Riku, I Choose You!

Upon seeing the welcome message, the world around Nick began to glow so brightly, she had to shield her eyes. When the light subsided, she was standing on a grassy hill.

Lowing her arm to look out over her surroundings, Nick gasped in awe.

Below the hill she stood on, the young girl could see a small town with modest houses. The lush forest behind her seemed to whisper as the leaves jostled in the wind. Nick took a deep breath as her hair began to blow around her and she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face.

Opening her eyes again, she whispered, "I'm home,"

Running down the path in front of her, Nick noticed quickly that the world she was in definitely took her actual stamina into consideration. She was breathing a little heavier the faster she ran, but she couldn't let that stop her excitement from flowing through her.

As she came to the houses, she could see Professor Oak's laboratory up on a hill a little way off in the distance with a grassy field surrounding it beyond the gate. People watched and waved to her as she ran past, and in her excitement, she waved back completely unembarrassed.

After what felt like far too long, Nick made her way to the gate and put her hands on her knees, gasping for breath. When her breath caught up with her excitement, she pressed the bell on the side of the gate.

"Hello? Who's there?" came a cheery voice from the other end of the speaker.

"Hi there!" Nick exclaimed into the speaker. "My name's Nick! It's the first day of my journey!"

"Nick, eh?" the voice said a little confused. "Are you a boy or a girl?"

Nick scratched the back of her head, stifling her laughter. "I'm a girl; it's just a nickname."

"Oh! So you must be here for your first Pokémon!" he said, finally getting excited alongside Nick. "Please! Do come in!"

After a moment, the gate in front of Nick slowly creaked open. She walked up the stairs to the laboratory – careful not to trip – and made it to the front door at last. She knocked three times, and then the door opened before her.

An elderly man in a lab coat with neatly combed gray hair opened the door and smiled at her brightly. "Why hello there!" he greeted. "My name is Professor Oak! Welcome to my laboratory, Nick! Are you ready to receive your first Pokémon?"

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this," Nick whispered. "It's so great to meet you, Professor!" she said, holding out a hand to shake his.

He looked at her hand for a moment before he took it gently and shook her hand firmly, smiling. "Please! Do come in!"

The professor held the door open for Nick to enter before closing it behind her. He guided her up the stairs at the back of the laboratory.

Nick stopped cold.

Typing at a computer to the left of her stood a tall, brunet teenager wearing a lab coat.

"Is the new trainer here, Grandpa?" the boy asked. He turned away from the computer to look over at Nick. His eyes widened under his glasses for a moment before smiling. "You must be her." He hit another button on the computer before walking over to Nick. He pocketed his glasses and held out a hand to her. "The name's Gary Oak. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Nick smiled brightly and took his hand. "Hi Gary, I'm Nick."

"Oh! Wait a second…. I think there's some other trainers here that would like to meet you. Hey guys! Come greet the new trainer!" he called out toward the stairs.

Nick turned in what felt like slow motion to her as she caught sight of red hair coming up the stairs.

"I can't wait to see if she picks a water type Pokémon!" came the female voice as she appeared at the top of the stairs. Blue-green eyes met Nick's blue ones with a look of excitement that matched Nick's. She was wearing a yellow off-the-shoulder shirt with a red tank top underneath and denim shorts. Her hair was pulled into a low side-ponytail, and she wore red high-tops.

Nick gaped at her for a moment as the teenage girl approached her. She seemed to study Nick's appearance for a moment. Nick wore a bright green tank top with jeans and red high-tops that matched the red-head's.

Making a decision, the red-head held out her hand. "I'm Misty, Cerulean City Gym Leader! Nice to meet ya!"

Still staring a bit, Nick shook her head and grasped Misty's hand. "I'm Nick, and I'm so happy to meet you."

"Wait for me!"

Nick looked past Misty to the stairs again.

With a red hat and a blue jacket, a boy not much younger than Nick appeared at the top of the stairs. He stared at Misty and Nick for a moment before smiling. "My name is Ash, and I'm from Pallet Town!"

Nick took a tentative step forward. What the boy in front of her didn't know was that she had been waiting for this moment for years. And finally seeing him for the first time, she had no words.

"Don't be shy!" Ash said, smiling brightly.

Nick bit her bottom lip before finally running forward. She jumped straight into the younger boy's arms, gripping him in a hug that had been building up for too long. Being short for her age, her chin rested on his shoulder, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

A little in shock, Ash at first wasn't sure how to react. But soon realizing what she wanted, Ash put his arms around the girl and leaned his head on hers.

