"So, Ash, how's the Sinnoh region treating you so far?" Asked Professor Oak over the phone.
"We're doing pretty good, we just reached Hearthome, and the Gym Leader just got back in town!"
A Mid-Sinnoh Night's Dream - XXIV - Mild Amounts Of Mischief
As cliche as it was, the chapter began with Hilbert waking up in the Pokemon Center, spread out across three chairs and with one hell of a back-ache. Abra was in his usual pose, sitting on the tip of his tail. Mira was still asleep, so he went outside to call her grandmother.
"Hello, yes, is this Mira's grandmother?"
"Who is this?"
He pinched his nose and resisted the urge to sigh. Shaking it off, he replied, "I'm the guy who called you yesterday? Interpol officer? Ring a bell? Did you not get my message?"
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, my memory can be quite foggy sometimes. I have trouble with these modern machines, back in my day we simply used Pelipper mail."
"Naturally. If you wouldn't mind coming to the Pokemon Center, I'd like to talk with you."
"Do you need more help looking for my Mira?"
"No, see… She's here, but she's a little sick."
"I'll be there right away," the elderly woman said frantically, hanging up before he could get another word in.
"You really ought to take a seat for this, miss…?" he said as the old woman walked in, shakily tapping away with her cane.
"Kathleen. How bad is it?" She croaked.
"Oh, I'm not a doctor," he paused, looking back at the intubated girl, who rapidly shut her one watchful eye. "But she's doing fine. It's something else, actually. About her Abra."
"Well, don't keep an old soul in suspense, what's wrong?"
"See…" He wildly gestured, looking for the words. "She sort of… combined with her Abra. I think."
"I've never heard of such a thing!"
"Yeah, that's a pretty common reaction when I get involved with stuff," he sighed. "Mira, are you awake? I saw you looking earlier."
Her sigh sputtered through the oxygen mask. "Yeah…"
He reached over to the bedside table where a fresh plate of hospital food laid. Grabbing the spoon, he held it upright between Mira and her grandmother.
"Eat this."
"...What?"
"I mean, um, bend this."
Mira weakly lifted her arms, but she couldn't get them around the bedsheets.
"I can't…"
"Just focus on it really hard. Abra, what are you seeing?"
Abra's eyes turned into even thinner slits.
"Her Psions are reaching out from her body, but they're still weak. Wait, they're covering the spoon now."
The metal spoon bent at a slight angle, but was still visibly changed. Mira's eyes widened in shock, though it was hard to tell from her still-dazed expression.
Hilbert nodded to himself and turned to the old woman. "Your granddaughter has ESP. Congratulations, you're related to a psychic."
He pressed the call button on a nearby machine when she fainted right there and then.
A half an hour later, Kathleen was awake and Hilbert decided to be a little more cautious with his words.
"Sorry about the theatrics, I have a few bad habits. Are you feeling alright?"
The elderly woman wiped her brow with a handkerchief and nodded.
"Right. Now, I'm not an expert on this kind of thing, but I think you have a few options." Hilbert held up three fingers, glancing back at Mira, who was pretending to be asleep for the 'grown-up conversation'. "She could travel with me and my friends, Dawn's pretty good with kids," he absent-mindedly pulled out his Interpol badge, "And I'm already used to all sorts of weird things. I mean, I don't know exactly what an Aura Guardian is, but a lot of people seem to think that's me- But my point is, I deal with this kind of thing a lot."
"...Go on," Kathleen said slowly.
"My Abra could stick around and show her the ropes. He's pretty powerful as Abra go, though I'll need to talk to him about his sociopathic tendencies. He can talk to either of you in your head, I think it's called telepathy. He can see psychic energy too, so that's not an issue."
"I see."
"And last thing I could think of, you get in contact with another psychic. Isn't one of the Elite Four in Sinnoh an expert on that? Anyway, that might work, but they're probably busy."
