Guardian Solaris

Ages:

Ash-17

Max- 13

May- 15

Brock- 22

Dawn- 13

Serena (OC) – 9

Harley- 16

Drew- 17

----

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

(Authors' notes)

Disclaimer: The only thing I own here is Serena, and the story, but all the Pokémon and the other characters are owned by someone else.

Chapter 4- Recognition

The moment Ash walked into the co-ordinators room al that he found a wall of applause directed towards him, and it was at moments like this that he enjoyed his hidden identity. It was at moments like this that he remembered the moment after he had won the Sinnoh league and person after person asked him for things, favours, and he was gullible enough to say yes.

As he walked through the crowd, trying to force them apart with his arms he found that none of them moved, if anything they were coming closer, continuing to echo the same words of encouragement.

"Well done man."

"How'd you do that?"

"Can you teach me?"

"Yeah, show us." They all asked hopefully, getting closer and closer, a moving wall of people cutting off the trainers way out.

"Pikachu." He murmured as his faithful friend let out a small shock to the area around him to ensure that any of them got too close to do something like take off Ash's hood.

'These are the ones that won't get past the first round if they have to ask me any of that.' Ash thought as he moved forward as the crowd parted in apprehension of the electric Pokémon on the trainer's shoulder, their words of praise turning into something different.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Freak."

"Who does he think he is?"

He ignored them. He had to get himself out of this maze of co-ordinators, he was a trainer and this was not his element. If anything the sight of them was making Ash a little anxious. He quickened his pace to find the exit, hoping that he could possibly get some training done, or find some food, food would be nice.

Finding an opening in the mass of people he made his way out of the as as the group made no attempt to follow him, to his relief.

Opening the doors and finding himself outside of the stadium Ash let out a sigh of relief, walking to try and get away from anything that may pull down his hood and show him to the world.

By the roars of the crowd behind of him they were most likely getting started on another appeal.

"At least we're out of there, Pikachu?" he asked his companion with relief, "Never doing another contest after this."

"Pi" his companion agreed as the pair moved further away from the stadium. It's not that he completely hated contests, he just disliked them. Battles were his element, they were simple. Take out your opponent with all of the attacks that your Pokémon have at their disposal in whatever way you can think of. Simple.

Contests on the other hand, they were a different story altogether. In a contest you would win the more attention you draw to yourself. That was the reason they put on glitter and costumes and bright lights. Ash didn't go out in the world of Pokémon to be in a fashion show. As the contests he went in recently came and came that fact became more and more evident to him, his style became more and more efficient. To take out his opponents as quickly as possible and to get away from the cameras.

So the further he walked away from the contest hall, the more relieved he felt, to blend into the background once more.

That was until he heard someone call "Wait up!" from behind him.

How he hated contests.

----

May had been occupied by her own musings when the room had burst out in applause; many of the younger, inexperienced co-ordinators began to crowd around one figure. All whilst May had sat completely clueless as to what was going on.

There was a snap, and a crackle as the crowd shunted back, and slowly let out the figure they had entangled as it made its way out of the room. Then everything was as it once was... except for the fact that Dawn had not been back in a while now.

Then, suddenly that very co-ordinator rushed into the large room, walking around, looking at all the co-ordinators there. , Searching for something or someone as May watched in amusement at her friend.

"Dawn!" she called, walking up to the girl when she received no reply. "Dawn!" May asked once more once she was closer, as the blue haired girl took notice of her friend.

"Oh! May."

"What's up Dawn?" May asked curiously. "You looking for someone?"

"Well..." Dawn began to explain, "I finished my contest, yeah. Then out of nowhere Team Rocket came."

"Team Rocket?" May exclaimed, "You mean. Jessie, James and-"

"Yeah!" Dawn said wildly with eyes wide open, "and they've gotten better, before we knew it they got Empoleon and some other Pokémon here, and got away!" Dawn said with panic.

"Wait... where are they, if they still got Empoleon-" she stopped, cut off by Dawn.

"No, this guy in the arena stopped them and they're all safe." Dawn explained to May's relief.

