Cheers for the reviews. I took the entire Christmas period off from writing to spend more time with the missus. I hope you all had a good festive period.
For those with a good eye I've lifted certain sections from my previous story The Best Around and elaborated on them, mainly because I'm too lazy to hash it all out again.
I own nothing.
Chapter 21
Ash was fed up. He'd been stuck inside now for going on a month and a half. February and March had passed by very quickly and soon April arrived which meant two things. His physio started on his leg and more importantly his talk on Aura was in two weeks' time so hopefully he would be able to walk unaided for that week. It was doubtful though, so he had organised with Silph to get him an electric wheelchair for the event. He arrived in Saffron City on the 3rd and checked into a hotel which thankfully had an elevator enabling him to get to his room ok.
His mum was worried about him as it would be the first time in six weeks that he would be out of her sight for an extended period of time but he had repeatedly told her that other than going to his physio appointments and to the venue to get a feel for the place he wouldn't be leaving his room. He had far too much paperwork to be getting on with no matter how restless he was feeling. The week flew by in a myriad of appointments, meetings, arguments, discussions and reluctant agreements on what the plan was for his talk. Silph were determined for him to do interviews about his talk, Ash point blank refused saying if people wanted to know what it was about then they could come to the show. Finally, Ash compromised that he would answer a few questions but he wasn't going to go out of his way to appease anyone.
"No Joanne" Ash said to his P.A on his phone. "They'll get a few questions to ask and that's it. I have far too much on my plate to be doing an hour interview about my talk, I may as well just send them my script so just send me the questions they want answered and I'll send you my replies."
"Fine" Joanne said sighing "next agenda then. As you know your talk is from next Tuesday to Saturday. Saturday however has been moved to 6pm to allow certain companies to set up for it as Mr Suzuki has decided that your talk will be filmed and distributed so there will be cameras there that evening. Before you say anything it's in your contract and this will count towards your appearances for Silph this year. Silph is a business Ash, one that is funding and supporting you so play nice."
"Fine" Ash said looking irritated before continuing "what's the plan for Saturday then? I know Tuesday to Friday is 1pm-3pm."
"You'll want to get to Silph for 4:30 at the latest so we can go over the plans." Joanne said "essentially nothing will be that much different than the weekday talks other than it being filmed. I have been told there will be some special guests in the audience as this was the one that was originally sold out so that's exciting."
"What special guests?" Ash asked "and why am I only just hearing about it?"
"You'll find out when they turn up" Joanne said cheerfully making Ash grumble "the last item is your wardrobe for the event."
"I'm wearing normal clothes" Ash said instantly "I'm not advertising Silph when we're already in bloody Silph Towers doing the show. I already have issues walking at the minute; I don't want to have to play dress up at the same time and further complicate my recovery."
"Fine" Joanne said shaking her head "well that was everything so far. I'll see you Tuesday afternoon."
"Bye Joanne" Ash said hanging up and turning to Pikachu "why did I agree to do this again?"
"You didn't" Pikachu said yawning and stretching "this was your idea in the first place so suck it up."
"You've been very tetchy lately" Ash commented using the crutches as he heaved himself out of the chair and walked to the fridge to get himself a fruit pouch and a bottle of water "something on your mind?"
"I'm bored" Pikachu said flopping down dramatically "I'm a man of action."
"Man?" Ash asked humorously interrupting him.
"I'm a Pokémon of action" Pikachu said as if nothing had happened. "Training can only help so much."
"Trust me I'm aware" Ash said as he sat back down and turned on the TV handing Pikachu an apple slice as he leaned back "I've done nothing but lie down and rest this bloody leg for nearly two months now and I have at least five more weeks of physio before my recovery period is done."
"I miss travelling" Pikachu said morosely "despite the event at Shamouti the Orange Islands were amazing to see and visit. When are we leaving for Johto again?"
"Next February" Ash said laughing as Pikachu groaned and sulked "I know, I know but it can't be helped."
"We'd be leaving for Johto in the next few weeks if it wasn't for you being clumsy" Pikachu grumbled.
"I would hardly call being attacked by a swam of Scyther my fault" Ash retorted "you literally heard me try and warn them off but they didn't and this is the result" he finished jabbing his leg making him wince in pain at his own idiocy.
"Yeah, yeah" Pikachu said grabbing another slice of apple from the pouch "keep crying."
"Seriously what is up with you?" Ash said muting the TV and facing his starter "talk to me."
"I met somebody" Pikachu said "or I should say someone. And I miss her."
"Oh wow" Ash said leaning back again "what or who is she?"
"She's unattainable" Pikachu said "so it doesn't matter. But it's why I want to go travelling again, to take my mind off it and to give me something to focus on."
"If you ever want to chat you know I'm here" Ash said.
"I know" Pikachu said picking out the final piece of apple and nibbling on it "sucks doesn't it."
"Very much so" Ash said "seems like we're both in the same boat here pal. What a pathetic pair we make eh."
The weekend passed by painfully for Ash as he had his leg stretched out for hours by his physio and he limped into Silph on the Tuesday morning on his crutches, determined to start walking as soon as he could. Meeting Joanne he followed her into the auditorium and had to stop himself from gasping. He hadn't had the chance last time he was here to see just how big the venue was as he was pulled away by Mr Suzuki to see the Masterball before he could sit and watch the conference he planned to see. It was huge, high vaulted and had quilted purple seats that stretched out as far as Ash could look.
