Well, here is the next chaper for me. Sorry for the wait, it's just that I've been alternating between my stories and I startde a whole new saga for my OC. and also here's the disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon and this will still be the case. In case I ever forget this, just remember that Pokémon is not mine.
Well, apart from those statements there's not much to be said. My original story will most likely be placed after Ash's battle with Trip but in that time there will be a number of 'updates' to the story so there you go. Also, instead of a preivew for my next story or other story that I'm writing I think that I'll have a little one-shot at the end. One of the updates will be one regarding the Hearts of Aura that appeared back in Chapter 4. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new chapter.
Solana sat in the aeroplane that was taking the Wellspring Cave taskforce to their location. The Pinwheel Forest taskforce had taken a different plane and currently, there were 10 people in the plane with her, a mixture of both the AJD (Aura Justice Department for those who forgot) and the Pokémon Rangers. Currently, she was talking into a communicator to one of the Rangers on the Pinwheel forest taskforce, a Ranger that she both knew and respected. They had worked together on numerous occasions before.
"This will be no walk in the park Solana." Warned the Ranger. "The Rangers don't usually deal with things like this so you need to be prepared." The Ranger who was talking was a Top Ranger, a type of Ranger that Solana aspired to be. He had brown hair, spiky in some parts and wore the standard Ranger outfit. (Solana will also have this outfit for the duration of the story).
"I know that Kellyn. You're not my mother." She countered with a smile. "Besides, the AJD that we're working with know these types of guys anyway." The man and the 'friend' listened into the conversation simply for the purpose to hear it. They had nothing better to do. They too had changed into the standard AJD uniform, a blue jacket and jeans. Their red shirt underneath the jacket was lined with gold streaks and the badge on their chest indicted their aura level. Both the man and the 'friend' had to badge reading VH. (Very high, duh.)
"I know that but still exercise caution." Solana nodded and held up her Capture Styler, grinning.
"Anyway, if any bad guys come, I'll just bang them around a bit with this." Said Solana as Kellyn laughed heartily.
"Yeah. Anyway, you'll be alone there. I don't think you know anyone on the taskforce?" Solana shook her head. She hadn't really thought about making friends while a serial killer was on the loose. Kellyn shrugged. "I guess I'm the same as you. But Unova though. If you're lucky you might..." Kellyn trailed off and looked off to the side of the aeroplane from where he was making the call.
"Kellyn?" asked Solana. "If I'm lucky what?"
Kellyn was drawn back to attention and looked at her with a grin. "I've heard that the Civilian is travelling in Unova right now."
"WHAT?!" blurted Solana. She wasn't the only one that reacted. Most of the Rangers in the plane started at the name the 'Civilian' and the other members of the AJD looked in surprise at the communicator that the Ranger was holding.
Kellyn nodded. "Yep. My previous assignment before this was in Kanto and the Gym Leader of Saffron told me when I asked her about them. She also blushed a lot..." said Kellyn as he rubbed the back of his head.
Solana blushed upon hearing this. Most people in the AJD and the Rangers had heard of the 'Civilian'.
A figure, the gender was unknown that assisted investigations when they felt like it. They weren't with any organisation nor had they a notable trainer rank like the Elite Four or Champion of a region, even though it was said that they had quite exceptional skills as a trainer. The term had popped up a few months ago and ever since then, it had stuck. Numerous people, all with their problems wanting to be solved by the 'Civilian' had swarmed the AJD and the Rangers with the hope of their help. Unfortunately, their identity was a closely guarded secret by the people who knew who it was. Solana and Kellyn were some of the few people who did know it.
Solana shook her head. "The chances of the Civilian appearing where we are going to be are extremely slim, very unlikely at best."
Kellyn shrugged. "Anyway whatever you say." This time he spoke with a quieter voice so that only he and she could here. "Besides, you'll know if he's near due to the fact that you gave him you Heart of Aura."
Solana's face turned red and she looked away from the communicator toward the window. Indeed, she had given her Heart of Aura to the Civilian. Being seen as a sign of affection was not the only thing that it could do though. If the parties involved in the Heart of Aura, the giver and recipient, had been separated for a long period of time, when the recipient were to return, the giver's chest would react to the presence. Apparently, a warm, pleasant feeling expanded in the chest and spread throughout the entire body. She had never experienced it though.
Solana exhaled, trying to force the blush on her face to calm down. When she thought that it was fine, she turned to Kellyn. "I know Kellyn. It's just that I think it'll be too dangerous, even for them."
Kellyn shrugged. "Maybe. But you have to remember that we haven't even seen what level his Aura is. What was the quote? Um... That's right." Said Kellyn as he remembered it. "To know how to hide one's ability is a great skill. And you and I have seen how skilful the Civilian can be."
Solana nodded at the statement. "See ya then." Said Kellyn. "And good luck." The communicator shut off. Solana put it on her lap and looked at it, remembering the conversation that she had just had before turning and looking out the window at the sea below her.
"The Civilian..." she murmured. Inside her head, she whispered the name of them.
Ash.
ACHOO! The sneeze echoed in the space where Ash had sneezed, around the edge of the town where he, Iris and Cilan had chosen to eat. The river near them and the bridge provided a quite soothing atmosphere. Well, apart from Ash's sneezing.
Ash sneezed and Iris pulled away the food that she had collected after Ash had complained so much.
"DON'T SNEEZE ON THE FOOD I WENT SO HARD TO COLLECT!" she yelled at him, her aura manifesting itself around her as she yelled at the boy.
"Sorry!" said Ash as anime tears rolled down his eyes. "I really am!"
Cilan looked on at the two from where he stood as he cooked. "You do realise that I'm cooking Iris?" he said. "You don't have to go collect food."
Iris picked up one of the 'berries on a stick' that she had 'made' and shrugged. "Doesn't matter. As long as it's good, I'll eat anything!"
"Yeah!" agreed Ash as he attempted to take one of the 'berries on a stick'. His attempt was foiled as an Aura Hand appeared and took the plate out of Ash's grip. Ash looked helplessly as the Aura Hand retracted to its source: Cilan.
"Now hold on Ash." He said. "I'm cooking quite a nice vegetable dish for you and Iris so you may as well wait for it."
Ash looked over to what Cilan was cooking and began to drool. "Vegetable...food..." he moaned with hunger earning a look of concern from Iris and Cilan.
"Pika pika!"
"Axew axew!" Pikachu and Axew protested as they looked at the food that Cilan had prepared for the trainer. Cilan turned to them.
"Don't worry." He said to them. "I've got food for you as well." He put the 'berries on a stick' down and reached for the Pokémon food next to the dish that was cooking. He picked it up with his Aura Hand and brought it over to the Pokémon. "I cooked it using Oran Berries!" he explained with enthusiasm.
Pikachu looked at the Aura Hand that was coming his way before he considered something. Cilan was using Aura to do a task that he could have done without using it. Pikachu figured that ash had known this and turned towards his trainer. He was looking at Cilan with an expression of thought. Pikachu recounted what Ash had said before the two of them had gone on their Pokémon journey: If aura is your life-force, when you use it, doesn't that mean that you're throwing it away?
