237 Jhoto - Mahogany Town

Casey, "Here we are, Mahogany town."

Lokoko, -It's colder out here.-

Gou, "Wasn't Pyrce at the Lake of Rage though?"

Ash, "He was, so that means we have a gap time before we battle."

Brock, "That's fine. I have been wanting to talk to you about something."

Ash paused, "About the little gift?"

Brock nodded, "Let's get a private shared floor first. Then we can talk. I believe Green will join us here soon?"

Max, "Yeah she will. That was the plan."

Gou, "What's wrong though?"

Brock, "Just something happened back at the Lake but I don't want to talk about it in the open."

Gou, "You okay?"

Casey, "You aren't hurt, are you?"

Brock, "No, no I'm okay. I'll explain once inside."

Ash approached the counter, "Good afternoon Nurse Jim. Could we get a floor for six people for a week?"

Nurse Jim smiled kindly, "Of course, Floor number two, door sixteen."

Max, "Thank you."

They entered the door which had five rooms separated by a communal with dining table and chairs around it. Ash decided they should unpack and wash up before talking about serious matters while Gou ordered food and Casey ordered drinks. Their Pokemon deserved a little bit of pampering too after the last few days they had. Shuckle, Phanphy, and the new and younger Pokemon enjoyed the attention and pampering. Lucario eyed their newest bug Pokemon, the little shell bug adored Ash to the point of fanatical heights.

Lucario turned to his ghost type fighters and almost sighed, it wasn't just their new bug type partner. Gengar was over protective, Banette and Phantump were clingy and Annihilape, Lucario was unsure how to react to his behavior. Annihilape was a new and right now the rarest fighting type Pokemon in the Jhoto Kanto continent. Master Bruno called Ash every two weeks to keep track of how being an Annihilape differed in Kanto, compared to Paldea. Apparently the regional Professors were curious about it, there have been video conferencing between them.

Ash, "What's wrong?"

Abra, -You have been quiet.-

Lucario, -It's just been interesting few days.-

Ash, "Ah, that's true. You are done buddy, Annihilape, come. Your turn."

Annihilape, "Ape."

Ash started brushing from the tips going inside, "That's not the only thing bothering you, is it, Lucario?"

Lucario, -Yes, I am honestly a little worried about the future. There is no doubt Gonzalez knows about what happened. Those groups were free his side.-

Ash nodded, "I agree, he no doubt knows, but whether he realizes it is us or not is hard to say. We can only do our best."

Lucario got up sitting next to Ash grabbing a brush as well, -I hope he didn't realize it was us. The disguises were top notch. The other trainers especially your fans didn't recognize us.-

Abra shivered, -Especially the crazy die hard ones.-

Annihilape leaned back on Ash making him chuckle and pat the ghost fighter. They had finished brushing the knots out of the fur and massaged the tension from the muscles. The Pokemon were all relaxed now, the only thing left to do was take a nice thorough bath. The young Pokemon were excited at the thought of taking a bath together and Ash relaxed in the middle of the decent sized tub. Cyndaquill even lit the scented candles Red had given him before leaving Kanto, Ash had almost forgot about them. Ash got out wiping them all and himself after two hours of caring for his Pokemon and himself.

Ash, "That was nice."

Lucario eyed the scar on Ash's elbow, -Yeah..-

Ash, "Hey, stop that. Scars are badges that prove we survived. Don't beat yourself up over it."

Lucario grunted, -You dont heal like us Pokemon, Meema. I have a right to be offended on your behalf.-

Ash's eyes softened, "I appreciate it but no beating yourself up, okay?"

Annihilape put his arms around Lucario, "Ann ann ape."

Ash laughed, "Yeah, you take good care of your siblings. Come on, the others are probably waiting for us."

Abra, -Meema, I'm hungry.-

Ash laughed, "Don't worry food will be here. I will order it to our room."

Brock was waiting in the common room, "Hey."

Ash, "Sup. I was thinking of ordering lunch to eat while we talk."

Gou walked in, "Sounds good. I'm game."

Brock, "So what should we order?"

Casey sat next to Gou, "We ordering in today? What about tonight?"

Max piped up from his room, "We could go out to eat. I heard Mahogany town has awesome ice cream parlours."

Ash, "It's a plan. We deserve the sweet treat I say."

Brock nodded, "Agreed."

Casey watched as her friends placed their orders for lunch feeling a little bit worried about them. She had heard enough stories from the other girls about their experience with aura and how much fun yet heavy the burden was. Casey could admit to herself that she wished she had aura too, just so she could talk to her Pokemon. But one look at the downsides and she was relieved she did not have active aura. Was it selfish of her to think that way? Perhaps, but, she was allowed to want things she couldn't have, okay.

Casey took a deep breath, 'I just wish my friends are not hurt. Damn you Team Rocket for making things harder. If they had not attacked my friends in the first place, they would have been training like normal trainers.'

Max, "Are you okay, Casey?"

Casey smiled at him comfortingly, "I'm alright, don't worry. Just the last few days. It has been stressful."

Max looked at the ground, "Yeah, I can't believe they killed so many just because of an experiment."

Gou placed his hand around Casey with Max between them, "We know kiddo, we know. I think I'll have nightmares about it for the next few days and nights."

Ash returned, "Nightmares huh? I think we all have a new set added."

Lucario grunted, -Understatement.-

Kirlia, -Don't worry Max. I can use my powers to lessen the effects of the nightmare.-

Max, "Thanks buddy. I appreciate it."

Gou, "So Brock, what's wrong? I think we can talk safely now. Right Alakazam, Lokoko?"

