The Final Battle: The Blaze of Glory (Part 10)
Infernape let out a loud screech, which echoed throughout the golden battlefield they fought on, as the intense blue flame erupted out of the top of its head. Pushing forwards, with blue flames blasting out of the soles of its feet, Infernape rocketed towards the Mega Mewtwo Y with a fist of blue flames. Socking its opponent in the jaw, a burst of blue Aura erupted from its hand, blowing its opponent backwards. This move sent the Shadow Pokemon skidding across the battlefield back-first. For what seemed like the first time in this battle, one of Ash's Pokemon had finally dealt some serious damage to Giovanni's Mega Shadow Mewtwo Y. The dark Mega Pokemon hit the floor, as Infernape (with its head and eyes radiating blue flame and Aura) turned back at Ash once more with a grin on its face, before leaping high into the air. Encasing its body in a Flare Blitz, the Sinnoh Starter rocketed forwards, slamming its body into the grounded Mega Mewtwo Y, causing a fiery explosion to erupt on the field. The Shadow Pokemon now laid face up in a large crater, within the glowing battlefield below.
"WHAT!" An enraged Giovanni shouted. "Get up! GET UP!" Mewtwo got back up to its feet once more, spinning in a circle in an attempt to see where its opponent went. "BELOW YOU!" Giovanni yelled, but not soon enough. Infernape, who had burrowed underground, set off a large Blue Flare Blitz, which caught Mewtwo in a torrential stream of blue fire and shards of rock.
Rocketing up from below ground was Infernape, who delivered an uppercut to the Shadow Mewtwo's jaw, with a fist radiating with blue fire and Aura. The Mega Pokemon's head whipped backwards, but as it did its eyes glowed bright green, as its black body was soon enveloped in a faint green glow. Using Recover, Giovanni's Pokemon was far from giving up this fight. Following through by flipping backwards with Infernape's punch, the Shadow Pokemon formed a Shadow Ball in its hands, which it fired once its body had made a full rotation around.
Infernape was hit by the attack and sent to the ground, landing in a pile of rubble (from Lycanroc's previous battle.) Forming two scythes made out of a black psychic energy, the Mega Mewtwo charged forwards in an attempt to maim Ash's Infernape.
"Infernape!" Ash called, which caused his Pokemon to spring back up to its feet before its opponent's arrival. "Use Psychic on those rocks!"
With a light purple tint to its radiating blue eyes, Infernape raised both of its hands high into the air, focusing its energy on the rubble that surrounded it. Raising the boulders off the ground, Infernape twirled, causing the boulders to swirl around its body, before stopping with a single fist sticking outwards, launching the boulders in the direction of the oncoming Mewtwo. Sporadically teleporting past the projectiles, before slashing through the final oncoming boulder with a black scythe, Mewtwo had locked onto its target. Infernape raised its arms, however, forming a thick, rocky shield in front of itself with the remaining debris on the field. As Mewtwo slashed forwards, it's blade embedded itself within the protective rock. With Infernape gracefully spinning out from the right side of it, the Mega Mewtwo was met with a blue Flamethrower fired from the mouth of Ash's Aura Blaze Infernape. Caught in the blast of the attack, the evil Pokemon let out a pained wail, feeling as if it's skin was melting away.
The burned Mewtwo retreated backwards, but was met with a brutal Blazing Combat after Infernape quickly leaped into the air to pursue it. Striking the Pokemon forcefully in the stomach first, making it keel over, Infernape followed through with many rapid, flaming punches to the Pokemon's face, all while the two were still in mid air. As Ash's Aura surged through Infernape, every strike brought on a singeing pain to the Shadow Pokemon.
"Mewtwo, Teleport!" Giovanni shouted, becoming angered as his Pokemon was losing the battle. "No! Recover!"
