Chapter 4: A Cavendish Served Cold
The new morning rose and Ash and Pikachu slept as the sun's rays could not reach them. Ursula prepared some coffee from a carafe and some French Bread. Smelling the bread and butter, Pikachu woke to find Ursula toasting the bread. Excited, he ran over Ash's face to reach the teacher. ("Morning!") he squeaked as Ash woke to the paws slapping his face.
"Bonjour, Pikachu!" she greeted before petting Pikachu's head. Pikachu paused before he leaped up to the table where he saw Ursula and Alcor.
("Bonjour?") he repeated. Ursula had a laugh.
"It means 'Hello' or 'Good morning' in French," she clarified.
("Oh, okay!") giggled Pikachu. Ash soon sat up.
"Why did you step on my face, Pikachu?" he mulled. Pikachu gawked, realizing his error.
("Sorry about that!") he apologized. Ash joined the rest as Ursula poured coffee in a bowl.
"This is how the French drink coffee at home," she briefed. "Luckily, it's weak on the caffeine so it should be safe for you." Ash poured some milk a sprinkled sugar before stirring and drinking the coffee.
"Is it alright if I ask you something?" he wondered.
"Of course!" allowed Ursula. Ash sipped the coffee before asking.
"What made you want to become a witch in the first place?" The question made Ursula pause. Ash and Pikachu saw it and tried to retract himself. "If it's too personal, you don't have to answer."
"It's not that! It's really not!" Clearing her throat, she decided to reply. "See, I learned magic and became skilled at it to entertain people with it." This interested Ash and Pikachu on the idea.
"Magic that can entertain the young people around, huh? I'd actually be tempted to see that."
"Lots of kids would. As the years continued, people wanted more from me… but…" The hesitation made Ash realize the problem.
"There was so much you could do, huh?"
"Sadly. I didn't want to be known as a simple magician… Knowing how much they wanted from me, so I retired from entertainment and pursued becoming a teacher… which is where I am." The story made Ash and Pikachu recall a moment from their adventures.
"We've actually met someone like you. There was a Pokémon Coordinator named Julie in Hoenn who managed to wow crowds with her Pokémon. She even won the Grand Festival at least once if I remember. However, she started having the same problems as you and retired to raise Numel for now." The return made Ursula believe her problems weren't just hers.
"So, there are some people who also suffer burnout like me."
"But what I like about you more than Julie is that you've turned your passion of magic into a learning experience for the next line of witches, not that I'm taking anything away from Julie, by the way…"
"I doubt you would." They shared a giggle. After breakfast, Ash put on his borrowed witch's outfit and Ursula changed it into the outfit that was a big hit. In Miranda's office, Miranda gave Ash a list of items to deliver. Pikachu jumped onto the desk.
("Can I get one of those?") he asked. Ash and Miranda seemed befuddled to Pikachu's request.
"Pikachu?" started Miranda. "What is it?" Pikachu reached for Miranda's witch hat, hinting Ash to his partner's interest.
"Pikachu's wondering if there's a witch's hat that you might have," he guessed. Miranda chuckled to Pikachu's confirming squeaks and petted his head.
"Oh, you little rascal," she teased. She entered her closet and dug through the contents for a minute. She came out with a witch's hat that was smaller than her own, but it still was too big for Pikachu to wear. "This is the smallest hat we have." Pikachu whined, not believing the claim. Ash removed the hat from Pikachu's head.
"Sorry, buddy," he apologized. Pikachu moan to the issue. After the moment, Ash and Pikachu proceeded on to their tasks. "I would like to see Miss Badcock about how one works an abacus."
("I'm wondering how one of those works,") Pikachu squeaked. As they proceeded, a sweet scent caught their noses. The whiff lured them to find the source seeping from a classroom door. ("Smells good…") Coming to the door, the scent became stronger. Interested to know, Ash knocked on the door.
"Кто это?" a young woman spoke up. Ash and Pikachu didn't understand what was said. Opening the door was a tall girl with an interesting build under her uniform. Her eyes were squinted as she showed pale pink hair with strands braided. "Oh, you must be ze boy zat has been ze Academy's attention, da?" Ash and Pikachu fumbled their reply.
"I-I am…" said Ash. "Pikachu and I smelled something delicious from here." The pink-haired awed the two as she plucked Pikachu.
"Da, I was working on some of my cooking magic and I might have gone a bit overboard," she admitted. "But zis is exquisitely adorable! Where in England did you find zis!?"
"Pikachu's not from this world, and neither am I," Ash admitted. "I'm Ash Ketchum." The pink-haired awed the information.
