INTRODUCTORY NOTE:
THIS IS THE SECOND OF THE THREE STORIES I MADE FOR THE QUARANTINE PERIOS (COVID OUTBREAK). THE THIRD ONE, HOWEVER IS NOT YET READY. FOR THE SAME REASON AS POKEMON UNIVERSITY FRONTIER, THE UPDATE TIME WILL BE 3 CHAPTER PER UPDATES AND WILL BE RANDOM.
SO NOW WITHOUT FURTHER ADO...
Chapter 1
There is pure chaos all around. Shadows and blue flash of light pass at rapid rates, to see only deaths and destruction. Ash knows he is in a dream. Yet everytime this dream comes, it was more of a nightmare that keeps haunting him. From the tower he could see a dark silhouette of a pokemon with a humanoid feature and a long slender tail. It looked at him directly before raising him up using psychic. He got a good look at it, on his neck is a collar device that seems to control it with the eyes of the pokemon red, filled with pain and anger. He was pleading for it to put him down, and in a swift motion he was pushed back to the endless void.
"AHHH!" Ash was finally awoke from his nightmare. He was filled with sweats and he was panting heavily. There is a rushing steps to the door that flung wide open before Pikachu went to his trainer to comfort him. "What's wrong Ash? Are you okay?" Serena raced to him to see if he is alright followed by Anabel. "Y-yeah... It's... It's just a nightmare, that's all..." Serena and Anabel both know that something is not right. Ash had these nightmares for the past year and a half. And it's been 3 years since he have fled from Pallet Town.
"We are back buddy." "Pi-pika"
It was the same routine for Ash after a league conference. Now that the Kalos League is over, they have now decided to return to Kanto so that they can prepare to travel once again. Serena and Clemont both decided to visit Pallet Town. Clemont asked if he could meet with Professor Oak to ask some things, and Serena wanted to visit Pallet Town because she hasn't been since 8 years.
"Wow, it is so beautiful!"Clemont exclaimed seeing the lush greenery, with trees and flowers. They are only outside route one, yet they are already taken by the beauty of nature.
"Standing here will not do us great. Come on!" Ash broke for a run with Pikachu. "Ash wait up!" Serena followed holding her fedora hat from being blown away, and... "Guys wait up!" Clemont lagged behind holding firmly to his bag.
It was a good 5 minute run when they arrived at the gates of the town. They decided to walk since Clemont is already exhausted. Ash's house was nearby. It was the same quiet town that he grew up to. Yet unknown to him, they are walking to a disaster that will shatter him beyond.
"I'm home!" Ash opened the door and he was surprised to find that Mr. Mime and his mother is nowhere to be found. Inside was only his past companions and rivals. Misty, May, and Max was seating on the couch while Trip, Cameron, Iris, Cilan, and Paul was standing on the side. Their expression was unreadable, but on the air was a heavy tension. Ash, Serena, and Clemont was surprised, and more importantly confused. "Uhh Hey guys. Whats up? Where is Mom?" Ash asked the more obvious question followed by the next obvious question. They are at a standstill while the people sitting started to rise.
"Ash we all talked about something you need to listen to." Max started the roll breaking the standstill.
"You need to stop your journey Ketchum, before somebody is hurt or killed." Misty declared coldly that made Ash and Serena recoil hearing them.
"Wha-what are you talking about?!"
"We all know you are a recipe for disaster Ash. Everywhere you go, evil teams rise and tries to take control of you, and the region." Cilan now made an aggresive statement.
"How selfish you people can get!? Here Ash risking everything to save you all and now you are just gonna tell him to stop in his Dreams!?" Clemont yelled angrily at the traitors, preparing to throw out Luxray.
"That guy is a weakling and such a child. He could never go far in a League. He haven't even won any major Leagues." Iris now moving her hands to prepare for a fight.
"You guys are unbelievable. He did everything for all of you! He helped you on your own journey and you guys decided to just throw him like that!?" Now Serena is preparing noticing almost everybody is holding a pokeball.
"Don't be stupid bitch. We are trying to give him a favor and you are here seems like whore." May held a sharp look in her eyes glaring at Serena. This statement made Ash snap.
"You guys dare insult my friends!? You all are nothing without me! I couldn't believe this is your true personalities!"
"You are right. This IS their true personalities." Everyone is surprised to see, Paul making his way towards Ash holding out a pokeball. "All of you are disgusting people. I never took all of you to be bad people, but now..."
"You traitor!" Trip now sent out his Serperior.
"NO! YOU GUYS ARE THE TRAITOR! PIKACHU ELECTRO BALL!"
