Chapter 2: Welcome to the Academy!

It wasn't long since a boy and a Pikachu found themselves near the Holy Land Academy as they suffered from Ahou Sickness. The sunlight shone through the window which woke the two. They breathed in and out. "Hey, we can breathe again!" the boy noticed. Pikachu also noticed with some breathing and moving around.

("What were we given?") he squeaked. The boy checked his arm which had a bandage where his IV-bag was attached to.

"What were we given?" As he looked around, a woodland critter was spotted looking through the window. "Is that… a Pokémon?" Getting out of the bed, he reached the window and opened it. The critter entered and leaped onto the boy's head, its bushy tail brushing him with a bit of tickling. "Easy!" The critter nuzzled the boy's cheek, realizing the boy wouldn't harm it. "You're awfully friendly!"

("And I thought I was.") Meanwhile the Holy Land students began talking gossip about the boy that Aura found.

"So, you know that boy Aura brought in?" one girl asked.

"Yeah, I saw him and Aura carrying his helmet," another girl pointed out.

"Was that really a helmet?" one more girl questioned. "Aura held it with one hand… and it's flimsy!"

"I'm sure there's a reason for it," the first girl shrugged.

"Though, come on," yet another girl urged. "He's as cute as Kenshi, and that mouse… OOOOOHH!"

"You're going crazy after that!?" the second girl blinked.

"Can you blame me?" the fourth girl replied. "I can't tell which is cuter: the mouse or the Koro?"

"Well, I hope they're okay," the third girl sighed. "Heard they contracted Ahou Sickness like Kenshi did." Back in the Nurse's Office, the boy fed a pellet to the critter in his lap.

"Seems you like Pokémon Food, huh?" he giggled.

("Think we can bring one home to Mom?") wondered Pikachu. Finishing the pellet, the critter hopped back onto the boy's shoulder opposite of Pikachu's perch.

"Reminds me of Bayleef when she was a Chikorita," he thought back. Just then, the door opened and Chiaia was the first to see the boy.

"Oh, you're finally up," she greeted. She walked in wearing a gray jacket over a lilac blouse, a denim skirt, white stockings and boots. Kenshi, Wahanly and Lashara came in after her. Wahanly wore a beige jumpsuit and Lashara donned a red robe and stilettos.

"Talk about recovery," Wahanly awed. "You and Pikachu didn't look so good when you were brought in from the forest." The boy and Pikachu gawked to learning about Pikachu's name.

"Wait, how do you know Pikachu?" he asked. Chiaia came to Pikachu and petted his head.

"You told us," she replied. "You two were suffering from Ahou Sickness. Those from the Highlands wouldn't have the organs to survive without the herbs provided by Aura's Dark Elf tribe."

"You did scare us when you two emerged with Miss Aura," Kenshi shuttered. The boy sighed to what he and Pikachu put them through.

"Sorry about that," he apologized. "Any chance are one of you… Aura?" Wahanly shook her head.

"None of us are Dark Elves," she denied.

"I guess," the boy admitted. "Then again, I've never seen a Dark Elf before."

"And apparently a Koro until just now," Kenshi joked. The boy blinked before turning to the critter.

"So, you're a Koro?" he realized. The critter squeaked before nuzzling the boy's cheek. Lashara reaches the boy with a smug.

"Though, someone as cute as a Koro or Pikachu is worthy of us in Holy Land Academy," she cooed. "May we ask for your name?" The boy shuttered to Lashara's advances.

"I'm Ash Ketchum," he gulped. Lashara sneered to learning Ash's name.

"Ash, huh?" she smiled.

"Just like you said, he's not a Misaki," Chiaia sighed.

"Yep, not much of a surprise," Kenshi nodded. Wahanly decided to introduce herself.

"Anyway, I'm Wahanly Shume, Wahan for short" she introduced herself. "He's Kenshi Misaki." Kenshi bowed to Ash.

"It's very nice to meet you, Ash!" greeted Kenshi, offering a hand. Ash accepted and shook his with his own hand.

