Chapter 2: Caught Up In Smoking

Ash and Pikachu had been in a forest and sat by a pond. "Brock certainly left us something to snack on before we reached home," Ash praised before eating a sandwich.

("Always trustful of him!") a face-stuffed Pikachu squeaked. Just then, something started to bubble from the pond. Looking, Ash and Pikachu watched as a blue rotund tadpole with a swirl on its abdomen. The armless tadpole hopped out of the water.

"Hey, a Poliwag!" Turning, he expected company. "Hey, Max! There's-" He now realized the only company was Pikachu.

("Max and May are back in Petalburg.")

"Yeah, I forgot…" The Poliwag leaped back into the pond. Ash felt ready to continue. "That snack should last until we get to Viridian City."

("I'm ready!") Cleaned up, Ash had Pikachu hop up onto his shoulder.

"Let's get going!" Only a few steps away from the pond, a fog suddenly billowed and surrounded them. Thinking they know the way through, Ash pushed on before the fog got extremely thick. "Man, I thought it would be smooth sailing…"

("I can't blame you for getting lost.") As they looked around, there was shouting.

"Because you turned him into that inhuman person!" a girl shouted. This startled Ash and Pikachu.

"What was that?" asked Ash.

"Admit it!" she rang out again. Pikachu leaped off and followed the shouting. "You turned him into that thing you're claiming now about Big Brother!" Ash and Pikachu found Elise and Sakura arguing.

"But I haven't-" begged Sakura.

"All you've said are Hoshidan lies!" clamored Elise as she balled her fists, a signal to Ash that she wanted to fight.

"She's not serious…" Ash muttered. "I gotta step in." He raced ahead as Sakura's hands became fists themselves.

"If my words won't get to you, Nohrian,"she growled. "Maybe this will!" Both Elise and Sakura screamed as Ash raced to stop any violence between the two princesses. They threw a punch each, but Ash caught them, much to the surprise of Elise and Sakura who awed the reaction. Ash turned to Sakura.

"No…" he growled as he turned to Elise. "…Fighting!" After a moment of shock and awe, the princesses relented and dropped their hands. Sakura gawked and shuttered to seeing Ash. 'What kind of outfit is that? Never seen one before unless I forgot a spot.' He then turned to Elise and noticed her enlightened face. 'Is she happy to see me or something?' He let out a heavy sigh as Pikachu reached Ash, climbing his shoulder.

("Ash, you okay?") he squeaked. A look to Pikachu told him not to worry about himself.

"Here, Pikachu and I am, heading home when this strange fog comes in and we hear you two in an argument." His pained face made Sakura apologetic.

"I-I'm sorry…" she stuttered. Ash glanced to the Nohrian princess with questions.

"So, what's going on that you two wanted to fight each other?" he asked. Being questioned, Elise came clean.

"I can start by saying that we're princesses of warring families," she started. "I'm Elise, the youngest princess of Nohr." Her cheeks blushing red, Sakura had to identify herself.

"A-And I'm the youngest princess o-of Hoshido, Sakura," she named herself. Learning their titles, Ash and Pikachu gawked.

"P-Princesses!?" irked Ash. In an instant, Ash and Pikachu knelt to the two, "We weren't aware!"

("Please, forgive us!") begged Pikachu. Elise came to Ash's side and palmed his head while Sakura shook her hands in front of her.

"I'm sorry if it is a shock to you!" she tried to ease.

"Yeah, you don't need to do that," Elise giggled. Relieved, Ash stood up as he looked to Sakura admiring Pikachu.

"Can I hold your mouse?" she asked. Ash didn't think any harm would come.

"I don't think you'll mind, right, Pikachu?" he promised.

("Can I climb up?") asked Pikachu. Instead, Sakura lifted Pikachu with her arms before petting him, causing a chime that made her giggle.

"It's cute!" she cooed. "So, your name is Pikachu?"

("That's right!") Hearing Pikachu's squeaking, Elise huffed a few giggles.

"I can't argue," she agreed. "He's pretty cute. Of course, you're one who's lacking in that department yourself." Realizing Elise meant him, Ash itched his face in embarrassment.

"Thanks, I guess," he shyly replied. 'That… may be a first for me.' Elise became more curious.

"No problem," she smiled. "By the way, what's your name?"

"It's Ash…" he answered. "I'm Ash Ketchum." His study to the princesses made Ash think of their struggle. "Anyway, your families are at war with each other?"

