Chapter 6- Fight in the Forest -

For the first time in weeks Ash laid quietly in his sleeping bag in an uninterrupted and very peaceful sound sleep without the slightest hint of any of his usual nightmares tormenting him. As Ash slept in this wonderful sleep he began to dream.

He dreamt a beautiful dream were both he and May were alone, laying on the most serene beach with the waves slowly washing up onto the shore, the warm water gently washing over the toes of their feet then quickly retreating back into the ocean. Together they tightly embraced one another in each other's arms and without uttering a single word watched as the sun with its vibrant mix of orange and yellow slowly disappear behind the seemingly never ending ocean.

Suddenly Ash was violently ripped away from this world and back into the real one. Ash had been awakened by somebody throwing a heavy metal object onto him. "Wha- What's going on?" He asked sitting himself up and drowsily rubbing his eyes. Looking up he saw Lancelot standing over him "Every Aura Guardian is first a swordsman, now pick it up," he said "I want to see what you know." Lancelot was pointing down to the long sword lying across Ash's sleeping bag. Ash glanced over at the sword then quickly withdrew back into his sleeping bag "Go away I only need five more minutes." Ash replied childishly, closing his eyes again he tried to return to the dream he was having.

Without warning Ash felt his sleeping bag being torn out from underneath him, leaving him exposed to the cold morning air. "Alright fine, I'm getting up!" Ash yelled as he slowly picking himself up off the dew covered ground. Standing back up Ash peered over towards the now re lit fire, Riley now sat beside it stirring a wooden spoon inside a large metal pot that was hanging over the fire. Pikachu was comfortably resting on his shoulder munching on a couple of the grapes Ash received earlier. Rubbing his eyes one last time Ash knelt down to pick up the sword that was lying on the ground below him.

Holding the sword near his face Ash examined it and realized it wasn't his, looking down at his side he saw his sword was still in its sheath. Ash yanked out his sword from its scabbard and held it up beside the other sword comparing the two.

Although the sword was the right length (about four feet long from the very tip to the bottom of the handle) it didn't have the black leather handle or the silver colored tear drop shaped bottom that Ash's had. Instead it had a lightly stained wooden handle with a more rounded bottom that was colored dark bronze. Something peculiar happened to Ash's sword though, the inscription that had once been ingrained into his blade had completely vanished. "That's weird…" Ash said to himself as he returned the sword back into its scabbard.

Suddenly Ash heard the sound of fast paced footsteps approaching him, jerking his head up to see what it was Ash saw Lancelot ferociously charging at him with his sword raised over his right shoulder. Ash stood there trying to make sense of what he was witnessing, but before he knew it Lancelot was upon him, swinging his sword down onto Ash. Ash reacted instinctively, lifting his sword up with both hands placed on the grip trying to deflect the blow like he had seen in the movies. Lancelot's blade smashed onto Ash's creating a sharp high pitched clanging noise. Ash felt his elbows bend down a little from the force of the blow followed by a long painful vibration that ran throughout the whole length of his sword causing his hands to quiver violently. Without another moment's hesitation Lancelot grabbed the bottom of his sword and like a lever pushed it upwards, the point of his sword was now facing down towards Ash. Lancelot thrust his sword down; his blade grinding across Ash's stopped only inches away from Ash's neck. "You're dead," Lancelot said, slowly retracting the sword away from Ash.

"What the hell was that man!" Ash yelled, furiously shoving Lancelot away from him "Maybe next time give me a little bit of a warning or something before you decide to try and go all Hulk on me!" Lancelot stumbled back a little ways from Ash then looked back up at him confused "I'm sorry, but I thought I had made it clear earlier that I wanted to test your proficiency with a sword." Ash gave Lancelot a dumbfounded look "So running at me like a maniac is your idea of testing me?" Lancelot nodded his head "Well yes that was my way of seeing what capabilities you possess with a sword." Ash scoffed a little at this "And how were my capabilities by the way?" Lancelot thought about this for a second then replied "Awful, your form was wrong, you didn't execute your block correctly, and the way you held your sword was atrocious."

"Oh please don't try and sugar coat it," Ash replied sarcastically. "I wasn't sugar coating anything," Lancelot said. Placing his sword on his shoulder he walked back over to Ash "Now there are two things we shall fix first. The first being how you hold your sword." Lancelot held out his sword in front of Ash in the same fashion Ash had done previously. "Instead of keeping both your hands close together, keep your right hand almost touching underneath the cross guard's." Lancelot showed Ash an example by placing his hand under the part of the sword that created the letter T. "Next keep your left hand gripping the pommel of the sword." Lancelot placed his hand on the wooden sphere located on the bottom of his sword. Ash lifted his sword up and copied Lancelot's hold "Yes like that," Lancelot said before continuing.

