Chapter 32
Volkner.
Regarded as arguably the second-best trainer in Vermilion City, he was a force to be reckoned with…and he would be Ash's mentor, going forward.
Ash took a glance at Volkner to study him. He drove with one hand on the wheel and the other hanging out of the window. Volkner's expression was blank, concealing anything Ash hoped to gain, so he could only wonder what was in store for him. After they met at the beach on the southern strip of Vermilion City, Volkner began to drive out into Route 11, following one of the many roads that traveled throughout the area.
About twenty minutes into the dense forests of Route 11, they crossed a bridge that stretched over a sizeable river. Once they had crossed, Volkner went off the road to drive alongside the waterway for some time. Their silence persisted, though Ash didn't mind, as he used the time to think about what Volkner meant when he said they would unlock Pikachu's full potential.
According to Giselle, Pikachu was strong in his own right. So, what was there for Pikachu to unlock?
Volkner brought his truck to a stop and turned it off. Without a word, he got out of his truck and invited Ash to do the same.
"Is this where we're going to train?" Ash asked him as they met at the back of his truck.
"Not here, it's further upstream," Volkner answered as he detached one of two Pokeballs from his belt. He looked at it fondly at for a moment before he tossed it in the air. "Ampharos, come join us."
The invitation to his partner Pokemon was answered as she exited her Pokeball, taking shape beside Volkner. Ash and Pikachu marveled at the appearance of Volkner's Ampharos as she spent a moment observing each of them.
"Say hello, Ampharos, this is Ash and Pikachu. They're going to be our training partners for the next few weeks." Volkner explained to her. She then bowed gracefully to the duo as a greeting, earning a chuckle from Ash as he and Pikachu returned her gesture.
"So, this is your partner," Ash noted as he circled around Ampharos to pick out the minor details about her. The first thing that caught his attention about her was the red orbs on her. There was one that sat on the tip of her tail, and the other was lodged in her forehead. They reminded him of the red spots on Pikachu's cheeks and he wondered if they played a part in how Ampharos gathered electricity. "Man, she looks so cool!"
Despite her composure, Ampharos became bashful at the compliment as she blushed, opting to hide behind Volkner. The blonde gave a laugh and remarked that his partner was easy to embarrass. That aside, Volkner refocused the group as he led them further up the river.
"Ash, did you know electric type Pokemon have all sorts of secrets?" Volkner asked him.
"I read a few things on the PokeHub…" Ash paused for a moment as he studied Volkner's expression. The smirk he wore made Ash think otherwise, "But I get the feeling you're talking about something else."
"And you'd be right," Volkner answered as they walked alongside the river. "Like, for example, did you know that the gems or orbs on Ampharos are actually her power source?"
"I kind of thought that they had some kind of purpose, but they're her power source?" Ash exclaimed, and Volkner gave a nod.
"Ye-up. All electric type Pokemon harness electricity in different ways. Some draw power from their surroundings, while others, like Ampharos, have a sort of generator within them." Volkner explained.
"Whoa, so Pikachu has some kind of generator inside of him?"
"No, not Pikachu. He's in a different class; the kinds of electric types that generate their electricity while in motion," Volkner answered.
"What does that mean for Pikachu?" Ash interjected before Volkner could continue.
"It means that Pikachu has the potential to generate a nearly endless amount of electricity to wield in battle, so long as he can keep moving." Volkner pointed out and their eyes grew wide.
"Seriously!?" Ash shouted before he looked at his partner walking beside him. "Did you know that, Pikachu?"
Pikachu shook his head. This was news to him as well!
"Wait, how does being in motion help Pikachu build up electricity?" Ash inquired.
"His muscles fibers were built in such a fashion that the kinetic energy Pikachu creates from moving is then converted into electricity that he can use freely," Volkner responded. "It's really fascinating, isn't it?"
"That's one way to put it," Ash muttered as he tried to wrap his head around the information. Giselle had told him to familiarize himself with the documents concerning electric types on the PokeHub, but Ash wasn't the type to read about a Pokemon's abilities, he wanted to experience them firsthand!
"Ah, here we are," Volkner said as they arrived at a clearing beside the river. Resting here was a small cottage with a water wheel beside it that almost matched the size of the structure.
"Are we going to have a battle here?" Ash asked, causing Volkner to purse his lips.
"Not quite. There was a reason I told you about how Pikachu generates electricity. I saw it during your last battle at the Hidden Cove. There's still one step Pikachu has to take before he can reach his full potential," Volkner explained. "It's a little-known fact that electric types suffer from electrical overloads in their youth, and I'm sure your Pikachu is no exception."
Pikachu gave a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head in the same fashion Ash would. He remembered his overloads, all of which were unpleasant to say the least.
"For most, if not all of them, this causes them to become afraid of their own power." Volkner stated, causing Ash to send a questioning glance at Pikachu.
"Are you afraid of using your electricity, Pikachu?" Ash asked as he knelt to address Pikachu.
"Pi-ka…pikapi?" Pikachu responded, causing Ash to frown.
"He's not really sure." Ash said as he looked back to Volkner.
"It's an instinctive fear, Ash," Volkner went on. "Pikachu may not know it, but he's handicapping himself."
"How do you know that?"
"In your last match, I noticed that Pikachu had to use Charge before Thunderbolt," Volkner said. "The need to pre-charge for that attack says to me that Pikachu still doesn't trust his ability to control it."
"So then…Ampharos doesn't need to use Charge?" Ash asked as he looked to the larger of the two electric Pokemon present.
Volkner opted for a demonstration, and it confirmed Ash's conclusion. Ampharos fired off multiple electric attacks in quick succession, no Charge required, and Ash was astounded at the sight of it.
After all the training he had done with Pikachu, Ash had never thought much about developing Pikachu's ability to manipulate electricity. Watching Ampharos do almost anything imaginable was unlike anything he had seen before and he was eager to know how they achieved these feats.
"Was Ampharos afraid of using electricity too?" Ash asked, causing Ampharos to conceal herself by Volkner once again.
"She was."
"How did you help her work past it, then?"
"We got struck by lightning."
Ash deadpanned.
"Are you being serious?" Ash asked him incredulously.
"Completely," Volkner replied as he raised a hand to pat Ampharos on the head.
"So, Pikachu and I have to be struck by lightning?"
Volkner stifled a laugh.
"No, we were a special case," Volkner stated. "Being struck by lightning triggered an electrical overload in Ampharos, which is what helped her to take this next step. The goal with Pikachu is to create a similar situation."
"And how are we going to do that?"
"Here," Volkner took him to the back of the cottage. At the back of his small home was a power converter that was wired to the water wheel. "This supplies power to the cottage, but we can reroute the power to Pikachu to cause an overload."
It sounded crazy in theory and looked even crazier when it came time to execute. Ash found himself on the backside of the water wheel, climbing on each partition to speed up its rotation. Ash looked off to the side, where he saw the wires running back to the converter where it broke off into three wires, two of which went Pikachu's cheeks, and the final one was wrapped around his tail.
According to Volkner, those three spots were the conduits for Pikachu to release electricity, and it could be used in reverse as well.
"Are you okay, Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner. Pikachu looked up at him and gave a thumbs up. With the confirmation from his partner, Ash picked up his pace and the process began. The power generated from the wheel increased tenfold, to the point where the excess electricity could be seen traveling through the wires to Pikachu.
"Piiiiiii-ka," Pikachu groaned as his small form was assaulted by a wave of electricity. It poured into him, coursing through every fiber of his body. His senses became dull from the voltage that already surpassed anything he had felt before.
