Guardian Solaris

Ash-17

Max- 13

May- 15

Brock- 22

Dawn- 13

Serena (OC) – 9

Drew- 17

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"Speech"

'Thoughts'

(Authors' notes)

Chapter 7- Where it all began

Brock and Max watched the battle as May lost her battle, and then found that she had suddenly disappeared into nowhere. "Where'd May go?" Brock asked Max.

"I don't know." Max admitted in a solemn tone, deep in thought. Thinking of what the consequences of her battle with Dawn was on his sister. Yes he and May didn't get along at all times. He would get angry at her for treating him like a baby. And sometimes he would think of what life would be like without her. But the reality was still there. They were family, and he had seen how May had changed, and even though he hated her, every false smile she had, every time she wouldn't admit she needed help. "She'll be fine." Max consoled Brock. But would it, really? Wasn't he just doing what she always did, and just hid the truth. Yet deep inside he just hoped that his sister was safe.

----

On the battlefield Dawn had now been waiting for the best part of five minutes after healing her Pokemon. Wondering where in the world her opponent had gone. He wasn't at the Pokémon centre and time was running out. Although on the bright side of things, if he didn't show up she'd win!

"Would you have any idea where he would be?" a tense Lillian asked sympathetically to Dawn, a small shred of hope in the woman's eyes as the crowd was becoming extremely agitated. There had been an extra five minutes of Adverts put on for those watching on T.V. and if Red couldn't be found soon, things would get bad.

"I don't have a clue." Dawn admitted, "I'm sorry." Wondering if it would actually feel worth it if the only reason that she won was because her opponent had disappeared. It would be a win, but would it be proper?

Suddenly the crowd began to cheer in relief, as Red walked into the stadium, Pikachu running up and jumping on his shoulder from wherever it was. Suddenly the cameras began to roll, and Lillian felt the strength fill her again, as a smile came upon her face when Ash came to his position.

"Now ladies and gentlemen..." she went off on her speech as Dawn looked onto her opponent with slight annoyance.

"Where do you think you were, hmm?" she asked pointedly. Sighing from the silence she had received. Not really knowing him to say much more than the few words those he said when she first talked. Even then he was not exactly the best conversation to have.

"You going to say anything?" she asked, expecting the silence from him, as MC Lillian prattled on. For a moment Dawn wondered why in the world she had thought about him so much, but in a way that was the way his mystery had worked. She looked towards the silent figure and did something that no one else had done, she smiled. She could see him shudder at her actions; something inside her had known that she had gotten one step closer to solving this mystery.

"Now if you would release your Pokémon?" Lillian asked, as Dawn came back to reality. Remembering not to get overconfident, this was not the place to be such, but was he?

Red's Typhlosion and Meganium appeared in a burst of red light, both standing calmly before their trainer, although Dawn knew in an instant that Typhlosion would have some shred of exhaustion from his previous battle with Drew. Especially since her opponent had the arrogance to not go into the Pokémon centre.

"Come on out guys!" Dawn shouted, as her Pachirisu and Empoleon came out of their Pokéball's, eager for a battle. Empoleon rejuvenated after its previous battle. Both revelling in the opportunity to fight in the finals.

"So it's Empoleon and Pachirisu against Meganium and Typhlosion. Let's get busy!" she shouted, as Dawn took the same route as the two co-ordinators before her, ordering her Pokémon to make the first move before Ash could end things quickly.

"Empoleon use water gun and Pachirisu use discharge on it." Dawn said as the water type launched its water gun, Pachirisu striking it as the electricity began to flow down the water to Ash's Pokémon.

"Meganium, stop them." Ash said as Meganium launched her razor leaf negating the attacks, leaves floating high in the air, slowly floating down.

"Typhlosion, flame thrower." He commanded to his Pokémon as it launched a flamethrower to Empoleon, incinerating the leaves and turning them into ashes, left floating in the air.

"Empoleon, stop the flame thrower with water pulse." Dawn said as Empoleon doused Typhlosion's attack with ease. Both with their point's one eighth down at this moment as Dawn wondered why Red would use an attack that she would easily block.

"Meganium, are you ready?" he asked as the grass type gave a nod to its trainer, "Ready the grass cannon." He said as the Pokémon straightened out its long neck. Aiming it as if it was a cannon, straight towards Empoleon. The grass type launched a bullet seed from its mouth, and a series of petals from the ring of flowers on it neck, the two merging, as they flew across the field at an alarming rate with the combination attack.

"Stop them!" Dawn said in a panic, "Pachirisu, Charge beam!" she said quickly as the electric type launched its attack. But Meganium's strike was picking up power, gathering the ashes of the razor leaf that lay scattered in the air; it became a mix of pink gold and black. Smashing through the charge beam, exploding as it reached Dawn's Pokémon. Her points falling like a rock, as she looked in a frenzy to see if there was any hope of her Pokémon carrying on. Suddenly Empoleon began to glow a bright blue as its torrent ability came into effect. Pachirisu seeing its partner stand up was encouraged itself as it stood up with a determined grin.

