Ron the True Fan: Remember when I said this would be the last? Kinda lied: there's an epilogue.
Coronet Highlands - Day 255 of the Hisuian Exile
Thanks to the natural teleportation inhibitors and Pokemon naturally wanting to avoid divine sites, it took nearly two weeks to get to the grotto.
Nine months. Nine. Months.
The Celebis had recovered, but he needed to deal with Volo. Bastard. He must've done something. Probably involving Giratina.
The two clans and the Security Corps had also become INTIMATELY familiar with… his nightmares.
He knew Hikari was back in Jubilife. Where she belonged. If all went well, he'd be back home. Without her.
"The cave is filled with crystals, but we should be able to-" Leventon was interrupted by Ash slamming his head into the rock wall, which was…worrying. "Should…we…"
"Interrupt him and then let him take it out on us?" Akari asked snarkily. "Suuuuuuuure. GREAT idea. You go first."
Ash stopped, looking at them and revealing the deep, dark black bags under his eyes.
"Leaving Hikari in Jubilife was a mistake." the professor stated. He was not wrong.
"Sorry. Just…stupid thoughts." he said. "Pain gets rid of them. Let's just get the ore and get back to Mount Coronet so I can get this over with, hopefully beating sense into Volo in the process."
"You're sure Volo is responsible for this situation?" Kamado asked, his face still purple from Ash breaking his nose. He was still mad about that, but to be fair, Ash wanted to go home, Kamado was in the way and Ash did give him the option to peacefully step aside.
Pride was a universal failing.
"This isn't the first time I've dealt with people trying to summon a god." Ash said simply, Cyrus being the first to come to mind, but also that circus-guy that wanted to meet Groudon.
He was getting his ass kicked before he could do the stupid and make a fake Groudon using Jirachi. Maybe he could convince Groudon to let him visit.
"Your life is eventful to say the least." Irida declared. "Gods, time travel, being-"
"What you learned goes to your grave." Ash cut off before they entered the cave proper, red gems in the walls, too deep to remove without collapsing the cave, but there was a large deposit that could be mined out with care.
"Sliggoo should be able to bash that out." Lian said, his near-blind snail approaching the deposit, the massive steel shell clanging behind him.
Ash, though, was on guard. Kamado noticed this. "Satoshi, you appear to be paranoid." he addressed.
"Past experience has told me that whenever it's going too well, the shit is well and truly about to hit the fan." the displaced trainer said, Kamado nodding, though not getting some of the reference. All he needed to know was it meant bad things would happen.
Sliggoo's shell hit the rocks, a chunk of red ore hitting the ground.
"We'll be taking that!" said a familiar, ANNOYING female voice as three women emerged from the depths of the cave.
"Clover, Coin and Charm, the three biggest annoyances during my stay." Ash drawlled. "I was WONDERING who was going to try and ruin my day."
"TRY?!" Clover snapped, before remembering what happened the last time they ran into him. "...YOU AGAIN?!"
Adaman scowled. "Clover, you disappoint me." he said. "She's mine."
"You're not the only one who has to deal with a traitor, Adaman!" Irida said, staring Coin down.
Kamado drew his sword, chipped and damaged from the battle with Ash. "Then the Kantoan deserter is my responsibility." he declared, Charm staring him down.
"Don't kill them." Ash ordered, surprising the combatants. "You know why."
The clan leaders and Kamado had an idea: they were the ancestors of people Ash knew and he didn't want them to fuck the timeline.
"You still don't want us dead, even after everything-" Charm said before shaking her head. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
"You could say I've seen the future. But you're right. I don't want you dead." Ash said darkly. "Your punishment will be so much worse. Tell me, how would you like to be tied up, put in a stockade and USED again and again until your minds shatter? Because if you don't leave without contest, that's exactly what your fate will be."
Irida and the Miss Fortune Sisters all stared at Ash in disgust and horror at that 'suggestion'.
