'Lady Arceus, Lady Arceus!' A frantic pokemon called soaring down a long corridor. This particular pokemon was jet-like in appearance with a body containing simple cephalization and red wings and arms that mainly just conform to the body. It also downed a red triangular shape on its forehead and a blue triangular form on its chest.
She flew out of the aforementioned corridor and arrived in a room that was bigger than any rooms any human had ever stepped foot in. At the south end of the room was a giant pokemon. Arceus, the creator of the world of pokemon, a god among gods. Everything that has exists, does exist, and will exist has and will be her doing. She has complete control save for two loopholes in the Universe's laws. One; perfection is impossible, even for a god, anything she brings into the world can backfire and two; she can create all she wants but she can never interfere with what goes on. Once it's created, it's not up to her. All she was able to do was create a disaster pokemon with the purpose to warn people of impending danger. She must live here, with the rest of her children whom she created to be protectors of every person, region, and rights.
'Lady Arceus!' the eon pokemon yelled one last time.
'What is it Latias?' Arceus finally answered.
'It's your chosen! You should see this!' She called to her superior.
'And what is it exactly that I'm watching young one?' Arceus asked unaware of the outrage that this one act would bring to The Hall of Origins.
'It's some of the Chosen's past companions they've turned on him! He was lucky to get away safely but it might have cost him too much.' Latias explained
'What do you mean by 'cost'?' Arceus inquired.
Suddenly three rings opened up from the floor and more pokemon came out of said rings before they disappeared. The first of them was a humanoid psychic cat-like pokemon. 'The Chosen's Pikachu is in critical condition. I have witnessed their bond for myself first hand. It's something I've not seen in any other trainer.' The psychic explained telepathically lowering his head. 'It is likely that if his Pikachu does not make it, the Chosen will be changed forever. And not in a good way.'
The second of the three pokemon who was also appeared to be a cat but on a much smaller scale than the previous psychic as well as being much cuter. 'It's possible he could give up battling all together. You can imagine the trouble this could cause considering how many times the world has turned to him and his skills in times of need. Also as I'm sure you know with how strong his aura is, intense moments of rage can unleash a devesting amount of power whether it be physical or psychological.' The small cat explained
The third pokemon finally got to speak. It had a form like a dog. It was entire body was just variations of white and blue's with long flowing purple hair and ribbon like structures for tails. 'I'd say we better make sure the Pikachu survives for the sake of The Chosen's mental state.' It spoke. 'I believe that is the best course of action if he is to continue with his journey.'
'I am sorry my children but I cannot do that.' Arceus retorted calmly. 'I have told you all many times that I am not allowed to interfere only create.' Arceus said with her usual dominant toned voice.
'Then create something to help The Chosen!' Mew yelled
'That would count as interfering, now wouldn't it? Besides if he is to truly defeat his demons he must do it with his own strength, not ours.'
'Surely you can make an exception for The Chosen. Have you forgotten all he has done for us?' Suicune said not believing its masters decision.
'I have not forgotten. However, it is not our place. Everything that happens to him from here on out is up to him and destiny. If I were to interfere it would undermine destiny itself, and if destiny has no meaning then the world will crumble as there would be no rules.' The pokemon spoke wisely. 'No matter the person, I am not to get involved and I must forbid you to as well. Besides, I am confident my chosen can rise above this challenge with help from his own species.' The Alpha pokemon said monitoring Serena, Anabel, and the others waiting for Ash to join them.
'Well what can we do help?!' A very annoyed Mewtwo asked.
'The most I could have done was send my messenger to warn him. However she was too late and The Chosen did not get the message.'
'So we just sit around here while the young one's Pikachu is dying?' Another pokemon said appearing in the room. It was very reminiscent of a deer with many antlers with different highlighted colors on each. 'I could save the Pikachu at the very least.' It said
'I'm sorry Xerneas. While you have the power to do that, this Pikachu's fate has already been decided.' Arceus responded.
'If you don't help him then we will!' Even more pokemon, all of which Ash had interacted with in one way or another on his many journeys, began to enter the room. The one who was speaking at the moment resemble a phoenix in the fact that the bird pokemon's wings were constantly on fire. 'That boy has made more selfless choices than anyone I could think of so it's time we return the favor!'
