With the launch of the RTX 4090, I started building a completely new PC, and that's why I was inactive for a while, however, I found this story on one of my SSD's. It's just a prototype with a pilot chapter at the moment, but I have the outline of the rest of the story to continue writing if it's well received.
Unlike most of my works, this one will have a lighter tone, consider it my version of the epilogue of the classic Pokémon anime.
Some answers to possible questions:
1- This story probably won't go on too long, it won't be small, but don't expect 400K words or anything like that, that doesn't mean I'm going to do something carelessly, but I don't see myself stretching a story any further than necessary.
2- Any question about romantic pairings will be ignored. I have nothing against anyone asking this type of question, but in MY opinion, it is more satisfying to follow something and be surprised by the result. I will make no attempt to be mysterious about this, but it will be up to you to interpret something, even if it is obvious.
3- I've told you this several times in my other stories, but I'll say it again: ENGLISH IS NOT MY NATIVE LANGUAGE! It may sound silly, but I received a few comments that went beyond the limits of a simple criticism on one of my stories, and they also sent me offensive DMs. For these people, a simple message: The only person who decides whether a story will be abandoned or completed is ME! It's no use offending me, or trying to attack my pride or something with offenses like "drop it if you have self-respect". It's just Fanfiction, we write mostly as a form of entertainment, I don't have to read comments that are just trying to offend.
Anyway, enjoy the story.
Pokémon Master. The pinnacle that all Pokémon Trainers strive to reach, but what does it mean to be a Master?
Win a Pokemon league?
Catch all the Pokemon in the world?
Travel across all regions?
Ash has always stated that his dream was to become a Pokémon Master, and since he started his Pokémon journey, he has made countless friends and some enemies, met several legendary Pokémon and helped them in countless situations that put the world at risk.
In summary, Ash is something of a hero, even if he never received much credit for his accomplishments, not that the boy cared about that, he never helped anyone thinking of getting something in return, and that was something that made him a hero. magnet for problems often avoidable if he just ignored it to move on.
But he wouldn't be Ash Ketchum if he ignored someone in need.
Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola and even Galar. Ash traveled through all these regions, winning some championships, and losing many others. He questioned himself at one point in his journey if he really was up to the task of fulfilling his dream, after all, everyone wonders at some point if they should continue with something that doesn't seem to work out.
During his travels, Ash met many people who became great friends, and strong bonds were created, but the moment always came when it was necessary to say goodbye so that everyone could follow their different dreams, and that always hurt him. However, he would never forgive himself for putting his wishes above his friends' dreams, which earned him the reputation of being a boy who only thinks about Pokémon and food.
And that couldn't be further from the truth.
Ash is not naïve, he may have been when he started his journey at the age of 10, but everyone grows up, hard as it is to believe, and he noticed that some of his friends started to act strangely towards him during the time he was there. who accompanied him on his journeys around the world.
Misty initially seemed to hate him, and only accompanied him to ensure that the debt, acquired due to a thunderbolt from his Pikachu on the girl's bike, would be paid. But after the Indigo League, Misty started to act differently, still being the short-tempered redhead he knows, but acting strangely protective, especially when some other girl tried to talk to him. Ash was still young, and didn't realize what was really going on until Misty decided to go back to Cerulean and be the city's Gym Leader.
At that time, right after the journey through the Johto region, Ash blamed himself for hurting his friend's feelings, even without intending to do so, but believed that in the end everything that happened was good. He spent several sleepless nights thinking about what he could have done, and came to a conclusion that left him alone.
It would never work. Misty is a Trainer with enormous potential, and she could do better in life. And she deserves someone who can really make her happy.
And so, deciding to start over, Ash traveled to Hoenn, where he hoped to travel alone, as Brock seemed intent on staying with his family in Pewter. Traveling alone scared him, after all, he was lucky enough to travel alongside two former Gym Leaders, and Brock was a talented cook, doctor, and talented Pokémon breeder, and Misty taught him a few things about battling.
It must be said that few rookie trainers have had a similar opportunity.
Arriving in Hoenn, Ash went to Littleroot to meet Professor Birch, at the request of Samuel Oak, the most famous among researchers and the creator of the Pokédex. What Ash never imagined was that Pikachu would again fry a bicycle, and that would be the main reason for him to meet a new friend.
May Maple, a clumsy girl who was afraid of Pokémon, and who only agreed to have a starter Pokémon because she wanted to travel the world. They didn't know each other in the best way, and Ash prayed to any deity that May wouldn't be like Misty, because she decided, or rather, forced Ash to accompany her on her journey through Hoenn, because in her words:
'Your Pikachu destroyed my bike, so I'm going to travel with you.'
