"Your team is impressive!" Cynthia complimented him as they sat in another ice cream shop in Goldenrod. She didn't even blink as a few teenagers gawked at her as they walked past and right into one of the servers. Andel helpfully captured the dishes in a psychic shell and passed them back to the server, who sent the blushing teens a dirty look as she went about her duties. "It's been forever since I've had a fight like that!"
Ash blinked and leaned forward. He took a light lick of his plain vanilla ice cream and pondered the blonde Champion for a moment. To be honest he didn't really want any more. He'd only taken it to be polite - Cynthia had gotten another massive heap of a bizarre, eclectic mixture of chocolate, neopolitan, rocky road, mint, and a host of other flavors.
Most of it was gone already. She was a machine.
"I'll pass it on when I pick them up from the center," Ash said with a grin - he couldn't wait to talk to them about the battle. He absentmindedly passed a tiny bite of ice cream to Aron, who cautiously licked it with his rasping tongue. A moment later Ash felt the rough tongue bite deeper into his hand, eagerly chewing into the tiny screw Ash had hidden inside it. "Do you not get to battle very often?"
Cynthia waved the question away. "Oh no, I battle all the time!" She practically glowed, then a shadow came over her features. "It's just boring. Lucian hates battling me outside of scheduled training. Says it's a 'foregone conclusion so why bother'," she mimicked uncannily with a roll of her eyes and sighed. "He just doesn't get it."
He nodded commiseratingly. Jonathan was the same way after the Conference. They battled plenty whenever they were bored, but it hadn't taken too long for him to start shying away. It wasn't like Ash didn't understand why - losing wasn't exactly fun - but he'd rather battle and lose then not fight at all.
"Nobody else will battle you?" He arched an eyebrow. Who wouldn't want to fight Cynthia? She was one of the best in the world. Ash had no doubt he'd carry their battle today with him for the rest of his life as one of his fondest memories. Even half an hour later his hands trembled, his limbs full of electricity and his veins pounding hot and heavy with heat.
The Champion's face scrunched up as if she'd just smelled something unpleasant. "That's not exactly true," she admitted. Cynthia toyed with the scant bit of surviving ice cream that had avoided her rampage. "Flint's always up for a good fight - he'd love your Magmortar," she laughed airily. Ash grinned back. Any Fire Master would love Infernus. "You two would get along well. Flint has a Magmortar of his own. She's a mean, violent, cunning brute of a fighter. Her and Princess get along famously!" She smiled fondly as she trailed off.
Ash snorted.
Cynthia's lips twitched. "I'll have to introduce the two of you sometime," the blonde Champion said thoughtfully, though she was soon distracted by her ice cream. "Now where was I? Ah!" She swept her fringe out of the way and settled her grey eyes on Ash. Heat flooded him. "Flint, Aaron, and Bertha are lovely people. Excellent Masters as well, some of the best I've ever known," she said proudly. "They're my Elite Four!"
"But?" Ash offered, waiting for her to continue.
"But they're boring. They're strong, but I've fought them enough to know their tricks inside and out. Specialist Masters are limited that way," Cynthia elaborated. "They know everything about their chosen type and have counters for just about everything, but when you have a versatile team that's prepared for their tactics it loses some of its charm. Especially when you're facing a Master of All."
He supposed he could see the logic there. It was a little different for Cynthia, of course. She probably relied on those tricks to get the rush of battle. Once she'd dissected their tactics and prepped for their team it wasn't as exciting. Her team was just too strong.
Ash didn't exactly have an advantage over the Elite Four. They all had at least as much raw strength as him - and likely significantly more - and the knowledge, experience, and skill to shut him down. He might be able to push them harder, but Ash wasn't confident in his ability to force a draw, let alone a win. There might be a fair chance against a younger member like Will or Karen, but against Agatha or Bruno?
Ha! They'd tear him apart. Then again, it would be worth it to face the King Under the Mountain in battle…
A snap of Cynthia's fingers brought him back to earth. Ash flushed at the amused look she sent his way. He had the oddest feeling that she knew exactly what had gone through his head.
"What I was saying before you rudely fell asleep on me," Cynthia winked to show there was no real heat behind her rebuke, "is that I prefer facing other generalists. They're a little less predictable. You can pick out what they favor, but you never know what they'll pull out next!"
"What did you pick out from our battle?" Ash asked, genuinely curious. Any advice from Cynthia would go a long way. Not to mention it would be nice to learn to be less predictable. Any potential advantage over an opponent could be useful.
She hummed for a long moment and tapped her chin thoughtfully in that Steven-like way. "I knew a little about you before we battled, so that throws it off a little bit," Cynthia admitted, then smirked. "You've improved a lot since the Indigo Conference, by the way. I saw much less waste. You're more refined," she complimented.
Ash colored at the compliment. "Thanks," he croaked. A thought popped into his head. "You watched my battles?"
"Of course!" Cynthia leaned forward in her chair, grey eyes burning into Ash. "I always keep up with up-and-coming trainers. Besides, you're Lance's protege. To tell you the truth I wouldn't have had much choice watching your battles," she whispered conspiratorially, "Lance wouldn't stop bothering me until I did and told him what I thought. He was so proud after the Final - I haven't seen him that excited since we were teenagers!"
He grinned at that, even if the awkwardness of his and Lance's last meeting in the hospital struck him heavily. It was uncomfortable to think about, but Ash was determined to overcome it. His and Lance's relationship had gotten… well, weird, but he was confident things would go back to normal.
The Champion finished another bite of ice cream (by now it had all mostly melted into a rainbow puddle) and turned the conversation to a different direction. She must've been able to tell his mood had taken a sharp turn for the worse.
"You strike me as a future master of controlling the battlefield," Cynthia returned to their previous subject. Ash listened raptly, eager for every scrap of knowledge she deigned to provide. "I saw it as key to most of your strategies," she raised a finger for each instance she listed off. "Your Magmortar set up those clouds above the battlefield. You didn't get to take advantage of them outside of your Kingdra's Rain Dance, but I imagine they were designed to enhance Kingdra and Electabuzz's abilities?" She inquired, though Ash was certain she knew the answer already. Nevertheless, he nodded. "That's not even mentioning how much destruction he caused! I could barely recognize the battlefield by the end of his and Lucario's match He's a monster!"
Ash's lips twitched. "It's a special talent of his," he fiddled with his cap a little. His eyes narrowed. "Speaking of monsters…" He trailed off, a shadow falling over his face as thoughts of Spiritomb's oppressive presence came to his mind.
Cynthia didn't miss the hint. She steepled her hands together. A heaviness fell over her that felt distinctly out-of-place on the lighthearted Champion, tensing her shoulders and aging her by several years. For a moment he realized he wasn't speaking with Cynthia anymore: This was the Champion of Sinnoh, the latest in a long, long line of stalwart defenders of the northern region.
"I wondered how long it would take to come up," the Champion said wryly. Her long fingers reached beneath her long black coat - Ash knew she had brushed against Spiritomb. "Yes, Spiritomb is… unique. There are a scant few others, but you'd be hard-pressed to find them. I could count the ones I know of on one hand."
"What is it?" He pressed. There was nothing he could do to shake the awful sense that he was being watched, that Spiritomb's toxic green stare still burned away at his essence. It would haunt him for a long time yet.
The Champion hesitated. "That's a harder question to answer than you'd expect," she raised a hand at the indignation on Ash's face. "But I will! Just give me a moment to think, please."
After a few seconds she began. Cynthia leaned close, her stare flat and unyielding. Ash felt as though his deepest, basest desires were exposed in that moment, the justifications and filters of his life flayed away until only the core of him remained. "What I'm about to tell you shouldn't be shared carelessly. Do you understand?" She smiled at Ash's nod and allowed some of the severity to fall away. "Good. I trust you," Cynthia said, satisfied.
She toyed with the last remnants of her ice cream with a far off expression. "Aura hasn't always been so obscure. In the old days there were several different groups devoted to its mastery, and you could often find self-taught practitioners in any settlement - you still can, if you know where to look," Cynthia added with a smile, like she was making some inside joke to an old friend. "It offered ways to communicate with pokemon, resolve conflict, and protect and restore what was threatened... certain groups even rose to high places and acted as advisers to lords. They sought to build a more peaceful world brick by brick."
