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Golden Light, Voltaic Strike (AdvanceShipping)

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Morph Five- Evaluation

0 stood silently over the chaos, watching through the golden visor the scene below. Rescue vehicles were on the scene immediately. There was a small hole in the ceiling, nothing compared to the sinking crater below the ground, exposing the basement. Many of the arenas were destroyed, not even the PKM would be able to handle a problem like this. The truth would have to be told, or at least, a part of it. PKM was a very special agency, one that was known to the public thanks to the Rangers that were a part of it, but it also was required by the governments that employed it to remain as undetected as possible.

“That won’t be happening,” 0 said quietly, he had been silent for long enough. So far, no one had seen the new Golden Ranger up on the landing, across the street from the center the Festival took place at. He was almost relieved at the thought of its destruction, so far the reports had given no fatalities save for one, the mystery murderer covered in black armor similar to the Ranger’s own.

He clenched the gloved hands, feeling two small bands in his hands, the morphers he had confiscated from the man. It meant that someone had developed technology potentially rivaling to the PKM, though it did not have the RSP that his suit came with. He had assessed that portion already, thanks to the scanners in his suit.

Agent 0...” Pikachu’s voice entered his ears, returning him to the world that surrounded him, rather then his own thoughts. “Message from the PKM. Patching through for you.”

“Thanks.” It was difficult for 0 to accept, now that the moment had passed, that he was a Ranger now. “This is Agent 0,” he said, as the com link in his suit came online. “What is it?”

Ketchum,” said a tired, grayed voice, the voice of his supervisor. “What are you doing in that suit? Where is the real 0?”

0 shifted, that was strange. Normally, the PKM were always on top of things, though they were probably confirming what had happened from an eyewitness. “The previous 0 is dead,” he cited, remembering how the missile had been averted from May. “I was given the morphers in his place. I am now the Golden Ranger.”

That will be determined later,” the voice replied. “For now, you must return to HQ for evaluation. The Festival has been called off due to terrorist attacks. You will return, and bring with you the morphers from the terrorist. You will then be given your next assignment.”

“I’ve got them right here,” 0 answered, dangling the morphers in front of his visor. “I’ll be back in three days.”

You have one.” The line went dead, and 0 pocketed the morphers in his belt.

“Stupid hicks,” he grumbled, looking down at his wrists. The golden lightning bands were bonded to him, just like his Spirit, Pikachu. He would learn to live with it for a few days, then they could separate him from them. “We have one day Pikachu, and it takes half a day to return to HQ. What do you recommend?”

Well, I believe it may be wise to practice with the morphers, and the Golden Ranger abilities if you plan to continue using them,” it replied, its voice strangely mechanical. “You won simply because of blind luck this time. Next time they may send someone greater, the murderer mentioned there were five more.”

“First, how’s about we tone down the robot talk?” 0 asked. “Is that really how you speak?”

Oh, thank you Ash,” Pikachu sighed, breathing a sigh of relief. “I just felt like playing the part of your Spirit.”

“You’re more then a Spirit Pikachu,” 0 answered, chuckling lightly. “If it wasn’t for you, I couldn’t become this and save May and them. You’re more then my armor, you’re my best friend, and after this is over, you still will be. I’ll never look at you differently.”

Thank you Ash.”

“Don’t mention it buddy,” he replied, swerving his head. “Come on, I think we’d better go check up on May and Sarah, make sure they’re doing all right after today. And I should swing my the hospital and see how Brock and Max are doing, I think they got hurt in the crossfire.”

Sounds like a plan,” Pikachu said, enjoying its returned freedom of speech. The suit it had become prevented it from having much without Ash’s consent. It was nice to be of help to its trainer, and now its bonder. “The fastest way there is…” A screen appeared on the visor, with a map of the city attached, showing two dots, one for the hospital and the other for the hotel, “these.”

“Let’s get rolling, I think I’ll take off the suit for now,” 0 said, raising his hands. “Power down!”

Golden light flashed, surrounding him in an ethereal glow. The force inverted, and Ash Ketchum began to appear, forming from the Golden Ranger’s body. The long locks of hair emerged, ebony like the night surrounding him, and his body appeared, covered by dark cloth. Dark pants, a gold shirt, and a black leather jacket. On his neck dangled the ring, but for once he put it out of his head. The fierce eyes, previously dulled by the years apart, glowed through the seeping darkness with intensity.

“We’d better get moving,” Ash, the Golden Ranger, said, before falling to the ground, and breaking into a run. The streets whizzed beside him, Pikachu’s voice in his ear as he began to make his way east, towards the hotel. Protecting the target was his first priority, and he knew that. At the same time though, the agent was excited at what May had said, about meeting his daughter. He hoped she was being serious.

***

May shivered, drawing Sarah close to her. The day had been too tiring on them, and the attempt on their lives had not been pleasant. The dark man was still in her head, swords and guns and everything flashing through her mind. She drew the blanket closer to her and her daughter, wanting to forget so terribly his white visor, his voice’s hiss.

But 0 had saved them, rising from the dead to protect her life twice that day, first with the missile, and then in combat. The Golden Ranger continued to amaze her, with his sage advice and brutal battles. He was a true hero, one that the PKM could be proud of, whoever was in the organization. She sighed, Sarah had not spoken since they had returned to the room with the police, Officer Jenny keeping everyone away for them to rest.

“Are you all right honey?” she whispered to her child, hugging her tightly. “Did the bad man hurt you?”

The girl sighed, her dark eyes glazed. “Mommy, was that man in black a Ranger?” she asked, turning her head behind her, to her mother who cradled her on the bed, wrapped in her embrace. “Was the man in yellow a Ranger?”

“The man in gold is 0,” she replied, brushing Sarah’s hair out of her face. “He’s a friend, he saved us today. The bad man…he looked like one, but he’s not a Ranger. The Rangers are good people who protect us, no matter who they are behind the masks they wear. They never ask for anything, they help people.”

“Then why did the man who looked like a Ranger try to kill Mommy?” Sarah asked, her eyes fearful. “I don’t want Mommy to go anywhere, specially to the hospital with Uncle Max and Brock.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” May reassured her child, patting her dark hair. “Why don’t you try to go to sleep, and forget about how hard today was?”

Sarah nodded, climbing out of her mother’s bed, and started for hers, sinking into sleep almost the instant she hit the covers, falling into a deep slumber. May sighed, wishing she could sleep like that, after an attack like the one they had gone through that day. Maybe the child was stronger than her mother.

A knock issued from the hotel’s door, followed by a soft whisper. “Hey, mind if I come in here?” it asked, the voice panting and urgent. May only needed a moment to realize it was Ash’s, and the ragged voice was probably from the running he had to do to get past security. She stood up, keeping the blanket close to her, for she was wearing nothing more then her pajamas under it. May crept to the door, her brown hair trailing behind her, before she unlocked the latch sealing the outside from the room.

Ash opened it instantly, sending the door flying and wrapping her in a powerful embrace. His hands came around her, but she did not shrink away as she once would have, the powerful limbs would not release her for one, jerking in fear. He was so relieved, to see her in one piece. “I…came as soon as I heard,” he murmured into her ear, his pants growing less and less. “Are you both all right?”

And for the first time in a long time, May wrapped her own arms around him, pulling him closer, needing the comfort that only two people could give one another. “Yes…0 saved us. We both got out fine, so did Max and Brock.”

“I’m not worried about them,” he replied, feeling her hair against his face. It was…so soft and gentle, the way it used to be. “I’m worried about you two.” His voice was shaking, he really was scared for them. “Nothing broken?”

“We’re fine Ash.” Truth be told, she was happy that he was so worried, and she was so happy to be back in his arms. “We’re fine…” She sighed, feeling his chest against her face, his face against her hair. They stood still very quietly, before she realized she was wearing very little, and he was beginning to notice. She pulled him away gently, holding his arms. “Did you…meet that person you were talking about?”

“I did.” He gave nothing more, but she didn’t really care. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but at least 0 protected you. I’ll…I will be there next time…”

She smiled, looking up into the hidden eyes. The dark room shrouded them both, all save for the glitter that was on his chain, the wedding ring he could not bring himself to remove. May had forgotten where hers was, but it wasn’t really important. “Thank you Ash,” she sighed, gazing up into the hidden eyes. “Thank you for…wanting to be there, if that’s anything.”

“I feel really weak right now,” Ash replied, feeling the pit welling up into his stomach. “I couldn’t be there, and I almost lost you both, when you’re already lost to me…I guess that doesn’t really make sense, huh?” He chuckled lightly, though it wasn’t all that funny. He needed something to keep himself going.

“I guess neither of us have moved on.” They both turned to their child, sleeping in her bed. Ash’s eyes came alive, looking down onto his daughter. May felt for his hand, taking it gingerly between her fingers. “She has your spirit,” she said, looking with a parent’s eyes at the girl.

“Your daughter is very beautiful May,” Ash answered, tightening the grip gently. “She has your looks.” His face broke into a true smile, one of ultimate satisfaction. It had been so long since he had seen Sarah, he had dreamed of meeting his daughter for a long time. “It’s too bad she’s asleep, but at least she’s safe. I’m happy to see both of you aren’t harmed.”

He withdrew his fingers, and looked at May. “Is the Festival being cancelled?” he asked, changing the subject.

“The center is destroyed, I really don’t think there’s much else they can do. Sarah and I will probably go back to my parents with Max for a while, before heading to our home.” She missed his hands, and reached for them. Ash put his hands in his pocket, though he did so unwillingly. She could see the pain in his features.

“I have to go May,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “I don’t know when I’ll see you and Sarah again, so that intro we planned will have to wait. But I promise I’ll come back, and I’ll tell you everything you want to know. 0 will protect you, I’m sure of it, but I need…to go somewhere.”

She nodded, she didn’t think he would stay. He was a traveler, and it was how he dealt with his emotions. “Can you tell me where, if nothing else?” she asked, pulling the man close to her. She felt the dark breath from his nose, she was so close to him.

Ash paused, unsure what to tell her. “Somewhere close,” he decided, his heart hurting. It was no longer the dull throb he had felt, it was real and painful, threatening to spill all his secrets, old and new, towards the woman he loved, the woman he had left for the duty that now called. He had traded the bliss of his marriage for shackles he could not escape from. He glanced behind her, at the moon shining through the window. “The moon’s full tonight,” he said, turning her to face the window. “When I’m gone, I’ll look at it every night. I always have, because I knew you could see the same moon I did. It…helped me feel connected to you, I guess. If you ever feel lonely, just look out there and know I’m looking back.”

She glanced over the orb’s surface, seeing the craters. She felt his hands leave him, and turned around. No one was in the room, even the door was locked. May sighed, feeling her heart race for the first time in years. Ash was gone, but he had certainly left an impression that would not be forgotten.

***

Agent 0 arriving,” chimed a voice above Ash’s head. The agent sighed, he hated visiting PKM, it was one of those things he did only when necessary. He glanced at the morphers, it had become necessary. Ash stepped out of the small room he had sealed himself in to enter the HQ, and the doors swung open to admit him. A small hiss issued as steam erupted from the room elevator, and Ash stepped through.

“Ketchum!” blared a voice from his left, the instant his dark shoes stepped out into the narrow metal corridor. Ash felt someone grab him, and suddenly met the floor with strange intensity. He felt someone on top of him, and groaned slightly. He knew exactly who the voice belong to, and what they wanted.

He turned his eyes, meeting the gaze of PKM 3, White Ranger, Serena. Her white hair was strewn around his body, her lithe form concealing the unbelievable muscle power she had within her. “Gerroff me,” Ash groaned, feeling pain enter his shoulder. “What have I asked you about tackling me?”

“Sorry Ketchum,” she replied sweetly, though the green eyes betrayed her intents to cop plenty of feels. He now had to keep locks by the dozen to keep her out of his station. “You know how I don’t know my own strength…or should that be sorry sir?” She grabbed his wrists, showing the new lightning morphers Ash was wearing. “You’re 0 now.”

“Not for long,” Ash answered, pushing her off him. “I’m returning them the instant I can, I told you I’m not a Ranger. You and 0.”

Serena looked troubled, she sure was overdramatic. “Pweeaze Ashy? Pweease be a Ranger for Serena?”

Ash stood up, groaning lightly. “No 3, I can’t. You know that, and I can’t change my feelings about being a Ranger.” He rose to full height, practically dwarfing her in comparison. Serena stood up as well, not in the least bit hurt at his emotion-lacking self, it was the best part of the new Golden Ranger.

She was very beautiful, for an agent. She should have been a model, not a Ranger. Her long silver hair flowed the her waist, while her emerald eyes gazed intently at him. She was barely up to his chest, and she had to stand on tiptoes in her black boots. The white jacket and white shirt she wore covered her bountiful chest, her lithe body under the shirt and black pants. The number 3 was engraved on the left side of her uniform.

“I know you want it sir,” she giggled, laughing at his serious face. “Just get in there and take the job you know you were chosen for. It’s time you got off your high horse.” She took his hand, and began to pull him straight through the HQ, not waiting for him to reply. Ash jerked, but was unable to defeat her powerful grasp.

He sighed, why did she have to out him of all people? Ever since he had arrived, Serena had made it a point to flirt with him as much as she could, especially since agents had to obey Rangers. Oh, the torture she had put him through in, from innuendo to ‘accidentally’ bumping into him in the shower. But nothing the White Ranger did made any difference in his manner towards her, completely and totally robot. And she found that strangely…enticing.

“I can find my way through here on my own!” Ash protested, hauling to keep his arm attached to his body. “Let go 3!”

And she did, sending him sprawling to the floor. Ash groaned again, he always seemed to be getting injuries around Serena. “As Agent 0 of the PKM, I order you to calm the hell down!” he shouted, pulling rank in the desperate hope that she would stop. But Serena was a good soldier, and stopped, allowing Ash to get to his feet, as gracefully as he possibly could.

“Bout time you used that,” she grinned, leading him through the narrow metal corridors, practically skipping like she always did when he arrived. Serena led him deeper into the fortress that was known as PKM HQ, seeing various stationed agents awaiting their next missions. Ash had been lucky, allowed to live outside to maintain his image, he rarely returned to HQ unless needed, or if a mission came up. He really didn’t like it there.

Ash did not wear the PKM uniform like Serena did, which was specially tailored for her Ranger rank. 0 had had one as well, and 1 had one also. 2 had died some months back, so he couldn’t really remember about him. It didn’t matter, Ash decided, as he neared the briefing room.

Serena stopped in front of two large doors made of wrought-iron, with a small console to its right for identifying agents that appeared before the chambers, where the highest ranking members of PKM gathered. No one ever saw their faces, but Ash had never been asked before them for such an important reason. The disarming and removal of Ranger morphers were by no means a simple task, he was sure it hadn’t been done before. Then again, every Ranger before him had been willing.

“Scanning for Rangers is slightly different,” she explained, pulling up the sleeves of her jacket, revealing snowy-white morphers very much like Ash’s. “For regular agents, they give their name and number, but for Rangers, we also add our designation. Like this.” She stood in front of the console, her wrists out.

Ranger locked,” the console said, scanning the morphers. “Please verify name, rank, and number.”

“Serena Brine,” she replied clearly. “Agent 3 of the PKM, White Ranger.”

Welcome Agent 3,” the machine replied, its monotone annoying.

“You’re up,” Serena said, pointing to the console. “Just repeat what I did, but with your info.”

Ash nodded, stepping forth towards the screen. He pushed up the leather jacket he was wearing, exposing the morphers 0 had given him, the ones holding Pikachu’s spirit. He held them over the scanner, which emitted a red beam to check the morphers for bugs or fakes.

Ranger locked,” it repeated dully, boring even for Ash. “Please verify name, rank, and number.”

Ash nodded, clearing his throat. “Ash Ketchum,” he said, pausing before the second part. “Agent 0 of the PKM, Golden Ranger.”

Welcome Agent 0,” it replied, the doors opening instantly to admit them both. “Agent 0 is expected for evaluation, Agent 3 is not. Please explain irregularity.”

“Chaperone for new Ranger,” Serena answered, passing in front of the machine. “Open the doors.”

Complying request…” The machine’s voice fell silent, and the iron doors began to creak open. Ash wasn’t intimidated, it was simply a ploy the council used to scare cadets entering. He was more then a cadet, even before 0 had died. He just wasn’t afraid of much. As soon as enough of the door was open, he strolled in, hands in his pockets and Serena skipping at his heels.

Agent Ash Ketchum entering council chambers,” the machine droned, the agents ignoring it. They walked down a much larger corridor which led to a single circular room before them, with the same small chair that sat in the dead center of the room. Ash’s ears picked up the shuffling of papers above him, a mild cough from a councilman, and knew what they were, just old men trying to frighten him.

He did not frighten easily.

Ketchum,” stated the familiar councilman, who normally spoke to him. His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, while the others murmured. Ash could hear at least ten. “You are here to be evaluated in the case of your new temporary rank of Golden Ranger. Do you understand this?”

Ash nodded. “I do.”

Very well then. Ranger Brine has asked to testify on your behalf, so we shall begin.” He shuffled his papers, coughing mildly to get the excess air out of his system. “You are presently in possession of the Golden Ranger morphers, correct, received from the prior Agent 0?”

“I am,” Ash replied, holding up his wrists, exposing the bracelets to the council. “0 entrusted them to me before he died. They passed on to me, and I contained a Spirit into them due to the necessity of a Ranger in a mission. During this mission I also obtained a second set of morphers from a terrorist, which leads me to believe that another agency might be in possession of PKM technology.”

Ash Ketchum?” the voice asked.

“Yes?”

Cut the crap,” he answered. “I know full well you do not speak like this. It will not buy you points with the council.”

“I’m not trying to buy points, sir,” Ash explained. “I’m trying to get these morphers off me. I want a transfer to my old grade, I don’t want to be a Ranger.”

That will be considered later,” the voice answered, a bright light suddenly turning on, blinding Ash mildly. “Those morphers you obtained from the terrorist will be examined by Agent 3 later, you will give those to her. Now, the biggest matter is of the mission. Report.”

“My assignment was to protect May Birch and assist Agent 0,” Ash answered. “During this mission, the center used for the Festival was destroyed, and the event called off. May Birch, her daughter, and friends are all returning to Petalburg for an undetermined amount of time. I request an extension on this assignment, as I still believe her life to be in danger.”

May Birch is still a pressing matter to the PKM,” he answered. “Request granted, on condition that Agent 3 be allowed to accompany you in protecting her, and keeping your personal feelings void during the mission.” The other members agreed, and Serena was practically bouncing with happiness. “Agent 3, do you have objection to this?”

“None sir,” she answered, her bearing straight but easily seen through. “It would be an honor to assist our new Golden Ranger.”

Very well,” the voice finished. “Now, the final matter at hand, whether Ketchum should be allowed to keep the Ranger morphers given to him by 0. Play the transmission received by PKM from 0 precisely two hours before death.”

Ash sat very still, realizing that he was not going to have a say in this. If 0 said that he would be a Ranger, the PKM would make it so. Again, he cursed the man for dying. He could only sit, as the transmission began to play, 0’s dead voice echoing through the dark chamber.

“…It is with a dear heart that I must bid farewell to the PKM, after many years of service,” it said, Ash’s head sinking lower. “My morphers have been programmed, and will be received by the agent Ash Ketchum, whom I have chosen as my successor. He is loyal to the PKM, and will use them with honor. I have given him the Golden Gauntlets, which will permanently bond the morphers to his DNA lock. No one else can use them save for Ketchum…”

That’s where the transmission cuts off,” the councilman said, the voice echoing with silence. Ash stared at the floor, his eyes pained. “Do you have anything further to say Ketchum?”

“Would it matter if I did?” he asked.

No, it would not,” the chairman answered, and Ash heard a foot shuffle. “It is then with great pride we confirm onto you the rank of PKM Agent 0, Golden Ranger. Congratulations Ketchum. Meeting adjourned.”

Ash stood up and, without waiting for Serena, walked out of the room, head bent. The bracelets felt hard on his skin, dragging him down. This was his punishment for saving his only love, for saving May. Damn you 0, he cursed silently, making his way towards his living quarters, ones that he rarely visited, but ones that he needed to see.

***

He were always peaceful there, he noticed, when he opened the small door that led to his quarters. The card key he owned, and guarded from Serena, slid easily through the hatch that allowed him access. The doors hissed, before he was admitted, wall coming apart to admit him.

He passed through the opened door, the doors slamming shut after him. He punched the button on the wall, locking himself inside, before gazing around what little he could call a home.

He passed through the metal atrium, the blank walls looking back at him, before entering his living space, a desk, a chair, and a bed was all the furniture he ever needed. A single mat, without a bedspread or pillow, and a hard wooden desk and chair. He hated comfort. Ash dropped his jacket on the chair, and removed his gold shirt from his chest, exposing the great, powerful muscles that had allowed him to live this long. He saw bruises from the mission, but ignored them. They would heal in time.

“Ashy!” shouted a voice, his door opening to admit Serena in. He groaned inside, why couldn’t she just leave him alone? Serena bounded into the small room, tackling him once more and landing both of them on the hard mattress of Ash’s bed. “Ashy…” she purred, carefully positioning herself on top of him, grinning madly. “Ashy, I didn’t know you were such a man, throwing me onto your bed so fast…”

“You threw me on the bed!” Ash protested again, trying to shove her off but failing. “How did you get in here?”

“Picked the lock, it isn’t very hard ya know,” she giggled, releasing him and standing up. “Come on, I have something for you.”

“It isn’t handcuffs again, is it?” he asked, rubbing the back of his head, where a small bump had formed from colliding with the headboard. “I remember the last time you found your way in here…” It was an experience that he did not want to repeat under any circumstances.

“Nope, even better!” She reached for the floor, where a large parcel had been thrown aside during the Ranger’s charge, colored gold. “The council wanted you to have this, they said it would be a good idea.”

Ash reached for it, grabbing out of her hands before she could do anything, and felt light cloth inside it. “What is this?” he asked, turning towards her.

Serena propped herself onto the chair, grinning happily. “Put it on, you’ll see,” she said sweetly.

Ash sighed, and the agent stood up and headed for the bathroom to change.

Serena watched him go, her eyes trailing over his muscular body. She wanted him so badly, and he had no idea how much, Ash assumed she just had a thing for annoying him. “Now, where’s his underwear drawer?” she whispered to herself, grinning wildly, the emeralds of her eyes burning.