'I must forbid you as well. Did you not hear me? Destiny is at work here and we are not in its plan!' The giant pokemon roared. Everyone was a bit scared. Arceus rarely yelled and when she did there was murder in her voice. 'Everyone is not to seek the chosen or his friends. Have faith in his abilities.' She finished.
'What about Jirachi? He was caught a while ago by that trainer he found worthy. If he were to come across The Chosen or the boy he bonded with years ago he could interfere.' Mewtwo added observing the scene.
'There is nothing I could do about Jirachi, however, under no circumstances are the rest of you to seek him out. I will inform young Jirachi of what has happened and suggest he stay away from The Chosen but whether he meets up with Ash again is up to him and his trainer.' Arceus finished
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Meanwhile back on Earth, Ash, Paul, and Dawn were still in shock of what happened. Charizard and Honchkrow suddenly shot forward towards Ash's house in order to get out of the lab before Oak could pull the trigger again.
While Ash and Dawn were still too star struck to think Paul had finally snapped out of it.
"Ketchum! Get it together! What's your plan now? Do we go back there and wreck shit or not?"
Ash finally came to his senses. "Right, Paul go to my old house and tell everyone to meet me at the pokemon center here in Pallet, they're our best chance of helping Pikachu." Ash commanded the Sinnoh native
"Got it. What about the traitor?" He asked curious of what Ash had planned for the Bluenette.
"No time to talk! We're out of here, Charizard full speed! The center is in the heart of Pallet Town!" Ash yelled. Charizard nodded and flew forward at a speed Paul had never seen any Charizard reach.
"Well Honchkrow we've got our orders. Let's go grab the others." Paul ordered his loyal crow. "Krow." He chirped as he began gliding through the air. "Hopefully Ketchum can handle this, otherwise I might have to keep him from murdering Oak."
"Honch!" the bird pokemon screech as it nodded its head
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Professor Oak meanwhile was headed inside the laboratory to contact his superiors and give them the bad news. He entered the code to the back door into the small keypad. The door began to open slowly in a garage door fashion.
He walked past the many aisles of pokeballs collected from the various trainers that he sponsors. He reluctantly opened the small door that led into the main portion of the research lab and sat down at his computer. As he slowly typed in the number of his employers he began to fully grasp the situation he was in. Suddenly the small computer screen was occupied by a vision of a high-end office. There was a rather expensive looking desk in the very front of the room. There was a chair that looked equally expensive with its back turned to the screen.
"Greetings Professor. I assume you have done what I have asked of you. The boy is without pokemon is he not?" the concealed man asked in a very menacing voice.
"Well mostly, he did get away with some of his pokemon, but the majority of the pokemon even aided me in the attack against Ash. Many of his so-called friends helped as well, to my surprise." Oak responded hesitantly. He was really hoping that he wouldn't have to tell him which pokemon Ash got away with.
"Yes his friends were rather weak and easy for me to manipulate. Who would've thought the friends of the Chosen One would be so weak. Now how many and which pokemon did he get away with." The dark, still concealed man rightfully asked.
'Shit.' He thought to himself. "Well you see sir, that's the complicated part." He stated. "He got away with ten of the pokemon he had as well as his Kalos team." The pokemon professor informed him.
"Which means he still has his Greninja?" The figure asked anger beginning to build in his voice. "Who else does he have."
Oak sighed "Charizard, Quilava, Bayleef, Bulbasaur, Snivy, Staraptor, Sceptile, Infernape, Gliscor, Buizel, Hawlucha, Noivern, Talonflame, and Pikachu. I'm sorry sir. However the Pikachu is in critical condition and in all probability, won't make it."
"But the Infernape and Charizard, were of the utmost importance! I don't care about his Snivy or his Bayleef. As long as he has those two pokemon, my plans for the future are in serious jeopardy you dumbass! I hope you have a plan to make up for your mistake!" The man yelled in a fit of rage.
"Well I suppose I could fabricate some sort of offense to get them taken away from him and given back to me." He said rubbing his chin.
