Part LXI: Beedrills and a Familiar Face
Ash and Misty walked down a winding, wooded path holding hands enjoying the warm air of western Kanto. It was early afternoon and they were almost at their destination. Sure they could have gotten here quicker but they had decided to enjoy the journey at a slower pace as they had the time to do so. The Cremini Town Contest wasn't for another five days and as they were within a day of the town there was no rush to get there.
It had been a little over a week since they had run into Lyra and Khoury at the Big Riddle Inn on Cinnabar Island and had decided that Misty would enter the Cremini Town Contest that was two weeks' away from that meeting. It was the perfect Contest for them. It was in western Kanto so closer to the Plateau for the Grand Festival and Indigo Conference then most places, it wasn't right away so they had time to reach it, and it was in a part of the region Misty hadn't seen yet so that was nice.
Plus Ash had been here before. He knew there was more to the area than the incident with a Smoochum he was remembering but whatever it was he still couldn't recall it. Yes, Misty felt that it was just right where they should be. Of course that was the moment that Ash accidentally kicked a stone into a bush that suddenly had a white glow emanating from it followed by a series of angry buzzing sounds greeted them.
"Ash, please tell me that is not what I think it is." Misty said nervously as Ash tensed in fear at the sound. "Please tell me that you haven't pissed them off again."
"Alas those are what you think they are and I think at least one just evolved." Ash said with a sigh as first one, then 3 and finally 5 very angry looking Beedrills buzzed up from behind the bushes. "Beedrills and the are definitely pissed."
"Run?" Misty asked.
"Run." Ash confirmed.
"Pikachu." Pikachu agreed helpfully as they all turned and sprinted down their path, 5 very pissed off Beedrills with stingers at the ready right behind them.
Ash was basically pulling Misty by the hand as they ran towards the edge of the woods while Piplup yelled and held onto Misty's head for dear life. Misty could just make out a shimmer of blue which was likely a lake or river right in front of them. She had no idea how they were going to lose the Beedrills but if they got to open ground then they could at least turn and fight them off.
At least that had been what Misty thought was the plan until a person walked right in front of them right as they burst out of the trees. Their timing was terrible. All Misty saw was a lot of lilac and heard a gasp before Ash collided with the other person at full speed and all 3 of them ended up going down. Unfortunately, due to their location and momentum, they took the stranger with them as they all crashed into the cold lake with a splash.
Misty faceplanted into the water went fully under it as her hand was ripped from Ash's and she carried on forward in the water. Piplup just leapt from her head as soon as he could and dove into the water as he was fine with it and for once he wasn't hurt by one of their annoying collisions. Misty had no idea where Ash was as she rolled over underground and sat up, spitting water out as her now soaked beanie fell down over her eyes and she grumbled at the situation.
The only one of the group not in the water was Pikachu who had seen it coming, vaguely remembering the lake from last time, and had turned and leapt off Ash's shoulder to land on the side of the familiar looking lake. He then turned to the 5 pissed off Beedrills and realized that there was no reasoning with them, there rarely was once these Pokémon got pissed, they had a serious anger problem.
Instead he sent out a powerful Thunderbolt and fried them all before they could attack. It wasn't as effective as he would have liked as he was hitting 5 Pokémon instead of one so he had to spread it out. Still it got the message across well enough. The Beedrills just buzzed at him angrily and then turned and left them alone not wanting to fight a Pokémon that could fight back. Pikachu sighed and turned around to look at his human and the sight before him with confusion.
Back in the water a soaking wet Ash was sitting up as he watched Pikachu handle the situation perfectly. Next to him the girl he'd run into sat up and coughed up some water, it had been years since she'd ended up in the lake. The last time had been because of a very special someone.
As Anabel, Salon Maiden of the Battle Tower, turned her head to look at the guy who had run into her she felt her heart suddenly pick up as soon as she saw him. Sure the sweatshirt and hat were different from last time but there was no mistaking that unruly black hair or that powerful, protective, Pikachu on the banks barking his concern for his trainer. That very special someone had returned and she had no idea why but at that moment she didn't care. For the first time she could remember, Anabel let her emotions take hold of her.
