Magic Knight Pokémon
Magic Knight Pokémon
Chapter 5
Battles (Part 2)
By Wanderer D
o.0.o
Drake listened to the conversation from around the corner of the waiting room. He had also been worried for Hikaru, but what he had seen and heard had relieved his fears. The girl had obviously seen war before. But he had worried that she had become insensitive to what they had seen outside. After all his years in the navy, it would still haunt his nightmares, but that was probably better than the cold blood needed to simply not care.
"Captain." One of the sailors came up to him. "Prestley is awake." He looked at the girls. "Captain… how did she do that?"
"Everything in its own time, sailor." Drake said, patting him on the shoulder. "I'll take Joy to see Prestley. You go join your shipmate on the roof and help with the lookout. It'll be nighttime soon."
"Aye, aye, Captain!"
Drake waited a bit for Hikaru to collect herself before walking into the waiting room. "Nurse Joy? Prestley is awake, could you check on him?"
Joy nodded and walked out of the room, stealing a last, worried glance at Hikaru.
"She's a good person, Nurse Joy." Drake said, taking a seat next to Hikaru. "In a way I think she blocked what she saw today. She can't break down when there's a patient in need. What a girl."
Hikaru nodded.
"She's not like us," Drake took out his pipe, but didn't light it. He simply studied it. "She hasn't seen someone get killed. In her mind, what happened there is probably so alien she cannot understand it herself. Logically she knows… emotionally… it's good that you cried. She hasn't."
Hikaru looked up at Drake. "I wish I had convinced her to stay in Viridian."
Drake smiled. "Me too. But what's done is done. What she needs now is someone to help her face what happened today. She can't block it forever."
The Magic Knight nodded. "I feel better already…" she said. "A bit at least. I still have to rip Frey into pieces for this."
The Captain patted her on the shoulder. "For now what you need to do is rest a bit. And help me think of a strategy to defend this place."
He looked down at Mokona. "I guess it is okay to release the Pokémon?"
Hikaru shook her head. "I can't be sure yet. I don't feel the energy that made them go berserk last time, but it doesn't mean much right now. We could let them out and the next thing we know they are attacking us."
"Puu!" Mokona said. "Puu Pu!" the gem on Mokona's forehead started to shine a pale blue.
"Are you sure that would work Mokona?" Hikaru asked as several bands with small crystals appeared on the floor.
"Puu!"
"What is it?" Drake asked, picking one of the bands up.
"Mokona says that those bands will allow our Pokémon to remain free." Hikaru said, looking at Mokona for confirmation.
The small creature nodded vehemently. "Puu!"
"We can call them out, and put these on them." Hikaru said. "There's not enough for all the Pokémon we have, but we'll have to make do."
"Puu! Pu Puu! Pu!" Mokona said excitedly jumping up and down.
"What is it saying now?" Drake asked.
"Mokona says that she'll make sure the rest of our Pokémon remain safe inside their Pokéballs." Hikaru translated.
Drake nodded and patted Mokona's head. "That gives us a fighting chance. We'll organize a defense. I have the feeling tonight is going to be a very long night."
o.0.o
Ron looked down from the two story building that was the hospital of Pepper Town at the far streets, his gaze followed the twists and turns of the streets until it reached the still burning central plaza.
"Man, can you believe what that girl did? Burning all of them?" the other sailor said. "Well, at least Prestley is awake."
"I'm glad she did." Ron said.
"I thought you said your cousin was down there." The sailor said.
"He probably was. But this is better for all. At least they can now rest in peace." Ron looked at his friend. "Matt, you were behind me so I guess there was little you could see… but what we stumbled into…" he shook his head. "The bodies had been there for about a week. This is a tropical island, the heat does not work well to preserve bodies intact. The only reason we didn't smell it from the harbor was because of the wind and our own preoccupations."
Matt looked at the smoke, rising into the darkening sky. "I saw… splashes of blood against the wall, some bits a pieces of something. I don't want to even think what it was. The girl, Hikaru said that it had been done by Pokémon."
