212 Jhoto

Ash huffed as they warmed up more and more as they left the freezing mountain range behind. As they reached the main road they changed into comfortable summer clothes while the Pokemon simply got rid of the warm clothing. Pikachu, Cinderace and Espurr shook their fur while Meganium, the two Lucarios, Steelix, Breloom and the baby Pokemon stretched. They felt a shiver go through their bodies as they remembered what happened a day earlier. They almost froze to death thanks to one angry Legendary.

Max, 'Thank Mew, we came out in one piece.'

Gou was on the phone, :Finally, I got a signal.:

Serena, :What happened Gou?:

Misty, :You went offline, out of nowhere.:

Gou, :Sorry, we were in a high security level Ranger camp. Signals were a little difficult.:

Kiawe, :Exactly where did you disappear to?:

Sophocles, :Yeah.:

Gou, :Articuno's area.:

Mallow, :Are you guys okay?:

Lana, :Shit! Let me guess. You clashed with poachers.:

Gou, :I didn't, Ash, Todd and Sorrel did though.:

Serena, :WHAT?:

Chloe, :Stay calm, Serena, stay calm.:

Melody, :Yeah, I'm sure they are okay.:

Ash chimed in, :We are okay. Lord, wait I think Articuno is a Lady, there were poke eggs. Lady Articuno froze the poachers.:

Gary, :So you are all okay?:

Casey, :We are fine, promise!:

Brock, :We are safe.:

Verity, :Yeah, what have you guys been up to?:

Paul, :Don't change the subject.:

Max, :He he he!:

Drew, :*insert exasperated emoji*:

Misty, :*insert exasperated emoji (2)*:

Mallow, :*insert exasperated emoji (3)*:

Lana, :*insert exasperated emoji (4)*:

A. J., :You have the most unbelievable luck.:

Todd, :At least I got awesome photos.:

Todd, :*insert Articuno's photo*:

May, :Oh my effing Mew! Mom and Dad are freaking out over here. Max are you sure you are safe?:

Max, :What? Mom and Dad are reading this?:

Mandy, :I don't blame them.:

Max, : ... I'm safe, don't worry.:

May, :Mom says, 'You better be, young man.', while Dad says, 'Do not engage with any other Legendary Pokemon.', they are worried.:

Ash, :If it makes you feel better, the Rangers were there to help us. So we were okay.:

May, :They calmed down.:

Max, :Mom, Dad, we'll be reaching a mountain town soon. I will give a call from there.:

Misty, :Ash, Gou, Casey, Verity, Sorrel, Brock, video call, next town.:

Brock, :Got it!:

Right below the mountain range they came across a mountain town at the base of the mountain. There they had video calls with their families and friends to ensure them that they were safe. There they saw a very interesting trainer school run by a young woman called Ramona. The young Lady was running it with the help of her younger brother Kegan who was at the moment instructing a group.

Ramona, "Hello there! Welcome."

Todd, "Hello, we were passing through."

Brock, "Then we saw this school."

Ramona, "I can offer you a tour if you are interested."

Max, "I'm interested."

Verity, "Me too."

Casey, "We all would love a tour Ramona."

Ramona grinned at them and took them on a tour around the decent sized campus. She told them the history of the campus, about how it was her grandmother who founded it in the first place. Seventy years ago her late grandma had received the chance to study in Goldenrod town which was now a City. She had worked under the previous regional Professor and had fallen in love with the Growlithe line. The Arcanine and Growlithe pack had been her main team in the League and her main battle group when she became an Elite.

Sorrel, "That is awesome."

Todd, "I'm guessing that plaque is depicting your grandmother."

Ramona, "Yes, it is. Nowadays there are more Pokemon then Arcanine and Growlithe."

Max, "Are those Dunsprace?"

Ramona, "Yes, they are. In fact the trainer hopefuls will be receiving one today."

Brock, "Ah! They'll be going on their journeys soon."

Ramona, "After they finished their final semester, yes."

They watched the students get their Pokemon which ranged from young Growlithes to Dunsprace to Caterpie and Weedle. As it turns out after watching how powerful Beedrill and Butterfree could be in the League battles, a lot more trainers were open to having bug type Pokemon as partners. A young boy named Bucky, had approached them and asked Ash for an autograph and was exclaiming how much he loved Butterfree. Ash smiled and pat his head before calling the lab and requesting for both his Butterfree and Beedrill.

Bucky, "Wao!"

Capertie, "Iiiie."

Butterfree, "Reeee."

Beedrill, "Bzzz."

Ash, "This young man is a big fan of yours."

Bucky turned red as he introduced himself to the two larger than normal bug Pokemon getting amused greetings back. They didn't mind staying at the school for a day and mixing in with the students, answering their questions. Max had a nervous moment when it was his turn but after a few seconds he looked relaxed enough to talk to the other students. Gou was telling them about his own job of collecting information for the Professor, though he was not a trainer. Brock and Sorrel were telling them of their medical profession while the girls spoke about their goals. Todd was telling them about photography and how many people were into getting professional pictures of Pokemon.

The kids in the school listened to them with wide eyes and one of the girls decided she would follow her own dream of becoming a Nurse. She would go on a journey she decided, and learn everything she could about healing and nursing. Brock and Sorrel encouraged her and shared some of the trainee nurse pamphlets they had. Casey and Verity answered the questions about their goals of taking a year to become stronger and master more moves. They told the students it was okay to take a break and focus on themselves while Ash answered the questions about his battles.

