DISCLAIMER

Pokemon Ownership definitely has not been identified in my pokedex.

Summary: After losing in the Sinnoh league, Ash and his friends head back home, but make a stop in Altomare to visit some old friends. But it's a start of a new adventure as unexpected changes befall upon our young hero. Altoshipping!

Rating T – Strong language, Suggestive but Non-Explicit Adult Themes, and Cartoon Violence

" " = talking

' ' = telepathy

"hello" = aura

thoughts

{action}

A/N

Currently, this chapter has not been beta-read. My beta is very locked up with his college schedule at the moment so please forgive any obvious mistakes. Pointing them out for correction is always welcome of course.

Last Time:

"Ahh, yes. Doctor...N," Giovanni greeted as he stepped through the automatic sliding doors of the secret facility, lightly shaking the shorter man's hand; he was really more interested in the mechanical contraptions that were currently lying on the workbench.

"Namba...but close enough," the crazy scientist conceded, "I do hope you'll enjoy this little demonstration. It's taken a lot of work, but I believe I've discovered how to do it." He gestured to the heavy machinery that seemed to be a very crude but advanced prototype.

Giovanni grinned madly. "How have the tests been?"

"The fluctuations in power have been rather problematic, but once I discover a viable stabilizing agent and mechanism, that problem should be eliminated. However, I've also had some problems with implementing the multiple aspects into a confined and mobile space efficiently."

"While I may regret this, I trust that you will find the answer. Surely you wouldn't want to disappoint me?"

"Of course not," Namba answered with little to no concern for the current voice his boss was using.

"Excellent. Now I wish to see a real-time test," Giovanni commanded as he picked up the machine.

"Of course. This way," the mad scientist said as he lead his leader to the testing chamber. The glass doors sealed behind them as the heavy metal alloy blast doors closed in on them. The large circular room was nearly entirely white, and from the center a restrained, young eevee trembled in fear as it faced the two evil humans.

"May I?" Giovanni joked. Namba nodded in the affirmative.

With a low chuckle, Giovanni aimed and fired, the blast of energy flashing violently against the white walls of the chamber as it connected with its target. Suddenly, a dark snarling filled the air as a rabid eevee began violently thrashing against its chains, firing attacks of nondiscriminatory nature at anything that moved.

From behind a powerful force-field that had been erected the moment the energy had connected, Giovanni and Namba watched on with a twisted interest.

"Excellent Dr. Namba! Most excellent indeed." Giovanni said with a dark grin as he finished observing the new eevee, whose eyes were as soulless as the mad villain himself. Having satisfied his goal, he pressed the kill switch, and the eevee moved no more.

Ch24: Catalysts and Resolutions

Four Days Later

"Again, but faster."

Ash grimaced as his forehead furrowed in intense concentration, anticipating when the fabricated constructs of aura would appear. A thick, black blindfold adorned his head, leaving him physically blind, yet he was still able to see, having developed his aura extensively over many training sessions in the nearly timeless world of Lucario and Sir Aaron. Before, in the first few sessions, Ash would have been tugging away at the obstruction, insisting that there was no way for him to do anything with the object that denied him the physical sense of seeing, but now, it was almost comfortable, having logged many hours behind that mask.

Quiet reigned while Ash continued waiting, his muscles tense and prepared to spring at any moment. So far, no disturbances made themselves known in the aura field as endless serenity reverberated through the otherworldly pond that surrounded them all. Riolu had yet to move as well which was apparent by Ash's new-found senses and, now, relatively mundane hearing.

Then he felt it, the sudden ripples of disruption that surged through the field, the images of multiple rhyhorns appearing briefly in his mind to his immediate right, left and back. He spun, letting his attacks fly, hoping his aim was true. Just a moment afterward, he heard Riolu fire his own attacks at his respective constructs resulting in six consecutive explosions. Ash smiled as he stood up straight, taking off the dark accessory, finding six craters gracing the ground and six imaginary rhyhorns knocked out.

Riolu peeled off his mask, looking around in satisfaction, giving his trainer a high-five for their success.

"Well done," Aaron congratulated with an approving smile, "You both have improved immensely in a very short amount of time." He found it hard to believe that only a month ago, Ash and Riolu were having trouble sensing just where he stood.

"It helps to have a really great teachers," Ash said, beaming at the "living" legend, and Riolu nodded in the affirmative.

"You've really come a long way," Lucario remarked with a grin, patting Ash on the back, proud of his friend. "You've both passed the test of reliance, diligence, awareness and truth in the three months or so you have spent in this world. Many take years to get that far!"

"Well we are pretty awesome," the Black Latios conceded, letting his ego soak for just a moment. He couldn't believe how much time he had already spent inside of the fabricated aura world, and it seemed that time flew even faster here. He knew he would return to find only a few days had passed in the real world, however.

