Oh man, where do I start? I simply lost motivation to write on Rose of May, which lead to the cancellation of it. If you remember, I promised at end of Beyond Stars and Chains that there would be a sequel. I started writing on it, but decided to read Beyond Stars and Chains to get inspiration. How could anyone of you read it? It was at best a decent story, a far cry from what I had wanted. The result of all? A reimagining of Beyond Stars and Chains! There are a lot of differences to the original, as you will notice. I have increased the length quite a bit and improved the pacing. So, I hope you will enjoy reading it as much I have enjoyed writing it. Welcome to Between Truth and Heaven! Read and enjoy!

PS: I'm looking for a beta-reader, so if you're interested please contact me and we'll see from there.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.

Brock didn't know what went through Ash's head at that moment, but he was confident that no loss could ever crush Ash like that. A loss was a loss, and Ash always took them to heart. He would always bounce back, no matter what. But lying on the bed in the room he shared with Ash, Brock nearly thought he was dreaming as he heard quiet sobs come from the opposite side of the room. Doing nothing, Brock eventually heard Ash leave their room, most likely standing on the balcony. Ash had decided to take on the Hoenn League again, asking him if he wanted to tag along. Brock had without hesitation accepted, taking a break from working as a Pokemon Doctor. Through sheer coincidence they had met May in Slateport City, a more than enjoyable coincidence. She, like Ash, wanted to take another shot at the Hoenn Contests, aiming for a victory at the Grand Festival this time. The Grand Festival was still ongoing, but the Evergrande Conference was over. Sadly, Ash lost in the finals. Shaking his head, Brock sat up, not needing to think if he should confront Ash or not. This wasn't the first time he had found Ash crying. The first time had been back in Johto, not long before the Silver Conference. It wasn't the only time. In Hoenn and Sinnoh, Brock had found Ash crying, but he had never confronted him about it. But now, he thought he had made the connection to what was wrong with Ash. He could be completely wrong, but Brock was confident. He knew Ash, and helping him was a top priority. Standing up, Brock silently walked towards the balcony, carefully opening the door in order to not be noticed by Ash. His friend was leaning over the railing, Pikachu sitting on his shoulder. Ash and Pikachu's relationship was something that always interested Brock. Best friends wouldn't be enough to describe their relationship. It was more like sibling love, Pikachu doing everything she could in order to help Ash. Both trainer and Pokemon were clearly staring at something, which Brock thought to be a paper of sorts. He carefully approached them, but Pikachu's ears twitched, alerting her trainer to him. Well, now he had his chance.

"Brock?" Ash asked, turning around to look at one of his oldest friends. His expression was a far cry from his usual cheery disposition. It was nearly worrying to see Ash like this, so somber and serious. Hopefully he could at least lighten the burden on Ash's heart, if not find a solution for him. Eventually a sad smile appeared on Ash's face. "Did I wake you up? Sorry if I did. So, I suppose you didn't come out here just to get some fresh air, did you?" Brock shook his head. "Heh, you were always observant."

The way Ash talked was a testament to his improvement as a trainer and as a person. He wasn't that different all those years ago really. Instead he was less experienced and hadn't gotten the chance to mature like he had now. 11 years did a lot to him, and they did only good things to him. Brock remembered hearing about Ash's Unova journey. He had dropped down a place from Sinnoh, something that obviously hit Ash hard. But he didn't panic like he usually did. He travelled a bit more and returned home. But instead of directly going to the next region, he stayed in Pallet Town. He didn't even train a lot during the first year. He had been 17, still young, but he had already matured. He took a year off. The following year he travelled across Kanto. He didn't take on the Indigo League, but instead decided to fly around Kanto, challenging the different gym leaders and even asked if Bruno and Lance had time to battle him. He changed his team before each battle, something he had only done briefly in Sinnoh, and in Unova he had been told. Brock had been proud, travelling to Cerulean to watch Ash and Misty duke it out. It had been a treat to watch them battle. After that Ash travelled to the Indigo Plateau, taking on Bruno and Lance. Against Lance he managed to hold his ground, but in the end the reigning Champion beat him. His match against Bruno was a lot closer. Again Ash lost, but he took it in stride. It ended with Ash challenging him, a battle he lost to Ash. From there on he trained, balancing his training with breaks and spending time with all of his Pokemon. If he there was a strong bond between him and all of his Pokemon before that, the bond they had the next time Brock met him was incredible. And seemingly Pikachu and Ash gotten even closer in that time.

