~Abandoned Pokeball Factory~
"It's your destiny to join me, Ash. I know it." Aaron started.
"You may think that. Everyone may think I'm the chosen one, Arceus knows they keep telling me. But let me tell you something. The future is what we make it. I choose my future." Ash shot back.
"Everything around you is a result of destiny. You can't choose it."
"Watch me." Ash glared.
"Very well. The score is two to two." Aaron announced. "Infernape and Charizard did well but Zoroark is stronger than anything you've ever faced." In front of him Zoroark's eyes glowed red as she growled at the opposite side of the room.
"Yeah. So you keep saying, but Greninja and I have a connection that someone like you could never achieve. And you're lucky Pikachu's disabled or he would've finished the fight a long time ago. Right, Pikachu?" Ash growled.
"Pika!" He put his little fist out in front of Ash. Ash bumped it enthusiastically.
"Greninja. Let's do this." Ash ordered turning back to Greninja. Greninja nodded and water swirled under him in a vortex. The water completely encased the pokemon before exploding off of him, revealing the powered-up Ash-Greninja.
"What is that?" May asked.
"Greninja shouldn't have another evolution." Cilan added. "No known mega evolutions either-"
"It's Ash-Greninja." Clemont responded coldly. "Ash's very own evolutionary state. You've been away a long time. Missed quite a few developments."
"Regardless, I still intend on winning this fight. Zoroark I want you to use Swords Dance." Aaron ordered. "Can't have that power difference between the two of you stay the way it is." Three identical swords appeared above Zoroark's head with a bright flash and crossed blades in a flurry of sparks.
"Greninja! Water Shuriken!" Greninja reeled back his arm and a four-ended star of water formed within his hand. "Do it up close!" Ash ordered. Greninja ran forward at his opponent as fast as he could.
"Confuse him a bit, Zoroark." Aaron ordered. The swords dissolved out of view and Zoroark's eyes glowed red and her body multiplied into three extra Zoroarks. A bit of fog kicked up around the four and the Zoroark's shuffled around behind the guise of the mist. It cleared just as Greninja closed the gap between the two and chose a target. He tossed the shuriken at one. As it collided it passed right through what was now revealed to be a fake and the imposter disappeared into the air.
"Again." Ash ordered.
"Hyper Voice." Aaron ordered once again. The Zoroark to the right and the one to the left both vanished leaving the middle Zoroark, the real thing alone. She quickly unhinged her jaw letting out a sharp shriek aimed straight for Greninja before he could muster up another shuriken. The sheer power of Zoroark's voice pushed Greninja back to Ash's side of the field. Everyone began covering their ears to shield themselves from the noise as well. "Keep it up, Zoroark!" Aaron ordered.
Without calming down, Zoroark charged forward at Greninja. "You got to shut her up, Greninja!" Ash deafly yelled. "I can't think with that noise!"
"I feel like my ears are imploding!" Dawn yelled from her knees.
"How's Aaron not affected by all this?!" Brock asked cringing in pain. "This is agony!"
"After all the training it took to perfect that move, I've gotten used to it!" Aaron admitted smugly. "And when all else fails..." He plucked two pieces of memory foam from his ears. "uber-effective earplugs work just fine!"
"Greninja, Double team!" Ash called over the screeching. Greninja split himself into five separate versions of himself and, despite the agonizing scream, charged back at Zoroark. "Surround him!" The five Greninja's quickly circled around Zoroark and took their battle stances.
Realizing her position Zoroark quickly stopped the screech looking all around her. "Zoroark, you know what to do." Aaron said. In a single moment, Zoroark examined the Greninjas surrounding her and her face curled into a smirk. She turned around quickly and dashed back towards Aaron slicing the Greninja in front of her with her sharp claws. As she slid towards Aaron, Greninja took a knee gripping his side in pain.
Ash suddenly mimicked Greninja's movements as his side flared up as well. "How did you-"
"Zoroark creates illusions, she can certainly sniff out fakes in a such a weak Double Team tactic." Aaron boasted.
"Cut her!" Ash called. Before she could react, Greninja jolted up and spiraled through the air towards Zoroark. A long white blade grew from his webbed hand and as soon as he came within range, he brought the blade up from under Zoroark's chin sending her flying back to Aaron.
"Don't spend too much time bragging. It might cost you your win." Ash told him. "Greninja, back here!" Greninja jumped back to Ash's side.
"You okay?" Aaron asked, looking down at Zoroark. Zoroark growled in affirmation and sprung to her feet. "Then give them a little payback." Zoroark surrounded herself with dark aura and seven lasers shot out from the power surrounding her.
"You have to dodge those!" Ash ordered. He was well aware that, since Greninja just landed a hit Payback would be powered up to double its original power. Greninja ducked below the first laser and just narrowly spun past the second. The third phased right through his left arm. Thrown off he stopped moving for a second and the remaining four disappeared into his stomach.
"More illusions." Ash said. Before he could react four stray beams of power rained down onto Greninja knocking him to the floor and Ash quickly followed suit gripping his head in pain.
