Well, I already had this done so I decided to post it. It adds depth to the story. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
As, Misty helped Ash back to the lab, a million questions nagged at the back of her mind, but she kept them to herself knowing that they would all be answered soon. Opening the door, she called out to Brock who was seated the closest. Looking up, he saw Ash with his arm around Misty's shoulder for support, sagging at her side. Quickly he rushed over and took Ash's weight from Misty, then carefully he assisted him to a chair. Soon, everyone had gathered around the fatigued boy waiting for answers, but no one knew where to begin.
Suddenly, Ash turned to Professor Oak and asked, "What do you know about The Book of Moirai?"
Taken aback by the abruptness of the question, Oak simply chuckled nervously and stated "That book is just a myth. I wouldn't waste my time researching something that isn't real! And even if it were real its-"
"Professor!" Ash interrupted, "this is serious! Something terrible is going to happen and it begins with that book!" Ash said raising his voice.
No one moved. Ash never raised his voice let alone at Professor Oak.
"Ash honey," Delia started clearly shaken by her son's outburst, "why do you need to know about this...this book?"
After a short pause, he lifted his hand up and within seconds, a small blue ball appeared in his palm. "This is why."
"It's-it's not possible," Oak whispered. "There are no more of them!"
"No more of what?" Delia asked quickly.
"Aura Guardians." Ash answered as he let the aura sphere fizzle out.
Again, there was silence.
"What do you know about Aura Guardians?" Oak asked Ash a bit rattled.
"All I know," Ash said diverting the question, "is that I went outside and was immediately drawn to this glowing crystal in the woods, a Time Flower is what Sir Aaron called it...then he told me to destroy that book."
"Ash, maybe we should just get you home sweetie, you've had a long day and I'm sure you're just tired an-" Delia was cut off.
"Wait!" Oak said. And everyone turned their attention to the Pokemon Professor. "What Ash described is a Time Flower, and only an Aura Guardian can activate one, which means, you are indeed an Aura Guardian. You had all better follow me," Oak finished tiredly.
The Professor led everyone down the steps to his personal research lab. There he turned on his computer and pulled up a file titled The Book of Moirai. Almost instantly, a huge document opened up on the screen.
Everyone looked on in astonishment. Oak never hid research unless there was an excellent reason.
"The Book of Moirai," Oak began, "is not a myth, in fact, it is very real. I have been researching it for years now and I still don't know much about it; let me start from the beginning. Two-hundred years ago, before our world knew peace, many wars were waged over this book. But soon, the world grew weary of war and decided that it would be best to destroy the book. However, before it could be done, an evil Aura Guardian stole it and hid it away. Fortunately, he never got the chance to use it; he died suddenly, shortly after stealing the book. However, before he died, it is said that he placed a barrier made of dark aura around the book. Since then, Aura Guardians have dedicated their lives to finding and destroying this book, but the dark aura protecting it shielded it from being sensed. After decades of searching, the Aura Guardians disappeared and were thought to have all died out. Until you, Ash."
"Wait," Max said speaking up, "what's the big deal with this book? Is it dangerous or something?"
"Well, I am not completely sure, but I do have a theory," then turning to Ash he continued, "In ancient Greek mythology, Moirai referred to the three fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Those three deities controlled the "thread of life" to every person ever born. Its power was so great that even the mighty Zeus, king of the gods, was not impervious."
"Ok, but what does that have to do with this book?" Dawn asked, not drawing any connections.
"I'm getting there," Oak said patiently. "Now, I believe that these fates parallel the legendary Kanto birds, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. It would make sense, since The Book of Moirai originated from Kanto. Now here is where I think my theory becomes highly unlikely, what if the book holds the steps necessary to create the thread of life using the birds? It sounds absurd and I honestly have no clue as to how that could be done, but the parallels are just uncanny." Oak finished and a silence settled on the room.
"I have to destroy that book." Ash concluded. "If your theory is correct, that book could spell the end of the world. Whoever controls it would have absolute power and leverage over literally everyone."
"I know," Oak said solemnly, "and if Sir Aaron himself told you to find and destroy it, I am now one-hundred percent sure of its existence."
"But just where would we even begin looking?" Brock asked.
"Whoa, slow down Brock!" Ash said. "I can't ask you to put aside your personal aspirations to come look for a lost book! It could be dangero-"
"Honestly Ash, you couldn't stop me from coming with you," he responded sternly.
Professor Oak spoke up before Ash could retaliate, "Ash, it would be good for you to have help along the way." Delia shook her head in agreement not wanting her son to go alone.
"Fine," Ash said as he noticed the conflicted looks on May, Max, Dawn, and Gary's faces. Then turning to them he said with a determined glint, "Guys, honestly I want you to follow your dreams, don't let this get in your way. It's my burden to bear now, and I'm going to see this through."
The four of them nodded before Gary spoke. "Ash, just because we are not with you doesn't mean we can't get to you. If you need help, you know how to reach us. Right guys?"
They all nodded vigorously in agreement.
Turning back to Oak, Ash reiterated Brock's question, "So do you have any idea of where we would begin looking?"
"According to Kanto lore, the evil Aura Guardian hid it where the bloodiest battles between Kanto and Johto occurred, also known as Mount Silver."
"Well then it's decided. That's where we will head," Ash concluded.
Just as Ash finished speaking, Pikachu, who had been on Ash's shoulder the whole time, let out a huge yawn.
"Well, I think Pikachu has the right idea," Delia said, "it's been a long night and I think that we should all get some rest. We can discuss this more tomorrow."
Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and began to file up the stairs out of Oak's lab, leaving Oak and an overwhelmed Ash by themselves.
