Pokémon Journey: XYZ

Hey guys, Paradox here and welcome to Chapter 124 and Chapter 41 of XYZ. I won't say much just now, only that this chapter has quite a few surprises mainly to set up events in the next few chapters. It'll seem quite out of left field but it'll be meant to settle old grudges. Enjoy.

"History is not a burden on the memory but an illumination of the soul."- John Dalberg-Acton

Chapter 124: Nothing is Written

The scene was ground zero as machinery laid to rest. The airship had crash down in the outskirts of the city and many feared that Ash and Drake didn't make it out in time. Which leads to now with Rene leading a team to look for any survivors.

The crash site was large and there was too much debris to navigate or even move with special equipment or powerhouse Pokémon. "Anything?" Rene asked someone. "Nothing but metal and wires." The man said while Rene told them to keep looking.

"Damnit!" Rene growled, but there was a slight positive about this. Maybe they couldn't find them because they made it out. "God I'm hoping that's the case." Rene said.

Suddenly a Thunderbolt rain to the sky that caught everyone's attention. Rene recognizes it almost immediately. It was from Ash's Pikachu. "Everyone go to where that Thunderbolt came from!" Rene shouted as everyone rush over. Where the Thunderbolt came from was clearly covered by debris. Suddenly a second Thunderbolt rang past their feet and into the sky. Rene then realized that they were trapped under the debris.

"Pikachu, is that you buddy. Ash, Drake?!" Rene said as she only heard Pikachu cry out. "Quick we need to remove all the debris around here, move!" Rene shouted as everyone scrambled to work.

Gathering Machamp and Machoke to lift all the debris took time but work quickly as Pikachu's cries were more apparent. They finally remove the rest of the debris where they saw the boys and Pikachu rushing over.

"Pikachu, man I can't believe you made it through all that." Rene held him, but Pikachu sadly spoke while pointing to the boys. Their clothes were torn to shreds, no doubt many severe injuries, blood, and they neither moved or spoke according to Pikachu.

"No..."

Rene's blood ran cold as she went over and held Drake by first holding her ear to see if he was breath. "No...this isn't good." Rene said then pressed her ear on his chest, there was no heartbeat. "No!..." She checked over Ash's body and he was the same.

"They're not breathing!" Rene shouts as she scrambles to perform CPR on Drake. "Come on, come on!" Rene shouted as Pikachu tried something himself by shocking both of them with Thunderbolt, surprising Rene. "Keep trying." She said as Pikachu kept shocking them until Rene kept checking their hearts but to no avail.

"COME ON! YOU TWO BREATH!" Rene screamed as Pikachu kept shocking them but nothing. Pikachu stopped and began to cry as Rene did also. "I know buddy." Rene hugged Pikachu. She didn't know how she's gonna break the news to Serena, to Diantha, and to the guys' aunt and uncle. Rene was at a lost.

Suddenly Pikachu's ears twitch and stopped. He heard something inside.

"Thump."

He heard it again and rushed over to Ash and press his ear to chest and he heard it. His heartbeat. Pikachu cries happily as Rene caught on and press her ear on Drake's chest, his heart was beating too. "They're alive, they're breathing!" Rene cheered as did Pikachu. With this, they now had to move fast and get them to a hospital before their conditions change.

They had to airlift them to the nearest hospital and once there were prep for emergency surgery. Rene and Pikachu waited in the waiting area worried. That was until Serena, Diantha, Clemont, Bonnie, Blue and Green came rushing in. "Where are they?!" "Are they okay?" "What happened out there?!"

"One at a time! They're in surgery." Rene said, putting fear in everyone's hearts. "How serious is it?" Blue asked. "Critical. They weren't breathing when we found them." Rene said, shocking everyone. "Ash." Serena began to sob into her hands. "Pikachu had to restart their hearts by repeating shocking them until they did. We almost gave up." Rene said. "So they're alive at least." Diantha asked. "For now. They have other injuries. All we can do is pray they survive through the surgery." Rene said as everyone continue to be worried, especially Serena and Diantha.

