"Geez, why does the school even let idiots like you in here, Ashy-girl? No wonder your dad left!" Gary Oak cackled, the other kids not even trying to muffle their laughter. He sneered at his target from across the classroom, and Ashka Ketchum ducked her head to hide tears of humiliation. The teacher didn't even try to stop Gary, even going so far as to nod in agreement.

It wasn't her fault that Gary always got the latest textbooks and lessons from Professor Oak, that the teachers already gossiped about her and her mother. Why did Gary always pick her to bully? And for him to talk about her daddy that way…

Her fingers curled into fists, and she decided she'd had enough. With a slam of her hands on her desk, loud enough to startle everyone else, Ash stood and ran out of the classroom, choking back a sob as more laughter followed her out. Ignoring several adults shouting at her to go back, she booked it out of the school building and ran home. It was lucky that she knew the way by heart, because she was crying so hard she couldn't see.

It wasn't until she was halfway through the living room that she realized what a bad idea running had been. Now Gary was going to make even more fun of her the next day, maybe even trip her like he did when he was being really mean. Her mommy would make her go back in the morning, make her apologize to the teachers that were just as mean as Gary was.

Sniffling, Ash decided that she hated Pallet Town. Hated Gary, hated all the other kids that would throw things at her at recess just because her daddy was gone. They hated her anyways, so why shouldn't she feel the same way back? She'd begged to move many times, but her mommy always said no, that she was just being dra-ma-tic. Swiping aggressively at her tears, Ash hiccuped. Sometimes she wished she'd just die, just to get away from the bullying, just to be free.

It was another ten minutes of soft sobs before an idea came to her. If her mommy wouldn't leave this horrible place, Ash would just have to go by herself. Shuffling towards the stairs, she jumped in shock when the front door slammed open, a furious Delia storming into the house.

"Ashka Ketchum," she growled, eyes flashing, "why aren't you in school?"

Shivering in slight fear at her mommy's scary expression, Ash swallowed, sniffling. "Gary was m－"

"Oh, stop, Ash, enough with blaming Gary for everything! You're a big girl now, you can't throw tantrums anymore. Gary's a little arrogant but he's a smart, responsible boy, and you know better than to lie to get others in trouble! Now you are going back to school, young lady, right now!"

Ash stared, unable to believe it. She'd told her mommy how mean Gary was being, but never before had Delia said she was lying. She wasn't lying! More tears welled up in her eyes, and her lower lip trembled. If her mommy didn't believe her, then…

"I hate you," Ash said softly, voice cracking. That said, she did what she'd been doing a lot of lately; she ran. Darting around Delia's frozen form, she booked it down the dirt road and off into the woods. She knew most of the forest around Pallet Town by heart, as it was the one place Gary and his little gang of bullies couldn't chase her in. They were too scared of the wild Pokemon, but Ash wasn't.

Above her head, branches swayed in a strong wind, and storm clouds were beginning to roll in, but she didn't care. She just wanted to get away, where nobody could make her hurt anymore. The roots tripped her up occasionally, but she ignored the stinging of small cuts and scrapes in favor of escape.

By the time Ash reached the bay, she was exhausted and it was nearly nighttime. Her shorts were ripped up and she was covered in dirt from all the falls she'd had, and it had begun to rain. It was about then that she realized that she was all alone, in the dark, and there was no one she could turn to for comfort.

A sudden, overwhelming despair crashed over her, and something inside her surged, triggered by the hurt of her mommy not believing her when she'd only been telling the truth. If everyone thought she spoke lies, she would just never speak again. The vow, though she didn't realize what it was, wove itself into her aura. However, words were different than crying, and she had many more tears to shed. The sobs started again, quiet whimpers and wails muffled by the growing storm.

To the sensitive ears of a Pokemon running over the waves nearby, however, the sounds of a hatchling in distress were perfectly clear.

XxXxX

Suicune abruptly changed course, bounding over the crest of a particularly large wave and onto the beach. Turning towards the source of the cries, the Legendary Beast's eyes narrowed at the sight of the dirty hatchling. Thins lines of blood crisscrossed her legs and arms, tear stains not quite washed away from the rain. The hatchling shivered in the cold, and Suicune's senses prickled with the faint touch of a Vow.

Only those with aura potential could form Vows, alongside Pokemon, but for a mere hatchling to make one…

"Who hurt you, hatchling?" Suicune asked, keeping her voice soft, padding closer.

