Hello readers, this is my very first story. I hope you enjoy it, please leave any comments you have whether it be praise, criticism or ideas, I would love to hear from you.
There's something I need your opinion on, once this story is finished I'm not sure what to do so I want to ask you guys what you think I should write. A sequel to The Guardians of Alto Mare which would probably follow the tournament storyline or write something completely different that's not linked with The Guardians of Alto Mare.
The poll is a choice of one or the other, if the something completely different option wins then I will take any suggestions you guys have for plots and maybe write a short chapter for each and leave it up to you guys on which one I should continue.
Massive thank you to the following people who took the time to review/ PM the last chapter.
I don't know if this is necessary, but I've seen other people do it so - Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
The next week was spent training in the Secret Garden, Ash and all of his Pokémon worked tirelessly to improve so they were ready to defeat Agatha. They'd worked extremely hard and everyone had at least two new moves in their arsenal with Pikachu having a rather special one in store for Gengar. What had surprised Ash was how Espeon and Umbreon had both thrown themselves into the training as well, they had even tried to get involved in some of the battles between the stronger Pokémon until Ash put a stop to that. The Eeveelutions were disappointed but reluctantly agreed and settled on getting trained to use their new powers by their dad.
Right now, Ash was watching his Pokémon training hard while he waited for Latias returned to the Secret Garden. There was one thing that Ash regretted about the training regime they had started and that was the small amount of time he had spent with Latias. The former dragoness hadn't wanted to get in the way of their training and decided that it was best if at least one of them was still out meeting the people of Alto Mare so she left, usually with the two Eevee's, after they ate breakfast and came back when the museum closed.
Ash suddenly felt the soothing presence of Latias enter the Secret Garden, a smile broke out on his face and he quickly made his way towards the entrance Latias was coming from. As soon as they saw Ash the Eevee's quickly went and nuzzled their father and went off to find their siblings leaving their parents alone. Now they were alone the pair quickly embraced one another giving each a quick loving kiss.
"Welcome home Latias, I missed you."
"I missed you too Ash."
"I've done a lot of thinking while we've been training and well, after the battle with Agatha I want to take you on a date. We've not had a proper one yet."
"I'd like that." Latias said with a blush on her face.
Ash smiled at Latias and then they walked to where the rest of their family were waiting for them as they had done every day. From the very beginning of this training regime everyone knew that as soon as Latias and the Eevee's got home the training was over for the day. All of them were happy to accept this as they had usually spent at least eight hours training prior to their return. Ash cleared his throat getting everyone's attention so that he could tell them about the plan for tomorrow.
"Alright everyone tomorrow we're leaving for the Indigo Plateau, I'm taking you all with me just in case anything goes wrong. The only exceptions are Espeon, Umbreon and their sisters. You'll be staying with your auntie Bianca and grandpa Lorenzo. I'm sorry but none of you like being in the Pokéballs and if something bad does happen we want you to be safe."
The quartet all whined not at all liking that idea and they looked up at their parents with the cutest looks they could making good use of the move Baby-Doll-Eyes. Both Ash and Latias could feel their resolve weakening as they looked at their little ones and Latias was on the verge of completely forgetting the original plan and taking them with them no matter what. Before Latias could do that though Ash stood in front of her and shook his head as he looked down at the four of them. Suddenly the two Eevee sister burst into tears prompting Latias to push past Ash and quickly take both Pokémon into her arms hugging them tightly.
'What if you don't come back?' one of the Eevee sisters sobbed.
"Of course, we're coming back, we'd never abandon you." Latias answered in a calm voice.
'Yet that's exactly what you're doing.' Umbreon replied bitterly.
"No, we're not doing that at all Umbreon, we're keeping you safe." Ash said.
The dark type shook his head in response and stared at the ground trying to hide the tears that had formed in his eyes but despite his best efforts both parents noticed. Ash then turned his gaze to Espeon who looked to be taking this a little better than her siblings but still looked heartbroken.
"Espeon do you feel the same way as your brother and sisters?"
'I understand why you are doing this, but you must understand that we have been abandoned by someone we trusted in the past and we're terrified of it happening again. We love you both so much that we can't stand the thought of losing either of you.'
