Hey guys, new chapter is here. Kinda can't talk much since I got a lot to do. Talk later
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Dialogue Guide:
"This is normal speech"
This is a person thinking in their head
This is someone speaking telepathically or with Aura
("Pokemon Speak")
("Legendary Pokemon Speak")
After some more scolding from Della, she finally demanded that everyone return to Ash's room, where Dr. Yuzuhara did a few simple tests to make sure that Ash was healthy and not suffering from any lasting conditions from what he experienced. Save for the need for his muscles to relearn how to function again correctly, Ash was practically as healthy as possible. A simple physical therapy regimen would be needed to get his body moving again, but it would only be required for a few months, and they could start immediately. Dr. Yuzuhara also recommended that Ash see a therapist for what he had done, which he was reluctant to accept, but his mom's look made it clear he was going regardless of his wishes.
Once that was all settled, Dr. Yuzuhara left everyone to talk privately.
"You ran all the way here when your car broke down?" Ash asked in surprise.
"Yeah, I'm still surprised I'm standing," Gary replied sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "I'm probably going to have to pay someone to bring it back and get it refueled."
"What about those cheerleaders?" Ash asked.
"...Crud, I forgot all about them," Gary muttered as he took out his phone and looked through it before wincing. "Well, they're not happy I ditched them, and it looks like I won't see them again. Eh, no big loss. Most were vapid brainheads anyway and were following me because of my name. I just took them with me because I wanted company."
"Guess you'll be going on your Journey without anyone, huh?" Ash asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah, right. Like I'm going to go on my Pokemon Journey without you having one," Gary said, shaking his head. "That's not fair, Ash. I want us both to get into the League to battle with our strongest Pokemon. You're going to need to spend half the season this year alone recovering. That would give me way too much of an advantage."
"I'm not going to let you hold off on your journey because of me," Ash said, determined as he pointed at Gary. "I'll just work twice as hard to catch up to you. Azrael, Skye, and I will train our hardest for next year, and we'll be so good we'll beat your team even if you are a year ahead of us."
("Yeah! We're going to train like crazy and win them all!") Skye cheered.
"Ash?" Everyone stared at Delia, who bit her lip and looked down on the ground. "Are you sure you want to continue being a trainer, even after what happened?"
Ash frowned and could see the worry in his mother's eyes. They both had often talked about the dangers of being a Pokemon Trainer. Despite the League's best efforts, trainers still died every year for one reason or another, and starter years were among the largest in that number. This was mainly because some trainers got too cocky and tired to capture dangerous Pokemon who were far stronger than they expected and got killed by them along with their entire team.
Ash himself had nearly joined that statistic, and he could tell that, deep down, his mother wanted to lock him up in his room forever and then risk the chance of him going out and losing him again. What if he encountered another Pokemon like Pikachu, and he wasn't so lucky next time? What if he never came home again?
"Mom... I'm sorry," Ash whispered as he lowered his head. "I know what you are thinking, and honestly, I still have a bit of doubt about me being a trainer, too. I know what happened with Pikachu wasn't my fault, and maybe I could have done better if I had tried doing things differently, but I...I don't want to give up. I feel like I would be letting everyone who believed in me down. Or Dad down."
He then stared at his mother and said, "But mostly? I feel like I would be letting myself down."
"Delia," Professor Oak put his hand on the woman's shoulder for comfort. "What Ash went through was my fault—not his. I was the one who gave him Pikachu even though I knew he was uncontrollable and dangerous. I thought Ash could tame him with his kindness, but I was naive. If you want to blame anyone for what happened to your son, it's mine."
"Professor, you don't-"
"Ash, please. Let me take responsibility for this and let an old man make it up to you by training you myself for next year," Samuel said, which surprised Ash and Gary. "You are like family to me, Ash. Even unintentionally, what I've done to you was still neglectful and wrong. I want to make up for it, so I will teach you what I can. Battling, Type differences, how to care for Pokemon, strategy, and more. I will even give you a new starter if you wish, though I feel your new Pokemon here will already be starting with you next year."
"Wouldn't people accuse you of favoritism, Gramps?" Gary pointed out.
Professor Oak snorted. "Let them do so. I don't care for such things. I'll do what is right regardless of their opinions."
