Spoiler warning for Pokémon: Legends Arceus in this chapter!
Episode 20: Reunion! Ashton's Big Secret!?
Dylan spent the rest of the day in the Village of Black Thorns, Dokyo's Xatu acting as translator for him as the young man interacted with the locals. There wasn't much for him to do, though, so all Dylan really ended up achieving was waiting for any signs of Ashton and Kris to show up. Spending the night in Ryujin's house, the next day was brought in by the sound of one of the villagers knocking on the door.
"Elder Ryujin!" the villager said. "We have visitors, from the north and the south, at our gates."
"Tell me about them," Ryujin ordered.
"One is Hayabusa of the Bird Clan, while the other is the emissary from Hisui," the villager explained.
Ryujin nodded. "Let them both pass, and order them to meet us here. While we have been expecting the emissary, I do wonder what business Hayabusa has here."
Sitting outside the elder's house, Dylan waited with Ryujin as the newcomers were escorted into the village. The boy's face lit up when a familiar Noibat and Tranquill practically tackled him, both Pokémon crying out in delight as they returned to their trainer.
"Vex, Joker!" Dylan laughed. "Glad to see that you're both safe."
"I'm here too, you know," Ashton said, though her tone was joking in nature. She shared a fist bump with Dylan and sat down beside him. "So you ended up here, huh? I got stuck with Mr. Bird Ninja over there."
"I mean, getting to hang out with a ninja doesn't sound too bad," Dylan said.
Ashton held his shoulders and stared Dylan in the eyes. "You don't get it, Dylan. He's into birds, like, really into birds. It took us five hours to walk here and the whole time he just talked about hoe 'magnificent' bird Pokémon are. I swear that if he could he'd marry a bird. He's that obsessed."
"It wasn't that long ago that humans and Pokémon had those kinds of relationships," Dokyo mused.
"Don't give him any ideas!" Ashton shouted at the psychic.
Dokyo chuckled. "Don't worry, my cousin may be eccentric, but we make sure he doesn't take things too far."
"Dylan, Ashton!" Kris called, running up to the two with Rei behind her. She hugged her friends and smiled. "Thank Arceus you're both safe! I got into this battle with a super powered Gyarados, and Alpha saved me by evolving into a Feraligatr!" She reached into her bag and handed a Poké Ball over to Dyaln. "Oh, and I found Poli'ahu in my bag for some reason."
Dylan released the Artic Vulpix from her ball. "Thanks. I lost my Poké Balls in the time rift. All that's left to find now is Aurora…"
Ryujin gave a cough that turned the trio's attention to him. "If you three will come inside, we can discuss what to do next now that you are reunited." He looked to Rei. "You're the young man from the Galaxy Squad, correct? You will come inside as well. Hayabusa, you can stay here with your brother before making your leave."
The four kids went inside, taking a seat around the table in the house as Ryujin set out tea for them to drink. The elder looked to Ashton, taking a sip of his tea before speaking. "It's been a long time, Kage, but I am glad you surrounded yourself with friends."
Ashton frowned. "It's Ashton now. And to you, Elder Ryujin, be glad that I didn't die when I left the village that day."
"WHAAAAAAT!?" Dylan and Kris shouted in disbelief, while Rei comically spit out his tea in shock.
"I see you didn't tell your friends about where you came from," Ryujin said.
"Oh, I did. They just never believed me when I said I was from space," Ashton shrugged.
Kris processed what Ashton just said. "Wait, so when you said that, you meant that you're one of those Fallers that come through space-time distortions!?"
"But we've known each other since we were little kids!" Dylan said. "And you look just like your parents back home!"
Ashton shrugged. "My 'parents' adopted me when I came to your world, and they just happened to share similar qualities to me. Maybe we're distantly related, but I don't care. As for the portal, I fell through when I was, like, five years old, so yeah."
"When did you even find a space-time distortion to fall through?" Rei asked.
"Ashton has always been a headstrong girl," Ryujin explained. "Her parents died in a war between clans, but their fiery spirits live within her. I told her it was dangerous to explore outside the village, but she got away from me. The only thing I found in the cave you disappeared in was your family crest." Ryujin reached into his kimono and pulled out a piece of cloth, having the Japanese word for "Shadow" written on it.
Ashton looked at the cloth, then turned to her friends. "The Village of Black Thorns has a rite of passage where you must go out and tame a Dragon Pokémon in order to be considered an adult. Since my parents were dead, I wanted to grow up as soon as possible, so I went out hunting for the biggest, baddest dragon I could find: a Hydreigon."
"So your obsession with Hydreigon is because you want to fight one?" Dylan asked.
