Well although I said slow updates last chapter, here we are again. I hope that you enjoy this chapter what with the different people all converging unto one point in the arc. What with Team Rocket and their actions and then my own interpretation of the unfinished Meteonite arc with the Boy, these adventures will surely continue.
Since I've been balancing stories these holidays, expect a lot more so that you guys will keep on being happy.
I hope that you enjoy and yes, as I've noted in the reviews, I won't really be putting comments in the middle of the story but may explain them in the footnotes of the story.
Also as this chapter, if you have seen the episode, focuses on children, I thought I'd manage to snip in some of Ash's past, although it won't be a large chapter, as that will be later….
Anywho, I hope that you enjoy this chapter and as always the disclaimer still applies. And sorry for any mistakes for this chapter either spelling, grammar or general...*sob,sob*
Enjoy-Mr Question Mark
Although Ash had decided to tell his friends about his experiences, he had yet to even consider how to do it.
It wasn't something causal like "Here guys, here's a massive scar on my back that I got when I was six that put me in hospital!"
He had debated doing it like that and Pikachu had responded by smacking him on the head with his tail. As such, there was a lot on his mind as Cilan pointed out the direction that they were heading in.
He partially paid attention however ever since the incident with Dwebble he noticed that the group was a lot more relaxed than before.
"And that's where we're going." Said Cilan as he pointed their route to Nacrene City. Ash nodded and cries of joy were heard along the road that they were on.
They looked in the direction of the voices and saw that coming towards them was a group of 5 children consisting of 3 boys and 2 girls on tricycles. There was an unknown Pokémon on the end of the centre boy's tricycle pram.
"What's going on?" asked Ash as he looked at them and behind them two women entered their view, one a younger women and the other of an older age.
"Please stop!" the younger was crying towards the children.
"What?" said the group in response as they looked at the children in their tricycles. Although it was clear that the women were using aura to speed themselves up, they were not catching up and Ash, using his Aura Perception noted that the kids were using the aura to increase the pedalling and thus increase their own speed on the tricycles.
However they didn't get another word in as the centre boy cried out: "Enemy sighted. Prepare to attack!" He held out a hand and Ash didn't need to use his Aura Perception to see a ball of aura appear at his palm-a very small yet powerful Aura Sphere.
"Oh boy….." said Ash as he sensed what was going to happen. The others seemed to sense it as well.
"Fire!" said the centre boy and threw forward his Aura Sphere. The others let out cries of "Yes sir!" and threw their own Aura Spheres. As they were simply children, their aura was probably low however Ash knew better than to underestimate children's aura as seen as to what had happened with Gary.
Ash was about to dodge but miscalculated the speed at which it was being thrown and as such was right in the face. He cried out and fell back, his hat falling off as the aura dispersing as soon as it hit him while Cilan simply raised a hand and created an Aura Shield while Iris used her aura to jump above the two of them to dodge them.
Ash rubbed his face as did Pikachu, trying to rub off the tingling sensation that covered his face due to the aura. The kids came closer and it was seen that they were travelling faster than they expected. They practically went past, kicking up dust and Ash saw, through it, that his hat was taken away by the mysterious Pokémon.
"Oi*cough*! Come back! That's my hat! *cough*" Ash said between coughs and Pikachu coughed as well, letting out an unsatisfied "Pikachu!" as they lay on the ground watching the kids retreat, unable to retaliate.
Iris hoped down from the fence that she had hopped onto. "What's with them!?" she exclaimed and Axew, who had been in her hair the entire time looked at the kids with contempt and said "Axew!"
Cilan went over to Ash and helped him up. "Well, they don't really give off the flavour of innocent pranksters." He said.
Ash who was now standing, took off. "Yeah! And give me back my haaaaaaaaaaaaaat!" he shouted as he ran towards them with Pikachu on his shoulder crying "Pikaaaaaaaaaa!"
"I'm sorry!" said a voice behind them that caused Iris and Cilan to turn around as the women caught up to them. Iris, realising that they were one short, reached out with an Aura Hand to grab the collar of Ash's shirt, causing him to be dragged back as he protested.
Upon realising that it was practically hopeless he gave up and after a small interrogation from Iris to make sure he stood up.
"Hmm?" asked Cilan. "Do you know them?"
The younger woman who had brown hair and wearing a light green apron sighed. "Yes. They come from my kindergarten class." She said. "I hope you can forgive them." She spoke mainly to Ash and he didn't know what to say.
"To make it up to you, can you please follow us?" asked the older woman who was wearing what looked to be an akubra and a red shirt with blue jeans and a belt.
The ground outside the kindergarten class broke upon with the blue glow of aura, a small head popping out.
The Sandile looked around the area it found itself in, looking thorough the sunglasses on its face. It was looking for those group of kids that it had followed however didn't see them and sighing in disappointment, burrowed back into the ground.
Unnoticed by the sunglasses Sandile, Ash, Iris and Cilan were inside the building it had burrowed in front of.
They all looked in the room that they found themselves in, looking at the small containers in them and the things they held.
"Check out all of these Pokémon eggs!" said Iris as she looked inside one of the containers closely, Ash doing the same.
"The relaxed fragrance in the air is quite refreshing." Said Cilan and he listened to the small silence inside the room.
The older woman let out a hearty laugh. "Well, well. I've had anyone say that before. Welcome to my Day-care. I'm Karena and this is my granddaughter Daniela."
"I'm sorry about before. You see, this Day-care is also where we teach those children." Said Daniela.
"I'm Ash and this is my best buddy Pikachu." Said Ash as he pointed to his Pokémon that let out a cry of "Pika!"
"I'm Iris."
"My name is Cilan and I'm a Pokémon Connoisseur." Said the others as they introduced themselves.
Daniela bowed in apology. "I again, want to apologise. After all it all started when the children found a Trubbish yesterday and brought it here."
"Trubbish?" asked Ash. He looked to the others. "Was that what that Pokémon was?" he asked earning a nod.
