Hi guys, I'm here with another chapter. Now this one was difficult to say the least. I'm having a huge dilemma as to whether or not I should split these up or not. there's a really good stopping point in the middle of this that I want to use, but i also feel proud for almost getting to 8,000 words. But we'll see. I hope you like what I did with your requests darkboy. Hopefully the outcome is what you'd hoped it would be.
Sailor Taichichi Vegeta: Yeah, I feel like I haven't given Ruby enough attention. I hope that little segment makes up for some of it. Did you like the halberd? For some reason I though tit would be awesome if one of them just had a massive halberd with them. Exactly... what could ever happen to our dear mercenary? It happened in this chapter too! fortuanlty it was only the last 600 words or so, so I retyped those easily.
Chapter 22: Those Three Words
-Ash's POV-
When I woke I was horrified. Not only was I sleeping half naked with the (equally half naked) princess of Hoenn, but I think I enjoyed it. To say that I left with haste is an understatement. I crept out of there quieter than the wind, with my shit obviously. And now I'm just laying around. No I mean I'm literally hanging upside-down, with the upper half of my body hanging over the edge of the wall and the other half keeping me from falling.
I was bored, I wanted to go "home", i.e. the Indigo Plateau, but I wasn't going to bet into King Norman's room and demand one from him. So I was, quite literally, hanging around. I sighed and pulled myself up and lay along the edge of the wall rather than over it, the blood was rushing to my head anyways. Nothing was going my way today, Ruby and the Magma Core weren't here, Riley was bona along with Aaron (even an argument with him would have been better), Pikachu was nowhere to be found, Charizard and Garchomp are off feasting somewhere, and I didn't bring my weapons.
I couldn't train, talk with someone, go for a ride, dick around, or anything. Well... I could talk with someone, but who the hell would I talk to and what would I say? "Oh hey, I am the dangerous mercenary known as the Ranger. Want to talk?" yeah, fuck that.
"What are you dong here?" a voice asked. I turned my head to look over the edge and saw the princess of... Sinnoh. Thank fucking Arceus, Mew, Kyogre and all that shit. As long as it wasn't her.
"Wasting time" I said, turning my head to look back up at the sky. "You're not dong a good job of it. You do something to do waste time, not nothing" Dawn said
"Who said I'm doing nothing? I'm staring at the sky" I retorted. She frowned "Stop being a smart ass and come take a walk with me"
So that's how I got into the woods with Dawn... alone. Why do I never think things through? "So why aren't you hanging out with May or something?" Dawn asked after a few minutes of awkward silence. I looked at her like she was crazy "What? You guys are friends right?"
I rolled my eyes at her "She was a client, so were you" I said
Dawn gave me a disbelieving look "Are you saying I'm not your friend?"
Backed myself into that one didn't I? Let's see... offend a princess or lie? Yeah let's go with the later of those options. I sighed "Fine, we're friends... I guess" I mumbled. She grinned at me "Admitting it is the first step" she said
I raised an eyebrow "The first step to what?" As to why she her face turned redder than Charizard's flame-thrower, I'll never know. "T-that's not the point. I-It's the journey, n-not the destination"
I put my arms behind my head "Speaking of, where's ours?" I asked her. Her face lit up "Thanks for reminding me, can I borrow your shirt?". Now most people would ask questions of such a request was directed at them, me? I just gave her my shirt. I had a white on under it so it wasn't that big of a deal.
I know right? Ash where something other than black or grey? Get the fuck out of here.
But hey, it's what I wore. She put on my shirt and brought up the hood. I remember using that not too long ago, I was trying to fall asleep on the roof of the castle and used my hood to block out the sun. But I couldn't fall asleep because I was well rested for once. Which is weird because the only difference I had while sleeping... was... no no no no no no no no no no no. I mentally slapped myself. Bad thoughts, horrible, stupid thoughts.
"Okay! Ready to go" Dawn said. I looked her over, she had my black hoodie on with a short white skirt. She had her hair done with two yellow clips that made her look pretty different com her usual look. She actually looked pretty good, even with the clashing colors and new hair style. "Aren't you going to ask why I wanted your shirt?" Dawn asked me. I shrugged "Not really" I said while stretching, I was getting bored again. "Ugh, you're no fun" she said while walking away.
I caught up to her "You never answered my question, where are we going?" I asked, she grinned at me from under my hood. "We are going into Pedalburg"
"Okay, for what?"
