Chapter 29: Painfully Obvious
Summary: the other characters see it, but Ash and Salvia don't this light hearted chapter gets the support characters to try and get Ash and Salvia to confess their feelings for one another with hilarious results.
With the Dark Aura Master defeated Ash and Salvia started walking around the historical sights of the small town, it was quiet, with the people that had helped them in the last fight watching the duo, Greed shook his head in disbelief, "alright guys time for an emergency meeting," Greed informed the four people around him.
"Yeah that's right," Dusk answered back.
Hilbert looked over to the duo then returned his focus back to his friends, "I don't like where this is going," Hilbert started to complain about where this was heading.
"Oh come on Hilbert, this is a matter of life and death," Hilda tried to assure him. They watched as the two started walking through the town, "there is obviously something going on between the two," Hilda stated with a cheeky grin.
"Yeah, that's right, it also seems like they are getting closer," Greed informed the group.
"But shouldn't we let them find out for themselves?" Hilbert asked his friends.
"They have had plenty of time, they are both oblivious to one another's feelings for one another," Dusk argued with Hilbert's concerns.
"Exactly, so today, we all must try our best to get those two to confess their feelings," Hilda stated as Greed cheered loudly at the suggestion. Hilda placed her arms around the Hilbert and Dusk, the four huddled together to start whispering their plan, "so we all know that Ash and Salvia are in love with one another, but they don't say it, in fact they are oblivious," Hilda whispered as she looked over to Greed who was nodding in approval.
"How about we separate them for now? Try and talk to them about it," Hilbert suggested while Dusk scoffed at the idea of pulling them apart. Dusk glanced over her shoulder and noticed that Ash and Salvia were no longer in the area.
"Oh shit they aren't here," Dusk hissed, she ran off to find her friends, she quickly turned to her allies and smirked at them, "don't get the wrong idea, I still want Ash dead," Dusk cheerfully confessed her interest in destroying the new Aura Master.
"Wait Dusk, what about making a plan?" Hilda asked the bluenette.
"You can sort it out on your own," Dusk quickly answered the brunette. She ran off leaving the other four to deal with the situation, 'I have my own plans,' Dusk reminded herself as she
"You know, I am going to watch this from a distance," Hilbert stated as he walked away from the group, knowing that not everything was going to go the way they wanted it to. Hilbert left the group of friends alone, he looked back to see them in a huddle.
Ash and Salvia walked through the streets, surrounded by the snow that had fallen during the fight they had against the Dark Aura Masters, "I am going to go out of the town for a little while," Ash avoided eye contact with the princess
Salvia watched the back of the trainer and started to wonder what her other friends were planning, she knew it was also a great time for her to get Ash a present as well, sadly the shops in the town were busy and she didn't want to get caught up in the busy shopping spree, "this sort of thing isn't my style," Salvia told herself, seeing the number of people increase inside the shops, she pulled out her only empty pokeball and stared at it for a moment.
"So Princess, what are you thinking of getting Ash for Christmas?" Hilda asked her blue haired friend.
Salvia quickly turned to her friend, "Hilda, I thought you were….." Salvia started to comment, but was quickly interrupt by the brunette.
"You cannot hide it from your friends anymore," Hilda informed the princess.
"What can I not hide from you guys?" Salvia questioned the queen of Unova.
"We have known for nearly a month princess, you're in love with Ash," Hilda immediately replied causing the princess to step back, her face soon turned bright red at the assumption of her friend, "your face says it all," Hilda pointed at her friend.
Salvia looked at the snow covered streets and let out a sigh, "so you have known all this time," Salvia whispered, she looked around to find that Hilda was the only one around, she looked up and felt the hands of her friend resting on her shoulders, "I don't know if Ash feels the same way," she stated, she quickly turned away not allowing her friend to answer. Salvia glanced back, still trying her best ot hide her very obvious blush.
"Amazing, she didn't even deny it either," Hilda whispered to herself, she started to follow her friend, 'hope the others are having a bit more luck,' Hilda starting thinking about her friends that were going to meet with Ash.
