Cheers for the reviews. They're always welcome
The latter half of this is my own personal soapbox, the number of single mothers I know who have been fucked over by men who just wanted to get their end away and then left them because they couldn't be arsed taking care of a child is outrageous. I'm aware that women can equally be as culpable before anyone says anything but to me there no excuse in abandoning your child.
I own nothing.
Chapter 3
The next day Ash walked back into the convention centre at Viridian Hotel and took his place in the seating area, leaning his head back against the wall and closing his eyes so he could focus himself. Today would be the day that he would get to speak to the chair-people of the AOONB about his request on making his home an area to be preserved and to get the financial backing to keep it a safe haven for endangered species. Yesterday was the presentation and the board had been deliberating all morning on which projects to provide aid for. He knew that he would be grilled today and wasn't looking forward to it, but he knew it was absolutely necessary to be able to answer every question. Hearing someone sit next to him he opened his eyes and saw it was Sam.
"Good afternoon, Ash" Sam said smiling "how are you feeling?"
"Nervous, agitated, annoyed because I'm feeling the first two." Ash said causing Sam to chuckle.
"That's to be expected Ash" Sam said "your TED talk yesterday has impressed a great many people on the board but today we just need you to answer as honest as you can without getting angry at seemingly questionable and quizzical questions. You need to keep calm and collected. We all want this to succeed, but don't be downhearted if somewhere else gets the votes today. Each proposal was just as important as yours was. Anyway, we're ready for you now. I'll see you inside. Good luck Ash."
Ash nodded and waited for Sam to disappear through the door before walking through himself. A lot was riding on this.
The next hour was gruelling on Ash and several times he had to bite his tongue at some of the phrasing the judges used. He just had to keep reminding himself that this was for the benefit of everyone worldwide and tried to emphasise that as often as he could. As he left, he was told he would hear back in a few days about their decision. When he walked out after the questions, he felt like he had been put through the ringer. Handing his pass back to the receptionist he walked outside and just stopped to breath in the air. Making a decision he called out Charizard and flew back home, eager to get away from Viridian City. Getting back home he immediately headed for the lakeside and sat down. Calling everyone out he let them know how it went and that it would likely be next week he'd hear from them. As they all went their separate ways Ash contemplated yet again on what to do now his tasks had been completed. He knew Johto would likely be the place he went to, but he felt a bit scared to admit he didn't know how that would go, especially without a clear goal in mind.
The week passed by and soon enough Sunday rolled around. Today he would be entertaining the greatest Natural Historian the world had ever seen and he was a little nervous. He still hadn't heard from the board, so he tried to put it out of his mind by training, only it didn't really work as well as he hoped. As 10am crept up Ash received a message. Reading it Ash was a bit surprised by it but shook his head. Apparently, Sam would be joining them on the tour of Ash's home along with the woman from the other night, Victoria. He didn't know what to think about that as she was the one that grilled him the most during his Q&A session. Deciding that he couldn't control what was going to happen he walked outside and sat on his porch and at 10am the sound of rushing wings became apparent, and Ash stood up to greet his guests.
Twenty seconds later a Dragonite and a Pidgeot landed, with a Skarmory not far behind.
"Good morning, Ash" Sam said walking forward smiling "how are you doing?"
"I'm ok now" Ash said hugging the older man "I'm glad all the nonsense is over with anyway and I can get back to being a trainer again. I'm itching to leave; I just need to talk through with my Pokémon on a heading."
"Oh" David said joining in step with Sam and Ash with Victoria following them as they seemingly were making their way down a garden path enclosed in trellises above and plants on them. As they exited the path though any other questions were halted as the lake came into full view.
"Oh my" Victoria said gasping "pictures really do not do this place justice."
"It's home" Ash said shrugging his shoulders "and I've been considering Johto or Hoenn. I've got four years left to travel before this becomes my full-time job so I planned on visiting various places and seeing what ideas I could get to improve this place. This area isn't finished just yet, and I have a few ideas on how to make the place more secure but other than that it's very nearly perfect."
"I may have something for you on that topic Ash of where to go next" Sam said, "I'll speak to you when we're done here."
"What ideas do you have, Ash?" David asked, "from what I saw the other night on the slides this place looks ideal to help endangered species already."
"Well, I intend to put makeshift caves along the banking on the opposite side of the lake for water Pokémon to have somewhere safe to sleep, breed or just rest" Ash said as they walked down the path looping to the area the scientists worked "I also plan to capture many more Pokémon to help keep this area safe. They won't be in my team, but if I can offer them a safe haven I'm sure they'll jump at the chance. I have a few ideas on which Pokémon would be ideal too. I'm also going to look into creating places in the woods, dig up several areas for underground dwelling animals etc. There's a lot I can do to try and create the perfect place. Plus, with the additions it creates a bigger net of Pokémon for the researchers to study which keeps them happy too."
"You are a most remarkable young man" Victoria said shocking him "I'm aware of the impression I have given you Ash, that's by design. But my way of doing things has been the best way for me to weed out those who are serious about the proposals put to us and those that are just looking for money for selfish reasons. It's more of a mask than anything but outside the boardroom I'm quite the opposite."
"I did think several times how I would love to just have Pikachu electrocute you" Ash admitted shrugging his shoulders "especially with the tone you used with me, but I can understand your way of thinking."
"I shall take that as a compliment" she said laughing as she stopped to bend down and observe a flower "Now, is there anywhere we can sit and talk?"
"This way" Ash said leading them back towards the house to a gazebo area that had comfortable looking couches inside. Sitting down Ash waited for them to start.
"I'll start by saying that your proposal was inspiring" Victoria said "and not one person on the board could disagree with anything you said, especially given there was picture proof to go with it. Your goal is extremely laudable, and I wish you luck with it. With that being said we do not have unlimited funds available to us so we have to pick the proposals that can be acted on immediately so as to acquire funds for the bigger ones at a later date. Out of all the areas you talked about two stood out. Diglett Valley and here. So, we would like to propose a counter to what you asked for."
