Of a Dragon's Bond
Chapter III
Dalmatian, Former First Knight of Cameran

A familiar feeling ran through Ash's mind, his body seemingly nonexistent. The young man opened his eyes to find his field of vision dominated by the color white, a lone man standing not far from him. A man he had seen many times before, mainly from the paintings hung in a certain hallway in Cameran Palace. The man was wearing a set of clothes similar to Ser Aaron, differing only in color. While Ser Aaron wore a dignified shade of blue, the man's maroon tinted attire radiated a vicious and menacing feel. The man inhaled deeply from a smoking pipe, eyes fixed at Ash.

"What is it about death that frightens so many people?" the man asked, slowly exhaling the smoke.

"I suppose that would be because of the popular belief that an afterlife wouldn't be there to greet them," Ash said as he took a step forward, finding that there was no footing present in the place. He adjusted himself to the floating sensation before looking up to the man. "Though what I've witnessed this past year would debunk that completely, wouldn't it, Ser Dalmatian?"

"Tsch," Dalmatian scoffed, removing his smoking pipe. "When I discovered this 'mission' of mine that transcends the border of life and death, I was happy. I waited and waited, till one of my men gives word that they've found the man we've been waiting for. And what do I find? A plebeian, leading the order. A disgrace, it truly is."

Unsure of what to say, Ash stayed quiet.

Dalmatian pocketed his pipe and sighed. "I take it you've heard of me?"

"Yes, Ser," Ash promptly replied. "A member of the founding Three Knights of Cameran along with Ser Deerhound and Ser Aaron, you are the First Knight of that era, Ser."

"Deerhound, the most virtuous and loved. Ser Aaron, the most honorable and respected." Dalmatian quickly added, grinning to himself. His smile grew wider, one that sent a chill down Ash's spine. "And I, the most loyal and feared."

"I'm afraid our history texts did not go the mile to calling you that, Ser." Ash commented.

The former First Knight gave a short laugh. A mocking one. "Of course they didn't. Why would they smear the good name of the Three Knights by disclosing the fact that I've inhumanly tortured, killed, hung? All in the best interests of Cameran, certainly, but that didn't stop me from having little tad bits of fun. Devoted, albeit sadistic, they used to call me. Not that I exactly minded. I was undefeated at single combat, only bested by Ser Aaron. Enemies fear my name. They cower and flee at my sight, clinging tightly to their pathetic lives."

"I suppose the Order's enemies at that time could've had better days." Ash said.

"Silence, peasant." Dalmatian spat. "The Order can only be lead by a blue-blooded man of Cameran! If you think that I will hand over the Crystal of Loyalty to you, then you are sadly mistaken." The man said, showing the Crystal around his neck. "It pains me to see the lines of low-born filths take up the position of Aura Knight General of Cameran after the passing of my cousin, Ser Aaron. Truly and utterly disgusting."

Ash looked around, confused. "Then why bring me here at all?"

"It was only something I needed to confirm." Dalmatian said as he reached for his pipe. "And that is done. The next time we meet will be very enjoyable, peasant. At least, for me." The former knight muttered as he disappeared.

Ash jolted up and opened his eyes, trying to make sense of what had just happened. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, letting out the last of his drowsiness. He took a set of fresh, new clothes and headed to his bathroom. The young General of the order looked at the mirror, staring at his bed head. He then proceeded to take his morning shower, recollecting the events that happened the day before.

He met Deerhound, surely a main highlight of the day. A story to tell for Riley and Zen, Ash mused to himself. And shortly after he met Deerhound, he fell asleep to the warm weather.

Ash then had a wide grin plastered on his face.

When he woke up in the spring, he found himself sleeping on his side, his head comfortably pillowed. Taking a look at his makeshift pillow, he found that Clair had taken off her track jacket and folded it for Ash to sleep on, leaving the dragon trainer in her t-shirt. Of course, once Ash realized his position, he began blushing like crazy and stuttering similar to those of an idiot every time he would talk with the woman for the rest of the night.

Ash shook the embarrassing memories from his head and finished up with his morning routine, including the fifteen minutes of styling his hair, one thing that Ash never truly liked. Ever since the Palace found that Ash was especially popular with the female audiences, 'personal grooming' was always an important issue. A crucial aspect of public relations, it was said.

