Chapter 5: Some Sort of Homecoming
Author's Note: This is going to be a longer chapter so it might take me a little bit longer to write. On the good side, I've been getting my first chapters in quickly. So anyway, here's Chapter 5 of "A Once Great Friend."
Blooper Note: Just so everyone knows I am aware that the magnet train runs from Johto to Kanto. This is part of my fanfiction and I've decided it's the best way of short transportation as it travels over 300mph.
Two Days Later..
A voice came over the intercom in each room on the magnet train. "Attention all passengers, we are now arriving in Saffron City of the Kanto Region. All passengers must depart from the train within the next half an hour, as we need to get going on the next trip. Thank you for choosing us as your way of travel. We hope you have a great stay in the Kanto Region." The intercom powered off.
Ash was finishing packing his things as he heard a knock on the door. "Ash are you ready to go? We need to get going if we want to make it on time!" May was in a hurry and Ash was taking his precious time. "I'm coming May, just give me a second." Ash brushed his teeth and was packing his last items. He put everything away and picked his jacket up off of the chair he had set it on. After making sure he had all of his pokemon and his belongings he opened up the door and followed May through the corridor leading to the exit of the train.
May and Ash got off the train and they took in the fresh air of the busiest city in Kanto. "I haven't been here in years." Ash said. "Ash, I'd love to take in the air and go see everything, but if we're to make it to Pallet before Christmas we need to get going." Ash had a smirk cross his face. "I forgot to tell you May, we have a faster way of travel." "What are you talking about?" May was confused and had no idea what he was talking about. They created a distance from the train station as Ash didn't want to disturb anyone. "Alright this should be good." May didn't know what that meant and might have had a wrong idea cross her mind. Ash reached into his jacket and revealed a strange looking pokeball. "Salamence, I need your assistance." Were the words that escaped Ash's mouth. A red beam summoned the dragon pokemon and Salamence let out a deafening roar as he puffed tons of smoke out of his nose.
"So May, shall I take you to your destination?" Ash asked her. "Ash isn't this a little extreme?" Ash just shrugged it off and told her it was the fastest way if both of them were to make it to their cities on time. "Fine let's go" May wasn't the flying type and never enjoyed it. Ash laughed as he already seemed to know this prior to releasing Salamence. "So Vermilion it is." Ash hopped on Salamence's back and helped May up behind him. She wrapped her arms tightly around Ash's waist. "Salamence, take flight." The dragon pokemon let out another loud roar and released smoke as he flapped his wings taking to the air.
After a quick ride to Viridian City, Ash commanded Salamence to land so they could drop off May. "May, it was nice seeing you again." "You too Ash, I really missed you." She grabbed Ash's shoulder and leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon Ash. Stay in touch." She waved as Ash commanded Salamence and took off to the skies. May heard the deafening roar once again and knew it was not the last time she would see Ash.
"To Pewter City, Salamence." He just gave a snort of smoke in response. After an hour of flying, making idle conversation with his form of transportation, and taking in the view of Kanto's skyline Ash had made it above Pewter City. He scanned the area to find the gym and after a little bit of searching, without any trouble, he found it. "Land there" he told Salamence as he pointed to the gym. Ash dropped down off of Salamence. "Thank you, take a rest now." The dragon pokemon was returned to his pokeball. Ash knocked on the door of the gym and then instantly headed inside. He knew that Forrest had taken over the gym, but had learned a couple of days ago that Brock brought his breeding skills back to Pewter to help his brother by making the gym pokemon stronger. As he walked into the gym the first thing he saw was one pokemon charging at another, the other being the one and only Onix. Onix was being attacked by a Dodrio and had no problem taking the hits. Ash heard a familiar voice call out. "Onix use rock slide now!" The voice was none other than the gym leader Forrest. The rock slide was a direct hit and instantly knocked out the Dodrio. This left a sad look on the challenger's face, reminding Ash of how he himself used to feel. Forrest gave the challenger a speech and by the end of it, the challenger was more confident than before. The challenger was passed Ash as he was escorted out and to the pokemon center.
"Forrest!" Ash called out to him. "Ash, is that you? It's been so long, what're you doing here?" Ash explained that he was here to come home for the holidays and to spend a weekend at a tournament. "Interesting, interesting." Forrest said. Forrest motioned for Ash to follow him and brought him through a few hallways that led to a door to the outside of the gym. Forrest opened the door to reveal a familiar face caring for a load of pokemon. "Hey Brock, someone's here to see you." Forrest revealed Ash and Brock instantly went crazy. "Ash?! I knew you were coming, but not so early!" "Yeah sorry, I decided I would come in to surprise you a bit early. And to make sure I wasn't late." Ash's trademark grin crossed his face causing Brock and Forrest to laugh.
After an hour or so of catching up on each other's lives and adventures Ash was shown to the room where he would spend the night at the gym. The two said their goodnights as Ash was getting ready to sleep. Tomorrow would be big day.
After a long sleep, Ash awoke naturally and just took couple of deep breaths. Today was the day before Christmas. In other words, the day Ash would go home, to his mother's house, which would be full of longtime friends who were attending the annual Christmas party. Ash was feeling a little nervous. As Pikachu woke up Ash just greeted him. "Morning buddy." Pikachu smiled at him.