"Ramp it up, Ash, this isn't even close to enough to cause an overload." Volkner commented. Ash gave him a nod, drew in a deep breath and climbed aggressively. The rotation speed of the wheel rose, as did the output from the power converter.
Sparks began to fly from Pikachu and it reached the point where an electric halo surrounded his small form. At first, it matched the color of Pikachu's fur, but gradually the electricity grew darker in color around him.
Pikachu hunched over with a grunt and then went down onto one knee.
"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed.
"Ash!" Volkner said sharply. "Stay focused. Do not let the wheel stop."
Ash looked to his partner, who had regained his bearings, and he gave Ash another thumbs up.
Don't worry, I can do this!
With a nod, Ash returned to his task of turning the water wheel. Soon enough, he got back to the same rotations per minute, and the dense electrical halo took shape around Pikachu again. Volkner donned a crooked grin at the sight of Pikachu wrestling for control with the overflow of electricity running through him.
"This is it! Give it everything you've got!" Volkner commanded.
Ash held his breath and climbed with all his might. His muscles began to scream and wail as fatigue set in, but Ash powered through it. For thirty seconds, he poured out every ounce of strength he could muster, all the while watching his partner closely. He licked his lips to keep them moist, taking deep breaths to fill his lungs to capacity.
Just as Volker had said, they arrived at the apex.
The cloud of lightning around Pikachu became so dense that the small Pokemon could no longer be seen within it. Panting as he climbed, Ash could hear Pikachu cry out from within the storm.
"Pikachu!" Ash hollered.
I'm okay! We're almost there, I can feel it!
Ash adjusted his focus and inhaled one more time. Despite the protests of his arms and legs, he surged onward.
The storm around Pikachu went into a frenzy, the electricity turning white as it blinded those around it.
"PI-KAAAA!"
There was a gust of wind, and Ash went airborne. He reached out for the water wheel, but it was nowhere to be found. His body met with the surface of the river, which cushioned his fall, though he still hit stones that occupied the riverbed. Pain jolted up the arm that he had landed on. Thankfully the water was shallow, only reaching upper calves.
Now standing upright, Ash used one hand to rub at his eyes to restore his vision. After a few moments, the haze faded away and Ash squinted at the scene beside the river. The power converter had exploded, which was likely what had knocked him off the wheel and into the river. A stray lightning bolt passed through his line of sight and crashed into the riverbed several meters away from him.
This drew Ash's attention to the crackling cyclone of electricity. At the center of it was Pikachu who wore an expression Ash had never seen before.
Such hostility…
"Pikachu!" Ash screamed at his partner.
Pikachu turned toward him, causing multiple bolts to exit the cyclone. They flew out haphazardly into the river, detonating against the riverbed and blasting the water all about.
Volkner watched on, eyebrows raised in awe. The tempest of lightning that traveled around Pikachu was unlike anything he had seen. It wasn't the yellow lightning that was signature to electric type Pokemon, the heart of the storm was white, with a rainbow of colors swirling around Pikachu. Was that somehow tied to Ash's wings…or was it sign of Pikachu's true potential?
"Pikachu?!" Ash shouted again. Pikachu wasn't responding to at him.
Instead, a string of lightning bolts went flying in Ash's direction. Three of them were headed straight toward him, but they veered off course and crashed in the river behind him. Ash stumbled forward and clutched his left shoulder from the sudden movement. A shout of distress escaped his lips and it was enough to reach Pikachu.
The malice briefly left Pikachu, long enough for him to see Ash writhing in pain. But his vision became clouded again as he felt another surge from within him.
Ash, you have to move!
Another round of bolts left the cyclone, but unlike the previous ones, these skipped across the surface of the water, and a pair of them converged on Ash. His eyes became wide as they approached. He took two steps back before his heel struck a stone and Ash found himself resting on his bottom in the water.
All he could do was raise a hand and look away. He had been zapped by Pikachu before, but Pikachu had always been conservative in those situations. It usually left him tingling with a bit of a twitch, and his heart would race for a while, but he was always fine. However, Ash was certain he would be struck by a real lightning bolt. However, enough time passed for Ash to realize he should've been hit by now, so he peeked with one eye.
In front of him was Volkner, one arm outstretched for his open hand to catch the bolt of lightning. Ash's mouth hung open, but his astonishment was short-lived. Pikachu let out another volley of lightning bolts, all of which went flying at them again.
Even though Volkner had done something impossible and caught lightning with his bare hands, there was no way he could protect them for the seven approaching Thunderbolts. Volkner's gaze became steely, and Ash winced as his heartbeat pounded against his eardrums.
Volkner wings opened up behind him. His marvelous golden wings. They grew large, shielding them from the lightning. It was like they were absorbing the electricity!
Ash was in awe…
The electrical storm around Pikachu dissipated at long last, allowing the Pokemon to slump to the ground with a tiny thud. Pikachu's collapse brought back Ash's focus as he jumped back to his feet with a shout of his partner's name. He ran through the water, racing to Pikachu's side to examine him.
Electricity was crackling from his fur, zapping his fingertips. Ash withdrew his hand and looked to Volkner and Ampharos as they approached.
"Is Pikachu going to be okay?" Ash asked them immediately.
Volkner gave him a nod.
"Oh yeah, he'll be fine," Volkner replied.
"So then, does that mean Pikachu isn't afraid anymore?"
Volkner chuckled and shook his head.
"Not even close, Ash," He began. "This was just the first step."
"First step?"
"Mhmm, to overcome his fear, Pikachu will have to face it head-on and accumulate experience using his full power," Volkner explained causing Ash to look down at his unconscious comrade.
"So then, this is where our training starts," Ash concluded, earning a nod from Volkner. With Pikachu out of commission for the time being, Ash looked to the blonde with a new question in mind. "So, what was that earlier?"
"What was what?" Volkner repeated.
"That thing you did with your wings, you blocked out the Thunderbolt. Are you like a superhero or something?" Ash inquired as he studied Volkner. His wings had folded into his back and disappeared earlier, leaving Ash to wonder just who Volkner really was…
Volkner let out a laugh.
"There's no such thing as superheroes," Volkner said. "However, there are people that were chosen for a higher purpose."
"And you're one of them…" Ash trailed off when Volkner made a gesture toward him.
"And so are you." Volkner added.
"What does that mean?"
Volkner paused, using this opportunity think about his answer.
"The higher purpose…" Volkner hesitated, his lips pursed and brow furrowed to create an expression Ash found amusing. "Think of it as an enormous puzzle. In order to see the big picture in a puzzle, you usually pick out smaller parts to work on first. Once you have enough of the smaller pictures, it becomes easier to fill in the blank areas, right?"
Ash gave him a nod.
"The big picture, I don't know much about," Volkner answered truthfully as he shook his head. "We're still at a stage where the smaller pictures are being constructed. All I know is that the big picture revolves around someone that is recognized as the 'One True King.' You could call him the centerpiece."
Ash's eyes widened at the mention of the 'One True King.' It was the same thing that he had read in the book!
"But among the smaller pictures, there are five of us that were sent her to Vermilion City to complete a number of tasks." Volkner explained.
"Five of you? So, the Five Kings?" Ash asked, but Volkner shook his head. "Not the Five Kings…so who are the others then?"
"You'll know in due time, Ash." Volkner stated and Ash decided to abandon this topic.
"Alright then, what exactly is the task you have to do?" Ash asked him.
"Mine? I was instructed to watch over you."
"By who?"
"The Unown."
"Unown?" Ash repeated. "Who are they?"
"I…don't really know myself. I've only spoken with them once," Volkner admitted. "But one of my associates has the ability to speak to them whenever she needs to."
"She?" Ash said as Bianca came to mind. Could it be?
