Hello everyone, my first update for this story in like a month. Sorry for the wait, but I found writing this story really hard. It's like walking a tightrope. I couldn't make Ash too friendly or mean. Anyways, hope you enjoy.
Paul was waiting outside the seminar building when Ash finally left the building with Alice and Ellen. Paul fell into step with them without saying a word. Alice smiled and exclaimed, "Nice to see you, Paul."
Paul just grunted so that Alice could hear the reply. Alice seemed happy with the response though, and hummed softly as Ellen pushed the wheelchair. Ellen though asked Paul, "What have you been doing lately? This is the first time in close to ten months that we've seen you."
Paul simply replied, "Training. I still have the option to battle any of the Elite Four when I choose. I intend to defeat Cynthia, so I must train."
Alice now claimed, "I was solely disappointed when you got disqualified from the last master's tournament. That was ridiculous to eliminate one of the top eight like that."
Paul nodded and stated, "All for battling someone outside the tournament."
Alice chimed in, "Well you did injure that man's pokemon enough to put them into the hospital. Most people wouldn't refer to that as a simple battle." Alice said this in a slightly criticizing, but still light voice.
Paul growled and snapped, "That idiot was asking for it."
Ash now asked seriously, "What did he do?"
Paul exclaimed angrily, "He lost in the preliminaries, and kept getting drunk and causing problems for tourists. I stopped him from messing with a girl, and then I'm battling him. I wasn't even using my full power, but he was trying to kill me. It was his fault for being so weak that his pokemon got hurt. Lucky I didn't break his face."
"You should have."
Alice turned in the direction of Ash and said, "You shouldn't say stuff like that, Ash. Sometimes people just need some kindness."
Ash didn't answer for a second, but he finally questioned, "And if that person doesn't need kindness? If everyone is treated with kindness, there will be those who abuse it. What will you do then?"
Alice thought before exclaiming, "I don't know…but who really has the right to say someone is beyond hope?"
Ash shifted uncomfortably. Alice was so good at saying things like that, the things that make you question your views. Alice might be able to convince a gangster to become a monk. Luckily, Ash didn't only follow his own views.
Paul now asked, "Why are you here, Ash? You despise people more than I do."
Ash shrugged and claimed, "Multiple reasons. Trust me, I'll leave as soon as I can, but that won't be for a while. I might be here for a while. I might have some fun till then."
Paul smirked and asked, "Fun, eh? I can guess what that means, count me in." Ash and Paul grinned slightly sadistically at each other.
Alice groaned and exclaimed, "You two always make me nervous when you are together. Like putting two bad things together."
Ellen quickly added, "They are bad things separate too."
Alice groaned and stated playfully, "You think anything as powerful as those two is dangerous."
Ellen stayed emotionless before finally asking quietly, "Am I wrong?"
Alice didn't hear and asked the two, "Ash, Paul, where are you staying? Ellen and I arrived this morning, we have reservations at the five star hotel down the street."
Paul then claimed, "Me too."
Ash now informed them, "Me too, but my room is a little bit different than yours."
Alice frowned and asked, "How so?"
Ash quickly smirked as he explained, "Remember when I left before the opening ceremony. I called the hotel to change the arrangements. When I heard the bit of information your brother neglected to tell me, I decided to torture him in a new way. His check book. Your brother made the hotel arrangements, and charged it on his credit card, so I simply changed the reservation. I reserved the presidential suite. Thing costs several Ferraris every night."
Ellen sighed and said blankly, "Aren't you rich without ruining other people's financial history?"
Ash shrugged and replied, "He should know better than to pick a fight with me. I'll reimburse him in the end. He actually has his uses, and I can't risk losing his info due to him going bankrupt. Plus, I couldn't do that to Alice's brother."
Ash managed to see the almost invisible signs that showed Ellen was getting seriously angry at him. Ash prepared to enter an argument with her, but was interrupted when Paul stuck his arm out. Ash stopped, and looked at Paul.
