We weren't looking for trouble. Paul simply was teaching me about his hometown and showing me the local meteorites. Yes, that surprised me as well. But we both found common ground, on the fact we are both younger siblings of an Ace Ranger... well, an Ace Ranger and an ex-Ace Ranger. He's become a good friend if one who is not socially skilled and a bit annoying at times. Though he still does not understand an irrefutable fact: Ash is the best big brother. No matter how good Reggie is, Ash beats him any day!
However, Team Galactic didn't seem to care about what Paul and I were planning on doing and decided to attack the same attraction that we were at. Of course, like the responsible younger siblings of Ace Rangers that we are, we decided to join the fray and fight off the criminal syndicate. How hard could it be? Especially, after defeating a Rocket grunt team earlier in the week.
I rapidly released Ambipom and Piplup, the battle specialist in my team. Paul rapidly followed with half of his team and quickly went to attack. Though, I wonder why he did not release his whole team.
Ambipom was not happy with me. When she had come out from her Poke Ball, she looked at the grunts from Galactic Team in shock. She then proceeded to look around, searching for Ash for sure, and when she did not find him, she tried to pull me away from the fight and get me to leave. However, I was firm in my decision and I told her so. She looked at me stunned, but in silent pride, before turning around and following my commands into battle.
For a while, even with the clear disadvantage in numbers, we were holding our ground. Until they decided to release the swarm of Golbat. Yeah, we were pretty screwed then. Mom forgive my language, but there was no other word to describe our situation. We were screwed.
Then, like a flashback to the past, Pikachu jumped right into the action and took down the swarm of Golbat with a powerful Thunder attack. That was all that was needed to turn the tables. Soon, Heracross and Primeape joined the brawl, knocking out any Pokemon in their proximity. Pikachu was locked in a fight with a Pokemon that looked like the evolution of Croagunk.
"You two get back here now!" Out of the blue, Reggie appeared and yelled at us. I was stunned, the usual kind and gentle big brother looked furious beyond words. Even Paul seemed shocked by this change. It was only when I noticed that Ash was waiting for us to back out of the fight so he could join, that I started to move and prompted Paul to do the same. "What were you thinking?! Fighting a criminal syndicate!" Reggie then released a rare-looking purple Pokemon to guard us, Drapion to join the fight with Ash's Pokemon and Staraptor to help the people around. "You could have gotten yourselves killed!"
"We just wanted to help!" I snapped back, not handling it anymore. Who was he to berate us like this when he used to do the same thing as us before?! I thought angrily. Paul didn't say anything but he stood beside me in silent support. "Ash does it all the time! And I help him!"
"Ash is an Ace Ranger!" Reggie snapped at us, making us jump. He was acting very erratically... it was scary. "He lets you help with Pokemon needing to find their way back home or healing them. But this is beyond your paycheck! They have guns and weapons, they aim to kill!"
Just as he said the word 'kill' shots were fired from both sides.
Everything slowed down for me, just like it did... then...
I was back on the stage staring at the barrel of that arecusdamn gun...
My legs began to tremble and I reached out to take hold of Piplup, to get some comfort... but he was not there. He was in his Poke Ball.
I was about to begin to hyperventilate when I hear the familiar sound of Pikachu fighting off bullets with his Iron Tail.
I took deep breaths to calm myself and dared to finally take a peek at the battlefield. There I saw Pikachu defending Ash-like always, a familiar sight nowadays that managed to calm me down. A feeling dawned in me, like a blanket of the safety of comfort wrapping itself around me...
Until I saw Ash shooting back...
"A-ash, h-he is..." I stuttered, starting to tremble again.
"He is shooting! Of course, he is! What do you think his gun is there for? Decoration!" Reggie snapped, making me flinch and cower. I knew I was very close to tears, not able to look away from the scene before me. Why was Ash using a gun? Guns are evil! I screamed in my head. "Paul, take her back home now," I heard Reggie order his brother softly, but I did not pay it much attention.
I allowed myself to be guided away, not paying attention to anything. I was quite deep in my head. The sound of that shot rang in my head over and over again. But this time around Ash never came... this time around he was the one with the gun...
Why? Why would he use a gun?! I asked myself.
But he always had a gun, don't you remember? A voice sounded in my head.
What? I asked it.
One of the first things you noticed when you met him was his gun, or did you forget now? It replied.
That's right, he's always had a gun. I thought. The same day he saved me, as he did again today, with his Pikachu's powerful Thunder, he had a gun. But his gun doesn't kill... because Ash doesn't kill... He saves lives! He saves my life! Over and over again...
