Chapter 19: Love Potion, #19

The new day arrived for Luna Nova Academy as Ash and Pikachu walked down the halls of the school with Ursula & Alcor. The students awed seeing Pikachu in the school for them to see instead of waiting for the end of the day. "Croix's class is going to be popular today," Ursula teased.

"So it sounds like," Ash pondered. "Are you taking Pikachu to her?"

"Of course, along with Alcor for some unique teachings to the students."

"I see… I can imagine Miss Meridies wanting to try her magic with his Thunderbolt."

"That could be messy." They reached Ursula's classroom where she opened her own door. "Croix should be stopping by to pick them up. I'll see you a little later." Alcor and Pikachu followed Ursula inside as Ash nodded and headed out, a few books by his side. His mind was still on the discovery that Sir Aaron is his ancestor based on the aura that he had. As he journeyed to his assigned class, Anne spotted him as Lotte and Sucy greeted him.

"Ketchum?" called Anne. Hearing his last name, Ash turned to the teacher who only agreed on protecting Diana.

'Miss Finnelan?' he recognized. "Yeah?" Anne got Ash's attention and proceeded to the next step. She concocted a formula for Ash that she wanted Ash to have.

"Come inside," she ordered. "It's important." Ever since Ash and Pikachu came to Luna Nova Academy, Anne had been indifferent to Ash in regards to him staying within campus grounds, let alone being a student. Ash became skeptical about Anne's offer.

'Why would she invite me to her classroom? I was on my way to Miss Badcock's class.' He decided to comply with Anne's invite. 'I don't like this… but it's not like I could ignore a teacher's request.' He entered Anne's classroom, only being the two of them inside. They sat at the desk.

"Ash, do not get the wrong impression. I didn't invite you so that we can make amends to our differences." The information made Ash sigh.

"I figured as much…"

"You thought that after we agreed on looking out for Diana, we may have some common grounds laid between each other?"

"Kind of…" That's when Anne presented two cups of tea. "Now what?"

"Proper discussion would be joined with tea." The cups of tea looked identical. Ash seemed cautious. "Besides, I'd want to discuss Diana. Granted, the date may have been her choice… and you could've easily turned it down."

"If I knew that a trip to the House of Cavendish was part of the date, I would've declined." Taking a sip from her cup, Anne wasn't sure if she wanted to believe Ash in going to Diana's home.

"So, as to not know of what Diana's dilemma is?" Unaware of the potion that glistened in his tea, Ash sipped some of the spiked concoction. He tasted it, eyes jumping up and putting the tea back on the small saucer.

"Is this what you drink? It's… really sweet." Tasting his concoction, Anne believed her plan to siphon Ash's magic worked. She continued to play innocent on the tea.

"Being from Finland, tea is not a drink I had before I attended Luna Nova Academy. Usually, it's curdled milk. Luckily, Miranda did mention that you could sweeten tea to your liking."

"That makes sense. Anyway, back to Diana… With Daryl trying to take about every penny from Diana, she needs support if Daryl succeeds."

"It's not a problem. Keep in mind that she's the most successful student under my tutelage. It's not that I agree with your claim, backup plans are set for such cases." A nod from Ash told Anne that he accepted her support.

"At least she's protected here and this place will be able to fight back if Team Rocket or Oboneron attacks."

"I heard from the others about the issue… but we should be okay. Anyway, that's what I wanted to discuss with you. I'll inform Pisces that you're coming."

"Okay…" The discussion ended, Ash left the classroom. He didn't see Anne's sneer.

'Get ready to spend your last days on campus… Son of Delia.' As he headed to Pisces's class, Ash remained unaware of the poison Anne gave him. Some of the students were coming down the hall, Pikachu on Lotte's shoulder. He spotted Ash and leaped off.

("Ash!") he cheered as he reached Ash who had stopped to let his Pokémon on.

"The boy of Luna Nova Academy cometh," teased Sucy.

"Yeah, I can see you guys having fun with Pikachu," he noticed. Akko smiled to the guess.

"We sure are, and-" she stopped when her vision suddenly changed. Ash and Pikachu were right in front of her, but reddish hearts formed on a florescent pink background behind the two. The students' visions changed to similar views, including Sucy's, Akko's and Lotte's to name some. They also saw Ash as a muscular and handsome wizard in front. Ash and Pikachu looked to the girls, hearts starting to form in their eyes. Diana saw the group and noticed the enamoring stares.

"Akko?" she called. "What on Earth are you doing?" Ash and Pikachu turned to find Diana arriving.

("This is weird, Diana,") Pikachu warned. Diana reached Akko, waiving a hand in her face. The gesture had no effect.

