Chapter 13/Final: You Said It, Azelf, Man! Part 3
The crack of dawn. Anyone who's thinking right now about what's under the coordinator's skirt better get their butts spanked, it's the morning! Soldiers on horseback idle by the coastline. Their leader was covered in fabric and armor from crown to toe. "Any word on the operation in regard of the secret weapon?" he questioned.
"Nothing yet, lord," one scout replied. The leader was anxious to see the secret weapon in action. Then, a rumbling from the earth. One soldier on foot retreated to the leader in a panic.
"Steel chariot!" he screamed in fear. Mike's coming...but the leader wouldn't bite.
"Why are you running, coward?" the leader scolded. The panicked man collapsed by his captain onto his knees.
"Steel Chariot! It's coming this way!" No dice! Ah, if he only knew what's coming.
"Fool! There's no such thing as a steel chariot!" In a sense, he's right. Mike's not a steel chariot. He's a tank.
"Then explain that!" On cue, in came Mike...but it still didn't impress the leader. Ila opened the hatch to see the leader and his army. Still, the leader remained undeterred.
"I must say that's a fine steel chariot you possess. Did King Rijarl send you?" Ila could explain that she's independent. Why not?
"Just came on our terms," she answered. Our? Right, Dawn's in the driver's seat, like it needs a driver. Mike does well on it's own.
"I see. Perhaps we can use that steel chariot as a demolition to infiltrate Rijarl's castle, forcing his hand to step down as king of this land." Ila was just as cold in this stare down with the leader. She had a trick in her hand.
"Dawn, it seems we've been invited to help the rebel forces. What's do you think?" Dawn positioned the targeting reticule on the leader.
"I think this is the first time shooting a gun," she grinned as she pulled the trigger. A cannon shot blasted out of the barrel and hit the ground short of the leading force. How close the shot came to actually striking the horses spooked the thoroughbreds into fleeing. Either Dawn would've preferred extra practice to perfect her aim...or that was on purpose to scare the army into retreat. Now the leader began to hesitate...and Dardanel saw it through a magic hand mirror. He wasn't too happy that the rebel army began to cower from one single cat spirit possessed tank. He should be more worried about his guards being decimated by his attacking horde. Ash, Brock, Cynthia, Melissa, Merrill, Jeanie, Gannet, Junpei, Airi, Ritsuko, Celcia, Pikachu and Piplup were plowing through guards as they tried to catch up with Louie and Celecia. Bodies of soldiers were scattered all over.
"Louie's been busy!" Airi figured out. That's when they ran into a fork in the hallway. Hearing the details from Isabel and knowing the other two in potential danger, Ash took control with this storm.
"We're gonna need to split into three teams," he addressed. "Not only is Louie and Celecia in trouble, the Crowned Prince and Lily are in here as well. Brock, you take Merrill, Piplup and Airi down the left wing. Junpei, you, Melissa, Ritsuko and Cynthia take the right." That left Ash with Pikachu, Jeanie, Gannet and Celcia down the hall ahead. At least Junpei didn't have to deal with Jeanie's constant allegations of being a child molester. Still, why let the youngest of the group take the lead? Because no one objected, they broke to find Louie, Dardanel and whoever else may need aid. They were about to get company as Isabel and Jakinson, along with Anna and Joan, brought up the rear. They would also have backup as Uxie and Mesprit emerged out of nowhere. They wanted to help out with the situation after being guinea pigs to a backfired spell. It did freak Jakinson a bit.
"Mr. Jakinson, it's on our side!" Joan reassured. "And from Ash, they must be here for their other friend!" Azelf in here? It's pretty likely. It's also the final chapter.
"Proceed ahead, you two!" Jakinson allowed. Uxie and Mesprit flew on ahead to search for Azelf. Entering a corridor, Junpei's troupe were pursued by guards. Sure the guards had swords and pikes but Ritsuko's got them all beat with an assault rifle. This was the past so they may not be familiar with the weaponry Ritsuko brought like the handgun holstered over her skirt. Spreading bullets, guards were struck, some falling dead. But while Junpei and Ritsuko were dealing with the guards, Melissa and Cynthia spotted someone they only suspected Ash to have run into without word.