Ron took one of his Pokéballs and looked at is silently. "I have a Corsola. That little Pokémon adores me. I've gone swimming with her even in the middle of the ocean when we take a break. She's not as ferocious as your Gyarados."
Matt also looked at his Pokéball. "Yeah. Gyarados looks and acts like a bastard but he has a good heart. I once sat outside on the harbor, let him out and put the movie "A Tale of Two Pokémon" had him crying for hours."
They both laughed a bit.
"To think that if we let them out now, they would attack us." Ron sighed. "I don't want to believe it but what I saw out there today…"
"That won't be a problem, sailors." Captain Drake said, walking up the stairs and holding a couple of bracelets.
"Captain!" both stood up and looked at the bracelets Drake gave them.
"Release your Pokémon, and put these bracelets on them." The Captain explained. "It will prevent them from going berserk."
"Are you sure that this will work, Captain?" Matt asked.
"As sure as I am that little girls cannot create fire out of their hands." Drake answered with a laugh. "But it's the best bet we've got. I'll go check on Prestley now. Keep vigilant, we don't want any surprises!"
o.0.o
When Drake walked into Prestley's room his smile faded. Barely breathing, the sun-burnt man struggled to keep his sightless eyes open. Nurse Joy and Hikaru had cleared most of the room and the only things left were the bed and the equipment connected to Prestley.
The strange little creature, Mokona sat on one of the chairs, its expression sad.
"Captain? Is that you?" Prestley's voice was nothing more than a whisper.
"I'm here, Prestley." Drake said, standing next to the bed.
"I'm sorry I got the ship into such a mess Captain. I just wanted to see my family in Pepper town."
Drake bit his lower lip and looked away. "You'll meet them soon enough, Prestley, rest for now sailor."
Prestley laughed. "I don't think I can manage either, Captain." He coughed. "I saw the creature… before he blinded me."
Hikaru and Joy approached when they heard this.
"Who was it?" Hikaru asked gently.
Prestley laughed. "Long time since I've been in the company of a couple of girls, eh Captain. My wife would kill me if she found out." He coughed again. "Are they as pretty as their voices sound?"
Drake smiled. "More."
Prestley nodded, a fraction of movement. "The creature… it was furred, with wings. I've never seen the like or heard of anything like it. It spoke to me, it told me humans were not fit to exist and that he would take care of eradicating us from this world before he moved on with his plans." Prestley started coughing again. Nurse Joy helped him carefully sip a glass of water. "My Pokémon tried to fight it… but… I saw my Staryu shredded to pieces…" tears started falling unheeded from his eyes. "Did all of them die?"
"No." Hikaru said. "Your Dratini carried you to safety. Thanks to her we were able to find you."
Prestley smiled. "I wish I could see her one more time…"
Hikaru thought for a moment, then nodded. "Mokona, can you create a small pool here with water?"
"Puu!" Mokona jumped up and down. The gem on her forehead started glowing and soon a white pool, the size of half the room appeared, full of clear water.
"You can release the Dratini on the water, Captain." Hikaru said.
"I see. Go, Dratini!" Drake shouted, releasing the Pokémon.
"Trii!" Dratini called and approached the edge of the pool, leaning over to touch Prestley's hand carefully.
"There you are, Dratini!" Prestley coughed, but smiled nonetheless. "I'm glad to be able to be with you one last time, my faithful friend."
"Trii.." the Dratini looked around at the gathered humans, hoping they could do something.
"Dratini, don't be sad…" Prestley said, doing an effort to pat the Pokémon's head. "We knew each other for only a short time, but I've never been happier."
"Trii...triii…" the Dratini's eyes were shimmering with tears. It looked a bit startled when she felt Hikaru's hand on her neck.
"I promise you two… I'll make the one responsible for this pay." Hikaru vowed.
"Trii! Triii!" Dratini said with an energetic nod and a resolute look on its face.
Presley smiled. "I always wanted to know what Pokémon said exactly… it's funny that now that I have lost my sight and can't see their movements or expressions I can finally do so." He coughed again. "Hikaru, that was your name, right? Are you a Pokémon Trainer?"
