AN: Okay so that was the Prologue, now here is the actual first chapter.
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")
Disclaimer I do not own Pokemon
Ash Ketchum, recently turned twelve-year-old boy from Pallet Town, had dreamed about this day ever since he was four years old. He could remember the first time he had ever seen a Pokemon Battle, he snuck into the living room past his bedtime to watch the finals of the Indigo Plateau Conference. Gary had bragged to the others at pre-school that his Grandpa was letting him watch the series and Ash had begged his mom to let him do so but she told him it was too late for a growing boy like him. Ash knew it was wrong to go against his mother's wishes but Gary had said that, as little kids, they could get in trouble once in a while, so long as it wasn't anything big. Staying up late to watch a Pokemon Battle didn't seem big at first, but when Ash saw it live he never imagined just how big Pokemon Battles were.
Seeing Nidorino fight against Gengar was amazing as were all the other Pokemon that Ash learned and memorized by name during that time. He foolishly cheered at the end which alerted his mother and he was given no TV or dessert for two weeks as punishment. But Ash didn't care. To him, it was all worth it. Because Ash finally had a dream that day: A dream to be a Pokemon Master.
Just like his dad.
It wasn't long afterwards that Ash learned about his father, Red ketchum. A good and strong trainer who managed to win the Indigo Plateau Conference once after many tries and even defeated an Elite Four or two along the way. However, he never made it to Champion despite many believing he could do it. His mother and Professor Oak, who taught his father everything he knew, had told him how great he was, not just as a Pokemon Trainer, but as a person: Silent but kind, strong and wise, determined and focused, and always willing to do the right thing.
Ash wished he had the chance to meet him before he died in the Shadow War. A war that happened fifteen years ago only to end two months before Ash was born. His father had been a hero in that war, his name was spoken with the highest respect and praise. Sadly, he along with his Charizard named Ignus, both perished in the final battle of the war. What few remaining Pokemon Red had that survived were released upon his will being read so they could live their lives the way they wanted. However, these were all but amazing stories told to Ash from his mother which only served to fuel his dreams.
Ash's father had been his hero and he was determined to follow in his footsteps. He did his best to prepare himself for the task of becoming a Pokemon Master, but there were… issues along the way. Mainly, Gary Oak.
Ash and Gary's father had been best friends and rivals growing up. Both died in the war, though unlike him, Gary had lost his mother upon giving birth to him which left the orphaned Gary having his Grandfather and his staff to raise him. Ash would never deny that Gary was smart, talented, and charismatic, but this led to Gary letting it all go to his head. All it took was one stupid fight to make them no longer friends, but a bully and his victim. He would always demean Ash, insult him, make him feel insignificant in every opportunity, all because he was the grandson of Professor Samuel Oak. Gary told him that he would never be a great Pokemon Trainer and there were dark days when Ash believed it.
Ash...didn't have many friends growing up, and part of that was Gary.
The other part was that Ash just liked Pokemon better. A trait his mother said he got from his father who didn't have many human friends either. Pokemon were easier to figure out and he got along with all of those at Professor Oak's ranch. He played with them, sometimes battled with them, or just talked to them to get to know them. He wasn't dumb, well maybe book-wise he was, and he knew that he had a lot to learn to achieve his dream. Ash even knew he might not even get a chance to become a master on the first try. Rarely did that ever happen save for the most talented of trainers, even those who delayed their journey for years to train didn't always win the first go.
But Ash was determined to see his dream come true.
Only, the day that should have been his best day ever was turning out to become his worst. He was late to Professor Oak's due to his alarm clock being broken, which led to him not only losing the choice of getting what Pokemon he wanted (Squirtle) but found out instead that all three main Kanto starters were given to the three other top four scorers in the New Pokemon Trainer's Test for Pallet Town.
All licensed Pokemon Trainers, regardless of age or occupation or desire, had to take the test to prove that you could not only take care of your Pokemon but also yourself. It was a dangerous world, and at least ten percent of all trainers per region ended up seriously injured or (in uncommon occasions) died in their journey. Not to mention Pokemon were living creatures with feelings, emotions, and so forth so it was to weed out those who couldn't or wouldn't take good care of them. Fail in either department and you were denied.
No Trainer License meant no Gym Challenge, Contests, Tournaments, and so forth.
