Author's Note: This is word emphasis

Chapter 7

Pastoria City:

People stop and listen as Kaioh Michiru and her Kricketune play for them. The beautiful, melodious sounds would have put the people of Neon Town to sleep without the use of Jigglypuff, of course Michiru happened to have a Jigglypuff as well. The teal haired young woman could feel the midnight blue eyes of her lover on her. Tenou Haruka specialized in Flying types, and delighted in beating down on Winona in Fortree City, Haruka was still pissed she'd been passed over as the gym leader. Michiru's own starter had been a gift, she'd been given a Popplio, that was now a beautiful Primarina.

What people didn't know about Michiru was the fact that she happened to be Sailor Neptune, and she was mulling over what to do about the fact that the Hime had yet to be revealed. She knew part of why the Hime hadn't been found was the fact that none of them had ever treated her like a person, someone that had a beating heart, a soul, thoughts, feelings, opinions, and emotions of her own. She was a duty, something they had to do. Looking back, Michiru could understand why the Hime hadn't been revealed. Hotaru, the smug little bitch, could obviously still sense the Hime, but none of the rest of them could.

The dusty blonde haired Haruka is the only one to notice the slight change in tempo of her lover's playing. Unlike Michiru Haruka did not begrudge Hotaru for still being able to sense the Hime. They had all fucked up, and needed to accept the fucking consequences of their thoughts and actions from their last lives. The reincarnated Sailor Uranus runs a hand through her short locks, to be honest she wanted nothing to do with the so called utopian society that the Hime marrying Endymion could create. The only way that would be possible would be through mass brainwashing, and Pluto seemed to think this was okay?

Jubilife City:

Brock and Natsuki find themselves in the stands, this was the day of the Contest, and Ash had decided he was going to compete as a Coordinator as well. Natsuki doesn't pay too much attention, she'd been dragged to contests by her mother for years, and they honestly bored her. She does pay attention for Dawn and Ash's appeals rounds. Pikachu kicked ass with the appeals round, Piplup did well too. Natsuki just pet her Flareon whom was sitting on her lap as she let her mind wander. Most people would be thrilled to be back in their home region, but honestly Natsuki preferred being as far away as possible.

Flashback:

Natsuki Berlitz smiles brightly as the day of her journey begins, her blonde hair was swept up into a ponytail, she had a green ball cap on with the ponytail pulled through it, a red halter top, orange capris, yellow crew socks, and red sneakers. On her hands are orange fingerless gloves with red cuffs, she has a black messenger bag, her supplies already packed, her Poké Ball Belt on, and her PokéGear in hand. It was only when Dawn went off to visit Kenny after breakfast that the elephant in the room was addressed, " You're going to Kalos, huh? "

" I want to be a fire type specialist, and there are a lot of fire types in Kalos. " Natsuki says, shrugging.

" Natsuki Berlitz, how dare you not even talk this over with me first! " Johanna snaps.

Sapphire eyes narrow, " What was there to talk over. I saved up my own money to pay for a Teleport Transport to pick me up at Professor Rowan's! "

" Going so far from home without even consulting me shows that you are in no way ready to go on your journey, young lady! "

" Dragging me around to all your fucking contests was the height of responsibility then? " Natsuki fires back.

Johanna winces, but refuses to back down, " Do not take that tone with me, Natsuki! I never would have acted like this with my own mother at your age! "

" Here we go again! I am my own fucking person! I am not, nor will I ever fucking be YOU, Mother! " Natsuki retaliates immediately, her hands gripping the side of the table, her knuckles white from the amount of force she was exerting.

