Chapter 32 – Saving Sylveon

Serena had never seen anything like it. She and Fennekin were watching Ash train his pokemon. She hadn't realized how dedicated he was.

This was the first intense training session for Axew and Zorua. And they were certainly being put through their paces. They were working on Axew's draco meteor. Axew would launch the attack into the air and Ash, Pikachu, Snivy, Osahwott and Zorua would try to dodge the falling meteors. The first to reach and pin Axew would win. If they were hit they were out.

"AXXEEWWW."

Axew fired another attack into the air and meteors rained down. There were more than ever before this time, which meant the attack was getting stronger. All five of them ran at Axew dodging the falling rocks.

"Pi Pi Pi Pi."

Pikachu managed to dodge the falling meteors with considerable ease.

"Your not getting there this time cutie," said Zorua who was right on Pikachu's tail.

They dived, leapt and darted side to side to avoid the falling rocks. They darted to avoid Ash who tripped as they came past him. Serena winced as he was hit by several meteors.

Zorua and Axew both managed to avoid the remainder of the meteors and tacked Axew at the same time.

"Hey no fair," said Axew. "One at a time,"

"Your getting really good," said Pikachu. "Your draco meteor is so much stronger now. And Zorua your getting faster."

Ash slowly got onto his knees.

"Well done guys," he said. "that was really great."

"Ash are you alright," said Serena.

"Yeah I'm fine," he replied.

Serena looked him up and down. He a few little cuts along his arms and face but other than that was fine.

The five pokemon all came over and hugged him putting a big smile on his face.

"You guys are so good," he said.

Following this they worked on target practice. With Ash as the target. The object was to hit Ash before he could get at the pokemon.

"Gotcha," he said pining Oshawott to the ground who had just missed with hydrocannon. "Ya just need to move a little faster Oshawott. Okay Axew it's your turn."

Axew moved forward to take his turn

"Hey Axew here's a tip," said Pikachu. "distract him."

Ash took a run at Axew. Axew fired draco meteor into the air forcing Ash to dodge the attack. He then used Dragon rage hitting Ash straight in the chest.

"Well done Axew," he said as he fell over.

"Are you okay," said Axew concerned.

"Fine," said Ash.

"Don't kill our trainer," said Zorua laughing.

Serena just stared in disbelief. She had never seen anyone train their pokemon the way Ash did. Ash seemed to do most of the work with them. He would run with them, allow them to attack him and wrestle with them. He was certainly athletic. But more than that it was bond that he shared with them that got Serena more than anything. Her mother focused on strength and would punish pokemon for their lack of it. Ash seemed determined to bring out the strength of his pokemon through friendship and they all had great respect for him.

Following the training session went to the battle club's pool for a swim and to cool off. The battle club had an outdoor pool and several deck chairs. This provided a space for trainers to train and play with water pokemon and to relax. One end of the pool had been roped off into a special water battlefield.

Ash, Pikachu, Oshawott, Axew and Zorua where all in the pool along with Cameron and Serena. Lucario, Snivy and Fennekin had chosen to remain dry. Zorua had taken the form of a Vaporeon and Axew was sitting on his back.

They were playing with a large beach ball that resembled a Pokeball. The aim was to bat the ball into the air and not let it touch the water.

"Quick get it," said Pikachu as the ball, which had just been hit by Cameron fell towards the water. Zorua swam towards it and it bounced on Axew's head rising into the air and then beginning to fall. Ash swam towards it but Pikachu was faster swimming over and batting it with his paw. Pikachu loved swimming. He loved the cool of the water in his fur. He loved paddling and he loved the refreshed feeling it gave him. Not that this pool would make him feel like that. There was way too much chlorine in it. In fact he suspected it would make his skin itch.

"Hey I've got it," said Cameron as he hit the ball back into the air seconds before it landed in the water.

"My turn." Oshawott didn't try to bat the ball with his paw. Instead he used water gun causing it shoot into the air. It arched over the pool and began to fall landing on Snivy who was lying in the sun on a deck chair.

"Hey watch it," she said picking it up in her vines and throwing back to the pool.

"Hey I know," said Ash. "Let's play dive for Oshawotts schalchop. Oshawott you throw your schalchop to the bottom of the pool and who ever gets to it first wins."

Oshawott threw the shell like object up. It hit the water with a splash and sank to the bottom.