"Ash!" Out of the corner of his eye he could see Serena and Anabel coming towards him, presumably to help him up.
"Stay back!" Ash growled. He stumbled back to his feet slowly, gritting his teeth. In front of him, he saw Greninja still on the ground, conscious, but not moving. "Get up, Greninja!" Ash called. "You can't give up!"
"I hate to hit a man while he's down, but perhaps it's time we finished this fight." Aaron said turning to Zoroark.
"Ark."
"Greninja!" Ash called again. He rushed forward and grabbed Greninja from the ground and pulled him up to his feet letting him rest on his shoulder. "We got to keep going." He said seriously. "Can you?"
"Jaa." He pushed Ash off of him and turned his attention back to Zoroark.
"All better?" Aaron asked. Ash and Greninja just glared back at him. "Good. You look like you're in pain, so I'm going to end this. Zoroark, use Bolt Strike!"
"Bolt Strike?!" Everyone cried in unison.
Zoroark eyes twinkled as she raised her arms into the air and a huge ball of staticky electricity gathered above her. The ball kept growing and growing in size as everyone around watched in awe. All except for Clemont who was scratching his chin. "Something's not right here."
"Fire!" Aaron yelled eccentrically.
Zoroark pointed toward Greninja and the ball of electricity followed suit. "Greninja, if that hits you, we're as good as done here." Ash said. Greninja nodded. And jumped high up into the air, far above the Bolt Strike.
"Another one." Aaron ordered. The first bolt crashed into the ground below Greninja crashing loudly and dispersing into a flurry of sparks. Zoroark immediately started up another one before firing it into the air at Greninja.
Meanwhile the last Bolt's Strike's spark finally reached the spectators. Clemont held out his hand as a single spark fell into his hand and he felt...nothing. Not even a tingle. "That's it! Ash, it's not real! Zoroark can't use Bolt Strike!"
"Oh, well, jig is up," Aaron shrugged. Just before colliding with Greninja midair, the second Bolt Strike dissolved away along with the damage to the floor. "You can come out now Zoroark!" The Zoroark on the ground faded away like the balls of electricity before her and from behind Greninja, another Zoroark appeared. She grinned at Greninja before doing a short flip and axe kicking down on Greninja's back. Greninja's eyes shot open as he was propelled downward into the floor below.
Ash felt an intense pain in his back. He quickly felt to his hands and knees against the floor just as reninja crashed into the floor in front of him. "That smarts!" Ash growled through gritted teeth. "Greninja...you good?" He asked between breaths.
"Nin...Ja." He replied getting to his feet.
"Good point. Downside of sharing pain, I guess." Ash replied.
"Use Rest, Zoroark." Aaron ordered. Zoroark eyes glinted and she nodded and closed her eyes gently before curling up onto the floor. As soon as she was fully down, she started glowing bright green.
"She's healing, Greninja! Use cut before we lose all our progress!" Ash ordered desperately.
'That's right, Ash.' Aaron thought to himself. 'Show me your power.' Greninja closed the gap between the two of them and sliced down hard on Zoroark's sleeping form, only for her to fade away. Behind him Zoroark reappeared and reared her arm back before plunging it harshly into Greninja's back forcing him down to the floor.
"Another fake!" Ash cursed. "There has to be a connection... Greninja! Get out of there!" Greninja sprung back to his feet and flipped backwards over Zoroark's head landing behind her. He swung his leg forward violently shoving her back to Aaron's side. 'If I don't find a way to tell the fakes apart from the real thing, she'll just exhaust us to submission.' Ash thought to himself.
"Shadow Claw." Aaron ordered calmly. Zoroark whipped her arm to the side and her claws grew longer while growing a dark shade of purple. Her eye glinted and she rushed forward.
Ash's eyes widened and he smirked quickly. "Greninja, don't move." Ash ordered. Greninja looked back to Ash who just smiled at him. "Trust me." Before Greninja could even turn back to the battle Zoroark's attack ready form fazed right through him and disappeared into dust in front of Ash. "Now!" Greninja did a quick scan around him and found a small color displacement headed right for him. He readied a water shuriken and threw it straight forward. It collided with Zoroark revealing her to the world and carrying her into the ground.
"I found it. When Zoroark's eyes glow red, she's casting an illusion!" Ash said pointing at the grounded pokemon. "Now can you please stop with the games and fight like a man?!"
Aaron chuckled clapping his hands together slowly. "Very good, you found the secret. I guess there's no use toying with you anymore. If it's a real fight you want, then come at me. But do be warned you won't last much longer if I go at it for real." He smiled. "Zoroark, I want you to tank this next move." He whispered. "We'll hit him with another Payback."
"Water Shuriken, Greninja. And barrage them." Greninja jumped into the air and a star of water formed in his hands. He spun around firing both of them at Zoroark. Zoroark put her arms up in front of her bracing herself just before the first two shurikens landed against her wrists. Greninja, still airborne sent three more water shurikens into Zoroark and she skid a few feet back in retaliation.
