Epilogue: As told by Arceus
'And that, my humble audience, was the Aura Guardian. A heroic tale of two siblings and their friends, who gave it their all to uphold humanity across the vast expanse of the Multiverse. Two siblings who would be crowned as my Champions. Had it not been for them and their companion's heroic actions, who knows what might have happened to the likes of you and me. Although, as one journey ends another is soon to begin. However, our story of Ash and May does not end there just yet. Allow me to provide you with a glimpse two years into the future.' A large golden orb is manifested, showing the future events of our main characters.
In the peaceful Galarian countryside, a team of Machoke movers carrying empty boxes return to their moving van and enter the back. Closing the door behind them, the driver pulls away from a quaint cottage, with aromatic flowers and berry bushes planted throughout the front yard. Ash and May, now married and relocated from Mount Silver, are prepared to continue their cherished life together in their new home. Roaming about the back of their property, behind a wooden fence, all the trainer's Pokemon were present and thriving, with the exception of a few of Ash's Legendaries who are roaming the globe to uphold peace ('However all would return to the trainer at his call if he wanted to see them.')
From inside the living room, a record player is playing a peaceful tune titled the 'Theme of Littleroot Town.' Positioned atop a large cat tower is May's Skitty and Ash's Meowth, peacefully sleeping side by side with one another. Across the room we see May, standing by herself hanging a wide variety of picture frames on the walls of her new home.
Lining their living room were photos of the couple and their friends from throughout the years. These images depicted Ash and May sharing a kiss before a bright ferris wheel, taken by Delia (prior to the Battle of the Warehouse.) Next, a picture of a 10 year old Ash and all his Pokemon (at the time) at Professor Oak's Ranch following his journey through Unova. Below that, an image of Ash, the Kukuis and his Alolan Pokemon taken on Mount Lanakila. Hanging up next to it was a smaller photo of Ash, May, Paul and Ritchie taken of the four trainers celebrating May's 21st birthday, before the Indigo All-Star Tournament had even started. Next to it was a picture of Ash and his team of twelve that had carried him to victory against 'The Mask,' with Darkrai and Mewtwo standing prominent at either side of the crowned trainer. Next, a photo of an 8 year old Alexa who visited Ash with Delia following her adoption, as she joyously played with the Pokemon owned by Ash and Paul outside their homes on Mount Silver. Additionally in the frame was a picture of four robed Aura Guardians: Ash, Alex, Blue and Alexa; taken following his sister's initiation into the Aura Guardian Brotherhood. The next framed photo was of a smiling Ketchum family in full, consisting of Ash, May, Meowth, Manaphy, Alexa, Lucario, Delia and Red, taken outside of Ash's childhood home in Pallet Town. Another image, taken about a year prior, shows Ash, May, Ritchie (the new head of the International Pokemon Association,) Alex (with his arm in a sling,) and the head of the Galar Battle Tower (Leon) before a large crowd, introducing the Galarian Battle Frontier and Contests to the region. The final picture currently hanging on the wall was of the Champion of Kanto, Ash, battling in the Final Round of the Indigo League Conference against someone from his own family. ('His opponent in that match? 'Tis a tale for another time.')
Moving over to the mantle, May Ketchum hangs up the last of the photos above their brick fireplace. A picture of her and Ash from their wedding day, with all of their friends, family and Pokemon standing happily in the background. Positioned above the photo, standing out on a white background were the two halves of the Terracotta Ribbon; combined together as one. Entering the room, Ash walks up behind his wife and places his chin in the crook of her neck on the left side, and plants a kiss on her cheek as she reaches up and touches his face with her left hand; one with a diamond ring on her ring finger. The two stare with smiles on their faces, as they marvel at the image taken from the happiest day of their life.
Wrapping his hands around his love, Ash places his hands on either side of May's large belly. With her hair down, sporting a green maternity dress and a white cardigan, the coordinator is taking some time off from contests as she is six month pregnant with their first (human) child. A faint blue glow appears on Ash's hands, as the couple feel the baby kick inside of her.
"Reading the baby's Aura again?" May questions, as she happily rests up against her husband.
"I sure am," Ash responds with a smile. "And let me tell you, it is vibrant. We sure have a future Champion growing inside of you."
