Chapter 27 – Starting over again

Ash's new journey | Ashachu's new boyfriend

The Galar region…The week after the events in Petalberg City…

"…And it looks like we're in for an exciting battle, here in the Hulbury Stadium this afternoon. It's the leader Nessa's Gyaradose and Drizzle versus the challenger Ash Ketchum's Pikachu and Charizard…"

"Gyaradose, use surf! Drizzle, get on top of Gyaradose."

A great wall of water rose up before Ashachu. So high he had to crane his neck to see the dragon like figure of Gyaradose on top. He felt an uneasy feeling in his stomach, and he glanced at his partner, Charizard.

The orange dragon-like flame Pokémon gave him a quick smile and a reassuring nod. This settled Pikachu's nerves. It gave him a sense of comfort, a warm feeling inside and him feel he could relax even with the wall of water pressing down upon them both.

Ash's voice came from behind. "Charizard use dragon breath. Ashachu thunderbolt."

If Gyaradose's surf was a wall, the combined thunderbolt and dragon breath attacks, a brilliant beam of yellow and green, brought it right down. The beam hit the middle and the wave parted as the water evaporated. Gyaradose and Drizzle returned to the battlefield.

Ash was quick with the next command. "Charizard use fly. Ashachu, get onto Charizard."

Ashachu moved to scurry onto Charizard's tail and up his back, but before he could do so, Charizard reached out and stuck him on top of his head. Next thing Ashachu knew he was whipping through the air as Charizard took flight, rocketing towards their opponents.

Ashachu didn't hear Nessa's command, though she must have given one, because that moment Gyaradose and Drizzle fired jets of water at them from the maw.

"Hang on," Charizard called as he took evasive action, swerving this way and that to avoid the torrents of water. Ashachu gripped the horns tight.

"NOW!" Came Ash's booming voice.

Ashachu held on tight as he could as Charizard swooped in. He missed Gyaradose by an inch as the atrocious Pokémon swerved to the side at the last moment to avoid them.

"Ashachu, thunderbolt!"

Ashachu let go the horns. Immediately he slipped off Charizard's head, rolling down the dragon's back. Right before he fell up the tail came up to stop him and he gripped it with his paws. Holding the scales tightly, Ashachu discharged a powerful burst of electricity.

The attack struck the leaders Pokémon from behind.

"…I don't believe it…Nessa's Pokémon are down for the count. That Pikachu sure packs one heck of a punch…"

"Gyaradose and Drizzle are unable to battle…Pikachu and Charizard win. The match goes to the challenger," the referee declared, waving his flag.

Charizard did a lap around the stadium before returning to the battlefield beside Ash. Ashachu slid off the end of the fire type's tail and onto the floor. It was only then that he realised, or appreciated, that the battle was over. That he had actually won.

That fact only really dawned on him when he saw Nessa returning her two fighters to their Pokéballs…

"Huh…Did we just win. Oh, yah we won. We won!" He jumped up and down, a sense of elation in his chest, throwing his paws into the air. "We won, we won." He turned to Charizard. "We did it Charizard."

Charizard beamed at him. "We sure did. C'mere buddy."

He stretched out his arms, and Ashachu jumped into them, much the way Pikachu would do with Ash. Ashachu felt the large Pokémon big arms close around him, and felt the firm yet soft scales of Charizard's chest. A warm tingling sensation spread through his entire body as Charizard held him close.

Then he felt Charizard press the end of his muzzle gently against the top of his head, then a cool, saliva laden tongue lick him across the crown of his head and cheek. He tilted his head backwards and nuzzled the end of Charizard's nose with his own.

Neither of them really noticed Ash when he slapped Charizard on his flank and said happily, "great job guys. You were amazing." Nor Pikachu crying happily, "Pika Pikachu Pikaka!"

The two finally released each other, and Charizard placed Ashachu on top of his head. Ashachu noticed Ash and Nessa shaking hands. It was the first time he had seen the gym leader up close. She was a young woman, dark tanned and athletic wearing a…somewhat revealing…for a human at least, blue swim suit.

Nessa then presented Ash with the Water Badge – which was shaped like three water droplets in the shape of a splash.

"Hahaha…We won the water badge…" Ash could never help himself – even though this gym was full of spectators. He struck the pose he usually struck upon catching a Pokémon or winning a badge. One which involved holding the badge out in front of him.

Pikachu cheered a happy, "Pikachu" and pumped his paw in the air. Even Charizard joined it, throwing his arms up in the air. Ashachu simply smiled and nodded, an overwhelming sense of pride filling his chest…

[Pokémon]

Later…

"Hmm…I'm so proud of you. You were amazing out there," Charizard cooed as he stroked Ashachu, his large caressing the much smaller Pokémon's back as he lay on his chest.

The compliment brought a slight blush to Ashachu's cheek – though hard to notice as they were already ready. "Well, I…Couldn't have done it without out."

"Hey, it was you who dealt the decisive blow."

"But the strategy relied on us getting behind them. Which was all thanks to you."

"Then let's just say it was because of both of us. Now kiss me, cutie." Charizard lowered his head to his chest, As Ashachu sat up and tilted his head back slightly.

The end of Charizard's large muzzle pressed against Ashachu's lips. The size different between their two maws meant the 'kiss' was slightly awkward. They each poked their tongues out of their mouths until they met somewhere in the middle. A fair bit of saliva dripped onto Ashachu's chest.

Ashachu closed his eyes. A warm tingling sensation spread through his body. From the end of his tail to the tips of his ears, as he rubbed his tongue against Charizard's much nicer one. The sun was warm on his back and there was salty sea breeze in the air.

