Chapter 28:

Bewilderment

"So, you headed to Six Island, too?" Ash asked the purple-haired youth.

"The Pattern Bush, to be specific, yeah." He adjusted the yellow tie he wore over his scout-like, green uniform.

"Who the hell is this?" Aura muttered to Misty.

"Bugsy," the teenage girl informed the Lucario. "He's the leader of the Azalea Town Gym. Bug types."

"Oh," Aura smirked, leaning back against the railing of the boat, "that explains your lack of enthusiasm."

"How are you feeling, by the way?" Misty ignored the comment.

"…What," Aura said in a flat voice.

"How's your head?" Misty asked cautiously. "And…and your chest?"

"What do you mean?" Aura raised a brow. Trying to shrug off the question, she looked over to where Ash and Bugsy were having an excited conversation about the size of the Heracross found in a certain area of the Pattern Bush.

"You always have a headache lately, and you had an episode—or something—and clenched your chest before you passed out the other day."

"What do you mean 'had an episode'?" Aura glanced at her.

"You yelled about… something, and then clenched at your chest spike before the Psychic burnout caused you to collapse during our fight with Team Rocket," Misty clarified. "Don't you remember? We thought you were having a heart attack or something, at first."

"I didn't have a heart attack." Aura frowned. She rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. But, that would mean… "Don't worry about me." Aura shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Aura…"

"I'm fine!" Aura snapped. She glanced over the edge of the boat to see the wooden planks of the pier slide into view. She clenched her pack's strap with one hand, using her grip on the railing with the other to launch herself over the edge onto the pier.

"Aura!"

"I said I'm fine!" Aura barked. She didn't look back, even when her sharp hearing picked up the sound of someone leaping off the boat and across the pier towards her.

"Go away, Nyx!"

"Pika?" Pikachu asked as he leapt up onto her shoulder.

"What do you want?" Aura narrowed her eyes.

"She's right, you know." The Electric Pokémon said softly. "You don't... you don't seem well. She's worried, and she has no clue what it could really be."

"And you…?" Aura trailed off nervously.

"I think I might know, and if so… she's completely right to be worried."

"And just what do you think you know?"

"You're lying to us." Pikachu's voice was tense, but level. "Well, maybe not to me. But, I already know some of the half-truths you've been avoiding."

"What are you saying?" Aura avoided his gaze, instead watching where she was walking through the small port town.

"You are Bound."

Aura stopped in her tracks, staring down at the sidewalk.

"I…I—I—I I don't kn—know…." Aura stammered. "Th—that does—that doesn't necessarily—!" She shook her head. "I mean—! How do you know that? You—you can't possibly have—! I mean, not even Ash—he has the power of—!"

"Ash is about as sharp as a river-polished stone," Pikachu chuckled.

Aura blinked a few times, before chuckling. "Good point."

"What happened?"

"How do you know?" Aura ignored the question. "That was long after my father had helped you escape to…well, to Pallet, I guess."

"Have you forgotten the horror you and your father helped me escape from?" Pikachu reminded her.

Aura looked at the mouse Pokémon on her shoulder.

A bitter memory flashed briefly before her eyes. The glint of needles. The sharp burning in her chest. The erratic beeping symbolizing her vitals. The empty look in her father's eyes.

She eventually looked away. "…I can't. They did the same things to us, after all. They forced us to become more than we were meant to be."

"What happened?" Pikachu repeated his earlier question.

"I was murdered," Aura said simply.

"But, you're still alive."

"Am I?" Aura looked at him. "If you know I'm Bound, then you surely can guess what it took to drive me to where you found me a few months ago."

"He's…not dead?" Pikachu asked cautiously.

"You know that I wouldn't let myself survive that." Aura shook her head.

"But…that would mean…that he…betrayed you?" Pikachu couldn't comprehend the notion. "How? Why?"

Aura rubbed at her chest, just below her spike. "I don't know."

The Lucario turned sharply at the sound of their companions rushing through the streets towards them.

"Aura!" Misty yelled.

"Pikachu!" Ash joined her. "Wait up!"

Nyx caught up first, despite the extra burden of Jerzy clinging to the top of the Shiny Umbreon's head.

"Wha's wid ya, jumpin' off ta boat like that?" The masked Rattata asked.

Aura swiped him with the side of her paw, knocking him off of Nyx's head.

"Piss off."