"Go on" Ash said frowning. He understood that money didn't grow on trees and blowing it all on his project would be detrimental to the other people who worked just as hard on theirs.
"We have decided to not accept all of your proposals" David said "not yet anyway. What we would like you to do though is to build up the list of endangered species that live here while we acquire the necessary funds to fully support you. From what you said before this was in your plans anyway so that is good. Diglett Valley will become a National Park though and get every sort of legal protection it can."
"One out of two isn't bad Ash" Sam said when Ash stood up and started pacing as he processed what he'd just been told. Sitting down he pulled out his Pokedex and clicked on a few things before finally pressing a button. Dexter blared to life "Trainer Ash Ketchum; Pokedex Number AK191298. Career Battles, 995, 994 wins, 1 unsanctioned loss. Trainer career earnings to date: $1.388,670. Junior Professor earnings to date; $9.600,000 Total money remaining; $3,288,670 Pokedollars."
"How much funding do you need to kickstart this place?" Ash asked "I've already spent £1.3 million on additions to this place after buying it for £5.5 million. And I've earned around £500,000 from my book sales with Brock, along with £500,000 for winning the league."
"Ash" Sam said looking worried "it doesn't work that way."
"Of course, it does" Ash said looking up at him "you get funding through various means, but I know donations are one of them."
"No Ash" David said "what he means is every donation goes into the same pot, and it gets distributed evenly into separate projects. Say you donated £1 million now. This project would likely get about eighty thousand of that money because of how much work we do for Kanto."
"That's ridiculous" Ash said standing up shaking his head "so my options are fund it myself or wait for you guys to scrape money together? No, I'm not having that. It seems the only people who benefit are you guys getting me to spend my money while you do nothing to help me and then put your name on something you've done sod all for at the end. How is that fair?"
"Ash that's very unfair" Sam said frowning "you got this place at a discounted price to be able to start this venture."
"How much?" Ash asked earning a confused look "how much of a discount did I get?"
"Twenty percent" he said reluctantly.
"Twenty percent?" Ash asked incredulously "so for roughly an extra one and a half million I could have bought this land outright without having all these restrictions on me? And given I've spent £1.3million I've pretty much done so?"
"I thought you were interested in preserving the natural world" David said coldly.
"I am, so don't try and pull that shit on me." Ash said hotly "what I'm disputing is the nonsense reasons you've said for not funding this place to help me out. I've put my own money into this venture, and a lot of it at that. No, I'll do this without your help. I thank you for picking the Diglett Valley project, but you will have little to do with this one."
"Ash, be reasonable" Sam said looking disappointed "you will get what you want, just not yet."
"I'll get what I want when I've already paid for everything Sam" Ash countered "And on top of that I'll get interference from the AONB who will want to have their views put forward on what this place should be by dangling the protection carrot on this place. Everyone involved in this project has worked bloody hard Sam to make this a reality, especially you and mum. They have done nothing so far but are happy to chip in when there's nothing to lose for them. That's not how this should work, and you know it."
"I must say I'm quite disappointed with your views Ash" Victoria said standing up shaking her head "I had such high hopes for you."
"No, what you had high hopes for was me not understanding money and being too in awe of your positions of authority on the preservation of our world." Ash said standing up too and looking at her "I'm going to speak to my family lawyers and buy the twenty percent, so I own this place outright and be able to make sure outside interference is nil. You're welcome to keep your researchers here but I will no longer pay their wages. And I hope you take into consideration the rest of the projects I put forward because despite us not agreeing they're still places that need preserving."
"Oh, have no doubt about that Ash" David said affably standing up "I've been fighting for them for nearly sixty years now and I'll continue to do so until I die. That we at least agree on."
"We do" Ash said holding out his hand for David to shake. Smiling David did so, and Ash did the same for Victoria who did the same. Leading them back to the front of the house he watched them both fly away over the forest towards Viridian before sighing and going inside to take the bollocking from Sam. Surprisingly Sam looked calm as he sat down with a cup of tea.
"At times you concern me Ash" he said placing his cup down and looking at the young boy across from him "your attitude and your stubbornness will one day be the death of you but the fact you have chosen this hill to die on is impressive to say the least. I've been on the board for nearly thirty years now and I think you're the first person I've heard of reject an offer from them."
"It's not right professor" Ash said "you've worked really hard to get this place started, and while I've funded it everyone else that's been involved has also worked really hard to make it what it is now. The fact they think they can dangle the carrot of future funding as long as someone else does all the dirty work is outrageous."
"I agree" Sam said surprising him "but there are ways of going about things Ash. You may very well find cooperation between you and the AONB to be quite antagonistic for a while. Their influence is very far reaching."
"Maybe" Ash said "until they see how much of a success I will make this place. Then they'll come crawling back asking for a slice of this pie. Well, it won't work. Anyway, you said you had an idea for me to travel somewhere?"
"Yes" Sam said leaning forward and picking up a folder off the table "what do you know of the Orange Islands?"
"Not much to be honest" Ash said "I read up on them a bit when researching urban legends when I was younger. There's an island that does a yearly ritual for Lugia and the Three Kanto legendary birds live just off the shore of that Island. Also, I believe one of the worlds major oceanic currents is in the Orange Islands. Apart from that I know nothing about them."
"Well at least you know what they are" Sam said handing Ash a fax with a picture on it "an acquaintance of mine, a former student actually called Philena Ivy is the regional Professor for the Islands and is based on Valencia Island. A few days ago she sent me this fax. She recently found this washed ashore but absolutely nothing she does can open it."
"It looks like a Pokeball" Ash said handing it back to Sam "has she tried throwing it?"