"...I don't blame you for what happened to me, Professor," Ash said warmly. "But I won't say no to training with you. It will help me catch up to Gary if he doesn't mind."
"Eh, everything I know I learned from Gramps, so I don't mind," Gary said with a shrug and smirk.
("Samuel will not be the only one training you,") Sorrin said as he stepped forward, getting their attention. ("Ash, I...I should have been there for you. You and Delia both. After Red died, I...I couldn't stand to be in Pallet Town since it reminded me so much of him. But after almost seeing you die? I can't let my sorrow get in the way of what's right. Your father was the best human I've ever known—someone I consider like a father to me. The least I can do is train you and your team in the ways your father trained me and his team. Besides, it's the least I can do to prepare my daughter for her journey into the world.")
("Wow, does this mean I'll get better training than my older siblings! Ha! I can't wait to tell the others!") Skye shouted with joy.
"Well, if you want to train me too, Sorrin, I won't say no!" Ash said with a big smile. "Especially if it means I train my Pokemon like my Dad!"
"...Ash, are you...talking to Sorrin and understanding him?" Delia asked, looking confused, as did Professor Oak.
"Oh, yeah...um..." Ash nervously chuckled. "I...kinda...can understand Pokemon now."
The two adults' eyes widened as they slowly turned to the other Pokemon, who all nodded. Gary just grinned and said, "Yeah, that was my reaction as well. But it looks like Ashy-Boy can understand Pokemon."
In an instant, Professor Oak summoned Yoshi from his Pokeball. After letting the Dragonite hug Ash and say how grateful he was to Arceus for him being okay, Professor Oak asked Yoshi to come over and whisper something to him. When he was done, the professor turned to Ash and said, "Ash, I'm going to have Yoshi repeat what I just said to him, and you will tell me what it is. Okay?"
"Okay," Ash said as he waited for Yoshi to speak.
("Blue. Yellow. Lance. Cinnabar Island. Mega Stone. Ho-Oh.")
"Blue. Yellow. Lance. Cinnabar Island. Mega Stone. Ho-Oh," Ash repeated. Yoshi and Oak gasped in awe and looked at each other. Delia looked just as shocked as Ash gave a nervous grin. "Uh, I guess that proves it?"
"My word! This is...unbelievable!" Professor Oak said as he rubbed his chin, his mind focusing intensely. "A few humans have been able to understand Pokemon thanks to Aura or Telepathy. Some are even said to have empathic abilities that help them understand, but all this requires training. For Ash to suddenly develop the means to understand Pokemon speech..."
"How is this possible, Samuel?" Delia asked, confused and a little concerned.
"It might be that the electrical shocks from Pikachu clicked something in Ash's brain," Professor Oak theorized. "There have been theories that humans will eventually understand Pokemon when we unlock a certain portion of our brain's capability. After all, we are always using a tiny percentage of its power. Some people use slightly more brain power, like natural-born geniuses and psychics."
"Could I be psychic?" Ash wondered as he lifted his hand and focused as hard as he could, even gritting his teeth. He then yelped and rubbed his head.
("What were you doing?") Yoshi asked.
"I tried mentally summoning the TV remote to my hand. All that did was give me a migraine," Ash grumbled disappointedly.
"(Well, that rules out you being a human version of a Kadabra,") Sorrin chuckled.
"Ash's trauma might have triggered it to use more than normal brain power or unlocked it by chance," Professor Oak said with a shrug. "Honestly, such a thing is possible, but only a theory."
"So, how else could I have unlocked this?" Ash asked, tilting his head.
"I don't know, we'd have to run some tests, but this is a remarkable discovery, Ash. It is also a beneficial trait to have as a Pokemon Trainer," Professor Oak said with a big smile. "You'd be able to communicate with Pokemon. You could understand them in ways few humans have and could answer numerous questions we have about them. I am envious of you."
("Yeah, it's always weird hearing humans talk but never understand us Pokemon,") Yoshi said with a chuckle. ("Even those of us who learn to read and write still have a hard time doing so.")
"You know, if Ash really can understand Pokemon, then I do have a question that's been bugging me," Gary said as he turned to Azrael. "What's up with Absol? No offense, but those are rare to see around here in Kanto. Even Johto doesn't have that big of a population. You're more likely to find them in other regions like Hoenn or Sinnoh."
