Note: Based on Those Who Hunt Elves II, Episode 8: "Those Who Protect Elves, Sometimes."
Chapter 5: Junpei, the Martial Artist
"Okay, where are we this time, Ash?" Al wondered.
"I have no idea," Ash muttered. "let's walk around until-" He was interupted by a scream for help.
"Sounds like help is needed," Rin monotoned. Pikachu squeaked in agreement. Asuka sighed.
"Must we help everyone who needs assistance, fifth child?" she moans.
"There's bound to be a reason, somewhere," Ash groaned, and the group ran to the scream. A young blue-haired woman, wearing a dress which is covered in different markings, was running scared, because she is being chased by a group of frog-jumping men, wearing stupid-looking one-piece jumpsuits with a scissors patch. After 15 seconds, the woman trips on a rock, and hits the ground hard. The men pounce on the downed woman.
"We have you now, Pulina," snickered one in black.
"There's no escape," another man in black smirked. That's when a man in red pulled out a pair of scissors.
"Time to hand over that blessed dress," He grinned. All three evily chuckled at the terrified woman, just as Ash's group arrived, and tackled the men off Pulina. Al and Pikachu stayed by her, as the others were getting up. "How dare you disrupt the duties of us Friskers."
"What? The duty to wear such a stupid outfit like that?" Asuka mocked.
"We will not allow you to strip that woman, and perform disturbing acts on her," Rin said, unsheething her sword.
"Maybe we should take the clothes off of you two as well," The Frisker in red growled. "In front of your friends." The Friskers charge at the three.
"Looks like you want a little taste of my old man's training," Ash grinned as he clentched his fists. The red charged at the trainer, but at the last second, he is sent flying on a light jab to a heavy uppercut. The Friskers in black aim at the two other girls, but were knocked from the sky, thanks to Rin's magic cross slash. The red guy got up, and leaped clear of the others, aiming for Pulina, but he runs into a stoneblock, litterally, and hits the ground.
"Never misjudge the power of Alchemy," Al smirked. The red guy struggles to get back up, when Ash gets in front of him, again.
"You won't get away with this," the man groaned as he gets his scissors, but drops it when Ash punches him in the stomach, with a little boost from Pikachu's Iron Tail. He goes down with his knees and head on the dirt, and his hands holding his stomach. Then, Ash pulls a Pokeball out. He opens it, and a crab appears.
"Corphish, give this guy a Crabhammer to his butt," he commands. Corphish's claw starts to glow and swings, making contact with the red guy, sending him flying away. The other two saw this, and started to retreat backwards, when they bump into a larger man in white shirt and pants, with somewhat of Brock's hairstyle. Behind him was a teen redhead ponytailed girl, older than Asuka, in a schoolgirl outfit, and holding a handgun. The man looks over to Ash.
"Mind if we help clean up?" he asked.
"Feel free." With two quick and powerful kicks, send the two flying in the same direction. The man claps his hands, 'cleaning' off the dust.
"Well, was that a bit much, Ritsuko?" he asks the new redhead. (This is a different Ritsuko, not to be confused with NGE's Ritsuko)
"No, they desrved it, Junpei," Ritsuko grinned. Al helps Pulina back on her feet, as Ash recalls Corphish back to his Pokeball. Asuka and Rei rejoined the boys, making Junpei and Ritsuko join them.
"Ash, what kind of fighting style was that?" Asuka questioned with a grin.
"It's boxing," Ash replied. "My father taught boxing when he had a Hitmochan. He taught me as soon as I learned how to walk."
"So, aside from training your Pokemon, you were a boxer, Ketchum?" Rin wondered.
"It was meant as self-defense, and I never joined any tournaments, since my father disappeared for his own reasons."
"Well, whatever the case, I thank you all for dispatching those infamous Friskers," Pulina addressed.
"Friskers?" Junpei wondered.
"Who are these Friskers?" Ritsuko wondered as well.
"You're refering to that trio in those stupid suits, right?" Asuka tried to understand.
"Those Friskers are known as the prime strippers in this region," Pulina explained. "They strip the clothes off elves from the lands."
"That doesn't make sense," Al acknowledged. Junpei examines the alleged victim.
"You're right. Her ears are too short to be elven type," he points out. This gets Ash and Rin suspicious.
"It's probably that they wanted my blessed dress, and its power to lift curses to the wearer," Pulina continued.