"Okay dive," said Ash diving into the water.

"Ready Axew," said Zorua.

"Ready for what," Axew replied before realizing what was about to happen. "No. Wait. NOOOO"

he dived underwater taking Axew with him. In Vaporeaon form he could glide through the water easily and swam easily past pikachu and Ash until it was only between him and Oshawott. With a thrust of his tail he over shot Oshawott allowing Axew to grab the Schalchop. They rose to the surface.

"NEVER DO THAT AGAIN," said Axew as he took a deep breath.

"Or else," said Zorua. "what will you do."

The game continued to play this for a while until Ash, Cameron and Serena noticed their fingers had swollen from the chorine, Pikachu and Oshawott were feeling itchy, and Axew had had enough of being dragged underwater.

Ash set his towel on a deck chair and laid down allowing the sun to dry him. Pikachu looked at him happily. Another thing he loved about swimming. Pikapi usually swam shirtless. Pikachu jumped onto his chest and laid down on it rubbing his cheek against him breathing in his wonderful scent and enjoying the salty taste of his skin. Ash smiled enjoying the feel of Pikachu's fur against his bare chest. He gently wrapped his arms around the mouse pressing him deeper into his chest bring a smile to Pikachu's face.

The other Pokemon were sitting with Snivy on the adjacent deck chair. Snivy watched the two together rolling her eyes. She mouthed the words 'Get a room,' at Pikachu.

"Don't forget your protection Pika," snicked Zorua softly so only the pokemon could hear him. "what is protection anyway."

"I think it's sweet," said Axew giggling.

Pikachu simply smirked and retaliated by making a rude gesture with his paws. The pokemon all laughed at this. All except Oshawott. He just glared jealously. He longed to be the one lying there against Ash's smooth chest being hugged like a child's teddy bear.

"Pikachu gets all the affection," he muttered to himself. "not fair." He sat there pouting.

Pikachu lay against Ash's chest enjoying just being with Ash and the warmth of the sun drying his fur. He closed his eyes and drifted into a pleasant sleep. Ash had also fallen asleep.

Oshawott continued to glare at him. Then he got an idea. He got up and walked inside the building. He found what he was looking for. A water cooler and a set of plastic cups and bowls.

"Perfect," he grinned to himself. He jumped up onto the cooler and picked up one of the cups, then managed to fill it with ice cold water. Then he carefully lowered himself and the cup to the floor, and carried it to the seat where Ash and Pikachu were.

He clambered onto the chair careful not wake trainer or pokemon and lifted the cup up. Being extremely careful not to wake Pikachu, he lifted one of his front paws and lowered it into the cup.

"Pikmm."

Pikachu made a small grunting sound.

"It's working," Oshawott whispered gleefully. A small wet patch had appeared in the fur between Pikachu's back legs. This grew and soon a puddle of yellow was beginning to spill onto Ash's chest.

Oshawott laughed. "I can't believe that worked.. hahah." He was laughing so hard he fell off the deck chair.

Pikachu woke with a start feeling his urine soaked fur. "PIKA." This woke Ash up.

"Huh Pikachu." He looked at the mess. "OH YUCK."

Pikachu stood up looking sad and confused. "Oh Ash. I'm so sorry. I don't know what.." he could see the Snivy, Axew and Zorua all looking at him.

Oshawott meanwhile was rolling on the floor laughing his head off.

"What's so funny," said Pikachu.

"Hahahaha. You wet yourself." He wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. "Pikachu wet himself."

"It's not funny," said Pikachu. "Ash I'm so sorry. I don't know how it happened." Pikachu felt embarrassed and humiliated. He looked as if he was going to cry.

"It's okay buddy," said Ash. "What do ya say we go wash up."

[Pokemon]

Santalune forest was again silent and peaceful under the bright silvery light of the moon. There was not a sound to be heard. The only ones awake were Ash and Pikachu making their way along the path. They were alone together. A nighttime romantic stroll.

Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder sniffing at the air. The scents in the air told him of the different pokemon who lived there. He could tell the forest was home to several Pikachu, although by this time they would almost certainly be asleep by this hour.

"See. I told you you'd like this place," said Ash.

"It's lovely Ash." Pikachu rubbed his cheek against Ash's affectionately. This is what he really liked.

They reached a grassy clearing where Ash took off his back pack. Pikachu jumped off his shoulder as he opened the bag and took out a blanket and spread it over the ground. The pair lay down on the blanket together and looked up at the moon.