The differences between Misty and May were easy to observe right at the beginning of the trip. May turned out to be a girl frighteningly similar to him. Both had a terrible sense of direction, were impulsive, and it soon became clear that May had a natural talent for training Pokémon, and before long she lost her fear, learning to love them almost as intensely as Ash did.
And most surprisingly, Ash found a person who could accompany him when he went to eat something. How the hell can May maintain such a voracious appetite without putting on weight?
Not even he was dumb enough to ask that question.
It was a relief for Ash when Brock decided to continue traveling with the new group formed with Max Maple, May's younger brother. That boy with a sharp tongue and surprising knowledge of Pokémon turned out to be someone competent for his age.
And he was also the one who took Misty's burden, to keep Brock in check when he got excited at the sight of a beautiful woman.
It was in Hoenn that Ash learned about Pokémon Contests, and May immediately fell in love with the contests, causing Ash to take her under his wing as a student of sorts. He didn't know much more than May about contests, but he knows how to train Pokémon, and he made sure to teach his friend everything he knew back then, and he can see the emergence of a talented coordinator up close.
This time, Ash noticed when May started acting differently around him, getting closer than usual, and making some effort to strike up conversations when Brock and Max weren't around. And again, Ash was confused about what to do.
He likes May, but he couldn't say that he loved her at that time, he was focused on the Hoenn league, and he was afraid of screwing up and losing a friend, and because of that, he decided to continue with the naive boy act.
Then Drew appeared.
A talented coordinator for LaRousse who came across as arrogant and sometimes acted like a more modest version of Brock around women. That boy never hid his dislike for Ash, even if Ash never knew what made Drew hate him.
May was a young girl, and like most girls her age, easily impressed. And Drew's attitude around her made her stop acting differently around Ash, who silently watched the beginning of a possible future relationship unfolding before her eyes.
But in her mind, it was what was best for May.
And so the journey through Hoenn ended, Ash returned to Pallet and imagine his surprise when he found May and Max in their home. May wanted to compete in the Kanto contests and Ash was curious as he was sure she would travel with Drew or even alone.
Although surprised, he didn't complain, and so the journey through Kanto began, Ash was invited by Scott to compete in a private championship called Battle of the Frontier, and after several extremely difficult battles, Ash arrived ready for his last battle against Brandon, the brain of the final frontier, and trainer of the trio of legendary golems.
However, a few weeks before this battle, the events of the Sea Temple took place.
A pirate obsessed with the power of an ancient relic put Ash and his friends at risk when May became the mother figure to Manaphy, a legendary Pokémon that has the power to subdue other aquatic Pokémon. When Ash was trapped with May in Samiya's temple, and saw the place where they were starting to flood, he was scared to death for the first time.
But by pure luck, a survival module used by Team Rocket was in that room, and without thinking twice, Ash put May, Pikachu and Manaphy inside it, and ignoring his friend's desperate scream, he took the fragment of the crown of the sea and went to try to fix the stupid thing the pirate did.
Maybe it was the adrenaline, or his anger at what was happening, but Ash didn't think twice when he decided to save May. She's young, and she has her whole life ahead of her, and even if he was young too, he couldn't live with himself if he let May die when he could have done something to help her.
Ash almost drowned, but he managed to save the sea temple and defeat the greed-crazed pirate, and everything seemed perfect, but an old problem resurfaced.
Again, May started to act strangely around him, and Ash was left with an internal quandary. May is a girl who is similar to him, shares many of his likes and dislikes, is indisputably beautiful, and is definitely someone Ash would want by his side. But at the same time, he didn't believe he was right for her, not when May obviously has eyes for another boy who, in addition to being a talented coordinator, would have an easy time teaching a lot more things than Ash ever could.
And so, when May told him that she was going to travel to Johto, following Drew and his other rivals, Ash decided to let her go ahead.
Sinnoh was the next region Pallet's trainer traveled to. And there he met Dawn Berlitz, a girl with dreams of being a Top Coordinator just like her mother... and who met him again because Pikachu toasted her bike.
What's Pikachu's problem with bicycles? Is it some kind of joke? Why isn't it fun anymore...the Ketchum family's savings will be at risk if this continues.
Dawn met him and was angry with him, believing that Ash had abandoned Pikachu, but this misunderstanding was soon resolved. And surprisingly, Dawn didn't question him too much about the loss of his bike, much to the Pallet boy's relief.
