Chapter 21: Connections.
Summary: Ash tries to come to grips with his loss of control over his dark aura, it will be up to Paul and Salvia to get him to snap out of his depression.
Three days after his fight with Wrath Ash silently sat at one of the tables in the Pokemon Centre, staring at his hands, he was still unable to say a word, Paul watched his friend who seemed like he was in shock after the events that unfolded in the fight against Wrath, 'those two need to sort things out now,' Paul thought about what had happened and started approaching Ash, "get up, we need to talk," Paul grabbed Ash by the collar forcing him to stand up.
"Come with me," Paul started dragging Ash away from the main foyer. The two friends walked passed the main counter and into the hallway containing the accommodation for the trainers, "while you have been quiet and remaining to yourself, the princess has been training to get stronger," Paul informed Ash, directing his friend to the room, he opened the door and pointed to Salvia who was asleep.
Ash stared at the young royal and noticed a bandage on her left arm, "she kept challenging me to a battle, she might have lost every time, but that didn't stop her, she also told me to not say why she was training," Paul stated while witnessing his friend walking into the room, 'it is because of you, she wants you to recognise her, not only that, she even told me not to tell you how much she loves you,' Paul thought to himself while Ash pushed Salvia's hair aside.
Ash stared at the sleeping princess and smiled at her, trying his best to say something, but not a sound could be heard, 'I might not be able to say a word at the moment, due to the most recent events, but I feel I am the worst person on the planet,' Ash thought to himself trying to figure out what was going on, Ash kept his eyes glued on the bluenette and smiled, 'at least you are making an effort, me, well I am screwing everything up,' Ash told himself trying to figure out who exactly he was.
Paul started walking away, "Ash, I challenge you to a battle," Paul challenged the trainer, but the challenge was ignored by the saddened aura guardian, "my pokemon have been through a lot of training, they will still easily defeat your pokemon," Paul tried to provoke Ash into battle, but the provocation wasn't phasing the young man, 'oh man, I don't want to resort to this, but if he ignores me…..' Paul clenched his fists, but still resisted the urge to use the taunt he didn't want to use, "since when did the hasty Ash Ketchum become a wimp?" Paul continued to taunt the trainer.
'No matter what I will ignore these taunts,' Ash continued to stare at the princess.
'Dawn, please forgive me for using you like this,' Paul closed his eyes with a hint of regret, "well I guess Dawn's sacrifice for a wimp was a wasted effort," Paul stated but still had a hint of disdain in his expression, he noticed his old rival angrily clenching his hands, 'well that seemed to work, this is stupid,' Paul started to complain, "I guess if Dawn saw you know, she would be really disappointed in the person she died for," Paul continued to push Ash into reacting.
'Damn you Paul, how dare you talk about Dawn like that,' Ash started shaking with anger.
'Come on you idiot react, I don't want to keep insulting Dawn like this,' Paul started hoping that his friend would react to him, "I guess with the lack of reaction from me insulting Dawn, you don't truly…." Paul started the sentence, before he could finish Ash pushed him into the wall and nodded, "so you accept my challenge," Paul smirked at his rival, 'I should have been punched a fair few times, but at least I don't have to continue with insulting my friend like that, I hope I don't resort to such cheap tactics ever again,' Paul berated himself, knowing full well that Ash was upset, knowing that he wasn't going to be easily forgiven by his two friends Paul walked away in shame of his own actions, 'I am sorry my friends,' Paul apologised quietly
Salvia who was resting on the bed with her eyes open watched Ash leaving the room, 'sorry Ash, I promised your rival that I wouldn't react,' Salvia waited for the door to close, she sat up and looked at her bandaged arm.
(3 days prior)
"Gardevoir, attack now with Psychic," Salvia ordered her pokemon, the white human shaped pokemon's eyes started to glow blue causing a blue aura to surround the opposing grass type pokemon.
"Not bad princess, but not good enough, Torterra, counter with Frenzy Plant," Paul commanded the continent pokemon to attack, letting out a powerful roar, vines emerged from the ground with Gardevoir as the target.
