Chapter 44

“And that’s all?” Officer Jenny asked them. Misty nodded. She was knocked out for a good percent of this whole thing. There was not much she could have told them except how it all started.

“Well yeah. Right Pikachu?” Ash said sitting next to her.

The police interrogation room was rather nice. Misty guessed they spruced it up a bit before hustling them into there.

“This is just, I don’t know how to say it.” Officer Jenny said raking a free hand through her hair. “Why did something so confusing have to happen in my town?”

Misty could sympathize with the woman. “As I said the Lugia plans on returning back to the sea. He won’t be walking and flying around town like that again.”

“For its safety that would be a great idea.” Officer Jenny mumbled. “It’s hard enough having to hid the existence of all these rare and in some cases thought to be extinct Pokémon. I don’t need poachers in this town.”

“The crystalife people?” Misty asked curiously.

“They want to live out of town like their people used to. They plan on building a temple and going on just as before. So they will hopefully be no trouble.” Jenny breathed.

“Hopefully being the operative word.” Ash muttered.

“So that aura thing from earlier. You can’t just get that you were saying right.” Officer Jenny said looking serious. “Serious training or forced unlocking like you think happened here for your friend.” Jenny said pointing at Misty.

“Well Ash here might be the spiritual descendant of someone powerful so that might explain him.” Misty started before stopping. “Then again let us just call him a weird anomaly and stop at that. There is no explaining Ash when it comes to Pokémon.”

“Thanks.” Ash said dryly.

“My head hurts.” Officer Jenny complained. “I got everything needed from you for a report so you are free to go. Next are the king, high priests and the prince.”

“You need overtime pay.” Misty said as she stood up.

“Tell that to the mayor in this town.” Jenny sighed as she started putting her note papers in a file. “My men are so hard at work but all I plead she won’t raise their pay a cent. I’m fine it’s just me but some of them have families.”

Misty smiled. Officer Jenny’s no matter where were so kind hearted. There was no hiding anything from any of them either. Great officers. All the same, the Jenny’s and Joy’s.

“Sorry about my attitude earlier.” Ash said rubbing his head.

“It’s okay Ash.” Jenny smiled. “It was the worry talking.”

“But still.” Ash mumbled. “I shouldn’t have acted just I was so worried.”

Ash was still mumbling apologies under his breath after Officer Jenny showed them out of the station. Misty slid him a slight glance. He really did look really apologetic.

“Let up Ash.” She said to cheer him up. Absently Ash grabbed her hand with his and began to pull her in the direction of the Centre.

“Sure thing. After we get us some food. Pikachu and I are starving.” Misty laughed out loud. Ash never let anything get him down for very long.

“Please wait. Ash Ketchum from Pallet town.” A soft voice called to them. Looking around Misty saw a woman in a hooded robe approaching them with a Lucario at her side.

“You.” Ash frowned.

“Please Ash, I would like only a moment of your time.” The woman and both Pokémon bowed before them.

“Hey hey hey!” Ash yelped shaking his hands. “No need for all that. I forgave you guys already.”

“I would ask for you to hear us out.” The woman continued as she spoke to the ground. Misty was amazed. These people were so formal and humble.

“Just please get up.” Ash begged.

Sitting up to a kneeling position, woman and Pokémon clasped hands at Ash. “We have heard your words from before speaking of the freedom for Pokémon. We would beg you to take a gift from us so that you may continue your spiritual journey.”

The Lucario rose gracefully and revealed a small blue egg. Misty was amazed, she had not even noticed the Lucario had it. Kneeling before Ash the Lucario offered it.

“That egg is due to hatch very soon.”  The woman intoned. “It is the wish of myself and my Lucario that you raise it to be free in your world. We are attached to our own but Lucario wishes to give her child the opportunity to choose its path whichever it may be. To fight or not, to become strong or not. A choice.”

“I hear you.” Ash said as he accepted the egg. “I’ll do my best, thank you.”

“And we will take our leave.” The woman said gracefully as she stood up. Misty watched as she gracefully went on her way back down the street. It was almost as if she was walking on water.

