Author's Notes (6)
.
Yeah, no. I don't really have an excuse for not updating for a while. In my defense (weak), programming is a bitch to deal with.
This chapter is slightly going into Fate-ish but only the 'chant' is going to be similar. It's only a byproduct of Ash's AURA powers.
Anyways, we're finally at chapter 50! And it's about to be 2023! So Happy New Years everyone! Hope for y'all to bear with me (and my lazy ass) next year! Take care!
.
Riko and Roy
…
…
…Anyways.
I'm kidding. On a serious note, Riko and Roy look amazing in terms of design and while Riko does look a lot like Serena and Ash, until there's an official confirmation, I'll just think of her as the SV anime protag and not Ash's daughter for now.
.
Rushed battles
Yeah, kinda dropped the ball on that one. And I didn't clearly show Gary's desperation and panic as well as Ash's state of mind since as user f46adpg said in a review. I wholeheartedly agree that they were very rushed.
Charizard vs Blastoise is a homage to the original Johto climax between Gary and Ash, but yeah, it went by a little too fast. Gotta rewrite that someday.
All in all, very excellent points, f46adpg! I'll improve on those in the future, thanks!
.
Ingo and Anabel
Ingo's accident to Hisui will happen but not before Ash will (or not) take on the Battle Subway. Who knows? I sure as hell don't.
Anabel will be introduced properly like in the anime, but her Alola role will happen after a certain time skip that I have planned. Trust me, it's a verrrrrry important time skip.
.
Alain
He's in Fated for sure. He'll cameo here or referenced here and there during Serena's perspective in Kalos.
And since he's appearing this early… and is affiliated with Team Flare…
Shhhh, spoilers.
.
TRio and their Pokémon
After long hard thinking, I've decided to incorporate them into the story. But as minor roles since I have no clue how to handle them. But I'll try my best anyways.
.
Evil Team Leaders
Oh, don't worry. Giovanni's just the beginning.
As the story progresses, both Ghetsis and Lysandre are gonna be Ash's actual threats. Hell, Team Flare arc is gonna be even more grandiose than the anime from what I'm planning to do.
The Norse mythology in Kalos plus Zygarde and the evil roots becoming a 'tree'… You guys know where I'm getting at.
And yeah, Giovanni destroying Ash with just Nidoking is to showcase how strong the OG PokeVillain is and how weak Ash is currently in the story. Boy got lucky since AURA kicked in.
And it's only going to get harder from here. So thoughts and prayers to Fated!Ash, dude's not even on his second region and he's already getting screwed by power scaling.
.
And that's it! Thanks to y'all for reading and I'll see you guys next year!
Looking forward to 2023 with y'all!
Chapter 50: Fire Red & Leaf Green (Final)
It was already over…
Or that was what I kept telling myself as I watched Red get up time after time again despite his sudden injuries. Soon, it became a race against time to see if my Pokémon could outlast not his Pokémon, but Red himself.
I sought to end the match as fast as possible, but he kept countering everything I threw at him. And whenever he did, his condition got even worse than before.
…It really pissed me off.
You want to save me? Say that when you start taking care of yourself, you absolute dunce!
That thought hovered in my mind for the entirety of the match, circling me like a shark trapping its prey. It baffled me how someone could willingly destroy himself without hesitation if it meant other would be 'saved'. And that, from the time we were kids till now, angered me to no end.
And now…
I made that same mistake again… For the third time.
I got blinded within this swirling pit of rage that I should had noticed Rhydon's [Stone Edge] beginning to fall apart. I knew that if Arcanine and Pikachu battled it out there, the pillars would have collapsed eventually.
But I didn't stop. Rather, I didn't care.
All I wanted in that moment was to defeat the eyesore that my rival had become.
…
…And because of that…
I gazed upon the ruined platform where Red stood. Debris from the pillars of stone covered the faded reddish floor when suddenly, a flash of light hit my eye as it reflected the sunlight. What I saw had my entire being devastated as I recognized the object:
A blood-stained silver locket.
"No… Not again…" I whimpered, finally awake from the anger within me.
"I did it again… Not Red…"
"Please, don't do this…"
I felt my hands trembled as I felt they had been dirtied even further. Both Raticate and Red were on my hands. And I couldn't take it anymore.
If Red's truly gone…
"RED!"
I really won't be able to bear it anymore…
My heart felt as if a gaping empty hole was shot though it as I watched the boy I love lay on the ground, surrounded by debris and pools of blood just as red as his eyes.
This can't be happening…
For a small moment, I managed to see what Red did before this despicable conclusion... And it broke me into pieces.
He reached out towards the silver locket I gave him that had been coated sanguine and failed to catch it as he fell to the earth, trapping himself into an abyss of darkness.
"I promise you, Yellow."
To everyone, it may not seem like much but for me…
"When I finally become a Pokémon Trainer…"
It felt as if he was calling for my help. And I failed.
"I'll find you."
"Ah… AH…! AAAAAAHHHHH!" I wailed out in agony as tears fell from my eyes.
He promised…
I could hear my friends panicking over both my unsightly conduct as well as Red's situation, but I didn't care.
"No matter how long it takes."
Grief and sorrow overcame me as I began imagining a future without Red…
"You promised…"
…And it tore my heart to shreds.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
…Where am I?
I found myself staring at complete darkness around me. It was pitch black encapsulating my body that I couldn't tell whether I'm staring upwards or downwards.
I can't move…
I tried to move my body, only to find myself surprised when I couldn't feel anything. Not even my own facial muscles.
The horrendous pain I went through was probably the cause. Thanks to that, my entire body's all numb. Whether it's a bad thing or a good thing, I had absolutely no clue.
…Tch. I don't have time for this.
I tried every way I could to do something. Anything at all. I remember before passing out that Yellow's locket was lost somewhere around me and Pikachu buried underneath the pillar of stones that collapsed.
