Ron the True Fan: I'm BACK, assholes. Not YOU, the readers who wished me a speedy recovery from my burnout. YOU all get nothing but nice things. But to every single one of you bastards that kept pleading, demanding and screaming at me for content…Fun fact: I am a vengeful, rage-fueled bastard. I've kept it bottled up, restrained out of the barest need for decorum. The last month, I have had rest, vid making and plenty of other things to do. And the Gible has awoken with a terrible fury.
Never. Make a Gible. MAD.
Further information in the end notes. Be warned: I am not happy.
Cameran Castle, Kingdom of Rota, 0724 hours local time, Day 192 of Ash Ketchum's Pokemon Journey
"Make it STOP…" Iris groaned as the Regis continued their unending musical symphony, all to an 8-bit MIDI tone that was so unfitting to their might.
To the point none of them had actually slept. All of them had brought their camping gear, but…well, Regi-tunes kept them from sleeping.
"WHY are they even doing this?" Anabel asked snappishly, annoyed at the continued, loud, repeating tones of the Regis. For someone so calm, collected and generally nice to be snapping like a Basculin was a bad sign. There was, of course, a good reason for this.
The Regis had been doing this non-stop on a loop for hours. Do-do-didi-do-doot'ing for over 12 hours, keeping any of them from getting any rest, any sleep, keeping them awake and with the 8-bit melody going through their brains all night. They had been all awake for a full 24 hours at this rate.
The only one to actually sleep was Taggard, who simply laid back and drifted into unconsciousness, waking up not an hour earlier to sit against a tree and watch. Gible continued to dance to the catchy earworm of a tune, even as his trainer groaned in protest.
"The Regis are the source of all modern networking technology." the old guard replied. "Dial-up modems, wireless communications: all of them came from study of the Golems of Hisui."
"Could they turn the fucking sound off?" Iris demanded, her ears all but bleeding from the constant musical tones drilling into her brain.
The old man didn't bother answering, like he just didn't give a damn while watching the Titans work the problem away.
The Rockets, meanwhile, were sitting far enough away to…converse with their cruel god.
"This is just an 8-bit version of the Regi theme from Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald, isn't it?" Butch asked seemingly no one.
Obviously. What else do you think we'd use?
"The Regi cries?" Cassidy asked, as if stating an obvious answer.
I'm an asshole, not a dick. Hours of listening to those would drive one up the wall. At least the Regi theme is catchy. Just ask Gible.
Indeed, the little yellow shark was doing his little wobble dance, smiling. But Gibles didn't have all that many in the way of expression due to the huge mouth. THus, the chomp was their main method of communication.
"But why the Regi theme?" James asked. "And why 8-bit?"
Because it WORKS.
"A Gameboy Regi theme isn't exactly great." Jessie declared haughtily. "RSE is better."
"Yeah, if you have to deal with the GBA sound chip's limits." Meowth retorted. "DPP. The DS was better for music."
"You kidding?" Butch said. "If we're judging by the normal DS versions, Black 2/White 2. Cleaner sound then the Gen 4 stuff."
"ORAS if you're going by that logic." Cassidy said, closing her eyes. "The 3DS had more power then the DS or DSi by a country mile and that goes for the sound chip too."
"Sun/Moon?" Butch asked his girlfriend.
"They reverted to GBA for that one." Cassidy snapped.
"Sword and Shield has the best right now." James said. "Actual instrumentation thanks to the greater power of the Switch's processors. But Masters is pretty good, too…"
"Pfft. The anime has the better version. No limits there other then-" Jessie said before Cassidy put her fist into Jessie's face.
"You're only saying that because you stuck around after Gen 4, you bitch!" Cassidy yelled, before James jumped her.
A dust cloud quickly formed around the quintet, with Robin and Mei watching from just outside earshot.
"And Ash considered them a threat once?" Mei asked incredulously, unable to believe these…IDIOTS posed an actual problem to Ash.
"Apparently, they got better. Then worse." Robin said. "It was a weird cycle of incompetence and sudden competence, then a mix of both that made no sense."
"They must have been little more then living training dummies. That seems to be the only reason they followed him around." Mei mused. "Arceus takes pity on the foolish and the moronic."
