Hey, everyone! I apologize for taking this long now, but this kind of thing happens from time to time. I can't imagine that I've now taken almost a month to update, but that happens when fall semester really starts breathing down your neck with various assignments and reports. I can feel for my brother now and the possibility of why he had quit three years ago now, but like I posted on my page, I won't discontinue despite the length of time it'll eventually take between updates.
Excitement could be seen roaring about on New Island as various intense battles took place around the five stadiums of rock, grass, water, ice, and the regular dirt battlefield free of gimmicks and tricks. Even as the noon sun rose to its highest point and casted shadows were visibly nonexistent to the point that they were rendered as black circles under their solid forms, the enthusiasm and love of Pokémon held strong.
After finishing up his battle for the week and waiting for his Pokémon to be fully healed, Paul had opted to wander about the island to satisfy his own curiosities, from finding new Pokémon and rating how strong they would be to last in the tournament.
Without even considering a lunch break, he wandered back to the only forest planted and grown on New Island by cutting through the small park. Outside of battling, this part of the island was the only place he saw much action.
Conversing with Gym Leader Sabrina…
Dealing with Salon Maiden Anabel…
And keeping an eye out for Pokémon Trainer Ash…
He felt a small smile curl up on his mouth, having reflected on such past thoughts. He knew that he never planned on interacting much with people, only with those he would face in battle and those that have earned his interest or respect. But seeing that particular group of friends from time to time only lead up to the confirmation on how that one young man in the red cap was of great worth to them…
And begrudgingly to admit, it applied to him as well.
A former rival that held ideals opposing his own in the past, who had proved him wrong by showing the kind of power he was able to unlock from a former Pokémon, it wasn't far out of reach for Paul to want to have a rematch with him again in the later rounds.
Of course, the main thing that had been going on since the start of the New Island Champions League and had been the main concern of his former traveling friends was the remarkable change in appearance and somewhat in personality of him.
Now that was something to look into.
"It is indeed," a familiar, rather monotonous voice spoke up.
Paul looked up, finally aware of his surroundings within the forest. In front of him stood Sabrina and her Haunter, conveniently meeting him at a spacious clearing resembling a typical Pokémon battlefield.
"I guess I was completely lost in my thoughts after all if I didn't even know where I was going," Paul quipped. "Hope you enjoyed my battle, by the way."
"You were cool and efficient against Ritchie," Sabrina briefly commented. "From your own past experiences battling Ash, you were able to predict some of his strategies and moves while only having lost one Pokémon overall."
"His Primeape wasn't to be underestimated, though I was actually surprised that Ursaring fell to it instead to his next Pokémon."
"Right, but now, what's done is done," Sabrina said, folding her arms while giving a knowing look. "Though I've got to say, I never imagined that you're actually concerned for Ash."
"I'm not."
"So I'm safe to assume that broodiness you entered here with wasn't riddled with curiosity over what happened to him since you last spoke with him at Lily of the Valley Island? It's natural to be curious over those kinds of changes."
"Can we get on with this?" Paul interrupted impatiently.
"Very well," Sabrina replied. "You've been expecting this the next time we would meet up after your second Champions League battle."
"That you're going to 'help me' with why I'm still losing to Brandon, I remember," Paul reiterated, narrowing his gaze upon the Saffron City Gym Leader. "What is it that you're going to do to me now?"
Sabrina said nothing, but answered back with a mysterious smile. It wasn't wide enough to indicate any sort of mischievous intent, nor did it have the subtlety of malicious attempt. Paul didn't understand despite having a high ability and sense of cracking through cryptic clues.
She then slowly walked backwards, carefully placing one foot past the other while Haunter floated about and around her, cackling its eyes out. If this was a test of patience, then Paul would've been enduring rather well in such pretentious circumstances. But then again, there is a time and place for everything.
"What is this?" he demanded, right as Sabrina came to a complete stop before reaching the edge of the clearing. Haunter also stopped cackling wildly and disappeared. Paul then saw his answer drawn from Sabrina's waist in the form of a Poké Ball. "You've planned this out beforehand, haven't you?"
"You're going to battle me next."
"You know, I never imagined that match going that way with how it started out."
"You'd be surprised on what you find in high-leveled competitions like these, Dawn," Misty replied.
Both young women were walking down a bazaar street, various games, souvenir, and snack stands lined up on both sides around them. Amidst the scattered tourists and resting Pokémon Trainers, the path they walked through was clear and straight. While Dawn mulled over her new Gym Leader friend's words, she spotted another familiar figure clothed in shades of spring green appearing to search for something.
"Hey, isn't that…?" Dawn began, catching Misty's attention as she too spotted her up ahead.
"Georgia," Misty finished on her behalf.
Said Dragon Buster heard her name and saw the two girls that were somewhat associated with Iris. She looked over and saw no sign of her rival tagging along whatsoever. As a result, she seemed to have given off a rather friendlier demeanor and placed a hand on her hip as a casual posture.
"Well look what the street faire blew in today," Georgia jested. "I don't see you girls often away from the gang and whatnot."
