Chapter 7: Unopened, Unlocked

The sun rose on the next day as those in the tower were hit by the shine. Ash began to wake when he saw Akko on top asleep, muttering something. "Akko?" he groaned.

"I, Atsuko Kagiri," Akko muttered in her sleep. "Take Ash as my husband… through everything… Now, you may kiss the bride." Akko reached for Ash and started to kiss his cheek. She held her lips on his cheek while feeling his face and eventually his lips. Waking up, Akko realized that Ash had stirred beforehand. Alcor, Ursula and Pikachu watched, humored by Akko's dreaming act. "Uh oh…"

"Yeah, morning to you, too," Ash moaned. Akko smiled in her recovery.

"Well, maybe one day naked," she teased before Ash became wide-eyed. She kissed him once more on the zigzag marking.

"Way too soon, Akko," Ursula mulled. Akko spun to see Ursula and Pikachu, the latter snacking on some bread. Her face reddened in seconds.

"I wasn't that loud!" she yelped. "Was I?" Pikachu nodded to Akko's dream being out loud.

("You were, Akko,") he confirmed. Embarrassed, Akko hid her face on Ash's chest. Before long, everyone was up, fed and dressed. Ash had been in the kitchen with Jasminka as he brewed tea. He thanked the Russian student for her help. He arrived at Miranda's office and knocked on the door. Ursula opened the door, finding Ash and Pikachu with a tray on a cart.

"Ash, did you forget something?" she asked.

"No, I came to drop this off for you after you told me about your plan," Ash pointed out. Miranda's giggle was heard.

"Dear, that is a pleasure to bring us tea and crumpets," the aged woman praised. "By the way, I know that you and Pikachu are anxious to return to your friends." Ash nodded to the claim.

"Don't get me wrong," he tried to brief. "Luna Nova Academy is wonderful and you guys certainly made me feel welcome… for the most part." Ursula believed that Anne was the one still giving Ash grief. "But, Pikachu and I would like to get back so that I compete in the Pokémon League in Unova."

"And after you showed us your badges that you've won," Ursula pointed out. "Not to mention the qualifications to said league, I would be asking Headmistress Holbrooke to have Luna Nova Academy cheer you on for the competition."

"Which is why shortly after you arrived and we got to know you and Pikachu," Miranda started. "I had sent a Writ of Urgency to the Council of Magic to see if there's anything they could do to send you and your Pokémon back home. Don't get us wrong, we enjoy your company." Ash and Pikachu smiled to the praise.

"Now, I believe you have your tasks," Ursula brought up.

"I know, I know…" sighed Ash. "I just wanted to make sure you're good." He and Pikachu left as the women enjoyed tea and crumpets.

"Full of enthusiasm…" muttered Miranda.

"Come on, Headmistress," Ursula advised. "I mean… it is weird that we have a boy on campus grounds… and it does feel interesting to have a change of pace." Miranda's snicker had Ursula pause.

"Now, Ursula…" she murmured. "How long ago was it when I saw you first learning magic before you became good?" Ursula giggled to the reminder. "You want change of pace? You went from inspired to inspiration, and Ash may be the same thing." Another giggle from Ursula sounded a little panicked.

"Funny thing about that: Even since Ash came to us, and that he's been staying in the tower… it feels…" There was a fumbling of thoughts. "Oh god, what's the word!?"

"Take a sip and explain your issue." Complying, Ursula nodded and sipped some of the Earl Grey.

"Sorry. There's just something about Ash that I felt… connected, like a mother to a child. I mean, the name Ketchum still bothers me and I'm not sure why." The issue gave Miranda another giggle.

"I see… What you're trying to say is that if we cannot find Ash's way back, you'd want to adopt him?" Mid-sip and hearing the guess made Ursula choke and spit her tea out. She wiped her mouth from the sudden take.

"We- Well, that is to say…"

"But you know what's funny? Ash has been a great-grandchild that I'm seeing for the first time." Instead of laughing, Ursula awed the idea.

"Really?"

"It just seems that I'm on the same boat as you." Though smiling, Ursula shook her head. A little while later, Ash and Pikachu were in the library arranging books. Looking at the paper printing on the spines, they found each book to go with each shelf. The cart was empty.

"There!" he grunted. "That's the last one!"

