~Underground Kalos~
~Around 2:00 A.M.~
"Sir." A familiar grunt greeted at the door.
"Ah, Jim." The man greeted, "How goes it? I'm guessing the grunts failed." He said turning his swivel chair towards him.
"Yes, sir. Both grunts reported that they were no match for Abel and Ash. They will be here momentarily. If you don't mind my asking, why not send someone stronger? If this kid truly has a Jirachi why not send our top grunts?" He asked.
"Fair questions. Unfortunately, most of my grunts are occupied at the moment. We're reaching the end of our goal and I've put all workers into overtime. The whole mission was banking on the chance that Ketchum wouldn't join the fight. We might have had a chance at the wishmaker if it was Abel alone." The man answered. He stood up and walked into the light revealing himself to Kane for the first time. He was a man of at least 80 in a blue tuxedo, matching pants, and black dress shoes. "As soon as Ketchum joined they had lost."
Kane didn't know what to think of his boss. He'd never seen him before and was surprised to see that the head of their organization is halfway to death's door. He knew that he had to be at quite a late stage in his life to be so wise and cunning but this...he didn't expect. "I see..." He hesitated. "So, what now?"
"I know the look on your face." He said staring straight into the younger man's eyes. "Seen it many times before, I have. Not what you were expecting, eh?" He asked knowingly.
"No, sir." Kane replied. He didn't know what else to say.
"It's alright. I know I'm not as young as I once was but that can be fixed." He said knowingly.
"Sir forgive my bluntness, but what the hell are you talking about?" He asked.
"All in due time, Jim. My agent and her Gothitelle have arrived, correct?"
"Yes sir. The two are already down with our engineers and scientists and have once again begun production on Operation Recruit."
"Excellent." He replied. "Let the scientists know that when they're done I'll need a level four containment field made as well. It'll take a couple days extra, but I'm a patient man. 10 years have I worked on this project and it's finally all coming together. Failure is not an option, in fact it's time to set an example of what happens when my employees fail me. Make sure to confiscate their pokemon before sending them in, can't have any resistance, now can we?"
"No, sir." Kane was never happier he wasn't a field agent. He didn't want to think of what the boss was planning for those grunts. He was sure that they'd live but past that he'd no idea.
"Sir, I know I'm just a messenger, but if you don't mind my asking, what is Operation Recruit?" Kane asked warily. The thing is, his 'employees' as he liked to call them had only a vague idea of what they were working towards. Most grunts were runaways or weak-minded people who would follow any false prophet. He wasn't either. His father worked for the boss for many years and at his time to go asked Kane to take over the position he held. Besides a few scientists all anybody knew is that they were working to reconstruct Kalos into a safer place, and most wouldn't question their leader's motives.
"Operation Recruit would be the final push that will make the chosen one join us, built with many contingency plans to accompany the operation." He elaborated. "That is all you need to know."
"Yes, sir." Kane replied. "One last thing, sir. The Frontier Brain arrived at Sycamore's lab yesterday to visit Ketchum. According to Agent 2, she plans on staying in Kalos." He reported
"That's very unexpected. She must have quit her job. There's no other explanation too why she could come to Kalos so often and still maintain her duties. However, this could work in our favor. I will ponder this for now, you are dismissed." He said walking back to his chair and slumping down into it.
~Ash's Room~
~Same Time~
Ash lay flat in his bed with his arms crossed behind his head, thinking of all that had transpired lately. First, he and his loyal pokemon were driven from his home region betrayed and angry. Then not only did his former sponsor cripple his best friend, but quite possibly could've caused his childhood rival's death.
He was aware of how much that had changed him. Even though he had friends stand by him and fight with him, the hurt of his former friend's actions and the pain of losing his close childhood friend weighed heavy on his heart. Sure, around people like Serena he was happy, but this new guy, Abel, he wasn't sure about. He had a really bad feeling about him. Trouble already followed Ash around like a lillipup, and it didn't help that he was attacked minutes after he met the guy. And to complicate things further, he had Max's old friend Jirachi with him. He wasn't entirely sure that if Jirachi had to choose between Abel and Max that he'd choose Abel. It seems like they have a strong bond, but so did Max and him. It felt wrong to withhold the truth from the wishmaker, but for Jirachi's sake and Abel's it's for the best.