"Now it seats two thousand people and every day sold out within hours of going back on sale" Joanne said as she led him down the aisles to the stage which took over a minute "as you can see the stage is empty at the minute so that we can set it up for your own needs. Is there anything specific you want?"
"A chair" Ash said "that's all I really need to be honest. I can't move around much at the minute so I'm gonna be sat down while I talk. Saturday might be different though depending on who's coming but for now just the chair."
"Simple" Joanne said writing it down on her clipboard "I like it."
"How am I getting up there?" Ash said looking at the stage which was eye level for him.
"Oh" she said as she led him off to the side "we have a small lift here for disabled access which you can use. But you have a dressing room just down a corridor behind the stage so it's likely you'll be able to just walk on from that side. Come I'll take you there."
The week flew by for Ash and he was generally very happy with how his talk was received. He had relented on the reporters questions and after the Wednesday session he had sat down and had a chat with a few reporters who took notes before leaving and writing up the articles. He was very pleased with how some of the critics responded and was happy that he had done a good job. So going into Saturday he was far more relaxed than usual.
"You seem chipper" Joanne said as she met him at the lobby at 4:25.
"It's the last one" Ash said smiling "and I'll soon be going home. I've not been there in nearly six months now and I miss it."
"That's as good a reason as any" Joanne said as she led him to his room. "Now, the guest list tonight is pretty exclusive. It seems the majority of the Elite Four will be here from Kanto AND Johto apart from Will who has claimed illness and Lance who is at home with his newborn son, there are many celebrities coming too so that should be fun. Oh, and the Queen of Rota will be here with her new fiancé. So, all in all a pretty special evening is planned."
"Does she have to be here?" a voice said from the doorway making Ash look up to see his mum leaning against the door frowning at what she heard.
"Er, yes" Joanne said uncertainly "I mean her people were the first ones to block buy tickets so she has about twenty coming with her. Why?"
"She's a bitch" Delia said sitting down causing Ash to giggle "what? I'm allowed to say it."
"You sure are" Ash said "how are you doing mum?"
"I'm good" she said leaning over and kissing him on the head "tired though. And now irritated that Ilene is going to be here."
"What's the problem with the Queen?" Joanne asked confused.
"She tried to take dad from mum" Ash said "and tried to enslave me as an Aura Guardian. She also had her right hand man Riley attack me as a child and claim me. It's how my aura powers were unlocked. The last time we saw Ilene her face was a bloodied mess."
"The most satisfying beating I've ever given someone" Delia said smirking and closing her eyes recalling the time she had beat up Ilene.
"Don't worry about it" Ash said interrupting Joanne from speaking again "as I told my Pokémon I don't expect them to react or believe the same things I do and the same goes for you with this. You can form your own opinion and we won't think less of you Joanne. You have your own mind. I do however think I'll have to edit some of my talk to avoid being sued or telling people the whole truth about Rota. Thankfully they're only mentioned a few times so it won't be too difficult. You've given me a great idea though" taking out is phone he sent a message and received a reply a few minutes later while his mum and Joanne were talking about food, something the discovered Joanne was very passionate about. Nodding he waited for a lull in their conversation and said "remember when you asked Tuesday what I'll need on stage, and I said just a chair? Well tonight, I'll need a table, a glass bowl and a towel too."
"Are you going to perform a magic trick?" Joanne said standing up laughing "that shouldn't be too difficult to do. Good luck Ash. Bye Delia."
"Hello all" he said walking out onto the stage from the side curtain to applause. As he looked out into the seated crowd spotting some familiar faces, some welcome, some very much not he shook his head he carried on "I will start out by saying I am seated and on crutches because I had an operation on my leg a few weeks ago and I'm in recovery. My leg has healed nicely and I'll soon be walking properly again. So, today is going to be a little bit different than the other four talks I've done this week. Mainly because it's being recorded but also because a friend has agreed to take part in a demonstration. But that's for later. I'll start out by introducing myself, even though you all know who I am as you bought the ticket. I am Ashton Satoshi Ketchum, son of Delia and Red Ketchum and I have been an Aura wielder my entire life though only consciously since I was 6 years old when my Aura was awakened and I learned of my place in the world. I have been told I cannot, for legal reasons say how but there are many in the audience today who know how so I will say no more on that.
So, Aura. What is it? What can be done with it? How did it come to be in the first place? How many can utilise it? These are the things I will be going over with today. Now, a lot of what I am about to say is already written down in my book "The Aura Within" so for a more in-depth account of Aura please buy the book.
So first a history lesson. Aura has always been and always will be. It's the life essence of every single living thing on the planet from the smallest ant to the largest Wailord. It is a living breathing entity that encompasses us all and has done since we were born. It's in the very air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the people we love. Many historians will tell you that Aura only came into being when the God Pokémon Arceus created the Earth however that is false. Arceus was not of this planet when her egg was formed all those millennia ago but her birth was instrumental in the distribution of Aura across this planet when she settled here to rest and recover from what I understand to be a traumatic experience. Now a lot of people will dismiss what I've just said as fanciful, some will say it's lies but I say I don't care what they think. I know the truth because I have met Arceus not long ago after the event on New Island and she told me this herself.
