The light from the computer screen illuminated the dark room. Strained fingers typed mindlessly away at the sticky keyboard below. Crushed cans of nameless energy drinks were scattered around, behind, stop and below his desk. Garbage littered the area around the overflowing trash can in the corner of the small office space.
He brushed the greasy hair that hung from his loosened bun and scratched at his face. The emails and phone calls were endless. Alola was collapsing at the seems, both politically and economically.
As the regional professor, naturally, he was called about in the time in crisis. Not only had he momentarily stepped up and assumed the position of the region's leader, given that the role had been recently voided, he was also the only one left with any major political sway, given he had been the one to establish the league.
Prior to starting Alola's league, the four islands mostly operated independently of each other. The nation itself is rather small, and is mainly a tourist hub for those traveling. The actual population was so small that any major government, for the most part, had failed to be established. There was a disconnect between the islands, and that made it difficult to have operations that intricately weaved them together. They mostly relied on independent industries to maintain law and order, and for the most part it remained stable. Given the natural environment, and culture surrounding Alola, crime rates were low, and business could mostly operate out of trust and minimal licensing.
For years the islands prospered without outside influence. While the technology evolved with the times, the people and ideals did not. Not fully being connected to the outside world, Alola developed strangely alongside the rest of the world. Pokemon battling especially differed.
Kukui was always passionate about battling, and his travels across the world had taught him so much about it all operates outside of the Alolan bubble.
Globally, everything was decided via a pokemon battle. It was the universal language that everyone spoke. if there was ever a disagreement, it would almost always be setted with a quick pokemon battle. This would also end up becoming the way official and political business would get settled.
The League is a global wide organization with their roots in every region, with the exception of Alola. Back when they were becoming established, they only felt the need to focus on the major parts of the world, and failed to properly sink their claws into the more rural and isolated regions of the globe.
Kukui could recognize that it was a rather elementary way of solving disputes, but it was a better solution then pokemon warfare, which had plagued the world for centuries before finally ceasing only a few short decades ago. No matter what, both good and bad people would find a way to exploit pokemon in order to use for their own gain, and the modern system established solved a lot of the issues that came with war. While the ethics of continuing to use pokemon to solve problems could easily be argued, it was ultimately a lot less bloody.
Soon after, it became somewhat like a sport. It was fun to do, and fun to spectate. The strongest trainers would become like celebrities, and their influence was immense. Their reach, alongside their inherent power would end up changing the world entirely.
Instead of governing political parties that ruled and made laws, the five strongest, underneath the title and watch of The League, would become the main leaders of their respective region. These five are now known as the elite four and champion.
He was naive back then, and believed that this system of power was superb, and what Alola desperately lacked. But he was simply too blind to see it before. His love for battling made him see past the truth.
The League is in every region, and the elite four and champion of those regions independently operate underneath their watch. In the end, the trainers hold very little actual power, and it all belongs to the League.
It was no mystery at all as to why Ash was a target. He was the champion of Alola, the non-offical-offical leader of the region. While his word was far from final or absolute law, the people had looked to him as a respectable leader who had their best interests in mind. He was also the recognized Grand-Monarch of Galar.
They wanted nothing more than a puppet on strings, but Ash simply wouldn't conform. For months they hounded him about working with them. But he absolutely refused to let Alola or Galar fall to them. While the teen likely wasn't fully aware of the bigger picture and sheme at play, he combated them as if he did.
But in all his nobleness, he would of pay the ultimate price.
Ash was killed. His existence alone was a threat. While there was no hard evidence to link it back the league, it didn't take a genius to figure out that they would eventually go for Ash. As the first officially recognized champion of Alola, he held a substantial amount of influence and power. Not only that, but after he won the title of Monarch, the league was put into a precarious position.
They would try to control him at first. By imposing strict rules and regulations, and forcing a ton of work onto the teen, that it would crush his spirits. They were intending to break his will and bend him to their liking.
That had failed to foresee that Ash was boy was a free spirit. He chases after dreams most would brush aside. He isn't one to have himself be contained. The league hadn't realized this at first, but it didn't take long for them to adjust their approach accordly.
Power is corrosive. When people don't bend to your will, break them. Kukui didn't know how deep the rabbit hole really went, but he's spent every last minute digging up every bit of information that he can, all while trying to hold Alola together.
His head slammed down onto the counter. Crumbs from different foods jumped up in response. Some fell to the floor, others onto his keyboard.
He didn't care.
Dark circles painted the skin around his eyes, as he struggled to keep them open.
There was so much to do.
The backlash of Ash's death had shaken Alola to it's very core. Even a week later, the riots and destruction had continued, showing little signs of slowing down. The people didn't take well to it, and others rejoiced. Kukui had failed to see how divided the region really was before. He wasn't sure why everything had immediately collapsed following the boy's passing, but it must've just been the final bit of heat that the four islands needed before reaching their collective boiling point. Anarchy erupted from every corner of the region, and it had quickly became an uncontrollable situation.
He was lucky, and had avoided the chaos for the most part, due to his house being isolated from any village or city. He also didn't need to worry about any of his students or their families, as Lusamine had acted quickly and gathered them, providing sanctuary on Aether island. Lusamine had also opened to the island to any Alolan residents in need of support and resources.
Kukui suspected that she wished to reform the Ultra Guardians in order to help with the situation, but without Ash, the group would likely struggle. Not to mention they were all in mourning. Lillie especially, from the few messages he's received from her mother, was not taking it very well.
He wasn't surprised, considering she seemed to have a minor schoolgirl crush on the boy. She was far too young to be experiencing this tragic of an ending to her one-sided romantic endeavour, but twisted are the cruel whims of fate. At least there wouldn't be a point where she would have to experience heartbreak directly from the boy himself. Now, at least, she has someone to point the blame at.
In the background he could hear Lei crying. It was late into the night, so he must've woke up. Normally he would go help take care of it, but he was barely able to escape his chair anymore. He was lucky that Burnet was stronger than he was, and despite all her grief, was still able to properly care for the boy.
What have I become...?
He reached up to the sides of his head and gripped his messy and frizzled hair. He ignored the disgusting amount of grease that had built up on it.
