Chapter 48
Voices. Muffled voices could be heard vaguely from where he was but then again, where was he? He certainly didn't feel like he was where he fell so he could only assume he had been moved. He was certainly feeling very comfy wherever he was and it smelled really familiar only he couldn't place why just yet. His brain was very sluggish, almost as if he had been drugged but he had never taken a drug in his life and the usual painkillers and sedatives didn't work on aura users anyway, at least not the normal ones as there was something in their bloodstream that rejected them. It had taken a particularly idiotic Aura Guardian who came up with the correct sedatives by using himself as a test subject because he was tired of being sick when he needed healing. He was bone tired, maybe sleep would help.
The next time he awoke he was much more aware of where he was as he immediately recognised the view from the hospital rooms window but that couldn't be right. How the hell had he got to Saffron City? And how long had he been out? Groaning he sat up and winced as he was plugged into several machines which monitored his health. Taking them out carefully he grimaced in pain but finally, after a few minutes and quite a lot of 'ouches' he was leaning back on his pillows looking out of the window to the evening sky. The doctors had obviously been alerted to him waking up as it wasn't long before three walked into his ward, one very familiar and started fussing over him.
"Travis," he said roughly before coughing. Immediately a glass of water with a straw was held to his face and he drank greedily before resting back on the pillow "How?"
"How did you come to be in Saffron City?" Travis asked rhetorically, taking a seat in the chair at the side of his bed "That's a very interesting question. The answer is we have absolutely no idea. You appeared in a flash of purple at the reception desk, covered in cuts, bruises, blood and a particularly nasty looking dagger lodged into your arm."
Painfully Ash picked up said arm which was in a cast and winced. Cautiously he tested his aura out and winced as the pain lanced through his arm.
"Yeah I wouldn't do that for a while" Travis said looking amused "your bone had to literally be glued and pinned back together as it had shattered into three pieces from the force of whoever did that to you. It likely will be several weeks before you can safely use aura from that arm but given what's happened that may be a good thing."
"What do you mean?" Ash asked, confused.
"What was the last thing you remember?" Travis asked.
"I reached Silver" Ash said after a few moments of thinking "we fought and two of his Pokémon managed to pin me next to the ledge. Then some really strange purple light appeared and killed his Pokémon. After that it's a bit hazy but I know I was battered around by a wind that kicked up from nowhere and Silver stabbed me. I think I killed him and then the next thing I know I'm waking up here. What time is it anyway?"
"It's 6:26 pm on Sunday the 11th November 2001" Travis said "you arrived here around 9pm two days ago Ash and have been unconscious all that time."
"Nia!" Ash said, alarmed at being out for so long, "my father."
"Both ok" Travis said, pushing him back onto the bed where he looked troubled. "Now, I'm going to make a few phone calls and I'll be back soon. In that time I want you to promise me you will not move, do not make me call my wife!"
Nodding Ash looked back out of the window frowning in thought and the fact two days had been and gone while he was out cold, leaving everyone he had fought with behind. It wasn't long before Travis came back into his room with some soup making Ash's stomach give an almighty rumble. Laughing Travis helped Ash eat before he settled back down.
"So, what's the final score?" Ash asked heavily.
Instead of replying Travis switched on the TV in his room and the news blared.
"400 dead?" Ash choked in shock.
"The number increases daily Ash" Travis replied but that's how many have been confirmed "there's mobs outside the government buildings demanding answers for questions they can't answer just yet. Be prepared for some backlash yourself Ash, it's not going to be pretty."
"Is my Pokégear around?" he asked after listening to the news reports.
"Ah," Travis said, opening his side drawer and pulling out a Pokégear, only it was in several pieces. "Whatever you got up to in that building did a number on you. When you arrived this was in your pants pocket and didn't survive the impact."
"Can you call Mr Suzuki for me?" Ash asked, writing down a number on a piece of paper "I need a new one A.S.A.P so I can get in touch with everyone."
"Will do" Travis said, nodding and standing up "you need rest. I'll see you later Ash, please don't try and leave."
Ash had no intention of leaving where he was as not only would it be foolish but he was without any form of communication, identification and Pokémon to get him anywhere he wanted to go to anyway. It was around 10 pm when he heard a noise coming from outside and he cursed that he was banned from excessive aura usage for a few weeks because of his arm. Luckily though he recognized the voices and in walked Hatori, along with Sarah Morgan, Nia's mum.
"Er Hi" he said lamely looking at Sarah.
"Well at least that's one person I know alive" she said looking angry "where is Nia?"
"I've no idea" Ash said "I only woke up a few hours ago. According to Travis I've been out for a few days ever since I was seemingly teleported here. I was planning on ringing her but as you can see my phone was destroyed." Pointing to the Pokégear in pieces he picked one up before shaking his head and putting it back down "I asked Travis to get in touch with Mr Suzuki so I could get a new one."
"I brought you one," he said, taking out a package from his briefcase "along with another chip we supplied to you a few years ago."
"Oh good" Ash said looking around "you didn't happen to bring a screwdriver with you did you?"
He hadn't so it took an orderly a good twenty minutes to procure one from their maintenance staff. During that time though Ash explained what had gone on from the moment Silver crashed the trophy ceremony, the near kidnapping of Lorelei, the meeting with his Elite Four and gym leaders and the plans for the battle. He of course didn't tell her they were attacked in the middle of the night or that Nia had killed several people in the process, Sarah was better off without those details. Carefully he prized the back off the Pokégear and removed several little chips before placing the one provided by Hatori inside and replacing the rest.
"Doesn't that void your warranty?" Sarah asked, confused.
