Here is Chapter 5. I've managed to get this written quicker then I thought I would.
Once again I would like to thank everyone who has read my story. I really didn't think that I would have so many people saying how much they like it. I'll try and keep updating as quickly as possible I'll try to make it a chapter a month.
Now let's get backto the story and find out who is going to help Ash and how he's going to rescue May.
Chapter 5
A-Team To The Rescue
"I can help you get her back." Ash turned to look in the direction the voice came from and saw someone he didn't want to see at that moment in time. He shot forward grasping the figure by the shoulders, lifting them off the ground and slamming them into a tree.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" He bellowed his sorrow turning to a near uncontrollable rage, as he lifted the figure higher, Pikachu sat on Ash's shoulder electricity sparking from his red cheeks.
"Calm down I'm here to help you Twerp." Said Meowth. "I've left Team Rocket now for real this time. I've changed since Unova I don't want to steal anymore, after the way you and the other two from Unova treated me I started to think about what I've done to you and your friends over the years and it made me realize that it was time to make amends. I know that I have a lot of work to do and I want to start with this. Let me help you get her back, I know where Jessie and James are hiding, I can take you there and I'll fight them with you. Just let me help you….Please." Ash lower Meowth to the ground and stepped back, his anger subsiding, Pikachu's cheeks stopped sparking as shock hit him.
"How do I know you telling the truth this time? How can I trust you when last time you said you'd left Team Rocket you lied and betrayed us?" He said. Meowth looked down and sighed taking a few steps away from Ash he turned and said two little words.
"Catch me." Ash's eyes shot open in surprise.
"What did you just say?"
"I said catch me, you know how much I de the idea of being in a Pokéball and being 'owned' so dis is how it is, you catch me and den you can decide what to do with me. You can keep me in dat Pokéball forever, you can hand me over to Officer Jenny, you can do whatever you want to. I deserve whatever punishment you give me for all of de problems I've caused you, so catch me, we go save your girlfriend and den you can do whatever you want to do with me." Ash was taken aback by what Meowth had said, he stood there trying to comprehend what he had been told, trying to decide if he should trust Meowth or not.
"May's not my girlfriend." Ash mumbled still thinking. Meowth was losing his patience with Ash and ran up to him, took a Pokéball from his belt and pressed it to his chest. Meowth disappeared in a red light as the Pokéball opened and closed sealing the Scratch Cat Pokémon inside, the ball fell to the ground rocking once, twice, three times before it pinged and the centre button turned red. Meowth had been captured. Ash and Pikachu stared to the Pokéball in shock, Ash bent down to pick it up and turned to Pikachu.
"We have to get the A-Team together. May need our help and we're not going to let her down. Let's go." Ash picked up his egg and saw that May's lay on the ground not far from where she was standing Ash picked up her egg as well. Then Ash and Pikachu ran back to Pewter City to get the Pokémon they needed.
Reaching the Pokémon Centre Ash ran to the Vid-Phones and dialled Professor Oak's number, after a minute of ringing the Professor answered smiling.
"Ah, Ash I didn't expect to hear from you so soon. What can I do for you?"
"Professor I need to send you some Pokémon and get the A-Team from you." The elderly Professor's face dropped when he heard the tone of Ash's voice.
"I'll tell Tracey to get them, tell me what's happened." Ash nodded and waited as the Professor told Tracey to collect some of Ash's Pokémon. Ash then told Professor Oak how Team Rocket had ambushed them and taken May, demanding Pikachu in exchange for May. Ash also asked the Professor to leave one of the Pokémon because he needed Meowth to lead him to where Team Rocket was hiding. This took a few minutes and as Ash started to transfer his Pokémon Brock and Lucy entered the Pokémon centre, seeing Ash they walked over asking him why he was still in Pewter and where May was. Ash quietly told them everything, how Team Rocket had kidnapped May, wanted Pikachu in exchange, catching Meowth and that he planned on rescuing May as soon as he got a specific team of Pokémon from Professor Oak. Brock and Lucy waited with Ash as he got his Pokéballs. Ash then made another phone call, a green haired woman answered when she saw Ash was the one calling she smiled.
"Ash It's great to hear from you. How are things?"
"I don't want to be rude but I don't have much time. Can you send him to me please, I really need his help." Hearing the emotions in Ash's voice her smile vanished and she nodded.
"I'll have him fly to you straight away. You're in Pewter City aren't you it should only take him about three or four hours to get there. "
"There's no time for that, send him through the transfer system. I need him now." The woman nodded again, said goodbye then ended the call. Ash waited by the transfer machine and once the Pokéball appeared he asked Nurse Joy to mind the Pokémon eggs and he left the Pokémon Centre with Brock and Lucy following him back to Route 3.
"Ash, we're coming with you. May is our friend too, if you're going then so are we." Brock said firmly, Lucy walking beside him nodding. A small smile formed on Ash's face as he nodded his thanks, he reached for a Pokéball and released Meowth.
"Oh am I glad to be out of there. It's time isn't it?" asked the cat Pokémon.
"Yeah it is, Meowth show us where May is." Ash said. Meowth nodded and lead the group into the woods. While walking Lucy asked Ash what the combo he used in the Gym Battle was Ash explained it was a combination of Mach Punch and Close Combat, Ash then told them about a few other combinations he could have used this brought the conversation to a halt hearing the multiple combos that Ash had thought up over the years. After a few minutes of walking in silence Brock asked Ash what was so special about the team he received from Professor Oak.
