Chapter 54:
The next morning, the group woke up and started questioning Ash how the talk with the Pokémon went, as they were asleep last night when he came back, and he decided to explain how it went during breakfast.
Morty and Eusine showed up as well, and joined the group for a breakfast.
Ash had to explain to Morty and Eusine how he is a Grand Master of the Aura Guardians, and how he has Aura and Psychic powers, which is the reason behind his strength. He did decide, though, to skip the part about Celebi granting him some of her power as it might be too much, considering what happened with Lugia and Ho-Oh.
He then explained that he told the Pokémon about the preserve, and that he wants them to stay there, as he doesn't like to use Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in battle, and they all agreed.
As for normal, Shiny and Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, he offered them to stay in the preserve as well, or they can join his team, or can go with his friends.
In the end, they decided to check his friends, and then they will decide to go with.
So, after the breakfast was finished, Morty and Eusine said good bye to the group, and left.
Ash and the others checked out of the Pokémon Center, and went toward their next gym, in Mahogany Town, but first stopped outside of Ecruteak City where the Lawrence's ship crushed down so that they can split the Pokémon that were still there, while Ash has already sent the Legendary and Mythical in Pallet Town last night, and informed his father about it.
As the Pokémon, 15 of them, who were there already knew Ash's friends from yesterday, there was no need for introductions, and Ash only mentioned what kind of trainers his friends are, so that Pokémon can chose easier who they want to go with.
After few minutes of discussing, the Pokémon's made a choice, and they split up between five people.
Three of five Shiny Pokémon, who all coincidently turned out to be at least a part Water Type, Shiny Dragonair, Shiny Gyarados, and Shiny Milotic, all chose to go with Misty, and even though she already had Gyarados and Milotic, she was more than happy to have them all in her team.
All Pokémon from Galar Region except one, who were in the highest number of all Pokémon there, chose to go with Leaf and Ash.
Perrserker, who is the evolved form of Galarian Meowth, Alcremie, and Frosmoth, chose to go with Leaf, while Obstagoon, who is the evolved for of Galarian Linoone, Dragapult and Cinderace, who is in fact the final evolved form of Galar Region Fire starter Pokémon, chose to go with Ash.
Alolan Vulpix, Galarian Ponyta and Altaria, chose to go with Serena.
And finally, Hydreigon, Shiny Magnezone, and Shiny Druddigon went with Brock.
After all the Pokémon choose who to go with, and after everyone sent them to either Oak's Ranch, Cerulean City or Pewter City Gym's, Ash had one last thing to do.
He closed his eyes, and telepathically called Mewtwo and Alakazam, who heard him, and showed up with Teleport right away.
"Hey Ash, what's up," Mewtwo asked?"
"I need the two of you to teleport this ship to the Rota Kingdom, where Aura Guardian Headquarters is." Ash said. "I spoke with dad last night, and told him about it, and he was interested, so he wants to have Urahara search it up and down, and see what else is in there, and if he put some of the technology to better use then trap Pokemon."
"I've never been in Rota Kingdom, so I can't teleport there." Mewtwo said.
"Alakazam has been there," Ash said. "He will help you focus with his Psychic powers."
Mewtwo and Alakazam nodded, and after few moments it took for Alakazam to show Mewtwo mental pictures of their destinations, they disappeared along with the entire ship.
"Wow, to be able to teleport all that," Brock said, in disbelief. "Their power must be greater than I thought."
"There is rarely a chance for them to show their power, but trust me, they are both very strong." Ash said.
As everything was finished, the group went on their way.
XXX
Few days after they left Ecruteak City, and headed toward Mahogany Town, Ash and the gang arrived in a small Town called Eggseter, and they run into Gary, who was being pulled on a skateboard by his Arcanine.
When Ash asked his what's he doing, Gary told him about the Extreme Pokémon Race that is held in Eggseter the next day, and he is practicing.
Later in the Town, Leaf expressed desire to enter into the race and compete, but the problem was that she didn't have a skateboard.
That's when an older man, who introduced himself as Mr. Shellby, approached them, explained about the history of the Extreme Pokémon Race, and offered to give Leaf the skateboard that he has, and Leaf accepted.
They all went to Mr. Shellby's house, which was also a Pokémon Day Care, where the kids met Mr. Shellby's wife, Kimie, and they showed them all the Pokémon and Pokémon eggs that they are watching over.
