Chapter 25: Luna Nova Academy, Under Siege, Part 2

Black fire sealed Ash and Oboneron in a dome. The students and teachers of Luna Nova Academy watched on, their only male classmate in danger. Unable to wait, Akko wanted to free Ash with his broom, Shooting Star. "Hang on, Ash!" she shouted as she raced after the dome. Chariot watched, knowing about the heat of the dome's shell.

"Akko, don't!" she warned. As Akko closed in, intense heat from the dome began scorching her face. Shooting Star felt the heat and steered away.

"We gotta do something!" she pleaded. "Ash is cooking alive!" Inside, Ash faced Oboneron while seemingly not bothered by the black fire.

"It almost feels like a pleasure to have his magic and I reunite," he mentioned. "Long that I have had this vendetta since he sealed me so many centuries ago." Ash stood, not worried about Oboneron's past.

"I guess I should feel lucky to see you in Aaron's place," he retorted. "Now, Blizzard Field!" The tome open, Ash's hand was aglow as he palmed the ground. A blizzard shot from the ground and at Oboneron who waived his arm, a stream of flames billowing out and defrosting Ash's attack. "And now, Bubble Bombs!" With an uppercut motion, the defrosted ice became water and then formed bubbles that shot and exploded on Oboneron, reeling him. Oboneron took pleasure in the fight.

"Just like Aaron back in the day," he remembered. "It's almost too enticing to get my revenge and enjoy it at the same time." Ash believed it's part of Giovanni that was adding to the conflict.

"How so?" he asked, not wanting to question the leader of Team Rocket, just Oboneron.

"He let Babylon fall. I searched for him for the calamity of Babylon as he cowered from sight."

"He did? What, did you want him to bring Babylon back?" Then, a though. "Or is it that you think he stole the language that destroyed Babylon?" The guesses made Oboneron scoff.

"He banished Babylonians to their beyond. I was their last hope, but they never gave me the chance, not even the House of Cavendish." Ash felt something bothering Oboneron.

"Easter Cavendish?"

"So, you've learned… and it'll be the last thing you'll understand!" He fired several fireballs at Ash who whipped his wand out.

"Magic Missiles!" Balls of magic shot from Ash's wand and blasted the fireballs. One fireball tailgated another and was at Ash. He tried to deflect it, but the wand splintered, going in several directions. Ash gasped. "Oh boy… at least I still have the tome." Oboneron sneered to Ash's predicament.

"Training as a wiccan, huh? It's not enough that you're the descendant of Aaron, but you chose to practice witchcraft?" Suddenly, Giovanni's voice spoke out.

'That's why this boy looks so familiar,' he assumed. 'I'll take over.' Oboneron's face morphed back to Giovanni's. Ash looked puzzled as to why Giovanni wanted to see him.

"This should be good," he braced.

"But it will be, son of Arthur Ketchum," Giovanni claimed. Ash's eyes lit up to the claim.

"Son of… who?" The shock made Giovanni snicker.

"I'm not surprised that the name doesn't ring a bell as it's been over a decade since I heard the name of Ketchum, though if I had learn about this ability… I would have killed him before he met your mother. Nevertheless, it's a pleasure to end the bloodline before it can be more of a nuisance to Team Rocket." Ash looked beyond belief, unable to understand Giovanni's claim.

"That's… How is it that-" He couldn't finish what he wanted to say.

"Your father had snooped into the Team Rocket headquarters to take us down. I had just acquired my status as vice president and rather than wait for the owner to step down, I ended his life since he was too passive. I asserted my reign over Team Rocket, which included methods to locate and capture rare and valuable Pokémon, even using Mewtwo and a tool for such. Your father discovered the methods of Project Two conducted by Dr. Fuji, which would clone his deceased daughter, Amber. He didn't know that I would take the project to a new fruition when Mewtwo was born. Of course, I soon learned of a snooper and discovered it was your father, Arthur. To protect the operation, I had a few of my Pokémon end his life." The story had Ash's eyes ready to bulge out. "He mentioned that his son would be able to take me down as his final words. If he had kept his business away from us, you would've grown up with him." The taunt made Ash clench his teeth, seething to the slaughter of a father he never knew. His fingers trembled and he furrowed his brow at the monster who killed his father.

"You… killed my dad? For doing the right thing!?"

"If by 'the right thing' is sabotaging operations to improve Team Rocket, then… yes, he did 'the right thing.' He should've taught you the same thing before I killed him… but then, what joy would that be to not know what happened to his dear… old… man?" Growls grew louder. The aura swirling around Ash fluctuated, morphing from sky blue to crimson red. His eyes took a new shape as his rage rose.

