Chapter 20: The Next Generation
A brunette sprinted out her house, raced through the garden and jumped on to the streets, a massive smile exploding on her face. Her legs moved faster with anticipation of what was to come, her dark hair flying behind as the wind whipped through it. Her bag repeatedly hit her hip and her necklace bounced around her neck.
"Stay safe, Sapphire!" A worried voice called out.
August and January, her older siblings started their journey and were currently exploring the Johto region. She remembered how envious she was of her older siblings. The freedom, the dangers and the pokemon they would see, she would have to wait longer to experience wonder and joy like that. Now the time had come! Unlike Sapphire, they took a path like their father, deciding to challenge the pokémon leagues. She, on the other hand, was inspired by May's stories and the beauty that pokémon showed, rather than toughness and brute strength. It was fitting, her father would say, since out of all her siblings, she resembled to her mother the most.
Her dark blue eyes glanced back at her mother for a short second. Her worrisome expression followed Sapphire as she headed to the lab. It was her turn to start her journey! January and August began their journey together because they were fraternal twins. Back then, the Oaks lived in Hoenn, so January chose Mudkip as her starter, and August chose Treeko. They were travelling through the Johto region, both with one goal in mind: to conquer the league and challenge the champion.
"I'll be fine, Mom!" she cried with complete certainty. Her mother worried too much! What could possibly go wrong?
May was an accomplished top coordinator who slowly faded from the spotlight after she retired. Too young, most said, but May wanted to raise her children just as her parents raised her and Max. It would become too draining to balance the two contrasting lifestyles. The shelves at the mansion were decorated with her countless Grand Festival cups and other shelves contained contest ribbons from every region. All sparkles and gleamed in their glass cases as if she had won them yesterday. May always had the same reply when someone asked her why she gave up her dream- she never gave up; she already achieved her childhood dream and now she aspired to be something else, and she sought to fulfill her next one: to settle down and have a family of her own. May welcomed the cosy simplicity after the complexities of a coordinating career.
Gary eventually mustered his courage and proposed to her on an exclusive island resort in Alola, under the full moon on a wooden lagoon in the middle of the ocean. Sounds romantic, right? Sapphire heard the story a million times. They first met in Sinnoh and travelled the region together, helping each other along the way. An aspiring top coordinator and a famous pokemon researcher; that was bound to make headlines. The wedding was held in Hoenn where everyone was invited, even Wallace!
Gary Oak was a renowned researcher in many fields, a famed archaeologist in numerous projects, a passionate paleontologist, expert on historic legends, an occasional poet; he had an illustrious professor like Professor Oak. The list goes on. Sapphire's father's main project was a collaboration with Professor Rowan, studying how pokemon are able to manipulate space-time, time-travel and its possible effects on the timeline. His lectures usually bored Sapphire, but April always took in the information with curious eyes and a thirst for knowledge. Maybe that's why April was a little too smart for her age.
Sapphire skidded to a halt, standing in front of the town's pokemon lab. It was a lot modern from last year's renovations. Panting breathlessly, her eyes took in the grand sight and the enormous implications of it. "This is it," she whispered in awe.
As she stepped in, her leather boots automatically lead her to the main hall. It wasn't difficult to find the room because she used to visit the lab with her father many times as a child. She observed the pristine walls and the strange objects on the tables. A scientist hurried past her, clutching papers tightly in his hand as he reread it through his horn-rimmed glasses thoughtfully. Sapphire walked passed another sea of researchers until she approached a narrow corridor, and then finally the glass double-doors leading to the main hall. Her eyes scanned the room, widening with slight surprise at the lack of trainers. She must be the first one! She saw the professor engrossed in a deep conversation with a researcher beside a glass table which had three balls on it.
"Dad, I'm here!" she said excitedly, running towards him. She engulfed him with a bear-hug. Gary bent down and returned her hug, smiling proudly.
"Professor Oak, perhaps we should continue this another time?" The other man asked cordially.
"No problem," Gary replied. "Send the email by tomorrow promptly." The researcher nodded in respect before taking his leave. Gary turned his undivided attention to the girl who was now practically drooling at the sight of the pokeballs.
"Ready to pick a pokemon, Saph?"
"Dad, isn't it obvious?" she squealed. "I want a charmander!"
