Chapter 26: Fault

After flying back to the gym, somehow still not beating Shelia (I seriously think she'd been bitten by a radioactive Spinarak), Ash's eyes once again focused with that determination only my dad's eyes could have. "Alright, Pryce. I'm going to ask again. Will you battle with me?"

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to say no," Pryce answered sadly.

"Why?"

"We've all had enough excitement for one day." Pryce patted Piloswine, who nuzzled his hand. He was right, it had been a long day. Besides, the sun was setting. "You'll have to come back tomorrow."

"Alright! Finally," Ash exclaimed.

"Finally he'll stop asking," Misty said wryly.

"Badge seven, here we come."

"He gets really into this, doesn't he?" Daniel asked me.

"Yep. That's why he's such a great Trainer," I replied.

"I wouldn't say great," Anthony muttered. I punched his shoulder a bit.

"Rest up, Ash. You'll need it for tomorrow," Pryce warned.

"We've got this in the bag." Ash formed a fist, squeezing his hand tightly before waving bye.

We all said good night and headed towards the Pokemon Center, going automatically to the cafeteria. Our conversation was very casual and a bit quieter. It seemed like every day with my parents was an absolute adventure. Aka- tiring.

"We need to talk." Anthony leaned closer to me as he muttered under his breath.

"Who?" I frowned. Why would he need to talk to me?

"All of us. After dinner."

"Fine."

When we all finished, Ash jumped up from the table first. "I'm going to go take a walk and think about my battle."

"I think I'll go with you." Misty picked up Togepi. "It's too early to sleep still."

"I think I'll go look for Nurse Joy," Brock announced, leaving before anyone could tell him otherwise.

"And you accuse me of being weird," Daniel murmured to me.

"I'm stating facts, not accusing," I huffed.

Ash was scratching Pikachu's head thoughtfully while waiting for Misty to grab her bag. It was so odd to see them spend time together, yet not romantically. Sure, they were young, but still, they were my parents and I was used to seeing them act really cheesy around each other.

"Alright, I'm ready," Misty stated.

"About time." Ash grinned. "You take longer than a Slowpoke to get ready."

Misty's face reddened a bit in anger. "Maybe that's because your brain is so slow it just feels longer than it actually is."

Ash laughed and they headed out the door, Misty's irritation showing in her voice.

"Is it just me, or did they forget we existed for a second?" Daniel asked.

"It did kind of feel like that," Amanda confirmed. I agreed, but didn't say anything. I wasn't sure what to think about my mom getting so upset.

"Let's go find a more secluded area," Anthony said, walking towards the hallway to the Trainer guestrooms.

We followed him into a deserted bedroom that had a sitting area with a huge comfy couch and some chairs. Everyone got comfortable and stared at Anthony, since it was obvious he had a lot on his mind to call this meeting together in the first place.

"Ok, let's hear what you need to say," I interrupted the silence, which kept growing. Seemed like he wanted permission to speak, which I found weird. I was used to people like Daniel saying whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, no matter if it was super serious or it was just his opinion on the best kind of pie.

Anthony stood up, yet again reminding me of how formal he was. "After tomorrow, we have to get going."

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't our time. We're from the future, we can't just stay here. You know that." Anthony's voice was serious, as usual.

"Don't you think I know that?" I said gruffly. "It's not like I want to be here. I just know better than to ask my dad to do something when he has his mind set on Pokemon. Do you know what it was like to grow up with him when he was training? Our house could have been on fire and he wouldn't have noticed."

"We're never going home then." Anthony crossed his arms.

"Be patient with imperfection for once in your life." Daniel leaned back on the couch, frowning. "Emma's doing the best she can with what she has. We'll get home. It just takes time. Literally."

"I'm not literally waiting decades to get to the present," Anthony argued.

"I didn't say you had to. It was a joke." Daniel gave him an irritated look. "Just calm down. Being upset with each other isn't going to help anything."

"Daniel's right," Amanda said. "All we need to do is wait until after the gym battle, then tell Ash that we really need his help finding Celebi."

"We should just leave. Every second we're with them, we could be messing up the time stream in a way we can't fix." Anthony looked at me. "And out of everyone here, Emma's the one most likely to not exist if something goes wrong."

I flinched. We didn't mention how scary and life threatening our situation really was on a regular basis. I couldn't help but have a mild panic attack inside my head at the mention of what was actually going on outside the fun of meeting my younger parents.

"Don't say that, Anthony," Amanda said.

Anthony ignored her. "It's only true. The probability of Emma's life not happening-"

Daniel stood up abruptly, his eyes set on Anthony, who stopped talking, but didn't relax his own posture. They both continued staring like they were sizing one another up, while Amanda and I exchanged worried looks. I hardly ever saw Daniel upset, but it was obvious in how tense his shoulders were and the set of his jaw.

Anthony didn't take his eyes off as Daniel as he sat down in the chair behind him.