"So, that's why I never saw my father... Not once…" Eyes became black as the pages flipped at an incredible rate. "BECAUSE OF YOU!" An explosion of energy came from Ash, enough to make the ground below them shake. Giovanni sneered as his face melted back into Oboneron.

'Yes… burn your hatred through your aura. Become angry, because that is how you'll join your father in the afterlife.' Enraged, Ash unleashed volleys of energy blasts that smashed into Oboneron, but his giant palm was deflecting the blasts. He returned the volleys with streams of fire, skulls on the front of them. Blinded by rage, he charged into the attacks, blasting the skulls and snuffing the flames. However, Oboneron stomped the ground. A geyser of fire struck Ash, shooting him back for a second before charging in. Outside, the students and teachers tried to find a way to get to Ash.

"We're taking too long out here!" worried Diana. "Ash could be dying inside!"

"But we can't get anywhere close to that dome due to the heat given off!" added Ellen. Pikachu, riding on Alcor, watched the dome and the black fire it gave off.

("Maybe…") he thought as he recalled what happened before he and Ash came to Luna Nova Academy. The giant Electro Ball that blasted the platform Giovanni stood on back at the temple gave him an idea. Miranda saw the Mouse Pokémon's ears twitch.

"Pikachu, do you have a plan?" she asked. Pikachu nodded as he pointed to his tail.

("I need electricity!") he demanded. Croix had an idea as she came to Pikachu.

"You need a power charge!?" she guessed. Pikachu pumped his paw to confirm Croix's guess. "Okay! Let's give you some lightning!" From Croix's wand, lightning struck Pikachu who embraced it. Watching, Diana had an idea.

"Of course!" she realized. "Pikachu's Electro Ball could be increased by the amount of electricity given to him!"

"But would that be enough!?" warned Akko. "I came to that dome and felt magical fire from it. That Electro Ball attack might not be enough!" Chariot heard Akko's issue and believed her.

'She's right,' she thought. 'Pikachu's Electro Ball would do some damage, but it's natural and not magic… but Croix's giving Pikachu that magic lightning.' She looked to her Shiny Rod. An idea formed. 'I got it!' She flew to Akko and Diana with her idea. Electricity overflowing, Pikachu's body began to glow.

"That should do it!" believed Croix. Diana nodded before giving Pikachu the command.

"Charge up for Electro Ball!" she ordered. Pikachu's tail began to glow and the Electro Ball grew like it did before, the size being bigger than Pikachu himself.

"Akko!" shouted Chariot. "Diana!" Akko, Croix and Diana turned to Chariot coming in. "You'll have to go in and get Ash out of there!" Thinking Chariot forgot about the heat, Diana spoke up.

"We can't!" she argued. "The heat will drive us away!" Chariot nodded to the claim.

"I have an idea about that!" she called out. Everyone turned to Chariot holding her Shiny Rod.

"We're all ears, Shiny One!" teased Nelson. Chariot turned to her first item.

"Pikachu, throw the Electro Ball!" she commanded. "Akko, Diana, stay in formation and follow my lead!" Diana was a little puzzled to Chariot's idea, but Akko nodded.

"We'll follow you, Chariot!" she complied. Chariot nodded before they flew on the brooms behind Chariot's. Pikachu leaped off Alcor before flinging the Electro Ball. Chariot, Akko and Diana pursued the ball of lighting before it collided with the black fire dome. It became a struggle to smash the dome. Neither side gave way.

"Now for a little magical whirlwind!" summoned Chariot. Winds gathered and spun like a tornado, collecting the electricity from the Electro Ball. The combined attacks formed an electric drill, burrowing into the dome. Watching, the women were astonished that the combined attacks were working.

"No way!" gawked Lotte. The trio of witches got closer as a few static bolts shocked Chariot's arm holding the Shiny Rod. She reeled her arm back, dropping the Shiny Rod.

"OW!" she yelped. Akko flew in and took the Shiny Rod. Suddenly, she began to transform. Her witch robe and hat became white. Akko and Chariot couldn't believe the event.

"She's… the one!?" gawked Chariot. Diana saw the transformation. She gasped, thinking she wants the one and Ash would choose Akko over herself.

"Me?" blinked Akko. Looking in the storm, Akko saw Ash and the red energy cocooning him. Diana saw it as well.

"That does not look good!" she warned Akko. They entered and saw Ash's eyes as red. His body was shredded and blood poured out.