"Someone had to take care of you, so I like to think I know when something bothers you," Brock replied, wearing a smile of his own. Now that he got a closer look at what Ash was holding, he recognized it immediately. Brock knew how valuable it was to Ash, and it was one of his most treasured memories. This convinced him about what bothered Ash, and it made Brock happy and sad. He had, and many others, teased Ash about never being interested in girls beyond friendship, even though very many girls tried their best to capture Ash's attention. Maybe he wasn't as dense as he had thought all along. He hadn't made the connection the first time he found Ash crying, not long after they left Alto Mare. He simply thought that Ash missed Alto Mare. "I always thought you were completely oblivious to girls in any romantic way. But, it seems like I underestimated the dense boy from Pallet Town. So, tell me Ash, which beauty of Alto Mare has captured your heart?"

Instead of answering, Ash gave him the drawing he had been looking at. Brock had to admit it was something special, depicting him and Pikachu. He had been more than surprised that the picture wasn't the only thing he got before leaving Alto Mare. The drawing was most likely from Bianca, Brock doubting that Latias had the skill to draw something like that. But, he still didn't know who had been at the dock at that day to give Ash the drawing, and the kiss.

"Would you believe me if I said Latias?" Ash wondered, now wearing a real smile. Brock wondered how he hadn't understood that earlier. Of course Ash wouldn't fall for a normal girl, seeing how easily he bonded with Pokemon. And, he and Latias had gotten rather close during their short stay in Alto Mare. Brock had met many trainers, both during his time as a gym leader and later on doctor, and when travelling with Ash. But few came close to the bond Ash shared with all of his Pokemon, and Latias was most likely not any different. "I didn't understand what I was feeling until Hoenn. It was there where I understood that I missed Latias. And now having faced a Latias didn't help either."

"I should have known," Brock stated, somewhat disappointed in himself that he hadn't been able to figure it out earlier. Maybe he could salvage something. "You know, the Grand Festival ends tomorrow, after May has taken on Drew. How about we take a vacation after that?"

Ash looked at Brock like he had gone mad. A vacation sounded nice, especially after all the hard work he had gone through in order to have a shot at winning the conference. Over his trainer career he rarely ever took a vacation. Looking down at Pikachu, who had made herself at home in his arms, he petted her carefully while thinking about Brock's suggestion. The more and more Ash thought about it, the more appealing the idea of a vacation got. "Alright, we'll take a vacation after the Grand Festival is done," Ash accepted, not having needed very long to embrace the idea. Now they just needed to figure out where they wanted to go, and prepare for it. "Where do you propose we go?"

Brock had to chuckle at Ash's question, staying silent for a while before he spoke up. "Haven't you guessed already?" Even after 11 years, Ash still had some of these moments where he didn't think through everything he said or did. Taking the drawing from Ash's hands, Brock held it up for him to see. Slowly, it dawned on Ash what Brock had in mind. Ash had to admit to himself that he could be rather stupid sometimes. "Where did you get this from? What have we been talking about this entire time?"

"Alto Mare," Ash didn't need to say it, but he always preferred to speak what was on his mind. He had played with the idea a few times, but before he returned from Unova he had a rather one-sided mind. Finish going through one region, return home, take on the next one. He sometimes wondered how he could have been like that. "Are we going there as soon as the Grand Festival is over, or do you have something else in mind first?"

That was something Brock hadn't thought about, but he supposed they could return home first before heading there. "I guess returning home should be something we do, maybe pack some new stuff for the trip. And, it's probably better to tell our parents in person than telling them that we plan to go to Alto Mare over phone," Brock suggested, Ash nodding in agreement. "But before we can even think about, we still have to cheer on May tomorrow."

"Sure do. Even if I didn't succeed with what I had in mind, doesn't mean May won't. Isn't that right, girl?" Ash petted Pikachu again behind her ear, earning a coo of agreement. Brock still got amazed very time he watched those two interact. It was something only a handful of trainers possibly ever could obtain.

"Pikapi, kachu pika." Sometimes Brock wished that he even could understand the gist of what one of his Pokemon were saying. Ash understood all of his Pokemon to a certain agree, but with Pikachu he understood everything she said.

"Hey Brock, do you think that May would be interested in tagging along?" Ash wondered, which was likely what Pikachu said to him. 'The more the merrier' they say, so he didn't see why they couldn't ask if she was interested in coming with them. "I mean, I enjoy travelling with her, and she would probably love going to Alto Mare."