And that certainly included fashion, Ash thought as he opened his dresser. Neatly placed in his dresser was a set of unfamiliar clothes. A fitted long coat that went down to his knees, white in color with a dark blue outline. Some shades of red could also be seen on the coat, acting as extra details. The royal crest of Cameran was sewn on the back of the coat, displaying the symbol of the proud Order. Located in the same hanger was the matching trouser and under it was the boots, similarly white in color.

The young man sighed as he took the clothes out of his dresser. "Why white? It's that much harder to clean when dirty." He mumbled as he put them on. "Oh, fantastic. The pants just had to be a slim-fit one, didn't it?"

Now fully dressed in his new clothes, Ash looked at his reflection on the mirror. "Well, it's quite cool. Very regal, the colors." He said as he placed his hands in the coat's pocket, finding a glove in each one. "And new gauntlets… They seem sturdy enough, I suppose."

Truly ending his morning preparations, the young man exited his room as Pikachu jumped up to his shoulder, somewhat groggy still. Ash made his way to his office, greeting many of his subordinates along the way, receiving many compliments about his new clothes.

Right before he stepped in his office, he was stopped by one of his aides. "Knight General, Ser, we've got a person that wishes to meet with you. It seems quite urgent, and Mr. Blackthorn seemed to know him, so I've let him in your office to wait for you."

"Is that so? Well then, I won't keep him waiting for much longer. Thank you." Ash replied his aide, who bowed respectfully and went on with his duties. Ash opened the door to his office, finding an elderly man sitting in front of his desk, looking around the room. The man seemed to be around sixty years of age, radiating a great sense of wisdom and warmth, the look completed with completely white hair matching his lab coat. The young Knight flinched, not expecting this meeting for another set of time. He sighed for the second time in that morning and braced himself for a rather long story to tell. "Good morning, Professor Oak. I trust that you've been well?"

The man turned around to see Ash, surprise evident in his eyes. He stood up and eyed the young man before extending his hand for a shake. "It's been too long, Ash." The professor said as Ash accepted the shake, the older man gripping it firmly with both hands. "It's been too long…"

"I know, professor, I know." The young man replied as he pulled Professor Oak to a hug after seeing tears forming in the man's eyes.

Ash had spent the entire morning retelling the tale of his three years disappearance and his ongoing service to the Order for the last year as the Aura Knight General of Cameran.

"I'd say," Professor Oak began, sipping a taste of his coffee. "That this would have to be number one in the 'Things Ash Ketchum has done that worried everyone' list."

The young man chuckled, "I would have to agree."

"You haven't seen your mother yet, have you?" the Professor asked.

"…I haven't. Though I probably should have gone the moment I was freed from the Ethereal." Ash muttered.

Professor Oak sighed and folded his fingers. "She was devastated when she found out that her son was missing. The worst state I've ever seen her in."

Ash winced. He knew that all along, yet he still delayed the trip back to Pallet time and time again. Of course, he busied himself with task that seemingly needed his help. "I'm… Sorry." He managed to mumble.

"Don't apologize to me, boy, apologize to your mother when you meet her." The older man advised. "Though I've told her about your current position. Immediately she looked a ton of times better. Of course, your father had to take many times off his work to be with your mother."

"Dad did?" the young Knight shot back, looking up. "I see…"

The professor nodded, smiling. "He always reassured your mother that he'll do everything in his power as the vice-chairman of the G-Men to find you."

"Are… Are they here today?" Ash asked.

"Your father had to go back to work, and your mother stayed in Pallet when I asked her to come with me." Professor Oak answered, shaking his head. "She said that there must be a reason why her son couldn't come home, so she'll wait. She'll wait until you're able to go home. In your own time, in your own pace."

Ash looked down at his lap, fiddling with his fingers. What had he been so afraid of? Going home to a wonderful town, back to a loving and caring mother? A wave of guilt and regret started forming, bringing tears to his eyes.

"Of course, if you don't have a good excuse, she'll murder you for worrying her so much." The professor added.

And the tears were gone, replaced by that very thing he was afraid of.

"Hey, Gramps, we heard you were here, so we came to see you." A man said as the door opened, revealing two people entering the room.

"Ah, Gary!" the professor said as he turned around. "That reminds me, Ash. About your Pokedex-"

"-Surprised to see he was the Kanto Champion, professor?" Brock added, giving Ash a friendly shake.

