Grace found herself waiting in the long line of the Pokemon Center, it had been a day since the Clubsplosion and everyone had been battling in preparation for the next one, so the Pokemon Center was very busy.
Finally it was Grace's turn.
"Grace, correct?" Nurse Joy asked, and Grace nodded. Joy grabbed a tray of Pokeballs, "Then here you go, they're as good as new!"
"Thank you," Grace said, snapping the Pokeballs onto her belt. Pikachu leapt onto her shoulder. Grace made her way from the line towards the front of the Pokemon Center. "Are you hungry Pikachu?" She asked.
Pikachu shook his head, looking around. All of the sudden he froze. "Pikapi!" He cried angrily. Grace looked to where he was pointing.
In the corner of the Pokemon Center there was a boy sitting at a table. The boy was watching her, but when he saw Grace looking he turned away. Despite the change of clothes Grace recognized the black haired boy, it was Ash. Grace started to walking towards him.
Ash glanced up at them and frowned. He seemed to mutter something, as if he were talking to someone. Then he turned away.
Grace frowned, then she thought she felt something on her shoulder, the one without Pikachu. She glanced over but saw nothing. She reached out to feel it, but then her vision went white.
When her vision cleared Grace felt dizzy, what had happened? Then she noticed Pikachu was gone.
"Grace, correct?" A voice said behind her. Grace flinched and turned around and saw Nurse Joy. Grace blinked, this seemed very similar, like déjà vu. Grace nodded. Nurse Joy turned around and grabbed a tray of Pokeballs, "Then here you go, they're as good as new!" Grace took them and stared at them.
"Pi?" She glanced down and saw Pikachu, who looked just as confused as she was.
"Thank you," She said quickly to Nurse Joy, then she grabbed Pikachu and ran off. "Pikachu, what's going on? We were walking towards your trainer and..." She glanced over to the corner where she had saw Ash. He was gone.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu pointed towards the door. A red hat could be seen in the crowd. Grace ran out the door, what ever was going on would have to wait for later.
She lost track of him, but then Pikachu spotted him, he was heading for the Stadium, where the Clubsplosion had been held. Ash was talking to the person at the desk, who was shaking his head. Grace could tell that Ash wanted to go in.
Ash nodded, but instead of leaving he just stared at the man. The man got a confused look on his face, then he slumped down in his chair, asleep. Ash turned and walked into the Stadium.
"What on earth is going on?" Grace muttered.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu hopped off her shoulder and went after Ash. She ran after him, sneaking a glance at the sleeping attendant.
She quickly spotted Pikachu hiding between the seats, she went to him. She saw Ash in the distance, several rows down, he was talking to some people that were cleaning the stadium. They were pointing to the doors, telling him that he needed to leave. Ash nodded.
Just like with the attendant Ash just stood there, waiting. After a moment the workers slid to the ground, sleeping. Ash looked at them, unsurprised, then made his way down to the battlefield.
Under normal circumstances Grace would've just gone and talk to him, but she remembered what had happened at the Pokemon Center and with the workers, so instead she just watched.
Ash walked onto the battlefield, and traced the scorched earth from Pikachu's Thunderbolt.
"Spread out," Ash said, but there was no one there, "And if you find it let me know."
Grace frowned.
Ash was on his hands and knees searching for... something. "Do you know what he's looking for?"
Pikachu shook his head.
Suddenly Ash glanced up, but not at them. He held out his hand, then closed it, like he was grabbing the air. He rubbed his right hand.
"That's better, let's go." Ash said, standing up.
"I wonder... Is he feeling alright? Maybe he abandoned you because he's crazy?" Grace muttered. Pikachu looked at Ash, he was acting like his normal self, except he was talking to no one.
But that didn't explain people falling asleep.
Ash was leaving, and Grace noticed the workers were starting to wake up, "Come on Pikachu!"