"Yes…" confirmed Sakura. "This is what I've been told but Corrin is the centerpiece of this war between Princess Elise's Nohr family and my Hoshido family. I was told that Corrin was my Big Brother from my mother, the late Queen Mikoto." Ash and Pikachu gulped to the news. Pikachu felt bad for Sakura.

("I'm sorry for it,") he comforted. Sakura hugged Pikachu from the consolation.

"Well, I knew Corrin all my life so I didn't believe he was a Hoshidan," Elise explained. Studying the princesses' information, Ash realized the answers weren't so obvious.

"Sounds like I'd have to talk to who's in charge of everyone," he pondered. Then, out of nowhere, a smoke bomb appeared and exploded. Everyone covered their faces, keeping smoke from entering their lungs. "Don't… tell me…" Suddenly, someone grabbed Ash and dragged him back with Pikachu returning.

"Leo really has a tenancy to act on anyone white!" groaned Elise as she dragged Ash away. After clearing out of the smoke, they're out of the woods, literally. As they came out, Ash looked for Sakura and Pikachu.

("Ash, you there!?") he called out.

"Right here, Pikachu!" replied Ash. Pikachu appeared and reached Ash to climb up his shoulder. "I know this isn't the way to Viridian City." Elise became concerned to this misplacement.

"Is that where your home is?" she questioned.

"No, it's Pallet Town, next town over."

"Oh…" Before Ash could answer, someone found the two.

"Princess Elise!" shouted Xander. Ash, Elise and Pikachu turned to Xander on horseback and Elise's horse.

"Xander!" she cheered. Seeing the lead Nohrian, Sakura hid in fear of capture.

'I gotta run!' she believed. 'I don't have a choice!' She dashed away but Xander spotted her.

"Hoshidan!" he alerted. Elise stuck her hand to Xander.

"She's only a healer!" she warned. "Taking her out makes us weak!" Xander groaned but listened, hand removed from his sword.

"Very well…" That's when Xander noticed Elise's new friends. "And who may these be?" Elise was more than giddy to give Ash and Pikachu introductions.

"This is Ash and his mouse, Pikachu. They helped me after I vanished with the Hoshidan princess." Willing to meet Ash, Xander dismounted his steed to meet him as Pikachu became a little hesitant.

"Ash, is it?" He extended a hand to Ash. "I am the eldest prince of Nohr, Xander. I am grateful for your supervision over my youngest sister." Being peaceful, Ash acepted and shook Xander's hand.

"It's nothing special," he smiled. "I just saw her and Sakura and wanted to know the details." To Xander with Elise's advice, Sakura and Ash aided Elise after she was injured.

"It would be a tragedy if something did befall Elise," he warned as Leo on horseback rode up.

"Brother!" he called out. Elise became excited to see Leo again.

"Brother Leo!" she cried.

"Elise…" Leo recognized. "You're not injured?"

"I was but Ash helped heal me!" she lied. Ash sighed to Elise's fib.

'I didn't do a thing but keep you two from fighting,' he minded. Xander was convinced about Ash.

"Elise, you can have Ash ride with you back to Nohr," he allowed. "Corrin is still our priority. We'll have a conference when we return." Elise's eyes sparkled at the acceptance. Ash got to the horse but it snarled angrily when he got close. Elise petted its snout.

"It's okay…" she tried to comfort. "He's friendly. When we get back, you'll get fed." The horse neighed before Elise struggled to mount herself. Once on, she extended a hand for Ash. "Hop on!" Ash snagged Elise's hand and hoisted himself on the horse, less effort applied.

"Reminds me of Lara's Ponyta," he recalled. "Didn't like strangers getting close to him." Elise blinked in confusion to Ash's memory.

"Ponyta?" she repeated. "What's that?" Xander led the march back to Nohr as Ash pulled a red device from his pocket and Pikachu sat in her lap. Hitting a few buttons, he let Elise see a picture of a cream-color pony with fire as a mane and tail.

"Ponyta, the Fire Horse Pokémon," it read with a young woman's voice. "Ponyta's hooves are known to be stronger than diamonds. Hills stand little chance when these hooves trample." Elise awed the description.

"That would be nice to have," she commented. "It's adorable."

"And the one Lara had evolved to Rapidash," Ash added. He hit one button before a picture of a unicorn emerged. It was about the same shape as Ponyta but bigger.

"Rapidash, the Fire Horse Pokémon," it computed. "Rapidash is the evolved form of Ponyta. Galloping at around 150 miles per hour, it is one of the fastest Pokémon in the world." Elise gulped at the speed given.

