Chapter 2, let's go, time for some flashbacks.
"Greetings, new recruits, my name is Winona Hayasaka, I am the Gym Leader of Fortree City and the second in command of Team Delta, just in case you're wondering, I am 23 years old, I know I look older than that but that's none of your business, Ash and I have been friends since we were both young, we grew together and I was always protecting him, he used to call me his big sister, good times...A-ANYWAY! We built this organization together as well, he already explained you most things, once again, thank you for joining us, you all will be assigned an squadron and a role to fit, we hope you give it your all, remember we're working for the land we live in and fighting for the values we believe in, we are Team Delta and we will protect Hoenn at all costs...any questions?...yes, you there in the fifth row."
"Uh, where is the leader now?" A male grunt asked, although all of them had a green jacket and black shorts, without any gender distinction, skirts are really uncomfortable in this kind of job, Winona didn't have any team outfit though, since she had to hop from the headquarters to the gym and back, she only put on a green scarf with the team emblem and called it a day.
"Uh, I'm not quite sure where he is, he doesn't spend as much time in the base as one would expect, he likes to go around the region helping those in need, anyway, he's surely doing something really important right now."
It has been 2 days since Ash left the Draconid village, things seemed to be playing normally, well, as normal as they could get for them since Team Magma and Team Aqua continued with their advances, Ash and Alita were now in a clear grassland close to Fortree.
"Here you go, Alita." Ash offered the maid a golden necklace that held the Latiasite. "Roxanne helped me make it, hope you like it."
"Aww, you know you didn't have to." She giggled.
"Oh, so you don't want the necklace." Ash said in a teasing voice as he pulled it away from her.
"G-GIVE ME THAT THING!" She shouted and Ash did so. "...c-can you...y-you know?"
Ash nodded and took the necklace again Alita then turned around and he put the necklace on her. "How is it?"
"...Thank you." That was all she could say as she looked at the stone.
"Well, how about we try it?" Ash's Key Stone was in a ring and he put it on his finger, Alita then nodded and took a few steps back, turning back to a Latias afterwards. "Fine, you ready?" He asked her.
"I was born ready!" She assured.
"Alita..." Ash pressed his ring as both stones illuminated. "Mega Evolve!" As the process started, Alita was struck by a flood of memories, all those times she had with Ash, and she focused on that time they first met.
It was 10 years ago, she was lying in the ground of a mountain area all alone, her left wing was bleeding out, a hunting knife was stabbed onto it, her brother Latios and her were attacked by a group of Pokemon hunters while they were resting, she was injured but she managed to escape... Latios couldn't make it...she knew he was gone, she could feel it...Latias had already given up, she was just waiting for that moment that would end it all as she pitied herself for spending her last minutes in such a pathetic way and for not helping her brother when he needed her, she moved her head to take a look at the knife, it was green and shining, she couldn't tell what it was, but it couldn't be any normal human material if it managed to cut her so badly and easily, she felt way too weak and she simply dropped her head on the ground and closed her eyes, an hour passed and she didn't move a centimeter, but suddenly she felt something approaching her, her senses were still somewhat strong, she opened her eyes again and there he was...a little human boy, maybe 9 or 10 years old, considering her long lifespan she wasn't good at telling the age of other beings, he was looking at her from a safe distance, they say a hurt animal is twice as dangerous, don't they?
"Go away..." She used her telepathy to tell him, that was the first time she ever talked to a human, the boy flinched scared for a moment, but he didn't leave, he simply looked. "It's no like it matters...I will probably die from my injuries soon, it can't be helped."
"You...need help." He finally said. "I..." The little boy then ran away leaving Latias alone and she simply closed her eyes again.
"There she is." Around five minutes later, the voice came back, Latias opened her eyes and found the little boy again, this time being accompanied by a taller purple haired girl.
"What is that thing?" She asked standing in front of the boy to protect him.
"I'm not sure, but she's hurt."
"Got it, give me a second." The purple-haired ran away and the boy approached the dragon slowly.
"What are you planning?" Latias asked. "In my current state, capturing me won't do much, I won't be of use to you."
"We're not gonna capture you." He said. "My sister Winona and I rescue injured Pokemon, she will be back with medicine and we'll cure your injuries."
"Why would you do that?"
"...And why not?" He asked. "I...I can't just leave you like this."
"I don't get it." She continued. "Why would you want to help me? ...My life has no value."
