Pokemon: The Lord of the Elements
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Chapter 4
Whispers in the Dark
The rest of the sad day moved slowly. Misty and Serena spent most of their time trying to comfort the fragile Delia Ketchum while Ash sat in a lonely and quiet state. He wanted to go to his room and be alone, but he did not leave the living room for the sake of his mother. Brock would, at times, sit across from Ash, silently hoping that Ash would talk to him, but would go to the kitchen to help Mr. Mime after vain attempts to talk to his friend. The group inside the house would have starved that day otherwise.
Serena, at times, would look to Ash, worry filling her mind for the man she had come to care so deeply for. Ash began to, it seemed, have far off looks in his eyes, as if he himself were trying to look into a realm that beyond their own in hopes to find his father and bring him back to the family. However, before Serena could make a move, Misty immediately stood up and walked over to Ash, sitting next to him. Serena blushed slightly in jealousy. However, Delia, who still had tears in her eyes, placed a hand on Serena's right kneecap. Serena gazed at the hand in surprise for a moment before looking up to see Delia looking at her. Delia offered a sad smile to Serena and gave a soft nod, causing Serena to blush more at the fact that Delia had noticed Serena's crush on her son.
"It is okay, dear," Delia said softly, the tears slowing down but still evident in her eyes before looking over to Misty, who was talking quietly to Ash. "I, too, had often wondered about Rob in my youth. How and where he was. How his pokémon were doing. If he made friends. If he found something more…. I was foolish to forget about him and go after a man as vile as Giovanni. But, if I hadn't met Giovanni, I wouldn't have fallen in love with Rob. That gives me some comfort for the evil that followed me. I love Misty with all my heart. She has protected my Ash time and again…. But so have you. It is clear you love him, and whether that love is returned or not, I hope that I get to know you as I have come to know Misty. As far as either of you are concerned, Ash would be lucky to be given such strong and caring hearts…."
"D-does Misty love him?" Serena asked quietly, trying to hide the fear in her voice.
"She certainly cares for him," Delia responded, "but she struggles with her feelings. I can tell she goes between loving him and hating him consistently, but I am guessing you struggle with your feelings too."
"I-I do?" Serena blushed deeply as she looked over to the older woman.
"You do," Delia simply nodded, keeping her eyes on her son. "From the way you look at him, it is clear you have tried to let go, but something in your heart just stops you. You want to tell him your heart, but your mind stops you because of fear."
Serena sat on the couch quietly, looking to the floor to collect her thoughts. Delia was right, but she certainly didn't know the length or degree of that truth. Still, Serena's mind wandered. How many times had she tried to give up because Ash was too oblivious to notice her, only for him to drag her back to him by his courageous attitude and kind heart? How many times did she say to herself that she would never see her summer camp hero again before he appeared in her life all over again atop the Prism Tower in Lumiose City?
"How do you know that?" Serena asked finally after a long pause.
"A mother knows," Delia shrugged. "I am not sure how we do it, but just know what happens around our children then our children do. But, I also know because I was you. I have seen my own face in the mirror enough to know face I make when I think of Rob. Worry mixed with longing. I won't tell you to give up hope, but neither will I encourage your desires to be with him. All I can tell you is that you should follow your heart. It knows when to go forward and when to stop."
Serena looked back to Delia, taking her words to heart. She knew she wanted more than anything to tell Ash her feelings, and she also knew she could be torn apart from her crush at any time. There was always such a thing as "too late" with Ash when it came to his travels, and words unspoken were regrets that Serena did not want to weigh down her heart.
"Thank you, Mrs. Ketchum," Serena said softly. "I will think about what you said."
"You're welcome, dear," Delia answered and stood up. While the weight of Rob's end was heavy on her heart, she would not let despair to overcome her. "I think I will help Brock and Mimey in the kitchen. Thank you for being here for me, Serena."
Serena offered Delia a small, weak smile, and nodded to her. Serena looked back over to Misty and Ash as Delia went to the kitchen. Ash still looked at the floor, so Serena had guessed that Misty was having as much success as Brock did in talking with Ash. However, Ash finally lifted his face and his eyes met Misty's. Though Serena wasn't sure what brought Ash back to the world, it was clear that Misty truly had a deep connection with Ash.
