Chapter 28: A Confession
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon nor did I make Pokemon Reborn
Ash is lying on the bed in the medical room at Apophyll Academy, with a machine going beep, beep, beep as it tracked his heart rate.
Soon Ash's eyes started to flutter slowly until they opened, "Arrrgghhh. Where . . . where I'm I?" Ash groaned as he sat up from the bed, looked around and saw he was in a wooden structure.
He turned and saw Victoria who is lying her head on the right side of Ash's bed fast alseep.
Victoria felt movement under her head, she turned and when she saw Ash awake, her eyes shot wide open and sat straight up while looking at him.
Ash turned to Victoria and smiled, "Hey Vicky." Ash greeted with a smile.
Victoria placed her hands over her mouth as tears flowed out of her eyes, pounced at him and engulfed him in a hug as she cried on his chest.
Ash flinched in pain, but he ignored it when he heard Victoria crying. Ash smiled and returned the hug.
After a bit the pair broke the hug and suddenly Victoria pushed her lips against his with her eyes closed.
Ash's eyes wide open and his while whole face turned red so much that steam is coming from the top of his head. After about 30 seconds, Victoria broke apart, slowly opened her eyes and looked to Ash who is still beat red and shocked.
Victoria still had tears flowing out of her eyes, "You idiot! D-do you have any idea how worried I was when you did that?! You . . . I thought you were going to die!" Victoria shouted as she gently pounded Ash's chest.
Ash didn't feel embarrassed anymore, frowned a bit and turned to the right, "I wasn't about to let the one person you look up to and see as a mother killed in front of you." Ash answered.
Victoria's eyes widen a bit when she heard that, turned to him as she stopped pounding his chest, she smiled warmly at him and with a small blush on her cheeks. She placed her right hand on Ash's, making Ash turn to her and saw her smiling.
"I really appreciate you considering my feelings Ash, I really do." Victoria thanked Ash.
Ash smiled until a thought came to him, "How long was I out?" Ash asked.
Victoria frowned, "You were out for two days." Victoria answered.
Ash nodded in response, until his eyes widen, "Wait! What happened at Pyrous Mountain?! Was the PULSE destroyed?! What happened to Solaris, Taka and Cal?!" Ash asked.
Victoria turned to a serious look, "The PULSE was destroyed causing Solaris and Taka to retreat and Cal left shortly after that." Victoria answered.
Ash sighed in relief, with his eyes closed. Suddenly he felt something strapped on his left shoulder, he turned to his left, pulled the sheets off his left arm and what he saw caused his eyes and mouth to wide open in shock.
It was a mechanical arm with his Z-Ring and a Key Stone attached to the wrist. The Key Stone is attached on the wrist while the Z-Ring is slightly lower, "Wh-what?" Ash whispered in shock, but loud enough for Victoria to hear
Victoria frowned with more tears coming from her eyes, "Solaris's Garchomp sliced your arm off, when you saved sensei and we couldn't find it. So, Ame called in some technical people and gave you that arm." Victoria explained in sadness.
Ash's mouth is still open, looked at the arm, before he closed it, lowered his eye lids and turned to Victoria, "Remind me to thank Ame when I see her again." Ash told Victoria making her nod in response.
"Who destroyed the PULSE?" Ash asked.
Victoria stared at Ash for a bit, "Your Infernape." Victoria answered a bit in fear.
Ash narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard the amount of fear in Victoria's answer, "What happened?" Ash asked not too seriously.
"You don't remember?" Victoria asked making Ash shake his head telling her 'No'.
Victoria stared at Ash as if she's trying to find the right words, "Solaris was about to order his Garchomp to finish you off, but Taka saw something making all of us turn and saw Infernape with a look that was like . . . it was like that he wanted to kill everyone and destroy everything around him." Victoria answered.
Ash was surprised but understood what caused that, "Ash what was that power?" Victoria asked.
Ash glanced down trying to find the right words, before he glanced at Victoria again, "That was Infernape's Blaze." Ash answered.
