IMPORTANT NOTE: The story is under a massive re-write. Check profile for further details. And... the story might change (for the better of course) so it's up to you if you want to read.

Author's Note:

Though the A/N is a bit long, I suggest you don't skip this. It will seriously help you decide whether you'll like this story or not. I don't want you to waste your time unnecessarily.

1. This is a journey fic, but with many other components. Only the first of the planned three arcs will be a journey. In a way, the journey part can be considered redundant, but that it's a deliberate move so that I can work on my writing skills (that's the whole reason I'm even writing); besides, I like journey fics. It gives so much room to develop characters and work on sub-plots, and the slow pace of a journey is perfect for that.

Oh, and fillers will be almost non-existent. I swear.

2. The first 6 chapters are super long. 2 of them crossing even 17k words. But that's all. They'll be shorter from Chapter 7 (except for battle chapters).

3. Characters will be OOC. I can't go and give new adults 10-year-old personalities now, can I? But don't worry, the characters key features which define their personalities will remain. I'll try my best at that.

4. I've limited Ash's Pokémon Rooster. Why? Lesser the characters, better the characters. Read to find out what all Pokémon I eliminated.

5. I hate, hate, hate when canon plots are repeated. I'll try to keep everything interesting, if I'm taking something from canon, I'll add a new twist. I've taken full liberty of AU and AT. I like to keep things new and original.

6. M-Rating: Deaths, graphic violence, adult language, suggestive sexual content, dark themes. No erotica. In case I decide to add erotica, the censored version will be here and the uncensored on AO3 and Wattpad. I'll let you know about it.

7. Main genres: Fantasy, Adventure, and Romance. [There's a reason for the fantasy tag]

8. Amourshipping: No disloyalty. No love triangles. (It's a slight spoiler, but it's better being apprehensive whether these tropes will appear or not. I know these are the most hated tropes).

9. The first 3 chapters have some purple prose and aren't written too well. After that, writing will get better. In fact, to be really, really honest, I'm not really proud of my first 5 chapters. It is, after all, my first and only fan-fic, so it's natural for the beginning chapters to be bad.

I strongly suggest that you take a look at my latest chapter and see if the writing appeals to you and only then give the story a read. My aim is to make every chapter better than the previous one. If it's not better, I re-write, I don't say, deal with it.

I'll be editing my first 3 chapters scene by scene whenever I find the time.

Chapter-1 Edit Status: 0 Scenes done.

Darkness, Despair, and Death. That was the sight before Ash Ketchum as he sluggishly opened his eyes. His bare soles blazed from the coarse sand's heat. The thin dry air around him choked his throat, burning his lungs with every breath he took. But all that was nothing compared to the slew of abomination in front of him. The cerulean sky had lost its athletic glamor and transformed into a bloody cloak of dark raging flames. In place of the ever-luminous sun was a gloomy orb gradually expanding and engulfing all the light in the world. In the few seconds Ash stood there, he could vividly differentiate the increase in darkness. Dense misty dust circulated horizontally over the ground, covering the earth in its thicket. It was so opaque that Ash couldn't even see his feet.

Baffled at this unfamiliar atmosphere, he took a step ahead, hoping to scout the area.

"Arghhh!" a sharp needle-like pain shot threw his leg. He jerked, slipped, and landed on a sharp rock which pierced into his spine. "Aaaarrrggaaaaahhhhh!" he arched his back and hollered like he was being amputated without an anesthetic.

With gritted teeth, he wrestled the pain. He wrapped his arms around him, and rolled on the burning sand. He cried in agony as more angular rocks tore through his shirt and bore into his flesh. This was the most pain his body had ever experienced, yet there was something which told him—this was just the beginning.

Just then, the sand cloud around him began to revolve, enveloping him within a furious dust storm—his vision decayed. He shut his eyes, protecting them from the storm's grainy onslaught, but the assault was redirected to the scars on his face—scars he knew not how he got.

Groaning from the blazing scars, he covered his face with his forearms and aimlessly brawled against the adamantine currents. I must find a way out.

Ash tried to move in a uniform direction, but with every step he took, he was either pushed back a ten, or lifted off the ground and propelled in disdain, like he was one of those unwanted ingredients in a scrumptious meal.

To further his obstacles, a slurry of rocks and pebbles pelted him in the face, his gut, and every part of his body. There was no escape, he was stuck in the most optimum line of fire, a perpetual trap of victimization—the harder he tried to escape, the harder he was put down.

"Darn it!" Ash groaned. If there was one-way he dealt with hinderances, it was to face them head on. With a strained breath, he forced himself forward. Pangs spiked through his body. Don't you give up!

He fought through the aches and burns crippling his spirit, and the vicious storm relentless in its massacre. He kicked his ground and ran. He ran till his muscles burned and his veins pumped battery acid. He ran like he was being chased by a frenzy heard of carnivorous Pokémon. Then he ran some more—gradually circumventing his way through the storm, reaching a still place with no activity.

Staggering, he dropped to his knees, exasperating. Hot air rushed into his mouth, scorching his cracked lips, and baking his dry tongue. He gaged—the air tasted foul. Rotten even—as if it was encapsulated in a container filled with mold and feces for a year and then released into the atmosphere.

He vomited instantly.

Vertigo struck him, spinning his head like he just got down from a daunting roller-coaster ride. His raw scars blazed from the saline sweat dripping from his brow. Every cell inside him groveled and begged to give up and die. There was no way he could keep up. Even his spirit was burning its last flame.

Not yet. Can't give up yet.

