Hey Nuggies! Well I really shouldn't be doing this, but here I am writing another fanfiction since I have writers block on a few of my other ones, and because this won't leave me alone. Here is your warning this will be SLASH! I have decided though that this will not have M!Preg.
Main Pairing: AshxPaul
Side pairing: AshxGary (One sided on Gary's part)
Rating: M (to be safe)
Chapter Warning(s): None
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon it belongs to Game Freak, Nintendo, Creatures, The Pokemon Company, etc, nor do I write this for profit. This is for entertainment use only!
Enjoy!
A deep snarl woke Ash up just as a heavy body jumped on top of his own from where he was sleeping on his sleeping bag. Sitting up quickly the small teen looked around to see what got Persians', the body that had gotten on top of him, attention. He pressed his hand against her side as he slowly peered around them. His other pokémon huddled closer to Ash and Persian ready to attack whatever it was that was around them.
As much as he looked around Ash couldn't spot anything, and the only sounds were of Persians' growling and leaves rustling in the wind. Pikachus' ears were twitching as he tried to listen out for what set off his pack mate while he got into position beside his trainer. Vulpix and Doublade covered Ashs' back while Zoroark and Gardevoir stood a few paces away from the group ready to attack.
"I don't sense anyone, Father," Gardevoir said telepathically to Ash as a pure ball of psychic energy hovered over her hand.
Ash nodded and ordered for everyone to stand down, but stay alert as he got up and gathered everything back into his bag. It was close enough to the time that he was going to get up anyway so he made the decision to get up and get moving instead of falling back to sleep. He would stop earlier the next night to make up for leaving early which he didn't mind since they were just past Pewter anyway. They would end up getting to the base of Mt. Moon the next afternoon or so.
Riolu, who had been sticking close to Ash, perked up and let out a small bark as the two small appendages on either side of his head hovered for a moment before falling back down. Before Ash could ask what Riolu was sensing the small pup ran, very quickly thanks to the training Pikachu was giving him, towards the tree line. Ashs' breath caught in his throat before shrugging on his bag and tugging his boots back on.
"Riolu!" Ash yelled before taking off after the half-albino pup. Ash paid no attention to Doublades' ribbons as she wrapped them around his middle or the sounds of his other pokémon following after him. "Riolu!" Ash called out again, his heart was pounding hard from the run and from the fact he couldn't see Riolu anywhere.
"Gardevoir! Can you sense him?" Ash asked as he turned and saw the others catching up, he would try to sense the pup himself, but he hadn't trained his Aura as much as he should have. Gardevoir let out a small hum as she closed her eyes and brought her hands up chest high. A soft pinky purple glow appeared for a moment before fading away.
"There!" Gardevoir said as she pointed forward and a bit to the left. Ash nodded and took off in that direction, after recalling everyone but Doublade, Pikachu, and Gardevoir. He didn't need anyone else lost. As Ash ran he wondered how such a small pup could get this far so fast without him, or the others, seeing him even once.
Ash heard Riolu barking before actually seeing the pup. "Riolu!" Ash yelled as he cleared the tree line only to be met with a small opening to a cave at the base of a cliff. Standing in front of the opening was his Riolu and beside him was another, slightly larger, Riolu, but this Riolu seemed off to Ash. As he neared the two he spotted why the Riolu seemed off. It was much like Aura Guardian Marie Redfern, see through and beckoning.
His own Riolu ran up to him and jumped into his arms before pointing a paw back towards the cave entrance where the see through Riolu was and let out a small bark. Ash took a deep breath before recalling Gardevoir and Doublade since he doubted that he would need them. Pikachu hunkered down on his trainers shoulders as they neared the transparent Riolu.
An echoing ghostly bark greeted them before the Riolu turned and walked inside with Ash following it just a moment later. Ash let out a gasp and shuddered as he walked through the threshold of the cave opening. There was something there that made it feel like he was walking through a weird, cold, dewy spider web.
"Oh," Ash breathed out softly as he took in what the cave held. Various small, medium, and large sized crystals glittered from the sunlight that entered the cave from the opening. Their blue, purple, and pink light refracted against one another, lighting up the cave well enough to see without having to use another source of light. From where he stood Ash could see to the back of the cave, as the inside of the cave, while tall, was not large.