"Payback again, Zoroark." Aaron ordered. The purple aura surrounded Zoroark once again and seven more purple and black beams fired in Greninja's direction.
"I don't know if you can survive another Payback Greninja!" Ash called. "Do whatever it takes!" Greninja nodded and ducked below the first beam before bringing a Cut up against the next one, causing it to explode midair. He jumped above the next two and sliced down on the final three in his descent. He landed and the blade in his hand slowly disappeared. He looked back to Aaron and Zoroark.
"I see." Aaron mused. "Well then, let's see how you handle Punishment." A stray beam of black substance fired from Zoroark's hands toward Greninja.
"Greninja, I don't care how, but don't let a single molecule of that touch you!" Ash ordered.
"Jaa." A blade grew from Greninja's hand in a bright glow. His eyes locked onto the beam headed towards him. He realed his hand back and just seconds before the beam would have connected, he sliced down on the beam. In reaction, the beam split in two both sides narrowly missing Grneinja and flying past him.
"Here it comes!" Bonnie yelled ducking down and shrieking in fear.
"Get another shield up for us Alakazam!" Anabel ordered. Alakazam raised up a Mirror Coat on his trainer's orders. The split beam collided with the wall protecting the spectators.
Bonnie let out a sigh of relief. "Hey big bro, I have a question. Why was Ash so worried about Punishment? It doesn't seem so special."
"Punishment is a very unique move. Instead of just doing damage like other moves, the more powered up the target, the more damage Punishment does. And since Ash-Greninja is an evolution that goes to only two in a trillion, in theory..."
"Actually, I just thought it looked menacing." Ash admitted. "But it's good to know what we're up against. Greninja! If I'm right, I think all we need is just one good hit. You're powerful enough that you should be able to-"
"Zoroark use Punishment again." Aaron ordered. Another couple beams of blackened purple shot forward from her hands.
"Now dodge them." Ash called. Greninja ducked beneath the first before easily rolling to the side past the second and quickly leaping over the third. As he landed back down on the floor, he braced himself.
'I'm pretty sure with Greninja's increased stats, all I need is a single good hit, and we should be able to win this. I just need to create an opening.' Ash thought to himself as he watched Greninja dodge and weave past more and more shots. 'Greninja's speed is the key here. He hasn't been able to hit us without the help of those illusions. We just need him to get close.' Ash thought. He could feel his intentions flowing through Greninja as well. They understood what needed to be done.
"Punishment Zoroark!" Aaron ordered. Zoroark powered up once again focusing all of her rage and willpower into one single focus point. Greninja rushed forward in an attempt to finally end the fight. Zoroark's attack blasted forward toward Greninja who was running towards it at full speed.
"Pull a reversal!" Ash called. Just seconds before Punishment would've collided with Greninja, being just centimeters away, Greninja shifted his weight and leaned to the left, out of the way of the shot and continued to skid around to the back of Zoroark.
"Water Shuriken, now! All you got!" Zoroark grabbed the shuriken off of his back and raised it high into the air.
Zoroark's head turned just as the Greninja brought the shuriken down harshly onto the illusionist's head. An explosion broke out covering Aaron's side of the field with smoke and dust. Ash and Greninja, panting heavily in exhaustion, leaned forward awaiting the outcome. They were both positive it had landed head-on. The entire peanut gallery of companions held their collective breaths as well. The smoke died down around them revealing Zoroark lying on her back, drenched.
"We did it." Ash realized. "Greninja, we did it!" Aaron silently shook his head and ran up to Zoroark's unconscious body. He instantly dropped to his knees and started checking over his partner. Ash grabbed Pikachu and held him out in front of his face. "Kalos is saved, Pikachu!" Ash said excitedly.
"Pika!" The mouse cheered.
"The world is saved!" Anabel corrected as everyone gathered around Ash. "You did it!" Anabel and Serena both wrapped the trainer in a tight hug.
"Again." Misty added happily.
"We knew you could Ash!" Dawn joined in. "We can finally put all this behind us! We can go home!"
"Three cheers!" Bonnie said throwing her fist up into the air. "Hip, hip!"
"Hurray!" Everybody but Paul joined together. Although Paul did manage to sneak his arm around Dawn without anyone but her really noticing.
"Thanks guys, but you're missing the real MVP here." Ash said. He wriggled his way out of the vice-grip hug and walked forward to Greninja, who was resting on one knee, still in his evolved state. Ash smiled at the frog ninja and offered his hand. "We did it, buddy. You saved Kalos again, buddy. Let's power down." He offered.
Everybody watched in anticipation as Greninja stared at Ash's hand. Suddenly he grabbed Ash by the shirt, ripping it at the neck, and threw him violently back to his friends. As Ash flew back to his friends' side, he saw a streak of black power fly straight into Greninja. It hit Greninja and covered him in a cloud of darkness.
Every one gasped as Brock and Anabel managed to catch Ash and keep the boy steady. "What the..." Iris started.