("Yeah, you said something about seeing what happened to Ash in your dreams. What's that about?") Skye asked while also curious.
All eyes were on Azrael, who sighed and nodded as Ash began to translate. ("I suppose I should explain everything. My name is Azrael, and before coming here, I lived on a mountain in Sinnoh with my older brother and mother. As you know, we Absol have the ability to sense disasters around the world. This is why we spread out to try and warn those of the upcoming danger. We call this the Danger Sense. My kind has vowed to ensure that we use this gift to protect whoever we can and prevent whatever disaster is to those unlucky enough to be targeted by fate's cruel ways. Even at the cost of our lives.")
Ash continued to translate for the human members of the group as they all looked at Azrael with fascination. It was a surprise to the humans that the Absol race not only dedicated themselves to such a duty but had a name for their hidden ability. Professor Oak even wondered out loud if all Pokemon had such things before motioning for Azrael to continue.
("However, one day, I had a bad dream. No, it was a nightmare,") Azrael growled as he closed his eyes solemnly. ("I saw a human boy getting shocked to death by a Pikachu over and over again. No matter how much he pleaded or begged, this boy wouldn't be spared by his partner, who killed him with pure malice in his eyes. I tried to do something to save him. I yelled, pleaded, and even tried to move, but I was like a ghost watching a disaster before me without the ability to stop it.")
Azrael turned to a shocked Ash. ("It was you, Ash. Somehow, not only did I see your future death, but I also knew your name. I dreamed of a human I had never met before, far away in a different land, for an event that hadn't happened yet.")
It took a moment to translate this to the non-Pokemon residents in the room, but needless to say, everyone was just as stunned to hear this. Azrael had foreseen Ash's death at Pikachu's power long before it happened.
("Are you saying you had a vision?") Sorrin asked with wide eyes. Tilting his head, he looked confused. ("But Absols are Dark Types. Not Psychic Types.")
("That's what my mother said and believed it was just a bad dream and nothing more.) Azrael continued before shivering. ("But for months, I continued to have that dream. The same one over and over again. It began to haunt me daily, and all I could think about was trying to save Ash. I even trained as hard as I could in the waking world to see if I could save Ash in my dreams, but I was still unable to do so.")
("Could it have been from Lady Cresselia?") Yoshi asked as he mentioned the famous Legendary Pokemon of Dreams. ("She is Psychic and is known for helping those in their sleep with her powers. Maybe she sent you visions of Ash's death to try and prevent it?")
("If that is true, why not send Ash, Professor Oak, or even his mother these visions? I could have gotten them even since I live near Pallet Town with my flock and would have protected Ash right from the start. Any Pokemon that lives closer to Pallet Town could have gotten such a vision. But Azrael lived in Sinnoh. That's a long distance away, and he barely made it in time,") Sorrin pointed out.
"Good point," Professor Oak commented as Ash translated. "Plus, these sounded more like nightmares, which are more within Darkrai's realm of influence. He's not the type to typically protect others. From what we know, he's more about punishing the wicked."
("My mother believed I was experiencing something rare even among Absol. A legend among my kind that has existed for eons,") Azrael explained. ("She believed I was getting Danger Dreams.")
"Is that like Danger Sense?" Ash asked.
("Sort of, but it's much more serious. According to the old tales, Danger Dreams are messages from destiny itself telling an Absol that they are needed to prevent a great disaster from happening. One that could affect millions of lives. Some tales even say that Absol, involved in such events, saved the world from destruction.")
Ash felt his mouth drop a bit upon hearing this, and translating it all took him a while. In the end, Ash stared at Azrael and slowly pointed to himself. "W-What does that mean? Am I that important?"
("I don't know, Ash. But even if you were not, I would still travel around the world to save you,") Azael said as he put a paw on the bed and stared into Ash's eyes. ("I wanted to know you. I wanted to know what made this human haunt my dreams so much. In this short time that I've been here, I found that you are a kind and good human with a hidden strength deep inside them. Skye told me what you did, which proves you have a good heart. I've seen so many humans and Pokemon come to wish you recovery. You connect with so many, and the Pokemon at this Lab I stayed at told me how good you are to them. You...You have a gift of forming bonds, Ash Ketchum. I felt it as we battled, and I feel it now between us. Ash, I don't know if destiny wants us to be together or not, but I know that I want to always be by your side.")