"Indeed," Aaron agreed, a twinkle in his eyes, "Perhaps you are ready for your last test, control. What do you think Lucario?" For a moment, a look of contemplation crossed the aura pokemon's face, assessing the readiness of their pupils.

"Possibly..."

"C'mon! We can do it!" Ash announced energetically, ready to take on any challenge his masters could dish out, all fired up after finally mastering their detection abilities. Riolu answered in a similar, confident manner.

"I'm afraid it will have to wait until another time Ash," Aaron apologized, "Perhaps you should go back to see your friends. You've been in here for a long time. I'm sure they would like to see you again. Mew and Mewtwo probably want to check up on your progress as well."

Ash groaned. Just remembering the grueling training sessions of Mewtwo sent him into convulsions. That pokemon was a slave driver, and he had had only about five real sessions with him! However, he couldn't argue with the results, especially after putting the legendary pokemon's methods into practice inside of the aura world for the last few months. However, it would be wonderful to see his friends again.

"I guess we'll see you later then," Ash answered cheerfully, gesturing for Riolu to follow. He did miss his friends and would love to catch up, even though they would have only gone without him for a total of a day and a half in the real world. Riolu nodded, following after Ash as Lucario opened the portal that would lead them back.

Ash and Riolu took in a deep breath as the fresh air of the Tree of Beginning filled their lungs, reminding them what true nature felt like. It had been so long, for them, since they had seen the familiar crystal formations of the ancient mountain and even longer since they had seen their comrades.

"Race ya to the bottom?" Ash asked with a mischievous glint in his eyes, smirking all the while.

"You're on slowpoke!" Riolu challenged, matching Ash's mad grin with his own as he tore down the mountainside with the Black Latios following him closely behind, his light laughter ringing high among the ruffling trees.

They made it halfway down the slope before the pair suddenly stopped, an ominous growling and rumbling rising from the ground. A chill ran up their spines, like the slight feathery touch of icy spikes gliding against the skin.

"Did you feel that?" Ash whispered, his face contorting into a dark grimace as his eyes scanned the shrubbery surrounding them. His aura fanned out, feeling angry and malicious intent assault the fringes of his powers.

"Yeah," Riolu agreed, his voice just as low and tense, "If this is what we think it is..." Abruptly, the ground violently burst, throwing chunks of hardened Earth into the air and causing clouds of thick dust to rise, obscuring their sight. Ash and Riolu threw their arms up for defense, jumping back as an angry and evil roar sundered the afternoon tranquility apart. They looked up to find the raging eyes of a giant steelix, intent on destroying everything in its path. That wasn't all that appeared, however. Two aggrons, sporting a similar empty, vengeful fire in their eyes that wished for nothing more but to attack everything in sight, jumped out of the same hole, flexing their long claws as they sensed their first potential prey.

Without warning, the gigantic metal pokemon dove, intent on using its broad head plate to smash the two insignificant bugs below into paste before they could escape. Ash nimbly jumped out-of-the-way, immediately transforming into his pokemon form as he took off into the air, knowing Riolu would be able to hold his own, even against two fully grown aggrons.

The iron snake pokemon growled in anger, shifting to face to the now flying latios, watching his opponent carefully. Ash swerved around the massive steelix, contemplating how to successfully take down such a highly defensive pokemon.

He didn't have much time to think, however, as a sudden pain to his chest sent him careening into an aged oak tree, ripping its roots from the ancient ground and splintering it into countless fragments. Ash groaned, trying to shake off the massive amount of dizziness that had resulted from the violent impact. The steelix roared triumphantly, flailing its tail in a premature victory dance.

Ash grimaced, clutching his claws tight. He hadn't expected the hulking beast to be so fast! He rocketed out of the wreckage, deciding to not hold back; he would need all of his power to win. With a cry of anger, he launched a powerful Aura Sphere right at the metal pokemon's head, that attack being the only really effective technique he possessed out of all the others he had.

The iron snake turned around in confusion, a constant buzzing in the air nagging his ears. Just as it did, it was met with an explosion of power, and he howled in pain as the mere force of the attack was enough to shove him back a few feet and dig him into the ground. Ash smirked, using his claws to say 'bring it on.'

Enraged, the steelix opened its mouth, a strange green light gathering there as the iron snake pooled its power. The black eon only had a second to question what it was before a beam of potent dragon energy was sent his way, singeing the tip of his right wing. Ash gasped in pain, and he tried to subdue the burning pain of the wound, but it was incessant, scorching hot like a hundred sharpened knives dragging slowly across the skin, just hard enough to leave lines and draw little trickles of blood.

