All right...it's finally time for the epic finale to Pokemon: 2006! Before I start, however, I should remind you that you need to read "Sonic and the Silver Wing," "Silver and the Chosen One," and "Shadow and the Master of Distortion" before reading this, as this is the conclusion to the story that those three cover. Don't worry, this will be right here when you get back (unless something stupid happens, which it better not).
I'm tired of waiting; LET'S GO!
Chapter 1: Prelude to the End
The storms surrounding Mt. Silver had raged on at a steady pace for five years. In that time, there had been no records of a change in severity, for better or worse.
Until now.
Now the storms picked up their pace; even if it was only slightly, it was still noticeable, assuming there was someone to notice it, but there wasn't. The only person witnessing this storm was the one causing it: standing on the peak of the mountain, a snarl etched onto his face as he clenched his fists at his sides. His dark cape billowed in the wind as it ruffled through his hair.
"Silver learned the truth," Mephiles muttered, "and Shadow turned down my offer at vengeance. There is only one who has yet to make his choice. If he should turn me down, then I will have no choice but to finish them all off." His expression softened as he looked down somberly. "If only I could've been there," he sighed. "If only I could've given him what he deserved. Perhaps he wouldn't be so simple-minded." His face hardened slightly as he steeled himself. "It doesn't matter now. I will make them all pay. Yes...they will be sorry that day ever came!"
Ash looked to Mt. Silver early the next morning, a conflicted aura in his eyes. His mind had questions broiling inside, and more than anything he wanted to find the answers to these questions. But at the same time, he didn't want to abandon his anniversary celebration with May, especially now that they had some rest from Eggman's schemes.
Rest? The word ran through his mind like a heckler. Who said anything about rest? As long as these questions are bashing my brains around, I can't get any rest! He looked back at his sleeping girlfriend. She was smiling in her sleep, curled up in her bed as she dreamed a sweet dream. But I can't just drag her into another dangerous adventure either. Ugh! What am I supposed to do?!
He went down to the ground level, Pikachu on his shoulder, as he pondered what he should do. "I don't know, Pikachu," he sighed in anguish. "I've got to find answers, but I don't want to drag May into another adventure."
"Pika," Pikachu looked at him, a somber look on his face. They spent the next hour pacing restlessly around the place, trying desperately to find an answer to this dilemma.
Finally, Ash made up his mind. "I don't like what I'm about to do," he sighed sadly, "but I hope May can forgive me when I get back." With that, he pulled out a notepad and started writing.
"Mmm," May mumbled as her eyes slowly opened. She yawned and stood up to get ready for the day when she noticed Ash's bed was empty.
"Oh!" she wondered, but then she shrugged. "He's probably training." With that, she continued on and, after she got herself dressed, walked down to the ground level. She didn't find Ash in the kitchen, or at the arena. She looked everywhere, but to her dismay, Ash was nowhere to be found.
"Where the heck is he?!" she put her hands on her hips, visibly angered. Then she found a note in the kitchen. Eyes wide, she quickly picked up and read it to herself:
Hey, May.
If you're reading this, then you're probably wondering where I am right now. Well, I'm sorry, but I had to go. I've had some questions running through my mind as of recent, and I felt compelled to find answers. I didn't want to bring you along, since we just got back from another adventure, but I didn't want to leave you hanging, either. I left all my Pokemon with you, with the exception of Pikachu and Charizard. Please don't follow me. I don't want you getting hurt, and I'm going somewhere dangerous.
I love you.
Ash
May let the note fall to the ground, a deadpan expression on her face. "Are...you...kidding me?!" he said loudly.
Ash landed in Silver Town, pulling his warm winter coat over him and Pikachu. Charizard shivered, chilled by the storms.
"Thanks for your help, Charizard," Ash nodded to his Pokemon. "You can go back to May, now. No use putting yourself in danger over here. It's only gonna get worse." Charizard nodded and took off into the sky, heading back for the Indigo Plateau. Ash looked at Pikachu, slightly uncertain. "You ready for this, buddy?"
"Pika!" Pikachu nodded.
Ash smiled and rubbed him behind the ears as he looked up. "I'm glad you are...because to tell you the truth...for once in my life, I don't think I am."
