Episode 59: the lights after tragedy.
I made a mistake in the chapter prior to the last one, but luckily I quickly fixed that minor error up, I guess that's what happens when you haven't done the story for a couple of months. For the first little bit of this chapter I was a little drunk when writing it, but I still hope you enjoy it.
Ash walked around the major city to check on the repairs that taking place, the moments of peace seemed too real to be true, the loss of his father-in-law was still ingrained in his memories and the sadness that Salvia has suffered since then, the bitter cold weather was taking its toll on the people who were rebuilding Castelia City, thinking back to what had happened during the war for Unova had been on the mind of the trainer while inspecting the construction sites of the major port city, "you know Raichu, this has been a difficult few months, Salvia hasn't fully taken in the death of her father and I still feel like I failed my mother," Ash told his partner pokemon while pulling out two of his pokeballs, thinking about his two legendary pokemon under his command, it was like fate was now laughing at him, he knew that getting his pay back was going to be difficult but knew that Chris and the Shadow Triad had to be brought to justice for Brian's death.
Ash looked around to see the kids looting for food much to the displeasure of the store owners, "get back here you little runts!" the store owner yelled out as he gave chase to the little kids, Ash stopped the man and gave him some of his money to help pay for the items, "what's the meaning of this?" the man asked in anger while looking at the money.
Ash tried to force the money into the store owner's hand, "well I am offering to pay for the stolen goods, I am certain the kids have a reason to do something like this, and I will find out for you," Ash offered happily as his Raichu looked up to his trainer with a smile.
"Fine, but I still don't know why you're doing this for a complete stranger," the man enquired with an uncertain expression, he watched as the trainer gave chase for the kids to help the store owner out, he looked at the money and soon became shocked at the amount that was given, "who is this guy? He gave me so much money," the man said with a surprised expression on his face, knowing that he never had the chance to give him the change for the massive amount given, he then spotted a small piece of paper and read the quick note, 'use this for repairs,' the store owner read to himself before turning around to see his shop still a mess from the war.
Ash looked around the town to see where the kids were, he closed his eyes and began to concentrate, "I know you're all around," Ash called out while walking to a location where he knew the kids were, "come on there is no hiding from an aura guardian," Ash commented while moving one of the boxes away to see the children cowering in fear, "alright the game is up, why did you steal the food and where are your parents?" Ash questioned the kids who were scared of what might happen.
The kids looked at one another picking themselves up knowing that there was no escape from the alleyway of the ruined city, "we lost our parents due to the war, we were stealing because we're all hungry and we have no money," one of the girls said solemnly, Ash looked over to Raichu with a little guilt and then thought of an idea, "I might be their older sister, but I was genuinely trying to look after my little siblings," the girl replied with a faint smile.
"Then come with me, I have an idea," Ash replied while leading the kids to the shop they stole from, "the first thing you lot need to do is apologize, the store own lost a lot as well," Ash commented while the children followed the trainer.
"We know it was wrong, but like I said we have no money, so what are we to do, we're too young to have a job," the girl stated with a frown before Ash stopped to kneel down in front of the girl.
"Listen, I paid for the stolen goods, but I don't think the store owner has a grudge either of you, he has also been through a hard time with this war as well," Ash retorted with a knowing grin. the group continued towards the shop through the streets of the destroyed city, street lights were still on the ground leaving little to no illumination as the skies started to darken, "alright guys just stay close," Ash instructed the small group.
"Excuse me, who are you?" one of the brothers asked with a smile.
"My name is Ash Ketchum, I am from Pallet Town, but I am also the prince of the Sinnoh Kingdom," Ash replied with a proud smile, the children gasped in awe at the meeting of a real life prince, "well I wasn't born to have the title, more like I married into it," Ash commented with a smile while picturing the princess in his mind, 'I hope she is doing fine,' Ash thought with a concerned expression still knowing that she still hadn't taken in the devastating events that took her father from her.
"She will be fine," one of the little girls asked assuring the trainer.
Ash nodded and looked up to see the shop and its own standing outside in front of it, "well this is where I will leave you," Ash commented while leaving the children in the care of the shop owner. Ash walked away waving to the little children knowing that they will not be stealing anymore, he turned away wondering what would be happening now, "you know Raichu, Salvia seems to be having a hard time, I guess it was my fault as well," Ash stated while the horrifying memories of the Shadow Triad ambushing the then king right in front of him, Madeline and Salvia, 'and I couldn't do a damn thing to save him, from now on, I will make sure that nothing like that ever happens to my princess,' Ash thought while walking quickly towards the Pokemon Center.
