A/N: Yep, quick update, featuring solely Ash. ENJOY!
The Forest of Hearts
Near Ketchum City
Ash stepped inside the thicket that he called his new home for ten years. The group of trees were still reformed in the shape of the protective dome that was created by the Plate he stole from Arceus, which was currently lying on the soft, fresh ground, glimmering from the moonlight that was breaking through the defense shield of trees. Quietly and slowly, he sat down, cross-legged, beside the Plate and exhaled with some sort of placating calmness, almost as if he were in some sort of religious prayer. After sitting in that position for a long moment, Ash picked up the Plate and read the engraving that was etched on it.
'From it, the Original One conceived the heart and the soul to balance the cycle of purity.'
"'From it, the Original One conceived the heart and the soul to balance the cycle of purity'," repeated Ash. He then frowned, gritted his teeth, and angrily slammed the Plate back down on the ground. He stood up abruptly and punched one of the tree trunks so hard that crisp leaves, half-frozen from the winter, fluttered around him. "Damn Arceus! Does he know what kind of suffering I had to witness in order to balance this cycle? DOES HE?! Or was that supposed to be part of the plan as well?"
"I do not have the answers to that question, Master," a voice said.
Ash sighed and replied, "First of all, I wasn't talking to you, Lucario. Second of all, do NOT call me Master. It's unethical."
"But isn't it the nature of an Aura Guardian to call its mentor Master?"
Ash sighed again and turned around to faced his protege that was Lucario. He remembered encountering a scared, lonely Riolu in the Forest of Hearts eight years ago. It showed a number of impressive Aura skills, and Ash, remembering the Aura training he received in the Reverse World, decided to pass on his skills to the otherwise-confused Emanation Pokémon. Within a three-year span full of extensive training, Riolu expanded and perfected its skills, and not longer afterward, it evolved into the Lucario that was standing right before Ash today. Unfortunately, the evolution seemed to give Lucario a rebellious streak, since it had began questioning Ash's actions.
"I never taught you that, Lucario," Ash said sternly. "Now, why are you here? You never come in here without a reason."
"I wanted to talk to you about the boy who called himself your son."
Ash's reply was terse. "I have no son."
"This boy obviously thinks otherwise."
"Of course. But I have spoken, Lucario. I have no son. Now, leave me in peace. Go help Pikachu watch over the community."
"If I may, Master-"
"You shall do nothing further in my quarters, Lucario. I told you to go help Pikachu watch the community. Now."
However, Lucario wasn't willing to give up and obey his Master's orders. He spoke, more sternly, "I have interacted with the boy. He is just like you in every way possible. He has your personality, which no other person can ever have, and your Aura signature. I know he's your son, Master, and you know as well. I can sense it in your Aura readings. You are secretly in grief and denial. I think it's time you-"
"You dare defy me, Lucario?" demanded Ash, although his voice was still calm, implacable. "Yes, I am in grief and denial, but over what I've experienced ten years ago."
"I understand that, Master, but I know-"
"You know what?" Ash sat down, as if this were a simple, non-confrontational conversation between two good friends. "What do you know, Lucario?"
"I know you want to go back-"
"Why should I go back, Lucario? I learned the true purpose of my life! HA! Arceus hoped it'd be what I needed to prepare myself for what was to come, but he did not expect how I would handle it when the damn news broke. Now, I have seen my life as nothing more than a lie, and I still do. Now, why do you think should I go back to living a lie, Lucario? Huh? Why?" Lucario was silent; Ash smirked. "Help Pikachu watch the community, Lucario."
Knowing that he cannot persuade its Master, Lucario left the thicket.
The sewer systems
Underneath Ketchum City
Enigma stepped inside the chamber that was his quarters for the past ten years. The chilly breeze that was brought by Kyurem's army of Cryogonal blew through the tunnels, but the syndicate leader was undeterred by the lower-than-usual temperatures. He sat down on his trademark red carpet and closed his eyes. Then, he felt a presence enter the chamber. His lips curved into a soft smile as he recognized the newest visitor.
"Yes, Curtis?"
"We've done just as you asked," the green-haired boy replied. "The devices are all ready and capable. ...We are ready to make our comeback."
