Chapter 6: Brothers in Armed Combat
Ash, Kenshi, Pikachu and Buizel were bathing after another day of helping the Holy Land Academy, and Ash dealing with girls who wanted a foot rub from him. "I'm rather impressed with how you have been popular," Kenshi complimented.
"Believe me, it's not something I asked for," Ash sighed.
"Hey, you, me and my half-brother all together. I'd say you and Tenchi would be good friends after he met my sisters and then I came around."
"Yeah, at least…" Before he could continue…
"Is it alright if I come in?" a man asked. Everyone turned to a blond man entering the tub. To Ash, he seemed familiar, despite his hair being longer than another blond.
"I think I've seen you a few times before," he believed. The man chuckled.
"You must mean my nephew," he corrected. "I'll admit, Dagmeyr and I do look similar." Ash and the Pokémon blinked, rather confused.
"Ash, this is Ulyte Mest," Kenshi introduced. "He's Dagmeyr's uncle. He and I have been able to get along while he supervises his nephew." Ash smiled to the news.
"I see…" he accepted. "Is Dagmeyr after me for something?" Ulyte giggled to the suspicion.
"Well, he's not wanting to be behind anyone as far as Sacred Mechamaster ranks if one exists. Though, I heard you two have been getting incredibly popular with many of the Holy Land Academy's students." Ash shyly giggled.
"I'm not Brock by any stretch," he compared.
"Brock?" repeated Ulyte.
"Oh, yeah…" snapped Kenshi. "The one with the many siblings you told me."
"And that he's tried to ask every girl we meet. I have no doubt that if he joined me and Pikachu, he'd ask everyone at the school, even Lithia." To Ulyte, it's one man Lithia would not want near her.
"Sounds to me this Brock's the real wild animal," he joked. "But you wouldn't have stayed with him if that was his talent."
"Of course not," he denied. "He was a great cook and great with sewing and navigating." Ulyte snickered at the added detail. That's when Ash billowed a sigh. "Of course, when we do get back, we won't be enjoying his cooking anymore. He's gone back to Pewter City and started training to become a Pokémon Doctor." This became an issue with Kenshi as he clapped his hands.
"No problem!" he smiled. "I've been able to learn some unique cooking techniques from Sasami and I can teach you somethings." This made Pikachu and Buizel rather excited.
"Problem solved!" smirked Ulyte. The next day, Ash and Kenshi were in the kitchen where the students watched in awe.
"Did I hear right?" sounded Bwoole. "Kenshi's teaching Ash how to cook?"
"It must be great to hand down practices!" awed Angela. Pikachu was on Chiaia's shoulder in viewing the two in lessons about cooking.
"Kenshi is teaching Ash the culinary arts?" studied Lashara.
"It would be nice to love someone who can cook, right?" sneered Chiaia. Kenshi helped Ash positioned the knife for cutting the carrots and peeling the potatoes. Ash learned how to cut, stir, sift, simmer and cook. Peeking a high interest, Lashara decided on entering the kitchen with Maria watching.
"Cooking lessons from you, Kenshi?" she requested.
"That's right, Empress!" replied Kenshi.
"And he's working with foods, huh? We'll take a sample when it's complete." Ash's and Kenshi's eyes widened. They turned to each other before smiling to offer samples.
"I'd be more than delighted to share!" accepted Ash. It turned out to be a part of a ruse and Maria watching, Lashara sneered to her cousin. Maria caught on to her ploy.
"Cousin…" she snarled. After feeding the student body, Ash, Kenshi, Lashara, Pikachu and the Koro journeyed around the Holy Land Academy and to the training ground.
"Coming here, I still wonder how you were able to defeat Big Sis Mexiah, let alone twice," Kenshi recalled.
"Oh, that's about what I did before I became a Pokémon Trainer and had Pikachu as my first Pokémon," Ash clarified.
"Before you got this little guy?" wondered Lashara. "It would to hear a story about that, and how you two have this huge bond. Same with the little Koro."
"Yeah, about this friend, I'm not surprised," Ash shrugged. "After all, I've had Pokémon that came to my aid like Torkoal and Bulbasaur." Suddenly, the four guys from the other day came to the two.
"Look who we found!" the bleached blond announced. Ash growled at seeing the four while Kenshi seemed oblivious. Lashara scowled.
"Hello," he greeted. "Did you come for Ash?"
"We did," the lilac-haired sighed. "Besides, this has nothing to do with you, Highlander, or the empress." The solid blond tossed a sword to Ash. Seeing it, he stabbed the ground To Lashara, Ash didn't need a sword.
"What will you do?" she spoke up. "Use Pikachu's electric attacks?"
"Empress…" spoke Ash. "Sometimes, it's not the weapon you're given." The lilac-haired charged in, swinging his sword at Ash, but soon dropped it when he felt a fist connect to his sternum. He felt the air leave his lungs and fell to the dirt. One down… Kenshi came to Ash's side and whispered something. "You sure?" Kenshi nodded as the bleached blond raced after Ash and swung. Ash shifted his body to the left. The bleached blond fell from his momentum. The other blond attacked from Ash's back, but the young one evaded with little effort, the blond flying passed the raven-haired and flew to the ground with a flip. After a minute of these four swinging and missing Ash with their swords, they tuckered out.