Later Leaf trains with her Tauros, who she picked for the Pokémon she will use for the race.
That night, some thief's broke into Mr. Shellby's house, and attempted to steal all the Pokémon and Pokémon eggs, but were stopped by Ash, who was not to be caught off guard even while sleeping.
The next day, the Extreme Pokémon Race started, and very soon, Gary and Leaf were in the lead, and it was clear that one of them will be the winner.
It was a tough race, but in the end, Leaf managed to win the race, as her Tauros was just slightly faster than Gary's Arcanine.
After the win, Leaf was awarded Golden Poke Ball trophy, and her Tauros was given a medal.
Before the gang left the Town, to continue their journey, Mr. Shellby approached them, and as a thanks for saving the Pokémon eggs and Pokémon in his Day Care, Mr. Shellby gave Ash a Pokémon Egg.
Ash thanked him, and they continued toward Mahogany Town.
XXX
Few days later, the Egg that Ash received from Mr. Shellby hatched into Phanpy, and it turned out to be a feisty one, as he kept tackling everyone right after hatching, and it made Ash smirk and started to train him right away.
This training led to Ash's Houndour evolving into Houndoom and Totodile evolving into Croconaw.
The next day, Serena finally gathered the courage to ask Ash about what Brock said, that Ash could kill someone when he is angry, and asked him about what really happened in Saffron City.
Ash decided it was time to tell her the truth, and he told her the story about everything that happened with Team Rocked in Silph Co. Headquarters, and how he killed one of the Team Rocket executives by throwing him through the window after he threatened to kill Silph Co. President.
Serena listened quietly, and when Ash finished, she didn't know that to think. On one hand, Ash killed a person, but then again, he killed him to protect himself and someone else.
She then told him she needs to think about this for a while, and Ash agreed.
XXX
Two days later, the group was still on their way toward Mahogany Town, and they are now going over a Mt. Mortar, but they were having trouble because of the heavy fog that makes visibility bad.
"Damn it with this fog," Brock said. "It will take us forever to go over this mountain."
Suddenly, Ash grabbed Brock by an arm, and pulled him back. "You should watch where you are going, Brock." Ash said, and pointed where Brock was about to step, and saw he was about to step over the edge of the mountain road, and fall down into the abyss.
Brock took a step back, and apologized, while sweating because he was an inch away from certain death. "Sorry about that, Ash."
"The same goes for everyone," Ash said. "Watch right in front of your feet, and walk slowly. If you fall down, I doubt I'll be able to save you."
They all nodded, and continued to go slowly over a mountain path, and then suddenly, a beautiful blue haired girl dressed in Japanese style cloths, appeared in front of them, along with Ninetales.
"Hello everyone," she said. "Do you need some help? You look troubled."
"Yeah, we are having trouble because of this fog," Brock said.
"Oh, well then, why don't you come to my home, where you can wait for the fog to clear out," the girl offered.
Everyone but Ash agreed, while Ash was quiet, and they all started following the girl, with Ash going last, so no one noticed his eyes glowing yellow.
"I'm Lokoko, by the way," the girl introduced herself. "And this is my friend, Ninetales."
The group introduced themselves, and then they appeared in front of an old mansion that suddenly appeared from the fog.
"Do you live here alone?" Misty asked.
"It's just me and Ninetales," Lokoko said, as she led them inside. "There used to be many people here, but they all left a long time ago."
After Lokoko lead them into the dining room, she served them some fruit, and they talked about the groups' journey, and strangely, Brock was flirting with Lokoko, and she was flirting back with him.
It was during the talk that Misty looked into the mirror that was nearby, and saw that Lokoko has no reflection.
She was just about to ask about that, but Ash stopped her. "I see you have noticed it."Ash said directly into Misty's head with Telepathy.
"Ash, what's going on?" Misty asked in her head, thinking Ash will hear her.
"This girl and this house are an illusion,"Ash said. "I noticed it when I saw her that she is not real."
"But who is creating illusion?" Misty asked.
"I think it's this Ninetales."Ash said.
"Are Ninetales even capable of doing illusions?" Misty asked.
"Usually they can't, but this one seems different."Ash said.
"So, what are we going to do?"Misty asked. "And what's up with Brock?"
"He seems to be under some sort of Hypnosis,"Ash said. "Ninetales has some interest in Brock for some reason, and I can't read her mind to figure out why."
