A/N: Hi guys, My name is Champion and this is yet another story I don't need to post because my other projects are ongoing. But, I wrote this awhile ago and stumbled across it today. I think it is some of my best writing so I felt like I had to post it. If people like it I'll continue it. So please review. Otherwise it will just be one of the better examples of my ability.
For those who might question Ash's character, it has been a very long time since I have seen the Indigo League episodes so I don't remember exactly how he acted. I know he was very naïve and I do know 11 year olds. So I hop it's tolerable.
And I really love Hypno... So. I hope you guys enjoy it.
The champion of Sinnoh was walking down a dusty path somewhere in Kanto. She was happy to be away from the hustle of her personal life. The vast forests of the Kanto region were very beautiful, and the weather was always mild so she could visit whenever she could manage to get a few days away.
Thankfully she had been attending the Indigo League this year and did not have to return to her home for another week. The blonde had been pleased to witness the best that the region had to offer, seeing all the young and spirited trainers never failed to make her smile.
She had found a clearing with some shade so she decided to rest for a few moments. The forest was a quiet place. The only sounds that reached her ears were the chirps and calls of the many Pidgey, Spearow, and their kin that lived in the trees. The trainer had to admit that the calls and songs of the Kanto birds were more pleasant to her than the Starly of Sinnoh.
It was only a few minutes in to her relaxation that she felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked around but no one. She decided that it was merely a Pokémon in the trees curious of a strange human close to their home. She knew that unless she bothered the local creatures they would leave her be as they had in most other places she had rested in.
It was when this feeling not only persisted, but got stronger that she decided to scan the tree line closely, hoping to find what was watching her. Her blue eyes finally came across another pair that shocked her.
She had caught the never ending gaze of a Hypno. She had heard many things about these Pokémon and while most of it was not good, she knew how things got exaggerated through time. She trusted her Pokémon to protect her if it meant any harm, and she was quiet curious why it had taken interest in her.
She watched as the yellow creature slowly came closer, she sensed no danger in it, but slowly she put a hand on one of her pokeballs in case it tried anything. Finally I was only five feet from her. The champion was mesmerized by this encounter, even though it was only an intense staring match so far.
After a few moments the hypnos eyes seemed to glow blue and the trainer quickly went to release he Pokémon, but before she could a voice resonated in her head. "You are trustworthy? Correct, Champion Shirona?" A deep female voice said.
Cynthia was astonished, this Hypno not only used telepathy, but it knew her name. "What? Of course I'm trustworthy!" She exclaimed, almost offended. "And how do you know my name?" She asked suspiciously.
"You project your thoughts. If you are trustworthy like I believe you to be I need you to follow me and whatever medical supplies you have." The Hypno said.
At the mention of medicine Cynthia grew concerned. "Is a Pokémon hurt Hypno?"
"Possibly, but what you see you must be silent of. Your cooperation is a matter of life and death." The Hypno said, turning away from her and walking in the direction she came from.
Cynthia didn't hesitate in following the strange Pokémon, but still kept one hand on a poke ball. She didn't exactly trust the situation she found herself in. The Hypno was very odd. She knew that while most psychic types could learn telepathy, it was extremely rare for one in the wild to do so. The Pokémon must have been very old or once had a trainer.
The walk was silent but short when it seemed that they had arrived at their destination, Cynthia gasped. There was a young boy lying on the grass. He was badly bruised and his clothes were bloody and burned. She quickly started to remove his clothes and saw that his whole body was covered in cuts, scrapes and burns. She got a first aid kit from her bag and cleaned his wound as best she could, bandaging the more severe ones.
She looked at the boy and then to the clothes he was wearing, wondering what on Earth had happened to the poor child.
"I know some of what happened. He was projecting his nightmares clearly. I must say I feel for the child. One so bright as him losing so much." Hypno projected, her mental voice taking a mournful tone.
"What happened to him? He is in terrible shape. We need to at least take him to a Pokémon Center." Cynthia said distressed.
"That Champion Shirona is where things become complicated and where my trust in you begins. It would seem that this child had a hand in bringing down Team Rocket. Impressive considering his age, but it seems that the groups last orders were that of revenge. When he returned home from Indigo the Rockets were already there. It wasn't pretty. There is nothing left of his house, his mother or her Mr. Mime. The Rockets Chased the child for almost two days. They were viscous. One by one he had to recall his Pokémon lest they be left behind bleeding. I'm not sure if any of them should be released outside of a Pokémon Center. Someone needs to care for him. Somewhere that has no Rockets. You seem like someone and Sinnoh seems to be somewhere." The Hypno told Cynthia, the story bringing tears to her eyes. She looked closer at the boy, behind the bruises and dirt was a face that she seemed to remember from Indigo.
