Chương 23: Hoenn

Brawly, "I am proud to present you with the Knuckle badge. Hariyama really had a lot of fun fighting Lucario."

Hariyama nodded, "Hari ri ya hariyama."

Lucario grinned, -I would love to battle again brother.-

Ash, "Once I have collected the Gym badges could we have another match?"

Brawly smirked, "Of course, we love a good battle, right Hariyama?"

Hariyama, "Ri."

Ruby chuckled, "Brawly raises some of the best fighting types in Hoenn. I am not at all surprised you enjoyed battling him."

Ash, "Yeah, let's meet up again to battle."

Brawly shook hands, "That is something I look forward to. Ruby? Do you want a battle?"

Ruby smirked, "You read my mind."

The two moved to another battle area and Ruby chose his Blaziken while Brawly chose his Infernape who was quite large. Ash and Torchic both lit up on seeing the Pokemon that were picked and Lucario was very interested as well. Ash called his Chimchar out telling him there was a special battle that he would be interested in and Chimchar saw Infernape. The fire type monkey sat next to the fire type chick who chirped happily at him happily and Chimchar chittered back in greeting. The two fire types started to battle and everyone watched with interest, it was not everyday they could watch high level fire types battle.

Brawly, "That was fun."

Ruby grinned, "Totally."

Brawly, "Will you guys be observing the Millennium Comet festival?"

Molly, "Millennium Comet festival?"

Max, "Oh yeah! The millennium comet is returning to Hoenn this year."

May, "Oh, mom used to tell us stories about the comet. I am very excited."

Ruby, "Great we have a plan."

The group headed to the Pokemon center to get their Pokemon checked and healed from the exciting battles. Ruby took out a map and after talking to a few experts on the comet from Mossdeep City. The scientist assured Ruby they could observe the comet from anywhere in Hoenn as long as they had a clear sky. The next day they bade farewell to Brawly who waved them farewell while on his morning run and the group started to travel again. As they traveled they came across a large gathering of Wrumple in the forest and May's Wrumple wriggled to join them.

Ruby chuckled, "Looks like we are staying here for lunch."

Ash, "Fine by me. It is past noon anyway."

Molly, "They are so cute though some of them look at little different."

Max, "Probably because some will evolve into a Dustox and others into Beautifly."

Gou, "This place is very popular for it's wild fruit which is sweet. I wonder if that is the reason why there are so many Wrumple around the area."

Ruby, "Correct! There is a cave nearby rich in Granite too. Steven enjoys digging around the area to collect new stones."

Max perked up, "Do you think he is here?"

Ash, "It is possible. Steven mentioned he was going to be searching for new stones a few days ago."

Ash, "We can go search for him after lunch."

Ruby, "Yeah, I don't want him breathing down my neck about food."

Molly giggled, "They care about you."

Ruby softened, "I know they do."

Gou, "Great let's eat. Then you can pester him about eating."

Molly and Max sat by Ash's sides while May went off to call her Wrumple for lunch and Gou helped Ruby with the food. The lunch consisted of baked bread, egg and tomato stew, sliced fruits and milkshakes they had made back in the cooking centre. Gou sat across Ash while Ruby sat across Max and Molly and May were sitting facing each other as they ate. While they were eating Ruby brought up the topic of Legendary Pokemon and how Orion had been keeping an eye out for other fellow Legendaries. One of the larger Kyogre was missing according to the Kyogre pod they kept in contact with.

May, "I hope we will not have to deal with a grumpy Legendary."

Ash, "You never know May. But it does not hurt to hope for the best."

Ruby, "True, come on let's go meet Steven."

Max, "Will he join us for the viewing?"

Gou, "We still have three days to go before we can see the comet."

Ash, "Enough time to make plans though he might have plans with Wallace for a romantic getaway."

Molly giggled, "Well comet sighting does sound very romantic. Mom has been talking about finishing her work so she and Dad can have a week off together."

Ash smiled, "I remember they would do the same for Christmas and New Year before."

Molly nodded, "Yeah, Christmas is my favorite season for that reason. It was nice to spend time with them."

May, "I can see the caves. We are not the only ones here."

Ruby hummed, "Looks like Steven has discovered something new again."

Steven saw them, "Ruby, Ash, Gou, young May, Max and Molly."

May, "Why am I put with the young ones?"

Steven snickered, "I did watch you grow up."

Ash giggled, "I get the feeling. I feel the same about some of my Pokemon."

Max, "So, what's going on here?"

Steven, "Oh this? We found a hidden storage from heaven knows how many years ago. The archaeologists are coming down to verify and check it."

Ash walked over to the old looking pots, "It looks like stored honey and dried seeds."

Gou, "I have never seen seeds like these before."

Ash, 'It looks like millet rice grains but I could be wrong.'

Gou, "Do you recognize them?"

Ash, "Hm? Oh, it does look a little familiar like the wild rice that sometimes grows on the outskirts of the farm area."

May, "Really? Oh man! It does look like the wild rice grains."

Steven chuckled, "It is possible they are rice grains after all back then harvest methods were very simple and they did not have the technology we have."

Gou, "Still this is such a really cool discovery."