Ash then looked at Lokoko and asked. "You said that the people from here left a long time ago, but why?"
Lokoko and Ninetales looked at Ash, and Lokoko spoke. "This mansion belonged to a man who used to be Ninetales original trainer, but he left on a journey one day, and said he will be back in a month, but never came back. After time passed, people started leaving the mansion, and in the end only Ninetales and I were left."
After she finished the story, everyone was saddened by it, even Ash and Misty, but this only made them wander exactly when this trainer left, and why did he never come back.
Lokoko, Ninetales and Brock along with Leaf and Serena went outside a little, while Ash and Misty stayed back, as they said, they will rest a little.
"So, what now?" Misty asked after she and Ash stayed back in the dining room.
"Now we explore this place." Ash said. "Maybe there is something that can tell us more about Ninetales and her former trainer."
The two then went through the mansion, and found nothing in several rooms, but then they came in the room that belonged to the mansion owner, and they saw a big portrait, hanging above the desk, and they saw he looked just like Brock.
There was also a Poke Ball, which Ash and Misty guessed to be Ninetales's, and appears to be an incredibly old model with intricate details and the owner's diary. They were on the desk.
"This guy looked just like Brock." Misty said in disbelief.
"I guess now we know why Ninetales put Brock under Hypnosis," Ash said, while looking at the Poke Ball, and the Diary.
"What do you mean?" Misty asked.
"Brock looks like her former master," Ash said. "So, it's obvious that Ninetales wants to keep him here."
"We can't let that happen." Misty said.
"Don't worry, Misty, we'll save Brock." Ash said, while looking through the pages of the diary.
"What does the diary say," Misty asked? "And what's with this Poke Ball? I have never seen one like this."
"That Poke Ball is over 200 years old," Ash said, and showed Misty the last entry in the diary, that was written 200 years ago.
"What," Misty shouted. "But how is that possible?"
"This guy lived centuries ago," Ash said. "Which means that Ninetales is also that old, which I'm not really surprised about, as Ninetales can live for 1000 years. What I am a little surprised about, is that she is still here, and that there is something odd about this Poke Ball."
"What's odd about the Poke Ball?" Misty said.
"There is some sort of power around this ball," Ash said. "I've never seen or felt something like this, and I can't even guess what it is."
"Maybe that's why Ninetales is still here," Misty said. "Maybe the power of the Poke Ball is not letting her go away."
"It's possible," Ash said, and then he took the diary and the Poke Ball, and headed out of the room. "Let's go and ask Ninetales."
After they got out of the room, they then walked out of the mansion, and found Brock with Lokoko and Ninetales talking, with Brock still under Hypnosis, and Serena and Leaf were talking with each other.
"Hey Ash," Leaf said, as she saw Ash and Misty. "Brock's really into this girl, don't you think?
"And she seems to actually like him as well." Serena added.
"Well, he's about to be disappointed," Ash said, and without waiting for Serena and Leaf to ask what he means, though Misty then started telling them what Ash and she found out, Ash walked over to Brock, Lokoko and Ninetales.
"Hey, Ninetales," Ash called, and Ninetales and Lokoko looked at him, while Brock seemed like he was lost in his mind. "I have a question."
"What is it?" Ninetails asked, and Lokoko asked the same, not really knowing Ash understood.
"Why didn't you leave this place after you realized that your trainer won't come back?" Ash asked, and Ninetales and Lokoko narrowed their eyes.
"What makes you think he won't come back," Ninetales asked, and Lokoko translated?
"Well," Ash said, and showed them the diary and the Poke Ball he held in his hands behind his back so they didn't see it before. "I seriously doubt he is still alive since he left this place 200 years ago."
Ninetales narrowed his eyes even further, and looked ready to start attacking Ash.
"Calm down," Ash said. "All I want to know is why you are still here, and I want you to release the illusion you have on this place and hypnosis on Brock as he is not your trainer no matter how much they look alike."
That was it, Ninetales knew she was discovered, and that Ash is going to ruin her plan, so she attacked with Flamethrower. And it was a damn powerful one.
"Ash, watch out!" Misty yelled, while she, Serena and Leaf were running toward Ash.
"Stay back!" Ash said, and lifted his right hand, and held his palm open, and then created a barrier, which stopped Ninetales Flamethrower, and then bounced it back at her.