"You're asking me to take back to Sinnoh with me to care for him away from Team Rocket's reach?" She looked at the Hypno.
"Yes. He is deserving of someone that will love him. I sense within you, Champion Shirona, a great capacity for love. I am truly grateful that Arceus sent you when it could have been anyone else. Do you accept?" The Hypno asked her, it's perpetual stare becoming harder.
Cynthia thought hard. She would be taking a great deal of responsibility at only 16 years old. Who know the amount of trauma the boy went through. The recovery process would be long, but she could help him. That was enough to sway her decision.
"I will help him. But I must know why you're helping him. You act like you don't know him."
The Hypno looked away from Cynthia before speaking, "True. I've never seen this child before. But I have lost to the Rockets and I will not see anymore fall to their evil. I'm seriously considering going with the child myself. His courage and strength call to me. He was a pure soul before they crushed him. I hope to see that he stays true to himself and is not lost in the darkness. Now it would seem that we are going to be here until he wakes. In case the Rockets show up Release all you Pokémon. No Rocket can stand a Champions team." Hypno said, trying to change the subject.
Cynthia nodded. "Yes. If they try to harm him again they will have Hell to pay." Her voice taking a hard edge. She then released a Spiritomb, Roserade, Milotic, Lucario, Togekiss, and an absolutely massive Garchomp. "Alright listen up. This where we are camping for at least a day. If anyone gets to close you're to attack first and ask questions later. This Hypno is friendly, so be nice." They all nodded.
The night had fallen on Kanto. The sounds of birds in the trees had gave way to the scurrying of Rattata in the brush. Cynthia had built a fire to keep the small camp warm during the cool night. Some of her Pokémon had already retired for the evening. Others were relaxing trying to enjoy the foreign region. All but Spiritomb, who never seemed to rest or relax. She was at the edge of the camp seeming to stare at nothing. The Ghost-type remembered her mistresses order to attack first and grinned evilly, it had been a long time since she could terrify anyone for fun.
The injured child was lying close to the fire, wrapped in Cynthia's sleeping bag. The Champion's heart went out to him every time she looked at him. She could now recall his name from Indigo. Ash, she believed it was. She recalled that he had strong Pokémon for his age. His Pikachu was exceptionally fast and he had one of the largest Pidgeot she had ever seen. It was a shame he was so young, if his Charizard had listened there was a chance he could have made it to the finals.
Hypno was staring into the fire, polishing her pendulum. Cynthia knew better than to consider what a psychic was pondering, especially a Hypno. They were by far the strangest psychic.
"He is stirring, Champion Shirona. It would be wise that he sees you when he wakes." Hypno said, never looking away from the flames. The psychic new that when the child woke it would be difficult. After what he experienced, the first face he sees will be just as important as a hatchlings. He had lost so much, so quickly.
"He is?" Cynthia asked, her voice becoming concerned. She moved next to the boy, hoping that when he woke, seeing her would calm him
"No. Please No! Mom!" Ash suddenly cried, his body jumping straight up. His dark eyes clearly full of fear and misery. In a childlike response he grabbed Cynthia and hugged her tight. The blonde Champion was shocked, but she hugged him back hoping to ease the pain he felt.
After a few moments Ash seemed to realize that someone was hugging him, and that, as nice as it was, the last thing he remembered was running from Team Rocket and passing out in the forest. He quickly pulled away, and asked, "Who are you? Where are we?" Ash's voice was scared and accusatory. His eyes could not seem to focus on the figure in the firelight.
"Calm down. Me nor my Pokémon will harm you. My name is Cynthia, we are still in the forest outside Viridian. It's where I found you. Can you tell me what happened?" Cynthia tried calmly.
"Cynthia?" Ash said softly. His eyes were beginning to focus on the woman in front of him. He noticed her long blonde hair and caring face. His mind flashed with realization, he knew who this was.
"You remember me don't you? I gave a speech at the Indigo league. You did quite well for your age." She said.
"You're the Sinnoh Champion." Ash said, as awestruck as his traumatized mind would allow.
"That's right. So I promise that whatever did this to you won't be bothering anymore. Can you explain what exactly happened to you?" Cynthia was trying to build some trust with Ash. Outright telling him she knew already would be to much for him.
