Note: And here we have the final chapter of the Sinnoh Arc. Unfortunately I didn't manage to finish the next arc by now, so I'll be on a brief hiatus once again. Granted, next week I'll be posting the QandA chapter. Gotta give some thanks so a -veryveryvery- eager Salamance in the comments for giving me somethin' to well... answer. I probably jumped the gun on doing this so early with only a handful of people commenting on both AO3 and , but still. I'll also use that chapter to discuss some things about the fic, and likely some unrelated tangents thrown in for good measure.

I'll also have a little surprise for the week after as well, so I won't be gone for too long. My hopes is that the next arc will be done by then and I'll be able to start posting immediately after.

Anyhow, enjoy the chapter.

Sinnoh Epilogue

There was no light at the end of the tunnel, and considering that it was almost midnight, they weren't too surprised. Luckily, the group managed to retrace their steps and escape the mountain with relative ease.

The trainers had managed to escort up to 20 people of various ages out of the mountain, a mix of other aspiring trainers on their separate adventures as well as locals from the nearby towns and cities, some who had been reported missing for a few weeks. They were all tired from their endeavors, and within the first few minutes of obtaining a signal the group were able to call several ambulances to escort them back to the local Jubilife hospital. After dropping off their pokémon at the nearby pokémon center, Ash and his friends found themselves standing just outside the hospital, a single street light being their only source of illumination in the starless night.

"So, we know that whatever happened to Red has something to do with Giratina, specifically the one from our world, but possibly the one from yours as well, as Ash suggests" Platinum said, trying to break down all the information they had gathered.

"And the shards are pieces of a pokeball that was used to banish him to the distortion world long ago," Dawn said. "So maybe Giratina has somehow come to this world, captured Red for… some reason, and we need to re-create this pokeball to stop him?"

"Possibly? But then why the white crystal? It was made as a gift for your world's Giratina, and it can affect those trainers who turned into monsters…"

"And what even are those creatures? They must have something to do with one of the Giratinas…"

"Agh. Maybe you'll get one of those visions again, senior Ash. Maybe he'll tell you more," Pearl interrupted.

"Maybe…" Ash sighed. His lowered face and droopy eyes betrayed the look of someone whose mind was elsewhere.

"Sleeping on it would be a good idea," Dawn concluded.

"We can decide what to do next tomorrow," Yellow said, tugging at Ash's coat. "Let's head back to the hotel."

"Yeah, proba…"

"Mr. Ketchum?!" a women in a doctor's coat suddenly approached the trainers.

"Yes?" Ash replied.

"One of the patient's wishes to speak with you. His name is…"

"Paul?"

"Yes. Do you have the time?"

"Ash?" Yellow gave him a concerned look. Maybe he should save it for tomorrow...

"Ya'll go ahead. I'll head back to the hotel as soon as I'm done." He said sternly. The other trainers nodded and made their way back to the hotel.

"Alright. We'll see you in the morning," Dawn said as Ash followed the nurse into the hospital.

"Right this way." The nurse opened one of the many doors stretching down the large hospital corridor. He entered the room. Various dressers full of who-knows-what were spaced around a small computer desk and the patients table. Sitting on said table was Paul, dressed in a white shirt and pants. He didn't say a word as the nurse left the two trainers alone, closing the door behind her.

"Hey Paul, you doing alright?"

No response. The air was tense between the two, not unlike how it was between them during Ash's time in Sinnoh. Ash recalled Paul's sinister glare that would make his blood boil. Yet now Paul could barely look him in the eye.

Ash looked at the chair sitting next to the desk, wondering if he should take a seat. He noticed Paul looking up, ever so slightly. Paul shifted himself over to the right of the table, creating a space for Ash to sit, still silent. Ash took a seat on the table next to him.

A few moments of silence passed between them. What did Paul even want to say to Ash? What could he even say?

"...gotten over it."

Ever a man of few words.

"Back in the mountain. That's what you were trying to say…" Ash was taken aback for a moment. "Wait… so you remember…"

"Everything."

"Even while you were still trapped in that cocoon?"

"Yes. It's hard to describe but that cocoon seemed to… absorb my essence, creating a different version of me using my… soul, I guess you could call it. I could see through it… feel though it… and the entire time I heard voices in my head. One was a simple command. Guard that door. But also…

"Also?"

