Hey guys...
I was so bummed out about the lack of reviews I got for the last chapter. Apparently everyone loved the last chapter so I hope this chapter also meets your expectations.
Paul and Drew have returned and we just left everyone after the massive fight between Ash and the dark aura users... ooooh!
So keep reading and reviewing folks!
Chapter 7 – How we met...
Paul was the first one to regain consciousness. However he wasn't in a good mood.
'Shit my head throbs like I was just dragged through a hedge,' Paul muttered and put a hand to his head. He winced as the bright light blinded him and struggled to sit up. The warm mattress below him and the duvet covering him were too tempting but he overcame the temptation to snuggle back down for a sleep.
Glancing across the room was a green-headed boy and Paul smirked at the snoring boy. Suddenly he jolted up, the events that had occurred a mere few minutes ago came flooding back into his brain. The attack... the plan to capture Ash and Zainab... his pokemon overcome along with Drew's... knocked unconscious... a plan to resurrect and capture all the legendaries...
Feeling as though he was going through a mental overload the door opened wide and in glided the Queen of Rota, Maria. Paul had grown close to her as if she was his own mother. The feeling was mutual, Maria having considered him and Drew her adopted sons. He thought back to the day when he had found Ash.
FLASHBACK
Paul was at the pokemon centre after having battled the first member of the Sinnoh Elite Four, Flint the fire master. Torterra had taken quite a knocking as had Weavile but in the end his Electivire and Honchcrow had overcome all the pokemon, allowing him to progress to the next round.
'Paul!' A voice cried.
'Why does that voice sound familiar?' Paul muttered to himself and the next second he had caught the glimpse of blue before being squeezed to death in a hug.
'Troublesome,' Paul thought as he remembered the blueness of the bubbly coordinator. He was released and Dawn stepped back.
Paul looked around to see a red-haired girl, an older boy with spiky brown hair, a girl with brunette hair and a red bandanna adorned her hair, another boy with green hair that was roughly his age, a young boy with olive hair and another boy that was roughly his age with spiky brown hair.
'Fancy seeing you here Paul,' the older male stepped forward.
'You too Brock, I thought you were hanging out with Ketchum? Where is he anyway, I'm looking forward to our rematch?' Paul asked smirking as he looked around for the sight of his rival with the Pikachu on his shoulder, but before he got his answer there was a ping and his poke balls were returned to him.
'Why don't we sit down and talk over this with a hot drink?' Brock asked and Paul couldn't help but notice he looked nervous. Nevertheless he followed them.
'Oh by the way this is Misty, the gym leader of Cerulean City,' pointing to the red-head, 'May Maple a pokemon coordinator from Hoenn,' pointing to the brunette with the bandanna, 'Drew Hayden another coordinator from Hoenn,' pointing to the green-haired boy, 'Gary Oak the up and coming professor,' pointing to the brunette roughly his age, 'and Max, May's younger brother,' pointing finally to the young boy.
'Great to see you but you haven't answered my question... where's Ash?' Paul asked confused.
'Well you see...' Dawn started but trailed off. Paul had a bad feeling about this.
'Tell him I don't have forever,' Paul said and yawned.
'He's not with us,' May said defiantly and Paul stopped mid-yawn to gaze at them surprised. Surely they were never apart from Ketchum.
'Sorry?' Paul asked.
'You heard us Paul we told him to get away from our lives and never come back. He was the weakest trainer ever and he didn't even win any leagues. I mean what's the point of being a trainer if you can't accomplish anything in life. So we held a fake party and then threw him out of his own house and we hope we never have to see him again,' Gary said.
'Yeah and to make sure we went out to try and finish him off but instead that bitch he has as a girlfriend kicked our asses and nearly killed us instead,' Brock said, finishing off the story.
Paul just sat there frozen, unable to comprehend the words they had just spoken. And these were supposed to be friends? You would be better off with your enemies.
Suddenly Paul felt rage fill him however he was confused why. Ash was only his rival but then again even his enemy didn't deserve what had happened to him. Unaware of himself he stood up.
'Paul where are you going?' Dawn asked.
'Away from all of you,' Paul said venomously. Everyone was taken back by the tone in is voice.
'Paul?' Brock asked.
Paul turned and everyone saw the anger in his eyes.
'And you're supposed to be friends?! Abandoning your friend and hunting him to make sure you finish him off is sick! So sick in fact that I want to vomit! He was the best trainer I ever knew and even though time and again I beat him, in the end he triumphed over me! Why? Because he believed in his pokemon and treated them with kindness! so what if you don't win any leagues? All that matters is the participation. For damn sake he even beat two legendaries with his team! Who wouldn't be proud of that? And instead of being there for him you shunned him away! You're the worst human beings that ever existed.'
Paul finished his rant in a furious tone and breathed heavily, the traitors in front of him shocked.
Kicking his chair behind he walked off, however he turned to the people that were seated before him and took a deep breath.
'I just want to say that I will find Ketchum. And if I know him correctly, he'll be back and you'll be sorry... sorry that you ever turned your back on him,' Paul spat coldly and with that he shoved his hands in his pockets and stormed out of the pokemon centre.