"But what about your family? Don't you miss them?" Ash whispered. Much as he liked Azrael and wanted him on his team, he didn't want him to ignore his family.
("All Absol leave their families eventually and never see them again. We're a very isolated species that wanders the planet, doing our duty to save others. We rarely interact with humans or Pokemon outside of our duties, even among our kind, unless we're captured, seek to start a family, or decide to live differently. I said my farewells to my mother and brother. I've made peace that I will never see them again. Do not worry. I have chosen to do this of my own free will,") Azrael assured Ash with a small smile.
Ash smiled back and rubbed his newest Pokemon's head as Professor Oak continued to file all of this information for later on his modified Pokédex. After all, this was new information about Absol that nobody had known about before. It presented new theories about the Absol species and other Pokemon and their cultural behaviors.
"Regardless, I have you to thank for saving my son, correct?" Delia asked as Azrael nodded. To his surprise, she knelt and hugged him tight, tears dripping down her eyes. "Thank you. Thank you so much for saving my baby. You're always welcome in our home. No. You're now a part of our family, Azrael. Always."
("I...I thank you... Ash's Mother,") Azrael whispered while nodding his head,
"Okay, so Azrael had a vision because Ash is important for some reason," Gary said as he pondered aloud. "But what important reason could that be? Also, how does this explain how he suddenly recovered unless Azrael also did that?"
("Believe me, I would have done so if I had the ability, but I do not,") Azrael answered, shaking his head. ("I don't know how Ash came to be healed. Your guess is as good as mine.")
"Do you remember anything, Ash?" Delia asked with a hand on her son's shoulder as he thought long and hard.
"I don't know," Ash muttered, closing his eyes and rubbing his head. I felt something while I was out like a part of me was stretching and reforming itself. There was a presence inside of me, and I...I don't know; I can't describe it. It's like I've changed—not just because I can speak to Pokemon now, but because of something else. Like deep inside, I've been cleaned up after a hot bath."
("I don't get it,") Skye said, tilting her head. ("Besides, does it matter if we find out the truth? Ash is better. That's all that matters.")
("No, Skye. This is something we need to figure out,") Sorrin addressed his daughter. ("The human or Pokemon who might have healed Ash might be secretly doing this with an agenda of their own.)
"That would be worrisome," Professor Oak said after Ash translated them. "Especially since there are rumors that some new gang, similar to Team Rocket, is running an illegal Pokedrug ring."
"Pokedrugs?" Ash asked.
"Drugs designed to give Pokemon increased speed, power, intelligence, and so forth have harmful side effects. Rumor has it they test them on not just Pokemon but humans as well to see if they can make similar drugs for them. They've managed to spread to some of the cities like Celadon City, Pewter City, Dark City, Neon Town, and HopHopHop Town."
"HopHopHop Town?" Gary and Ash, Azrael, and Skye asked in disbelief at the name.
("Ugh, that place still has that stupid name?") Sorrin grumbled while rolling his eyes.
"And you think maybe someone drugged Ash?" Delia asked with worry, increasing the grip on her son's shoulder, which made him wince a little.
"I do not know. I was still concerned overall by the sudden miraculous healing, so I asked for the data scans the hospital did after Ash's sudden recovery," Professor Oak said as he took his Pokedex and pressed a few buttons. From the camera came a series of small charts with various data. "According to the scans, the energy used to heal Ash was a very powerful series of Heal Pulses, but the power level used on these abilities was beyond the average Pokemon. I cross-referenced with other power levels around the various regions, and they all matched a similar pattern. This power level is equal to that of a Legendary Pokemon."
"A Legendary Pokemon?" Gary asked in surprise. "Which one?"
"I don't know. But the power level is the closest to that of the Legendary Pokemon in our world," Professor Oak declared, which amazed everyone. Legendary Pokemon were heard of, but barely a few ever saw them in person. Even Pokemon, who worshiped them as Gods in many of their cultures, rarely saw them. "It's a far-fetched theory, but it's possible that a Legendary Pokemon played some role in Ash being healed."
("Or maybe a Legendary Pokemon healed Ash personally?") Skye reasoned while lifting her right wing.