"I'm sorry, Misty," Ash said, loudly enough for Serena to hear. "I am glad you want to help, but no one can help me. For as long as I have remembered, I wanted to win a League to become a Pokémon Master. And I wanted to become a Master because I wanted dad to come home. Every time I lost a League, I failed myself, I failed Professor Oak, I failed my parents, and, most importantly I failed my pokémon. Now I finally won a League and my dad is dead. I failed him, Mist, and I never got to say goodbye to him."
Tears filled Ash's eyes and he immediately got up and quickly ascended the stairs to his bedroom.
"Ash!" Misty called out to him in concern, but flinched when she heard the door slam shut. Serena frowned slightly at Misty and got up to put a comforting hand on the redhead's shoulder.
"He needs to be alone," Serena said softly, offering Misty a weak smile. "He will be ready to face us when he is ready."
"Pika," Pikachu mumbled sadly, but gave a sad smile to Misty and Serena when Misty picked him up.
"She's right, Pikachu," Misty answered softly. "The best we can do is wait. He will be back down."
"Pi…," Pikachu said and lowered his head, his own mind deeply on his master and best friend.
As the ladies sat in silence, occasionally speaking to make awkward attempts to get to know each other, Ash laid on his bed in his room, looking at the medallion that his father had left for him. Time seemed to act strangely around him. A few seconds felt like an hour, and an hour like that of a few seconds. The medallion's gems sparkled in the sunlight that came in the bedroom from his window, glittering as a rainbow after a fierce storm. As he gazed at the medallion, he felt sleep start to find him, and a soft melody played in his mind. The melody was akin to Lugia's Song, in terms of the peace that it brought to his pained mind, but it seemed far older and less powerful than the version that he heard in the Orange Islands when he helped to stop the world from ending, as if the melody had yet to grow in power and majesty to save the world. Slowly, he let his heavy eyes close and draw him to a deep sleep.
The sleep, however, though deep, was restless and filled with a strange dream. He found himself in a hall of gold filled with sunlight and crystals that cast rainbows to arch the sunlit ceiling. The light was, at first, blinding, though his eyes eventually adjusted to the brightness. The golden light seemed to have life of its own, dancing through the hall. At the end of hall, across a floor of white marble, was a white throne atop eighteen steps. Each step had a color to it that resembled the eighteen gems on the medallion that now, in his dream, was around Ash's neck. In the throne sat a girl of dark hair that was black like a clear night sky. Her eyes were brown like that of a tree that was damp after a rain, though glittered as if the sun struck the drops of water that clung to the tree. She was beautiful and slender, yet also tall; like a lone, beautiful flower that dominated the horizon of a sea of grass. However, she was dressed in brown rags, not the clothes of royalty as one would think. Yet, she, herself, had the look that carried of one who was proud and majestic, and her eyes held a wisdom and age that Ash had only seen in Legendary and Mythical Pokémon.
"Who are you?" Ash asked, unsure what to say to the strange girl who sat in the throne.
She smiled and rose from the throne, gracefully making her way down each step before reaching the floor. With every step she took, her beauty seemed to grow more and more, and the light of the room seemed to brighten with her approach. Her eyes stayed trained on Ash's, never leaving them as she approached the young man. She stopped just short of him, though within arm's distance. Her eyes moved from his to the medallion at his chest. Her smile turned from one of mystery to a deep and unending sadness. Slowly, she reached for the medallion and gently grabbed it.
"I am truly sorry this was passed onto you," she said softly. "Between life and death, all the difference you'll make. Old words, they seem, yet true of all relics such as this, and the Treasures of the Islands. All the same, the task of its safekeeping has been appointed to you. There is hope in what you have, yet also is there despair. And, as those before you, if you do not find a way, all is lost."
"I don't understand," Ash frowned. "What is it? What does it do?"
"Life and death, hope and despair, light and dark, good and evil," the girl answered. "Many have tried to search for the hidden secrets, but they were lost long ago. There are those who know, but they are forgotten, having forsaken a world that has long forsaken them."
"Do you know anything about it?" Ash asked.
"I know, but I have not deemed you worthy," she answered.
"Then who are you?" Ash asked again.
"An ally, but long past," she said plainly. "As for a name, names hold power. It would be wise that yours be kept secret."
"Why?" Ash asked, puzzled. "What does my name have to do with anything?"
