Hey Everybody! WOW! When was the last time I updated on time? Has to have been at least three years.
So, a few things. First off: happy birthday to this story! Three days ago it turned thirteen years old! If this story was a person, it would be moody, angsty, and would annoy me greatly . . . wait a minute.
Second: happy birthday to story superfan AshAndMistyForever! I already dedicated last chapter to them, but when they mentioned this week was their birthday I obviously couldn't resist another shout-out.
Third: this chapter is dedicated to my devoted reviewer KageNoNeko! Like I said, I plan on dedicating the upcoming chapters to various fans who have stuck with me over these thirteen years – or who have reviewed every chapter up till now. You guys are the reason I do this.
With all that being said, read and REVIEW PLEASE!
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or any of its affiliated companies including, but not limited to, 4Kids, The Pokémon Company, Game Freaks, or Cartoon Network. The characters written within this story are solely based upon the fictional characters created by these companies, and the story is not meant to, nor will it, receive any monetary funding.
Characters' Ages:
Ash: 18
Misty: 19
A lectern stood before a dozen foldout chairs.
"If anyone wants water or coffee," a spectacled young man in a blue suit gestured, "we have it all on the table over there. Yeah, just sit anywhere you can."
The champions filed in along with Misty and Chris.
Cynthia went to the podium. "Are you the lawyer?"
"Uh, yep. The executor of Lance's estate."
"Shouldn't his family be in here for this?"
"Oh!" He fidgeted with his glasses. "Uh, well normally we don't like to do will readings so soon after the funeral. Emotions are raw, and whatnot, so we let the families mourn an appropriate amount of time before a reading."
He turned to the other champions. "However, your case is different. I know most of you work on opposite ends of the earth, so it might be harder to get you all in a room together again. That's why the partners at my firm flew me out – to catch you four."
Nodding, Cynthia went to sit next to Steven.
"Can you please close that door? Like I said, it can be uncomfortable for people to hear this stuff so soon after…well, you know."
Misty closed the door and returned next to Ash.
"So I'm sure you're all a little curious about this. It's not too often we get friends included in wills, and it's even less likely we get, uh, well co-workers. Still, Lance was a very organized man, and he kept his will and testament updated every six months in case anything happened."
"Before we begin, are there any questions from the group?"
Ash raised his hand. "So is this like money? Because I'd really rather not-"
"Oh! No, no. I don't think he bequeathed any money to anyone besides his mother. Um, this is about," he reached beneath the podium and pulled out a long, cherry oak box, "these." He slid the top off, revealing five ultra balls.
"Whoa."
"Yes, Lance was quite specific in his will about what was to happen to his Pokémon should he meet his demise. Here before you are the main Pokémon of his championship team. The others he caught over the years have been ordered to Professor Elm's laboratory in New Bark Town, but his main team was a different story."
The lawyer pulled a paper from his breast pocket.
"To save everyone from having to listen to me, I'll read this letter from the deceased."
"'These Pokémon are my pride and joy. They have served me faithfully over the course of these many years. Many have been with me since the beginning. It is a lot to ask, but there's no one in the world I can trust to give my Pokémon friends the love and care they deserve outside of my fellow champions, as well as Chris. You have all proven yourselves dedicated to the raising and love of Pokémon, and so I leave my team open to your choosing. I only have one request, that my Dragonite go to my best friend, Steven Stone. Besides that, feel free to choose whichever Pokémon you feel you can care for and, hopefully, see yourself battling with. I don't want my Pokémon to become artifacts of their old master. These are vibrant, strong creatures, who deserve to continue playing, laughing, and battling until they rejoin me in the next life. Please, take good care of them, my fellow champions and colleagues. My friends.'"
He refolded the sheet. "So that's pretty much it. I know you've had a long day already, so I won't bore you with any unnecessary details. I will leave the box here, and you can split them up as you like. His second Dragonite, though, as stipulated, must go to Mr. Stone."
With that, he left them alone.
"Wow."
"I can't believe he trusts us with these."
"I mean, he did have to die for it to happen, but still."
"Steven!"
"Sorry. Inappropriate, I know."
"Well, let's check 'em out." Ash made the first move, walking to the box. On each pokéball was a small sticker identifying the Pokémon inside. "He has a Dragonite, Aerodactyl, Gyarados, Charizard, and Kingdra."
Steven stood next and took a place next to Ash. With reverence, he lifted Dragonite's pokéball.
"I'll take good care of you."
Ash looked back. "Are you guys gonna come up and choose?"
