Pikachu reached Ash as soon as Ho-oh had gone. He ran over to his trainer and tried to shake Ash awake. "Pikapi! Pikapi! Chu Pikapi… pika chu Pikapi," Pikachu called, softly at first but with increasing urgency. It wasn't long before Serena and Brock were kneeling beside Ash with Pikachu. Brock pushed Ash over from his side onto his back. Brock could tell that Ash was breathing and had a heartbeat. Brock knew that they couldn't do anything except wait for Ash to wake up. He watched as Pikachu threatened a thunderbolt alarm but stopped the Pokémon. Brock couldn't help but be reminded of a situation similar to this one that had involved a Jigglypuff stuck in a Blastoise's water cannon. Ash had wanted to help and had put his ear to the shell. He had heard Jigglypuff singing and of course fell asleep. Misty and Brock hadn't been able to rouse Ash and so resorted to Pikachu's thunderbolt attack to wake him, and it had worked perfectly. Although it had worked that time, Brock felt that this time they should wait for Ash to wake up. The others waited at the edge of the roof as they didn't really know what to do and so kept out of the way and allowed Brock to take care of Ash. As Brock was studying to be a Pokémon doctor, it followed that he would be the best person to help Ash.
A minute passed agonisingly slowly as they waited for Ash to wake up. Pikachu saw the signs that his trainer was waking and scurried to Ash's shoulder, concerned. Brock watched carefully as Ash's eyes flickered open. "Ash! Are you alright?" Serena asked immediately. Ash didn't answer. He seemed a little confused as he looked around, sitting up. "Where's Ho-oh?" he asked softly. Brock smiled. He knew that Ash was fine. "It flew away after Team Rocket broke through your aura sphere," Brock explained but then grew concerned when he saw Ash was even more confused. "Team Rocket? Aura sphere? What are you talking about Brock?" he asked slowly as he made to stand up. Ash was clearly weak as he fell back onto the ground, failing at the attempt to stand. The others made their way over as Brock helped Ash to his feet, supporting him. Pikachu and Serena were very worried. Ash looked severely out of it still. Yes, Ash was conscious and talking, but he was very confused and weak. It was almost like Ash had a concussion despite not being physically attacked.
Brock thought it was best to find Ash somewhere to sit down and recover himself a little bit before they asked him what exactly had happened in the aura sphere. So, carefully he and Ash made their way down the fire escape, closely followed by Serena and Pikachu who were followed by Iris, Misty and Dawn then Max, Cilan and May and then by Gary, Clemont and Bonnie. They filed into the tent and Brock carefully placed Ash gently into one of the chairs. The doctor had remained in the tent while Ash's friends had rushed up to check on him. The doctor saw Ash and gave him a bottle of water to drink from. Ash drank deeply and thanked the doctor. He returned the bottle and closed his eyes briefly, he wasn't quite sure what had just happened between him and Ho-oh. "Ash, what happened on the roof?" Cilan asked softly, interrupting his thoughts. They had to ask sooner or later especially since Ho-oh was rampaging through Viridian City. "Er… well I went up and spoke to it. You heard, I'm guessing, everything we said. By the way Max, thanks for reminding me about the battle pyramid. Anyway, Ho-oh asked me to come closer and I did. And then Ho-oh looked into my eyes and everything kind of got hazy. It was like I was there in front of Ho-oh but then again not. I don't really know how to explain it. Then I felt something hit me a few times and then I dunno… I must have passed out," Ash explained slowly and uncertainly. It was clear to everyone in the tent that Ash was just guessing about what had happened. They were silent however because it told them that Ash hadn't been the one in control on the roof. He was unaware of what had happened. Gary suggested that they show what had happened from their position by showing the recording from the screens. Ash had watched himself fall into his semi-unconscious state and then watched Team Rocket pound on the aura sphere and then watched wordlessly as Ho-oh flew away in a blind rage.
Ash was silent for a few seconds, thinking. He knew what Ho-oh must have done on the roof. Ho-oh had seen Ash had a strong aura, just like it had seen the traces of the king of Pokelantis. Ho-oh had called on Ash's aura to see points in Ash's past to see if Ash was trustworthy. However this process was interrupted when Team Rocket interfered and had been hurting Ash by attacking the aura sphere. Ho-oh had seen Ash's discomfort and had broken the link to fight off Team Rocket. However Ho-oh had only needed the slightest provocation to attack Viridian City and this attack had been the last straw. Ash knew he had to find Ho-oh and calm it down again. He knew Ho-oh trusted him now and he could calm it down given the chance. He couldn't let everyone hate Ho-oh and he couldn't let Ho-oh hurt anyone. Once he had decided these things he made to stand but his head instantly grew light headed and he fell back into his seat.
"I've got to get to Ho-oh," Ash told the group watching him once the stars in front of his eyes had dissipated. The group stared at Ash, convinced he must have hit his head somewhere. "Kid, are you mad?" the doctor asked. Ash shook his head and instantly regretted it. "No, I need to get to Ho-oh. I can calm it down, I know I can. But first I need to find it," Ash replied firmly. The doctor stared at Ash quietly and then smiled. "Alright kid, I'll start tracking it down for you," the doctor concluded and motioned to Gary to follow him as they rushed off to find the equipment they'd need to have to find Ho-oh.
Once Gary and the doctor had disappeared, everyone turned to Ash. They clearly needed a little more convincing that Ash was alright to go after Ho-oh. Pikachu in particular was giving Ash a concerned look from the seat next to him. Pikachu knew better than any of them how reckless Ash could be. Ash rarely cared what happened to himself, especially when someone or a Pokémon was in danger. Pikachu couldn't remember all the times Ash had leapt in front of a Pokémon attack to shield Pikachu or another one of his Pokémon. Ash smiled at Pikachu's concern and gave Pikachu a scratch behind the ear. Pikachu couldn't help but relax at his touch and enjoy the attention. "Guys, I know you're all worried about me. But I'm fine. Just a little dizzy, that's all. Ho-oh is the one in trouble and I need to help it any way I can," Ash reassured his friends as he scratched behind Pikachu's ear. Pikachu hopped on to his lap inadvertently, eager for as much attention as possible.
Ash may have reassured Pikachu but not all for his friends were convinced, such as Brock, Serena and Cilan. "Ash, you could have died up on that roof. What if next time you're not so lucky," Serena countered softly. Misty couldn't help but look at Serena with concern. Misty had seen Serena's relief the moment Ash was safe after Serena had returned from the future. Misty instantly realised how worried Serena had been watching Ash being his usual reckless self. Ash smiled at her. "Ho-oh caused those images from my past on that aura sphere. It was Ho-oh's way of checking if it could trust me. I know that Ho-oh trusts me now. So I know if I can find it again that it would listen to me," Ash explained gently. Ash had a knack for putting people at ease, especially Pokémon. Brock looked at Ash with concern. He had seen how unsteady Ash was on the fire escape and how green he had been after attempting to stand the last few times. Brock knew that Ash wasn't alright but he also knew that Ash wouldn't admit it unless he seriously couldn't move. "Ash, are you sure you're gonna be alright. You didn't look "just dizzy" up on the roof," Brock replied, trying to hint at Ash that Ash should take it easy. However subtlety wasn't Ash's strong point. "Relax Brock, I'm fine," Ash retorted confidently, however he remained sitting. Brock pursed his lips but said nothing more on the topic.
So, until the next chapter.