"Beautiful isn't it buddy," said Ash.

"Yeah," said Pikachu. "It's just like the night you first told me how you felt. Remember under Mt. Moon."

"I remember," said Ash.

Pikachu was lying close to Ash's head. So close his cheek was pressed up against it belly. Ash enjoyed the warm feel of his fur against his face. "It's so great your always there for me Pikachu. I love you."

Pikachu purred at these words.

"Hey you hungry." Ash sat up and reached into the bag and pulled out a little bag of berries and set them on the mat.

Pikachu's eyes lit up at the sight of them. After apples berries were his favourite treat. He picked one up and put it in his mouth, savouring the sweet flavour.

After they had finished eating the berries they laid back down. Pikachu stared up at the moon. He had always loved the moon. It was so bright and mysterious. In their natural habitat Pikachu would often gather in groups underneath the moon and chant together.

And so Pikachu got up and crawled onto Ash's chest and started to sing at the celestial object.

"Pika Pika Pikachu Pi. Pika Pika Pikachu Pi. Pi Pi Pi Pi Pika Pika. Pika Pikachu Pi"

Ash gently sat up causing him to fall into his lap. Pikachu looked up into his face, then he sat up and pressed his mouth against Ash's lips.

Ash closed his eyes as he sank into the kiss. He placed his right hand on pikachu's back and gently rubbed it as he let his tounge dance with Pikachu's.

Pikachu's ears folded back as he relaxed into the kiss. It was their first proper kiss since arriving in the region. For the moment that their lips were together nothing else mattered. Not Zekrom. Not Trip. Nothing.

Without warning Ash Pushed Pikachu off his lap and onto his back. Pikachu opened his eyes to see his trainer on all fours kneeling over him and pinning him to the ground.

"Piii." Before Pikachu could say anything they were kissing again, more passionately than before.

'This is amazing,' though Pikachu. 'it's like I'm floating on a cloud with Pikapi. Oh Arceus don't let this moment die.'

Ash gently caressed Pikachu's body with one hand, feeling his way down from his chest to his hind legs and tail.

Pikachu needed air. He broke the kiss turning his eye to take a deep breath of the cool night air. Ash continued to place kisses on his face and chest, trailing down his body. Pikachu grew brave and begun undoing the buttons on Ash's shirt.

"Pi-Pikachu," said Ash. "We're in a forest."

"So," said Pikachu. "Where do you think wild pokemon do it. We don't have bedrooms and burrows are usually too small."

Ash allowed Pikachu to undo the buttons before slipping the shirt off. The night air was cool against his skin. He continued his kissing of Pikachu until noticing a small pink rod poking out from between his legs.

Pikachu let out a soft "Kaachuu," as he felt his most sensitive area inside his trainer's mouth. He squirmed and gripped Ash's hair as Ash's ministrations drove him mad.

"Ash..Sstop..i'm gonna." He felt a powerful wave of pleasure overcome him as he released his seed. He fell back panting.

Ash looked up at him…

"Your so cute," he said looking at Pikachu lying on his back, face flushed and gasping for air. He kissed Pikachu again. The mouse could taste himself on Ash's tongue.

"I love you Pikapi."

"I love you too Pikachu."

Pikachu snuggled up against Ash's bear chest as Ash wrapped the blanket around him and together they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms and each others love.

[Pokemon]

The truck made it's way along the dark highway. It was a modern Scania R470 flat nosed truck pulling a box semi-trailer. If one checked the registration, they wound find it owned by a company called Peliper logistics Pty Ltd. No such company existed, it was merely a cover through which Team Flare were able to operate when they needed to transport goods.

Two grunts in their bright red suits sat in the drivers compartment, a man and a woman. The woman was driving. They were making good progress. Their journey had started far to the east near Geosenge Town earlier that evening, and they were now approaching the south tunnel that would take them into Lumiose City. There was nobody else on the road, which was just as well considering it was doing over double the legal speed limit.

"You should slow down," said the male grunt. "We can't take any risk with out precious cargo."

"Relax," replied the woman. "My driving skills are first class."

"I still think you should slow down. If the cops pull us up it's mission over. I ain't too keen to be trading this stylish suit for prison overalls."

"It's 3am," said the woman. "What coppers are gonna be out at this time."

