"…"- normal talking
'…'- thinking and Pokémon talking
Ash froze up for a moment when he sensed a strange, but powerful dark energy suddenly arrived on the planet. He felt shivers going down his spine and his fists clenched.
"Ash?" Blake asked when she took notice of his behavior.
"I sensed a very strong dark presence. It was as if a new ice age suddenly appeared. And yet…it feels familiar somehow." Ash answered while rubbing his head.
"What do you mean?" Blake asked.
"What I mean is…something or someone that's pure evil has arrived on Remnant." Ash said.
"Sounds just like Salem. But thanks to Ozpin, and Oscar, were we all able to defeat her. Plus, with the seasonal maidens and the relics, we used them against her. The world came together, and the Brothers of Light and Darkness spared us all." Blake explained.
Ash was getting more concerned that he was sensing that powerful darkness, but he also sensed something else. Something that he hadn't felt since his time at the Battle Frontier.
"Well anyway, best not dwell on that for now. It can't be Salem because she's gone." Blake said.
"Yeah." Ash said.
"Hey, Blakey!" Yang's voice called out from the entrance. Ash and Blake saw the rest of Blake's team enter the Pokémon Center. "We're gonna do some shopping since our matches won't be for a while. Wanna join us?" She asked her.
"Sure. You don't mind, do you Ash?" Blake asked her boyfriend.
"Sure, go ahead." He said.
"Thank you. See you later today." Blake said before she passionately kissed him.
After she left with her team, Ash left shortly afterwards and did some walking around. He was still concerned about what he sensed earlier. He fears that if what he sensed was true, then a past moment of his life is coming back to haunt him.
'That darkness…could that have been from the Kanto Battle Frontier? I thought it was gone. The one that possessed me all those years ago is coming back? But how?' Ash thought to himself while recalling his time while finishing his time at the Battle Frontier.
While he continued to walk around to get his mind off of it, he saw the current matchup that was happening right now. He saw that two of the traitors were fighting against Cardin Winchester and Dove Bronzewing. He decided to see how things were going in that match. He created a portal and made his way up to the nosebleed section of the stands for a better view of the match.
So far, the match was a one-sided match with Misty and Max winning with a Starmie and a Raichu. Ash immediately sensed something unusual about that Raichu. He sensed a very powerful dark aura coming from him.
Starmie LVL 88 Water/Psychic Natural Cure Mystic Water
Hydro Pump Flash Cannon Thunderbolt Psychic
Raichu LVL 98 Electric Static
Shadow Bolt Double Team Agility Volt Tackle
Max then pointed at Cardin's Pokémon and the Raichu used a powerful Volt Tackle to pretty much one-shot it.
"The winner of this match goes to Misty Waterflower from Cerulean City and Max Maple from Petalburg City!" Glynda announced.
As the stadium cheered for the match's results, Ash was petrified at the very sight of how powerful Raichu gave off.
"No! It can't be!" Ash yelled while leaving through the same portal he used to get to Amity Colosseum. He returned to the Pokémon Center and began to realize what was happening. "That was a Shadow Pokémon! I need to alert someone!" He yelled a bit more before heading off to a place where he was by himself.
He contacted Anabel.
"Hello, Ash. What's going on?" Anabel asked.
"I sensed a Shadow Pokémon in the match that just ended. More specifically, Raichu." He answered.
"What!?" Anabel yelled with shock as her eyes shrank. "Do you have any evidence to prove that statement?" She asked him.
"Unless if you can count my semblance as evidence to show it, no I don't. At least not yet." Ash said.
"Alright, we'll keep an eye on their movements for the moment. If what you're saying is true, then we are dealing with an illegal Pokémon in an official tournament." Anabel said.
"Right. Be careful." He said before hanging up. He went off to the nearby park and just kept on thinking. "Why is that Raichu a Shadow Pokémon? And…why does it look so familiar?" He asked himself.
"Ash!" A woman's voice called out nearby. He looked towards where the voice, only to be grabbed into a tight hug. "Oh, Ash." The woman said.