"Yes" Sam said laughing "that was the fifth thing she tried actually. Anyway, it's called the GS ball because of the markings on it, it piqued my interest but with one thing and another I am unable to go and pick it up from her. For some reason something is blocking its ability to transfer on Bills system, something he's quite annoyed about too. I'd like you to go and collect it for me and bring it back so I can study it."
"Why not just send Dragonite?" Ash asked confused "he'd be back inside a week."
"I could" Sam said shrugging his shoulders "but I believe it would be far more beneficial to you to go and collect it personally."
"Sam" Ash said "I have a few things I need to do now I'm free from Silphs commitments for a few months. I had plans to go to New Island and see what I could find out about my dad."
"And you can still do that before going to the Orange Islands" Sam retorted.
"OK" Ash said giving him a look "what aren't you telling me?"
Sighing Sam picked up the paper "I can't tell you anything Ash, there's rules I have to obey for a while. All I can say is it's very important that you go and pick it up personally. It's imperative you go actually."
Ash just gave Sam a look before sighing himself "OK, but I'm going to New Island first. Tell Miss Ivy that I'll come and pick it up in two to three weeks' time. I hate cryptic crap Sam."
"I'm aware" Sam said "but just as you had secrets so do I, at least for now. If it makes you feel any better there's a gym system in the Orange Islands that lasts all year round due to their unusual nature. That could be something for you to do until the next league starts up in the new year."
"That's something at least" Ash said, "and I could see about catching Pokémon for here in those islands while doing so."
"There you go" Sam said standing up "every cloud and all that. I'll speak to you tomorrow Ash and send you Philena's details."
"No worries" Ash said "I'll be leaving for New Island via Cinnabar probably Wednesday. Hopefully I'm back by the weekend."
The next morning Ash walked into his mothers house and found her at the kitchen table having a cup of tea and feeding Togepi a little snack.
"Morning mum, morning Little One" he said giving his mum a hug and the little egg a head scratch. "what's your plans for today?"
"Morning Ashy" Delia said "I don't have anything planned today, why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering that's all" he replied "has Sam spoke to you about yesterday?"
"He did" she said giving him a look "and I don't know whether to shout at you or praise you. I'll stick to asking you why?"
"They thought I was a naïve twelve year old who would jump at the opportunity to be involved with them and tried to swindle me" Ash said explaining how the conversation went "well I wasn't having it mum. I've paid for everything that's been added to my home, you and so many others have put so much time and effort into making it what it is, and they thought they could cash in once everything was finished without providing anything. Well, it wasn't going to fly with me so I'm going to email Trevor and buy the rest of the land so that I own everything, and they have no leverage. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly grateful for Sams input and him vouching for me to the board, Diglett Valley has been given the go ahead because of our collaborative effort but I'm not sacrificing our project so we can add a fancy acronym to the lands name."
"Well, that makes sense" Delia said washing her cup "and as long as you're prepared to stand by your statement to them, I'm fully behind you. Just be careful Ash."
"I will" he replied siling "Did Sam mention his mission?"
"Vaguely" she replied sitting back down "something about a Pokeball that can't be transported. Why he doesn't send Dragonite I'll never know."
"I said the same thing, but he was very insistent that I go and collect it" Ash said "he said he has secrets like I did but he's never steered me wrong before, so I think I'll trust him on this one. I won't be going for another few weeks yet though. I plan on setting out to New Island tomorrow via Cinnabar. I'm not being side-tracked in finding Dad for anyone else mum."
"I don't like you going on your own Ash" she said frowning "who knows what went on in that place. And anything could have taken over the island since you left it."
"Hard to believe how quickly time has moved on isn't it?" Ash asked rhetorically "but it's the best lead we have mum. I need to do this. Dad is out there somewhere, and someone knows where he is."
The next day Ash flew south towards Cinnabar Island. Normally he'd go via Old Shore Wharf but he wanted to establish a base of operations and he had no desire to spend a single night on New Island so the private room in the Pokémon Centre would be ideal. The island was only two hours flight south-east of Cinnabar so it was easy to get there and back. The flight to Cinnabar though took several hours and he landed on the island just after midday. Going up to the room he dropped his bag and took the folder he originally found in Fujis office out and examined it. There were only a few sheets but it detailed key details about his father such as how he came to the island and why he was kept alive. The second sheet was something Ash couldn't decipher no matter how much he tried. It was full of numbers and letters in what looked like a weird type of shorthand. Hopefully he would be able to find out what on New Island.
Ash had no desire to explore Cinnabar again, so he spent the afternoon and evening typing up several emails. The main one was to his lawyer explaining what had happened in the meeting and what the outcome was. He sent another to Joanne and the final one was to Nia's mum Sarah about an issue that wouldn't leave his mind. Hopefully it could be sorted out though.
The next day he read the reply from his lawyer and Joanne but Sarah hadn't answered yet so he decided to leave it for now. Heading outside he walked down to the beach and released Charizard. "Due South-East pal. And you can take your time, there's no rush" a flap of wings later and Ash was airborne heading to his destination.
"I've no idea what we'll find Pi, so we'll have to be wary" Ash said.
"I know" came the reply "you told us this last night. We're going to explore the castle leaving the cloning room and Fujis office for last to make sure nothing can surprise us. We already know."
"I'm just saying" Ash said chuckling.
"And so am I" Pikachu replied "anyway, what's the deal with the Orange Islands? I thought we were all going to vote on where next to go."
"We were" Ash replied "But Sam needs the GS ball for some reason but he's not saying what it is. It's maddening but everyone has their own secrets don't they."
"Yup" Pikachu said "I still don't know why we have to go. Dragonite would be there and back inside a day."
