Chapter 26:

"Speech"

"Flashback thoughts or emphasized speech"

"Thoughts"

["Pokémon speech"]

["Thoughts coming from the Pokémon"]

["Flashback thoughts or emphasized speech from Pokémon"]

Both Pokémon are breathing heavily…

"[You are a fine opponent Ash…]" Ichigo says still trying to catch his breath.

"[You as well Ichigo…]" Ash replies also out of breath

Both Pokémon lose their footing and collapse, but Ash manages to catch himself while Ichigo collapses onto the ground

"Gym leader Ichigo is unable to battle part one of this two part gym match goes to the victor Ash Ketchum!"

"[Alright…]" Ash tries to says before losing conscience and falling to the ground.

"Ash!"

Rilou and Pikachu leap off the bleachers and dash to the center of the field to check on their fallen trainer.

Meanwhile Jiraiya and Wayne walk over to check on the fallen Ichigo.

"[So enough of a battle for you, eh Ichigo?]"

"[Yeah, that was good although that kid…]"

And suddenly Ichigo loses conscience as well.

*sigh "[Alright girls come on in, we got two Pokémon that need treatment!]" Jiraiya yelled.

Within moment both entrance doors burst open and a team on chansey and blissey charge in with stretchers to treat the fallen Ichigo and Ash.

Many hours later…

"[So how are they?]"

"[They'll be fine little missy just a bit of rest and they'll be ready for the upcoming match, although…]"

"[Although?]"

"[Ichigo might take a little longer, only because this is his first loss in about 6 years.]"

"[6 years?]"

"[Yeah…back then if the trainer couldn't beat him on the 2nd try they'd just try their luck with the double battle and try to go for an all or nothing match…]"

"[…Really?]"

"[Yeah…that's usually how it went…we hold back a bit, and let them win just so they could continue on with the tournament…]"

"[Wow…]"

"[Heh… no that's wrong Mr. Goodshow actually required us to do that so they could at least have a tournament to have. Heck one of the tournaments many years ago he didn't require anyone to actually get our badge to see how it worked…but in the end everyone completely just skipped this area so the following year he had to get people to come over here and at least try to earn the badge.]"

"[Wow… you guys were that strong?]"

"[Yeah…well when you live out here and train yourself to the bone and do nothing but that every other day that tends to happen, also you have to consider we only give the incoming trainers a few days to adapt to their body, 90% of them don't have the same type of Pokémon that they become so they have to end up figuring out most of the abilities and how to use them themselves]"

While Misty and Jiraiya continue to chat May and Blaziken continued to train outside the Pokémon center until Ash woke up.

"[Well Lati do you think Ash will be ok?]"

"[Of course Dawn I think he will be fine after all this is Ash we are talking about.]"

"[Yeah you're right…tee hee hee]"

Suddenly a shadow of a rather large bird can be seen flying overhead.

"[Eh?]"

"[Lati? What's that flying?]"

"[I don't know, let me take a look…]" Latias replied before tucking in her arms and thrusting high into the air.

"Master."

"Master?"

"Master?"

"What is it Flygon?"

"The one you described as Latias has left Lady Dawn's side and flew up into the sky, I assume it's to check out that rather large bird Pokémon that has flown overhead."

"Alright, Flygon keep me posted on anything further."

"Will do master!"

Latias slowly gets closer to the rather large Pokémon, and begins to slow down once she gets into view.

*gasps

"Lady Ho-oh?"

The bird takes a look back rather slowly.

"Lady Ho-oh!" Latias shouts as she makes another dash for the large Pokémon.

Ho-oh turns stops mid flight and waits for Latias to get closer.

"Lady Ho-oh, what brings you this way? You never come so far as to visit an area with… so… many… humans…"

"Well, my dear Latias my arrival was mainly to find you, but seeing how you are here that saves me a long(er) trip."

"So you were just out here to find me?"

"Well maybe we should land and we can talk about it a little more, ok?"

Latias nodes and motions her to follow.

She arrives back at the barrier with Lady Ho-oh.

"Lady Ho-oh if you will form a psychic barrier around yourself you will be able to safely be able to cross this barrier without transforming."

"Transforming?"

"Yes, I'll explain the details later, when we land you may drop the barrier, as to not draw attention."