The hatchling looked up, startled, eyes wide. In that instant, Suicune felt it. A mark of ancient power upon the hatchling's soul, one that set her apart from all other humans. The mark of Arceus' Chosen. The mark given barely five springs ago. Making up her mind then and there, Suicune lowered herself to the sand, a careful nudge of wind pushing the hatchling closer. Getting the message, the hatchling slowly clambered up onto the Legendary's back, small fingers clutching at violet fur.

Once she was sure the hatchling was secure, Suicune took off. Clearly the Chosen One was being mistreated, and regardless she needed to be trained before her aura accidentally made any more Vows. Now that she was focusing, Suicune could sense the Vow of Silence, and her heart ached for the hatchling. Aura training would be absolutely necessary now, and the only place she felt was appropriate was the Lucario Kingdom. If she could, she would have taken the hatchling to Rota, but without any Aura Guardians there it was pointless. Later, when she knew how to control her powers, the scrolls and records there would be of use.

Exerting her will over the wind, Suicune created a pocket of air around the hatchling, so she would at least not get rained on any more. The Legendary pushed herself hard, knowing that time was of the essence if there was to be any chance of undoing the Vow. Sinnoh was a long way away, even with her speed, and the sooner she got the hatchling into the care of the Lucario, the sooner she could report to Lady Ho-oh about the situation.

By the time she'd arrived at the mountain range that housed the Lucario Kingdom, the hatchling had fallen into a restless sleep from emotional exhuastion. Suicune let her aura fan out across the land, alerting the sentries to her presence. Within moments she was greeted by a lone Lucario.

"Lady Suicune, we are honored by your visit."

"Would I that this were a social call," Suicune sighed, shifting to bring the hatchling into view. "The Chosen One made an accidental Vow of Silence in a moment of distress. She must be trained to prevent anything farther from happening with unmastered aura, and there are none I trust more to teach her."

The Lucario's eyes widened at that, and it studied the hatchling's face closely before nodding. "We must take her to the palace. This way, my lady."

The Lucario Kingdom was a sheltered, hidden place of great beauty. Suicune had spent many a time exploring the area in her youth, though at the moment there was no time to look around, and they made haste to the palace. Once in the throne room, Suicune offered a bow of respect to the Lucarian monarchs, careful not to jostle her precious passenger.

"Greetings, Lady Suicune," the queen said, returning the bow. "We sensed the presence of the little guardian, is she unwell?"

"In a moment of distress the Chosen One made a Vow of Silence. It is my hope that it can be undone, but I am aware that it is a delicate situation. She must be trained, and I wish to entrust your kingdom with that task. She smells of abandoned hatchling, and I need to know she is safe before I can focus on finding the truth of what happened. She was alone in a storm," Suicune said stiffly, suppressing a low growl at the thought.

At her words, both monarchs and guards straightened. To abandon a hatchling was a crime, and the prophesied Chosen One should not be treated in such a manner. For a hatchling to make a Vow out of sheer distress meant something was terribly wrong. Untrained aura would only make things worse. The king motioned to one of the guards, and Suicune bent her legs to let the Lucario gather up the hatchling, to clean her up and put her to bed.

"She will be cared for," the king said firmly, "and taught properly. You have my word that the Chosen One will be protected and nurtured while in our care."

Nodding gratefully, Suicune watched the hatchling be carried off. "You have my thanks, old friend. I must return to the tower and inform Lady Ho-oh of this, but I will visit soon. Please let the hatchling know that I will be bringing her a gift the next time I see her." With that, the Legendary called upon her wind and vanished from the palace, no longer restricted with a passenger.

There was much to be done.

XxXxX

Six months after Suicune had delivered Ash to the Lucario Kingdom, the girl had proven herself to be a hard worker with a stubborn streak that made her never satisfied with just learning something; she had to master it before she let herself move on to the next lesson. The Lucario in charge of training her in aura, martial arts, meditation, and education were all more than impressed by her determination. Her lack of voice meant nothing in the face of her willpower.

It was unfortunate that her Vow of Silence could not be undone, but it was possible that in the future she would meet a Legendary capable of removing it for her, or at least altering it so she might speak even for brief amounts of time. Until then, she was taught how to communicate with her aura. So far, she could only share emotions and vague sensations through physical touch, but to the aura-sensitive Lucario it was easy to understand her. They also considered it good practice for their Riolu fosterlings, and all the hatchlings often practiced and sparred together.

They learned that Ash responded well to praise and gentle corrections, and that even well-meant teasing could send her into a depressed state that wrecked havoc on her control over her aura. This led the Lucario to the correct conclusion that she had been bullied, and that had been part of the reason her aura formed a Vow. Despite this, with the proper encouragement she was quick to bounce back.

