Chapter Text
There was a sickening crunch underneath Ash's feet, though he didn't dare look down to see what it was. On his shoulder, he heard Pikachu whine, and if his hair wasn't standing on-end already, it would have been now.
This was the first time that he had led the G-Men on a mission like this, and it made his gut twist. Over and over again, he insisted that he wasn't built for this. Yeah, he could face down legendary Pokémon, and he had dealt with regional crime rings many different times, but this was different.
He couldn't goof up. He couldn't make a mistake. Every instinct he had told him to run ahead, to check it out without getting the small team of men and women with him in danger. That was usually what he did.
This team had his back, he knew that, but it was different with his friends. Even when he went off on his own to do something stupid, he knew they wouldn't judge him, that they'd support him.
Of course, his friends also didn't come armed with rifles. That was something he was immensely uncomfortable about, and refused to have any type of weapon himself. He had his Pokémon, and though they didn't know it, he had his Aura. Again, they didn't know that, so instead of actually leading up front, he was walking in the middle of everyone else.
The cave smelled of something sickly, though he wasn't exactly sure what. Not that he really wanted to know, but they'd probably find out. As the Kanto Champion, he was also in charge of the Kanto G-Men, which was ten kinds of crap that he was trying to fix behind the scenes. Until then though, things kept running as they were and he was in charge.
How Lance had managed to deal with two regions for over twenty years was beyond him.
Ash closed his eyes for a moment, and that's when he felt it. He came to a stop and was about to call out to those with him, but it was too late. A man came out from a side part of the cave, crashing into one of the armed men. There was a yell and the sound of loud guns.
The sound seemed to bounce around in Ash's head. None of them were hurt, but the rogue Team Rocket grunt that they had tracked (who had been causing some trouble in the area lately) was injured and now unconscious.
Ash rubbed his fingers together, trying to keep himself calm. They still had to check for the weapons and stolen Pokémon that were supposed to be in this cave. They still had a job to do.
At least in the dark no one noticed his hands shaking.
He held it together through the trip back to the Indigo League. He held it together through the trip back home. Honestly, it was probably Pikachu's constant presence – his cooing and gentle pats on the head and cheek – that kept Ash from freaking out before hand.
The second that he walked through the door and saw Misty, who was very focused on a documentary about water Pokémon, he lost it.
He must have made some kind of noise, because she jumped and stared at him with wide eyes. A split second later, she had thrown herself off of the couch and grabbed a hold of him. She said something, but he didn't respond as he put his head on her shoulder. He was a crying, shaking mess that could still hear the loud bang of a gun. It took everything he had not to look at Misty's abdomen and the scar that still lingered there.
"I can't do this," Ash choked out. "I can't."
"What happened?"
"I just…the G-Men. I can't—I can't."
Misty didn't shush him, which he was thankful for. She let him crack, but made sure to hold onto him tight enough so that he wouldn't fall to pieces. That was really all that he could ask of her.
…
Blastoise appeared next, and though it would have made sense for her to go back and have Pikachu take on this beast, Ria felt confident that she could take on this one too.
Without waiting for Ash to give her instructions, Ria used her Extreme Speed to rush forward again. Blastoise used his canons to unleash powerful torrents of water that Ria dodged with ease.
'Wait!' Ash mentally called out to her. 'He's not aiming for you!'
The entire arena filled with water, even the deep tunnels that Garchomp had created. Ria jumped on top of one of the rock piles that had been created, eyeing the water before her. It wasn't deep, but it would certainly slow her down slightly.
Who was she kidding? She'd be fine.
Ria took the opportunity to jump down and rush at Blastoise. An Aura Sphere formed in her hands as she neared him.
Then he withdrew into his shell.
Ria stumbled forward, coming to a stop. She still let her Aura Sphere fly, but it did nothing to the thick shell.
'Ria,' Ash spoke to her.
'No! I can do this!' she insisted stubbornly. 'I just need to get him out.'
"Luca," Ria spoke out loud to the Blastoise. "Cari lu ca lucario." Come out you coward.
Ash bit his lip as Ria taunted the Pokémon against his better judgment, like a stubborn teenager that refused to listen to her father. Ash was well aware that he could be dense at times, but not when it came to battles. Whatever Red was doing, Ria taunting Blastoise had to be a terrible idea.
"Stop!" Ash said out loud. He took a deep breath. 'Wait a minute. Take a knee.'