"Lily?" Melissa gasped. Lily stared coldly at the taller females.
"What are you doing here?" she responded. "You're trespassing onto private grounds. If need be, I''ll use force to make you leave." She's itching to start a fight.
"We heard that Louie is chasing Dardanel to correct his corruption." Hearing about Louie back in Ohfun seemed to surprise Lily.
"Louie, huh? Correct corruption? Is he trying to prove something?" Instead of saying something, Melissa cautiously approached Lily, making her and Cynthia uneasy.
"Careful, Melissa," the champion warned as Lily rose her staff. "If she can seal Ash's aura at her age, there's no telling what she can unleash." Melissa never broke stride and proceeded on.
"My champion may not be a powerful magician as you are, Lily," Melissa tried some sweet talk. "However, his sense of justice is unequal." The closer Melissa was to Lily, the more uncomfortable Lily got. "What about you, Lily? What side of justice do you want to fight for?"
"Stop!" she snapped, hoping to show force should the moment arise. Melissa didn't stop. Troubled, Cynthia dashed to protect the follower of Mylee. "I said STOP!" From her staff, a ruby red stream of lightning flashed at Melissa but a black orb took the shot. After the hit, it slammed into Melissa who was knocked onto her butt. If Uxie and Mesprit emerged from those orbs, no doubt that Azelf saved Melissa at that moment. Sure enough, it was the same blue being with a bolder blue for the face and head which looked like a spear head. Of course, it felt the massive impact.
"Thanks, Azelf," Cynthia greeted. "You mind if..." Instead of letting her finish, Melissa just handed Azelf to Cynthia before glaring back at Lily.
"Who are you?" she growled. "Why are you helping Dardanel overthrow King Rijarl?" Finally, Lily couldn't take anymore questioning.
"You want to know who I am and why I bare hatred to King Rijarl?" she hissed. "My full name is Linalim Corwell. My grandfather was killed by Rijarl, the same Rijarl who rules Ohfun." She's the granddaughter of someone who was eliminated by the king himself? A grudge that bore deeply. Could this Mr. Corwell be the same man from the portrait a little while back? To Melissa, something was amiss.
"Count Corwell died no less than 20 years ago." Lily looked half that time. Mr. Corwell was killed before Lily...sorry, Linalim was born. "Why are you fighting for a man you never met? A man who died long before you came to life?" Talk about not making sense.
"I'm correcting a corruption in his name...and mine?" A justice in a dead man's name? Unless he was killed for crimes he never committed, there seemed to be no sense.
"Let me put it to you this way," Cynthia spoke as she stood and clutched a recovering Azelf. "You seek justice for someone who you never met, never known about. Perhaps the reason is that you seek a true desire, not gory vengeance." It wasn't sinking in well. "Is that your reason to live? Seeking vengeance for people who you never knew about?" Linalim wasn't one who cared about a true desire from her standpoint.
"Perhaps in the future...in your future, you have all the reason to be free and live a life you like. However, we do not possess that same luxury. We are bound by duties and obligations. Even you, who follows the order of Mylee and that bumbling magician who he calls your valiant champion. There's no escaping it." Bound to take charge of a late life that you've never heard about? And that everyone's life has it's own destination that must be followed on one's behalf? "It's that same reason you're here, Melissa. Your champion is here and you must follow his discretion." Melissa softly shook her head.
"Mylee had nothing to do with why I came for Louie," she disagreed. "I came on my own discretion. Louie is not just my valiant champion...but also a friend." Melissa began to walk towards her again, reigniting Linalim's fear. She fired shots of lightning near Melissa's feet, warning her to retreat. "What is it that your heart truly desires?" Another shot of lightning within a foot failed to deter Melissa. "What name do you want to live by? Linalim? Or Lily?" Lily would be easier to understand than Linalim. Linalim was cornered and feared Melissa's punishment. Quickly, she dropped her staff in surrender.