Ash walked to the lakes west of Celestic Town, the thick fog made it difficult to see, but was having hard time focusing on the plan he had, he quickly looked over his shoulder, immediately knowing that he wasn't alone, "you know Greed and Paul, it isn't nice to follow me around without me even knowing it, or almost not knowing it," Ash smirked at his friends.
Greed and Paul emerged from the fog, "so we can't cannot hide from the Aura Master," Greed replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"So you can sense our aura, then what about Salvia's aura?" Paul asked his former rival.
Ash gulped at the question, "I am a little afraid of finding out what she is thinking, so I choose not to read her aura," Ash replied softly.
"Wow, you're going to have to gather some courage," Paul teased his friend, Ash grabbed his fishing rod and cast it out, "what are you doing?" Paul asked curiously.
"Getting Salvia a Christmas present," Ash answered calmly.
Greed watched his friend trying to get the pokemon, a small blue pokemon with a spiral pattern was reeled in, but Ash instantly released it, "is there a specific pokemon you're after?" Greed asked the trainer, but was ignored by the Aura Master, the two friends watched Ash reel in another pokemon this time a fish like pokemon with a horn protruding from its head coloured white and orange, "that would be a nice pokemon for her, a Goldeen," Greed stated but witness Ash releasing the pokemon back into the water.
"Can I be left alone?" Ash asked the men, wanting to focus on getting the pokemon of choice.
Greed turned away from Ash and started walking, he paused and glanced over his right shoulder, "you cannot hide it from us, we already know about your feelings for Salvia," Greed whispered to his friend, he walked away leaving Ash to stare out into the distance.
'Damn you Greed,' Ash's hand shook, he pulled the string out of the water and placed the rod on the ground next to him, Ash looked to the left and sensed another person in the area, "you know Hilbert, it isn't nice to eavesdrop on other people," Ash called to his friend from Unova.
"Yeah I know, but don't worry, I am not here to force you into anything," Hilbert replied with a smile, he walked up to the lakefront and sat next to his friend, "can I ask you something?"
Ash picked up the rod after regaining some of his composure, "what is it Hilbert?" Ash asked the king.
"Why haven't you said anything to the princess?" he asked the raven haired trainer.
Ash took a deep breath and cast the fishing rod again, "because of Pride, he knows full well how to get to me," Ash replied with a frown.
"So, Salvia is your biggest weakness," Hilbert placed his hand over his chin, he started thinking about his own past, remembering what it was like when Team Plasma was causing trouble for him, "you know Ash, I know what you are going through," Hilbert confessed to Ash about his past problems.
"You do?" Ash asked quietly.
Hilbert nodded and looked out to the lakes, "yeah, it was when I was facing off against Team Plasma, when Hilda was in danger, I had to face them alone to save her, at first I didn't think much of her, but as our journey progressed," Hilbert started to get a little embarrassed.
"You're right, honestly when I first saw the Princess again I didn't think much of her because she has the same appearance as my first love," Ash started laughing, pushing his friend aside, the two continued to laugh until Ash felt a tug on the rod, "this is it….I hope," Ash stated as he struggled to reel in the pokemon, he stood up and pulled the rod back, trying with all his might to get the pokemon to come out of the water.
Ash continued to struggle but Hilbert tried to help him get the pokemon out of the water, "no this is my task," Ash snapped at his friend, Ash watched as a serpentine like pokemon appeared from the watery depths, "that's what I was after for her," Ash declared as he made a bigger effort to bring the pokemon closer, using his left hand Ash pulled out a pokeball containing his Lucario, "Lucario, I choose you," Ash called for the aura pokemon to stand and fight.
"That is a rare pokemon," Hilbert watched Lucario perform a weak Dragon Pulse, 'it isn't like him to hold back against his opponent,' Hilbert noted the weakened attack, but it still did significant damage, the power of the attack was enough to send part of the body of water into the air.
Ash remained standing as the water rained down, "now hit it lightly with Bone Rush," Ash ordered his pokemon, the fighting type pokemon formed a bone staff, he charged towards the dragon type pokemon and proceeded to hit the pokemon with a sudden burst of attacks, not allowing for Dratini to escape, Ash dropped the fishing rod and grabbed another pokeball, he tossed it at the serpentine like pokemon trapping it inside, the pokeball landed on the shore and started wobbling.