At least it wasn't all bad. Anabel had come back to Kalos to stay this time. Apparently, some guy named Looker enlisted her help to investigate some weird readings or whatever. Ash didn't really understand a lot of what she said, but he did get the part where she'd be staying nearby and Looker gave her permission to see Ash a fair amount. Ash knew she said that she found being Frontier Brain boring lately but he couldn't imagine fighting strong trainers everyday boring. Either way, it'll be nice having Anabel around again especially since what he had just been told by Dawn and Paul.
~Ash's Room~
~8 hours ago~
Dawn and Paul stood in the doorway to Ash's room looking at the young man as he stood up from his bed to address the two.
"I thought you guys had something to do today? What are you doing here?" Ash asked as he closed the gap between them.
"We did have to do something today Ash. We had to make a decision." Dawn told him.
"That tells me literally nothing." Ash responded. "Care to elaborate?"
"We've stayed here as long as we could, Ketchum." Paul cut in. "I'm getting restless. I've spent a week here. I've spent a week in one place. I haven't done that since I left home on my tenth birthday, and it's not good for me. I need to move, I need to travel, and I need a goal." He finished.
"We're leaving in a couple hours to start our journey around Kalos." Dawn told him. "Paul plans on taking on the league and I'm going to participate in the Showcases!"
"You're leaving today?"
"I told you I'm restless." Paul repeated. "Besides it's not like you're alone. Both of your girlfriends are here." He taunted.
"How many times do I have to tell you they aren't my girlfriends." Ash responded
"I see the way you look at them, Ketchum." Paul shot back.
Dawn just shook her head at the two. "We're leaving most of our pokemon here, including Ambipom, on her request. I'm only taking Piplup, Buneary, and Togekiss and Paul's leaving everyone but Honchkrow and Torterra, so if you feel like having a spatting match you'll have plenty of choices." Dawn said before walking over and hugging him. "Don't worry about us, we'll be fine." She told him. "And Paul's right. You do long for them. But if you don't make a move, someone might just steal them away." She whispered before pulling away from the embrace.
Paul walked forward and stuck his hand out towards Ash. "We're always just a call away. Let Clemont know I'm coming for him." He said with determination on his face. Ash took his hand,
"I'll let him know, Paul, but don't expect an easy fight." Ash warned. "I'll miss you guys."
"We'll miss you too Ash. You have our contacts if you need anything." Dawn reminded him.
~Ash's Room~
~Present Time~
Ash closed his eyes and relaxed his arms to his side. He looked to the foot of his bed to see his faithful friend Pikachu fast asleep and sprawled out.
'Pikachu's got the right idea. I need to sleep.' Ash thought. He closed his eyes slowly and let himself be taken by the sweet embrace of slumber. What seemed like just seconds later he re-opened his eyes to an abnormality he'd never experienced before. His room was gone. It was replaced with nothing. Literally nothing. No walls, no light, and no pokemon. It's exactly what you'd see, or rather wouldn't see, if you closed your eyes. Nothing.
"Pikachu!?" Ash called looking around but once again was met with only black. "Serena!? Anabel!? Professor!?" He called out hopefully.
'Ash.' A voice replied.
Ash whipped around to see a single pokemon in front of him. This single pokemon was radiating light around him and the light continued to advance all around him. A familiar bipedal pokemon with black, yellow, and blue fur, spikes on his hands and chest, and a very anime fighter body. "A Lucario?"
'Not just any Lucario.' The pokemon replied through telepathy. 'Don't tell me you've forgotten.'
"Wait. You're Sir Aaron's Lucario!"
'Bingo' He replied.
