Chapter 105 Lost and Found
After destroying the pulse, the Hypno was killed, but nothing happened.
Ash: I'm still trapped in here?
Ash decides to continue further, and he finds his aunt Serra, but she is split in half, much to his surprise. And the next scene is Bennett being surrounded by four Elias, and for some reason, Luna, Serra, and Laura are now lying on the ground and Bennett has to choose either one. And after leaving them alone, he finds the real Gossip Gardevoir, Ash is surprised to see her here as well.
Gardevoir: If this is what it's like to die, I don't mind. I'm... Happy. I was finally able to be of use to my master. And that feeling is my own. My own... No matter how intensely I may feel it, even I know the truth. All of my desire for him is just a reflection of his own longing for her. And neither of us could ever realize it. After all, a human, marrying a Pokémon? How gauche! Unthinkable! These aren't the dark ages anymore. I'm not stupid, just a mess. And even if I put all of those thoughts square out of my head, I know they would all come rushing back the moment I saw him again. Is that just how crushes are? Or is it just part of my fate to only have his feelings? I suppose I'll never find out. Not anymore.
Ash can't believe that Gossip Gardevoir has feelings for his father, and he feels sorry for the Gardevoir. Then he is thinking, is he dead? Is Cain also dead with him? He tries to be delusional by moving forward, only to find Terra as he slams the ground to create the computer tiles as she did in the game. Then he also sees Amaria jumping off the road with Titania trying to stop her.
Taka: Ash –
Ash is surprised to see Taka behind him.
Taka: I... I don't want- To... give up... I want- To be able... to fight like you... Please- It hurts... Don't- Don't forget me...
Ash sees how Taka is disappearing and he frowns, he knows that Taka's dead is Titania and his fault. Then he also sees Blake pushing his brother Cal off the cliff, but then it changes into the two brothers sitting together.
Cal: How much longer do you think we have to stay out here?
Blake: As long as a rope.
Cal: What? How long is a rope?
Blake: As long as it needs to be.
Cal:...Huh? (Changes to next scene) I was just tired...
Blake: Stop making excuses.
Cal: I didn't mean to ruin anything...
Blake: If you're really tired, then go to sleep.
Cal: Here, in the snow?
Blake: No, in the luxury down bed we've got- Yes, out here.
Cal: (Change scene) Dad won't be mad after this, right?
Blake: He will if you keep asking things like that.
Cal: But I'm so cold...
Blake: es, that's kind of the point.
Cal: I wanna go inside...
Blake: Stop complaining. It's your fault we're in this situation in the first place.
Cal: I'm sorry...
Blake: No, you're not.
Cal: I am... You're sounding like him.
Blake: Better him than you.
Just then, Ash notices Shade standing in the distance before leaving, and he is getting confused. But as he moves forward, he sees Ame, Victoria, Adrienn, and Arc, and all of their heads are gone and blood oozing out from their bodies. He continues to run, and then he sees how ZEL gets separated, and he finally gets to see what Eve and Lumi look like. Then the knight's armor is stabbed by Titania's Aegislash, Ash starts to feel more pain after seeing those memories until he hears a voice.
Luna: Enough.
Ash sees that Luna is creating her own path as she walks towards him.
Ash: Luna? Is that you?
Luna shares a hug with Ash, much to his surprise.
Luna: How do you do, Ash? It has been a fair few moments since our last visit, has it not? But let us not linger on this. I fear you have dallied here far too long as is. Though I do not fault you for it, this is my home rather than yours. So I will handle this place from here. Please, the way forward is yours alone.
Ash is surprised, Luna is trying to bring him back to his world, with the cost of her staying. But Ash nods as he rushes towards the exit, with the light surrounding him.
Zero: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no... Why? Why?! Why did- Control. Control, right? Incompetence. This is always how it is- This is always how it was... Best is not good enough, best is not good enough...
Back at the Glass Workstation, Zero is lamenting the loss of the PULSE.
Bennett: I told you why, Zero.
Zero: What do we do? What to do... Eve! Tell me what we should do!
Bennett: Report back to Labradorra. Lin will want to know what's happened. I'll take the Bracelets and finish from here.
Zero: That's right, that's right... As long as we have the Sapphire Bracelets, it's okay... She won't be mad, she won't be mad... Will she?
Bennett: Go.
Then Zero quickly runs away after the whole thing to Labradorra City, and Bennett also turns to the others.
Bennett: Gardevoir... I'm sorry it had to come to this. (Turns to Serra) Mother, are you all right?!
Serra: Never better...
Bennett: Good. And- Luna. (Notices Luna isn't there) Where is Luna? Do you know what happened to Luna?
Lillie: Luna stepped into that black hole on her own.
The news causes Bennett to be struck in horror, he can't believe that Luna was in there.
Delia: Is this the end you hoped to achieve?
Bennett: Shut up. I don't want to hear it from someone who couldn't even control their own Pokémon.
Radomus: Then from whom would you prefer to hear it? (Changes into Elias) Is this the only person you listen to?
Bennett: Don't kid me. He and I used each other; nothing more. I have no respect for his beliefs or his goals.
Radomus: But you enact them all the same.
Bennett: With little alternative. But now that you mention it... I can disappear from here. They will conclude I was lost in the damage. I can break free of this now. Why did it cost Luna? And Gardevoir... Thank you. (Turns to Serra) Mother, you may rest assured I will not meddle with this group again.
Serra: You're still grounded.