"What do you think? Shopping of course" she said. I felt a deep gnawing in my gut, but waved the feeling off. "Alright, I guess I could some done too" I said. "but don't you think your disguise is a little crappy?" I asked her. She grinned at me again "No need to worry" she said. Soon we entered Pedlaburg City in all its glory. To be fair I have seen cities in worse shape, and this place has been ravaged by war for over a decade. "What are you waiting for? Let's go" Dawn said as she grabbed my hand and pulled along with her
"Remember that little talk we had about personal space? I said to her, but she ignored me and kept dragging me along. We went to all sorts of places, there was a dress shop with all kinds of accessories for woman, we went to a book store, a salon and now here. "Hello dearest, how may I help you today?" an old lady said to Dawn. "We're just looking for now" she aid as she wandered around the store, leaving me to my own devices.
I set all the crap she had bought down into an empty corner and looked around the store. It was a quant little place, smelled like a home your always welcome to and had that cozy feeling to it. It had little trinkets and things all over its shelves. From an old shield to a gold embroiled necklace, which happened to be the thing Dawn was ogling this time. First a dress, then a music box, then a mirror, then inkwell with a decorated stylus, then like ten books, and now this. I could literally see the stars in her eyes as she gazed at the piece of jewelry.
"Excuse me ma'am, how much is this?" she asked the woman. The woman walked up and inspected it "That one's about 280 gold pieces"
Dawn's eyes widened "280!?" the woman nodded "it is real gold and the diamond at the center is one of the best is the region. No one here can buy it though, because no one has enough. So it just sits here" Dawn looked so deflated after she heard the price "No way I can buy that".
'Yeah, a princess coming in and buying this would attract a lot of unwanted attention. She wouldn't even make it into town before she got mobbed. And it's not like she could bring that much cash with her when she's on her own, that'd be asking to get robbed' I thought
"Let's go" she mumbled while trudging out. I sighed "Give me a sec" I said before turning and grabbing a random book off one of the shelves. The second she left the store I took the necklace off the stand and brought it over to the lady. "The book and this please" she looked at me "You heard the price right?" I nodded and brought out my overly large bag of money Ning Norman had paid me form my bodyguard job.
The woman's eyes widened when she peered in the bag "You think that's good for both?" I asked her. The woman recovered form her astonished look and smiled at me. "Yes deary, let me just get out the proper amount"
"Keep the change" I told her with a smile. She look at me for a moment then back at the bag "Thank you, but I can't take all of this. This must be your life's savings" she said while pushing the bag back to me. I shook my head and pushed it back "I insist" I said before I walked out of the store, taking Dawn's things with me.
"What took you so long?" Dawn moaned to me as we walked along the street "I had a bit of an argument with the price on my book" I told her, waving the book that was in my hand. I kept the necklace in my back pocket. She gave me a look "You better not get us in trouble" I gave her a smirked "Now what would make you think I'd do that?"
She rolled her eyes "Whatever, let's go eat" I followed her to a restaurant that had to levels with an open air patio and a balcony. "What level" I asked her.
"Let's eat outside" she muttered, taking her hood off when she went through the door. 'That didn't answer my question at all' I thought. She walked into the restaurant and went out a backdoor. I shrugged and followed her. I emerged to a second side that was a balcony. The streets below us bustled with activity and the form the spot Dawn sat at, you could see almost all of Pedalburg.
I walked over and sat her things by our table before taking my seat that was at the corner, next to the railing that blocked the edge to my right and my back. A woman walked over "What'll ya have today" she said with a small accent. I gestured to Dawn to order because I didn't know anything about this place. "I'll have the Leppa berry salad please, oh and a cup of tea please" she said with a smile. The woman just nodded and looked at me. I shrugged "Same thing I guess, except coffee, no milk please" she nodded and walked off.
"You like salads?" Dawn asked. I shrugged again "I don't dislike them, but in this scenario I simply didn't know what they had to offer so I copied you" she nodded. "So why were you on the wall?" she asked me.
"Didn't I tell you? I was killing time" I told her again. She waved her hand, dismissing the subject "I know that but there are better ways to waste time, not lay around on the wall. The guards were probably getting annoyed with you. So my question is, why weren't you doing something else?"