The teen carefully tread a small cleared out path to the back of the cave where the Riolu from before waited for them. The small jackal like pokémon was kneeling beside two mounds of crystals, but they were smoothed over two piles of dirt like the crystals were protecting whatever was under them. Between them was a crystal that was vastly different from the others in the cave. It had a plant like quality to it, but looked as though it was just as hard as the other crystals in the cave.
The larger Riolu let out a bark and Ash watched as a small see through paw touched the crystal. "You want me to touch it?" Ash asked in a soft whisper, almost afraid that if he spoke any louder he would break the peaceful, tranquil, yet sad air of the cave. The Riolu nodded and Ash took a deep breath before reaching out, with a surprisingly steady hand, to touch the crystal.
It was cold to the touch and as hard as he thought it was going to be, but he was unprepared for the crystal to unfurl like a flower blooming and for a bright light to fill the cave. Ash closed his eyes with a small grunt before the light, from what he could tell from behind his eyelids, dimmed down. He opened his eyes, but had to blink away a few spots before he could see clearly.
"Do you know what this is?"
A gruff voice caught Ashs' attention causing him to turn around so his back was to the crystal. Behind him was a tall, broad man with dark hair and a goatee and his eyes were bright yellow that were filled with heavy emotions that Ash could only describe as a mix of grief, desperation, and sadly enough, acceptance. Beside the man was the Riolu from before paying attention to what the man had in his hands. It was the same crystal like flower that Ash had touched.
"This is called a Time Flower," the man explained once the Riolu shook its head, "Aura Guardians use them to lock a memory away inside to show the trainees at a later time or to record a current event to be later studied. They are only activated when someone with Aura touches them. Sometimes they're more reliable than the journals the Masters tell us to keep."
The large man stood up and walked over to where Ash was kneeling, but before Ash could move, the man walked right through him and turned so that his back was to the cave wall and he was facing Ash, who had turned around to keep watching the man. The man knelt facing Ash and placed the flower he held down on the cave floor, right where it was in Ashs' time, before touching it on its petal, much like Ash had done. The crystal like flower unfurled its petal, but there was no light; Ash assumed it was because nothing had been recorded onto it yet. The Riolu walked over just a moment later before the man began to talk.
"My name is Oris Theodore Serrano, and I am an Aura Guardian Trainee training under Master Korik who is in charge of the Sanctuary Library and Master Haman who leads our fighters in battle. The year is XXXX and the day is January XX. We are currently in the middle of the war with a neighboring kingdom and the Corrupted."
The man took a deep breath as he looked down at his Riolu, who barked softly at the man, before looking back at the flower.
"Both Master Korik and Master Haman have ordered me to leave our Sanctuary for our Ally country Kanto with our most revered items in case the war turns sour for us. In this cave there are books and scrolls detailing the training each Trainee goes through, the history of the Aura Guardians, and Time Flowers from various Masters over the years to help go over said training. Along with the scrolls and books there is jewellery in a box that helps in controlling Aura until a Trainee is able to use their Aura without it. The last item the Masters have asked me to take a scroll that has the most powerful Aura technique created so far written on it. Please be aware, young Aura Guardian Trainee, that the words on the scroll will not appear until Aura deems you ready to learn it."
Bright yellow eyes became dewy as tears gathered in Oris' eyes. The large man blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling and cleared his throat as he looked at Riolu again before bringing up a trembling hand to run over Riolus' head. Ash couldn't tell if Oris was trying to comfort himself or comfort the Riolu. It was probably both.
"I will cast an Aura ward at the entrance to this cave with everything inside of it including Riolu and myself. This ward will keep others from coming in and prevent any of the items in the cave, myself, or Riolu from getting out. We are fully aware and prepared for the consequences of doing this, but I must do what needs to be done to protect these items. After my death the ward will change to allow those with un-Corrupted Aura to enter the cave and take the items inside. If you, dear Aura user, are being coerced into coming in here to gather the items for the Corrupted you only need to state so while in here and the wards will change once more to keep you safe and let another un-Corrupted Aura user know to come save you."