"Ordinarily yes" Ash said, poking his tongue out as he concentrated on replacing the back "however along with being an employee of Silph I'm also part of their creative group and so I have permission to mess with gadgets as long as they're for personal use. Obviously this is mine now so no one else will be able to mess with it."
"So what was it you just added?" she asked.
"Oh it was a little bit of technology that allows me to remote access my laptop and sync up everything that's on there such as my Champions emails, Silphs emails etc along with all of my contacts." Ash said as he switched it on and saw a number going across the screen. "Why haven't you been able to contact Nia?"
"Something is interfering with the signal in Johto" Hatori said "It has been the same for a few days now. It was briefly back on for a time but then something halted that."
Thinking back, Ash's eyes widened. "I suspect it was because whatever happened in that room while I confronted Silver may have fried the servers or at least interfered with them. I'll be able to find out more when this has finished syncing."
"How" Hatori asked frowning "if our own servers cannot get in touch with them how can you?"
His Pokégear flaring to life halted Ash's response as he placed it on his lap and waited for all the messages, missed calls and voicemails to finish. Finally after a good minute they did so he picked it back up and typed in a number.
"Fortunately I have a direct number to the man who's in control of those servers and can bypass them" The two others in his room crowding around the screen to see what he was doing.
"Ash!" Bill said wide eyed as he accepted the call "bloody hell I thought you were dead!"
"Not quite," Ash said, chuckling. "I'm still here. What's wrong with the servers? Kanto can't get in touch with Johto apparently."
"No they wouldn't" Bill said shaking his head looking over his laptop screen darkly "whatever happened up in that tower has shook everyone. There was a horrendous screeching noise, followed by an explosion and then utter silence." Bill said "whatever it was fried the servers so for the last few days we've had every league Alakazam along with the technicians here here on rotation trying to mend them. I think they'll be up and running tomorrow at the earliest."
"Well that's good" Ash said sighing "so what's happened in the last few days?"
"Ash you've been pronounced KIA, everyone is in uproar here because your dad and Blue have taken over Kanto's operations and have been clashing with Johto's" Bill said seriously, "It's been ridiculous because everyone is playing the blame game when they should be coming together. There have been hundreds of confirmed deaths, the majority of which were Team Rocket members. But there were at least sixty-five confirmed from the Johto citizens and not all of them were the G-Men. Some were inhabitants of Goldenrod City that were deemed collateral damage, or in some cases they just wanted their houses to occupy while Team Rocket were in Goldenrod. The clean up has barely begun and there are more being reported every day."
"Shit" Ash said, summing it up "what about Kanto?"
"Ash, twenty of the people you sent from Kanto died" Bill said, seeing Ash's head hit the pillow behind him "Ash, Erika didn't make it. Katie is also in serious condition in Olivine Hospital."
Ash couldn't say anything to that. After all, what could you say when someone you had sent into battle perished? Finally though he managed to start talking again "Can you let everyone know you've spoken to me? I'll speak with Giovanni and the Kanto Board to get our people back home along with arranging funerals for those we sent. I don't know when I'll be allowed out of here but as soon as I can I'll be in touch. Let Nia know her mum is asking about her will you, Sarah is worried."
"Will do Ash" Bill said before hanging up.
"Twenty dead" Ash said, shaking his head letting the tears fall "and it's my fault."
"None of that" Sarah said sternly "there'll be enough blame being passed around without you blaming yourself too. You did what you could to stop a tyrant Ash, you and those that died helped liberate a city from that bastard. Remember that."
Ash didn't say anything, he just stared out of the window and thought. He didn't know when Sarah and Hatori left but it was dawn before he realised he was waking up again. Sighing heavily he shakily stood up and had a shower before getting back into bed and eating the breakfast that had arrived in that time. Ringing the buzzer he asked if someone could get him a notepad and a pen. Half an hour later he was ringing various people making all the arrangements that were needed to be made, had argued with several members of the board about the cost but quickly shut them down when he informed them that he would pay for them if the Board didn't want to honour its heroes. It was early the next day he was finally allowed to leave, with his arm in a cast to prevent any further damage from happening to it. Wandering into the Pokémon hospital he enquired about Pikachu and was told to take a seat. Ten minutes later the surgeon he had left him with nearly a week ago now arrived to see him.
"The surgery was very successful" he said much to Ash's relief "the break wasn't as bad as we first feared so the repair was very simple. However, it's still touch and go as to whether he will ever be able to use his tail in battle and not have more issues further down the line. He must not be in any battles for the next six months Ash to give him time to heal properly. We will schedule a few visits between now and May to see how he's getting on and what we can do to help but you need to help him too."
"That's more than fine" Ash said breathing out a sigh of relief "I had considered retiring him anyway should the worst happen but I'm just grateful he's alive. The last week has been horrific and I doubt there'll be much battling going on until June anyway when I leave for Hoenn."
"Yes" he replied "we had several Pokémon emergency transferred here about an hour ago and it wasn't great."
"I wish I could help out but I've been banned from using aura to augment any healing for the next month myself" Ash said holding up the cast "I was stabbed and the bone shattered and had to be knit back together. Is Pikachu alright to travel?"
"Not just yet" he said "we're keeping him here until Wednesday morning and he should be free to leave then."
"Two days." Ash said nodding "That's fine. I can get a lot done in that time."
"Ash what happened?" he asked.
Sighing Ash recounted what had gone on over the last few years, highly edited of course until he reached the battle with Silver and then waking up back in Kanto with no idea how.