“What the hell?” Ash asked from the bathroom, he must have opened the package. “I’m not wearing this stupid thing!”

“Put it on!” Serena instructed. “Don’t make me do it Ashy!” She heard a sigh, and the ruffle of clothes being changed. She giggled at the thought of Ketchum naked, but ignored it as she searched for wherever Ketchum hid his clothes. She looked over the desk for some clue, and she noticed something she had never seen before in Ash’s quarters.

On the desk was a small frame, facing the wood of the desk. Curious, Serena looked towards it, touching the small white wood with her fingers. She lifted it from the surface, a small picture sitting in the bright frame. It was Ash, but there was also other people in the picture.

There was a man, with fierce, jagged black hair, with the eyes of a fox. He was grinning broadly, standing next to Ash with his arm around him. There was another person as well, a slim man with soft dark hair and big glasses, on the other side of the Golden Ranger. Ash himself was in the center, a great smile on his face. In his arms was another woman with auburn hair and sapphire eyes, and he held her tightly against himself.

And there was a small bundle in the woman’s arms, with a little head sticking out of the white cloth, with midnight black hair just like Ash’s. Serena stopped, staring at the photograph.

“Thanks for waiting,” she heard a voice say, Ash exiting from the room. She held the photo and turned slowly to face him. He was dressed just as she was, with alterations done to his uniform. He wore a dark jacket, similar to hers, but with a deep golden 0 on the right side of his chest that stretched from the collar down to the lining on the bottom. His pants were also black, as were his boots. But the shirt he had on was deep gold, even more so then the one he had previously been wearing. “3…” his eyes swerved down to notice what she was holding. “Put that down.”

“No.” She stood up, keeping the picture held tightly to her chest. “So…this is the reason you can’t be a Ranger, isn’t it?” Serena held it up, wanting confirmation. “Is she the reason?”

“That is the woman I gave up for this 3,” he answered, keeping his eyes forward. “That is May Birch, who we have been assigned to protect. And that is her daughter, Sarah. And my friends.”

“I know that,” Serena snapped, putting the frame down hard on the desk. “So, you’re gonna try and get back with her on this mission, huh? Well, I’m not gonna let that happen Ash, you’re too important to this agency. You’re the best Ranger we could have…”

“I am not a Ranger!” Ash shouted, forced her back. “I’ll say it a thousand times I’m not!” His eyes were furious, anger blossoming in his heart. “Don’t you understand 3, what the PKM took from me? Don’t you understand that my daughter has no idea who I am, and never will because being a Ranger means you can’t have someone special in your life? And don’t you understand that no matter how hard I could try, I can’t return to what I had, to the family I want?”

She couldn’t, no matter how hard she tried. “I lost someone too, Ash, when I came here,” she replied, looking up at him, forcing him to meet her gaze. “You know who I lost, but I never gave up. I stayed and became who I am because of it. Where’s your mark?” she asked, feeling a tear coming to her eyes. “Where’s the band that holds you to what you cannot have?”

Ash slipped his hand into his shirt, pulling out the golden ring he carried, dangling it on its chain in front of her. “I never took it off, because the only thing this place has done for me is breed hate in my heart.” He stared her down, she knew she couldn’t beat him in that contest. “So just drop it 3, because I’m not in the mood for this. If we have to work together, know that I am in no way using the morphers. I don’t have anything against you 3, but I am not a Ranger.”

Serena nodded, though she felt a strange disappointment in her heart. Ash was a plaything for her, nothing more, she reminded herself, and stood up. “Come on Ash,” she said, starting for the door, “the Council said they had some things to show you, for the Golden Ranger.”

Ash followed, though he was never going to use any of the weapons that she was planning to show him.

***

“This is what the former Golden Ranger referred to as the 0 Cycle.”

Serena pulled the covers off a large object in the center of the main hanger, exposing what Ash thought was the most beautiful vehicle he had ever seen. It was like a modified Harley, but was more lithe and speedy, clearly designed to go very, very fast. The main part was a mesh of golden darkness, black striped with golden etches. A 0 was displayed before the handlebars, completing the perfect bike of Ash’s dreams.

“Unfortunately, the brakes need a little work right now,” Serena said absent-mindedly, kicking the side of the bike. “But you’ll get the hang of it pretty fast, or you’ll crash into a wall.”

“That’s reassuring,” Ash muttered dryly, following her away from the 0 Cycle towards a strange looking door with the number 0 marked in gold on the door. “What’s this?”

“This would be the weapons room for the Golden Ranger,” Serena answered, opening the door. She stepped forward into a brightly colored room with golden walls, beckoning him to follow her. Ash complied, simply because he didn’t want another conflict with her. Out of the entire PKM, for all her annoying gestures, Serena was the only person that made it entertaining to come back to the base, and she laughed at his overly serious nature, never taking him seriously. It was difficult for him to see her so sad, she was a friend. He would apologize when they got to Petalburg.

He glanced at a small computer in the corner of the room, and noticed that the whole room was completely empty save for him and her. “Where are the weapons?” he asked, following her towards the console.

“We’re going to make them,” she told him, opening the computer. “The computer can analyze a Ranger’s morphers and Spirit, and create new weapons based on that.”

Ash nodded, he decided to play the game. Unwillingly, he stepped up into the scanner that every computer in the PKM seemed to have. “Let’s just get this over with,” he murmured, holding the bracelets over the console. “Yada yada yada, Golden Ranger,” he said, wanting more then ever to leave.

Scanning for Spirit…” the voice said, running a red light under the morphers. It was not long before Pikachu’s face appeared on the screen, smiling broadly.

Hello Ash!” it said, grinning.

“Hey buddy,” Ash replied, smiling at the sight of his best friend. “How are you doing in there?”

It’s actually quite nice,” it answered, chasing its tail. “In here I can speak and play and do mostly anything when the Ranger uniform is not in use. So, what exactly did you need me for Ash?”

“We are going to modify Ash some weapons to suit his new Ranger status,” Serena answered the Pokemon, giggling that at least Ash’s Spirit was fun. “Think you can give me a hand?”

No problem,” Pikachu answered, the mouse grinning. “What kind of weapons do you have in mind?”

“Well, tradition states that all Rangers must have one melee weapon and one blaster weapon,” Serena answered, typing onto the screen to startup the program. “So, how does a sword and a shotgun sound?” She turned to Ash, who held no objections considering he found this a waste of time to issue him anything when he would not morph.

I think I can do that,” the electric type nodded, closing its eyes. “I’m gonna need a second, but it shouldn’t…there!” Pikachu released the program, and a golden light appeared in Ash’s hands. “Here comes the melee weapon!”

Ash felt a metal appear in his hand, a handle materializing from Pikachu’s power. It felt smooth, but firm in his grasp. The golden light transformed into a saber, bending horizontally across his hand, before shooting up at an angle, forming what looked like a lightning bolt, but was in reality a sword.

How is it?” Pikachu asked, peering at its creation. “I think I’ll call it the Bolt Blade, since it looks sort of like my tail. How does that sound?”

“Bolt Blade?” Ash asked, testing the weight of the weapon in his hands. It was light, but durable, with a four feet long blade. “Sounds a little babyish, doesn’t it?”

“Hey, I have a weapon named the Snow Staff,” Serena objected, putting her hands over her hips. “I don’t think it’s babyish, it’s just part of the motif that Rangers use.”

“Whatever you say,” Ash retorted, keeping a grip on the sword. He twisted it, keeping it perfectly stable. “I’ll need to practice with this.”

“Rangers don’t practice,” Serena replied. “Your Ranger suit is already fitted with everything needed to use that weapon.”

“Sounds simple enough.” The Bolt Blade glowed, before vanishing into pieces of light, flooding into the right bracelet morpher. “So, how do I use it?”

“Activating the program in the suit,” Serena explained. “Now Pikachu, how about that blaster?”

Comin’ right up!” Pikachu concentrated again, and again golden light flooded into Ash’s hands, transforming into a long, single barrel shotgun, with jagged black and white lightning stripes across the surface. It was the same size as the Bolt Blade, only designed with projectiles in mind. “That will be of use, it shoots lightning charges at people. I’m gonna call it the Lightning Laser.”

“Great, another original name,” Ash answered, gazing through the sights the gun had. It would be a useful weapon, and it vanished into the left morpher, ready to be summoned at any time by the Golden Ranger. Which would not happen, because Ash was not planning on morphing. “Are we done here?”

“That should do it,” Serena answered. “Thanks for your help Pikachu.”

Not a problem 3,” Pikachu replied cheerfully. “Call me again if you need any more help.” The screen went blank, and Pikachu returned to the morphers to continue being the Spirit, waiting to be summoned to help Ash.

“Your Spirit has more personality than you do Ash,” the White Ranger giggled, already forgetting their quarrel. “Pikachu might be the side of you that knows how to have fun.”

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Ash answered dully, before turning from the room. “I think we’re done here, we should prepare for the mission.” Serena heard a crack of lightning, and Ash was gone in an instant.

“I think he’s close to mastering the RSP system,” she sighed, before walking out of the room herself. She had her own things to prepare, several cases of luggage filled with clothes.

***

Ash cleaned out the room, it didn’t take very long. The PKM would be providing a safe house for himself and Serena, so it wouldn’t hurt for him to plan ahead for anything. He grabbed the gun under his bed, checking to make sure the safety was on the pistol, before tucking it into a satchel he would take to carry his few belongings.

“Pikachu?” he asked, knowing that the Pokemon could hear him. He headed for the bathroom, and gathered his toiletries, a shaver and a toothbrush, along with a small black comb.

Yes Ash?” the Pokemon asked, its voice spreading through the living quarters. “What’s up?”

“I was just thinking something,” he answered, tossing the items into his bag. “You think 3 has a motive in coming with me on this mission?”

I think if you’re going to be partners, it might make more sense to call her by her name, and not her designation,” it replied. “She cares for you, or at least, your well-being Ash. She is a friend.”

“She annoys me,” Ash muttered, stashing away a few provisions under the bed, a few clips and food. “She lives to make me uncomfortable.”

Don’t worry too much about it,” Pikachu replied soothingly. “Remember how you used to be just like her when you were younger? Try and have some fun, Serena can show you how. She seems like a nice person.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ash replied, his eyes hitting the frame Serena had picked up. “I wonder why she got so worked up about a photo,” he muttered to himself, picking up the last photo he had of them, and remembering that he was going back to them a Ranger, their protector. He put it inside his satchel, closing the bag tightly. “I’d better get going, it’s a long way there for Serena, two seconds for me.”

RSP is a useful system Ash,” Pikachu agreed, and the man made his way out of the room, making sure to get his civilian clothes. There was no way he was walking around wearing the stupid PKM uniform Serena had made him put on. The door shut fast behind him, and the Ranger made his way left, towards where the exit to the PKM would be.

He hoped that Serena was not bringing her entire wardrobe.

***

“It took you long enough,” Ash sighed, an hour later as agents hauled various suitcases towards the chopper he was leaning on. The thin helicopter wasn’t going to be able to hold all the luggage that Serena had chosen to take with them. He slung his satchel over his shoulder, already dressed in civilian form, looking more like a biker than anything. He then noticed that she wasn’t wearing her uniform either.

Serena had opted for something more…casual. With jeans to tight they looked painted on, she strode out to him with red heels, and a white shirt that exposed her naval. A few bracelets dangled from her lithe wrists, and her silver hair was tied into a bun. Ash groaned, she looked more like a ***** then an agent.

“And why do you look like that?” Ash asked, putting his ponytail out of sight. At least her hair was neat, though it looked like she wanted him to notice her.

“I wanna have fun on this mission, so I figured I’d wear something so I wouldn’t stand out,” she answered sweetly, Ash noticing the masses under her shirt even without having to look hard.

“I think everyone’s going to pay attention to that,” he muttered, looking away. “Come on, get your stuff onto the helicopter, we’ve got work to do.”

She nodded, and turned to the agents, all of whom seemed to have blood leaking from their noses from staring at her shirt. “Load ‘em up!” she ordered, and the people rushed to obey her, hastily putting up all the luggage, to Ash’s disbelief. It seemed impossible that such a large amount of material could fit into a small copter like the one PKM had given them to travel to Petalburg.

“Thank you!” Serena said sweetly, bowing low towards the agents when they were through. All of them disappeared instantly, probably due to the display she had given them. “Nyahaha, rookies are so easy to mess with,” she cackled, before skipping back to where Ash was waiting. “Is that all your taking?” she asked, pointing to the satchel he was holding.

“It’s all I need,” he replied, tossing it aboard the craft. “Let’s get going.”

He climbed aboard, followed by her, and entered the pilot’s seat immediately. He did not know how well Serena could fly a chopper, but from what she had just done, he really didn’t want to know. He could fly well enough, so he would pilot. Plus, he had seniority in terms of rank to her.

“Get in,” he ordered, shutting the hatch behind her, “and buckle up.”

She nodded, getting into the co-pilot’s seat and buckling up tightly. Ash was known for somewhat reckless yet effective driving and piloting. Ash put on a set of headphones, and turned on the chopper. “Agent 0 to control,” he said into the microphone. “This is Chopper A, requesting admission to the air.”

Chopper A, please stand by for dock opening,” a static voice crackled back, before the ceiling above them began to open, exposing them to the bright sky above them, blue with the radiant sun streaming down on the two. “You are clear for launch,” the voice muttered, “good luck Rangers.”

“Roger.” Ash started the engine, the blades above them spiraling on command. After waiting for the momentum to build, Ash raised the copter into the air, and out of the hanger, into the beautiful sky above. “Adios PKM,” he said, reaching the desired altitude needed to travel through the air. “Ready 3?” he asked, looking over to Serena.

“Ready Ash,” she replied, and both Rangers began to head east to Hoenn, to continue their mission. The morphers confiscated from the terrorist were still in Ash’s satchel, he would give them to Serena later, when there was time, and when May was safe.
__________________

And it is with that I present the White Ranger, Serena Brine, along with Ash's and her confusing relationship of lust and total lack of Ash's interest! Stay tuned for more, we're getting to the good part soon!

NEXT: Morph Six-Acceptance Coming Soon!

SEE X3! IT IS PWNSOME! Review if you can, I'm out of school suckas!
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Oh yeah! Ah, and in case anyone has further doubt, Serena's appearance has bumped the rating. This is now an R rated fic, for sexual chaos, foul language, and awesome violence!

Morph Six- Acceptance

“Grab your things, I’m not taking them in for you.”

Ash landed the chopper two miles out of Petalburg, making sure to activate the stealth mode that would keep them under the radar. It was quiet, he noted, as the blades dimmed above him, and he stepped out onto the solid ground again, grabbing his satchel as he did so. The Golden Ranger glanced around the dark woods, trying to figure out where he was.

He had already removed the surveillance materials needed for the mission from the craft, so that was not the main problem in moving into the safe house the PKM had provided for him and his new partner. The main problem was his partner or, more specifically, the luggage that Serena had chosen to bring with her, numerous amounts of baggage with clothing inside.

“You could lend a hand,” Serena whispered in the dark forest, so as not to alert any invisible people to their presence.

“You’re the one who chose to bring your wardrobe,” Ash pointed out, grabbing the bags with the equipment inside. “I brought the bare necessities, like you should have. This will be a good lesson for you.”

“No fair.” She pointed at him, surrounded by what looked like ten massive bags of matched luggage. “You can use RSP in civilian form, I don’t even have the tech in Ranger form. The least you could do is take nine, or ten.” She raised her head hopefully, praying he could help. Or would.

Ash sighed, she was never going to learn to control herself if he did everything for her. But at the same time, he was her partner, it might be a good idea to help her out, the argument they had had had not been pleasant for either side. “Pikachu,” he muttered, raising his left morpher, “activate RSP.”

Done,” the voice inside the morphers replied. Ash grumbled to himself, before he issued a crack of lightning, and vanished into thin air. Serena grinned to herself, men were so easy to manipulate if given the right bait. Soon she heard another crack in the distance, and two bags disappeared from before her feet into thin air. She thought she saw Ash’s face for an instant, but it was gone. It took several trips to make it, but eventually the bags were all gone from her feet, and Ash was standing before her, hands in his pockets.

“Let’s get going,” he said, without a trace of exhaustion in his voice. She nodded, smiling sweetly.

“Thank you Ashy,” she whispered, leaning up as she passed him, into his ear. “I’ll return the favor later.”

He chose to remain silent, and followed by her side quietly towards Petalburg. He refused to speak, preferring to be wrapped in his own thoughts. The darkness was not a problem for either Ranger, they had both had the training needed to overcome problems seeing in the dark. The forest slowly transformed, turning from a lush vegetation to hard concrete as they neared the city, glancing up and down at the various skyscrapers and buildings surrounding them, a different kind of tree, sprouted from the fruits of mankind.

They noted people passing by them, harmless drunks, students, trainers nursing their Pokemon from battles, but ignored them for the most part. Ash simply wanted to get to the designated area they would be staying at, as promised by the PKM, a home had been provided for them to stay in for the mission. It was located on the opposite side of the gym, with a perfect view of the family that May was staying with to recuperate from her attacks. She would be safe with two Rangers guarding her.

Serena glanced up again at Ash, and saw that he was once again lost in the world the man had made for himself, one of self-loathing. Why couldn’t he ever just be cheerful and happy, like she was? She saw two people across the street, both arm in arm, and decided she would make him happy, or at least, extremely uncomfortable.

She grabbed his arm, and yanked it around hers, binding him fast before he could notice. Ash snapped out of his trance instantly, and jerked to where she was walking, holding his arm like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Wh-what are you doing?” he asked, trying to control his voice this time.

“Blending in,” she yawned, snuggling closer to his warm form, and relishing the fact that he was twitching under the hardened mask he had set on his features. “If we’re going to be here, we might as well have a decent cover.”

“I…don’t think it would be wise to portray that we are a couple 3,” Ash answered carefully, attempting to remain calm, but feeling himself failing.

“You think too much,” she retorted, her white locks brushing against his chest. “Try and live a little. You have a better excuse for two young adults of opposite genders to be living in the same apartment?”

“Brother and sister?” Ash tried with false hope.

“Not with what we go through on a daily basis,” Serena answered with a giggle. “I mean, in today alone, you threw me onto the bed for goodness sakes…being family is simply out of the question.”

“You threw me into the bed, you’re stronger then you pretend to be,” Ash protested, attempting to remove her grasp on his hand, and finding he could not. “Anyway, we don’t need a cover. We just need to lay low during the mission.” She still did not release him, though he tried his best not to draw attention to it.

“What’s our apartment look like honey?” she murmured, changing the subject.

“Didn’t really get a good look at it,” Ash replied.

“How many bedrooms?”

“Don’t know.” He really hadn’t gotten a good look, he had just dumped her stuff onto the floor and gotten everything in, before rushing back to her. She’d get lost without him, so he returned. “But I don’t want you getting any ideas, got it 3?”

“No promises Ashy,” Serena laughed, pulling him closer. She could sense his temperature increasing, and smiled. Her pet was rather jumpy when she was forward.

Ash groaned inside, forcing himself to focus his attention elsewhere. She was…very close, and she knew it was slowly but surely making him lose his sense of self-control, he thought, staring steadily ahead in the street, directly avoiding her gaze. Calm yourself, he mentally ordered, forcefully controlling the increasing rate of his heartbeat. He slowed his breathing, losing control would only play into her hands, something he had no intention of doing.

Serena frowned, as the hardened mask set down once more on Ash’s features. She felt the awkwardness leave him, and he did not remove his hand, but ignored her all the same. She glanced up at him, he was so tall compared to her, and tried to see what he was thinking. But Ash’s face said nothing, and he continued to guide her to the apartment they were staying in. He was so boring sometimes, she thought, gazing him over. He looked more like a movie star, he was simply too handsome. She snuggled closer to him, hoping to terrify him again.

I wish he’d loosen up a little, she thought, wondering what a loose Ash would be like. Ever since he had been brought into the PKM by 0, the agent had been quite mysterious, especially after his wife made him leave. He still carried the scars from her, and now had to protect her. She almost hated the woman named May Birch for doing it to him, hurting him like that, but reminded herself that he was nothing but a plaything. She shivered, realizing how cold it was. The climate had changed, it would be winter soon. She hated winter, it got way too cold for her, and she couldn’t wear her favorite clothes, the ones that drove men mad with lust. The one she was wearing now was not built for the cold weather, and she shivered again.

“Here.” Serena turned upwards, to see that Ash was raising his arm from her hands, and draped it over both her shoulders. She turned crimson, but Ash did not notice, pulling her closer to himself. “Warm yourself, I can see you are uncomfortable in the weather here. Maybe next time you will dress to suit the occasion.” He continued, and she did not speak. She snuggled closer, eager for warmth.

“Thank you Ash,” she mumbled, as they headed towards the gym of the city, or the street. Opposite of that street was their apartment, everything already prepared for the two Rangers. It was hidden in the complex across the street, with perfect sighting to watch over May.

“Just don’t get any ideas,” he replied dully, and walked her up towards the steps leading to their new home. He shifted his hand in his pockets, pulling out a set of jingling keys he had found in his belongings, the keys to the apartment complex and their home. Shifting the first golden key into the slot, he led Serena upstairs.

***

Ash clicked open the door, admitting Serena to their home. He released his hold on her, it would be warm enough in the apartment. Shutting the door carefully, he locked them in, and passed through the rooms, double checking everything the PKM had provided for them. Serena’s luggage was huddled in a pile in the middle of the floor, but at least it was there. His own satchel and equipment were on a table in the dining room, he would retrieve them later.

Ash’s eyes surveyed the small apartment, it barely housed one person, let alone Serena and the chaos that followed her. He moved past the narrow atrium to the living room, barely noticing the couch or the low table in front of it. He passed by the lavender couch and the black table, and didn’t even glance at the TV standing before them in the corner. He made for an empty room he had seen for an instant when he had dashed through, the one with the view he wanted.

He opened the bare door, the room behind it small and square. Shutting it behind him, he made his way to the folding chair and table set that the PKM had installed for surveillance. Removing the dark leather jacket he wore, he sat down onto the chair, glancing out the small plane of glass before him. His eyes gazed out, a dark spark behind them, towards the gym that stood opposite the apartment.