He clenched his jaw, rocketing forward at his enemy, as he used a quick Double Team to confuse the steelix and buy him more time. The mindless metal pokemon didn't seem to care and instead swiped his tail against the clones, taking out half of them in one full swing.

The Black Latios dived thinking that the massive monster would be too occupied with his clones to pay attention to a wayward dragon image, but to his horror, a constricting tail of slick metal grabbed him, entrapping him in the steelix's tight Bind attack. The towering brute turned to find his quarry caught fast in his trap, like a stuck pig caught on a snare. Ash cried out in pain as the surrounding flesh of the iron snake pokemon slowly constricted, putting intense pressure on all of the bones in Ash's body while the sharp edges cut into him, and the metal pokemon stared, its face lighting up in maniacal glee as it watched its victim slowly die by its literally iron grip.

Ash squirmed and fidgeted like mad, knowing he had to get out before it was too late, but the more he moved, the tighter the hold became, causing his breaths to come out in ragged bouts and spasms. He weakly called out for Riolu to help him, but no small, blue emanation pokemon came to his rescue. He was on his own for this one.

The Black Latios was quickly running out of time as he felt his wings wailing in pain, begging him to stop the endless pain as watery tears pooled in his eyes. Was this it? Was he to die here before even saying goodbye to his friends?

"No..." Ash muttered, a powerful conviction in his voice, "I won't lose!" Suddenly, he reverted to his human form, slipping through the cage, and fell towards the floor as the unavoidable grip of gravity overcame him. Squinting his eyes, he gasped as his body neared the merciless ground and called upon his dormant power. Terror overwhelmed him as his body refused to transform while the cold earth beckoned for his full, bodily embrace. His eyes shut tight as he thought of his friends and their sad faces as they mourned over his battered and broken body. They would all cry, Misty, Dawn, May, Max, Pikachu, Brock, Riolu, Kirlia, all his pokemon friends, and Latias.

He could see her leaning over his lifeless body, begging him to come back as crystalline tears poured from her golden-amber eyes, while his own lightless orbs stared back, unknowing and empty.

No! He refused to see any of them cry!

With a roar of determination, he willed his body to change, and just moments before he smashed into old mountain, his form took place, his wings protesting loudly at the tension and stress he had placed on them in that moment. The Black Latios shot up, refusing to lose and refusing to die; his friends needed him.

He staggered into the air, a new, fragile fire in his eyes as he stared down the mocking gargantuan. Ash would not be outdone. He would defeat this pokemon and defend his friends that were down by the camp, unaware of the danger that only lay on the outskirts of their boundary.

Ash gathered all of his power, his eyes glowing a brilliant blue as he manifested his aura into chains on the earth, forcing them to keep the rogue metal pokemon in place. The steelix fought against his bonds in a ironic twist of fate, thrashing about and firing off multiple Dragon Breath attacks at the strange blue chains that seemed to be made of an energy it could neither harm nor escape. It roared furiously, refusing to believe that it was the one trapped now.

The Black Latios breathed heavily, much of his power drained. This was his last attempt to end this fight.

Ash attacked, firing off a potent Luster Purge at the chained steelix, doing minimal damage but severely blinding the rampant iron snake, causing it to stop struggling against its bonds while it recovered from its induced daze. With his opponent unaware, Ash fired, throwing ball after ball of aura attacks at the chained beast. They all collided with the restrained metal-type, an amazingly strong explosion of dazzling blue-green light forcing Ash back in the air as nearby trees and shrubs were yanked out of the dirt, flying off of the mountain, propelled by the power of Ash's final attack.

He covered his eyes and braced himself in the air, hoping to Arceus that it had worked and that his friends were okay. A low groan rose in the air as the smoke cleared and the dust settled to reveal a still standing steelix, adorned with a multitude of scratches and marks, but still up nonetheless.

The Black Latios moaned in hopelessness; he had nothing left, and he was supposed to continue?

He watched with resigned sadness as the recognizable green energy pooled in the steelix's metal jaws, aimed to strike the final blow. However, the steelix faltered as it gathered the energy, finding its own power suddenly gone. With a groan of pain, the unnaturally colossal steelix fell to the ground, the creaking of its voice reminiscent of a proud skyscraper falling while its steel beams creaked and screeched in protest.

With a groundbreaking thud, the steelix smashed into the archaic soil of the mountainside, defeated and unconscious. Ash had won.

The Black Latios sighed in relief as he floated down to the solid ground, thanking his lucky stars for the timely victory. He took in a deep breath, stabilizing himself as the adrenaline wore off. Suddenly, he heard a snicker from his right side, and Ash turned to find Riolu sitting atop a pile of two unconscious, fully grown aggron, acting as a throne of victory.