"At least we can plan better" he said "I suspect we're going to have a lot of Pokémon here in our morgue arriving from Johto."
"I've commissioned the Bullet train to be transport for them" Ash said "the majority will then be picked up and taken to Lavender Town as it's more suited to taking in mass Pokémon that have died. I think we may have to dig a mass grave for them just outside the town itself for those that will be unclaimed. It's going to be a nightmare."
Ash was more right than he knew. The Bullet Train had every seat taken out to accommodate the cargo it was going to take over the next few days back and forth from Goldenrod City. The entire thing was a shitshow as there were so many trucks parked outside Saffron Train Station to then move them to Lavender Town that no one could get through for days. There were so many people complaining that their holidays had been ruined or that Kanto shouldn't be taking Pokémon that belonged to Johtoian trainers that Ash had to, more than once threaten to slap people if they didn't shut up. There was even more outrage when the families of those that died were told the Pokémon would be arriving before their loved ones which Ash didn't help himself when he said he wanted to get the Pokémon buried first before having to deal with the people.
"That's kind of heartless" Richard had said when he returned with the first batch of surviving trainers.
"I didn't mean it like that" Ash said wearily wiping his face of the sweat that had built up. "I just have a lot of burying to do over the next few days and the Pokémon take up the most room on the train. We've had to add about ten more carriages to get them back here in loads of thirty."
"Where are the Kanto Board or the League Board members?" a woman who had lost her son asked him as he stood next to the platform to help unload the dead Pokémon.
"A bloody good question" Ash said wincing as he placed a coffin down on the back of a flatbed truck "Not here is the answer to that. Every trainer that went to war is here helping out, despite them just wanting to curl up and cry but those bastards are nowhere to be found. And if you guys aren't going to help out then piss off!" He finished angrily looking at the camera crews that were dotted around.
Ash had no idea how profound his words were and how much it did to help the people of Kanto realise that he had been in that war too and he had done his part in taking down the leader. The fact he was clearly injured and still helping out also went a long way to restoring their faith in him. It took two days for the Pokémon to finish arriving, two days of trucks and people with strong Pokémon making the trip back and forth from Goldenrod City to Saffron and then onto Lavender Town. Grady and his ghost types, along with Agatha had been instrumental in shepherding the mass of Pokémon to their final resting place, Ash had been told Morty and Grady's granddaughter and his opponent in the final eight Evelyn had been doing the same, lighting candles along the roads that led to Ecruteak City. The people of Johto had come together like never before and had lined those streets for the last few days to make sure it was peaceful and trouble free and it had been! No one would dare disturb the peace.
The reunion between Nia and her family was a brief but joyous one as while they were happy her daughter survived there were many there with them who's child hadn't. She had also brought his bag, laptop and his Pokéball belt with her, strangely it had been left untouched on top of that tower but other than Charizard, Salamence, Gyarados and Lapras everyone was safely housed in their ball. Pressing a few buttons on his Pokédex he sent them all home, they deserved to rest and heal after what they had all been through.
"Ash, where are you going?" Someone had asked when he boarded the train heading to Goldenrod City.
Looking back he saw that there were quite a few people that were looking at him concerned. He had barely eaten and slept the last few days, so determined was he to ensure every Pokémon made it to their resting place safely so he looked an absolute mess, bags under his eyes and his hair that was usually in a ponytail was all over the place, greasy and hanging lank.
"Fifty Pokémon trainers left on that train to go and fight a battle that should have been sorted over a decade ago and twenty of those will never get to greet their loved ones again. Those twenty trainers waiting in Goldenrod Station died because of an order I gave them" he said quietly but strongly looking at Nia who looked at him sadly "and while I survived they didn't. I will not allow their final journey back home to be alone." Signalling to the driver who was hanging out of the window he stepped onto the train and the doors closed behind him. The journey to Goldenrod was only an hour and a half but it gave Ash the much needed time to close his eyes and reflect on the last few days. He suspected he wouldn't hear the end of this one for years to come. Goldenrod was a hive of activity and when he stepped off the train the station became utterly silent. On the platform was twenty coffins with wreaths on top of them. He had no idea who had put this together but just touching the first one broke his heart. He walked up to every single one individually and read the placards that had been placed on top of them, trying to commit each and every name to memory.
"Sir?" a lady asked, walking up to him and handed him a flower "thank you."
"For what?" Ash asked, broken and looking around.
"You freed our city" she said bewildered.
"I led people to their deaths" Ash said placing the rose down on top of Erika Hikami's coffin.
"They followed you to free us" she said laying a hand on his arm.
Nodding Ash looked up and asked "Who is loading them onto the train?"
"We are" a huge man said with a few other people and their Machokes.
"I'll help" he said as he moved to the first coffin closest to the train and began helping them. It took over two hours to safely and securely house them in the carriages. When he was finally done he wiped his head and sighed "Thank you all. It means a lot that you've helped."
"It was the right thing to do Mr Ketchum" the huge man, who he found out was named Daryl said nodding.
"Were you in the battle?" Ash asked, noticing some of them had cuts on their arms.
"Only for the last push" Daryl said to him "we were in Olivine for the P1 knockouts when we were called by Bruno. So we arrived at the end."
"Your help has been invaluable" Ash said to them "for everything. So thank you. Is Lance still at the camp?"