"I've helped the Pokémon G-men from time to time." Brock was shocked to hear that. Ash continued "I ran into Lance not long after I started travelling again 3 years ago."
Flashback
Ash was on his way to Vermillion City to catch a ferry to Sinnoh. He was on his way to Mt Coronet for some intense training, he was talking to Pikachu about what type of training they should do, when a shadow flew over him looking up he saw that a Dragonite was about to land in front of him. Slowing his pace he watched the dragon type land a little further down the path, Ash saw that someone had been riding on the Pokémon. The person was about 30 years old, stood a little over six foot in height and had red spiky hair. They wore a dark blue jacket and dark blue pants with orange bands on both, they also wore a long black cape with red lining. Ash recognised the person it was Lance the Champion of Johto and last member of the Kanto Elite Four, he had lost his Kanto Champion status while Ash had been in Unova. Lance thank his Dragonite for his help and returned him to his Pokéball then walked up to Ash smiling, Ash smiled back and extended his hand while Pikachu waved, Lance took Ash's hand and shook it.
"Ash it's been a long time hasn't it? How have you been or should I ask where have you been?" Asked the Champion.
"Too long Lance, I've been great after Johto I went to Hoenn and placed in the top 8, won the Kanto Battle Frontier, got in the top 4 in Sinnoh and I just came second in Unova. Sorry to hear you lost your Championship for Kanto, I didn't see the battle but for what I've been told it was an amazing one." Ash replied.
"I see that you've gotten a lot better that when we last met, as for the battle it was one of the best battles that I've had since I started on my journey. I believe you know the trainer that beat me."
"I do but it's been years since we've seen each other. I'm really happy for him. If' you don't mind me asking what are you doing here?"
"I'm actually looking for you Ash. I've got an offer for you."
"What's that?"
"How would you like to join the Pokémon G-Men?" Ash's mouth dropped open and Pikachu nearly fell from his place on Ash's shoulder when they heard the offer.
Flashback paused
"You're a member of the G-Men!" Brock exclaimed. Everyone except Ash and Pikachu stopped walking after hearing what he had said, Ash stopped and turned back to them.
"Just wait and listen to the story." Ash said
Flashback continues
"What? Why me?" Ash asked still trying to comprehend what Lance had just said.
"Ash you are an exceptional trainer, you've played a major part in stopping the schemes of Team Rocket, Team Aqua, Team Magma, Team Galactic and Team Plasma. You've also had a number of encounters with villains that have attempted to capture legendary Pokémon and use them for their own means, such as Lawrence III the collector who tried to capture Lugia in the Orange Islands,…" before Lance could continue Ash interrupted him.
"How do you know about that?" Ash asked. "There wasn't any mention of what I did therein the news, they just said that Lugia stopped Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres by himself."
"Ash the reason that you weren't mentioned is because of the G-Men got hold of the footage that had been filmed by the TV crew that travelled to Shamouti Island with Professor Oak in the helicopter. We kept it from getting out as it would have caused you a lot of trouble while you travelled on your journey, we also stopped word of your parts in Greenfield, stopping the mind controlled Celebi in forests by Arborville, the events at Alto Mare, stopping the fake Groudon and helping Jirachi, Rayquaza and Deoxys in LaRousse City, Rota and the Tree of Beginning, the Temple of the Sea and the Phantom, Alamos Town, stopping Zero, Arceus attacking Michina Town, how Grings Kodai nearly destroyed Crown City, Eindoak Town and Victini, Kyurem, Genesect and all the other situations you would find yourself in during your adventures. The fact that you have done all of these things and from a young age make you a perfect candidate for the G-Men. Now will you join?" Ash was silent for a few minutes as he considered how to answer.
"Lance I really don't know what to say, this is huge but I don't think that I'm suited for the G-Men. However if you ever need me just let me know and I'd be happy to help you, how does that sound?" Ash asked. Lance thought about what Ash had said before nodding and holding his hand out, smiling.
"If you're sure about it then we have a deal." He said as Ash shook his hand. "Ash" he continued "If you're going to help the G-Men then I think that you need to put together a team of your strongest Pokémon but also they need to be able to take on different situations. They need a balance of power, speed, defensive capabilities and the capability to battle without you needing to command them but don't pick all large Pokémon as some of the situation may call for Pokémon of different sizes. In short you need to put together an assault team, most members of the G-Men shorten it to calling them either A-Team." Lance handed Ash a small device shaped like Pokéball. "This is a G-Men Communication Sphere or GCS for short, if I need to call you then this will vibrate and make a pinging noise all you need to do to answer it is flip it open. If you need to contact me you just flip it open, press the green button it will connect to my GCS, if while you're travelling you see anything strange that you think might need G-Men attention let me know. There is a red button in there as well only use that in emergencies as it will call all member of the G-Men to your position, but as you are not taking a full membership your GCS will not be alerted to emergency calls." Ash nodded taking in the information that Lance had given him and starting to think about the team that he should have for helping Lance. "It is time for me to leave, Ash good luck on your journey and with your training. Keep the GCS with you at all time I might need your help at any time. Goodbye Ash until we meet again." Lance released his Dragonite, climbed on to his back and took off flying towards Johto. Ash watched Lance disappear into the distance.
"Pikachu?" Ash said turning to the electric mouse. "Did that just happen?" Pikachu nodded his head.
"Pikachu." He squeaked.