Dawn let out a sigh of relief; all those watching were astounded at this new combination of techniques that could have nearly blown Dawn out of the water. But then she realised, looking at the dark figure opposite her, that he had been quite possibly planning it from the beginning of the match. A little party piece to go out with a bang. If he was going to play like that, so would she.

"Empoleon, Hydro Cannon, Pachirisu, charge it with thunder!" she commander with a fire as Empoleon released a titanic gush of water to Typhlosion, ready to blow it into next week.

Not expecting such a comeback from Dawn Ash made a defensive move ordering his Meganium, "Make a wall with Frenzy plant to stop that." as Meganium launched thick vines out of the ground in the shape of a wall, all weaving together with one another to protect her partner and friend. As the Hydro cannon struck the wall shuddered, Meganium feeling the strain of the attack. Then Pachirisu launched its thunder attack, it flowed down the stream of water, punching the wall back once more as Meganium tried to keep it upright. The vines threatening to fall at any moment, the sweat on the grass type's face, her effort keeping Typhlosion safe as the torrent slowly stopped and Meganium looked as if there was absolutely no hope of it doing another attack for a while.

Her little gambit had failed, her points were hanging by a thread, her Pokémon on their last legs after the energy used and damage dealt to them, the next step was Ash's easiest as he shouted to his Typhlosion, "Take them out." Immediately the fire type formed a large ball of fire in its mouth, the wall of vines receding back into the ground as Dawn looked at Typhlosion with shock. It launched a blast burn, flying at his exhausted opponents. The bright ball of flames exploding on contact with the water and electric types, knocking them both out in an instant.

Then many things happened at once. The judges pressing their buzzers. The crowd rising in wild applause. Confetti falling from above. MC Lillian shouting out a monologue to congratulate the victor. Dawn Returning her Pokémon. Dawn collapsing to her knees. Exhausted, tired, sad, angry, happy.

Then seeing her opponent in front of her. Pikachu on his shoulder. Other two Pokémon behind him. 'He won this whole thing with just those three.' She thought, wondering, how he did it. Just what was that little trick that made someone into a champion. The heartlessness, the isolation, the way that he hides his identity, the act his puts on, the power of his Pokémon, the tricks they have up their sleeves.

Then he held out his hand, the silent nudge for her to grab it. She did, as he pulled her up onto her feet. Wondering if she'd find out the solution to this mystery. Find an answer to one of her problems. It was close, she could just about see the shape of his eyes, some hair sticking out. The mask of darkness slowly breaking underneath her gaze.

But all she found was those answers turning around from her as he turned around and walked away with his Pokémon in tow. Ready to collect his well earned trophy.

That man, that man that couldn't hear the audience roar as he helped her up, and boo when he turned around. That person who had absolutely no idea why he helped his opponent up. A small act which to most is almost nothing worthy of being called kindness, and yet to him it was something completely different. The question of 'why' repeating itself in his head, why he had done that, why had he spent one moment looking back into his past. Something he had left behind and was happy to leave behind. Did he do it for the sake of possibly finding something new, or to respect something that was already dead and buried?

The grand ceremony passing on, like a blur. Nothing really required of him but to stand as still as a statue. Left alone with his Pokémon and his own thoughts. To look into the reasons why his calm pool, his solid mask, had been cracked ever so slightly. Then coming to the conclusion that this was the end. After this, there wouldn't be any more close scrapes to destroy all that he had built.

Just as the ceremony was ending and Mr Contesta came up to Ash with the Ribbon cup in hand as he took the golden trophy in his hands. The one symbol that co-ordinators far and wide strived to achieve. Here he was with it in hand, and yet it didn't make him feel any taller.

"Well done." The man said to Ash with a weary smile. "I have heard good things about you from Charles Goodshow, and after hearing you came here I had a feeling you would manage to make it to the end."

Ash sighed lightly, knowing how news of him had spread amongst some of those higher up in the Pokémon world, especially after the head of the Pokémon league knew full well that he hadn't yet managed to defeat a member of the Elite four, he had still been given high admiration by the cheerful old man who had been tracking his progress very closely. "Thank you Mr Contesta." He said in a level voice, as the man gave Ash a smile and a nod, just before he walked away.

Then Ash realised that this secret wasn't exactly a complete secret, and wondered if his mystery would always stay as one. But only time could answer to that.