After making it to the building Ash spotted a black haired girl standing in front with a mostly orange pig like pokemon in her arms, "and what took you so long mister?" Madeline asked the prince who was scratching his head with embarrassment, "Salvia, still needs you to comfort her even after three months," Madeline told the trainer as she placed her Tepig on the ground.
"Oh come on, I was helping someone out, I can't just sit back when someone is in trouble," Ash replied with a more serious expression. After replying to Madeline Ash spotted the princess walking out of the Pokemon Center, she tried to say something but words wouldn't leave her lips, "still can't say a word," Ash commented while shaking his head in disbelief, 'she's been like this since we arrived, how do I get her to say a word, I simply refuse to battle the pin masters without hearing her words of support,' Ash thought while placing his hand on his chin.
Salvia placed her hand on the trainers face and smiled at him, she attempted to say something but still not a word coming from her, "Ash, what are we going to do, Salvia hasn't said a word in like three months," Madeline stated with a frown.
Ash smirked for a moment and came up with a quick fix solution, "so princess, where are we heading to next?" Ash asked with hope that he might be able to fix the problem that was afflicting Salvia, she gained an angered expression and seemed like she was ready to yell at him, but still nothing eventuated from her, "oh man that didn't work either, even provocation cannot get her to say a word," Ash complained while taking her hand and smiling at her. Salvia grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, she started to write something down before showing Ash, 'I am still so weak, yet you persist with me, why not leave me here alone?' Ash read the message leaving him in shock, he shook his head again and smiled at her, "no, that will never happen, I will stay by your side forever," Ash promised causing the princess to start crying, she dropped the paper and pen on the ground and embraced Ash tearfully.
Ash gently stroked Salvia's long blue hair while Salvia wept silently, unable to say a word of gratitude. Madeline watched this and started to think about what had just happened, the Unova region knew peace after the devastating war that the princess's uncle started but it felt like they hadn't gained a victory, "Ash, you are no closer to saving your mother and Salvia lost her father," Madeline stated quietly to herself while watching the two embrace, her fire type pokemon standing next to her.
Salvia pulled back and knelt down to pick up her clip board and pen but was stopped by Ash, "no you don't need that, I can tell by looking in your eyes and at your face," Ash commented while picking the items up himself, "I can tell what you're thinking and what you want to say," Ash remarked while placing the items back into her bag, he smiled at the royal and then pulled out his pokeball, "Reshiram, I need you to check up on Nimbasa City," Ash called out and instructed his legendary pokemon, the vast white pokemon immediately flew off to see the condition of Nimbasa City.
"Ash, what's the meaning of this?" Madeline asked the prince with a frown.
"A surprise," Ash replied with a hopeful smile, he walked pass the royal and the girl with Raichu behind him, "Madeline, how about after we finish up in Unova and go to Hoenn, I help you train your Tepig and teach you how to capture pokemon," Ash promised while walking up to the entrance of the medical facility, Ash looked towards the princess and nodded, "well it seems like Salvia wants to help too," Ash said with a smile as he turned and walked into the pokemon center, 'hopefully I can find a way to get Salvia to talk again,' Ash thought while walking through the main foyer of the building.
Madeline looked up at the bluenette with a concerned expression on her face, "so Salvia, when will you say something?" Madeline asked hopefully as the girls Tepig looked up curiously, Salvia shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her friend, the two girls walked into the medical facility to meet up with Ash, Madeline's Tepig followed the two girls in.
Salvia looked up to Ash and tilted her head, "I know Reshiram will be back soon, I cannot tell you what I am planning," Ash told the royal while reading her expressions, Salvia looked towards the ground with sadness knowing that this was the first time in a long time that he had kept a secret from her, 'I don't like keeping a secret, but I need to find a way to get her to talk again,' Ash thought while getting ready to greet his legendary pokemon.
'Friend, what about the Shadow Triad? I remember seeing their leader getting captured,' Darkrai questioned Ash with a stern voice.
'I know what you mean, the ambush was cowardly, I might be an aura guardian, but I didn't sense them before their appearance,' Ash told the dark type pokemon, he looked back at the royal writing a message to Madeline on a piece of paper, 'she wants something to eat, I am guessing an apple,' Ash thought while watching the little girl walking up to the café area of the Pokemon Center, Ash watched the black haired girl walking back with a red apple in her hand, giving it to the princess happily.
