The Final Battle: Ash, the Aura Guardian (Part 9)

"Tell me what you know," Ash said, opening his mind to what Giratina had to say.

Giratina's red eyes glared down at the trainer. 'Mewtwo is an unstoppable force… to beat this, you must give in to your own inner darkness…'

Infernape threw its head back and its arms out to either side, letting out a loud shriek that echoed throughout the golden chamber. The orange flame atop its head erupted into a tower of an inferno, as it looked at its opponent, baring its teeth. Blinded by rage, and fueled by Ash's fury, Infernape pushed off across the field towards Ash's former friend, Mewtwo. Having his sister taken away from him before his very eyes, Ash was now prepared to do whatever he must to defeat Giovanni and his creation. Even if that meant putting down his former partner. With his inner Aura and emotions thrown out of balance, Ash looked to attain victory off of raw power fueled by his rage.

"FLAME COMBAT!"

"Counter it," Giovanni stated in a collected manner.

Letting out a shriek, Infernape's eyes widened as it drew back its right fist, engulfing it in fire. Throwing its punch, Mewtwo hovered to the side, watching the fist moving centimeters in front of its face. Cloaking a hand in black energy, the black Mega Mewtwo Y drew its arm back and formed a Shadow Claw. Slashing forwards, its claw struck the side of Infernape's face, before a blast of Dark Aura sent it flying away. Shooting far off its course, Infernape crashed to the ground, but pushed up and charged back in on all fours.

As Infernape jumped at its target, Mewtwo raised its right arm, freezing the Sinnoh Starter with its telekinesis. 'Your anger consumes you,' The Legendary said in a deep voice. 'Now fall.' Flexing its fingers forwards, Infernape was shot backwards, spine first into a pillar on the outside of the battlefield. Landing on two feet, Infernape stood hunched over, heavily panting.

"Get up Infernape!" Ash yelled. "We need to make them pay!"

Raising its head, the intense red glow remained in its eyes as it threw it body forwards, blowing an intense Flamethrower from its open maw at its target. Seeing the oncoming move, the Mega Mewtwo jutted out a single hand, manifesting a purple shield in front of it. While blocking Infernape's continuous assault with one hand, Mewtwo used its free one to manifest three small, swirling Shadow Balls. Pushing up and levitating high into the air above the field, Mewtwo swung its arm forwards launching its attack. The three orbs rocketed forwards at the mid-attack Infernape, each dividing into three additional orbs.

"GET OUT OF THERE!" Ash shouted to his enraged Pokemon, who had the sensibility to halt its attack. Lunging forwards into a Flame Wheel, Infernape rolled away as the flurry of Shadow Balls struck and vaporized the pillar which previously rested behind it, sending the structure toppling to the ground. Tearing across the field in its Flame Wheel, Infernape appeared behind Mewtwo and blew another Flamethrower onto the back of the airborne foe. Mewtwo threw its arms out and winced, feeling the heat from the intensified Fire Type attack. Just as it spun around to confront its foe, the enraged simian leapt into the air, grabbing the Shadow Mega Pokemon by its orange horns. Glaring into its purple eyes with its bright red ones, Infernape opened wide as it singed the face of its foe with a Flamethrower. Falling from the air with Infernape positioned on top of it, the starter looked down at its injured foe as the two slammed into the ground.

As the Mega Pokemon rose up on two knees, Infernape grabbed the Shadow Pokemon's arms, leaving Mewtwo's head unprotected. Driving a knee into the face of the Pokemon, Mewtwo fell onto its back, while Infernape remained holding its wrists. Igniting its right foot on fire, Infernape furiously and repeatedly stomped onto the head of the downed Pokemon. When Infernape had enough of this brutal attack, it straddled the Mega Mewtwo Y's chest. Clenching its two fists, igniting them in flame, it delivered repeated strikes across each side of the Shadow Pokemon's face, letting out a battlecry as it went.

Ash watched on as his ever loyal Pokemon maliciously battered its opponent, who laid prone on the ground. 'Who needs the Aura Blaze? Infernape is strong enough on his own!' He thought to himself. 'We're gonna take out Mewtwo… And then Giovanni is next!' Looking away from the battlers, he saw that his opponent across the field had a smirk across his face. Giovanni did not appear to be worried about losing… and that concerned Ash. "No! This is a trap! Infernape! Get out!" The trainer cried out.