Now, after she awakened she decided to help the natural elements in this world and soon gave birth to Pokémon widely known as the Pillars of Creation who in turn helped form the very world we live in. Over time more and more Legendary Pokémon were created to rule and govern areas and Arceus and the Pillars were able to take a back seat and watch as the world grew. From seemingly nowhere man was born, religious practitioners will step in and say it was God who created us, other will say it was pure luck and chance that we were formed. Who knows how we came to be but we were born non-the-less and over time began to take over parts of the world, often driving out the legendaries who governed that part where man settled. This obviously took thousands of years to happen but throughout all of that there were those who could wield this mystical blue light and manipulate the earth around them. Those people were revered by the lesser folk as gods and began to believe it themselves when they found none could challenge them.
Running parallel alongside the birth of man was the creation of Pokémon. The first known Pokémon was Mew, hence the assumption she is the ancestor of all Pokémon, and she is revered in some cultures as a deity herself. That however isn't true, she's the ancestor of all psychic types but her genetic makeup allows for other species to be born using her DNA, something she shares with just two other Pokémon: those being Ditto and Eevee. The Legendaries of that time mated with the Pokémon they governed and gave birth to minor deities known to people as Ancients. These Pokémon were colossal and ruled through might. Thousands were slaughtered over the years afterwards to maintain their power until one day something sparked a revolution. To this day no one is sure just what started it, but the result was the Ancients being killed and the liberation of the Pokémon world from their yoke. I was told by Professor Oak a few months ago that we have only just in the last fifty years reached the numbers that were around during the war 800 years ago. That's how bad the losses were on both sides.
Now while this was happening something strange happened to the people around in that time. Aura users began to sprout up from nowhere, so much so that the wielders revered as Gods quickly lost their right to rule when suddenly little Jimmy from the poor house down the road could wield the same energy the grown man could. And as with anything like that many were killed or captured to try and repress the gift or wield it themselves, but it didn't help. As soon as one person was cut down two more sprouted up and soon the entire region of what is now known as Kanto had thousands of aura users living freely. But man found to their cost that living freely wasn't a good thing. Without any rules or regulations chaos soon reigned so in order for peace to be established they created a new way of living. Kanto would become a Kingdom, or in this case it eventually became a Queendom. Originally it was man who sat on their newly made-up throne however when several of them tried to suppress their people they were quickly deposed until someone had the bright idea of putting a female on the throne.
Women as we all know are far more nurturing and caring in their nature than men and the people found that they were far more willing to take orders from a Queen who cared for everyone than a King who only cared for himself. That Queendom called itself Rota and for hundreds of years Rota created peace and harmony. Aura wielders flocked there to learn and train from the masters that lived in Rota and the world was flush with people who cared until one day a man was born who would forever change the world in which we now live.
He was powerful when he was born, so much so that every Aura wielder felt the moment he was born as there was something different with his aura. No one knew what it was but he soon grew up and rose up the ranks of the Aura Guardians until he was the right hand man of the Queen at the time. His name was Aaron Ketchum, my ancestor. Not a lot was known about Aaron, the only 'facts' we have are from his own personal diaries my father liberated from Rotas library of which several pages have been torn out over the many centuries since his death. But while I was travelling with Aarons Lucario I asked him questions about him and noted them down which is how I have come to know of what became of him. That story is for another time though."
Taking a sip of his water Ash looked around and saw many people talking quietly to themselves as they processed the information. Placing his bottle back down he continued.
"There is a saying in the Pokémon world that everything has an opposite. Light has dark, hate has indifference etc etc. It is why every Pokémon has a natural weakness to another type. It is to create the ability to halt any Pokémon that tries to rule over others. Aura wielders have the abominations known as psychics. Psychics only deal in manipulation of the mind and facts. The birth of Aaron heralded the birth of another strong Aura user who decided as he was growing up that he wasn't happy with what the Aura Guardians were doing at that time, constantly saving Pokémon from dying with liberal aura usage and serving royalty at their leisure and not ours. Malokei believed he was destined for greatness, after all Aura chose him to be more powerful than those around him didn't it? One day there was an enormous explosion that destroyed the wall of the throne room in Rota that caused havoc. The documents from back then were translated quite poorly but from an eyewitness account which survived it was told that Aaron and Malokei fought in the throne room over whether Queen Rin was capable of ruling if she had such weak feelings of caring about the weak that he felt didn't deserve to remain alive. Aaron obviously was the Queens best friend and defended her, Malokei argued he was blinded by his love for her and so they fought and Malokei fled when he was beaten. During his rise up the ranks of aura users though he gained many followers who heard him speak and agreed with his views so when he was banished he decided to take as many likeminded people as he could and created his own guild. Sadly, there were many who believed like he did and with their aid he experimented trying to use Aura to serve his purpose and not the other way around.
Over time Malokei and his companions eventually succeeded after many failed experiments and was able to use Aura to manipulate minds. But as is common with those who believe they alone are superior they experimented too much and corrupted Aura in a way that's never been done since and for good reason. As I said Aura makes up literally everything inside and outside us. It's in our bones, our atoms and there is no escaping or hiding from Aura. Pokémon use it every day, it's the essence of what shapes their attacks. Corrupting it affects everything around you when you use it and Malokei either forgot that or ignored it and created his own army, formed up of hundreds of people whose minds they had taken over with their new creation. And they waged war against the Aura users and the Queendom of Rota. The irony is that the new manipulated power he created had no effect on natural aura users and so they were quickly losing the battles. Aura users had the ability to shape the very air around them into anything they wanted, Psychics as they became known could only alter the aura but couldn't keep it constrained in any shape. The structures Aura users made in battle were far superior to the ones Psychics used as they didn't change the very fabric of what made them whereas Psychic power only altered the reality of them.