'How did you know what the princess wanted?' Darkrai asked the trainer.
Ash chuckled at the question knowing that Darkrai was correct to ask, 'I have known her for nearly two years, I can easily tell what she wants now, I guess that sort of happened about a month ago,' Ash replied to the legendary pokemon.
Ash looked up to see the vast white pokemon flying back to him, 'the city is almost completely rebuilt, but the eastern side of the city is complete,' Reshiram told the trainer calmly, the large dragon landed in front of Ash.
Ash rushed into the medical facility to get Salvia and Madeline, "come on you two, we're heading to Nimbasa City," Ash excitedly told the girls. Ash walked back out of the building with Madeline and Salvia following close behind, Ash and Raichu jumped onto the legendary pokemon followed by the two girls Ash helped Madeline up first and then assisted Salvia, the princess looked up at Ash with a warm smile, "there is no need to thank me, I have done it plenty of times," Ash told the royal with a smile of his own.
"Now Reshiram," Ash ordered his legendary pokemon, the mighty pokemon took off towards their next destination.
"Ash, what do you have planned?" Madeline asked while sitting behind the princess.
While Salvia held on to Ash tightly and resting her head on his back, the trainer looked back to smile at the girl, "wait until we get there," Ash replied to a now frustrated lass, she held onto her pokemon tightly and looked down to see the desert sands whipping around, "you know Madeline, one day you will be going on your own journey as well, have you decided what you want to do?" Ash asked the girl with a proud smile.
"I think I said this before, I want to be a strong as you but as graceful as Salvia," Madeline replied proudly while her pokemon nodded happily, "I want to beat all the gyms and become a pokemon coordinator, just like you and Salvia," Madeline explained her goals to Ash.
The trainer looked ahead proudly as the city skyline started to appear, the reconstruction was taking time, the cranes picking up steel beams while the Machoke were helping out with the reconstruction of the city, Ash looked to the east to see the theme park fully reconstructed, 'I don't understand why they had the rebuilt before anything else,' Ash wondered while nodding to his legendary pokemon, the vast white pokemon descended towards the ground slowly, "as Dawn would always say Salvia, no need to worry," Ash laughed while waiting for his pokemon to land in the nearly rebuilt city.
"So you wanted to bring us to a theme park?" Madeline questioned the prince with a frown, she grew angry at him for wanting to come here, "do you even care what happened three months ago? Is it really necessary to bring us here after the war?" Madeline barraged Ash with question.
Ash leapt off his pokemon after it landed followed by Madeline who landed on her own two feet, Salvia jumped off and landed in Ash's arms, "Madeline, there is something I want to show Salvia, that's why we are coming here," Ash answered the questions while placing the princess gently back on her feet. He recalled his pokemon and walked ahead with the girls following close behind, Tepig and Raichu followed them wondering what was going on, 'I hope I can remind Salvia, that no matter how bad things seem to be, that there will always be people there for her,' Ash thought while looking around to see the empty theme park.
"Ash, this place is empty," Madeline complained while being ignored by the trainer. They walked up to the entrance and were allowed in without paying, "great not only is this place empty we get in for free as well," Madeline pointed out with slight displeasure.
"Not that I am worried, it means this place belongs to us for the day," Ash replied with a smile, "come on Madeline, we do need to at least have a good time," Ash told the girl while Salvia clung to the trainer's arm, Ash looked into the princess's eyes and smiled before turning his attention back to the girl, "even Salvia agrees as well, Raichu, you go with Madeline, I need to be with Salvia alone," Ash stated while instructing his electric mouse to stay with the little girl.
Ash and Salvia left the little girl on her own with Ash's pokemon and Tepig, "this is just great, I am left alone with Ash's Raichu and my Tepig," Madeline complained while crossing her arms and puffing her cheeks, she looked around to see the rides that she wanted to go on, she walked up to the best ride in the theme park but was turned away, "what, I am at least old enough to get on this ride," Madeline complained while looking up at the attendant.
"I am sorry, but you don't reach the required height to be allowed to be on this ride," the attendant apologized with a stern expression.