"We still get together at times when no one's worrying about staying in the tournament," Misty said offhandedly. "Though we just found out that Gym Leader Chili, Cilan's brother, just got eliminated in his second match."
"Yeah, so it'll only be Cilan and Cress moving on to the third round," Dawn added.
"Is that so?" Georgia remarked with a quick shrug. "That's too bad really. I've heard that out of the three Striaton Gym Leaders, Chili often got the short end of the stick."
"Anyway, how've you been, Georgia? You looked like you were looking for someone."
Georgia appeared to have briefly stiffened from Dawn's observation before resuming her tough appearance, much to the confusion to the other two as they also exchanged looks at that split second. Georgia also appeared to be forcing a smile on herself, indicated by the twitching corners of her lips.
"I… r-really don't know what you're… talking about," Georgia replied with a voice as strained as her smile; both Dawn and Misty were not convinced.
"One, we saw you were searching around," Misty pointed out, holding up a finger to count up a few more factors against the Dragon Buster. "And two, you're a terrible liar if you think that performance could fool us."
Georgia gave off a defiant snort before ultimately relenting on her piteous bluff. She momentarily shook her head while muttering something low and incoherent under her breath, something the other two girls couldn't catch, before looking back up to them.
"Fine, not that I'm concerned if you get involved with it, as long as Iris doesn't," Georgia stated.
"Hold on a minute, don't tell me it's this again," Misty groaned, much to Dawn's bafflement. "It's only been a day already."
"What's happening again?" Dawn asked.
"Well I had the chance of spotting Ash within the crowd with my… powerful vision!" Georgia proclaimed, waving her hands in place with dramatic flair.
"Ash?! He's here? Where?!"
Dawn childishly got caught up with trying to look for her missing friend and previous older brother figure while Misty sighed heavily at the seeming ridiculousness taking place about her. She approached Georgia and placed a surprisingly gentle hand on her shoulder; Georgia's previous experiences with her hands often resulted with lumps under her cap, but the pain only lessened if Iris was seen also at the receiving hand of the Cerulean City Gym Leader's fists.
"Listen, you told us yesterday about your 'ultimate' plans in getting together with Ash," Misty began, "but I still have to say that it's still selfish on your part in trying to even withhold that kind of information from his long-time friends that want to see and talk to him again."
"And that's why I'm actually bothering to tell you of my close encounter with him," Georgia retorted back evenly.
She felt Misty's grip slowly tighten upon her shoulder.
"You didn't even want to disclose that information because of us being friends with Iris. Do you really hate her that much?"
"The fact still remains that she's a Dragon Trainer aspiring to become a Dragon Master, thus is a natural enemy for me as an A-Class Dragon Buster."
"You still didn't answer my question, Georgia. Do you really hate her that much?"
"Uh…"
Georgia was surprised that she'd fallen speechless to a simple question as such. Iris herself wasn't too bad of a person aside from her childish and hypocritical tendencies, almost like a seeing a reflection of herself based from behavior alone. The only reason Iris also stood out to her was from the various rumors and such passed by word of mouth by the time she went through the Village of Dragons, mentioning her battle prowess. This was before she first met up with the Dragon Trainer herself, only discovering at that time that Axew was her only true Dragon Pokémon.
As silly as her memories from hearing about and seeking out Iris was in retrospect, Georgia chose her emphasis in defeating solely Dragon-types as a Pokémon Trainer since her devastating loss against a powerful Dragon Trainer. Nightmares of the final vicious Outrage had plagued her since then and before meeting Iris. Her path was decided to her complete awareness, but at the same time, that path also caused her to overlook the previous details and overall perspective of her decisions in butting heads with Iris.
However, pride remained the main reason that she would never allow herself to openly admit to such things, no matter how close to the truth they are.
"Guys… I mean… Girls! I see him!" Dawn's voice exclaimed, catching both Misty and Georgia off guard. "Over there! In the crowd!"
The three of them scrambled together, glancing over animatedly over the direction to where Dawn was pointing out. While Misty and Georgia attempted to climb on each other to see, Dawn was able to look over them effortlessly and saw the red cap disappear into the growing crowd. Just before the blue-haired Coordinator could even utter a sound, the balance of the three girls on top of one another gave in through their unstable shifts of weight.
Ultimately, they fell, with Misty somehow winding up on the bottom with Dawn at the top and Georgia trapped in between the two bodies. Their incomplete pursuit of Ash would have to be postponed with the attention they attracted with their minor comical accident bringing in various concerned tourists and Trainers already standing around the area to tend to them.
A little while later…
"It was great catching up with May, Max, and Brock, don't you agree, friend?" Anabel asked her Espeon, who mewled back just as delightfully. "It was also pleasant getting to know Cilan and Iris a bit more, too. Ash really made some unique friends over his journey."
A relaxing lunch with Ash's friends instead of trying to find her fellow Frontier Brains, Anabel felt that her own horizons have been expanding more than when she was a former roaming Pokémon Trainer. The friendships and connections people make was certainly a treasured benefit to have on a personal Pokémon journey.
