Nearly sixty followers! Wow! Thank you guys!

This is the last chapter on route 5, I promise...

But a lot of you were wondering what was going on with the other legendaries, so here's a short little part from their POV.

Day Five

'Hoopa is sorry... So sorry...'

Arceus stiffened, 'I told you not to leave!' He snapped, and the small Hoopa flinched.

'Hoopa had information... Information for Master Arceus...' The Hoopa flinched again, 'And Yveltal was going to find Hoopa... You told Hoopa not to be found...'

Arceus turned, 'Yveltal won't respond to the Counsel's summons...' He muttered, 'He knows we're powerless against him, he hasn't broken the ancient laws. He's mocking us.'

'The Chosen One is sad,' Hoopa said, 'The Chosen One watched a small one die by Yveltal's wings. The Chosen One was still at the small one's grave when Hoopa left Yveltal's realm. Yveltal watches Chosen One closely, Hoopa can't talk with the Chosen One without being found.'

Arceus tapped a golden hoof in frustration, 'Of course of all the Hoopas, you have to be the one with the powers to travel between dimensions...' He glared the small cowering Hoopa, 'Yveltal has sealed his realm off from the rest of us, we're lucky enough you can get through, and that's only because he doesn't know about you. Yet.'

'Hoopa want to help...' The timid Hoopa whined, 'Hoopa can try, but Hoopa can't bring the Chosen One back without Yveltal seeing...'

'Even if you managed to contact Ash without being caught, Yveltal would still have a hold on Ash. He'd just take Ash right back,' Arceus said coldly, 'Yveltal is using the ancient laws to his advantage- he has a right to punish those who escape death. Even the title of Chosen One doesn't protect Ash from that.'

'It's not fair! Hoopa thinks it's not fair!' The Hoopa cried, 'Chosen One saved Us! Chosen One was brought back by Us! Yveltal is breaking Chosen One, and Chosen One has only done good!'

'I know!' Arceus roared in frustration, 'I've been keeping Ash from Yveltal's grip ever since Mew revived him from her fight with Mewtwo! Ho-oh has taken primary responsibility in his watch, ever since Celebi told of us of the deeds he would do, but Yveltal is more keen in his little "game" than honoring our Chosen One!'

'Why did you stop protecting Chosen One?' Hoopa asked, tone sad.

Arceus turned away, guilt in his gaze, 'When he met Yveltal... Yveltal didn't take him... I thought Yveltal had finally respected Ash. Ash was in his grip and he did nothing, I thought he was finally safe...'

'Chosen One wasn't safe.'

'As soon as we lowered our guard Yveltal took him,' Arceus snapped bitterly, 'He set the whole thing up!' Arceus closed his eyes, turning back towards the Hoopa, 'You will return to Yveltal's realm, you are hereby charged with watching Ash.'

'What about getting Chosen One out of there!?' Hoopa cried.

Arceus shook his head, 'We can't. Yveltal is protected by the ancient laws. The only way Ash is getting out of there is either Yveltal releases him, or he manages to overcome Yveltal's game.'

'... What if neither happen?'

Arceus sighed, 'Then Ash will die.'

Hoopa stiffened, 'Hoopa says no... Hoopa wants to help Chosen One...'

Arceus turned to leave, 'You're the only one that can enter Yveltal's realm. Ash must get through this, you cannot let Yveltal break him. The moment Ash fails or breaks, that will be the moment Yveltal will take his life. Do not let Ash break.'

'Hoopa will try,' Hoopa said quietly, summoning a ring. The Hoopa swooped into the ring, vanishing.

"Brai..." Kindle whimpered, looking at Ash.

Ash didn't respond. It was late morning, and they were still in the same clearing as last night. The clearing had been torn up from the deadly fight from the Skiddo, but Ash didn't even blink an eye at that. He just stared at the large rock in front of him marking the freshly dug earth.

Midnight's grave.

Ash wrapped his arms around himself, she had just been a kitten... Just a small kitten... Just a baby...

If he couldn't keep a Pokemon alive when it wasn't even in battle, how on earth was he going to get through this?!

"Ugh!" Ash cried, slamming a fist into the soft earth. Anne flinched away, burying her head into Mufasa's side. Aura was up in a tree, roosting. The Pidgeotto kept running her beak through her feathers, but only looked mildly saddened by last night's events. Mufasa ran a tongue down the frighten Bunnelby's head, and Anne pressed her head deeper into the Litleo's form.

