Guardian's of Aura Chapter 9

Late that night, Professor Samuel Oak, the world's leading Pokémon biology and poetry expert sat in his at his desk in front of his video phone thinking. A glass of red wine rested on top of a coaster to his right. "I'll call Delia first" he decided. He punched in the numbers on his phone and sat quietly as he waited for her to pick up.

The image of Ash's mother appeared on the phone's monitor. "Hello Samuel" she greeted warmly.

"Hello Delia" he responded dryly.

"Did Ash stop by there today?"

"Yes" he replied, his mind drifting elsewhere.

"Is something wrong?"

"Possibly: tell me, has Ash told you about his plans to remain here for two years of training?"

"Yes he has. In fact, he just got home from his first Pokémon training session a few minutes ago."

"It seems a bit odd, don't you think? He hasn't stayed in one place for that long since heaven knows when."

"It is a little strange," Delia admitted "but I can't pretend that I'm not glad that I'll be seeing my son everyday for a while."

"Yes…"

"What's wrong, Samuel?"

"There's something else about all this that Ash isn't telling us. The entire time he was here his mind seemed to be on something else."

"What are you worried about?"

"I'm not sure. There was just something…familiar about the way he was acting."

"Familiar?"

"He reminded me a little too much of his father."

Delia's calm, rational and kind demeanor temporally disappeared. "Samuel, you know I hate to even think of that horrible man!"

"Yes I know, I'm sorry" Professor Oak quickly apologized. "I don't know why I even said that. It's just this secretive attitude of his and…that talking Houndour…"

"You…" Delia almost whispered "you think he's the same one?"

"The lifespan of a typical Houndour is fairly long, though he would still most likely be dead by now."

"Sato…" she groaned, unable to complete the name, "his Houndour couldn't talk!"

"Yes. I'm sorry that I brought any of this up. I don't know…" he sighed. "I guess my tongue has been loosened" he said as he sipped some of his wine.

"Samuel, don't tell me you've taken up drinking" Delia said with a motherly sense of judgment.

"It's red wine Delia. It's not very strong and it's actually a lot healthier than most other fruit juices." She glared at him.

"Elm gave me a bottle for my birthday; it would be rude not to drink it."

"I would figure that Elm would want to impress his honorable teacher by gracing him with a wine worthy of his elegance" Delia taunted.

"Okay, it has a little kick to it" Oak admitted. "I'm old Delia; I've endured everything life has thrown at me and I'm allowed to cut loose with a single glass of wine every now and then." He took another sip.

"I guess so" Ms. Ketchum sighed.

"Let me worry about my health, my dear."

"And let me worry about my son, my friend."

Oak smiled. "Yes. Sorry to have troubled you."

"It's all right. I know you alcoholics can't always control what you say" Delia mocked.

"I suppose I had that coming." Oak took another drink and yawned. "Goodnight Delia, keep an eye on Ash."

"Goodnight Samuel, I'm sure you'll keep a close enough watch on him for the both of us." The video monitor blinked and her image faded away.

Oak sat on his chair silently for a few minutes until Tracey, his apprentice returned from visiting Misty, entered the room. In his hand he held a liquor bottle. He walked over to Oak's desk and refilled his half-drained class after receiving a nod from the old man. Tracey chuckled, "Alcoholic?"

"That woman never can stop playing the part of the mother, even to an old Croagunk like me" Oak replied.

"Are you going to call Rowan now?" Tracey asked after he finished pouring the wine.

"I suppose. It would probably be more productive than forcing Delia to remember Satoshi."

"Why did you actually mention Ash's father to her?" Tracey inquired.

"I don't know. Maybe I am drunk. There's just something about the way Ash was acting that reminds me of him" replied Oak, deep in thought.

"From what you've told me of him, Ash is actually a lot like his father."

"That's what worries me so much, which reminds me that I must once again ask you to never tell Delia that I told you of him" Oak scolded.

"My lips are sealed" Tracey assured.

"Good" Oak said, reclining in his chair. "It's late, you should get some sleep."

"Goodnight" Tracey said as he walked out of the room. "Goodnight" Oak responded.

Oak sighed again then punched in the numbers to contact Professor Rowan, a Pokémon evolution expert and the leading scientist in the Sinnoh region. After a few minutes of ringing, the image of Rowan appeared on the video monitor.

"Hello, Samuel" Rowan said.

"Hello."