----

Later on in the day, the Grand festival party was taking place. Not a head banging disco rave in a basement with acid and a large stash of E. More like a college prom with a range of speeches and without the range of drugs that made the thing much more wacky. But there was still beer. Beer and vodka, even if it was limited to the older contestants. But by the time they got drunk the kids would steal their ID and also have a nice time getting thrown out of the party.

But for the most part things were going well as everyone who lost drowned their sorrows in drink and dancing, flashing lights and a variety of drinks. May in particular was one of the people who partook in some activities, exhausted from dancing, and sitting down near the bar, tired. Just needing some rest.

"I heard-" May heard the conversation of people who sat around her, not really bothering to listen.

"Yeah but-" they continued.

"I heard he rode on the back of a Lugia." Another rumour went away about the newly crowned champion, a subject that May wasn't really bothered about, just wanting to get rid of all of the frustration and disappointment that was still inside of her.

The fact that the champion that had beaten them had decided not shown up only furthered the mystery behind him, and conversations were ripe with rumours that May really couldn't care less about. She just wanted to finish all of this, and maybe get onto the dance floor, maybe see some of her friends that have gone missing ever since they entered this place, but she was fine with that. She was a big girl now.

"I heard that he's a trainer." Did they have to continue?

"How do you know?" More and more gossip about the person who beat them, May couldn't really stand this anymore.

"I think I saw him in the Johto championships." He couldn't be a trainer, rumours were always a bit of a stretch but this was just ridiculous.

"Yeah, the way he battled wasn't really like a co-ordinator" May couldn't take it anymore, as she got ready to move away from her seat, but was quickly sent back down as someone sat beside her.

"Hey May." Dawn said cheerfully, some sweat on her face from the dancing she probably did.

"Hey Dawn." May said with a small smile, glad that she had someone to talk to.

"Having a nice time?" she asked, May with a smile, seeing the brunettes smile hesitate for a second before it came back stronger.

"Yeah, it's brilliant." She replied, enthusiastically. As Dawn put up her own smile.

"You want to get out of here?" she asked, "It's getting a bit late, and we have to get some sleep for the journey to Max's tournament." Dawn suggested as May gave a nod in response and the two friends left the gossips and revellers to do their thing.

Once outside they found that things were quiet, peaceful. The loud beats, and pulsing rhythm of the music becoming a distant murmur. The road to the Pokémon centre, a nice rest and a hot bath to look forward to, although before that could come they had to go through this walk and Dawn had to ask her friend something.

"So, where did you go after our match?" she asked as May didn't answer, "May?" she asked once more with concern.

"Yeah, I just had to take some time off after that." She replied quickly.

"Well, it's nice to see you having a good time now." Dawn said carefully, as May maintained her mask. "Are you alright?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." May replied, as Dawn began to talk.

"Yeah, you know May. When I first started to get into contests I wasn't all that good. I would lose in the first round quite a few times and after a while I just couldn't stand it."She sighed, "I was going- going to quit, I just- I just couldn't carry on losing. I- I didn't tell my friends and it was like no one, no one in the world would understand what it was like to be me. I could train like there was no tomorrow, think of every strategy but I just kept losing. I just wanted it to end. I couldn't carry on losing- I couldn't."

May looked towards Dawn expectantly and asked, "So what happened?"

"I won." came Dawns truthful reply. "I won the Wallace cup, and all of a sudden things went back on track." Dawn explained, as May's face fell into a frown, looking as if she was deep in thought.

"Dawn." May asked, "Why are you telling me this?" but before a reply came the two girls were distracted by the sound of angry voices in the form of an argument, one of the voices which seemed to be all too familiar as May uttered he persons name, "Max." and they began to run to the direction of the voices, seeing Max in a heated argument with a young girl.

Suddenly Max called out his Grovile, and the young girl released her Ninetails as May watched in amazement at what Max was doing, 'She looks smaller than ten years old, what's he thinking?' she asked herself as they got ready to battle. Both she and Dawn knowing better than to interfere in a battle between Pokémon trainers.

Max saw May at the sidelines, hoping that some battling would help her get out of her slump. Hoping that it would pull a proper smile back onto her face. This little white haired girl would just be someone he had to beat in order to reach that goal.

"Alright." He said to his Grovyle, "Let's cut this kids ego down to size. Leaf blade!" His Pokémon jumped into action, leafs on his arms extending in a bright green light, and morphing into the shape of swords as it came rushing wildly into Ninetails.

"You know what to do." His opponent said with a calm smile as her Ninetails waited patiently, its eyes beginning to glow red the closer

Grovyle came. At the last moment it changed direction running past the fox like Pokémon, missing its fur by centimetres.

"What?" Max muttered in disbelief, as he ordered his Grovyle to, "Attack again!" it rushed one more into the stationary Ninetails. Once the grass type got close its opponent's eyes began to glow red and it missed once more as Max became frustrated. He commanded, "Again!" and when that failed, "Again!" he continued to shout, frustration growing steadily as Grovyle couldn't strike its target.

