Chapter 18
After the Lush Jungle's trial, the group are walking towards the Ruins of Life so that Ash can challenge the Kahuna Olivia. Ash has been chatting with Kristen for a while, and he is surprised to learn that Kristen also has Aura Powers, so they have been talking a lot about it.
Kristen is enjoying her conversation with the young man besides her, and he is the most interesting person she had ever met. She knows that Ash is also a high skilled Aura User and he might not be able to share some secrets in his heart, so she decides to ask, "Hey, Ash. When I see you defeat the Totem Lurantis, I saw that you have let timed the speed of Solar Blade right and slams it with your Sceptile's X Scissor. How did you do that?"
This also causes the others to ask in question. Ash says, "Even if I tell you about my secret behind it, you or other people can't duplicate it with any of your Grass Type Pokemon. Sceptile and I have been training hard for years and that's how."
Kristen sighs and giggles, knowing that she wouldn't find the answers from him, but the others, especially Max, is keen to know. "Come on now, Ash. We are friends and you can tell us everything."
Ash just shakes his head and says, "Sorry. I can't tell you, since it will be unfair for Sceptile since he has been doing harsh trainings." But Max isn't going to give up, so that Ash decides to ignore him for now.
"That jerk...I just want some tips..." Max mutters. Kristen says, "You can't understand him because it is his move. He has been through hardships and he had worked so hard to master them. You didn't suffer the same hardships that Ash had, which is why he can't teach you. Besides, I am sure you can come up with some cooler moves than Ash does. You just have to think."
Max says, "You're right. I am going to think of a move to outshine Ash." The others also have the same determination, as for Ash, he is amazed at how she helped him with that, but he knows that if Lillie is here, she would do the same thing as well.
After that, it is lunch time and then Kristen decides to pry some news about Ash. "So can you tell me about Ash? He seems to be very interesting."
Misty says, "Well, I was probably the first and the longest person to have ever traveled with Ash. And I could sense him as a naïve, stubborn and clueless guy. During my journey with him, he always says that he is going to be the best trainer and he always helps Pokemon that needs help rather than training. And some of the wins are based on luck and the Johto League is as well."
Kristen doesn't seem to buy her words and she says, "So he doesn't train that often? If you ask me, I quite find it hard to believe."
May says, "But he changed after coming to Hoenn, he takes training seriously and he has been helping us as well. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't find our dreams and we wouldn't manage to move forward."
"And in the Sinnoh Region and Unova Region, it is when we, Iris and Cilan travel with him, and all we can say is that he is quite mysterious and he is good at keeping secrets."
Brock knows that the conversation can't be go off the track, as he says, "I agree with Dawn, just think about it, the way Ash and Pikachu, as well as his other Pokemon battle that we had never seen before, just how much he had hid those techniques when he traveled throughout the six regions? Have you ever thought about that?"
Kristen nods and she asks, "So you said that he has traveled through 6 regions, but from what I heard, none of you have been traveled with Ash in the Kalos Region. Does something happened to him in that region that you know?"
Brock says, "Though we heard that he had a special Greninja that can change form, from what he told us, he called it Ash-Greninja."
"Ash-Greninja..." Kristen says while holding her chin, "I have never seen it before...it would be a great thing to check about it."
"But hey, where did Ash go?" Max asks as they realize that Ash disappears again. Kristen asks, "Is this happened very often?"
"Well, it happened every Sunday." Brock says. "Though we don't know why he always goes missing, but he threatened us to kill us if we try to follow him."
"I see..." Just then, they hear the sound of the violin and they go check it out, then they see how Ash is playing the violin and it calms the pack of Lycanroc down with ease.
"Ash knows how to play instrument? Since when?" This causes the girls to get shocked. Gary says, "Well, Ash has been learnt how to play it because his father taught him...but he didn't play it after he went missing...why now?"
Kristen looks at the Lycanroc Day form and Night form, she says, "I think that he plays it to calm those packs down. You see, those two packs have been fighting and music can help soothe their hearts."
"That was a nice music you have here." They turn around and see the group. Ash says, "You all heard that, right?"
"Yeah, why didn't you tell us that you can play the violin?" Iris asks.
"Well, I didn't want to...since it brings bad memories. But now I am fine for now because I think it is time to move on." Ash says. Everyone nods, but Kristen feels like he is hiding something and she decides to say, "Hey Ash. Can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?" Ash asks in confusion.
