Quick foreword. There is some swearing later in this chapter. If it offends you- DON'T READ. Skip that part if you have to. There may be some swearing in future chapters as well.
"My apologies, Grandfather. My mind was elsewhere." Lance said, refocusing his attention on the other people in the room. His grandfather did not visibly react, although Lance could have sworn that he saw a glimmer in his eyes. "So I see. And what exactly has you so distracted? Is it the situation with the Ketchum boy?" Lance sighed. He should have known that this would happen. He could never hide anything from his grandfather, at least not for long. There was no use in hiding it anymore. "As I said, one of my contacts is the Aura Guardian, Riley. What I failed to mention is that Riley is the grand master of the Aura Guardians, and that he claims that Arceus recently appeared before him in a dream." Lance paused, gauging the reactions of his family. To say that his relatives were shocked would have been the understatement of the century. Eyes wide open and mouths on the floor, all but his grandfather had lost their famed decorum. Clair was especially affected, gaping like a fish out of water at her cousin. Smirking ever so slightly, Lance continued. "At first, I did not believe him. However, he told me that Ash Ketchum would play a vital role in the days to come, and that, according to the Creator, only Ash would be capable of preventing 'calamity'." While the rest of his family retained their astounded expressions, Lance's grandfather merely nodded. "Then it may be safe to assume that this young man may very well be the hero of legend, assuming this guardian speaks truly." The room erupted in chaos at that, Clair's parents arguing with each other, Lance's Dad arguing fervently with the Clan Elder, while his wife, Lance's mother, admonished the proud man that he should be more respectful of his father. Meanwhile, Clair had closed her mouth, her eyes closed and brow knotted in apparent concentration. She seemed to be the only one actually thinking about what Lance's grandfather had said.
Eventually, Lance's father won over the din, almost shouting his question. "How could someone not of dragon blood be the tamer of legend? The boy is neither Draconid nor Blackthorn, nor is he descended from any offshoot or splinter group!" he said, face red. Lance frowned. His father had always been a stickler for tradition, honoring and practically worshiping the dragon busts within the den. Lance had never truly agreed with his father's ways, but he had always respected the old man's fervent admiration. It was only natural, after all. This time, however, Lance's father was resorting to his old, narrow minded point of view. Lance sighed quietly, studying his father momentarily. He was getting old, at just over fifty five years of age. His graying black hair was as wild and spiky as his son's, and his dark obsidian eyes shined with a determination that ventured into stubbornness not seen by a mudbray. Clair, meanwhile, had still not said a word, and it was only now that Lance realized that his grandfather had not yet responded to his father. He realized that he had tucked his chin to his chest and had been gazing, yet again, at the ground before him. When he looked up, he was surprised to find that all eyes were on him once again. He looked back at the others, at first confused. It wasn't until his mother nodded encouragingly that Lance gathered his breath, prepared to share his thoughts. "While it is true that Ash is not descended from any known draconic people, he does fit the description of the Legendary Tamer who it is said will unite the world. Regardless, my objective is the same. I will find Ash. I must." Spurned on by a sudden burst of courage, Lance rose in one swift motion. He walked up to the dias his grandfather sat upon, before bowing low to the ground. He nodded to his parents and Clair's before sweeping out of the Den. The time for talk was over. Whether Ash was the Hero of Legend or not didn't matter at the moment. It was time for action.
…..