Johanna admits that was a fair point internally, " You'd do well to act more like me! Do you even have any friends, or have you alienated them all with the way you act? "

Hurt flashes through Natsuki's eyes, " I am not going to have fair weather friends that won't be there for me when the chips are really down! I want friends I can count on no matter what. Not those whiny, vapid little bitches I was forced to play with when I was younger! Did you ever hear me whining for the things they did? Fuck no, I hoarded Nuggets, Pearls, and anything else I could sell to make money, and then I bought the things I really wanted with my own damned money! "

" Those girls could have really helped you later on in life! "

" Please, one of them is already spreading her legs for anything with testicles! Another is already in drug rehab! I DON'T EVEN WANT TO BE A COORDINATOR! " Natsuki roars, " Then there's the fact that those same bitches continually mock me for having your name, and not my father's. At least my step-father chose to marry into your line. Uncles Dia and Pearl UNDERSTAND ME! Why can't you?! "

Johanna looks like she had been slapped, and then rage fills her eyes, " Fine, go then, but know this, if you do walk out that door, and go to Kalos you will never be allowed back into this house again! Also, NEVER FUCKING MENTION DIAMOND AND PEARL IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN! "

Natsuki's head snaps to the side from the force of the slap Johanna had laid on her. The almost eleven year old races out the door, her eyes bright, but determined, she swings by her Uncle Dia's home first, and has him block the Berlitz home phone number from contacting her PokéGear, " Tell Uncle Pearl I'm sorry, but I have to get out of Sinnoh. "

Dia sighs, and pulls his surrogate niece to himself in a hug. What had Platina done to fuck things up this badly between her, and her eldest! He could see how Natsuki was hurting, " Stay in contact with me, okay. "

" I will, Uncle Dia. " Natsuki says, and that was the last time Diamond saw her in the flesh. He knew she would be gone in two hours, headed for Kalos.

End Flashback:

Natsuki tunes back in to see Ash deliberately go down in the semi-finals of the tournament once he saw Dawn win her round. They'd divide the tournaments up after this. It was Zoey, a new girl that lost to Dawn, and Dawn just barely lost to Minako. Minako would have been Ash's opponent had he not forfeited. Of course, Zoey getting all uppity about Ash being a gym battler, as Natsuki and Brock were approaching stiffens Natsuki's spine, " Wallace himself told me I have the mind of a Coordinator, and the soul of a gym battler. Besides, Pikachu's appeals round performance far outshined the one your Misdreavus used. " Ash retorts, " Perhaps we should battle it out now, Contest Style, see who would win between us. I'll even do you a favor, and use my Aipom, I haven't had her as long as Pikachu. Pikachu's my starter after all, oh, and my father is Red, The Battler himself. "

" Hear that everyone, Ash Ketchum has just thrown down the gauntlet with Zoey, and proclaimed his paternity for all to hear as well. "

Oreburgh City Pokémon Center:

Gary's eyes are wide, " What the fuck did she do to piss Ash the fuck off anyhow? "

" Wait, you know Red's son? "

" I should, I am the son of Blue Oak, and Green. You know, The Trainer and The Evolver. I grew up with Ashy-boy in Pallet Town. That Zoey chick fucked up, never, ever piss off Ash Ketchum. He's a devious trolling bastard. "

Mt. Silver:

Red is laughing his ass off as he watches his son challenge the little coordinator. Ketchums were actually from a long line of Coordinators before they were even called that. They just preferred straight up battling. There was a damned reason he was known as The Battler/Fighter after all. His strategies were never straight forward and to the point, and neither were Ash's.

Mossdeep City:

Green Oak is laughing her ass off as she watches Ash and the girl Zoey in a staredown. She immediately opens up the betting ring for this bout, Ash would buy her enough time for that. Gary was actually doing the same for all those that truly knew Ash.

Cerulean City:

Misty is outright cackling as the Zoey girl digs herself one helluva hole that she would never be able to get out of. She places her bet with Gary, " What has you so amused? " Tracey Sketchit asks until he sees what she's watching, " Don't tell me she actually made the mistake of trash talking around Ash when he's in a trolling mood. "

Misty was grinning widely, " She did, Gary's holding the bets. "

Tracey immediately places his own bet, Ash was going to thoroughly thrash the rookie Coordinator, no two ways about it.

Canaclave City:

Ritchie Hiroshi had just gotten into the Pokémon Center when he sees what's on the tv. He scrambles for his PokéGear, and places his bet with Gary before settling in to watch what promised to be a rather epic beatdown of a rookie Coordinator that made the mistake of assuming Ash couldn't handle being a Coordinator. It was the amused cackling that draws his attention, and his eyes widen, " Agatha of the Kanto Elite Four, the Ghost Type Specialist, and the only one that can get Professor Samuel Oak to swear like the world is ending? " Ritchie asks.