"No! Actually you can't Gramps!" a voice said from behind them
Oak turned around to see his grandson standing in the doorway with a small device in his hand.
"Gary! How long have you been there? And what's that in your hand?" Oak quizzed him forgetting that the strange man was still on the monitor behind him.
"Long enough. And this is a tape recorder. It's a model Officers Jennies use to record conversations while undercover and then send the conversation back to the station. Jenny owed me a favor so I asked if I could borrow one. I have every word from the last five minutes right here." He said waving the device in front of Oak."
"Gary if you just let me explain, then you'll see this isn't what it…" The baffled professor started.
"This isn't what it looks like. Yeah, yeah, I know. I've been watching you gramps for the past couple weeks. You've changed, you've become so materialistic and shallow you'd turn on Ash for a small fortune. I don't know who that is," He said pointing at the monitor. "but as soon as I press this button this recoding will be sent to Officer Jenny. That should be enough to keep you from getting to Ash. Thanks to me you can't control Dawn anymore either. I hate to say this but you deserve to be put away Professor."
"Now Gary, you don't want to do that, son. I'm your Grandpa. You don't want to send your grandpa to jail for a few measly threats to a trainer that's never going anywhere do you?" Oak tried to reason with his rebellious grandson.
"That trainer happens to be my friend! And no you're not going to jail for threatening Ash, you're going to prison for attempted pokemon trafficking." He said as he put his finger to the tiny red button on the recorder. He was about to push it before he was interrupted yet again.
"Gary, was it?" The man on the monitor said. "Before you press that button you should know that I have quite the number of connections. Do you remember a boy by the name of Red Hiriyashi?" He asked the researcher.
"Yeah. He was that up and coming pokemon trainer who died for unknown reasons a couple years ago. Police looked for a cause of death for months but they couldn't find a cause or a culprit. Eventually it was declared an unsolvable cold case. What of him?"
"He disappeared because he crossed me. Be assured that if I did it once, I could do it again, young researcher. Press that button and share his fate." The man, still shrouded threatened.
"So be it. If that's what Arceus has planned for me then I accept my fate." Gary said pressing the button.
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Meanwhile, at the Pallet Town Pokemon Center Ash and Dawn were waiting outside the operating room located in the very back of the building in complete silence. Dawn was thinking about all that had transpired today. She wanted Ash to understand her side of the story, but she wasn't sure he'd believe her.
"So," Ash said snapping her out of her trance "why'd you do it, Dawn?" He asked willing to hear her out.
"What?" She responded not believing he'd actually listen to her.
"You heard me Berlitz, why? Why would you side with them over me, your best friend? Did they offer you money and fame and you figured 'Yeah, why the hell not?', or were you just sick of me like the rest of them were? What could they have given you that was worth more than my friendship?! Oh, and be warned, if I don't like your answer, I'll have Paul have a 'talk' with you."
"Ash please just listen it's not what they were giving me it's what they took from me." She responded somberly.
"What?" Ash asked anger quickly turning into confusion.
Dawn sighed, put her head down so she was facing her lap, and began to explain to explain what had gone on just 6 mere hours before Ash got home.
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Dawn was walking down a narrow gravel road through the quiet, peaceful Pallet town with her best friend and partner, Piplup, in her arms. After walking for around 5 minutes she arrived at a small, quaint, white house. She walked up the small pathway leading up to the front door.
'I can't wait to see everyone.' She thought to herself. 'It's been so long. Wait until I tell Brock and Ash about my placings lately. It'll be nice to see May and Iris as well.' She politely knocked on the buildings front door and stood there waiting for someone to answer it. "You ready to see ash and Brock again Piplup?" She asked to her loyal friend.
"Piplup!" The young penguin pokemon replied happily.
The door opened slowly revealing a woman looking to be around her 40's wearing a plain green dress. She had brown hair pulled into a ponytail behind her hair. To the left of her was a Mr. Mime wearing an apron for some reason.
'Weird.' Dawn thought to herself. 'Though I guess without Ash someone has to help.'
"You must be Dawn! Oh, you're adorable!" Delia said wrapping her in a hug. "Johanna has told me much about you! Says you have been placing in the top 3 for the last four contests. Really making a name for yourself, huh?" She queried.
