Episode 48: Devastation
I hope you enjoy this chapter, I have changed the rating to a T rating but it doesn't change the fact this saga is a more serious part of the story. Crap my laptop picks a fine time to stop running internet explorer and Mozilla.
Disclaimer: the pokemon series doesn't belong to me, the fan art cover also doesn't belong to me.
It had been a week since Ash, Salvia and Madeline started their journey towards Nacrene City, Ash looked back to see Salvia slowly walking behind him breathing heavily, "are you alright?" Ash asked with concern walking up to her he started to move his hand towards the royal's forehead, "Salvia, you seem to have gotten worse," Ash commented before Salvia grabbed her love's hand and moved it back to the trainer's side, Salvia looked up tiredly and smiled at him faintly as the black haired girl watched noticing that Salvia was also sweating and looking more exhausted than she was a few days prior to them making it to their next destination, "come on Salvia, you need to see a doctor," Ash declared concerned about his wife's health.
"No Ash, I am fine," Salvia retorted to the raven haired trainer's worries.
Ash moved his hand up to Salvia's forehead, "wow Salvia, you have a nasty fever," Ash stated after placing his hand across the princess's head, "no buts we are taking you to see a doctor," Ash dictated much to the bluenette's dismay.
'I was kind of hoping he wouldn't do that, he needs to continue his mission to find the four pokemon,' Salvia thought while Ash removed his hand before turning around, "Ash we don't have to worry about my health, the world is basically at war," Salvia argued with Ash but Ash ignored his wife's concerns and walked to the entrance of the city while Madeline watched the problem picking up between the duo, "Ash are you listening to me?" Salvia asked in irritation.
"Salvia, you are my….." Ash stopped and looked down at the girl, 'I better not say anything,' Ash thought while remembering the promise not to stated classified information in front of the girl traveling with them, 'in sickness and in health,' Ash remembered the vows he had taken a day prior to coming to Unova with his new wife.
"What is it Ash? It isn't like we have to stop just for me," Salvia questioned the trainer before collapsing to the ground.
"You two act like a married couple," Madeline pointed out while Ash ran up to Salvia as a ring dropped out of the pocket and landed in front of the little girl she knelt down to pick up the ring and inspected it for a short moment, 'hey that's a wedding ring,' Madeline thought while looking up to Ash, watching him tend to the sick princess, "what are you two hiding from me?!" Madeline yelled in anger causing Ash to look back at the little girl with shame, he looked at the ring in the girls hand before snatching it and placing it back in his pocket, "it's obvious that's a wedding ring," Madeline stated while she watched the trainer pick the princess up and started walking into the city.
"I don't have the time to tell you, right now we need to get Salvia to the doctors," Ash replied while carrying the bluenette into the city with Madeline and Raichu following close behind him, 'shit that was close,' Ash thought while looking back to see the girl glaring at him, 'I guess there is no point hiding it from her,' Ash reminded himself while turning his focus back to the sleeping royal, "Madeline, there is something I will tell you, but you must promise to keep it quiet," Ash told the little girl with a frown. The two continued the quiet journey with Salvia in Ash's arms, Ash looked around to see the city with very few people around, "odd this city is far too quiet, there is usually more people walking around," Ash commented concerned about the events in the other cities, Ash didn't take too much time to look around he walked to the hospital to get Salvia checked up.
"Ash, please continue your mission," Salvia instructed the trainer while still sleeping Ash's arms.
Ash looked up to see the hospital was filled with staff but no patients, "just hold on Salvia, we will see what the doctor says," Ash remarked before walking into the hospital followed by Madeline and Raichu. Ash walked up to the reception desk with the staff member looking up to see Ash holding the royal in his arms, "please I need to see a doctor immediately," Ash requested the staff member in a worried tone.
"Luckily the doctor is free to attend to her," the attendant told the trainer, "take a seat, he should be around in a few minutes," she said with a smile.
Ash and Madeline walked over to the waiting room to wait for the doctor to arrive, "now Ash, tell me what are you two hiding?" Madeline asked the trainer with anger.
Ash gulped for a moment and shrugged his arms, "Madeline, I cannot tell you anything, it's really for your safety," Ash replied solemnly while placing Salvia on the seat, 'she looks peaceful,' Ash thought happily before looking into his pocket to see the gold ring, "but if you want to know…." Ash started before a voice echoed in Ash's mind.
'Are you sure you want to tell her?' Reshiram asked Ash.
