Monarch's Journey
Chapter 3: Forest Trials
"Why the heck did we even come here?! This forest is so icky, I don't even wanna sit down!" Misty's voice echoed as she inched from Alissa's side, towards Ash. "I hate this place… Too many bug types…"
"You and I both… And I have a legit reason to hate this damn forest." Alissa grimaced as she looked up at the treeline. Narrowing at a branch above, she flung her hand out, a blue glow forming across her hand. When a rock landed in the palm of her hand, she pulled back and flung the rock upward.
Clattering across the branches, the rock bounced between branches, before something fell out of the tree, and slammed against the floor roughly. Laying in the middle of the three, Alissa's eyes lit up a bright blue, before the dazed Pokemon jerked from its side, to its back.
Rearing its head back, the Pokemon scuttled across the ground before darting for Alissa. Only to get smacked into a tree, as she held her crackling fist out. "Disgusting." She huffed, staring at the naked Burmy.
"Whoa. That's a neat Pokemon…" Ash perked up as he turned to the unconscious Burmy. Pausing as Misty shook next to him, Ash turned to the girl and frowned. "Misty, you okay?"
"No I am not okay! Bugs creep me the f-heck out!" Misty shouted as she grabbed onto Ash's arm, causing the boy to wince, before looking around the forest they were in.
"Even Ledyba, Surskit, and the other aquatic bug types?" Ash asked, wishing for a release from Misty's vice grip. Sure being close to her was nice, and while awkward, he turned his attention fully on her darting eyes.
"N-not as much, but it's mostly Pokemon that resemble specific bug types… Like Beedrill or Ribombee… And it sort of covers most worm-like Pokemon too." She answered back weakly, causing Tizeriz to pause up ahead.
"So a Butterfree potential, is completely out of the question?" The woman asked as she turned back casually, and held her hands against her pockets. "Or what about Flygon?"
"T-those are fine, no girl can be scared of butterflies, but…Moths and scorpions? No. No way."
"So Ash can tackle this Caterpie, and you'll not freak out?" Tizeriz asked again as she pointed ahead to a small clearing with a felled tree sitting along the path.
Ash craned his head over the tree trunk to the clearing, and frowned as he didn't initially spot the bug type in question. With a quick glance to Tizeriz, the woman simply pointed to the trees behind it. Nodding in acknowledgement, Ash inched closer, dragging Misty's feet along as she kept her arm around his.
"Oh please hurry up Ash… I don't want to stay here." Misty whined quietly into Ash's ear, sending a shiver up his spine as he glanced at how close she was getting.
"Oh for cryin… Misty if you keep stranglin' his arm, you're both gonna fall arse over tit onto each other!" Tizeriz shouted before an invisible force outlined the tangled duo. With Tizeriz's finger curling slowly, Ash and Misty had the unfortunate knowledge of what it felt like, to be tugged across the forest, by telekinesis.
"Woah…Tiz, please don't do that again…" Ash stumbled out once Tizeriz's psychic force left his body. Shrugging back in response, Tizeriz walked over to a nearby tree, and leaned against it with a sigh.
"Not my fault you're a bloomin' rookie. I can't be arsed to wait for ya to grow a pair and move. We got a lot of forest to cover, and not a lot of food to stretch out. So stop being a buncha bloody cock-ups, and get your arses movin'!"
"You really don't have a filter on you, don't ya?" Ash asked as he felt around his belt for Spearow's pokeball. Grabbing it from between his, and Misty's pressed together bodies, he sighed and held it out, scanning the area again.
"Not my fault you two are a pair of prats, I'm regrettingly growing fond of already." Tizeriz huffed as she leaned back against the tree fully. "Buncha fuckin' babs…"
"Tiz, take it easy on them. Your first time out on a journey ended with us stuck in a dark cave for several hours." Alissa reminded, causing the woman to grunt as she waved off Alissa.
"Dinnae fash… I haven't forgotten about that. I'm just itchin' to get out of here. I really hate this place at night, and the Pokemon that can show up in general. Buncha worms in my mind."
"What?" Misty asked, confused more on what the heck Tizeriz said first, thusly, tuning the rest of her words out. Stepping away from Ash, she looked at the dark haired woman with more confusion etching across her face.
"Ah-ha! I found the Caterpie!" Ash shouted, holding Spearow's pokeball up with a determined gaze.
"Don't even bother with yer Pokemon Ash! Most worm-like Pokemon are easy to catch!" Tizeriz called out, startling Ash as he turned back to Tizeriz's closed eyed pose.
"R-really? Most bug catchers that come to Pallet Town always boast about catching Caterpie with their own teams…" Ash pondered before shaking his head. "Alright then, let's see if you're right."
Clasping Spearow's pokeball onto his belt again, before swinging his bag over his shoulder. Digging through the bandages, pills and potions inside, Ash narrowed his eyes before grinning. Tugging out a fresh pokeball, he tossed it into the air briefly. Swinging his bag over his shoulders, he held a hand out and caught the pokeball again. "Alright. Caterpie, you're mine." Ash declared before chucking the ball towards the tiny bug resting on in the grass, just a short few yards away.
"That or maybe I'm thinkin' about Magikarp…" Tizeriz mused, before shrugging. "Eh…Either way, not easy to cock up a simple bug capture." She added before the pokeball smacked into the Caterpie.
Caterpie vanished into the pokeball as the latch clasped. Falling to the ground, the button lit up a gentle red colour. Wriggling in place, Ash stood with baited breath, while Alissa simply stared at the trees above, hands tossing a rock between them. Misty simply stared, awestruck as most rookies would, when the pokeball stilled. Dinging softly, Ash walked over, and picked up the pokeball.
Head held high, Ash held the pokeball in both hands, and started prancing in place. Holding the ball up to the sky, Ash let out an excited shout and jumped slightly. "Yes! I did it! Take that Kanto! I caught another Pokemon!"
"Oh don't be so proud of yourself, anyone coulda done that. Just took you long enough to do it." Tizeriz smirked as she shoved herself off the tree and popped her back lightly. "Now c'mon you three. Let's get the hell outta this forest before I end up burnin' it down on purpose."