"You've met her already," Volkner said with a nod. "Bianca."
Ash took a moment to exhale. So, Bianca was one of these five people…and that strange dream, or rather what he thought was a dream, actually did happen. The book, Ninetales, the mountaintop. It was all real. Bianca was one of these five people…
"You are Ash Ketchum! The one heralded to walk the Path of Mastery!"
"So…can you tell me what the Path of Mastery is?" Ash inquired, causing Volkner to raise his brow.
"No, this is the first I've heard of it," Volkner responded. "It might be a task tied specifically to you."
Ash felt like he was floating as he tried to wrap his head around all of this. It was a lot to take in, especially considering the majority of it didn't make much sense to him. But out of everything he heard up until this point, there was one question that remained in his head.
The Path of Mastery was something that might be exclusive to him. So, could that possibly make him the 'centerpiece' that Volkner had mentioned?
"Am I…the One True King?"
Volkner looked at him sideways and then he shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. The identity of the One True King hasn't been determined. But I do know that in the grand scheme of things, you are special. Your wings are proof of that." Volkner remarked with a smirk, causing Ash to furrow his brow.
But before this discussion could progress any farther, Pikachu awakened and their focus shifted to the Pokemon. It took a few moments before Pikachu to fully regain his senses and he began to apologize to Ash profusely.
"Pikachu, don't worry about it," Ash said as he assured Pikachu that he was fine. "I know you would never try to hurt me."
"He's right, Pikachu, relax," Volkner said as he knelt beside Ash and Pikachu. "You won't be able to master controlling your electricity right out the gates, it's a gradual process and understanding how much power you have is the first step."
Pikachu still held a look of uncertainty as he averted his gaze from them. Ash placed his hand on Pikachu's head and gave him a broad smile.
"Pikachu, I know this might be scary, but I promise you that we'll work through it together."
They shared a nod with this promise and then looked to Volkner for guidance.
Ash had learned many things today.
One, that Volkner the Golden Flash drove an old pickup truck and lived out on Route 11.
Two, that Pikachu feared the abilities signature to his type of Pokemon.
And above all else, that electric type Pokemon were simply amazing!
Ash assumed that Volkner would be their teacher, but Ampahros was actually the teacher. Not only that, but Ampharos taught without speaking.
"What is she doing?" Ash asked as he observed Ampharos and Pikachu.
Pikachu and Ampharos stood with their backs to one another, their tails touching. They only sound that came from them was the crackle from the consistent Thundershock that Ampharos was releasing from her tail into Pikachu.
"Electric type Pokemon can do all sorts of things with electricity," Volkner began, but his attention was wrapped up in the repair work he was performing to the power converter. It was almost like he knew that this would happen, since he had a toolkit waiting for him in the cottage. "They can attack, defend, empower…they can even communicate with it, which is what they're doing right now?"
"Really?" Ash exclaimed.
"Ye-up, Ampharos is showing Pikachu how to control his electricity as we speak," Volkner added before extended a hand toward Ash. "Hand me the socket wrench."
Ash peered into the toolkit and frowned. There were at least four different wrenches as far as he could tell. Volkner took note of his expression and added: 'the one with the yellow handle.'
"So, Pikachu will be able to use new moves after this?"
"Not exactly," Volkner answered. "Ampharos can only teach him the theories behind manipulating electricity. Pikachu will have to practice in order to use these new moves."
Ash suppressed a smile. He couldn't wait to see Pikachu in action. With all of the training involved to develop their Quick Attack and Double Team combo, Ash was excited to see what sort of training they would do with Volkner.
"What kind of moves will Pikachu be able to use?"
"Ampharos is going to go easy on him for now. The first move she's showing him is called Spark," Volkner explained and he went on, "It's a very basic move, even easier to use than Thunderbolt, actually. It'll help Pikachu practice controlling how much electricity he releases at a time."
Ash thought about Pikachu expanding his arsenal and found himself licking his lips. Speed was their only weapon up until today. But now, if Pikachu could let loose an electrical attack at any given moment, it would make their whole offense that much more potent.
When Ampharos completed her first lesson with Pikachu, they began to practice. Ampharos was more verbal from here, giving Pikachu gentle reminders as he began to gather electricity and mold it to his liking. The instruction behind Spark was simple. All Pikachu had to do was maintain a constant output of electricity, and coat his fur in it. According to Volkner, Spark was only a basic move, but Pikachu struggled mightily with it.
Ash knew that all of this was foreign to Pikachu. The extent of their practice with electricity before today was Pikachu's use of Charge to use Thunderbolt. But Volkner had already established that their development of Charge couldn't be considered proper training. Pikachu had never been capable of tapping into his electrical reservoir, but Charge would provide him with an excess of electricity that he would use for his Thunderbolt attack.
Pikachu was learning how to access his dormant power.
Ash wanted to help Pikachu, and Volkner could tell.
"This is a test for Pikachu," Volkner stated to keep Ash at bay. "It'll take more than just practice to use his abilities. It takes courage to wield this kind of power. Courage, boldness…and maybe a touch of some moxie from your trainer."
Ash looked to Volkner and caught sight of a smirk on his face.
He looked back to Pikachu, who went down onto all fours, summoning electricity to surround himself in a veil.
It takes courage…
Friday, February 3rd
1:53 pm.
Around this time of day on a Friday, Pikachu would usually be acting as the assistant supervisor of Macy – assistant to whoever watching her that morning. In today's case, it was Miette.
However, today was a different case. Pikachu was snoozing peacefully on the couch in the living room, and Macy took note of his absence.
"Are you okay, Pikachu?" Macy asked as she looked observed Pikachu closely. Pikachu opened one eye to look at her and she waited to see what he would do. Miette couldn't help but laugh at the sight of Macy pestering Pikachu yet again. She just couldn't leave him alone today.
"Macy," Miette called to her, patting the sofa beside her. "Pikachu has been working very hard, he needs to rest."
"Oh yeah, Ashy said that too," She noted softly. Macy gave Pikachu a kind apology and returned to Miette. Pikachu looked toward Miette and she shot him a wink, earning a nod of thanks from him. He then snuggled further into the couch to enjoy the last half an hour of rest he'd have for today.
Their training with Ampharos and Volkner was brutal, to say the least. Pikachu was no slouch when it came to training, and Ash wouldn't allow any sort of slacking. But Ampharos was a workhorse and she expected the same out of him, not to mention the type of training was a whole new experience to Pikachu. Unlike the physical demands and repetition that it took to master Quick Attack and Double Team, the process of tapping into the energy within him took mental fortitude and physical endurance.
Ampharos promised him that it would become second nature as he practiced, but it all felt so strange to Pikachu. The overload that they had invoked using the waterwheel, it left him…terrified.
That was the first time in a long time that he had been overwhelmed by electricity. It dulled all of his senses to have such a high voltage running through him, and his control of the lightning began to slip. He could feel the power spasming around him, acting on its own accord. Pikachu fought to maintain control, but that battle was lost almost immediately. The storm swallowed him up, and became violent as a result.
Ash's voice was the only thing Pikachu could make out amid the storm, but it lashed out at Ash in response. Even after being beaten once, Pikachu began to struggle for control again, for Ash's sake. Pikachu contended with the storm, but he was felled once again.
Thankfully, it had run its course and the storm abated. When Pikachu awakened, he learned that Ash was fine thanks to Volkner, but Ampharos explained to him that the battle for control was one that he would face again and again. It would get easier with time, but it was a struggle.
"The overload you experienced today was what you'll experience every time you call on your power," Ampharos explained via their electrical communication. "But just so that you understand this going forward, today you dealt with only a fraction of the power you'll be using."
