Chapter 4: Sacred Bath Time
It was just hours ago when a green-haired girl named Doll made her appearance and kissed Ash before Chiaia chased her away. Donning a smaller set of Kenshi's clothes, woke up and stepped outside with his two critters… or meet up with Lashara and Chiaia. "Oh, morning," he greeted.
"Good morning, Ash," Lashara welcomed.
"How are you feeling?" wondered Chiaia. "I saw that Doll attacked you and you seem to be okay." Pikachu turned to Ash a little concerned while the Kuro climbed his head.
"I'm fine…" he assured. "It takes a little more than a sudden shoved kiss to get on my nerves." Lashara huffed in delight.
"Good, someone like you should be strong-willed," she sneered. Chiaia laughed a little to Lashara's remark. "By the way, rumors have come across the Holy Land Academy about how you defeated Mexiah within seconds." Ash nodded to the claim.
"About that, I actually took up boxing before I got Pikachu and began my Pokémon training," he clarified. Lashara and Chiaia looked befuddled.
"I, for one, have no idea what 'boxing' is," Chiaia groaned, flashing quotation symbols to the word "boxing." "Though, I bet Kenshi would have a clue about it since you two come from different Highlands." Rather than explain, Pikachu leaped off from Ash's shoulder and onto a table where he began punching the air, curling his arms back for blocking, throwing uppercuts and hooks. Kenshi came by to see Pikachu's demonstration.
"You can teach Pokémon boxing?" he awed. Everyone turned to Kenshi, surprised that he appeared out of nowhere.
"Kenshi, don't do that!" snapped Chiaia. Lashara closed in on Pikachu as he bobbed and weaved his head around.
"That's… boxing?" she guessed. "For reasons unsure, it could be recognized as part of a martial art. Kenshi would know since we've seen what he's done." Kenshi came over and petted Pikachu, stopping his movements.
"Actually, Miss Lashara…" he spoke up. "Boxing is a martial art." Lashara's face morphed briefly to disbelief.
"You jest!"
"Not at all. I've been around some martial arts like karate and jujitsu. It's a discipline to one's body and mind, which not only explains myself but Ash and Pikachu as well." Lashara and Pikachu realized Kenshi's mentioning and awed.
("I should do it more often,") he squeaked. After a while, Ash, Kenshi and Pikachu reach a bath house which the girls were bathing while wearing a white bathing suit with Aura and Lithia.
"This feels nice…" sighed Maria.
"We all need this," Wahanly cooed. "Even having Ash and Kenshi helping us with the bathwater." Ash and Kenshi seemed rather calm about being with girls like them, including Aura.
"Speaking of which," she spoke up. "Seeing Ash in clothes, I'm beginning to question Kenshi's take that they're separate." Ash laughed to Aura's point.
"We do look alike this way, huh?" he noted.
"Believe me, considering the pair of wild animals," Lithia grumbled. Chiaia groaned to Lithia's belligerence. Aura decided to speak up.
"Ash, is it possible to loan me your Torterra?" she requested. "Ever since I told my tribe about your Pokémon, they became interested and wanted to see one up close." To Ash, interest around Pokémon perked his smile.
"Absolutely," he offered. "I'll let Torterra know before I give him to you."
"Thanks!" Hearing puddle steps, Ash turned to Pikachu washing his fur.
"Are you washing yourself or you like the water?" he asked. Kenshi laughed as Maria spotted something on Ash's shoulder.
"What's that, Ash?" she observed. Ash heard Maria but wondered to her questioning.
"What's what?" he asked.
"Those scars on your shoulder!" This made Kenshi come over and pull on the hole, revealing a pair of scars that ran from Ash's shoulder toward his spine.
"You see what she's talking about Kenshi?"
"I do, Ash," Kenshi confirmed. "Two huge scars parallel toward your back." The briefing made Ash recall a moment.
"That must have been when wild Zangoose attacked me shortly after getting Infernape as Chichar," he remembered. This left everyone confused.
"Could you clarify for us this?" demanded Lashara. "You say your Infernape was a Chimchar, but how does one become the other?"