Unlike May, Dawn acted in a more 'feminine' way so to speak. She is not shy about showing what makes her happy and enjoying the good things in life, and under no circumstances should anyone laugh at her hair when she wakes up, or face hell in the form of a grumpy girl.
Again, Brock traveled by his side, and although Dawn was more prepared when she started her journey, Ash adopted her as another student, and of all her traveling companions, Dawn was most emphatic in making it clear that she had an interest in him.
Hell, she even dressed like a cheerleader for her gym battles, and Ash swore he feared he might be turning into the new Brock...because his friend's short skirt never did much to hide her 'talents'. lower.
For the first time, Ash believed he could drop his naive boy act and accept his friend's advances, but again fate seemed to play against his happiness.
Paul, a Veilstone Trainer, destroyed much of Ash's confidence as a Trainer when he humiliatingly defeated him in their first few battles, and the way he treated his Pokémon left Ash incensed.
And so began an obsession to defeat him and show Paul he was wrong. And without realizing it, Ash started ignoring Dawn, making her more and more frustrated.
Until the moment she just stopped trying, and because Ash was so focused on his new goal, he didn't realize when the damage was already done. Dawn hasn't stopped being friends with her, but it looks like she's moved on.
May came to visit during the Wallace Cup, and when Ash saw her, he had to stop himself from opening his mouth. His friend from Hoenn has 'grown up' since traveling to Johto, and if before she was already a beautiful girl, now she is showing as a blossoming woman, especially her superior 'assets', which Ash swore some older teenagers couldn't compete with .
But it should be normal, after all, she was 15 when she went to Sinnoh.
It was a pleasant surprise to be reunited with May, and although it was for a short time, Ash enjoyed every moment, and even though May was enjoying it as much as he was, there was no longer that feeling that she was trying for something more. May could even be involved with someone else, not that it's Ash's problem, she can do with her life what she wants, and all Ash could do would be to support her, because that's what a friend should do.
Dawn won the Wallace Cup, besting several experienced coordinators, and May returned to Johto, this was the last Ash saw of her, and not long after Ash beat Paul in the Sinnoh League, but was defeated by Tobias, a trainer who owns Pokémon. legendary.
Although his friends tried to console him, saying that it was normal to lose to legends, Ash had none of it. It was his fault for the defeat, he was so obsessed with beating Paul, that he didn't train his Pokemon to win the league, but to beat just one trainer.
But again, he put on a facade of naivety, so as not to make his friends worry. Dawn decided to pursue a career as a Pokémon stylist, but would also remain a coordinator.
The next year for Ash did not go well, his travels through Unova earned him great friendships with Iris and Cilan, but again he was unsuccessful in winning a Pokémon league. Confrontations with criminal organizations were stressful, but it was because of the confidence shaken by the defeat in Sinnoh that Ash had his worst performance in 6 years of journey.
And so, Ash was at the lowest point of his career. Returning to Pallet, he surprised Delia Ketchum, his mother, by saying that he would not travel again until he felt he was ready. But fate wanted him to travel again.
At the request of Professor Oak, Ash traveled to Kalos, in order to capture some Pokémon native to the region and help the professor in his research, he did not compete in the league, but that does not mean that the trip was in vain.
In Kalos, Ash met Clemont and Bonnie, two siblings who brought back memories of May and Max's interactions with him. Being the most experienced in a group of travelers for the first time, Ash took responsibility for the group, and this helped him grow as a person.
However, something he never imagined happened, Serena Yvone, a childhood friend he never imagined meeting again, reappeared in his life, and quickly the friendship was rekindled. Joining the group, Serena traveled alongside Ash, Clemont and Bonnie through Kalos, facing criminals, saving legendary Pokémon, in short, the classic Ketchum travel pack.
Her dream was to become the new Kalos Queen, a title given to the best Pokémon performer. Showcases proved to be slightly similar to Pokémon Contests, with the difference that trainers, or performers as they are known in Kalos, actively participate in the presentations, and only women can compete.
Ash doesn't consider himself a mentor to Serena, but it was a completely different experience to help her without worrying about collecting gym badges. This gave her time to enjoy the trip more peacefully, and it also gave her a lot to think about.
Because Serena didn't make a point of hiding it from anyone who likes him.