"Oh come on I am vertically challenged but that shouldn't stop me from enjoying the rides," the little girl complained even further, while Raichu tried to pull her away from the ride to prevent further embarrassment, "you haven't seen the last of me," Madeline decreed while being pulled away from the ride attendant. Madeline looked around as Raichu pointed towards the ride which the girl was allowed to be on, "on no, that ride is for little kids," Madeline replied to the electric mouse while Tepig walked up to the ride entrance, "hey Tepig get back here, don't wonder off on your own like that!" Madeline yelled out to her starter pokemon, she chased after him and eventually caught up, she picked up the small pig like pokemon and turned him around to look in his eyes, "you're my first pokemon, I don't want Ash to think that I am irresponsible," Madeline told the fire pig pokemon with a smile as she put him down.
"Would you like to go on this ride? You do meet the acceptable height level," the attendant asked the little girl with a smile, the woman with a long blue dress and a white blouse opened up the gate and attempted to allow her in.
"I am sorry but I want to go on that ride," Madeline replied while pointing over to the large set of tracks and the cart moving over it with great speeds.
"I am sorry, but that ride is for big kids," the woman replied with a smile.
"I know, but I really want to ride it," Madeline replied with sadness.
Meanwhile in another part of the theme park Ash and Salvia were walking around together, "you know Salvia, what I am about to say might make you think that I am insensitive," Ash warned his wife with a nervous smile, "I know you're trying to ask me what do you mean?" Ash acknowledged quietly as the princess tilted her head without saying a word, "you see, even though bad things do happen, we need to move forward," Ash told the princess while they walked around the theme park.
Salvia pulled out her pad and pen to write down a message to Ash, 'that's not fair to say that, I lost my father three months ago and Madeline lost both her parents nearly a year ago,' Salvia wrote but was stopped by Ash, he took the pen and paper away and looked intensely into the bluenette's eyes, they seemed to have lost a sparkle that seem to have made Ash smile everytime.
"I know what you're going to write next Salvia, it was going to be me about the possibility of making a tough choice when it comes to my mother," Ash acknowledged with a serious expression, he looked away with a frown and took a deep breath, "if the only way of saving my mother is to do the unthinkable, then so be it," Ash explained as a he started to cry at even thinking about his next course of action.
Salvia grabbed the pen and paper and started to write again, 'was this choice easy for you to make?' Salvia wrote on the paper, she showed the question to Ash, he replied with a shake of the head shocking the royal greatly, she tried to write another message again but was stopped by Ash.
"I said there is no need to write, I can already tell what you're going to say by looking at your expressions," Ash commented while gulping, "you told me that a great leader has to make tough choices, in fact you're a better teacher than I am," Ash confessed with an embarrassed smile, he pulled out a book and gave it to the royal. "I finished this book a while ago, it was a great read," Ash declared while the princess accepted the book.
Ash and Salvia continued to walk around the theme park, Ash played a few games but failed to win a prize of any type, 'you know Ash, Madeline didn't see what you're trying to do, but I can clearly see it now,' Reshiram's voice echoed in the trainer's mind.
'I know Reshiram, but it's more difficult than you think, I will simply not battle Iris or Marlon until I can get Salvia to say something,' Ash returned with his response to the dragon's words.
'So you need her to cheer you on, she must mean a lot to you,' Reshiram insinuated while the couple continued to look around.
'Yes Reshiram, she means a lot to me and I will do anything to make her happy,' Ash confirmed with a proud smile.
Salvia looked over to Ash and pointed towards a slow ride, "you want to go on that one, alright then," Ash approved with a grin. The couple walked to the ride and were allowed on for free, "well the good thing is, I don't have to keep standing," Ash stated lazily as he climbed on board the small boat with Salvia following him soon after, the two took off down the narrow water way, "you know Salvia, the last three months you haven't said a single word," Ash commented while the ride slowly continued as they saw the sites of the park around them, they even noticed Madeline walking around with an ice cream cone.
"Oh man, what is taking those two so long, I am so bored," Madeline complained while licking her ice cream cone, still not noticing that Ash and Salvia were on a ride just meters from where she was walking.
Ash smiled knowing that she was still safe, "I might not understand completely what it's like to lose a parent in such a disastrous way, but I want you to know, that no matter what, I will still stand with you," Ash reaffirmed his standing with the princess, he remember the promise he made to Brian before he passed away from his injuries, "you know, I promised your dad something important before the Shadow Triad's attack finally took him away from you," Ash confessed while the princess stared at her love with a puzzled expression, "that's right I promised your dad, that I would always look after you and make you the happiest queen in the world," Ash proclaimed with a proud smile knowing that if he could succeed here then there was never going to be any doubt that he would fulfil the promise he made to Salvia's dad.
