Guardian Solaris

Ages:

Ash-17

Serena (OC) – 9

May- 15

Dawn- 13

Harley- 16

Drew- 17

----

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

(Authors' notes)

Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of any of the characters that I do not own, seeing as I do not own them.

Chapter 3- Appeal

The Grand Festival stadium was bright mark on the land, a place so large that anyone could become lost, "So you know where you're going?" Ash asked his companion. His hood was off of his head revealing the worried expression upon his face; on the other hand Pikachu was wearing an expression of impatience and irritation upon its furry little yellow face.

"Yes Ash." She sighed. "I know where I'm going."

"You know your way back to the camp?" he checked.

"Of course." She sighed in exhaustion, "We've done this before, I know what to do."

"You got your Pokémon with you?"

"Why wouldn't I have them." She paused, "Do you have your Pokémon?" she retaliated.

"Of course." He said not picking up how irritated Serena was becoming. "What if-"

"Oh look, you'll be late if you don't run!" she exclaimed.

"What do you mean, I have enough time?"

"PIka!" Pikachu urged its trainer, pulling his leg to urge his trainer to move.

"Really?" Ash asked his Pokémon that continued to pull, "but have you-"

"Bye, got to go, see you soon." She said quickly walking away from her close friend and waving her hand. "Byyyeee."

"But, but." Ash stuttered as Serena made her own way to the stands of the stadium. "Are you sure you don't need a map, maybe I should get Pikachu to stay with you?"

"Pi?"

"BYE!"

"But what if you get lost?" he asked over the ever growing distance.

"BYE!"

"But-" Ash growled, worry biting him from inside.

"Pika." Came the sigh of relief from Ash's faithful friend as it made its way up onto its trainers shoulder, "Pika?" it asked worriedly once up there. Taking note of the lingering emotions that were harboured on Ash's eyes.

"I should have given her a mobile phone." Ash sighed, turning around to make his way into the entrance for co-ordinators who were coming in to compete within the festival. "So Pikachu, let's get this over with." He sighed, a nagging worry about Serena continuing in the back of his mind.

"He stood still for a second, relaxing himself, making the worry go away, and taking in deep breaths. Slowly he moved his hands to the edges of his hood, holding it lightly. Focused he drew the hood up, the shadow of the cloth covering some of the most noticeable features of his face.

His back straightened, his fists clenched, his mouth a firm line. The only thing that came from the figure that had a Pikachu on his shoulder was an aura of concentration. Deep dark focus.

With that focus he took steps forward, readying himself for the hurdle before him.

----

"Welcome to the grand festival ladies and gentlemen." MC Lillian roared wildly into the microphone as the sea of heads that encircled her gave out their approving bellows and howls. "Co-ordinators from all around the world have been competing in contests around the Hoenn region to compete here. Some of the biggest names in the contest world are all here, and are sure to give you one great show, here in the Hoenn Grand Festival!" the crowd came to life once more, wild in excitement.

Fireworks burst, confetti fell from the sky, as the crowd cheered at this blatant violation of health and safety. Only an idiot would dare to mix fire and paper.

"Let's meet our judges." She said in a more restrained voice as the cameras focused the limelight away from her, "Head of the Pokémon fan club, Mr Sukizo."

"It's a pleasure to see all the professional co-ordinators here." He said happily with a smile.

"Head of the contest committee, Mr Contesta." She continued quickly, repeating the pre learnt lines she had said to every audience she had met.

"Well." The short man said, recollecting himself, clearly exhausted with some great strain that had been placed upon him, continuing once he saw the irritated look on Lillian's face, "I'm sure we will see some Remarkable performances over the next few days."

"and our three resident Nurse Joy's who, I'm sure have been taking the greatest care of our co-ordinators Pokémon."

"Hello Everybody!" the three said into their microphones in perfect synchronisation. With a smile plastered onto their faces.