Grraaaah! Damnit body, move! Pikachu needs me!
As I focused my thoughts on my beloved partner, I felt the wild energy within pounding louder as I became enveloped in a blinding white light.
Link established.
"What the?!"
The next thing I realized were my two arms shielding my eyes from the sudden burst of light. And boy was I glad to see my own arms.
Ecstatically feeling my entire body, minus the burdensome suffering I was subjected to just a few minutes ago, was something I never thought I'd enjoy so much. But my current predicament came first.
"…A forest?" I whispered in a hushed manner.
The scent of earth, the freshness of vegetations, and the chirping of Pidgeys. I felt right at home since they all carried special memories for me.
The time I huddled with the Pokémon near Pallet's forest when it rained…
…And…
"Yellow… Right. It's also where I met her for the first time…" I smiled, thinking back to my first encounter with the honey blonde that changed my life.
Rustle.
"Hmm?!" I whipped my head towards the sound as I got startled by it.
Something's coming.
As if it knew my finished realization, a ball of black and yellow sprouted from the thick bushes. In an instant, my entire body froze as I recognized what, or rather who it was.
"Pichu!"
…
…No way.
I watched in stunned silence as Pichu began playfully greeting a flock of Butterfrees. Having an inkling of what was happening, I exaggerated some hand signs and funny faces towards the small Pokémon, only to be completely ignored which truthfully, stung a little.
"This is… Pikachu's past, huh?" I confirmed aloud.
Or rather, his memories.
I could feel a connection to my partner just like my Pokémon. Yes, I finally got what was happening.
We're connected through our bonds with each other. Sharing everything amongst ourselves as a reward for our trust in each other. Although, the thought that something like the concept of bonds is technically physical confused me a little.
Shaking away the complicated thoughts, I caught sight of a pair of glowing eyes within a hole underneath the roots of a nearby tree. Didn't take me long to realize who they belonged to since I had some bad experiences with them and their so-called Trainers.
A purple serpent came slithering out from its hideout and began to strike its fangs towards my unevolved partner, to my horror.
"Oh crap…! Pika—"
"Piiiii-chuuuuuu!"
But it was unneeded as little Pichu unleashed a rather strong [Thundershock] towards the Ekans, making it slither away in fear and defeat.
Silently, I whistled with awe at my partner's childhood encounter. I knew Pikachu was capable before I met him, but this was amazing.
Then, Pichu collapsed in exhaustion, prompting a laugh from me.
Looks like he's still getting the hang of it.
"Heh. You probably can't hear me but… You did great, partner," I chuckled, unbothered that I couldn't interact with the current Pichu.
Time went on.
I was probably spending weeks or even months within my partner's memories, but not once have I ever felt hungry or sleepy. Not only that, but I also constantly felt the feeling I had when I battled against Professor Oak's Tauros. It was like time had slowed, only even more.
Even though I was technically trapped here for quite a long time, I never once felt the need to escape and instead enjoyed Pichu's adventures before we met.
I worried for him when he was trying to forage Berries from bushes and high trees.
I laughed when he turned into a goofball when he played with other friendly Pokémon in the forest.
I cheered him on whenever he got into a scuffle with some Pokémon bullies.
I watched over him as he slept comfortably at safe locations as he travelled.
Seeing my partner's life before we met was incredible. How Pichu survived despite being alone and always looked ahead was inspiring to watch as he always seemed undeterred no matter what.
Then, as if to reward my partner, that encounter happened.
Pichu and I reached a steep cliff where a nice breeze fell upon us…
Or just Pichu since I can't interact with his memories. And I was glad I couldn't since the next moment, the stinking smell from a group of Koffings came whizzing by and entered my partner's nostrils.
"Pi?! Pichu!" he squeaked out in disgust.
"Pft! Hahaha!" I laughed before my disoriented partner fell down from the high cliff.
"Hahaha-HHHHUHHHH?! Pichu!" I yelped as I jumped off after him.
Plonk! Plonk!
Pichu thankfully landed on the tree leaves below and they lessened his fall into a safe landing.
Plonk.
"Pichu…" he groaned at the lingering odour.
I was fine since I don't take damage from the fall. A perk of being incorporeal in memories… I think.
But what Pichu landed on wasn't the ground but huge brown paws that gently held his small yellow body.
"Ah," I unconsciously blurted as I recognized the Pokémon.
"Kanga!" the large Pokémon greeted with a smile before placing my small partner onto the ground tenderly.
Pichu's dumbfounded expression almost had me rolling before an unexpected development occurred.
From the Kangaskhan's pouch popped her smooth-skinned purple baby, who nonchalantly left its mother's pouch to greet Pichu, shattering my belief that baby Kangaskhans couldn't leave the pouch.
…WAIT HOL' UP! THEY CAN DO THAT?!
"Since when?!" I shouted in disbelief as I watched the two small Pokémon becoming fast friends while still shellshocked by that shocking revelation.
And just like that, little Pichu was adopted into Kangaskhan and her herd.
Then, a long time passed. I stopped counting after the first two weeks and just enjoyed the time I spent alongside the Kangaskhan parent-child duo and Pichu.
Seeing them so happy together unexpectedly had me struggle to watch as I found myself distancing from them little by little each day.
Ah… I see.
"I'm jealous… I think," I smiled decrepitly to myself as I realized why.
I… don't have a family. The Oaks may have raised me but there was still a wall between us. Not that it was their fault but mine.
I never felt the warmth from a mother… And seeing my partner who was alone in the beginning and now found himself a loving family made me incredibly jealous but incredibly happy for him.
Probably because I spent quite some time with him in his memories with little to no time having passed in the real world… I hope.
My partner deserves this. He deserves this…
The knowledge that I was the reason my mother died at childbirth due to me came flooding in a hundredfold as if to remind me.
