The Forest of Hearts
Near Ketchum City
"Can't believe that happened..." Ash moaned as he sat in the middle of the ice-coated field.
"Pika," Pikachu replied solemnly as it hopped onto his Trainer's shoulder.
Several minutes had passed since the battle between him and his son, and now, Nate ran off back to Ketchum City, with Lucario and Pokémon that were in the community that he established specifically for them. Just for them. To keep them safe and sound from harm brought by the outside world. And now, they all ran off with him. They practically betrayed him, in favor of a fool who obviously can't, and never will understand the gravity of the situation that unfolds before him.
"Can't believe that happened..." Ash repeated, still in shock. The words that Nate said, they were like poison to his mind.
Poison.
"I'd prefer if we just go with the flow."
"Damn him."
"Never worry about what's ahead..."
"Damn that kid!"
"...Or what's behind us."
"Damn him, that Nate!" roared Ash, screaming to the highest heavens. He stood up and stomped his foot so powerfully that the ice beneath it broke, sending shards in the air, flying, sparkling in the sunlight that was breaking through the banks of clouds overhead. "DAMN HIM!"
In a blind fit of rage, he stomped his foot on the icy grass once again. Then, Ash watched as the ice shards settled on the ground. For some strange reason, he found it somewhat interesting, the way the shards were glittering in the sun. ...The way the shards distorted his reflection through the cracks. It made him look like some kind of monster.
"Just because destiny's always around the corner..."
A monster...
"...Doesn't mean we always have to look."
Something that Nate was accusing him of being, for betraying the ideals he once stood up for himself, ideals that he once promoted.
"Isn't that the point of life?"
Ash angrily brushed away the ice shards with his foot before burying his face in his palms. He continued to hear Nate's words swimming around in his head, like fishes gracefully gliding along in the water. He shook his head in an attempt to clear his head, but he was unsuccessful.
"Isn't that the point of life?"
"Arceus-damn it," he grunted as he marched across the icy field, back to the thicket. The Pokémon that remained behind had already retreated into safe confines of the nearby forest, leaving the area completely desolate of any traces of life except for Ash and Pikachu.
"Pikapi, pika-pika-pi ka-pi pika?" Pikachu asked, beseeching its owner.
"Why should I help Nate?" snarled Ash, although his voice was soft, completely devoid of any hostility whatsoever. "That would have been what Arceus wanted me to do, follow my old instincts and go save the day, like the hero I used to be. I won't give him that kind of satisfaction, Pikachu. I won't."
"Pikapi, pika-chu chu-pi pika-pika!"
"I know that Nate is my son, but..." However, Ash abruptly broke off and remained silent. By that time, he stopped near the entrance of the thicket. Snow was coated on several branches hanging over it, and they seemed to glow with a pearly-white color that briefly attracted the disgraced Trainer's attention. Droplets of cold water were dripping from the snow, and Ash remembered that the cold, snowy climate was conflicting with the natural hot summer of Johto, competing for dominance.
The droplets were forming a pool at his feet, and Ash looked down at it, staring at his reflection, now distorted by the ripples caused by falling droplets.
"Pikapi, pika-pi chu-pika, pika-pi pi-pi pika!"
Ash remained silent as he continued to examine the snow. He remembered that Johto's climate did not involve a snowy period, and for him to witness such an abnormality of weather conditions seemed to astound him, slightly so. Then, as he continued to look at the snow, he suddenly remembered Nate's words.
"The uncertainty. With this uncertainty of what's ahead, we strive to shape our own pathways by building up from our past experiences. Uncertainty motivates us to improve and become a better person, even if it means having to choose between good and evil. Either way, we offer a contribution that may seem small and trivial at first, but once you look at the long term, you may find that even the least important of experiences would result in the biggest of changes. Anything good can result in anything bad. Anything bad can result in anything good. And in the end, what we leave behind for others to build up on is what keeps the world turning. Uncertainty keeps the world spinning on its axis."
Ash's attention was then diverted toward the ripples, which were growing larger by the second as they continued to spread outward across the body of water. These ripples multiplied into more ripples the moment they crashed into other ripples created by droplets falling from another point in the branches. All of these ripples were distorting his reflection, and yet, Ash could see himself clearly, without any interference whatsoever. He didn't need the distortion.
He was seeing himself, right now.