During the fifth month, Ash gave some of the healers permission to use their aura to see her memories, which revealed what happened that fateful day at the bay. It also revealed the other reason for her Vow; the terrible thing she said to her mother that day, the last thing she'd said to her in her emotional state. The rest of that month focused on teaching the little girl the ability to let go of the past, and to control her emotions in high-stress situations. At the beginning of the sixth month, Ash requested via a written note an apology letter she wrote be delivered to her mother, because by this point she realized that Delia was most definitely worried about her.

The king agreed, and included a letter of his own when the messenger was chosen. While it was necessary to let Delia know where her daughter was (although not the exact location, because the Lucario Kingdom was a secret, sacred place), it was far more important that Ash remain here to master her powers. She would never be able to do so in Pallet Town, even with a tutor, simply because of the negative things Ash associated with the place.

Barely a week after the messenger left, Suicune returned, with her promised gift. As Ash had been told of Suicune's part in her situation, the girl was excited to meet the Legendary she thought of as her savior. Suicune's gift came in several parts; the first was a lovely, plush doll of Xerneas, which Ash recognized from her lessons on Legendary Pokemon around the world. The next was a luxurious travel cloak, a deep blue with the inside lining woven from the velvety fur of Suicune's own mane, oversized so that she could grow into it and use it when she began her Pokemon Journey, and release the darted hem as she got older. The last was a pair of gloves the Legendary explained were often used to help young Aura Guardians with learning to control their powers. The gloves were fingerless, going just above Ash's wrists (they would grow with her), white with beautiful blue crystals fixed to the backs so they sat atop Ash's hands when they were palm-down. Like the cloak, they were indestructible, and could be cleaned with a burst of aura.

Ash shared her gratitude with an aura-infused hug, sharing the emotions 'grateful', 'precious', and 'protective'. Easily understanding, Suicune promised to visit every now and then, and also to bring her brothers to meet Ash. In the meantime, she encouraged Ash to keep working hard at her lessons.

As the Lucario had learned to expect by this time, Ash doubled her efforts. By the time a year had passed, she had finished what was essentially a high school equivalent of schooling at the age of six. Quite the opposite of her fears, Ash was a brilliant girl, only she had a very unique way of thinking, so normal teaching methods were ineffective on her. Luckily for her, her Lucario teachers were well-equipped to handle that, and under their care she thrived.

Multiple meditation breaks a day, combined with several physical training sessions, broke up the monotony of book work and kept her fit and focused. By the beginning of her second year in the Lucario Kingdom, she began spending several days a week helping out specific Lucario around the palace, and the territory. She began learning the art of cooking, and studying various forms of medicine under the head healer. She also was allowed to tag along on the occasional patrol, as practice in using her aura sight ability, and interacting with other Pokemon.

All of the mature Lucario agreed that she was a natural at manipulating her aura, but she had larger reserves than normal, which meant her control was taking longer to improve. The gloves Suicune gave her helped, of course, but it was important that Ash learned proper control on her own, too.

In the evenings, the king and queen often told Ash of the many legends and forgotten history of the world, of Legendary and Mythical Pokemon, of Pokemon culture. Etiquette, as well, for that was a key component of life in the Lucario Kingdom. It was during those lessons that they began to teach Ash of her destined role in the world, as the Chosen One. Of what that meant, the dangers and responsibilities, and how she would be expected to handle them.

The silent but still expressive child accepted the burden of her fate with grace. She loved Pokemon, had learned to cherish the bonds she could make with them; it was only natural that she'd do her best to protect them.

XxXxX

Back in Pallet Town, the years hadn't been so peaceful. The night Ashka Ketchum disappeared shook the entire town, as nobody had actually thought Gary's bullying (though few had admitted to themselves what it was) would result in a child going missing. Within a week the truth had come out, with Gary and his gang panicking as they realized just what they might have done, and finally admitting the truth of their actions. The school teachers too, for having known but done nothing. It was one of the rare times the townspeople saw Professor Oak's fury, as he expected better of his grandson and neighbors, expected compassion instead of their cruelty.

By the second week, when the search parties still came up empty-handed, it was obvious that Delia Ketchum was devastated. Basically a single mother, her baby was all she had, and after learning that her daughter had been telling the truth she was overwhelmed with guilt. If only she had listened, instead of accusing her baby girl of lying… She was convinced it was all her fault. Gossip gave way to pity. First the poor woman's husband vanished, then her daughter, but none could have expected what happened next.