Ashton nodded. "Yeah, but instead of finding one, little kid me ended up in some kind of distorted realm that dropped me off in our hometown instead."
"That's crazy," Kris shook her head.
"I mean, my friend Akari talks about a lot of weird stuff from her world, so this is kind of like that, but in reverse," Rei pointed out.
"And I was so young that I could just… grow up as a normal person in the future," Ashton finished her story. She looked at Ryujin with a serious expression. "But I'm back now, and not as the same kid I was back then. I don't know how we're going to get back to our time, but until then I will complete my rite of passage. If you'll let me, Elder Ryujin."
Ryujin gave a hum. "You've changed a lot, Young Kage. You have Pokémon at your side, as well as allies that will be there to back you up. I will permit you to take the rite of passage, if you will recite the rules of the event to me."
Ashton stood up, taking a resolute stance. "Rule 1: the challenger must go out into the wild and find a Dragon-like Pokémon! Rule 2: the challenger will battle the Pokémon, in which the battle will only end once they mark the dragon with their family crest! And Rule 3: the challenger is not allowed into any village until the trail is complete!"
Ryujin nodded. "Those are the rules. Take your family crest and go out on your rite of passage, Young Kage."
Ashton took her family crest and nodded. "Come on guys, we don't have time to waste. Let's find that Hydreigon I was searching for and beat it in a battle!"
"But Ashton, Hydreigon's aren't even native to the Johto region," Kris pointed.
"Well, that's part of the reason I was sent here," Rei piped up. "In Hisui we've been dealing with a lot of space-time distortions, which tend to bring Pokémon not usually found in the region to Hisui. There's been a minor distortion hovering around Mount Silver, so part of why I was sent here is to examine that distortion as well."
Ryujin hummed. "There has been rumors of fierce Dragons that dwell within Mount Silver. If you wish, your friends may accompany you, Young Kage, but they cannot aid you in your battle with the Dragon."
"Not like I need their help for that part," Ashton boasted.
"We'll make sure that she stays safe, Elder," Dylan said. The four of them left Ryujin's house, with Dylan looking out to see wher Mount Silver was. "It's a long way's off, so we better get some supplies from the village for the journey."
"You guys don't think it's weird that I'm actually from the past, do you?" Ashton asked.
Dylan shook his head. "Not really. If anything, it kind of explains why you were such a wild child when we were kids. Plus you're still our Ashton, no matter where you come from."
"Same here," Kris nodded. "I think it'd be weirder if you were an actual alien, but you're still human. Although it was very irresponsible of you to run off as a five-year-old into the wilderness!"
"Hey, this is the past, they don't baby us like they do in the present," Ashton shrugged.
Rei sighed. "Yep, you guys talk like Akari as well. Since I know the lay of the land, let me help out as well! Pikachu and I won't let you down."
[***]
On the snowy terrain of Mount Silver, Aurora blew into her paws for warmth, the Lucario shivering slightly as she trudged through the snow. Aurora didn't know where she was, but the aura of the land called her to follow it. Growing up with Dylan and his family, Aurora learned that as a Lucario she was more connected to the life energy of those around her, and this ability could be used to help those in need. And right in this moment, Aurora was focused on finding the distressed aura she felt.
"If you're out there, please hear me!" Aurora called. While she could speak with Telepathy, the Lucario used her native Pokémon tongue to call out as well. "I feel that you are injured. Let me help you!"
The Lucario paused by a tree, putting her hands together and closing her eyes. The world around her glowed blue, nature lighting up behind her eyes as the aura of the world filled her vision. A red aura came from a nearby cave, the energy of the injured being. Aurora moved her fingers apart, creating a small Aura Sphere to light her way as she entered the cave. Following the aura trail, the Lucario stopped when it ended at a rock.
"I can sense the being nearby," Aurora said. "If you are here, please come out!"
She got no response. Humming, the Lucario sat down near the rock, dropping her Aura Sphere and letting the darkness consume her. Aurora reached out with her senses, hearing the falling snow just outside the cave and feeling the coldness of the stone beneath her. The hair on her head suddenly raised as the aura of the cave was disturbed, making the Lucario reaching out and grab the rock, her paw going through it as she pulled out a Pokémon from the illusion.
"Let me go!" her captive shouted, his voice filled with youth and fear.
Aurora continued to hold the Pokémon with one hand, using the other to create an Aura Sphere to relight the cave. In her paws was a Pokémon that looked similar to the one known as Zorua, but its colors were all off. This Zorua was grey with a white tail and tuffs of fur around the neck and on top of its head, with the hair and tail being wispy in nature and turning a light blue color that matched other markings on its body.