"Heh, people like to say similar things a lot... they say 'Why do you bother? This Pokemon is worthless now'...I always ask them the same... 'What if Hypothetically you had all the money you could ever spent? Once you've brought every single thing you wished for, would you simply throw the rest of the money in the trash?" Ash stopped for a moment and noticed Latias was looking up to him, waiting for him to continue. "They say...'Of course not'...And I tell them 'But you already have everything you ever wanted, why would need more money?'...they answer 'It would surely be necessary someday'.
"I don't understand you."
"What I mean is that this is just the same as that." He continued. "You may not see value in your life today, but it will become necessary, even if you don't know when that is or what would that be for...people that hold onto money, but are willing to give up on a life are way too irrational... a life can be used to gather money, but no amount of money can buy a life, it's pretty obvious which one has more value...no matter how desperate or hopeless a life may seem...to think that it has no value or no meaning is just nonsense, I would never accept that."
After Ash ended her speech, Latias raised up her neck, to look at him face to face. "You...you're not like other humans."
"I've heard that a few times." Ash gave her a weak laugh. "But...I honestly wish there were more people like me...that way things would be easier."
"I'm back, Ash." Winona finally returned with a first aid kit.
"Please, just let us help you." Ash looked at the dragon again.
"...Do what you must." Latias gave in with a sigh.
"SHE CAN TALK?!"
After Ash calmed her down, Winona put on a glove took a hold of the knife, placing her other hand on the injured wing and causing Latias to growl in pain. "S-Sorry!" Winona apologized.
"Here take this." Ash offered her a small white pill.
"What's that for?"
"It will ease the pain for a moment." Winona explained, Latias gave in and ate it, it tasted terrible, but it made the pain bearable enough, Winona then took a deep breath and removed the knife in a single quick pull, Latias hissed in pain a little and after tossing the knife aside, Winona started to bandage her wing, while Ash held her head in place to prevent any sudden movements that could hurt her.
"There, good as new." Winona quickly ended the wrapping and Latias started to float with a bit of difficulty. "It seems like you're able to fly, but please don't overdo yourself."
"One more thing." Ash gave her a Full Restore and healed Latias' minor injuries, helping her to float normally again. "Good ol' classic."
"...What are your names?" Latias asked.
"Aster Ketchum, but my friends call me Ash."
"I'm Winona Hayasaka, but my friends call me...I just got depressed."
"I'm Latias...Winona...Aster...thank you." She said to them as she floated away.
Some days later, Ash and Winona were in the living room of their house watching the news together, someone then knocked the door and they both went to open it, finding the Latias that they helped there.
"Hey, your wing healed." Winona said noticing the bandage was gone along with the injury.
Latias then descended to them as she was surrounded in a flash of light, turning herself into a copy of Winona.
"Uh? This is rather odd." The real Winona continued.
"Can I...stay with you two?" She asked.
"What?" Ash asked.
"My brother... he's gone." She talked. "I have nowhere to go now, I thought that...at least I should stay with you, to show my gratitude, you two saved my life, I'll repay what you've done... that's it if you allow it, of course."
"Well, that's-"
"Of course, welcome home." Winona interrupted Ash.
"W-Wait, really?" Latias exclaimed.
"Wait, really?" Ash asked the same.
"A god is offering herself to serve us." Winona whispered to Ash, after all, they did investigate a little bit about Latias after their encounter. "You're seriously telling me it doesn't sound at least tempting?"
"Well, I guess, but-"
"Besides, you heard her, she lost her family, she has no place to go." Winona continued. "You're gonna just leave her in streets? What happened to that big heart of yours?"
"I..." Ash thought for a moment and sighed. "Fine, welcome in, Latias."
"Thank you, I promise I won't disappoint you."
"So you can change your appearance, uh?" Winona walked around the copycat.
"Yes, this trick has saved me from Pokemon hunters more than one time." She explained.
"That's cool and all, but I don't think you should run around in Winona's body." Ash continued.
"Why not?" Winona herself asked. "Having a twin doesn't sound so bad."
"I think it could cause the neighbors to suspect." Ash said.
"I guess I can turn into someone else then." Latias looked at the television where was the Elite Four Phoebe and she changed into her. "How's this?"
"No, it still could be a problem faking to be someone else." Ash was still unsure.
"Then why not mix people up?" Winona suggested. "You know? One girl's hair, another girl's eyes."
"Hmm...mix them up."
"That sounds like it could get bizarre real fast actually." Ash interrupted them. "Why don't you just try something that looks like you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, as a Pokemon you're white and red so I guess fair skin and red hair could do, your yellow eyes also could stay like that."
"Hmm...you do have a point." Winona agreed. "Sounds easier, can you do it?"
"Give me a second..." Latias focused a moment to change her appearance to meet Ash's suggestions and added two pigtails and a maid outfit to them.