'He was determined not to hurt the pokemon, he is a lot like N,' Hilbert thought proudly of his raven haired friend, he watched the red and white device wobbling from side to side.
Ash continued to watch the device hoping that the pokemon would stay inside, as the minutes passed, the trainer started to grow impatient, "come on, I want to give you to someone important to me," Ash pleaded with the pokemon, as he finished his sentence, the pokeball stopped moving and signified the complete capture of the pokemon.
Hilbert watched his friend pick up the pokeball, he noticed the broad smile on his face, knowing that he achieved something more meaningful, 'at least he seems a little more positive,' Hilbert thought watching Ash packing up the equipment and walking back to the town, "Oh Ash, there is something you need to know, the rest of them are planning something for you and Salvia," Hilbert warned his friend.
"Thanks for warning me Hilbert," Ash thanked his friend as he continued back towards the small town.
Meanwhile on the western boundary of the town Salvia was walking around in hopes of searching for a pokemon that would suit Ash, "you know following me around Hilda is rather rude," Salvia commented with a hint of sarcasm
"Nothing seems to get passed you princess," the brunette replied after being caught off guard. Hilda looked around the grassy fields and noticed that her friend was searching for a pokemon, "so what pokemon are you after?" the queen of Unova asked the Sinnoh Royal.
"A pokemon for Ash, I am thinking of an Eevee," Salvia replied softly, she kept scanning the snow covered fields in hopes of finding the elusive pokemon.
"You didn't answer my question from earlier," Hilda informed the bluenette.
Salvia walked slowly with her Gardevoir's pokeball in hand, "I might have the courage to face the Shadow Lords, but when it comes to something like this, I seem to lack it," Salvia answered her friend as she continued to pave her way through the snowy fields, "but why are you so adamant for me to tell Ash?" Salvia asked her friend.
Hilda started to help her friend in search for the small brown pokemon, 'I think I get some of the reason why, for one Ash is scared that Pride might use her to get to him and for Salvia, she doesn't think Ash feels the same way,' Hilda remnded herself of the feelings her two friends shared for one another.
While Hilda remained in thought Salvia spotted a lone Eevee and approached it slowly, holding back her call of her psychic type pokemon, Salvia placed her hand on the small pokemon, "oh wow, you're not feeling well," Salvia noted the cold pokemon, she picked it up and carried it back into town, "this wasn't the way I would have wanted to find an Eevee for Ash," Salvia confessed to herself, taking the pokemon back into town with her.
"So she found one, but not the way she would have liked," Hilda whispered, she followed her friend back into town, 'her story is just like mine,' Hilda reminisced her past connections with Hilbert.
(3 hours later)
Greed left the hallway with Paul, they each placed a set of keys in their pockets knowing that Ash was a while away, with Salvia in the fields both of which were searching for a gift for each other, as the two exited the hallway, Salvia rushed into the Pokemon Centre with a sick Eevee in her arms, "that Eevee is sick," Paul noticed the shivering pokemon, he watched the princess hand the sick pokemon to the nurse and smiled at her, "we better keep Ash out for a little while," Paul informed the Shadow Lord.
"I know but isn't he still an hour away?" Greed asked his ally with a smirk.
"Yeah, but I am willing to bet that, that Eevee is a pokemon she will give to Ash," Paul glanced over to his royal friend.
"Oh I see, so those two were going to get a pokemon as a gift for one another," Greed quickly acknowledged the same idea they shared, 'so why did we lock the doors to their respective rooms anyway?" Greed asked the lavender haired trainer.
"You will see my friend, I have never pulled a prank before," Paul started to chuckle.
As time passed Ash ran into the Pokemon Centre, he looked around and found that Salvia wasn't anywhere to be seen, "good, didn't want to ruin the surprise," Ash breathed a sigh of relief, he walked towards the front counter and handed the pokeball containing the newly captured dragon type pokemon.
After seeing to the health of the newly caught Pokemon Ash started his search for the blue haired royal, "yo Ash, I saw Salvia heading out to the western route again," Greed informed Ash after entering the Pokemon Centre.