As the journey stretched towards its final moments, Serena became more and more aggressive in her movements, leaving Ash inclined to give it a chance, it wouldn't be wrong, right? Serena likes him, and she is a beautiful and adorable girl, who treats him well and accepts him for who he really is, without complaining about his mannerisms or attitude, while she has the personality to point out his mistakes when he does something wrong.
He deserves to be happy, right?
Well, fate again disagreed.
Kalos has become a dangerous place with the rise of Team Flare and Lissandre's never-ending ambition. That man did everything to achieve his goals, which forced Ash to get involved, much because of his encounters with the legends of the Kalos region, as it happened in all the other regions he traveled through.
Unlike every other time, it was Team Flare that went after him, as Lissandre became interested in his innate talent for finding legendary Pokémon, which made Ash make a tough decision, which hurt him deeply.
He abandoned his Kalos group.
Without giving a justification, Ash ran away during one night and started his crusade against Team Flare, and with the help of Alain, a Pokémon trainer who was being tricked by Lissandre, they began to thwart Team Flare's plans, and with a lot of effort, managed to permanently destroy the region's most feared criminal organization. During the final confrontation, Ash saved Alain from falling to his death over a cliff, at the cost of his own safety.
Alain believed that his friend had sacrificed himself to save him, and when the police arrived to find out what was happening, the young Pokémon trainer sadly announced the 'death' of Ash Ketchum.
And now you might be wondering, how the hell did Ash survive falling off a cliff?
Simple, it was an old friend who decided to pay his debt to the boy. Giratina, known as an 'evil' Pokémon according to the legends of Sinnoh, was never a Pokémon that trusted humans, but after Ash helped it, the legendary Pokémon considered it its best, and perhaps only, friend.
And that's how a huge 'evil' dragon arrived to save the day, but saving Ash from falling off the cliff wasn't the end of his problems. He was seriously injured by the explosion, forcing Giratina to do something considered forbidden among legends.
He shared a small part of his essence with the boy, helping him to heal. Ash never knew who saved him, as he was unconscious at the time of the explosion, but he was mysteriously found on the outskirts of Pallet.
Giratina is not a fan of the spotlight.
When Serena found out what really happened, right after losing in the finals of the Master Class Showcase, she called Samuel Oak's laboratory, who explained in detail Ash's state of health. The Pokémon teacher asked if she wanted to speak with Ash, but Serena declined without revealing why.
She never tried to contact our favorite Pokémon trainer again.
It took Ash three months to fully recover, and Delia did everything she could to convince him to stop traveling around the world, fearing that his son would put himself at risk again. But it was all in vain, Ash was determined to try to compete, but at just over 17 years old, he knew he was in the final chapter of his adventure.
For his next journey would be the last attempt to become champion of a league.
Just before traveling again, Ash saw on TV Dawn beat May in the final of the great Hoenn festival. May was already a Top Coordinator after winning in Johto, and it was surprising for him to see two of his friends facing each other in the finals of a tournament, and it also motivated him to train even harder.
Gathering all the motivation he had left to pursue his dream, Ash left for Alola, intending to prepare even more before embarking on a quest to collect Gym Badges. It was in Alola that he attended a Pokémon school, met new friends and faced creatures called Ultra Beasts, which was scary, but in the end everything turned out for the best. During his adventures in Alola, Ash was surprised when Professor Kukui, someone he began to see as a surrogate father figure, revealed the creation of the Alola Pokémon League, and that the region's champion would be decided that year.
After countless challenges overcome by the islands of Alola, Ash was able to have the most important and decisive battle of his life.
He would fight a battle for the title of Alola's first champion. And when he saw Professor Kukui at Manalo Stadium, Ash fought with all his might to overcome the final barrier. After an extremely difficult battle, Ash managed to become champion of Alola.
That was the first big moment of his career since the Kanto Frontier Battle. Seeing everyone in that stadium chanting his name was an incredible feeling, but it also left him in doubt as he is now the champion of Alola, which means he represents the region and could welcome a challenger.
Was his journey finally over?
The answer came when the World Coronation Series was announced, and Leon, undefeated champion of Galar and current world monarch, issued the gauntlet to any qualified trainer to attempt to dethrone him.
Here was Ash's chance of a lifetime, to become the best trainer in the world. It was at this time that he met Goh, and the boy became a close friend, and together they traveled through different regions until Ash reached the long-awaited moment, where he would have his last battle in search of the dream of becoming a Pokémon master.
In a private conversation with Delia, he revealed that he was retiring if he was defeated. Traveling for over 8 years was exhausting, the time had come to climb on top of the world, or move on to a new stage in life.