"If so, then why? And who?" Ash whispered as he tried to think of which Legendary it would be. Ash had never met a Legendary before, but maybe his Dad did. He turned to Sorrin and asked, "Did Dad ever meet a Legendary in his journeys?"
("No, your father never met one. He did meet someone who was rumored to have met a few Legendaries. His name was Wess. They met during the Shadow War, but only for a brief moment,") Sorrin explained while shaking his head. ("Not that Red didn't try to find Legendary Pokemon. He always wanted to capture one of the Legendary Bird Trio or Lugia. He was determined to find any and challenge them to a battle. We even went to Johto and Sinnoh a few times. We used to always check around islands, volcanos, mountains, ruins, and even power plants for them. But we never had any luck.")
Sorrin the chuckled. ("Heck, there was always this one rumor that if you traveled to Vermilion City, you could find the Legendary Mew under a truck."
Oh, come on! A voice shouted in their heads as suddenly a figure appeared out of thin air, looking annoyed before she started to rant. I thought that stupid rumor was dead already! Just because I slept under one stupid truck spooked me so hard when it went on that I flew out like a light. That doesn't mean I sleep and hide under cars for people to catch me! Where the heck do people get ideas like this?! That's almost as bad as that whole "Missing Number" Pokemon Legend, which I swear was started by Victini!
Mew's eyes widened upon realizing what she had just done, and she found herself staring at everyone in the room, giving her wide eyes and open mouths as a Legendary Pokemon, one believed to be extinct, suddenly appeared before them without warning.
Laughing nervously, Mew gulped and said, Um, Meow?
Needless to say, everyone started screaming.
(...*sigh*...)
("Father? Is something wrong?")
("My 'Mew-has-done-something-stupid-again' senses are tingling.")
("...so same thing, different day?")
("Pretty much.")
Okay, first, I want to apologize for using Disable on you all to prevent you from screaming any further. I'm already in trouble by appearing before you all, and I don't want anyone to come in to make things more complicated, Mew explained as everyone in the room, both human and Pokemon, just watched her with wide eyes and closed mouths. Whatever she had done, she had prevented them all from speaking. I will turn Disable off, and we'll all have a pleasant conversation without panicking. Okay?
Everyone nodded.
Good. Mew snapped her tiny fingers, and in an instant, everyone felt their ability to talk return to them. But nobody could still say a word as they were surprised that one of the most Legendary and thought to be extinct Pokemon was standing before them. Smiling, the said Pokemon floated a bit higher and cleared her throat. Now that that's out of the way! Time for introductions!
Twirling around, posing with her hands on her waist with her chest puffed out, Mew claimed, Behold! I am Mew! The Legendary Pokemon of Evolution! Caretaker of the Tree of Beginning! The Last of the First created by Arceus! Knower of All Pokemon Moves (Save For Some, But that's unimportant)! Keeper of the Ancient Knowledge of Several Dead Civilizations (whose names I can barely remember)! Funniest Pokemon of Them All! Top Twenty Player In the Online MMORPG PokeGuild Wars 3! And the Miracle Mew! That's a new title, by the way.
Mew continued her smile for a while before noticing that there was no applause or anything, and they just continued to look at her. Sighing, Mew muttered Wow, tough crowd. Thanks for the applause and all guys. Making me look bad here.
"I'm sorry, but what the actual what?!" Gary shouted in disbelief as he walked over to Mew and gently touched his stomach, which made the little pink cat giggle and rub her tummy. "Holy Arceus, he's real."
Hey! I'm a she! Mew huffed.
"Uh, sorry," Gary muttered, stepping back.
"My word, I can't believe it," Professor Oak whispered as he looked carefully at Mew, who posed for him. "The Ancient Legendary Mew! Before my eyes! They say that Mew is the ancestor of all Pokemon in the world!"
Yeah, my kind used to run this planet until evolution made the rest of you guys—save for you humans. I have no idea where you all came from, Mew said with a shrug.
("Wait, so Mew is like my super thousand times great grandma?") Skye asked, confused.
Ha! Nope! Sorry, kiddo. I never had a child. There was plenty of fun in the bed if you know what I mean, but I never got pregnant. Every other Mew did and died out but me. I'm the last of my kind, Mew explained with a smile.
