How to Train Your Pokémon

Aftermath

How to Train Your Pokémon

A/N: Hey, there. Sorry, guys. I know I took so long on this. But with all that has been going on for the past few months, please don't blame me. I had college, and now, there's the COVID-19 virus that has everyone in the world on high alert. Well, most of us, I think. Some just don't care until they see people dropping dead on the streets.

But that was in New York for here in the USA, and I don't live in New York, but still, it was really scary. I hope all of you are taking good care of yourselves so that this pandemic will come to an end soon.

On a brighter note, at least this chapter is finally finished after so long. I know it is a much shorter one than the last few chapters were, but what else can I write for what happened after the battle?

Let's now see what happened next, with Chapter 26. Roll it!

Chapter 26

Aftermath

Dawn coughed a few times to try and dispel the smoke from her lungs. She still hung onto her unconscious Piplup, blocking any lingering volcanic ash that was in the air. Shakily, she got onto her knees. Then, she began calling out for her sons that were blown out with her.

"Luke! Evan!" She shouted.

In the eerie silence, she heard two voices coughing. Getting on her wobbly legs, Dawn carefully headed in the direction they were coming from. Soon, she found her sons lying down on the ash-covered sand, both of them having ash and tiny pieces of pumice all over them and their wings. Evan still had his Piplup in his arms, holding him close to his body. Luke and his Lucario however, they were separated a couple of feet away from each other.

"Boys!" Dawn called out to them, running to them. Her stance was still a little wobbly, but she managed to get to them without tripping.

The twins slightly grunted in pain, slowly getting back on their feet, Luke helping his female Lucario onto her paws once he himself was standing. They coughed a couple more times, fanning away the thick dust, before they turned to face their mother.

"Mom!" They exclaimed at the same time, quickly rushing over to her. Dawn took him in her arms, mindful of the sleeping Piplup in her arms and the exhausted one in Evan's.

Once they broke the embrace, they looked over to the now still volcano. All of that pent up pressure literally blew the top of the mountain, leaving behind a much bigger crater than it was before, lava rapidly cooling as it lightly spilled out hundreds of drops against the sides of the large pit. Their hearts nearly stopped at the sight of it.

"Ash!" Dawn cried out. "Mari!"

The three took off into the air, hoping to see any sign of their two missing family members. But it was very hard to see inside the crater because of the poisonous vog that was still billowing out into the air. Due to the fumes, they had to land back on the ground.

Ritchie and his family came over to them, their Pokémon following them. Aiden was leaning against his father for support, due to him getting shot by the laser on his side earlier. His Espeon walked closely next to him. Just like the Ketchum family, the Newton family was covered with ash and dust.

Aiden felt his heart stop when he saw only three people in front of them, and not five. "Mari?" He quietly asked.

Luke and Evan turned away from him, not bearing to cry in front of their friends. Dawn however, held no qualms as she softly started to sob, collapsing onto her knees.