Ash shook off the surprise attack and turned his attention back to the point of interest. "Greninja! Buddy!" The dark cloud of power cleared and Greninja, now back to his original form fell backwards onto the cold floor. A wave of delayed pain hit Ash as the world started to go black around him. "Gre...nin...ja..." His head slumped down in a ragdoll fashion.
"Pika!" Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder and landed in front of him. Whipping around to face the boy. "Chu!"
Before anyone could say another word, a clapping noise could be heard from the other side of the room. "Well done." Aaron fazed into view and looked to the large group of astounded people. "His senses must be on a legendary level, even for bond phenomena, to have been able to sense my presence outside of the illusion." Aaron mused. "What a curious specimen."
"Illusion?" Misty asked. "Ash won." She insisted.
Aaron chuckled lightly. "Did you forget that Zoroark is the master of illusions?!" He boasted. Behind him the scene of Aaron hovering over an unconscious Zoroark faded away. "This is nothing but a little game Zoroark likes to play. Ash couldn't win. Not against us."
"Look!" Abel said pointing to the ceiling. Everyone followed Abel's gesture to find A pair of eyes looking down on them from above. The camouflage disappeared and Zoroark released her claws dropping down to the floor and meeting everyone's gazes.
"Amazing job, old friend." Aaron praised. "Now we can get this party started." Everyone watched as Aaron grabbed the staff from its resting spot and held it out in front of him. "Ash lost the fight, meaning he keeps his end of the bargain. He joins me."
"He never really agreed to those terms!" Paul countered pointing an accusing finger at him. "You just assumed-"
"I've had quite enough of the lot of you." Aaron interrupted. "You've put quite the dent into my plans. That's something that cannot go unpunished. I've lost my sources of Aura because of you." Aaron said with distain. Everyone just glared back at the old man. "Luckily, the three... six... ten... fifteen of you should give me enough aura to last until I can rebuild..." Aaron scratched his chin in thought. "Actually, when Ash wakes up, I'll still need some leverage, so... you two!" He said pointing to Anabel and Brock. "You caught Ash so it's your lucky day. You live! Congratulations."
"We gotta get out of here." Max realized. "Now!"
"Piplup use bubblebeam on the barrier!" Dawn ordered.
"Alakazam, use Focus Blast!" Anabel joined in. Both pokemon let out a battle cry and their attacks ran straight into the wall of aura holding everyone in. When the smoke cleared the barrier was still there, unchanged in any way.
"I told you, you should've left while I was feeling generous." Aaron said. "Now if you're quite finished. I would like you to return your pokemon." Aaron said. "Just sort of a rule of mine not to harm a pokemon."
"What about us?" Dawn asked shedding a tear.
"Isn't it obvious? You die. But if you want your pokemon to live to see another day, I suggest you return them." He said. "If they're in their pokeballs, they'll survive. Once I'm done with you, they'll have the choice to go back out into the world or to stay and work with me."
"Pip!" Piplup said pointing a wing at Aaron. "Pip-luup." The little penguin refused.
"You want to stay out?" Aaron asked raising an eyebrow. "Really?"
"Piplup! Luplu-!" He was interrupted as his entire body was engulfed in a red beam and the little guy was sucked back into his pokeball. Across from Iris pulled Axew gently out of her hair and did the same.
"Sorry Piplup." Dawn said lowering her head.
"Stay strong Axew." Iris said hugging the little pokemon before returning her to safety.
"Please explain to the others. You're the oldest so I'm counting on you." Anabel said looking Alakazam in the eye. Alakazam nodded slowly and with his head still down, allowed himself to be returned.
"All good?" Aaron asked happily. "Oh! I almost forgot that I should mention that Pikachu will of course be spared and I plan on keeping my promise to him. He will be fully able once again in no time. Anyway, back to business. I can't say as I've ever had all my aura drained from my body, but I'm sure it's very painful, so just be aware of that." He pointed the staff at Brock, Pikachu, and Anabel and a stray beam of aura shot forward and encased them in a barrier. "That should protect you from the effects of the transfer." He looked at the remaining intruders and smiled. "Oh, I love the look of fear in a victims' eyes."
Aaron took in the scene pridefully ad Serena had dropped to her knees, Clemont was trying to shield Bonnie from danger, Iris and Cilan were hugging each other tightly, Dawn had looked away from Aaron as Paul held her close glaring at him and Max, May, Misty and Abel were still trying to break through the barrier. Kidd was just staring him down.
Aaron lifted his staff high into the air and it crackled up with blue and white lighting and power surrounding the gem at the tip. Pikachu looked up around him and saw all of his friends in dispair and it hurt his little heart. He knew that even his strongest iron tail couldn't break through this barrier.
Suddenly everything around him went pure white and blinded the little mouse. "Pika..." He groaned. When the bright light died down he looked around to find himself... nowhere. He was surrounded by literally nothing. But in a second a blue light lit up in front of him and Pikachu found himself standing in front of Lucario. "Pikachu?"
'Good to see you again Pikachu. I know we didn't get to talk much before my demise, but I've been watching you and Ash very closely.' Lucario said through his telepathy. 'It's been a rough road for you.'