"Braixen Hidden Power!"
"Luxray Swift!"
"Electivire Protect!"
The attacks collided and the house was nearly wrecked. Serperior managed to get the protect up in time to block the traitors from any damage. But when the smoke cleared, Ash, Clemont, Serena, and Paul was nowhere. The path was filled with debris only between them and the exit.
Paul is leading Ash and company to Professor Oak's lab. The door was not locked and when they entered, they saw Gary and Dawn holding a bag.
"Ash! Are you ok?" Dawn hugged the raven haired trainer. "Gary? Dawn? What is going on?!" The raven haired trained is confused. A moment before he was confronted by his so-called friends, and now... "Here is all of your Pokemon. No time to explain, let's go outside. Our rides are waiting for us." Gary made his run to backyard, while the traitors arrived only to see Ash, Paul, and Clemont held the line.
"Starmie use Hydro Pump!" Misty sending out her pokemon,
"Kirlia, Shadow Ball!" Max revealing his pokemon now, and
"Wartortle Ice Beam now!" May sending out her Wartotle.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt to Starmie!"
"Luxray, Swift and counter that Shadow Ball!"
"Magmortar, Fire Blast and make some cover with the Ice Beam!"
The pokemon attacks collided and made a huge mess inside the lab, all while Fire Blast had made a direct contact with the traitors pokemon pushing them back. "Let's get of here before they recover!" Paul now took Ash's arm and pulled him. Ash only had a grim look on his face, but is soon replaced with sadness.
Outside the ranch is Dawn riding her Togekiss, Gary on his Pidgeot, Serena on Charizard, a vacant Staraptor and Honchkrow. "Blondie take the Staraptor we are leaving here!" Paul commanded Clemont while pushing Ash to Charizard. A few moments, Trip and Cilan with Pansage and Serperior appeared in the door and ordered their attack before Ash can take his position.
"Bullet Seed Pansage!"
"Leaf Tornado!"
Gary and Paul sent their Electivire together, "Use Thunder!" And gave their commands, that collided and made a huge explosion. "Return now!" Gary and Paul pulled out their Electivires with the dust still large.
"Let's go Charizard!" Charizard gave a grunt and take off the ground followed by Dawn, Gary, and Paul. Serena held onto Ash, afraid to let him go since they took off. "Where are we going now?" Ash looked behind to see Gary nearing him. "Saffron City Airport. We are going to Kalos and meet up first with Brock." Ash nodded only and made his Charizard to pace a little bit faster. The others didn't see it, but Serena saw Ash's tears. Charizard noticed it, and made his flight a little bit more relaxed. Serena only hugged him back to comfort him and to hide her pain, while Pikachu only snuggled closely to its trainer.
"Serena? Can you stay in the room for a while?" Ash managed to relax after taking a drink. He is still looking down with his nightmare. Serena is confused by it, and took a glance at Anabel. She only gave a nod and waved to her and Pikachu, which made the electric mouse to scamper to her before closing the door. Now alone in his room, Serena sat besides Ash and looked over his expression that is unchanged.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Its just... Am I a weak trainer Serena?"
"Why do you ask Ash?"
"In my nightmares, I always see people and pokemon around me die. As if it is telling me that I am not good enough."
Serena gave an inaudible sigh of relief and placed Ash's head to her lap and gently stroked his wild hair to ease him. "Nobody from us thinks you are not good enough Ash. You are already the best for us, even before."
They had been in that position for about ten minutes before Serena noticed Ash has fallen asleep. She then asked Braxien to help her move Ash back to his bed. She left the room after she gave him a kiss on the cheeks and saw his peacefull sleep. She made her way to the kitchen to bring the glass back to the sink when she saw Anabel sitting on the chair waiting for her.
"How is he?"
"He is asleep now. He is just contemplating about him being weak and all."
"I guess the memories still tries to get to him no matter what. We can't just keep the truth out of his heart forever." Anabel made a frown remembering the deed Ash asked her to do nearly 3 years from now. It wasn't pleasant, but to say that Ash is still there with them is the only thing that keeps them happy.
"Do you think it's a good idea for Ash to see the traitors? What if he had another breakdown?" Serena eyed Anabel hoping for a plan of hers. They managed to get along pretty well, despite both knowing a common interest to Ash. In his times of need, both are ready to be by his side to protect him from further trauma and the painful memories of the past.
"I can't assure you that things will go smoothly. At best, we can only be by his side and stop him from doing harm to himself." Anabel held a firm tone, but she failed to hide her fears too. Nevertheless, Serena nodded to her before they both went to bed and get some rest.
