Chapter 20: The Festival and A Friend
Sorry everyone I've had major writers block over the past couple of weeks so forgive me for the long awaited releases (now I know what all writers go through) anyway enjoy the latest installment.
After several more days of traveling Ash and company finally arrive at Florence town ready to deal some damage to the festival (figuratively speaking of course)
As Ash and company arrive at Florence, as the sights of the festival construction are almost complete.
"Wow…"
"By the looks of things it looks as if they are almost done setting the place up and if I'm reading this guide book right the festival begins tonight at 7p.m. so at any rate we have made it just in time for the opening ceremonies."
"Alright guys since we have some time to kill until it starts how bought we walk the town a bit, though we can't shop anywhere until after the festival, but we can still take a look around."
"I know how about we have a picnic?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!"
"But where to have it…"
"I know, that lake over there seems like a good enough spot."
"Well guys what'ya say?"
"Yeah!"
An hour or so later…
"Ah… that was good."
"Oh yes, I agree."
"Now that we have eaten something at least how 'bout we go to the Pokémon Center and change into our kimonos and yukata's before the festival starts, I mean it is getting pretty late ya know…"
"Let's go then!"
After a few minutes of cleaning up, Ash and company make a break for the Pokémon Center to get dressed for the festival.
After about another hour everyone is dressed in their kimonos and yukata's and begins to make plans for what they will do during the festival en route to Central Square where the festival was being held.
Little do they know a familiar face looms in the shadows watching their every move…
"Who's up for hitting some of the game booths, huh?"
"Yeah!"
As Ash and company enter the festival ground they split up and go their respective ways.
As Ash and Misty hit their fifth booth, so does their little stalker and eventually within hearing distance of our heroes.
Suddenly…
"Go for it Misty! Huh? Misty look, is that who I think it is? Bianca hey!"
"Where? Ash? Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back…"
The stalker is startled and abandons what she is doing and makes a break for the forest.
"Hey Bianca wait, why are you running?"
The stalker keeps running with Ash trailing behind her until they hit the forest were Ash finally stops her.
"Hey why did you run Bianca, it's me Ash, I thought you were in Alto Mare with Lorenzo and Latias, what are you doing here?"
Bianca turns around teary eyed, and suddenly transforms in front of Ash.
"Wah? Latias, what are you doing here?"
She just gets closer and puts her head on his chest still crying.
"Ok I understand, but I need you to transform back, ok?"
She simply removes her head, nodes and transforms back into Bianca.
"Alright, good now come with me."
Ash grabs her hand and takes her back into the festival, pulls out his pokégear and calls the gang up.
"Hello?"
"Yes?"
"Hello?"
"Hello?"
"Guys, its Ash we need to talk…NOW, I need everyone to meet at the Pokémon center. The one we changed at, as fast as you can."
"Wait Ash what's wrong, and why the Pokémon center?"
Ash turns the pokégear to show Bianca to everyone else.
"Alright Ash", Brock and Misty reply.
"Huh? Who's that?"
"May, Dawn we'll explain everything when we get there, just finish up and get to the Pokémon center A.S.A.P!"
"Alright…"
Moments later Ash, Latias (still disguised as Bianca), Brock and Misty arrive at the front doors to the Pokémon center. Then they spot Dawn and May running up with funnel cakes, cotton candy, and many other kinds of food in their hands.
They then walk calmly to the room they were staying in and settle everyone down enough to let Latias do her thing.
"Alright Ash, what's so important that we have to miss this festival for?"
Latias stands up and reveals her true form.
!
"L…La…Latias!"
"Oh my gosh she's so cute!"
"Calm down May, Dawn let her speak!"
"Wait, she can talk?"
"Ladies, please!"
"Now Latias, what's troubling you?"
"Latias channels some of her energy and uses her second sight to show Ash and company her memories."
"Woah what's this?"
"Second sight, normally it allows her or people around her to see what her brother Latios could see, but in this case it's her memory."
-Flashback-
"…alright Latias I know it's hard, but you gotta get over this. Latios may be gone, but he's still here watching over you. Now please stop crying…"
Latias briefly stops before bursting back into tears.
