Chapter 2: The Girls of Brunhild

Ash and Pikachu were struck by lightning with Team Rocket, but instead of electrocuting them, they were transported to a new land to where they met Touya and his Divine Beast Kohaku. Using a spell named Gate, they teleported to a large mansion. "What the heck was that!?" gasped Ash.

("Was it like Teleport!?") wondered Pikachu. Touya giggled to the reactions.

"It's nothing but my Gate spell," he replied. Ash and Pikachu seemed surprised.

"Spell?" repeated Ash. "You mean to say that it's magic!?"

"Yep," Touya replied. "Gate allows me to travel to any place I want, just as long as it's somewhere I'm familiar with." Ash and Pikachu awed the briefing of Touya's spell.

"Magic is pretty common here," Kohaku added. "And Master knows quite a number of spells." Ash whistled, sensing how powerful Touya was.

"That's… amazing!" he gulped. "But how!?"

"I promise to explain everything later," Touya smiled. "For now…" He pointed to the mansion which Ash and Pikachu looked. They gasped to the size of the mansion. "Here we are... My home." Ash and Pikachu gawked and turned to Touya.

"You're kidding!" snapped Ash. "This mansion!?"

("And he lives here!?") gawked Pikachu. Touya giggled to their reactions.

"Right?" he smiled. "I get that a lot."

"But whoa!" awed Ash. "You're living the high life!" Pikachu agreed.

"I don't necessarily see it like that" Touya shyly replied.

"Master, you're being bashful," Kohaku teased. Ash and Pikachu giggled a little bit before they proceeded where they saw a little beige-haired girl with a taller Jade-green-haired young woman. The girl wore a maid outfit with white stockings and dress shoes. The green-haired had the same shoes aside from the pair being blue. She also wore a blue dress with a white sleeveless shirt undernearth, and a pink ribbon under her neck. There were blue stripes on her elbow gloves and a blue tiara in her hair. The beige-haired saw and came to the boys.

"Master Touya, you're back!" she cheered.

"Hey, Renne," Touya greeted.

"Master, there better be a good explanation to your tardiness," the green-haired warned. "You were gone two minutes and 25 seconds longer than you would've been. Did you experience some stimulation to cause this delay?" Touya nervously laughed at the discovery.

"Sorry, Cesca," he apologized. "Let's just say that Kohaku and I found a new situation involving new problems." Cesca and Renne blinked to Touya's briefing.

"What… kind?" asked Renne.

"Master is referring to the new boy and mouse behind us," Kohaku mewed. Renne grew curious. She looked to find Ash and Pikachu and gasped.

"Oh my gosh!" she awed as she came to the new boy. "I never saw clothes like that, same with that mouse!" Pikachu hopped down where Renne followed. "Wow, you're actually really cute!"

("I get that a lot,") Pikachu squeaked.

"Yeah, no doubt Linze and Yumina will adore you," Touya started. "Along with a lot of who's inside." Ash became concerned.

"You mean there are more than Cesca and Renne?" he asked.

"Precisely," Cesca confirmed. "Do not be mistaken for rejecting your mouse unlike Miss Renne." Touya decided to clarify the situation.

"You see, Cesca, or her full name of Francesca, is a terminal gynoid who occupied the Sky Garden of Babylon," he explained.

"A terminal... what?" wondered Ash.

"She's a female robot," Kohaku clarified.

"I was created 5,000 years ago by Dr. Regina Babylon," Francesca added. "The technology she created has been able to last for this long."

"Yikes, I can't imagine lasting a hundred years, let alone 5,000!" gulped Ash.

"However, I am not the only terminal gynoid that continues to live in this world, let alone at the mansion," Francesca added. "However, I do need information to know you." Ash and Pikachu chose to introduce themselves.

"I'm Ash Ketchum," Ash introduced himself. "I'm a Pokémon Trainer. Renne is holding my main partner, Pikachu." Awed, Renne nuzzled with Pikachu on the cheeks.

"Part of me wants to be your personal maid," she wished. Pikachu blinked, confused to her offer.

"Part of me wouldn't mind seeing that," Ash teased. Pikachu gave Ash a smug.

"Let's head on in," Touya suggested. Agreeing, they headed to the front door of the mansion. Before they stepped inside, Touya realized a problem. "Before we enter, I think it's best to hide Pikachu." Kohaku sensed the issue.

"Ooh, good idea, Master," she agreed.

("Any reason I should?") wondered Pikachu. Ash also seemed puzzled.

"What do you mean hiding?" he questioned. Touya gulped to explaining the ordeal.

"Well…" he hummed. "It's… mainly because of the girls inside." Ash and Pikachu weren't convinced to Touya's hesitation.