Ria didn't want to do that at all, but chose to trust him. She bounded back to the rock she had been waiting on earlier, kneeling down but ready to jump at a moment's notice.
Ash eyed Blastoise. He wasn't storing energy, nor did hiding in his shell heal anything (not that he needed to be healed yet). No, he was just waiting and biding his time. Something Ash didn't like at all. They had to flush him out of there somehow. Ria knew how to harness a Dragon Pulse, and could possibly try that.
Ria took that as an order rather than him just thinking of possibilities. She shot forward again, ready to attack.
"Use your shield!" Ash yelled. His pulse spiked the second she started moving, knowing that it was a mistake.
It was too late.
Powerful torrents of water slammed into her as Blastoise unleashed his Hydro Pump. She was thrown into the air, but managed to land rather neatly rather than just skidding across the wet ground. Her pride at this didn't last long as the icy wind and snow of a Blizzard surrounded her, freezing the ice around her feet and trapping her there.
Ria gathered energy in her hand to break her feet free, but she was too slow. Blastoise stomped on the ground and it began to shake beneath her feet. She cried out in alarm as the ground split and shifted under her, a spike of earth rushing up and slamming into her. She broke free of the ice, but was hit by the shifting again and again.
Panic erupted inside of her, and Ash was saying something to her, but she couldn't focus on that. She scrambled to use her shield, but landed on another part of the shifting ground head-first.
Spots of black surrounded her vision, and shame rushed through her as she lost consciousness.
'I'm sorry.'
Ash was quick to recall Ria. He didn't want to feel bitter about his Pokémon. He loved her to death, having raised her from an egg in a way that he didn't with other Pokémon that he had hatched. Their connection was different, and she was different. That made her like a stubborn child that didn't always listen, so he was a little bit bitter.
He grimaced as he moved, ribs protesting. He had a headache now too. They were both down to two Pokémon, but it had taken three of his to bring down Venusaur, and Blastoise had just used three ridiculously powerful attacks in a row to take down Ria, who had been fully energized.
He stared at the utterly destroyed arena. No doubt Red would have to do some work to seriously fix it up when they were done. Ash stared at the water that surrounded even his feet. It was smart. He supposed that Red and Blastoise thought that it would discourage him from using Pikachu's electric attacks so that he wouldn't get shocked too.
Ash wanted to laugh at that. Red should have known by now just how little he cared about putting himself in harm's way (not to mention he could shield himself).
He nodded pointedly towards the ground that had risen up from the Earthquake. Pikachu knew exactly what to do. He rushed into the arena, jumping from rock to rock, staying above the water. He didn't stop moving, circling around Blastoise again and again.
The water-type Pokémon once again stomped on the ground, shattering parts of the stone and causing others to rise out of the ground. Pikachu was quick to use it to his advantage instead of it being his natural weakness.
With increased speed, he jumped from stone to stone, avoiding being crushed by the dirt or stumbling into the water. It was difficult, but at the same time, not at all tiring to Pikachu. He knew that he was so much stronger than he looked. He just needed to keep going, because Pikapi had a plan and they were going to see it through.
Though Pikachu couldn't actually hear Pikapi's words in his mind like Ria (a lot of good it did her), he definitely had the strongest bond with his trainer. What Pikapi wanted came to his mind very clearly, unlike some of the others.
The fur on his tail once again turned into gleaming iron as he jumped through the air, spinning around and hitting Blastoise's face before quickly launching himself out of the way, using his superior speed to stay out of the way.
Pikachu did this twice more, though on the last time Blastoise almost managed to hit him with a jet of water.
"Come on," Ash mumbled under his breath as he watched the battle carefully. He knew that Red was weighing his options too. Pikachu might have been much smaller, and unevolved, but that didn't mean anything in the long run. Pikachu was powerful and had both the type and speed advantage. Ash let his eyes flicker from the Pokémon to Red. "Come on, do it. It's your only option."
Red muttered something that Ash couldn't hear, but apparently Blastoise could. The water-type turned towards Pikachu, who held his ground for a moment.
Blastoise unleashed an icy attack of freezing wind and snow. Pikachu was quick to jump from his spot, running away from the Blizzard as quickly as he could.
Pikachu could feel the ice nipping at his tail as he hurled himself from rock to rock. It was only when he got back to the place that he started, having ran around Blastoise in a circle, that he dodged behind a rock and waited for the attack to end.
When the wind died down, Pikachu peeked around the corner and saw that all of the water, except for a tiny pool around Blastoise's feet, had frozen solid. Pikachu's ears perked up and a smirk identical to the one Pikapi was sporting speak across his face. "Chuu."