He was overcompensating. She had told him last night, that he was trying to keep himself so busy so that he could detach himself from reality. Truth be told, deep down, he knew she was correct. Of course she was. But he couldn't afford to let the grief take hold. Alola was crumbling, and he needs to be there.
After all, it's his fault in the first place.
If he didn't bring battling to Alola, and establish a league, there wouldn't of been any imbalance in the already establish system. But he was a fool, just because a few weren't happy, he tore it all down and changed everything.
He was no better than the league. All the of the destruction, anarchy and death was all due to his negligence. He was selfish, and now the people are all suffering for it.
But that's not what she was talking about.
Lei may be his only biological son, but he isn't his first son.
"...Damnit!" He slammed his desk with his hand. A sudden burst of anger overcoming him. He paused for a moment, staring in shock at his own fist, as if he had not expected himself to do such a thing. It pulsed with pain, but the rush quickly clouded his mind.
So he did it again. This time with a little more power.
It was wrong.
But something compelled him to do it again.
No more.
Again.
You shouldn't.
Again.
It felt good, to wail on something. All the pent up emotions slowly releasing as he slowly beat on the hardwood desk. He could feel it growing weak with every impact, and that only made him want to hit it harder. The legs of the object shook and threatened to buckle, but he continued anyway.
Faint memories of his experiences with Ash flashed across his mind and he continued. The noises from the impacts continued to grow louder, so loud that he could hear Lei suddenly erupt in the distance. He was probably scared.
"DAMN YOU DAMN YOU DAMN YOU!"
Any semblance of coherent thought eventually escaped his mind, as he put all of his strength into a double handed overhead smash. The table finally gave in, and it collapsed infront of him. The legs gave out before the wood, and everything fell alongside the table top. All of the electronics and items made a loud crashing noise as they landed together on the ground in front of him.
He jumped out of his chair and stared at the damage. His heart beat out of his chest, and his earns burned. Heavy breaths escaped him as he clenched his fists tight, ignoring the searing pain on his hands and forearms.
Immediately, he noticed that his computer monitor was cracked down the middle, and was flashing with a bunch of incoherent colours, while his white mug had been smashed into bits that now were scattered around with the mess of the room.
It didn't take long before he heard the panicked steps of his wife approach from behind. She might've been calling before.
"Kukui! Kukui! What's going on? I heard banging and yelling and-"
He didn't see her initial reaction, but he could infer that it was likely one of shock, and maybe fear. It was the first time she's ever seen him like this, and the idea of her being scared of him only made everything worse.
Silence fell between them, only broken up by his periodic heavy and pained breaths.
"Come here," she said eventually. It took her a moment to find her words, "Just... get over here. We'll deal with this later."
He moved his head, and stared at her from his position. He stared at her green eyes, but she stared at the tears falling from his.
"You're allowed to miss him, Kukui." She stuck her arms out. "But you shouldn't feel like you have to miss him all by yourself."
She waited patiently, arms open, as he moved through the mess. The fog slowly began to clear from his mind.
He never wanted to cry, but it felt good to do it from her arms. She supported him, despite his outburst, and loved him unconditionally. She sat there with him for hours, wordlessly, hiding her heartbreak behind a mask of strength. Her eyes were radiant and strong, and they called to him. She was also feeling torn up about it all, but she stayed strong for him, because she could tell it was affecting him more.
"Thank you" he whispered to her.
She didn't smile, how could she? She snuggled into him, and finally let herself break down alongside him. They cried together, mourning in their own separate ways, but still together. For some reason, Lei hadn't made a peep for the rest of the night.
When the sun rose against the curtain of blue waves painting the horizon the next morning, Kukui was once again greeted by an obscene amount of messages on his phone. He knew he wouldn't get to half of them, as it was simply unreasonable to expect from one man. Instead, he shut his device off. This was a losing game.
After a long shower and hot meal, he planned to go out and try to fix the situation as the regional professor and chairman of the Alolan Pokemon League. The guilt-ridden father, barely able to cope with the loss of his pseudo-son, would take a step back.
Ash was the one who taught him how to make a difference, and the one who showed him what real strength looks like. To pick yourself up after no matter how many times you fall until you're finally strong enough to succeed. A master will fail more times then the rest will even try.
Stepping out the front door, Kukui listened to the sounds of the distant wingul screaming into the air. A look of determination broke out over his face. It was time to make a real difference. He could fully mourn later. Alola deserves his help. He needs to do what he can to remedy the damage he's already done.
As Kukui made his way toward his car, he could feel the thoughts creeping in. The sadness and despair, the grief and sorrow all threatened to impede on his mind.
For now, he's mourned enough. Alola has to come first. His family has to come first.
Ash was family, you sick bastard.
He reached for the handle of his car door, but stopped just before grabbing it. He hadn't been paying too much attention to his environment before, but he noticed something peculiar. Alongside his driveway, there was a strip of sand. Almost every time he left in the morning, the sand remained undisturbed. Even if someone or something were to walk on it, the winds during the night was always even it out again before the morning.
There were two sets of footprints that lead up to the house, and stopped just infront of his porch. Burnet was still asleep, and they hadn't left the house for days.
Someone is here.
Taking a step back from the car, Kukui slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out Incineroar's pokeball. He listened for a moment, but heard nothing. He was still sleep deprived, and maybe a little paranoid.
Puffing out his chest, he called out into the morning wind. "Is anyone there?"
Nobody responded to his call.
Slowly, he began walking toward the porch. The poarch was sandy and old, comprised of mostly rotting cedar. It wrapped entirely around the outside of his house, meaning one could access both the front and back just from walking around it. The footsteps disappeared, meaning whoever made them must have followed it around to the back.
Once he stepped onto it and rounded the corner of his house, he heard a pair of voices talking in the distance. They were decently loud, and sounded as if they were bickering with each other. If they were some sort of petty thieves or sneaky anarchists, they were extremely bad at the stealth portion of the job.
He leaned against the far corner of the house, and listened into their conversation.