"The children found it at a junkyard on the edge of town." Explained Daniela. Wanting to know more, Ash brought out his Pokédex and typed up the name of the Pokémon inside the Dex.
"Trubbish, the Trash Bag Pokémon. They prefer places like junkyards and it is speculated that it came into existence because of a trash bag coming into contact with chemical waste. Trubbish's aura is generally used to protect it from things that attempt to remove it from its environment and as such, Trubbish's defensive power alters depending on its aura level."
"Well, I guess that Trubbish must really like junk then." Said Iris as she listened to the Pokédex entry.
"I don't like the fact that you just said my hat was garbage." Said Ash as he looked at her with an accusing stare.
Iris stuck out her tongue at Ash jokingly in response to which he responded by doing the same.
"Pika….." said Pikachu as he agreed with his trainer.
Cilan put a finger, stroking is chin. "Well, I can say that the recipe made to make Trubbish was quite unique. A very strange Pokémon."
Daniela sighed. "Well, strange is definitely the word for Trubbish. I wasn't really pleased when they brought it here and the reason that they gave was because it was crying in that junkyard. I told them as Trubbish likes garbage we couldn't have it in the classroom. They protested and then Trubbish let loose some gas or something like that. Let me tell you the smell was horrendous. The kids tried to deny it and in the end I had to take Trubbish back myself."
Karena nodded. "Yet although Daniela did that, we woke up this morning only to be completely shocked."
He group tilted their heads. "What do you mean?" they asked simultaneously.
Karena and Daniela brought them to the back of the Day-care and they looked at it in awe. Standing in front of them, in front of the tree house that stood in the edge of the Day-care was a huge pile of rubbish.
In it was a mixture of old broken furniture, chairs, and other knick knacks that seemed to be all run down.
"What the…." Said Ash as he looked at it. "Pika…" responded Pikachu as they looked at it.
"Indeed." Said Daniela. "The children used their aura to carry all of the rubbish here in the night so that Trubbish could be here."
"But!" said Iris. "That would have taken all night! You much aura do they have?!" she exclaimed.
"Well, most of them are in the medium or low range however one of them, Avery, has an aura in the range of high. Quite unusual and as such he is the leader of the group of them." Said Karena. "And always the butt of trouble they are."
Ash frowned as he looked at the structure. "If that's the case then this would have probably taken at least 2 hours or so if they all worked together with Trubbish." He said.
"And how do you figure that?" asked Iris as she looked at her friend.
"Well, although they are young, having a large amount of aura you can do quite a lot." Ash was reminded of the large wound that was left after Gary had cut him. As well he was also reminded of the incident with Chris in Accumula Town. And during his travels there was one ting Ash had learned never to do.
Underestimate the power of aura.
"Carrying heavy loads would be easy. If the focused tall of their aura upon Avery's and then carried a large amount of junk they could be in…..10 trips or so." Ash paused as he felt everyone looking at him and he turned.
Iris was looking at him in surprise at his response, thinking that her question would not actually be answered, Karena and Daniela having similar expressions while Cilan had a hand under his chin with a smile.
"W-Well, I could be wrong." Said Ash as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"Regardless though, this does have the scent of a secret base." Noted Cilan.
"S-Secret base!?" said Ash as he looked at the structure with his eyes glittering in excitement. "Oh man, that is so cool!"
Iris sighed as Ash went back to his normal self and glared at him while putting her hands on her hips. "You're not supposed to be impressed." She shook her head. "I think that you're such a little kid that the kindergarteners are more mature than you."
"Is that so!?" replied Ash. But before he could say anything else, Daniela spoke up.
"Anyway, I wanted to get all of this junk out of the way before it collapses however if it was just me and grandma, I think it would take around 6 hours. However we were thinking about doing something about it before they ran out and then you know what happened after that." She said.
"I agree." Said Cilan as he looked at it.
Karena looked at the group. "Would you be able to help us?" she asked.
"Sure, why not?" said Ash. Although the people with aura would be able to get more done we would do his best to participate in helping others. He looked at Iris and Cilan. "What about you guys?" he asked.
"Sure." Said both Iris and Cilan in response.
And as if in opposition, a blanket that had been used to cover the entrance of the tree house opened and the group looked up to see the children standing with cardboard protection on them and cardboard swords.
One of the boys had a hat that was turned around on his head and Ash recognised it as his own. That boy stood forward and yelled, using his aura to project his voice so that he could be heard.
"This is the Trubbish Squad Secret Base!" said the boy his voice louder. "Grownups are not allowed inside!"
"Yeah! No grownups!" said the other kindergarteners.
"Trubbish Squad Secret Base?" asked Iris as she looked at the scene unfolding in front of her.
"It's just a game." Said Cilan as he watched them play.
"Yeah. Just what kids would do." Said Iris.
Ash looked on at the children and how they played, a memory that he treasured rising to the surface.
"Stop Leaf!" cried the young Ash as he was dragged. He had spent only three days out of hospital and was only let out with his own mother due to her protective nature. But after Professor Oak said that he would keep an eye on his grandson did his mother allow him to go outside.
In order to help him walk, he had to use a cane and he felt someone older than he actually was. He had a large bandage in his back and had to keep it on at all times.
"What do you mean?" asked the young Leaf. She looked innocently at him with her eyes.
"I have a cane! And if you drag me I can't move." Leaf let go of the collar of his shirt and helped him up with his cane. He struggled but he still managed it.
"I-I'm sorry." She said as she dropped her head. "I-I didn't think."
"It's alright" replied Ash. "We're friends after all."
Ash shook his head. Now was not the time to be remembering such things however the memory made him smile.
"Come on children!" said Daniela, she too using her aura to project her voice. "You need to stop these games and come down now!"
Ash turned to Daniela. "Wait a minute Daniela. Is it OK if I talk to them?"
"Why?" asked Daniela. "What reason do you have?"