As if by habitual routine, the Salon Maiden and her Sun Pokémon were heading into the New Island Park as to spend time by themselves. While there may be other people and Pokémon about, they were never bothered except by those who knew them; chances of the latter happening since the past week since the Champions League began were fairly slim.
Though as they took their usual route, the gem on Espeon's forehead had lit up in a brief second. Espeon took notice of a certain change through her psychic powers, glancing around to where her premonition was directing her. Anabel was also quick to notice as they both stopped in their path.
"What's wrong, Espeon?" Anabel inquired, bending on her knees to eye level with Espeon.
"Ei-fyie Ef," Espeon murmured, directing her head at a lingering direction slightly to her right in front.
The Salon Maiden caught what her friend had just communicated and was in a brief state of astonishment. Also she understood was that a certain someone was nearby, by which in her mind had linked a probable, yet at the same time almost impossible choice concerning the identity of the mystery guy. Though why the vision came upon Espeon now instead of also happening in previous encounters was another mystery left to be solved.
After a quick moment of collecting her thoughts, Anabel turned her head to where Espeon was looking and saw him up close for what could be the second time in a row this week in consecutive days and the overall third time on New Island. She reflexively covered her mouth with both hands to hold back an uncharacteristic squeaking gasp.
There he was out in the open, sitting what could be considered casually upon a wooden park bench. The visor of his red cap still concealed the top portion of his face above his nose in shadow. His Pikachu appeared to be content and napping on his lap. However, in the next passing seconds, his ears and face twitched. Pikachu was waking up, his first sight being the lilac-haired young woman and her Espeon looking back at him and his Trainer.
It was only then that Ash appeared to have noticed them as well with Pikachu also maintaining his eyes upon them. His head slightly tilted up, but it was still not enough for the shadow to be lifted from his eyes.
"Long time, no see," Anabel attempted to jest, trying to maintain a friendly smile.
Ash didn't say anything back, yet the strangest phenomenon was that the air around him felt a bit more approachable. Anabel didn't feel as intimidated to be around him since adjusting to his peculiarly new behavior; she felt it as another feeling within her persuading her to go closer to him this time. The urging was stronger than before, so it must be an opportunity.
"Pii…" Pikachu grunted and yawned, sitting up on Ash's lap while still looking at the two.
Anabel didn't need the additional confirmation from Pikachu's emotion that it was alright to get closer to them. Given with her own training as a Frontier Brain, she managed to push off outside pressure that would otherwise dissuade her from doing so. She calmly walked alongside Espeon to the side of the bench that was unoccupied.
"… …" Ash kept his gaze on her firmly; as unreadable as he knew he was to her, she was unreadable at times to him.
"Mind if I sit here?" Anabel suggested politely, taking her seat next to him regardless while Espeon rested at her feet. "So… how've you been, Ash? Ready for your next battle?"
"… … …You want to know what really happened to me."
"Ah!" Anabel gasped.
"Fie," Espeon snorted, smirking a little; she knew it was going to happen.
He talked.
Ash really talked.
Vocally and in conversation instead of standard battle commands.
And he was certainly straightforward with his replying question, which sounded more like a statement, even though he appeared to have paused in the beginning. Anabel blinked a few more times while Ash, though appearing a bit puzzled to her behavior, harmlessly ignored it and waited for her response.
"Well… yeah," Anabel said bluntly. "As I told you before, everyone's worried about you, your old friends especially. They feel as though you betrayed them."
"… I wouldn't be surprised if they already did feel that way…" Ash muttered under breath; Anabel couldn't catch what he said, but could tell something was amiss.
"I said that I'd be here for you," Anabel repeated from last night's encounter. Though she wanted to ask about his sudden change of heart, she felt it would've been wiser to coax him to come out instead of steering him herself. "Would you join me on a walk to the forest? There'll be less people around, if that would make you feel better."
"… Mm," Ash grunted with a nod.
He stood up fairly tall as Pikachu leapt up to his rightful place on his shoulder. Anabel followed suit, getting to her feet and measuring the top half of her head passing the level of Ash's shoulders. He didn't look back to her, but waited for her to start the forest walk she wanted. She did so and soon, they were walking down their path next to each other.
And as tempted as she was at being as close to Ash as she daydreamed at times, Anabel resisted the urge to reach and hold his hand, inwardly fearing that the sudden act might startle him. Though it may have been likely that he wouldn't care, she didn't mind taking it slow with him, considering what they're about to do… and what she was about to learn.
"Just one more thing, Ash," Anabel spoke up.
"…?"
"Please… tell me anything you need to say."
And I'll end here for now. Since this is supposed to be AbilityShipping and I momentarily got out of focus with Paul's side story and battle, I'm making up for it now by slowly recounting a bit of Ash's tale. It's about time since I've passed the tenth chapter mark now.
Speculation is up to you, readers, as I really like to hear and know what you're all thinking at this point.
Just remember that I'm not dead, but it may be a while for me to get up and running again with fall semester taking me places.
So please, now's the time to measure up my writing skills. Please review!
L-ater!