However, just because you had a License didn't mean you got a Pokemon right away. Most beginner Trainers got ones from a nearby store, or if they studied in an academy designed for trainers they would get their starters there. Others tried to catch their first Pokemon or were given one by their family members, especially if they were the offspring of a Pokémon the family already had. It wasn't uncommon to hear how the starter of a Trainer was given to them at a young age by their parents to bond and grow together as siblings. Civilized Pokemon were truly different from their Wild companions. They understood human laws, societies, cultures, and were even seen as part of their world. They were friends, family, and in some regions where it was legal, lovers.
But only a select few got the Kanto Starters.
Every region under the Pokemon League Commission had different starters but traditionally it was one Grass Type, Fire Type, and Water Type. For Kanto, it was Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle and because of the rarity and breeding efforts to keep the population stable, the League was determined to make sure they was only given to the brightest of trainers by limiting them per major city to a certain number of trainers every year. And while you could become great without a region starter, it was seen as a mark of respect and a big starter bonus. Especially if you were looking for sponsors who wanted to support the next big trainer.
Pallet Town, technically, wasn't a big town and should not have gotten any of the starters, but it was the home of Professor Oak. Former Indigo Champion, renowned Professor of the Pokemon World, and creator of the Pokedex. The League was more than happy to give him starters for trainers in his hometown, but only to a limited number of three. However, Professor Oak always liked to give a random fourth Pokemon in the line up. A means to shake things up and so he allowed the fourth place winner to also get a starter from him.
That was Ash who barely made it to fourth place while Gary got first as always.
Ash didn't know what kind of Pokemon he was going to get when he learned that the three main starters were already chosen. Gary had taken Squirtle, and the other two (Chase and Emma) had taken Charmander and Bulbasaur respectively. It could be anything ranging from an Eevee to a Bunnelby or even a rare Pokemon like a Riolu or a Dratini. What it turned out however was a Pikachu.
Ash would have been disappointed if he were any other trainer of his position. Contrary to that however he was not only surprised, but he was genuinely optimistic.
Pikachu could be very powerful. His father had one which he evolved into a Raichu (that sadly died in the Shadow War as well) and one of his favorite Gym Leaders, Lt. Surge, was known to train Pikachu to be really tough. Ash believed that he and Pikachu could be a great team and that they could become best friends.
Sadly, that brought to another part of Ash's horrible day.
Pikachu didn't like Ash.
No, he hated him.
Pikachu's first action upon seeing Ash and being greeted by him was to shock him and growl with hostility. Professor Oak had warned him that Pikachu had been stubborn after getting caught and given to him by some trainers who decided they didn't want him on their team. He was still technically wild minded, and electrocuted anyone who got too close unless they were powerful enough to deal with the blows such as his famous Dragonite, Yoshi. Not even the other Pokemon in the laboratory and outdoor ranches liked him. Pikachu even shocked his mother and others who came to congratulate him which made Ash angry, but he knew that Wild Pokemon could be scared or confused about their new situation in life.
It was why there was such a big focus on Trainers helping Wild Pokemon adjust to their new life. While the Pokeball did help, and most Pokemon were determined to get stronger if they found trainers worthy of capturing them, it was still an adjustment to make. Different sights, smells, sounds, learning new things, and other such things could be time consuming. That was why it was always advised to not take a Wild Pokemon right into battle without making sure it was ready and you had properly bonded.
Ash had all the intention of doing so with the PIkachu but he hit a roadblock on day one. Although it would be more accurate to say "hour one" instead.
Pikachu refused to get into his Pokeball. Whenever Ash brought it up, Pikachu would try to shock him again or hiss in hatred. Ash was willing to put it away, after all there were trainers who kept their Pokemon out of their balls so that was a compromise Ash was willing to go by. But Ash couldn't get Pikachu to follow him so it fell on him to give him a leash and drag him around. Something that clearly fueled Pikachu's dislike for his trainer, but Ash had no choice if he wanted to get the journey started.
"Okay!" Ash said as he panted while taking a glance at Pikachu who was still giving him death glares. "I think we can take a break."
Two hours of dragging Pikachu, who did nothing but snarl, had been exhausting. He wasn't even halfway to Viridian City. No doubt Gary was there already thanks to that stupid car of his. How did he get that anyway?
Sitting under a tree, Ash let the leash go as Pikachu quickly scuttled up the tall oak and continued his glare down at Ash from the branches. Ash sighed and looked down at his knees. This was not how he wanted his first day to go and it seemed like it wasn't going to get fixed any time sooner unless he tried something.