"Gardevoir use Double Team," Salvia panicked in her command, the psychic type pokemon split herself into multiple clones, the vines split into even more vines taking out every clone in the area, the real Gardevoir took the powerful hit, knocking her out of the battle, "again I lost," Salvia recalled her beaten pokemon, she turned to find that Ash was nowhere near the battlefield.
"I see you keep searching for him," Paul pointed out with a frown, he recalled his pokemon and followed up by searching for his former rival, "I know what you are going through, this isn't the same Ash I came to respect," Paul crossed his arms in dismay, he placed his left hand over his chin now deep in thought, "maybe I need to provoke Ash to some extent," Paul informed the young royal.
Salvia turned to her friend with a puzzled expression, "how are you going to do that?"
"No idea, but the only way I can do that, is if you promise not to get in the way and not to get upset by me insulting our friend," Paul notified the bluenette. He turned towards the Pokemon Centre and started approaching it, "you seem puzzled, if I have to…." Paul gulped knowing how upset both the princess and Ash will be, "I will use Dawn as the trigger," Paul told Salvia with a regretful expression.
"Why Dawn?" Salvia asked, but the question was ignored, she noticed the pained expression on her friend's face, 'oh right, Ash still loves Dawn,' Salvia lowered her gaze, thinking about her own feelings, she grew more determined with her own resolve, "I really want Ash to make me a better trainer," she whispered, taking her chance she watched the trees swaying in the breeze thinking about her own path, "I am going to get stronger, it might take me some time, but there is no way I will give up," Salvia promised herself switching her gaze to the medical facility and with her fists clenched she walked towards it, determined to keep getting stronger.
(Present time)
Ash was standing at the battlefield with Paul preparing to call out his pokemon for the battle, "Electivire standby for battle," Paul called for a large yellow pokemon with black stripes, powerful arms and two black tails appeared ready to battle the pokemon Ash was going to call out, "now don't hesitate, I am sick of seeing my friend beating himself up," Paul growled at the opposing trainer.
Ash grabbed the pokeball of choice, but was hesitant to call out the pokemon he wanted, he tried again, but instead of the pokemon that he was going to select Lucario jumped into the battle, surprising both the trainers, Lucario glared at the trainer and shook his head, "well Ash, it seems like even your Lucario isn't pleased with you," Paul stated with a smirk, the aura pokemon nodded at the purple haired trainer.
Lucario formed a blue bone staff as he prepared himself for the battle against the trainer, "Electivire attack now with Thunder Punch," Paul instructed his electric type pokemon, the two pokemon charged at one another, but Ash remained silent not calling for an attack, the two pokemon clashed with their attacks, the bone staff held up against the devastating Thunder Punch, sparks flew in every direction bringing down a wall that metres away from the battle.
Salvia rushed out to see the battle getting started, she quickly glanced over at Ash who wasn't commanding his pokemon, "come on Ash," Salvia whispered to herself, she remained inside knowing the danger of the battle between the two powerful trainers.
"Come on Ash, this isn't like you, command your pokemon!" Paul ordered his friend with growing frustration, "look over there, is this the type of person that gives other people the ability to hold their head high?" Paul pointed to the princess asking the rival trainer about his own resolve, but Ash remained silent not wanting to answer his friend's questions, "you were so ready to face me in battle when I was insulting Dawn, you want to know something?" Paul questioned his rival with a frown, "I am disappointed in you, you should have punched me for what I said," Paul started to grit his teeth as the trainer looked away.
Salvia walked outside while Paul was trying to get Ash to say something, "come on Ash, you need to pick yourself up, you helped me pick myself up," Salvia approached the battlefield not worrying about the danger that she was putting herself in.
"So you lack some courage, yet here is the princess putting herself in danger for you," Paul stated while he looked over to his pokemon, "Electivire use Dischage," Paul ordered his pokemon, the powerful pokemon unleashed a powerful blast of electricity which was heading towards the aura pokemon.