"Yeesh. We get it sis, you hate it here, we all do." Alissa huffed as she tossed the rock upward again. Halting its movement mid throw, Alissa flung the rock behind her with her Psychic, and smiled as a loud buzzing ceased in the background.
"Please, I really don't think my heart's going to take the faint idea of being near Beedrill again…" Misty shuddered before Ash nodded and stared up at the sky from where it filtered through the canopy above.
"Ugh, I think we're gonna have to camp here tonight. The sun's getting low, and I don't feel like getting lost." Ash grimaced as he looked back at the group, and sighed at Tizeriz's deadpanned gaze.
"Are you being bloody serious?"
"As much as I'd like to say that I'm kidding, I can't lie." Ash answered back, frowning at the vanishing light above.
"We just left the forest earlier today, and now you're saying that it's getting dark already? When the heck did we lose hours?" Alissa asked, before the group let out a collective sigh.
"Guess we gotta find a campsite, and fix our dressings Ash. You heard what Nurse Joy said." Misty muttered as the group set off again, heading further into the heart of the forest.
A fire crackled to life before the trio, Alissa huffing as she shook her hand clear of soot, before leaning back against the stump settled between the three teenagers, herself, and Pikachu.
"There, the fire's fucking lit. It's roaring, and there's smoke everywhere!" Alissa shouted before sighing as she jolted slightly from Pikachu jumping into her lap. "You being for real?"
"Pika." Pikachu answered before curling up in Alissa's lap, dozing off almost immediately.
"You better wake up soon so I can kick your tail…" Alissa huffed again before staring at Tizeriz, frowning at the fire, her mind running rapidly through food experiments. "Don'tcha fucking try it sis. The kids are barely teenagers from what I can see. Don't kill them."
"What? Nah nah, I'm not thinkin' about that right now. I'm thinkin' about how good a Slowpoke tail or an egg would be right now." Tizeriz suggested back, before waving off Alissa's incredulous look. "Don't give me that, even I can't fuck up a good slowpoke's tail."
"You eat those?" Misty asked as she huddled closer to the flames, holding her arms tightly, shaking softly as Ash dug into his bag, wincing slightly. "I could never hurt a Slowpoke for just their tails." She murmured before turning to Ash as she looked down at the fire.
Watching the flames dance across the shallow pit, she curled into herself slightly before sighing. "But… If we're travelling, we can't be picky, right?"
"Nope. I learned that the hard way." Tizeriz huffed as she zipped her duffle bag open, and pulled out a few tins of food from inside a pocket. "I tried to be vegetarian but man… It's kinda hard to be when you live in a world where the damn tree next to you, could just wake up and smack you out cold...
"Anyways you buncha pikeys, wanna tin or few? I got some tomato sauce and pasta, a few sausage ones, and I think a couple Wishiwashi tins." Tizeriz stated before looking at the teens again. Staring back at her, they glanced at the tins of food in her hands, then to Alissa.
"Are you absolutely certain that she can't cook?" Misty asked, and Alissa snorted as she looked down at the fire.
"As serious as a Furfrou is about their fur coats." Alissa shot back with a shrug. "I'm being serious though, she sucks. Like, with a capital S."
"Hey, I'm not that bad!" Tizeriz shouted, chucking one of her flatter, rectangular cans at Alissa. Who simply caught it in her psychic field, and lowered it to her hands. "At least I don't think so."
"Sis I love ya, but you burned rice because you refused to use water. You said that the Tamato juices would be enough."
"At least I'm trying, unlike you!" Tizeriz pouted before tossing her chosen can into the firepit.
"True…" Misty sighed before shivering as Ash tapped her shoulder and frowned.
"Oh right… the reapplication…" Misty trailed back off as she flushed and looked away again. Shifting slightly Misty let her gaze drift back to Ash's and sighed.
"Can't it wait? I'm sure the bandages don't need to be reapplied that soon…" Misty bargained, only for Ash to frown again and huff as he tugged Misty's suspender off.
"No it can't. Nurse Joy said we had to change them before we went to bed, and after we wake up and get cleaned. I have to wait a bit before I can get clean but hey, that's what friends are for right? To be there and lift others who can't do it themselves." Ash insisted, before pulling Misty closer, levelling his mouth to her ears.
"Besides, I won't judge, nor will I even stare long Misty. You're still my friend, flaws and all." He whispered, feeling shame take root as Misty shuddered against him, her back pressed into his side.
"Oh for… stop flirting over there. I can't be asked to sit here and watch as you two whisper like a buncha doves." Tizeriz huffed as she smirked when the duo's face flushed red. "But if you keep whispering over there, I'll be left scunnered. And considering how I am already such…I'll be leaving ya both alone for tonight. Pip Pip mates, I'll be over here."
Reaching into the fire pit without a care, Tizeriz yanked out her hot can of food, and winced as she tossed it between her hands. Enveloping the tin in her psychic force, Tizeriz smiled, and ripped the lid off before digging in quietly. Once done, she set the can down and sighed as she looked at Alissa finishing off her own, cold tin. "You know you coulda warmed that up."
"Yes, but hot fish is not that good." Alissa shot back before her sister rolled her eyes.
Tizeriz stood back up, stretching lightly before she jumped into one of the surrounding trees. Landing on a large branch, she leaned against the trunk, and sighed as she felt her body relaxing in an instant. Collapsing against the wood, the woman immediately passed out, a soft snoring echoing from above the flushed duo.
"Pip pip ma- what on earth is she even saying anymore?" Misty asked before shivering from a chill that swept through the trees surrounding the small clearing.
"Mostly nonsense when she feels like it. In fact, she's putting up a front right now." Alissa answered with a look at the two teens and sighed. "But if you want my honest opinion? I think it's because of what you said Ash. She was fine, but she seems to be trying to act nonchalant. And from what I'm gathering, it's not working out too well. Give her time, and she'll probably drop her entire over-Galarian mannerisms."
