Hey Nuggies! Well I really shouldn't be doing this, but here I am writing another fanfiction since I have writers block on a few of my other ones, and because this won't leave me alone. Here is your warning this will be SLASH! Not to sure on if it'll be M!Preg or not, but at this current moment I have not thought about it.
Main Pairing: AshxPaul
Side pairing: AshxGary (One sided on Gary's part)
Rating: M (to be safe)
Chapter Warning(s): Ash is just running into problem after problem isn't he?
Disclaimer: I do not own pokémon, it belongs to Game Freak, Nintendo, Creatures, The Pokemon Company, etc, nor do I write this for profit. This is for entertainment use only.
A/N: I finally settled on a Bug type (I think)!
Enjoy!
After spending the rest of the morning speaking to a few guests and a few people in management, Ash finally got a name for the blond woman that left Tyrantrum in the Safari Zone. He wouldn't do anything to her, not until after he consulted Professor Oak and Baoba, since the Safari is his, but he would keep a lookout for Abigail Summers.
If he were able to, he would set Tyrantrum up to fight against her pokémon while on the ship, but unfortunately Tyrantrum was over the weight limit for the ship. Charizard and Krookodile were just under the weight limit, but they were pushing it. For now, he would just keep an eye on her and listen to any rumors about her. After all, some rumors have a grain of truth in them.
A soft growl caught his attention and a smile graced his lips as he watched Riolu stalk forward towards Zoroark, who was aware of the pups' action, but did nothing to stop Riolu. Ash withheld his laughter as he saw Riolus' tail and ears twitch before the half-albino leaped at Zoroark. The larger pokémon waited until the last minute to snatch the baby out of the air and trapped him between his hands to start grooming him. Ash had to admit how cute it was that Zoroark had taken up being one of Riolus' main caretakers. Though he couldn't determine if Zoroark was being like a father to Riolu or simply a big brother to the small pup.
A muffled yelp and thud coming from the hallway outside his room caused everyone inside to stop what they were doing and look towards the door. Ash, with a thudding heart, got up and walked slowly towards the door with Doublade right behind him to protect her trainer if anything malicious was behind the door. The teen peered outside through the peephole, but didn't see anything.
As he backed away from the peephole he heard soft whimpering that sounded like it came from below him. Slowly Ash opened the door and looked down only to see a red stained white coat of a pokémon panting heavily and unfocused glazed eyes peering forward. His eyes widened and quickly he looked both ways down the hallway to see if there was anyone there. Not seeing anyone he knelt and carefully picked up the small pokémon.
Ash noted how cold the creature was as he told the others to stay in the room as he stepped out, but Doublade and Pikachu wouldn't have it and made it outside of the room before Ash could fully close the door. The teen merely clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth before quickly making his way down the hall to get to the Center they had on board.
The small pokémon, that Ash recognized as a regional variant of Vulpix, was bleeding sluggishly onto his clothes and its breathing was slowing down along with the slow beating of its heart he could feel under his hand. He cursed softly under his breath as he picked up the pace. The teen ignored the exclamations and rude words as he cut in line at the Center. It only took a one second look from the Nurse Joy on staff before the Vulpix was taken out of his arms by a Chansey to be taken to the back to hopefully survive what had hurt it.
"Sir?"
Ash turned to see a smaller woman standing beside him and it only took him a moment to realize that she was just a nurse in training. "Y-Yes?" Ash replied as he licked his dry lips. His own heart was thundering in his chest and he kept shooting glances at the door the Vulpix was taken through as the nurse in training began asking him questions.
"Look I don't know how the Vulpix became like that," Ash said after the relentless accusatory questions spewed out of the trainees mouth, "I was in my room with my pokémon and all of a sudden I heard a thud and a yelp coming from outside my room. When I opened my door the Vulpix was laying there against the door and no one else was in the hall."
The trainee went silent before nodding and stepping away to help the others that were in the Center. The twin blades let out a grating metallic sound that caused those around them to wince and stop their whispering and wrapped one of her ribbons around his wrist as Pikachu chittered in his ear. Ash looked at the two and gave them a small smile before walking over to the seating area to wait for anything from Nurse Joy. Thankfully he still had his ID and watch on him in case he needed to take this pokémon away from whoever left it outside his room.
Just briefly he had felt how skinny the Vulpix was and it was obvious, to him at least, that the small regional variant was neglected if not outright abused. He would know more when Nurse Joy comes back.
Paul- How's everything going? Get to your room yet?
