Chapter 14
June 30th
It took a further two days to arrive in Olivine City for Ash, mainly because they spotted a few things along the way. They found a huge lake that they settled on the previous night where they met a lady that was trying to punch her way through a mountain to help her elderly grandmother get from one town to another and for the last week she had been trying to convince a Rhydon that lived on an island in the lake to help her out. The Rhydon however didn't want to know and amazingly had taught itself to swim and was therefore able to easily escape. Ash sent out Lapras to go and talk to the Rhydon but had been attacked, who had then gone mad and beat the crap out of the Rhydon herself. Huffing she had dragged the knocked-out Rhydon over to Ash who slightly healed it and asked why it attacked.
"My master died because of you" it said glaring at Ash "I was unable to protect him because I was out cold from our battle. Because of you I lost my family."
"I don't remember you" Ash said shaking his head "who was your master?"
"Blaine" it grunted finally before standing up and taking back to the water and swimming away slowly. Ash though was left reeling in shock. He had beaten this Rhydon before, he remembered the battle very well because Wartortle demolished him before nearly beating Blaine's Magmar. "Lapras return" Ash said mechanically walking back to the tunnel where the lady was trying to use a pick on the wall.
"Here" Ash said making her moveout of the way as he called out Lapras again along with Machamp "Horn Drill on that wall Lapras, Machamp finish it off with a Cross Chop."
The hole quickly became a reality for the lady who looked much happier at the thought of her grandmother not having to walk over the mountain. Ash just nodded and went back to his camp where he spent most of the night in silence as his team chatted away. The next day Ash decided to walk the rest of the way to Olivine as it was only a day away now on foot. The trainers on this route were also a great place to train his new Pokémon and they gained valuable experience in the process.
"You all did very well" Ash said as they had lunch "there's always room for improvement but we'll get there. Mareep and Chikorita, you need to start thinking about evolution and whether you want to evolve as your body has changed rapidly over the last two weeks getting you ready for it. I have everstones in my bag should you want them so give it some thought. I'll leave you both out for now but I need an answer when we're in Olivine as our training will have to stop for now just in case."
"I want to evolve" Mareep said succinctly before wandering over to Machamp and sitting next to him, munching on a Pokéblock Ash had given him.
"Well, that was easy" Ash said laughing "as for you, I'd give it some serious thought over the next few days as I can tell you're hesitant. I have a call to make but after that we'll continue on with our journey." Taking out his Pokégear he dialled Nias number and began talking to her, something he'd been doing more often lately "Hi Ni, yeah I'm just near Olivine now. Listen, there's a convention happening that Silph are putting on. Have a look and let me know if you need anything. Ok, speak later. Have fun with Zoe and Ava on your holidays."
Chikorita sat wondering what to do when she heard Ash speak to his girlfriend. Honestly what he saw in Nia she would never know but her envy and jealousy was starting to affect her daily life as whenever she was brought up she tried her best to change the subject so that she'd be the focus of the conversation and not some woman who didn't deserve her Ash. Unbeknownst to Ash Pikachu had been observing this and knew it would be quickly coming to a head as he was getting fed up with listening to Chikorita rant about Nia and when he saw Chikorita wander off to sulk again he sighed in resignation. It seems he would have to talk to Ash tonight or at least when they got to Olivine.
That evening as Ash was eating dinner Pikachu finally brought it up.
"Ash, you need to do something about Chikorita" he said making Ash pause in eating.
"Why?" he asked swallowing first.
"Over the last month or so she has become increasingly irrational whenever Nia is brought up" Pikachu said "you don't see it because she's usually on your lap looking the other way, but she gets a very ugly look on her face if you bring Nia up. And she's been muttering a lot lately about her not deserving you."
"Oh wow" Ash said putting down his burger "why?"
"Because she believes that you shouldn't have anyone but her" Pikachu said.
"But she's a Pokémon!" Ash exclaimed "for a start that's just wrong. For another it's illegal. There are so many stories out there of Pokémon being abused through underground rings using Pokémon to entice people. It's utterly disgusting."
"That doesn't matter to Chikorita" Pikachu replied "she isn't thinking that way. And I'm worried she'll try and do something to Nia to try and get rid of her."
"For Arceus' sake" Ash said running his hand down his face and pushing his plate away, his appetite well and truly gone "so what do you suggest I do about it? Speak to her?"
"At the very least" Pikachu said nodding.
"Damn" he said as he took his food and put it in the bin, Pikachu jumping onto his shoulder, and they headed upstairs. "I'm going to speak to Nia first, I'm crap when it comes to women and their emotions."
Twenty minutes later Ash was frowning at his phone in frustration. Nia was currently on a beach with Ava and Zoe and laughing her arse off. She had to hang up because she was in tears of laughter at the thought of a Pokémon falling for Ash. Before hanging up Nia basically just said good luck before ordering another drink from the waiter and the line went dead.
"Well, she was a lot of help" Ash said frowning "usually I'd ring mum, but I can see her having the same reaction. Oh, what do I do?"
"What you should have done half an hour ago" Pikachu said, "talk to Chikorita about this."
"Shit" he said grabbing her ball and walking out "I'm heading to the pier if you need me. Hopefully if it's just the two of us she'll listen. Wish me luck."
A few hours later Ash returned and put Chikoritas Pokéball on the side table and flopped down onto his bed.
"How did it go?" Pikachu asked.
