Here is chapter 3 of this story, thank you all for your reviews on chapter 1. This is where the story really starts changing and we get into brand new territory.
I need a little help guys, I haven't watched the show in ages and need to know a list of all the wild Pokémon Ash has assisted during his travelling days from Kanto to the end of Unova. While I remember some, I know that there are ones that I have missed so I'd appreciate your help. I have already gotten a list from pokefan2003 listing some of the Pokémon Ash has met and helped but he did admit that he wasn't sure about any Unova ones.
In conversations unless otherwise stated this is how you can tell what kind of speech is being used.
'- Poké Speech
"- Human speech
"- Aura/Telepathy
Without further ado let the chapter begin!
Felina led Ash towards the beach so she could take him to the island she was talking about, Pikachu quickly caught them up and jumped onto Ash's shoulder nuzzling his cheek. There was no way Pikachu was leaving Ash at any time no matter what. Ash scratched the mouse's ear gratefully and then caught back up with Felina who was stroking the head of her faithful Gyrados who was rumbling in content.
"Hey, Gyrados I need you to take us to the uninhabited island we found."
Gyrados nodded and rumbled in response, he then leant down allowing Felina and Ash to get onto Gyrados' back, they both took firm hold on Gyrados fins and when he was sure they were ready to leave Gyrados let out a roar as the sea serpent headed towards the island Felina was speaking of.
As Gyrados tore through the waves Ash found himself reminiscing his journeys through these islands specifically the incident with Lugia and the legendary birds and now wondered why he bothered getting involved. He'd fought so hard for so many of the legendary Pokémon and they'd let him down when he really needs their help. Ash sighed and cast his gaze back out to the sea finding himself wanting to return to the Shamouti Shrine.
With the help of Gyrados they reached the island Felina had thought of, they got off the sea serpents back and took a look around the smallish island, it was still uninhabited and had plenty of room for Ash and his Pokémon to train. After checking out the island Ash and Pikachu nodded, both knowing that this would be perfect for what Ash had planned.
"This'll be perfect, we can train here without worrying about someone being bothered by us."
"And you're close enough that I can keep an eye on you if I need to." Felina added. "Well with that sorted we should head back to Valencia Island and tell your Pokémon the news."
"Yeah, we should, but first can we take a small detour to the Shamouti Shrine?"
"Sure Ash."
While Felina was curious about why Ash would want to return there she didn't ask, she knew that if he wanted to tell her he would do in his own time. So, she got back into Gyrados' back and was quickly joined by Ash.
"Alright Gyrados head for the Shamouti Shrine."
With a rumble of acknowledgement Gyrados changed course and headed towards the shrine, he remembered the last time he had been here when he had watched as Lugia and the legendary birds of Kanto had battled in a fierce battle. He, along with everyone else who had gathered their had felt helpless as they watched the desperate battle and he just hoped that there wouldn't be a crisis like that again.
After a quick swim Gyrados arrived at the bottom of the hill that the Shamouti Shrine was sat on. Ash thanked Gyrados and got off the sea serpents back, Felina offered to go with him but Ash politely refused and then started to climb up the slope. He wasn't entirely sure why he wanted to come here since the place held memories of his past but for some reason he wanted to go back to the shrine.
Ash got to the top of the hill and spotted the shrine, he walked up to the shrine and stood in front of the three spheres representing fire, lightning and ice remembering the events that had transpired here so many years ago. The memories only fuelled the anger Ash had towards his former friends and part of him was now imagining ways of making them pay after he had dealt with Team Rocket. Suddenly heard footsteps behind him and turned around spotting the talking Pokémon who had told him of his involvement in the prophecy and his role as the Chosen One.
"Hello Slowking."
"Welcome back Chosen One. Why have you come here?"
"I don't know, I just came here to vent I suppose. I just want to know why the legendary Pokémon let this happen to me? After everything I've done for them, they couldn't or wouldn't even protect my mother and have allowed me to be framed for horrific crimes that now make me public enemy number one." Ash sighed and clenched his fists.
"They have their reasons Ash. The legendary Pokémon are not permitted to interfere in the events of the world."
"Unless it involves them, then they're more than happy to interfere. Fucking hypocrites." Ash replied and then sighed. "I wish I'd have let those people capture most of the legends rather than risk my neck saving them, I've nearly died so many times while saving some of them and in return I get nothing. Well it won't be happening again, from now on they are all on their own."
"I do not blame you for your resentment of them, in fact I'd be amazed if you didn't resent them. Just be careful, I can tell that you already hold a lot of anger and hatred for Team Rocket, stacking deep resentment for the legendary Pokémon and all the people who have abandoned you on top of that could change you into the very thing you want to destroy."
Slowking's speech made Ash think about his mother's dying words, as much as he wanted to do as his mother asked he had to wonder if he really could do that. After the events of the past twenty-four hours Ash could already feel the change within him and the worst part was that he didn't mind the change. It was different, it showed him a new perspective on things and allowed him to see and think of much darker fates for everyone in Team Rocket, especially Giovanni.
"Thanks, Slowking, I'd better get going now." Ash said as he pushed the darker thoughts aside for the time being.
"Farewell Chosen One. Remember what I have said today."
Ash nodded and walked away from the shrine, he was glad he'd come here, speaking with Slowking had helped and he felt better for severing his ties with the majority of the legendary Pokémon. There were a few like Mewtwo that he knew wouldn't abandon since h knew in his heart that they wouldn't abandon him. the rest though were of no concern to him anymore, whatever happens to them is on their own heads.
As Ash walked down the slope a woman came out from hiding, she had heard Slowking speaking with someone and had kept hidden to find out anything about him and part of her was sure that it had been Ash. However, she pushed that hope aside, he hadn't been back to the Orange Islands for years so why would he be here now. The woman walked over to Slowking who was staring at the shrine.