"Let's just knock again. I'm sure he'll answer this time. Besides, surely you think it's better then trespassing?!" It was a woman's voice, one that was very familiar. It had an aura of maturity and grace that few others had, despite her lightly panicked manor.
"He is clearly ignoring us." A man's voice. Less familiar, but it held just as much if not more vigour. It boomed with purpose and might. "I won't stand for such blasphemy, I shall be heard."
"You're such an egoist. Can't you just let it go for a second? He's obviously very busy. This whole damn region is falling apart. After what happened to Ash, we'll be lucky if he even decides to humour us."
"He will hear us out. Supposedly he was like the brat's second father."
Kukui slowly approached the voices. He tip towed on the wooden planks surrounding his house and made his way toward the back. As he got closer to the back, they grew louder and more prominent.
"Don't speak of him like that, Ash was our dear friend."
"He was your friend. He was my comrade, fellow champion and Kantoian brother. I will not let his death go unpunished."
"You have the strangest way of showing you care."
"Says you, Almighty champion of sinnoh reduced to nothing but a blubbering mess at the news of his passing. It's almost as if you loved him-"
"Hey!" Kukui jumped out from the corner. He held his enlarged pokeball high into the air. "What do you think you're doing-!?"
Both of them jumped as as well, turning around to face him rapidly. Colour voided his features when he realized who was sneaking around his backyard.
"Lance and Cynthia?!" Standing infront of him, dressed to the nines in overly expensive touristy clothes, were the champions of three regions collectively. They were wearing sunglasses and straw hats with white-petalled flows, but it was undoubtedly them.
Seeing Kukui there, the two of them elated. "Oh thank goodness we found you. I was worried he was going to smash a window." She gestured toward the man beside her.
Lance crossed his arms. "In the name of Justice."
Kukui was in shock for a moment, but he realized that he was in a very bad position. He had no idea why people such as them were reduced to bickering like children and sneaking around the outside of his house, but that didn't change anything regarding who they were.
He didn't trust them for a minute. Ash may have been friends with people, but they work directly under the league, and are not to be trusted.
But he was backed into a corner. If he tried to fight them, it would not end well for him. He was strong, but Cynthia and Lance were especially strong champions in their own rights. The two of them together would be too much for anyone to hand alone. If he tried to run, there was nobody for miles. Not to mention Alola was tearing at the seems. Healthcare professionals and law enforcement are working overtime as it is already.
While he didn't trust them, it wasn't as if he had any reason not to either. For now, he just has to play this out.
After hiding his pokeball in his jacket, the quick witted professor collected himself and approached them closer. "Do you mind what I ask what you're doing here? On the premises of my home, without my permission?"
Lance spoke first, jumping in before the blonde woman could get a word in. "We tried contacting you many times, as we have much to discuss with you, but you seemed to ignore us completely. Due to the nature of this circumstance, we ultimately decided that it would be best to seek alternative measures."
Kukui didn't believe it for a second. "You have my number in your phone. I don't recall receiving any such messages from either of you."
After saying that, Cynthia wordlessly gestured toward his own phone. He hadn't even realized that he had been clutching it with his other hand. The woman made a covering motion with her hands.
He stared at her for a second, his left eyebrow raised, before he mimicked what she did.
"What is this all about?"
She very obvisulty mouthed the words: "Turn your phone off."
"And why would I do that?"
From her pocket, Cynthia pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. She unfolded it in a haste and held it out toward him. In big bold letters, the following was written:
"They are Listening,
Ears Everywhere."
His heart raced, and sweat began to build on his brow. If he turned his phone off, that would cut off his communication. Then again, it wasn't like any emergency responders could make it here at all or fast enough.
He was trapped. In defeat, he raised his phone in the air, and held the power button. After a moment, the device shut down. All three of them watched it happen.
"Better?"
"Indeed." Cynthia nodded. "However, I can see the fear painted on your face. Please Professor, do not be frightened."
Cynthia made a sudden movement. He prepared for the worst. But instead of any possible scenario that his brain could've thought, she simply bowed. "Please let us ease explain why we are here."
The man beside her didn't bow, only nodding a singular time. His body language was stiff, and clearly uncomfortable. But his eyes plead. Kukui could feel his intent.
He sighed and dug his hands into his pockets. "Fine. Explain, then."
Somewhere
It's cold.
He was floating. Or falling, maybe. There is nothing for as far as the eye can see. Darkness fills the void surrounding him.
"If you chase after who you could've been, you'll end up failing at who you're supposed to be."
Direction had lost any sort of meaning long ago. Movement was impossible to track. If he was falling, it's too hard to tell.
Who are you?
The voices have been speaking to him. But they mean nothing. Is he really dead, now? Did Arceus lie? Why?
Why is there nothing?
"You can't change the past. But time isn't linear. Bend it to your will."
LET ME DIE ALREADY!
He screamed into the nothing. It didn't scream back. It was so quiet that he felt the tremble from his words in his bones.
"The chains of the heavens are finally withered and frail. Was it worth the price?"
Price?
"Is it really freedom if you're still fighting all the battles for them? Why fight for a world so unforgiving?"
He held his head in his hand. None of this made any sense. Why are the voices so loud? Price? Price of what?
"Time burns in the palm of your hand. Now wake, and reap the end."
His eyes burst open. They were immediately seared upon being greeted by the intense sunlight. He grovelled in place, and flipped onto his front, burying his face into the grass below. The distinct feeling of dirt on the skin encased his body entirely. Cuts and scrapes stung like wildfire along the surface of his skin.
His wavering breaths escaped in puffs of warm air against the freezing. He could feel the lack of heat right away. His body shivered in place, and he was hardly able to gain a control of it.
Ash ran his hands over his own body, as he coddled himself in the cold. The sun was out, but the temperature spoke of a late fall, barley bridging into the winter. The trees around him were composed of only branches and sticks, and his breathes came out as visible puffs of hot air.
His body was bruised and broken. He could feel the pain starting to settle in, and it quickly became unbearable. He wanted to scream, but he was unable. It was as if his vocal cords refused to comply.
The sun had rolled over into the evening, and he had yet to pull himself up from the hard ground. He was starving, and dehydrated; lost in a place he didn't recognize.