"Not great" Ash replied "she ran off and I had to chase her across the entire bloody port of Olivine before she was caught by a local Jenny who thought I was trying to harm her. It took half an hour to convince her what was going on, all the while Chikorita was stillcrying and trying to run away. I'm sending her back home for a bit, hopefully working alongside Venusaur for a bit will make her see reason."
"You know sending her away won't get rid of the problem" Pikachu remarked "right?"
"I know" Ash said blowing out his cheeks "but I've tried talking to her and that didn't work, I tried explaining to her why it wouldn't be possible, and she ran away. So, I'm out of ideas and until I get some new ones she can stay at home."
Standing up Ash grabbed the ball and walked downstairs to transfer her home, sending Kabutops back too. He knew he could have used the transfer system on his Pokédex but he felt he had to do it properly for his own piece of mind. Walking back upstairs he looked forlornly at the two missing balls on his belt and shook his head. At this rate he'd have no one left.
July 1st
The next day Ash decided to go and wander Olivine City itself. The last time he was here he didn't really have time to explore as he had to go and visit Lorelei and Bruno but this time he was determined to find as many hidden gems as possible. He had already found a wonderful restaurant where they had a lot of seafood. Ash was so glad he had found a kindred spirit in Pikachu where food was concerned, especially seafood. It was a particular weakness of Ash's; one he didn't mind admitting to anyone who asked. The three plates of sushi and calamari disappeared easily.
"That was delicious" Ash said leaning back in his chair, comfortably full.
"That was incredible" a voice said making Ash look around and seeing someone he hadn't seen in years.
Praying his mind caught up to him he waffled for a bit. "Oh thanks, yeah. We're a bit of a seafood nut. It's been a while, why are you here?"
"Oh, I'm here to head to the mountains" he said which gave Ash nothing.
"Any particular reason?" Ash asked.
"Oh, the people I work for have sent me here. I'm hoping to capture Articuno" he said making Ash sit up sharply "I've heard one has been spotted nearby."
"Why are you after Articuno? How do you plan to capture it?" Ash asked.
"I'm pretty good at staying downwind when hunting Pokémon" he said "I've had years of experience since we last met. Articuno is the last of the Kanto birds I need to capture for me to complete the set. Thanks for the information by the way, I captured Moltres and Zapdos in the Orange Islands a few months ago, but Articuno wasn't there which was a real shame. Anyway, I should get going. Apparently, it only nests around these parts for a few months before going back to the Seafoam Islands and I'm don't have the authorisation to travel to the deeper parts of the cave, especially after the rockslide that happened there last year. Plus, I don't know if you've heard or not, but the Volcano at Cinnabar has recently started smoking again so I think that area will be blocked off soon."
"You think Cinnabar is due to explode?" Ash asked concerned "So soon?"
"It's never been dormant has it" he replied shaking his head "after all the thing is filled with lava. Anyway, it was nice seeing you Ash, hopefully next time I see you I will have crossed off Articuno from my list. Bye Ash"
"Bye" Ash said mechanically as he watched the strange boy leave "I must be missing something Pi because I'm sure my warning about capturing Legendaries was heard globally, and I would have thought Lugia would have told us if the birds were no longer at Shamouti given what happened a few years ago."
"You don't remember him, do you?" Pikachu said laughing.
"Of course I do!" Ash said sounding unconvincing.
"Who is he then?" Pikachu asked.
After a few seconds of silence Ash finally said "Fine I don't remember who he is. So, who is he?"
"He's the guy that takes pictures of Pokémon for that magazine" Pikachu said laughing "the one we met just after Bulbasaurs Garden."
"Oh Todd!" Ash said snapping his fingers and breathing out a sigh of relief "I thought I was gonna have to break his legs and release the birds."
"You're such an idiot" Pikachu said as they left the restaurant and headed East towards a huge lighthouse. Walking inside he travelled the many stairs ignoring the strange looks he was getting and finally reached the top of the tower where the beacon was. Walking outside they took in the view.
"Wow, you can actually see the Whirl Islands from here" Ash said "I thought they'd just be out of view."
"No" a voice said from behind Ash as someone walked and stopped beside him. Looking down Ash saw that it was a woman, around 18 years old wearing a white Sundress that had a huge orange bow, with white pumps and had her hair up in two plaits held together with orange bobbles. Looking up at him she smiled "You can always see the Whirl Islands as they're only a few miles offshore from here. If you look over to the West and squint you can just see Cianwood City, which is thirty miles away from here."
"Oh yeah" Ash said shielding his eyes "you lose distance gauging quite easily when you're always flying to places as everything looks either close or far away. I'm Ash" he finished holding out his hand.
"I know who you are" she replied smiling taking it and shaking it, her hand being dwarfed by his "I'm Jasmine, the keeper of this lighthouse."
"You wouldn't be the same Jasmine of Olivine Gym too, would you?" he asked.
"I'm her too" she said laughing "at times I don't know which job is more important as trainers need my badge to progress to the league, although there are a few other gyms in Johto if you can't beat me. Or this job, maintaining the light and making sure every single ship and those on board leave that harbour at night and does so safely."
"I'd imagine the latter is the more important" Ash said looking out at the harbour "even if I am a trainer, one who does need your badge. Making sure people don't die is far more important than gaining something as simple as a badge. Life is very precious" he finished rubbing his chest and grimacing.