"I-I..." her surrender had her in a loss for words. "I don't know! I really don't know!" Finally, Melissa wrapped Linalim in a hug. She began to cry which Cynthia came over and petted Linalim on the head, telling her that she's not angry with her either.
"There are options, like going with Celcia, Junpei and others to help their world back in order...or you joining me and my friends and see all sorts of creatures and have one to call your own." Linalim wasn't sure what to do, her mumbling and crying were mixed together. Meanwhile, Isabel's troupe came across an unusual battle as they saw two crown princes. Two Lenards...or two Littners were fighting each one.
"Your majesty!" One Littner had a sliver sword while the other had a big black sword.
"I know that enormous black sword, it belonged to Jeanie," Isabel recognized.
"Yes, Louie and his elf helped me free so I can battle this clone," Littner...the real Littner told. Louie and Celecia were moving fast.
"Obey Lord Dardanel," the phony murmured while looking spaced out. "That is your only way to live." The real deal and the clone clashed swords. They stood for a moment before the clone fell. The real Littner was okay.
"Impressive, Lenard," Isabel praised. "Or should I say Crowned Prince Littner." Realizing the secret's out, Littner scoffed at his title.
"Lenard's just fine," Littner...or Lenard brushed. He didn't really care for what title he had. On the roof of the castle, Dardanel's focus was off the rebel army being pushed around by a tank to his house. His secret weapon which consist the organs of an elf, a troll and Cyrus.
"Finally found you," Louie called out. Dardanel didn't acknowledge him or his elven companion.
"Do not disturb me," he advised. "I'm in the middle of something." Louie didn't want to wait.
"Well, I'm not good at this patience thing."
"It won't be long so you can jaw at me all you want when the Dragon Golem decimates King Rijarl." Was that what was in the incubator?
"Didn't know you had a name for your operation." Celecia came forward.
"You insist on resurrecting an ancient terror which ravaged the land hundreds of years ago?" she questioned. Even with the new voice, Dardanel never turned.
"King Rijarl took the land from my family by force," he explained his past. "I'm merely repaying the debt to that man you follow as your royal highness." From his mirror, he watched as a greenish gray dragon burst from the incubator. "This is a two-for-one deal for me and Foltess. I gain the kingdom and he becomes known as the most powerful magician in Ohfun. I did use a few sacrifices. A troll for his rage and destruction, an elf for it's wisdom and longevity and a human for obedience." He was about to get new company from Ash, Gannet, Celcia and Jeanie.
"What exactly are you, some deranged lord or a dog owner?" Ash barked out. Even new personnel failed to jerk Dardanel to peer back. From that mirror, he saw something to make him cringe. The dragon was dissolving. Dardanel's plans were acting the same way. "You'd be surprised what some motor oil and added water can do to even the most prepped recipes." Where did Ash acquire motor oil? From Mike?
"You sabotaged my plan? With some special oil?" Surprisingly effective.
"Was that before or after I had to pee into the solution?" Louie asked...Yuck! Louie, really? That's disgusting. Dardanel became upset at how vile Ash and Louie were.
"Not bad, Louie," Jeanie scoffed. "Now who's gonna run the Magicians' Guild?" Was Master Foltess dead, too? Dardanel decided to get himself going.
"Perhaps I had underestimated all of you," he mulled. "As for the sacrificial human, he did have this in his hand." That's when he revealed a black gauntlet with a ruby embedded under the knuckles. Ash cringed at the sight of the gauntlet. "Along with these magic bracelets, my powers will be magnified." To prove his point, he pushed air and powerful red vibes out at the invaders and blowing almost all back. Ash's aura activated and shielded him from the same blow. "This is interesting. A veil of blue coating the core body. Could this be the aura Foltess discussed?" Ash refused to speak. "No matter." With one leap, Dardanel vanished over the wall and Ash looked over, hoping to spot a dead body. Instead, the bracelets made Dardanel's fall softer. To Ash, his friends needed support. He dashed over to them.