"I believe so Sir" a man said to his left. Ash nodded, shook their hands and walked through the crowd who parted where he stopped when he walked outside and sighed. The journey to the Plaza wasn't long but Goldenrod City was a mess. Rubble and debris littered the roads and several buildings had significant looking scars across their edifice. Several buildings were no longer even there so when he bypassed a crane, stopped in front of the Plaza and looked up anger bubbled up inside of him. Taking another deep breath he headed inside and passed by several silent workers who nodded their heads briefly at him. The elevator wouldn't go to the directors office usually but it seemed they had relaxed that for now and when he stepped out of it on the 15th floor he had a rush of memories flood back into him. Ash couldn't believe it had been nearly a week already since he was here and as he stepped into the office he was brought to his knees when more images appeared in his mind. He cursed the fact he'd been banned from using aura because he felt sure that someone had messed with his mind. Finally he rose to his feet and saw to his astonishment that the majority of the debris had been cleared away. Work had already begun on replacing the windows as the crane and workers were on the Southern side.
"Hey" a man said, gaining his attention "be careful, it's not fully cleared this room. You shouldn't be here."
"I was in this room when those windows blew out." Ash said absentmindedly, looking around and walking over to the open wall where he looked down at the ground nearly a hundred feet away. Carefully he moved around the room and stopped when a glint of something caught his eye. Moving a chair he picked up to his amazement the keycard that the director had given him along with what looked like a key. The key certainly hadn't been his so who did it belong to? Holding it up he saw a symbol etched into it and did a double take as it was the letters SH. Was this Silvers? If so, what did it open? To the side of the chair was where Silvers Feraligatr and Alakazam had died, but what the hell did that? Looking up he saw that he was still being warily observed.
"You wouldn't happen to know where all the debris was taken to would you?" he asked.
"Probably the local garbage dump," the foreman said, shrugging his shoulders. "I have no clue, we're just replacing the windows."
"No problem," Ash said, nodding and leaving via the elevator again. Wandering back out into the street he walked right, took the first left and headed towards the harbour. He passed many people on the way but took no notice because he had Pokémon to gather. When he arrived at the harbour he leaned against the barrier looking out to the Whirl Ocean and just basked in the silence knowing what he was about to do in the next hour was rough. Sending out an aura pulse he winced as pain lanced through his arm and he remembered he had been banned from doing it for a reason. However he waited and soon around the bottom of the harbour his Lapras appeared followed by his Gyarados but they weren't alone as walking across the water were four of the six Legendary Beasts along with Lugia who burst out of the water and hovered just behind them.
"Greetings Chosen One" Lugia said, landing in the water and floating.
"What happened?" the younger Suicune asked.
"We eradicated Team Rocket" Ash said beginning his story. It took half an hour for Ash to finish
It was Lugia who broke the silence "I felt the newest of us Chosen One along with the oldest of us."
"Why were they here?" Ash asked, having a very funny feeling.
"I am unsure" Lugia said "they arrived as quickly as they left, not contacting us. I know they felt my presence."
"I have a suspicion that I hope is wrong" Ash said darkly "and if I'm right the eldest and youngest of you are living on borrowed time."
"You would threaten us?" Raikou asked, flecks of electricity hitting the water causing Ash's Pokémon to wince. Recalling them he pressed the button and they disappeared back home.
"Yes" Ash said after doing so and looking up at him "They swore they would stay out of my business and broke that promise not even two moons later. What happened to Entei?"
"We know not," Raikou the younger replied "we felt our brother do battle with the Alpha for a brief time."
"I'll try and find out" Ash said "thank you for all your help in dealing with the escapees. If you're ever in Kanto feel free to come and visit as I don't know when the next time I will see you. I'll try to find information on Entei the Elder while I'm travelling. Hopefully he hasn't been captured."
"You are welcome anytime Chosen One" Lugia replied, pulsing her aura briefly causing Ash's tattoo to glow "I am just a thought away."
Nodding he watched them disperse and left himself. As he drew closer to the Pokémon Centre he felt three powerful auras draw closer and he slowed down and soon Ash's Charizard, Salamence and Lances Dragonite landed in front of him with Lance on his Pokémons back.
"I didn't think you'd ever turn up" Lance said with an unreadable look on his face as he took in Ash's extremely unkempt appearance and the bags under his eyes. Nodding they carried on past the centre and onto the street where the station was.
"I had to make sure everything was sorted on the Kanto end before coming here" he said sighing and running a hand through his long hair and wincing when it tangled in it "all the Pokémon that died are now buried and being aided on their next adventure with Agatha and Grady's help. The Kanto trainers who died are safely aboard the Bullet Train waiting for my return."
"The Johto Vigils will be held in a week's time in Ecruteak" Lance said as they stopped outside the station where a crowd was still gathered. "The burials are taking place as we speak."
"I'll try and get to the vigil," Ash replied, nodding.
"Perhaps it's best you not do," Lance said, getting a confused look on Ash's face. "The feeling amongst the surviving Johto trainers is not something good Ash, particularly to the Kanto contingent."
"We fought and died alongside them, Lance," Ash said, beginning to feel angry. "I'm not particularly bothered about a few people who have an issue with that. I will be there for the vigil."
"No," Lance said firmly "you will not. I will not have the time or energy to try and keep you safe and frankly the opinions and feelings of my people come before yours."
Ash looked at Lance shrewdly with a tilted head. "Speak your mind Lance, it's never stopped you before."
"Fine" he said "the feeling is that this is entirely the fault of Kanto and Johtoians needlessly died in a battle they had no business being in. Something I happen to agree with."
"Oh you do, do you?" Ash asked ignoring the mutters of the big crowd that gathered "are you conveniently forgetting that it was under your watch Lance, yours that Silver escaped Kanto in the first place over a decade ago? YOU were the leader of the G-Men back then and it was under your guidance that you let him go free. It was also you and the rest of the Elite Four that prevented his right hand man Fuji from getting his comeuppance, in fact it was you that relocated him to Lavender Town, was it not? You have known for years now that Silver holed himself up here in Goldenrod City and didn't bother to try and find him so you can blame Kanto all you want Lance, but the truth is it's entirely your fault and you know it.