"There's something else too. Another voice. My own voice."

"And what was that voice telling you?"

"Things that I didn't ever want to hear. All these thoughts that I thought I had stuffed down a long, long time ago. It became the only thing I could think about. The only thing I was allowed to think about." Paul felt his heart racing and the pace of his breath quickening, the memory of it sending him into fight or flight mode. He steadied his breath, closing his eyes for a moment to collect himself.

"So all those things you said back there…"

"It was my true feelings, all of it." Paul took a deep breath, staring out at the wall in front of him. He had yet to look at Ash directly. "It was after our league match when we said goodbye. I caught your match against Tobias. I figured that at least if I lost, I had lost to the person who was destined to win the league anyway. I thought I could take some comfort in that. And then you lost. Badly."

"Yeah, I did." Ash wasn't too fond of the memory. "Tobias was strong. Probably the strongest trainer I had ever faced. You think you could have beaten him?"

"I doubt it. Still, I had gained a lot of respect for you. Didn't make losing any easier, especially to someone who went against everything I stood for."

The same guilt he felt at Mount Coronet washed over Ash once again. He always hoped Paul the best after their rivalry. But now he wondered if he should have said more after their league match. At the time he thought that they left in an amicable state.

"And then after you went to work with your brother? Right?"

"No. Like I said before I continued challenging the Kalos league and a few others too... I never made it far though, and I felt hopeless for a while. Then one day my brother contacted me. Asked if I wanted to work with him for a while, help him out with pokémon breeding."

"And you took him up on his offer."

"Not immediately. I scoffed at the idea at first. But I wasn't doing much else and after giving it some thought, I accepted."

"And how did that go?"

"I wasn't lying to you the other day. It was great. And it was thanks to you."

"Well… thank you," Ash said, relaxing his demeanor. "I think your brother knew that I could help you out. But I think he knew it went both ways too, ya know? That we both had something we could teach each other. And he was right. The way you treated your Pokémon seemed so… cruel to me…"

"And you wouldn't be wrong, especially with how I treated Chimchar."

"It certainly didn't work for all of your pokémon, but many of them shared your passion and determination. It took me a while to respect that. It's why you were able to beat me so many times before that our league battle."

"My brothers certainly observant. He kept mentioning how I had become more patient and compassionate towards my pokémon afterwards. That's the kinda stuff I used to scoff at when we first met, stuff I picked up from you". Paul said, finally looking at Ash. "But part of me still wonders how things could have turned out if…"

He caught himself. It was quite late in the night, and while Ash was paying attention, he knew that he must have been getting tired. The man had saved him today, the least he could do was let him head to the hotel for a good night's rest. Still, there was one more thing he had to admit, to both Ash, and himself.

"Well, it doesn't matter now. And in the end, I have to thank you. But I think a part of me wishes I won that day. Part of me believes that I could have become as strong as I had dreamed if it weren't for you, someone that I had disregarded as a nuisance for so long. A small part of me believes that my dreams were ruined because of you. It's the small part of me that still…" He turned away again, letting out a deep sigh. "That still hates you."

He wished he could take that last part back, even if it needed to be said.

"I'm… I'm sorry…" Ash felt like he was just buried alive. "I… I wish…"

"No. This isn't your fault," Paul mustered up the courage to look at Ash again. But now it was Ash who could barely look him in the eye. "I'm sorry for saying that. You should…" He sighed. The more that was said, the worse he'd probably make it. "You should get going."

Ash got up, making his way out of the room. As he opened the door, he took one last look back.

"Goodbye Paul. Take care of yourself."

"You too, Ash."

On most days, he didn't want to be here. Especially tonight.

I could use a good night's rest tonight, Red.

I'm sorry, but you know we have to do this again. I'm glad to see you're alive. And you found the crystal.

Yes, we did.

Ash realized that Red hadn't shown himself yet. He was just speaking into an ever-stretching ether.

You saw them to, didn't you? The distorted trainers under Giratinas command.

I did. But why?

Why?

Why not tell us all this beforehand? Ash' ethereal hand was clenched. He had been jolted around for days, and he was tired of it.

I'm sorry Ash. I can't explain everything. This process, of reaching out to you, it isn't just casual conversation.

Then what is it?