"Easy, Pokémon evolve and take new forms," Ash started. "However, their ways of evolving differ sometimes. Infernape was merely a Chimchar which was a cute little Pokémon you could cuddle with. Training and battling, Chimchar evolved into Monferno, and more training later, Monferno evolved into Infernape." Chiaia, Wahanly, Mexiah, Lashara and Maria became rather awed with this information.
"So, there's a method to some Pokémon madness," Wahanly sneered with intrigue. This made Lashara curious.
"So, could Pikachu evolve?" she pointed. Pikachu gasped to the concept and turned to Lashara.
("I'm not touching that Thunder Stone!") he squeaked in protest Lashara seemed surprised to see Pikachu's defense.
"Hey, we're curious to it. No need to be defensive." Pikachu's anger began to relent after the clarification.
"About Pikachu's evolving method, it involves a Thunder Stone," he brought up. "However, he doesn't want to evolve. Also, Team Rocket took mine so…"
"Okay, but what happened to your back and the Zangoose?" asked Lashara.
"Those Zangoose were after a Seviper owned by Team Rocket. Seviper and Zangoose don't get along at all. I had Chimchar help subdue the Zangoose but one tried to blindside him and I took a Slash attack for it." Maria wanted to get a closer look.
"Come over here and we can see it better," Thinking it's okay, Ash reached the edge of the bath, turned around and knelt. Lashara and Maria reached up and felt the scar.
"Wow, that looks deep," Maria gulped.
"Did you get medicine for it?" wondered Lashara.
"Yeah, some antibiotics and gauze," Ash answered. "It'll be there for sometime." Suddenly, his foot slipped out from underneath him and he fell into the bath with Lashara and Maria.
"Ash!" gawked Chiaia and Wahanly. Ash surfaced a few seconds later.
"Man, that happened!" he winced. Lashara and Maria surrounded him as Kenshi and Pikachu started to reach the rim.
"Ash, are you good?" asked Lashara.
"I'm alright," Ash assured. That's when Lashara and Maria removed their suits, revealing small breast with Maria's pair being a little bigger than Lashara's as she pressed them to his back. Ash's face began glowing red.
"I hate to see you get hurt like that," Maria expressed.
"Yes, we can't afford to see you injured," Lashara cooed. The feeling of young breasts and skin caused blood to ooze from his nostrils. "Oh, dear… Are you embarrassed by our bodies?"
"You've got a nosebleed!" pointed Maria. The other girls came by but Lithia stood back.
"Looks like someone has a shy side emerging," Wahanly teased.
"It's cute to see someone acting innocent around concerned girls," Mexiah added as she wrapped her arms behind Ash, her large breasts cocooning around Ash's neck.
"I bet you never had young women near you like this, let alone bathing together, huh?" she pondered. This made Lithia lose it as she stood up.
"That does it!" she stormed. "I demand you get these two wild animals out of here, this instant!" She pointed to Ash, Mexiah, Lashara and Maria who looked to Lithia with some shock.
"Lithia, it's one thing to not like boys," Lashara huffed. "But to go after him for a slip on wet floors and to make sure he's alright? The nerve!"
"Besides, you have no respect for even Dagmeyr!" argued Maria. Chiaia flinched at the name. "You're afraid that your position as a top ranked Sacred MechaMaster could be in jeopardy due to this!" Lithia snarled to Maria's topic.
"Like hell I'm gonna be upstaged by a man!" she protested. Mexiah sneered while preparing to snap her fingers.
"Maybe this will," she warned as she snapped her fingers. Suddenly, Kenshi flinched before leaning down while standing.
("Kenshi?") squeaked Pikachu. Kenshi snapped up and looked to Lithia with no light in the eyes. Lithia gasped as she struggled to escape the bath, passing Chiaia and Wahanly.
"Get me outta here!" she screamed. Kenshi raced after Lithia with everyone else watching. After drying up, Ash was with Kenshi who returned to normal and with Lashara and Chiaia.