Bianca (the real one) lets out a sigh.
"Really what am I going to do with you…"
"Hey what about Ash?"
"What do you mean, dad?"
"I mean why don't she go look for Ash, since he was one of her close friends even though it was for a short time."
Latias looks up and shows Bianca and Lorenzo her memory of her giving Ash the picture of him and Pikachu.
"Huh, Hey? So that's where it went, I wondered where I put that."
Then all of a sudden they see the part where she kisses Ash on the cheek in front of Misty and Brock.
The two of them stand there in shock until Latias breaks the view of the memory.
Bianca suddenly snaps her fingers.
"That's it!"
"What's it?"
"Latias should go find Ash."
"What?"
"Yeah, that last part of her memory says everything. She likes him but is too afraid to admit it."
"Well normally I'd say no, but in this case since she has a way to get around humans it shouldn't be a problem."
"Don't worry Latias, I'm sure you'll find him and speaking of Ash, didn't we see the Sinnoh league tournament he was in?"
"Yeah…"
"Well didn't he win that?"
"Yes he did, we sent the congratulatory card a week ago."
"Well didn't they also say he was granted access to the main tournament?"
"Yes of course, that happens every time someone wins a league tournament."
"Well if Latias should head that way she is sure to find him in record time, plus since it's only just a day's sail she should be able to fly there in no time."
Latias looked up at Lorenzo still teary eyed with her mouth open, as if she's asking him if it's ok.
"Of course Latias, it's alright."
Latias get's up, does a few loop de loops and gives Bianca and Lorenzo a big hug.
"And Latias…"
Latias looks back just as she hits the edge of the window
"Don't begin to doubt yourself if you can't find him, and just remember you're always welcome back here, and if all else fails just follow your heart."
Latias nodes and darts out the nearby window (cloaked of course) like a freshly evolved Crobat and then at speed beyond human recognition.
"Well that was easy…"
Suddenly she re-appears scaring Bianca into Lorenzo's arms. She moves closer and gives a kiss to Bianca on her cheek and takes off again.
After a day of travel she arrives at the island just as the ship is arriving and letting off the passengers.
"Hey there's Ash and Misty where she was strangling Ash for charging off the boat the way he did."
Suddenly the group head towards the limo and see the buses explode and watching Ash and company hauling ass towards the interior of the limo.
"Look, there we go…"
They suddenly notice Latias in her memory moving her arms to form a barrier over each individual person to prevent the debris from hitting them.
"Wow so that's why no one was hurt during the attack it was Latias protecting everyone from the explosion."
"Thanks Latias", Ash said petting her on the head.
After the other league trainers show up and the limo Ash was in takes off, Latias drops the barriers and follow the limo, but to a distance.
Upon arriving at the stadium she loses track briefly and begins to panic.
She suddenly begins to calm down and concentrate. She relocates Ash and company with her psychic powers, but realizes he is out of reach without causing an incident. So she decides to wait until they are alone and away from crowds.
She heads for a nearby forest leading out and decides to take a nap in one of the nearby trees.
"Wow…she has sure gone through a lot to get here."
"Wait what's that?"
The memory is still playing and they hear the sounding announcement go off.
Latias darts out of the tree and into the sky frantically searching for Ash. After a few hours of looking she spots Ash and company battling Fearow and the huge thunder bolt coming down.
"Wow…so that's what it looks like from that high up."
She simply stays at a distance and yet still waits for a good time to pop in.
As time goes by they finally get to just shortly before they met. Ash and company enter the Pokémon center to change. Latias decides to go ahead a try and find something to eat to keep her strength up as she hadn't eaten in days. When she returned Ash and company had already left and were no longer there. She heads to the festival spots Ash and decides it's finally time to get closer.
She enters a nearby forest and transforms back into Bianca and this time wearing a kimono.
She enters just as Ash and company do, but only in an ears distance away, even after they split up, she stays on Ash. Then they fast forward a bit to where Ash started chasing her and meeting up in the forest and the memory ends.
-End Flashback-
"…so Latias basically you want to travel with us?"
Latias transforms back to Bianca and bows deeply.
"Ok Latias, its settled you can come with us just try and stay out of trouble."