Chester sat across from the grave, staring at his hands like he didn't even recognize them. The look of failure and sadness had been scarred into his face. For once his countenance wasn't cloaked in anger towards Kindle, just drenched in depression.

The newly evolved Braixen sat at her trainer's side, fingering her stick with her new finger-like paws. Kindle found it strange to be in a humanoid form, but was surprised by how natural it felt to her. The stick in her hand had just been from a random fallen branch, but she didn't want to let it go. There was something powerful about the way it felt in her grasp, a new way to channel her elemental energy, it almost reminded her of the 'wands' humans talked about in their fairy tales.

Kindle sighed, then stuck the piece of wood into her thick bushy tail for safe keeping, turning back to Ash, "Xen..." She whined at Ash. He hadn't moved since they had finished burying Midnight, which had been nearly an hour ago.

Ash looked at her, a miserable look in his eyes, "This is my fault," He muttered.

"Brai!" Kindle cried, leaping to her feet, shaking her head, "Xen! Xen!"

Ash stared at her, only to turn away again. Kindle's ears went back unhappily, but then to her surprise Ash stood up. All of his Pokemon turned to watch him except Chester, who was still staring at his hands.

Ash stumbled back towards where the fight had been last night, reaching for something dark blue in the grass. He scooped up the great ball, stumbling back towards Midnight's grave. He stared at the Pokeball with a blank look, as if calculating what to do with it. He hadn't wanted to catch this Pokemon- but the Skiddo had taken a ton of damage from Kindle after it had killed Luna. Even if it had killed his Pokemon, Ash didn't have the heart to leave it in the forest to die of its burns.

And he had a feeling that Chester or Kindle would have finished the Skiddo off in a rage if he hadn't use the Pokeballs from Professor Sycamore. The Skiddo just would have become a scapegoat if he hadn't caught it- but this grass type was still the reason Midnight was gone. He didn't want it near him. Ash's hand clenched around the Pokeball, he would get the Skiddo healed at the next Pokemon Center, then stick it into his PC box forever with the Bulbasaur.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Introducing: Scape

Skiddo: female

Level 10

Obtained at: Route 5

Nature: Impish

Mischievous

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

But then again, it did have a type advantage over the next gym, so using the Skiddo would be better than using a Pokemon he liked...

Ash jerked as this thought entered his head- what was he thinking?! It didn't matter- a Pokemon was still a Pokemon no matter what! Even if it was this Skiddo's fault that Luna had died, still-

Was it the Skiddo's fault?

Skiddos were peaceful Pokemon, Ash knew that. Even in this world, he had seen last night how the rest of the Skiddos hadn't wanted to fight his team. They only had because their leader- this Skiddo- seemed to be ordering them to fight. But even with these orders they had ran off soon after. Why had this Skiddo been so eager to attack? Why was it different from the others?

"A little Pidgey told me you were planning on skipping the Lumiose gym for now... That's fine though, you can pass over this one for now Ash, for a small price of course... you can put things off, but you may not like the price, Ash. So do it with caution."

Ash gulped as he thought back on Yveltal's words from when he had been at the lab. He had been nearly unconscious when Yveltal had told him this, so he hadn't given it much thought until now. Ash felt his stomach twist as he took in the words, a 'price' Yveltal had said... A price he'd have to pay if he skipped a gym...

Midnight's life.

Ash's stomach heaved, and he quickly ran over to the bushes, throwing up any food that was in his stomach. A crushing wave of guilt crashed down on him- Midnight's death hadn't been an accident. It had been a warning, an example. A punishment. A warning to do as Yveltal said, an example for what would happen if he hesitated.

A punishment for him, taken out on a young Pokemon.

Ash looked at the blue Pokeball in his hand. The Skiddo wasn't at fault. The only one at fault here was himself. If he messed up at all, whether on accident or on purpose, his Pokemon would be the ones to pay the price. He couldn't protect them by avoiding gyms, Yveltal had just made that quite clear. The only way they had a chance at surviving was if he trained them, and continued on with his trial. Continued fighting the gyms.

Ash looked towards Mufasa and Anne. The Bunnelby was watching him closely as she cuddled up to the naive Litleo. He had promised Anne he wouldn't battle with her, but her staying on the team still put her in danger.

Ash sat down, he needed to think, he needed to move. He needed to come up with a plan from here, he couldn't let this one death keep him down. If he didn't continue on only more would follow.

"Brai...?" Kindle asked uncertainly.