"Ash," Professor Oak started seeing the boy's mixed emotion etched across his face, "Sir Aaron has entrusted you with this task. He would not have done so if he thought you incapable. Remember that ok?"
Ash nodded and headed for the stairs.
Pikachu lay peacefully sleeping on Ash's bed. Ash watched Pikachu's side rise and fall with each breath; he wondered if he would ever fall asleep tonight. He doubted it. Getting up, he quietly made his way to the door of his room and once he was out, he carefully closed it behind him so that he wouldn't wake up his sleeping Pokemon. Making his way down the stairs, he headed straight for the kitchen. After getting a glass of orange juice, he sat down at the table and began to go over the events of the day in his head. How had such an ordinary day turned into this? He thought to himself as he called upon his aura, causing his hands to glow a deep blue color.
"Good trick," a voice said from behind him.
Without even turning around, Ash asked, "What are you still doing up Misty?"
"I could ask you the same question," she replied smartly.
"I just can't sleep," Ash said.
"Well me too," she concluded as she sat down next to Ash and took a sip of his orange juice.
"How come?" he asked.
"I don't know, I guess I've been thinking," she paused.
Ash took the bait, "About what?"
"Well, I would really like to come with you and Brock to find this Book of Moirai." Before Ash could interrupt, she quickly continued, "My sisters can hold down the gym, plus you could always use another person watching your back and I think that-"
"Yeah I would like that." Ash said surprising himself with his answer.
"Oh," she chuckled a bit before saying, "somehow I thought it would be harder to convince you."
"Yeah me too," he said smiling, "I guess I've grown up a bit since the last time we traveled together."
You certainly have, Misty thought to herself eyeing his arms. All of the traveling and training with his Pokemon paired with just growing up, had done wonders. Ash has certainly filled out.
"Well," Ash said interrupting Misty's thoughts, "since we're not sleeping, what do you say we watch a movie?"
"Sure!" Misty said as they moved to the living room.
Shortly after starting the movie, fatigue finally overcame the adrenaline of the day and Ash drifted off into a peaceful sleep. Misty soon followed suit, her head unknowingly resting on Ash's shoulder.
Misty awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon, fully aware that her head lay on Ash's shoulder. Carefully she extracted herself from her position on the couch making sure not to wake him up. Walking into the kitchen, she found Delia making breakfast.
"Good morning Mrs. Ketchum," Misty yawned out.
"Good morning Misty. I was wondering who would be the first to come to breakfast, though to be honest I expected Ash's stomach to wake him up," Delia said joking.
"You would be right!" Ash said plopping down in a chair. "I'm starving!"
The girls rolled their eyes at Ash's predictability.
Soon everyone had woken up, showered, and eaten breakfast. They sat at the kitchen table chatting and catching up as if the day before hadn't even happened. That was until Delia spoke up.
"So I take it you're leaving again?" She asked turning to Ash.
The atmosphere quickly turned stale. "Yeah," Ash responded before flashing a smile and adding, "I'll be back before you know it!"
Pikachu began nodding in agreement from his spot on the table as if to reassure Ash's mother that nothing bad was going to happen.
"Well, okay then, you should all get moving then," Delia said returning to her normal cheerful self. "I'll make you all lunch for the road while you get ready to go!"
Ash and Pikachu walked together towards Oak's lab.
"I wonder who I should take on this trip..." Ash wondered aloud looking at Pikachu.
Pikachu just shrugged adding "Pika pi pika pik."
"Yeah you're right. It's just such a hard decision!"
Reaching the lab, the two of them entered as Oak was about to exit.
"Oh! Good morning Ash!" You surprised me! "I take it you're here to pick up a team of Pokemon for your...errand." Oak finished trailing off at the end.
"Yeah." Ash said looking down at the ground before lifting his eyes back to Professor Oak. "Thanks for sharing your research yesterday. I know that it's highly sensitive, but this would be impossible if you hadn't."
"Don't mention it," Oak stated solemnly, "I couldn't keep that kind of information from an Aura Guardian." Then Oak turned to walk away, but at the bottom of the stairs he turned back around. "Just remember, Sir Aaron chose you. You can do this Ash." Then he continued on his way.
"Time to choose a team," Ash said exhaling at the difficulty of the task as he entered the reserve behind the lab.
After seeing off May, Max, and Dawn, Ash stood in front of his house flanked by Brock and Misty, listening to his mother.
"...And don't forget to change your underwea-"
"Mom! I'm nineteen!" He said embarrassed his two companions laughed.
"I know." She said looking down. "Just...just come back safe."
Ash moved forward and pulled his mom into a hug. "I will. I promise." Then he stepped back and all three walked off towards Route 1.
Reaching out from the shadows, a shadowy man pressed his an intercom button.
"Send her in."
Moments later, a blonde woman entered the dark office. "What are your orders sir?"
"Ahh, Domino, straight to the point, thats why you're my top agent. All I wanted to tell you was that it's time for the end of the world," he said malevolently.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of her lip. "As you wish Giovanni." And as quickly as she had come, she was gone.
Giovanni stood up and paced back and forth in front of his desk. He was in a particularly good mood today.
"Soon, my friend," he said turning to his Persian, "I will fulfill my failed ancestor's destiny, and then I will take the world into a new age, an age of pain and suffering for those who oppose me, but an age of opportunity for those that choose to join."
Satisfied with himself, he returned to his seat and sank back down. Lifting his hand, he smiled as a small violet orb began to form, casting an eerie glow that seemed to flicker with anticipation at the sight of Giovanni's evil face.
Ash's party will be revealed next chapter! Also, I hope you like the story so far. Please read and review :) It will make me happy!
Thanks for reading,
theriot010