"Pika." The mouse nodded. "Chuu?"
'We're in a special place between the barriers of your reality and eternity. Life and death. Normally only people like Ash could reach a place like this, but the aura spilling out of Aaron's Guardian Staff is starting to affect the rest of you. We don't have much time before the effects wear off. I came to say that there's a way to save Ash. To save everyone.'
"Pika! Chuu Pik! Pikachuu..." He ranted desperately.
'As long as you're still affected by all that aura you can break out of your aura-based prison. If you fail, the world will fall to Aaron.' Lucario said with a distain no one had heard since he thought Sir Aaron was a traitor. 'It's your turn now. But I think you know what I'm asking of you.'
"Pika?"
'You'll see Ash again, one day.' Lucario promised. 'Time is running out young Pikachu, it's your turn to make a decision.' Pikachu was suddenly surrounded by images of his friends. Ash appeared first, then Brock and Misty, Bulbasaur and Squirtle, Charizard, and the Maple's soon Dawn, Paul, Anabel Iris, Cilan, Serena, Bonnie, and Clemont joined around him. The rest of Ash's pokemon, Pidgeot, Butterfree, Lapras, Quilava, Bayleef, Ambipom, Infernape, Donphan, Sceptile, Staraptor, Servine, Gliscor, Buizel, Talonflame, Hawlucha, Greninja, Goodra, Noivern. Surrounded by images of everyone he cared about he nodded determinedly.
'I knew I could count on you.' Lucario said. 'You have fifteen seconds.'
The scene faded away and Pikachu found himself back with Brock, Ash, and Anabel. Just as the Guardian Staff burst with power and that power shot off in all different directions. It shot into Dawn and Paul first who fell over in pain. Mairin was engulfed next before Misty, May, Abel, and Max were caught in it as well. Kidd Grabbed Serena and Mairin violently and pulled out a grappling hook, before shooting it into the ceiling pulling the three of them up above the pulse. the three watched in horror as Iris and Cilan were pulled in as well.
"Oh no, you don't. Zoroark!" She nodded and Jumped forward and slashed the cable to the grappling hook sending the three girls down to the ground. They weren't even able to feel the impact with the ground because the pulse overcame them first. Zoroark just clung to the wall above the chaos and smirked.
Brock and Anabel watched in horror as everyone affected by the wave of power was steadily having their youths taken from them. Shriveling up and falling over weakly. Serena grabbed her wrist tightly and watched as her hand shriveled up and weakened
"We have to do something!" Anabel said.
"What?" Brock retorted. "Even if we could escape. We'd just be drained as well. We need to watch over Ash."
"Take in the view you three." Aaron gloated as more and more of the group's aura was being absorbed into the Guardian Staff. "This is what happens when you defy me!" He cackled. He looked at the prison once more to find one figure missing. "What happened to Pikachu?" He realized. Zoroark flipped back across the room to Aaron's side.
"Pika..." Aaron turned around to see Pikachu standing in front of his feet, glaring up at him, cheeks crackling with electricity. "CHUUUUU!" He screeched as a years' worth of pent up electricity shot from his cheeks and into Aaron and Zoroark. Pikachu could feel himself getting lightheaded, but as he thought about Ash the voltage coming from the mouse doubled.
In Aaron's hand, the sheer power of Pikachu's thunderbolt began crushing the sacred gem. I cracked and cracked until finally bursting into hundreds of pieces. From the debris fifteen separate balls of blue light floated before shooting all over the room.
"The aura..." Aaron groaned in pain as Pikachu kept the power coming.
The first dissolved into the elder Serena and she smiled brightly as she felt her skin revert back to its youthful form. Beside her a weak Kidd, who was leaned up against the wall received her missing aura. She slowly pushed off of the wall and stood on her own once again. One by one everyone regained their youthful appearance and vigor. Cilan's hair returned from very light green to lime green as it was before, and May's hair began growing back to its original length. The final two balls of aura entered a passed-out Dawn and Paul returning them to normal as well. Dawn slowly opened her eyes and got up lifting Paul to his feet. "What happened?" Dawn asked. Finally the barrier separating Ash, Brock and Anabel from everyone else disappeared.
"Look!" Serena said pointing at the lightshow in front of them. "Pikachu's using-"
"Thunderbolt." Clemont finished. "But that means..."
The Thunderbolt doubled in size as Pikachu groaned in pain. In another flash of light the floor below Aaron began to blacken in soot. An explosion broke out around Aaron and a dust storm covered the eyes of everyone watching. "Pikachu!" Serena called. "Pikachu!"
Behind the veil of smoke Pikachu finally let up his thunderbolt and fell sideways, panting. As the smoke cleared the sight of a smoking Zoroark lying unconscious on the floor and Aaron holding himself up against his computer.
Serena and Brock rushed to the mouse. "Pikachu!" Serena said again.
"He doesn't look good." Brock said. "Something's wrong but I can't tell what."
"Maybe I can." Clemont said. "I'm no doctor, but I know technology." He examined the exoskeleton once again. "If I had to guess, I'd say the thunderbolt was too much for the skeleton to take. It's malfunctioning from the inside out."
