A/N: ... Hi... It's me... I'm SO sorry that it took so long to update!

Yes, it has been like two months since I've uploaded. (I'm not really counting the last chapter, it was short, and it didn't have much action. Yes, it provided important information, but it wasn't that interesting.)

This chapter is meant to get the story rolling again, to get it back into action, instead of me having it drag on and on. I've been up late the last few nights working on it, so hopefully its good!

So, here's chapter twenty! (I'm in the twenties now!)

"Pikachu, Quick Attack!" Grace cried, and Pikachu briefly became outlined in white, the dashed towards the female Pikachu. She leapt out of the way, then fired a Thunder at him, Pikachu stepped to the side, then slammed into her with Quick Attack.

Lucario stepped forward and prepared an Aura Sphere, and launched it towards Grace. Shaymin jumped off of Grace's shoulder, and fired an Energy Ball, which knocked the Aura Sphere away.

The Pidgeot dove towards Celebi with Wing Attack. Celebi let out a frightened cry and turned invisible, and Meloetta rose to engaged the Pidgeot, firing multiple Thunderbolts at it.

'Hold still you over sized Magikarp!' Shaymin cried to Lucario in frustration as she tried to hit him with an Energy Ball. Lucario glanced at her, and flung her away with Bone Rush. Lucario turned to Grace, and prepared an Aura Sphere.

"Amber!" Grace cried, throwing a Pokeball, releasing her Tepig. Lucario took a step back in an awed fear, confused and surprised at the sight of a Pokemon that had appeared from a burst of light, "Use Flame Charge!" Grace ordered, pointing towards Lucario.

Amber surrounded herself in fire, and ran at Lucario, ramming into him. Lucario stumbled back as he was hit, but didn't seem fazed. Lucario fired an Aura Sphere at Amber, the fire pig was hit dead on, and was flung back into Grace's arms.

"Flame Charge!" Grace ordered as Lucario came at them with a Power-Up Punch. The Tepig charged at Lucario once more, "Keep it up Amber!"

"Tep!" Amber replied, heading around with another Flame Charge, steadily increasing her speed from the multiple Flame Charges.

"Chu!" Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt at the female Pikachu, but she just deflected it with a Thunder. She smiled as he powered up Volt Tackle. He ran at her, but she just held out her front paws, and a blue aura shield appeared in front of her, flinging Pikachu back, and the recoil washed over him.

Pikachu slowly stood up, looking at this female with respect, 'You can use aura?' He asked in awe.

She looked surprised at this question, 'You mean you can't?' Pikachu blinked, and shook his head, and she frowned, 'Strange, I guess you don't have an Aura Guardian, but your aura was so strong that I thought so...' She trailed.

Pikachu paused with the electric attack that he had been preparing, 'My Pikapi can use aura, I just didn't know that Pokemon could too, besides the Lucario species.'

The female Pikachu gave him a half smile, 'So you have an Aura Guardian, but never have used aura yourself?'

Pikachu thought for a moment, 'Guess not.'

Her smile grew, 'Pikachus were actually one of the first Pokemon to use aura, Lucarios came much later. Why don't you know this? Didn't your Aura Guardian become an apprentice to an Aura Guardian?'

'We have only met one other human that could use aura, well, I have met Sir Aaron now, so I guess two humans,' Pikachu replied.

She looked very surprised, 'Only one? And how do you know Ka-Pi's name?'

(A/N: Ash=Pikapi / Pika-Pi | Riley: Chu-Pi / Chupi | Sir Aaron: Ka-Pi / Kapi [These are their names used by their Pikachus])

Pikachu thought for a moment, 'Yep, only one, though I have heard plenty of legends too. And as for Sir Aaron... he is one of those legends.'

'Ka-pi, a legend? He's only been an official Aura Guardian for several years now. All he does is serve the Queen Rin, he's more of a servant. Yes, and honorable and powerful one, but still a servant,' She paused, 'Where is your Aura Guardian?'

Pikachu looked down at his feet, 'Pikapi... My Pikapi was captured...'

'Captured!' She cried, clearly horrified, 'Who would dare attempt to capture an Aura Guardian!' She exclaimed in anger, cheeks sparking.

'You see... things are different where we come from...'

She cocked her head, 'Where do you come from?'

Pikachu hesitated, would she believe him? 'The thing is, we are not from here at all, we're from a different time. The future.'

'... Future....?' She squeaked.

Ash did not know where he was.

All he knew is that he was no longer in pain.

At that thought his heart would have fluttered, he would have leapt with joy, even just smiled, but he couldn't.

He didn't have a body.

This thought made him pause, it was true. He didn't feel anything. No pain, breathing, his heart beat. He didn't sense anything either. Some strange dream perhaps?