"Ash!" She almost squealed as she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in for an awkward, wet, side hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Huh?" Ash said turning to see a lot of lilac hugging him from the side and his memory was finally jogged loose as to why he Cremini Town was very familiar to him, it had just taken a few pissed off Beedrills and running into her, and the lake, again to remember it. "Anabel?"
All he felt was a nod in his should as the Frontier Brain continued to hug him, Ash putting and arm around her back to hug back as best he could. He didn't remember the rather serious Salon Maiden being this friendly but he did remember her well as it had been a few years since he was last here so it was nice to see her again. At last he remembered why this place was so familiar to him.
Misty meanwhile had finally found her bearings and pushed her wet beanie up, her hair ruined for the day, to see what was going on. As she turned to her boyfriend she could feel the steam coming off her at the sight that greeted her. It looked like her next rival had just appeared and their first meet had been them running into her in a weird reverse Dawn situation.
Misty saw a girl, she could tell the person was female despite the short lilac hair in a more male cut, hugging Ash closely from the side where they'd ended up. Misty could make out an odd lilac shirt thing with a large white collar and yellow accents with a strange white thing on the torso, again with yellow accents and yellow buttons. She also noticed that the woman wore lilac pants to complete the look. Somehow Misty felt it suited her but it wasn't something she could pull off.
Misty coughed loudly as Piplup floated relaxed on his back around them, the only one unaffected by being in a lake and enjoying his smugness at their situation as much as possible. The girl leapt off Ash, who fell backwards, and fell over again in the water as she looked over at Misty with lilac eyes and a deep blush on her face. Yup, this girl clearly had feelings for Ash but Misty decided to take a deep breath and give her the benefit of the doubt. She was not going to let her insecurities rear their heads again, at least not yet.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't notice you there." The girl apologized in a voice that was oddly deep for a girl as she bowed her head at Misty as Ash got up to stand in the shallow water. "I'm an old friend of Ash's and I haven't seen him in years so I let my emotions get the better of me when I saw him. Please, forgive me."
"Friend?" Misty asked, well given the way Ash looked at her as he helped her up, after Misty of course, he at least saw her as that because he clearly couldn't see this girl's feelings for him. "You met Ash on his Kanto journey?"
"My second one actually." Ash said surprising Misty because that meant that this was almost certainly one of the Frontier Brains he'd faced on that journey. "Misty, let me introduce you to Salon Maiden Anabel, the Frontier Brain of the Battle Tower and the thing I couldn't remember about this area. Anabel, this is Misty, my…"
"Girlfriend." Anabel said as she shook Misty's hand a look of pain briefly flashing in her eyes as they met Misty's. "I can tell, I can feel her love for you even without shaking her hand. That and a fair bit of justifiable jealousy. Sorry."
"Er yes you can do that can't you." Ash said remembering Anabel's abilities. "It always impresses me when I see it."
"Yes that is me." Misty said as her and Anabel ended their handshake as she remembered who the girl in front of her was.
It had been back when they were having dinner, well at the time tea, with Sabrina in Saffron City and she was telling them about her journey to regain control of her powers. She had said she had spent a year with the Frontier Brain of the Battle Tower. That was where Ash had described Anabel and her abilities to Misty and she had had a gut feeling that this girl might like Ash. Now she had full confirmation of that suspicion but she was still a friend of Ash's so she would be civil. Anabel was clearly a smart girl so perhaps they could have a mature talk later.
"We should probably get out of the water and head back to my place and warm up before we catch a cold." Anabel suggested just as Ash sneezed for emphasis. "It's not too far and we can catch up over some hot tea and a warm fire. It's been years since I've seen Ash so I want to hear all your adventures and I want to learn all about you as well Misty."
"That does sound nice." Misty said as she felt a slight chill run through her as they got out of the water surprised, but happy, at how pleasant Anabel was being. "I don't want to catch a cold, not right before a Contest."
"Piplup." Piplup protested as she picked him up and took him out of the lake. "Pip, Piplup."
"I know the water is nice Piplup but alas we aren't as well protected against you with that beautiful coat of feathers that you have." Anabel said to Piplup who looked at her in surprise that the new human understood his valid protests, though she was completing him, which was good, she knew how majestic he was. "Yes I can understand you, well your emotions at least and I've become good at interpreting them."