"Now Infernape!" Ash exclaimed to his Pokemon, in a triumphant shout. As Mewtwo hesitated, unsure of which maneuver to obey, its opponent rocketed forwards with a blazing Aura emanating from it, causing the Shadow Pokemon to flinch. Opting to go for a move of its own, Mewtwo manifested an army of body doubles, putting Infernape at the center of them. Putting forth a barrage of attacks, Infernape sought protection in a wall of blue flame, by dragging a single foot across the ground, while using its arms to influence the intensity.
As Giovanni witnessed the impenetrable column of blue fire appear on the field, he was unsure what to make of this power. 'How is this possible?! How can that thing outmatch my monster like this?' Suddenly, his attention was drawn back to Infernape, how had revealed itself by leaping out of the top of the vortex.
Entering a twirl while in the air, Infernape stuck out its arms to help guide the blue flame in its mouth. Blowing a continuous Flamethrower onto each body double, all were eliminated; except for one. When its time had come to be met with the attack, it broke formation and made a charge against Infernape. The Mega Mewtwo Y stared on, aimlessly swinging two Shadow Claws in order to protect itself. Moving like a flowing river, however, Infernape swayed to either side as it calculated and avoided each attack. As Mewtwo swung its right claw, Infernape raised a blazing fist, deflecting its attack with its forearm.
'YOU WILL DIE!' Mewtwo exclaimed, looking in the eyes of its foe, pushing on with its claw. Infernape's arm, however, did not budge.
'You are afraid,' Infernape said to the other combatant. 'For your physical strength is nothing compared to mine!' Taking another swing at Infernape, the Blue Flame Pokemon used its own Psychic to counter, freezing Mewtwo's arm in place. 'And you have lost your composure.' In this moment, Infernape saw its opening.
With its two arms incapacitated, Infernape drove a well placed, two-fingered jab to the heart of the Shadow Pokemon with its free hand, sending a wave of blue Aura coursing through the enemy's body. Mewtwo's froze in place, twitching once, as the contrasting dark and light Auras within it forced the Pokemon to lock up. Quickly, Infernape followed with subsequent jabs to the head, arms and gut of the Shadow Mewtwo. The Evil Pokemon experienced a jolt of pain, followed by numbness surging throughout all its limbs. Finally, grabbing the Genetic Pokemon by its arm, Infernape threw the Mega Pokemon back down to the golden battlefield below.
When Infernape touched back down on the battlefield, with the long, blue flame flickering atop its head, the Shadow Mewtwo rose up to its knees. For a brief moment, its eyes glowed green as it attempted to heal itself, however it was unable to. As faint, green electricity surged through its body, Infernape had locked Mewtwo's ability of self-healing.
Seeing his Pokemon unable to Recover, a bead of sweat ran down Giovanni's face as a look of horror came across it. "MEWTWO! Heal yourself damnit!" Giovanni shouted, soon realizing that Ash's Infernape's abilities were far beyond his comprehension. "What sorcery is this? What has Arceus done to keep me from attaining victory?!"
"This is all Infernape's doing, Giovanni!" Ash yelled, catching the attention of the now frantic Rocket Leader. "Aura flows just like a river! That was the Rapid-Strike Style of Galar's Urshifu, blocking the flow of Mewtwo's. Which keeps it from healing... It wasn't Arceus! It was taught to us by a friend!"
"What nonsense!" Giovanni exclaimed. "You have no true friends! Only pawns that you use to advance your own agenda… you are no better than me."
"Wrong again. I have my friend Infernape here right at my side. The two of us share a bond that can't be broken. And that goes for every single one of my Pokemon… It's because I have always put faith and trust in them, even when they haven't always done the same for me. But that Mewtwo of yours... who's heart you corrupted for your own personal gain… Well, he's my friend too. And when you fucked with him, I certainly wasn't going to stand for it." Giovanni's expression of anger soon shifted back to that of worry, as Ash was now more confident than ever.