" I like you, come sit by me while we watch Red's boy put the uppity little girl in her place. This promises to be entertaining. " Agatha states. Sparky is on his trainer's shoulder.

Jubilife City Contest Hall:

Zoey's eyes narrow, " I accept your challenge. "

The stage is cleared, and Ash smirks. A smirk that causes several people watching to shudder. Diamond, in the stands, makes his way to Natsuki and Dawn. He was seconds away from rolling on the floor laughing his ass off. Ash looked so much like Red just then it wasn't even funny. Of course, at least Ash actually had the balls enough to make a Arceus be damned move on his Girl. Yeah, Diamond knew Ash was dating his surrogate niece, hell Dia was practically her father by this point. Oh, Dia had very good suspicions as to whom her father happened to be, but as he'd told her, since he didn't know for sure he wasn't going to tell her. Diamond wraps an arm around Natsuki's shoulders, and the teen relaxes. Her Flareon was still alert, but Natsuki knew she was safe with Uncle Dia.

Zoey send out her Eevee using a sparkle seal while Ash uses the star seal on his Ball Capsule once more. Five minutes is put on the clock, and once the battle begins Aipom moves combining Quick Attack, Agility, and Double Team. Then she uses Focus Punch from seemingly everywhere at once. " Oh my, such speed, agility, and accuracy Aipom is displaying. "

That was when a Swift attack is silently ordered, and stars fly at Eevee from all directions, taking the points down even further, and unlike May's Eevee this one did not know Dig. " Zoey's Eevee is effectively pinned down. How will she get out of this? "

Zoey had to admit that was a good question, Ash had taken control of the battle field immediately, and hadn't given control back. He also had that irritating smirk in place, and with Pikachu on his shoulder...it was a wonder no one else had made the connection between him and Red. The Battler was legendary for a reason! He'd almost single handedly dismantled Team Rocket completely, his Vee, was an Espeon that used to be an Eevee that could shift back and forth between Jolteon, Vaporeon, and Flareon. He had an actual Aerodactyl, and rumor had it he was the actual Champion of the Kanto and Johto Regions, he just hadn't wanted the responsibility, and shoved it off on Blue, The Trainer. To be fair, Lance was only known as the Vice Champion since he hadn't yet beaten Red for Kanto or Johto, and then he had to beat Blue. The amount of swearing people had let off when they realized that in order to challenge Blue for either region you had to beat Red!

The Original DexHolders, save for Platina had all howled with mirth at what Red and Blue had pulled. Platina/Johanna had just turned her nose up, and went about her business. It was Thunderbolt being added to the mix that ended the bout for Zoey, and Ash hadn't lost a single point. Natsuki would have jumped him then, but the cameras were still rolling, she waited until they were well away from the cameras before pouncing. Ash actually hits the wall behind him from the force of her jump, and his brain barely has time to catch up to the fact that he's being kissed, passionately, at that. He had no way of knowing he'd made several people a lot of money by schooling little Zoey the way he had. He so loved Technical Machine 24 though.

Diamond sighs, his niece was growing up, though at least Red's kid would never betray her. The only reason he'd even slept with Delia was because he was sloshed to the point he had no idea what the fuck he was doing. Yellow understood though, she knew everything happened for a reason, and so she suspected Ash had been needed. The Incident in the Shamouti Islands just proved that theory. No one remembered the Mewtwo Incident except for Mewtwo and the clones he had created. Mewtwo had brought a Master Ball to Ash, he'd rather be chained to the one human that would let him wander than be stuck with Giovanni. Ash just tossed the Master Ball into his backpack, and generally forgot it was there.

Made sense when one realized that Mewtwo was insanely powerful, and he hadn't really trusted those around him with the secret of him during the Legendary Incidents in Hoenn, The Tree of Beginnings...plus his Charizard was fully capable of kicking Articuno's ass as well. Brock, Natsuki, and Dawn however, he knew he could trust them to keep their mouths shut. Brock was already keeping quiet about Mewtwo's existence. When the pleasurable assault on Ash finally ended he found himself almost incapable of standing. Natsuki smirks, and it took every ounce of self-control that he possessed to not drag her to himself, and continue what she had started. " Apparently shows of complete dominance from Ash are a turn on for my sister. " Dawn muses out loud.

