Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Pokemon, its characters, locations, or names. All of them, with the exception of original characters, ideas, and places, belong to Nintendo.

Credits: Vanika, Silvanus, Gwen, and all locations involving Nara belong to me.

AN: 14! Ya'll catching up with the chapter I'm working on. XD I'm only on the end of 17/beginning of 18. Bah. This plotline was pretty quick to be tied up, though I'm hoping another one I have my eye on that'll pop up will take a bit longer to resolve and figure out. And that one will be a tad different then all of the current ones. ;D

Warning: None for this here lovely chapter. :D

- Chapter Fourteen: Trainer Battle -

"Ash, come on! This is insane! You shouldn't be going out for this alone!" Misty pointed out, getting a shrug from the flustered boy. He reset each poke ball, putting them in a specific order on his belt. "They could have you outnumbered."

"Fine by me. If they want to be cowards who can only confront a kid in groups, so be it." Ash smiled then, noting the look Misty gave him, and shook his head. "We'll be fine."

"Just...don't do anything irrational, all right? Brock and I don't want to see anything happen to...to you or to May." Well, coulda fooled me, Ash thought, stepping out of the room.

"Look who you're talking to." As the door swung shut, Misty sank down to sit on the bed, her hand up to her mouth.

"That's what I'm afraid of."

- - -

Outside, it was warm, the air still. Uncomfortably, Ash looked around, feeling uneasy from the lack of people. He knew no one would be around the springs; no one in their right minds would go when it was so dark out. "Pikachu, if anything happens..." Ash started, prompting the Pokemon to lift his head up.

"Chu?"

"If anything happens...go find Misty or Brock. Or go get the police, whichever is better." Pikachu patted him on the shoulder in a silent agreement, and hunched back down into his backpack, staying out of sight of any spying eyes. His anger returned when he saw the dark forms that were milling around the front of the spring, only two of them staying still.

It was only when he was within a couple feet of them could he actually see who was who; there were four of them scrambling to get in line behind the two that had been watching him. Ash ignored them, assuming they were merely guards made to protect their leader, and turned to the woman and...

Ash blanched, disbelieving that she had had the gall to bring May along, the girl sitting on the ground unharmed, and looking none the worse for wear. Wide green eyes stared up at him, unblinking. "Aha, so I finally get to meet the little boy that stole away my family's chance at fame," the woman beside her said, arms folded across her chest.

"What are you talking about?" Ash asked, confusion evident by the look on his face. "I didn't do anything-"

"You poor, unknowing little child." she said softly, a gleam appearing in her eyes, "Do you not recognize some things about me? Come closer, if you must."

May shook her head frantically, catching the baffled boy's attention, and he took a step forward automatically. "Quiet, you silly girl!" the woman snarled.

"You...you look like that woman I battled." Ash stared at her. She laughed loudly.

"As I should. She is my sister, my blood. She was my family's only chance at fame and fortune, and you took it from her without a second thought." She grinned. "And I'm here to take it back."

"I understand why you are mad at me," Ash said, "But why must you involve...involve..."

Smirking, she knelt down beside May, putting one arm about her shoulders to keep her from moving around, and used her free hand to move the girl's head, tilting it back. "Why do I involve your love bunny here? That's simple, and I told you already. What is a good way to force someone to do what you want? Do what hurts them the most."

Abruptly, she drew her fist back and brought it hard against May's cheek. Ash moved to stop the assault, getting within two feet of her when one of her protectors stopped him, gun pressed against his throat. She rose and turned to regard him, smiling. "Hurts, doesn't it?" she remarked, "Not being able to stop what is happening...get back."

May struggled back to her sitting position, blinking painfully. Ash pulled his hat down to shield his eyes, taking a few shuffles back, embarrassment and anger flaring inside him; he could feel the tears that were starting to fall as the hopelessness of the situation weighed heavily on him. He didn't want either of the two females to see just how weak he was at that moment. "What do you want?" he asked, taking a shuddering breath in an attempt to calm himself.