"That was pathetic," Lashara dismissed. "You four should have yourselves removed from any training as you are not Sacred Mechamaster worthy." The four sat up. That's all they could do.
"And to think, this is part of my boxing training," Ash shrugged. Mexiah showed up and aimed her sword at the bleached blond's head.
"Turn your swords in," she scowled, angry to the sight. "Attacking an unarmed person like that is not condoned here! You've already been reported to the Headmistress!" The boys shuttered before turning in their swords and sulking away. "There! Those four won't be a bother you anymore!" Her cheery demeanor made the others a little concerned. Looking over Mexiah's shoulder was the other blond. Meeting Ulyte, Ash felt the shorter blond's the nephew.
"Dagmeyr?" he guessed. After a while, Ash and Kenshi reached a large stone platform. "This is where they test potential Sacred Mechamasters?"
"Yep, and I watched one with Wahanly winning her bout," Kenshi explained.
"That's pretty cool! Though, do they really use Sacred Mechanoid?"
"No, they use different Mechanoids for the testing. Sacred Mechanoid are used for emergencies." They step on the platform. "Also, I want to know about your martial art." Ash shyly giggled to the offer.
"Is Boxing really a martial art?"
"If you can use it in combat or stress relief, it counts." Kenshi stripped his uniform top off, his undershirt now showing. Ash grinned and stripped his uniform top as well, the smaller undershirt appearing. Both squared off. Kenshi crossed his arm, two fingers in each hand straight and two more slightly curled. Ash balled up his fists and held them in front of his face. The charged at each other with Pikachu and Koro watching. Some of the students saw the platform being used and seeing the two "Highlanders" about to do combat and rushed inside.
"Hey, those Highland boys are about to fight!" a white-haired girl shouted. Wreda and Gryino heard the white-haired and came over.
"Highland boys?" repeated Gryino.
"Are you saying Ash and Kenshi are fighting for something?" asked Wreda. Other girls began hearing about the fight about to take place and quickly began filing out of the Holy Land Academy and to the platform which Kenshi was in the air and swinging ax kicks, but Ash shifted his body to each side to avoid the swung feet. He returned with range-finding jabs and hooks. Kenshi threw a roundhouse kick, but Ash caught it with his arm up for guard. He countered with a body jab, but all the punch got was Kenshi's shirt. Kenshi tried a Karate chop but Ash ducked it before a stomp and lunging punch, but Kenshi hopped back and avoided the strike.
'Well, I can see that he can attack at different angles,' he minded. 'Now, I don't use my feet in boxing but because he uses a different style than I do… I'm always thinking on my feet but this is a little different.' That's when Kenshi threw a kick to Ash's feet, hoping to trip him. Ash braced and grounded his leg. The leg absorbed the blow and Ash countered with an uppercut, connecting with Kenshi's jaw. He staggered back and rubbed the jaw, making sure it was in place.
"Nice shot," he complimented. "Sometimes, something so simple as boxing has some unique moves. You're good." Lashara and Maria also came to see the fight. Pikachu ran up onto Lashara's shoulder as Aura, Wahanly and Chiaia arrived.
"How long have they been fighting?" asked Aura.
"Some have said they've fought for five minutes," Chiaia reported. Both fighters started to breathe a little heavy. Both wiped sweat off their heads.
"Look at Kenshi!" alerted Wahanly. "He's sweating! He never sweats while working!"
"That's for sure!" agreed Aura. "In fact, the only time we've seen him sweat was under the Ahou Sickness! I'm positive that Ash and Kenshi are equals!" The cheers never bothered the two fighters.
"I should really look the boxing part," Ash sneered as he undid his undershirt. His top glistened of sweat as his young and muscular body made the girls squeal in delight.
"Good idea," Kenshi smiled. "It's getting a little headed on here!" He removed his undershirt, a lean and muscular bod appearing before the young women. They cheered in delight as their noses began to gush blood.
"My goodness!" gasped Aura. "We've been woefully blessed!" Lashara and Maria's noses also gushed blood with widened eyes as Pikachu looked on in concern.
"His body is what we need!" shouted Lashara.
"Yes, it does, cousin!" agreed Maria. Chiaia sighed to everyone draining blood from their noses like faucets.
"Am I the only sane one not losing it over shirtless boys?" she grumbled. Despite the long spar, sweat through their bodies and bruises forming, they continued on with their battle. After another five minutes, both held themselves up by their knees. Both gazed at the crowd of bloodied women before standing up.
"I may have the martial arts taught to me by my grandfather and half-brother," Kenshi started. "But I see that you have the instincts and speed. Maybe you can't give me some pointers?"
"Sure!" accepted Ash. "Maybe I can get a few lessons from your style as well." Both boys shook hands, resolving matters as Chiaia, Pikachu and Koro came to the platform. Lashara and Maria followed afterward to the applause from the girls.