"Jeez, Aura." Ash caught up, slightly out of breath. "You could have hurt yourself doing that."

"Whatever." Aura shrugged, as Pikachu leapt off her shoulder and onto his trainer's. "Where's your friend?"

"Bugsy?" Ash blinked. "He said he had to go buy some more Pokéballs. He's here to try to catch a Heracross to use in his Gym back in Azalea."

"He's not gonna try to tag along with us, is he?" Aura asked, remembering Drew.

"No." Misty shook her head. "He said that it's easiest to try to catch Heracross by himself. Something about too many scents freaking them out?" She shrugged. "Thank God," she added under her breath.

"Hmm?" Ash blinked at her. "What'd ya sa—?"

"Can we get something to eat before we go gallivanting through the undergrowth?" Aura interrupted. "I still can't eat much while on board a ship."

"Gallivanting?" Ash repeated.

Aura sighed, burying her face in one hand.

Silver ran the slightly damp cloth over his Scyther's head with one hand.

"See?" Brendan's voice said brightly from over his shoulder. "He looks even better already! With a regular oil scrub, Red here will have the healthiest-looking exoskeleton of any Scyther!"

"Hmm," Silver mumbled noncommittally.

"Actually, I've been meaning to ask about that," Brendan continued. He had already half-turned away, so he appeared to be talking to no one in particular. "You said that you were given Red, yeah?"

Silver nodded. Brendan, not facing him, neither saw it nor apparently thought he needed a confirmation.

"I assume that he wasn't already named when you two met?"

"No," Silver finally spoke. "I gave him his name. I'm not exactly creative, but…"

"So!" Brendan turned back to him with an overly-large grin. "That must mean that you plan to evolve him one day, seeing as Scizor are red, and all!"

"I've considered it."

"Well, then!" Brendan's grin—somehow—grew even larger, and his eyes glinted. "Today is your lucky day!"

Silver looked over towards Wally, who sat at the campfire on the other side of Brendan, stirring the stew he was making for their dinner. The green-haired teen just sighed and shook his head.

"How so?" Silver eventually sighed.

Brendan gave a loud, bark-like laugh. The sound echoed through Silver's mind, pulling at an old memory and sending a painful jolt through his chest. Not noticing the brief flicker of emotion on Silver's face, Brendan pulled out a small, chrome jar with a flat lid. He tossed the small object to Silver.

Catching it, Silver twisted the lid off, to reveal a metallic-colored paste inside.

"Metal Coat?" Silver dared to ask. Unless he's being a smart-ass and just gave me a jar of metallic grey paint.

"Now you can evolve Red into a Scizor whenever you're ready!"

"Isn't that their decision to make?" Wally didn't even look up from the pot.

"Do you have any idea how hard it can be to find Metal Coat?" Brendan pointed out. "I just thought, since I currently don't have any use for it—plus, Bug Pokémon grow really fast and Scizor can learn some really powerful moves, even early on."

Silver screwed the lid back on. He looked up at Red, the teen's dark blue eyes locking with the Bug Pokémon's. The Scyther eventually gave an ambiguous shrug.

"We'll think about it until we reach Olivine for our flight, okay?" Silver looked at Brendan from the corner of his eye.

Brendan smiled cheerfully, before turning about to help Wally with dinner. Silver slipped the metal jar into his jacket pocket before returning his attention to Red's exoskeleton and the oil cloth. After a long silence permeated only by the cackle of the fire and the bubbling of the stew, Silver spoke again in a barely audible tone.

"Thanks."

Brendan gave Wally a small smirk, but said nothing in return.

"So…" Nyx's voice trailed off. "The Pattern Bush."

"Yep." Ash nodded.

They were standing with the others in front of the thick forest of low-hanging trees and heavy thickets and undergrowth.

"You know," Aura broke the awkward silence, "humans believe that the strange patterns you can see from the sky—the patches of lesser vegetation that give the Bush its name—that they have some sort of meaning. That the Pattern Bush is hiding some sort of great secret."

"W—well," Misty stammered. "Th—they're definitely o—on to something th—there."

The Lucario shot the teenage girl a brief look of concern before focusing her gaze directly ahead once more.

"Well," Aura sighed, "shall we be off? Or do we want to stand out here until we turn to granite?"

"I don't think that's poss—" Pikachu started from on top of Ash's shoulder as his Trainer began to march forward with gusto.