"Now ARE YOU READY!" she roared, as the crowd went wild. "I can't hear you!" she said as the roars of the stadium grew even larger, Now the first contestant here is-"

----

May sat down on the bench by herself. Co-ordinators all around of her, some looking at the performances that were taking place whilst others were mingling amongst their peers. For innocent reasons or to find out any weakness or information about their rivals.

May looked around towards all the other co-ordinators, fidgeting a Pokéball that contained one of her most faithful friends inside. So preoccupied with her own thoughts she didn't notice someone come up besides her.

"Hey May." greeted Dawn's calm voice as the co-ordinator from Sinnoh sat down besides her newly made friend.

"Hey Dawn, where were you?" May asked curiously as her newly made friend gave out a small giggle.

"Well, I was just, you know getting ready." She said sheepishly.

"Well, if you wanted any help you should have asked." May said shocking Dawn for a second as she came to recall that May was a girl, and would not be as rude or in your face as a certain companion she had met whilst travelling in Sinnoh.

"Aww, thanks but it's alright." Dawn finished off with a smile to her friend.

"Right." May sighed going back to fiddling with her Pokéball.

"Are you alright?" Dawn asked, as May stopped fidgeting and thought on what to say, "You're not nervous are you?"

"No, no."

"Good, because a co-ordinator like you would have gotten over the jitters by now."

"It's just." May began, wondering how to put her troubles into words to a person that she had just met, even though they had become close in this short period of time they were still strangers. Would she suddenly change and become an enemy? After all they were rivals. "It's something else." The brunette admitted.

"Like what." Dawn asked sympathetically, "come on May, what is it?" she continued, wondering what had gotten this otherwise happy person she saw when they met for the first time into such a nervous attitude. Not knowing that this uneasy emotion was something she had known for a while.

"It's just." May stopped for a second, "I guess it's been ages since I've had a friendly rival." She admitted pulling on a false smile, as Dawn thought about what May had just said.

"What do you mean?" she asked just as a shrill voice cried something out in the background.

"HI HONEY!" it said as the two friends turned their heads to see who was calling, they noticed a tall person pushing its way through the crowd, if anything it resembled a Cacturne more than an actual person.

"A Cacturne that can talk." Dawn whispered in shock as it moved closer, and she quickly remembered how Cacturne don't have hair, let alone purple hair.

"Oh May." It squealed to the embarrassed girl who had now covered her face in embarrassment. "Oh honey, what a delight to see you here. I had no idea you could get in, especially after what happened last time. Oh my delightful little Torchic, please tell me who is this Well dressed Mismagus here?"

"My name is Dawn" the girl said, perplexed as to what in the world this Cacturne/Human hybrid was spurting out of its mouth.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet, how rude. I am Harley." The person paused, expecting Dawn to catch onto who he or she was.

"Oh yeah, Harley, the Pokémon trainer who is still training at one hundred years old!" she said not realising how young Harley actually looked, and why she had a large vein popping out of her head.

"Oh, no dear." Harley said calming himself down, "That's HarLETTE, and she's an old lady." He said shaming Dawn who couldn't believe what she had just done to one of May's friends, or at least one of May's acquaintances; and Judging from the red upon May's cheeks, Dawn couldn't tell if the elder girl was laughing or crying inside.

"Oh, sorry." Dawn muttered, as Harley started his triad once more.

"Oh no need to worry my funny and cute Slowpoke, it is absolutely nothing to worry about. But to correct your grand misassumption I must tell you that I AM Harley, the Champion of the Sinnoh grand festival..." he smiled looking at the face of the young girl as the shock of talking to a champion slowly set in through his short pause, "Of course, I wouldn't have won if it wasn't for our common friend here." He gestured to May who was looking at the two.

Dawn was shocked, she didn't know that "May helped-"

"Oh no no no my slender little Slowpoke, May, our little Torchic with her wild fire didn't help me. She was, in fact my last opponent in that Great festival. Of course, it wouldn't have been a memorable tournament if I hadn't beaten my friend here. But she tried oh so hard, she was truly what her name says, little Torchic, isn't that right Honey, didn't we face off in the finals?"

