THURSDAY

Looking for Greninja

After an early breakfast, our heroes began their journey to the Santalune Forest. The hike was very peaceful and enjoyable, full of memories and stories to tell, and luckily for Goh with several wild Pokemon to catch.

Around noon Ash's stomach started to grumble, meaning that they should stop for lunch soon.

- It seems that it's time for lunch ... we should look for a good place where we can make camp for lunch - suggested Clemont

- According to the map, there's a stream a little ahead of us... maybe that's a good place - Goh added, looking at the map on his cell phone

- Are we still far from the forest? - Ash asked

- If we continue with the pace that we had ... if we walk a few more hours we should reach the forest soon

- Cool! Come on Pikachu, let's look for that stream - Ash said before running away with Pikachu

- Wait for me! - Bonnie yelled, running after them.

They indeed find the stream only a few minutes later. Clemont and Bonnie made lunch while Ash and Goh set the table and got some water

- Clemont that was delicious, as always - Ash commented

- Ash, I've never seen you cook anything more difficult than a sandwich... did you ever cook in your travels? - Goh asked

- Not really... luckily there has always been someone who cooks delicious in the group... Brock, Tracey, Cilan and Clemont... we never had to depend on my cooking or Misty's jaja

After eating they started off again, Ash wanted to be able to go through some of the forest before dark. There was no time to lose

Just like Goh said, it didn't take long for them to come across the forest. Now where to start looking?

- Ok Ash, we are already in the forest ... do you have any plans? - asked Clemont

- Something like that ... Swellow, Staraptor, Talonflame come out! ... I need your help, we have to find Greninja ... we think he must be in the forest, could you help us from the sky? - Ash asked his Pokemon, who nodded before flying in different directions - well, we'll look here on the ground...

- It's still a big forest Ash - Goh reminded him

- I know ... let's go- Wouldn't it be better if we split up? - Bonnie asked

- No, not yet... - Ash replied, as he kept walking

About half an hour later, Ash suddenly stopped and closed his eyes, trying to focus.

- Ash? Are you OK? What's up ... why did you stop? - Goh asked a little alarmed

- Ash? - asked Clemont this time

- Pikapi?

They all looked at each other puzzled without understanding what was happening, waiting for Ash to react. After a few minutes Ash suddenly opened his eyes and just started walking again

- This way... Come on!

- Huh? Ash, how do you know it's that way? What was all that about...

- Come on, Greninja is passing those little rock hills ahead of us - Ash said, ignoring Goh's questions - Staraptor! Just in time ... can you find the others and ask them to fly over the hills... Greninja is around there

- What is happening? How do you know where Greninja is? - Goh asked again, looking at the others for support.

- I just know... - Ash answered without giving it to much attention

- Did you sync? - asked Clemont

- Yes! Greninja-Ash Returns! - Bonnie said

- Greninja-Ash? Did they sync? - Goh asked, more and more confused - Ash?

- Don't worry, he is just focus on something... I'll explain... - Clemont offered

Ash was really focused, he just kept walking towards where his heart told him Greninja was, not paying attention to the others. "Had they really been able to sync? This far apart? Had Greninja sensed his presence as well? Was he really feeling Greninja or was it his imagination?"

Quickly the rocky hills appeared in front of them, leaving the forest behind.

The hills had a path that surrounded them, allowing to reach the other side. The climb was not very steep, so without realizing it they soon found themselves walking several meters up from the forest. When they were halfway there, they were interrupted by a loud noise

- What's that noise? - Goh asked

- Is it a earthquake? - Bonnie added when she felt the ground begin to shake

- I don't think so, it seems more... - Ash said, when look up he understood what it was about - Gogoat! And so many of them!

A little further up the hill a large group of Gogoats was running, causing the ground to shake and give off a lot of dust.

They all started coughing and covering their eyes, trying to protect themselves from the dust

- Be careful, rocks can start to fall off! - Ash said, looking around - Pikachu, iron tail! Lucario, Palm Force! - Ash quickly yelled, calling Lucario out of his Pokeball when he saw that two large rocks were heading right towards them.