He faced Leon in an electrifying battle, forcing the champion of Galar to use the feared Charizard, but Pikachu was not afraid, and fought the most important battle of his life. In an unexpected ending, Pikachu defeated Charizard, and Ash became the new World Monarch. It took a few minutes for Ash to accept the reality of the facts.
He did it, became a Pokémon master.
After the Pokémon League ceremony, Ash returned to Pallet and was surprised to see a small surprise party, courtesy of Delia and Professor Oak. Only Gary, Tracey, Brock and Misty showed up among the countless friends he made along the journey, but Ash didn't complain, he understood that his friends would be busy chasing their dreams, and frankly, what could he do? It was a surprise party, he couldn't invite someone without knowing the party was going to happen. The day started to show signs of ending, his friends at the party were enjoying the moment, Ash felt that something was missing, and when everyone was distracted, he decided to go for a walk alone.
In the forest around Pallet, Ash sat under a tree, with Pikachu beside him.
The sun was setting, showing a beautiful view, and a wistful smile appeared on Ash's face. "Finally finished Pikachu. We've done a lot of crazy things over the years, haven't we?"
"Pikapi" Pikachu nodded, jumping into his lap.
Ash chuckled and began stroking his rodent friend's fur. "I've reached the top of the world, I'm the Pokémon master, but why does it feel like I've lost something even more valuable?"
Pikachu looked at its trainer and lowered its ears upon seeing Ash's sad expression.
"Our trip ended, I conquered what I always dreamed of, but I feel like something is missing, I..." Ash stopped talking when he started coughing, and putting his hand over his mouth, his eyes widened when he felt something wet, and when he looked to the palm of the hand, went into shock.
She was covered in blood.
"What the..." Again the coughing started, blood trickled from the mouth and a horrible pain in Ash's head made him cry out in pain.
"PIKAPI PIKA PIKACHU!" The yellow Pokémon screamed in fear of what it was seeing.
Never before had he felt so much pain as he did at this moment. Ash felt a pain in his chest, his vision started to blur, and with one last effort, he spoke to his old friend.
"Pikachu...get help, I...need..." He never finished speaking, falling unconscious. Pikachu ran to call for help, and when people reached Ash's location, Delia screamed, horrified by the scene before her.
She saw Ash, lying unconscious on the floor with blood streaming from his lips.
Ash was taken to the Viridian hospital, his vitals were rapidly declining, but the doctors managed to stabilize him, he was no longer life-threatening, but it wasn't without consequences.
Ash fell into a coma, victim of an unknown illness, and everyone who had contact with Ash at the party was subjected to tests, but luckily, no one was infected. The news that Ash went into a coma traveled the world, and it didn't take long for some friends who were out of contact with Ash to receive the news.
Many journalists tried their luck at getting an exclusive, but they were the unfortunate victims of Misty in all her fury. No one knows where the volatile-tempered redhead got that huge hammer from, but that day would be a source of trauma for many victims of her attacks.
What about Misty? She doesn't care if she hurt anyone, it was their mistake to try to take advantage of Ash's fragility. It was always him saving the day, it was her turn to return some of the favor, no one would hurt him or she wouldn't be called Misty Waterflower.
In Slateport, the annual meeting of Top Coordinators, organized by the Pokémon Contests committee, was taking place. The most relevant Top Coordinators and even some coordinators who stood out in the season were invited to the party whose main purpose is to promote the modality and promote the media, increasing the popularity of Pokémon contests more and more.
In a ballroom located in the most renowned hotel in the city, the event took place, and three coordinators in particular were sitting at a table, doing their best not to be disturbed, but without great success, as it is not every day that so many famous names are in the same place.
May Maple, known as the Princess of Hoenn, became a young woman coveted for her beauty, and especially her fame. She'd ditched her trademark headband for this party, and her chestnut hair cascaded down to her neck. In a pearlescent red dress, she did her best to maintain an air of dignity, but she had an enormous challenge before her.
Food.
The girl's appetite hasn't diminished over the years, and May hates this type of event with a passion because she can't do anything without having to take care of appearances.
The brunette's stomach rumbled, and May lowered her head in embarrassment. "Uh…I hate my life." A feminine laugh made May pout, for her friend was enjoying the misfortune of others.
Dawn Berlitz, Sinnoh's most famous coordinator, had a laugh at the expense of her friend and rival. Dawn, like May, had grown into a beautiful woman, but unlike the brunette next to her, she was having a good time, well, apart from the fact that the journalists hovered like vultures on the prowl for any gossip. She chose a light blue dress to match the color of her hair and put a hand over her mouth to control the sound of her laughter.