"That's what I think" Jasmine said.
After a few moments silence Ash said "can I help you by the way? As strange as it sounds, I don't get many people bothering me anymore."
"That might have something to do with you threatening every trainer a week ago" Pikachu supplied helpfully making Jasmine laugh.
"You understood him?" Ash asked wonderingly.
"Yes" she said nodding still laughing "I have a few electric types so I can get the gist of what they're saying. But to answer your question I do need your help. My Sparkle is sick and without her the beacon won't work."
"Sparkle is?" Ash asked leadingly.
"My baby girl" Jasmine replied unhelpfully. Ash just looked at her with a raised eyebrow "Oh she's my Ampharos."
"There we go" Ash said laughing moving his hand in a 'lead the way' gesture. Walking past the huge beacon that was situated in the centre they headed to a door that was locked, one that was quickly opened and they ascended the stairs. As they reached the top Ash stopped in wonder. It was a huge bedroom, on one wall was a huge curved bookcase that fit along the wall, near that was a bed and a toilet. The most prominent thing though was a machine in the centre that had several cables leading down to where the beacon was. Obviously this was where the electrical supply came from.
"Welcome to my home-from-home" Jasmine said as she walked over to the bed where an Ampharos was sleeping, dangling off the bed with her head almost touching the ground. Ash was immediately puzzled as he was sure Jasmine said she was sick.
"Er" Ash said shaking his head and rubbing his eyes "are you sure she's sick?"
"Oh yes" she said gently waking up Ampharos who opened one eye and immediately started moaning.
Ash heard Pikachu mutter "you're kidding me, right?" and muttered back "I'm not the only one who's noticed then?"
"As you can see, she's really not well but I've not been able to figure out what's wrong with her" Jasmine said helping Ampharos lie down properly, with a lot of moaning happening at the same time. Curious Ash released his Mareep who took one look at the situation and wandered over.
"Moo" he said to Ampharos who looked down and said "Moo" back
"Oh, for Arceus' sake" Ash said walking over "can you stop mooing. You're a bloody sheep."
"What noise am I supposed to make then?" he asked looking up.
"Baa" Ash said making the noise before realising Mareep had done him again.
"That's so bourgeois human" Ampharos said forgetting to be ill.
"I keep saying this" Mareep said nodding.
"This is you and Sneasel's doing" Ash said to Pikachu who was rolling around on the floor laughing "you kept encouraging this and now I've got a bloody sheep that thinks he's a cow."
"To be fair, it is funny" Pikachu said regaining his composure "plus, be honest, at least we're not boring."
"I'd take boring over this anyday" Ash said knowing full well he wouldnt "So" he asked Ampharos who immediately started moaning "what's wrong with you?"
"I feel sick" she said dangling her face off the bed and started making fake retching noises, to which Jasmine immediately moved a bed pan near her face "and my tail hurts, and my head hurts."
"I've sent away for medicine in Cianwood City" Jasmine said making cooing noises "but it's not due to get here for another two days. I don't know what to do. The harbour needs light."
"Really?" Ash asked deadpanned looking at Ampharos who nodded before lying back down. Ash shook his head and pinched his nose at the situation before wandering over to the big, curved glass window and counted to ten. When that didn't work, he tried again and calmed down somewhat. Walking back, he looked at the situation "So, we've got a 'sick' Ampharos" he said using air quotation marks to the confusion of Jasmine "who can't give off any electricity, which means the Lighthouse is without light for another two days. Is that right?"
"Well yeah" Jasmine said, "what's with the quotation marks?"
"Your Ampharos isn't sick, she's malingering" Ash said making said Pokémon cry out in outrage. Ash however carried on "and rather than just tell you that she wants a bit of a break from doing this she's concocted this whole thing, making you worried in the process."
"I am sick" she said sitting up before lying back down.
"Oh, knock it off" Ash said "I've dealt with Pokémon like you every day in Sneasel and Mareep who get joy by irritating me. I know when a Pokémon is sick, I'm an aura wielder and a bloody good one too. There's nothing wrong with you. However, I'm not one to pass up a situation." turning to Jasmine who looked very irritated at being fooled by her Pokémon "I have an idea. My Mareep and Pikachu are electric types, they can help you out for the next few days while Ampharos 'rests'" ignoring the 'Heys' and a smug smile from Ampharos he carried on "in the meantime Jasmine, that gives you two days to think of a suitable punishment for Ampharos for making you believe she's ill." That wiped the smile off said Pokémon's face who immediately looked worried.
"I know just the thing" Jasmine said to the horror of Ampharos who quickly shot out of bed, all pretence of being ill gone "please not that."
"Yes that" Jasmine said wiping away a furious tear from her face "you made me believe you were seriously ill and you've embarrassed me in front of someone else! I thought I was going to lose you! That potion was not cheap either, how did you think you were going to get away with this?"
"I nearly did" Ampharos said going back to the bed and lying down.
"Oh no you don't!" Jasmine said hauling her out of bed "You're coming with me. We have a few hours before the sun starts to set. Your punishment starts now." recalling her into her Pokéball Jasmine fixed her dress before taking a deep breath "thank you. I feel very silly."
"Don't be" Ash said gently hugging her, something he very rarely did to anyone "You were worried about your Pokémon. Are you ok to leave or do you need a minute?"
"I'm ok" she said steeling herself.