And he saw her, sleeping peacefully in her room. Ash couldn’t see May clearly, but he knew it was her form slumped in the bed, her old room. He couldn’t see Sarah anywhere, but he knew she was near. May’s maternal instincts would probably prohibit the child from much freedom that her mother could not supervise. He chuckled lightly, May was very overprotective of her child.

Her child. Ash glanced at his morphers, detesting them once more. These are my shackles now, these are why she can’t be my child. Not now, not ever. Again, he wondered why he had been so willing to join the PKM, why he felt such a strong urging when he had been foolish, younger, eager for a true challenge. He was a damned fool.

He heard the door open behind him, but did not turn. He knew enough that it was Serena, and that she would shut the door behind him. “Are we in place?” she asked tentatively, walking towards the window to observe May asleep. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine 3,” he replied dully, turning away from the window. “Tomorrow, when they go out, we’re going to bug the house, make sure we have everything set up right. Shouldn’t be too much of a problem, I’ve done it before.” He turned to her, tilting his head downwards. “I am going to stay here tonight, and set up the stuff. You sleep, and don’t get any ideas.”

Serena nodded, and walked out of the room, turning her head just as she closed the door to see his pained face, the unsealing scars open and exposed. They did not mark his face, or his muscular body. They marked his heart, she realized, making her way across the apartment to the only bedroom in the living space. He refused to show it, but she could sense it.

What’s wrong with me? Ash was just a plaything for her, wasn’t he? She simply used him to vent out her suppressed need to torture, and to tease, Ash was the perfect vehicle for it because he never reacted the way most men would when harassed by a beautiful girl like her. She was the one man she couldn’t have, and she had been attracted to that, the enigmatic force present in Ash that halted all human instinct, all desire, all emotion. Why do I care?

She thought about earlier, when she had hated May Birch for what she had done to him. How she had hurt Ash, and kept him away from his daughter. How could someone be so cruel to someone who was so harsh, yet so kind, so pure? So alone, she thought, she knew he was alone in the world. All he had was himself, and he had lost that to become a Ranger.

Serena wandered into the bedroom, a double bed that she had arranged to have installed through her connections. She had been planning to taunt Ash with it, to torment him madly. One of her suitcases was full of underwear to mess with him, but she didn’t want to anymore. Keeping the door open, the White Ranger fell onto the bed, still clothed, and fell into a troubled sleep, not the funny ones with Ash, but a dark one with the Golden Ranger. His mask haunted her, slowly covering the handsome face that she wanted. Ash…

The new Ranger remained in the room all night, refusing to sleep under any circumstances. He felt the bracelets, his chains, against his wrists as he watched her through the window, pulling out a pair of binoculars for better surveillance. Not once did his attention vary, anything outside of her safety was of no importance to him.

Why would there be a second team of Rangers? he thought suddenly, maintaining his focus. And what would they want with May? That person said there were six, well, now there’s five. Against me and 3. He paused, he had taken himself into account of the number of Rangers. He didn’t know where the other Rangers were, and didn’t want to, but the fact that he had added himself in with Serena showed something to him.

Can I be a Ranger? Ash asked, looking down on May’s sleeping form. Is that the only way to protect you?

The night was silent as Ash gazed on.

***

Ash…

May’s eyes opened slowly, she had slept well that night. Better than the ones before, which had been clouded with continual nightmares of the dark man at the Festival. The night before, she had seen him again, only this time, someone was fighting him off, clad in golden darkness. It had been 0, the Golden Ranger, that had protected her. She smiled at the thought, the mystery man had been on her mind a lot lately. It had been a week, but if thinking about 0 was what it took to feel better, it couldn’t hurt.

She yawned, glancing up at the clock by her bed stand. The green numbers stuck out at her, blaring 11:30 directly into her eyes. I overslept! May thought urgently, but strangely did not act on the impending need to get up. She simply continued to lie in bed, all the while thinking of two people. The strange Golden Ranger, whom she had not seen since leaving the Festival, and Ash, who had told her he would be back, but had still not checked up on him.

“I wonder where he is…” she murmured into her pillow. “I wonder where they both are…” She remembered this bed, remembered the reassuring weight of her husband across from her. A pang crossed her, but she tried to push it away, a pit of sadness that she knew would never fill.

“Mommy?” The door opened, followed by Sarah’s small form, already dressed in a violet shirt and a little pair of blue jeans. “Mommy, are you coming down for breakfast? Grandma wanted to know.”

She nodded, raising herself from the mattress. “Sure Sarah,” May replied, rubbing her eyes. “Tell her I’ll be down in a minute.” Sarah nodded, and closed the door to allow her mother time to change. May stretched, rising from the bed. “Well, might as well go out today. I need more clothes.” She smiled, shopping always made her happy, as it did any woman.

May lifted herself from the white mattress, raising her hands up. “Better get dressed,” she said, gazing down at the light gown she was wearing. Her eyes shifted, locating the closet that housed most of her clothes, and headed fro it, opening the doors to at least a dozen outfits, and twice the shoes. She glowed in front of them, it could take hours to determine what she would wear.

“It’s good to be alive,” she relished, before diving into the closet.

***

Across the street, exactly where he had been for several days, Ash Ketchum watched, not letting her out of his sight. He had miscalculated, there had not been time to install the bugs for the gym May was staying in. He heard a knock, but did not move.

“Enter,” he muttered, and Serena entered the room, leaving the door open for him. She seemed concerned, but he wasn’t looking at her, so he couldn’t tell. “What’s up?” he asked, not changing his focus.

“Ash…” Serena grabbed a pair of binoculars, and watched with him for a moment. “Are you…watching her change?” She grinned, she didn’t know Ash was a pervert.

“Don’t misunderstand, it’s so she isn’t hurt.” He shifted his gaze, looking up at her with red, tired eyes. “I’m watching the door for any enemies. You never know when one‘s going to show up.”

“Ash, are you even aware of how long you’ve been watching her?” Serena asked suddenly, putting the spectacles down.

“No,” was his rely, and he reverted to watching May.

“Five days.”

“Really?”

“Really. I think you should probably try sleeping, no one can work under the strain you’re making yourself work.” Her eyes were worried, but he could not see them, his eyes fixed on the object of his affection. “Ash, look at me,” she said, an ordering tone in her voice.

He did not. She felt herself trembling, she could already see the signs. He’s becoming just like 0, even if he doesn’t realize it, she thought, looking down at him. Serena took a gulp, before bending down to grab Ash’s face, jerking him away from the window. Her deep emerald eyes gazed into the coal black orbs of his face, but she wasn’t scared.

“I care about your well-being Ash,” she said, seeing his eyes widen in surprise. “Even if you don’t, you’ll never get her back, and it’s no way to destroy yourself.” Serena gripped his shoulders, and made him rise from the chair, he did not resist. She sensed most of his endurance had faded away several days back, only his stubborn will was watching his ex. No, I’m not going to take advantage of it, she swore, making him walk out of the room. Serena shut the door behind her and Ash, and marched the zombie-like Ranger towards the bathroom.

“Go, and shower,” she commanded, opening the door for him. “Then, sleep. I can handle her for a few hours.” She heard a slight grunt from him, and shoved him into the room, closing the door behind him. She waited a moment, but soon heard the shower faucet start up, and felt steam begin to rise out of the door’s bottom opening.

“Idiot,” she muttered, he needed to take better care of himself. Was he like this all the time? Serena put it out of her head, and started back for the lookout point. “He isn’t going to last this mission if he doesn’t at least try and live. I mean, if he does this again, I’m…” She stopped herself, picking up the binoculars from the table. What would I do? Serena asked herself, watching over as May changed, and went down for breakfast. She felt a twinge again, the same twinge she had felt when she had thought about hating May.

She shook her head, feeling her heart. It was pounding so hard, at the thought of him so tired. What’s wrong with me? She took a look, and noticed the fact that May had much more clothes than she did. We’re going shopping, she decided, putting them down. There is no way I’m letting a target have more clothing then I do.

She suddenly felt happy that Ash was capable of moving such large weights. Setting the goggles down, Serena made her way towards the bathroom, deciding that she had watched May’s clothing for long enough. “Ash!” she shouted, calling against the shut door. “We’re going to the mall later!!”

She heard no reply, and assumed that he couldn’t hear her over the water inside. “Ash, we’re going to the mall later!” she shouted, with more volume. Again, Ash had nothing to say to that. “Ash, I’m coming in naked!” she shouted a third time, this time trying to get his attention. “Ash?”

She felt nervous, what if the strain had been too much? Carefully, she reached out her hand, feeling the steam waft from the bathroom, before turning the knob. Vapors erupted from the room, scorching her with searing heat, but she nevertheless went in, overcome with fear for Ash’s health. “Ash?” she called over the steam, feeling her body start to perspire.

And there he was, still in his clothes, slumped in the bathtub like he was sleeping. Searing hot water rushed against him, but he wasn’t noticing, or probably didn’t care. She could see the redness start to form across his body, his exposed neck receiving most of the blast. His head was laid back, all of his clothes soaked, snoring through the fog like a horn, dead asleep.

“Ash!” she exclaimed, rushing over to the faucet in the shower and shutting it off, the searing heat stopping its unending flow over his body. “Are you all right?” It would teach him a lesson if he wasn’t.

Ash groaned, opening his eyes. “Hey, who turned off the water?” he asked, his eyes flickering towards Serena. “3, what are you doing here? I’m not wearing anything.”

“No, you still have your clothes on,” she grumbled, almost disappointed. “Do I have to baby-sit you or something? You could have been seriously injured by the heat.”

He grinned lightly. “No problem for me, I don’t really feel a difference when it comes to temperature. Where’s May?”

“Worry about yourself for a change,” Serena muttered, lowering a hand to lift him out of the bath. “Come on, let’s get ya cleaned up. We’re going to the mall later.”

“Why?”

“I need clothes,” she retorted, as his hulking frame emerged from the steam, most of the skin a deep crimson. “And you’re going to carry them.” He stumbled, still half-asleep, and she let him slide an arm around her shoulder, leading him carefully out. He needed sleep, so she started for the bedroom.

“You barely wear anything to begin with,” he murmured. “Good idea, I don’t like you walking around half-naked all the time.”

He said no more than that, and promptly fell onto the bed, dead asleep. He was snoring before he hit the mattress, Serena shook her head in disbelief. No one is this stupid when it comes to their own health. Then she remembered that for all Ash was, he was just an idiot. He wanted something he could not have, he wanted his family back.

Foolish. But was he any different from her? She wanted him because he would not let her have him, wanted him badly, because he was a mystery, covered in a shroud that he would not remove. She sighed, what was wrong with her?

***

It took five hours for Ash to regain consciousness, in which time Serena had found one of her clothing magazines and outlined everything she wanted, right down to the socks she would buy. She giggled, it would take Ash forever to pull all the clothes to the apartment. She glanced around, wondering if what she wanted would even fit in the apartment.

A loud bang issued from the bedroom, signaling that the Golden Ranger had risen from his nap, one that should have lasted several days for a normal human. The door burst open, followed by a soaking wet Ash, who didn’t seem to notice how wet he was, and made for the fridge in the small, barely visible kitchen in the house.

“Morning sunshine,” Serena joked, but Ash was in no mood to laugh. He grabbed the nearest piece of food he could find, which turned out the be a bento. Tearing open the container, he downed the food quickly and without pause, he had not eaten in several days. After half a minute, Serena heard the box being thrown into the trash, and Ash’s soaking footsteps soon entered the living room where she was lounging on the couch.

“Having fun watching the target?” he asked, his eyes strangely lifeless. He glanced downwards, to the catalogue she was flipping through. “You said you could handle watching May.”

“I did.” She tossed the magazine away, beckoning him to sit. He remained standing, arms crossed over his chest. “She’s gonna head out for the mall today, so I figured I could get some shopping in, with my own personal valet carrying everything.” She smiled, and then noticed he was not.

“We’re going, but not to shop.” He turned back towards the surveillance room, and began walking. “I’m changing, then we’ll go.” He heard her whimper, almost like she was a crying dog, and turned back, his eyes opening wide.

She had somehow snuck up directly behind him, puppy-dog eyes gazing directly at him. There were even some fake tears in her eyes, his piercing dark orbs looking directly into them. What’s wrong with her now? Ash wondered, she her hands clasped together against her breasts.

“Please Ashy?” she begged, in a voice capable of warming even the coldest hearts. It did not work on Ash.

“Fine,” he resigned, turning away from her again. “One outfit, and that’s it. Got it?”

“Yay!” she replied happily, hugging him from behind, feeling his soaking skin without thinking.

Ash did not stop her, but neither did he encourage her. He waited for her to release him, and made his way to the other room, where most of his belongings were still located. He shut the door to Serena’s face, his mask applied once more, and began to search for his spare set of clothes, shedding the shirt and pants.

It took them an hour to get ready, simply because of Serena’s insistence on double-checking the things she wanted to get, and the fact that they needed to wait for May to leave before following her family. Ash grabbed a yellow shirt, he seemed to have a lot of those, and a pair of black jeans. His necklace jingled, and he felt the pang again.

Stop it, he ordered himself, glancing out the window. He could see May and Sarah in the street outside the gym, with Brock and Max in tow. He assumed that Caroline and Norman were still inside, attending to the day by day operations of the building, and walked out of the room, completely refreshed but annoyed. He grasped the door’s handle, and saw once more his morphers.

If it wasn’t for Pikachu being trapped in these, I would have removed them. The mouse was nothing, little more than a presence for Ash’s comfort. He missed the reassuring weight on his shoulder, the one that had stood by him through everything. Now he only had Serena’s voice to look after him, she seemed pretty eager with keeping him alive. He didn’t care.

“Let’s get going,” he muttered, opening the door to her smiling face. “We don’t want to lose her.” She shook her head, and opened the door to admit them both out of the apartment. Ash grabbed the keys on the way out, locking the door behind him. “We’re installing the equipment tonight, we’ve waited long enough.” Again, Serena nodded, choosing not to question the dark man.

“Just promise me you’ll take better care of yourself,” she whispered to him, her eyes wide with fear. Ash registered the emerald gaze, nodding.

“I’ll take care of myself, I don’t want you to worry about me,” he replied, before brushing past her to get to the set of stairs that led to the ground floor. “I don’t want anyone worrying about me.”

She watched him leave, head bobbing on the stairwell as he descended. Her heart quickened, but fell at the same time. He really is alone, she thought, wanting to give him the comfort he would never accept, the human bond he did not want. She wanted to take care of him, she liked having him around. He had rarely been around at the HQ, and the mission wasn’t going at all like she had fantasized about. He was much more distant now that she was living with him. I want to see him happy.

“3!” Ash ordered, looking back up the stairs. “Let’s go!”

She snapped out of her trance, and followed the Golden Ranger out of the complex, all the while maintaining distance. She could practically sense the dark aura around him, one of reluctance. “How are we getting there?” she asked, lifting her head to see his. “Do we have a car?”

“No.” Ash lifted a hand, displaying the morpher. “But I compensate.” The strange lightning powers that seemed to have bonded to him allowed him speeds faster than most. He glanced her up and down, and was glad to see that she had chosen to wear a decent amount of clothing, forgoing the short shorts and tight shirt for leather black pants and a white sweater. He didn’t care, and started for the door.

They exited the house quickly, making sure to keep out of sight as May’s car pulled away from the gym, keeping an eye out for anyone that knew Ash. They didn’t want any difficulty in protecting their target. Ash watched the car pull away, and took Serena’s hand, leading her into the sidewalk.

“Now, when we do this,” he said, closing his eyes, “you will feel a slight jolt, followed by movement faster than any rollercoaster. Keep a tight grip, and I think you’ll be fine.” She nodded, keeping her grip on his fingers. They were so large, so gentle, but firm at the same time. She felt a slight tingle in his fingers, and glanced down to see that part of his shirt was waving, but there wasn’t any wind.

“I trust you Ash,” she answered, before it happened. A large crack issued, and the world began to spin, blurring around them to a screeching halt as Ash erupted forward, traveling like a bolt of lightning after the car.

I’m glad. She thought she heard his voice over the wind, but wasn’t sure. Clenching her eyes shut and her hand on Ash’s, the vortex spun around her.

***

A giant crack issued in front of a massive building, at least three stories high. The platinum of the building’s paint gleamed in the sunlight, though the sun did little to affect the weather surrounding the mall, a swift chill echoing along its walls. At least inside it was warm, but for those with faraway parking spots, it left them in quite a predicament.

For Ash, it meant finding a place to reappear without being spotted.

Choosing the back end of the mall as the best place to emerge, a bolt of lightning cracked, followed by Ash and Serena standing quite calmly together, hand in hand. Ash was looking around, checking to make sure no one had noticed their entrance, even if they were in the abandoned area, a loading dock that wasn’t in service. Serena simply stood still, hair blown up like a balloon, independent from gravity.

“The coast is clear, no one saw us,” he reported, turning back to see her stunned face. “I’ll take it you didn’t like the RSP? It’s pretty fast.”

She turned her head very slowly towards him, her hair settling back into position. “We’re taking the bus home, got it?” she asked, her wide eyes menacing. “How you put up with lightning speed I don’t know, and I don’t want to.”

“It might be because the RSP is designed for me only,” he thought, scratching his chin. “I don’t think it can take multiple people like that, we’ll need to do some tests…” His voice trailed off, he glanced down at her slowly turning crimson eyes. “Or not.”

“Let’s just go,” she said, brushing her fluffy hair out of her eyes. “We’re taking the bus, I’m never doing that again.”

“I’ll talk to HQ about the possibility of getting a motorcycle out here,” Ash said, following her from the loading area. He always did like a bike in comparison to a car, they were more fun. More heroic too. She didn’t answer, and felt her stomach. “You all right?”

“I’m fine…I just…”

“Ya gonna hurl?” Ash asked, backing away slightly from her. The last thing he needed was to be thrown up on.

“I think so.” Covering her mouth, she bolted, rushing for the nearest trash can. Ash watched her leave, making sure she was all right, but didn’t hurry his pace. She was a Ranger, she could take care of herself. He was the unsure one that couldn’t. Again he looked at his morphers, he was getting sick of this uncertainty. He hated his Ranger powers, but he had no problem using super speed. He was a living paradox.

“Could I be a Ranger?” That was a stupid question, but still he asked it aloud. He was a Ranger, confirmed upon him by the Council and 0, whose final act was to make his life hell. Am I a Ranger inside? He didn’t feel like one.

“Pikachu?” he asked, lifting up the right morpher.

Yes Ash?” it squeaked back, its voice quiet so none would hear aside from him.

He took a deep breath. “Do you think I could be a Ranger, if it meant giving up everything?”

Haven’t you done that already?” it asked, slightly confused. “How is anything now different from when you were a normal agent? All you have now that is different is a new suit. The PKM never banned you from having a relationship, you did that.” The com link fell dead, and the mouse retreated back into the silence of the morphers, leaving Ash to think.

“I know…” he murmured gently, glancing over to where Serena seemed to have found a trash can, and was bending before it like a volcano, forcing bystanders to flee for their lives. He didn’t smile, but found it mildly amusing. After a minute, Serena’s head resurfaced, pale and frail. Maybe she won’t be in a mood to do a lot of shopping. He waited for her, and tucked his hands into his pockets.

And then it happened.

Ash clamped his ears, as something began that he could not control. He could suddenly hear everything within two hundred yards, crystal clear. He heard a child scream in the background, and clenched his eyes shut. He heard Serena shout in concern, and knew her footsteps were coming towards him. He beckoned her away, hearing something else.

A truck was coming, screeching loudly as Serena leapt in front of it. He heard her scream, and glanced around, forcing his eyes open. All conscious thought was lost, there was no one there but himself, the driver, and Serena. He snapped his fingers, feeling the course of electricity burn through him, and a dark crack issued from his body.

What is happening to me? he asked himself, hearing everything. Time slowed again as he blurred from the outside, and felt the lightning burst from within him. His eyes glowed, sparking again with the crackling bolts surging through him. He vanished into thin air, a bright light issuing from him, and headed straight into the street, ignoring Serena’s request to never use the power with her.

Serena only turned in time to see the truck, screeching just as she burst into the street. The driver swerved, tilting the truck onto its side. Serena screamed, all thoughts of her morpher gone, and raised her hands up to protect herself, knowing it would be futile. Her life flashed before her eyes, she clenched them shut.

She felt a jerk around her navel, before she was hurled from the truck’s path, grabbed by an unseen force, or form, and brought out of range, a sharp crackle bursting through her body. She shut her mouth against the jolt, and soon found herself landing hard onto a discarded mattress, her back hitting against the springs. A dark form looked at her only momentarily, before it turned, clamping his hands together, feeling the current rise inside him.

The man roared, lightning bursting from him in agony, finding its way to the truck through the road, superheating the metal and rubber, melting and welding it to the ground, forcing it to an abrupt halt. Serena shielded her eyes from the bright light, unable to discern who it was, but knowing anyway that there was only one person with a RSP.

The lightning cracked again, and the figure was gone, vanished into nothingness. The driver looked around, stunned that his truck had stopped, and rushed out of the cab, trying to see if the woman he had almost hit was all right.

There was no one there, he was alone.

***

“Are you…all right?”

Ash realized that he was holding Serena in his arms, cradling her gently. They were somehow on the roof, even he didn’t know how they got there. He had simply kept running, getting away from the scene as fast as possible. The driver had not seen their faces, they were safe. What was strange was how Serena was reacting.

She was holding him for dear life, head nestled into his chest. He doubted that she even knew what she was doing, she was strangely unprofessional for a Ranger. She hadn’t replied to him, so he allowed her to latch onto him for a moment longer, watching below as the people went about their lives, ignoring him. The chilly breeze had no effect on him, but he felt his temperature rise from being so close to Serena.

“3, are you all right?” he asked one more time, adjusting her carefully in his grasp.

“Huh?” She looked up, the jade eyes blazing in fear. “Oh, yes Ash, I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

He shook his head. “No,” he answered, his dark eyes gazing down at her, “it was because I was unprepared for a side-effect from the RSP that this happened. What’s happening to me?”

She smiled lightly, holding him tenderly. “The RSP system is bonding to your form, the DNA from your Spirit is changing your DNA. That’s why you can move like lightning.”

“That’s not all I can do.” Her eyes widened, but he continued. “I just shot out lightning and melted a truck, and I can hear everything going on. Tell me, is that normal?” She shook her head, it truly wasn’t.

