The grip on his shoulders slackened, and Ash tumbled onto the ground. His legs buckled as they made contact with the rocky surface, which was encased by a slippery layer of moss.
Rubbing his eyes, Ash examined his surroundings. They seemed to be in a natural cavern pitched high up in the sky. The ocean was a good fifty metres below, and waves crashed mercilessly against the base of the pillar. The walls itself were lined with fiery torches at every side, providing just enough light for Ash to make out the shadowy silhouettes of different objects that surrounded the room.
A rusty, four legged table sat in the middle, while posters of eerie looking creatures were plastered onto the walls. Ash wasn't even sure if they were Pokémon or not. One of them looked like a humanoid jellyfish, whose dangling tentacles were encased by a transparent capsule. It had no eyes, no nose, no facial features whatsoever. A pattern consisting of repeating six edged stars wrapped around the capsule, like some sort of cult symbol.
Ash shifted his vision, spotting a training arena at the back. It had a rather simple layout: a bunch of old bottles lined on top of wooden fences as target practice. Bullet-sized holes peppered across the back of the wall, charred from a mixture of attacks of different typings. Looking at it now, the whole cave resembled a secret base - like the ones Team Rocket used when they were tinkering with illegal experiments.
He realised that the boy was staring at him. "You're bleeding." He pointed out.
"Oh..." Ash touched his forearm, where warm blood was dripping onto the moss stone. The blond-haired boy strode over to the table and fumbled for something - a wool shirt. With one yank, he tore it in half and fashioned it into a makeshift bandage, before tossing it towards Ash. "Here," he said. "Take this. To stop the bleeding."
"I've got it." May volunteered. She crawled next to Ash and bandaged the cloth around his arm. The boy winced as she tightened it into a knot, constricting his muscles into a lump. "You okay?" May asked.
Ash took a deep breath and nodded, gritting his teeth as a wave of pain washed over his fragile body. He adjusted his balance and faced the boy, who seemed to be busy jamming his fingers into a small device. "Thank you, uh..."
"Gladion." The boy scowled, as if annoyed that he was interrupted. Gladion stuffed the device into his pocket and paced around in circles, crossing his arms as he huffed and puffed in self-pity. "What were you two doing out there? Don't you know that the Carvanha always come at this time?" He shot them a look of frustration, as if it were their fault that he had to call on his Crobat.
May frowned. "That was never in the travel brochure."
"Tourists," He grunted with distaste. "I wonder why everyone managed to follow simple instructions to leave the water, yet you two decided that it was a good time for a swim."
"We tried to get on dry land. The sea was too rough to swim." May defended her friend. Gladion's attitude was starting to get to her. Although he did save their lives, the way he spoke made him sound like a pretentious asshole. "Look, Mister Gladion," she growled. "If you hate us so much, why did you help in the first place?"
Gladion glared at her. "Girl, if you want to stay out there and become Carvanha stew, be my guest. My Crobat is more than capable of dropping you two off in the middle of the sea." He huffed and refused to meet her eyes, but May suspected that something dodgy was going on. There was something that Gladion wasn't telling them.
The blond-haired boy twiddled his thumb and pointed towards Ash, eager to change the subject. "I've been watching you for weeks, Ash."
"What?" Ash blurted. "You've been stalking me this whole time?" He shuffled away from Gladion in discomfort. How much did he know? Ash cringed at the thought of the strange boy spying on some of his more embarrassing moments.
Gladion rolled his eyes. "Look, I'm not interested in how you have imaginary conversations with your friends, or how your mom sends you clean underwear every day."
"You have imaginary conversations with your friends?" May wondered. "And your mom sends you underwear every day?" Her mouth curved into a suppressed smile, imagining the embarrassing scenarios when Ash travelled alone.
"I- Just shut up!" Ash's face reddened, while May giggled to herself.
"Whatever," Gladion didn't seem to care. He stopped by the table and slouched on one of the makeshift stools, drumming his fingers against the surface. "You have something I want." He said simply.