Because I know I sure as hell don't.
I observed as the herd of Kangaskhans graciously accept the eggs given by a group of Chanseys as a sign of friendship since they can reproduce those eggs in a heartbeat due to their species' biology.
Through Pikachu's memories, I was learning a lot about Pokémon that I had ever did. It amazed me that my partner had such a wonderful life before and a chilling thought invaded my head.
If things were going so well… Why did Pikachu leave?
The thought had me gripping my fist for the worst. My heinous act as a baby came back again, prompting a slight panic within me as I worryingly gazed upon the mother Kangaskhan.
Gulping down my fears, I pressed on towards the end of Pikachu's memories.
Soon… or rather, a long time… Or whenever, I don't know. Time's a foreign concept to me nowadays… Nowahours? Nowayears? Meh.
Both Pichu and the baby Kangaskhan, whom I nicknamed Lil' Kanga, were growing bigger as they had both taken most of the space in the wide pouch in Mama Kanga and she was visibly tired from carrying the two baby Pokémon.
"Kanga… Kanga…" she panted through the now cold rainy night.
She ain't looking too good. Damnit.
My worst fears came true as this was probably how Pikachu's family ended. A familiar dread washed upon me as I watched Pichu trying to walk on his own before being placed back into the pouch by Mama Kanga, who always held a motherly smile to my troubled partner.
"Kang-kanga," she smiled before joining back to the herd.
Pichu had no choice but to silently stay inside the pouch as the Kangaskhan herd sought for shelter.
"…Tch!" I clicked my tongue in frustration of my powerlessness.
I couldn't do anything here. This was all in the past and just an illusion of my partner's memories. But I still felt angry at myself for not being able to help.
That night, the Kangaskhans finally found a large cave for them to take shelter and sleep for the night. I was glad that Mama Kanga could finally catch a break.
But for how long?
My attention turned towards my partner. Pichu gazed at Mama Kanga and Lil' Kanga for a while after escaping from the pouch before getting startled momentarily by the loud exhale from Mama Kanga.
"Damnit, if this goes on… She's not gonna make it," I vented out whilst still angry at myself for not being of any use.
But all that voiced out comment did was further antagonizing myself for making it worse after numerous tries to hold that thought.
I just had to say it, huh?
I stared at my partner longing gaze towards the snoring duo and felt my heart tightened at the sight.
On one hand, Mama Kanga would be able to raise Lil' Kanga just as she was meant to, but…
On another hand, Pichu would lose the one family he had in exchange.
Without a word, I waited for my partner's decision. Whatever he chose was something that had already happened, meaning it's immutable no matter how much I try. And so, whatever Pichu decided to do, I'll never judge him for it since both the choice of wanting to be together and leaving them were the 'correct' things to do.
Seconds went by before piling up to a minute.
For the first time, I felt time moved for a moment… A really long moment.
"…"
"…"
"…Pichu…"
I heard the drops of tears splattering onto the rocky terrain of the cave.
"Pi-pi-chu…" my partner whimpered with teary eyes.
His glistening brown eyes illuminated by the moonlight and his trembling lips gave me an unbearable heartache as I found myself crying as well. The pain I felt here was incomparable to the one during my battle against Green…
Because this one hurt even harder.
"Pich, pi…pi-pi-ch—" Pichu tried to flee but stumbled while he ran.
But I watched as my partner never looked back for fear of returning and proceeded to exit the cave before splashing a puddle of water outside, causing him to stop.
I widened my eyes as I thought that Pichu had changed his mind but to my delight, I was wrong.
Pichu turned back for the first time towards his first family with glistening brown eyes.
My surroundings morphed into snippets of the time we spent together as Pichu reminisced.
These are… flashbacks?
It was like watching a movie. A very personal movie since I had technically lived through each moment through Pichu.
Lil' Kanga and Pichu giggling and playing with each other.
Mama Kanga feeding Pichu some Oran Berries.
The two baby Pokémon cuddling with their mother.
I couldn't handle it. I sobbed, ashamed of myself that I thought that leaving was the best option. But it was, and at the same time, it wasn't.
It's cruel to part a child from their parent, especially when they deserved each other so much. Unlike me, Pichu earned that happiness after surviving through so much ordeal since the beginning.
But as my surroundings returned, I was stunned by my partner's reaction.
Instead of a sad and sombre look, Pichu held a grateful and happy smile as he watched the sleeping family, even with a tear in his eye.
"Pichu…" he squeaked as he closed his eyes.
"Pich."
"PiKAch!"
And the bright blue light of evolution surrounded my partner, illuminating the forest. From the dying light appeared the familiar appearance of a yellow mouse with red cheeks.
"…Pft! You were that happy to meet them that you evolved, huh?" I chuckled to myself.
Pikachu danced happily as he saw his new appearance within the puddle of water before squeaking out his new cry.
"Pikachu!"
My partner fell his eyes upon his adoptive family and let out a thankful smile to them before waving goodbye, grateful for everything they've given him.
"Pika-chuuu!" he squeaked with as much love as he could.
And the world around me turned white.
"…!"
"What's…" I muttered before suddenly…
CRACK!
A gruesome sound echoed around me, giving me a splitting headache.
"Gah! Wha…?!" I grunted in pain before my surroundings resumed Pikachu's memories.
But this time, it was a far cry from the happy and cheerful one.
THWAP!
"Oi! Stop fucking around, Pikachu!" a burly man with a whip yelled out furiously.
"It's been 4 damn months since I've caught you and ya still can't learn [Thunderbolt] yet?! Useless rat!"
I immediately went for his head. I swung my fist towards that damn bastard…
"ORRAAHHH!"
Only for my fist to meet nothing and my eyes to see my arm passing through the abusing man. All the energy I put into my blow had me tumbling down onto the ground.