"Yeah, and do you know where he is... did you even see him?" Dawn asked.

"No." May admitted.

"Oh, well I guess you were talking to Harley. Where is she?"

"She?"

"He, I meant He!" Dawn explained chuckling lightly. "But where is he, he might know."

"He's not the best person to ask." May explained, trying to warn Dawn about the strange boy. "But everyone did clap for someone who came in here."

"Did you see where he went?" Dawn asked.

"Who is this person?" May asked.

"Just someone I got to say thanks to."

"Well, I think he went outside." May explained as her friend rushed to the exit leaving May to wait for her appeal.

----

Drew had seen how all of it played out, He got completely lucky from Team Rocket coming in and making him look like a hero, there was no way the judges would say no to that. A bit of luck, for someone that didn't appear to be making the slightest effort in contests.

Then came the way he had acted around of him, even if she was just a fling for Drew, the way that guy had shoved everything into Drew's face was a subject that Drew was going to let go easily.

But even he had to admit, a bit of training would not go amiss, Drew knew a strong opponent when he saw one, even if he didn't take the game as seriously as he should. But Drew wondered how he would go about this? Which strategy would be best to take on this mystery person and his yellow rat?

"How can I beat him?" he wondered out loud.

"Aww." Came the honey like voice that sent a shudder through Drew's spine, "Drew's got enemies, how darling."

Drew took a second to regain his composure after hearing that voice once more; knowing who was speaking to him. He turned to Harley with a blank expression, "What do you want?" He asked coolly.

"Well where are your manners Dear Drew, is that how you greet an old friend?" He said with a sweet smile, as Drew remained calm.

"We were never friends." Drew said as Harley gave a grunt, and his sweet smile became malicious.

"To the point as always, aren't we? Well it appears to me that we both have a common enemy, our mystery man." Harley explained.

"What's it to you?" Drew asked.

"The same thing every co-ordinator would feel when a trainer wins the Grand Festival."

"A trainer?"

"Clearly, I've never seen a co-ordinator Like that. No one is that dull and camera shy. Not even our sweet little May has ever been like that." Harley explained as Drew listened patiently, "So I propose a partnership, since that your daddy's a businessman you should know all about them."

"What kind of Partnership?" Drew asked curiously.

"Simple training, practicing. If one of us is knocked out it's up to the other to help him." Harley explained. Puzzling Drew as Harley was never one to ask for such help, unless there was an ulterior motive.

"Since when did you keep your word? Ever?" Drew asked.

"Since I saw a Pokémon league champion might lift the Ribbon cup. We can't be selfish here, Dear Drew" he explained as Drew smirked, never thinking he would ever hear Harley talk about not being selfish.

"Well." Drew murmured, thinking about any consequence that may come out of this deal. "I'll do it." he said as Harley put on a maniacal smile upon his face, giggling shrilly, as if he was five years old.

"Brilliant." He said in between giggles, as Drew wondered if this was a smart move to make.

----

Dawn ran through towards the courtyard, searching for the person she wanted to thank, wondering how far he could have gotten. She was becoming exhausted from all this running. But something inside of her told her that she had to at least say thanks to this person whoever he was.

Whilst another part of her was wondering if she had to go back and say sorry to May for running out on her, she'd probably get the opportunity to talk to him when the next round of the contest came around, considering that the two of them had rather high scores and were very likely to get through.

"Hey!" She called spotting the figure in the distance with the same Pikachu upon his shoulders.

He did not seem to hear the words that she screamed to him. She stopped and caught her breath for a second. Although the Sinnoh native was not about to be defeated that easily and shouted once more. "Hey wait up!"

The mystery man seemed to have heard and stopped, although he did not turn around. The blue head took her opportunity and ran up to the person. He still did not turn around even though they were one foot apart and Dawn was breathing heavily.

"I just wanted to say thanks for rescuing Empoleon."

He still did not turn around.

"You see Empoleon was my first Pokémon as a Piplup, and I don't know what I would do if"

"I did what I did because it was the right thing to do and for no other reason. I didn't do it for your thanks, or the recognition of all of the other co-ordinators inside of there." He said in a hard tone then began to walk away with Pikachu on his perch on the trainer's shoulder. Leaving Dawn behind. For a second as the figure walked away his Pikachu turned around to see Dawn and looked at her as if he had seen her before.