"Everything!" the girl smiled. "And the relic most of all. Many were made, in ages past. This one was lost, but survived the destruction of the others. A memory of who you are, where you come from, and duty of the world's protection."
"Then who am I?" he frowned, wanting more than vague answers.
"A servant," she answered, "as I am. Long have we waited, and our wait holds. He who is the Champion of Gold and Silver, the Defender of Time and Space, the Peacemaker of the Land, Sea, and Sky, the Lord of the Elements, and the Bond and Bridge between the Children of Arceus and the Children of The One, is the one we await. And he will be the servant that can end the darkness that the two Children originally could not. That is our hope, to give rise to the servant whom we await. And now you have been chosen to carry on the task. Even still, we defend the medallion, and the troubles of the world. Long has the world forgotten us, but we remember the world and defend it. And defend it we shall, even after the task that the Children failed is complete by the servant we await."
"I don't understand," Ash said slowly. "Protection from what?"
"Chaos," the girl answered. "Evil is the seed in this world that has taken root long ago, and that root is stronger than any foe you may face. It is that root that gave rise to the secret shame of the Two Children. A shame that is no longer remembered by the living, save by those who know of the medallion."
"Who are they?" Ash asked.
"The Elder Ones," the girl answered, "who were betrayed and forsook the world. Their knowledge is greater than mine. But theirs shall be aid of reluctance, if they aid anyone at all."
"But who are they?" Ash asked impatiently, "Where can I find them or something about them?"
"That knowledge does not exist," the girl laughed. "There is much about the world that all living things do not know because it is good for them to not know. It is good that they not know their shame, for such shame would surely break them of all hope they have. Sometimes, the past needs to stay the past. And only few are allowed to know such a past. As for where, you must look the same way your predecessor did. Clues are all around the world, if you can find them. Listen to the medallion, it will guide you. Listen to your heart, it will help you to find one to further the line and secure the servant we await. Listen to your mind, it will give you wisdom in your darkest hours, as will those who love and support you. Listen to your gut, as it is good for instinct to guide when you are unsure. But, most of all, listen to your friends, your loved ones, and your pokémon. I see in you a dark road that must be traveled, and a darker road still that will threaten you. Take heart, for death is not the end! The strength of the medallion will further the line to the servant."
At that moment, a stormy sky appeared over the sky-windows of the hall, cutting off the golden light that filled the hall with joy and wonder. The girl looked up and frowned. A coldness fell over Ash's mind, and a sense of fear overtook his heart.
"It is time to part ways," the girl said. "We will meet again, but the darkness is searching. When it is past, we shall speak more. Remember what I said, and do not tarry. You must begin your search now, while the light is still with the Children!"
Ash felt a pull at him and a flash of images came to his mind, some filled with peace and joy, people and pokémon untied in a state of love and friendship, and others with the darkness of war and turmoil. Growth, destruction, and regrowth, over and over again. The images flashed time and time again, as if telling a story, but the story was too fast to make out or make any sense of. Until, at last, an image stopped suddenly at a bolt of lightning that was hurtling down from the skies, and a Pikachu jumping from a bike basket to absorb the bolt.
Yet, as Ash saw the memory of the beginning of his journey, he was felt himself being shaken. His eyes opened immediately to the feeling. It a moment to process what he was seeing, but he saw Serena sitting on his bed next to him, her eyes wide with concern.
"Ash, are you alright?" she asked. "You started shaking in your sleep as if you were having a nightmare!"
Ash sat up slightly and rubbed his eyes before looking back at the concerned girl. He nodded slightly and heard the soft cry of his longtime partner, Pikachu. Ash couldn't help but look down into the curious and worried eyes of his old friend. He smiled softly and scratched the head of the yellow electric mouse in reassurance that he was alright.
"Chaa!" Pikachu cried happily at the display of affection from his master.
"I'm sorry I worried you both," Ash continued his soft smile towards Pikachu before looking up into Serena's beautiful sky-blue eyes once more. "How long was I asleep?"
"A while," Serena answered softly. "It's almost time for dinner…. But, all things considering, we have been traveling for a week without stopping at a Pokémon Center to rest, so it is natural that you let your own exhaustion take hold of you."