"Pikapi..." said Pikachu as he looked at his trainer. Ash, not looking away from Cilan replied simply by saying "It's not proven, remember Pikachu?"
Although Ash said that to comfort Pikachu, his expression towards Cilan did not change. Both he and Pikachu knew that they couldn't prevent wither Iris or Cilan from using aura when it had become a habit of their entire life. But if Ash thought it was OK, then Pikachu did to.
He accepted his food with a "Pika!" of happiness, axew agreeing with an "Axew!"
"The food's ready!" reported Cilan from where he stood.
"Awesome!" said ash and was about to add something when he noticed to surprised expression on Iris's face. Ash was about to ask her what the problem was but noticed a Pokémon that was walking near the table. Cilan, upon hearing that Ash wasn't yelling up and down that the food was ready, turned and looked too, noticing the Pokémon.
"What's that?" asked iris, looking at the Pokémon but talking to Ash with the Pokédex.
Ash, thinking what he was thinking, pulled out his Pokédex and pointed it at the Pokémon.
"Darumaka, the Zen Charm Pokémon. While it is asleep, it uses its aura to remain upright. Darumaka can be pushed over from beings with a higher aura than them interacting with them and this is how they train; by using Pokémon with higher aura skills to push them over in order to increase their own aura." Said the Pokédex.
"A Darumaka!" said Ash as he listened to the Pokédex. Darumaka responded by saying its name and putting a hand behind its head.
Iris, upon realising that it was probably safe, went over to the Darumaka and touched its yellow eyebrows on its head. 'Wow!" she said. "Check out these eyebrows!" Darumaka, annoyed, and wanting to get the trainer away from it let loose flames at her face. As both her hands were occupied, there was nothing that as she could do as she was burnt. She coughed out smoke after the flames had died away.
She let go of Darumaka and went to treating her wounds with her aura while Cilan spoke up. "Darumaka is the type of Pokémon that's awfully persistent." He said, offering information not in the Pokédex.
Behind the two trainers, an unknown hand reached up and stole one of the Pokémon's food bowls. Pikachu, upon hearing the noise turned around. "Because of its persistence, many people think of it as good luck." Cilan continued.
"Really?" said Ash, surprised. He was about to comment on whether there was any Darumaka merchandise in the town near them when he heard the cry of Pikachu behind him.
"Pika pika!" it yelled.
"Axew ax axew!" responded Axew while shaking its head. Ash bent down to their level and spoke to Pikachu.
"Pikachu.' He asked the Pokémon. "What's up?" (It's still a direction people. And a movie.)
Pikachu pointed to the tray that Cilan had put in front of them and Ash gasped. "GAHH! Your food's gone!" he shouted. Pikachu nodded and pointed at Axew who was still shaking its head.
"Axew did it?" Ash asked as he confirmed Pikachu's accusation.
"Axew axew axe axew!" came the reply from the Pokémon.
"Axew said it didn't do it." Said Iris from near Darumaka.
"Pika pika pikachu!" countered Pikachu towards Iris.
"How about you Darumaka?" asked Ash. "Did you see anything?"
The group turned to Darumaka who had its eyes closed.
"Is it...asleep?" asked Ash as he approached Darumaka.
"It looks like it." Said Iris.
"Interesting." Said Cilan as he put a finger to his chin. "A mild fire Type Pokémon with an element of surprise."
Ash turned back from Cilan to the Darumaka. "And you can't knock it over unless you have a higher level aura than it right?" he asked. Cilan nodded from behind them, only for Iris to see.
"Is that so?" asked Iris. "Well then, my level is very high so if I..."
Her fingertip glowed blue as she brought it closer to Darumaka, only for Ash to grab her hand. She looked in surprise at Ash and blushed at the action that he had just taken.
"Wh-Wh-What are you doing?" she hissed.
Ash raised an eyebrow. "Your aura's definitely going to be more powerful." Said Ash. "After all, there aren't many wild Pokémon with the aura level of extremely high. And I don't think that Darumaka would like being woken up." Ash let go and Iris's fingertip stopped glowing blue.
"So...if I don't use my aura?" she asked and gave Darumaka a push using her fingertip. It swayed at the touch and then rocked back into position afterwards. Iris laughed at the action. "This is fun!" she said.
Again, the unknown hand reached up for the remaining bowl of Pokémon food. This time, Pikachu intercepted it by seeing the hand that took the food. Pikachu watched a Darumaka ran back behind the bushes near the table.
Axew, upon seeing that Pikachu's attention was diverted looked back, only to see that its food was gone!
"Axew!" it said, pointing at Pikachu. Pikachu held out its hands in front of it trying to explain but Axew leaped towards Pikachu, its claw glowing blue as it tackled Pikachu.
Upon hearing the commotion, Ash, Iris and Cilan turned to see Axew and Pikachu wrestling on the table, Axew's claws glowing blue with aura as it tried to swipe at Pikachu.
"Hey you guys!" said Ash as he and Iris tried to break them apart. But Axew's grip was too tight and its claws dug into Pikachu's face. Annoyed at Axew, Pikachu said "Pikaaaaaa..."
Ash upon realising what Pikachu was about to do yelled to both Iris and Cilan "Get down!" as he flung himself to the side. Iris and Cilan, not knowing what was going on did the same just as Pikachu let out a Thunderbolt. The bolts collided with Axe and as soon as it hit its claws, an explosion of air as the non-aura attack negated the aura attack occurred. Dishes flew in all directions and trees swayed in the wind. The sleeping Darumaka spun around like a top and the trainers all held their hands over their head as the wind that was produced kicked up dirt and bits of grass. The table with the vegetable dish on it swayed in the wind.
When the wind was over, Ash and Iris stood up and picked up their Pokémon, both who were blown away by the wind.
"What was that all about?" asked Ash to Pikachu.
Pikachu was about to answer before Iris spotted the tray where the Pokémon food had originally been. "Axew's Pokémon food is gone!" she said.
Axew nodded and pointed at Pikachu, saying "Axew axew."
"Pikachu did it?" asked Iris.
Pikachu shook its head and pointed at Darumaka.
"Darumaka did it?" asked Ash.
"That's not possible." Said Cilan as he shook his head. "Darumaka was asleep the whole time." Ash put down pikachu and walked towards the sleeping Darumaka.
"Darumaka, you have to wake up." He said as he pushed the Pokémon. It swayed at the touch, not waking up as Ash's aura wasn't powerful enough (or rather lack of aura). "Nope." Said Ash. "Darumaka's like a log."
Ash was about to try again when the group heard the sound of footsteps behind them. Turning, Ash, Iris and Cilan saw another Darumaka, one hand filled with the Pokémon food bowls and the other filled with the 'berries on a stick' that Iris had 'made.
"T-Two Darumaka?" asked Cilan as they saw the other Darumaka run away.
"Hey!" said Iris as she and Ash and Cilan chased after the Darumaka. Immediately after they had turned, the sleeping Darumaka woke up and jumped, using its aura to lift itself and sailed overhead, using Aura Flamethrower before either Iris or Cilan could use their aura to increase their speed.