During these moments we are mentally linked. We 'are' the same person, in two different realities. I use Giratinas power to turn that link into a literal one, where I can transfer information to you. But I can only transfer so much before the connection is cut. Even this right now is taking everything I've got.

Giratina's power? Does that mean… His eyes widened as he frantically looked around for Red. Are you… just like…

Yes…

Red appeared right in front of him. For a moment he looked almost normal, but then Ash realized that was only half of him. The other half was blackened, swirling with that same energy that had consumed Paul and the other lost trainers.

Red… what's going on? Were you captured?

Yes, but you won't find me. Not until he shows himself. But you can save the others. You've seen them, the trainers, their souls twisted, distorted, and weaponized. And I'll soon be one too. Red raised his hands, his good eye focusing on his distorted hand. He's got somethin' special planned for me. Don't bother asking, I don't know what.

Red! We can save you! Maybe…

If you want to save me, and everyone else, you have to stop him. And you know what you have to find.

The pokeball!

Yes. The distortion ball. Its shards scattered throughout the world. You already have

Where are they?

The swirling energy on Red began to dissipate into dust, being reabsorbed into the void.

There's one in that ancient tower of the draconids… and another in the… bottom of mount Akala…

Red?! Red…

And once again, Red disappeared.

The morning was rough. Every time Ash had another 'talk' with Red, he swore that he woke up more and more tired each time. It wasn't like he was gonna get a good night's rest regardless, but he at least hoped that he would get the chance to.

It didn't help that the next few hours would be grueling hours of travel. At least it was comfortable to sleep on the plane. But still, he drifted in and out of consciousness as they said goodbye to the dexholders outside the hotel. The bright sun outside helped with his somewhat dour mood.

"Don't worry. We'll learn everything we can about those ruins." Platinum said.

"And what about those monsters? What if there's even more down there." Yellow said.

"Well, that's what my experienced bodyguards are for," Platinum said, pointing back at Pearl and Diamond.

That morning Ash had informed the professor Oaks about his vision. They had soon contacted the professor Rowans to conduct research on the ruins and to learn everything they could about the ancient legend that they all witnessed in the catacombs. Of course, they had requested Platinum's help immediately, and of course she had already planned to research them whether the professors asked her to or not.

"Nothing's gonna hurt the lady while we're around!" Diamond proclaimed.

"We'll keep her safe, seniors," Pearl concurred.

"No need to worry, right?" Platinum gave a knowing smile to Dawn. The other girl chuckled.

"Well, let's get outta here," Diamond said as the trio stepped into the taxi waiting for them, and drove off.

"Well… looks like I'm off too," Dawn said. She looked at Ash with concern. He was starting to develop bags under his eyes. "Hey… you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

Ash shook his head. "It's alright Dawn. Besides, we don't know how many of those things are out there."

"Or how many more of those places that make them are out there as well," Yellow added. "We spoke to the Oaks this morning about Ash' vision. The Rowans are going to need to get the word out, and to help prepare for whatever's about to happen."

"Well, the crystal seems to be the only way to free people," Dawn said.

"Yes, and the professors have a plan. That's why we're going to the Hoenn region first," Yellow said. "Apparently the professor Birches who live there might have a solution for that."

Dawn nodded. It was a lot to take in. At least Yellow seemed to have a good head on her shoulders.

"Well take care, both of you," she said as she nodded.

"Hey Dawn," Ash said just as she turned her back. She looked at him, seeing his hand raised high above his head and a smile plastered on his face. "For old times' sake."

"Oh Ash, we're not kids anymore you know."

"Oh well… I…" he was about to lower his hand before hers met it.

"Doesn't mean we can't act like it sometimes." She kept her hand raised, now facing towards Yellow. "You too, senior."

"You know, it's only polite when the other dexholders say it," Yellow said as she reciprocated the high-five.

"Pika!" Pikachu stood excitedly.

The three shared a chuckle, before Dawn finally set off. Ash and Yellow made their way to the airport. Ash looked up at the sky, watching the planes flying by. He pondered, thinking of all the people and pokémon on those planes, and what their plans were. Likely seeing family, or heading to other regions to challenge the leagues. He sighed. He was one of those trainers so long ago. And now…

Well right now at least he had another goal, one that would effect the entire world. He and Yellow had to find the fragments of the distortion ball and stop Giratina from whatever it was planning.

They wouldn't fail. No matter what.