“None of the people subjected to RSP testing have had that kind of advanced powers,” she answered him. “It is theorized that your bond with Pikachu is so strong that your RSP can go even further than anyone else. That’s one of the reasons 0 brought you to the PKM. He knew that you would be the best replacement for him.”

“Do you think so?” he asked, turning his head down. “Forget the PKM, do you think I could be his replacement?”

She didn’t hesitate. “If anything, what you just did, saving my life, shows that you are the person that 0 always wanted as a replacement. You are the Golden Ranger, even if you don’t want to be. I trust you Ash.”

He looked up, staring at the sun in the sky. He had saved her, without even thinking about it. “As long as my skin doesn’t turn yellow,” he answered, setting her down onto the ground, “I’ll fight, until we find out who is hunting May, and crush them.”

He could still hear everything, but it wasn’t the harsh buzz he had felt earlier. Now it was controlled, lessened though the effect had not gone away. “I think if I’m going to be shooting electric strikes at people, we should probably invest in some rubber gloves for me to wear,” he muttered, turning towards the entrance of the mall, Serena following. “I don’t want to jolt anyone.”

“That would be a plus,” she agreed, nodding her head. Aw man, what’s gonna happen now? If I can’t touch him from fear of electrocution, how am I going to seduce him? But she pushed the thought from her head, walking quietly behind him, feeling a strange emotion flowing from her bosom. Her heart fluttered when she looked at him, even though his brain was unable to detect emotion, or feel it.

Am I in love with him? she asked herself, opening the metal door away from him, not wanting the Golden Ranger to short-circuit the entire mall.
_________________________________________
And I'm done! Review if you can, but I'm not holding any candles for it at the moment. There will probably be one more chapter, then this fic shall go on hiatus until August, because that's when I'm getting back from Greece! PEACE OUT!
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Morph Seven- Definition

“You sure this is going to work?”

Ash looked uncertainly around, somewhat confused as to how Serena had talked him into this. He was standing across the street, utterly still, with concealed cameras and surveillance tech inside his shirt and pants. May’s family had not left the building alone since they had begun, so the Rangers were taking a more direct approach. Using Ash.

“Positive,” Serena’s voice crackled into the earpiece she had made Ash wear to assist him. “I can’t get in, so it’s up to you. I know you can do it Ashy.”

“If you say so 3,” he replied dully into the microphone, shutting it off for the time being. He was attempting to assess exactly how he was going to get into the gym, he wasn’t the gym leader’s favorite person. He even had a detailed letter of what Norman would do to him the next time he saw Ash, but now wasn’t the time to think of death threats, the Golden Ranger was more than capable of handling threats. It was Ash Ketchum that was in danger.

He braced himself, dressed in his best leather jacket, the only nice attire he had to wear. Serena had said first impressions were the best, but this wasn’t his first impression, he’d blown that. It was the thought of protecting May that forced him down the stairs of the apartment, and across the street to the large building that housed the object of his attention, his target.

He took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell, praying for all that was holy that May would answer the door, she would at least hear him out, the others would kill him. Well, Brock might not, but Max had a gun for such an occasion. Or so he led Ash to believe the last time the glasses-wearing uncle met him. He gulped slightly, the gloved hands clenched. Serena made him wear rubberized protection because he was now capable of exploding every light bulb in the apartment if unprepared for her advances.

The knob turned in front of him, and the door slowly hinged open to reveal a pale, and ghostly version of Max Birch’s face, barely noticeable through the probable fear that he had been feeling for his sister. He wasn’t even looking at Ash clearly. “What do you want?” he asked, in a drone that put Ash’s monotone commands to shame.

“I’m here to see May,” he replied carefully, was it possible that Max didn’t even recognize him? He had changed a little since the last time they had met. His face was harder, his hair longer, he even held himself differently. “Could you take me to her?”

Max shook his head no. “She’s sleeping, and I’m not letting you near her, Ash,” he retorted, his eyes suddenly clearing. “Think you can come back here huh? Think again.”

“Max…” Ash began, but the youth cut him off, glaring at him up and down.

“Get the hell away from here, before I make you,” he threatened, raising a fist. Ash sighed, arranging his face to convey exactly what he had forgotten how to feel, pity.

“Please let me see her Max,” he pleaded, matching his tone perfectly with the one Serena normally used on him. “If only for a moment, I just want to see she’s okay.” He widened his eyes, feigning perfectly what Serena normally tried. I need lessons on emotion, he decided, wondering if Max would buy it.

“Get lost, prick,” he grumbled, slamming the door shut. Ash groaned, briefly considering smashing through the simple iron of the entry way. He heard Serena, and looked up, putting his hand to his ear.

“What?”

“Please tell me you didn’t just try and use the chick maneuver,” Serena sighed, Ash distinctly hearing laughter in the head phone. “Have you no soul at all?”

“Doesn’t it work for you?” he asked, still standing in front of the door.

“Yeah, but I’m a sweet girl, and you’re an idiot,” she retorted, chuckling to herself. “I’m gonna have to teach you how to act normal, aren’t I? Get back to the apartment, make sure they don’t see you.”

“Roger,” she heard him reply, and set down the headphone connecting her to his earpiece. How much of an idiot was he, she wondered, to possibly think that would work? Serena brushed her hair out her eyes, wondering exactly how much the failed marriage had affected Ash’s ability to use common sense, when a sharp crack issued, and Ash stood behind her, arms crossed, and brow furrowed.

“Perhaps you would have better chance then I,” he muttered, removing his jacket. It was getting too hot for him, even in the slowly descending temperature. “They won’t let me near her.”

Serena looked him up and down, trying to think of something. “Well, if the family won’t let Ash Ketchum near May, maybe May will let 0 close to her. Suit up tonight, and plant the stuff in her house. That might work.” She scratched her chin, it seemed logical enough. “As long as you don’t get caught, we should be all right.”

“Morph?” Ash glanced at the bracelets, his morphers, again. “I…don’t know. Maybe you should morph instead, you haven’t gone Ranger for longer than I have.” He really didn’t feel like morphing, even though he understood he was a Ranger, and would be one willingly, until May was safe. But he still disliked it, morphing reminded him too much of 0, and he hated that memory.

“She knows your Ranger form,” Serena pointed out, scratching her head. “It wouldn’t be good for the enemy to know that I’m here as well. Keep your Rangers unknown, they already know about you, they don’t need to know about me as well.” She could see him twitch, and sighed. “Fine, if you really feel uncomfortable in morphing, you can use the stealth gear and get in there that way. How’s that sound?” She could hear the sigh of relief from him, and smirked.

“All right 3,” he answered, heading for the bed. He had promised her he would take better care of himself, and he would hold his promise for that. “Wake me at midnight, I’ll do it then.” She nodded, and watched as the door closed, his form vanishing.

“What do I have to do,” she wondered, taking a deep breath, “to make you call me Serena?” He always called her by her number, even in public. He never wanted to be addressed as 0, he hated the title. Frustrated, she walked over to the table in front of the TV, where there was a small red book she had been rifting through, namely one page in particular.

She flipped through the L section of the dictionary, searching for the word she couldn’t seem to understand. She was pretty sure Ash didn’t get it either, but maybe it would help understand what he had been going through. She found the word, and looked through the definitions.

Function: noun
1 a (1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates> b : an assurance of love <give her my love>
2 : warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion <love of the sea>
3 a : the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration <baseball was his first love> b (1) : a beloved person : DARLING -- often used as a term of endearment (2) British -- used as an informal term of address
4 a : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others b : a person's adoration of God
5 : a god or personification of love
6 : an amorous episode : LOVE AFFAIR
7 : the sexual embrace : COPULATION
8 : a score of zero (as in tennis)
9 capitalized, Science : GOD
- at love : holding one's opponent scoreless in tennis
- in love : inspired by affection

Love, she murmured inside, looking at the article. It didn’t make sense for her, but she started to circle certain definitions with her finger, not controlling her actions. Without thinking, she circled the first definition, then the second, and the third. Her finger hovered over the next one, she couldn’t bring herself to admit that what she wanted meant Ash giving up what he wanted. She felt something warm against her cheek, and realized that it was a tear.

She circled the fourth.

Inspired by affection. She circled that as well, before sinking her head down into her chest. The dictionary left her hands, and clattered to the floor. Serena hugged her legs for the tenth time, and wished it didn’t have to be this way.

Why is love so hard? Why, now that she knew the truth, was she hurting so?

***

Ash felt something strange, drifting half-awake and half-asleep. For one, he found himself unable to move, no matter how hard he tried to shake himself free of whatever was binding him still. He cocked his head up, slightly confused, and then it occurred to him that he was in the bed, and his arms and legs were bound with two-inch thick solid steel. He shifted, but nothing happened. He was trapped.

“3?” he called out into the darkness, wondering if this was another one of her strange, and often annoying, games. A shadow was moving in the darkness of the room, and he strained against the bonds. “3? This isn’t funny!”

“What’s it gonna take?” she asked, still remaining in the shadows.

“What do you mean?”

“What do I have to do to make you call me Serena?” she asked, revealing herself quite intentionally from the darkness around him. His eyes bulged, she was wearing nothing but a lithe robe that offered little protection from someone like Ash’s eyes. It was colored white, like most of her clothes, but he could see almost everything below the cotton.

“Please put something else on 3,” he pleaded, preferring not to go through this exercise again. This was the fifth time that she had done this, and it was ALWAYS when he was sleeping. “I hate this game.”

“Call me Serena then,” she answered lustfully, lowering herself to his clothed, thankfully, body.

Ash instantly started to worry, he wasn’t wearing a jacket. His arms were bare, which meant… “3, don’t come closer,” he begged. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen if you touch my skin. I already broke everything in the house, I don’t want to hurt you too.” He looked over her eyes, and noticed they had a definite red in them. She had been in his beer.

“You won’t,” she whispered, feeling his shirt. “I know you won’t.”

She lifted the golden cloth, exposing his fine-tuned chest to her drunken gaze. She took it in, breathing in his scent. “3, please don’t,” Ash asked once more, feeling her hands growing closer and closer.

“Shush,” she slurred, reaching for his soft flesh. “I know you won’t hurt me.”

How am I supposed to do that? She hadn’t even bothered to tell him how to control his electric bolts, and Pikachu didn’t know either. He tried as hard as he could, sinking away from the lightning as much as humanly possible, thinking about anything but the situation and electricity. He tried so hard, but he didn’t want her to touch him, not in that way. Please don’t.

He couldn’t stop her, and she clasped his skin, feeling his torso in her palm. She grinned, her eyes leering. “Told you,” she snickered, pushing her hand across his stomach. “You want me to touch you, don’t you?” She lowered her hand, quickly closing the gap between her fingers, and the beginning of Ash’s pants.

“3 STOP!” Ash shouted, the lightning going off just as she touched the fabric, still holding part of his skin. Yellow light burst from his form, electrocuting her speedily, sending her flying from the bed. Her hair shot up as bolts of lightning shot through her system, Ash straining to get a look.

The chains snapped, breaking as the superheat of the bolt melted their locks, the Golden Ranger springing from his position to where Serena was sitting, parts of her body shaking uncontrollably. “3, are you all right?” he asked, this time making sure he wasn’t touching her at all, and lifted her into the air. “3, answer me.” He ordered it, not asked it.

She mumbled, showing that she was at least alive. Hoisting her up, Ash set her down onto the bed, checking her pulse to ensure she was all right. The dark man heaved, making sure his hands were still covered, unable to touch her. As long as he did not, she would be fine. “3, what is wrong with you?” he wondered aloud, feeling for the covers, and drawing them over her. She snuggled into them, and he left the room. “What is her problem, always doing this to me?” He brushed it out of his mind, he had work to do.

He donned quickly the stealth gear that Serena had laid out for him, wondering about the lightning. If he continued like this, he would never be able to touch anyone without fear of shocking them, Serena or anyone else. He would never be able to touch May. He put the dark cloth over his form, making sure it masked him completely in the darkness.

I can’t touch anyone, he thought, pulling on a mask with night-vision equipped. It slid over him easily, and he headed for the window, opening it carefully. The entire suit was shock proof, just like all of his clothes. He even had to rubberize the chain he wore his ring on, it was getting so bad. He was capable of shocking someone by touching the same metal they did. I can’t touch 3, or May, or even Sarah. He glanced out into the street, there was no one in the road to bother him.

He lifted his grapple gun, pointing to the highest level of the gym, and released, the piercing point striking across the street into the dull steel of the building. He sighed, he would deal with his electric powers later. Making sure the equipment he needed to take was still in place, Ash leapt off the ledge, swinging over to the other side, striking against the hard surface with his boots.

He began to climb.

***

Ash quietly entered the gym, making sure not to utter a single sound. Closing the window behind him, he retrieved the grapple he had used to enter, it would be bad to leave it behind. The hallway was dark, but not a problem for the Ranger. The night-vision goggles gazed around the narrow walkway, doors on either side of him. Making sure to stick to the shadows, Ash began to move forward, keeping away from anything that made noise. He still remembered where it was, and made for the bedroom of his former beloved, passing through the darkness.

He walked ahead, memories flowing back to him. Visits to the in-laws, Sarah laughing in her grandmother’s arms, in his arms. Had he known that he wouldn’t be able to touch May again, he would have put more into that last goodbye, but now wasn’t time for reminiscing. He had a job to do, he reminded himself, nearing and entering May’s room silently, making sure that the door did not squeak or creak, and shut it behind himself, not wanting to alert anyone to his presence.

He looked at her only briefly, before tossing sticky cams to the walls, making sure to cover every angle of the room. The small controllers ground fast into the walls, camouflaging quickly to the exact color of the wall’s surface. After the four had been placed, he moved towards the door, trending softly so as not to make any noise.

He knew he wasn’t supposed to, but something held him back. He stopped, and turned back to her, sleeping in front of him. Ash heaved, for everything he had become, nothing could stop the last emotion that was still attached to him. His love for her still burned fiercely, no matter how hard it hurt him. My last emotion, he thought, walking up to her bed, gazing at her perfect form.

Even in the night vision goggles, she was beautiful. Her hair was strewn around, flopped into the bed. The covers were thrown about, and he could visibly see her body shivering. Her skin had goose bumps, yet he did not smile. The true Ash did not, the cover that the dark man held did. Still, he felt…happy, or some little form of it, to be near her. Her eyes were closed, her body was clothed by a small nightdress, but he knew what she looked like without the restraints. Her azure eyes, everything.

If only they still had their loving gaze, he sighed inside. He lowered a hand, and touched the fabric of the comforter, the crimson sheets clashing against his dark, gloved arm. He lifted it, and covered May gently, careful not to disturb her.

She moved, just as he withdrew the hand, jerking lightly in her sleep. He didn’t move, but made sure he stayed in the darkness. Her head moved, the eyes opening slightly. The sapphire pools blinked, looking through the darkness for the kind assistor. “Ash?” she asked, almost absent-mindedly, the Ranger was certain she was asleep.

Ash hesitated only briefly before answering. “A protector,” he replied very softly, not wanting to arouse panic in her. She nodded, and reverted back into her sleeping position, her eyelids closing again.

“0...” she murmured, before a dull snore emitted from her. Ash said nothing, but watched her for a moment longer, seeing the gentle rises and falls of her chest as she breathed. And still he felt the dull throb, this time more pained than before, when he had held her for the last time, and told her goodbye.

I should have kissed her, he thought, tearing his eyes away from her towards the door. He glanced back only once, she had called him 0, leaving him with an unsettling feeling that he could not place. Maybe she does not care about me, and what she said was just the fling of the moment. Maybe she cares for 0, who is now me. But…I’m confused… He shook his head, he still had work to do.

Silently, he prowled the corridors, flipping at specific points more cameras and microphones, making sure to cover the whole gym. It took a really long time, given the amount of ground he had to cover, but the Ranger was precise, making sure that at least one camera would be on May for the entire time they would be watching her. He ignored the time, though it took him all night, and he had to dodge Norman once as his former in-law headed for the bathroom.

Norman, I’m sorry I couldn’t make your daughter happy, he thought, the door shutting behind the aging gym leader. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the man you wanted me to be.

He side-stepped, making sure to clear the area, and continued the work, until there was only a single room remaining in the house. He made for it, though he knew what he would find when he entered it. He brushed the feeling aside, he would not let his emotions get in the way again. He reached for the knob, and entered the room of May’s daughter.

Moonlight streamed through Sarah’s room, and he closed the door behind him, taking in the sight he had left behind. Toys were thrown onto the floor, dolls and cooking appliances on the soft carpet. He tiptoed across the surface, not moving a single thing. He stopped at the wall, setting a camera in place in her room. It was then that he jumped, as he heard a cry.

“Who are you?” a deadly whisper asked, Ash knew it was from Sarah. He turned very slowly, raising his hands over his head, to see May’s daughter standing on top of her bed, and she had somehow gotten hold of a baseball bat. The throb returned, but Ash did not act on it.

He waved his hands, showing that he meant no harm. She did not waver, and he was somewhat surprised at how much of the old May he saw in her. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said calmly, using the harsh dialect 0 had once used, protecting his own identity. “Please put the bat down.”

She grinned, the man was trying to trick her. “No,” she retorted stubbornly. “Not until you tell me what you’re doing here.” The insistency in her voice, it compelled him to answer. The child had learned well from her mother, Ash thought.

“I am a dream,” he replied carefully, hoping the child’s age would allow the lie to work. “Just close your eyes, and I will be gone from your dream.”

She laughed at him, lowering her hand to pinch the other, and wincing as she did so. “Nice try,” she chuckled, “but Momma raised me smarter than that. Who are you?”

Ash almost grinned himself, she was smarter than he had hoped she was. “Ever hear of a PKM Ranger?” he asked, lowering his arms. If she wanted to stop him, she would have done so already. She wanted to talk beforehand. “You’re looking at one.”

She shook her head. “You’re not a Ranger, they wear spandex suits and fly in the air. And they fight each other, they fight over Mommy. Why do you want Mommy?”

“We don’t want to hurt your mom,” he reassured her. “We want to protect her, but there are others that want to hurt your mom. That’s why I’m here, trying to help her.”

“Why aren’t you wearing the golden suit?” she asked. “I remember from the Festival, when Mommy got hurt. You’re the one who saved her, weren’t you? I know your voice.”

She’s good. Aloud, he answered, “I did do that. I saved your mother when she needed help. Now I am trying to help you again. I…don’t like to wear my Ranger form, it pains me sometimes. That is why I came to you wearing this.”

“What is your name?” Sarah asked, her dark eyes curious. The bat was still hanging in her hands, but not as dangerously as before. Ash relaxed, but kept one eye on the door in case of a visitor.

“I don’t have one,” Ash answered, after much consideration. “Rangers only have numbers, but my number is 0, if you want something to call me by.”

She seemed satisfied, and looked up onto the wall. He turned his head as well, and noticed some small pictures hanging on the wall, ones the child had obviously drawn. “0, can I see your face?” she asked. “I’d like to draw it, if I can. I like to draw.”

Ash smiled. “I can see that.” And he could, the drawings were very good for a small child, he had no idea where talent like this had emerged, the Pokemon in the pictures seemed very realistic to him. He could see May’s Pokemon, with squiggly lines over the pictures. “Is that your mom and you?” he asked, pointing to one in the center, with a brown-haired woman holding a little girl.

“Yep,” she replied happily, nodding her head.

Ash stopped as he glanced over them. There was one in the corner, looking worn and torn, but still seemed to hold some importance in the collection. It was a shot of a dark man, exactly how he looked. “Who is that?” he asked, touching the drawing lightly.

She shook her head. “I don’t know,” she admitted, scratching the back of her head. “He comes into my dreams sometimes, so I decided to draw him. He looks dark, but I think inside he has a good soul.” She smiled, looking at the man cloaked in darkness. “I think he saves Mommy when she’s in trouble.”

So she does remember me, Ash thought. It looked so like him there could be no other explanation. The posture was exact, the hair fell onto and everywhere on his head, hiding the dark eyes that he knew were there somehow, watching with blazing intensity. In his hand was a golden ring, instead of on the chain, wound around his finger. He smiled, or at least, the picture was smiling.

“You have his eyes,” Ash said.

“No silly,” she replied, pointing even more to the picture. “He doesn’t have eyes. I’ve never seen them, but sometimes I think this is watching me.”

Ash held up a micro camera, and placed it where the eyes would have been. “Well, now he has some. I’ll be watching you carefully, Sarah Birch. Take care.”

Sarah nodded, blinking as she did so, but when she opened her eyes, the dark warrior was gone, the window shutting closed in the moonlit night. She smiled, and fell back asleep. Nightmares weren’t as bad as she thought. She curled back up, thumb securely tucked into her mouth.

***

Ash was utterly silent, and chose to enter through the window, so as not to disturb Serena, who was probably still knocked out from the lightning strike. He closed the entrance, and removed his mask, hair coming freely apart, before falling into place in his ponytail. His bangs shot up, ignoring gravity again. The dull gaze returned as well, and he tossed the mask away.

He sighed, before unzipping the stealth suit. The dark woven cloth came apart, and he took it off, changing rapidly into the rubberized clothes that Serena had ordered from PKM. The dark orbs glanced around in the shadowy apartment, checking for any enemies that might have gotten into the apartment. Finding none, the Golden Ranger started forward, hands covered in gloves. He could feel the fabric, but nothing else, his heart sinking again in his ribcage.

“She remembers me…” he muttered, hair falling over his eyes. The picture was him, he was certain of that. Inside her childish mind, Sarah still carried some memory of her father. But I’m not her father anymore, I’m a stranger. He slunk his head, his eyes catching something on the floor. A discarded book, which was strange for him, he didn’t really have time to read.

“What’s this?” he asked himself, reaching for the little red book, which seemed to be turned to a single page. His eyes widened, and he looked through it. There was a single entry that caught his eyes, because it was the only one that seemed to have gotten wet by something. He shook his head, it seemed impossible.

Serena must have been looking up the word Love.

It was the only one, simply because it was the one with the water stain. A single droplet had fallen onto the book’s page, where it had come from Ash had no idea. He read through the definitions, wondering what Serena was doing looking through them. She…is she in love? It didn’t seem possible, she was like him, she didn’t have the capacity to love. Only she still felt lust, he didn’t.

Who could she be in love with? Ash thought, closing the book carefully. She didn’t know that many people outside of the PKM, like him. Maybe that’s why she attacked me, she must be going through a withdrawal of some kind, separated from the person she might care about. Maybe it’s 1.