"Uh, why the maid though?" Winona asked.
"Uh, seemed like a good idea in paper." Latias answered embarrassed. "I can change to more casual clothes if you prefer."
"I don't know, she looks kinda cute." Ash said.
"Well, uh...maid it is." She blushed as that was the first time someone ever called her cute, yeah, you can blame Ash for that.
"Now we should give you a nickname." Ash continued. "I don't think we should just call you Latias, people could suspect with that too, I mean, it is already weird that we got a maid out of nowhere."
"How about..." Winona thought for a moment. "Alita!"
"Alita?" They asked.
"Yeah, I just scrambled the letters of your name, L-A-T-I-A-S to A-L-I-T-A, we can make you a last name with the S that was left out, but I think we can leave that for another day."
"Well, Alita does sound good." Ash said. "What do you think?"
"Alita..." She repeated. "Yes, that'll do."
As days passed on, Alita demonstrated to have an impressive learning capability and she started to do most things in the house, laundry, cooking, cleaning, you name it, she even scared some thieves once, she also got used to the human life rather quickly, making friends with other people of the city and all that, although she had to learn to psychically talk since the telepathy would have gave it away, but since she said that it made her larynx hurt, they settled with her using a face mask combined with her telepathy until she could get the hang of it, and while Winona like a lot the idea of having a Legendary Pokemon as their servant, Ash was kinda awkward with the whole topic at first, that was until that day. that day when Ash started to see Alita as a valuable friend, that day when she asked him to catch her... that day when she understood that she loved him, she knew it was impossible, she never told him, but even if those feelings could never be returned, being by his side was more than enough.
But that day is a story for...well, another day.
Back in the present time, the process had ended, a Mega Latias was now floating infront of Ash and the two were just smiling at each other.
"It worked!" Ash celebrated.
"It worked..." She floated closer to him, nuzzling their noses together. "Thank you...for everything."
"Oh, you..." Ash reached out to her and hugged her neck, causing her to blush.
"T-That's not fair!" Alita suddenly returned to her human form and hugged him as well, despite the Mega-evolution as a human she looked pretty much the same, except for her red pigtails, which were now purple on their ends. "You can't just hug me like that out of nowhere." She gave a comic pout.
"Sorry, sorry." Ash laughed at her. "...Hey, Alita."
"What?"
"...Can I ride you?" He asked, causing her to blush madly.
"A-ASH! Ash! I-I-I, yes! I-I mean, this is so sudden, O-Of course you can! J-Just let me take off my clothes and-"
"What? N-No! That's not what I mean!" Ash exclaimed blushing as well.
"Then what were you...oh...uh, yeah, we can do that."
A few minutes later, the mega evolved Latias was soaring in the sky with Ash riding on her back, while Swellow and Dragonite followed her from behind.
"How fast are we going?" Alita asked.
"380 and rising!" Ash exclaimed looking at his Poketch. "How faster do you think we can get?"
"There's only one way to find out!"
"Then let's go!" Ash braced himself.
"So far...as our can see..." Alita trailed off as she accelerated forward, spinning in an Airelon roll, leaving Dragonite and Swellow behind.
"We slow for no one..." Alita singed softly as she sped up even more, pitching upwards slightly to increase their altitude. "We stop for no one..." She continued, taking an abrupt nosedive and spinning downward in a corkscrew. "We follow no one..." Alita then rightened herself and pitched herself upward drastically, going higher and higher and into the clouds as she closed her eyes. "We go where no one...goes..." Alita pulled back and made a sudden stop, she opened her eyes and looked up at the clear sky as they had passed all the clouds.
"That was...huff, that was crazy." Alita tried to recover some air, she then remembered Ash has been in her back all the time and quickly looked back at him, fearing he wouldn't be there anymore. "ASH! ARE YOU OKAY?!"
"I think I'll never get into a rollercoaster again, but I'm fine." He answered not that much fazed.
"How did you even manage to hold onto me while I did all that?!" She shouted worried.
"A good magician never reveals his secrets." Ash laughed as an exhausted Dragonite and Swellow finally caught up to them. "Sorry to leave you behind, guys."
"Sorry, I got carried away." Alita apologized. "I'm just glad you didn't fall."
"Well, if I had fell, I'm sure you would have caught me, right?"
"O-Of course!" Alita assured.
"...Really?" Ash gave her a teasing look.
"Don't you dare!" Alita quickly understood what he was thinking.
"Fine, fine, it was just an idea." Ash gave in. "What was that thing you were singing, uh? You seemed to really enjoy yourself."