Natsuki grins, " Face it, Zoey had it coming. "

Dawn laughs, her big sister had a point, Zoey did have it coming, " True, just because someone prefers challenging gyms to contests doesn't mean they can't handle contests. "

" There's also the fact that Ash is a master of using the field to his advantage. Also had he used Pikachu, well, Pikachu is a speed demon. " Brock adds in.

Pikachu looks entirely too smug at this announcement, then again, he had beaten a Regice, his speed had been a huge help there. " It doesn't hurt that he's also Red's son. Red could have easily been a Coordinator, he just liked battling way too much, and it seems his son has inherited that trait. " Diamond deadpans, being the Empathizer meant he knew a thing or three about Red.

Sure, he was a gluttonous individual, you rarely saw him not eating, even now, but he loved Natsuki. Hell, he'd been her main male role model growing up too. The fact that she had kept in contact with him spoke volumes about their relationship. Then again Platina/Johanna had stopped speaking with him and Pearl when Natsuki was five. Shortly after Dawn turned one in fact. They had both wanted her to actually tell Volkner about his daughter, but Johanna/Platina had decided to be astonishingly stubborn about things. When they got back to the Pokémon Center Natsuki stiffens, and her Flareon steps in front of her, ready to defend at a moment's notice.

Johanna Berlitz winces at the immediate reaction, and Ash was quick to step up behind his girlfriend, placing an arm around her shoulders, the message clear. Johanna had suspected she wouldn't be able to talk to Natsuki without her boyfriend present, but the presence of Dia at her other side...she winces. Brock, Dawn, and their pokémon wisely clear out. Johanna leads them to the room she had rented for the day, and night, " Natsuki, I am sorry. "

The look she received would have frozen an Articuno in place with how positively glacial she looked in that moment. " Still think I should be acting like those prissy little bitches? "

Diamond's eyes widen, " You actually wanted her to be friends with those children she was forced to play with? Are you fucking insane?! Arceus dammit all, Platina, what the actual fuck were you thinking? "

" That they would be good connections for her later on in life. " is the response.

" Please, Ash has met the regional champion for every region he's been in, beaten the Orange League, and Kanto Battle Frontier! Hell, he's Red's son! He's friendly rivals with Blue and Green's son! " Natsuki retorts, " Face it you wanted me to be a Coordinator like you! "

Johanna inhales deeply, Dia had always taken her to task when it came to Natsuki, he'd been the main male role model in her life growing up, " Natsuki, sweetheart, you raised the point that you were made fun of for not knowing whom your father is, and you do have a point. I should have told both of you, years ago. Dia has never been one hundred percent sure on whom your father happened to be. I suspect he would have told you had he been certain. Your father is the leader of the Sunyshore City Gym. "

Natsuki's eyes freeze over completely before she turns on her heel, " Don't bother speaking to me again, Mrs. Berlitz. " With that said Natsuki walks out the door, and out of the Pokémon Center as well. Extreme Righteous Glacial Feminine Fury was radiating off of her. Of course, Paul was just stupid enough to challenge her. No one pitied him when even his pokémon took one look at her, and tried to dive back into their Poké Balls. Elekid, Starly, and Chimchar succeeded. Poor Torterra just wasn't fast enough, and Flareon annihilated him before Natsuki proceeds to kick Paul's ass, before leaving him a shivering, broken, bleeding heap. Everyone else was smart enough to stay away from her.

Dia looks at Johanna/Platina, " Did you honestly think that would go well? You only told her who the Hell her father is to win some damned brownie points with her. I honestly can't blame her for storming out. What the fuck happened to you, Platina? Did the fame of being Top Coordinator go to your damned head? "

Ash would be going after Natsuki, but the fledgling Aura bond between them was telling him she needed to blow off some steam. " Do you realize that until me, your daughter basically avoided all human interactions that weren't necessary? You fucked up her ability to trust big time. She honestly can't believe anyone just wants her to be happy. " Ash snaps.