Okay, Ash was nervous. He and some of his pokemon had been training at Cerulean Cave for the past four hours. Eventually, covered in dust and soot and sweat, he had started the trek back to the pokemon center. He needed a good shower. The city was alive with people and pokemon alike as Ash passed through. Magikarp and the occasional goldeen lept from the still water beside the cave, and bird pokemon dotted the trees, canopies, and lights along the path to the center. Women frequented a nearby swimwear store. People were sitting outside a cozy little cafe, enjoying local dishes. Pidgey, diminutive as ever, gathered near the tables outside with their grated black metal table tops and red striped umbrellas for shade, picking at the scraps left on the ground. Just down the street was in icecream stand where a ton of kids were gathered, some of whom had pokemon. There was one pair, a little girl and a boy that was always by her side, that really made Ash smile. They couldn't have been older than ten, but they clearly cared for each other. The boy just wouldn't stop picking on the girl, despite the fact that he had payed for her icecream and insisted on holding doors for her everywhere they went. The girl giggled constantly in response to the boy's antics, her reddish pigtails swaying with every laugh. Her pokemon, a growlithe, trailed dutifully behind her. Ash couldn't help but grin, though his emotions were mixed. For some reason the sight reminded Ash of himself and Misty, though he couldn't put a finger in quite why no matter how hard he tried. And thinking of the fiery carrot top only made him nervous. Of course he was anxious to see his old friend; it had been five years! But what would he say? And how was he supposed to work out what it was about her that made him nervous if she was mad at him? Oh Arceus, what if she didn't want to talk to him? Ash kept walking, his mind spinning out of control with worry, when he bumped into someone.
"My bad!" he stuttered, looking up to find that he had practically knocked over a pretty girl in a yellow crop top and jeans. Her red sneakers looked worn, but the way she had her red hair in a side ponytail was very familiar. Ash gaped at the girl, no, not girl, the woman that stood before him. She had grown taller in the last five years, but that wasn't what stood out the most about her. She had always had the build and looks of a tomboy, and wasn't what you would call a real knock out beauty, but now? Misty was hot. Like, very, very, hot. She had come into her own as a woman, with legs that went on forever and pouty lips, her green eyes sparkling like waves at the beach. Ash would have stood there forever, his brain attempting (and failing) to connect the Misty he had known with this new knock out beauty, if it weren't for the familiar anger he could see welling up in her eyes. He panicked, bracing for the rant of a lifetime, when all he got was "Watch where you're going, idiot." Ash stared, confused, as Misty Waterflower walked away in the opposite direction, a shopping bag under her arm. He watched her walk away before shaking himself out of his trance, making a beeline for the pokemon center.
"It was probably because you didn't have Pikachu out with you." Brock said. He and Ash were eating at the diner Ash had spotted on his way back from the cave. It was maybe two hours after he had run into Misty, and Ash had grown even more nervous about facing her. So he had turned to the only person he could. So far, Brock hadn't been very helpful. How could he? He spent I don't know how many years being rejected left and right by every beautiful woman he met! Wait, beautiful? Misty; beautiful? Ash shook his head, trying to dispel his traitorous thoughts. While he didn't want to admit it even to himself, the woman he had run into was gorgeous. "Uh, Ash? You ok, there?" he heard Brock ask. "Um, yeah. Just worried." Brock grinned, much to Ash's embarrassment. Had he seen through him? "What are you so nervous about. Ash? It's just Misty." He said, a shit eating grin adorning his face. Yup, he had definitely seen right through him. "It's nothing!" Ash stammered, trying to keep his voice in check. The last thing he needed right now was Brock teasing him. "Lets get the check and then head for the gym. Hopefully it's still open on weekends." He replied, pretending to be wholly focused on his next gym match. "They should be. I would imagine that most of the town's traffic comes from tourism now a days, at least since they built the nex beach. Logically, most people would be here on the weekends or holidays, so I would imagine the gym would be open most weekends." brock replied, taking on a analytical look. "Let's head over"
Less than an hour later, Brock and Ash were walking through the double doors leading from the main lobby to the arena in the Cerulean Gym. As they walked in, Ash surveyed the gym around him. It was pretty much the same as it had been six years ago, with the ring of rock surrounding the deep blue, open pool of water. "Welcome to the Cerulean Gym!" range a voice, sweet and loud and clear. "I am Violet of the Cerulean Sensations, and acting gym leader today." Ash had to strain his eyes, but he could just make out Misty's sister at the top of the stairwell on the other side of the arena, her dark blue hair giving her away. "What is your name, chall-" Violet paused, her eyes seeming to truly focus on Ash and Brock for the first time. "Oh my Arceus there's no fucking way! Ash?"