"Very wise Latias, you have grown a lot since your brother left."

…

Latias giggles, does a few loop de loops before glomping Lady Ho-oh in a hug.

"Well almost… "

Latias giggles again in response.

Both enter the barrier and fly down towards the now abandoned campsite. Upon arrival the two drop their psychic barriers and assume their now partial human forms.

Latias appears as a teenage girl with long white hair with some pig tail's that look like they would in her Pokémon form and a red and white priestess dress, while lady Ho-oh appears as a mid-thirties woman that has long blonde hair and a priestess dress that is gold and red arranged almost just like her feathers.

Latias now runs over and glomps lady Ho-oh again before leading them back to the Pokémon center.

"So Lady Ho-oh can you tell me how you knew I was here?"

"I will later young lady, but only after I see him."

"Him? Why?"

"It is just a feeling, and I thought I should check things out just to make sure."

"Ok…"

Latias leads lady Ho-oh back to the Pokémon center and they step in rather quietly.

"What room is he in?"

"He is in one of the rooms in the back, now I don't know if he is in recovery yet or not, but I do know someone that would know."

"Alright Latias lead the way."

The two of them arrive at the location of said Pokémon still waiting on her husband to recover.

"Misty!"

Misty droopily gets up from her nap and looked up at her visitors with a yawn.

"[What? Who are you?]"

"Misty, it's me… Lati…"

"[Oh I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, there for a second…what's up?]"

"Is Ash well enough to see yet?"

"[Well, the nurse said he would be good enough to see in a few hours and that was at… around…]" *Misty thinks for a minute, "[noon I think.]"

"So that would be a yes considering it around three right now…"

*yawns again, "[yeah… oh wait has it been that long… wow that was a good nap though… eh?]"

Misty takes a look at the room across the hall where Ash was supposed to be sleeping.

Low and behold Rilou is already in there already looking Ash over.

"Well we are gonna go see Ash you wanna come?"

"[Yeah… oop!]"

"Are they kicking again?"

"[No, they're fighting again because they are hungry…goodness it seems like they have inherited Ash's bottomless stomach after all…]"

"That's ok you go ahead and get something to eat Lady…um…"

"Kagome…Lady Kagome at your service."

She bows rather lowly as she introduces herself.

"[Nice to meet you Lady Kagome, I'm Misty Ketchum.]"

"Likewise…"

"Yeah we shall go take a look at Ash for a bit so you can go have a bite to eat."

"Alright, see you later Lati, Lady Kagome."

"[Enjoy your meal Mrs. Misty!]" Lady Kagome replied.

Misty turns the corner and heads for the cafeteria.

"Lady Kagome?" Latias asked.

"Yes, some folk called me that many a year ago. Sometimes I would appear before them in this form and help them with their problems… a priestess sometimes."

"Wow…"

"Now let me see him…"

"Yes mam, follow me please."

"Both enter the room where Ash is still asleep and Rilou is sitting next to him waiting for him to awaken."

As Latias and Lady Ho-oh approach the bed Rilou leaps out of the chair and stares at the two of them.

"Easy Rilou it's me Lati, no need to be alarmed."

"Oh it's just you Lati; you scared me there for a second…"

"Sit down young one no one has come to harm you or him, at least not yet…"

"Yet…what do you mean yet? and just who are you?"

"You will be wise and calm yourself before you anger me young one, it would be unwise to try and attack a Legendary Pokémon." Lady Ho-oh replies with a raised tone of voice.

"Legendary? Please I think I would…"

Lady Ho-oh flashes a psychic attack into his mind's eye of her angered form.

"Lady Ho-oh please forgive my rudeness, I was…"

"You were still acting like the damn fool you have always been since that foolish trainer spared your life that fateful day. You are lucky I wasn't there, otherwise things would have gotten really messy."

Rilou stands in apologetic shock as Lady Ho-oh addresses him.

"Now be a good little boy and sit down now!"

"Yes mam!"

"Now let's see how this one has been doing…"

Lady Ho-oh approaches the still asleep Ash, places her hands on his forehead and begins to read his thoughts.

-Mind Read-

"[Alright Mr. Ichigo let's get started!]"

"[Ok, Ash I'll give you the first move.]"

"[Well Ichigo here I come!]" Ash shouts as he disappears.

"[What?]"