Sometimes, he made the private admission that he was indeed a monster by betraying his own ideals. However, he knew it was for the best. Arceus stood by and let him, a simple Pokémon Trainer, do all of his dirty work, and then Alpha Pokémon tried to propagandize him with an inadequately crafted explanation for his motive over why he allowed the world that he created to nearly fall into the deadly throes of chaos and destruction.
Ash knew it was for the best...and sometimes, he felt bad for knowing that. But he had no other choice. What other alternative was there?
"Pikapi?"
Ash glanced from the puddle of water to Pikachu, who now hopped off his shoulder and was now looking up at him with his glimmering, beady, amber eyes. He remembered reuniting with his beloved friend minutes after escaping Arceus with the Plate. Despite his then-newfound intention to distance himself from each and every person he knew, Ash realized that it was more of a motor function in allowing Pikachu to stay with him, instead of shunning him away.
He loved his first Pokémon. He didn't know what would happen had he awakened early as planned.
"Have you ever wondered what would've happened if you picked a Bulbasaur, a Charmander, or a Squirtle for your starter Pokémon, instead of your Pikachu, Dad?"
Indeed, Ash wondered about that, ever since his attempt at winning the Indigo League ended in failure. He accomplished so many things with Pikachu, things that would've been impossible if he had another starter Pokémon under his possession. He had always wondered what kind of person he would've turned out if he got himself a Bulbasaur, a Charmander, or a Squirtle. A good person? A bad person? The best there ever was? An utter disgrace?
His entire Trainer career was dictated upon something as simple as not waking up early.
Ash's eyes widened as multiple memories flashed across his head.
He was fighting Nate, and then talking with him about their lives.
He was rescuing Nate at the Ketchum Month Stadium.
He was raising his Pokémon community alongside Pikachu and Lucario.
He was finding a lonely Riolu, wandering aimlessly in the forest.
He was reuniting with Pikachu after finding himself to be alive again.
He was arguing with Arceus about the purpose about his life before stealing one of his Plates and escaping.
He was giving his life to save Ho-Oh from certain death, therefore destroying the world.
He was fighting the Sky Soldiers alongside all of his friends and family, seeing many of them die in the process.
He was being trained in the usage of Aura in order to effectively fight the Sky Soldiers.
He was watching as Ho-Oh disappeared inside a golden Poké Ball before being summoned and defeating Arceus.
He was reuniting with his old friends.
He was meeting up with Hilda and Hilbert in Broawin City.
He was traveling across the Decolore Islands with Iris and Cilan.
He was traveling across the Unova region, having met Iris and Cilan.
The Sinnoh region with Dawn and Brock.
The Battle Frontier with May, Max, and Brock.
The Hoenn region, having met May and Max.
The Johto region with Misty and Brock.
The Orange Islands with Misty and Tracey.
The Kanto region, having met Misty and Brock.
He was receiving his first Pokémon, a cute, little Pikachu that kept shocking him in disobedience.
He was waking up, realizing that he woke up a little too late.
Even if Arceus knew what was going to happen... There were too many great moments to consider... Many decisions that were his own making, which all led to many great things... All of the great moments of his life, no matter how aware Arceus was of them, outweighed the bad things...
And he, Ash Ketchum, never knew what would happen, but he never cared...until now...
"Uncertainty..." Ash whispered. Then, his lips curved into a small smile, and seconds later, he burst out into soft laughter, which intrigued Pikachu.
"Pikapi?" asked Pikachu.
"I'm fine, Pikachu," Ash replied, chuckling. "I just...I just can't believe that...I've been taught by him. I guess he is my son..." He looked down at Pikachu, a wide smile on his face, a smile that Pikachu clearly recognized. "Well, Pikachu, we should probably get going. I believe we've got some business to do."
"Pika-"
"I remember about Arceus. But I guess I've now become sick of sitting around here without doing anything. Nate told me I'm cowering behind his Plate like it's a shield. Maybe he's right." Ash ventured inside the thicket, where he found the Plate lying in wait for him; Pikachu scurried beside him. "Maybe I am using this Plate like a shield. But I will no longer cower behind it. I shall face my fears and confront Arceus about what he's done. I will find the answers."
Ash picked up the Plate and held it tightly to his chest in a protective manner. Then, he looked down at Pikachu.
"Well, what're we waiting for, buddy?" he asked. "Let's go."