"When I got home from Indigo, I tried to go to my house, but before I got into the door…" Ash's voice started to break as he recalled what happened to him. "There was this explosion and my house was in flames. I don't know how I lived, but I picked myself up from what was left of my mom's garden. I couldn't hear anything but I saw the figures in the trees. Next thing I knew was that there were Rockets everywhere. I called my Pokémon but there was too many of them, so I had to run. I don't how long I ran, but they wouldn't let up. Eventually I had to recall my team or risk leaving them. II finally got so tired I guess I passed out. I thought they were still after me though. Maybe they gave up." At the end of his story Ash had tears in his eyes.
Even though Cynthia knew what had happened to the boy, to hear the anguish on his voice truly broke her heart and she wrapped Ash in another tight embrace.
"I tried so hard to tell myself that if I could shake the Rockets I'd get to go home, that my mom would be there. But I saw her through the window, she was home. The wasn't anything left." It was then that Ash broke down completely in Cynthia's arms. His mother was in the house went it blew. He saw her smile when she saw him come into their yard. Now she was gone. All of it, gone in an instant.
Cynthia let Ash cry in her arms for what felt like forever. She would let cry for as long as he needed. He was too young for what life had dealt him. The blonde champion decided that, one day, she would make Team Rocket pay. Ash may have helped take them down, but she knew that you could never be rid of scum like them. They would return in one form or another and when they did, she would be there to put the final nail in their coffin.
She was lost in her thoughts until a small raspy voice interrupted them. "I'm sorry Cynthia. I didn't mean to mess up your coat." Ash said to her, apologizing for the Champion's coat that was now stained with his tears.
Cynthia laughed sadly to herself. Ash had been through so much and he was worrying about dirtying an old coat. How sweet. "Don't worry Ash. It's seen many days. A few tears won't hurt it. You needed a shoulder to cry on so I let you use mine. My coat is the last thing I'll worry about. But now I think you should meet someone." Cynthia softly told the boy. She then pointed to one of the darker places of the small camp, where Hypno still stared into the fire, polishing her pendulum.
"That's Hypno. She is the one who found you, then got me to help you. Without her I would have never known you were here." Cynthia finished.
Ash looked as the Hypno's gaze shifted from the flames to him. "Hello young one. It is a pleasure to see you awake."
"You saved me?" Ash asked astonished. What little he knew of Hypnos was not good. But his scrambled mind didn't even consider that the Hypno talked.
"Actually it was Champion Shirona who heal- oof." Hypno couldn't finish sending her sentence because Ash had stumbled over to her and gripped her in hug.
Hypno was caught off guard. She had studied human extensively in her many years. She had been all over Kanto and Johto. Of all she had experienced, never once had she been hugged. She wasn't sure what to make of it. She supposed she saw the logic in it. The embrace felt nice, but she wasn't sure she liked being touched.
"You are welcome child. But now that you are awake we need to discuss what comes next. Because unfortunately the Rockets will be looking for you, so you cannot return home to stay. You are a strong trainer to be so young, but the Rockets now wish to settle a score. They will not hold back." The voice of Hypno said.
A dark look formed on Ash's face and his eyes turned hard. "You're right. Going back would only endanger Pallet Town." He looked at Cynthia, "What about my Pokémon at Professor Oak's lab?" He asked with grave concern laced in his voice.
"Well Ash. That depends on what you want to do. So I will make you an offer." Cynthia said, gaining Ash's full attention. Along with some of her Pokémon. "I live in Sinnoh and have a vacation home in Unova, Team Rocket has no power there and since there scattered all over Kanto and Johto, they don't have the organization to reach that far. I suspect they won't for a long time, they would have start all over wherever they went and security in both regions is too tight for them to operate. I would like you to come with me. I can keep you safe as long as we need. You're a talented trainer, but you need experience. Something only time can provide. I could also train you and your team. Besides being Champion is rather lonely, I could use some company." Cynthia told the boy honestly, although a bit smaller towards the end.
Cynthia's Pokémon were intrigued by the offer that their trainer made to the child, well Garchomp and Spiritomb anyway as the rest had fallen asleep. Ash was completely slack jawed. She was offering to let him live with her. She was giving a home now that his was gone. He smiled grimly, he would get through this. Whether he wanted to or not.
"Really Cynthia? Me live with you? I'd love to since Pallet isn't safe anymore, but I don't want to trouble you." Ash said apologetically.
Cynthia softly laughed, "You won't trouble me Ash. You need a little help I can offer it. Being Champion pays more than it probably should, so my home is big, but empty. So perhaps we can help each other. You need to grieve and Kanto is dangerous. Getting away from all the ghosts and memories, should make it easier."