"Sure, we can ask her," Brock said, running a hand through his hair. Glancing at his watch, Brock noticed that they had been standing outside for quite some time. "But let's wait with that until the Grand Festival is over. And if we want to get up in time tomorrow, or today I suppose, we should probably head back inside and try to sleep."

"You're right," Ash replied, turning around to stare at the ocean, before noticing that Brock was heading inside. Following him, Ash had to thank his friend. "Thank you Brock. Talking like this really helped me. Now I could just wish that we would have had this talk before my battle."

Patting his best friend on the shoulder, Brock shook his head. "I'm not sure we would have had this conversation yesterday. But, I'm glad to see you're okay, Ash," Sitting on his bed, Brock waited for Ash to do the same. Lying down, Brock closed his eyes. "Good night Ash."

"Good night Brock."

"I knew it," Ash couldn't deny the accusation in any way, seeing that it was fault that they had overslept. Somehow, his and Brock's conversation had gone quite long it seemed, which in turn lead to both of them not waking up in time. They really should have set that alarm. Hurrying to get ready, Ash had to look around for his hat, spotting it on the rack next to the door. "Hurry up!"

"I'm coming!" Ash called back, pulling the hat from the rack and placing it on his head. It was an interesting change to see Brock not be calm for once, which he usually was in most situations. Even more of a surprise was it as he watched his friend nearly tear the door from its socket as he exited their room. Looking back, Ash saw Pikachu sprinting after them. Holding his arm out, Ash waited for Pikachu to climb on his shoulder before rushing after Brock. "How much time do we have?"

"40 minutes!" Brock shouted backwards, already a bit ahead of Ash. Hopefully, that would be enough time for some breakfast and getting to the arena in time. Finding the cafeteria, Brock slowed down, which allowed Ash to catch up to him. They had 35 minutes, which should be enough to eat in peace, and find some nice seats. Taking a plate each, they started walking around and picking whatever they wanted to eat before finding an empty table where they could sit. "We better hurry up, I'm sure May would like to see us before it begins."

Nodding his head in agreement, Ash started shoving his breakfast down his throat, Brock doing the same thing, but at a slower pace. "I wonder which of her Pokemon May will use. She practiced with two different combinations against me, and both were really good in my mind." Ash said, thinking back to his training battle against May. He personally felt that neither was lacking, but considering he didn't watch that many contests he maybe wasn't the best one to judge. "I just hope she wins it. Wouldn't it be great to win where she first made herself a name?"

Brock was about to responded, before another another voice cut him off. "Ash? Ash Ketchum?"

Turning in the direction of the voice, a young man walked up to them. The silver hair was more than a giveaway, nearly every trainer in Hoenn able to recognize him. Standing up, Ash shook the hand he was offered, eventually sitting down and gesturing for the newcomer to sit down. "I didn't think to meet you here, of all places, Steven," Ash greeted his acquaintance, only having met him briefly a few times. It was somewhat of a surprise for him to see Steven here, where as he normally would be most likely looking for rare stones wherever he could. "So, what brings you here? Did you watch the conference?"

At that Steven smiled and nodded. Putting his hand in his pocket, it was clear that he had something in there, but he didn't reveal what it was yet. "I was, and more importantly I watched all of your matches," Steven explained, which surprised both Ash and Brock. Why would Steven be interested in his match? Sure, he was a good trainer, but it didn't mean he was worth putting all your attention on. "Don't look so surprised. Your reputation is already a step ahead of you. A few people have told me about your exploits in different regions, and they are most impressive. But, something that has nagged me was why you lost. You clearly had the edge throughout the entire battle, no matter how close it was. What made you lose right at the end like that?"

Ash couldn't stop himself from sighing. He knew that he should have won, that he had the win in the bag. He had two Pokemon left while his opponent only had one. Why did it have to be a Latias? Pikachu could have probably won that, having made sure that he wouldn't use him unless he needed to. And he still lost because he was unable to not get distracted by the Latias his opponent used. "I got distracted," Ash admitted, smiling sadly. Instead of lingering on those thoughts, Ash turned his attention to matters at hand. "I regret that something as simple as that stopped me from winning, but it can't be changed."