The red flames with a blue outline hit the ground in front of the trainers and the Darumaka landed perfectly next to the other Darumaka. They both ran away without hesitation, their slow speed indicating that they could not use aura to increase their speed like Iris and Cilan. Taking advantage of this, Ash grabbed a Pokéball on his belt.
"Oshawott!" he said. "I choose you!" as he threw the Pokéball.
Oshawott appeared in a flash of light. "Water Gun!" said Ash to Oshawott. The Water Gun fired towards the Darumaka but they dodged it by using the stone wall of the bridge they were near as a foothold, using it to spring them off it.
The immediately countered, both using Aura Flamethrower that raced towards Oshawott.
"Dodge!" yelled Ash but the distance between the two was too close and the flames were travelling too fast. In addition, the Darumaka were increasing the speed of the flames using the aura. All of these things combined resulted in one thing: Oshawott not being able to dodge. The glowing blue flames engulfed Oshawott and it fainted.
Ash ran towards Oshawott and held the Pokémon in his arms. "Oshawott!" he cried. "Are you OK?"
Ash turned to the Darumaka who had leaped over the bridge and fled. Iris and Cilan approached Ash, Iris looking at Oshawott and Cilan looking at the escaped Darumaka.
"Poor Oshawott..." said Iris.
"Hmmm." Said Cilan. "Two Aura Flamethrowers like that will cause a lot of damage, even though one has the type advantage."
Ash stood up. "Anyway, we need to get to a Pokémon Centre."
Cilan nodded and pointed to the town that they were near to. "There should be one there."
Ash nodded. "Then let's go."
"Is my Oshawott going to be OK?" Ash asked the Nurse Joy at the desk.
She nodded. "Don't worry. I'm sure that it will be fine." She nodded towards the Audino holding the stretcher for Oshawott and Audino took it away. The only thing that Ash could do now was to hope that what Nurse Joy had said was true.
The cafe near the river of the same town wasn't lively. In fact in about 2 more hours, rush hour would happen. That meant that now, any activity in the cafe wouldn't attract any attention.
James put his cup down. He nodded towards Jessie and she nodded back to him. It was time to start.
Jessie snapped her fingers and a waiter, upon hearing it, approached the table. "A cappuccino." He ordered. "Make it rocket fast."
"Rocket fast?" asked the waiter in order to confirm. "Of course.' It didn't take long for them to receive the drink. They all looked into the drink and smiled. The cream inside was shaped just like a bridge. Message received. Jessie mixed around the cream, thus erasing all evidence of a message.
It was sunset when Oshawott was let out, having made a full recovery. Ash thanked Nurse Joy for her work and upon confirming whether or not Oshawott was alright, returned Oshawott to its Pokéball.
"Gosh!" said Iris. "This wouldn't have happened if those Darumaka hadn't run off with our food!"
"You met those two?" asked Nurse Joy, surprised.
"You know them?" asked Iris.
Nurse Joy nodded and looked outside. "They live inside the town, along with Darmanitan." She said. "Originally, they had a nice relationship with the townspeople, but this changed after the Darumaka started to steal people's food. The Darumaka always used to hang out with the Darmanitan but only the Darumaka steal the food."
"That happened to us too." Said Ash. "Oshawott tried to stop them and well..."
'Ah. So that was it." Said Nurse Joy.
"I reckon that the Darumaka must be really hungry. For them to steal food over and over again."
"I'm not really sure. But they never stole food before." Countered Nurse Joy.
"Well, something has to have changed for the Darumaka. Otherwise they wouldn't steal." Said Cilan, warning a nod from Ash.
Iris looked outside at the sunset before something caught her eye. She ran to the window and pointed at it. "What's that?" she asked Nurse Joy. Ash, Cilan and Nurse Joy all looked in the direction that Iris was pointing.
"The clock tower?" asked Nurse Joy. 'It's one of the oldest buildings in town. In fact the clock and bell no longer work. Because it doesn't work anymore, the town council has decided that it will be torn down soon."
"Awww." Whined Iris. "That's too bad. It looks so nice."
Nurse Joy nodded but Ash kept on looking at the clock tower. Although it was faint, he could see a faint blue mist coming from the top of the tower. Since no-one else had mentioned anything about it, he figured that his aura perception was letting him see it. Aura. Something at the top of the clock tower was producing a lot of aura. But what was it?
Ash's stomach rumbled. He rubbed the back of his head, earning chuckles from Iris and Cilan. Pikachu just glanced at his trainer. "Sorry" Ash apologised. "I haven't eaten since our food got stolen."
Nurse Joy laughed. "Oh my." She said it a smile.
"That's right." Said Cilan. "Because the Darumaka stopped us from eating, we haven't had lunch yet. And it's almost time for dinner!"
"Then I guess we'll stay here for tonight." Said Iris. "And have dinner ASAP!"
"DINNER!" yelled Ash with excitement and cries of agreement from Pikachu and Axew.
While Pikachu and Axew were eating the Pokémon food that they had neglected to eaten because of the Darumaka, Ash was stabbing the croquets in front of him with vigour. Iris, next to him was doing the same and the two went through the pile of croquets in front of them like they would run away if not eaten immediately.
"So tasty!" said Ash, with his mouth full as he went for another one, swallowing them whole. Iris, next to him was doing the same. "One of the best that I've ever eaten!" she said before stabbing another croquet and eating it.
Cilan in front of them laughed at the scene. His plate only had 6 on it but somehow he felt he lost his appetite from seeing his two companions go at it with vigour. "You know, I have to say that you two are quite alike."
The two paused and looked at him.
"Wait, are you saying that I act like her?"
"Wait, are you saying that I act like him?" they both said in unison but it was clear who was more effected by it. Iris's face was bright red and she had unintentionally used her aura to project her voice, one of the croquets at the top of the stack flying towards Cilan and hitting him in the face. Cilan sweatdropped and let out a nervous laugh as the croquet fell off his face.
Iris was about to say something else but didn't get the chance to as Nurse Joy appeared from the doorway. "As there is a full moon tonight, dessert will be Moon Watch Dumplings!" Enthusiastic cries came from the other trainers in the room and Ash stood up.
"I'll help you hand them out." He said.
Nurse Joy led him, with Iris and Cilan tagging along to the room where the dumplings were placed. The automatic door opened and the four saw the Pokémon they had seen earlier.
"The Darumaka!" cried Ash.
"Not again!" said Iris. The two of them ran forward to intercept one of the Darumaka, Ash electing to run while the Darumaka escaped while Iris let out an outstretched Aura Hand. In order to counter it, the Darumaka that was not holding the bag of dumplings let out an aura Flamethrower. It collided with the hand, resulting in an eruption of sound like glass cracking and was successful in halting it but it was clear that the Aura Hand had the upper...um ...hand.
Iris smiled to herself that meant that the Darumaka probably had an aura level of high at most due to the fact that there was resistance but not enough. Sure enough, the Aura Hand broke through the aura Flamethrower, the sound of glass cracking filling the air as Darumaka aura was 'broken'.