He spat the ugly taste lingering in his mouth. He wiped his mouth with his sleeve. He blanched in fear.

Redness covered his fingers, its streaks meandering like an overflowing river into his sleeve. He checked his other hand—it was the same. He panicked and inspected himself. Blood stains tarnished his whole outfit—deep red blood, fresh and thick. Where did this come from?

He peeked around. There weren't any tall trees and bushes like in a forest, nor any pompous buildings and roads like in a city; it was a desert—an unconditionally desolated reddish terrain. Apart from the roaring sounds of winds, he couldn't register a whisper of life.

He dug his fingers into the sand, and shut his eyes, trying to recollect his journey here. Only blackness filled his vision. He tried harder. One hit, that's all. One hint was all he needed, but he got nothing.

A breeze swept against him, opening his eyes as its graze brought Ash his much-needed clue. He plucked the furs stuck to his forehead. It was red—blood again. He peered closer—it was yellow dipped in red.

His eyes shot up. "Pikachu." His heart pounded against his ribs, painting his insides with trepidation.

He balled the fur in his fists. "No! No! No! No! No! No—"

The ground trembled, piquing up Ash's fears. He tried to flee, but his legs gave out, cementing their position. The land under him rose, thrusting him upwards. Ash fought his urge to jump off, for the elevation could be of assistance, and probably quench his fears and doubts.

He held his ground, waiting for the uprising to stop. It did when he reached about twenty feet off the ground. He gingerly stood on his feet, careful not to fall or burden his throbbing aches.

At the sight of the entire landscape, Ash froze—a blast of unprecedented horror smacked him in the face. Leaving a few yards of radius around him, the rest of the land was painted in carmine. Beheaded corpses with one limb, two limbs, and no limbs were stacked one over the other like massive pyramids. The separated heads with ghastly expressions were congregated into larges piles between the torso stacks. The arrangement was so horrifyingly meticulous that it seemed like an act by a barbarous executioner. Hurricanes danced across the area, collecting and brandishing the lifeless remnants like fingers, toes, organs, and blood splattered brains in their vortexes.

Realization dawned upon him—he was the only thing alive.

Ash's heart pounded twice its rate, the thinness of the air suffocating his breath. Something which he called his conscious blamed him for the carnage. He remembered nothing from before, but somehow, he knew he was responsible.

His fingers twitched, blood dripping in drops from it. He shuddered in helplessness. For the first time, Ash's pain faded, making way for an agonizing fear, sensing it like never.

"You have failed, Oh, Chosen One," mocked a vicious voice, shattering his last ounce of hope.

His vision blurred. His insides felt cold.

He collapsed.

"Huh!" Ash gasped as he shot up from his bed, sweat dripping all over his face and bare body. His bloodshot eyes pulsated between amber brown and azure blue for a split second.

He quickly patted his face, checking for scars—they weren't there. His body felt numb—painless. He was in his bed and what he saw was a mere dream. The most bizarre dream he had ever had, yet, it felt so real. So real that the appalling anxiety still circulated in his veins. He glanced his palms—his fingers were still twitching.

Was it the future that he saw? Or was it just an absurd dream? Whose voice was that? Questions accelerated through his mind.

He treaded a hand through his thick raven hair, moist in perspiration and took a deep breath of relief, chucking his thoughts to ponder on a later date.

He massaged his eyes, then stole a quick glance at the alarm clock on his side table—it was nearly noon, too late for his hyperactive blood, however he could afford such a luxury. He wasn't on road but home. He had been, for a few weeks now. Following his historic victory at the Kanto Battle Frontier, his mother, Delia Ketchum, advised or rather commanded him to take a break from his never-ending travels, and for once, stay home—that was what he was doing.

He briskly flicked his window drapes, letting in the sun's divine rays, illuminating his room with virgin light. He pushed his duvet aside and got down his bed. His bare soles touched the cold marble floor, sending shivers up his spine. He flitted near the door and slipped on his flip-flops, which he usually left there on his mom's order.

He turned back, stretched his arms, and yawned, assassinating his leftover sleep with a single breath. He searched around for his lifetime partner and his best friend, the yellow mouse, Pikachu, who seemed to be nowhere. Must have gone down for breakfast.

His groggy eyes fell on an old photograph of his deceased father, Red Ketchum, placed in the corner of his study table. His sight immediately shifted to a worn-out hat, mounted in a glass display beside the photograph—the last remains of his father, Ash's only token of his remembrance.

He smiled weakly, walking back into that bitter-fresh memory lane.

About nine years ago, when Ash was about six, a disastrous accident which took lives of several eminent Pokémon Trainers was reported from an unknown location in the Sinnoh Region. Ash's dad was one of those many trainers caught up in that calamity. Ash was never known to make many friends; his only being his dad and the neighborhood Pokémon. So, when the dreadful news reached him, his whole world had tumbled down—he had changed. He stopped socializing with anyone and everyone, holding himself back from making any new friends or interacting with the few he had—he embraced solitude. He never thought he'd be normal again. If not for that one summer camp years ago, he'd still be the same reclusive individual.

He chuckled warmly. Even the darkest clouds came with a silver lining, in his case it was—

Brrrrr. His stomach rumbled, a mild tornado whirling in it. He placed his palm on his belly and tapped it. "Guess I am hungry too."

He picked up the t-shirt lying on the floor, thankful that his mom hasn't seen it, and slipped it on. He unlocked the door and sauntered downstairs.