"I'll be back in a few hours then" Ash said happily as he recalled a sulking Mareep. "I'll just get some things from my bag that we'll need."
A few hours later Ash knocked on the door again and Jasmine opened it. She had changed out of her dress into comfy pyjamas with Magnemites on them.
"Come in" she said closing the door and leading him upstairs "now, we've got about half an hour before the beacon needs to be lit. What's your plan?"
Releasing Mareep he again wandered over to a sulking Ampharos and sat down next to her. "Mareep is very close to evolving but is still having issues with his electrical output. Pikachu however has long since mastered it so for the next few nights he's going to teach both of the sheeps how to better distribute their output, maybe Ampharos won't feel the need to pretend to be ill if she doesn't tire herself out as easily. We'll start now." he said getting a few things out of his bag. Over the next twenty minutes he attached various items to the sheep and gauged what he needed to do, all the while Jasmine watched on from the bed, fascinated by the experiment Ash was conducting. The next few hours flew by for Ash, who was enthralled in his work. Jasmine however, seeing there wasn't much she could do decided to read a book. Both of them were startled however when Ash's phone began to ring. He had long since linked it to his laptop and pressed accept while still typing.
"Hi sweetheart" Ash said happily taking her face in "how's your day been?"
"Good" Nia said looking very red "I have a bit of sunstroke, so I'll be staying in tomorrow. I forgot when I agreed to this holiday that I hate the sun. Give me cold winter nights any day of the week."
"I did warn you" Ash said laughing.
"I know" she replied "so how's your day been. Where are you? That doesn't look like the Pokémon Centre."
"Oh" Ash said looking around "I'm in the lighthouse in Olivine City. This is Jasmines room. Say hello to Jasmine" he finished turning the camera around to a wary Jasmine who waved warily at the random woman.
"Ash" she said sternly "context, remember."
"Oh sorry" he said and explained what had happened.
"So why are you punishing Pikachu?" she asked confused as she let it sink in. "and why are you in her room?"
"Because, along with Sneasel he encourages Mareep" he said frowning at Pikachu who just stuck his tongue out "so I'm using it as a teachable moment. This is the room where the Ampharos usually sleeps so it made sense for me to stay here too. Jasmine has the keys."
"Ash" she said pinching her nose.
"Can I talk to her" Jasmine asked as she padded over "girl to girl."
"Sure" Ash said unplugging the laptop and handing it over to Jasmine who wandered outside into the night air "I wonder what that's about" he asked Pikachu who just looked at Ash and shook his head "I forget how thick you are at times. What would your reaction be if you rang Nia and found her in her pyjamas in some random blokes' room?"
"I dunno" Ash said wondering how he would react "It's a little different for me as I don't think that way about other women."
"Nia knows that" Pikachu pointed out "and while you're committed to her you haven't spent much time together as boyfriend and girlfriend before you went your separate ways, continuing your journeys. Everything is still new, and you're bloody clueless when it comes to women and their emotions. All she knows is that you're in some random woman's bedroom, nothing else you will say will sink in after that."
"But there's likely going to be loads of times this kind of thing happens" Ash said confused.
"Yeah, keep that to yourself for now" Pikachu advised as Jasmine came back in and handed the laptop back to Ash who looked questioningly at Nia.
"Ok, next time can you fully explain the situation to me before blurting things out" Nia said shaking her head at how dumb her boyfriend could be "you've had the last few hours to tell me this."
"But you were on a beach relaxing" Ash said, "I didn't want to disturb you."
"That's nice" Nia said "but still tell me. Now, I shudder to ask, but how did your talk with Chikorita go? Is she ok?"
"I don't know" Ash said, "she nearly got me arrested for Pokémon abuse, so I've sent her home to think about what she did."
"Ash" Nia said "context."
Ash shook his head at the word, he was starting to get irritated by it as while he was clueless about emotions he wasn't an idiot. He explained what he said and how he said it, along with what happened afterwards. "She made me out to be some kind of abuser in front of Officer Jenny. It's a good job I have built up a ton of good credit with them or I'd likely have my trainers licence suspended at the minute."
"Oh dear" Nia said, "hopefully she figures out what you were trying to say, and she recovers from it."
"You need to watch out too" Ash said warningly "you have a room at my home. A home she's now staying at. Just be mindful and let me know if she tries to harm you."
"I can look after myself" Nia said shaking her head.
"No Nia" Ash said sternly shocking her "I need you to take this seriously. You've been extremely dismissive of the whole thing and it's winding me up. She has access to every status move a grass type can use and at the minute is emotionally unstable. Please take this seriously."
"Ok" she said holding her hand up "I need to go; Ava wants to cook marshmallows on the beach. There's nothing nicer than sand covered marshmallows. I'll speak to you later on this week. Bye Ash, be good."
"Bye yourself Ni" he replied "have lots of fun. I'll ring you after I've seen the therapist in a few days."
"Ooh yes, please do" she said waving before hanging up.
Ash sighed before he closed the laptop, giving up on inputting the data for the experiment. He could always carry on tomorrow. Walking outside he looked on as the moonlight along with the beacon created shimmering lights dance across the ocean as far as the eye could see.
"She's a lucky woman" Jasmine said joining him.
"I'm the lucky one" Ash said looking at her sideways.
"How did you meet her?" Jasmine asked after a few minutes.
"That's a long story" Ash replied.