"You guys okay?" he asked in concern. Louie was the first to shake off the shot.
"Just pissed off more," he groaned. After helping Louie up, the Lake Trio emerged which included Azelf. Azelf was still covered in the black markings from Celcia's spell which failed.
"So this is Azelf?" Celcia discovered. "But why is it unaffected by the spell fragments unlike Mesprit and Uxie?" From Ash's still active aura, he could tell that Azelf was busy.
"It's not," he studied. "And I think I know why." What could it be? Meantime, Brock's group, which now had prisoners who were falsely arrested by Dardanel, Isabel's troupe with Lenard and Cynthia's gang with Lily arrived in the throne room. Seeing Lenard back with Isabel, Melissa sighed in relief.
"Lenard, you're okay!" Melissa breathed. Lenard smiled to see Junpei still kicking butt. Isabel saw the group with Brock, Merrill and Airi.
"Are these my father's soldiers incarcerated for insubordination by Dardanel?" he suspected.
"Yeah, they were gonna be executed in the frontline," Brock added when Jakinson spotted Lily by Cynthia and got enraged.
"You!" he roared as he drew his sword. "How dare you show yourself, Traitor!" Brock's group were taken back but before Jakinson swung to cut Lily...CLANK! Ritsuko drew her pistol and used her steel to block his steel. Ever been told not to bring a knife to a gunfight? Well, there's another reason.
"Jakinson, Lily was being manipulated by Dardanel!" Melissa argued. "Her actions were not her own!" Jakinson wanted to relent but kept his sword trained still connected to the 9mm.
"Although, I do deserve some of the blame," Lily admitted. "Lord Dardanel brought up how my late grandfather was killed during a war and told me to avenge his death." Lenard stood forth and approached the young magician.
"Lily, now's not the time to focus on the past," he pointed out. "Instead, why not we all go on a new adventure." She became interested with Lenard's offer. "This adventure involves putting Lord Dardanel into a corner." Lily smiled and nodded to the idea. Suddenly, a quake rocked the castle. Did Mike start attacking the castle?
"What's going on?" Merrill shrieked while clutching her stomach. Did she have a bellyache? Or was she...?
"Lord Dardanel had a device for when all else fails," Lily informed. "That meant something happened not only to his alliance army but his other secret weapon." Ash killed the dragon with motor oil and Mike decimated the rebel army. "He has it stored beneath the castle." Now Junpei took action.
"Then I gotta help Celcia!" he snapped. "She's with the squirt and she's the only one who can get us back home! You guys evacuate to safety!" None of the heroes wanted to leave their friends behind but left with the many imprisoned soldiers, choices were few and far between.
"Be careful and bring Ash back safely," Cynthia warned before she gave the brute a kiss on the cheek. Hey, some love for the muscle of "Those Who Hunt Elves." Humbled, Junpei slightly blushed.
"I will." On that note, he ran off and left Brock steaming jealousy. That's when Uxie popped out striding with the muscle. "You?" Uxie coated Junpei in a veil. Suddenly, the two vanished and reappeared at a darkened hallway. Junpei fell on his backside, trying to wonder why Uxie transported him here. He didn't get a chance to ask because a pair of running footsteps fast approaching. Uxie and Junpei spun to see Ash and Louie, not with the girls despite Gannet's desire to be with him. Azelf, freed from the spell fragments, and Mesprit flew alongside the two. Louie put his finger to his lips, advising Junpei to remain silent. Understanding, Junpei fluffed a nod. "Where's Celcia?" Louie offered to reply.
"The girls are regrouping with the rest," he expressed. "All we need to worry about is Lord Dardanel." With Celcia and the others escaping the castle, possibly to set the stage to return home, all the men had to focus on was stopping Dardanel by all means. They entered a huge room with a weird control panel Dardanel was messing around with.