"Anyway, I'm Chiaia Flan," Chiaia named herself. "And allow me the privilege of introducing you to Lashara Aaso Earth XXVIII, Empress of the Shitoreiyu Empire." Her hand pointing to Lashara, Ash and Pikachu gawked to her title.

"Whoa!" he gasped. "You're an empress!?"

("At your age!?") gasped Pikachu.

"That's right," Lashara confirmed. Ash and Pikachu looked to each other and the Koro hung on as the boy and mouse knelt to the empress.

"We had no idea that we were in the presence of royalty, your highness!" begged Ash.

("Please forgive us for not knowing sooner!") pleaded Pikachu. Lashara giggled to Ash and Pikachu's pleas for help as she placed her hands on both.

"Come now," she eased. "There's no need to kneel so intrusively. Just because we're so young, doesn't mean we don't know how to take control of the situation." Ash and Pikachu began to stand when Lashara cupped the boy's chin. "Also, we think we may have an agreement among one another." She completed her introduction with a kiss to his cheek. This surprised the other girls and Pikachu.

("She moves fast,") Pikachu shuttered. Ash looked shocked to the kiss.

"Well, let me show you around the Holy Land Academy," Kenshi offered. Ash and Pikachu accepted with nods and beginning to move around would aid their recovery.

"Sure," Ash replied. "Any chance we come across Aura?"

"Maybe… I'm sure you'd want to thank her for the herbal medicine to recover from the Ahou Sickness." Ash and Pikachu blinked to the name.

"Ahou?"

("What's that?") wondered Pikachu. They left the girls as they saw the Koro dash after Ash.

"You know," Wahanly chuckled. "I believe Ash'll fit in just nicely." Chiaia sighed, palming her forehead.

"We've already got one rascal with Kenshi," she groaned. "Besides, what could Ash do that won't remind us of… him?" Wahanly palmed Chiaia's back a little hard.

"Now, don't get all snippy because Ash looks like a slightly younger Kenshi. I mean… he seems like a nice young man." To Chiaia, Wahanly's revising her concern.

"That's exactly my point! Outside, he and Pikachu seem harmless… but inside, that's gotta be a different story!" She turned to Lashara by the bed Ash and Pikachu slept in last night in a spaced out gaze. "Uh… La… shara?" Spotting no movement, Wahanly tried her voice.

"Swan to Lashara!" They saw Lashara face begin to blush.

"He…" she swooned. "He is… He's our…" The two others shared perplexing looks to each other and to Lashara.

"Empress, is there… something you wanna say?" questioned Chiaia. Without warning, Lashara sprung to a seating posture.

"That's it!" she snapped with a cheer. Chiaia and Wahanly jumped in surprise. "Ash is the union that will bond us! No longer will we be the pride and lonesome pair who find ridicule in our injustice of love!" The other two blinked in confusion.

"Lone… some… pair?" repeated Wahanly. "E-Empress, it's-"

"No involvement in your backtalk!" snapped Lashara while pointing to the two. "He is the dark knight that will find the ribbon to tie us in the ritual that our families cherish since our ancestry!" The long-winded explanation left Chiaia more confused.

"Do you know what you're talking about?" she asked. Wahanly's giggle caught Chiaia's ears to which she saw the purple-haired sneer.

"I do believe that our little empress is ready to crown her emperor so suddenly," she murmured. Lashara's face became red with nervous embarrassment.

"H-H-How dare you bargain down the preconceived of minding marriage that pits us in a romantic conversation!?" she argued. Chiaia's face revealed a deadpan look.

"She's… not serious about this…" she groaned. In the hallways of the Holy Land Academy, Maria and Yukine journeyed down scores of girls socializing and talking about Ash and Pikachu who came.

"Seems the Holy Land's got a bit rowdy all of a sudden," Maria noticed.

"Indeed," Yukine agreed. "I'm sure we'll learn from Empress Lashara about the concern." Maria wasn't too comfortable about talking to Lashara on the issue.

"I suppose my cousin has a thing or two to report. After all, this is within her view."

"And the Headmistress? Supposing if Empress Lashara has none?" Unknown to the two, Ash, Kenshi and Pikachu were coming down a different hallway.