Salvia continued on as a stray bolt of electricity was heading towards her, Ash flashed back to when Dawn saved his life and without any form of hesitation he jumped in front of the royal protecting her from the blast, taking the electricity Ash screamed out in pain.
"Electivire stop the attack," Paul commanded his pokemon with a concerned tone, his pokemon ended the attack allowing Ash to fall to the ground, Paul witnessed Salvia helping the shaken trainer up, "you know Ash, when I was insulting Dawn, it was as a last resort, I needed to see what you were going to do, but it seems like you're showing signs of moving forward," Paul explained to the raven haired Aura guardian, he recalled his pokemon and started walking back to the Pokemon Centre.
Recalling his pokemon from the battle, Ash got up slowly and started making his way back to the medical facility, before entering Ash collapsed after taking the powerful attack, "Ash!" Salvia screamed out in disbelief.
Paul immediately turned around and assisted the princess in getting Ash inside, they made it to one of the rooms, "he is reckless," Paul chuckled as he exited the room.
Salvia kneeled down, placing her arms on the bed, "you protected me from the attack, even when it was an accident," Salvia whispered as the trainer remained unconscious, 'as quiet as I have been about my feelings for you, I feel like I am getting more confident in telling you,' Salvia thought to herself with a smile, resting her head on her arms she took a sidewards glance happily looking at the trainer, "I will stay here Ash, that will never change," she whispered before falling asleep.
Hours later Ash had awoken, taking a deep breath, "it seems like I have had two people help me recover," Ash whispered to himself, he slowly moved his right hand towards the princess who was still sleeping next to him. He moved the hair of the princess and proudly smiled at her, 'she is so beautiful,' Ash admired the royal, "I need to look after you, I have finally found the person I need to protect," the Aura Guardian pushed the bluenette's hair behind her ears.
Paul opened the door quickly noticing that Ash was looking at the princess in a more positive light, "it seems like you have come back," Paul told the trainer, Ash immediately removed his hand and shot up in shock, Pau;l started laughing at his friend as the princess started to wake up.
Salvia sat up and stepped back, "I am sorry Ash," she apologised for sleeping next to the trainer, her face turning a little red.
"It's fine, I was a little pathetic, you two reminded me what was important," Ash assured the princess before turning his gaze to Paul, "well I didn't expect you to resort to such cheap tactics," Ash remarked with a dissatisfied expression.
"Don't ever make me do that again you hear me?" Paul smirked at his former rival.
"Of course, I guess I was getting depressed because I was losing control of the dark aura," Ash explained his problems to his friend, he quickly turned ot the princess who was feeling a little more relieved that Ash was finally saying something, "Salvia," Ash called to her.
"Y-yes," answered back the princess.
"Before we head off to get to the Dark Aura Master, would you like to spend some time with me today? Walking around the city," Ash asked the royal as she gulped at the question being asked of her.
Hesitating for a moment she placed her hand over her mouth with Paul watching in the background, "I would love to Ash," she replied hiding her blush.
Salvia brushed pass the trainer at the door, excited for the first time, Paul turned to Ash and smiled at him, "just a few hours ago, you were depressed, now you're asking the princess out on a date," Paul teased his friend.
"I have put myself under so much pressure, so I need some time to relax," Ash informed the purple haired friend.
Salvia with her back to the wall started listening in on the conversation, "so Ash, here is a question for you," Salvia heard Paul putting Ash in the spotlight, "how do you really feel about the princess?" Paul questioned the trainer.
"That was random, why do you ask?" Ash questioned the Sinnoh based trainer.
"Come on, since you lost Dawn, you have failed to put two and two together," Paul started explaining to Ash who seemed more puzzled by the comments, "she courageously stopped you from doing something you might regret later, she cut her hair, she is even training to become a better trainer, have you asked yourself why she is doing that?" Paul continued to push the topic further implying something important to his friend.