Paul was glaring at something in the crowd. Ash immediately tensed from Paul's expression. Ash followed his gaze and froze himself momentarily. Talking across the street was a group of Ash's old friends. Gary, Dawn holding Piplup, Misty and her three sisters, and Brock. Ash suppressed any emotions in his head. His friendly conversation with some of his rare acquaintances was over. Ash now tried to think of how all of them could have gotten into the seminar. Misty and her sisters were simply gym leaders.
Alice couldn't see what was going on, but she caught the sudden change in atmosphere. She quickly asked, "How about we eat? We still have several hours before we could go to bed. A little too long to simply sit in our rooms. Let's go to an outdoor café and enjoy the sun."
Ash nodded and said coldly, "We have nothing better to do." He then lead them to a café which was situated just feet away. They sat at one of the outdoor tables, and remained in an uncomfortable silence. Ash was watching his old friends intensely from his peripheral vision. The others picked up their menus and silently looked at the options.
After a minute, a waitress hurried over. The girl was looking at the group with interest. She surveyed Paul quickly. She then looked at Ash and practically had her eyes pop out of her head in shock. Ash was used to this and Ash gave her a sweeping look as he looked at his old friends. She was pretty with a nice body.
When it came time for Ash to order, he claimed, "I'll just have a cup of tea." The girl nodded and walked away.
Paul started talking with Alice, and Ellen watched as Ash remained intent on watching his old friends. They just didn't seem to want to leave. Wasn't Dawn suppose to be running all over a city shopping? Why was she just standing there with everyone? Ash tightened his hands enough to start digging his fingernails into his palms hard enough to draw blood when he saw them head towards the café.
Ash sighed and calmed down. He has probably shown more emotion this past day than he has in the last year. Ash emptied his mind and turned back. He quickly saw Ellen giving him a calculative glare. Ash gave her a blank look. The two kept up the internal battle till Ellen finally looked away. Ash suppressed the feeling of victory before closing his eyes and leaning back. Ellen was impossible to fool for long. Ash probably has spoken half as many words to Ellen as Alice, but Ellen was by far the greatest threat for finding his secret.
Paul and Alice were talking about his training methods. Ash calmly listened till they were interrupted by their food. Ash peeked his eyes open to find the waitress gawking at him again. She blushed and quickly walked away. Ash leaned forward and grabbed the bill. He quickly opened and saw his suspicion was correct. There was a note tucked inside. Why did this always happen? Ash crumpled it in his hand and tossed it behind him.
Ash looked to see that his old friends were eating only a few tables away. Arceus was really having some fun with him. Maybe this is how he was meant to die.
Paul stood up and said quietly, "I want to give Reggie a call to transfer some pokemon at the center. I'll meet you guys at the hotel." Paul then walked away unceremoniously.
Ash took the opportunity and claimed, "I need to talk to Paul for a minute. I'll be back once I'm done."
Five minutes later
Ash froze as he rounded the corner. His entire face grew cold and serious as he looked at his table. Alice was currently talking to Gary Oak, and the entire group of his old friend's was seated at his table. Even Arceus couldn't give someone luck this bad.
Ash considered what to do. He could just walk away. Say that an urgent call had come in. It wouldn't be difficult to explain, and Alice definitely believe it. Yet, Ash felt the idea repulsive. Doing that would be cowardice. However, just being around his old friends made him feel like tearing down several buildings.
The choice was taken out of his hands when Ellen looked up, and said loudly, "Are you done talking to Paul, Ash?" Everyone looked up to fix their sights on Ash.
Ash frowned, but walked forward as he nodded coldly. He passed by everyone without a word and sat in his chair. He closed his eyes and leaned his chair back to perch on the back two legs as he thoroughly ignored the new people at the table.
Alice quickly informed him, "Ash, your tea arrived a minute ago, but be careful. It's still hot."
Ash slowly opened his eyes to see the new arrivals were still staring at him. Ash slowly reached for the cup, and grabbed it firmly in his hands. Immediately he threw his head back and started drinking the scalding tea. Ash continued for several seconds before he lowered his head and sat the now empty cup on the table. Ash then closed his eyes and leaned back once again in his chair. No one commented on the strange action of the strange guy.