All of this lies squarely at your feet, not mine. I wasn't even a year old when my father disappeared and you briefly took over the reins of the Kanto League again but it was me that issued the war proclamation fourteen years later that led fifty of my own people here to aid you, twenty of whom died to free this city from his tyranny. I will not have their names blackened to promote regional hypocrisy. So blame who you want Lance, but those of us in the know know the whole truth."
"I think you forget who you're talking to," Lance growled.
"No, I think you're that used to being obeyed that you forget one key thing." Ash said, refuting his point. "I do not work for you. I am not an underling of yours, I am not in your Elite Four and I am certainly not a G-Man. Don't forget Lance I have access to the same documents you have, I know the truth so don't try and pull that shit with me. I have nothing but respect for your role and position and for the people of Johto that gave their lives last week and I will be at that Funeral. It's up to you if you come to the ones in Kanto."
Ash gave him one last disgusted look and walked through the parting crowd and into the station, signalling to the driver to leave and with it he climbed aboard and sat down in the doorway, cross legged staring at the crowd as the doors shut.
An hour and a half later the Bullet Train entered Saffron City to silence. Looking at the time he saw that it was nearly 9 pm now and it was dark outside; however to Ash's amazement the station interior was lit up with candles. Smiling softly he started to help people unload the coffins onto stands. It didn't take as long as it did to load them onto the train but it was still a careful process that was treated with the utmost respect. Ash had never been witness to so much despair and sadness as he had that evening when he saw various families hugging around their departed relatives. Ash, as exhausted as he was, didn't move from his spot on a bench all evening to the point he didn't realise he had fallen asleep. He only realised that when he woke up around 4am and someone had covered him with a blanket.
The next few days were arduous as they involved a lot of planning. Many of the families wanted their loved one buried in their home town, which Ash had no problem with so he arranged for the families to be given a League Alakazam to help with transportation. Nia had done him a great favour a few days ago and retrieved Pikachu who was still in some pain but recovering so he spent the time at her house. Nia had of course helped out where she could but Ash felt it was his responsibility to sort everything out. The Vigil in Lavender Town happened on the following Tuesday 20th November at 3pm and was attended by thousands of people. It was streamed on the television for those who couldn't attend. Ash however was very much there on the fifth row, shockingly sat next to Queen Ilene and her new First Knight, with his mum and dad on his other had been talk about having the dignitaries from across Kanto sitting on the front rows but that was quickly shut down as Ash felt the first few rows should be for those who lost their loved ones. Many didn't show up, likely because the distance was too great but out of respect Ash kept those chairs empty and instead placed the names of the deceased on them. Getting a nudge he saw that the Master of Ceremonies was looking at him expectantly. Sighing he stood up and walked to the front where he took his place at the podium.
"I've been asked as Champion of the Kanto League to say a few words. There will only be a few words as there is nothing I can say to make sense of this situation or to even begin to explain the pain we are all in at this moment. Just under two weeks ago fifty of the bravest souls I have had the pleasure of knowing travelled to Goldenrod City in Johto to liberate a City under the yoke of a madman, hell bent on world domination. Over the years the leagues of Kanto and Johto did what they could to limit the power of Team Rocket until finally they had him trapped. Ordering those men and women to travel to Johto was the hardest decision I have ever had to make and I really hope I never have to do it again as I knew many would likely not make it home but they stood up, despite the inherent danger because they knew it was the right thing to do, to eradicate a group of people who were the scum of the Earth. I know that it is human nature to want to find someone to blame, to make sense of it all but I have to believe they did not die in vain, as I implore you to do the same. I regret that I did not get to know them all personally but I promise you I will remember their names for the rest of my life. For those that can, I want you to stand and then kneel in a minute's silence of those that perished that day, fighting for the lives and freedoms of those that lived in Goldenrod City."
Ash turned around to the pictures that had candles next to them of all twenty people that died and knelt, bowing his head. He didn't look behind him as he could hear the congregation do the same behind him.
It wasn't long before people started leaving as many had a lot of travelling to do to get back to their towns, Pewter City was a long way away from Lavender Town after all. He briefly shook Brocks hand and hugged Forrest thanking him for his part in the war in sending his best apprentices, he knew Forrest had felt left out but Ash would much rather him be angry and alive than dead any day of the week.
"Ash" Grady said from the side, motioning him over "I need to talk to you when you have the time."
"I'm planning on heading to Johto tomorrow to go to their vigil" Ash said looking around "you're welcome to come with me. I believe Evelyn is organising the Vigil with Morty."
"What time are you leaving?"
"I'm getting the train to Goldenrod along with Lorelei and Agatha at 1pm" Ash said "the train should be back up and running on Sunday so we have it to ourselves."
"I'll meet you there then." he said walking away.
"Ash?" a voice asked, making him close his eyes and turn around.
"What's up Ilene?" he asked her, nodding briefly at her First Knight "Francesca correct?"
"Yes" she said, nodding, looking at him strangely.
"Speak" Ash said commandingly, making her eyes widen.
"I was just wondering, I've heard stories of your strength but your aura…it's quiet." She said.
"Ah" Ash said, chuckling "yes, I have been banned from using aura for a while. My arm was stabbed during the fight with Silver and the bones shattered. They had to be knit together and pinned so I can't use aura for a few weeks to give it a chance to heal and not exacerbate the issue. Of course I can't switch it off fully but I can easily limit what gets to that arm."