Inside the semi-trailer was a Sylveon. 'How has it come to this,' She thought gloomily. There had been rumors among the Pokémon of a group of people who had taken Pokémon away never to be heard from again, but Sylveon had never expected it to be her.

She had been with her friend, a flareon in the flowers when they had been approached by two team flare grunts. They had sent out Serviper and Liepard. Flareon had tried to protect her but…to no avail. The two pokemon had overcome her and she had eventually been killed. Now poor Sylveon didn't know what would happen to her but he was sure it wouldn't be good.

The semi-trailer was dark. There was nothing there but him. attacks were useless. He wasn't strong enough to break the steel. He laid down and out his head between his paws, single tear forming in his eye. In the cab the grunts become aware of two flashing light in the side mirror.

"Well you could try them," said the man angrily. Sure enough the lights were none other than the red and blue of a police car. "I told you to stick to the limit."

"There not cops," said the woman. "They've got Team Draconian. We need to take care of this."

She took her foot off the gas pedal and the truck begun to slow down. It moved the side of the road before slowing to a complete stop. The police car pulled up behind it.

"Be ready for battle," said the woman opening the door.

"Right," said the man.

They stepped out of the truck where two people, a man and a woman were stood wearing police uniforms.

The female officer spoke first. "Are you aware that you were doing over double the legal speed limit for this stretch of road." She had long golden hair and spoke in a high girlish voice.

"I'm afraid we're gonna need to inspect your trailer," said the man standing next to her. He had short green hair and spoke in a deep gravelling voice.

The female Flare grunt smirked. "Good evening to you as well." She took out a pokeball. "You won't mind if I don't call you officer it just I don't do role play. Let's all just be honest."

"We're in a bit of hurry," said her partner. "If you don't mind can we cut the bullshit. Tell us who you are."

The female officer smiled. "The fashion freaks want to know who we are butch."

"Well let's tell them," the man named butch said. "Prepare for trouble and make it double."

The pair pulled off the police officer's uniform to reveal black outfits with a large red R on the shirt.

"To infect the world with devastation," said the woman.

"To blight the people in every nation," said Butch.

"To denounce the goodness of truth and love."

"To extend out wrath to the stars above."

"Cassidy," said the golden haired woman.

"and butch," added her partner.

"We're Team Rocket," said Cassidy, "Circling Earth all day and night."

"Surrender now or you will surely lose the fight," said butch completing the motto.

The two members of Team Flare stared at them.

"Team Rocket," said the woman.

"You ruined our operation at the powerplant," said the man. "What do you want."

"I don't know anything about a powerplant," said Cassidy. "But I think you know what we want."

"Yeah," said butch. "You should probably give it to us. You wouldn't want to ruin your nice suits would you." They were both taking pokeballs off their belts.

"Go Sableye." Cassidy threw her pokeball into the air just as butch did the same.

"Go Mightyena."

A small purple ghost type with diamonds for eyes, and black wolf like creature appeared infront of the two rockets ready for battle. The Flare grunts were quick to respond sending out a Serviper and a Liepard.

"Sableye shadow ball," commanded Cassidy.

"Use your shadow ball to counter liepard," responded the male flare grunt.

The two attacks collided and exploded in a cloud of dust. The female grunt used the opportunity to attack

"Serviper bite."

Serviper lurched forward towards mightyena but butch was ready for it

"Mightyena dodge iron tail."

Iron tail struck serviper knocking it against the truck. Liepard came to it's assistance attacking with a another shadow ball.

"Sableye dodge and use focus punch."

Sableye moved quickly darting out the way of the oncoming attack before striking liepard right in the face. The cat like Pokémon was knocked off its feet and came to land on it's side near serviper.

"Mightyena hyper beam," shouted butch.

Mightyena opned it's mouth. A bright ball of energy appeared between it's jaws.

"Dodge it," the two flare grunts commanded their Pokémon . Both Serviper and Liepard were able to get up and move out of the way just as mightyena unleased it's powerful attack. The hyperbeam hit the side of the truck blowing it open. When the dust cleared there was a massive hole in the side of the trailer.

Sylveon's moment had come at last. It dashed out the hole and onto the road.

"Hey it's getting away," said the female grunt. "Serviper stop it."

Serviper reared infront of it bearings it's two massive fangs.

"Sableye fury swipes."

