Chapter 27

*Another part of the airship*

"Then what about her?"

May shivered. She had never thought, of anything, for this to happen. Now it's almost quite expecting, of what will happen next.

"NO! Let her go!" Ash yelled, staring hard at Hunter J. She merely smirked, "Then give up your aura."

Ash swallowed, knowing quite well that Hunter J would really pull the trigger if he disobeys. But if he gives his aura to Giovanni, who knows what kind of horrible things he would do with it.

'And he might still kill all of my friends after he's done with me.'

"I won't kill her after you're gone," said Hunter J, "I always wanted to get rid of you after all. And since taking away your aura means killing you, then my job's done. I won't waste my time killing these few."

'I can't trust that… They won't just let my friends off so easily…'

"Hurry up, you fool!" Hunter J held May even tighter.

'No! May…'

"3…"

'My aura, I have to use my aura to stop her.'

"2…"

'There isn't enough time…!'

"1…"

"STOP!" Ash yelled. He panicked as he saw the smirk that he'd love to slap off creeping up Hunter J's face.

"Well?" Giovanni asked, his frown sinking deeper into his face.

"…Fine…"

"NO! ASH, DON'T!" May protested.

"SHUT IT, YOU! OR YOU'LL DIE!" Hunter J struggled, trying to hold May tighter.

"I DON'T CARE!" May ignored her completely, only wanting to stop Giovanni.

"MAY! STOP!" Ash said fearfully, worried that Hunter J might hurt her.

"BUT ASH…"

"I'm sorry, May… I love you…"

"Ash…"

Ash shuts his eyes, tears flowing down his cheeks. He took a deep breath to prepare himself to feel the pain again.

Giovanni moved to click onto the same button.

Ash clutched his fist, hoping to be able to create an attack, even if the machine is taking it away.

But he never felt anything. Instead, he heard something that he recognized immediately.

"PIIIIIIIIKA!"

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM MMMMMM*

Smoke filled the whole room as everyone started coughing for breath.

*Undella Town*

"Officer Jenny, I'm Professor Oak, and this is Delia."

"Yes, Professor? Did something happen?"

"We're looking for Ash Ketchum and his friends. They-"

"Those kids? Professor, I've just tracked down and located Hunter J's airship. We suspected that she's kidnapped those kids, and we're moving off to get them now."

"What?! We'll follow along!"

*On a Certain Airship*

"PIKA!"

"PIKA!"

Though he couldn't see, Ash could feel the handcuff and the ropes tying him broke apart. Other than that, he heard other voices at the background too.

"CHIMCHARRRRRRRRR!"

"BUI! BUI! BUIBUI!"

"STARRRRRRRRRIVIA!"

"TURTWIIIIIGGGG!"

"PIP-LUUUUUUPPPPPP!"

"BLAAAAAAAAZZZZZ!"

"FORRESSSSSSTTTTTTT!"

"Pikapi! Pikapi?"

Ash rubbed his eyes and tried to look through the smoke that was pouring out from the machine beside him. But he already knew who was sitting on his lap, trying to get his attention.

"Pikachu!"

"Pikapi!"

The two embraced tightly, no wanting to let each other go.

"Pikachu… I missed you… Thanks so much buddy… You saved my life…" Ash sobbed.

"Pika pika! Pikachu~" Pikachu nuzzled his cheeks against Ash's cheeks. The latter laughed and hugged his best friend even closer. But then he realized something else.

"MAY! Are you alright? Answer me!" Ash jumped up, with Pikachu on his shoulder. He looked around through the smoke worryingly, since he didn't hear any reply. Not even from Brock or Max or Dawn. But then the noise from the background isn't helping either.

"May? Where are you? MAY!"

"I'M RIGHT HERE! STOP YELLING!"

Ash turned around to see his beautiful crush standing behind him. He rushed forward and embraced her. Straightaway both of them felt their cheeks burning up, but Ash didn't let go. May returned the hug as the two remained in each other's arm.

"Forgetting us? That's very nice of you, Ash…" a familiar male voice sounded

Ash and May turned around to find their friends standing beside them.

"Yeah, to think we were equally worried for you too…" Max wriggled his eyebrows, eyeing the two of them.

"Oh come on you two, don't break the lovers' moment!" Dawn said, winking towards them. May was surprised at her reaction, but said nothing.

"Er…Haha…Sorry guys… But May was being held at gun point! Of course I'd be…slightly more worried…" Ash quickly explained, though his redden cheeks aren't helping him.

"Nahh, it's alright!" Dawn cooed.

"Yeah, we understand. Anyway, are you alright?" Brock asked.

"Yup, I'm fine!" Ash replied, with the same grin he always has on his face.

"Pika pika! Pikachu!"

"Oh we forgot! Thanks for reminding, Pikachu! Come on, we've got to get out of here!" Ash said.

"Haha, you're telling us, Ash!" Max said. The trio looked around, to find tons and tons of pokémon fighting the grunts and henchmen. Even Hunter J and Giovanni were no match against so many pokémons.

"Wow, why did all these pokémons come from?" May thought out loud.

"Pikapi, pipika pika pipi pichu pikachu!"

"What? Wow, these pokémons are those that the guy stole from all those pokémon centers. Remember back at Opelucid City? Pikachu managed to convince them to help us and themselves as well to get out!" Ash translated, though his eyes never left the pokémon. The others were also watching with the same amount of amazement.

[Author's Note: I put Ash's pokémon at their early stage since I like them there XD]