"Well, we've got all night, haven't we?" she asked as she led him inside. Ash nodded and began his story which lasted several hours, with many inputs from Pikachu.
The next day Ash woke up early, chuckling as he saw Jasmine snoring her head off on the bed and got ready for the day ahead. Leaving a note Ash left Mareep with her and Pikachu joined him in the walk back to the Pokémon centre to get showered and dressed.
"What's the plan for today?" Pikachu asked as they left the centre.
"We're going to see Hailee today" Ash said as he released Salamence who yawned and stretched her huge frame, looking at him questioningly "We're heading into the mountains Queenie, we need to check on Hailee."
Nodding she lowered her neck and Ash climbed on and soon they were on their way, Ash unaware he was being watched from the lighthouse. Jasmine sighed before turning to her Ampharos, put a cheerful face on and said "Let's go to the gym. I suspect we'll be battling Ash in the next few days so we need to train."
Half an hour later Ash landed in the back garden and alighted. He was just about to recall Salamence when a small missile hit him in the midriff. Grunting he looked down and was surprised to see a Riolu looking up at him sheepishly from its back. Salamance growled at seeing Ash get attacked and lowered her head, terrifying the young Pokémon.
"I'd watch where you're running" she said, "a young bite like you could get hurt." Riolu nodded its head obviously too scared to say anything but was thankfully saved a second later.
"Uncle Ash" a voice said as Haliee came running over and hugging him before surprising Salamence with a hug too "you look so pretty!" she said to Salamance. Gently Salamance bumped her head into Hailees midriff before taking a few steps back and taking off and landing by the pool twenty meters away, where she yawned and curled up to have a nap. Ash just shook his head and patted Hailee on the head before picking the Riolu up and placing him on his other shoulder and walking Hailee back to the pool where Bruno, Lorelei and their new baby were eating breakfast.
"Hello all" Ash said greeting them "I know we said noon, but I have a few things to do today so I thought I'd come and check if it's ok to come early over the next few days."
"Yeah course" Bruno said shaking his hand. Lorelei however didn't get up as she was feeding her newborn baby making Ash blush when he realised how he was being fed. Bruno just laughed at his embarrassment. "It's perfectly natural Ash."
"I know" Ash said nodding, trying to look anywhere else "I've just never seen it happen before, by people I know anyway."
"I can stop if it makes you uncomfortable?" Lorelei asked looking over at him.
"No" Ash said quickly "your baby comes first. I've had many conversations over the past year or so and one thing I know is that when a baby needs to eat, they will let you know, loudly if need be. Please, don't feel like you have to stop on my account. It's just strange you know?"
"How so?" Bruno asked.
"If you'd have told me a few years ago I would be sat in the home of two members of the Kanto Elite Four, having breakfast, I'd have laughed in your faces." Ash said "and then add to that the picture of you two having two kids together it just makes me feel a bit strange. Like I'm living someone else's life."
"Ash, you're the Kanto Champion" Lorelei said laughing.
"I know" he said "but just over four years ago you guys were these mythical, unattainable people who hadn't been beaten in a battle in years and now I'm sat in your garden, while your daughter climbs all over my dragon." he finished laughing and shaking his head at his Salamance lying down while Hailee sat on her neck and talked incessantly at her. "She must be the only other human that Salamance tolerates. It's amazing you know?"
"Oh, I know" Lorelei said smiling at the scene "I think she has aspirations to be a dragon tamer when she's older. She recently saw a battle between Lance and Claires dragons at an exhibition at the Dragons Den and hasn't shut up about them since. Don't be surprised if she asks you where she can get a dragon."
"She's not having a Dragon" Bruno said shaking his head "not until she's eleven at least. We have a hard enough time keeping track of her and Riolu."
"Yeah, where did she get the Riolu?" Ash asked confused "it wasn't here a few months ago when I was last here."
"It was a gift from Rota" Lorelei replied making Ash visibly stiffen up "trust me we had the same reaction, but he's been vetted by Sir Aarons Lucario, and he's been well warned of who he'd be betraying if he had the inclination to do so."
"Good" Ash said "for all their sense of honour they can still be corrupted into believing they know what's best."
"That's not the worst of it" Bruno mumbled much to the confusion of Ash. Bruno however simply nodded to Hailee who had suddenly stiffened up as if thinking about something and shockingly a Pokémon popped into the garden a few feet away from Salamance who immediately rose to her feet and growled at the interloper only to be stopped by Hailee who stood in front of Salamance unflinchingly and carried on talking to her. Ash had also quickly rose to his feet only to be stopped by Bruno.
"What?" Ash tried to say before turning his head back to the situation. Finally his brain kicked into gear and he turned questioningly to Bruno and Lorelei.
Sighing Bruno sat back down and said "a month or so ago Hailee was playing near the boundary of our land when she came across a wounded Pokémon. She had never seen it before but as she's been practicing her aura healing, she tried to help. I think she forgets at times she's only been doing this for a few months now and was quite distraught at not being able to help. So, she came rushing in, crying at the poor injured Pokémon. It was fairly simple to heal, it just needed food and rest but ever since then the Ralts hasn't left her side."
"She's an aura user" Ash said looking back over with concern "with a psychic type Pokémon. There has never been one for good reason."
"Well, there's one now" Bruno said grimacing "we're at a loss on what to do as in her mind she's not doing anything wrong."