They got their arse handed to them in the war and hundreds lost their lives in one man's pointless pursuit of power. And then they found another cause that suited them; the Ancients vs The Liberators and the psychics saw their chance to regain some form of power and joined the Ancients who were revered as Gods. I mean, how can a God lose? Well, as I said earlier the Ancients weren't Gods, they just believed they were and so eventually they lost the Great War. The psychics were all but destroyed by Aura users to the point only a few handfuls remained. But over the centuries they regained their losses while the Aura Guardians dwindled.
I was told years ago by the Queens right hand man Riley that there were only around seventeen Aura guardians left in the world but that isn't the case as everyone in the world can manipulate Aura to a certain degree but many don't know how to access it and so it goes unused. That's why psychics now have the advantage. There are schools that actively search for them from birth but Rota decided in its infinite wisdom to just keep a select group in their kingdom to train, and once they reached a certain number stopped doing so. Only once a guardian dies is another one trained to take his or her place. It's yet another mark against that clown running Cameron Palace and her ancestors who have done nothing but complain about the situation yet done nothing proactive to change things."
As he said this he saw Ilene stiffen up in anger and gasps come from her entourage. Ash though ignored it and carried on "Psychics will eventually win because of the one big drawback of being an Aura wielder. We mate for life, and we don't always find our mate. Once we reach sexual maturity, what we call Aural Puberty our aura constantly sends out signals hoping to find its match but a lot of times the person we match is already taken so we die alone and so our already few numbers dwindle. I personally believe he ability to wield aura is both blessing and curse. It is a blessing because I can understand Pokémon and communicate with them. Not only that but raining with aura has strengthened both my body and mind. I am only twelve years old and my aura had to quickly change my body structure to be able to handle the amount of aura my body can hold safely which is why I look like a grown adult.
It is a curse because my aura hurts me twice a day to try and find my other half and I have literally no say in who it might be. I am however free to choose to decide on not pursuing said person when I find them so I'm lucky with that but my aura will always work better alongside my chosen partner. Sir Aarons match was Queen Rin, but because of her station they could never declare their love openly for each other, after all he was born of a lower class and she was royalty but I am descended from them through an illegitimate daughter they had. I tell you this because many will wonder how I am alive if he and Rin were matched yet unable to be together. As an aside I want it to be known I want nothing to do with the throne of Rota, no matter how small a claim I might have. I will not be someone's standard bearer in a fight I have no intention of being involved in either so for those who have designs on that throne, keep my name from your mouths. The throne is Ilene's and hers alone.
The psychics still don't dare start another war as there's many things around now that can combat them and outright murdering another human being will see you be euthanised by the powers that be. Psychics fear us because they cannot manipulate our minds in any way, which means they cannot control us. But Aura users have never forgotten or forgiven what Malokei and his people did to the world. They've also not forgiven them for assassinating the Queen of Rota a few centuries ago by ensnaring her sons mind and committing Regicide. It's tied into our very DNA to reject them. They are an abomination, a cancer on the world but sadly, it's not one we're allowed to excise because there are too many of them.
For many this will be a controversial way of thinking however for every aura wielder it isn't. It's something I struggle to explain to non-aura users and according to my mum my father was the same much to the delight of others when they saw how he interacted with psychics. Now this is not something I can control or learn to control either as it's part of my very makeup. Now, I would like to clarify that I have nothing against Psychic Pokémon. They were created by Arceus as they are and like myself, they cannot help who they are. Psychic Pokémon didn't get involved in the war and just be on one side. They were on both and it's a shame really that the abominations used their types as a collective name for themselves and virtually lumped them in the same boat simply because they could talk telepathically. But psychics, even to this day have the option of being an aura user or a psychic when they begin their training. They get to decide and still choose poorly.
The events in this very city over the last few years are proof of that. As I told my mum and Professor Oak when I first entered this city I had no intention of getting rid of Sabrina and her ilk as I had no way of legally doing so. Sabrina and her crew had their grip on this city for years, it didn't start with her either, she just inherited it and carried on. It was pure chance that Mr Suzuki was in that Pokémon centre that day with his daughter but my actions that day have changed my life and those in Saffron enormously and the people of Saffron are free to keep their own thoughts and their actions are their own. It is something I am very proud of, to free someone from tyranny, even accidentally helps me sleep much better at night. I once heard a quote that went along the lines of "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". It is something I have always subscribed to, if I have the ability to help someone, I believe I have the responsibility to help someone.
Now, I feel I must clarify something for those who have been concerned about the topic I have just been talking about. I'm sure there are people who wield psychic powers that are intrinsically good people who chose psychic over aura for what they thought were 'cool' reasons however they will always be people who chose wrongly and for those that wield Aura the way I do they will forever be judged on that choice."
Standing up Ash winced as he clutched his crutch and stretched out his leg cracking it in satisfaction before sitting back down. nodding over to the side of the stage a Silph employee rushed on stage with a small table and a bowl before leaving.
"Now, as I started out by saying this particular talk is a little different from the ones I've done this week so far. I'd like you all to welcome my special guest Lorelei Kanna-Hoshiri."