"I… I don't mean to offend, but I'd rather her not travel. She's too young, the League has the right idea with the age restriction. In my opinion, the year someone turns sixteen is too early, but you probably don't want to hear that."
"I'm sorry if I sound like an idiot, but why's that the case?"
"...Right. You are a bit too young to remember," the old woman sighed. "It used to be ten, but after the war, there was a huge stink about sending kids off to fight battles like that. That was my time though, not yours. Youth is the key to the future, I suppose."
"I need to ask the Professor about that next time I see him. So I guess that'll be option two? I imagine it's dangerous for her not to learn at all."
"That seems agreeable. Truly, I thank you for everything you've done so far." The elderly woman bowed towards him.
"It was nothing, really. If you don't mind, could I talk with Abra before I leave?"
"Absolutely, I'll leave you in peace."
Hilbert sat in a guest area, focusing intently on Abra's unwavering expression.
"So."
"So," he agreed. "You're getting rid of me? I'll be getting stir-crazy. Wouldn't want that, would you?"
"You know I'm not getting rid of you. You want to hang out with us, just Teleport to the lab and tell the Professor to give me a ring. You probably won't be able to find us while we're on the road, but I'm sure it'll be fine in most towns."
"You'll be flying much more then. Can the brute survive the pressure?"
"Golurk's getting better at flying, don't worry."
"I don't get worried about simpletons."
"Whatever. That's probably the equivalent of a decent goodbye coming from you. You want to say anything to the others?"
"It's not forever. Just a while. Humans may be stupid, ignorant, and a total waste of oxygen, however, you have a tendency to catch on rather quickly. It appears your females have greater work ethic, so it won't take much time at all."
"Yeah, yeah, diss me all you want. Are you going to teach Mira about inverting anatomy or how to make people bleed from their ears?"
"No," he responded with false regret.
"Good. If you can, try to help Abra get out of her head. You're probably the closest thing to a therapist she can get in that situation."
"I'll see what I can do for them. With my limitless power and intellect, it won't be any trouble."
"You know, everyone can tell you're faking the ego thing. It's not bad to admit that you care."
"Tsk. Humans are foolish, and you are the most foolish of them all."
"I'll see you later, Abra. Come visit sometime, neh?"
"Same to you, boss."
He closed the door behind him after leaving Abra and his Pokeball with Kathleen and Mira. Exhaling a deep sigh, he dialed a number he usually only used in emergencies.
"Hey, Looker, you don't mind getting me in contact with a member of the Elite Four, do you?"
"...I'm sure there's a good reason for this, otherwise I'm getting accused of nepotism, got that?"
"Nepot- What?"
"It's when you're biased towards someone you're related to in the workplace."
"But we're not-"
"The interns come up with all sorts of wild theories. I'd compare it to a sitcom if I had the spare time to watch them."
"Got any good ones?"
"Well… This line is probably wiretapped… Eh, I heard that the director and his secretary are- Doing their jobs with the utmost efficiency, how are you doing, sir?" Looker's attention had clearly been diverted from the call, and he was looking towards a passing man in a suit on the small screen.
"...Slow day at the office?"
"When I'm not in the field, I'm here. Now, who did you want to meet?"
"Who's the psychic in the Elite Four? I read the pamphlet once, I forgot the name."
"Caitlin."
"Caitlin, Caitlin, right. Well, can you get her in contact with someone I know? I met a girl with psychic powers and I really think an expert would be helpful."
"I'll see what I can do. But I hear any complaints about autographs, you're getting a pay dock."
"But I don't get paid."
"..."
"Right?"
"You'll have to talk to HR for that."
"But I don't know how to call-"
Click.
"Whatever, it's probably fine."
"Hey man, where the heck were you?" Barry nodded towards him as he walked into the continental breakfast. It was only around nine in the morning, and considering Barry's sleep schedule and appetite, it made perfect sense that he'd still be there.
