The Guardians of Citera
A Pokémon Fanfiction
RATING: T (Story contains of the following; violence, blood and gore, language, and mature themes. Viewer Discrimination advised.)
GENRE: Adventure/Friendship
SUMMARY: It's been eight years since Ash disappeared; his reasons unknown, events across the Pokémon world have risen, and even the Pokémon Masters can't stand against the evil armies of a mysterious man. Now, the only hope of the rests on one's shoulders- Ash. But the boy they once knew, is now long gone, and his intentions... Are far greater than simply catching them all.
DISCLAIMER:
I do not own Pokémon. Rights go to their respective owners. I only own my OCs.
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Prologue: We Are One, With The Spoon Master
Ash Ketchum had disappeared a little over eight years ago, without a word to his travelling peers other than a letter left for them, also for his old friends, mother and Professor Oak. It had happened so suddenly...
He had been known for his energetic, enthusiastic and silly attitude outside of Pokémon Battles and hard situations- heck, one of Iris' common lines were about Ash being such a 'little kid'.
But that had been eight years ago. He wasn't a little boy any more. And neither was his companion; although, his mount was no human.
By the young man's side, posed majestically, was a massive Charizard, the same one Ash had raised from its Charmander form. The fire dragon was at least eight times larger than a normal Charizard, and was rather terrifying. His light blue eyes seemed to radiate an icy glow, and they swept over the mountains like a flood. His now visible armour of jewel-hard orange scales had taken a darker shade of red around his feet and tips, and his wings were massive, also unlike a regular Charizard. His claws were sharper than swords, his teeth like a hundred daggers.
Its forelegs had become slightly larger in comparison to his hind legs, due to the fact he had to be able to support a significant extra amount of weight. This also applied to his wings- His figure had become more aerodynamic, making him sleeker to help his manoeuvrability on the ground, more in the air. All across his body, he packed extreme lithe and lean muscle, which rippled under his shiny, sparkling coat of jewel scales. His tail burned with a lethal intensity, and occasionally flicked back and forth.
On his back, between his shoulder blades, a complex black saddle was perched. The strap around his collar-bone was a black translucent crystal-like metal, which in the centre had a colourful sphere located in a 'thin' clear crystal case. This, was his Mega Stone. It allowed the dragon to become even more powerful, in the form of the black and blue dragon known as Mega Charizard X.
His rider and trainer, Ash, stood beside him, wrapped in a black cloak with orange underneath. His face was concealed by a shadow from his hood, and then doubled by a mask. The young man placed a hand over the dragon's shoulder, before he grunted and swiftly leaped onto the dragon's back.
Charizard growled, before rising to his hind legs, and spreading his huge black-blue wings, as he let out a fierce roar and leaped into the air, flapping his wings strongly to keep them aloft.
The Guardians, as they were rumoured to be named, rode winged Pokémon as their daily and all-time mode of transport- need to get to Johto? Use a Hydreigon! Going to a town across the region? Use a Braviary!
Going to be taught the ways of the Guardians in the mystical land of Citera? Well, you may need a really devoted, loyal and powerful Charizard or Salamence for that... One of those, or a legendary Pokémon could do.
To say in the least, Ash and Charizard were no normal pair of Guardians.
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Pokémon and Trainer flew over the mountains, while every now and then performing daring, dangerous and extremely skilled tricks with effortless ease, making even the most talented Staraptor look like a Psyduck trying to perform a corkscrew dive and then loop-de-loop and come immediately back round for an upwards spiral. Which, also happened to be the usual routine for the dynamic duo.
"What do you think, buddy?" Ash leaned back in the saddle, eyeing the clouds thoughtfully. "Will we finally get to leave today?"
The fire lizard snorted incredulously, as if it ever changed. Ash grunted.
'Well, you could have been more enthusiastic, Charizard.' Ash thought, reaching out to communicate mentally with his mount.
'Yeah, I know... But seriously, at this rate, we may as well be sitting ducks under a gloomy mountain for the rest of our lives.' He responded, lazily performing an upward spiral for completely no reason but to stretch his wings.
Ash was lost in thought, thinking about his friends and family. His mother, he hadn't seen or spoken to at all for eight years... It killed him inside.
The worst pain of all was the grief of not waking up to see his furry yellow friend, though. Pikachu... Oh gods- he hadn't seen his best friend for all those years... The first thing Ash intended to do when he was released, was find Pikachu, and hug him until he could hug no more. Then, he could save the world.