Ash nodded slowly, wondering how on earth he could be so insensitive to let sleep overtake him to the point that he couldn't be there for his grieving mother since lunch. Though, considering the emotional rollercoaster of the day, plus his own physical exhaustion from his long hike between the Indigo Plateau and Pallet Town, it was only a matter of time until he would heed the call of his bodily need for bed. As he slowly got out of his bed, and both Serena and Pikachu watched him carefully, the trio heard a knock on the door. They turned their heads to see the door open slightly and Misty's head pop out of the opening from behind the door. She gave Ash a friendly smile, as well as Pikachu, but her smile slightly dropped when her eyes met Serena's. A small look of jealousy passed between the two ladies, which went unnoticed by Ash. However, Pikachu felt the tension and quickly hopped off the bed to stand by Ash, not wishing to take sides.
"What's up, Misty?" Ash asked, not thinking about the fact that Misty's and Serena's eyes were trained upon each other as pair of extremely territorial pokémon that were ready to battle over their own. However, Ash's voice caused Misty to snap out of her staring contest with Serena. She blinked for a moment at Ash, trying to recollect where she was and what she was doing.
"Oh, right!" Misty exclaimed, remembering why she came up to see Ash. "Your mom wanted to talk to you."
"Mom?" Ash blinked in confusion, but nodded after a moment. "Alright. Thanks, Misty."
Ash moved forward and Pikachu jumped onto his master's right shoulder, causing Ash to smile fondly at his partner. Misty moved to the side to let Ash pass, but her eyes eventually found their way back to Serena, who simply and quietly followed Ash. The honey blonde stopped short of the redhead and looked at her. Neither of the pair said a word. They didn't have to. Both understood that the other had a deep affection for the raven haired idiot they knew as Ash Ketchum and called their dearest friend. However, despite the tension between them in regards to romantic rivalry, there was enough respect between them and for Ash that they understood that they could be friends. However, to keep up with Ash, their pause to look at each other was short lived. They soon found themselves downstairs in the living room once again to see Delia give her son an envelope that seemed worn with time. The paper was yellow due to its exposure to air, but it was well preserved enough that it wasn't damaged in any other way. Ash stared at the envelope for a moment before looking back at his mother curiously.
"It's from your father," Delia said softly. "He wrote it to you a long time ago, shortly after you were born, but right before he left. I'm not sure what it says, as he made me promise to not read it, but I have always wondered if it may have the answers as to why he left us as soon as he did."
Ash at his mother, whose face was now downcast. Her hair caused a shadow to move over her eyes. She seemed as if she were going to cry again, but she didn't. Ash couldn't help but from in sympathy for her. Quickly, he reached over to her and hugged her tightly. Delia looked back at her son for a moment and closed her eyes, returning the tight hug and giving a sad sigh that was also in relief of the given comfort. After just holding onto his mother for a while, he let go and went to a chair to sit in. Slowly, he reached for the back of the sealed envelope and opened it. Inside was a long letter of multiple pages, front and back, a signet ring that held the image of what could only be described as a pokéball, only it had pink cross on it instead of the usual black line, and, curiously enough, an old map. The map itself seemed ancient, and that even breathing upon it would cause in to turn to dust, but it held its own. Yet, when Ash touched the map and opened it to see that it was faded, the medallion suddenly glowed in response upon Ash's chest and the map changed from its old and worn state to as if it were freshly made. Everyone stared between the map and the medallion in shock, except for Delia, who merely frowned.
"Wh-what is that thing?" Misty asked with awe. "What just happened?"
Ash merely looked up at Misty in wonder as her eyes stayed glued to the map that changed so suddenly. Ash looked back to the map itself and simply studied it for a brief moment. He didn't know why, but the map seemed oddly familiar to him. Yet, what was depicted on the map were two images: one of a giant landmass conjoined together and the other was a magnified image of a centralized landmass that dead in the center of the greater landmass. The centralized landmass was rather large island surrounded by a sea that cut it off from the mainland, but three great rivers cut the great island into three parts. The large rivers flowed into the enclosed, circular sea, and that sea made rivers that spilled into mainland and flowed out into the ocean surrounding the giant landmass. While the map had images that looked familiar to Ash, they also looked completely different. He could not figure out why he had his feeling of knowing this map, but he also could not figure out a clue to let him know the reason for his feeling. Despite that, he would have sworn he never seen anything on this map before. The lands were different, the names were different, and a world map did not have any image of anything resembling the landmass depicted on the map before him. After staring at the map for a good, long while, Ash finally shook his head. He wouldn't get anywhere trying to figure out the map without reading the letter. Slowly, he took it and unfolded the contents.
