Chapter 4 – A new beginning
Mt. Silver – 3 years ago
Mt. Silver is a large mountain in Johto, located west of Victory Road and Indigo Plateau, however, due to its dangerous places and strong Pokémon that live there, the access it is extremely prohibited for safety of all people, but today, a boy will enter the gates to the Mt. Silver.
"Well Pikachu. Here we are" said Ash looking to the gates of Mt. Silver "Lance said he would be waiting for us at the top of Mt. Silver"
Pikachu looked at his trainer and saw his determination on his face, and that made Pikachu stronger than never
"Are you ready?" asked Ash to his buddy who positively answered him "So, let's go"
Ash entered the gate but immediately was stopped by a security guard
"Hold on boy" said the guard "You can't enter here, is too dangerous"
"That's okay officer" said Ash "I am meeting Lance at the top of the Mountain"
"Oh! So you are Ash Ketchum?" asked the guard "I am sorry. I do have an authorization to let you in" said the guard making way for Ash to pass "Have a good day sir, and please be safe"
"Thank you officer" said Ash stepping forward and disappearing along the way
While walking to get through Mt. Silver and find Lance, Ash started remembering everything he passed since the day he first left Pallet Town. The day he was supposed to wake up early and get one of the three initials Pokémon of Kanto from professor Oak, and how he overslept and arrived late, finding out that all three Pokémons had already been taken by other trainers. But fortunately that made professor Oak to give Pikachu to him, and from that unfortunate situation was born an amazing friendship that would last forever. After that Ash met two of his best friends of all who taught him almost everything he knew; Brock and Misty, how he won all eight badges and took place in the Kanto Pokémon league and finished within the sixteenth better. How he travelled around the orange island and met Tracey and won the orange league. How he visited Johto, took place in the league, defeat his old rival Gary, today his good friend, but also got eliminated by Harrison and his Blaziken. And then came Hoenn, May and her little brother Max and one more defeat to the league. And the same happened in Sinnoh, where he met Dawn, in Unova, he met Iris and Cilan two others good friends of his. And now, the last journey finished the same way, losing the Kalos league. But he met Clemont, Bonnie and Serena. He couldn't say his life has been bad so far, but at the moment, Ash feels that all training he's been doing wasn't making any effect to his life, that something else should be done. And how amazing the destiny is when Lance came at him after his lost at the Kalos league.
FLASHBACK
"I am so sorry you lost Ash" said Serena hugging him
"We all cheered for you" said Bonnie
"You could have won. It was for little details" said Clemont
Ash said nothing. He knew they were only trying to cheer him up, but the true was that he lost…. Once more. Somehow it doesn't matter what kind of Pokémon he uses, or the strategy, or the training, to win a league it was something that seemed far from his hand at that point.
"Thank you for your support guys" he said trying to open a smile "Of course I am sad because of my lost, but it is okay. I just have to train harder for the next time"
"We are relief you are okay Ash" said Clemont "To us three, you still are the best trainer we ever seen"
"He is right Ash" said Bonnie "Don't let this defeat take you down"
"Ash" started Serena "I know you are sad. You don't have to hide it from me" she said "But we all pass trough bad days, and sometimes it's not our fault. You have gone so far, you won the eight badges and got until the final"
Ash raised his head up and looked at Serena. At some point she was right… but still… it was sad
"I just want you to know that I will be here for you if you need me" Serena said
"Thank you guys" Ash said "You are the best. Let's forget this and let's go get something to eat" Ash said smiling
"Now you're talking like Ash" said Bonnie "Let's go"
At that night when everybody were sleeping, Ash left the Hotel and went out for a walk. He was still sad, not only for this lost, but all of them. To be truly, to defeat gym leaders it wasn't necessarily impossible, but to win a league, to be the best from a whole region, that was very hard, and it was that what Ash wanted so much.
Ash found a little square and sat on a bench and started thinking about his strategies and Pokémon. Was he doing something wrong? In his mind no. He wasn't. So why? Too many questions but not even one answer
"Hello Ash" said a voice from behind him
Ash got scared and jumped from the bench "Who's there?" asked the boy
"Don't you remember me Ash?" said the voice coming behind from a tree and revealing a well know person
"Lance?" said Ash "Is that really you?"
"Long time no see right?"
"Yes. That's true" said Ash "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I saw your battle against Diantha today" said Lance
"So you saw me losing" said Ash "I am sorry about that"
"Do you know why you lost?" asked Lance
"My friends are telling me it's because of details, since we two had just one Pokémon left and her Gardevoir defeated my Greninja" said Ash
"They are wrong" said Lance "You lost because you are weaker than she"
"What?" asked Ash
"That's right Ash" Lance said "You are a very good trainer, you have a good heart and you are connected to your Pokémon. They trust you and you trust them. But so does Diantha"
"So why are you telling me that I am weaker than she?" Ash asked
"It's not only you Ash" Lance said "Your Greninja. How long have you been with him?"