Electricity surrounded Pikachu, and he pushed himself off of the rocks, using the ice to gain speed. He felt like he was flying at Blastoise.
The larger Pokémon unleashed his Hydro Cannons at Pikachu, who simply narrowed his eyes, leapt into the air, and spun around rapidly. The electricity that had been pulsing off of his body surrounded him like a shield, allowing him to cut through the water with ease.
Electricity pouring off of him, tail still iron, Pikachu spun around and slammed himself into Blastoise's face. The large Pokémon tried to avoid the attack, but ended up stumbling over the edge of the ice that surrounded him, falling backwards and hitting the ground.
Blastoise was quick to hide in his shell.
"Get him buddy!" Ash yelled out loud.
Pikachu snickered as he jumped into Blastoise's shell and unleashed a powerful thunderbolt, the shell preventing it from rushing through the ice and water to the their trainers.
Pikachu jumped out of the shell as quickly as he jumped in. Blastoise came out after him hauling his fist back to slam into the smaller Pokémon's side. Pikachu latched onto his arm and attacked him with Thunder again.
"Pi!" Pikachu squeaked in surprise as he was tossed away. Pain hit him hard as he slammed through some of the rocks, and then skidded across the ice until he stopped in front of Pikapi.
"Pikachu!" Ash cried out in alarm.
"Pi!" Pikachu responded as he pushed himself up onto all fours. It hurt, but he gritted his teeth and got back up, glaring at the Blastoise who had fallen to the ground after tossing Pikachu.
Ash narrowed his eyes at Blastoise, who seemed to be trying to push himself back up. He held his breath, waiting on giving Pikachu another command. There was no point in attacking another Pokémon if it was already beaten, but he still wanted to remain on his guard just in case.
Finally, Blastoise slumped forward unconscious.
"Yeah!" Ash cried out, and Pikachu cheered just as excitedly.
…
"Pi pika, Pikapi!" Pikachu said excitedly while pointing at a sign above a shop.
Ash looked at it. It was a nice little building, though the business was clearly new. There was room to grow and improve, but it was a great way to start, especially in a place like Viridian City.
Honestly, it amused him a bit that this was where he ended up. Hiding in plain sight. It was really smart.
A happy jingle rang through the air as he pushed the glass door open. There was no one inside, but there were plush chairs in a small waiting area.
There was a man hunched over a tall desk, his periwinkle hair pulled back into a short ponytail. He was typing at a computer, green eyes focused as he said, "Just one moment please."
There was a Meowth facing away from him, apparently counting a little cash box.
"Sorry about that, I just had to finish up an order form," the man said cheerfully, not yet looking up. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Not exactly."
The man's eyes shot up, going comically wide when they met his own. He gasped dramatically, waving his hands in the air. "It's the Twerp!"
Ash snickered as Meowth jumped and spun around, eyes locking with Pikachu's, who simply waved (though Ash could feel the sarcasm). A head of magenta hair appeared from around the corner as Jessie appeared, looking as equally flabbergasted as James did. "Twerp! What are you doing here?"
Ash leaned his arms on the desk. "Champion Twerp, actually." Even if he didn't have his aura, he would have been able to tell just how nervous they suddenly were. "You know, you guys were really hard to track down."
Jessie walked forward, putting her hands on her hips. "Oh, and why did you track us down? We have a deal with the Pokémon League—"
"Lance," Ash corrected.
"Wha?"
"You had a deal with Lance," he replied nonchalantly. "Not me. I'm the Champion in Kanto. Not him, and I mean, you did stalk me for nearly eight years."
All three of them stared at him with suddenly horrified eyes. It took all his willpower to not laugh. Instead, he kept a stern expression on his face. "That's why I wanted to come here." They were literally sweating. He really shouldn't be getting this type of amusement from them but come on. It was Jessie, James, and Meowth.
His serious façade vanished, replaced with the large smile that had been threatening to take hold this entire time. "I wanted to make sure that you were okay, and to thank you."
"Huh?" All three of them said together.
Ash shrugged and motioned to Pikachu. "I mean, you did try to steal Pikachu a lot—"
"Cha!" Pikachu agreed with a stern expression.