"Oof!"
I turned back only to be met with more whippings to be unleashed upon my partner.
"No…"
"C'MON, YOU DAMN RAT! NOT BEING ABLE TO EVOLVE AND NOT ABLE TO LEARN [THUNDERBOLT]?!"
"Don't…!"
"GODDAMNIT! I PICKED THE WRONG PIKACHU!"
"Pika…! Chu…"
I heard my partner's choked cries of pain while I laid on the ground, unable to do anything but watch.
"Stop…"
He doesn't deserve this…
CRACK!
"Piiii…!"
THUMP!
The man stomped onto Pikachu's small yellow body, making him cough out blood.
THWAP!
Pikachu didn't leave his family for this!
"Useless rat!"
In that instant, I felt the wild strength flowing through my body exploding to life with my eyes burning from the rage I felt towards that bastard.
"DON'T YOU DARE HURT MY FRIEND!"
And everything went black again.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A pair of flashing bloodred eyes winced opened.
'…I'm back?' the raven-haired boy thought as he found himself staring at a white landscape.
But then, the boy's face quickly switched to one of horror as his surroundings began burning by hungry flames that devoured the pristine white.
Ba-bump.
…Only for Ash to see what was hidden underneath the sheet of burning white:
Ba-bump!
"No… way," he breathed out anxiously.
An iron-coloured earth.
Bronze skies with gray clouds.
And a land of blades.
"What the hell is this?"
"Exactly what it looks like."
A disembodied voice boomed around Ash, causing the raven-haired boy to spin around to find not a single soul around him.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
"Just as clueless as always. That's the part of you that'll never change."
The voice was a deep and smooth baritone that somehow grinded the boy's gears, annoying him for some reason.
"Ho? Did I make you upset, boy?"
Ash could almost hear the smirk on the voice's face, making him even more peeved.
"Answer the damn question!"
"Hmph. Fine, I'll answer your questions, Ash Ketchum."
'He knows my name?' Ash pondered, becoming more alert towards the disembodied voice.
"Well, first things first, I've got no intentions of telling you who I am."
'Okay, this guy's just messing with me!' the raven-haired boy twitched in anger before calming himself, not wanting to get riled up by the voice's intentional mockery of him.
"So what? I'm just gonna call you Nameless?"
"…That works."
'…Crap, that's a cool name,' Ash groaned as he found himself regretting giving the voice a rather awesome name by his standards.
"As for your other question, you already know where you are."
"…Huh?" the boy blurted without thinking and scowled when he heard the voice sighed in frustration.
Suddenly…
PAM!
"Gufwp?!"
Ash was hit at the back by a strong slap and fell down the small hill that he stood, tumbling down until the swords that stabbed into the earth halted his descent.
"Oww… What the hell?!" he shouted in indignation and turned to the offending cause of his fall.
The bloodred eyes widened in shock as the raven-haired boy could only stare in stunned silence at the person on the hill of blades.
The same man who he saw in his visions after his battle against Lorelei:
