The newly formed trio of Light, Volc and Ashley reached the Aura user's house fairly quickly. Once there, Ashley knocked on the door very softly and whispered, "Mom, I'm back. Can you open the door?"
Another couple of seconds passed before the door was unlocked and the trio were ushered inside. After everyone came inside and the door closed, Ashley's mother turned and yelled, "Where have you been! There have been battles happening in the forest!"
"I know Mom." Ashley replied scratching the back of her head, "I was sort of part of them..."
"You were WHAT?! I thought I raised you to stay out of trouble." She continued crossly. "And who are these people? If they lead the humans here, I swear-"
"Calm down Mom." Ashley cut in. "First off it isn't the humans battling in the forest. It's the NAA."
"The NAA? Why would they be tearing up the forest?"
Stepping forward, Light said, "I believe they're looking for me."
"And who the heck... are... you." The Aura user's mother started off angrily but slowly trailed off as she realized who was in front of her.
"Mom. This is Light, formerly of the New Age Alliance." Ashley said gesturing toward the Meowth, "And this is Volc, a Pokemon who helped us back in the forest."
"W-Welcome to our home." She stammered. "But why is The Light here in our house? I have so many questions..."
"We all do." Volc said bluntly. "And I think it's about time we all got some answers. Why was the Alliance after you Light?"
"I've been deemed unfit for command and sentenced for death."
"Death seems a little drastic for being unfit for command." Volc replied, "What else did you do?"
"I don't intend for this to be an interrogation." Light said, "Before I tell you any more I need to know if I can trust you. Ashley has already proven herself by breaking me out and bringing us here, but I'm not as sure about you..."
"I have nothing to hide. Ask me anything you want."
"What were you doing near Petalburg?" Light asked.
"I was actually near Petalburg because of you. I heard that the NAA had turned on you and I was curious if the news was true."
"What were you going to do once you confirmed this information?"
"I hadn't decided on anything yet but the gist of my ideas were to try and make some money of ya, whether that be via selling off the secrets to your strength or convincing you to join me on a couple of big jobs."
"If you're just interested in making money, what's stopping you from taking me back to the NAA on a silver platter? I'm sure they'll pay you a handsome sum for their most wanted fugitive..."
"I be all about the money but when I saw you two getting attacked in the forest... Well, it didn't take a genius to figure out something bigger was going down."
"Then why help us?" Ashley cut in. "If you aren't going to turn us in, there are alot easier ways to make money."
"There are easy jobs out there I could take, but do ya know what's worth more than all the money in the world?" Volc said, "A place in the history books and something tells me that if I stick around with Light here, I can earn myself a place."
"If it's a spot in history you want, I think I can arrange that." Light replied. "You seem trustworthy enough so I'll tell you both the full story behind my incarceration."
Light then proceeded to tell his new comrades about his adventures, both as Shoteneko and Light, along with the secrets behind his techniques (AN: I'll spare you all the complete recap. If you've been reading, you should know the story.)
"So basically they think you were out of your mind when you started the NAA and want you to take responsibility for the lives lost?" Ashley said, trying to summarize what she just heard.
"If you ask me they're the crazy ones." Volc said. "You were waging war. There are lives lost every war, no one man can be held responsible."
"I may have made some cold decisions but there is one final piece of information I haven't given you yet that explains your misgivings." Light said, "But the information will rock the very foundation of your world."
"You can't just tease us with that and not tell us!" Ashley said, "What is it?"
"I'm prepared to have my world rocked." Volc said. "Please tell us."
"Our entire world, the war, everything, has been orchestrated by the Devon Corporation."
"That's insane!" Ashley replied. "Why would Devon want a World War between People and Pokemon? They're literally killing their customers."
"Wars mean money to certain companies." Volc explained, "They can sell weapons to sides to either side with the promise that it will tip the war in their favor, make huge profits and then do the same on the other side of the battlefield for double the profits and have the stage set to do it again."
"Exactly and now they've got their claws in the NAA." Light replied. "They thought I had the potential to end the war so I was removed from command and sentenced to death."
"That would explain why you thought I was from Devon when we met in the forest." Volc said.
"Yes. Now that I've told you everything, I want to ask both of you. Will you help me overthrow Devon and bring peace back to the world?"
"I'm in." Volc said immediately. "This is my spot in the history books. I can feel it."
"That's one." Light said and turned to Ashley. "How about you? Are you in?"
There was a long pause before Ashley finally spoke, "I can't... My Mom... She's sick and-"
Ashley's mother suddenly rushed back into the room, "Overthrowing the world order is going to have to take a back seat kids. The NAA's found us."
Moving to a window, Light peeked out to see Grunt and 30 Knights standing in front of the small house.
