Pokemon Legacy

A Hero Comes Home

Late at night, Erika stood in the Celadon City Gym watering her plants just before she was to go to sleep. Her Gloom walked up beside her and nuzzled her lightly. "Gloom, gloom gloom." It said. Erika placed her hand on her Pokemon's head, stroking it.

"I know, I'm going. You don't have to worry." Erika said. She placed the water pail down and knelt down, embracing Gloom in her arms. She glanced out the window at the starry night sky. Was tonight the night? She'd heard about what had happened to many of the others. "Okay, Gloom. Let's go." She stood up and started towards the door. As she passed the window, she caught sight of something fly across the sky. She stopped to get a better look, but by then it was gone.

Erika stared hesitantly out her window. Holding one hand over her torso and the other by her mouth, she couldn't help but look down in concern. "Gloom, hurry we have to go now!"

A sudden spark of electricity exploded from outside and the lights inside the gym shorted, turning the entire building dark. A loud bang came from the door. Erika stopped in her tracks, her breathing became fast, cold sweat pricked on her forehead. It was too late, now. The door buckled inward with another loud bang. With a third bang, the door came off it's hinges and clanged to the ground. A large orange Charizard stepped inside, swinging it's tail back and forth, the flame at the end blazed brightly. It roared and snarled.

Erika tried to run, but tripped and fell to the ground. Charizard waked in, holding it's wings high above it's head. Gloom jumped in between Erika and the huge fire pokemon. "Gloom, Poison Powder!" Erika shouted. Instantly, purple powder secreted from the plant pokemon's head and filled the air, drifting towards the fire dragon.

"Gust, Charizard." A clam voice said from outside. Charizard flapped his wings, blowing the poison dust back towards Glom and Erika. "Flamethrower." A powerful blast of flames erupted from the Charizard's mouth. The gym caught fire, the orange and red flames spread across every tree and plant in the room, filling the room with smoke.

"NO!" Erika gasped and coughed in the smoke filled room. Gloom grabbed her and started to pull, trying to save it's trainer. Suddenly, Gloom was torn away. Erika watched in horror as Charizard lifted the struggling Grass Pokemon in it's jaws and crunched. The fire dragon shook Gloom violently back and forth. "Stop! Please! Don't do this!"

Charizard dropped the mortally wounded Gloom to the ground and walked away, moving back towards the door. It turned around just as it walked out and shot another blast of flames around the door frame, trapping Erika and Gloom. Erika grabbed hold of her dying Pokemon and held it in her arms. She wept as the gym burned around her.

/

Professor Oak placed down the days newspaper. Another murder, Erika's Gym this time. He placed his hands across his eyes in sadness. In the past few months, gyms all across Kanto have been destroyed and the Gym leaders murdered. First it was the Viridian Gym. Gone ago up in flames five months ago. At first it was thought to be just a random and unfortunate event, but then only three weeks later the Saffron City Gym, as well as the Pokemon center in that town, were both destroyed in the same night. Many people died, including Sabrina.

Since then, many of the gyms in Kanto had been destroyed, all during the night. Cinnabar Island, Vermillion City, Fuchsia City, and now Celadon city gyms had each been destroyed. Trainers all over the region had become terrified, the entire police force of officer Jenny's was mobile all over Kanto. Along with the gyms, the Pokemon centers and the police stations had also been destroyed, resulting in many more dead.

Oak sighed. He ran his fingers over his forehead. He felt hopeless, unable to really do anything about the situation aside from stand here in his office and read from the papers about how the next gym leader would die.

The video phone in the corner began to beep, the red light next to the screen flashed on and off. Professor Oak stepped to it and picked up the head set. The screen flashed and Ash Ketchem's face appeared on the screen.

Now in his late teens, Ash had now grown to almost six feet tall. He wore a version of his old outfit, his sleeves torn off at the shoulders. His hair now longer almost to the base of his neck, and dark stubble grew along the sides of his face and chin. Held in Ash's now strong arms, was Pikachu. The small electric mouse's tail hung limp over the side of Ash's arm. "Hi, Professor Oak." Ash's voice scratched over the speaker.

"Ah," A smile came over Oak's face upon seeing his most successful protégée. "Ash, how is everything going out there? Is Pikachu okay? Ever since that accident with Paul, I've been worried."

"Yeah, Pikachu's fine."