Alice broke the silence by saying in a joking voice, "Don't worry about Ash. He is still annoyed on giving a speech earlier. He is actually very shy on the inside." Ash didn't react at all to the joke.
Ash was able to tell when Gary shook his head and said to Alice, "So you were saying that you consider the factor of friendship in evolution as important to all evolutions. I always thought that friendship had no real factor in evolution despite all those that supposedly evolve from friendships with their trainer."
Alice turned to him and nodded before explaining, "I think that friendship is important, but not actually paramount to evolving. More like emotions are important. When you think of the situations where many pokemon evolve, you see. Many pokemon evolve under the situation where their trainer is in danger. Yes, they are strong enough, but what actually triggers the transformation they endure. You can't say that it is simply coincidence. It is the feelings they have for their trainer that force their bodies to change. Also while some pokemon evolve from danger to their trainer, others have shown to evolve just from a rush of emotions. Gyrados are a clear example of anger being the catalyst of evolution. Others evolve from the feeling of triumph, disappointment, anger, fear. It all seems to go back to what I just said, pokemon emotions are critical to their evolution."
Gary now asked, "But what about pokemon who just evolve? What if they didn't have some big event occur to spur their evolution?"
Alice smiled and stated, "I have never witnessed such a scene. Have you? Have you ever seen a pokemon evolve from nothing? Has a pokemon ever been eating and just evolved right then and there, and if you have seen this, can you say what emotions the pokemon felt at the time? Can you say that they weren't actually experiencing emotions, and simply covering them up at the time?"
Gary Oak put his chin in his hands as he thought. He finally stated slowly, "You have made several points. I'll have to think about it after the seminar."
Alice smiled again and informed the group, "My own Espeon evolved when I was in danger, and we've talked a lot about the subject since."
Gary blinked before asking, "You have an Espeon? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since you are a psychic type trainer. I should introduce my Umbreon sometime."
Alice took the opportunity to exclaim, "Maybe we could have everyone's pokemon come. Just eeveelutions, though. Ellen could bring her Flareon and Eevee, Ash could bring his Vaporeon."
Misty quickly exclaimed, "Ash has a Vaporeon?"
When Ash didn't react, Alice explained, "Yes, actually he also has a Leafeon and Glaceon, but Vaporeon is the strongest and his favorite. Not to mention a shiny pokemon too."
Misty now asked in awe, "You have a shiny Vaporeon? Our gym has a Vaporeon, but I've never seen a shiny one. Can you show me?"
Ash replied coldly, "Don't feel like it." Everyone blinked in surprise.
Alice covered up the awkward moment by asking, "What pokemon do you even have with you right now, Ash?"
Ash didn't reply, and one of Misty's sisters, he thought it was Lily, asked, "Why are you so secretive? We heard you refuse to give your information at the opening."
Ash stood up and announced, "Wow, it's pretty simple. I don't feel like talking about my personal life to idiots like you." He ignored their exclaims of outrage and turned to Ellen and ordered, "Take Alice back to the hotel when you guys are done. I'm going."
Ellen nodded and replied easily, but still intense and serious, "I don't need to be asked to do that. Unlike you."
Ash stiffly turned his head to look straight at her. She refused to drop the gaze this time. He now raised a hand and motioned for her to follow. The tension could be cut with a knife. Finally Ellen stood up briskly, and they walked around a corner, leaving the other group to sit awkwardly at the table.
Lily now spoke up again, "Those two don't have a nice relationship, do they?"
Alice chuckled before answering, "Oh, don't worry. They are much friendlier than they look."
Gary now asked, "Are you sure? You said the same thing about Ashura, but he seems really unfriendly to me? I also have a feeling that those two are people you do not want to quarrel with."
Alice replied quickly, "You definitely don't want to mess with either of them, but those two won't harm each other. Even if they tried, they are both on the same level. One couldn't hurt the other too bad when it comes down to it, and I am sure that they have a better relationship than it seems to outsiders."
Misty now asked, "What do you mean outsiders?"
Alice quickly answered, "I mean that you guys don't really know those two. They don't open up much, and sometimes it can appear that they aren't nice. I know though that they are really good people, and because I really know them, I know how they truly feel."