"Anne," Ash said quietly, "I'm going to have to stick you in my PC box as soon as we get to the next city," The Bunnelby's ears went up in alarm, "I told you I wouldn't make you fight, so I won't. But you're in danger when on the team, even when you're not fighting. The wild is no safer, so I'm going to put you in the PC."

Anne gulped, "Bun... bunnel," She said, nodding slowly. She looked up at Mufasa, who was licking his paw contently.

"Kindle," Ash said quietly, "And Aura, you two fought for me in the last gym and won. I don't want you two to get hurt, but I need to keep going, and I need Pokemon that can fight. I won't force you into anything, so I'm asking you here and now. Will you battle for me?" Ash looked up at his two first Pokemon in this cold world, "I promise I'll treat you like an equal. I'll do everything in my power to protect you, but I cannot promise that the battles will be safe, but I can train you. I'll make you strong, will you come on this journey with me?"

"Xen!" Kindle cried, throwing her arms around Ash. The Braixen nodded her head vigorously, "Braixen brai brai!"

"Thank you Kindle," Ash muttered, stroking the back of her head. He looked up at the tree towards Aura.

The Pidgeotto watched the human. He hadn't seemed to notice that she had evolved, but he had treated her well enough. She had always enjoyed a good fight, and her new form was amazingly powerful compared to being a small Pidgey. Aura knew that it would be a long flight back to her home, and the Pokemon there wouldn't provide a good challenge. Besides, what were the chances that she'd run into a battling trainer that would respect her like she was a living being?

"Pidg," She cooed, dipping her head into a nod. Ash gave her a grateful smile, blinking back tears.

"Thank you so much... I'm sorry we have to go through this..."

"Pour!"

Ash shifted his gaze to Chester.

He was watching Ash with a sharp look. He felt trapped, he hated humans like no other, but... This human had mourned over the hatchling's death like it had been his own kin. He had saved the Panpour back from the Serena-human, and he treated his Pokemon like friends. Chester glared at Kindle, a overwhelming hatred building up in him. The human didn't know what the fire type had done, how she had massacred his own family. Chester clenched his fists, then turned away. He would stick to what he had already agreed; he would follow the human and fight in the gym matches.

And when he got his chance, he would kill the Braixen.

Chester sat down, refusing to look at Ash or Kindle. Ash hesitated, but took this as a sign that the Panpour was sticking to his bargain even if he didn't like him. Ash finally turned to his last team member, Mufasa.

The Litleo wasn't a cub, but he acted like a child. He blossomed in his innocence, to naive to truly understand what was going on in the world around him. Ash couldn't put him into a battle, he would never live with himself.

"Mufasa," Ash said, "I'm going to be putting you into the PC with Anne. I'll let you guys out whenever I can, it is pretty clear that you two are very good friends... I- I can see if I can get the professor to watch you two maybe...? He did say he'd help me..."

Ash drifted off, voice breaking. He looked down at Midnight's grave once more. He would keep going, but that didn't mean he wasn't afraid. He closed his eyes trying to focus, but froze. Something within him stirred, and he looked up towards the forest- they weren't here alone.

Ha! A Lucario said triumphantly as he made his way through the trees, I told you sis! I wasn't lying, there is a human here with a strong aura!

Hmm, A female Lucario replied telepathically through her own aura, I dunno Lucario. He's just feeling very emotional, so he's radiating a lot of energy. I don't think that human's an aura user.

But Lucaria- The Lucario began, but stopped as the human looked up. Though they were out of sight in the bushes, he looked right at them, See! I think he can sense us! He's an aura user!

Lucaria sighed, No, he's not. Humans with aura are just legends, let's just get back to Korrina.

"I know you're there," The boy said quietly, and the Braixen next to him looked at him in surprise as he spoke to no one. The boy's brown eyes were cold and full of sorrow, and his raven black hair wouldn't lay flat, "I'd rather you leave us alone, we're not in a good mood."

'Um... Ash?' The Braixen asked quietly, tugging on his sleeve since the human couldn't understand her, 'Maybe you should lay down, you need to rest. Midnight's death is affecting us all, but it is hitting you pretty hard...'

A death? Lucario asked his sister, Is that why his aura is so sad? Hey sis! I think he cares about Pokemon, see how sad he is?! He might be like Korrina, he might care-

Lucaria rolled her eyes, only to flinch as she watched a blonde girl stumbling into the clearing with the boy. He and his Pokemon all jumped as she let out a huge gasp of air, panting. She huffed for a moment, staring at the boy, quickly sitting up and smiling.

"Hello!" She said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but have you seen two Lucario come through here by chance? One of them ran off suddenly and his sister ran after him- haven't seen them since!"