Looking up at the tree, Ash said, "Pikachu? Look, I know we got on the wrong foot, but I don't want us to hate each other. I want us to work together as a team."
"(And I want you to go jump in a lake)," Pikachu said in his native tongue. Not that Ash could understand it but the expression and upper sniff was indication enough of what he meant.
"Look, I'm sorry about the leash, but we're partners. You can't just refuse to go with me and just stay in one place. You're my Pokemon now, I gotta take care of you and look after you," Ash continued.
"(I'm not your Pokemon! I am nobody's Pokemon ! Especially not a human's! ) " Pikachu shouted. "(I never asked or wanted to be stuck with you, kid! I just want to go home!)"
"Please, I know you must be upset about this, but I promise I can take care of you. We can be friends," Ash pressed desperately.
Pikachu snorted. "(I'd rather be crushed by a horde of Snorlax.)"
Sighing Ash just shook his head and wondered if this was a mistake. Maybe I should go back and ask Professor Oak for a different partner. Or maybe I should just try and catch a Pokemon before releasing Pikachu. No, I just can't give up like that. I'm sure we can make it work. I just...need to give him some time...
His stomach began to growl and Ash realized it was already lunch time. Despite his mother giving him a big breakfast, Ash was a big eater and decided it was best to have something now. He opened his backpack and pulled out one of the sandwiches his mother made as well as some Pokemon chow. It wasn't one of those specifically flavored for specific types of Pokemon, but it was a general good taste and nutritious one that all could enjoy. He offered some to Pikachu who simply turned away and huffed.
Ash shrugged and was about to eat when he heard a chirp and looked up to see a curious female Pidgey looking down from above near the oak tree. It was giving him a curious glance but more importantly, it was looking at the food.
Upon seeing the flying Pokemon, Ash almost reached for one of his Pokeballs to catch it, but paused. It looked like it was hungry and Ash didn't want to be mean. He looked up at Pikachu, who was curled up and ignoring everything around him. Not wanting the food to go to waste, Ash lifted the bowl of PokeChow up and smiled at the Pidgey. "Want some?"
"(Wait, really?)" The Pidgey said with surprise before she looked at the food and slowly floated down with her wings. "(I've never had human made food before.)"
"(Then don't, it's disgusting,)" Pikachu muttered.
"It's okay. It's not that bad," Ash assured her as he laid it down and gently pushed it away. "Have as much as you want. PIkachu doesn't look hungry."
Pidgey tilted her head, hopped over, sniffed it a bit, and then pecked one before swallowing it. Her eyes lit up with excitement and soon she was picking for more.
Ash laughed and smiled for the first time since he woke up. "Well, I guess that means you like it."
"(Oh yeah! My daddy always said that human made food was really good and he wasn't kidding!)" Pidgey cheered as she continued to eat.
"(Tch, another idiot,)" Pikachu muttered, which made this Pidgey shoot her head up and glare at him.
"(What did you call me, you yellow rat?!)"
"(An idiot! Just like the rest of those Pokemon who get all sappy and friendly with these slavers! And you call yourself a Pokemon? You're already acting like his pet. Might as well get into one of those death traps they call "balls" and be his bitch.)"
This made Pidgey caw in fury and flap her wings. "(Oh, you are asking for it, rodent!)"
"Hey, calm down everyone!" Ash cried out as he got up and held his hands up. He glared up at Pikachu, "I don't know what you said, Pikachu, but whatever it is doesn't sound nice and you shouldn't be rude. Pidgey here was just enjoying lunch and being friendly. You didn't need to say anything to make her angry."
"(You're not the boss of me!)" Pikachu growled as it stood up, electric volts building up in its cheeks. "(I don't have to listen to you or any other human!)"
"(But you're his Pokemon, aren't you? He's your trainer. You have to listen to him,)" Pidgey said with a scoff. "(That's how things work in the world. And he seems like a nice guy. Why are you so mean to him?)"
"(How would you feel it if someone took you away from your home, your family, and everyone you loved just for their amusement of having you battle them with no say in it?!" ) Pikachu screamed with fury.