Four months after Ash went missing, Red Ketchum returned to Pallet Town after years of top-secret missions with the G-Men of Kanto. As soon as he saw Delia, he knew something was wrong, and upon seeing her husband the woman burst into tears, barely able to force out an explanation. Red renewed the search immediately, going so far as to ask his old friend, Lance Blackthorn, to help. They widened the search area, but still nothing, even as the months passed by.

Crushed by the possibility that their child was lost forever, Red and Delia made the difficult decision to move away from Pallet. Delia couldn't stand the sight of Gary, and Red didn't want his wife to waste away even farther in such a painful place. At Lance's suggestion, they moved to Blackthorn City in Johto.

Ten months after Ash went missing, a Lucario showed up in Pallet Town, asking for one Delia Ketchum. Professor Oak hurried to meet this rare Pokemon that could actually speak to humans, and was shocked when it claimed to be carrying a letter from Ash to her mother. Hopeful, he told the Lucario where the Ketchum family had relocated to.

It took another few months for the Lucario to arrive at Blackthorn City (traveling between regions, even with aura-enhanced abilities, took quite a bit of time on foot), quickly pointed to the Ketchum's new residence. There, it first handed over Ash's letter to Delia. Recognizing her daughter's handwriting, the woman opened the letter with bated breath, her husband reading over her shoulder.

Dear mommy,

I'm sorry for what I said before running away. I was upset that everybody always believes Gary even though he was always saying mean things and pushing me, I don't hate you. I was wrong and that was very bad of me to say.

Suicune found me that night and took me to the Lucario Kingdom. They told me I can use aura, and that because I was so upset my aura reacted, and I made a Vow of Silence on accident. I can't talk anymore, but I have lots of nice Lucario teaching me how to use my aura instead of my words to come communa communicate. They're teaching me all kinds of things, like how to control my aura, history, maps, and math. They're very smart!

I miss you lots, but I really need to learn control. I don't want to make any more Vows on accident. I love you!

Ash

PS: I'll ask the king and queen of the Lucario Kingdom if you can come visit soon. It's a secret place, but maybe if you close your eyes the whole trip they'll bring you here.

Delia let out a sob, slumping in her chair. Her baby was alive, even if she didn't know where.

"I apologize for the delay in delivery, Lady Delia," the Lucario said solemnly with a bow, startling the parents. "We were not aware you moved away from Pallet Town, so I went there first. That letter was written six months into Lady Ashka's stay with us. There is also a letter for you, from our king."

Red took this one, sliding a thumb under the wax seal and unfolding the letter.

To the parents of Ashka Ketchum,

I realize that this letter should have been sent the moment Suicune brought her to us, but at the time it appeared that the hatchling would be safer without others knowing her whereabouts. We were uncertain of what conditions brought her to us, you see, for her appearance that night was rather painful for us to take in; she was covered in dirt and scratches that still bled even after the long journey, and had the scent of an abandoned hatchling. However, Lady Ashka recently revealed to us what happened, and how it got to the point of her wishing to get away from Pallet Town.

As I'm sure she included in her letter, Lady Ashka has the ability to use aura. It is vital that she learn to control it properly, as in moments of great distress aura can and will seek to help its user, but without being guided it can be dangerous. As her unintentional Vow of Silence sealed her voice, we believed it prudent to begin training her immediately. I have no doubts that she will one day be an Aura Guardian of great power and kindness.

She is a very smart hatchling, and has taken to her lessons like a Pidgey to the air. I've no doubt you wish to see her, so I have instructed the messenger to arrange transport for you, so long as you swear to secrecy. The Lucario Kingdom is a place that must remain out of sight, so to speak, for various reasons. I hope to hear from you.

King Lucario, of the Lucario Kingdom

After letting his wife read the letter, Red turned to the Lucario, that had been waiting patiently on the porch. Studying it carefully, he gathered his composure and spoke.

"How soon can we get transportation to your kingdom?"

"As soon as you can get to Sinnoh, sir. The Lake Guardians will ensure an escort is there to greet you."

It didn't even take a moment for the couple to begin packing.

XxXxX

"I see you've finished cataloging our storage rooms," an elderly female Lucario smiled, accepting a clipboard from a young human child. "Many thanks, hatchling. Have you any assignments from your other lessons?"

Ash reached out to gently touch her mentor's forepaw. She was getting better at translating her aura into 'words' but it still took physical contact, and it was still a work in progress. 'Soon. Geography. History.'

"Ah, the essays. Well off you go to finish those, then, you've finished all I had for you here. Remember to keep working on your Heal Pulse, though, you've got the first stage but there's still more to master."