"For many years, I've searched for the relic to end King Rijarl and reclaim the throne that was taken from my family," he mulled. "The magical resonance recognizes the lineage of the family line." Ash, Louie, Junpei and the Lake Trio reached Dardanel's location.
"You know, Dardanel," Louie voiced. "Maybe there's a reason why your family gave up the throne to King Rijarl." Dardanel ignored Louie and continued to hit keys. To Louie, Dardanel's folks stepped down for unique reasons and handed the throne to Rijarl. Louie decided to get close to repeat his word. "Didn't you hear what I just-" POW! Louie crashed into an invisible wall. That wasn't pretty and the Lake Trio covered themselves from that crash.
"Louie!" Ash called. Louie fell to his knee but wanted to keep going.
"You understand now?" Dardanel sneered. "This magic barrier protects me from any attack from your oversized fist to cannonballs fired from your steel chariot." Ash's active aura saw the blue veil that surrounded Dardanel. Junpei wanted to call his bluff.
"Let's see it take on the six-time martial arts champion!" he roared and charged, much to Dardanel's delight and Ash's concern.
"Junpei, stop!" he yelled but it was too late. Junpei threw a punch and hit the barrier, only to be bounced back across the room. Uxie used it's psychic power to catch and steady Junpei. Junpei nodded to thank Uxie. Now it was Ash's turn.
"If physical attacks don't work, let's try a little aura!" He formed a sphere before shooting it at Dardanel but still he remained undeterred. Reason: the sphere bounced back and struck Ash in the head. Ash was flipped head over heels before landing on his stomach. Azelf flew to Ash in concern.
"Ash!" the other two called in fear of what the outcome jarred. Ash sprung to his knees but coughed and held his throat. Did the rebound injure his neck? Spotting Azelf, he needed to take action.
"Azelf, Teleport!" Ash's voice was back to normal but he was ticked at the situation more than startled about the return of his voice. Azelf tried to teleport into the barrier but the barrier rejected Azelf. Another fail.
"Try all you can but you will never breakthrough my shield," Dardanel taunted. The three refused to throw in the towel. Meanwhile, storm clouds emerged over the castle where everyone else escaped. Mike rolled up after decimating the rebel army. All watched as a giant crystal descended slowly from the heavens. This had to be Dardanel's doing. Was it something from Dardanel's lineage?
"As if ending Cyrus' life wasn't enough to create a monster Ash and I ruined, he brings out a giant crystal?" Gannet blurted. Dawn, Brock and Cynthia gawked at the news that she was suppose to keep quiet about. After a few seconds, Gannet turned to the gasping trainers, only to realize her error.
"Cyrus was sacrificed to create a magical creature?" Cynthia correctly guessed. Realizing the cat was out of the bag, she cried to deflect blame. A feeble attempt. The crystal hanging in the sky had Ila plotting its destruction.
"Mike, let's take care of the crystal!" she called. Mike meowed in agreement. "Dawn, only load the vials into the loader!" Dawn bobbed a nod before going back inside as Ritsuko who grabbed binoculars. They're gonna destroy it. To Dardanel, he's sealed the deal.
"With this, I will be king and all the power will be bestowed!" he bellowed. "No one can stop me!" The three others weren't going to stand by.
"Don't bet on it!" Junpei shouted back as he walked with Uxie floating by him.
"We're not giving in!" Ash roared as he walked with Azelf floating alongside.
"It's a power that was sealed and shall remain!" Louie growled as he joined the fight with Mesprit floating by. "Not only does this power not belong to you, the same goes with this country!" He began to punch the barrier as he and Mesprit were glowing blue like Ash did. Mesprit was donating its power to Louie. Dardanel wasn't phased. Now Ash began to swing punches at the barrier. He was glowing like before and so was Azelf. Junpei didn't want to be left out as he joined the punching barrage. He and Uxie were glowing blue, too. The punching tore the gloves from each one's hands. Dardanel laughed.