"well... y-" May said with glazed eyes, reliving that very moment where she had lost so horribly.

"Of course. Oh now I remember you my plump little Piplup. I've seen you in the festivals you were in, oh you were quite good if I do say so myself." he said with the sweetest smile he could muster.

"Why, thank you, I think." Dawn muttered, confused as to what this strange creature had just said to her.

"No problem Dear. Although, would you refresh my memory and tell me when was the last time that you won?" he asked with that smile holding a slight edge to it. He licked his lips as he saw Dawns expression change to one of disappointment. "Well dear? Speak up; after all I may never see you again to ask you?"

"Contestant Number 22 on stage." Same the voice of the speaker, as Dawn stood up.

"That's me, I'll see you soon May." She said giving her friend a smile, yet very conflicted at the same time with leaving her here, with this person who was so weird he could go on Hoenn's got freaks.

"Good luck Dawn." May said with a smile as Dawn continued to look at her friend, searching for some sign of reassurance. "Go on, or you'll miss your appeal." May said as Dawn gave a light smile as she left to do her performance.

"Good luck!." Harley squealed as Dawn disappeared through the archway into the main field.

Suddenly Harleys expression changed. His eyes became poisonous, his mouth a dark grin, teeth locked like snake ready to clamp on its victim.

"Well, Tent." Harley said with a poisonous tone as he stood up, emphasising his height, twitching his hands like claws. "Looks like you're dragging someone else down, but I wouldn't put that above you."

"Quite Harlette." May said trying to act as if his presence didn't bother her.

"No Tent." He said with an acid laden tone, sneering with disgust. "You should quit, you are nothing as a co-ordinator." He said sharply, "Maybe become a trainer, you'll be better than that failure of a brother you have."

"SHUT UP HARLEY." May growled furiously standing up from her position to look at the co-ordinator face to face. Immediately several other co-ordinators turned to see what was going on, as Harley changed his demeanour almost instantly.

"Oh hon, you're such a joker." He smiled, "I'll see you later, stay like that my little Torchic." And he walked away from May, moving his hips from side to side with every step, as May gave a sigh and collapsed back into her seat.

"Why did I ever meet him?" she asked herself, knowing full well that it would be difficult to get rid of something as annoying as her... him... it. Whatever Harlette was.

----

Ash stood at a wall near to the far end of the room. Going completely unnoticed by all the other co-ordinators that waited for their turns to begin. Blending in with the crowd, a figure that no one would take a second glance at. Pikachu munching happily on an apple by his foot.

Silent patient, eyes closed in an attempt to cut himself off from the rest of the world and think about what he was going to do for his appeal. Having withheld that little detail from Serena earlier.

Although the couple a few feet away from him managed to stop him from thinking about his appeal altogether as they groaned and purred. A couple that had clearly not heard of doing things like this out in the open. Only in Hoenn.

It was at moments like this that Ash would wonder why no one had any restraint nowadays. But that would make him sound like an old man. Definitely not in body, but in mind something was definitely older than it should be. But every time Ash did try to find some way to concentrate in this jumble of co-ordinators talking about things of no interest to him all he could hear was her goofy giggle.

If anything that giggle was so awkward it would most likely not matter how pretty the girl would be he would run for the hills.

"mmm." He heard the girl purr. Even some bushes would do the job rather nicely, behind a tree. If anything being invisible was a blatant disadvantage here. "Baby." She said, "What a cute Pikachu. Can you get me one?" she asked.

"Of course, but they're everywhere, wouldn't you want something more..." he said as his last words became whispers as the girl giggled at what he had told her.

"No, I want this one. Just look at it, come on. Pwease?"