He suddenly shot up, this was great! If Serena was in love, that meant she might leave him alone if she got the other man. He clenched his fist, this might be the best news he had ever heard. Finally, he would be free from her torture. He stood up, the sun would be up in a few hours, and he wasn’t planning on sleeping.

“Gotta set up the computer systems for the gym,” he whistled, heading for the surveillance room. “Then I think a healthy breakfast would be the best way for Serena to get over her hangover.” He almost grinned, but stopped short of it when his mouth muscles got mixed up. He still had a lot of remembering to do.

“I feel better about this, even if I can’t touch anything,” he said, feeling the dull throb reduce in his chest. He wasn’t as gone as he thought.

It took him only an hour to set up the system for watching May, it was just a matter of setting up a computer to track May around the room, along with a second screen if anyone entered the house, it was much more simple than watching futilely in the window. Easier on the eyes as well, with a built in alarm to warn them instead of them having to watch constantly. Life would be much easier.

“Pikachu,” he said, raising the morphers into a small port near the terminal.

Yes Ash?” the mouse replied.

“I’m going to hook you up into the security port of the surveillance system. That way, even if I’m out of the house, we still have an uplink here to check on May. Sound good to you?”

Anything to help, my friend,” Pikachu answered, and Ash could practically see the Pokemon’s face smiling at him.

“Lock morphers,” he commanded the computer, raising both wrists into the ports. He felt restraints bind both in, and gritted his teeth. “Download.” The screen flashed golden, before Pikachu plunged into the computer, downloading the info into the morphers to keep in check with the target. The mouse saw everything in the house, heard everything in the house, all of it.

Done,” it said, the morphers coming undone from the restraints. Ash rubbed the morphers, and the skin underneath. They shot out, the jagged lightning bolts across the dark surface, worn over his gloves for comfort and easy access. “I’m into the system.”

“Good work Pikachu,” Ash finished, standing up from the console. “Come on, let’s try making some food for 3. I’ll bet she’s not going to feel good when she wakes up.”

Good idea,” Pikachu pointed out, before going silent again. It had new jobs to do, namely watching May Birch. Ash dove for the kitchen, wondering if they had anything in the fridge outside of bento. He could survive on ramen and bento, but he doubted that Serena did. He opened the fridge to a surprise, he hadn’t really looked at it before, just grabbing the food needed to survive. He kept his beer in a private cooler. “I need to get a lock for that thing, so 3 can’t get back into it again,” he murmured, grabbing a few packages of what looked like fish or some kind of meat.

“Well, at least I know how a stove works,” Ash said, shutting the door behind him. He looked around the small kitchen, it was rather dark. “Better get the lights or I’ll burn the house down.” He set the food down, and gently took off a black glove, exposing his hand to the air.

“And let there be light,” he joked, snapping the fingers. Instantly, lightning jolted into the air, venting into the electrical units of the house, and the lights in the kitchen came on. It was funny how he was never jolted himself, but then again, all the shocks he had gotten growing up with Pikachu and traveling with the mouse, his body was a personal insulator. Maybe his powers only affected him in large doses, like when he had melted the truck with superheat.

He put the glove on, and picked up the container he had selected. As he suspected it was a type of meat. Where Serena was planning on eating bacon Ash did not know, nor did he care. Still, it would be a shame to let it go to waste, he decided, picking up one of the pans he would need.

***

Serena blinked, but even that hurt, as she rose from her sleep. She groaned, sunlight streaming through an open window to her left, covering herself even further in the blanket shrouding her form. Wait…what am I doing here? she asked silently, feeling underneath the blanket the small, barely visible robe. Why am I almost naked?

“Uhhggg,” she groaned again, trying to find the strength to get up. A strange scent entered her nose, sweet and crispy. Was it…bacon? “Ash…” she murmured, rising from the bed, and feeling a powerful headache enter her mind, forcing her to grip her head with both palms. She took a deep breath, and it receded somewhat, so she hoisted herself up, and opened the door to the strangest thing she had ever seen.

Ash was standing in the kitchen, mixing something, and the table before the TV was stacked with food. Bacon, eggs, and what looked like pancakes except for the shape. “Morning 3,” Ash called from the room, sending Serena into another torture session with her hangover. “Oh-sorry, forgot. This is why I keep it to one or two a day, any more is just bad for ya.”

For a moment, she thought she caught him grinning, but assumed it was just the light bugging her. He walked over to her with some sort of disgusting-looking drink in his hands. “Here, drink up,” he whispered, setting it in her hands. “You’ll be all better in a second.”

She glanced at the amber contents questionably, but decided anything was better than the aching throb in her head, and downed it in one gulp, coughing at the vile taste. For a second, nothing happened, then the headache cleared, and Serena returned to normal, though her eyes were still bloodshot.

“Feel better,” he asked.

She nodded. “Much, thanks. What’s all this stuff?” She pointed to the food, and Ash’s eyes lightened.

“I thought a peace-offering might be a good idea, and I wanted to talk to you about something,” he replied, helping her upright, and gently leading her to the couch, handing her a plate in the process. “I set up all the stuff last night for May, we’re good to go.”

She barely recognized what he had said, and instead started to fill her plate with everything in sight. Both ate for a while, not speaking. Serena relished the taste, Ash didn’t notice or care, as long as it filled him up. It wasn’t long before both had finished, the platters of food Ash had prepared were soon demolished by Serena’s appetite. Ash set his plate down earlier, he never ate more than what was needed for him. He watched Serena until she was finished, what he wanted to say could wait.

When she was finally done, she set her plate down with a whistle. “That settles it Ash, you’re the cook from now on! You do this better than I can,” she murmured, settling her head back. “Man, that was gooooood!”

“I’m glad you liked it 3,” he replied, resting his back against the sofa. “Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about. Do you remember anything about last night?” She shook her head, and he nodded. “Well, you know that game you like to play where you chain me to the bedposts? You did that, and got jolted by my lightning rod of a body. From now on, let’s try not to do that.”

She nodded, feeling a slight tingle emerge on her face. Ash ignored it.

“Another thing, I…I sort of understand a little of why you did it last night,” he answered, turning his head to look at the floor. “I saw the dictionary 3, and to be honest, it kind of caught me by surprise.”

“Dictionary…” Serena’s memory blasted into realization, Ash was talking about the word she had left the book open. If possible, she grew even more scarlet in her cheeks, but Ash didn’t notice. “I…uh...well…”

“I understand at least why you’ve been venting your lust at me,” he sighed, rubbing his eyes. “It’s okay to admit that you might be in love, but annoying me with your frustration is not the way to go.”

She blinked. “Huh?”

Ash raised a hand, and continued. “Let me finish. When we’re done with this mission, I don’t want you to have any regrets with me, so it might be a good idea not to be physical in any way.” He turned to her, and forced a half-smile onto his face. “If we could, you think we could just be friends? I’d like our being partners to be a good experience, and I’d like to help you with your love problem, since you came to help mine.”

She blinked. “Huh?”

“If you help me with this mission, I’ll help you with your love problems,” he answered, extending a hand. “I want to be your friend, and I want this mission to work for both of us. We have a long road ahead, and I want your help.”

She almost laughed, he had completely missed any sign of her emotions, though he had gotten the love part right. He really doesn’t understand people at all, does he? Then she did laugh, rolling on the couch, unable to keep it within herself anymore. “Ash, you really do have a lot to learn about women,” she giggled, feeling tears coming to her eyes.

“What do you mean?” he asked, slightly confused. “Why are you laughing?”

She brushed a tear out of her eye, and glanced back up at his utterly oblivious face. “Never mind Ash, you’ll find out one day, when you’re ready.”

His eyes widened in confusion, but they soon closed. Ash’s head fell back, and his body relaxed. He fell asleep on me? she thought, first impulse being to wake him and force the Ranger to listen to her. But…his face was so peaceful, Serena found she could not. “Sleep idiot,” she muttered, brushing her hair out of her face. “You did a good night’s work.”

She stood up to clear the mess Ash left her to deal with. The White Ranger grabbed the plates, and stacked them onto the counter, Ash would clean them up later when he was awake. She put away the various things the man had used to make the breakfast, and shut the fridge. “Idiot,” she said, brushing off her hands, “making a helpless thing like me do manual labor.” She put her hands on her hips, a smile on her face.

“At least he wants to be friends,” she sighed, walking over to the unconscious lug she called her partner. Ash was starting to sound like a wild animal in his sleep, the man did not know how to remain silent while dreaming. “That’s got to count for something.” Ash looked cute to her when he was asleep, no matter how loud he was. The dull eyes were locked away, and the true beauty of the face came out.

She couldn’t resist, and bent her head forward. Don’t do this…a voice in her head whispered, but she brushed it out of her mind. Not even an explosion will wake him. His lips were so close, her body took over. She brushed them lightly with her own, his mouth opening.

She didn’t hesitate, not that she could, and deepened the kiss. Their tongues matched, Serena’s eyes opening to see something golden on Ash’s chest gleaming at her, almost in warning. She broke the kiss, horrified with herself. “Oh man,” she moaned, rubbing her head. “I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have done that, I shouldn’t have…” She lifted her hand to her mouth, it was still tingling from the touch.

“Ash…I’m sorry,” she whispered, staring at the ground. “I…can’t just be your friend. I can’t, when I know that’s all I can be to you.” She sank her head, and walked out of the room, heading for the computer that could watch May perfectly. “How can I just be your friend…when I’m in love with you…?”

She felt a tear come to her face, and let it fall again onto the wooden floor.
_____________________________
And thus ends the arc of annoyance without action! I bet you're all tired of it! Next time, Ash and Serena deepen their investigation into the dark morphers used by the mystery Ranger! When another emerges, can they stop him? Will Ash morph? Will I stop asking questions? Of course not, so one more. What does Serena's Ranger form look like?

And all the while, May and Sarah continue having mixed emotions when they spot Ash in public with Serena. Sarah struggles with whether she can trust the man named 0, and May is fighting her own inner battle of love!

Why am I telling you all this? Because you have to wait until August, when the next chapter comes out! I'm going to Greece suckas, so review if ya can, and keep your eyes out! I'll be back!

NEXT! Morph Eight- Disorder Coming in August!

Like the sig? Made it myself....
 
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I've been reading this for a while, and I really like the plot. I don't think I've seen anything like this. I love it :]

There's lots of emotion with the characters, and that's really important. Especially with Serena loving Ash. That little detail adds more suspense, for me at least.

This story is definitely worth waiting until August for. Have fun in Greece!
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Just felt like announcing that...

I'M BACK SUCKAS! EXPECT A NEW CHAPTER SOON!
 
OMG! OMG! OMG!
THAT WAS SOOOO GOOD POWER SHOT!!!
Seriously, that has got to be one of the best AS fanfics I've ever read.
Very original and long, but long is not bad, it's a REALLY cool fic!
I can't wait till you update again!
Hopefully soon... like.. maybe today or tomorrow.
Reading this fic, I don't know why I didn't earliar.
It was really cool, can't wait for the next chap!
 
K

Kel-blade

Guest
Dude, like this is an awesome fic! There is some action, a little of romance here and there, some suspense, and very mysterious! You should update your nect chapter soon. I actually do see Ash being like that mysterious type of guy when he gets older, and May's personality as well.
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Guess who's back? And in better (hopefully) form! The fic is back, I'm sorry for the delays!

Morph Eight: Disorder

"It wasn't a Ranger?"

Ash's voice rang out in disbelief as his partner nodded her head, lifting both of the morphers he had confiscated in front of his face. For a while, since May Birch was unwilling or unable to move from her parent's house, Serena had been working to discover the reason behind the dark creature that had attacked and ruined the Festival several weeks prior to their assignment together. The stuffy little room that Serena spent her time in, typing away at the keyboards, was unbearably hot. He ruffled his golden shirt in an effort to generate a slight wind on his chest, beads of sweat already forming. Serena, in contrast, was wearing a pair of very viewable pajamas, colored white and almost transparent. Ash's partner was a very, very annoying tease, and he had long since disregarded her attempts at seduction as further training. She snuggled closer into the blanket she was enfolded in, and turned to the screen.

"Positive," she answered, putting the pair of morphers on the table with the monitor. "I thought something was different about these things, and I was right. What tried to kill the target-" Serena had taken a habit to referring to May as a target, for reasons Ash did not know "-was an agent, like standard PKM, but with a little more buff." She was sitting in the now-padded and comfortable chair that PKM had provided for her to work in, complete with a better computer. Ash stood behind her, arms folded, waiting for what she had discovered. Aside from having looks that could kill, Serena was also a researcher like no other, and could dig up dirt with the best archeologist. Her eyes sore, she peered into the screen, pulling up some file she had come across.

"This is it," she announced, grabbing Ash?s arm and tugging him in for a closer look. "Ever heard of Dark Gems?" Ash shook his head, and she chuckled. "Doesn't really surprise me, you're not one for the thinking department, my gung-ho commander. Lucky for you I'm here, otherwise you'd be totally lost." Ash ignored the comment, and when Serena noticed she was having no effect, she continued. "Anyways, I found an old document on the web that I thought was important, and as it turns out, I was right."

Ash sighed. "Planning on telling me what it is, or am I gonna have to sit here and listen to you all night?"

She giggled. "Maybe," she replied sweetly, but the look Ash gave her in return prompted her to turn serious. "All right, fine," she grumbled. "See this picture?" Another image came on the monitor, this one of differently colored stones. Ash counted a few he recognized, then Serena continued. "Dark Gems come in different shapes and colors, but they all have one thing in common."

"Which is?"

"They subvert a person." Serena pulled up the document, a detailed analysis of the stones. "According to legend, they are created whenever a dead Pokemon?s soul is mistreated. In revenge, nature leaves behind an imprint for humans that foolishly choose to use them. They grant the human a missing link in themselves that gives superpowers." Ash blinked, trying to keep up. "But when the need becomes too much, the person loses control of himself, and is eaten away by the Dark Gem."

Ash looked at the picture, which showed an abundance of onyx-colored stones. "So, the thing I killed, it was a person subverted by an onyx type Dark Gem. Right?" Serena nodded. "Then there are more of these things?" She nodded again, and rested her head against the back of the chair.

"Afraid so," she answered, blowing lightly into the air. "Trouble is, onyx is the most used kind. Other colors, like sapphire and ruby, are rarer. They correspond to a different disability that they prey on humans. The onyx, it seems, adds strength, or something like that." She yawned. "I'm gonna do some more work, just let me rest my eyes for a moment."

Ash shook his head. "Not a chance, 3," he countered. "You've been up for a while, you need rest. Take a breather, Pikachu can handle things for a little while." He turned to the screen. "Right buddy?"

Pikachu ran into the monitor, its smiling face nodding. "Leave it to me Ash. Serena needs her sleep, so I can surf for her." As if on cue, though Ash and Serena both knew it was Pikachu's new world, a surfboard emerged below Pikachu's little legs. With a wave, the mouse Pokemon flipped up and dived directly into the internet icon. Ash suppressed a laugh, and helped Serena to her feet.

"Come on, to the bed with you," he muttered, as the woman slumped over him.

"Carry me," she ordered, in the exact same manner that Ash expected from a child. Groaning, he complied, throwing her over his shoulder like a caveman. She protested, of course, but Ash ignored it. Careful what you wish for, he chuckled inside, before dumping her in the bedroom. Without a second glance, the agent swiftly closed the door to the snores that soon started from the room. Stifling his own yawn, Ash went into the living room, and sat on the small rug he had draped in the corner of the room. Settling himself on the red carpet, legs crossed, he began his daily exercise.

With nothing to do, and May in perfect safety, Ash Ketchum had decided that the best way to spend time was to learn how to control his lightning abilities, the result of RSP bonding with Pikachu?s already high-voltage body. His skin was, thankfully, still mildly tanned, and not bright yellow. Lately, he had been more aware of the smells and noises that went on in the small apartment he and Serena lived in, but had dismissed it as something that would pass when Serena got off her can and did her share of the dishes. Placing both hands on his knees, Ash slipped slowly into himself.

First, his breathing slowed, steadying with his heart rate. Ash?s dim eyes closed, his face relaxed. The Ranger made himself scarce within his own body, training his mind rather than his body, which was already in top condition. But it was the mind, not the body, that could control the electric bolts, and he knew that. The body would only fight, and release more energy. The mind could bring it under control, or so he thought. It was his best bet, and all he had to work with. Ash slowly drifted, keeping perfectly still. After only about a month, he was progressing at an accelerated rate.

He didn't hear the door as it creaked open, and Serena's emerald eyes set on him. She didn't disturb him, even though she was supposed to be sleeping. She grinned to herself, Ash was too trusting for his own good when it came to her. Making sure not to make any noise, Serena began the painful task of inching her way closer to the door to continue her work. When she was about half-way, she heard a sharp cough issue from the other side of the room. She turned softly, and saw that Ash, while not directly looking at her, was fully aware of what was going on around him. She sighed, and returned to the bedroom. Ash allowed a brief smile to fade across his lips, before resuming his training.

***

The next day, when Ash roused himself from the meditative state, he was surprised to see Serena sitting in front of him, wide awake and clearly very hyper. Her eyes were very excited, and she was holding a small piece of paper in her hands. "3," he muttered, his eyes swerving up, "put something else on." She glanced downwards, and giggled. She was, instead of wearing the set of pajamas that, while slightly indiscreet, were better then the see-through nightwear she had donned.

"Gonna get a nosebleed if you keep this up," she chuckled, pulling a robe over herself. "Come on, we've got work to do. Get changed." She turned around, hearing the random shuffling of her partner getting to his feet. Serena heard a grunt, before Ash went through the various stretching exercises she had taught him in order to loosen the cramped muscles that formed as a result of remaining motionless for that long of a time. "Hey, those are wuss moves." Ash shrugged, stretching his legs just as she had taught him to. "You do it like this!" Without waiting for him to answer, she lifted her leg and placed it behind her head, maintaining perfect balance.

He shrugged again. "The day I do that is the day you stop being a pervert," he retorted, finishing and standing upright. He sighed, and his head cleared. "So, what's the big idea in annoying me?"

"Who's a pervert?" she giggled, unaware of the fact that she was pressing herself against him again.

She does it without even realizing it. Aloud, he muttered, "You. Down. Now." Serena laughed, just making him even more uncomfortable. "What's in your hands?" he asked, pointing downwards to the piece of paper she was clutching.

"Something Pikachu found for me last night," Serena answered, pushing the paper into his hand. "Apparently, we might have a better chance of learning about the Dark Gems if we hurry."

Ash glanced doubtfully at the sheet, then his eyes widened. "A Dark Gem is on display?" he asked incredulously. "Aren't these things, according to you, the root of all evil?" She shook her head.

"This one is part of a gallery exhibit that's on tour here in Petalburg. If we go, we might have a chance to get a better understanding of these things. Besides, we haven't been out of the house for a week. I'm bored, so you can take me somewhere nice. That's what nice partners do."

"No," Ash answered. "Your normal partners fight to keep their hands off you, that's why they take you to nice places. So you can break said arms." When Serena laughed, he chuckled a light bit, before returning to the paper. "We'll go later, as soon as I eat. In the meantime, find something that won?t make you look like a hooker, and put it on." Not wanting to prolong his feeding time, Ash walked past her to grab whatever happened to be in the kitchen. It all pretty much tasted the same to him, so he grabbed to nearest bento and downed its contents with a speed that dwarfed even Serena's quick eating. Discarding the container into the trash, he looked to her and feigned a small smile.

"Now we can go." Serena jumped up, and rushed to the room to change. Ash decided to rest, it would, for all of her eagerness to go to a place, take her exactly one hour to get dressed. A woman through and through, he grumbled, so he ran the water and took a quick bath, unable to remember the last time he had done so. He had gotten the lightning down to the point that it no longer shocked everything in the apartment when he was submerged underwater, that and the rubber bathtub. He made a mental note to thank Serena for getting the stuff from PKM. Unlike Serena, whose baths could generate enough steam to power a hot springs, Ash preferred his baths cold, thanks to the streams and rivers he had used during his traveling years. Submerging himself in the icy water, he began to count down the time it would take Serena to finish selecting her outfit.

After forty minutes, he exited the room, wrapping a towel around his waist. Making sure that Serena was still trapped with indecision, he bolted for the surveillance room where his clothes were kept. He opened the drawer and reached for his gloves, shifting them both onto his palms. Making sure the rubber was firmly attached, he then pulled another golden shirt over his head, and shoved on the dark pants. Women, he thought dryly. Always making men wait. Resigning himself to waiting for another ten minutes, he walked back to the living room and sat on the couch. To the exact second, Serena charged out of the bedroom, fully dressed. Ash breathed a sigh of relief that she was no longer half-naked.

The white haired petite woman instead had on a small white dress, with a pair of dark shoes that seemed to perfectly match for reasons that defied the man. His eyes wandered briefly to the clear bracelets that she was wearing, her morphers, before Serena attempted to smack his head with a small black bag she was carrying. He blocked the attack, barely looking up, with a flick of his wrist.

"Let's get going," he said, rising from the seat. "You've wasted the required amount of time you need." Ignoring the fake hurt in Serena's face, he raised his morpher to his face. "Pikachu, keep an eye on things, we?ll be out for a while."

"Roger." The mouse's voice squeaked, then went dead. Ash lowered his hand, and started for the door at an increased pace, fully aware that Serena was wearing very high heels. The shoes clacked against the hard floor as she hurried after him.

***

Max Birch conducted most of his days in the same routine. As the successor to the Petalburg gym, he regularly trained and retrained his Pokemon and himself to beef up his team. He rose early, at about six in the morning, five on a good day, and headed for where the Pokemon were kept. After arriving at the living quarters, and being wished good morning by the Pokemon, he fed them and made sure they had enough water.

Wincing slightly at having been stampeded during the morning feeding, he made his way to the baths housed in the gym, and doused himself throughout in water, soup, and a nice-smelling shampoo that was guaranteed to put real shine in his hair. Rubbing himself dry, he put on the dark shirt and the green vest he regularly wore, along with a pair of blue pants and dark shoes. Setting his glasses on his face, he started for the outside of the house, to check if the postman was there yet. It was very early though, and there was always the chance that he hadn't come yet. Still, it was something to do.

Humming lightly, he walked to the front door, opening it softly so as not to wake everyone. The gym had been through some remodeling, making it more convenient for the family's living quarters. This also, however, made it so he couldn't make much noise without disturbing his parents, sister, and niece. So he tip-toed outside to check the box attached to the gym wall.