"But you haven't seen bulbasaur or squirtle," her father mused, his tone coloured with humour. "You might change your mind when you see them."
Sapphire shook her head with confidence, folding her arms in a manner that reminded Gary very much of May. "We have Blastiose and Venasaur, but not a charizard, so I want Charmander as my first starter!"
"When you're so sure of want you want," Gary said, smiling as he reached for the middle pokeball, "no-one can change your mind. Here."
"I can't wait to show Mom," Jan said, grasping the pokeball like it was made of gold. Gary watched his daughter throw the ball up, his inner child unbelievably ecstatic at the momentous scene. It was just like yesterday when he swaggered over to the lab and chose his first pokemon and vowed to win the championship, bragging to Ash about it as he sat in his convertible, a team of cheerleaders surrounding him whenever he boasted about his feats. He couldn't believe what an conceited jerk he used to be.
"I'm going to be top coordinator just like Mom!" Sapphire promised, winking at Charmander as she crouched down.
"Just like Luna, Pearl and Aurora too," Gary remarked, "that's some tough competition already."
The triplets wanted to take the mantle of Sinnoh's Top Cordinator, following in the footsteps of their parents: Dawn and Kenny. Sapphire would play with them when thy were kids since they would go to Sinnoh often. The Sinnoh region was a lot different to Kanto. It was much colder, for one. Sapphire's favourite region had to be Hoenn! Not only did her grandparents live there, but the weather was always warm. Dawn became a successful pokestylist and was tasked to design the coronation dress of the new Unova League Champion Iris. She married Kenny after he mustered the courage to kneel down on one knee to his childhood best friend and ask her to be his wife, to which she gave a chirpy yes.
"I can't wait to face them in a contest one day!"
"Don't forget your pokeballs and pokédex," Gary mentioned quickly, as if he was the one who almost forgot. "It scans pokemon and gives you information about them as well as the move-set pokemon have learned." She pocketed the device in her bag and the five balls. Gary spotted the necklace dangling on her neck.
"You're wearing that specifically for today, I assume?"
"You gave it to me. It's my lucky charm," she said as-a-matter-of-factly. Subconsciously, Sapphire touched the necklace; the circle pendant was patterned like ying-yang, but one half was yellow while the other half was green. It actually belonged to her father, who wore it on his first ever journey.
Gary grinned. Her belief in charms and magical objects was something she had similar with her mother. She even still had the dream-catcher he bought all those years back in Alamos Town, Sinnoh. "Make sure you stay safe, and remember to phone us when you reach the city."
"Sure, Dad." She held the pokeball in her hand, hugging her father for the final time. Without doubt, she would dearly miss her father's warm embraces. They broke apart and she already missed the fuzzy feeling.
"Mom, I'm back!" Sapphire announced, expecting her mother to suddenly pop out and smother her with endless love. Instead, an eevee circled her happily before jumping into her arms.
"Eevee!," she laughed, Charmander staring at the pair in confusion. Eevee was still a baby, only two months old, hatching from an egg from Umbreon and Glaceon. It had grown closer to Sapphire. "Eevee, where's Mom?" Eevee glanced blankly at her face and she sighed.
"Sapphire, your're still here?" April asked, her eyes narrowing at the unexpected sight of her older sister as she strolled on her way to the kitchen.
"Look at my pokemon! It's Charmander!"
"Cute!" April gushed, petting the pokemon. "I can't believe you're actually leaving!"
"You've gotten your starter so soon?" May asked, entering the room with Delcatty. "It took me a while to choose mine."
"That's because she can't wait to see Jasper again," April sang, an innocent look plastered on her face as Sapphire blushed.
"He's in Hoenn, genuis."
"Of course, you would know."
"If you say another word...!" she glared, squaring up to her younger sister.
April's purple eyes shone with unrestrained mirth. She always won rounds like these. Sapphire's crush on the Jasper Hayden was obvious. Last year, Drew invited them over for Serena's grand birthday party, Sapphire could barely breath around the boy, let alone speak. She and Rose (Jasper's younger sister), joked about to every chance they had. April knew her mother and Drew were old friends. May often spoke how Drew was a better coordinator than her, but April couldn't imagine it. If Drew was better than her mother, then why would be choose being a CEO over being the best coordinator in the world?