"We know you're in their Light!" Grunt yelled. "You're little friends too. Unlike you, we're still good people so we'll give you 5 minutes to surrender all peaceful like. If you do, you're friends will be allowed to leave with no charges pressed."
"And what if I don't comply?" Light yelled back.
"Then I will have no choice but to blow this shack off the face of the Earth, regardless of who's inside."
"That's madness!" Light said, "They've done nothing wrong!"
"I know that, but you're too big of a threat to kept alive any longer." Grunt replied. "Tell you what, I'll offer your buddies a second deal. If any of them are willing to give you up and hand you over to us, they'll be free to go. You have five minutes to make your decision, then I open fire."
Turning to Light, Volc asked, "What's the play Light?"
"I hand myself over to them" Light replied.
"What are you saying! You can't do that!" Ashley replied. "The world's counting on you!"
"I know but I still don't have enough power to take down 30 Knights let alone Grunt. I don't see any way out of this for me, but if I can save you three, I'm going to do it."
"But you don't need to take on all those Knights. You have me and Volc-"
"Sorry sister," Volc cut in. "But we wouldn't even make it out the front door if we chose to fight. We'd need a shield and I don't think Light's up for the job."
Light nodded his head in affirmation, before Ashley's mother cut in. "A shield you say?"
"Yeah, do you have an idea?" Light asked
"Yeah, I do but it'll only give you about 30 seconds of cover."
"I think that'll work." Volc said, "It might not be enough time for us to launch a full frontal assault, but it should be enough time for us to slip into the forest."
"Sounds good. Let's do it." Light said before leading the small group to the door.
"Time's up!" Grunt cried as he saw his former commander walk through the door. "What's it gonna be Light?"
"I've come to give myself up!" Light replied, before lowering his voice and saying, "Start getting the shield ready then put it up on my signal."
"You've made the right choice Light." Grunt replied. "Just come over here and we'll take you back to Petalburg."
"I will, but what assurances do I have that you will let these people go?"
As Light and Grunt ironed out the specifics of his surrender, Ashley noticed Aura swirling about her mother.
"Mom, what are you doing?" She asked quietly.
"What has to be done." Her mother replied.
"Are we set? Are those terms good enough for you?" Grunt asked, clearly getting annoyed at the negotiation.
"Under normal circumstances yes, but I've got a better option in front of me. Raise the shield now!" Light said, stepping back
"Open Fire!" Grunt cried.
Before the bullets reached their targets, they were stopped in midair by a wall of Aura created by Ashley's mother.
"Time to go!" Volc said as he bolted toward the forest.
"Mom, your heart can't handle Aura use on this big a scale! You need to stop!" Ashley cried
"And let them kill you, I can't let them do th-Agh" Her mother replied coughing up blood and dropping to one knee. "Light! You better take care of my daughter!"
"I will." The Meowth replied somberly realizing the sacrifice the woman was taking.
"Don't talk like that! I'm not leaving without you!" Ashley said, beginning to tear up.
"You can't let your mother hold you back anymore." The Aura user's mother replied. "I always knew you were meant for great things. This is what you were meant to do." She said, beginning to tear up. "Now go! I'm not going to be able to hold out much longer."
"But-"
"Keep firing." Grunt yelled, cutting off the tearful goodbye. "She's weakening! It's only a matter of time before that shield falls!"
"We need to go now." Light said, pulling Ashley toward the forest where they could make their escape.
"Go Honey!" Ashley's mother yelled over the increased gunfire. "Go and change the world!"
"O-Of course..." Ashley replied tearfully. She added, "I love you." Before running to the safety of the forest.
"I love you too." Her mother replied before her shield was taken down by Grunt's men and she was struck with a storm of bullets.
"Cease fire!" Grunt yelled. "Comb the area! Light and the others couldn't have gotten far!"
A small distance away
As Light and Ashley caught up to Volc, the fire-type asked, "Where's the old lady?"
"She... didn't make it." Light replied, "I don't think she ever intended to..."
"What's our next move?" Ashley asked, a newfound fire burning in her eyes. "I'm not letting her death be in vain."
"First we need to get some distance between us and the NAA but after that, probably gather some supplies and then attack Devon Corporation. Do either of you know where we can get some things discreetly?"
"I know a couple of guys in Rustboro." Volc replied, "They'll get you what you need, no questions asked."
"Then I guess Rustboro's our next stop." Light declared as the three set off once again.
AN: Hey guys, it's been a while hasn't it? I'm not gonna lie, I just couldn't get motivated to write, that's why this chapter took so long. Sorry! But our new team is off with a fire in their belly to take down the evil Devon Corporation, spurred by the first actual death of Pokemon New Age. Will our heroes succeed in taking down the Devon Corporation? Does Light have a special plan in store? Will another hero bite the dust? Find out next time on Pokemon New Age.