However, the Darumaka had slipped away and ran out the window that the other Darumaka had done as well. Ash reached the window first and watched as the Darumaka escaped. Reaching for a Pokéball, he threw it, saying "Pidove, I choose you!"
The Pokéball burst open, revealing the Pokémon with a cry of "Pidoooove!"
"Follow the Darumaka!" he said the Pidove as he jumped out the window.
"Ash!?" exclaimed Iris as she watched. "What are you doing?"
Ash glanced back at Iris. 'There has to be a reason as to why the Darumaka are stealing food!" Ash ran off saying back to Pokémon Centre window: "And I'm gonna find out why!"
Back in the window, Iris and Cilan watched the trainer run off before turning to each other and nodding.
Pidove sailed after the Pokémon, Ash chasing after them. Behind him, he heard fast footsteps and saw Iris and Cilan racing towards him, their speed accelerated with their aura. Glad that his friends were helping he looked forward and saw that there was a fork in the road. One Darumaka took the left turn, the other the right.
Pidove turned and chased after the one of the right, the one with the dumplings. "I'll go this way!" shouted Ash to the others behind him and turned to corner. As they saw Ash do so, Iris said to Cilan: "I'll go right!"
Cilan nodded and replied: "Then I'll go left." As they reached the corner, Cilan turned left and raced on while Iris raced after Ash. (I find it ironic how I've made Cilan a fast runner and Cilan's voice actor in the English, Jason Griffith voices Sonic the Hedgehog. Does anyone else think that's ironic?)
Ash chased after the Darumaka, hearing the steps of one of his friends behind him. Looking at the Darumaka, he noticed that it was the one holding the dumplings. That meant that this Darumaka had more to lose than the other. Ash noted this as he chased after the Darumaka, remembering to be more cautious. He focused his eyes, in case Darumaka were to let loose an Aura attack. Sure enough, when he focused his eyes, he saw it. A faint blue mist was gathering in front of the Darumaka. Ash couldn't tell where it was gathering but he guessed the mouth, because the only attack he had seen Darumaka use was Aura Flamethrower. That meant that sooner or later, Darumaka was going to attack and Ash felt that it would be sooner.
The footsteps behind him got closer just as the Darumaka in front of him jumped up. If Ash called Pidove to attack, the Darumaka would likely be captured and that was something that Ash didn't want. Capturing the Darumaka would not tell him why they were stealing. So he would just have to dodge. Pidove would continue its following of Darumaka, Ash knew that. He had faith in his Pokémon.
Then the problem lied with the person behind him. As there were fast footsteps, the person behind him, either Iris or Cilan, would most likely be hit with the Aura Flamethrower. Unlike when Iris had been hit with the flames before in a playful manner, this attack would be serious. Unlike when a Pokémon wasn't serious, they wouldn't subconsciously hold back. Ash knew that Pokémon subconsciously held back from all the times he had been attacked by Charizard, Gible, Glalie and Muk. They had hurt but they hadn't hurt enough to cause any lingering pain. But this attack would be different. Either Iris or Cilan would be seriously hurt. And Ash wouldn't have that. So all he had to do was stop them.
The Darumaka had turned in mid air, ready to fire the Aura Flamethrower. Ash too turned in order to stop the person running behind him. It was Iris and she was looking at the Darumaka in the air, not at the boy in front of her. Ash ran towards her, ready to tackle her to the ground. As far as he knew that was the only way that he could stop her. If it was a balance of running into someone or being exposed to an Aura Flamethrower, the choice was obvious.
Iris saw as the distance between her and Ash was getting smaller drastically. In fact, she saw that Ash was running toward her! She didn't have time to react as Ash rammed into her and her into him. Pikachu leaped off Ash's shoulder before he collided, trusting his trainer with what he was doing, although sometimes Ash did act very rash. He had even been told that via Anabel.
Ash was pushed back, Iris's momentum having more force that his but iris fell as well, the only thing that she could do as he had tackled her.
"What are you-?" yelled Iris at Ash just in time for Darumaka's Aura Flamethrower to be unleashed. Now that the target had moved, Darumaka had no intention to go out of its way to attack them. Besides, both pursuers were on the ground so they no longer posed a threat.
On the ground, Iris was looking at the flames that were sailing above her and Ash. Had she kept on moving, she would have definitely been burnt. No question about it. But now that she was on the ground with Ash on top of her, the only thing that she felt was the heat of the flames. If anyone were to getting more damage it would be Ash on top of her.
She looked at him, who was looking out of the corner of his eye towards the flames with the blue outline. They stopped abruptly as Darumaka fled, turning the corner. Ash turned to look at Iris. "Are you OK Iris?" he asked.
Iris nodded and was about to say something when she realised the position she was in. Both on them on the ground with Ash on top and her on the bottom. If someone were to see them like this...
Her face turned a bright red and she stumbled with her words but was interrupted with a "Pikapi!" from Pikachu. Ash got up immediately and ran towards Pikachu, Pikachu hopping onto his shoulder.
"Right!" he said. "Which way Pikachu!?" Pikachu pointed and Ash ran off, leaving Iris on the ground with a red face. She stared at the boy, her mind blank about what had just happened. What were they chasing again? She had completely forgotten. It came to her as fast as she had forgotten it. The Darumaka!
She got up again and was about to lessen the distance between her and Ash using her aura but after what had just happened she voted against it. She ran after him normally.
They turned the corner that Pikachu had said to and saw nothing in the dark passageways of the town. Ash and Iris looked around, breathing heavily but they couldn't find anything. Darumaka was gone.
On the other side of town, Cilan breathed heavily looking around. "It got away" he said to himself but looked around some more for any traces of the Pokémon. There were none.
It wasn't for another few minutes that Ash and Iris met up with Cilan. "Cilan!" Ash cried. "did you catch Darumaka?" he asked.
Cilan shook his head. "Sorry. I lost it. They were pretty fast. I couldn't even catch up to my one using my aura to speed myself up." He reported.
"Ours gave us the slip as well." Said Iris.
"Well then where did they go?" asked Ash as he looked around. There was a flapping sound near the group and a cry of "Pidove!" causing all the trainers to look up at a nearby streetlight. Pidove was lying there and when it attracted the attention of the trainers it pointed to its left.
All the people looked in that direction and saw the clock tower that Nurse Joy had pointed out to them early that day. Rather though it was not the clock tower but rather the things walking into it.
The Darumaka.
"There they are!" said Ash as he ran towards them, Iris and Cilan following suit.
The moon was reflected on the water underneath the bridge. The Team Rocket trio stood there awaiting.
"HQ must be very alert." Noted James. "It was quite an unusual way to send or rendezvous."
Jessie nodded. "This mission is of utmost importance. There caution is necessary."
"But where's the contact?" wondered Meowth. "They should be here by now."
True to Meowth's word, in the distance a figure approached. It walked towards then and proceeded to go past but stopped short, standing right next to Jessie.
"Cold isn't it?" asked the figure, a woman.
"Yes." Came the reply. "It makes me want to have a nice warm cappuccino." Said Jessie. (Good for you Jessie. Good for you.)
"Your new item." Said the woman as she dropped the briefcase that she was holding.