"Your title." Ash's shoulders slumped, and he looked away. Scowling, he quickly shrugged, and Pikachu jumped out. "What the..."

"I won my title then..." Ash released the rest of his team, and he snapped his head up, his anger evident in the movement, "and I will win back my love, now! Let's do this right, you want the title, battle me in your sister's place. You win, you get the title."

"And if I lose?"

He smiled then. "Either way, win or lose, you let May go."

Lips pursed, she put her hands on her hips. "I'm not a Pokemon Trainer. I don't have any, nor do any of my friends here have any. How about we arrange a date for a battle, you and my sister, one on one?" she suggested lightly.

"Fine by me. Name the day and place." Ash looked at May, who was trying to speak through the gag and only making incoherent noises. Her kidnapper quirked an eyebrow.

"I'm surprised, Ketchum. I'd of thought you'd sic your team there on us this minute. Alright then, how's this. We'll have it five days from now, at Nara Pass. That is perfect for you, is it not?"

"I don't have my Pokemon attack people that are unarmed." Ash found his statement ironic, as the goons each held a weapon; he was actually just worried they would hurt someone. "Nara Pass is good for me."

"Wonderful. We will see you there, Pokemon Master Ash Ketchum." It was said as she pulled May to her feet. As she went to get in the car that waited, she turned once again to the teenager. "I never gave you my name. It is Monica."

"If you lay a finger on her-"

"Calm down, kid." Monica waved a hand absently. "I need your girlfriend intact, at least for now. Don't worry; we'll take good care of her." Smirking, she ducked into the car after getting her hostage in.

"How do I keep managing to let them out of my grasp?" Ash mumbled, sinking to the ground, shoulders shaking, his palms down, fingers spread. "I can't let her go that long, not with them."

"Pikapi..." Ash shook his head.

"Five days...five more days..."

- - -

"We're going! Now!" Brock stretched, staring sleepily as Ash ran about gathering items and articles of clothing that had been scattered and tossing them into his backpack.

"Going? Where?" the older man asked, creeping out of bed. Ash slammed a fist against the wall that separated them from Misty, hoping to wake her up without having to barge in. "What happened Ash?"

Barking an order to Pikachu that Misty need to be retrieved, he sat down wearily. "I saw her," Ash replied, as his pokemon returned with the redhead. "I saw the...the woman that has May."

Carefully, he explained the details of the meeting, ignoring the gasps and the idle comments. In the end, Ash looked curiously at the pair. "That means we need to be ready for them at Nara Pass? Are you sure you can do another battle with her so soon?" Misty asked.

"I don't know, but I have to. I can't even get near them, not without getting shot a couple dozen times, this is my only chance!" Ash sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I need to take it. I want to see May safe."

"He's right." Brock glanced Ash, then Misty. "If we want to get this over with, we need to get to that pass. And now would be a good time to start."

- - -

Vanika could feel that they were close; jumping from forest to forest, cave to cave, flying only at night when human eyes wouldn't be prying, it was taking too long for her liking. It was also taking its toll on Silvanus, who regardless of how far they got, was irritable.

They're here somewhere. Someplace close, near. Silvanus snorted, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes. Vanika's voice did nothing to comfort the male reptile; he scowled at her.

They had better be, or someone will be getting a new hole. Vanika went silent.

- - -

Nara Pass. It was the only thing that connected Kanto to its eastern sibling, the continent of Nara. It was nothing but rock walls leading a trainer from one to the other, a straight path that cut across the long expanses.

The wind whistled through the narrow open-topped tunnel, as the group of four awaited the arrival of their opponents. "I hope he didn't change his mind. That would be all too unfortunate for you," Monica said, "being disregarded like that by someone who supposedly cares for you."