The yellow eyes of Oris cleared of tears as he spoke his last sentence. The Riolu beside him looked over to where Oris was looking and Ash couldn't help but meet the mans' eyes even though he knew that Oris didn't know he was there. They were filled with determination and seriousness.
"These items must NOT fall into the hands of the Corrupted or we shall all perish."
Ashs' deep ragged breathing was the only noise in the cave after the flower curled onto itself once more. He swallowed around the lump in his throat as he looked over to the Riolu, still standing beside the flower. "Th-That was you and your trainer," Ash stated, "You both died here."
The Riolu nodded as the appendages on its head wiggled a bit as it stood. The ghost of Riolu stopped in front of Ash and his own Riolu and stared at them for a moment before it reached out with a paw and placed it on Ashs' forehead. Ash couldn't help but let out a gasp as a sharp pain raced through his head and body. Flashes of images and voices filled his head before the pain and the images left.
"What was that?" Ash asked softly as he looked at the Riolu for answers only for the Riolu to do the same to his own Riolu. The smaller pup didn't let out a yelp or whimper as his appendages rose a bit before falling.
"Father Oris told me to stay until the next Aura Guardian, Trainee or Master, comes to this cave."
A small boy-ish voice filtered into his head and Ash just knew that it was from the ghostly Riolu in front of him.
"What happens now," Ash asked, "What were those things you showed me?"
"They were Fathers' memories of his own training. I gave your Riolu my own memories of my training," the Riolu said softly, "Father said to pass the memories on to the next un-Corrupted Aura user that came to the cave and to tell them not to worry about taking anything in the cave. Because of the wards, this cave has now become a safe haven and Aura has deemed it to never fall or collapse. As for what happens now is up to you, but please use the memories and train. Aura needs you. The Corrupted must not succeed in their plans!"
Before Ash could speak anymore the ghostly Riolu vanished and he let out a deep sigh. He shook his head as he stood up with his pokémon in his arms or on his shoulder. "If this place won't collapse then I suppose I will leave the items here. I already have Grandfather Aarons' cloak and jewellery as well as the gloves and boots from the Sanctuary. I don't really have a place I can keep these other things safe," Ash murmured softly to himself and Riolu as he stood up to leave, "I can always come back when I need to. I should train up a bit before looking for other training material. I haven't been training as much as I should have been, have I?"
"That's what I'll do!" Ash said once he stepped outside of the cave, "I'll be back. I promise!" As he walked back towards the camp area he had set up he didn't notice the glowing eyes following him.
"Well! Here we are!" Ash exclaimed as he stepped up to the entrance of Mt. Moon. Pikachu, as always, was on his shoulder and Nidorino was beside him on the ground along with Zoroark. He had thought that Nidorino would love to be out of his ball and on this journey to get his evolutionary stone and Zoroark would be able to help keep them safe. Nidorino let out a small grunt and pawed the ground a bit impatiently.
"Let's go!" Ash said as he took a step forward to lead the way into the mountain. The night before he had pulled up and studied a map, made by another researcher, and screenshot the picture since he wouldn't have any connections as he went down deeper to the Moon Stone. The researcher had claimed that it had taken her three days to get down to the massive stone and that the pokémon roaming around were merely Zubat, Paras, Geodude, and a few other lower evolution pokémon, but she did claim to see a few Golbat and Graveler as well as an Arbok.
From the entrance there were a few ways to go, two ways to the left, one in the middle, one sloping up, and one to the right that went down. It was the one to the right that Ash and his pokémon went down before going across a shallow cave river, that Ash had to recall Nidorino for before releasing him on the other side, and then a series of small tunnels and open cavernous areas.
The mountain, going further into it at least, was a giant maze that the Clefairy and Clefable had dug out. The fairy types were very territorial of the stone, but from what the researcher had said in her report that if someone were to show no aggression or deviousness the Clefairy and Clefable were non-combative and will help. They would even show the person a quicker way out of the mountain that was closer to Cerulean than the other exit.
So Ash and his pokémon for the next few days, if the time on his watch was still right after the fall he had taken earlier into the journey hadn't damaged it, walked and walked and fought before they walked some more until they hit a tunnel that seemed to spiral down deep into the mountain.
