Chapter 47

The last few days had been taxing. Misty wiped back the bit of sweat that had dropped onto her cheeks. Since leaving Rolkving Town it had been one tournament after the other. The slow pace of before was long gone.

The pace was so fast now that she was unable to even keep up. In fact she could not go and cheer on the others because they had so many different events. Even now she was battling hard wishing she could be right with Ash.

Just that morning when he had room to come see her battle the unexpected had happened. She had seen the excitement and the frustration in his eyes. The others had long left.

Drew had an early battle. Dawn and May had teamed up in a contest. Cilan and Iris had gone to a class dragging a curious Bianca. Paul had, well Paul had left and Misty was assuming he had some sort of event.

He had been missing from the night before, he could be training but she could be wrong. She knew his focus had changed slightly but she could not be too sure. This was Paul after all.

The dust cleared from the battle field and Misty gritted her teeth. This double battle she had decided to use her Feebas and her Marill. This was the reason she so badly wanted Ash to see this battle.

She wanted him to see how the gift he gave her had flourished so far. As it was she left Toki with him just in case he was able to come early and view it. What was going on was just as important.

She was curious too but she wanted him to watch her win. His last battle had blown her away. The raw power was something note worthy. Misty wanted Ash to know she was just as amazing.

Her opponents Pokémon wobbled and she grinned. Whether he saw or not. She knew she was just as amazing and powerful.

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Ash was doing so much pacing and wringing of his hands. Finally it was happening. He loved this feeling. He really wanted to watch Misty’s battle. She had gotten to see one of his and he felt embarrassed over how hard he went out over something so small.

Her eyes when he saw them though. If had almost distracted him too much when he looked up from his opponent. She was shocked, he had loved it.

That amazement, the blush then the glint that came to light in her eyes. He seriously felt he could live in that gaze.

But now he was about to add another Pokémon to his team. The egg had finally acted up this morning and small cracking sounds had been head so instead of running to Misty’s event he had ran to Nurse Joy.

She understood though. Misty had smiled and waved him on his way. She was no doubt going to do some serious damage. Misty was all fired up.

Looking at the Pokémon bed where the egg rocked occasionally as Nurse Joy ran around attending to it Ash felt even more nervous. Pikachu was sitting behind him with Toki watching the events curiously.

When Toki had hatched he had been almost indifferent because he knew the results. But here it was a whole new Pokémon was going to be his in just a few minutes and he had not a clue what it was going to be.

“Ash, you can come forward.” Nurse Joy called to him as she stepped away. “It should be any minute now. This one is going to be healthy.”

“Ash stepped forward to the cracking rocking blue egg. He reached out a hand to touch it and the whole egg lit up with a pale white light.

Finally it was going to hatch. After all the waiting what he wanted the most was about to happen. Ash waited as the light grew brighter that he closed his eyes at the harshness. Peeking them open after a few seconds he felt rewarded to see the light dying down.

The light receded to reveal small, blue, dog-like Pokémon. Its legs and torso were coloured black it’s tail was also blue and it had a yellow collar around its neck. Riolu

Ash opened his mouth but no sound came out. His mind flashed back to the priestess woman and her Lucario. When they gave her the egg he had thought it would be a good Pokémon. But for them to give him the Lucario’s egg.

It was just amazing. The Riolu looked up at him with solemn red eyes. Just hatched yet so serious. Ash reached for the warm towels to soothe the young Pokémon. It watched him and he chuckled. This was just like it’s parent.

Toki set off with a bunch of racket behind him and Pikachu was heard trying to keep the young egg still. Ash could deal with this. This was no mistake. He remembered how they approached him, this was their way of trying to fit in with humanity again.

“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.”

A choice these people were intrusting him with raising this little one. Let it have a choice, and Ash was not fooled. This was ensuring that he would have no choice but to work on controlling his Aura.

It would not be a problem. He could still remember Crystala. One day he was going to be like her, he and Pikachu were not like how she and Lugia were but one day they would.

He and Pikachu, he and all his Pokémon. One day.