"Stop the drama, it's just a party, you can eat like a Munchlax when we go to the hotel room." May snarled indignantly, that was a low blow.
"I hate you." Dawn stuck her tongue out, and this time it was May who giggled.
"How are you so calm around so many renowned people? I don't even know why I was invited." Serena Yvone, the third member in the group of coordinators at that table muttered to herself. The blonde woman has made a name for herself since she started her career as a coordinator. After leaving Kalos, she competed in Hoenn, having been defeated in the semifinals by Dawn. The incredible performance of a rookie coordinator attracted the attention of the Pokémon coordination committee, and Serena was quickly transformed into a rising celebrity.
She was in a yellow dress with white details, and even though she is a year younger than her friends, she was not far behind in terms of beauty. May and Dawn listened to what Serena whispered to herself and frowned.
"You deserve to be here as much as any other guest, I almost lost in our battle, between the two of us, it was harder than against May." Dawn finished speaking with a mocking smile.
"Next time Blaziken will settle the score with his Piplup." May narrowed her eyes, and Dawn raised an eyebrow.
"Bring that grown chicken..." A vein popped in May's forehead.
"I'm going to fry your tiny penguin..." Serena started laughing at the two rivals' interaction, and they both looked at the rookie coordinator. Immediately the 'tense' moment was cut short.
Dawn and May smiled, the youngest friend of the group feeling more comfortable, however much the press tries to create an aggressive rivalry between them, it's all just a big lie.
They are all great friends and just love to compete with each other.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I ask for a moment of your attention." Raoul Contesta, president of the Pokémon contests committee, climbed onto a small stage, attracting the attention of everyone present at the party. "I apologize for interrupting the festivities, but sad news has reached the public, and as a way of showing respect for what happened, I would like to offer my condolences on behalf of the Pokémon Contest Committee to Mr. Ash Ketchum and his family. The reigning Alola champion and Wolrd Coronation Series champion was the unfortunate victim of an illness that left him in serious condition, the Ketchum family is keeping his current state of health confidential, and I will respect that decision. I had the opportunity to meet him when he was just a boy, who even competed in some unofficial contests and a Wallace Cup in Sinnoh.
At that moment, the festive mood died down, as much as Raoul Contesta wished that wasn't the case, it was very difficult for everyone to pretend that nothing had happened. It didn't help that three of the main names at this party were extremely shaken by the news.
May took a few seconds to process what she just heard. Is Ash Ketchum, the friend she hasn't contacted in years, in a coma? How the hell did that happen? Memories of what she lived with the boy during their trips together ran through her mind, every time he helped her, and she also remembered the fact that she had a small crush on him, but believed she had overcome that feeling. Her heart squeezed and fear took over her, her best friend is in a coma, while she is at a fancy party.
Dawn started to cry, the boy she saw as her best friend and who always helped her when he could, his life is in danger. Ash was always involved in trouble, and Dawn feared for his safety, but she never imagined that what would really hurt him was an illness. Even though Ash had hurt her by being annoyingly dense even after all the hints she'd left showing that she liked him, none of that could make her hate her best friend.
Serena was in shock. Is Ash in a coma? Was he hurt by what happened in Kalos? Without her noticing, she started to shed tears from her face. Her worst fear came true, and an awful sense of guilt washed over Serena. If she had gone to Pallet when she found out Ash was alive, would everything have been different? Could she have said in so many words how she really felt about her idiot friend? Now nothing would help, Ash is in a sleep where he may never wake up again.
And just when it didn't look like it could get any worse, journalists started crowding around the table.
"Sorry to bother Ms. Yvone, what is your opinion about Mr. Ketchum?"
"You traveled together for some time, Ms. Hikari, could you share your thoughts on what might have happened to the Alola Champion?"
"The rumors that Mr. Ketchum suffered a drug overdose could this be true?" The last question made many people gasp in shock, not believing what was just said.
Dawn was furious, how dare this idiot insinuate that Ash used drugs? She was going to teach this bastard a lesson, but stopped when she saw Serena start to cry. Dawn hugged her and yelled at the vultures who were taking pictures. "Get away! Leave us alone!"
May rose from the table with a look that made anyone with an ounce of sense keep their distance. "You called my friend a junkie?! You son of a..." May didn't have the opportunity to finish the insult, as the journalist was punched in the face. May glanced at the puncher and saw Drew massaging his fist.
