now turned to the Melody Pokémon.

"Meloetta, you can stay here and take care of the Pokémon in the ranch," he suggested. Meloetta felt unwanted by Ash and voiced her concern, not by singing.

"Meloetta's saying dat it rather come along with you to da Kalos Region." Thanks to the translation, Ash realized how important Meloetta felt to him. Still, he didn't want to jeopardize Meloetta.

"I know you want to come along but if Team Rocket is still out there, I'd rather have you here safe with Mom and Professor Oak and my Pokémon. They could need your singing." The idea didn't sit well for the Melody Pokémon and her whining made her point.

"Meloetta's saying dat it feels more secure with you dan it does here and especially with..." He stopped the translation when he figured out she meant him. "Hey! I'm no longer a part of Team Rocket!" Meloetta wasn't so quick to trust him. Considering Team Rocket's intent to use her, she had reasons to refuse staying in Pallet. Ash, trustful to Pokémon, surrendered to Meloetta's demands.

"Okay, Meloetta. You can come along." Meloetta cheered about joining Ash. Even Alexa understood the Melody Pokémon's wish.

"It's pretty obvious that Meloetta cares too much to let you leave on your own," she expressed. "And since it's also my home region, I'll join you. There's an airport in LumioseCity we can enter from and you'll need to see Professor Sycamore to register for that Pokémon League." Priorities set, Ash confirmed Alexa's information and gone home to pack up. Time passed to the afternoon, he and Alexa with the Pokémon were joined by Delia and Bianca minutes before their flight to Kalos. Ash was in his new jacket for the new region and what awaited there.

"I know you'll do well in Kalos," Delia encouraged. "Make sure you train as often and change your you-know-what's everyday!" That never gets old to have the mother reminding her son about clean underwear.

"I will, Mom," Ash agreed while humiliated. Bianca also stepped up with some wisdom of her own.

"Ash, I hope to Zekrom and Reshiram that you don't fall for anyone in Kalos," she warned, reminding him of last night. Ash smiled, knowing better than chasing girls. That's Brock's job.

"Never would cross my mind." Satisfied, Bianca snagged and spun his cap around to give him a last kiss. Pikachu, Meloetta and Alexa ate the scene, wondering about human love compared to Pokémon love.

("Could we fall in love like our protector?") Meloetta questioned. To Pikachu, it's a moment that he's lived through a handful.

("Been there, done that... a lot!") he admitted. Was that both Pokémon and humans?

("Were you as close and under the blankets as he was?") This gave Pikachu a mental picture of what Ash and Bianca did last night and... needless to say how shocked he was.

("They didn't do what I think they did... right?") A lot to assume, especially with the main item Meloetta pointed to. Delia wanted the two to stop soon.

"Bianca, if Ash is gonna take part in this new league, he'll need to get on that plane," she joked. Not wanting to delay Ash any longer, the two finally broke lips.

"I love you and no one else," she whispered. Touching and adorable... Ash blushed at the comforting words.

"I love you, too," he smiled. The speakers came on to announce the next flight leaving.

"Flight 267, Pallet Town, Kanto to LumioseCity, Kalos," the speaker blared. "Pallet Town, Kanto to LumioseCity, Kalos is now boarding." Neither Ash or Bianca wanted to break since their intimate night or the kiss just a minute ago. The inevitable...

"Alexa, can I trust you in making sure Ash gets to Kalos safely?" Delia asked. The journalist bobbed her head, a promise she could grant.

"You have my word, Miss Ketchum," she replied before turning to Ash and the two Pokémon. "Ready to go?" Ash chuckled and nodded to say that he's ready.

"I was born ready!" he cheered. Pikachu and Meloetta chimed their acknowledgment. All walked in the tunnel leading to their flight. 15 minutes after boarding and with Delia and Bianca watching from inside, their plane raced down the tarmac before lifting to the sky above. The time at home taught Ash about what past he had: one of trust and betrayal and one of tragedy and triumph. No longer did he have to bear the sadness of a father he realized didn't technically exist. Ash still had his mother and Pikachu. He had new respect for her and new passion and love for the Pokémon he owned and soon would... and new love for the girl who had been by his side since they met in Unova. That's when Alexa dropped a bombshell as the plane continued to ascend.

"So I heard from Bianca that you two got it on last night." Ash froze at the sudden discovery. Pikachu pawed his face at the truth.

("I knew it!") Pikachu whined. Ash wanted to keep it between him and Bianca but the secret's out.

"Well she did tell me it was her time when she wasn't... you know. Besides, I don't think you two are ready to have a child just yet. You do need a few more years before that's declared." Ash's face reddened even deeper at the embarrassing information.

"You didn't tell Mom about it, did you?" he hoped.

"Hey, my lips have been and will be sealed. At least it's not the same thing your mom went through. You two had it consensually. Besides, I didn't know you had it in you to go that far." At least Ash can smile, saying their time together was better than what Delia had to go through. Delia Ketchum endured the worst of what someone could go through. However, she received something remarkable in return: a son that will never follow in the footsteps of his "father." Ash let the past of his life go. Now, he could enjoy the life of now: his loving mother, his happy Pokémon... and a girl to call his own.

THE END