Ash grimaced. "I'm sensing a 'but' in there," he chipped in. Cynthia snorted.
"That's putting it lightly. No one is perfect, and power tends to exacerbate that. You don't have to be moral to wield Aura. You just have to know yourself," the Champion sighed. Her spoon stopped and the small puddle of ice cream settled into the bowl. "A man, perhaps several or even a city, his name stricken from history, sought power. All we know from the cautionary tales passed down from parents to their children is that he was a fabled servant of the God-King known as the Artificer. He experimented and crafted many dark and dangerous things. Most have been stricken from the world, expunged from the annals of history, but not all. All we know is a scant few traces that various historians and archaeologists have pieced together. From what little we do know the Knights of Uxie combed through and erased every mention of the Artificer they could find."
"What do we know for sure?" he frowned. So you could craft with Aura? That raised a few questions in his mind. What incredible items could have been forged with the power of self-expression? Ash wasn't sure what to make of Cynthia's reference to Sinnoh's God-King. She clearly boasted a deep, intricate knowledge of history and lore, but he knew the Sinnoans clung tightly to their fabled tales...
Cynthia hesitated, a shadow passing over her fine features. For a moment the room itself seemed to darken, the cheer and chatter of the other patrons drowned out by an uncanny silence. "I can't claim to know the specifics, but Spiritomb has shown me enough," she said, though Ash wasn't positive that he believed her, "I know that Spiritomb was created, not born. And I know the general process."
"And?" Ash pressed as he leaned forward. Interest shone in his gaze and he allowed his eyes to flit down to where Spiritomb's strange keystone was hidden beneath Cynthia's sleek jacket. Her hand clasped the spot, and for a moment Ash thought she'd forgotten entirely about him. "How - why - would you make something like that?"
"Power, of course," she said blandly. Cynthia brushed her blonde fringe out of her eyes. "According to the histories, the first Spiritomb was created in the century after the vanishing of the God-King. His lineage still ruled, but their power was frail compared to the God-King's. They were but ordinary men and women, though left with power over all of Sinnoh and control of all the land down to the Shield."
Ash found himself entranced in the story as she continued, eyes locked on her. He would take it with a grain of salt, of course, but some small piece of him dearly hoped these legends bore an even larger grain of truth.
"The descendants maintained power for a time, but the nobility crushed beneath the God-King's heel grew more and more discontent. They did not see the miracle of the God-King's might in his descendants - they spun no prophecy, forged no Titans, and the world returned to the old cycle of plenty and famine that was natural. All that remained were men and women possessing the God-Kings blood and his armies. Emboldened by their perceived weakness, the nobility chipped away at the authority of the kings and queens until they were left desperate and grasping for any form of power. As former vassals declared their independence and the work of their ancestor came undone, the kings and queens sought deeper and darker forms of control."
"Spiritomb?" Ash guessed. Cynthia smiled at him and his pulse quickened.
"Not quite, but I like the enthusiasm!" His newest teacher teased. "No, they tried to rule through fear at first. Well, more fear - all monarchs need a little fear! At first it was simple: harsh, violent responses to perceived slights. It grew as their paranoia and weakness festered. In the initial years it was petty revenge - putting families and entire houses to the sword, or worse: stripping them of their lands and titles!"
Ash blinked. "That doesn't sound too bad. Better than having your whole family murdered in front of you, I'd say."
Cynthia shook her head and sighed. "Oh, Ash. You're so innocent," she chuckled as he flushed. "Trust me, there's nothing worse to a family like that than being humiliated and losing what sets you apart. Death would be preferable, especially in those days."
He rolled his eyes and waved her on to continue. Ash was a little shocked at how cavalier he was being with Cynthia, but he ignored it - he was pretty sure she just found it amusing.
"Now where was I before I was rudely interrupted?" She twisted a blonde lock around her finger, then lit up. "Oh! Anyways, so once the normal ways of suppressing rebellion proved ineffective, the Alfa dynasty began to experiment with all sorts of creative tactics, mostly involving trying to gain control over ghosts and their creation. That path led them to be hated and feared amongst the populace and nobility alike, but it also led them to the arms of this… man? Tribe? City? It's impossible to tell with the records we have available. They've all destroyed any mention of the Aura-user who guided them."
"You see," Cynthia continued, "Spiritomb was the culmination of decades of horrific experimentation. The civil wars that raged provided ample opportunities for it."
At the mention of experimentation his heart pumped pure ice into his veins. Brief glimpses of the Rocket lab he'd broken in Celadon blurred through his mind. He had a nasty idea about where this was going…
Cynthia inclined her head to Ash's unspoken question. "Yes. Thousands were brought to this unknown individual or group as civil war shattered the land and pitted brother against brother. After a great length of time and many wasted lives, they found a sort of… well, not success since it was horrible," the Champion grimaced in distaste, "but they found what they were looking for. A method was discovered to warp a person's Aura."
"How?" Ash asked sharply, eyes wide. "You said Aura was us. It's possible to change it?"
She shrugged. "We aren't static, Ash," Cynthia said quietly. "That's why Aura is a lifelong journey. To keep the power of self-expression, you must know who you are and how you've changed. We change. A fighting man can lay down his arms. A farmer can cast away his tools for a spear. We change every day that we live. And it's not always of our own volition - sometimes the world changes us whether we ask for it or not."
It went unspoken that this was what had happened to those poor souls dragged before the experimenters. Ash fought a shudder that had nothing to do with the Ice woven into his soul - what had to be done to people to warp their essence? What tortures and challenges and tribulations?
Then a frown. Aura could be changed. It could be altered. As Cynthia began to speak, a burgeoning realization pricked at his awareness. "Anyways, from what I understand it was less of a warp or change and more of a flip or reverse. These people were irrevocably changed. Their nature was twisted and turned on its head. It's like they were changed from a positive to negative, equal and opposite…"
A heavy silence hung over them for a few moments as both trainers thought on what Cynthia had just revealed. The realization that there existed things that could strike at his deepest being, everything that made him Ash Ketchum, left a knot in his stomach. Physical struggle he could deal with. He'd already died once, after all. But it left the same kind of existential dread that Mewtwo's attempt at eradicating his mind had opened his eyes to.
Of course, it wasn't just Mewtwo. Ash thought back to when he'd grasped the Fire, Ice, and Lightning Spheres and taken the Concept into himself, wrestling it into submission. They'd been sewn throughout his mind, a subtle influence always poking and prodding at him until he'd finally gained a measure of control over them in the Hale Mansion. Ash pointedly ignored the fact that it had been Mewtwo's guidance that led him to that control.
Had they reached deeper than just his mind? Had they stained something altogether different - his Aura? How deep did their influence go?
Questions upon questions filled his mind and he thought of bringing them to Cynthia's attention, but he hesitated. Nobody else really knew what had happened and he wasn't altogether sure if he himself really understood. Though he didn't speak up, the lingering glance Cynthia sent his way told him she knew he was holding something back.
"So that's where Spiritomb comes from?" He asked, breaking their silence and tearing his focus away from those unnerving thoughts. "A bunch of changed people? How does that lead to that," he waved at the keystone on Cynthia's belt. A tiny corner of the unnatural artifact had been revealed as Cynthia shifted in her seat. Memories of its pure, unadulterated malice filled his brain and even now he felt its dread influence deep in his bones.
"They were unmade, all hundred and eight of them," she said flatly. "When they were Reversed their new form tore their bodies apart. Before they could truly die, their Aura was harnessed and fused together by the Artificer and forged into what we know as a Spiritomb, then bound to their keystones. They were trapped, stripped of their identity and lost in a maelstrom of pain and confusion and fear…"
An unpleasant feeling settled in Ash's gut at her words. What kind of existence was that? He thought back to Spiritomb's debilitating pressure, the way it had left him sick to his stomach and weak as a newborn. If the dread and fear and misery wielded by Spiritomb was even a fraction of what those souls felt… "Is that what we feel when we're around Spiritomb?" He asked, his voice harsh and hateful at the thought of what those souls must have suffered. "We feel what they feel?"