Dawn's face lit up at the compliment. "That's what I'm hopin' for. Are Ash and Brock here yet? I really want to see them!" She said still blushing from Delia's comment. Despite being a performer with many fans she still wasn't used to being complimented by complete strangers.
"Ash and Brock won't be here until a lot later but that's okay because we have a lot to talk about." Delia answered with a weird type of tone in her voice of which Dawn couldn't identify.
"Oh. okay." Dawn said shooting a quick glance at Piplup. 'There's something weird about the way she said that. Maybe I'm overthinking it, after all she's related to Ash of all people.' Dawn quickly followed the older women in only to be ambushed by someone else.
"Dawn I've missed you so much! Oh, wait till' I tell you about the Hoenn Grand Festival." The girl squealed.
"I've missed you too May! I've got a lot to share too!" Dawn said happy to her old friend as well.
May and Dawn spent the next hour telling each other of their accomplishments since they last spoke to each other. As well as sharing their other interesting experiences and contest tactics. After talking so long about contests she couldn't take it anymore. She wanted to talk about something else. Mainly Ash and Brock. She was so happy to see May again, but even May couldn't come close to the bond she shared with the two boys. No one but maybe her pokemon could. She'd be nowhere without them.
"So May," Dawn started "You've told me all about your contests. But I know so little of your travels with Ash and Brock. Why don't you tell me about it? I'm really interested in learning what they were up to before they met me."
"Brock was cool. Always there to provide insight like a big brother I never had." She said smiling "He knew just what to say and when to say it. And don't get me started on his cooking!" She finished with genuine happiness in her voice.
"I know! He has that kind of effect on people. When he's not ogling every pretty girl he sees and constantly getting turned down." Down said sweating at the last part.
"Believe it or not there was one girl back in Hoenn who actually didn't mind his mindless flirting! In fact she seemed to be enjoying it!" May said laughing
"You don't say? Figures. There has to be someone for him." Dawn said laughing as well. "What about Ash. I'm sure you had good times with him as well."
"If by good times you mean having two separate teams of villains, one wanting to cause an apocalypse by sea and the other an apocalypse by land, then yeah we had a great time." May said rolling her eyes "His insensitive ass put our lives at risk more times than I could count just to stop some villains when the Jennies could have taken care of it." She finished with a huff of anger.
"Yeah," Dawn said putting her hands in her lap and looking down at her partner who had fallen asleep in her arms. "but if Ash hadn't come along there's a chance they could have succeeded right? I mean, if they were at large then maybe Officer Jenny really could have used the help. And because you went with him you got to do some real good in this messed up world!"
"Look Dawn, you're my friend so I won't dance around the situation. Ash is not good. For anyone." May said with a mad look on her face.
Neither of them noticed but as soon as May finished her sentence Dawn's pocket began to shake.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Ash is our friend isn't he?" She said incredulous to the situation.
"Look Dawn, He's reckless, uncaring, and a threat to everyone he comes in contact with. When we were fighting Team Magma Brock told me Ash is a danger magnet, so let me guess, you got tangled up with a team of criminals you never would have met if you wouldn't have traveled with Ash, didn't you?" May asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes but if I had played it safe I wouldn't have Ash and Brock as friends." Dawn stated. 'What is she getting at. Ash always spoke so highly of May, nothing but compliments. So why is she acting like this?'
"Is it such a bad thing if you never met him?" May asked raising an eyebrow.
Dawn pocket began to shake again.
"What?!" Dawn said standing up completely lost as to where this girls mind was. "If I hadn't met Ash, I wouldn't be half the coordinator I am today, I wouldn't have met you, I wouldn't have met Brock," She said continuing to count on her fingers. "and Ash wouldn't have given me…" She tried to continue but was interrupted by a bright white light which quickly faded revealing a large purple monkey with identical twin tails and two large hands on each tail.
"Ambipom!" 'God those things are harder to break out of the they look!' She thought to herself
Unlike Dawn Ambipom wasn't confused, she was Pissed. If looks could kill May would have been dead a thousand times over.