Hikaru nodded, knowing that he couldn't see her, she spoke up. "That's me, and yes, I am one."
"My Dratini wants to go with you… will you take good care of her?"
The Magic Knight was taken aback, as was the Pokémon.
"Trii! Trii!" Dratini called nuzzling Prestley's hand.
"I'm sorry, Dratini…" Prestley said. "But I won't be able to go with you… please go with Miss Hikaru." He coughed. "You don't mind me allowing one of your crew into committing to another purpose just this once, do you, Captain?"
Drake shook his head. "Not at all, Prestley. Not at all."
"I'll take good care of her, I promise." Hikaru said, stroking the Dratini's neck.
The Dratini lowered her head to rest on Prestley's chest.
Slowly, the S.S. Dragonite's Second in Command's eyes closed. "You were right Captain…" he mumbled. "I did get to see my family… they're just there… can you see them? Waving at me…"
"At ease, sailor." Drake said. "Your shore leave starts now. Go meet them."
"Aye, aye…" Prestley's last whisper.
o.0.o
In the waiting room, Hikaru, Drake and Joy sat together in silence. Mokona, tired and emotionally spent, had fallen asleep on Hikaru's lap. In her hand, the Magic Knight held a recently branded Pokéball, which now sported a glowing flame emblem.
"How can you do those things you do?" Joy asked. "And how can Mokona do the things she does? I had never seen a Pokémon like her until I went to help at Hop Hop Hop."
Drake nodded. "I have to agree with Nurse Joy." He said, looking at the Pokéball. "Making things appear out of thin air, creating fire with your hands…" he shook his head. "I've seen some weird things, but nothing like it."
"It's a long story." Hikaru said. "And we don't have enough time to go over the whole thing right now…" she sighed. "In short, I'm not from this world and neither is Mokona."
Hikaru was about to say more when Matt ran down the stairs and barged in. "Captain! It's Pokémon! Hundreds of them!"
"I can feel the machine…" Hikaru said. "It's been reactivated!"
"Where is it?" Drake asked. "If it is the same as in Hop Hop Hop, destroying the machine should free the Pokémon, right?"
"The problem is getting to it through all those Pokémon!" Joy said.
"The energy comes from outside of town." Hikaru said. "We need to get to the center of the island."
Ron came running into the room. "Captain! They don't seem to know where we are, but they are going into all the houses to check and destroying them! It won't take them too long to get here!"
Drake nodded. "If the machine is outside the city, and in the center of the island, we need to get past them. How much time do you think it will take for them to get here?"
"Fifteen minutes or so, at the rate they are going." Ron said. "But if we go out, the fliers won't take long to spot us. I barely got out of the light when the Spearows passed by."
"Any ideas?" Hikaru asked everyone.
"Yes." Drake said. "Follow me."
o.0.o
"Well, this is probably the fastest way, I guess." Hikaru said, making a face as she almost slipped.
"I hate sewers." Matt muttered.
"Puuu!" Mokona nodded from her perch on Hikaru's backpack. She watched the slimy walls and pipes warily.
"It was this or fighting the whole horde of Pokémon up there." Drake said.
"Now I know why the other Joys never went on a Pokémon trip." Joy said in a low voice, trying not to touch the walls. "I'm surprised we haven't seen a single Rattata or Grimer."
Over them they could feel the occasional shudder as heavy Pokémon walked or crawled on the streets of Pepper Town.
"Frey must not be very familiar with human cities." Hikaru said. "He probably recalled all the Pokémon to his hideout and when he found out we were here, he sent them all to attack the city above us, never thinking of the sewers."
"We should be close to the edge of town by now." Ron said. "This Frey guy must really have sent all of his Pokémon to look for us. As long as they think we're within the city we'll have them behind us by now. The bad part is that, if we fail, we won't have anywhere to go."
"We won't fail." Hikaru said. "I promised Prestley and Dratini that we would make Frey pay for what he did."
The others nodded and carried on. Eventually, the water level of the sewers lowered until it was almost gone, and they reached the edge of the city. The sewer opened onto the side of a small ravine.
"It's not far from here," Hikaru said, taking the lead.
