"My first day at school again."
Dawn felt sore all over. Having done nothing but cleaning with her mother in Lila's secret gym she was exhausted yet also excited. She picked up some basic fighting skills from her mom and spirit companion after it. Not enough to go out by herself but enough to think she's making progress after just a day.
It felt strange going back to school where she was sure everyone is going to discuss the heroes in town after the huge kidnapping of mothers and daughters. She was sure a huge part of her class called in sick today after what they went through and that she'd be the only girl in school.
"Don't go showing off yet." Umbreon reminded her that's she's nowhere ready.
Dawn was still not used to the voice inside her head. Even with Umbreon continuing to give her advice it still didn't dawn on her what her family line really is. Countless generations before her being heroes and now it was up to her to continue the line. She just prayed she didn't let her ancestors down after every thing they sacrificed.
Walking into the hallway of her school she looked over to see just how many girls there were. Including herself only a handful of them were there but they all seemed incredibly nervous and scared with maybe the thought the same could happen to them. She went to the place her friends on the cheerleader team hung out at the start of the days. As expected the group was not there except for May didn't seem to have a scratch on her at all.
"May!" Hearing her name being called out she turned around. Seeing Dawn she ran up to her and to the two friends gave each other a big hug.
"Dawn! I heard what happened. Is every thing alright with you!?"
"I'm fine. I'm more worried about the others." Dawn said while separating from their hug.
"Let's visit them at home later. I already called Leona and she's been wanting to talk to us." May being considerate enough to call made Dawn feel even worse.
"I feel bad for not visiting her in the hospital."
"Didn't you read your messages? She texted us saying she and her mother are fine and that if we can make it can visit the hot spring tonight."
Due to all the cleaning she did Dawn had no time to check her phone. Seeing a bunch of messages from her friends all unopened she needed to send one back in apology to all of them for not texting back. She also scrolled down to see if Ash send her one but the last message he send is before all the mess started so she knows he didn't make progress yet with his detective friend.
"So what do you think what happened?"
"I don't know but those guys deserved it!"
May's father always said never to mix personal feelings while on duty but even she could tell he threw that out the window after his wife and child were threatened. The brunette had a feeling she wasn't going to see him that much in the near future. Dawn wondered why May looked completely fine.
"I was babysitting my little brother."
May telling her 'exciting' weekend. Dawn couldn't believe how lucky the two of them were not to be involved just happy to hear she wasn't the only one who got spared the madness of the mass abduction.
"I think we just used up all our luck for the rest of the year." Dawn joked while vowing that next time something like this happens she'd be ready to defend her home as Umbreon.
"You were lucky too huh? Where were you?" May asking how Dawn got around.
"I was on my way back from my visit with Lila." Before the weekend started Dawn was pretty sure that the most remarkable thing that could happen to her this weekend is a visit to a famous stylist. She couldn't be more wrong if she tried.
"Oh yeah! I completely forgot you were there with everything that has been going on. How was it?"
"I'm happy I went. I got this amazing dress from her for prom and she offered me an internship at the same time."
"Congratulations! So are you taking it!?"
"I did. Whenever I get the time in weekends and after school I can visit her. It's part time though and as long as it doesn't interfere in my school work I can go."
"That's great! So when am I going to see one of your designs debut in the Veilstone Fashion show? And can you get me tickets!?"
"I'm not going to ask her for tickets!"
"But a kind word or two won't hurt right?"
The brunette pleading for Dawn to use her connections just this once the girls were interrupted by the directors voice over the intercom which started to play.
"Alright class. In light of all recent events the principal decided to give you guys and girls the day off. You all stay at school for safety reasons but all classes are cancelled for now. However, in light of recent events an expert in self defense has offered up free classes in the gym. This class is mandatory and not attending means detention or even being expelled. It will start from 1PM till 3PM. Announcement finished."
Dawn nearly cursed. She could've used this time well spend training learning her new abilities. Now she's stuck at school doing nothing productive of the sorts. The only interesting thing today was the self defense class but she's sure Umbreon and her mom would teach her that eventually.
"Let's get to class. I bet the guys have tons of questions for us." May suggested. They could stand around all day and avoid the inevitable or face their classmates and tell their experiences today.