"Our orders?" asked James.
"Go to Nacrene City. Your new assignment will be there." Said the woman as she walked off.
"The future of Team Rocket now lies with us." Said Meowth as the wind blew against their faces.
Ash, Iris and Cilan looked up at the clock tower. Although it was just a flash, Ash could have sworn that he saw the shapes of two red Pokémon hopping up the steps of the tower. He gritted his teeth and went after them.
He entered the clock tower and immediately saw the steps that led up. but before he ran up them, he noticed the faint blue mist inside the tower. He remembered how there had been something at the top causing aura to flow out but to think that it reached even the bottom floor! whatever was causing the aura to flow had either been here a long time or was extremely powerful. focusing on catching the Darumaka, he ran up a spiral staircase that reminded him of the Space-Time Tower in Alamos Town and he lowered the gap between them.
"Come back!" he yelled up the staircase. The Darumaka looked back and panicked upon seeing the trainer and his friends as they ran towards them. They continued the chase up the tower until they reached an opening where the staircase stopped and it opened up into a flat area, one of the walls lined with gears for the now-broken clock.
On the wall opposite Ash was the staircase that led to the next floor, a wooden one unlike the stone spiral ones that he had just climbed. The faint, blue mist had gotten denser up here but judging by the fact that neither Iris nor Cilan was complaining, he guessed that they couldn't see it. Then it must have been aura. He waved his hand around, the blue mist slightly dispersing allowing him to see well. It was thick but he could still see. As such, he looked around, not seeing any Pokémon in sight. He wondered if they had gone up to the next floor and was about to check it out when he heard movement behind him. Turning, Ash saw that the two Darumaka had hidden in one of the roof's corners and had taken the opportunity to attack him with Aura Flamethrowers.
Dodging by rolling away (what kind of ninja is he?) , Ash looked at the Darumaka, who had missed. "Why are you doing this?" he demanded. Iris and Cilan had come from the hole in the floor as well as were looking at the Darumaka.
While her attention was focused on the Darumaka, Cilan turned around to see if Ash was alright and saw the imposing threat. "Ash!" he yelled. "Behind you!"
Ash looked behind him and saw that the Aura Flamethrowers had resulted in the staircase behind him to burst into flame. Acting quickly, Ash reached for Oshawott's Pokéball, throwing it while saying the command, "Put out the fire!"
Oshawott appeared and immediately fired its Water Gun to put out the fire. As this happened, Ash saw 4 Aura Hands appear from either side of him and watched as they patted out the flames. He turned and nodded in thanks towards Iris and Cilan who had done so. When the fires died down, the staircase leading to the next floor fell in a crumple of burnt wood.
Taking advantage of the opportunity again, the Darumaka jumped and sent more aura Flamethrowers at Ash. Turning at the threat behind him, Ash called his next attack. "Thunderbolt Pikachu!"
Pikachu leapt from Ash's shoulder and with a "Pikaaaaa!" let loose a Thunderbolt that collided with the two aura Flamethrowers. The collision led to an explosion of air, blowing away Pokémon, people and the remains of the staircase as well as the aura that had collected on that floor. Now that the aura had cleared, ash could get a better look at the threat.
The Darumaka had been thrown back a tiny bit from the blast, as had Pikachu. That meant that ash could attack again. "Oshawott!" he called. "Water Gun!" Oshawott complied with a cry of "Oshaaaa!", the Water Gun hitting the Darumaka as a direct hit. They cried out as they hit the back wall and as the attack ended, the Darumaka fell to the floor in their sleeping positions.
"Ash! Are you OK?" Asked Iris as she went over to where Ash was, followed by Cilan.
"I'm fine." He replied. The group looked at the Darumaka who were swaying slightly from the Water Gun before.
"They're both asleep again." Said Iris.
"It must be how they both recover from that attack of Oshawott's." Sad Cilan. Ash and Iris turned to Cilan and nodded, understanding what he meant. That meant that right now, they weren't a threat. Cautiously, the group approached the Darumaka but as fast as they had gone to sleep, they were awake again and leaped into the air.
They landed behind the group and looked ready to start another fight. Focusing his eyes, Ash saw that small amounts of aura were gathering at their mouths. Aura Flamethrowers were charging and almost ready. Ash ran forward, no longer focusing his gaze with his hands in front of him.
"Hang on, you guys!" he said. "We're not here to fight with you!"
"Yeah!" said Iris. "We just wanna be friends!"
The Darumaka looked at each other and communicated wondering what they should do.
"The only reason as to why we followed you was because we wanted to know why you're stealing food." Cilan explained.
In response, the Darumaka ran over to the hole in the floorboards above them and pointed at it rapidly. Ash walked over to where they were pointing and saw that above them was another bunch of floorboards.
"You want to get to the next floor?" asked Ash which resulted in the Darumaka nodding in a fast manner. He smiled at them. "Alright then! No worries! Cilan, came you help me get up there?" he asked his friend.
Cilan nodded bending down so that Ash could ride on his shoulders. Ash stood on them and wobbled a bit as Cilan stood up but he was supported by Iris as she sent out an Aura Hand to support him. "
Thanks Iris." Said Ash as Cilan stood up even higher. Ash reached but it was still not enough.
"I need to be higher" he told Cilan. Cilan nodded and using his aura, created a step that he stood on. Now that his height was higher, Ash reached for the ledge and grabbed it, pulling himself up with difficulty.
Once he was up, he looked down at Cilan. "Thanks a lot Cilan." He said to which Cilan responded with a "No problem Ash."
Now that he was on the higher ground, Ash reached for one of his Pokéballs, calling for Snivy as he did so. "Alright Snivy! Use your Vine Whip to get everyone up here!"
Snivy did as it was told; first lifting up Pikachu and the Darumaka but it struggled when it came to Cilan and Iris's turn. Realising that Snivy did not have the strength at the present moment to lift up two people, he looked down at them with an apologetic look.
"Sorry guys." He said. "But Snivy can't manage it now."
Iris shook her head. "Don't worry. We have our aura." She said as she reached for the ledge with an Aura Hand and used it to pull herself up. Cilan did the same and upon realising that Snivy's talents were no longer needed. He recalled her.
When Iris and Cilan were both up with Ash, he asked them: "Are you sure it's OK? Haven't you reached your Limit?"
The Limit was a very important thing for an aura user, i.e. everyone. It was the maximum amount of aura one could use in a day and if one were to go past that, it usually had devastating consequences. In extreme cases it was not uncommon for someone who had gone past their limit to faint from exhaustion or die.
Iris waved her hand nonchalantly. "It's fine. Both Cilan and I have a level of very high. We won't pass our Limit soon anyway. But seriously though." She said fanning herself. "Did it get hotter in here?"
Cilan nodded and looked above him. "It seems to be coming from the ceiling."
Ash nodded and followed the Darumaka as they went up the staircase near them heat wasn't the only thing that was coming from the ceiling. Ash could clearly see that the blue mist here was much thicker than downstairs. It flowed out the windows partly, though the gaps and Ash moved to open them so that the mist could flow out and he could see well. Whatever was above them, it was producing massive amount of aura and heat.