Where am I?
His human spirit screamed for him to get up, and move. But his body refused to comply. He lacked the energy to merely pull himself off the ground, let alone move his body through the trees and toward civilization.
"Am I... going to die here?"
He was growing desperate. The panic slowly began to set in. He could feel it creeping up on him, and he was struggling to suppress it any further. His head was spinning, and he felt himself begin to grow sick.
"Please somebody... I...I can't die here!"
He cried out to nobody. His mouth refused to call out.
Acting out of instinct, he reached forward and dug his fingernails into the hard ground. He clenched his hand and silently screamed out. The panic fueling his action overcame any sense of rationale. His body erupted into a intense hue of blue. It was emanating off of him, and illuminating the immediate area in a familiar warmness.
His confusion only intensified along with his fear. A million questions danced on the tip of his brain, but the balance of his thoughts quickly tipped back to survival mode.
The dirt beneath his hand began to slowly vibrate. Then the earth shook with intensity.
At first, he thought the rumbling was caused by the light. But it was far too distant. It was as if he was merely experiencing the aftershocks of something far greater.
After a few moments, the blue light faded into the nothingness, leaving him alone once more. It had a comforting glow to it, and kept him a warm. Now he was forced to confront his situation again.
It wasn't long before the earth shook again. His heart almost beat out of his chest. He stained his neck and looked over to the treeline in the distance from the small clearing.
He noticed a shadow begin to form from just within. It was a creature of some sort, with red glowing eyes and large claws that hung beside it. It was hard to make out, but he could tell that it was moving.
With every step it took, the earth shook a little bit harder.
His panic and fear intensified. The hair on his limbs stood up.
What is that? Some sort of...Monster?!
He tried to move. There was no way he was going to fight, maybe he could hide. If he could just find the strength...
But there was nothing. Nowhere to hide. He knew that. The clearing was surrounded by three walls of trees and a cliffside. There was nowhere for him to hide even if he wanted to. He was stranded in the open, as it slowly approached. It's foreboding figure and imposing lunges shaking the ground with a continued grow in intensity.
The amount of power it possessed was immense. That much was obvious. He was merely fodder.
As it finally escaped the shadow of the trees, he got a better look of its physical appearance. It was not quite as tall as the trees, not that it made a difference in the intimidation factor. It was furry and brown, with a large pale ring on the centre it's torso. It bore large teeth and shiny black nose.
After seeing him lying there, it let out a primal roar that caused some odd flying creatures to escape from the trees and take off into the sky. It didn't take long before the creature was looming over him. It's large body casting a shadow over his fear-stricken face. It let out another roar before raising its arm high. Ash closed his eyes as the creature lunged. He could only watch as the shadow of it's paw grew thicker as it closed in on his face. At least it will be quick.
He closed his eyes and braced for death.
It never came.
After about ten seconds of waiting, with his body still paralyzed, he found the courage to open his eyes. They adjusted much quicker to the light this time.
The monster's paw had been stopped by two much smaller ones. Black paws also surrounded by the same odd blue hue that had once consumes him interrupted the blow. They were attached to this odd looking animal. It was short and furry, with canine like features. Despte being much smaller than the beast, it held it's own. It's back paws digging into the dirt and they bore the weight of the blow.
"Master," a voice intruded his thoughts. It sounded as if it was coming from everywhere, as it bounced around the inside of his brain. "I heard you calling to me. I am relieved that you live."
Ash was unable to move his head to look around, but he could tell it wasn't a person talking to him. It was the blue one. It was speaking to him without audible words. It was some sort of telepathic link. "Your aura is different now. Stronger, even. But I could still tell it was you. I would never forget it."
What? What is this? What's happening? He tried to reach out to it, but he wasn't sure how it worked. Maybe it was a one way communication link.
"Master," he could see the defensive stance that the smaller creature took. It looked ready to fight for him. "It seems you are unable to move, or speak. Let me take care of this for you. I assure you, I have been training in your absence."
He lost sight of it as it leaped into the air. He heard the sound of a harsh impact, and felt a sudden rush of wind. Then everything became still.
"It is done, the beast has been felled." The same voice called back, and Ash felt relief wash over his entire soul. Crisis narrowly averted.
The furry blue canine had attempted to assist him in standing, but his legs absolutely refused to support his weight. It was embarrassing for him, but the creature didn't seem to care. It practically carried him through the dimly lit forest.
As they trudged through the woods, his questions only grew in number, but he found himself hardly able to communicate back. He was simply unable to speak back telepathically, and his throat was so dry that his words came out as nothing more than groveling gibberish.
"Master, I also have many questions for you. So do the rest of my brethren. Many of us thought you were dead. We mourned. All of us took it very hard. But I'm sure they'll be thrilled to be reunited with you once again, once we can get you back. So I suppose they can wait, as I'm sure you as well are curious."
It seems as though he wasn't the only one with questions. None of it made any sense to him. This creature very obviously wasn't human. But he spoke with human words, speech and mannerisms. He was also glowing in the exact same blue as him, which was another odd coincidence.
Why did he keep calling him master? Who were these brethren he's speaking of? How was he even able to understand it at all?
The longer they walked, the more his mind began to spin. He was tired, starving and dehydrated. Likely on the brink of death once again. While he was curious, none of it mattered at the current moment.
They moved deep into the night. It was mostly quiet, save for the odd stick break or distance sound of harsh waves crashing over stone.
"I can feel your confusion. Your mistrust, your fear, your uneasiness, and your will to survive. It's been calling to me this whole time. Your aura has gotten a lot stronger, as if it was awoken from it's dormant state. That must be why you can hear me now."
Aura? Is that what the blue light was? Is that how they communicated?
They stopped walking. He almost fell on his face. The creature had been supporting his upper body as he limped on his left leg. They had been walking for so long that the steady movements had become second nature. When they stopped he almost buckled from the change in velocity.
That's when he saw the small wooden shack just ahead. It was buried in between some thick coated pine trees, hidden from the moonlight beneath their shadow. Old and beat up, but with light escaping from the crack of the curtains just behind the old glass window.
