Episode 46: the battle for a dream.
I will be bringing one of the Pin masters into play here with the battle for the pin in this one, please enjoy.
Disclaimer: the series, the characters don't belong to me, as for the picture you see it also doesn't belong to me either.
Ash, Salvia and Madeline sat in the Pokemon Center with the TV talking about the battle for the Unova region raging on in the background, Ash looked around to see the people frozen in fear from the realization that the war could be in the city within weeks, he grabbed some of the food and placed in his mouth thinking about the friends that were fighting while he was out searching the help his allies needed to defeat the powerful foes, he slammed his fists down on the table causing the people in the building to turn their gaze to him, 'he is feeling the pressure of helping the people out already,' Salvia thought while his Raichu stared at his trainer with concern
"Dammit, how can I help people out when there is a chance that I cannot help my family?" Ash asked angrily while he slammed his other fist down on the table as the people watched him scared that he might lose his temper they started to walk out of the medical facility.
Ash looked up to see an explosion that wiped out the news crew causing the hosts of the News program, "I am sorry we are experiencing technical difficulties, we will do our best to get back to the breaking news as it unfolds," the host said with a monotone voice as she grabbed another lot of her papers prepare for the next part of her report.
"Salvia we have been here for nearly a week searching for Munna to Save my mother , I cannot sit and watch as my allies get killed in battle!" Ash said with anger while Salvia shook in her seat seeing that there was no way that Ash was going to settle down she bowed her head unsure of what she was going to do next as well.
"What can e do at this stage? N instructed us to get the legendary four pokemon to help in this battle," Salvia told her love with a frown while moving her hands to grasp the trainer's clenched fists, "he also told us to gather the gym leaders," Salvia pointed out with a smile while Madeline watched Salvia trying to calm the prince down and to prevent him from running back to the battle.
"Our road to the gym leaders and the legendary pokemon is near impossible," Ash commented while moving his hands away from his wife's grip, "all the roads are shut and there is guards on every route, the only way for us to get to the next road is to attack the guards," Ash explained while Salvia looked aay in shame as Madeline watched the tension between the two starting to build. Suddenly a chilling silence between the two occurred as the empty Pokemon Center took on a more gloomy feel.
"Attack the guards? What's the matter with you Ash?" Salvia asked while pushing her hands down onto the table, "there has to be another way, we tried asking them nicely and now you want to attack them!" Salvia yelled at her husband while Madeline watched in disbelief with Ash standing up and slamming his right hand on the table.
"Then what are we supposed to do, use ground type pokemon to sneak pass the guards or use Reshiram who is still resting from the previous battle to fly over head?" Ash asked the princess as their frustration at one another continued to build.
"You two shut up!" Madeline screamed out causing the two royals to stop arguing at one another, "maybe you should think about asking the mayor or the gym leader," Madeline suggested while crossing her arms before turning around, "have you two ever thought about asking the right people?" Madeline asked the two while they looked at the ground feeling humiliated that a younger girl had come up with an idea that trumped both of theirs, Madeline walked to the entrance of the medical facility before turning to the angry duo, "this city does have a gym leader of a mayor doesn't it?" Madeline asked the still seething duo.
"It has a gym leader, in fact it has three," Ash said quietly.
Salvia walked to the entrance of the Pokemon Center not wanting to say a word to Ash , she placed her hand on the young girl's shoulder and smiled at her softly, "Mister Ash, you need to apologize to her," Madeline instructed Ash with a frown.
"What me?" Ash asked while pointing to himself before turning away from the girl.
"Mister Ash, you insensitive jerk," Madeline berated Ash while walking out of the medical facility to find the royal, this left Ash to stand on the spot to think about his actions and words , with Madeline's words ringing in his mind, 'you insensitive jerk,' Madeline's words continued to ring though his mind non-stop, he sat on the seat in front of him and placed his face in his hands with tears flowing down his face.
Salvia sat on the hill watching the sunset with tears flowing down her face, "am I holding him back?" Salvia asked herself while looking back to see Madeline walking up to her, "Madeline, I am sorry you had to see that," Salvia apologized to the little girl while doing everything she could to clean up her tears.