"Were they ALWAYS like this?" Kyoji asked Ash, who was busy grooming Pidgeot's feathers.
"Worse." Ash said bluntly. "I've seen them fight over the most pointless things like bottlecaps and dolls."
Kyoji gave him a look. "Seriously?"
"If you think I hate crossdressing just because of Celedon, you're wrong." Ash said. "There was a modeling competition-"
"I don't want to know!" Kyoji cut off, already having a good idea and trying NOT to imagine James in a swimsuit.
A WOMAN'S one. There was a good reason that episode was banned in the west, after all. (WHACK!)
At that moment, the Regis stopped beeping.
"Gib…" 'Aw, it's over…' Gible said, sulking at the end of the catchy tune.
Regigigas rose, making a groaning sound. 'Verification complete. DNA match to Rota confirmed.' the Master of the Regis said. '320th successor.'
"Three hundred and TWENTY?" Ash repeated. "I didn't think there was THAT many."
"The Rotan monarchy goes back over eight thousand years. Of course you're just another link in the chain." Kyoji said, Ash giving him a look, which made him rethink his statement. "Sorry, just… Monarchies work like that."
Regigigas seemed to STARE at Ash. 'Where in the name of the Creator have you BEEN?' he demanded. 'It has been almost one full century. The Tree cannot live without an aura infusion from your family.'
"I didn't even know I was part of the royal family until recently!" Ash protested. "My father didn't know, my grandfather was dead-"
"Regice." 'Logical reasoning.' Regice stated as it seemed to examine Ash's face. 'Eye dilation, blush response and heart rate indicate truthful responses. Spike in Shadow Pokemon activity. Deduction: Orrean Imperial Remnant forces responsible.'
Ash scoffed. "You're not wrong." he said.
Regigigas slowly turned. 'I will escort you to the Tree of Beginning.' he said. 'Follow me. No others will be allowed.'
"My Pokemon stay with me." Ash said sternly, challenging the Regis to even TRY and separate him from Pikachu.
Mewtwo and Mew both did that once.
The Regis would DIE before they made that attempt themselves.
"Gon-gon-gon." 'Misunderstanding: no other humans. Pokemon are allowed.' Regirock explained, Ash visibly becoming less tense as he processed this statement.
He'd been separated from them against his will far too many times. Never again.
"Alright, then." he said, putting his cap back on. "Let's go."
Mei approached, ready to protect him from anything, before the Regis got in her way, prompting her to pull out her oversized pistol.
"I'm going alone. I don't have a choice, so stay here." Ash said as soon as he saw the Regis move. "And PLEASE don't make them hurt you."
"My Lord, I can't-" Mei began to protest before the old man scoffed.
"You don't have a choice. I've been here for two of these already and the Regis let no one other then those of the blood past." he said, as if resigned. "He'll be back. They always return. Somewhat changed, but they always return."
Ash had no idea if this was a good thing or not. 'Somewhat changed'?
After all, the last time he was 'somewhat changed', the timeline died.
"I must protest-" Mei started before her Natu, nesting on her head, began to panic.
"Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu-Natu!" 'You are NOT fighting with those things, I do not care how well armed you think you are, that is INSANE and I do not want you doing it!' she squawked, Kyoji and Ash giving the panicking parrot a concerned look.
She then blinked and looked to Kyoji. "What did she say?" she asked.
Kyoji chuckled nervously. "Basically 'don't do it'." he shortened.
Ash sighed, rubbing his forehead to stave off a headache. "Mei…" he said, getting her attention. "The Tree IS dangerous to anyone deemed an intruder." 'I would know. I DIED there.' "If I'm welcome, I'll be fine. There's no reason to risk your life."
"You are-" she started.
"Just…a normal trainer." Ash snapped before adding in a calmer voice "Caught in circumstances beyond my control. I will be fine."
The priestess clearly did not like it or believe it. But she did accept it as she turned around.
Kyoji sighed. "You're going to have your hands full with her." he quipped.
Ash groaned. "I have enough female troubles." he said. "I still have to deal with the ones I know-"
"If you try that 'I'm not worthy of them' shit, I am kicking your ass." Kyoji deadpanned. "I'm not putting up with it anymore."
Ash decided that it wasn't worth talking about.
He had…other problems to deal with.