Immediately the crowd started clapping as Lorelei walked onto the stage wearing her traditional outfit waving at the crowd. Eventually they settled down and waited to see what was going to happen next.
"Usually" Ash said as he stood up and swayed slightly before regaining his balance "I would just talk about Pokémon's physiology and how Aura helps and hinders them but for this one I've something else planned. Now the reason I have asked Lorelei to aid me twofold. One because I know Lorelei has never tried to activate her innate aura and two, she owes me after I helped her out during her talk." He finished smiling causing several people to laugh and titter.
"Now, Mrs Lorelei, if you could call out your Lapras we can get started." Ash said.
Curious Lorelei reached onto her Pokeball belt and grabbed her Pokeball before calling out her starter who looked around curiously at the audience. It was used to crowds by now so didn't react out of the ordinary.
"Did anyone notice what Lorelei did just then?" Ash asked the audience who just sat in silence looking at each other "come on now, it's not life and death. If anyone has a guess, then shout out." More silence reigned causing Ash to shake his head in disappointment before a voice from the back shouted down "she picked Lapras' pokeball immediately."
"Exactly!" Ash said triumphantly to the audience "she immediately reached for and successfully chose her Lapras. Lorelei has six Pokémon on her and chose Lapras without hesitation. Why?"
"Aura?" another voice asked.
"Aura" Ash said nodding "every single person has the ability to use aura and every single one of you has the capability to interact with the Pokémon world in a more intimate way. It's just very few choose to do so. Why? Often because they're told that the ability is so exclusive that it just couldn't be them that is chosen. Most people refuse to believe they're that special. Mainly though it's because of laziness. It requires a lot of time, training and effort to reach a level where you can manipulate aura to shape the world around you and most people just aren't willing to put in the effort. For myself, as soon as I heard I could use Aura I started experimenting with it, manipulating it until eventually I became so good at it that I can feel and differentiate every single different aura in a room, I can sense when particularly powerful Pokémon are nearby and I can instantly tell if someone has the ability to wield it like the Guardians do. In this room alone there are three that I can sense with the Guardian ability that is untapped.
But back onto Lorelei, she instinctively knew which Pokémon was her Lapras and didn't hesitate. Now some people would put this down to her Lapras being her starter and the bond she has with him, or simply remembering which slot he takes up on her belt so we'll do another demonstration. Lorelie, without reaching on your belt, which Pokémon on you is your newest?"
"Froslass" she replied without hesitation.
"Ok" Ash said "if you would, can you place the remaining pokeballs on your belt into this bowl please."
Wondering where this was going she did so and stepped back to stand at the side of her starter who rested his head on her shoulder also looking curious. Ash covered the bowl with a towel that was provided and stuck his hand under so no one could see it and swirled the balls around. Once Ash felt them settle he removed the towel and nodded at her. "Find Froslass."
Walking over Lorelei looked in the bowl pondering before reaching in and picking a ball. Frowning she immediately dropped it and shook her head muttering "Jynx" before picking up another one and nodding as she handed it to Ash.
Curious Ash picked up the discarded pokeball and pressed the release button and her humanoid ice type came out looking around bewildered before spotting Lorelei and shouted joyously "Hello mother."
Chuckling Ash relayed what was said causing Lorelei to tear up as she had never heard what her Pokémon said to her before. Lorelei immediately hugged her Pokémon and as she did Ash released the Pokémon he was handed and her ghost/ice type came out causing snow to lightly envelop her.
Quietly Ash said "As demonstrated Lorelei unconsciously uses aura on a daily basis and doesn't know it, just like every single Pokémon trainer in the world does" Placing the empty pokeballs back into the bowl he continued "there is no greater joy in my world than the ability to communicate and understand my own Pokémon. It has helped me so much in my short career, from helping me pick the right food for them, train them correctly, even chat with them about their wants and needs from life. I don't care if it sounds sappy but apart from my mother they're the single most important thing in my life and without them or the ability to communicate with them I very much doubt I'd be the same person that stands before you all today. Aura has shaped my life for the better, do yourself a favour and let it make yours better too. Thank you all for coming and I hope you all have a safe trip home."
Grabbing his other crutch Ash limped off stage to applause and sighed as he sat down in the wheelchair before smiling and heading to his dressing room letting out a huge sigh as he closed the door. Looking over to his starter who had jumped from his lap to the dresser he said "thank you for being my friend Pi. It means a lot."
"Don't get me crying" Pikachu said "but you're welcome. So, what do we do now?"
"We wait for the crowds to leave and then head back to the hotel" Ash replied "We're here another two weeks for my physio and then hopefully I should be able to walk again so we can visit home. It's been too long Pi."
Twenty minutes later Delia walked in smiling "I thought you'd be hiding in here. Now come on, we've been waiting for you Ash."
"Who has?" he asked confused.
"Everyone" she said unhelpfully "now come on."
Perplexed Ash wheeled himself out of the room to find several people milling about. Ash wondered why the collective Elite Four were waiting when a sweet voice came from the crowd.
"Oh, there you are" Nia said walking forward and giving him an awkward hug "we've been waiting for you Slowpoke."
"Why?" Ash asked as a headache started to form from being confused.
"We've all been invited to a meal by Mr Suzuki in the towers restaurant" Delia said as she started to wheel him towards a doorway at the end of the tunnel as everyone else followed them as they made their way to the eatery. Twenty minutes later Ash was sat with Koga on his left and Hailee on his right while the rest sat down at a huge table and conversed. This was surreal Ash thought as they all started eating their food.