Ash just laughed and scratched Pikachus ear. Soon enough on the horizon a huge castle hoved into view. It looked just as spooky and just as impressive as the last time he was there, absentmindedly he rubbed his chest where the lightning shaped scar was, a relic of the last time he was here. Landing he recalled Charizard and walked through the doors to the main lobby. Instantly Ash started getting echoes of the last time he was here. What was once an opulent castle was now anything but. In the space of just a few months there was already signs of it becoming a ruin, vegetation had begun growing on the banisters of the stairs, holes were appearing in the ceiling and walls from where Mewtwos attacks had landed during their fight causing strong winds to blow around him. Shaking his head to clear his mind he released Machamp and walked towards the stairs at either side of the fountain and said "we'll start on the top floor and make our way down guys, keep your eyes and ears open for anything. Today will be about making sure this place is safe to traverse, tomorrow is when we'll explore the cloning room and the day after will be Fujis office. Let's go." over the next few hours Ash cautiously explored the various rooms that littered the castle finding the odd trinket and book scattered around the place. There was nothing of value in any of the rooms, the elements had quickly destroyed any majesty this place once had. Several hours later Ash ended back at the lobby with nothing to show for his troubles.
"It's strange" he said as he left "but I expected at least ghosts to have moved in or even Rattatas. I remember hearing stories about various buildings in Kanto and how quickly they were taken over by wild Pokémon after the previous owners left but here there's nothing."
"It could be psychically warded still" Pikachu said as they climbed back onto Charizard and begun their trip back to Cinnabar "there's still an echo of Mewtwo there, I could feel it in the walls of the castle."
"Maybe" Ash said mulling over Pikachu's words "it makes sense, but it's still very strange. Something is very odd about that place."
That night Ash logged onto his laptop to see if there were any replies yet but there wasn't. Disappointed he instead brought up several pictures of the Orange Islands to see what they were about. The archipelago consisted of hundreds of islands but only around thirty were fit for habitation the biggest being Mandarin Island South, strangely there was mandarin Island North, but it was hundreds of miles away from its namesake South. Ash briefly read that there were four gyms to battle and a fifth battle for the championship trophy with the current Champion Drake. Ash didn't read what the gym challenges consisted of he'd much prefer them to be a surprise but some of the islands were very interesting. He was quite looking forward to visiting Shamouti, hopefully he could be there for the festival that happened sometime around early February as it seemed like a fun experience. He'd likely use that opportunity to visit the three satellite islands that housed the Kanto Legendary birds as Ash was curious about if it were the Lords and Ladies that lived there or their offspring.
"That's a lot of water" Pikachu said from Ash's shoulder "Blastoise is going to love this."
"He sure will" Ash said "it's permanently tropical there too so there's going to be a lot of sun and beaches."
"Urgh" Pikachu said quickly jumping off "I hate sand."
"What?" Ash asked incredulously closing the laptop "why?"
"It gets in places it has no right being in" he replied causing Ash to roar with laughter. Pikachu just huffed and settled down on the pillow.
The next day Ash landed on New Island with a renewed sense of purpose. There were only two rooms left to explore now and he was sure at least one of them would house the information he needed about the location of his father.
"The cloning room first" he said "I know any important information is likely going to be in Fujis office, but I want to clear everywhere else from my list first."
Walking through the huge hole he created with his Aura blast the last time he was here he carefully picked his way through the wall being careful to not disturb any rubble and walked into the huge room. Immediately Ash gagged as the most putrid smell invaded his nostrils. Wondering what it was he walked forward and accidentally kicked something. Looking down he immediately regretted it as the severed head of Hanori Fuji looked back at him. Quickly Ash rushed off to the side and threw up his breakfast. Twenty minutes and a lot of dry heaving later Ash quickly walked by ignoring the head on the floor and walked up to the centrepiece of the room the cloning machine. There was an incredibly putrid smell coming from it and Ash having no desire to look at the remaining part of Hanori quickly walked past it and into the room Fuji had phoned Silver from. Getting out his laptop he cleared a space on the dust encrusted desk and turned on the computer in front of him. Amazingly it still worked, something Ash was very happy about and he hooked his laptop up to the tower. Strangely the computer didn't require a password, but then again Hanori was the only one that lived here so who was going to use his computer other than him? Ash opened several files that were on the screen and copied them to his flashdrive to look at properly tonight.
Several hours later Ash's mind was cabbaged from all the information he had looked at hoping to find something important. He did find several files which piqued his interest that he'd look more closely at later on but overall it was just a computer that ran the cloning machine. Looking at the time he saw it was only around 2pm so he decided to get Fujis office done so he hopefully wouldn't have to come back. Walking down the hallway to the main office Ash looked in again at the few rooms that he passed. Strangely some of them just housed carboard boxes full of vitamins that had gone off from being unused. This must be how Mewtwo perfected the clones' attributes, pumping them full of vitamins all at once was risky but evidently something in the cloning process accounted for whatever happened to the Pokémon itself and made them safe. Placing a bottle of Carbos back in the box Ash carried on to the office. Before sitting down Ash perused the bookcase finding several journals on Pokémon biology and weirdly the human body. Putting them back on the shelves he sat down at the desk and opened the drawers finding stationery and tags. Frowning Ash closed them and turned on the computer, again being thankful that whatever powered it was still working.
Several hours later Ash sat back in total shock as everything on the computer was being copied. What he had read beggared belief. Fuji was a maniacal genius. Over the years he had come here unbeknownst to the league and kept up with his experiments on clones only he didn't stop at Pokémon. Apparently, he had lost a child named Amber to a car accident when she was young and in his desperation he began to do experiments to try and revive her. He kept her consciousness in a Chamber of Light, an incredible achievement to try and place in a new body for her. And after years of failed experiments he succeeded only for the body Ambers mind inhabited to fail and she fully died. In his grief he decided that he must have done something wrong and started to read about various urban legends. By sheer accident a few years later he came across a story of a young man, centuries ago who had the ability to shape the world around him using the very elements themselves to assist him in his tasks. It bore a remarkable similarity to Aura and that's where his obsession started. With the aid of Mewtwo he began pulling random people off the street to perform experiments on them, determined to find the gene that housed the ability to use aura and then he remembered. There was a body in cold storage, that had been there for years that he hadn't dared go near for fear of what might happen should it wake up. Red Ketchum had the ability to wield aura, he had nearly beat Mewtwo using it after all so he must be powerful, and he wasn't going to get a better opportunity to study an aura user.