"Rilou you taught him extreme speed?"

"Yes, I thought I told you that already although he has still yet to master the move."

"[Force palm!]"

"[Argh…]", Ichigo grunts as the combo hits him rather hard.

"[Thunderbolt!]" Retorts Ichigo retaliating at Ash.

But Ash disappears again dodging the attack and launching another attack from a distance.

"[Aura sphere!]"

Ichigo dodges it and charges at Ash.

"[Spark, ha!]"

Ash enters a counter stance, and (Wayne) cringes at the sight.

As Ichigo gets within range, Ash flies into action, and throws Luxray into the air following it up with another attack.

"[Ahh!]" Cries Ichigo as he flies into the air.

"[Aura sphere!]"

The blue sphere impacts Luxray creating a large explosion and hits the ground with a loud thud.

"[Grr, how could one get so strong in just a short amount of time… I'll admit Ash you have done well, but this ends now! Charge!]" Retorted Ichigo.

Ash reenters the counter stance.

"[Grr, you think that will save you? Let's see you counter this! Thunder!]"

As the attack gets closer, Ash's thoughts go elsewhere as he remembers a bit of his training.

-Flashback within the Mind Read-

"Ash, channel your energy and release it all at once!"

Ash follows the order and when his power reached its peak the power unleashed. The two robotic arms were completely destroyed, the hovercraft Team FOD used was annihilated and they were sent soaring into the sky.

"[Alright Rilou…]" Ash said as he landed on the ground out of breath.

"I know master… I'll help you learn and master the technique, but it will be up to you on how to use it."

After several hours of training the two departed from the site and headed back towards camp.

"Ash…"

"[Eh? What is it Rilou?...]"

-End Flashback-

As the attack gets closer, Ash changes stance and starts charging his aura sphere.

Rilou leaps out of his seat and almost onto the field.

"No Ash, you're not ready for that!"

Ash continues to charge up, and puts his 'paws' forward in preparation to throw the attack.

The electric attack collides with the partially prepared aura sphere and the enhanced Thunder begins to combine with the aura sphere.

"What?"

"What is it Rilou?" Blaziken asks confused

"Ash is doing something very dangerous."

"Dangerous, what…how?"

"The combination he is doing is very delicate and energy consuming especially since he is doing it with a half completed aura sphere and if it is not done correctly the attacks could detonate and put him out of battle for at least a good while. Also considering the level of attacks being used it could be deadly…"

"[Deadly?]"

"Deadly?"

"Yes… deadly…"

"[Ash stop, you could die if you keep this up!]"

"[No…]"

"[No?]"

"[I've gone too far to give up, so I'm gonna go all the way!]"

Ash began pouring more energy into the attack and its size and power escalated enormously.

"[Woah…]" Ichigo replies as he stops and stares at the new electrified aura sphere.

"Woah…" replied the Pokémon sitting in the stands.

"[Grr…oah!]" Ash shouts as he begins to use his aura to start circulating the attack.

"[What?]"

"What's he doing Rilou?"

"I…I…I…don't…know…"

"[It looks like he's getting ready to end it, to me…]"

"[Grr…you think that you can just stand there and build up an attack and think I'm not gonna try and stop you…well you got another thing comin'!]" Ichigo shouts as he begins charging at Ash.

"[Thunder bolt!]"

Suddenly all the electrical energy headed for Ash is redirected into the electrified aura sphere.

"[What?]" Said Misty.

"[The?]" Continued Wayne.

"[Hell?]" Concluded Ichigo.

"[Alright Ichigo you might wanna brace yourself!]"

Ash remarkably converts the enormously large ball of energy into a cube of power expelling small streams of current from it, about the size of a basketball, and with all the spinning it had been doing it had begun to flatten into an oddly shaped disc, still emanating that current from it.

"[Woah… I really can't afford to be hit by that.]"

"[Alright Ichigo you ready?]"

"[Electrified Aura Disc! Ha!]" Ash shouts as he hurls the disc.

"[Agility!]"

"[Oh no you don't!]"

Ash disappears along with and Ichigo and Ash knocks him back onto the ground, both panting rather heavily.

But in his ignorance Ash has put himself in the direct path of his own attack without knowledge and Luxray just stares and smiles.

"[What are you smiling at?]"

"[You.]"