"You really think so?" Ash asked as he tugged on Misty's shirt again, pulling the shivering teenager into his lap.
"Yeah, I really do. She's not like she seems right now. She's hurting, and until my sister decides to, she'll keep hiding. I'm just waiting until she can emerge from that shell." Alissa finished before standing up and sighing. "I'm going off to see if there's anything to worry about. I'll be back later."
Sitting in the dark clearing alone now, Ash turned back to Misty. Flushing darkly as he tugged on Misty's remaining suspender and frowned softly.
Hand shooting up to grab his, Ash paused as Misty's fingers dug into his closed fist, trying to pry her hand from her top. However, when Ash lifted the fabric swiftly, Misty stiffened again and shuddered as Ash leaned into her ear again.
"Hey, it'll be fine Misty. I'm just going to try and be quick. And besides…" Ash flushed slightly as his hands lingered on the fabric covering her chest, and the worst of the scarring. Sure he only got a quick glance at them, but the shallow cuts and burns still left a crystal clear image in his mind. With a gentle hand, Ash reached over to Misty's bag, and dug through the contents. Pulling out one of the bottles the nurse gave them, he sighed and uncapped the container. Shaking out two tiny yellow dots, he tossed one into his mouth, before reaching over to Misty's mouth.
Parting her lips immediately, Ash tossed the tiny nub of medicine into her mouth, and sighed in immediate relief. The Sitrus Berry concentrate was already helping the tiredness of his muscles vanish. Adjusting his position under Misty, he pulled out a few patches of gauze, and several ointment tubes.
"Misty you're going to have to remove your bra. I don't want to mess it up further than I have to." Ash mumbled before setting the supplies down in Misty's lap. With the girl flushing a darker red, she nodded curtly, before Ash reached up, hands trembling as he gripped the zipper.
"Ash just hurry up, it's cold out, and I don't wanna freeze to death before you even start." Misty muttered before Ash tugged the zipper downward. Tugging the bra's straps over Misty's arms carefully and quickly, Ash turned away. Holding the fabric dumbly, he only took note of how warm it was, before setting it aside with Misty's shirt.
"Okay, let's get started with the old ones… Mind handing me the wipes?" Ash asked, face beet red as he stared across the tan Misty had going across her back. A pale complexion coupled with a few dark bruises, and more shallow cuts. Almost like claw marks…
Ash just couldn't explain why, despite the pit settling in his stomach, his heart stuttered briefly.
Ring ring ring! Phone call phone call! Ring ring ring! Phone call Phone c-!
"This is the Cerulean Pokemon Centre's Nurse Joy. May I ask who's calling?" A light, airy voice asked, the maroon haired woman accompanying it stretched out as she scratched at her cheek. Seeing her sister from Viridian pop on screen, the nurse sat down and frowned. "Something wrong sister?"
"You're damn right there's something wrong Lillian! I had the youngest Waterflower here earlier today." Sabina huffed as she slammed her hand on the desk of the police station she was calling from. "After she, and a boy she was with saved the majority of my centre, I had to do treatment on them. Guess what I found out about the young Waterflower?"
"What was it? An awful cut or bruise from her journey from here to there?" Lillian asked, yawning again as she looked around the centre. Empty considering how little trainers seemed to use the facility. Most were in and out before the day was even done. While looking around, Holly looked down at her small collection of ornament dolls arranged around the desk. With a sigh she looked at the screen again and jerked back at Sabina's scowl.
"No you doll loving ditz. Misty Waterflower has signs of abuse along her chest and back. Deliberately covered by her tank top, and bra." Sabina answered back before turning away, her gaze softening slightly, before turning back. Her gaze was full of disgust.
"Wait… Bu-but her sisters told me she had a clean bill of health last month! They even let me examine her. The only thing they did w-" Lillian cut off as she dropped the phone and turned away with a horrified expression. "That's why she didn't want me to check under there… Oh Arceus…"
Picking up the phone with shaky hands, Lillian's expression turned solemn as she sagged into the chair. "She hid it from me, with her own right… So I couldn't breach that. But you're right about one thing Sabina… I should've checked on her without them in the room."
"You thought? You actually thought that she was fine at the time? Are you… Lillian what the actual fuck is wrong with you?!" Sabina shouted as she leaned into the computer screen. "A fucking child was being abused under your care! I better hope that you're happy that because of this, I have to make sure the rest of our immediate family can watch her… Outside of the one stationed at Gringy City that is."
"Sabina, I honestly didn't fully get what was going on with the sisters. There were times I was confused, and/or suspicious of what was going on with her. I still remember the night where someone brought her to the centre for the night." Lillian whispered as she looked at the floor, tears glistening across her eyes. "She was so small, and was out cold then… So when I brought her back to her sisters, they were so…
"They told me that they were glad that I brought her home, and took her in so quickly, I was left dumbfounded at their hasty nature."
"So what you're telling me is that her… 'sisters' are good at keeping you out of her life. Arceus this is going to be messy… Holly's already getting the other Jennys stationed near Cerulean ready to move in. I'll let her know that you're going to be cleared. But Lillian, you have to say everything you know to them. The legal hell coming your way won't be pretty. Only saving grace is that if those sisters are arrested, they'll be kept far away from Misty." Sabina sighed as she leaned into the desk on the screen. "That and the horrible fact that you might be out of a job, and the gym will be closed and condemned…"
"So? I don't care that I'm potentially in a lot of legal hell. You told me she's being abused by her family. I'm not going to just sit aside and wait. I'm not the brightest out of all of us in Kanto but…You're the leader here Sabina. You shouldn't have to suffer because of my mistake.
"I'll go and check with them first, have Holly tell them that I'm on my way. I don't want Misty hurt by them anymore, and if I can help in that aspect in any way, consequences be damned. I failed as a nurse anyways, might as well go out doing something right." Lillian huffed as she stood up, and hung up the call. Turning towards her desk, the nurse closed her eyes and collapsed upon the wooden counter, Sobbing uncontrollably, the Nurse felt more of a failure now, than when Misty was brought in that night.
