章 24: Hoenn

Ash, "Have a fun vacation with Wallace, Steven."

Gou smiled, "Let's meet up again."

May, "Yeah, we can share more stories."

Max, "Especially about your journeys. It was fun listening to you."

Molly, "Yes agreed."

Steven, "Oh most definitely, take care you lot."

Ruby, "See you later Steven."

Steven softened, "Yes, take care Ruby. Stay in touch ok."

Ruby smiled, "Always."

They waved farewell to Steven and started travelling through the desert road that connected the cave to the next city that was two weeks away on foot. It was not a bad choice considering the weather in the next two weeks was said to be clear and there would be no rain till the third week. On the road they trained together and both Treeko and Taillow demanded to have Ever stone for themselves as well. They had been talking with Chimchar apparently and decided they wanted to increase their strengths in their current forms before they evolved into the next one. Ash smiled and took out the ones that had originally belonged to Venasaur and Blastoise when they trained.

May, "You are giving them Ever stones?"

Ash, "Yes, they want to focus on training and getting stronger in this form first."

Max, "Is that why your Charizard, Blastoise and Venasaur are powerful?"

Molly, "I watched the League battles too and yeah they were very powerful."

Ash, "Yes, they have been watching those battles and want to train the same way."

Gou, "Admittedly it is a good way to train and the results speak for themselves."

Max, "Agreed!"

May, "Should I get Ever stones too?"

Torchic, "Tor tor."

Molly, "What do you think Mudkip?"

Mudkip, "Kip mud."

May, "Torchic wants one. It is a little late to get one for Honchkrow I guess."

Honchkrow huffed, "Krowwww krow."

Lucario, -Indeed you can still get strong as a final evolution. I only used the stone to master the moves and attacks. I focused on strength after evolving.-

Ash, "Good thing too. It made you really strong Lucario."

Lucario, -I had the best trainer and Meema to teach and guide me.-

Ash cooed, "You are so sweet Lucario."

Lucario, -Mnn. Hey look over there.-

Ash, "Is that a circus?"

Gou took out a few phamphlets, "One second. I think that's the travelling circus... Ah! Here we are the seven circle circus."

Ash, "Huh! Interesting name."

Absol growled, "Sol."

Ash, "Absol? You don't like them huh?"

Absol puffed up, "Sol absol sol."

Ash, "Yeah they are a little odd, aren't they?"

Lucario, -We should keep an eye out for anything odd then.-

Max, "Are we avoiding them then? Or are we going to watch them?"

Breloom scowled, "Loom bre breloom."

Ash, "We can keep our distance while making sure they are not doing anything very dangerous."

Absol, "Sol."

Abra, -I agree with Absol. It is weird, the air is weird there.-

Eevee nodded, "Vui."

Ash frowned, "Diance, disguise now. Let's stay under the radar and keep an eye out."

Diance pouted but agree, "An diance an."

Lucario chuckled, -It is for our safety dear one. Do not fret. Once we reach Kalos you can roam around as freely as you wish.-

Ash, "Agreed, Kalos is your home region after all."

Diance nodded and joined Molly and Max who grinned at her as the three of them headed in the direction of the circus. Ash pat Absol to calm him down and told him to observe the situation first and then they can take actions accordingly. There were a good number of people who were heading to the circus to watch the show and the host was someone called Butler. Absol narrowed his eyes at him and Lucario muttered he was going to look around and make sure there was nothing wrong. Ash nodded but told them to be careful and Ruby called his Misdreavous to join Lucario and Absol and give them a hand.

Butler, "Welcome old and new, ladies and gentlemen, children and Pokemon of all ages to the seven circle circus. We have plenty of new acts this year for you to enjoy."

Max whispered, "Ash, I am taking Houndour out for a bit. She is restless."

Gou, "Okay, just stay safe ok."

May, "Do you need me to come with you."

Max, "Nah, I don't think it will take long."

Molly, "Wao! Those Slugma are really cool."

Ash, "They are awesome."

Max smiled as he and Breloom left with Houndour and waited for the pup to finish his business in the bushes. Houndour gave a happy bark as she finished and Max made sure she was clean before heading back to the tent where the show was happening. Butler was putting on quiet the show impressing the audience with his Pokemon and Ash had to admit the performance was impressive even at show case level. Molly and May cheered and after the show was over they decided to go outside and have a look around at the shops. May found a seven - panelled novelty that the seller said would fulfill her wish, May did not believe it but it sounded like fun.

Max on the other hand was distracted by a shine coming from one of the tents, 'What is that?'

Breloom held his shoulder, "Loom bre breloom."

Houndour growled, "Ourrrrrr."

Max pat them, "Hey, it is okay. Relax you two, remember what Ash said, stay calm and observe the situation. After that we take actions accordingly okay?"

Breloom took a deep breath and nodded in agreement, "Bre breloom loom bre."

Houndour, "Ourrrrrr houndour."

Max, "Let's go and have a look okay, it could be nothing."