"Well, I used to play these games a lot as a kid with my friend, so I have an idea of what they're enjoying." He explained.
"Well I guess…." Daniela looked at Karena and she nodded.
"Sure Ash." Said Karena. "That's a great idea."
"Thanks!" he said. "Alright Pikachu, let's get going!" He headed towards the structure as Pikachu cried with an enthusiastic "Pika!"
Both of them climbed the structure and Iris on the side frowned at the sight of Ash, again not using his aura. What was the reason? She didn't know yet she felt that she had to be patient with him regarding the issue.
The boy that was wearing Ash's hat looked at Ash approaching with Pikachu. "Enemy sighted!" he said. "Alright then everyone! Aura Sphere!"
Without hesitation Ash and Pikachu found that they were being assaulted by an onslaught of Aura Sphere's. They covered their heads as some of them missed while others hit their targets.
"H-Hang on you guys!" said Ash. "I just want to t-" He stopped as he received an Aura Sphere straight to face, causing him to fall back and hit his head of a chair leg. "Ooooooooouch…" he complained.
"Alright then you guys!" shouted the boy. "Aim for the Trap Leg!"
"Yes sir!" cried the children and Ash found that their attacks were diverted towards the junk underneath him. Then all of a sudden, one of the items holding the part of the structure that Ash was on was removed and both he and Pikachu fell down, landing on the ground and dust kicking up as they rubbed the parts of the body that hurt.
"Oh man." Said Ash as he looked up, only to see that the boy wearing his hat was holding a cardboard sword in front of his face.
"Freeze."
On the other side, the 'adults' were growing inpatient. "What's going on there Ash?" asked Iris as she too projected her voice using her aura.
Ash sweated as he guessed what Iris's response would be but answered anyway. "Well um, you see they've got us both cornered." He said as Pikachu looked up at their enemy with a "Pikaaaaaa."
"What do you think you're doing?" said Iris from the other side.
"Hang on though. Everything is under control." Pleaded Ash.
"You will stay silent." Said the boy with Ash's hat and two children on either side of him used their aura to pick up buckets of water near the tree house and pour them all of Ash and Pikachu.
They both cried out as the water soaked their bodies before the onslaught ended, both of them breathing a sigh of relief.
Ash and Pikachu, under the pretence of being 'prisoners of war' were brought to the tree house where they got a good look at the structure itself.
"Wow…." Said Ash as he looked out the tree house itself. "This is pretty impressive…." He looked at the children in front of him. "Did you do this all by yourself? Even Leaf and I didn't even think about making a tree house." Although he figured the kids would have no idea what he was talking about, he still said that.
"Yep." said one of the girls. "Trubbish helped us a lot as well with its aura!"
"Trub!" said Trubbish with a smile.
"Hey! You can't be friendly with the enemy!" said the boy that was wearing Ash's hat.
"I'm sorry Avy." Said the girl while Trubbish seemed to deflate sightly with a downhearted "Trub….."
Ash looked at the boy. "So…are you Avy?" he asked.
The boy turned away. "Hmph. You are to call me Avery, prisoner." He replied.
Ash didn't have to think hard about where he had heard it before. He was the leader of the kids and the one with high level aura.
"Wow, Avery." Said Ash as he leaned closer. "I hear that you have an aura level of high, that's pretty cool."
Avery grinned. "Don't think that by making me feel good that we'll go easy on you."
Ash returned the grin. "Well, I'm Ash and this is Pikachu." He said as he pointed to his Pokémon to which Pikachu waved a hand and said "Pikachu!"
"Wow! I've only ever seen Pikachu in picture books!" said one of the girls. "It's really cute!"
One of the other boys stepped forward and looked at Ash. "Is it OK if I can pat Pikachu?" he asked with pleading eyes.
Ash let out a small laugh and nodded to Pikachu who leaped off his shoulder. The four other children gathered around it as if Mothims to a flame, touching and poking Pikachu as if they were trying out a new food.
"Pika Pikachu chaaaaaa." Said Pikachu as it clearly enjoyed the attention and being patted.
Avery looked on at the side and Ash noticed how he was not joining in. "Hey Avery." Avery looked at Ash with a stare that said he was ready for anything. "Well, the thing is that me and Pikachu don't want to be enemies. We just want to talk with you."
"You…really mean it?" asked Avery to which Ash responded by smiling and nodding.
Avery looked down at Pikachu and how the others were fondling it. "Then is it OK if I can pat Pikachu as well?" Ash looked down at Avery's hand that was glowing slightly blue and he understood his intention.
If one were to resonate their aura in the right way then it was possible to create a vibrating sensation that was quite good at massaging. Ash had felt it as a child with his mother and he knew that Pikachu enjoyed as well although Ash couldn't do so.
Ash nodded and said "Sure, I'm glad you asked."
Avery approached Pikachu and grabbed its tail with both his normal and aura hand, pulling Pikachu towards him however it seemed that the children wanted to all have a go at patting Pikachu and they all pulled Pikachu towards them.
"Hang on guys." Said Ash. "You have to be careful otherwise Pikachu might zap you." Instantly, the children used their aura to make themselves pull back from Pikachu quickly crying "Zap?!" in surprise.
"Pikaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…" said Pikachu as it raised its tiny paws and closed it eyes. Everyone looked at Pikachu with intent, even Trubbish wondering what would happen next however Pikachu merely opened one of its eyes with a smile.
Everyone relaxed and Trubbish said "Truuuuub" in relief while the others laughed. Joyous voices of "Man you really got me" and "I wonder what it feels like" were said among the girls.
Ash picked up Pikachu ad showed it to the children. "You see here guys, Pikachu is an Electric Type Pokémon and knows this move called Thunderbolt but it can be powered up using another move called Aura Thunderbolt. Isn't that right buddy?" asked Ash.
As if to answer, Pikachu let out a cry of "Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!" and from its body it unleashed a Thunderbolt and Ash cried out as he was hit full force by it. He dropped Pikachu and parts of his body were smoking.