Sableye jumped at Servipers head scratching at it's eyes. Sylveon used this opportunity to make a break for it running into the bushes at the side of the road.

[Pokemon]

Ash awoke to the feel of Pikachu pawing his face.

"Pikapi wake up."

He slowly opened his eyes. he felt groggy. It was still dark and the moon was in relatively the same position above them it had been when they had fallen asleep. They could not have been asleep for more than 40minutes.

"What is it Pikachu," he said sleepily.

"I heard something," said the mouse.

Ash looked at him nestled against his chest. He only had one eye open.

"It's probably nothing. Go back to sleep buddy."

He pressed Pikachu closer to his chest hoping the rhythmic beating of his heart and warmth of his body would send his boyfriend back to sleep. No such luck. Pikachu wriggled out of his arms and crawled onto his face.

"No I defiantly heard something."

"Are you sure you didn't dream it," Ash said reaching up and pulling Pikachu back against his chest. The minute Pikachu was back in the warm envelope of Ash's arm listening to the lullaby that was his heart beat he felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him.

"Ash. Seriously. Get up or I'm gonna shock ya."

"Alight, Alight."

Ash threw the blanket off them felling the sting of the cold night air against his skin. He sat up and pulled his shirt and jacket back on. He slowly got to his feet.

"Where are these voices."

"Over there," said Pikachu pointing.

"Alright lets go have a look. Show me where."

They walked a little way into the forest before it happened.

Something pink shot out a bush and stopped. It was a quadruped creature with covered primarily in pale cream-colored fur with pinkish feet, ears, and tail. There are two bows on it, one on its left ear and one around its neck, from which two feelers adorn it. He scanned it with his pokedex.

Sylveon. Sylveon, the Intertwinning Pokémon. It sends a soothing aura from its ribbonlike feelers to calm fights, and wraps its then around the arm of its beloved Trainer and walks with him or her

"Hey there," said Ash.

"Pi pi kachu," said Pikachu.

The Sylveon looked at up at Ash in fright and backed away slowly. It was scarred but too exhausted to run. There was a purple tinge appearing on its face. It had been poisoned.

"Maybe I should talk to it," said Pikachu. "You stay back."

"Good idea," said Ash.

Pikachu crept forward toward Sylveon.

"Hey," he said gently. "It's okay. We're friendly. We're not going to hurt you."

"Sly-Sylveon," said the pink pokemon. it took a step backwards. Pikachu noticed a small wound on it's side.

"May I take a look," said Pikachu pointing at it's side.

"sly-sly."

"STOP RIGHT THERE"

Suddenly a man wearing a bright red suit stepped out from behind a tree. Ash and Pikachu both noticed the Team Flare insigna, the fiery F on his belt.

"I remember you. You're the one who foiled our powerplant scheme."

"Team Flare," said Ash angrily. "What do you want."

"Pikaaaa." Pikachu growled at the man bearing his teeth.

"Get away from that Sylveon."

"Why should I," said Pikachu. "What do you want with it."

"Experiments. That Sylveon is a very powerful pokemon. We need it for our plan. EERRR forget I said that."

"What experiments," said Ash. "How cruel can you get."

"What would you know you little punk. I'll show you. Get em Toxicroak."

He raised one arm above his head bending at the elbow while sticking the other infront of his chest in some sort of pose. Then he threw the pokeball and a Toxicroak materialized.

"Use poison jab."

"Pikachu use thunderbolt."

Toxicroak ran at Pikachu brandishing the long claws on the end of it's hands coated in poison.

Pikachu hit it with thunderbolt before it could even get close.

"Toxiiii." It squeeled in pain then threw off the attack. "TOXICROAK"

"Toxicroack use sludge bomb."

Toxicroak fired a glob of brown sludge from its mouth that hit Pikachu in the face.

"Pikachu nooo." Ash looked at Pikachu. A purple hue had appeared on its face similar to Sylveons.

"Ha. The rat is poisoned," laughed the Team Flare grunt. "Okay toxicroak use Posion jab."

"Pikachu volt tackle."

Pikachu ran at Toxicroak his body surrounded by golden electricity. He slamed strait into toxicroak chest discharging the electricity.

Toxicroak howled in pain and begun jabbing at every inch of Pikachu he could get at with this claw.

"Let him have it Pikachu."

