List of characters and their estimated ages:
-Nate: 10
-Rosa: 10
-Hugh: 10
-Misty: 29
-Brock: 33
-Holly: 32
-Gary: 28
-Max: 22
-Molly: 21
-Dawn: 23
-May: 25
-Hilda: 25
-Hilbert: 25
-Lyra: 28
-Khoury: 28
-Tory: 25
-Paul: 26
-Iris: 22
-Cilan: 29
"Good morning, Johto! Today's another unusually hot day in our beloved region, but people are not discussing about the heat today! They're talking of a different heat: the new Ketchum Month Tournament. Oh yes, I'm talking about the one that celebrates the decade that's passed since Ash Ketchum sacrificed himself to save the Legendary Rainbow Pokémon Ho-Oh from malicious exploits, and also the world from certain doom!
"Zander Harrington, longtime mayor of Ketchum City, has promised us the best Ketchum Month Tournament that Johto, and even the rest of the world, will remember. He has said, 'As a full decade since Ash's tragic but heroic passing is close to making its mark, we shall commemorate it with this year's Ketchum Month and its tournament! We shall not forget the sacrifice our hero had made for the world he loved and protected!' True indeed, Mayor Harrington, we shall never forget.
"We at Johto TV will continue to follow the progression of this year's 10th Annual Ketchum Month Tournament, and keep you updated on the battles and competition!"
Aspertia City
The Unova region
Ten years after the death of Ash Ketchum
"It's been a while, Aspertia City," Nate thought, smiling triumphantly. It took him weeks to reach his hometown, many long, tiring weeks, but, after much effort in braving many kinds of perilous terrain, territorial Pokémon, and aggressive Trainers, he finally had the fruits of victory in his grasp. Now, he found himself walking down familiar streets, staring at familiar homes, greeting familiar people. Ah yes, it was great to be home.
"Nate, wait up! You're walking too fast!"
The ten-year-old stopped in his tracks and turned around. He had been so caught up in being back at Aspertia City that his mind was taken off other matters. Like the fact that he spent the last week traveling with a companion. A long, sleepless week, to be exact.
"Don't be such a slowpoke, Rose," replied Nate tauntingly; he knew that his companion absolutely hated being referred to by her nickname.
"DON'T CALL ME ROSE, YOU DUMMY!" the blue-eyed girl with the two long pigtail buns screamed angrily, catching up with Nate and slapping him hard on the shoulder.
"OW! Okay, okay, Rosa, I give, I give!" Nate rubbed his shoulder, flinching in pain from the slight searing sensation. Rosa merely held her head high and marched away with an emphasized huff. Nate looked at her as she walked away, shaking his head.
Ever since the two met in Nimbasa City, they have held a 'frenemy' relationship of sorts, treating each other as friends at some points, but then treating each other as rivals at other points. Nate couldn't say that he saw Rosa as a good friend, for she tended to talk for hours on end, explaining the current wrinkling under Nate's eyes. And then there was that flaring, white-hot temper of hers. Nate remembered invoking her wrath the first day they had met; he attempted to compliment her hairstyle, but Rosa misinterpreted it as criticism, and the two had a Pokémon battle. Nate's Pokémon all wound up on the losing end.
"Trouble with the girls, huh?" a familiar voice asked.
Nate blushed with embarrassment and twirled his head to see Hugh, his childhood friend, coming towards him, his spiky dark-blue hair flying in the breeze. He lowered the sports visor that he wore in an attempt to hide his scarlet-colored cheeks.
"She's not my girlfriend, if that's what you're implying, Hugh," he replied defensively.
"Denial's the number-one indicator, Nate," Hugh said, shrugging and smiling craftily. "Besides, your silly-looking blush can't escape my eyes."
Nate groaned. "Since when were you the type to tease me, Hugh? What are you doing here, anyway?"
"I was gonna ask you the same thing." Hugh's eyes widened. "Wait, don't tell me. You plan on participating at the 10th Annual Ketchum Month Tournament, are you?"