So, deeming it a risk worth taking he pulled Red out and pumped him full of drugs to keep him permanently sedated while he ran his tests. Months later he put him back in storage angry and frustrated that his tests had come up negative. He knew there was an anomaly in the DNA of aura users, how else would they have the ability why mere mortals didn't? So why did the studies on Red not show anything? A few months later he decided to pick up the studies again but found to his shock that Reds body had disappeared. How? There were only two beings on the island, and he knew he hadn't ordered Mewtwo to get rid of the body. Confronting Mewtwo he found out Silver had ordered him to move it to a safehouse in Johto, a cavern behind Tohjo falls that doubled as an emergency retreat. Angry at the deception he ordered Mewtwo to get him back but was horrified and dismayed to find out that in the few months since Red had been moved again, presumably on Silvers orders and try as he might he couldn't find any trail on Red.
Shaking his head Ash was brought back to reality by a beeping from his computer signifying the transfer was complete. Packing up he gave the office one last glance before making his way down to the jetty and stared out at the evening sky.
"He was here Pi" Ash said breaking the silence "he was here from the moment he disappeared in Viridian Gym to when Fuji escaped Lavender Town. Ten years he was here and no one knew while Fuji performed countless experiments on him. He was moved by Mewtwo to a Team Rocket hideout at Tohjo falls a few days after we began our journey but moved again a few months later and Fuji couldn't find out where. I'm glad I killed the bastard Pi because if he was still alive I'd kill him now. Come on we need food and I need to calm my mind down."
Calling out Charizard he climbed on and silently they flew back to Cinnabar to pick up their stuff. Ash decided he wanted to spend the night at home so he climbed back on Charizard and headed back to his house. It was just after 1am when he climbed into bed exhausted from the day. The day after he spent reading the first flashdrive and learned about the cloning process and what went wrong with each experiment until finally they succeeded with Mewtwo.
"Well, it explains why Fuji hated Mewtwo at any rate" Ash said to a meditating Machamp who cracked one eye open "Mewtwo survived the cloning process while his daughter didn't."
"I cannot fathom the pain he must have felt losing his child twice" Machamp said "I feel a deep sense of pity for him."
"I know what you mean" Ash said popping a piece of orange in his mouth "despite how pissed off I am at him for what he did to dad for all those years the man didn't deserve that. Regardless of how evil he became he was once a loving husband and father. It's sad that his story was what it was."
"Did you learn anything important?" Machamp asked.
"Sort of" Ash replied closing the laptop "I mean I now know how to set up a cloning machine and what does and doesn't work. But overall I can't help but feel a strange sense of disbelief of the lengths humans will go to to either stay alive or play God."
"The circle of life is there for a reason" Machamp said "we all must die, just as sure as we are born. It's the one guarantee we have in life."
"I agree" Ash said standing up and stretching. Five hours he'd spent poring over the documents "I have no desire to live forever, I cannot imagine a worse existence than to see everyone you love die while you live on. I think that's why Arceus is the way she is. She's become immune to how humans and Pokémon alike actually feel because she's that used to dealing with death that it's now normal to her. Centuries of being God has made her apathetic to the world she created probably out of necessity really. She must be so lonely." he finished shaking his head.
"That's the impression I have too" Machamp said standing up too and leaving the house with him "I don't envy her position at all."
Hall Of Origin
In the Hall of Origin Arceus looked on in shock at what she'd just heard. Is that how she was? Is that the reason she found it so easy to sacrifice people and Pokémon to make sure the world kept on turning? She decided to bring it up at the next meeting, she needed to warn Lugia of the upcoming plot anyway.
Ash
It was a few days later after discussing what he found with his mum that he looked in his drawer and came upon an object he had forgotten about. It was the puzzle piece he had found in The Tree of Beginning. It wasn't the first piece he'd found either but that one had been taken away and he mysteriously forgot about it. Why did he keep forgetting to ask Sam about this? It was very strange. Making a decision he wrapped it up in a towel and made his way outside. Whistling to the air he waited and a minute later Charizard landed in front of him.
"Ash" he said warily looking at the towel "is that what I think it is?"
"Yeah" he replied "something keeps making me forget to ask Sam about this and I want answers. So, can you take me to his ranch please?"
"Put it in your bag first" he said taking a step back and narrowing his eyes "it feels unnatural Ash, I've never liked it."
"Sorry pal" Ash replied going inside and grabbing his bag and placing the piece inside "I forgot what it does to you."
Nodding Charizard lowered himself and Ash climbed on, and they headed south towards Pallet Town. Landing in Oaks ranch Charizard quickly took flight again eager to get away from the unnatural presence in Ash's bag. He wasn't scared of many things, but he wasn't ashamed to admit that puzzle piece did.
Walking up to the lab Ash knocked on the door and headed inside. At the table was Sam going over some papers. Looking up he was surprised "Ash? I didn't expect to see you here. Everything ok?"
"No" he said sitting down and opening his bag. Getting out the towel he placed it on the desk and looked at Sam "there was something I left out of my adventure at the Tree of Beginning. I found this."
Carefully Sam unwrapped the towel before gasping and looking sharply up at Ash. "Why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"I have no idea" Ash said "it was on my desk the entirety of the league in my room at the village but for some reason every time I thought about bringing it to you my mind wandered. And every time I've picked it out since then the same thing has happened. Today though I shielded my mind, and I was able to focus on getting here. What is this thing?"