Ash looked down and saw who was hugging him…his mother. Her red hair was longer than the last time he saw her and in a ponytail. She was wearing a red tight suit with silver accents, and had armor on her shoulders, around her lower torso like a corset, and on her arms. She was wearing a multitude of belts around her waist, thighs, and above her rear that contains swords, guns, knives, and grenades. She wore bladed heels with a piece of metal on the tips.
"Mom!?" Ash yelled before holding her arms.
"Thank Arceus that you're okay!" Delia sobbed before tightening her grip on him.
Ash was taken aback by this. For the first time in so long, he was reunited with his mother. He slowly wrapped his arms around him and returned the hug.
"I missed you mom." He whispered.
"When I learned that you have returned to take part in this tournament, I had to come running. Where've you been for six years?" Delia asked while pulling away from him.
"That will take some explaining. Let us go for a walk around Vale. My next match won't be for a while, and we can talk along the way." Ash said.
"Okay." She said while wiping away tears from her eyes.
As they began to walk around Vale, they caught up with each other about all that has happened in the last six years. Delia continued her life as a Huntress, while also being a model herself.
"That's some story. But lately, I've been sensing a powerful dark presence. I'm getting all the more nervous just thinking about what it is." Ash said while they sat on a bench just outside the capital.
"I understand. I've been living in a private resort in Sinnoh for the last five years. Professor Oak still thought the world of you even after all these years of you being gone. Oak Academy even got some new technology to keep it a Grimm safe environment." Delia said.
"That's good. Hopefully, things haven't been too tough for him." Ash said. Just then, Ash felt a presence nearby. He looked behind and saw a few of the traitors walking by but didn't notice him. "Why…why would they do this?" He asked while glaring at them.
Delia looked back and saw them.
"I can't believe that they're still walking freely after what they did. They committed terrorism; unlike anything Alola has ever seen." She said.
Just then, a loud growl echoed nearby. They looked behind and they saw a large Creep Grimm crawling toward them, and it was hungry.
Delia chuckled as she slowly approached it.
"Honey…let me handle this one." She said.
"Be careful." Ash said while backing away.
"Sweetie, I've taught you how to fight, and help you figure out your semblance. And besides…" She was saying before looking back, and her eyes began to turn into crystals. "No one touches my son." She finished.
She then turned around and her entire body and clothing turned into diamonds. The Creep took a powerful slash at her, only for the claws to be broken and it roared in pain, and Delia didn't even flinch. She dealt a powerful kick upwards at the Creep's neck, shooting its head and spine clean off its shoulders, killing it instantly.
Semblance Analysis
Delia Ketchum: Mineralization
This semblance gives the user the ability to turn their body, as well as any form of clothing and accessories they're currently wearing into a type of mineral. The more aura is used in it, the stronger, denser, and sharper they will become. The catch is that it will drain the aura more depending on how long the form lasts regardless of form.
After the Grimm faded into smoke, Delia turned back to normal and stroked her hair out of her face.
"Even after all these years of me being gone, you're still such a badass." Ash said with a smile on his face.
"What can I say? I know how to please an audience." She said while rejoining him. Just then, she took a deep breath and held her chest. "I guess…I'll need to get back into fighting more. I haven't really fought for the last couple of years." She said before chuckling sheepishly.
"No worries. When this is over, we can be a proper family again, and we can train with each other to our heart's desires." Ash said. Just then, Ash's Pokedex began to buzz. "Hello?" Ash answered.
"Hey Ash, you might want to check the news! Something wicked is happening back in Kanto!" Blake's voice yelled from the other end.
"What!?" Ash yelled with concern.
"You're not gonna like it." Blake said.
"Great…thanks, Blake. We'll head for our room." Ash said before hanging up and summoning Divine Elemental, startling Delia in the process. He created a portal in the process. "Follow me, this'll take us back to our sleeping quarters." He said while looking at her.
"Uh…okay. Also, where'd that come from?" She asked while looking at the Keyblade.
"It was a gift from Lord Arceus himself. You like it?" He asked.
"Of course!" She yelled happily before they went through it, and it closed instantly.
When they arrived back at his hotel room, Ash quickly turned on the TV and changed it to the local news.