"Huh," Ash's eyes flashed with irritation. "I've got a bag of crisps in my bag if you're hungry." He replied sarcastically.
"Very funny," Gladion snapped. "No, I want an ability you possess. Something that will help me get what I want."
Ash cupped his chin in boredom. "I don't have any abilities. Unless you count the ability to eat a whole pizza in one minute."
Gladion ignored him and leaned close to his ear. " The ability to manipulate the power of the ancient energy. To sense one's surroundings without vision, to create barriers and produce attacks out of thin air. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, Ash. I want your aura."
Ash froze. He hadn't used his aura powers since Sinnoh. The only people who knew were his closest friends - May, Max, Dawn and Brock. He certainly hadn't told anyone else, so how on earth did he know? He looked at the Gladion. His eyes shot out like daggers, piercing into his soul, searching for the truth. There was nothing Ash could hide from Gladion.
"But-" he stuttered.
Gladion pursed his lips. "I have my sources. Now tell me, can you control the power of aura or not?"
Ash jutted his jaw stubbornly. "So what if I can?"
"Oh, it's nothing. I just need a little favour. After all, I did save you and your little girlfriend's lives." Gladion smirked.
Unsurprisingly, Ash fell for the bait. "She's not my girlfriend!" he yelled. For some reason, May had a disappointed look on her face. The boy sounded so... adamant. "And you can't bargain for anything just because you saved our lives." He added quickly.
Gladion arched his brow. "I thought you stood for moral integrity, Ash Ketchum." He emphasised every syllable clearly. The raven-haired boy winced; people usually only spoke his full name when they were angry.
On the contrary, Gladion seemed strangely calm. "Also, I can guide you around Alola." He offered. "I know this place like the back of my hand. Knowing you, Ash, you wouldn't be able to navigate your way out of a paper bag without help."
Ash gritted his teeth, but he knew that Gladion was right. They needed his help to find their way around this region, and after all, they would be nothing but a pile of bones under the sea without him.
"So... what are you going to do with my aura?" He asked.
"That's none of your business."
"No deal then." Ash insisted.
"Fine," Gladion sighed. "I need your aura to open a portal. It leads to another dimension - a different reality in the fabric of space and time. My friend is trapped there, and he will die unless I save him."
Ash stared at the boy. His expression depicted nothing but someone who was proud and arrogant, yet under the mask lay another side that he didn't show - the Gladion who was caring and empathetic. Ash felt sorry for him. Although they weren't the best of friends, he was going to help the boy.
"I guess an extra companion can't hurt. Right, May?" Ash bit his lip, and glanced at the brunette for approval.
May shrugged. She still didn't like Gladion. He was too creepy, too mysterious. Just being around him sent chills down her spine, like he was going to stab them in the back at any moment. Nevertheless, it was Ash's call. This was his journey, and May felt obliged to respect his decision.
"Fine then." Ash looked at the blond-haired boy, who had a smirk of victory wiped across his face. "You've got yourself a deal."
Gladion reached for his pokéball, and Crobat reappeared in front of him. "Shall we?" He spread his arms, motioning for Ash and May to get on board. Crobat's talons dug into Ash's shoulders once more, but Gladion climbed on his back into a comfortable position. "You can take your time," he reassured. "I'm not in a rush to finish my business." They whirred in the air as Croat flapped his mighty wings, and in no time the rocky pillar became nothing but a speck in the ocean.
Although May didn't want to admit it, Gladion was right. They needed him as a tour guide. Brock used to be in charge of navigation (and pretty much everything else) when they roamed around Hoenn, and without him neither Ash nor May knew how to read a map. They twisted and turned under Gladion's lead, weaving in-between giant skyscrapers, slipping through unhygienic alleyways and making their way across barren plains. After what seemed like hours, the trio found themselves along a scrappy path that lead into a jungle.
According to Gladion, the only way to reach Mount Hokulani was via a coach that ran up and down the hill once a day, so they had to catch it on time. The mountain was way too steep to climb by foot, and no one had enough money to rent a helicopter.
