Hi everyone,

Here is another chapter of Shattered Past. Boy, its a big one. (All I can say is Poor Lysandre. Hehehe.)

Why don't you read and find out what I mean about that? Please do enjoy reading this next chap.

Ash groggily groaned as his eyes slowly starting to flutter open. Shaking his head, clearing his blurry vision, the boy blinked a few times in bewilderment as he found himself appearing to be standing alone inside a dark void, "Hello? Anyone there?"

There was no reply.

Frowning, Ash started walking forward cautiously observing the darkness around him looking for any signs of where he might be. He slowly turned on his feet, walking backward not sure what he was searching for. Suddenly Ash froze when his back came in contact with something or rather someone.

"Hello, Ash Ketchum. We finally meet," a deep voice echoed through the darkness behind him. Ash lept out of his skin in freight whipping around, his heart beating rapidly, ready to defend himself. However, who Ash saw took him completely by surprise and stole his breath away.

'N-no way!'

Standing in front of the raven-haired trainer was the legendary hero and Aura Guardian who sacrificed himself to stop a war, Sir Aaron, standing tall over Ash and smiling gently down at the boy with a warm gaze.

Snapping out of his stunned stupor, Ash beamed brightly, ignoring the fact that a dead person was in front of him, sticking his palm out for a handshake, "Hi! I heard so much about you! Your awesome!" Sir Aaron couldn't help but chuckle in amusement at the young trainer's energy-returning the handshake, "Thank you, Ash. I have also heard much about you."

"Me?" Pointing to himself in confusion, Ash blinked a few times up at Sir Aaron with a blank expression. The man nodded and replied, "Of course! Lucario often talks fondly about you. I always wanted to meet my descendant." A look of understanding flashed over the boy's face, "Oh if Lucario... wait." Ash paused, the last of that sentence finally registering in his mind while his eyes widened in sheer shock, "I am your descendant!?"

Sir Aaron quirked an eyebrow up, seemingly puzzled by the boy's reaction, "You didn't know? Why do you think we share the same Aura and close physical appearance?" Ash scratched the back of his head chuckling nervously, "I never thought about it actually."

Sighing softly in slight exasperation, the man nodded his head, "Ah, right. Anyways, Ash, we have important business to discuss your Aura." Ash couldn't help but flinch, the one thing he had been avoiding since he discovered it. He shifted uncomfortably thinking about Aura. Either paying no attention to the trainer's discomfort or didn't see it, the knight continued talking, "Mew had contact with me lately and found it best to inform you that you should start training. Especially with what is to come to Ash. You have to be prepared."

"H-how am I going to train? I don't even where to start!" countered Ash, already having a feeling he just lost this argument. Sir Aaron grinned widely as his eyes flashed in excitement, "You going to have a teacher." Ash couldn't help but gulp nervously, "Who is going to be my teacher?"

"Simple. Lucario is going to be your teacher," stated the man crossing his arms over his chest in almost a smug stance. "Huh?" Ash stared at Sir Aaron like the man had grown two heads, he didn't expect that answer since he didn't see anyone else with Aura Guardian. Ash half expected Sir Aaron would proclaim that he was going to tutor him.

"If Lucario is going to train me where is he?" asked Ash looking around hoping the see Lucario, yet he couldn't help but feel slight fear of seeing the Aura Pokémon. He didn't know why though. Sir Aaron smirked, "Already waiting for you at the chamber of the Tree of Beginning, well his crystallized form is."

Ash gave Sir Aaron another blank look before it fell into uncertainty, "I don't understand." The man smiled, "All you to do is use my gloves, like before, which I assume you still have?" Ash nodded in the confirmation so the knight kept speaking, "To share enough of your Aura with Lucario to regenerate his own."

The raven-haired nodded, "Alright. But what about you?" Sir Aaron shook his head, "Sadly, my Aura was too weak to revive after such an extended period of time. Lucario's, however, still is strong enough." Ash frowned, this didn't feel right. He wanted to see Lucario again but it felt like he was taking him from his friend. The boy opened his mouth to voice his thoughts but Sir Aaron held up his hand stopping him, "Before you protest against it, Lucario already agreed to be your instructor and is waiting to meet you again."

Immediately, Ash started to feel light-headed stumbling backward slightly as his eyesight blurred barely able to see, "What is going on?" The boy vaguely heard Sir Aaron's voice echo through his ears, "You become conscious again. Remember what you must do Ash Ketchum. The fate of the Earth's peace depends on it."

That was Ash heard before he was blinded by a bright blue light and everything went blank.

Disorientation. That's all Ash felt as he slowly awoke feeling his head throb uncomfortably. Everything felt numbed like his senses were frozen in ice. He moaned opening his heavy eyelids but immediately screwed them shut when light obscured his vision.

"Ash, come on wake up," a muffled voice rang through raven-haired trainer's aching head, causing him to flinch. Shaking his head, Ash tried to sit up, ignoring the strain on his muscles. "Oh no, not so fast. Get back down!" The same voice snapped while gently pushing him down on a soft surface, that he assumed was a bed.

Ash finally opened his eyes as he found that he was in the old-fashioned styled room, that had ancient designs of architecture across the walls with medieval furniture laid around. In front of his bed, sat Lysandre scowling at the boy, not wanting Ash to move too quickly. Pikachu was sleeping peacefully on the boy's chest, not aware yet that his trainer had awoken.