"From the looks of it, I can sense that you are a high skilled Aura User. And if it is possible, may I have an Aura Battle with you?" Kristen asks with a smirk.
This causes Ash to freeze and the others are confused except for Brock and Gary, who has witnessed first hand. "Did I hear it wrong? You want me to have an aura battle with you right in front of those people? I mean...I don't want them to get hurt because of it..."
"It will be fine." Kristen says with a smile. "I know that you have been training with it behind our backs, and I have been wanting to see how strong you are."
Ash sighs in defeat as he says, "Fine. I'll play with you for a while."
As for the others, May asks, "What is Aura Battle?"
"I don't know...but I think it is somehow related to Aura?" Cilan asks.
Just then, they are surprised to see that Kristen takes out a Gun while Ash takes out a Needle. Then they charge each other and then they start to attack each other. Ash dodges the Gyro Ball and then injects the needle in her skin, causing her to be poisoned.
"Not bad...but I am not going down easily." Kristen says.
"Wait, are they actually fighting with weapons?" Iris asks.
"That's really dangerous, they might be killing each other." Misty yells, but Gary mutters, "Says the girl who has a dangerous mallet with her." Then he has been hit by the same thing.
And unknown to them, Kristen has already set up a drone camera as she records it live to the Aether Foundation, where the others are watching it. Lusamine says, "It seems like Kristen is battling someone with an Aura Battle."
"What?" This causes surprise to everyone in the room, as they all look at it. Adam, Ruka and Lillie gasp as the one who battles her is no other than Ash, with the others by his side as well.
Gladion says, "Even though it is surprising to meet someone who can use Aura, but I am sorry for him since Kristen is a good Aura User."
"I am not sure about it, he manages to poison her, maybe it is going to be interesting." Professor Burnet walks into the room and says.
As for the others, Ruka says, "How about a bet? I bet a hundred thousand on my daughter."
"Or I'll bet half a million for my son." Adam says to her, but Lillie says, "I bet a million for a tie." This causes them to be confused.
At the same time, Ash takes out the Gun and then it forms into a tail, and then it slaps Kristen, who winces a little, but then she just takes out the Wand and then making a Dazzling Gleam, Ash is hit by the light as he is a little blind as he closes his eyes.
"Even though you make me blind, I still can see your movements, Kristen." Ash says as he takes out the Wings and jumps into the sky. Then he uses Aerial Ace to deal some damage. Kristen then feels her power is going to erode her, so she decides to take out the gloves and then uses the Final Gambit, causing both of them to fall down to the ground at the same time, not only that, the two weapons, the gloves and the wings are also on the ground as it means the match ends with a tie.
"What just happened..." Dawn asks.
"From the looks of it, I guess the match is a tie..." Gary says. "They sure look equally strong."
In the Aether Foundation, Lillie says, "You two owe me money." Then the two adults groan as they lost a lot of money to the princess.
Kristen gets back up and then Ash does the same. Kristen says, "Ash, nice battle. I can see that you may be my strongest rival in this era."
"Why thank you. And I have never been this great ever since I battled your mother in the Kanto Region." Ash says while they shake hands. This movement causes Kristen to blush a little and then the others decide to ask them.
"Ash, Kristen, where did you get those weapons? They look so cool to use Pokemon moves like that." Max says.
"Yeah, Ash. Can you teach us how to do that? It looks very cool if we put them inside the contests." Dawn says.
Ash shakes his head and says, "I am sorry, but they can't be gotten unless you are blessed by the Legendary Pokemon. You see, I got it because I was given by Mew back at the Tree of Beginning." But he knows that it is a lie, since he can't tell them about Arceus, and she understands that.
"As for me and my family, besides my sister, we are blessed by Lunala, the Legendary of this region." Kristen says. "But one day if you are blessed with it, I am sure that I would like to take apprentices."
The others groan as they can't do those tricks, but they understand that there must be risks to do such tactics. Kristen asks, "So Ash, I want to ask you, do you have any nicknames or some sort?"
Ash flinches a little and then he says, "Well, I do have one, and I am not going to tell you how I get it. I was called Crimson Red for one time because of my powers."
"I see. That sure is a suitable name for you." Kristen smiles as they continue to walk forward.
Now that the new chapter is out, and you see that Ash and Kristen has an Aura Battle and in fact, the Ketchum Family and the Aether Family all can use it. I hope you like this chapter.