Ash navigated his way through the space in the living room, weaving around the two adjacent rooms and past the lavish kitchen with a brisk pace. The three-bedroom house was as spacious as the mother-son combo could have wanted. The entryway led straight to the living room which had a cozy couch and a gigantic wall-mounted television, opposite to which is the stairway to Ash's room bordering the two adjacent rooms on the ground floor, one: the master bedroom for his mom and the other was a guest room for any unexpected overnight staying visitors. Further ahead through the living room, on its side was the kitchen which probably occupied the largest area of the house with its glut of appliances and ingredients for his mother to experiment her recipes. To the farthest corner, away from the kitchen and the living room was the dining area which was concealed by the juxtaposition of the bedrooms and the kitchen. All the interior walls were white and adorned framed images of family portraits, Ash's childhood memories, his parents' teenage photos, and others. Ash's mom made it her daily routine to clean every photograph without fail. To her, they weren't just framed images, but magic—magic which captured the most blissful of memories. There were times when Ash caught his mom staring and reveling at them. While he didn't hold such sentiments, there were a few pictures which sometimes stationed him with their time-machine-like illusion.

As Ash entered the dining area, from the corner of his eye, he saw Pikachu sitting on the of the dining table, nibbling on a large rice ball with a blasphemous amount of ketchup over it. He sighed. If only Pikachu maintained a healthier diet, but that was highly unlikely.

"Morning, Ash," Pikachu said, raising his red condiment coated petite paw up.

"Morning, buddy."

As far back as Ash could remember, he always understood Pokémon speech. To him, it sounded just like how humans talk. He was about four when his unique ability became a household dinner conversation in his neighborhood. Many considered him a young genius while many had their apprehensions (which was an important reason for his inability to make human friends). It was then, the four-year-old Ash learned an important life lesson which he still held close to his heart, a byproduct of a reality called the societal norm—people fear what they don't understand. When you aren't what you're expected to be, the society either puts you on a pedestal of adulation or banishes you as an outcast—he experienced both. But no matter how big a splash you make in this world, whether you're a teenage pop star, a national hero, a world leader in peace, the only zillionaire in the world, or even a human who can understand Pokémon; eventually: nobody—gives—a—shit.

It wasn't until recently that Ash uncovered the mystery behind his ability. A couple of months ago, he visited the Rota Kingdom where he teamed up with Sir Aaron's resurrected Lucario to rescue Pikachu from the Tree of Beginning. During their brief encounter, Lucario shed some light on his skill. He told him that could manipulate aura like the Aura Guardians in fairy tales, (turns out they were real) and understanding Pokémon was just one of the many other skills aura users possessed.

As Ash approached the dining table, the contents on it came in his view. His eyes lit up and a wide grin spread across his face. The table was filled with all sorts of food his taste buds craved. In the centre was a large bowl of rice balls with a generous amount of black sesame seeds sprinkled over each ball, two aromatic curries whose fragrance could be followed all the way outside, a bowl of clear soup with vegetables floating in it, three stacks of fluffy pancakes towering over all of them, and a large jug of freshly extracted orange juice. His mom surely knew how to revitalize his spirits.

Ash scuttled to the table, pulled up a chair, and ogled at the delicious brunch. He set his aim on the rice ball in the third-row corner. It had the perfect balance of sesame seeds to rice. His hand involuntarily leapt onto it.

"Ouch!" A strict slap met his wrist midway.

"Fresh up. Now!" said a voice. It had a gentle overtone, but an authoritative undertone.

He heard Pikachu's muffled laughter. That fuzzball must have anticipated this. He hoisted his head and grinned sheepishly. "Yes, mom."

He got up and spun on his heel, following his mom's index finger pointing towards the bathroom.

A while later, Ash was gobbling down his sixth pancake. His mother was out grocery shopping with her maid Pokémon, Mr. Mime. He was alone with Pikachu who was still undone with his breakfast.

"When is our next journey, Ash?" Pikachu said, picking another rice ball from the almost empty bowl. He squeezed the last bit of ketchup from the bottle on it. "It's been weeks, I can't wait for some action."

"I 'av-ent de-chi-ded," Ash said with a stuffed mouth. He gulped down the meal with a satisfied smile. "I promised mom I would stay home, besides Professor Oak hasn't informed me anything yet. Why are you complaining anyway? Aren't you having fun watching mom's movie collection?"

"That is my hobby, this is passion!" Pikachu stood tall on the table, striking the pose of a torchbearer. He slouched his head and ears, "I haven't had a decent battle in weeks." He dropped dead on the table. "My body is getting weak." He crawled towards Ash. "I need more battles." He climbed onto him, clawing his paws into Ash's jacket. "Battles. Battles. Battles—"

"Alright!" Ash rose from his seat with Pikachu clung to his collar. "I'll talk to Professor Oak today, happy?"

"My human!" Pikachu nuzzled his cheeks against Ash's, the affectionate gesture he displays when overly elated.

"He-he-he! All right, all right, stop! That tickles, he-he-he—"

The videophone rang.

Ash's attention shifted. "Hold on, buddy," he placed Pikachu on the table. "I'll be right back."

He paced towards the phone, to the living room where the phone is kept. Nobody usually called home during this time of the day unless it was an emergency, and given that his mom and Mr. Mime were out, a certain scare ran through him.

He picked up the receiver and an image popped on the screen. It was a honey-blonde girl with a radiant and lively beam, Serena Yvonne, his childhood from Kalos Region. He instantly grinned. He hadn't talked to her in a while.

"Hey, Ash," Serena said with an overly excited smile.

"Hello, Serena."