And then he stopped, his routine interrupted completely by blinding rage. Pushing the bangs out of his eyes, he seethed in the streets, directing his full attention to the figure opposite the road, heading away from the gym. Max's hands clenched into fists, steam escaping for no apparent reason from his ears.

Ash Ketchum.

While it was true at that present moment Max's former brother-in-law-slash-friend was not doing anything of harm, and was not going towards the gym, he couldn?t seem to think of a reason for Ash being anywhere near Petalburg. Their encounter weeks before had left Max stupefied and angered, and he had not told May about it. But as Ash walked past the gym, ignoring it, Max caught the sight of a small woman on his arm, laughing away at something he must have said.

"That...little..." Max was furious. After all May had told him about what Ash had done in the Festival, and how much of a wreck he was, Ash seemed perfectly fine with the white-haired bimbo he had gotten to replace his sister. He was even grinning. Well, that was the last straw for him, Max decided. Training would wait that day, he had more important business: determining the relationship that Ash shared with the girl. Some may have called that stalking, but Max was not one to be turned away once an idea was in his head.

Fuming, Max Birch followed Ash Ketchum and the mystery girl down the street, keeping a safe pace from them. Max was pretty good at not being seen if he wanted to, and he was light on his feet, so there were no problems. Ash kept walking, trying to readjust his arm, which was in the death grip of the woman. Max seethed and at the same time was curious as to how Ash had gotten a chick like the one he had. Ignoring the irritation in his limbs, Max continued, the walk was stretching out forever. Max hadn't even been aware of how big Petalburg was until he had to walk through it. Normally he took the bus or his car.

Finally, after what felt like an eon of travel, Ash halted in front of a big building, where he was apparently taking his date. When he had led the woman through the door, Max glanced upwards at the massive building, dumbfounded. This was definitely not where he would take a date. The museum's massive brick structure was colored a bright orange, and went up at least six stories, almost as big as the gym. Wondering what could possibly interest Ash in a place like this, the man followed, the doors opening automatically to admit him.

***

"It's over there Ash!" Serena said excitedly, pointing to a room about twenty feet away from the entrance. Ash followed, he could do nothing else with the vice grip she had on his arm. He obediently followed, with the slight suspicion that he was being watched by something or someone. Shrugging it off, he and Serena entered the room that was supposed to be showing the Dark Gem. They followed the narrow corridor that led to the room, Ash thinking that the building was built that way on purpose so Serena could grab him.

Ash found the room through a small, very narrow arch that Serena enjoyed, a lavishly decorated room with a rich red rug across the floor. Ignoring the paintings and valuables, Ash headed straight for the display case that Serena cleared a path towards. He followed her, until she yanked him to her, and pressed his face against the glass.

"See Ashy!" she grinned. "Right here. Can you see?"

He groaned in response. "I could see better if my face wasn't making out with the glass." Serena laughed at the statement, and released him for air. Ash gasped, panting, and annoyed. "Don't do that again, 3," he warned, before straightening himself in front of glass, casting a glare to the people that were staring at Serena's strange behavior. They found something else to be interested in soon after.

He saw it immediately, it was easily different from the other gems in the case. For one, it was the only emerald in the tank, amid the sapphires and rubies and diamonds and pearls. And it was strangely cut, for another. Its surface was smooth and even, an oval shape, but its coloring was very unique. It was almost black, with green on the outside, as though the deeper you went into the stone, it grew darker. It was also about the size of a clipped Pokeball.

"This is what you wanted me to see?" Ash didn't find too much of interest in it, but Serena nodded.

"Yep." With a flourish, she produced both of the dark morphers from her bag, before snapping it shut again. Holding both to the light, she could vaguely see the imprints of the onyx gems that had powered it before. "You can see where they were," she said, showing them to Ash. Instead of seeing, Ash felt along the bands until he found what she wanted him to see.

"Why'd you bring these?" he asked.

"To see if they react to the stone." Looking behind her to make sure no one was paying attention, Serena put both bands to the glass, and was rewarded when both began to glow suddenly. She squealed, and tucked the morphers away. "I love when I'm right. Let's go celebrate!"

Ash was about to say something, most likely in reference to the fact that she hadn?t really done anything worthy of him shelling out money for her booze, when it suddenly did not become an issue. His eyes widened, and he stood perfectly still. Serena tried to figure out what was wrong with him, but turned to look where he was looking. Max Birch was standing near them, accidentally forgetting his self-imposed rule of stalking them, but not bothering them.

"Hello Max," Ash said coolly, almost the same voice that he had adopted from 0. "What brings you to the museum this early in the morning?" He said it with the absolute conviction that he was in no way afraid, and was daring Max to try and make him. Max returned the glare with one of his own.

"That's your business why?" he retorted, standing his ground. He pointed to Serena. "Who's this?"

Serena beamed with pride at having been involved with the conversation. It was far too late for Ash to stop her, she was already speaking, informing Max in unneeded detail exactly who she was in the most bawdy way possible. She told him stories, making him turn bright crimson from the effect, of things that Ash had never even heard of being done with people, acts that were unspeakable to a sane person. By the time she was finished, Ash almost felt sorry for not stopping the long and very, very embarrassing rant that brought the entire museum, in Ash's mind, to the room to hear exactly who Serena was and her supposed relationship with him.

When she at last paused for air, Max looked as though the wind had been knocked out of him, and was suffering from a mild nosebleed. In fact, every male present save Ash had bright red liquid trailing from their noses, but she didn?t seem to care much.

"Ash," he muttered, looking behind Serena where the tall man was looking like he deeply wanted to vanish, "I'm gonna make you pay. May thinks you're such a changed man, with all the crap you pulled at the Festival. Get bent." With that, Max turned around, with the intent to leave, not look back, and prove to May that he had been right about Ash all along.

It was at this very moment that all hell decided to break loose.

***

They came in waves, because no amount of people that size could be called a group. Max had just turned when he saw them coming, and everyone in the museum panicked in a completely clich?d manner, running and fleeing to the exits in droves. Which was fine with Ash and Serena, fighting in front of a crowd was not the best choice when it came to PKM business. The first thing that Ash did when he saw it was to request that the cameras around the room and the whole place be turned off via his communication with Pikachu. Max was a little bewildered by the fact that Ash was speaking to a bracelet, but soon disregarded it as unimportant when an entire stampede of the Dark Gem creatures came after them.

For one, they were all dressed in the same way that the Ranger at the Festival had been, except that there were about fifty of them. All looked exactly alike, all had the same white rock embedded in the center of their chests, and all of their visors were trained on the case with the emerald Dark Gem.

Max found this all very strange, so Ash calmly, but forcefully, pushed the shorter man behind him in face of the danger. "Stay behind me," he whispered urgently. "Don't make any sudden movements." Before Max could respond, he turned to Serena. "Can you get us out of here, miss-know-it-all?"

"What the hell are these?" Max interrupted, pointing at Ash's side to the army of immobile Rangers.

"Rangerlings," Serena answered. "These are things that hunt PKM Rangers. They must want the Dark Gem on display here." She glanced backwards to the emerald.

"So, shouldn't the dumb Ranger that's stalking my sister be here pretty soon?" he asked, eyes trained on the group.

"Wouldn't count on it," Ash muttered. "We'd better split up. Max and I will head out this way, and you try the other way. Got it?" Serena nodded her head, and Ash grabbed Max roughly by the shoulder. "Regardless of what you think I do or don't deserve right now, trusting me on this is the only way to get out of here with skin attached. Got it?" The slight growl in his voice made Max agree, despite his normal repulsion to the man.

Ash's eyes darted for the door. "Ready...go!"

Max followed, and Ash ran through the spare exit on the east side of the room. As soon as he moved, the Rangerlings, God, he was going to kill Serena for such a stupid name, charged behind him. But the agent wasn't easy to beat, and even with the youth in tow, he was fast. Max followed out of blind fear, which drove him much faster than Ash's encouragement ever could. Together, the two who hated one another so fought on, trying to keep ahead.

Serena remained where she was, most of the army had stayed behind to deal with her. She grinned, wondering which she would take down first. "So," she said coyly, "who ordered the pizza?" None of them answered, but she didn't like the silence that they were generating. She slung her bag off her shoulder, and gently cradled it in her hands. "Who wants first dibs?"

They seemed to understand that pretty well, and one, bolder than the others, decided to do something. The Rangerling lunged forward, assuming Serena to be nothing but a foolish woman. Blind and stupid, she thought dully, as the roundhouse punch came to her chest. Thankfully, the years of beating up boys lunging at her had not been in vain, and she knew how to fight.

She smirked, bending her back completely backwards and parallel to her legs, and the punch missed entirely with the desired effect, the Rangerling was forced forward by momentum. He didn?t even see the high-heeled shoe come up to bat him in the neck before he went down. She grinned, her shoes weren't just a fashion statement. They were also steel-toed under the black paint. When the Rangerling didn't get up, the others moved their visors as one in what Serena hoped was surprise.

"Wanna see my other suit?" she asked seductively. The Rangerlings rushed forward, and she flipped back, her motions fluid as she took out the fools dumb enough to get too near her. When she landed after a flip, her mouth broke into a grin, and she raised both of the clear bracelets to her face. The distinct mark of a snowflake was on each.

"Let's kick it up a notch," she whispered sweetly.

The arms were thrown back, and even Max and Ash heard very clearly on the other side of the museum:

"PKM Spirit, Activate!"

Light exploded from Serena's body, forcing the Rangerlings backwards. Glass shattered, and paintings were torn as the creatures were thrown all over the place. They covered their visors with gloved fingers, but when the light settled, they didn't like the site any better. In place of Serena Brine, and her beauty, stood a warrior that appeared as though she was ready to kill them. And she was.

The White Ranger stood with much more presence than Serena, her white form almost too pure to be there. Her suit was a mirror of 0's, with a few feminine touches. The white tunic that she wore over her chest stretched beyond the golden belt to form a small, lithe skirt, under which were black leggings. Unlike the Golden Ranger, the White Ranger uniform was more flexible then the armored suit 0 had. White gloves were braced into fists, and trailed up to the middle of her forearm, after which there was nothing but black until her shoulder. The black helmet obscured her face, but the white visor so like the Rangerlings' ones was trained on them. In the middle of her chest was a black shape that resembled the face of a Seel. The lower parts of her skirt and neck were colored a light pink.

"Let me ask you something," 3 said, a quarterstaff emerging in her hands. She whirled the Snow Staff before her, clearing a small circle for herself. "Does this suit make me look fat?"

Ash charged ahead, breaking down a door in the process. The five or so that were following him and Max were losing ground thanks to Ash's complete disinterest in saving any of the treasures in the museum. At the moment, his most pressing concern was removing Max from the scene and going back for Serena. Unfortunately, it wasn't as easy as he had thought getting away from the bad guys, and it didn't help he didn?t have a clue where he was going.

Checking behind him, because he no longer needed to keep hold of Max to have him follow, he bent his head close to the left morpher. "Pikachu," he ordered, contacting the mouse. "I need a way out now!"

The voice came back to him with equal urgency. "Ash, we need help! The Rangerlings are there for the emerald, but we have other problems."

Ash groaned. "Get me out of here now, then we'll talk."

"Downloading blueprints," it answered. "Take the next left, and follow up with a right."

Ash obeyed, Max asking no questions as to his sudden knowledge of the building, or why Ash had his wrist close to his face. He decided not to question what might save them. The group that was tearing behind them in an effort to get them did not hold back, and didn't tire. Max was already starting to feel the strain on running non-stop. Ash was hardly sweating, and beads were cascading off Max's face.

Ash slowed down enough to let Max catch up, then turned around to face the strange men that were following them. Max shouted in warning, but Ash was already diving into the fray, removing both of his gloves instantly. What Max didn't see as every one of the Rangerlings fell down from punches aimed directly at their heads were the bolts of lightning that Ash was blasting through them. When the last one fell down and lay still, Ash turned towards him and placed his gloves back on.

Max stayed where he was. "Where did you learn to do that?"

Rather then burden Max with the truth, Ash simply replied, "When you're on the road, you have time to learn." Max accepted that, and together they started to run again, though this time without the life-threatening urgency. In no time, Ash had both of them out, and Max looked around.

"Where's your hoe?" he asked, reverting once again to the cold tone that he usually used on him. Police were swerving around them, and a few ambulances were there as well. Max looked around, before noticing that he was standing alone in the police chaos that was swerving around him. He kicked at the air in annoyance, furious that Ash could get away so fast, before he noticed something glittering on the pavement. Curious, he lowered himself to the ground, where he saw clearly what it was.

It was a small stone, barely bigger than the Pokeballs he clipped to his belt, and colored a dark emerald.

***

Ash ran on the rooftops, blatantly ignoring the laws of gravity as he jumped upwards in the speed-induced leap, and landed squarely on his feet. Without pausing for breath, he continued, little more then a golden blur. The museum was already behind him, but he knew 3 could defend herself fine. A more pressing matter engaged Ash's attention.

"Repeat it again," he ordered, jumping across the main street, already halfway to the Petalburg gym. "Are you certain that's what's going on?"

"Positive," Pikachu answered. "A Dark Gem Ranger is there, this one of a different type. Unlike the onyxes that are being dealt with by 3, this one is a different color, and has a different power reading. I think this is a real Ranger, and not a Rangerling. We must move quickly, it is attacking the gym with murderous intent."

"I'm on it." Ash lunged, propelling himself off a wall and further than before. He needed to hurry, and there was literally no other choice. "I'll take care of it."

"You'll need to morph. This thing seems to be very powerful."

Ash grunted in reply, but made no other comment. Instead, he held up his morpher and honed in on 3's signal. "Stats," he said curtly, dodging a bell on his way over a church.

"No problems here!" 3's eager voice broke out through the speaker. "Pikachu's told me about the situation, I'm sorry Ash. We don't have an option." He then heard a grunt as she tossed another Rangerling through a priceless painting, which she was making a habit of targeting. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't change the fact that I have to," he answered. "I'll do it. Make sure that Max gets away safely, and secure the Dark Gem." 3 was silent for a moment too long, which caused Ash concern. "3, you do have the Dark Gem, don't you?" he asked tentatively, knowing what the answer would be.

"I don't. It was thrown out of the room. I think it's outside the museum. We?ll need to come back later to retrieve it." Ash groaned, but pressed on. He could make out the higher levels already on the horizon, the sun directly above it. Targeting it, he launched himself from another building, his steel-toed boots digging into the concrete of the building as he did so. His arms were out now, attempting to use them as a chance for higher altitude or a longer jump.

Ash saw it, right on top of the roof, with May next to it. The Ranger was not moving, but neither was May. They both looked to be frozen in time, just waiting for him. He caught the hint of blue on his opponent's uniform, and identified it as the sapphire Dark Gem. It didn't make a difference to him, just what color he was going to spear through when he got there.

At last, he was almost there, hidden by the shadow of a nearby skyscraper. He stopped, looking down at the scene. She was on here knees, still only partially dressed. It must have ambushed her up there, leaving the rest of the family for later. May Birch was the target, and she would go first. She seemed so helpless, so utterly outside the control she normally enforced. Her robe blew softly in the breeze, fluttering as her breath and heart rates accelerated. Ash could see it, it was normal when in terror.

He looked down at the damned morphers, the ones that had enslaved him and bound his greatest friend to a life trapped in a computer. He had to use them, he had to. He was Agent 0, Golden Ranger of the PKM, whether he liked it or not. The morphers could never be removed, their powers were his thanks to his greatest enemy, a person who had trained him and misguided him away from his family with the promise of adventure. The dark man stared down.

But some things were more important then his choices and his pride. Two, to be exact, and one of those two people that he was willing to die for lay unprotected.

Ash erupted suddenly, electric power surging from him. Both figures looked to see his arrival, none could see his face. The arms came up, and released.

"Golden Spirit, Pokemon Power!"

Ash Ketchum began to glow with dark light.

***

May Birch awoke late that day, but then she always woke up late. Not a very early riser, at least not since Sarah had been born, she detached herself from her bed at about ten in the morning, wrapping a robe around herself. It was getting colder, a change in the breeze signaling that winter would soon be coming. Stifling a yawn, she felt her way to the door before it struck her as a good idea to rub her eyes open.

As soon as she got out the door, because Sarah seemed to have a sixth sense for when her mother awoke, she was tackled by her little girl, the pigtails flying as she collided into May. May, who had long now been used to the attacks her daughter placed on her, dodged and grabbed Sarah while she ran where she had originally been, and wrapped the daughter in a warm embrace. Sarah complained, though it was more because her mother had gotten the upper hand, which was normally hers.

"What's breakfast?" May asked, planting a small kiss on her daughter's cheek.

Sarah grinned. "Pancakes, with bacon!" she replied eagerly. Without waiting for May, she then bolted downstairs. The woman chuckled, crossing her arms. The girl was getting more excitable by the day, and acted as though nothing had happened to them at the Festival, like some horrible nightmare. May shivered, and returned to her room to retrieve the robe she had left on the chair.

Pulling the pink cover over her shoulders, she walked downstairs where her daughter had charged down minutes earlier. Sarah was tired, she knew, of being cooped up in the gym, even with the entertainment of tormenting her uncle Max. She craved excitement, May should take her somewhere to vent out her energy. Pausing, she returned up the stairs to her daughter's room, forgetting that Sarah never made her bed, and she strongly suspected that she never would. She would talk to the little girl later, but for now opened the door to the moderate sized room where, sure enough, the bed laid untidy.

Sighing, May bent over the little bed, grabbing the small Ponyta sheets and folding them carefully into the regular shape they were in before Sarah entered the bed, squared at the corners with the precision of a drill sergeant. When she was satisfied, May straightened herself up, and took a final glance over the room, with its many toys and dolls, before exiting the room.

And as they always did, her eyes strayed to the small picture in Sarah's drawings, the image that Ash had left in her mind when she was still a little girl. Briefly, she wondered if Sarah even knew who the person was, she never asked. Sarah didn't seem to understand the concept of a "daddy," though her friends had them. She was perfectly content with May, and never raised the subject. It had been the same way with Ash, she remembered. He too had never met his father, and had sworn that Sarah would not have that same life.

Eat your words, Ash Ketchum, May thought drearily, before shutting the door. She was about to follow the trail her daughter had left in her wake, but instead decided to head upwards, towards the upper decks that her father Norman had built on top of the gym's ceiling. The small terrace was beautiful, or as beautiful as it could be in a city like Petalburg, surrounded by all those buildings.

She had barely been out there for a second when the door swung shut behind her, and in place of the exit, when she turned she found herself face to face with the exact opposite of her savior, the mysterious Golden Ranger. This creature, while clad in armor similar, was blue, and his black visor held murderous intent as his dark gloves clutched the long, curved blade in his hands.

May, too stunned to speak, fell to the floor almost on impulse. Her heart stopped, scared beyond belief, and the Ranger that had come advanced.

In that moment, a figure blasted out of a nearby roof, golden light seeping from his body.

***

The Golden Ranger dove downwards from his spiral, placing himself exactly in between May and the Dark Gem Ranger. The sun glittered off his suit, forcing May to shield her eyes, his muscles tightening into dark cords inside the armor. The other Ranger backed off with 0's arrival, leaping back with the ease of a trapeze artist to a safe distance. 0 simply stood still.

"I presume you are the legendary 0?" the sapphire beast asked, in a deep, rich accent that hinted of Johto decent. In his hands toyed the scimitar, the curving azure blade sparkling in the light. 0 studied his appearance only long enough to determine the fastest was to remove him from his presence. The Golden Ranger's hands were clenched, anger flowing from him like a wave.

"Remove yourself from this place now," he ordered, in the calm voice that he used, a tone that betrayed nothing, but at the same time commanded more power than May would ever know. "Or I will do it for you." When the sapphire did nothing of the sort, 0 rose a hand into the air, working more on instinct rather than his training. As soon as he did so, a light flared into his fingers, forming the smooth, metal hilt of the Bolt Blade. The golden light moved vertically for a few inches, completing the handle, before arching back to form the sharp, lightning-bolt shaped, tip of the sword. 0's visor looked up when the weapon was complete, swishing it soundlessly in the breeze outside his armor.

The Dark Gem chuckled at the weapon. "What a small toy, for a feeble Ranger. Should I show you what a true Ranger can do?" Without waiting for response, the sapphire lunged, sword tip arched out towards 0's helmet. The other remained perfectly motionless, waiting for something. It was only until sapphire was within range that he noticed something.

0 wasn't really standing still, at least not to the way that sapphire could understand. Using the lightning speed, he was preparing to unleash what he knew would send the sapphire packing into the next week. When the blade came down, 0 blurred, as did May, and the two vanished into thin air. The sapphire spat, then heard a whistle come from behind him, and swung around to spy 0 standing alone, the woman absent.

"Nice trick," 0 replied, clearly unconcerned about whatever the sapphire could dish out. "Wanna see my next one?" He too did not wait for an answer, and the hand gripped harder on the golden blade. The Dark Gem Ranger braced as the Golden Ranger rushed him, thrusting the katana-like sword towards the scimitar. The sapphire yawned, and blocked the blow. Such a simple attack was beyond him in skill.

The instant the blades touched, a jolt of shockwave shot through the sapphire, making him lose his concentration. 0 took advantage, forcing his way through the weakened defense and striking hard with his arm against the sapphire's chest, sending more volts coursing through his veins. The blast-punch threw off the Dark Gem creature, and 0 halted his advance.

"Think it's a stupid toy now?" he asked harshly, noticing that the sapphire was finding it hard to remain standing. He had managed to control the flow of electricity to isolate the legs, but it had not been completely perfect. He was still a novice with the RSP. "You will not harm May Birch." He had put her in a safe place, away enough to keep protected. With any luck, 3 would be coming soon, after dealing with the Rangerlings.

From the rooftop that 0 had rushed her to, May watched in silence as the dark angel and the azure demon battled. She saw the bolts course off 0's fingertips, to the knuckles, to the sapphire's body, almost feeling the drive that so pressed the Golden Ranger. Her savior continued, striking with the sword and lightning against his foe. To her, it was stunning. In actuality, it was draining.