"I would like to see-" Suddenly, her foot caught her heel and her body began falling forward. She yelped, about to suffer pain and Yukine gawked and rushed.

"PRINCESS!" All Maria could do was brace for pain… but suddenly, she stopped mid-flight. She sighed in relief.

"This is why I have you as my retainer, Yukine." When Maria peered up, she found Yukine, befuddling her. "Yukine? But… if you're there… who's…" She looked to find Ash holding her from the ground. Pikachu stood on Kenshi's shoulder, opposite of the Koro.

"Seems Agility does work on me," he joked as he helped Maria back to her feet. However, Maria's face became light bulb red.

"Th-Th-Th- Thank- Th-" she stuttered. Ash blinked to Maria's inability to speak.

"You okay?" he asked. Yukine came to Maria to help her stand.

"Thank you for making sure my mistress is unharmed," she praised. "I'm Yukine Mare… and this is Princess Maria Nanadan VII." Ash awed to the name.

"She's a princess?" he gasped.

("First an empress?") reminded Pikachu. ("Now a princess!?") Yukine petted Pikachu with a free hand.

"I'll make sure the princess is okay," she assured.

"Sure," Ash excused. "I'm Ash and this is Pikachu. If the princess wants to know me…"

"I'll let her know," Yukine promised with blushing cheeks as she saw Kenshi.

"Let's go see the Headmistress," he ordered. Ash turned to Kenshi and nodded.

"Coming!" he called. "I'll see you later." With that, Ash joined Kenshi and the animals and escaped. Maria recovered as Yukine breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ash…" she repeated. "He seems like a nice boy. Very polite to give us his name." She turned to Maria as she clutched her chest, her cheeks still red.

"That boy…" she cooed. "The Holy Land has blessed me with a handsome boy!" She folded her hands together in a prayer. "O Lord… Please let me be the one to claim his hand in marriage!" Yukine blinked in confusion. In another part of the Academy was the Headmistress' office where someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" she called. Kenshi opened the door, allowing him, Ash and the animals to enter. "Oh… Kenshi, this must mean you've met the boy, huh?"

"We did, Headmistress," Kenshi admitted. Seeing the boy with the animals, Headmistress came from behind her desk.

"Seeing you awake, I can finally greet you in person," she welcomed.

"Of course," Ash accepted as they both shook hands.

"And I'm glad to see your mouse is doing fine." She petted Pikachu, bringing a smile to his face.

"That's Pikachu you're petting, Headmistress," Kenshi started. "This is his owner, Ash Ketchum." Headmistress nodded in confirmation to Ash's information.

"Ash… I see now… and you've already made a friend with a Koro," she listed.

"I guess that's what happens when I fed it Pokémon Food," Ash admitted. Headmistress and Kenshi giggled to the result.

"That's what you were feeding the Koro when I walked in with the empress?" questioned Kenshi.

"Yeah," Ash confirmed.

"Well, nothing wrong with someone being friends with woodland creatures," Headmistress giggled more as Lithia entered. Seeing the boys, she snapped.

"Two wild animals!?" she yelled. "They need to be removed!" Koro hissed at Lithia where Headmistress stood.

"Lithia, don't start badgering someone without knowing who they are," Headmistress scorned. "Besides, you're still on the hook for destruction of the bridges and scaffolding when you pursued Kenshi in one of Wahanly's machines." Lithia grumbled as she got chewed out. "Please, accept my apology. That is the Holy Land Academy's Student Council President, Lithia Po Cheena." That's when she turned to Ash. "Now that I've started to know you, can you tell us how you and Pikachu wound up by our Holy Land Academy?" Ash took a deep breath as Lithia exited the room.