'Could it be? No of course not, I've got to be losing it.'

----

Ash kept on walking, thankful that he had gotten away from anyone else wanting more stuff out of him. If there was anything that was annoying it was those scroungers.

"Stop." Came another voice. As Ash just continued to walk as always, wondering if he'd ever be rid of them.

"Police!" came the voice of Officer Jenny as Ash halted immediately, and turned around to see the Police woman with a powerful Arcanine standing by her side. Standing with authority, looking stern towards Ash who was slightly too weary to try and scare her.

'What did I do now?' Ash wondered as the duo of Pokémon and officer walked up to him. Trying their best to look intimidating, yet her appearance doing the opposite, probably the reason why crime was rife in the reasons, if you have a police that's that attractive, who would be scared? It wasn't that the Jennies were bad officers, it's just that they weren't scary at all.

"Sir would you happen to be travelling with a young white haired girl?" she asked sternly, yet not looking at all scary,

"Yes." Ash answered, knowing that the same treatment he used on other people would not work on her. If anything it may land him in trouble, and the fact that she was asking about Serena already had him on a slight nerve.

"Is she a trainer?" she asked.

"No."

"Would she be of any relation to you?"

"No." Ash answered once more, knowing where this conversation was going to go.

"Where is she at the moment?"

"Watching the appeals." Ash stated, knowing that someone they passed on their journey saw him and Serena and thought that something was definitely wrong there. Of course he could understand where such questions came from, half the time he would make people run at hide at his dark figure.

"On her own." The Officer stated, as Ash nodded, knowing what was coming next. "She will be taken off of your hands until we can find her parents, and she will be taken back home." She stated.

"Why?" he asked seriously, his eyes looking right into Officer Jenny's. His height, a trait that he was glad to have as it made him look much more intimidating.

"Because a minor should be put under proper protection and loving carers. If you can not hand-" she was cut off by a cry in the distance.

"Hey!" Serena cried, rushing up to Ash and giving him a hug to his shock, "I knew you'd win!" she said with a bright smile on her face, whilst Ash kneeled down to her level and gave her a hug of his own. "See I told you" Serena said proudly, "I could take care all by myself. But thanks for giving me Wartortle to keep me safe." She said hoping that Ash would catch on.

"No problem." Ahs said ruffling Serena's hair, as he looked up to an embarrassed Officer Jenny. "Have you said hello to Officer Jenny?" he asked the young girl.

"Hey." She said happily, as the Officer gave out her own small smile.

"So" Ash asked looking at the officer in the eyes, "You were saying?" he asked in an innocent tone.

"Young girl, are you happy with him?" she asked as Serena put a confused look upon her face. Making the Police officer blush in embarrassment, "well, don't cause any trouble." She said, calling her Arcanine and walking away from Ash and Serena.

Once she was out of sight Ash began to chuckle, "Where'd you come from?" he asked.

"I know when you're in trouble." Serena smiled, knowing that if she could help it, she would not let anyone take the two of them apart. "Why'd she come?"

"You know." Ash said taking a calmer tone, "It's probably someone poking their nose in, thinking that you are a bad influence on you or something like that." He said, knowing that he wasn't anywhere near a shining example for the young girl, often wondering if she would be better off somewhere else. Yet knowing that he needed her and as long

"You are a bad influence." She said as Ash chuckled once more.

"Look who's talking, I've never seen a Jenny go that red before. "

"Well someone had to save you."

"Yeah." Ash said stopping for a second, holding Serena's shoulder tightly to show that he would be there. A silent method of reassurance for the both of them. "I'd place my bets on the Nurse Joy at the place we're staying at."

"That's what you get for scaring people." She said as a small silence drew itself upon the pair.

"Hey Ash. You hungry?" she asked.

"Yeah, c'mon. But you got to say I did do good in there." He commented, lifting up Serena's spirits.

With a smile she replied, "You got lucky."