"Ambipom, pom, Ambipom." Ambipom yelled. Gesturing at May with its hands. While banging one tail fist into the palm of the other.
"Is that you Aipom?!" May asked "Don't tell me you're going to side with Ash. Then will have to keep you locked up in the lab with the others. And I don't want to do that."
Ambipom didn't say anything but just responded by growling at the brunette.
"You mean to tell me that you have all of Ash's pokemon locked away against their will like there some kind of uncontrollable animals!?" Dawn yelled getting madder and madder as the scene went on.
"I was personally against it, but Oak insisted that it was for their own good. They're just going to get hurt if they keep traveling with Ash. Only the ten that defended the fool are locked up. Don't worry we're having Gary keep an eye on them until Ash is gone. Gary promised he wouldn't let anything happen to them." May said.
Ambipom couldn't take it anymore it didn't care about any of Ash's turncoat pokemon but they were keeping the loyal ones locked up. She always thought of the group of Hoenn pokemon as part of her family.
'If I know Sceptile, and I do, he's one of those ten!' Ambipom thought to herself Ambipom realized the slim chance that all six of its Hoenn friends stayed loyal if there were only ten of them but she knew she could count on Sceptile. She also figured Infernape would be there considering the bond she'd seen in Sinnoh and that was enough to finally break her. She launched herself at May in an attempt to incapacitate her, or at the least break a couple bones. Her pounce knocked both May and their chair she was sitting in over. She used her stubby and less useful hands to pin May to the floor while getting ready to use her real fist to do some damage. Ambipom and May were tumbling around each trying to get the dominant position in this fight.
"Get this damn monkey off of me!" May screamed
"Ambipom please get off of her!" Dawn pleaded to her rebellious pokemon. She may not have agreed with what was going on but at the moment she still cared for May and didn't want anyone to get hurt.
"Mr. Mime use hypnosis on Dawn and Ambipom now!" A voice yelled from behind them.
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Dawn looked Ash straight in the eyes. Having finished the majority of the story, she was nearly positive that Ash knew where this was going. Her proof of this was the look of murder in his eyes, although she couldn't be sure if that was directed towards her or May and Delia.
"When I finally woke up from the hypnosis, Ambipom was gone. May told me that she couldn't have anyone interfere so she had Iris fly Ambipom to Oak's to be locked up with your loyal pokemon before it could do any damage. All I had to do was ignore you and stand with them and because May still wanted to be friends she promised she wouldn't let Ambipom be sold like the rest of them. I'm so sorry." She said putting her head down once more.
Ash stood up enraged the look of death and destruction not leaving his face. "You mean to tell me that you left Ambipom with Oak!? Now that you're with me do you know what they'll do to her?! I should have never trusted you with my friend!" He yelled at her. People all around the emergency room began to turn their heads towards the two as Ash became more and more enraged and final grabbed her by the collar and brought her up to less than an inch of his face, looking her straight in the eyes.
"If anything happens to her, I promise that not only will I take her back, but you'll regret the day I let you have her."
"Now you stop this violence!" A nurse Joy yelled running towards them. She and her partner Audino began to pull the two away from each other "This is a hospital, not a prison yard!" She yelled.
"Ash please calm down!" Dawn pleaded. "You're scaring me! I know you're pissed, but I have Ambipom!"
"She's okay?" Ash asked finally calming down.
Dawn nodded. "Right before you got to the corral, Gary approached me and gave me Ambipom back. He promised that he protected her from harm."
'Gary' Ash thought to himself 'Arceus, I love that kid!'
"Look." She said throwing a pokeball into the air. When the light faded a familiar purple monkey was standing in front of Ash.
"Ambipom," He began tears starting to well up on his face. He got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around his old pokemon. "Is it true ol' girl. Dawn really didn't have a choice?" Ambipom pulled away and nodded its head yes at its old trainer.
Ash wrapped Ambipom in another hug "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you! But I'm so happy to see you! And I know Sceptile, Buizel and Infernape will be too.
"As for you," He said turning away from Ambipom and brought his gaze to Dawn "I still don't trust you but Ambipom obviously does, and Anabel told me you were different so you've got one more chance. Cross me again and I'll make sure you regret it." All Dawn did was nod. After all she did to him today, she found it generous he had only gotten physical once.