"I'm in the middle of conducting a little research so I hope you don't mind if we keep this brief."

"That's all right with me Rowan" Oak agreed.

"You seem troubled."

"I suppose that's true."

"Well out with it; what's wrong?"

"Have you seen Ash recently?"

"No, I can't say that I have. He was supposed to visit my lab after he finished competing but from what I've heard he was in a very foul mood after he lost."

"That's a bit of an understatement from what I have heard."

"Not to seem rude, but how is this important?"

"Did Ash tell you that he plans to stay in Pallet town for the next two years to train to take on the Sinnoh League again?"

"No. I must say that doesn't sound like him at all."

"I know. He usually is much too eager to begin traveling again to stay home for more than a few days. The reason I actually called was to see if you knew anything at all about this."

"No, this is all news to me. It is very bizarre. However, I don't see why this is any cause to worry."

"I'm not as certain."

"What reason do you have to be worried, Samuel?"

"I'm also not certain about that. I know that something's wrong with Ash; there's something he's trying to hide. I'm not sure if it's important or not but I do know that it's causing Ash to act…different."

"Well I guess all you can do is keep an eye on him and trust that if anything is wrong with Ash, that the problem will reveal itself."

"Hm…"

"Really Samuel, this level of concern you're showing for the boy would lead most people to believe that you were his father."

"Well…I'm probably the closest thing to one he's ever had" Oak admitted.

"Oh" Rowan replied, at a loss for words. "Well, I'm not exactly sure what to tell you but I do know this; you aren't Ash's father Samuel. You may have mentored him as a Pokémon trainer since he was very young but you cannot treat him better than any other of the trainers under your tutelage. And you shouldn't spend endless, sleepless nights worrying about a problem with him that may not even exist."

"I know."

"Don't worry Samuel, I'm sure that Ash can deal with any problem that he's having. He always has before."

"You're probably right Rowan, sorry to trouble you with this."

"That's quite all right Samuel. So tell me, how goes your research on the mating habits of Ghost Pokémon?"

"As hazing and inconclusive as this."

Rowan chuckled. "Take care of yourself Samuel."

"You too" Oak replied. The monitor once again blinked as Rowan's image disappeared. Oak wordlessly gulped up the rest if his wine and headed off to bed.

Meanwhile Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu sat in his room awake, too restless to fall asleep. Brock and Dawn occupied two guest rooms downstairs. Ash was practicing the first thing Kamikaze had taught him by speaking telepathically with Pikachu.

"This is all so strange" thought Pikachu. "Everything is so different. Everything has a name and a word and another word to describe it. Life used to feel so simple, but now all of these complicated thoughts make everything so…odd."

"I'm sorry you don't like it Pikachu" Ash apologized.

"I said it was strange, not that I didn't like it. I don't like this confusion but…I feel…smart now. I feel like that knowing something's name or being able to compose a sentence gives me…power. It's frightening but Houndour was right; I like it."

"And now we can talk."

"Yes. I think that being able to talk to others is my favorite part of this. It may be weird for a while but I'll get used to it."

"Yeah. It seems like we have a lot to get used to. These past few days have been some of the strangest of my life."

"And that's really saying something" Pikachu joked.

"I guess it is." Ash sighed heavily. "I never thought I would meet my grandfather or any of my family for that matter."

"Because you're father's dead?"

"Yes."

"How did your mother tell you that he died?"

"She said someone shot him when he was at work."

"If it makes you feel any better I've never met my father, and I don't even remember my mother."

"Doesn't really make me feel better, but it's nice that you understand."

"I do now. It's weird; if we've learned this much already I wonder how much your grandfather and Houndour will teach us."

"I know. It's weird being one of the only people who can control Aura."

"Every Pokémon can control Aura; I don't feel as special."

"Every Pokémon can control Aura?"

"Yes. Where else would our powers come from?"

"I guess I never thought of it."

"We can also sense Aura. When you were at the Tree of Beginning I could feel your Aura fading away when you were helping Lucario. I was very worried."

"I guess it's a trade off; Pokémon get Aura powers and humans get intelligence."

"Intelligence?" Pikachu repeated, sounding insulted. "No. Humans merely get a certain type of intelligence that lets them create things like technology and talk; they are no smarter than Pokémon."

Ash laughed, "Calm down Pikachu. I guess you're right. The Guardians were probably so powerful because they had both."

"They were as strong as Pokémon."

"And as smart as humans."