The boy looked away for a moment, then pointed towards the bushes, right where the two Lucario were hiding, "They're right there, Korrina," He muttered quietly.

Lucario jumped, See, how did he know where we were?! He can sense our aura!

Lucaria sighed, walking into the clearing, How did he know our trainer's name is the real question, I've never seen this guy before. All of the boy's Pokemon jumped again as Lucaria entered the clearing. Lucario quickly dashed after his sister as she approached their trainer, 'I'm sorry Master Korrina,' She said, even though their trainer couldn't understand them, 'Lucario here wouldn't stop even for me,' She jerked her paw back towards Lucario.

Hey! He cried, You know you felt it too! This trainer has a strong aura, it's unnatural! He pointed towards Ash, 'He's why I came out here!'

'Hey!' The Braixen snapped, stepping in front of her trainer, 'I don't know what's going on, but Ash has nothing to do with this!'

Lucaria sighed again, 'Please forgive my brother, he's just too hasty for his own good. He ran off because of something about the aura your trainer was radiating. I'm sure all he felt was just the overwhelming amount of sorrow.'

"Lucario! Lucaria!" Korrina cried in relief, rushing forward and embracing the two Lucario, "You guys had me so worried! Please don't run off like that again!" She turned back towards the trainer called Ash, "Thank you so much for telling me where they were- Um... Are you alright...?"

Lucario shuddered as a powerful aura wave of sorrow came from the boy- how was his aura so strong?! His hands were buried into his face, and he began sobbing.

Wow, Lucaria said telepathically, What a cry baby.

Lucario stiffened at his sister's telepathy, Lucaria! Can't he see he's in mourning!

Yeah, and I'm sure the Pokemon was just rare, powerful, or a shiny or something like that. He's a trainer, remember? She said.

Well, Korrina is a gym leader and she cares about us! Lucario countered.

"Stop it," Ash muttered, tears pouring down his face as he looked up at the two Lucario, "It's bad enough that the humans think it's okay for Pokemon to die, I'm not going to sit here and listen to Pokemon argue over w-why I mourn Midnight's d-death..." He stiffened, "S-she was just a kitten and I couldn't protect her... I- I-"

Wait- Lucario cried, Did you hear our telepathy?!

Ash looked away, "Yeah? So what if I heard it?"

"Um... Are you feeling alright?" Korrina asked uncertainly, since to her it seemed like Ash was talking to no one.

Ash's hands curled into fists, "I just lost a Pokemon. Of course I'm not alright," He glared at her, "But I'm sure you think I'm crazy or something. But maybe not, since your Lucarios talk about how you care for them. Do you?"

Korrina shifted, "Um... yeah? They are my Pokemon after all..."

"What are they to you?" Ash asked, almost harshly. Tears were still on his face, but he had stopped crying.

Lucario turned towards his sister, 'You heard him yourself, he can understand us! Our telepathy, at least! That proves he can use aura, since he heard us communicating with aura!'

His sister looked stunned, blinking her eyes, 'I... I think you may be right for once... You... you found an aura user...'

'Well, I guess you could say he's Aura user,' A Pidgeotto said from up in a tree, peering down at the two Lucario, 'Because my name is Aura, and he uses me in battle.'

Lucaria sighed, 'Aura is an energy that my species can manipulate, that focuses a lot on a person's emotions and inner strength. Your human radiates a very powerful aura, so me and my brother think that it might be possible that he can manipulate it as well.'

'Look,' Lucario said, 'I don't "think" he can, it's pretty clear to me! He even named one of his Pokemon after it, and he can hear our aura communications!'

'Wait,' The Braixen said, stepping towards them, 'Are you saying... he can understand you two?' There was a hint of jealousy in her tone.

Lucario watched the Braixen, she seemed clumsy on two feet, and he had to guess that she had just recently evolved. He knew the feeling, he had to get use to his new steel typing and enhanced aura senses when he had evolved.

'He can,' Lucario told her, 'But only when we communicate using our aura, he can't understand us when we're just talking like this.'

Braixen though over this, then turned to Lucario, 'Could you... tell him something for me?'

'We're suppose to be training with Korrina, not playing translator!' Lucaria snarled.

Lucario looked at her, 'Come on sis. I know if you had an opportunity to speak with Korrina you'd take it.'

His sister curled her lip, 'Whatever, I honestly don't care.'

Lucario turned back towards the Braixen, 'Sorry about her, but sure! What do you want me to tell your trainer?'