Dawn shouted, "You're tiring Grovyle out!" as Max snapped out of his angry trance, and took a second to calm down. He looked at what was happening and decided to try a new method.

"Use Bullet seed!" he shouted, as his Pokémon began to fire glowing seeds out of its mouth like bullets.

"Overheat!" The girl countered as her Pokémon began to form a bright ball of flames inside of its mouth, launching it into the oncoming flames and incinerating them with ease as the attack continued to fly into the grass type.

"Dodge!" Max shouted, but his Pokémon was surrounded by a bright red light that stopped it from moving at all. With a bang the Overheat struck its target, and caused Grovyle to faint, as May and Dawn looked on in shock.

"How'd she do that?" May muttered, wondering how in the world a young girl could do that to one of Max's Pokémon, her little brother was one of the better trainers around, and this was a little girl. "One hit." She muttered.

"Come on May, have some faith in Max." Dawn said as she cheered, "Come on Max!" as the two battlers recalled their Pokémon, and got their next ones ready, throwing their Pokéball's simultaneously. On Max's side was a calm Gardevoir, and on the young girls was a strong Gallade.

Confident, the young girl ordered "Gallade, use Psycho cut and finish this off!" but her Pokémon did not move a single muscle.

Max snorted, muttering "Her Pokémon doesn't even listen to her." Then seeing his opportunity he commanded, "Gardevoir use Psychic." But his Pokémon did not move either as Max looked on in disbelief. Her Gallade merely bowed to Max's Gardevoir, as Max returned the psychic type in frustration, muttering "it's a draw." As the white haired girl returned her Pokémon.

"Go Magmar!" Max said as he threw the Pokéball, releasing the fire type Pokémon.

"Go Wartortle" Serena responded releasing the water type, who she knew had a clear type advantage against its opponent.

"Smokescreen!" Max commanded as the battlefield was covered in smog.

"Rapid spin" the girl countered as Wartortle began to spin at rapid speeds, clearing the smog that Magmar had created.

"Fire blast!" Max shouted, as it launched the attack at the spinning water type as it dissipated on contact with its target.

"Wartortle was moving too fast. That was never going to work." May commented, noticing the water type stand up as the young girl looked on with a victorious smirk.

Just as Wartortle got up Max shouted "Dynamic Punch!" throwing the smaller Pokémon onto its back. "Hold it down!" Max shouted as he Fire type pushed its foot down onto the smaller Pokémon's shell. "Smash it with Stomp!" Max shouted as the fire type lifted its foot, and then sent it crashing down with a mighty Crack.

Wartortle let out a whimper, the pain that it was feeling almost unbearable as the shell could easily shatter with one more hit. Suddenly the Pokémon was surrounded by a red glow as it was recalled, and the young girl ran away with tears in her eyes.

Max smiled with his performance, showing that girl her place, that she couldn't stand up to a professional regardless of who she knew and who helped her train. He was older, and better than she could ever hope to be. Max's grin grew wider as he realised that his performance probably would have gotten his sisters spirits up. But before he could find out Max was slapped with a large crack, as he tripped over his own legs, flying into the ground. When he turned around to see who it was that attacked him he saw his sister looking at him with an angry face, determined to show her little brother a lesson.

"Ow." Max said, as May was enraged even further.

"Ow?" she said, "OW?" she repeated once more, "Look what you nearly did to that poor girls Pokémon! She's how old? Around ten? You're just SO-" she groaned, trying not to rip the young boy to shreds.

But at least he had helped her to forget her own troubles. At least for now.

----

Ash sat alone in the Pokémon centre. Waiting for Serena to get back, wondering where in the world she could be. For anyone who would walk past the trainer would appear calm and collected whilst on the inside he was a nervous wreck, thinking of the many possible scenarios that could have happened to her, wondering if he should go after her, if he should go and find her. If anyone had done anything, he knew that he should have given her some way of contacting him.

The doors opened, and she rushed in, tears streaming down her eyes, as Ash rushed out of his seat and caught her before she could crash into anything. He grabbed her firmly, disappointed in himself, knowing that he hadn't stopped whatever had happened to her.

"Serena." He asked as she began to thrash about in his arms, wailing as he repeated in the calmest tone he could muster, "Serena, it's alright." She stopped wriggling in his arms, burying herself in his comforting embrace, sobbing. "It's alright."

"Wartortle." She wept, "It was a boy and he had glasses and he."

"shush." He whispered, knowing that there would be another time to find out what happened.

"Wartortle's, hurt." She repeated as Ash let go and stood up,

"We'll see if Nurse Joy can do anything about that, alright?" he asked.

"Alright." She replied, wiping her tears with her arm and hoping that her Pokémon would be better.