"When you tried to ruin my life all those years ago by turning my friends against me, what you really did was take me and my family down a path of righteousness that sees your defeat at my hands!" Ash said, raising his voice even more, as Aura and flame surged around him. "Your fatal flaw, Giovanni, is that you were so overconfident in your own abilities, that you never stopped to see your limitations as well! You never stopped to consider that when you turned my friends against me… it would also lead to me KICKING YOUR ASS!" Ash exclaimed with grit in his voice, with his eyes glowing bright blue with Aura, giving one final battlecry. "INFERNAPE, USE AURA STORM!"
Infernape stepped forwards, charging a small blue sphere of Aura in between its palms. Adding a single spark, the ball soon ignited into a blue sphere of fire, which swelled larger and larger as Ash and his Infernape channeled their Aura's into it. Mewtwo, who was still kneeling, unable to move, was wide open for the attack. From about 5 yards away, Infernape hopped forwards and released its charged attack, enveloping the Mega Shadow Mewtwo in a large, bright beam of Aura and Fire.
At first, Giovanni's Mewtwo raised its arms up, shielding itself from the fiery blast, but after a short time the Pokemon dropped its guard due to the sheer force blowing it backwards. With its arms flying out to either side, the Shadow Mewtwo succumbed to the full blast of the Aura Storm; a technique that was rarely used by Ash's Lucario. Infernape stepped forwards with its streaming attack, pushing on closer and closer to Mewtwo, before dropping its hands to stop it, leaving the Sinnoh Pokemon panting. Kneeling on the ground in front of the Aura-charged Infernape was the Mega Shadow Mewtwo drained of all its energy. Glowing bright orange, before reverting back to its original form. Hanging its head low, the Pokemon remained clinging on with very little of its life energy. It had been defeated.
"NOOOOO!" Giovanni yelled before being enveloped in a column of light, a result of his loss on the Immortal Battlegrounds. "MY GREATEST CREATION… A FAILURE!"
The glow within Ash's eyes subsided as he gritted his teeth, looking the Rocket Boss in the eyes. Having the momentum, he furiously shouted at the man who had ruined his life all those years ago. "You're wrong, Giovanni! Mewtwo was never meant to be a weapon! It is a living, breathing creature deserving of kindness, affection and friendship! Regardless of what you've done to it. The only failure here is you as its trainer, because you never formed a bond of love and friendship with any of your Pokemon!" Giovanni remained trapped in his prison of light, having nothing to say; shocked at his defeat. "But I did, long ago! Mewtwo was my partner, and you took him away from me. But I know he's still in there… So we're not done just yet!" Ash yelled triumphantly, which made Giovanni go pale. Together, both Ash and Infernape let out a battlecry as their eyes both glowed an intense blue once more.
After hearing its trainer, Infernape swung its two hands forwards, sending another wave of Aura off of its body and onto the black Mewtwo kneeling before it. However, this Aura was not used out of aggression. Rather, Infernape sent a blinding stream of blue Aura which held the Shadow Mewtwo in place on the ground. Giovanni's corrupted Pokemon let out a high pitched shriek, as the dark skin of its body suddenly altered to that of a dark grey.
Suddenly, appearing next to his Infernape was Ash, also channeling a healing pulse of Aura from his hands onto his former friend. "Hang on Mewtwo!... I know you're in there!" As Ash and Infernape combined their energies to purify Mewtwo, the blue spirits of Charizard, Heracross, Sceptile, Lycanroc and Greninja manifested to help cleanse Mewtwo, using their Auras to bring strength to the pair that tried to pull their old friend out from the darkness.
As the pulse of Aura from Trainer and Pokemon enveloped the Genetic Pokemon, it's dark grey skin suddenly began to change, shifting to a lighter and lighter hue the longer Ash and Infernape went. As if the darkness was melting away from its essence. Soon, the white skin of Mewtwo was restored to its original state, as two black Mega Stones imbued with darkness were forced out from its back. Shattering upon their exit, all the corruption from the Distortion World had been expelled from the Pokemon's soul. Rising up towards the Unown Ceiling in tiny particles of golden light.