"Ow!" Misty shouted as she flinched from Ash's small spray bottle, the boy staring at a small cut on her back. "Be careful with that thing… It stings."
"Yeah? It's a potion Misty. I know they're meant for Pokemon, but as long as we don't use a whole lot, it should help." Ash huffed back before setting the blue spray bottle aside. Moving in with a gauze pad, Ash gently scrubbed at the cut, before Misty flinched again. "Hold still. I can't help you if you keep moving Misty!"
"Well I'm sorry, but that really hurts Ash!" Misty shouted back as she pouted, and leaned forward again. Flinching at the pad touching the cut again, Misty hissed, and let out a small grumble. "My chest is cold."
"If you'd stop complaining, I could've been done an hour ago Misty." Ash snarked before moving his hand over Misty's side to feel for another cut. Satisfied with finding nothing, not even a bruise, he sighed. "And your back is done. Time for the front."
"...Right, right." Misty absently, sitting very still with Ash behind her. "Turning around, yeah…Yeah I can do that."
Not moving still, Ash sighed and turned Misty's head towards him. "You don't have to worry, It's just me. I saw them already, and while I don't really care; I just want to make sure that you're fine." Ash whispered before Misty's cheeks tinged a light pink. "You've been helping me this entire journey so far, let me help you."
"W-well we did survive an explosion together… And you did already get a glance at… at them. I guess it's fine." Misty mumbled before lifting herself off of Ash briefly. Turning around, with one arm crossed over her chest, Misty looked away and sniffled softly. "Just… don't stare please."
"Why would I? You're my friend Misty." Ash asked, slightly offended that he might've ogled at her form. Sure it was a fleeting thought, but when Misty abruptly sat back down in his lap, all thoughts vanished. Turning beet red, Ash's eyes snapped to Misty's green orbs, where the girl was looking away, an embarrassed look slowly turned back.
"Stop being so nice to me Ash… outside of the Joys and Jennys, I don't think anyone else has been this nice. At least in recent years…" Misty paused before perking up slightly as she held her hand up. "Oh a-and my sisters! They took me shopping last year for some clothes, and I'm still grateful for that. They're the reason why I have a sports bra in the first place! Oh and my bag!" Misty added cheerfully, to Ash's internal horror.
"I hope that wasn't the only time Misty…" Ash muttered, only for Misty to smile again, only a bit more strained.
"Actually, that was for my birthday! This year, they got me my bike from somewhere cheap apparently. And a few months ago I finally fixed it up really nicely, thanks to the Cerulean Bike Shoppe owner." She added with a smile, only to frown as she sighed. "But right… the bike is… gone now."
"Misty-" Ash started only to flinch as his hand brushed against Misty's left side, causing the girl to flinch. "Oh sorry, I d-didn't mean to uh…" Ash stammered out as he jerked his hand back, only for Misty to collapse into his body, hugging him softly.
"Don't be…I'm fine Ash. Just please hold me for a bit, you're warm and it's still cold out here."
Ash sat there stunned before shaking his head, and turned to the smouldering remainders of the firepit next to them. When had the fire gone out? But as Ash wrapped his arms carefully around Misty, he sighed. "Best we get to bed then… Before we end up freezing."
"Yeah." Misty muttered before pulling from Ash, and quietly tugged her top back on, shivering as Ash dug out two sleeping bags from their own bags. Setting them down by the smouldering fire pit, Ash turned to Misty and shrugged.
"I'll get some more firewood, you go ahead and lay down. I'll get a small fire going before I head to sleep."
Nodding back, Misty climbed into the sleeping bag, and turned towards the forest, before Ash quietly snatched the forgotten sports bra laying beside her bag, along with his bag, and took off. Lifting the fabric to his eyes, he squinted until he found the label and walked under a patch of moonlight. Staring closer, he paused at the size. Nodding to himself, he looked back at Misty, nodded, and ran off into the forest. Pikachu, dozing off beside her, he left his partner behind for now. He still had Spearow and Caterpie after all.
Besides, they hadn't gone far from Viridian, and with how torn and stretched out the article was, she needed something else besides this. It was time to go shopping.
Alissa came to a halt deeper into the treeline and paused as she looked back at the campsite. Sure it was freezing out now, but coming from Galar, this wasn't the worst. Especially with the frosty mountains near the lower half of the region. "You hear anything important Sis?" Alissa asked, looking up at a crouched figure sitting above her in a branch.
"A bit." The figure huffed before leaning over, her arms uncrossing from her head, and resting in her lap. "Apparently Misty has an awful home life, and she doesn't know it. I was wonderin' why she was thin as a rail."
"Abuse?" Alissa asked before watching as Tizeriz landed with a huff, and stood tall again.
"Looks like it, physical from what I saw on her back, and some psychological or emotional from what she said. It's honestly sickening. Didja know that her sisters only took her shopping last year?" Tizeriz asked to Alissa's sudden pause and concerned gaze.
"I'm sorry, last year? What about this year then?" Alissa asked before Tizeriz shook her head and took a moment to punch one of the trees nearby. With the trunk shuddering, Alissa laid a hand over her sister's arm, and pulled Tizeriz's shaking fist away. "I know. Even our situation seems ideal compared to hers…"
"While I don't wanna condemn her to our own abuse, I do wish we had opposite problems… At least we could've handled her abuse well. But then again, she might've gone over the deep end and done something risky…" Tizeriz huffed before shaking her head. "Fuckin' hell mate, what on earth did we chose to do?"
"An air headed kid, developing a crush on a girl suffering abuse?" Alissa asked rhetorically, only for Tizeriz to shrug in response before turning as she shook her hand, popping her knuckles back into place.
"I was thinkin' more like the kid's developing a scar appreciation? I probed his mind, and caught that." Tizeriz added before Alissa recoiled slightly. "Hey don't judge, I've seen you do that for less."
"Yeah. To try and find out if someone stole Mimic's drone parts, free food, and other things. Not to mentally probe a kid who's probably what, twelve?" Alissa asked as she quickly turned and flung a rock towards the nearest branch high up.