Hours passed and everyone's on edge. "I don't know what to do." Blue said. "Same here, I don't know how to break the news to Delia." Green said. "We watched those boys grow up since they were tiny tots...they mean everything to Delia, suppose we just need to come clean." Blue said. "Straightforward as ever." Green said.

"Maybe they couldn't...agghhh! I can't wrap my head around it." Diantha said. "The guys are smart, they would've come up with an escape plan if possible." Rene said. "But they didn't. They were trapped up there all alone." Serena sniffed. "They at least sabotage the weapon. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for them." Clemont said. "They were thinking of us." Rene said. "All of us. For that there is nothing more noble and courageous than the heroic deed of two men." Diantha said.

Suddenly the chief of surgery came out and everyone rush to him. "Are you all the family members?" He asked as everyone nods. "How are they?" Blue asked. "We set and patch most of their injuries. How they're even still alive during the surgery is nothing short of a miracle." He said.

"And?" everyone asked.

"The bad news is that they're comatose. Any attempts to revive them were unsuccessful. They're are stable for now and they're being move to a suite." He said. "May we see them?" Green asked. "Right this way." He said as he leads them to the guys' room.

Opening the door to the large suite, the chief show the boys lying in bed strap to an EKG machine. Serena was the first to rush to Ash's side. "Will they wake up soon?' Bonnie asked. "That's always been the mystery behind comas. It may take minutes, hours, days, weeks, months even years until someone wakes from a coma. They'll remain here for the time being. I'll give you all the room, just hit the emergency button if something changes." The doctor said then left.

"Sigh, I don't know what to do." Rene said. "It'll be okay, they're here and they'll be okay." Diantha said. "Isn't it a bad time for optimism?" Rene groaned out. "You gotta have faith Rene." Diantha said. "We'll need to have that faith as well. We're off to notify their mother of their condition." said Blue as he and Green left.

At the same time, Diantha received a call on her phone. "Hello...yes...right now? Alright." Diantha sighed. "Problems?" Serena asked. "I'm needed to coordinated a cleanup effort. Dealing with Team Flare was one thing but now it's on to the next." Diantha said.

"Are you leaving now?!" Rene asked. "I don't want to, but the people need me to coordinate the reconstruction effort." Diantha said. "How bad is it?" Clemont asked. "Bad enough. No doubt it'll take a couple of months to get Centrico Plaza and the surrounding area operational." Diantha said. "But what about them?" Bonnie pointed out to Ash and Drake.

"I don't want to sound hopeless but there's nothing more we can do for them. The doctor said these comas will take time until they wake up. Until then, I'll be putting this time to good use and make the place look nice once they wake up." Diantha said. "Okay, other than fixing the place there's also the issue of the wreck over in the outskirts." Rene said. "I think I have a solution for that. I'll just have to barrow Squishy." Diantha said.

"I'll come along with you." Rene invited herself. "If it's alright, we'll stay with them for a bit longer." Clemont said. "It's okay. Take all the time you need." Rene said as she and Diantha left, taking Squishy with them. "So what's the plan?" Rene asked. "Meet up with Professor Sycamore and Steven. We're gonna need the second core." Diantha said.

Diantha, Rene, Steven Stone, Professor Sycamore, and Alain stood at a top of a bluff overlooking the wreckage that was once the Ultimate Weapon. "Are you sure this is gonna work?" Rene asked. "This weapon existed for hundreds of years. It was the cause of the first genocide back then and it would've been the cause of a second one." Professor Sycamore said.

"So we're left with one choice, this weapon is too dangerous to maintain and must be destroy." Steven said. "And that's why you brought Squishy and its twin here." Rene asked Diantha.

"Yes, I'm sure even Zygarde can agree this weapon needs to go, right?" Diantha asked it as the two cores reached an agreement. It was a hassle of dealing with the aftermath of the first genocide. Even with its powers of order restoration, it took centuries for Kalos's ecosystem and lifeline to be restore naturally. Kalos nearly had a second genocide on its hand, so it'll be shame on everyone including it if there were to be a third attempt. Zygarde truly hated the weapon, so just this once it'll side with the humans.

