"Man, I feel like we've been traveling for two weeks to just get back here." Ash said, as the trio re entered Ecruteak City.
"Yeah, it was weird, took us longer to get back than going there, even considering that wedding the last time." Molly joked.
"After Ash's health problems from the Whirl Cup though, we could use the slow travel." Molly said. "Speaking of which, are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I actually feel better than ever." Ash admitted. "How about you Pikachu?"
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu cheered.
"Maybe we can stop by the Kimono dance hall while we're here, see how they're doing." Molly said.
"Do you really think that's a good use of time?" Casey asked. "Ash, what do you think? Ash?"
"Yeah, sounds good. I need to check something." Ash said, walking towards the Tin Tower with Pikachu.
"What's going on with him?" Casey asked in confusion.
"I never know anymore, he's been weird about this town since before we first came here." Molly pointed out. "Let's go see if they've got a show going on today."
Later, atop the Tin Tower
"I was wondering when you'd be coming by, Espeon sensed you as soon as you entered the city." One of the Kimono girls said, turning to face Ash and Pikachu.
"Sakura, right?" Ash asked.
"Yes, but I must ask why are you here? Have you not already received Ho-oh's blessing?" Sakura asked.
"It's a long story, I was hoping to find some answers up here." Ash said. 'I had a strange dream when we were at the Whirl Islands.""
"Weird how exactly?" Sakura asked.
"I was getting sick, really, really sick, and I ended up having this hallucination, and it was saying something about me being sick because I was there." Ash said in confusion.
"The powers of Ho-oh and Lugia are opposites of one another, while the two get along, their gifts can be detrimental in the wrong places." Sakura said.
"So I really was getting sick just for being around there?" Ash asked.
"It is a likely cause, I wonder if your aura had anything to do with it." Sakura said.
"You mentioned my aura last time we were here, what do you mean by that?" Ash asked.
"Aura is a life force, it flows through everything and everyone, but some of us are gifted with the ability to harness that energy and use it in different ways." Sakura said.
"Like an attack?" Ash said in confusion.
"Sometimes, and other times, like another sense. You said your powers had previously acted up around mythical and legendary Pokemon shrines, right?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, I mean I guess so, but it only started here in Johto." Ash said.
"Sometimes aura gifts take time to develop, and sometimes they never do, it all depends on your connection to your aura and the aura around you." Sakura said.
"So can you harness aura?" Ash asked. "Because you know an awful lot about it."
"Everyone has their hobbies." Sakura said. "But if your power allows you to connect with legendary Pokemon from a distance, perhaps your dream was Lugia informing you that you needed to leave."
"I mean that makes sense, but why would my dream also involve me fighting Team Rocket and their leader?" Ash asked.
"Dreams work in powerful and mysterious ways, that might have just been how you perceived their leader, and dreamt you were fighting them as a way to explain why you were pushing yourself so hard." Sakura commented.
"You think?" Ash asked. "I just don't know anymore. Everything has been confusing since I came here to Johto, this was just supposed to be another simple errand."
"Would you have preferred if that's all it had been?" Sakura asked.
"What do you mean?" Ash asked.
"If what you came here for was that simple, you never faced a gym, never caught any of the new Pokemon you've met, or anything you've done here, just do your errand and be on your way, would you have preferred it to be just that?" Sakura asked.
"No, I mean I've met a lot of powerful Pokemon, and even some of my old ones are getting stronger because of what we've found on our journey here." Ash admitted. "Plus meeting back up and traveling with Molly, and meeting Casey, and all my new experiences along the way."
"Then it's all for the best, sure this wasn't what you signed up for, but you take the good with the bad, and the confusing with the calm." Sakura pointed out. "And I have a feeling more questions will arise for you before they are all answered."
"That's not very helpful." Ash pointed out.
"Questions are a good thing, if you never had any, you'd be missing the bigger picture. For instance, why do you think Ho-oh gave you the rainbow wing out of everyone on this tower that day?" Sakura asked.
"Because I'm worthy." Ash said a bit unsure.
"And the rest of us were unworthy?" Sakura questioned. "Just something to think about, eight people on a roof, and Ho-oh chose you."
"Because the Unown said I'm destined to save the world from The Masked Team Rocket forces." Ash countered.
"But does Ho-oh know that, and how will that wing help you save the world?" Sakura asked. "All important questions to think about."
"I guess I never thought about the why, just the how." Ash admitted.
"Both are important questions, but if you don't know why you have something, you'll never be able to use it." Sakura informed. "It is getting late, we should head back down before it gets dark."
"Good idea, I'd rather not fall off a tower today." Ash joked, leading the way back down the tower.