"I was coming back home from our adventure in the Sinnoh Region with Brock and Dawn, a couple of traveling companions," he started. "After our adventure, we had different goals to fulfill. Dawn was going for a modeling agency and Brock decided to become a Pokémon Doctor. I didn't change. I still had my goal to be a Pokémon Master. We arrived in my home region of Kanto. Pikachu and I wanted to come home, have some of Mom's home cooking and plan my next adventure. That's when we saw a cave. I've always been curious so a cave didn't seem like much to go out of the way. A little ways inside, we fell through a trap door. We fell down a slide that was long and when it ended, I didn't see where we came out but we rolled for a little bit, then I guess we flew through the air and were caught by branches. We thought we were through the worst of it as we quickly recovered… only for Pikachu to start getting sick, and then I did. I quickly tried to find help but… I guess I panicked. I couldn't find anyone before someone helped me here." Kenshi and Headmistress gasped to the story.

"Oh, dear…" shuttered Headmistress.

"And you're here now," Kenshi finished. Headmistress seemed to have an idea.

"We would like to hear about your world some more," she opened. "What we can do is get you a uniform and a place to stay here at the Holy Land Academy." Ash and Pikachu nodded, knowing that the Holy Land would help them. Outside, Kenshi guided Ash to find Mexiah with a bunch of girls in training with wooden swords. One blue-haired girl spotted the boys.

"Miss Mexiah?" she called out.

"Yes, Bwoole?" wondered Mexiah.

"We have company." Seeing where Bwoole's pointing to, Mexiah turned and gasped to seeing the boys.

"Big Sis Mexiah!" called out Kenshi. Mexiah became elated and rushed over to the boys as Aura soon emerged.

"Kenshi!" she cheered before hugging Kenshi. "I was wondering when you'd find me, but please don't do it during class."

"I'm sorry, Big Sis Mexiah." That's when Pikachu's gawk caught their attention. All turned to Pikachu, including Koro who climbed onto Ash's head.

("That's not Nurse Joy!") the Pokémon squeaked.

"What's up, Pikachu?" asked Ash. Mexiah broke from Kenshi to meet Ash and Pikachu.

"You're finally awake and I can finally meet you," she greeted. Kenshi and Mexiah's class began to take notice. "We were worried that you might not accept the medicine to overcome the Ahou Sickness." Pikachu's began to squeak some more while gesturing to something he pointed to the head.

"So that's what you're upset about?" he wondered. "You thought she was Nurse Joy?" Pikachu's head bobbed while squeaking rather somberly. Mexiah giggled to the mistake.

"Is that your normal nurse?" she asked Pikachu, who nodded. "And your name is Pikachu? It's gonna take some time to get your name down."

("Take your time,") Pikachu assured. Kenshi allowed himself to introduce Ash.

"Big Sis Mexiah, this is Ash Ketchum," he informed. "He's Pikachu's owner."

"It's nice to meet you," Ash welcomed, offering a hand to shake. Mexiah took his hand but instead of shaking, she pulled him in for a hug, nearly throwing Pikachu and Koro from their perches.

"Can I call you… little brother Ash?" she cooed. Aura laughed to the scene as she made her appearance.

"I feel he'd be a better brother to me than you, Mexiah," she joked. Everyone turned to Aura, who was happy to see Ash and Pikachu standing. "So, it looks like the herbs that my tribe had to give you two seem to have worked." This hinted Ash and Pikachu to the one who helped them to the Academy.

"So, you must be Aura," Ash guessed.

"I am," Aura confirmed. "I'm Aura Shurifon of the Dark Elf Tribe." She picked Pikachu from Ash's shoulder. "Pikachu, huh? Certainly a cute one. Let me give you a little charm." She kissed Pikachu's cheek, giving out a cute squeal. The students awed Pikachu's cute squeal and gathered around, including a greenish-blond girl, a forest green-haired and a redhead who wanted to get a better look at the mouse. Pikachu began to enjoy the attention as Kenshi informed Aura and Mexiah about Ash and his story.

"My goodness!" awed Mexiah. Bwoole gave Ash a hug.

"I'm sure after you settle in," she began. "We can help you with what we do for classes. Gryino, Yeliss and Wreda can help out."

"Sure," Ash accepted. "Besides, Pikachu's not my only Pokémon."

"You have more?" the green-haired asked.

"Yeah, but I would need to ask Aura if she's got enough for them. I had them on hand to have a friend of mine see them for the last time before I went back home, or rather to here." Hearing about new Pokémon made Aura a little worried.