"I got him when I arrived in Kalos. Less than a year ago" said Ash
"But he wasn't a Greninja" said Lance
"No. He was a Froakie" Ash said "He's been a Greninja since last month when he envolved from Frogadier"
"Do you know how long Gardevoir has been with Diantha?" asked Lance
"No. How long?"
"Seventeen years" Said lance "Since she was eight years old"
"Really? That's amazing"
"It's been seventeen years of training, ten years as Gardevoir and eight as its Mega Evolution. She had time enough to prepared herself and her Pokémon to confront anybody" said Lance "And now I ask you Ash. Who is your most powerful Pokémon?"
Ash thought for a while but it wasn't necessary
"Pikachu" he said "Even though he is not a final evolution, he could beat my Charizard, or My Sceptile easily"
"And who is the Pokémon you carry the longest time?" Lance asked again
"Pikachu" Ash said looking down
"I think you can see a similarity here between you and Diantha" said Lance "All of her Pokémon are with her a long time Ash"
"But is it wrong to catch and train new and different kinds of Pokémon? Am I supposed to stick with the same six Pokémons for the rest of my life?" asked Ash angrily
"No. It's completely okay to have many kinds of Pokémon" Said Lance "But Ash, when was the last time you trained your Sceptile? Your Charizard? Your Snorlax?" Asked Lance
Ash said no words. He finally understood what Lance was trying to say to him
"You know Ash" Lance continued "I always say that all Pokémon trainers should choose three main Pokémon. Three Pokémon that will follow them all along the road. This way you will always have three that you know well, and will be always prepared for any kind of battle. And every now and then make a rotation between the other three rooms you have left, so you can always have other types of Pokémon also prepared for any kind of battle" Said Lance
"Any kind of battle?" asked Ash "What do you mean?"
"If I challenge you now for a six to six battle only at the sky with flying types Pokémon, would you be prepared for my challenge?" Asked Lance "Even if I let you go transfer your Pokémons with Professor Oak?"
"I do have six Pokémon that can fly for this battle" said Ash
"But will they be all prepared to face my two Dragonites, Aerodactil, Salamence, Charizard and Flygon?" Asked Lance
Ash looked down, he knew this Pokémon wouldn't stand a chance against Lance
"No Lance. They Wouldn't be prepared" Ash said "I didn't even know you have a Flygon"
"I have many Pokémon Ash" said Lance "If it was really a battle only in the sky, I would have to trade my Gyarados for my Flygon. And that's what you should do in this situation"
"I understand" Ash said "Man, there are some of my Pokémon that I haven't use in a while, like my Kingler or Muk"
"Two very good Pokémon which would have made a big difference if were better trained and used by you" Lance said
"I know" Ash said "I am sorry Lance"
"Not necessarily all the Pokémon you caught you have to hold and train immediately" said Lance "If you have a goal, you must keep stick at it" Lance completed "You really can't go to a final league match holding a Noibat who just born. It is dangerous for you and for your Pokémon"
"I feel horrible now Lance" said Ash "I could have put my Pokémon in danger"
"Don't take it too serious. It is a common mistake" Said Lance "But still, getting to the final and almost defeat the champion with the Pokémon you have and the little time you had to train them. It is amazing. It shows that you have more potential than you think"
"Thank you Lance. It means a lot to hear this from you" Ash said
"You are Welcome Ash" said Lance "But there is another reason I came here today"
"Really. What is it?" Ash asked
"Ash. After all we discussed here tonight. Would you like to be stronger?" Lance asked
"Of course I do" Ash said "That's my goal now. No more thinking about only winning a league. My goal is to get stronger, I and my Pokémon. All of them, so together we will conquer our objectives"
"Our?" asked Lance
"I have a way of think that my Pokémon are independents from me. They also have goals in their lives, and sometimes these goals may not include me, so as long as life keep us together, we'll work together as a team. If for some reason they have to leave, I will not stop them. I want to make them strong not only for me, but for themselves too" said Ash
"That's a wonderful way of think Ash. You do have my respect" said Lance "So now I can without doubt ask you what I was about to ask"
"What?" Ash asked
"Ash. Would you like to come train with me?" Lance asked
"Train with you?" Ash said "I don't have to think Lance, of course I would like, but why are you asking me this?"
"Since we first met I have quietly followed your training" said Lance "I always saw something special in you, but I was afraid you weren't ready to come with me. Today after your battle and most principally after our conversation, I see you are ready to stand my training"
"Your training?" Ash asked
"Actually I am not looking for a training companion. I am looking for an apprentice, and you are the one I chose to pass my knowledge, experience and way of battle" said Lance
"If you accept of course"
"I do Lance" said Ash "I want to become stronger. I want to be your apprentice"
"If you say so" said Lance "Meet me at the top of Mt. Silver in exactly one month from now. It is enough time to you to say goodbye to your friends and family" said Lance
"Say goodbye?" Ash asked "why?"