Cynthia nodded. "I wish you weren't right about that," she sighed and palmed the keystone. It shuddered lightly at Cynthia's touch. "In a way you can think of Spiritomb as the ultimate example of an Aura-user. They impress everything they are on the world, they communicate their Aura and share it with everything around them. But they leave scars on everything they touch. They eat away at it. Their misery and pain is so strong that it erodes the physical world around them."
After a poignant moment she continued, the disgust on her face matched by the roiling emotions filling Ash's heart. Fire seared his blood and imperceptible wisps of steam boiled off his skin.
"When I found Spiritomb I had no idea what I was walking into," she whispered, a far-off look in her eyes. "It was a tomb I'd found not too far from the Lost Tower in Sinnoh - it's not too far from where I grew up," Cynthia explained. "The Lost Tower is an extension of the Necropolis, one of the last surviving pieces above ground. Nearby is a small relic called the Hallowed Tower - I investigated, and after a few not-so-fun adventures I discovered Spiritomb's keystone. It had colored the chamber it was hidden in with its presence and even ghosts fled away from it. When I claimed the keystone, my eyes were opened."
Ash looked uneasily at the keystone. It hung limply on Cynthia's belt. It was so easy to forget what it truly was. The only thing keeping him wary was the uncanny weight that hung about whenever the stone was revealed. He felt like he was being watched.
"We became partners eventually. We came to an understanding."
"Is it okay to use Spiritomb like this? It seems like it could be dangerous fighting in ordinary battles." He inquired, memories alight with how destructive and vicious the thing was. No wonder the ancient kings and queens of Sinnoh had wanted one so bad. Trainers and pokemon were stronger now with access to modern training techniques, excellent nutrition, and pokeballs (which allowed for many pokemon to be supported easily by a single trainer). Back in the days of fixed armies and ordinary men and women fighting alongside pokemon a single Spiritomb would probably be able to break the spirits of hundreds or even thousands of soldiers. It was like fighting a nightmare itself.
His comment brought a frown to Cynthia's face. She twisted a finger through her hair and sighed - Ash felt a stab of guilt at ruining her fairly good mood. "I actually agree," the Sinnoh Champion admitted. "It was a long time before I allowed Spiritomb to fight. But it brings Spiritomb some kind of relief to pour its feelings out into the world, and I think that's the key to healing Spiritomb."
Gears turned in Ash's head. His eyes widened. "Wait, you think it can be helped?"
The newest teacher in his ever-growing collection of mentors smirked, a little bit of humor returning. "I know so!" She said cheerfully. Her good mood was like music to Ash's ears and even he started smiling again. "Spiritomb's gotten a lot better since we teamed up. We've still got a long way to go, but every single day brings a little light back to Spiritomb. Spiritomb's a sweetheart compared to how it was when I found it. It's lost a lot of its power in battles - I know it can be hard to see from a newcomer's perspective," she added.
That was an understatement. How much more terrible was Spiritomb's presence all those years ago? It had nearly stolen the breath from Ash's lungs with its overpowering aura. On that note, how had Cynthia even managed to stand its presence? He turned an assessing stare her way. Her willpower must have been incredible.
Her eyes glinted with something. "One day it's my hope that Spiritomb will find true happiness. It's my dream to be there when it finds peace and sheds its past. I know it wants to bring more than pain and misery to the world."
Ash tore his gaze away from Cynthia's belt thoughtfully. "Maybe it'll be able to bring peace to someone else one day."
"We can only hope," she laughed, and the pleasant sound broke the dark spell that had wove its way around them. "With any luck we'll see its power in battle vanish entirely. That'll be the day," Cynthia mused.
With that they settled into comfortable silence. Cynthia looked in delight as Andel helpfully shoveled another bowl of ice cream heaped high with scoops of chocolate, vanilla, and every other flavor imaginable in front of her. Ash shook his head - he was still full.
"So… where would you say I could improve?" He asked, eager to milk as much information from the brilliant Champion as he could before they had to part ways. It was starting to get late and he wasn't planning to stick around in Greenfield for another day or two. No doubt she had her own responsibilities to attend to.
Cynthia glanced up from her bowl, somehow impeccably clean despite the gusto she ate with. "Funny you should ask…"
Ash mentally prepared himself to be torn apart. He had the funniest idea that Cynthia would enjoy this.
XX
"Say goodbye!" Cynthia spoke to her team. They were all huddled around her lovingly, though Princess leaned heavily on the beautiful Milotic's - Shimmer, he corrected - thick, scaly body. Shimmer bore it without complaint. The sea serpent's scales caught the light and reflected it in an incandescent spray of rainbow-hue. He paused for just a moment to admire the sight. The last (and only) Milotic he'd seen had belonged to that sea captain that had ferried him to the Seafoam Islands.
What was his name again? He wanted to say Captain Stewart, but he couldn't be sure. That had been so long ago…
Ash grinned at the sight of the phenomenally powerful Champion-level pokemon saying their goodbyes to his team. Well, the few that were still able to stand and walk. All of his teammates that had succumbed to Spiritomb's awful power were still practically catatonic and rested safely in their pokeballs as their minds recovered. Infernus had been beaten so badly that he required another several hours at the Pokemon Center - Lucario's vicious, unrelenting assault had left him with serious damage to his skin and deeper tissues. If Infernus wasn't so tough it would have put him down for at least a week. As it was he'd just be soaking in magma baths for the next few nights.
In the end only a handful of his team remained outside of Aron: Plume (the only one to be practically unscathed), Dazed, and Bruiser. The rest were still recovering or weren't in good shape to be released. He'd been hesitant with bringing Bruiser - who had apparently only woken up a few minutes before they'd arrived - but the Machoke had been adamant that he be included.
He had no doubt that his determination revolved around what he'd done to Princess. It wasn't a serious injury all things considered, but it would have her hobbling around for a few days. Her leg was sealed in a thick plaster coating that would immobilize it while the potions did their work.
Injuries like that were brutal and every trainer sought to avoid them, but it was an unfortunate reality of high-level battles. When you were dealing with flames that could burn down a forest or lightning bolts that could crack a boulder open it was impossible to be truly safe. Let alone when you unleashed the physical might of a Machoke… accidents happened. Pokemon were tough enough to survive and modern medicine made mos injuries trivial, but that didn't mean it could be entirely avoided. Nasty surprises could be impossible to avoid.
Unfortunately, Bruiser wasn't likely to accept that explanation. Ash knew his friend doubted his worthiness to wield such awesome power - it was the entire reason he hadn't managed to evolve yet despite being more than powerful and experienced enough to do so. Bruiser's limitations had always been psychological, not physical.
They'd have to have a conversation about Bruiser breaking Princess' leg soon. Ash had no illusions how Bruiser would handle it. He'd be beating himself up for weeks if Ash didn't try to help him through it. Bruiser was a gentle soul.
Ash snapped himself out of his thoughts and tore his gaze away from Bruiser's bulk. Guilt shone plain as day in every facet of the Machoke: his shoulders were hunched, his eyes locked on the ground.
Yes, definitely something to work on.
"It was nice meeting you all," Ash grinned at Cynthia's team. He was proud to say that Lucario was missing (although he wished he could have said farewell to the warrior). Infernus and Tangrowth had done a number on the mighty fighting-type. Glaceon and Togekiss had elected to stay with Lucario at the Pokemon Center, but Princess, Shimmer, and Roserade - Chryssa - had all gathered to bid them farewell. Technically Spiritomb was here as well, but Ash was just going to ignore that.
Princess didn't dip her head, but she also didn't tear his head off for making eye contact with her either. She raked her flat stare across Ash's teammates, though she ignored Aron entirely. Dazed got some glimmer of recognition, but Ash had to admit even he felt a tad unsettled when the fearsome Garchomp's eyes lit up at the sight of Bruiser. The feeling only grew more intense when she loosed a high-pitched whistle unlike anything else he'd heard from the dragon.
Bruiser shuffled uncomfortably, still unwilling to make eye contact with Princess. He might have a hard time with that: Princess' golden stare never left him for a moment.