"To my beloved son, Ash,
If you are reading this, then that means I finally decided to give you the medallion. If you happen to be reading this and I did not give you the medallion in person – well, all people must meet their doom eventually. But it is not death I fear, but rather I fear the death of those I love. Though, in truth, a small part of me is afraid to give you the medallion. I have no desire to see its mystery consume you as it did me, and every other Ketchum for that matter! I would much rather you have the chance to live your life. To fulfil your dreams. To find love. Yet, the medallion must go to a Ketchum. We are its protectors, as much as that task has stolen from our family. In truth, I should give it to you the day you receive your first pokémon, but I would much rather save you from that as long as I can. You deserve to have a chance to live your life. I never had that chance, nor did your grandfather. Delia, my love, if it happens that you are the one who are reading this letter, and the medallion has come into your possession before or any time after Ash receives his first pokémon, you MUST pass it onto him. I know your feelings towards it, I do, but it will protect him much more than you realize. And if it is you who is reading this letter, my love, understand that everything I told you is true, but I did not tell you all of it.
Where do I begin? There is so much to tell, and if I were to tell it all, everything I will write will be a book by the time I finish! Perhaps two! I suppose, the first question to be asked is 'What is the medallion?' Truthfully, I do not know. No Ketchum truly knows. However, there are many answers as to what it could be: a weapon, a shield, a builder and destroyer, a healer, knowledge, strength, a way to speak to pokémon, a blessing, a curse, a pretty necklace…. It is all of these things. It is none of these things. The medallion itself, first and foremost, has no actual power. The gems, however, do. There are eighteen gems, and each are colored differently. These colors are, in truth, both a figurative and actual portrayal of the elemental powers of all pokémon. Fire, water, grass – all of them are associated with an elemental type.
The gems have many different functions, but they are strange. Some can be used to protect the user from the elements, while others can be used to bend certain elements to the will of the user. Some gems, such as the psychic gem, can be used to communicate with any pokémon and be used to understand the speech of pokémon. Ever since your grandfather gave me the medallion, I made it my mission to find out as much about it as I could. While I have found out much about the abilities of the gems, I cannot say that I know anything about the medallion other than the abilities I just described. Much of the power of the medallion lies in mystery.
There are many mysteries associated with the medallion. Of one, the medallion seems to have both a mind of its own at times, but its power only truly awakens in the hands of a Ketchum. In my many travels over the years, I have come to find that power of the medallion does not respond to just anyone. It seems ever to partially respond to certain people who have an ability that medallion reacts to. What that is, I cannot say, but they feel the medallion, and the medallion feels them. I know this because the gems would glow whenever such a person happened to be near them that wasn't me. Strangely enough, the medallion reacts in part to pokémon as well. While the power of the gems does not react as strongly as it does to people, there is a faint glow that appears whenever the gems come into contact with Riolu and Lucario. Whatever it is about them, the gems draw such pokémon to them as a moth to flame.
However, because of these strange events, I have come to be extremely cautious about going into cities with the medallion. While there are extremely few people who attract the power of the medallion, you can never be too careful. Those who can sense it may just as easily be a foe as they could be a friend. Yet, that is not the end of the strange reactions that the gems have had. While I traveled in Hoenn region, I found that the gems had a strong reaction to Mt. Pyre. According to legend, Mt. Pyre is not only home to various ghost pokémon, but also to the Red and Blue Orbs that are able to awaken Groudon and Kyogre. When I came to the mountain summit, though I was still far off from the shrine that the Orbs were housed in, the fire and water gems suddenly glowed brightly, and the Orbs did the same. I have often wondered if my visit would have awoken Groudon and Kyogre, but I fled the mountain summit before I could find out.