Pikachu couldn't believe it when she said it, but as the training commenced, her words proved to be true.
Ampharos taught him how to draw out his power. They visualized it as an old well, and Ampharos explained that at first, he would need to bring it out in small doses – a bucket's worth. But with time, he would one day hurl himself into the well and experience its full might. However, a bucket's worth was all he could handle currently.
Just as Ampharos had said, it got easier. Little by little, with each lesson from his fellow electric type, Pikachu found himself growing more comfortable drawing out his once dormant electrical powers. Through all of the struggle, Pikachu felt a sense of pride engulf him at the end of each day. Not just because Ash would smother him with praise, but because the power that he had once feared as a child was now something he could wield confidently.
This was his rite of passage…and it was thanks to Ash that he had passed splendidly!
When fear crept in, Pikachu thought of his trainer. The young man whose courage knew no bounds! Ash's courage became Pikachu's, and it allowed Pikachu to enter a whole new world!
Ampharos took him by the hand and led him on the next phase of his journey. She introduced him to the concepts behind manipulating electricity. It was all so fascinating.
Pikachu's experimentation with his electrical powers started with Thundershock and ended with Thunderbolt, both of which required that he wield the lightning like a blade seeking to strike down his opponents. But Ampharos showed him that there were other ways to use his electricity.
It could function as a shield to protect him physically, in the fashion that the move Spark worked. Any opponent who relied on physical strength would be punished dearly for striking him if Spark was active. Electricity could also be used as a blunt instrument to stun his foe in battle. Ampharos had only gone over the application behind it once, explaining that this use was tied to a move known as Thunder Wave. She promised that they would go into further detail at a later date.
The final use of electricity that Ampharos has discussed with him so far was one that Pikachu was familiar with. Using it as a projectile to reach opponents at great distances. Thunderbolt was a basic projectile move, but Ampharos stated that she would show Pikachu a more advanced move called Electro Ball.
For the time being, Pikachu's focus was on Spark, and he was making great strides.
There was a knock on the front door and Pikachu opened his eyes to take a look at the clock.
2:23pm.
"Ashy's home!" Macy exclaimed as she and Miette went to the front door to let Ash in.
"Hey, Macy!" Ash said as a greeting. "Did you have a good time with Miette today?"
"Yeah, we did more reading!" She declared.
"That's great, do you promise to show me tomorrow?" Ash asked her and she gave him a big nod.
"Oh my god, who is that guy?" Miette asked as she peered out the front door. Parked in front of the house was an old pick-up truck with an attractive blonde guy as the driver.
"That's Volkner, he trains with me and Pikachu." Ash answered casually as Miette studied Volkner intently.
"What a hottie!"
Ash rolled his eyes at her.
"Ashy, what's a hot-tie?" Macy asked him curiously causing Ash to shoot a glare at Miette. Ash then knelt beside Macy and beamed at her.
"It's something you don't need to worry about right now, kiddo," Ash said to her before changing the subject. "Why don't you go wake up Pikachu for me?"
"O-kay!" She said before she darted off into the living room to awaken the small Pokemon.
Ash looked back to Miette, who wore a bashful expression for a change, giving a nervous laugh as she made eye contact with him.
"Don't poison her mind," Ash stated and Miette stuck her tongue out.
Ash went upstairs to change clothes, and when he returned, he found Pikachu waiting for him at the front door.
"You ready buddy?" Ash asked and Pikachu gave him a quick salute.
Born ready.
Wednesday, February 8th
A phone call came during that short window of time when Ash was actually home on a weekday. It was from Ethan Avertt, the cardiologist that had been overseeing Cassidy's rehabilitation.
His call came with some incredible news!
"Cassidy will be released from rehab on February 12th."
Ash suppressed his urge to jump for joy as Ethan continued.
"However, for her to come home, there is one requirement. You must find her a full-time home health aide to monitor her. If you stop by the hospital, the receptionist can provide you with a list of recommendations."
Fortunately, Ash didn't need a list. He already knew someone perfect for the job.
Shauna.
As if things couldn't get any more convenient, she would be the one watching the girls tonight, so Ash planned to talk to her about it when he returned from training.
The sun had sunk into the horizon, and skies were dim when Ash and Pikachu arrived at their home. Shauna greeted him cheerily, informing him that she had already put Macy to bed. Ash thanked her, as he always did, and requested that she join him in the kitchen for them to speak privately. Shauna raised her brow as she complied.
Once they were settled, Ash got right down to business.
"So, I got some news from Cassidy's doctor today that they're going to release her this Sunday," Ash began and Shauna let a whoop escape her lips. She blushed and apologized, but Ash waved it off. "There was one thing we have to before she can come home though. I have to hire a home health aide full-time to help Cassidy…you're still certified right?"
"Oh yeah, I certified for the next two years," Shauna answered and then she blinked, putting the pieces together. "Wait…so does that mean, you want to hire me?"
Ash gave her a slow nod.
"Of course, I'll do it!" Shauna declared. Ash's house had become a 'home away from home' for her. If she was getting paid to be here, there was no way she would turn that offer. Not to mention she absolutely adored Ash's sisters. Watching after them and Cassidy could hardly be considered work. "We can work out of the rates and everything later, I don't even really care what you pay me."
"You're going to get paid well," Ash assured her. She opened her mouth but Ash added, "Shauna, you've been such a big help around here the last few months. This is our way of paying you back."
She held back her response and simply smiled at Ash. She knew better than to try and change his mind.
"The only thing I need is for you to come with me to the hospital on Saturday to show them your paperwork," Ash explained and he received a nod from her to conclude the short discussion. "So, are you going to join us on Friday?"
"For May?"
"Yup, it's her big debut."
Friday, February 10th
There were only a few occasions that North Vermilion High received so much activity at night. Usually, a football or basketball game would garner some attention, but tonight was a different case. Tonight, was the school talent show that hosted a cast of teenagers that brought in nearly the entire school. Parents, friends, and family were all packed into the room, anxiously waiting for the show to begin.
Ash leaned over the railing at the edge of the upper concourse to look at the full house on the ground level. The buzz of excitement that filled the room reminded him of a short video he had seen on the PokeHub about a Beedrill's nest.
"Ah-ha! Now we're cooking!" Trevor exclaimed now that his cameras were in focus.
"You're all set up?" Ash asked him as he looked to his friend that had finished mounting his third and final camera to the railing. With these three cameras, he had all the angles covered. Two on the ground level and one for an aerial view of the stage. He would capture everything perfectly.
"Yup, and thanks again for setting this up, Ash." Trevor said with a nod.
Ash had gone to Fantina and proposed that she hire Trevor to record the talent show and take photographs. She agreed with the plan wholeheartedly, because she was certain that tonight would be a night to remember. The pay wasn't anything special, but Trevor was happy to add anything to his portfolio.
"Don't worry about it," Ash said as he waved off the comment. "We're all here for May, after all. I just want to make sure that she's able to relive this night over whenever she wants to."
Ash agreed with Fantina. Tonight, was going to special for May.
Whether it was a good special or a bad one, was to be determined by May herself.
"Well I'm set here; I'm going to head backstage and tell Fantina we can get started." Trevor said as he made a gesture to the stairway. The two of them journeyed down to the ground level of the auditorium where they went their separate ways. Ash returned the row seats where his friends were waiting.
The whole gang was here.
Casey, Macy, Brock, Serena, Shauna, Miette, Tierno, and Valerie. Macy was absolutely ecstatic. She couldn't wait to see May on stage!
"Hey, look who's back!" Brock exclaimed as Ash rejoined the group, taking the open seat by the aisle.