"What took you so long?" the emanation pokemon teased as his trainer finished up his grueling battle. Ash rolled his eyes but still smiled despite the numerous cuts, bruises and burns he sported.

"Shut up," he said jokingly, petting Riolu for a job well done, "We need to hurry. The others could be in danger." The small emanation pokemon nodded in understanding and began to walk off, turning around abruptly as he heard his friend fall to his knees with a grunt of pain.

"Ash, you alright?" Riolu asked for the sake of asking, knowing that the beat up trainer was anything but alright.

"Fine..." Ash rasped out, willing himself to stand, knowing that his friends were just ahead. He would not rest until he knew his friends were okay. Right there, Riolu wished he was tall enough to support Ash, but all he could do was nod in acknowledgment as he offered Ash the emotional support he needed.

Together, they limped to the camp site, hearing no cries of pain, yells of fury or blasts of conflict. Pushing through the concealing brush, Ash stepped into the camp, only to find two figures standing there, and his jaws dropped in disbelief.

A slow clap rang through the air, crisp and powerful.

"Well done," Aaron said slowly, still solid and colored appropriately while Lucario smirked.

"Knew you two could pull it off," the aura pokemon added, beaming.

"Wha...wha...what!" Ash could only gasp as he pointed from one aura guardian to the other, stunned into wordless submission. What in Arceus' name was going on!?

"Clever..." Riolu muttered after the initial shock wore off, finally grasping the situation at hand, shaking his head.

"Ahh I see that you've figured it out," Aaron conceded, holding his hands up while a mischievous smile adorned his face.

"Figured out what?" Ash could only asked, exasperated, wondering how Lucario and Sir Aaron could appear in the normal world as they were. Where were his friends? Where was the camp?

"C'mon Ash. It's not that hard..." Lucario teased with a chuckle, remembering that the young trainer could be as dense as he was brilliant. Ash thought about it for a second, going through all the possible explanations.

"You never really sent us back..." Ash murmured, the puzzle pieces coming together, "It was all part of a test..."

"Indeed," Sir Aaron answered with a cheeky grin, "Sorry that it had to be so difficult, but we had to see how well you could control you aura, and seeing as you created chains big enough and strong enough to restrain a rampaging steelix, I'd like to say that you passed brilliantly. Mewtwo will be pleased that you were able to defeat such a strong pokemon."

"So he was part of this too huh?" the trainer asked with a tired sigh. He felt proud but exhausted as well. Leave it up to the legendary to only increase the difficulty of an already difficult test.

"Yes," Lucario responded, "He insisted that while we teach you, we hone your pokemon skills as well. We agreed easily, knowing that you would need it regardless."

"Is that why all the tests after reliance dealt with fighting, running, dodging and trying to save my own skin?" Ash questioned loudly, waving his arms around in disbelief.

"Haha yes," Aaron laughed mirthfully, "I guess fighting for your life really does reinforce learning eh?" Ash glared back at the crazy legend, unamused.

"I still have nightmares about being in a field of Lickylicky from the test of awareness!" Ash yelled, shuddering as his imagination conjured up the creepy feeling of having tongues lashing out against him from every direction.

Riolu, Lucario and Aaron laughed heartily at that, their joyous chuckles steadily increasing in volume as Ash only fumed.

"It's not funny..." he insisted, earning only more laughs from his friends. He couldn't resist and gave into the infectious laughter as well.

"Ahh," Aaron said with a smile, wiping away his happy tears, "You've both been wonderful students. It's been an absolute pleasure teaching you our ancient arts, and I am so proud of how far you both have come."

"Huh?" Riolu stopped, "What do you mean?" Aaron and Lucario gave them sad smiles.

"I'm afraid our time here is done, and with our mission finally complete, we can move on." Lucario answered to the shocked faces of his friends.

"Wait! You mean you're leaving?" Ash exclaimed as he limped closer to his teachers, "So soon?"

"We have lingered longer than were allowed to," Aaron responded with a small smile, "Even so, it was worth it, but we cannot entreaty our fate any longer. We are both dead, Ash. The dead should not live in anyway but in the hearts of their loved ones. We do not wish to become ghosts that are cursed to wander the world for all eternity."

"But..." Ash protested, but was quieted by Aaron who looked at him with understanding eyes. The trainer knew what Aaron had said was true, but it didn't make it easier to accept.

"I cherish the extra time I had to get to know you better Ash, Riolu," Lucario said with a real smile, "I know you two can do this. You have the strength to save the world."

"What about our teachings? What about our aura lessons?" Riolu asked, worried and desperate. These would be the first friends he had ever lost. Strong feelings which he could only describe as a "sinking feeling of helplessness" gripped his chest.