"No I haven't asked myself those questions," Ash replied coldly, leaving Paul flabbergasted by his response, "what, is there something I need to know?" Ash asked his shocked friend.
Paul shrugged his shoulders and headed towards the exit of the room, "no, nothing at all my friend," he replied as he walked passed the flustered royal, 'she heard our conversation, man, both of them are as bad as the other,' Paul started complaining about his friend's attitudes towards the other, 'they clearly like each other more than friends, but I think they are too scared to admit it,' Paul explained to himself as he entered the main foyer of the Pokemon Centre.
(2 hours later)
Ash and Salvia were sitting in one of the restaurants enjoying a meal, they both looked out towards the southern route thinking about the fight against the Shadow Lords, "during your fight against Wrath I was really scared," Salvia admitted to Ash who was enjoying his bowl of pasta, Ash looked up puzzled with a stand of pasta hanging out of his mouth, upon seeing this Salvia giggled at the trainer, "you know Ash, you need to have a certain amount of table manners," Salvia pointed out, watching him slurp up the pasta.
"Yeah and what about you?" Ash questioned the royal with a cheeky grin.
Salvia picked up the spoon next to her plate of food and twirled the pasta with perfection, "I eat like a proper lady," Salvia retorted with a wink, she placed the pasta in her mouth without making a mess, "you on the other hand need to eat without making a mess," Salvia teased the young man as she took a serviette to clean Ash's face.
While cleaning his face Salvia almost fell over, Ash stopped her from falling making Salvia jump back a little, "sorry about that," Ash apologised as he grabbed the spoon and struggled to copy what Salvia had shown him, "wow this is harder than I anticipated," Ash commented as he managed to get it right much to the entertainment of the princess.
"After beating the Shadow Lords, what do you intend to do?" Salvia asked the trainer with a curious tone.
Ash dropped the cutlery and took a deep breath, "well I think I have said this before, I want to travel again," Ash answered the bluenette, he looked away yet again not wanting to make eye contact with the princess, "I would like for you to join me on my next journey," Ash requested the princess.
"On your next journey? I…..I might be busy, you know royal duties, I cannot abandon that," Salvia tried to come up with her excuse, 'I would love to travel with you, but I have something I want to tell you,' Salvia thought to herself, scared to bring her feelings to words.
Ash stared at the princess without her noticing, he scratched his head and noticed how the princess was thinking of his question, "you don't have to answer right away," Ash told the princess, he stood up and walked over to the front counter to pay for the meal.
After paying for the meal Ash and Salvia walked through the city, the two walked to a hill where they could witness the sunset, "I often did this with Dawn," Ash commented as the sky over the city started to change colour, Salvia sat down watching the buildings follow the colouring of the sky.
Salvia continued to watch with sad memories of what happened earlier in the struggle, "the last time I was here Ash, I was being chase by a person we thought was our enemy," Salvia told the trainer with a saddened tone, thinking back to when her father was killed by the Shadow Lords, "" I know how you feel when it comes to losing someone you love, I want revenge but I lack the strength to fulfil it," Salvia informed as, she grasped onto the grass covering the hill.
Ash watched the princess grabbing some blades of grass and releasing them into the wind, "you're wrong," Ash snapped at the princess, the young royal glanced back confused with Ash's sudden response, "being kind and gentle is not a weakness," Ash turned away to hide the redness on his face, "from what Paul told me, when you stepped in when I was in a rage, you did it knowing that you could get hurt, in order to stop me from doing something that I might regret later," Ash explained while sitting down to watch the moon rising over the horizon.
'If only he knew why I did it,' Salvia thought to herself she gulped trying to gather the courage she needed to say what was on her mind. The two sat back to back watching the night time start, Salvia watched as a streak crossed the sky, a shooting star this early in the night, 'I wish one day for the courage to tell Ash that I love him,' Salvia made her wish.
Ash noticed another star flying across the dark canvas, 'I lack the courage to tell her how I feel, I hope one day, I can tell Salvia,' Ash watched the start disappear from the sky.