"Piplup!" Piplup said happily before launching into a diatribe that had Anabel laughing as they got out of the lake.
"Er what is Piplup saying?" Misty asked uneasily as they began to follow the Frontier Brain, Pikachu staying on the ground because of how wet Ash was, he had recognized Anabel was looking forward to a chat with her as well once Piplup was done. "He's often very talkative but I usually just get the gist of it as it's usually something I've done to wound his gigantic ego."
"A lot." Anabel said with a chuckle. "How every time you run into something or someone he's always getting the brunt of the pain but this time he's having the last word because it's water so his element while you are in the one in discomfort. However he reassures me that despite your many faults, which he has elaborated in great detail by the way, you are still his best friend and his human who he loves dearly."
"Really Piplup, all my faults?" Misty asked her now very smug looking water type. "You finally have a human you can talk to and you tell her everything?"
"Piplup." Piplup said with a nod. "Pip, Piplup."
"I take it that he's your starter?" Anabel asked with a smile. "The only way a bond as close as yours could exist is if he was your starter. Though I would guess that you two had an adventure together before he became your starter, that would explain his protectiveness over you."
"Correct, on both fronts." Misty said blinking in surprise. "When I went to Professor Rowan to get my starter there was a spat when the Chimchar there tried to steal Piplup's food and he ended up outside."
"Piplup." Piplup agreed he had been the innocent victim then and Misty had come to rescue him, that was when he knew that she would be his human. "Piplup."
"So I went after him not knowing what else to do." Misty said with a shrug. "I found him stuck in an Ariados's web so I tricked it into destroying it to free him before we fought off several Ariadoses while there before I brought him back. When Professor Rowan asked me to choose, well I had already chosen Piplup so it was easy. We've been together ever since."
"So you're from Sinnoh, I thought so." Anabel said with a nod. "Though why hasn't Piplup evolved?"
"Piplup." Piplup said shaking his head. "Pip, pip, Piplup."
"Oh I see you don't want to evolve." Anabel responded. "That makes sense, some Pokémon don't so I get that."
"Yeah that was a fun adventure." Misty said with a fond smile at the memory. "Piplup was using Bide to prevent evolution and tiring himself out but we didn't know why at first. We then found out that he didn't want to evolve but as he evolves due to experience and not a Stone or friendship it was hard to prevent it. The Nurse Joy where we were at the time helped out after we helped her. She gave me an Everstone for him so he doesn't have to worry about it."
"Piplup." Piplup confirmed as they reached Anabel's nice house.
Misty was impressed when she saw the large, slightly sprawling, 2 story cottage with a large garden that Anabel called home. It was certainly an impressive sight for someone their age to have and Misty didn't doubt that there were battle facilities on the grounds out back given what Anabel did for a living.
"It's not actually mine." Anabel said as she saw Misty's amazement. "It belongs to the Battle Frontier; I just get to live here as the Frontier Brain. It's a perk of the job."
"It does?" Misty asked confused. "Sorry, I know little about the Battle Frontier and what Ash has explained of it hasn't been much help."
"Well the owner is a very wealthy man." Anabel said as she led them inside. "So when I beat it and decided to become a Frontier Brain rather than continue my journey as a trainer he asked where I wanted to live and what my facility would be."
"And you chose here and the Battle Tower." Ash said understanding, he'd rejected the offer to become a Frontier Brain though it was an open offer if he ever intended to take it.
"I did." Anabel said with a nod. "I didn't want to be in a city as I prefer being in nature where I can talk with Pokémon freely though I do get on well with city Pokémon as well. As for location, I wanted to be out here because we are on the border of Johto so there is more variety out here. The owner understood and purchased this cottage for me to live in while I serve as Frontier Brain and we had the Battle Tower build, well an old building renovated and updated, nearby. It is just what I needed and I couldn't be happier to be here."
"I see." Misty said, she didn't really understand how the Battle Frontier worked but maybe she could talk more about it with Anabel whenever they had their chat, if it came up. "To each their own I guess."