"If they were so powerful I wonder why they are all gone" Pikachu said.

"Me too."

"We should ask your grandfather tomorrow."

"Yeah, we should."

"But now we should sleep; you're tired, and I'm tired."

Ash thought of arguing but then tiredly submitted, "Goodnight Pikachu."

"Goodnight Ash." They both lied down on top of Ash's bed and let their dreams carry them off into a deep sleep.

The next day, after wolfing down his breakfast Ash headed back to the mountains to see his grandfather. His run there took a surprisingly short amount of time. When they arrived there they were surprised to see both Houndour and Kamikaze patiently waiting for them. After a brief greeting Ash and Pikachu found themselves being lead through a narrow cavern that climbed to the top of the mountain.

"How were you able to come here Houndour?" Ash asked as they ascended.

"Misty's covering for me" Houndour replied.

"How'd you get her to agree to do that?" Pikachu asked, which was surprisingly the same question Ash was about to ask.

"I told her everything."

"Everything?" Ash and Pikachu questioned in unison, Ash with his mouth and Pikachu with his mind.

"Well not everything; a bit less than what you know. I said almost nothing of your father."

"Why did you tell her? I thought that this was a huge secret that we had to keep from everyone" Ash stated.

"It was my idea" Kamikaze explained.

"What?"

"It would be too difficult for Houndour to attend these training sessions if he had to hide the fact that he was traveling here from, Misty; that is her name, correct?"

"It is" answered Houndour.

Ash said, "I thought the ways of the Guardians of Aura must remain secret to all but those who are allowed to practice them."

Houndour reassured, "Not to worry, I didn't tell her any of our secrets. After all you forget the people who live in Cameron Palace; there are still living people who know about the Guardians, but we are the only ones who know their secrets." He seemed to trail off to a different line of thought, "Besides, our enemies have been dead for a long time now." Kamikaze threw him a piercing stare, indicating that he had said too much.

"'Enemies'?" Pikachu repeated.

"Who are our enemies?" Ash inquired.

"That is not a story for today" Kamikaze said.

Ash became adamant. "No, I think it is. I think I deserve some answers. Why are all of the Guardians of Aura gone, why do you have to hide in this cave, and who are our enemies?!"

"I cannot tell you, not yet."

"Why the hell not?!"

"First; you would do well to show more respect to your sensei and second; in order to answer your questions I would have to reveal secrets; many well kept secrets that build the foundation of our order that I cannot trust with an un-bloomed Sprout."

"With a what?"

Houndour answered for him. "A Sprout; a Guardian in training. Guardians or people belonging to Guardian families, who have never used their powers, are called Seedlings, those who have used their powers but are still developing are called Sprouts, and masters are called Blossoms."

"So I have to become a Blossom before you can tell me?" Ash asked.

"You have to become closer to being one than you are now. You have to at least be a man" Kamikaze answered.

"And when will I become a man?"

"That depends on you. You are about 14 years-old now, correct?"

"Well, in a few months I will be."

"According to tradition, a boy could become a man anywhere from 12 to 16 years old, depending on if his father or guardian judges him ready for manhood."

"So I'll find out…" Ash started.

"No later than your 16th birthday" Houndour promised. Kamikaze nodded.

"Oh, boy."

"Don't despair; it could happen sooner than that if you are willing to become a man before then" his grandfather reminded.

"How do I become a man?"

"As your grandfather and sensei, it is my job to teach you that."

"'Sensei'; what does that word mean?" Pikachu asked.

"It means 'teacher' or 'master', in Japanese" Houndour answered.

"Sensei" Pikachu repeated, gazing at Kamikaze.

"That is very respectful Pikachu but in actuality, it is Houndour who will be your sensei" Kamikaze replied.

"Houndour?"

"That's right. I'm going to teach you to be a Guardian of Aura; the Pokémon way, unless of course you don't want to be a Guardian."

"I want to do this with Ash."

"Then I guess it's all settled" Kamikaze declared. "Now we may begin."

Suddenly, the end of the cavern was illuminated by a flood of yellow sunlight. As they walked straight into it, Ash and Pikachu found themselves at the grass-covered top of the mountain. They were amazed to see all that was there; there were huge training areas such as a sparring circle, suspended punching bags, archery targets with bows and arrows laying beside them, logs being tied by ropes and hanging to be swung at someone who's objective was to dodge them, and the most peculiar, a deep chasm in the ground out of which rose a small foothold and aimed at the foothold were numerous crossbows.