"Well okay then we need to build a team. Who should we have?" Ash asked as they continued on their way to Vermillion City.
Flashback ends
The group carried on walking, following Meowth to where Team Rocket was hiding. As they thought about what Ash had just told them Lucy asked an important question.
"Why didn't you contact Lance, Ash?" Ash looked at the Frontier Brain and sighed.
"I tried it was the first thing I did on my way back to Pewter City but he didn't answer and I can't use the emergency signal because it would take too long to organise a full rescue operation and if Team Rocket saw that an army of G-Men were searching the woods they would run, taking May with them or leaving her deep in the woods where it would take too long to find her. I can't take that risk, I have to save May before Team Rocket do anything to hurt her." Lucy was near tears as she heard the strength of the emotions resonating in the words of his last sentence. "I made a promise to May to help her no matter what. She needs me now and I'm going to be there for her." After that they walked in silence until Meowth came to a halt.
"Jessie and James are about a hundred yards ahead, der different den de last time we met in Unova. What happened in de Viridian Forest isn't de way dey actually are, de robot dey used was a shambles because I wouldn't help dem build it, you see I was de one who build all of de robots that you and your Pokémon blew up over de years. Since Unova Jessie and James have gotten stronger as trainers, de three of us have risen through de Team Rocket ranks and are now considered to be top operatives just under de executives." Meowth sighed. "What I'm saying is be careful dey might surprise ya." Ash nodded and slowly made his way forward, seeing that Brock and Lucy were following he turned and motioned for them to stop. Meowth walked forward and stood at Ash's side. "I still want to prove to ya dat I've changed. I'm fighting with you, I've only got Fury Swipes but I'll fight." Meowth said somewhat reluctantly.
"You don't need to do that Meowth." Ash said "I know that they're you friends. Stay here with Brock and Lucy while I go and get May." Meowth shook his head.
"No if I'm leaving Team Rocket then I need to prove it." Ash nodded.
"Ash wait a minute why did you say that Lucy and I are staying here. May's our friend too if you're going then so are we." Brock said.
"Brock, I don't want you or Lucy to get hurt and what I've got planned could get you two hurt." Ash said sternly. "May is in trouble and I don't want to put anyone else at risk." Ash turned to go when Brock grabbed his arm.
"I'm willing to take the risk." He said
"So am I." Lucy added. Ash nodded again and the group made their way to the clearing. They stopped at the edge and saw something that caused a rage rivalling that of a Gyarados to burn inside of Ash's body. The sight in front of Ash made his eyes turn from brown to a shining blue.
In the centre of the clearing Ash saw that two snake-like Pokémon were coiled around May. One was Jessie's Seviper and the other Ash hadn't seen in years it was Arbok. The rest of Team Rocket's Pokémon were stood around the clearing. Jessie's Yanmega and Dustox were circling above the clearing as if keeping watch, her Wobbuffet was standing not far from Arbok and Seviper and Fearow was sitting in a tree facing further into the forest. James had reunited with his Weezing who was floating next to Seviper, his Carnivine had his vines wrapped around a tree watching for any intruders, Amoonguss was standing just to the side of where Ash and the others were hiding with his back to them, Yamask was floating next to James, Victreebel was hanging from a branch facing towards the group but was sleeping and Cacnea had her arms wrapped James neck as he tried to dislodge his overly affectionate Pokémon. Jessie and James were sat on a blanket in front of May eating their lunch while May shouted at them.
"Let me go now or you'll be sorry when Ash gets here!" May shouted.
"Seviper shut the twerpette up will you." Jessie said. "She's ruining our lunch."
"Ssssseeeeviper." Hissed the snake as he swung his blade like tail across May's face knocking her out and leaving a small cut on her cheek.
Seeing this Ash ran in to the clearing, releasing his Pokémon as Pikachu jumped from his shoulder with electricity arcing from his cheeks. Four Pokéballs flew through the air and opened letting Ash's A-Team out into the clearing.
The first one was Lucario who flipped in the air and landed in a fighting stance ready for whatever might be coming his way.
The second was a large weasel like Pokémon with two long tails and a floatation ring wrapped from his shoulder, down his chest and around his back to just above his tails. The Pokémon was Floatzel, Buizel had evolved after winning a battle with a trainer in Unova. The water type was standing alongside Lucario with his arms folded across his chest and a smirk was on his mouth.
Next came a green reptile with a large tree like tail, he stood on two powerful legs and on each of his arms were four blade like protrusions and yellow seeds ran in two line down his back. A twig hung from his mouth and like Floatzel this pokemon had a smirk on his face and gave off a feeling of complete cool. Sceptile stood between Pikachu and Lucario.
The final Pokémon emerged and took his place by Floatzel, he was arguably the most powerful of Ash's Pokémon. Standing tall with large orange and teal wings spread wide open on his back, his body was orange and his stomach pale tan, a long neck leading to a head with two horns sticking out of the back, a long tail tipped with a bright flame and a torrent of fire flew from his mouth as he roared. Charizard made his presence known.
Meowth moved forward and stood, nervously, next to Charizard Ash's Pokémon saw this and were about to attack when Pikachu quickly explained the situation to them. Team Rocket's Pokémon quickly lined up in front of their trainers except for Arbok and Seviper who still held May, who was starting to wake up after hearing Charizard's roar.
"Meowth good job bringing us all these Pokémon, we'd wondered where you had gone. Now bring Pikachu over here." James said
"No." Meowth said as he extended his claws. "I quit!"