"You no longer need any more teaching from us. You have learned all the basics and all the required skills to utilize your powers. All you can do now is learn on your own. Experiment. Discover who you really are and what drives you. When that happens, you both will truly be Aura Guardians, the last two masters," Aaron said, "I know you both will succeed."

An unnatural howling wind began to pick up and swirl around them, the tornado of air cackling with pure energy, stating that it would not be ignored.

"Death beckons for us," Lucario said with a sad and happy grin, "Indeed to be cliche...parting is such sweet sorrow..."

"Will we ever see you again?" Ash asked, a few tears falling from his chocolate brown eyes. He hated losing friends.

"Of course," Aaron answered simply, "One day we will all rejoice and drink to your name in memory of what you did to save the world from its plunge into eternal darkness. Until then, we will await your arrival with expectations and hope."

The wind became stronger as the swirling vortex began to lift Lucario and Sir Aaron off of the ground towards the calling sky.

"Remember Ash. Your friends lend you strength. Know that with them, anything is possible. Put your faith and trust into them wholeheartedly and you will not fail," Lucario finished as he waved, his form and Sir Aaron's form becoming translucent, shining with ethereal light. "Just as you gave me the strength to find my friend again."

"Farewell Ash and Riolu! May the Aura be with you!" Aaron said with a cheerful smile, "Oh and close the door on your way out okay?" Ash and Riolu laughed at that, promising the human aura guardian, waving back frantically as the two retreating figures became lighter and lighter.

"Bye! We'll do out best!" Ash yelled back tearfully to the glowing outlines of his friends, and then they were gone all together, their spirits finally at peace and able to leave this plane.

Ash and Riolu rubbed the salty tears from their faces and looked up to the pure blue sky of Lucario's and Aaron's world, smiling and simply watching. Those two were in a better place now, and they would do all they could to fulfill their last wishes.

"Well," The Black Latios said, his voice heavy, but still happy, "It's time for us to go too." Riolu nodded as Ash opened the real portal back and stepped through, closing the gateway to the paradise behind them forever.

Ash blinked and pinched himself to make sure he was back. Everything was pristine, normal and how it should be.

"Let's head back Riolu," the young trainer said softly, remembering the same pathway they had taken down the mountain in their most recent test. "But let's just walk this time." Riolu nodded in agreement, merely looking around to enjoy the rare and still serene nature around them.

They listened as their feet crunched the fallen autumn leaves underneath, the landscape painted golds, reds, yellows and browns. The whispering of the wind filled their ears, whistling a happy tune while the two made their way back to their friends, more aware than ever.

They could see all the living essences around them, the trees, the flowers, the grass and of course the pokemon. The mountain breathed as well, like a kind, sleeping giant, and blood ran though her veins, as real as the crimson they knew to be within their own bodies.

The two continued walking like this, marveling at the natural spirit of the world around them, blind to so many and unappreciated by even fewer. It was such a sudden change of pace for Ash and Riolu, having been vigorously training, running, fighting, and defeating for many months now.

It was nice to finally find some peace and slow down, even if only for a fleeting moment.

Ash broke out into a smile as he neared the camp, able to sense the tell-tale signs of his friends and pokemon working, training and moving about in the clearing up ahead. He grinned down to his aura companion and broke out into a light jog, excited to finally be able to see his friends again after such a, relatively, long time.

"We're back!" Ash announced dramatically as he parted a large leaf aside, stepping in. He was greeted with many happy faces and smiles.

"Ash! You're back!" Pikachu cried as he leapt into the arms of his best friend and trainer, having gone for a good day and a half without him at their side. Ash laughed, hugging his best friend back. He had really missed the mischievous electric mouse pokemon.

"Welcome back Ash!" Latias greeted with a warm smile, drawing him into a tight hug of her own, "We all really missed you!" Ash chuckled, hugging the red eon dragon back, feeling a small amount of heat escape onto his cheeks. He hadn't seen her for almost three months or any of them actually; Ash never realized how much he had missed everyone. Everyone else came in for their hug until they were a giant ball of friends laughing and embracing each other.

"How have you been Ash?" Brock asked, knowing that their favorite male, teenage trainer had been off for three months already to train. "Learn anything new?"

"Tons," Ash answered simply with a big smile.

"How about you Riolu?" Kirlia asked, curious as to how much stronger her best friend had gotten. He grinned with the same smile as his trainer.

"About the same," Riolu responded happily, deciding to give a demonstration. He held out his paw, conjuring up a small crystalline, blue flower out of his fledgling aura.

"Wow! It's so pretty Riolu!" Kirlia gushed as she tried to grab a hold of it, but the construct simply passed through her hands. He gave her an apologetic smile.

"Sorry. I'd give it to you if I could though. I can't really solidify my aura like Ash can, yet," he added shyly, earning a bashful blush from the emotion pokemon. He dissolved the aura flower back into himself, earning some impressed stares from the humans and pokemon.