"This will be your training grounds" Kamikaze said simply. "We will begin slowly but as we progress your Aura's connection with your body and mind will grow stronger and you will in time, access superhuman abilities."

"Just conventional stuff" Houndour said, "you know super strength, speed, agility, heightened senses, and psychic abilities; nothing fancy."

"Where should we start?" Ash asked.

"Something physical" Houndour responded.

"Yes" Kamikaze agreed. "As your body gets stronger so too will your Aura. Physical conditioning usually was the first step in Guardian education." He walked over to the large punching bags that were suspended from a shelf of rock. "We'll start simple."

Ash followed him. There were two unusually big punching bags in front of him held by metal chains. "First of all, I want to see something. Punch it."

"What?" asked Ash.

"Punch the bag" Houndour reiterated.

"Oh." Ash walked over to the bag on his left. He took two steps back and threw his right first forward. It slammed into the bag and Ash felt a jolt of pain in his wrists and knuckles as it landed. The bag did not move. "You were right Houndour; he is a terrible fighter." Ash would have snapped back, if his pain didn't distract him.

"Ash" Kamikaze started, "that punch had no technique or strength behind it; of course it didn't move the bag. Try it like this." The old man took a fighting stance; his legs were spread, his knees bent, and he leaned most of his weight on his back leg; his right one. His left hand was lifted in front of him and his right hand he held next to his hip. Ash did his best to duplicate the stance. Kamikaze then examined him, correcting his errors in form and then stepped back. "Try again. Step forward with the foot on the same side you are punching with."

Ash took his stance and with his right leg, step forward and once again threw his right fist at the bag. This time he felt no pain at the collision and the bag moved a few inches before swinging back. "Much better."

"So that's how you punch" Ash marveled, looking at his fists.

"Yes" said Kamikaze. "There is also a simple exercise to strengthen your punches."

"What's that?"

"Push-ups."

"Why don't you do a few Ash?" Houndour suggested. "We have some mats laid out here, you won't hurt yourself."

Ash shrugged and dropped to his knees. He spread his palms and prepared to do the exercise when Kamikaze intruded, "Not like that." Ash stared at him confused. "Not on your palms; on your knuckles."

"Won't that hurt?"

"A bit at first if you do excessively, but it is a conventional exercise that will harden your knuckles and strengthen your wrists much better than a normal push-up."

Ash attempted to support his weight on his fists. It was difficult; he had trouble balancing himself on his two largest knuckles and finding a comfortable position. When he was ready he dropped down and tried to thrust himself back up. It didn't work; he fell, his weight collapsing under his left hand. "You'll have to practice it. Don't worry, it will get easier."

Ash stood himself up. "Your form was perfect" Kamikaze complimented. "You just need to develop the strength."

"I don't know if those things actually work" Ash replied, rubbing his hands.

"Oh?" Kamikaze questioned. Swiftly, he took a stance, his left hand in back and punched one of the bags with perfect form and application of strength. The bag flew back several feet and the chain holding it broke. With a deep thud, it collided with the ground.

"I can't do that" Ash said.

"Yet."

"You've shown him strikes and exercises, now how about you show him weapons?" Houndour posed.

"Good idea. Follow me." He led them to the sparring ring. He walked over to a holding bin and pulled out what looked like two pieces of bamboo. "These are shinai; bamboo practice swords. A hit from one of these won't kill or injure you, but it will sting something terrible."

He handed one to Ash. As Ash held it in his hand he felt a weird emotion; he felt powerful. As he held the leather handle and moved the mock sword around it didn't feel like he was holding a tool, it felt like his arm had merely grown longer; the weapon was an extension of him.

"The Japanese sword, or katana, was a favorite weapon of the samurai and the Guardians."

Obeying Kamikaze's instruction, Ash gripped the handle with both hands, his right hand on top, and his left hand on the bottom and took a proper fighting stance. "This phrase isn't Japanese or Guardian tradition, but en garde!" Kamikaze yelled. For an endless amount of time, Ash and Kamikazes dueled with the practice swords. Kamikaze's skill despite his old age was astounding; he easily blocked all of Ash's attacks and penetrated his defenses striking back. Each time they engaged, Ash ended up with many stings on his arms and legs, though amazingly, no bruises. Despite his severe disadvantage, Ash was having fun; the thrill of successfully blocking an attack or striking your opponent (which he only succeeded in doing three times) was incomparable to any joy other than victory in a Pokémon battle.