As they hugged, a small yellow Pokémon made its way up the stairs and jumped up at Nick. A little startled, she looked down at the Pokémon tugging at her leg before picking him up. "Pikachu!"

"Chaaaa!" he greeted her. He nuzzled his face into her free hand.

"Well!" the professor said, clapping his hands together. "Shall we get started then?"

Nick turned to Ash and Misty, both of them nodded in reassurance. Nick turned to the professor, beaming. "Yes! Please!" She set Pikachu down on the floor and he hopped over to Misty's feet.

Samuel Oak walked over to the round, electronic table in the center of the room. Three Pokéballs sat in a triangle around the edges with another opening in the center.

"Today is a special day to choose your Pokémon," he began. "Gary?"

The brunet walked over to the table and picked up the first Pokéball. "First is Bulbasaur, a grass type," he said. He lightly tossed the Pokéball in the air and the little grass type appeared on the floor.

"Bulba!" it cooed. It smiled brightly up at them.

"Then we have Charmander, the fire type." He tossed the second Pokéball up and the small lizard-like Pokemon appeared.

"Char! Charmander!" it called, swinging its tail around.

"The last starter is Squirtle, a water type Pokémon." He tossed the last one in the air.

"Squir.…" The little turtle Pokémon greeted everyone briefly before retreating back into its shell.

"Aww, he's so shy!" Misty said. "It's alright little guy…." The Pokémon made no move to come back out.

"Maybe he's scared of you," Ash pointed out, teasingly.

Misty's face scrunched up into a scowl before she gave him a light slap on the arm. "Always the wise-guy, aren't you, Ketchum?"

"Now," the professor continued, "there are a few others here that you are welcome to take a look at. But I'm not too sure if they are appropriate for a first Pokémon."

"I'd love to see them, Professor." Nick said politely.

Gary nodded and turned to the table again. He pressed a red button, and out of the center opening rolled five more Pokéballs. Nick's eyed widened in surprise. She had known the game featured something unique for starter Pokémon, but she hadn't known that there was more than one.

Gary turned back to her, his arms full of Pokéballs. He threw them all in the air at once, and called out, "Come out all of you!"

Wide eyed, Nick observed the Pokémon that stood before her one at a time.

The first to appear was an Oddish, the second was Growlithe, the third was Poliwag, and the fourth was Eevee.

Nick stopped at the last one. She gaped at it for a moment before kneeling down in front of the small Pokémon.

Its green eyes shown bright in the light of the lab, and its yellow fur stood out amongst the other Pokémon. It sat perfectly still for Nick to observe it, and it held its head high. Nick slowly reached out, and scratched the Pokémon under its chin to which the Pokémon before her nuzzled her hand. She noticed how warm the Pokémon's fur was beneath her touch.

"That Pokémon," Gary said, "is a shiny Vulpix. He's a pretty confident one but can be a little difficult at times."

Nick picked up the small fire fox Pokémon, standing up and raised him above her head, practically glowing. "He's perfect." she said.

"Vul! Pix, pix!" he called out. Nick pulled the Pokémon back down to her and cuddled him in her arms, giving him a small kiss on the forehead.

"Would you like to give him a nickname?" Professor Oak asked. Gary recalled the other Pokémon back to their Pokéballs.

Nick looked down for a minute at the Pokémon in her arms. "I think the name Riku fits him."

"Nice to meet you, Riku!" Ash called out, walking over and ruffling the tufts of fur on the top of his head.

Misty walked over too. "What an adorable little fire type," she said to Nick, smiling.

"Thank you… all of you," she said.

Gary made eye contact with her for a brief moment and smiled back at her. Ash put a hand on Nick's shoulder, and Pikachu scurried up onto his shoulder, looking at the Vulpix.

Riku looked at Nick for a moment before deciding to gently lick her cheek and wagged his fluffy little tail.

That moment set everything in motion.

Ash suddenly squeezed Nick's shoulder hard to steady himself, and as Nick turned to him, he began to collapse to the ground.

"Ash!" Misty called out but wasn't able to help him as she held her own head against the pain threatening to burst through her.

Nick let go of Riku and knelt down at Ash's side, holding him upright. Panicked, she looked from one person to the next as they all seemed to collectively gain massive headaches. With her eyes wide, she looked back down to Ash where Pikachu was attempting to shake him to keep him conscious.

"Gramps…" Gary groaned out. "What's… happening…?"