The man in red.
Lavender eyes narrowed with spite towards Ash as he stood imposingly with his arms crossed.
'This guy…!'
Just then, a splitting headache came barrelling within the boy's skull.
"Gah! What the…?!"
Ash continued looking at the ashen-haired man, even through the painful headache he was experiencing.
I know him.
I don't know him.
I know him. I don't know him.
I̷̧̛͈͎̩͍̯͔͍̮͉̖͋̀̊̃̃͛̚͘͠ ̴̧̦̬̭͇̲̯̮̰͉̭̹̇͋̋̎͗͗̌̈̀͆͝k̶̨̨̜̥̫̩̙̖̘̞̟͔̠̬͑͆͋̃̽̀̐̓̐͑͐͝͝͝n̴̨̙͎͖͕̻̖͓̤̺͌̒̽͌̋͜ö̵̺̲͖͖̗̱͇̻́̔̆͋͜ẘ̴̧̙̰̞̪̥͈̼̎̔̐̽̂̈́́̍͠͝ ̵̡͉̪̞̼͙̰͖͇̤͙̘̞̑̀͂̕h̴̳͇̹̫̺̬͓͇̥͓͕͎̫̻͙͗̎̀i̸͔̥̺̺̠̞͙͗͐̎̀̍̐̐͊̑̈͘͝m̸̧̨̜͖̦̠͇̘̜̱̪̬̆̓̐̾̃͑͜͝ͅͅ.̸̣̗̦̫̗͍͊̎͊͐̑́̚ ̸̡̛͓̹̟̲̠͖̦͋͆͐͜Ī̸̡͕̝̩̞͕̟̹̹͒ ̵̛̠̠̻͋́̓͝ḍ̴̨̪̅̎͂̂̈́͘͜͠o̵̪̮̪̭͉͇͍̳̤̪̣̞̪͂͘n̷͓͙͉̲̞͖̬͍͚̲̹̯̓̈́̅̊̏͗̍̏̎͂̚ͅ'̵̡̛̟̫̼̤̘͓͕̟̿͑̋́͌͜͜ͅt̶̟̥͍͗̃̈́̄̊͂̿͑͑̄̾͝ͅ ̸̮̲̥̞̮͕̭̘̻̙̟̉͆̒̌̿̓̓̕̕̚͠k̷̥͚̬̰̬͆̿̚͝n̸̰̣͉̻̦̩͚̣̭̞̒̈͛̑̑̿̓͝o̸̢̨̫͙͕̹͇͎̟͓͖̊̿̀̐ẃ̴̦̯͍͙̤̯̌̈̒̔̕͘͜ ̸̧̳͕̬̬̘̖̖̝̝̩̻̳͚̍̕ͅh̷̢͓̩̥̱͕͇̩̳͖̼̀̓͆̆̅͛̽͋̐͛̒̚͘i̸̝̺̹͓̥͂̿̂̔̌̎͌͘̚͠͠m̶̡̛͙̘̝͓̙̳̟̘̹̽͛̐̾͂͗̈́̆.̴̧̬̤̮̙̩͓̣͆̀͒͂̑͂̃̔͗ ̷̹̙̱̝̩̰͇̂̈́͑̿̑̋͝Ì̶̺͓̤̹̭̹̭̠͒̐̌̎͒͘̕̚ ̴̨̙͇̰̳̬͖̟̦̬̠͈̩̀͛̂͂͐̌͊́̀̕͜͝͠ͅk̷̢̛̛̩̭̺̖͕̲̦̼̤͚̐̇ǹ̵͎̙̗͖̫̰͔̙̈́̄̔͑ō̵̢̗͕͍̘͕̺̘̲̦̱̳̮ẉ̴̢̘̝̜̞̼̠̮̞͚̘̝̯̱̀̆̿̍ ̶̢̢̣̭̥͔͎̥̯̟̺̪̤̍̓̀̏͋͑̕͝ͅȟ̸̢̨̛̭̤̮͎͔͈̳͚̝̮̖̬̩̔̈́̇̐̆̈́͠ȉ̸͍̲͍̗̰̜̹̩̱̪̜̱͔́͐̉̊̂̽̂̑̈́̀̕m̸͉̀́̈͑̈̎̈́̈́̇̐̕͝͝.̶̘̖̥̭͓̐́̌͂̓̅̏͐͋̏̕͘ ̶̼̥͖̫̗̀͋̀̌̅̉́͌͘Ǐ̸̡̡̤̣̻̙̺̩̳͎͓̟̿͑̾͒͑̓͌͘ ̴̨̡̢̢̤͇͈̗̖͙̺̠̹̤͖͛͗d̸̘͖̤̦̺̼͔͙͓͈̣̓͜ö̸̳̣́͒̌̆n̷̨̢̧̥͙̰͓͔̟͕͔̳̳̺̪̆̾͒̕'̴̙͙͑͂̂̓́͋͐̌̊̐͐͌̕t̶͍̆̑̍ ̶̧̫̳̻̹͙̩̪̭̭̝̝̻͔̉͋͒̈́̊̎̐̀͠͠͝k̸̨̨̢̛̤̘̣̹̰͉̺̬̙͉̙̈́̈̔̍̿͒̉̈́͑͜͝n̵̡̨̛̩͉̩͚̜͚̬͇̘͈̹̜͂̓͊͋̐̒͂̓̓̄̉͊ó̷͓̹͂̀͐̓̊͌̂̽͌̈́͒́͘̚ẘ̵̧͙̯̫͖̱̘̰̜̜̪̱͐̊̾̓̃̔̋̈́̀͆̕͜ͅ ̶̧̼̤̻̳̝̥͈̗̪̦̣̝̗̑̈͒̂̊͗̀h̴̨̧̧̨̖̱͓͌́̋̊̌̏̆̅͋͌ͅi̶̲͍̫̮͎͚̙͖͙̱̩̭̊̂͜ḿ̵̨͔̰̹͇̺̱̯͇̠̯̙̣͂̐̑͂́̀͘͠.̵̥̱̍ ̸̹̠̤̭̪̟̼̬͇̱̫̳͉̓̓̽̒̓͝I̸̛̱͍̗̩͖̟̬͑͛̿̌̋́̃͊̌̕ ̸̙͔̮̮̼̠̫͑̈́̃̇͒͝k̶̛̛̘̪̼̰̭̠̗̙͇̟͉̭̫̊̓͗̇̈́͋͗̎̓̈͒̅͜͝ņ̴̥̯̰̩̮̳̪̥̣̼̩̀͑̚ǫ̷̨̳̝͓̩͔̭̤̯̰̳̿̽́̓͘̕͜͜w̷̡͓̝̥͉̎͌̋͊͊̄͌̊͂̆̀̓̅̕ ̸̧̙̠̐̚ḫ̸̪̺̘̖̩̟̣̌̏̎̀̉̀̾͒̾̑͋͠i̴̠̞̲̔̇m̶͉͉̪̘͚̾̑̔̍̕̚.̶͖̩̜̘̲͔̝̻̜̣͕̭͕͎̯̎̊́̌̓́͐̈́̇̕̚ ̸̧̮͍̳̘̙̤͖̭̰̪̠̤͕̈͜Ĩ̷̡̖̜̗̟̹̹̬͎̳̪͇ͅ ̵͉̳̦̬̙̹̆͑̈́̑͛͑̌͒̉͒͝͝d̵͍͚̤̪͙̼̰̝͓̯̅̇̔̍̾̈́̆̂͑̃͜͝o̸̗͈̦̫͕̰̱̦͌̄͌̇n̵̨̢̟͍̓̓̅͐̏̈́͘'̷̱̬̱̙̓̓ṭ̵̘̜̥͐̅ ̴̢̛͈͈̮͒̀̋̏͑̽̆̚͠ķ̷̡̛͙̰̜͕̎͐͒̾͂͊̀̏̈́̒̆̐͝ͅñ̴̗̮̥̳̠̲͗o̴̱̒̃̐́͝w̸̡̛̥̪͍̭̹͉̿́̏̉̽̅͆̽̀͆͒̓͘ ̴̘̗̜̗̜̜̈͌̆̓̈́̅̂̀̽̍̎̒͐h̶̡̨͇̦̥̫̑̾́͛̈́̈́̓͗͑̌́͠ͅi̷̮̻͙̦͓̲͍̼̱̟͎̓̍̓m̶̛͍̫̹͙̯͔̻̞̗͂͂̋̊͋̅͜.̷̯͒̇̋̋ ̷̩͈̻͚̟̼̾̇̉̏̕I̸̡̹̙̦̭̠̬̣͈̠͈̍̾̄̽͆̉̒̕͠͝͝ͅ ̵̨̧͕̦͈̦̩͎̯̞͇͍̦̈́͋̀̇́̿̓͛͘͝k̶͔̀̒̏͒̑̑̑̅͝͝͝ǹ̷̬̹̹̫̮̒̇͑̒̈̔̊̑͂͗̅͌̕͝ō̸̠̩͙̯̬̯̿̈̏̓̋w̵̗̯͋̓̈̆̑̋̾͐̐̔̍̋̀͘ ̷̡̖͖̜̃̎͊̕h̴̡̨̭̙̜̼̭̘̟̟͕̞̻͔̟͋̀ḯ̵̡́͊͝ḿ̶̢͔̱͎̻̳̪̤̓̅͆̐̓̔̑̚͝.̶̡̱̫̙̩͖̯̗̞͕̒͋̋̊̍̈́̅́͂͘͜ ̵̡̣̤̻͕̼̣͚̥̭̔̊̄̍́̍Ì̶̝͔̣̞̳̱͌̿̏́̿̉̌̀̔̔̾́͝͝ ̶͙͇̜͉͓̩̱̣̭̰̬̥͙͇͉̋̈́̏̌̕͠ḓ̴̡̟͙͈̻̣͛͒̎̿̽̚͜͝͠ǫ̶̨͇̺̘̤̟̠͕͓̼̽͗̇͛̓̋͒͠ņ̴̘͙͇̯͔̳͍͈͖̙̪͎̄̅̍͑̚̕͝'̶̢̡̨̥̮͕̬̆̍͂́͌͗́͒̄͋̋͘͝͠ť̴̝̾͑̾̽̀̿͋̓͌ ̵̛̜͎͑͒͋̄̒̏͂͠k̷̢̛̙̣̟͍̩͓̤͔̫̗̙̉̐͊̋͐̊̑͠n̷̢̛͚̬̓̄̍̒̕o̷̖̹͍͎̬̱̹͕̘̺̰̱͎̠̻̕͠͝ẅ̴̨̡͍̥̩͇͚̰̲͎̩͍͎̏̄̓͒͛̉́̄͊̕͝͝ ̵̡̢̟͖̻̣͗̂̐͊̔̕͘͘͝h̵̨͔̳̠̙͎͙̱̐̉̈̈̒͜͝ḭ̴̣̪̰̋̒̏̒̈́̐̌̎͑̽͘ͅm̷͇͇̆͊.̵̳̪̠͍̭͔͛̒̓̒͂
.
"Looks like you're waking up. Not that any time has passed thanks to AURA," he commented offhandedly.
"AU…RA?" Ash repeated unfamiliarly.
"Seriously? You don't even know about the power you've been using?"
"Haaah… Unbelievable. I didn't remember you being this clueless," Nameless scoffed.
"Just… shut up… and tell… me," Ash heaved tiredly as he felt the accumulated pain that he suffered from his battle against Gary returning little by little.
'He knows me… But who the hell is he?!'