Still kneeling on the ground, the pristine-white skinned Mewtwo opened its eyes, revealing blue irises (which were once purple.) While its vision was foggy at first, everything soon became clear to the Legendary Pokemon as its sight was restored. The first thing the Purified Legendary saw was Ash and Infernape standing over it, with hopeful looks on their faces, following their attempt to rid the evil from within the Pokemon.
"Mewtwo…" Ash said, getting a glance at his Legendary Pokemon, who Ash hadn't seen as its true self in weeks. "How do you feel?"
'I feel… like myself again,' The Psychic type said, with a faint presence of joy in its voice.
"You're back!" Ash exclaimed, as he and Infernape (still in its Aura Blaze state) leapt forwards, hugging the Legendary Pokemon. Mewtwo broke down, as it wrapped its two arms around the necks of the trainer and Pokemon, overjoyed to be back by their sides. The reunited trio all pressed their foreheads against each other as the true Mewtwo had returned to them!
"My creation!" Giovanni shuddered out from his beam of light. "How?!"
"The first time you sent Shadow Mewtwo after me, I learned that my Aura was able to damage it," Ash called up to the vile Rocket Leader, trapped in his column of light. "So instead, Infernape and I worked together to purify it with our Auras!" Ash's Infernape nodded its head in agreement, standing tall next to its trainer with crossed arms, as the burning blue flame flickered atop his head. 'One that cleanses all evil when used to its full potential.'
Mewtwo turned around, seeing the man who had been responsible for tainting his life essence. 'You.' Mewtwo said sternly. 'You are the reason for my corruption… You made me turn on the people I love… and you made me hurt them.'
"How could you feel love? You were just engineered by scientists in a test tube," Giovanni said, in an attempt to get his last jab in at the Pokemon. "You ought to be grateful for the powers I had given you! You should be grateful for even being alive in the first place!"
'A foolish statement...' Mewtwo said to its former Master, levitating up into the air so that it was face to face with the Rocket Boss, who remained trapped in his prison of light. 'It is thanks to the guidance of Ash that I have learned that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant. It is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are... and I am no monster... I am a Pokemon finally freed from your enslavement!' Jutting out its right hand, Mewtwo launched a psychic attack aimed at the head of Giovanni. The Rocket Leader let out a yell, feeling his mental state shatter, which soon subsided as he drifted into a deep sleep, trapped in an eternal prison of light within the Immortal Battlegrounds, now and forever.
"Infernape, thank you so much for your help out there! You rocked it!" An exhausted Ash said, readying to return his remaining Pokemon from his team following the battle.
'That power was intense!' Infernape said, having finally used the full power of its new Aura Blaze Ability. 'I don't know how often I'll be able to pull that off, but I guess all I gotta really do is practice channeling my Aura some more and- Ah!' Infernape then faltered, as the adrenaline high that had carried it throughout its battle had ended. The blue flame atop its head reverted back to its normal color, as it heavily panted from the after-effects of the battle.
"Alright, let's get you in your ball," The Aura Guardian said with a smile, returning his Ace of the Sinnoh Region. 'Thank you Infernape. Thank you everyone.' The trainer then turned, seeing Mewtwo off to itself, in the center of the large golden battlefield which they fought on.
'Ash…' The Legendary Pokemon said with closed eyes and its back turned to him, taking a long pause. 'I have hurt a lot of people, haven't I?'
Ash remained silent at this remark, then uttered: "You weren't in control, Mewtwo… And nobody blames you… If anything I should be-"
'It doesn't matter,' The Legendary turned, showing its tears streaming down its face, as its humanity had truly returned to it. 'I was captured… and had my powers turned against everyone… and now I'm back, but at what cost? Alexa is gone, Ash… and it is all my fault... I'm so sorry!' The Legendary Pokemon wailed. Ash soon let his own tears stream down from his face as him and his newly restored Pokemon embraced in an emotional hug once more.
