Oh look, reviews!
AshRiolu22: It depends on whether or not Anabel wins the poll.
Super elite (Guest): I'm almost certain that there will be quite a few of rarely-used girls in the harem. In fact, I insist.
PyroSolracIII: I'm glad you like the potential Pokémon addition to the harem. I was afraid most people were going to just stop reading at that point. Plus, I like your suggestions. I've added them to the poll so check it out if you'd like!
Beastyd22: I'm happy you like the story. Working with canon characters instead of OC's is a new venture for me. As for my update schedule, I don't have an exact update time, but since I have surprising motivation to write this, I will try to do around 1-3 chapters a week. I might disappear for a while soon, since I'm going to only be able to use my phone to write, so I'll try and get as many chapters up as I can before the end of the week, which is when my computer access will be cut off.
To be honest, I wanted to write several chapters before posting, but I was just too excited.
Neo Infinity: If the popular demand is high enough, which it might end up being, May and Dawn will be added to the poll. But until then, i'm not so inclined to let them in. I'm glad you voted, too- really makes my job easier.
Luckenhaft: I know all about Charizard X's types and weaknesses. Some characters here do not. Keep in mind, mega evolution is a relatively new thing at the moment in the story, so a small amount of people actually have mega Pokémon, therefore people that are not from Kalos (where mega evolution was first advertised) know less about mega Pokémon. By the way, would you mind if I used your theory about Alain's mega stone?
MANbearPIG01: I'll certainly try not to, but in some instances certain overused Pokémon will be unavoidable- like a lucario to help with aura. But don't worry, Ash will NOT actually have a lucario. It would be someone else's. And about the OC's… since I don't feel like coming up with my own, I'll definitely be accepting them, on one condition. They will HAVE to be antagonistic OCs, unless I specifically request a good guy OC.
This chapter marks the start of a new Arc- called Exile. It will be one of the longest arcs, because it is when Ash does all his aura and Pokémon training, as well as setting the grounds for his meeting with the first couple of girls. Since there are so many in the harem, it will take awhile before everybody is all situated with Ash.
Now that I've explained that, on with the story.
Exile: Vision
— 4 Months Later —
"Happy birthday, Ash."
Ash looked up from the book on Berries he had been reading for the better part of the night. "How do you know about that?"
The young psychic type simply shrugged and flashed an impish grin. "What can I say? I'm a genius." And then she proceeded to telekinetically toss a bright yellow lump of wrapping paper at Ash.
The teen caught it with ease, sat up, and then began poking at the clumsily wrapped gift. "Pikachu told you, didn't he?"
"No," the Pokémon said innocently.
Ash started out simply peeling the paper, but as he noticed what it was, he just began ripping it all away. "Oh my Arceus… you didn't. Tell me you didn't."
"Okay," the psychic agreed. "I didn't."
"Liar," Ash breathed. He held up his gift to the light filtering through the top of the tent, as if it would suddenly change into something way less cool than what it was.
"Well? Try it on!" The Pokémon said impatiently.
Just as excited, Ash slipped the glove on over his right hand. He flexed his fingers, briefly, before holding his hand up to the ligh again. He watched, fascinated, as the round stone in the center of his palm glittered with a multicolored light. "You're the best, Mew."
"I know."
—-
Ash Ketchum awoke to the sounds of growls and angry chittering.
Scooting to sit up in his sleeping bag, he considered going outside his tent to see what all the ruckus was about, but got a better idea instead.
His eyes grew unfocused for a moment before bursting with glowing blue light. The blue faded after a few moments, leaving just traces of neon blue coloring woven inside his brown irises.
Suddenly, the noises outside were comprehensible.
"-if I've told you once, I've told you a million times, Charizard! Stop frying my ketchup packets!" That was… Pikachu. Definitely Pikachu. His voice was exactly like one would expect a mouse's voice to sound like, with a very slight static-y undertone.
"Yeah, well, you could definitely use a break from those things, anyway," came Charizard's deep, rumbling voice tauntingly.
"Are you tryna call me fat?!"
"If the tail fits."
"Maybe I should teach you a lesson in respecting your elders!"
"Maybe you should learn how to use Volt Tackle without banging yourself up."
That did it. Ash could practically see what was happening in his mind; Pikachu would be lunging for Charizard's throat right then, shrouded in electricity. Charizard would then cross his wings in front of his body defensively, maybe even coating them in silver using Steel Wing for extra coverage.
Ash stood and stumbled outside the tent. Sure enough, his starter and his strongest fire type were fighting like cats and dogs.
Deciding not to intervene unless it got dangerous (which, surprisingly, rarely ever happened), Ash spotted his bag slumped against a nearby tree. He started trifling through it, before finally finding what he was looking for.
Ducking under a stray Flamethrower, Ash opened the packaging and took a bite out of his energy bar.
Looking around once more, he frowned when he failed to see the rest of his Pokémon.
"Hey," Ash called, just loud enough to be heard over the fighting. "Hey!"
Both Pokémon paused.
Satisfied with their attention, Ash asked, "Where are the Pokémon that decided to stay out last night?"
Charizard gave a puff of smoke. "I dunno. Think Gabite and Noivern went hunting."
Pikachu, from his spot on the back of Charizard's head, scratched a cheek bashfully. "Where's Mew?"
Ash sighed. "Gone."
Pikachu's ears dropped. "Oh."
Ash knew what Pikachu's problem was. First Umbreon, now Mew. Poor guy just couldn't catch a break- or get laid.
Charizard surprised them both by bursting into cackling laughter.
"Dude!" He said between guffaws. "You seriously keep trying? I swear, one day you're gonna regret chasing after all these females instead of enjoying your life!"
Pikachu growled, jumping down off of Charizard's neck. He hopped up on a nearby tree stump. "So, what's on the agenda for today?"