Pikachu looked up at his owner for a second, confused. Then, he knew that Ash was being serious. There was no mistaking that determined look in his brown eyes, burning like a kindled flame, all in spite of the fact that such an expression had been absent for ten years.
The old Ash had returned, at long last.
Pikachu smiled and exclaimed "PIKA!" before hopping onto Ash's shoulder. The raven-haired man nodded before running out of the thicket.
Ketchum City
Nate, Lucario, and the other Pokémon were extremely silent as they made their way across the devastated ruins of Ketchum City, columns of smoke rising from the wreckage. Even from a distance, the sounds of mighty roaring and attacks being fired were heard as if they were close by. In the cloudy sky, Reshiram and Zekrom flew over the carnage, quickly pursued by Kyurem, who, by that point, had changed forms, its body now borrowing characteristics of Zekrom's own.
"Lucario, can you sense Ho-Oh nearby?" asked Nate.
"No," Lucario replied, shaking its head as its eyes remained closed and its ears suspending halfway into the air. "However...I sense other lifeforms..."
"The Genesect Army?"
"No, they..." Lucario suddenly stopped in mid-sentence, its pose now more rigid. "Nate, their Aura signatures are clouded with evil and darkness!"
"The Sky Soldiers..." whispered Nate bitterly. Then, he asked, "Where are they, Lucario?"
"Right here, boy," a voice sneered maliciously.
Nate looked up and saw Enigma perched on what remained of the rooftop of a building. Standing behind him were Curtis and the group of seven hooded men from the bell tower. Two of these seven were holding someone hostage, a bag draped over his or her head as the hostage struggled.
Then, Nate heard Lucario growl aggressively. Looking around, he saw additional Sky Soldiers and their Pokémon appearing on the ruins or on either side of the stone walkway he and his group were using. All of the Pokémon accompanying Nate growled menacingly at the grunts' Pokémon, all of which growled back. An evil chuckle pierced the air, but Nate didn't need to know who was issuing such a taunting laugh.
"Glad to see you again, Nate," Enigma said. "And I see you have more Pokémon in your ranks. They seem to trust you completely."
"You have no idea why," snarled Nate in response.
"I believe I do."
Nate's eyes widened in surprise. "You-You do?"
Enigma shrugged dismissively, as if this was a friendly conversation. "Isn't it obvious? You've obviously inherited your father's charm in making new friends. No doubt you've assembled your own little army of so-called friends to combat me and my New Sky Soldiers. But unfortunately, you're sorely mistaken."
In his mind, Nate sighed with relief; he didn't want to know what would happen if Enigma found out that Ash was alive.
"And how am I mistaken?" the Trainer asked.
Enigma's sneer widened. "You're obviously outnumbered."
"He's not outnumbered!"
Nate gasped and glanced at his side to see that Hugh had regained consciousness, and now summoned all of his Pokémon. Hugh subtly winked at him.
"So, how'd it go back there?" he asked.
"Not good," replied Nate, shaking his head.
"Oh." Hugh looked downcast. "That's...too bad."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Enigma said, still sneering, "but I don't give a damn. Just because your little boyfriend regained consciousness and now added six more Pokémon to your circle of super-friends, doesn't mean we Sky Soldiers will cower before your very feet. However..." Enigma suddenly took one step off of the rooftop and fell to the walkway, expertly landing on his feet without any difficulty. "...I wish to ignore a battle. I do not want that."
"What makes you think we'll fall for that?!" demanded Hugh.
"We're Sky Soldiers, boy," replied Enigma. "If you remember your history, our goal is to eradicate all traces of evil and corruption in the world. To battle against those that seek to defeat us and thwart our goal can be considered evil in a sense as well. And the last thing the Sky Soldiers would want is to succumb to the very thing that we wished to exterminate. No, I'm not here with the intention of battling you and your Pokémon.
"Instead, I wish to offer your a deal. Guide us to Ho-Oh, and we will let her go."
"Let who go?" asked Nate.
Enigma smirked and snapped his fingers. Nate instinctively looked up at the rooftop that Curtis and the seven hooded figures were standing on; the two who were holding the hostage jerked the bag off of his or her face...revealing the face of Yancy. Nate's eyes widened in horror as Enigma chuckled.