May couldn't wait to see the tallest mountain in the whole of Alola. Rumour had it that Mount Hokulani had an amazing view. On a good night, the sky would be littered with uncountable stars, shining brightly like beacons of hope. If they was extra lucky, they might even see a shooting star. The dreamy thought dangled on May's mind as they sliced their way through the jungle, swatting at the bugs that infested the area.
Gladion was quite a strange boy. He would pace a few metres in front of Ash and May, and trudge silently with a sulky expression on his face. Once in a while May would try to strike a conversation, and Gladion would simply utter a single "Yea" or "Fine" before distancing himself further from the group. She didn't know if he was just antisocial or just really hated them. Probably a combination of both.
"The bus stop should be here." Gladion said, pointing towards a patch of grass where a signpost was planted. It was rusty and crooked with holes spread all over, as if it had been in a war zone. A platter perched on top with the words MOUNT HOKULANI etched in place, but the paint was already fading. Perhaps Mount Hokulani wasn't such a tourist attraction after all.
They waited for almost half an hour. Ash looked like he was about to complain, but Gladion shot him a murderous look, and he shut up. May tapped her foot impatiently against the post. She was starting to get bored as well, when a revving noise bleared from afar. She stood up as the Hokunali coach burst into view, splashing mud everywhere as it wheeled to a magnificent stop.
It resembled a 1930s Greyhound bus, made of great sheets of metal folded into the shape of a vehicle. The windows were open, and the stench of pollution filled the air, burping continuously from the vehicle's exhausts. There were only two passengers on board, leaving the majority of seats vacant. The driver was tall and lean, with matted grey hair and heavy-lidded eyes. He wore white gloves and a plaited officer's cap, looking like some sort of butler from a wealthy family.
The doors cranked open, and Gladion stepped in, motioning for the others to follow suit. He handed the tickets to the driver, who accepted them without even looking. Ash and May found spots at the back, while Gladion settled for the seat opposite the two. Without a word, the doors cranked shut and the engine roared to life, sending May stumbling as the coach belched forward.
The ride was not too spectacular. They snaked their way through a series of narrow, curved roads, and May felt like they were going to flip at every turn. The ancient engines clanked and whirred as if they were about to break down, and they lurched forwards upon hitting every bump in the road.
They turned so close to the edge that May was sure they were going to tumble down the cliffs. Now she understood why no one visited Mount Hokulani. They could have died about five times on that journey alone.
Finally the bus came to a halt, and May had never been so relieved. She swore that she almost had a heart attack. When the doors lurched open, the three of them tumbled out immediately, glad to have left this thriller of a ride. May would rather paratroop into Germany during the Second World War than take the ride again. Even Gladion despised it; his usually sulky face was twisted in annoyance as he stepped off the old coach.
"Phew, that was a ride." Ash dusted his jacket and observed his surroundings. They were so high up that sea-level resembled a bottomless pit, while the clouds almost touched their faces. Ravines crept around either side of the road, advertising inevitable death if they lost their footing near the edge.
Even the air in Mount Hokulani was hard to breathe. Oxygen was a commodity in these altitudes - the air was so thin that Ash found himself panting by just standing still. Although it wasn't snowing, the temperature dropped so low that Ash could see wisps of smoke curling from his mouth when he exhaled.
As usual, the rough conditions didn't seem to bother Ash at all. His mind was fixated on one thing only - the Electrium-Z. "Come on, what are you guys waiting for?" He rubbed his hands together to generate some heat, and set off into the fog without warning.
"Ash," May called his name, but he didn't seem to listen. Ash was too busy humming to himself as he made his way up the path. "You don't know the way. It could be dangerous." She glanced at Gladion with a nervous expression, hoping that he would intervene.
"There's only one path. Even he can't get lost." Gladion muttered, staring after the boy as he began to disappear from sight. He flipped his hood over and faced May with a smile curling at the edge of his mouth. "Oh, don't worry. He won't keep this up for much longer." His voice sounded cold and unwelcoming.