"See you in a day or two." he said instead, walking down the path towards the Tree of Beginning.
Kyoji just hoped he would finally get his head out of his ass in that regard.
They loved him. He loved them.
But he was also carrying around guilt over things he had no control over. There was a name for that.
Survivor's Guilt.
He supposed he COULD be nicer about it, considering he'd seen vets staring at nothing when people died in front of them for no good reason while they survived. And Ash… watched a universe die.
That's not gonna be good for someone's psyche.
What was done was done, though.
Robin sat looking at the 'old' girls.
All of them were from the now-dead timeline, so it was an accurate moniker. They also claimed to have…ghosts of themselves.
Was it odd she wanted to meet them?
"So…" Anabel posed, getting the attention of the girls as Kyoji, in the distance, pleaded with his Gible not to let the Regis do the thing again. "I know all of you have…ghosts."
Well, let the other one pose the question.
"Technically, they're psychic imprints caused because Mewtwo killed Ash in the middle of a pissy fit, but ghosts works." Serena explained in more detail. Robin thought for a moment she was missing a pair of glasses for that to look… better. "They know everything Ash went through as well as being copies of the dead timeline's version of us. Why?"
"Well, Robin here-" Anabel said, making the former freedom fighter/terrorist (the terms were effectively the same thing, after all) stiffen somewhat. "Wants to meet them. And…frankly, so do I."
'She REALLY wants to meet us.' Astral Misty deadpanned. 'Trying to size up the competition?'
Misty gave her ghostly counterpart a look, seeing as all but one of the girls here were engaged to Ash thanks to this Rotan nonsense and so they were not competition, but she said nothing.
"Well, Ash doesn't talk about what happened to him in the other timeline and…why not share the burden of knowledge?" Robin suggested, getting looks from all five of the 'veterans'.
'Absolutely not!' Astral Iris bellowed, shocking her flesh and blood counterpart. 'I'd been forced to deal with psychic shit like that before and I am NOT being linked to other people again! I am not getting probed!'
Iris' visible confusion was echoed by Mei, who wondered what Ash went through.
Serena seemed to be conversing with the personalities in her head, so she said nothing.
"...I would like to lighten his lordship's mental burden." Mei said. "And I cannot do so if I know nothing. Knowledge is power."
"And we're guarding it well." Serena finally said. "But you want to know what Ash has been through, so why not torture you too?"
…Robin was regretting asking.
"So… you're going to let us meet them?" Anabel asked, now very nervous.
"This is a psychic thing, so you're going to have to do the heavy lifting." Iris said, knowing she wasn't getting out of this. "So, what, do we hold hands?"
Anabel rolled her eyes. "This isn't a seance. I'm a psychic, not a spirit channeler." she said, before looking at Mei. "That's her."
"An inexact term." the priestess said, not entirely bothering to contest the title.
Anabel forged on. "But psychic abilities are as much science as pseudo-mysticism. We just have to bridge out nervous systems to… well, connect. That's part of how telepathy works."
"And the lifting things with your mind thing?" Robin asked.
"That's complicated enough to explain to someone that has an idea of what their powers are. Explaining it to a normal person would be like trying to explain time travel to someone using pronouns that don't exist in our language." Anabel said, closing her eyes midlecture. "There's a reason Celebi didn't bother explaining how time travel worked for Ash. The words don't EXIST in our lexicon."
"And how would you-"
"He thought about it recently. I can read surface thoughts safely." she explained. "Now, come here, give me your hands: this is going to initially need a direct connection."
Misty sighed before approaching her. "Let's get this over with." she said, extending her hand to Anabel, who took it.
"Not just you, Misty." she said, prompting the others to do the same, Serena reaching for Iris' hand, who then took Robin's, who took Mei's, who took Anabel's before completing the circle.
"So… now what?" Mei asked.
She was about to regret it.
"Surprise, motherfucker!" came a yell that sounded like Serena's voice, but very, VERY violent.
Kyoji and Neesha just watched the group, Mei jumping at the sound of a yell.
"I think we don't want to know what they're doing." Neesha said, Kyoji shaking his head.
"About five months ago, I said Ash was weird." he said, petting his little yellow shark. "I like weird."