Salvia attempted to say something but still no words resonated from her mouth, the ride had ended and the two decided to walk back to meet up with Madeline, Ash looked up and smiled with an idea in mind, Ash walked over to the massive wheel, "ah a lovely couple, this ride is for free, so no need to be concerned," the man said while allowing the duo in with a smile.
After entering the Ferris Wheel, Ash and Salvia sat next to one another, "you see, I am certain your father would want you to be as strong as you can be, so for that, I will be there," Ash promised while the wheel spun around, the wheel stopped with the two at the top, they looked around to see the scenery of the region, "you know Salvia, this scenery is only something you can see from the top of the Ferris Wheel," Ash commented with joy, Salvia moved towards the window to see everything in the area, the reconstruction of the city and the forest just north east of the city, "you know Salvia, what I am showing you from here?" Ash questioned the teen with a smile, she looked back with a perplexed expression on her face, she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "What I am showing you is the fact that we can rebuild, our lives no matter how shattering events seem to be, if we give up, then the wishes of people who gave their lives for us would be in vain," Ash replied to Salvia's question.
Salvia sat next to Ash and started to think about what he had just said, she gulped and tried one more time to say something, "A-A…Ash," Salvia attempted causing Ash to break a smile, "I guess I am too weak to be a crown princess, I couldn't even protect my dad," Salvia confessed while she started to cry.
"No Salvia, you're not too weak, you're kind, gentle person, those are qualities that don't make you weak," Ash told the princess with a proud smile, "I never fell in love with you because, you were pretty, or really smart, I love you because you're a caring, sweet, gentle person," Ash confessed smoothly and proudly
Salvia looked to the floor of the cabin they were in with shame and clenched her fists in anger, "but I feel like I let my whole family down, I feel like I let myself down," Salvia commented while shedding a few tears.
"Salvia, you never said a word for three months, if anyone has let you or your family down, it was me," Ash replied with a heavy sigh, thinking about the final ambush that cost Brain his life and everything that has happened so far, the prince scratched the back of his head and wondered what was going to happen next, "I find myself a little confused at the moment, it seems like my six months of training still hasn't shown any results," Ash complained while Salvia tilted her head again in confusion, "hey don't think like that," Ash ordered the Sinnoh royal with a smile.
"I forgot, you now know exactly what I am thinking," Salvia commented while shrugging her shoulders.
The ride came to an end allowing Ash and Salvia to exit the Ferris Wheel, Salvia exited first followed by Ash, they were soon greeted by Madeline who placed her hands on her hips, frowning at the two, "so you could have said something Ash," Madeline complained while walking up to the trainer, she stomped on his foot causing him to hop around in pain.
"Sorry about worrying you Madeline," Salvia replied with a grin.
Madeline stared in shock, wondering what to say, tears started to well up and joy filled her face, she quickly ran up to Salvia and hugged her, "I missed hearing you talk Salvia," Madeline cried while Ash looked on with a smile on his face.
Salvia returned the embrace from the little girl, the two girls stepped away and smiled at one another happy that things seemed to have returned to their rightful place, "I am sorry I worried you both, oh and one more thing," Salvia stated before kissing Ash on the cheek, she pulled back and smiled at him, "it's a little late but Happy Birthday Ash," Salvia declared joyfully before turning around to start walking towards the exit of the theme park, "thank you Ash, you saved me again," Salvia thankfully told, sweetly smiling at him.
"I couldn't just sit back to see you sad forever," Ash replied happily.
"We should head to your next master's battle, I want to watch you battle, so I can cheer you on with all my might," Salvia decreed while watching Ash call out his mighty legendary pokemon.
"Yes finally a friendly battle between two trainers, instead of a war," Madeline cheered while jumping up and down while the three pokemon in the area smiled at the girl.
Ash climbed onto his pokemon and helped the girls up, Tepig and Raichu soon followed and the group left the Theme Park ready for Ash to face his next challenge, "now we can continue our journey, uninterrupted by war," Ash declared with a proud smile as they flew off towards Oplucid City, 'Brian, I promise to keep your daughter safe,' Ash thought of the king while looking at the princess who was sitting behind him.
"Thinking about my dad and making a promise to him are we?" Salvia asked the trainer with a bright grin.
"Not you too," Ash complained before bursting out into laughter.
The journey recommences after the war that engulfed Unova, now Ash will challenge Iris for the Fang Pin.
Will Ash win his battle? And what pokemon will he be using against Iris?
Next time Episode 60: The Dragons of Unova