'Sometimes my friend telling the truth is the best, plus people are going to find out about Salvia and me,' Ash replied with a smile as he remembered back to the battle they had in Striaton City, 'Salvia has improved as a trainer, her pokemon are getting better,' Ash told his legendary pokemon thinking about the chances she had to take on the pokemon contests in the Johto region, thinking about the events that unfolded in the same region with Team Rocket's return to power and Chris's abduction of his mother.
'I represent the truth, sometimes it's for the best to keep it hidden to prevent others from being placed in danger,' Reshiram told the trainer but Ash knew that Madeline was getting close to finding out about the marriage.
Ash sat on the chair waiting for the doctor to arrive while continuing his conversation with his legendary pokemon. 'I know my friend, but Madeline is getting closer to find out about it, she found out when my ring dropped out of my pocket,' Ash replied quietly leaving Reshiram to let out a deep sigh, 'don't worry my friend, I will make sure she remains safe,' Ash confidently told the legendary dragon type pokemon before returning from his mind as the doctor called out for the princess.
Ash picked up the royal and walked over into the surgery with Madeline walking behind him with Raichu, "please follow me," the doctor instructed the trainer while walking through the quiet halls of the hospital, "people have been evacuating for the last week, since the war started, they have been heading towards Oplucid City," the doctor explained solemnly before opening the door to one of the rooms, he allowed the duo to walk into the room.
Ash placed the royal on the bed and stared at her for a moment, "so doctor can you tell me what's going on?" Ash asked the man dressed mostly in white with short black hair.
The doctor walked up to the princess and placed his hand on her forehead, "can you tell me what's going on?" the doctor asked in reply to the trainer's concerns.
"We were just getting ready to leave Striaton a week ago, she was coughing a bit, we just shrugged it off, but as we continued our journey her health continued to deteriorate," Ash explained, looking at the bluenette who was still asleep and sweating even more. "Just as we reached the city she just collapsed," Ash told the doctor much to his concern.
"The fever, coughing, breathing heavily and collapsing," the doctor stated the princess's symptoms with great worry, "has her eating habit changed? And has she had trouble sleeping?" the doctor asked quickly, he looked over to the royal sleeping on the bed peacefully, Ash nodded to the questions causing the room to turn silent, "I see, so what else has been a major issue?" the doctor asked with even more concern.
Ash then remembered the times Salvia would scream out in pain while grasping her left side on numerous occasions, "there was this time during the last week when Salvia would grasp her left side in pain," Ash replied with concern, he looked up to the doctor while taking the royal's hand concerned that there was something seriously wrong with her.
"I see, we might need to get her scanned, she might have something serious," the doctor commented, Ash picked up the royal again and started following the doctor to the X-ray area.
The group quickly made it to the room, the doctor prepared the bed and the equipment while Ash kept the princess in his arms, the doctor nodded allowing the trainer to place his love on the bed, "come on Madeline we need to get out of here," Ash told the black-haired girl with a frown, as he started walking towards the exit he looked back to see Salvia still resting quietly on the bed with concern etched on his face, 'please don't be too serious,' Ash hoped continuously.
Ash, Madeline and Raichu walked out of the room waiting for the doctor to finish the job, "alright Ash, now tell me what you two are hiding," Madeline demanded, glaring at her friend leaving Ash shocked at the seven year olds determination.
Ash shrugged his shoulders and sighed for a moment, "alright Madeline if you want to know," Ash replied with a grin, Ash pulled out the ring and showed it to the little girl standing in front of him. "I have one condition, don't tell anyone that I said anything," Ash told the orphan quietly.
Madeline nodded to the condition while Raichu watched in concern, "tell me, I cannot wait all day," Madeline demanded impatiently while Ash waved his hands in front of him to keep the little girl quiet.
"Salvia and me are married," Ash remarked much to the little girls shock, Ash peered into the window to see how things were going, "we did it to protect the Sinnoh Kingdom," Ash remarked with a grimace.
"So how old are you two anyway?" Madeline asked the trainer with a smile.
"I am eighteen and Salvia is turning seventeen in less than a week," Ash replied with certainty, he sighed with concern at the fact that Salvia was still very sick. "I promised a friend that it would remain top secret even from my friends, so I need you to keep it between you, Salvia and me," Ash told Madeline with a more serious tone.
"Fine I promise, so why are you keeping it quiet?" Madeline asked the prince with a more relaxed expression.