“That is a surprise isn’t it?” Misty asked a silent Ash.

“Yeah.” Ash mumbled as he held the egg in both hands and Pikachu looked at it curiously. “We should be on our way though Misty. Everyone is waiting.”

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Paul sat in the centre garden watching as light slowly began to illuminate it. Everything was back to normal but he was unable to relax.

It was not that he was bothered by the cults talking. It was more that the combination of all the occurrences really finally seemed to be sinking in.

Training with Torterra had not helped one bit for his thinking. A run sure had not. Reaching into his pocket Paul withdrew a pokeball. The capture of that Seadra had been good though. His run had taken him to the edge of the lake.

Unfortunately for the Seadra it picked the wrong time to be in such a bad mood wanting to attack passersby. It had been over in an instant. Paul knew the Pokémon was strong, but it had allowed its anger to control it.

Making an easy capture for Paul. He should be happy but he knew even this capture had to do with Misty and Ash. The presence of such a strong force like Lugia. Seadra was too afraid to attack head on, it was common sense but still shattered pride made it angry.

For so long it had thought it was powerful and strong. Now in the face of a powerful foe much more powerful than it was, Seadra had been quelled. The humiliation must have been more than it could bare.

Paul put away the pokeball again. His pride was strong but he still found it in him to admit when he was wrong. The taste of humiliation was a hard thing to bare. That taste itself was Paul’s biggest fear.

Paul knew he did not fear strong Pokémon. He feared the taste of humiliation. The feeling of failing, in any given task. That was why he went with the mindset of going to win but still. Knowing there was a possibility of him losing never failed to shake him up.

Inhaling Paul smelt a light perfume. Who would be out in the garden at this sort of morning? Turning his head he saw Dawn watching him.

“It’s really early.” She said softly.

“I only sleep the necessary amount of hours.” Paul grunted. Dawn looked away nervously and Paul brushed away at the spot next to him.

“You can sit here if you want.” He mumbled and waited. No longer looking at her he felt when she sat down next to him. staring up at the sky Paul waited.

“It has been a rough sort of days.” Dawn sighed. “Feels so weird to relax now.” Paul nodded, after all the worry and the wait. Having almost nothing to do except prepare felt wrong.

“I’ve talked to May a bit.” Dawn continued. “I know how you and Drew must be feeling right now. I have to admit I never even thought twice about having Georgio come to see Misty you know? But the whole Brock calling.”

Dawn sighed. “Misty and Ash have such a strong bond right now. I would like to think theirs is nothing that can get in their way right now but all one needs is the right crack and even the strongest wall can fall.  I had no big intentions when I was with Brendan talking to Barry about it.”

Paul was frozen. What she just said. With the right crack and even the strongest wall could fall. Even though Misty and Ash made their progress, there was still danger.

In any relationship there was danger but with even the smallest crack in the right place. The whole thing could become null and void. Which meant if that was to happen. All the teamwork would fall apart.

If he could break the bond between the trainer and their Pokémon. It would not matter just how strong their bond was. They would be able to function as a unit. It would all fall to pieces.

Dawn was still talking but Paul was only hearing mumbles. He brought out the knot the prince had given him and examined it closely. Before he thought it was beyond unknotting but now he was looking closer her saw the right string was the one that had obviously been used to start the knot.

If he was to slacken the middle to a certain extent, then when the right side tried to knot again the whole knot would slip and become unravelled. Paul smiled, was this knot the reason the Prince had spoken the way he had?

Was he meant not to be like Ash and his manner of bonds but to find what broke them? Paul had to admit that suited his battle style a lot better. Turning to face Dawn who was now blushing and stammering he decided there was no time like the present to make things clear.

Grasping her chin so she turned to face him Paul was blessed with Dawn falling silent. His eyes lowered slightly as he smiled. “Dawn, anything that happened during this time was not your fault or in any was something to hold against you.”

“But you weren’t speaking to me.” Dawn whispered. “Drew walks away and ignores May. You were mad at us last time over Georgio I know you are mad this time too.”