"Crap, so Hilbert was right," Ash hissed in anger, he walked out of the pokemon centre and continued his search for Salvia. He noticed the day turning to night rather quickly, but still persisted to get to the princess. After getting to the western route Ash finally found Salvia and walked up to her.
Salvia watched as the town below her was starting to turn on the Christmas lights, "you know Ash, I never got the chance to see this," Salvia confessed her eyes fixated on the multitude of colours.
"Really? Christmas lights in this town were really nice…." Ash stopped for a moment flashing back to a memory he shared with Dawn, "the last time I was here, here to see the Christmas lights of this town was with Dawn," Ash lamented the loss of his first love. He walked up to the hill and sat next to Salvia, "I guess this is the first time we have really relaxed."
Salvia sat next to Ash, her arms on her knees, "yeah I haven't enjoyed much of late, but the Christmas lights in this town are amazing," Salvia expressed her joy, she turned her gaze to Ash, 'I never thought I would be spending some time with him,' Salvia thought to herself. Resting her head on her arms she looked out to the lights, soon enough all the Christmas lights had illuminated the small town, creating a colourful display of lights.
Ash peered out to the side, he noticed that Salvia was enjoying the light display, "are you getting cold?" Ash asked with concern for the princess, Salvia shook her head in denial, but Ash refused to accept her reply, he removed his jacket and placed it around the princess, "I don't want you getting sick," Ash confessed as he turned back to the light.
Salvia held on to Ash's jacket tightly, clutching it while the cold winds picked up, "thank you," Salvia whispered almost inaudibly.
Ash happily peered over to the princess, "you know, we should be heading back to the Pokemon Centre, it is starting to get a little late," Ash explained the situation to the princess.
After making it back to the medical facility Ash and Salvia walked over to their respective rooms, Ash tried his best to open the door to the room, "ummmm….Ash I am locked out of my room for some reason," Salvia informed Ash.
Ash placed his hands over his forehead and shook his head in disapproval, 'those guys are going to pay for this,' Ash immediately figured out who was behind the locked doors, Ash crossed his arms and walked passed the princess, "well at least the fireplace is a good place to relax again," Ash chuckled, he led the way with the young royal.
"So he also knows that our friends are responsible," the bluenette whispered, she looked back towards the end of the hallway and noticed a bright light, 'Dawn, it seems like you are still helping me,' Salvia thought as she felt the presence of her best friend, the spirit implored the princess to follow Ash, almost acknowledging her feelings towards Ash.
Ash was on the couch watching the fire dance around, it was quiet with no one around, only him on his own, with Salvia making her way towards him, "you know, can you count how many times they have tried in the last few days?" Ash asked the princess.
"Yeah, Hilda and Dusk have each tried to get me to say something important," Salvia replied softly.
"Greed and Paul have each tried a couple as times as well," Ash started laughing, Salvia took the seat next to Ash and watched the fire, the two started a fake laugh but knew that their friends were right about it, 'it isn't easy to hide it from our friends, but I am hiding it to protect you from Pride,' Ash's guilt started to creep in, but knew that it was the best thing for him to do, "you know one day, I will be telling you something important," Ash stated as she soon noticed that Salvia had fallen asleep.
"Hey look Paul, Salvia is sleeping," Greed watched from a safe distance, he was quick to notice Salvia's head resting on the raven haired trainer's left shoulder, the former member of the Shadow Lords approached the area, he quickly spotted Ash also asleep, "they don't even notice," Greed held back his laughter, he grabbed Ash's left and placed it around the princess.
(The next morning)
Savlia was first to wake up, quick to feel that something wasn't right, she noticed Ash's arm around her and the fact that she was resting on his shoulder, but she chose not to react, 'I feel warmer in Ash's arms,' Salvia confessed, not wanting to move, the fire was out, but her happiness was almost complete.
Ash woke up and quickly moved his arm away from the princess, "sorry," Ash apologised, but was surprised to find that Salvia wasn't angry at the night's sleep, 'what? She isn't angry?' Ash questioned himself, puzzled by the lack of reaction of the Sinnoh based royal.