"How's your dad Blue?" Ash asked across the table "he was very ill the last time I spoke to him."
"He's on the mend" Blue said "but whatever he caught was pretty horrific. He was in hospital for weeks."
"I spoke to the old buzzard this morning" Agatha said "he seemed ok. He dropped hints about being bored several times."
"Remind you of anyone?" Delia asked him making him pull his tongue out at her, much to the delight of the three year old that he was sat next to.
"No" Ash said as he carried on the conversation he was having with Koga about the uses of poisons in medicine and the various studies that were being documented at his home. "You're always welcome Koga, especially after what you did for me in the wake of our battle."
"Nonsense" Koga said waving it away "you proved what kind of man you were in the aftermath and the matter was settled."
"Still" Ash said "the offer stands. Actually, I could do with your help. My aid Zoe informed me a few weeks ago that over the last few months a small nest of Spinarak have been spotted on the outskirts of my lake. I'm worried we may soon be overrun with Ariados as they seem to breed like Ratattas and that part of the forest has quickly become dangerous to go near."
"Ah, that is an issue" Koga said nodding "I have a contact in Johto that has a forest full of them that they can be relocated to. I'll be in touch with you in a few weeks once it's set up."
"Thanks" Ash said as he turned to the little girl who had tugged on his sleeve. She was playing with a doll she had brought and evidently wanted to show him. Many people were looking at their interaction and smiled at the way he was with Hailee.
"She doesn't see other people that much as we're always busy. It's why I'm currently taking a break from the Elite Four so we can spend more time together" Lorelei said to Karen "but she followed Ash around like a Growlithe when we had our holiday together at Christmas and he indulged her every time. He's been really good to her."
"He does seem good with children" Karen said as she nibbled on a naan bread and dunked it into her curry "which is strange given what I have been told about him, mainly the indifference he treats others with."
"Only the lazy and entitled" Blue said "he's very much his fathers' son. Red couldn't abide laziness or people who took short-cuts to get where they were. It's why we we're rivals because I'm the same way. And it's also why I was so frustrated with how Gary was behaving the last few years but thankfully the loss at the league seemed to have given him the wake-up call he needed."
"More like the talk Ash had with him after his loss" Delia commented "he didn't hold back, did he?"
"No, he certainly didn't" Blue said shaking his head as he recalled the incident. Seeing the look on Karens face he elaborated "he called him out on his arrogance and attitude in not listening to either myself, my dad or Laura when we gave him advice. Laura was one step away from asking dad to suspend Gary's trainers license until he grew up a bit."
"Actually it was 'You're arrogant, entitled, spoiled and every other word I could use for pathetic. The fact you believe you lost because your Pokémon was tired says everything we already knew about you. You have no accountability for your own actions and when you have your dad, the current champion, your grandfather, a former champion and your mother an extremely successful breeder giving you advice and you blatantly ignore it because you believe you know best just reiterates the fact you'll never amount to anything. I suggest you take a good long look in the mirror because at the rate you're going you'll never be anything but the you you are now'" Ash said smirking at them before turning back to Hailee.
"Wow" Karen mouthed at Blue who nodded.
"Every single person at this table has got to where they were on merit" Ash said looking up "and not one of you has ever felt "that will do" is acceptable nor have I ever heard any of you blame your Pokémon or luck when you lost a match. They don't hand the Elite Four badges out in lucky bags which is something I've always admired regardless of how I felt about you personally in the past. And when I saw the way Gary acted, being blatantly disrespectful to you, Sam and Aunt Laura I couldn't stop myself. He seemed to have forgotten the golden rule of being a Pokémon trainer. But I'm glad he's turned a corner now anyway."
"What golden rule?" Joanne asked curiously as she listened in.
"A win is the Pokémon's doing, a loss is your fault." Delia said "Red used to say it all the time to me that arrogance has no place in a battle, it is a trainers downfall and will always eventually be exposed."
"Gary thought his opponent got lucky in the battle" Blue said "she didn't, she out-manoeuvred him and out-thought him and deserved the win. Gary's attitude has been the main source of arguments between Laura and I over the last five years or so because I spoiled him so a large portion of the blame goes to me but there was only one point in my career that I was ever arrogant and I lost the biggest match I've ever been in because of it. I worked my arse off to get to where I am, same as everyone else here and not once did I use my fathers accolades as a reason to treat others like crap like my son did and he was mere months away from my daughter Daisy disowning him and if anyone of you has ever met her you'll know how serious that is given her nature. Thankfully he had the wake-up call that was a long time coming and has gotten better over the last six months."
The next few minutes the table quietly sat and ate while Ash ignored the atmosphere and started to create blue aura balls and juggle them for Hailee being careful to not drop them, eventually though conversation started back up. That was until the balls disappeared and Ash stiffened when he felt a presence making their way towards them. "Trouble approaches Pi" Ash whispered to his starter who looked up alert at the entourage making their way to their table.
"Hello all" Ilene said smiling at them before setting her gaze on Ash. She was with Riley, a Lucario and a man who looked like a puffed-up pompadour with his nose slightly upturned. He was a fairly tall, weedy looking man with sharp features, a thin mouth, grey eyes and blonde hair that was coiffed immaculately. Ash knew immediately what this chap was like and had to stop himself from snorting. He saw she outright refused to look at Delia which gave her a sense of smug satisfaction "I was just passing, and I thought I'd come and congratulate you personally on your talk. It was illuminating."
