Infested

Failed Surprises

Gladion and Silvally ran through the villages that covered the entrance to the forest. Silvally perked his head up in alarm.

"Do you hear something?" Gladion asked, petting the concerned Pokémon. Silvally scraped the ground, huffing before bolting into the forest.

"Silvally! Calm down!" Gladion ordered, though Silvally didn't stop. Silvally knew what he heard, screams.

Silvally paused by a tree, crouching. That's when Gladion heard it.

"Now you know how it feels to be forgotten! Golisopod, pick the weakling up and poison him one more time."

Gladion knew that voice, it was the boss of his former group, Team Skull. He had joined to get stronger, so he could protect Lillie. Silvally growled quietly once again, pointing his claw towards the tree.

Lillie, Sophocles, Lana, Kiawe, and Mallow all followed Greninja and Pikachu for what seemed like forever, until they reached the entrance to a forest.

Lillie shuddered with fear, that was until they heard someone yelp, Greninja and Pikachu had scurried in. The two Pokémon were clearly worried about their trainer.

With Mallows help, Lillie was finally able to walk into the forest, and off they were.

"Silvally, Multi Attack!" Gladion called out, stepping in front of Ash, while Pikachu and Greninja laid next to their worried trainer.

Lillie heard her brothers voice-

"Silvally, use Crush Claw!"

Lillie motioned towards her friends to follow her, before she ran off as fast as she could.

"Lillie! Wait!" Kiawe called, catching up to the panicked girl. Lillie was stopped in her tracks, watching the horror that sat in front of her.

Kiawe paused, as well as Mallow, Lana and Sophocles as they watched Ash lie on the ground in pain, Pikachu and Greninja at his side while Gladion protected him.

"He's been badly poisoned, I need to get out there!" Lillie cried softly, Mallow rested a hand on the blondes shoulder, begging her not to go out there.

"I need to help him! I got him in this mess!" She retaliated. Mallow shook her head, sighing.

"Lillie, it's okay. Gladion is protecting him." Lana reassured Lillie, her worried gaze calming down.

"Fine, you win this time. Golisopod, return." That was Guzma's voice, everyone shuddered with fear when they heard that voice.

"Ash, what the fuck were you thinking?" The group heard Gladion curse out loud. Lillie ran out into the clearing, surprising her brother.

"Gladion, please don't get mad at him, it was my fault!" Lillie pleaded, Gladion eyed her, choosing to not respond.

"How many of your friends followed Ash here?" Gladion asked, picking up Ash bridal style. Lillie sighed before motioning toward the trees.

"Hm. I see."

Gladion sighed, walking towards Silvally, putting the weakened trainer on Silvally's back, who roared in response. Pikachu hopped on Gladion's shoulder, Greninja following closely behind.

"Silvally, lets go."

Lillie watched Gladion and Silvally leave, her classmates surrounded her. She turned, facing her friends.

"Let's go too." She said, confident and determined.

They arrived at the hospital where Ash was currently being treated at. Gladion was not happy and eventually demanded to know what caused Ash to become so emotionally unstable.

"We were planning on making you two go to the wedding together, but he got upset because he thought it was his fault that you tried to commit suicide and the other events that happened with Nihilego." Lillie explained, blandly.

Gladion couldn't respond, he just nodded before heading back into Ash's room.

Lillie frantically ran up to the nurse that had just exited the room.

"Excuse me, is Ash going to be okay? I'm one of his friends." She asked, surprising the nurse.

"Oh, yes, he will be just fine. Luckily he wasn't poisoned too bad, he just needs rest. Other than that, he'll be fine." Lillie sighed before thanking her.

Gladion sat in silence as he got lost in his own thoughts, not realizing that Ash was awake.

"Gladion, what are you doing here?" Gladion snapped out of his thoughts and was immediately flustered.

"I was worried about you, dumbass." Ash snickered at his response. Earning a confused look from Gladion.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just that you totally care about me." Ash taunted. Gladion blushed furiously, denying all accusations of caring for anything.

Ash laughed slightly. "Whatever you say, you dork." Silence filled the air, as well as awkwardness.

"Ash, I'm sorry that I got you got pulled into this mess-"

"Nonsense, I offered to help, therefore it's my fault." Ash objected, interrupting Gladion.

"But Ash-"

"Gladion! For Arceus' sakes don't you see what I'm trying to do!" Ash revolted, Gladion was stunned at his sudden outburst.

"I can't bare to see you hurting anymore! W-when I found you sitting there, I felt hopeless. I knew how you were feeling and I didn't do shit about it!" Ash ranted aggressively, tears falling.

Gladion sat there speechless as Ash slowly calmed down, his sobs overtaking his anger. The platinum haired boy felt his mind racing, he didn't even notice that he subconsciously hugged Ash.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, you just had to rant. There's nothing to apologize for. You did the same thing for me."

"Uh, Gladion?"

"What?"

"You're hugging me!" Ash shouted, clearly excited. "So you do care about me!" Gladion sighed before letting go of Ash, looking into his eyes.

"Okay, maybe I do. But that is only information you know!" Gladion confessed, Ash squealed.

"So, if you like me that much, why not come with me to the wedding?" Ash said calmly, Gladion was a blushing mess.

"It doesn't have to be a date, we can just hang out. Like we usually do when we train!" Ash said enthusiastically.

Gladion smiled, he had been longing for this for a long time but Ash never picked up on his blushing or stutters.

"Of course."

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Okay- I lied, this isn't the last chapter! Chapter 9 is the last one. Eeeeeeek! Also, sorry Pikachu, you're almost not mentioned at all in this chapter. Sorry -_-

-CasualAlinnoel