"Breaking news! A terroristic threat has spawned in the Kanto region. This is unnatural in any way the locals have ever seen as this is not done by Team Rocket or the Grimm. Instead, according to satellite footage that was released to the media mere moments ago thanks to the people of Atlas, we have seen what appears to be a cloaked man using a strange key-shaped weapon that just decimated the Seafoam Islands. Former gym leader Blaine, who was one of the many lucky survivors, stated that this was unlike anything he has ever seen." The news anchor said while footage of the hooded figure riding on a Shadow Zapdos, and firing a powerful fire spell at the volcano, making it explode lava.
Shadow Zapdos LVL 88 Electric/Flying Pressure
Shadow Bolt Rain Dance Thunder Drill Peck
"Oh…my…god!" Delia yelled with fright.
"That man is a monster. A living human Grimm!" Blaine yelled with anger while on a boat with a news reporter.
"While many people believe that this is the cause of those that followed the evil black queen herself, Queen Salem, there is no confirmation of any kind. If you have any information regarding this person's whereabouts, please contact local authorities, and do not engage this person as he is heavily armed, armored, and very dangerous." The news anchor said.
"This can't be…I gotta get out of these!" Ash yelled frantically while taking off his coat and throwing it to the side. "If that person has anything to do with what I felt earlier, then this can't be good." He said while he began to pace back and forth.
"Calm down, Ash! Let's not get too hasty here. After all, at least they can't target you. You're literally under the International Police watch. They can't suspect you." Delia said.
"I know. But the world may think otherwise." Ash said while looking out the window.
Just then, the door opened. Blake returned, but this time she brought her parents.
"Hey, Ash! I'd like you to meet my mom and dad. This is Kali, and this is Ghira." Blake said while her mother stepped forward.
Kali was a woman that had a striking resemblance to Blake in her late forties to early fifties and had cat ears like her daughter, though they were pierced. She is wearing a black hakama and sandals with white tabi socks. A black shrug with a long right sleeve and a short-left sleeve, gold-leaf trim adorning the opening on the front laid over her dress. She wears long, black arm warmers that extend to the middle finger. She also has a purple ribbon on her right arm, signaling her marriage to Ghira.
Ghira was a towering Faunus that can barely fit in the room. He had black hair with a large beard that was attached to his sideburns and had on a large, purple-themed, and armored coat that showed his chest hair. He wore a large belt over tall, bulky pants with armored boots. He also had powerful, and razor-sharp claws tucked within his fingers as his primary weapon.
The panther Faunus looked down at him with a bit of a glare, making Ash shake a bit in his boots. He sensed the both of them, and while he saw a lot of good within them, he knew that Ghira was someone he did not want to get on his bad side. Ash gulped a bit while backing away from him.
"So…you're Ash Ketchum. Blake spoke a lot about you lately. I also found out about your little…connection that happened very recently." Ghira said with his arms crossed.
"If it makes you feel any better, I wasn't thinking straight, and we were in a bit of a trance. I didn't mean…uh…" Ash was trying to say until Ghira got a bit closer and even bent down a bit. "Eep…" He whispered while he continued to shake.
"Now, now, Ghira. Give him some space. This is the one that Blake talked about a lot when she was younger. And now one of her personal dreams came to a reality, if not, more than that." Kali said while gently pulling Ghira back a bit.
"Even so. Consider me a bit…unsure about her being in a relationship with a human. Especially since she may become chieftess someday." Ghira said.
"Wait…chieftess?" Ash asked Blake.
"My parents govern Kuo Kuana, Menagerie. I…maybe becoming chieftess. Although…I really don't like that idea since it will mean being away from my friends whom I consider family. Especially Yang." Blake said.
"Oh…" Ash said when he felt his heart drop.
"But!" Blake said while taking his wrist. "I will find a way to make exceptions." She said while smiling.
Kali went to Delia.
"You must be Delia Ketchum. I've heard much." She said.
"That's right." Delia said.
"I really like your son. From what I gathered, he's kind, honest, and unlike any human I've ever heard. He accepts, regardless of human or Faunus. I really wish that more people were like him." Kali said.
"That's because he was raised right." She said while looking at her son.
"I could tell. Where is his father?" Kali asked.