"—And a lot of other Pokémon," Ash continued. "You put us in some really bad situations, and teamed up with other bad guys, and stalked a child across a ton of regions – which is really creepy guys come on." He shook his head at their confused looks, because none of that sounded like something he should be thanking them for. "But, when it really mattered, you always did the right thing. You saved my life loads of times – you helped save the world more than once even if you didn't really know it. After what you did with Yung and Giovanni…I wanted to thank you."
Meowth looked down towards the floor. "I gots some dust in my eye."
"So, we're not in trouble?" Jessie asked slowly, while James looked like he was struggling to find the right words to say.
Ash chuckled and shook his head. "No. Like I said, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Good or bad, you were a big part of my life." He snorted. "You were around more consistently than anyone I traveled with. So yeah, I wanted to thank you. I hope your Pokémon spa works for you. You deserve a second chance."
He ducked his head down a little bit. This shouldn't be so hard. It was just Team Ro—it was just Jessie, James, and Meowth.
"I also wanted to say goodbye properly," he admitted. "I didn't get the chance to at the Tree of Beginning. I—it'd be bad for me to keep coming back here. It would draw attention from the wrong kind of people from both sides of this mess and we all know it." He honestly wanted to give them a chance to talk, but he needed to get everything out now. He took a deep breath and looked up. "I'm glad you guys found something of your own."
James finally broke, tears falling down his cheeks as he lunged forward and hugged Ash tightly. Ash yelped with surprise, as did Pikachu. A moment later, Jessie and Meowth were there too.
They stayed like that for a few moments before Ash pulled away (double-checking to make sure Pikachu was there, just in case). "I have to go deal with the Viridian Gym. I just—I guess – see you." He didn't actually want to say goodbye. It felt too permanent, and who knew if they would pop up in his life in the future. He surely didn't.
"Seeya around, Twerp," Meowth said to him.
"Oh, and take care of the original Twerpette too," Jessie added with a flip of her hair. "Women need to be cherished after all."
Ash snorted. "I will." He turned around to walk out the door.
His hand was pressed against the glass when James said, "Hey, Twerp?"
He turned around to look at them.
"Prepare for trouble."
"And make it double."
Ash and Pikachu both laughed at that.
…
Their small celebration was cut short as a strange noise reached Ash. It wasn't something that he actually ever thought he'd hear.
Red was laughing. Not even just a little bit, nor was it cruel. It was a genuine laugh right from his belly.
The man wiped at his eyes and nodded at Ash. "Since becoming the Kanto Champion, no one has ever beaten five of my Pokémon before. No one has ever had more Pokémon still standing than I have."
Ash could sort of understand in a small scale. Ever since he had defeated Lance, absolutely no one came close to beating him in practice battles, or the couple exhibition ones. It had been a very long time for Red though.
"Now we decide," Red spoke, once again surprising Ash. He held up a Pokéball. "Who has the greater strength. Who has the greater tactics. Who wins. Who loses. Who is the real Master."
"Pika!" Pikachu said, tensing on all fours.
"Come back." Pikachu looked around at Ash as he continued to stare at Red. He could still feel Pikachu's surprise though. "It's okay. Come on."
Reluctantly, Pikachu moved back to Ash's side, looking up at him as he took another Pokéball off of his belt.
Ash had known this was coming as soon as Red had figured out what Pokémon he had with him. What better way to see who was truly stronger?
Two Pokéballs sailed into the air, breaking open and unleashing beams of bright white light. The lights formed into two massive forms with orange scales and flaming tails.
The two Charizard eyed one another, almost identical in every way. Ash could see their different auras to tell them apart, but he also noticed that Red's Charizard had paler scales. He was older. They could use that.
Red suddenly held up his wrist, pushing back the gloves that he was wearing. Ash blinked with surprise when he recognized what was on the Master's wrist. A mega ring like the one he used to own, a keystone glimmering in it, golden light bursting from it.
Ash's eyes shot toward Red's Charizard, locking onto the blue gemstone as light started to surround the Pokémon.
Charizard looked back at him, and Ash's hand went up to his keystone, still in the necklace Tracey had given Misty for the stone after Ash's mega ring had been crushed.
"Fine," Ash muttered as his own keystone began to glow. "If that's the way you want to play." His own Charizard was also surrounded by light.
When the lights faded, the black and orange Charizard snarled at one another. Everything was tense as they simply glared.
The roars that both unleashed seemed to shake the mountain itself, and both Pokémon launched themselves into the air, flying around each other in aggressive circles.
"Wait," Ash mumbled under his breath, pushing the feeling to his Charizard. He knew how impatient his Pokémon could be. "Wait for him first."