"When do I see this Ash?"
Umbreon questioned Dawn again. She was really excited to meet an aura guardian after so long. She had good memories about a few and hoped that this one is build out of the same mold as those she knew. The two girls walked into their regular class room and saw a guy standing on a table posing and flexing his muscles.
"I think it's a guy. Who else but us guys can be that cool?" Gary being the loudmouth he is flexed his biceps to show just how big of a pecs he had.
"Please tell me it's not him. It's a miracle the town hasn't burned down yet."
The spirit embarrassed at the weak display. If guardians trained people like him now she started to fear for the future. What happened to the noble warriors from so long ago? Dawn reassured her it definitely wasn't Gary. Scanning the class room for Ash she noticed he didn't arrive yet. She figured he must be sleeping in as long as he could these days.
The classroom door opened with a bash and every one looked at the person who just barged in.
"Did the bell rang yet?!"
Ash asking if he made it in time. He would normally make it but he needed more time since he stuffed his disguise into his locker keeping it with him on all times now. Who knows when another mass kidnapping breaks out and he was without a costume to conceal himself making him unable to use his aura.
"All classes are cancelled for the day."
Brock told him at which Ash was happy and a bit miffed. Happy he got on time, miffed he didn't stay in bed longer after spending the rest of his weekend around the hospital doing patrols to see if everyone came out safely.
"Is he the aura guardian?"
"Yes." Dawn confirmed Umbreon's question. She still didn't get why it was so important to her to see an aura guardian again. Umbreon kept quiet making Dawn think she's eyeing and judging him in thought.
Still the class was as surprised to see him.
"I'm amazed that you're even here. I thought you'd skip a day at least after what happened to you and your mom." Kenny told him.
"May and Dawn are here too. No excuse for me not to be here since they went through worse."
"Yeah. But they weren't involved in a fight! Fighting kidnappers!? You're crazy!" Brock thinking he lost his mind. There's being brave and being mad.
"I wasn't letting them take mom. Still it's not something I want to do again."
He had to inwardly chuckle a bit at the irony considering he does this every week and is quite famous now.
"So how did you fight them off by yourself?"
It's no secret Ash loved his martial arts movies but the difference between fiction and practice is massive.
"Punching and kicking mostly." He blankly answered with fighting 101.
"Tell us what really happened or I'll fine you!"
Barry wasn't going to let Ash get away that easily. Out of all of them he might have the most exciting story of all of them. Ash managed to spin his story in such a way his classmates had no idea he's the vigilante who has a bounty on his head.
The school as ordered did enter the gym at 1PM. In the gym stood a man who had black hair wearing a red training suit like a gym teacher. With a loud yell he interrupted the talking teens so he can start his class.
"Now! In event of all that's recently been going on the school has instructed me to teach you kids some self defense lessons!"
He removed a sheet from a table which was displayed with all sorts of weapons. Knives, bats, brass knuckles, sticks and other objects designed to cause serious harm making all the students eyes bulge.
"Any questions?" All of the students raised their hand and the one he pointed to asked the question on everyone's mind.
"How did you get this stuff inside the school?"
"These are just props. The bats and brass knuckles are Styrofoam and the knives are made of a material that can't cut through a paper bag. Anymore questions?"
With the obvious one out of the way the rest asked minor questions about the experience and if the instructor himself ever had been in a situation where he needed them. With the curiosity of the school satisfied he pointed to a person.
"You with the brunette bangs. What's your name?"
"May Maple."
"Could you step forward for a demonstration?" She went away from her spot and went towards the self defense instructor. He handed over a combat knife to her which she took a hold off. For a fake knife she found it surprisingly heavy.
"Now if somebody has a knife and you're in a situation like this one, position your arm like this."
Seeing the instructor perform some motions slowly Ash fought the urge to call him out on it. His technique was all wrong and it's quite an easy way for May to slit his throat if she really wanted too.
"Yeah no. Riley taught me to never to do that against someone with a knife. You leave yourself wide open like that. Some instructor you are."
Still Ash didn't say anything to upset the substitute. He seemed a lot stricter than other teachers and was fearing rubbing him the wrong way would warrant a suspension of some sort. Not to mention blow his cover that he's actually more skilled then he lets on.
