Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or its affiliates. Please read and review.

A/N: The last chapter received one review and that got me a little worried. I understand if some people don't like certain aspects of the story and I'm sorry about that. If you want to make comments or suggestions about the story and where it is going, send me a review or a PM. Thank you.

The office was dark except for the small desk lamp that gave a dim yellow glow in the large room. The desk the lamp was on was mostly empty except for a few knick knacks, a messy stack of papers and a gold name plate with the name of the desk's owner in neat, orderly letters ,Charles Goodshow and that just so happen to be who was sitting behind the desk. The aged man was sitting comfortably in his big office chair with his arms crossed, waiting patiently for something or someone to show up.

"How can you be so calm?" The other occupant of the room asked, never halting his anxious pacing back and forth.

"Lance, when you get to be my age you learn that some things are inevitable. Worrying about it won't stop it, so relax." Goodshow said evenly while looking at the Champion of Johto.

"But you heard what Paul said, he knows what was done to him and he's coming for you. He killed four officers and severely injured another, and they hadn't even done anything. What do you think he will do to you?" Lance finished panting slightly from the speech.

"I know what Paul said and it doesn't matter, what really matters now is what are you doing here? He wants me, not you." Goodshow asked, already knowing the younger man's answer.

"To protect you sir. You are the head of the Pokémon League; we can't afford to lose you. You run Leagues in five regions and the newly inducted Unova region; no one could fill your shoes." Lance answered in a business like tone.

Goodshow chuckled slightly. "Nothing can protect me from this, Lance. Ash Ketchum was many things but the most prominent two were stubborn and determined. When he sets his mind to something, he won't stop till he accomplished it. No, my fate was sealed five years ago."

"Yes sir, if you say so but I'm not going anywhere." Lance stated leaving no room for argument.

"As you wish." Goodshow answered with a sigh. After years of dealing with Lance he had learned that trying to get him to do something that would hurt his pride was near impossible. Lance, like his dragons was very prideful and leaving an old man alone for a killer to come was cowardly in Lance's mind.

Knock, knock.

Both men looked up at the door and then at each other. Lance was first to speak. "Come in."

The door opened slowly, revealing two people who were soaked from the rain outside but Lance and Charles recognized both of them. As the two people walked through the door, the back one closed the door behind her while the young man in front walked purposefully toward Goodshow's desk, never taking his focus off of Goodshow. As the man got to the desk with his companion stood a few feet behind him, Goodshow began to speak.

"Hello Ash, hello Sabrina. Nice to see you both again. Can I offer you both a drink?"

"That won't be necessary Charles. I have a few questions and then I must be going." Ash answered flatly. He had his arms at his sides and his fists clenched; it appeared like he was restraining himself.

Goodshow noticed Ash's clenched fists but continued on anyway. "Ah I see. Well what questions do you need answered?"

Lance was stiffly watching the conversation between the two in shock. "How can Charles be so calm talking to him like this? Ash looks ready to lash out at any second." Lance thought worriedly.

"Did you or the League have anything to do with the Goldenrod bombing?" Ash said coldly still staring at Goodshow with hate filled eyes.

"No, we had no involvement. That was all Team Rocket's doing." Goodshow said simply, not fazed by the question.

Never breaking his gaze from Goodshow, Ash spoke. "Sabrina?"

"It's the truth, I checked." Sabrina answered with glowing blue eyes.

"Ah, yes. I wondered why you were here Sabrina. Wanted the whole truth didn't you Ash? Understandable considering how you were treated. However, reading my mind won't be necessary. I have nothing to hide, next question?" Goodshow stated nonchalantly, like this was a simple tea time talk.

"Were you the one who accused me of the crime?"

"Yes. The Rockets applied pressure on the League and myself and we buckled. They also promised less criminal activity for six months in exchange for you to take the fall."

"And you took the deal." Ash stated more than asked.