After the demise of Ash's father and a few months into his isolation, his mom thought it'd be better if Ash he took part in a summer camp organized by the regional professor. Naturally, Ash was reluctant, he had lost his best friend (his father), a stroke which he thought he'd never recover from; and an activity like a camp with numerous kids to pester him was the last thing he needed, therefore his mom sent him there.

He hated the first two days. Every kid in that camp thought of himself as a Pokémon Master, and every self-proclaimed Pokémon Master needed an assistant to bully, and Ash was the easiest victim they found. Things went just as he imagined them to go, and the six-year-old Ash Ketchum waited for the day the camp ended so he could go home and throw a tantrum before his mom for sending him there. But then, he met Serena. He had no friends and neither did she; she needed one and so did he. They gelled in no time and Ash knew at once that for the first time, he had forged true friendship—a bond which was as real and sincere as the dipping sun itself. No matter how many nights come by, the promise of tomorrow's day was always there, just like they both were there for each other.

During the few months Ash and Serena spent together, they were practically inseparable, so much so that Serena ended up prolonging her weeks trip to months. And when it was time for her return, Ash had made her a promise that one day, they would both go on a journey.

Over the years their friendship could only grow stronger and Serena even managed to attend the next few summer camps to spend time with Ash.

And finally, it was time for Ash to begin walking towards his dream and start with his journey. He even convinced his mom to let him begin in Kalos region (only he knows how difficult was that battle), but unfortunately Serena bailed. She wanted to complete her schooling and graduate before she could start her journey and unlike her, studies and Ash never met eyes. Since that day, both teenagers eagerly awaited only for one thing—the day Serena graduated, and Ash had a decent idea that it was going to be sometime soon.

"—Remember how we drenched Gary in that pool? Ha-ha-ha," Ash laughed. "He had it coming. There wasn't a day he didn't get on my nerves."

"He isn't the only one to blame, stupid. You wanted to win against him so badly that you gave him all the reason to pick on you." Serena wiggled her finger. "You're no saint, y'know?"

Ash grinned embarrassedly. "Yeah, maybe you are right."

"How's he been anyway?"

"Who? Gary? No idea, haven't seen him in ages. I probably will give him a call one of these days," Ash said. "What about you? I'm sure you haven't called me to talk about Gary."

"Mm-hmm," she nodded. A wide grin adorned her face. "Guess what? I'm graduating in two weeks." Her voice had this jumpy pitch which Ash thought was the perkiest thing he ever saw.

"That's awesome! Congrats, Serena. I know you'll be the best graduate. I just know it."

"He-he, thanks, Ash, but you know what that means, right?"

"Of course. Our promise."

The blood vessels in Serena's face seemed to have popped. She flushed like a cherry orchard before harvest. "Yes. I've been waiting so long."

"I'll talk to mom today," Ash pumped his fist. "We'll be the best journeyers the world has ever seen."

"He-he. Sure, Ash."

"Alright then, I'll have to tell Pikachu and the others. I'll get back to you soon. Bye, Serena."

"Sure. Bye, Ash."

Ash took a deep breath. His grin widened and his fists clenched. He will be competing in a league again. The last was Hoenn where he could only reach to top eight spot, but this time the tables will turn. He'll go all the way. The Battle Frontier was a good experience and his Pokémon are stronger than ever. Yes, no one can stop him from winning the league. "Kalos, here I come."

Pikachu and his Pokémon would be elated on hearing this news. He walked back to give the mouse the news as his head flipped through various imaginations of the tough battles ahead, the new Pokémon he'd meet, and of course the time he'll get to spend with Serena.

As Ash stepped into the dining room, his eyed widened in horror. Red spots stained the entire beige carpet his mom dearly loved. On one end was a cap-less ketchup bottle and the other was Pikachu hastily licking the spilled ketchup. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together.

"Pikachu!" Ash yelled.

Pikachu flinched and stood on his paws, smirking evilly. "Bite me." He leaped over Ash and sprinted out.

Ash nearly chased the troublemaker, but he looked back at the mess his Pokémon created. He sighed. He'd better clean up before his mom got home, he can deal with the mouse later. With that decided, he went to the kitchen to get a damp cloth.

Professor Samuel Oak, the Kanto region's esteemed Regional Professor leaned his face closer into his computer screen in his cubicle. His old age was taking its toll on his eyesight and despite several protests by his grandchildren, he refused to wear spectacles, for he thought they made him look older than already he was.

"Hmm." He paused, examining the raw data on the screen.

He scribbled a few analytics on his notepad and placed it on one side of his desk. He rummaged through the tall stack of files on the other side, but he couldn't seem to find what he was looking for.

"You have the file from the Professor Birch, Daisy?"

"Yes, right here." Daisy pulled out a blue file from her drawer. She got up from her desk and handed the file. "Here you go, grandpa."

"Thanks." Professor Oak quickly flipped through the pages and immersed himself back into his research.

Daisy pulled up a chair beside him. She rested her chin on her arm, supported by her lap, and quietly peeped into his work. "I don't get it. Professor Birch is an expert at his work, yet he never publishes anything without running it by you. What is it with you two?"

"Ha-ha-ha. You should ask him that yourself. You are going for the conference, aren't you?" Oak said with his eyes glued to his computer.

"I don't know, grandpa. There is a lot of work pending and I can't leave you in this mess alone."

"I won't be alone. I'll have Gary with me."

"Humph," Daisy rolled her eyes. "That moron will only give you a headache."

Oak spun his rotating chair toward his granddaughter. "Now, now, that is not how you talk about your brother. He isn't half as bad as you make it sound."