Victoria's eyes widen, "Blaze? I've seen Pokemon when Blaze is activated, but it nothing like that." Victoria replied.
Ash explained how when Infernape's Blaze is activated, Infernape freaks out even when he was a Chimchar, Monferno as well as Infernape and when he was finished, she was surprised to say the least.
"That really happened?" Victoria asked shocked.
Ash nodded, "Yeah, but during our battle against Volkner, I thought Infernape had mastered his power. But it seems that when Infernape saw me in that state must have made him snap." Ash explained.
Ash suddenly thought of something, "Where are my Pokemon?" Ash asked.
Victoria smiled, "They're fine, the Pokemon that were injured against the battle with Solaris have been healed, they're all back on their feet and Infernape has actually been training with Sensei." Victoria answered.
Ash nodded with a smile, as Victoria turned down slightly, "Ash." Victoria called out.
"Yeah?" Ash asked.
Victoria glanced at Ash, "You remember what I said about my feelings for you?" Victoria asked with a small blush.
Ash blushed a bit but nodded. Victoria turned down, "I did say that I had feelings for Cal, but after what happened on the mountain, I can't forgive him, so . . ." Victoria turned back to Ash, allowing Ash to see her face which has a blush.
"So . . . if you're willing. Will . . . will go out with me?!" Victoria asked with her eyes closed.
Ash blushed a healthy red. After what seemed like an eternity of silence even though it's been a minute.
Ash smiled, "It would be an honour to date you Victoria." Ash replied honestly making Victoria open her eyes, turned at Ash and saw him smiling.
Victoria smiled, "Thank you Ash." Victoria thanked.
The two leaned closer as they closed their eyes, "Aww, why can't I get a kiss?" A voice called out making Ash and Victoria shoot their eyes open, pulled away, turned and saw Cain leaning against the door frame who has a smirk on his face.
"C-Cain!?" Victoria shouted.
"H-how long have you b-been here?!" Ash asked.
"Ever since you started to explain Infernape's Blaze. Imagine my surprise when I saw Victoria confessing her love for you Ashy?" Cain asked in a dramatic tone as he raised his right arm above his head with his eyes closed.
Ash and Victoria blushed madly by that, "But all jokes aside." Cain continued in a serious expression as he opened his eyes and lowered his arm.
Ash and Victoria lost their blushed faces and saw Cain smiling, "I'm glad you're ok." Cain told Ash.
Ash smiled, "Thanks Cain." Ash replied.
Ash took the covers off and saw a massive cut running down from his left shoulder to the bottom of his right stomach and was stitched up.
Ash's eyes and mouth was widened when he saw this while Victoria and Cain frowned a bit.
Ash slowly made his way out of the bed with Victoria helping him, and he stood up.
He turned to his new left arm, "This may take a bit of getting used to." Ash explained.
"I can imagine." Cain replied.
Victoria and Cain walked out of the room. Leaving Ash alone to allow him to get changed into his clothes, but they are ruined, his shirt having a massive cut and his pants have holes in different areas on them.
"I'm gonna need new clothes." Ash thought to himself as he put his pants on.
Ash he was changing he thought about the battle he had with Solaris and how he overpowered him throughout the whole battle, "Solaris was so strong. No matter what we did, it wasn't good enough, we barely managed to beat his Tyranitar and he also countered everything we did." Ash thought to himself.
"We need to get stronger otherwise we'll never be able to beat Team Meteor." Ash continued out loud.
Suddenly he felt a presence behind him. He turned and saw Shade floating a few feet away from him, "Shade!" Ash shouted surprised to see the phantom but not loud enough for Victoria and Cain to hear.
"You . . . defied . . . destiny." Shade told Ash in the same demonic tone but a lot angrier than last time.
Ash narrowed his eyes, "I wasn't about to let Kiki get murdered in front of Victoria." Ash replied.
Shade didn't answer for a bit, "Don't defy destiny . . . a second time . . . if you do . . . consequences will be . . . worse." Shade explained as he put a more heavier tone on 'worse', before he disappeared into the shadows.