"Or," May says playfully, spinning around towards her husband. "A future Master Coordinator."
"Well whatever they grow up to be, I know we'll be proud regardless," Ash says, making his wife blush at the sentiment of the new adventure that was ahead of them.
Planting a kiss on his wife's lips, Ash and May begin to slow dance with one another through their living room, to another tune from their record. The happy couple were excited, but very nervous about becoming new parents. While they had plenty of practice with Manaphy ('Who had returned to Samiya but frequently visits the pair, often appearing in the lake within their backyard,') this was a whole new adventure that awaited them.
The two soon exit through the back door of their home holding hands, and enter the back of the Ketchum Homestead. There they admire the lush trees and lake behind the property, along with all of their Pokemon that call this place home. The couple watched a lone Lapras swim across the lake, with a Greninja with its feet kicked up, resting its hands behind its head on the Pokemon's back. As the herd of Tauros grazed, the couple looked at their Pokemon, noticing many were on the sidelines of the battlefield within their backyard. As two Lucarios (one with scars across both eyes) meditated not far off from the site of the battle, the 16 year old Alexa Ketchum commanded a brand new Pokemon.
Growing a few inches taller in the two years since the Battle at the Tree of Beginning, the black haired trainer with a golden streak through it had journeyed through the regions of Kanto and Johto, however with her brother and sister-in-law's move to Galar, she was ready to experience the region known for its gorgeous scenery, and larger than life Dynamax Battles. However, Alexa was not alone on this journey. As May and Ash crossed towards the battle, they came up to the side of the blonde trainer, the boy from another world: Ross Stevens. Sporting a grey hoodie, his trusty Shiny Charizard, Fuji, stood at his side. And on his shoulder, a new companion he had found after returning to his home world: a silver Eevee.
"How are they hanging with Primeape?" Ash says, clasping a hand on Ross's free shoulder.
"They're holding their own. It's a real clash of styles out there," Ross says with a chuckle. "But Alexa sure is excited as always when it comes to battling your teammates."
Sporting a black and yellow Isle of Armor uniform with her hair tied into a bun, the teenager commands a tiny, grey bear Pokemon before her. "Alright Kubfu! Let's use Aerial Ace!"
As Primeape rocketed forwards with its fist extended, the Wushu Pokemon performed a back handspring to evade. Once it touched back down on the ground, it pushed forwards, smashing its tiny frame against the Primeape, making the bear Pokemon fall onto its rear. While Primeape snorted at the seated Pokemon, it soon offered its glove-like hand to pick the Pokemon back up to its feet.
Turning to the sidelines, Alexa Ketchum waves to her brother and his wife. "You guys all settled in?"
"We sure are," May says, wrapping an arm around Ash's waist.
"We're about to head out," Says her adoptive brother. "We're heading to Twinleaf town to go visit Dawn and Paul."
"Make sure you congratulate them on the engagement for us!" Ross says, as he shared some cherished memories of his own with the couple.
Approaching Ash and May with her Kubfu and Lucario at her side, Alexa smiles. "Thanks for letting us check out the new place. We'll be hitting the roads ourselves. I've got a match scheduled with Bea all the way in Stow-On-Side in two days, so I want to make sure we get there on time!"
"Sounds great!" Ash says to his younger sister, exchanging a high five.
As Ross and Alexa say their goodbyes to Ash and May, riding down the dirt road in front of their home on Rotom Bikes, the couple of Ash and May found themselves in the backyard once again so Ash could pick out a team of six to bring with him to Sinnoh ('Since a battle with Paul would be imminent upon their arrival.')
"I'll take Infernape, Incineroar, Pidgeot, Snorlax and Dragonite ('One of the newest additions to the Ketchum Clan')… Now who should I pick for my sixth member?" Ash turns around, looking back towards their home. "Hey Mewtwo! You wanna help me in a match with Paul tonight?"
'While I will certainly come with you,' The Genetic Pokemon calls back, seated on a rock with its best friend Darkrai hovering at its side. 'I do not think I'm ready to come out of retirement... just yet!'
"Fine by me, buddy!" Ash says, before putting a hand on his chin. "Now who do I pick?"