Pikachu smiled and Ash paused before talking. "P-pretty cool right?" he asked. The children looked at Pikachu in awe.
"You see? Pikachu is both cute and strong!" said Ash. Without warning, Trubbish walked forward towards Pikachu. Pikachu moved back at the sudden action and looked at the Pokémon with surprise.
Trubbish looked back and then moved its arms into a pose that seemed to resemble what people seemed to be 'cool'.
"Umm…." Said Ash. "I suppose you cute as well." He let out a smile in self-derision as he realised how half-heartedly he had said it. "Of course you're cute Trubbish." He repeated.
The children patted Trubbish and smiled. "Of course Trubbish is" replied Avery. The other children let out cries of agreement.
"Well, it seems to me that you really love Trubbish right?" asked Ash to the children.
"Of course!" cried the children together. "Trubbish is the best!" Ash let out another laugh and Avery approached him taking off Ash's hat.
"Here Ash, I want you to have our hat back. I'm sorry that we hit you with that Aura Sphere." Apologised Avery.
Ash smiled and patted Avery on the shoulder. "No problem Avery." Said Ash as he took back his hat, putting it on his head. He felt relaxed that it was on his head and he smiled at Pikachu.
"Well Pikachu? How do I look?" he asked.
Pikachu smiled and then turned away, waving its tail as if it was not serious in its answer.
"Oh yeah?" said Ash in challenge. "How 'bout you repeat that?" he asked.
The children and Trubbish laughed as Pikachu continued to taunt Ash with its answer.
The train station was surprisingly empty, the sound of trains moving in and out of it filling the air along with the new report of a junkyard whose junk had gone missing.
The Team Rocket trio all sat on one bench silent until they felt their backs move due to the weight of another person on the bench that they were sitting on.
"What time is the express train departing?" asked Jessie, starting the code that they had been informed of by the boss.
"9." Repeated the operative of Team Rocket.
James took over now that the sign and counter sign had been completed.
"What is it?" he asked.
"What is the status of the mission so far?" asked the operative.
"Everything's perfect. That letter of challenge at the Antimony Research Lab was not followed up so we assume that it was just the phrase that was chosen to be the password." Said Meowth. "There's nothing to worry about."
"So it would seem." Said the operative as he placed a small suitcase on the ground next to the seat, kicking it towards them.
"HQ requested me to give this to you." said the operative.
"And this is?" asked James. He picked it up and opened the lip to reveal a large rock inside.
"It's a replica of a certain stone. You will be briefed soon." Said the operative as he stood up.
"It is in good hands." Replied the Team Rocket trio.
"I hope that the 'great team' that the boss has been talking about doesn't fail this mission." Said the operative as he left.
"Naturally." Came the reply as a train entered station, ready to depart.
"A replica?" said the Boy out loud as he walked along the path he was on. Although he would have to cross this path again in the future when he left Nacrene City, he didn't care. He was listening through the ear piece that he was wearing, the silence of the forest around him perfect for listening.
There was only thing that the replica could be of judging by the situation at hand. The Meteonite. That only encouraged the Boy further. He had to get to Nacrene City ASAP and try and interfere.
The path ahead split and the Boy read the signs. To the left was 'Hale Mansion' and to the right was 'Nacrene City'. The Boy looked to his left and up the path, seeing the intimidating mansion not so far off.
He felt drawn to it, having an affinity for things with a history but shook his head. This was no time to be fascinated. He had a task to do.
He brought out a phone from his blazer pocket while taking the right path and flipped it open, thinking of a certain number.
"Now….the Nacrene Museum…was it 02 or 03 to start with?"
That silence in the forest was perfect for him to work it out.
Ash had finally managed to get to the mediator stance that he had been designated. "Well guys? What do you think? I say that you should make things right with your teacher." He said.
"Pikachu pika." Said Pikachu from Ash's shoulder in agreement.
"If it makes things better, I'll go with you." Ash offered.
"But Ash! We didn't even do anything wrong!" cried Avery. "It's Daniela's fault!"
"Daniela's fault?" Ash asked. "What do you mean? Is it because she told you to take Trubbish back?"
"Yeah." Said Avery. "Even though Trubbish didn't even do anything wrong!"
Ash scratched his head. "Well, I guess I know how Daniela feels. I mean Trubbish can get stinky sometimes." Although the stink itself was composed of decomposing aura that had not fully dispersed, Ash was still effected but not to a large degree due to his nature as an Aura Zero.
"Yeah but only sometimes." Said one of the girls.
"What are you talking about?!" said Avery. "Trubbish doesn't stink one bit!"
The girl shied and then corrected herself, the others agreeing. Trubbish smiled and opened its mouth, that same decomposing aura coming out of its mouth.
A horrendous smell filled the air and Ash had to hold his nose, thinking it worse for Pikachu due to its sensitive smell and its nature as a Pokémon with an extremely high aura level.
"No…" said Avery. "Trubbish….doesn't stink….." Although he said that the fact that he was holding his nose said different. The others were doing the same but Ash felt that he had to express his opinion.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! TRUBBISH STINKS!" yelled Ash so loud that it could be heard from outside the tree house.
"What the?" said Iris. "That sounded like Ash!" She used her aura to focus her vision and saw Ash come out of tree house followed by the other children.
"Man…." Said Ash. "That really is a stench." Even though Ash had a Muk, he knew what was bad smelling or not and Trubbish for lack of a better word, stank.
"No it's not!" protested Avery behind him to which Ash looked at him. "Don't worry, everything going to be fine." He said to Trubbish.
Trubbish looked downhearted and said "Trub…." And Avery rubbed its back to make it feel better.
Ash smiled and went closer to the Pokémon. "Well Trubbish? Isn't Avery just great?" he asked to which the reply was a happy one of "Trub Trubbish!"