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To think that winning could make one so tired. Misty felt as though she had been put through a wringer. If she was this exhausted she did not want to contemplate how her opponent must feel.

How could people go through something like this so often? Was this what the Elite had to face? The champion maybe? Day in day out unable to say no to a battle and go out searching for them maybe.

Her gym was fairly easier. She could not refuse but she was given some leeway. With a title saying that you were one of the strongest. It then became infinitely harder. Her Pokémon were feeling the strain.

She never had done such a pace for Marill. Feebas was new. Could they keep this pace? Could anyone? Would she tire out before she even got to face Ross? Misty felt so tired.

Trudging towards the Pokémon Centre she tried to lift her spirits. Ash was there, the egg had to have hatched by now. He would be ecstatic no doubt. That was Ash behaviour. He would be twitching in excitement.

But he would be concerned for her too. Misty was curious too but to go and be excited right that moment. She heaved a huge sigh. She was not too sure if she had the energy for that. Walking with a noticeable slump Misty fantasized about a foot soak.

“That doesn’t look like someone who just won. In fact it looks like someone who lost badly Mist.” Ash’s voice came from the side of the road. Misty froze before whirling to find him.

Ash was propped against the wall on the other side of the path Pikachu perched on his shoulder and smirking. That was not what had her taken aback though. Right next to him it’s hands folded was a small Riolu.

It’s eyes were so serious and its attitude was one that vibrated the air. This had to have been the Pokémon in the egg. It was so cute. She felt her exhaustion dissipating.

“I won, I will have you know.” She pouted approaching him. ignoring him she stooped to look the Riolu in the eye. “Who is this cutie?”

“My new buddy.” Ash said proudly. “He’s a guy, guys aren’t cuties Misty he might be a baby but I don’t need another Toki here. Don’t you dare do anything mushy.” Riolu blushed looking at her and Misty grinned.

“You look so strong and cute!”

“Piiika.” Came the complaint from Ash’s shoulder.

“Not forgetting you Pikapal!” Misty laughed. “Riolu looks like he will be a great friend.” Extending her hand towards him she grinned again. “I’m Misty! Nice to meet you Riolu!”

Grasping his hand Misty felt a small surge of Aura when they shook hands. Riolu looked so solemn but cute with it. The serious look diminished with the big red cute eyes. Ash and Riolu made a perfect pair. She stifled a giggle and released the hand.

“Let’s work hard okay?” She said smiling at Riolu who blushed even more.

“Mist, Riolu is my Pokémon.” Ash said stooping down as well. “Look have Toki back.” He sighed handing over the pokeball.

Releasing Toki and holding her Misty rolled her eyes. “Riolu is just a baby Ash. Should you be really making walk all over town?”

“He wanted to.” Ash shrugged in response. “For a while I decided to do this. He doesn’t seem to want to be in the pokeball if he does not have to. So I’m letting him walk around. He really is weird like that.”

“Don’t call Riolu weird.” Misty sighed.

“Moment he was hatched he was letting me know in strict terms he understood what was going on. Can’t treat this one like a hatchling Misty. He knows what he wants. Don’t forget where he comes from. He wants to experience the world outside if only for a little while.”

“So he wants to fight?” Misty asked looking into the big red eyes. Those eyes looking so solemn. Could they really experience battle?

“I think so. Will test it later today. First battle is important so I was wondering who to get to fight him.” Ash said as he stood back up.

“Not Paul or Drew.” Misty said doing the same as Ash and standing back up.

“Those guys don’t know the meaning of hold back or be gentle when it comes to battle.” Ash grimaced as he absently took Riolu’s hand in his as they turned to head to the centre.

“Tell me about it.” Misty winced. She had grimaced a bit of Paul’s attempt to help Dawn with training. It was more of a massacre. Even though she knew he liked Dawn. Paul gave no mercy. From the bit she had seen anyway.

“Yeah well, fighting May or Dawn is pretty much out. I believe in them but this is not their thing.” Ash continued as Riolu tottered after them holding his hand like a child. Misty bit back her smile as she concentrated on the conversation.

