Chapter 29: Witch is the way Home?
Days of acknowledging Ash's departure wore on Luna Nova Academy's student body, as well as the teachers. He no longer needed to worry about Pikachu being taken by Team Rocket with Giovanni dead and Jessie and James going to trial. Ash began to pack as Pikachu read a manga from Akko's date to Japan. ("This is fascinating!") he awed. Looking to Pikachu, Ash snickered.
"You've been out of your Pokéball for too long," he teased.
("I can't help it!") he shrugged. Ash softly shook his head as the door was knocked on. He reached the door and opened, finding Andrew. He gave Ash the temporary dorm after his misplacement and victory against Anne in a race to be enrolled in Luna Nova Academy.
"Andrew?" he realized.
"Hey, Ash," Andrew greeted. "How are you doing?" Ash giggled to the question.
"Oh, I witnessed the House of Cavendish getting a new owner. Though, the old owners are struggling to get a handle on it… in more ways than one." The news made Andrew gulp to the actions performed.
"I'm afraid to ask. Anyway, I heard that you'll be going back home."
"I am, and thanks to the Magic Council, I have the spell to go back to the Pokémon World."
"That's great to hear… I suppose Diana is off the market?" The question made Ash blink in confusion. "Never mind… I see that when you're packed, I can ship this back to the store."
"That's what it looks like. It was nice of you to give me this while I was stuck here."
"No, the pleasure's actually mine, especially learning about Pikachu and Pignite." Out of nowhere, Croix emerged.
"Oh, is Appleton ordering this back?" she asked. Ash and Andrew gasped before turning to see the Modern Arts teacher.
"Miss Meridies," greeted Andrew. "No, but hearing about Ash's departure, I wanted to inform him about the plans with the dorm." Croix nodded to the detail.
"That's what I thought," she assumed. "Because I was thinking that I could take it over." Ash, Andrew and Pikachu gasped, the latter darting his head from the manga.
"Miss Meridies?" gulped Andrew. "Are you sure?"
"Well, I'm actually without a place to call my dorm like the rest," Croix explained. "I've been staying in the tower, but even I need some alone time." Andrew thought about the offer since Ash was surrendering it back to Andrew. The Appleton student considered the idea of giving Croix the dorm.
"I see," he pondered. "I think I can arrange the motion and have it be a permanent dorm." Croix cheered while Ash smiled as Andrew saw Pikachu with the manga. "Hey, what are you reading?"
("Take a look!") offered Pikachu. He handed Andrew the manga. Seeing the pictures, Andrew had a laugh.
"A mouse fights a dragon to help his owner?" he smiled. "That's new. Japan's comic artists are looking for new angles." Pikachu also laughed. That night, Croix claimed the dorm and started using magic to redecorate it. She made it like a house of her own that included a bath and kitchen for starters. Akko and Diana came by the tower after hearing the news. Considering this was the last time, it hit hard for Chariot and Croix. They had dinner and plans.
"So, you're going with Ash back to the Pokémon World?" asked Chariot.
"We are, but only for at least an hour," Diana confirmed. "Who knows, it might be somewhere I can stay and be away from Daryl, Maril and Merill. Anna has told me that she quit working for them since they're no longer members of the Cavendish family."
"It is a shame," Croix sighed. "And hearing about what happened to Daryl and her daughters, I'd argue they got more than some comeuppance." Ash shook his head, thinking of how powerless he became when it came to resolving the curse.
"I kinda wish I could remove the curse and give Daryl a chance to redeem herself," he admitted.
"Don't get so worked up, my sweet udon," Akko assured. "Besides, you wanted to help Diana with her family struggles… and I know you did them a great disservice." Ash snickered to the point.
"So, what will you do when you reach your world?" asked Chariot. Ash had a plan to start.
"First, we'll find my friends that Pikachu and I traveled with," he started. "If they're not still at the ruined temple, the next location would be Cynthia's villa." This brought questions to the girls.
"Who's Cynthia?" wondered Diana.
"She's a League Champion from the Sinnoh Region who also has a villa in Unova where Pikachu and I traveled in," Ash explained. "And she's a blond like you." This intrigued Akko to wondering.