Infernape, however, disobeyed Ash. Rather than ceasing its onslaught, the burning heat from its head drowned out his trainer's cries. It continued delivering its fists across the face of its opponent. 'No! He's not listening...' Ash thought, as he realized he was playing into Giovanni's hand. The last time Infernape had been this disobedient was ages ago, when they tried to master its Blaze Ability during their travels through Sinnoh. However this time around, Infernape drew its violence and strength directly from its trainer's anguish. It wanted to kill its opponent for all that it had done throughout the course of the battle. However, seeing his Pokemon in a fury like this made Ash's stomach twist with a sickening discomfort. Seeing his Pokemon in this way made it almost unrecognizable to him.

Ash dropped to his knees clutching the sides of his head. 'No! This is exactly what Giovanni wants! He's been trying to make me lose it… and it's working. It has been working! Ever since-' Ash gazed back up to the two combatants, looking at the Shadow Pokemon on the ground whose face was getting pummeled. 'Ever since he took my friend from me…' Ash could only stand and watch as his Infernape use its rage like this on his former partner Pokemon; one whose free will was taken away from it. Ash then realized that Giovanni's Ultimate Weapon, who dominated his and his sister's Pokemon, truly was a victim of its master's will. How could he, an Aura Guardian, a keeper of peace, snuff out the life of an innocent Pokemon like this?

"INFERNAPE! STOOOP!" Ash shouted, sending a blue pulse of Aura off his body, across the field.

Infernape swung its right fist cloaked in flame forwards, but halted an inch in front of the Shadow Pokemon's swollen face. Panting, the flame on its hand dissipated as the intense red glow left its eyes, showing a pair of bloodshot ones. Glancing up to Ash, Infernape looked forwards with a tear running down its cheek, at the sight of what it had just done. In this brief pause, however, an orange glow appeared in the Shadow Mega Mewtwo's eyes as an eruption of stored energy burst from off its body onto Infernape. Without enough time to collect itself, the Flame Pokemon flew backwards from the explosion, landing on the ground back first, letting out a pained cry as its spine cracked from hitting the ground with such force. Raising its head, the Sinnoh Pokemon witnessed the Mega Mewtwo Y rise back up to one knee, cloaking its body in the green light of a Recover. Infernape's head fell backwards, unable to get up due to the exhaustion that had set into its body.

"INFERNAPE!" Ash screamed out in a panic.

Giovanni stood in a more upright position, removing his hands from his pockets and placing a hand on his chin. "Most impressive. Consumed by your hate, you let your guard down. And I saw my opportunity to strike. I'm amazed you caught some sense when you did… Had your Infernape continued for much longer, my Mewtwo could have dished back an even more powerful Counter. One that could have finished it all there."

'What has this all been for,' Ash thought to himself, hanging his head low, eyeing his Pokemon who laid in a battered heap on the field.

"I was aware of this inner darkness within you… and yet I thought you had left it behind in your past. I'm astounded that I was able to push you to the brink and leave you in such a distraught state. You see, when I corrupted your Mewtwo, it revealed to me some dark secrets about you that even I was unaware of… it is the reason why I was able to change it so easily."

"Stop…" Ash said in a worn out voice.

"In your quest to put away my counterpart from your realm, you wreaked a lot of devastation to innocent lives. While I was your true adversary, you took the lives of many Rockets who quite frankly had nothing to do with you."

"NO!" Ash yelled, as Giovanni referred to Ash's darkest years as a trainer.

"You used the tragic backstory of an orphan to justify your means. You destroyed so many bases, taking so many lives… and you used your own Pokemon to do it. And when Mewtwo aligned itself with you… well let's just say you were unstoppable," Giovanni said in a callous tone.

'Ash, I don't like this.' The voice of May rang out in the Aura Guardians head. Ash widened his eyes as tears welled in them, as an old memory suddenly flooded into his brain. '...it's scaring me!... I don't even know you anymore...'

"Ash, I don't like this," The voice of a 17 year old May said. Years before they had committed to a relationship, the coordinator found herself talking down to the trainer who had a dead look in his eyes, staring at the floor of his home atop Mount Silver. "Meowth told me about you and Mewtwo's last mission. Why did you do it?"

"I don't want to hear it, May," Ash said coldly from a seated position, with his hands folded before him. "You wouldn't understand."

"Then make me understand!" May pleaded, kneeling down before him, taking one of his hands. "Just please, let me in! You're not acting like yourself and it's scaring me! You're my best friend… but it feels like I don't even know you anymore."