Madeline sat next to Salvia and placed her arms around her legs, "you have nothing to apologize for, but you both act like a married couple," Madeline teased causing the princess to blush a little, "when my mom and dad were alive they would argue plenty of time as well," Madeline confessed while Salvia listened to the girl while turning her gaze back to the Pokemon Center with seeing Ash sitting at the table with a saddened expression on his face.
"Did it scare you?" Salvia asked the little girl while taking a deep breath, "did our argument scare you?" Salvia asked as another question of the little girl.
"When my parents used to argue I would go an hide in my room and scream into my pillow," Madeline professed while putting her head onto her knees, "I was also scared of your argument as well," Madeline confessed with a frown while.
"Maybe Ash and me needed an argument, it sometimes does a lot of good for people to get their grievances off their chest," Salvia explained while looking back to see the trainer remaining on the seat. Salvia looked at his face and let out a small smile, "you can tell he is thinking," Salvia pointed out with a grin.
"Do you want him to say sorry?" Madeline asked the princess with a frown, Salvia shook her head in response much to the shock of the girl sitting next to her, "what? Why not?" Madeline asked in disbelief.
"I need to say sorry too, but Ash has a lot more on his mind than I do," Salvia explained while Madeline listened with intent to the royal's words. The two girls looked towards the sunset with the trees starting to glow from the fiery setting sun, "he is thinking about why he failed to save his own mother, how to protect me and even you," Salvia explained while Madeline turned her gaze to the royal, "Madeline, can you keep a secret? This is really something is shouldn't be telling anyone," Salvia said causing Madeline to jump up in a hurry to hear the princess's secret.
"What is it princess?" Madeline asked before being pushed to the ground by the royal, "hey why did you push me to the ground?" Madeline asked while glaring at the royal.
"You can forget about the secret, you should tempt Ash into calling me princess and then you will see what really happens," Salvia said with a playful smile as she winked at the little girl causing her to grin for a mere second, "you shouldn't worry about us arguing," Salvia told the black haired girl with a smile. Salvia stood up and looked at the tree line with the sun finally setting over the horizon before turning around, she spotted Ash still at the table, "he is still in deep thought," Salvia whispered with great concern.
Meanwhile at the table Ash slightly moved his head to see Salvia and Madeline outside, "why was I arguing with Salvia, she is the most gentle and caring person I know, yet I am so insensitive," Ash told himself while listening to the news broadcast about the continued story about the war, 'am I really feeling the pressure of the current events?' Ash questioned himself before standing up to walk outside.
The trainer walked outside to see the sky changing color and the lights of tuning on through the peaceful streets of Striaton City, Ash looked around again to see that Salvia and Madeline was approaching before his Raichu ran to his side while he continued to think about the war, the people that lost their lives and the pokemon that were sacrificed during the battles, "what's the matter friend?' a powerful voice echoed in Ash's mind.
'I am feeling the pressure, my mom has been captured, I am told that I need to find the legendary pokemon and I need to look after Salvia and Madeline,' Ash retorted in an uneasy mindset, Ash turned his gaze to see the moon rising over the horizon as a sea of stars starting to blanket the night sky, 'what am I supposed to do?' Ash started to second guess himself, he continued to second guess his actions about his master's challenge, 'Reshiram, what am I supposed to do?' Ash asked the legendary pokemon as a gentle breeze whistled through the streets of the city.
'Pressure is something every feels, you are more frustrated about what's going on,' Reshiram's words echoed through the trainers mind while the prince walked through the city with his arms crossed. The light's illuminated the streets with the trees swaying slightly due to the gentle wind.
'Thank's Reshiram, I will find someone who brings peace to me, oh wait that's already happened,' Ash said with slight sarcasm towards the vast white pokemon. Ash walked through the street with his Raichu walking next to him, "you know buddy, there is so much I need to do," Ash told his worried electric starter pokemon, they started to walk through the streets of the markets before spotting Salvia and Madeline walking towards him.
Salvia and Madeline continued to walk up to Ash who was feeling nervous about what had just happened, "you know Madeline, Ash really is a great person, sometimes he tries to shoulder too much responsibility when he doesn't need to," Salvia explained while looking up to see Ash walking up to her and Madeline.
"Is that so? But I thought Ash was a complete jerk to you," Madeline questioned the royal with a frown.
