After the party Ash went out the window up to the roof overlooking the campus. He had enjoyed himself but he still felt off about being here. The last two days; he had unlock new powers he never heard of, being part of a team of 4 girls one of which had cute cat ears and a tail. He shook his head at the word cute.
'I can't think of them like that' he thought looking up at the stars.
'Why' a small voice said in the back of his mind.
Ash frowned and stood up 'I can't be chasing skirts. I'm not Brock.'
'But your not chasing skirts. Mom never wanted you to be lonely.'
Ash stopped in his tracks and gazed out into space. "A lot of things mom never wanted to happen or me to do." Ash spoke aloud. The small voice stayed silent now as Ash felt the weight of his words. He didn't want to be along anymore but the fear of others getting hurt for him and the pain of loosing another love one; seemed unbearable.
He was about to jump down when he noticed Juane and Pyrrha on top of their dorm room sparing. Ash stayed just out of sight as he observed them. Pyrrha was impressed by how far Jaune had come with their night training.
"Your getting better Juane" she smiled as she blocked a slash attack from his sword. She shoved her shield throwing his sword off and used her spear to push him off his feet.. He countered with his own shield and sided stepped to get in closer but she was ready for it and swiped her spear underneath his leg and flipped him onto his back.
"Well not enough to take you on." He chuckled getting back up. They talked about what better ways to counter and attack. Ash still in the dark could feel Pyrrha's aura resonate with affection as she talked with Juane. Ash noticed that Juane was oblivious to her affections as he felt that Juane like Pyrrha but felt he was never going to win her heart.
"Please tell me I wasn't that oblivious with Misty." Ash said aloud. Juane went down first to head back to their dorm but before Pyrrha could follow Ash stepped out from his spot.
"Evening" he said Pyrrha was startled by ash's sudden appearance.
"Ash I didn't see you there." She smiled as she walked over to him.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude." He gestured to where Juane left.
"He just needed some extra practice." She shrugged as they meet in the middle. Ash knew that there was more to that but he didn't press the matter further.
"So why are you out here?" she asked then smiled "Too much partying for you."
Ash shook his head no. "No I havent partied like that in over 5 years." he smiled bitterly. Pyrrha noticed and her smile faded. Ash went over to the ledge and she walked up with him and sat down next to him.
"I'm sorry for my reaction when we first met." Ash said looking down at the grounds below.
"No problem" Pyrrha smiled but looked curiously at him. "But I am curious why."
Ash let out a deep sigh. "The thing is. You remind me of my sister Misty." He paused "The reason I reacted like that is because it is nice to see a similar face but at the same time your not her; So it's kind of bitter sweet."
"Can you call her or at least write to her?"
"No she and I live beyond the barrier that surrounds this place. So I can not do anything to see her nor tell her how I'm doing." He looked back at the moon above while some longing.
"You two are very close I take it." She smiled while bring her knees to her chest. Ash smiled and closed his eyes.
"Yes. She helped me out when..." He stopped himself and lost his smile. Pyrrha noticed.
"If you don't want to talk about it..."
Ash shook his head "It's strange ever since coming here I have feel more open to others than in the past. I want to talk about my past but at the same time it hurts and I don't know if I can move passed it. Mostly I have been burying my emotions just get by."
"That's never a good idea Ash." Pyrrha said sternly. "Holding in all that emotion will make you sick." Then she had a thought. "How long have you bottling this up for?"
He looked at her and she could see the coldness in his eyes but a small trace of warmth to them. "5 years." he said.
Pyrrha's eyes widen. Ash then took in some air and breathe deeply. "Maybe it as been too long since I've spoken about it. Maybe just a good summary will be enough for everyone's curiosity." He the leaned over the side. "You can come out and stop eavesdropping." He called out. Pyrrha looked over too and saw Team RWBY-A and her team with their heads out the window listening in on them. They all sweated at being caught. They came up to the roof in their night gowns.
"We're sorry for listening in." Ruby bowed in respect. Ash gave them all a mock glare but smiled after he grilled them on eavesdropping. Afterwards they gathered to hear Ash's story.
"Several years ago; when I turned ten. I was able to get my Pokemon license to become a trainer." He took out two Pokeballs and opened them. Lucario and Pikachu came out. "Pikachu was my starter; and over then next two years we journeyed across my home region of Kanto and to an island chain called the orange islands. I traveled with my good friends Misty and Brock and a guy named Tracey when I went to the islands." Only Pyrrha seemed confused at that. "After some intense training and battling we finally were able to beat a champion and we became the new champion."
"That's great." Ruby cheered.
"Practice makes perfect." Blake added.
Ash smiled but he lost it. "But when I got home from that battle; I had my world shattered before me."
Everyone seemed to feel the sudden drain of good spirits that had before.
"My mother died." Everyone gasped and felt pity for him Ash continued. "She died when I was on my way home to see her. A ekans or snake Pokemon bit her and it's poison got inside her blood stream and it killed her. You see it was just me and her. She took care of me and was all ways there for me but I wasn't there for her."
He cold domineer was in full effect. He gaze was empty and cold. They all felt a chill up their spines in the warm summer night. Lucario placed his paw on his master's shoulder. And Pikachu lick his cheek after hopping onto his shoulder. Ash gave them both a reassuring smile and nod. He looked at his audience Ruby, Weiss, and Nora where dripping with heavy tears. Juane was holding his sorrow I but was failing miserably. Everyone else had some tears but remained stoic.
"I'm so sorry Ash." Weiss muttered wiping her eyes. Both Ruby and Nora nodded to.
"May best friend Misty who was always there for me every step since I stared my journey was there for me in that moment. She too lost her parents when she was a little girl so she was the only one who had some understanding of what I was going through. She took me in since I didn't have anywhere else to go. She and her three older sisters adopted me as their little brother. They took care of me and loved me and I came to love them as my family."
Pyrrha smiled and closed her eyes. 'Thats why he reacted to me looking like his sister.'
"But ever since then I always traveled alone. For five straight years I kept everyone I met at arms length and less than a handful did I ever let in. Until now."
"Now?" Yang asked.
"Yes." he looked at each of them. "Since coming here and meeting you all I been feeling more open with myself and I want to have friends again and be more engaged in other things." He smiled and blushed in embarrassment. "That sounded rather cheesy didn't it." He scratched his cheek.
All of the girls suddenly blushed at the moment seeing how Ash reaction. 'So cute.' They all thought. Ash chuckled and looked at them all then Ruby walk up to him and hugged him tightly.
"Of course we will be your friends Ash. And we will help you get back into the wing of things." She smiled and held him tight.
"Ruby..." Ash muttered in surprise. Then the rest of team RWBY joined in and hugged Ash.
"You can count on us to be there for you." Yang smiled
"And we will make sure you have a great time here at Beacon." Weiss added.
"So you need to be there for us too when ever we need it." Blake finished.
Ash felt tears swell up inside. The hug ended and Ash wiped away tears and Team JNPR each give him a hug.
"So during the festival coming up we will treat Ash to a swell time and make sure you have a blast." Ruby declared and everyone cheered. Ash smiled warmly at them which sparked in some hearts. One by one they all went back inside their rooms. Ash settled down into his sleeping bag and slowly dozed off, but before he let sleep take over. A soft kiss was placed on his head. Instinctively his aura wanted to see who did it but he decided to let who ever it was remain anonymous. But he did let his aura expand across the campus all seemed fine until he felt it; a powerful and rage filled aura and two red auras near the dangerous one. Sleep took over before he could come to grips with who if might be. But Ash knew that who ever they are; they picked the wrong place to start any trouble. He will make sure they regret ever coming here.