The group moved into the forest, always conscious of the sounds of destruction behind them. Matt, who was the last in line had quickly informed them that the city was all up in flames now from the attacking Pokémon using their special attacks to bring down the whole place.
Silent, Hikaru led them on, and only by looking at her face could they see how angry she was.
o.0.o
Frey's crystal hand glowed with energy, palpitating in dark bursts along with the crystal in the middle of the machine. Next to him, encased in the moment of his death completely turned into crystal, a black clad Team Rocket operative screamed in silence at the sky as his own Arbok ripped his throat.
"I see even your allies should be wary of you, Frey." Hikaru said as she and her group stepped into the small niche in the mountain where he had set up his headquarters.
"And I see you managed to avoid the Pokémon I sent to the city, Magic Knight." Frey sneered at Hikaru's surprised look. "I investigated a little bit about you after we fought last. Your kind are known to us."
"Magic Knight?" Joy asked, looking at Hikaru.
"What do you mean by 'us'" Hikaru demanded, taking a step forward.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Frey laughed. "My source was surprised you didn't die when he destroyed the Tokyo Tower."
As Hikaru's eyes grew wide, Frey raised his hand. Instantly from several Pokéballs strewn around, Pokémon burst through; a Sandslash, Ivysaur, Poliwrath, Magneton, Jolteon, Crobat, Cubone, Hitmonchan and Ninetails appeared, ready for combat.
As her flames surrounded her and her armor materialized around her, Hikaru released her own Pokémon. "Ryukari! Lafarga!" the two Pokémon roared as they were joined by Ron's Corsola, Matt's Gyarados, Joy's Chansey and Drake's Dragonite.
Frey growled when the Pokémon didn't start attacking their trainers immediately. "Attack!"
Immediately the Pokémon surged forward, releasing their attacks. The group had to split up to avoid being carbonized where they stood. "Ryukari! Take care of that Ivysaur with fire-wheel!" Hikaru shouted pulling the flaming red energy from her glove that became her Escudo Sword. "Lafarga! Quick-attack Hitmonchan!"
Drake, listening to her orders immediately sent Matt and Ron to take care of the Ninetails and Crobat. The two sailors nodded and directed their Pokémon into battle. He stood next to Nurse Joy, who looked a bit nervous. "Don't worry girl, it's okay to be afraid." He said to her, then turned to his Pokémon. "Dragonite! Bubblebeam that Sandslash into oblivion, use Dragon Rage on the Magneton!"
Encouraged by Drake, Joy nodded to her Chansey, who was looking more than a little scared. "We can do this Chansey!" she shouted, pointing at the Poliwrath. "Chansey, use Slam!"
Through the explosions, Frey roared, and his barbed sword appeared on his hand. With a mighty swing he jumped through the fighting Pokémon and crossed swords with Hikaru.
The clash was enough for Ryukari to get distracted, and the Jolteon used that chance to use a thunderbolt on him, sending him crashing down.
Lafarga had done quick work on the muscular Hitmonchan, and turned around just in time to be hit by Cubone's bone boomerang. The bug Pokémon, quickly jumped back to its feet, dodging the next attack, but giving a worried glance in the direction of Ryukari.
Seeing the Ivysaur's vines about to capture Ryukari, the bug Pokémon rushed to slash them in half. As his back was turned again from him, the Cubone descended from a jump, ready to clobber him, only to be batted out of the fight by Ryukari's tail. Hikaru's Pokémon communicated silently with a glance as the Dragon Pokémon turned to fight the Jolteon and Lafarga rushed to meet the Ivysaur.
"Look at them fight!" Joy whispered, as Poliwrath struggled not to fall asleep under Chansey's Sing ability. As her opponent finally fell unconscious, Chansey nodded.
Drakes Dragonite had knocked out the Sandslash with one Bubblebeam, and the Magneton was suffering heavily from just one hit from the Dragon Rage attack.
Suddenly, Ron cried out as the Crobat slashed the band around his Corsola. Immediately after the band fell, the Pokémon screamed, struggling for a moment, before turning around and facing her trainer and friends. The Crobat, no longer sensing Corsola as an enemy prepared to attack Ron.