"We are here. Our closest sanctuary. For now."
When they entered through the beat up wooden door, they were greeted by an elderly woman dressed in a cotton white robe with black accents. She had long white hair that was tied up neatly above her head.
"Lucario?" She spoke at the creature. Was that it's name? "Who is this young man with you? I have never seen him before."
Instead of speaking like he expected it to for some reason, the creature holding him merely barked. The old woman approached closer, and worry soon dawned on her features. "Oh my, it seems you are in quite rough condition."
He could only stare. His body only grew weaker with time. Making any sort of gesture or movement was slowly becoming impossible. His eyes grew heavy, and the warm of the house lulled him into a drowsy state. His mind was slipping. For some reason he knew the canine, Lucario, could feel it too.
It used it's paws and pointed toward the fridge. The old woman caught on without having to hear any words. "Ah, now I see."
The last thing he remembers seeing is the panicked face of Lucario, before the floor seemed to rise up and smack him right in the face.
He awoke to a cold cloth being placed on his forehead. "Boy," the voice of the old woman called through the haze clouding his mind. "Please drink. I know you're exhausted, but I'm worried that you're dehydrated."
The water was lukewarm, and it tasted hard of minerals. But his body thanked him nonetheless. It must've been days since he's had a drop of water, and his body was beginning to shut down.
He looked over the small house. He was in the corner, laying down on the couch. It was composed of four wooden walls, with it being split into the four different sections. There was a kitchen in the room across from him, and a bedroom on the room perpendicular to the kitchen. The last section was walled off, likely for a bathroom.
The blue creature was leaning up against the front door. It's arms were crossed, and it's eyes were closed. It seemed like it was concentrating on something. In the kitchen, the old woman was chopping away at some green vegetables with a small knife. It touched down onto the cutting board at an even pace, and it was the only noise that could be heard.
He had gained back limited movement, but his body still felt heavy. He likely still wouldn't be able to stand properly. He was barley strong enough to bring his fourth glass of water up to his lips.
"Thank you," his voice croaked. "For the water, and shelter."
Both the woman and creature snapped their attentions onto him. She was the first to respond. "Of course, dear. I wasn't about to let you die on my doorstep."
He couldn't think of a proper response to her comment.
Both her and the creature approached him and his seated position on the couch. It simply barked in what he assumed is an agreeing notion.
Why isn't it speaking anymore? Did I dream that?
"How are you feeling now? I took the liberty of pathing up some of your surface wounds while you slept. I hope that's alright."
Ash looked down toward his body. All four of his limbs were severely bruised, and white bandage was wrapped around the middle sections, likely where his biggest wounds had been. Truthfully, he hadn't even noticed the bandages. His mind was still hazy, and he's still only putting the pieces together.
He rubbed his head, "no, of course that's okay. I didn't even notice before, thank you."
She smiled sweetly. "Of course."
She reached her hand out, as if to shake his. "My name is... Gita. I apologize for the rather brash treatment, it's been ages since I've had any company. Or...human company at least."
He studied her hand before taking it in his own. It was mature, wrinkly. Rotted from decades of stress and age. Her shaky hands were barely able to keep steady as they raised up in the air. Like his, but for entirely different reasons.
They had a weak handshake before she smiled again. "Here, you must be hungry. Let me prepare something for you to eat. I know it's late, but it doesn't look like you've eaten anything in awhile."
"It has been a while, thank you. It feels like it's been forever..."
He whispered the last part. She didn't seem to hear it.
"It's my pleasure, dear."
While she slowly made her way back toward the kitchen, the creature took its turn to approach him. "I should thank you as well," he said to it. "You saved me. Uhmm, Lucario, was it?"
It simply stared at him. It's blue eyes stared intently into his own. Ash felt himself slowly grow uncomfortable. It continued to stare, unblinkling, as if it was trying to see past him.
"You were speaking to me before. Or at least I thought you were. Was that truly the case, or was I being delirious?"
It barked.
Maybe I was losing it. He stared right through the creature as his thoughts wandered. I guess that's not too hard to believe. I don't even remember how I ended up in that forest. Who knows how long I was really stuck out there for.
Ash was snapped out of his stupor when the Lucario stuck its paw out. It's sudden movement had caught his attention right away, causing him to almost jump out of instinct.
Ash started second before the realization set it. Slowly, he raised his arm up, ignoring the shaking of his fatigued muscles, and placing his palm on to its own. After a moment of waiting, both the eyes and body of the creature illuminated into a warm blue, just like they had before.
Then, he felt a familiar sensation of the voice inside his head. But this time, something was off.
Ċ̷̛͚̩̠̆̏̅a̶̧͔̬̜͆̑̅n̵̛͈͈̈̅̋ ̸̡̯̞̥͌́y̶͙̹̩͈̝̳͌͗ö̶̠̇͝u̸̧̝̹̣̔̌ ̵̠͇̏̕h̵̥̆͗e̶̺̮̠͊͜a̷̢̲̯̹̱̾r̵̭̍̔̚ ̵̱͇̈́̅̊̔͆͜͜m̷̺̪͂̈́̂̉̉ę̸̥̭̬̳̈́̽̑͘͝͠ ̶̡̺̲͍̈̓̍̀n̸̻̿͛̓̈͊̂ö̵̼̤̯̎̊̊̌w̸͎̗̰̥͉̮̆̔̄̓͗́,̴̱͋͊̂̀̇̏ ̷̡̪̽̄M̶͇͖͂̿̊̿̑a̴̡̦̱͎̋̇̉̕ș̷͙̓̋ť̸͈͔̝́ȩ̴̗̟͊̍̔̔r̵̰̬̈́͌͛?̶͍̦͙͌̽͗̚͜ͅ
"I don't understand." It's words were lost in translation. He couldn't make it out. It was as if somebody was yelling beneath water.