"This is your last day, Sapphire," May reminded, oblivious about her feelings for the boy. Sapphire inherited her hotheadedness from her, no doubt about it, and April's mischievousness echoed Gary's childhood antics. "Try to be nicer to her." April stuck her tongue out as Sapphire conceded with a sigh. She'll get her back one day; she always did.
"Mom, since Ariel's starting her journey too, can we travel together? She's getting a Staryu from Aunt Misty so she won't be coming to Pallet Town. I guess I can visit them in Cerulean City."
"That sounds wonderful. It's more fun when you travel with someone."
"Like you and Uncle Ash?" April piped in. May nodded, a nostalgic glint in her eyes.
Many years passed, but she still felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Misty frequently phoned her, spilling her tears and problems the pair were having on a daily basis. Settling down was not something he desired, Ash belatedly decided. His lifelong dream of being a pokemon master meant he could not stop training, travelling and learning. After numerous arguments, Misty reluctantly agreed to his choice. Misty raised her daughter, Ariel, with stories of their father's unyielding willpower and heroics. The fiery rage died when Misty realized that it was his passion and commitment to his dreams that she loved most about him, but left a bitterly cold resentment in its place.
Sapphire could hardly believe that Ariel never met her dad. It was just plain weird.
"You can't leave without saying goodbye to everyone else," May cried excitedly. "Let's go outside!" Sapphire followed behind May, Eevee in her arms and Charmander scampering by her leg. April trotted along and Delcatty yawned, curling beside the window instead.
May handed out a batch of pokemon food to everyone outside. Snorlax, Blaziken, Beautifly, Blastoise, Alakazam, Golem and others. Her hair was plaited in a simple crown braid, wearing a red summer dress that made her look decades younger, barefoot on the neatly trimmed grass. The wedding ring on her finger glinted brightly as the sunlight reflected off the diamond.
"Charmander and I will be starting our journey today!" Sapphire announced, her body unable to contain her enthusiasm as she punched the air.
"Why don't you take Eevee with you?" Sapphire glanced at Eevee snuggling in her arm, as she pursed her lips in thought. "It is the family tradition now. August has Vaporeon, and January has Flareon."
"Do you want to come with me, Eevee?" Sapphire asked curiously. Eevee nodded with vigor, convincing her to pull out a pokeball she obtained from the lab. As she pressed the button, in a zap of red light Eevee disappeared into to the ball. And it stayed inside. A smile tugged on the corner of her lip as she held the ball up high. "I've got an eevee!"
May looked her daughter, her heart melting as she stared with pride at her baby girl. Sapphire Oak was ready to explore the land all alone, chasing her dream in the wonderful world...
"Mom," Sapphire started, recognising the tears as May's eyes became glassy. May embraced her firmly, willing herself not to cry again. Arceus, her mother was never this emotional when she decided to go on her journey with Ash!
"Say hello to August and January for me, will you?" May said with a sniffle.
"I will."
Excitement coursing through her veins, Sapphire picked up Charmander and sprinted through the gates of her home. May, April and all the pokemon waved jovially and cheered as she walked away and towards the outskirts of the town. She stopped, looking at the stony path surrounded by natural wilderness. A flock of pidgeys flew above, a ratatta scurried behind a bush, meanwhile a kakuna latched itself on a lofty tree branch.
With one last look over her shoulder, at her family, she took a deep breath, and continued, passing a sign that said: Pallet Town, Shades of your Journeys Await!
A hand rested on May's back. With her eyebrow raised in surprise, her eyes looked up. A slow smile spread on her face as she snuggled up to her husband, watching their daughter leave home, and begin her life-changing journey. When they would see her again, she'd be a whole new person.
"I can't wait to be a trainer like Saph!" April said, though her voice carried a miserable edge to it. "I think I'm gonna miss her lots."
"You've got a long way to go," May replied, tickling the small girl.
"When can we visit Auntie Dawnie and Uncle Ken?" She asked suddenly. April was always full of unexpected questions.
"I don't know, sweetie." May's eyes flicked over to Gary who looked equally unsure.
April bit her lip, dissatisfied by the vague answer, but then her amethyst eyes lit up. "What about Hoenn, Mommy? Uncle Max and Grandad and Grandma?"
Max was the head researcher in Littleroot Town lab after Professor Birch retired. Brendan Birch, an old friend of hers, was the new gym leader of Petalburg City under the ownership of Norman. January hoped she would be the next one to continue the family gym permanently.