"Talk about holding on for deal life," she shuttered. "But what is this?"

"Yes, what kind of sorcery is that?" asked Leo. Ash soon got an idea of their era.

"So, this is back in time?" he believed. "Technology hasn't caught up yet." The Nohrian siblings shrugged shoulder. Soon the group arrived in a city. It was dark.

"Ash, welcome to Nohr!" announced Xander. Ash and Pikachu gawked to the size and lack of lighting within Nohr.

'Someone obviously forgot to pay the electric bill,' he joked in his head. Xander and Leo dismounted their horses.

"Elise, can you guide our horses back to the stable?" requested Xander.

"On it!" she agreed before allowing Ash and Pikachu to hop off. Ash and Pikachu reached the brothers who led them inside as Elise guided the horses away.

"I know it's dark in Nohr but one day, the light will come," Leo explained. "By the way, what kind of helmet are you wearing?" Without hesitation, Leo removed Ash's cap for examination. "Very lightweight… not much for protection."

"Keeps the sun and rain out of your eyes, basically," Ash summarized.

"I see… Well, it doesn't help in battle much." The boys entered a palace where a blue-haired young woman in a maid outfit with black leggings.

"Prince Xander, Prince Leo…" she greeted. "Did you find the princess?"

"We did, Flora," Xander acknowledged. Ash also saw the maid, rather interested with who she was. Xander was quick with introductions. "Flora, we'd like to get our new ally fitted in Nohrian armor. His name is Ash and his partner is Pikachu." Flora came to Ash and Pikachu and offered a scratch to the Mouse Pokémon's ears.

("So firm…") he squealed. That's when another blue-haired young woman appeared. Her pigtails had pink tips. She wore a steel breastplate over w baggy white long-sleeve shirt and skin tight trousers.

"Who did you get, Prince Xander!?" she called out. Seeing Ash, she swarmed him as Pikachu leaped into Flora's arms. "A cute one! Don't mind if I keep him as my cavalier!" Flora became concerned.

"Peri, let me get him fitted for some new clothes before you have your fun!" she tried to reason. Peri puffed her cheeks, not happy to the exchange. "Come, Ash!" Following Flora, Ash left with Pikachu while Elise came in after returning the horses.

"Ash?" she called for. Xander, Leo and Peri looked to Elise.

"Flora's getting him fitted," Xander explained. Without a second to waist, Elise hurried to check on Ash. Leo had doubt about him.

"Brother, do you think he'll be an asset to bring Corrin back?" he questioned.

"Corrin's for us to worry about. He can be a new retainer to Elise and Camilla." The idea made Peri mad.

"He should be my retainer!" she whined. Xander and Leo sighed, flustered with Peri's childish antic. In another room, Flora removed the sweat-tee and black t-shirt from Ash. His muscular chest made her blush as Elise started coming to the room with Xander following.

"I don't think Felicia would be able to hold herself still seeing a firm and muscular chest like this," Flora gulped. Xander entered to see Pikachu eating some grapes.

"Not something I'm used to seeing myself," Xander nodded. Elise's mind began to race hearing the detail of Ash's body.

'Muscular chest?' she minded. 'His body's gotta be macho! Oh, gods… let me bear thine eyes to what I call heaven!' She tried to enter but Xander stood in her way.

"Not so fast, sister," he denied. "You'll respect his privacy!" Elise whined and puffed her cheeks, mad that she couldn't see if her imagination was true. In about half an hour, Flora came to see Elise.

"He is ready," she declared. Elise got up to see Ash and Pikachu. She awed Ash's new outfit: Black shoulder guards connected to a lean breastplate and gauntlets to the knuckles. He also wore mesh around his legs and armor covering his calves and shins.

"Wow, you look buff!" she awed. Ash giggled to Elise's favoring.

"Thanks!" he replied.

"I'm glad you like it, Princess," Flora bowed. "Would you like to show him around while I prepare dinner?" The idea made Elise gleeful.

"I've been dying to show Ash around!" she cheered. "Come on! I wanna show you the wyverns!" The name made Ash and Pikachu blink.

"Wyverns?" he repeated.

"You don't have wyverns as Pokémon?" Ash shook his head.

"I don't even know what a wyvern is." Regardless, Elise grabbed his hand.

"I'll show you! It's this way!" Dragging, Elise brought Ash and Pikachu outside. What else could Ash and Pikachu encounter with Nohr? And what about Sakura? What could she have with her family?

TO BE CONTINUED…