Both cores hummed and began to emit light, beckoning all Cells not just in Kalos but throughout the planet to come to them. At the speed of light, all Cells began to merge into the two as they undertook a metamorphosis to a new form. Both cores merged as a body was created and grew. It grew to tall to around fifteen feet, arms and legs formed and a head as well. Lastly were three long appendages grew from its back. All this made Zygarde look a kaiju as it floated in the air.

"Is that?" Rene asked. "Yes, it's Zygarde in its full form." Professor Sycamore said. Zygarde flew overhead to bust out its signature move, Core Enforcer. Only in its core form can it be done, charging up power from it's chest, Zygarde lets loose a green devastation beam onto the wreckage, then zigzagging it to form a 'Z' shape mark on the earth. Then the earth around the mark erupted in green flames, shallowing the wreckage whole and burning it to ashes.

"I figured this must be what Olympia saw in her visions. The earth engulfed in green fire. Only that it wasn't Kalos that with burning, the Ultimate Weapon is." Diantha said. "And this is why you can't trust Psychics. Nothing is written in stone." Rene said. "I trust Olympia's judgement, and you and Drake need to stop feuding with her and her enclave." Diantha said.

"Whatever." Rene scoff. Diantha sighed as she could only worry more about the brothers at the hospital.

After all was said and done, the flames died out and everyone left. Professor Sycamore and Alain went back to the lab. As Augustine set down a box of old journals, he looked over to see Alain looked into Charizard's Mega brace. "Alain, are you okay?" The professor asked.

"I need a favor." Alain said. "Anything." Sycamore said as Alain detached Charizard's Mega Brace and his own Mega Ring and handed them to the professor. "Take these away."

"But Alain, they're yours." The professor said. "After the man who gave them to me in the first place? The man who gave me everything in exchange for my loyalty...I went out into the world to get stronger and I just realized I have learn nothing!" Alain said.

"Alain."

"I nearly help him succeed in killing everyone, including you and Mairin. All because I was too blinded by the power he offered me." Alain said.

"I still get looks, glares. Deep down I deserve to be locked away too." Alain added. "No you don't. You more than made up for it with Lysandre's and Malva capture." The professor said. "And what about Ash and Drake?! They're in comas because of me!" Alain said. "It was nothing that you did. It was Lysandre and him alone." The professor said.

"It doesn't matter anyone, I'm done. Done with battling, done with traveling and done with training. I no longer feel safe with these things which is why I want you to take them." Alain said as the professor slowly took his Key Stone and the Charizardite X away. "What will you do now?" The professor asked.

"I'd like my old job, if you keep me. I'll understand if you decline." Alain said. "I would never abandon you, remember that. When you're ready, these will be waiting for you." The professor said as he left to his lab.

Meanwhile in the city, Diantha gotten cranes into the plaza to begin repairs on the buildings. Everyone was doing their part of cleaning up the streets from sweeping rubble and broken glass. There was also the need of taking down the barriers Team Flare set up and and gathering the equipment and weaponry they left behind. That job was left to law enforcement.

"Just this once I'm glad to do something dull for once." Rene said. "I see your point, but I don't think of this as dull." Diantha said. "So how are you feeling?" Rene asked. "I'm hanging in there. I have faith they'll be okay." Diantha said.

"How about going forward? After this, then what?" Rene asked. "One day at a time. After getting this place up and running, then we'll see about going forward." Diantha said.

The next day, back at the hospital, Blue, Green and the kids were walking back from the cafeteria to the boys' room in suspense. During lunch, Green got a text that Delia arrived and was in the boys' room. "I'm sure Delia will be delighted to meet you all despite the circumstances." Green said. "She'll also punch me for letting this happen to her boys." Blue said.

"Probably, but there's also another thing you guys should know. Red's with her." Green said surprising Blue.

"Who's Red?" Bonnie asked.