Lucas was scrolling through something on his cross-transceiver, and quietly acknowledged Hilbert's return before going back to what he was doing.
"Doing my thing. We have a new little sister, and Abra's teaching her how to be psychic."
"...You're going to have to run me through that again, what?"
"Okay, so what happened was-"
A few minutes later…
I hate dot-dot-dot!
Back to the studio with you!
"So we're going to be flying a lot more now?"
"Yep."
"And there's a girl who's like you, but Psychic-type?"
"I guess?"
"And we're supposed to be getting paid by the cops?"
"Maybe."
"Huh. So, what's next?"
Hilbert shrugged, "Dunno. Heading to Canalave doesn't sound too bad."
"Sunnyshore's still dealing with that blackout," Lucas chimed in, barely glancing up.
"Yeah, sounds like a plan."
The others arrived soon after, and after expressing their concern, sat down to eat some breakfast. Hilbert explained while inhaling an eighth slice of toast (Using aura can take a lot out of a guy, he long since guessed.) the situation but promised he'd deal with the wind while they were flying. He made a comment about not messing up their hair, probably sounded condescending, had stuff thrown at him, you get the gist. Because slapstick is the best kind of comedy there is, right guys? No sarcasm here.
In the darkened cloudy outdoors, there was a bit of a commotion. Turned out, there were people out there just as hot-blooded as Hilbert, while not being, well, Hilbert.
A guy a bit older than them was lauding his misfortune alongside an empathetic Pikachu, a red-haired girl in a yellow tank top and suspenders, and a tanned man with rocky black hair.
Those of you in the audience who know where this is going, you know where this is going. And no, that's not a typo.
The gym was still closed (Thanks, Barry), and that other young man was rather put out.
"He dresses like how you used to dress, Lucas."
Lucas responded to the whisper by elbowing him in the side. "Don't be rude."
"Just joking, fine, fine. Sorry about the gym, man!" He called over, grabbing the other boy's attention.
"Are you the Gym Leader?" He called back, scratching his head. "I didn't think Fantina was a boy's name, but-" He was bowled over by the girl beside him smacking his head.
"Of course it isn't! Jeez, Ash, didn't you read the travel guide?"
"I don't have a good memory, Misty!"
As the two began arguing, Barry pointed at them and whispered, "That's what you and Dawn look like to the rest of us."
"Pfft." Lucas began coughing, though the beginning laugh wasn't completely lost.
The member of the trio not currently shouting sidled up to them, facepalming. "Sorry about those two. They've been like that since I met them. And a little before, too, if Pikachu really did zap her bike."
"Huh," Barry said, thinking about how he met his Raichu, "You don't say."
That was largely ignored, as Barry was simply one of many deuteragonists.
"I think the author needs to tone down the pointless violence inflicted on men for the sake of comedy, it really enforces a harmful double standard-"
Dawn placed a hand in front of his mouth before starting, "We don't know what he's talking about either, I think he's trying to soapbox but it's so out of character for him that-"
"Ah, youth. I'm Brock, by the way, can I get your number?"
"Eh… no thanks."
Hilbert suddenly teleported behind Brock (Or rather, ran really fast), and emitted the aura of a sleeping dragon. Not actual aura, mind you, just the kind you can feel with the sixth sense.
"Heh, nothing personal, kid."
And before he could actually do anything, a Croagunk appeared, punched Brock in the liver, and dragged him to the side. With one arm, it held a sideways palm in front of its face, clearly signifying its apologies.
Hilbert was considerably dismayed, and asked, "Well, what now?"
"I think the suitably convoluted thing to do would be to demand a Pokemon Battle!" Barry shouted, blood running hot for no good reason.
"Agreed! We should... make that happen!"
Why did this slip into parody? Eh, who cares.
"Right, so, designated main character, do you want to battle?" Hilbert asked.
"Are you talking to me?" Ash replied.