"And true" Ash said nodding at her "I left a lot out that I was going to say."
"We noticed" Ilene said nodding "and we thank you for that. We also thank you for your comments on the throne."
"I meant every word. What I left out though will be out in my next book later on this year" Ash said causing Riley and Ilene to slightly stiffen. "something to say Riley?"
"Ash" Delia warned him making him nod and acknowledge how he was being.
"We're not here to antagonise you" Riley said "we just wanted to congratulate you on your success."
"It's good to see you again Lucario" Ash said taking Rileys word at face value "how are you enjoying training the Lucario at the palace?"
"It's grim going Master Ash" Lucario said nodding "standards have dropped dramatically since I was a young Riolu but they're getting there."
"Being born during a war was probably the reason for that" Ash said "we are currently in a state of peace so the need for training to survive isn't as much of a necessity. But I'm glad you're making progress. You should come and visit Pallet Town when you have the chance, with my dodgy leg you might be able to beat me."
"The last time I had been frozen for over eight hundred years" Lucario replied good-naturedly "next time will be different."
"Though the fact none of you has risen for your Queen is most disconcerting" the other man said interrupting them looking irritated.
"She's not my Queen" Ash said ignoring the spluttering man, nodding respectfully to Lucario who nodded slightly back before focusing on Riley who was looking strangely at Hailee, something which raised Ash's hackles.
"Is she..." Riley began.
"Yes" Ash said interrupting him.
"But she…" Riley continued
"Claimed" Ash said looking sternly at him.
"But she will need a trainer" he spluttered out.
"And that choice will be made by her parents" Ash said nodding to a grim looking Lorelei and an irritated looking Bruno. Pikachu hearing what was happening jumped across the table where he had been sat with Delia and stopped in front of Hailee and sparked warningly at Riley. "They already know and are aware of what Hailee will have to suffer though and if it was up to me you wouldn't ever get a say in it. I'm not her family though so I will go along with whatever Bruno and Lorelei decide and only then will I take the mark off her and not one minute before. By all means make your case to them but should I hear you've told half-truths or outright lies I will not hesitate to destroy you Riley. For now though she will have the luxury of enjoying the rest of her childhood without being pestered by people who think they have some sort of claim on her."
"She is three" Lorelei said having had enough slamming her hand on the table "and no one but Bruno or I will make any decision concerning our daughter."
"We will take our leave" Ilene said quickly before it escalated "congratulations again Ash. Lorelei we will be in touch." She led the procession away talking furiously with Riley. Lucario though looked at Ash and then Hailee before walking around the table, being observed keenly by the group and placed his hand on her head which glowed blue as he tried to sense something. Seemingly getting what he wanted he nodded to Ash before he followed the others out growling as he did so.
Breathing out a sigh of relief Ash shook his head and hugged the slightly scared three-year-old, whispering in her ear something which made her nod. As she got down from the stool she ran around the table and hugged her mum who smiled and mouthed a 'thank you' at Ash.
"I apologise" Ash said "especially to you Bruno and to you Lorelei. If I spoke out of turn then I am truly sorry."
"You don't need to but it is appreciated all the same" Bruno said opening is arms for his daughter giving her a hug "I feel like we should be apologising to you and thanking you for doing what you did all those months ago."
"I had the ability to protect her" Ash said shrugging his shoulders "I kept thinking of how mum struggled to do the same for me and how much easier it would have been if dad was still around."
"What did you do?" Blue asked concerned. "And what did that Lucario do?"
"Does everyone here know?" Ash asked Lorelei who nodded "Hailee has the curse of Aura. Contrary to what the people who just left would say it is not a gift, it is a curse because you don't really get to choose a lot of things that will happen in your life. Riley, on behalf of his Queen tried to make a claim on me when I was six when he activated my aura by touching me. There's a lot of personal history between mum and Ilene which we won't go into here but the gist of it is Ilene fancied my dad, couldn't claim him for herself due to his aura seeking out mum and threw a fit. Dad went missing, presumed dead so she tried to claim me instead to get back at mum. Mum took them to court and successfully sued them claiming they had attacked me, which they did so Ilene was thwarted yet again."
"Is that what Riley would have done to Hailee?" Sarah asked "claim her I mean?"
"Yes" Ash said nodding "he would have likely disguised it as 'activating her aura' like he did with me when in actuality he would have claimed her as his apprentice and nothing Bruno or Lorelei could say would matter as Hailee's own aura would follow her masters aura. Even over her own parents wishes."
"So how come you couldn't be claimed then?" Blue asked confused "Red went missing before he could 'protect' you didn't he? And Riley activated your aura so why isn't he your master?"
"Two reasons, the first being my aura outstripped his own and no aura user will suffer a master that's inferior for very long. We can sense when we're being hindered" Ash said "and the second reason is I was claimed by someone else from birth, one who far outranks even myself in power. So he literally had no chance to lay any sort of claim on me."
"Who?" Lorelei asked curiously "I thought you said you were the most powerful aura user alive?"
"On Earth I am yes" Ash said "but one not of this Earth claimed me from conception."
"Arceus claimed you?" Nia breathed out after a few moments silence "Arceus?"
"Yes" Ash said nodding "I cannot tell anyone the reason why just yet either so please don't ask. But suffice to say only my mother and my future companion has a better claim on me."