Chris made a move to stand, but Cynthia held him. "Actually, we're not the ones with an upcoming match against the Pokémon Master. I think you should go first."
"Well, thank you, but I don't think I should. I didn't know him nearly as long as you guys did."
"How many times do we have to tell you?" Steven asked, sitting back down. "You're one of us. Lance obviously thought so. And you heard it in his letter – he doesn't, er, or didn't want these pokéballs collecting dust on a shelf. He wanted us to use them."
Chris gave a rare smile. "I can't imagine anything making Lance happier than one of his Pokémon helping to finally beat Red. He hated that guy."
Cynthia nodded. "So you go first. Choose whichever you think could help."
"Um, wow. Well, thanks. Can you give me a minute, though? I wanna make sure I think this through. You're right. His Pokémon deserve this. Mist," he gestured, "help me out?"
She got up and joined him while the others whispered amongst themselves.
"The team you decided on in Pallet was already a really good one. I don't know where you should make a cut."
"Still, I think they're right. If for no other reason, then because it'll throw Red off. I'm sure he's studied my battling and knows who I prefer. One of Lance's Pokémon will add a surprise, and I'll need all the help I can get."
Her fingers grazed each ball as she let out a low whistle.
"I mean, I think you know which I'd choose."
"Gyarados?"
"Actually, no." She pointed to Kingdra. "Makes sense, right? You don't have any dragons on your team. Red probably won't see it coming."
"Huh." He rubbed his chin. "I mean, yeah. That does make sense. I don't know that I would definitely use him, but it couldn't hurt to try him out and see, right?"
"I mean, do you really need another Charizard?"
He laughed. "No, I guess not."
"Aerodactyl or Gyarados would just give your team another electric weakness with Charizard already on it. His Pikachu's more famous than yours. You don't need to give him a chance to show it off."
"Kingdra would only have trouble with other dragons. I've never seen Red use a dragon type in his other Master matches…but, to be fair, he's never used more than three Pokémon."
"Still, I think it makes sense."
"Yeah, you're right." He took Kingdra's pokéball and slipped it inside his jacket. He held a finger to his lips. "I don't really want anyone to know what my team will look like."
She rolled her eyes. "Um, Ash, don't you think they'll figure it out when they see his is the only pokéball missing?"
"Oh! Uh, yeah. Guess you're right." He turned to the champions. "I'm taking Kingdra!"
"Interesting," Chris answered, standing up now. "Mind if I look?"
The others took their turns. When the box was empty, they decided to introduce themselves to their newest partners.
"Maybe not in here, though. It's a little cramped."
"We could go out the back. Paparazzi probably won't be around to snoop there."
Taking the pokéballs, they propped open an emergency exit and came upon the back of the parking lot. No one was around.
"We better be quick. People will probably start leaving soon."
With a flash, the five Pokémon came to life.
"They look confused," Ash noted.
"Do you blame them? They probably haven't been released in a while."
Kingdra gave Ash a suspicious glance, his eyes narrowing as he floated lazily over the concrete. The water and dragon Pokémon's large, scaled body stood taller than Ash.
"Hey, Kingdra." Cautiously, he put out a hand to touch the dragon's snout. His own Kingdra seemed to enjoy being pet there.
"Dra!" The seahorse reared back his head, his eyes betraying confusion.
"Whoa! Whoa, whoa, buddy!" Ash reached for a treat, but realized he had none in this suit. "Don't worry. I'm friendly." He put his empty hands up. Pikachu tried calming him down, as well, but Kingdra began frantically looking from side to side at the other trainers.
"I think he's looking for Lance."
"No one's told them?"
The other Pokémon were beginning to grow restless.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Chris reached for his ultra ball and recalled Charizard. "I'm not dealing with this in a parking lot."
"Good idea," Cynthia agree, recalling her new red Gyarados.
"I can't believe this!" Steven was shaking. "You're telling me no one thought it was important they know what was going on?"
"They were under the care of lawyers," Cynthia reminded him. "Not exactly the most sympathetic group of people."
"Still! This is outrageous. They should have been at the ceremony, not locked up in their pokéballs, unaware that they've lost their best friend!" He looked down at the two capsules in his own hands. "This isn't right."
"No, it's not," Chris agreed. "But now's not the time to fix it. Let's wait until we can get somewhere more private, and we'll let them out and explain."
"I don't think we can." The others looked at Ash with curiosity. "I mean, can you imagine trying to communicate everything that's happened?"
"Well, we have to do something. They'll never obey us if we can't explain where their master went."