"Now then one other thing I noticed was you attempted to block my blow with the edge of your sword, or as you might call it the blade." He said this while pointing the sharp portion of his weapon "This is something you should never do. Instead when you block do so with the flat of your weapon, this part here." Lancelot flipped the sword over onto its wider and flatter side and ran his finger up and down the length of it then flipped the sword back over to its blade."Remember Ash this part of your sword is for hurting," Lancelot turned the sword back over again "and this part of your sword for protecting."

"Alright I get the part about hurting and protecting, but why I am I holding the sword like this?" Ash asked referring to the unusual way he was holding the sword. "Here I'll show you why," Lancelot said taking a few steps back. "I want you to strike me in the same manner I struck you, only this time keep your hands together like you had done previously," Lancelot said. While getting himself situated he allowed his own sword to hover over his right shoulder

"Are you sure about this Lancelot?" Ash asked hesitantly, Lancelot scoffed at this remark "Of course I am why wouldn't I be?" Ash shrugged his shoulders "Ok then if you say so."

Changing the hold he had on the sword Ash slid both his hands closer together on the handle. Looking back up at Lancelot Ash saw that he stood there completely oblivious to what was happening he was oddly relaxed and looked as if he were day dreaming about something else, Ash saw this as an opportunity.

In an instant Ash lifted his sword high in the air like an axe, using more force than necessary, swung it down at Lancelot. Lancelot responded by shooting his sword up in the air horizontally to meet Ash's blow, creating another high pitched clanging sound.

By blocking with the flat of his sword along with griping the pommel gave Lancelot an opportunity. Jerking the pommel of the sword back towards him Lancelot produced a sweeping motion with the blade stopping it only a few inches away from the side of Ash's neck.

Ash's eyes glanced down at the sword that was now resting on his shoulder then back at Lancelot. His eyes were fixated onto Ash's, Ash looked back into them and in that moment the same sense of familiarity that he had when he first met him now returned back to him.

Lancelot spoke again this time in a slow cold hearted voice "And that Ash is why we block and hold the sword the way we do." Lancelot said returning the sword back to its sheath.

Riley who had remained silent during this period now walked over to them "If I may?" Riley asked holding out his hand to accept the sword. "Alright Squire Riley you and Ash may spar." Lancelot said handing Riley the sword.

Riley taking the sword traded places with Lancelot "Ready whenever you are," he said holding the sword out in front of him. Ash quickly changed his grip to the one Lancelot had shown him. Then with a violent snarl Riley lurched forward at Ash, his sword pointed directly at Ash's gut.

Ash jumped back surprised at Riley's sudden aggression and with the blow lightly tapping the front of his jacket. Ash felt his feet suddenly slip out from underneath him Ash landed on his back hitting the ground hard. Riley wasted no time in trying to hit Ash while he was down, running up to him he swung his sword down onto him. Quickly grabbing the blade in of his sword in one hand and the pommel in the other Ash managed to lift his sword up in time to block the blow. Riley was now on top of him trying desperately to tilt his sword down onto Ash. Ash responded by taking the pommel of his sword and like a windshield wiper smacked Riley in the face with it effectively throwing him off of him.

Ash leapt back to his feet ready for another attack "Good very good," Riley said as he wiped a small bit of blood off of his bleeding lip, now it was Ash's turn to go on the attack. Taking his sword Ash sliced it down at Riley in a diagonal fashion. Riley blocked the blow with relative ease, the clanging of their swords echoed throughout the forest. Riley having Blocked Ash's attack with the side of his sword quickly made his way down towards Ash elbowing him in the chest. Ash was pushed back from the attack with his arms stretched wide giving Riley the opportunity to place his sword against Ash's chest "Not good enough though." Riley said with a grin.

Lancelot then walked back over and lowered the blade of Riley's sword away from Ash

"That's enough practice for today," Lancelot said retrieving the sword from Riley and placing it back in its scabbard "We'll eat a short breakfast, and then continue on our way to Viridian City which is still many miles away." Lancelot then turned back to Riley "Now Riley I understand that you've prepared a meal for us, correct?"

"Oh yes, it's right over here." He said walking over to the iron pot and lifting the lid "Mm, nothing better than potato soup on a cold morning such as this." Riley said decadently wafting the aroma of the soup towards him. The aroma of the freshly made soup slowly made its way towards Ash causing him to suddenly remember his hunger.