Ash narrowed his eyes, before he sighed and finished changing into his clothes.
Once he was done Victoria and Cain walked back inside. Victoria helped Ash by raising her right arm under Ash's shoulder and all three trainers walked outside.
When they were out of the Infirmary, they saw all of Ash's Pokemon standing or sitting on the battlefield.
When they all saw Ash, they all had tears in their eyes and Pikachu to him, leaped towards him, Ash caught him, and Pikachu hugged his best friend with tears coming from his eyes.
"Pika, pika, Pikachu!" Pikachu told Ash happily.
"I'm fine buddy." Ash replied to Pikachu.
Pikachu looked up to his best friend with tears still flowing from his eyes and nodded in response.
After a while Ash hugged all his Pokemon, he saw Infernape when he saw Ash, he looked down sad and mad at himself most likely.
Ash walked up to him, with Victoria still helping him, Infernape turned to him and saw him smiling, "It's fine Infernape. I would have done the same thing." Ash reassured him.
Infernape glanced to the side unconceived. He felt Ash's right hand on his forehead making Infernape glanced back at him.
"Infernape the fact that you got mad when you saw me nearly killed just proves that you care about me, I appreciate it and from now on we'll continue to battle together." Ash continued to reassure Infernape.
Infernape glanced around and saw all his fellow teammates smiling at him. Infernape glanced back at Ash and nodded his head with a smile of determination.
"It's nice to see you're okay Ash." A voice called out, making everyone turn and saw Kiki and Ame walking next to each other with a small black box under her armpit.
Ash, Victoria and Cain smiled, "Hey Kiki, Ame!" Ash replied.
The pair walked up to Ash, "Hey Ash, it's nice to your back on your feet." Ame told the Kanto Native Trainer with a smile.
Ash smiled in response, "Thanks Ame." Ash replied as Kiki walked up to Ash and Victoria slightly making them turn to her.
Kiki bowed slightly, "I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me. I should've listened to Victoria, but I didn't and because of my reckless decision you got hurt, I'm truly sorry." Kiki apologized.
Ash smiled, "It's fine Kiki. Your beach, your Academy and your students were in danger. I would have done the same thing. Victoria told me that you've been training Infernape, thank you." Ash replied.
Kiki raised her head and nodded, "I'm merely repaying me debt." Kiki replied.
Ash nodded as he turned to Ame, "Thanks for the new arm Ame." Ash thanked Ame.
Ame shook her head in response, "Don't worry about it. You saved a Gym Leader and a good friend of mine from death. It's the least I can do and so I decided to have your Z-Ring installed to it and a Key Stone as a bonus to it, but you'll have to find your own Mega Stones." Ame replied.
Ash nodded in response, "And here you go. One last gift." Ame handed Ash the black box that was under her armpit.
Ash took it with his right hand, he opened it and saw a new set of clothes.
Ash turned to Ame, "Well your old clothes got destroyed, so I got you a new set of clothes." Ame continued.
Ash nodded in response, "Thanks Ame." Ash thanked Ame making her nod in response.
Ash turned to Kiki, "Kiki I know you've been training Infernape, did you teach him the technique, because we still need to save those children." Ash explained.
Kiki nodded in response, "It's the least I can do, but it will take a lot more than teaching one of you Pokemon my technique to repay my debut." Kiki replied.
Ash turned to Victoria, before turning back to Kiki, "Then Kiki can you give me your permission to date Victoria." Ash requested surprising Ame, Kiki and making Victoria blush a bit.
Kiki turned to her apprentice surprised, "Is this true?" Kiki asked.
Victoria nodded in response, "Yes, sensei." Victoria answered with the blush on her cheeks still there.
Kiki turned back to Ash. After a bit of thinking, Kiki smiled, "Yes. You have my permission. I can only ask that you take care of her." Kiki answered.