"So that's how you were protecting them!" Frey laughed, pushing Hikaru back. "Destroy the bands!"
Matt's Gyarados, sensing the danger, Hydro-pumped the Ninetails so hard it crashed against the wall, falling down, either dead or dying from the strength of the attack. Gyarados quickly moved to stand next to his trainer, shooting at the Crobat and Corsola to stay away from him.
Drake's Dragonite finished up the Magneton just before it exploded and rushed to stand with his trainer and Nurse Joy.
The Ivysaur sent a barrage of Razor Leafs that Lafarga dodged, only to realize too late, that he wasn't the intended target. He jumped out of the way and rolled to stand next to Hikaru, who had disengaged Frey the moment he had shouted that order, and was now watching the band slowly fall from Ryukari's neck.
"Ryukari!" Hikaru shouted as Frey laughed, moving to stand next to the Dragon Pokémon. Corsola, Crobat and Ivysaur joined him as he faced his opponents.
"I have already recalled the other Pokémon." Frey said, smirking. "Now it's time for you to die in the hands of your own Pokémon."
As he laughed Ryukari started gathering flames in his mouth. He looked straight at his trainer. And shot the Ivysaur, roasting the plant Pokémon on the spot.
"What?!" Frey shouted just as the Dragon Pokémon slammed his tail onto the creature's stomach, sending the crystal-handed monster sprawling.
Just as the other berserk Pokémon turned around to face Ryukari in surprise, Hikaru sent a flaming sphere into the machine, blowing the right side completely off. The Pokémon winced visibly, stopping their attacks altogether as the Magic Knight rushed towards Frey, swinging her sword in an arc.
The surprised monster could only attempt to dodge, but the Escudo sword bit into his sword arm, severing it just under the elbow.
Frey roared and, clutching his bleeding appendage, quickly disappeared.
"Coward!" Hikaru yelled at the night sky, angry and frustrated that her prey had fled.
o.0.o
The authorities had arrived the next morning. Well armed and prepared to battle, they were accompanied by a host of Pokémon Trainers, some eager to prove themselves in battle and glory, others worried about friends and family.
What they found was hundreds of Pokémon surrounding the area where the Plaza used to be, mournful and tired and deprived of any energy, some of them even openly crying. In the center of this circle of Pokémon, Drake, Hikaru, Joy, Ron and Matt stood in front of the last standing piece of building. The whole city had been destroyed into rubble other than this piece of column.
Nobody seemed to know what to do, until Ash Ketchum ran out of the crowds. "Sis!"
"Ash…" Hikaru held her adoptive brother close.
"You should have told me!" Ash said, "I would have come and helped!"
Hikaru's hug only became tighter. "No… it's better this way Ash…"
Ash was a bit startled. "Hikaru… I-we were really worried about you!"
Brock nodded. "It was foolish to go away without your friends!"
"We're just glad you are okay…" Misty said.
"Trust me lads," the man in captain's attire that stood next to Hikaru shook his head. "She knows what she is talking about. It is better that you were not here."
"And who are you?" Ash asked a bit angry.
"This is Captain Drake, Ash." Prof. Oak said, stepping out of the crowd, followed by other scientists, a contingent of the Marines, police officers and News reporters.
"Captain Drake!" a female reporter shouted. "Can you tell us what happened?"
"Miss Ketchum!" Another voice floated towards them. "Is this incident related to what happened in Hop Hop Hop? How are you involved again?"
"Okay, folks!" Oak shouted as the police and marines kept the reporters at bay. "An official announcement will be made soon enough, I ask you to please be patient until that is done." He ignored the shouts of the reporters and looked at the group. "Okay, I have asked General Grace to set a camp for me and my scientists near the remains of the machine. Let's go there and talk."
The group was escorted out of town and led to a big tent, where they were given some drinks and food. The reporters had to stay in town, and with less shouting there was a much better chance to talk.
General Grace, a young woman with dark green hair and matching uniform walked in shortly after the food was served. She sat quietly while Ash and co. tried to dig as much information as they could from Hikaru.