"As I've said, it's what you've been using without knowing and what's been saving your ass during your battles."
Ash absorbed the information before nodding, the first gesture of thankfulness that he showed Nameless.
"…Do you want to beat Green, Ash Ketchum?" the ashen-haired man asked with his cold lavender eyes.
"Tch! Damn right I do!"
"Why?"
"Because… I wanna prove to him that our bonds with Pokémon are what makes people strong, not weak," the raven-haired boy answered readily.
"Not like… that asshole that abused Pikachu!" he gritted his teeth in hateful anger.
But the spiteful remark from Ash had Nameless raising an eyebrow, as if he was impressed about something.
"…Looks like there's still hope for you, after all," he smirked, much to the boy's chagrin.
"What're ya—"
In a flash, the man in red disappeared and reappeared in front of the raven-haired boy, surprising the latter slightly but was too preoccupied with the increasing painful wounds as he began to come around from this dreamlike state.
"Now listen closely here, boy," Nameless commanded with an authoritative tone.
"This is a part of you. You already know what this is."
Thump-thump.
"This is your world."
Thump-thump!
"And within yourself…"
THUMP-THUMP!
"Search for those words, Ash Ketchum."
Flames engulfed the landscape once more as the raven-haired boy began to awaken.
.
The words…
.
…I know them.
.
I always have.
.
Because…
.
They are me.
.
And I am them.
.
My body… is made…
"Ash!" Sabrina and Brock cried out as they rushed towards the pile of debris that seemingly crushed the raven-haired boy underneath.
The crowd was distraught at the sight and was about to erupt in a panicked uproar before a low rumbling could be heard.
BOOM!
A deep bluish vortex of harsh winds came blasting out from the rocks, revealing a raven-haired boy struggling to stand up as he swayed around as if he was limp. But the glowing bloodred eyes told a different story.
Previously, whenever Ash used his powers unknowingly, his bloodred eyes merely glowed significantly redder like a poppy flower. Now, aware of the AURA surging within him thanks to Nameless, the bloodred irises shone brighter, only with a key difference now.
The once black pupils within the bloodred irises were now glowing a bright blue, a similar shade resembling the colour of the eyes of a certain honey blonde. Red lightning streaks were now dancing in tandem with a new blue ghostly wisp.
Although he was already bloodied before, Ash's face was now adorned with a new streak of red warm blood, originating from a small yet significant cut of his left eyebrow. Despite that, the raven-haired boy was letting out a weak grin as he felt the phantom blades hold on him was significantly weaker. All it now took was one last push.
Everyone was in disbelief at Ash's now fully revealed AURA power as while the entire world was aware of supernatural powers within Trainers such as Psychic abilities, but what Ash was displaying was a completely new beast entirely.
"Hey, Pikachu," he called out hoarsely.
"Ya' alright, buddy?"