A laugh rang across the rather empty cafeteria, coming from Steven. Putting his hand in his pocket again, Steven pulled out whatever he had in there, holding it up in the light. For most people it would be a a simple bracelet. For a veteran trainer it would be one of the most valuable things you could possibly get. "So you know what this is, don't you?" It wasn't even a question really, instead being more of a statement. Ash couldn't help but to stare at it. A keystone was invaluable, and often only something had by the strongest trainers in the world. Champions and Elite Four among them. Why Steven would simply show one to them was beyond their understanding so far. "I'm sure I could have been here under any circumstance. Being a Champion just adds watching the conference to one of the many things you have to do," Brock blinked a few times at the statement while Ash had to close his mouth in order to not look stupid "Don't look so surprised, alright? I used to be Champion before we met, but decided that I wanted to more things. Like travel and search for rare stones. I can still do both, in Hoenn only though. I decided to regain my title as Champion from Wallace, something I don't regret doing. Now, the reason I'm showing you this is because I want you to have this Ash."

Ash's jaw nearly dropped to the floor, having a hard time comprehending what he was hearing. Steven was the Hoenn Champion and wanted to give him a Keystone? Having a Keystone was something he had only dreamed of. Yes, it was somewhat worthless without a Mega Stone, but that was a worry for another day. "Why would you give something like that to me?" Ash still couldn't believe it. The Hoenn Champion was giving him a Keystone. He had always wanted one, but he hadn't imagined he would obtain one this soon. "I mean, sure I'm a decent trainer. But there has to be more behind it, right?"

"Not really. I specifically came here to watch you. If I really wanted I could have gotten my will through about not having to go here. I didn't. You're a beyond talented trainer, and I've no doubt that you could take on any Elite Four in the world and go far against them. A real match against a Champion?" Steven reasoned, "It's possible. I feel like you're worthy of using Mega Evolution. It's something you can only achieve if your bond with your Pokemon is strong enough. You're skilled enough, and I don't think anyone is more worthy than you to prove your bond with your Pokemon, your family, through the use of Mega Evolution. So take it, and put it to good use. I got something else for you, but I think you're in a hurry to watch the Grand Festival final, aren't you?"

"Yeah, we are," Ash replied, he and Brock having finished breakfast. Pushing his chair back, Ash stood up and put his jacket back on. "So, what do you plan on doing now?"

"If you wouldn't mind I thought about joining you in watching the Grand Festival. I'm sure extra support for the Princess of Hoenn is welcome," Even Brock had to laugh a little at the situation. It was not every day you interacted with a Champion like this. "While we walk, what do you plan on doing after this? Take on another League?"

"I actually planned on taking a vacation, to Alto Mare," Ash told the Hoenn Champion, Steven raising his eyebrows at the information. "I've thought about going back to Alto Mare a few times, but back then I had only one thing in mind."

"Alto Mare, you say? I've never been there," Steven said, stroking his chin a little. He remembered having read about an incident involving Team Rocket and Alto Mare. If what he had about Ash from Cynthia and Lance was true, and having some own experiences with Ash it was very likely that he had been involved in saving Alto Mare. Steven knew his fair share of legends, especially those legends concerning Hoenn. One of them, even though it wasn't a legend concerning Hoenn, was about the city of Alto Mare. There were supposedly two guardians watching over the city, and he didn't doubt that they were true. "Tell me, have you heard about the Eon Duo guarding Alto Mare?"

Ash pondered if he should simply answer the question, or tell Steven about his adventure in Alto Mare. Deciding to trust the Hoenn Champion, Ash started to speak. "I've met them once, a little more than 9 years ago. I'm sure you heard or read about the incident concerning the DMA and what nearly happened to the city," Ash began, the arena where the Grand Festival was held getting into his sight. He often put away the sadder memories of his visit to Alto Mare, those being some of his worst memories so far. At the same time he cherished the happier memories even more. They were instead some of his most treasured memories, playing with Latias in the garden being the one he valued the most. "It wasn't far before the Silver Conference, and going to Alto Mare would be our break from travelling. Then came Team Rocket, looking for the Soul Dew. They managed to destroy it, which in turn nearly spelled the end for Alto Mare. By destroying the Soul Dew they also ended up sending Latios to his death, becoming the new Soul Dew and leaving his sister, Latias, alone."

Steven knew that there was more behind it, prying wasn't something he did though, so he let it rest. Now he was sure that Ash would have use for one of his many findings, and would most likely find enjoyment in it as well. "I thank you for telling me the story. Now come, I will get us past the masses of people here. I suppose you prefer sitting among everyone else over my personal lounge?" A nod was everything he got. "Should have expected no less."