"Lift curses?" Ritsuko wondered.
"We can continue back at my house. Let's go." All but Ash and Rin depart for Pulina's house. This draws out Elizabeth.
"For some reason, I don't feel trustworthy with those two," Rin said with a mean look.
"You think they're Friskers as well?" Elizabeth asked.
"It's a good chance they are," Ash nods. "Let's stay close by." They run to join the others. Meanwhile, in a dilapidated building, the red Frisker addressed a long blonde man in purple jumpsuit about Pulina's help.
"I see. So, the town has hired bodyguards for that elf with the blessed dress, right?" the man in purple spoke, and the red man nodded. "We, Friskers, have not failed to strip our targets, no matter the obstacle." He opens a curtian to reveal a display case with three mannequinns wearing sparkling items of clothing. "Queen Maribell's lingerie of Diamonds. Division Lt. Garim's golden suit of armor, and the Emperor's Blessed Robe. Three of our greatest successes out of the many items we have frisk from our targets. With that blessed dress snatched, we will be the prime organization for this land, and this little setback will not endevor our philosophy." He laughs out loud for two seconds. "Mary the Shepard," he summons. An old man in a teal jumpsuit and a straw hat appeared. "Retrieve the blessed dress, and be victorious."
"I've been shearing sheep for 50 years," Mary said. "Leave this little lamb to me." Back at the others, they arrive at a house.
"This is my house," Pulina said. "I'll get the tea ready." As she walks to her house, the sounds of the sheep were heard, causing everyone to look. They see Mary, with a transive face and holding out shearing scissors, and his sheep slowly approaching, causing Pulina to be scared. "Oh no, it's another one of those Friskers." Junpei and Ash raise an eyebrow.
"That weirdo?" the muscled man wondered.
"Guess they can make anyone a Frisker these days," Ash monotoned.
"He uses his sheep to surround his victim, and orders the flock to subdue the person," Pulina explained. Junpei, then, addresses Ritsuko.
"A small gun," he orders. "Don't kill him."
"I won't," she sighed. Ash turns to Pikachu.
"Pikachu, use thundershock on the sheep," he commands. Pikachu hits everyone with the t-shock as Ritsuko fires and hits Mary's scissors. Then, Junpei and Ash send the shepard flying. Back at the base...
"Mary the Shepard...defeated," the red guy said. The leader didn't like the sound.
"Send the next Frisker," he orders. "The man who stripped the Emperor." A flamboyant man in green appeared with something glittering.
"All I need are the Emporer's new clothes," he sneered. Back at the house...
"It's a pleasure to have six people protecting me and my blessed dress," Pulina cheered. "Junpei, Ash, Alphonse, Ritsuko, Asuka, Rin, thank you all." Ash giggles sheepishly, causing Asuka to look over.
"What's the laugh for, fifth child? Those bad excuses for fashion sense or her dress?" Asuka grins. That made Ash stop think for a second.
"Oh yeah," he snaps. "About that, how did you get that dress in the first place?"
"The townspeople were casting a harvest spell when I got in the way of it," Pulina explained. "I have to wear this dress until all the spells are dispersed, about half a day."
"That's interesting," Ritsuko ponders. Then, a knock at the door. The green Frisker appears when Junpei opens the door.
"Excuse me, sir," the Frisker addresses. "I'm a traveling merchant who wants to sell this special fabric. I want to know if you can try it on."
"Is it all right if I suggest something?" Junpei asked. Later at Frisker base...
"The man who stripped the Emporer...defeated," the red Frisker moaned as the green Frisker is huddled in the corner, naked and crying. The leader was growing furious.
"Send the team," he ordered. Back at Pulina's house, two more Friskers show up. One had a sun as a head, and the other had a wave of wind. Al and Rin wanted to battle.
"Kazuki may have got my body back," the blonde Elric started. "...And he gave me a new ability."
"...And what would that be, Elric?" she wondered. Al clapped his hands, crossed them, and placed them on his shoulders. His body morphed back into the armor suit he once was. Rin was surprised that he could go back to the suit, but turned back to the Friskers and charged at them, with Al by her side. Back at base...
"Northern Sun and Wind...defeated," the red Frisker whined. More Friskers were summond to get Pulina's blessed dress, but everytime... "Nude Artist...defeated." The guards never let one pass them. "Dr. Let's-Take-A-Closer-Look Man...defeated." Even Pikachu and Elizabeth got involved. "Let's-Bait-Together Man...defeated." The leader was more and more angry for every failed attempt.