Nodding, Ash bowed slightly and headed for her room, waving to the Lucario and Riolu as she passed them in the great stone hallways. At this time of year they were hosting several Rangers as well, which she greeted in a similar manner. By now the Ranger Union knew that she was training to become an Aura Guardian, and she occasionally worked with a nearby squad for basic patrolling missions.

At six years old, she had mentally and emotionally matured far more than most teenagers, thanks to her lessons with the Lucario. Meditation had taught her to control her emotions, though not to ignore them, her other lessons teaching her how to diffuse tense situations and solve problems between humans and Pokemon, as well as between Pokemon and Pokemon. Trying to help two groups of just humans get along was something she didn't have experience in, though she'd been cautioned to observe carefully when she was around large groups of humans.

She was physically stronger than others of her age group, due to her martial arts training and aura training. Her eyes had also gained flecks of a light, crystal blue from the constant usage of aura, and her hair had grown out to reach her knees. The Lucario that had been assigned as her primary caretaker, as the kingdom did with their Riolu fosterlings, often tied it up in pigtails that resembled the black appendages Riolu used to sense aura.

Greeting her caretaker with a hug as she entered her room, Ash went straight for her desk. The room was spacious, with a large cushion as a bed in the far right corner covered in a set of blankets. On the left was the dresser for her clothes, and most of the walls were filled with bookshelves. There was a doorway that led to a bathroom, and then her desk beneath the window, where two sets of paper were arranged. Her essays.

Now, Ash liked learning, and she never did anything halfway, but book work was always the most draining on her, and essays were… mostly boring. She much preferred the physical lessons, but she understood the importance of regular schooling, and so tried her best not to dwell on the negatives too much.

She truly did love living in the Lucario Kingdom. She missed her mother, of course, but this was for the best. The training she received here would benefit her far more than anything in Pallet Town would have; she was learning how to survive off the land, how to heal herself and others (both with aura and without), battle tactics and strategy… this training was going to help her become someone worthy of being called the Chosen One.

To be honest, having such a destiny scared her, but thanks to the Lucario who taught her, she knew she wouldn't be alone. The Pokemon who would someday join her team would be with her the whole time, and as long as she strove to be worthy of that, she would believe in herself. She knew there were many things she'd have to do before then, as she had discussed with the king and queen, but she was determined to prepare properly.

And that required her to finish those essays.

XxXxX

"Welcome, Lord and Lady Ketchum," the Lucario king said with a respectful nod as the couple entered the throne room. "You found the trip comfortable, I hope?"

"Lady Suicune made sure of that," Red said, still awed at being allowed to ride one of the Legendary Beasts. He'd been told that the Legendary had taken a shine to his daughter, but to actually have evidence… and the way Suicune spoke so fondly of Ash… it was something else. But now, he turned his focus to what he and his wife had come to Sinnoh for. "Forgive my rudeness, sire, but we wish to see our daughter as soon as possible."

The Lucario queen chuckled, as both Pokemon rose to their feet. "Of course. She will be happy to see you, as well, I'm sure. Follow us, I believe that she is assisting Lucario in the Healer's Wing. She has quite the talent for it," the female Lucario added.

"How has she been?" Delia asked, wringing her hands. She was nervous, still feeling guilty for not believing her daughter about the bullying. "She's stayed healthy?"

"She's stronger than any other child her age, in most ways," the king said. "Healthy as a Rapidash, that hatchling, and ever curious." He led the way through the halls, nodding regally as the Riolu and Lucario bowed to him and the queen, then to their guests. It was a short trip, and soon enough they passed through a wide archway into what was undoubtedly an infirmary.

Red froze as he saw his daughter, taller then he remembered, jet black hair just like his, tied up in long pigtails almost brushing the floor, and her face pinched in concentration. Her hands were glowing a soft blue-green, held over a beat-up Meowth. Before their eyes, the cuts and bruises on the Meowth's body faded away, its fur being smoothed over and its body relaxing.

"That felt pretty good, is this some kinda heaven?" The Meowth said in a daze, shocking Red and Delia, but Ash only smiled. Reaching off to the side now that the glow was gone, she offered the feline a pair of berries, scratching it behind the ears and earning a hearty purr. Her hands glowed a pale blue where they touched fur, and the Meowth nodded. "Yea', I'll rest here. Thank ya, girlie."

With that, the feline was out like a light, and Ash tucked a blanket around it before turning away, walking towards to doorway after waving to a nearby Lucario. Then she faced forwards, and stopped, eyes widening. Red could see her shock in her eyes, so like Delia's, but before he could force himself to move she'd already bolted over. She jumped up, wrapping an arm around both of them, and Red couldn't help but drop to his knees.