"Yes, he's not bad, he's worse than bad. I remember the last time I left him with you: he dumped our entire food supply and told the Pokémon to eat when they wanted. Almost every Pokémon fell sick for the rest of the week."

"Come on, don't be too hard on him, that was after all one incident."

"You want more?" Daisy raised a skeptical eyebrow. "The time where he held a house party in the lab. How about the time he released the starter Pokémon into the wild, just hours before the trainers came? I could go on and on, you know?" she released her breath. "It won't be long before he gets hookers in here and turn this lab into a strip-club," she grumbled with pursed lips.

"Ha-ha-ha. You sure have strong feelings towards your brother."

"Strong is a weak word here."

"Your resentment is justifiable, but you can harbor it forever. He is your younger brother after all. He grew up in your hands."

"Huh, I don't hate him per say. I know he is a smart kid, smarter than me by a long shot. He is brilliant at both research and battles, and that's a rare talent. But his attitude, grraahhh! I wish he was little more responsible. The way he is going, I'm scared he'll do something that he'll regret one day."

"Daisy, mistakes are a flavor of life and Gary is at an age where he is supposed to make them and learn from them. You, me, or nobody has the right to take away that from him. Your parents would've said the same, were they alive."

"How would you know?"

Oak smiled. "I said the same to your mom and dad when you were of your his age."

Daisy pursed her lips. "You have an answer to everything, don't you?"

The doorbell rang.

"Ha-ha-ha. Go, check who's at the door," Professor Oak said.

"I will," Daisy stood. "But we still haven't finished our conversation." She walked off through the narrow passage.

Oak spun on his chair and took a brief look at his surroundings; the lab was chaotic to be modest. On either side of the walkway were hundreds of dusty files stowed, or rather cramped to make room for walking space, a constant reminder to the hordes of pending work. It was so tight that it was impossible to move without stepping on the loosely scattered papers which were so overpowering that they camouflaged the exotic floor design. The air was gray with the musty biblichor of the aged paper. It was a smell he grew quite accustomed to. Towards the side of Daisy's desk were dozens of cable wires jumbled up into a large ball.

Oak sighed. "Something needs to be done."

He heard a muffled commotion at the door. "Who is it, Daisy?"

"Ash, grandpa."

Ash and Pikachu followed Daisy into the lab. Daisy strayed to her desk, leaving the trainer-Pokémon to Professor Oak.

"Ash, my boy," the professor stood with a smile. "How have you been?"

"Great, Professor," Ash said. He raised his shoulder holding Pikachu. "Pikachu's doing great as well."

"Pika!" the mouse flashed a peace sign.

"Ha-ha-ha, that's good to hear." Oak stroked Pikachu's stiff ear. "So, tell me, Ash, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I need a favor, professor. I need details on Kalos region."

"I'm guessing this has something to do with your next journey?"

"Yes," Ash said. "Pikachu and I will now win the Kalos League."

"I wish you the best of luck, Ash. Why don't you wait here while I go make a few phone calls?"

"Sure."

Oak ventured into the backside of the lab where the real equipment was stored. He made a phone call to the Kalos Region and waited for an incoming fax. He plucked the paper from the fax machine and folded into to make it appear like a brochure. He eased his way back to his workspace, and gave it to Ash. "Here, my boy. All the details are in this."

The registrations were to start in a week and would remain open for the next six months. The procedure was simple and nothing different from other regions, therefore Ash didn't have many queries on it.

"Thanks a lot, professor. I'll let you know when I plan to leave," Ash said. Pikachu nudged him. "Err, sorry, Professor, but I gotta go now. Need to inform my team about this."

"Ha-ha-ha, sure, Ash. You can come by anytime. You're Pokémon are all in the ranch."

"Thanks. Bye, Professor." Ash dashed out with Pikachu rocking on his shoulder.

"Phew." A sigh escaped Oak as he took his seat. "Kids these days, they've got so much untapped energy in them." He slid his chair closer to his computer and went back into his research.

"Erm, grandpa?" Daisy called. "You didn't tell him Gary returned."

"Oh," Oak stroked his chin. "Guess he'll just have to find out then."

"Any luck?" Ash asked Pikachu who sniffing the earth in an attempt to track his Bulbasaur. The ranch was so stocked with Pokémon that sometimes finding his own was a tedious task. Trainers from all over the region who received a started from Professor Oak usually left their off-hand Pokémon here, though the Professor charged a meagre maintenance fee for their upkeep, it wasn't anything that a decent trainer couldn't afford. As a result, Prof. Oak's ranch an amalgam of all regions, a seemingly independent territory bearing Pokémon of all regions.

"I'm getting warmer," Pikachu said sniffing the earth for any tracks of the seed Pokémon.

"Bulbasaur!" Ash hollered. While Pikachu was a good tracker, Ash had his own primitive way of finding his Pokémon.

"Bingo!" Pikachu hoisted his head. "Follow me." He sprinted in the direction of the pond.

Few minutes later, following Pikachu's directions, Ash reached the small pond he spent time as a kid.

"Look," Pikachu gestured to the other side of the pond.

Two Pokémon, a Weepinbell and a Poliwhirl were butting heads, having an intense argument and between them was Ash's faithful peacekeeper, Bulbasaur, using his vines to keep the two parties at bay. Professor Oak once told him that if not for Bulbasaur's presence, the ranch would've been destroyed long ago. Bulbasaur's arrival had cut down the professor's work by a huge load. The professor trusted his grass type to such extent that he sometimes left him in charge of the whole ranch.