All of a sudden a burrowing sound was heard from the ground and Ash went over to look. Upon seeing a cloud of dust, he used his Aura Perception to something burrowing its way up into the air.
It was not long before he saw it, the figure of a Sandile with sunglasses looking around. The children were the ones to move first.
"Intruder sighted!" said Avery. "Everyone get ready to strike with Aura Sphere!" The other kids agreed and moved towards the edge of the tree house, Aura Spheres at the ready.
"Hey….isn't that…the Sandile from the hot springs?" asked Ash to Pikachu to which Pikachu took a good look at the Pokémon before nodding.
"Oh man, we better get down with the others!" said Ash as he went down the stairs of the tree house to join the kids.
The Sandile came out of the ground and looked ahead, seeing the trainer and the Pokémon from so long ago. It smiled to itself. After all, the reason as to why it had left the spa in the first place was right in front of it.
"San….dile!" it let out that cry and its back glowed blue, small blue stones rising into the air before firing towards Ash and the children.
"That's…..Aura Stone Edge!" said Ash in surprise. "Everyone, get to the side!" Ash instructed the others to the side and flinched as they stones hit the ground in front of him.
He looked up to see the Sandile smiling at him, earning confused looks from Ash and Pikachu.
However a cry of "Aura Sphere attack!" from the side caused all of them to look at Avery as he and his friends launched that attack towards Sandile.
In retaliation, Sandile let out another Aura Stone Edge that hit the ground in front of the children, causing them to cry out in surprise.
Countering, Trubbish moved next. Opening its mouth, purple and blue energy gathered there until it was released hitting the ground, that blue and purple energy spreading all over the ground.
"Trubbish knows Aura Toxic Spikes?!" cried Ash in surprise. Sandile took a step forward, stepping back as it hit the Spikes.
Ash took his opportunity. "Alright then Pikachu! Use Iron Tail on Sandile!"
Pikachu complied, racing forward with its tail in its attack and it jumped towards Sandile. However at the last minute, Sandile dodged resulting in the attack hitting the ground. Resulting in the non-aura attack hitting the Aura Toxic Spikes.
There was an explosion of air and everyone covered their faces as both Sandile and Pikachu were thrown into the air. Pikachu angled its body so that it would fall faster, hitting the ground first and looked up at the Sandile that was in the air.
"Just what is going on Ash?" asked Iris from the other side however he didn't have time to answer.
Trubbish stepped forward and launched an attack of brown and blue that hit Sandile dead centre, making it sail into the air before it disappeared with a *PING*.
"Aura Sludge…" said Ash with a raised eyebrow at Trubbish.
"Go Trubbish!" shouted Avery as everyone cheered for their victory, Ash smiling as they moved from their own group towards Ash as Trubbish did so too.
"We did it together didn't we Ash?" asked one of the girls to which Ash chuckled.
"Yep, as a team." He said.
"And of course, the Trubbish Squad does it again!" said Avery as he punched the air. "Yeah!" Everyone else joined in and so did Ash and Pikachu, laughing as they did so.
"You know." He said. "This isn't so bad. Right Pikachu?" he asked his Pokémon.
"Pikachu pika!" said Pikachu in response and happiness.
The commotion had not been unnoticed and Cilan and Iris had moved to the jungle gym to get a better look.
"What's going on?" asked Daniela. "It sounds like Ash is playing with Avery and the others."
"What is that kid doing?" asked Iris as she sighed however she had a smile on her face as she was shown Ash's child-like nature.
"So much for changing their minds." Said Cilan with a small smile.
Daniela frowned. "Then I'll just have to take care of things after all." She climbed the structure using her aura to get better footholds and the others followed her as she climbed and then they all saw the group of 'kids' below them.
"Children? Please let us talk this over…."said Daniela.
"Ash?" said Iris. "And what do you think that you're doing joining up with them?" she asked.
Ash sheepishly looked to the side. "Well, you see…this and this happened and then….well you know. But look I got my hat back!" He said pointing to it.
"And you think that's the important thing?! You're so immature!"
Pikachu shied away with a soft "Pikaaaa".
"Well, children just how long are you going to stay here?" asked Daniela.
"Until you say that Trubbish can stay!" said Avery.
"But that's impossible! You have to understand…." Pleaded Daniela.
"We won't!" protested Avery and the others began to let out their own opinions, the entire playground a mess of noise.
Ash put in and the others quieted down. "Please Daniela. Let the children tell you what they think."
"Ash, please don't say anything more. This is my kindergarten class and these children are my responsibility." Said Daniela with her voice strict, the faint sight of aura gathering around her in response to her negative emotion of rising anger.
"Yeah, but this class is theirs too!" said Ash.
"I'm sorry, but it is my job to protect them. And that means that I have to make Trubbish leave. Deerling go!" said Daniela as she threw a Pokéball, it bursting open to reveal a Deerling.
Avery and the other children grit their teeth as they looked at the Pokémon in front of them. Even if they were to retaliate using their aura, who knew what the situation would turn into?
Yet it was Ash that stepped forward. "Then I'll just have to battle you!" he cried.
"Eh?" said Iris as she listened to his proposition.
"Oh my-" said Cilan as he face palmed himself.
"Alright then Pikachu, let's go!" Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and landed on the ground.
"What?" shouted Daniela. "But Ash what are you doing?"
"Hah! I'm a part of the Trubbish Squad as well!" said Ash with a smile.
"Alright everyone, let's hear it for Ash!" said Avery as the children cheered for their friend.
"Fine then, Deerling use Aura Tackle!" said Daniela as she commanded her Pokémon.
Deerling's body glowed blue as it charged towards Pikachu.
"Alright! Counter that with Aura Quick Attack!" said Ash and Pikachu leaped towards Deerling, the two attacks hitting each other and negating. Both Deerling and Pikachu were thrown back from the resulting shockwave, dust kicking up and everyone covered their eyes.