Ash ran forward and wrapped the Aura Pokemon in a tight hug "But I thought you died! How are you here?" Ash asked frantically pulling out of the embrace. He was quickly reminded of his surroundings. "And where is here?"
'Think of it as a link between worlds.' His old friends replied. 'I did indeed pass away like my master before me, but what waited for me after made me happier than I could have ever imagined. It was the afterlife.' He explained. 'This space is a place only people who are aura sensitive can truly reach. Hence why we can talk to each other.'
"You mean you found Sir Aaron. I'm so happy for you, old friend. I'm glad to hear you found some peace. By the way, what's the afterlife like?" Ash asked.
'It's whatever you wish it to be. I can say no more. It's not why I'm here anyway'
"But why are you here? And why didn't you show yourself sooner? I missed you."
'Unfortunately, under most circumstances, showing ourselves before those who are still on this plane of existence would lead to disastrous effects, or, yes, I would've seen you sooner. But, you should know that we are able to watch you whenever we so please. It's too bad about your friends but those who turn on you in a time of need were never really your friends in the first place.' He replied. 'As for why I'm here, it's to let you know that you will soon find yourself holding the fate of Kalos in your hands once again. It's my job to tell you to double your training time and give you these.'
Ash held out his hand and Lucario dropped two stones and a necklace into his hand. Ash looked to find two small marbles both with a variety of colors on them. The necklace he gave him had a bevel in the middle on both the front and the back and was shaped like a small flame.
"What are they?" Ash asked.
'Sceptilite and Charizardite. The necklace was made to hold them during battle. I'm sure you already know how Mega Evolution works, so there's no need for too much explanations.' Lucario said.
"As great as all this is, I can't save Kalos without the help of Pikachu! And he's never going to battle again. Not after what happened." Ash said somberly looking down.
'Yes. What happened to young Pikachu was indeed very sad and, given the chance, I myself might like to take a shot at those Maple kids you brought with you to the Tree of Beginnings. Not to mention it was far too undeserving for such a pure soul. However, you should know that you can still save Kalos even with Pikachu in his current state. You must train like never before. Let your pokemon know what I have told you, but you can tell no one else.' He ordered
"If there's danger coming I have to warn Professor Sycamore and my friends!" He shot back. "I need them to be ready!"
'It is not their place to know what is about to transpire. If you let them know it would rupture destiny and put them at risk.' He retorted 'I know how much you care for them, that is why you can't tell them, only your pokemon. You must trust me and the Aura that this is the best way.'
"Will I get to see you again? You know before I-" He started. He really didn't want to think about the end of his life. There was still so much he wanted to do.
'If Arceus wishes it, then we will see each other again, Ash. Know that you are making the previous Aura Guardians proud.' He complimented
"Lucario, I don't want to be an Aura Guardian or the 'Savior of Kalos'." Ash told him. "Ever since Pikachu's injury, I don't know what I want."
'We know you never wanted to be an Aura Guardian, and over the past year or so, even we are beginning to accept that it might not be your destiny. It is your destiny to save Kalos, though. I know it's tough, but no one else can do it.' He replied knowingly. 'I cannot keep you any longer. You've already slept in quite a while.'
"What?! We've been talking for a couple minutes!" Ash replied.
'Time flows differently here.' Lucario replied simply. 'Before I return to my master there is one last thing I was told to tell you.'
"Yes?"
"Gary says 'Hi.' and is willing to wait a couple decades before seeing you again.' Lucario said smiling at the young boy as tears filled his eyes.
'ASH!'
Ash did a double take at the voice of a familiar lilac haired girl's disembodied voice. She must be watching over him right now.
'You are already beginning to return to the material world. Your friends are waiting. Goodbye, Ash Ketchum.' He finished as he slowly faded away.
"Lucario, wait!" Ash yelled. He had so many questions. Most of them revolving around his deceased friend. "Tell Gary I miss him!" He called quickly.