"And Pikachu can't take much more of it." Brock said checking the mouse's temperature. "He's fading. Fast."
Behind them Aaron chuckled. "I've lost, huh." He mused. A small blue light shot from inside him out into the air hovering above him. Slowly his hair greyed over and his skin wrinkled back to its previous condition
"More aura." Max said. The ball of aura shot through the ceiling and disappeared. "Where's it going?"
"To whomever it originally belonged to." Anabel said. "I assume it's hers." She said.
Anabel shook off the happiness and turned to Aaron who was still holding himself up against the computer. His clothes were smoking and torn, and his skin was burnt in more than one place, but he was still smiling. "I may not have gotten exactly what I wanted, but you have lost Pikachu. And that will do more harm to Ash than anything I was planning."
"Shut up!" Anabel said. "You did this! Not us!"
"Do you really think he could ever look at you all the same way after Pikachu died for your insignificant lives?" Aaron taunted weakly. He slid a hand behind him and pressed a single button without anyone noticing. "When he looks at you all he'll ever see is the death of his friend. And that is the best consolation prize I could've gotten." He spun around dazed and fell onto his back right next to Zoroark. "This is it, partner. We had a good run. And in a way, we've won." Aaron grabbed Zoroarks singed paw and his eyes fluttered shut simultaneously with Zoroarks. As the two died in unison everybody else quickly gathered around Serena who was still holding Pikachu.
"Pikachu, hang in there!" Serena pleaded. "Brock isn't there anything you could do?"
"With no tools? No." He said sadly. "I can't. I don't know that there's anything anyone can do. That exoskeleton is attached directly to his nerves."
"Pika..." Pikachu smiled. "Chuu Pik. Pichuu." He finished weakly.
"Don't give up Pikachu!" Misty said.
"You can beat this!" Cilan added. "Just don't fall asleep."
"Pikkaa... chuu. Pik. Kaa." The mouse smiled pointing at the group of 'traitors'.
"This just feels wrong." Max said tightening his grip. Abel rested a hand on Max's shoulder comfortingly. He shook his head sadly at the happening before him.
Beside him May refused to look at the scene. "Why does it have to be Pikachu? After everything he's been through."
"Pikachu always was a hero." Dawn said. She reached into Serena's arms and scratched behind Pikachu's ear just the way he liked. "He was probably too pure for this world anyway."
Pikachu could feel his eyelids getting heavier and heavier with every second. "Chu..." He turned his head slightly to the left resting it up against Serena's arm.
"Don't you dare give up on us damn it!" Paul snapped.
"Abel, call out Jirachi!" May said. "Wish for Pikachu to be better!"
"There are rules." Abel lightly snapped. "Jirachi can only grant material wishes. You can't wish for love, life, or harm to others." He explained.
"Chuu. Pi." The mouse said happily. He inhaled one last time...then exhaled peacefully as he stopped breathing. Everyone surrounding him was brought to tears, except for Paul, who was just grinding his teeth in anger.
~Sycamore's Lab: The Corral~
The aged-up Arena Tycoon was propped up against the far wall of the corral, still unconscious, surrounded by Tucker and Lucy who had both resolved not to take their eyes off of her until she either reverted back to her old self, or more likely woke up.
"I think she's getting worse. Did her hair get even lighter since I went to the bathroom?" Lucy commented.
"No. But she definitely lost more muscle. When is she going to wake up?" Tucker said, distressed. "She hasn't moved an inch since that horrible man drained her of her youth! I don't think she's ever slept more than an hour before this!"
"As bad as it sounds, maybe it's best she stays asleep." Lucy countered. "I mean, think about it. What would she do? She like 80 years old now. She'd probably throw out her hip trying to challenge someone to a fight for calling her old." Lucy guessed. "At least this way, she's safe."
"You call comatose, safe?" Tucker asked.
"She's not comatose!" Lucy snapped. "She's just not... waking... up... okay, fine. Maybe it'd be better if she were awake." Lucy admitted. "I could try punching her again." She suggested.
"You nearly broke her arm last time!" Tucker snapped.
"Obviously, I wouldn't hit her as hard this time. I just gotta adjust for her age. Besides, waking up with a punch is probably how she would want it."
"I doubt that." Tucker said. The small blue ball of blue light fazed through the ceiling of the corral and continued down until it was just above Greta. "What's that?" Tucker asked.
"I have no clue." Lucy answered. "But it doesn't look harmful." It reunited with the Arena Tycoon's peacefully resting body and slowly restored Greta. Her hair had begun regaining its saturation and the wrinkles in her skin flattened out returning her complexion. Her thin noodle arms Grew thicker and thicker as she regained her muscle mass and her breathing even returned to normal.
Her eyes cracked open and she met the eyes of both Tucker and Lucy staring down at her. "Hey guys. I had the weirdest dream... you were right about all those sci-fi movies, Lucy." She stretched her arms back and sat up straight smiling. "How long was I out?"