"What was that….?" Asked Daniela out loud but focused on the battle. "Alright Deerling, use Aura Tackle again!" shouted Daniela. Deerling complied and charged forward, with Pikachu dodging out of the way and Deerling hit a cupboard among the junk.
It started to fall and Deerling caught it with its head, pushing against it. Karena saw the situation and raced forward. "Deerling! Don't move! If you do then the pile of junk is going to collapse!" She turned to her granddaughter. "Daniela, forget this battle! You too Ash!"
Ash realised that this was no time to be fighting. "Alright then guys!" he said to the children. "Get away from here right now!"
He ran to the cupboard that Deerling was against along with Pikachu and the three of them tried to push against the cupboard. "Cilan, Iris! Get the kids away and use your aura if you have to!"
"Right!" they both said as they did what their friend suggested.
Daniela raced forward and went in front of Avery. "Avery! We have to leave!" she protested.
"No!" said Avery as he held onto Trubbish. "I want to stay here with Trubbish!"
"Please Avery! You have to-" Daniela stopped as she looked behind Avery to see numerous pieces of garbage clutter onto the ground. A large cupboard was among them and just before it collapsed-
Daniela ran behind Avery, using her aura to make an Aura Shield on her back and was pushed back from the cupboard that fell onto her back.
Avery looked back and stared at Daniela who had protected him. "Daniela….."
"Just go Avery!" said Daniela. "Come on!"
"Hurry!" said Ash. "It's going to collapse any minute!" Iris and Cilan were directing the children into the tree house. The rubbish continued to fall all around the children and it was this moment that Trubbish chose to act.
Stepping forward, it unleashed an Aura Sludge at the rubbish that was above Ash. The rubbish was blown away and Ash looked at it.
"Alright! Let's do that! Come on you guys!" said Ash as Iris and Cilan got the same idea. They cleared the field using their aura to blow away any rubbish that was around, Trubbish and its Aura Sludges doing the same as well.
Hardly a minute before the crisis began it had ended and everyone looked at Trubbish with smiles.
"Man, that Trubbish really saved our skins!" said Ash as he sat onto the ground.
"Yeah! That was awesome Trubbish!" said Iris.
And while those compliments were going towards the Pokémon, Daniela looked at Trubbish, silently brooding over the next action to take.
The sunset arrived soon and the children were taken away from the tree house and into the centre of the Day-care.
"We're very sorry." Said Avery with the edges of his eyes teary. The other children let out their apologies as well and Daniela let out a smile.
"And I'm sorry too." Said Daniela as she knelt down and held Avery's shoulders. "I didn't listen to you guys at all."
"See?" said Ash as he looked at them. "They love Trubbish. And think about it. Who would take care of it the best? I think it would be your class for sure."
"Well?" asked Karena as she looked at her granddaughter.
Daniela looked at her class before standing up and kneeling in front of Trubbish. "Say…what do you think Trubbish? How would you like to be a part of this class?"
Trubbish didn't hesitate as it nodded crying 'Trubbish!" in agreement. The children were ecstatic as they raced towards the Pokémon and wrapped their arms around it in happiness.
Everyone smiled at the scene and Karena spoke as it occurred. "You know…Trubbish stops releasing the decomposing aura the more friendly it becomes with people."
"What!?" exclaimed Cilan. "You knew this the whole time?" he asked.
Karena smiled. "Well, I do run a Day-care after all. Of course I did."
"T-Then why didn't you tell us?" Asked Iris.
"Well, that's obvious. You have to figure things out for yourself, whether it's kids or Pokémon. I thought that everyone knew that?" Karena laughed while everyone else just groaned as the solution to their problems had laid so close to them.
Night came quickly and in the edge of town the only movement was from the junkyard that was slowly being filled.
"Why is it that you agreed to clean up for them?" protested Iris as she carried numerous pieces of rubbish using her aura.
"Personally." Said Cilan. "I'd rather be cooking than cleaning."
"Come on you guys." Said Ash. "It's for Trubbish and the kindergartens. Is that so bad? And….."
Ash ran to Iris with the cardboard box he had and placed it on Iris's head causing her to drop all of the rubbish that she was carrying. She cried out and pulled the cardboard box off her head only to receive one thrown to the face.
"Hah! I've wanted to do that for a while!" said Ash as he puffed out his chest. "Take that Iris!"
"Oh…Ash Ketchum, you've done it now…." Using her Aura Hands, she picked up the cardboard boxes and Ash sweatdropped while Cilan looked on the side.
"Umm….Iris? Please, hang on, hang on. It was a joke. A joke. Hahahahaha."
"Oh really? Then this will be hilarious!" Iris chased after Ash, using her aura to thrown the boxes and if they missed she would merely pick them up after that.
Cilan sighed. "Man…..they really are two peas in a pod." Said Cilan as he received a box to the head.
He fell down and noticed that Iris, with a red face had thrown it to which he picked it up. "Is that so? Well, I'll have you know that I have two brothers. Don't misjudge this Connoisseur's ability to pillow fight with boxes!" He announced.
Although it was supposed to take 2 hours, they were there in the late hours of the night.
"I-I can't thank you enough for what you've done." Said Daniela as she smiled at them. Out of the three of them, Cilan and Iris looked like they had spent most of the time up without any sleep while Ash looked refreshed and full of energy. Just how much stamina did he have?
Karena held out a box which held an egg on the inside. "Ash, I would like you to have this. A thank you gift if you like." She said.
Ash looked in surprise at it. "A Pokémon egg…" he said as he accepted it.
"You'll just have to wait until it hatches to know what it is though. And all I want in return is for you to raise to well." Said Karena as she winked.
Ash nodded. "Thank you very much! I'll make sure to do that!" he said.
"Hey Ash." Said Avery and Ash looked down at his small friend. "You can come back anytime you like. After all, you're a member of the Trubbish squad!"
Ash nodded. "For sure. And someday, we'll all have battles OK?"
"You bet!" they all cried with happy faces.