“Is there someone here whose presence should make me angry Blue?” Paul asked her watching as her lashes lowered and she lightly held his wrist.

“Of course not. I mean I don’t think you like Barry that much but aside from Georgio.” Dawn blushed. “No one here should cause you any irritation. There is no one between us like Ash and Misty so, you should not be mad..” She finished in a whisper.

Paul nodded before bringing her head to rest on his chest. This is why he so much enjoyed Dawn. Sometimes her inability to see the things in front her irritated him but her way of looking at things never failed to amuse him.

She saw Kenny as a friend, so he was no bother to her because he was going to stay as just a friend. Because he would stay as a friend there was no way he could interfere between himself and her. It was so easy to figure out how she thought.

Even though she was wrong very wrong. Kenny would be trouble but Paul would not hold it against her. She was not stupid, she just had everything laid out with no detours and mistakes allowed. It would be up to Paul to help Kenny back to his neatly labelled box marked childhood friend, childhood memories in the section of Dawn’s affections called Past

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Ash left Pikachu with Misty and set off for a look at the town. She had fussed greatly as had everyone about him not returning to the clinic but he felt just fine. Totally rested up and they soon would have an event to come up.

He had an egg to help hatch too. This would be the only space he would have to gather his thought and wander the way he wanted to. Slowing down his pace as he was about to pass an outdoor cafe Ash brooded on thoughts of the egg.

“Only one twerp we know could resurrect a civilisation.”

“But wouldn’t that be a mistake they were never dead just hidden.”

“But only a certain twerp could bring life to a ruin.”

“Stop it already Jessie you won’t get through to him.”

“My words not get through? The dazzling Jessie in his twerpy life.”

“More over than through listen to your James give up the fight.”

Ash’s eyes flew open wide as he spotted the rocket Due casually sitting at a table in the outdoor cafe indulging in breakfast and coffee. With weak knees he pointed in their direction.

“Team! R-“

“That is getting old now.” Jessie cut him off with a wave of her hand. “Why don’t you join us twerp?” Doing as she said Ash flopped in the seat across from James next to Jessie.

“Don’t tell me you are planning on building a store here.” He complained. “I just saw you guys building a store back there.”

“No, we are just passing through.” James said sipping his coffee. “This place is hardly a place to really get any good sales.”

“Just history and more history.” Jessie said gloomily. “All you need here is a souvenir shop and they already have that.”

“Even with our skills we can’t possibly make money in such a place.” James sighed. “We cut our losses early and we already have a place set up. That’s where we are heading now.”

“But there was such a delightful rumour we heard from the police.” Jessie confided as she gently put down her cup.

“It said a water gym leader from Kanto had gotten herself kidnapped. A crazy trainer from Kanto rushed down a deep hole to rescue her and that people were discovered living in the hole. A lost civilasation can you believe it?” James laughed.

“Only a twerp could get into so much trouble.” Jessie sniffed.

“It was not that crazy.” Ash muttered.

“Hey Twerp.” Jessie cut in. “Is the main twerpette okay?”

“Yeah.” Ash sighed. “It was crazy for a while but I brought her back. She’s with Pikachu right now. I dint want to leave her but it’s okay at leat for now.”

“You know twerp.” James confided. “I told Jessie all about your ambitions she was delighted.”

“But I don’t have any ambitions.” Ash said in confusion. Jessie fiddled with the handle of her cup and looked elsewhere.

“You want Misty’s heart right? Don’t you?” James pressed.

“Oh, that.” Ash said in embarrassment. He nervously wiped the back of his hand on his head. “Yeah, I like being with Misty a lot. I like her laughing, smiling. I want her safe, I want her with me too and I want to talk to her if she isn’t.”

“I don’t think we are there yet James.” Jessie sighed. “We have progress but he hasn’t got there yet.”

“I don’t want to disappoint her again or make her think I’m a kid again though.” Ash admitted. “She’s so far ahead of me. In knowing what she wants. In getting it, knowing about relationships and kissing. I feel so far behind.”

“She’s a girl.” Jessie said dryly. “We have a natural affinity for these sort of things.”