"You know, you could've told us that you like blonds," Chariot joked. "I mean, I believe that's why you went after Diana, right?" Ash scoffed, not believing Akko's idol.
"Blond hair is only hair," he dismissed.
"Right…" teased Diana. Everyone had a laugh as night fell. Ash, Akko and Diana were in bed together, spaghetti straps of nightgowns visible with Ash's bare shoulders poking out. Chariot and Croix, holding Pikachu, gathered around them.
"You know, it's going to be hard to let Ash go," Chariot hummed. Croix nodded.
"He's the one who made me think twice and side with you," she realized. "Probably the wisest thing to happen to me." Both leaned in to Ash before they kissed his cheeks. Ash blushed through his sleep.
"Goodnight, Ash," they wished. They stepped away as Akko, though her sleep, hugged Ash's head.
"I want our baby to be named Anya," she whispered. Pikachu heard Akko, but didn't think much of it.
"Akko's dreaming pretty hard," he whispered, Chariot granting his voice. Chariot giggled before they and Croix fell asleep. The next morning, Ash was back in his attire and packed up for the trip back. Akko and Diana wore the witch attire. The students and staff of Luna Nova Academy came out to see Ash for the last time.
"I suppose this is it, huh?" asked Amanda.
"It is," Ash sighed. "At least I can take home the tome and the Staff. Shooting Star can go home first." Hannah and Barbara came to Diana, learning that she was going to see Ash's world.
"Any chance you bring back a Pokémon for us?" wished Hannah.
"Not likely," Diana shook no to. "We're only going to be there for a short time before we return back here." Barbara whined, but understood.
"Hopefully, you don't let Ash be with anyone else but you," she advised.
"Ash's heart has wanted to be mine, as well as vice versa," Diana briefed. "Akko's just an addition." The other girls gathered around Ash.
"It was fun to be with you for the short time," Lotte enjoyed.
"I know," Ash acknowledged. "And if I wanted to stay and forgo my dream of being a Pokémon Master, I would. Of course, the first wiccan to graduate from Luna Nova Academy would be a big deal."
"Not as big as saying how you were able to destroy evil in the process," Molly teased. "At least Sucy is having fun with Amoonguss." Sucy and Amoonguss nodded, happy to be with a creature of her favorite fungus. Jasminka came to Ash with a large bag.
"A little Russian treat for you and your friends," she offered. "Zees are Sushkis, and ze recipe is within."
"Thanks, Jasminka," he accepted. Miranda found the group but came to Ash while the other staff watched from Samantha to Anne to Ellen.
"Ash, I'm sad that you're going back home," Miranda murmured. "It would give the Magic Council a chance to see if boys interested in magic would become an ideal opportunity, have Luna Nova Academy become a co-ed school." Ash shook his head.
"Don't take it the wrong way, but I don't want changes with this school," he refused. "Luna Nova Academy is a great school and it can influence changes. I also would be better recognized as just another student, not the first boy to enroll." Miranda understood Ash's point.
"Regardless, your time here was as plentiful as any student that normally would enroll," she praised before giving Ash a hug. "This feels as if I'm hugging my grandchild for the first time." She cried, tears flowing down her wrinkled face. "I'm too old to cry." Ash had a slight snicker.
"It's all good," he sympathized. As Miranda stepped away, Amanda grabbed Ash by the arms. She hooked her arms around Ash's underarms and locked them in place.
"Before you go, how about one more round as a kissing post?" she teased. Ash gawked before the girls came after Ash and dogpiled on top. The kissed his face repeatedly for a few minutes. Ash was covered by some lipstick and a lot of saliva.
"Something to remember us by!" joked Wangari. Everyone had a laugh, including Pikachu. After he recovered, Ash reached Shooting Star and aimed at the sky. Diana created a spell, making a magical tether. Everyone but Anne waived Ash for the last time as he, Pikachu, Akko and Diana flew to the sky and the Staff in Ash's hand.
"HERE WE GO!" he shouted before the jewel of his staff was aglow. "OPEN, GATE TO THE POKÉMON WORLD!" A whirlwind of energy beamed out of the Staff as it struck the clouds. Then, a rift tore open the sky and created a hole of which the brighter blue skies were seen.
"IS THIS IT!?" asked Akko.