Ash sighed softly as a small smile appeared on his lips as he received the text. Paul couldn't have messaged at a better time. He really needed the small distraction.
Ash- I made it to my room just fine. I'm in one of the VIP rooms. My day could have gone a bit better though. Someone left a neglected and wounded Vulpix at my door.
Paul- Damn! Is it okay?
Ash- No clue. Nurse Joy hasn't left the back room to tell me anything.
Paul- How come these things always happen with you? First Krookodile, then the two rescues you got and Charizard, then Tyrunt, and now this Vulpix?
Ash bit his lip softly as he leaned back in the seat he was in giving Pikachu the opportunity to settle in his lap. He ran his fingers through the static filled fur as the twin swords kept a look out behind him for anyone approaching her trainer. On one hand he could tell Paul about his Aura that acted like a pokémon magnet or he could just play dumb and tell him it later. He weighed the pros and cons of telling Paul for a moment before replying to Paul.
Ash- I don't know really, but if someone or some pokémon needs help then I'll do what I need to get them help if it's in my power to do it.
Paul- You're a good guy Ash. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Ash felt his heart skip a beat and warmth flush his cheeks as he replied with a thanks. He was just about to message Oak about this predicament when Nurse Joy stepped out of the room clean of any blood that would have gotten on her from looking over the Vulpix. Just seeing her clean made Ash feel a little self-conscious as he hadn't cleaned the blood off his own hands.
"Mr. Ketchum?" Nurse Joy asked as she approached the teen. She recognized him thanks to her sisters from the other Centers the teen had visited. Her sisters were quite the gossips.
Ash nodded and stood up once Pikachu was once again on his shoulder. "How is the Vulpix?" Ash asked as Doublade hovered just behind his shoulder on the opposite side of Pikachu.
"She is quite well despite how she looked when you brought her in," Joy replied with a small smile, "If you'll come on back we can discuss Vulpix back there." Ash nodded and followed the Nurse to the back. He shivered as he entered the room Vulpix was in and relaxed as he saw the small white fox breathing steadily and heard the steady beat of her heart monitor. Though the little fox was covered by a multitude of ice filled bags.
"Do you know anything about the Alolan Vulpix?" Joy asked as she gestured for Ash to sit in the chair by the bed as she sat down on the other chair in the room.
"Not much really," Ash said as Pikachu once again settled in his lap and Doublade moved to hover over the white fox kit.
"Much like how the fire type Vulpix embodies fire, the Alolan Vulpix are the embodiment of ice." Nurse Joy said as she clasped her hands together, "Like how a Vulpix shouldn't be exposed to a cold wet environment for long, Alolan Vulpix shouldn't be exposed to harsh heat, and while the Alolan Vulpix can cool the air around them it's not ideal for them to be out and about for long. That just brings more harm than good."
Ash nodded as he mentally took a note to look into the lore and scientific studies done on Vulpix. It seemed like it would be a fascinating read. "So the heat took the Vulpix out? What about her other injuries?" Ash asked as he rubbed Pikachus' ears.
"She's very dehydrated, on the verge of a heat stroke, malnourished, had a very nasty gash on her side that has mostly healed thanks to a super potion," Joy said as she pulled over the Vulpixs' chart to read over what she had written down on it, "Do you know the circumstances on how she came to be like this?"
Ash shook his head and explained what he had told the trainee outside. "I would request the security footage," Ash said after he explained how he found the kit, "Whoever did this shouldn't get away with this kind of neglect and abuse and I'm afraid for their other pokémon if they let her get to this state. Is she registered to anyone?"
"I agree and unfortunately she is not registered to anyone. She must have been stowed away with someone's belongings or she happened to get on the ship herself. Though I am unlikely to believe the latter seeing as we are docked here in Kanto and haven't been around Alola in months," Joy said as she placed the chart back where she had taken it from, "Am I to be correct in assuming you'll be taking her after she's ready to be taken from here?"
"Yes." Ash simply put as he gave the Nurse a determined look and a nod.
Paul- I'm going to be getting on the ship tomorrow.
The text came later that night just as Ash sat down on the bed to sleep. Doublade was once again floating by the window while his three large reptiles, besides Tyrantrum who was still in his pokéball, were curled up and sleeping near a heated rock and Charizards' tail to keep warm. Pikachu, Riolu, and Zoroark were curled up on the left over space on his bed while Seadra dozed in his tank while his tail was wrapped around the branch at the bottom of the tank.
Ash- Do you know what room you're in?
Paul- D15
Ash- That's the floor below me I think. Near the deck.