Nate, taken aback by Hugh's correct guess at first, nodded and reached into the pocket of his light-gray sweatpants. Quickly pulling out a rolled-up sheet of paper, he unfurled it and displayed it to Hugh. It was a colorful flyer that he had come across during his stay at Castelia City, inviting Trainers from regions all across the world to Ketchum City and participate in the tenth annual Pokémon battle tournament, which had been described in many advertisements as being one of the best events that have ever been planned in the sport of Pokémon battling. Still holding his childhood admiration of Ash Ketchum, Nate couldn't resist. After all, he decided that a month-long break from traveling around the region and acquiring Gym Badges was well in order for him.
Hugh smiled, reached into his bag, and pulled out a similar flyer. "Same here," he said. "I found this while in Opelucid City, battling the Gym Leader. You're not the only one who claims to be the number-one fan of Ash Ketchum, you know."
"HA! You wish," replied Nate jokingly, lightly punching Hugh on the shoulder. "At least my claims are well-founded!"
"You keep dreaming, man!" Hugh returned Nate's punch with a punch of his own. Unfortunately, he put a little too much strength in it.
"OW! Come on, man, I can't afford to have both of my shoulders hurt today!"
The boys laughed as they walked further down the streets.
"So, if you plan on going to the tournament," said Nate, "how come you came back here, Hugh?"
"I thought I'd ask my family to come with me," Hugh replied. "We've never been to Johto, and if I'm gonna be on my way there, we might as well have a little vacation as a family. I bet you my sister's gonna be excited for it." He chuckled. "How about you, Nate?"
"I'm gonna ask my mom to come along. We haven't been to Johto ever since our trip to the region five years ago. Hey, since our families are going, we should just go together, like the good ol' times." He nudged Hugh on the shoulder. "What do you say, man?"
Hugh smiled. "It sounds like an enticing offer."
Cerulean City
The Kanto region
"Gyarados, use Hyper Beam!" Misty Waterflower commanded. The Atrocious Pokémon roared and fired a powerful beam of orange energy at its opponent, a Jolteon.
"Dodge, then take it out with Thunderbolt!" shouted the Jolteon's Trainer. The Lightning Pokémon quickly dodged the Hyper Beam just split-seconds after the command was issued; now high in the air, Jolteon issued yellow sparks appeared around its body, quickly followed by a powerful bolt of yellow electricity. The Thunderbolt struck Misty's Gyarados, shooting off smaller bolts of electricity that danced through the air and the pool that was part of the Cerulean City Gym.
Misty watched with shock as her Gyarados sank into the water, the Electric-type attack dealing an effective blow on it.
"Gyarados is unable to battle, Ronnie wins!" a voice shouted. Misty turned her head, recognizing the voice; she smiled widely upon seeing that Brock Harrison and his wife Holly were sitting in the stands, the latter holding their infant son. She nodded at them before recalling Gyarados.
"You did well, Ronnie," Misty said as Ronnie approached her, a triumphant look on his face. "You were obviously well-prepared for the battle this time. You've trained to the maximum limits your Pokémon, and they were able to overcome mine due to their advantageous and powerful Type. For this preparation, skill, and endurance that was heavily displayed throughout your battle, I award you with this." She took out a small box from her white jacket and opened it, revealing a droplet-shaped Badge.
"The Cascade Badge."
Ronnie's jaw dropped open as he acquired the Cascade Badge and raised it high in the air triumphantly.
"I got a Cascade Badge!" he shouted to the heavens; his Jolteon cried out in agreement. He then turned to Misty, smiling happily. "Thank you very much, Misty."
"Of course. It was well-deserved."
After bidding Ronnie farewell, Misty watched as the Trainer walked out of her Gym, his Jolteon trotting by his side; Ronnie didn't seem to desire recalling it back into its Poké Ball. Her heart fell: she knew only one other Trainer who had a powerful Electric-type Pokémon that was an essential partner to him...
"That was a battle well-fought."
Misty was pulled back into reality; she turned around, smiling as she hugged Brock tightly. "Thanks, Brock. How're you, Holly, and lil' Arid doing?"
"Well, being Pokémon Doctors aren't the best occupation when you have to juggle between those jobs and raising a kid," replied Holly as she looked down lovingly at the sleeping baby, "but we're managing well. How about you, Misty? We haven't seen you in a while; what's up with your life in managing the Gym?"
Misty delivered a flat look. "Holl, you three visited me last week."