"Yes but look at it from the big picture." Goodshow said while entwining his hands on the desk. "Six months of peace. That's huge. We have never had that in all the years that I've been the head of the League. I admit tossing you aside like that wasn't a decision we came to lightly but the gain far outweighed the loss."

"So my life was worthless to you. I see." Ash said with his head down.

"We also had to pressure your friends to betray you. The Rockets wanted you to suffer, that was why you had the TV in your cell. They wanted you to see everyone turn on you."

"And you sat back and let it happen!" Ash yelled. "I was sixteen god damn it!"

"I know. I'm sorry Ash, I really am." Goodshow sighed. "Now are you going to do what you came here to do?"

Both Lance and Sabrina tensed up at the words. The end was coming and they wanted to be ready for it.

"Yes but one more question. If you could do it again, would you change anything you did?" Ash asked darkly, almost daring Goodshow to answer.

Mr. Goodshow leaned back in his chair and pondered the question for a second or two before answering. "No, I did what was best for the regions. I have no regrets."

Ash said nothing but as quick as you could blink, Ash had grabbed Goodshow and thrown him out the window of the office, which was on the twentieth floor.

"No! Charles!" Lance yelled as he ran to the window but it was too late. Charles laid face down on the sidewalk below, unmoving. Lance then turned to Ash, who was by the desk looking at Lance coldly. "Why did you have to do that?! He didn't deserve that!" Lance yelled, deeply upset with the situation.

"Did I deserve what happened to me? I was merely paying back the man who wronged me. If what I did was wrong, she would have stopped me." Ash said while pointing toward Sabrina while his gaze never left Lance.

"It's true but after hearing what Goodshow said, I agree with Ash. It was a bit harsh but Goodshow deserved to be punished." Sabrina said while looking between Lance and Ash, who continued their stare down.

After a minute or so Ash spoke while gesturing to the broken window. "I think you have work to do Lance."

"Yes I do." Lance sternly answered. "My suggestion to you is to leave the Five Regions. I don't want to see you again but if I do, I will show no mercy."

"Quite the change from the last time we talked Lance. Fine." Ash answered curtly as Lance left the office to attend to Goodshow's body.

As Lance shut the door behind himself, leaving Ash and Sabrina alone in the office. Ash sat down in the chair behind the desk with his head in his hands.

"So what will you do now?" Sabrina asked trying to break the silence.

"I don't know honestly." Ash sighed. "This has been my whole life for the last five years and now it's over. I guess I need to get out of the Five Regions first, after that who knows."

"What about Lily?" Sabrina asked. "Won't you want to see her before you go? I know she would like to thank you for saving her."

"No." Ash bluntly stated. "She needs good people around her, not someone like me."

"So Paul, myself and the other girls are good people? I thought you hated all of us?" Sabrina asked slightly surprised.

"I do still hate you all but you all care about her a lot. I could tell that when I saved her from the falling light. So I'm going to trust you guys to look after her." Ash stated seriously.

"We will, I promise you that." Sabrina said genuinely. She paused for a moment, unsure about asking her next question. Finally she asked anyway. "Will we see you again?"

"No, it's best if she and the rest of you just forget about me. However I would like to thank you for your help with Goodshow and for stopping me earlier. Not many people would be brave enough to stand up to me when I'm like that. That took guts and also sorry about the witch comment." Ash said with a small smile.

Sabrina blushed slightly at the smile. She then began walking toward Ash slowly. "Don't worry about it. But I would like to thank you for Lily and the rest of us. Whether you want to believe it or not, we all care about you. Some of us more than others." Then she leaned down and kissed Ash on the cheek. "Goodbye Ash." She whispered and then walked out of the office.

Ash was stunned by what Sabrina had done. He never would have expected that from her, she was always very reserved with emotional things and that had been in vast contrast. After a moment, Ash decided it was time to go and got out of the chair but a piece of paper on the desk caught his eye. It was an application to join the League but it had a big "Denied" stamped across it. Ash grabbed the paper to get a better look at it.