Ash sighed and then looked at Latias who was still trying to calm down the Eevee's in her arms, their eyes met and after a brief telepathic conversation, they came to a decision. Ash crouched down in front of Umbreon and pulled his son into a hug. As soon as he felt Ash's arms around him Umbreon broke down no longer trying to hide his tears.
'Don't leave us dad, please don't leave us.' Umbreon begged between sobs.
If Ash and Latias hadn't already come to a decision, then they would have done upon hearing their sons' desperate plea.
"Very well you can come with us, but you will do everything we say, the Eevee's will stay in your mothers' arms at all time while Espeon and Umbreon will be by my side at all times. If just one of you breaks the rule or does anything that goes against either mine or your mothers wishes you will all be returned to your Pokéballs."
The four siblings cheered happily and started nuzzling their surrogate parents happy that they wouldn't be separated from them. Ash and Latias smiled and hugged their young children relieved to see that they were no longer upset. They hadn't realised just how much what had happened to them in the past still affected them, they knew it was always going to have some effect on them but never to the extent it did. Had they known they would never have suggested leaving them here while they went to the Indigo Plateau.
As Ash and Latias thought over what they had just found out they hear several soft snores which told Ash and Latias that their children had fallen asleep in their arms. They smiled at their sleeping children and laid them down in their usual sleeping areas. Everyone else took that as a sign to get some rest too so they all headed to their own sleeping areas and the large family all fell to sleep.
The next morning Ash and Latias were stood outside the town hall waiting with the Mayor for the helicopter that would take them to the Indigo Plateau. They weren't alone though as the citizens of Alto Mare had gathered around the area to wish Archangel good luck giving Ash and Latias something to do while they waited for the helicopter arrive.
After spending a little time talking with the people of Alto Mare the helicopter finally arrived, Ash and Latias gave the people a final farewell and then followed the Mayor into the helicopter. They all sat down with Pikachu quickly sitting in Ash's lap while the siblings were safely strapped to a chair. With the passengers onboard the helicopter took off, Ash kept staring out of the window of the helicopter, watching as the place he now called home gradually faded from view.
The flight to Kanto was relatively short which surprised Ash and Pikachu as the helicopter landed at the Indigo Plateau, they both remembered how long it had taken them to get to Alto Mare after the incident and had been expecting a longer flight. Ash looked out of the window and saw that there was a small gathering of people waiting for them. To the young mans relief it wasn't the media, it seemed to just be the Kanto Elite 4, Scott, Mr Goodshow and the Brains of the Battle Frontier.
Ash sighed as he looked out at the people waiting for him, remembering times spent with them all and bringing back his fears of being caught. Latias quickly squeezed Ash's hand in support trying to reassure him even though she felt very nervous about all of this as well.
The Mayor looked at the Guardians and could tell that they were both nervous which didn't surprise him at all, from what little was known of them it was clear that they were unused to being the center of attention especially when you have powerful and influential people around. The Mayor decided he'd go out first and just give everyone a heads up about the rather shy nature of the pair.
"I'll give you both a moment to prepare yourselves, come out when you're ready."
"Thank you, Mayor." Ash and Latias replied.
The Mayor gave the young Guardians a small nod and then exited the helicopter, he walked over to the group waiting for them and started to talk to them while Ash and Latias watched closely. The latter could see that Ash was still worried about what was going to happen, Latias had been expecting Ash to react like this, he had tried his best to hide his nerves, but she had been able to see how he'd felt all along.
"I know I look completely different now, I know I've been on television and been seen by countless people and I know that there is no way anyone would have any reason to associate Archangel with Ash Ketchum. But I still feel nervous going out and meeting people I knew so well in my old life."
Ash looked down as he felt Pikachu stir in his lap and look up at him worriedly, he suddenly felt Latias' hands on his face and allowed her to her his head to face her. The radiant smile on Latias' face made one form on Ash's face and after a moment of them looking lovingly at each other Latias pressed her lips against Ash's. The pair broke apart breathing a little heavily, with big smiles on their faces. Ash rested his head against Latias and both sighed happily.
"Everything will be fine, you'll win the battle against Agatha, then we'll go home and have our date." Latias said reassuringly
"You're right Latias, let's go."