That was not the only strange encounter I had in which the gems so strongly and violently reacted, however. The gems have reacted strongly to the Tree of the Beginning, which is north of Pewter City, Mt. Coronet, in the Sinnoh region, and Route 10 of the Kalos region, just to name a few places. Of all the places the gems have had a strong reaction to, the Trio of Islands near Shamouti Island in the Orange Archipelago was without a doubt the strangest and the most beautiful. I climbed the top of each of the three islands to see the ancient spheres that were associated with the old Shamouti legend. Though I never told anyone, when I approached the spheres, the gems of fire, ice, and lightning glowed, and the spheres responded. That day, I saw Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno in all of their glory. Though, these birds seemed larger and more magnificent than the birds in the pokédex description, and I swore that their eyes held an age and wisdom that was far beyond mine. Whatever happened, the gems spoke to the spheres, and the spheres called out to the Island Trio. I did not disturb them as to bring about the destruction of the world, but they seemed almost afraid of the gems when they saw the medallion. They even spoke to me, but it seemed that each bird was not speaking to me, but rather the gems as if they were living things. Yet, in peace, they each left me, each of them still deeply afraid, to go back to their sleep. I do not know what happened, and I still don't. All I know is that each of them could have easily killed me in that moment, but they did not. Something about the gems made them timid, though I cannot begin to guess as to what. None of my research has given me any answers.
Another part of my research, now that I think about it, is in regards to pokémon evolution. Because each gem is associated with an elemental type, there is a sense in which they act as evolutionary stones. However, because the gems are greater in power, they have a strength that no evolutionary stone can match. Some pokémon can only evolve with a stone, but the gems can evolve any pokémon, whether they need a stone to evolve or not. The gems are even capable of skipping an evolutionary step, such as changing a Charmander straight to a Charizard. The gems, therefore, are the single greatest key to unlocking the true power of any pokémon. However, such power does come at a heavy price. A pokémon must not be forced to evolve against its will. If it is, the creature is not only changed, but that destroys who it once was. The spirit of a pokémon becomes corrupted, and is lost. However, if its will is strong enough, it might survive, but rage and hatred will always ever consume it. If the will is not strong enough, the sudden loss of its spirit kills the pokémon. It is wise, therefore, to build a strong friendship with your pokémon before using the gems to evolve it. And even then, if they do not require an evolutionary stone to evolve, you must seek out permission to use the gems to change them, lest you risk the horrible effects that I told you about. That being said, pokémon who need evolutionary stones to evolve do not risk the ill effects of the gems, but the gems are still dangerous regardless.
Which brings me to another strange thing with evolution. As you will no doubt find out, if you do not know, some pokémon have multiple evolutionary forms that they can assume. Unless those evolutionary forms are dictated by the gender of a pokémon, the gems have the interesting ability to work a power known as 'devolution' in order to change what a pokémon evolves into. Under the power of the gems, a Wurmple evolved into a Dustox could devolve back into a Wurmple and into a Beautifly. If the will and bond between a pokémon and the user of the gems is strong enough, however, the user could, in fact, use the gems to cross the two evolutions into one, creating a super powered pokémon. This form is very similar to the concept of mega evolution, which the gems also have power over and I will go over soon. These forms, interestingly, both devolution and cross evolution, are most prominent in the pokémon known as Eevee. Because of Eevee's ability to adapt of any environment with the use of evolutionary stones, the gems are able to be used on it without risking any of the harmful effects that could damage or even kill Eevee. However, because of the great amount of power that goes into cross evolution, it leaves Eevee extremely exhausted to the point that exiting the cross evolution state requires Eevee to rest for an entire day before being able to cross evolve again. Limitations are required, and the stress of such power is a great weight on Eevee.
Which brings me to my last part of research on evolution when it comes to the gems. While cross evolution is much like mega evolution, cross evolution can be permanent with the power of the gems, if you wish it. Yet, the gems make it so the user does not need a key stone or a mega stone to use mega evolution. Of course, much like cross evolution, the bond and will of the pokémon and user must be high enough to reach such a power. And even then, it is dangerous. During my studies in the Kalos region, I came to learn of a power known as the 'bond phenomenon.' The strength of the gems in regards to mega evolution is much like that power. However, unlike, the real bond phenomenon, which supposedly happens once every few centuries, the gems can kill the user if the user is not strong enough, but it does not hurt the pokémon. I have wondered if mega evolution and cross evolution could be combined, considering that Charizard has two mega evolutionary forms, but it seems to me that such power requires a bond that I am not sure I have, and am afraid to explore. Though, in humor to myself, I have called this form 'Mega Charizard Z,' as such power would indeed be the limit of a pokémon's true power. Also, as I write this letter to you, it occurs to me that I do not have a Chairzard to test such a theory! Not that Delia would allow me if she knew of such a dangerous experiment.