"Kalos Region denied acceptance into Five Regions Pokémon League." ash read out loud. "Hmm well it is out of the Five Regions. Guess it will work."

Paul was sitting behind his desk, waiting for more information to come in about the current tragedy. The death of Charles Goodshow two days before had shaken the Five Regions to its very core. All League facilities and gyms had been closed in mourning and the funeral was to be held at the Indigo Plateau at the end of a week long mourning period. Even though the facilities were closed, higher League officials still had to run the day to day affairs and there was the big problem of finding Goodshow's successor. Needless to say, Paul had a lot on his plate.

"Damn it, when is Cynthia going to get back from her grandmothers to help with all this!" Paul said frustrated.

"Right about now actually."

Paul looked up to see Cynthia standing against the door frame looking his way. "Bout time! I wasn't sure if you were ever coming back. So tell me the info you were able to get so we can figure out a strategy." Paul commanded while clearing some space on his desk.

"Whoa easy there Paul. I just got back you know but I do have some information for you."

"Good let's hear it then." Paul said in a hurried tone of voice.

"Why the rush Paul? It's not like Ash is even around anymore, you heard Sabrina. He was leaving the Five Regions, never to return so why so anxious?" Cynthia asked curiously.

"Because we have a lot of work to get done for the League. That's all." Paul stated in a matter of fact tone.

Cynthia looked at Paul suspiciously for a second before continuing. "Ok, ok fine I'll tell you so we can get to work." Cynthia said as she sat in the leather chair in front of Paul's desk. "I told Grandma your description of the flames and the wings. She had to do some serious digging in her old files but she was able to come up with a few texts that talk about such things being done by Aura guardians."

"Sabrina mentioned he was using aura." Paul added as Cynthia continued.

"Yeah well here is where it gets interesting. The flames around him show that he is an experienced user but the color of them is the important part. White is supposed to be the light side represented by love and trust. Whereas black is the dark side represented by hate and destruction."

"But why was he going between the two?"

"Well, under normal circumstances he shouldn't have been able to. Most Aura users are a mix of the two, not being able to use one or the other individually only together. That's why their aura is a grey or bluish color because it's mixed of light and dark. However, stronger Aura Guardians can gain control of one or the other and by choosing just one, they become stronger."

"Ok I'm following but you haven't explained how he was going between the two?" Paul said impatiently.

"I'm getting there Paul. Patience please." Cynthia spoke seriously.

"Sorry go on." Paul said apologetically.

"The wings are the clue to this. There was mention of a rare occurrence that happens when the world is out of balance, it's called an Aura Prince and wings are the sign of the Prince."

"Aura Prince? What is that, some kind of royalty?" Paul asked with disbelief evident in his voice.

"Not exactly. They are the strongest Aura Guardian that will bring balance to this world but to balance it they can be both good and evil. That's why he had both white and black aura. By using black he has the power to destroy everything he touches. But if he uses the white he can revitalize nature and even breathe life back into animals and people." Cynthia spoke with total seriousness in her voice, conveying only the truth.

"Wow that's incredible." Paul stated while leaning back in his chair. "So he really could have killed all of us the other night. But did it say any way to stop him?"

"Only one but I haven't deciphered it yet. I'm still working on it at the moment but Grandma says that even with all his power he is still human, with emotions like the rest of us. So if he were at peace, there would be no threat." Cynthia said while watching Paul's reaction.

"True." Paul said while closing his eyes. "But no one is always at peace. I do wonder though what balance he is meant to fix, the regions have been peaceful for a while.'

"I don't know but let's hope it doesn't lead to some catastrophe. Hopefully the peace will last." Cynthia said hopefully.

"Yeah me too." Paul said just as hopefully turning to look at the bright sunshine and blue sky outside. Peace was here, but for how long?