If you are reading this, then welcome to the (somewhat_ new and (hopefully) improved chapter! Fixing this PIECE OF SHITTAKE FIC was on my to-do list for a while, so be on the lookout for more changes to chapters 2-5. Because trust me, they need it.
Change made as of 10/03/2024
All she could feel was fear.
The once peaceful and serene night had become overwhelmed with death, darkness, and destruction. The village she called home was completely blown apart, huts reduced to little more than twigs and dust. Around her, the remnants of her people lay dying or dead, many of which little more than smoking skeletons, leftover flesh dropping from corroded bones.
The sight was enough to make Selene want to vomit.
Overhead, the source of such calamity was screeching an eerie challenge into the night sky, flying over the carnage it had so mercilessly delivered them. The monster was made-up of what looked like bones, poisonous in appearance. A purple gem-like structure sat at the creature's core, aiding the beast as it let loose powerful energy blasts, ravaging the already wasted landscape.
Selene could only look up, paralyzed by terror, at the skeletal abomination, displaying to all its unearthly visage. Further screeches echoed through the air as three shapes blazing with light raced toward the invader, engaging it in combat.
The beast that had crashed down mere minutes ago twisted in mid-air, facing them. A dark beam of energy was ejected from its mouth, missing the Blinding One and Luna, but catching Sol off guard and hitting him right in the chest.
The sun deity was immediately slammed to the ground in front of her, frightening her to the point of shrieking.
He looked to be stunned and in pain, only to get back up on his feet a moment later and shaking his mighty head, leaping back into the fray.
Above, Luna broke off from the fight and looked down, seemingly at her. Selene flinched as a feminine voice echoed in her head.
Flee, now.
She hesitated before nodding, the moon deity giving one in return, letting out a challenging shriek a moment later as she lunged at the abomination.
The girl tore her gaze away before looking around wildly. Where was her father? He had become absent following the start of the attack, and her mother had disappeared at dusk, again, and had yet to come back.
Before she could even begin to look for her lost parents, an attack from above gouged the earth not fifteen feet from her, sucking in nearby oxygen and causing a wave of heat that staggered her and made her gasp for breath. As the attack dissipated, Selene coughed and looked around once more with watering eyes before finally obeying the goddess's command, running into the forest on unsteady feet. She hated her act of cowardice, but in the face of such rage, she was left with little choice.
As the young woman made her way through the wilting brush, she spared another glance at the night sky again. Sol and The Blinding One were still fighting, but Luna seemed to have disappeared.
Unfortunately, that moment of inattention cost her as she tripped on a root, falling and landing on her wrist with a crack. She immediately cried out in pain, cradling her limb and wishing she could pass out. However, even she recognized that a broken wrist would be the least of her worries if she didn't get away quickly enough.
Selene started to get up, wincing and holding her arm close, before the view in front of her made her freeze. Just ten feet from where she tripped in the darkness was a large clearing, and it wasn't empty.
Under the canopy of the trees was Luna, levitating over the scorched earth and looking down at some bundle in her clawed wings. As Selene stood there enthralled, wrist momentarily forgotten, the bundle moved, weakly reaching up with a smoking hand.
Peering closer, she could see the hand going limp, swinging slightly before coming to a stop. Bowing her head, Luna gave out a pained whimper before gently setting the bundle on the ground. The goddess closed her beautiful scarlet eyes, letting a single tear fall onto the once-moving shape.
The girl looked on, and in rising horror, she recognized the face as the tear landed on it, washing away the blood and grime and revealing the man that lay dead on the ground.
That… was her father.
She choked out a sob, falling to her knees in shocked horror.
That's...this can't be. He said…he said…
Her collapse produced a small thud, and Luna looked up at her as another tear fell. However, Selene couldn't tear her eyes away from her father, and as the heartbroken girl watched, the man started to dissolve into tiny little stars. The girl cried out in surprise as he crumbled into stardust, the glittering pieces rising into the sky, disappearing into the stars.
She stared up, the cold pit in her stomach worsening as she considered giving up and dying alongside her father.
She couldn't talk to him one last time. She couldn't even bury him.
As she kneeled there, dirt and pebbles digging into her knees, she felt a gentle claw raise her chin, until she was looking up at the face of her goddess. Exhaustion, pain, and fear were evident in her red eyes, but more prominent were sympathy and affection. Selene had no time to ponder the meaning before she started feeling weary. Then, before the clutches of sleep could consume her, she heard the same voice from a few minutes prior.
I must send you away, my dear. I… Farewell. May the stars light your path ahead, whenever that might be.
Then there was a sound from behind her, as though the air itself was being ripped. She barely had the opportunity to look before being pushed back. The last sight before being consumed by a white light was Luna looking at her with a pained expression, before glaring up at the sky and vanishing.
Then, she knew no more.
The wind and Sea sprayed Ash's grinning face as he stood at the bow of the boat, clutching onto the railing and stared ahead.