"Wow" Nia said leaning back.
"And the Lucario?" Bruno asked again.
"He also put a protection mark on her" Ash said "he saw the way things were going and added his own mark. Should anything unfortunate happen to you and Lorelei the people of Rota will have to go through him and myself before they can get to her. I suspect he would absolutely love to train her himself given the potential she has and to be honest when you go down the route of looking into her aura education I would highly recommend him as long as Riley and the Queen have nothing to do with it. He has no obligation to Ilene, despite her believing otherwise. He was loyal to Rin and Aaron and is loyal to Rota, not the monarch that occupies the throne."
"Can he decide that?" Blue asked "how does he get that choice? I mean I thought all Lucario served the Queen."
"That particular Lucario is different" Ash said "he was deeply unimpressed with Ilene and Riley's actions concerning me. He told me himself that if Riley had done what he did during his time to a child like I was he would have executed Riley himself and not thought twice about it regardless of how trusted Riley was to the Queen. As for Ilene when I told him about what she tried to do with mum and dad made him very angry. The Queen knew that my father had a mate and chose to try and interfere with that and while duty to the current Queen is the highest honour a guardian can have protecting your mate is a close second. So, he decided that he would serve Rota, not Ilene in the hopes that one day the throne would have another honourable person sit in it."
"Wow" Blue said leaning back "does Ilene know this?"
"Oh yes" Ash said nodding "it was one of the first things he told her when she got back to Rota after our meeting with Mr Goodshow. She has no choice but to accept it as he's not just some random Lucario, he is Sir Aarons Lucario and his word has weight and for him to nearly renounce her as his Queen was very significant because of her dishonouring her crown. He only tolerates Riley because he has an exemplary record in defending Rotas honour and is very gifted at training others but make no mistake he can't stand him."
"So, she's safer then?" Lorelei asked looking hopeful at her daughter who was sat on her knee looking around confused at the seriousness of the people at the table.
"Very much so" Ash said nodding "if he wanted to he could have challenged my mark but he won't do that if it doesn't benefit Hailee. So yes, she's very safe from Rota."
"Thank Arceus for that" Lorelei said kissing the top of her head and hugging her.
"I think that's enough excitement for one day" Bruno said standing up "and it is past Hailee's bedtime anyway. Well done on your talk Ash, it was very good and you should be proud. I know the rest of us are."
Nodding in thanks Ash watched as everyone said their goodbyes and left leaving just Sarah, Nia, Delia and Blue.
"Blue brought me here via his Alakazam" Delia said answering Ash's unanswered question as they left the restaurant and headed outside "I'll be going home with him as he's looking after the ranch while Sam is in hospital as Tracey is too new to run the place on his own."
"No problem" Ash said nodding "thank you Blue. And thank you all for coming to my talk. Hopefully it was good."
"It was" Blue said "it answered quite a few things regarding your dad for me and why he was the way he was growing up. Anyway Delia, shall we?"
Hugging Ash Delia stood up and disappeared in a flash of purple leaving just Ash, Nia and Sarah.
"I'm going home, don't be too late" Sarah said to Nia as she left them.
The rest of the evening was spent in Saffron park chatting about Ash's adventures and where they were going to next.
"I'm going to challenge the Kanto League again this year" Nia said "will you come and watch me?"
"If I have the time yes" Ash said sighing "I'll be training for my Elite Four challenge at that time but I'm obligated to be the torch runner for the opening ceremony so I'll be around anyway. It's four months away yet though so who knows. How do you think you'll do?"
"Semi-finals are a minimum goal" Nia said after pondering the question "regression is not an option. Do you think you'd win if you entered?" Ash just gave her a look with a raised eyebrow causing her to laugh at his outrage "it was an honest question."
"Yes" Ash said "all of us are much stronger than we were at the league. The only issue I have is my team is no longer complete at the minute with Venusaur retiring and Blastoise going away. I'm going to have to do some serious work and training with Kabuto before I'll let her compete in a major battle and Gyarados is unproven. We'll get there though. By the way you never did tell me your whole team, I only battled five of them so who was your sixth should you have made it to the final?"
"While it's you I'll tell you" Nia said "I have a Togetic but I was saving her as a surprise for Johns Dragonair. Sadly, though you beat me so she never got her chance to shine." She finished poking him in the chest.
"A Togetic" Ash said looking at her appraisingly as he scratched the point she had poked "yes, I can see why you'd have one of them. I nearly had a Togepi only I left the egg at home when I was travelling to Cinnabar and it hatched in front of mum and imprinted on her."
"I know" Nia replied laughing "your mum told me. Anyway it's getting late and I have to get home, you're up early for your physio too so you need to go too."
"Oh, don't remind me" Ash said as he heaved himself off the bench and into the wheelchair "I cannot wait to be mobile again."
"Me neither you clumsy oaf" Pikachu said causing Nia to giggle and shake her head, something which Ash missed due to making sure the breaks were off.
As he climbed into bed that night Ash replayed the conversation over in his head wondering if he'd made an arse of himself. He didn't think he did, and Pikachu just ignored him when he asked him so he assumed all was well. The next few weeks flew by and as Ash clambered onto Charizard and took flight to head home he looked back at the city as it grew smaller thankful that he had succeeded with his talk. Hopefully his next one would be just as positively received but first home beckoned and as he climbed into bed the day after he slept soundly for the first time in over six months. He was home.