"ASH!" a voice yelled from behind them. Before he could react in the slightest he found himself on the floor of the hospital with a certain blonde girl snuggling up against him. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Serena looked up to see everyone looking at her including one bluenette she didn't think would be with him. "Ash. What is she doing here?" Serena questioned wondering if his sanity had stayed intact after the fight.
"It's okay Serena, she's on our side. For now." He finished beginning to lift himself off of the ground.
"Paul told us everything." Brock said offering the younger man a hand to help him up. Ash quickly accepted the hand and gathered himself on his feet.
"Do they know if he'll…uh..?" Anabel started but didn't quite know how to finish it without setting him off. Which at this point was the last thing any of them wanted.
"I don't know. But he's been in there for over an hour and no one has given me any information on his current state." He replied to the young Brain.
"Ahem. Mr. Ketchum, I presume?" Someone said from behind.
Ash turned to see the pokemon doctor looking about as clean as you can get after extensive surgery.
"So doc, is my friend okay?"
The doctor slowly nodded yes. Ash felt most of the sadness and anger of his friends turning on him melt away after hearing his friend was going to be okay. Everyone was smiling, Serena was hopping up and down, and Brock quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"However," the doctor started, "that's not to say he'll be exactly as he was before."
"What do you mean by that?" Brock asked thoroughly confused
"You said he was going to be fine!" Ash yelled not believing what he was hearing.
"Mentally Pikachu will stay the same as before, however whoever shot this Pikachu," Ash had decided not to tell the doctor who shot Pikachu out of fear of him not believing Ash and turning away his service. "they managed to hit him in the lower spinal cord which means…"
"He's paralyzed from the neck down." Brock finished for the doctor.
"Exactly. I'm afraid your friend will not be battling ever again, however be thankful he is alive. We will also provide some technology to help his mobilization problem later. At the moment I urge you to let him rest as he has not fully recovered yet. Take this." The doctor said handing Ash a small device. "When you here this pager ring it means that your friend has awoken and is ready for visitors. Do you live around here?" The doctor inquired raising an eyebrow.
'I can't go back home, and the closest place I could stay is Brock's house over in Pewter, and right now Pikachu needs me too much for me to be that far from here. So I guess I'm homeless at the moment.' Ash thought to himself "No, I don't." He answered.
"I'm going to recommend a hotel not far from here. You'll have to stay there as Pikachu will need at least a week if not more before he can leave here. Now why don't you kids go down to the cafeteria and grab some food? It sounds like you've had a long day." The doctor finished, turning away presumably to take care of his next patient.
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Ash was currently sitting at a cafeteria table with Anabel. He had his head in his hands, reflecting on all that had happened today. The friends who betrayed him, him not being able to go home ever again, the pokemon who abandoned him and the partner that couldn't ever battle again. The one who he promised to take with him on the road to be a master has had that stripped away from the mouse because he decided to protect Ash. Sure there were good things too, like some of his friends sticking with him, but it's just like picking a bullet to the leg over a bullet to the leg, sure he'll live but he still got shot in the leg. Anabel had offered to stay and watch him while the others got some food.
"This just in," They heard a reporter say from the four TV's facing all directions situated in the middle of the cafeteria. "the famed Professor Oak's lab has caught fire."
"WHAT?!" Ash got up from the table with Anabel following close behind and ran so they were in front of one of the small TV's blocking the view from many others in the cafeteria but Ash didn't really care at the moment.
"The Wartortle Squad is already on the scene and doing their best to extinguish the fire, however this may be too much for even them. As for fatality's only one Gary Blue Oak has been found. Strangely enough the leader of the Wartortle Squad has been standing by the young researchers body like it has some kind of connection to him. Also Professor Oak has disappeared entirely. The funeral for the young researcher has already been set for next Monday. More on this later." The reporter finished.
"Ash," Anabel said putting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I know how much he meant to you." She soothed.
Ash began to tear up for the seventh time in the last two hours. "He was the one who saved my pokemon and Ambipom from Oak and now he's gone." Ash said putting his head down. "He's done more for me than I could have asked for, and I wasn't there to save him! Some friend I am. I ran away without him after all he's done for me. I'm terrible."
