Chapter 7

They heard his cries and prayed to him.

Pikachu led Ash down a long road through The Boundary Lands. The world looked dead. The grass was as gray as the clouds. Any trees that were around were dried up and had no leaves. There were bones strewn about on the ground in some parts. Some of them looked human. Others looked like the remains of pokemon. "What happened? Why is this place so bleak?" He said. Pikachu gave him a sad look. "It's because this is how you feel inside. You're the master of this world, yes?" Pikachu said. "Yeah." "That's why. The Boundary Lands bend to your will. This is your will right now, gloom."

Ash thought about how horrible this world looked. He tried to imagine it nicer, but couldn't. "So, if I'm master of this world, then why can't I control it?" Ash said. "Normally, you could. The problem is the Hopenol. There's still some of it left in your system. It's an outside influence, the pieces that do not fit in your mind, the thing that should not exist here, the other." Pikachu said.

Pikachu continued walking with Ash. "I wish someone could have told me this earlier." Ash said. "You didn't want it, though. You wanted to be immersed in your world and forget everything from before." Ash started to wonder why he would want that until he remembered what real life was like. He shook his head. "I have to remember this time. As much as I hate what really happened, I can't deny it this time. I need to learn from my mistakes." Ash said.

As Ash and Pikachu walked, a shadow was cast over both of them. Pikachu turned to the sky and was horrified. "What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash asked. "One found us." He said. They both turned around and as a Hopenol Unit flying behind them. It landed with a thunderous crash and shook the earth. "Phylactery detected. Start running Operation Sunrise." It said. "Shit. What do we do?" Ash said in a panic. Pikachu smiled. Sparks jolted from it cheeks. "Leave this one to me, Ash." It jumped toward the robot with thunder surging from its body. The Hopenol Unit ran its combat systems. "Target engaged."

Pikachu shocked the robot so hard that it was blasted into the air. It fell down and was smashed into many pieces. The green liquid inside of it pulled it back together and in an instant, it regenerated. Pikachu tried to zap the Hopenol Unit again, but it put up a barrier to block it. Pikachu tried to zap harder and break through the barrier, until the Hopenol blasted him with a psychic beam. Pikachu was blasted back and looked hurt. He got up and countered with another electric bolt. It blasted the robot's head off, but it regenerated again.

Ash knew that Pikachu could not defeat a Hopenol Unit on his own. Any damage he could do would have to be regenerated. "There has to be some way to destroy this thing for good." Ash thought. He noticed that its source of power came from its green ooze that was located in its needle penis. "If only we could get that out of him." The Hopenol Unit charged up a beam and was ready to fire. "Pikachu, look out!" Pikachu was still getting up from the previous attack. Ash jumped in. He grabbed Pikachu out of the way from the attack and rolled safely out of harm's way. He put up his fists. "You want to fight, you big hunk of junk? I'll fight!" Ash said.

Ash charged toward the robot with his fists raised. He screamed and was ready to smash the Hopenol Unit's penis off, until it grabbed him with its psychic powers. Ash tried to break free, but it was too strong. "Pikachu!" Ash shouted. Pikachu nodded. He sent a torrent of electricity at the Hopenol, breaking its arms, but more importantly, its focus. The robot dropped Ash and gave him a chance to strike. He grabbed the needle between the robot's legs and pulled. Ash roared as he ripped the monster's weaponized penis off. The green ooze tried to stretch out from it, but Ash pulled it away. He broke the robot's penis over his knee, destroying it completely. The ooze fell out and dried up when it hit the ground.

The Hopenol Unit tried to grab Ash, but he punched it in the face, knocking its head clean off. "You're not immortal, not anymore!" Ash said. The headless robot swiped at Ash again, grabbing him. Ash tried to struggle, but it was no use. The Hopenol began to charge its psychic beam again. Ash thought that this was all over, that he was going to be killed this time, until a burst of lightning blasted the robot into pieces. Pikachu had saved him.

Ash looked down at the ruined Hopenol Unit. There was no way for it to regenerate now. It was completely destroyed. "Wow. We actually did it." Ash said. Pikachu smiled. "Thanks, Ash. I couldn't have done it without you." "Yeah. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead too." Ash said. Pikachu continued down the road. "The Gate of Friendship should be close by. It's the first gate we need to cross in order to return." Pikachu said.

As Ash and Pikachu walked, they came to a gate in the middle of the road. The other side looked pleasant. The sky was blue and the grass was green. "So, this is The Gate of Friendship." Ash said. He followed Pikachu through and saw familiar faces. Brock, Tracey, Max, and Cilan were all waiting for him. "Ash!" Brock called out. He ran up to Ash to see him. "Brock, it's good to see you again. I missed you." Ash said. Max ran to his side. "Oh Ash, it's been a long time." He said.

"So… This is The Friendship Gate." Ash said with a warm smile. He had his companions in front of him, all of them happy to see their friend again. "We have a lot of catching up to do." Ash said to his friends. Tracey shook his head. "Ash, we want our world back. You need to return to Kanto, not just for you, but for us." Ash thought about this. He knew that none of these people were real. They only existed inside of his mind. Yet, they could still feel emotions. They could still act on their own, autonomous from Ash, their creator. They could even make decisions and use their free will.

"This is strange. You guys are parts of me. I made you." Ash said. "I know it might feel odd, but even though you made us, we're not actually parts of you." Brock said. "Indeed. You created us. You made us out of nothing and gave us free will. You have that power, Ash. You may not always realize it, but it's there." Max said. Pikachu smiled. "Every person has a god inside of them, Ash. You need to awaken your inner god and return."

With that, shadowy figures materialized in the fields. They seemed to be pieces of nothing at first, until the shadows lifted. They were pokemon, all pokemon that Ash had caught over the years, even pokemon that he released were there. Everyone from Butterfree, to Muk, and even Glalie who had supposedly died in battle were there. "You guys… This is amazing. How did you get here?" Ash said. "You brought them here." Pikachu said. "They've returned from nothingness and want to show their gratitude." Brock said.

Each pokemon and each companion began to glow. A ball of light moved out of their bodies. "Take our strength, Ash. You'll need it." Brock said. "Really? What for?" Ash asked. "For your journey. Remember you can always count on your friends." Max said. "It's strengthening time!" Cilan shouted. The balls of light flew inside Ash. He felt their power surging through him. He felt the strength of his friends filling him with what he needed to continue. "Go now, Ash. Return to Kanto and restore the world!" Brock said. "I will. Thank you, everyone!" Ash said. With renewed strength, Ash passed through The Gate of Friendship and continued toward Kanto.

-o0o-

Power Within

-o0o-

I am good and I am bad

I am happy and I'm sad

I can see the power I have within

And I don't know where to begin

I am a god! I am a man!

And I'll do anything I can

To face the other and the unknown

And someday I will return to my home.