("Are you the Legendary that healed Ash?") Azrael asked.
Got it in one! Mew said with a big smile as she floated over to Ash and sat on his head. It wasn't that hard for me to heal you up. I've had to deal with worse. A normal Heal Pulse wouldn't do the trick. But a Super Heal Pulse from a Legendary like me? That's an instant heal, baby!
"Is there a Super Heal Pulse move?" Ash asked as he couldn't recall such a move.
Well, no. But practically any move I do is super powerful, so I figured it sounded neat, Mew said as she floated off and winked at Ash. Also, that talking to Pokemon superpower you got? You're welcome.
"Wait, how did you do that?" Ash asked.
Okay, I don't honestly know, Mew lied, which made everyone nearly faceplant. The truth was, she did know. It was because of their bond. Mew couldn't recall any Chosen getting such a rare power before among the Legendaries, but since she had orders not to tell Ash about his status as a Chosen for now, she just decided to fake ignorance.
"(H-H-How do you not know?! Are you not a Legendary Pokemon?!" ) Azrael asked in disbelief.
Hey! You try remembering everything you can do after spending thousands of years alive! I find it hard to even find my underwear in my drawer back home in my summer condo! Mew argued with a huff.
"You have underwear?" Ash asked with a face that spoke of utter disbelief.
("You have a summer condo? Why can't I have a summer condo?") Yoshi whimpered at the injustice of it all.
Well, it's less of a summer condo and more like some ancient temple in Alola that I visit every so often. I won it in a game of cards against Tapu Koko. Boy, does he suck at poker, Mew crackled with joy.
("...I feel as if all my original conceptions of Legendary Pokemon being noble and godlike creatures of pure divine holiness and respect just got flown out the window,") Sorrin muttered as he facepalmed his head with his wing.
Yeah, that happens whenever anyone meets me, Mew said with a smirk.
"Mew?" The Legendary turned to face Delia, who was smiling with such joy that she could swear she was looking at a human female version of Arceus with such radiance around her. Delia bowed her head and said, "Thank you for saving my child. I am grateful for what you've done."
"Yeah, I really do appreciate it, Mew," Ash said with a big smile.
Blushing, Mew rubbed the back of her head. Aww, you're making me blush.
("Why did you save Ash, by the way? I mean, we're all grateful, but what's a Legendary Pokemon doing in an area like this?") Sorrin asked.
Mew, a natural liar, came up with a quick story. Oh, I was in the area, traveling around after doing some important business for Arceus, when I saw Ash getting attacked by that Pikachu. I was going to intervene until Azrael stopped them. I followed, curious and worried, and when I learned how bad the damage was, I decided to step in and help Ash.
Even if she hadn't been ordered to help Ash, Mew would have done it anyway. No child deserved to go through such a horrible ordeal, and Mew wished she could find that Pikachu and show it why some call her "The Demon" whenever they face her in battle. But that would be for another time.
("So why are you still here?") Azreal asked curiously. ("Why did you appear before us? Most Legendaries typically leave after performing a miracle from what I know.")
I have nothing to do, and Ash seems exciting and nice to know! I'll help you get stronger and become a great Pokemon Trainer!
Everyone was shocked by this and taught by a Legendary? That was something any trainer would kill for. Heck, any Champion would do anything to learn from a Legendary Pokemon.
"You want to help me train? Why?" Ash asked, feeling like this was too good to be true. Training from Professor Oak, a former Champion, and his father's former Pokemon, an experienced Pokemon fighter, was one thing. But a Legendary Pokemon? Said to know all the moves in the world? It honestly seemed too good to be true.
Well, part of it is because you are interesting. You practically were relying on your own willpower to survive, seeing as you just got the ability to talk to Pokemon. I'm interested in you. Mew semi-lied as she still couldn't tell him about being a Chosen. Also, I'm just bored, so I figured I'd do something interesting.
Mew then held out her hand and looked serious for the first time since they had seen her. Now, don't go thinking I'm going to start teaching your Pokemon every super-powered move I know. In fact, I'm going to teach you something other than that. I'm going to teach you how to harness and master the moves your Pokemon will know and how to train yourselves to learn more moves over time. Understand?