Dia's eyes harden, " Call your dad, Ash. Natsuki will need a hard core battle, and Red is the only one that can give it to her. "

Ash nods, and heads out into the lobby. He also suspected that Diamond was going to rip Platina a new one. Apparently he hadn't known Natsuki basically lived off the land. He heads for an isolated vid phone, and calls his father.

Mt. Silver:

Red blinks when his vid phone actually rings, and then he sees where the call is coming from, " Ash, what the hell are you calling me for? "

" The Empathizer suggested it. " Ash deadpans.

Red freezes, meeting his son's brown eyes, " What happened? "

" Did you know Platina has two daughters? "

" I knew about Dawn. " Red says, wondering where this was going.

" Well, Dawn has an older half-sister whom also happens to be my girlfriend, and her temper is the glacial kind. Right now she could freeze an Articuno in place from how pissed she is at Platina. She needs a battle, the kind of battle only you can give her. She's a fire type specialist, and Platina, in her infinite wisdom, in a bid to earn some brownie points finally told her whom Nat's father happens to be. Mind you this is after she basically disowned her eldest daughter for wanting to travel through Kalos first. "

Red flinches, " Who is her father? "

" Volkner, the leader of the Sunyshore City Gym. Dad, she was the runner up at the Indigo Tournament. " Ash states.

The Battler curses under his breath, " Platina is a fucking Idiot. I'll get a Teleport Transport trip over, and battle her. Does your mother know you're dating? "

" Arceus no! Do I look like an idiot to you? " Ash fires back.

Red nods, that made sense. Delia would embarrass the Hell out of their son should she know too soon. Red also knew why Ash had played the part of the dense idiot. No sane male liked dealing with their fangirls. Now that he had a shield for them he could actually act his age for once.

Jubilife City:

Five hours later Red is carrying Natsuki to the Pokémon Center, he hands her over to his son, and levels his nastiest glare at Platina, " You fucked your daughter up good, Platina. It took me four and a half hours to help her battle out the storm of emotions inside of her, and another half an hour to calm her down once she realized she could actually give vent to all the hurt you put her through! " Red snaps, his crimson eyes blazing with his anger, " She never once let herself give vent to the absolute agony basically being disowned made her feel! "

Platina winces as The Battler himself takes her to task. Every Original DexHolder knew that Red would have been there in person for his son longer, but Red had powerful enemies. Enemies that knew damned well if they fucked with his son they would live to regret it! Red never forgot an occasion, and made sure he was always available to take any calls from his son. Hell, he had actually given his son The Talk, one of the few times Red had taken him for father/son bonding. They'd gone to the Sevii Islands, and just hung out. It was one of Ash's favorite memories, even if he still shuddered when thinking about The Talk. " You do not get to lecture me on how I raised my daughter! "

Dia's hands are clenched into fists, " Platina, shut the fuck up! Red-sempai may not be able to lecture you, but by Arceus I can. I practically raised Natsuki while you were to busy training for Contests! Pearl had his hands full with keeping your egocentric ass in one piece, but he did help me with Natsuki. Just leave Jubilife City! "

Platina/Johanna goes to slap him when Dawn Berlitz stalks forward, fire in her eyes. She had just come from the room she was sharing with Ash, Brock, and Natsuki. Seeing her older sister look like that...it pissed her the fuck off! Cadet blue eyes look like storm clouds as Dawn interposes herself between Diamond, and her mother, " How could you? "

Platina/Johanna looks at her youngest daughter, she knew exactly what Dawn was talking about, " Yeah, Natsuki told me everything. It seems like you resented her existence, yet celebrated mine. " Dawn states.

Dia's eyes widen in horrified shock, " You did, you did resent Natsuki for existing when you're the one that got knocked up. You punished her for your own shortcomings."