Getting up Sam walked over to the door and locked it, walking over to his phone he took the receiver off its seating and he went to a drawer that was kept locked and retrieved a box. Coming back to the table he unlocked it with another key and there inside was the first piece he had found over eighteen months prior. As soon as he lifted the piece out the one on the table moved on its own as if magnetised to be nearer the other piece. Placing them side by side they snapped together but clearly didn't fit each other. Curiously Ash grabbed one and pulled it apart from its friend and felt a little resistance but it came away rather easily. Wrapping it back up and placing it back in his bag the magnetisation stopped, and Sam placed the other piece back in the box and locked it back up.
"How very curious" Sam said sitting back down "I assume you have no idea what that is?"
"No" Ash said, "but I remember the urgency in your voice when I found the first piece and knew it wasn't something to be messed with."
"And you are more right than you know Ash" he said looking very serious "tell me, what do you know about the Pillars of Creation?"
"I've met them" Ash said simply shocking Sam "remember what I told you about New Island? Well, all three appeared alongside Arceus to reverse what Mewtwo did. I cannot describe how heavy the world felt with them all being there Sam, it was if Gravity had tripled in force. It was the first time I met Giratina and Palkia, I met Dialga at the Tree of Beginning when I sacrificed my ability to find love in order to revive Mew and obviously I've met Arceus a few times, the first being when I was six where she told me of my destiny."
"I had forgotten all about New Island" Sam said walking over to his computer and loading up the information on them "but yes together Dialga, Palkia and Giratina make up what is called the Creation Trio. Now very few people know this but every single legendary in the world has a particular item that has major significance to them. Some alter their forms and give them additional abilities, some just power up their signature attacks. The Creation Trio have such items. Dialga has an Adamant Orb, Palkia has a Lustrous Orb and Giratina has a Griseous Orb. When held by them they are said to drastically change them and make them much more powerful. For centuries however the Orbs have been lost to time but a few years ago one was found in a mountain in Sinnoh. We believe it to be Dialgas Adamant Orb and there are expeditions underway in Mt Coronet to try and find the other two."
"Oh, that's not good" Ash said shaking his head "humans should never be able to have contact with items of that nature. We've long since proved we cannot be trusted with such power."
"Agreed" Sam said loading up a picture of Arceus "but there is one more item that has been lost to time that allegedly belonged to Arceus herself. Her Egg. The very thing she was born from Ash. Now no one has ever seen proof of this Egg as the shattered pieces was said to have been sent to the very corners of our universe when she emerged but there have been a few legends passed down, mainly through word of mouth that when she created the Earth the sheer power she used magnetised the pieces and brought them here one piece at a time. Again, there has been no concrete proof of this. Until now that is" Sam said looking at the locked box.
"You think that is part of Arceus' Egg" Ash asked incredulously "why?"
"For years now I have been in contact with a remarkable young man from Hoenn, in fact he is the current Champion." Sam said "his name is Steven, and he is one of the worlds leading experts on geology. He hunts rocks for a living. Over a few conversations we got onto the topic of the greatest rock of all, Arceus' Egg and often wondered if it was real. There had been various drawings in caves depicting Arceus discovered so we had a basic idea of what it may look like but it wasn't until you sent me this Ash that the questions became a reality. Steven has been here a few times to discreetly run experiments and came to a startling conclusion. This item is not of this world Ash, it does not belong here."
"That still doesn't mean it's Arceus' though" Ash said mulling it over "After all Deoxys and Jirachi are not of this world, the meteorites that Rayquaza protects the planet from aren't of this world either. The list goes on and on of extra-terrestrial life that have been found here over the centuries."
"And none have the make-up of these Ash" Sam said "all those things you mentioned while true still had similarities in their genetic make-up, likely picked up in space. This has literally none. It cannot be made, shaped, used, burned, frozen, scratched or replicated in any way." looking back at the box he shook his head "its unique."
"So, what does it do?" Ash asked also looking at the box "if the other orbs change the Creation Trios forms, then what does this do to Arceus?"
"It unmakes her" Sam said solemnly, "she ceases to exist Ash and everything she has created vanishes."
"What?" Ash said exclaiming "how?"
"It puts her back in her egg Ash" Sam said looking at him "it literally makes her unborn again. So, you can see why it's imperative that we keep this to ourselves. I shall let Steven know another piece has been found but other than that we can do nothing. I admit though, I'm very worried that in the space of eighteen months you have found two pieces Ash. I wonder why?"
Thinking for a few minutes Ash voiced his thoughts "I can only assume it's because I am her voice on Earth. She essentially created me to be equal to her. Am I meant to gather them for a purpose other than destroying the world?"
"Please don't go seeking them Ash" Sam implored "you shouldn't even know about this."
"Sam, I have no intention of doing so" Ash said reassuring him "I have put a lot of effort into creating my haven, all that would be destroyed should I reunite all the pieces of her Egg, if that's what this is."
"Thank you, Ash" Sam said sighing.
"Maybe I should try and arrange a meeting with her?" Ash said "it seems like something she should know about. And maybe we can find some way of giving her these two pieces, that way if the rest are found it wouldn't matter as it could never be completed."
"I did have that thought to be honest" Sam said "it's worth a shot."
"Well, I'm travelling through the Orange Islands so I could speak to the birds there near Shamouti." Ash pondered "not only that but I'm heading to the Tree of Beginning tomorrow to release the Legendary Golems I have, I'll speak to Mew while I'm there and ask her to arrange a meeting."
A week later Ash was ready to leave but he had a few things to clear up before he left. He had done what he said to Sam and spoken to Mew after releasing Regirock and Regice. She said she would bring it up in the next meeting. Now only a few things were left to sort out, the first being the problem he had tried to solve with Sarah. So yet again he was on his way back to Saffron City to meet her, but first he detoured to Viridian Forest.