'I will, Ash." The disembodied voice of Lucario responded. The light that had been slowly engulfing the room finally reached Ash and washed over him sending him back to the land of the living.
His eyes jolted open once again and Ash quickly realized he was back in his room. At his side at the end of his bed was his best friend Pikachu who perked up at the sight of him moving.
"Pika!" The mouse pokemon said getting up and running up to the head of the bed with the sound of clanking metal ringing as he ran. Once he reached Ash he nuzzled up against his face cooing happily.
"Pikachu!" Ash said happily. He failed to realize, however, the lilac haired girl in the room with him.
"Ash! You're awake!" She yelled running over and engulfing him in a hug.
"Uh..." Ash stuttered. "Nice to see you too? You act like I've been in a coma."
"Ash, you were! It's 3 and you're just now waking up. Serena, the professor and I tried to get you up but you wouldn't. Then around an hour ago you started crying in your sleep!"
'An hour?' Ash mused before Lucario's words rung in his head.
'Time flows differently here.'
"Are you all right, what happened?" Anabel asked, still panicked.
"Nothing." He lied, "I must have just been in extremely heavy sleep. I was having a weird dream." He hated lying to her and if it weren't his old friend that told him not to, then he'd tell her everything.
"I can tell you're lying, you know?" She asked him shaking her head.
"How?" 'Shit' He scolded himself 'I just confirmed it! Oh, well, no going back now.' He thought to himself "Is it because you're an empath?"
"Partially." She replied smiling at him. "I am picking up some deception from you, but mostly I just know you. What are you hiding from me?"
Ash sighed. "I wish I could tell you, but I was strictly told not to." Ash replied
"Told by who? You've been asleep all day." Anabel asked.
'Shit! I should've told Lucario I'm no good with secrets!' He scolded himself. "Please just drop it. Maybe I'll tell you later."
"If you say so." She replied shrugging. "But you know what they say about secrets-"
"I know." Ash said cutting her off. "But, apparently, it's for the best. So, did I miss anything while I was under?"
"Uh...actually, you have visitors." Anabel said hesitantly.
"Clemont and Bonnie? I haven't seen them in over a week!" He said excitedly.
"No, though they did send their regards. Dedenne's sick so they had to stay back to take care of the poor thing."
"Oh." Ash replied sadly. "Did Brock come with that pokemon he promised Serena?!"
"No." She said. There was again a pause of hesitation in between statements. "It's probably not going to be a pleasant visit, Ash."
"Why Anabel? Who's here?" Ash asked.
"Max." She replied.
"Max?! What's the little brat doing here?" Ash asked. Suddenly a siren went off in his head. "Where's Abel?!" Ash asked standing up quickly "He hasn't seen Max yet has he?!" Ash was in complete panic. This would only end in disaster.
"I don't think so." Anabel said shaking her head. "He's in the south lab with the professor who's too preoccupied with Jirachi."
"Good. Anabel, I'll deal with Max. You need to go to the south lab and make sure neither Abel nor Jirachi leaves the room until I come and get you. I don't care how you do it, but we can't let J irachi and Max see each other."
"Are you sure? You don't have to face him alone."
"I'm sure, besides he's harmless, Anabel. Just make sure Abel and Jirachi don't leave the lab, and Serna can't know he's here." Ash ordered turning toward the door.
"Actually, Serena's the one who answered the door." Anabel informed him.
'Oh, no.' Ash thought to himself. "How bad was it?"
"Just a few bruises. Sophie managed to drag her to the corral before she could do any real damage. Sceptile and Infernape promised to guard the door and not let her out until Max is gone." Anabel said.
"So, you took her hostage?" Ash arched an eyebrow.
"It's for her own good. We can't have her beating anyone to a pulp. No matter how much they truly deserve it." She scowled.
"I guess you're right. But she's going to be in one hell of a mood later for not letting her go all out. You know she'd love nothing more. Pikachu, let's go." He said squatting down and stretching his arm out.