"She isn't" Ash said sighing "however the first few years of an aura user's life after discovering their gift is the most vulnerable time. Their aura is in flux until it settles, and they are at their most corruptible, easily able to go either way. Should she go the wrong way she would become my enemy, along with every Lucario and Aura user in the world and it would pain me deeply should that happen because I would be unable to protect her. My very being would despise her, just by being near her."
"So, what can we do?" Lorelei asked concerned and looking at her daughter.
"Nothing" Ash said sighing "the training Lucario and I are giving her is helping her rely on using aura how it's supposed to be used and so far, it's working. I can feel no sense of her aura changing, it's getting stronger no doubt, but it's still in its infancy. She has many years before she's able to wield it as I can. We were worried about it being wild after releasing our marks but it isn't, it's settling into her correctly so there's no worries on that front. The Ralts concerns me though. Why would a Pokémon from the Hoenn region just happen to be in Johto, in a remote part of Johto at that, miles from civilisation."
"We wondered that" Bruno said "the best we can come up with is that it tried to escape from somewhere near Olivine, possibly arriving on a boat and ended up here before it passed out exhausted. Hailee has become attached to it so we cannot get rid of it. Our Pokémon have been instructed to keep an eye on it, so we are being cautious but so far nothing has happened other than the three of them being inseparable."
"How does she communicate with it?" Ash wondered "aura and psychic are incompatible so we have to literally speak out loud to talk."
"Hailee doesn't" Bruno said surprising Ash who looked sharply at Hailee "she talks to it in her mind."
"It cannot be a coincidence" Ash muttered to himself and standing up pacing trying to gather his thoughts "have any of you ever done a genealogy before?"
"I have" Bruno said "My family have lived in Johto for the last millennia, unfortunately I haven't been able to trace back more than eight hundred years where it mysteriously stops but we've all lived in and around Olivine City and the towns that surround it."
"I'm from the Sevii Isles" Lorelei said "my family have lived there for three hundred years, before then though I have no idea. Why do you ask?"
"A week ago, I was asked to help out at a dig site just a few miles North of here." Ash said "they had come across some relics, that belonged to Queen Tierra nearly a thousand years ago. The relics were able to control any Pokémon without fail, even wild untamed ones and they obeyed every command as if they were owned by her. The team were trying to reach them, but a barrier was in place that they couldn't get through. They thought it was a psychic barrier, like the ones that prevented Cynthia and my father at the Ruins of Alph only they were half right. It was an aura and psychic barrier, perfectly blended together creating a seamless, shimmering forcefield that stopped me from going more than a few feet before it gently pushed me back. Such a thing has never been seen before, as I said by our very nature we're incompatible, but Tierra managed it somehow."
"So, what are you saying?" Bruno asked.
"I think you may be a descendent of hers, or one of your ancestors married a descendent of hers" Ash said looking at Hailee "and I fear Hailee may have inherited her gifts."
That evening Ash was once again in the lighthouse while Pikachu coached the two sheep on how better to use their electrical powers. Ash however wasn't focused on the experiment, instead he was sending out various emails to people that worked in the archives in Olivine City trying to gain access to Bruno's genealogy records. Bruno had of course given him permission, so he was currently sifting through hundreds of records trying to pinpoint various names to locations. So far, he had managed to go back three hundred years, but it had taken hours or trawling and cross referencing.
"What is it you're doing?" Jasmine asked sitting next to him cross legged on the floor, their knees nearly touching.
Ash moved slightly away to prevent it happening much to her confusion before answering "I'm trying to complete a genealogy for my apprentice. I think it would be a nice gift to give her."
"But that's Elite Four Bruno's name" she pointed out confused.
"I know" Ash said "his daughter is my apprentice. He and Lorelei have given me permission to do this as it's rather important for an aura user to know who they are and where they come from. It helps their aura connect with Mother Earths aura, making it easier to manipulate the elements when they're in sync."
"Wow" Jasmine said "you know it still blows my mind that Bruno and Lorelei are married with kids. I mean I know she's really pretty but he's hot, you know?"
"No not really" Ash said looking at her and shaking his head "I mean I can see she's pretty and he's a huge bloke, but they really do suit each other."
"Muscly men are my weakness" she said shrugging her shoulders "there's just something about those huge arms that could effortlessly pick me up and throw me around." shuddering she quickly stood up and made her way back to her bed, leaving Ash confused at the strange interaction.
"I plan on going back tomorrow" Ash said half an hour later, closing his laptop "I should be done by one, so I'll probably be at the gym for three. Will you be in?"
"I'll be in at five" she said "I have a conference call with the League about how my apprentices are getting on and which one's I'll likely be putting forward for the tournament."
"That's fine" Ash said nodding before leaning his head back. "So how come you're single?" he asked suddenly "I mean, you've mentioned a few times about what your ideal man would be, why haven't you found him?"
"They're usually always taken" she said after a few minutes "and my life is tied up to this place and my gym, so I don't get to date much. The last person I went on a date with just wanted to get into my pants, so it didn't go to a second date. How about you, why Nia?"
"My aura decided for me" Ash said "aura users don't get a choice in who their destined life mate is, we only ever have one and often we never find them. It's quite a painful experience to be honest as every day my aura was pulsing trying to find them, and getting no reply left quite a hollow feeling. Usually this only happens once an aura user reaches aural maturity at sixteen however because of how gifted I am mine started years earlier than it should have done. I was very lucky I found mine early on or it'd still be trying to find them."