"No he has been feeling the pressure of keeping me safe and saving his mother," Salvia told the little girl with a grin, "the truth is this Madeline, no matter how many times he messes up, no matter how many times feels the pinch, I will always be there for him, because I will always love him," Salvia stated before coming face to face with Ash who stood silently and smiling at her.
"Salvia, I am sorry for arguing with you, I was a complete," Ash started before Salvia placed her right hand over his mouth and smiled at him.
Salvia removed her hand and stared into his brown eyes, "you don't need to apologize, if anything I am the one who needs to say sorry," Salvia said as Ash shook his head in disapproval, "so you don't want me to say sorry for arguing with you, Madeline is right you are a jerk," Salvia declared with a smirk.
Madeline knelt down to Ash's Raichu, "come on let's allow these two to be alone," Madeline told the electric mouse, "Raichu and me are going back to the Pokemon Center, you two behave," Madeline instructed the lovers with a cheeky smile before walking off with the electric pokemon.
"Wow, she seems to have us figured out already," Ash proclaimed with a smile as he grabbed Salvia's hand and walked with her through the city, the two looked around to see the many stalls in the night market, "you know I have been thinking," Ash said before Salvia placed her finger on Ash's lips to interrupt him.
"I know you have been thinking, perhaps too much for my liking," Salvia stated sweetly as she moved her hand to take Ash's other hand, "if anything is bothering you, please say something, I will be there for you," Salvia instructed the trainer warmly as she placed her arms around the trainer and hugged him, "no more hiding stuff from me," Salvia demanded with certainty before moving back with her hands on the back of his neck.
The people walked by until a man with short green hair started walking towards them, but resisted in getting any closer, "I promise no more holding it in, I will tell you everything that is bothering me," Ash promised as the princess moved closer and pushed her nose against the trainers, "thank you Salvia," Ash said gratefully while closing his eyes.
"Why are you thanking me?" Salvia asked the trainer gently.
"I am thanking you for being there for me," Ash said with joy as Salvia pressed her lips against her husband's lips then the two pulled back and smiled at one another, "we better get back to the Pokemon Center, I don't want Madeline to worry about us," Ash said with a nervous smile.
"Yeah, she is a really good girl, don't want anyone thinking that we abandoned her," Salvia said while grasping the trainer's right hand before walking off towards the medical facility. The two made walked quickly without noticing that an old friend was following them to the same destination, "do we take Madeline's suggestion?" Salvia asked while the couple walked the tree lined avenue towards the medical facility.
"She isn't only just a good girl, but also very intelligent, so yes we should be taking her idea into consideration," Ash replied with a smile. His expression soon changed as his thoughts started to shift, "our mission is to get Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion and Keldeo, what If the enemy is doing the same thing?" Ash asked the princess quietly causing the bluenette to stop walking, "there are other legendary pokemon, they could be the target as well," Ash pointed out with a frown while Salvia looked up to see the bright moon illuminating the night sky.
"Listen Ash, we have been through so much together, this is our greatest challenge yet," Salvia explained while moving pass the trainer, she placed her hands behind her back and looked over her left shoulder, "I am sure we will get stronger because of it," Salvia said in an assured tone.
"Can you go on ahead? There is someone I need to talk to," Ash asked the princess before letting go of her hand, Salvia nodded and started to walk the rest of the way on her own while Ash turned around to see Cilan walking up to him with a smile, "Cilan, how are things in Goldenrod City?" Ash asked the gym leader calmly.
"Everything is fine Ash," Cilan retorted serenely as he walked up to the trainer. "Ash, I want to battle you tomorrow, a full battle against me," Cilan requested before turning away from the trainer, the pokemon Connoisseur started to walk away from the trainer before turning his gaze to him, "everyone feels the pressure Ash, you need to let people know if it gets too much for you, Princess Salvia will always listen to you," Cilan explained to the trainer while the raven haired trainer stood there listening to his friend with the words echoing through his mind, he looked up and nodded approvingly at his former traveling companion.
Ash took the lonely walk back towards the medical facility thinking about his friend's words, 'yeah, I just need to relax a little,' Ash thought while walking up to the Pokemon Center, he looked through the window to see Salvia chasing Madeline through the medical facility with an angered expression, "geez what could have made Salvia angry?" Ash asked himself as he watched the royal barely able to keep up with the black haired girl.
"Get back here now, you need your sleep!" Salvia yelled at the little girl.
