Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon If I did Ash would Ash and win several Leagues.
A/N: Final chapter below for A legend is born, however don't worry, A legend is Born Johto journey is just around the corner.
On Way Back To Pallet Town
Ash stood on the deck of the ship, allowing the cool breeze to wash over him. In the distance was Pummelo Island, that slowly vanishing out of sight. After the night with both Cynthia and Sabrina, Ash had decided that he wanted to get back to Pallet as quickly as possible. However just before they checked out of the Pokemon centre, they were interrupted by several men dressed in black suits wearing shades. It seems the Orange League Chairman wanted to have a word with him before he left the island. Ash sighed as he remembered that meeting.
Flash Back
Ash stood nervously outside a set of huge brown oak doors. His friends were waiting down in the lobby for him. Ash looked to his shoulder to see Pikachu looking at him. "Wonder why the league Chairman wanted to see me? You don't think he is mad that I turned down the opportunity of becoming the Orange league champion do you?
Pikachu shrugged. "Not sure boss, but I guess we will soon find out. Beside the rest of us felt you made the right decision, we're not ready to be tied down, we want to reach our full potential, and we can't do that while being in one spot. Boss did you mate with Cynthia last night, you have a scent all over you.
Ash quickly blushed. "Thought the shower this morning would have washed that off, but to answer your question, no I didn't mate with her, however we did do some exploring with Sabrina."
Pikachu sighed. "Alright for some, two mates, you're one lucky guy you know that."
Ash looked at Pikachu confused, when the door opened a man dressed in a black suit gestured for Ash to come in.
"The board is ready to see you now Mr Ketchum." Ash was confused again, board? He thought it was just the chairman he was seeing. Ash walked into the room and noticed huge oval shaped table stood in the centre, and around it was several men and women dressed in business suits. At the head of the table was a middle aged man, who had grey hair and a small gray beard. To his right sat Drake. Ash approached the table and stood silent while all eyes were now locked onto him. The tension was soon broke though by the gray haired man standing up and speaking.
"Thank you for coming to see us Mr Ketchum, my name is Andrew Malkins and I'm the chairman of the Orange League and its board. We were just discussing your decision not to become the Orange League Champion. We just wanted to know why you have made this decision. Drake has already spoken, but we wanted to get it from you first hand."
Ash gulped and looked around the table. "Well Sir, simple answer, I don't feel ready to take on the role of a League Champion, I'm only fourteen years old and have only travelled Kanto and the Orange islands. There are still regions for me to visit and explore. My next destinations is the Johto Silver Conference that starts in a few weeks. After that I plan to travel to Hoeen, Sinnoh and finally Unova. If I stay as your champion then I won't be able to explore all these places and meet new people and Pokemon. So I suggested that Drake should carry on as your Champion, just because I beat him, doesn't mean I want his job."
Andrew looked around the table and noticed the board was discussing what Ash had said. The boy had valid reason for not wanting to become the Orange league Champion. At first Andrew had thought that the boy was turning the position down because he felt he was too good for the Orange League. It was true out of all the Pokemon League, the Orange league was the least well known, but with the performance of Ash, Andrew thought the boy could be their new poster boy to promote the league, and encourage even more trainers to take part in it, however with What Ash had just told them, he now understood that it wasn't the fact he thought the league was below him, but that he wanted to get even stronger and travel to all the regions and challenge all the leagues, a worthy goal if Andrew had ever heard of one.
"Very well Ash, if that is your decision then we will accept it. I must say I am a little disappointed but hearing your reason, now makes me see the clear picture, you want to get stronger and challenge all the leagues out there. I can respect that. Very well Drake will carry on as Champion for the League, all those in favour."
The vote was nine to two. Obviously the two who had voted against was still not satisfied with Ash's reasoning. However thanks to the majority Drake was made League Champion once more. With that little bit business taken care off Ash and his friends left the League and boarded a ferry to the mainland of Kanto.
Ash smiled as he remembered is time in the Orange islands. However he knew it was time leave, the Johto league started in a few weeks and he needed to prepare for that. Ash turned to his shoulder where Pikachu was sat, Sabrina and Cynthia had decided to do some shopping, while Tracey had seen a rare Pokemon travelling with one of the other passengers. Tracey had asked the passenger if he could sketch the Pokemon and the passenger had agreed. The Pokemon in question was from the Unova region and was a Pansage, according to Ash Pokedex. So here he was stood alone thinking of what he was going to do when he got back to Pallet. Unknown to him though a secret meeting was taking place that would draw him one step closer to his true destiny.
Secret location
Giovanni sat impatiently around a huge table, however he wasn't alone. two other people were also sat around the table, one was a man, dressed a pirates, he had blue bandana on his head, he had an anchor ear ring and and small trimmed beard. Sat a few feet down from his was another man, he was was dressed in a red and black suit, he had red hair and was looking at the pirate with a hint of malice in his eyes. Giovanni had discovered that these two were Archie Leader of Team Aqua, and Maxie Leader of Team Magma. They had come all the way from Hoeen. He had received a message from the leader of Team Galatic. Telling him that he had a business proposition to discuss, however he never mentioned the other two, so now he was wondering what Team Galatic could possibly want with all the leaders of the various Criminal organisations, that ran the various regions. He was interrupted by a door to his left opening. Walking in was two a girl and a boy, all three were dressed in sliver metallic suits, they stood just behind the chair at the head of the table. After they had walked in, Giovanni noticed Cyrus Leader of Team Galatic followed.