"What can I say, you pissed me off. And I don't want you dead because of what I've seen." Ash continued. "But that doesn't mean I can't do something that might as well equal death. Leave or suffer."
"FUCK THIS! RUN!" Clover declared, fleeing into the depths of the cave, Coin fleeing after her.
"You are sick! Twisted!" Charm declared before running. "Go to hell, Satoshi!"
Ash smiled. "Already have! Giratina says hi!" he shouted before walking up and taking the origin ore, then sighing. "Get it out of your system."
Akari and Irida walked up to him. "I can't believe you suggested doing such a thing! Even to them!" Irida snapped.
"Look, I enjoy getting it as much as the next person-" Akari started, only to get a look of shock from Irida. "But making them public use, as it were-"
The Chosen One snorted. "It was a bluff. I might hate criminals, but I DO have standards." Ash said, making them blink. "Plus it made them leave without a fight. As far as I'm concerned, win-win. Now, we have a… super-Pokeball to make."
Leventon raised a hand. "A Master Ball, if you will!" he exclaimed, Ash sighing. "…Already taken?"
"Yes, but this might as well be the prototype." he replied, handing over the ore and what was left of the Red Chain. "Look, I am NOT a fan of this, but if it doesn't exist, it fucks the timeline."
"And if there is anything you hate, it's fucking the timeline." Adaman said simply. "Let's not waste any time. That's an affront to Dialga."
Irida and Ash both gave him a look as Leventon ran off. "Adaman." Ash started. "Dialga. Does. Not. CARE. I would know. INTIMATELY."
"Agreed. If Palkia cared about that sort of thing, you'd be vaporized as a waste of space." Irida declared, crossing her arms, making Adaman glare at him.
"The only thing keeping me from punching you in the face is Ash knowing if I DO, we could disrupt the future!" Adaman snapped.
Irida huffed. "Lucky you." she said before Ash snorted.
"Just don't kill each other." he said, giving them free reign to beat the shit out of one another. "Or go find a bush to tussle in. I don't care."
"I'M ENGAGED TO SOMEONE ELSE!" they exclaimed, not noticing Ash's smirk for a moment.
Skies over Jubilife Village
Hikari was getting the hang of this flying thing. Togekiss was a forgiving egg-bird.
But mastering the art of flight was not easy. She was grateful that Satoshi hadn't left for his home yet.
She couldn't explain it. She just knew he was going to be gone soon. And she was going with him.
Togekiss would take her to Mount Coronet and she would go with him to wherever he was going after that. Call it woman's intuition, but she just knew her place was at his side.
So it was time to go.
"To Mount Coronet, Togekiss." she said to the massive bird. "Satoshi needs us."
"Toge!" said Togekiss, turning towards the mountain, trying to force her way to the summit. But she instinctively dipped downwards, only going halfway up the mountain.
Hikari was not happy, but it wasn't Togekiss' fault. She couldn't help it.
Spire Pillar
Ash silently walked up the stairs.
"Creator of All Things! Lord of Creation!" Volo cried to the sky, making Ash facepalm as the merchant was wearing some ridiculous outfit. "Our supreme ruler! Bestow upon me your blessings, my lord! Make me your Chosen One!"
Ash shook his head. SERIOUSLY?
"Give me a sign, my lord!" Volo pleaded. "Show me a sign of your intent!"
"Volo…" Ash started, making Volo turn to face Ash. "Don't bother. Arceus doesn't CARE. If he did, he wouldn't've sent me to solve all his problems."
Volo stared at him. "You?" he said. "YOU?! The man who curses the gods?! The man who shows them nothing but disdain?! YOU are the Chosen of Arceus?!"
Ash shrugged. "I'd give you the job if I could, just to watch you slowly learn WHY I act the way I do in regards to the gods." he said bluntly. "But I can't. The Chosen is BORN, not MADE."
