Chapter 1:
The Men stood at the peak of the most inhospitable mountain in the world… Mt. Silver. Sure, trainers trained there, but no one ever went up to the top. Ever. They trained in groups near the base, or in low-lying caves. But not him, or his Brother. They were not Brothers by birth, but in every other sense of the word. No one had seen them in years, since their "unexplained disappearance." They looked out over Kanto, their senses incredibly strong, almost to the point of being considered inhuman. Silence reigned, and the swirling snow around them clung momentarily, before either evaporating off one, but falling away from the other. They stood in silence, while their minds wandered back to five years ago, thinking back to the events from years ago, while explosions, roars, and crashes echoed through the caves and valleys, terrifying anyone who was fool enough to try to brave the mountain.
~noOon~
Flashback:
Ash Ketchum, a young, naive boy of about thirteen, raced home, to Pallet Town, after a close defeat to his rival from Unova, Trip. Pikachu raced along behind him, before catching up to him and leaping onto his shoulder.
"Pikapi, pikachu!"
"Yeah Pikachu, it'll be great to get home again. Hot water, full night's rest… Mom's cooking." He salivated at the last thought, but Pikachu thought of her famous ketchup meatballs. And again, they took off, finally racing over the final hill, and then racing down, only stopping at Ash's house. They burst through the door, and Ash's mother crushed him in a vice-like hug.
"Mom… Breathing is… important." His mother released him, and looked him over, tears of happiness streaming down her face, but her eyes were masking something, a kernel of some suppressed emotion. Ash shook the feeling off, and smiled back at his mother. She ushered him through to the other room, where all of his friends were waiting, with the same face, and the same small kernel of negative emotion. Ash grinned.
"Guys! What's up?" No one answered, instead the grins got smaller and smaller, until they were gone. Ash stopped immediately, slowly letting his grin melt away. Brock stood up, face set in stone, and no emotion evident save in his eyes, which were brimmed in sorrow, and spoke.
"Ash... I love you like another little brother... And that's why... After a lot of consideration... Well..."
Gary stood up, fire and sadness evident.
"For the love of Arceus, Brock! Ash, I love you like a brother, and so I am going to be completely blunt with you." Gary paused, and Ash's mother wrapped him in a big bear hug from behind. "Ashy-boy. We think you should stop training Pokémon." Ash felt his mother undo his belt, with his pokéballs on it. Tears filled his eyes, and he held back sobs. All of the people he thought he loved just took turns stabbing him in the back. Ash's mother walked around him, and returned Pikachu quickly. Ash backed away. No. In that moment, he wasn't Ash. Ash was just murdered by his "friends and family." No, Ash had feelings. Phoenix Steel was born right there. Phoenix wiped his eyes dry. That was the last time he would show weakness. Then, without warning, he turned and pelted out of the house. Fast. He stopped when he was outside, shouts following him. Everyone filed outside, and they tried to reason with him, but Phoenix wasn't listening. Suddenly, a high pitched screech filled the air, getting louder, from a slight ringing to a fully-blown Misdreavus scream. Everyone looked up. There was a streak, slowly arcing towards them, until it impacted into the ground. As the dust settled, a lone boy stood there, no older than Phoenix, and a powerful Alakazam teleporting to his side. He held up a hand, platinum blonde hair still settling in the breeze.
"Ash. You have two choices. Take my hand, and become the strongest you ever were... Or stay here. Choose fast, my patience is waning." Phoenix didn't even need to stop to think. He took a step into the crater. The people who murdered him screaming, trying to get him to stay there. A solitary tear ran down his face.
"I wouldn't stay here if my life depended on it. And the name... Is Phoenix." Phoenix turned around and looked at civilization, something he wouldn't see for five more years.
Ash's mother fell to the ground, sobbing, calling for Ash to come back to her. All of his "friends" stood awkwardly.
"That monster..." Misty finally said. "Look what he's willing to do to his own mother." She shook her head, and then the voice rang out… the voice of Ash, now known as Phoenix.
"No Misty. You are the monster." Ash's mother screamed louder, and cried harder.
End Flashback.
~noOon~
"Five freaking years, Jack. They probably are all dead, considering they needed me to save thier arses every other day." Phoenix chuckled with Jack.
"Do you ever regret it? The decision to come with me?" Phoenix shook his head.
"That was the best decision ever, and I-" Both figures' heads whipped around towards the horizon. A small figure, a Skarmory, was slowly flying towards them. The telepathically called their Psychic Pokémon. For Phoenix, a shiny Gallade, and for Jack, an Alakazam. They stood at the ready, but the Skarmory merely dropped an envelope at their feet, screeched once, then flew off. Jack and Phoenix opened the envelopes, and found letters.
Dear Contestant,
You have been invited, for you accomplishments in the training, coordinating, and battling of Pokémon, to the Tournament of Ages, held on July 14, at the Indigo Plateau. We hope to see you participating.
And Ash, if you are reading this, then please come back.
Sincerely, Charles Goodshow
Jack looked sidelong at his brother. His face was a mask of emotion. So Jack asked the first question.
"Are we going to go?" Phoenix stood, calculating his options. Slowly, he nodded. Jack clapped him on the shoulder, hard enough to break someone else's collar bone, but not Phoenix. They walked towards the sight of the booming and screeching, now slightly subdued.
~noOon~
Brock, Misty, May, Dawn, Drew, Trip, Max and Paul walked down Route 23, a comfortable silence settled over the group. May leaned against Drew, Dawn against Paul, and Misty against Trip. Brock and Max led the way. Suddenly, Max burst out crying. May ran to her brother.
"Maxy, what happened?" Max, sniveling, tried to choke out what was on his mind.
"How can we?" May looked around, confused, and Brock felt for a fever. There was none. How can we just walk along, to the biggest tournament ever, and we act like nothing happened to him, the one who enjoyed battling more than any other?" Everyone was immediately silent. They knew he was referring to Ash. His body, mangled to beyond recognition, along with the blond boy's, had been discovered in a drastic cave-in four years ago, one year after him running away. It was the exact same day; July fourteenth,two days after May's birthday. Ironically, she had wished Ash would be found, and brought home. A grave was dug, not in Pallet, but a more in-between location for the large group of friends; Petalburg City, right across from the Gym. May had locked herself in her room, and depression had reigned supreme amongst the normally jolly group. Not until Paul, Drew and Trip had come along and swept the girls off their feet did they begin journeying again. Dawn and May were top coordinators, but Misty had fallen from her metaphorical horse, leaving the Gym to her sisters. They all teared up, saddened by the memories. May stopped hugging Max, and burst into tears. They all hung thier heads, until Drew picked May up, wrapping her in a tight hug. She continued sobbing into his chest.
"My best friend! It's my fault you know. I sent him away, without a second thought." Drew raised her head, cupping her cheeks in his hands, and wiping her tears away.
"May, stop. If you don't, I'll feel bad about winning the contest portion of the tournament." May giggled.
"Fat chance. I am winning this thing for you, and for Ash." Then, they kissed. A short kiss, but filled with passion. But May was slightly reserved, but even she didn't realize it. They broke apart, and continued on their way, not stopping until nightfall, only about a mile left between them and their destination.
~noOon~
Hey everybody. The name's Petrous (pe-truss) and I am a long time reader and fan of this site, and I thought "Hey, I have some moderate-to-decent ideas, and the chances of someone writing this story for me are pretty slim." Anyway, I can promise nothing in the form of regular uploads, other than once a month at least. Merry Christmas, happy belated Chanukah, or whatever you celebrate. Petrous, signing out for the first time.