"Because I couldn't find Pikachu for some reason, Charizard and Garchomp were out eating... probably, I didn't bring any weapons to train with, so I thought I'd just lay around till King Norman sent someone to get me" I said. Dawn frowned "Why didn't you do laps or something? Or practice fist fighting?"
I gave her look "Did you just call hand-to-hand combat fist fighting?"
"What! I don't know anything about fighting. Don't judge me on that fact" she said hotly. I chuckled "Calm down princess, I was joking" but she just hmphed and turned her head away from me. "Alright I guess you aren't getting your surprise then" Dawn opened one eye at me "What surprise?"
I smirked 'Oh yeah, that got her attention'
"I may or may not have had a surprise for you, but now you're mad at me and I guess that means you don't want it. I'll just give it to May or something. Maybe throw it away" I said while looking out over Pedalburg. 'Like fucking hell I'd give this to May' I thought
"You don't even have a surprise do you?" Dawn asked. I gave her a fox like grin "I guess you'll never know" I could see her debating whether or not she should apologize for faking or not and couldn't help myself.
I laughed
I wiped a tear from my eye as I calmed down, which was weird because it wasn't that funny. I looked back over at Dawn who was watching me with a smile on her face "What?" I asked her
"You have a nice laugh" she said softly. I paused for a second 'That caught me off guard' I thought. "Uhh, thanks I guess" I said. I guess it sounded like I didn't believe her or something.
"I'm serious, you should laugh more often" Dawn exclaimed. I was saved from a response because the lady brought our food, it wasn't hard to prepare. I ate my food at a slow pace. "Mmmmmm, this is so good" Dawn mumbled between bites, I grunted my agreement. Even though I took my time I finished my food earlier than Dawn so I leaned back in my chair and drank my coffee.
"Ahhhh, great every time" Dawn said as she took a sip of her tee, washing down the last of her salad. "I'm surprised you finished so fast.I was eating pretty quickly too" Dawn said. "Are you kidding me?" I said, bringing my chair back down on all four pegs "I was eating slow. You should have seen me before, I could eat more than a Snorlax if my boss didn't beat the shit out of me when I did the first time"
"Your boss?" Dawn said. I nodded "Well, not my boss. More like my mentor who was also my partner. I considered him my boss though. He taught me how to cook, how to use a knife, and all about the world. In hindsight, I suppose it wasn't the best view of the world to be looking from. He was a biter mercenary who just got betrayed. So I looked at everything with distaste for a while. But still, he was my best friend for a while"
"What happened to him?" Dawn asked "He retired. He got enough money to open the tavern he always wanted and used one of the stupidest names I've ever heard for it"
"It can't be that bad" Dawn argued "Oohhh it's pretty bad"
"Well come on, tell me"
"The Nine Lives"
"What's so bad about that?" she asked. I chuckled "It wouldn't be bad if he wasn't a talking Meowth" I told her. She gave me a disbelieving look "No I'm serious, he's a talking Meowth, swear on my life. And I don't do that lightly" I told her
"Fine, I believe you. But that's hard to swallow, a Pokemon that can talk? It's hard to imagine" she said. I raised my hand in recognition of the statement "I get that, and I would find it hard to believe too if he hadn't been the one to teach me English and practically raise me"
"He taught you English. Why didn't your parents?" Dawn asked "I'm an orphan" I replied. She brought a hand to her mouth "Oh, I'm sorr-"
I cut her off "Don't apologize for something that ain't your fault. Besides, it's not like I'm broken up about it or anything. But back to my mentor, he taught me how to savor the taste of food, like a critic would. All because of his stupid dream. I was his test subject for all his new foods and drinks and crap. He caused me to get drunk when I was just thirteen. Gave me seven drinks of hard liquor, hated the stuff ever since"
"Wow, he sounds really responsible" Dawn said sarcastically "He wasn't too bad, he did go off without me multiple times though. Kinda leaving me alone with very dangerous weapons and equally dangerous Pokemon, but here, let me show you what I mean" I said as I gather the last of my salad on my fork before holding it out in front of Dawn's mouth. Her face went red "W-what a-are you d-doing?" she stuttered. "Teaching you how to savor food, now eat"
"B-but i-isn't this s-something c-couples do?" she got out. I gave her a dry look, who gave a fuck if couples did it? "Shut up and eat the food" I told her. She nodded and with a face redder than the skin of a Blaziken (heh, that rhymes... wait, WHAT THE FUCK? WHO AM I? RILEY?) she leaned forward and ate the food of my fork. She began to chew but i stopped her "Close your eyes and imagine a beautiful grassy field with all sorts of plants in it and your sitting in the middle of it with this salad. Now begin to chew, imagine each taste individually, some of it's smooth, other parts tangy, and some sweet with a hint of bitterness to even it out. Now combine all of it together and just enjoy" I said
She chewed for a minute, keeping her eyes closed before opening them and giving me a look of amazement. I grinned "Well?" she opened her mouth but closed it, a loss for words. "It, it was amazing. That was the single greatest bite of food I've had in my entire life" she said. My grin turned into a smile "I've taught you well, my apprentice" I said while patting her head. Her face went red again
Ah, you got something riiiight here" I said as I wiped some Leppa sals dressing of her cheek with my thumb and then sticking the same thumb in my mouth and cleaning it off. I looked back up and gave Dawn a confused look "What's up with you?" I asked when I noticed her face completely red and her astonished look.