Enigma's grin widened even more; he appeared disturbingly hungry. "Excellent. Make sure everyone and everything is in place for tomorrow. We wanna be as ready as we were ten years ago. But remember, do not strike just yet. I have some business to attend to with our dear friend Nate."
"Father? May I...ask a question?" This time, it was Yancy who spoke.
"By all means, Yancy," replied Enigma, not looking at her.
"Why do you want Nate to join us? If you say he has his father's mannerisms, then shouldn't it be in his nature to not join us, the perceived bad guys?"
"He's in a vulnerable position, Yancy. He just found out that he is the son of the very person who died thwarting my father's goal for worldwide peace and prosperity. If I am not mistaken, he is now being informed of the events that transpired ten years ago. I won't be surprised if he was just informed that he is one of the two heirs to the Ketchum legacy. It'll be too much information for him to bear at the moment. Of course, it will be the Ketchum nature to adapt soon, but Nate is still in that process, giving me the opportunity I need to sway him onto our side. Then, with his influence, it won't be hard for us to sway over the other heir as well.
"And with the newest Ketchums under our employment, we shall easily draw out Ho-Oh, capture it, take control of its power over good and purity, first use it to free my father, and then use it to fulfill his long-overdue goal of cleansing the world of the evil and malice that plagues it like a cancer. And then we shall have peace."
"Forgive me, Father," Yancy piped, evidently careful in using the right words to address her father, "but won't taking control of Ho-Oh forcibly give rise to Pure Impurity, the stark opposite to Ho-Oh's powers? I mean, that is what had happened the last time, am I right?"
"Don't worry, I have it all planned out to the last detail. Our master scheme will go just as planned."
"But I read-"
"Don't listen to that foolish book, Yancy," scolded Enigma sternly, finally staring at her and Curtis. "We can overcome Pure Impurity, if we put our minds to it. It can't be all that difficult. After all, this is what we're prepared for: the rise of Pure Impurity. That is why we have the devices that we need to block it out. Use your mind, Yancy."
"Yes, Father," Yancy replied submissively, bowing her head sadly before leaving the room. Curtis watched her go before addressing Enigma.
"So, what shall the positions be?"
Yancy didn't know if she could do this.
She read the book on Ho-Oh's powers and the consequences of them being used by the wrong hands. She knew that there was absolutely no way to assert control of Ho-Oh successfully without drawing out Pure Impurity, the dark energy that lay dormant within the Earth, waiting for its guardian and channel, Ho-Oh itself, to become corrupted. And once Pure Impurity rose, then very few means can be used to stop it and reseal it back inside the Earth, means that the New Sky Soldiers did not have at the moment. The pink-haired girl began to think of Nate, and how stricken he looked when she spied on him all over Ketchum City...
Yancy knew she had to warn him about these developments somehow, but...how?...
Then, she spotted the flyer for the Ketchum Month Tournament, which her father had saved.
A/N: Yes, short chapter is short, but it looks like we're seeing some major developments here. Ash doesn't wanna go back because of something Arceus did, and there could be a defection going on for Yancy! The next chapter is going to focus on the thing that's been mentioned a lot: the Ketchum Month Tournament. The events that occur in the event are guaranteed to be exciting and suspenseful, so do stay tuned for more!
I'd like to thank the following for reviewing:
ThirteenMoney: Hilda will tell Nate the truth soon, and yes, Ash and Nate will meet.
Pokemon Trainer White: You'll find out why Ash is still alive in a later chapter. And I'll make the new story once the XY anime makes its premiere! I can't guarantee on making it accurate to the show if I don't the premiere. I will guarantee that I'm excited for it!
random girlz: Jeez, the aggression again! :P
PsychicEevee0103: A lot of major shit, that's what.
MegaMan (guest reviewer): I am continuing the story, and I'm glad to give you an update very quickly after the last one, even though the chapter was a bit short.
woodland59 (guest reviewer): Meh, it's okay, take your time. Yes, I will read P&F fics. ...WHAT?! You have some?
Words can't even describe how excited I am for October 29! Come on, September, move your big fat ass over! That way, I can write my XY-themed story!
In addition to my plans to make the XY-based story, I have also decided to begin writing a "Soul Eater" fic set in the anime universe, which I will publish once I am half-finished with this story. Which means the story will be up a bit soon, maybe in a couple weeks at maximum.
Well, hope you enjoyed this short chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!