If leadership was a series of selfless gestures then there was something gorgeous about him, some altruistic character to the hurdles of life, like he was related to one of those sacrificing candles which burn themselves to provide others light. He ruled like an emperor, commanded like a general, and served like a slave. And despite his merger physique, there wasn't one Pokémon who disrespected him, not even the giant ones.

Ash waited for grass type to finish his adjudication. By the time Bulbasaur was done, both adversaries had ended their altercation and made peace.

"Hey, Bulbasaur," Ash yelled and it didn't take long to gain the plant dinosaur's attention.

Bulbasaur weaved around the pond, leaping over the small bushes, and darted towards Ash. "It's been a while," he said, nuzzling his head against Ash's leg.

Ash lowered himself to Bulbasaur's level and pet his head. "Ha-ha, I've been here just a few days ago, Bulbasaur, but it's still good to see you again."

"Yeah, I missed you."

"I missed you too. I see you've gotten better at your job."

"You saw that?"

"You bet I did. You were awesome out there."

A few shuffling footsteps from behind caught Ash's attention. "Excuse me, kid, have you seen a loser nearby. He's been trying to avoid me for a while now," said the cockiest voice Ash had ever heard. It lit a wide smile on his face.

"Yes, I did," Ash said. He stood up, facing the intruder. He had spiky auburn hair, a tan messenger bag around his shoulders, and a thick journal in his hand. "I'm looking right at him."

"If being an asshole was a crime, you'd be arrested in no time."

"Gary, if anyone of us is ever getting arrested, it sure wouldn't be me."

"Hmm, well played" Gary cocked his head. He laughed and held his hand out. "How you doin', Ashy-boy? Getting enough trouble, ey?"

Ash shook Gary's hand. "Not as much as I'd like."

"Figured you'd say that."

Gary was Ash's biggest bully during his childhood and for a long time they grew up resenting themselves (unlike their fathers who were as close as two friends can get). When Ash started with his journey, his main objective was to beat Gary, but he lost at every step and turn which further invigorated his hatred for the auburn-haired trainer. Despite them repeated loses, Ash stuck to his mantra and never gave up. Every time Gary knocked him over, he stood right back up. He took the taunts, the insults, and everything Gary could throw at him, but he never caved. He waited for his turn, and did come his turn. The Johto League Quarterfinals, the two Pallet town prodigies clashed head-to-head. It was in that iconic battle that they both earned each other's respect and settled their everlasting rivalry.

Although Gary lost that battle, it helped him grow and realize his true potential and passion. He gave up Pokémon battles and decided to follow his grandfather's footsteps and turned a researcher. Gary was probably the only researcher Ash knew of who boasted an exceptional battle record. Ash would never admit it, but despite his superior achievements, he truly believed that if there was one person he'd think twice before go up against, it was Gary.

"I heard the news, Ashy-boy." Gary raised an eyebrow and sized him up. "You beat Brandon, huh?"

Ash smirked and pointed a thumb at himself. "You're looking at the youngest Battle Frontier Champion." If there was one thing Ash loved, it was to boast about himself in front of Gary. Their rivalry only faded its colors, it never disappeared and knowing he has one more up on Gary gave him an odd satisfaction.

"Careful there. Bragging ain't too healthy." Gary shoved his hand into his pocket, his trademark style he had adopted all those years ago to impress girls which Ash thought was ridiculous. It was surprising he never let go of that.

"It isn't bragging if it's true." Ash glanced at Pikachu, showing his open palm out. "Right, buddy?"

"Damn straight," Pikachu jumped and hi-fived Ash.

"Alright, I'll play along." Gary flicked his hair. "Congrats, and that's all you'll ever get."

"You know what, Gary? If being polite was a crime, you'd never be arrested. But thanks anyway." Ash squinted his eyes, perplexed. "Wait a minute, when did you arrive? Weren't you in Unova region?"

"Flew in this morning, didn't gramps tell you?"

"No, maybe it slipped his mind."

"I'm not surprised, he's getting old. What about you, here to meet your Pokémon?"

"Yes, here to announce our new travel plans." Bulbasaur got excited at this revelation, but didn't say much.

"Back on road again? That's so you. Which region next?"

"Kalos."

Gary flashed a knowing grin and threw an arm around Ash's shoulders. Ash had an explicit idea behind that malicious expression.

Gary wiggled his brows. "Is it to—"

"Don't! We've been down this road before."

"Funny how you know exactly what I'm talking about," Gary smirked. He reached down to Bulbasaur and stroked his head. "Aren't you going to ask him to do the honors?"

Bulbasaur turned to Ash for permission.

"Go ahead, do it," Ash said.

Bulbasaur nodded. He leaped forward and charged his bulb, drawing in the solar energy. The glittering sunlight rushed into the notch on his bulb, once charged enough, with a heavy grunt, he shot a solar beam into the air. The radiance from the bulb diverged into seven different colors, each covering a significant area of the ranch.

"Never gets old." Gary stared in awe at the magnificent visual. It wasn't any less alluring than a masterpiece at an art gallery.

"It never will."

A while later, a stampede headed towards the group. The thumping from the horde sent earthquake-like vibrations through the ground. Gary and Pikachu, aware of the forthcoming events recused themselves from Ash.

A robust headbutt to his gut blew Ash a few feet away. An ice beam and several other attacks from his Pokémon followed up which all ended with a bone crushing hug from his Snorlax. Pikachu, unable to resist, joined in with an electrifying thunderbolt.

"Grr…" Ash croaked in pain. "There are better ways to say hello, guys."