"What, you think Pikachu will scare them?" assumed Ash.

("I wouldn't do that!") protested Pikachu. Touya shook his head.

"No, no… More of vice-versa," he shuttered.

"Vice… versa?" repeated Ash.

"Just… trust me on this," Touya warned.

"Believe me, I definitely know what he's talking about," Kohaku trusted. "It would be easier to introduce Pikachu slowly instead of all at once." Ash and Pikachu looked to each other, wanting to trust Touya and Kohaku.

"Well, if you say so…" shrugged Ash. Touya nodded before they entered and saw the inside of the mansion. The visiting pair were impressed with Ash lisping a whistle.

"Man, this place could make even James's family jealous," he awed.

("And those guys are loaded like crazy,") Pikachu squeaked. Touya blinked to the name.

"Who's James?" he asked. "A friend of yours?" Ash irked before shaking his head.

"Not really," he denied. "It's a long story." Kohaku faced Pikachu with a plan.

"Hide behind me, okay?" she advised. "And wait until Master gives the go-ahead." Pikachu felt the protection being overwhelming.

("Okay, but I still don't get it,") he muttered before ducking out of sight behind Kohaku. Touya stood up.

"WE'RE BACK, EVERYONE!" he called. Suddenly, several girls emerged, where two of the girls had silver hair and wore white blouses under purple long-sleeve shirts and green skirts and white elbow gloves. One of the two wore purple and white leggings over white and purple boots while a tiara kept her hair from flying in her face. The other had two "sleeves' holding her longer hair while she had more skin above her knee-high socks under her boots while her skirt looked more of puffed-up shorts. It didn't help that her bust was smaller than the shorter haired.

"Welcome back, Touya!" the latter greeted. "Did you go and check up on the shopkeeper's wife?"

"I did, Elze," Touya answered. "She's due to deliver, soon."

"I can't wait to see it for myself," the former wished as a blond girl with gold ornaments in her hair came to and hugged Touya. She wore the same clothes at the two silver-haired girls but with white dress shoes and a purple skirt rather than green.

"It makes me anxious!" she cooed as she had a blue right eye and a green left eye. "I can't wait to see that bundle of joy!"

"Yeah, me neither," Elze agreed before noticing Ash. She stepped to the trainer. "Hey, Touya… who's the boy?" A raven-haired wearing a pink robe, blue long skirt and sandals over thick socks also came to Ash. She had her hair tied with a dark red ribbon in the back and two tiny white ribbons to each side. Her arms had black wrist gauntlets while she donned a blue ribbon in front of her purple sash.

"Tell me about it, I've never seen an outfit like that before," she studied. As some other girls arrived, Touya felt ready to introduce Ash.

"Right…" he agreed. "Girls, this is my new friend. He's gonna be staying with us for a while."

"He is?" a green-haired girl gasped. She wore a jewled silver tiara and a black vest over her white dress, black leggings and white boots. There was a white-haired girl who came in after, holding a plush brown bear. She wore the purple dress with the skirt that made it look inflated like a balloon. She wore a maid-like tiara, white leggings and transparent wings on her back.

"Well, that's certainly fine by us," she studied as another blond emerged, slightly older than the one who hugged Touya. She wore armor over her arms and legs, and a breastplate over a red blouse with a white skirt and a white cape over her back.

"Agreed," she murmured. Ash felt grateful to be seen by a bunch of girls.

"Well, it's nice to know I'm welcomed here," he shrugged. "Anyways, nice to meet you all. I'm Ash Ketchum." The other silver-haired girl approached with her gloved hand out.

"Ash, huh?" she greeted. "I'm Linze Silhoueska. That's my older twin sister, Elze." Elze came over to see Ash.

"Hey, a guy coming by is a bit of a relief," she teased.

"So, Elze and Linze," Ash reminded as he shook Elze's hand.

"I'm Kokonoe Yae," the raven-haired greeted. "But like Touya, everyone calls me Yae."

"It's not a big deal," Ash excused as they shook hands.

"I'm Lucia Rea Regulus," the green-haired introduced herself. "But they call me Lu to be short."

"I don't know, I like Lucia as it is," Ash giggled as they shook hands.

"I'm Hildegard Minas Lestia," the older blond named herself. "I hope my appearance doesn't deter you."

"Nah, I've had strong girls back home as well," Ash giggled as they shook hands.

"I'm Leen," the white-haired presented. "I'm actually a fairy." Ash's eyes nearly left his head.

"A fairy!?" he repeated. "Whoa, I never seen a fairy. I mean, I was going to ask about why you have wings like those."

""Just be happy that I can be nice to you… if I choose to," Leen warned. Ash sighed as the other blond came forward.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ash!" she welcomed. "I'm Yumina Ernea Belfast, fiancée to Touya." Ash irked to the announcement.