"Who was that Slowking?" Melody asked.
"I don't know who he is any more Melody, I knew him once, but he is not the same person anymore."
Melody frowned as Slowking really hadn't answered her question and now she really had to wonder who that person is or judging by what Slowking had said was. The girl took another look at the person who was slowly walking down the hill and spotted a Pikachu sat on his shoulder. There was only one person she had met that had a Pikachu that sat on his shoulder and she felt her heart race at the thought of seeing him once again.
"Wait, is that Ash?" Melody asked.
"It was once, like I said Melody now I don't really know who he is."
"Why? What's happened to him?"
Slowking sighed, the people who lived on Shamouti Island still held onto very traditional values and as such had very little in the way of modern technology meaning that news sometimes got to them slowly. He was curious on whether Melody would believe Ash would be capable of committing the crimes he is accused of so quickly changed the response he had originally thought of.
"Ash has been accused of destroying much of Viridian City in Kanto as well as some of Pallet Town and of murdering his own mother." Slowking replied.
"Ash would never do that!" Melody snapped.
"You believe Ash to be innocent?"
"Of course! Ash is a good person, he's the Chosen One, he selflessly saved the world and didn't care about getting recognition for his actions. There is no way Ash would ever commit those crimes."
"I'm glad to hear you say that Melody you know the Chosen One far better than people who had spent years in his presence. The truth is that he has been framed by Team Rocket, he's currently hiding somewhere in the Orange Islands while he prepares to get revenge on Team Rocket."
"Do you know where he's hiding?"
"I do not, however he has not yet left the island, if you hurry you may be able to catch him."
Melody gave Slowking a quick nod and then charged down the hill hoping she would catch up with Ash before he left again. A small smile appeared on Slowking's face as he watched Melody run down the mountain in hot pursuit of Ash. He silently wished the girl good luck and then turned his gaze out towards the islands and then to the sea asking Lugia why they had allowed Ash to suffer like this. As he expected Slowking got no response to his question, he sighed in annoyance and disappointment and then headed back to his home.
After a few minutes and a few near accidents Melody saw the bottom of the hill, she looked along the shore and saw Ash getting closer to a Gyrados being ridden by Professor Ivy. It was clear that she had also sided with Ash and was here to take him back to wherever he is hiding. Melody knew that as soon as he got on that Gyrados it would take him away from here possibly forever this time. The problem was she knew she wouldn't catch up time, so she yelled out to him hoping that he would hear her and stop.
"Ash! Wait!"
Ash saw Felina and Gyrados waiting for him and smiled gratefully, he'd never be able to repay them for their loyalty. He started to quicken his pace, he wanted to be away from this place and the memories surrounding as soon as possible. However, he stopped as he heard a familiar voice call his name, a voice he hadn't heard since his last visit to Shamouti Island. Ash turned around and saw the maiden of Shamouti Island standing a few yards away, breathing heavily as she stared at him.
"Hello Melody."
There was almost complete silence as Ash and Melody stared at one another, the former wondering whether she had jumped on the bandwagon and believe him to be a murderer while the latter was amazed to finally see him again after all these years. After a few moments Melody stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Ash tightly surprising the young man who after getting over his shock quickly returned the embrace.
"I'm so sorry Ash, Slowking told me what happened to you. I'm here for you Ash."
Ash let out a shaky breath forcing himself not to cry, knowing that someone else believed in him as well was almost overwhelming but he was done crying. The pair loosened their hold allowing them to pull apart slightly and get a better look at one another. A light blush dusted Melody's cheeks as she saw that Ash had become a handsome young man, his years of travelling also giving him a strong, lean build. Ash meanwhile was forcing down a blush, he couldn't deny that the maiden had grown incredibly beautiful over the past few years.
"Thank you, Melody." Ash eventually said.
"It's okay Ash, so where are you staying?" Melody asked.
"I-I can't tell you, there are people there who could get hur…." Ash started until he was interrupted by Professor Ivy.
"He's staying at my lab, you can come by whenever you want Melody. Anyone who cares for Ash is welcome at my lab." Felina stated sending a subtle wink at Melody causing the girl to blush.
"Th-thank you Professor Ivy."
Ash turned to the professor almost gawking at her, he was stunned that Felina had so openly disclosed his location to someone she barely knew just because they claimed to be on his side. Had he been in Felina place Ash knew for a fact that he would not have done the same thing. Ash turned his focus back to Melody who was smiling at him, the maiden then hugged him briefly and then started heading back up the hill towards the shrine.
"I'll come visit you soon Ash."
"Um okay." Ash replied still in shock.
Melody gave them a small wave which was returned by Ash and Felina as they watched the girl disappear over the hill. Ash then turned back to Felina and quickly got onto Gyrados, he was about to ask her why she had told Melody where to find him but didn't get the chance as the professor already knew what he was going to say.
"She believes in you Ash, I can tell by the look in her eyes." Felina replied knowing there was more than just friendship in Melody's gaze.
"Okay Felina, I just don't want you putting yourself at risk because of me."
"I told you before Ash, you're safe here, I'm not going to let anyone take you away and neither will the Orange Crew who would like to meet you by the way."
While Ash had known that Felina would do her best to protect him while he was here, Ash had no idea just how determined she was to do that, and she seemed to have no worries about him being caught which made him feel a little more at ease. Also, the idea of meeting the Orange Crew once again made sense, Felina had said they were on his side regardless, but it would still be in his best interest to see them and make sure they knew just how much he appreciated their support.
"Let's go see them then."
Notes
Thank you all for reading this chapter, please leave a review below telling me what you liked and what I could improve on. I'm also willing to use any ideas you may have.