She jumps for Joy and begins frantically hugging Ash.
"Alright, alright I just need you to stay in that form when we are outside, ok?"
She nodes and hugs Ash again, and then to everyone's surprise she kisses him on the cheek again.
Suddenly, Misty gets furious with rage and holding up a fist ready to send her into the next century.
"Alright Latias that may have worked last time, but not now Ash is with me see and don't you even think for one minute that I am going to let you take him away from me. So just back off!"
Latias simply smiles comes up to Misty and hugs her, and then feeling the little thumps in her stomach she kneels down and with a twinkle in her eye softly rubs Misty's slightly swollen stomach.
Latias looks up at Misty with eyes full of joy and question at the same time.
Misty simply nodes and Latias jumps up and gives her another big hug. Misty calms down and hugs her back. After a few minutes she lets go.
"Alright Latias if you want when they're born I'll let you help me take care of them. Latias' face lights up as if she was using flash, and simply nodes with joy."
"Alright now that that's settled why don't we head back to the festival and have some more fun."
As Ash and company re-arrive at the festival they hear an announcement.
"Attention everyone the fireworks display will be taking place shortly, but first our very own gym leader Leon will be putting on a brief display in just a few minutes. Please proceed to the designated area at the lake if you would like to participate."
"Hey Ash now would be a good time to view some of his strategies I mean if you want to beat him."
"Thanks darling I was just thinking the same thing, come on everyone!"
Ash and company arrive back at the same place where they were having their picnic.
"Wow…a lot can sure happen over the course of several hours…"
"Yeah and they sure did one heck of a job doing it…"
"Alright everyone here he comes!"
Leon leaps onto the stage give a blow to his pokéball and throws it before him. Charmeleon battle stations!
A/N: something's are going to be said at the same time for a few sentences so to separate people the main one talking will be normal and the one in the background will be in parenthesis.
"Char!"("Wait why did he blow on his pokéball before he threw it?")
"Charmeleon use aerial ace into fire spin" ("huh he blew onto his pokéball?")
Charmeleon disappears and reappears in midair and starts to spin unleashing flames from his mouth creating a fire tornado. ("yeah just before charmeleon came out he blew onto the pokéball and it emerged with a brief wind.")
"Now follow it up with fissure into rock smash." ("Latias are you watching this we shall need your second sight very soon")
Charmeleon creates huge stalagmites and then crushes them as fast as they appear like whack a moles (Latias nodes and continues to watch intensly)
"Yes I think I already have it figured out" ("Thank you everyone your praise is most appreciated!")
"Figured out what Ash?"
"His battle style I just need to confirm it with Lati later."
"Lati?"
"Yes Lati, we can't just call her Latias in front of everyone now can we?"
"Um…yeah you're right."
"You got that Latias; while you look like Bianca we shall call you Lati ok?"
Latias simply nodes with a smile.
"Good, now after the fireworks we should all head back to the Pokémon center and get some sleep."
"And now everyone if you will direct your attention to the sky we shall start the fireworks."
Suddenly a dark figure with a flame flies by all the preset fireworks and lights them sending them into the sky. While Ash and company where watching the fireworks Latias is briefly watching the dark figure make its runs through the preset fireworks then slowly looks up at the displays going off in the sky.
A short time later the fireworks stop and Ash and company head back to the center for some well deserved rest.
"Alright Lati first thing after breakfast we are going to train ok?"
Latias nodes and grabs Ash's arm (couples style) which in turn makes Misty jealous and she makes a grab for the other.
Both lay their heads on Ash's shoulders and all walk back to the center.
Ash leads the girls to bed Misty to his and Latias (now back in her original form) to the floor beside their bed (with a blanket covering her).
And he in turn lies down next to Misty.
Moments later everyone is in their own beds asleep.
For what seemed like a few hours later Ash wakes up to find something cradling his back, he looks up at the clock to see it was about three in the morning and back down at the figure cradling him to see Latias (now looking like Bianca again) shivering cuddling his back for warmth.
Ash simply smiles and grabs the blanket off the floor and lays it over her and lies back down, seconds later he is back asleep.
The next morning…
"Ah!"