"You'd better watch out," Cynthia teased with a deep laugh. Ash found himself staring at the shake of her long blonde hair… but just for a second! "I'm not sure I'll be able to hold Princess back when she comes hunting for Bruiser later."
Ash watched Princess warily. "She looks like she's about to attack him!"
Another burst of laughter, this time shared with Shimmer's lyrical wail and a strange sound from Chryssa that reminded him of wind rustling plains of grass… and was that a scream from Plume?
"That's one way of putting it," the Champion grinned widely as she laid a hand on Princess' sandpaper-like skin. The Garchomp didn't even twitch. She cooed over the gigantic creature for a few more moments before turning her focus back to Ash. "I'll ask Lance to explain it to you later," then her eyes lit up. "No! Steven!"
He sighed and decided he didn't want to think about it too hard. Ash had a nasty suspicion at what Cynthia was joking about, and if he kept that line of thought going he'd probably have to ask Dazed to wipe the last day from his memory.
It would be a shame to lose the memories of the battle, but some sacrifices were worth it.
"This is the most relaxed I've been since Greenfield. It's been a good day," Cynthia sighed happily. Ash felt a thrill at that. "That was a great battle! Think on what I told you earlier," she said pointedly. Ash quickly nodded. No way he'd turn down advice from Champion Cynthia.
"Keep it up and who knows?" Cynthia grinned. "Maybe I'll have to poach you when Steven's done 'honing you into a sword'," she quoted with a roll of her eyes. "I hate to keep his overly dramatic analogy going, but you'll need someone to teach you how to wield that sword!"
Ash didn't mind that at all. Sinnoh held more and more allure to him recently, especially after the Unown's revelations. He nearly frowned at the little wisps of memory engraved deep in his mind… that secret knowledge would be unveiled one way or another. Something deep within his bones whispered that Sinnoh held the key to some of that fractured knowledge.
"I'd love to go to Sinnoh one day," Ash agreed, eyes locked on the rest of his team as they shared their own farewells… Bruiser made certain not to make eye contact with Princess. "You'd train me?"
Cynthia shrugged. "Sure, why not?" She laughed. "You're something new and shiny and interesting! Besides, how can I turn the chance to teach the Storm-Tamer? Lucario and Andel would never let me forget it!" After a moment her mirth faded and she grew a tad more serious. "But for real, I look forward to seeing how you grow in the future. Keep pushing yourself and breaking new ground. Just make sure to take care of Ash Ketchum too, alright?"
Ash snorted. "I don't know if I can make any promises," he thought back to all the Legendary events he kept getting caught up in. "Can I ask you something?" At Cynthia's easygoing nod he continued. "You've told me a bit about Aura, the good and the bad. I know it's the journey of a lifetime and it's not something you can really help me with, but how do I get started? How can I develop it?"
"I think you'll find you've already taken more steps than you realize," the Champion peered at him with her piercing grey eyes. "But it's a good question. It's different for everyone, but I started by asking myself why. Why do I do this? Why do I care about this? Why am I the person I am? Why does this upset me? Why, why, why, why, why. Make a habit of questioning yourself. Think back on your past, the way it's led you to your current path. Consider your future. What are your goals, your aspirations? What have you already achieved?"
Cynthia smiled wryly at the look on Ash's face. "I know it sounds like a lot - believe me, I've been in your shoes before. Just remember you don't do all of this at once. It's a journey. Be patient."
He nodded, well-aware of Dazed watching them raptly. She had a little more interest in this conversation than he'd have expected. Her telepathy wasn't functioning properly thanks to that attack Princess had hit her with, but he suspected Dazed would reach out to him as soon as it was back.
"Thank you for everything," he added, though his head was still spinning with everything she'd dumped on him. It would take a while to process all of that. She'd only reemphasized that this would be a slow, crawling path. "I really appreciate it. So where are you going now?"
"Back to the Hale Mansion!" Cynthia perked up at the prospect. "I've still got my investigation to finish up. I'm just glad I got a chance to stretch my legs!"
He snorted at that - they'd practically wrecked half a forest with their battle. Stretching her legs was an understatement. "It was a good battle," Ash grinned, then faltered. After a moment of silence he said what was really on his mind. "So have you written any books on Sinnoh? The way you spoke about it sounded just like History, Legends, and Folklore of Hoenn."
Cynthia's whole face brightened and Ash fought a wild grin down. "You've read it?"
"Not the whole thing. We've been working on it as we travel Hoenn," he admitted. Now Dazed was really interested. She'd shuffled just a bit closer as soon as he mentioned their favorite book. "It's amazing though!"
"Thank you!" She clapped her hands together. Ash was reminded subtly of the way Plume preened whenever someone complimented her plumage or feathers… "Hoenn is a fantastic region and it was a pleasure to document its history so thoroughly. I actually met Steven and Lance while I was conducting my research for it!"
Ash blinked. That was how they'd all met? For whatever reason he'd never put much thought into the matter. Maybe he'd ask Steven or Lance more about that whenever he got a chance.
"But yes, I've actually written a similar volume for Sinnoh!" She chattered, speaking so quickly that Ash could barely keep up. He was tempted to let Lightning flow through his veins just to follow her. "I've been piecing together some research for Johto - I'm planning on a few return trips, especially now that we have more information on the Ruins of Alph and the rumors of an ancient Sinnoan temple has been located north of Johto - it's fascinating, groundbreaking new information and I can't wait to -"
Cynthia cut herself off abruptly and looked a little embarassed. "Sorry about that, I didn't mean to pull a Steven," she chuckled, then focused her gaze on Ash with unnerving intensity. "I just love history. I get carried away sometimes."
"I can see," he smiled crookedly. Steven had his rocks (and Metagross), Lance had his clan and dragons, and Cynthia had her history. Everyone needed an outlet.
Then he frowned inwardly.
What did he have?
Right now it was mostly near-death experiences, warring Legends in his head, and dealing with whatever awkwardness was still there with Lance. Fun stuff. He really needed to focus on practicing with Lugia's flute.
She perked up. Andel rolled his eyes in a very human-like gesture. Ash wondered if it was too late to offer to trade Bob for the polite Gallade. "Hey, do you have the book on you?"
He nodded, and materialized it from its storage compartment. The thick tome bound in heavy purple Arbok hide was smooth and firm against his fingers. "Right here. I like to keep it close."
"Good. Let me see it real quick!"
Not totally sure where she was going with this but willing to trust Cynthia, Ash handed it over. Dazed shuffled a little closer - she was practically staring over his shoulder now. Cynthia quickly flipped the cover open and waved at Andel imperiously. He caught a brief flash of amusement from Andel and the rest of Cynthia's team (even Princess allowed her golden stare to flit away from Bruiser for a moment).
His heart pounded as an elegant silver fountain pen materialized in her grip. Ash's perceptive eyes managed to capture the symbol of the Lily of the Valley League etched into the metal: a graceful six-petaled lily surrounded by three plain circles.
Seconds stretched into an eternity as Cynthia scrawled something inside the cover. She wrote for longer than Ash would have expected. He couldn't tell what it was from this angle - it didn't help that Cynthia stood so much taller than him - but he managed to catch long, looping letters running down the entire cover.
Finally she seemed satisfied and offered the book back. Ash didn't check what she'd written, but he took the heavy book back reverently - he couldn't believe Cynthia had just signed it. The Feather had some competition for his most treasured possession now…
He felt a little guilty at the thought, but he was glad Dazed's telepathy was shot for the moment. Ash just knew she'd have some smart comment waiting for him. He'd have to double down on teasing her about Claydol in revenge - she'd get him back sooner or later.
"Just a parting gift for a fan!" Cynthia chuckled as she tapped the cover one last time. She glanced back at her team, then at the slowly setting sun. They only had a few hours of daylight left. "I wish we could stick around for a few more minutes, but there's a lot to wrap up at the Hale Mansion. Doesn't help that the SPECTERs are all a bunch of creeps…" she muttered indignantly to herself.