"Gentleman welcome, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to meet me here today. As I said before what I have to say and show you, will make us the richest and most powerful crime bosses in the entire world. But before we get to the main topic why you're here, it is important for you understand just what we are dealing with."
Cyrus walked over to a screen and switched it on. Three other crime lords were treated to image of the God Pokemon Arceus. An image of a ancient tablet was placed along side the image.
"The Image you see before you is the Legendary God Pokemon Arceus, the creator of all human life and Pokemon. The Most powerful Pokemon in our entire world, until recently that is. A year ago my Team entered a cavern hoping to find the keys to a sacred place known as Spear Pillar. It is that this location that not only can someone enter the Domain of Arceus, but also the place where some one can summon the Pokemon of both Space and time Palkia and Dialga. For years Team Galatic goal was to find these two powerful Pokemon and to use them to create a whole new world, however when I discovered what the Tablet was, our goals changed."
Cyrus then clicked a small button in his hand that moved onto the next slide showing a Pokemon that looked like Arceus but wasn't. "This is why our goal changed. Behold the most powerful Pokemon ever to exist, I give you Zenith! Originally we believed that both Arceus and Zenith were brothers, however once the tablet was fully deciphered we came to a completely different conclusion. The tablet is a history of Arceus and how he created the world we live in today, it is also a record of a great battle that took place between Arceus and Zenith. You see Zenith is not actually Arceus brother, but a manifestation of all Arceus anger and hatred. Unable to control his darker half Arceus separated himself from Zenith and the great war began. Both Arceus and Zenith gathered huge armies and fought for years. Many Pokemon and humans perished fighting for their respective cause. Eventually though Arceus was victorious. Knowing that if he destroyed Zenith, he would destroy himself. He created a dimensional prison to hold his darker half. He then created three Pokemon as keys to guard Zenith prison. Palkia, Dialga and Giritina."
Giovanni lounged back in his chair. "This all very fascinating Cyrus and a lovely story, but what does it have to do with us, and how can this Zenith be more powerful than Arceus?"
Cyrus smiled. "What if I told you that Zenith has the power to close a Pokemon or human heart, the power to create an army of obedient servants, that obey his every wish and command. An army of Shadow Pokemon and human slaves alike. Think what we could do with all these Pokemon under our command, we could rule the world. We catch Zenith and we control his power, he answers to us. Not even Arceus will be able to stop us!"
Giovanni stayed silent for a moment. "Very well Cyrus, you have my attention, exactly what do you want Team Rocket to do to help you find and catch this Pokemon."
Cyrus grinned. "I knew you would see the sense in this arrangement Mr Giovanni, the capture of Zenith is my teams responsibility, however what I need you to do, is to capture all the legendary Pokemon of the Kanto and Johto region. These legendary Pokemon will be the first of our unstoppable army, as for you Team Aqua and Team Magma, I am aware of your goals in search of Groudon and Kyogre, but you will need to catch all of the legendary Pokemon from the Hoeen region. As a sign of good faith I will advance you all 10 million Poke dollars."
Archie stood up and pointed at Maxie. "I will not work with Team Magma, for too long we have been enemies and will not change that now. We will continue our search for Kyogre, and expand the sea across the world."
Maxie was now also stood. "And I will not work with Team Aqua. I don't care how much you offer. Team Magma will carry on with our goal of expanding the landmass in this world, with the help of The Pokemon of land Groudon!
Giovanni looked at both men and laughed. "Fools! go on then, go and find your precious Groudon and Kyogre, but know this, once my team has captured the other legendaries we will be coming for the Hoeen ones. And that will include Groudon and Kyogre, so for your sake I hope you will be ready for a fight. Team Rocket never leaves any survivors. Cyrus you have the cooperation of Team Rocket, I trust you will deal with the other Sinnoh Legendaries."
Cyrus nodded. "Indeed Mr Giovanni, you capture the rest of the legendaries and leaves the others to Team Galatic, as for you two the offer will remain open, you have until Team Rocket catches all the legendary Pokemon of the Kanto and Johto regions. After that if you still refuse to join this cause then I will have my new Partner here send his team to deal with you. Do I make myself clear?"
Archie and Maxie looked at each other and then sat back down. "Very well Team Magma will collect half of the legendaries, but that is as far as I am willing to go to work with him."
Archie looked to Maxie. "Fine Team Aqua will capture the other Legendaries. I will contact you once we have been successful in our mission, a word of warning Maxie, don't get in our way."
Maxie sneered. "Like wise Archie."
Hall Of Origins
Arceus watched stone faced as he saw the five crime bosses shaking hands and making preparations for their plan. He would need to call a meeting with the other legends to discuss these latest events. Arceus then switched the globe to see his Chosen one disembarking from the Ferry, his Kanto Journey over, and his Johto journey about to begin.
A/N: Small Chapter to wrap things up. So we know now what Cyrus is planning and how the other crime bosses are involved. Those worried about Team Plasma, they will come in later, don't forget they were just starting their campaign when Ash reached Unova, but they will be dragged into the plot later on. So Ash will now travel to Johto, with Cynthia and Sabrina, but here you ask, what about Brock? well you will just have to wait till I write the first chapter of Legend is Born (Johto Journeys to find out.
A big thank you to all the reviewers who have supported me through this story and its exciting 60 pages. Hopefully the next installment won't be too long to wait for.