"Just a silly song that Latios and I used to sing while we flew together." Latias' face turned into one of sorrow and Ash quickly noticed that.
"Hey, wherever he is right now, I'm sure he's proud of you...and I am too."
"Thanks..." She answered and Ash hugged her by the neck again.
After flying a bit more and watching the sunset together, Ash and his Pokemon returned to the Team Delta Headquarters and Winona was waiting for them in the entrance, with that look in her face.
"Just where in the world were you two?!" Winona exclaimed as they landed infront of her.
"We just had our heads in the clouds." Alita giggled as the mega evolution ended and she returned to her human form.
"Quite literally." Ash added.
"Just..." Winona sighed. "Just return earlier next time, okay? You shouldn't wander around after hours."
"Come on, Winona." Alita pouted. "Ash and I can take care of ourselves."
"You can say that, but you two have to remember that we have a bunch of enemies, until Magma and Aqua are completely dismantled we won't be totally safe, I thought you two would have understood that by this point."
"Uh...sorry." Ash apologized.
"Never mind." Winona continued. "Ash, there are a few grunts that want to ask you some questions, mind to come in?"
"Sure, leave it to me."
"I'll go with you." Alita added.
Winona then took Ash with said group of grunts and left them there, the Gym Leaders then sat in a sofa, trying to catch a break, that day has been specially busy, she could balance her life as a Leader and an Admin without trouble most of the time, but we all have our limits. "To think he hasn't matured even after all these years." She sighed as she started to think about Ash.
"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh."
"Winona, calm down."
It was 8 years ago, Winona had been applying for the position of the Fortree Gym Leader for a few months now, she had managed to beat all the other contestants and she had just defeated the battle judge as well, all that was left was waiting for the results.
"Ash, what if I don't pass?!" She exclaimed.
"You're gonna pass! You and your Pokemon were amazing!" Ash tried to encourage her as always.
"I-If this doesn't work..."
"It's gonna be okay, Big sis." He assured with a smile as he took her hand. "You got this on the bag."
"I...sorry, I'm overreacting, I just need to sit down." Still holding hands, the two sat on a bench outside of the gym together and Winona finally managed to calm down her nerves somehow.
"Feeling better?" Ash asked.
"I guess... "Winona looked up at their Swellow, who were flying above them, doing flips and spins around each other. "Hey, Ash... do you remember when we first met?" She asked.
"Of course, my Swellow was trying to court yours." He answered looking up to the birds as well.
"She was gathering a lot of attention for being shiny, but your Swellow won for her heart in the end."
"That doesn't stop him from getting super jealous when another Pokemon approaches her." This caused the two to laugh together.
"How long has it been?" Ash asked. "4 years?"
"4 years." Winona confirmed his question with a nod. "Who would've thought that we'd stay together for so long?"
"Well, I'm glad we did."
"Ash...promise me you'll never leave me, that we'll always stay together, just like our Swellow."
"Only if you promise the same."
"I..."
"Trainee Winona?" The judge walked out of the Gym and looked at them.
"Y-Yes, sir!" Winona stood firm in front of him, still holding Ash's hand.
"You are the new Gym Leader of Fortree, congratulations."
"I...I did it?" Winona asked.
"You did it!" Ash cheered on her. "Gym Leader Winona!"
"I did it!" Winona hugged Ash as tightly as she could, she made a short laugh and then looked at him. "Ash...I promise it... we'll always stay together, I'll always be there for you, whatever happens."
"And I'll promise I'll always have your back, whatever happens."
The two loved each other as brother and sister, of course, she loved him a bit more in that way, but the four-year difference between them somewhat managed to keep her interest controlled, sure, they were both adults now, but she knows he doesn't see her that way, she'll have to live with that...oh, you wanna know how it was when they first met? Maybe another day.
"Winona, you okay?" Ash called her back to the present.
"Who's got her head in the clouds now?" Alita asked standing next to Ash.
"I'm fine, I was just..." She laughed a bit. "Just remembering how much trouble Ash was as a kid."
"Hey!" Ash complained causing both girls to laugh out loud.
"Ash..." Winona blushed a moment, slightly embarrassed of what she was about to ask. "Do you...uh... remember how you used to call me your big sister when we were younger?" She didn't even know why he did so, he only started to do it and she played along with it, in fact, Alita thought they were actual brothers when she was first introduced to everything, even if they didn't look alike at all.
"Yeah, sorry about that." Ash blushed embarrassed by the memories as well. "I know it annoyed you, I don't know what was up with me back then." He stopped doing it when he was 15 or so, neither of them talked about it since then.
"What?! No, Ash, I loved it!" Winona shouted.