"The boys' father." said Blue

They walk into the room where Delia and Red were each one sat by their sons. "Guys." Green called. "Green, it's always good to see you." Delia rushed and hugged her. "It's good to see you too." Green said. "And you." Delia surprised Blue by grabbing him by the collar angrily.

"WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BOYS!" She yells. "See? I told you this was gonna happen." Blue told Green.

"Delia, and...Red. It's been like eighteen years." Green saw the man. "Yea the years haven't been kind, have they?" Blue said upon seeing his old friend, from a full beard to darker brown hair, some wrinkles on his face, Red looks to have aged 10 years despite being 40 years old.

"It's good to see you guys again." Red said. "I was wondering when you'll finally poke out of whatever hole you were hiding in." Blue said. "Yea, how are you back?" Green said. "Well it started when I heard that Team Rocket was dissolved." Red said.

From there, Red explained it was a few days ago that he finally came home from the peaks of Mt. Silver, his hiding place. He explains how Team Rocket, specifically Giovanni had his family targeted for assassination after being a long time thorn in Team Rocket's side. They nearly succeed but Red with Lance's help had prevented it all without Delia and their sons from knowing about the attempt. But none of this had prepared Red that his family was nearly murdered and had realized he had to make some sacrifices. Leaving his family behind for their safety and hiding in Mt Silver, knowing he'll be leaving his wife alone and his sons without a father and missing their childhood.

"Shit." Blue said. "Red, surely there were other options than just running away." Green said. "Believe me Green, I had the same reaction myself. You took it upon yourself to handle this without my input." Delia said.

"I was scared Delia, scared for you, the boys. Plus I knew if I told you about this, you would tell me that we'll face it together, but I couldn't risk it." Red said. "Oh so you already assumed how our conversation was gonna go and just decided to skip it entirely?! You didn't trust me." Delia said. "It wasn't about trust. It was about keeping you safe, our sons safe!" Red argued. As the two continue to shout, Green intervened.

"Guys! Let's not do this here." Blue said as she pointed to the boys. "He's right. The human brain can actually pick up outside sources which affects the brain's chemistry including negativity. If you want Ash and Drake to heal quicker then maybe some positive reinforcement can help." Green said. "Which means no fighting here." Blue said.

"Very well, where are our manners? Serena I'm so glad to see you in person." Delia said as she hugged the young girl. "Who's she?" Red asked Blue. "Your son Ash's girlfriend, and potential daughter-in-law." Blue whispers as Red went blank. The sadness set in as he really did miss so much of his youngest son's life, now he's all grown up with a girlfriend.

"I'm delighted to meet you Mrs. Ketchum." said Serena. "Oh call me Delia dear." The older woman said. As everyone trade introductions, the boys' brain pick up the positive reinforcement in the room. As they recover, the world around them is slowly picking up the pieces both physically and emotionally. Who knows what tomorrow will bring or the day after that, but it'll be a long recovery for everyone in Kalos as the Journey continues.

And done. First off, yes this chapter is short but I did warn that some of these chapters will be. First off is brothers' situation, at first I played with the idea of killing them with a resurrection planned for later but I then figured the comas would make much more sense. Plus they were kinda dead when Rene and Pikachu found them so there's that. Everyone seems shaken given what happened but it's all part of the recovery process.

Then there's Red, bringing him into the fold was something I've planned since the beginning. His appearance in this story is from Masters EX. I did abridged his explanation and kept it simple. Giovanni orders a hit job on his family days after Ash was born, Red and Lance stop it barely but the experience scars him and fears for his family. For their safety, he not only stops intervening in Team Rocket's affairs but drops from a public view entirely, leaving his family in the process. On Mt. Silver he'll spend almost two decades living and training there. It was only when he heard of Team Rocket's downfall did he finally realized he can go home. Now this isn't without consequence and Red will be dealing with a lot of those in the future.

Now I can say the next chapter will be longer than this one. All I can say is, One More Showcase, and it'll be inspired by the episode "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life."

That's all I have to say for now, thanks for reading. This is Paradox signing off. Goodbye.