Delia froze up a bit before looking at Ash, who was still trying to keep his cool with Ghira. She really had no idea how to respond to that, especially since that Ash is already going through a rough time in his life.
"Not here, at least with him around. Let's just say…I'll destroy him." She said while looking back at Kali.
"Oh…I'm so sorry. But I'm sure he would be proud of him." Kali said when she grew a sad face.
Back with the other three, Blake still held Ash's wrist.
"Come on, dad. You know he's not like Adam. He's not insane, and he's unlike any fighter you ever met." Blake said.
"Is that so? Then show me, Ash. Show me something that you have that no Hunter has." Ghira said.
"Well…I do have this." Ash said before extending his arm out and opening his hand, confusing Ghira. When Divine Elemental was summoned, Ghira and Kali looked at it with shock. "Tada!" He yelled.
"Honey, where'd that come from?" Kali asked him.
"The Keyblade is a magical weapon that was gifted to me from Arceus himself the very same day I disappeared six years ago. You like it?" He asked her.
"It's beautiful." She said.
"You mind if I take a look at it?" Ghira asked him.
"Uh…okay sure." He said while handing it over to the chief. When Ghira took it, he began to examine it. Just then, the Keyblade vanished from his grip and went right back to Ash.
"Okay, you got me. You are unlike any Hunter I've ever met." Ghira said.
"Actually…more like a dropout." Ash said.
"Dropout…?" He asked him.
"I never really did want to become a Huntsman. Instead, I wanted to continue in my father's footsteps as a Pokémon Trainer. While I was able to travel with Pokémon by my side, and have a weapon on hand, I couldn't do any jobs or tasks since I was unofficial. My father was the same. But he left the family to be a Pokémon Trainer, and my task now is to find him." Ash explained.
"Oh…I guess that all makes sense now." Blake said.
"And yet you still fight? That is still remarkable." Kali said.
"So…when's our next challenge?" Blake asked.
"Bright and early tomorrow morning against…" Ash was saying as he was looking into who they were facing, only for him to get angry. "Drew and Misty." He finished.
"Oh no. Not another traitor." Delia said with a bit of worry flowing through her.
"Don't worry, Mrs. Ketchum. Ash and I will show them no mercy." Blake said to her with confidence. She then turned to Ash. "Also…why'd you ditch your coat?" She asked.
"That hooded figure that attacked Seafoam Island is wearing a coat exactly like the one that I wear. Now I need a different one." He answered.
"We got time. How about you do a bit of a look around?" She asked.
"Good idea. Mom, want to join me?" Ash asked her.
"Absolutely." Delia said.
The Belladonna's watched as the two of them leave. Ash and Blake took one last look at each other, and Blake winked at him.
"Such a kind man." Kali said.
"I have mixed feelings about him, but I may consider giving him a chance to prove himself." Ghira said.
"Mom, dad, you will not be disappointed. He's very reliable, albeit a bit of a glutton, but he is a very great person." Blake said.
"I like him." Kali said to her, making Blake blush.
"Mom…!" She whispered shouted at her with an annoyed look.
With Ash and Delia, they went around the capital to find a new look for Ash. Fortunately, Ash had more than enough money for him to get by for a long time. It took some doing, but they were able to find the perfect new look for him.
When Ash came out of multiple shops, he came out with a long-red trench coat that stretched down to his ankles. Underneath was a red t-shirt and leather pants with multiple belts around his waist, leg, and torso. He wore long black gloves that stretched to his elbows and had a single armor brace around his wrists. He wore the same boots from before, but this time, he included a single scabbard on them for a hidden dagger. The coat he wore was sleeveless and was heavily armored. Instead of buttons, it had belt straps from the center down.
"Well…how do I look?" Ash asked her.
"You look like a real Huntsman, but I'm sure that you'll fit just fine as a Pokémon Trainer that's really working on trying to protect himself." She said.
With a new form of evil spawning from the Kanto region, and Ash sensing a disturbance that was familiar to him, how will things play out for him? With Salem returning and Ash's dark side finally coming to Remnant, Ash will have his true strength tested. Will he live, or perish? Find out more next time as the story continues.