"That sister of mine," Chiaia sighed. "Nearly forgot that she hypnotized Kenshi to give anyone a 'massage'… even me." To Ash, Lithia's behavior to this "massage" didn't make sense.
"For a massage, Lithia wasn't excited for it," he pointed out as Pikachu and the Kuro snuggled by Lashara's side.
"I'm sure Miss Mexiah knows how I feel," Kenshi whimpered.
"Oh, there's a good reason to know Mexiah's intent," Lashara sighed. "By the way, you told Kenshi about you having siblings?" Ash shook his head.
"Not me, but a traveling companion," he corrected. "I'm an only child… as Misty reminds me. Brock is the friend who has nine younger siblings and at one time, he watched over all nine when his parents were away and he tended to the Pewter City Pokémon Gym. After his dad came back, he traveled with me through Kanto twice, through Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh with his goal being a great Pokémon Breeder… that was until his Happiny evolved into Chansey. He's now gonna study in becoming a Pokémon Doctor." Kenshi and Chiaia giggled to the change in career.
"So, your friend wants to aid Pokémon like Pikachu, right?" she believed. "Not a bad change."
"It is a shame that you're an only boy while Kenshi has his half-brother and his sisters," Lashara sighed.
"Don't blame me!" gasped Ash. "I don't know who my dad is! I don't even know what he looks like!" The others seemed shocked to hear the information.
"No father?" repeated Kenshi. "That's gotta eat you alive not knowing who your father is, let alone what he appears as." Ash somberly nodded.
"By the way, Kenshi," Chiaia spoke up as she lifted a crystal for all to see. "Why are you digging around the Swan and unearthing these crystals?" Ash looked up to see it.
"I first spotted it after we brought Ash and Pikachu in here and I was bathing… and you interrupting my time alone. The crystal reminds me of seeing my sisters' spaceships and how they fly around in them." Everyone looked to Kenshi with astonishment.
"Wait, spaceships out of… crystals?" repeated Ash. The girls blinked before turning to Kenshi with more curiosity.
"Hold on, your sisters and spaceships?" repeated Lashara. "You mean to tell us that your sisters aren't human like you are?" Kenshi shyly laughed to the point.
"And that this is normal where you're from?" added Chiaia.
"I almost want to question if you're actually human to begin with," Ash suspected.
"Now, come on!" chuckled Kenshi. "Surely, there are some odds ones in your families, right?" That's when a memory clicked in Kenshi's head. A pendulum swung with some pink hair in the back. It made Kenshi growl. "Sister Washu…! You were the one to get me that way!" Everyone blinked to Kenshi's sudden rage… and confession.
"That would explain why Mexiah had an easy time with manipulating Kenshi," Lashara studied. Chiaia saw something bounce on Kenshi and reached in. She pulled out a pendant which looked to be made of crystal.
"Was this also given by your sisters or did you make it with the crystals you dug up?" she demanded.
"It was from my sisters, I swear!" he claimed.
"Why don't I believe-" Before Chiaia could finish, a pull shattered the band on the pendant. Quickly, Chiaia changed from demanding to apologetic. "I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't mean to!" Kenshi was in tears at his pendant's band torn. "I promise! I'll fix it! Don't worry!" Kenshi knelt into the fetal position in tears.
"What a sad display of a man," Lashara downplayed.
"I cannot imagine," Ash sighed.
("You have me, partner,") Pikachu muttered. ("So don't start.") Outside the Holy Land Academy, Ash and Pikachu were with Aura and two tanned young pointy-ear men. Both had their white hair in a tuff tied on their heads while wearing gray slacks and brassier tops. Ash released Torterra to show them.
"So that's a Torterra, huh?" one said.
"This is," Ash confirmed. "He's big but he's loyal."
"Still, the Dark Elf Village will want to know about this and your other Pokémon," the other white-haired man awed. Ash nodded before turning to Torterra.
"I know they seem strange compared to Pokémon and people we met," he tried to assure. "Aura will make sure you're not hurt." Torterra roared happily to the method before it reentered a ball.