Paul was seething as he walked through the undergrowth. He finally came upon a tree stump and sat down on it. Then reality hit him... where would he look for Ash?
Before he could think of an answer he heard footsteps crashing through the forest's undergrowth. Tensing up he plucked a poke ball off his waist and stood there waiting.
The person suddenly emerged and seeing Paul defensively he held up his hands in a surrender and Paul eyes him suspiciously.
'Aren't you Drew Hayden?' Paul asked and the boy nodded.
'Yeah,' Drew said and shoved his hands into his pockets.
'Well what are you doing here?' Paul asked.
Drew looked at him, 'I want to help you,' Drew said.
'What?' Paul asked in surprise.
'I want to find Ash with you. He's a good friend of mine and I never thought that May or anyone else would do such a thing,' Drew said with a hint of anger in his voice.
'That means you didn't betray him?' Paul asked.
Drew shook his head.
'No I arrived in Pallet Town a few days later. I needed to ask Ash for a bit of help with my Magnemite, it's too stubborn and won't listen to me. I know Ash's Charizard was like that so who else would I ask? But then I arrived and there was no sign of Ash, his pokemon or his mum. I came across them afterwards in the Ranch and they said that Ash left on a journey. I was surprised Brock was there... normally he's with Ash. So I let it go but after finding out what happened I got up and left them.'
Paul was stunned at what he had heard. He then stood up and held out a hand.
'Well then I could use some help,' Paul said with a smirk, 'grassy,' he said and Drew glared at him.
'Not funny,' he pouted and Paul laughed.
'Come on then,' Paul said and Drew nodded. They walked for a bit in the forest but then they stopped. Paul turned to face Drew.
'What happened?' Drew asked.
'The thing is I don't even know where Ketchum is,' Paul admitted and Drew stared at him in disbelief.
'You're joking right?' Drew asked. Paul shook his head and Drew fell anime-style onto the floor.
There was a rustle behind the boys and they both turned to see a tall man with a Lucario walk over to them.
'Can we help you Sir?' Drew asked politely.
'Yes you can... I heard your conversation about trying to find a boy called Ash Ketchum,' the man said and Paul nodded.
'If you have any information then please tell,' Paul said and the man chuckled.
'Are you his friends?' the man asked.
'No a rival... who's owed a rematch,' Paul said and Drew chuckled.
'Ash knows me during his time in Hoenn,' Drew said and the man nodded.
He turned to Lucario and after what seemed forever he turned to face them.
'I will take you to him, however he's very wary at the moment,' the man said and with a flash a Alakazam appeared.
'Who are you Sir?' Paul asked curiously. The curiosity was killing him and Drew.
The man raised him head and Paul and Drew gasped. He looked just like Ash but older.
'I am King Aaron of the Kingdom of Rota, and Ash's father,' he replied and both boys were shocked. Ash was a Prince?
'Alakazam Teleport,' Aaron commanded and with a flash they arrived in a corridor. Paul let out a low whistle as he examined the hall. Drew was impressed too. Aaron chuckled at their expressions.
Suddenly there was a blur and both boys were against the wall in a Psychic hold by an Espeon. The two boys focused on the girl. She was pretty and had long black hair held in a pony tail. She wore a short dress up to her knees that was a pretty green colour and a white beanie rested on her head. On her shoulder was a small Pikachu and in front of her was an Espeon.
'Who are you and what are you doing trespassing on my Kingdom?' the girl demanded harshly.
'Zainab let them go... they are friends of Ash,' Aaron said but the girl fixed him a piercing look that Aaron stepped back. Both boys were amused at the King being scared of this girl.
'That's what they all say. Need I remind you of what happened last time?' Zainab said angrily. Pikachu and Espeon nodded in agreement.
'But this is different,' Aaron said but Zainab turned back to the boys.
'Either you get out of here or I'll have Glaceon turn you both into human popsicles and throw you out of Kanto altogether,' she said and her eyes were glowing blue.
'But Ma'am we're here to cause no harm,' Drew stuttered nervously.
'And who might you be?' she demanded.
'Drew Hayden,' Drew said and if he could he would have flicked his hair.
'And you?' Zainab turned to Paul.
'Paul Shinji at your service,' Paul said coolly.
'I still don't trust you,' she said. Both boys sighed.
'ZAINAB!'
Everyone turned to see a boy with a black loose shirt tucked into a pair of pants. He wore a belt with a pouch with his poke balls in and a black katana sheathed in the side. His raven black hair was tied loosely into a small pony at the back and he wore a jacket. A bigger Pikachu rode on his shoulder and he was followed by an Umbreon and Glaceon who when seeing Zainab, ran over happily. Zainab smiled and hugged them before returning them into their poke balls.
The boy walked over to Zainab, who stared back stubbornly.
'Zainab what are you doing?' he asked.
'But Ash I was not familiar with their aura,' Zainab said.
Ash turned to see Paul and Drew pinned to the wall with psychic and held back a laugh.
'These are my friend and rival, Paul and Drew,' Ash said and Zainab blushed embarrassed.