'A dream, never thought of it that way,' A voice said, 'But a good way to describe it.'

Ash froze, that voice felt familiar, but he could've sworn that he had never heard it before.

'No, I don't think you've heard my voice before, but we have met,' The voice said again.

"Who are you?" Ash asked, though he didn't physically speak the words, more like he forcefully thought them.

'I can show you,' The voice said, and Ash felt something drawing close to him, and instinctively Ash rejected the being, but it had already entered his thoughts. He shivered as it scurried through his memories, and soon it withdrew from them. 'Here,' The being said.

Several memories flashed through Ash's mind. All of them involved a blue creature, crowned with several red gems and twin tails.

"Azelf," Ash said.

'Yes,' Azelf replied.

"I did not know that you were capable of speech," Ash remarked.

'Arceus designed us to give knowledge, willpower, and emotions to humans, not to communicate with them. Uxie as mild telepathic powers, but only with his human. Mesprit can transfer her feelings as impressions onto others. And I can give people willpower,' Azelf added.

"Where are we," Ash asked, "Am I... dead?"

'Of course not,' Azelf said in a humorous tone, 'You are in the Psyche. A realm from which all Psychic types draw their power. A realm located between the Dream World and the Unown's Dimension. This is where me and the other Lake Guardians reside in our sleep.'

"The Psyche..." Ash muttered, "It feels... strange."

Azelf laughed, 'The Psyche is not a physical world. It is a realm of thoughts. Every single creature that has ever lived stores thoughts here, though entering the Psyche is harder, and different.'

"It's... Honestly, wonderful. I feel so... peaceful," Ash said, relaxing a bit, his thoughts expanding deeper into the Psyche.

'No!' Azelf shouted, startling Ash, 'Focus!'

"What's wrong?" Ash asked.

'The Psyche is a dangerous place. You can literally "lose your mind," as you humans say. It was a big risk bringing you here, but I felt like it was for the best. But there are several things you should keep in mind while your here: Stay focused. Don't relax, keep your thoughts together. If you don't your thoughts can escape into the Psyche, you can lose them forever. If you're careless... Well, when you return to your body you'll just be a empty shell with no memory or personality. You'd be surprised how easy it is to lose control.'

"If its so dangerous, then why did you bring me here?"

'Well, I needed to talk to you, and I also think that you deserve a break from what you've been going through. I know it's been hard.'

Ash chuckled bitterly, "Hard? Azelf, you have no idea of what I've been through lately," And then Ash added softly, "And I don't know how much longer I can go."

'Ash, trust me. I know exactly what you've been going though. Everything,' Azelf said dolefully.

Realization flashed through Ash's mind as he remembered how he had felt Azelf's pain once, "You don't mean-"

'Zan's actions towards you were powerful enough to awaken me from my sleep, and other Lake Guardians too. I have endured everything you've been through.' Azelf replied frankly.

Ash swore.

"I was stupid! Here I thought no one else could get hurt but me if I said quiet. Now- Now- Argh! Isn't there anything I can do that won't get others around me hurt!" Ash griped angrily.

'Ash, don't worry about me. You are doing the right thing,' Azelf said, 'But that is not why I brought you here. I brought you here to give you willpower.'

"Willpower?" Ash muttered,

'Yes, Ash, I'm no seer, but under certain conditions the Lake Guardians can get vague impressions of the future. It wasn't much, but all I know is that one of your hardest trials is about to happen. You'll have to make a choice, not one that will affect anything physically, but it will be mentally and emotionally hard on you, and one that you may never come to terms with. You cannot always have everything go the right way, sacrifices will happen. Sometimes you'll have to choose between what you need to do, and what feel obliged to.'

Ash shivered a bit, he did not like the sound of that at all, "What do you mean? What's going to happen?"

'I don't know Ash, I'm sorry. The impression that I'm getting of the future is not a vision or anything. It is more like that I can sense your future emotions,' Azelf muttered remorsefully, 'But all I know is that you need to hold on. The Lake Guardians and I are getting some allies to help you. You just got to hold up a little longer.'

For the first time in a long time, Ash felt something. Hope.

"What can I do to help?" Ash asked.

'You need to hold on. Don't give up, and don't give in. Use the Knowledge that you have gathered to strengthen you. Let your feelings guide you, but do not let your Emotions control you. Never lose hope, and use the Willpower within you to fight. This is the key to victory.'

As Azelf spoke, Ash felt different. Not like just Azelf was speaking, but multiple beings.

'We are one,' The voices of Mesprit, Uxie, and Azelf echoed in unison Ash's thoughts, 'As you must be one. One with your power. One with your goal. One with your Knowledge, Emotions, and Willpower. One with your Pokemon. One with Hope.'