They had left Goldenrod City behind mere minutes ago, and yet a couple miles of open ocean separated them from the massive city. Meanwhile, just a mile ahead….
"Almost there, buddy!" Ash laughed, while the mouse on his shoulder clung on with his tiny claws, responding with an equally happy chirp.
"Pika!"
"Ashh! Be carefulzzt!"
The small flying form of Rotom Dex buzzed around his head, drawing the trainer's grin up at the machine.
"It's fine, Rotom! I'm not gonna fall off or anything." Ash proclaimed, looking back down at their destination as they rapidly approached. "Besides, I-achOO!"
He sneezed as something tickled his nose, and he swiped his hand over his face instinctively, shrugging when he felt nothing. Shrugging, he continued as though nothing happened. "Besides, I wanna be first off the boat!"
"You do realize that you'll have an easier time of it if you join the rest of us, right?" Professor Kukui's amused voice sounded from behind him, and he turned to see his teacher smiling as he carefully made his way up to Ash's side.
He opened his mouth to reply, only to close it again as he scratched the side of his head and thought about it. "Hmm, yeah, I guess you're right. But still, look at it! I haven't been here in so long! I wanted to get a nice long look at it."
Professor Kukui chuckled at that as he adjusted his glasses, the two of them staring ahead at the city. "I suppose that's fair," the professor conceded. "Alto Mare…rather strange place to put a city down, I must admit."
"Er, yeah," Ash awkwardly replied, not sure if he should be getting into exactly why the city was so far off the coast. "It's still a nice city," he said, wanting to defend the home of his friends.
His friends…
Man, I haven't seen Latias and Latios in so long…Bianca and Lorenzo, too.
He winced at the vague memory of his promise to see them, hoping they wouldn't be too angry for not coming and visiting sooner. Was six years too long?
"It certainly looks like that from the brochure," the Professor replied, breaking Ash out of his thoughts. "I suppose we'll just have to see if it lives up to the hype?"
"It will," Ash promised with a nod of his head. "There are so many things to show you guys. Plus, I want you all to meet my friends. They're great!" He said enthusiastically, looking forward to seeing them again.
"I believe you, Ash. Although I must say, this is quite the time of year to visit," Professor Kukui remarked as he pulled his brochure out of his lab coat's pocket. "We're lucky that we managed to pick up the proper attire for it. I didn't think Johto would be so lackluster in the fashion department…"
Ash gave him the professor a side-eye; since when did he worry about fashion? "Er, Professor…you don't really change your outfit anyway," he replied, earning a snort from the man.
"I'll have you know that I wore a suit to that ceremony you kids pushed on us," Professor Kukui pointed out.
"Uh, it was for your own good?" Ash tried, receiving an amused look from the man.
The professor was about to reply when another voice sounded from behind, "You're not entirely wrong, there."
Ash and Kukui glanced back to see Burnet making her way up, wearing a soft and playful smile. She stood between the two and affectionately wrapped her arms around them both. "I seem to recall Mister Move Extraordinaire here rather enjoying the ceremony," she playfully teased. "Nothing but a big smile all day."
"Tzzt! It'zz true! I even have the pictures to prove it!" Rotom whirred.
"Ha! You got me there," Kukui laughed with a shake of his head. "Although I'm wondering if there isn't going to be another wedding in the future…"
Ash tilted his head in confusion. "What do you mean? Who else could be getting married?"
"Oh, I don't know," Burnet replied with an affectionate squeeze. "Maybe a girl with long blonde hair and a rather nice dress…has a Vulpix…. Just that girl."
"Blonde hair? Dress? Vulpix?" Came Ash's questioning tone, before it changed to one of realization. "Hey, that sounds like Lillie! But who's she getting married to?"
Kukui snorted at his confusion, while Burnet sighed in defeat.
Pikachu face-palmed as Rotom screeched, "Tzzt! Ash, you can't seriously be this-"
"Dense?" Kukui offered with a small laugh, much to Ash's chagrin.
"Hey, I'm not dense!" He protested, catching multiple disbelieving looks. "I just don't know who she'd marry, is all. I haven't seen anyone close to her, apart from her friends…"
Burnet exchanged looks with her husband before giving Ash a gentle smirk. "You'll get it one day. I hope."
"But for now, I think it's time we disembark," Kukui pointed out as the boat rapidly approached the docks, gradually slowing down. Both him and Burnet turned away, pulling Ash along as the professor called out, "Alright, class, we're just about here. Make sure you have your luggage before leaving, or we'll never hear the end of it from your parents."
There were general laughs and confirmations of his order as the trio of people reached the back of the boat. Everyone was holding onto their belongings while the Pokemon danced at their feet in excitement as they awaited the final moments aboard the boat.
"Betcha ya can't wait to meet up with your pals, Ash," Mallow said as she grinned, Lillie shifting beside her uncomfortably.
Lana nodded with a small smile. "I know I can't wait to see all the canals," she said in a soft voice, while Kiawe huffed and crossed his arms.