"I missed you so much." Bayleef headbutted him again and nuzzled him ecstatically. The rest followed with their affection, peacefully this time.

Ash took his time in giving enough attention to each of his Pokémon which took a while. Only later did he realize something missing. "Guys, where is Charizard?"

Before Ash could get a response, a giant flamethrower engulfed him. "There…you…are," the charred Ash groaned, falling face down.

"How's it going, Big Red?" Pikachu asked. It was the nickname he gave Charizard when he evolved from Charmeleon. Charizard was then known for his volatile temper and adamant attitude. He searched for reasons to get annoyed and pick fights, but somehow the nickname from Pikachu never seemed to offend him, rather it grew on him. However, Pikachu was the only 'mon who dared to call him that.

"Never better, Yellow," Charizard said as he landed next to Ash. He gave a sloppy lick to Ash's face, cleaning the soot on it. "What's up, Ash?"

"He has an announcement to make," Pikachu said. "Comrades, line up!"

Ash's entire team of thirteen surrounded him and Gary. All neighboring Pokémon have already fled the area. The ferocious herd formed by Ash's team was enough to scare them.

With an inflated chest, Ash took in the sight of his army of warriors. It wasn't too often that they all assemble at one place, but when they do, their tenacious expressions and the air of trust between them made them resemble like that one elite team in action movies which was called upon only for the most impossible of missions. Ash panned his head across each of his Pokémon.

Bulbasaur, Totodile, and Squirtle were his smaller Pokémon and his only unevolved first-stage bunch. Their miniature anatomy was like a façade which made opponent drop their guard, since despite their appearance, they packed a severe punch, winning Ash numerous battles over the years. Bulbasaur usually stayed at the ranch most of the time, keeping everyone in check. Squirtle was once the leader of a firefighting group—The Squirtle Squad, but after reuniting with Ash during Battle Frontier, his experience there realigned his interests back into battles. He decided to resign his job and rejoin Ash in his quests. Totodile: well, he loved to dance.

Bayleef, Quilava, Primeape, Tauros, Snorlax, and Heracross made up his larger bunch. They were the most rotated Pokémon in Ash's team (besides Snorlax) and were some of the most battle experienced in his lot. Bayleef and Quilava were Ash's only female Pokémon (besides Pidgeot), they joined Ash in Johto region. Despite their overlapping similarities, both Pokémon were antithesis to each other in their personalities. Primeape was once the Kanto P1 Champion who trained under Anthony, a special boxing trainer for fighting types. With his help, Primeape went on to win the next series championships. Even today, his reputation in the Kanto boxing world was that of a legend due to his spotless record. It wasn't until Ash's Hoenn journey that Primeape joined him back.

The remaining were Ash's evolved powerhouses whose mere presence sometimes sent shivers up their opponents.

Sceptile, Ash's lone Hoenn catch and one of his latest evolution was also his fastest land Pokémon. His commitment towards growth and hunger for tough opponents is unparalleled. With ferocity on land and mobility in air, he was a complete package for any type of situation. He stood tall with a razor gaze as he gnawed on a little twig.

Ash's true flying type, and the only one he'll ever need, his Pidgeot. She was the second Pokémon Ash had caught (first was Buterfree who he had released) and his only shiny specie. While in Air, she was second to none. A beauty graced with courage and finesse which attracted numerous eyes of admiration and jealousy alike.

Great battles are fought by the brave and not the strong, Ash's Charizard was an embodiment to that statement. Ash had to go through a rocky path to gain Charizard's trust and, boy did it take him some time, but when he did, together they recorded some of the greatest battles of the decade. With the heart of a warrior, resilience of a monk, and the loyalty of a knight, he was Ash's raw might and his true ace up his sleeve.

Strength, speed, and trust—the three pillars of Ash's battle style. When these three are coupled together—came Pikachu, Ash's his eternal partner. Besides being Ash's starter, Pikachu is also his most trusted ally. If Ash were to fight a life/death battle, he'd have no one, but Pikachu with him. Though tiny in size, he put down some of Ash's biggest and strongest opponents. Small things did come in big packages, Pikachu made sound justice to that statement.

"You still can't cross my total Pokémon," Gary smirked. He had over a hundred which included many Pokémon in multiple numbers. He belonged to that clan which believed in keeping a large roster, but Gary certainly went a little overboard with that concept.

"Don't plan on either," Ash said. "I want to spend enough time with all my Pokémon."

Ash's Pokémon growled at Gary. Each one having a fiery glint of acrimony.

Gary trembled and paced back a few steps. "Ask them to stop, Ash."

"Guys, calm down. I have some very exciting news for you'll."

"Exciting?" Squirtle said. "Yeah, give it to me, boss."

"Alright then," Ash balled his fist and punched the air. "We're going to Kalos region!"

His Pokémon roared and cheered in delight, like a cloud of euphoria rained on them. They went berserk. Squirtle, Primeape, and Totodile celebrated with a group dance, which was soon joined by Pikachu. They clung each other's arms and alternately swung their legs back and forth. Pidgeot and Charizard flew circles in air which ended with Pidgeot diving through Charizard's fire rings. A few ran victory circles around Ash and a few stood there cheering, even the ever stoic Quilava and Sceptile joined in the celebrations. This was the moment they all waited for.

When the crowd settled, Ash looked at his team. Every pair of eyes ignited a new flame. They all wanted one thing and that one thing was to win and Ash knew, this was it, this will be time he'll go all the way through.