"Let's go!" Ash said cheerfully.

He stopped in his tracks when he felt Pikachu tense on his shoulder.

"What?" Ash looked sideways at his companion. Pikachu was half-turned on his Trainer's shoulder, staring straight back at the others. Curious as to what grabbed the Electric Pokémon's attention, Ash turned back around to follow his gaze…

…Straight at Misty.

"Misty?" Ash asked as if noticing her presence for the first time.

"Are you alright?" Aura asked in an unusual tone.

Ash glanced at the Lucario, taken aback by her tone.

"I'm…it's just," Misty hesitated. "You know… bugs."

"You're really that afraid of them?" Aura asked. "You can't even go into the Pattern Bush?"

"I—I…" Misty stammered. "Bugs really… bug me."

"Hey!" Nyx said cheerfully, trotting up to her. "It's okay! We all have things we're afraid of. We'll be here for you through the whole thing." The Umbreon shot a smile at Aura. The Lucario sighed before placing her hand on the Water Trainer's shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess I can protect you from the scary bugs, too. I mean, what are friends for. Or whatever."

Misty smiled softly.

"Thanks, guys."

Ash stammered, trying to come up with something to say. Before he could regain his ability to speak, however, Pikachu leapt off of his shoulder and onto Misty's.

"Yeah," Nyx agreed. "We'll all protect you."

"Because, you know," Aura muttered to Nyx, "it's not like Bug is strong against Dark, or anything."

Jerzy joined in, too, leaping onto Misty's other shoulder. "A good gen'leman ne'er passes up a chance ta aid a lady wit' 'er fears."

Aura knocked him down with a punch, the Rattata falling to the ground.

"No one said you could stand there."

Ash tried to make a complete sentence, but only managed to mutter incoherently.

Aura half turned to face him, and smirked at his frustrated expression.

"Jealous of something, Ash?"

"Hmm?" Misty turned to look at him, too.

Ash's chest constricted. Him? Jealous? Of what? Absolutely not! Why should he—?

Ash turned sharply and stormed off into the Pattern Bush without another word, fighting to ignore the growing heat across his face.

Aura and Pikachu exchanged amused smiles. They went in after the teenager.

"Huh?" Misty tilted her head. "What's his problem?"

"Come on," Nyx chuckled, "before they get much further ahead of us."

Why should I be jealous? Ash thought to himself. I'm not. I don't care. The image of her confused expression at his frustration came unbidden into his mind. Ash rubbed at his nose. I don't.

"Whada we do now?" Meowth asked, sitting cross-legged in front of the campfire.

"I'm not sure," Jessie admitted, holding a stick with a few pieces of skewered food over the flames.

"Why don't we go where the Boss kid told us to go?" James suggested. "He seemed convinced that we'd be safe there, at least. I mean, we are criminals, but without the money from the Team, pulling off any new heists will be… difficult."

"I highly doubt they'd give us a warm welcome, not after what we've done there."

"Well, what else are we suppose ta do?" Meowth asked. "We should at least try, right? I mean, if da Li'l Boss said she'd take us in, den maybe she would."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Jessie glared at him.

"Not really, but Jimmy's right; we should at least try."

They looked up at the sky.

"Why was he so determined to have us leave the Team, anyway?" James asked. "Do you think he knew something we didn't?"

"It doesn't matter," Jessie said. "If this doesn't work out, I'm going to track that little punk down and pummel him myself."

A piece of food slipped off of the stick and fell into the hungry flames below, snapping and crackling as it burned to cinders.

"Damn it!" Aura hissed. "Way to go, Chosen One!"

"Oh, shut up," Ash grumbled, as he fumbled for a Pokéball off of his belt.

They were all huddled around a tree, backed up as close to it as possible, watching as a swarm of very angry Beedrill and Combee flew around them in large circles.

"Bugs," Misty muttered to herself. "Bugsbugsbugsbugs…."

Nyx leapt in front of her, glaring at the passing Bug types.

"Ash!" He yelled. "Do something!"

"Quilava!" He tossed the 'ball. "Give us a hand! Flamethrower!"

"LAVA!" The Fire Pokémon yelled as it materialized in a burst of light, spewing flames at the circling Beedrill.

"To hell with it," Aura growled, before letting out her own purple flames in a Dragon Pulse attack.