“You know the twerp here must be so cute to the twerpette.” James laughed. “You have to move slowly because you never know when it will be too much. So what you plan on doing to catch up in kissing?”

“James!” Jessie protested shocked.

“What Jessie? You don’t plan on letting such a twerp go around embarrassing himself do you?”

“James he’s a twerp embarrassing himself is written into the description already. You can’t be seriously even thinking of prying even further into this right?”

“I’ll just give him a simple prod Jessie. It’s not like me to stand by and watch a hard working rose fail to reach the sun.”

“Just who is this rose? The twerp or the twerpette?” Jessie demanded.

“How can you help?” Ash interrupted.

“Simple twerp.” James said in his element. “You practice.”

“Misty said if I practice on people Officer Jenny will arrest me. But if I practice with her she really will know how much I suck.” Ash complained.

“Practice on your hand. Like girls do.” James announced as he started in on his food.

“Girls so that? Kiss their hands?” Ash said bewildered. Misty did that too? “But that’s dumb.” He protested.

“It is what it is.” James spoke through tearing apart a large piece of pastry with his teeth. “It’s really good practice when you get the hang of it you can try again.”

“What’s the big fuss about kissing somebody?” Ash complained.

“It makes you feel closer to that person.” Jessie sighed. “A kiss can tell you how important you are to them and how much you want them. It is the action that can convey feelings.”

“Good one Jessie.” James said.

“Thank you Team Rocket.” Ash said standing. “I’ve got to go now.”

“Practice!” James yelped after him as he bolted back out of the outdoor cafe in the direction of the Pokémon Centre. He would be practicing.

The action that conveyed feelings. If he could master this, if he could really manage to do that. He would not have to worry about messing up as he spoke. He could show her how much she meant to him through a simple kiss.

Ash hesitated a bit. The Aura could do that too but he guessed he could save that for another time or for a different emotion or something.

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It took May a good hour to finally track down Gary. He was knee deep in Pokémon history records at the museum. She did not know why she had not picked there first to look.

“Gary!” She laughed. “I’ve got something really good to tell you!”

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Ash was in a hurry back to the Pokémon centre when something stopped him. The kid Georgio appeared just as Ash was two streets away. The guy was obviously waiting on him. Ash slowed to a walk. So this guy had come along too. Ash did not remember seeing him among everyone else.

“I saw when you left.” Georgio called out as a greeting. “I decided until you finished cooling your head or whatever it was you were out doing.”

“What do you want?” Ash asked his suspicion high as he faced the guy.

“To talk to you, but I would not be able to do it in front everyone. I don’t want anyone dragged into this.”

“If you wanted to battle me.” Ash said slowly fighting the urge to grit his teeth. “I’m ready anytime.”

“I said I wanted to talk.” Georgio replied folding his arms. “You really are stupid. If it was a battle I wanted there would be no reason to approach you like this.”

“What could you and I have to talk about?” Ash asked wanting to push on past the guy.

“Misty of course.” Georgio said effectively freezing Ash.

“No, we don’t. We don’t have Misty in common.” Ash said his voice hoarse. “You just live in her town. It’s one thing as a citizen to be concerned for her but we both know what I think about you. Things like you should just shut up.”

“You can’t stop me from being concerned. For caring.” Georgio snapped unfolding his hands to clench them at his sides.

“What makes you think you have something to tell me?” Ash demanded. “A little stalker fan should remain on the sidelines.”

“I care for Misty. This whole stuff that went on down here. Are you saying I can’t worry? That I can’t feel worried about her? Especially with everything that happened?”

“I did not foresee something like this happening. I don’t know who ever could.” Ash snapped feeling his temper get the better of him.

“I can protect Misty better than you can.” Georgio stated. “I left her with and look. Misty could have died down there.”

“You must be some sort of crazy.” Ash harshly whispered. “There is no way you can protect Misty better than I ever could. First off you are weak. Second there is no way to protect Misty fully unless you want to crush her spirit. Thirdly, Misty is strong, she does not even need protection.”

“This little adventure proves otherwise about the protection.” Georgio hissed.

