"Aargh!" Ash cried, clamping one hand to his head, and the other to the ferry's railing.
"Pikapi?" Pikachu looked up at his trainer in concern, and Ash gritted his teeth together in pain.
"It's happening again," Ash muttered, opening his eyes a bit, and Pikachu let out a small shudder as he saw the now-familiar blue glow of Ash's eyes, "Come on- don't want- be seen- like this-" Ash sputtered out each word, stiffly making his way to the back of the ferry, Pikachu at his heels.
It was early spring, and the cool temperatures and foggy weather still lingered from winter. Luckily there wasn't that many people on the ferry, giving Ash some peace. Another sharp burst of pain shot through his head, and Ash collapsed to the ground.
Pikachu placed a small paw on Ash's shoulder as the spasm hit Ash. They had started several weeks ago, at first just a short shudder every few days, but it escalated to huge seizures every couple of hours, along with short bursts of blue aura from Ash.
Despite all of Ash's attempts to keep his growing aura powers under control, nothing worked, and every day the spasms got worse, and finally Ash decided to follow his only lead:
A huge wave of aura from the north.
Ash had sensed the unnatural surge of aura several days after his aura went out off control. It was a powerful wave that seemed to be radiating from the Sinnoh Region. Ash had been unsure if it had always been there and he was just now able to sense it, or if it were something new. But when Ash's seizures had become out of control, he had decided to find the source of the aura waves, and maybe even some answers.
Ash and Pikachu had then made their way to Canalave City, in Sinnoh. The aura had seem stronger than ever, but still not the source, which seemed close, but still farther north. With only open ocean in that direction, Ash had booked a ferry to the only place that he knew that was out there, Iron Island.
They now found themselves on that ferry, not far from the island.
"Pikapi, Pikapi!" Pikachu shouted after a few minutes, this spasm was lasting longer than the others had. Ash didn't respond, his eyes were half way open, glowing an eerie blue. Pikachu looked around, unsure if he should get help or not. But then final shudder ran through Ash, and the glow from his eyes faded, and Pikachu let out a sigh of relief.
Ash shakily pushed himself to his knees, hands trembling, "That one was the worst one yet," He muttered, and Pikachu nodded in agreement, "Well then," Ash said, looking out at the foggy ocean, "Let's hope we can get some answers."
"The next ferry won't come out here for 'bout two hours, sure you'll be fine out here, kid?" The sailor asked Ash as he dismounted the ferry.
"I'll be fine," Ash said, adjusting his hat, looking around the island, everything seemed how it was last time he was, but then again his sight was limited, thanks to the unnatural fog, that like the ocean, covered the island.
"Hm, don't know what brought you out here, kid, never been much out here. Even when those ruins were discovered a few years back, people just don't head out this way. Especially at this time of year," The sailor paused, "Unnatural 'mount of fog we have this year, suppose the weather is as fickle as Lugia's wings, right kid?"
"Yeah," Ash said, not listening to what he was saying.
"Well, ferry here needs to head'on back, see ya 'round kid."
"Bye," Ash automatically responded as the sailor climbed back onto the ferry, and Ash began to hike up the rugged terrain of Iron Island, Pikachu perched on his shoulder.
Ash closed his eyes and hesitantly focused his aura, half expecting it to turn on him, then after a moment he slipped into his aura sight, plunging his surroundings into blue. Ash took a step back, "This is it," Ash said, "The source of that aura is coming from here."
"Pika!" Pikachu said, and Ash felt him leapt off his shoulder, and Ash opened his eyes in time to see Pikachu running off into the fog.
"Pikachu, where are you going?"
"Pikapi!" Pikachu replied, not stopping.
"Wait up!" Ash cried, running after the mouse. Pikachu was much faster though, and soon Ash was just following the fading sound of Pikachu's voice, "Pikachu, come back!"
Ash thought he heard a faint "Pika," but was unsure. Ash stopped, trying to catch his breath, why would Pikachu just run off like that? Ash reached down for one of his Pokeballs.
"Charizard, come out and-" Ash froze, and glanced down, his Pokeballs were gone.
He glanced around, it wasn't just his Pokeballs, but his whole Pokebelt was gone. He knew he had them we he got off the ferry.
"Lu," A voice said from behind Ash, who turned. There was a figure, vaguely humanoid, looking at Ash with a pair of red eyes. In its paws was Ash's belt, "Rio."