"How was Trevor doing?" Tierno asked from two seats over. Valerie was next to him, wearing a cheery expression as always.
"He just finished getting set up. The show is going to start in a minute or two." As Ash gave his reply, a familiar face passed by him. It was May's younger brother, Max. Right behind him was his mother Caroline who immediately recognized the group.
"Oh my, I didn't think I'd get to see you here, Ash," Caroline noted as Ash looked to her. He jumped to his feet to greet her properly, but she insisted that he relax. "It certainly is packed. I'm surprised the talent show got such a huge crowd."
"Do you guys have seats?" Ash asked as he glanced into his row. They had a seat for Macy, but she could sit on someone's lap if it meant giving Caroline or Max a seat.
"Don't you worry about us," Caroline replied with a smile. "Dawn saved us some seats up front, though I think one of them is empty because May's father won't be joining us tonight."
Ash frowned. He was sure that May wanted her father here to see her perform, to prove her worth to him. Ash, however, shook his head at the thought. That didn't matter anymore. The person May needed to prove her worth to was already in attendance…and that would be herself.
The ceiling lights dimmed, causing the audience to grow quiet as Fantina stepped out onto the stage with a microphone.
"I'll see you after the show, hopefully." Caroline said with a wave before and Max went down to the first row where Dawn was waiting for them.
Ash dropped back down into his seat and focused on Fantina, who was present at the center of the stage. She curtseyed to the audience before she began to speak.
"Bonsoir a tous," She said warmly to address the crowd. "Welcome to the annual North Vermilion High talent show! We weren't expecting such a big audience, but we are very happy to know that our performers tonight will be well supported. Because of the high attendance, please be mindful of where the exits are, and I suggest you silence your phones now, s'il vous plait."
Ash could hear some shuffling all throughout the room as a fair portion of the audience followed Fantina's request.
"Our cast tonight sends a big thanks to you for your compliance, as you won't want to miss a moment of the show," Fantina added before she made a gesture to stage left. "For our first act tonight, I'd like to welcome a wonderful pair of freshmen to the stage, Angie and her assistant Rachel!"
The applause came down as two girls took the stage, one dressed as a magician while the other was adorned in a lavish dress. Their act was nothing Ash hadn't seen, but he was impressed by their final trick. To wrap up the act, a screen wall was brought out onto the stage and the pair of Angie and Rachel both went behind it. It couldn't have been more than twenty seconds before they stepped out from behind the stage, having swapped clothes. The assistant Rachel had become the magician, and Angie was now wearing the gown.
Their final trick earned a roar of approval from the crowd as they took a bow and their act concluded.
The night went on without a hitch and everyone was having a merry time.
A group of sophomores put on a barbershop quartet decked out in matching striped vests and hats. The bass singer had the deepest voice Ash had ever heard from a teenager!
The act that followed was an excerpt from a famous tragedy about two star crossed lovers trying to find love in a doomed relationship, but the seniors who took part in it made it more a parody than sticking to the original lines, hitting numerous key punchlines that left the howling with laughter.
"Give another round of applause for them!" Fantina said as these students left the stage. "Those students are members of our drama club and they're quite the actors, aren't they?"
There some whistles from the audience in response.
"The next act is going to be a treat, so please enjoy the comedy stylings of our own, Sorrel Lee!" Fantina said warmly as she invited a young man out onto the stage. He was dressed casually with a microphone in one hand and a barstool in the other.
Ash recognized him. He was the number one student! It was no secret that he would be the class valedictorian, poised to head off to the biggest college in Kalos once he graduated.
Once Sorrel was set up at the center of the stage, he performed a quick mic check before his performance began.
"Alright ladies and gents, how are we doing tonight?" He asked loosely before waving off his question. "We'll skip the formalities. I know we have a lot of parents in the audience tonight. Do you guys remember your senior year in high school? I know for some of you that might have been a long time ago, but bear with me."
There were some snickers from the younger folks in the crowd.
"I'm sure you all remember math class…word problems." There were a few laughs from the audience as Sorrel went on. "I remember one night, I went to my dad for some help with a word problem," Sorrel shook his head with a chuckle. "I kid you not, this was the question. 'If you buy sixty Tamato berries…' now he stopped right there, looked at me dead in the eyes and said: 'why the hell would you buy sixty Tamato berries?'"
Sorrel stood up from his stool as several audience members began to laugh.
"Only in math would you by sixty Tamato berries, dad. Only in math. Speaking of math, I'm not sure if my mom passed all her math classes because she can't seem to keep track of her age anymore." Sorrel noted, earning a few laughs. "I noticed this when I got into high school, my mom was 'suddenly' ten years younger. I'm sure some of you out there know what I'm talking about." There were several shouts of agreement, "And it gets even better because by extension, now you're suddenly ten years younger too. Now for you husbands out there, it might not be such a big deal. But for the kids, oh boy." Sorrel put on a voice in a poor imitation of his mother. "'Oh, my son Sorrel? He turned eight this year.' Mom! Mom, do you hear my voice right now? Do you see the mustache on my face, I literally drove us here! For goodness sake, the charade can only go so far!"
The audience roared.
"Oh, that's so true!" Brock hollered from his seat. "My mom does the same crap!"
"Mom, Dad, I love you guys," Sorrel said as he spotted his parents in the audience. He gave them one grateful bow before he continued, "Thank you all, you've been a wonderful audience! Goodnight!"
The audience cheered as Sorrel gave one last salute, collected his items and went on his way.
Fantina returned to the stage following the ninth performance of the night, but as she began to speak Ash felt someone tap his shoulder. Startled, he looked to his left and found Trevor looming over him.
"What's up, Trevor?" Ash asked as Trevor stooped down to speak with him.
"We've got a problem backstage," Trevor began and Ash furrowed his brow. "May is missing. No one has seen her since check-in. I don't know my way around the building so can you come to help me look for her."
"Psst," Brock said from further in the row after he caught sight of Trevor. "What's the matter?"
"May's gone missing," Ash answered. "I'm going to help Trevor look for her."
"I'm right behind you then." Brock stated as he rose from his seat. However, Brock wasn't the only one that joined them in their search for May, Tierno and Serena joined the search party without a moment of hesitation. As the group made their way out of the auditorium, Ash recalled Caroline's mention of Dawn before the show started, and he looked toward the front of the auditorium. It took a moment, but he located the only head of blue hair at the front.
"I'll catch up with you guys, I'm going to enlist some more help." Ash said as he turned to head back down the aisle. Arriving at the row were Dawn was seated with Caroline, Max, and Drew, Ash did what he could to get their attention. "Pssst!"
Max was the first to notice him, and Ash began to point at Dawn. Max nudged her with his elbow and then nodded toward Ash. Once Dawn saw Ash motioning for her to come with him, Dawn rose from her seat and followed him out of the auditorium while he explained the situation.
"Oh man, she must be panicking." Dawn muttered as they joined the group of Brock, Trevor, Tierno, and Serena in the corridor.
"I've been calling her phone," Serena said as she re-dialed May's number. "But she's not answering."
"Do you have any ideas where she might be?" Trevor asked Dawn, causing the bluenette to look up in thought.
Whenever May had a bad day, she would usually seek out some privacy. A place where she could get herself in order.
"The bathrooms…" Dawn noted causing the group to share a glance. Brock and Tierno made a face that almost forced a laugh out of Trevor.
"The bathroom?" Ash repeated with skepticism.
"This is May we're talking about," Dawn answered. "Now come on, there's no time to waste."
"Good point, we'll split up then," Brock said to the group. "Ash, Serena and I will be group one. Dawn, Trevor and Tierno will be group two."