Ash walked up the stairs and looked to his left, gasping at what he saw. In the centre of the room was a Pokémon, its body glowing both red and blue as it gave off the heat and aura in the room. The aura flowed out of its body like a liquid, going everywhere. He saw a window that was on his right and moved to open it before looking at the Pokémon. A faint breeze drifted into the room.
Ash got out his Pokédex and pointed it at the new Pokémon.
"Darmanitan, the Blazing Pokémon and the evolved form of Darumaka. Darmanitan switches from Standard Mode to Zen Mode when it has little energy left and also uses the change to increase its aura powers."
Ash put down the Pokédex and looked at the Darmanitan. Judging from the Pokédex pictures, this Darmanitan was now in Zen Mode. "This must be the Darmanitan that hangs out with Darumaka." Said Ash.
"Hmmmmm." Said Cilan from Ash's right. "If I remember, Standard mode increases Darmanitan's strength and Zen Mode increases its psychic abilities."
Iris backed away from the heat that Darmanitan was giving off. "It's so hot in here because of Darmanitan." she complained, wiping her brow with her sleeve. Cilan nodded in agreement, doing the same.
The Darumaka opened the sack that they had stolen the Moon Watch Dumplings in and when it was opened, the dumplings glowed faintly with a blue glow and headed towards the open Darmanitan's mouth. "That's aura Psychic!" exclaimed Ash. "And since Darmanitan is eating the food then the Darumaka must have been stealing the food in town for Darmanitan!"
"Indeed." Said Cilan. "And that must be what's causing the heat as well. Due to Darmanitan using Aura Psychic again and again, the heat from its flame sack is leaking out." Ash nodded. What Cilan said also explained why there was so much aura in the air. Darmanitan had to keep on burning aura in order to overload with it. Thankfully, the accumulated aura had flown out of the room so it was a faint mist that was left behind but Ash could still see clearly.
Iris frowned. "There's one thing I don't get though." She said. "I thought that Darmanitan switched to Standard Mode from Zen Mode after it recovered."
"Yeah." Agreed Cilan. "All that eating must have made it recover by now."
"Then why is it still in Zen Mode?" asked Ash. As if to answer his question, the Darumaka came over and handed Ash something. "What's this." he asked. It was a large metal hook in shape, one end hooked while the other was straight.
"A hook?" asked Cilan. Ash looked for the Darumaka for an explanation and they pointed to the top of the clock tower. Ash stood up to get a better look and noticed something off.
"What's up with the bell?" he asked.
"It's-it's floating!" said Cilan in surprise. Ash and Iris looked at it in more detail in what Cilan said proved to be true. Darmanitan must be using aura Psychic to keep it in the air." He said.
Ash focused his eyes looking at the bell. Indeed, there was a faint radiation of aura coming from the bell itself although if he hadn't focused his eyes, Ash knew that he wouldn't have been able to see it.
"But why do that?" asked Iris.
Cilan looked at the situation and analysed it. "Let's see now." He said. "If the bell were to fall, its wait, as well as the dodgy conditions of the floorboards would have caused the whole structure of the clock tower to be destroyed. Darmanitan moist have caught that in order to prevent that from happening. And when it ran out of energy, Darmanitan had to switch to Zen ode and use Aura Psychic to prevent the bell from falling." Cilan explained. "And in order to keep Darmanitan's strength up, the Darumaka must have stolen in order to make up for its lack of food."
Ash bent down and looked at the Darumaka. "Is that right?" he asked them to which they nodded with sad expressions.
"Well..." said Iris. "Although stealing is bad, I have to say that you did great. This definitely wouldn't have been easy."
Then, the group felt the temperature increase. The change was so notable that the group looked at Darmanitan in surprise. "This is bad!" said Cilan. "Darmanitan's heat might burn through the floor at this rate!"
"Oh yeah?" said Ash as he stood up and stepped forward. "Not on my watch! First we have to fix the hook and then free Darmanitan!" he explained to Iris and Cilan earning "Right!" from both of them.
"Alright then, Tepig I need you!" said Ash while Cilan chose his own Pokéball. "Pansage, we do too!"
Both Pokéballs burst open revealing their respective Pokémon. "Alright Tepig!" cried Ash as he threw the hook into the air. "I need you to use Ember on the hook!" Tepig complied and shot the flames out of its nose towards the hook, engulfing it but not making it hot enough to warp.
It fell to the ground, utterly useless. Ash gritted his teeth and Darmanitan's body let out another burst of flames.
"Ash!" cried Cilan. "We need to hurry!"
The two Darumaka saw what the trainer was trying to do and nodded to each other. They stepped forward at Ash.
"You guys want to help as well?" he asked to which the Darumaka responded with a "Darumaka daru!"
"Alright then!" said Cilan. 'Pansage, throw up the hook!" Pansage, who had picked up the hook when it fell to the ground, threw it up into the air. Tepig, saying its name as it did so, let loose another Ember on the hook. This time, the Darumaka helped as well, letting loose two Aura Flamethrowers that engulfed the hook. When the flames died down, everyone saw that the hook was now glowing a bright red.
"Cilan!" cried Ash to Cilan.
"I know!" He said. "Pansage, use Aura Bullet Seed on the hook!" Pansage let out the seeds that glowed blue out of its mouth towards the hook, each one striking it and thus changing its shape from a hook to an 'S' shape.
"Excellent!" remarked Cilan. "Now for the final ingredient!"
"Right!" said ash as he reached for another Pokéball. "Oshawott, use Water Gun on the hook!" Oshawott did so and the Water Gun hit the hook, cooling it off immediately. It fell to the ground where Pikachu picked it up with a "Pikachu!"
"Alright now!" said Ash. "Now to put on the hook!" Almost as if to respond to Ash's plea, Ash and Pikachu's bodies glowed blue as they were lifted off the ground.
"It's Aura Psychic!" said Iris as she watched as Ash and Pikachu floated up towards the bell. Ash turned toward Pikachu for the hook and took it off the Pokémon, hooking it onto the bar where it was supposed to go.
Using the hook as an extension, Ash reached for the hook, grunting as he fell short. "Come on!" he said as he reached again.
"Use your aura Ash!" yelled Iris.
"I don't an aura ability where I can use Aura Hands like you guys!" Ash replied, telling them truth but not the whole truth about him being an Aura Zero. He grunted again as he reached but again he fell short.
That's was when Darmanitan's flames went out. The Aura Psychic on the bell, Ash and Pikachu stopped and they fell, Ash and Pikachu crying out in surprise. But for Darmanitan, the transition was instantaneous. With effortless grace, it changed Modes and grabbed the bell.
"It's in Standard Mode!" said Ash. With a grunt, Darmanitan threw up the bell into the air, with Ash and Pikachu still hanging on the sides and leaped around the clock tower using its aura in order to grab the bell.
Ash, Iris and Cilan all looked in amazement at the power that the Standard Mode held. Dropping down from the bell, Ash looked to Darmanitan saying:"Thanks a lot for saving us. Can you put the bell on the hook now?" Darmanitan nodded and went to work.