Ash wakes up in an instant, while everyone groggily wakes up.
"Misty what's wrong?"
"What do you think you're doing? Get out, get out, get out!"
"Misty what's all the ruckus for?"
"Her, what's she doing in our bed?"
"She was cold last night so she had gotten up here for warmth."
"So you knew?"
"It was three in the morning do you think I wanted to cause this much ruckus so early? And besides you need to calm down, you are carrying twins ya know and your blood pressure is already high enough…"
"Why aren't you surprised about this I mean she's in our bed cuddling you!"
"She was cold! I mean here we are sleeping on a mattress and she's on the floor with just a blanket, what you want her to get into a bed with a person she's never really met and then them freaking out over the situation? And also put yourself in her position, you would have done the same thing."
Misty stopped right there and thought for a second.
"What's all the ruckus in here?"
"Nurse Joy?"
"We don't need any fighting in here, this is a place for healing not bickering either settle it NOW or get out!"
Both Ash and Misty look down.
"Ok…"
"Look Lati I'm sorry I jumped to…"
Latias gets up and puts her finger over her mouth and hushes her before she can say anything more and gives her a hug until Joy leaves.
"Thank you…"
"Now Misty what's makes you think something weird was going on?"
"Well since we haven't seen her in a while I thought since I just woke up she was another girl in your life so I assumed the worst and screamed."
"Well with that little scream came a whole lotta shit. Now are we ok now?"
"Yes, we are…who's up for breakfast?"
"Alright that's better, ok ladies how bout we walk down to breakfast together."
Ash holds out both arms and each one of them takes one.
"Alright ladies…shall we?"
Both girls nod and follow Ash out with Brock, May, and Dawn trailing behind.
After breakfast…
"Alright shall we begin training?"
"Lati, Misty? You comin'?"
Both girls run up to him and grab an arm following Ash outside to the field.
"Alright Lati lets sit over there and view what we saw last night, ok?"
Latias nodes and they proceed to the bench.
"Alright, go ahead and use your second sight Lati and take us back to last night at the lake start from the moment we got there to when the fireworks finished."
Latias nodes and changes taking Ash and Misty to the night before.
"Now the only things we can view are what you sensed right?"
Latias nodes.
"Alright then let's see it…"
Latias complies and begins to show all events that took place the night before.
Ash stands on the stage where Leon appears, and watches his entrance.
After several reruns of his entrance Ash confirms that it was done and asks Latias if she saw anything else peculiar.
She simply nodes and goes forward to the fireworks launch.
Ash and Misty simply stares at the display again, and Latias nudges him to look in the direction of where they were launching.
"Wait what's that shadow?"
"I don't know but that's what was setting them off last night."
"Latias take us as close as you can."
Latias nodes and moves the memory forward until her vision fades.
"Alright, that Pokémon there is our key, wait Latias go back to when Leon finished his performance."
She nodes and complies.
"What are we looking for Ash?"
"Did he say anything or look like he said anything during or after the performance?"
"I don't know, now what can we prove with this?"
"It will give we an idea as to if that was his Pokémon or not at least."
"Ash, they would have this planned out why would they need to communicate?"
"In case they had a new recruit that didn't know what he was supposed to be doing, I don't know, but if there was that will tell me just about everything I need to know."
Ash views and reviews his entire performance looking for any clues as to his movements.
…
"Ash you've been at this for hours, there is nothing there and Lati is getting tired she needs to rest."
"Alright Lati just one more time and then we shall can it quits."
Latias nodes exhausted and prepares herself for one more view.
"Alright now, go!"
On the last view Ash notices a slight movement just when he enters like a timer setting and suddenly the vision fades as Latias falls.
"Lati!"
"Latias!"
"Alright Ash enough…"
"Don't worry I got it he set a stopwatch timer just as his foot stepped on to the stage, so that means he was timing himself to the number for something or another, but I'm almost positive that he was using that to time the fireworks."
"Great job Latias, let's go get something to eat and take a nice long afternoon nap."
Latias gets up slowly, and after Ash helping her, enters the Pokémon Center to have a bite to eat. Then leads herself back to the room to rest.