Smashing into a buzzing bug, the intruder fell to the ground with a dull thwack, Buzzing tiredly, the bug's wing flapped before a shimmer of purple powder fell around it. The Venomoth had collapsed, and was promptly knocked out. "Anyways…"
"Yeah, yeah I know, but they were so quiet, I wanted to see what they were talkin' about. So I had to eavesdrop, just to hear it. I'm sorry it was unethical, but now I'm glad I did that. You already had an inkling, I just uncovered the truth from that poor girl." Tizeriz answered honestly, sighing as she slumped against the same tree she left a dent in.
"It's out of our jurisdiction… We're Galarian, and this is a Kantonian issue." Alissa sighed before Tizeriz narrowed her eyes.
"Doesn't matter, we have to do something. Or at least, one of us should report it. Because if Ash could notice that she's being abused, then why the hell didn't anyone else see?" She asked back, only for Alissa to shrug as she looked around the forest again, pink eyes glowing under the moonlight.
"I don't know, but let's go back. they're probably sleeping now." Alissa huffed before Tizeriz nodded, and sighed. Stretching slightly, the duo nodded at each other, before walking back to the campsite.
Alissa paused as she turned and stared into the forest frowning. "Hey Tiz…" Alissa grabbed Tizeriz's hand. Tugged her back, she pointed at Ash's sprinting form going from their camp, back to Viridian.
"The hell? Is he bloody leaving us? Or… no wait. Misty's sports bra looked like rags. So hang on…" Tizeriz leaned forward and squinted at Ash's form, before spotting a black bit of cloth in his gloved hands. "No yep. He has it, probably going to the store like a good friend."
"We're buying her a yukata, and some clothes right?" Alissa asked, and Tizeriz scoffed as she walked back casually.
"No shit Sherlock, she needs things. Even if her outfit, one malfunction away from being a problem, is cute." Tizeriz answered back.
"Hi!" Ash panted as he slid into the PokeMart counter, huffing as he adjusted his cap. "I'm just here to find some clothes." He added before being pointed down the aisle by the lone clerk.
Nodding at the man, Ash bolted down the aisle, and vanished further into the medical riddled store. Coming to a halt down to a simple aisle full of sports bras, regular bras, and some frilly, Ash looked down at Misty's ragged one and squinted at the number again. "A cup, but her chest sprang out when I undid the zipper… So she might be a bigger size." He mused before shaking his head.
"B should be right, but… Ugh this is difficult." He grumbled before comparing Misty's bra to the size bigger in his other hand. "But that looks smaller. Damn it." Ash sighed before unzipping his bag, and tossed Misty's sport bra inside. Grabbing two of the sports bras, a size or two bigger, Ash walked back down the aisle, before pausing again. Going beet red, he stared at the rack before him.
Sighing at the floor, Ash felt his hips, and frowned as he tried to remember what Misty's waist was like. "…Damn." He muttered, before holding a hand to his mouth in shock. "Whoa…"
Shaking his head again, Ash grabbed a few packets hanging before turning to the front counter again. Carrying everything forward, Ash set everything down before looking at the walls absently. Looking back after a few seconds, Ash felt his embarrassment grow as he looked at the confused clerk.
"It's for a friend. I swear." He claimed, to the eyebrow raising clerk before fumbling for his pocket money. Digging out the required cash, he handed it to the clerk.
"Seriously… She's not in a good place. I'm just helping her." Ash huffed before the clerk finally nodded, and handed Ash back his purchase, and the change. Leaving immediately, Ash took a moment to catch his breath, before jogging out of the city.
Suddenly, he felt very thankful that the PokeMart was near the edge, and not near the centre of the city. Heading back, Ash sighed as he silently wished for everyone else to be asleep still. Running back to Viridian, had left Ash with very little time left for sleep, by the time he would get back.
"Oh great…" Ash huffed as he vanished back inside, the moon held high, and the sky still as dark as ever.
Misty snapped her eyes open as she groaned and looked around the clearing with a dazed expression. Hearing a few flying types chirping in the distance, along with a soft yawn from her lips. She stretched softly before bumping into a lump next to her red sleeping bag. Staring dumbfounded, she looked at the blue lump groaning before a familiar head of black hair poked through the opening.
"Misty… I'm trying to sleep here." Ash groaned as he leered at the girl with an annoyed tone.
"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Misty softly apologised, holding her hand out to Ash as she stared at his messy hair. Something compelled her to touch it, but she withdrew her hand instead. With an annoyed huff, Ash tugged his blue sleeping bag down and yawned loudly, stretching as he grumbled.
"It doesn't matter… I'm awake anyways. Had to run a bit further last night for that firewood. Ran into a few Weedle and had to manoeuvre around them. Ended up running a bit late." He huffed before looking up at the tree Tizeriz had claimed last night.
Only, she was gone, and the various cans around, were also missing. Before the duo could even comment on the lack of an older friend, a boot slammed onto the tree stump between the duo, before Tizeriz grinned brightly at them. "Alright you lot, we got a lot of movin' ta do today. So let's get them arses movin' before the sun goes down ya?"
The woman adjusted her gloves before waving a hand over her head, and turned away from Ash and Misty. "I'll be up ahead ya bloody doves, so hurry up!"
"…Misty, what are doves again? Does she mean Pidove, or..?" Ash asked as he tugged himself out of the sleeping bag, before ducking to his backpack. Digging out his jeans, and shoes, he slipped them on, before turning to Misty. Who wore a confused gaze as she stared into her bag.
"When did… Ash, did you go somewhere else last night?" Misty asked as she dug out a new set of bras from her bag. "Because… I know I didn't have these before." She muttered, before looking at Ash, who turned away and scratched at his cheek.
"Maybe. I had to go run an errand to the city, and found time to do some shopping." He answered, voice kept even as he tugged on his cap, and jacket. Rolling up his sleeping bag, he tucked it under his bag, and clasped it into place before he sighed.