Volo shook his head, refusing to believe. "No. NO. I am Arceus' Chosen!" the blonde declared. "I WILL NOT BE DENIED!"
Violence was clearly the only option. "Typical." Ash said before Volo sent out a Spiritomb, a Hisuian Arcanine, a Togekiss, a Roserade and of course a Lucario and Garchomp.
Just like Cynthia, minus the Milotic.
"DESTROY HIM!" Volo ordered, Ash responding with unleashing ALL the Pokemon he had caught in Hisui from his bag.
He didn't have time for this shit. "Take them down hard and fast." Ash ordered, the army of Pokemon rushing at Volo's six-mon team, using a tried, true and valid tactic.
Swarm the fuckers until they faint.
Hey, he didn't have time to fight them properly. Curb your disappointment: he has someone to stab in the back and Take wants me to actually get back to the main fic, whose chapters take longer to write. (WHACK!)
Besides, we have something BETTER than a Pokemon battle to deal with.
Volo fumed. "This is beneath you, Satoshi! Swarm tactics!?" he snapped.
"It works on Legendaries." Ash said, remembering Lugia's asskicking at Shamouti. "And honestly, I don't have time to fight you properly."
"I DID NOT SPEND THIS LONG TO OPEN THAT RIFT JUST TO HAVE YOU RUIN EVERYTHING!" Volo screamed before thunder boomed, a shadow falling from the heavens. "YES! COME TO ME, LORD GIRATINA!"
Ash groaned. He did NOT have time to deal with a brainwashed Giratina!
The giant ghost-dragon landed on the temple, ending the brawl just with him being there.
"WHO CALLS GIRATINA?!" demanded the legendary. "I HAVE NO INTEREST IN BEING IN THIS PLANE-"
"Hello, Giratina." Ash drawled, getting his attention. Volo had other ideas.
"DESTROY HIM!" he demanded, gesturing to Ash, who looked… BORED.
Giratina half-closed his massive eyes before glaring at Volo. "You dare?" he snapped at the ancestor of Cynthia. "You DARE bring me here to demand I destroy my brother?"
Volo stared before looking at Ash, who shrugged helplessly. "Told you." he said simply. "It's not all it's cracked up to be. Endless hours, no vacations… loss of sanity."
Giratina made a low whine of pity before taking to the air and flying back into the rift.
At least Giratina actually felt sorry for him.
"NO! I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS!" Volo yelled into the sky, watching Giratina depart. "I WILL MAKE THIS WORLD BETTER! NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES, I WILL REMAKE IT IN MY IMAGE!"
Volo would barely live to regret this, as he said it in front of Ash.
You all know why.
Volo ALSO made the mistake of turning his back to Ash. Unwise.
Ash leapt and punched him in the back, ribs breaking from the strike. "No. You won't." he declared, having lost his mind.
He didn't see Volo. He saw Cyrus. And Cyrus had to die.
Volo fell to his knees, Ash grabbing his head and slamming it into a column, his nose breaking from the impact. He had no time to adjust before Ash pulled out his utility knife and shoved it into Volo's leg, cutting into the bone.
He screamed in pain before Ash grabbed his jaw and forced it closed, biting on his tongue hard enough to make it BLEED before forcing him to the ground and slamming his fists into Volo's face.
"YOU! WON'T! TAKE! THEM! AWAY! FROM! ME! EVER! AGAIN!" Ash screamed, madness and pain in his voice.
"GARCHOMP!" 'NO!' cried Volo's air shark, shoving Ash aside, destroying the leather shoulder guard and damaging the breastplate before he hit another standing column.
"CHOMP!" 'You went crazy after I evolved!' the shark said, holding Volo in his fins. "Chomp-chomp-chomp!" 'Why didn't I stay a Gible-stay with me, Volo! Come on! Wake up!'
Ash blinked as his insanity retreated. He was dealing with Cyrus, wasn't he?