"Why are you staring at Ash like-" she started again when she looked to Ash and Pikachu and froze, the same vision brought upon her sight. More girls, including Jasminka and Constanze, gave one look to Ash and their eyes became the same vision. Ash and Pikachu looked on, puzzled to the gazes but concerns growing rapidly.

"Uh… girls?" the nervous trainer called. "Why are you staring at me… like that?" The students took a step, lifting arms to him.

("This doesn't look good…") gulped Pikachu. The girls became enamored and excited just staring to Ash, a wish upon them.

"BE STILL, MY LOVE!" they shouted before running after Ash and Pikachu. They ran, a gaggle of girls pursuing. They raced through the halls trying to escape from the mob of maidens in love. One hall had more of the students like Hannah and Barbara. They suddenly saw Ash with the same visions as others. Hearts replaced their eyes looking longingly in love for the boy attending their school.

"Oh boy…" gulped Ash.

"ACCEPT OUR LOVE!" they cheered before rushing at Ash. He looked back, but that path had more of the students. Ash and Pikachu were cornered as the girls tackled Ash, though Pikachu squirmed through the pile the girls made. Each girl pushed, shoved and clawed their way to Ash with Pikachu not knowing what to do. Struggling, Ash pulled himself out of the pile. His uniform was shredded, blue boxers exposed. Saliva and makeup were all over his face. Before the girls could get themselves up, Ash and Pikachu dashed away. Nelson came into the school, wondering where the students were since class was supposed to have started.

"There's got to be a reason the privates aren't showing themselves," she pondered. "I know Ash is still relatively new but even he knows how critical my teachings get." That's when she saw Ash and Pikachu dashing pass them. Nelson watched and blinked. "There he is." That's when she turned to find the students in hot pursuit pass her. "What was that about?" She shrugged and moved on. Ursula and Croix were wondering about the location of the students.

"This is strange," Ursula started.

"The students not showing up in class?" guessed Croix.

"Yes… I also got word that Andrew has hired delivery drivers to bring the temporary dorm here for Ash and the Pokémon. How long he'll be here will help plan when he can take it back." To Croix, taking back the dorm didn't feel necessary.

"Why not I stay there instead?" The suggestion made Ursula stop.

"Now, wait a minute… You're not suggesting that you're staying with Ash when the dorm arrives, right?"

"Not quite, but I would like to have a place to stay and review students' work. Besides, you have the tower. Why can't I have the dorm when Ash returns?" That when Ash and Pikachu came around with the cheering girls closing from behind. They raced beside Ursula, Croix and Alcor who flew in. Ursula sensed trouble.

"That was Ash and Pikachu! They might be in trouble!" A nod from Croix came before she took off.

"Get Miranda! I got Ash!" She left Ursula's side to rescue the boy they've had in the tower.

"But Croix!" No choice, Ursula retreated to find the Headmistress. Ash and Pikachu escaped outside, and Ash needed to find the next way to leave.

"I know…" he thought. "Come to me, Shooting Star!" Out of the tower, Shooting Star emerged. Pikachu retreated to the doorway, hoping to stay out of the way. Ash mounted Shooting Star, hoping to stay away from the love-hungry girls. He passed Anne's classroom with her noticing.

"Ash?" she gasped. She opened and leaned out the window, finding Ash on Shooting Star. "He still has magic? Impossible!" Other students were on brooms which pursued Ash. They called for Ash not to leave so suddenly. Croix raced to reach Ash, Pikachu being in front.

"Ash!" she called as she reached Ash on the brooms.

"Miss Meridies!" he realized. Croix tried her hardest not to look at Ash, not like Pikachu.

"What's going on!? It's like we're all part of a harem cartoon!"

"I don't know! They looked at me and that's when it started!" That made Croix wonder what happened between before and now. Loving calls from the students made Croix retreat, thinking the girls would attack her and Pikachu. They returned to Ursula as Anne emerged.

"Boy, this is insane!" she gulped. "It's like a swarm of Cupid Bees stung the girls around!" Anne irked to the idea. She retreated as the rest of the staff watched. Akko and Diana surrounded Ash in a pincer move. Miranda saw this and feared for Ash's health.

"I have you, my Earl Grey!" teased Diana.

"Just accept our love, my darling wizard!" pleaded Akko. Other students moved in on brooms of their own. Below, others pondered what to do with the issue.

"In order to undo the spell, the Cupid Bee has to be killed," Croix recalled. "But I haven't seen a Cupid Bee anywhere on campus!"

"Not to mention that the little recruit couldn't have stung all of those girls at once!" irked Nelson.

"Which means that a spell has been casted to bring upon all of this!" believed Miranda. "One with venom of a Cupid Bee." Anne emerged as Akko and Diana grabbed Ash as he froze in looking for a way out.

"Our marriage should be absolute!" cried Diana as she kissed Ash. Akko spun around Ash to face him.