"My, can this get anymore ridiculous?" he grinned. "Even if those creatures are boosting your energy and your power, it's all to waste. The power of this barrier is impossible to penetrate!" He'd soon eat his words. The power of holding the barrier began to fracture the bracelet and the ruby on the glove added to the demise. "Huh?"
"You forget you're dealing with those who don't believe in the impossible!" Junpei, sweating bullets, bragged as the boys simultaneously fired another punch, further breaking the bracelet and ruby. Dardanel was starting to panic.
"We battle to the end and we're gonna make sure!" Ash, hands bleeding, snarled before another simultaneous punch. Any more and that bracelet and ruby were done.
"And I have a punch reserved for you," Louie, arms weakening, promised before one more set of simultaneous punches. Dardanel was wetting his trousers in fear. "Once more!" The three cocked back their tired arms.
"You don't understand!" Dardanel pleaded but Ash was the first to deny it.
"Of course we do!" he yelled before that last set of punches. The bracelet shattered from the stress and the ruby broke too. The barrier was dissolved. Ash wasted no time in finishing Dardanel who was in disbelief.
"It can't be! I don't believe it!" That's when Ash decked Dardanel in the gut with his bloody fist. That had Dardanel doubling over.
"You don't need to. Once this is over, no one will remember what happened here." Guess he didn't really need that old voice for confidence. Ash delivered a dropkick, propelling Dardanel to... "Junpei!" Junpei smacked a clothesline at Dardanel and nearly flipped him over.
"Louie!" he called before kicking him to the magician.
"Ash, hold him in place!" Louie ordered. Luckily, Ash knew what the call was.
"Azelf, Mesprit, Uxie, use Extrasensory to hold Dardanel!" Ash rang out before the Lake Trio fired beams from their rubies and hitting Dardanel. The beams didn't hurt Dardanel but held him in place for Louie's signature punch. All Dardanel could do was watch.
"Louie Punch!" BAM! Louie scored a direct punch to Dardanel's face flush. Dardanel flew past the others and fell into the pit at the edge. Was this where Louie aimed his punch? Anyway, Dardanel was finished. Outside...
"Fire!" Ritsuko commanded Mike. Mike shot it's ammo which nailed the crystal. Bulls-eye! The contact created an explosion and the crystal shattered into millions of pieces over the castle. The castle was preserved, the rebel army was defeated and peace was in order. Martial Law was lifted hearing the news of Dardanel's treachery. The groups gathered that night in a faraway plain. The adventurers, hunters and trainers were grateful that their assistance provided a victory in the name of justice. However, the time together for most was coming to an end as Celcia and Celecia managed to prepare a large circle with a podium in the center. The priestesses and Lenard's gang also joined in the festivities. Remembering that one of those three Dardanel killed was an innocent female elf, Ash carved a stone which read "UNKNOWN FEMALE ELF."
"Is it alright if I know what you're carving?" Jeanie questioned. Ash just finished the stone and rested it by a tree.
"Besides Cyrus, Dardanel killed a troll and an elf and harvested the organs for his magical creature," Ash confessed as he stood back up. "What kind of mind would destroy life in order to make life?" Jeanie huffed an understandable realization. Still, why remember just the dead elf? Why not the troll or Cyrus? Junpei came forward with Cyrus' glove, ruby missing.
"Hey, Ash!" he called out. Jeanie and Ash turned to the martial artist. "Celcia told me about how you defended her and that priestess from that Cyrus bastard. I did snatch the glove from Dardanel before Louie finished him off. I think you should have the honor of taking care of his item." A nice gesture. Ash didn't want to accept this gift until he knew how to dispose of it.
"I think Team Galactic will get a nasty gift and learn about the fate of their leader while in prison." Junpei huffed a chuckle. Jeanie smiled, ready to drop her accusation against Junpei. Meantime, Cynthia and Airi met with Lenard and Lily. Airi was impressed with the acting between the prince and the young magician.