But the professor was nearly on the ground, clenching his own eyes shut against the pain. Terrified, the grandson made his way slowly over to where the computer was and pulled himself into the desk chair uneasily. Despite the intense pain in his temples and feeling as though his head could explode at any moment, Gary began typing furiously at the keys in search of an answer.

"Gary!" Nick called to him. "Something's wrong with Ash!"

Looking over his shoulder, the something was obvious to see. But what exactly was happening to the boy was a mystery to all of them.

His entire body began to glow a bright blue, and he started convulsing.

Clenching his teeth, Gary turned back to the keyboard.

But Gary stopped cold as images of his life flashed in his mind's eye. His parents died when he was a young kid. He and Ash were competitive all through their childhood together. He remembered traveling all over the Kanto region and competing in the Pokémon League. He did research in Sinnoh.

And just like that, the pain stopped.

Hands still hovering above the keyboard, Gary gaped for a moment before a cry for help pierced his thoughts.

"Gary!" Nick called again.

Nearly flipping over the chair, Gary ran to Nick and Ash on the floor. Misty and the professor seemed to be alright as the two of them were trying to help hold Ash still.

"Misty, go get a damp towel and some water. Nick, help me lift him onto the desk. Gramps, clear it off!" he barked the orders to make them move as quickly as possible. The only thought crossing his mind was that his childhood friend was having a seizure.

"On my count," he said to Nick as the two of them pushed their arms under the boy as they fought against his thrashing. "One, two, three!" The two of them lifted him off the ground and onto the desk at the back of the room that Professor Oak had cleared for him. Once on the desk, Gary told Nick to hold him still while he took in the scene.

That was when the intelligent young man realized what was happening; Ash wasn't seizing, he was in incredible agony.

Ash was writhing in pain, clenching his eyes shut and fists tight, he groaned and yelled soliciting worried whimpers from Pikachu and Riku as they stood by Nick's feet. The blue glow seemed to flash in and out around him, and Gary and Nick struggled to hold him still.

"Ash, you gotta tell us what's hurting!" Gary yelled at him. But the boy on the desk continued flailing.

Misty rushed back into the room, water and towel in-hand. She came to Nick's side in a blur and she hesitated before placing the damp towel over his forehead.

"He's not seizing," Gary said mostly to Misty. "But he's in agony."

"Shouldn't we do something?" she asked, her voice hitching on the last word.

"Something happened to all of you," Nick pointed out. Gary, Misty and the professor all turned to her. "You all felt it at the same time."

Gary, Misty and Professor Oak exchanged looks.

"I just thought I was dying," Gary stated bluntly. "I saw my life flash before my eyes."

"Me too," Misty said quickly. She bit her bottom lip, looking to Ash but said nothing more.

"I did as well," Professor Oak agreed.

"But why is Ash feeling it so much worse than the rest of us?" Misty asked.

"Because he's experienced so much more…." Nick trailed off quietly.

Putting the pieces together, she looked down to the two worried Pokémon and back up to the others. Finally, Ash stopped thrashing and passed out. The blue glow began to die down before dissipating.

"It's stopped," the professor said. He turned to Nick. "You have a theory on what just happened to us, don't you?"

Then it was Nick's turned to bite her lip before answering. "I… I don't know…."

"What do you mean you don't know?!" Misty snapped. She got dangerously close to Nick, her eyes ablaze. "What is it?!"

Nick narrowed her eyes at Misty, slightly taken aback at her response. "First I need you to take a step back."

Misty scowled a bit before retreating.

"Can we sit somewhere?" Nick asked, taking a deep breath. "I think you all need to listen to this sitting down."

Gary and the professor exchanged glances before guiding the other two girls downstairs. Turning to the two little Pokémon, Nick nodded in the direction of Ash. The Pokémon nodded and hopped up on the desk beside him, both resting their heads on his chest. The professor and Gary led them to a small living room with a fireplace. Misty sat next to Nick on one couch with Gary and the professor across from them.

Nick interlocked her fingers and rested her elbows on her knees with her chin on her hands. "I think you all know what just happened."

"If we knew what just happened, then we wouldn't be asking you!" Misty snapped again.

"Misty, please," Gary said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Don't lie to yourself."

Misty took a breath and stopped speaking.

Gary opened his eyes again and looked to Nick. "The AI just broke… didn't it?" he whispered to her.

Nick firmly but slowly nodded her head. "You're all self-aware now… aren't you?"

