Shattered Realms

Author's Note:

Iris Edelman: Age 26. Champion of the Unova League, Alias. "The Girl Who Knows the Hearts of Dragons." 2nd Youngest Champion in the history of the region having attained the title at 15 years of age. A gifted dragon trainer and even more enthusiastic smasher of conspiracies.

Ash Ketchum: Age 24. Pokémon Master. Alias. "The Wandering Champion". Victim of many lurid tabloid conspiracies some of which may be true, he has successfully dodged and turned down hundreds of Gym Leader offers, dozens of elite four positions, and three separate champion titles after winning leagues.

Dawn Berlitz: Age 21. Talk show host. Alias. "D.D." Top coordinator in Sinnoh. She has successfully become a first class celebrity in several regions.

Cynthia Gordon: Late thirties. Her tenure as Sinnoh Champion has been threatened several times but never been overthrown. The last few years her mind has turned to expanding the league to the shattered regions in the east.

The following fanfic will contain eventual Negaishipping and involves a considerable amount of change to existing lore involving the Unova region and the broader world of Pokémon.

Chapter 1- Year of Jubilee

Jubilee Tower, Jubilife City

It was a one of those eternally beautiful, if slightly sticky summer days. "This city just keeps getting bigger every time I blink, I think we might be a little lost buddy," Ash said to Pikachu, tousling the Pokémon's fur.

"Pika-pika," the electric mouse agreed.

The old, flat-top buildings of the city had faded away into an immense sea of glass skyscrapers. "It ain't what it used to be, but then neither are we." Years had tumbled over their heads. He was only thirteen when he'd first set foot in the region, learning how to shave the uneven splotches of black hair on his face while dealing with his own emerging feelings for women was not exactly a delight.

Now nearly a decade later, there were other options, ash pulled his Pokégear 4.0, and found the map app, he had to tap a few shoulders to register his location, but he found it, "Jubilee Tower here I come, hope Cynthia won't be too angry." How angry could she be to see her old friend?

He crossed a busy intersection into Sinnoh Plaza with its magnificent tile floor depicting Arceus' creating the universe. In the confusion of feet, he could only see a few rays of light through thousands of sneakers.

"Doof!" A bidoof with a messenger's kepi ran between Ash's legs.

"Whoa!" Guess it was true that pokemon were being used as curriers by the Pokétch Co. The otherwise unremarkable Bidoof had become the whole company's mascot.

Ash looked up to be confronted with the image of a gorgeous blue haired woman holding a microphone who seemed to be on nearly every other billboard and HD sign. This one read:

#1 in Sinnoh!

#1 in Kanto!!

#1 in Johto!!!

Ash smiled at the sight of his old friend. Dawn had grown into an amazing coordinator. He reflexively reached for his cheek, Ash Ketchum you jerk! Well he couldn't say she was wrong. But he was a kid then, and he had grown up-- well hadn't he?

The first red flag that he might be lost was the huge Jubilife TV monitor occupying the far wall, "Pika-pi…"

"Yeah guess we wound up at the wrong building-again," he shrugged and smiled, "what are you gonna do?"

An energetic blonde woman behind the counter suddenly let out a loud gasp and hopped over the counter with the precision of an Olympic hurdler. "Hold it!"

The woman grappled the collar of Ash's jacket. Ash held up his hands defensively, "Relax we were just leaving…"

She grimaced and fidgeted in a way that tried but failed to be intimidating. "Leaving! You're leaving? You've only just got here?

"That hair?" She pulled at one of his messy black locks, "Those cheeks?", "And that pikachu…" His over-enthusiastic fan screeched, "You're Ash Ketchum, ohhhh, my boss is gonna totally flip when she sees you!" Suddenly and deliberately calm, "And incidentally, it's nice to see you again."

All of this went in one ear and out the other. Ash had thousands of acquaintances all over the world. "Is that boss's name Cynthia?"

A chime started to ring. "That's the five-minute alert. Com'on dummy!"