"Misty you go take a nap too, you'll need all the energy you can get."
"Alright Ash, just don't do anything stupid like you normally do."
"Yes, yes alright I promise."
Misty lets out a seductive wink before disappearing into the bedroom behind Latias.
"Alright Pikachu time for last minute training."
Ash and his Pokémon warm-up and then begin to train until dark.
"Alright guy's good job today, now let's close with a cool down and call it a day."
"Ash it's time for dinner."
"Alright Misty be in there in a minute."
…
Ash and his Pokémon enter the center after a long day of training and eats like a Ponyta.
Right in front of everyone including Latias, who surprisingly didn't seem fazed by it.
She simply sat down next to him and began to eat politely and quietly.
Misty, Dawn, May and Brock stood there with their mouths open.
Misty then simply closed her mouth, walked over to the table and followed Latias toot suite. Soon after followed by May, Dawn and then finally Brock.
After dinner…
"Never again Ash…"
"What?"
"You embarrassed not only us, but yourself as well scarfing down all that food so fast. I thought you said you were going to grow up."
"I did, just taking it one step at a time."
A/N: by the way at least 2 months have gone by since the beginning of the tournament
"Oop."
"What is it Misty?"
"Oh its nothing, they are just having a fight to see who's better apparently."
"Ohh, can I feel?"
"Sure Dawn, let me just take a seat them fighting is really taking its toll on my energy even though we just ate."
As they get back into the room Misty takes a seat and Dawn gets a chance to feel the 'fighting twins'.
"Wow they really are having at it."
"Just can't wait till they are outta me, then we will be at least physically better in some respects."
"Yeah…"
Latias simply stares at Misty and Dawn puzzled.
"What's up Lati, you wanna feel 'em too?"
Latias simply nodes and walks over to the girls, and gently places a hand on her swollen belly.
Latias face fills up with emotion and places her hands on her 'own' stomach.
"What's with you all of a sudden?"
Latias suddenly transforms and uses second sight to show an image to everyone.
It was of her looking like Bianca with a swollen stomach standing there with Misty (and her slightly swollen stomach) and Ash.
Misty blushes deeply, and Ash, Dawn, May and Brock fall over.
Latias transforms back with a puzzle on her face.
"Latias that won't happen, Pokémon don't have kids like humans do. Pokémon have eggs, not carry the babies in their bodies."
Latias' face suddenly goes from joyous to near crying.
"Latias don't worry about it, at least you can still have kids right?"
Latias simply nodes.
"Alright I know you want to know what it's like, but just can't be done."
"So just calm down and we'll get into more detail later, ok?"
Latias simply nodes and everyone gets into bed. Ash, Misty, and Latias in one; and May, Dawn, and Brock each in their own beds.
…
The next day after breakfast…
As Ash and company are making their way to the gym, Misty notices something odd about Latias.
"Lati?"
Latias looks over at Misty.
"What are you doing?"
Latias turns around to show herself, with her own slightly swollen stomach.
Misty turns into full rage mode and starts trying to vividly attack her, but Ash holds her back knowing full well before that she would do this.
"Misty I thought I told you to control yourself."
Misty calms down slightly enough to speak.
"How did she get pregnant this fast? How is she even pregnant? It's just not possible…"
"Misty listen to yourself talk, it isn't possible she is just modifying her appearance with psychic like she did at first with Bianca and again with the festival."
"She's just trying to feel what you feel, like a younger brother or sister would do, mimic you so to speak."
Misty shuts up instantly.
"Now are we good?"
An almost inaudible yes is heard from her.
Ash and company arrive at the gym where Leon is awaiting their arrival.
"Are you ready Ash?"
"Am I ready, of course I am."
"Well it sure doesn't look like it considering you have not one but two girls clutching you and pregnant I might add."
Ash simply puffs it off and walks into the gym with everyone else behind them.
"Now if you will sign this promising to keep your end of the bargain we can get started, and I will do the same."
Both Ash and Leon sign the document and give it to the referee.
"Alright Mr. Ketchum it's time for your demise and you expulsion from this tournament."
Will Ash win or will he be thrown off the island? Find out on the next exciting chapter of Events Unexpected.