"Ash Ketchum…" she repeated. "I'm Jasminka Antonenko, and I'm from Russia." She revealed a flag of a white stripe above a blue stripe above a red stripe. "I know the news is still new about a boy enrolling…"
"I'm not enrolled," Ash corrected with a hand to Jasminka's face. "I'm helping the Academy right now." Jasminka gasped to the correction.
"Oh, I believed you had," she sighed.
"Anyway, you said that you're working on cooking magic," Ash returned to the subject.
"Da, and it's something I wanted you to try," Jasminka offered as they entered the classroom. Inside were half a dozen tiny kitchens. They arrived at a counter where they saw whitish-yellow silver dollar pancakes. "Zis is what I wanted to share: Syrniki." Pikachu jumped on the counter and picked up a Syrniki. He sniffed the pancake, picking up an odd ingredient.
("I smell cheese,") he recognized. Ash lifted a Syrniki and studied it.
"Syrniki?" he repeated.
"It's Russian Cheese Pancakes," Jasminka replied. "Instead of pancake mix, cheese is ze ingredient and it's still eaten like common pancakes." Interested, Ash and Pikachu bit the Syrniki. The taste of the Syrniki made the two gush in excitement.
"It's so good!" he cheered with tears flowing down his eyes. "I've had pancakes before, but that they're made with cheese actually blows me away!" Jasminka giggled to the reactions of Ash and Pikachu.
"I'm actually glad zat even Pikachu's happy with it," she smiled. "Now zat I know you two, I'm actually glad zat my reform with my roomates Amanda and Constanze is worth it!" Ash blinked and turned to Jasminka.
"Amanda?" he repeated.
"Da, Amanda, Constanze and I were troublemakers," Jasminka confirmed. "I had always been hungry after I accidentally ate a Hunger Faery. I have more control of zat now. Amanda broke into Luna Nova Academy's security systems and storehouses, and Constanze smuggled illegal machines to upgrade with magic and make a profit." Ash gulped to the tale of the three girls.
"Wow, I never picked up anything about Amanda," he muttered.
"Do not fret, Ash," Jasminka assured as she patted Ash on the shoulder. "We prefer you here, anyway." Ash bobbed a nod before going on with their job. Their next stop was Miss Badcock's classroom. She had come outside to the sounds of approaching footsteps.
"Ash, Pikachu," Badcock welcomed.
"Miss Badcock?" realized Ash. "Did you expect us?" Badcock snickered to the claim.
"Well, yes and no," she shrugged. "You did appear amused by the Abacus you brought to me, yesterday." Ash sighed, discovered about his interests.
"Could you blame me?" he mulled.
"Many a student would say the same thing," Badcock assured. "You're not alone." She invited Ash and Pikachu into the classroom and the Abacus was on her desk. The Abacus had six steel rods parallel to each other with nine colored beads on each. "The Abacus is one of the oldest calculators before the digital ages conformed them for the modern times." Ash awed the history as Pikachu counted the beads on each rod.
("I see only nine beads each,") he pointed out. Badcock turned to Pikachu from the sound, thinking he discovered a problem.
"Are you thinking there should be ten beads per rung?" she questioned. Pikachu blinked, not sure how to reply. "If you get to ten, it's the first of the next rung." She counted with Pikachu before reaching ten with the beads on the lowest rung. Pikachu began to understand Badcock and the Abacus more. Just then, Constanze entered the classroom, carried on a platform by four robots half of her size. Seeing Constanze, Badcock, Ash and Pikachu watched on.
"Constanze…" guessed Ash. Constanze brought out a tablet as she saw Ash. After some work on it, she flipped the tablet over for Badcock, Ash and Pikachu to read.
YOU'RE THE BOY WHO CAME HERE!
"I am," Ash replied. Constanze had a quick gasp before working on her tablet again.
"Miss von Braunschbank-Alberchtsberger doesn't speak much, even to those new around here," Badcock briefed. Constanze finished and showed her next message.
ARE THERE MACHINE-LIKE CREATURES FROM YOUR HOME?
Ash seemed puzzled to the question. "Machine-like Pokémon?" he pondered. "Like Steel-Type?"
"Well, Miss von Braunschbank-Alberchtsberger has been into robotics as well as witchcraft," Badcock pointed out. Pikachu had an idea with Badcock's explanation.
("Golett and Golurk!") he realized as he snatched Ash's PokéDex and messed around with the sliding screen and swiping through different Pokémon.