"(First of all, all Pokemon know this can happen! Second, I wouldn't mind it because my daddy was a trainer's Pokemon and he called it the best years of his life short of raising me and my siblings in our flock!)" Pidgey cried out as she flapped his wings, took to the air, and met Pikachu eye to eye. "(Some of my siblings even got captured by trainers but we don't mind that at all. We want to become stronger and humans have been good to my flock. I'm sorry that your experience with them was bad the first time, and I'm sorry you were taken from your family, but that's no excuse for you to act all rude and mean to a child who hasn't done anything but try to be nice to you!)"
"(I don't care! I hate humans! I hate him! And right now?!)" his cheeks began to glow, "(I hate you for being as brainless as the rest of the Pokemon in this Arceus damned area!)" Pikachu shouted as he unleashed a Thunderbolt that Pidgey barely avoided.
"Pikachu! Stop! We're not battling her!" Ash shouted as he held his hands up. "Please! I don't want-"
"(Shut up!)" Pikachu screamed as he blasted another Thunderbolt, but this time at Ash who quickly realized that this was stronger than the previous ones. This much became evident as when Ash dodged it, he noticed singe and burn marks where he was just standing. Ash gulped and realized that this was escalating into a bad situation. Pokemon could control the power of their attacks from flinching to fully fatal blows. And it looked like Pikachu was done playing around.
"(You even attack your trainer?! You're the worst and a disgrace!)" Pidgey shouted as she dived for him with a tackle attack that Pikachu jumped over. She turned around to try again only to face Pikachu tackling first and knocking her out of the air. She spun a bit before falling only for Ash to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Are you okay?!" Ash asked as Pidgey, despite being dizzy, nodded.
"(Eat this birdbrain!)" Pikachus shouted as it unleashed a Thunder Wave from above.
Ash gasped as the attack came towards Pidgey who was still too stunned to move and he reacted by instinct. He turned his back to the attack and covered Pidgey with his arms before the electric move slammed into him, causing him to scream. While Pidgey did receive the effect from some of the volts it became clear that Ash took the brunt of the blow. He felt his muscles spasming while every part of his body just felt like it froze and caught on fire at the same time. He fell to his knees before collapsing on his side, coughing and twitching as he tried to make sense of what was going on, but realized a horrible sense of numbness.
I...I can't move!
He was paralyzed because of the Thunder Wave.
"...H-Help..." Ash whimpered as he felt his eyes begin to tear up. He was scared. He couldn't move. He could barely breathe.
"(Heh, not my intended target, but I don't mind the results… In fact...)" Pikachu grinned as he noticed something not far from him. His ball. That accursed ball that caused him so much pain. With a cry of rage he unleashed another Thunderbolt which hit the Pokeball dead on and burst it into pieces. "(Ah, that feels so much better. Freedom. Nothing like it .)"
Pikachu turned his glare towards Ash who was still struggling to move. He looked up with fear in his eyes as he met with Pikachu's hateful gaze. "(As for you, my so-called master? Nothing personal but… Actually… no, this is personal. Personal because humans like you make me sick. You think you are so high and mighty for enslaving us and brainwashing our kind into thinking you are somehow in the right. Well guess what? I'm not going to let you enslave another Pokemon to mistreat as your little fighting pet. So consider this justice for every Pokemon in the world!)"
"Pikachu… please..."
"(Funny, I said that before I was captured. Guess what? I got nothing but pain. And now, so will you.)"
And then came the thunder and Ash screamed.
Today was the day. He knew it in his heart and his Danger Sense was going haywire. Azrael grit his teeth and focused on running as fast as he could. His paws hitting the ground so hard it spooked a small family of Rattata into fleeing. Azrael didn't care, he needed to get to Ash.
He had to save him.
He had traveled, nonstop, from Sinnoh to get here and he would not let anything get in his way.
He would save him.
"(Oh no...Oh no no no! NO!)"
"(Brother? What is-)"
"(Get Father at once! Everything's gone wrong!)"
"(What are you talking about?" )
"(The entire timeline has changed!)"
"(Wait, the entire timeline?! How is that possible?!)"
"(The newest Chosen… something is happening to him… Something terrible!)"
"(... Let us go then! We shall get Father now!)"
"(You get him! I need to find Celebi! We need as many Legendaries as possible and find a way to fix this or else it will be the biggest disaster since The Darkest Day!)"