Ash felt Salvia shivering as the cold started to creep in, Ash removed his jacket and placed it over Salvia's shoulders, "thanks Ash," Salvia gratefully told the trainer, she grasped at the jacket feeling warm again, 'this is how I feel when I am around Ash,' Salvia reminded herself, not caring about fearing his darker side.
'One day, when the time is right, I promise you Salvia, I will tell you, but for now, I will keep it quiet,' Ash told himself as he stood up, he extended his hand out to help Salvia up, she took his hand and stood up, the two gazed into each other's eyes, but before saying a word the two turned away, "let's head back for some sleep, tomorrow, we are heading to Celestic Town," Ash informed the royal, letting go of her hand.
Salvia feeling her heart racing, watched Ash leading the way, she looked at her hand and smiled, "that is the first time I took his hand," she whispered trying to contain her excitement, not wanting to let Ash hear her comment.
Ash continued on, staring at his right hand, "oh man, why am I so stupid? That was the time to tell her," he started to berate himself at not saying anything, to the princess, but the feeling of holding her hand put him at ease, 'thanks Salvia, after today, I am going to master dark aura,' Ash gratefully glimpsed over his left shoulder and smiled at his new love interest.
(The Next Day)
Paul stopped Ash from leaving the pokemon Centre, he glanced over his right shoulder, the bluenette waiting for the raven haired trainer, "listen Ash, second chances don't come often enough," Paul pointed his thumb at the young royal, "a friend doesn't react like they did, when she got hurt, you lost it completely even when I got hurt you still had some amount of control," Paul extended his right hand out.
"It is none of your business," Ash retorted as he extended his left hand out.
Shocked at the response Paul started laughing at the trainer, "you're quite an obvious person, you need to be more open my friend," Paul shook hands with Ash before allowing him to leave with Salvia walking next to him, 'your second chance at having someone is standing right next to you,' Paul thought to himself after noticing that Ash seemed a little nervous around the young woman.
"So Ash what did sir Paul talk you about?" Salvia asked the aura guardian.
Ash glanced back and then away towards the road heading away from the city, "nothing," Ash replied, he was quickly stopped by Salvia who closed the distance between them, she tilted her head causing Ash to start blushing, "what is it?" Ash grew more uneasy with Salvia standing close to him.
"It seems like you're a little uneasy, what's the matter?" Salvia asked the aura guardian.
Ash stepped back trying his best to hide his redness, "nothing, nothing at all," Ash waved his hands in front of his face.
Salvia lowered her vision and turned away, 'yeah just as I thought, there is no way he could possibly like me in that manner,' Salvia thought while following the road.
'Oh man that was close, but it isn't like she feels the same way I do,' Ash took a deep breathe, still not noticing some of the obvious hints that the princess was starting to convey, 'plus I don't want those bastards using them to get to Salvia, I am scared that she might get hurt,' Ash continued to stare at the princess, he walked behind her.
Standing in one of the alleyways a person was watching what was unfolding, 'gees you two say something,' the person continued to get a glimpse of the two people, 'it isn't like they can see me, but once you realise that you need to go forward Ash, I can finally crossover,' the spirit looked over at the trainer, revealing herself to be Dawn, 'come on Ash, my mission before I truly leave you is to make sure that you find happiness,' Dawn stated with a smile.
'Come on Dawn, your time is running out,' another female voice called to the bluenette.
'Not now mom, I still have unfinished business, so please wait with Delia, Piplup and Pikachu,' Dawn instructed her mother before walking towards Ash and the princess wanting to keep an eye on them, 'Ash, you can no longer hide it from me, over the last few weeks your feelings for Salvia has grown, but then again so has Salvia's feelings for you, sadly you both are hiding it from each other,' Dawn explained to herself after her observations.
With the fight against the Dark Aura Masters about to get started, it will be up to Ash to master the dark aura within.
Next time chapter 22: Between Light and Darkness
Would like to know what you all think so far, I am heading to the end of the story as well, (in terms of writing it)