"What are you looking up, Pikachu?" asked Ash. Finally, Pikachu found a bluish clay doll with a boulder for a body that had a harness around with a diamond swirl around its center, a rocky head with yellow bewitching eyes, clay-like elbow pads and leg guards.
GOLETT – GROUND/GHOST – HT: 3' 3" – WT: 202.8 LBS. ABILITY: IRON FIST
Constanze, Ash and Badcock saw the creature before Pikachu pressed the play button. "GOLETT, THE AUTOMATON POKÉMON," the PokéDex registered. "IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT GOLETT HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS." Constanze seemed interested when Pikachu swiped to the next creature of Golurk.
"Golett and the evolved form of Golurk, huh?" believed Ash. The screen showed Golurk's stats.
GOLURK – GROUND/GHOST – HT: 9' 2" – WT: 727.5 LBS. - ABILITY: IRON FIST
"GOLURK, THE AUTOMATON POKÉMON AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF GOLETT," the PokéDex computed. "GOLURK WERE CREATED BY PEOPLE AND POKÉMON FOR ITS PROTECTION. TO THIS DAY, GOLURK RUNS ON AN UNKNOWN ENERGY THAT THEY LOSE CONTROL SHOULD THE SEAL ON THEIR CHEST BE REMOVED." Constanze's eyes nearly bulged out of her head.
"That is big…" gulped Badcock. Constanze took the PokéDex and aimed it at Pikachu which registered.
PIKACHU – ELECTRIC – HT: 1' 4" – WT: 13.2 LBS. - ABILITY: STATIC
"PIKACHU, THE MOUSE POKÉMON AND THE EVOLVED FORM OF PICHU," it computed. "PIKACHU WILL SHARE ITS ELECTRICITY TO A PIKACHU LOW ON ITS CHARGE." The intriguing face on Constanze had her back on her tablet to write. She showed Ash her message.
I WANT TO BORROW IT TO KNOW MORE. I PROMISE TO BRING IT BACK.
Ash awed Constanze's interests, as did Badcock. "It seems as though Miss Braunschbank-Alberchtsberger has accepted you as a friend, Mr. Ketchum," Badcock acknowledged. Constanze shook her head frantically.
"NOT FRIENDS YET!" she snapped. Ash and Pikachu jumped at Constanze's sudden outburst. Constanze gasped, but turned her back in embarrassment.
"That was sudden," Ash gulped.
("We didn't make fun, right?") murmured Pikachu. After their time with Miss Badcock, Ash and Pikachu proceeded on where Hannah and Barbara found the two down the hallway.
"Ash!" shouted Hannah.
"Pikachu!" added Barbara. Meeting up, Pikachu leaped into Hannah's arms.
"You wanted to be held, huh?" she teased with a laugh. Pikachu's giggle helped. Recalling Diana, Ash decided to ask about her to the two friends.
"Now, you two know a lot about Diana, right?" he started.
"Of course," Barbara confirmed. Ash chose to come clean about the topic.
"When I saved her from that fireball, she praised me while smiling," he started. "Everyone around said that her smiling was… unusual." Hannah and Barbara realized the question.
"Then, I bet you're not informed about the Cavendish family," Hannah believed. Ash shook his head in denial. "See, the House of Cavendish has been around since the Sixth Century and have been well known for their magic."
"And we're all in the 21st Century," Barbara pointed out. "So, you're talking about 1,500 years of Cavendish magic, wisdom and kindness, which is why their motto is 'Affection'."
"Wow," Ash gulped. "So, Diana's from a long line of magic users."
"That's right," Hannah confirmed. "And you can imagine that she wants to keep the House's reputation going." Crossing his arms, Ash believed Diana's struggle.
"I can understand that," he figured. "1,500 years of Affection can't stop at her." Hannah, Barbara and Pikachu nodded as Ash began to hear Nelson outside.
"Work on your balance, Jansson!" she snapped. "Your speed is nearly there!" Hearing from inside, Ash, Hannah, Barbara and Pikachu realized there was a class going on.
"Miss Nelson's Broom-Flying class!" figured Hannah. "Diana's in that class right now!" She led the others outside where a class rode on broomsticks. Lotte leaned forward on her broomstick, speed gaining. Other students also flew on their broomsticks with Diana zipping through the sky with easy.
"Cavendish, you're a natural!" shouted Nelson. Diana swooped low, her boots pointing down only a few inches from the ground. She curved upward, heading to the sky.
"Look at her go!" awed Barbara. Nelson saw the others, but focused on the girls.
"Miss England!" she snapped. "Miss Parker, you're late!" Hannah and Barbara gawk before bowing.