"Thank you. Seriously, that means a lot, how did you… uh figure out my size though?" She asked, quickly slipping the fabric on, under her shirt, blinking in surprise at the feeling of fitting right into something. Breathing in deeply, she let out a breath and sighed in a comfortable feeling. Smiling at Ash she flushed lightly.
"I uh… I guessed from that old thing you had on?" Ash answered, hoping Misty wouldn't pry further as she tugged her bag on. "I was very winded coming back, so I do apologise in advance, for any snark I give."
"Warning noted, but seriously…" Misty hugged Ash from behind, wincing as she lifted her injured elbow up, and wrapped her forearms around his waist. "Thank you." She whispered.
"N-no pro-" Ash began only to get cut off by Tizeriz's annoyed sigh.
"OI, I SAID HURRY UP DOVES!" Tizeriz shouted back as she smirked at the way the two jumped apart. "We're burning daylight in this dodgy forest, and Alissa's scoutin' ahead. So we better catch up before she does somethin' stupid." She added before the duo jogged after her, Pikachu jumped to Ash's shoulder with a grin as he smiled back at his partner.
"Beautiful day innit?" Tizeriz asked them as they cautiously walked ahead, the sight of various bug types unconscious around them. Misty avoided stepping too close to one of them, and hid behind Ash or Tizeriz when a Beedrill was laying on the ground, twitching.
"Not really…" Misty shuddered as she inched past the Beedrill. Only to shudder as Tizeriz shrugged her hand off somewhat, and sighed.
"You're a buncha daft wankas, you know that?" She retorted before moving ahead, digging a hand into her duffle bag, before pulling out her off-white headphones. Pulling them on, the woman began humming to a song as she swung from tree to tree, snapping branches off in tandem with her song.
"Oooh~ oooh~ oooh~ oooh~!" Tizeriz sang softly before swinging around the tree, and hummed softly as she vanished ahead.
"... I am convinced that she has problems, and is hiding behind that damn music." Ash huffed before blinking again. "... Really, again?"
"What's wrong Ash?" Misty asked as she looked at Ash's confused, and outstretched hand. Shaking it off, Ash grinned at her and grabbed her wrist, and tugged her forward.
"Nothing, let's just keep going." Ash returned before smiling as the duo ran ahead, catching up to the wayward Tizeriz, and her homicidal mission to the forest's bug types. When they did find her again however, it was to Alissa staring at a massive ring of trees, surrounding a much larger tree.
"Oh hey. I found a nest of Beedrill. They were harassing a flock of Pidgeotto, so I had to knock a few of them out on my way here. The flock should be close by if either of you wanna see." Alissa smiled as she hefted a few rocks into the air.
"No wait! Let's try and not attract any of them?" Ash tried, grabbing Alissa's arm, and forcefully lowered it down to her side. "Because Tiz is uh… currently not here mentally."
"Is she listening to music again?" Alissa asked as she let the rocks drop around her in a clatter. Only to flinch as a whine echoed from below her left side. Turning, Ash quietly looked at the source, and winced at the sight of a Weedle, wriggling under the rock.
"Oh shit." Alissa muttered before flicking her wrists out, green leaves fluttering down from the trees around. Pulling them between her fingers, she twirled and flicked two out to the Weedle.
Striking the rocks simultaneously, the Weedle curled into itself as the rock crumbled around it. Bouncing away from the crackling electricity discharging from the leaves, the Weedle rolled to a halt, and chittered angrily. Backing away with a glower, Alissa flipped over the Poison Sting charging at her.
"Stay back! I'll handle this." Alissa shouted before throwing another leaf out, missing the Weedle again as she jumped out of the way of another Headbutt. "Tiz! Situation!'
"Huh?" Tizeriz shouted as she tugged her headphones off and stared at her Gardevoir jumping out of the way of another Weedle strike. "Oh, oh fuck!"
"Misty, let's get out of her way then!" Ash shouted, only to stop short of running, when Misty barely budged out of the way, and only stared at the direction of the Beedrill nest. Rooted to the spot, Misty's eyes grew wider as she took several shallow breaths in response.
"Pika?!" Pikachu asked as he gave Misty a concerned gaze, alongside Tizeriz's eye narrowing one as she stood behind Alissa, and shouted something incoherently.
"Gardevoir-Garde-voir-devoir!" Tizeriz shouted, to which Alissa nodded, and threw her leaves down. Twirling in place, she vanished from the resulting dust cloud kicking up between her and the determined Weedle.
"P-pika?!" Pikachu asked in surprise before he felt a charge building around the forest clearing. With a split second movement, Ash and Pikachu watched as two Gardevoir appeared from beside the dust cloud, rushing for the Weedle. With every swipe of the leaves in her hands, Ash watched as one vanished, then another appeared behind the twirling Weedle, swiping away. The Weedle in question, slammed its tail into one of the attacking Alissas, coated in a purple haze.
With an annoyed huff, the Weedle landed, only to jump in surprise as Alissa's fist came close to it. Slamming into a tree some yards away, the Weedle scuttled across the bark before darting into the grass. Scurrying away, Alissa huffed as she somersaulted after it. Grabbing the Weedle, Alissa jumped back towards the tree, before slamming the bug roughly against it.
Ash winced at the brutality of the hit before turning to Misty, yanking her from her spot. Finally jolting back to reality, Misty turned to Ash, blinking rapidly before Ash grabbed her by her waist. Backing away again, Misty shuddered deeply. "C'mon, let Tizeriz take this. We'll be fine."
Backing away, Ash looked back at Alissa, wincing as he saw her slamming the Weedle into the tree again, then into the ground by its tail. Finally knocked out, Alissa turned towards the buzzing and grimaced. "Are you being for real?"
"Doesn't matter Alissa, we gotta keep those kids safe!" Tizeriz shouted again, causing Alissa to nod and huff as she flicked her hair in the breeze.
"Oh well… If it's a fight they want…" Alissa vanished before appearing beside Tizeriz with a faint flicker of lightning dancing over her body. Eyes shut, and twirling a few glowing leaves in her hands, she snapped them open and smiled widely.
"I'll have fun breaking every last one of you."