Daniel's relaxed slightly. "I understand that this isn't a game. I might act like everything is entertaining, but that doesn't mean I don't know what's at stake." He paused to look at me before looking back at Anthony. "We're waiting for Ash to show us. Not only does he know where Celebi lives exactly, but they're friends. He'll convince Celebi to teleport us to the time we're supposed to go. If we went by ourselves, Celebi probably wouldn't trust us, which would make the whole trip pointless."

"We can't even guarantee that Celebi will be in the present time," Anthony said quietly.

"I've actually thought about that," Daniel said calmly. "But in the future, older versions of ourselves are nowhere to be found, which means we do time travel back to the present."

Anthony's eyebrows pulled down. "That's not how it works-"

"Anthony," Daniel said strongly, one of his hands forming a fist before he relaxed. "Please stop with the negativity and the science. It's not helping."

"Fine," Anthony breathed. "I'm going to get some air."

Anthony stood up and walked out, slamming the door.

"I'm going to make sure he's ok," Amanda said anxiously, rushing after him.

For a few seconds, I watched Daniel, who refused to move. I walked over, hesitantly putting a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, are you-?"

"Not really," Daniel answered shortly.

I was about to retract my hand as if stung, but Daniel sighed and turned to face me, grabbing my hand and looking down at it. I froze, wanting to tug away, but he said, "Just let me focus on it for a minute. I need to calm down."

I unwillingly watched him turn my hand over as he studied it, which was pretty weird to watch, especially when he was in such a serious mood. If he'd been waving my arms around and saying they looked like Caterpie, which he had done before, it wouldn't bother me. But this intensity he used as he traced over the tiniest patterns in my skin made me Durant-sy.

"We'll all be ok, Daniel."

"Anthony's right, though. There's a lot at risk." Daniel's brow furrowed.

"That doesn't mean you have to act so unlike yourself. What happened to the guy who stormed into Team Rocket headquarters, ready to save the world?" I asked.

"He's stuck trying to figure out how to make sure everyone gets back to where they belong, safe and sound, because he was too careless about the people he should have been protecting."

"Well, sure, but I think he's blaming himself way too much at the moment when really it's someone else's fault," I tried to say lightly, but the guilt inside me bubbled up like poison. I'd been ignoring it for too long.

"What are you talking about?" Daniel asked, dropping my hand and looking me square on, his seriousness still permeating the room.

I bit my lip and looked away from him. "Do you remember when this whole thing started, how upset I was when we were walking to that invisible HQ?"

"And, like usual, you kept absolutely everything that mattered from me?"

I really didn't need that jab right then, so I ignored him. "Yeah."

"What about it?"

"I'd called my dad and told him we'd planned to go check out the HQ and he got mad at me. He started yelling that I was just a kid and couldn't do that, that we'd be in danger. And I got upset because I felt like he thought I was some horrible Trainer that couldn't handle anything, so I ended the call after shouting at him. And then we got in big trouble, almost died, and time traveled."

"And so you think it's your fault we're here?"

"Well, duh Daniel." I tried to keep myself from snapping. "If I'd just listened to my dad, who must have known I'd end up time traveling, then we wouldn't have time traveled! It's all. My. Fault."

Daniel frowned. "You can't honestly think it's all your fault."

"You can't honestly think it's all your fault! So what, you wanted to go in! I knew it was a bad idea, but I still let you."

"Whatever, Emma. It's still not your fault. Just because you have one tiny fight with your dad, your perfect family, with your amazing love and trust with each other, doesn't mean everything is all your fault. Your dad will find Celebi. And even if he can't, you can, because you're just the girl who can do absolutely everything since you're his daughter."

"Are you kidding me?" I couldn't believe he'd said that. "I'm so sick of being called Ash Ketchum's daughter! Ever since I was a little kid, I was forced to meet with hundreds of my parents' friends and they'd say 'Oh, so this is Emma? She's going to grow up to be the best Water Pokémon trainer like her mom, isn't she?' or 'Oh, you have that same gleam in your eye that your dad has. I bet you're going to be the toughest Trainer in the world in no time. A Champion just like him. Your parents must be raising a winner as talented as themselves!'

"And yes, my parents are amazing. There's no denying that. But when you have parents that are that spectacular, you just end up living in their shadows, knowing everyone's going to expect huge things from you and silently be disappointed if you don't live up to all those expectations. That's why I went to school for such a long time and just started my journey two years ago. I was so scared I'd end up becoming some wash-up Trainer. A failure. And then people like you come along and say 'Oh, Emma knows what she's doing. She's Ash Ketchum's daughter.' I have no clue what I'm doing. I'm useless and I'm nothing like my dad," I finished, my voice cracking. I sat down on the couch, turning away so Daniel couldn't see my watering eyes.

Daniel spoke calmly, but I heard his tiredness. "First off, I didn't realize you were always so pushed to be great by so many people. Secondly, I wish you wouldn't talk to me as if I don't have any idea what that feels like. What have I been telling you about my dad since we met? That my dad is the CEO of Silph Company. Do you think he's always been there for me? Do you remember what he said about me?"