Pikachu let off a powerful thunderbolt. Toxicroak's body seized up and it stopped jabbing Pikachu. next Pikachu hit him with a powerful iron tail. Toxicroak keeled over and fainted with Pikachu standing on his chest.

"Pika."

"Great work buddy."

"Pikapi." Pikachu ran back to Ash.

"you may have beaten me but when I loose I go out in style," said the grunt returning toxicroak to it's pokeball. "What are you like some kind of trainer prodigy or something."

"Maybe I am," said Ash. "But if you don't get out of here right now I'll have Pikachu put more volts through you than that power plant. Right buddy."

"Pika Pika," agreed Pikachu his cheeks sparking.

"Alright," said the grunt. "But you haven't see the last of me."

He turned tail and ran.

Ash took a look at Pikachu. "Are you okay buddy."

"I'm alright," said Pikachu. He was a little battered from the attack but otherwise unharmed..

"You-You saved my life," said Sylveon.

Ash looked at it. It was short of breath and seemed to struggle to fill it's lungs with air.

"T-tth sly." It collapsed on the ground and it's breathing became irregular.

"Oh no," said Ash.

"We have to get it to a pokemon centre," said Pikachu.

Ash went over to towards Sylveon only to hear it give a short cry of fear.

"It's okay," Ash said Gently. "I won't hurt you."

Sylveon used what little strength it had still remaining to back away from Ash. He turned to Pikachu. "Pikachu maybe you should try."

Pikachu nodded and carefully approached Sylveon.

"Hey. It's alright. He won't hurt you. My name's Pikachu and this is my trainer Ash."

Pikachu licked Sylveon's ear. This calmed it down.

"Where does it hurt," said Pikachu.

"In my side," said Sylveon. It spoke in an effeminate voice which told Pikachu she was female. He took a look at her side. There was a deep cut there with a purple hue.

"I think you've been poisoned," said Pikachu. "You need medical attention. Let me take you to the pokemon centre."

Sylveon nodded. Pikachu beckoned Ash over. He came over and picked Sylveon up and holding it in its arms. Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder. "Hold on buddy."

He ran off back up the path towards Santalune City.

[pokemon]

"Ash. Where have you and Pikachu been…It's 3 am…What the."

Serena and Cameron had been waiting for them when they returned to the Pokemon centre. Ash had told her that he wanted to take Pikachu for a walk. A romantic nighttime stroll earlier that evening and had left the pokemon centre around 8pm.

She was annoyed and was slightly they had been gone for so long. However these emotions quickly faded when she saw the injured Sylveon in his arms and exhausted Pikachu on his shoulder.

"See I told you they'd be…" begun Cameron before noticing Sylveon. "What happened."

Ash ran into the Pokemon centre and came to a stop infront of his two friends panting heavily. "Someone get nurse Joy," was all he could say.

"Excuse me your making a lot of noise. May I remind you this is a hospital." Nurse Joy had appeared, wearing a night gown and a scowl. "I have patients who are trying to sleep and they…OH MY GOODNESS WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE," she said upon seeing Sylveon.

"She's been badly poisoned," said Ash. "It was a toxicroak. And Pikachu needs help to."

Nurse Joy's assistant Wigglytuff produced a small stretcher on which Ash gently placed the injured Sylveon.

"You too buddy," he said to Pikachu. The mouse hopped down off his shoulder and onto the stretcher. He looked terrible. There was a definite purple spot between his eyes to indicate the poisoning and a trickle of blood was running where toxicroak had stabbed him.

"You did great buddy. I'm so proud of you," said Ash as he gave Pikachu a little kiss and scathed under his chin. "I love you."

Pikachu gave him a weak smile. "I love you too. Thanks Ash."

Wigglytuff took the stretcher away.

"So what happened," said Cameron. "Where did you find that pokemon. I've never see a pokemon like that before." He begun searching through his Pokedex for Sylveon's information.

"It's called a Sylveon," said Serena. "I've never seen one before."

"Generally they don't appear in the wild because they evolve from eevee with friendship," said Nurse Joy. "That makes me wonder…Ash could you tell me exactly what happened."

Ash told them about going into the forest, falling asleep and then finding Sylveon being chased by the Team Flare grunt and the following battle. He left out the more intimate parts though.

"Hmmmm…It makes sense. It's most likely this Sylveon is a trainers and it was stolen."

"Stolen," said Ash, Serena and Cameron together.