Maybe impatience was a Charizard thing, or maybe Red's was just excited to be able to battle, but he lashed out first, blue fire heading towards Ash's Charizard.
The blue flames didn't at all impress Charizard. Sure, this other guy was older and powerful, but that didn't mean all that much. He shot around the fire, aiming his now razor-sharp wings at the opponent. Pride rushed through him as the other Charizard growled and hissed as his own wings took damage.
Ash watched from the ground as the two Pokémon charged at one another over and over again, neither one of them bothering to use their flames, but both resorting to claws and teeth when they got the opportunity.
For a moment, Ash was staring up at a dark sky, watching a Charizard with dark red stripes attack his own. An unsettling feeling rushed through him as he blinked and came back to the present.
It wasn't the same thing. It wasn't.
Ash's Charizard managed to grab a hold of Red's, swinging him down towards the ice. The heat that was coming off of both of the Pokémon had already started melting the ice. Luckily, Charizard X managed to hit the ice and not the water.
"Overheat!" Red called out, and his Charizard X followed his instructions without hesitation.
Ash gasped and covered his face as the Charizard X first melted the flames and then the heat actually evaporated the water, sending steam in all directions.
He was already warm from the stress of battle, but this was far too hot, even at the top of the tallest mountain in Kanto. He shrugged off his warm jacket, leaving it on the ground beside him, and narrowed his eyes at the field. It was hard to see anything.
Of course, it wasn't the first time Red used a trick like this.
Ash closed his eyes and breathed out. He focused on the aura pulsing from the very earth around him, giving him almost an outline of the entire environment on his closed eyelids. He could see Pikachu standing beside him anxiously, he could see Red, completely focused on the Pokémon, and he could see Red's Charizard still standing on the ground, his own Charizard hovering in the air, judging from how calm he was, the steam hadn't reached him.
Red's Charizard was doing something. Ash couldn't actually see it, he could only see aura's energy, but he could see the shift in Charizard X's personal aura. It was charging some kind of other power.
Charizard snorted out through his nose and got an impression of warning and warmth from his trainer. He knew exactly what was coming.
Ash's eyes snapped open. Red and blue fire slammed into one another, painfully hot shockwaves rushing through the arena. Pikachu cried out in alarm and hid behind him, while Ash closed his eyes and held his hat on.
The two Charizard were both in the air again, jets of fire being added to their aerial assaults on one another.
"This isn't proving anything," Ash muttered to himself. He eyed them carefully. They seemed fairly matched in speed and size, so neither of them really had any advantage that way. He thought about their typing as megas, but again, neither truly had an advantage against the other. His Charizard was still fire and flying, while Red's was fire and dragon. Still, the physical hits seemed to be hurting his Charizard more. He thought on that for a moment.
Ash blinked. Dragon. He could use that.
"Oh," he muttered. "Charizard! Hide!"
Charizard managed to swerve out of the way of Charizard X, twisting around and flying away from him. He opened his mouth and unleashed waves of dark fog onto the other one, blocking the view far better than the steam had before.
"That's it," Ash muttered before raising his voice. "Now spin him around!" His nerves were far more frayed than he let on over his bonds with Charizard and Pikachu. Sweat was dripping down his forehead from the heat of the battle. They were so close. So very close. They could do this.
Charizard started flying in rapid circles around the smoke, breathing fire as he soared through the air. He went faster and faster until the smoke was one and Charizard X was trapped inside of a fiery hot, fire tornado.
Ash looked back at Red, and not for the first time, he wondered just how the man was communicating with his Pokémon since he never seemed to say much. He had used a few hand gestures, but some things just didn't add up. He knew Red couldn't manipulate or sense Aura, but perhaps he was still slightly more sensitive to it and had similar bonds? Or perhaps he had simply been training with his Pokémon so long that they knew what was going on.
Whatever Red was planning, Ash didn't want to give him a chance to do it. "He's a dragon-type! You know what to do!"
Charizard absolutely did know what to do with a dragon-type Pokémon. His sharp claws seemed to extend, glowing with a vibrant indigo, and he shot through the spiraling flames. He slammed his fist into Charizard X and was out the other side of the flames before the older Pokémon could react.
Smirking at the roar of pain, Charizard shot back through the flames again and again, coming at it from different directions. The flames were starting to die down though, and Charizard X wasn't just going to take being attacked like that. It wasn't what Charizards did.
He lunged through one more time, roaring as Charizard X grabbed a hold of him. He swung him around and towards the ground, slamming him into the already ruined arena with enough force to shake the ground.