"IT HAS TO BE!" believed Diana. They flew into the vortex and a few seconds later emerged on the other side. They've crossed over to the other side. "Is this it?" That's when Pikachu found a clue to their whereabouts.
("Down there!") he alerted. Everyone else looked down, finding the temple that started the event.
"That sight has seen better days," Akko gulped. To Ash, it was familiar.
"That's the last place Pikachu and I were before we wound up at Luna Nova Academy," he alerted.
"So, the adventure started here?" figured Akko. They flew down and landed on the ruined temple. They couldn't find anyone.
"So, they're not here," Ash started. "I guess we head to the villa."
"But, do you know how to get there?" questioned Diana. "You've been away from here for quite some time." Ash had to think of how he and Pikachu arrived at the temple in the first place.
("DARLING!") sounded someone familiar. Ash heard and turned. From nearby, Meloetta arrived to find Ash. She flew to meet and hugged Ash, surprising him.
"Meloetta!?" he gasped. Meloetta nuzzled Ash's face, excited to be reunited. "I miss you too." Akko and Diana came to see the Melody Pokémon as she smacked kisses to Ash's face.
"Oh, it's such a cutie!" awed Akko. Meloetta gawked and became a bit frightened.
"It's okay, Meloetta," Ash assured. "These are friends of mine. They're interested about this world." Meloetta seemed interested to the idea before flying over to meeting Akko and Diana.
"My word, she's like a doll!" giggled Diana. Meloetta awed the witches' wear like the witch hat the girls wore.
"We're witches-in-training," Akko briefed. "We can do all sorts of magic." Meloetta danced excitedly to Ash's new friends.
"Meloetta, is everyone back at Cynthia's villa?" asked Ash.
("They are,") she confirmed.
("Wait until they see us,") Pikachu sneered. ("Ash can perform magic, too.")
("He can!?") gasped Meloetta. Thinking the vortex could close and leave Akko and Diana stranded, Ash chose to get going.
"Meloetta, can you lead us back to the villa?" he requested. "We'll follow on brooms." Seeing Shooting Star floating by Ash, Meloetta was fascinated.
"Let me make sure we understand her more," Diana offered. "You'll feel a little tingle, but this won't hurt." Meloetta wondered before Diana shot a beam at her. A few seconds later, the beam stopped. "And we're done." Meloetta checked her body but couldn't find anything different… not yet.
"Darling, what did she do to me?" she asked Ash. Quickly, she realized what Diana did and yelped.
"Meloetta, it's okay!" assured Ash. Meloetta stopped and looked to Ash with Pikachu on his shoulder.
("I was given that a lot,") Pikachu squeaked.
"Oh, you were?" awed Meloetta. "I guess it shouldn't be that bad."
"Still, it's cute that you call Ash 'Darling'," Akko teased. Meloetta's face blushed red.
"He was my lifesaver," she claimed. "I can't help it if he's a real darling."
"We can't argue that," Akko agreed. The girls giggled before they boarded their brooms. Meloetta flew forward and allowed the others to follow. Soon enough, they arrived at a villa where they stopped.
"What did Jasminka give you to share?" asked Diana.
"She said they're Sushki," Ash remembered. "I didn't look, but I'm sure they'll like it. I do trust her." Hearing Ash, Cynthia opened the door and found him with his girlfriends.
"ASH!" she cried as she ran up to him. She tackled Ash to the ground, hugging him deeply and kissing his face repeatedly. "I was so worried that you wouldn't come back!" She kissed Ash deeply on the cheek while crying. Akko, Diana and Meloetta watched in shock. Starting to recover, Ash looked up to Cynthia.
"I guess this makes me officially back," he joked. Cynthia giggled before helping Ash up. "And I got a lot to explain…"
"I bet, especially with those witches," Cynthia added as Akko and Diana came forward.
"Akko and Diana, my girlfriends," Ash identified. Cynthia awed the news, but someone else lost it.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!?" shouted Iris. She bolted to the front door and saw Ash with the women. Cynthia met and smothered Pikachu. "You did not just say you have girlfriends!"
"Yep," Akko confirmed.
"And we are them," Diana joked. Iris's jaw dropped, aghast at the news. Ash had a lot of explaining to do, and Sushki to share.
TO BE CONCLUDED...