"You...really?" Ash asked.
"I-I..." Her blush became more noticeable so she laughed to try and brush it off.. "Yeah, I mean, I used to think it was really sweet, I still kinda do, it was nice to know you looked up to me, I know we're too old for that stuff now, but I'd like you to know it."
"Hey, it's alright, it doesn't matter how old are we, I will always look up to you as my big sister." From the creators of Friendzone, I present you, sisterzone, not like she minded that much, their bond was too deep to be broken by anything.
"Excuse me, Leader Aster." A grunt approached them.
"Something wrong?" He asked.
"There's a girl in the entrance of the Headquarters that wishes to talk with you, she calls herself Zinnia."
"Zinnia's here?" Ash asked. "Well, let her in."
"As you order." The grunt nodded and left.
"So, the draconid girl?" Winona asked.
"Correct, I wonder why she's here tho." Ash answered.
"Hey there, Ash." Zinnia was quickly brought over by the grunt.
"It's very nice to see you again, Zinnia." Ash greeted her.
"Same goes to you." She answered and then looked at his companion. "And you are?"
"Uh, my name is Winona." She introduced herself and shook her hands with Zinnia. "I'm Ash's best friend and right hand." She needed to say that for some reason, she felt something weird about Zinnia.
"Zinnia, what are you doing here?" Ash asked her.
"You'll be glad to know that we made the count and all the citizens of Draconid Village are safe and sound." She explained. "You saved each one of them."
"We saved each one of them." Ash corrected her. "I wouldn't have made it without your aura."
"You know you did most of the work... I'm just glad to know mine wasn't fully gone, anyway, in thanks for your help the high council has decided to send you a gift."
"Another gift? My, there's no need to..." Ash replied embarrassed.
"Uh, where is it tho?" Alita asked.
"What? Isn't it obvious?" Zinnia asked.
"No, not really." Ash said.
"Silly Ash, I am your gift!" She exclaimed.
"...what?" The Delta trio asked at the same time.
"The High Draconid Council decided to hand me over as your gift and I happily obliged! From now on I'll serve you, master Ash, I'll be your humble slave!"
"SLAVE?!" Every grunt in the building at that moment shouted together.
Team Magma Headquarters.
"Hmm...I'm disappointed, Flannery."
"Whatever, Maxie." She answered in his office. "Why did you even need that rock?"
"That meteorite is filled with a power I don't fully comprehended... but I need to do so, it might be the power source we need to finally awaken Groudon, and now that Team Delta now knows we're behind it, things just got twice as hard."
"We'll get it one way or another." Flannery assured.
"You say that, but... you tend to be far more efficient, I doubt some Delta grunts could have stopped you... Ash was there, wasn't he?"
"Does that matter?"
"Of course it does." Maxie adjusted his glasses. "It seems you still can't make up your mind about him."
"He's the enemy!" Flannery shouted. "That's the only thing that I care about!"
"...You may leave." He ordered. "Give yourself some time to clear your mind."
"ARGH!" Flannery shouted and slammed the door as she left. "Stupid Maxie." She muttered. "Stupid Team Delta, stupid...Ash..." She stopped her rant to think about their lastest encounter.
-You still have the time to turn back from all this!-
"Why do you always talk like that? ... Don't make it sound like you're gonna forgive me."
Sootopolis city.
A hooded figure could be seen approaching a girl that was fishing in the night harbor.
"Hmm...have you found any Luvdisc?" The hooded figure asked.
"I'd rather have a Huntail..." The fisher answered.
The hooded figure saw around to assure they were alone, once she did, she sat next to the girl. "Pretty weird code you chose."
"That was the point." She answered while still focusing on her fishing. "Pleasure it's mine by the way, Miss...?"
"Call me Shelly." She took off her hoodie and let her long curly red hair flow out. "You say you want to be an admin, quite the bold request, don't you think?"
"Correct, but I already gave you my offer, didn't I?"
"And what exactly makes you think you can help us find Kyogre?"
"Pretty simple, I found one already."
And that's it! There wasn't much Ash x Zinnia, but well, the point of this chapter was to get you to 'Meet the crew', I'm so funny, but I guess you can imagine what's coming next chapter.
Quick review response:
Star's Keyblade4114
Hope it does!
jhosmhir26
Mayyyybe, you'll have to keep reading to see what happens.
Farla
Well dude, it's nice to see you're still strong after all these years, it's honestly kind of an honor.
Zarc4d
The Aqua girl is coming next chapter, but I think I made it quite clear that she won't be from Hoenn.
That's all folks, we'll see next time in "What can I do for you?"