Misty now asked slightly rudely, "How did you end up hanging out with two people like that? It just doesn't fit in my mind how that happened."
Now Alice seemed slightly offended and snapped, "What do you mean by that? Ash and Ellen are wonderful people."
Misty lowered her head in embarrassment and claimed, "I'm sorry. You guys just don't seem to fit."
Alice put her hands over her heart before explaining earnestly, "Those two are my first true friends. You know the type of relationship. They may appear to not fit well, but you understand each other perfectly and when it comes down to it, you support each other. I grew up blind, and always had that barrier between myself and others. Those two, honestly, at first hated me, and they didn't hesitate to show it. They didn't act around me or treat me like a child. They had sympathy for my blindness, but felt it didn't deserve special treatment. They were the first people to look beyond my blindness, and I, in turn, was the first to actively pursue friendship with them. I was the first person who saw beyond their outward appearances. Just as their attitude changed me, my attitude changed them. That is why we are such great friends. We hold each other in our hearts because we each helped to create the hearts of the others. We don't hold the outward flaws in any state of importance, but rely upon the true feelings of the others. That is why I know that those two are good friends because I know them. If they didn't like each other, they wouldn't even be in the same company. Ash just showed, he doesn't care about being polite. Ellen is more passive, but I could still tell. I'd say they are more like rivals. They may appear to not get along and argue a lot, but that shows how close they actually are. You must have met the sort before. They argue and fight, but really consider each other as important friends."
Gary sighed and nodded before claiming, "Yes, I know that sort of relationship."
Mist and Dawn sighed with him and said in unison, "We understand."
Dawn shook her head before asking Alice, "You really care about those two, don't you?"
Alice nodded before claiming seriously, "Yes. Those two appear as strong and confident, but I see. They always are hurting inside. Especially Ash. I might not be able to solve their troubles, but I will stand beside them. I will stay and help heal them in any way I can."
Dawn squealed and stated, "That is so sweet. Such great friendship. It's been a long time since I felt like that."
Alice asked, "What happened to that friend?" Alice immediately felt the tension in the air and grinned awkwardly as she tried to come up with a way to calm the air.
Gary bailed her out by asking, "You have said repeatedly that Ash is as strong as Ellen, but isn't she suppose to be the strongest of the Orre Elite Four. Is he really on her level? Seriously, what is he in Orre?"
Alice giggled before announcing, "Ash holds no official position in Orre. That doesn't mean, however, that he isn't powerful. I won't tell you anything else about Ash except that he is unique. Trust me, you will see. He will start to reveal himself to everyone over the seminar. Then you shall see just how powerful and unique Ash is." She paused before informing the group, "I hear Ellen. Don't talk about all this to her. Ash and her enjoy their privacy."
The group went silent as, true to her word, Ellen came right around the corner. They immediately drew back in their chairs in fear. Ellen still had the same expressionless face, but they all felt murderous intent from her. They could imagine flames behind her. Ellen sat down stiffly and started to sip her coffee.
Dawn was the first one to gather the courage to ask, "Is everything all right, Ellen?"
Ellen turned to fix a cold gaze on Dawn before she answered, "Of course. Ash and I simply…exchanged some words." The group chuckled nervously as they completely disagreed with those words.
With Ash
Ash walked towards the hotel. People instinctively stayed away from the man who gave off the aura of murder in all directions. Ash had his jaw locked as he walked. Him and Ellen had exchanged a bit of harsh words. The worst thing was Ellen wasn't a person he could push around. She was equal to him in all things except one. Ellen was the one part off his life he couldn't remove. They were both connected by Alice, and neither would leave her.
Ash took several deep breaths to calm down as the hotel came into view. Luckily the pokemon center was right next door, and Ash turned to walk towards the pokemon center. Paul would still probably be there.
Ash was distracted by the noises of a battle. Ash got distracted despite his rational mind and headed in the direction of the battle. He found a large crowd gathering. Ash pushed his way to the front to see the raging battle.