"His fiancée?" he repeated. "Whoa, that's news I wasn't expecting." Tapping Ash's shoulder, Touya whispered in his ear. "Now?" Touya nodded. Ash prepared for what could happen to his partner. "I didn't come alone. Here's my partner…" He turned to where Pikachu appeared in front of the girls.

("Wow, a lot of cuties!") he awed. The girls froze in shock at Pikachu's appearance. Ash and Pikachu seemed perplexed. ("What's with the silent treatment?")

"Yeah, what's going on?" asked Ash. Touya sighed as he held three fingers up.

"3…" he counted down, curling a finger back each. "2…" Now, it was one finger. "1…" Suddenly, the girls screamed before they all hoisted and hugged him, stampeding over Ash to get Pikachu.

"HE'S SO CUTE!" yelped Yumina.

"WHAT A CUTE MOUSIE!" cried Elze happily.

"He's so soft, fuzzy and warm!" cooed Linze.

"This is the most adorable mouse I've ever seen in my life!" cheered Yae.

"He's like a living plush toy!" cried Leen.

"It's just like hugging a little baby!" giggled Lucia.

"Oh, he's so precious!" hummed Hildegard. The boys and Kohaku sighed to the sight of the girls nuzzling and spinning around in excitement.

"I now see what you mean," Ash realized.

"I just knew this was gonna happen," Touya figured.

"They did the same for me," Kohaku remembered. Overwhelmed, Pikachu soon sparked up before emitting electricity that shocked the girls. They looked a bit charred as Touya and Kohaku gulped to Pikachu's shocking response.

"Okay, I thought that tail was just a look!" he gulped.

"It makes me glad I wasn't part of the pile," Kohaku urped.

"Do you think we were giving the cute mouse too much love?" a stunned Yae wondered.

"It's not his fault that he's cute," Yumina shuttered. They collapsed to the ground. Touya sighed.

"I didn't think I'd have to use another spell, let alone a lot,"he mulled as he came to his fiancee. He held his palm out to her face. "Recover…" A circle appeared again before Yumina's body was aglow. A few seconds later, Yumina's burns from the electrical output vanished. Yumina soon came to.

"Darling, thank you," she greeted. Ash and Pikachu awed Touya's new spell.

"Gate and now, Recover?" listed Ash.

"I'm not the only one who can use magic," Touya hinted. Ash and Pikachu could only wonder. 10 minutes later, the girls were right as rain.

"So, Pikachu can gather and disperse electricity at will?" guess Linze. Pikachu was in Renne's arms, being gentle to him. He felt horrid to shocking the girls.

"Yeah, he's actually my first Pokémon and my best friend," Ash explained.

"Oh, that's a new term for all of us to know," Hildegard awed.

"It's a lot like Touya and magic," Ash compared as he pulled out red handheld device and pressed a button before flaps opened. Touya and the girls gasped.

"Is that similar to Touya's smartphone?" pondered Elze.

"I doubt it," Lucia denied.

"My PokéDex identifies all Pokémon, Pikachu for one," Ash briefed. Touya sensed what the device Ash had could do.

"So, does it scan Pikachu?" he guessed.

"Yeah, give it a shot," Ash offered. Touya accepted before pointing the device at Pikachu. His picture appeared.

"PIKACHU, THE MOUSE POKEMON," it registered with a man's voice. "PIKACHU'S TAIL CAN ACT AS A LIGHTNING ROD, SOMETIMES WHILE ITS TAIL IS RAISED TO CHECK ITS SURROUNDINGS." The information made Touya and the girls awe.

"Now, is that more of Light or Wind Magic?" assumed Leen. "It can not only gather lightning, but redirect it to what targets to go after."

"It's not magic at all," Ash corrected. "Pikachu can use electricity when he feels like it or I command it."

"Oh, so if you told Pikachu not to shock us, he'd listen?" asked Lucia.

"Most of the time," Ash shrugged. "Heck, he shocked me several times for stuff I did that he didn't like." He turned to Touya with a smile. "If I was anything like Brock, I'd be jealous about these girls you have."

"Oh, is Brock another friend?" he asked. Ash nodded. "Well, he'd be even more jealous since Yumina, Hildegard and Lu are all princesses from their original homes." Ash and Pikachu gawked at learning the detail.

"They're WHAT!?" yelped Ash.

"When were you going to bring that up, Touya?" questioned Lucia. Quickly, Ash and Pikachu, leaping from Renne's arms, bowed to the three.

"Forgive us!" he pleaded. "We were not aware!"

("Don't hurt us!") a worried Pikachu squeaked. Lucia knelt to the two before lifting Ash's head by his chin. She smiled at the two.