He nodded. "You're right. But we don't have to tell them where he went." He pointed through the funeral home. "We can take them there."
"You think that'd work?"
"Dragons are smart. If they pick up Lance's scent at the grave, they'll understand."
"Not to mention Dragonite's scent."
Steven shook his head. "This is so wrong. We shouldn't be the ones doing this."
"Honestly, do you think there was anyone better qualified?" Cynthia put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Lance trusted us with his team for a reason. Better we break the news than some corporate suit."
He paused. "You make a point. Still, no way we're gonna have any peace and quiet with all those reporters hanging around."
"Just come back tonight," Ash suggested. "We can each come at a different time and give the Pokémon time to grieve."
"Fine. Shall we go back in?"
They walked back through the propped door, but didn't return to the wake. Instead, they gathered the folding chairs near the coffee table and sat.
"Like I said, I'm sorry this is why it happened, but it's really good to see all of you again," Cynthia smiled. "It feels like ages since we've been in the same room."
"Hard to believe it's been eight months," Chris agreed. "That almost feels like a lifetime ago. Especially when I look at you two."
Misty frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You both just look so happy."
"I mean, not really. This isn't exactly a happy day."
"No, no-I guess I mean you seem happy. I guess it's mostly because I remember you from back then, when everything was still raw. You both looked so tired and, well, just sickly."
"Misty, your tan looks wonderful." Cynthia sighed as she stared at her pale arms. "I can only dream of a tan with these genes, unfortunately."
"You're gorgeous!" Misty demurred. "I've always thought so, long before we met! And Chris, I guess you're right. I know it probably goes without saying, but after everything with Lance, I'd rather be safe than sorry: thank you for helping save my life."
He blushed.
She turned to the others. "Thank all of you."
"She's right. We obviously owe you a ton, but if there's anything you ever need from us, just name it."
Cynthia laughed. "I don't think anything like that will ever be necessary. If I need your help, it'll be as a friend, not as someone who owes me a favor. As I recall, you two did more than your fair share in that operation."
"Well, still."
"Besides, the work you've done for Sinnoh is more than enough to make up for any imagined debts."
Ash shrugged. "I'm just trying to make a difference. There's still a lot of work to do."
"You've done more than I did. I'm ashamed to admit that I wasn't the best champion when I reigned over Sinnoh." She looked down at her Styrofoam cup. "Honestly, I was so caught up in my love of battling and Pokémon that I neglected my other responsibilities. Seeing all the work you've done to improve the lives of the gym leaders has made me realize how out of touch I had been."
"Don't be so hard on yourself. You tried changing the system while you were in charge!"
"Yes, but I didn't push as hard as I could have, and deep down, I know that." Her voice fell to a whisper. "Lance managed to reform gym leader pay years ago, but I couldn't do it even after all that time had passed."
"Indeed." Steven sipped his coffee. "I've begun looking at reforms I can enact in Hoenn after seeing your example. Like Cynthia, I made an attempt at reform a few years ago, but now I realize it was only a half-hearted one. You and Lance actually care for your leaders, and that's a trait I'm ashamed to admit I've lacked. I've worried more about finding rare minerals than finding solutions for the people who work under me."
"I'm actually back in school so I can learn about something besides Pokémon."
The others gaped. "School?"
Cynthia nodded. "Yes. Just online courses, but I want to finally get my degree. I never bothered when I was younger, but now that I have the time – since someone forced me into retirement -" Ash smiled sheepishly, "I figured I should. I never understood half of what the financial reports and businessmen were saying to me when I'd go to Jubilife, and I can't help feeling like I let a lot of people down due to my ignorance."
She grabbed Ash's knee. "That's why I'm so proud of your plans for college! So many average trainers forego an education, thinking they don't need it for their line of work. I know from experience how much more tempting it is to ignore academics when you're a successful trainer. It feels like you have everything figured out. But just think, if I had gone, I could have done a much better job as champion."
"Oh, uh, well, yeah. But, you could probably just study by yourself and get the same effect."
She frowned. "I'm not sure about that. I've been taking classes for over a year now, and it's opened my eyes. I think it's different when you're being tested and pressured by actual professors to learn the material. I mean, I guess you'll see for yourself, soon enough."
"Heh, yeah. Guess so."
"What about you, Misty?" Her tone lightened. "Are you going with Ash?"
A little distracted, she shook her head. "Uh, no, not exactly. Actually, I-we, don't know what I'm doing yet."
Ash looked up.
"I was competing for a scholarship with the Pokémon battle team at Vermillion, but I lost in the semifinals."