'Save your tears, my friends,' A regal voice said, echoing throughout the large golden room. Ash was somewhat shocked, as this was not the first time he had heard this voice. 'For you have defeated a great evil on this day. Now come forth, so that I may congratulate you all on your victory!'
Appearing in front of the pair was a large orb of yellow light, about 15 feet in diameter. Soon, exiting the orb of light were the long, slender white legs, followed by the head and body of the God of all Pokemon. Arceus.
Ash and Mewtwo, at the sight of the God Pokemon, Arceus, dropped to one knee. The bright glow of Arceus filled the chamber, as the field they battled on disappeared beneath their very feet. The scenery of the room reverted, as Mewtwo and Ash found themselves in a large Throne Room, bathed entirely in gold light.
'Welcome to the Hall of Origin, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Mewtwo of Cinnabar Island. Today will be a day remembered in history. Where your hearts fought valiantly, and evil was extinguished. It is thanks to the two of you, that I, along with the rest of the Multiverse are safe from Giovanni's Tyranny.' Arceus said, staring down at the kneeling Pokemon and trainer before it. 'I hope you forgive me for not revealing myself sooner. But in your Shadow Form, your strengths far exceeded my own. I knew that I had to wait for the right moment before showing myself to you.'
'With all due respect, Lord Arceus,' Mewtwo said, with its head hung low and fear in its voice. 'You praise me, but are forgetting that I was the one who caused such suffering! How am I deserving when I have caused this much sorrow! I should not even exist in the first place...'
'Whether or not you should exist is irrelevant. Destiny works in its own ways, and it is clear that your destiny requires you to be beside this trainer. He has been very kind to you, has he not?'
Ash cracked a smile, after listening to the God of Pokemon praise him. 'He has…' Mewtwo said, sharing a glance with the trainer who was hopeful to bring his old friend back. 'In that case... I shall once again attain a fresh start with my trainer. So I may better the world after my many wrong doings.'
Arceus nodded at the Pokemon, then turned to the Aura Guardian kneeling before him. 'As for you, Ash Ketchum; I have had my eye on you for quite some time… let's just say the Aura that's within you is very powerful. And while your destiny led you down your own path of troubles and sorrow in regards to your friends, you rose above all challenges and were able to maintain peace throughout a vast expanse of alternate realities. You should be truly proud of your accomplishment at such a young age.'
Ash rose up to his feet, after processing what his response was going to be. "I'm not going to lie to you Arceus… It took a lot of people to get me here. So many people who are close to me were willing to stand up and risk their lives for me, just to get me into the Tree. Then in my battle with Giovanni, the person who I swore that I would protect ended up sacrificing herself so I could win the match for us… All I'm saying is that even though we got Mewtwo back, it sure doesn't feel like a victory that I should be celebrating…"
Arceus stood tall above the Trainer and Mewtwo. In its esteemed voice it said: 'Luckily for you, you are the Champion of Arceus!' Materializing over Ash's head was the shiny Indigo Crown, bedazzled with now brightly polished Sinjoh Gemstones. The crown lowered itself onto Ash's head, as Ash felt a healing pulse of golden Aura flow through his body. In almost an instant, the Aura Guardian's modern style of clothing altered to that of a golden set of Knight's Armor, substituting a helmet for his Indigo Crown.
"Woah!" Ash exclaimed upon feeling revitalized. Bursting from their Pokeballs fully healed were his Charizard, Sceptile, Lycanroc, Heracross, Greninja and Infernape, who all lunged forwards engaging in a group hug with their trainer for his victory. "Arceus, what's going on here?"
'Your victory today at the Immortal Battlegrounds along with your ownership of the Sinjoh Jewels resulted in you being crowned as my Champion. But greater than that, your pure heart has truly touched me. And as a result I shall grant you one wish that you desire.' Arceus stated. 'Did you not listen to Blue regarding the Champion's Ultimate Wish when he was talking about it around the campfire a few days ago?'