May didn't like the sound of that, but she kept her worries to herself. Gladion had begun to trek uphill like an seasoned climber, swerving left and right to find the most suitable path for walking. May followed suit closely, tracing his steps as he stepped from rock to rock with ease.
Ash hiked the first fifteen minutes with ease. His legs felt like a motor - fatigue simply didn't concur to them as he rambled across the rocky path, kicking stray pebbles and twigs out of the way. The road wasn't in very good condition; once in a while loose patches of soil would crumble under his foot, and he would lose his footing temporarily. Nonetheless, the boy powered on. Adrenaline coursed through his body, rendering the fierce blasts of wind into nothing but a mere prickling on his face.
The two others trailed behind at a much slower pace, carefully choosing their steps to avoid the glaring potholes that rested in the middle of the path. May wondered if Ash was going to be all right. Despite her constant nagging, he had insisted not to wear a coat - his bare skin was only protected by a thin layer of clothing. She felt like her own mom, overprotective and obnoxious, but she knew it was for the best. Ash was the type of person to catch a cold for rolling around the snow in a T-shirt.
Gladion seemed to share her thoughts as well. However, his expression simply read that he couldn't care less. In fact, he probably wanted Ash to catch a cold, just to prove himself right. May shot a dirty look at the boy behind his back.
They climbed higher up the mountain, and the temperature plummeted. Ash felt his legs grow heavy, and his arms began to slump. The icy wind stung his face like pin missiles, and he almost couldn't feel his own skin. The fog became thicker and denser, and Ash felt like he was walking through a graveyard. Mist swirled around his face like a magical veil, glazing his jacket with a layer of frost. Ash couldn't tell how far he travelled - it could have been ten or a hundred metres, and he still wouldn't know. Ash realised that he was trembling.
"I think we should take a break at the Pokémon Centre." He panted, placing his hands on his knees. Gladion gave May a look that said 'I told you so', before striding forward to take the lead. May shivered as well, but she was armed with a fluffy coat that insulated her like a layer of fat.
"Where's that enthusiasm gone, Ashy boy?" She teased, nudging her not-so-well-dressed friend. She looked like a snowman next to the boy, whose attire consisted of a thin T-shirt covered by a blue jacket.
Ash's teeth chattered. His eyes were glued to the Pokémon Centre that sat at the edge of his vision, pulling him towards it like a magnet. The warmth and light that radiated from within was so inviting, so welcoming - Ash could almost imagine the hot chocolate flowing down his throat, the freshly baked cookies melting into his stomach. It seemed so far away, yet crept just within his range of vision, teasing him with the lucid thought of warmth.
"Ash, are you okay?" May noticed that her friend looked pale. She touched his forehead, and gasped. It was cold as ice. "Ash, you're not feeling well. Let's get to the Pokémon Centre."
"Yea..." Ash tried to move, but his legs felt like spaghetti. He buckled and crashed into May's arms. The brunette mustered her strength to lift him up, and gently threw his arms around her neck in support.
"Easy, Ash." She took a single step forward, waiting for the boy to do the same.
"Th-thanks, May." Ash breathed. He tried to move his lips, but they were frozen. His vision blurred, and his brain felt like an icicle. It was as if he had a permanent brain freeze. The howling winds battered against every inch of his face, but Ash could no longer register pain. The only sensation in his mind was the warmth flowing from May's neck, and the sense of comfort as she pressed her body against his in support. They began to move at a slow pace, dragging themselves against the bitter winds that churned all over the mountain.
Gladion stood lazily at the nearest tree, fiddling with his device as he waited for Ash to catch up.
"Are you going to help or not?" May flared. She was just about managing on her own without breaking every bone in her body. Perhaps it was all the food he ate, but Ash weighed a lot more than he looked. Meanwhile, Gladion simply watched on the sidelines, being absolutely useless as always. May felt the urge to scream at him.
Gladion scowled. He shuffled to Ash's left reluctantly, and placed his other arm over his shoulder. May felt the pressure on her shoulder drop instantly, and her pain alleviated. "Thank you." She sighed.