"You can do that?" She asked shocked and looking around at Lucario who didn't say anything.
"Well yeah," Ash said "I've always been able to do that since I was six."
"That's not normal" she muttered looking confused.
"I'm not normal" Ash said laughing "now, what can I do for you?"
"Our friend has so far held out" Ilene said "but I don't think it will be for much longer. They have given us a lot of information so far but not the information we need."
"I doubt you will get it out of them" Ash said "I suspect their mind has been shielded by a higher tier Legendary or even someone not of this world. Unfortunately I'm one of few people who even believe that's possible at the moment. Keep me updated won't you? If they've not sung by the full moon I'll pay them a visit myself and see what I can get out of them. What of their Pokémon?"
"In a room where their powers are limited and they cannot escape" Lucario said, getting a nod from Ash.
"I need to go." Ash said "I fear tomorrow is going to be just as long as today."
His mum and dad spent the evening with him talking about his plans and consoling him, trying to help him with his guilt.
"It's not supposed to be easy, Ash" Red said, "I wrestled with it many times but it never gets any easier."
The next day Lorelei arrived with Hailee and Satoshi via Alakazam and met up with Ash. Red and Delia had decided to wait in Saffron City for Ash to return tomorrow so heading to the train station they met Grady who was sitting on a bench next to Agatha.
"Afternoon" he said, nodding to them.
"Wow" Ash said as he entered the Bullet Train and found that nearly every carriage had been fixed back up inside a week and it looked immaculate. "They have done amazing work getting this back in working condition."
"Ash, I've been hearing a lot of talk" Lorelei said as they took seats in the first carriage, "there's chatter that you won't be very welcomed here today."
"I know" Ash said nodding "I was told as much by Lance when he tried to blame Kanto for what happened."
"He did what?" Grady asked growling. "How dare he!"
"That doesn't surprise me" Agatha said shaking her aged head "he's never liked taking accountability for his actions."
"I set the record straight" Ash said nodding at her words, "he didn't like it but he couldn't refute that he played a big part in this being delayed for a decade. Playing the blame game gets us nowhere but everyone is looking for someone to blame and I'm an easy target because I'm new and young. It doesn't usually bother me, and normally I'd take it on the chin but not this time. I was a few months old when Silver was first cornered and he escaped."
"We had no idea about Mewtwo Ash" Lorelei said from her seat. "We thought he'd escaped and left Team Rocket when he destroyed Cinnabar. No one could have imagined he'd appear to help them out. Don't forget we found out when you did the day you attacked Rota that Fuji had always been in control of it."
"Him" Ash corrected "and I know. But very few others have been allowed to know that information which is what has created resentment. So much has been deemed classified that people don't know what to believe anymore."
"For good reason" Lorelei said "I don't agree with a lot of what we had to hold back but we couldn't let people know what truly happened in Cinnabar. Not after Fuji was released, they would have lynched him in the street."
"And how is that a bad thing?" Ash asked incredulously.
"It would have been justifiable homicide as far as I'm concerned" Agatha said looking at her.
"Because it would have made a mockery of the justice system." She replied "and possibly started a civil war into the bargain, one we had very little hope of quelling without using deadly force."
"That justice system was already a shambles" Grady said "you let a known mass murderer go free."
"And live in my town" Agatha said darkly.
"I had nothing to do with it" Lorelei said, shaking her head, "nor did Bruno, Agatha or Lance but we had sworn oaths that we would keep the peace. Fujis lawyer may have been a weasel but he was a very successful weasel who argued that he was doing as he was ordered under threat of death. Red had told us that he had evidence that would refute that but needed to check on something first. Silver appearing in Viridian was not by accident, we believe he was there to spring Fuji but Blue spotted him first and followed him, Red then rescued Blue and then disappeared and along with it any evidence he claimed to have. He never uploaded it to any of our files so we could use it so Fuji got off but because the evidence we did submit was damning he was put under permanent house arrest. The idea was that Agatha would keep an eye on him but she wanted nothing to do with it and lived permanently at the League, ignored any orders from Blue and Charles and was genuinely a nuisance. Our relationship was never the same after that. Mine and Bruno's nearly didn't survive either in the aftermath. It was me that reminded them of the oaths we took and that we couldn't make sure nothing like that happened again if we weren't in a position to make change."
"Yes" Agatha said "one of my more idiotic decisions."
"And what changes did you make?" Grady asked gruffly.
"Many" Lorelei said "most of which you'll likely never feel or be given clearance to know but we weren't idle."
"So nothing to actually show then" he replied, chuckling mirthlessly.
Agatha rattled his leg with her cane, getting a yelp and an angry look.
"Just because you cannot see them doesn't mean they aren't there" Agatha said "I would have thought being a Ghost Type trainer you of all people would understand this."
Lorelei kept silent knowing that there was very little she could say to convince him that she had been a great asset to the League and trainers over the years. He had obviously already made his mind up so she didn't feel the need to try and change it.
"You'll find out in the next few years anyway" Ash said getting their attention "the documents are set to be unsealed next summer so everyone will know what happened regarding the Cinnabar Incident."
"What?" Lorelei asked shocked "how?"
