Hi everyone, I have been away for a while, haven't I?
Well, good news I am back with a big chapter an hopefully one that you will all have fun reading.
Please do enjoy.
"Any progress yet?" asked Giovanni walking into the main lab of Aether Foundation, which was now taken over by Team Rainbow Rocket scientists. A scientist with dark blue hair, green eyes, and pale skin braved a step forward, "S-sir, our technology still needs to be adapted to suit the needs of Project Nucleus. It can't survive on the raw energy that is produced from Ultra Wormholes. If we try to store it inside of Project Nucleus that energy will shred it to pieces."
Giovanni frowned, not pleased with this news, "Isn't there a way to work around this problem?" The scientist shook his head, "Afraid not sir, especially with our current team. You sent most of them to the other regions to aid the individual teams with their operations." The dark-haired man hummed in thought, "I see. That is a problem. But I think I know a solution."
"You do sir?" asked the scientist, feeling intrigued by the dark-haired man's words. Giovanni smirked, his eyes gleaming, "Yes with the aid of the scientists of this facility, I believe this issue can be solved with no trouble." The scientist blinked in confusion, "Not to question your superiority sir but how are you going to make them work with us?"
"Simple, we use this," suddenly Giovanni threw a gun at the scientist, the man scrambling to catch it. Once he got a proper grip on it, the scientist's hands trembled as he stared at the weapon in his grasp before looking up at Giovanni with wide eyes, "U-um, sir what is this for?"
The Team Rainbow Rocket leader just grinned, "Well, you got your answer. If there is any resistance don't hesitate to use that. It should drive the point home to those who want to play 'hero'. Now any further questions?" The tone the man used was daring the underlying scientist to question his command again.
Realizing he had overstepped his boundaries, the scientist straightened his back giving Giovanni a salute, "No sir! All is clear!" The man nodded in approval his gaze making eye contact with all the scientists in the lab, "Excellent, I will be sending them over and expect results soon. If there aren't any by the time I return again there will be very fatal consequences for all of you. Do you understand that or do I need to demonstrate what I mean?"
The scientist gulped, rapidly nodding his head, "N-no sir! We will get to work right away!" Giovanni nodded in approval before he spun on his heels leaving the lab of scientists behind. Once he left the lab, the dark-haired man allowed himself to relax slightly as he thought over recent events. He couldn't stop a smirk to twist itself on his lips.
'Just you wait Ash Ketchum. Everything is going according to plan and once Project Nucleus is ready, I will conquer this world. No matter what.'
Ash couldn't stand still as he impatiently stood alone outside of the Battle Pyramid, waiting for everyone to get ready. The thought of seeing Lucario alive again made him feel anxious. The only thing stopping him from taking off was Pikachu, the electric mouse having to remind his trainer to have patience.
Unfortunately, the word 'patience' isn't in Ash's vocabulary, "Alright buddy, I think we better moving already. I can't stand here and do nothing anymore! Lucario is waiting for us!" But he didn't get very far before he was suddenly lifted from the ground by his shirt's collar, "Whoa!"
"Where exactly do you think you're going?" asked Lysandre, not very looking pleased. He didn't appreciate Ash wanting to take off without everyone again, just like he did when they were staying at Rota. Luckily had he come to check up on the boy just in time to catch him. Honestly, what is wrong with this kid not staying put when asked?!
Ash innocently shrugged while jabbing a thumb over to the gigantic tree-like formation in the distance that was shrouded in thick early morning mist, making it appear to give off a mystical glow, "The Tree of Beginning."
"Sure you were," huffed Lysandre as he set the kid back on the ground, "Anyways, Brandon says he has an idea on how to get to the Tree of Beginning faster and easier than walking. All you need to do is just wait a little longer, Ash."
"But-" Lysandre cut the raven-haired trainer off, "No buts Ash. This is where I put my foot down. We are going to wait for Brandon and everyone else to come, do I make myself clear?" Ash groaned, dropping his shoulders in defeat, "Fiiiinnnee!"
"You won't have to wait longer, Ash," Brandon walked out of the Battle Pyramid, with Jessie, James, Tasha, and Gary lingering not far behind him, "Sorry for the long wait but I was busy giving one of the mini aircrafts a tune-up. Now we will be able to reach the Tree of Beginning in a few minutes, which would usually take a couple of days. I even know a few shortcuts to the center we could take and completely avoid the cells."
"Wait cells? What cells?" curiously asked Lysandre with his eyebrows furrowed. The last time the group was in the Tree of Beginning they didn't get a good look around because after Ash had past out, Mew had immediately teleported them away again to the front of Cameran Palace.