Now Red looked really pissed, he never took out his own shortcomings on Ash. He loved his son fiercely, his mother...no. He'd been too drunk to know what he was doing, and wouldn't have known if not for the fact that he woke up naked in bed with a naked female. Platina/Johanna glares at them all, and storms off in a huff. Dawn glares after her, " Uncle Dia, would you mind terribly if I made your place my home base from now on? "

Dia winces, Platina had now alienated her other daughter as well, fantastic. Then again he couldn't really blame Dawn either. " I don't mind, but you should talk to your father first, Dawn. "

To their astonishment Dawn stalks over to the vid phones to do just that. Red looks at Dia, and the younger male sighs, " Dawn's father has always been accepting of Natsuki, but not even he will like what has come to light. He won't blame either one of them for wanting nothing to do with Platina. " The Understander would not be welcomed by her fellow DexHolders any longer. Not once Red and Dia told them everything. Red makes his way to his son's room, and finds him with Natsuki cradled in his arms, the blonde was sleeping, but not peacefully. Her Flareon and Growlithe were both out, and curled up on either side of her, Pikachu was actually on her lap while Aipom was on Ash's shoulder, looking at Natsuki in concern. Ash looks up, and Red winces at the look of helpless frustration on his son's face. Pika leaps down from his shoulder, and joins his son on Natsuki's lap. Yes, the stubborn starter of Ash Ketchum did in fact happen to be Pika and ChuChu's child. It also explained his dislike of PokéBalls as well.

Brock was quietly observing, hearing everything from Natsuki...well...it made him grateful for his parents, even if he did need to remind his mother occasionally that Pewter City was a Rock Type Gym. Sure, they'd left him with all of his younger siblings, but...he knew they loved him. Natsuki had never met her father, her step-father was rarely at home, and she hadn't returned to Sinnoh for four years until Ash decided to come here. " Want me to stick around for a while? "

" Do I have younger siblings yet? " Ash asks in return.

" Not yet, give it another few months though. Yellow is not happy she'll have to take time off as a Pokémon Ranger. "

Ash blinks, " Huh, did not expect you to actually get your act together. You marry her yet, or are you still hedging with that? "

Red sighs, " I'll admit I was slow to get my act together, you're ahead of me in that aspect, but that doesn't mean I didn't defend my territory. "

Ash smirks, " Blue did tell me that one time with just a glare you left some poser pale, terrified, and completely unable to move for six whole hours for daring to feel Yellow up. "

Red growls lowly at the reminder of that, no one was allowed to touch what was His dammit. " Dad, Pika was ahead of you when it came to growing a set, and making a move. " Ash deadpans.

Pika laughs at his trainer before giving him the stink eye. Red hangs his head, " I'm never living that down, am I? " he asks rhetorically.

" Nope, you really think Blue would let you? " Ash asks him.

" He's the one that refuses to battle me. "

" Yeah, when you're sexually frustrated. Didn't Lorelei get the short end of that stick? " Ash asks.

Red smirks, " Bruno, Agatha, Lance, Karen, Will...basically anyone with even the remotest DOOM sense makes themselves scarce. Lorelei is still cursing them for sticking her with that duty. Lance trains his ass off to battle me so he can battle Blue, but he doesn't want to deal with me when I'm sexually frustrated. "

Brock has to laugh at this, " How many of your pokémon has he gotten past? "

" Well, he's beaten Saur, Vee, and gone to a draw with Aero. He hasn't gotten past three of my team yet, though the mere fact he has gotten through half of my team is impressive, and he's challenging for Johto first. He hasn't decided if he wants to go through battling with me for Kanto yet or not. Blue still hasn't forgiven me for sticking him with being the Champion when I technically am, but has to admit it is great fun to see the looks on the Indigo Tournament winners' faces when they learn they have to challenge me to face him. He has pictures. " Red states, watching as Ash soothes Natsuki in her troubled sleep.

Dawn enters the room just then, and calls out her baby Eevee, " My dad understands me not wanting to be anywhere near my mother after I explained everything to him. He's pissed at her too, he feels that my mother needs to be knocked off of her high horse. "

" Platina grew up rich, so her inner bitch is much more developed. " Red states, " If you'd all like I can stay until she leaves, or delay her so you can all leave without a scene. "

Ash looks up, " Second one, then use Aero to catch up. "

Red ruffles his hair, " I suppose I could stick around for a while. " Red knew Ash missed him, even if Red did make sure he got gifts for the different occasions, and that Ash would sneak calls to him as well. It wouldn't hurt to travel with his son for a little while. Ash's reputation was almost as feared as his own after all.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Pokémon.