As if responding to his partner's call, a surge of electricity blasted from the rubble of [Stone Edge] and a bleeding yellow mouse stood his ground while nodding to his Trainer with a cheeky grin.
"Pika-chu!"
Ash noticed that his partner's left ear now sported a similarly small yet pronounced cut which led to the bleeding on the small yellow face. Unable to think straight, he let out a hearty laugh as if he had gone looney.
"Now we match, partner," he pointed to his own cut on his eyebrow, prompting a snicker from Pikachu.
The announcer was left speechless at the nonchalant chatting between the Trainer and Pokémon who seemed to shrug off the fact that they were almost crushed.
But this was also Ash's intent as he did not want the Grand League to make out his rival as the bad guy. And so, he continued brushing off the everlasting pain within his body.
"Now…"
The raven-haired boy licked the blood from his lip with a maniacal grin.
"Where were we?"
Pokemon Academy, Kalos Region.
BOOM!
The students watched with bated breath as the lone boy emerged from the debris surrounded by ferocious deep blue energy swirling around him while his bloodred eyes became even more striking, complimenting the blue around him.
"Mmpf!"
Serena could hardly contain her relief as she tried biting her lips back lest she burst into another sobbing mess.
"Thank goodness…! Thank goodness!" she hiccupped while Froakie and Grace comforted the crying girl.
'I'm really crying a lot these days…' she mused.
The honey blonde gazed upon the raven-haired boy on screen, still grinning without a care in the world.
'This is all your fault, dummy.'
{ NOW… }
{ WHERE WERE WE? }
The animalistic expression Ash gave terrified the honey blonde when combined with the AURA activated eyes, but…
Somehow…
Serena found her heart pounding with excitement as she laid her eyes upon the raven-haired boy. Snapping out of it, she turned away to recompose herself.
'Eh? Eeehhhh?! What's going on?!' she internally screamed, her heart still leaping with delight.
She was still worried about Ash's current state as he was clearly delirious and in a lot of pain. But for some reason, his feral stare and the slight tilt of his head due to the blood from his cut…
Had the honey blonde blushing up to her ears.
Serena knew that it was wrong, but she could not help but be attracted even more by Ash.
'There must be something wrong with me…'
Before she could sort out her conflicting feelings, the climax of the final battle was about to begin.
"Red…" Gary muttered as his green eyes swam around the dark blue vortex of energy around his rival.
Ash tilted his head even more as he felt his AURA circling around him. It was as if it was trying to form into something but due to its owner's current state, it was impossible.
'Well, I'll figure it out,' he shrugged.
"Sorry about that, Green."
"C'mon! I'll show you the bond between me and Pikachu."
The raven-haired boy knew how to taunt best against his rival as he mockingly gestured him to 'bring it on' with a lacerated palm.
"You're in condition to fight, Red! Give up!" Gary snarled, not wanting to take the bait.
"Sorry, no can do, buddy. Not until I make you eat your words about Raticate."
"Tch! Then I'll put you down! Arcanine, [ExtremeSpeed]!"
The red canine broke into a disappearing flash, unseen by anyone as he was too fast to be seen. But the bloodred orbs were a different story.
The otherworldly blue pupils within the orbs were like a heating-seeking red dot sight, always onto the seemingly invisible Arcanine.
'So this is AURA…' Ash mused as his eyes followed the reddish shape of Arcanine, darting everywhere wherever the large canine would go.
With his link to Pikachu, Ash made his move.
"[Iron Tail]!" he called out.
"Chuuuu-pika!" the electric mouse squeaked as he primed his attack towards the empty air.
Only for [Iron Tail] to suddenly connect a surprised Arcanine. And the two were just getting started.
"Keep going! [Swords Dance (Fake)]!"
"Pika-chu!"
The two were an injured and bloody mess, and yet they were more united than ever before.
A flurry of metallic slashes came crashing onto the red fur and cream mane, making Gary's ace howl in pain.
"Damnit! Get some distance, [Flamethrower]!" Gary growled.
A jet of flames came spraying from the red beast's snout, covering the electric mouse within moments. But to both Gary and Arcanine's surprise, Pikachu was already out of harm's way and entered the Legendary Pokémon's peripheral vision.
'When did he…?!' Gary thought in confusion.
"[Thunderbolt]!" Ash called out without missing a beat.
"Don't mock me! [Flamethrower]!" Gary responded in kind.
Golden lightning blasted forth against the hungry red flames, causing the two opposing forces to erupt into an explosion of electric and fire.
Coughing fits ensued and splatters of blood came out from Ash's mouth. He had expended way too much in this single battle.
But the raven-haired boy was not done yet.
And so, he kept pushing forward.
"You… ready, Pikachu?" he smiled to his partner.
"Pika-chu!" the electric mouse pumped his fist in response.
'Ah… thank goodness,' the boy pondered pensively at Pikachu's reliable back.
His thoughts raced back to the little mouse's memories of the past.
His beginnings and his pain. Ash had seen and understood them all.
And yet, Pikachu was still here with him. Even after his horrible past experiences with humans, he stood tall with the boy who saved him.
'…You've gotten so strong, Pikachu.'
'Mama Kanga and Lil' Kanga would be proud of you.'
"Let's go out with a bang, shall we partner?" Ash prepared himself for the final and greatest backlash he was about to undertake.
"Pika!"
Meanwhile, Gary watched the two and felt the anger within him bubbling out of him. He could not stand the sight of his rival fraternizing with his Pokémon. Something he had long abandoned and felt that he did not deserve.
"Arcanine, use [Flare Blitz] and [ExtremeSpeed] together!" he shouted out, boiling with hatred.
"How's this, Red?! In the face of Power, nothing's gonna stop me!"
"Not even your precious Bonds!"
The bloodred eyes could now see all the darkness within the orange-haired boy had surfaced and spat out the remaining blood in his mouth.