"Pretty long." Tucked admitted rubbing the back of his neck. "Long enough for us to be worried, that's for sure."
"If I was out, why didn't you just punch me? That's what I would've done." She jumped to her feet and began stretching. "Well, sleep time is over. Who wants to fight?!" She cracked her knuckles smiling widely.
~Lab 1~
The main lab was filled with mostly scientists, of which Kane did not at all fit in with. There were only a few stragglers, one of them being the famous Professor Oak. There were also two higher level guards and Butler, the surveillance girl. "Where's everyone else?" Kane asked looking around. On his shoulder Aipom shrugged carelessly.
Professor Oak pulled a small beacon out of his pocket. It was endlessly blinking red rapidly. "Well that's not good." He said narrowing his eyes. He threw the beacon onto the ground and stomped it to pieces with one strike. "Code Black has officially been issued!" Oak announced. "Every man and woman for themselves!"
The room quickly descended into chaos as several people started raiding the laboratory cupboards, others just simply bolted out the back door as soon as Oak shut up. Kane made his way through the panicking employees and put a hand on Oak's shoulder. "Professor," He said, causing Oak to turn to face him. "what's going on? What's is Code Black? Is it bad?" He asked.
"Seriously? A name like 'Code Black' and you can't tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing?" Oak quipped.
"Sorry." Kane said taken aback. "But that doesn't really answer my-"
"Ketchum's done it. He beat Aaron, somehow. It's inconceivable. Anyways, once word gets out, the Jennies will be looking out for anyone who was even remotely involved with this and arresting whoever they find. My advice, retire to a nice island, change your name, and change your look." When Kane just stared at him, Oak raised an eyebrow. "That's it! Go on, get out of here! If they catch us, we'll be hanged for sure! You realize you're on the villain's team, right?
"Pom!" Aipom yelled getting to his feet and pointing an arm at Oak. "Aipo!"
"Oh, you know it's true!" Oak spat back.
"It's alright, Aipom." He said scratching Aipom's tuft of hair on the top of his head gently. "I'd like to not think of myself as a villain. I don't really have attachments to anyone here but Aipom. I only really stayed because my father spoke so highly of Aaron and to find out if there was a conspiracy about his death. Ash and Serena seemed like nice people to me."
Oak looked him straight in the eye and frowned. "You, Kane, are an idiot." He told him bluntly. Before Kane could respond he spoke again. "Aaron admits to you that he's responsible for the downfall of the Aura Guardians and a plot to traumatize and recruit Ash as a number two for his dictatorship he was intent on building, and never once, not even for a second, did it cross your mind that, 'Hey, maybe this guy isn't being totally honest' or 'maybe he had something to do with my dad's death'." He ranted.
"You mean... Aaron had something to do with my father's death?" Aaron asked shocked. He looked to Aipom who had an equally shocked look on his face.
"No, you dunderhead! Your father found out about all the kidnappings and got too close to the truth so Aaron had him disposed of. He didn't have something to do with it, he was directly responsible! The other scientists would joke about the whole ordeal on a daily basis!" Oak snapped. "So, he brought in the naïve boy who was lost without his father to take his place, because you'd be too stupid to ask questions! I don't even know why I'm telling you this!" He finished rubbing his forehead. "You're probably lost already. Do you get it, now? You failed! As a person and as a son!" He turned back around to finish his business on the computer.
Kane reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture. It was of two people a boy who was very clearly Kane when he was just a few years younger, holding a fishing rod with a golden Magikarp on the end and a much older, similarly looking man with his hand on younger Kane's shoulder. They were both smiling brightly. "Come on, Aipom." Kane said lowering his head. "We got our answers." He turned around and started making his way to the door. "No use staying around here."
Aipom gave Kane a sad look before glancing at the picture in his hand. He remembered that day clearly, he was the one who took the photo. It was the last photo taken before the disappearance. Aipom nodded to himself and juped off his favorite shoulder, causing Kane to turn around. "Aipom, you okay?" Aipom stomped his tiny feet with every step. At the end of his long tail he clenched his tail-hand into a fist and it started glowing brightly gathering energy from all around it. "Aipom?" Kane tried again.
Aipom reached Oak, who was still turned around, and tugged at Oak's pant leg tightly. "Po." He growled.
"What do you want?" Oak groaned. "I've had enough of both of you." Aipom gritted his teeth and tightened his fist more as it finished collecting power, and he pulled at his pant leg even harder. Oak, annoyed, whipped around to face the chimp. "What do you want?! I'm busy!" He was met with an angry stare and Aipom crouched down slowly before leaping into the air up until he was face-to-face with Oak. He whipped his tail around in a flash, and slammed his fist into Oak's face, knocking him backwards into the computer, crushing the keyboard beneath him.
Aipom flipped back onto his feet. "Pomm!" He hmphed. He got on all fours and trotted back to Kane happily.
"You probably shouldn't have done that." Kane said. Aipom plopped himself back on Kane's shoulder hanging his two legs off the side of his torso, kicking them happily. "How long do you think he'll be out for?" Kane asked.