The sun was early at Kalos, especially at Vaniville Town. The quiet and eerie sensation, made it like a serene and peacefull place to settle down. Serena was a resident of the town, yet she had moved out of her house to help with Ash staying a few houses over hers. With the help of her mother Grace and Professor Sycamore, Ash had managed to live his 3 years in peace. Albeit being cutoff from the other regions, Ash had now managed to top the Battle Maison as a Grand Duke with Serena as a Grand Duchess. Ash also had participated again to the Kalos League where he won last year. He hasn't cashed in his Elite 4 battles, as he deemed it yet to be strong. He also helped Clemont and Korrina in their relationship and as a Gym Leader, both being respected and well known at terrifying despite not using their gym's designated pokemon.
In his stay, he helped Professor Sycamore in gathering information about Mega Evolution by looking for stones and bringing them back to him. He also gathered a bit for him, like his Sceptile and Charizard. He was happy with both being powerful and all, but he still misses the moments that he can travel again. He was restricted by the professor and Serena herself from moving to the other regions without some of them for him.
Serena has already become the Kalos Queen by her return to Kalos in a year. She was defeated by Shauna just this year in a very tight battle with her Braxien and Sylveon against Venusaur and Kirlia. Despite the loss, both are glad to be standing as a Kalos Queen, as Palermo and Aria has congratulated both of them.
Anabel has established a Battle Frontier in Kalos at the request of Scott. She has been defeated by a few, yet she still is growing powerful with Alakazam and Espeon. Paul, after journeying to the Kalos, and being defeated by Ash in the finals, has been elected to be the second Frontier Brain. He specializes in strategic battling, allowing his opponents to go toe to toe to his strategy, and uncanny preparedness. The third and last Frontier Brain is Gary Oak himself. Most trainers never get to battle him, since Paul will crush them. But if they managed to pass him, Gary will decimate his opponents in whatever fights they wanted. He was an expert battler, using two against three, and allowing the opponent to choose their advantages, that he turns quickly to his advantage against them. Only a select few has managed to do so, but they all know that it is only possible with someone that treats their pokemon with love, and respect like Ash.
Dawn, despite staying for a few months in Kalos, has already been a top coordinator of Sinnoh. She now stays with Paul as his boyfriend and helps him in formulating strategies in battle, as well as him helping her in taking care of her pokemon. She sometimes joins Ash in his travels with Serena and Anabel, and occasionally with Brock to whatever business they have.
Brock is already a Pokemon Doctor. He stays at Lumiose City as a frequent doctor, and he helps Clemont to be a great gym leader. He sometimes battle the Battle Maison, but never seems to get past Clemont as they are both equal.
As the sun keeps rising, Anabel and Serena only giggled at seeing Ash sleeping more peacefully than they found him last night. And by peacefully, it meant with him completely trashed on his bed, with face aloof and his head near the edge. Pikachu was standing already and was nudging his trainer to wake up with no avail.
"Pikachu... use thunderbolt..." Ash muttered on his dream, that made Pikachu flash a devious grin while the girls only hid behind the door. A few moments, the door was flashing a yellow light with a screaming Ash, completely awake already.
"Morning Ash!" The two girls opened the door and flashed a waking smile. Ash, on the other side has a 'shocked' looked on his face, with his hair standing and his body full of burn and scratches. "Morning guys. You too Pikachu." Ash chirped before starting to dust himself off. Today was a different day, because in every 5 years, a grand tournament now takes place to Kalos. A tournament attended only those that had a considerable achievement, and an invitation by those deemed to be worthy by the league champions. Ash, Serena, Anabel, Paul, Clemont, Gary, and Dawn, are about to take foot to one of the biggest conferences.
Somewhere in the world, people are also starting to prepare.
"You got your invitation sis?" A younger teen looked at her sister that is wearing her usual bandana on her head. "I have it here. Don't forget your keystone alright." The older sister looked at his brother that has a poor eyesight. His glasses has a spot for a keystone behind his ears. They eventually started to walk towards the forest.
Somewhere... "Take care of the gym for me okay?" A oranged haired woman wearing a short shorts with a jumper, and a loose top made her way to the plane.
In Kalos, "Ahhh! What a sweet scent in the air over a new region!" A man attired that looks like a waiter went out the door followed by a girl with a darker tone, and a long hair tied in three portions. "You are starting to already sound like that weakling." She flared up looking at the man with a glare to her. Behind them was a arrogant looking trainer that held a bag in his shoulder, passing them both.
The day came, for the old friends and the closer ones to battle once again. The Elite Tournament is about to begin.