"Sorry, Miss Nelson!" they apologized before getting their broomsticks. Nelson came to Ash and Pikachu as the girls got set.
"Decided to take a peek at my class?" she teased. Ash shrugged his shoulders.
"Hannah and Barbara dragged me out here," he admitted. Nelson giggled to the case.
"Oh, that's what happened?" she pondered. "They probably want to impress you with how they fly." Ash snickered before looking up. Akko was in the class as was Lotte and Diana. When Diana came to the teacher, her eyes also caught Ash and Pikachu in a surprise.
'Did he come out to see me?' she thought. 'Or is it a coincidence?' As she refocused herself, Akko shook on her broomstick, grabbing the head out of panic.
"Settle down!" she pleaded. "Don't do this!" The broomstick jerked itself upward where Akko fell off but grabbed the bottom of it. "STOP!" The broomstick stopped, but Akko went flying away, screaming in fear of her fall. Nelson, Ash and Pikachu saw and gasped at Akko in trouble.
"Miss Kagari!" cried Nelson. Ash sprinted out with Pikachu holding his shoulder as Akko fell. He reached where Akko would land, sliding feet first as Akko fell into his arms. The catch created a cloud of dirt to kick up. Other students saw Akko's fall and sped down on their broomsticks.
"AKKO!" they called out. When the cloud lifted, Akko was in Ash's arms as she didn't appear hurt. Akko realized that someone was holding her.
'I think I'm okay…' she minded until she opened her eyes, finding Ash holding her in his arms. She lisped a gasp. 'I'm not okay! I'm dreaming! He's holding me!' The other students saw that Ash was the hero as Pikachu watched on.
"Thank goodness…" sighed Diana. Seeing eye-to-eye, Akko lifted her head to Ash, a wish to kiss him.
'My hero… my reward…' she hoped. She reached and kissed Ash… on the cheek as his head was held by Nelson. Akko looked to see where she got Ash and gawked.
"Not yet, Kagari," she teased. The students helped Ash and the dejected Akko to their feet, verifying Akko's health and praising Ash for the catch. After class, Diana confronted Ash after being checked out.
"If I may," she voiced. Ash and Pikachu turned to the blond from England.
"What's up, Diana?" asked Ash. Diana reached for Pikachu, petting his cheek.
"Is it possible to have Pikachu for the night?" she requested. Ash seemed a bit surprised, but Pikachu happily leaped into Diana's arms.
"If Pikachu likes the idea, I do as well," Ash sided. Diana smiled to the acceptance.
"Much thanks," she praised. The day at school ended and Ash returned to the tower with Ursula. Diana entered her dorm room with Pikachu in her arms. "I know that you prefer your 'Pika Pika,' but I'd rather hear it from an honest voice."
"Again, I don't want to sound like Meowth," Pikachu voiced, the spell Miranda used the first time reapplied. "But hearing from Hannah and Barbara, you've put a lot of pressure on yourself."
"Yes, but I came to Luna Nova restore the name to the House of Cavendish." The reason made Pikachu's ears perk up.
"Restore the name? Like, restore 'Affection'?" The motto made Diana frown. "How bad was it tainted?" All Diana did was sigh.
"It is my struggle, though your master may help me in retaining it. Just not tonight."
"Okay…" Diana slipped into a nightgown and snuggled with Pikachu as Ash and Ursula had large sausage links on top of mashed potatoes and peas.
"This is 'Bangers & Mash' from England?" asked Ash.
"It is," Ursula informed. "It's an English dinner and it's something new to get a chance to make, even though I'm French." Ash bit into the sausage and enjoyed it. "So, Akko tried kissing you again…"
"And that was after I caught her from falling when her broomstick kicked her off." The information made Ursula giggle. "At least she got me on the cheek."
"At least this one has a legitimate reason." The two giggled as Ash wondered on something.
"You know, I'm still wondering if anyone else came by like the Forces of Nature or my friends." The thought made Ursula wonder if Ash was homesick.
"What about Team Rocket that you fought?" The name made Ash smile.
"Luna Nova has powerful witches… They won't stand a chance." The confidence made Ursula smile as they ate. At night, Ash tucked in and Ursula was ready to retire herself. As she reached the ladder, she saw Ash on the couch, alone. She grabbed her wand and zapped the couch, turning it into a bed.
"I don't want you to sleep alone, tonight." She crawled into bed with Ash, her arm wrapping around his chest and kissing his cheek before falling asleep. Diana will revert Pikachu's voice before Ash has him back.
TO BE CONTINUED...