"Po." He answered simply.
"I don't know why I thought you would care." Kane sighed. "Let's get outta here. We'll figure out what to do next later." 'You failed! As a person and as a son!'. Those words rang in his head. For the first time in around three years, he'd have to do the right thing, for his father. He just hoped it didn't hurt Aipom too much.
~The Heart~
Kidd had kneeled next to Aaron and grabbed his wrist lightly. "He's dead, all right." She stood back up and looked down at him shaking her head. "At least it wasn't all for nothing." She remarked sadly.
Across from her Brock was examining Zoroark closely as well. "Zoroark's in pretty much an identical situation." He noted looking up. "What do we do about the rest of his pokemon?"
"We can't release them here, that's for sure." Kidd said. "That Scolipede alone would probably maim at least five of us. I'll confiscate them and hold onto them till we can get them to a correctional facility."
"Why do I get the feeling you've done this before?" Brock asked.
"Because I have." Kidd retorted. "How's everyone holding up?" Kidd asked rejoining the group. Everyone was still surrounding the little mouse and most of them were still crying.
"Not good." Anabel sniffed. "And if you think this is bad-"
"I know." Kidd interrupted. "But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, it's best if we clear out of here."
"I don't feel like going anywhere." Bonnie cried.
"I know, Bonnie." Clemont reassured her. "But we need to get out of here. Bad guy, or not, I can't have people associating you with someone's death. Besides, maybe we can find a way to revive him back at Sycamore's lab."
"Really?" Bonnie looked up hopefully.
"Sure. Think about it, this guy stole youth. I guess resurrection isn't too out of the question now, is it?" Clemont told her. He didn't really believe it himself, but he knew Bonnie would never have budged otherwise. "I promise, I'll get to work right away on an invention to bring him back."
"You can do that?" Max asked sadly.
"I can try."
"Then you guys clear out." Kidd suggested. "I'll stay back and explain everything to the Jennies. They should listen to me."
"I'll stay too." Anabel offered. "I'm a part of Looker's team. I should have some sort of authority in all this." She guessed. She handed Ash's left arm off to Brock and nodded back at her.
Paul went and grabbed Greninja off the cold floor and rested him against his side. "I got Greninja." He said. "Let's get out of here before someone else dies." The group moved Ash, Greninja, and Pikachu's body out of the room, leaving Anabel and Kidd behind with the two corpses.
~Hall of Origins~
"I don't understand how the chosen one could lose this fight." Darkrai commented turning to Arceus. Surrounding him by the vat also observing the fight was Mewtwo, Suicune, Cobalion, Verizion, and Entei.
"Perhaps there was some sort of mistake." Cobalion suggested calmly. "Is he truly the chosen one?" Cobalion asked turning to Arceus. Everyone else followed his gaze to their creator in anticipation.
"Of course, he is." Arceus said. "There wasn't a mistake. Ash has proven his worth many times before. But this time he was met with an obstacle he couldn't defeat alone."
"This brings everything into question!" Entei countered. "If the chosen one can't protect the world in your place, then what is the point of his position?"
"It brings nothing to question." Arceus assured him. "You don't understand because you aren't looking at it from the right angle."
"What are you on about now?" Mewtwo asked.
"It seems foolish to entrust the fate of the world in someone who cannot protect it." Verizion said. "Perhaps there could be two chosen ones, as a failsafe."
"There is no need for a second." Arceus reaffirmed. "Ash is exactly what the world needs in a chosen. If you expect him to win every battle he's in, then it's your fault for being disappointed."
"If he's not strong enough to beat the threats to the world, then why did you pick him?" Suicune asked.
"You all thought Ash was the Chosen because he was the strongest trainer. There are trainers stronger than him." Arceus told them. "He's the Chosen one because of his unmatched ability to bring out the best in those around him. That is why I chose him. That is why the Earth will continue to turn to Ash in times of need. Because not only is he a strong trainer in his own right, but because those who fight with him are stronger for having him around. I knew there was a chance he would lose the fight." She admitted.
"You did?" Mewtwo asked tilting his head up at her.
"Yes. But his Pikachu was able to overcome Aaron in his moment of weakness because of Ash's training and the friendship he offered to him. The way he's able to touch the hearts of the people and pokemon around him is unique to him. Many of you know that already. Think of where you would be if Ash hadn't intervened with you, Mewtwo."
"Probably halfway to world domination." He shrugged. "I see your point."
"Didn't he spend the last year shutting everyone out?" Entei asked. "He spent the entire year sulking and acting like an introverted shut –in. A far cry from someone who can touch the hearts of anyone."
"And the death of his Pikachu will only make things worse for everyone." Suicune added.
"He was simply a broken boy. Anyone who went through what he did would run the possibility of having the same outcome. As for his Pikachu, I agree." Arceus said calmly. "Now would be a good time to intervene."
"Now? Why not before Pikachu died?" Mewtwo asked incredulously. "And what happened to no interference?"
"Destiny has been fulfilled for the moment. We don't have long." She told them.