Chapter 32: Plans in Motion
Ash kept walking until he was far away from the castle. He was so confused, he couldn't even look Sir Aaron in the eyes.
"I don't believe it, buddy. Sir Aaron, someone I just met a week ago in another time period, is my father? Someone I'd never have met if it wasn't for this mission from Arceus?"
"Pika," Pikachu said, patting his shoulder comfortingly. Ash appreciated the gesture, but it did little good.
"And Misty and Brock show up too? This isn't making things any easier for me, considering…"
He was so upset that he couldn't finish the sentence. He just sat down on a log and tried to gather his thoughts.
"Pika Pi," Pikachu said, nuzzling him. Despite his inner turmoil, Ash couldn't help but smile, and returned the affection.
"Thanks, buddy. At least I know I can count on you."
"Pi!"
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here."
"A little prince who strayed too far from his castle."
Suddenly, he was surrounded on all sides by Aqua Kingdom grunts.
"What do you want? Whatever it is, I'm not in the mood!"
"Well, too bad! You're coming with us, whether you like it or not!"
Ash was about to send out his Pokemon to fight, but they were soon surrounded on all sides by the grunt's Pokemon.
"Alright, I guess there's only one thing to do."
"Pika?"
"Run away!"
Ash and Pikachu took off running, firing an Aura Sphere and a Thunderbolt respectively to cover their tracks.
"That boy's an Aura User! Get him!"
Ash and Pikachu ran as far as they could, but the grunts kept coming. Even using some of his other Pokemon couldn't keep them off their trail for long. Eventually, they got to a point where a small army of Pokemon was on top of them. Ash sighed, knowing what he had to do.
"Pikachu…go on without me."
"Pika?"
"I'll hold them back as long as I can, just go get help!"
Pikachu whimpered, he didn't want Ash to do it, but Ash refused to move.
"GO! Please…"
Knowing Ash was serious, Pikachu gave Ash a tight hug before taking off. Ash watched him disappear into the distance, before turning back to their pursuers.
"Alright, you scum! If you want to go any further, then you'll have to go through me!"
Pikachu darted through the forest, the distant sound of Aura Spheres being fired off the only indication that his best friend was alive. With tears running down his face, he kept sprinting, hoping to Arceus that Ash would be alright.
Back at the castle, everyone was waiting anxiously for Ash to return.
"This is all my fault," Sir Aaron said. "I should've told him when we were in Rota."
"He just needs time to process all of this," May assured him. "As long as he has his Pokemon, he'll be safe."
"Pika, Pikachu!"
Just then, Pikachu came bursting into the room, running straight into May's arms with tears streaming down his face, much to her shock.
"Pikachu, what's wrong? Where's Ash?"
Pikachu was so frantic that even if they could understand him, they wouldn't have been able to make anything out. At last, Sir Aaron stepped up.
"Pikachu, will you allow me to read your thoughts? I need to know what happened to Ash."
Pikachu was still a little wary of the man, but knew that this was the only way to get Ash help, so allowed him too. After a minute, Sir Aaron gave the others the grave news.
"Ash has been taken by the Aqua Kingdom. He held them off long enough for Pikachu to escape."
Everyone gasped in shock.
"This is all my fault…" Misty said as tears began to roll down her face. "If I had trusted him and stayed in the present…"
"Misty, we can't think like that," Brock said. "Playing the blame game isn't going to save him."
"Brock is right," Sir Aaron agreed. "Besides, if anyone is responsible for this mess, it's me."
"Regardless," May interrupted. "We need to save him."
"But how?" Misty asked. "We don't know where they took him, or if…"
She couldn't bear to finish that thought. Sir Aaron concentrated deeply, before finally speaking.
"He's alive, I can sense it."
"How?"
"His aura, I can sense it. It's faint, but it's there, which means they're keeping him alive. If we act fast, we can save him."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"Where are they headed?"
"They're headed towards Mt. Pyre. By my estimates, they'll be there in half a day."
"Why would they take him there?" May wondered. "It's mostly just a gravesite for people to bury their dead."
"I don't know," Sir Aaron replied. "But we shouldn't underestimate them. Gather whatever you need, and we'll leave in 10 minutes."
Everyone nodded, and began preparing for their mission.
"Please be safe, Ash," May pleaded. Pikachuu could only whimper in agreement.
"Keep moving, brat."
Ash grunted as the soldier pushed him forward, not really knowing where he was being led. If he could just free his hands, he could reach his Pokemon and escape. But any time he tried, he was jabbed in the back with a spear and forced to keep marching.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Shut up and walk."
At long last, they came to a tent in the forest, from which their leader stepped out.
"So, you're the upstart that's been causing my men trouble?"
"What should we do with him, sir?"
"According to my men, the kid's got Aura capabilities. That should come in handy. Bring him with us to Mt. Pyre."
Once more, Ash was forced to his feet to march, keeping as quiet as possible. After a while of walking, they reached another camp at the base of Mt. Pyre, where another man was waiting for them.
"Ah, Archie, I see you've brought company."
"This boy here is going to help us find the Red Orb, Maxie!"
"I see. Well then, I guess it's your lucky day, boy. I guess we can't kill you…yet."
Ash spat at him.
"I'll never help you! Once Hoenn finds me, you're toast."
"Oh, I'm sure they'll come after you. In fact, I want them to come so I can see the look on their faces when we finally bring them to their knees."
Maxie then turned to a few of his own soldiers from the Magma Kingdom.
"Throw him in a tent and keep an eye on him. Only feed him as much as to keep him alive. Perhaps a little starvation will make him see sense."
"Sir, yes sir!"
Once more, Ash was gruffly dragged to his feet and taken to an empty tent, where they threw him in.
"Enjoy your stay, brat!"
And with a heartless laugh, they left him to his thoughts. But despite his situation, Ash wasn't worried. He knew his friends would be there soon to rescue him.
He just hoped it wouldn't be too late when they did.