"A Lucario," Ash muttered, glancing at it, "Wha- Hey! Come back!" The Lucario turned and ran with Ash's Pokeballs. Ash started after it, paused, and looked back at the way Pikachu had ran off, which was in the opposite direction of the Lucario, "Stay safe," Ash said, then ran after the Lucario.
It was waiting for him at the bottom of the hill, still watching him with the unblinking eyes, "Car," It said, gesturing to Ash for him to follow, then once more it turned and ran into the fog.
"Wait!" Ash shouted, "Give me back my Pokemon!"
It didn't stop, but turned a bit, and ran up a hill. It was running just fast enough so Ash could barely see it at the edge of the the fog. I wish you would have stayed with me Pikachu. I need you right now!
The Lucario was once again waiting for him as Ash caught up, and Ash stopped, watching it. The Lucario didn't move. "Hey," Ash called to it, "Can I have my Pokeballs back?"
The Lucario shook its head, "Lu."
"Do you want me to follow you?"
A nod.
"Then give me back my Pokeballs, I'll still follow you," Ash said, taking a step towards it. The Lucario shook its head again, and took a step back.
"Will you give me my Pokeballs back after you take me to... wherever you're going?" Ash asked.
The Lucario looked at the belt in its paws, then at Ash, and shrugged. It wasn't a simple gesture, the it truly didn't know if its master would return the Pokemon to the boy.
"Then I won't follow you," Ash said defiantly.
The Lucario raised an eye, and looked at Ash doubtfully, then continued its trek into the fog. Ash let out a curse and scrambled after the Lucario.
The Lucario increased its speed and got far ahead, to the point were Ash could no longer make it out in the fog. Ash stopped once more, "Pikachu? Can you hear me? I need you!"
No reply.
Ash thought for a moment, then entered his Aura View. The extended sight allowed Ash to find the Lucario quickly, thanks to its powerful aura. It was about fifty feet (About fifteen meters) ahead of Ash, still watching him. Still watching through his Aura View, Ash stumbled in Lucario's direction. It stayed where it was, watching.
A faint stab of pain blossomed at the base of Ash's skull. He wasn't use to using his aura for this long. Ash slipped out of his Aura View. He was now close enough to see it with his regular sight, and the Lucario retreated out of sight, running. Ash gritted his teeth, and slipped into his Aura View again, trying to track it. Didn't it want him to follow?
The process repeated once more, the Lucario staying out of sight, causing Ash to have to depend on his Aura View to find the Lucario. It Lucario didn't seem to be in a hurry either. Ash winced in pain as he prolonged his use of his Aura View.
Is it testing me? Ash thought as the Lucario scrambled away as Ash slipped into his regular sight. It only let's me approach it if I'm using aura...
Ignoring his pounding headache, Ash used his Aura View, and went after the Lucario. It was standing next to a large bolder, and this time Ash stayed in his Aura View as he came closer. It didn't flee.
He was closer than ever, about ten feet (three meters) away from it. The Lucario sent a small pulse of aura at him, and Ash suddenly felt approval. The Lucario had transferred its emotions into Ash, letting him know that this is what it wanted him to do.
Ash was now next to the Lucario, his head now screaming at him, but he kept his Aura View up, not wanted the Lucario to run off again. The Lucario took off at a brisk pace, signaling for Ash to come with it.
"No-" Ash said, letting out a small groan, "Walk, please?" Ash asked, and for the first time the Lucario showed some emotion, concern, then it nodded, and began to walk. Ash followed slowly behind, he didn't know how much longer he could continue using his aura like this-
"Car," The Lucario said, and sent another pulse of aura at Ash, this time causing him to feel relaxed. Ash took this to mean that he could stop using his Aura View, and he returned to his regular sight, causing the pounding headache to fade to just a small annoyance.
Ash collapsed on to a rock, rubbing his head, panting. Though he didn't extend himself physically to use his aura, he still felt like he had ran a marathon.
"Rio," The Lucario said, and Ash looked up. The Lucario pointed with its paw to a cave, then strolled in itself.
After a moments hesitation, Ash followed it inside.
By the way, Pikachu didn't run off for no reason, you'll find out why next chapter!
And here are some replies from the prolouge:
Pikachulover14: Yes, this story will have several changes. I don't know if I'll bring back Grace or not, we'll see.
Uranium235: Yes, Mew was defeated easialy, there's a reason for that. It will be explained in a future chapter.
PsychicEevee0103: Yep, this story will be different from Pikachu's Revenge, but I hope the changes will be for the better.