'He'll die if I don't do something,' Akko thought. The Shiny Rod was aglow. Seeing it, Akko knew the Shiny Rod would help her. She gripped the Shiny Rod, pointing to Ash. The shine was unbearable. Her aim had to be true. "ASH!" The Shiny Rod fired a beam that struck Ash, consuming him in light. He let out a scream as the light enveloped his body.

"Ash!" a voice called out. "The power of the aura is a marvelous tool, meant for those who have the will to make better towards the future. Malice brings pain and weakness, leaving you exposed to pain and sadness, one which those with destructive hearts will conquer." The voice made Ash freeze, his body and clothes covered in blood.

'Sir… Aaron?' he recognized.

"Ash, I come to you to realize the calamity that Oboneron is creating," the voice warned. "The Hexkrieg that he caused a thousand years ago was brought on by false leads by a similar entity, one bonded with Oboneron at this time."

"We come to tell you of the power within my master's tome," another voice spoke. "The moment I saw you at the Cameran Palace with aura similar to my master's, I knew you possessed the aura to do moments that will shape the future." The second voice made Ash start easing as the fluctuated energy started to mend.

'Lucario…' he recognized.

"Within the tome is a spell that is a summon," the first voice informed. "If you can relinquish your rage, the summon can be spoken… for you and the descendant of someone I ran from… one I regret to this day."

"Come back to us, Ash!" voiced Diana. "We know this isn't what you want! We want the boy who changed us, who helped us become better!"

"Besides, we fell for you and would want nothing more than to love you for the rest of our lives!" shouted Akko.

"WE LOVE YOU, ASH KETCHUM!" they cried. "PLEASE, WE NEED YOU TO SURVIVE!" The two landed as Ash fell to a knee from the beam. He took a few seconds as Akko and Diana got behind Ash.

"The Shiny Witch?" guessed Oboneron. "And the Cavendish… How comforting that you will join your beloved in death. His anger has melted his aura and weakened his resolve. Your chance to save him disappeared before you could save him."

"That's not true!" snapped Akko. "You don't know what his true resolve is! He's stronger because of his heritage and determination!" Diana felt the blood, knowing Ash had been thrashed around.

"His heritage is about Aaron's betrayal," Oboneron doubted. "Now, he will die as he kneels to me." Ash soon had the strength to stand and lift the tome.

"Thank you, Oboneron," he teased. "You made me realize that I have something to prove." His eyes returned to milk chocolate brown as his body slightly trembled from the damage.

"Your body is at Death's Door, yet you still believe that you can stop me?" taunted Oboneron.

"That's exactly the point," Ash scoffed. "You may have hurt me a lot… but while my body is weak, my aura is stronger because of that."

"You bluff," Oboneron scoffed. Ash flicked the tome open while it levitated.

"You're about to see," he prepared, his eyes blue again. "Summon… Staff of the Ki!" A blue light covered the tome before Ash had more. "Summon… Wand of Beatrix!" Diana gawked to the name, knowing it was the founder of the House of Cavendish. The light doubled in brightness.

"Too bright!" complained Oboneron as he shielded his eyes. When the light dimmed, Ash held a large staff with cyan crystals about to crisscross each other, making an "X" with one more crystal on the tip. In Diana's hands was a large wand that had a head of a caribou's antlers.

"Beatrix's Wand…" she gasped. "I heard legends about this wand, but I believed it was fantasy. I'm holding her wand?" She looked to Ash, his outfit completely changed. He now wore a black cape and blue fedora with his hair spiking more and glowing blue. He also wore a blue shirt with a gray long sleeve undershirt and pants, black boots added. Akko awed the look of Ash's new duds.

"So dreamy!" she cooed. Ash stood straight as if the wounds he suffered vanished.

"This is why I thanked you, Oboneron," Ash mocked. "For giving me the power to unlock your downfall! Fissure!" He slammed the staff down which caused the ground beneath them to shake. It caused the ground to kick boulders up gathering at the ceiling of the dome.

"I got it, Ash!" volunteered Akko before she fired a beam at the boulders.

"NOOOOO!" cried Oboneron. The beam struck and lit the boulders before it exploded, destroying the dome. Shooting Star and two other brooms came and picked the three upon and flew around, much to Chariot's delight.

"He's okay!" she awed. The explosion of the dome was enough to stir Team Rocket. They looked as Hannah and Barbara stood over them.

"What just happened?" wondered Jessie. When James looked, he gawked.

"What's that!?" he pointed. As the witches flew around to see Oboneron from all angles, Jessie spotted Ash with Pikachu and Alcor joining.

"The twerp!?" she snapped. "Why is he hanging out with witches!?"

"Because he is one!" snapped Hannah. Barbara shook her head looking at Ash in his new getup.