Sonic and Misty sat on the outskirts of Rota, admiring the sky as the clouds drifted by. They didn't make any particular shapes, but they were wispy, creating a cheery atmosphere.
"Sure is nice out here," Sonic smiled, blinking the sunlight out of his eyes.
"I wish it could be like this everyday," Misty agreed.
"Yeah, me too."
They lay there a moment more, simply sitting there and watching the clouds. Then something caught Sonic's eye.
"What's that?"
"Hm?"
"Over there."
Misty looked at where he was pointing and saw a dark swirling mass that stood out in the midst of the happy atmosphere.
"Isn't that Mt. Silver?" Misty wondered.
"Mt. Silver," Sonic mused. "Something doesn't seem right over there."
"We should probably check it out."
"So what do we do now?" Silver muttered.
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked.
"It's just...odd. I've spent my whole life fighting for a future like this. Now that we have it, what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life? I feel like my purpose is fulfilled, but now what?"
Dawn merely smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "I guess that's the great part. You just get to find another dream."
Silver sighed and smiled uncertainly. But what? he wondered. As they looked on, they failed to notice a sinister substance slowly creeping up on them.
The dust finally settled, and all was visible again. Shadow knelt, panting as his energy was exhausted. Mephiles was nowhere to be seen.
"Where'd he go?" Jessie wondered.
"Must've run off," Meowth muttered.
"Does that mean we won?" James asked.
"I wouldn't count on it," Shadow shook his head, slowly standing up and replacing his inhibitor rings. "If what he said was true, then he's probably still out there. And I would've felt it if he were gone for good."
"Then where do you think he is?" James wondered.
Shadow clenched his fist. "Mt. Silver."
Ash placed one hand on Mt. Silver's slope and began his perilous ascent to the summit, all the while wondering about this mysterious being called Mephiles. He lied to Silver to try to get him to kill Sonic, tried to destroy Shadow, and attempted to prevent Sonic from stopping Eggman. Yet he couldn't shake the feeling that came whenever Mephiles spoke his name. He didn't understand what it meant...but he knew he wouldn't have peace until he found the answer.
He slowly climbed the slope, the violent winds assaulting the trainer and his Pikachu from every angle, unrelenting and unforgiving. The pain bit at his exposed skin, but he knew now that there was no turning back. He had to finish this.
As he climbed, a thought struck him: did Mephiles have some connection with the aura? He was able to communicate with him telepathically, after all. Could he have done that through aura? Isn't that how Lucario did it all those years ago?
Ash suddenly slipped, grappling to regain a foothold. He fell a good, several feet before he managed to steady himself. He squeezed his eyes shut, clenching his teeth. I can't do this he thought. I can't do this!
"Pika Pi!" Pikachu poked his head out of the coat and patted Ash. He looked at him, and his reassuring gaze restored his spirit.
"Thanks, buddy," he smiled. With that, he resumed his ascent.
Another slip, another smack in the face from the hissing wind. Ash dug his fingernails into the rocky slope, desperate to hold on. Everything inside him told him to stay put and just freeze up, but with sheer force of will, he threw an arm up to the next ledge, grasping it.
Was Mephiles watching him?
I won't give up he thought, defiantly.
"I will find the truth!" he shouted to the wind.
Mephiles...who was he?
Each step was more difficult than the last, each moment more tense than the last. The summit was near. He could feel it.
Another slip. Ash grappled once again to gain his footing, which he did, but his fall was yet more significant than the last. A quick internal debate ensued, but he silenced it. He was going to the top, even if it killed him.
At long last, he stood on his two feet, looking up through the blazing storm. A lone figure stood there, cloaked in darkness and obscured by everything.
"You came...just as I foresaw," it said.
Ash clenched his fists. Only one word was on his mind now; May, Misty, Sonic, Pikachu...none of them mattered at the moment. There was only one name he saw in his mind:
"Mephiles."
If the ascent of Mt. Silver seems choppy, it's because I originally set it to the lyrics of "His World: Blue World Prelude" by Bentley Jones. However, I decided not to tempt fate and removed the lyrics because the admins may not like it. *Groan*