"[Me?]"

"[Goodbye, Ash.]"

"[Yeah, goodbye Ichigo.]"

And the attack impacts Ash in the back… and everybody stares in shock.

-Temporarily End Mind Read-

"No Ash!" Lady Ho-oh says as she wakes from her mental state of mind and nearly collapses.

"Lady Ho-oh what is it?"

"Ash's memory, I was reliving the match he had today…"

"Lady Ho-oh, have you seen the end of it yet?"

"No I stopped just as the attack hits him."

"That was not the end, I know it hurts to go back, but you must see the end of the fight."

Lady Ho-oh nodes and Latias help's her return to her feet, she returns to the bedside and continues her mind read.

-Reenter Mind Read-

Suddenly Ash disappears to the other side of the field with his back to Luxray.

"[What…no…]" Ichigo says as he tries to escape, but is too late due to the speed of the attack. It collides with him and paralyses his entire body while inflicting enormous amounts of damage, causing him to lose conscience.

"[Master!]" Wayne calls as he flies down to him to check on him.

Gym leader Ichigo is unable to continue battling, Ash is the winner.

The others simply sit in the stands with their mouths wide open and eyes wide.

A few seconds later Ash falls to his knees panting harder than he was previously.

"[Wow, took a lot more energy than I expected to pull that off…]"

"Ash!"

"[Wow that was some battle he did, and the lad didn't hold back for even a second, if he were to train a bit more…]"

"[Master?]"

"[Arg…]"

"[So, you alright there Ichigo?]"

"[Yeah I'll be fine, shows how when one slacks off for even a day it comes back to bite him in the ass.]"

"[Alright kid…I'll admit you've actually got spunk… even more than this idiot here, but you lack control…]"

Ash is still panting heavily.

"[Well then I guess I'll have to keep practicing and training…]"

"[Ya kid you do that…]"

"[Well now you've won your first match, now you have to face me and him in two days. I suggest you get some rest tonight and resume training tomorrow.]"

"[Hah…hah…yeah…will…do…]"

And both Ash and Ichigo collapse again, and Jiraiya calls in the Chansey, to get them into the nearby Pokémon center.

-End Mind Read-

And this time rather calmly Lady Ho-oh removes her hands and takes a deep breath before opening her eyes.

"So Lady Ho-oh do you understand now why I had you watch the last part?"

"Yes, Latias I do and I thank you for clearing that up for me…"

"Well, what do you think?"

"The boy has grown…I'll admit that much… but he still has a ways to go before he reaches his full potential."

Suddenly the little fighter awakens to the conversation taking place in front of him.

"[Hey guys could you keep it down, I'm trying to get some sleep…]" Ash said drowsily.

"Ash!"

"Ash!"

"So the little young warrior has awoken…

"Hey guys come quickly, Ash is awake now!"

Suddenly a horde of people burst through the door trying to squeeze into the small door way.

"Wait guys one at a…time!" Latias tries to say before everyone squeezes through and falls on top of her.

Lady Ho-oh drops her head in disgust while Rilou slaps his forehead in defeat.

"Alright everybody out!" Lady Ho-oh yells as she psychically surrounds everyone places them in a straight line and walks them out of the room.

"Alright now that I have your attention, you may see him two at a time." She finishes as she releases them.

"Yes'm…" they all reply quietly.

While the Pokémon are checking up on Ash, Misty is still in the café having lunch, while Brock is searching around for any berries he can find, while May and Blaziken are still training near the campsite and lastly Dawn is daydreaming outside the Pokémon center.

"[Hmm… I wonder how Nick is doing? Maybe I should give him a call… oop not a good idea as he probably wouldn't understand me anyway…]"*giggle

"Oh don't worry little lady, cause where you're going you ain't gonna need that!" Said a voice from behind her.

"[Huh?]"

"[AHHHHHH!] punny!" She screamed as they mysterious figure grabs and runs off with her in his arms.

"[Huh?]"

"Eh?"

"[What?]"

"Who?"

"Someone's in danger, everybody let's go!"

Latias, Lady Ho-oh, Misty and all the Pokémon in the center checking on Ash dart out the front door to see who screamed.

"Dawn?"

"[Where'd she go?]"

"She was just here a second ago…"

"No, master we have a problem!"

"What is it Flygon?"