H̸̭̹̝̋͝o̴̲̲̯͐́̓̔ẁ̷̨͖ ̵̢̳̖̄̃̓͋c̸̙̅͜o̵̖̱̭̍̉̌ú̴̳ľ̴̢ͅd̸̟̈́̍̂́ ̸̫̮̲̌͝͠y̶̰̖͛̏̐̈́o̶̩̚͝ư̸̧͈̯̜̈́ ̷͇̉̍̄͘h̷̡͓̹̃͝a̸̺̬̺̻͑v̴̼̪̐̒͊͗ë̵̢́͑͌ ̴̹̿̉f̵̢̚͜õ̵͈͈̂͐͗r̷̫̹̖̽̏ǵ̸͎͔̦̃͗ò̶̰̤̱̂̈́́ť̷̩t̶̞̰͔̿̔͝ȩ̵̖̩͖̀̾͒̑ň̴͕͈̳̊̅?̴͎͝
Lucario desperately called out to him. That much was clear. He was trying the same thing as before. For some reason, it wasn't working anymore. Ash had no idea as to why.
Eventually, Lucario gave up on its endeavour. It ended up backing away and locking it's eyes with is own. They stared at each other, and he could see the desperation in it's soul. It was still trying to call to him. To breach the same veil that it had before.
He called me 'Master' before. Have I... Have I lost my memories? Is that why I can't seem to remember who this is? What exactly is going on here?
e raised his arm, once again choosing to ignore the stiffness and pain. He brought his palm up infront of his face and stared at it silently.
What is all of this?
Who am I?
Ash felt like a glutton, as he sat at the table across from the woman and stuffed his face with the dish she made. He wasn't even sure what it was supposed to be, but his body wouldn't allow him to stop shoving it down his throat. It was perhaps the best thing he's ever tasted.
She simply stared at him, watching silently as he scarfed it down with a distinct lack of manors. Like a starving dog that had gone weeks without a meal.
"Thafnk you," he spoke between stuffed cheeks. "I wasfs starfving."
A hesitant smile and a slight nod of the head. "Of course, dear. I'm glad you liked it."
Lucario had left just before she served up the food. Neither of them were sure of where he was headed, but it was likely
"Lucario," finally, he had finished all of the food she had prepared. There was a stack of about 6 plates sitting right next to him. Not a scrap of it was left behind. Truthfully, a slight hunger still lingered, but the woman had already done enough. There was no way he could ask anything else of her. "Is it your pet?"
After realizing that he had finally finished eating, she rose from her seat and grabbed his dishes. She carried them slowly over to the sink. "Goodness no. That Lucario lives to serve a different Master."
Master. There it is again.
"You know," She placed the plates into the sink with a gentle clank. "I don't know much about it. It's only recently that it's begun showing up here. The first time, oh the poor thing, it was starving. Similar to you, it was beaten and bruised. But there was something about it's wounds... it was as if they were self inflicted. I think it goes out to train."
"Train? What for?"
She reached for the foset and pushed the long metal handle up into the air. The water took a moment to begin flowing out of the nozzle. "I'm not sure. But I'm fairly certain it's the lost pokemon of a strong trainer. Perhaps one who was lost wandering these woods. That must be why it sticks around here."
He nodded, but her words didn't stick. Pokemon? Trainer?
Nothing made sense anymore. It was as if the pieces of the puzzle refused to fit into their places.
He grabbed his head and leaned forward. Dammit. I'm so lost.
"Boy," she called as the water shut off. Her voice had shifted. It was deeper, but spoke with much more authority. His eyes snapped up, and the change in her bod langue was enough to set him off. He sat up, more alert. "Tell me something about yourself. Something personal."
"What?" He was caught off guard by the question. She realized this, and began placing the plates onto the drying rack sat beside the sink bed.
He called back, "I don't understand."
"It's not that complicated," the woman dried her hands on the hand towel hanging from a black hook next to the window cill. It was dark out, and moonlight was hardly able to pierce through the thick woolen curtains. "Just something simple... perhaps your mother's name?"
"Oh, sure." He went to respond, opening his mouth... but nothing came out. What was her name? Why couldn't he remember?
"That's what I thought. I knew something was off about you, but I couldn't put my finger on it until now. Dear Lucario was correct."
She approached the opposite end of the table. Leaning over across from it, she began closing the distance between.
"I don't understand." He tried to move backwards, but a force compelled him to remain in his position.
"You're a ghost, boy. A ghost. Do you even realize? Tell me, how did you get here?" She dragged her hands across his shoulders and up his neck. He felt a cold shiver run down his spine. They were cold and clammy. He almost jumped out of skin as they ran over him. His hair stood up on it's end and he begun to shake.
"I'm sorry? I-I don't—"
She covered his mouth, shutting him up. "Hush child. This must be why that lucario has brought you to me of all people. Not only was he desperate, but he must've known. He could sense it too."
He broke out into a cold sweat.
"You see, Lucario are known for having the keen ability to control and manipulate Aura."
His eyes widened. She already knew he was confused.
"Everyone and everything has Aura. Every human and Pokemon have it inside of them. Aura channels flow through the body and they are the very essence of life itself. Lucario and Riolu are special because they are the only species that are able to open their channels and manipulate those of others. It's truly remarkable."
He peered down at her hand, eyeing her long jaded nails. He tried not to breathe while she covered it. His animalistic instincts screamed at him to run, or break free. But the logical part of his mind resisted. Something bound him from moving. Stronger than the pull of gravity, his feet refused to break their rigid stance.
"Listen, and do it well," her voice shifted, to a deeper and much calmer tone. Slowly she removed her hand and put in directly in the middle of his chest. The tip of it pointing directly into his chest through his shirt. "You are lost, not only in your place, but in your mind. You do not belong here. Not in this place. Where are you from, you must find again. Back to the place you once were. Do you understand?"
She rubbed his arm up and down. "Something terrible has happened to you. But don't let that stop you from being you. They can alter your memories but they can never change the essence of who you are. You may not know who you are, but those who know can remind you. Those who you truly love could never be completely ripped from your heart. The fragments still remain. They are merely scattered. Pick them up, everybody else will help you piece them together."
His heart rate exploded. Everything about this encounter felt wrong. "Who are you?" Finally, he was able to jump out of his seat. He only made it about three steps before his legs collapsed and he hit the floor. He yelled from his buckled position. "What are you even saying?! What do you want?!"