"No, Hannah…" she smiled. "He's not a witch. He's a wizard!" Diana flew in with her newly acquired wand before pointing at Oboneron.

"Girl, I feel the bond you have with Cavendish," she spoke. "My memories are stored within the Wand of Cavendish. Its magic will help you against the wicked." Diana closed her eyes, envisioning the voice as someone familiar.

'Beatrix?' she thought. 'I must succeed.' Ash's Pokémon watched from a distance, by the dorm given by Andrew. Constanze flew by Pikachu and Alcor in which Pikachu noticed. Constanze nodded.

("Coming!") he agreed. He leaped from Chariot's bird onto Constanze's broom.

"Don't use fire spells on Oboneron!" shouted Miranda. Some of the students backed away while other students prepared their magic.

"No spell can hurt me!" taunted Oboneron.

"None that we have shown so far, Oboneron!" growled Ellen. "Raven Dart: Tornado!" From Ellen's wand, a volley of dark feathers that spiraled through the air. They struck Oboneron. The piercing feathers continued to spin as gales started pushing the sentient being back. Akko swooped low, her target being Oboneron's midsection.

"Holy Shot!" she shouted as a white beam fired from the Shiny Rod, striking Oboneron. The shot blew through the enemy, leaving a hole in the abomination. Oboneron roared in some pain.

"Hey, leave our boss alone!" protested Jessie. An ice blue orb protruding from her wand, Croix lobbed it at Jessie. The impact caused the orb to explode. Jessie was caught in ice. She struggled to free herself, ignoring the fact that she's frozen solid.

"Seriously!" scorned Croix. "If your boss told you to destroy the Academy, would you listen and kill children!?" Jessie snarled to Croix.

"What kind of twerpish question is that!?" she snapped. The hole closed and Oboneron roared, mocking the students.

"No spell can hurt me!" he repeated. That's when he released a heat wave, forcing others to fly away from the scorching air. Ash flew in closer, braving the hot air.

"This heat's nothing!" he sneered. He swooped in low as Constanze and Pikachu were above. "Constanze, shoot!" Constanze nodded before shooting rounds of yellow bullets like a machine gun. They reached Oboneron in the blink of an eye, blasting him with lightning bolts.

("He's open!") shouted Pikachu. Ash rolled off Shooting Star as he flew at Oboneron, his staff aimed at the ground.

"WATER PLEDGE!" he shouted as he stabbed the ground like a javelin with the point aglow. After a second, a geyser blasted Oboneron. He roared in aggravating pain at his body being cooled down.

"Stream of Ice!" shouted Diana as Ash bailed, back on Shooting Star. The stream caught Oboneron as he began to freeze. After a minute, Oboneron was frozen stiff.

"I think we did it!" cheered Akko. That's when Oboneron's eyes flashed red.

"Hellfire does not get doused as easily as YOU THINK!" he screeched as he broke free from his frozen moment. Ice scattered everywhere. Ash had an idea to stop Oboneron once and for all.

"My aura is what he's after since it belonged to Sir Aaron," he assessed. "Then, let's see how he can take a full blast." Oboneron heard Ash and quickly released a blast of hellfire that followed Ash, but Akko flew in front of the inferno. She made a shield that dispersed the flames.

"Don't do anything brash!" warned Samantha.

"It has to be this way!" realized Ash. He closed his eyes, sensing two people who attacked Oboneron before. 'Wait, that has to be how Sir Aaron and Easter defeated Oboneron before. I need Diana's help!' Looking to his side, Diana flew in.

"Let me guess, you need my power as well?" she figured.

"It's how Aaron and Easter beat Oboneron before," Ash remembered. "I think we can do it again."

"We'll also need the Shiny Rod for it as well," Diana suggested.

"A triple threat," Akko guessed. "Let's do it." Ash nodded as they flew up in a triangle formation.

"Ash, don't!" shouted Chariot. Ash, Akko and Diana circled back at Oboneron and flew at full speed. Diana and Akko had Beatrix's wand and the Shiny Rod tap Aaron's Staff before they flew, the magic gathering into the staff.

"You cannot win!" shouted Oboneron. That's when Ash twisted the staff, creating a corkscrew of light. Akko and Diana couldn't keep up with Shooting Star's speed at the last second.

"THIS IS FOR MY DAD!" replied Ash. Oboneron breathed hellfire at Ash as he smashed into the enemy. The hellfire consumed Ash as he plunged the staff into the sentient.

"ASH!" the girls cried out.

"TWERP!" shouted James. A massive concussive blast made everyone stay clear. Within the blast, Giovanni seemed to appear out of Oboneron as what appeared to be Ash falling from the blast. Giovanni's chest had a massive hole. Ash's eyes lost the light as his body was burned badly.