"I understand. I wouldn't want that big of an advantage anyway," Ash agreed with a nod.
Good, another thing I'll be doing is teaching you about Pokemon in general. Humans tend to get some things right, but there are a lot of things they miss. I'll teach you how various Pokemon cultures and politics go on in the world. Mew explained how to tame and deal with Wild Pokemon before getting a sneaky-looking grin. I'll even tell you about the Legendaries and some of their big secrets just for fun. Did you know that, despite Xerneas' noble stature and demeanor, he's a huge secret toilet humor fan?
Xerneas, in his woods, paused as he stopped to look at one of the single percentages of the Cores of the Legendary Pokemon of Nature. ("Zygarde?")
("Yes, Xerneas?") The Core asked as it looked up from its branch on the tree.
("I feel a strange urge to beat Mew up with my hooves right now.")
("...So no different than any other day?")
("Pretty much.")
"Regardless of that bit of information, I say you should go for it, Ash," Gary encouraged the boy, who looked at him weirdly. "Way I see it, I already got trained by my Grandpa and his Pokemon, so being taught by him and Sorrin makes it even. As for being taught by Mew? Well, that should help you catch up in no time."
He then pointed at Ash and grinned, "But don't think that's going to make it easy for you to beat me next time."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Ash replied with a grin.
"Well," Professor Oak said with a big smile, "I guess that means we have a plan for the future. I think it might be best for Ash to rest now, but first I think there is something he needs to do first."
"What's that Professor?" Ash asked.
Smiling, Professor Oak pulled out two Pokeballs and handed them over to Ash. "You need to catch your new starters. They are technically still Wild Pokemon after all and if you are going to train them you'll need them registered under your name."
Ash slowly looked at each ball and then at his two new starters who both smiled at him. "Are you sure you guys want to be part of my team?"
("I made up my mind a long time ago, Ash. I am with you until whatever end comes,") Azrael vowed with a nod.
("Yeah! Now let's do this already!") Skye said eagerly.
Ash nodded and held out both Pokeballs. Azrael touched one with his nose, while Skye touched the other with her beak. The balls opened up and soon turned into a red light that swallowed them whole. The balls wiggled in Ash's hand for a few seconds while the red center button blinked. At last, there were two unified "Ding" sounds to symbolize the successful capture. Ash couldn't help but feel his heart sore. These were his first captures.
A second later, both Pokeballs opened up, and Azrael looked confused by what had happened while Skye was shaking her feathers. The former looked at the latter and said, ("Well, that was interesting.")
("Yeah, how did they manage to fill in a sky, open plains, and trees in such a small thing?") Skye asked.
("That's what you got? I got a mountain, a river, and some cloudy skies,") Azrael replied. ("It reminded me a lot of my old home.")
"What are you guys talking about?" Ash asked as he looked at Pokeballs in confusion.
"Allow me to explain," The Professor said as he cleared his throat and entered what those who knew him called "lecture mode." "Pokeballs, upon capturing a Pokemon, turn the Pokemon into a stream of energized data that seals it inside the Pokeball. The Pokeball then registers what Pokemon it is based on type, species, nature, and hidden ability. From there, the holographic systems create a perfect environment for the Pokemon to rest in while they wait inside the Pokeball for the trainer to release them. At this time, the Pokeball will show videos to the Pokemon explaining how the Pokeball, Trainer, and other rules apply. The Pokeball will also allow the Pokemon to hear what's happening and see visual images around them to maintain a connection to the outside world. Day and night cycles are also included inside the Pokeball, and the Pokemon is free to relax, train, or exercise. It's also safe for the Pokemon to relieve themselves of waste or urine as the Pokeball will turn it into energy."
("...I didn't catch most of that, but it's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, right?") Skye asked.
("Yes, Skye, that's pretty much the whole of it,") Sorrin chuckled at his daughter's response.
Ash couldn't help but laugh and slowly looked at the Pokemon balls containing his two newest friends. It had been a rough start with Pikachu, and he had nearly gotten killed. He would be doing his Pokemon Journey a year later than he expected, thanks to his injuries, but he felt like everything was going to be okay in the long run. He had his Mom, Professor Oak, Gary, Sorrin, Azrael, Skye, and even Mew by his side.
Yeah, it's just a new beginning is all.