"Why are we here?" Pikachu asked puzzled as they landed in a clearing in the forest and looked around "are we meeting someone? And why are we here so early?"
"We are yes" Ash said "I've called in a favour with the Pidgeot clan and we're here to collect. And this is just a detour before heading to Saffron"
"What kind of favour?" Pikachu asked "hang on, does this have anything to do with Sarah?"
"In a roundabout way yes" Ash said not commenting any further. Sitting down they waited and soon enough a rush of wings landed in the clearing too with another Pokémon hopping off it.
"Greetings Chosen One" the Pidgeotto said as it trotted forward "you have grown since last we met."
"As have you" Ash said laughing "you look like you're close to evolving" he finished observing the Royal Pidgeotto's plumage.
"I am" he admitted "but that is not why we're here is it? We did as you asked and fortunately for you one of the clans in the forest were happy to aid you in your search. Come forward young one."
"Ash" Pikachu said uncertainly as another Pokémon came forward.
"Don't worry Pi" he said as he bent down to talk to the other Pokémon "I'm not replacing you." bending down he said "Now I'm requesting your help with an important task." as he explained the situation to the Pokémon and waited for it to make a decision. Finally, after a minute it nodded and Ash brought out a Pokeball and touched it to the Pokémon capturing it. Thanking the Pidgeotto he released Charizard and clambered onto his back and they swept away East towards Saffron. It was close on 6pm when they landed at Saffron and Ash walked into the Pokémon Centre to let his dragon rest up and get some much-needed food and rest. "Thank you Charizard I know I tell you a lot, but I really do appreciate you giving me lifts everywhere."
"It's ok, it helps strengthen my body and wings carrying you as you're getting heavier the more you're bulking up and growing." Charizard said "It's beneficial to me."
"Well as long as you're happy pal" Ash said as he messaged Sarah saying he was in Saffron. A minute later he received a reply and exited his room and headed for the restaurant they'd agreed to meet at. Walking in he was ushered to his booth at the back of the restaurant and ordered a water while he waited and looked at the menu. Less than ten minutes later he looked you to see Sarah arrive with three people. Standing up he greeted them.
"Hello Sarah, Hi Nia, Hi Zoe" bending down he got on eye level with the smallest of them and said "hello again Ava how are you doing?"
"I'm good Mr Ash" she said clutching onto her Pikachu plushie.
"I see you have a Pikachu like I do" Ash said as he sat opposite her in the booth "is Pikachu your favourite Pokémon?"
"Hmmhmm" she said nodding enthusiastically looking at Ash's Pikachu "they're very cuddly."
"Well I have a surprise for you, however I will have to talk to your mum first, is that ok?" he asked.
"Yes Mr Ash" she said leaning into her mum "Mummy is the best."
"I couldn't agree with you more" he said as a waiter came over and took all their orders "here, while I talk with your mum why don't you see how many Pokémon there are in the world" getting out his Pokedex he pressed a few buttons and showed her which ones to press to cycle through them.
"Thank you" Zoe said seeing her daughter light up at the prospect of seeing more Pokémon "she hasn't taken your outfit off since I got it. Today I only did so because I put it in the washer before she could put it on" she finished laughing "I am curious as to why you wanted to see me though."
"Well, I have an offer for you. I'll start out by saying that whatever your decision is I'll happily go along with it ok? I don't want you to feel like I'm pressuring you into agreeing simply because I'm famous." Ash said putting some of his food onto a smaller plate for Pikachu. Looking up he saw her nod so he carried on. "firstly, how do you like being in Saffron City?"
"That's a tough question" she replied "I grew up here so it's all I've ever known really. And I had Ava here too."
"Is there no father around?" Ash asked having a drink.
"No" she said with a tone that indicated she didn't want to carry on that particular line of conversation, especially with a total stranger.
"I'm not asking to be nosey" Ash said holding up a hand "I'm simply asking to establish a clearer line of thought in my head. I have a habit of not thinking before I act, last week was evidence of that when I told the AONB board members where to take their offer."
"You turned them down?" Ni asked shocked "why? You spent ages on that presentation."
"It's in my lawyers' hands at the minute so I can't say too much" Ash said "but essentially they proposed that I finish my home and everything on my land and only then would they provide funding. I've spent nearly £7 million Pokedollars on it so far and for them to say they'd only put their name on it after I spend more made me very angry."
"Seven million?" Zoe shouted attracting a few looks at her outburst. Looking embarrassed she carried on quieter "sorry I just have never heard of that kind of money talked about so casually."
"I grew up with just my mother and often she went without to make sure I was fed and had a roof over my head. She didn't have a pot to piss in." Ash said looking at her seriously "but we had a group of people around us that helped out where they could. Professor Oak saved our lives in more ways than one. I used to write observations down about the Pokémon I observed at his ranch and he had them published without me knowing. When I left to become a trainer he came clean and gave me access to the bank account all the revenue from my scribblings had made. My mother and I went from scraping by to being millionaires in the space of half an hour. Money doesn't mean anything to me, it's a means to an end and being so young I have the opportunity as a trainer and a bloody good one at that to make more. My home is an investment for the future, it's an area where Pokémon can thrive in peace without interference from humans. I consider it money well spent."
"Wow" Zoe said looking shocked. Throughout his speech all she could think of were the similarities between herself and Ashs mum. The next ten minutes went by in silence as they carried on with their meal.
"So" Ash said continuing "I have a confession to make. I'm assuming you know I am gifted in the use of Aura?"
"Everyone is" Zoe said "I have your book."
"Have you read it all?" he asked.
"Yes" she replied "it's very interesting.
"Good" he continued "that makes it easier. When I brushed your hand as I was passing you back Avas clothes I gained brief glimpse about why you were so worried that day. I'm not going to tell anyone, don't worry but the reason I asked about you is because I feel compelled to help you. I have no idea why, but since I saw you, I haven't been able to get you and your situation out of my head. Not in a romantic way before you think that, but you remind me so much of my mother and I want to help you. So, would you like to hear my proposal? So, I started out by saying you are in no way obliged to say yes to anything I'm about to say."