'Alright, now or never,' he thought.
"Pikachu, everything we've got!"
"[Volt Tackle]!"
And they were off.
A missile of gold rushed with haste.
"PIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKA PIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKA!"
And vengeful flames blasted with unparalleled speed.
"RRRRRROOOOOOOAAAAARRRRRR!"
The two were locked in a struggle for dominance as neither were backing down.
"Pikachu's at his limit already, Red! I win!" Gary cried out as he caught a glimpse of the yellow lightning faltering back.
The audience watched as little by little, Pikachu was clearly losing the clash.
'As expected, what can one Pikachu even do?'
'If only he was able to evolve…'
'A Pikachu can't win against a fully evolved Pokémon.'
Thoughts like these were in the minds of everyone who bore witness to the clash of lightning and fire.
"…Limit?" Ash parroted as he clutched onto his left chest in agony.
"Pikachu ain't gonna give up like this. None of us will."
"I promised my Pokémon…"
"We'll walk together… On that one road!"
"We're gonna be the very best! Like no one ever was!"
Dark blue energy was spiralling haphazardly from Ash as the winds grew fiercer. And from within the raven-haired boy, the phantom swords holding him back…
Were finally undone.
My body…
He raised his left arm towards his partner.
Is made…
His bloodred eyes whirled to their brightest alongside his blue pupils.
Of swords.
Pikachu felt power flowing within himself, but it was not the same as before.
Previously, Ash himself shared AURA from himself to his Pokémon by using the bond between them as a medium.
But now, Ash did no such thing but instead, through their linked bonds, the raven-haired boy instinctively knew what to do. He used everything he had and pushed the AURA into Pikachu. Not as temporary burst of strength, but something else.
Ash Ketchum had found his partner's metaphorical limits.
'…Found it!' Ash narrowed his eyes as the creeping backlash was crawling closer.
And through the robust power of his AURA…
'Blast through it!'
He obliterated that limit into dust.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The raven-haired boy screamed out in excruciating pain as he stubbornly carried both his own backlash and the backlash that his partner would have suffered together, making his current agony increase by two-fold.
But despite it all, Ash kept a grin on his face.
Because he knew that right now…
Pikachu was now the strongest.
"PIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKAPIKA!"
[Volt Tackle] returned with a roaring entrance as the lightning now pushed back even harder, drowning out Ash's continued cries of suffering.
And soon, the clash ended with unexpected results:
Pikachu had headbutted Arcanine, sending the latter flying back with nigh-supersonic speed.
'No way…' Gary stared in stunned silence at the tiny yet overwhelming beast that was Pikachu.
'That's… a Pikachu?'
"So this is you at full power huh, partner?" Ash chuckled, losing his balance.
'And you'll keep growing.'
'We all will.'
"But… even with that, Pikachu doesn't stand a chance against [ExtremeSpeed]!" Gary yelled out in frustration.
Ash was now beyond exhausted and could not see Arcanine anymore since his AURA was now nearly depleted. But he was not going to lay down and let Pikachu handle it by himself.
"We're fighting together, Pikachu."
"You and me…" he whispered before bloodred eyes throbbed with a tear of blood dripping down.
"And Raticate."
= Transferring [?] to linked subject…
= Commencing handshake…
= Mutual handshake observed.
= Sending: Raticate(M) to Pikachu(M).
"Errkkkkk! GAAAAHHHHHH!" Ash tried to bite down the pain.
Pop.
"GRAAHHHHHH! DON'T…!"
Pop!
"DON'T GIVE UP UNTIL IT'S OVER!"
POP!
"AURA, ON!"
From within Ash, the whole world watching the battle collectively heard it.
It came from within the boy's body:
The deafening howl of a wolf.
Pikachu burst into golden lightning but suddenly…
It began changing to black. The electric mouse was now surrounded by both gold and black lightning. And behind him, they began to morph.
They morphed into the one whose will Pikachu inherited.
'…Raticate?' Gary choked as he gazed at the lightning-shaped visage of his former ace before he could no longer hold it in anymore.
'I'm sorry… I'm sorry…!'
Blood came dripping from the nostrils. The ears. The eyes.
Ash thought he heard a pop inside his head, but he could not understand it. He was struggling to keep himself conscious to enact his final attack with Pikachu.
"Let's go, Pikachu!"
More powerful than [Flare Blitz]. Even faster than [ExtremeSpeed].
Pikachu unleashed the black and gold upon Arcanine with a deafening explosion.
BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
{ ARCANINE… IS DOWN! }
{ PIKACHU WINS! }
{ THE WINNER IS RED OF PALLET TOWN! }
Gary had slumped to the floor, defeated with tears in his eyes after seeing Raticate smiling from Pikachu's lightning.
Then, a slow shuffling could be heard in front of him.
The orange-haired boy looked up to find a zombie-like Ash swaying back and forth with glazed eyes. Gary immediately got up to catch him if his rival fell but suddenly…
BAM!
Gary felt a heavy blow to his cheek as Ash punched him cleanly with considerable force despite his battered body.
"That's… for Blue… Jackass," the raven-haired boy said before dropping to the ground.
THUD!
"Oi, Red! Get help, anybody!" Gary desperately begged through gritted teeth.
"Stay with me, Red! Red?! Ash!"
"Someone! Please save my brother!"
Ash could no longer hear anything past that last sentence. And he closed his eyes with a satisfied smile.
'Yellow…'
The sword returns to its rightful form.
'Wonder if she's mad…'
A maiden of silver notices the howl.
'Sorry, Yellow. I'll come looking for you just a bit later…'
Chapter 50: Fire Red & Leaf Green (Final)
'Just… a while… longer… okay?'
Next - Chapter 51: Reconciliation
Fated Lore Explanation: AURA
(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)(REDACTED)