"You make my Hollywood performances seem like fresh off-the-street acts worthy of a director's glance," she awed. "It takes a lot to fool me and you took all of us for that ride." They did fool a lot of people.
"It was never my intention to fool anyone, not even Priestess Isabel," Lenard confessed. "If I had known about Dardanel's intentions sooner, all of you wouldn't have been involved." Perhaps, but then it wouldn't have helped the hunters and trainers get home soon. Cynthia spotted Celcia with a rather upset look.
"Something wrong, Celcia?" she asked. Celcia was about to drop a heart stopper.
"Well, we have the spell fragments," she started. "But it's a heart reversal spell. That spell would've been useful on Dardanel but it's too late." So now they had a useless spell. What a way to bring down the mood. So now how were they going back? The Lake Trio felt betrayed that the spell fragments were pointless. However, a call from above would answer their pleas for help.
"I hear cries for help," a voice from the heavens spoke. A cluster of rays of light shone on everyone. Melissa and Isabel stood forth.
"Mylee, God of Battle, is it you?" Melissa addressed while folding her hands in a prayer.
"You're one of my sheep, should I be a Shepard. What is your bidding?"
"Mylee, God of Battle, two groups of friends wish to return to lands of which they came. Can you grant them a trip back to their homes?" A pause. Would he or won't he?
"It's a challenge I cannot ignore. You've served to protect the people of the country, thus I shall grant your desire." A glee lit everyone's faces. Mylee would take the hunters and trainers back home. Pikachu and Piplup were grateful. Merrill was glad that problems were about to be resolved...but when seeing Brock, her heart ached. She didn't want to let Brock go. In an effort to remind Brock not to forget her, Merrill ran up and hugged the breeder.
"Hey, Merrill," he softly spoke. Merrill held onto him, wishing he didn't have to go.
"I wish you could stay here," she whimpered. Brock would want the same. She's been practically the only female that Brock wasn't Poison Jabbed by Croagunk.
"You can come with me and Gannet to our home world." A gesture that Merrill wouldn't pass on...but her head shake said otherwise.
"I still wanna go on adventures with Melissa but I'll always remember you." They shared one final kiss as Ritsuko and Dawn watched. Ash saw the kiss too and with Gannet by his side, he held Gannet's hand in reminder. That's when Ash thought about Gannet's wish to be with him.
"Gannet, why not ask Mylee about coming with me back home?" he pondered. A quick thought but it couldn't hurt.
"Good idea," she agreed before stepping to greet the god. "Mylee, Great God of Battle, hear my desire!" Mylee wasn't ready to hear Gannet, but was ready to surprise her.
"A young priestess," he spoke. "I have heard and witnessed your interactions with the young boy. I know of your desire...and you have fulfilled your duties to earn it." Well, so much for asking. Gannet got excited and dashed to hug and tackle Ash. After some final meetings, the hunters and trainers, with Gannet in tow, formed two groups as Louie and his friends watch on. Two beams of light engulfed the groups. For a minute, the lights appeared to dissolve the groups. Finally, the beams fade with no signs of either the Pokémon, the trainers and the hunters. They were back in their worlds.
"They're gone," Jakinson said. "Two groups of warriors...we shall never forget them." Merrill placed a hand on her stomach, a sight Isabel caught.
"You and Sir Brock engaged in a little more than love, huh?" she noted. Merrill nodded.
"I was wondering if you can help with my child when he or she is born," she answered which shocked everyone but Lily.
"You're pregnant?" Louie gawked. Merrill once again said yes. Lily realized that Merrill's love had to be the father. "Who knew that small chest could get pregnant?" Not the remark you wanna make. BONG! And Merrill made sure with a dagger hilt to his skull.
"You need to respect me more, idiot!" The group enjoyed the laugh but Louie was feeling the pain. Anna and Joan could only wonder if Gannet would be okay with Ash. It was thanks to Pokémon trainers, Those Who Hunt Elves and Louie's group, Ohfun was safe. All that laid ahead was the future: one that the adventurers were ready to create.