Walking up to one of the many entrances, Steven quickly said something to one of the guards, which in turn allowed them to immediately to get inside, way ahead of the rest who wanted to watch. "I'd never think I would get to choose seats like this," Brock admitted, his head turning in both directions as he took in the completely empty arena. "Not even the judges or Vivian are here."

"Those seats over there look nice," Ash pointed at a group of seats, quite high up on one of the sides. It was a bit of a walk, having to walk along the field in order to reach a set of stairs that separated the seats in two groups. Walking up the stairs, they nearly walked to the top before they took three seats. From those seats they could see the entire field, sitting somewhat higher and still able to see every small detail of the battle, compared to the seats far above them. Slowly people started entering the arena, and with them came the sound of their voices, all different type of conversations going on. "I wonder if May will see us from down there."

He got no response, instead they watched the judges and Vivian prepare themselves for the upcoming match. The arena was soon filled out completely, not a single seat that Ash could see was empty. The judges were seated and Vivian was already standing at the microphone, ready to start the show. "Ladies and gentlemen!" Vivian shouted, the arena growing quiet within a second. The excitement couldn't be missed, every single person excited at the prospect of getting to watch this match. "Welcome to the HOENN GRAND FESTIVAL!"

The response from the crowd was deafening, a lot of them even standing up as they cheered. Thankfully they had been at their fair share of similar events, and so they at least didn't fell any pain in their ears from the volume of the crowd. "They sure are excited for this." Steven muttered, not sharing the same passion for Contests as Wallace did.

"We are here today to crown this year's Top Coordinator from Hoenn! But, this isn't just a match between two coordinators who have proved to be a step above the rest. No, these two coordinators have made themselves a name worldwide over the years." Vivian slowly built the up excitement with every word she said. Everyone knew who would take to the field today, yet it didn't stop Vivian from doing her job. "Please welcome with me our two finalists, MAY MAPLE AND DREW HAYDEN!"

May couldn't get over the happiness she was feeling, standing on on the battlefield, and listening to the crowd. Even after having being to a handful of Grand Festivals, they always kept impressing her. Eight years ago, she stood on the battlefield in the old arena where the Grand Festival was held in Slateport City. Today, like eight years ago, she was facing against who probably was her biggest rival, Drew. "Coordinators, send out your two Pokemon!" Vivian shouted into the microphone, the crowd having turned silent after their introduction. She had practiced with Ash, trying two different combinations she could use. In the end she had decided on one, so without hesitating she took two pokeballs from her belt and threw them in the air. Catching them again, May smiled as her two Pokemon appeared and looked back at her, before quickly focusing on their two opponents. She had decided on using Blaziken and Venusaur, relying on their ability to control their moves and put immense power behind them. Drew had chosen to use his Absol and Flygon, the same combination that used against her in the Kanto Grand Festival. That time she used Combusken and Squirtle. She won back then. This time it could go either way. Drew had improved, as had she. "You know the rules. Whoever runs out of points first or loses both Pokemon has lost. Are both coordinators ready?" May nodded, and she saw Drew doing the same. "Get ready, begin!"

Somehow she didn't hear whatever Drew shouted and watched her Pokemon act on their own. Shaking her head rapidly, May focused on the battle. "Venusaur use Vine Whip on Absol, Blaziken use Sky Uppercut on Flygon!" Shooting out her vines, Venusaur managed to grab two of Absol's legs, which in turn prompted Flygon to try and free his partner. As soon as he tried to get close to Absol, who was getting pulled in by Venusaur, Blaziken shot forward and landing a clean hit on his jaw with Sky Uppercut.

"Flygon use Flamethrower on Venusaur!" Drew shouted, his Flygon having recovered without any problems and instead turned his attention to Venusaur. Opening his mouth, a hot stream of fire left. Reacting fast enough, Venusaur pulled in Absol, which lead to Absol taking the entire Flamethrower instead of Venusaur. A quick glance at the big screen confirmed that she was in the lead. It still didn't mean anything, not when her opponent was someone like Drew. "Flygon summon a Sandstorm and Absol hide inside it!"

Now she had a problem. The Sandstorm made it impossible for her, or her Pokemon, to see anything. Which in turn meant that Blaziken and Venusaur were completely helpless unless they noticed an attack coming fast enough. Nearly missing it, May thought she saw something move around Venusaur. "Behind you, Venusaur!" Turning her head, Venusaur shot out her vines again, once again managing to grab two of Absol's legs. "Throw him into the air and then use Petal Dance!"