"That sucks" Jasmine said making him look at her funny "I mean that you don't get a choice. What if you don't get on with them? Or if they're already taken? I don't think I could cope with that. Dating may suck because you never know what's going to happen, but I still have free will at the end of the day."
"It happens more than you know" Ash said "my ancestor fell in love with the then Queen of Rota but because of their different stations they couldn't be together. Their affair was quickly covered up and she married and had children with someone else, but their child had to be secreted away before she could be killed. Until a few years ago it was passed off as rumour until I found out the truth. My family always knew, but it was deeply embarrassing for Rota to have someone else who had a claim to the throne, even though as a man I could never inherit said throne, however any daughters I may have possibly could. After all, even a tenuous link is still a link, even after all this time."
"So, I'm speaking to royalty" Jasmine said sounding amused "Sir Ash Ketchum, it has a nice ring to it" she finished laughing.
"That's actually my real title you know" he said amused "I was knighted by Sir Aarons Lucario a few years ago, ironically enough Sir Aaron is the very ancestor I was on about."
"What a life you lead" she said laughing "so tell me about Nia" she said putting her legs underneath her and grabbing a pillow.
"Why?" Ash asked, "I told you how we met last night."
"I like romance" she said shrugging "and at the moment I'll take hearing stories given I obviously am unlikely to be dating anytime soon."
"Well, where do I start?" Ash asked aloud as he pulled out his camp-bed and settled down "I suppose it started when I first saw her battle at the league..."
The next day Ash left Jasmine still asleep with another note and headed to Loreleis again, to give Hailee further instructions. "Now, don't push yourself too hard on this one because it will take time to master" Ash said as he went through a new Kata with her and Riolu who was paying close attention. His mother had taught him the basics before he was picked for Hailee but she had also made sure to warn him about Ash and his capabilities.
"He may very well be the most gifted aura user since Sir Aaron but he is also quite volatile at times" she had said "Be on your guard for absolutely anything. But also pay attention to anything he instructs Hailee on as he doesn't waste time or energy on anything he doesn't deem important. The lessons you learn from him could very well save yours or Hailee's life one day my son."
"So be aware and be prepared" he said nodding.
"And listen and hear" she added before going back to meditating.
"This will help improve your footwork as well as balance. I'm going to speak to your parents about getting you ballet lessons, I had them for a year when I was young and learning and believe me I have no regrets. Everything is a lesson and the more you master now the easier it will be in future to master more complicated moves."
"How good are you?" Riolu asked.
"Very" Ash said "although it's been a few years since I had a full on fight, I still spar daily with my Machamp. I would highly advise asking Bruno's Machamp for pointers on stances, you have a significant advantage over any other Riolu and Lucario because of who you live with and who is training your mistress. You have the best fighting types in Kanto and Johto living with you in the same house, use them, milk them for every bit of knowledge you can get from them to create your own style. Do not waste this opportunity Riolu."
The young emanation Pokémon just nodded and listened and watched Ash go through several steps of the new set of moves with great interest, trying his best to memorize them as best he could. Hours later, and with many tired limbs Ash walked them all back into the house and stopped as the Ralts appeared on Hailee's shoulder. Trying his best to ignore the feeling he was getting he wandered over to Lorelei who was sat having a minute as her baby was asleep.
"I never did ask his name" Ash said "I'm so sorry."
"It's ok" Lorelei said smiling "to be fair we have also never mentioned his name. he is named after someone who means a lot to both Bruno and I, hopefully he'll grown up to be just as honourable as his namesake."
"Must be one hell of a guy" Pikachu muttered "given that introduction."
"You're not wrong Pi" Ash said before translating for Lorelei who laughed.
"He's right" Lorelei said "anyway Ash, I would like you to meet my son. Satoshi Kanna-Hoshiri."
"Oh" Ash said numbly "that's my middle name. It's a good name. Who do you know with that name?"
"You, you dolt" Bruno said sitting down on the chair across from them shaking his head.
"Oh" Ash said again, speech eluding him for a while "why?"
"That's an easy one" Bruno said grunting as he picked up a magazine and rifled through it "there's been no one who's taken the protection of our daughter more seriously than us than you. From the moment you met her you stopped anyone from trying to claim her and steal her from us, without us being able to contest it. You didn't have to do that and yet you did and most of all you were completely honest and upfront about why you did so. I never thought I would ever be ok with my daughter having another man to look up to other than me, but I've never once felt like she was being taken away from me either by you."
"You've been an amazing influence on her" Lorelei said "she's only just turned six and yet you treat her like she's sixteen. The last few months have been pretty remarkable to witness to be honest."
"You can't half-ass aura training" Ash said "and I didn't want her to grow up without parents like most aura users do when their master claims them. Especially not at such a young age. Anyway, thank you for the honour. You'll be relieved to know I can't sense any aura in him, not more than a normal person anyway so he shouldn't have anything but a normal childhood."
"That is a relief" Lorelei said blowing out a breath and sighing "I was so worried."
"That is good news" Bruno said placing the magazine down and walking over to look at his son "That's one less thing from our many worries."
"I came in here to speak to you actually" Ash said "I've given her a new Kata to try to improve her footwork, but she could probably benefit from ballet lessons too. I've also told her Riolu to learn as much as he can from your Pokémon Bruno, especially your Machamp. That thing has the most impeccable footwork I've seen. Not even my own Machamp can twist the way yours can."