"We have become aware of that little smooch you two had at the Ketchum Month Stadium," he explained. "So, either you help us find Ho-Oh, or we will have no other choice but to do something really drastic for ourselves. But, it's all for the good of the world, right?" At that point, one of Yancy's captors produced a long knife and held it against her throat, causing Nate to gasp. "So, Nate? What do you say? Gonna help us, or are you gonna make us do the unimaginable?"
Nate glanced at Enigma, who was still smirking. He didn't know if he should agree to the given terms. He knew that the Sky Soldiers wouldn't be willing to hurt anyone, lest they become the very thing they meant to fight against, but judging by what Lucario told him, the Sky Soldiers were mostly incapacitated. They'd be willing to do anything when their ranks were low, and they were essentially limping away to recover...
But compare the potential loss of one person to the definite loss of an entire world...
Nate didn't know what to do. Either way, someone will die...
"It's okay, Nate."
Nate looked up at Yancy and saw that she was smiling slightly at him.
"If it's for the greater good," she said, "then so be it."
In response, Enigma sighed heavily and shook his head. "Very well, then..." he said.
Then, he made a slashing movement with his arm in command. The hooded figure holding the knife against Yancy's throat nodded and prepared to slash it...
"PIKACHU, USE THUNDERBOLT!" a voice commanded.
"PIKA-CHUUUUU!"
A powerful bolt of electricity appeared seemingly out of nowhere and struck the two figures holding Yancy, allowing her to escape and run off the rooftop...and land directly on top of Nate. Hugh quickly helped the two of them up to their feet while the Pokémon that were accompanying him and Nate began launching a variety of attacks at the Sky Soldiers, whose own Pokémon promptly retaliated with attacks of their own.
However, Nate didn't care about the unfolding battle. All he cared about was the man standing on a nearby rooftop, a Pikachu loyally perched on his shoulder.
"You came..." he said.
Ash smiled. "Well, couldn't resist the savory taste of a challenge any longer," he replied.
Reshiram and Zekrom watched as Kyurem flew away from them, knowing that it was briefly recuperating from the wounds it sustained from their long battle. As it did, the Vast White Pokémon glanced towards a different direction of Ketchum City. Zekrom immediately noticed its partner's change in behavior.
"What is wrong, Brother?" asked Zekrom.
"The Chosen One has returned at long last," Reshiram replied.
"Then may Arceus help us all... The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of him and his son..."
Minutes passed, and by that time, all of the Sky Soldiers and their Pokémon were now crumpled over on the ground, defeated and out for the count...except for one particular member. Nate, Hugh, and all of their Pokémon, including those in Ash's community, walked up to this member, who had scrambled up against the wall of one of the few buildings that were still standing. Nate was wearing a smile of absolute triumph as he stared down this member.
"It's over," he said. "Your New Sky Soldiers are finished, and so are you."
Enigma growled viciously. "You...You fools..." he snarled. "You can't possibly be able to defeat my legions..."
Then, his eyes widened the moment Ash appeared behind Nate and Hugh, a solemn expression etched on his face as he surveyed Enigma.
"Felix..." he said.
"Pika?" asked Pikachu.
Felix Ketchum gritted his teeth in frustration. "Impossible... Everyone was saying you were...dead..."
Ash shrugged. "Actually, I was. For ten years." Then, his lips curved into a smile. "But then, I guess I was resurrected with this guy's help." He glanced at Nate.
Nate's eyes widened, and then, he returned the smile with one of his own, seconds before he embraced his father in a tight hug.
"You came..." the Trainer said as he started to cry in happiness. "You actually came..."
"And we battled together," Ash replied as he broke the hug. "I guess that must've been a lifelong dream of yours, huh?"
"Actually, it was to become a hero like you. But this is WAY better!" Then, Nate raised an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, what about-"
"Arceus? Well, I guess that now I've gotten myself out into the open, I'm gonna have to face him, face retribution for what I've done. But as long as I have the Plate with me, I have some leverage. I don't think he can do much to hurt me. But never mind about me; I believe you've still got someone to find."
Nate nodded before glancing at Lucario. "Lucario, can you sense Ho-Oh?"
"I sense a faint Aura signature from him, at several miles," Lucario replied. "I believe we'll be able to reach him in about ten minutes."
"Well, then," Ash said, "we'd better get going. We can't waste another minute for Ho-Oh."
Nate glared at him. "You're coming?"