Drew, not expecting anything like didn't know what to do for a short moment. Flygon, Dragon Breath on Venusaur!"

"Blaziken, ignite the petals surrounding Absol with Fire Spin!" Opening his beak, Blaziken let out the fire, hitting Absol and for a short while having burning petals spin around Absol. Once again Drew's points decreased, still not having managed to score a major hit on May's points. The crowd cheered at her display, bringing a smile to May's lips.

"Flamethrower again!" May could only watch in horror as Flygon's attack struck directly, Venusaur roaring in pain as the flames touched her body. "Absol, Water Pulse on Blaziken!"

It took another roar of pain for May to react, Blaziken on one knee as it barely dodged another Walter Pulse from Absol. "Blaziken, use Blaze Kick on Absol, Venusaur, follow up with Razor Leaf!" She had to take out one of Drew's Absol. His Flygon simply was to resistant to either Blaziken or Venusaur alone, where as Absol was rather frail and couldn't take as many hits. Which instead was made up through the sheer power behind every attack. May watched as Absol jumped out of the way of Blaziken's Blaze Kick, which opened to Venusaur's Razor Leaf. He managed to stand his ground though, giving Flygon an opening.

"Strike Venusaur with Steel Wing!" Drew shouted, Flygon shooting forwards, past Blaziken, as his wings were covered in steel. She was about to tell Blaziken to assist Venusaur but was unable to because she was blinded by a bright flash. The sandstorm had already disappeared, seemingly only being a temporary option for Drew. "Walter Pulse!"

"Dodge it!" A rather futile attempt when Blaziken couldn't see where Absol was. Shooting another glance at the scoreboard told her that Drew had forced a near draw between them. She really needed to take down one of them, just because like her own Pokemon they covered each other so well. Absol would dart around and strike whenever given the chance. Flygon would assist him in any way possible. Maybe she didn't need to take out Absol first. Even though Flygon was more durable, no Pokemon could take hit after hit forever. And without someone to cover, Absol couldn't move and attack freely anymore. "Venusaur, Petal Dance on Flygon with everything you got! Blaziken, Overheat!"

Flygon was durable, but not very fast. Which meant that Flygon had a hard time dodging the petals, standing no chance as Blaziken's Overheat hit it. "Absol, Iron Tail on Venusaur!" Drew that neither of his Pokemon stood a chance alone. They both complemented each other too well, relying completely on each other. Dashing forward, Absol flipped in the air in order to increase power behind his attack, bringing the tail down straight on Venusaur's head. A grunt of pain wasn't only response from the Pokemon, lunging towards Absol and knocking the Disaster Pokemon away. Meanwhile, Blaziken was dodging Flygon's Dragon Breath, leaping in the air to knock down the dragon with a Blaze Kick. "Now, Dragon Razor Wind to finish off Venusaur!"

"No!" May screamed, remembering the combination from the Kanto Grand Festival. Swinging his scythe, a plethora of blades were unleashed and heading for Venusaur, Flygon quickly backed the attack up with own Dragon Breath, enhancing Razor Wind's power even further. "Blaziken, Sky Uppercut on Flygon!"

Drew couldn't even blink, Blaziken dashing forward with a speed beyond what Drew thought possible. It didn't matter that Venusaur fainted, May's points falling with it, when his plan was to have an advantage over her. The attack connected cleanly, pushing Flygon further up before he fell down, unconscious. He knew that May's Blaziken was in every way stronger than Absol, he was her starter for a reason. "Blind him with Flash, then use Psycho Cut!"

Knowing that Blaziken couldn't see anything, May had to quickly come up with a way for her to help him. "Use Quick Attack to dash to the side!" Blaziken did as told, barely avoiding the incoming psychic blades. "Overheat!"

"Absol dodge-" Drew didn't even have time to issue the command as Blaziken had closed the distance before he opened his beak. There was nothing he could do help Absol. The attack struck hard, Absol fainting only a second after contact. Looking at the points, he could see that May barely finished in time. But she still won, having the higher amount of points as well. The crowd had gone silent during the last minutes of their battle, and now that it was over they had no reason to stay quiet anymore.

May was filled with joy, running to Blaziken, and nearly throwing herself at her Pokemon as she hugged him tightly. "You did great! Let me recall you so you get your well deserved rest."