Professor Oak chuckled. "Of course I did, boy. Who wouldn't? But that's not my point. Ash here has caught two very peculiar Pokémon that's glued my attention, and I was wondering if I could take a look at them."

"…I guess I don't see the harm in that. They mostly spend the day patrolling the skies after training; I suppose they have nothing better to do." Ash said after a second of thinking. "Though that will have to wait until I'm ready to go back to Pallet Town. So unfortunately, that won't be anytime soon, Professor."

Declining lunch invitations from the Queen Ilene was never easy for Ash. Mainly because the fact that he would be rejecting a nice meal consisting of extravagant food, but declining the very figure one had sworn to protect was also difficult. However, during the past year working in the Palace the young Knight had learned that if one were to procrastinate with paperwork, it would definitely return with twofold vengeance.

Ash spent the two days after meeting with the Professor working on official documents, cooped up in his office. To his delight, Clair visited him a few times in order to thank him for the help the other day with the Swablu problem. Ash then would spend a brief moment to have a chat with the dragon trainer, who proved to be a very pleasant partner in conversation. Riley and Zen would also occasionally drop in for a chat, commenting on the unnecessary workload Ash had brought upon himself.

While not entirely needless, Ash did finish a number of documents in advance. He would finish them early and relax the days after, especially with the Royal Ball coming so soon. Human interactions would have to wait until those documents were reviewed, stamped, and signed. Fortunately, the last of the documents were finally finished and placed neatly on the 'outgoing' stacks on his desk.

"Speaking of which, what day was today again?" the young man said aloud, stretching his back, Pikachu doing the same. He took his X-Trans and opened his memos. Ash jumped up, sending his chair sliding back a few. "Today's the day for the Royal Ball! All be damned, I'm late for lunch with the guests!"

Ash hurriedly exited his office to find his aide in a similar state. "Knight General, today's the day for the lunch with the VIPs! It has already started, Ser!"

"Many thanks for bringing that up when I'm already late," Ash replied sarcastically, quickly running to the main building of the Palace. Pikachu also complained to the aide, causing the poor man to bow over and over again. "You could've sent me a reminder or something of that sort."

A normal trip from the office of the Knight General to the Queen's Dining Hall would take approximately thirty minutes, due to the difference in buildings. Ash, however, ran with all his might, shortening the time taken by twenty minutes. He wiped the sweat that was forming on his forehead and fanned himself with his hand for a few minutes, gaining the attention of the soldier that was guarding the door.

"What time is it?" the Knight asked while taking care of his outer appearance before going in the hall.

The guard looked at his watch and extended his arm, showing Ash the time. "It's half-past twelve, Ser."

"Thirty minutes late. Fantastic. Any chance I could just… Slip in?" Ash shot another question, this time doing final checks on his hair.

"I honestly don't know, Ser. Haven't seen the sitting arrangements." The guard answered, shrugging. "I doubt you can, though, Ser. These doors are pretty loud on their own."

Ash sighed as he fixed his collar. "Very well, then. Open the doors."

The guard nodded and did as he was told. Turning around, he pushed a button close to the door's hinges. "You might want to step back a little, Ser. These doors are pretty darn big."

"They're automatic?" Ash raised an eyebrow, looking up at the slowly opening doors.

"Would've taken four of us if it weren't, Ser. Thank Mew for technology." The guard answered, equally amazed. The doors opened to reveal an impressive dining table with the guests finishing up what seemed to be the last of the appetizers.

As soon as the young man entered the hall, all heads snapped to look at the alien object making his presence known.

"The Aura Knight General of Cameran," a man gracefully shouted from beside Ash, "Has arrived!"

Ash looked at the man, recognizing him to be Mr. G, the commentator from his match for the inheritance of the position of the Knight General with Sanzou-jii. "What are you doing here?" the young man asked with a low voice.

"The usual announcer for the Royal Ball tonight fell sick. I'm the substitute, so I was told to practice." Mr. G whispered back. "Anyway, say something."

"What am I supposed to say?" Ash asked, confused.

"How should I know? The guests all had something to say after I introduced them earlier."

The young General gulped and took a glance at the table, finding all eyes were on him. He cleared his throat and placed his hands behind his back. "It is I, the Aura Knight General of Cameran!" he shouted.

"Brother, just do the walk of shame and get to your seat. The main course is delayed because of your noisy entrance." Zen chirped in, waving his fork.