"I would like to know what happened here, and why." She said, drawing attention to herself. Brock was about to stand up, but Oak's hand slammed on his shoulder. The Professor shook his head at him.
"General," Drake said with a nod of his head. "Perhaps it would be best for me to start the story."
As Drake told the story, helped from time to time by Mat and Ron, and then by Hikaru and Joy afterwards, the General's face was passive, while Prof. Oak looked saddened and Ash and co, slowly looked more and more horrified.
"You said that the collars or bracelets were protecting your Pokémon from being controlled." The General said after their story was finished. "Is there any chance of mass-producing them?"
"I'm afraid not, General…" Hikaru said. "The few created were all Mokona could do at the time."
"But the more we learn about the machine, the more we will know about how to fight it." Oak said. "By studying the frequency of the signal we can create counter-devices for it."
The General nodded. "So how was it possible that after your Charizard's bracelet was destroyed it didn't go berserk and obey this Frey creature, like the others?"
"I… I am not sure." Hikaru shook her head. "I was completely convinced he was under Frey's control until he attacked him."
"There were some instances of Pokémon attacking other trainers rather than their own in the Hop Hop Hop incident." Oak said.
"But this was different." Hikaru said. "Ryukari attacked Frey and didn't seem to be affected at all."
"It is completely possible that the bracelet had enough energy left on Ryukari himself that it remained in control for the few minutes it took for the battle to conclude." Oak said.
"But that doesn't make sense." Ron said. "Corsola attacked immediately after the bracelet broke."
"Maybe Frey's control of the Pokémon is not as definitive as we had thought." The General said. "As it stands the best thing to do would be to place Hikaru Ketchum under arrest for now and conduct an investigation."
"What?!" Ash shouted standing up, amongst the shouts of Misty, Brock, Ron, Matt and Joy.
"Guys, calm down!" Hikaru said, motioning at the others to sit down. "I don't like it either, but let the General finish speaking first."
As everyone sat down, the General nodded to Hikaru. "However, Hikaru has cooperated so far, risked her life in battle against our enemy and is also backed up by none other than Captain Drake and Professor Oak. It would be foolish on my part as a career officer to ignore that. As such, I will deliberate with my superiors, but I ask that Hikaru stays on voluntary house arrest for a couple of days until I have convinced them all that letting you go would be the best idea."
Hikaru nodded as the General stood and walked out of the room.
o.0.o
Two days later, Hikaru was finally allowed out of the camp to meet with Drake, Oak and General Grace.
"Hikaru," General Grace said with a small smile. "Please take a seat."
Hikaru nodded and sat down. "Have you received any news since yesterday?"
The General nodded. "As I told you yesterday, we had several options on how to proceed. I did my best to get the one that would allow you the most freedom."
As the Magic Knight nodded, Drake spoke up. "I also put in my two cents, and after spending the last couple of days talking with you and General Grace on what you plan to do now, and I think you are going to like it."
Prof. Oak chose to remain silent for the moment, nodding in encouragement at Hikaru.
"We have all agreed that the greatest threat we face is Frey." General Grace said. "And that you are probably one of the few people that could stop him."
Drake nodded. "Not all of the Higher-ups were too happy with the result of our… deliberations… we managed to convince them to let you go."
"Thanks to the media you are again viewed as a hero, so your disappearance would cause a lot of questions which they would want to avoid." Oak added, with an impish smile. "None of us know how they really got the story but somehow they managed to find out."
Hikaru grinned and nodded. "Thank you!"
"However," General Grace put up her hand, stalling Hikaru from getting too excited. "There is one thing that I have to ask of you." Seeing that the redhead was giving her undivided attention to her, the General nodded. "I would like you to consider your future. A slightly edited version of what really happened is what got out to the media." The General showed Hikaru a newspaper. "Only few of us in the military and a few of your friends know of your powers. I do believe you are the only one who can defeat Frey."
Hikaru nodded, wondering where this was going.