"Yes, you do." his semi-girlfriend replied. "This is a bit much, though."
"From what Sabrina told me about his journey through Johto, this is nothing." the soldier said, amused before…
Do-do-di-di-do-do.
Kyoji looked at the Regis. "NO." he pleaded.
The Regis ignored his plea before the music, as it were, started again.
Kyoji grabbed his head before screaming to the heavens "NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Gible!" 'YES!' cried the land shark before jumping off his lap and doing the Gible dance once more.
Neesha shook her head, chuckling at their antics.
Inside Ash's mind - physical location - 75 kilometers from the Tree of Beginning - 0927 hours local time
"We are so fucked." the former Sabrina stated simply.
The King of Pokelantis, wearing Ash's form, scowled but did not disagree. While Arceus had them trapped, the Creator didn't notice all the cracks forming in Ash's hastily welded together soul.
Sadly, there was a massive problem. The Creator had multiple powerful conduits linking it to this particular world.
Two of them were rather obvious. Mount Coronet was Arceus' Throne, after all.
Ransei's Temple of Arceus was more like a winter palace.
Spear Pillar was another, more linked to Palkia and Dialga, but still, Arceus was connected to it.
There was one place the scholars DIDN'T know was one of them.
The World Root. Known more poetically as the Tree of Beginning. All life sprung from the root and all life returned to it eventually.
There was a reason Mew made the place its' home.
'Gender fluid freak. Pick one and be done with it.' the King thought to himself, as Mew could be male one moment and female the next.
"If Arceus discovers what we're doing, we're going to the Distortion Realm." she said, terrified. "I haven't exactly been a good girl in my VERY long life. I'm not going there! I am NOT suffering torment after torment because I didn't feel like living up to Giratina's moral standards!"
"Would you shut up?" he snapped. "We're going to be fine if you calm the fuck down! A calm mind is unnoticed! Why do you think I escaped the notice of that onion-headed keeper?"
"I'm sorry, we're a day's travel from one of the conduits to the Creator, who can contact the Judge of the Dead instantly!" the parasite snapped. "And you're as terrified as I am under that scowl and grimace!"
"Better that the fear is under control! I've been in here almost five years and I nearly got spotted more times then you have! Or have you forgotten he was all over the world?!" he snapped, his rage coming to the surface at last. "Were it not for those idiot Rockets, I would have been noticed by every fucking god from Kanto to Alola and I nearly got spotted EIGHT TIMES in Alola alone! So sit down, shut up or I will break you again."
The creature masquerading as a woman flinched at the idea of the King 'breaking' her again.
She was considered evil, but this thing put her down and violated her.
Rape could shut her up as easily as violence. And while she was old, he was ancient.
And ancients had power.
Ash rubbed his head. It was like he had two people fighting in his head.
A groan caught his attention. 'Query: are you unwell?' Regigigas asked, not stopping his pace as Ash rode on his shoulder.
"Didn't get much sleep thanks to you guys beeping." Ash admitted, rubbing his head to fight the headache. "Couldn't you do that silently?"
'We were not designed to work silently.' Regigigas replied. 'We were the first machines made by the hand of man and animated by the will of Arceus to be the watchers of civilization.'
"So other mechanical Pokemon are the more refined ones people asked for when your networking kept them up at night." Ash said, jokingly.
Regigigas ignored it as he continued the march. 'Query: this Shadow War. What is it?' he asked.
Ash sighed, knowing this wasn't going to be good. "A group called Cipher attacked everyone with Shadow Pokemon, they lost control and civilization basically fell apart." he said in a nutshell. "All I know. Other then my grandfather somehow having a kid and not getting back to Rota to do his thing. My dad…probably didn't know he was a prince."
'The line is near extinction. Recommendation: sire as many offspring as possible.' Regigigas stated, Ash giving him a look before Pikachu started chackling.
"Pika-Pika-Pikapi!" 'That's HILARIOUS! Even the Regi Titan Master's telling you to get laid, Ash!' the mouse laughed.
"I am NOT ready for that!" the trainer protested.
'Agreed.' the Master of the Titans stated. 'Physiologically, you are not mature enough to ensure the successful siring of offspring. Neither are your chosen mates. Minimum time for that to be possible based on visual analysis only is approximately three years, five months, two weeks and three days.'