Ash stepped back as Darmanitan put the bell on the hook that they had made. Iris and Cilan were also watching in amazement at the sheer strength of the Pokémon. But still, it appeared that it was taking a lot of strength for the Pokémon to put the bell of said hook.
But something struck Ash as odd. Nothing wrong with the scene in front of him but rather around him. He couldn't tell what it was but he could tell. He turned around, feeling the wind on his face from the window blowing on his face. Iris and Cilan smiled at him and he smiled back but them he noticed it. The floor beneath his two friends. It was a bright red in colour. The heat produced from when Darmanitan was resting must have weakened the floorboards. The surprise of the fall would be so sudden that they wouldn't be able to react as quickly as they might and also the suddenness would cause them to possibly fall through any floors below them, onto the staircase that they had just climbed. They would tumble down the stairs and get seriously hurt. Or worse.
Ash ran towards the two, who looked at him in surprise, just as the old, wooden floor beneath them cracked and broke and Iris and Cilan fell.
Ash, who was standing closest to them, shoved his hands forward like an Ekans (see what I did there?) and caught the hands of his friends before they fell. They hung above the floorboards and then looked up at Ash who was scrunching up his face from the mere weight of his friends. If Snivy wouldn't do it how was he supposed to? The two were right above the hole in the floor that led down the floor below that one, the one where Darumaka had burnt the staircase.
There was a click behind Ash as he heard Darmanitan click the bell into place. Ash sweated as he held his friends in place above the floor. Although they could use their aura to save themselves there was no need for that. Because if they used their auras, even though they would be saved, they would reduce their life-force. And that was something that Ash was definitely against.
""Ash..."" said both Iris and Cilan as they looked up at their friend. They couldn't imagine the strain that his arms were feeling right now.
"Don't worry you guys." Said Ash. "I got you." The statement, filled with the determination of Ash left a blank silence. There really was nothing to be said.
And when Ash felt the grip of Darmanitan on his arms, he didn't resist when Darmanitan pulled Iris and Cilan up. Ash exhaled when his arms were free from the pressure, leaned against the wall and smiled at Cilan and Iris.
Neither smiled back. He had just held up both of them for a short time but even then, he hadn't let go. Even though he probably knew that they could have used their auras to save them, he had still never let go.
With a struggle and help from Pikachu, Ash stood up and looked on at the Darmanitan and Darumaka. "Thanks you guys." He said. "That's twice you saved us."
Darmanitan nodded and the Darumaka went over to where Ash, Cilan and Iris were standing.
"Daru maka maka darudaru!" they said in excitement.
Cilan turned to the Pokémon and smiled. "They look so happy. I wonder what they're saying." Asked Cilan.
"Well, I'd say that they're thanking us." Said Iris with a smile.
Ash nodded and bent down, grunting silently to himself as he did so and patted his hands on the Darumaka's heads. It hurt immensely but he endured it. "And for you guys, try not to steal anymore OK?"
The Darumaka put their hands behind their head and so did Darmanitan in a make-shift apology. They all laughed at that.
The next morning, Ash and Cilan rubbed their eyes. They were still tired from last night (the reason will be explained in the one-shot) but Ash still had the enthusiasm to tackle today with everything he had. Iris, however, had managed to get a good night's sleep.
"Time to get ready for another day!" said Ash with a cry.
"Hang on please!" said a voice from behind the group. They all turned to see Nurse Joy running towards them.
"Nurse Joy!" said Ash in surprise. "What is it?"
"The clock tower won't be torn down. The town council revoked its decision!" she said with a smile.
"Oh?" asked Ash. "So what happens now?"
"Well, the town council decided on something different. The clock tower will be maintained and rebuilt." She said.
"That's great!" said Iris while Ash and Cilan let out chuckles of joy. Somehow, their tiredness had disappeared when they had heard the good news.
"yes." Said Nurse Joy. "And also, because the Darmanitan and Darumaka protected it, the town council stated that they could live there as long as they like!"
"Brilliant!" Said Cilan. "I have to say that both Pokémon and people will be satisfied with an ending like that. What flavour!"
Ash laughed as he caught sight of what was in the distance. Ash, Iris and nurse Joy looked at him as he looked and pointed at the clock tower. They too looked at the clock tower and saw the Pokémon that they had befriended just before.
Darmanitan and Darumaka were on the edge of the clock tower, waving towards them.
Ash ran forward, and cupping his hands to his mouth in the hope of making his voice louder he shouted. "Darumaka and Darmanitan!? That's great news! Enjoy it!"
"Now you guys take care of each other!" said Iris as she increased the volume of her voice using her aura.
Cilan also yelled but as he couldn't increase his voice using aura he shouted. "Until we cross paths again!"
Ash smiled to himself and turned to Nurse Joy. "Thank you Nurse Joy." He said. "That really helped me get over my lack of sleep!" ash turned to Cilan who was nodding.
Nurse Joy chuckled. "Indeed." She said. "My lack of sleep was also cured when I heard the news."
Iris tilted her head. "Lack of sleep?" she asked them. Ash and Cilan glanced at her and let out a laugh before turning around and waving goodbye to their new friends.
"Nacrene City, here we come!" shouted Ash.
The 'friend' rubbed his chin. The Civilian was definitely a problem. He had heard that they had even destroyed 3 teams; two in the Hoenn and one in Sinnoh (guess which). Regardless, even if by some remarkable coincidence he met up with him, he would expect the civilian to have lots of aura. Even if he didn't he could state that the Civilian was the Aura Taker. That would get him into the top ranks of the AJD for sure.
The 'friend' smiled to himself.
If the Civilian came along...
Looked like he had found his next target.
Well, that was that. Finito! What did you think of Ash's rank of the Civilian? And the BackViewingShipping. that is Ash x Solana? You have to remember that he's done a lot for the Pokémon world. So naturally, he would have a legendary status. Of course, that's just a title. I don't know if I'll expand on it or not but we'll see.
As for the quote that Kellyn said "To know how to hide one's ability is a great skill" is a quote that was said by François de la Rochefoucauld. Wikipedia it.
Also, I have asked numerous times but someone update the Bulbapedia NegaiShipping hints!
Anyway, here is an update on Cilan:
Cilan
Aura level: Very high
Aura abilities: Uses aura to analyse a connection with a trainer and their Pokémon
Uses aura to create shields
Uses aura to create physical objects like fists and platforms
Uses aura to distinguish and memorise smells
Uses aura to help close wounds
Uses aura to run faster and leap higher
Anyway, as promised, here is the one-shot. this will contain NegaiShipping although if you think that it contains more than the fanfiction itself, well then I hope you're satisfied.
Iris couldn't get to sleep. Somehow, the events of mere 2 hours ago (the events of the fanfiction) had merely escaped the memories of her two companions and they had fallen to sleep.
Although she was concerned about Ash's arms, as was Cilan, he had merely brushed it off as something that would be over in the morning. (If you are wondering, his arms are OK by the end of the fanfiction)
She too was tired but something that Cilan had said before they had chased the Darumaka and something that had happened during the chase had kept her awake.