The Braixen looked over at her trainer, Ash, thinking. Finally after a moment she said, 'Tell him... I'm sorry that I wasn't able to protect Midnight. And... tell him... Tell him not to blame the Skiddo, it wasn't her fault,' She gulped, 'Tell him- tell him it wasn't his fault either. Say that it was Yv- Clyde's fault. Only Clyde's fault.'

Lucario frowned, wondering if Clyde was one of the boy's other Pokemon, but he nodded, 'Okay. Give me a moment,' He closed his eyes focusing his aura, Um... Hey? Mr. Trainer Ash-dude? He asked through his aura.

Ash paused from his conversation from Korrina, looking at Lucario, "... What?"

Your Braixen wants me to tell you something for her, Lucario replied.

Ash glanced at the fire type, "What does Kindle need?" He asked.

"Umm... Are you sure you're okay?" Korrina asked, "You realize Pokemon can't talk-"

"Lu," Lucaria said, placing a paw on her trainer's shoulder. Korrina looked at her female Lucario, who signaled for her to be quiet.

Your Braixen- um, Kindle- wants you to know that she's sorry that she couldn't protect the one called Midnight, and not to blame yourself for its death. She also says not to blame the Skiddo either, Lucario hesitated, She says that it's someone called Clyde's fault. I dunno who that is though.

Ash took this in silence, then turned to face his starter, "I know Kindle," He said quietly, "I know that it was... Clyde. This... this whole thing was a warning from him," Ash turned away, "S-so don't be sorry, there was nothing we could do..." He closed his eyes as more tears started to form.

"Um... What exactly is going on here?" Korrina asked, glancing between her Lucario and Ash.

"I don't care if you believe or not, since my life is messed up as it is right now," Ash said, his voice cold, "But I can understand your Lucario through aura."

Korrina just stared at him.

"Lu!" Lucario cried, running up to his trainer, nodding vigorously, "Cario car!" He pointed at his head, then towards the boy, nodding again. Korrina glanced at her female Lucario, who nodded as well, sighing.

"Um..." Korrina muttered, looking between them, "I... I guess I believe you, since even Lucaria says yes... but- but that would have to mean you can use aura, and that is just a legend."

Ash looked away, "I'm glad to hear you trust your Lucarios, which means you might be one of the few decent people here. As for legends... you'd be surprised by how many of them are real."

Like what?! Lucario asked excitedly. Ash looked at him, fingering something around his neck.

"I... I should be going," Ash muttered, "Who knows what will happen if I take too long..."

"Wait!" Korrina cried, "Are you doing the gym challenge?"

Ash looked away, pain in his eyes, "Yes... I'm afraid so..."

Korrina nodded, "Okay- when you get to Shalour City, I'm a gym leader there, go to the Tower of Mastery. There's an older man there named Gurkinn, and tell him that Korrina sent you. He's my grandfather, and I want you to meet him! Since you can use aura and stuff!"

Ash shouldered his backpack, "Fine," He said quietly. He pulled out a few Pokeballs, returning all of his Pokemon except for the Braixen, Kindle. He fingered a great ball in his hand, before slipping it onto his belt. He turned to leave, but turned towards Korrina, "I have a question."

She gave him a small smile, "Sure, what?"

"You claim you care about your Pokemon, and you listen and believed what they were telling you. You obviously treat them like sentient beings, unlike many people here. So then why are you a gym leader?"

Korrina's face fell, and she looked away, "It's... It's tradition for my family line to be the gym leader. My mother taught me that forming close bonds with your Pokemon brings out their inner strength, but because of her closeness to her Pokemon she refused to be a gym leader because of the death toll. She promised my grandfather he could make me a gym leader, if she could still raise me to love Pokemon, not treat them like tools," She looked at her Lucario, "I have two main teams. My main team that I use for league matches, with my strongest Pokemon. Then my team that I just battle for fun. These two Lucario are on that team. Then of course I have all my gym teams for gym battles, but those don't last long..." She trailed off, shaking her head, "If you care for Pokemon, then why are you doing the gym challenge?"

Ash began to walk away, "I guess that same reason you're a gym leader. Someone stronger than me gave me no choice."

At first I wasn't really excited to have Kindle evolve, but I think I'm happy with her being a Braixen now. I also decided to make one of Korrina's Lucario female (I know they're both male in the games) for sake of being able to tell them apart. Korrina also isn't too big with nicknames, so Lucaria is about as creative as she gets, and that's also only so she can tell her two Lucario apart.