I looked up at Daniel, his eyes pained. I remembered that exact moment and felt my cheeks get warm from all the emotions from that first visit to Daniel's house so long ago. I nodded.

Daniel continued, "He just thinks I'm going to turn into the next CEO of some major corporation and ignores anything I ever talk about that doesn't relate to business or school. I mean, he's taken me all around the world just to sit in his stupid meetings and learn about how boring his job is! He thinks it's making me interested, but if anything it's just pushing me further away.

"Your parents would be there for you no matter what, unlike mine. My mom just likes my dad for his money. I can't even say she loves me. She's never done anything for me but buy me whatever I wanted. She just doesn't know how to show affection. Instead I got to go to private schools, live in a huge house, and get served on hand and foot."

I took a deep breath and couldn't believe I'd been so wrapped up in my own problems that I'd forgotten what Daniel's life was like. All the stories I'd been told, all the times he'd looked at me and told me how lucky I was, and I'd forgotten them under all the stress.

Daniel continued, "All I've wanted is to be myself, but my whole life I've had to fake who I was around my parents because they simply don't care. Truthfully the closest family I have is your mom because she took the time to get to know me. She believed I could be a Pokémon Trainer and taught me all about them, and without her giving me Crikey I wouldn't even be standing in the past right now."

"So now it does seem like you're blaming me for being stuck in the past," I said warily.

"Yes." Daniel took a deep breath. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"What?" I frowned. He was always throwing me off.

"What's the point of my life if I'd never met your family?" Daniel shook his head. "I don't think I'd have one. So we shouldn't be arguing whose fault it is. And if you do want to blame yourself, I owe you my thanks."

"You really are insane," I said, looking at him in disbelief, then dropped onto the couch again tiredly. He plopped himself down right next to me.

"By the way, you're not a wash up Trainer. Just because you're Ash Ketchum's daughter doesn't mean I don't see you as a unique individual," Daniel said solemnly. "Just like when you see me, you don't see some snooty rich person."

"Well, I have been to your place before. You were pretty snooty," I said dryly.

"I don't remember being snooty."

"You said I was your slave."

"Because you broke-"

"Ugh, let's not talk about that again. Horrible memory." I shuddered.

"It wasn't that bad," Daniel argued, but he was smiling.

"You whined for like three weeks."

"Yes. Yes I did."

I was quiet for a minute before saying quietly, "I'm glad you're not like your dad. I'm sorry I forgot about how horrible your home life is. It's been a crazy past couple of days, you know?"

"I've had crazier," Daniel stated happily, making me smile. "Like you doing chores-"

"Ok! Enough of that." I pushed him and he laughed quietly. I noticed how dark the room had gotten and could hardly see Daniel anymore. "It's getting late."

"Yeah."

"We should get ready for bed. Tomorrow will be a long day."

"Hopefully less full of drama." I felt Daniel stretch, his arm bumping against me.

"It will be." I didn't feel like moving off the couch.

"You're really bad at following your own orders, Emma," Daniel said, amused after another minute of silence as I continued staying on the couch.

"I was ordering you, not myself."

"I didn't know 'we' meant 'just Daniel'."

"No wonder I always had to help you with English homework."

"Funny."

I realized suddenly that Daniel and I were alone in an almost pitch black room on a couch, inches apart from each other after having a conversation that hardly involved any smug hints at anything I didn't want to talk about.

"Are you ok?" I asked, trying not to freak out. Because, really, something must have been wrong if I'd gone this long talking to Daniel without anything weirder happening. And I wanted to end our conversation before anything could.

"Yeah, why?"

"Just making sure," I said quickly. "Well, I'm going to get ready."

"So suddenly?" Daniel asked, a hint of the smugness I'd been avoiding in his voice.

"Yeah. I'll see you in the morning." I walked to the door, trying to find the handle in the darkness.

"We have a heartfelt talk and that's how you say good night, by leaving me in a dark room by myself without a second glance?" Daniel ended up following me out into the lighted hallway after I took way too long fumbling in the dark.

"Pretty much," I said, trying to remember where the room I was staying in was, but drawing a blank. "You should know me better by now."

"Oh, I do," Daniel said smoothly. "Which is why that ended pretty well compared to normal."

I stopped trying to frantically figure out where I was trying to go and stared at Daniel, who smiled and quietly said, "Good night, Emma."

He brushed past me, heading down the hall. My eyes followed him until he turned the corner and my brain finally calmed down enough to realize where the girls' room was. I knew I'd end up staying awake too long despite wanting to slip into dreams as soon as possible.

Hey Time Travelers!

It feels like it's been so long since I've updated. I really need to do more work on this story. Fortunately, it's Thanksgiving break for me, which means more writing time! Yay!

I hope you're all doing well and not lost in time :P

Pokemon Question of the Day: Which normal boring job would be more fun in the Pokemon world and why? (As in you get to use Pokemon at work to help you)

You're all awesome! God bless!

-Flips

Also- this is dedicated to jayfreem since he reads Next Gen. Thanks for being a fan!