"Well, you're determined to protect Ho-Oh, and you're gonna need help. Besides...a father's gotta be there for his son, isn't that right?"
"Whatever happened to living your life your way, without having the voice of destiny always ringing in your ear?"
Ash sighed, shook his head, and placed his hands on Nate's shoulders. Two pairs of auburn eyes met as the father and son stared into each other seriously.
"Nate," he said, "I have taken some time to think about what you have said to me. You...you were right. About everything. About uncertainty. About going with the flow. There are many paths in life, but the paths I've taken have led up to this point. Why? Why is that so? Once Arceus appears, I intend to ask him that." Ash let out a soft laugh. "Thanks, Nate, for telling me that. For helping me up on my feet." He began to laugh again. "Usually, it was me who'd help people..."
"Pikapi..." Pikachu said, looking at his Trainer as he shook his head, smiling slightly.
Suddenly, another voice began to laugh, and Nate, Ash, Hugh, Yancy, and the Pokémon all glanced at Felix, who was snickering maliciously.
"I find this very amusing..." he wheezed.
"Of course you would," replied Nate sarcastically. "This is something you obviously wouldn't understand."
"And you obviously don't understand that the world is dying at the hands of emotional impurity. You call yourselves heroes." Felix let out a short laugh. "When the world falls into chaos and disarray, you've got no one to blame but yourselves. How could you stand by as evil continues to develop and scheme against the planet that we live in, that we call home? Sounds like what a villain would do. But hey, what can I do? It's obvious you've won. Go on ahead. Do what you will."
Ash sighed solemnly and walked up to Felix, who looked up at him.
"What're ya gonna do, almighty hero Ash Ketchum?" the syndicate leader asked. "Give me a damn sentimental lecture about how good can't exist without evil, and vice-versa? Try and convince me to change my ways, do what I have to do for the benefit of the world, but only in your way?"
Ash's reply was terse. "No. I'll just do this." He snapped his fingers, and several Bug-type Pokémon from his community swarmed around the building that Felix was leaning against. Immediately, the Pokémon fired String Shot attacks, essentially tying Felix up securely.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD?!" shouted Felix. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
"Felix," Ash said, "when I first met you, I thought you were a good person. It doesn't matter if you were working with the Sky Soldiers at the time; I sensed a different side of you, one that doubted your father's goals. When I found that you were working for the Sky Soldiers, I thought I could convince you to change sides, had you not fallen off that cliff when you battled Hilda and Hilbert. I thought you were dead. Obviously that's not true.
"But...now that I'm looking at you again, ten years later, I've realized something terrible: you've become your father. It's too late to save you now. Too late to give you a sentimental lecture about how good can't exist without evil, and vice-versa. It's too late for you now. So, I'm just gonna leave you under the watch of my Pokémon and join my son and his friends as they save the world. I wish for the best for you in the future, Felix. Goodbye." He turned to Nate. "Let's go."
Nate nodded, and he, Hugh, Yancy, and Lucario ran alongside him, leaving behind Felix with Ash's other Pokémon. Felix began to struggle angrily.
"THIS ISN'T OVER, ASH!" he roared. "THIS ISN'T OVER! THE SKY SOLDIERS WILL TRIUMPH! MY FATHER'S DESTINY SHALL BE FULFILLED! DO YOU HEAR ME, ASH?! MY FATHER'S DESTINY WILL BE FULFILLED, AND THE WORLD WILL BE USHERED INTO A NEW ERA OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY! MARK MY WORDS, ASH!"
However, the five continued to run, until they turned a corner and ran out of sight. Felix growled and looked up at the seething eyes of his captors.
"I guess this marks the end of the war against evil," he whispered to himself. Then, he closed his eyes solemnly. "I'm sorry, Father. ...I failed you..."
As Nate, Ash, Hugh, Yancy, and Lucario continued to run down the walkway, Yancy ran up alongside Nate, a slight smile on her face.
"Thanks, Nate," she said, "for rescuing me."
"No problem," replied Nate, nodding at the pink-haired girl. Then, he noticed the smile slide off Yancy's face, being replaced with a sad frown. "What's wrong?"
"I...I can't believe I betrayed my father and brother...for you..."
Nate's eyes softened. "Yancy, if your father and your brother intended to threaten the safety of the world and everything we know in order to benefit their own selfish goals, then they they are NOT your family, then. No family should be that way, where their ideals involve death and destruction. Believe me-" He looked at Ash, who was taking the lead of the group alongside Lucario. "-I've learned that the hard way."