They left the next morning after staying the night at one of the many student dorms where they were asked more questions. The other students it seems adored the idea of snuggling with their Pokemon and made a decision to get a large tent. After they left the enthusiastic students they traveled more only to be caught in the cold rain. Since they were still close to the mountain area the rain could be very cold to touch. While they found a place to crash for the night, Brock fell ill, the next day.

Brock, "Sorry guys."

Sorrel, "Don't talk Brock."

Casey, "Get some rest."

Ash, "We'll take care of everything."

Max, "Just relax okay."

Verity, "I got some hot soup."

Gou, "I'll help you eat. Could you help him up Ash?"

Ash, "Yeah."

Brock was feeling guilty, "You don't have to guys. I can eat on my own."

Max, "We want to. You take care of us when we are tired and exhausted."

Casey, "So when you are sick. We will take care of you."

Sorrel, "Don't worry about your Pokemon. I'll make sure they are okay."

Ash was helping Brock eat when he felt something from his friend and narrowed his eyes in suspicioun. He had a feeling the illness was not normal and after Brock took his medicine and went to sleep, Ash went to have a word with Lucario. Lucario hummed before deciding to check on Brock after hearing Ash's thoughts and had his other Lucario brethren check too. Both aura Pokemon eyed the eldest human of the group before running their auras.

Lucario, -Meema it's like you suspected.-

Sorrel's Lucario, -He has awakened. In fact I have a feeling he awakened back when we were dealing with Articuno.-

Ash, "I see."

Ash turned to Steelix and Golem, "Looks like your human partner has joined the club now."

Steelix was looking conflicted while Golem was looking proud of his trainer. Steelix had seen the trouble Ash got into and didn't want Brock to get hurt but, Brock was a healer so perhaps he won't be hurt? Lucario looked at Steelix and he felt for him, he truly did, while he was excited his Meema could use aura, he was not excited about the trouble Meema attracted. Golem though was bragging about his trainer to others and how his trainer would be a fine healer. The other Pokemon Brock had were fifty fifty on the awakening and was not sure whether to be happy or worried.

Todd when he found out was excited to see an awakening but one look at Brock the excitement turned to worry. Max though was neutral about it, while Casey, Verity and Sorrel were worried about his health. Gou didn't like it and was typing about it furiously in the group chat to the rest of the team. While having aura was fantastic in the beginning, the more dangers they faced the more Gou hated it. Ash always looked very pale and sick whenever he used aura to protect them, he didn't want Brock to suffer the same thing.

Serena, :Unbelievable!:

Melody, :It's bad enough Ash and Misty are active and attract trouble.:

Chloe, :Now Brock too?:

Gou, :Yes, Brock too.:

Misty, :In our defense, it's not intentional.:

Drew, :That doesn't matter.:

Paul, :Point is you draw trouble like a Venomoth to a flame.:

Gary, :I'm speechless. Who's gonna tell Yellow?:

Ash, :I'm talking to her right now.:

Kiawe, :I'm envious and at the same time worried about you lot.:

Zoey, :I'm back. What did I miss?:

Lana, :Scroll up.:

Zoey, : ..... Sweet Tapus!:

Mallow, :Yeah!:

Sophocles, :What are the chances of people hanging around aura users to activate aura?:

Gou, :Very high. I am just lucky I have not activated yet.:

Misty, :Famous last words.:

Chloe, :You jinxed it.:

Ritchie, :Who wants to bet Gou is next?:

Gou, :Real funny!:

Ash was talking with Yellow on the phone, "Yeah, so that happened."

Yellow, "Oh sweet Mew! Is he alright?"

Ash, "He'll be fine. We'll make sure of it."

Riley who was with Yellow spoke up, "Sorrel and Verity are planning on separating and going with Todd right?"

Ash, "They plan on doing that at Olivine City, yes."

Riley, "I'm joining you."

Ash blinked, "Really?"

Riley, "Yes, you and Misty are still undergoing the basics and Brock just awakened. I'm joining you."

Ash, "I guess, two Aura users would be noticeable without someone to guide us."

Riley, "Still having hypersensitivity?"

Ash, "Yes, especially in large cities. Too much energy."

Riley, "I'll join you in Olivine. Don't worry Ash. It will be alright."

Ash, "I'm not worried."

After the call Ash got a call from James asking if they were alright. Even though they were not active in the chat they still kept an eye out for what was happening. Ash assured him he was alright and that they were safe and were close to a town. Brock felt better by evening and the next day he felt healthy as ever though they insisted he took things easy and not to force himself. Brock was touched and assured them he would be alright and he was not using his aura any time soon, he had no idea how anyway.

Ash was not sure he was assured by that or not, on one side he knew it was unavoidable and on the other, he was happy to not be alone. In fact he has no doubt Misty felt the same way, being an Aura user was not easy and knowing there were others like them made it bearable. Serena was worried about both Ash and Misty especially when the blonde quickly realized that she didn't attract trouble or problems on her own. But whenever the orangette or her crush was around, trouble was also around the corner and now Brock joined them.

Gou assured Serena he would keep Ash and Brock out of trouble as much as possible and that they were in a sumo wrestling town so hopefully nothing will happen. Serena texted back that they just had to deal with a bunch of Tentacruel poachers so to not let his guard down. Gou and the others asked if they were alright and the four girls assured them that they were safe thanks to Lorelei helping them out. The group looked around town and looks like there was a tournament going on and Casey wanted to participate in it. Ash decided to join to blow some steam as well, the last few days had been stressful.

[A. N.: Webnovel is being super weird.

I'm uploading this now just in case I can't enter again for a week. Hopefully I can upload by next weekend without any problems.

Weekly updates on weekends from now on if Webnovel does not go wonky on me again and log me out.]