(Elven World)
During a night back in the elven world, Those Who Hunt Elves, learning that the real spell fragments were really scattered there instead of on the Lake Trio, camped and Junpei stepped outside, still rubbing the same cheek Cynthia kissed. Ritsuko stepped out to see Junpei. "You thinking about Ash?" she wondered. Junpei fluffed a nod.
"Well, he and Cynthia," he corrected. "I'm still finding it hard to believe she'd wind up as my first kiss." Ritsuko mulled at how mesmerized Junpei became because of a simple kiss.
"Lemme guess, you wished it was Miss Airi who would give you that first kiss, right?" Junpei slumped down and stared at the starry sky.
"Well, yeah because she's a Hollywood actress...but I'm not disappointed. I think I could relax for the rest of my life knowing that there was someone who...who had some feeling for me." Interesting words coming out of the muscle of the elf hunters. Ritsuko wasn't sure if Junpei was being serious or if maybe she was drawn to a prank. But the look on Junpei's face told her that Junpei's heart was actually talking and not his muscles. "So tell me." Ritsuko gulped, figuring that Junpei wanted to get to know her better. "Celcia told me about your kiss to Ash. How did that feel?" Ritsuko instantly blushed. She enjoyed that kiss before the priestesses-in-training broke it up.
"I did force the kiss onto him and it wasn't bad." Junpei sighed. He knew that she didn't kiss him honestly.
"So it wasn't a legitimate kiss." Ritsuko frowned. Her kiss was to get Ash talking. Junpei's kiss was real.
"I thought it was."
(Volcano, Cinnabar Island, Kanto, Pokémon World)
Ash, Pikachu and Gannet, wearing a white tank top with a cross decal over the front and jeans but still wore the priestess' beret, entered the volcano with Cyrus' glove. This glove caused all the problems which brought him and his friends to Ohfun. They entered a volcano which had a battlefield hanging by chains. "This is the true symbol of Team Galactic," he murmured as he prayed. "Let it be cleansed in the flames of the earth." He tossed the glove into the lava that burned to dust in seconds.
"That distraction prevented you from winning the conference," Gannet remembered. After seeing the ashes dissolve, Pikachu and the humans stepped out and breathed in the cool air of ocean breezes. Ash chose to discard the glove instead of taunting members of Team Galactic. Gannet bowed her head in a silent prayer. Ash witnessed it, thinking about Anna and Joan.
"Thinking about Anna and Joan? Your friends?"
"Yeah, well...can't I think about them at times?" Ash giggled a little.
"No, if you want, I can pray alongside." Both prayed before moving along the sidewalk of the beach. Suddenly...
"Ash!" sounded...Merrill? The three turned around and sure enough, there she was in a one-piece swimsuit and carrying a little baby girl that had the same hair color.
"Well, this is a surprise." Merrill snickered, happy to be back with some good friends. "Is that your kid?"
"Yeah, she's Luann. She's only a couple of months old." An infant. "Anyway, Ila's dad found a magical item that I wanted to try out which transported me here...and now we're stuck. However, it's actually a good thing." Good thing. "You see, the dad of Luann is Brock." That even got Pikachu shocked and he's the one who normally does that job. Boy, won't Brock get the good news.
"So, you're wondering where Brock is, right?" Gannet asked.
"Yeah, who else to present his new daughter?" It only took a second for Ash to remember where his friend had gone.
"Well, you're in luck," he huffed. "We can escort you two to Pewter City. Not only will Brock be thrilled to see you and his kid, so will his brothers and sisters. Trust me." Merrill decided to take Ash's advice and the group exited the beach on their way to Pewter City. "So, when did you and Brock hook up back in Ohfun?" This was a question Merrill wasn't afraid to answer.
"Back at the Velasquez Street Rumble, after he bailed me out of a dry well." As they leave Cinnabar, Ash could only look toward the future...along with the priestess who her real god guided her to, not Mylee. Three teams, one bonded journey and one story that would be sketched in the history of the heroes...
THE END