Bennett: That's fine; I'm still not coming home. I need to destroy the surveillance footage here...
Serena: And what about your cohort? He will make a report, correct?
Bennett: (Gasps) I'm a fool. I have to stop him immediately.
As he is about to stop Zero, a hand suddenly grabs him, and it turns out to be Laura, who is awake.
Laura: Um... Excuse me?
Bennett: Oh- You're awake now. I'm glad you're safe. Miss Belrose, I am deeply sorry for what has happened. I have heard that these once belonged to your family. Please take them.
Bennett then gives Laura the full Sapphire Bracelets, much to her surprise.
Laura: I don't understand...
Bennett: There's no time; I have to hurry.
Laura: Maybe I could help you?
Bennett: Your confusion is apparent. Listen. It's because of me that you lost your position as a member of the Elite Four. Elias created a false notice of termination, and then we hypnotized you to handwrite a letter of resignation. And then I took over your spot. I am truly sorry for what has happened, but right now I must go.
Laura: (Frowns) Does that mean I can't help?
Bennett: You are a deeply concerning person. Let me put it more simply: I've been your enemy. There's no reason for you to help me.
Laura: I think there is...Do people have to be defined by their flaws and mistakes?
Bennett: Even if we are not defined by them, we cannot just ignore them.
Laura: I understand that you must have done some bad things... But I also understand that you're doing your best to change. If I can be of any help, I would like to.
Bennett: (Sighs) You sound just like her... Ugh.
Laura: I have two sisters, and they aren't particularly spotless either. Nobody is. Still, I've learned that in order to survive, we have to work together no matter what.
Bennett: ...Fine, do whatever you want. There's a somewhat disheveled man in black currently going on foot from here to Labradorra. Can you catch him?
Laura: If we can change the weather, my Pokémon should be able to outspeed anyone. I'll do it.
Bennett: Then I'll destroy the security footage here and meet up with you. And I'll see if I can bring some food. Despite our systems, you must be starving after sleeping for so long. We can work out the details with the Elite Four then. Okay?
Laura: That sounds wonderful.
Bennett: Deal. Let's go quickly.
Then they all see Laura and Bennett leave to do what they have to do, and they can only continue to stare at the void since they are the only ones left in this place.
Serra: So much for a happy little family... Luna... Gardevoir... Cain, and even Ash. Everyone always disappears...
Radomus: Let us not make a bad situation worse by exercising its extremes.
Just then, much to their surprise, they see Shade bringing Ash from the void before disappearing, and Ash lands on the ground safely and looks at them.
Ash: Hey guys?
Radomus: Unbelievable… Amidst everything, look who it is once again.
Ash notices Delia, Serena, Lillie, Serra, and Elias? He doesn't know what he's doing here with them.
Delia: Are you... yourself, Ash?
Ash: Yes, Mom. But why is Elias here…
Radomus: Please, don't be alarmed. It is only me. I recognize this is a somewhat unfortunate visage for you to return to... So, allow me.
Ash then sees that it is actually his father in Elias' disguise.
Ash: Dad!
Radomus: Perhaps you will remember me better this way. If you would be so kind, please pay no mind to my appearance before. It is one of my more, shall we say, esoteric headpieces. Perhaps I can explain in time, but for now...
Delia: (Turns to Serra) Serra, have you seen? Not all is lost after all. Not for good.
Serra: (Frowns) Yeah. I see that... But too much has been.
Radomus: We aren't doing so well, you see. This requires some damage control. (Takes out Nurse Joy's hat and puts it on) Nurse Rajoymus is on the case. I don't promise to have medical qualifications, but I do promise to help as best as I can.
Serena: A male Nurse Joy?
Lillie: Who ever heard of that?
Radomus: Now listen, we don't discriminate here in the healthcare industry. Besides, no one heard of anything until it was invented, so let us not be too quick to dismiss new developments.
Serra: The new developments have dismissed themselves. I should've known. This is the only way things go...
Delia: You certainly can choose to believe that if you are happier doing so. But I suspect you are not.
Serra: Of course I'm not. No one would be happy knowing that they'll lose everything sooner or later. At least, this way we don't get hurt.
Radomus: Au contraire, you are hurt all the same. You are only taking on that pain now as opposed to later. And with no guarantee when or where "later" might arrive, you bear an awful lot of wounds in the meantime. Is that truly worth it, I wonder?
Serra: (Demands) And what about you? Aren't you upset over losing her? Over both of them?!
Radomus: Of course I am. But for better or worse, I am a veteran when it comes to losing "hers". One might say I've been bearing an awful lot of wounds through some meantimes. Another might say we very often tell others the advice we ourselves need to hear. And yet another might say that it is better to focus on those whom we still have. For instance... (Turns to Shelly, who is still unconscious) Saving that girl was rather heroic of you. This pity doesn't suit your triumph.
Serra: What "triumph"? I couldn't stop them... Any of them... What's broken can't be fixed. Clearly it can't be replaced either. There's no going back.
Lillie: But Ash is here, maybe there will be another one to come out.
Ash: Alright, I'm confused, can somebody tell me what's going on here?
Radomus: I had been here and there before Luna informed me she had been contacted. She told me that a "friend" had summoned her to this place. I thought it curious, so I offered to escort her. That is how we came to be here...
Then they decide to explain everything that happened to Ash, and he can say he's surprised to learn everything.
And here is a new chapter, Ash is now out of the void, and Bennett is working with Laura to stop Zero from reaching Labradorra City. I hope you like this chapter.