"I understand," he nodded. No doubt Cynthia had some catching up to do - she'd spent the better part of the day on battling and mentoring him. Hopefully she hadn't gotten too far behind. Ash shifted uncomfortably. "It was nice meeting you, Cynthia. Thanks for the battle!"
She barked out a laugh. "Ha! I should be thanking you - I needed something to break up the monotony of all this red tape. Next time I'll make sure to have a few new tricks waiting for you."
Ash tried not to look too happy at the idea. "Sounds good to me."
Cynthia nodded again and quickly returned all of her team except for Andel. "I'd best be off. Say hello to Lance and Steven for me!" She finished cheerfully before Andel graced Ash (and Dazed) with a brief bow before they vanished seamlessly into nothingness.
Ash stared at the spot the Champion had vanished for a few seconds before he shook himself back to reality. He eagerly flipped the book open and allowed Dazed a moment to shift beside him before he stared intently at the message she'd left him.
"To Ash," he read since Dazed wouldn't be able to pluck his thoughts out of his head, "You've more than met the lofty expectations Lance left me with. One day I hope to meet you in battle as an equal. Until that day, I hope to see you continue down your path. You're a bright young man and I believe you'll discover your gifts in good time. Remain true to your path but always remember to question yourself. Never assume anything or doubt that you are done growing. Look at your actions and thoughts as an outsider would and you'll soon peel away the layers and illusions that blind you. And while you walk this path, I hope that you'll be able to find pleasure in the simple things. Like this book! Next time we meet I hope I'll have discovered something new to share with you! Warm wishes, Cynthia," Ash finished with a dumb grin on his face.
He reread the note a few more times (once out loud for Dazed's benefit and a few more for his own). Ash felt rather warm as he returned it to his storage compartment and ignored the amused looks that Dazed sent his way. He suspected Bruiser would have joined in if he weren't still staring at the dirt. Aron loyally sat by his feet and he made a point of patting his cold steel dome.
"Well, I guess we should probably head over to meet Uncle Spencer and Molly," Ash muttered to himself. The thought of leaving without saying goodbye didn't sit well with him. It would crush Molly. "I'm going to recall you two," he directed at Bruiser and Dazed. Both were still pretty exhausted so they were in no mood to protest. They disappeared in twin flashes of bright light and only Aron was left.
Ash grinned at the little steel-type. Aron had decided to lick up a few pebbles and warbled cheerfully as he wobbled after Ash, who took care to walk a little slower so Aron could keep up. His stubby little legs weren't designed for anything but short bursts of speed.
It was a long walk, but Ash didn't mind. They had an hour or two to burn before the rest of his team was ready to pick up. Besides, there was nothing wrong with enjoying the scenery. Even after the battle with the Unown it was all too easy to appreciate the graceful, rolling hills of Greenfield. They struck him every time he glanced around - they were perfect and pristine, as though an artist had painted the entire town with masterful brushstrokes.
As he plodded down the simple dirt road he only wished the rest of his team could already join him.
XX
"You don't really have to go, do you?" Molly sniffled. Ash grimaced at the underhanded stab to his heart. She was a natural. It was difficult to stop himself for grasping at numbing Ice - no taking the easy way out here. "We barely got to see you!"
Ash winced. "I'm sorry, Molly," he said softly as he reached a hand out to clasp her tiny shoulder. "I've got a lot of places to go before I can go back to Hoenn. I really can't stay here any longer…" he trailed off, visions of his future travels filling his mind and then the pale, glassy face of Not-Ash before he was unmade by Ash's will. He hesitated and unconsciously brushed his fingers against the rough surface of the Unown tablet looped around his neck. After a moment he reached into his pocket and grasped his PokeNav. Uncle Spencer raised his eyebrows, taken aback by the gesture. "See this?"
Molly sniffled as she nodded, Teddiursa's thick paw still clasped in her tiny fists. The little creature wouldn't be letting go any time soon - he still hadn't forgiven Tangrowth for trying to steal away Molly's affection.
"It's a PokeNav. I've already left my contact info with Uncle Spencer. He can use it to contact me anywhere, anytime," Ash explained. Her eyes lit up and Teddiursa winced as the little girl's grip tightened. He smiled softly as Molly practically trembled. "If you need anything - to talk, to ask something, or if you just want someone who understands to see what you have to say, don't hesitate to reach out, alright? I'm here," he assured Molly as he awkwardly patted her on the shoulder.
"Thanks," she said shyly, wringing her hands. Molly looked up at him worriedly, something deep and fragile lurking in her expression. "You'll come back to see us? You aren't going away forever, right?"
Ouch. That was a loaded question. Ash knew better than anyone how deeply Molly's mom leaving had cut. He had the Unown to thank for that. At the thought a veritable tidal wave of loneliness crashed over him, only to cut off abruptly a moment later.
"No, I'm not gone forever. I'll be back," Ash promised. And he was a bit surprised to find that he truly meant it, too. There was no telling when he'd have another chance to stop by Greenfield, but he owed Molly - and his mother, whispered his treacherous thoughts - that much. Nobody else could know how much that would mean to her. "And Molly?"
"Yeah?" She perked up at the mention of her name.
"It was real," he said quietly, too low for Uncle Spencer to hear. The little girl wrung her hands nervously again, but she listened. "I know what it feels like. Seriously, if you need to talk just have your dad get in touch with me, alright? There's going to be a few times when we both need to come back to reality…"
Molly smiled at that, although Ash got the impression it was more to his tone than anything else. She was only five, after all.
Then again, he was only twelve. So what did he know?
"Can you tell Aunt Delia that I miss her?" Molly asked hopefully, kicking a stray pebble around. She adamantly refused to meet his eyes. "Those weird people said I couldn't talk to her!"
Ash's mouth twisted into a frown. Uncle Spencer looked a little guilty. "Yeah, I'll tell her next time I see her," he allowed, though he didn't plan on saying much more about the topic. That would stay a sore spot. Despite the way Molly had just unwittingly killed his good mood, he patted her on the shoulder again and stood up. "Keep in touch, okay Molly?"
She grinned, oblivious to the sour look on his face. "I will! Teddiursa, say bye!"
Teddiursa waved happily at him as the stocky normal-type grabbed Molly's hand in his paw.
"Next time I stop by I'll make sure Tangrowth calms down a little," Ash grinned at Teddiursa. Judging from how the pokemon's vigorous nodding that would be appreciated. It seemed like Teddiursa wasn't a big fan of competition for Molly's time. He wouldn't be surprised if Teddiursa evolved just so he could hurl Tangrowth out of Greenfield next time.
Uncle Spencer stepped up next after a long, thoughtful glance at the Hale Mansion in the distance. Ash wish he'd thought to ask Cynthia how long before they would be able to return to their home - it had to be torture to have it so close, yet so far out of reach.
"I appreciate everything you said back there, Ash," Uncle Spencer said once Molly was distracted by Teddiursa. It looked like they were toddling off to investigate some especially colorful wildflowers. He shook Ash's hand with a firm, albeit friendly, grip then pulled him into a light hug. Ash tensed for a moment, but was mostly just glad he hadn't picked his team up yet. Nidoking wouldn't have liked that. "You're growing up into a fine young man, you know? You make your mother so proud."
"Thanks," Ash said uncomfortably. Uncle Spencer seemed to realize his state and thankfully released him. "So you've already put my PokeNav info in, right?"
Uncle Spencer shook his head and ignored Ash's offered PokeNav. "I made sure to earlier,," he said as he tapped his own PokeNav on his waist. "I realize you don't have time to linger here in Greenfield," he waved out at the reconstructed, rolling hills. Only a few scars from the epic battles here remained, and Ash oddly found himself wishing to see the endless fields of grass and flowers covered in the crystal again, if only for a moment. It had been drowned out by the horrors of that day, but there was something oddly enchanting about the sight.
He recoiled in disgust at the thought just in time to pay attention to the rest of what Uncle Spencer was saying.
"...but I hope you won't mind if I message you on my own accord. Not just to ask you about your… experiences," Uncle Spencer said, clearly struggling to word it delicately, "but to check up on you as well. I know you're strong, but I know from experience that it can be easier to bear a burden on more than one pair of shoulders. I want you to know I'm available if you ever need to talk."