Ninetales saw her own Flamethrower coming back at her, so she jumped away, and dodged it without receiving any damage.
Brock on the other hand was not so lucky, as the Flamethrower hit the ground where Ninetales was, and it exploded. Brock got caught in a blast a little and got a burn on his right arm, and Lokoko actually became transparent and then disappeared.
The burn and Lokoko disappearing, brought Brock back to reality, and he let out a yell because of the burn, and then looked at Ash and the others, and saw Ash eyes glowing yellow, and he was holding Ninetales in the air with his psychic powers.
"You are powerful Ninetales," Ash said. "But I am more powerful."
Ninetales struggled to break free for a minute, and then when she realized she can't get free, she resigned to her fate, and stopped struggling.
When Ninetales stopped struggling, the illusion she created disappeared, and the mansion turned back into a rundown place, barely recognizable.
"Ash, what's going on," Brock asked?
"It was all an illusion created by this Ninetales," Ash said, and then explained to Brock what he realized as soon as he saw Lokoko, and what he and Misty discovered in the mansion. "You were also pun under the Hypnosis by the Ninetales."
After few moments of silence, Brock asked. "So, this guy looks just like I do, right?"
Ash and Misty confirmed, and Brock looked at the floating Ninetales.
"What really happened, Ninetales?" Brock asked her.
Ash then let Ninetales down, and stopped using his powers.
Lokoko showed up again, and repeated what she already said before, and Ash asked. "Why didn't you leave when you realized he won't come back?"
"Ninetales tried to leave after 100 years have passed, as she knew that her master was dead by then," Lokoko said. "But she couldn't, as something was keeping her back, so she stayed here, alone all this time."
It was a sad story, and everyone felt sorry for Ninetales, but then Ash looked at Ninetales's Poke Ball and said. "It probably has something to do with this Poke Ball. I can fell something strange about it, and I'm sure it's because of it that you have developed those Psychic powers, and are unable to leave this place."
"So, what are we going to do now?" Brock asked, while the girls were helping him deal with his burn, which they started while Lokoko was speaking,
"I think I might have a way to find out what happened to Ninetales's first trainer," Ash said, and everyone was looking at him.
"How?" Ninetails asked.
Ash looked at his friends, and smirked. "When Celebi granted me her Aura and the ability to affect plants, she said that's the full extent of her powers I will have, but I think she was wrong, because I have discovered few weeks ago that I have another ability, which I can use now to help find out why Ninetales's trainer never came back."
"And how can you do that?" Misty asked, and Leaf laughed.
"If I didn't know any better, I would assume you will use Celebi's power to time travel and find out what happened," Leaf said, while laughing.
"She can't be right, can she?" Serena was the one who asked, and everyone looked at Ash nervously, waiting for him to say that he can't time travel, because if he can, that they didn't want to think about the potential catastrophe he could cause.
"No, I can't time travel," Ash said, and everyone gave a sigh of relief. "But," Ash continued. "I can do something almost as good, and this is something that Celebi can't do, but I can for some reason."
"Will you tell us already?" Misty shouted after Ash said nothing for a few moments.
"I assume you all know how Future Sight can allow some Pokémon and Psychic humans to see glimpses of the future," Ash said, and he got nods from everyone, so he continued. "Well, my power is opposite, as I can see into the past."
No one said anything for a while, and then Misty decided to ask. "I don't understand," she said. "How's that work?"
"Like I said, it's pretty much like seeing into the future, just instead of seeing what will happen, you see what already happened," Ash said.
"That sounds like an interesting power," Brock said. "But how do you know it works?"
"I had some dreams few times about the things I know happened, but I never knew details about them, so I tried it out when I was awake to see if I can pull it off as I assumed it might be a new Psychic power I awoke. When I pulled it off the first time, I noticed that I was surrounded by my Aura, and the power felt similar to Celebi's, so from then I knew that it's not because of my Psychic powers I can do that, but because of what Celebi gave me. What I saw when I looked back was my own birth," Ash said, and everyone's jaws dropped on the ground. "Then I called back my parents, and told them about it, and told them some details, and they confirmed everything I saw was the truth, so I know from that moment that it works."
"Unbelievable," Leaf said.
"I agree with Leaf," said Misty. "It's an interesting power, but I really don't see much use for it."
"You are right about that, as there isn't much use for this power, but it will be useful now," Ash said. "With it, I can find out what happened to Ninetales's former trainer, and you never know, we might need it again one day."