'Perhaps they'll let us go later in the year- apparently the upcoming spring is going to be nice weather for the most part. At least in Kalos and Hoenn... Sinnoh? Not so much. ' Ash chuckled briefly, before playfully slapping his dragon's neck.
'What's weather got to do with saving the entire world and the both the human and Pokémon races?' Ash asked, and the dragon released a small jet of flame with a snort.
'Oh, it totally helps!'
Ash clung on tighter with his knees, and with a smirk, folded his arms across his rather broad chest. 'Care to explain, bud?'
'Well, if it was raining... It would be near impossible to track our enemies, or smell an ambush!'
Charizard tried desperately, skimming over and between the peaks of the mountain-tops.
'That's what our life sensor-sight, your thermal and night vision, and our magic is for!'
'Oh, whatever. You could still get sunburnt by the desert sun...'
Ash groaned.
'The desert never changes by that much, sometimes it's just a bit hotter than normal! But you do make a point there... Still, that's why we use a spell to protect us from the brunt of danger.'
Making another dip, Charizard chortled. 'When did you become a living, breathing book, Ash?' The dragon flew up to the clouds, dipping in and out while continuing their remark game. 'I didn't know you were a nerd.'
Ash snarled indignantly, putting his hands on his hips as they fell into a steady, calm glide over the puffy white sheet of clouds. 'I am NOT a nerd, and I'm definitely NOT A BOOK.'
Charizard merely laughed.
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They glided down, approaching the mountain, blending in with the wide mountain ranges that hid it from plain sight.
As Charizard's wings tilted down, taking them closer to the large cave in the side of the rocky mountain-side. There was no doubt, that this was the most unlikely and strange of places to hide a massive city and civilisation. For one, it was incredibly hard to find, what with the mountain, well, being a mountain that looked almost exactly the same as every other. Another factor that made entry challenging was the factor that during the day and late hours of the nigh, high and furious winds buffeted the secret location.
Finally, it was located in a region unknown to anyone, BUT the Guardians, long forgotten and deep beyond legends, only ever heard through rumours or myths in the modern day.
Also happening to be one of the largest, it was filled with all kinds of Pokémon, from each and every place. A lot of Pokémon had originated in Sciarston, and had migrated to populate the other places of the Pokémon world, filling it to its rim with the magical beasts.
Many of the species of Pokémon could be found here, and no-where else. Many of the 'legendary' and 'mythical' Pokémon were simply rare, or even common here. The most powerful and dangerous of the creatures belonged in Sciarston, where they couldn't lash out and destroy anything or kill an innocent soul. Some of them, in fact, were locked away so they literally were unable to harm someone.
The large fire lizard swooped low, performing a sharp, tight barrel roll as he zoomed out of sight, blazing down the dark tunnel. Mid-way, torches lined the way, as by that stage anyone entering would realise it wasn't just some dumb crevice in a wall.
Ash sighed, leaning back and letting his partner take the steering. He stared up at the stone wall overhead, passing by quickly.
'Little One?' Charizard turned to his rider. 'We're home.'
He nodded, sitting upright as the large doors came into sight, and his mount burst into the Entrance Chamber. To the side of the large cavern, a large, glistening and gleaming lake stood, large stalagmites scattered here and there. Torches completely lit the room. Two Sceptiles stood by the door, equipped in their elegant, light, shiny silver and emerald armour. They nodded at Ash and Charizard, pressing one of their feet each down on a raised stone next to them, causing the doors to automatically open.
Nodding in gratitude and acknowledgement, the dragon and man flew inside, exiting out to the magnificent sight that was Citera.
Pretty much, the entire mountain was hollowed out, the grand city built inside. Bridges and glass tunnels connected towers, buildings, and multiple floors of the structure. Outer rings of buildings and houses were pressed against the mountain walls. Up high, to give a more real-life experience, lights designed to mimic night, day and other times were installed, getting brighter during the day and dimmer as night fell. If you didn't yet understand that mechanism, there were clocks all over the city, and well, everyone should be aware of it on their watches.
Everywhere, the city was crawling with residents. Pokémon of all types, shapes, sizes, and ages were walking to and back, most of them with their owners, riders or trainers.
Ash smiled; he loved his home, even if it was completely cut off from the outside world, other than a few selected entrances, the key one being the mountain entrance he and Charizard had come through a few minutes ago.
