Tenth publication. Here is the first book, of several (I will confess), in this series of books to tell the story of an ancient legend which, unfortunately for the whole PokÉarth world, is coming true.
Disclaimer: All copyrights belong to someone else (Satoshi Tajiri, to be precise).
When He Falls, Rockets Will Rise: Book 1- Kanto Colours Fade
The day rose heavily. Like the Sun itself didn't want to wake up to this; the first day after the world lost its youngest, and shortest-lived, Pokémon Master. It was, quite literally, a red dawn. As the Sun crept, mournfully, over the land, it bathed the world in red, like the blood that Ash had shed last night. Like he was still bleeding. Like PokÉarth was bleeding with him.The towns and cities of the world stirred, with tears in their eyes and hearts. Today would be one big funeral day. Televised throughout the airways. The whole world shall be unified, as they say farewell to the greatest Master, and Hero, that PokÉarth would ever have had the pleasure to have known.
From Kanto to Oblivia, Unova to Orre, Sinnoh to Almia… all the towns, cities and villages of all human-populated landmasses erected statues of Ash, made on the day by the people and their Pokémon. In Pewter City, Brock had his Steelix carve Ash's memorial from granite. And it was stood in the middle of the City centre. Misty and her sisters had their Pokémon sculpt the Cerulean statue out of sapphire. Petalburg crafted a statue from wood, and then covered it with flowers, arranged around the body to match the colours of his skin and clothes. In the Orre region, Wes, Rui and Michael oversaw the construction of Ash's Orre statue, made of scrap metal. Every human civilisation built memorials to the greatest guardian this world has ever known.
Once the statues were built, a concert was held. All around the world, the local bands were taking turns to play the unofficial anthems of their towns. Pallet Town, of course, was the start. From then, The rest of Kanto, then Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Orre, and the rest of PokÉarth, played each town, city and village's personal anthem. When every town had had their turn, the concert came full circle, as Pallet Town finished the music with its own anthem, once more. Concert over, everyone around the world said their piece about Ash, and his life. Some of them didn't know a great deal, through having never met him in person before (Wes and Rui are two examples). But the last people to talk… were those that loved him most. Iris and Cilan told of his adventures with them. Dawn relived her moments with him in Sinnoh. May and Max recalled their Hoenn travels. Then Gary, Professor Oak, Tracey, Brock, Delia and, finally, Misty told of Ash as a person. As a human. As a friend. A rival. A son. A hero.
As the Day of Mourning passed by, into the evening, one statue was left unrevealed. The people of Pallet Town had been working on their memorial to their Fallen Son in secret. It was, easily, the largest. All other statues stood around ten feet tall. This one was twice as large. It had taken a lot of pulling in favours, and Ash's Pokémon – past and present – had all gathered to help. At last, the time had come to reveal the final tribute. The cloth was pulled away, and the twenty foot Master was revealed. Ash looked more radiant here than ever before – apart from in life, of course – all, silently, agreed. The statue was made of 24 carat gold, and the gemstones that were embedded all over it gave the statue Ash's true colours. His jeans, his hat, even his skin were perfectly coloured by the light of the setting Sun. As soon as Ash's Pallet Town tribute statue was unveiled, the sunset sky washed with gold. All around the world the, sky burned in radiant gold. No matter how far past sunset they were, the sky was a beautiful, golden glow. Auroras of all different shades of silvers, ruby, sapphire and emerald danced about the sky. The whole world paused, and thought of the young Master, and what he meant to the world. And what he meant to them. He may be missing, and presumed dead… but he will never die, in memory.
By the way... the 'unofficial anthems' are the background music soundtracks that each town has in the games. If you haven't already, read 'When He Falls, Rockets Will Rise: Prologue', and come back to this story. It'll make more sense. Well... everyone's had their tears. They've had their sorrows, it's NOW time to call it a night... But, hang on... what's going on in Pallet Town tonight? To be continued...