And Drew. Her best friend, greatest rival and oldest confidant who was also from Hoenn. He was the CEO of the Hayden Empire and inherited his father's wealth after he died, taking the reins of the colossal business. Drew married the one-time Kalos Queen, Serena, one of May's closest friends. Serena eventually moved to something she preferred: cooking, and was head chef at the newest Seven Stars Restaurant in Hoenn. May smiled fondly, remembering the day she and Gary received a letter, inviting them to be VIPs at their wedding in LaRousse City, Hoenn. She and Drew remained amicable friends and still on close terms, their rocky moments were a mere fragment of their history.
"After I finish my project in Pewter City, we could go then," Gary chimed in.
"An' what 'bout Aunt Sol an' Harley!?" April continued. May sighed at April's endless questions as Gary laughed. April loved travelling. It satisfied her inner curiosity, and seemingly had the same thirst for experiences like he did.
Solidad took a break from coordinating like May, choosing the career path of a coordinating mentor. She had been teaching at a school in Alola for the past ten years. Needless to say that she loved it, maybe more than coordinating! Harley was an old friend (and the term "friend" is used very loosely). There was no more bad blood between them, only nostalgia. He was the nicest person in the world to May when she announced her retirement from coordinating. And although time caught up with him, graying his hair and wrinkles, he didn't stop living with style and extravagance. He bought his own private island off the coast of Alola and took a permanent vacation in the sunny region. They say no man is an island, but it seemed Harley was.
"We can't go Alola right now, but how about we pay Aunt Misty a visit in Cerulean City next week?" May offered.
"Yay!"
Misty gained full ownership of Cerulean Gym after her sisters pursued modelling and acting ambitions in Hollywood. Misty lived alone and told May she was fine, but May sensed the pain behind her smile, the worry in her eyes. Misty was waiting for Ash. Everyone hoped he would return when Misty was pregnant with Ariel. Instead, his absence left a gaping hole in their lives. She adopted a baby and named him Asher a few months ago. He was orphaned when the dastardly wicked Team Rocket grunts robbed a home and murdered his parents. The Team Rocket who annoyed her while she travelled with Ash and Brock and her little brother were never malicious to that extent. May wondered what Jessie, James and Meowth were up to these days.
"Mommy, will Ash be there too?" April quickly covered her mouth. May froze and Gary took a deep breath.
"He won't, April," Gary said, breaking the silence. May silently thanked him for answering as he knelt in front of his youngest child.
"Why?" April blurted. "He was in your an' daddy's wedding an' I seen pictures of Auntie Dawnie an' Aunt Misty an' you an' daddy with him, but I've never met him!"
As for her favourite raven-head, Ash had finally achieved his lifelong dream of being a pokemon master. His winning streak didn't stop after he became the Alolan champion. After the huge roars of success and coverage around the globe, he slowly disappeared from the people, eventually completely hidden from the limelight. At first May thought he was only ignoring her calls, but the same happened to the others. Dawn she still saved him a seat at her wedding even though he never RSVP'd.
For now, no one knew where Ash was. Not even Delia Ketchum. There were rumours of a strong trainer with a pikachu in Mount Silver, but those claims were never proven. A myth. There was always an empty seat on the front row. An empty chair on the table. A person missing from their group photographs. Delia tearfully admitted that Ash seldom contacted her. It was as if Ash Ketchum disappeared of the face of the planet and no one knew why.
Gary told her a few says ago that he heard from Professor Oak that Ash was indeed in Johto, so the rumours were credible. Despite being a master, he still felt that something was missing. May frowned when Gary also said that Ash might want to be alone and independent on his soul searching journey, seeing as in his entire childhood he had always travelled with others. It enraged her to imagine Ash being so selfish that he would ignore his friends and family. This was not the Ash Ketchum she knew! May reluctantly resigned to the fact, despite the aching feeling of the loss of her best friend and desperate desire to see him again. The last time she saw his positive face was when he stood near Gary as his Best Man on their wedding.
"You look awesome! I'm so happy for you! Congratulations," Ash cried, pumping his fist in uncontrollable joy. He looked even more handsome in a tuxedo, his shoulder vacant as Pikachu danced on the stage with the other pokemon. "Seriously, my two best friends married each other. I would have never guessed it!" Even at a wedding, Ash refused to take off his cap. Seeing as he was Gary's best man, she decided to let him have it.