"Yes," said Nurse Joy darkly. "Fairy types are highly sought after because they're strong and rare. On the black market they could fetch quite a price."

"That's awful," said Ash. "Hurting pokemon to make a quick buck."

'but that's not right,' said a voice in his head. 'didn't that guy say something about experiments..' Ash put the matter out of his head. It didn't matter right now.

Pikachu didn't take long to recover. No more than 15 minutes after Ash had placed him on the stretcher he heard the jingle that told him he was healed. Nurse Joy showed him into the room where he had been taken to recover.

Pikachu and Sylveon were sitting together on a workbench. Pikachu was looking a lot better but Sylveon still looked weak. The two of them were talking when Ash entered the room.

"Hey buddy," said Ash Giving Pikachu a big hug. "Glad to see you all better."

"Pikapi." Pikachu wrapped his arms as far around Ash's neck as they would go and gave him a little lick on the nose. He then jumped out of Ash's arms and landed next to Sylveon.

"Sylveon this is my partner Ash."

"Hey Sylveon," said Ash. "How are you feeling."

"Better," said Sylveon. "Thanks."

"She's just been telling me about herself," said Pikachu. "She comes from a clan of Eevee and eevelutions near the coast. But she was separated from her family by Team Flare."

Sylveon gave a little sniff. There was a tear welling up in her eye. Pikachu patted her gently on the leg.

"Sniff. Those people in the red attacked while I was with my friend, Flareon. And and…" she started to cry quite heavily now.

Pikachu looked sadly at her then whispered to Ash. "They killed her friend. They were out together and two grunts came up to them. Flareon tried to protect her but..."

Sylveon started to cry more heavily now.

"that's terrible," said Ash. He could feel a stir of anger brewing inside him. So Team Flare killed pokemon. Actually murdered them. And this was the organisation Misty had chosen to become a member of. All those time they had fought Team Rocket and now she had joined an organisation that seemed even more ruthless.

"They forced me into a truck. Sniff," said Sylveon. Somehow I managed to get out, but one of them caught up with me and. Well that's when you found me."

"What should we do," Pikachu muttered to Ash.

"We have to help her," said Ash. "I think we should take her with us. It's possible Team Flare might come back for her."

Pikachu looked at Ash thoughtfully for a moment then turned back to Sylveon."Do you have any problem with humans and pokemon having relationships."

"No," replied Sylveon. "Why."

"Well Ash and I are together," replied Pikachu. "If you have no problem with it. Then you should come with us."

Sylveon's eyes lit up "Really."

"I think it would be best," said Ash holding out a pokeball. Sylveon touched it with her nose and was sucked inside.

"Looks like we caught a Sylyveon," said Ash. "Hahaha."

He performed the pose he usually took when capturing a pokemon or winning a badge, holding the pokeball out infront of him. Pikachu jumped joyfully onto his shoulder shouting "Pikachupi."

[Pokemon]

"Guys. I want you to meet Sylveon."

Ash and Pikachu decided to introduce Sylveon to the rest of the team before heading to the gym and so gone outside the pokemon centre and let Snivy, Oshawott, Zorua and Axew out of their pokeballs.

"Hi," said the intertwining pokemon. "I'm Sylveon. It's nice to meet you."

"This is Axew," said pikachu introducing Sylveon to the tusk pokemon

"I'm Axew," said Axew. "And this is Zorua."

"Hey," said Zorua.

Sylveon extended her feelers to shake paws with them both.

"And Oshawott."

"OSHAWOTT." Upon seeing Sylveon the sea otter pokemon did a double take. "Sylveon. That's such a lovely name. Will you go out with me. Osha Osha."

"That's Osahwott," laughed Ash. Pikachu smirked.

"Errrr." Sylveon blushed at the otter's shameless flirting. "Hi. It's nice to meet youuu."

"Don't mind him," said Pikachu. "He's a nice guy. You just need to get used to him."

Oshawott glared at Pikachu.

"I don't really date guys," murmured Sylveon. She turned to great. "Hey."

"Hi," said Snivy extending a vine to shake Sylveon's feeler. "Nice to meet you. It'll be nice to have another girl on the team."

"Well. You look like you could use more girl power," said Sylveon looking around at the other male members of the team.

"Well it's great to have you onboard," said Ash. "Together we're going to win the Kalos league."

"I can't wait," said Sylveon.