"Probably, based on the aura." Seriously, it was flowing off the kid, almost as much as Lucario. That was probably important, Hilbert realized, but there were more important matters to attend to. "So, one-on-one?"
"Wouldn't have it any other way. Pikachu, you up for this?"
"Pika!" Obviously, that meant yes.
Hilbert backed up across the street. It was large enough for a decent battle as long as they didn't start tearing up the place. That meant his rockier Pokemon were out, given their size. Abra would've been good, but he wasn't along for the ride anymore. Shaymin would've been overkill, Honedge too. Lucario was a solid 'maybe' but would probably freak out about Ash's aura… Eh, Whirlipede could use some screen time.
Actually, you know what? Ace Vs. Ace.
"Golurk, get ready to rumble!"
In the same blast of light as always, Golurk appeared on the street, slamming down onto the pavement in front of a comparatively tiny Pikachu. The near-storm clouds behind them didn't help in making the giant look gentle.
"Whoa! What's that Pokemon?" Ash asked as he fumbled in his pocket for something, soon pulling out an old model Pokedex. It was more angular than the kind made by Professor Rowan, and a much deeper shade of red.
"ERROR: SPECIES NOT RECOGNIZED."
"Huh?"
"Oh, he's not from Sinnoh." Hilbert thumbed towards the towering blue golem. "Don't you have the international version?"
"I usually just ask the professor to update it when I go to a new region…" Ash rubbed the back of his head, letting out an awkward chuckle. "I'm kinda attached to Dexter."
Hilbert blinked.
"...You named your Pokedex?"
"Wha? No, that's just what the computer says its name is. Had him since I started out three years ago. Uh, plus a few months."
"Huh. Well, it wouldn't be fair to leave you in the dark. Golurk's a Ground-Ghost-type."
"Aw man!" Ash hung his head, lamenting the disadvantage.
"Pika!"
"Yeah, I guess we'll have to figure something out," he said, readjusting his cap.
Hilbert felt around for his, then remembered he'd thrown it away after Moltres burned it to a crisp.
"Right… Well, Golurk, use Mud-slap!"
Clank.
"What? We're in a city, you can't exactly use Earthquake or Dig."
Meanwhile, Ash shouted, "Pikachu, Agility!" Soon, the Electric-type began vibrating with energy ready to use.
Golurk clanked again in response, generating palms full of mud from its gauntlets. Globs of muck fell to the ground as he scattered them across the street towards Pikachu.
"PIkachu, Iron Tail!"
It weaved away from the wet wave of watery… dirt- Damn it, there goes my alliteration- and ran straight forward, splitting the horizontal swipe with an Iron Tail, its limb having turned a metallic gray.
Hilbert felt a drop of water hit his nose and looked up. The clouds had moved in over Hearthome and soon, they began pouring down rain.
The battle paused momentarily so the spectators could get under the canopies of nearby restaurants, and so Ash and Hilbert could put on some rain gear. Ash had the classic sort of yellow rain jacket that you wouldn't want to be anywhere near a sewer grate in, and Hilbert just pulled on a hooded poncho.
"You alright?"
"Yup! Let's go! Pikachu, Agility again!"
The Electric-type had slowed down in the hiatus, but it quickly raised its speed once again.
Golurk was certainly feeling watered down, but the rain didn't wear away its armor at all.
Hilbert, as you might guess, yelled, "Phantom Force! Ground-type moves will just get watered down!"
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Ash's aura flared up.
To Hilbert, that meant shit was about to go down, then sideways, as it had for him many times before.
It was one hell of a Thunderbolt, as all he could see for a few seconds was the after-image of a bolt of lighting wider than Golurk piercing the earth after striking straight down from the heavens, electrifying both Pikachu and Golurk. The clap itself felt like it shattered his eardrums, though that was mostly hyperbole. If it could hurt Hilbert, then Ash's head probably would have gone 'pop'. Assuming he didn't have training from Lucario, of course. Man, is the narrator arrogant or what?