Ash blankly stared at the Regi Master. "That's…actually precise…" he said.
'Not exactly. There is a variance.' the Regi said. 'We are excellent at calculations and mission objectives. But not emotional simulation or empathy. We are the second-oldest of what you call the 'Regis', therefore we are better then most. But only the oldest, in Hisui, what you now call Sinnoh, have mastered it.'
"At least you're trying." Ash said. "You're not wrong about me not being ready for kids. I don't think I'll ever be ready."
'Incorrect. You will be once one of your mates is with child.' Regigigas said, prompting a glare from Ash. 'As stated, however, they are not mature enough to survive the process. You must have many children.'
Ash facepalmed. The fucking machine demi-god was telling him to get laid as soon as he turned 18.
Could this get ANY more ridiculous?
Back with the girls - same time
Mei looked at the figures around them. Six figures that looked like Serena floated around, all wearing different clothing… actually the only thing they all had in common was… the same face and body.
One of them wore a conversitive schoolgirl uniform (a sailor fuku, she believed the term was) with blue hair, violet eyes and round metal-rimmed glasses. Another, a frilly, embroidered monstrosity with a large sapphire brooch, earrings representing Xerneas and Yveltal on her right and left ear lobes respectively.
Another looked…just like Serena, down to her blonde hair and blue eyes, but with short hair. She assumed this was the ghost. Another wore a yellow sundress and had red hair, looking away from all of them. Another wore a blue dress and had…pink hair and eyes…
And looked like she wanted to murder her.
"Well, aren't YOU unique…" purred a more seductive version of Serena, with black hair and red eyes as she slinked behind Mei, wearing an EXCEPTIONALLY skimpy, thin black dress. "I like unique…"
"Jade, leave her alone." the princess ordered. "We have to put up with your perversions, don't force them on others."
The black-head, Jade, scoffed. "The more you refuse, the more you confirm how perverted you actually are. The worst prudes are the biggest deviants, after all…"
"Oh, Arceus preserve us." said a Misty wearing a white jacket over a one-piece swimsuit, her ghostly counterpart, she presumed.
"So you're Misty." said another Iris, wearing a woolen sweater and loose pants with sandals. At least this one was the same. "…Great."
"At least you recognize your complexes." Astral Misty quipped.
"I didn't exactly have a CHOICE." Astral Iris said before Jade wrapped her arms behind her, her hands landing on her chest, making the Unovan girl yelp.
"Well, you're not the bustiest lady in the harem, but I think we can fix that…" she said, Anabel looking like she regretted what she did.
"I now know things I should never have wished to know." Robin said, looking rather flustered as the perverted personality 'attacked' Iris' 'ghost'.
"And I can't undo this." Anabel said, chuckling nervously. "We're stuck with them…"
"Don't worry, we won't bother you THAT much~" Jade purred. "And I can't WAIT to get to know all of you!"
Robin hoped Ash would return soon. At least he would get them to go away.
"Did you know you were a Frontier Brain?" Astral Misty asked.
Kyoji watched as he saw something… utterly ridiculous, ignoring what the girls were doing in favor of… well, Gible.
"Gible!" cried the land shark, now attached to Regice's… what the hell WAS the proper term? He didn't have a head! He was a giant block of ice!
Whatever the term was, Gible was latched to it and eyesmiling. And Regice… it was comical how the arms were attempting to reach Gible, but couldn't.
"Regice." 'Why can I not reach this creature to pet him?!' the ice titan demanded.
"World peace." Kyoji quipped. "Just add Gible."
Neesha just watched the comical sight of Regice failing to reach Gible to pet him. "I'm sure there's some type joke in here." she said. "I just can't find it."
"REGICE!" 'Get off me so I can pet you!' the Titan said, flailing its' arms around and moving in circles, Gible making happy sounds.
"Ash better be having fun at the Tree of Beginning." Kyoji said as he chuckled at the antics.
"From what everyone's said, I don't think he wants to be anywhere near it." Neesha said as Regice fell over, making a loud cry of 'REGICE!'.
Just outside the trunk of the Tree of Beginning - 1310 hours local time
It was a beautiful sight. Even four years after he left, experiencing another taste of the Distortion Realm thanks to Mew and that adrenaline junkie, the Tree of Beginning was still a wonderful, hauntingly beautiful place to be.