"Okay then, we'll take the ground floor, you guys can start in the basement," Ash suggested. "We'll all meet on the second floor if we don't find her."
"Right!"
Ash burst into the girls' bathroom of the southwest wing and gave a valiant shout for May to answer him. There was no reply and thankfully the bathroom was empty. Brock had been the one to throw open the door and startle a pair of female faculty members that were washing their hands. They berated him but went no further than that after hearing his explanation.
"Nope, no dice," Ash said as he rejoined Brock and Serena in the corridor. Serena still had phone pressed against her ear, quietly begging May to answer her phone.
"Where's the next bathroom?" Brock asked Ash.
"That was the last one on this floor. We have to head upstairs." Ash said as he made a gesture toward the stairwell at the end of the hall.
"Hold on, someone answered," Serena shushed them. "Hello? Who is this? But this is May Maple's phone, right? She did…did she say where she was going? Alright, thank you so much!"
Serena ended the call and gave a great sigh of relief.
"Okay, someone backstage said she left her phone in the changing room. They said she went out to her car for some fresh air when the show started." Serena explained.
"Her car…" Ash muttered. "May usually parks her car at the lot by the field. She must be over there. Come on, this way, there's a fire exit we can use!"
Serena used her phone to get into contact with Dawn as they ran, relaying the information to the other search party. Soon enough both groups were now converging on the same location. Ash, Brock, and Serena were the first to arrive at the additional parking lot, scanning the area for May's bright blue car. Dawn, Tierno, and Trevor arrived soon after and joined the hunt until Dawn finally spotted May's car in the far corner of the lot.
As they drew close, the saw May seated in the behind the steering wheel, resting her forehead against it.
"May!" They all shouted together and she jumped in her seat. All of them were smushed together trying to look through the window at her. Seeing them all practically on top of each other, May couldn't help but laugh at the sight of them.
"Come on, May, come on out here." Brock said as an invitation for her to join them under the dim skies. There was a kind breeze rolling through with enough sunlight that the streetlights hadn't turned on yet.
She complied and there several expressions of awe at the sight of her. May wore a stunning, scarlet-colored knee-length dress. The frills of her dress moved with her, and her hair was let loose for tonight. She blushed as they complimented her, and she looked away from them.
"I'm sorry guys, but I don't think I can do this." She stated.
Their merry expressions faded as the group took a moment to glance at each other.
"What makes you say that?" Tierno asked her in return as he motioned for them to come out in front of her car, inviting May to take a seat on the hood. She gave a sigh once she was situated, and placed a hand against her cheek.
"When the show started," She began. "I took a peek and saw the audience and…I don't know. I couldn't calm down, so I came out here for some fresh air. I'm so nervous right now, I-I don't think I could handle going on stage."
"It's okay, May," Tierno said as he took a seat beside her. "I remember I lost my cool once before a performance too."
"You can't lose what you never had, big fella." Brock interjected. Tierno shot him a narrow glance and May let out a giggle.
"As I was saying," Tierno went on. "A certain group of people did something to help me relax."
"What was that?" May inquired.
"We did our own little mini-show, before the real thing." Tierno answered as he looked toward Brock. The mention of this caused Brock to raise his brow as he understood what Tierno was referring to. Brock whipped out his phone to search for a song and in a matter of seconds, he had a song playing.
Dawn remembered the intro to the song as Brock began to clap in sync with the beat, just like he did at the subway station before their dance battle. As the lyrics began, there some cheers as everyone but May formed a circle in front of her car. They all grooved in place as a warm-up, even Dawn.
May eyed her best friend incredulously. Dawn never danced!
"Come on, May, hop in. This is a lot of fun!" Dawn exclaimed as she motioned for May to join them. She was hesitant, but as she watched each of them take a turn to dance at the center of the circle, she couldn't deny that it looked like a blast. While Dawn, Ash, and Trevor weren't as skilled a dancer as the others, they were still brimming with mirth as they danced.
Everyone insisted that she take a turn until she finally gave in.
Her heart was racing as she took her spot at the center of the group and she hesitated, shuffling on her feet. May's jaw was tight and she grasped at the fringes of her dress.
"May, don't worry," Tierno called out to her and when she looked to him, he gave her a toothy grin. "No one here wants to see you fail, so relax…and focus on what matters most," He framed his great smile with his hands and May felt her lips quiver before they turned upward.
A smile. That was all she needed.
May drew in one grateful breath as she rocked back and forth to beat. Gradually she eased into a few steps and it soon turned into full display. Her audience clapped in sync with the beat and when her short freestyle came to an end, they swamped May together and laughed as a group.
"Thanks for coming to find me, guys," May continued. "I still don't want to do this, but I will for you."
"Oh please, May, there's at least a small part you that wanted to," Tierno pointed out. "You would've gone home otherwise, right?"
May pursed her lips. She had her own car and her keys. She could've left if she really wanted to…but something kept her around. Something was nagging her from the back of her mind. Several voices…
"A good performance isn't one that's mistake-free, a good performance is one that your audience remembers…One that they learn something from."
"Even if it's just one person that we affected out of like, three hundred people, we did our jobs as performers."
"And just so you know, May, I get nervous and scared too, but just like you if I see a smile after I'm done performing, it all feels worthwhile."
Even her own.
"My heart kind of…flutters," May said softly. "It makes me so happy to see her happy."
May's pause came to an end as she finally looked to Tierno to respond. Fueled by her newfound resolve, May gave a firm nod.
"Yeah, you're right. There is a part of me that wants to perform, and I'm not going to hold her back any longer." May answered and smiles broke out.
"And remember, if you need a smile before you start, just look for us," Ash assured her. "We're right there with you!"
May thanked them all again, and she took the lead in their return trip into the school, walking with her head held high.
Arriving backstage, May was greeted with many sighs of relief by her fellow performers.
"She's here!" Two of them called out to Fantina as they led May to the hostess. At the sight of May, Fantina rushed over and smothered her in a hug.
"Mademoiselle, you had us all so worried. Are you alright?" She asked May once she had separated from her.
"I'm fine Ms. Fantina, in fact," May paused and gave her teacher a bright smile. "I'm ready."
"I'm glad to hear those words," Nando called out to her. He wore a smirk as he stood beside his piano, garbed in an exquisite suit and his long hair was pulled back into a ponytail for the occasion. "You had me worried, too."
"As Dawn would say, 'there's no need to worry.'" May stated and she gave him a wink.
"How charming." Nando commented with a chuckle.
"Get ready you two, it's almost time now," Fantina said as she collected her microphone. The applause burst forth for the student on stage and Fantina left them to step out on the stage.
It was time.
"That was a wonderful performance, thank you again, Michelle!" Fantina said as Nando began to roll his piano out onto the stage with another student carrying his seat. "I'm sorry to say that we have arrived at our final performance for the night, but I assure you that we have something special for all to wrap up the show. She is one of the finest personalities among our senior class, welcome to the stage, May Maple!"
The crowd clapped as she came out on stage with a microphone in hand. The spotlights gathered at the center of the stage where she stood with Nando behind her. He took a few moments to get adjusted in his seat before he looked to May and gave a nod.
The go-signal.
May motioned for him to hold on for a moment as she looked out into the audience. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she licked her lips, scanning the crowd for the familiar faces she needed.
It didn't take her long to find them. Ash, Tierno, and their whole group of friends, they had all gotten to their feet and began to wave to her. Ash even went as far as to hoist Macy in the air for her to wave as well. As she made eye contact with each of them, they gave her a great big smile and May's heart was put at ease.
"You can do it, May!" A voice hollered and May looked to the front row.