("There's so many books in here!") awed Pikachu.

"I know," Ash huffed. "At least we didn't need to arrange every book in here. It would probably take us days." They began to climb down from a step ladder. "Well, we better take the cart back to the desk up front-" He paused when he saw a book that was in backwards, blue pages and a strap facing outward. This made Ash curious as he climbed to get the book.

("Ash, what is it?") asked Pikachu. Ash reached for the book which was deep in the shelf and between two other books that he didn't touch beforehand. He pulled the leather blue book out which had blue all over, including a lock printed on it. He spun the book about.

"What kind of book is this?" he asked.

("It's all blue,") Pikachu observed.

"And why does it have a lock?" added Ash. "We should take it to Miss Mahalra and see if she knows about it." Pikachu agreed. Elsewhere, Diana saw Hannah and Barbara mulling in the back of a classroom.

"Hannah?" she spoke. "Barbara? What is going on?" Hannah and Barbara turned to Diana with heavy sighs.

"We got mad at Ash after he helped Akko with Pokéball training," Hannah briefed.

"We had hoped that it would be him and yourself," Barbara added. Diana, hand over heart, felt fascinated to Hannah and Barbara's help.

"I, too, was upset at Ash with Akko," she pointed out. Hannah and Barbara seemed in wonder about the claim. "Perhaps what we should confront Ash about it." Hannah and Barbara agreed and stood. Back in the library, a heavily tanned, skinny brunette woman saw Ash and Pikachu from behind the desk. Ash brought the book he found.

"Mr. Ketchum…" she voiced. "Are you finished with your work?"

"I did, Miss Mahalra," Ash confirmed. "Every book is back in their spots on shelves."

"Much appreciated, dear."

"Thanks… Although…" The hesitation made Mahalra curious. "I did find this strange-looking book within the last shelf I was working on. There's no marking on the spine about it." Taking the book as Ash presented it, Mahalra gasped to the shock with one turn of the book.

"Goodness! This is the Unopenable Book!" The name made Ash and Pikachu blink in confusion.

"The… Unopenable… Book?"

"Yes, this book is a real mystery, my seun (my boy). It's quite an ancient tome. It has been in this library since the Academy's beginning. No one knows who wrote this, but legend says it contains knowledge of a powerful and legendary form of magic stored within its pages. Unfortunately, no one's been able to read it because they cannot even open it, hence the name." Looking closer while Pikachu awed the tale, Ash looked at the keyhole marking on the strap.

"It has to be this strap with the lock."

"Correct. It has been said that the book is enchanted with a powerful locking spell that prevents it from being opened. It has been presumed that it was casted by the author." The study made Ash cup his chin.

"But have witches tried other spells to see if it would open it?"

"My seun, that's the thing: the locking spell is so powerful, it cannot be disenchanted. A lot of spells from many wizards and witches were attempted with all of the efforts in vain! No matter what has been used, this book remains locked."

"Wow… Kinda reminds me of the GS Ball back where we're from." The new item made Mahalra raise an eyebrow, more curious.

("I actually forgot about it,") Pikachu admitted.

"GS… ball?" repeated Mahalra.

"It's a long story," Ash muttered. That's when he began to think. "Maybe I can open it." Mahalra shook her head to the idea.

"I wouldn't bother, jong een. I do not mean to offend you, but you are merely a boy, less not enrolled in Luna Nova Academy. Even in otherwise, the chances of you opening this book are unimaginably-" She stopped when there was a click, like the lock becoming undone. The book lit a brighter blue when Ash's hand was over it. The light soon turned to a beam between the strap and the hand before it vanished. The strap came off the front of the book. "...slim?" Ash and Pikachu looked as equally stunned.

"Was that suppose to happen?" Seeing what happened, Mahalra leaped from her seat in shock, standing twice as tall as Ash.

"Ongelooflike (Unbelievable)! You unlocked the book!"

"I… did?"

("Ash… did?") copied Pikachu. Mahalra couldn't fathom what she saw.

"This is incredible!" she awed. "No one could break the spell of that book, but you managed it! Just… how!?" Ash shrugged his shoulders.

"How should I know?" he wondered. "I just had my hand over the strap and boom."

"But still, it's unfathomable!" gulped Mahalra. Ash pondered about the new ordeal.