"Arceus bless," he whispered, pulling his daughter and wife close. "We thought we'd lost you…"

He jolted as he felt Ash's presence, not physically, something deeper than that.

'Affection. Love. Joy.'

"That must be the aura thing," he chuckled after getting a hold of himself, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. That was going to take some getting used to.

XxXxX

Ash's parents stayed in the Lucario Kingdom for two months, learning the details of their daughter's lessons and training. At Ash's request, nobody mentioned anything about her being the Chosen One, as she wasn't sure how her parents would respond to it. Regardless, the family was just happy to be together again.

The Meowth she had healed also stayed, having grown attached to his rescuer. She had found him collapsed in the woods during a patrol, and after a week of recovery he explained, sheepish, how he taught himself to talk like a human and walk on his hind legs for another Meowth that then rejected him. He'd intended to go to Kanto, but snuck onto the wrong plane and ended up in Sinnoh, where he'd gotten lost and finally passed out from starvation and injury.

Ash liked the unique Meowth, helping him learn to speak properly, without the accent, though it was a work in progress. They made quite the pair; a Pokemon who could speak human, and a human who couldn't speak but could understand Pokemon. She took to carrying him around, him clinging to her shoulders, as a form of both bonding and training.

His presence also eased any leftover feelings of hurt, and Ash set to rebuilding her relationship with her mother. She was shocked that her parents had moved away from Pallet Town, but it made sense. Her disappearance had caused a lot of wide-spread consequences, not just for her family. Gary had dropped his attitude entirely, thinking that he'd gone and killed Ash somehow, and the gossip mill had stopped completely. It seemed like they never realized just the sort of damage words could cause, until what looked like too late.

That made Ash think quite a bit. From what she'd been told, Gary had learned his lesson the hard way, but had been taking it even worse. And while she was still mad at him for all the things he said, she didn't want to hold that over his head forever. He was a smart kid, she realized that now, and after a lot of contemplation and meditation she pieced together what she knew of her old friend, and finally realized that he had been lonely. His parents were gone, his older sister off on her own journey, and Professor Oak was too busy to spend time with him. He'd seen a way to get attention and 'friends' by leeching off his grandfather's reputation and he'd taken it, although it wasn't a good choice.

After conveying this to her parents through aura, she wrote out her suggestion. Professor Oak had a yearly summer camp he hosted, and she wanted to go to the next one. It would help her to learn how to interact with her peers that weren't used to aura. Delia had been against it in the beginning, but after seeing her daughter's determination to go through with it, and Red and the Lucarian monarchs agreeing that Ash needed to spend more time with human children her age, she finally relented.

That also set the stage for what would become a new routine, where Ash would spend her 'school year' in the Lucario Kingdom and holidays and breaks with her parents at their new house in Johto. The two months with Meowth convinced the feline that Ash was the one he wanted as a trainer, so he allowed himself to be caught, though he spent all his time outside his Pokeball. Red was to hold onto it until Ash was old enough to become a trainer.

Not only did this idea go over well, the Lucario queen suggested that she spend her rest weekends at the Palace (her training was tiring, and Lucario of all fighting types understood the need for time to recover before continuing on) visiting different nearby towns and making friends.

Naturally, this pleased Red and Delia, who were able to accept the need for their daughter to master her aura with ease once seeing what she could do, and the added fact that Suicune volunteered to transport Ash and Meowth－who had agreed to the nickname Bagheera－back and forth. With the new plan set, Ash prepared to return to Pallet Town for the two-week summer camp. Her parents would register her once they returned home.

Ashka Ketchum was six, almost seven, and she knew that the feeling drawing her back to her birthplace was important.

XxXxX

"Ah, hello, how may I－oh Mew, is that you Ashka?" Samuel Oak's eyes glistened with tears as he threw open the door the rest of the way and knelt down, putting his hands on the young girl's shoulders, careful not to dislodge the Pokemon clinging to her back. "Thank heavens you're alive, we all thought…"

Ash offered the elderly man a smile. The professor had always been kind to her, even if he never realized what his grandson had been up to. Resting one of her hands on top of his, she let her aura pass through her skin. 'Reassurance. Contentment.'

Her smile turned into a wide grin at the shocked look on Samuel's face, and she gently nudged Bagheera's head with her own. He knew her well enough by now to understand, and they'd already worked this arrangement out.