"Pika." The rodent nodded. He ran up his faithful trainer's arm and latched onto his shoulder. "Pika, Pika."
XXXXXXXXXX
He walked into the lobby to find a familiar kid sitting on a couch, holding an ice pack to his cheek, presumably waiting for him. He was almost identical save the longer hair, and extra few inches.
"Remember Pikachu, no violence. Can't risk getting arrested for beating up a kid." Ash told his friend who just nodded in return. He approached the couch from behind and cleared his throat loudly.
Max did a double take and was met with his old traveling companion glaring holes at him.
"Ash!" He said jumping to his feet and turning around to face the older boy dropping the ice pack in the process. "Hey!"
"You got thirty seconds to convince me to let you stay here. Oh, and if I find your answer particularly infuriating Charizard will be the one showing you out."
"Wait what?" He asked
"Twenty-seven." Ash replied simply.
"I came here to apologize to you, Ash!
"Twenty-one."
"Look, I'm not like my sister! I didn't think you're weak. Please just listen to me and then I promise I'll leave!" He pleaded.
Ash pondered it for a second. On one hand Max stood by while Oak shot Pikachu, and it would feel extremely good to have Charizard show Mac the way out, then claim self-defense. On the other hand, in his rage he nearly overlooked Dawn and he truly didn't know Max's side to all this.
"Fine. Continue."
"I didn't want to help them Ash! But you have to understand I was scared!"
"You were scared?" Ash repeated. "You stand by them, keep out of contact for over a year, show up unannounced claiming to have a reason for the hellish torment you participated in, and that's the big reveal?! You were scared?" Ash asked heating up.
"I wanted to help you but he threatened to not only ruin my career as a trainer but take away my Treecko too! You know how much power he had!"
"So, they couldn't ruin yours, but it was okay to officially end Pikachu's? You see the exoskeleton. He isn't allowed to compete anymore"
"No! When I agreed to help them May told me they would approach you non-violently!"
"You mean to tell me that after they threatened to take away your only pokemon, you honestly thought they would not use violence?" Ash asked skeptically.
Max blushed slightly "Okay, when you put it like that, I guess I do sound pretty gullible."
"Yeah, and what about when they did use violence? Were you suddenly just okay with it."
"I wanted to help, I swear! But I would have failed. My Treecko couldn't take on an army of highly trained pokemon. I would've been no help anyway!"
"Dawn defected and she and Togekiss failed. I still took her with me because she had the heart to stand with me. Care to explain why Anabel swears you were content with what you were doing? And don't you dare call her a liar, or I'll throw you out now myself."
"I admit I was content. But it wasn't because I hated you! It was because Treecko and I wouldn't be separated. I'm sorry it had to come down to this, but you have to believe me! They would've taken my partner!" He pleaded once more.
"Do I now?" Ash asked. "Who was able to hold off all of you and save his pokemon from inside Oak's lab? You should have known that I would never have let them do something so shameful. I was your friend. And so far, you haven't given me good enough reason to let you back into my life."
"I miss you, Ash. And I miss Brock." He said sadly. "I admit it. I was wrong. I never meant to hurt you, and I had no idea Oak would go as far as to shoot you. I was only thinking of Treecko."
"You and your pokemon have my pity for the situation you were put in but not my forgiveness."
"Isn't there anything I can do?" Max asked
Ash sighed "Follow me." Ash said turning towards the corral. "There's more you need to see.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ash led Max to the doors to the corral. "Wait here, or you'll be mauled on sight." Ash told him, refusing to directly look at him.
He walked through the doors, leaving Max behind, to find Sceptile to his left and Infernape to his right.
"Ash!" A very familiar voice called. Ash turned to see Serena running towards him with her faithful fox pokemon by her side. "Are you alright? Is he still here? Do you need me and Braxien to take care of him?" She asked impatiently.