"Do either of you have a fire type on you?" Anabel asked as they reached a large drawing room with a fireplace on one wall, a table and sofas to the side and other trappings in the room. "I only have psychic types and none are also fire types. The only one that I know of is Delphox and I don't have one, never made it out to Kalos to find a Fennekin and evolve it all the way, only its final stage, Delphox, is a duel type."
"I do." Misty said realizing that a fire would be great and pulling out a Poke Ball with her newest Pokémon in it, after putting Piplup down first. "Vulpix, we need your help."
Vulpix burst out of his ball, they had confirmed his gender with Espeon the other day and yawned cutely. He was still a juvenile and learning but Misty had already begun his training, albeit slowly due to being a recent hatchling. Misty wouldn't be able to use Vulpix in the Grand Festival but she'd take him with her on their next adventure.
"Vulpix can you use Ember for me?" Misty asked her Pokémon before pointing at the fireplace. "Aim it in there."
"Vulpix." Vulpix said with a nod and sneezed the fire type attack into the fireplace, setting the logs on fire before adding with pride. "Vulpix."
"Good." Anabel said with a smile, she could tell that Misty's Vulpix was young but already bonding well with her. "Why don't you change here, I presume that it is ok for you two to do so in the same room, while I use my room to change and sort out our tea."
"Thanks." Ash said already stripping out of his wet clothes without shame and causing Anabel to go red as she hurried out of the room.
Misty just rolled her eyes and began to change into a dry set she had in her waterproof bag withing her own bag just in case, traveling Ash meant you might need clean clothes at a moment's notice given the shenanigans he got into at times. As she was doing this, Misty put her wet clothes by the fire, including her beanie, so she wouldn't have that on for a bit and used a mirror over it to redo her hair as best she could.
As she was doing this, Misty noticed a picture on the fireplace. It showed a slightly younger Anabel smiling next to a taller, older woman, their arms around each other smiling for the camera. Misty instantly recognized the older woman as Sabrina in her civilian outfit as she called it only her hair was jet black and not its natural green in the picture.
It was an interesting photo, one that Misty was going to ask about when Anabel got back but they had to change first. Once they were done they took a seat on the sofa to wait for Anabel, Vulpix snuggling in Misty's lap so that she could brush him as they waited for Anabel, Pikachu taking Ash's lap and Piplup waiting for the nice lady who understood and listened to his many legitimate grievances.
A few minutes later Anabel returned in a dry version of her same outfit along with a butler carrying a tray of tea and snacks behind her. She quickly took a seat in a chair at the head of the small coffee table and Piplup took that moment to jump into her lap so that he had some place to be. Anabel just chuckled at this as the tea was poured and the butler left.
"Your Vulpix looks well groomed." Anabel said as she took a sip of the hot tea. "As does your Piplup. Would it be too much of a stretch to presume that you are a coordinator Misty? You did mention a Contest earlier but I didn't ask for confirmation as I know some people compete in them but aren't coordinators."
"I am." Misty said with a nod. "And that's why we are here in fact, the Cremini Town Contest is happening in a few days so we came for that. Meeting you was just a coincidence not that we're complaining mind you."
"Ah yes I remember hearing about that." Anabel said with a nod. "I guess I will have to attend now to watch you in it."
"You don't have to if you don't want." Misty said a little startled that Anabel wanted to attend it. "It may not be your thing."
"I haven't actually seen one and knowing you're in it is a good reason to go to my first." Anabel said with a shake of her head. "If I don't have a challenger that day that is but I have some leeway to take a day off for a good reason."
"Oh ok well then you're more than welcome to come." Misty said surprised at how polite Anabel was being to her, it was nice just surprising given the other girl's feelings for Ash. "I like having supporters I know there."
"It would also be an honor to host you two here for the week." Anabel said continuing to surprise Misty. "The Pokémon Center is like crowded due to the Contest and out proximity to Johto makes Cremini a stopping point between the regions. As for camping out, while it is fun, it has risks in these parts due to the high Beedrill population. I can calm one down but a swarm is a problem."
"If Misty's ok with it then I'd love to stay." Ash said thankful for Anabel's offer.
"I am, that is very kind of you Anabel." Misty said with a smile at the other girl.