"Woah...that was awesome!" Max exclaimed, his Ralts agreeing wholeheartedly, "Can you do something cool like that Ash?" Ash smirked; he just loved to show off sometimes.

Focusing on his aura, the Black Latios slowly weaved it into the shape he desired, allowing the essence of his spirit wrap to around him. It was so much easier now, and his powers responded to him very quickly, amassing themselves at the right points and solidifying at others.

Within moments, Ash stood there with a large suit of armor and sword, sharp and deadly. He gave it a few practice swings, remembering the combat training he had received from the deceased knight of Cameran.

"That! Is! So! Cool!" Max basically screeched as he ran around in circles while May chased him, trying to get him to calm down a bit. "Oh man! I wish I could use aura!"

"That looks like it actually is real armor Ash," Misty commented, her eyebrows raised in surprise and curiosity.

"Because it is," Ash responded simply, smacking his blue-green chest plate with his gauntlet, a small clunking sound resonating inside of the spirit metal. "Sword's not fake either. Though, I'm not the best with it." Misty grinned, deciding to test out the armor for herself.

She rushed her best friend and jumped, taking out her legendary mallet and smashing it into Ash's chest, only to find her arm stopped, violent feedback vibrations traveling back up her arms, causing her entire frame to shake and spasm as she fell to the ground.

Ash chuckled as he dissolved the protective suit and offered his a hand to Misty so she could pull herself off of the ground. She accepted it begrudgingly, concealing her small smile.

"That is amazing!" Dawn finally added, after taking a long time to get over her initial shock, "Can you form anything else with it?"

"Anything I can think of basically," Ash answered proudly, earning approving nods from all of his friends.

"Ahhh, Ash you have returned," a sudden and deep voice resonated from above the treeline, "I take it your training was successful? I do hope you did not simply waste your three months in there playing."

"Yeah! I trained!" the Black Latios called back up scowling slightly, a light smile tugging the edges of his mouth, knowing Mewtwo was floating just above them. "I worked on a lot of my pokemon moves, and I can control my aura and psychic powers pretty well now!"

"Most excellent!" Mewtwo exclaimed as he descended into the camp, "Timing is key here, and we are lucky to have had time on our side for the last four days." Mew giggled as she floated down after her comrade, absentmindedly commenting on how much more powerful Ash looked.

"Tonight, we put those powers to the test, and our real mission begins," Mewtwo announced as he gathered the group around them, "Remember, someone or something out there is corrupting Arceus' orbs of aura and slowly killing him as well."

"Ash, it's up to you and your friends to go out and find the uncorrupted orbs and save them while Mewmew and I search for the fiends behind this whole scheme," Mew finished as she floated calmly in place next to Mewtwo, who still grimaced at his designated nickname.

"Use your aura to find the first orb Ash," Mewtwo encouraged, "Focus on the Psychic Aura Orb you hold within yourself and use it to find the next."

"Uh...Not entirely sure how to do that..." Ash answered truthfully, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

"Just listen, and I'm sure it will come," Mew provided, knowing a thing or two about natural aura frequencies.

The Black Latios nodded, closing his eyes as he concentrated on just listening. After a few minutes of self-meditation, Ash felt a small tug on his inner aura, pointing him south, past his hometown and into the open ocean.

"South," Ash announced excitedly; they were finally starting their real mission.

"Good. Tonight will be the last night you stay here. I take it you have enough supplies to at least make it back to town?" Mewtwo asked as he eyed the eldest trainer. Brock gave a thumbs up in the affirmative. "Restock there and then leave as soon as possible, the quicker, the better." Mewtwo walked over to the Black Latios, a ghost of a smile on his lips. He placed his three-fingered hand on Ash's shoulder and looked down at the male. "We must be off immediately, and I know you have much to do. But I believe you hold the key to this world's survival, and I pray that you will not disappoint me." Ash chuckled nervously, but nodded in understanding.

"Thanks Mewtwo, and you too Mew," Ash responded. Curtly nodding, Mewtwo began to fly off with his predecessor in tow.

"Bye Ash! Good luck!" Mew shouted as her pink body began to disappear above the tree line.

"Bye! Good luck to you too!" They all shouted as the two legendaries disappeared, off to find the source of evil that plagued the world.

The riding, black night descended upon the ancient mountainside, forcing the light back and shrouding the land in a blanket of celestial stars and quiet darkness.

Ash sat at the edge of the camp, his hands to his knees as he simply stared at the wondrous beauty before him, a sky so clear that nearly every star was out to dance and greet him. He felt closer to them now, somehow, each beam of luminous brilliance warming his skin and giving him peace in an unpeaceful world where the greed of men toppled lives and pulverized dreams without pause or regard.