I brought a hand up to her forehead, but the body heat from my hand didn't give me a good gauge so I stood and walked over to her, closing my eyes and putting my forehead to hers "Damn your face is hot as hell" I said. I cupped her cheek and brought her face closer to mine, looking her in the eye for a moment. Her face got even redder and her eyes went wide.
I brought my face back from hers "Doesn't look like the plague" I said "Let's go bad and get you checked out. Why is everybody catching things?" I wondered out loud before taking a look around and noticing everyone in the restaurant staring at us "Need something?" I said, they all turned back to what they were doing. I paid for the meal and took the still very red Dawn by the hand outside and headed back to the castle
"I-I'm fine, but you're not helping" she told me, pulling her hand from my own and putting her hood up. I turned around "Alright, why don't you sit down" told her, indicting the small park that wasn't far away. She sighed and began walking towards a park bench near a fountain. I sat down next to her, putting all her crap down in front of the bench "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine!" she shouted. I held up my hands in surrender "Sorry for being concerned". Dawn let out a sigh "Ugh, I'm thirsty" she muttered, taking the hint I stood up and walked to one of the stands to get something appropriate to drink. Little did I know, Dawn was having a little talk with someone.
-Normal POV-
"Hello dear how are you?" the elderly lady from the store said to Dawn. Dawn looked up at her "Oh, hello again. I'm kind of tired and thirsty, but otherwise okay. How about you?"
The woman smiled "I'm still walking aren't I?" she said with a chuckle, Dawn laughed a little as well. When she looked back up at the lady she realized that the woman was looking a little above her chest. Dawn looked down "Is there something on my chest?" she asked the woman. The lady just smiled "No, not at all. Where is your friend?"
"Oh, he's over there getting me something to drink" Dawn told her, pointing towards Ash. The elderly lady smiled "You know, you have quite the man with you" she said. Dawn gave her a confused look "What do you mean?"
"I mean that that one" she said while pointing towards Ash "Is a keeper. Hold on to him and don't let go. He's special, he is" she said before walking off, returning to whatever business she had here, leaving a blushing dawn behind
-Ash's POV-
I walked back over to dawn with a small pottery jug filled with water. It was all that much, just a few copper pieces. I sat back down next to Dawn and handed her the jug. She took it without a word and drank from it. After she was done she gave it back to me and I put it down next to me. "Oi, your face is still red. Are you positive you aren't sick?"
Dawn nodded her head but didn't meet my eyes. I looked up at the sun to determine what the time was, only about one or two in the afternoon, we hadn't been out for too long. "I think we should head back, King Norman is definitely looking for you by now" Dawn said. I answered with a grunt and heaved myself up. I was about to grab her things when I remembered something.
"Hey Dawn, do me a favor? Turne around and close your eyes" I told her. "Why should I?" she asked
"Just fucking do it for Mew's sake" I groaned. She begrudgingly turned around and closed her eyes, I checked to make sure. I took out the necklace from my pouch and silently put it around her neck, making sire she didn't feel a thing when I let it rest against her skin. I backed away from her and picked up her things "Alright, open 'em" I told her.