Brock chuckled. "Well, Mist," he said, "when it comes to being our son's godmother, we can visit you daily without knowing that we stopped by the day before. Besides, Arid's taken a real good liking to you. Our visits always seem to calm him down good."
"Yeah, that's right," Misty replied as Holly handed Arid over to her, who had just woken up and was now laughing at the sight of his godmother's face.
"Mist, you haven't answered my question," said Holly when Misty began to dote over the baby.
"What? Oh, yeah. Well, same old, same old. Trainer comes in to battle, I battle him, I defeat him or he defeats me, I give him a Cascade Badge if he wins, the like." She sighed heavily. "I miss the good ol' days when I traveled around with you and Ash, Brock. I miss 'em." Misty bit her lip sadly. "I miss him."
"So do we, Misty, so do we," replied Brock heavily as Holly bowed her head in sadness.
The trio spent the next few minutes in silence. After a while, Misty spoke again.
"You're not here for the usual drop-by visit, are you?"
Holly blinked. "How'd you know?"
"You're not the only ones who watch those silly news reports about Ketchum Month. You've come here to ask me if I'm coming, since it's been ten years. No, I won't."
"Well, we are," said Brock, "and maybe you should too, Misty."
"It's gonna be at Mt. Silver...where it happened. It's gonna bring back awful memories, you know that!"
"But Ash wouldn't want us to dwell in the past. He'd want us to move on." Brock sighed. "We're not asking to come participate in the tournament. Our only desire is to return to Mt. Silver to conquer the nightmares that have plagued us for the past decade. We were hoping that was what you were thinking as well."
"I've already conquered my nightmares," Misty spat. "There's no need for me."
"Mist, you have always been tough. But after what we've been through, there's NOTHING that could shield us from the terrible things we've witnessed. Nothing, except for a direct confrontation." Brock turned his back on Misty and walked away, while Holly took Arid from Misty and followed her husband.
"But I won't force you," Brock concluded.
The Harrison family left the Cerulean City Gym, leaving behind a silent Misty.
Pallet Town
A few miles away
"Max, Molly, get over here!" Gary Oak shouted as he watched the large glass container holding the trembling gold-and-silver Poké Ball. "I think it's finally responding!"
"Coming, coming!" Max Maple replied, hastily adjusting his clothes and his glasses, and also straightening his black hair out as he and Molly Hale swiftly rushed into the laboratory. Just minutes earlier, the two of them had been making out heatedly in a separate room.
"Activate the defense systems!" ordered Gary. "We don't know what could be inside the GS Ball."
Max and Molly nodded, both approaching the complicated-looking computer systems and frantically pressing buttons, typing in complex codes. Finally, Max pulled a red lever, allowing several iron plates to enclose the glass container. Gary looked at Molly and nodded; she nodded back and pressed a large green button. A holographic image appeared around the iron plates like a hovering layer, allowing the Pokémon Professor and the lab assistants to get a good look of the container's interior.
The GS Ball was still trembling. Gary, Max, and Molly watched apprehensively as the Ball's trembling became increasingly stronger. When the trembling came to a point where it appeared that the Ball would explode, Gary bared his teeth. For ten long years, he had been hoping that this day would come. Now, it was in his grasp.
"Just keep going a little more," he thought. "Then you'll be able to release what's inside you... Just keep going..."
Suddenly, the Ball laid still and inanimate. Gary blinked, hoping for the best. But a few minutes had passed, and nothing else happened. Finally, Max shook his head.
"False alarm," he remarked.
"NO!" Gary snapped. "It was gonna get there! It HAS to get there! It can't just stop there in mid-sentence! Even the most securely fastened of Poké Balls don't hold it off for this long! It's gonna do it, Max, Molly, just wait! Do NOT deactivate the defense systems, for Arceus's sake!"
"Professor Oak," Molly said, "this response from the GS Ball was stronger than the last ones. We're getting there. But...I don't think today's gonna be our lucky day."
Gary angrily slammed his head against the desk. "I...I thought...we had it there..."
"We'll get it, eventually," Max replied.
"That's what you've been saying for the past five years."
Max stepped back; Gary's latest statement had sounded bitter, hostile. He couldn't blame the Professor; after all, he had devoted his entire career in studying this very Poké Ball after what happened almost eleven years ago. But unfortunately, the past few years seemed to take a toll on Gary, who would be confined in his laboratory for months on end, trying endlessly to activate the GS Ball's releasing mechanism. He was not the Professor who hired him.