"Because her family has enemies that would rather see her dead, and also we needed to prevent her uncle from taking control," Ash replied as he looked into the window to see the princess resting on the bed and the scans continue. "Her father, the king agreed to bend a few rules to make sure his brother got no control over Sinnoh," Ash told the little girl as she walked up towards the door to see how things were going in there
"I see, I will keep it quiet, I promise Ash," Madeline promised while looking at the ground feeling unsure about what was happening, "do you think she will get better?" Madeline asked her friend, the door opened revealing Salvia walking out of the room on her own, "Princess Salvia, you're alright," Madeline cheerfully celebrated but Salvia walked pass the duo tiredly before leaning next to the wall, she pushed herself off the wall and continued to walk towards the exit of the ward, "Salvia, you need to rest," Madeline called over to the princess but she as still being ignored.
Ash quickly ran over to the royal and picked her up off the ground, "Madeline s right, you need to rest," Ash commented as the princess jumped out of his arms.
"I am fine, just a little tired that's all," Salvia replied while slowly walking through the halls of the hospital.
Ash walked up to the royal and grabbed her arm, "I am sorry Salvia, but the doctor has to complete his check up," Ash stated while preventing Salvia from leaving the ward, "come on you need to get healthy again," Ash declared with a smile, Ash started helping the princess back to the doctor's room with Madeline and Raichu walking in front of them, 'Raichu and Madeline seem to be good friends,' Ash told himself as he helped the blue-haired royal back into the room.
Ash helped Salvia to the seat and waited for the doctor to return, "so you will not continue the mission without me," Salvia pointed out while resting her head in her right hand, she looked back to see the doctor coming in with the envelope in hand, he closed the door and walked up to his desk, "what's the problem doctor?" Salvia asked tiredly, she looked back at Ash nervously as he stood with his hands on her shoulders.
"I am afraid your left lung has partially collapsed," the doctor pointed out with a frown.
Ash listened in shock as he remembered the battle for Nuvema Town, 'it must have been when I pushed her back to prevent her from getting flattened,' Ash remembered as the picture of the events of the war, Ash looked down in guilt feeling like he was responsible for what happened, 'this is my fault,' Ash thought sadly, he walked out of the room leaving Madeline and Salvia alone with the doctor, he walked down the hall and punched the wall in anger, "why did I hurt her like that?" Ash angrily asked himself while punching the wall again.
A shadowy person ran through the halls of the hospital, Ash looked up to see a person running through the halls, he started to give chase to the person but soon noticed that there was another two people around, "what's going on?" Ash asked as he looked around to find that the shadows had disappeared from sight, Ash looked around again to see that no one was around, 'this is odd,' Ash thought while trying to remain calm, Ash looked over his left shoulder to see a person running through the hallway, 'hey Reshiram, there are three people,' Ash told his pokemon while continuing to look around the ward. Ash closed his eyes and started to build up his senses, 'from what I know these guys aren't all that nice,' Ash told his legendary pokemon.
'Ash, are you using the ability to sense aura?' Reshiram asked the trainer.
'Yes I am, I realized that to protect the people I love, I will need to use this ability,' Ash replied calmly, Ash opened his eyes again to see the world around him again, "alright you three I know you're there," Ash called out in a more serious tone, as if on cue three men dressed in black appeared with long white hair and masks covering their mouths, "The Shadow Triad," Ash hissed as he grabbed one of his pokeballs.
The three men stood in front of Ash and started laughing at him, "so you have the legendary powers of the Aura Guardian, this should be interesting," the leader said with a chuckle, "but your powers still are no match for us," he declared before disappearing in a blinding flash of light.
Ash closed his eyes again to sense the three men that appeared before him, it was then he discovered that they were heading towards the princess's room, "dammit, Salvia and Madeline are in danger," Ash hissed while running through the halls of the hospital. He moved quickly but was pushed aside by a red and black pokemon with white gloves and a sharp blade on its head, the trainer got back to his feet to see the pokemon getting in his way. Ash picked Lucario's pokeball and called out the aura pokemon, "Lucario, attack with Force Palm," Ash instructed his pokemon with determination, the two pokemon charged at one another with their hands glowing, "get out of my way!" Ash demanded as his pokemon landed a vicious blow on the dark type pokemon knocking it back towards the wall. This allowed Ash to run through the hall with the fighting type pokemon next to him to run through the hall unimpeded by the enemy pokemon.
