Hello Nuggies! Here it is! The awaited sequel to 'A Different Start' is here! As usual with my fics this is a SLASH fic, and there will be more slash in this fic than its predecessor. I hope y'all are ready! This one is gonna be a long one! I hope y'all are as excited to be here as I am!

Main Pairing: AshxPaul (Comashipping)

Rating: M

Disclaimer: I do not own anything pertaining to the Pokémon Franchise. It belongs to its rightful owner(s) and I make no profit writing this. This is just for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter Warning(s): None

Enjoy!

The room was filled with soft tapping as a man tapped his fingers on the desk he sat at. The only light in the room came through from the window, the city surrounding the building the man occupied twinkled as people turned on and off their lights. It could very well be mesmerizing if only the mans' head wasn't filled with many thoughts. The gold rings on his fingers softly clinked against the wood desk as he flattened his hand to stop the tapping.

The man turned as he heard a soft sound and from the shadows his ever faithful companion, Persian, walked out into the light. He had saved Persian when he was just a child, and it saddened him to see Persian looking as old as he felt. He gave his Persian a rare smile as the old feline laid her head on his lap and softly ran his fingers over her course fur. It had once been so soft.

"Do you think he would be happy?" the man asked aloud, his voice sounded foreign to him for a moment. It had been a while since he spoke with such a softness to his tone. His Persian let out a soft mrp before she licked her partners' wrist as if to comfort him.

"I know Mother is," the man said as he leaned back with a heavy sigh, "But he never wanted this life. Always hiding, running, never able to have a stable home or family. He always wanted one. A perfect wife, a spawn of his own. Unlike him I never wanted that. Perhaps one day we'll see each other again."

"Perhaps one day I can finally ask for forgiveness."

Beep… Beep… Beep

A familiar annoying beep sounded in his ear as he slowly became aware of things around him, but that was all he heard before he fell into the dark again. Overtime he started to become more aware of things around him like when the window was open bringing in crisp fresh air that smelt like it was on the cusp of turning into winter air. Or a small body curled up against his side and the feel of light static-y shocks against his skin. One time he was aware enough to smell who he thought was Paul before feeling something soft and warm being pressed to his forehead.

He wondered when he would just wake up already.

"When will he…"

'Mom! I'm here!'

"You're… worrying… please."

'Paul?! I can't wake up! Help me!'

"Everyone is… Nidoking's…"

'Oak? Oh Arceus, Nidoking!'

"Aunt Delia… Miss you."

'Silver, why can't anyone hear me?'

The next time he was aware was just for a moment only to hear a shrill alarm blaring before he was quickly taken back to the darkness. He felt as though he had been there for an eternity already. Floating in the darkness much like he had been before when he had corruption in him, but he didn't come into contact with any in a while.

Right?

A flash to the left caught his attention making him turn his head. Floating there a few feet away was a small bright amber gold orb and even from this far away he could feel warmth radiating off it. He stared at the orb, it being the only light within this darkness, and didn't notice as the dark space he was in was slowly being fill with more of these small orbs. He heard a twinkling sound making him turn from the orb to look above him where the sound came from.

"They look like stars," he said softly, his voice echoing a bit. Above him as far as he could see was hundred if not thousands of small amber gold orbs floating in the darkness. He smiled, feeling peaceful for the time being, but still there was an inkling that he needed to do something. As if hearing a silent call, one of the small amber gold orbs drifted towards him bringing warmth and a sense of protection.

He brought his hands up to cup the orb and smiled softly as it floated an inch above his palms. He had kept his gaze on the orb, not noticing the others starting their own journeys towards him. As another orb entered his line of sight he looked up and gasped softly. Standing in front of him was a large creature. It was a white, equine like with an androgynous appearance. It reminded him of a qilin, or like a centaur from the fantasy novels his mother likes to read, with a gray, vertically-striated underside. The pattern continued on the underside of its mane, tail, and face. Its four pointed feet were tipped with gold hooves, almost the same color as the orbs floating around them. Its long mane juts away from its head, and its face is gray, with soft but severe green eyes and red pupils, and a green circular pattern below its eyes. The creature also had a streak of gold coloration on its head and ears that point upward. Its neck was fairly long, with two pairs of extrusions to the sides, and a flap-like feature on the neck's underside was colored white like much of the body. It also had a golden cross-like wheel attached to its body by its round abdomen. The wheel also had four jewels attached to it. The same pattern of striated gray continued down its belly. Its limbs have gray undersides and extrusions at the tops of the legs while its tail is fairly like its mane in terms of shape and coloration.

"My dear one," the voice reverberated through the space, it was deep like a man, sultry like a woman, and twinkling bell-like innocence of a child. It confused him, but captivated him all the same. "My Chosen One, you were never supposed to meet that one so soon. Look at what that errant child has done to you. I do give you my most sincerest apologies for what has befallen you."

The teen looked up at the creature confused, he hadn't a clue what the creature was talking about. Chosen One? Errant child? His head began to hurt, but before he could even comprehend the pain fully, it was gone.

"Rest my dear one, my Chosen, Ash Ketchum, rest and heal for what is coming. When you awaken, seek out the town of old within Sinnoh."

Before he could say anything the creature disappeared and the gold balls converged on him covering him, blinding him until his world was once again covered in darkness.

The rhythmic sound of beeping greeted his ears as he once became aware of the world once more. The window was closed this time, he could tell, and there was a comforting weight on his body indicating that there was a blanket covering him. Forcing his eyes open he could just barely see that the rooms' light was dimmed and the tv in front of his bed was turned on, but muted. He turned his head a bit and saw that it was dark outside, the windows had a bit of frost on them, and he wondered just how long he had been under.

Turning his head, as a soft sound to his right caught his attention, he caught sight of someone in scrubs. He only had to wait a moment for her to see him awake, but seeing her almost drop her clipboard, forced a cough filled laugh from his throat.

Soon enough his room was being filled with people in scrubs and the doctor that was being charged into taking care of him. Vitals were taken, questions were asked, and finally after what seemed like a lifetime most of the workers that had entered his room were gone. One had lagged behind to ask if he wanted something light to eat as well as some water and only had to wait a few moments after he had said yes for it to be brought to him. He hadn't bothered to asked about contacting his mother or Paul since it was so late.

Considering it was so late, he was still tired from waking up from his coma, and had a belly of warm broth, Ash Ketchum did what was requested of him, and rested.