"You did nothing wrong, Ash and Pikachu," she forgave. "We can still be friends." Ash and Pikachu sighed in relief as Ash stood and Renne picked up Pikachu again.

"I'll take Pikachu outside," she offered. "I feel that he trusts me more."

"After that cooing barage, I kinda wanna agree," Yae sighed. Renne exited when Pikachu heard something coming. Seeing his ears perk up, Renne looked around where she saw a pair of horses. They dragged a carriage. Renne recognized the carriage.

"Oh, Miss Sueshie's stopping by," she figured out. Pikachu gawked to the information.

("Who's she?") he squeaked. The horses stopped where a blond girl hopped out fo the carriage. She had hair down to her hips while wearing a pink dress with a white blouse underneath, also under red ribbons over her chest, hips and back. She wore black leggings under red dress shoes. Lastly, she wore a chocker and pink gloves. Seeing the new blond, Pikachu cheered wildly.

"Renne, did you know I was coming?" the new girl giggled.

"No, Sue," Renne denied with a smile. "I'm just happy to see you again. How are Alfred and Ellen?"

"They're good. They're actually on their way to see Uncle Tristwin and Aunt Yuel. I decided 'What the heck' and thought of coming here." Renne giggled to the plan.

("I like her already!") he approved. Seeing Pikachu, Sue cheered.

"Oh my goodness!" she awed as she took Pikachu from Renne's arms. "I want him!" She hugged Pikachu while giddy at her haul. "I'd rather have you a hundred times more than any slime Touya and the others found!" She kissed Pikachu between the eyes, causing the Mouse Pokémon to cheer loudly. Renne giggled to the sight.

"Apparently, Pikachu already likes you," she studied.

"Yeah!?" the blond believed. "I like you, too!" Pikachu giggled at the response. "Renne, where did you find something like this?"

"Oh, Touya did," Renne corrected. "In fact, he's actually with Pikachu's master right now." Sue blinked to who Pikachu belonged to.

("Ash will also like you,") Pikachu added. Sue became intrigued. Back inside, the girls learned about Ash's arrival with Pikachu while Touya seemed to be typing something on his smartphone. On the top of the screen read "God."

"Oh, so you and Pikachu were separated from your friends after a storm struck?" guessed Linze. Ash nodded, confirming her take.

"Not to mention while you were captured by this Team Rocket," Leen figured. "Boy, bad luck seems to know how to find you."

"It's not all that bad," Ash shrugged. "Besides, you guys wanted to be fast friends with Pikachu. I'm sure he'll be as safe if they do come here." Touya believed Ash's word. There was a ping from his smartphone. He looked at the phone, a message from God appearing.

THIS IS DISTURBING. I'LL BRING U UP ASAP.

"Now, you also said that you carry more than just Pikachu, right?" believed Yumina.

"Yeah, Noctowl, Cyndaquil, Totodile…" listed Ash. "I can show them off."

"Could you?" wished Lucia. "I'm anxious to see what else you have!" Ash nodded before he stood up. Suddenly, Renne opened the door with the princess holding Pikachu.

"Master Touya, Miss Sueshie has arrived," she announced. When Sue arrived, Yumina giggled.

"Did Uncle Alfred and Aunt Ellen let you go to see me, Sue?" she teased. Sue giggled to Yumina's questioning. Ash looked to Sue but gasped at first sight.

"They're visiting your parents, cousin," Sue replied. When she looked to Ash, she gasped. Both Ash and Sue looked to each other, surprised about the other. Sue's cheeks became bright pink under her green eyes. 'This boy… Oh my gosh! He- He's more handsome than Touya! Why!? I haven't seen him before, but my heart is beating hard at this! Could it be?' Ash couldn't move at seeing Sue.

'She's… Good lord, I haven't seen a girl this admiring since Giselle,' he thought with his blushing cheeks. 'But she's here and real… Look at her, and my heart is beating hard! Could she be… I need to know!' Everyone else watched, curious and concerned to both sides.

"Well, this became interesting," Elze sneered. Finally, Ash and Sue came to each other like magnets attracting to each other. Finally, they were face-to-face.

"Who are you?" asked Sue.

"I'm Ash Ketchum," Ash named himself. "You?"

"I'm Sueshie Ernea Ortlinde, Sue for short." Their names met, Ash and Sue couldn't help but stare longingly to each other.

"Sue…"

"Ash…" The others watched on in shock, a romance blooming between each other.

"Oh, dearest me," Yumina hushed. "Ash and Sue? As a couple?"

"I know, I'm at a loss for words myself," Touya gulped. No one was sure on how to react to this young romance blossoming so quickly. Ash may have more than his Pokémon to look after.

TO BE CONTINUED...