"She's glad ta see ya again, Professor," Bagheera said cheerfully, and Ash could feel his amusement when the poor Professor could only stare at the talking feline. "Also, due ta certain circumstances, she can't use her voice ta talk ta ya, only her aura, but I can help her out with that, if ya have questions."

"I－b-but－what? A talking Meowth?!" The Professor stammered, eyes lighting up at what was certainly a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.

"Name's Bagheera, I'm Ashka's partner," he introduced himself with a little flourish of his paw, earning a snort from the girl. Her friend was a little dramatic at times. "We're here for the summer camp, ya know."

"We were just as surprised, Samuel," Red offered from behind Ash, finally drawing the professor's attention to the girl's parents. "He's very unique. Anyways, Ashka wanted us to come early."

Taking that as her cue, Ash focused, still having trouble using aura to convey actual words. A power born of the soul worked best with concepts and sensations, not so much language, but she made do.

'Where is Gary? I wish to speak with him.'

Taking a moment to process the sudden request, and its method of delivery, Samuel's shoulders slumped, radiating exhaustion, worry, and grief. Ash frowned at that; looked like Gary had taken things even harder than she'd thought. Samuel looked every bit his age as he spoke, eyes pleading. "He's up in his room… when nobody could find you, he… he really regrets it. Please don't be too hard on him."

'I won't. He's suffered enough,' Ash said, and she knew it was true. 'I wish to make up with him. I realize now that he was lonely, too.'

That startled the professor, but the brilliant man was quick to realize was she meant, guilt clouding his features. Holding back a sigh, Ash gently patted his hand before slipping out of his grasp and into the lab. She remembered how to get to the connected house, from her days as Gary's closest playmate. Trotting up the stairs, footsteps silent thanks to Lucario's training, she sought out the dark, depressed aura. Gary was in his room, aura sluggish, so he was probably not doing anything but he wasn't asleep.

In all honesty, his aura felt heavy, murky and wrong, and it was disturbing to Ash, who had gotten used to the crystal-clear auras of the Pokemon she had lived with for so long. She shared her unease and its source with Bagheera, who nuzzled her face affectionately. Taking comfort in his presence, she stretched her senses farther, wincing at the crushing loneliness radiating from Gary. Even his heavy, long-held guilt was almost drowned out by it.

Not allowing herself any more hesitation, Ash opened Gary's bedroom door. The light was off, the window covered with heavy drapes, and it smelled stale, like a sort of sickness had settled down to plant roots. The boy didn't even respond to the sound of the door opening even though she knew he was awake. Feeling Bagheera's paws tighten on her shoulders slightly, Ash moved forward.

Gary looked terrible. There were dark bags under his eyes and he was sickly-pale, far too thin for someone his age. His eyes, which used to be a bright, glittering green, now looked dull and more grayish. He hadn't seen her yet, and she took a moment to look at the boy who changed her life.

The arrogance was gone, but so was the fire-y determination that used to shine from his eyes. Void of life, he was barely a husk of his old self－even the milder version that had been her first friend. Seeing him like this was saddening, but she hoped to fix that.

She tapped his shoulder in a slow, deliberate motion. Gary seemed to instinctively curl inwards before he saw her, and froze like a Deerling in headlights. Then he began shaking his head, mouth opening and closing as whatever color was left drained from his face, leaving him breathing shallowly and panting. That in itself was concerning, but worse was the almost violent way his aura seemed to reject her presence.

From the lectures on mind healing she'd had to listen to as part of her training, she figured he probably thought he was having a nightmare, had been having them for some time, and that she was likely a common feature in what were no doubt relentless, tortured nights. The human mind's worst enemy was often itself, after all.

Saddened, Ash knew she couldn't let him withdraw any more than that. With the speed born of over a year of training, she took his hand in a gentle but firm grip, and focused her aura, taking some slow, deep breaths to help generate enough calm to transfer through the temporary bond she was creating. It took nearly three full minutes for Gary's breathing to steady, and his aura to relax enough for her to properly communicate with him.

'It's alright.'

Gary shook his head, close to tears. "No, no, I'm sorry, I never meant－"

'It's alright,' she sent again, more firmly this time, increasing the amount of her own aura she was pushing into his body. 'I know. I understand.' Concentrating, she took a moment to settle herself on the bed next to him, kneeling on the mattress so she wasn't awkwardly stretching over it. Seeing that Gary wasn't responding, she sighed and pulled him into a hug. He went rigid, aura rippling with uncertainty and even a bit of fear.