"That's partly to do with Lorelei you know" Bruno said nodding at his wife "she trained as a dancer when she was younger. When we first both became Elite Four I saw her practicing dancing her way out of her Pokémon's attacks and fell instantly in love with her. Ever since that day she helped train with me and taught all my fighting types how to balance better. Machamp was my confidante and knew how I felt so took every lesson to heart, he was the best wingman I've ever had. I owe him a lot."
"Well, that's as good a reason as any" Ash said "I am surprised though, especially given Loreleis body shape."
"You mean because I'm rather top heavy?" she asked arching her eyebrow.
"Well, yeah" Ash said blushing "I'm sorry, for the last few days I've bene peppered with questions on the human body and why people fancy each other and not all people."
"By whom?" Lorelei asked with interest. She had known Ash a few years now and he always came across as painfully innocent where those types of conversations were concerned.
"I've just spent the last two nights in the lighthouse helping Jasmines Ampharos" Ash said "the bloody thing was pretending to be ill to get a few days off being the beacon. Anyway, I'm not the greatest conversationalist in the world so it was her driving the conversations and it was her that asked me. I'm still not sure why."
"Because she fancies you, you moron" Pikachu said.
"What?" Ash yelped "no she doesn't fancy me at all!"
"Ash, she spent all of last night telling you about her ideal man" Pikachu said "and everything she said fit your description."
"No, I distinctly remember her saying she liked big muscly men" Ash said shaking his head.
"Ash you are a big muscly man" Lorelei said looking confused "tell me what you talked about."
Ash spent the next twenty minutes giving her the highlights only for her to shake her head in exasperation "You and Bruno have very similar builds; he's been training a lot longer than you have which is why he's bulkier but in another twenty years you will look very alike. Pikachu is right. She fancies you."
"Oh" he said quietly "but I spent the night talking about Nia."
"Which will not matter to a lot of women" Bruno said interjecting "you are both fortunate you explained what aura will do to someone who tries to break that bond or I suspect we'd find you here with a very goofy grin on your face and a much happier Jasmine."
It took a few moments for that sentence to sink in before Ash's eyes popped out "Oh!"
"Yeah" Bruno said laughing "everyone has a type Ash, you are hers."
"Back onto the point we were making" Lorelei said shaking her head, mirth all over her face "the reason I practiced dancing so much was to overcome these" she said hefting her boobs up and sighing "I was a very early developer, I had DD's by the time I was fourteen and they were causing me so much pain that I needed to do something about it. Dancing proved to be very beneficial because posture is everything and at times it was like learning to walk again as my body corrected itself but over time it worked. I still dance to this day, I haven't for a few months now because of the baby but in a few weeks' time I'm going to try again. I'll start teaching Hailee, you're right, it will help her with not only her footwork but posture too. I was going to start with her when she turned seven anyway, a year earlier won't do any harm."
"That's all I needed to tell you really" Ash said looking around "where is she anyway?"
"She's outside playing with your Salamence" Bruno said looking put out.
"Oh don't be mad" Lorelei said laughing as she stood up and walked over to the bay window and watched her daughter use the huge dragon as a climbing frame "so you lost a bet, pay up."
"To Lance though" Bruno whined "I can't lose to Lance."
"Well, you did" she replied smirking as she opened the door and walked out with Bruno and Ash following.
"Hi Uncle Ash" Hailee said running over to him "I know you told me to rest but Sally and I have been playing."
"Sally?" he asked smirking at Salamence who growled at him.
"She's cute" Salamence replied before lowering her head again.
"Do you think I could get a dragon?" she asked cutely.
"No" Ash said shaking his head "they're a lot of hard work to put up with and they need training daily. At the minute you don't have the time. Maybe when you're older. Anyway your parents are the ones who will have to say yes first."
"But dad said not until I'm older" she said pouting and looking up at him hopefully.
"Don't look at me like that" Ash said booping her on the nose "while you're my apprentice they are still your parents and I will not interfere with how they raise you. Nor will I attempt to change their minds either. Deal with it kiddo. Anyway I wont be back for a few days, I have a convention to attend for Silph Co. in Olivine, a gym match and a therapy session too. I should hopefully be back early next week before I leave you for a few months but we will pick up the training again before the league. By that point you should hopefully be able enough to come on a little field trip into Mt Silver."
"Yay" she said cheering and running inside.
"Therapy?" Lorelei asked looking concerned at him.
"Yeah" he said nodding "something happened a few weeks ago in Ecruteak which gave me flashbacks of New Island, Shamouti and Greenfield and I nearly had a meltdown, so Silph have arranged for me to talk to a professional about it, to try and come to terms with dying or very nearly dying. The convention is my way of thanking them for their help."
"Good" Bruno said "you do need to talk about these things. I see mine once a month, Lorelei twice a month. Our jobs are very stressful and take us away from each other for long periods of time. It was very difficult for a few years to be honest and I feared we wouldn't make it but thankfully we learned to communicate every day about our thoughts and feelings. There's nothing wrong with feeling vulnerable Ash" he finished clapping him on the back and following his daughter inside.
Lorelei hugged him and reached up to give him a kiss on the cheek "don't leave anything out of your session. Be honest and open. Trust me, it helps." Turning around she followed leaving Ash alone with Pikachu and Salamence.
"Come on" he said "we have a gym battle to train for."