For 0 did not have an unlimited supply of bolts, just like the Pokemon he had bonded to in order to create his armor. And though he was controlling the amount of lightning draining into sapphire, the Dark Gem Ranger was beginning to build up resistance to the attacks. Every jolt left him a little less weaker, and he wasn't showing signs of stopping. 0, on the other hand, while he could keep warding off the beast with the lightning that involuntarily prohibited others from contact with his person, was not finding it easy to keep up. Whoever was behind the azure cowl was much more experienced than he was in the Ranger business.

He bellowed, adding speed to his body through the lightning surge. 0 felt himself grow weary, a slow and gradual effect that became more evident with each passing minute. After fifteen minutes of combat, he was very tired. But the will that drove him pushed him on, and he sliced through the air with ferocity that would frighten a Charizard. The sapphire came back, matching the blow while at the same time ignoring the painful electric force that blasted through the metal into his veins. 0 groaned, they were getting weaker and weaker.

"Running out of steam?" the sapphire asked maliciously, before aiming a kick that sent the Golden Ranger flying into the side of the building. 0 doubled over, heels touching the surface of the concrete, before he launched himself back with added velocity, tackling the Dark Gem Ranger quickly and sending his adversary piling into the wall opposite.

"Not by a long shot," he answered, eyes blinking away the sweat under his visor. His body hunched over, clutching the Bolt Blade in his right arm. He needed to end this quickly, before he lost consciousness. Then no one would be able to protect May. The sapphire lifted himself out of the rubble, apparently very undisturbed by the events.

He dusted off the navy blue uniform. "Gotta try better than that," he taunted, lifting his dark boot out to pursue his quarry.

0 glanced upwards, and sapphire followed the motion, as a small, petite, white figure appeared directly above the Dark Gem Ranger's head. "0, give him a jolt!" 3's voice shouted very clearly, the White Ranger pouncing onto the sapphire's head with a square kick from the boots. The beast deflected it, raising the scimitar to shield himself, but 3 bent her legs for impact, and flipped off the sword, striking him in the back of the head with the Snow Staff as she went by. He shouted, more in annoyance then actual pain, as 3 flipped beside 0, awaiting orders.

"Very nice," the sapphire mused, stroking the bottom portion of his helmet with the gloved hand. "Two against one."

"All's fair in love, war, and defending a target," 0 replied, rubbing both of his hands together as he said so. "I'd get out before I jolt the hell out of you." Filled with renewed vigor, 0 felt the power course through him, rejuvenated. And he was about to use it, when for no reason, the sapphire left.

He didn't exactly leave very peacefully, he did destroy a good portion of the wall behind him as he went, and then burst through the apartment complex on the other side of the street, thankfully not the one 0 and 3 lived in, but leave he did. 0 and 3 watched as he left, cackling as all villains did that he would return, and destroy them. But neither Ranger listened to him, instead they turned to the building that safely housed May Birch, acknowledging her presence.

The next instant, the space they occupied was empty of all life.
_______________

And to make up for my absence, enjoy...

PKM Golden Ranger
PKMGoldRanger.jpg

Name: Ash Ketchum
Codename: 0
Weapons: Bolt Blade/Lightning Laser
Special Stats: Ability to control lightning due to RSP. Can travel at high speeds and shoot lightning from points of his body. Immune to electric shocks. Unnatural strength and resolve.
Ranger Spirit: Pikachu
PKM History: After being pressed into service, Ketchum became the Golden Ranger due to the death of the original 0 at the Festival. His prior service caused him to lose his wife, May, and daughter, Sarah, due to neglect. Ash continues to have reservations about being a Ranger, but understands that he is commander and must protect May at all costs. He is currently the only PKM agent able to resist Serena due to his psychological inability to have emotions of a loving nature outside of his family. He wears his wedding ring on a chain to remind himself of his loss.

PKM White Ranger
PKMWhiteRanger.png

Name: Serena Brine
Codename: 3
Weapons: Snow Staff/???
Special Stats: Seduction. Ability to withstand sharp drops in temprature. Able to flex entire body, double jointed. Skilled in martial arts.
Ranger Spirit: Seel
PKM History: Serena became a Ranger at a fairly young age, under a mission that is as yet unknown. As the White Ranger, she opted to be assigned to the same mission as Agent 0, Ketchum, whom she is in love with due to his ability to resist her charms. She is known for having a great deal of male partners, of which Ash is the longest surviving one. She holds scars of her own in Ranger duty that are unknown.

Dark Sapphire Ranger
Name: ???
Codename: ???
Weapons: Azure Scimitar/???
Special Stats: Iron hard body, strange willpower and determination. Skilled in sword fighting.
Dark Gem: Sapphire
History: The Dark Sapphire Ranger presently is mostly unknown, though he has the abilites of a Dark Sapphire stone. The full powers of this Dark Gem in unknown, though he is vain. He commands hoards of Rangerlings infused with onyx type Dark Gems. He, however, is a true Ranger, and not to be confused with a Rangerling.
 
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Jemi Rose

Thunder Trainer
Yay! Welcome back! Another awesome chapter, I wonder what happened after 0 and 3 went back to May...hmm..I can't wait for the next chapter!

Later

~*Jemi Rose*~
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
A preview, because I feel full of energy...

The plan is nearing completion for Ash. The agent has been removed from his family, allowing for proper molding to be done to his character and preparation to inherit the Golden Ranger mantle will be completed in a few years time. My life is nearing its end, Ash must be ready for when my time ends, and his begins. On my last mission, I was unable to locate Lightning, though I am confident that I will either find it or be able to map its area. Ash remains adamant about not becoming a Ranger, but he will, as I did. Only he can carry on the legacy of my work, and create the Lightning. The additions to the morphers are completed.

That was made a few years ago,” Pikachu said. “The additions that 0 made were involved primarily in the Spirit section of the morphers that I reside in. Something else has been placed there, almost like a hypnotic suggestion. I have analyzed it, and determined that 0 locked something of his own spirit in there, for Ash.”

“He…locked part of himself…?” This was getting confusing. “What did he seal inside the morphers? Is it a threat to Ash?”
Coming Soon! Morph Nine- Beast Pt.1
 

Tbone2356

ᵀᴴᴱ ᴼᴿᴵᴳᴵᴻᴬᴸ
Up....

Wow this is really good! I just finished reading the chapter where Ash and Serina got in the helicopter and took off for Petalburg. I'll read more tommorow as it is really late...

The other ones seem really cool...

There are a couple of spelling mistakes here and there but it doesnt really matter to me..

Keep it up..
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Chapter Nine: Beast Pt.1

“It’s not here, 3,” 0 murmured, leaning up against the skyscraper wall. The moon was high in the air, and he was eager to leave. Below, the crimson lights of ambulances and police lit up the street like Christmas time. Everywhere, people were shouting, being annoying, and basically getting in the way of 0 and 3’s investigation. 0 had long since abandoned waiting, and had chosen to sit on the perch he looked over the street from the high ground. His helmet rested against the concrete wall behind him, and his eyes beneath were closed. “We might as well go home. I’m sure something will turn up.”

3 was dancing around on the rooftop next to him, practically ecstatic in her need to get to the emerald Dark Gem. She needed to find the gem for her research. “I want it, it is vital for what I’m going to be working for.” She heard 0 yawn into his communicator, and dismissed it. 0 didn’t like stakeouts, he liked to be moving and vibrant. She liked to stay still, or at least she could if she needed to, but 0’s patience was wearing thin. The Golden Ranger looked down, before finally giving up in annoyance.

“That’s it,” he muttered, “I’m going down in civilian form. I’m tired of waiting here.”

Raising both of his gloves, 0 glowed for the second time, the dark armor receded to wherever Pikachu stored it in the morphers on his wrists. Ash Ketchum emerged from 0’s guise quickly, the dark knight falling for the dark man who took his place. Ash Ketchum looked down to the scene of the museum’s destruction, watching with dulled eyes over the scare. The ponytail behind his head fluttered in the breeze, coming to rest on his chest. 3 fell in silently behind him, he didn’t look in her direction.

He took a deep breath. “I think I’ll go see how May is doing.” He knew that 3’s eyes were widened behind the white visor. “I’ll go as 0, if I have to. I just want to make sure she’s all right.” He turned his head, looking back at her. “Is that a problem?”

3 shook her head. “No, sir,” she answered, her voice deliberately monotone. Ash accepted her answer, and vanished with a crack of lightning, nothing more than a golden blur. 3 watched as it vanished through the streets, a streak of power that she alone could see. 3 watched, and kept watching until she was sure that he was gone. 3 took a deep breath, settling herself. Ash would not be back that night, she sensed, he would be as close to May as he could be. And she knew how the woman hated Ash, he would have to go as 0 if he wanted to get near her.

“Stupid moron,” she mumbled, wrapping her arms around herself.

Ash Ketchum was a blur, he was not tired. The exhaustion of the fight earlier that day would have crippled a regular person, had they been in his shoes. Fortunately, he was not ordinary, and had long since learned that being weak was a stupid thing, and should not happen. The agent rushed through the streets, dodging through traffic, when he suddenly decided to stop, halting in the middle of the road. He was close enough to the house, he could continue on foot without any problems. Some people looked when he appeared suddenly in the streets, but a quick glance with his dead eyes was enough to make them turn away from him.

The agent started forward, barely taking in the bright lights and signs around him. He could hear everything, and it was getting annoying. He side-stepped the person walking in front of him, without raising his head from the spot he was staring at in the ground. The voices around him echoed, he could hear the sounds of his footsteps telling him what was in front of him.

And he knew when he turned the corner, sensing from the sounds around him that he was close. He looked up, and sure enough, he was there. The gym stood in front of him, towering over one of the most powerful men on the planet. The simple man who wanted nothing of his power, but knew he would need it again, smiled. They would never let May anywhere near him, but they wouldn’t have to know if 0 visited her. The Golden Ranger could do what Ash Ketchum could not.

Ash Ketchum’s smile faded from his face, and he started walking away to locate a dark alley in which to change in.

***

“I wanted to see you again,” 0 said, looking down on her perfect form. May’s face lifted to see his own, her vision of loveliness blinding to him. She cupped her hands to her chest, a smile on her face. He guessed it was because he had come, and that she was grateful to him. “I hope that is all right with you, I was afraid I would disturb you.”

She shook her head. “I’m glad you came, earlier and now. I wouldn’t have made it without you.” She peered into the golden visor, as if by doing so she could see the person standing behind the mask. “Thank you for saving me today.” 0 did not show a visual reaction, but continued to look down on her in the same way. He was so much taller than she way.

He waved an arm. “It was nothing,” he answered indifferently, playing the part he was supposed to play. Now that he had accepted the Ranger heritage, it was easier to become the Golden Ranger in his mind. “My duty is to protect you, May Birch, and for that I am grateful. It is my honor to guard you, as it is my ally 3.” He took one of her hands into his gloved palms, and smiled beneath the mask. “Nothing is more important to me than your family.”

May’s face flushed a dark crimson. “0, I wish I was as strong as you.” He could feel her through the contact, even though he was denied the ability to actually touch her. Her fingers were trembling, and he could see her body quivering. She pressed herself into his uniform, burying her face in the crook of his neck. 0 hunched his back, letting her hold him gently. He could feel the tears dampening his uniform, and wished he could shed his own. “You wouldn’t be shaking, or crying. You would be strong.”

“You are much stronger than I am, May Birch,” he answered softly, awkwardly bringing his own arms around her. “It takes a strong person to deal with what is happening to you.” She looked up at him, her eyes confused. “I can’t even cry if I wanted to. My eyes died a long time ago. Be happy you have feelings to share the way you do.” And it was true, he could not cry in the sense that May could. “A warrior like me cannot have feeling, it is forbidden. You are lucky.” His voice faltered at the end, as 0 wondered if it was true, if by accepting his Ranger morphing, he had destroyed the last shred of humanity he had left. Everything that was human about him was built upon his memories of May and what little he had known of Sarah. Everything that was Ash Ketchum had been left behind when he had gone. Now 0 stood silently, wanting to tell her the truth.

He opened the ports to speak again, but the door behind them began to creak open in the twilight of the darkened room. May swerved around quickly in response to the noise, releasing her hold on the Golden Ranger, and Max Birch walked into the room, bare-chested and wearing sweat pants. He rubbed his eyes, wondering who May could have been talking to at that hour. “May,” he mumbled, setting his hands down, “is there someone else in here with you?”

May’s eyes darted backwards, but the room was empty, devoid of any life whatsoever. “N-no, of course not. Don’t be silly, Max. I think you’re still asleep.” She glanced speedily at the open window. “I just felt like talking myself down, that’s all. It’s been a pretty hectic day.”

Max smiled. “Sure has,” he replied. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to help you, but I promise I will be from now on. I won’t leave you to be protected by the Power Rangers, not when I can help you myself.”

“What are you talking about, Max?” May was confused. “0 and the White Ranger are the only ones that can fight off whatever it is that’s after me. You know that.”

Max slammed his hand on her dresser, scattering May’s things to the floor. “I know that!” he answered, more harshly than he probably should have. “I know that. But…you’re my big sister, May. You’ve always looked after me, and I want to help you. More than anything, and I hate Ketchum for making it so I wasn’t here for what happened.”

“What do you mean?” What did Ash have to do with any of this? She hadn’t seen her ex since the Festival. Was he in Petalburg? Was he following her?

Max’s face changed to a snide smile, directed at the man he hated. “Ketchum. I saw him today, walking down the street like a regular person. Only he had a platinum blond clinging to his arm and every word!” He shook violently, enraged at the memory. May’s eyes widened. When she had seen Ash, he hadn’t mentioned anyone else.

“R-really?” she asked, though she was certain that he was telling the truth. She could feel it in his conviction, his certainty.

He slapped his palm across his heart. “Oath of honor, May, I saw them. And that woman, she told me everything. I’m surprised the whole damn museum didn’t come crashing down.” She could see that he was in no mood to argue, but he left the room, slamming the door violently as he did so. May sighed, she would talk to him the next day, when he was calm.

She glanced at her clock, it was tomorrow already. “I’m sorry about that,” she said, sensing 0’s presence once more in the room. And sure enough, the Golden Ranger dropped soundlessly into her sight, materializing out of the twilight haze of the night. “He’s really not like that. Crazy, I mean.”

0 nodded. “Times of crisis bring out the best and worst of us. At least he did not see me, I get the feeling he doesn’t like people speaking to you.”

May shook her head, brightening. “I like you. You’re quiet and you listen to me. My family just does what they think is best for me and Sarah. Even though I know they’re only doing it because they worry about me, I worry that something’s gonna happen to them.” She sat down on the bed, inviting him to join her. After what looked like a mental debate, 0 lowered himself onto the fluffy cushions. He did not look at her, but she was glad to have him all the same with her.

“My charge to defend you extends to your family,” the Golden Ranger answered carefully, masking the level of difficulty it was giving him to maintain control over himself. “I will see that none of them come to harm, least of all Max Birch. You are in good hands, May Birch.”

She giggled. “You can call me May, you know.”

“All right…May,” he said hesitantly. He stood up. “I must go, I am needed elsewhere. My object in coming was to make sure you were all right, and I have done so. I’ll be watching, even if you won’t see me.” Before May could protest, 0 vanished again, blending into the night that concealed him so well. 0’s heartbeat increased in his uniform, he could stay no longer. It was not the most polite way to exit her room, but he could think of nothing else.

0 floated in the air for a moment, before he started falling to the ground from the high floor. His body turned, twisted, in midair, before he landed softly on the ground on all fours, hands outstretched to balance the weight of his body to all four limbs. His back was hunched over like an animal’s, his visor facing forward. He was immobile until he was certain that no one would see him, then straightened himself, slightly confused over the stance. He had not ordered himself to land in that way, it had just happened.

“3,” he muttered, opening the channel to communicate with his partner. “Status report.”

The traffic has died down, so I swept down in civilian. Nothing. Someone might have picked up the emerald Dark Gem while we were busy with the Rangerlings and the sapphire Dark Gem. We’re going to have to start having Pikachu trace the Gem somehow. Come on back to the safe house, there’s nothing else we can do at this point.”

“All right.” 0 demorphed, receding into the role of Ash Ketchum once more. The sinking feeling of emptiness shot through him anew, the sense that the more he became 0, the more he would lose himself to the Golden Ranger. Renewing the promise to never allow that to happen, Ash Ketchum walked forward, hands in his pockets, the chain dangling on his neck.

From her bedroom window, May Birch watched as Ash emerged from the darkness, and ducked quickly under the window sill to avoid detection. She did so without thinking, just knowing that she didn’t want to see him, forgetting that she should be wondering what he was even doing out in the street, from where 0 had left. She just bent down, and waited for a time to see if he would leave.

After a minute, she lifted her head up to the window to check, and Ash was standing below her, staring directly up at her. May panicked, and blinked. When she opened her eyes, the tall man was gone, probably just her imagination. May took a deep breath, and returned to her bed.

***

Ash Ketchum arrived much later to the apartment, after disbanding communication with Serena and Pikachu. He would probably get yelled at, but he didn’t really care. After all, as 0, he could order Serena not to lecture him. It wouldn’t work, but it was a nice thought. He sighed, before reaching out with a gloved hand to touch the doorknob. He opened the door to what looked like a very tired Serena sitting on the sofa, arms crossed and a mildly angry look on her face. He didn’t smile, but shut the door behind him.

“3, I can-” He had barely walked forward when Serena jumped off the couch, and slammed the palm of her hand against his face. He let her, he deserved it, and as a result, she was jolted with a violent shock for forgetting the problems with contact. “Sorry about that.” He shouldn’t have apologized, it wasn’t his fault, but she fell to the ground in front of him, letting the electricity shoot through her body, until it was finished, and she rose again.

“Give me your gloves, Ash,” she muttered, in a menacing tone that gave dark sparks to her emerald eyes. Without waiting for him to comply, she grabbed both of his hands, and yanked the dark gloves off, fastening them on her own hands. Then she started to hit him, able to thanks to the gloves. Ash let her, feeling the blows rain on his body. A few times, she hit him in the face, once in both eyes, before she attacked his chest and arms. She kept at it, and he saw tears falling from her eyes, until she had had enough, and started to slow. Ash caught her, just as she fell. “You’re such a jerk, Ash.”

He nodded, making sure she could stand, hands fastened to both of her shoulders. “I know I am, 3. I know.” He tilted his head, looking down at her. She was so frail, so gentle, in contrast to the tough, seductive woman she normally was. She grabbed his arms, and drew him close to her.

“I was so worried, Ash,” she whispered, holding his strong, powerful form. “I thought the sapphire came back, and he had found you, and I couldn’t be there to help you.” She was crying, just like May had been hours before.

“I don’t need help, 3,” he said quietly, uncomfortable with the way she was holding him, but allowing her because of her worry. “I don’t deserve you worrying about me. What I have done, what I will do, I’m responsible for that. And I don’t want someone worrying about me when I don’t deserve it, okay?”

“You don’t understand.” Serena was staring at him with a strange look, one he had never seen before on her face. She was trembling, and her eyes were shaking. “You’re 0, the Golden Ranger. You don’t even want to, when there are thousands who want to be in your shoes. You’re so strong, and you think you’re so alone. But you don’t have to be. No one should…be alone.” He would never understand what she meant, but she wanted to say something.

“I will always be alone,” Ash answered. “I visited May after the fight, and she cared for 0, the one who stole me from her in the first place. The only person I have ever cared about, ever really loved, and she loves a side of me that I never wanted to have. I can’t be her husband, I never will be able to, because I will always have to be 0 to defend her. I can never be the person she cares about.” He took her hand, and placed it over his heart. She looked up hesitantly as she touched it, his cold eyes daring her to understand his own meaning. “You can’t feel it, can you?”

She shook her head. Though there was a pulse, it was nothing, empty and forced.

“That’s because it’s shattered, and 0’s mantle is slowly taking over.” He removed himself from her, and walked out of the room, heading for the bedroom. He was in no mood for meditation.

Serena stood still, horrified, until she managed to return to her computer. Sighing heavily, she sat down into her chair, and cranked up the heater. “Pikachu?” she asked, opening her windows for research again. The little mouse popped up as it always did to cheer her up.

Yes?” it asked.

“What’s wrong with Ash?” Serena asked, turning to her papers on the Dark Gems. “He’s been getting strange, plus that right now. Did you hear it?”

I did,” Pikachu replied sadly. “I have discovered the problem that has been bothering our friend, but there is nothing we can do to help him. It’s up to him to resist the programming.” When Serena’s eyes perked up, the small mouse did not smile. “Here,” it said, a new file adding itself to her computer. “This is all of the former Golden Ranger’s additions to the morphers, most of them made by himself.”

“Additions?” Serena was confused. Ever since the PKM had made the RSP system for 0, he had not been in for service on his morphers. She had always assumed they were functioning fine. She opened the file, and her eyes widened as she read. The entry that Pikachu showed her was from a few years back, when Ash had turned fully PKM when his wife made him leave.

The plan is nearing completion for Ash. The agent has been removed from his family, allowing for proper molding to be done to his character and preparation to inherit the Golden Ranger mantle will be completed in a few years time. My life is nearing its end, Ash must be ready for when my time ends, and his begins. On my last mission, I was unable to locate Lightning, though I am confident that I will either find it or be able to map its area. Ash remains adamant about not becoming a Ranger, but he will, as I did. Only he can carry on the legacy of my work, and create the Lightning. The additions to the morphers are completed.

That was made a few years ago,” Pikachu said. “The additions that 0 made were involved primarily in the Spirit section of the morphers that I reside in. Something else has been placed there, almost like a hypnotic suggestion. I have analyzed it, and determined that 0 locked something of his own spirit in there, for Ash.”

“He…locked part of himself…?” This was getting confusing. “What did he seal inside the morphers? Is it a threat to Ash?”

It is a threat to what he is.” Pikachu’s tone had changed, suddenly grave and serious, in contrast to the happy voice it normally used for her. “Ash is going to continue use of the morphers in an effort to save May’s life. In exchange for this, 0 has implanted a program that will begin to destroy him, spiritually. 0 locked away his humanity inside his morphers, to remove Ash’s in order to create a clone of himself, I guess.”

“So…he’s gonna end up just like 0?”

Pikachu shook its head. “Ash has always been stubborn. It won’t be as easy as 0 thought. Ash will probably begin to fight the urge subconsciously, maybe throw off the program altogether. But I think 0 was counting on Ash’s need to use the morphers, and the fact that Ash lost his family might work against him.” Pikachu increased the size of its face on the monitor. “Serena, you need to help him. He won’t accept help from anyone, he’s too proud for that, but I still need you to try. You understand what he’s going through, I don’t. You can bring him back, so he can become the 0 that I know he can be. Don’t let him become something he could never forgive himself for being.”