"Oh wow," Ash said softly once they reached the bottom. There were a ton of Clefairy and Clefable and Ash even saw a Cleffa or two. What caught his eye the most was a large dark colored stone in the middle of the area and looking up Ash could see the sky since there was a large hole in the ceiling of the area. It was night time and the stars twinkled merrily in the sky.
Before Ash could move a large Clefable waddled over to them with what looked to be a necklace of moon stones, some dull while others were shiny, as well as a crown of flowers and feathers. To Ash it looks as though this Clefable was the leader around here. The look on Clefables' face signaled wariness and curiosity so Ash slowly knelt and explained to the Clefable what they were there for.
"We're just looking for a moon stone for Nidorino here," Ash said softly as he placed a hand on the purple reptiles' head, "I heard that this was the best place to look for one and I thought that Nidorino would like to come visit as we look for the item he needs to evolve."
Ash stayed still as the Clefable studied his face. The stare looked as though the creature before him was studying his soul to see if he was worthy of a stone or not. After a few moments of silence between them the Clefable reached out and grabbed his hand. Ash smiled softly as he got up, a bit hunched over so he could keep his grip on the Clefables' hand, and walked with the fairy type to the large stone in the middle.
Around them the Clefairy and Clefable started to sing and sway as if in a dance. Ash couldn't help but hum along as he got the rhythm and tune of the song. He knelt before the large stone with Nidorino beside him. The large Clefable that led him here stepped back and gestured for Ash to place his hand on the large stone.
Underneath his hand, the stone, once cold, became warm and vibrated under his touch. Ash smiled as the small piece that was trapped under his hand gave way leaving a small piece of the stone in his hand. He pulled back and glanced down at the piece, while small, he knew was enough to evolve Nidorino. This piece was after all from a large, well cared for, moon stone and not from a manufactured plant by scientists.
"Thank you," Ash said softly as he got up and stepped back from the stone. Nidorino followed and shook with excitement as he could feel the energy coming from the stone in his trainer's hand. He couldn't wait to evolve!
Ash looked over at the Clefable leader and gave the fairy a smile as he thanked it. The Clefable wiggled its wings and let out a small croon before pointing towards Nidorino. The purple poison type looked up at his trainer with wide, excited eyes.
"Okay," Ash said softly as he nodded and moved a bit to an area that was clear of the fairies before kneeling in front of Nidorino, "You've done so well Nidorino getting this far in your training. You were the first pokémon I caught and you've been so patient with everything that has been going on with the pack. I know it was hard for you to see the others evolving before you since you had to wait for a special item to evolve. I'm honored to give you this Nidorino. You deserve it and I wish we could have gotten here sooner to get it for you."
Ash reached down and placed the small bit of stone onto the ground before Nidorino before getting up and stepping back to give Nidorino his space to evolve. The purple reptile looked up at his trainer and let out a soft growl before shaking his body. He was ready for this.
Nidorino, as soon as his snout touched the stone, fell into a bit of a trance as the power coursed through his body. He closed his eyes as he braced himself. The power of the moon was so powerful and it was now in his body to forever change it. He felt his body getting larger, his body shooting upward, his front paws leaving the ground, and his tail shooting out of his spine to give him balance. His body felt heavy, but powerful and he couldn't help but let out the loudest bellow he could once the pain began to fade.
His bellow echoed throughout the chamber of the moon stone and when he opened his eyes his trainer was standing there with a wide proud smile on his face. Nidoking let out a snort and swished his tail a bit like he had seen Krookodile and Charizard do when they were excited and proud. He couldn't wait to train with them now that he was on equal footing.
"Nidoking," Ash said softly as he approached him. The once four legged poison type shot up until he was taller than Ash, an incredible feat seeing as Nidoking usually only grew to just over 4 feet and Ash was just over five and a half feet. His body was covered in hard scaly armor that would only become more hard in time as Nidoking participated in more battles.
"Let's get going," Ash said as he placed his hand on Nidokings' shoulder and gave the Clefairy and Clefable his farewells and thanks as the two were shown the way out of the cavern.