It was Paul. Paul's Torterra was out and battling a Steelix. Ash looked to the other side to see that Paul was battling Jasmine, the new Johto Elite Four member. The battler looked to be pretty even so far.
Jasmine yelled, "Steelix, Dragonbreath." The great steel snake-like pokemon launched a jet of green flames at Torterra.
Paul countered coolly, "Counter with Stone Edge." The circle of stones formed around Torterra before launching at the Dragonbreath. The Stone Edge split the Dragonbreath attack, and continued on to Steelix, but the stones did almost no damage to the dual steel and ground type pokemon.
Jasmine now yelled, "Use Iron Tail." The pokemon swung the giant glowing tail at the continent pokemon.
Pal smiled and ordered calmly, "Protect." A green shield surrounded Torterra, and completely absorbed the attack. Paul quickly continued, "Use Giga Drain." Green tendrils sprouted from Torterra's tree on its back and wrapped around the tail of Steelix.
Steelix groaned in pain. That attack wasn't really effective, but it was still strong. Jasmine quickly ordered, "Use Sandstorm to get rid of that Giga Drain." Steelix immediately stood straight up on its tail and started to spin. The Giga Drain was wiped out as a Sandstorm started on the field. Neither pokemon felt harmed by the attack due to both being ground types.
Paul smirked though before ordering, "Frenzy Plant to finish this, Torterra." Ash knew that this battle was over. Torterra stomped on the ground causing large prickly vines to grow from the ground in the middle of the sandstorm. Jasmine yelled to dodge, but there was no way for Steelix to dodge the attack. Steelix was still spinning on its tail to keep up the Sandstorm attack. The vines directly nailed Steelix as it tried to stop spinning. The first vines launched the pokemon into the air, and then the other ones smashed it into the ground.
A large cloud of dust gathered from the huge pokemon smashing into the ground, but the result was clear to Ash. The dust cleared to show that Steelix couldn't continue.
The crowd was in shock and was whispering, "I can't believe it. An Elite Four member just lost."
"She didn't just lose, she got creamed."
"Just who is that purple haired guy?"
"I guess that there really are strong trainers at that conference."
Ash ignored the whispers and walked forward onto the field. He paused and watched as Paul and Jasmine returned their pokemon. Jasmine sadly thanked her pokemon, but Paul stayed silent. Jasmine then walked towards Paul and said, "Nice battle."
Paul simply smirked and turned away as he commented cruelly, "That was pathetic. Are you really an Elite Four? I get being the youngest one, but I expected more than that."
The crowd muttered angrily, and it looked like Jasmine was about to protest. Ash chose this point to walk forward as he said loudly, "He's right. I never thought such a weak trainer could rise to be an Elite Four member."
Jasmine turned and froze when she saw Ash. She finally turned away while blushing and mumbled, "I've just been having problems lately."
Ash now mocked, "Problems. Let me guess, you have been having problems for a while now. Not winning any battles recently. Well, guess what. That proves that you are weak."
Jasmine now protested softly, "Stop it. I'm just having trouble adjusting to the higher level of competition. Wouldn't it be more helpful if you gave me advice instead of mocking me?"
Paul quickly replied, "I don't give advice to those who can't even give me a challenge. It isn't even worth my time."
Ash now added, "I don't do that sort of thing. Usually I just ignore people like you. However, you have annoyed me. Let me ask you a question." Jasmine looked up in shock at what Ash said, he looked her in the eye before questioning forcefully, "Wasn't the dragon type gym leader, Clair, the top ranked gym leader in Johto? How did it happen that you became the new Johto Elite Four member?"
Jasmine seemed shocked at the question and asked without thought, "Why does that matter?"
Ash paused before saying slowly, "Well, as a primarily dragon type trainer myself, I feel insulted that Clair, who was the most deserving, was passed over for no reason besides Lance was champion."
Jasmine looked shocked at his revelation, but finally managed to explain, "I won the position. Since Lance was the champion, the council didn't want another dragon type trainer on the Elite Four. So they decided to let a contest between the gym leaders decide. Only Chuck had the advantage against steel types, and I managed to defeat him in the first round. I then battled Pryce, and defeated him. Finally I battled Clair in a three on three. Steel types have the advantage against dragon. Her Gyrados beat my Probopass, my Magneton defeated her Gyrados and Kingdra, and then Steelix defeated her Dragonair. They then made me the Elite Four member six months ago."