Ash sat next to his starter and began to stroke the electric types head. "Well, I was thinking we could go searching for those mega stones Mew told us about- what do you say?"
Charizard fired off a Flamethrower into the air. "Hell yeah, I definitely want one of those mega forms."
Pikachu shrugged. "It's not like I can mega evolve, but if this is something you wanna do…"
"Great," Ash said with a small smile. Then he stood up, placed two fingers to his mouth, and whistled, loud and sharp.
A beat later, two winged blurs came rocketing out of the tree line.
The purple blur, Noivern, twisted around in the air, trying to attract notice for his impressive aerial acrobatics.
The beige blur slowed, revealing itself to be a large pidgeot. The pidgeot sped up again, flying in tight circles, causing his colorful plumage to leave a streak of color behind him.
Ash rolled his eyes. "Guys…"
He was cut off by the entrance of one more Pokémon- a gabite, making his way out of the forest toward Ash.
"Alright, I'm done," Pidgeot chortled as he landed softly on the grass. "Where to, trainer?"
Ash hopped up on Pidgeot's back and returned Gabite and Noivern while Pikachu climbed to his shoulder. Charizard flapped into the air at the same time as Pidgeot. "Well, we need mega stones, so we need to head to where this all started," Ash said. "We're going to Kalos."
Flying from Kanto to Kalos was hardly a challenge for the two fully evolved flying types. As they flew in silence, Ash couldn't help but smile down at Pidgeot and think about how lucky he was that they had found each other again.
"I'm so sorry, Pidgeot."
His smile fell as his first words spoken to Pidgeot, when they first encountered each other after Ash left Pallet Town, rang through his head. He wondered if Pidgeot actually forgave him, like the bird Pokémon said he did.
When Ash felt the familiar strain on his aura, he finally released his sound filter with a slight wince, and the blue traces left his eyes. Even after all that practice, it still stung a little.
"Pika?" Pikachu said, noticing his trainers discomfort. Ash shook his head subtly. Pikachu immediately understood.
Ash leaned forward one Pidgeots back, feeling himself starting to drift off somewhere far away. He watched Charizard who, without the hassle of humans on his back, was doing all kinds of barrel rolls and loop-de-loops through the air.
Before he could even realize what was happening, Ash drifted into sleep.
Phoebe gave a slight grin as she did a quick twirl, balancing on one foot. Her skirt fluttered up, quickly drifting back down upon Phoebe's stop.
"Alright," the ghost type elite said easily. "If you're sure you're ready… I accept your challenge!"
Her challenger, a guy who might've been named Ryan, or maybe even Bill, was no challenge whatsoever for the teen girl. Briefly, she wondered exactly how this guy managed to get past Sidney, but then figured that he was just unprepared to face a team of ghost types.
"Dusclops…" Phoebe called, trying to hide the disappointment in her voice. "Finish that hitmonlee with Shadow Punch."
Dusclops dutifully did so, briefly disappearing and reappearing in front of a kneeling, injured hitmonlee. Dusclops promptly punched the fighting type Pokémon with a shadowy fist.
"Hitmonlee is unable to battle," the referee called. "Elite Phoebe wins!"
Phoebe smiled serenely, waving off her for-sure pissed off challenger.
"I swear, Phoebe," John said. "I will defeat you."
"Bye-bye, Rob!" Phoebe cheered.
After both he and the referee had left, Phoebe turned to the chair in the corner of her room. "So? How'd I do?"
A moment of silence passed. Then, a single card with a large 9.9 printed on it was held up by seemingly no one. Phoebe pouted.
"Oh, come on. You never give me a ten. I'm starting to think you just like screwing with me." Phoebe started to slowly sway back and forth, moving to a rhythm only she could hear. "Care for a dance?"
When she got no response, Phoebe just shrugged. She mentally reached out to one of her Pokémon.
"Dusknoir!"She said telepathically. "Dance with me!"
A moment later. "As you wish, mistress."
Dusknoir emerged from the wall and took one of Phoebe's small hands in his larger ones. As if they had done this before, the two partners engaged in a graceful, mesmerizing dance together.
Ghostly energy swirled around the ghost type and his trainer, and one could practically see the intense bond of partnership between them. Phoebe smiled as the Gripper Pokémon twirled her around.
They danced around the room for hours, never taking breaks, just moving constantly. Phoebe closed her eyes, just for a moment, and was immediately assaulted with the familiar tingling down her spine. Her body shook, and her eyes rolled back into her head.
She saw something unusual; it was a vision, that was certain. She saw four hooded figures, three males, one female, standing at the top of what Phoebe instantly recognized as Mt Pyre. One male was reaching for the Blue and Red other three looked to be standing guard.
A vivid red aura suddenly flared to life around the arm of the male reaching for the Orbs. He grabbed one, the Blue Orb, and instantly, the Orb seemed to have lost all of its life. The color dulled out, turning the once vibrant blue into a lifeless gray.
Alarmed, Phoebe tried catching a glance at one of their faces, but all she could see were glowing red eyes beneath the dark hoods.
She woke up in a cold sweat. Dusknoir was patiently holding her in his arms, holding a weakened Ice Punch powered palm to her head. She pushed his hand away and sat up, noting that she and her partner were on the floor.
Dusknoir patiently waited for her to speak.
"That looked like trouble," the normally carefree girl said, worried. "A bunch of thugs, on the top of Mt Pyre. There hasn't been a disturbance yet, as I would have felt it, but it's going to happen soon."
"What should we do, mistress?" Dusknoir asked.
Phoebe bit her lip. "They looked like they had some sort of power on their side. Power we don't understand. We'll definitely need help." She looked at the ceiling. "A special kind of help."