"Can't argue with that enthusiasm, lead the way."

~~~Castella City- Unova~~~

Champion Iris let out an immense yawn. She was sweltering in her large dress and tiara. On parade days like this she missed her lighter tights and skirt. Even the bare legs did little to keep a bead of sweat from forming on her face.

The Mayor of the city thundered from the stands down below, "It has been nearly a generation sense the Great War saw nearly one in every five lives snuffed from our world."

Veterans can be so dull…

An elbow poked her ribs and she looked up to see Alder, masculine ladies man, in his head at least, and former champion. "I'm just as bored by the old-timer as you are- but listen. Don't forget your meeting with the old man after this."

"Is now a good time to retire?" She whined.

"No, you don't either, not 'til your whipped fair and square." He laughed.

The champion crossed her arms, top trainer in Unova, 1% nail-biting action that got her blood boiling, 99% bureaucracy, boring. Down below the balcony she was watching out from with Alder.

One group- the Blue's hats and cheered as he shouted, "Now- more than ever the prospect of a great re-union of nations draws close, the formerly radical reds have been mellowed by years of peace, the fractured merchant cities are bankrupt in the face of a prosperous world. Now the people wait for the final triumph, one born not of war, but of peace, and by the light shining from immortal Arceus we Unovan's once perpetrators of a great war must forge a new peace."

Willing to hear no more of this she retreated into her apartment to refresh her champagne flute. Shauntal the somewhat nerdy looking goth was more focused on the book she was reading than the same speech she could see on the balcony which was flashing on Iris's overly large flat-screen TV in the ultra-modern apartment.

Iris always thought of it as the champion's apartment. She could redecorate it to her tastes but somehow it just wasn't the same. The only hint that it belonged to her at all was a somewhat tattered old photograph on her bedside table. Ash you are such a kid. She laid it back down and downed the glass of wine before changing into her champion dress.

"Ash." Cynthia said, smile on her face as she relaxed on the darkened set so shaded it was almost spooky, "Glad you could show."

He scratched the back of his head, "You know me, I love being fashionably late."

"Pikaaaa…" His pokemon rolled his eyes before jumping into Cynthia's lap. The woman gently scratched the mouse's belly.

The woman hadn't aged a day in seven years. Still beautiful, still the picture of elegance and confidence. "This will be interesting, I planned on giving you the chance to say no. Fate or dumb luck seems to have gotten the better of us both."

Lights flickered on brightly and the curtain raised on a studio audience.

"Hello Sinnoh!" A voice rang across the studio. "And- well you know who I am, and have we got a show for you today. Our foreign correspondent Miette is going to be coming to us live from Kalos about the latest summer clothing coming out of Kalos, Applin Farms has a delightful new hard cider, and as a special treat I'll be sitting down with Champion Cynthia and… and what?" She looked uncertainly at her assistant who was holding up the cue card, she gave Dawn the "thumbs up" sign.

Dawn seemed to bead with sweat, "And my old friend Ash Ketchum- seems to be joining her. Yay." She swallowed, "All that and more on today's show." The music played her out for the commercial break.

Ash chuckled nervously, "Not exactly the reunion I was expecting."

"What the hell Cynthia? When you said, 'mysterious special guest' I expected another member of the elite four or even a new champion, but…" she gestured at all of that.

"I missed you too D.D." Ash said.

"Like a hole in my head." Dawn said.

"Pika… pi…" Pikachu said.

"You said it," Cynthia said as Pikachu nuzzled against her. Then she looked up at the two of them, "You two aren't on good terms?"

Dawn said, "No, we are NOT on good terms."

Ash sighed, "Sorry, things just kept coming up."

Dawn took a deep breath and ran a hand through her long blue hair, "From you, I almost believe it." She waved the thought away and smiled. Ash was set at ease by that. "I hope you both know that I won't be holding back on my questioning."

"You never do," Cynthia said.

There was a pop and a pshh sound that came from Dawn's desk a ray of light that solidified into a bunny shaped Pokémon, "Eary!" She bounced right into Cynthia's lap and snuggled into Pikachu. The electric mouse was thrilled to see her and let out a "chuu!", embracing each other.

"Always good to see old friends reunited." Cynthia added, before another chime interrupted.

Dawn gestured to both, "Careful mics about to turn on."

She looked Ash in the eye, winked and turned, "… and Spotlight! Welcome back to the show, I'm sure that your all excited to try the new Granny Bellsprout's poffins!"

Ash mimed gagging to Cynthia, those poffins tasted like sweetened mud and had the consistency of old tube socks, not even his snorlax would touch them.

~~~Village of Dragons~~~

Iris sat at the base of the statues of Zekrom and Reshiram, if the mayor wanted to see the champion, he would need to do it in a place of her choosing.

This time of year the village was usually abandoned, the people of her village weren't nomads, not exactly, but they were always on the prowl for new dragon types. A couple of dozen families were permanent residents, the elders and those with children. These days outside of festivals, the village was a retreat for anyone willing to pay. Seeing people come and go was nothing new, but the woman she saw emerge from the cabin followed by an ursaring had her about to leap out of her dress.

She was short and a little stout still- looking like a strong wind might bowl her over. The years had softened the old revolutionary, but she walked as steady as when she had bragged about blowing a mine sky high when a couple of peaceful protesters were shot. "Comrade Champion, I trust you are well?"

Iris swallowed dryly, "Chairwoman Larena, to what do I owe the… um pleasure?" The old red terrified her.

She twirled a lock of her salt and fire hair, "What's the matter dear, scared of a frail old revolutionary."

Iris looked at the ursaring behind her, "More scared of your pets."

The woman cackled, "Yes, hahaha, oh dear, oh me yes! But come now like the poet said: 'We are not now that strength which in old days, moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are.' She smiled then turned to scratch the chest of her Ursaring, "And you, you old devil… you've always been a big baby."