But Ash had a mission. And he had to get to it. So he had no time to muse on how a pretty place killed him.
"So, I have to get to the crystal chamber and infuse the Tree with Aura." he said, sliding off Regigigas' shoulder, landing on the ground in a crouch. "Do I have to dodge a billion things trying to murder me to prove myself or something?"
It wasn't paranoia if he had personal, first-hand experience in the matter.
Regigigas groaned. 'No. You must simply make your way to the chamber.' he said, missing Ash's reasoning. 'Come.'
Ash ignored the sights, just following Regigigas through the Tree. He'd seen it all before, from pools of Kanto's fossil Pokemon to the gusty bridges, which Regigigas shielded him from falling off.
They were getting close…when someone interrupted his thoughts.
"Mew!" 'Welcome!' cried an unwelcome pink cat as she teleported in.
Ash sighed. He did NOT want to deal with Mew right now.
"Mew…" 'Oh, dear. You're still taking what happened hard, aren't you?' she said, knowing the answer.
Ash gave the bonded guardian of the Tree a stern look. "You know EXACTLY why I'm not your biggest fan." he deadpanned. "I take dying rather personally."
"Mew?" 'You're a Pokemon Trainer. It isn't exactly a safe career choice. Why complain about dying?' she asked.
"Because it's Legendaries like yourself that constantly GET ME KILLED." he said, all of his stress and well-deserved anger being let loose. "You can't fix your own problems without involving me and almost every time it DOES happen, I DIE. I still remember what happened with Palkia and Dialga, I still remember the Tree of Beginning, I VERY clearly remember being frozen solid in Unova. You don't get to say I have no right to complain about dying repeatedly when I have no say in it and YOU KNOW IT."
"Mew." 'I do apologize for what happened, but… well… I didn't have any control over it.' she said, Ash not bothering to argue.
What was done was done and while he would continue to be EXCEPTIONALLY bitter over the completely avoidable incident, it wasn't worth discussing.
"Just… not again." he said, not looking at Mew before seeing the path leading to the chamber. "I think I can make it the rest of the way."
"Mew." 'I'm going with you! It's tradition!' she declared, Ash pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Pikapi." 'Ash, just let her. I know you don't like her, but…' Pikachu trailed off.
Ash let out a sigh. He hated this timeline. "Alright, just… don't get me killed." he requested, knowing all too well that in the Tree of Beginning, death literally waited everywhere.
'Note to self: if I see Kidd Summers in Rota in two and a half years… kneecap her.' Ash thought to himself.
She wouldn't be screwing around if she couldn't WALK, after all.
The Progenitor of all life shot forward, Regigagas stopping just short of the passage leading to the chamber where Lucario died so long ago to him.
He would have to deal with this sooner or later and he chose sooner because the sooner he could get to Johto, the better.
The sooner he could prepare for Altomere, the better.
So lost in thought was he that he didn't realize he was about to enter the crystal chamber of the tree, where Sir Aaron's long-dead and crystallized body laid.
"Mew." 'I'll see you out when you're done.' the Progenator said before teleporting away.
"Pika." 'That's not a good sign.' Pikachu said, looking at the door. "Pi?" 'Should I-'
"Up to you." Ash said, rubbing his head. "We're not getting separated by force ever again."
Given the choice, Pikachu just latched on with greater force, Ash chuckling before rubbing his head.
"Together." The trainer declared before they walked into the chamber.
Back with the girls
A Frontier Brain?
The Battle Frontier was the second elite challenge to any trainer! The Elite Four took it somewhat easy on the
And Anabel was one of them?! At HER age?!
…actually, given the appearance in the memories she saw of Ash's fights against her, she was even YOUNGER.
"HOW?!" she demanded.
"How are you a Frontier Brain?" Astral Serena asked, somewhat pouty. "I have no idea."
Anabel just gave the ghost a look before shaking her head. "That too, but… How did I fall for him in a matter of days?! He clearly saw the signs: how come he didn't react?" she asked.
"His vow of celibacy?" Astral Misty 'suggested'. "As far as Ash was concerned, he let Latios die. 'No snu-snu' seemed like a good punishment at the time."