"What did you just say?" Jessie asked.
"I said I quit Team Rocket. Youse two have changed you're not the Jessie and James that I was friend with anymore. I'm on Ash's side now." Everyone's eyes widened with shock because Meowth had use Ash's name and not called him `twerp`.
As Ash's Pokémon moved forward Jessie commanded her Pokémon to tighten their hold on May, causing her to cry out in pain.
"Stop your Pokémon where they are twerp or your girlfriend gets a lot thinner." Ash tells his Pokémon to stop. "Now." Jessie continued. "Give us Pikachu and your other Pokémon seeing that you've brought us a lot of powerful ones."
"Ash don't just stand there, beat them and get me out of here!" cried May.
"Seviper shut her up again." Jessie said. Once more Seviper hit May with his tail knocking her unconscious again. Ash lost his calm then, aura flared around his body enveloping it, aura flicked across his form like fire as his eyes became a solid blue, not just his pupils. Ash surged forward Aura Spheres flying from his hands and connecting with each of Team Rocket's Pokémon, except for the two holding May hostage, none of them having the time to dodge or counter the unexpected attack. As Ash closed on Jessie and James they panicked.
"Wait, this is all a misunderst…" James started before he was silenced by an Aura Sphere colliding with his face and Jessie was hit in the stomach by another. Brock, Lucy, Meowth and the Pokémon looked on in shock as Ash walked towards Arbok and Seviper completely unaware of the scene he had created. Jessie and James lay on the ground groaning in pain, Wobbuffet was upside down in Victreebel's mouth both with spirals in their eyes, Cacnea had slammed into Yamask before hitting tree at the other side of the clearing, Yanmega and Dustox lay in a heap with Weezing, Amoonguss, Carnivine and Fearow all knocked out with a single hit of Ash's Aura Spheres. Ash strode purposefully towards May and placed his hands on her shoulders oblivious to the fact that both Seviper and Arbok had embedded their fangs into his shoulders, injecting him with poison. Ash moved his aura around May and fed it to make it bigger, this forced Arbok's and Seviper's hold on May to lessen. When there was enough space Ash retracted his aura quickly and lifted May out of the coiled snakes, Arbok and Seviper released their hold on Ash focussing their attention on stopping the rapidly closing coils trying not to get tied in a knot. Ash walked a few paces away carrying May bridal style, May still unconscious, before turning and launching two more Aura Spheres into the snake Pokémon knocking them out. Team rocket and their Pokémon lay in a pile in the middle of the clearing. Making his way back to Brock and Lucy Ash lay May on the ground and line up next to his Pokémon.
"Meowth take a few steps back." He said his voice sounding slightly mechanical. Meowth nodded still trying to process how one man had been able to knockout twelve pokemon and two adults without using Pokémon of his own. Ash turned to look at his assembled Pokémon and said two small words, his voice void of emotion.
"Nature's Fury."
The Pokémon nodded and readied themselves for the powerful combination they were about to use. Both Ash and Lucario charged large Aura Spheres, Pikachu collected his electricity ready to release a powerful Thunder attack, Sceptile absorbed sunlight for his Solarbeam, Floatzel took a deep breath to help the strength of his Hydro Pump and Charizard diverted all of his internal fire into Overheat.
"Now." Ash called as all of his Pokémon launched their attacks, all of the attacks collected together into a beam of pure power that kept flickering between all of the colours of the attacks and a bright white. Team Rocket didn't even get the chance to say their usual cry of blasting off as Nature's Fury propelled them into the air with such force that it looked like they had teleported away (which they hadn't), at least that what would have been seen if it hadn't been for the massive cloud of smoke and debris filled the clearing and the surrounding area of the forest. The explosion from the blast could be heard all the way in Cerulean City as noticed by a certain red-headed Gym Leader. Charizard started flapping his wings in powerful strokes to clear the smoke when it had been cleared the clearing had changed drastically, where there once had been an open clearing of green grass now stood an enormous crater the centre of which had turned to glass from the heat of the attack. The noise of the explosion had woke May but she didn't see what had happened as the cloud of smoke quickly filled her field of vision. Ash's aura faded, breathing heavily he looked over his shoulder and saw that May was awake and unhurt, apart from the small cut on her cheek. Ash fell to his knees then fell forward onto the ground face first passed out, the last thing he heard was May screaming his name. The last thought that went through Ash's mind was At least May's okay.
When Ash opened his eyes again he lay on his back staring at a white ceiling, he was lying on a bed and he heard a soft, gentle breathing to his left, turning his head he saw May sleeping in a chair next to the bed, her arms cross on the bed with her head resting on top of them. Ash tried to sit up but hissed in pain, his shoulders were wrapped in bandages, covering the bite marks he had earned from Arbok and Seviper. May woke up and saw Ash starting to lower himself back on to the bed.
"Ash you're awake." May cried happily as she threw herself at Ash wrapping her arms around him in a powerful embrace. Ash felt a wave of happiness flow through him but it was cut off by a flood of pain causing him to cried out, causing May to realise that she was squeezing Ash's injured shoulders.
"Oh Ash I'm so sorry. I was just really excited to see you awake. I'll go and get Nurse Joy." May said apologetically before running out of the room. A few seconds after May left Brock came into the room followed by Pikachu and Lucario. Seeing his trainer awake Pikachu dove into Ash's chest squeaking with joy, Lucario walked up to Ash with a smile on his face and put his paw on Ash's arm. Brock saw that Ash wanted to sit up so he helped his friend.