Taking it as a challenge to the entire hive, the Beedrill swarm of, roughly a hundred, raised their stingers. Some appeared with a wetness to them, signalling who was freshly hatched from their Kakuna state. "Oh? Let's see… I can take on the lot of ya." Alissa grinned before she jumped forward, more Beedrill buzzing into the area around her.
Vanishing again, Alissa twirled through the air, and landed on top of a Beedrill. Ducking and weaving through various Poison Stings, and Pin Missiles flying through the air. Jumping upward, Alissa hissed as a few weak needles of poison stuck into her shoulder. Landing with her fist into the back of the Beedrill she was on, she glared over at the rest. Immediately crippled, Alissa's eyes took on a blue hue, causing the Beedrill slammed into another, before a leaf struck them and erupting into a cage of lightning.
"You're gonna regret that…" Alissa snarled before a wall of blue shimmered to her side, blocking a charging Beedrill. Only for said Beedrill to combust with lightning as it was flung into the Kakuna riddled tree. Imploding into a sphere of electricity, Alissa twirled between two charging Beedrill, before grabbing their legs. Slamming them, she growled before vanishing in a dark shadow.
"Boy… You're a lot of fun…" Her voice mocked, coming from the tree itself. Appearing with a huff, Alissa raised a hand up to the sky. A shimmering dome of blue and pink wrapped around Alissa briefly, stunning several more charging Beedrill. Several dozen needles flung into the shield, which cracked the dome, before Alissa grunted as her body turned an off white colour, electricity crackling around her form. Lifting her right leg, the Gardevoir spun in place, the tree below shuddering violently. "How do you like this?"
Leaves fluttering up and towards Alissa, the Gardevoir grinned sadistically again, before pirouetting in place, rapidly. Blurring into a white top, The Beedrill charged for her, as the dome shattered into several shards, before being flung back as rainbow leaves homed in on their bodies, stabbing into their exoskeletons. Each leaf crackled to life with electricity, as several dozen more leaves flew by each Beedrill, before rounding in the air. Slamming into the crooks of some of their wings, Alissa stopped spinning, and slammed her fists together, lightning dancing between them. With a deafening boom, and a grunt, Alissa snarled. "Vanish!"
With a lightshow erupting over the entire hive, Alissa jerked back as one Beedrill dove in, stingers moving at a rapid pace. Dodging backwards, the Gardevoir huffed again before her empty fist crackled to life with a pale blue energy. Slamming it forward, she barely acknowledged the moment that the Beedrill's left stinger had shattered against her icy fist, before getting clocked along the thorax.
"How pathetic…" Alissa huffed as she looked up at the now reconsidering and quite hesitant Beedrill still buzzing around. A second barely went by, before Alissa flipped her hair, and the Beedrill decided it was high-time to find a new home. Away from the green haired menace.
"What-ever…" Alissa flipped her hair again, before turning back to Tizeriz with a thumbs up. "All clear."
"Good, you nearly perfected that, except that you got cocky early on. How the hell did you let one of them hit you?" Tizeriz scoffed before Alissa nodded and walked over. "Mind tellin' me about that?"
"Not my fault, you try to keep track of a hundred or so Beedrill. Besides, we still have time today to head to Pewter." Alissa shrugged before buffing her green knuckles against her red horn. "I just fought because I was bored."
"Yes but still, I'd like to head into Pewter with some daylight left. Not headin' there after dusk." Tizeriz reiterated, before shaking her head as she scanned the trees around them again. "Still though, those doves are way too green at this… issues and feats aside."
"Give them time, especially if they're tough enough to know when to run, and when to fight. This? This wasn't their fight."
"Yeah yeah, but those kids are gonna give me a bloody headache if they keep showin' their colours like that." Tizeriz sighed before spotting a shock of orange along the treeline. "Oi! Alissa's done commitin' crimes against the Geneva Convention." She shouted, only for the two teens to nod as they walked over.
"That was easy innit?" Tizeriz asked as she lightly jostled both teenagers, who looked at Alissa in a new light. One did not simply raze a Beedrill hive, and come out of it, only slightly injured after all.
"Stop it with that. Seriously." Alissa sighed before walking over to the duo panting next to a stripped tree. "You two alright?"
"Y-yeah… Thanks for that. How'd you do most of that anyways?" Ash asked, as he kept an eye on Misty, observing how she was composing herself, before smiling weakly at him.
"... Don't ask me that. I don't have an answer for you." Alissa answered quickly before turning from the duo, sighing as she rolled her shoulders lightly.
"It's a fightin' style we picked up on after witnessin' someone with a really weird Ampharos. For a bulky Pokemon like that? It sure could punch like it was from one of those tv shows from a few years back." Tizeriz answered honestly, getting a smack from Alissa as she glared at Tizeriz.
"Don't just tell them that! I've worked very hard on that. Even Mimic's Z-move did nothing to absorb that sort of lightning power." Alissa whined before Tizeriz smirked at her Gardevoir.
"No. You're a weirdo sis. I'll let them know as such." Tizeriz added before chuckling. "Besides, our doves here are fine and that's all that matters, right? We're close to our destination, even if we're a bit off the path."
"Yeah, only because she decided to terrorise all of the Pokemon in this forest!" Misty finally shouted, huffing as she pointed an accusing finger at Alissa. Who only had the decency to hold a hand to her chest, feigning shock.
"Whaaat? No. I would never harm any innocent, poor Pokemon!" Alissa drawled out, leaning forward with a hurt expression crossing her eyes. Only to lose the effect when a curious buzzing came closer. With a flick of her wrist, the buzzing ceased to be. "Okay, I'm done now."
Finger crackling with electricity, Alissa's gaze became dismissive as she flicked the energy away, and sighed as Tizeriz rolled her eyes. "You're a massive, daft partner."
"But she just saved us from like… what, I'm guessing roughly forty Beedrill?" Ash asked, to Alissa's inflating ego as she looked away with a smug grin.
"Still angered them first…" Misty muttered, before jolting as Tizeriz's hands clapped against her, and Ash's shoulders.