"I can't tell you everything," Ash said, thinking about the orphaned child he had recently taken in and left in the care of his mother. While May was one of his closest friends, he wasn't so willing to trust this information with people yet. "...I've seen horrible things… people die right in front of me. And I couldn't save them. That's why it's on Mewtwo and I to make sure they won't hurt anybody ever again."

"But think about what you are doing to Mewtwo and the rest of your Pokemon!" May said, trying to reason with the trainer. "They take your orders, but do you think that this is what they want? You have these amazing powers, and incredible Pokemon… but you're using them to do some horrible things. I know that you're angry, but how does that make you better than the people you're fighting against?"

Looking away from the coordinator, unable to look her in the eyes, Ash clenched his teeth as this struck a chord within him. He thought back to seven years ago, during the fateful night in Oak's Coral. Where his friends had turned on him in an attempt to "save" his Pokemon. And yet, the way things were now, he was heading in a downward spiral, taking his loyal companions with him. While Ash was facing off against a force known for its villainy, he began to question whether or not he was in the right anymore. Had he become worse than the people known for their heinous crimes?

"May..." Ash said with a pause, as he stared at one of his closest companions who pleaded with him. One who he cherished dearly. One who he had never wanted to hurt through his actions.

A blank expression appeared on his face, as Ash then rose up from his seat. Tucking the Pokeball around his neck into his shirt, he made for a coat rack beside his door, with his pair of Guardian Robes hanging from it. The Guardian was preparing to go on another mission, before May had stopped by his home to confront him about his inner darkness.

"Ash… Where are you going?"

"Scott's pinned down Giovanni's location. He's infiltrated the Hoenn League and wants me there to help him. Tonight." Taking the article of clothing off the rack, throwing it over his head, Ash took in a deep breath as he readied himself to have a meeting with the man who he had suspected to have turned his companions against him 11 years ago.

"Are you going to take your revenge? Like Meowth says you will?"

Ash raised his hood up over his head and went to turn his doorknob. "I want to… but... I don't think I can anymore." Turning around, Ash looked into the sapphire eyes of the teenage coordinator before him. "I want to kill him. He deserves it… but he has a lot of crimes that need to be answered. It's better if we just lock him away."

May ran across the room, meeting Ash at the door, wrapping her arms around his torso. Feeling a warming sensation come over him, he felt at ease for the first time in weeks, months, even years. While he had entered the darkest periods of his life avenging Alexa's parents and tracking down an escaped Giovanni, he felt a sense of ease come over him before meeting his enemy. He would no longer use his Pokemon and Aura to do his dirty work. Once Giovanni was imprisoned, he would focus on giving Mewtwo a life where it was meant for more than mass destruction. Had it not been for these words from May, Ash might have become even worse than the enemy he was currently battling on the Immortal Battlegrounds.

'How could I be so stupid?!' Ash thought to himself, retreating into his mind, with a look of fear plastered on his face, and his hands clutching either side of his head. 'All those people back at the Tree- All that senseless fighting… I can't just have it be for nothing…'

'But here I am… trying to win a fight where my rage is fueling all my actions. When I did it before… It was the darkest time in my life. But after that… when I let that kind of thinking go... I was happy again. I felt love and joy. Because that's what my Pokemon were feeling… I can't believe I was so ready to kill Mewtwo. My friend.'

'But how do I beat my old partner?... When I was younger, Pikachu was destined to be my friend for life… But then my fate changed. Maybe if... No. Mewtwo's just too strong...'

'Oh! Why'd I have to get signed up for all this chaos? Why did Mewtwo have to become a prisoner? Why did Alexa have to die? I just want the fighting to be over. I just want things to make sense!' Ash cried out into the void of darkness around him.

'Well, then why did you come to this chamber in the first place?' An echoing voice in Ash's head said. 'Did you come here to surrender, begging for mercy? Or are you here to stand as a fighting Champion?'

Ash paused for a moment, shocked that some bodiless voice in the darkness was speaking to him. 'Why did I come here?' Ash said, engaging it in conversation. 'I guess I came here… to fight. But how can I be a fighting Champion when I'm not worthy of calling myself one? I've done terrible things-'

'Irrelevant. Destiny works in such a way that regardless of the paths we are on now, fate will play out to prime you for the role you are needed for. The ideals of the person you were then should not have an influence on you now. However your experiences from that time are truly what you should learn from. Are you not one who believes in destiny?'