"You're okay!" Ash called out to Charizard, knowing that he was still conscious. Conscious, but severely miffed. He silently tried to communicate with Charizard to stay there, that it was okay.
Charizard X flew in the air above them in circles like a Mandibuzz. Without much warning, he streaked towards Charizard.
Ash just watched.
"Pikapi," Pikachu said, nudging his leg.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, and Charizard looked over at him.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu cried out in alarm.
"Roll out of the way and grab him!" Ash yelled. He didn't want there to be any confusion on the commands, not this time. He had no idea what kind of strategy Red was trying to use, but knew that if he wanted to win, now wasn't the time to try to be secretive. Now was the time to communicate clearly to the Pokémon that trusted him so much.
Charizard did as he was told, grabbing Charizard X's arm and swinging him down to the ground, using his own momentum against him to slam him into the crater that Charizard had created moments ago.
Charizard X turned his head around to unleash his flames onto Charizard. He roared, but put his foot on the older Charizard's chest to keep him down.
"Earthquake, but keep it right on him and not spread out!" Ash felt the moment Red pieced together exactly what he was doing.
The Master tensed up and actually yelled his next command. "Charizard! Get out of there and take him down."
That wasn't happening. Charizard lifted Charizard X up a bit and slammed him down at the same time he focused his energy into the earth below him. It started to shake and crack, just like with the Pokémon before him that had used it to ruin the arena.
The entire arena shook as the ground underneath the two fire-types shattered, larger chunks of stone flying up in the air around them. Charizard quickly flew up and slammed the stone pillars down onto Charizard X, aiming for his wings to at least keep him grounded.
Ash held his breath when he saw the ruins of Charizard X's wings, grimacing a little bit. No matter the outcome, he was definitely apologizing later on. "Charizard, Dragon Claw!"
Charizard X used his intense flames to try and deter the other Charizard, but at that point, he wasn't backing off. With glowing claws, he cut through the flames.
Ash wasn't sure when he stopped breathing, but he was pretty sure that his heart also stopped beating in the moment that Charizard's attack connected with Charizard X. His friend quickly swerved out of the way, skidding to a stop in front of Ash, still facing his opponent. He was panting, with so many scratches and cuts on his wings and back that it made Ash wince. He was still standing though, and that counted for something.
Ash, Charizard, and Pikachu all turned their attention to the arena.
Charizard X was trying to push himself up off of the ground and Ash was horrified by the damage that was done. That gash was bleeding, and it was bleeding badly. He could even feel the worry and slight regret from his own Charizard.
The ground crumbled under Charizard X's hand, and the large creature fell down, reverting back to his normal form as he lost consciousness.
…
"I think a lot about the people that died when Team Rocket took over," Ash admitted. He was actually laying on the couch this time. Pikachu wasn't with him either. "It started with that stupid hit list that I was on too. I knew a lot of people on it. Then there was just more and more people dying around me. One of my friends died in my arms. Then Misty almost did the same thing."
He hated to think about it, but he needed to. This was all a part of getting better, and that was ultimately what he wanted to do. It was time to tear the band-aid off, even if it would get him upset.
That was why he didn't want Pikachu with him today.
"What do you think about them specifically?" Doctor Sully asked him curiously. "What goes on in your head?"
"I picture them dying," he admitted. "We don't even know how a lot of them died, so my mind makes up the worst things it can."
"And you feel responsible?"
"Yes," he admitted, still staring at the ceiling. There was what looked like a coffee stain up there but he didn't really want to ask how that happened. "I was the one that was supposed to save the world."
"And you did."
"Not to them."
He could see her slowly nodding her head out of the corner of his eye. Instead of a big talk, or something encouraging, she simply said, "Close your eyes."
Ash glanced over at her briefly before doing what his therapist asked of him.
"Good," he heard her say. "Now I want you to picture them. Picture the people you're thinking about."
And he did. He could see Riley, Kidd, Sheena, Kevin, Clair, Agatha, Leaf's mother, and so many others that he knew who had perished. It was like he was walking through Memorial Hall at the Indigo League, looking at their photographs. Then he pictured Ritchie.
"Do you see them?"
"Yes," he choked out.
"Good," she repeated. "Now I want you to picture them as they were when they were alive." That startled him, and he almost opened their lives. "I want you to see them at the happiest they were that you remember. Can you do that?"
Ash tried, and oddly enough, it wasn't that hard. He could see them, all smiles, triumph, and laughter.