He turned his head back to the campfire, listening to the idle chatter of his friends and the laughs they shared among themselves. Ash wondered why the world couldn't be the same, a circle of friends that didn't care for their differences, but embraced them and made them a part of their lives, no matter what race, species, language, culture or origin. In the end, they were friends.

Ash wondered who in their right mind would try to kill something like that, a rare flower that blossomed in the wintery winds of the cruel world where savages and beasts beat down on the path to their prey. He had always known that evil existed in the world, but to know that someone out there was blatantly trying to end the last dregs of innocence in the world upset him.

Only a heart of blackened intentions and demonic twistings could stand to watch such things happen.

The Black Latios sighed as he looked back up to the full moon hanging overhead, just wondering. He knew danger awaited him in the shadows, its sharpened claws already bloodied and outstretched, readying themselves for catching another to feast on.

"I refuse..." Ash whispered adamantly, his chocolate eyes reflecting the surface of the brilliant moon. He would get beat up, attacked, marred and scarred, but he refused to give up. Just as the moon was littered with marks of abuse, it still persisted and existed, doing its job without complaining or whining. "I will protect my friends."

He sighed, his mind drifting off to the night where Latias had found him staring out to the same endless sky while his mind plagued him with doubts and worries. He was still scared, but that wouldn't prevent him from forging forward. As long as his friends were there, Ash would endure.

"Alright Ash?" A soft voice asked from behind, bringing him back into the world. He knew that voice well by now.

"Yeah..." Ash murmured and pushed his hands back to support himself, his eyes still transfixed on the night sky. "Second time you've caught me just staring out there...Hope you don't think I'm crazy or anything." Latias giggled before plopping herself down next to Ash.

"No, I don't," Latias breathed out, "I did the same thing back on Alto Mare a lot...I find the night sky to be peaceful...It always helped me gather my thoughts." Ash's lips tugged up in an appreciative smile.

He didn't say another word for many minutes, simply letting the darkened whispers of the night flow around them to fill the warm silence.

"I thought about you a lot when I trained..." Ash muttered, barely audible, his gaze still transfixed on the luminous ball in the sky. "There were times when I wanted to give up...but I knew you'd never forgive me if I did."

Latias was quiet, her heart quickening in pace at his words, and she shivered, knowing that the cause was not the whipping winds that flew around the mountainside.

"Every time when things looked bleak, and I was about to lose hope, I'd remember you and everyone else was depending on me. It gave me strength," he continued, unaware of the effects of his words on the girl sitting to his right. He turned to face her, his face lighting up in a wide grin, still oblivious. "So thanks Latias."

The red eon returned the smile with her own tender one, her heart still aflutter and beating violently in her chest as she took in the heavenly visage of Ash's face bathed in moonlight.

"You're welcome," Latias could only whisper, afraid that her voice would betray her powerful emotions. She tried her best, but Latias couldn't fight the warm blush that creeped its way onto her cheeks. The female dragon wouldn't have sworn it, but she was quite sure that she saw a similar field of crimson adorning Ash's face.

She leaned forward placing a light kiss on Ash's right cheek, and if he hadn't been blushing before, he was definitely red-faced now, shocked by what he had just received. "That's my thanks for telling me." She looked away, her face nearly as bright as her own pokemon form, but she didn't regret it one bit.

Ash sat there stunned, still feeling the ghostly touch of Latias' light lips on his cheek. It burned wonderfully and strangely, and the Black Latios moved his hand up as if touching it would erase the unknown feeling. Alas, it was still there.

Latias still had her head turned, not sure if she wanted to see Ash's expression. She had kissed his cheek before, but never when they were both awake. She gasped as she felt a larger hand enclose her own petite ones, drawing her back towards his face.

Ash was still furiously blushing, but his lips held a gentle smile, one that Latias returned with her own as the feelings of doubt left her. She leaned her head on Ash's shoulder and sighed happily, and together they simply watched their second night sky roll by while they sat underneath the protective canopy of the mountainside.

Ash slept, his dreams a peaceful orchestra of timeless laughter and happiness, jingling and ringing with the sounds of his joyous friends. He conducted them with passionate gestures, moving from crescendo to pause to glissando to finale. All of the instruments were in perfect harmony, their dulcet tones rising and falling in perfect synch, never uttering a single note of disharmony.

But then, the doors to the hall burst open, cutting off the pleasant melody as a nameless figure entered, their instrument out of tune and uncared for, beaten up beyond recovery, but the figure didn't seem to care as their screeching tones attacked. Ash covered his ears in disgust, unable to believe someone would so blatantly disrupt them.