"Right, my apologies…" Ash meekly said as he walked to his seat, causing a few giggles across the table.

How long had it been since he remained undefeated in combat? The young man coughed up a clot of blood as he was lying on the ground, finding that he was unable to even lift a muscle to wipe the trail of blood that was exiting his mouth. How was it that this person… No, this… Thing, was able to pull off such unworldly things? As these thoughts ran through his mind, his gaze met his foe's. Cold, calculating… And seemingly all-knowing.

Ash made an effort to move his body, however, to no avail. He gritted his teeth due to the pain and gave a short grunt. Opening his eyes to look at his opponent once more, he scrambled his thought process to find even the slightest mistake that he might have made.

After the conclusion of the lunch with the guests, he had been approached by one his men that carried an alarming report. It was brought to his attention that a large part of the forest bordering the south of Rota had 'died'. Having waited for nothing, Ash quickly darted out of the Palace and headed for the place in question. And exactly like the report given to him, the young general found that all the trees and plants had wilted, along with some Pokémon clinging to dear life. Ash searched for the source of the phenomenon and eventually found a man calmly standing, gracefully smoking a pipe. He was that very being that pulled Ash to the Ethereal a few days back, now leisurely admiring his work.

"So this is the extent of the current Knight General's power? Laughable. Not that I had high expectations to begin with." Dalmatian blatantly stated, taking a puff from his smoking pipe. He bent down and exhaled smoke on Ash's face, his Crystal necklace clearly hanging.

"The… Crystal of Loyalty…" Ash managed to say in between coughs.

Dalmatian's facial knitted his eyebrows together, as if confused. He took the necklace and flashed it close to Ash. "What, this? Sadly, peasant, you won't be able to get this. Ah, wait a moment now… You might be able to, after all!"

Ash kept quiet, giving a scoff.

"…Over my dead body!" the former First Knight shouted rather loudly, then laughed. "…But I'm already dead, see? That means you'll never get it. Oh, not a fan, are we now? Peasants, they never understand our sense of humour."

"..How... Why…"

"Hmm? You must be wondering, 'How on earth did he manage to obtain a physical body'?" Dalmatian said, noticing the expression on the downed young man. "Well it's quite simple, really. I just absorbed the aura of these plants around me and used the life force to construct my own body! Ingenious, yes?"

"Bastard…"

The former knight shrugged. "And you also asked why… Well, that part I mustn't say just yet. A secret, at this point, I'm afraid. Though if I did tell you, you wouldn't be able to comprehend it, what with your peasant brain and all."

The young Knight General took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He then pulled his legs close to his torso and pushed his body off the ground with his hands, swiftly standing back up, where he immediately took a fighting stance.

"Oh, ready for more? Were you just pretending to be downed to ask questions, or were you wasting time to regain your life force?"

Sparing no time for small talks, Ash quickly formed an Aura Sphere and launched it at Dalmatian.

Much to Ash's annoyance, the 'dead' Knight simply extended his arm, and… Absorbed his attack, making Dalmatian's body more opaque, compared to the translucent bodies the normal 'Apparitions' seem to have. "It failed the first time, boy. What made you think it would succeed the second?"

Ash cursed his situation. If he had learned anything from his previous scuffle with Dalmatian before he was downed, it was that he needed to avoid direct contact with the former Knight, else his life force will be drained by that absurd technique of his. And I don't think I have enough power to release myself from his hold like the last time… The young Knight thought, wincing. He stepped back and recovered some distance. This fight is better handled ranged.

"Oh, playing it safe, are we now? I see you've understood that Absorption needed skin contact to work…" Dalmatian muttered, putting his pipe in his front pocket. "But no one faces Dalmatian in a duel and comes out alive."

Ash watched the realized apparition extend his hand once more, releasing multiple aura waves-formed ripples on the ground. Sensing no danger from said energy, Ash allowed it to pass through beneath him. He looked up, hands reaching inside his pocket for a dagger he always carried – in case things needed an extra push. Surely his foe was unable to absorb the life force off his dagger – it had none.

"If you are thinking that this technique does nothing," Dalmatian said, one corner of his lips pulling up, forming a smirk. "Then you are heavy - heavily mistaken."

"Silence!" Ash shouted as he attempted to throw his dagger, finding his body severely weighed down. "What... What have you done to me…"

Dalmatian laughed as he clapped his hands in amusement. "Heavy, isn't it? And you will only find it getting even heavier."