"Those are the faces I want you to picture when you think of them. Their ends were tragic, and that will never change. None of it was your fault though. Team Rocket and all the others were the ones that did that. Those that were kidnapped were tragically blind-sided and taken because they would have fought against Team Rocket. They would have given their all to defeat them however they could. That is the choice that those who died fighting them made. You can mourn them. You can hate Team Rocket for cutting their lives short, but respect their choices. They chose to fight to make the world a better place." She paused. "Surely you can understand?"
"Why me though?" A much younger Ash Ketchum asked. He shook his head and looked down at his bruised, shaking hands. "Why did you choose me?"
Ash's breath caught in his throat as the memory came back.
"I did not."
His fingers, that had been curled into fists, slowly started to relax and open.
"It is true, the destiny touched you even before you were born, but it does not matter. The closest I can describe for what you are is not a Chosen One, but rather the One Who Chooses. The choices are not easy, and they are rarely ever kind."
Arceus had been right, even back then.
"I don't understand."
"It's the choices you make and the life you lead. It's the friends who believe in you. Your life is yours to live, Ash Ketchum. For what makes you the Chosen One, is you."
Ash's eyes snapped open, and tears streaked down his cheeks. A wet laugh escaped him, and he understood.
"We all made our own choices," Ash muttered. "It wasn't just me. We were all the Chosen Ones to save the world in the end, weren't we?"
Doctor Sully didn't answer him, but she didn't have to.
He understood.
…
Red started to say something, but Ash couldn't even hear him. Despite the protest of his aching ribs, and a part of his mind that sounded oddly like Brock reminding him to stick to the rules, he still shot forward.
He skidded to a stop on the ground in front of Red's Charizard, and placed his hand over the wound that was bleeding far too badly. He'd have to praise his Charizard later for his strength, but this was too much. He never wanted to see something like this happen to anyone.
Ash focused on the wound, and the area below his hand started to glow. He was so intently focused on sealing the gaping wound that he didn't even feel his Pokémon coming closer to him, nor did he feel Red approach.
He slowly removed his hands from the wound. There was still a scar there, but that was okay. At least he wasn't bleeding everywhere anymore.
Ash jumped when a second set of hands rested on the scar, and looked up, a bit stunned to see Red so close to him.
The man – his father – stared at him before looking down at his Charizard. "Thank you." He was smiling, and there was a bittersweet sense of pride rolling off of him. "Congratulations."
"What?"
Red chuckled, bemusement mixing with his emotions. "You won."
"What?"
A full-blown laugh escaped Red's lips and a part of Ash had to wonder how long it had been since he laughed like that before today. He looked around at his Pokémon, who were both staring at him with exasperation and pride. "Huh?"
You won. He won. Holy sweet Arceus, he beat Red.
And the first thing he thought to do was make sure that Red's Charizard was okay since it was seriously injured.
Ash laughed, almost hysterically. "I didn't even—I just—I wanted to help him and I didn't even realize—I—wha—" Words were not his friend at the moment.
His whole body jerked as Red reached across Charizard and placed a hand on his shoulder. Ash looked at the hand and then back up at the man before him. Red nodded his head. "That's what let me know that you really do deserve this. I fought my hardest, but this day, you were the better trainer." Red nodded, seemingly content with this outcome, despite how he had tried to sabotage Ash in the past. "I see it now. You're what we need. Not me."
Okay, what was with the tears in his own eyes because Ash sure as hell wasn't forgiving Red for everything. He thought about his mother. No, he didn't have to forgive or forget, but he could move on.
Red stood up and returned his Charizard to his Pokéball. He held out a hand to help Ash up. "Congratulations, Inter-Regional Pokémon Master Ketchum."
Holy hell. This was real. It didn't feel real. It felt like he was about to wake up to a broken alarm clock back in his childhood room in Pallet Town. He didn't know when he moved or the tears actually fell down his face, but the next thing he knew, he was both laughing and crying, one arm around Charizard's neck, the other holding Pikachu to him.
Pikachu nuzzled him to the point where it was making a static charge, and Charizard squeezed him so tightly that Ash was sure if his ribs weren't broken before, they were now. He didn't care though. He just hugged them both tightly. Even though Charizard would later deny it, all three of them cried as they laughed.
They weren't the only ones that should be celebrating this victory though. With that thought in mind, Ash looked at Red, who was standing a respectful distance away, giving them their privacy.