"The deal you made was only for fifteen years" Ash said "after which it becomes public property and everyone can find out just what happened. It's why Lance is so keen to try and find a scapegoat before he retires and get the whole of Johto on his side, it's also why he wanted to become Champion again so desperately after my fathers disappearance so he could legally hide the documents as it does not put anyone back then in a good light. It would destroy not only his reputation but the entirety of the Elite Four and Kanto League Boards too. The majority of the board from that time have passed on now, but their families will certainly feel the aftermath and it's why I've been trying to legally ensure that the public knows as much as possible now, to lessen the blow when it comes out. Contrary to what you might think Grady, Lorelei, Bruno and Lance are good people. They just had shit decisions to make."
"The people of Kanto might not agree," Grady said.
"I know," he said, "but we cannot afford to be divided, especially with what's to come."
"What do you mean?" Lorelei asked.
"You weren't almost kidnapped for no reason Lorelei" Ash said "and I was attacked at the League for a reason too. Agatha has also been attacked over the last year, along with my father. Do not mention that to my mother by the way. I was planning on meeting my Gym Leaders and Elite Four after the Silver Conference to tell them this but there is another war brewing, one that will force people to choose a side, possibly facing off from their own family members. There is a reason I was created, and there is a reason I am being forced to quell the Legendaries and get them on my side because if I don't then the deaths will be ten times what was seen in Goldenrod City should they choose to oppose us. So far I have the Kanto and Johto Legendaries on my side but that could easily change if they see the other regions' Legendaries reject me. They will look after each other first and foremost."
"How soon are we thinking?" Grady asked, concerned.
"In the next ten years" Ash replied "It's one of the reasons I wanted to travel the regions and become Pokémon Master. I need the Legendaries there to see me doing good things for them as the main issue is that they are no longer being governed by the All-Maker. Her disappearance has set them free so until she returns and can get them back in line they can do what they want so at some point in the next few years I will have to actively hunt her down."
"You're still claiming there's an All-Maker then?" Grady asked, getting a nod from Ash "I ain't never seen nor heard proof of this mythical being."
"You have" Ash said "but your mind has been wiped, as was everybody else's in June. It's what makes this so frustrating because if that hadn't have happened I'd have more people willing to listen. Here, have a read of this and tell me what's strange." he finished getting out his laptop and loading up his notes on Arceus "read it out loud."
Grady retrieved glasses from his pocket and sat next to Ash, with Lorelei looking over his shoulder as they read his notes from the first meeting with Arceus to New Island. Ash chuckled whenever they would mention Arceus as all they did was skip over her name.
"Ok" Grady said confusedly, "but there's nothing there other than what seems to be a well researched theory."
"That's because you skipped her name every time you read it aloud," Ash said, taking the laptop back and doing a filter. "See, her name appears 108 times in that document."
"It's blank," Lorelei said, putting her own glasses away.
"No, it's not" Ash said grimly "but it is to you three. In fact the only ones who would be able to read this and not skip her name can be counted on one hand. The Green Wave wiped your minds of everything pertaining to her which is very irritating as she's incredibly important."
"So why not you?" Grady asked.
"I have no idea" Ash said "possibly because of the prophecies I'm part of, maybe because I was her Champion for a while. Maybe being the most gifted aura user in the world helped me. I'm not sure as Celebi is unhappy with me, Dialga won't speak to humans and Mewtwo told me his mind was his own to mess with, not anyone else. So, other than us four I don't know of anyone else that remembers her."
"It can't be a coincidence the Lord of Time and his deputy had a hand in this" Agatha said darkly "I don't like the idea of forcibly having memories removed."
"If what he says is true" Grady said.
"He is speaking the truth" Agatha said "it's well known to us Grady about the reason the Lord of the Death was banished and why he inhabits the Distortion World. Not even Yveltal and Xerneas dare mess with him and he is too powerful to be contained by just The Lord and Lady of Time and Space so it makes a lot of sense that there is an All-Maker governing them who is able to keep the three in check."
"I have no reason to believe you're a liar Ash" Grady said, nodding at Agatha's words "But I need proof before I will agree to anything."
"I can get that" Ash said "I'm the same way. But back to the war, it's coming and it's coming very soon which is why I need to unite the regions as best I can but I won't do it at the expense of my own region."
"Good" Grady said "There's already talk of dissension, especially after what Laura did, or rather didn't do."
"That will be dealt with" Ash said "I just have other more important issues to deal with at the moment and I'm trying to sort out everything on my own. It's tough going."
"How do you plan on 'dealing' with her?" Grady asked.
"At the minute I'm unsure" Ash said sighing "my first thought was to sack her immediately as she disobeyed a direct order. However my orders caused the deaths of twenty of our people, I'm certain some of the apprentices will quit in the aftermath so I'm not sure I can afford to just get rid of her. I spoke to Katie this morning and she said Laura hasn't left her side since she was airlifted to Olivine Hospital. I plan on visiting her after the vigil is over with to see how she's doing and to see what I can do to help her out."
"What happened to her?" Lorelei asked concerned.
"She took a blade from a Scyther straight down her back" Ash said grimacing "she lost a lot of blood and was lucky that she was found and teleported immediately to Olivine City or she'd have likely died."
"Ouch" came the reply along with the winces.
"Anyway Grady, you told me you needed to speak to me?" Ash said looking at him.
"Yes" he said "it occurred to me that you wouldn't have a clue on raising a Ghost Type as they're not like regular Pokémon."
"I don't have a Ghost Type" Ash said looking confused as he withdrew his Pokégear and had a look. Strangely there was a new Pokémon there but it was blanked out. "What…"
"As you can see you very much do" Agatha said grinning "It's just not been decided on what Ghost type you're getting. Grady told me that his Gengar felt a presence that day in Goldenrod that he had never come across before. And there are hundreds of eyewitnesses claiming a horrible screeching was heard that stopped every battle because they received such a harrowing and despairing feeling that clawed at their soul. That could only come from a Ghost Type."