Hilda used her limited psychic powers to place a twig of mistletoe above Ash and Salvia, holding in place, hoping for the best result, she watched Ash and Salvia walking underneath the mistletoe, watching waiting, 'hurry up you two,' Hilda held the twig almost effortlessly.
"I got it guys!" Dusk rushed into the Pokemon Centre, but as she got closer, she tripped up and her lips accidently came into contact with Ash.
Everyone watched in shock, unable to believe for the fifth time in the week they were foiled by another accident, "you have to be kidding me!" Hilda lowered her focus allowing the twig to fall to the ground.
Dusk leapt back in ager, she moved her right hand over her mouth, trying her best to clear up the kiss, "you kissed me, you bastard!" Dusk growled at Ash, she prepared to attack Ash yet again.
"But you tripped over," Ash tried to argue with the angry bluenette.
"Are you calling me clumsy?!" Dusk furiously asked the trainer.
Salvia watched as the trainer started running away, she quickly looked at the ground to find a twig of mistletoe at her feet, "that's right it is Christmas time," Salvia whispered, her face quickly turned red knowing how close she was to getting a kiss from Ash, but suddenly knew that something strange was happening, "it was a little coincidental that this was happening today," Salvia thought to herself, she immediately glanced over to Hilda whom she knew had a certain amount of psychic ability.
"Um Hilbert," Hilda called to her husband.
"Oh no, you're the one that planned this, you take responsibility," Hilbert immediately defended himself while Greed sat next to him, hearing the yells of agony from Ash.
"You are one dense idiot," Dusk whispered in Ash's right ear, placing a sleeper hold on Ash.
"I give up," Ash quickly submitted to Dusk.
Dusk let go of the submission move and allowed Ash to hit the ground, "alright, the next time that happens I will snap your neck," Dusk threatened the new Aura Master.
"Alright you two that is enough, time to leave the area," Greed led Dusk out of the Pokemon Centre, he was followed by the king and queen of Unova and Paul, they walked around the corner and watched Ash and Salvia, "alright guys, they are alone," Greed whispered, he looked over to Hilda and nodded, she concentrated her limited psychic powers to raising the mistletoe once again.
Ash nervously approached the princess, his hands shaking with a present in his grasps, "hey Salvia,…I-I umm…..have something to say," Ash stuttered now unable to complete a sentence.
Salvia tilted her head, puzzled by the nervous Ash, "what is it?" she asked him.
Ash gulped as he tried to gather the courage, 'oh man, I haven't been so nervous since I confessed my love for Dawn, but this is way more difficult,' Ash reminded himself, he looked at the present and presented it to the princess, "Merry Christmas," Ash wished the young royal.
Outside Dusk now visibly upset with Ash, she hit the wall next to Paul causing part of it to crumble, "that idiot," the angry Aura Master slammed her fist against the wall yet again, she was restrained by the friends as they continued to watch the scene, "let me go!" Dusk demanded.
Inside the Pokemon Centre Ash watched Salvia opening the present, inside the small box a red and white device, "a pokeball?" Salvia asked the trainer with a hint of surprise.
"Yeah, call out the pokemon," Ash replied, scratching his right face with a smile.
Salvia threw out the pokeball, a bright light emitted from the device until a pale blue pokemon with a white underbelly appear, the long pokemon turn to the princess and tilted it's head, "oh wow Ash a Dratini, thank you," Salvia gratefully celebrated her new present from Ash. Salvia pulled out a small box from her bag, "here Ash," Salvia presented Ash with her gift for him.
Ash slowly unwrapped the present revealing a pokeball inside, "seems like we both had the same idea," Ash informed the princess, he picked up the pokeball and called for the creature inside, a small brown pokemon with a fuzzy tail appeared from the device, "an Eevee," Ash replied with a hint of shock.
"Hope you like it Ash," Salvia whispered softly.
"I love it, I never had an Eevee before," Ash answered the princess, "thanks," Ash thanked the royal, "you know something, those guys have been acting strange all day," Ash chuckled as the princess turned her attention to the entrance way of the medical facility.
Salvia lowered her vision and started to laugh, "they wanted me to say something important to you," Salvia informed Ash.