EVERYONE looked at Astral Misty incredulously.
Robin was just confused. "…Snu-snu?" she said, Jade giggling at the blunt terminology.
"He just has that effect." Astral Iris said, ignoring the swimmer. "He charms you while being honest, open and generally friendly…then leaves you hanging when he realizes you've fallen in love with him and goes 'can't, gotta punish myself for stupid reasons'."
Altomere was a deep scar on Ash's psyche. Greenfield was bad, but that Entei didn't really EXIST. Ilex Forest wasn't exactly great, either, but Celebi was revived in short order.
Latios STAYED dead.
"Could be worse." Astral Misty said. "Could have an inferiority complex over seeing a trainer going through Leagues when she hadn't even gotten one badge."
"At least I realized it before I parted ways!" Astral Iris snapped before her flesh and blood counterpart facepalmed. "You didn't even get past first base!" The dark skinned girl gestured to Astral Serena. "She actually kissed him!"
Robin's brain seemed to be steaming.
Poor girl. Didn't know what was going on.
She hoped Ash was having a better time.
Core of the Tree of Beginning
Ash stood in the place he hoped to never see again.
"I'm not sure how this goes." he admitted to no one in particular. "Do I just… talk? Do I meditate? Do I just pace around for a week? I wasn't exactly told how this works, you know."
"Pika?" 'Maybe you just share aura with the Tree?' Pikachu suggested.
"It's not as simple as you think, little mouse." came an unexpected voice, Ash spinning around, Pikachu jumping off his shoulder as Ash drew the Team Rocket pistol.
What greeted him… was a man wearing a dark blue cloak, wide-brimmed hat and rustic looking leathers, holding an all-too familiar staff.
"There is a reason my descendants were warned that when they went into the Tree, they came back changed," said Sir Aaron of Rota, Knight and King of Rota. Ash's ancestor.
Ash's long DEAD ancestor.
Entry 86: Anabel Ilia
Born somewhere in Kanto, Anabel is a powerful psychic who was taken in for training by Sabrina Natsume, but Sabrina had long since been taken over by a long-dead, powerful psionic being, meaning she was attempting to groom Anabel into becoming her next host.
Ash Ketchum…somehow…destroyed this parasite and Anabel, seeing he was a perfect shield against similar beings, joined him for her own safety. Her skills in combat are unknown, given she has never been seen in combat, but she has a large number of psychic-type Pokemon. Perhaps she will succeed Sabrina…just not in the way the parasite thought.
Ron the True Fan: Surprise!
Takeshi Yamato: Yeah, this is a unique twist to this story. Aaron is… not exactly alive, but not exactly dead, either. We'll explain it in the next chapter.
Ron the True Fan: If the demanding assholes piss me off more. This is a result of rage. And now for a dump of information that no one seems to be GETTING. Well, as I am ditching ANY form of politeness, let's get it started.
Let's see… 'Ash is being angsty'. Not really. He's not a kid, he's effectively a shell-shocked war veteran, traumatized by dying multiple times and seeing the end of reality. Seth and Cross sidestepped the issue. I am not. I EMBRACE realism and realistically, Ash would not have come out of any of those events ENTIRELY whole again. Just ask Audie Murphy.
Who is Audie Murphy? He happens to be the most heavily decorated soldier in US history. Who became a basketcase thanks to the events where he earned those metals and CLAWED his way back to sanity. Starting to sound FAMILIAR?!
Use your fucking heads: I do not LIKE anime logic. I only use it sparingly here because of the source material.
Takeshi Yamato: Yes, and the source material is very happy-go-lucky… at least on the surface. Find and befriend creatures both cute and epic and face off in tests of skill. Sounds fun, yeah? Well, then throw in the Poke-Mafia, two groups of eco-terrorists, a nihilist wanting to remake the world, Poke-PETA (secretly led by someone who might be taking lessons from Victor von DOOM in being an evil bastard), another guy wanting to reset the world… yeah, you get the idea.
Ron the True Fan: So, before you mindlessly review, THINK. I do apologize to the readers who HAVE been making intelligent reviews, but the rest of you? Yeah, you get what you deserve and I am no longer putting up with stupid.
Ja Ne!