Horror was the only emotion that Skye was feeling right now as she watched the human who had fed her, defended her, and saved her was blasted again and again with electric attacks from the Pikachu above. Never did Skye ever think she would hate a Pokemon more than Spearows, the rivals of her flock, and this Pikachu just jumped the list. Tears flowing down Ash's cheeks evaporated from the heat of the bolts as his throat sounded taut from his screams of agony. He begged Pikachu to stop, kept screaming how it hurts, and even pleaded for his mother once or twice, but Pikachu wouldn't stop.
Ash's body was all red, blistered, and starting to blacken in some areas. Burnt veins becoming visible from his skin. He uncontrollably convulsed and twitched from the shocks. The Pikachu wasn't just trying to hurt him. He was trying to kill him.
With a furious cry, Skye leapt into the air with rage and determination as she pecked the distracted Pikachu so hard that blood was drawn from his forehead. She managed to knock him off the tree but he quickly recovered and landed on his four paws. Skye flew between him and the human who was still screaming and crying despite the attack having stopped. "(Get away from him you psycho!)"
"(Stay out of this! This has nothing to do with you!)" Pikachu screamed.
"(That human defended me from you! He risked his life for me! You think I'm going to let you murder him without doing something?! Even if he was a stranger I would still stop you because what you are doing is wrong! You're a monster!)"
"(Humans are the real monsters! He's just like the rest of them! But if you refuse to see that then you can get shocked with him!)" Pikachu sent out a Thunder Bolt that Skye was able to dodge this time and quickly dived down at the Pikachu. It dodge it to the left, but Skye had been quick enough to grab some sand with her talons, spin around, and unleash a Sand Attack that got into Pikachu's eye.
Seeing her chance, Skye thanked her older sister for teaching her Gust as she unleashed the windy attack by flapping her wings as fast as possible. With her opponent temporarily blind and so close to her, Skye's Gust managed to blow Pikachu far enough that he slammed into the tree hard, letting out a cry of pain.
Skye let out a little happy chirp for her successful attack, she prepared herself to press forward when Pikachu glanced at Ash and grinned. A horrible realization came upon Skye as he unleashed another electric attack and directed it as Ash this time. Not wanting the human to suffer anymore blows, Skye flew as fast as she could and took the blow head on. She screeched in pain as the electricity coursed through her entire body and she felt herself freeze up before falling to the ground, unable to move. Damnit, I'm paralyzed too!
"(Like I said. Idiot,)" Pikachu snorted as he walked up to them both with a smirk on his face. "(I knew you would defend this human so I attacked him to stun you. I'll deal with you later. Right now, I'm going to finish him.)"
"(S-Stop! P-Please!)" Skye cried out as she did her best to try and move. "(Don't hurt him!)"
"(I'm not going to hurt him)" Pikachu said before Skye felt her heart sink upon seeing the sinister look in his eyes and curved smile on Pikachu's face. "(Like you guessed correctly, I'm going to finish him.)"
Ash, tearful and afraid, stared at Pikachu who started gathering energy into his cheeks. He closed his eyes as Skye let out as many cries as she could, hoping someone in her flock could hear her. Pikachu was about to unleashed his move when a voice suddenly came out of nowhere and screamed, "(GET AWAY FROM HIM!)"
"(Huh?! GAAAH!)" Pikachu screamed as a white blur slammed into him and bit him on the arm. Skye watched as the white furred Pokemon with a curved black horn, one she had never seen before, ravaged the screaming Pikachu like a berserker before tossing him to the side.
Pikachu, bleeding in his arm and shoulder, got up with rage in his eyes and unleashed another Thunderbolt towards the new Pokemon, who promptly dodged it and the following bolts before jumping up. Its horn began to glow with sparkling dark energy narrowly missing Pikachu who barely managed to dodge the hit. The impact of the blow left a small crater when it landed, showing how powerful it really was.
"(Who in the Distortion World are you?!)" Pikachu shouted with both fear and anger.
"(I am that boy's protector,)" The strange Pokemon growled with such hatred in his tone that it made both Pikachu and Skye shudder. "(Night after night I have seen you kill him with no mercy. No regret. All he had done was try to befriend you, be kind to you, and you spat in his face and murdered him in cold blood every single time in my dreams!)"
"(Huh?! Are you crazy or something?!)" Pikachu shouted in disbelief and Skye couldn't help but feel that way too from what he was saying.
"(I swore that I would stop it. I swore that I would stop you,)" The strange Pokemon growled as he roared. "(I swear by all the Legendaries that I will never let you hurt Ash Ketchum ever again!)"