"Ash, you know that's not true." Anabel said placing herself right in front of him. She put a finger under her chin and lifted his head up so he was looking her in the eyes. "If you hadn't left when you did Pikachu very well could be dead right now."
"She's right" A voice said from behind them.
They turned around to see Brock and Serena both of whom were holding two trays. "I know Gary." Brock said "He would never think anything bad of you. He knows you would never intentionally hurt him." He said with a smile.
"You are the most selfless person I know Ash." Serena said with her own smile. "That's just one reason why we care about you so much. Now come on. We got you two some food and after today you need it." She said beginning to walk back to the table where Clemont, Bonnie, Paul, and Dawn were waiting.
Ash, Brock, Anabel, and Serena all joined the others at the table and began eating. All except Ash.
"Ash why aren't you eating. You can't be weak from hunger when we go see Pikachu. He needs your full attention!" Serena said.
"Sorry Serena. It's just… well what going to do after all this? I mean I can't go back home. In fact I don't think I could stand to even stay in Kanto anymore. Not after all this. What do I do?" He asked on the edge of crying again.
"Well I knew this would happen so I made a plan." Clemont said
"What?! How?" Ash wasn't the only one who was surprised at this everyone, including Bonnie, had been staring at him.
"I know you're confused so let me explain." The blonde said pushing up his glasses. "I had intended only to ask the professor if he had any ideas however Professor Sycamore, who was disgusted by the actions of Oak and has promised to inform the authorities of what has transpired, has offered to take you in and give you a room at the lab. He said it's the least he could do after you know, you saving all of Kalos. He said to just call him if you like the idea. Additionally Kalos is a neighboring region to Kanto so visits to and from Anabel and Brock won't be difficult in the slightest!" Clemont finished.
"Yeah. I like that idea." Ash said thinking about it. It was perfect he had all his Kalos friends nearby plus the others wouldn't be far. "I can't thank you enough Clemont. I'll do it!" He stood up quickly and walked away to make his call.
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"Ash!" A tall, slender man said from the monitor. "How are you holding up? This can't be easy." He said with a sad look on his face.
"I'm better though Pikachu…" He began but decided not to bother Sycamore with it "Anyway, Is it true? I can stay at the lab?"
"Of course my boy! I can't tell you how boring it is here without you. But don't thank me I didn't come up with the idea." He said shaking his head.
"Really so I have Sophie to thank?"
"No actually it was Garchomp's idea! It took a little while for me to figure out what he was saying, but as soon as he overheard me and Clemont talking he began his game of charades. He really took a liking to you."
"Well tell Garchomp I'll be there in two weeks tops and we can catch up again. Thanks again professor. You've done more than I could have hoped I assume you have room for a few more pokemon at the lab."
"Of course Ash! Except I've heard that many of your pokemon left you is that true?"
"Yes." Ash said looking down at the floor. "All but my Kalos team and ten from the lab left me."
"I'm sorry Ash. I have much room as I don't sponsor as many trainers as Oak. I'll have Sophie prepare a room for you. How much baggage do you have?"
"Nothing but my pokemon at the moment. Serena's taking me shopping in the next couple of days but other than that, I've got nothing."
"Very well. I look forward to you and your pokemon's stay here at my lab. I'll see you soon." He waved goodbye and the screen clicked to blackness.
'It's not ideal, but at least I've got a place to stay for now.' He thought to himself.
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So a couple things.
1. I'd like to thank anyone who Favorited, Followed, or left a review. you guys, for the most part, are the best
2. Please don't ask me to update. This is a side project between school starting up in the next couple months, county fairs, and friends, you can't expect me to be writing at all times
Also I have a youtube channel where I make AMV's and whether you like AMV's or think they're the cringiest thing ever it still takes at least two months worth of editing with my current program and they will always take priority over fanfiction.
3. I don't know if Kalos is actually close to Kanto, just roll with it
4. There will be a time skip soon and I'm having trouble deciding whether to keep anabel true to the fronteir brains like the anime or go the same route as the sun and moon games so if you have a preference let me know