Scales smoothly landed right outside the Hot Spring Hotel Ash and his friends were staying at. I entered the place and thanked Arceus that Cynthia had had the brilliant idea of reserving the whole place for us. Thankfully, the place was owned by Dawn's friend Leona and her family was big fans of Ash. Not to mention, the free publicity they'll receive after he leaves. I've heard that the Mountain Hut Maid Café was bursting with customers after the fight against Ash against the Tapus hit the news.
Yes, that fight ended up being televised. Thankfully, it was not live but the recordings of people in the crowd that were sent to news channels. By the time, the news crews had reached the Alola Festival, Ash and his friends were gone and the festival was over. But that did not stop everyone and their cousin from here to Alola, to be talking about it.
The news has been reporting about it every day. Professionals in Legendaries were interviewed, Gym Leaders, and Elite Four members. Even Cynthia and I were called for an interview. The Alola Kahunas even went out and named Ash an honorary Alolan, as he was already accepted and chosen by their gods. I even had Professor Kukui trying to get a meeting with Ash through me. If it wasn't about his plans to open a league in Alola, I will eat my boot. My cousin and Lorelei were constantly over me, making sure I don't give it to him. Ash already belonged to one Island League! Or at least that's what they are telling me.
When you think Ash can't get into more trouble, he goes and gets summoned by Legendaries to prove his worth... though, that's just being a little bit hard on Ash. It's not really his fault that he is Legendary bait. I'll have to blame Arceus for that. Why couldn't he have created something like an Order to fight these insane situations he keeps on dragging Ash into? Why is it only One Chosen?
Rushing past the front desk I found Dawn and who must be her friend Leona. They were in bathrobes, enjoying some Fresh Moomoo Milk after a bath. Piplup, Pachirisu, Ambipom, Buneary, and a Swinub were lounging nearby. For a second I wondered where Gloom was, when suddenly I recalled Ash telling me that his Meganium had taken under her wing an apprentice in Dawn's Gloom.
"Champion Lance!" Dawn greeted me brightly.
If anything it was a relief to see her smile like that. No child should go through what she did. How did the contest staff allow a gun to get through? I will never understand that.
"Hello Dawn, Leona," I greeted the young girls. Chuckling when Leona blushed and stuttered. Did she have the same reaction to Ash? Most likely. "Where can I find Ash?"
"He is taking a bath with Riley and their Pokemon," Dawn answered me with a smile.
"Thank you," I replied, walking towards the male open bath and changing to join them.
When I took my first step out I was slightly surprised by the number of Pokemon there. I knew that there would be a lot, with Riley having a full team and Ash being able to carry up to twelve Pokemon. But to find seventeen Pokemon and two trainers in an open bath was still a shock. Scales joined the Bronzong, Lucario, Scizor, Empoleon, Magnezone, Probopass, in one corner. While Jolteon, Staravia, Turtwig, Chimchar, Pupitar, Buizel, Hitmontop, Primeape and Heracross, were playing in the other corner. Pikachu and Litten seem to have chosen to stay close to Ash. Ash was at the center with Riley by his side.
I did not like the way Riley was looking at Ash. However, I also understood that it was just the after-effects of him helping Ash manage his aura canals. So, I tried not to hold it against him. Even if it made me feel overprotective.
"Lance!" Ash finally realizing my presence, after five minutes of Pikachu trying to get his attention, was worrying. Especially when he did not try to get up to greet me and tried to force a smile.
"What happened Ash?" I sighed and internally cursed when he flinched at my tone. "Sorry, Ash, I didn't mean it as it sounded. I'm just worried and tired of Legendaries dragging you into trouble. I do not blame you."
His smile became more real. I slowly entered the open bath and slide next to him. He rapidly cuddled to my side, as Litten and Pikachu moved to his other side. I sighed and relaxed, as the warm water soothed my weary muscles. Flying on Scales, no matter how used I am, from Kanto to Sinnoh had not been my best idea. I could have easily used a Psychic-type Pokemon hired by the Indigo League to teleport me here... but I needed time to digest everything that had happened. Having to find out about the battle through the news was hard. Especially, during Pikachu and Tapu Koko's fight.