They barely made it out as the attendant woke up. He sat up and blinked, then quickly pretended he wasn't sleeping, he didn't notice Grace. Grace spotted Ash in the crowd. Pikachu pulled on her pant legs, wanted to follow Ash. Grace picked up Pikachu.
They tailed him, and he walked into the forest, Grace pulled out a Pokeball, "Jade, we need you!"
A Swablu appeared, "Blu blu!"
Grace pointed towards the woods, "A boy went into there, he's Pikachu's trainer, can you tell me where he's going?" Grace didn't know why, but she just knew that she didn't to find out what was going on.
Jade took to the air, flying over the forest. Grace let Cyan out of her Pokeball and sat down in the shade of the tree, waiting for Jade to return,
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/
Ash made his way through the forest, unsure of where to go next. The newly recovered ring was on Ash's finger. It was silver with a blue band of a magical stone. Well, at least it seemed magical to Ash. Every time his Aura went out of control the stone would glow blue and absorb the Aura. The ring had been a gift from Riley.
Flashback
"This ring will help you to control your Aura. It will only grow stronger."
Ash fingered the ring, he could feel a vast Aura coming from it. "I have chosen not to pursue my Aura, I want to continue training with my Pokemon." Ash tried to hand the ring back, but Riley held up his hand.
"You have no choice, it is your destiny. Your Aura becomes more powerful by the minute. It will become out of control, like a Dragon-Type using Outrage. You must wear the ring at all times. It does not restrain your powers, but focuses them." Riley said.
"My destiny?" Ash said uncertainly, holding up the ring.
"You are descended from powerful Aura Guardians, and the prophecy claims that you are the one to change the world."
"I may have potential, but isn't that overdoing it?"
Riley looked at Ash, "You are still young. I wish I had time you take you into training, but I suppose that even if we did have time fate would make sure it was not possible. It is a shame."
"I need to go soon, my friends and Pikachu are waiting."
Riley got a far off look in his eyes, "Yes, Pikachu, he has just as much potential as you."
"I'll see you around Riley," Ash said, "Goodbye Lucario."
Lucario put a paw over her heart and bowed, "May the Aura be with you Master Ash."
Ash turned and started to leave, and Riley called, "Ash, remember, that ring has been passed down father to son for generations, so please do care for it."
"You got this from your father?" Ash said, pausing.
"Yes, and he from his father, for at least thousand years."
Ash pulled the ring off and tried to hand it back to Riley, "Then I can't take it, it is meant for your son."
Riley got a far off look in his eyes, "But I just did give it to him, I would not just give this to anyone. Sorry I wasn't there for you. Take care, Ash."
Ash froze, "Are you saying..." But Riley and Lucario were already running off into the fog.
End of Flashback
'Can I come out now? It is really cramped in here.'
"No you can't." Ash said.
'What? You can't keep me in here!' Shaymin screamed from his backpack.
"Yes I can, you are too slow, and you would complain about me holding you, and you can't turn invisible. Besides, you're getting annoying."
'Hey!'
'Well, you are started to,' Victini said with a giggle, flickering into view.
'Loud,' Celebi said.
'Well, if you would stop wandering around aimlessly and find some Gracidea flowers then I would be more help!'
"Unfortunately there isn't any around here, I doubt they even are selling them at this time of year."
'Swablu,' Celebi said.
"What?"
'Swablu," She said again, pointing to a Swablu in a tree.
"Yes, that is cool," Ash said, uncertain where Celebi was taking the conversation.
'Following.'
"You want to follow it?"
'No.'
'She's saying that's it's been following us,' Victini broke in.
'Yes.'
Now Ash was on edge, he looked up at the Swablu, who was staring at him intently. Then it quickly took to the sky flying east. Towards the city.
"Victini, quickly, after it!"
'Right away!' Victini said happily, rising into the air.
A/n: If you enjoy Pikachu and Ash fanfictions then you should check out PikachuLover14's page, she has some amazing stories.