'So,' Ash murmured, patting the scaly neck in front of him, 'Where to, Bud?'
The fire and flying type Pokémon roared, doing a loop before angling his wings, gliding over the Plaza and around the Bathhouse. He spiralled upwards, clearly just for the fun of it, and headed for the Food Hall.
Ash nodded in approval, giving his companion a grin. 'Good choice. Let's go, pal. TO LUNCH!'
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"NO, IT'S GRASS AND PHYSIC!" Terak slammed a fist on the table, shrieking. His long, smooth and shiny dark brown hair that reached down his shoulders flicked, hitting Ash's head, but the younger man just sighed.
He sat up, grabbing his cup of fruit punch before it could be knocked over, again. This was his second one, courtesy of Terak. "Guys, I'm pretty sure Maractus is grass type, and just grass."
"S'not possible, Ashy boy." Luna said, tying her also long hair back, the black locks shiny, as always.
That had to be a trend, or something, here. Although honestly? Ash was no better. Whatever they put in their shampoos and lotions did wonders, apparently.
She punched his shoulder, albeit not as hard as she could. That was reserved for training and sparring. "Hey!" She snapped, feeling insulted as she grinned. "I said something to you! Have some courtesy, you. Don't you know how to be a true gentleman?"
"Of course I do," Ash laughed. "I just didn't want to respond, Luna."
She grumbled, sitting back down, across from Terak, who was seated at his right. Across from the 19-year old, was Alex, the oldest of the group at twenty-one years. Luna had recently turned twenty, Ash was eighteen (making him the youngest) and Terak was a year older, making him nineteen with their other female member, Nina, who was sat to the left of Alex. The last seat beside Ash was empty- or, well, not sat in by a human- as a Furret had decided to hop up and sit there, while trying, and ultimately failing, to nick some food. He only got a hand pushing him back.
"Why even would a cactus Pokémon be physic type?" Alex asked suddenly, pushing a strand of his short, spiky blonde hair behind an ear as he took a sip of his punch. "I mean, I guess I can understand, considering Exeggutor... For some… Odd… Reason, exists, but why does a living, breathing cactus need to bend spoons?"
"Spoons?" Nina asked, grinning widely and snickering. "That's it, Alex has officially lost it, folks."
They laughed good-naturedly, which only increased in volume when said blonde folded his muscular arms, grumbling obscenities under his breath.
Ash leaned on Terak, suddenly feeling tired after everything that had happened in the last week.
"Eh, don't worry, we've all had our little 'spoon quotes'... Actually, wait, no, we haven't." And cue more grumbling and laughter, especially when Alex stormed out his chair to tackle the dark-haired daredevil to the ground, yelping and shouting the whole time. Pretty much everyone in the Hall turned, laughing at the sight.
Writhing, Ash eventually wriggled his way out. He quickly grabbed a utensil from the cutlery tray, which was at the side, holding it out in his defence. He paused, jaw dropping as he realised what it was.
A spoon.
Terak and Luna had fallen out their seats, wheezing for breath between cackling, and Nina was holding her abdomen as tears streamed from her eyes.
Even Charizard, who had no idea what was going on, since he had just walked in, was laughing on the floor.
"Stand back!" Ash shouted, trying to withhold his bursts of laughter. Alex was laughing too, chuckling uncontrollably, but he managed to get words out, standing on side and gesturing to the younger man with his hand to the laughing hall.
"You're threatening me with a spoon?"
Ash snorted, almost certain he was about to give in and go into an uncontrollable case of the incurable giggles. "Ye-yes! An- d it wi-will save me! I am threatening you with a SPOON! THE ALMIGHTY SPOON OF SPOONS!"
"Wow. Everyone! BOW BEFORE YOUR ULTIMATE SPOON MASTER!"
And with that statement, Ash finally fell over.
He laughed until he was gasping for breath, sweating and wheezing, and had to be carried to the Infirmary by Charizard to make sure he hadn't damaged his lungs, which thankfully ended up with just a cracked voice, some bedrest, and a lecture as to why you don't try and become a spoon master... But what could they say? They were crazy.
Well, In the end, everyone had their spoon moments, and Ash's was no different. In fact, it had to be the best they'd ever seen.
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A/N:
Well, it's short and crappy... But it's the Prologue, so, meh. Some light and fluffy stuff to introduce our setting, characters, and blah blah blah.
Hope you enjoyed!
-Crystallion12