That one was intense...
"You will know in due time what I did. You will see it in due time. You will feel in due time." Ash sighed, raising his z-ring to show me the electrium-z. "The path you are on is a treacherous one, but with your friends and Pokemon by your side, you can make it. Until we meet again. That's what Tapu Koko said, before leaving and after doing something to the z-crystal."
"That was..." I stumbled trying to find the right words.
"Cryptic as Distortion World," Ash finished for me. "Welcome to my world."
"We believe that the Tapus meant to help us against Team Galactic, in case they succeed summoning the Legendaries." Riley explained. "From what we've learned during the Festival, in Alola the Kahunas act as the representatives of the Tapus. Their power is given after being chosen and accepted by them. The islands trials are tests to see if one is worthy of using Alola's power to become stronger. So, the Tapus coming here meant that they were trying to help Ash gain more power for what's to come."
"The question is, what is to come?" I thought out loud. "Are they simply trying to aid Ash, to make his journey as the Chosen One easier? Or do they know that something specific that we don't know of yet?"
"Is it linked to me? To Team Galactic? To Team Rocket? To Alola? To Tobias?... Or maybe all of the above?" Ash sighed.
I could see this was weighing on him, he clearly looked quite tired. However, I did not have any answers for him. I'll try to find something in my family's archives, but until then we'll have to wonder what the gods meant.
"What else brings you here?" Riley asked, his eyes flashing blue with aura for a second. "You are not just here to check on Ash."
"Let's just say that the whole arceusdamn world is losing their heads over the fight of Ash against the Tapus." I answered, truthfully. "For now, Lorelei is answering in Ash's name for the Orange Islands, I am doing the same in Kanto and Johto, I asked for Steven to do so in Hoenn and Cynthia has your back in Sinnoh. Luckily, Unova and Kalos are far away from mind about it. Galar never cared about what happens beyond their borders and Alola has Professor Kukui to question. Not to mention that those islands never question the decisions of their gods. Which worryingly on its own, works on our favor right now."
"I'll need to have another conference, won't I?" Ash sighed, he's been doing that a lot; not that I blamed him.
"It's not that easy this time, Ash." I felt bad for being the bearer of bad news, but he needed to be told.
"What do you mean?" He inquired, fearfully.
"What you did when you captured Hunter J was big... but at the end of the day you are an Ace Ranger and it's in your job description." I started my explanation. "No one knows about your help in various Legendary problems worldwide. Until..."
"Until now," Ash completed for me.
"Yes, until now," I repeated. "This is bigger than you can imagine, Ash. You just proved that there's a way to fight against Legendaries, even if they do not go all out, and come out as the winner. People will want to know more about it and it won't be long before someone stumbles over the fact that many major disasters were fixed with you around. They will, they are demanding to know."
"Will we have to tell people about me being The Chosen One?" Ash asked me afraid.
"No," I assured him firmly. Just shuddering at the idea of how many cults and religions would raise in response to that specific piece of news. "We'll try to come up with something. Until then do not answer any questions about what happened. The conference will be in Alola, as it was their gods that created this mess, and there will be reporters from Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh and, of course, Alola. There will be a lot of coverage of this, there is a lot of it right now. So, try to keep a low profile for now. Cynthia and I will be at the conference, alongside the Kahunas and Professor Kukui. You can bring Dawn and Riley with you too. It will be a nice vacation."
"I don't know if I'll enjoy that as much as I would have before," he commented.
He wasn't wrong either. If here they were crazy about it, how would the people whose gods chose Ash as a champion react to his presence?
"Whatever happens I'll have your back Ash," I assured him, as my hold on him tightened.
He will not go through this on his own, I promised myself.
As I looked at Riley I could see he was thinking the same thing. This time around Ash will have allies on his corner. He will have his Order.