"You're not having him." Ash said in a steely tone. Getting himself off of his perch and standing as tall as he could to impose down on the couple. Immediately recognising the Green haired boy. The boy held his girl closer and mimicked Ash as he tried to make himself taller, but in comparison to the hooded figure the co-ordinator appeared tiny.

"I'm sure there's someth-"

"No." Ash said as Pikachu continued to eat the piece of fruit, content that this would blow over as always, it couldn't help it is it was cute.

"I'm sure there's something; I mean it's just a Pikachu." The boy said, trying his best to persuade the imposing figure before him.

"No." Ash repeated once more in a deeper voice.

"I heard you the first time, but I can offer you anything for that Pikachu." the boy said, "I mean you don't want to disappoint Amy here, do you?" he asked, "She'll take good care of it."

"I will." She purred tentatively holding onto her boyfriend tightly, clearly affected by the presence of the shadowed person, and slightly embarrassed at the thought that he had been there all the time they were...

"No." He repeated with a deep heavy voice, hiding his annoyance at the couple who were persistent. It wasn't the first time people had seen Pikachu as a purchasable possession, and was most likely not the last, but then saying that they would take good care of Pikachu as if it was going to convince him. Thinking that whenever he said no he actually meant: No but keep trying to persuade me and I may give you Pikachu for free. Idiots.

"Or maybe you need money?" the boy said, "Maybe get some stylish clothes for yourself, that would do a lot better for your appeals than what you got on." He said, clearly not impressed by Ash's sense of style.

Ash let out of a growl at the boy's arrogance. "No." Was his answer once more.

Crack. Was the sound of his feet taking a restrained step forward to the couple, bringing himself forward, breathing heavily, giving the appearance that there was primal fury restrained behind the shadow, a sense of anger and rage coming out of him, as Ash opened his mouth, "You were leaving." To the two people who stood completely still, frozen in shock.

Snap. Fell the other foot, sending the lovers scurrying away.

Relaxing Ash loosened himself up, falling back into the shadows, unnoticed once more. As if what had just happened hadn't.

"Pika?" Pikachu asked having finished the snack it was enjoying so much.

"I know, but that guy. It couldn't have been Drew? Could it?"

"Pi, pika"

"He looks different."

"Pi pi pika"

"They'll break up after the festival."

Pi-"

"Shush." Ash whispered as the girl made her way back, without Drew with her. She wasn't that stupid was she? But then again.

She found the man of few words, and walked up to him in a timid manner, hesitant with every step.

"E-Excuse me?" she asked the boy who was against the wall, ignoring her completely. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." She said as Ash remained as still as a statue, not to be disturbed. "It's really a nice Pikachu." She complemented the Pokémon as it sent the stone like Ash a grin. "Drew there wasn't a good guy I wasn't going to stick with him, maybe I could stay with you?" she asked whilst Ash quickly deciphered her words to mean "He dumped me because of how needy I was and now I want to be with you to make him jealous." The spider trying to lure him in with her web, he wasn't a fool like that anymore.

"Pi?" Pikachu whispered as Ash felt something inside of him shift; want to help the girl even though she was just luring him in with her web. But at the same time he couldn't he wouldn't, he wouldn't be distracted from what he already had.

"Contestant number 23 on stage." The speaker called out.

Immediately Ash started walking as Pikachu rushed up onto Ash's shoulder as he walked away from the girl without taking a second look back. Besides he couldn't live with someone that had a giggle like that.

Shifting through the groups of people that were all around, his steps silent, just a ghost passing by, no need for anyone to take a look at him. Quickly making his way to and through the arched walkway that would take him to where he needed to do his performance.

The one part of this that he found difficult was the appeal, the battles were easy, in fact he found these easier than normal battles if anything as there was no need to show off at every turn, a few direct hits and victory would be his. But the appeals, they were tricky, and he didn't have the time to think up of anything that he could do for them.