Raizen The Pikachu didn't want to admit it but he was feeling nervous right now. A Pokemon he had never seen before was suddenly defending this human and even knew his name. Was he a Psychic type? No, he had to be Dark judging from the move he used to create the small crater. One that Raizen was sure would hurt if he got hit by it. This guy was clearly different from the stupid Pidgey. He was stronger, larger, and could put up a good fight. But the look in his eyes was what made Raizen hesitate. This Pokemon was giving him a look that could kill, and from his declaration he truly meant it.
Just when he thought things couldn't get worse, he heard the screeching of more bird type Pokemon and turned his head to the sky. A large growing number of Pidgey, Pidgeotto, and two Pidgeots of all things were heading their way. The stupid Pidgey seemed to be calling out for them. Her flock was here.
Raizen wasn't stupid. He knew he had no chance of defeating all of these Pokemon and knew he had to retreat. Sure the human wasn't dead, it looked like he was about to pass out, but the ball holding him was destroyed. He was free.
He wasn't going to waste it.
Raizen fired a Thunderbolt at the ground, kicking up dirt and dust everywhere before using his speed to run as fast as he could into the nearby trees and bushes. Mom. Dad. Kota. I'm coming home.
Sorrin flew faster the moment he saw the Thunderbolt and the dust storm kicked in. He, his First Mate, and their patrols had seen lightning bolts flying in the sky and wondered if it was some trainer fighting a Wild Pokemon. That's when they heard the screaming. A human child's scream. Sorrin may have left the life of a Civilized Pokemon but he was by no means going to let a poor human suffer. Then he heard his daughter, Skye, screaming as well.
That got him and his flock to fly faster.
He made it first with his First Mate, Sala, to the site where the battle had taken place and surveyed the scene. First he checked his daughter, Skye, who looked to be paralyzed and hurt but soon noticed the human who looked fatally injured, as well as an Absol who hurried to the human's side, calling him "Ash''.
Ash…? Wait a minute... Sorrin went wide-eyed as he observed the wounded and burned child closely, recognizing the family resemblance. No, it can't be.
It had been twelve years since he was last at Pallet Town to see the birth of his master's child. It was still painful to think about his old owner and best friend after all these years since his death but he felt like he owed it to Red to be there to see his son born. He only got one good look at him, but he looked so much like his father that Sorrin couldn't help but sob upon seeing him in his mother's arms. That was the last time he had been to Pallet Town or seen the Ketchum family.
Now, Sorrin was this close to weeping upon seeing Red's son, Ash, lying there in a state of agony and pain despite being unconscious. With his First Mate taking care of Skye, who was all but begging them to save the boy, he flew down and gasped upon seeing the damage done to Ash.
"(Who are you?!)" The Absol demanded while looking ready to pounce. "(If you intent to harm him-)"
"(I would die before I do so,)" Sorrin claimed as he turned to the Absol. "(What happened?! Why is the son of my former master hurt like this?!)"
The Absol was stunned by this declaration, but before he could answer Skye beat him to it, "(It was that Pikachu! He was his Pokemon, but he went crazy! He started attacking the two of us and he wouldn't stop trying to kill him! I tried to help but I… I couldn't!)"
Skye started to sob and Sorrin felt his heart nearly sink at the fact that he had nearly lost one of his daughters. He loved all his children with all his mates and Skye had been one of the more spunky ones. Always trying to outpace or out fly her siblings. If anything happened to her, the entire flock wouldn't feel the same anymore. Sorrin stared at the painful expression of the unconscious Ash and felt moved knowing by his determination to protect his daughter. He's just like his father.
And then came the outrage. Outrage towards the Pikachu who did this. He had betrayed the sacred bond between a Pokemon and Trainer. He couldn't believe that the son of his former master would do something that would warrant such cruelty, and from what Skye was telling them it seemed his faith wasn't misplaced. This Pikachu she speaks of was a clear and present threat for nothing could have excused him for what he had done to his daughter and Red's son.
"(Daddy, he saved my life! Help him!)" Skye all but begged.
Sorrin quickly went to the growing pack of Pidgeotto and Pidgy who had followed them and were surprised by the scene as well. "(Aero! Sina! Wingly! Keeper! Find this PIkachu and bring him to me! I don't care if you break him but I want him alive! Alaya! Mira! Joseph! Find some Cherri and Oran berries! Now!)"