"He's back…." Misty admitted so quietly so that almost no one heard her. But Nick being right next to her did. She turned to face her and listened. "After all this time… he's home… and I didn't…. I didn't even know how long…." Misty put her face in her hands. She didn't openly sob, but Nick could hear her sniff in sharply.

Not sure of what else to do, Nick put a hand on Misty's shoulder, and the red-head picked up her head to look at Nick. "If you're aware of what's going on, then you know it's not his fault."

Misty took a sharp breath and nodded. "I know…. I just… can't believe it."

"I'm sorry, but I think I'm a bit lost here," Samuel Oak piped up. "What exactly is going on?"

"If my guess is correct," Gary started, looking to Nick, "we are just AI programs… artificial intelligence."

The professor cocked his head slightly to the side and opened his mouth as if to ask a further question but didn't truly know what to ask.

Nick nodded in the meantime. "Essentially, you were all created for this game… you all represent characters from the anime you're from. In other words, you all just remembered everything that was ever written into the database about your character. And I think that was an accident."

"You mean that we somehow accessed more of our potential data for our characters?" Gary asked.

Nick nodded her head slowly and chanced a glance at Misty who seemed to be listening intently. "I don't know much about computers or gaming technology, but from what I do understand, this virtual world was meant to quite literally house the entirety of the characters from the anime. And that means that each of you now remembers everything that happened to you… somehow." She looked to Gary for reassurance on what she was saying.

"That's a pretty accurate description, really," he agreed. "But I don't think we were supposed to know all of that information about ourselves until the player – Nick – gains access to it. But somehow it happened immediately."

"What about Ash?" Misty prodded. "Why was he the worst off? Why was he glowing blue?"

Gary looked to Nick. "I think that if anything, it's because he was there all these years."

Misty looked to Nick as well and furrowed her eyebrows. "What does he mean?"

At this, Nick sighed. "It's a long explanation…. But I think the best way I can explain it is by my theory. I think that because Ash was the protagonist and because he was traveling to all of the various regions for years, he felt it the worst."

Misty nodded to show she understood, but still seemed confused.

Continuing she added, "If my guess is right, then that means each region took about a year to complete. So Ash traveled with you for about three years. And so, he hasn't seen you since the Hoenn League three years ago.

Misty bit her bottom lip again and sighed. "I've missed him so much…."

Nick knew what question Misty probably wanted to ask, but she wasn't about to reveal his biggest secret.

Nick felt that it wasn't hers to tell.

Nick was the only one there besides Pikachu that knew that Ash was an Aura Guardian. He could manipulate the power of Aura, much like a Lucario could, and was able to use all different types of psychic abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. In addition, he was able to create shields and spheres made of Aura. He could feel the hearts and Aura of those around him, connecting especially to those closest to him.

But none of the others knew. Nick knew it had to have been why the power of Aura was seeping out of him when he was in so much pain. All of his power that had been pushed down and locked away for years was finally coming to the surface, and it was overwhelming him.

Nick didn't know what to do. On the one hand, she could tell the others and hopefully they would be able to help Ash gain control of it. But on the other hand, there was a reason no one else knew that he had those powers, and it was because he didn't want them. All Ash wanted was to become a Pokémon Master.

Keeping his best interest at heart, Nick decided that he could reveal his secret when he was ready.

Meanwhile

Rocket grunt after grunt was bursting into the dark office unannounced. But for the first time, the man sitting in the leather chair by the window did not scold them for doing so.

He was too busy piecing everything together. He had learned of the other Teams. He had learned of where they were. He had learned of his advantage.

Now he needed a plan.

This man was a force to be reckoned with in the world of Pokémon, having stolen so much from so many people.

He knew this was his chance. With so many other Teams throughout the regions, he could easily take control of anything he wanted.

It was only a matter of time.

And he knew who the only two people who could stop him were.

He would find them.

And he wouldn't just kill them. Oh no…. He wanted to have much more than that.

He wanted to destroy their lives.

[Author's Note 6/2/16]: So here's the first chapter! This is my first story in the third person, and I'm really nervous about writing it this way. But I feel like it will be a good challenge for me, but I just hope it doesn't hinder the story in any way.

Obviously this is just the first chapter to set up plot, but more is to come, and we will learn exactly who Nick is and what Team Rocket is up to!

Also, I hope everyone is just as excited as I am for Ash having Aura Guardian abilities! We'll see when he decides to tell the truth!

Stay tuned for the next chapter!