He'd have to make this up as he went along. Ash found that he should have took up some practice yesterday instead of finding the donuts and scaring nurse Joy's, only some miracle would get him to the next round, and after that it would be good. But if that wouldn't-

"Hey, good luck on your per-for-mance?"

But it would take a miracle to get him some comfort zone and ensure that no other co-ordinator may take his spot; he would use Pikachu, no need to show too many Pokémon.

"Well?" came that voice once more as Ash walked away, face hidden, Pikachu taking a glance back at the blue haired girl, for a second, just a second and looking forward again. Those eyes, just gave Dawn a sense that she had seen that Pikachu somewhere before.

'But where?'

----

It was just past noon in the contest hall and the sun was high above the contest stadium that was packed as the MC called out the next contestant into the microphone, "Now we have a contestant that only goes by the name of Red. He-" she stopped seeing that he was already out onto his position on the field, noticing the dead silence of the crowd, unlike the roars that they had given of with each contestant prior to him.

Taking a look at the judges she noticed that Mr Contesta and Sukizo had gazes of genuine anticipation that they hadn't worn earlier, and one Nurse Joy had an expression that looked a cross of fear, pity, and excitement if there ever was such a look.

"Alright, Red" MC Lillian called out, "you may, begin!"

"WAIT!" came a cry as Dawn rushed out onto the field, "They stole all the Pokémon!" she said, pointing up to the sky at a large balloon in the shape of a Meowth that floated over the stadium, containing a net filled with a wide variety of Pokémon.

"They're getting better than usual." Ash muttered, figuring out that it had only been minutes since he had seen Dawn in the walkway. "That has got to be a new world record time at stealing that many Pokémon."

"Listen is that a voice I hear?" They began their motto, as Ash gave Pikachu a nod to do the whole stop ream Rocket routine, at which they currently had the world record of Thirty four seconds.

Pikachu stood in the centre of the arena looking as if it was in deep concentration, eyes squeezed shut, jaw clenched as if it was launching a powerful attack yet nothing was coming out.

"It's coming to me loud and clear."

Suddenly Pikachu began to float, gradually gaining height as it concentrated harder. Like a Magnemite floating in the air.

"Over the winds."

Then Pikachu bolted up like a bullet flying straight for the balloon as the audience gasped.

"Past the stars"

Reaching the same height as the net Pikachu lost all his speed and floated for a second before he fell, spinning in mid air the Pokémon's tail began to glow bright white and it launched an iron tail on the net cutting it into ribbons.

"In your ears."

Then they all began to fall down to the ground, several flying Pokémon carrying as many other Pokémon as they could so they wouldn't crash, but Pikachu still diving to the hard arena underneath him.

Launching a bright thunderbolt attack downwards, the ground underneath the falling Pokémon exploded. The explosion slowing them down as they eventually fell with a thud, the force of the explosion negating the velocity of the fall to give them a light fall.

"HEY! GIVE THEM BACK!" Team Rocket Shouted, just noticing how that kid had done it again.

"Empoleon!" Dawn cried as her Pokémon got up onto its legs, and as several other co-ordinators also rushed out onto the field to find their Pokémon.

"They're OUR Pokémon! We stole them!" Jessie cried out as Pikachu launched a thunderbolt on their balloon to give them their usual goodbye present as they were sent into the sky crying "We're blasting off again!" as they disappeared off into the horizon.

The stadium began to applaud at the display that was given, as Ash sighed, thinking: 'Talk about a miracle. What would I do without those three?'

The judges each gave him a score of 9 out of ten, the last one missing out due to his rather unorthodox appeal, but nevertheless a very safe position for him to move onto the next round. Ash took a glance to the one nurse Joy that, regardless of the score she had given him, maintained that odd expression she originally had on her face.

Pikachu rushed up onto his place upon Ash's shoulder, as the trainer made his way out of the ruined stage for the appeals scattered with Pokémon and co-ordinators.

Whilst in the stands one young girl thought, 'Just great. This is just going to make his Ego bigger.'