"You know, I have to say that you two are quite alike."
That thing shouldn't have annoyed her yet it did. There was no way that she was like Ash. In terms of experience, she had more (this is just in Iris's view due to Ash's actions. We ALL know the real truth) and Ash was just a kid. I mean, throwing a Pokéball at a person, only a kid would do that! There was no way that she was like him.
While she had her own bunk bed to herself, she was sleeping on the bottom while no-one was sleeping on the top. (A bed with a ladder, Doctor Who reference). She glanced over to the adjacent bed. Cilan was on the top in his pyjamas and mumbling something about "magnificent flavours! You and your Pokémon have one of the best combinations since..." he then compared people and Pokémon to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What about people with peanut allergies she thought but her view was on the bottom bunk, where Ash was sleeping in his pyjamas with Pikachu. A yellow aura surrounded him, probably because of the APS (Aura Protective system-reference to Chapter 1). It was strange for it to be yellow because the standard colour for aura was blue. So why was it yellow?
Currently, Iris could see Axew's APS around her and it was blue. So why was Pikachu's yellow?
She wondered about that trying to think what he had said back in Accumula town (reference chapter 4) but she didn't want to remember that incident.
He too was talking in his sleep, his Pokémon mumbling along with him. He was saying: "Oh yeah. I challenge you! Pikachu, use Iron Tail!" he mumbled.
Pikachu replied with a "Pika chu!" and flicked its tail, hitting it against the blanket.
She shook her head, seeing Ash sleeping. There was no way that she was like him. And there was also the thing that happened while they were chasing the Darumaka...
Iris felt her face go up in temperature and she knew that it was probably very red. She shook it and hid her face underneath the covers.
"Gosh!" she whispered. "That was so embarrassing!" She looked at Ash who was sleeping peacefully and turned away. Wh-why was she so nervous? She had no reason to be. So why?
Why did Ash make her feel this way?
Could it be that she...like him?
Her face went a few fifty shades of red darker (no comment on reference) and she hid under her covers again. No way. There was no way that she liked him. She had just met him after he left Nuvema Town after seeing Zekrom. And then she had travelled with him and he had saved her from being seriously injured...
?
Huh?, thought Iris. There was certainly a reason for her to like him but...
NO WAY! (She can't handle the truth *sigh*). She dared another glance at Ash and felt her face heat up some more. She had to say it again. She had to say it until she believed it.
"NO WAY!" she yelled.
Ash and Cilan woke up with a start. Cilan mumbled "my flavours" and ash did something similar saying "Thunderbolt Pikachu." Unfortunately for Ash, unlike him, Pikachu was only half-awake and didn't realise that Ash was just using Sleep Talk (Ash is a Pokémon?"). So Pikachu let out a Thunderbolt. "Pikaaaa!"
"HHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" yelled Ash as Pikachu's attack surged through him causing him to fall off his bed.
Pikachu blinked, not really understanding what was going on. Ash twitched on the ground from the attack but sat up. He blinked as well.
"Wow." He said. "My arms are actually all better. Thanks Pikachu!" he said in joy to his Pokémon. Pikachu blinked but nodded sleepily. It seemed that ash was going to be OK, so Pikachu went back to sleep.
Ash smiled at Pikachu and turned to Iris. "Hey Iris." He said in concern. "What's wrong?"
"N-n-n-n-n-NOTHING!" yelled Iris. Ash looked at Cilan who merely shrugged. He didn't know what was going on either.
"Are you sure?" he asked going closer to her bed. Iris shrunk back with every step. "You don't seem well."
Ash recognised the symptoms. Misty, May and Dawn all had had them near the beginning of his journey with them. He didn't know what they were but he didn't think that Iris had them. When he had asked Brock about it, Brock had hung his head muttering something about "Ash being so lucky..."
Iris nodded, her face red as a tomato. Ash saw her face and knew that she was lying. If he remembered, the thing that he had done to help Misty, May and down to get to sleep was...
"Hey." He said. "You know if you don't go to sleep, I'll have to sleep next to you until you do so."
Iris drew in a deep breath, her face beginning to show traces of smoke coming from it. She shook her head at the statement. "I-I'll be fine Ash." She said and turned back over.
Ash looked at Cilan who was looking at the scene with a smile on his face
"What's so funny Cilan?" he asked his companion.
"It's just that this seems to have a romantic zest to it." He said with a smile.
"Romantic...zest?" asked Ash. Was romantic a new type of spice that went on food that someone had invented while he wasn't looking? Whatever it was it didn't sound too nice, but Ash was used to trying new things.
"Does it taste nice with bread?" he asked.
Cilan gave him a blank stare. "What?" he asked.
"That romantic thing? I'll think I'll have bred tomorrow for breakfast. Does the Pokémon Centre have it as a spice?" he asked, curiously.
Cilan blinked at Ash and sighed, shaking his head. "Well Ash, romantic, or rather, being romantic is-"
Cilan was cut off by Iris's shout of "THERE'S NO WAY!", a shout that was amplified by aura.
Ash turned to Iris and asked timidly "Iris?" There was no response except her light breathing. Ash was happy that his technique for making her go to sleep had worked but was she...sleep talking?
"Um Iris?" asked Ash.
"THERE'S NO WAY!"
The door to their room opened and Nurse Joy burst in looking around frantically. "What's going on?" she asked.
Ash was about to answer but Iris answered for him with a shout of "NO WAY!" Nurse Joy blinked at the scene and then closed the door. Ash and Cilan looked at the door in amazement as Nurse Joy had just left without a word. It was not until Iris had said another 4 "NO WAY!"s that she came back with Audino.
"I'm sorry about this" as she said and she closed the door. As soon as she did, Audino's body glowed bright blue like a torch. What this did was anybody's guess until Iris shouted "NO WAY!" again. Somehow, even though her voice was amplified by aura, it seemed louder than before.
"What was-" asked Cilan.
"That was Audino's aura trapping the sound." Explained Nurse Joy, rubbing her eyes. "The effects will last until my first shift in about 4 hours so I must apologise first."
"Why?" asked Ash.
"Well, since Audino is using its aura to manipulate sound, a sound barrier has to be created. It's around this room as we speak and the only way to break it is to break the sound barrier. Which is impossible for humans. (Unless your name is Felix Baumgartner) said Nurse Joy with a yawn.
"B-but that means..." said Cilan.
"Yes." Said Nurse Joy with another yawn. "you will have to stay in here for the next 4 hours listening to-"
""NO WAY!" yelled Iris as she interrupted Nurse Joy
"that." Continued Nurse Joy.
Dark clouds covered Ash and Cilan's head as they hid in the corner. What had they done to receive such misfortune? But that wasn't the most important question. They question was...
"Pika pi..." muttered Pikachu.
HOW WAS PIKACHU STILL ASLEEP?
So what did you think of the one-shot? And Pikachu must have been awfully tired to sleep through all that! Mind you, this was just for the one-shot that Pikachu was overly tired. From now on, noiseswill most probably wake Pikachu.
Anyway, that is the end of this chapter. What did you think? Well the main thing is that I have views in the end.
And as always,
Review if you please.