"Now lets reverse our roles. Think fast!"
The teacher went straight with a right to left slash at May's throat just barely missing her neck. Cutting a piece of one of her bangs off the brunette realized what she was holding was a real knife and gave it to her assaulter.
"STOP! YOU'RE GOING TO KILL HER!"
Both not hearing the cries of other students trapped in their own little world. Ash already running to her while some of his fellow students ran the other way getting as far away from the psychopath of a teacher.
The teacher swung his right hand from his left side for another swipe at the girl's neck. Before the cold steel could make contact with the brunette's throat she caught the swingers right wrist and twisted it forcing him to let go off the knife.
May caught the hilt of it in her left hand with quick reflexes and kicked the man to the table with the weapons on display. Now close to the table she used her own right hand to hold the teachers hand down on the table and with a quick but powerful stab pierced the guy's right hand and pinning it in the table with the weapons on display making her assaulter wince in agony.
Ash having made it nearly to her was surprised.
"Ok. Remind me not to make her mad."
"Uhm May? How on earth did you just do that!?" Brock asked how exactly she disarmed him. Everyone but Ash looked with open mouths to her never seeing something like that before.
"You're not the daughter of a police officer without knowing a few tricks!" She smiled proud of her achievement.
Ash couldn't be more relieved. He didn't had to show any aura to rescue her for now. Still with the teacher being conscious he needed to get the rest of the school out of the gym so he could take proper care that the authorities can pick him up.
"The doors locked!"
"We're trapped!"
"Ram it down!"
"Out of the way!"
Ash yelled at everyone. Running to the door with a knife in hand that he grabbed from the table, bended on his knees and put the tip of the blade into the keyhole. He pressed on the bottom of the handle hard breaking all the pins inside the keyhole. Now with the lock shattered he pushed the door open making everyone able to escape from the room.
"Go! Go! Go! And one at a time!" All the students ran out but Dawn just stopped outside the door. Seeing everyone run ahead in a panic she stayed behind thinking she can help Ash.
"We have to help him!"
"You're not ready yet! Don't even try it!"
Umbreon scolding her that after just one day of training she'd take on a killer. Despite her differences with Johanna and wanting some action she promised she'd watch over the girl.
"Come on Dawn we gotta go!"
Kenny grabbed her wrist and pulled her away wanting to keep her safe. Ash proved he can take care of himself as did May just now. Even when he is dragging her along she couldn't help but look back.
"Careful Ash! Take care of May!"
"We gotta get you out of here May!" As the boy finished his sentence the teacher stopped wimping drawing their attention.
He grabbed the hilt of the knife and pulled it out from the table with the greatest ease worrying the guardian. The man flexed his hand and by the way he reacted it was nothing more but a minor inconvenience.
Before Ash could say something the teacher tossed the knife to his head. Dodging it at the last second he could hear the whooshing noise of the blade just passing him by. A thud coming from behind him let him know the knife was now stuck inside the gym's wall.
"That was close!"
Hewould swear the knife actually cut a bit of his spiky hair. Now he knows this guy is truly out to kill. Stuck again in a situation without his costume leaving him unable to use his full aura power. He didn't had to worry about the knives when he could pull out his own. But with May around he couldn't.
"You managed to break the lock with one of MY knives. I don't care that there are witnesses, you used MY knives!"
The killer's arms started to change shape. His skin color disappeared and the two teens could swear it started to glow. His forearms started shapeshifting with the two teenagers looking on stunned. Instead of having flesh and bones for arms they shifted in color and his arms shined a shiny silver. He now looked like he had two axes hanging from his lower arms ready to cut anything up.
"For using MY knives I'm killing you two free of charge!"
Grinding his forearms over each other they sparked making a grinding noise like a chef sharpen his blades. The last thing they'll ever get to hear is his name.
"You'll both die at the arms of Bisharp!"
A bit later than my self proclaimed rule for this says (once every 3 weeks max) but what can you do when you're as sick as a dog and it keeps lingering.
Anyway, it seems like Ash can't just catch a break. First the mummies, then the kidnapping and now a murder instructor with blades for arms.
See you around.