To leave you with, my dear Ash, I think that I must, lastly, tell you the legend of how the Ketchum family came by the medallion. It is a short story, even as I think about it, and there is much that is left out, which makes me wonder much about the medallion's origins the more I think of it, but it does still ring true to what I told Delia: 'The Ketchum family has always had the medallion.'
'Many ages ago, there lived a boy without name who played in wilderness. So great was his desire to explore that he would often run off into the wilderness against the wishes of his parents. One day, as he explored, he happened upon a girl. She dirty and crying, her clothes were torn, and she wore a strange medallion with many gems. However, the boy did not notice her clothes, as he was dressed in rags, but he did notice her great beauty, and was immediately smitten by her. Immediately he had a desire to help her, though she grew afraid of him when he came near and was ready to flee from him. However, when his friendly voice called out to her, she stopped and turned to him. And when he spoke kindly to her, doom fell upon them. And so the boy left his family and ran away with her. They ran long until exhaustion finally overtook them. It was on the day that they collapsed together that a group of pokémon found them and took them in, caring for them and all their needs. The boy and girl stayed with the group of pokémon, and the pokémon swore to protect them and keep them a secret. And so, over the years, the pair fell in love, and had a son together. That child they named 'Ketchum.' So came began our family, and our long duty to protect the medallion, as was the wish that the girl made of the boy without a name. We have kept that duty, and will always keep it, for the love of our family.'
Now you, my dear Ash, now know the story and the duty that we Ketchums share. Whether you choose to embrace your task or not is the decision you have to make. However, no Ketchum can part with the medallion. It is, for some odd reason, bound to us, and we to it. Whether you choose to follow your own path, or continue my research, is your own affair. I will not tell you what it right, but I will tell you that protecting the medallion is our duty. I wish I didn't have to pass this duty onto you, but you are a Ketchum. It is a lonely task, believe me, but my heart tells me that it is a task that helps to protect the world. Inside the envelope are a signet ring, which I made by using the power of the gems to make the ring act as a Pokémon Center for when I know I can't reach one, and an old family map that has also been passed down from generation to generation. Maybe you will have better luck uncovering its secrets than I have. However, all of that being said, you need to understand that this task, its research, is a dangerous thing. It is not only dangerous for you and your pokémon, but dangerous to all of your loved ones. I will not tell you to travel alone, but believe me when I say that those who travel with you will be much safer than they know. They will not only be safe from the physical dangers, but also from the knowledge of the medallion. Such knowledge makes your loved ones a target for your enemies, if you ever have any.
Remember most of all, Ash, to never give up until the end. Remember that your greatest strength lies in those around you who love you: your friends, your family, and your pokémon. Build upon that love, my son, for it will protect you when you feel alone and feel like giving up. Use that love to grow and to help your pokémon grow as well. That love will help you to fulfil your dreams. If it happens that I am not able to see what a fine man you have grown into, please know and understand that I do love you, Ash, and that I am far more proud of you than I can say. Always do your best, and always know that you are never alone.
With all of my love,
-Rob Ketchum (Aka. Dad)"
When Ash finished reading the letter, there was a deafening silence in the room. He looked up to see his mom and his friends around him, wondering what he was going to say about the letter. Looking back down at the letter, he folded it back up and put it back in the envelope along with the ring and the map. Getting off the chair, he started towards the stairs.
"Ash, aren't you going to stay dinner?" Misty asked in a worried tone.
"I'm not hungry," Ash mumbled loudly enough for everyone to hear and went back upstairs, with only Pikachu following him to his room.
The group shared looks of concern as they listened to Ash's footsteps upstairs and flinched when they heard his bedroom door open and slam shut. Quietly, everyone else sat down to eat, all of them in quiet thought about Ash. The night was slow, especially for Misty and Serena, who would often wonder if they should go to check on their saddened friend. When the morning light came, and the girls went to Ash's room to wake him up, all they found was his bed neatly made, and letters addressed individually to his mom and his friends. All of them expressing his love for them, all of them explaining that he felt an odd sense of danger and a desire to keep them all safe, and all of them saying one final thing: "Goodbye."
Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading. 21 pages in this chapter and over 7000 words! Ha! I feel great. Anyway, please leave your reviews. Theories, comments, criticisms, or anything else you might have are always appreciated! Thanks again, and have a great day!