After hours of sparring Ash stood panting and covered in sweat. Kamikaze did not seem tired at all. "Well I guess that's enough for today" Kamikaze decided.

"What, already?"

"You are tired; I don't want to push you too hard. Don't worry; as you get stronger our lessons will increase in length. But for now let us eat."

Pikachu and Houndour, who had left at the beginning of the fight, came in carrying a tray of rice balls and tea. Kamikaze and Ash sat at either side of it. "Cheers" Kamikaze said, sipping his tea. Ash took a drink of his tea and barely managed to stop himself from gagging on it; it was very bitter. He turned his attention to his rice. When they had finished eating Kamikaze said, "You better go now; someone may come looking for you if you're here too long."

"Right. Goodbye grandpa" Ash bade.

"Sensei; when we are merely talking I am 'grandpa' or 'grandfather', but when we train you will call me 'sensei'."

"Goodbye, sensei" Ash replied. He then did what he thought was the most polite thing he could do; he bowed.

Kamikaze smiled and said, "Very good." He stood and bowed as well.

Pikachu stood and faced Houndour. "Goodbye, sensei" he said with a strange amount of veneration that was more than mimicry. Pikachu also bowed.

"Goodbye Pikachu" Houndour replied, bowing as well.

Later Ash and Pikachu trudged down the hill slowly, Ash still very tired. "Sensei Houndour?" Ash questioned. "That's a lot of respect gained for him for just helping him bring tea."

"We did more than that" Pikachu explained. "He's incredibly wise and smart; it's surprising. He taught me about the history of the Pokémon Guardians. Did you know that a Pokémon who was a Guardian of Aura had just as much political power as a Guardian human?"

"No. I don't know that much about the Guardians' history yet."

"Well, you will soon, because we're going to keep training."

"Yes" Ash said grabbing his smarting left leg that had been hit with a particularly hard blow. "It's going to get harder."

"Much harder."

"But it'll also get better."

"Much better."

"And we'll get stronger."

"Much stronger."

"You're already much stronger than most Guardian's are at this point in your training. Usually the only thing they have done by now is accessed Time Flowers, at least that's what Houndour told me."

"Time Flowers" Ash repeated out loud, realizing something. His head darted around in every direction, looking for something. He found it and ran over to it. What he had found was a Time Flower protruding from the ground. He knelt down in front of it.

"You're thinking of your father, aren't you?" Pikachu asked.

"Yes."

"What do you think you're going to find?"

"Anything."

"You may not like what you find."

"I know, but I have to see him, even if there's only one memory of him."

"There will be more than that. All it takes is a Pokémon running by to cause a Time Flower to record something and since your father was a Guardian he would have triggered them himself, or so I've been told."

Remembering the secret of a Time Flower's Roots, Ash touched the Time Flower jutting from the ground in front of him and fed it energy from his Aura. "Show me my father; show me any memories of Satoshi Tajiri" he said telepathically.

A light shot out from the Time Flower and engulfed Ash and Pikachu. Memories of the past were presented before them.

A young, Japanese woman was cradling a baby in her arms. The woman was very beautiful; she had long black hair, vibrant blue eyes, and a smile of unquestionable compassion. Suddenly, a man entered the memory, Ash recognized him to be Kamikaze. The man stroked his baby's hair and said, "Sakura, our son is beautiful."

The memory ended but the Flower showed another one. A little boy ran crying into his mother's kitchen as she was cooking. He was crying. "Oh, what's wrong, little Sato?" his mother named Sakura kindly asked. The little boy pointed to his knee that was scraped and covered with blood. "Come now, let's get you cleaned up" Sakura said as she picked up her son and carried him out of the Time Flower's line of vision.

Then a different memory came; it showed a boy of about 6 years helping a limping Machop walk over to Kamikaze, Houndour at his legs. "What's wrong son?" Kamikaze asked.

"He's hurt, daddy" the young boy replied. "Can we help him?"

Kamikaze responded, "We certainly can." The boy's father picked up the Machop and they walked away.

A memory not taking place more than a few years after that one then was shown. The little boy was standing in some kind of a park with a little girl standing next to him, in front of his parents, the Houndour and the Machop from the previous memory sat under a tree watching. "This is my new friend Delia" the little boy said in a cheerful, high-pitched voice.

"Sato is my boyfriend" the girl teased.