"May? May!" Ash called, trying to reach his friend, Brock and Steven following him close. Getting through the masses of people wasn't an easy thing to do, and it seemed like May had just escaped their clutches. Eventually, they got away from the majority of people, which gave them ample space. "May!"

"Ash?" Finally May noticed them, turning around fully before walking towards them. As she walked up to them they could see a big on smile her face as she held the trophy, stopping as she spotted Steven. She blinked a few times, smiling sheepishly as she stood in front of the Hoenn Champion. "Mr. Stone?"

Steven laughed a little, smiling at May as he held out his hand. "I have to congratulate you on your impressive performance." Steven said, pulling his hand back after May shook it. Starting to walk again, he lead them to a more secluded café, gesturing for them to sit. They all ordered something to drink, something cold to aid them against the heat of the warm summer day. "I have to admit your performance was brilliant, but I couldn't wonder how far you would have come as a trainer."

"I don't know, I mean I could probably get something done. Compared to Ash though I'm far away from being a top trainer," May replied to the praise, looking at Ash, who only shook his head at May's words. He had always supported her, never doubting that she could do anything. "So, what got you smiling, besides my big victory?"

Ash wanted to tell her, but got interrupted as the waiter came with their refreshments. They didn't wait, instead all of them moved their refreshments to their lips as they took a big sip of their cold drinks. "I'm sure you remember me telling you about Alto Mare, right? Well, me and Brock planned on taking a vacation there and wondered if you were interested in going with us there."

There wasn't a lot of convincing needed in May's opinion, but she still decided on humoring them by sitting there in silence as she rested her chin on her hand. Ash had talked to her multiple times about Alto Mare, always smiling when telling her about the city. She had been interested since the first time, and now she was given the chance to actually go and see the city for herself. "Did you really need to ask? I would have gone with you the moment you would have told me," May would most likely follow Ash around the world if asked, like Brock and any of Ash's friends would. Given the option of following him to Alto Mare was something she wouldn't waste. "So when are we going?"

"We haven't planned anything yet, but I suppose as soon as possible, which most likely means tomorrow. We planned on heading home first, and then go to Alto Mare. So we'll probably get to Alto Mare in two or three days depending on how much we are willing to pay to get back home," Ash explained, taking another sip of his drink. Pikachu had been awfully quiet in his lap, only reacting if he scratched her behind her ear. "How about this? We head to Slateport from here and from there we separate? You go back to Petalburg, and me and Brock will go back to Kanto. Then we meet in Vermillion to take a ship to Alto Mare."

Brock nodded, always being the one who planned things like these. It was nice for once when someone else did it for him. "I agree on that. We should probably get tickets to Slateport, seeing as the ships stop going after a certain time."

"Ash, there's something I need to talk to you about," Steven interrupted their planning, taking a last sip of his drink before standing up. "Do you mind if we talk alone for a while?"

Usually Ash would prefer staying with his friends, but something in Steven's voice told him that there was no arguing to be done. "Alright, lead the way," Ash said, following Steven, and shooting a quick glance over his shoulder. Pikachu had quickly moved herself to his shoulder, taking her usual spot as Ash walked behind Steven. Eventually they reached a spot far enough away from any stray wanderers, Steven turning around. "So, what was so important?"

Crossing his arms, Steven looked out at the ocean, the island of Sootopolis visible from where he was standing. "Tell me, is it true that you're Unova's Hero of Truth? I don't have much to go on, but I know for sure that the White Stone no longer resides in Unova."

"I suppose I can tell you. Yes, I'm what Unova calls the Hero of Truth," Ash admitted, pulling out a pokeball hanging around his neck. Steven wasn't sure what to think of that. "Yes, it is what you believe it to be. I was what somewhat surprised when in the middle of the night Reshiram landed right in front of me and asked if she could come with me."

"I see. I always wondered what a hero chosen by the legends would look like," Steven chuckled at his own comment, before pulling some out of his pocket again. He held it up in the air, the sun reflecting off the stone. Ash could only stare at the stone. It was beyond beautiful in his mind. He barely didn't react in time though as Steven through the stone at him. Looking at it carefully, Ash continued to admire the stone. "I'm sure you recognize what that is. I've been looking for Mega Stones all over Hoenn, and I've found a few of the same kind. But that one I have never seen before, and no one has found an identical one. When you told me about Alto Mare and its guardians and how you planned on going back there, I felt like this was something you maybe could put to use. It's known as a Latiasite, probably one of the rarest Mega Stones in the world."