"Get out of town!" Ash said (in a comedic tone to Arceus.) "I was just so focused on stopping Giovanni! I had no idea!"
'Well… regardless, the wish is yours,' Arceus said.
"What would I wish for?" Ash repeated to himself, before having a clear choice come to his mind. "If I could have anything…"
'Consider this, young trainer,' Arceus said, pulling forth an orb, which represented an isolated part of space-time. Within the orb was a 10 year old Ash Ketchum, sporting a striped blue and white shirt, hoisting an Alola League Trophy into the air with his Pikachu, Lycanroc, Torracat, Rowlett, and Melmetal surrounding him.
"I… could've won the Alola League…" Ash said, thinking back to that period in his life. If he really wanted to, he could rewrite his past, win the Championship, and truly start that life he never got to have due to the betrayal of his friends. "Is this supposed to be what I could have had?"
'Yes, and no,' Arceus said. 'In an infinite amount of realities there is an infinite amount of you. And with your adversary, Giovanni, now imprisoned in this realm, you no longer would have to worry about him altering your destiny.'
'What I am showing you is an alternate version of an Ash Ketchum. One of many, in fact. Most have caught the same Pokemon and have experienced similar journeys to you. Each one is set to follow their own destiny, accomplishing their own goals with their own companions,' Infernape performed the "mind blown" hand motions upon hearing this from its God. 'You see, this orb just so happens to be a glimpse of you from an alternate reality; one where you stand as Champion of the Alola League, attaining your first ever League Victory. There are actually quite a few different variations of your Championship timelines… In some scenarios, we see you achieving victory in your very first Pokemon League.' The image within the orb shifted to that of an Ash, commanding an obedient Charizard to victory from the Indigo Tournament 11 years ago. "And in the other timelines where you do not win in Kanto, you will become a Champion in at least one of the other regions. From Johto, all the way to Galar, and beyond.' At each mention of Ash with a league victory, the scene from within the orb altered appropriately showing off that Ash and his different teams which (theoretically) brought him victory in that timeline. These images depicted Sceptile, Heracross and Pikachu standing tall over Tobias and his Pokemon in Sinnoh, Charizard defeating Harrison's Blaziken at the Silver Conference, Ash-Greninja defeating Alain's Mega Charizard X in Kalos, and even one of his Dusk Lycanroc defeating Gladion's Midnight Lycanroc with a Counter to a Counter in Alola.
'Essentially, in every timeline that you are present in, you attain major Victory at some point in your career as a trainer. However, the string of events that ensue will vary in each and every one. The question now for you is: Would you wish to stand tall amongst your various selves? To prove that you are the strongest there is?'
"Huh… The strongest me there is..." Ash said, pondering to himself. "In that case… I think it's pretty clear what my wish is. But what about you guys?" Ash said turning to his seven teammates on hand, figuring their input was important as well.
Ash's teammates all drifted off into their imaginations, thinking about what they would wish for if they could literally wish for anything. For Mewtwo, it would have wished to correct all of the wrongdoings it had ever performed in its life. For Lycanroc, it would be a new squeaky chew toy. For Charizard, a beautiful mate. For Heracross, unlimited access to fountains of Venusaur sap. For Sceptile, an edgy trinket to house its Sceptilite Mega Stone. For Infernape, a cool looking flame-proof hat. Greninja on the other hand would have wished for Ash to end up with Serena. Quickly, however, everyone present nodded their heads in agreement knowing what their obvious, one true wish would be.
"Lord Arceus... I am grateful for this wish that you have offered me. And while changing the events of my life sounds exciting and all, I don't want to throw away everything that I have accomplished in my timeline," The Aura Guardian said, thinking back to May, Paul, Ritchie, Mewtwo, Alex, Ross, Brock, and all of the other friends he had made/reconnected with along the way. "If I could just wish to be the strongest trainer in the world, who would I have left to challenge me? To push me and my teammates to give it our all every time? That's why I want to use your power for something bigger than me…"
'Oh?'