"He's behind that door, and you're not going to do anything." He told her. "Don't get yourself in trouble over something insignificant like him. You need to keep up the Kalos Queen image." He smiled at her noticing her gush a little. "Infernape," He called over his shoulder to his primate friend. "Take Serena back to our spot. Don't let her try anything, okay buddy?" The Flame Pokemon grunted in response an escorted a reluctant Serena away.
"Sceptile, stay with me and Pikachu in case he tries anything." His Gecko friend nodded in response and he let Max in.
"Is it safe?" Max asked. Instead of Ash answering he was met with a growling Sceptile causing him to flinch.
"Come on, there's something you need to see." Ash said leading Max further into the corral.
XXXXXXXXXX
They had been walking in silence until they reached what Ash was leading them to. Gary's shrine.
"Who's grave?" Max asked getting a closer look.
"Gary's."
"What? When? How?"
"The same day you turned your backs on me. When Oak burned his lab to the ground to avoid being caught he killed his only grandson. So far had he fallen from the young Celebi loving boy I once knew." Ash said not taking his eyes away from the grave.
"I just figured he was like Brock and stopped talking to me. I didn't know, there wasn't even mention of a funeral."
"I kept it as exclusive as possible. No one who didn't need to be there was. And that includes you." Ash said coldly.
"Ash, I'm so-"
"Don't you dare apologize to me again. You don't get to apologize anymore! Look at it!" He said pointing at the grave. "He saved my pokemon, he saved Ambipom, he saved me, and he payed the ultimate price for his part in helping me! This is what a friend is. Someone who's there for you when you need them even if it means they'll end up hurt! He's dead!" Ash continued as tears filled his eyes. "And part of me died with him. The part of me that wanted to be your friend. You can claim it was in the most indirect way but like it or not you had something to do with this man's death, and you get to live with that."
"But I didn't-"
"I done with your excuses! You say you came here to apologize but it seems so insincere because of all these excuses! I forgave Dawn because she owned up to her mistakes and worked to right them! In the last year what have you done for those affected by what you did?!" Sycamore took me in! I gave Gary a proper funeral! Dr. Yuuki and his scientists gave Pikachu the ability to move again! So, tell me, what did you do!?"
"Nothing." Max replied looking down at his feet. "I did nothing."
"Oh, now you get it!" Ash replied sarcastically.
"ASH!" A voice yelled from behind them. They both turned to see Abel running towards them with Jirachi in tow.
"I told Anabel not to let you out!" He exclaimed. He hadn't come down from the rush of anger he got from talking to Max yet. "How did you get past her?!"
Abel came to a stop in front of them, Jirachi soon after them. "Wishmaker." Abel replied "Kinda known for getting his way. When Anabel told Sycamore what was happening, He told me to make sure you don't go overboard." He informed him pointing his finger at him accusingly. In truth Abel hadn't heard what Anabel told the Professor but Sycamore sounded serious. "I knew you were an angry dude, but this is too far! You can't just verbally assault a kid! What's going on in that head of yours?!"
"Don't point your finger at me!" He said knocking his hand away. "You don't know what you're talking about!"
"I know not to yell at a kid! Arceus Damn, Ash!"
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu yelled trying to intervene between the two. Unlike Ash, Pikachu hadn't forgotten the importance of keeping Abel and Max apart.
Max was not paying attention to the spectacle between the two boys. He wouldn't know it but it's not every day Abel gets pissed enough to yell. However, he couldn't care less. He was focused on the wish pokemon behind Abel
"Jirachi?" He asked. He took his glasses of and rubbed his eyes roughly before putting them back on. "Am I dreaming again?"
"Max?" The wishmaker asked in return.
A couple of things quick
1. If you're wondering why I didn't make Max entitled and evil. It's because not everything's black and white (No pun intended). It'd be no fun for me to write him if he was just a jerk all the time for no reason because that's how I always see him written in these fics. So it's up to you to decide if it's truly Max's fault or if Ash is being unreasonable.
2. I don't know how long it will be until I can write again so you very well be waiting months. Sorry, that's just life for you.