"Your past beckons for you." Her eyes lit up, a white aura exploded out of them. "I've lived enough lifetimes to know when I'm face to face with an stranded soul, still teetering on the edge."
He gripped onto the torn fabric of his pant leg. "How can you possibly know that? What even are you anyway?!"
She grew frustrated with his accustary words, but managed to keep a cap on it. "Just... Humour this old lady for a second, wouldn't you?"
He shook his head. "No way. I don't want any part of this. Just leave me alone! You're abosulty crazy-!"
"LISTEN BOY!" When she yelled, the entire house shook. It was as if her voice carried energy in itself. "You're not the only damned soul standing here. You think I wouldn't notice another like me? Of course I would!"
"Damned? I-I've already told you I-I don't know what's g-going on!." Any confidence that he had managed to exude was not completely gone.
"Don't give me that. I can smell him all over you. I've spent the last 400 years living in this accursed body. Of course I can tell when there's another like me. But you're special, aren't you? There's something about your aura that intrigues me."
The white aura surrounding from her suddenly grew more intense.
"But you may just be the key to finally breaking my own. Because I've never quite seen it so strong before. His influence doesn't only influence you, it binds you. Poor, damned child."
He was breathing heavy. Everything only became more confusing. No sort of narrative made any sense. Who was this woman really? What was she talking about? Curses?
"Let me guide you." She stuck her hand out. "Perhaps then we can both break the chains. And I can finally be free."
Rain beatdown on the glass stained windows. The deep rumbling of thunder periodically overruled the soft sounds of hollow voices speaking. Her hands trembled slightly as she approached.
The coffin was empty. Hollow and empty. A giant bouquet of red and white flowers sounding a singular framed picture petrouted out from where his body should've lay. Serena stared down at it, unable to look away.
The room was full. Hundreds gathered around in mourning for the fallen. She knew she wasn't the only one feeling it.
May was dressed similarly to her, in a simple black dress that almost reached the floor. The only dash of colour between the two of them being the thin blue ribbon wrapped around the wrist of her left arm.
"Don't you miss him?" Serena asked, still staring into the emptiness.
"Of course I do." She felt a hand gently rub along her back. "It feels like a part of me died... but Sere, I don't miss him the same way you do."
Tears formed in the corner of her eyes. She dabbed them away. She was hardly the first to shed tears over the coffin, but she saved the majority her tears for another time. Some part of her still clung onto the frail hope that he was still alive. There was no body, despite pictures of his body being released all over. Many others had pointed out the fact, but nobody seemed to have an answer as to why that was.
She hasn't known him for as long as many of the others here, but she is just as aware of Ash's tendency to get himself into life or death situations, and always, miraculously, walk out alive. It was almost like she had begun to believe that he truly was unkillable.
Her black gloves wrinkled as her grip on the wood railing just in front of the coffin tightened. "Ash..."
It's only been a week since his passing, and his funeral had come all to quick. Serena had been left hardly anytime to process it before the invitation had found its way to her doorstep. Nothing about it even seemed real.
Maybe that deep rooted hope is nothing more a pathetic attempt to ignore the fact that she was in denial.
"Did you love him?" It was May again. She had placed her hand on Serena's shoulder. The performer had not even felt her do so.
"Did I...?" If somebody would've asked her that last week, her face would've exploded in an intense blush. She would've stammered and waived her hands frantically in the air, and shook her head exasperatedly.
"I wish I didn't. But I did." She stared down at the casket, and the photo of his face. "...I still do."
"So did I. He was sort of like my older brother, even though we were the same age." May didn't say anything else, choosing instead to gesture toward two other woman. They were standing in the corner, speaking to one another along with a man who was leaning back against the wall. "But those girls over there, they're in the same boat as you, Sere. Maybe we should go talk to them."
Serena knew who she was talking about. Dawn and Misty, some of his former companions. Ash had mentioned them a few times during her own journey with him. She remembers feeling extremely jealous of the way he praised them both. It was especially embarrassing considering how she was the oldest of the three, yet seemed to lack the maturity to be anything other than possessive and jealous.
It was a one sided crush, anyway. She's always know that. Ash wasn't ready for something like that. She should've known.
"Misty and Dawn have known him longer than me. They're probably feeling a lot worse. I think I'll just let them be."
May sighed and stepped away. "I've known him a long time too, Sere. It's not a competition, okay? Let's just go speak to them. In a time like this... it's best we support each other."
Serena didn't have the strength to fight the girl as she pulled her along.
Dawn greeted May as she approached. Brock nodded at her, choosing not to speak. May noticed he had been doing that a lot lately. Misty ignored them.
Serena noticed how all of them were dressed relatively the same. Dawn also wore a long black dress, with her long hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Misty instead opted for black pants and dark grey dress shirt. Brock wore a suit, but it was hanging off of him messily. His jacket was wrinkled and threatening to fall, while his tie was almost completely a mess.
She knew the situation with all of them. Misty was his first female companion, and has known him since he was but a green, newbie trainer. Dawn was his best friend and shared many things with the late Ash. Both of them had been in love with him. That much was obvious. Despite may telling her, Serena would have figured it out eventually. They are just like her. Lost and confused, suddenly forced to confront feelings that they had all buried deep inside. It was terrifying, all while dealing with the grief of his passing.
It was too much for her. Serena assumed it was the same for them as well.
However, none seemed to be taking it worse then Brock. It made sense, similar to how many viewed Ash as an older sibling, Brock was still physically reeling from the loss of his best friend and brother in everything but blood.
Sometimes that kind of wound will never heal, not even in a lifetime of trying.
Serena stood back and listened as May interacted with the three of them. Despite all traveling with Ash at different times, they all knew each other to some degree. Aside from Ash, Brock was the common thread that binds the three girls together.
Serena wanted to interact with them, but she felt like an imposter. She wasn't like them, and her feelings weren't nearly as strong. Compared to them..
"You're Serena, right?" Dawn broke the ice. Serena solemnly nodded and weakly responded.
"It's nice to meet you."