"What a strange Pokémon you are," Aurora noted. "Tell me, young one, what are you?"
"I am an Unwanted," the Pokémon responded. "I was left here to die by my pack for being different, hunted by others not of our kind. I HATE them. They will feel my vengeance if we meet again. But end me know, if you must. I have lived long enough."
"Such strong words for one as young as you," Aurora said. "But I will not harm you, for my power us only to be used in friendly competitions or against those that threaten others." The Pokémon stopped struggling as Aurora shared her feelings of calmness with her captive. "So tell me, what is your name, young one?"
"The ones I HATE never gave me a name, so I only go by Zorua now," the Pokémon replied.
"So you are a Zorua," Aurora mused. "Well, despite being left here to die, you have done well surviving this long, even if you are injured now. I will heal you, then we will leave this place so I may look for my family."
The Zorua said nothing as Aurora got to healing it. "Why show such kindness? The ones I HATE left me as Unwanted. Do you know what being Unwanted means? I am doomed to be taken by the Lord of Shadows and turned to his side."
"That sounds like the Pokémon I know as Giratina," Aurora said. "I was taught many stories by humans, including those of how the world was created. What do you know if it, young one?"
"The Lord of Shadows was banished by Arceus for its violent nature," the Zorua replied.
"True, but there is more to the story than that," Aurora said. "Giratina did at one point rebel against Arceus, being banished to the Distortion World for his nature. However, Giratina only did so because he could not understand the bonds between man and Pokémon."
"Humans can be mean, and scary," the Zorua nodded.
"It was a human that changed Giratina's mind, however," Aurora continued. "Giratina was used by a human to reach Arceus, but soon witnessed a young human that fought alongside Pokémon to protect the world from him. Seeing the bond the young human and Pokémon fighting together, Giratina turned away from his wicked ways and fled back to the Distortion World. Do you know what happened then?"
Zorua shook his head. "What did the Lord of Shadows do when it had lost?"
"The young human found Giratina and forgave him for his part in defying Arceus," Aurora explained, the Zorua gasping in shock. "They battled once more, and Giratina was bested by the young human again. Giving in to the young human's will, it was then that the young human brought Giratina to meet Arceus himself, and do you know what Arceus said?"
"What?" Zorua asked, curiosity in its tone.
"Arceus told Giratina that he was forgiven, as his son had been brought home. Giratina did not understand this kindness, for he had rebelled against his father. Even Dialga and Palkia questioned Arceus in forgiving their brother, but Arceus told them that he would always love his sons, regardless of what had happened in the past, and that they should rejoice as their sibling thought lost had returned to them."
The Zorua tilted his head. "So Arceus forgave Giratina and accepted him back? What happened to Giratina then?"
"Giratina decided to remain in the Distortion World, but reconnecting with his father and his interactions with the young human had opened Giratina's heart. Giratina now acts as a dark protector, one that watches from another world to protect people and Pokémon with good hearts and taking away those with ill intent into his world." Aurora smiled down at the Zorua. "The point of the story is that Giratina, a Pokémon thought to be evil incarnate, was forgiven by his father, the creator of all Pokémon. It shows that no one is beyond redemption, and everyone is worth reaching out to, if only to try and save them."
Aurora set the Zorua down. "But that also means that the person you are trying to save must be willing to open their heart to change. Giratina and the young human fought many times before he was willing to listen to them. So now, young one, I will leave you here to live out your life as an Unwanted. However, if you wish, I will take you with me to meet my brother, who will surely welcome you into our family with open arms. It is your choice."
The Zorua looked up at Aurora, thinking about her words. It then closed its eyes and said, "I will join you, Aurora, and meet this family of yours. You have opened my eyes to the true nature of Giratina, but I still wish to follow his path as a dealer of vengeance to the evils of the world."
"Then I will train you in the ways of defending the world," Aurora nodded. "But first, we will need to name you, as all followers of Arceus and his sons are."
"The strongest of the Zorua clan are called Inari, after our ancestor who gave us the ability to cast illusions," Zorua said.
Aurora smiled, picking up the Zorua and putting it on her shoulder. "Well then, Inari, let us venture out to find my family, and I will tell you more stories of Arceus and other legends that humans have taught me…"
Author's Notes
So yeah, Ashton is actually from ancient Johto! Me and my co-author Azakael had this reveal planned from the start, though originally Ashton was just going to be from Ultra Space. With the advent of time travel in Legends Arceus though, it became more fitting for her story to have her be from the past via space-time distortions.
Fun Fact: Inari the Shiny Hisui Zorua is a Pokémon I've actually caught in Legends Arceus! I try to only include shiny Pokémon that I've personally caught in this story as it makes them feel more earned.