Ash ran over to his pack and immediately pulled out two bowls a large one for him and a smaller one for Pikachu. Ash made his way back over to the pot were Pikachu was eagerly waiting. Taking the ladle that was in the pot Ash filled Pikachu's bowl up first "Here you go buddy." Ash said setting the bowl down in front of Pikachu who began happily began stuffing its face with food. "Eat fast all of you, we must leave soon if we are to reach Viridian City by nightfall." Lancelot said sitting himself down beside the fire. Ash cringed at the thought of riding again, his groin was still sore from the other day.

Ash put this out of his mind and instead tried to focus the meal that was before him. There meal even though extremely delicious was silent. Everyone remained silent lost in their own thoughts and emotions.

Lancelot broke this silence when he splashed a bucket of water onto the fire. "Alright time to go." He ordered, walking over to his Arcanine he leapt onto its back. Riley called out his Rapidash from its Poke ball and hastily jumped onto its back.

Pikachu quickly jumped onto Ash's shoulder its face still covered with bits of soup. Ash looked over at his Tauros who gave him a death stare "Alright come on now bob let's just get this over with." Ash said slowly walking over to the Tauros. Slowly Ash climbed onto the back of the Tauros and tried to situate himself comfortably on its back.

"Any one not ready," Lancelot asked looking back at Ash and Riley. Neither of them said a word, Lancelot nodded at this then turning back around dug his heels into his Pokemon commanding it to go forth. The Arcanine let out a mighty roar then began sprinting at an amazing speed down the road with Riley galloping close behind. "Don't let them get too far ahead of us Bob." Ash said jabbing his heels into the side of the Pokémon. The Tauros took off at a manageable pace gradually catching up to Lancelot and Riley.

The day's ride turned out to be somewhat smoother than the last days the, road was generally flat aside from the occasional step hill. The trio was making good time until they reached a narrow stretch of the road.

Lancelot suddenly halted his Pokemon causing a small pile up and nearly throwing Ash off his Tauros. "Hey Riley why are we stopped," Ash asked while trying to get a better view of what was in front of him. "Two people are blocking the road it seems," Riley replied. "What do you mean blocking the road?" "Come see for yourself," Riley said looking back at Ash. Ash curious to see what was happening dismounted his Pokémon and walked past Riley and beside Lancelot. There he saw two hooded men cloaked in black standing next to each other; silently they watched as Ash approached.

"My good sir's will you not step aside and let us pass?" Lancelot asked in a knightly voice. One of the hooded men suddenly stepped forward "Those who wish to pass must first pay a price." The man said in a dark voice "And what price is that?" Lancelot asked leaning forward on his Arcanine. "Hand over your Pokémon and all your possessions and you shall not be harmed." The second man said as he stepped forward beside his friend. Ash looked up at Lancelot "Well at least he didn't ask for a shrubbery."

"I have no quarrel with you men, I only ask that you give me and my companions the road." The hooded men chuckled at this "Then we must do battle." "So be it!" Lancelot yelled reaching for his sword. Ash quickly stopped him by grabbing his hand "Not that kind of battle," Lancelot gave him a confused look "What do you mean, what other kind of battle is he purposing?" "He means one with your Pokémon." Ash replied letting go of Lancelot's hand.

Lancelot slowly let go of his sword and dismounted his Pokémon "Alright stranger's if it is battle you want then a battle you shall have." The hooded men chuckled at this again and pulling out a Poke ball sent out there two Pokémon.

The Poke balls both released a sudden flash of white light that slowly shaped itself into two ferocious Pokémon. The men had sent out a massive Tyranitar that violently shook the ground as it walked. Beside it appeared a Steelix that slowly rubbed its tail against its body creating a horrible screeching sound. Ash ran over to Lancelot's aide "Alright so I'll help battle the Tyranitar you stay focused on the Steelix, ok?" Lancelot looked down at Ash "Stand back Ash I shall handle this one alone." Lancelot said stepping forward with his Pokémon. Ash looked back at Riley who nodded at him to do as Lancelot said, Ash begrudgingly agreed.

The two men wasted no time in starting their assault first "Steelix use Dig!" the first man roared and in an instant the mighty steel snake burrowed itself into the ground and out of sight. The second man followed this attack with "Tyranitar use sandstorm!" The massive Pokémon whipped up a sudden mix of blinding dirt and sand covering the field to the point where Ash couldn't see two feet in front of him. "Now Steelix show yourself!" Ash heard one of the men yell.