Adding the final touches to their assault, the figure picked up one of Ash's instruments and threw it at him, taunting him to challenge the disharmonious sounds he so gleefully produced. Without pause, Ash began, weaving his tune with a practiced hand, his eyes locked onto the figure. He would not lose to him.

Ash awoke with a start, crawling onto his knees as the first lines of light peeked out from the horizon. He felt uneasy, his aura cringing and shaking in warning. The Black Latios knew this feeling, and more importantly what followed.

"EVERYONE! GET UP NOW!" Ash roared as he moved to wake up his friends. They were in danger!

"Ash shut up..." Misty groaned, swatting away the empty air while her mind conjured up a picture of her best friend, an annoyed hiss escaping her mouth.

"GET UP! GET UP!" the Black Latios continued. They had only moments until it would begin.

"What's the big idea Ash!?" Brock yelled as he rubbed the bothersome, morning sand out of his eyes.

"WE'RE ABOUT TO BE SWARMED BY A HOARD OF ANGRY POKEMON! WE NEED TO GO NOW!" he shouted as he summoned his flying pokemon and levitated most of the supplies and appropriate tools back into place. If they could, Brock's eyes would have popped out of his skull. Unlike others, he didn't need telling twice.

"UP! WE GOT TO GO NOW!" Brock exclaimed, his frantic voice joining Ash's. A slight growling could be heard from the forest now as everyone was pulled out of their serene dreams. Within minutes, the camp was in absolute panic as pokemon and humans ran every which way to gather up their things to evacuate. They had learned that all the attacks were always centered around the orbs, and if they stayed there now, they would be sitting psyducks.

They paused as an unearthly, unholy moan slid down the mountain, the noise chilling them all to the bone. However, nothing immediately followed the sound.

"I think we have..." Dawn began before, out of no where, the fire pit exploded as the head of an angry onix popped out of the ground, its face glaring directly at Ash as if it could see the treasure housed there. Two sandslashes jumped out from the trees, converging on the barely prepared heroes, and Ash could not help but replay his simulated battle in his head. Unlike the fake encounter, this was a battle he could not afford to engage in.

Brock stuffed the last of his tools back into his pack in a frantic scurry, leaping out-of-the-way of a tackling Gravler, hopping onto Charizard's waiting back. Misty scrambled onto Staraptor's back while Dawn gripped Pidgeot, her wild morning hair still undone and hanging out, much to her mortification. Piplup was doing his best to hold all of the monsters at bay, trapping some in his powerful Whirlpool attacks and beating back others with rapid-fire Bubblebeams. Meanwhile, Latias transformed, picking up Pikachu, Riolu, Kirlia and Max.

'May let's go!' Ash yelled as he froze the rampant sandslash to his right with an Ice Beam, gesturing for the Hoenn trainer to jump onto his back. She screamed as she rushed through the cloud of dust, taking a leap of faith through the obscuring cloud, landing on the soft feathers of Ash's Latios form. Within seconds, they were all up in the air, barely escaping the stampede of indignant ground-type pokemon from down below.

Ash felt sick as he watched the cluster of pokemon grow from the sky, and it followed him from the ground, tracking where he was as the growls and howls of the pokemon below filled the morning air with ominous noises of anger and hatred. Peace was gone.

'There's no time to stop now!' Ash decided as he started flying directly south, while avoiding the town. 'We need to lose those pokemon and keep the town safe!' If they could cross a large body of water, the ground-types below wouldn't stand a chance.

'I can't believe another orb is gone already!' Latias exclaimed as she watched the cluster of deranged pokemon continue to gather below them. They were running out of time and fast. Only twelve orbs remained out of the seventeen that existed, and their enemy already had four while they only had one! They needed to even the scales before their enemy, whoever they were, became so powerful that gathering the orbs wouldn't be enough to save the world.

Well there's chapter 24! Ash finally got some butt-kicking screen time and now TR has four orbs! But, Ash seems to have nearly mastered most of his Aura powers already. He's also purged himself of all those nasty doubts. Now it's a race to the finish line as both teams have finally started.

Oh and Latias finally kissed Ash while they were both awake! :P

A/N

Still rather busy with applications and such. Most of it has slowed down (thankfully), but like I said earlier, I won't be free until December 1st! It's coming. (Dies...)

As usual, I continue to thank my wonderful and busy beta, Tanon!

For those who still haven't seen it.

The Black Latios - Shenanigans Pt 1 - Submitted by AquaShine

(http)(:)(/)(/)(aquashines).(deviantart).com(/)(#)(/)(d5j4r3f)

The Black Latios - Shenanigans Pt 2 - Submitted by AquaShine

(http)(:)(/)(/)(aquashines).(deviantart).com(/)(#)(/)(d5j4rvt)

Thank you all so much for reading and please review! You patience and support is immensely appreciated!

-Mekon