Ash, "Yeah, I have always been curious about what people ate in the past. The soldiers in story books are described as strong as a Machoke so imagine replicating that diet here."

Steven ruffled his hair, "Yeah, I can see what you mean. That would be very cool."

Ruby, "We are planning on observing the millennium comet the next few days."

Steven nodded grinning, "I plan to do the same with Wallace. We have been looking forward to this break."

Ash, "That's why you both have been out in the field working overtime."

May, "I thought it was a little strange Wallace was doing multiple interviews. This makes sense now."

Steven, "Come on, I will show you around while we wait."

Steven leas the group and showed them where he and his team had found the newly unearthed treasure. From the limited knowledge Steven had he explained in the past people would store food in cool and dry cave areas like this one before refregeration was invented. After a few hours they were joined by the archaeologists Steven had called and the area got cordoned off for more investigation and research. They decided to camp out by the site and train a bit more before heading out to the next town which was four days away by foot and more if training was involved.

Steven, "I am kind of glad you are sticking around for the night. My Metagross enjoyed training with your Pokemon."

Ruby chuckled, "And you got to spend time with Diance away from prying eyes."

Steven grinned, "That too. She is one very beautiful Pokemon. I am almost envious of you, Ash."

Ash, "Heh! Be careful what you wish for Steven. Lord Mew might just take it as permission to saddle you with your own Legendary Pokemon."

Gou, "They already think they have carte blanche to act how they want with Aura Guardians."

Max, "Yeah, I am just glad Orion does not go around kidnapping trainers."

May nodded, "Agreed! Chasing after him would be very difficult."

Molly, "I do not have a flying type strong enough to chase after him yet."

Steven's lips twitched, 'Oh if only you knew how the first few weeks went.'

Ruby, 'Not a word, not a word. Orion is already embarrassed enough as it is.'

Steven, "How is the shadow gym challenge going for you? I heard you took part in two."

Ash, "No, just one."

Steven, "Didn't you battle Brawly's Hariyama though?"

Max, "Wait, what? Brawly is a shadow gym leader too?"

May, "Doesn't that put pressure on him?"

Steven, "If it was anyone else other than Brawly maybe. But from what I have seen he enjoys the extra stimulation being a shadow gym leader gives."

Ash, "He really took the term shadow gym to the next level though. I did not even know or realize he was one."

Steven laughed, "He loves his challenges and he was messaging in the group about you for quite a bit too."

Ruby, "Mnn... Yeah, the notification for the Gym leader group kept ringing a lot."

Ash, "Huh, well I am glad I left a positive impression on him."

Steven, "I think he was hoping to battle Annihilape more though. Pity the regulations are not allowing your Pokemon to enter Hoenn."

Ash, "Rules are rules, I guess. It can't be helped anyway they are trying to allow him entry now. Especially after a few more trainers with Annihilape appearing now."

Gou, "I don't know how you can be so calm about this. I would not be able to stand if I was not allowed to bring my Pokemon for whatever reason."

Ash, "As long as they are safe I am happy besides from what Professor Oak tells my both Tyrantrum and Annihilape are celebrities now. They have a lot of visitors that wish to observe and study them."

Steven, "I see, sounds like fun."

Ash, "Don't get me wrong there have been people who wish to claim them. I just delete or shred those requests. Humph! If they want one they can go find one just like the rest of us."

Ruby raised a glass, "Hear hear! No way I am giving my Orion to some arrogant fool either. They will need to win Orion's and the rest of my Pokemon's heart and trust for me to even start considering it."

Gou, "Especially when there is no guarantee they will take good care of our Pokemon. I bet most of those request are from strangers too."

Ash, "They are. My friends know if they require help they just need to request it and I trust them. Strangers though are a different matter."

Lucario, -Meema, Diance is asleep.-

Ash, "Thank you Lucario. Guess that's my que to sleep as well. Good night."

Steven, "Good night Ash."

May, "Come on Max, Molly, we should sleep too. Gou?"

Gou, "I will join you in a bit."

Ruby watched them leave, "Something wrong Gou?"

Gou, "I will be honest I am worried about Ash."

Steven, "What's wrong?"

Gou, "It's just whenever the topic of Aura Guardians come up he becomes withdrawn and quiet."

Ruby, "Ah! I get it. Well a little bit."

Steven had a sad look in his eyes, "The first thing you should understand is that Aura users are more intrisincally connected to the world around us."

Gou, "That means what for Ash?"

Steven, "Meaning any form of loss created by destruction will be felt more deeply by him then anyone else. You mentioned his relative on his cousin's side wanted to use him as a weapon."

Gou, "Yes, Gonzalez thinks Ash is Giovanni's son. He is wrong but despite proof that crazy man will not stop targeting Ash."

Steven nodded, "Yes, being treated like an object would leave a bad taste a expression in his aura. I recall Riley dealing with being objectified too, it took him months to not feel that way. So, I ask you be patient with him."

Gou scowled, "I wish he never had to deal with this in the first place."

Ruby nodded in agreement, "We all do, Gou, we all do. Now come on, we have stayed up late enough. You too Steven you have a meeting in the morning."

Steven, "Being an adult has not made meeting tolerable let me tell you."

Ruby, "Sure sure!"