As if to comment itself, Pikachu pushed itself up on its front legs and squeaked. "Pika!"

"Well, that's good. Has Paul given you any problems since then?" Oak asked.

"No, I've decided to let it go. He doesn't bother me anymore."

"Always good to hear." Oak said. "What are you up to now?"

"Actually, I was thinking of coming back to Kanto for a while." Ask said. "You know, to visit you, Mom, Misty, and Brock."

Professor Oak shook his head slightly from side to side. "Are you sure you want to come back now? Things have been rather upsetting around here this past while."

Ash nodded and glanced to the ground. "Yeah, I heard. I was so distraught when I heard about what was going on. That's actually why I decided to come back. I what to make sure Misty and Brock are still okay."

"Yeah, they're still okay, for now anyways." Oak said. "Although if you are coming back, I hope you get here fast. Where are you now?"

"East Johto. I should be there by tomorrow. See you soon, Professor. Tell Mom I said 'Hi.'" The screen turned black as Ash hung up the phone. Oak placed his head set down as well. A smile had slowly crept over his face. At least Ash was still doing okay after everything that had happened.

/

Misty strolled down towards the Pewter City Gym, her feet felt aching after the walk from Cerulean. It had been a long time since she walked so far in a day. She pushed the doors open and walked inside. "Brock?" her voice echoed in the darkness.

"Misty." Brock got up from the far end of the gym and walked over. His arms held out to his sides, taking Misty in a strong embrace. "It is so good to see you, you never come by anymore."

"Ack!" Misty squirmed to get out. She gasped for breath as Brock set her down. "Nice to see you, too." She dusted herself off. She let her hair flow down now, no longer tied up to the side. Wearing shorts that came to her knees and a low cut shirt that exposed her navel, and a long coat which came down to her ankles, she now had the appearance of a strong, independent, young woman. "I came by to make sure you were still okay."

"Nothing yet. But that can't be the only reason you're here. If that was all, you would've just called." Brock folded his arms. "Why are you really here?"

"Fine." Misty scoffed. "I got a call earlier today from Professor Oak. He said Ash was on his way back."

"Oh, really? Wow, I can't believe it. He hasn't been back home for over two years. I mean, a trip to the Orre Region is no simple task." Brock said. "Have you decided to tell him yet?"

Misty turned away slightly, she held her arms around her midsection and looked longingly at the ground. "I…I still can't decide if I should. What will he say? How will he react? To know that…I…"

"You really need to tell him the truth." Brock placed his hand on her shoulder. "He's going to find out one way or another. Would you prefer if I do it?"

"No!" Misty grabbed Brock's hand tightly. "No, I need to tell him personally."

"Hopefully you do. It would probably bring up his spirit's a little, especially after what happened to Pikachu." Brock said.

"I wasn't there when it happened, what happened to Pikachu?" Misty asked.

Brock sighed. He sat down on a rock and ran his fingers through his hair. "Paul. Paul happened." He said.

"What do you mean?" Misty asked.

"After the Sinnoh championships, Paul challenged Ash to another battle, Pikachu against his Electabuzz. For a while the battle was pretty even, but then Ash tried to a Volt Tackle. As Pikachu tried to charge Electabuzz, Electabuzz grabbed him and used a Thunder Punch right on Pikachu's back. We took Pikachu to the Pokemon center but, it was no use. Pikachu's spine was severed. He's paraplegic now, can't use any of his speed or agility based attacks."

The door to the gym clicked open again and a beam of light fell in from the door. Nurse Joy, in her off duty clothes of long jeans and a long sleeve shirt, stepped inside holding the hand of a small child. The child, a four-year old boy with his thumb in his mouth, looked up at Brock and squealed. "Daddy!" The child ran full bore towards Brock, arms out stretched.

"Hey, it's my little man!" Brock crouched down and caught the little kid in his arms, lifting him up and spinning him around. The kid squealed and squirmed in Brock's arms. "How was school today for you, Nathan?"

"He did very well today, Brock." Nurse Joy said. "He's starting to learn his simple addition and subtraction."

"Really, that's pretty good." Holding Nathan in one arm, Brock scooped up Joy in his other arm and pulled her close, planting his lips against hers. Joy kissed him back, placing her hands on his face. "I've missed you." He said as he pulled back.

"I know." She smiled.

Misty stood up and walked over to the small family. "This your little boy?" She asked.

"Yup, the joy of my life." Brock said.