...
...It All Ends So Violently...
...I'm Coming Home...
...Where...
...Am I?...
"We're... Alive!"
???
Around a campfire, a group of ten people sit and share stories. Strangely, four of the people look exactly like another pair of four people while two children accompany the group. Upon closer inspection, a bearded man is seen preparing drinks. While he wears a smile on his face, his eyes portray a deep and longing sadness.
"Nikolai, are you okay mein freund?" A man dressed in old-fashioned doctor's clothing with a bandolier on top approaches the armored Russian soldier.
"Richtofen... I am fine." Nikolai responded in a neutral tone, preparing each glass of wine with an almost otherworldly focus.
Nikolai knows what he has to do... he knows what must be done to save all of them. He wishes he did not have to, but the chronorium did not give any alternatives. All things must come to an end, after all. Even him.
"I..." Nikolai began to shake, spilling a glass. At this point, the rest of the group turned towards the man. "I am not okay. I have been hiding a terrible truth from all of you." Nikolai turned to the group, one of the Richtofens, Primis Richtofen, reeled in shock.
"You're... going to tell them?" Richtofen muttered in shock. Clearly, the hardened German doctor had not expected this turn of events.
"What's going on Nikolai?", "Yeah! What's going on here!?" Two men, Primis and Ultimis Dempsey, stated as they stood from their log.
"I need to tell you something. Something important..."
And thus... through a lengthy explanation and many, many questions. The story of four men changed forever.
"So... you're saying that all of us need to die. While Sam and Eddie over there can escape this madhouse and live a normal life?" Primis Dempsey held his head in his hands as he sat down in the log.
"Yes... that is what must be done. While we destroy all of this... mess. Purge all of existence of this corrupted multiverse." Primis Nikolai explained as the rest of the group nodded solemnly.
"Well! I can certainly say I'm surprised... But! If that what must be done, I suppose there is no fighting it." Surprisingly, Ultimis Richtofen spoke up in agreement. "After all... we've been stuck in these endless cycles... I am getting und quite tired."
"If it is for the good of the many. Than we must end the world's suffering with the sacrifice of us few." Primis Takeo spoke up.
"Yeah... but what about you Tak? You know... we're all aware how you're a bit... special in all of this." Primis Dempsey hesitantly responded as he nervously glanced towards both of the Imperial Japanese Officers.
"Ja... if I recall correctly your genetic makeup was... otherworldly." Ultimis Richtofen chuckled to himself as both of the Takeos gave him a glare.
"That is correct. While I am not of this world, I have given up on going home long ago. I dedicated myself to honor and the emperor!" Ultimis Takeo proudly shouted, prompting Primis Takeo to nod in agreement.
"Regardless... we have our own crew taking care of the Agarthan Device. In the meantime, we will celebrate our victory. And enjoy our final moments, together!" Ultimis Nikolai shouted while raising a bottle of vodka in the air. Passing a few of his spare bottles around.
The entire camp cheered as the gang began to drink and laugh. Samantha and Eddie also joined in, drinking their juice, contributing to conversations by asking questions. Or in Samantha's case, rather awkwardly, adding her own perspective. Songs we sung, dances were had, laughs were shared, and drink was spilt. Finally, after so long that the group forgot to keep track of time, they all fell... one by one.
The Victus Crew had completed their task. The Agarthan Device was now in Primis Nikolai's hands. Using the Summoning Key, Nikolai interacted with the Agarthan Device. The primordial sphere glowed brightly while hovering around the strange metal contraption. Before... it seemingly exploded, completely destroying itself. The Agarthan Device glowed a dark blue hue, displaying a vision of the universe. After a few tense moments, the universe seemingly began to collapse within itself. Meanwhile, the Agarthan Device displayed different dimensions and universes collapsing and being consumed by a deep darkness.
"It is done." Primis Nikolai looked at the Agarthan Device one last time, before turning to Samantha. "I am so sorry to do this to you, child. But, I must die for the greater good." Nikolai handed Samantha a Mauser C96, regarding the scared young girl with a warm look. "Do not be afraid. After all of this, you will live a normal life." Nikolai turned around and closed his eyes.
"Look away... Eddie." Samantha cried as she shakily raised the pistol to Nikolai's head. After a few tense moments, the little lost girl tightly shut her eyes.
*Bang*
Before Nikolai's body could even hit the ground, the entire world went black.
Sometime in the past...
Thunder and lightning cracked in dark skies, briefly illuminating the destroyed Earth below. Almost titanic roars sounded as the ground shook. Pillars of fire rose from the ground and into the sky. Throughout all of this, two young children and an adult ran through the chaotic battlefield.
"Ash! We need to find a way out of here! This is not what I expected when seeing you again!" A young girl with honey-blonde hair and blue eyes yelled to a young boy with dark hair and brown eyes as they ran.
"Yeah! This is crazy!" A young woman, seemingly in her twenties, Professor Sonia, cried out as she narrowly missed a stray shadow ball.
At this point the trio had recalled all of their Pokemon. The only Pokemon who was out was a Pikachu, who desperately tried to cling onto the young Ash Ketchum's shoulder. The young girl, Serena Yvonne, ran with all her might as two legendary Pokemon battled right over them.
"How did it come to this!? When I said we should try and act on the rumors of Giratina when I was visiting, I didn't mean to have him actively fight Arceus!" Professor Sonia screamed as she vaulted a fallen tree.
"I don't know how, but we need to get them to stop!" Ash yelled, concern written all over his face.
With an almost earth shattering roar, Arceus released a blinding light that seemed to cover the entire face of the globe. The trio, plus Pikachu, staggered and fell as they were all blinded. After a few moments, the group was finally able to see again just as the body of Giratina landed on the ground with an enormous boom. Numerous large cracks formed in the earth as a result.