"What happened and where are we?" asked Ash observing his surroundings in vague confusion. Lysandre sighed, "After touching whatever Mew created you became unconscious. We bought you as quickly as we could to a nearby town named Rota. We now in one of the castle rooms. Apparently, the queen knew you and offered that we stay until you recuperate."

Something clicked in Ash's head. He panicked trying to quickly sit up again, ignoring the disapproving glare he was receiving and the wave of exhaustion that washed over him, "I am fine," stressed the boy moving to get out of the bed but winced as spots clouded his vision feeling dizzy, "But I need to go now!"

Lysandre, however, seemed to think otherwise easily pushing Ash back down, proving just how weak the boy still truly was, "No get back in that bed. We aren't leaving until I am sure you are fully healed because you were out for three days straight and your body needs time to recover. I will get a rope to tie you to the bed if necessary but you aren't going anywhere, do I make myself clear Ash?"

Ash groaned sinking down on the bed, "I am fine! But I need to go!" Lysandre rose an eyebrow, wondering what has gotten the boy so worked up, "Where exactly do you need to go?" Ash looked ready to reply but closed his mouth, maybe it's best nobody knew why. That way they didn't have to dragged into his mess even more. Ash turned his head to the side mumbling under his breath, "Nothing."

Lysandre, inwardly, sighed in frustration. He hated it when the trainer clammed up to him. That already happened once in Alola and now here. He knew Ash wasn't telling truth and the kid was hiding something. But he couldn't force Ash to tell him what it was since that wouldn't them anywhere.

Taking a deep breath, the man stood up from the chair he was sitting on, "Okay, you are probably hungry. I will get a few sandwiches just don't try to move too much while I am gone." Ash hesitantly nodded in agreement, "Alright." Lysandre turned on heels leaving and closed the door behind him waking up Pikachu.

The electric mouse ears perked up and looked around with sleepy eyes until they made contact with his trainer, "Pika pi!" Ash laughed catching his starter Pokemon that lept happily in his arms, "Great to see you as well buddy." Pikachu affectionately rubbed his red against Ash's own, letting a happy 'chaaa' when the boy scratched behind his ear.

Ash smiled but quickly frowned looking around the room until his eyes spotted one of the windows open. It wasn't large but it was his enough for him to fit through. Cradling Pikachu in his arms, the raven-haired boy took a final look towards the wooden door before smiling down at the electric mouse, "Well, buddy how does a little adventure to see an old friend sound?"

A few minutes later when Lysandre returned with a tray of food, Ash and Pikachu were both gone.

Serena was staring blankly into the crackling fire with worried eyes as a fierce and vicious snowstorm raged outside of the cave the group had taken refuged in. Meowth had already fallen asleep next to her, curled tightly in a ball still shaking slightly from the cold air. Professor Kukui and Burnet both appeared to also be sleeping leaving her to seemingly be the only one awake.

"Oh Ash," she muttered, closing her eyes as flashbacks of the one she loved moved across her vision. "You love him don't you?" Professor Burnet's voice startled her. The honey-blonde chuckled nervously, already knowing who the woman was referring to, "Am I that obvious?" Burnet smiled softly patting the empty spot next to her, "Yes, come sit here Serena."

Blinking in confusion, Serena complied shifting to sit next to Professor Burnet wondering why she was called over. The woman chuckled laying her arm gently across the girl's shoulder, "So tell me how you met Ash." Serena smiled, "I met him at Summer camp when we were kids in the forest when I hurt my knee. He helped out of the forest and taught me to 'never give up'. I met him again in Kalos after he saved Professor Sycamore's Garchomp on Prism Tower."

"That sounds like Ash alright," replied Professor Burnet, "So have you told him about how you feel?" Serena blushed looking away, "Well, sort of. I gave him a kiss on the lips before I left Kalos." Burnet sighed shaking her head, "Serena you need to tell Ash about how you feel. Because if you don't you going to lose your one chance of love." The honey-blonde nodded her head, bringing her legs closer to her, "I know. Tasha said the same thing in Alola. But it seems like whenever I try to tell him something always comes up and I never get the time."

"Well, next time you meet him maybe tell him how you feel Serena. This might sound sappy now but there is always time for love. You just need to take it before its gone." Serena smiled as her eyes seemed to light up with new determination, "I understand and I will!" Professor Burnet laughed bringing the girl closer, "Good! Because I am sure you two would look so cute dating each other!" Serena's face became a dark red feeling flushed from embarrassment, "R-right."

"Now let's rest Serena. We have a big day tomorrow and need all the energy we can get to search for Ash and everyone else. Who knows what might happen!" Serena smiled leaning comfortably into Professor Burnet's side, "Alright. Goodnight. Professor."

"Goodnight Serena," replied Burnet yawning slightly. It was silent for a few more seconds before Serena opened her mouth again, "Professor?" the honey-blonde asked closing her eyes. "Yes?" asked the woman tilting her head to the side, "Thanks."

Professor Burnet smiled gently, "Your welcome."

That is a wrap! I hope you all enjoyed reading that chapter and please do remember to review afterwards.

Petrolhead1 out like a light.