And thus it was on that happy note that Ash, Iris and Cilan left the Day-care, each of them wondering what lay ahead, that fond memory of Ash's childhood in the forefront of his mind.
And that'd be the end. What with character profiles beneath and a future story ahead about Ash's childhood, I hope that everyone looks forward to it. Anyway, here we go…
Iris
Aura level: Very high
Aura abilities: Using aura to strengthen her attacks
Uses aura to create physical objects like fists and platforms and by extension Aura Spheres
Uses aura to run faster and leap higher
Uses aura to create shields
Uses aura to flush out any unwanted substances in Axew's body
Uses aura to project voice
Uses aura to help close wounds
Uses aura to create light
Uses aura for an AURA BURST!
Uses aura to enhance senses
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 and by extension Aura Spheres
Uses aura to distinguish and memorise smells
Uses aura to help close wounds
Uses aura to run faster and leap higher
Uses aura to set up sound barriers
Uses aura to fix materials
Uses aura to create light
Uses aura for an AURA BURST!
Uses aura to enhance senses
Well, here's the end. Yet although this is the end, this is only the end so far. I always put something at the end of these fics and not for my other ones, either a preview for the next chapter or just overall one shots.
Well I guess this is another one shot...or maybe a two-shot. Although some of you guys may feel cheated for the 'flashback' that occurred I'll go into more detail here.
And also, a tiny bit on the activities of the Boy that didn't get much screen time much to his objection.
Although they had left the kindergarten behind the group had all thought of all memories of their childhood. So, naturally they sat around the campfire during their dinner and discussed their childhood, good and bad memories coming up.
What with Cilan telling the group about his 'antics' with his brothers when they were younger, even then they had bowties which troubled Ash and Iris, and Iris telling of her stories among the forest around the village that she lived with her Pokémon friends. Although there were insignificant details, mainly just humorous stories with the friends that they had, the group all turned to Ash.
"Well?" asked Iris with a smile on her face after they had just heard a story about how Cilan had messed by Cress's recipe for a lemon pie by swapping the sugar and the salt, both of them turned to Ash thinking what stories he had to tell.
Ash looked up from the bowl of soup that he had and looked up at the sky. "Stories?" he asked. "I don't have many when I was young. There's one that I remember that has me and my friend in a 'group' of our own but it isn't really funny but…..important to me."
"Friend?" asked Cilan. "Singular not plural?" Ash smiled to himself. Much had changed since he had gone on his Pokémon journey, the amount of friends and people that he had met increasing. And he had though that Cilan, his friend, would have noticed the singular word.
"Yeah. I….I didn't really have many friends when I was small, just one." He said.
"Why?" asked Iris. She wondered how the cheery boy had not been able to get friends.
"I'd like to keep that to myself for now. Sorry." Said Ash. As much as he wanted to place his faith in his friends, he wasn't ready to reveal his secret yet although he had no idea when he was going to or how.
Cilan and Iris looked at each other and nodded in understanding. "It's fine Ash." Said Cilan. "But could you share with us the memory?"
Ash looked at them and nodded, a smile spreading across his lips. Although he was still thinking about how to show them the Scar in a subtle fashion he may as well open up to them first.
"Well, this was around 3 days after I had left the Viridian hospital." He noted the looks of concern however he didn't go into the details. "And it was there that I made my first friend. At six and she was a year older than be. Her name was Leaf. And I guess the memory starts of when she dragged me into the forest. "
He noticed the odd look that Iris had but didn't think much of it before telling his tale…..
"Stop Leaf!" cried the young Ash as he was dragged.
In order to help him walk, he had to use a cane and he felt someone older than he actually was.
"What do you mean?" asked the young Leaf. She looked innocently at him with her eyes.
"I have a cane! And if you drag me I can't move." Leaf let go of the collar of his shirt and helped him up with his cane. He struggled but he still managed it.
"I-I'm sorry." She said as she dropped her head. "I-I didn't think."
"It's alright" replied Ash. "We're friends after all. So where are we going?" he asked.
Leaf smiled and she lightly pulled on Ash's hand as he walked towards a tree that was extremely high.
Ash looked up it and looked in awe. "What do you do here anyway?" he asked her.
Leaf let out a laugh and said "Training."
Ash titled his head in confusion at the statement however as if to explain, Leaf ran to the tree and jumped when she was right in front of it, launching herself into the air to such a height that it was amazing that she had managed to do so.
Ash used his own form of sight that he was developing to which he called Aura Perception to faintly see the traces of aura going up the tree. The vision hurt his eyes however he vowed to find a way that would cure him of that side effect.
Leaf looked down at him from the tree and smiled. "Come on up! Use your aura!" she cried.
Ash's face fell and he looked down at the ground. Of course, it had to be aura. Aura was always giving people opportunities while he had none. It had left him in a situation that he couldn't control, leaving his own life into the hands of fate.
"Ash?" asked Leaf. "What's wrong?"
"I…I can't use my aura right now." Lied Ash, wanting to protect his secret. For some reason, in the whole of Pallet Town it seemed that Leaf was the only one that didn't know his secret and he wanted to keep it that way for now. Who knew what would happen if she found out? "I'm still recovering…."he said.
Leaf's happy expression dropped and she fell out of the tree. She went over to Ash and embraced him. It seemed that all she ever did was cause unhappiness for the boy. Like for him, this was her first friend, not talking to the other people and children in Pallet much.
The small boy winced a tiny bit due to the fact that she touched the bandage on his back but didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry." Said Leaf as she pulled out of it.
The small Ash scratched his cheek. "It's fine…..But I really would like to see up there."
Leaf grinned and puffed out her small chest. "Well, then you just leave it to me." She held out her hand and Ash blinked as he saw it.
"Take it." She said. Ash did as she said and suddenly, he saw blue surrounding himself and Leaf and suddenly found himself in a sort of 'shell' with Leaf.
"What are we?" started Ash however he stopped as Leaf said-
"Hang on."