"Pika?" The Electric Mouse Pokemon says at his feet.
"Sure thing, pal!" Ash extends out his forearm, prompting his very first Pokemon to hop up his arm and run up to his shoulder. Following the Final Battle against Giovanni, the Pokemon was prepared to live out its life as a wild Pokemon, free from the lies it was told by Max. Ash, however, had a better idea: offering it a spot back on his team. Back in his family. Since he was able to see that its actions at the Tree of Beginning were for the greater good, he wanted to try to work on healing their damaged relationship. And two years on, they have. With Pikachu reunited with many of its old family members, it had also warmed up and become extremely friendly with many of Ash's newer Pokemon that it had not had the pleasure of meeting. ('Its closest friend? Ash's Alolan Raichu. They are distant cousins within the same evolutionary family, after all.')
"Ready to go?" May asks her husband.
"Ready," Ash says with a grin. Turning and giving a nod to Mewtwo, the Psychic type forms an oblong hole through spacetime with a hand, showing them their companion's home across the globe. On Sinnoh time, it was roughly 7:30pm and nighttime. As Ash, May, Pikachu, Meowth, Darkrai, and Mewtwo enter through the portal, the couple wave goodbye to the Pokemon staying home on the ranch. The portal shrinks down and closes behind them.
Further away, Alexa and Ross ride their Rotom Bikes, prepared to continue their journey through Galar. Racing one another, with smiles plastered on their faces, the pair ride off together towards the Galarian sunset.
'All journeys must end someday! Even if you are an Aura Guardian who has saved the Multiverse. A story of triumph, sacrifice, friendship, family, and of course, Pokemon! And while Ash's Journey may have come to an end on this day, Alexa Ketchum's is just beginning. Stay tuned… as the Journey continues!'
The Final Author's Note:
And with that, The Aura Guardian comes to a close. 146 Chapters, 426 Pages, but a whole lotta fun to write.
I wanted to tell a Pokemon Story. After seeing plenty of far better writers do it before me, I just wanted to give it a shot because there was a story I felt like sharing- I just didn't know when or if I could. I wanted to try my hand at mixing up the "Pokemon Formula," to try telling a completed story with a mix of characters, references, themes, and other elements from the Pokemon Franchise and Beyond. With the Pokemon Multiverse being a canon thing, I wanted to interwork a cast of characters to interact with the some of the ones I grew up with. It also gave me the chance to bring some Original Characters into the mix, and maybe provide some growth for them as well.
When I began writing this story, I was doing it for myself. I was tired of seeing Pikachu carry Ash through his anime battles, when he had such a diverse roster back at home. And while I understand the focus on teams is often region specific/showing off the company's mascot, I wanted to see what it could be like for Ash to not have that Ace companion or "ruleset." And through a Tournament Style Story arc, he could show off his old team members with a couple of new ones that I wanted to see him with. Mewtwo, Darkrai, Lucario (before he got his own in Journeys lol,) Greninja again, that one Larvitar all grown up from the Johto series, and so on and so forth. Originally, I coulda ended it there -at his victory against The Mask- and quite frankly I almost did. In my head, the 'revenge plot' was resolved and Ash was about to be crowned the best in the world...
But something inside told me to just keep going because I was enjoying writing this story so much. That's where Giovanni comes in; as I find him to be one of the most interesting and iconic villains dating all the way back to the Red and Blue games. When I saw what Giovanni was like in the Pokemon Origins Special, I was set on making this the big bad of the story.
And as it was all drawing to an end, as I began writing my finale, I decided to share the whole story with you, the reader.
Did you have a favorite Part of the Aura Guardian series? Let me know! (A personal favorite of mine is the Alexa's Training Day Arc back in Part 3!)
Thank you all so much for the support on The Aura Guardian! Seeing Part 1 get any views felt like such an achievement for me and it helped motivate me to write out the final chapters. I still get excited when I see them grow, getting Followed and Favorited along the way! Feel free to leave a (hopefully non-spoiler) review on the whole story if you wish. I'd love to hear what you all thought of it. I hope that you were able to enjoy this story I wanted to tell.
With that, I bid you farewell!
And Thank You.
-Kid Arceus; A Pokemon Fanboy