"This is unacceptable," he roars.
"Why don't we just give it up?"
"Not yet. We will need to use our trump card. Behold!" He turns a light on to a painting. "The god of hand-to-hand combat. The god of weapons. The god of entertainment. And the god of tranformation. At times, a panda, and others, a mushtached dog. They are known as 'Those Who Hunt Elves.' Mention elf and they will be on it in an instant. They will take care of those guards and grab the blessed dress." He laughs manically. Back at Pulina's house...
"Those Friskers are rather persistant, aren't they, fifth child?" Asuka asked.
"Well, at least we can be just as persistant," Ash laughs.
"They don't stand a chance when we put our heads, hearts and knuckles together," Junpei acknowledged. "Now if it was used to get the remaining spell fragments from elves, we can get back home." Ash's and Rin's suspicions grew.
"Spell fragments from elves?"
"What do you mean by that?" Rin growled.
"We're searching for elves who have spell fragments tatooed on the bodies in order to go back to Jap-" Ritsuko's words were halted when Ash and Rin jumped up.
"We knew something was up with you two."
"What are you talking about?" Junpei argued.
"You're a member of those Friskers, aren't you?" Ash counters back.
"Like, hell, we are!"
"Don't play dumb with us," Rin roared. "We won't allow you to stay with this target...not while we're here." With that, Junpei and Ritsuko exit the house.
"Why did you throw them out of the house?" Pulina asked.
"We had suspicions about those two since we met them," Ash said, still with that mean look.
"But why them? They said they target only elves, but do I look like one?"
"Ketchum has a point," Rin acknowledges. "Even if you were an elf, the target is still the dress. We rather let those fragments vanish first." Silence was a few seconds long.
"Okay, I'm heading out to scout those two," Ash said.
"You're going alone?" Asuka asks.
"I'll go with you, Ash," Elizabeth said. Ash nods, and heads out. In town, a woman, in a red theatre outfit, and a small panda were hanging out by a T-74 military tank. Then, Junpei and Ritsuko arrived at the site.
"Where have you two been?" the panda asked.
"Celsia and I have been waiting for you two for quite a while." The woman moans. Ash and Elizabeth arrive as well, but hide in a bush as the four conversated.
"We found the girl with the blessed dress, but were kicked out by a bunch of brats when they got suspicious of us," Junpei answered.
"Miss Airi, that must be the elf with the short ears," Celsia gleed.
"That was probably what tipped them off."
"At least we know the location of the elf," Airi nodded.
"You were right, Ash," Elizabeth whispered. "Now, all we need are the other Friskers to join them." Ash looks over to the road adjacent to the location, where the leader and his Friskers approached Junpei's team.
"That won't be long," Ash whispers back. The leader approaches.
"Are you 'Those Who Hunt Elves'?" he asks.
"I wish we weren't given such a deploritated title," Airi sighs. As they address the situation, Ash and Elizabeth retreat back to the house. There, Al opens the door. After Ash tells them about the warning, TWHE and the Friskers arrive at the house, but TWHE approaches just as Ash's group exits and stands in front of the house. "So you are the kids protecting the elf right?" Asuka nods.Celsia steps up.
"Please listen to us,"she speaks to the group, much to Asuka's disgust.
"A panda that can talk human," she monotones. "Now I've seen everything."
"I am an elf who's trapped in this panda skin, because of the spell fragments that we've collected. You see-"
"Celsia Marie Claire?" Pulina wondered. "Is that you?"
"You know her?" Rin questioned.
"She one of the strongest elves that exsist in the world." As they conversated, the Friskers leader had a bad feeling about the situation. Back with the other group, and a moment later...
"Okay, I understand," Ash said. "Sorry about not trusting you. Friends?"
"Friends," Junpei said. "Now about the group of morons behind us..."
"I say we go all out," Asuka grinned, as she punched her open hand, making Ritsuko blush.
"I like this kid," she smiled as Asuka drew out a spear from the EVA watch. The group gave the Friskers a unified mean look, making them sweat drop. Then, the fight begins. After three minutes, all but the Friskers' leader were KO'ed.
"I will not be defeated so easily!" he shouted and runs off. Pikachu turns to Ash and Ritsuko.