"Ah cheer up mates, we're almost free from here, only a couple more miles of forest north, and we'll be in Pewter in no time flat! Even if Ash here decides to get some last minute trainin' in." Tizeriz promised before shaking the teens lightly.
"Please stop shaking us… I doubt my back is enjoying that…" Ash complained before Tizeriz abruptly stopped, causing him to stumble forward unexpectedly.
Stumbling forward for a few feet, Ash inevitably tripped over his own feet, as he grunted in pain when his chin hit the grass below him. "You were right Tiz… I regret meeting you." Ash grumbled.
"Ah chin up dove, we're still alive, and fine. I'm just takin' the mickey out on ya blokes. Ain't my fault you two are easy targets." Tizeriz chuckled before pulling Ash to his feet.
"And besides, you do need some trainin'. Your team, while versatile, is a bit weak at the moment. Time to tie the o'l hair back, and throw a couple of jabs at the bag, amirite?"
"What?" Ash asked as he abruptly turned to give the slightly taller woman a very confused gaze. "Seriously, what the hell are you going on about?"
"I'm talkin' about givin' each of your Pokemon a few rounds with the locals! It'll increase their strength and experience. Go on, harm a few bugs…" Tizeriz leaned into Ash, grinning as she whispered something that got the boy to jerk away. Pikachu clung to his hood, before jumping off, for his own safety.
Giving Tizeriz a weirded out look, Ash sighed and looked over at the trees nearby, where a few bug type Pokemon sat along the tree branches, and forest floor. Hanging his head in acceptance, he groaned and stood tall again. "Fine, fine… But don't help me! I need to figure out my Pokemon's attack styles first!"
"Ash, wait!" Misty shouted as she grabbed Ash by his jacket, and pulled him back suddenly. Digging into his bag, she pulled out a familiar pill bottle, and shook it gently. "Don't forget that we still need to take one today."
"Oh… Y-yeah, right! I almost forgot…" Ash answered back dumbly, before shaking out a single yellow pill. Tossing it into his mouth, he smiled at Misty, before rushing back off into the forest again, a grin forming on his face.
"I'll be back as soon as I can!" Ash shouted, before vanishing into the brush surrounding the patch of forest ahead of the two girls. Today was a good day, despite the Beedrill attack, and all of the running. At least the forest felt safer now, if still a bit eerie to walk through.
Which was something Ash noted, as he heard several trills above him. Accompanied by some cawing, Ash shuddered as he looked around, and jumped as Misty stood behind him, smirking. "Wha- Misty! Don't do that!" Ash shouted before rubbing his head at her smirk.
"Sorry, had to. You're going out to train? Well I'm coming with ya for a bit. She said we have a few hours before we have to head to Pewter. Don't wanna spend another night out here alone, ya know?" Misty asked as Ash nodded, before jerking to the side as a Pidgeotto flew down, and landed on a tree stump in the centre of a smaller clearing.
Cawing proudly, the Pidgeotto flared its wings, before looking at Ash with a challenging gaze. Cawing loudly, the Pidgeotto gave Ash another flap of its wings, before the teenager nodded in excitement.
"Awesome! I can get another flying type!" Ash shouted before looking at Misty, and then Pikachu sitting on his shoulder. Nodding at his partner, Pikachu jumped off of Ash, and landed before the Pidgeotto with a grin.
"Pika-chuu!" He shouted before sending off a Thundershock at the Pidgeotto. Who immediately flapped its wings, and kicked up a dust cloud at Pikachu, sapping the incoming bolt of most of its energy.
Striking against Pidgeotto's tail feathers, Ash watched as the bird's left talons twitched closed. Not a weakling by any means, but it knew to weaken Pikachu's attack. A change of plans then.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!" Ash shouted, watching as Pikachu darted forward, before striking the Pidgeotto with his body. Cawing loudly, the bird flapped its wings, before slamming Pikachu into the tree stump with a gust. Cawing louder, the Pidgeotto flew upward, and flew directly back down at Pikachu.
"Pikachu, shock it while it's diving down at you!" Ash shouted again, Pikachu nodded back before charging up his electricity. Letting fly upward, Pikachu watched as the Pidgeotto flapped its wings wildly, before getting hit.
Falling to the ground rapidly, paralysed by the attack, Pidgeotto appeared to be falling too fast to even try and save itself. Ash quietly expanded another of his empty pokeballs, and threw it at the falling Pidgeotto grinning.
Scoring a direct hit, Ash watched as the Pidgeotto vanished, Misty's hand gently wrapping around his as she squeezed in anticipation. Wobbling on the tree stump, Ash felt a bead of sweat forming under the brim of his cap. One shake, two, three, then four. Ash squeezed Misty's hand back in reassurance, before the ball stilled suddenly, a ding echoed out.
"Yes! Another one down, and another step closer to becoming a Pokemon Master!" Ash shouted as he let go of Misty's hand, and ran to the poke ball. Plucking it from the stump, Ash held it up grinning. "Sure they're hurt, but oh well! Nothing a potion, and some Cheri Berries couldn't fix it!"
"Ash, you better not be thinking of healing Pidgeotto, and expect them to fight right away. Most Pokemon need a bit of sleep, or at least rest between battles." Misty sharply stated, to which Ash simply laughed lightly as he clipped Pidgeotto's ball to his belt.
"N-no. I wasn't forgetting that fact, I was just uh… hopeful?" He weakly asked, before gazing at Misty's flat look.
"Ash…" Misty started before Ash took a step back in fear. Taking one more after the other, Misty lifted her arms up, hands open towards Ash. Gulping in fear, Ash took another step back, stepping onto the stump. Ducking from Misty's sudden leap, Ash turned tail, and bolted further into the forest.
"ASH KETCHUM! YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!" Misty shouted behind him, darting after him as Pikachu sat on the abandoned stump, sighing.
Today was probably going to take forever to get through, especially with how happy Ash and Misty seemed to be, getting sidetracked from training of all things. That, and the fact that Pikachu already knew that the day was going to be a waste.