“She had almost finished rescuing herself by the time I got there.” Ash said his stomach tight.

“You liar. I know she was unconscious from almost all the time she was dragged off.”

“Misty’s spirit is pure. Her Aura almost finished doing the job for her. It’s something you would not be able to see or even understand.”

“So you think because you have you a little power that this makes up for it? I’m supposed to forget about the fear I felt when I learnt about what happened to Misty. I love Misty!”

“Misty sees you as someone that belongs in her town. Mist sees you as one of the mass amount of people she has to protect. There is no way you would have been able to survive down there. No way you could have rescued her. You only recently opened your heart to Pokémon. Don’t yap at me for doing my job and pulling Misty out of trouble.” Ash snarled at Georgio seizing the front of the guy’s shirt.

“You act like you are so much to Misty. You are the one that left her and went travelling all over everywhere. You can’t even sit still.” Georgio taunted as he tried to wrestle the bit of shirt Ash was tightly grasping away. “I would stay by her side and help her, support her and the gym.”

“It must be so nice to be a guy without dreams and goals who can only suck up to his idol.” Ash snorted as he pushed Georgio away harshly. “Misty knows my goal. She understands that. She doesn’t hate or resent me for that. Moving forward to be the best. It’s not just what I do it’s who I am.”

Ash glared at Georgio. “So what if I have to leave. She knows I’ll be back. So what if she gets strong? That just makes me want to battle her more. If I was to go around big and bad trying to smother her in protection all the time when things like this happens she would never call out for me to save her.”

Ash took a step backward. “She knows I trust her. That I trust in her strength so in return she trusts me to always be there to help her out of difficult situations. She trusts my strength and I trust Misty to help me if I’m over my head. She is hot headed. Mew knows when she gets heated there is cooling her until she goes violent on you.”

Ash took another step back his breaths coming faster as he forced himself to cool down. “But you know what? We are a team. You can’t force a team. You are not a team with Misty.”

“The fact remains. I will be coming after Misty now.” Georgio said clutching at the wrinkled part of his shirt.

“You don’t have a chance.” Ash laughed. “Not because I’ll stop you or anything but because she doesn’t want you. Pushing feelings on someone who doesn’t want them is wrong. All you can do is make Misty hate and resent you. Why? Because you won’t take no for an answer.”

“I can protect her. I will do it better than you. Much better and I will prove it.”

“If everyone was always protected they would have no adventures. They would not make friends. They won’t learn anything new. No one would be happy. I was afraid for Misty. I was scared beyond anything. But I never once let down hope she was alive and fine. Because I trust her and because Misty knows about the danger and fun of adventures.”

Dusting his hands Ash passed Georgio who stood frozen. “I won’t take this lightly though. You make a move towards Misty I’ll be there blocking your way. You harass you I will hurt you. Be it a Pokémon battle or a brawl. I do what I’m willing to have my Pokémon do.”

“You can’t have her all to yourself Ash.”

“I know I won’t share her with people like you. Take my advice. Get yourself a dream, a goal a purpose. Something to hold onto. Because you are just going to annoy me and irritate Misty. You will never be able to understand those with big dreams.”

Ash stepped away from Georgio and continued on his way back to the Pokémon centre. This time Georgio did not stop him just let him continue on his way. Ash’s heart was racing his mind was spinning.

It was almost like he had been possessed the whole conversation but he knew he was not. The words he spoke it was not until he said it that he could understand them. Misty was his best friend. The girl he cared for the most. The girl he trusted the most and was desperate to protect.

The girl he wanted to see happy on adventures, determined in battles and by his side whenever he could have her there. That was not a bad thing. Glances back to see Georgio, Ash was greeted to the sight of Georgio walking away from where he had been standing confidently.

Ash knew the guy would never stand a chance. He would be unable to understand Misty to get to see all the sides of her personality. You learnt a lot from travel but that was not all. Ash knew he was not in the mood now and ever to give his place up when it came to Misty.

He could not describe how he felt. When one used aura to see another’s heart. One did not need words and Ash had seen her heart. It had been only for a moment but he knew what he felt in her heart. He sensed himself.