"Say, does this mean I can read it?" he asked. Mahalra had little option.

"I-I suppose so," she allowed. Everyone moved over to a table where Ash opened the book. Inside, there were scriptures written in a language that the librarian and Pikachu felt stumped on. "Remarkable! I've never seen such runes before! It's so unfamiliar that I can't decipher them!"

("They look weird,") Pikachu squeaked.

"Really?" questioned Ash with glowing blue eyes. "They seem clear to me." Mahalra and Pikachu shot looks to Ash.

"Wait, you can read that!?" she gasped. Ash fluffed a nod. "But… how? How can you understand the runes?"

"I don't know, but…" pointed Ash. "I just… do." Diana, Hannah and Barbara arrived in the library when they spotted Ash and Pikachu with Mahalra.

"Then, read it to us," Mahalra offered. Ash nodded before his eyes were glowing blue again.

"Here goes…" he prepared. "Rala… Eera… Roosh… Shukran… Xala… Dakoo… Zemba…" The more Ash continued reading, the more his eyes were glowing. Diana, Hannah and Barbara watched in awe to the sight.

("Ash!?") shouted Pikachu.

"Mr. Ketchum?" called Mahalra. The words were more engaging to Ash than what was around him. Then, a force. Winds blew as the women and Pikachu braced, their arms crossed and in front of their faces. The pages flipped rapidly with what seemed like endless pages.

"We gotta get Headmistress Holbrooke!" ordered Diana.

"Right!" agreed Hannah and Barbara before running off. Diana fought the gales, stepping to reach Ash. Mahalra flew far toward a shelf.

"Ash!" shouted Diana. Ash stood in his trance, reading an ever-growing enchantment. "Ash!" Pikachu took cover under the table.

("If this doesn't work…") he mulled before he unleashed Thunderbolt, but the electric attack danced around Ash instead of striking him. Miranda and Ursula raced to the library with Hannah and Barbara behind and Akko from another direction.

"The book!" alerted Miranda. Ursula, gasping to Ash in the middle, raced at Ash as Diana finally put a hand on his face.

"Pikachu!" she called. "Use Thunderbolt on me!" Pikachu gawked to Diana's plan.

("Not to you!") he whined. Ursula struggled to get to the table, reaching for the book.

"Do you trust me!?" shouted Diana as Anne came to the scene. Pikachu gritted his teeth and did another Thunderbolt, striking Diana's arm. The electric attack got to Ash who started feeling the zap. The enchantment halted, the winds weakened as Ursula reached and closed the book. Pikachu stopped the shocking attack before Ursula closed the book.

"What… the hell… was that?" she gasped. Ash collapsed to the floor, his state of consciousness gone.

"Afiya, why did you let this mongrel read books during his tasks!?" snapped Anne. Akko, Diana, Hannah and Barbara came to Ash, trying to wake him up.

"Tell him when he comes around!" the librarian snapped. "Besides, it's not like anyone else opened the Unopenable Book before!" Anne grabbed the book and noticed the strap.

"Wait, this was the same book I found when I first enrolled here!" voiced Miranda. "But I couldn't open it back then!"

"So, how did it open now?" questioned Ursula.

"Ash, wake up!" cried Diana. "It's over!"

"Please come back to us!" prayed Barbara. Slowly, Ash began to stir, the four girls on top of him.

"What… happened?" he groaned. Pikachu, worried as well, jumped to Ash's head in relief.

"That's what we like to know," Akko shrugged. "Let's sit you up." The girls helped Ash to a seat before Diana and Hannah helped him to his feet. Anne came to Ash's face, knowing the trouble she's had with him.

"This is the last straw, Ketchum!" she yelled. "I want you out of Luna Nova Academy this instant!" To Ash, he had a comeback in mind.

"Then take me and Pikachu home!" he groaned. Anne seethed, the backtalk further enraging her.

"That is quite enough, Anne Finnelan!" snapped Ursula. Anne snapped at Ursula's retort.

"If you have the magic needed to bring Ash and his Pokémon home," Afiya started.

"By all means," Miranda ended. Anne felt cornered. She grunted in defeat and walked away. Ash collapsed again, but Hannah and Barbara kept him from falling on his face and Ursula hugged him, making sure he was okay.

"I'm right here, honey," she whispered. Akko came to the book held by Miranda.

