I'm very sorry for the several month long wait, and the fact that this chapter is really quite short. It's just that I've been really busy lately and have started RPing (Role-playing), which usually takes up my writing time. From now on, I'll try to fit in some writing time for this fic every few days, but don't expect updates to be fast. I was planning on making this chapter far longer, but I got annoyed with my slowness and decided to just post if for you guys to read. Assuming I still have readers and everyone hasn't stopped reading. Also, it would be nice if you guys could tell me what chapter length is best. Chapters that are only like 1.5k-2k words feel way too short, but then chapters that are 10k+ feel way too long. Anyways, tell me what you'd prefer in a review or Pm or something of the sort.

EDIT: More apologies; Some stupid error has been plaguing my, preventing me from uploading this chapter which I wanted to post, just so you guys know I haven't stopped writing yet.

Enjoy.

'My name is Ash Ketchum. I'm 15 years old and come from… well; I don't really like to think about where I come from anymore.'

Ash was currently fumbling as he took off his clothes, his fingers still partly asleep, as he attempted to change into the fancier clothes he would have to wear to the knighting ceremony.

'You see, quite a few years ago now, my hometown was, well, attacked and razed to the ground by a wandering group of Dark Aura. The town was small, and probably better described as a village, and so it wasn't deemed important enough to have any soldiers stationed there, even though it was in a Dark Aura hotspot.'

Finally managing to get his ceremonial clothes on, Ash now was throwing things aside, creating even more mess as he attempted to find his weapons. He may not have had many personal belongings, but he had clumped them all in a pile while he was changing, and now he has to shuffle through this pile to find them.

'Everyone I knew was killed before my eyes. My friends, everyone I knew in the village was gruesomely as I watched, horrified. My parents were retired Aura Guardians – The group of warriors that fight the Dark Aura, and they fought bravely, killing many Dark Aura.'

After sheathing his sword, he ran to the door. Or at least he would have, if he had not fallen over a certain yellow rodent, and he fell to the ground, face first, before getting shocked with a thunderbolt.

'But there were too many, and before I knew it, the Dark Aura were looking for me, after killing my parents. They had hidden me in a tree, far above, but it was only a matter of time before they found me too. How I survived is a story for a different day, however. Right now I am rushing to the main room to be knighted – the final stage in the training of any Aura Guardian.'

Ash ran out the door – this time without tripping, and started running through the stone halls of Fort Aurelius. The Fort had a castle-ish feel to it, but wasn't too regal like a King's Palace, which would have expensive red and gold rugs around the place, along with expensive tapestries on the walls. No, Fort Aurelius was ruled by warriors, and warriors generally frowned upon the trappings of luxury.

'Sometimes I stop to think about the history of these halls, the battles my brethren fought oh so long ago. It's kind of interesting when you remember that people fought, and died, in these very halls, which haven't seen battle now for many decades.

He continued running, and quickened his pace as he glimpsed the time, seeing that he was nearly late. It would be a close thing, this.

'After today, I'll become a full Aura Guardian, and I'll be sent out on missions to fight Dark Aura and other cool things!'

Nearing his destination, Ash stopped to regain his breath for a moment, but then immediately continued, panting heavily as he did.

'I mean, being an apprentice isn't bad or anything, but it does get awfully boring just staying at the fort for my entire life, training and training, without any real risks.'

Finally reaching the entrance to the room where he would be accepted into the ranks of the Aura Guardians, Ash dusted off his clothes, trying to look as presentable as possible after that mad dash through the halls.

He took a deep breath and opened the big doors to the room, and they swung open with a loud creaking sound.

The room itself was quite big – about the size of a king's throne room. In fact, it was basically the equivalent of the "Throne room", as it was the council chamber.

Fort Aurelian and the Aura Guardians were not ruled by a single ruler, but instead all decisions were made by the council – a group of people elected to work together to make good decisions for the Guardians.

No system is without its flaws though, and the Council would usually argue for days on end before finally making a decision on something, but that was inevitable, and not something that can be changed, without having a single, all-powerful ruler.

Anyways, the room was grander than the rest of the Fort, but was still relatively basic. In the middle of the room was a large table, with various maps and strategic information on top of it, which the Council were examining now. The walls were covered with paintings, more maps, and pictures of some of the better Council members and Guardians.

There was a fireplace near the table, which currently was being tended by servants, and a few armour and weapon racks by the walls, but the room was still quite bare, compared to most castles.

Around the table were at least 14 people, 12 of whom were members of the Council, who were currently arguing about some probably mundane thing. His entrance into the Guardians was about to start in a few minutes, but that definitely wouldn't stop the Council from arguing.

There was also a bored looking man sitting down – One who someone could easily tell did not belong here. He was wearing a full suit of armour, but looked to be around the age of 50. He was most likely the knight-commander of the Aura Guardians, and only summoned here for the ceremony that was set to occur soon.

And indeed, as he saw Ash enter the room, he turned to the Council (Who had amazingly continued arguing despite the huge noise the door made) and stood up.

"Alright then, seeing as the second recruit is here, we can begin the ceremony!" He bellowed, his voice drowning out the sound of the Council members arguing. His voice was naturally loud and far-carrying from bellowing orders in the middle of loud, chaotic battlefields.

The Council members turned and looked at Ash, grumbling as they saw that the second recruit had indeed arrived, and as a group stood up, walking into positions around the room, as a previously unnoticed boy in the corner walked up to the middle of the room, where Ash followed.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment, and grinned.

"Finally decided to wake up, eh Ash?" The boy said.

Ash shook his head and replied, with a grin on his face, "You know me, Gary."

Gary shook his head and turned back around, now facing the Knight-commander of the Aura Guardians, a well-built man in his 40s, who looked as if he had seen plenty of combat, and indeed he probably had. He was quite big for a man, and his face was stern. He kept his greying hair cut short.

Gary and I go way back, all the way back to when we were kids, in fact. Back when we were kids, I always wanted to be a strong, powerful warrior, but I was never as strong as the other kids.

Everyone in my old village used to bully me for it, and Gary was the one who did it the most. Later though, when I found out he had survived the attack as well, he found out I had the gift of aura, and the very fact that I had survived the attack meant something to him.

Everyone both of us had known were killed – except each other, and it was natural we'd become friends, being the only survivors of our village.

The Knight-commander nodded at the two boys, signalling that the ceremony was going to begin, and both of them looked at each other once more, before kneeling on their knees, heads faced down.

On the left and right of Ash and Gary were a Pikachu and a Blastoise, respectively. Each Guardian would have a Pokémon as their partner. The Pokémon wasn't the Guardians slave or possession; instead they were best friends and life-long partners. A Guardian and their Partner Pokémon were said to be inseparable, always connected by the bonds of friendship, which nothing could sever.

"These two boys have proven time and time again they are worthy of being true Aura Guardians – And true men! Is there anyone in this room that objects to knighting these into the ranks of the Aura Guardians?" The Knight-commander bellowed, and the room was silent – the Council members all actually agreeing on something for once.

"Then rise, Sir Ketchum, Sir Oak, forever Guardians of the Aura! May your weapons strike true against the hearts of the Dark Ones!"

EDIT: I have no idea why there was something about Walt Disney. No. Freaking. Idea.