Ash quickly made it to the room to discover the door was forcibly pushed open and Raichu on the ground outside the room, Ash looked over his shoulder to see the Doctor, Madeline and an unconscious princess on the grasp of the Shadow Triad, "let them go right now!" Ash demanded in anger glaring at the elite of Team Plasma.
The angered trainer charged into the room before the elite members threw Madeline at the trainer forcing him to stop and catch her, "you want the safety of your princess, then hand over Reshiram," the man in the middle said while taking a knife from his belt, "unless you want to see her alive again, Aura Guardian," the shadow triad member pestered the trainer while holding the knife at the princess's throat, "we don't have all day," the man said with a smirk through his mask as the knife closed in while Ash angrily watched on.
Ash gritted his teeth in frustration, he watched as his wife was being threatened by the sinister trio, he picked up the legendary pokemon's pokeball and looked at it for a second, "fine you win, now take the knife away from her," Ash pleaded with all his might.
The Shadow Triad laughed in unison and quickly placed the princess on the bed before the leader stabbed the doctor shocking the trainer and the little girl, "either way someone was going to die," the man on the left said coldly before snatching the vast white's pokeball from the trainers hand, "consider yourself lucky that we spared the princess's life, we don't kill the sick," he said before leaping out of the window.
Ash ran up to the doctor as he was resting in a pool of his own blood, "the medicine….. is on the desk," the doctor told the trainer while slowly pointing up to the bottle on the desk, Ash grabbed the bottle and looked down at the dying doctor, "please…..take care of…her," the doctor said before his arm collapsed, Ash winced in pain feeling like he had let the doctor and his legendary pokemon down.
Ash turned his vision to the window before looking back towards the little girl, "Madeline, we are leaving," Ash declared while picking up the princess, he walked towards the exit of the room and looked back to acknowledge the doctor.
"Mister Ash, where are we going?" Madeline asked with concern.
"We are taking Salvia to a safe place and then I am going to get Reshiram back," Ash declared with a shaken up from the scenes he witnessed, he clenched his fists in anger. After making it to entrance of the ward, he looked back to see his two pokemon following them, 'cowardly bastards,' Ash thought angrily picturing the threat that his wife received, he looked down at the sleeping royal, "I will make sure no one hurts you, even at the cost of my life," Ash decreed in front of the little girl.
"Don't be foolish Mister Ash," Madeline instructed the prince, Ash looked back and shook his head, "what's the matter Mister Ash?" Madeline asked the trainer.
"Please stop calling Mister Ash, just call me Ash," the trainer requested with a smirk as he held on to the princess tightly, Ash thought about the vast white pokemon, thinking about what the Shadow triad were planning to do with his pokemon, 'just what is Team Plasma planning?' Ash wondered while looking down at the sleeping royal, Ash and Madeline continued to walk through the city while Salvia slept peacefully in her husband's arms.
"Ash, why did you put us first over your legendary pokemon?" Madeline asked the trainer while looking in concern as they walked towards the museum of the city.
"I put Salvia first because, she is my wife and you first because you are my friend," Ash replied with pride as they walked up to the museum. Ash and Madeline walking into the building, Ash looked around to find the light switch, Ash turned the lights on after finding the switch, "stay here, I will search for Reshiram," Ash instructed the little girl while placing the sleeping princess on the floor, Ash took out a bottle of medicine, he handed the little girl the bottle, "give a bit at a time," Ash instructed the black haired girl as he walked to the exit of the museum, Ash turned his head and smiled at the little girl.
Ash walked alone, the little girl sat next to the princess and looked up to see Ash walking out of the building, she got up and ran to the entrance of the building, "Ash you better come back to Salvia safely or you are not my friend anymore!" Madeline sent Ash and ultimatum making him laugh at the instruction. Ash turned around and walked slowly up to Madeline, "I don't want Saliva being upset because you were so reckless," Madeline explained while Ash messed up Madeline's hair, "stop doing that!" Madeline yelled at Ash with anger.
"No need to worry, I will come back safely," Ash replied with a smile, "Raichu, I want you to keep Madeline and Salvia safe," Ash said while turning his gaze to the electric mouse pokemon. Ash turned away and looked up to the sky, "Madeline, when we get out of this city, can you tell me what your dream is?" Ash asked the little girl before walking away without giving the Hoenn native a chance to retort to his question, 'whatever it is, I am certain that it would be great,' Ash thought while walkin away from the Nacrene Museum.