"Glad to see you're alright. You had us worried for a while, you've been unconscious for 3 days." Brock said. "You're back in Pewter City Pokémon Centre."
"How…" Ash said hoarsely before coughing, Brock handed his friend a glass of water. After drinking the water Ash tried speaking again. "How did I get here? What happened? I don't remember anything after seeing Seviper hit May. Is she alright? Was she hurt badly?" He asked.
"May's fine, she only had a small cut on her cheek which has healed now. How can you not remember what happened? You beat Team Rocket and their Pokémon all by yourself, without any of your Pokémon."
Master you should not have done that, you nearly drained yourself of Aura. Lucario said. You nearly died, you know that it's too dangerous for you to expend a large amount of Aura without the gloves.
"Ash after you collapsed we put you on Charizard's back and May flew you back to the Pokémon Centre while Lucy and I recalled your Pokémon except for Pikachu and Lucario, he refused to go back in his Pokéball and ran ahead of us to meet May at the Centre. That was three days ago and May's never left your side since except for just now." Brock said as he told Ash exactly what happened with Team Rocket. "I'm amazed by the combo you used at the end, what did you call it?" Brock was silent for a minute before he remembered. "You called it Nature's Fury. Where did you get that idea from?"
"I don't know how I thought it up, I just wondered what would happen if I combined the attacks of my A-Team. They use fire, water, grass, electric and Aura attacks if Krookodile was with me Stone Edge would have been used as well. All those attacks are elements of nature and you saw the power behind it, that's the fury part." Ash explained as May entered the room with Nurse Joy behind her. Nurse Joy checked Ash's vitals and took the bandages from his shoulders to see how the bite wounds were healing, she tutted and moved to get some clean bandages. As she moved May and Brock could see exactly how injured Ash was, his left shoulder had been bitten by Arbok and was nearly healed though there was still some swelling. Ash's right shoulder was a different matter entirely Seviper had buried his fangs into it, Seviper's fangs were drastically larger than Arbok's and that reflected in Ash's injuries there were two deep gashes surrounded by a large amount of swelling, even though Ash healed quickly it would still take a couple of weeks before they healed completely.
"Your vitals seem to be okay and your left shoulder will be fine in a couple of days. Your right shoulder will take a while longer to heal properly but you should be able to leave in the morning as long as you take it easy for a few days, to allow most of the swelling to go down." Nurse Joy told him. "The poison that was injected in to you has worked its way out of your system but the bite wounds will still hurt for a while. I'm telling you to not put any pressure on your shoulders and try not to move your arms too quickly as that might open up your stitches." Ash nodded and agreed to what Nurse Joy had said. Nurse Joy and Brock exited the room, taking Pikachu and Lucario with them, leaving Ash alone with May.
"May I'm sorry." Ash said dropping his head.
"What are you sorry for?" May asked in a confused tone.
"Because of me you missed the contest at Mount Moon. Because of me you were kidnapped and you were hurt. Brock told me what you did, how you flew me here on Charizard and stayed next to me for three days. I can't thank you enough for that but maybe….maybe you shouldn't travel with me anymore, I don't want you to get hurt again because of me." Ash' voice caught in his throat. May's face had turned red hearing what Brock had told Ash. "May I want you to be safe so…."
"Ash you're my best friend." May interrupted. Ash lifted his head looking May in the eye. "You've got nothing to be sorry about it was one contest, if it had come to it than I would have missed to whole of the contest season and Grand Festival so I would be here when you woke up. You risked your life to save me. Lucario told us that you could have died using your Aura like that." May's expression turned hard with tears in her eyes "Never do anything like that again. If you'd died while trying to save me then I wouldn't be able to live with myself." May said breaking Ash's gaze and staring at the floor tears streaming down her cheeks. With a bit of effort Ash was able to raise his arm and place his hand on May's cheek wiping away a tear. May was shocked by Ash's behaviour and could see he was feeling a bit of pain from his shoulder.
"May you're one of my best friends if you're in trouble then I would do the same thing again, the same goes for everyone else I'm friends with. All of you are the people I care most for in the world, you've helped me grow as a trainer and as a person, for that and the support that all of you have given me over the years I can never repay you enough, so if any of you need help then I will help you no matter what." May took Ash's hand in both of hers and lower his arm back to the bed to stop the pain he had been feeling, she smiled blushing even more at his words. They stayed like that for a few minutes in silence, May started to feel slightly awkward and decided to change the subject.
"Ash I meant to ask earlier why didn't Lucario talk to you while you were in the contest?" She asked.
"Normally Lucario don't speak English, the only other one I know…knew about was Sir Aaron's so together Lucario and I decided that he shouldn't talk in public. Telling the truth Lucario only spoke in front of you and Brock was because he could feel how much I trust both of you through my aura." Ash explained. They were about to continue their conversation when someone knocked on the door, looking to the door they saw Nurse Joy open the door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Mr Ketchum." She said. "But there's a man here who would like to talk to you. He says it's urgent." Ash told Nurse Joy it was okay to let the man in. The man who entered the room looked to be in his fifties, he was tall and wore a formal blue suit and a white shirt complete with a blue tie. He had short grey hair and was clean shaven.
"Sir, I need to talk to you alone about private some…..private matters." The man said thinking carefully about his words while May was in the room.