"It's nothing." Anabel said with a smile of her own at Misty. "Plus I feel like you and I are going to have a long talk at some point so this makes it easier."
"You, er, noticed." Misty said with a little blush of embarrassment. "Sorry, didn't mean to be so obvious."
"Hard not to notice." Anabel responded kindly. "And you also saw my feelings from the moment we met, I just confirmed you knew when we shook hands. It is the mature thing to do."
"That it is, I won't lie I haven't been as mature in the past." Misty admitted a little uncomfortably. "I didn't start it but I did escalate it."
"Er what's going on?" Ash asked completely confused at what the girls were talking about.
"Girl matters." Anabel said to Ash knowing that he would have no idea what was going on. "We'll chat later Misty when we can have a moment alone. Right now I want to hear about your adventures since we last met Ash. I knew you were in Kanto this year but other than challenging gym leaders to full battles I don't know much else. And of course I want to know about Misty's Contests as well."
"You know about that?" Ash asked surprised. "The challenges that is?"
"I am good friends with the Saffron City Gym Leader." Anabel reminded Ash. "And I believe you know that. Sabrina was down here during her first week off after your battle with her for a break with nature to recharge and because I invited her to catch up on it. We message every few days and she told me of your challenge and what you did for her in the past so I told her I knew you as well and that she should come down here when she took a break so we could chat about our experiences with you. It sounds like it was an epic match."
"That it was." Ash said with a grin recalling his duel with Sabrina from a few months back. "Full of fun and surprises all around. I had forgotten you knew Sabrina but she told us about her time here during her journey after my first meeting with her several years ago."
"That's when the picture is from." Misty added nodding at the picture on the fireplace. "Right?"
"Correct." Anabel said with a smile as she looked at it as well. "I brought it out when she was visiting and left it up because I like it. She is so much better now than she was back then, though she had made a lot of progress by the time she met me. I was just the last thing she needed to find her balance and use her telepathy properly again while rediscovering her fighting spirit."
"Yeah she told us about her struggles." Misty said. "It was an emotional evening but I got the feeling Sabrina really needed and she had invited us to stay after the battle so we couldn't refuse."
"Sabrina loves to tell her story because it helps others." Anabel said. "Though with Ash there it was more to show him how far she'd come and to personally thank him for all her did for her."
"What was she like when she came to you the first time?" Misty asked curious to hear Anabel's side of it. "Like what was it like having her show up."
"Well unlike in Anistar, Sabrina had the sense to ask me before she showed up on my doorstep which at least saved her from destroying part of my house or the Battle Tower." Anabel said taking another sip of tea. "I'll admit, it was a surprise to hear from her. She'd been on a medical leave of absence for 2 years at that point, when I challenged the Saffron Gym I faced her father because of that, and no one knew where she was so getting a message from her asking if she could come to Cremini Town and learn from me for a bit as she needed my help was a surprise for sure."
"I bet." Ash said. "Her journey was a unique one."
"That it was." Anabel agreed. "She told me a little in her message about her need for more control and if I could help, which I said I would try and help with though are abilities are different. The really odd thing was that she wanted to know if there was an NA or AA in or near Cremini Town. I had to find that out but there was one that services both."
"Sabrina is very rigid about that kinda thing." Misty said. "I think it's part of her structure to maintain control."
"That she is." Anabel agreed. "She went weekly to meetings and always seemed better afterwards. She was here for a year, longer than I expected but I wasn't going to turn her away when she needed my help, so I got to know her story well. The only thing she never mentioned was Ash's name which is why I didn't realize he was the same person who had helped Sabrina when he challenged me a few months after she left and finally resumed her duties."
"Yeah she seems a lot better now, she was very different when we first met." Ash said with a slight shudder at the memory. "Thank you for helping her out."
"It was my pleasure but you are the one who deserves all the credit Ash, well you and that Haunter you tried to use against her." Anabel said smiling at Ash the way Misty knew she did but she only felt a slight pang of jealousy at that as Anabel had clearly accepted her as Ash's girlfriend. "You gave her the chance she needed to get her life back and I wouldn't have met and befriended her otherwise."
"So what did you talk about when she visited?" Misty asked. "You know, regarding us."