"My attendants will also see that Torterra isn't in danger," she promised. "By the way, do you have other Pokémon that are plant-based?"
"Well, not on me," Ash admitted as he handed the ball to Aura. "But there are plenty out there from Bulbasaur to Abomasnow that can be found."
"Really!? I'll keep it in mind if we find your world." With waives, Aura and the attendants headed into the woods.
"There you are!" shouted Mexiah. Ash and Pikachu turned to see Mexiah approaching. "It's a good thing you're here! We're gonna begin training and we want you to be involved." Ash and Pikachu looked to each other. After some convincing, they joined Mexiah to see the rest.
"Miss Mexiah, you found him!" cheered Bwoole. The other girls cheered as Mexiah had them together. The blond came to Ash and Pikachu, fingering Pikachu's chin.
"Ash and I will demonstrate proper combat," Mexiah instructed. "Yeliss, will you hold onto Pikachu for Ash?"
"Yes, ma'am!" the blond agreed. Pikachu's hopped on Yeliss' arms for her to hold. Ash and Mexiah held a wooden sword while the students watched.
"This time…" Mexiah warned. "It will take more than one move to decide a winner." This made Ash grin.
"Yeah, it wouldn't be fair with just a quick strike," he agreed before they swung swords, clashing in the middle. The students watched in concern while boys stepped out, including Ceres.
"It's Ash and he's training with Miss Mexiah!" he realized. The clash of swords seemed to be going Mexiah's favor as Ash struggled with footing. At one point, Mexiah leaped up and found a chance to score a hit. Ash sidestepped and held his sword in front for the next attack. Before Ash set himself, Mexiah went for the stab. In Ash's view, the sword was a boxing glove.
'Punch to puncher,' he thought. In one quick motion, Ash swatted Mexiah's sword away before launching a strike, knocking her to the ground. Ash came to Mexiah and offered his hand. Mexiah grabbed it and Ash pulled him onto her feet. Bwoole and Yeliss came to Ash while the rest attended to Mexiah.
"Can you teach me some of your techniques!?" an excited Yeliss asked.
"Me, too!" joined Bwoole.
"I'd be happy to," Ash accepted as Pikachu joined his shoulder once again. "It does start with no weapon before we go sword." Mexiah watched with a bright smile as Ash had Yeliss throw a punch. Ash blocked it and began his lecture. As the girls began to train under some new guidance. Mexiah watched some more.
"So, how does Ash's additional lessons help us become great Sacred MechaMasters?" the redhead questioned.
"Wreda, sometimes the last thing you learn can become the saving grace down the road," Mexiah summarized. "Keep it in mind when we're delved into a crisis." An hour later, Yeliss and Bwoole gave Ash a kiss to each cheek before heading off to the Academy's building as Mexiah came to his side. "Thank you, Ash. Would you come with me before you go to your room?" Ash and Pikachu blinked to the offer.
"What do you mean… my room?" he asked.
"The Headmistress has offered you and your Pokémon a room to stay in while we search for your world." Ash and Pikachu awed the Headmistress' offer. In a new room, Ash and Pikachu saw a small table, a bed and a pair of drawers.
"This is your room?"
"Yeah, it seems ordinary for a bedroom." Ash entered but before he could get a good feel of what Mexiah's living space was like, Mexiah snagged Pikachu and placed him on the table before grabbing Ash by the shirt collar and tossed him onto a chair. "Now, it's about time I give the young heartthrob a new form." Ash's face flushed in serious concern. At a dining table, Kenshi and most of the girls gathered, including Yukine and Aura who explained how Torterra made friends with the Dark Elves and the Koro. Kenshi helped bring the food out with Yukine before noticing Ash and Pikachu not joining.
"Hey, has anyone seen Ash?" he brought up. "It's about time for dinner." No one, not even Lashara and Maria, knew where Ash was.
"We haven't seen him," Lashara shrugged.
"Neither have I," Maria added before turning to her attendant. "Have you, Yukine?" Yukine turned to Maria before shaking her head.
"No, princess," she sighed. "I haven't." Litha grumbled to the concern.