“Cilan or Iris would be good I guess then.” She nodded thinking about it.

“Yup, Bianca is too ditzy for this. So either them or you.” Ash yawned. “But I was hoping for you because Cilan might go off on a lecture and Iris is always running around doing something or the other.”

“Oh.” Misty frowned. “But I’m busy during the day too.”

“But we can have a joint training session at night. You know when you practice with Marill, Feebas and Psyduck.” Ash pointed out.

“You, so you know about that?” She asked slanting his a questioning glance.

“Yeah, I usually walk around sometimes at night or do some sparring with Pikachu or help out Dratini some bit around then so I saw you a few times since we left Rolkving.” Ash said as they turned down the gap leading to the centre.

“But, I don’t get it.” Misty said in confusion. “If you saw me, why didn’t you at least say anything?”

The doors to the centre whooshed open and Ash paused his walking to stare at her his eyes narrowed in confusion.

“Misty, you were busy training. At that time away from everyone it was obvious you didn’t want to be interrupted or bothered. So I left. I was doing my own thing too.”

Misty was left behind by a little as he moved on she was left looking at his back. Was he always like this? This Ash. He really and truly was someone she could never say she exceeded by far. A small lurked on her lips.

It looked as if she had to try even harder now. Mentally Ash was not the same as before. Spiritually yes but mentally he was seeing things around him in new light.

If she had travelled with this Ash back then, would she have the courage and strength to leave him? between them, who was mentally stronger?

“Misty! Hurry up.” Ash had turned around ahead of her and was extending his free hand to her as his eyebrows wrinkled in irritation. “Don’t dream, let’s go!”

“Pika!” Pikachu squeaked from his shoulder.

Who was stronger mentally. She did not want to know. But she did want to take that hand though. Her body was moving before she could process it. Did it really matter what could have happened then? This was now. This was her.

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May felt her hair sticking to her face. She felt at her worst. Battle after battle. Lecture after lecture. She was improving but she needed some sort of boost.

She felt this pace was getting to be too much. The last lecture on contests had to do with appearance. Somehow she thought Drew would be there but halfway into the class she realised that there was no need for him to go.

Everything that was touched on in the class Drew already had. Calm, moves, dedication and passion. A complicated confusing mix but seeing the videos in class she understood.

May thought she had that too but all in her battles she had been continuously corrected over and over. She was not to let her fear get to her. She was not analysing well enough. There was no afterthought to her ultimate moves.

She felt her heart breaking when the instructor broke her combination move. She had spent the last three hours trying to create a counter combination for when her moves got broken.

The fact she had to say when and not if. May felt almost desolate. So much time and effort went into creating beautiful combination moves. Then to know people could come in and take it apart making themselves look good.

It was infuriating. But it gave her a new goal. If it was to be broken then she wanted that it looked clumsy. If others were going to break it she wanted that they had the worst time possible. They had to work for it.

It took weeks to get something like what she did. There was no way they were going to sweep in take it apart and leave her looking like someone there to make them look good. May gritted her teeth. That would never ever happen.

“It’s you isn’t it?” A voice came from behind her. May frowned and looked around to face the owner of the voice. “It is! It certainly have been quite a while May! Long time no see!”

A short haired fiery amber headed girl with sparkling blue eyes and a determined expression was the one talking to her. May’s brain was working slowly until she took in everything. The bang, the eyes, that voice and way of speaking. Then it clicked.

“Brianna!” She said feeling the exhaustion melt away. “It’s been such a while.” She happily embraced Brianna a coordinator she had met so long ago in her journey around Kanto.

“I know! I always thought I would get to battle you again but we kept missing each other. How have you been?” Brianna asked. May was stunned. If it had not been for her voice, hair and eyes she would have never recognised the girl.

Puberty had hit this girl hard and swept her along like a rushing river. She was tanned, muscular but not in a bad way just fit. Her hair was curlier than before and she glimmered with self confidence. It was uncanny.

“I’ve been just fine.” May waved out. “But what about you? Are you still a big fan of Drew?” The flush that covered the girl’s cheeks answered the question for May. Brianna still was crushing and idolising Drew.