True to his words, Ash fell to his knees, being unable to support the weight any longer.

"It a funny thing, the human brain," the former Knight continued. "However, that is of no importance at the moment. You are unable to move, correct?"

"…!"

"Ah, that look, that look! How I love it!" Dalmatian said excitedly, clapping his hands once more. "That is precisely why I love using this technique. 'Desperation', I call it. A fitting name, no? It suits your expression. I invented this technique, thank you very much."

"Why.. Why have you come here?" Ash asked, struggling to regain control of his body.

"Hmm? No real reason, I suppose. How about you, then? Why did you confront me?" the realized apparition shot back. Before Ash could reply, however, he answered the question himself. "But of course, you are the Aura Knight General of Cameran! You have a responsibility to inspect any abnormalities that involves Rota and its lands. And, having located the source of today's crisis, yours truly, Knight Dalmatian, has been classified as a hostile entity to the Order."

"You don't say.."

Dalmatian eyed him for a short moment, before stepping closer and putting his hand on Ash's head. "I was only testing out whether I could gain a temporary physical body, since the area around these parts are overflowing with healthy aura. This poor little General unfortunately decided to show up. Speaking of which, where are your men? I would think they are to come here and help."

"…"

"Ha! Would you look at this? You must have told them to stay at the Castle to not arouse any panic for the guests! Very much like Ser Aaron." Dalmatian commented, ruffling Ash's hair. "Now then, I'll make your death quick and painless with Absorption. All that will be left of you will be skin and bones."

Ash could say nothing. There he stood – knelt, at death's door, and there was physically nothing he could do about it. And just when things were starting to look up since his lonely stay at the Ethereal.

"Absorption is not an easy feat to do, in all honesty. A forbidden technique, they said. Only Ser Aaron and I were able to do it in our time. Quite a proud accomplishment." Dalmatian abruptly stated, nodding to himself. "It came quite naturally to me, to be frank. Imagining your arm an endless void, then briskly allowing the foreign aura to enter your body for your own use… Exhilarating business."

The young Knight General flinched as he felt the apparition's grip tightening on his head.

"See? Just like this, one can imagine themselves as a vacuum, open a path to one's aura reserve," Dalmatian muttered. "And let it a-a-ll in."

Ash felt his energy and life force leave his body, as if all his organs were being pulled out of his mouth. The young man fell forward, clinging to what little consciousness he had left.

Dalmatian clicked his tongue. "There was something distasteful about killing off a Knight General of the Order, even if he is a peasant…" the former Knight lifted his leg and stomped on Ash's head, the other stepping forward to keep his balance, landing on Ash's hand.

Something's amiss. Ash thought repeatedly. Why was Dalmatian so adamant in explaining how Absorption worked to a person he was going to kill? Be it his personal hobby to mock a person knocking on heaven's door, or something else, there's only one thing I could do. Ash gathered his remaining energy to grab Dalmatian's foot.

"Oh? Still have some fight in you, I suppose."

Ignoring the comment from the former Knight, Ash concentrated on his palm. Imagine an endless void… Open a path… And let it enter…

Streams of energy began making their way into Ash, rapidly increasing in speed. Seconds later, the young man's life force felt overflowing, causing him to jump up. He looked at Dalmatian, now in a familiar state of translucence.

"Impressive," Dalmatian commented, shrugging. "That, I do not see everyday."

Ash looked around at the lifeless environment and clenched his fists. He then knelt and placed his hands on the ground and released his newly gotten aura. The forest, receiving a surge of life force, regained its color and beauty. The young man then fell once more, having expended all his energy.

"This idiot pushed himself with a new technique just so he can save a few Pokémon that was on the verge of death," the apparition said as he watched the scene. "And he learned Absorption just by watching and hearing… I suppose that's to be expected of a Knight of Cinder… What a cruel fate this boy has..." the former Knight muttered, disappearing.

"Knight of Cinder…" Ash repeated with ever dissipating consciousness, his eyes shifting to the back of his right hand, where a strange symbol had appeared.

"XX…?"

A/N: Yo, sorry for the long time it took for an update. Started working recently and didn't have the urge to update (although I had this chapter half done by the time the last chapter came out).

Anyways, hope you enjoyed. And I hope I can come up with a regular update time, teehee~