A Gible Ash had caught walked up to Volo and latched onto his head with a chomp, Volo blinking in pain and confusion.
"Gib." 'No evil. Only good.' said the land shark. "Gible." 'I'll stay with him. He needs a chomp.'
Pikachu walked up to Ash, disappointed, but concerned. Beating Volo to death was not a valid option, but Ash had gone insane.
"Pikapi." 'Ash, you nearly killed Cynthia,' he said bluntly.
"…I saw Cyrus. All I saw was Cyrus." Ash said, having realized what he did. "…We need to go home, Pikachu."
"Pika." 'Agreed. Let's get everyone back in their balls. Except the Gible.' his starter said, the land shark attached to Volo's head as his Lucario used heal pulse to restore him. "Pi." 'He stays. Apparently there's a REASON for her wanting her Garchomp to be a Gible again.'
Ash got to his feet, before Pikachu gave the order for everyone to return to their balls, as Ash would take them into the future.
They wanted to go with him.
Except for Gible. He needed to stay and keep Volo SANE. …That explained Cogita's Gible friends, too, except instead she was-NOPE! NOT THINKING ABOUT IT!
After returning over 80 Pokemon, he noticed semi-transparent rainbow steps going into the heavens appear.
He scowled. "The Hall of Origin," he said, walking up the stairs, not knowing that someone was following him to her ultimate destiny.
His steps echoed, despite having no walls to echo from as he climbed, obvious to Hikari watching before taking her own tentative steps up the walkway.
He reached the top, glaring at the sky. "ARCEUS!" he shouted.
The sound of a flute preceded a ball of light descending from above, blinding Ash and Pikachu before turning into the form of the god llama they all knew all too well.
'Greetings, my son.' Arceus addressed. 'It has been some time.'
"Did future-me tell you how much I HATE time travel?" Ash demanded. "If not-"
Arceus gave him a look. 'You did. You are aware you have two intruders in your mind, yes?' asked the Creator.
"Mind getting them OUT?" Ash asked. "THEN sending me back to WHEN I came from?"
'Unfortunately no. I will apparently deal with them before we meet for… the first time, if you will.' Arceus answered. 'But I will send you home. I apologize for not doing so when you arrived, but I was preventing abominations from trying to invade our branch of the multiverse. Even with allies, it is tiresome. But then, to handle all these local matters is why you were born.'
"I'm not a legendary," Ash snapped. "I'm human! And I'm at my breaking point! Ten YEARS of this shit! Of working my ass off for what? Just to do it all again and again and again until I die?! Or get resurrected just to keep doing it?!"
A firm hand patted him on the shoulder. 'I wish I could make your burdens easier. But I gave all life free will.' the god said. 'I can only say I did not think you would be forced into this so often when I began the cycle.'
Ash scoffed indignantly. "Oh COME ON!" he yelled. "You're GOD! You should know everything!"
'And what would be the fun in that?' asked Arceus, Ash freezing at the comment before Palkia and Dialga appeared. 'Dialga, send him home, please.'
Hikari only got up the stairs seconds before Dialga opened his maw, roaring, making her instinctively brace herself before finding herself… somewhere else.
Screams. Loud noises.
Her feet tapped on metal, confusing her before she saw Satoshi stab someone in the back with… something, then forced him over.
It took her a minute to compose herself long enough to ask one question.
"Satoshi-kun?"
Ron the True Fan: We end where we began.
Takeshi Yamato: Finally. Back to the present, with Hikari along for the ride.
…Just one thing left to do.
Ron the True Fan: Consequences of time travel. …YANDERE MARS TIME! (Hands Take Mars chocolate bar)
Takeshi Yamato: …I've never had this - had Hershey way back when, these days I prefer Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate/Mint Squares.
Ron the True Fan: …You depress me. (Gible pouts) …THAT'S ON YOU! DESAD THE GIBLE!
Takeshi Yamato: I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO!
Ja ne!