"I need your love, Ash!" she whined before getting lip alongside Diana. They fell to the ground as Anne reached Miranda with the bottle.

"Headmistress!" she called. The other teachers turned to find the bottle with the Cupid Bee print.

"Are you sure that's the one?" she questioned. Anne nodded before tossing it up. Wrinkly hands of Miranda held a wand of her own. "Dispel!" A beam shot out of the wand before it struck and destroyed the bottle. A shockwave loomed around Luna Nova Academy. The students stopped suddenly, confusion upon themselves. Akko and Diana were still kissing Ash when they stirred. They looked to Ash who was turning blue. Quickly, they jumped off.

"SORRY!" they yelped. Ash had some heavy breathing to regain oxygen from the suffocating kisses.

"Good grief…" he winced. The students reached Ash, calmer than before.

"Ash, what happened?" asked Molly.

"Your uniform," Hannah gulped.

"First, my breath," Ash moaned. "Then, my uniform. Man, I couldn't breathe with two tongues tying with mine!"

"Zat iz terrifying," Jasminka gulped. Constanze nodded to agree. Akko and Diana couldn't believe they kissed Ash together.

"We'll have to get Ash another uniform," Amanda sighed as she held a hand out. "Come on, handsome." Ash accepted the hand and Amanda hoisted him back to his feet as Wangari and Lotte dusted him off. Akko and Diana hid their blushing faces. Constanze reached Ash as Pikachu returned to him, relieved that the fiasco ended.

"Keep in mind that I have no feelings for you," she whispered.

"I know," Ash accepted. Anne sighed, the tension quelling.

"So, by destroying the bottle Anne lobbed up," Samantha started.

"Simply, 'destroying the bottle' would not have worked," Miranda corrected. "The venom would bleed into the soil and we would've destroyed the country if we simply broke it. The magic I used not only destroyed the bottle and contents, but made sure nothing was left." That's when Miranda became suspicious and turned to Anne. "Of course, for the spell to work means the source had to have come from the same bottle." Anne started to sweat as the other teachers turned to her.

"In other words, Anne held the bottle that affected the girls," Nelson suspected.

"Care to explain yourself, Annie?" scorned Croix. Anne felt at a loss for words. Miranda faced Anne, not pleased about what happened.

"We'll converse later… in my office," she warned. Anne feared upcoming punishment. Ursula reached Ash and Pikachu and hugged the boy while Pikachu hopped down and reached Akko and Diana.

"I'm so glad that you're okay!" she cried. "I think I know what's going on. I want to protect you with everything I can." Ash felt comforted to the embrace. The rest of the day didn't have the same excitement as the morning did, but two semi trucks arrived side-by-side. On the beds together was a large cabin-like house. Ash, Ursula and Croix came outside to find the delivery by the tower.

"Your dorm's arrived!" teased Croix. A few men guided the house down safely. Andrew arrived to see the process.

"Ash, it's a good thing to know that you're okay after the fracas earlier today," he smiled. Ash's uniform was restored with help from the staff.

"Believe me, I didn't think I'd get out of there alive," he huffed. "Akko and Diana smothering my lips like that…"

"And there's a penalty phase which Ash will testify to the Headmistress about tomorrow," Ursula informed.

"Yikes…" gulped Andrew. "Well, come on in and see your new stay." Ash and Pikachu entered with Andrew to find a dining room, a bedroom and a larger room with a fire pit made. "How do you like it? A spot for you to sleep and a spot for your Pokémon."

"Yeah, this is awesome!" he approved.

("I like the fire pit!") added Pikachu. As they toured the cabin, Ursula and Croix were in another discussion.

"Are you sure about it?" asked Ursula.

"Hey, I don't want to stay in the tower for the rest of my life," Croix briefed. "Besides, it could be a gathering spot for staff or a place to stay warm outside the dorms." Andrew heard the discussion, curious to know.

"Oh, did you want this to be permanent?" he asked. Croix and Ursula heard Andrew and turned to him.

"I understand that you have plenty of power being the heir of the Hanbridge family," Ursula brought up. "But don't you think Appleton will get suspicious about your favors to Luna Nova Academy?"

"That's between me and Appleton, Miss Callists," Andrew reasoned. "And between me and family. They may not approve of all of my decisions but they're not the ones in charge."

"That's true," Croix agreed. "And I don't know about it being permanent… but I'd like to take over it for as long as I can be of service to the school." Andrew nodded to understanding Croix's ideas. Night fell. Ash's Pokémon gathered around the fire pit with some lumber in flames. Ash's bedroom blocked any light from the large room. Instead, the only light was the moonlight that shone above Luna Nova Academy. For Ash, what awaited the fate of Anne Finnelan?

TO BE CONTINUED...