When she'd started learning the more complicated parts of communicating using her aura, her Lucario teachers had impressed the importance of letting nature take its course when trying to form certain types of bonds. It was the same with healing; if the target's aura rejected her, it was going to be far harder to get the job done. But Ash wasn't a quitter, and she had a stubborn streak like none other.

So she called on her larger-than-normal reserves of aura, and overpowered Gary's.

Let it be known that that's really not recommended, unless in dire circumstances, for a variety of reasons. For one, it could harm the other being if the user wasn't careful, and second, there were a large number of unpredictable side effects. In this specific case, the sheer amount of Ash's aura partially overrode her intent and the bond created to help heal Gary's emotional trauma was a little more permanent than what Ash was expecting. Not that she particularly cared, because she was a dedicated healer and she could feel that her 'treatment' was working, but she finally realized what her mentors actually meant.

She was fast-healing the worst of Gary's damaged aura, but in the process was fusing part of it with her own to stabilize it. And she couldn't stop, or she risked permanently damaging Gary's soul, which meant that he and she would be connected in some way from now on. Which hadn't been her goal at all, but she wasn't cruel enough to back out at this point.

For the next half hour, she patched up his emotional and mental wounds, until it was safe to pull her aura back into her own body. Then she waited for his mind to finish processing what his soul had just been through.

"... Ash…?"

She let her hand rest on his forearm. 'I'm here.'

Later, Gary would deny crying, but in that moment he just clung to her and sobbed. She let him.

XxXxX

After several hours of calming Gary and alternating using aura and Bagheera's translation skills to explain where she' been, Ash was relieved to see that her friend－how he'd used to be, a real friend though a very snarky and slightly arrogant one－was back to a healthy state. He was still being clingy, but that was mostly due to the new bond, which would settle soon enough. Gary had regained some of that spark she had missed, rapidly questioning about Bagheera's ability to speak human, what exactly living in the Lucario Kingdom was like, and how long she was staying.

Before she had come, he'd refused to even consider going to the summer camp, which he was quick to rectify once he learned that it was part of why she'd returned. The look on Samuel Oak's face when his grandson darted downstairs, vibrant and loud and Gary, was something Ash would never forget.

"We'll be staying in one of the guest rooms, Samuel offered to host us during the camp," Delia told her once she'd taken a few steadying breaths. Seeing Gary was hard on her, but Ash knew that because she had forgiven Gary, so would her mother. Eventually. "I think I'll make everyone a snack, heaven knows Samuel can only make ramen and order pizza."

Ash nodded, watching Delia practically flee for the kitchen, and shared a look with Red. He nodded, following his wife after ruffling his daughter's hair, and Ash trailed after Gary into the living room.

"Here, I have a book of Sinnoh Pokemon, tell me which ones you've seen already." He'd already pulled the heavy volume off the bookshelf, letting it thud onto the coffee table. She was pretty sure he had no idea about the bond, how it was driving him to stay close to her and constantly buzzing, seeking feedback and resonance without pause. She figured she'd just endure it, and obligingly knelt on the carpet as Gary opened the book.

She kept a hand on his wrist, using the contact to let him know which Pokemon on the page she'd met before, and Bagheera putting in his own opinions on them. The Meowth was a funny one, light sarcasm born of wit and with a retort always on the tip of his tongue. Ash really couldn't have asked for a better Pokemon partner. He was also very good at breaking any tension that built up, which helped whenever Gary began to get a little self conscious being the only human speaking.

As there was a full week until the summer camp, Ash spent the time rebuilding her friendship with Gary, and keeping up with her training with meditation and practicing the katas, she'd been taught. She also forced the professor to take some time off and spend time with Gary, who made the most of that by learning about his grandfather's research and helping out where he could, so those two began to mend their strained relationship as well.

As the auras around her began to clear and lighten, Ash became noticeably more energetic, though it was typically written off as her being excited about the camp. Which she was, of course, but it was easier to be excited when she wasn't weighed down by dark, depressed auras. Seeing her so upbeat helped Delia to start tolerating Gary's presence again, so that was yet another bonus.

By the time the camp started, Gary's need to be around Ash almost constantly had waned some, the bond beginning to settle. It still drove him to be a bit of a brat and try to monopolize her time when it came to interacting with the other camp-goers, but that was pretty easily managed, especially when they met Serena Yvonne.

She was painfully shy, and after much urging revealed that she hadn't even wanted to come because she was afraid of Pokemon. Gary took that as a challenge, and commandeered Bagheera's assistance in getting Serena used to interacting with Pokemon. Meanwhile, Ash just sat back and watched, amused, occasionally stepping in when the other girl got too overwhelmed.