"I am not tired! So leave me alone!" Madeline demanded while looking around for a place to hide, she began to laugh causing Salvia to get more irritated at the girls actions as Raichu watched in disbelief while the much slower girl did her best to chase after Madeline, "you will never catch me," Madeline teased while continuing to laugh at the bluenette.
Ash walked in and sighed at the little girl, "come on Madeline, tomorrow you will get to watch one of my battles," Ash commented while Salvia finally caught up to Madeline panting and placing her hands on her knees, "I am going to bed I am a little tired," Ash commented while walking away, he looked back and smiled at the two girls, "Madeline, you need to get some sleep as well, Salvia and I don't want you to get sick," Ash said with concern while walking to the hallway.
Madeline looked to the ground before taking her first steps to the room, "but my mom and dad would allow me to watch TV until nine o' clock," Madeline replied with a frown, "I am not tired!" Madeline complained while Ash shrugged his shoulders in disbelief, "how about you tell me a story, then I might consider going to sleep," Madeline dictated with a cheeky smirk at the trainer who sighed with his hands on his waist as the girl walked up to the trainer, "come Mister Ash, I want to hear a bed time story," Madeline persisted while Salvia watched no with a smile on her face
"Do I have to?" Ash asked in annoyance.
"Yes," Madeline quickly replied to Ash's complaint.
"Come on Ash, it wouldn't hurt you much," Salvia winked as she walked pass Ash and smiled at him, "she is only a child," Salvia commented while walking into the hallway, 'at least she is listening to Ash,' Salvia thought to herself while watching Ash walk through the hall with Madeline walking behind him, she followed and watched Ash tuck her in before taking a seat next to Madeline's bed, 'Ash is going to read a bedtime story, never thought I would see him doing this,' Salvia thought while keeping an eye on her prince.
Salvia watched the trainer resting her head on the pillow while Ash started the story, "alright Madeline, I will tell you the story of the Trainer and the Princess," Ash told the girl with joy not noticing the royal standing in the doorway leaning on the door frame with a broad smile on her face, "once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess who wanted to escape her royal duties and go on an adventure," Ash started the story while Salvia started to blush from the introduction to the story.
'Stupid Ash, as flattering as ever,' Salvia thought to herself while continuing to listen to the story, 'he should write a book about our adventures to,' Salvia thought while Ash continued to tell the story.
Madeline started to yawn while Ash continued to tell the story, "what happened next Mister Ash?" Madeline asked the trainer sleepily.
Ash stood up as the girl started to go to sleep, "maybe tomorrow night Madeline, just get some sleep," Ash whispered before turning around to see Salvia standing in the doorway, "how long were you standing there for?" Ash asked the princess with shock.
"Long enough to here you tell a fantastic story to Madeline," Salvia replied with joy as she walked away from the room, Ash walked to his room while Salvia walked to her room, Salvia turned around and grinned at her love, "will you tell me a bedtime story?" Salvia teased as she opened the door.
"No, you're almost an adult why would you want me to tell you a bedtime story? Ash questioned the royal with a cheeky grin.
"Yeah kind of expected it, have a good night's sleep Ash," Salvia replied happily before entering her room and closed the door.
"You too Princess," Ash whispered before entering the room. The trainer made it to his bed and fell on it wanting to get some sleep, "I wonder what team Cilan will show up with," Ash asked himself before getting to sleep.
In Ash's dreams.
Ash looked around to see the city in flames and soldiers running around killing the people, he noticed that the men weren't interested in him, 'hey what's going on?' Ash asked himself as he followed them to see who they were chasing, 'hey that's Gary,' Ash reminded himself as the rival stood in defiance against the military.
"Stop resisting or you will die," one of the soldiers to the trainer.
"I will never give up," Gary replied before he was struck down by a powerful attack, Ash watched in horror as his rival and friend fell to the ground lifelessly.
'No Gary,' Ash called out to his rival but his voice didn't reach him, eventually the dream shifted to another city this time it looked like Petalburg City in ruins from a battle, Drew stood between an army and May who was crying for the loss of her family, 'what's going on, this a dream right?" Ash asked himself as Drew rebelliously stood up against the enemy only to be killed in front of the brunette who as killed next by the army, 'no May, Drew!' Ash tried to call out futilely.