"Lady Dawn has vanished!"

"What, I thought you were watching her!"

"I was but I saw a…um…berry and I haven't eaten since…"

"Oh Flygon…don't worry about it, what's done is done…can you track her?"

"Huh?"

"Can you pursue, or locate her whereabouts?"

Flygon tries to sniff around, but due to his current form he is unable to.

"Sorry master I cannot…"

"It's alright then, I'll send backup."

A window can be heard rolling down, with three Pokémon being released.

"Pidgeot, Espeon, and Raichu are on route they will be there shortly."

"Of course master…" replies Flygon before getting cut off.

"Flygon?"

"Flygon what's wrong?"

"I've…been…discovered…" he tries to say through the fact that he was being held in place by psychic.

*sigh, Nick replied

"And just who might you be?" Latias asked

"I'm…Flygon, a dragon Pokémon sent by…Master Nick…" he tried to reply

"What?" Latias replies startled dropping him from the psychic attack back onto the ground.

"Flygon let me speak to her; put me on speaker…I was afraid this was going to happen…"

"Yes…master…" Flygon replies struggling to get back up and tap his collar.

"Hello Latias…"

"Hello master Nick, just what brings your Pokémon out here today?"

"Well Latias I was having him look after Dawn while I was finishing up, I didn't want anything to happen to her as well."

"Well you did a bang up job, because now she's…"

"Yes I know she missing and I already have three tracking Pokémon on the way to find her!"

"Wow he reacts really fast!"

"How soon should they arrive?"

"They should be arriving right about now; I sent them with instructions about two minutes ago."

"We're here master…" a tall dark voice replies from behind Flygon.

"Pidgeot! Raichu! Espeon! It's been a while!" Flygon spouts

Everyone jumps about three feet back at the revelation. (Everyone that is except for Lady Ho-oh and Latias).

"Good timing you three, are you able to pick up her scent?"

The young adult in orange and yellow t-shirt and pants as well as the one with the lavender dress both look around, and take in their surroundings.

"It looks like it as the young ones are already walking the premises."

"Good work you guys, Latias leave the tracking down to my team just don't worry about it too much. And I'll have her back before you know it!"

"Alright Nick, but if she's not found and brought back by the time Ash has his battle (which is in two days by the way…), I will personally tell Ash and get every one of the Pokémon on it."

"Understood Latias…"

"You got that you guys, two days to find her! And I want her found before then!"

"Understood Master Nick!"

"Wow he has them trained well…"

"Keep me informed guys, and Latias if you can't reach me by phone just find Flygon or anyone of my scout team they will reach me guaranteed."

"Understood."

"Talk to you soon."

"Alright guys stay together now I don't want anyone else going missing", Pikachu says.

"Um… excuse me Lady Latias?" Pidgeot asks.

"Yes?"

"If I might ask could you be so kind to place your barrier around me and Flygon? I feel we shall be able to search better from the air."

"Um…heh…heh…sorry guys my psychic powers aren't that strong enough to do something of that level yet especially for two Pokémon over long distances…"

"Oh ok then, I'm sure we'll find some other way then…"

"I believe I might be able to be of some assistance…" Lady Ho-oh chimed in.

"Eh? But lady Ho-oh…"

"Don't worry darling… that sort of task is nothing for my power… it just has a limit…"

"How long mistress?"

"About 2 hours…"

"Two hours that will be more than enough, thank you very much." Pidgeot replies with a bow.

"You are most welcome, now if you two…"

"Of course...Flygon get over here!"

"Coming Pidgeot!"

"Now you two will feel a slight tingle over your body, just try to contain yourselves until I can finish…"

"Yes!"

"Alright little miss cutey pie you are mine and there is nothing you can do about it!"

"[Let go of me!]" She retorts as she bites him in the arm drawing a bit of blood.

"Oww! Why you little bitch!" He shouts knocking her in the head in retaliation knocking her unconscious.

She falls limp in his arms, and he drapes her over his back as he dashes through the forest at a very quick pace.

"Oop better be careful with this one, feels like she has a bit of luggage in her… sweet… he continues as he grins rather evilly."

Dawn has been kidnapped; just what has this obscure person have in store for her? Will Nick's scout troop be able to find her before it's too late? Find out next time on Events Unexpected!