She found Dawn and Drew looking up at her intently, and beside them was her mother and brother. They each gave her a smile, and the thumping in May's chest was but a distant memory.
May closed her eyes.
Took in a deep breath.
And when she opened them, she gave the audience a dazzling smile.
The sight of such a smile drew in the audience as they anxiously waited for her to begin. May looked back to Nando and gave a nod.
The real go-signal.
He dropped his hands on the piano keys to begin the introduction. With the lower notes, he established the tempo that May began to bounce in sync with. As Nando continued, May raised the microphone to her lips and began to harmonize to accompany the piano.
Down below, Ash stood in the aisle, mouth agape as he took in a breathtaking sight. May's wings sprouted from her back as she began to sing, sparkling from the spotlights that rested firmly on her. It was…spectacular. This was May Maple!
The audience began to clap once they had picked up on the beat of the song and soon enough the whole room became filled with Nando's piano, the beat of the audience, and May's voice!
Drew couldn't believe his ears. Even though he had been dating May for a few months now, he had no idea that she could sing this well! Her voice wasn't just powerful, it was extraordinary. Even with all of the competing sounds, everything seemed to blend seamlessly with her voice, producing something that brought him and the entirety of the audience to their feet.
Everyone was dancing by the time May finished the chorus for the first time.
Going into the second verse, May looked more comfortable than ever. She was dancing with everyone else, shining brightly like a star on stage. As she sang, she showed her full range, from the low notes to the high notes.
And then she hit the audience right in the face! Nando's piano grew quiet as she started low and began to ascend the musical scale. As she climbed, everyone grew silent as she went higher and higher until she reached her peak and held that note. It reverberated through the auditorium and all who heard stood frozen in place. She cut herself off sharply as she swung her hand through the air and take the opportunity to draw in a few breaths.
"WHOOOOO!" Brock hollered and the audience got over their shock in that very moment. The cheers threatened to blow the roof off of the building, startling May as she looked out at the audience. There were people out there jumping for joy while others gave whistles of praise.
Down in the front row, Drew held his head with both hands as he looked toward Dawn. She only laughed at his expression of shock.
"Go get em' May!" Dawn piped up though her voice was lost in the cheers.
May looked toward Nando on stage, and he raised his brow with a smiled at her.
'Tell me when you're ready.' He mouthed to her and she gave a nod.
She raised the microphone again and broke out in the chorus. Nando joined her with his piano on her second time through, and the audience settled down enough for her to continue. Once again, a unified clap broke out among the spectators as May continued.
The dancing, the merriment, it was a sight to behold, and Trevor was capturing all of it with his cameras. The audience even joined her in singing the chorus as she went through it for the third and final time.
"Oh, don't you worry 'bout a thing, don't you worry 'bout a thing, mama!"
Caroline stood in the audience, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes as she watched her daughter. It had been so long since she had seen May shine so brilliantly. She placed an arm around Max and pulled him close as they watched her together.
May arrived at the conclusion of her song, and it became a competition between her and Nando's piano for dominance. Nando raced up and down the keys while May harmonized her voice, matching his each and every note before she raised her voice and held her final note. One arm was outstretched to the crowd, and she leaned back slightly as she sang with all her might.
Then with one swift motion, she ended her tune and struck a pose.
The applause came down like a torrential rain shower. May was on stage beaming at the audience. She had done it! She went on stage and sang in front of everyone and no matter where she looked, there were smiling faces!
As she looked around the audience, she saw her friends and her gaze came to a halt at the sight of her mother. Caroline stood proudly with tears sliding down her cheeks. When she made eye contact, she took a bow as a gesture for May to do the same.
May bowed gracefully to the audience and Nando joined her in the action before Fantina came back out on stage. The audience was still clapping for them even after they had left, but Fantina waited patiently. When she was able to speak, she did so.
"What a wonderful performance," Fantina began and the audience began to cheer once again. She let out a laugh as she lowered the mic, waiting for the audience to get it all out of their system.
Backstage, May was surrounded by her peers, who were practically suffocating her with their compliments. She answered each of them with a gracious smile until they all heard Fantina call for the performers to return to the stage. One by one, the students joined her on stage, forming a line from one side to the other. The audience cheered for each of them and grew even livelier when May made her final appearance.
"Once again, these are our fabulous performers. Give them all one last round of applause!" Fantina said as she took a bow, and her cast of students followed suit.
In the audience, Ash stood with Macy seated on his shoulders clapping happily for May.
"What'd you think of that Macy?" Ash asked her.
"May is the best!"
"You got that right!" Ash agreed with her as he eyed the brunette on stage. After tormenting herself over the last two weeks, May looked exhilarated to be on stage. No matter how much she denied it up until tonight, May looked fantastic on stage, like it was the place she was meant to be.
An hour after the show was when May finally found herself among people that she was familiar with. After the show had concluded, almost everyone in attendance came to find her and tell her what they thought of her performance. She enjoyed all of the flattery, but after a while, she only cared about hearing what her friends had to say. She wanted to see their smiles especially!
The parking lot had emptied out considerably and the gang had all gathered by May's car. They gave May time to speak with her 'adoring fans,' and they cheered when she arrived.
Drew stood at the forefront of the group, a bouquet of flowers in hand and a smirk on his face as he waited for her. He opened his arms, ready to embrace May, but she went right past him. Most of the group stifled a laugh as Drew stared at her incredulously, but his shock faded as she saw her bend down to address the youngest person present.
"Hi Macy, did you have a good time?" May asked the small girl who beamed at May.
"You were awe-some!" She proclaimed and May's heart melted. That was all she wanted. This one smile. All the others were just a consolation…well, except for maybe one more. The smile of her mother that she saw from the stage, the smile that she needed most of all.
Max came up to her next and latched onto her in a hug. He didn't say anything and returned to his mother's side with his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"I love you too, Max!" May called out and his cheeks turned bright red. May gave a small laugh at her brother's expense before she addressed the person that had been waiting first in line for her. She accepted the flowers from Drew and as thanks, placed a kiss on his cheek.
May called for Ash next to speak with him. It started with an apology for driving him crazy over the last few weeks, for snapping at him when he came to check on her. Then she thanked him for giving her that push to get her to perform tonight, and a smile was his reward. But it was different from all the other smiles May had given him up until tonight.
Her grin was broad, eyes gleaming and filled with purity. There was nothing forced about her smile. It was completely and totally…
Genuine.
May approached Dawn next to talk with her, leaving Ash to watch as her wings fluttered effortlessly behind her. He blinked a few times as they gradually faded away.
Someone cleared their throat beside Ash to get his attention. It was Drew.
"So uh, I gotta thank you for your help, Ash." Drew said as they both watched May converse with Dawn.
"Help?" Ash repeated.
"Yeah, helping May feel better. I'll admit that I thought your idea of making her enter the talent show was kind of crazy, but I've never seen her smile the way she did tonight," Drew revealed causing Ash to raise his brow. "So yeah, thanks for helping her. It's great seeing her be…you know, true to herself. It's like she was finally freed tonight."
Ash gave a small laugh at Drew's sentiments. May was indeed 'freed' tonight!
And it was all thanks to the courage she had developed.
Seeing May face her fear head-on reminded Ash of Pikachu's valiant effort over the last few weeks. The two of them had squared off against something that they had feared for years and grew stronger because of it.
It takes courage…
Ash looked toward Dawn as she laughed with May.
"Well, I guess I don't have much of a choice," Ash said to himself after he took a deep breath. "I'm going in."
Ash and Dawn had separated themselves from the rest of the group at Ash's request. They were distracted with May, allowing the two of them to slip away and speak privately. Ash took her to the other side of the parking lot, where a few benches were located at the edge of the field.