She jumped up and Ash was lifted with her, clutching onto her waist in fright as the ground got further and further away. Soon, the branches and leaves of the trees filled his vision and then he stopped.
Ash looked down and found himself on a branch that was so large that it actually was able to support the weight of him and Leaf as well as fit the 'shell' that had brought them up.
Leaf dispersed the shell and Ash found his feet on the ground of the branch to which he lowered himself down to it so that he wouldn't fall.
"Hahahaha. Don't be silly Ash. You won't fall. I'll protect you." Ash looked up and smiled, taking his trust in her and doing so. She stepped forward, arms outstretched to the side for balance while Ash used his cane to lean on while he walked.
Soon the foliage of the trees disappeared and Ash found himself looking at the expanse that was Pallet.
Not only that, but the sunset in the horizon gave a certain image of beauty that he had never seen before.
"Freeeeee, freeeeee." The sound of Butterfree filled his ears and Ash looked to his left, seeing an entire flock of the Pokémon fly right past his face.
He didn't say anything as he watched them go, the water that had gathered on their wings due to perhaps having a bath or being hit with Water Gun, Ash had no idea but he didn't question it.
It was remarkable either way. The water droplets sparkled in the air like falling gemstones and the shape of the Butterfree was highlighted by the light of the sunset.
"Neat huh?" asked Leaf as she looked.
Ash sat down on the tree branch, taking everything in. The shapes of the houses. Each pattern on the Butterfree's wings. The moving fan of Professor Oak's lab. The smell of the air and leaves so high up.
He could have sat there all day and night for a week and never be bored, just looking out at the scene. Leaf had sat next to him, watching the same thing as they looked, not talking.
There was only one thing that Ash said the entire time, looking past the scenery straight at Leaf's face.
"Thanks Leaf. I'm glad that you're my friend." Ash had smiled to her and then looked back at the scenery, just looking as Leaf didn't have an answer.
"And we just sat there." Said Ash. "Until the evening. Leaf fell asleep and my mom found me and she gave a good scolding however she went up with us the next time. Iris, Cilan that sight was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen up until then. If you ever go to Pallet, I'll show you that one spot at that exact time. It's amazing."
Iris and Cilan were silent as they ate their soup slowly.
Ash laughed in self-derision. "Yeah, not much of a story. But one that I enjoy. Leaf and I went back to that same spot the day before she left for her journey and I went up there the day before mine. You've seen it too right Pikachu?"
Pikachu nodded from where it ate its Pokémon food with a "Pika"
"No, Ash. Memory depends upon someone and the fact that you've remembered it means that it's special to you." Said Cilan.
Iris nodded. "The way you described it…..You have to show me if I go to Kanto." Said Iris.
Ash nodded and looked her way. "Yeah. That one sight was beautiful. And I know natural beauty when I see it."
Iris blushed and tried to distract her mind by eating and Cilan caught sight of it, smiling to himself.
"Thank you though Ash." Said Cilan. "I really did enjoy that story. I hope that you tell us more in the future."
Ash grinned. "Sure thing Cilan. You too Iris. After all, we're friends right?"
And at the end of that day, there was general happiness among those travellers, a sense of unity through memory that couldn't be broken and all of them felt that that one night had done something for them that the previous hadn't.
They were closer to each other.
And so, they were thankful for that one night.
" Starry starry night. Paint your palette blue and grey. " The Boy sang that tune as he walked through the forest at night. He had done so non-stop but he didn't feel the fatigue.
Was it because he had a large amount of stamina? Or was it because he had a job to do?
He had no idea but he had already managed to call Nacrene Museum after a number of wrongs calls to 'Pidove Shipping Service' and 'Professor Elm's Lab' although he had no idea how he had managed that when he was in Unova.
He had gotten it and prepared for his next move in the future, happy with himself for his work. What would the results be? He had no idea but he could only that he could do was step forward.
Uncertainty filled the air and to another person it would have been unsettling. However….
" Like the strangers that you've met, the ragged men in ragged clothes "
The Boy continued to sing that tune in the night. He had no idea how long Nacrene City was from here but could only hope that he got there before Team Rocket did. That in itself would make his day…or night….whatever.
He had come up with a reasonable excuse to enter the Nacrene Museum but the way that the call had ben received made the Boy wonder if he would be arrested on the spot and taken to a psychiatric ward. Wouldn't be the first time….
But what did Team Rocket want with the Meteonite? Although it was from extra-terrestrial origins, the Boy himself had not checked it out. Did that mean it was not something special? Or did it hide its ability?
The Boy was definitely more knowledgeable about 'the final frontier' than other people and the beings that it held however how did the Meteonite fit into it? Was it a living organism? In this reality, did it react with aura in a certain way? The Boy didn't know.
" They would not listen, they're not listening still, Perhaps they never will "
The song finished and the Boy let out a sigh. Things would only escalate from this point on. What would be the result? What would happen?
Only time would tell.
"Man, I really could go for a milkshake right now." That Boy ended the chapter with the random comment to satisfy himself and also to take the focus off the dark times ahead.
And that'd be the end of this chapter, with a comment on milkshakes. However although that comment was just random, it did take away the dark times ahead did it not?
By the way, I hope that you got the 'Star Trek' reference. As for the song it was 'Vincent' by Don McLean a brilliant artist. Not that you have to go and listen.
However what with a snippet of the calm time in Ash's life I hope that some of you are satisfied while others are probably waiting for Ash x Leaf moments.
For the former, thank you and the latter, CALM DOWN! *Pant, pant*. I'll see how the story progresses from this point on OK?
Did any of you pick up the hinted location of the finale of the Exorcist Arc?
And with that,
As always,
Review if you please
Also I've come up with a semi-tag for here. It's just a collection of things that I say in my head that sound pretty neat and retarded. Maybe my OC here will use them.
Well them I'll see you when I see you and I won't if I don't. –will probably stick with this for a while…