The flock split up and went to work as the Absol knelt before Ash and started to nuzzle him. He started licking his wounds and tears which surprised the Pidgeot. He then looked up at Sorrin with desperation. "(What do we do?! How do we help him?!)"
"(The berries will help with the paralysis and wounds, but he needs a human hospital to save him,)" Sorrin explained with a grim look. "(I can get him there in a flash by flying and I know where it is. I used to live in Pallet Town, I even know his mother.)"
"(You said his father was your master?)" The Absol said with confusion.
"(Yes, I was the first Pokemon he ever caught actually,)" Sorrin explained before glancing at the Absol, "(As for you, why are you here and how did you know his name? Did your sense of disaster warn you of this?)"
The Absol stared at him with a shocked look.
"(Don't look too surprised, I've met your kind before. A long time ago,)" Sorrin smirked before returning to a stern expression, "(But enough reminiscing, how did you find him? Danger Sense?)"
"(More like a series of dreams I've had for so long that I can visualize it by heart,)" Absol said with a heavy sigh and gritted his teeth. "(I saw him being killed by that Pikachu night after night and was powerless to stop it. I traveled all the way from Sinnoh to save him and I'm not about to let him die now.)"
He then glared at Sorrin despite the Pokemon being much bigger than him. "(You will take me with him to this hospital. I don't care what you say, I am not leaving him. Never.)"
"(...Very well. I trust you. You have a name?)"
"(Azrael.)"
"(Then let's hope your intervention did save his life, Azrael. It's up to fate now.)"
Ho-Oh was wondering what was taking so long. When Ho-Oh had learned that a new Chosen was going to be born into the world, Ho-Oh had hoped he would see him when he grew up and maybe give him some encouragement by showing up on the day of his journey. The only information they had about the boy was that he was in Pallet Town and was about to make his Pokemon journey around this time. This was all coming from Celebi, one from the future, who said she met him, but she had to keep a tight lip on details to not disturb the timeline.
From what she did tell them, he was a kind soul who would help bridge the bonds between Pokemon and Humans. Something that Ho-Oh had always tried to do in the past, but the bitter memory of his tower burning as well as his three most loyal friends dying in the process had made him retreat from the world for some time while raising his new reincarnated children.
Ho-Oh had asked to be left away from his Legendary duties for some time to recover. Now that there was a new Chosen, the question was who was he to bond with and what would he be doing in the future? Chosen were always crucial for the balance of the world, mainly that they were destined to always play a part in preventing disasters. In more than a few occasions they bonded with Legendary Pokemon and ended up being legends in of themselves. Ho-Oh himself had a few Chosen in the past that he had bonded with, such as the legendary Rainbow Warrior and the first Emperor of the Indigo Empire that united the warring four regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh.
He was only granted this information about the newest Chosen because he was Johto's Guardian, much like how Lugia was Kanto's, and the two regions always had a close bond with one another despite technically being two separate kingdoms. This also included the Orange Islands, but Lugia handled that since he was more of the Guardian of the Seas. The last island that Ho-Oh had tried to be the Guardian of was Pokelantis, but that didn't end well.
Whether this new Chosen was to be bonded to him or not, Ho-Oh still wanted to give him a blessing or at least a sight to remember. Maybe even drop a feather for him. So long as he didn't go up that mountain thinking he could become the next Rainbow Warrior. Honestly, I thought that rumor was put to rest after all these years.
Marshadow, ever his faithful companion and aide had taken to hiding in the shadows and waited before returning to Ho-Oh with news awhile ago that he hadn't seen the Chosen. According to Celebi, he would be traveling with a Pikachu that would be his best friend and partner. But so far Marshadow reported that he had only seen a few humans with no Pikachus. The most eye-catching was a boy driving in a car with a group of teenage females dressed in clothing that showed a lot of skin, and an orange haired girl with a bike that was fishing in a river nearby.
Maybe he's late? Or did I miss him? What if-
His thoughts were interrupted when a familiar presence was felt and saw a time portal open up followed by a sweating and worried Celebi. "(Ho-Oh! Emergency meeting at the Hall of Origin! You have to come! Now!)"
"(What? But I was going to meet the Chosen-)"
"(It's about the Chosen! He's dying!)"
"(What?! How?!)"
"(I'll explain on the way! But we have to hurry! The entire timeline has changed and if we don't act fast, it's going to be a disaster for the whole world!)"