Paul- Nice.
Ash- What time are you arriving?
Paul- Around 9 am.
Ashs' smile grew as he replied that he would see him then before setting his watch to the side to charge. Ash let out a small sigh before grabbing his ancestors journal to read a bit before falling asleep.
February XX, XXXX
Day ninety-four of training.
Something miraculous happened today, my egg decided to hatch in the middle of the night! My exclamations had brought the masters and trainees running into my room, but I cared not for them. I kept my eyes on the egg as it hatched in my lap.
Riolu was perfect. Beautiful shiny blue and black fur, perfect paws, bright eyes, and fully intact feelers on each side of his head. Just perfect. The way his paws hold his bottle as I feed him and the way his ears twitch melts my heart.
Anyway, Master gave me the next week off to get into the rhythm of taking care of Riolu and balancing my other duties around the Sanctuary. I suppose I'll write again when I go back to my training.
End of day ninety-four of training.
A.R.K
Ash chuckled at how smitten his ancestor sounded in his writing. He could relate, after all his own Riolu was adorable when he did things and he loved Riolu just as much as his ancestor loved his own. He set the book back in his bag before turning off the reading light he was using and settled under the covers.
The sounds of Wingull crying out to each other woke Ash up the next morning as well as the sounds of kids running in the hallways. Ash supposed he should get use to the sounds of that for the next two weeks since that was how long this cruise lasts. Another noise caught his attention along with a bit of movement on his bed. Looking down Ash smiled as he saw Riolu crawling up towards him with a sleepy look on his face.
"Morning Riolu," Ash said softly as to not wake the others and laughed softly when he heard the soft chuff of noise that came from the pup before Riolu plopped down to fall back to sleep once more.
Wishing he could go back to sleep like Riolu, Ash sadly sat up before remembering the text Paul sent him last night. His eyes widened before he scrambled to grab his watch to see what time it was and let out a sigh of relief when he saw it was half past seven in the morning. He had time to go see Vulpix before meeting up with Paul. Quickly Ash got ready, after taking a shower, and asked who wanted to come with him after seeing that some of his pokémon woke up while he was getting clean.
Pikachu, of course, hopped up onto his shoulder, but Zoroark clambered up from the bed to come with him. Riolu stayed with the others seeing as the pup was still asleep where he plopped down earlier. "Let's go!" Ash said as he grabbed his things to leave the room. Pikachu let out a cheerful coo as Zoroark let out a bark in agreement.
His first stop of the morning was to the Center on board. Surprisingly the Nurse Joy that was there last night was there as well this morning, but the confusion went away when the Nurse explained that she got off shift at nine when her cousin, Nurse Joy, took over for her.
"She pulled through the night," Nurse Joy said as she led Ash back to the room Vulpix was in the night before, "I have no worries about her relapsing into a heat stroke now that she has cooled off and she managed to get a bit of food and water down. I would like to keep her for a few more hours on the IV just to make sure she's gotten enough fluids in her before I release Vulpix into your care."
"I understand," Ash said as he nodded, "I just wanted to check on her this morning. Yesterday, and whatever happened to her before that, must have left her scared of what is going on. Have you been able to get the security footage?"
"I have," Joy said as she opened the door to the room, "Would you like to see it? See if you recognize the person?"
Ash nodded once again as his eyes immediately focused on the small fox sitting up on the bed. He could see little ice crystals floating around her as she shook her fur out before she proceeded to groom herself. The Vulpix looked much better than she had the day before.
"Hey there," Ash said softly as Nurse Joy stepped outside and closed the door, "My name is Ash and these two are Pikachu and Zoroark."
The white fox let out a chirp of a noise as she tilted her head to look at the human. She recognized his scent as the human that brought her here. He had such warm and kind hands, unlike the person who had her before. Vulpix couldn't help the little wags of her tails as the human stepped closer.
"I guess I should explain what is going to happen with you now," Ash said as he sat down on the chair by the bed. To his surprise the Vulpix stepped closer to himself and laid down facing him with her ears canted towards himself. "I'll be taking you with me," Ash said once she was settled, "If you want to, that is to become a member of my family."
Vulpix perked her head up and her tails began to sway quickly. This human wanted her. Actually wanted her as part of his pack. She let out a sharp bark before leaping from her spot on the bed onto the lap of the human sitting before her. She licked his face as his warm kind hands held her in place to keep her from falling.
"I'm taking that as a yes then," Ash said as he smiled at her before wiping the cold saliva off his face before it could leave frostbite where she had licked.