"So, this is the Unopenable Book?" she pointed out.

"Well, it's opened now," Miranda teased. Diana gave Ash a chair to sit down on. He grabbed his head, the rush starting to settle.

"Mr. Ketchum wove his hand over the strap and it became unlocked," Afiya mentioned. "Since he's the one who opened the book, he could read the tome inside and that's when all hell broke loose." It was bizarre for everyone involved.

("We've seen some crazy moments before,") Pikachu squeaked. ("That was new.") Ursula came to Ash and hugged him.

"Let me take you back," she offered. "Akko and Diana can help out."

"Okay, as long as I take Pikachu with me back to Lotte and Sucy," Akko counter-offered.

"No, you don't need to separate Ash and Pikachu like that!" snapped Ursula. Ash wove his hand.

"Wait, I think it might be best if Pikachu's with Akko," he assured. Ursula and Akko blinked. "I don't know what I was chanting before, but it's probably safer than sorry." Akko cheered as she and Diana carried Ash back. Ash's arm was slung over Akko's neck while Diana held him up by his chest. A little while later, Ash was back in the tower and drained of all energy. "Thanks, Diana. I didn't mean to put you in danger to save me."

"Actually, I should be thanking you," Diana countered. "The battle we had gave me the idea." Ash coughed a laugh. Diana kissed his cheek as Pikachu waived bye to him. Evening settled, but for Ursula, her roommate was on her mind. She came to his bedside.

"I bet your mother misses doing this to you," she whispered before giving him a kiss to the temple. Ash didn't react, sleeping soundly. His sleeping face made Ursula more curious. That's when she crawled in Ash's bed and snuggled with him. Soon enough, she fell asleep as well.

One day, Ursula decided to take a walk from Luna Nova Academy. Stress about the students building, a nice and quiet walk felt needed. 'At least the calm breeze is a breath of fresh air,' she thought. Suddenly, there was a sound. 'Now what?' Instead of looking, she listened and heard crying. She picked up the sound and followed it to a stream where a basket was drifting down. She entered the stream and picked the basket to where the crying was loud. She brought it to dry land and opened it, finding a crying raven-haired baby boy inside. Ursula was in shock at the sight. "It's okay! I'm here!" She hoisted the baby to see that it was moving rather slowly and the baby was merely skin and brittle bones. The horror that Ursula discovered made her act. 'This boy is weak. I have to do something or he'll die.' She put the baby down before she brought out a wand. Without saying a word, she made a bottle of warm milk appear. She picked the baby back up and gave him the milk which he started feeding off of. A few minutes later, the bottle emptied. "I bet that was a lot. Now I wonder…" Without another second wasted, Ursula brought the baby back to the Academy's building. Other teachers, including Pisces, learned about the baby.

"Big deal!" snapped Anne. Nelson held the baby as he let out a burp. "He didn't need to be picked up by you! All that he'll be is an annoyance. He'd be better off drifting down the stream. He'd be found eventually." The baby cried from Anne's audacity. Ursula snagged the baby to settle him down.

"Anne Finnelan!" she snapped. "A baby like this needs care! What if this was yours!?" She clutched the baby tightly. Anne gulped to Ursula's anger. She stepped away, petting the baby as he began to ease his crying. "I've got you safe." The baby became calm and shaking his head slightly.

"I wholeheartedly agree with Ursula," Miranda sided. "The baby was far too weak to have survived another few hours." Anne felt betrayed by her own words. That's when Ursula felt a grip. Looking down, she saw the boy gripping her finger and smiling. It gave Ursula a smile, genuine to knowing that the baby accepted her.

"You may not like children, Anne," she started. "But Ash is mine to watch over." Anne steamed at the thought of Ursula's mothering a baby she found. Ursula gave her a glare that gave Anne pause. "This boy has been put on this world, but we don't know what happened to his real mother. A baby, an infant, one that seems atrocious to turn away from…" Miranda placed an arm on Ursula, calming her down.

"I'll see to it that the baby is yours," she promised. "I may even watch him while you help students." Other teachers supported the idea, much to Anne's chagrin. Sealing the deal, Ursula blessed Ash with a kiss to the forehead. The baby smiled as Ursula felt happy to be a mother.

TO BE CONTINUED...