"Sounds good," Ash said noncommittally. He couldn't quite put a name to the roiling in his gut, but he knew it wasn't something pleasant. A certain steel in him told Ash that he wouldn't be needing Spencer's help any time soon. "I'm sorry, but I need to get going. My team's still in the Pokemon Center," he explained.
Spencer blinked, then nodded. "Oh, of course," he said. "I understand. Molly!"
She appeared so fast that she might've given Plume a run for her money. "What is it Papa?"
"I'm leaving now," Ash spoke before Spencer could explain. Molly nodded solemnly, then shot forward to grab Ash in a hug. A small smile cracked his marble visage. "I'll miss you Molly. I promise that I'll visit Greenfield again when I get a chance," he said again. She squeezed him tighter, then finally let him go.
"Bye Ash!" Then she ran off into the fields again, chasing after Teddiursa before he dashed too far off.
Ash snorted at her abrupt exit. He guessed they'd gotten all the important stuff out of the way the first time. Despite the unpleasant something he felt, Ash turned to Uncle Spencer and shook his hand again. "Bye, Uncle Spencer. I'll let you know if I get a chance to stop by."
"Safe travels!"
He gave one last wave before he trekked off to the Pokemon Center. Once Ash put some distance between himself and the Hales he released Aron and Seeker, who were happy to be out. It was just dark enough that Seeker's sensitive skin wasn't in danger.
Aron cheerfully headbutted his shin the moment he was released - that was definitely going to bruise. "Love you too, buddy," Ash wheezed to the steel-type as he rubbed his shin. It was no use. Then again, that was why he hadn't introduced Molly to Aron in the first place. Aron just didn't understand that he wasn't a tiny, newborn Eevee.
His newest teammate just warbled happily, then trotted off ahead. Seeker fluttered around for a few more moments before latching onto his shoulders. She licked his neck a few times before taking off again. Ash grinned as she soared just a few feet above the ground - it was nice to see her flying. She hadn't gotten a chance to stretch her wings like this all day.
"Stay close!" He called out as he trotted along the path. Aron tried to come to a stop at the sound of Ash's voice, but overdid it and fell face-first into some flowers. "The Pokemon Center isn't far. We just need to pick up the rest of the team."
With that order set, he decided to take his time as he sauntered the mile or so to Greenfield's Pokemon Center.
It had been a good day. He'd flown to Greenfield, battled the Champion Cynthia, and learned all sorts of incredible things. The world seemed a tad brighter now.
What to do now? The whole month was just waiting for him. The only real things he'd planned were meeting up with his fellow Pallet trainers later on. Once he stopped in Ecruteak, the sky was the limit.
Personally, he couldn't wait.
Johto awaited him.
Well, to be more specific Ecruteak awaited him. Ash was thankful Plume came out unscathed in the battle. That she was still circling lazily overhead spoke to that. As soon as he picked up the rest of his team he'd saddle her up and go ahead and fly to Ecruteak. He was eager to see the city where the past meets the present for himself.
Originally he'd planned to just walk to Ecruteak. It wouldn't be a rough journey if he made sure to fly over the worst of it with Plume. Then again, that was before he'd faced Cynthia and almost his entire team had been put out of commission. Ash was comfortable on the road, but even he would rather avoid any potential dangers with his team in the shape they were in. No point exhausting them further.
It wouldn't be a long flight. Ash doubted it would be more than an hour or two - Plume enjoyed flying with him just as much as he enjoyed flying with her and he suspected she tried to show off her speed every now and then.
Either way, it worked for him. Ash whistled to the tune of the Song as he headed down the path.
The Gym Leader of Ecruteak, Morty if he remembered correctly, was a Ghost-type Specialist. He thought of how defenseless he'd been against Spiritomb or Dusknoir back in the Conference. Those were special cases, to be fair, but it galled him that he was so unprepared for a powerful ghost. They were fairly rare even in the upper echelons of training but he needed to build up some experience. To have such a glaring weakness in his team was something he couldn't stand.
At the very least it would let him work out some of his frustration over Spiritomb's beatdown. As much as his heart ached for the howling specter, he'd be lying if he said he didn't want to earn a solid win over it the next time they clashed.
Anything less would be unacceptable
XX
The flight to Ecruteak wasn't a difficult one. Plume picked up the pace compared to the leisurely flight they'd taken to Greenfield from the outskirts of Goldenrod. Although the terrain was covered in thick swathes of green forest and jagged, rugged hills that sculpted the landscape into a sea of crags and outcrops it wouldn't have been too difficult to travel on foot. Flight was infinitely easier, though, especially when time was of the essence.
He'd spent the two hour flight reflecting on the battle. While he was proud of his performance (not to mention how fun it had been) he knew to listen to Cynthia. He'd been a little sloppy and impatient in some places, even though Ash thought that could be forgiven considering the caliber of his opponent.
She'd systematically pointed out about a hundred minor improvements he could make in the battle itself, but a lot of Cynthia's time had been focused on marking noticeable weaknesses of his teammates in between bowls of ice cream. Most he'd been aware of and made plans to compensate for, but her insight was appreciated regardless. Ash was mostly just impressed she'd taken so much in during the brief, aggressive battle.
Cynthia had praised Infernus' creativity, durability, and firepower but noted that he wasted a ton of energy on unnecessary scale and power in his attacks. More importantly, he was always too willing to take a hit. Teleportation helped on that front but Infernus could be a bit too confident in his own vigor.
Her point on Tangrowth came down to working on a way to keep him effective after his vines were destroyed. That was a lesson they'd learnt in the Conference, but it was slow going. It was no secret that a huge amount of the grass-type's strength laid in his dozens of long, whip-like vines and using them to overwhelm his foe.
Torrent's only real flaw - even though she had waxed on and on about how awesome his Ice Storm was - was his lack of any real defense. Ash had gotten a little input on the plan he'd worked out with Steven to address that. Maybe Torrent's heavy armor had been enough to no-sell any number of attacks when he'd first evolved, but they weren't fighting random trainers on the road anymore.
For the rest of his team they'd mostly just discussed a few simple conditioning exercises or approaches. Ash had kept a ton of notes on his PokeNav and would make sure to reflect on them later - the sheer depth of the knowledge and detail Cynthia revealed so casually was overwhelming. Even after his long strategy sessions with Steven it still made his head spin.
As he delved deeper and deeper into the intricaties of their conversation, Ash perked up as he spotted a small black dot on the horizon - even from this distance it was obviously a city. Thanks to Plume's amazing speed they closed the distance rapidly and she slowly began their descent. They were only a few miles away and he could finally start to discern more detail.
Ecruteak was mostly what he expected: a scant handful of modern buildings interspersed with a vast expanse of traditional Johtoan style. There weren't any skyscrapers or anything more than a few stories high with one notable exception. It caught his eye even from this distance and for a single moment he was drowned out by the majesty of the ancient Bell Tower that stood magnificently above the rest of the city. It shimmered brilliantly in the sun, casting rainbow-hued rays all around the city in homage to its long-gone master.
In the few stories he'd heard of it Ecruteak had always been spoken of as an ancient, traditional city that placed great stock in their traditions and histories. It was one of the oldest cities in Johto and possessed a rich past steeped in myth.
The most familiar to Ash were the tales of Lugia, Ho-Oh, and the Legendary Beasts. He smiled at the thought of those ancient entities, especially when he realized he'd met four of the five. He couldn't stop the Song from filling his ears - he found himself hoping that he'd have a chance to meet Lugia sometime soon. It had been kind to him and Ash found himself desperately praying for its guidance night after night, especially in the time after the Unown made their appearance.
It had gotten to the point where he'd begun to swear he saw brief glimpses of silver in every pond and pool he flew over…
Ash sighed. Lugia had nested in Ecruteak with its counterpart Ho-Oh according to the tales. Perhaps he'd find some way to seek it out while he spent a few days in Ecruteak. He wasn't as familiar with Johto's tales as he was with Kanto's but his mother had regaled him with its major legends a hundred times when he was younger.