"You have more than Pikachu?" she asked.

"I do, but I'm concerned that they may suffer the Ahou Sickness like me and Pikachu," Ash pointed out. Aura smiled.

"I should have plenty of the medicine on hand. We can go back to the Nurse's Office where I can examine them."

"Thanks!" Ash turned to the students. "I'll see you guys later." All the girls wove to Ash.

"BYE, ASH!" they sent off. Back in the Academy, Ash rejoined Wahanly who had the device that Ash had.

"So, this is a PokéDex?" she asked as Lashara and Chiaia entered.

"Yep," Ash confirmed as Aura was giving a shot to an orange weasel with a yellow flotation ring on its neck and twin tails. "It's what I use to scan new Pokémon. Try it on Buizel." Wahanly pointed the PokéDex to Buizel as the medicine entered its arm.

"Buizel, the Sea Weasel Pokémon," it registered with a woman's voice. "Buizel's flotation ring stores air which allows it to stay afloat for any period of time."

"Wow, that's pretty cool," Wahanly awed. "Say, can I keep it for awhile?"

"Of course," Ash allowed. Aura came back to Ash.

"Your Pokémon are spectacular!" she awed. She turned to a large green tortoise with a tree on its shell and spikes around its body. "Especially your Torterra."

"Yep, Dawn wanted to give everyone her best wishes before we parted ways," Ash exclaimed. "Funny enough, Buizel belonged to Dawn before we traded Pokémon."

"That's interesting," Kenshi nodded.

"But what else would we expect from a trainer with high regard?" sneered Lashara. "It's easy to see these animals are prepared for hostility, especially around this Academy." Ash turned to Lashara with a thought.

"Who knows, Empress," he replied. "There may be a Pokémon for you with what's in the PokéDex."

"Like there's a need for us to have such a divine creature." That's when Maria entered the room and found Ash.

"There you are!" she cheered before hugging him, surprising everyone. "Yukine told me about you and I knew from the moment: You caught more than me when I stubbed my foot and fell… You also caught my heart!" Lashara's face became red. Maria held Ash's hands with her own. "May the Lord of the Holy Land judge this young man as someone blessed to love and protect!" Lashara ripped Ash and Maria away as Buizel gawked.

"Maybe I should've mentioned that Lashara and Maria are cousins," Aura sneered.

"What was that for, Lashara!?" snapped Maria.

"Ash has already been claimed by us," Lashara replied.

"Likely, but don't you already have Kenshi?"

"He is an attendant! Ash is the next Emperor once the crown is claimed."

"…By me, and he'll be my prince!" The cousins continued their argument for a long time as Kenshi escorted Ash out of there. Night fell after leaving the two to berate each other.

"Got word from the Headmistress," Kenshi began. "She said we'll be roommates until we get you to work."

"I see," Ash nodded. "Can't stay for free." The boys turned to see Pikachu and the Koro cuddling with each other. "I can tell that Pikachu's had a long day himself." That's when a thought rushed in. "I still find it hard to believe that Mexiah's your older sister." Kenshi irked at the mention.

"Well, that's because she's not my older sister." Hearing Kenshi made Ash blink.

"Wait... what are you saying?"

"Mexiah wants me to call her that. I know it sounds as if we siblings but Chiaia's her younger sister and she sees me as a younger brother."

"Okay, I can get behind that."

"And besides, I already have a half-brother and six sisters. None of them go here."

"Wow, that's awesome... but not compared to Brock having five younger brothers and four younger sisters." Kenshi gawked and summed up Brocks family.

"Brock's the eldest with nine siblings!?" All Ash did was nod. "Man, ten kids... and I thought my family was huge. No doubt Brock's parents are crazy about each other."

"That's for sure. Heck, I bet when Brock returns home, he'll get wind that he'll have another sibling on the way."

"That's too terrifying for me... Anyway, you'll see what goes on. Goodnight."

"Yeah… night." The Holy Land has considered it a night but what could Ash and his Pokémon have in store?

TO BE CONTINUED…