"Is... is it over?" Serena asked timidly, as Arceus slowly lowered itself on the ground.
"I don't know." Ash said seriously as he looked at the two legendary Pokemon stared at each other on the ground.
At the sight of the two Pokemon, both Serena and Professor Sonia backed away slowly while Ash kept his stance and gaze.
"Ash... we should go... now." Professor Sonia warned as she kept backing away.
"Yeah, I guess we sho-" the ground suddenly opened up beneath Ash as the earth collapsed beneath him. Flailing briefly, Ash caught himself on the edge of the sinkhole. Looking down, Ash could see nothing but darkness.
"ASH!!!" Both women yelled as they ran to their fallen friend. Professor Sonia grabbed onto Ash's wrist while Serena summoned Pancham to help her.
"Pikachu!" Pikachu stayed on Ash's arm as the boy dangled off of the edge.
"Pikachu... go..." Ash muttered to the electric mouse.
"Pika!" The mouse yelped in betrayal.
Ash's fingers began to slip off of the top of the sinkhole, regardless of how hard Professor Sonia and Serena tried to pull him up. Even with Pancham helping, the three could not life the boy up, even though it should've been more than enough. At this point Serena had begun to cry.
"Why!? Why isn't this working!?" Serena cried out as tears leaked from her eyes.
"Serena... grab Pikachu... please..." Ash softly said as he looked up at the group. "Something is pulling me down there. I can feel it, it's almost as if the hole is sentient. I... I don't know what's gonna happen. But... I'll return... I promise." Ash smiled as the group looked horrified.
"Ash! Don't talk like that! I got you!" Professor Sonia argued while she kept trying to pull the boy up.
Pikachu had dug into Ash's arm, drawing blood as Serena tried to get the electric mouse away from the hole. Finally, after a long tug-of-war, Serena managed to yank Pikachu away. Once he was separated from his trainer, Pikachu began to desperately shock Serena in a bid to get back to his best friend. Seeing this Pancham briefly let go of Ash's arm to tackle the electric mouse. The usually much stronger Pikachu collapsed as the Pancham did his best to pin him on the ground.
"Ash! No! I can feel him slipping!" Professor Sonia yelled in desperation as Ash simply closed his eyes.
Before Serena could even get back to help... a loud cry was heard.
Ash had let go, the pull of the hole too much. The last thing he saw were the crying faces of Professor Sonia and Serena before once more closing his eyes, accepting his fate.
Instead... however...
In a crowded city street in Kyoto, Japan. A sizable crowd gathered around the unconscious form of a young boy who appeared from the sky. As police cleared the scene, and the boy was loaded into a primitive ambulance, two imperial military officers watched with a keen interest.
"Do you think the boy survived?" One of the officers spoke, gracefully drinking his tea.
"It appears he has. I believe that the Emperor should be informed of this. Perhaps this boy holds some kind of potential." The other officer responded, a steely look on his face.
"Indeed... If he could survive that fall. Imagine what warrior he could be under our honorable Emperor."
...
Ash awoke in a hospital room. Looking around, he noticed how much older it looked. Like, somehow, he had been teleported 100 years in the past. More confusingly, he seemed to be in an older Kanto instead of Galar.
"Ahhh... you are awake." An old man dressed in an old-fashioned military uniform spoke as he approached the bed.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Ash asked the man.
"You are in the ancient city of Kyoto, child." The officer spoke regally, gesturing out the window to the beautiful city.
"I-I've never heard of it." Ash's words seemed to take the officer back for a second, before he relaxed.
"And we've never heard of you, child. See, as hard as we have tried while you were unconscious, we could not find you on any of our records whatsoever. It's almost as if you came from another world!" The officer chuckled as Ash remained silent.
"What... do I do?" Ash spoke lowly... fear and sorrow in his voice.
"You could train... under me. Learn the ways of a warrior and find purpose in this world." The officer spoke with conviction as Ash merely nodded.
Ash could not explain what was happening to him. It was almost like there was some otherworldly force that was compelling him to listen. It felt like when his mother would gently embrace him after a nightmare. Though instead, that feeling was being used to haze his mind and guide his body. This otherworldly force... that seemed to be pushing him in a certain direction.
"I... it would be an honor!" Ash said with determination as he bowed in his hospital bed.
The officer merely smiled and nodded as he lightly bowed in return. The young man before him, although confused, showed great courage in times of doubt. And, even injured, he still knew to bow to his superiors. Yes... he'd make a fine warrior indeed.
"You know... a warrior needs a warrior's name." The officer thought to himself. "And your name shall be..."
"Takeo Misaki."
The Present... Location Unknown...
Four men lie unconscious in the remains of an ancient burial chamber. Behind them, rise four large statues depicting ancient heroes wielding legendary staffs. Above them seem to be the remnants of an archaeological operation. The four men would surely recognize this place. However, something is vastly different. The entire chamber seems... off. Off as in... literally powered off. What once clearly glowed with a mysterious power and hummed with a strange force all around now seems dead and completely vacant.
"Ugh... my head..." A man dressed in an altered First World War winter uniform slowly sat up, grabbing his head which was searing with a headache.
"Where... are we?" Another man dressed in a Soviet officer's uniform rose and grabbed his head... slowly looking around. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me." The Russian muttered as he looked at the statues.
"What the... has the ritual failed?" A man dressed in an imperial Japanese officer's uniform grabbed his face while still laying down.
Meanwhile, a man dressed in a simple white undershirt with an armored vest with a small box attached looked around with wide eyes. Slowly, he looked at the three men around him... his three friends.
"We..." The man spoke with a German accent.
"We're... Alive!"