Pikachu and Lucario managed to land their blows, but still a large rock kept falling directly towards Bonnie. Ash seeing that his Pokemon were too far away and there was no time for another attack, ran towards Bonnie to get her out of the rock path

- Bonnie! - Ash yelled, as he tackled her just in time

The huge rock hit the ground at the same time as Ash and Bonnie. The blow caused the path to collapse, and Ash and Bonnie began to fall. Ash hugged Bonnie tightly in a desperate attempt to protect her.

- ASH! BONNIE! - screamed desperate Clemont and Goh

- PIKAPI!

With horror Clemont, Goh, Lucsrio and Pikachu watched as after falling freely for a few seconds, Ash and Bonnie fell on the side of the hill rolling down for a couple of meters until finally a tree stopped the fall when Ash hit it.

- OMG! ARE YOU FINE?! - shouted Goh

- BONNIE! ASH! - Clemont added worried when he saw that they did not get an answer

Meanwhile with Bonnie and Ash...

- Ugh!

- Ash, are you okay? I ... thank you for saving me ... are you hurt? - Bonnie asked with teary eyes, examining Ash to see what was wrong

- It's my arm... - Ash replied as he tried to sit up slowly - are you okay, you aren't hurt? - Ash asked through clenched teeth, holding his left arm close to his body.

- Yes, I'm fine ... just a few small bumps

- BONNIE, ASH! ARE YOU HURT?! - Asked Clemont when he saw that they both sat down, but they still did not answer

- ASH IS HURT - Bonnie yelled back

- TRY TO LIFT BONNIE WITH A ROPE - Ash answered them

- But Ash ... you are injured and with your arm like that you will not be able to climb with a rope... - Bonnie said

- Don't worry, I'll be fine ... the ground is still unstable, there could be another rock slide ... you have to go up as quickly as possible

- But...

- THERE GOES THE ROPE, BONNIE TAKE IT AND WE'LL GET YOU UP- Clemont said

- Quick, no time to waste - Ash hurried her

Quickly Goh and Clemont managed to get Bonnie up, now how to rescue Ash?

Before they could think of anything, Swellow, Staraptor, and Talonflame appeared... and with them came Greninja.

Greninja started jumping from rock to rock until he reached Ash.

- Greninja, I knew I would find you - Ash said cheerfully as he tried to hug his Pokemon without moving his left arm

Greninja started to look around, assessing the situation, after a few seconds he called Staraptor for help.

The rescue plan was simple, he would take Ash, and in a few jumps they would arrive with the others, Staraptor would be with them just in case

- Ok, but keep in mind that I cannot hold myself well with one arm - Ash said, after Greninja explained the plan.

Luckily Greninja's plan worked without a hitch, and in a few minutes Ash was safe with the others.

- Ash! Thanks for protecting Bonnie ... let me check your arm... - Clemont said approaching him as soon as Greninja put him down - Oh ... you dislocated your shoulder Ash... I must put it back in its place

- Oh no... it's okay... go on... - Ash said resigned

- This is going to hurt... maybe you should bite something while I do it

- Here, have my handkerchief - Bonnie offered, as she took a handkerchief out of her bag and folded it to put it between Ash's teeth.

- Goh, hold him... make sure he don't move... - Clemont ordered - 1 ... 2 ... 3!

- Mnnnghhhh! - Ash yelled

- I'm sorry Ash, but it's already in his place ... now we need to make a sling...

- In my backpack... - Ash said - trying to breathe trough the pain - ... in the inside pocket ... there is a handkerchief... it's big enough... it should do

- I found it! It's very pretty... - said Bonnie, handing Clemont a pink/orange handkerchief

- Misty gave it to me... - Ash replied

- I would like to check both of you more carefully, and clean those cuts you have ... - Clemont said as he finished placing Ash's arm in the sling - ... but it is dangerous that we stay here, the ground is still very unstable ... can you walk Ash?