"Deactivate the defense systems, Molly," continued Gary, still looking at the hologram of the GS Ball.
Molly nodded and did as she was told. As the iron plates rose, revealing the glass container and its sole content, Max could've sworn he saw a strange, feeble glow.
"Go home, you two," said Gary quietly. "I think we should call it a day."
Max and Molly looked at each other, then at the Professor. They then nodded and left the laboratory.
Silence permeated the lab. Gary merely sat at his chair, his fists clenched, his eyes staring down the GS Ball. Finally, his fury broke: he violently swiped across his desk, yelling out angrily as he sent many files and sheets of paper into the air. As several sheets slowly fluttered toward the ground, like snowflakes descending toward its brethren already on the ground, the Professor stared at them, with all of the loathing in the world.
"So close, always so close," he thought. "And yet...so far... I don't know what to do anymore... I've failed you, Grandpa...Ash...everyone... I've failed you all..."
He suddenly glanced at the flyer that had been passed out through town. It invited Trainers to the Ketchum Month Tournament, to Ketchum City...
He remembered what awaited at Ketchum City...
"No. I haven't failed you guys. I will never fail you guys. I'm close now."
Gary grabbed his Poké Gear and dialed a number. Max's face appeared on the screen.
"Professor Oak!" he greeted. "Uh, what's up?"
"Get back to the laboratory now, and be prepared. We're going to the Johto region."
Alto Mare
The Johto region
"Prinplup, use Whirlpool now!" Dawn Berlitz ordered. The Penguin Pokémon instantly began spinning down the Contest stage, a vortex of water emerging from the top of its beak and coating around its body. Soon, Prinplup was nothing more than a spinning water spout, which quickly engulfed its opponent, a Delcatty.
"Uh-oh," came the devoted voice of the Contest announcer. "It looks like the Princess's Delcatty is in a very deep root of trouble with Prinplup's amazing Whirlpool. And it looks like Dawn takes the lead in points, and there's only a minute left and counting. Whatever will the Princess do next?!"
From the corners of her eyes, Dawn could see the scoreboard. Her point gauge was higher than that of her opponent's, slightly so, and there was only 50 seconds left till the match ended. She then looked at her opponent, the Princess, who wore a sky-blue jumpsuit, a white turban, and black sunglasses. To her surprise, there was a crafty smile on the Princess's face, and her sunglasses glinted menacingly from the sun.
"Delcatty, use Fake Out!" the Princess ordered.
From under the surface of the Whirlpool, the Delcatty heard its Trainer. With all of the strength it could muster, it clapped its paws together, sending out a shock-wave of air that caused the whirlpool to explode and send Prinplup flying in the air. Water sprayed across the stage and even into the front rows of the audience.
"Whoa, it looks like Delcatty managed to find its way out of this crevice of a problem!" the announcer exclaimed. "It's used an astounding Fake Out attack to help break itself free of Prinplup's Whirlpool. And Dawn's points have now seen better days. Only 30 seconds left! Who will triumph?"
"Delcatty, use DoubleSlap!" commanded the Princess.
Dawn watched in horror as her Prinplup, still recovering from the Fake Out attack, was slapped repeatedly and violently by Delcatty. "PRINPLUP!"
Finally, Prinplup collapsed on the stage, squiggly-eyed, overwhelmed by the DoubleSlap attack. Dawn's jaw dropped open. She had been in the lead!
"Prinplup's unable to battle further, Delcatty wins!" the announcer shouted as the audience collectively burst into an uproarious cheer. "Victory of the Alto Mare Festival goes to May Maple, the Princess! Congratulations, Ms. Maple, for the victory!"
Dawn's jaw dropped open, for she couldn't believe what she just heard from the announcer. Then, she watched as the Princess stylistically removed her turban, letting loose flowing brown hair, followed by her sunglasses, which revealed sparkling eyes as blue as the ocean. May smiled at her, and Dawn merely blinked back in shock.
After the Alto Mare Festival
"MAY!" Dawn cried as she and Prinplup moved past the spectators in the Festival's waiting room. "MAY, OH MY ARCEUS, YOU'RE HERE!"