"Oh! I'm so sorry."
"Don't be! It was no one's fault. It was just a tough competition."
"The semi-finals? Then you almost had it, right?" Steven asked.
"Yeah."
"Just go back and try next year. A little more practice is probably all you need."
"Yeah, I-I'm starting to think the same thing." She squeezed Ash's hand. "For now, the important thing is making sure he gets an education. People are depending on him."
"They are," Cynthia agreed. Turning back to Ash, "If you don't mind my saying so, I have my own selfish reasons for wanting you to beat Red."
"Hm?"
"I'd like another opportunity as Champion."
"You would?"
"Yes. Normally, I wouldn't hold my breath for someone to take Red on, but ever since our championship match, I've known you were special. You have a real shot. That's why I went back to school – I'm getting ready, so that when you become the next Master, I'm able to carry on your amazing work."
"Well obviously you'll be my replacement, then." He smiled. "I was wondering how I was going to ask you, so thanks for saving me the trouble."
She chuckled.
"But who's gonna replace him?" Steven nodded back to the church. "You now have two regions with no champion."
"If he'll take it, I think Red."
"Hm. Yeah, maybe. I don't know how he'd handle an actual loss – I don't think he's ever lost a battle in his life, actually. But it's not like he has any skills besides training."
"That takes care of Kanto," Misty reminded, "but what about Johto?"
"It's a shame no one's kept up with Gold," Cynthia sighed. "He was the last Johto champion before Lance."
"That's a weird one," Chris finally commented. "I've often wondered what happened to the 'lost champion.' Last anyone ever heard, he wandered off to find and battle Red. Who knows what happened?"
Ash bit his tongue.
"Regardless, Ash, you'll have to figure out what to do there."
Ash shrugged. "It's not that hard, actually. You'll do it."
"What?!"
"Yeah, Steven told me a long time ago about how strong you are. He said you actually beat him, even though it wasn't an official League match. You're obviously really good with Pokémon, so why not?"
Chris shook his head. "No, no, I don't think so."
Ash folded his arms. "That's not really an answer. Why not?"
"I gave up battling a long time ago. The G-Men don't have that many fulltime members. They need me in this position."
"But think of how much more good you could do as the champion of an entire region! You like helping people as a G-Man? You can keep doing it. Look at Steven; he hired you!"
"I'd have to split my time and responsibilities. That's not how I work."
"You'd have so many more opportunities to do good, though," Ash insisted. "Being a champion, you get to change peoples' lives for the better. The G-Men are great and all, but one thing I've learned from working with them is that the work is not very positive."
"No it's not, but that's my burden."
Ash rolled his eyes. "That sounds a little dramatic." He looked to the other champions. "What about you guys?"
"I agree with Ash," Steven nodded. "Chris, when we first met you told me you didn't wanna be a trainer anymore. You said being a G-Man was your destiny. But, let's be honest, with Team Rocket gone, there's not much for you to do – at least for a while."
"There'll always be scum."
"Well, yeah, but nothing that requires your full-time attention. He's right; you can do a lot of good as a champion. Much more than hanging out underground, waiting for things to go bad again."
"The rise of the Rockets was, at least in part, a failure of us as champions to get ahead of it," Cynthia added. "The G-Men may not have been necessary if we'd done a better job protecting our own regions from the corruption the Rockets brought. You could help prevent the next syndicate from ever coming to power in the first place."
"At least think about it," Ash urged. "I want to help you, like you helped us. I think you live a lonely life, but you don't have to. We could be friends."
Chris stared at the linoleum tiles under his feet.
"And, if I'm being honest, there's a selfish reason I want you here in Johto, as well." Chris looked up. "If I'm becoming the next Master, I need champions who I know I can trust."
He smirked. "Alright. I'll think about it, okay? Don't get too eager, though. A cushy champion job might not be a bad vacation, but I could never do something like that for too long."
Author's Notes: So, what'd you think? Do you think Ash should incorporate Kingdra into his Master team? Do you think Red would be willing to come down from the mountain and be Kanto Champion again if he loses? Why did Misty say she didn't know what their plans were when she was so excited to study under Oak just a few chapters ago? Will Ash go to college after Cynthia's little speech? Please let me know in a review!
On a sad note, I will not be updating next Friday. I'm actually graduating from law school that day, and won't be able to update since I'll be celebrating with my friends and family. That being said, the next update will be published the following Friday, May 27, at 3:00 PM eastern standard time!
PLEASE REVIEW and come back then for chapter 77: "When Futures Collide."