Suddenly his dream shifted again this time he as in Arrowroot City with the palace on fire with the king defending it with his army only for Chris to blow him away leaving no trace of the king, "fool, my brother stood no chance, hang his daughter and the other little girl," Chris ordered much to the anger of the trainer.
'You bastard!' Ash yelled out but was ignored when he saw Salvia and Madeline walking out of the building with their hands bound crying knowing that their lives were to be cut short in just a little while, 'no Salvia, Madeline, I will save you both!' Ash tried to yell out while running towards them but with every step they would get further away from him, 'I don't want to lose you Salvia, come back here!' Ash tried yelling but to no effect.
Back from the dream world.
"Salvia, Madeline I will save you both!" Ash yelled out while springing up from his slumber with sweat pouring down his face.
Ash looked up as he heard a knock on the door, "Ash, are you alright, I heard you yelling," Salvia said with concern in her voice.
'Did I just have a nightmare?' Ash questioned himself before the door to his room opened up with Salvia letting herself in, "nothing to worry about, I was just having a dream," Ash replied with uncertainty.
"Having a dream, doesn't sound like it Ash, please tell me all about it," Salvia instructed the trainer while sitting next to him and placing her hand on his shoulder, "please Ash you promised to tell me everything if something was on your mind," Salvia reiterated the trainer promise.
Ash looked down and started to get his composure back, "I was having a dream where I would call out to save my friends, but every one of them would be killed by your uncle's forces, even you and Madeline weren't safe," Ash explained while a chill ran down the back of the princess and Ash as the trainer shilling dream started to scare even the royal.
"Come on Ash, get back to sleep, if need be I will stay with you all night to make sure you get a decent night's sleep," Salvia informed her husband as she helped him to rest his head on the pillow.
4 hours later
Ash opened his eyes to see Salvia resting her head next to the trainer, "Salvia, thank you," Ash thankfully smiled at the woman, he placed his hand in her hair before getting up to get ready for the battle against Cilan, he started to hear Salvia waking up before turning around to finally see that she was awake from her sleep, "hey Salvia, you seem to be awake," Ash commented with a smile.
Ash walked out of his room and outside towards the gym forgetting breakfast, Salvia watched concerned with the prince's attitude, 'his nightmare seems to have affected him,' Salvia thought while the yelling of the previous night started to ring through her mind, "is he really feeling the pressure of this war?" Salvia questioned herself while keeping her eyes on the trainer's back as he walked down the street.
"Hey Salvia, is there something wrong?" Madeline asked the royal quietly while rubbing her eyes to try and wake up even more from her long slumber.
"It's nothing Madeline," Salvia replied before walking out of the Pokemon Center to follow Ash and Raichu.
"Nothing my foot, I will find out what's going on," Madeline declared as she followed the princess and the trainer to the gym.
After an hour of walking through the City Ash, Salvia and Madeline made it to the gym, they looked around to see people walking out of the building still feeling nervous. Ash looked back to see Salvia and Madeline standing on the spot with Ash thinking about his nightmare, "Salvia, I want to borrow one of your pokemon," Ash said quietly before turning his gaze to the entrance of the building, "could I borrow your Ninetails?" Ash asked while grabbing his Reshiram's pokeball and handing it to the blue haired girl next to him.
"Sure Ash," Salvia replied as she gave her love the fox's pokeball in exchange for Ash's legendary pokemon.
The door opened with Cilan greeting the group and walking out to them, "so Ash, are you ready to face me for a pin?" Cilan asked the trainer as he looked at his friend with great surprise, "yes I was selected to test the skills of trainers in the Master's Challenge," Cilan proclaimed with great joy as he turned around to lead the group into the gym while his brothers watched with pride.
"This is great one of my friends is a pin master," Ash complained while the two girls watched him complain more about this battle, "oh well, I have wanted to battle Cilan again for a while now," Ash submitted while grinning at the possibility of the battle with his friend.
Ash is now starting to feel the pressure of the war, now he needs to face one of his friends in battle for the Vine Pin.
Will Ash win this master's battle? Will Madeline find out about Ash's nightmare?
Next time episode 47: Rematch at the Striaton Gym.
Hope you all like this chapter, I think it would be great to finally get Ash and Salvia to have a disagreement that sort of hasn't really happened yet.