"What?!" the boy shouted shyly. Kamikaze and Sakura laughed at this

. "Young love" Kamikaze said telepathically to Houndour.

"Indeed" Houndour chuckled.

In the next memory Satoshi was considerably older; no younger than 10. "So you're a Guardian of Aura?" the preteen asked his father, who was standing next to him. Kamikaze nodded. "And what I just did at the Tree with that ball of light means that I'm one too?" Kamikaze nodded.

The next memory showed Satoshi now about 12, exchanging punches and kicks with Machop in a sparring match. Machop jumped in the air and knocked Satoshi to the ground with a kick. "That's five to three; I win" the Machop said telepathically to Satoshi, his partner.

"I'm not giving up yet!" Satoshi proclaimed, jumping to his feet. They resumed their rhythm of blocking and striking.

Then Ash saw Satoshi, the young girl from a previous memory, Machop, and Houndour walking along side each other. Suddenly, the young girl lost her balance as a section of dirt collapsed under her feet and she slid off the edge of the cliff. She screamed in fright. "Delia!" Satoshi yelled. He lunged after her and grabbed her left hand with his, using his right had to grip the ledge. As Delia dangled dozens of feet above the ground and certain death, Satoshi demonstrated amazing strength by lifting her up to safety with one hand.

She wrapped her arms around him and said, "Thank you Satoshi! I was so scared!"

"He's getting much stronger" Houndour marveled.

Then Satoshi and Delia stood in Professor Oak's laboratory. The Pokémon scientist's hair was a dark brown in the memory, him being much younger than in the present. He handed Satoshi a Pokédex and five Pokéballs. "Good luck" he warmly bade.

"Thank you, Professor" Satoshi said.

"Bye Samuel" Delia, who knew Oak better, said as they left.

The next memory took place at night. Satoshi and Delia were sitting on a park bench together and Satoshi was reciting a poem "…and yet all the majesty of the stars and spirits and gods cannot compare to the divine beauty that is Delia."

"That poem was so beautiful, Satoshi" Delia said.

"And yet it still can't begin to describe how beautiful I think you are" Satoshi replied, in a dignified voice. Delia drew her head closer to him. Their lips met in a long kiss.

Next, Satoshi and Machop were standing with Kamikaze and Houndour. "On this, your 16th birthday, my son I will present you with this gift" Kamikaze said, unsheathing a new sword he held in his hands. "May you be able to use it masterfully, yet never have to." Father and son engaged in a warm hug then.

"Thanks, dad."

The next memory took place in a dark cave. Satoshi and Delia were sitting in it, frightened looks on their faces. "We've been trapped in here for a week; they're never going to find us" Delia said.

"You're right" Satoshi agreed, searching for the Aura of anyone who could help them. He found none.

"We're going to die" Delia said grimly.

"Yes" Satoshi agreed. "And I have one final wish that you could make come true."

"This is no time to be thinking of that!" Delia snapped, her cheeks glowing red.

"Why not?" Satoshi questioned. "I love you and we will die no matter what. Let us at least die happy."

In the final memory Ash saw, Satoshi stood at the top of a grassy hill with Machop. Satoshi took out five Pokéballs and released from them a Pidgey, a Rattata, a Caterpie, a Mankey, and a Spearow. He shooed and beckoned the Pokémon to leave. Having not developed the same bond with him that Ash's Pokémon had with their trainer, Satoshi's Pokémon fled to wild freedom. He then crushed all of their Pokéballs under his feet, destroying them. "We can never return" Satoshi said. Machop nodded. The memory ended abruptly. No more memories came.

"Damn it!" Ash yelled, slamming both fists to the ground, tears flowing down his eyes. "He loved her, how could he leave her? Why would he leave her?! Why did he leave me?! Why would Machop let him?! How could he do this to us?!"

"Ash" Pikachu sighed sympathetically, knowing he could say nothing to help.

"Why didn't he tell me?!" Ash yelled, thinking of Kamikaze's vague elaboration of Satoshi's seduction of his mother. "They thought they were going to die! They didn't know what would happen!"

"But it's my father's fault! My mom had the courage to raise me, why didn't he?! Why?! Damn it, why?!" Ash hollered, begging the world for an answer. He had never been brought up with a certain religion but he begged God, any god that might exist, any divine power that could deliver the answer to give it to him.

"Come on Ash, we should go home" said Pikachu as he nudged him in the side. Ash stood up wordlessly, still crying. They walked back to his house.