A violent tremor suddenly shook the ground and from it the steel snake sprung forth towards Lancelot's Arcanine "REICIO, avoid it with Extreme Speed!" Lancelot commanded. Although Ash couldn't see the Arcanine he assumed that he had managed to avoid the attack when he felt the ground shake a second time presumably from the Steelix smashing its face into the ground. "Now REICIO use Odor Sleuth, and then follow it with Flamethrower on Steelix!" There was short pause then through the thick sand Ash saw burst of bright orange flames hitting the Steelix in the face. The Steelix cried out in pain as the Arcanine scorched its body with the long stream of fire.

"Tyranitar hyper beam now!" the hooded man said intervening. The Tyranitar shot a blast of pure energy towards REICIO hitting it directly on its side knocking it down to the ground. "Steelix use bind!" the snake like Pokémon recovered from the attack and furiously coiled itself around the Arcanine and began to slowly constrict it. The sandstorm that had once covered the field had now subsided reveling REICIO's unpleasant situation.

"Alright Tyranitar finish it off with Giga impact!" The Tyranitar's body began glowing and then with an ear piercing roar began charging towards the helpless Arcanine ready to finish it off. Ash couldn't sit back in longer it was now time for him to intervene "Pikachu get out there and use iron tail!" Ash shouted. Pikachu leapt forth from Ash's shoulder its tail glowing a bright grey smashed into the side of the Tyranitar knocking it aside. "REICIO scorch the bastard off with overheat!" The fire Pokémon's body began glowing bright red and in a second he released a shower of flames up onto the chin of the Steelix knocking him off and sending it down to the ground.

Each of the Pokémon hit the ground with a loud thud. Ash let himself relax a little thinking that it was over. But the two beasts slowly rose back up angrier than before "Tyranitar use hyberbeam!" "Steelix use Dragons Breath!" The two Pokémon shot a dazzling mix of flames and energy towards the Pikachu and REICIO.

"Pikachu dodge with quick attack!" "REICIO dodge with extreme speed!" Both Pokémon seemingly disappeared from sight avoiding the attack "Now Pikachu use volt tackle on Tyranitar!" Pikachu suddenly appeared running beside the blast of Tyranitars hyper beam, turning into a flash of electrical light the small Pokémon smashed into the face of Tyranitar launching the mighty beast to the feet of its trainer. Even with Pikachu's powerful attack it still wasn't enough to subdue it, the Pokémon clearly in pain still tried to make it back onto its feet. "Pikachu finish it with iron Tail!" Pikachu leapt into the air once more its tail glowing bright grey smashed back down onto the Tyranitar effectively knocking it out.

Meanwhile Lancelot was dealing with a persistent Steelix "Alright REICIO Fire fang!" The Arcanine's mouth filled with flames and leaping into the air and with tremendous forced clamped down onto Steelix's neck causing it to cry out in agony. "REICIO put it out of its misery with flamethrower!" at point blank range the fire Pokémon released its final attack of orange flames onto the steel snake. It collapsed to the ground in defeat.

The two men looked though hooded looked at each other with what Ash assumed to be looks of embarrassment. With extreme reluctance they returned their Pokémon and stood aside. "Alright Pikachu we did it!" Ash exclaimed tightly embracing his small Pokémon in his arms. "Good job my friend, you fought well." Lancelot said gently stroking the top of REICO's head.

Ash placed Pikachu on his shoulder and walked over to Lancelot. "Hey man we made a pretty good team out there," Ash said extending his hand. Lancelot looked at the hand then back at Ash "I didn't need your help." Lancelot said climbing onto the back of his Arcanine "Now go back to your Pokémon we still have much riding to do." "You're welcome." Ash mumbled under his breath while walking over to his Tauros. Ash hopped onto its back and followed Riley and Lancelot past the two men who hung their heads in disgrace.

The remainder of the ride through the forest was spent in complete silence, as they traveled deeper into the forest the more narrow the rode became. It wasn't until mid afternoon that they finally reached the end of the forest. When nightfall came the trio finally stood looking over Viridian City "We'll make camp here tonight and continue on into the city tomorrow." Lancelot said unrolling his bed cloth beside a small fire. Ash having his energy completely drained from the day's events collapsed onto his sleeping bag. As he lay there he began thinking about what might await him down in the city but fell asleep before he think too much about it.

"Why did you do that today?" Riley asked "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about." Lancelot replied as he looked out over the city. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, he was only trying to be friendly." "I told him I didn't need his help and I still stand by that." Riley scoffed at this "Is that you or your pride talking?" Lancelot turned facing Riley "Squire Riley if you do not like the way I conduct things then feel free to leave anytime you wish," And with that Lancelot left.