The skies had darkened considerably now that the sun was hidden beneath the horizon. They sat in silence for a little while as Ash racked his brain on how to initiate the conversation. He cursed himself for his lack of better judgment. He had gotten so riled up over the courage of May and Pikachu that he thought he could be like them. So, with a gung-ho attitude he charged blindly into a conversation with Dawn that he had been putting off for months…and he had no idea what to say.
Thankfully, Dawn came to his rescue.
"Is there a reason you brought me over here, Ash?" She asked him and he gave her a quick nod.
"Yeah, there is," He said immediately, shaking his head with a chuckle. "I'm just, trying to figure out how to say this properly."
Dawn could hear it in his tone. It was a serious matter and the look he gave her was the final confirmation that she needed. So, she decided to take a page out of Ash's book.
"It's okay, Ash, just talk." She said to him.
Ash gave a deep sigh. He didn't know where to begin, but Dawn had opened the flood gates.
"Do you remember that conversation we had? You know, the last one?" He inquired and Dawn's shoulder dropped.
"Mhmm." She answered.
"At the end of it, you asked me if the kiss we had meant anything to me…" Ash paused for a moment.
Dawn remembered his exact words. "I can't let it mean anything to me, Dawn."
"When I said that…" Ash took a deep, courage-gathering breath, "I said it because I knew I couldn't be with you."
"But why though?" Dawn pressed; her head tilted.
Ash hesitated, the answer resting on the tip of his tongue. Should he tell her about the partnership between him and her father and put it all at risk? Or was it better to keep Dawn out of the loop?
He looked away for a moment as he recalled the ending to his relationship with Serena almost a year ago. It was a tragic ending that hurt him to this very day, and he knew that Serena was hurt far worse than him. He wanted to spare Dawn the pain that Serena went through because the situation with Dawn was eerily similar to what happened with Serena.
"If I'm going to be honest with you…I made a deal with your dad." Ash stated and Dawn furrowed her brow.
"What?"
"Remember I said that I was getting my shot to be a Pokemon trainer?" Ash reminded her, receiving a nod from Dawn. "In professional matches, lots of people place bets on your battle. You need a sponsor to match their bets and…your dad is my sponsor."
"But, what does that have to do with us?" Dawn asked him.
"It was one of the conditions for him to agree to be my sponsor. He didn't want me to get any closer to you…" Ash trailed off and Dawn looked away from him, taking a moment to let her mind process everything he had said.
The sudden distance Ash put between them was because his dream and livelihood were at stake…and her father was behind this?
"And that's why you didn't want to us to go any farther," Dawn concluded. "Because that was the way you would be able to make the money you needed…"
Ash gave her a slow nod.
"I-I don't understand though. Why would my dad say something like that?" Dawn questioned as she tried to make some sense of it. Why would her father make a request like this from Ash? It didn't make any sense!
"It's kind of obvious, though," Ash pointed out. "He's trying to protect you."
Dawn's eyes widened.
"Maybe not from me, per se, but from the lifestyle trainers have. Anything involving Pokemon could get you arrested, and he doesn't want you getting involved in all of that." Ash explained to her. "He's only looking out for you."
"But…but, that's…" Dawn couldn't find the words so Ash raised a hand to stop her.
"It's okay, Dawn, I don't want you to get upset with him," Ash went on. "I wanted you to know the truth because you deserve that much. It wasn't right of me to keep you in the dark, and I hurt you because of that."
Dawn looked back to Ash, her eyes now stern.
"You know what Ash, that's in the past now. What I want to know is; where do we go from here?" Ash raised his brow as she posed the question and a chuckle escaped his lips.
"You really are amazing, Dawn," Ash noted as he made eye contact. "I wish we could just stay friends and pretend that kiss never happened, but I don't think either of us could do that, right?"
Dawn's cheeks reddened as she pursed her lips.
"No…I won't ever forget that kiss, Ash, it was my first." Dawn admitted and Ash exhaled.
"I'm sorry it was with me."
"What are you apologizing for? That kiss was…" Dawn paused, struggling to complete the rest of this sentence. "…Really good."
"I thought so too," Ash added and they took a moment to sit in silence. "So then, where do you want us to go from here?"
Dawn stared at him, admiring his features in the darkness. The curve of his cheekbones, the glimmer in his eyes…the shape of his lips. Ash wasn't roguishly handsome or attractive, he was just an eighteen-year-old boy. She had never been interested in guys her own age because, for the most part, none of them knew what they wanted. It wasn't their fault; it was a natural part of youth. But Ash shattered that mold. He knew what he wanted, and he fought desperately to care for his family and reach his goals.
"Well, it's been exactly ninety-four years since the Great Crisis. People still fear Pokemon, and I think it's time for that to change."
"It's not that easy, Dawn. Everyone has been…brainwashed into believing Pokemon are dangerous… if I really want to make a difference, I have to do something big…no, huge."
"I mean, what's the point in having dreams if they're not motivating you?"
"Anything is possible!"
It was the reason she fell in love with him. He was so inspiring to watch. To see his zeal in action, his resilience in the face of hardship, and his willingness to stay true to his beliefs. Even at this very moment, Dawn couldn't escape the way he could draw someone out of their shell. It was just so easy to connect with him and his heart.
But Dawn knew that his heart was elsewhere.
"I don't think I could ever stop loving you," She stated and Ash's eyes grew wide and his face became scorching hot. "But I understand that you're trying to do something larger than yourself, and I won't stand in the way of that. I do hope that one day, I'll get to see this dream of yours."
Dawn had averted her gaze and sucked in her lips. At the sight of her actions, Ash scooched closer to her on the bench and wrapped an arm around her. She accepted his embrace and leaned into his shoulder, raising her spirits.
"Thank you, Dawn."
His voice was but a whisper, concealing the tremble in his voice.
Neither of them would see the tears of the other.
Regardless of how much her heart ached, there was no denying that the young man seated beside Dawn was unlike anyone she knew. Even if today marked the end of one phase of their relationship, Dawn still hoped to capture him one day in the future, because…he was special.
He was…lightning in a bottle.
A/N
I hope you enjoyed this chapter because it was an absolute blast to write! It is now at the top of the list of my favorite chapters for a variety of reasons. I have a little checklist of goals for each chapter. Normally I missed on a few points, but this time around I managed to hit every single one so I'm proud of that! But that's enough gushing out of me lol.
In each of the chapters since ch.29, I've been giving little hints about the wings and the conversation between Ash and Volkner was another glimpse into the big picture of this story. I think this chapter was the biggest hint as to the direction of things, but most of this will be revisited seriously in the distant future.
Tell me what you thought about Pikachu's training. I don't want to stray too far from the way abilities work in Pokemon, but as I've said before, I'm trying to add more depth to Pokemon battles beyond just trading attacks. I want each attack to have the potential to be deadly when used correctly. Your thoughts and opinions are always appreciated.
And how about May's performance? For those wondering, she sang the same song that I referenced in the last chapter. 'Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing' by Stevie Wonder, though in her case, listen to the Tori Kelly version that was sung in the movie 'Sing.' I'm a sucker for musicals lol! All rights go to their respective sources and the talented people that produced this song and movie. Let me know what you thought, I'd really appreciate it!
I send praise to MjrGenMatt for working on this chapter with me. He is incredible at sifting through my work! He deserves as much credit as I do for the finished product we deliver.
Thank you all for reading and your continued support! As always, please review or PM me if you're on the shy side. I'm always up for talking with someone and I'm really nice :D if that gives you any extra incentive lol.
See you next time!