"Damn, who knew trash would be so hard to beat." He turned around and when he saw May's emotional state, his heart sank, her friend and rival is about to have an emotional breakdown, in the worst possible place, around several journalists eager for a new news.
"May, Dawn, Serena. You know what you need to do." Dawn got up and Serena said in a weak voice.
"What?" Drew snarled in rage at what was happening, did the shock of the news destroy these girls' brains?
"By Arceus, your best friend is in a coma, what the hell are you waiting for?! GET OUT OF HERE!" Drew screamed and that seemed to be enough as May grabbed Dawn and Serena's hands and ran off with her friends in tow.
Drew waited for the three girls to disappear into the crowd and smiled to himself. 'You owe me for this Ketchum, don't you dare die or I swear I'll bring you back to beat you up, May would never forgive herself if that happened'.
The green-haired coordinator saw that some journalists threatened to follow the girls and he cracked his fists. "A gentleman should know when to use his weapons, and I guarantee I won't let any of you damned vultures follow my friends, now who's going to be the first to try their luck?" Drew's evil grin had everyone in the ballroom gasping in fear, and Raoul Contesta groaned in dismay as his party turned into a huge disaster.
When did the 'Prince of Hoenn' become so intimidating?
In the next few days, word of a Top Coordinator gone berserk and assaulting journalists would travel around Hoenn, but Drew doesn't care. If there's one thing he learned from Ash, even if he would never admit it, it's that friends are more important than fame and reputation.
And if there's a silver lining to this, it's that your lawyer will finally have the opportunity to prove he's competent, as those unconscious idiots on the floor are sure to be trying to get a few thousand dollars for 'being wrongfully assaulted'.
Just another normal day in the life of Drew Hayden.
Hall of Origin, a place beyond time and space where only logic-defying creatures known as Legendary Pokémon can reach, and also home to Arceus, the 'firstborn'.
Arceus, the one above all others, considers himself to be patient, but even he has limits. Who dared to interfere with the plans for the 'chosen one?
Ash Ketchum, the 'chosen one' of his generation, has done a magnificent job so far. Protecting humans and Pokémon from various threats and keeping the balance of the world stable. However, even though the boy never showed any signs of going against his duties, Arceus couldn't risk it.
After all, what is the value of a single life when the fate of the world hangs in the balance?
As expected from his chosen one, he received a lot of attention during his life, from people and Pokémon, and as he got older, he started to bond with other humans that he started to call friends. However, it also earned him the kind of dangerous attention, as several human females have shown interest in him, and Arceus knows that love is a dangerous weapon.
Love has the power to move the world, or destroy it.
Then, Arceus did something that many would consider unforgivable, he purposely manipulated the boy's life.
Ash is an extremely talented Pokémon trainer, and he was destined to win from the first competition he entered, but this would go against Arceus' plans. Winning tends to make people lazy, and as the 'chosen one' Ash needs to be strong, and strength comes with experience.
So, Arceus purposefully manipulated events so that Ash would lose contests, though he would always advance to the final stages, leaving Ash to win two contests at lower levels so as not to break the competitive spirit.
The other manipulation was in the boy's love life. Ash Ketchum is committed to the world, futile things like 'love' have no place in the chosen one's life. Arceus understands that Ash's bloodline is extremely rare and will need to be propagated, but that can wait, and any female would do for this purpose, but it cannot happen when Ash can still be a 'chosen one'. He is entering the physical prime of the human species, having a family would divide his attention and that is unthinkable.
Arceus knows that it is not a perfect being as many believe, and honestly, it regrets many things it has done, but nothing regretted it as much as the countless manipulations made with Ash, who even without knowing everything Arceus did, did not hesitate in saving it in the past.
Dreams, love, family, Arceus denied all this to Ash without the boy suspecting it, and when he was forced to see his chosen one about to give up on his dreams, right after he was close to dying, if not for the unexpected intervention of his son more problematic, Giratina. At that moment, Arceus stopped manipulating him.
For the first time, Arceus stopped thinking about the 'greater good'.
From that moment on, Ash quickly proved that he was destined for greatness. He was champion of Alola and soon after won a tournament titled 'Masters 8', becoming the most powerful Pokémon trainer in the world, and a Pokémon Master.
Watching his favorite human fulfill the dream he fought so hard for since he started his journey around the world was something refreshing for Arceus, however, not everything is flowers, and he could not allow his chosen one to abandon the task of protecting the world.