'I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you!... As for destiny? Well I mean I guess so… but it's honestly really new to me. What I do know is that my life was projected to be something great. But now a being of evil who can traverse the Multiverse wants to take my spot… and he's making me question all my actions that brought me here. How can I call myself a hero?'

'I see… And when this adversary brought this challenge to you so long ago, what did you do about it then? Did you fight?'

'No… I ran away and hid. I didn't really know who he was at the time. All I knew was that I wanted to get stronger… because he tried to take everything from me.'

'Stronger?' The omnipotent voice said. 'So, you are in this chamber because you seek power? You want others to fall before you?'

'Well, no, that's not it at all. It was because… I wanted to keep my friends and my Pokemon safe from the people that wanted to hurt me. I felt betrayed and didn't know who to trust, but they stuck beside me and helped me through it… So now- I have to help them.'

'And that journey led you to becoming an Aura Guardian! A symbol of peace across your World! Is that not a treacherous task in itself, putting the safety of others on your shoulders?'

Ash thought back to his teenage years, undergoing vigorous training with Lucario. As he put his all into his training, the Aura Pokemon would look on with a stern face. 'Learning the art was hard due to my impatience, but my heart was always in the right place when it came to mastering my Aura. I was so shocked when Lucario decided to partner with me… but thanks to him we found this inner strength inside myself. One that let me protect so many other innocent lives.' Upon manifesting the blue Aura around him for the first time in the form of a small orb, Sir Aaron's former partner and Ash shared a smile, as his abilities were beginning to blossom.

'And your quest for justice led you to two individuals that would change the trajectory of your life. A being of innocence and a being of chaos; an orphaned girl and a freak of nature.'

'Now hang on here,' Ash said. 'Those were just right place, right time scenarios! But- they changed me as a person. Meeting Alexa when I was 16 brought me back home to my mother. And it helped teach me that I could feel emotions of love… and joy… things I hadn't really felt since I was-'

'Ten years old. Before all this chaos found you.'

'And Mewtwo!' Ash added. 'He was a prisoner at the hands of the Rockets! And because of what they had done to it, he lost faith in humanity... when he barely had any to begin with! But then… he saw something special in me. I regret so many of the horrible things that the two of us did… but once we finally put the other Giovanni away, we felt like we could- live in peace. And in the end, that Giovanni was alive. And could answer for all of his crimes.'

'While you, your enemy and others may perceive you as a heartless vigilante, in my eyes your actions brought on a considerable amount of security to the rest of your world. You brought forth justice. Judgement. Your actions made it easier for people to sleep at night; knowing that a widespread collective of fear-mongers were going down. Deep in their hearts, they felt safe knowing that someone cared enough to make a stand to protect them. While the Rockets were detestable in their own regard, you put it upon yourself to no longer sink down to that level. You rose above the inner darkness within you once before. And I know you shall do it again.'

'You truly have had a sorrowful life, Ash Ketchum. And I must apologize for that. You were a boy destined to become a Champion, but due to your birthright, something I placed upon you… I put a target on your head…'

'Now hang on here!' Ash exclaimed to the voice from beyond. 'I definitely have had some ups and downs... more than most. But without them I don't think I would be where I am today! I don't think I would have found the love of my life, May! I wouldn't have the people and Pokemon who truly love me! And they're counting on me!...' Suddenly, the smiling face of May holding Manaphy, followed by Paul, Ritchie, Delia, and his full assembly of Pokemon, all currently fighting at the Tree of Beginning, came into his mind. But above all of them, he saw the smiling faces of Alexa and Mewtwo, beaming down on him with pride.

'And that's why I can't give up on them. Because they'd do the same for me! They wouldn't want to see me win through my hatred. They'd want me to win because it's my duty to bring- Peace.'

'My sister saved me so I could save the Multiverse and Mewtwo! She knew that I had to be the one to beat Giovanni… I can't just have her death be for nothing!' Upon uttering this remark, Ash found a new fire within himself. An invigorated feeling putting his head back into the battle at hand. Appearing before him, Ash saw the image of his smiling Infernape. In control, giving its trainer a thumbs up.

'Now those sound like the words of a True Champion,' The bodiless voice triumphantly cried out. 'May your final Pokemon bring you victory in your battle against our common enemy,' The voice said, as a blue fire suddenly appeared, hovering in between Ash and the projection of Infernape. Reaching out and taking the flame into his hands, Ash winced, expecting to feel a burning sensation. However that was not the case. Instead, absorbing the flame now swirling up his arms into his body, he felt a calming wave of relief come over him.