"And you give it to me?" Ash asked, not sure if he should laugh or not. "I'm an ordinary trainer. That I got chosen by Reshiram as her hero was shocking to me. That you gave me a Mega Bracelet was also surprising, and now you're giving me a Latiasite. I've had a knack for getting involved in things I probably shouldn't. I'm not sure if I should have all of this."

"You don't think you should have it? I could ask any Champion and they would agree with me that you definitely should have them. I thought about asking if I could see Reshiram, but I'm no Chosen One so I'll pass on it," Steven countered, staring at Ash. Eventually Ash looked away and at the sky. He joined Ash as well, not sure if he imagined it or if he actually saw a serpent looking creature fly across the sky. "Come, let's head back. I'll have to take my leave soon anyway."

After seeing the Hoenn Champion off, they decided to get their tickets to Slateport. They still had enough time to eat, and they would arrive in Slateport early next morning. Sitting at a table, Ash played with the pokeball around his neck. It had been a while since he talked to Reshiram, but he would have to most likely wait until he got back to Pallet Town before he could do that. "So, how long will it take for us to get to Slateport?"

"We should be there around 7.00 tomorrow, and from there we can fetch trips to our homes," Brock reminded him, leaning back in his chair after finishing his plate. They still had 30 minutes until they could start boarding the ship, so there was no need to go there already. We continued to sit there before Brock spoke up again. "You know, it will be nice for once to just go somewhere and have nothing to worry about. Instead of always having to go somewhere and do something."

Neither of them could disagree with Brock's statement, even if Ash could relate to it more. He had only started relaxing after Unova, and even then he still kept up with his training and such. "I will be sure to enjoy this trip. We didn't even stay there for that long the last time we where there. This time I'll make sure to explore the city. It's truly a wonderful place."

Looking at her watch, May noticed that the 30 minutes they had had gone by rather fast.

"Shouldn't we be going?" May received surprised looks from Ash and Brock, who after checking the time quickly pushed their chairs backward. Missing the ship now would be far for pleasant, forcing them stay another day before they could get another that would take them to Slateport. They started to run towards the docks to make sure they wouldn't miss their ship, all of them sighing in relief as they saw that the ship was still docked. They returned to walking, but kept a high pace until they were at the entrance to the ship. Showing their tickets, they were allowed onboard the ship. It wasn't a small ship by any means. It was a big cruiser, most likely only docking in Slateport temporarily before heading wherever it went. They all looked at their tickets to find out which rooms they had gotten. "I got 502."

"It seems like me and Brock got 505," Ash said, following the signs to find their rooms. Eventually they stood outside the doors to the rooms. "We'll see you tomorrow May."

Opening their door, Ash went in first with Brock following behind him. The room they had gotten wasn't that different from their hotel room, which meant it was big. Two beds were placed in one corner each, with two nightstands next to them. There was a big wardrobe, with more than enough space for whatever they wanted to put in there, a minibar and a tv. Walking across the room, Ash reached the balcony and opened the door which allowed them to walk outside and enjoy the evening breeze. "Life's great."

Brock had often wondered how true those words were. In the end he had to agree with them, the experiences he had in his short life so far had been for the majority great. They continued to stand there, looking out over the ocean like they had done less than a day ago. "It sure is, even though there are some points I could point out and say they aren't great. But, in the big picture they don't matter," He pushed himself back and opened the door again, holding it up until Ash decided to come too. They both sat on their respective bed, staring at the wall in front of them.

"I wonder if Alto Mare has changed. It has been 11 years after all," Ash thought out loud, a thought that Brock had entertained as well. Most things change, especially over a large time span. He and Ash had many similar discussions; if things changed, if people would stay the same, what they could have done differently and so on.

"Let's just call quits for today. We got a lot of travelling to do tomorrow." Brock suggested, moving up the bed so he could lie on his pillow. Turning off his light, he looked over at Ash who still sat on the edge. "Come on, we got a long day ahead of us."

With that Ash wordlessly positioned himself so he could lie down. "Good night, Brock.

"Good night, Ash."

You can expect Chapter 2 by the end of next week. I hope this was to your enjoyment, and tell me what you thought. Next chapter will only focus on Latias, and I will continue jumping for the next two chapters most likely. I'm still not 100 % set on Ash's team, so if you got suggestions you're free to leave them. Reshiram and Ash being the Hero of Truth will be expanded on in the later chapters. Also, there's still a sequel planned after this story. So, if you got something to say please leave a review and I will see you next time!