May, now wearing her regular clothes, smiled and hugged her fellow Coordinator. "It was a good battle, Dawn, a very good one. I guess we're now even."
Dawn smirked playfully. "Oh, you wish. I never knew it was you behind that disguise!"
"I guess I've got Team Rocket to thank for that. Being fashion designers really brought their talent." She looked down at Prinplup and smiled as it stood proudly at her feet, its head held up high in the air. "Oh, hello there, Piplup! I see you've evolved him, Dawn."
"Yeah, he finally accepted evolution a couple years ago in Hoenn. And he's more confident than ever. Anyway, enough about me. How come you're here in Alto Mare?"
"Same as you, to participate in the Festival," explained May. "When I saw that you were participating as well, I thought I'd surprise you, so I called Team Rocket, asked them for a good disguise, they sent me the Princess costume, and here we are!"
"It was very clever, May. Very clever. Well, I guess now that the Festival is over, maybe we can do some reconnecting!"
"Yeah, let's!" May suddenly looked off at another direction. "Hey, guys! Over here! I've got Dawn here!"
"What? You're not alone?" Dawn turned her head at the direction May was looking at. "Oh. My. Arceus."
"Dawn, it is SO great to see you again!" Hilda White exclaimed happily as she hugged the blunette tightly. Behind her were Hilda's twin brother Hilbert, Lyra Silver, her boyfriend Khoury Evans, Tory Lund, and his Plusle and Minum; the Trainers smiled and giggled at the sight of Dawn as her face reddened, the tight hug depriving her of her oxygen while Prinplup greeted Plusle and Minum enthusiastically.
"Hilda..." gagged Dawn, "...can't...breathe..."
"Oh, sorry." Hilda released Dawn, giggling as the blunette began breathing heavily. "It's been so long since we last saw each other! Like, ten years!"
Dawn's eyes darkened, as did May's. "Don't remind me..." Dawn said.
"Oh." Hilda realized what Dawn was feeling. "Sorry."
Realizing the tenseness of the subject, Lyra spoke up. "We saw you at the Alto Mare Festival, Dawn, so we thought it'd be a good idea to surprise you! After all, it was quite a while since we last hung out." Her eyes brightened as she got an idea. "Hey, maybe we could do some reconnecting! Some touring, perhaps! The six of us are only leaving in a couple of days anyway; I think we should spend that remainder to the fullest. What do you say, Dawn?"
"That sounds great!" Dawn exclaimed, brightening up in an instant. "I'm not due to leave until a couple of days too, and I have yet to see the city. It looks very pretty." Just then, she raised an eyebrow. "Wait, Lyra, you say the six of you guys, as if you're a group. Are you six traveling together?"
"Yep," replied May. "We've started traveling across several regions together as a group several years ago."
"Really? Oh, that sounds great."
"How about you, Dawn?" Tory asked. "Are you traveling with someone?"
"No. I haven't been traveling with anyone..." Dawn became distant as memories flooded back to her mind. Lyra, noticing her mood, spoke up again.
"So, Dawn, now that we're all back together, how about we all reconnect through a little shopping?"
"NO, NO!" Hilbert and Khoury shouted simultaneously. "ANYTHING BUT SHOPPING!"
"Excuse me, boys," Hilda said, "but we've agreed to reconnect with Dawn in the way she likes it. And she likes shopping, so we shop."
"That's not fair!" exclaimed Hilbert. "Shopping's always boring!"
"DON'T YOU DARE CRITICIZE SHOPPING, LITTLE BROTHER!"
"I say we put it to a vote!" Khoury suggested.
"Okay," May said. "Anyone who doesn't wanna go shopping, raise your hand."
Hilbert and Khoury's hands instantly shot up in the air. The two then glared at Tory, who giggled nervously.
"I think shopping's okay..." he said, almost silently.
"It's settled!" exclaimed Lyra, clapping her hands together. "We shop! Khoury, Hilbert, Tory, you guys be gentlemanly and help us with the bags, okay?"
The four women walked out of the Festival, giggling and gossiping excitedly, while the three men, along with Prinplup, Plusle, and Minum, trailed behind them, trying to catch up with their companions. Khoury and Hilbert were glaring at Tory hatefully.