Ash nodded in response, "You have my world. I will treat her with kindness and love." Ash replied making the blush Victoria must increase.
Kiki smiled, "I'm good. By the way here you go." Kiki extended her right hand that was facing upwards and her hand closed.
Once it was as far as she could stretch it, she opened her hand revealing a badge.
"You've pasted my test and exceed my expectations by showing me that you care for others more than yourself. So, I present you the Fury Badge." Kiki replied as she handed Ash the badge.
Ash smiled, "Thank Kiki." Ash thanked as he took the badge.
"I also saw that you have a Sneasel." Ame told Ash she turned to Ash's shiny Sneasel.
Ash nodded, "Yeah, he's been a great member of the team." Ash replied as he turned to Sneasel with a smile making Sneasel smile as well.
Ame walked towards Sneasel, she bent down to Sneasel level as she reached into her pocket, pulled her hand out revealing a Razor Claw in her right hand.
Sneasel stared at it with his eyes widen and turned to Ame, "Take it." Ame told Sneasel making Sneasel turn back to the item, took it from Ame and bowed in appreciation.
"What's that?" Ash asked.
Ame stood up and turned to Ash and Victoria, "That is a Razor Claw. It's an item that will allow Sneasel to evolve. My final gift to you." Ame replied.
Ash smiled and bowed, "Thank you Ame. I really appreciate it." Ash thanked Ame.
Ame shook her head, "Don't worry about it. As I said you saved a good friend of mine, I'm merely repaying you." Ame replied.
Ash nodded in response, "I'm gonna get changed." Ash told the group.
Cain walked up, "Yeah and then I'll meet you outside the gate, because you need to battle my sister." Cain told Ash.
Ash nodded in response, before Cain turned around, "Later, sweeties." Cain told everyone as he walked away.
Ash walked inside the Infirmary, got changed into his new clothes, he walked to a mirror and he looked pretty good. (Clothes from Decibel. Another playable character in Pokemon Reborn) He noticed that his machinal arm is concealed due to his shirt being long sleeved but not the hand part.
Ash sighed as he walked outside, he saw Victoria standing outside waiting for him with his and her Pikachu on both of her shoulders.
Ash's jumped from her onto his, "I'm good, to go." Ash returned all his Pokemon, returned all of them expect for six Poke Balls (Including Pikachu's)
Ash turned to Victoria, "What are you gonna do?" Ash asked Victoria.
Victoria smiled, "Sensei has allowed to travel with you and continue my journey as well." Victoria replied.
Ash was surprised by this, "But what about the academy?" Ash asked.
Victoria continued to smile, "You see Kiki is going to take Lucy to be the substitute head teacher until I return." Victoria answered.
Ash smiled, "I see. Well I'm glad that we can travel together." Ash replied.
Victoria nodded, "I know, but I'm going to support you, we'll battle together against Team Meteor and get closer to each other." Victoria replied with a small blush.
Ash smiled with a small blush as well and nodded in response, "Well then, let's get going." Ash replied as the pair walked out of the academy.
They walked towards the boat until, "VICKY!" A voice called out making the pair turn around and saw Lucy, Kiki and other students standing a few meters away from them.
"Good luck Vicky!" Lucy wished.
Victoria smiled, "Thank you!" Victoria replied.
"And don't worry! The Academy will be the same when you return!" Lucy told Victoria making her nod in response.
Kiki walked forwards a bit, "I wish you both the best of luck and may your strength and passion guide you to greatness." Kiki told the pair.
Ash, Victoria and both Pikachu nodded in response as they turned around and walked away towards the boat.
Both are ready to continue their adventures with each other and to develop stringer feelings for each other.
Author's Notes
There you have it. Ash is alive, the shipping with him and Victoria is finally beginning. i was always going to start to shipping after this in the first place.
As for the machinal arm, i did it so that it would motivate Ash to get stronger, so if you think that I'm sick for doing something like that, please don't.
But i hope that you enjoyed this chapter and I'm looking forward to writing more in the future.
So I'll catch you guys later.