Ash closed his eyes as he let out several angry breaths. Finally he regained his composure before saying, "A tournament. They decided the Elite Four member based on a tournament. I guess that is the only way someone as weak as you could get that position." Ash and Paul then walked away from the shocked Elite Four member. The crowd moved to allow them to pass, silenced by the exchange.
After they walked into the pokemon center, Ash asked nonchalantly, "What pokemon did you switch?"
Paul shrugged and claimed, "I switched Nidoking and Ursaring for Hariyama and Aggron. I need to work with those two."
Ash nodded and then asked, "Did you figure out where I can get a list of all the participants, like I asked?"
Paul shrugged and informed him, "There is an online website. You can find all that there. Info on very participant is listed there."
Ash nodded and commented, "I'll need to make sure all my info is unlisted. For now though, I should call Pine. The I'll go back to the hotel after that."
Paul nodded and announced, "I'll go back now. It will be dark soon, and I need to wake up early to train." Paul then walked away unceremoniously.
Ash turned and walked to one of the phones and instantly dialed a number. It only rang several times before Professor Pine picked up. Pine looked relaxed as he appeared on the screen. Pine looked for a second before he smiled and said, "Hello, Ash. How is the seminar so far?"
"Boring and unremarkable."
Pine blinked before he said, "Yet you haven't found proof that it is safe. Otherwise we wouldn't be talking over the phone."
Ash frowned before asking, "It's been one day. I'll check tonight."
Pine nodded and then asked, "So I assume you want to switch some pokemon."
Ash nodded and replied, "Just send five over. I'll send mine over now."
Pine nodded at the usual system and then asked like always, "So you'll still be keeping that monster on you?"
Ash reached in his shirt and pulled out a necklace. On the end was a regular poke ball. Ash now commented calmly, "This pokemon hasn't left my person in three years. He is my most trusted pokemon, and he isn't monstrous."
Pine nodded as he'd already heard that info many times. He then claimed, "I'll go collect five of your pokemon. They'll be over in several minutes. Just send yours over now." Pine then turned off the screen.
Ash stood and walked to the transporter. He quickly put in the five poke balls on his belt and they disappeared in a flash. Ash then leaned against a wall as he waited. After three minutes, five new poke balls appeared. Ash picked them on and clipped them onto his belt. He instantly knew which pokemon they were. Ash then turned and started heading to the hotel.
10 minutes later
Ash walked into his presidential sweet. He ignored the majesty of the room and walked to the large window. By now night had fallen, and Sunnyshore City was shining. He looked impassively at the scene before turning around. He then quickly walked to the king sized bed and climbed on. Instead of sleeping though, he sat cross legged in the middle of the bed with his eyes close.
Ash stayed in the position as he concentrated. He emptied his mind and searched for his power. This required a lot of skill, what he was about to perform. Ash started to glow black as he found the power. He could almost imagine it in his hands. He started to mold the power with his hands till he had it how he waned. He then released it slowly. Ash opened his mouth and a black smoke started to come out. The almost evil energy started to fill the room. Finally when the room was filled, the black smoke started to filter outwards at extreme speeds.
Ash kept his eyes closed as he tracked his aura. The aura was traveling through the entire city. It was invisible to the people, and surrounded them. No one could see, but Ash now had a read on the entire city. He stayed like this for several minutes before opening his eyes. He sighed. Nothing had been found. Sure, some small crimes were being committed, but not what he needed. That meant it wasn't obvious. This would be far more difficult. If there was a danger, it was well hidden. Probably a single person undercover. There definitely wasn't a secret hideout full of criminals waiting to attack.
Ash felt drained from the use of his aura. That was a trick that no other could do. Ash slowly stood up. He thought for a second before walking out of his room again. He walked down the hallway to the elevator and went down three floors. He then knocked on the second door on the left. It opened after a second to show Ellen peeking around the door.