Ash seemed to absorb what she told him. Maybe she was right, he knows he should be bawling his eyes out, but he doesn't really feel anything. He remembered when Gary lost his mom. He seemed to be a Zombie for a while. The one day when he and Gary were playing and Gary just broke down crying. Ash knows that when he can finally process all that had happened, the same will happen with him. He has to come terms with his mom's death one day. Staying around Pallet would hinder that.
"Sure Cynthia. I need to get away. There are so many places that hold memories of my mom. She once told me that tragedy always brought change with it, and it was up to us to make sure that change was a good one." Ash said and then looked up at the blonde Champion. "I think that this will be a good change." Cynthia just smiled.
Hypno looked silently at Ash and Cynthia with content. "No," she thought to herself, "the Rockets won't turn another soul to the darkness, for this one shines to bright."
"Okay Ash. I have a plan for your Pokémon. As Champion I have a private PC and My property in Sinnoh is quite large and fenced in. I can have your trainer I.D. attached to my PC so any Pokémon you catch will be sent there. They can also live on the property. I has lakes and forest covering it. I think they would like it." The Champion said to Ash.
"That would be great Cynthia." Ash said relieved.
"I have a hoodie in my pack you can have. Tomorrow we will go to Oak's lab. We'll tell him that you're alright and get your Pokémon." Cynthia said, slightly excited. They were going to make sure that Team Rocket failed yet again.
Pallet Town was deathly silent as three figures walked down the main road. The small community was obviously reeling from the tragic events that had fallen upon them. Many businesses were closed and most of those had black ribbons. It was obvious to Cynthia just how much Ash and Mrs. Ketchum meant to their home.
The young Champion look over to her companion and simply put her arm around his neck. She wasn't sure if how he was acting was normal for a grieving person. She was too young to remember her own parents before they passed. She had also grieved, but she was certain that it was different.
Slowly they made it to Professor Oak's Lab. After entering the building Cynthia went to the receptionist and asked to see Professor Oak. The young girl smiled sadly and said, "I'm very sorry for any inconvenience but the Professor has asked not to be disturbed. He has recently lost a couple of family members." The girls face dropped as she spoke. "I worry about him drowning himself in work, but I can only help so much. May I take a message?"
"I'm Sorry to hear of his loss, but tell him the Sinnoh Champion is here on official League business and I need to speak with him now." Cynthia told the girl. She hated pulling rank, but Oak needed this as much as Ash did it seemed.
Shock was written clearly on the receptionist's face as she stuttered, "Of- of course, let me go…" She then got up and left the room.
A few moments later Professor Oak walked in. Cynthia had never met the man personally, but even she could tell that the past few days had aged him. He looked at her with an annoyed, but defeated look, "Hello Champion Shirona. I don't mean to be rude, but what does the league require of me today. I- I have a lot to deal with." His voice was tired.
"I understand Professor, I truly do. I need to speak with somewhere with absolute privacy, it's urgent." Cynthia said sympathetically.
The Professor had heard great things about the character of the Sinnoh Champion and thought that it wouldn't be a waste of his time if he listened to her.
"Alright. We can use my office." Oak said. As he was showing the Champion's group to his office he called to his receptionist, "And Jessica. No one but Arceus is to disturb me. I mean it this time."
After they had all been seated in the Professor's office, Cynthia began to speak, "Professor, before we go any farther I need to know that nothing will leave this room."
"Of course." Oak agreed.
"Hi Professor." Said the hooded figure seated next to Cynthia. A voice that Samuel Oak wasn't sure he would ever hear again.
Then the figure removed the hood to reveal the face of Eleven year old Ash Ketchum. "Ash my boy, it's really you." Oak said with slight disbelief as he stood and rushed to the boy. He then grabbed Ash and hugged like he was convinced he would disappear at any moment.
"Oh Ash. I was so scared. Do you know about what happened?" Samuel asked, his voice tender.
"Yes I know. I was there." Ash said quietly.
"I was worried sick. They are still digging through the wreckage. I didn't know if you had come home yet. I was waiting for either you to come or the police to say that they had found you. How did you escape the explosion? Why didn't you come find me?"
"That Professor, is what we have come to discuss. It would seem that Team Rocket is behind the attack. From what Ash told me he was almost in the house when it blew. I guess the Rockets pulled the trigger too early. When it was clear that Ash was alive they pursued him. I discovered him in the forest near Viridian. It is clear that the Rockets are on a mission of Revenge. That is why we need to get Ash for away from their realm of influence."
A/N: If you enjoyed it and want me to continue please review. See y'all next time!