"Can I—?" He was so overwhelmed that he couldn't even speak properly, so he motioned to his Pokéballs.
Red nodded his head. "Yes, but come this way." He motioned behind him to the place he had come from. "We should probably inform the other Champions that there's a new Pokémon Master."
A smile spread across Ash's face as the words rushed over him again. A new Pokémon Master. It didn't feel real yet, though he knew it was.
He couldn't wait to tell everyone else.
…
Ash stared down at the rolling hills of Pallet Town. This was where everything had started when he set out to becoming the Pokémon Master nine years ago. Now, there he stood at the edge of the town border, returning as the Master he always said he'd be.
Slowly, he made his way through the trees and the paths, avoiding any of the roads and houses for now. The sun was starting to set anyway, so most people would be at home getting ready for bed. That was just how Pallet Town worked.
He knew that his friends would all be waiting at his home. All of them had gathered there when he left for Mt. Silver in the first place, eagerly waiting to see the outcome of the battle.
As much as Ash wanted to see them and tell them the good news (it really wasn't fair that the Pokémon League got to know first but it did make sense. At least they were keeping it quiet until he told his family on his own), there was somewhere else he had to go first.
The sight of a familiar windmill, Ash sped up. He ducked under the fence and kept going until he saw what he was looking for.
Bulbasaur had been prying two arguing Pokémon (who weren't Ash's in this case) apart before he turned to face them. The Pokémon's eyes went wide, and he could probably feel Ash's excitement. He cried out happily, bounding over into Ash's arms.
Pikachu laughed and latched onto his friend as the Pokéballs on Ash's belt opened. Soon, Ash found himself surrounded by all of his Pokémon. No doubt that had felt his positivity through their bonds and came looking for him.
Ash beamed as he hugged each Pokémon in turn. Some had been with him since the beginning. Some had come back from where they were doing their own thing to help him. It didn't really matter. What mattered was that this victory belonged to all of them. Bulbasaur. Wartortle. Charizard. Pidgeot. Kingler. Muk. Gengar. Snorlax. Lapras. Primeape. Feraligatr. Meganium. Quilava. Donphan. Tyranitar. Heracross. Noctowl. Sceptile. Glalie. Torkoal. Corphish. Swellow. Gliscor. Staraptor. Floatzel. Garchomp. Torterra. Infernape. Emboar. Samurott. Serperior. Leavanny. Unfezant. Krookodile. Seismitoad. Gigalith. Scrafty. Greninja. Talonflame. Noivern. Goodra. Hawlucha. All 30 Tauros. Ria. Pikachu.
Ash's eyes opened when he felt a strong, but oddly calming breeze blow by. He turned around, and looked up.
He couldn't stop the gasp that rushed out of his lips. The light from the setting sun reflected off of Ho-Oh's wings as the Pokémon flew across the sky.
Ash slowly walked forward until he was standing a few feet in front of his Pokémon, Pikachu just a little bit behind him. Something sparkling out of the corner of his eye drew his attention away from the legendary Pokémon.
A single rainbow feather fluttered down to the ground, stopping in the grass just in front of him.
With sluggish movements, Ash reached down and grabbed it, turning the feather over in his hand, shimmering in more colours than he could even imagine.
He stared at the feather with the calming presence of his Pokémon behind him. As he twisted it in his fingers, he saw Leaf training with him.
He saw Gary talking excitedly about a new fossil discovery.
He saw Bonnie running with him up a steep hill.
He saw Clemont blowing up a new invention but then starting again with a laugh.
He saw Serena practicing for a Performance.
He saw Cilan throwing on his conductor's hat and telling him new facts about a train that they found.
He saw Iris swinging from tree to tree.
He saw Dawn raising her hand for a high-five.
He saw Max holding up a book with new Pokémon facts to share.
He saw May planning for her next contest while she snacked on noodles.
He saw Tracey excitedly sketching a new Pokémon.
He saw Brock showing off a new Pokémon food recipe he created between study breaks.
He saw Misty laughing as she excitedly dove into the water after a new Pokémon.
"Pikapi?"
Ash looked down at Pikachu. He saw all of his Pokémon standing behind him supportively.
"I'm okay," he said as he wiped away the tears that he didn't know were there.
He turned his attention back towards the sky where Ho-Oh was flying just out of sight, hidden by the rays of the setting sun. A smile spread across his feathers as the breeze picked up.
"The one who chose you, was you."
Ash let the feather go, and watched it fly away into the sky.
-The End-