"But if you want to fight him, you cannot do it on your own. You will need resources, information and allies. So, on behalf of the Kanto army, I want to offer you a position as an agent of ours. You will be able to choose a team…" she spread several papers in front of Hikaru.
"What would I have to do?" Hikaru asked.
"I'll answer that." Oak said. "You will be in contact with me and other scientists around the world, as well as military agents and even Pokémon League officials. You will carry on with your Pokémon trip, but you will also try to find and stop Frey from achieving his plans."
As Hikaru nodded in consideration, Drake spoke up. "You will of course have a lot of benefits for this, Hikaru. You will receive monthly payment from the military, have access to our training facilities, and you will even be allowed to participate in the military-only Pokémon league."
"We will provide you with state-of-the-art equipment for this covert mission." General Grace said. "And we will also help in your search of your friends Umi and Fuu. If they are anywhere to be found, we will know about it."
Hikaru looked up at the General. "General… we've come to be good friends in the couple of days I have stayed here…" she smiled. "I know you worked very hard to achieve this, especially if your military is anything like the one from where I come from… I will accept provided you grant me two more things… I want to ask two people to join me. I know them and I trust them, but they are not military. Will they be included in those benefits?"
General Grace nodded. "That is easy to do, you all have to fill out some paperwork, but that's about it. What is the other thing you wanted?"
Hikaru blushed. "I… well this is something I wanted to ask Prof. Oak too…"
The Professor smiled at her. "What is it, Hikaru?"
o.0.o
"Classes?" Ash asked blinking. "You asked Prof. Oak and General Grace to let you take classes with him and the scientist friends he has as well as the military ones? What for?"
Hikaru shrugged.
With a sigh Ash nodded. "I still think it's weird."
Misty smacked the back of Ash's head. "At least someone wants to learn!"
"Hey, what does that mean?!"
"Guys, guys, calm down!" Brock interrupted, stepping between Ash and Misty. "Our boat is here. Are you sure you want to stay in Pepper Island for now, Hikaru?"
The Magic Knight nodded. "I'll take some classes now, which is good… I also want to help with the monument."
The others nodded. "I guess it's thanks to you that they let us stay for as long as we did." Ash said.
Hikaru smiled. "I'm glad you came little brother." She gave him a hug, then standing, and wiping a tear from her eyes, she also hugged Misty and Brock. "It's only for a while, we will meet again soon." She ruffled Pikachu's fur.
"Pika!" the yellow Pokémon was teary eyed as it jumped down and hugged Mokona.
"Puu!"
Ash nodded as Pikachu climbed on his shoulder. When he was aboard the last boat of civilians to leave the island he smiled at his adoptive sister. "I guess we'll see you later, eh Sis?"
Hikaru nodded. "We'll keep in contact Ash!" a small tear threatened to slide down her cheeks, so she quickly smiled and started waving at her brother and friends as the boat pulled out of the harbor and slowly disappeared into the distance.
"Did you tell Ash about our mission?" a voice asked, making Hikaru turn around.
Dressed in jeans and blouse, with a white bandana on her head, Nurse Joy smiled as Hikaru fell in step with her, as they walked back into the camp.
"No, not yet, I think Ash would do his best to go with us if he found out." Hikaru said. "We still have to meet our third member before we move out and…"
"Yes?" Nurse Joy asked as Hikaru gave her a contemplative look.
"I guess I also need new clothes." Hikaru said sheepishly. "I have spells to keep mine clean, but I can't be in school uniform forever."
"Hikaru…"
"Joy?"
"Who's our third member?"
"You'll see."
End Part 5
Well, the story took a darker note in these two Eps. "Battles" things carry on as our heroines meet their last member and start a new adventure. We will eventually see a glimpse of what happened to Umi and Fuu, but that is still a bit ahead, so be a bit patient :)
On another matter, I would like to ask if any readers are interested in me also posting my notes on the story. Basically they are a few essays on specific chapters, character analysis, explanations for certain parts (edited to not include spoilers) and even include deleted or modified scenes. I would post these notes as Chapter Intermissions and clearly mark them so that you can clearly see if you want to read them or not. So, if you'd like to see them, leave a note :)