"Yeah, they were doing the same for me," Ash recalled the evolution pokemon, thinking back about his day out in the city, 'no they were trying to force,' Ash thought back to what Hilda was trying to tell him, 'they in fact told me about the fact that you love me, I don't know about that, there is no way you would feel that way about me, especially after I put you in danger,' Ash explained to himself denying even the smallest possibility.
'They all know that I am in love with Ash, but there is no way Ash would love me, how can I confess when I am going to be turned down?' Salvia asked herself fearing that Ash wouldn't feel the same way.
Dusk now being tied up was getting impatient with the obliviousness of Ash and Salvia, "dammit, all those two have to say is they love each other!" Dusk angrily stated while reading the auras of both Ash and Salvia.
Hilda looked towards the Aura Master and smiled, "I don't think that is as easy as you think, Ash seems to fear that if he gets too close to Salvia, he might lose her and Salvia is afraid that Ash doesn't love her," Hilda started reasoning with the bluenette, "it isn't like they don't want to tell each other how they feel, it is likely they cannot at this stage," Hilda started to notice the apprehension of her two friends.
"Well isn't that not a surprise," Hilbert approached his wife and friends.
"I see, so you knew," Paul retorted with a respectful tone.
"Of course I knew, we have to give them the time and space they needed, they aren't going to confess even if you trick them into it," Hilbert acknowledged the situation, he looked into the Pokemon Centre seeing his two friends talking to one another having a great time, he looked up and noticed the mistletoe, "I take it that is your handy work Hilda," Hilbert asked his wife with a cheeky tone, Hilda proudly nodded at her work and gazed into the Pokemon Centre, "how about we leave those two alone, we aren't going to achieve anything," Hilbert started walking away from the rest of the group like he did before the plan started to take shape.
Inside the medical facility Ash and Salvia were enjoying one another's company, talking about Christmas and what the new year will bring for them, "next year we will defeat the Shadow Lords," Ash declared confidently.
"For me, to become a leader, but there are a lot of things I need to learn, so I want to travel with you to Kalos," the princess expressed her interest in going on a journey with Ash.
"Yeah, that can easily be arranged," Ash replied with certainty.
Salvia walked up to Ash and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, she walked away with her new pokemon in her pokeball, leaving a stunned Ash to ponder what had happened, "that should keep our friends quiet for a while," Salvia giggled as she turned to the door still knowing that her friends were outside.
"Yeah, that's right princess," Ash answered back softly. He watched the young royal entering the hallway, his right hand covering the place where Salvia had kissed him, 'that was unexpected,' Ash thought to himself as his friends barged in each of them with a broad smile, it was then he noticed that Dusk was still outside.
"Wow Ash, your face is bright red," Hilda teased her friend with a cheeky smile.
"Shut up," Ash tried to fight back but soon noticed Greed's left arm surrounding him, "what do you want this time Greed?" Ash asked his Shadow Lord friend.
"Oh come on Ash, why not tell us I am certain the princess is in her room," Greed requested the raven haired Aura Master.
"What is Greed getting at? There is no way Ash could be in love with me," Salvia questioned the Shadow Lord, she pressed her back against the wall to get a chance to hear more of the conversation
Ash grabbed his friends arm, not taking any notice of Salvia hiding in the hallway to hear her friends chatting to Ash, "alright, if you want to know," Ash's voice echoed into the hallway not happy that his friends kept pushing him to say something, "I am in love with Salvia," Ash confessed to his friends, Salvia quickly placed her hands over her mouth in shock at what she had heard, she looked out to see Ash being teased by his friends.
Salvia was quick to return to her room, shaken by what she had heard from Ash, "he loves me, I didn't know," she whispered to herself, her face quickly turning red from hearing Ash's confession, she could feel her heart racing, trying to figure out how she was going to return Ash's feelings for her, 'how can I say anything? I am really nervous about it,' Salvia questioned her resolve in confessing her love to Ash.
Salvia's new discovery will soon lead her to becoming more confident in her feelings for Ash, but to bring them into words will be her greatest trial.
Next time chapter 30: Towards the Shadows.
The last 9 chapters, hope you guys are holding in, the final chapters are coming and fast. There will also be an epilogue chapter depicting events after the story.