“Mr Drew?” Brianna asked her eyes lighting up. “Of course! I’m still a really big fan. He keeps getting better and better. But no one has seen him for a while though. I’ve improved a lot but I wanted to get better so I came here for a while.”

“Oh, really not seen him.” May said hesitantly. It was not like she should say that she saw Drew recently. In fact was travelling with him at the moment. The mention of her idol changed little Brianna into a little devil.

“Oi! May! That is where you are.” Drew’s voice came floating over strong and clear. May froze, this could not be happening. Already she was seeing the changes come over Brianna’s face. The shock, joy. The clenching of her hands the shaking body.

“So you finished alright then?” Drew said as he walked over. “Just saw Cilan heading off to the pokemart you wouldn’t have eaten since early this morning so we should get something to eat. You have something in the evening Misty told me.”

“Mr Drew.” Brianna breathed her hands shaking as she faced Drew.

“Huh?” Drew frowned looking at her.

“Um, so sorry! I don’t think you would remember me so far back. I’m not even an official member of your regional fan club as yet.” Brianna gushed. “It’s so good to see you again in the flesh though.” She blushed.

“Hey. I remember you.” Drew said slowly. “The girl with the awesome Vibrava right? The one with the Surskit too. I remember you.”

“Oh thank you!” Brianna gushed before bowing quickly. “It was such a long time ago. I thought for sure you would have forgotten.”

“You showed real promise.” Drew smiled as he flicked a small section of his hair back. “Others would not notice but I saw you had some real talent in you how are your Pokémon by the way?”

“Um they both evolved!” Brianna blurted out. “I also caught new Pokémon as well but those two I use the when it comes close up to the festivals and train every day.”

“That is smart.” Drew grinned. “Especially for an intense dragon type like ours. Flygon needs constant training and flying or they begin to lose their edge.”

“Yes! I noticed that.” Brianna said her cheeks flushed clasping her hands and staring at Drew.

“Hey!” They all turned around. May saw a surly looking Paul glaring at them from a distance away. He motioned angrily towards Drew.

“Come we have work to do.” Paul grunted before turning away. Drew laughed before turning back to them. May saw that he was even more animated that before.

“Sorry, we will have to talk another time. I have an event soon. Guess I’ll see everyone later on then. See you.” Drew saluted before shoving his hand in his pocket and strolling in the direction had disappeared towards.

“Goodbye Mr Drew!” Brianna giggled. Drew turned around walking backwards as he did so.

“See you later, um ah Brianna!” He laughed before turning around again. May felt stunned.

“Wow, still so dreamy.” Brianna sighed watching where Drew had disappeared to.

“Matter of opinion really.” May shrugged feeling all her exhaustion rush back towards her.

“Right. So when were you going to tell me that Mr Drew was in town?” Brianna demanded her voice chillingly cold.

“It’s not my information to give out.” May pointed out only to have Brianna grit her teeth.

“So this again huh. Why are you with him?”

“Doing the same thing you are doing.” May gritted back. “We needed to train and we ran into each other here. Our different groups travel together and that is all.”

“So what? You think you can beat me again? My devotion for Drew goes deeper than your May.” Brianna laughed cruelly glaring at May.

“I admire Drew and I like battling him but I prefer how things are thank you.” May said turning away. Brianna would be the last person she would ever confide in. She took Drew way too serious.

“Besides what happened to you wanting him to acknowledge you?” May taunted her throat tight. “That was all you could think about the last time I saw you.”

“I think I can do it now.” Brianna said smugly. “He remembered me. You saw that. I’m going to battle him and tell him finally my feelings for him.”

“What will that ever do?” May gritted.

“Isn’t it obvious?” It gets me one step closer. Then soon I’ll be the one Mr Drew has an interest in and battles seriously.”

“If you think you are good enough to battle him.” May said fire igniting in her gut.

“Oh I am. Your little petty combinations are going to be torn to shreds before me and in front of Mr Drew May. You’ve been Princess for far too long. It’s time for a fan to stand up and be at Mr Drew’s side. Someone who can compliment him once and for all.”