"Canals are one thing, but I hope whoever his friends are know how to battle," the shirtless student remarked with fierce eyes, making everyone snort.
"Only you, Kiawe," Sophocles snorted as he shook his head, only to shoot a glance at Ash. "Well, Ash too, I suppose."
Ash opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by Kukui as the man replied in an amused voice, "Even if his friends don't battle, we're here to have a good time, so behave yourselves, alright?"
The class nodded in understanding, although not without Kiawa letting out a disappointed grunt.
As the boatswains tied the ship to the docks, everyone awaited the go-ahead. Ash and Pikachu were the most eager, the trainer bouncing on his heels while Rotom floated closer on the high chance the trainer decided to run off the moment they were allowed.
Their patience was rewarded a few minutes later, and the class was given the go ahead to disembark, and shot off the boat with everyone quickly following him onto the sturdy wooden dock, awkwardly reaching down and accepting their respective Pokemon, placing them on the wooden planks before returning for their luggage.
Ash looked around the area, taking in the scents, sounds, and sights of the city on water. Close by were a few shops that he didn't recall being there last time, including a coffee house. Coffee wasn't really his thing, but it seemed to be quite popular, as most of the tables in chairs out front were occupied.
His gaze was momentarily captured by a couple of girls sitting at one of the tables, one with long scarlet hair and the other with bubble-gum pink hair tied up in a bun. Her clothes were of a similar color, the only exception being the white short-shorts that vaguely reminded him of Misty's while they were traveling together.
However, it seemed he wasn't the only one staring, as the girl in question seemed to lock eyes with him, and instead of glaring at him or looking away, gained a fierce grin.
Unsettled, he quickly looked away and awkwardly glanced around at the other shops. It all felt rather familiar, despite the long gap. Such a long time ago, when-
"Hey, Earth to Ash!"
The trainer jumped and glanced back to see the class staring at him with various looks of amusement, affection, and impatience. "Any chance you could show us the way?" Mallow asked with an amused grin, Lillie nodding and squirming in place as she looked at him with intense eyes.
"Y-yeah," the blonde added as she held Snowy firmly in her arms. "We want to meet your…your friends."
"O-oh, right," he stammered, before clearing his throat and apologizing. "Sorry, I just got lost in thought here. It's been some time since I've been here, you know?"
Any irritation faded as he received understanding smiles and nods. "Well, I suppose we could follow your lead when you're ready," Kukui said with a grin, only to get quite the few frowns in return.
"You're kidding, right?" Kiawe snorted, gesturing towards Ash. "If we follow his lead, we're going to get everywhere except the place we need to go."
"Hey, that's not true," Ash attempted to protest, only to be ignored as they continued to lay on him.
"Or worse, we'll end up in Johto again," Mallow joked, making Lana giggle while Lillie shifted uncomfortably, looking like she was torn between laughing at the jest and defending his honor.
Ash grumbled to himself as Kukui coughed into his fist, quickly interjecting, "Point taken. We can head to the Pokemon Center first anyway and get checked in. Then we'll find Ash's friends. Sound good?"
As the chorus of agreement echoed out, Kiawe's voice cut through and asked, "What's going on over there?"
The class turned to watch as a small group of people blocking the way to the docks were pushed aside, shouting with indignation as the girl with scarlet hair shoved her way through before stopping, staring at him with disbelieving eyes.
"Uh, Ash? Do you know what's going on?" Mallow whispered to him, only receiving a shake of the head in reply.
Ash didn't know what to think, not knowing who she was or what she wanted, and he could only stare back as the pink-haired girl came up beside her with that same grin. She seemed to whisper something in her companion's ear before casually shoving her forward.
"Whoever she is, she's coming right at us!" Kiawe warned unnecessarily as the girl broke into a sprint, making them all tense up.
Pikachu put himself between Ash and the girl, although she merely jumped over him and slammed into the trainer, squeezing the life out of him as she wrapped her arms around him, much to the shock of everyone present.
"Wh-what–" He attempted to gasp out, while Lillie let out strangled noises behind him as the girl continued to hug him.
He tentatively put his arms on her hips, in the hopes that any returned form of contact would get her to let go, although Lillie continued to make general outraged mumbles.
His plan, if he could call it that, seemed to work as the girl partially pulled back, her face mere inches from his as she inspected his own with wondrous honey-colored eyes that threatened to spill tears.
Suddenly, a strange voice seemed to echo in his head as her mouth moved.
"Ash..? It's…it's really you."
Author's Note: Please let me know what you think (Comment on the notice 'chapter' if you want me to deleted your old review of chapter 1 and replace it with a new one). I removed large segments from it, those being from Latias' perspective. This is because I am inserting those into the second chapter, where they will also be improved along with the whole of chapter two.
Thank you for taking the time to (re)read the chapter, and I hope to see you in the (somewhat) new and (hopefully) improved chapter two.