'Long ago, what you now call the Aura Blaze Phenomenon, was a technique used only by the most skilled Aura Guardians. However, it had been lost to time. Until you, my friend rediscovered this ability. Bonding together, a trainer and Pokemon can tap into the powerful Aura from within and bring forth a burning justice upon their adversaries. One that cleanses all evil when used at its full potential. In order to attain this power a trainer and Pokemon must know how to truly rise above all the grievances that hold them down. One must be able to tap into their inner darkness, without letting their rage and anguish consume them. Be conscious of the Golden Era that you seek to bring, and this power shall come to you in full.'

'While you had only but a mere taste of this before, you have now unlocked its full capabilities. All of those years of misery have led to this very moment. Rise above your hate and sorrow! To become the fighting Champion you were destined to be! Allow it to fuel you and your Pokemon to defeat our adversary! And save all of the innocent beings of my creation!''

'I will!' Ash triumphantly exclaimed, ready to get back into battle against Giovanni. 'Wait- um, Lord Arceus, I'm guessing?'

'An intuitive guess!' The bodiless voice said to the trainer.

'Sorry. This isn't the first time I've heard voices in my head during this battle. I just have to know one thing before we split… What can I do about my friend, Mewtwo?'

'Whatever is in your abilities, Ash. But do what you must to achieve victory. How you deal with this foretold 'Being of Darkness' is your choice to make. Shall you choose to alter the destiny of your friend? Or let destiny take its course as it is now?'

"You used the tragic backstory of an orphan to justify your means. You destroyed so many bases, taking so many lives… and you used your own Pokemon to do it. And when Mewtwo aligned itself with you… well let's just say you were unstoppable."

Holding his head high, Ash looked to the Aura once more to calm his nerves. "That's where you're wrong Giovanni! You might think that I'm unstoppable because I have some powerful Pokemon," Clenching his fists, blue fire and Aura began to swirl around them. "But the reason why I'm unstoppable is because of the friends and Pokemon who have saved me!"

"When I was at my lowest as a child, my true friends were at my side! It's thanks to them that I have come this far!" Giovanni looked shocked, as he was no longer staring down the weakened trainer from before. "My cherished Pokemon have never let me down. Especially my Infernape! I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to my little sister, but I'm through with your bullshit! I'm not letting you get into my head anymore!"

Giovanni let out a growl, seeing this newly invigorated version of Ash. "MEWTWO FINISH OFF THE INFERNAPE!"

Just as Giovanni's Shadow Pokemon darted forwards towards its grounded opponent, reaching out with a dual Shadow Claw, Ash let out a battlecry. With a powerful pulse of blue Aura and flame surging from out his body, his Pokemon who remained laying on the battlefield felt a powerful connection to its trainer. Before Mewtwo could touch the Starter, a swirling ring of blue fire appeared around the grounded Pokemon, which rose higher and higher into the air, forcing the Mega Pokemon to freeze in place.

When the rising torrent of blue flames subsided, Infernape was shown to be standing tall in the center on its own two feet. While Infernape normally entered a berserker rage when its Blaze Ability was triggered, Infernape stood tall and let out a cry, arching its shoulders backwards as the flame atop its head grew in length, and shifted from an orange to a bright blue. Given the circumstances, it sported a very calm demeanor in this instance. As it turned its head towards Ash, the relative space-time around them appeared to slow down for the two as they shared a moment together, before rushing in for an all out assault.

"Hey pal. I'd be lying if I said my head was in it before..." Ash said in a calm voice. "There's a lot of pressure riding on us to win here. But I know you're gonna give it your all… And whatever happens, I am so thankful to have you by my side as a partner, and a friend. Through all this chaos… I'm not giving up the fight anytime soon!" Ash raised out a single fist, which Infernape bumped with his own knuckles.

Infernape grinned at its trainer, with a look of sheer determination on its face and stated: 'Let the Aura guide us.' Turning back towards its opponent, closing its eyes and sharing a deep inhale with its trainer. Feeling the Aura radiate throughout the room, Infernape felt the brilliant, blue Aura that flowed around its trainer; Aura that came from his mind and emotions being at peace in this very moment. Drawing that energy forwards, and into itself, Infernape felt a rush of the true power of the Aura, swelling inside its body. 'For Alexa.'

Upon exhaling, the duo's opened their eyes, as an intense blue light burned from them. The two were finally ready to show off the full potential of the Aura Blaze Phenomenon.