May felt the anger she had been suppressing rise just a little higher inside her. She thought she had been tired, she thought she had almost no more energy left.

She was wrong. She had lots more and she could not wait to help snuff that flame of Brianna’s and every single person who undermined or underestimated her and her talents.

She did not get her title by looking pretty. She fought hard, studied hard. Endured things no one would normally have to face. To have someone like this no matter that she was nice when Drew was not involved.

To have a girl like this tell her, her title could be easily striped. It really fired her up. May felt her anger surge inside her like a living dragon. The battles, the lectures, the snide jokes, seeing and having to watch Manaphy again. These things just kept adding up.

“When you feel like it. You can come anytime.” May said her voice cold.

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This pace was going to kill them. Iris sat tiredly watching as May, Misty and Bianca sat together in the cafeteria in a debate as they read a magazine.

She on the other hand was so tired that even drinking through a straw seemed like too much work. She envied Misty. Misty looked so relaxed and carefree. Iris knew her work load was a lot harder than the lot of them.

Yet she made it look so easy. Iris sighed as Misty chuckled and turned the page of the magazine. Just a bit more travelling and they would arrive in the town that Misty was to have her showdown. Yet she looked like it did not bother her at all.

Iris wanted that sort of confidence. That sort of nonchalance. She knew she had something but it was not on the level of this girl’s one. Did it come in after managing a gym by one self.

Or did it come from countless travel? Was it a mental or a physical thing. Questions kept piling up in her mind until she had to stop, look away and blink rapidly. This was not getting her anywhere.

She came here to eat, rest a bit before she attended the night lecture here. They were talking about plant properties and the weakness they could prevent to type Pokémon.

Iris was going to attend and take notes. She just had to. Stifling a yawn she twirled her straw in her drink. This pace was a bit too much.

“Iris, you should take it easy and let you brain rest at least.” Cilan’s voice said behind her. Cilan sat in the seat next to her and gently placed his hand over hers that twirled the straw. Iris stifled embarrassment.

It had been slowly escalating. The talks, the touching. Nothing to an outsider but she felt herself slowly being pulled to him. her eyes rose to his to see he was sadly looking at her half eaten lunch.

“I guess this really takes a lot out of one. But we are slowly running out of time. We need to cram that is to say.”

“Yes.” She sighed, they were running out of time. A bit more. A few weeks a few more and they would have made the complete circle and would be ready to leave here again.

Then they would be going their own separate ways. To contests. To challenge gyms. To work in a lab. To travel. To operate a gym. To become the best. To find their way.

In a few weeks this would be over, no more travelling, no more group. It would not even be the group halved but they would all be going off alone.

Each their separate ways with what they had learned from all of this. There was the phones and mail. They could perhaps visit each other.

She knew she would see some of them on television especially when the time came for finals. It is not like she would never see them again but still.

After being together every day for so long. To say goodbye. It did make her feel uncomfortable. Uneasy, it was hard to think about.

A few weeks and the training camp would be over. In a few weeks, she would be going back to Unova. To start new. To be a gym leader.

In a few weeks, Cilan would be on his journey again to become the best he could possibly. Maybe keep travelling to upgrade his skills.

In a few weeks. What would become of them? What would they do in a few weeks? What would they do when they all had to go their separate ways? The idea did not hold any merit. In fact. Just thinking about saying goodbye made her heart clench.

It was not just the thought of saying goodbye to Cilan, it was saying goodbye to Ash and Pikachu. Saying goodbye to Drew and Paul. Saying goodbye to May, Misty and Dawn wishing Bianca on her way.

This was going to be hard. Thinking about leaving and that would happen to their group. This would be the last time they would be able to really do something like this.

After this, they were going full out for their dreams. After getting them, there will not be the freedom they have right this moment. This was going to be their last journey ever like this. Thinking about it, a lone tear bloomed in her eye but she could not brush it away.

The reality of all of this. It made her wish this journey could continue forever. Just so she would never have to say goodbye to the moments, the people and the adventures.