Alakazam nodded, -Yup, no one and nothing can eaves drop on us.-

Lokoko raised her head proudly, -It's nothing to us.-

Brock smiled, "I appreciate the safety. As for what I want to talk about, it's about my aura."

Ash got up, "What happened?"

Brock calmed him down, "Don't worry, it's nothing dangerous. More like I am pretty sure I connected with my Steelix."

Ash, "Oh congratulations."

Casey, "Cool."

Max, "Yeah."

Gou, "You didn't faint so I'm guessing it was not so bad."

Brock smiled, "Thanks and yeah. Thanks to Ash's help and aura training it was not so bad."

Lokoko eyed Brock, -What are you worried about?-

Brock, "Well it was strange. In the way... I'm not sure how to explain..."

Alakazam, -Food is here.-

Ash, "Take your time Brock. We'll get the food in the mean time."

Lucario nodded, -Yes, aura reacts differently for everyone.-

Casey watched as Ash and Gou got the food and placed it on the table, "Ash's aura supports his Pokemon, Misty's aura makes her Pokemon's water type attacks stronger. I am curious what yours is like Brock."

Brock, "Well, it's not exactly support. I think my aura actually healed them."

Lucario nodded, -It's expected. After all you have a healer's instinct.-

Ash placed the last plate down took Brock's hand, "This is something Riley showed me. It helps in knowing if there are problems with the aura."

Lucario, -Hopefully there is none.-

Brock, "Sounds useful. Show me how it's done?"

The others watched in curiosity as Ash ran his aura while Brock felt Ash's aura nudge his gently and inquisitively. It was an interesting feeling to have another aura touch his own aura and nudge him. Max and Kirlia's eyes were shining in interest, Kirlia could feel the aura running between the two. Casey and Gou were watching their two friends with a lot of interest and worry. They hoped noting was wrong, one look at Lucario's calm demeanor and the two relaxed.

Ash opened his eyes, "Your aura level is low, but aside from that there is nothing wrong. I am very relieved it's nothing as dangerous as I had originally feared."

Brock visibly relaxed, "That's good to hear."

Ash, "You should still get Riley or Yellow or Simon to check on you. I'm not a healer at the end of the day so there might be something I missed."

Brock, "Yeah, I will."

Casey piped in wiggling her eyebrows, "Maybe you can make a date out of it Brock."

Gou chuckled at Brock's blushing face, "It would be really romantic. A man and his caring nurse."

Max giggled, "Yeah, Brock. You'll basically be living in one of my sister's romance novels."

Brock spluttered, "I... That's... Well.... I... "

Ash laughed, "Okay, you three, I think you teased Brock enough. Though they are right Brock."

Brock almost whined, "Not you too, Ash."

Ash, "No listen to me. You have not seen Yellow in months. Use this chance to see her and take her out on a date. Mahogany town has many ice themed places. Take advantage of the fact we are here for a week. We all need a break."

Casey sobered up, "I agree, especially after running into Team Rocket so many times. It's not even funny, how many times we have run into them. What is going on in my home region?"

Gou pat her back with a serious expression on his face, "Not to forget their disturbing interest in Aura users. I don't even know how to deal with that."

Max scowled, "Yes, I really don't want to think about what ever plans they have for aura users."

Ash sat back on his seat and Phanphy and the other baby Pokemon got on his lap, "I have an idea what they might want. I would not wish it on anyone."

Lucario gritted his teeth remembering the hidden lab they had discovered back at Vermilion City. There were records of what they had been doing to the children and Pokemon in those labs. While Red and Mewtwo covered for them back there, Lucario was pretty damn sure, there were dead casualties among the experimented. Abra quietly moved from Ash to Lucario feeling his turmoil and anger while watching their Meema put the poke food in different plates and bowls.

Casey poured her specialized poke snacks for her Pokemon, "Speaking of older friends. How are Meowth, Jessie and James?"

Gou was plating their food, "James from what I heard has taken over their family business completely. Jessie is going under cover, well, according to her text at least."

Ash grinned, "She's teaming up with mom, they are heading to Sinnoh in a few months. I am just glad mom won't be alone."

Max ate his food humming in agreement as he observed his older friends, though Ash was more of an older sibling to him at this point. Max knew very well that, he was being told information most kids his age would never be privy to. Aura, Team Rocket, human and Pokemon experimentation? Yeah, he was pretty sure even some of the Gym Leaders, especially those who just started their tenure were ignorant of it. He was just happy he would not have to deal with this information alone and while it was not their intention, he was involved. He could understand their pain and fear, even though he was not exactly able to support them.

Silver popped in the next day, "Ash, Brock, Gou, Casey, Max. Am I happy to see you all doing okay."

Ash hugged him, "Heya Silver ~ Green, it's good to see you too."

Casey eyed them curiously, "What brings you here? Was it the lake incident?"

Green, "You could say that. I'm actually dealing with another case. A clue lead me here."

Gou, "Ah, understood. Just stay safe. How is Leaf doing?"

Green smiled, "She is doing better. Pokemon heal faster then humans and Wigglytuff is back to battling."

Max, "That's a relief."

Brock, "Good to know. We need more positive news around here."

Green smirked at Ash, "Your Wigglytuff keep cheering him on to get better. I reckon they will get together soon."

Ash laughed bright and happy, "As long as my Pokemon are happy. Plus Leaf's Wigglytuff is a gentleman. I have no doubt he will treat her right."

[A. N.: How to keep Webnovel from kicking you out?

Asking for a friend.]