"Dawn, we're back," Paul's uncharacteristically kind voice snapped me out of my trance. I looked around to notice that he was right, we were back at his house. The power seems to be back to normal and... when did he take my Poke Balls to release and heal Ambipom and Piplup?! "Do... do you want to talk?"
I almost laughed at the uncomfortable look on his face. He truly does not possess any social skills at all. So, to comfort him... and because I truly did not want to talk about it, I just shook my head.
What could I have said? That seeing Ash shooting and hearing all those gunshots threw me into a PTSD episode? I scoffed in my head. And even if I did admit that, what could Paul do about it?
So, I took my comfort in using Piplup as a Teddy Pokemon. He's been getting a lot of practice at that lately.
Ash, Riley, and Reggie did not return that day. After a quiet dinner, we both went to sleep. But sleep did not come easy to me and when it did, it was plagued with nightmares. I had wanted to talk with Ash, to get his comfort before going to sleep. I needed him under the same roof to feel secure and safe. But he was not here, Rick was, Zoroark was... that gunwas...
But suddenly a warmth spread through me and a light shone in that dark and cold stage. It was not Pikachu the one that appeared before me, it was not his Iron Tail that saved me this time. It was Ash! He jumped before me and a strangled scream left my throat when I saw that he was covering me with his body. However, the blood never came. In rapid succession, Ash shot his gun three times, stopping the bullet and taking Rick and Zoroark down.
Ash saved me! I thought in relief. His gun saved me!
When I woke up I found myself staring at Ash's smiling face. One quick look out of the window I could see it was still late. But my focus was on Ash's kind smile.
"How are you doing?" He asked me gently, hand caressing my head softly.
"Good," I answered, tears of relief flowing down my cheeks.
I must have looked quite weird, smiling like a lunatic as I cried. Ash's startled expression was enough of an answer. But I was relieved. Oh, so relieved. Not about Ash coming back, I was already expecting that. Team Galactic would never hold Ash down. But because I've not felt this free and calm since Rick attacked me. However, now I felt... ready.
It seems that facing my fears, even if indirectly, helped me if only slightly. Was I clear of PTSD? No. Was I ready to get on a stage? Maybe. But, was I ready to move on? Yes.
"Hey, why are you crying?" Ash asked me worriedly.
"I am happy!" I answered him honestly, throwing my arms around him and dragging him for cuddles.
Like always he indulged me, patting my head and humming, and just like that, I fell asleep in seconds. This time around my sleep was filled with colorful and peaceful dreams. I dreamt of being on a stage once again, but this time with the same feeling of happiness and joy I used to relate to contests. I felt excited... I wanted to be on stage again and have fun with my Pokemon...
When I woke up again, Ash was gone and in his place was Piplup. "Mm, want to have breakfast?"
"Pip-lup!" He answered.
I woke the rest of my team and did my morning routine. I, of course, had Piplup use his Bubble Beam to tame my wild morning hair. Putting on my usual dress, I headed towards the kitchen but stopped by the door when I heard the boys talking.
"I'm surprised you are not scolding me like Reggie did yesterday," I heard Paul comment.
"You don't want me scolding you, trust me," Ash replied amused, and I could hear Pikachu agreeing anxiously, which made me laugh. "Reggie was just worried for you guys. Also, being a hypocrite is not my style. Last year I was doing the same you both did yesterday. Heck, I am still doing the same. The only difference is that I now have a badge."
"Which is why my big brother is the best," I decided to announce my entrance with those words if only to win this discussion once and for all.
"You wish! Reggie beats bleeding heart over here any day!" The words left his lips before he could stop it, leaving a very blushing Paul behind.
If looks could kill, I would already be six feet under. But it seems that I made Reggie's day, no, Reggie's year. Oh, he was stunned at first, but then his face split into a smile that took over his whole face and before anyone knew it he had jumped his brother and dragged him into a hug. Paul did try to resist at first, but he then decided to just let it happen. If I may be bold, I might even state that he looked as if he was enjoying it.
"Bleeding heart..." muttered a shocked Ash, before moving to face me and smiling at me. "Good morning, Dawn. How are you doing today?"
"Good," I repeated the same answer as yesterday, but this time with much more conviction.
I moved towards the pantry to take my favorite cereal out when I noticed Battler's new edition on the table next to it. I've grown costumed to see Ash at the cover, but this time he was not alone. A nice picture of him, Riley, Reggie, and Gym Leader Maylene, taken in the middle of battle dominated the cover this time.
Who takes pictures in the middle of a battle against a criminal syndicate? I thought to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.
However, my thoughts came to a halt, when something on the same table began to glow. It was Ash's Alola's Pokemon egg!
"Guys, I think the egg's hatching!" I called out in excitement.
What Pokemon will be joining our family? I can wait...