"He'll be here! Ash would never break one of his promises!" May yelled, struggling against the ropes that bound her. She wanted to get at the horrible sisters, to tear at them like the Hunters that attacked Silvanus and Vanika. The thought of the two dragons brought May back from her rage, and she sat back. She wondered where they were at, and how they were doing. Probably better then I am...

"That's what they all say." The little sister grinned, cracking her knuckles. "I do hope he shows up. I wanna take another stab at that bastard."

"You'll get your wish soon enough." With a smirk, Monica pointed toward Nara. "I can hear them now, in fact."

- - -

The trip to the pass was, at best, depressing. Misty and Brock stayed several steps behind the fuming teenage boy for most of the time, not wanting to find out if the next thing they would say or do would once again set him off. Ever sense the late night talk with Monica, Ash acted more like a shadow of his usual self; rather then laughing and smiling like normal, the days were spent with him glaring at anything that moved, scowling. The only exception was when he would start sobbing, turning away to hide the fact, covering his face with either his hands or his hat.

"They must be around here somewhere," the Water Gym leader said, looking around at the rock walls. She stepped back when Ash jerked his head up to stare down the path, his eyes narrowed.

"Probably up ahead," he said, surprising his two friends; it was the first words they had heard out of him that hadn't been dripping with frustration. He shooed Pikachu off, the mouse jumping off of his shoulder to walk alongside him. "I want you two to stay out of it."

"What?" they asked, confusion leaking into their voices. Ash turned to look at them stonily.

"I said stay out of it. This is between me and them. I don't want anyone else involved." Seeing the woman that had caused such fury in him enter his line of vision finally, Ash scowled. "At least you kept to the agreement."

"Did you believe I would not?" Monica asked, smiling, and waved a hand to indicate May. "And I made sure to bring your toy with."

"Toy? She's not a toy." Ash looked to the woman that stood next to Monica; she had the same look as she had the day of the fateful Pokemon Battle in Transia City. "Well, are you ready?"

She rubbed her hands together. "Yes I am. I thought we might make things a little more...interesting, this time around."

"How?" Ash folded his arms, chin up, as she stepped forward, daring to poke him in the chest forcefully.

"How about we have a Trainer Battle, rather then a Pokemon one?" she asked, getting a strange look from him. Her smile faded into a sour snarl. "Just you and me, one on one, against each other. No middle man, no one fighting for us."

"Why don't you just say you want a fist fight, and stop making it sound 'nice'," Ash said, wondering what he had managed to get himself into. A shout from the side stopped him from agreeing immediately; May was bouncing up and down, yelling at him.

"No! Ash, don't do it!" she called out, "I don't-"

"Shut up," Monica hissed, snapping a hand across the squirming girl's face. May continued to yell, ignoring the stinging that started from the strike. Ash looked between his opponent and his girlfriend, clearly conflicted on what he was going to do.

"I don't care." Lifting an eyebrow, she laughed.

"Good, Ketchum. I, Cynthia, declare this battle started!" she said, bringing her fist forward in a punch. Ash ducked, feeling pain erupt when Cynthia shifted her weight onto one foot, and brought the other to get him under the chin. His teeth grinding together, Ash stumbled back. "Not such a good start for you."

"Doesn't mean I'm about to lose," he shot back, initiating his own attack, starting the chaos that was the Trainer Battle.

Misty stared in disbelief, watching the pair beat on each other relentlessly, one getting more and more hurt as time progressed. "We can't let this go on!" she said.

"We have to. Ash told us to leave it to him." Brock replied, putting a hand on her shoulder, "They made this too personal for us to interfere."

"But..."

- - -

Vanika could hear the sounds of human voices, only about six of them, and it lifted her spirits. There! We found them!

That might not be such a good thing, Silvanus pointed out when they could see the action, and the violence that was ensuing. This is what we come to see? Slaughter? We could have seen that at home.

Look over there! Vanika pointed a claw to the side, and Silvanus' eyes were drawn to the hunched over form that was May. When his link turned a murky red in anger, Vanika floated down to get closer and to be able to hear what was occurring below them. Alighting on a overhang, she peeked over the edge. Her male companion setting down next to her matched her position.