"I am going to ask you a favor Ash" said Lance "The training I will give you, it's a secret one which has been passed for ages by the Dragon Masters"
"By the Dragon Masters?" Ash asked
"I should teach this to a future Dragon Master who was supposed to replace me, but even it's against the rules, I will teach you" said Lance "So because of that, you can't tell your friends and family anything about the training I am going to give you, and I don't know how long it will take. It can be a couple of months, but also a couple of years or maybe more"
"I will be away from my family and friends?" Ash asked
"Yes. Do you still want to do the training?" Lance asked
"Certainly" Ash quickly answered
"Good. So don't forget in one month, at the top of Mt. Silver. Take ten of your Pokémon with you, nothing more" Said Lance
"How am I supposed to hold ten Pokémon with me?" Ash asked
"Take this" said Lance giving some kind of pearl to Ash "Keep this with you. This is the Mighty Pearl. Once you have it, you will be able to hold as many Pokémon as you want"
"Really?" said Ash
"Yes. Take care of it" said Lance turning around and starting to walk away "And Ash, one more thing. Don't say anything about Mt. Silver as well. Your family and friends might try to look for you there, and it's a dangerous place, so dangerous that the entrance is guarded by many securities, but you won't have problems to enter" Said Lance finally leaving and disappearing trough the shades of night
END OF FLASHBACK
It wasn't easy, it took two whole days, but Ash and Pikachu were finally getting at the top of Mt. Silver, it was possible to clearly see it
"There it is Pikachu" said Ash "We're almost there"
Rock by rock, Ash walked, jumped and climbed Mt. Silver until he reached the top, one of the most difficult tasks he ever had to do in his life. But certainly this would be sooner surpassed by Lance's training.
At the end of the day, when the sun was already leaving and the moon was starting to show up, Ash reached the top. And who was there waiting for him?
"Lance" said Ash looking to the Dragon Master in front of him
"So you have arrived" Lance said "I was starting to think if you were really coming"
"Nothing would stop me now" Ash replied
"Very Good Ash" Said Lance "Shall we begin? Or do you need time to rest?"
"We shall begin" said Ash
"Exactly what I wanted to hear" said Lance "First of all. I want you to turn around and tell me what you see"
Ash looked curiously to lance but obeyed him, he turned around and saw….
"It is Kanto and Johto far away from here" said Ash
"That's right Ash" said Lance "Memorize your homeland, because you are not seeing it again for a long time. Now follow me" said lance walking to a cave who was placed at the top of the Mt. Silver
Ash followed Lance to the cave, inside it he saw a stone staircase that accompanied roundly the cave till the very top of the Mt. Silver. They climbed the stairs in silence until the last step.
"Ash. Your training starts now" said Lance "Now, return to me the Mighty Pearl. Here where we are you no longer need it. You can keep your ten Pokémons"
Ash did as Lance said and returned the Mighty Pearl to him
"Now. Tell me the names of the ten Pokémon you chose to bring here" Lance said
"Pikachu, Greninja, Charizard, Sceptile, Talonflame, Kingler, Snorlax, Heracross, Glalie and Gliscor" said Ash
"Are you sure these are the Pokémon you want to bring?" Said Lance
"Yes. I am sure" Ash replied
"After half of the period of training, I will allow you to trade five of the Pokémon if you think it's necessary" Said Lance
"Okay" said Ash "So we will train here inside this cave?"
"No Ash. No are not training here" said Lance
"We are not?" Ash replied
"We will train in a very special place, a place that can't be accessed by any people in the World but the Dragon Master. We are here because this is the highest place in all the regions. It's from here where we are reaching it" Said Lance looking up
"It? What?" asked Lance
"The Temple of Dragons" answered Lance "A Magical Temple built by the first Dragon Pokémon who appeared in the world many centuries ago to house the Dragons Master from all ages and its apprentices"
"Unbelievable" said Ash looking up as well
"You say this now, wait until we get there" said Lance smiling "Let's go"
Lance looked up and raised his arm where a bracelet of dragons could be seen on his wrist
"Oh Mighty Dragon of Time, Open your gates to the world of the Dragons an allow me Lance, the Master of Dragons and Ash Ketchum to enter your humble sanctuary. Release the TEMPLE OF DRAGONS" Said Lance
Suddenly the earth started to shake and from the sky a light beam came down from heaven trough the hole in the roof of the cave, involving Ash, Lance and Pikachu. After everything calmed down Ash, Lance and Pikachu no longer were there. The cave was empty, and so the Mt. Silver