"Lord Arceus. I want you to bring my sister Alexa back for me. It was my job to protect her. But instead she protected me and paid the price… So far, it's been my greatest failure in life. And I need to make this right. For her and her Pokemon."
Arceus gazed down at the much smaller Ash, locking eyes with the trainer. Silent for a brief moment, the Pokemon entity spoke: 'How honorable of you, Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town. To use your wish on another. A wise choice considering her destiny was never meant to end on the Immortal Battlegrounds.' Bringing the orb forwards once more, Ash saw a glimpse at his sister, achieving a League Victory of her own. She appeared to be older, most likely around the age of 16. In her arms were a large golden trophy, and at her sides were a Champion's Team consisting of her Lucario, Electivire, Incineroar, Aegislash, Sceptile and an Alakazam (with Ash assuming the latter two being her Grovyle and Abra fully evolved.)
As Ash saw this glimpse of his adopted sister, he couldn't help but feel proud, seeing that her career as a trainer would be far from over. As tears of happiness welled in his eyes, he was overjoyed to see that she was truly destined for greatness. "Thank you, Lord Arceus."
'No. Thank you, Ash. Mortals are often driven by greed and lust, so when unlimited power presents itself, it may be used for unjust reasons. You truly are worthy of being my Champion. I will have you know that this is a wish that I have no qualms about granting.' Arceus cloaked itself in a golden light as the Splash, Meadow, Draco, Earth and Zap Plates exited its body and all flew through the air, combining into the green orb known as the Jewel of Life, which hovered down before the Alpha Pokemon. Areceus fired a thin, yellow beam of energy from its mouth, which passed through the radiant orb that levitated in the golden throne room before it.
In a bright flash of green light, Ash and his Pokemon shielded their eyes for a brief moment. Catching a glimpse through his fingers, Ash could see the bright figure of a teen manifesting before him, hovering high above the air. After Arceus ceased it's beam, the golden glow subsided, as Alexa Ketchum was revealed to Ash. Slowly being lowered to the ground below, the teen was still clad in her cargo shorts, red jacket with the Viridian City Gym Badge and red bandana, appearing to have sustained no damage from the battle. Brushing her black hair from her face, which now had a golden streak on her part to the right, Alexa opened her blue eyes. Alert, the two siblings ran towards each other and embraced in a tight hug. "Ash!" The teenager exclaimed with joy.
"You're alive!" Ash said pulling apart, placing his two hands on her cheeks. "I was so worried about you! Are you okay? How do you feel?"
"Smothered! You get that from your mother!" The teen exclaimed, pushing away, as the two burst into a fit of joyous laughter. Suddenly the two trainers were buried underneath Ash's Pokemon in a pig pile once more. "Ahhhhhh! It's great to see you guys! I'm so glad I'm not dead! I knew you were gonna wish me back to life after you kicked Giovanni's ass!"
"Haha, yeah- The wish…" Ash said, figuring it would be best to not let her know that he was unaware it had applied to him as well.
Alexa then turned her head, as her pupils enlarged at the sight of Arceus. "Ash… Did we both actually die?"
'No, no child. We are just in my Hall of Origin,' The God Pokemon said. 'I witnessed your battle against Giovanni and the Wicked Tobias, and have simply come forth to thank you and your brother for upholding peace throughout the Multiverse. I must add I have been quite impressed with your work for some time now.'
"Really?!" Alexa said in a high pitched voice, somewhat flabbergasted. "You've been watching me?!"
'Why yes… I watch over all of the Aura Guardians, present and future, as they journey to keep balance in the many Pokemon Worlds. As they advance throughout their journeys, I will aid them in ways that I see fit. Why, I was the one who granted you the ability to communicate with your Pokemon through the Aura when I figured you needed it most. I tend to bless mortals with this kind of otherworldly enhancement from time to time to help with their progress.'