"Getting tired yet?" Cynthia asked snidely, snickering as Ash picked himself up. He shook his head wearily.

"Not yet. I can't let you win," he said, wiping off the blood that was flowing from his bleeding nose. Not with so much at stake here.

Vanika blinked. What had happened? Ash jumped, narrowly dodging Cynthia's kick and blocking her punch, when he heard her speak up. He hadn't expected the female to show up.

Yes. Please, do tell us what you've done. The painful yelp he heard indicated that Silvanus had received a smack from Vanika. May turned around, looking for her parents curiously, just as Misty and Brock were.

"What? What are you fools looking for?" Monica asked, wrinkling her nose. Ash smiled widely, the hopelessness that had started creeping up again vanishing; having the dragons around gave him an advantage that neither woman knew about yet.

"Oh, nothing!" he said. On the count of three, Vanika. One, two... Ash jumped forward, grabbing Cynthia's hair and yanking back, pulling her along and into a precarious position. Now!

With a roar, Vanika dove down off the perch, claws outstretched. Cynthia screamed along with her sister, as the creature swooped, missing her face by inches. "Understand, that I don't wish to harm anyone any farther," Ash remarked, as Silvanus slithered out into the open, "though I can't say the same of them. Now, you will listen, and you will listen good. You are going to go back to Nara. You are going to stay there. You will leave me and my family alone. Clear?"

When it looked like Monica was about to refuse, Silvanus used his tail to trip her up, getting what appeared to be a smirk. "Fine, we'll leave. Just take these freaks and your little bitch and get away from us!" she shrieked, scrambling to get away from the sharp claws that were slowly edging toward her.

On cue, Vanika and Silvanus returned to their perch, going still, not even saying anything with the Mind Link. Fearfully, Cynthia and Monica rushed past the trio, not looking back. Ash laughed. "Thanks, you just paid them back tenfold with that stunt," he said, as the pair returned, their links colored from amusement, looking smug. "Now..."

Ignoring the aches he was feeling, Ash knelt down and untied the ropes, mentally preparing himself for the attack he knew was coming. Once freed, May spun around to latch onto the bleeding teenage boy. "Oh, I told you not to get into a fight with her. Now look what happened," she said, carefully touching her fingertips against the bruise that was starting under one of his eyes.

"I'll live." Ash looked away, smiling in embarrassment when he felt the warning sting that had been all too common over the past five days. "May...I was...I...was so worried. It scared me knowing what could happen..."

May noticed how he still didn't look at her, and how he kept bending over to play with the dirt, or fiddled with his hat. "You always do that when you cry, don't you Ash?" she asked, "You did that that other night, and you are doing it now."

Without warning, she took his face into her hands, and forced him to look at her straight on; by then the blood had stopped flowing, and most what had dried on was flaking off. Ash turned red, the reason for his fidgeting apparent. "I had hoped you'd never see me like this," he admitted.

"But I want to." Having no other choice, he sank into the embrace that May gave him, not noticing when their friends, and even Pikachu, Vanika, and Silvanus, left them alone. "You always see me upset and crying, and you always help me. Why can't I help you?"

"I don't know. I just...don't know. I don't even want to think at the moment." Ash laughed softly, feeling happier then he had in days. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. You're the one that got beat up." She looked in the direction everyone had went. "They left us."

"We can catch up later."

- - -

Have you changed your mind yet? Vanika asked, glancing over at Silvanus. He was laying calmly at her side, watching their daughter as she carefully helped the Pokemon Master patch himself up, getting the blood off, getting medicine put on all the cuts and scrapes, and even getting the odd word or two in.

He turned away only when the pair collapsed together, positive that he didn't want to watch for much longer. I'm unsure. I suppose we could always give it a try, and go back if it doesn't work.

The female smiled. She knew Silvanus would give in eventually.

- - -