It was late afternoon, and the sun would be on its way down in a few hours. All in all, it had been a great first day for Ash and his team in the Galar region. Their ship had pulled into the Hulbury port early that morning, just before sunup. Ash had won his first gym battle that same day.

It was also the first of a string of good days for Ashachu. The trauma of the events in Hoenn behind him – if the others had not fully forgiven him yet. A new journey, and a new boyfriend. He felt he was rising out of the dark hole his breakup with Hunter…and the situation with Blade had forced him into.

Geyser made a tutting sound and shook his head. "Tch. That's so cute…I think I might just loose my lunch." He glanced down at his silver food bowl, no longer feeling hungry.

"Oh, come on Geyser, be nice," said Pikachu, who was sitting in Ash's lap.

The group had gathered for lunch on the side of a hill overlooking the port town, and the ocean. It was a beautiful and peaceful spot. Unlike Hoenn, which had been hot and muggy, this part of the Galar region was warm and balmy, though it did get cold when the wind blew. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Geyser tutted again and folded his arms, but he didn't dare start and argument with Pikachu. He was not happy with the way things had ended in Hoenn region, and the memory still weighed painfully on his mind.

'Stupid Ashachu. First, he kills my relationship with Hunter. Now he's got a new boyfriend. It's not fair.' He glared at Charizard. 'You just wait flame tail. He'll break your heart, just like he broke Hunter's too. It's just a matter of time.'

Ashachu and Charizard broke the kiss, and Ashachu lay back on Charizard's chest. The fire type's large claw still resting on him. Charizard gave him one lick across the face before resting his head against the trunk of the tree they were sitting under. It was starting to bow under the strain.

"Hehehe. I can't get over how cute you are," he said with a giggle, making Ashachu blush again.

"Oh stop," the electric type giggle, waving his paw. He felt a large finger stroke the fur of his chest and belly. The soft yet firm scales sending electric tingles across the skin beneath.

It was at that moment that Ashachu felt his stomach rumble. Charizard evidently noticed, for he asked, "You hungry."

The pair had left their food bowl beside them on the tree. Charizard picked it and placed it on his stomach, in front of Ashachu, while Ashachu sat up to eat. It was the usual store bought Pokéchow. Pretty good.

Ashachu picked one up and stuffed it in his mouth, before tossing one to Charizard. This pattern continued for a few minutes – Ashachu would eat a bite, then throw one to Charizard, the two sharing a giggle each time.

Geyser rolled his eyes. "Okay, they're feeding each other. Now I want to be sick," he mutter under his breath, though nobody heard him. Or if they did, they chose to ignore him…

The sun dropped lower in the sky. It was time to be moving on. "Alright everyone, time to go," Ash said as he got back to his feet, and Pikachu climbed up onto his shoulder. One by one he returned each Pokémon to their balls.

Charizard picked Ashachu up and held him close to his head so the two could have one last kiss and touch nose before parting.

"Hehe. See you later Char. It's gonna no fun in that Pokéball all by myself."

Charizard let out a snort of laughter. "Damn humans keeping us apart. I am right."

"Ha. You're worse than Nova sometime. See you soon."

"You too bud."

'I have a wonderful boyfriend,' was all Ashachu could think as the beam of red light withdrew him back into his Pokéball.

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…Somewhere far away…

Fear…confinement…helplessness…They were feelings Shadow had not experienced for a long time.

He was trapped inside a crystalline structure…Where, he did not know, but somewhere within the earth itself, most likely. The place was dark, the only light coming from what appeared to be a series of towers surrounding him, each with a single yellow light at the top.

Shadow did not know fully how he had come to be here. All he remembered was the darkness of a cage. There was something else too. A stirring in his chest. From far away, Blade was calling to him. Blade was in trouble and needed his help.

And there was nothing that he could do about it…

A rage was building inside him. He knew the guilty parties – and he would make sure that they would pay for their deeds.

"And now behold the mighty Shadow. Legendary Darkrai whose maleficence strikes fear into the hearts of all who encounter it. Finally restrained, contained and helpless. His powers rendered useless by the forces of mankind."

"Who said that." A light came on just in front of Shadow – just outside the crystalline structure in which he was held.

It revealed a man…Middle aged by the looks of him, with a short beard, thick eyebrows and dark brown hair. He was dressed in a three-piece suit, grey in color, and sporting a red tie.

"Are you the one who has imprisoned me here…I warn you!"

And then something happened that had never happened to Shadow before. The man raised a hand to silence him and spoke over him. His voice loud and commanding. Enough to drown Shadow out and the force the Darkrai to hear what he had to say.

"SILENCE…Your powers are no use here Darkrai. You cannot escape this prison. You have committed many; many egregious sins and it is high time that you were punished. Know that in this place, you are going to experience something of the suffering for which you have caused other."

Shadow stared at this human. Who was he…Or, perhaps more importantly, who did he think he was speaking Shadow this way? He glared at him with his single red eye and replied, "Oh I will not be your prisoner for long human. No prison can hold me. After all, such a deep-seated rage that is not my own simply cannot be ignored. Least of all when that rage is from my Blade. I warn you again. Release me, or you will become little more than a fine red mist."

"Ahh Blade," said the man. "The creature with whom you have shared…your perversions." He practically spat the last two words, as if they created a bad taste in his mouth. I'm afraid you will not be seeing that particularly Sneasel again. Greif, longing and the pain of separation will be the price you pay for that particular sin…"