The pair got out of the helicopter with Pikachu standing on Ash's shoulder, Espeon and Umbreon flanking Ash and Latias while their Eevee sisters were sat on Latias' shoulders. As the pair started walking towards the group that were waiting patiently for them, Latias took hold of Ash's hand giving it a small squeeze in support which he quickly returned. Ash looked at Latias and smiled as he mouthed I love you to her which she mimicked.
The Mayor smiled as he saw Archangel and Archeia approaching them with more confident looks on their faces, he knew this was going to be difficult for them, but they seemed to be rising to the occasion which didn't surprise him at all. He knew that no matter how hard they found it, Archangel and Archeia would be able to do this because that's the sort of people they were. They had the strength and the courage to do things that most would find impossible for one reason or another. The pair finally reached the group and stood alongside of him, he smiled at the Guardians and then turned his gaze to Mr. Goodshow.
"Allow me to introduce you all to the Guardians of Alto Mare: Archangel and Archeia."
"Hello Mr. Goodshow, it's an honour to meet the president of the Pokémon League." Ash said remembering meeting the man he'd met in the past.
"Ah hello Archangel and you too Archeia, believe me the honour is all mine." Mr Goodshow replied honestly.
Ash and Latias were then introduced to every member of the Elite 4, the Champion Lance, the Battle Frontier Brains and of course Scott. It took a lot of willpower from Ash not to roll his eyes or laugh as he was introduced to people that he knew so well. There was one person that surprised him though, Sabrina, she had take up the mantle of the fourth member of the Elite 4 since that had been vacated for a while. Ash was proud to see how far Sabrina had come since they first met, it did make him wonder how his old Haunter was doing though.
"You're Psychics." Sabrina suddenly declared via telepathy.
The statement brought Ash out of his thoughts, he looked at Sabrina who was quickly looking between him and Latias worrying both of them. Ash and Latias looked at one another wondering what they should say in response, after a few moments Ash sighed and decided that telling at least the partial truth would be best.
"Y...Yeah, we are." Ash admitted.
"You have no need to worry I will not tell anyone. The two of you already have enough attention on you, you don't need more."
"Thank you, Sabrina." Ash replied.
The telepathic link was immediately cut by Sabrina after that, with their conversation over Ash and Latias both gave a small nod to Sabrina again showing their gratitude. Mr Goodshow and Scott introduced the pair to everyone else and once the last couple of people had been introduced to Archangel and Archeia the group headed towards the Indigo stadium. As the group walked along they spoke freely and Ash found himself enjoying meeting these people again and being able to talk to them freely just like he had prior to his framing.
As they got closer to the stadium more and more people were in the area and now several people were coming up to various members asking for autographs and pictures which they all happy to do. The only ones who hadn't been approached were Ash and Latias who were grateful that no one had come up to them, they were fine getting the attention from the inhabitants of Alto Mare as they knew them, but the people here were unknown to them. Sadly, for them their peace was about to be shattered as a small group was walking in the opposite direction with a younger boy at the front who spotted Archangel and Archeia almost immediately.
"Hey guys look it's Archangel and Archeia."
Ash stiffened as he recognised the shrill young voice that had spoken those words, he knew there was a chance of seeing his former friends here since Brock and Misty were still gym leaders, but he had been praying that he wouldn't have to see them. Sadly, for Ash it seemed as though Arceus was either ignoring his prayers or laughing at them, either way the result was the same.
A few moments later Ash now had Max stood in front of him, the sight of the young boy sickened Ash especially since he was looking at him with the same hero worship he had back when they had travelled together. As soon as the boy was close a scowl formed on Pikachu's face and a few crackles of electricity came from his cheeks. Max either didn't see or just chose to ignore Pikachu and focussed on Archangel.
"Can I have your autograph Archangel?" Max asked as he held a pen and pad up to Ash.
There were a lot of things Ash wanted to say and do at that moment in time to the people stood before him, one of those included getting Pikachu to Thunderbolt them all, something the mouse was more than happy to do. As Ash continued to stare at Max who was still looking up at him, Latias was holding Ash's hand and squeezing it tightly hoping he wouldn't do something to blow his cover. Latias could see and feel the turmoil Ash was going through and knew that it was taking all of his willpower not to do anything rash.
A/N
Thank you all for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review or PM me any criticism, ideas or other comments you have about this story so far.
If it gets requested I'll write lemons but they'll be uploaded in a separate story so those who don't like lemons won't have to read them.