"Ok, then do it," Ninetales suddenly said. "Let's see if you are telling the truth."
Ash nodded, then he set down on the ground, closed his eyes, and then set still for a few moments like he was meditating.
The others kept quiet as they didn't know how this works, and didn't want to disturb Ash.
Suddenly, Ash opened his eyes, and almost everyone fell on their asses when they saw that Ash pupils were gone, and his eyes were completely white. He was also surrounded by green Aura.
"Are his eyes supposed to be like that," Brock asked.
"What makes you think any of us knows," Misty asked? "We are seeing this for the first time just like you."
Ash set still for 10 minutes without moving a muscle. In fact, when they all looked closer, he was barely breathing, and his pulse was almost none existent, and that made them worry, but they remembered that this is Ash they are talking about, and that nothing with him is normal, so they decided to sit down and wait.
After 10 minutes, Ash suddenly closed his eyes, and opened them again few moments later, and they looked normal again.
He then stood up, and looked at everyone, who were standing in front of him and waiting to hear what he found out.
"I found out what happened and why he never came back," Ash said and looked at Brock. "And I also know why you look like him, Brock."
Then there was a silence.
"Well, tell us." Misty said, impatiently.
"His name was Brock," Ash said, and everyone's eyes widened. Well except Ninetales and Lokoko who knew that. "When he left from here, he ended up in Pewter City where he met a woman called Celena and they fell in love almost instantly, and few days later, they were with each other. I assume you know what I mean."
The girl blushed and everyone nodded, so Ash continued. "Few weeks later, he told her that he has to come back here to sell the mansion so he can buy a new house in Pewter City for them, and to bring his Ninetales and servants with him. But the day after that, he suddenly fell very ill, and ended up into a coma, from which he never woke up, as he died a week later."
As he finished telling them all what happened, Ash looked at everyone, and saw Ninetales crying, and the girls also had tears in their eyes.
Brock suddenly said. "He was my ancestor."
"So, you know." Ash said, and Brock nodded.
"My many times grandparents names were Celena and Brock," Brock said. "It's a story passed down through our family about how my many times grandfather Brock disappeared without even knowing that he and his to be wife are going to have a son. I was named after him, just like my grandfather was, and his grandfather. I guess you can say that it became a tradition that the oldest son of every second generation was to be named Brock, and it started by Celena who named her grandson, Brock, as, even though she never found out what happened to him, she still loved him."
"Yeah, that what I discovered as well," Ash said. "Celena unfortunately never knew what happened to Brock or where his house is, so neither she, nor anyone here ever found out what happened to him. Back then finding someone was almost impossible if you didn't know where they live, or had more information, and since Celena and Brock were together for less than a month, she didn't know a lot about him."
After a minute of silence, Serena asked. "So, what now?"
Brock then walked to Ash, and asked him to give him Ninetales's Poke Ball, and Ash gave it to him.
Brock took the ball, looked at it, and then at Ninetales, and then threw the ball on the ground, and completely shattered it.
Brock then looked at the shocked Ninetales, and said. "You are now free, Ninetales, which means you can go and travel the world, or, if you want, you can come with me, and become a permanent member of my family."
Ninetales eyes widened, while everyone else was unsurprised, as they expected something like this from Brock.
After few moments, Ninetales let few more tears roll down her face, and then she approached Brock and accepted his proposal to come with him.
Brock took an empty Poke Ball, and caught Ninetales, and then the ball shrank, as he has six Pokémon with him already.
"Thank you everyone," Lokoko suddenly said, and everyone looked at her. "Especially thank you, Ash. Because of your help, Ninetales is no longer bound to this place, and I can move on knowing what happened to master. Not knowing what happened to him is what always kept me in this place."
Ash's eyes narrowed, as he looked at Lokoko. "You aren't really an illusion, are you," Ash asked? "You were a ghost."
Lokoko smiled, and nodded. "Yes," and then she started disappearing. As she finally moved on, her finally words were heard. "Thank you."
After Lokoko moved on, the fog started disappearing, and the group saw a mountain clearly, so they gathered their stuff, and continued their journey, though, Brock swore to himself that as soon as he gets to the Pokémon Center, he will call his family in Pewter City to tell them about this discovery, and to ask his father to come here and take the portrait of his many times grandfather and take it to their home in Pewter City.