Dawn turned around to face me "What did you do?" she said accusingly. I shrugged "You'll figure it out sooner or later" I told her before beginning to walk off towards the castle with her things, leaving the water jug because I really didn't want it. She caught up and walked with me in a comfortable silence. Soon we reached the castle and passed through its gates. I was tempted to ask for my shirt back, but that'd be a dead give away for the necklace.
"Alright I'm going to find King Norman, you can go and gossip with May or something" I told with a wave of my hand. "Well if you're going to be rude" she said hotly before turning and walking into the castle 'Did she really forget she was wearing my shirt?' I thought 'Whatever, I got more'
I walked after her and entered the castle to see her walking away down a hallway. I walked towards the throne room and entered it after convincing the guards that I was sent here by a messenger (total bullshit). I walked in and sure enough King Norman was talking to a few people about whatever the hell they were talking about. What? I don't have super human hearing
I approached just as the people dispersed, one person saw me "I found him your highness" he called out to him. Norman looked up at me "I think he found us. Never mind al of you, you can do whatever you like for the day" he told the people. They all thanked him and kissed his ass for a minute before leaving. I bowed formally to him "Do you have a response ready for Lance you highness?" I asked
"Yes, I finished it an hour ago or so. It was just a matter of looking for you" he said
"I apologize, I was preoccupied" I said with a bow. Norman dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand "It's easily forgivable, but here you are" he said as he handed me another letter. I took it from him and bowed again I began walking towards the exit. I left the castle and walked towards Charizard who lay in the courtyard and was the only one of my Pokemon present.
I patted him on the snout and he gave an appreciative grunt "You know where everybody is?" I asked him. He shook his head, eyes still closed. I whistled and Garchomp came stomping with a shield in his mouth. I saw some Aqua guards running after him, yelling at him "Garchomp! Give it back to them. It's not a chew toy" I yelled at him. He grumbled and spat it out in the direction of the approaching Aqua Guard soldiers who sent scowls our way as they left.
After that we waited, and waited, and waited for Pikachu to show up. "Arceus fucking dammit. I'm going to find him" I growled as I stomped towards the castle, my first destination being the kitchen, where I assumed he was. Turns out he wasn't there, or the barracks, or the roof. And so I walked towards our old room.
I entered the room, the shades were drawn making dark inside. I walked in and looked around for a second before confirming that Pikachu was not present. I turned to the dresser and saw my gloves. I grabbed them off the shelf and put them in my pocket and turned to the door.
"Hey Ash"
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!
"Hello princess May" I said with a bow, putting on the formal act. She smiled weakly at me "Just May please" she said. I nodded and walked past her through the door, looking for the nearest exit. "So you're leaving?" she mumbled behind me as we walked. I didn't answer.
I looked around for an exit, anything, any exit as long as it brought me outside in public. Woah, never thought I'd want to be in public. I found a "back door" out of the castle and took it.
'FUCK!' I thought. It lead me to a small secluded garden at the back of the castle. "Ash I-"
"PIKAPI!" my friend yelled as he jumped into me. I caught him and stumbled back a bit from the force. At first I was relieved, then furious "Pikachu, what the fuck were you doing all this time? I've been looking everywhere for your sorry ass!" I hissed at him. His ears drooped but then he looked back up at me and whispered something in my ear.
"Eevee was chasing you? Wait you were playing tag with Eevee? We don't have time for that we have to leave" I yelled at him
"So you are leaving" May whispered. I froze
'Shit'
"Ash I have to tell you something, something important. I don't know when this happened but... things changed" she said
"Changed how?"
"On how I feel about you" she said. I stood there, staring at her.
"And what, exactly, do you mean by that?" I asked her, praying I heard her wrong
"I feel different about you. You did something to me Ash... something permanent"
I closed my eyes and slowly ran a hand through my hair "Please tell me you're lying"
May took a deep breath "I'm not"
"You can't be... feeling that way about me" I said shakily
"It's too late" she said.
The whole world came crashing down around me. I felt numb, but I was trembling.
"Ash... I love you"
Hello everybody, I hope you enjoyed the chapter(s). I still don't know if I'll be splitting this up into two chapters or not, but if I do, I hope you enjoy the double update. Thanks for reading and thank you for clicking on my story. Suggestions, requests, hate, and anything else is always welcome. So I did end up splitting it into two chapters, I'm just adding this in now. But how'd you like every stereotypical couple/romantic thing possible at the diner place? felt like an idiot when I typed it. Thanks again for reading, till next time
-novaking2832