As Plume drew closer and closer to the city he felt his heart fall at the sight of a massive, crumbled patch on the city's west side. It was a decrepit ruin, a tower collapsed and burnt away to a barebones skeleton supported only by a few surviving black walls, yet it still held a regal air that commanded the respect of everyone who past. Yet above all Ash felt a poignant sense of loss at the sight of the burnt tower. The structure had been beautiful once, resplendent and glorious as its counterpart. It had been struck down by a mysterious stroke of fate and reduced to a mere shadow of its former glory.
The Song wailed mournfully inside him at the sight of the Burnt Tower. Lugia had once roosted there according to the tales. Ash thought he might believe the stories after the Song's slow, somber notes. He allowed his vision to fall on the husk for quite some time before he fought away the wistful feelings and imagination of the tower's past majesty.
He would stop at the Burnt Tower, he decided. Something terrible had happened there and it was only right for him to pay his respects.
But first, he needed to stop by the Pokemon Center. Ash didn't know anybody in Ecruteak he could stay with so he'd need to secure a room for the next few days. After that it would be to the gym to meet Morty and set up a time to battle. There was no way his team could fight a team of ghosts right now, but he'd like to stop by and say hello while he had time. It would be outright cruel - not to mention irresponsible - to start up a fight, but he'd only heard good things about Morty so far.
"Let's start heading down to the gates!" He cried out to Plume, glad to see that she was able to hear him over the din of the wind. Ash gripped tightly to the saddle as his friend shrieked a piercing scream that echoed all throughout the skies and into the forests below (he had no doubt every Sentret had just hidden) and shot down like a meteor to show off.
He'd be at the Pokemon Center soon enough.
XX
"I'm sorry, sir," the boy at the desk stammered at the sight of Ash. His eyes bugged and his mouth hung open for a few minutes before he snapped his jaw shut. "Gym Leader Morty is indisposed at the moment. He will not return to the gym today, sir!"
Ash grimaced at being called 'sir'. That was something he could do without. He elected to ignore it for now. "Can you tell me where he is?"
The boy - his nametag read Kaito - stuttered again. "Uh, technically I'm not supposed to," Kaito pulled at his collar nervously. "Gym Leader Morty doesn't like it when we tell people where he is. Says it's against policy! Not that I don't think you're trustworthy or anything...sir!"
He sighed. "I'm in the League," Ash said. He unclipped his PokeNav and pulled up his Trainer ID. "You can run my ID if you want. It'll give you my clearance."
"No need for that! I know who you are, Mr. Ketchum!" Kaito squeaked. Ash shifted uncomfortably - Kaito was at least two or three years older than him. "Uh, you know what? It's fine," he lowered his voice and glanced around the empty reception area. "Don't let anyone know I told you, but Gym Leader Morty left earlier with one of his friends. He mentioned that he'd be at the Burnt Tower for the rest of the day."
Ash nodded, satisfied. "Thanks, I appreciate it."
Eager to escape the uncomfortable interaction, Ash spun on his heel and left the Ecruteak Gym. How old did you have to be before you were called 'sir'? Definitely older than twelve!
That thought and others like it accompanied Ash as he maneuvered his way through the aged streets of Ecruteak. He took plenty of time to admire the well-worn cobblestone paths as he ducked and wound his way through the side roads. The beautiful city was caught deep in the grasp of twilight and there were only a few people wandering. Most didn't pay him a second glance thanks to how dark it was, but Ash thought he saw one or two blink and crane their necks to stare at him. He just ducked into alleys or pulled his hat low over his face to be safe.
He grinned at small pack of Meowth rummaging around one of the feeding stations the League and cities liked to set up in alleys and areas off the beaten path. They were busy yowling at one another fiercely as they swatted and ripped at a few wooden poles, though their attention was split between that and eying a lone Drowzee warily. It settled its blank stare on Ash, who cheerfully waved at the dream eater. Drowzee and Hypno loved cities and tended to flock to them. It was a bit surreal seeing one. He subconsciously expected them all to be Dazed.
Ecruteak really was a beautiful city, he decided as he grew closer and closer to the Burnt Tower. Normally he'd need a guide or follow the maps downloaded on his PokeNav but in this case he just had to follow the Song. It pounded in his ears, then deeper. A soothing sound like the gentle rhythm of the tide, the wails of the mysterious creatures living in the deepest depths. He allowed it to guide him as he mindlessly followed its call. Every step he took left it growing stronger, speaking more and more to him until he could nearly decipher patterns and messages that spoke to a deeper meaning…
As he allowed the Song to guide him, he took in the city around him. He walked on a neat cobblestone road lined by traditional homes lined in precise, orderly rows. They were fascinating to observe - he'd never seen so many. Each stood as a proud testament to the city's heritage. Squawks and chirps filled the air thanks to the dozens of Pidgey, Spearow, and even the odd group of Murkrow that had come to greet the night. Some eyed him like they would a particularly shiny bauble while others ignored him entirely, more content to laze about or peck at their neighbors.
Ash's eyes locked onto a few strange structures built outside of the homes, usually facing toward the street. They were simple things for the most part, some finely cut from marble and others plain carvings etched into a tree trunk by unskilled hands, but they all appeared somewhat similar. Hundreds of the things lined the streets, at least one for each home and normally a few more.
He wasn't so interested as to step onto anyone's property, but it was a nice little mystery to entertain himself with as he closed the distance to the remains of the once magnificent Tin Tower. Ash glanced at more and more of the patterns and slowly began to piece the little scraps of information together. There were plenty of similarities between the structures, though he noted there was more than one group.
Some were fairly easy to recognize as pokemon of some sort. They lacked any distinctive markings, but they tended to be quadrupeds staring at him from the abode. There looked to be several different types of those, usually with some different headpiece or symbols carved deep into the wood or stone. They weren't the only statues, though: a huge number of the things were as simple as a vertical rectangle with some etchings and symbols laid intricately on the surface. That variety came in both single and in pairs, and that was when it clicked.
Ash looked closer at the towers. Some, marked with a crescent or wave symbol, spoke deeply to him. The Song lapped in his ears, and he froze. Mark that hypothesis confirmed.
They were shrines to the Legends. It was no surprise in Ecruteak. Legendary worship had fallen out of favor in much of Johto (though it was still more prevalent than in Kanto) but it was still a common enough sight. It was generally kept out of public view, though. Ecruteak's mythos and history claimed great favor from the Legends, however. The Guardian of the Seas and Guardian of the Skies were said to have made it their home for centuries, shielding it from harm, and even the Legendary Beasts were said to have been born in the ashes of the Tin Tower.
In other words, a great deal of pride in Ecruteak was taken in their heritage. Old kings had even claimed to carry the blood of Ho-Oh in their veins. Then again, you saw the same thing all over the place. Plenty of lords in Kanto had sworn Mew or Moltres or another Bird had taken human form and taken a wife.
Knowing what he did of Fire, Ice, and Lightning he didn't see that to be very likely. Ash doubted Moltres liked humans that much, Zapdos wouldn't care to cease its roaming, and Articuno would probably freeze someone into an ice sculpture if they tried to touch it. Mew… well, the jury was out on that one.
With all of this in mind Ash looked at the homes and their shrines in a new light. Were they always out here in the open? There was always the chance that the appearance of the Beasts - which had already spread throughout Indigo and beyond - had marked a resurgence in their faith. Not to mention all the unexplained disasters that had happened in the last year or so… plenty of people had informed him it was beginning to raise some questions.
It was those heavy thoughts that were carried with him to his destination.
Anticipation pooled in his gut as he stepped out of the residential areas that sprawled over most of Ecruteak like a forest and stepped into the massive clearing reserved for the temple grounds of the Brass Tower in the old days. He gasped as he saw the Brass Tower in its prime for the briefest flash of a moment: a hundred foot tall monument to the Guardian of the Sea, walls of polished brass supporting the massive shining pillar that towered over all of Ecruteak, bustling with hundreds of spectral worshippers and holy men come to pay their respects to the flash of silver singing at the top…
Then it was gone, and only the long-dead remnants of that beautiful tower remained. It stood only a few stories now, the majority of the Brass Tower having collapsed in the fire that burned it nearly to its foundation. There were still crumbling remains of blackened stone and twisted metal scattered across the massive plaza upon which the Brass Tower once stood, the last survivors of that terrible day. But Ash's attention was drawn mainly to the two stories that still remained.