But when everything seemed to be calm, something broke its influence over the chosen one, and now Ash was in a coma, because the impact of breaking the link with the world should kill him, but for some reason, Ash was alive, and Arceus knows who is the energy that keeps you breathing.
Giratina appeared in all its glory before Arceus, and unlike the usual encounters that were filled with sarcastic words, this time the tone of the 'renegade' was deadly serious.
"I was the one who broke your sick plan, 'father'." Giratina practically spat when she called Arceus her father, and it hurt the 'alpha'. As troubled as his relationship with his troubled son was, there was never any hatred between them, but something changed, and Arceus began to understand.
"The world needs someone to keep the balance, you know that better than anyone else." Arceus tried to argue, but his eyes widened when he had to dodge a Shadow Ball.
"Cut that shit! It disgusts me to have to see the hypocrisy embodied in front of me. I received the title of 'evil' and 'renegade' for fulfilling my role, and I never complained, as I understand that it is necessary. But what you did Arceus, that was unforgivable. Who gave you the right to manipulate the life of the one responsible for keeping this damn world stable?!" Giratina was holding back from starting a fight, and she could feel her idiot brothers trying to enter the Hall of Origin, but surprisingly, they were being stopped.
Arceus sighed and looked at his son. "I'm not proud of what I've done, but I can't put the happiness of a single human over the fate of the world. Ash wasn't the first Chosen, and he's unlikely to be the last, I've already risked too much to loosen my grip on his life, but thanks to you Giratina, the world is without a Chosen." Arceus expected Giratina to be angry at being discovered, but was surprised to hear dry laughter.
"You are wrong. The world has not lost its chosen one, the only thing that has changed is the patron. I will not allow you to control Ash's life, he deserves to live like a normal person, without burdens that flee from what a human should face. For once in your life, be a dad and put my idiot brothers to work. They have the power to change the world, but does the duty to maintain balance have to rest in the hands of a single human? How many times has Ash been close to death? And how long will your luck hold? He should be dead dad if it weren't for the good fortune that I was watching him at that moment in Kalos."
Arceus rose and tried to threaten its son with a pulse of power, but Giratina didn't flinch. "You may be my son, but you are playing a dangerous game. Give me back control over the chosen one or I will..." Arceus was interrupted by Giratina, who sneered at her father.
"Then what are you going to do? Kill him? Go ahead, try anything against Ash or anyone and Pokémon he cares about, and I'll live up to my title of 'chaos incarnate' for the first time since creation! Your sick manipulations are over, Dad, I'll guarantee that, and as much as it doesn't surprise me that you're a psychotic bastard without an ounce of empathy, what surprises me is my brothers' ingratitude. I am ashamed to have the same title of 'legend' that is shared with so many others, who shirk their duties and leave the responsibilities to a single human, who saved them several times. Goodbye dad, hope I don't see your face anytime soon." Giratina disappeared in a vortex of dark miasma, leaving Arceus alone in the Hall of Origin.
The 'alpha' held back his emotions, but when he saw that he was alone, he allowed himself to cry. His son's words hurt him, not just because of their cruelty, but because Giratina is right. He became an emotionless bastard, and like his other children, he acted ungratefully toward the human who always put others' safety above his own.
"What did I do?" Arceus said to himself, wondering if one day he would have the right to face Ash and reveal the whole truth to him.
For Arceus fears that on this day, he will forever destroy the kindest human he has ever known.
This was the pilot chapter, and if the story is well received, I will turn the rest of the outline into other chapters and complete it.
Regardless, thanks to anyone who reads.
The first chapter was basically a description of my version of events in the anime. For the most attentive, it was explicit that I made significant changes after 'Diamond and Pearl'.
The story actually begins in the next chapter, and as you can see, the characters' ages have been changed to fit the context of events I've changed.
Ash is 19 years old at the time he falls into a coma.
May and Dawn are 18 years old, Serena is 17 years old and Misty is 20 years old, I left the Cerulean redhead older than Ash because at least for me, it seemed to be the most sensible thing when I rewatched the anime, or Ash was made to be excessively childish , anyway, it's just age, it doesn't interfere with the plot, but it's something I thought it necessary to clarify.
Other characters' ages will be revealed during the story if needed.
Don't expect multiple Pokémon battles, it's not the focus of the story. Of course, I won't completely ignore this aspect, but the battles will take place at specific times and with a meaning behind them. Although the anime and games are about Pokémon, this story is about Ash, so understand that the focus will be 'on him' as the main character of the plot.
For now, that's what I have to say, see you soon for those who read this far.