"We'll deal with you later, dude," Hilbert said.
Tory chuckled nervously.
Near the Alto Mare Bell Tower
"Wow, Lyra!" Dawn exclaimed. "You and Khoury are engaged?!"
Lyra smiled proudly and displayed her ring finger to Dawn; wrapped around it was a golden ring with a small but sparkling crystal.
"Yep," she said. "We actually plan to be married at Ketchum City at the end of Ketchum Month-" Lyra suddenly stopped short and covered her mouth upon seeing the change of expression in May and Dawn's faces. "Oh. Sorry. I-I forgot..."
"It's okay," May mumbled. She then smiled slightly. "Again, Lyra, I am so happy for you."
"Yeah, and to think, I thought Khoury was out of the picture if I considered marrying him." She looked at Khoury, who was busy talking to Hilbert, and smiled. "But he's become a better guy for himself. Courageous, positive. I picked the right person to marry."
Dawn continue to look down at the ground sadly. She remembered Lyra asking her once if Ash was her boyfriend like it was yesterday. She had denied it, but now that she thought about it during the years following his death, the blunette Coordinator had grown to regret making that response. Ever since Ash Ketchum left this planet, a new emotion had engulfed Dawn's heart and soul like no other. It was one of love, love directed at Ash Ketchum, who would never know about it...
She glanced at nearby pedestrians, staring especially at couples, giggling and kissing each other. She felt jealous, and neglected of the fate she wanted...
Just then, she spotted someone sitting at an outdoor café a few yard away; his facial features were cast in shadow by the table's umbrella. He seemed to be watching the group. However, Dawn was able to see a hint of the man's hair that stuck out of the umbrella's shadow...
A shade of purple...
"Dawn?" Hilda asked suddenly, catching the Coordinator's attention. "What're you looking at?"
"Someone was watching us," Dawn replied in a whisper.
"What, really?" May said, looking around. "Where?"
Dawn pointed at the outdoor café. "Over there! He was sitting at one of the tables! He had purple hair, I think!"
May, Hilda, and Lyra looked at the tables. Finally, Hilda shook her head.
"Girl, you're probably still acted up from the Festival," she said. "Chillax, Dawn. It's our time together; let's spend it!"
"Yeah. Sure. Sure..."
But Dawn cast one last look at the table where the stranger was sitting at. He was gone.
Somewhere in the skies
The great black dragon soared across the sky, letting out a mighty roar that reverberated through the air, disturbing the shapes of the nearest banks of wispy clouds. It flew into a large bank of cumulonimbus clouds, steadily and effortlessly dodging the lightning bolts that flashed and flew around it. On its back were two people, one with light-green, neatly-combed hair; the other with bushy, long purple hair tied in a large ponytail. The two humans didn't seem to mind the lightning.
"How farther?!" yelled Cilan Parlet over the cracks of the thunder.
"As far as we need to fly until we reach our desired destination," Zekrom replied.
"Is it true, Zekrom?" Iris Cuasorome asked. "The thing we're looking for is at Ketchum City?"
"Indeed, Iris. And heed my word, humans, you must tread carefully. The Creator has sensed a disturbing evil in development at the settlement."
Iris and Cilan looked at each other and nodded. After ten years of searching, their quest has finally come close to completion.
If their source of information was correct, then they would find the Wing at Ketchum City.
A/N: So, it looks like everyone's on their way to Ketchum City! What awaits there?
It looks like JohtoFestaShipping is confirmed, along with hints of PokeShipping, AdvanceShipping, PearlShipping, and VisorShipping. I said that one Ash shipping would prevail, so until the confirmation is passed, everyone's gonna have to be left to guess which Shipping will prevail. So far, it looks like PearlShipping, with PokeShipping coming close behind, but you never know... ;D
And who do you think is the mysterious purple-haired guy? Of course, he'll be important later on in the story...
I will also reveal exactly how Hilda and Hilbert are connected to the rest of the gang in a later chapter if they didn't appear in the anime proper. It'll be quite clever.
Now, I'd like to thank those who reviewed:
Galaxina-the-Seedrian: Methinks you didn't read the prologue thoroughly enough... ;D
Alpha B. A. 7: Here is the next chapter you've been hoping for!
Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!