The Burnt Tower was a pale, hollow husk of what it had once been. What little stone still clung to the ashen foundations looked as though a stiff breeze would disperse it all into a black cloud of ash. Even the plaza was falling apart. Great fissures wound its way through, some relatively new from neglect and disuse while others seemed so old and worn that they must have been made when the structure initially collapsed. Only the bottom layers had survived - both the thick (albeit slumping and splintering) walls supported a single worn roof. It was still just barely recognizable as the same building, though the roof's heavy ceramic shingles had been chipped away by the passage time.
More than that, Ash could practically feel the despair beating down on him. This place had been marked by an awful tragedy, an unfortunate terror that had scarred both the tower itself and the culture of Ecruteak. The loss of their fabled Brass Tower had humbled the city, forced them to their knees to beg and plead as Lugia fled and Ho-Oh abandoned their city. Even the bright spot of hope of the three Legendary Beasts meant nothing as the Beasts had fled into the wilderness. Ecruteak had lost more than a tower that day: it had lost its soul.
Despite it all, Ash could still hear the Song here. It was loud, yet slow and mournful. Not quite in pain, but tired and worn in its loss. Something beautiful had existed here once…
Ash swallowed heavily. The plaza was empty and silent, devoid of the cheer and life he'd glimpsed. It was barren. Lost. Abandoned. The people of Ecruteak hadn't dared to return here. Only the bravest and strongest would chance this forsaken place. It had been left a tomb, a reminder of a grander past.
He waited for a moment, but decided to release Seeker after a brief few moments. Most of his team was still incapacitated at worst and exhausted at best. No point worsening their remaining injuries or awakening them. Even Dazed and Bruiser, the only ones who could still walk, should be disturbed. Aron… well, to be honest Ash just knew he would feel bad if Aron snagged a piece of the shattered Brass Tower and ate it. That would haunt him - maybe even literally.
No, safer to just let Seeker out to stretch her wings. He grinned and whispered a greeting to her as she fluttered around and finally latched onto his back near his pack. Her warmth was welcomed in the crisp summer night - seriously, it was way too cold for summer - and he affectionately scratched behind her ears as she chattered eagerly into his ear.
Despite that he was careful not to be too loud. Even the crunching of leaves and dirt and stone beneath his feet nearly made him wince. It was uncomfortably silent here, like he had stepped into a great tomb. Ash wanted to respect the Burnt Tower as best he could.
Just as he and Seeker reached the steps that would take them into the remains of the tower itself, two figures appeared at the top chattering amicably. Ash froze, eyes locked on the two men even as they went silent at the sight of him.
The first was instantly recognizable as the Ecruteak Gym Leader. Morty was in his late teens or early twenties and not especially tall, though he looked to be in good shape. He wore white pants and a black sweater along with a strange purple scarf with ragged red ends. A purple headband held back his medium length blond hair, but Ash's attention was mostly on the pokebells clipped to the man's belt.
As for the other… well, Ash had no idea what to make of him. His choice of fashion could be described as eccentric at best and ripping off Will's at worst. You didn't see too many people running around in suits, after all. The man wore a short white cape clipped along with a massive red bow tie. He just snorted at his gelled up hair. Ash hoped he didn't try to go traveling with that - the second he started sweating the gel would be all in his eyes.
"They told me you were coming," Morty smiled down at him. Ash frowned. That wasn't ominous at all. Was he another psychic? At Ash's visible confusion he continued. "The ghosts," Morty clarified. With a wave of his hand several gaseous forms materialized from the shadows and shaped into several grinning spheres of spectral energy. Ghastly. "They keep an eye on the tower for me and make sure nobody unauthorized is poking around in here."
"And I'm authorized?" Ash raised an eyebrow.
Morty snorted. "After what happened in Greenfield? Not to mention the other stories I've heard," he added. Then he shook his head. "Besides, aren't you the new Elite Four trainee? I don't know if I could stop you if I tried! Not to say I wouldn't mind the opportunity."
Ash measured Morty up. There was a challenging glint to his eye. Something about his stance made it clear that the Gym Leader expected Ash to challenge him at some point in his stay. Well, at least they were on the same page.
"Ash Ketchum?" The fancily dressed man at Morty's side said. He looked stunned until his eyes burned with some inner mania. "You! You saw Suicune? They said all three Beasts appeared at Greenfield!"
He blinked, caught completely off guard by the man's sudden ferocity. Seeker flexed protectively as the odd person came a little too close for her liking and the man stepped back. "Yes, I've seen it," Ash reminisced fondly at the sight of the North WInd's appearance. Its sun-bright eyes, its magnificent glassy crest. Suicune had been every bit as impressive as one of the Birds. "It saved me."
"Where did it go? What did it do?" The man took another step closer and Ash was tempted to release Bruiser or Dazed. Morty just shook his head, looking like he'd seen this whole routine a hundred times.
"I have no clue," Ash said irritably. To the best of his knowledge the Beasts had all vanished after the Unown had been sealed away. They hadn't stuck around for long after Ash had relinquished their power. He idly toyed with the heavy stone pendant aorund his neck. "And I didn't get to see Suicune for long. It saved my life and nodded at me, but we didn't have time to get to know each other."
The strange man recoiled. "Suicune acknowledged you?" He despaired. "I've never even caught a glance in the ten years I've sought it out!"
Ash looked at Morty. The man simply shrugged. "He gets like this sometimes. Ash, meet Eusine. He's a friend of mine. He has a passing interest in Suicune. Eusine, Ash."
"It's nice to meet you," Ash reached an arm out to Eusine, who sighed and took it. After a few moments the man brightened. "So what brings you here?"
"It's said that Suicune and its siblings return here to the remains of their home," Eusine said cheerfully, motioning to the crumbling tower. "It's the one place of peace in the world, a safe haven in their travels. We hoped to see them now that they're active again."
He frowned. "So it's their one true home and you decided to come in and disturb them?"
Eusine tugged at his bowtie nervously. "Well, it's not like they were actually here," he babbled nervously. "I was so sure we'd see at least one of them though…"
"You aren't helping your case, Eusine," Morty sighed. He glanced over to Ash. "Here, how about we go back to the gym before it gets too dark? You don't want to hang out around here after nightfall," the Gym Leader warned. One of the Ghastly pulled a face behind him. "You can always come back tomorrow. I'll try to get you set up with some cool spots to visit during your stay. Sound good?"
Ash nodded, though he was a little disappointed he wouldn't get to investigate the tower tonight. It was eerily beautiful in this light. "Sure."
"Let's get a move on then," Morty stuffed his hands in his pockets and meandered down the stairs. He cast a calm glance behind him. The doors of the Burnt Tower seemed to darken behind him and even Ash accepted it would be a better idea to leave… for now. "There's a cool restaurant not too far from here we can talk at."
Eusine and Ash nodded as one and followed closely behind Eusine as the sun cast its last light. Before they left, Ash glanced over to the Burnt Tower to pay his last respects. For just a moment he swore there was a tiny sliver of rainbow dancing above it…
He would return.
Wow, this took me so much longer than I expected. I apologize for the wait. Since the last chapter I got my first real job and also resigned… I'll blame that for the delay! Anyways, thanks so much for your patience. I'll be getting back to all the backlog of PMs and reviews I have as soon as possible! While I will be a bit busy with the job search, a project I'm very excited to release in the new future, and trying to start some original writing, I've decided to try and get at least 500-1,000 words of Traveler done every day that I can. I'd love to chip it down more constantly instead of relying more on empty days where I spend four or five hours hammering out the work.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I think there's some cool tidbits in here and there'll be some more interesting lore stuff next chapter! We'll wrap up Ecruteak and get into the first bit of traveling and shed some more light on Ash's plans in Johto. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see in Ecruteak or Johto as a whole! I've left a lot of this arc with some openings so I'll try to work a few things in if it fits well with the story!