Brandon nodded, "Yes. You see the Tree of Beginning isn't really a tree. It's actually a gigantic living rock formation with its own immune system, one that works very similar to all known living organisms. Meaning it even has its own white blood cells that are known to destroy anything that it considers a threat, which includes any human being or machine. The only things that they don't attack are Pokemon."
Ash cringed, he honestly forgot about those cells. He shivered as memories came flooding back of being caught by them. Their squishy bodies wrapped tightly around him, trapping and painfully destroying his body as he could only helplessly say goodbye to Pikachu and his Pokemon as everything became dark. Afterwards, he didn't remember much, only that once he was able to open his eyes again he was tackled to the ground by his crying Pokemon but after that was when Mew got sick and then Lucario d-died.
"Ash, are you alright?" The boy flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Blinking, he looked up to see Lysandre gazing down at him in concern. Ash shook his head as he tried to remind himself that everything was going to be alright and he was going to bring Lucario back, "Yeah, I am fine! Nothing to worry about!" Lysandre, on the other hand, didn't look certain, "Are you sure? Because you just spaced out. We all have been trying to call you in the last few minutes but you didn't respond."
Jessie nodded in agreement with the orange-haired man, "Yeah twerp, it was like you were on another planet!" Ash smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head, "Oh, right. Sorry about that! But I promise I am doing just great!" Lysandre hesitated. He knew Ash was hiding something. What? He didn't know. Yet, he knew couldn't force the kid to tell him. Sighing, Lysandre decided to drop the subject, "Alright. Let's get going." Brandon nodded waving them over, "Follow me."
Unfortunately, what the trio didn't know is that certain mischievous pink legendary Pokemon that goes by the name Mew was hiding in the nearby bush silently giggling to herself as she thought of how to turn Brandon's minutes into seconds by using a certain move known as Teleport. Her body began glowing a faint white aura while her blue eyes shone radiantly. In a few seconds a bright flash accorded in front of her before it died down, the field was empty. Mew nodded proudly at her work before she was engulfed in a flash and disappearing herself.
Location: The center of the Tree of Beginning
Once again, the crystal chamber lited up in a vibrant flash for a few seconds before diminishing and everyone, this time around, landed perfectly on their feet. Although when they got a good look at their surroundings a certain blonde-haired coordinator wasn't exactly happy, "Oh come on! Teleported again! I swear if this happens one more time I am suing the author!"
Ash's gaze, however, was focused on something completely different. The one thing that stood out to him the most. A few feet away from him was a large green crystal. One with a familiar dim silhouette encased inside of the gleaming formation.
"Lucario," the boy whispered, weakly stumbling forward while his legs felt like swaying jelly. Once he was close enough he crashed on his knees in front of the crystal, grabbing the edges of it with his shaking hands. It almost felt unreal. Once the trainer finally managed to calm himself, Ash swung his bag off from his shoulder and zipped it open. It wasn't long before he pulled out a pair recognizing gloves with blue rocks on them. For a few seconds, he stared at Sir Aaron's gloves, rubbing his thumbs gently over the smooth surfaces of the rocks embedded on them.
Closing his eyes, the boy could feel uncertainty starting to creep in. What if he couldn't do this? What if he wasn't strong enough to bring Lucario back? What if he fails? What if he can't use his aura again? What if-
Ash shook his head before opening his eyes again, blazing fire of determination displaying in them. No. He wasn't going to give up! Lucario depends on him. His mother. Serena. Everyone does! He was going to bring Lucario back no matter what! For everyone's sake, he must do it.
With no further delay, the raven-haired boy slipped the gloves on his hands and began concentrating as he held his open palms towards the crystal. It took just a couple of seconds for him to finally feel a familiar sensation pass through him. It was a distant one that he buried and hidden a long time ago. He could feel it beginning to surface at his fingertips. With closed eyes and a sucked in breath, he pushed this feeling forward and it flowed from him in a bluish light. He blocked out the surprised gasps behind him and kept focusing on what was in front of him. Ash could feel Lucario's aura getting stronger by each passing minute, the light becoming more vibrant by the second. He winced as pain spiked through him, his aura crackling like lightning around him, but he wasn't going to stop until the end. Not until his friend was back. With a new sudden burst, if energy coursing through him, Ash grunted, growling through gritted teeth, "I am not gonna give up!" With that, he poured his aura forward and everything was consumed in a blinding flash.