Max headed to the tent and saw Lucario trying to break something open, while Absol was barking at some Pokemon. Breloom became tense and held Max's shoulder to keep him from running in but he should have been more worried about Houndour. The pup ran inside which was followed by Max followed by a cursing Breloom who ran after them while Lucario, Misdreavous and Absol were working together to free a Pokemon that was inside. May was starting to get worried, they had been waiting for Max but he was nowhere to be seen and even Ash was getting agitated, Lucario and Absol had not returned either.

Ruby got up, "Molly, let's go look in that direction. Ash, May go in the other direction, Gou see if you can find Max from the air."

Molly, "Okay Ruby, I hope we are just getting paranoid."

May, "Me too, Molly. Max is smart so I am sure he is alright. He has to be alright."

Ash, "Do not worry May, it is like you said Max is very smart."

Gou, "Yeah, I am sure he is alright. We will find him don't worry. Anyone who hurts him will have to answer to us."

They went in separate directions looking for Max and hoping he has not gotten into trouble with anyone. Ash and May were heading to the tents that were further from the circus tent and heard sounds similar to a Pokemon battle. They rushed to the area and saw Lucario ordering the other Pokemon including an extra Absol to attack another group of Pokemon. Ash and May nodded calling their own Pokemon out to help Lucario and the others out and what in heaven's name was Max holding. May decided to find out later, it was more important to get her brother away from the obvious battle zone first.

Lucario barked, -Go Max go, we got your back.-

Max, "Thanks Lucario. Do not worry Jiraichi I will get you to a safe place."

Jiraichi hummed, -Thank you young Max, I appreciate the help.-

Max, "No problem."

Ash, "May get Max out of here. I will be right behind you."

May, "Okay, but you better be unhurt or Gou will have my head very literally."

Ash, "He worries too much. Now go."

May, "Max, this way now!"

Max, "May, I am coming. Hold on Jiraichi."

Breloom fed up picked her trainer up and barked at Houndour to return to her pokeball at once before using trailblazer. May grinned calling her Ponyta and hoping on top of it leading the way while Ash focused on knocking out the angry Pokemon. With May and Max away Ash gave the order to go all out making Lucario grin a little sadistically as he attacked the Pokemon. It took a while but the Pokemon were soon out cold and only Ash, Eevee, Abra, Lucario, Absol and the older wild Absol were standing. Before Ash could say anything Lucario mentioned someone was heading their way and Ash decided to book it.

Ash, "Come on everyone, you too Absol. We need to talk."

Wild Absol, "Sol ab."

Lucario, -Do not worry about Lord Jiraichi, he will be safe with Max.-

Absol stared at the Diance peeking at him from Ash's shoulder and decided to trust this group and go with them. Her danger senses were not ringing when she was around them so she figured they were safe to be around. The young pup she noticed stuck close to the human boy just like Abra and the little Princess were holding on to him and she wondered who he was.

Lucario saw her look, -Meema is am Aura User.-

Absol almost tripped, "Ab absol ab! Ab sol sol? Absol."

Lucario smirked, -I kid you not. Yes, he is not an Aura Guardian yet and yes, he is trusted with the Princess of all Pokemon.-

Absol was flabbergasted, "Sol.... "

Lucario, -I know the feeling, we were pretty shocked too but Lord Mew insisted and now we are here.-

May meanwhile met with the rest, "Gou, Ruby, Molly, we are back."

Max, "We got trouble in our hands though, they were keeping Jiraichi here captive and doing experiments on him."

Ruby, "Excuse me? They were what?"

May, "It's true. I did not see much as I was focused on getting Max away but I saw the cage they were keeping Jiraichi in."

Ruby, "I see, get out of here. I will go and investigate. Ash is at the site?"

May, "Yes, he said he would be right behind me though."

Ash, "Relax, we are here."

Gou, "Ash, thank goodness you are back."

Ash was angry however, "We are ok but we have a lot of questions for the people running this circus."

Ruby, "I will deal with it. Calm down, you are making Jiraichi nervous."

Ash looked at Jiraichi and softened, "I am not angry at you Jiraichi, just at the people who captured you and made this mess."

Jiraichi shook his head, -No, no, no, that's not it. You are an Aura User yes?-

Ash kneeled down, "Yes I am Lord of Wishes, I suppose you have a request for me?"

Gou tensed, "Again?"

Ash sighed looking at Gou, "We are away from the City and there is no way Riley can get here on time. At least, not before whoever captured Jiraichi here finds us."

May muttered, "That's a good point."

Gou frowned, "Fine but I am helping you this time and you are not allowed to say no."

Jiraichi looked between the two boys and giggled, -I do not mind extra help. It was not just the Aura Users that helped me before you know?-

Gou, "Good, because I am not backing out."

Ruby, "You guys get out of here. As the current Champion, I can exercise my power to delay any pursuers with surprise checks."

Ash, "I am so glad I am not his enemy."

Max, "Yeah, you looked really intimidating there Ruby."

Molly nodded, "Uh huh!"

Ruby chuckled, "Just stay safe and I will not have to scold you."

Max, "Aye sir."

May, "So what is this request? Yes, I am helping, no you are not allowed to deny."

Ash raised his hands, "I did not say anything."

Jiraichi laughed, -I like your friends Max, they really are nice as you said. I am glad I agreed to go with you. Now, as for my request you need to return me to my temple.-