"It's nice to see you again Henry. Anything you have to say you can say in front of May." Ash said. "I trust her and I know that she won't repeat anything she hears here to anyone." May nodded her head.
"That's true I won't tell anyone." She assured the man wondering who he was.
"Very well Sir Ketchum, Queen Ilene requests the presence of, as she puts it, her Guardian at Cameran Castle as soon as possible." Henry said. "There have been problems that she will only discuss with you and you alone." May wondered why Henry had called Ash, Sir Ketchum and felt a stab of jealousy at hearing that the Queen of Rota referred to Ash as `her Guardian`.
"I've got to stay here overnight but we can leave in the morning." Ash paused feeling May squeeze his hand, he looked at her could feel that she thought he was going to leave her behind. "and May is coming with us."
"Sir I must protest the Queen has requested your presence and no-one else's. I cannot allow it." Henry said firmly. Ash looked at him with hard eyes.
"Henry I don't like doing this but I will if I have to." Ash said calmly but with steel in his voice. "You keep calling me Sir, and you know of my position in the Queen's court so I order you to allow May to come with us." Ash and Henry stared at each other in a battle of wills, which Henry lost sighing.
"As you wish Sir but I will not be held responsible for this if the Queen objects." Henry bowed and turned to leave. "I shall return in the morning, will be a helicopter waiting for us. Farewell Sir Ketchum." Henry walked out of the room and left Ash and May in silence.
"Ash, who was that man?" May asked.
"That was Henry, He's Queen Ilene's advisor." Ash explained.
"Why does the Queen of Rota want to talk to you and why does she call you her Guardian? Why did that man keep calling you Sir Ketchum?"
"May, there's things about the past three years that I haven't told anyone not even my mom. This is one of those things because I don't want people to treat me differently." Ash said sighing.
"What do you mean by that?" May asked. Ash sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose knowing that she wouldn't let the subject go. "Please Ash tell me. I won't treat you differently no matter what it is."
"Alright, I'll tell you but you can't tell anyone not Brock, Lucy, your parents, my mom anyone understand?" May nodded in understanding "Can you go and lock the door I don't want anyone to overhear anything." May stood up and walked to the door locking it then returned to her seat and waited for Ash to continue. Ash took a deep breath and started to tell his story. "When I was in Rota for my Aura training there were certain things that needed to be done, because the secrets of Aura training and all Aura Guardians originated in Rota and serve the ruler of the kingdom to be taught I needed to swear allegiance to Queen Ilene and to complete my training I had to be knighted and called an Aura Guardian, that's why Henry kept calling me Sir Ketchum. As an Aura Guardian and as a knight of Rota I have a position in the Queen's court as an advisor, protector and Guardian of the Tree Of Beginning. As for why Queen Ilene wants to talk to me I don't know." May was silent as she processed the fact that Ash had been given a title and a position of such importance.
"What about being called her Guardian?" May asked jealousy creeping into her voice.
"To explain that I need to tell you a bit about my training. I was taught by a man named Riley, I'd met him before when I was travelling in Sinnoh the first time with Brock and Dawn on Iron Island, he was the only Aura Guardian until I completed my training and he had the position in the Queen's court as Guardian of the Crown but Riley had to leave a lot of the time going out as an ambassador to other places or he needed to go an investigate so he would give me the instructions in needed to know for my lessons and told me to try and complete my lessons . Whenever he was away I would get temporarily promoted to his position because I was the only Aura Guardian in Rota and because of that I needed to be near the Queen, the first time that happened someone attacked her with an Ariados I jumped in front of her and tried to form an Aura Shield but it didn't work and I got hit by a Poison Sting and I was poisoned but I fought the battle and managed to get the Queen to safety. After that I passed out, when I woke up the next day the Queen was there later the doctor told me that she had stayed close by so that when I woke up she could thank me since then she has always called me `her Guardian` even when Riley was there and she would always come and watch my lessons when she had the time, as the queen she was allowed to see my training. We became close friends and that's it." Ash explained. As May was about to ask another question there was a knock at the door, rising from her seat May went and opened the door letting Nurse Joy in.
"I'm sorry to interrupt again but your eggs are about to hatch." said the Nurse as Brock and Lucy came into the room each carrying an egg, light pulsing from both. They placed the eggs on the floor in front of Ash and May, Brock helped Ash out of the bed and into the chair while May stood next to him. The eggs started to pulse faster and faster until they emitted an almost blinding light and the eggs started to change shape. Ash's egg grew in size and continued to do so until she was roughly four and a half foot as the light faded the Pokémon could be seen standing on four hooves and had a coat of cream coloured hair, with black innocent looking eyes fire flowed from her head and down her neck, her tail was also made of fire. It was a Ponyta but instead of the usual red fire, this one had blue fire. May's egg grew to about two feet in height, the black stripe that ran down the side lifted up and out to form a long mouth that was rooted to the top of the Pokémon's head, she had a pale yellow body which formed a skirt, she had black hands and feet. Her eyes were red and mischievous. It was a Mawile, when the light died Ash and May could see their new Pokémon. May immediately picked up Mawile and hugged her, Mawile was taken back at first but soon hugged May back. Ash lifted his hand up and placed it on Ponyta's head gently stroking her, Ponyta nuzzled into his hand neighing happily.