Ellen frowned and asked, "How did you know this was our room?"
Ash calmly answered, "My aura. Now let me in, I'm just here to tell Alice goodnight."
Ellen for once looked awkward as she exclaimed, "You don't need to. She's already asleep."
Ash frowned. Why was Ellen only showing her head, and she never looked awkward. Ash finally said blankly, "No she isn't. Your lying, and I'm coming in after one second no matter what."
Ellen tried to shut the door, but Ash pushed it open and walked in. He turned to Ellen and saw why she hadn't wanted him to come in. She had just gotten out of the shower, and was just wearing a towel. Ellen looked to be embarrassed as she pulled the towel to cover her more securely.
Ash just frowned and claimed, "Despite what you might think, I've seen the body of a women before. Plus, I know that you are simply a man disguised a woman." Ellen didn't react to his joke.
A reproaching voice came from behind him, "Don't joke like that, Ash. Ellen is still a women, and no woman would feel comfortable having a conversation in just a towel."
Ash turned to see Alice sitting on the bed. She was in pajamas, but Ash saw that Alice was actually angry at him. Ash shrugged and stated, "Whatever."
Alice now snapped, "Seriously, Ash. Stop it. You are making Ellen uncomfortable by being here. She is a woman, Ash, and she feels just as I would if you walked in on me like that. At least go in the bathroom till she gets dressed."
Ash sighed, but answered reluctantly, "Fine, but make it quick." Ash walked into the steamy shower and closed the door. After several minutes, Alice gave a signal. Ash walked back in to see that Ellen was now in her bed, in her pajamas. Ash looked right past her, and focused on Alice.
Ash walked to her bed and claimed, "I just wanted to wish you a good night." Ash paused as he looked at Alice. He could see tension and disapproval clear on her face, even if he couldn't read it in her eyes. Ash sighed and commented, "You're mad at me."
Alice paused for a second before admitting, "Yes, I am."
Ash sighed again before asking, "Why?"
Alice stiffened as she explained unusually abruptly, "I'm mad about how you treat Ellen. You treat her like she doesn't have feelings. Just because she doesn't show her feelings doesn't mean she doesn't have any, Ash. It's downright mean, sometimes. You two should treat each other like friends."
Ash claimed bluntly, "We aren't friends. We are just acquaintances."
Alice quickly replied passionately, "I don't believe it. I refuse to believe you two would even be within a mile of each other if you weren't."
Ash now claimed, "We simply have a moniker of respect for each other. That with you, allows us to stand each other."
Alice now replied so venomously that Ash was taken aback, "Maybe you two should try to find something more than 'a moniker of respect.' Good night, Ash."
Ash stood and calmly walked out of the room. The two woman waited in silence for several seconds before Ellen pointed out, "This isn't like you, Alice. Aren't you supremely confident that we have a hidden friendship."
Alice turned her unseeing eyes on Ellen. Ellen shivered from their intensity as Alice claimed, "I wasn't speaking my thoughts there. I was speaking the words you haven't ever had the courage to speak to him."
Ellen blinked in surprise before she questioned, "Just what are you implying about my feeling for Ash, Alice?"
Alice laid on the bed as she exclaimed, "You know what I am implying, and I tell you now. Nothing between you two will change as long as you continue to worry about my feelings, Ellen. Good night."
Ellen took the cue, and she laid down in the dark as she considered what Alice said.
Okay, several things.
This chapter was basically a filler scene. More will happen later.
Jasmine is actually very important. I think she'd make a good person to have as a main character. However, I'm making her shy like in the game and manga. That is more fun to work with.
Yes, this chapter had a number of possible hints for Ash/Ellen. I'll add more later.
Next chapter will have Ash's first battle, and you'll see at least one of his new pokemon, and one of his older. Possibly more.
Poll: I plan on making this a Ash/Harem like most Dark Ash stories. I just think it fits well. I'm not just conforming to the norm. Two questions for the readers though. Should I make Ash have physical relationships with some people, and if so, do you want me to include lemons? I'm not too confident on my possible skill in writing lemons, so that is the more unlikely choice. Still vote please.