“I know.” Serena remembered the old 0, and knew this was something he would want to do, replicate himself in another person, to continue the Golden Ranger’s legacy. “I won’t let him become like the old 0, no matter what. The world needs an Ash Ketchum more then they need an Agent 0. Even though he has to be what he hates, I’ll help him be it on his terms, not 0’s.”

Thanks Serena,” Pikachu said. “Get some sleep, okay. Tomorrow, I think you guys should relax. I’ll book somewhere for you guys to go. Have some fun, make him laugh for me. Okay Serena?”

She smiled, and raised her thumb. “Sure thing, Pik. Gotta go, okay?”

Good night, Serena,” the mouse answered, and the computer went dead.

Serena yawned, and settled herself back into her chair. She sat there a long time, in the darkness, wondering what she could do. Ash was not the easiest person to get near even in the best circumstances, but something so personal, he would disregard a warning if she told him about the program, telling her he could handle himself. She would have to help him without telling him why, give him confidence in himself that he could become a Ranger and still be himself. The man she loved, after all, even if he was too dense to understand that. She could, and she would save him.

After all, she thought to herself, as she drifted further and further into the void of dreams, May certainly wasn’t going to do it. The tramp liked the version of Ash that she hated. She burned that fact into the deepest recesses of her memory, and went to sleep, the sun only a few hours away from rising. Wherever Pikachu was going to take them, it was going to be great, and they would both have fun.

***

Whatever Serena and Ash were expecting, it certainly wasn’t this.

An oasis in the city that was Petalburg, the luxury spa Le Petal was not a place that Ash wanted to be. Hot springs, Jacuzzis, swimming pools. Everything that Ash could not use with a large amount of people was packed into one place. Ten stories high, Ash wasn’t even sure he was in the right place, the spa seemed too big to be real. Excuses to not go in flooded the agent’s head, but Serena was already grabbing his arm, and pulling him towards the giant entrance, sweeping doors that opened when he got within five feet of them by bellboys.

“This is not a good idea,” Ash said quickly, making sure his gloves were securely fastened to his hands. “I can’t go into water with others, Pikachu knows that.”

“You can hang out by the arcade,” she answered, brushing away her hair. “Wait for me to change.”

Without waiting, Serena ran straight for the changing rooms. Grumbling in annoyance, Ash went as well, making sure that he went into the male changing rooms. There were usually spare robes in places like this, though how Pikachu managed to score the tickets so fast was beyond him. He brushed open the door to the changing rooms, and grabbed a spare robe that was stacked carefully in a pile in the basket next to the door. It was a sauna, and he didn’t like the heat as much as Serena did, so he set himself down in front of a locker, and began to change. He slipped off the shirt, and after slight hesitation, removed his pants and undergarments, quickly donning the silky cloth. It was plain, so he kept his gloves on as a precaution.

“Damn Ketchum,” he heard nearby, and his ears instantly perked up. Max Birch’s voice sent off a warning system that compelled Ash to shove his clothes in a locker, and grabbed the key, intent on removing himself from the scene as soon as possible. Max Birch was not someone he wanted a confrontation with at that moment, especially after the day before. “Messing around behind my sister’s back.”

“He’s been single for two years, Max,” another voice pointed out. “He has a right to find someone else, after all. And anyways, from what you’ve said, I think you were the one out of line there.” Good old Brock, Ash thought, even after they had lost touch, Brock had always found a way to stay his friend. “Maybe you were just jealous over how hot a woman he got is.”

“No!” Max shouted. “He should have to suffer for losing May.”

“If you have logic like that,” Brock countered, “should May have to suffer for losing Ash?”

Ash grinned. Max’s voice fell silent after that, though the agent knew what the answer would have been. Brock knew his logic, and had a lot of common sense when he wasn’t flirting with women. When he was sure they were gone, Ash started for the door, now constantly using the strange new hearing he had to determine if anyone other than Serena was near him.

“Nice stone on that necklace, by the way,” Brock’s voice said again. “You got it yesterday?”

“Yeah,” Max answered. “Found it lying around, and I figured I would look after it till I found its owner.”

“It’s nice,” Brock noted. “Emerald stone, huh?”

Ash stopped moving.

Serena stretched, grabbing what looked like the skimpiest robe that was in the changing room, and frolicked her way in the direction of the changing areas, shedding her clothing without an instant’s hesitation. The other women were slightly bothered by the display, but soon forgot as Serena went behind the changing rooms. Grinning, she put on the pure-white robe, it barely went over her thighs, exactly what she wanted to make Ash both uncomfortable and give him a few glimpses.

As she reassured herself that the robe’s belt was firmly in place, she stepped out from the changing area to see another woman standing in front of her, one she knew very well. Sure, her hair was a deep auburn, and she was taller than Serena, but the agent had a few things that May Birch did not have. Namely, better curves and bigger boobs. Serena took pride in her body, while May had that “natural” thing going on. Either way, Serena first considered decking her, but remembered her manners.

“Hello,” she said sweetly, smiling.

May nodded. “Hello,” she replied, then walked past the agent with a small child with dark hair in tow. Serena didn’t need a second guess to figure out that Sarah was in tow.

“Nice kid,” she said, turning to face May.

Sarah smiled. “Sure am, lady!” she assured Serena.

“Sarah, behave,” May scolded, though in the playful way that Sarah listened to. “Sorry, she gets excited when she meets new people.”

“It’s all right,” Serena replied. “My name’s Serena, it’s nice to meet you, Sarah.” She bent down, holding out her hand. The little girl took it, shaking with a hand that was more firm than Serena had originally thought. “Are you guys here alone?”

“No, no,” Sarah answered. “We’re here with Uncle Max and Uncle Brock!” She smiled in such a way that Serena could not resist loving the child immediately. “Right Momma?”

“I’m May Birch,” May said, shaking Serena’s hand. “We’re here with some family to blow off steam. We’ve been going through some rough patches.” Serena nodded, she knew that. “Are you here alone?”

“Naw, just blowing off some steam like you,” she replied. “Got a guy with me, but I’m trying to get him to notice me a little more.”

“Doesn’t look like it should be too hard,” May joked. “It’s nice you could find someone worth the effort.”

“Only the good ones are, May Birch,” Serena chuckled. “See you around.” She waved to the mother and daughter duo, then made her way out, planning to induce nosebleeds the instant she walked out of the changing room. The pair of slippers she found to wear by the changing racks were so soft and comfortable, she couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the place had to offer.

***

“You’re no fun, Ash,” Serena accused, pointing at the robe he was wearing, which went down to his ankles. “I bother to put something interesting on, and you put that boring thing on. Is that fair, Ash?”

“Maybe not to you,” Ash answered, “but I personally like to keep myself to myself. I don’t do unnecessary exposure. Try it sometime, you might like it.”

“Not a chance.” Serena grabbed his arm, and dragged him in the direction away from where she had seen May and Sarah. Ash seemed to want to go that way as well, and didn’t struggle. He looked pained, like he had heard something that had upset him. “What’s up?”

“I overheard something in the changing room, with Brock and Max,” Ash answered, keeping himself to a slow walk. The humidity in the air was not going to help his cause of not shocking anyone. “3, how long does it take someone to fully bond to a Dark Gem?” he asked suddenly, worrying for Max.

“Depends.” The question was strange, Serena had not expected Ash to say that. “It would depend on a person’s personal integrity. See, it varies from person to person. For some people, the lure will be instant. For others, it will take time. Like us, Dark Gems can be used for good as well as evil, though because of the lure, people drawn to them are more inclined to evil.”

“Interesting.”

Serena perked up her ears. “And that would be why?”

“I think I’ve found our emerald Dark Gem,” he said slowly. “And from what I’ve figured out, getting it back will not be easy. Remember that guy you decided to embarrass at the museum yesterday?”

“Oh, yeah…” Serena’s eyes lit up, grinning with all her white teeth. “That was fun, can I do it again?”

“Not unless you want to give him a heart attack,” Ash answered, flushing. “Some of that stuff you said… not only would I never do them, but I wasn’t even aware you could do it.”

“You’d do it with May,” Serena pouted. “Wanna try with me?”

“I won’t be your sex slave, 3,” Ash said, feeling a little better. Serena knew how to cheer him up when he needed it. “You shall have to suffer.” Serena laughed, and held his arm in the rough way that Ash had resigned himself to.

“I shall have to try harder,” she replied devilishly, pressing her chest against his elbow, creating the red streak she loved on his face. They continued to joke, almost like a real couple, which they had to pretend to be, according to the rules that Serena forced Ash to follow. They continued, making sure that no one that had been a part of Ash’s life saw them. They were there to relax, but meeting Max, Brock, May, and Sarah would do nothing to help Ash’s problems.

Ash tried to open up. Last night, he had said some bad things to his partner, but she was acting like nothing had happened. If anything, she was more energetic then usual. He accepted it as his punishment, and followed her like a dog, agreeing with anything she wanted. Wherever she was leading him, it was sure taking some time, requiring several trips up the stairs. It was getting progressively more humid, Ash was amazed that he hadn’t set off the whole place. He was keeping himself centered, controlling the beast within that created the jolts. He couldn’t stop it if he was touched, but he could halt the lightning so everyone around him would be safe.

But when Serena drew him into what appeared to be a discrete, private room, Ash began to feel that tingle of uneasiness that normally accompanied anytime that Serena drew him into a private, sealed off area. “Serena, is this a…” His fellow agent turned around, and hushed him, the wild smile on her lips. Ash started to wonder if maybe going into the hot springs was a bad idea, when the robe was thrown off him, and he was cast into the darkness of the dimly lit room.

Searing hot water shot at his body, and he yelped in surprise. His head went under the water, and the bright spark lit the room as lightning coursed through the water. He didn’t even have time to control it as the electricity came to life. “Ash, I’m coming in!” he heard Serena shout, bringing him out of his surprise. His face flushed, he suppressed the lightning with what little resolve he could muster, and the water ceased to be a lit candle.

“3, give me back my robe!” he ordered, thankful at least that it was dim. He then remembered that, like him, Serena could see in the dark. He splashed the water in front of him, hearing the soft noise of Serena easing herself into the water. “This is not funny!” He couldn’t see anything, he was blind. He could, however, hear Serena’s breathing, and the ripples in the water’s surface that informed him that she was coming in his direction.

“I think you’re enjoying this, Ashy,” she said, using that damned voice that she normally used to seduce guys on missions. “I think you’re enjoying this a lot.”

“A-am n-not,” he retorted, sensing her draw closer to him. He backed away, moving further and further back into the deep pool. “Just keep away, you can’t even touch me without getting hurt.”

“Well, it’s not a problem if you give me your gloves,” she answered, and he could feel her fingers reaching through the water to touch the restraints. “Just give them to me.” The urgency in her voice almost compelled him to obey, like a sweet siren singing.

It was that moment that the lights came on, and May Birch walked into the hot springs with Sarah in tow.

***

Max felt the strange necklace that he had placed over his chest, wondering why he should feel so weird about it. It wasn’t anything special, just the emerald he had found the day before, wrapped up and wound in on a chain. He felt its cool surface, trying to settle the unease in his head. Too many confusing things were happening. Why was Ketchum following his sister, when he was obviously involved with a new chick? What was he doing here, to begin with? And why, why, was this any of his business? He was there to relax, to kick back with Brock and find some chicks. The life of the gym leader was surprisingly dull. He had taken over most of the battles from his aging father, but his father was still recognized as leader in Petalburg. Both gym leaders, Brock and Max, were relaxing in the public pool, the former on watch by the latter, as numerous women came walking by, most with only robes and towels on. Max regretted not bringing a leash to control him.

“I’m gonna get something to drink,” Max muttered, rising from the pool, pulling the towel over himself.

Brock grinned, observing a pair of twins from across the water. “Grab me some milk, while you’re at it. You never stop growing.”

“Pervert,” Max retorted, leaving the bigger man alone to fetch the drinks. Near the walls of the sauna/pool, plenty of vendors sold plenty of refreshments to the patrons. Upon selecting one, he walked up to the one on the far right, manned by a woman who looked about his age, with curly blond hair.

“One Dr. Pepper, and one milk with hot sauce in.” The girl blinked her sapphire eyes, but Max nodded with a grin, so red flushed her face and complied with the order, filling up the milk with plenty of the sauce. Max grinned, paying with extra before taking both cupped drinks. “Thanks a bunch.”

“Don’t mention it,” she answered, bowing her head with a giggle.

“I’d watch that drink if I were you.” Max was heading back to Brock, but turned to the stranger’s voice. The person who had called him was a woman, and one of the most beautiful that Max had ever seen. Checking to make sure Brock was not nearby, Max approached the girl, who was sitting at a table sipping a cool water. She was tall, as big as he was from what he could tell. In one hand was her drink, in the other was a slight red-and-white cane that could not be mistaken for anything but what it was.

“Staring at my cane?” she asked, a declaration more than a question. “It’s all right, I get that a lot.”

Max blushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to. I just… my brain froze.”

She chuckled. “Good excuse, I’ve never heard that one before. Sit down.” Max did as he was told, sitting opposite from her. He took a long time staring, watching as she drained the last of her water, he had never seen a woman drink in a manner that caused his brain to cease function. She had dark violet hair, her eyes were closed though, so he couldn’t see what color they were. When she opened her eyes, he saw a deep, milky white. They didn’t look at him, but Max couldn’t help feeling she was watching him. “Got a name, kid?” she asked, setting her drink down.

“I’m Max,” he answered, looking her over. She was wearing a short, pale robe, which allowed him a clear display of her…

“Eyes up, bucko,” she said, pulling the robe closer to herself.

“S-sorry,” he answered, flushing. “Are you here alone?”

“Yeah, I’m just taking in a few sights here. I just moved into the town, I’m working as a nanny for a person in the city. She hired me a few weeks ago, but I’ve only just now managed to get here. I’m from Johto.”

“Fascinating.” Exactly what was fascinating about what she was saying eluded him, all he was aware of was that he wanted for her to continue speaking. Her voice had such a nice, hypnotic tone, he could see why someone would hire her as a nanny. Without thinking, his eyes fully fixed on the sightless ones in front of him. He didn’t even notice when she switched the drinks in front of him, her free hand moving rapidly.

“Play nice Max,” she whispered, squeezing his hand, then rising from the table, her hand reaching for her cane. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.” Bowing lightly, slightly off from where he was sitting, she started to walk away, her red-and-white cane tapping hard on the floor. She stumbled through the crowds, though she never seem to hit anyone. Max watched her go, unable to dislodge his eyes from her. Only when he could no longer see her did the spell seem to lift, and he remembered the drinks. Wondering what had happened, he proceeded back to the pool.

“What took you so long?” Brock asked, looking up from a trio of college girls with what seemed light difficulty. “Find some nice guy?”

“Shut up,” Max answered, still in a strange daydream state. “I met a girl, but I’m not sure who she is. I forgot to ask for her name…” He passed Brock the drink, and raised his own to his lips.

Brock drained his glass, and smacked his lips. “Uh, Max?” Max mumbled as he drained the drink in his hands. “This isn’t milk. This is Dr. Pepper.”

Max’s eyes widened as he noticed what exactly he was drinking, before a searing pain started to burn through his tongue and cheeks. He swallowed the last of the drink, before he dunked his head into the water, trying to erase the taste from his mouth. The steam that was emitting from the water was joined by the steam coming from Max’s mouth.

Brock didn’t stop laughing for about ten minutes.

***

The first instinct in Ash’s mind was to panic. May, and most likely Sarah with her, in the same room as he was in with a naked woman, was not an experience that he wanted to enjoy. Grabbing Serena roughly, he clamped one glove over her mouth, and drew her behind one of the boulders that were in the spring. Now that he could see, he could locate a place to hide. And it didn’t help that she was attempting to rub against him, something he was trying to avoid.

“Come on Mommy!” he heard Sarah shout. “The water’s great!”

He heard May laugh. “Coming baby!” she answered, and he heard the little girl cannonball into the spring, followed by a light ripple that showed that both were inside the spring. His brain reeled with half-formed ideas, the steam rising to his eyes.

Steam!

Glancing around, Ash briefly considered the bad parts of the idea, but at this point the was willing to try anything. Serena was struggling, not for release, but to grab him. Ash restrained both arms with his right hand, while the left one was firmly clamped over her mouth. This was turning into a very bad dream he had had once. Unfortunately, he was not sure how to wake up from it, he usually didn’t dream in his sleep.

“Serena,” Ash whispered, barely audible, “can you find some way to increase the steam in here? You can stay, and I can sneak out. Nod your head if you can do this.” Serena twitched, and nodded her head that she could. “Good, I’m letting go of you now, all right?” She nodded her head again. He eased her from his grip, letting her go quietly.

He would later curse the decision, which at the time seemed a good one. He had forgotten that Serena, while submissive to his commands as 0, would completely ignore any orders given while Ash. That was why, instead of sneaking away to distract May, she chose to steal his gloves while she detached herself, and grab him violently on the ear.

“ASH, NOT IN THIS PUBLIC PLACE!” she shouted, causing the thin walls of the springs to quake. “YOU HAVE TO WAIT TILL WE GET HOME!”

Ash Ketchum, Agent 0 of the PKM and the Golden Ranger, turned dark crimson as May Birch’s head turned towards where Serena Brine stood naked, holding up the ear of her former husband in the fingers of her gloved left hand. He refused to budge, though it was clear from his head who he was to May Birch. Ash Ketchum wished he could vanish into thin air.

May startled, turning bright red as she saw the naked woman she had met in the changing room grabbing the ear of her ex. It also occurred to her that she too was naked, and as a result her whole body turned beet red as Ash’s eyes drifted from amazement staring at Serena to surprise at May. Sarah, ignoring everything but the loud shout made by the white haired woman, started to play in the water.

“I…am…going…to…kill…you…” Ash said, very slowly and deliberately, to give Serena a full idea of how much she had once again managed to disgrace him beyond all belief. He turned his head slowly, towards a very embarrassed May, completely ignoring what Serena was displaying in his general direction. “May, I know this looks bad…” He trailed off, eyes becoming the size of dinner plates, as he stared at May, who had forgotten to recover her covering. He could not help himself. “Wow.”

He wanted to say more, but he was not capable of doing so. Seeing May was the furthest thing from his mind, but to see her naked was something that left him speechless. May’s eyes welled up with what looked like tears, as she looked from Ash, to Serena, and then to Ash again. Without waiting, she grabbed Sarah by the hand.

“I’m-sorry-to-have-bothered-you,” she said, in a speed that Ash was not aware humans could speak at. Sarah looked from one, to the other. “Excuse-us.”

“Hey, nice lady.” Sarah waved in goodbye to Serena. She returned the gesture, grinning slightly. “Who’s your friend?” she asked, looking at Ash.

Before Serena could answer, Sarah‘s mother intervened. “A pervert,” May answered, dragging her child away.

Sarah waved goodbye to Ash. “Bye-bye, Mr. Pervert,” she said happily, smiling, before she vanished from view.

Ash stayed where he was, feeling that sinking pull in his stomach that was normally accompanied by Serena. She just HAD to do it, she needed attention so badly from him. Why? “Well, I hope you’re happy,” Ash grunted, eyes darting around for the robe she had removed from him. “Thanks for ruining my life. Again.”

“What are you talking about?” Serena tossed back her hair, arms on her hips. “Aren’t you even going to talk to them, or anything like that? You’re daughter, she-” Serena stopped herself, as Ash started to sink his head into the water “-she doesn’t know who you are, does she?” she asked, feeling a hard throb in her chest.

“That’s right.” Ash stood up, having relocated his robe. He pulled the strings together, and retrieved the rubber gloves from Serena, shoving them roughly onto his hands. “Her memories of me are gone, all I am is a passing stranger on the streets. Sarah doesn’t even know she has a father, understand?” He took a deep breath, fighting for control. An animal was emerging from inside him, the beast threatening to overrun him. He breathed hard, resting himself against the side of the springs.

“Ash, are you all right?” Serena shouted, worried. Pikachu’s words shot through her, and panic overwhelmed her. “Ash!”

“3...” Ash looked up, a pained look in his eyes. “Run…”

The wall exploded, followed by various other parts of the building around them. Ash swerved around, placing himself in front of Serena as a silent figure walked out from the hot springs mist. A hint of azure burned through the air.

The Dark Sapphire Ranger was back.
________________________________

Next- a full chapter of chaos as the Dark Sapphire Ranger seeks out May at the spa. Can 0 and 3 save her, and the whole building, without the secret "Lightning" program taking over?

Coming soon! Morph 10: Beast Pt. 2
 

Jemi Rose

Thunder Trainer
Ok, that was awesome! Wow! The suspense...How could 3 do that to Ash? Poor May, I hope Ash can do some explaining the next chapter. But, since the preview says 'chaos', I'm sure there won't be enough for him to do that. Oh well.

Later
~*Jemi Rose*~
 

k77k

Mysterious Trainer
wow
this story is over a year old.....
please update! i just started reading thsi and i think its great!!!!!
(if there ia another thread that has a completed version of this story, please tell me)
 

Tbone2356

ᵀᴴᴱ ᴼᴿᴵᴳᴵᴻᴬᴸ
You shouldnt've revived this old thread, Try sending him a PM instead. I admit I do miss this story and I'd like for it too be renewed, but I don't even know if the creator coems on Serebii anymore...

Anyway.. Just PM him and see what happens and remember, don't revive threads that are over a month old! This will probably get locked now, I think..
 

Power Shot

Reignited with Ego!
Wow...thanks. I actually don't come here often because, for whatever reason, my computer rarely let's Serebii work.

I did actually continue the story. It is now revamped and under the name PKM Rangers: Rise of the Dark Gems. I decided to restart it because I didn't like the writing, so I redid some of it. Check it out, I'm actually into the revised sixth chapter. I've been meaning to post for a while, but I was almost done with it, and I kinda lost it. I sort of hit writer's block after that, and I went to college, and stuff happens. But I'm back now and I hope to continue providing entertainment.

If you liked the first version, check out the updated one. It's much better. I'm reworking through the new chapter, which should be released soon. Check out my original work too, if you have time. Both are still active, just seldomly updated.

Peace!
 
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