"That was for you, Dad," he muttered. Giovanni also looked to have no light in his eyes as his body disintegrated. All that was left was the emblem. The light and fire soon dissipated as everyone looked to where Ash was. Ash's Pokémon were anxious to see their trainer. Suddenly, the light dimmed enough. Oboneron was nowhere to be found. Ash was on his stomach, remaining still.

"Ash!" cried Akko and Diana. The other students gathered, knowing they saw the destruction of Oboneron. Chariot reached Ash, hopped off her broom and approached the downed boy.

"Ash!" she called out, shaking his body. "Ash!" No movement.

"Don't tell us…" worried Croix. Chariot turned Ash over, his burned face and lack of movement made everyone worry. "No… No, no, it can't be!"

"ASH!" cried Chariot as she hugged Ash, no longer alive. The students cried as the Pokémon couldn't believe their trainer was dead. "I'm sorry! I should've protected you!" Even Sucy couldn't handle Ash dying so sudden and out of the blue. Suddenly, Akko had an idea, ceasing her crying.

"It's probably not too late," she voiced. "Diana, I need your help." Diana looked puzzled to the idea.

"Akko?" she wondered. Akko nodded before pointing the Shiny Rod to Ash. Croix started to wonder.

"What's the point?" she teared up. "He's dead. It's over!"

"It's only over if this doesn't work," Akko trusted herself.

"Akko, if this works," Diana wished. "We have a lot of love to give him." Akko nodded before they trained the Rod and Wand on Ash, both aglow. "Now!"

"RESURRECTION!" they shouted. Beams struck Ash who began to glow. The two wished hard, hoping that Ash would be alive. After a minute, the Wand and Rod stop glowing, but no movement. A few seconds later, Ash took a deep breath. Then, an exhale… The teachers and students gasped, thinking Ash had come back to them. Their hopes were answered. Ash opened his eyes to see everyone who cared for him.

"Chariot?" he groaned. "Croix?" Disbelief, Chariot and Croix lunged and hugged Ash, crying in joy.

"Oh my goodness!" cried Chariot. "My baby! Don't leave us like that!"

"We wouldn't know what to do without you!" cried Croix. The students and Pokémon cheered to Ash's revival.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. Miranda shook her head, tears down her wrinkly cheeks.

"An apology from you is not needed, grandson," she named. Pikachu giggled to the name given to Ash. Every student became ecstatic for Ash being okay.

"Ash!" cried Akko and Diana as they hugged and smothered Ash with kisses before taking turns kissing his lips. Jessie broke free from her icy restraints.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!" she roared. "HOW WILL I GET PAID NOW THAT HE'S DEAD!?" Ellen quickly shot more Raven Darts, sticking onto Jessie.

"Feather Ton!" she chanted. Jessie felt a powerful force grab her and pull her down to the ground. Despite the force pinning her, Jessie struggled to get at Ash.

"You're protecting the twerp for what he did!?" she snapped. "He needs to pay with his-" Ellen smashed a fist onto Jessie's face.

"Shut up!" she replied. "You're the ones who brought the danger! And besides, none of this would've happened if you left the cave where Oboneron was alone." Jessie didn't appreciate the backtalk.

"We're doing all we can to get Pikachu!" she claimed. Ellen brought out her wand.

"Quoth this Raven," she sneered. "Nevermore…" She shot a beam that hit Jessie. It didn't look like anything happened, but she was still angry and yelled… or tried to. No noise came from her.

"What did you do?" asked James.

"It's like hitting the MUTE button on a TV remote," Ellen briefed. "You two will be imprisoned for what you've brought to threaten the country. We may add those cats to join. At least you won't have this loudmouth bothering you." Jessie kept rambling in rage, despite no sound from her. Council members came by and looked to Team Rocket. "Take them both away and don't unmute her until she's cooperative."

"Yes, Miss Alepoe!" they complied. They used a bubble spell which they dragged Jessie and James away. Nelson helped Ash onto his feet as his Pokémon worry about his condition.

"Let's get you to bed, Wizard Ketchum," she teased. Ash snickered to the new title.

"What happened to wiccan?" he joked.

"That staff is proof you're a wizard," Miranda pointed out. "We'll explain when you get some rest." Ash nodded as they carried Ash back to his dorm. The threat of Oboneron has been vanquished and Giovanni was dead. To Akko and Diana, they were about to shower Ash with love… as well as the students and teachers.

TO BE CONTINUED…

(Shout-out to the Houston Astros for their second World Series title in 6 years. Way to swing guys.)