"Well, looks like you two resolved your issues pretty fast," Chiaia smiled. The two, faces cut and bruised, glanced to Chiaia.
"Issues?" wondered Kenshi.
"Yeah, what were you two fighting about?" asked Lashara. Ash and Kenshi sighed, itching their hair.
"It was just a spar," Ash clarified. "We wanted to show our martial arts to each other." The girls blinked to the real issue.
"You… were practicing?" realized Wahanly. Lithia stormed the platform, mad at the two.
"Is this how you wild animals get your rocks off!?" she stammered. Ash and Kenshi blinked again. Maya arrived and grabbed Lithia's shoulder.
"Lithia, retain your behavior," she scolded at the shocked head of Student Council. "These two have done nothing to you. Must you explode every time when they do something?" Lithia steamed at the scolding from Maya. The boys glanced to the students who've had bloodied noses. They praised the boys and hugged them, despite getting blood on their chests. That evening, Ash and Kenshi were bathing to clean themselves of the blood, sweat and bruises they suffered or wore.
"I swear, Tenchi would like to have you as a student," Kenshi complimented.
"He would, huh?" laughed Ash. Pikachu helped wash Koro who enjoyed the water. "To think, I tried to train Pikachu in boxing since it worked in keeping me in shape. Kinda sucks that his only boxing match was against Hitmonchan, an actual boxing Pokémon." Kenshi itched his head, not sure to believe Ash's story.
"So, there's a Pokémon that specializes in boxing? What's next, an alien Pokémon?"
"Actually, there's been studies by scientists that suggest that and there's a few that travel space like Deoxys and Rayquaza." The sound of those Pokémon names made Kenshi shutter.
"I'm not sure what they are, but I should keep my mouth shut." That's when Maya entered the bath scene with a stack of clothes.
"Sounds like your world is more exciting than what Lord Kenshi has," she said. The boys seemed surprised to have a woman join their discussion.
"Miss Maya?" gawked Kenshi.
"Calm yourselves down," she assured. "I've seen enough penises for one lifetime, thank you." Pikachu laughed to the remark. "Though, I am interested in some of the stories you have, young man. I may be aged, but good stories may be something to offer my grandchildren when I get another chance to see them." Ash smiled at the offer and looked to Maya.
"I've got a lot of stories like my time returning a Lapras to his school or a Larvitar back to the preservation," he listed. About another hour, Ash, Kenshi, Pikachu and Koro leave and laugh to some of Ash's stories as they journeyed into the woods.
"Pikachu's faces that he showed me!" he cracked up. "I didn't wanna believe it but it's funny and awesome, and it gives me an idea of some of the Pokémon there."
"Yeah, and to think," Ash continued. "Brock was the one who won the Happiny egg with Croagunk painted like Politoed." Kenshi and Pikachu laughed to the detail.
"Now, about that time machine you helped find… Any chance if we find your world, you can show us to see how it works? It would be something to show Sister Washu."
"Of course. At least-" Suddenly, Ash stopped and his ears perked up.
"I can sense you," an ominous voice whispered. Ash clutched his head "You must come to the cliff." Hearing the voice, Ash looked around, hand still on his head.
"Where's a cliff?" he asked to Kenshi.
"Over that way," replied Kenshi. "Why?" Seeing where Kenshi pointed, Ash rushed ahead. They reached the base of a tall cliff where Ash looked around.
"You've here," the voice called to Ash who looked. He walked over to a part of the cliff as he seemed to have found the voice.
"I think you're around here," he guessed as he palmed the cliff's face. Without warning, the spot turned blue. Then as if a tremor damaged the wall, it cracked above and below the hand.
"Ash, you might wanna step back!" warned Kenshi. Ash did as the cracks began to glow blue. As soon as a massive area was clacked blue, the wall collapsed. Debris fell from the bottom upward. More than halfway fallen, the boys discovered a Sacred Mechanoid, pure blue and covered in rock, rust and dust. Cracks on the chassis made it look incredibly old.
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
("Can it be!?") gasped Pikachu.
"A Sacred Mechanoid?" gawked Kenshi. "But what's one doing here!?"
"I don't know!" shrieked Ash. "But we need to tell Wahanly!"
"Yeah, good idea!" The boys raced back. Two hours later, Wahanly's crew with various MechaWorkers to excavate the Sacred Mechanoid. As they brought the Sacred Mechanoid out of the cliff, not even Chiaia, Aura or Lithia could hide their shock and amazement.
"Another Sacred Mechanoid?" repeated Aura.
"And this one is a pure blue," Lithia pointed out.
"And to think, it spoke to me," Ash added.
"Okay, that's just creepy," Chiaia shuttered. "Still, how did this one become hidden?"
"None of us will be sure until Wahanly runs some tests to understand the issue at hand," Aura shrugged. "It may also want me to run a few tests on Ash.." The trainer gulped to what Aura would have in mind. Still, what could this Sacred Mechanoid be about?
TO BE CONTINUED…