When it simmered down, Ash was on his hands and knees panting from exhaustion with sweat dripping down his face. He took slow deep wet breaths trying to get the air that his body so desperately craved. He groaned wiping the built-up sweat off his forehead, half wondering how he didn't pass out.
'Hello, Ash.'
Suddenly the boy froze. That voice. He moved his gaze slowly upwards and relief hit him like a speeding train.
There was Lucario.
Alive.
Sitting a few feet in front of him.
Ash didn't even think when lunged at Lucario, wrapping his arms around the Aura Pokémon's neck, also careful to avoid its spike, feeling its soft fur brushing against his skin, telling him this wasn't a dream. Lucario was actually alive.
"Y-your alive!" Ash couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face as he chocked on a sob, clutching tighter on Lucario. The blue bipedal canine-like Pokemon was tense for a few seconds before slowly returning the gesture. Once Ash managed to regain himself, he pulled away and dried the tears away from his red puffy eyes. He couldn't stop himself smiling at Lucario.
"Great to see you again," spoke Ash, to break the silence. Lucario returned the smile while bowing his head forward, 'The feeling is mutual Ash.' Everyone around the duo watched in heavy confusion and amazement at what just happened. They were clueless about the events that just transpired. They were either unsure how to react or simply too stunned to do so. Ignoring everyone's bewildered stares, Ash stood up on shaky legs that shook under his weight, barely able to keep him up. He stuck a hand out towards the Aura Pokemon, "Need a hand?"
Lucario smiled taking Ash's hand, allowing the boy to help him up from the ground. However, for the trainer, it seemed a little too much as he stumbled backwards feeling exhaustion finally washing over him. Lucario tensed ready to catch Ash but someone behind the boy already did.
"Ash are you alright?" asked Lysandre, still half stunned and amazed, as he supported Ash. The trainer shook his his feeling dizzy and everything around him slurred, "I don't feel good." Lucario hummed, 'Its is normal that your tired. Using that much aura can take quite the toll on your body.'
"Wait, that was your aura? You can use aura?" demanded Gary, his eyes wide in shock. He only read on how some Pokemon can use aura, let alone a human. Let alone his best friend! He had known Ash for his whole life and never knew about it, "This is an amazing scientific discovery Ashy-boy! How long have you known about it? Have you used it before? What else can you do with your aura?" Lysandre couldn't stop himself glaring at the brunette, not appreciating that the young researcher was talking about Ash like he was some lab rat. Although, he wouldn't be lying by saying he was himself intrigued by the fact that Ash could use aura but he had to bury his curiosity for another time.
Brandon seemed to share similar thoughts, "I would appreciate it if we reframe from asking him anything further. Ash needs time to recover, as Lucario said. We can ask more questions later." Gary mumbled unhappily under his breath, hesitantly conceding with the dark-haired man and backing down, for now.
Lysandre shot a grateful loom towards Brandon before turning his attention to Ash, "How are you feeling?" The boy winced, feeling his head spin and ache like crazy, "Dizzy." Lucario stepped forward, kneeling down to observe the boy. He could sense Ash's aura fluctuating telling him that the trainer was barely able to keep himself conscious, 'Is there a place where we can take him for rest?'
Brandon nodded, "Yes, the Battle Pyramid. We can take him there." The Aura Pokemon regarded everyone around him carefully. He didn't know if he could trust them but Ash seemed calm around them, putting him at ease. If Ash trusted them, he would as well. With his decision made up, Lucario turned to Mew, 'I thank you for your assistance in aiding us today. If you could one more favor can you send us to that location please?'
The pink feline-like Pokemon smiled happily, swinging her long tail side to side, as she zoomed forward to the middle of the group, her body glowing a familiar colour. Tasha groaned, already knowing what was gonna happen, "Oh no here we go ag-" she didn't get to finish her sentence when they all were whisked away by Teleport.
Location: Unknown
He was crouched low the ground, observing their intentions with a tight frown adorning his features, from his perch on a nearby cliff peering down into the deep quarry that had strange people doing something involving the ruins. He wasn't sure what they were up to but it didn't look good.
Turning around, he started running with some very startling news. He needed to tell her this before it was too late.
Inwardly, he knew she wasn't going to take this well.
That is a wrap. I hope you all enjoyed reading that.
Well, on other news to those who have read Dimensions Collide, the rewrite is gonna be renamed Dimensional Journey and I will be publishing it soon.
One more thing before I go, who would like to read a one-shot romance story between Lysandre and Delia? Just like a pre-story of this. (Don't worry it won't change anything.)
Let me know in the comments of what you think.
Petrolhead1 shifting gears away.