The blue haired girl tried to smile at her. Serena could tell she was trying to be friendly. Her mouth had barely managed to twist and conform. Eventually, she just gave up.
"May has told us about you," Dawn stuck out her hand to shake. Serena returned it, but she had put no strength into her grip. It was evident that Dawn had done the same. Their hands barely touched. "But it's nice to finally meet you in person."
Serena stared at Dawn blankly, before nodding again. "Thank you."
Dawn retracted her hand.
"It's hard to feel like you all share that sentiment." Serena briefly glanced at the red head woman. Finally, her cerulean eyes turned toward her own.
"Don't give me that shit, blondy." Misty crossed her arms, "Stop staring daggers at me! It's as if I you think I was the one who killed that idiot-"
The girls words were angry, but she could tell that the anger was being fuelled by little other than the few scorching embers of stubbornness that still burned inside her. But like the rest of them, any sort of fight that they had left had been completely extished.
The light in their life absolutely squandered.
"Goddamnit!" Misty wiped away the tears begging to form in the corner of her eyes. "I still haven't bought that bastard a new bike yet! It's like he's trying to make me feel bad."
May fretted. "You shouldn't speak of him like that, Misty."
The girl covered her face and turned away. "I know." She then began walking away. Her path suggested that she was heading for the bathroom. They all watched her walk off silently. Her strut lacked energy, and her poor posture spoke to how defeated and sullen she was truly feeling.
Dawn looked nervous. "Try not to take it personally, Serena. Misty is... she has her own way of dealing with it, y'know?"
Serena nodded, defeated. "Don't we all?"
"...I guess we do."
Silence fell over the group, allowing for the quiet chatter of the others in the room to circle around to them. It was impossible to make out what anyone was saying without approaching closer.
"There sure are a lot of people here, right?" May tried to break the new layer of ice that had consumed them, but it was less than effective.
While she didn't verbally agree, Serena wasn't surprised by the sheer number of people who had shown up. Despite it being a rather sudden invitation, Ash was the opposite of a nobody, and he's made hundreds of acquaintances over the years.
The venue itself did not happen to be glamorous either. It was held at the Pewter city gym, in the Northwest side of Kanto. She wasn't sure why it was chosen, but it seemed fitting, given how Ash was battle fenatic. It was hard to ignore the scenery of rock walls and giant boulders, but evidently, that wasn't the focus of the gathering. How could she focus on that when...
The front doors of the gym suddenly burst open, swinging wildly as they collide with the wall behind them. The noise from the impact rattled around the gym, echoing off the large walls. Heads turned in rapid succession, all curious at the sudden commotion.
Serena sprung up onto the tip of her toes as she attempted to see over the crowd. The quiet of the room exploded into the chatter of hundreds, all of them talking over one another, creating an inaudible cacophony of hardle disehicerable noises.
"What was that?!" Dawn seemed worried. May seemed to share a similar worry.
Brock then spoke up for the first time since Serena had joined their small corned off group. "I'm not sure. But I won't be dealing with any nonsense in my gym. Especially not today." Audible anger sizzled in his voice, overpowering even the noise of the crowd. He then hurried off toward the front doors, pushing past the people gathered in the central area. "Move out of the way!" People stumbled over each other in his wake.
Dawn and May took off after him, likely feeling the need to act as a sort of buffer. Brock was on edge, and they likely feared that he would do something that he would come to regret in the future. His behavior was clearly clouded by the emotion he was feeling. Serena had seen scenarios before where people ended up destroying their own lives because of how deeply their grief mislead them.
Serena was tempted to follow after them, but had ultimately decided against it. She didn't know them like they knew each other. May insisted that they should be there to support each other, but she just couldn't see the need. Maybe she should find Clemont instead. The quirky inventor was a close friend who she would likely be able help her find solace in.
Her plans would be cut short however, when the cause of the commotion would make itself known to the entire gym.
A voice called from just behind her. "Is that a... Lucario?" A less angry Misty had appeared. Serena assumed the girl must have heard the noise and came back from her bathroom break to see what was happening.
Following the girls toward the sky, Serena came to see a Pokemon hanging from one of the many steel beam attached to the to high ceilings of the enclosure. It swung around and struggled to find a stable grip for a moment, before finally managing to leverage its weight and plant its feet on the slim surface that protruded out. The pokemon was clearly frantic, and it stuck a single paw out toward them.
"LUC!"
It chanted one noise into the crowd, before a burst of blue consumed them all. That blue faded into black, and then everything went deathly silent.
They stared at each other for a moment. Her cold eyes bore straight into his soul, while his were riddled with anxiety. The poor boy shook in his place, and tears seemed to be forming in the corner of his eyes.
It had taken a moment, but they eventually found their way back to the table. She had realized only after, that maybe he was truly clueless.
Was that his curse afterall?
"How much do you remember? Of your old life, that is. Do you truly remember nothing at all?"
Ash was extremely nervous, and visibly uncomfortable. He stared straight into the table, his hands planted firmly in his lap. His mind was racing, trying to fit the pieces of different puzzles all together.
The older woman sighed. "Perhaps I overstepped. I apologize."
He simply stared down, completely unresponsive.
"..." Her eyes watched him for another moment, before the white aura began to slowly accumulate around her again. "We are one in the same."
That seemed to invoke a small reaction out of him. He watched from the corner of his eyes as the aura grew in intensity and completely consumed her for a moment, lighting up the entire room in a blinding glare.
Once the white finally faded, and moonlight peaked back through the gently swaying curtains, did he look at her again. Sitting in the same position was a different woman. Her facial features were similar, and her hair was the same distinct snow white, but her skin was rid of wrinkles. Her black clothes did not change, but her figure filled out more, and her posture suddenly posted up.
It was definitely the same woman, but she was fifty years younger. It was as if her old age had been completely eradicated, and instead replaced by an beautiful imposter that radiated with only the same energy.
"I lied to you upon our initial meeting. I had assumed you were on of his pawns. I should have realize that was not that case. Your chains are just like mine, binding in nature." She bowed apologetically. "My real name is Cogita, and I am a relic cursed with the gift of eternal life."