To Fight and Defend: Lost and Found
#2 of FightAndDefend
To Fight and Defend
Chapter 2: Lost And Found
A Story By: G'lek
When Ash awoke, he could taste blood in his mouth. Looking around, he saw he was in a Pokemon Center. Dawn and Brock were asleep in chairs and Michael's Flygon was hovering nearby, though Michael himself wasn't there. In the bed beside his, Ash saw Latias. He paused for a moment to admire her. She really was one of the more visually appealing Pokemon.
Ash tried to sit up, but found he was too weak to move. The Flygon noticed his actions and moved to keep him laying down. Ash decided to listen to the Pokemon and not get up. There was no clock, so he had no clue what time it was, and the window blinds were closed, blocking his view of the outside. Dawn and Brock both appeared tired, and Ash thought Dawn's eyes looked a little red.
Ash? The weak thought entered his head like a trickle of water.
Ash was too tired to talk. He couldn't bring his mouth to work properly. He felt terrible, unable to reassure Latias. Desperately, he wished he could speak to her in the same way she did to him. The trickle of thought began to grow into a small flow, and Ash realized he could understand it. The thoughts belonged to Latias. He could make very little sense of it, her mind being a strange and foreign place to him. He traced the flow back to its source and tried to envision his voice.
I'm here.
Are you alright?
Tired, sore, but I'll live.
You're talking to me.
Yeah, I'm not sure how, but I am.
The how doesn't matter. To hear your voice is good enough.
How long have we been out? Ash asked, knowing that Pokemon often had a better sense of time then people.
I don't know. My mind is still clouded.
He knew this would happen! Ash fumed. He knew we'd end up like this.
He's trying to slow us down, force us to use valuable time to get well.
We need to get moving, regardless.
Ash felt determination well up in himself, and he could feel it seeping through his link with Latias, giving her new energy as it gave him. Ash brushed Flygon's claw aside and climbed out of bed. He scanned the room for his cloths and pack. They were sitting on a chair next to Dawn. Ash forced his body to work, moving across the floor to get dressed.
Latias had managed to resume her psychic hovering and was steadfastly watching the wall while he dressed. When he was done, Ash opened his pack to retrieve his Pokeballs. Flygon had been watching concerned, and now he moved to wake Brock up. Brock snorted several times before he was fully roused, and when he spotted Ash, he nearly had a heart attack.
"Ash! What are you doing up! You need to rest."
"There's no time." Ash said, pulling his belt out and clipping it on. Dawn was waking up and when she realized what was happening, she added her two cents.
"Ash, this is crazy! You're going to injure yourself more."
"I've got two weeks, and I need every second of them."
"Ash," Brock said, not unkindly, "You've been asleep for two days."
This caused Ash to pause as the information sunk in. Then he hefted his pack.
"All the more reason to get going."
"This is crazy, Ash." Dawn said, raising her voice. "What is so important that you'd risk hurting yourself more?"
"Everything!" Ash shouted. "In less then two weeks, everything will be destroyed! I'm not going to lie in bed while that happens!"
Brock and Dawn both stared at him like he was crazy. It was Brock who said it first.
"Ash, you don't seriously believe what Michael said about the RiQue?"
"You bet I do! I've got this feeling, like something terrible is coming. It's the RiQue. And besides, Michael said that The One would have met every Legendary. I've met them all."
"Okay, but why is Latias here?"
"She's been having nightmares as well. The same ones I have. She came and found me while we were traveling to Goldenrod City."
"She's more then just a Pokemon." Michael commented, entering the room. He had changed his outfit to clothes meant for traveling. A leather jacket, with the same Flygon silhouette above one pocket and on the back, and a pair of black jeans composed the bulk of his outfit. He had abandoned the sunglasses, revealing his ice-blue eyes. He was wearing heavy boots and a pair of sturdy gloves with no fingers.
"The ancient text also tells of a Soul Mate, one who is The One's other half. The One is human, and his other half is a Pokemon to who he has bonded. She's a part of him, and him of her. Pokemon and human, male and female. The symmetry is undeniable."
He's right, you know. Latias whispered in Ash's mind.
"What are you doing?" Dawn asked.
"What does it look like? Ash is going to need all the help he can get. I'm coming with. I know the most about the old legends and I've always wanted to travel the world."
"This is crazy. You're all crazy."
"So you're not coming?" Ash asked.
"I'm not going to encourage this craziness, if that's what you're asking!"