"One who does not yet know their path" Grady said.
"Yet knew enough to aid you" Agatha said "and given the recent death in your team it could only be your Typhlosions soul who aided you."
"Typhlosion?" Ash asked concerned "her ball has remained inactive since the day your Gengar and Dusknoir helped her move on."
"Do you know this for certain?" Agatha asked "after all you've not been home since the battle and I only warned you that morning that her soul had finished its preparations."
Looking confused at his Pokégear he rang Zoe and had a quick chat with her. "Apparently her Pokéball has disappeared" he said as he hung up.
"What do you remember Ash?" Grady asked looking serious, an action Agatha mirrored when he described the phenomenon on top of the Plaza. When he finished they looked at each other, having a silent conversation. "I suspect we may have to investigate the scene to get a better understanding but I really hope we don't have a malignant Ghost wandering the streets."
"What do we do if that's the case?" Hailee asked from her seat. She had been listening to the conversation with rapt attention from the start and was very worried as her parents could be in trouble from the Kanto population, and her mentor Ash from the Johto ones. The topic of Ghosts seemed to be much safer, that was until Grady mentioned the malignant ghost.
"We have Ghost Hunters for a reason" he said grimacing "you call them Aura users."
"Really?" she said looking interested.
"It's not a fun job" Ash said, taking over and hopefully dissuading his apprentice from that line of thought "The Ghost Hunters are an extremely rare breed of person. They are more of a subsection of Aura Guardian to be honest and it has been deemed one of the few corruptions of aura that we allow because it's not something we have a hand in. They go through a change in their personality, they lose their names and identities, they cut off all contact from anyone who may know them and they are stricken from every record possible. Even their Pokémon are trained to specialise in dealing with them. For all intents and purposes they don't exist however only a few know who they really are and how to get in touch with them. They are the only people other than myself who know how to mask their aura to the point its undetectable. It's not a job, it's a calling and those that undertake it are some of the bravest but also craziest people you will ever have the misfortune to meet."
"Wow" she said as she processed it.
"They have to be" Ash said looking at her "when you go on your journey and meet Ghost Type trainers you will immediately notice one similarity between them all. They are all in some ways not all there in the head. Some have little quirks that you may not notice but their personalities border on psychotic. That isn't an insult by the way, they need to be to cope with what Ghost Type Pokémon put them through on a daily basis."
"Being a Ghost Type trainer is also in many areas seen as a calling as they come to you, you do not choose that lifestyle." Agatha said seriously, "and you'll find your moral compass is not the same as a normal trainer due to the nature of the Pokémon we interact with. Every Ghost Pokémon was once one that was alive and is now dead, all of them Hailee and the transition from being alive to then becoming a Pokémon is not a nice or even palatable one. They all find ways to cope with the trauma of dying, many are pranksters, many are serious. Some are even malicious but they all answer to the Lord of Death, not their trainers. Giratina and Marshadow maintain their rule over them with absolute authority and will not care about destroying any Ghost Type that disobeys them."
"So why don't they deal with the malicious ones?" Hailee asked.
"That's not their job" Ash said "their job is to maintain the balance between Pokémon and humans. They do so by calling on their subjects to directly contact the Ghost Hunters. As I said we have no control over them once they become a Hunter, they answer to the liaisons of Giratina and Marshadow and they are ruthless. Even I would think twice about messing with a Hunter as they have the authority to call upon every Ghost Pokémon in the vicinity to aid them."
"It sounds like an incredibly lonely life" Lorelei said, hugging her daughter close to her and kissing the top of her head.
"It's quite normal for Aura users" Ash said shrugging his shoulders "we grow up knowing we may be alone for life so not much really changes."
The rest of the journey was done in silence until they pulled into the station in Goldenrod City. Ash helped set up Satoshi's pram and began to push him while Lorelei grabbed her bags. Walking out of the station she was grabbed by Agatha who looked concerned.
"Something isn't right" she said looking around and sending out her Gengar and Dusknoir attracting a lot of attention. "Go find it, my children."
"What's the issue?" Ash said, his hand drifting to his Pokébelt and grabbing Sneasels' ball releasing him.
"Whatever was here is in pain" Grady said releasing a very strange looking Pokémon shaped like a sword holding a shield in one ghostly arm.
"Aegislash, Pokédex number 681, the Royal Sword Pokémon and the final evolution of Honedge. Apparently, it can detect the innate qualities of leadership. According to legend, whoever it recognizes is destined to become king. Generations of kings were attended by these Pokémon, which used their spectral power to manipulate and control people and Pokémon."
"Wow" Ash said looking at it "You know I've never actually seen an Aegislash. I battled a Honedge a while ago but not its final form. I would be quite honoured to spar against one."
"Aegislash is certainly a Pokémon that lives up to its reputation." Grady said, chuckling as they carried on walking down the street and walking out onto the high street where they found several bits of construction going on to the street and the buildings around it. The scars were still there from the battles but Ash felt they would likely be there for a long time to come. Ash didn't know how to feel given the last time he was here, just a few days ago now he had an argument with the Johto Champion so he didn't know what the reaction would be from the public. He hadn't heard a thing either from any newspapers on the matter which he didn't know if it was a good thing or not but the looks he were getting from the people he walked past didn't seem overtly hostile. No one had come up to him though but that was likely because there were two Pokémon flanking the procession which prevented anyone from getting too close so when they finally reached the Plaza it had been an unremarkable walk.
"It's here," Grady said, looking up at the tower "whatever it is."