"Riing." The great bear sighed contentedly.

Iris let her guard down, "When I was a girl mom said that you'd kidnap little girls who didn't do their chores."

She cackled again, "And just who said I didn't?"

"CAAWWW!" The huge braviary kicked up a whirlwind as it landed. Mayor Aquila's shiny bird pokemon was a legitimate beauty. Its blue feathers were always immaculately clean. Iris pet the large bird as its rider dismounted.

Mayor Thomas Morton wasn't nearly so elegant, and elderly but fit gray-haired man who dressed in a clean cut vest and suite. His hawk like nose was a monument in its own right. A single brass badge depicting a breviary clenching an olive branch in its talons.

He smiled and offered his hand, "Champion Iris, and the dirty red witch, wonderful to see you again." He said both with such warmth and affection that it was like meeting an old friend.

Both shook his hand firmly.

"Mr. Mayor." Iris said.

"Reactionary blue-blooded pig." Kerena said. It wasn't quite affection. As far as Iris knew Karena had never spoken affectionately to anyone.

"Y-y-yess." He chuckled, "Of course madam Chairwoman, and looking as lovely as ever." He pulled off the woman's Ushanka hat and dusted it off, "Still wearing this old thing to add a few inches to your height, eh?"

She snatched it from him, "You are the only one I permit to make fun of my height and live, you lanky old reactionary."

Iris blinked, "You two are close?"

The mayor shrugged, "As the poet said, 'that which we are, we are'." His braviary cawed annoyance. "We are old guard now, like our parties we could kill each other or compromise."

Iris was baffled, "You two have been actively fighting each other for years."

Karena said, "With words, not deeds, ever since…" She waved it away, "Neither here nor there, we have a proposal for you comrade champion.

What else could Iris say, "You have my attention."

Dawn's recovery from the sudden appearance of her mystery guest was over in seconds. "For those of you in my audience who have been living under a rock for the last few years," the host began, "Ash Ketchum, from a small town in Kanto has spent the last three years turning down every offer of employment or interview, this despite being given so many opportunities, and I've gotta ask, why?"

Ash wore a funny grin, "Aww D.D. you aren't that sore about my turning you down for the exclusive after I beat Leon?"

She hurried over sat casually on her desk, sitting with crossed legs in front of her guests. "As a matter of fact," as a matter of fact her producer had tried four separate times but that's not what irked her.

What irked her was the break-up, even five years after, he'd said, "I'm not even saying I won't be back, just that there's no reason for us to tie each other up, no reason we can't be friends." … damn it I can think of a few tabloids that would beg to differ.

Dawn continued, "No Ash, you really do have a knack for arriving at the right place at the perfect time, don't you?"

Cynthia smiled, "Only Ash could make a meeting by arriving 2 hours late at the wrong building. I honestly thought he was standing me up."

Dawn was puzzled, "Why don't you fill in the fine folks at home?"

Cynthia continued, "We want Ash to do what he's best at."

"And remind me what that is?" Dawn asked, more for the audience than her.

"To go to explore new regions, catch new Pokémon, find himself in every dangerous situation imaginable and make the best of it, how's my sell so far Ash?" She asked.

"You have my attention." He said, a sly smile creeped to his lips much to Dawn's chagrin.

"Then be our ambassador to regions outside the pokémon league."

Without a second's thought, he extended his hand to close deal and exclaimed. "Okay, I'll do it!"

Dawn blinked, bewildered at what she was actually witness too.

Ash did a double take just as the crowd broke into thunderous applause. "Hey where's pikachu?"

Dawn's smile was predatory, "Read the room Ash." She said under her breath. "Now what do you say we head someplace nice and quiet," she whispered seductively in his ear. Never able to resist that, were you Ash? She thought.

~~~

Iris rushed to pack a few essentials as the gruff Alder leaned against the door post, "Look it's not like I don't relish the thought of being champion- whoah!" He expertly dodged the sort of highheel Iris considered suicidal. "… Champion again, but don't go doing something stupid, it's dangerous out there."

"Acting champion, and you don't say? Are you forgetting just how many times I've saved you and the whole region. Team plasma didn't go down peacefully." She was too busy to be angry- first time for everything.

"I know… I know," but "call me crazy for seeing you like a little sister."

"Don't be such a wuss, and don't go losing, I'll raise hell if I have to fly back and forth to challenge some snotnosed kid for whipping you and the others."

The older man laughed, "That's the spirit you think you can fit enough in that old knapsack?"

She zipped up the old bag. "Sure, I can! The kid I stole it from lived out of it for years."

"You stole it?" Alder asked.

"Hey if the big bad pokémon master wants it back he can come and get it. Six on six, head-to-head." The champion never doubted that one way or another they would meet again.

· To Be Continued