"Fine. I'll see you around Dawn. Come on Pikachu."
Ash turned, grabbed Pikachu, and walked out of the room, Latias trailing close behind him. Brock and Dawn stared. Michael just chuckled and walked out as well, his Flygon following suit.
Michael's long stride made it easy for him to catch up to Ash. They walked in silence, Ash's mind working on processing what had happened. He could feel Latias watching his thoughts.
If you don't mind, I'd like to keep my thoughts to myself.
Sorry...
Sorry what?
It's just, you seem unhappy. Is it because you left your friends?
Yeah. I kinda hoped they'd stick around, but we can't get slowed down by them.
Don't judge them too harshly. Latias said, sounding unusually mature. They haven't had the nightmares. They don't know what we do.
I know.
Now, when do we get food? I'm hungry!
Ash decided to ignore this comment. He was still trying to make a plan. He needed to track down all the Legendaries. The problem was, some were going to be hard to find, like Mewtwo, and others would be extremely aggressive, like the Legendary Birds. He needed to find a Legendary who could both help keep the peace and find other Legendaries.
"We need to get to Shamouti Island." Ash declared.
"We'll need to get passage on a boat."
"That shouldn't be too hard."
"OR, we can go the fast way." Michael commented, pulling out a Pokeball. He idly released it, revealing a Salamance.
"Latias looks like she can carry your weight. It'll be faster then a boat, and we don't have any time to waste."
"Good idea!"
Latias, are you well enough to carry me?
Of course.
Ash sat himself into the crook at the base of Latias' neck as Michael mounted his Salamance. Together, the two rose into the sky, making a beeline for Shamouti Island, home of the Legendary Bird Pokemon and Lugia, Guardian of the Sea.
Dawn stood shocked in the Pokemon Center, unable to believe that Ash had just walked out on her and Brock.
"Brock?"
"I know, we should probably stop him before he gets hurt."
The pair dashed from the Pokemon Center. They were close on Ash's tail when they spotted Latias and a Salamance rising into the air.
"Look, there they go!" Dawn cried.
"They're heading in the direction of the Orange Archipelago! Ash must be trying to find either the Legendary Birds or... Lugia!"
"We've got to follow them!"
"We're going to have to follow on foot, we don't have any Pokemon that can fly."
"Then let's hurry!"
When Latias lost several feet worth of altitude, Ash both nearly had a heart attack and grew very concerned.
"Latias, are you alright?"
I'm... fine.
"No you're not, I can tell." Ash said. "Michael! We're landing!"
Latias' rate of descent was frightening, but she managed to slow for a soft landing on the Johto shoreline. Ash dismounted and began looking her over. He wasn't a doctor, but he knew a thing or two about Pokemon. Michael walked up beside him.
"She's exhausted. You probably are too. You two nap, me and Flygon will gather a meal. Then we can be off again."
"Sounds good." Ash said as he yawned. Latias was already lying down and half asleep. Ash lay down, supporting his head and back on the Eon Pokemon's belly. Her rhythmic breathing lulled him to sleep.
Michael grinned at the pair, thinking how perfect they were for each other. Even Ash's Pikachu could see the match, and was loath to intrude. Still, the little yellow Pokemon curled up in the crook of Ash's arm. Michael turned to Flygon and Salamance.
"You guys can hunt some fish, but make sure to bring some back for us!"
The pair took off, diving in and out of the ocean. Michael wandered a short distance into the forest to get some firewood and proceeded to setup a small fire. They hadn't traveled far, Goldenrod City was still visible on the horizon. Michael waited until Salamance and Flygon returned.
"Thanks guys. Salamance, you can leave your pile for Latias. I'll take those Flygon."
It wasn't long before the fish were gutted, scaled, and filleted. Michael cooked the fillets on a flat rock. He ate his share, then lay against a rock to watch the sun set. There was a good chance neither would wake before morning. It wasn't long before a Piplup emerged from the forest, sniffing.
"Hey, you looking for some food?"
"Piplup!"
"Here you go." Michael said, ripping a piece of fish. "You guys can come out, I know you're there."
Brock and Dawn emerged from the forest. The both sat down around the fire.
"We didn't think it was right to leave Ash." Dawn commented.
"We've got no clue if any of this is real." Brock said, remaining pessimistic. "Regardless, Ash is our friend."
"He'll be happy to hear that. You two get some rest. I'll wake you when he wakes up."
Author's Note: Another chapter, more progress. Next chapter will feature Lugia!