Revival Blessing
Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of the Pokémon franchise.
Pairing: Ash x Goh.
Summary:
A slave. The Pharaoh. A Rabsca's ball, preserving their story within.
"A hundred lashes for this lowly slave! He has entered the royal chambers! Guards! How could you have allowed this filth to get this close to the palace?" the vizier railed.
The boy who was the target of the vizier's anger curled up into a ball with the mud ball he'd come to fetch, closing his eyes and expecting his punishment to be both swift and without mercy. But when no whip came down across his back even after the whip's crack sounded, he reopened them to discover the weapon frozen midair, surrounded by purple energy.
"What is going on here?"
"Pharaoh! I beg your forgiveness! This slave snuck into your chambers! We will remove and discipline him harshly! Guards! Take him away immediately!"
"I will handle this matter myself! Leave us!"
"But sire, you –!"
"NOW!"
The vizier and guards bowed and hastily withdrew, fearing Pharaoh's wrath.
It was forbidden for slaves to look upon the Pharaoh. But looking up into the brown eyes of he chosen by the gods, why, the Pharaoh couldn't be older than himself!
The Pharaoh was bright as the sun, a child of pure light in the slave's eyes.
The slave was ready to die in that moment. He'd seen and heard how quickly the Pharaoh dismissed his own advisor and guards.
"Is that a Rellor's mud ball you have there? That's sublime!" Pharaoh gleamed.
The slave was speechless. This Pharaoh was a very different Pharaoh than the one who'd sent his retinue scurrying like Rattata. This Pharaoh was wide-eyed and happy. This Pharaoh was addressing him directly!
He didn't know whether to respond or not. Whether it was a worse crime breaking the rules to speak to the Pharaoh or not speaking to the Pharaoh when called on to do so.
"Are you friends with a magical creature? Me as well, you see!"
The Pharaoh was accompanied by three magical creatures: a Pikachu, a Purrloin, and an Espathra; the last, the origin of the purple energy that stopped the whip from hitting the slave's back.
"A Rellor. Yes, sire. It rolled its ball into the palace mistakenly…"
"And you came to bring your friend its ball back?" The young ruler studied the slave boy curiously, no sign of ire in his voice.
"Yes, sire…" The slave hesitated, still unsure he should be talking to the Pharaoh.
"What?"
"If the sight of my face displeases you sire, I shall quit your presence at once!"
Pharaoh smiled. "Not at all! I find it pleasing, in fact!"
The slave boy blushed.
"Come! You look thin and parched! I have food and water!"
He ate and drank Pharaoh's gifts graciously, and listened to Pharaoh describe his friendships with his magical creatures. The Pharaoh's wish was to promote further cooperation with magical creatures to incorporate them more into daily life. He'd already issued the necessary edicts after the previous Pharaoh's disappearance into the desert.
In return for listening to him prattle on about his dream, the Pharaoh heard the slave out on whatever the slave wished to discuss.
"My people are worked to death. Your people live behind the walls mine have built."
"I cannot defend what my father has done to you and your people. But you needn't fear me. I thank you for opening my eyes to the blood on family's hands, and I promise you my kingdom shall not be responsible for a drop more on my watch."
It was not an empty promise. By the following morning, the wheels were turning.
The slave boy had witnessed the other side of Pharaoh. His ability to compel compliance, directed only towards those who would harm the innocent. Naysayers may have not liked the changes he was making, but none dared raise their voices to contradict him.
In time, Pharaoh expunged the stain his father left on the kingdom. There were no more slaves. Just humans and magical creatures living together in peace and prosperity. He and the former slave boy told each other their names and were wed.
With them began a legacy of concord and innovation. They were celebrated. Hailed as visionaries. Retrospectively, lauded for being millennia ahead of their time.
Their story has persisted into the modern day, where treasures of that era have made it to a historical exhibit. An exhibit that Ash Ketchum and Goh happen to be visiting today.
"I wonder what it must've been like!"
"What what must've been like, Ash?"
"Humans and Pokémon back then! Was it the same as now? Different? Being around all these awesome artifacts is getting me fired up!"
"That's the job of us Research Fellows!" Something in a glass case grabbed Goh's attention. "Hey Ash, look at this!"
Ash and Pikachu surveyed the ball, sitting atop the legs of what appeared to be a Bug-type Pokémon.
"A Pokémon?"
"Hmmmm…Rabsca, the Rolling Pokémon," Goh read. "According to the museum label, the markings on its ball are hieroglyphs. They state this artifact was created to resemble a Pokémon that once belonged to the consort of the Pharaoh, and that it was the symbol the Pharaoh took as his personal seal."
"Wow! That's amazing! I wish I were Pharaoh!"
"Pika?"
"You're Monarch, Ash. Monarch and Pharaoh are basically synonymous."
"Is that right? Aha. Ahaha," Ash laughed awkwardly, not fully aware what "synonymous" meant. "What else does the label say, Goh?"
"Let me see…Oh! This is interesting! Rabsca is one of only two Pokémon known to learn Revival Blessing, a move for reviving Pokémon no longer able to battle! Because of this, Rabsca became synonymous with the sun and immortality in ancient times! It was even believed the Pharaoh and his consort would meet again after their rule ended, revived by Rabsca's Revival Blessing!"
"Reviving a fainted Pokémon? Sounds mega useful in a battle!"
"PI-KA!"
"Life after death, huh? They sure were superstitious back then!" Goh mused.
"Goh! Check this out! This statue is of Lucario!" Ash had moved on to the next display.
Goh stared.
Ash was bright as the sun.
Something like familiarity plucked at Goh, which was odd. Goh and Ash had been by each other's side all this time. How much more familiar could you be with someone?
"Weird."