"Well she didn't mention exactly who you were to Ash if that's what you're asking." Anabel said with a chuckle. "Though I feel like she did that deliberately to mess with us in case we ever met. She said that Ash was traveling with a coordinator from Sinnoh that he'd met while he was out there but that's it. I think Sabrina read your thoughts about me when you met and felt it better that I meet you more organically if that makes sense."
"Yeah I wasn't silent with my thoughts when Ash described who you were and how great your abilities are." Misty admitted as Anabel blushed at that. "I know I shouldn't have but I was unsure as to who you were and thought, well, what I did because my insecurities got the better of me in that moment. At least I was technically right."
"That you were." Anabel said with a chuckle. "I'll be telling Sabrina we met when I message her in the morning, I'm sure she will get a good laugh but we can discuss that later. On that note, does tonight work Misty? We can have a girl chat by the fire and groom our Pokémon. My favorite needs a brushing to keep his fur as soft as ever."
"I'd like that." Misty said realizing she meant it, she wanted to have a civil talk with Anabel to get to know her better, and then challenge her to a battle but all-in good time. "I have a Pokémon of my own to groom, she loves it and this could be a good time for her daily brushing."
"I'm lost again." Ash said causing Misty and Anabel to laugh. "What is going to happen tonight?"
"Anabel and I are going to have a chat woman on woman later while grooming Pokémon." Misty said to her lovable, clueless boyfriend before looking at Anabel. "I presume you have training facilities here."
"I do, they're out back." Anabel said with a nod. "As much as I enjoy the Battle Tower and what I have there, I do like being able to train at home at times."
"Good." Misty said before turning back to Ash. "Why don't you and Aerodactyl train some more while we chat. If you want to use him in the Indigo Conference you will need to be really in sync for that as you won't be competing in the Contest."
"Oh yeah, good idea." Ash said with a nod. "We can do that and really get down to some aerial maneuvers. If there is one type I know how to train its flying types.."
"You are competing in the Indigo Conference?" Anabel asked Ash.
"Yup second time and this time I will win." Ash said with a nod. "That's why I challenged all the gym leaders to full battles, to train for it against various types so I didn't waste this year while Misty owned the Kanto Contest Circuit. I beat 7 of them but the last one never got back to me."
"I see that does explain a lot." Anabel said thoughtfully as Misty blushed at Ash's compliment. "And you have some new Pokémon it seems."
"A lot since we last met." Ash said happily. "There's the 6 I got in Sinnoh, then the 9 I caught in Unova and 4 more this year and that's not including the old ones who have evolved this year."
"Well you will have to tell me about all of them this week, you too Misty." Anabel said with a smile. "And show me some of the new ones at least."
"I have all my new ones on me so will do." Ash said. "Some are a bit of a surprise, they're not the most common Pokémon out there."
Anabel was about to respond when her butler walked in and cleared his throat to get their attention. They looked up to the older man who was standing professionally before them.
"I am sorry to interrupt this little reunion." The man said apologetically. "But Maiden Anabel, Scott just called and said he's with the next challenger and that on their way to the Battle Tower so you need to head over there to greet them."
"Thank you." Anabel said with a smile at the man. "Please, show Ash and Misty to the guest room and help them with whatever they need while I'm out. They are my guests for the week. I will go and meet Scott and discuss a few things with him."
"Of course Maiden." The Butler said with a slight bow. "I will first clear the tea, back in a moment."
"We will have to discuss more later." Anabel said to Ash and Misty as the butler cleared the tea. "Duty calls for me and I must answer it. Make yourselves at home, I can't wait to chat more."
With that Anabel left. Her butler came in a moment later and led Ash and Misty in silence to their room, their Pokémon in their arms or on their heels. It had been an interesting and wild day for sure but to Misty this was normal when traveling with Ash. Sure the meeting of a new rival was unexpected, more unexpected then any so far, but Misty knew that one would come up soon and she was going to talk more with Anabel about that later.
Until then though, there were training facilities here and Misty did have Contest to prepare for. That meant that it was time to get to work, that 5th ribbon wasn't going to win itself after. Before which Misty had to have a chat with her fourth rival.