A large, yellow blur smacked into Aura, knocking the Lucario to the ground with a loud bark. The blur stopped, revealing its identity as a rather large Vespiquen. She turned, looking at Misty. The Water Trainer's eyes widened even further.

Ash took a large step to the side, placing himself between the Bug Pokémon and his best friend. Placing his back rather close against said friend.

"Ash?" Misty breathed.

"Stop!" The Vespiquen said firmly. "Leave us!"

The Beedrill and Combee all stopped flying around, buzzing off into the trees and shrubs, away from Ash and the others.

"I apologize for my kin's aggressive swarming," the Vespiquen continued. "But, Chosen One, you are awfully close to our nest."

"How…how did you know I was the Chosen One?"

"I have been hearing your conversations since you came within earshot of the Bush. Anything my fellow Bugs hear, I also shall know. I am Hera, the Sage of the Insect Temple." Her eyes glowed, and the tree they were all surrounding trembled.

They all leapt away from it, turning as they did to face it. Misty bumped against Ash's chest—hard—causing him to jerk back sharply, as if he'd been burnt.

The tree slid across the ground, revealing it to be fake, concealing a large hole in the ground.

"You'll not be able to fit through most entrances to the Temple," Hera said. "We do not wish to waste time and have our workflow disrupted any longer than it must be, so I must insist you enter in this back passage."

"You're pushy," Aura said.

"I have a lot of workers and work to get done on a daily basis," Hera explained. "While your quest is important, and the Chosen One must take his Test for it, our lives cannot be put on hold, not even for him."

"That's understandable," Ash said, recalling Quilava.

"Well, then!" Nyx grinned, grabbing Jerzy in his mouth. "Le'th go!" He leapt down the hole, forgoing the built-in ladder entirely. Pikachu quickly followed after him.

Ash looked at Misty, who stood rooted to the spot, eyes fixed on the hole in terror. Ash frowned slightly.

She's terrified of Bugs. This is a Temple filled with them. Bugs.

"Aura?" Ash turned to the Lucario.

"What, Chosen Dolt?" Aura sounded uninterested, standing near the hole and gazing down into it.

Ash exhaled, trying to ignore the insult. "Would you be willing to do me a huge favor?"

"I wouldn't count on it, but go ahead and ask."

"Would you go with Misty back to town?" He asked. "You guys can spend the night there; we'll come back for you when we're done."

Aura and Misty both turned to stare at him.

"What?" Misty breathed.

"You don't have to do this for me."

Aura tilted her head at him, while Misty's eyes widened further.

"What did you say?" The Lucario said in an almost flat tone.

"Please take Misty back into town for the night," Ash repeated. "I know this isn't exactly thrilling for her, and I'm not going to ask her to force herself to do something that bothers her so much. She… she doesn't have to do this for me."

Aura nodded slowly, trying to force herself to ignore the swelling of a long-forgotten emotion in her chest. The Lucario walked over to Misty, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Misty?" Aura started.

"Ash, I…" Misty finally found her voice. She turned to Aura. "I'll need your help… to get down into the tunnel."

Ash and Aura started in surprise.

"You… you said what." Ash stared at her.

"Aura?" Misty ignored him.

Aura gave her an odd, almost sad look before nodding again with a small smile.

"Of course."

They walked over to the tunnel entry, and the Lucario helped the teenage girl into the darkness. The redhead managed to find her grip on the almost invisible ladder rungs, and climbed down into the passage to the Temple.

"Come on, Chosen One," Aura said softly, extending a hand in his direction. "You, too."

"What?"

"You are going in, aren't you?" She asked. After he nodded, she motioned her hand for him again. "Well, come on, then. You're wasting time."

Ash tilted his head in mild confusion for a moment, before walking up to her and accepting her outstretched hand. She helped him down into the tunnel after the others. When he was out of sight, Aura allowed herself a silent sigh. She looked over to the Sage.

"I will be taking a different entrance," Hera answered the Lucario's unspoken question. "You may go on ahead; I shall be sealing the entrance shut once more."

Aura sat down on the edge of the tunnel, her feet dangling into the darkness.

"I… I just need a moment." She buried her face in her hands. How… how could they be so much alike, where and when it truly matters most? And why now? Why is he choosing now to… to grow up? Aura inhaled slowly, exhaling in a quick burst. "Okay. I'm good for now." She clenched onto the ladder beneath her.

Aura threw herself silently down into the tunnel, disappearing into the darkness.