Yancy's eyes softened as well, and she glanced at the wreckage that was all around her.
"I know," she said, her voice barely audible. "I...I can't believe Father and Curtis would be willing to allow this to happen..."
"So, he has returned, hasn't he?"
Reshiram and Zekrom faced Kyurem, whose yellow eyes were glowing with malice. Its body was now borrowing elements of Reshiram's own.
"Yes, Kyurem," replied Zekrom. "The Chosen One, Ash Ketchum, has shown his face at long last, and he is more than ready to resume his destiny. He and his son shall find Ho-Oh, restore it back to health, and bring balance back to the world before it will fall to Pure Impurity."
Kyurem chuckled. "And I presume the Chosen One has the Plate," it said. It then chuckled again. "Just as I planned..."
"Don't you dare succumb to your prejudice against the Fairy type, Kyurem!" shouted Reshiram angrily. "You are being selfish, Brother!"
"The Dragon type is being usurped, Reshiram. We are being usurped. By a bunch of Arceus-damn magical fairies. It is NOT tolerable! And you call me selfish, my dear Reshiram? Fortunately..." Kyurem's eyes glinted suddenly as it made a sweeping movement with its wing. "I have an efficient remedy for this problem. I am glad the three of us have the time to catch up on long-lost matters. Our reunion has now finally come to full circle, Brothers..."
Something moved at the corner of Reshiram and Zekrom's eyes, and both dragons looked down at the devastated city below.
Kyurem's Cryogonal army was flowing across the walkways and buildings, heading in a specific direction.
Before Reshiram and Zekrom could try to stop the Cryogonal, they were attacked by Kyurem, who let out a loud roar of triumph. Its body then glowed orange as a circular reddish-purple aura materialized around it. With another roar, Kyurem then released a barrage of reddish-purple beams of ice energy, all of which barreled towards the other dragons. Reshiram and Zekrom both braced themselves for the impending attack...
"STOP!" Hugh shouted, the Trainer stopping in his tracks.
"What is it, Hugh?" asked Nate as he and the others stopped as well.
"Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Yancy asked.
"I can sense something coming..." Lucario suddenly announced, its eyes closed, its raised ears vibrating. "They're...multiple swarms of Cryogonal..."
"Cryogonal?!" exclaimed Hugh in surprise.
"The Cryogonal following Kyurem," Yancy explained. "It's them..."
"Wait, I don't understand what Kyurem has to do with the Sky Soldiers..." said Nate.
"Kyurem joined forces with my father so it could lure Reshiram and Zekrom out in the open. It wants to merge with them and recreate the original dragon that ruled over all of Unova. It also wants the Pixie Plate that you possess, Ash." She glanced at the raven-haired Trainer; the Plate was tucked safely away behind his cloak. "It feels threatened by the emergency of the Fairy type, which is much stronger than the Dragon type, so it has every intention to destroy the Plate that symbolizes them, to assert the dominance of the Dragon types as it merges with Reshiram and Zekrom."
"Well, then," Ash said, "we can't just stand here any longer. Lucario, continue guiding us to Ho-Oh!"
"Yes, Ash," replied Lucario as it led the group further down the walkway.
None of them knew that the Cryogonal were close behind...
A/N: For some reason, I didn't like writing this chapter. But hey, I'm finally finished! The next couple of chapters shall depict the FINAL SHOWDOWN! :D :D :D
I'd like to thank those who reviewed:
Fireminer: Sorry if this wasn't as soon as you hoped for it to be, but...UPDATE! :D
darkrai6543: Actually, Nate's ideals ARE the moral of the story, but I have something that'll redeem Ash up in my sleeves. Don't worry.
Dick Rash: I'm glad to see your enthusiasm. XD
Alpha B. A. 7: Yes, Ash was convinced. It took a while, but he did it.
PsychicEevee0103: Yes, Ash realized that his own son was right. :)
random girlz: You're so welcome.
woodland59: It's a good thing they all got their comeuppance. Or...did they?... ;D
Galaxina-the-Seedrian: THIS is what happened! :D
BlueLightningXD: Hey, I never thought of that! Thanks for pointing that out! :D
Well, hope you enjoyed this chapter! TheCartoonFanatic01 is out. PEACE!