"Maybe it'll be your turn next!" she teased.
"Huh? What'dya mean?" Ash stared at May blankly as she gestured to Misty, who was engrossed in a conversation with Serena. An uneasy look crossed his face, but it went as fast as it came. May grinned at him affectionately as he shrugged, scratching his head. Some things just never change.
"I didn't get to congratulate you on winning the battle against the groom," May said with a wink. Battles were more of Ash's forte after all.
"Gary forgot he was challenging the champ!" Ash cried enthusiastically as Pikachu cheered with him. Gary battled with his best man, and May also challenged her maid of honour to a contest match.
"It was so much fun watching you two battle again," she beamed. "Are you going to stay for my contest battle against Dawn?"
"Uh, maybe after dinner." And then as if on queue, Ash's stomach rumbled with hunger. "So where's the buffet?"
May laughed as her stomach rumbled simultaneously. She pulled him into a warm hug which he reciprocated with unusual poignancy, holding her longer than normal. The corners of their mouth pulled downward, but May didn't have a chance to ponder as he complimented her on silky white wedding dress.
"Thank you, and more importantly, the food is that way." She pointed and he tossed a goofy grin- the goofy grin she would missed dearly- with gratitude shining in his dark eyes. Just as he was about to speed away like a rapidash, he faltered, turning out face May one last time, his childish expression now solemn.
"I'm gonna miss you May, but I know you'll be happier than ever with Gary." May widened her eyes, taken aback by the seriousness in his eyes, and the somber tone of his words. "I'll see you soon!"
And just like that, his cheerfully contagious, loop-sided grin reappeared. He marched towards his favorite table, following the delicious aroma that wafted through the air. He gave Gary a pat on the back as he made his way to May.
"What was that all about?" Gary asked his wife as they watched Ash down an entire bowl of noodle soup.
"I don't know," she murmured, leaning into Gary's embrace. "I'm gonna really miss him."
"Me too," he agreed, sweat-dropping as a frightful waiter placed more food in front of a ravenous Ash.
Those were his last words to her. His last shining smile. His last bit of personality she cherished ever since. Although Gary hid it better than May, she knew the absence of Ash, old his friends, hurt him too. Ash was his brother from another mother. Losing relationships was May's unsolvable, inexplicable and unfathomable weakness. And her maternal instincts hated letting August, January and Sapphire go on her own way. It was clear that Ash was concealing a secret pain or trouble from her so it wouldn't ruin the special day.
"We'll meet him one day, April?" May smiled, "and you're going to love him because he is the bravest person ever!"
"Braver that daddy?"
"Definitively," May teased.
"Hey!"
"Ash did save me from a drowning sea temple and almost sacrificed his life to restore to sea crown," she replied matter-of-factly, "and also risked everything to save the Tree of Beginning."
"I saved your life too," he countered with a smirk. "You just don't remember it yet."
"You mean a universe where you rescued me from a snowstorm," May replied playfully, "and then my knight in shining armour met the legendary Celebi, who reversed time and saved my-" May paused, glancing at April, who was listening intently, "-uh... life, because Harley was the mastermind that somehow single-handedly destroyed my future?"
Her words were filled with the same doubt as the day Gary confessed her the truth.
"An oversimplification of events, but yes." They walking back to their home, April clinging to Gary's hand.
"Harley of all people outsmarted everyone?" May repeated skeptically. "That sounds like an unrealistic story no one would read."
"It's not fiction," Gary insisted for the umpteenth time, brushing off her laughter. "One day I'll prove it to you."
"Dad, can I time travel too?"
"Sure kid, you can do whatever you want."
Of course he didn't mean that, but April was too young to understand quantum physics and the repercussions of time-travelling. He'd teach her that when she was old enough, so most likely next year. But then again, he didn't face any serious repercussions, so perhaps it was possible to create a paradox that would permanently cause a catastrophe to the delicate fabric of space-time.
I recently started a new job so I didn't have much time to edit this (very long!) chapter, hence the late update. Anyways, finally finished been 6 long years!
Thank you all for the love and reviews you've shown. There is a bonus chapter coming up, but this is the official ending.