'I'm sorry Ash,' It was now just Azelf's voice, 'But I cannot keep you here any longer. I must send you back to your body, along with all the consequences that come with a physical body.'

He felt Azelf's presence depart.

Pum pum. Pum pum.

His heart was the first thing Ash heard and felt as he returned to his body. Slowly other feelings returned. His breathing, scent and hearing. And the pain.

Ash opened his eyes and found himself staring at gray cement, and as he did, he felt something wash over him.

Knowledge. He knew why he was doing this, what his purpose was, and what is at stake if he failed.

Emotion. He felt at peace. His fear and anger were suppressed, while calmness and courage seemed to be intensified.

Willpower. He felt patience, and strength in himself. Confidence.

Hope.

"Mae, do you have something to report, or are you just wasting my time once more?" Zan asked calmly, but it still amber hair girl flinched as he spoke.

"It's-" She muttered, then she straightened up, "It's about Niek."

"Yes, what about the boy?" Zan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"He's hurt!" Mae blurted out in anger.

Zan regarded her, "Yes. The Tyranitar's Stone Edge did clip Niek's shoulder. But no serious harm was done."

"You promised he wouldn't get hurt!" Mae spoke a bit louder, anger entering her voice.

"Your point?" Zan asked, taking a sip of coffee.

"We had a deal!"

"Did Niek brake a bone? Get a concussion? Die? No, he got a cut. He's five, just a child, getting a cut is natural," Zan replied.

"Not when they are attempting to approach a rampaging Pokemon!"

"You know that I am interested in your family's powers, it is closely related to aura. Unfortunately it is passed on every-other generation, so you were pointless. Your mother was in no condition, so your son is only suitable test subject."

Mae said nothing, but her hands were shaking.

Suddenly the door behind them burst open, and a young boy ran into the room, with Zan's Luxray by his side, and a Chatot on his head. There was a bandage wrap around his left arm, and a huge smile on his face.

"Guess what!" He exclaimed, his emerald green eyes sparkling with excitement, "Cherry learned a new move!" He pointed to the Chatot, "She now knows Chatter! Luxi helped us, didn't you," He said, turning to Zan's Luxray and gave her a big hug.

Mae shivered as she watched her son embrace the Luxray, she had seen its other side- when it mercilessly attacked people.

But the Luxray wasn't anything like that now, infact, the electric lion was purring like a Skitty, cuddling up to the boy.

"Amazing, isn't it?" Zan muttered, "Even I can't touch Luxray like that. The ability to see into the hearts of Pokemon... wow. Your mother, Sheena, was very experienced, and even she wasn't as good as Niek."

"Niek, honey, why don't you come here?" Mae said sweetly, anxious to get her son away from the Luxray.

"What Mom?" Niek asked, coming other to Mae, the Chatot still perched on dark green hair.

Mae glanced at Zan, then didn't say anything, but bent down and gave her son a huge hug. Niek returned the embrace, but then ran to Zan.

"Daddy! When can I see Tara again?" He asked.

"Tara?" Zan asked, regarding the boy.

"Yeah, the Tyranitar! She's my new friend! I want to play with her, Cherry, Luxi, and Zorro!" Niek exclaimed, throwing his arms up into the air, and the Chatot raised her wings up high, mimicking the boy.

"We'll have to see," Zan said simply, "But I'm afraid that I need Luxray right now," He said, fishing out a Pokeball.

"Can I play with Zorro?"

"No."

Niek turned towards Mae, "Mommy, can I play with Furry?"

"Sure thing sweetie," Mae said, releasing her Furfrou, "Why don't you go up to our room to play? I'll be there in a minute."

"Okay!" He said, running out of the room, with Furfrou right behind him, and Luxray looking at him with longing.

"Return," Zan said, pointing a Pokeball at Luxray. He pocketed the Pokeball, and turned to Mae, "Leave now, so visit your half crazed mother or something."

Mae turned to leave.

"Oh, and Mae," Zan called, and Mae paused, "You are no longer assigned to the two Aura Guardians, the job wasn't done was I would like it to be."

Mae left the room, and did her very best not to slam the door.

Zan took another sip of coffee, then sat down at his desk, thinking. After a moment he hit a button on his desk.

"Sir?" A voice came through the intercom.

"Fetch me the Swellow."

A/N: If you see any errors, PLEASE tell me! I have a horrible habit of doing things like [He just couldn't do it.] To [He just could do it.] Kind of changes the meaning!

I finally we learn more about Mae! Her mother is Sheena (From Arceus and the Jewel of Life), her son is a little boy named Niek (With the same powers as Sheena, and her husband is... Zan!

Once again, I'm sorry that this took so long to upload! I'll try to update quicker next time! (But who knows if I will actually do it!)

Disclaimer: I do not own, Pokemon, its characters, or Pikachu (Unfortunately.)