'Let go Espeon,' Zainab said and Espeon nodded, before bounding over to Zainab and hopping into her arms.
Paul and Drew fell onto the floor in a heap and Ash, not having enough self restraint, burst out laughing.
Both boys got up and dusted themselves down, glaring at Zainab and Ash.
'WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!' Paul and Drew yelled at Zainab, who giggled at them.
'Sorry about that but I have to be a bit wary in case that enemies are here,' Zainab bit back.
'Next time we'll bring a whole orchestra why don't we?' Drew muttered sarcastically.
'Oh yes we need a laugh these days, Ash is such a bore,' Zainab teased and winked at Ash. He blushed slightly and both boys were amused at this.
'You're not much better Zainab, I mean what were you thinking about... attacking my friends?' Ash said.
Ash froze after saying those words. He glanced at Zainab who looked hurt. He opened his mouth to apologise but Zainab beat him to it.
'Well sorry for trying to save your ass Ashton!' Zainab shouted and stormed off, Espeon and Pikachu in her arms/shoulder respectively.
'Nice going there Ash,' Drew said groaning.
'What am I supposed to do if she can't understand?' Ash retorted.
'Because she didn't know, she's probably been the one trying to protect you ever since that incidence happened,' Paul said. Was he supposed to be the sensible one here?
'I guess you're right,' Ash sighed heavily.
'So how's it been like being a Prince?' Drew asked, 'find any pretty girls?'
'No but I did propose to Zainab,' Ash said and both Drew and Paul stared at him in shock.
'I never thought I would see the day that Ash would settle down and start a family,' Paul said.
'And what's that supposed to mean?' Ash asked pouting.
'That whenever we saw you it would be 'Gym battles' or 'food' or 'next region',' Drew said and Ash nodded.
'Yeah travelling was pretty cool,' he agreed.
And with that the boys walked off, a new friendship being formed at that very moment.
FLASHBACK END
'Wake up Drew,' Paul nudged Drew but he didn't wake up.
'So how are you Paul? Those were some nasty injuries,' Maria said and embraced Paul.
'Just fine, but I need to warn Ash and Zainab. They're in danger and –' Paul said but Maria put a finger to his lips.
'We know and there was a pretty fierce battle between Ash and the two dark aura users but the two men have been arrested,' Maria said and Paul nodded.
'And what about Ash and Zainab?' Paul asked. Maria looked sadly at him.
'Ash is fine but Zainab took a direct hit and she's not come round yet,' Maria said and Paul felt horrible.
'Can I go see him?' Paul asked.
Maria nodded, 'that would be great, he's feeling a bit down and I'm sure you'll cheer him up. He's in the gardens,' Maria said and Paul nodded. He walked out of the room towards the Gardens.
...
Ash sat on a rock and skimmed pebbles along the lake. Pikachu sat next to him and nuzzled him.
'Pi ka pikaka pikapi,' Pikachu said ('Come on Ash don't be so down')
'I feel awful, if I reacted sooner, Zainab wouldn't be like this,' Ash said and Pikachu squeaked reassuringly.
'Pi ka pikachu,' Pikachu squeaked ('She'll pull through')
'Yeah she's one tough cookie,' Ash said.
Pikachu nodded in agreement. The duo sat there for a while, silently admiring the scenery and Ash chuckled as he saw all the baby Poliwag swimming around, their tips of their tails poking out from under the surface of the lake.
'Ketchum,' Paul smirked as he saw Ash turn around and scowl at him.
'Shinji,' Ash said with a smirk and this time Paul was unamused. However they both fist-bumped and hugged each other, before Ash was given a noogie by Paul. He stepped back dazedly and clutched his head.
'How many times have I told you that my name is ASH! And your noogies kill!' Ash said and Paul chuckled.
'Loads but I don't really care. And we need to toughen you up so you'll thank me in the future,' Paul said and rubbed Pikachu's head as he jumped onto Paul's shoulder.
'You wish,' Ash muttered but grinned at his rival-now-friend.
'Pi ka chu,' Pikachu greeted and Paul smiled.
'Hi to you too Pikachu, at least you look better than your trainer,' Paul teased and Pikachu smiled.
'Paul I'm not in the mood,' Ash said and sat back down. Paul and Pikachu looked at each other.
'Ketchum come on... if your here then whose gonna be with Zainab when she wakes up?' Paul asked and Ash shrugged.
'If she wakes up,' he said softly.
'Pikachu do the honours,' Paul gestured towards Ash and a few seconds later a crispy Ash lay on the floor spluttering.
'Thanks... a... lot,' he puffed out as Paul chuckled at the sight of him.
'Come on Ash pull yourself together,' Paul said.
'You're right Paul I ju-,' Ash said before a high-pitched scream sounded from the castle. Paul and Ash looked at each other in worry and then raced up to the castle.
They bolted in the castle and made their way to Zainab's room to see...
And that's where I leave you everyone! I know it's so cruel and mean but I wanted to do a cliff-hanger like this since so long and I hadn't found the opportunity... hehehe!
Stay tuned for the next episode!