"Mawile you are so cute!" May squealed happily, spinning in a circle holding Mawile tightly while her new Pokémon giggle. Ash just smiled at May thinking She really loves her Pokémon even though Mawile has only just hatched, I'm lucky to have her as a friend. Brock stepped forward to examine Ash's Ponyta. Brock looked closely at Ponyta's coat and hooves before gingerly checking the flames that burned across the Pokémon.
"Ash this is a rare Ponyta, and she really strong as well. Her fire is blue because of her strength and feeling the amount of heat from it she's going to be a great addition to your team." Said the doctor in training, he then turned and examined May's Mawile. "May your Mawile is in perfect health and like Ponyta she'll grow to be really strong." May thanked Brock and went back to playing with her new Pokémon.
"Brock no matter what Ponyta is like she'd be a great addition to the team." Ash told his friend. Brock nodded knowing that the strength of a Pokémon didn't matter to Ash, as long as they were Pokémon Ash would love them and train them to be the best they can be.
"Hey Brock" Ash started "Where's Meowth?" Brock looked at his friend and sighed.
"He's with Officer Jenny." Brock said. "On the way back to the Pokémon Centre we ran into Officer Jenny, she was on her way to investigate the explosion that your attack had caused and when she heard Meowth talk she knew that he was part of Team Rocket and arrested him."
"WHAT!" Ash shouted "I need to go and get him now."
"Ash calm down. We went to the Police Station after we found out how you were and told Officer Jenny what had happened, Meowth even went back into his Pokéball to prove it so for the past few days he's been telling Officer Jenny everything he knows about Team Rocket. Where they have bases, their numbers, what crimes they are responsible for, some of the accounts that he had access to and a lot of other things as well. Officer Jenny said that with all of the information he's offered them she's willing to let him go with you unless you want to hand him over to be prosecuted for his crimes." Ash took all of this in as he thought about what to do with Meowth.
"I know what I'm going to with Meowth." He said finally but didn't reveal what that was.
The group spent the
rest of the day talking and connecting with their new Pokémon, Ash told Brock and Lucy that he and May were going to travel to Rota as Queen Ilene needed to talk to him. A few hours later Nurse Joy came back to the room and said that Ash needed to rest so that he was well enough to leave in the morning. Ponyta and Mawile were put into their Pokéballs and given to Nurse Joy to look after for the night, May had gone back to Brock's house as there weren't any rooms left in the Pokémon Centre and Nurse Joy said that Ash shouldn't be disturbed so she couldn't stay in his room. Pikachu and Lucario were also told that they couldn't stay with Ash and went back to Brock house as well.
The next morning Nurse Joy check on Ash's injuries and told him that as long as he was careful then he could leave, Ash thanked her and got changed, gingerly, into his travelling clothes then he made his way to the Vid-Phones to exchange his Pokémon. He sent Charizard back to the Charific Valley, kept Lucario with him sending Sceptile and Floatzel back to Professor Oak while asking for Gardevoir and Pidgeot. Ash left the Pokémon Centre and met May, Brock and Lucy on his to the Police Station to collect Meowth. Lucario walked alongside Ash while Pikachu sat on May's shoulder.
"So Ash" Lucy said "What are you going to do with Meowth?"
"You'll find out soon." Was all Ash would say during their walk. Arriving at the Police Station Ash in and went up to the reception desk, requesting to talk to Officer Jenny a few minutes later she opened a door and asked for Ash to follow her. Officer Jenny lead Ash to her office where Meowth was waiting.
"Hey Ash great to see your back on your feet." Said the Scratch Cat Pokémon.
"It's good to see you too Meowth." Ash turned to Officer Jenny. "Is it okay if I take Meowth with me?" Both Officer Jenny and Meowth looked a little shocked by Ash's question, Officer Jenny recovered quickly and gestured for Ash to sit down as she went and sat behind her desk.
"The information that Meowth has given me was extensive and some of t still need to be verified but so far the evidence that's been investigated has proved to be true, in fact we have frozen a couple of Team Rocket's accounts and shut down three of their bases capturing the team members manning them." She paused to take a drink of water "I'm willing to return Meowth to you but if I hear of him being involved in any sort of wrongdoings then I will arrest him and I will arrest you as well for aiding in the commission of the crime as your will be responsible for Meowth's behaviour." Ash sat there in silence making sure that he understood what Officer Jenny had just told him, Meowth looked at Ash sure fearing that the trainer would just tell Officer Jenny to take him away.
"I understand." Ash said "Can I take Meowth with me now? I promise that I'll keep Meowth out of trouble." Meowth was staring at Ash in shock He's taking me with him. I was sure that he'd turn me over to the cops. Meowth thought to himself. Officer Jenny nodded her head and opened a draw on her desk, she brought out a Pokéball.
"This is Meowth's ball you can take him but remember what I told you. If he gets in any trouble at all both of you will be arrested. When you leave I'll be sending a message to every police station in the region so that they all know the situation." She handed the Pokéball to Ash who stood up and thanked Officer Jenny, Meowth got out of his seat and thanked her as well before following Ash out of the office back to the reception. May, Lucy, Brock, Lucario and Pikachu were sat down and when they saw Ash they stood up and followed him outside.
Ash knelt down and looked Meowth in the eye.
"Meowth thank you for helping me save May. I know that it must've been hard for you to turn against Jessie and James but you did it anyway because you knew that it was the right thing to do. You told me it was my choice for deciding how to deal with you after we rescued May." Ash paused thinking about how to phrase what he was going to say. "I know what I would like to do with you but I'm going to let you decide, do you want me to take you back to Officer Jenny, do you want to come with me, train to become stronger and become part of the family or do you want to be released?" Everyone's mouths dropped open at Ash's words.