- Yes, I think so ... - He replied as he tried to stand up with Clemont's help

- You should see a doctor Ash ... it was an ugly fall - Goh said, while looking at the map on his cell phone - ... the nearest hospital is a couple of days away... but there is a Pokemon center in the forest that is not far

- Grenin ja grenin

- Do you know it Greninja? - Clemont asked, seeing that the Pokemon nodded, he added - well, in that case... lead the way

After Ash called back his 3 flying Pokemon and Lucario refuse returned to his Pokeball, the journey to the Pokemon center began.

Luckily for Ash they were going downhill and the slope was not very steep. Although he could walk without problems, he was still very sore and with each misstep he felt a wave of pain in his shoulder ... it was best not to hurry. In short, the descent was slow and painful.

- Finally! - Goh said happily upon reaching the forest again

The way back had been worse for Ash, but the others were very vigilant around him, ready to support him in case he tripped, fell or there was another rock slide. Luckily Ash only stumbled a couple of times, and thanks to Lucario and Greninja's quick reaction he hadn't ended up on the ground, but they had to stop for a few minutes for Ash to rest and get over the pain that the sudden movement in his shoulder cause him. It had been a stressful descent for everyone

- It'll be dark soon, we need to find a place to spend the night, hopefully near a stream ... Grenonja do you know a place like that, near here? - Asked Clemont, seeing that Greninja nodded and began to guide them again, he added - Great, there we will clean Ash and Bonnie's wounds with calm

Just 5 minutes later a beautiful clearing appeared in front of them, and in the distance a stream could be heard

- Excellent Greninja - thanked Ash

- Come sit Ash - Clemont said, leading Ash to the foot of a tree - you too Bonnie

- But I'm fine... - Bonnie said

- We have to clean those wounds or they can get infected, come and sit down. Goh, could you go grab some water please? I have a little in my bottle but it won't be enough - Asked Clemont

- Sure! But first ... - Goh said, releasing his Cinderace - Cinderace could you make a fire please, I'll go get some water

While Goh fetched water and Cinderace prepared the fire, Clemont checked the wounded

- Ash, apart from your shoulder ... does anything else hurt? - asked Clemont

- My whole body? - Ash replied in a failed attempt to be funny - ... my left wrist ... - He said more seriously this time

- Yes, it look a little swollen ... - Clemont said as he checked, being careful not to move his arm too much - ... it does not seem that there is something broken, but surely it is sprained ...

Once the wrist was bandaged, and after cleaning and rubbing alcohol on the multiple scrapes, it was Bonnie's turn.

- Again Ash, thank you very much for protecting Bonnie, thanks to you she only has a few scrapes and bruises - Clemont thanked, while applying alcohol on the last of the scrapes - you should change your clothes Bonnie, they are all dirty and torn .. you too Ash ...

- No thanks ... I don't really want to move to much - Ash replied

- Do you want me to help you?

- No, I'm fine ... seriously ...

- Well, if you say so ... try to rest a little, with Goh we will take care of dinner

- I want to help! - said Bpnnie

- Well, if you insist ... - Clemont answered - Pikachu, Lucario and Greninja, you take care of Ash, tell me if anything happens

- I don't need babysitters Clemont ... - Ash said, but when he saw the serious faces of his Pokemon he added - Okay, I'll tell them if I need something so they can tell you

When dinner was ready, Goh came over to help him up. But apparently Ash was more tired than he said, as he had fallen asleep. Greninja and Lucario were sitting next to him (one on each side) watching him, and Pikachu was doing the same from his usual spot nestled on Ash's lap.

- Ash? Wake up ... dinner is ready ... - Goh said softly, trying to prevent Ash from waking up abruptly - come on, you need to eat something and then you can go back to sleep

- Hmm? - Ash said still half asleep - ... oh, I fell asleep ... thanks Goh, I'm starving

With Goh's help, Ash was able to get up without much trouble and go sit down and eat a tasty stew that Clemont had prepared.

When they finished Goh and Clemont prepared the tents and sleeping bags. After helping Ash to bed, the difficult part was convincing Bonnie that she, too, should go to bed early to recover from the events of the day.

Despite going to bed early and being exhausted, Ash didn't have a good night ... let's just say sleeping on the forest ground is not the best option after rolling down a rocky hill