"OH MY YOU, THAT IS SO COOL! And Electivire too?" The teen said, referring to the time her Electabuzz evolved under mysterious circumstances while battling Paul during her training as an Aura Guardian.
'And Electivire too,' Arceus said with a wink.
"Ooooo, I love this guy!" Alexa exclaimed. "Now how do I get some of that sweet armor Ash has?"
"Alexa! You should be a little bit more respectful than that to The Arc-"
'No, no, she is right.' The omnipotent being stated. 'Had it not been for her valiant sacrifice in your match, your destiny would have likely ended there. I believe that in this circumstance, I can rewrite an Old Prophecy and crown Two Champions of Arceus.'
In an instant, Alexa was enveloped in the same golden light as Ash, as a set of white, female knight's armor with golden accents was formed around her body. After touching back down on the ground, she noticed a sword in the hilt at her waist with a Thunderstone made into the pommel. Drawing it, she raised the blade high into the air. "Sweet!" Bursting from their Pokeballs on her waist were Alexa's Team of 6 (Lucario, Electivire, Incineroar, Milotic, Swellow and Vigoroth,) who all immediately smothered their trainer, like Ash's did before. The trainer joyfully laughed while getting buried underneath her cherished Pokemon.
'First Ritchie gives her a knife, then Arceus upgrades it to a sword…' Ash thought to himself. However, seeing the joy on her Pokemon's faces to see their trainer back and better than ever was more than enough to put a warm smile on his face.
Alexa bowed her head and kneeled down before the God of Pokemon. "Thank you for this gracious gift of Life and Armor, Lord Arceus. As your Champion, and an Aura Guardian, I promise to continue bringing peace in the Pokemon World."
'I know you shall, Lady Alexa,' Arceus said to the trainer upon her response. 'Like your brother, I can see that you have a true heart of gold as well. That is why I would like to grant you your deepest wish. Just like I did for your brother before.' Alexa's jaw dropped and face grew pale at the thought of having anything she could wish for.
"Did you hear that Lucario? I can bring your eyesight back!" The teen said to her Pokemon, whose eyes were now closed shut and scarred from the damage sustained battling Giovanni's Perrserker.
'...No, Alexa. I can not allow you to do that,' The Pokemon said to its trainer. 'While this may be an obstacle for us now, we shall overcome it together. As we always have with challenges thrown our way. You should use it on something that you desire. Perhaps a wish that will regain something that has been lost to you.'
"Alexa," Ash said, speaking up, approaching his sister and placing a hand on her shoulder. "You could wish for your mom and dad back."
The teenager clad in white armor paused for a moment, as tears formed in her eyes. "I could, Ash… but when I died back there… I saw them again. They said they were so proud of everything I had accomplished, and that my time wasn't over yet… but theirs is… They said they've always been watching over me, and they're proud of everything I've accomplished… They are so thankful for you and Delia and all of your friends for taking me in." Ash and his Pokemon couldn't help but feel a wave of emotions come over them upon hearing the teen's soliloquy. "Ash, you used your wish to bring me back, so I think it's only fair I use my wish for you and Mom."
"Alexa…" Ash said, growing speechless.
"Arceus… I want you to bring Red Ketchum back to life."
The last sight the two Ketchum siblings and their 13 Pokemon saw within the Hall of Origins was the nod of the God Pokemon. After, a bright yellow light filled the room, blinding Ash and Alexa.
This concludes The Final Battle Arc!
Quite possibly one of my favorite works just for the sheer length of time it took me to write this, I wanted to wrap everything up with a climactic battle with callbacks to the story and Pokemon media in general. While I own none of this property, I am so glad that I was able to use these characters to tell a story in this way. A triumphant tale about rising up through the darkness, where the heroes come out the end with a happy ending. This battle in particular, to me, was unlike anything that I had written before, and I'm really proud of it for that.
Hope you all enjoyed it too!
Next up we have: A Golden Era! The Wedding of the Centruy! And an Epilogue!
Stick around... as the Journey continues!
-Kid Arceus