Regardless, Arceus knows how, Golurk was whirring weakly on his knees next to a winded panting Pikachu.
"...Huh." Hilbert said, trailing his eyes across the blackened street. He glanced back at the others, who were in varying states of responding to a boom of thunder.
Ash was excited by the turn of events, pumping his fist in the air. "Oh man, was that cool or what? I mean, it went pow! Like, slam- I mean-"
"Thwack, even," Hilbert suggested.
"You get it!" Ash said, laughing.
"Say, Ash, was it… Have you talked to a Lucario recently?"
"Ah?" The question knocked the black-haired boy off-balance. "Well… I've definitely met a few, there was that one at Sir Aaron's castle but…" The young man briefly looked saddened. "Yeah, I have."
"They ever mentioned anything about aura?"
"Aura? Oh, right! I remember that. There was a costume that let me use it! I don't have it anymore though…"
Hilbert wondered what he could do with that information.
"Lucario. All Star." He called her out of her ball, and she soon appeared standing next to him at attention.
"What is it?"
"Look at the kid with the blue jacket."
Lucario blinked. "I'm already looking at the-"
He pointed at Ash. "Not me, idiot, the other one."
"Oh? Oh. OH!" She quickly ran up to Ash and started shouting at him. "You have almost as much aura as Hilbert! Without any training!"
"Wha?" Ash took a step back, tilting his head in confusion.
"Just listen to her talk."
Lucario gave him the rundown, though he wasn't quite sure how much of it Ash actually understood. At some point during the monologue, Golurk returned to his Pokeball and Pikachu walked over to Ash and climbed back on his shoulder.
"...And really, this guy probably needs a decent rival, so you should really get to learning how to-"
"Alright, enough of that. How much did you understand?"
Ash placed the back of his palm on his brow. "Not much, if I'm being honest. She barked a lot about aura and I didn't get much else."
"I guess that's how it happens when you're not a weirdness magnet."
"I've had my fair share, thank you very much!"
"What she was saying is that you have enough aura that you should learn how to use it."
"Ah. How do I do that?"
"Place up north, off Cycling Road- You know what? Lucario, can you take them there?"
"That's a long trek with cargo."
"Are you alright with walking?" He asked Ash.
"I mean, if you really think I should go."
"I'd say it'd take a week tops, probably less if All Star gets in contact with the other Lucario."
"Did you give her the name of a pop song? Seriously?"
"Again, weirdness magnet, Lucario name themselves apparently."
"Huh. You really don't mind us having her along?"
"Lucario can run really fast when they want to, she won't miss much."
"...Alright then. I'm gonna talk to Brock and Misty…" Ash patted Pikachu and trudged over to the canopy with Hilbert. "My ears are still kinda hurting if I'm being honest."
"Oh, yeah. Shaymin, can you use Heal Pulse?"
Abra assigned as a tutor, contact information gathered, and promises made to Lucario of food upon their return, the group finally set out to head to the next town.
"I'm tellin' ya, it feels like we've been there for a month!" Barry exclaimed.
"Just look at the update schedule," Lucas said smartly, pointing towards the top of a non-existent webpage. "The author's an inconsistent son of a-"
"Anyway, back on topic," Hilbert quickly cut in, "We're heading to Canalave next, everybody strap in."
AN:
As you might guess, Ash is in the Sinnoh region in parallel to the anime (Which as you might remember, I've barely watched. He's here because I thought it would be funny, as always), I think. Kanto and Johto went the same, Hoenn probably went different (No May, so Brock and Misty probably stuck around), and this is his fourth year of Pokemon Journey. Yeah, it breaks some canon, but the character is there.
Sorry about the slow update. Don't have an excuse. I may have an attention deficiency, but it's more likely that I procrastinate unconsciously. Next chapter is when things really start to ramp up, I swear.