After a few minutes of going over in her head what Ash said and as the panic of someone knowing about her life receded, she shook her head and nodded.
Pulling out a folder from his bag he handed it to her "I would like to offer you a job working for me at my home. Your role will be liaising with outside groups of people who visit my home to do their observations on the Pokémon on my land. As I said the AONB will have very little to do with my home and I am currently debating banning them from my property. It all depends on the outcome from my lawyers. They do however do fantastic work, so I want you to be the main liaison person between myself and the AONB in the meantime. Should I get rid of them then you will be in charge of liaising with Silph to see about getting researchers from them. I've already spoken to the head of Silph and he is eager to be a part of my project whatever my decision and already has people in mind for the job so you will always have a job. You will be primarily in charge of making sure all the equipment needed is bought in. It's a big job for someone who has never done that kind of work before and I'm aware that you have a young daughter so you will have help.
In that folder is what your salary will be, expenses will be covered for any and all meetings you go to. There is a nursey in Pallet Town which is a thirty-minute walk away from my home however I do have an agreement with the local Pidgeot to act as a kind of ferry service to and from my property as long as the distance isn't ridiculously far away."
"Where would I live?" she asked not opening the folder just yet "and are you sure you want me?"
"Yes, I'm positive" Ash said "I've spoken to my mother about this, and she agrees with me. She's been doing too much lately in running both mine and her business and she'll be relieved to finally have someone to take the pressure off her. This role will be going to someone Zoe, it needs to, but I wanted to give you first refusal. As for where you will live, there is a building already built on my land for whoever gets this role. At the minute I'm beholden to the contract my mother signed with the AONB to take over running the project full time when I'm 16 but I'm hoping by buying them out I'll be released from it, and I can employ people who know what they're doing to run it while I take a backseat. If you're not comfortable living on my land, then I will happily have a place built for you in Pallet Town, again though this will be the same offer I give others should you decide not to agree."
"It's a lot to take in Ash" Zoe said feeling rather overwhelmed "It sounds like a big job, a job other people will be far more qualified to do."
"It is a big job" Ash agreed "but I wouldn't have offered it to you if I thought you couldn't do it. As I said help will always be there for you and I won't be offended if you decide to stay here in Saffron. I hope we'll be friends either way. I'm not great with people but it would be nice to catch up with you whenever I'm back in Saffron as I do with Sarah and Nia. By the way how do you know Nia? Sarah got back to me extremely quickly with details of you." he finished confused.
"Oh, I've known her since I was six" Zoe said "we both used to go to the park with our parents and play together while they chatted. Sadly, they died a few years ago and we kind of lost touch. Nia went on to become a trainer while I stayed in Saffron."
"Ah right" Ash said "anyway I want you to think it over Zoe. I'll be leaving for the Orange Islands in a week on a mission for Professor Oak. Hopefully you'll have a decision by then."
"I'll certainly think it over" she said looking at her daughter who was chatting with Pikachu and showing him various Pokémon in the Pokedex. Pikachu gamely went along with it nodding in all the right places as he knew Ava couldn't understand him. When she passed him the Pokedex back ten minutes later she hugged her plushie smiling from ear to ear. Remembering the side quest he had that morning he pulled out the Pokeball and placed it on the table earning questioning looks from the assembled party. Ava stood up on her seat to get a better look making Ash chuckle.
"Er Ash" Nia said "what's that?"
"It's a Pokeball" he replied cheekily earning a slap on the shoulder "hey, no need to be violent!"
"Don't make me pull your ear Mr." she warned "now, what's in the Pokeball?"
"It's something I brought as a present for Ava" he said looking at her before saying as seriously as he could to a five-year-old girl "Now this is a big responsibility I'm giving you, ok? You will be required to love and care for this Pokémon for the rest of your whole life. I know you've been a very good girl for mummy so I asked a few friends of mine to get her for you. Before I give her to you though I need you to promise me that you'll carry on being good for mummy because I am giving her permission to send the Pokémon back to me should you be naughty, ok? And the final decision on whether you can keep it will be up to your mum, I kind of sprang this on her, so apologies Zoe." Zoe just shook her head and looked at her daughters' pleading eyes. Nodding, Ava squealed in happiness.
"I'll be good Mr Ash" she said earnestly "I promise you."
"Ok" Ash said leaning back putting the Pokeball next to her "press the button in the middle."
Doing so Ava gasped as the ball opened and a white light coalesced into a small yellow mouse "A Pikachu! Is it really for me?"
"She is for you yes" Ash said smiling happily "however, do you remember what I said when you asked to hold my Pikachu?"
Nodding she looked at her new fried and asked "hello Pikachu, I'm Ava. Can I pick you up?"
"Chu" the Pikachu replied nodding before squawking in surprise as she was swept up in a big hug and cuddled.
"Well, that seemed to go well" Ash said as he handed Zoe a credit card "by the way any medical expenses food etc will be charged to this account. I'll top it up every month, but it should hopefully be enough for you."
"Thank you, Ash" Zoe said seeing how happy her daughter was who was happily chatting away at her new friend "for everything."
"It's ok" Ash said as he paid the bill "sadly I have to be going now, I have last minute things I need to talk about with Sam before I head to Vermillion and catch the ferry to Valencia Island. And remember no matter what your decision will be keep in touch. My personal email and number are in that folder should you need anything clarifying or if you have any questions in general. Or If you just want to chat. I will warn you, I'm not great at human advice so you may want to ask others for that."
Days later Ash was sat in his room on the SS Aqua heading towards Valencia Island. Looking at his notes he thought that this was shaping up to be rather exciting. After all, how hard could getting a ball back to Sam be?