"Why should I care about the location of your fellow wild animal?" she snarled. That's when Wahanly recalled a moment.
"I did," she spoke up. Everyone turned to Wahanly.
"You… have?" irked Kenshi.
"Yup," Wahanly confirmed. "I saw him with Mexiah after her lessons. I think she was taking him and Pikachu to her room." That's when concerns rose.
"Her… room?" asked Chiaia. "What for?" All Wahanly did was shrug when Aura remembered the bath earlier in the day.
"No…" she lisped. Others caught on to what Aura realized and became horrified.
"She isn't…" stuttered Wahanly.
"She wouldn't!" shouted Maria while slamming her hands on the table. "Not to my Ash!" Lashara gawked to Maria's claim.
"Your Ash!?" she challenged.
"Yes!" claimed Maria. "My Ash!" To Chiaia, it felt as if her sister wanted to do something indecent to Ash.
"This is my sister we're talking about!" she clamored. "Of course, she would." Litha became horrified to Mexiah teaching Ash the "massage."
"I'd refuse to have another wild animal be bred by Mexiah in that fashion!" she argued.
"Then we must stop her before it's too late!" ordered Aura before everyone agreed and dashed to Mexiah's dorm. As they got closer, they heard a scream.
"Mexiah!" cried Chiaia.
"Are we too late?" irked Yukine.
"Allow me!" volunteered Lithia as she opened the door. When she did, everyone saw Ash with his pants partly undone and Mexiah with her large breasts exposed and gown also partly undone, but both were scorched with sparks crackling off of them. Lashara and Maria rushed to Ash with Maria palming his firm torso and Pikachu slapping his face.
"Ash, come back!" cried Maria.
"Don't you dare leave us!" urged Lashara as Kenshi and Chiaia got to Mexiah with Yukine covering the pink-haired topless body. Mexiah soon stirred.
"That's some electric disposition…" she groaned.
"You were trying to hypnotize Ash to do your 'massage' tactics on us, huh?" suspected Chiaia.
"I can't deny you, sister," she found out. "But when I did, I found something inside. Whatever the hell it was, I couldn't complete the process." Lithia sighed in relief while everyone else blinked to the 'something' Mexiah mentioned.
"What… something?" asked Wahanly. Mexiah was too stunned to answer. Ash soon woke to see Lashara and Maria in his face and lap.
"Good, you're coming around," Lashara sighed.
"Ash, thank goodness," Maria smiled.
"Something about Ash is… indescribable," Mexiah muttered. "I might have… triggered a memory. He looked horrified to it." The look of others appeared as Ash had something in his life that brought a nightmare to him.
"Let's let him relax in his new room," Wahanly suggested. Lithia agreed reluctantly before Kenshi and Yukine guided Ash to his new room.
"It's been exhausting," Aura hushed. "He's doing so much and this happens." Yukine opened a new door where the room looked the same as Mexiah's.
"Your new room," she announced.
"Thanks…" muttered Ash. Kenshi helped Ash into bed when Yukine had an offer.
"I do apologize but is it possible for me to watch over Pikachu tonight?" Looking up, Ash saw Yukine and believed she could be trusted.
"Sure…" Feeling Ash needed to rest everything that happened to him, Pikachu leaped onto Yukine's shoulder.
("Get well, buddy,") he squeaked.
"Anyway, you get as much rest as you need," Chiaia wished.
"Okay…" Ash muttered. Everyone else left, Lashara and Maria joined reluctantly. After tucking himself in, he fell fast asleep. Opening the door about an hour later, someone entered Ash's room and dropped a gown. It was Mexiah's gown. She slipped under the blankets and wrapped her arms around Ash.
"I'm sorry for it all," she apologized. She kissed Ash on the cheek. "I can't take over you." She fell asleep with Ash in her arms. A hectic day closed to which Mexiah showed some of her true character.
TO BE CONTINUED…
(As I post, I send my condolences to the family of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. Their lives were cut extremely short and they'll be remmebered as a blooming basketball family of stars who had the DNA for the game. They will be sorely missed by everyone.)