"You….you're really going to let me chose?" Meowth stuttered.
"That's right. So what do you want to do?"
"I…I wanna travel with you, I wanna get stronger and I wanna repay you for this."
"Okay then." Ash said "One last question. Do you want to be go in the Pokéball or do you want to stay out of it?" Ash held the ball in front of Meowth.
"I wanna stay out of the Pokéball, it doesn't feel right." Ash put the Pokéball back on his belt and stood up, turning he was about to talk to Brock and Lucy when he saw Henry walking towards them carrying a large brown parcel. Ash quickly told Brock and Lucy that he needed to go to Rota as part of his Aura training.
"Sir Ketchum it is time for us to leave, but first you need to change into the proper attire." Said the advisor.
"Can't I just get changed when we get to Rota?" Ash groaned.
"Certainly not, you know the customs. When entering Rota for an audience with the ruling monarch members of the court must wear the correct apparel of their station upon entering the kingdom."
"Okay, okay no need to quote the proclamations to me." Ash sighed in defeat. "I'll go and get changed in the Pokémon Centre." Ash took the parcel and walked off with everyone else following him.
"What did you mean that Ash needs to get changed?" May asked the advisor.
"As a member of the Queen's court he needs to follow the royal proclamations and they state that when the monarch requests their presence they are to attend as soon as they can, wearing the garb of their position, be it a lord, lady, duke or any other position. Sir Ketchum has to attend whilst wearing the garb of his station."
Arriving at the Pokémon Centre Ash went to get changed while the rest of the group waited, after a few minutes they could hear a helicopter approaching and shortly after that Ash came back to the group wearing an exact replica of the clothes he wore the first time he had visited Rota. He wore the uniform of an Aura guardian along with the gloves, wide brimmed hat and cape. Everyone in the Pokémon Centre stared at Ash as he walked back to the group.
"I'm ready let's go." He said as he made his way outside. Henry nodded and followed Ash out with the rest of the group behind him.
Arriving at the helicopter Henry got in and sat next to the pilot while Ash and May said goodbye to Brock and Lucy before climbing inside and closing the door. The flight took about three hours, during the flight May and Ash talked about what they would do after visiting Rota and where May would be able to win her first ribbon hearing this Henry informed them that Rota was going to be hosting its first contest soon and the ribbon could be used to enter the Grand Festival. May they said that she would win the contest and Ash said that he would teach her some of the combinations he had created which would work well for a contest. The remainder of the flight was spent with Ash describing the types of combination and how he had come up with them.
When the helicopter landed in Rota Ash, May and Henry were rushed to the palace. When they approached the throne room one of the guards opened the doors and announced them.
"Your majesty Royal Advisor Henry Peregrine, Sir Ash Ketchum and guest have arrived for their audience." The Queen nodded wondering who the guest was. Entering the throne room May was astonished by the size of the room the ceiling was three stories high with large crystal chandeliers hanging down, tapestries hung from the walls depicting scenes from the Rota's past and the room was long enough for a Steelix to lie flat in with room to spare. May's eyes were drawn to one which showed Sir Aaron and Lucario standing proud, seeing the Aura Pokémon brought back the memories of what happened at the Tree of Beginning making her feel sad but her sadness was soon replaced with a realisation that Ash while Ash was wearing the uniform of an Aura Guardian he looked like Sir Aaron. Pikachu jumped off May's shoulder and followed Ash as he walked forward and knelt down on one knee with his head bowed down in front of the Queen, Pikachu stopped next to Ash and dipped his head as well. May was about to follow Ash's example but Henry held out a hand on her shoulder and motioned for her to stand to one side. Looking to the Queen, May saw that she hadn't changed much since the last time except her hair was slightly longer. May saw that someone was stood by the side of the throne, it was a man in his late twenties he wore a dark blue blazer, a black shirt with a gold chain around his neck, black trousers and he had a dark blue hat like Ash's on his head pulled down slightly over on eye.
"Queen Ilene, Master Riley." Ash said respectfully.
"Greetings my Guardian it is nice to see you again so soon." Said the Queen.
"Hello my student I can see that you have been training well, that is good." Said Riley with a smile.
"My Queen I came as soon as I could. May I ask why you summoned me here?" Ash asked. May was surprised at the way that had Ash spoken.
"I asked for you to return to Rota but the reason for you to be here came from Guardian Riley. It is he who must answer your questions." Riley stepped forward and pulled Ash to his feet.
"Ash I have trained you in the ways of Aura on and off for the past three years, in that time you have almost completed training that normally takes at least a decade of total training. What you have accomplished has never been done before, the only other known to have done anything even close to this was Sir Aaron he completed his training in five years. The reason I asked the Queen to call you back to Rota is for you to undertake the final part of your training."
"What is the final part of my training?"
"Why your graduation of course."
"What do I have to do to graduate?"
"You have to battle me and Lucario, without your Pokémon or using offensive Aura abilites." Ash's face went pale I have to battle Riley and his Lucario without any help he thought I can't do that I've never been able to beat him on his own during my training. How am I going to do that?
So what do you think? How will Ash graduate? Please keep you suggestions for Ash's electric type coming in.
Please keep reviewing so I know know the story is going.
Until Next Time
Basic Trainer