Together, they heaved Ash towards the Pokémon centre. He looked like a zombie at this point - his skin deathly pale, his blue and swollen. Fortunately, Ash was still conscious, and he eased the process by yanking his legs backwards like a three-legged race.
May tumbled through the familiar glass doors that lined the entrance, and immediately a wave of heat washed over her body. The frost on May's jacket began to melt, and a little colour returned to Ash's face. Panting heavily, she set him onto the sofa like a delicate piece of artwork. What should she do now? Ash looked paler and paler by the minute. Warmth. He needed warmth. May frantically removed her coat and draped it over the boy like a blanket, while Gladion stood unhelpfully at her side. May breathed. She had no idea where to go from here.
"Nurse Joy!" She exclaimed. May had never been so relieved to see the pink-haired lady in her entire life. Nurse Joy emerged from the waiting room, her eyes widening as she spotted the pale boy. Placing her glasses on the desk, she scurried over and examined Ash.
"Oh my," Nurse Joy covered her mouth. "He's been wearing far too little clothes. I'm afraid your friend here has a mild case of hypothermia. Nothing life-threatening, but he'll have to be careful for the next few hours."
She produced a glass of warm water and tipped it over the Ash's mouth. The boy opened his mouth and drank it in clumsy gulps. The water spilled all over May's jacket, but it seemed to do the trick. Ash began breathing regularly, and a tinge of red materialised on his cheeks. His fingers twitched as if thawed from being frozen, and the boy slumped onto the side like a baby.
"Here, give him this when he wakes up." Nurse Joy cracked open a chocolate bar, and handed a chunk to May. "He'll be fine in no time." She gave her a warm smile.
Gladion announced that he was bored within ten minutes, and promptly retreated to his own room. Nurse Joy took their company for another half an hour before yawning and heading for bed, leaving May alone with the sleeping boy.
The lights soon shut off, indicating that it was midnight. However, May waited patiently. She wanted to make sure that Ash was alright.
It wasn't for another hour before Ash woke up, and May had almost fallen asleep herself. Her eyelids were drooping when the boy stirred in his sleep, muttering a few words before shooting upright. Remembering Nurse Joy's words, May scrambled for the bar of chocolate inside her fanny pack.
Ash devoured the snack like a hungry wolf, almost taking a chunk out of May's fingers. "Owie." She complained. "How are you suddenly so energetic when there's a piece of chocolate hanging in front of you."
Ash gave her a weak smile. "Sorry." He coughed, before falling into a slumber again. May sat in the chair opposite, gazing at the sick boy. He looked so... peaceful. The way he shut his eyelids, the way his mouth curved in his sleep - even the drooling looked kind of cute. May tried to shuffle Ash into a more comfortable position, as he was currently face planting into the sofa - when she realized that Ash was whispering.
"May?" He mumbled with his eyes closed, so May didn't know if he was conscious or not. It may well could have been that he was sleep-talking; she had experienced her fair share of scares in Hoenn when she woke up in the middle of the night, only to realize that Ash spewing garbage out of his mouth. Nevertheless, May took the benefit of the doubt and assumed that he wasn't.
"Yes, Ash?" She leaned close to his ear, for Ash was speaking so quietly that it was almost masked by the sound of the radiators. The Pokémon center was strangely quiet. Even the everpresent chirping from the crickets living in the forsest had subsided into a minute echo, for most of them had went to sleep.
The radiators hummed. Ash's breathing was nothing more than a faint heartbeat, pulsing throughout the empty lobby. May had adjusted to her night-vision, but otherwise it would be pitch black - the only source of light was from the moon, whose subtle rays pierced through the glass casing and reflected off the ground like glittering diamonds.
"Thank you." He managed. It came out as nothing more than a faint croak, but May's heart melted like butter. The words were so simple; yet they meant so much. She could sense the sincerity in his voice, whether he was conscious or not - and a warm sensation flowed through her body, soothing her worries and calming her nerves.
Everything was going to be all right, everything was going to be fine. Shutting her eyes, May smiled and held her hand close to her heart. When she looked again, the boy was snoring.