Ash started walking towards the end of the city to search for the three men that took the legendary pokemon, "Gengar, I need your help," Ash called out a large purple pokemon, "I need you to latch onto the shadows of one of the men that have Reshiram," Ash instructed the pokemon while maintaining his cool, the ghost type pokemon slipped into the ground and followed the trainer at a safe distance. Ash looked up to see the sun setting knowing that his didn't have much time to find the trio, the trainer closed his eyes to prepare the use of his power, the prince started to glow blue as he used his power to search for the trio, "found them," Ash declared, he ran towards the western end of the city until he came to a forest entrance, the raven haired trainer kept his distance hiding in the bushes as he overheard the chatter of the three men as they talked to their boss, "Gengar, take the man on the left he is the one with Reshiram," Ash whispered to his pokemon.
"Excellent, now that we have the power of Reshiram, you three are assigned to search for the other kami trio and to hunt down N who has Zekrom," the image of the Plasma Leader instructed the Shadow Triad, Ash watched from a distance as Gengar moved towards the men, not being noticed by any of them.
The shadow crept up to the man on the left, the trainer moved away from the bushes, "did you bastards think that you saw the last of me?" Ash asked while taking one of his pokeballs, 'all I need to do is keep them busy while Gengar binds the man on the left,' Ash thought while taking a second of his pokeballs.
"You fool, now you will face the might of your legendary pokemon," the man on the left said while holding out the master ball containing the legendary pokemon.
Ash smirked at the man as he got ready to call out the pokemon, "I don't think so," Ash retorted with supreme confidence, the member of the shadow Triad froze on the spot before collapsing, "now if you two care for your team mate, then I want my friend back," Ash instructed the other two members of the trio.
"Very deceptive of you to take out one of our men from the shadows," the tall man in the center stated with anger, he called out his Bisharp and his teammate called out a gray colored pokemon with a black face and a large blade protruding from its head.
"Come on your teammate is having his life drained from him, but if you insist, Lucario and Zoroark I choose you," Ash berated the members of Team Plasma while calling out his two powerful pokemon, "you know Zoroark was actually owned by N, he gave this pokemon to me as a sign of our friendship," Ash decreed as his dark type pokemon let out a mighty roar.
"Very well, you will not beat us, in fact we don't need Legendary pokemon to defeat you in battle," the two men said in unison as their teammate started to struggle for breath.
"Fine enough of this non-sense, Gengar, take control of his body force him to return the master ball to me," Ash instructed the ghost type pokemon, the shadow pokemon jumped from the shadows and into the body of the member on the left, "Lucario, and Zoroark keep their pokemon busy," Ash told his pokemon, Ash walked towards the man as he followed suit, the member of the shadow Triad held out the master ball but Ash was stopped by a powerful gust of wind, he jumped back to see a large green pokemon with a purple tail and white eyes, the prince looking to the legendries eyes as an uneasy feeling writhed it's a though his body, "this is just great, when I need Salvia the most," Ash commented while jumping away from the attack.
Meanwhile back in the city's museum Salvia got up as was feeling totally fatigued, she looked around shakily to find that Ash wasn't around. The princess got to her feet slowly and walked to the exit while grasping her left side, "no you don't Salvia, I promised Ash that you would stay put," Madeline told the royal as she barred the exit of the museum with the help of Raichu.
"What if he needs my help?" Salvia asked tiredly.
"He promised that he would return safely," Madeline replied while she kept her ground.
Salvia looked at the ground with sadness before collapsing as pain from her left side jolted through her body, "but my prince is fighting for peace and yet I haven't proven any use to him," Salvia professed as her friend ran up to her with concern, "Madeline, why aren't you helping him?" Salvia asked while the little girl got a bottle from the bag.
"I am helping him," Madeline replied happily as she gave Salvia some of the medicine, "I am keeping his wife safe," Madeline finished causing Salvia to smile submissively.
"So he told you?" Salvia questioned as she was helped back to the sleeping bag, "in my opinion it's the worst kept secret," Salvia explained as a powerful explosion was heard in the distance, 'Ash please come back safely,' Salvia clasped her hands together and prayed for her husband's return.
I hope you all like this chapter, was a little better than I had anticipated, please tell me what you think of it.
The battle to save the legendary Reshiram has begun but Ash faces the might Tornadus in this battle without the help of Reshiram and Raichu, how will Ash win this battle? Will Ash save Reshiram and protect Salvia and Madeline at the same time?
Next time in an action packed episode 49: Saving truths