("Ash, use the tank to shoot me to the leader,") it squeaked.
"Shoot you out of the tank?" he asked.
"Shoot you out of Mikei?" she copied. Both humans glimpsed over at each other.
"Your tank is named Mikei?"
"And your mouse wants to be shot out?" After a second to think... "I'm game."
"Let's do it." Pikachu enters Mikei's barrel. "Pikachu, aim."
"Mikei, fire!" Mikei fires Pikachu at the Friskers' leader, as it spins and makes itself into an electric bullet. The leader was starting to slow down due to fatigue, unaware of Pikachu fast approaching. He stops and turns around to see a yellow light growing.
"What's that?" he wondered. In a flash, Pikachu appears and looks like he's on target. When contact is made, an explosion is seen, and everyone was worried about Pikachu, unaware if it was okay. A few tense moments later, Pikachu appears, walking casually, as if nothing happened.
"Pikachu, you're okay," Ash cheered.
("Of course I am,") it squeaked as it jumped onto Rin and hugged her. The group celebrated the victory as the spells on Pulina's dress evaporated. Then, as soon as the last spell disappears, her ears grow, revealing her to be an elf. Ash turns to her.
"See Pulina, we didn't allow those Friskers-" He stopped mid-sentence when he saw her head. "The spells are gone, aren't they?" She nods in guilt. Ash puts his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for everything."
"You're not to blame, Ash," she mutters. She proceeds to hug him. After a few seconds, she breaks and walks over to the elf-hunters. "Junpei, it's time. Strip me." Junpei hesitates, unaware that the elf he helped protect, now wants to be declothed.
"Pulina, I know you don't have any spell fragments," he moans. "To rip your clothes off is a waste of time. I don't-"
"Oh, come on, Junpei," Celsia interupt. "Take the blessed dress, at least." That's when Asuka grabs her bag, and pulls out a yellow summer dress.
"Here," she orders. "A trade: a dress for a dress." Pulina thinks about it. Then, she takes Asuka's dress.
"Deal!" she confirms. A little while later, Pulina, in Asuka's dress, walks back home as the two teams ride on Mikei. Pikachu was talking to a small white bear with a red bowtie. It caused Ritsuko to giggle about it.
"It seems Pikachu and Peachy have a lot on their minds," she smirked.
"Well, with these two coming from different dimensions, I'm not too surprised," Al said. Celsia was enjoying the feel of Pulina's dress.
"This curse is going to be a thing of the past," she gleed as she throws the dress on. Then, she starts to glow and morph. After a few seconds, the glow subsided, and she appeared again, as a blond haired, blue-eyed elf. Suddenly, the dress breaks, but a purple robe appears as a replacement. "I'm back to normal!" She cheers as she feels great being back to her normal, elven body. Her celebrating, however, had shaken something loose and it hits the tank. "What's this?" Everyone looks over.
"It's the fifth Queen's Key." Junpei picks it up to observe it. "And Junpei is coming with us." After Al explained the keys, it was about the moment to take off. After Mikei stopped, Ash, Al, Junpei, Asuka, and Rei jumped off. The five hold the keys up, and the same portal appeared. That's when Celsia jumps down as well, and approaches Ash.
"Ash, I know I'm no cupid, but I believe you'll find your future mate on the other side of this vortex. Thank you for everything." She hugs the trainer, and gives him a kiss on the nose. Seeing this, Junpei got jelous and wanted something, too.
"Celsia, don't I get something as well?" he requests. She gets up and walks over to Junpei.
"Oh, you get something all right." She brings her arm back, and throws it forward. Her fist crashes into Junpei's face, sending him into the portal.
"Hey, ladies first!" Asuka protests, as she and Rin entered. Al followed pursuit.
"Guess I gotta go," Ash said. "Bye." He enters, followed by the portal disappearing. On the other side, the place was a lot more lively than before. The five look around. Then, Junpei digs into his pocket to find and pull out...
"Dollars and cents?" he ponders. "This place..." Some of the signs caught his eyes: the MTV logo, a sign for the Madison Square Garden, and a streetsign from a distance reading "Wall St." "Guys..."
"What is it?" the other four asked in unison.
"WE'RE IN NEW YORK CITY!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
The gang finds theirselves in Times Square in NYC, but on an improtant date...9/11. How will they react to an event they have no idea about?