Ash was on a late-night stroll with Pikachu through the placid streets of Pallet town. A few days have passed since he made his plans to Kalos and with every passing second, his excitement could only increase. He went on and on about Kalos, how determined he was to take on his next challenge, meet Pokémon he had never seen before, and more importantly how anxious he was to meet Serena after five long years. He predominantly tried to avoid her subject as to evade Pikachu and his mom's teasing spree, which he triumphantly lost, of course. However, tonight, Kalos or Serena were the last thoughts in his mind.

The raven-haired trainer kicked a stone and watched it roll over a fallen leaf across the deserted street. His had these pestering questions in his head and had no one to turn to for answers. While he had shared it with Pikachu, the little mouse could hardly provide any insights. He was just as clueless as Ash.

"Annoyed much?" Pikachu asked, moseying beside Ash.

"No," Ash stated plainly. He so much so didn't even flick a glance at Pikachu. He shoved his freezing hands in his pockets and sauntered along. He remained silent for the next few minutes before he blurted out his next words. "You believe in destiny, buddy?"

"I don't think your dream has anything to do with destiny, Ash. It's just a simple dream."

"I think it has everything to do with it. It didn't feel like a dream. It was different from any dream before. It was like a message. I can't explain, but I know it."

"Hmm, you recognize the place in your dream?"

"No. There was nothing left to recognize. Everything I could have known was destroyed."

"I'm sorry, Ash, but I've got nothing to help you."

"I know. I just wish there was someone who could tell me something about this," Ash said. He deliberated on telling it to his mom, but that predominantly could end up against him. His mom was the type who strived to shield him from every evil in the world. If she got even one sniff of premonition due to any reason, Ash could kiss his dreams of journeying throughout the world goodbye.

Lost in his train of thoughts, Ash absentmindedly drifted into the nearby forest. He ventured through the thick foliage, loitering in the no man's verdure.

A while later, both the trainer and Pokémon found themselves in an empty clearing. An eerie stillness enveloped them. Surrounding them were dark shrubs and tall trees, all scathing the meagre penetrating moonlight. Neither Ash nor Pikachu remembered their way out.

"I-I think we should leave," Pikachu said.

With an agreeing nod, Ash quickly scouted for an exit, but all routes seemed to resemble each other and the parched earth hardly registered their footprints to trace back.

A cloak of dense pinkish fog circled them, deteriorating their limited visibility. A shiver ran through Ash's veins. He couldn't explicitly explain his fear, but for some reason he thought that the voice from his dream is here to haunt him. Pikachu was on guard, ready to confront any hostility.

"Boo!"

"Aahh!" Ash flinched at the voice and thrusted his face to the ground while Pikachu released a reflexive thunderbolt electrocuting his vicinity, Ash included.

"Who was that? Show yourself right now!" Ash demanded from his seated position.

A silhouette of a tiny body and elongated tail appeared amidst the fog. Ash was unable to discern figure, there wasn't much light to assist. He stood on his feet and dusted himself. "Get ready, Pikachu."

Pikachu vigilantly crouched and his cheek sacs emitted static sparks. He growled. "Come on out, you piece of shit."

"How cute. You actually think you can beat me," the figure giggled in a feminine voice.

Ash's eyes lit up. While he failed to recognize the silhouette, not the voice. "Mew!" he exclaimed.

Mew approached the trainer and hovered circles around him. "You should have seen your face, he-he-he. You were as scared as a Cubone who lost his club."

"No, I was not. Just surprised, that's all." Ash pursed his lips.

"Whatever gets you to sleep at night, pretty face." Mew patted Ash's cheek. She then flew over to Pikachu to greet him.

"Very funny." Ash crossed his arms and pouted. Mews actions made her seem like that one mischievous kid of a friend or family member who you really look forward to meet, but instantly relieved when they leave. But here she was, a super legendary, playing the fool. Irony sure had its ways.

Mew soared up and down taunting Pikachu to lay a paw on her tail. Pikachu seemed excited at the little game and played along. If Ash wasn't wrong, Pikachu was deliberately holding back simply to prolong the game.

Ash chuckled. Watching them play like that was an adorable sight, however he didn't think Mew came here just to play with Pikachu. He walked up to her. "It's great seeing you again, Mew."

Mew ended her play and flew towards Ash. She grinned and briskly nodded. "Good seeing you too… Chosen One." She winked.

Ash was taken aback a few paces. There was no way she knew of his dream, or did she? "H-h-how—"

"—did I know?"

Ash nodded reluctantly.

Mew giggled. "Who do you think I am?"

Mew was a legendary whose absolute omniscience transcended her impish reputation, so it wasn't a surprise she knew of his dream. Besides, if there was anyone in the world who could elaborate his dream, it was her. "You know about my dream?"

"Vaguely," Mew said. "And it wasn't just any dream, Ash."

"What is it then?"

"The future of this world from one of the infinite parallel realities."

Mew had a stern expression which conveyed that she wasn't messing in the slightest bit. Ash swallowed the lump in his throat. "W-will it h-happen to this world?"

"Not unlikely."

Ash paled. The hair on his arms stood upright. This was what he was afraid of. He knew that his dream had a deeper meaning, but for it to be a possible future was the last thing he had expected. There was no way his dream could be true. He didn't want to believe in Mew, but deep down, his gut told him otherwise. It was as if he already knew of all this. "We need to stop it then."

"Not we, you. Only you can do that."

Ash's eyes widened. "Me?"

"You know why."

Ash tilted his head. "No, I don't."

"Yes, you do." Mew floated close to Ash and gazed into him. A glint of hope sparked in her eyes like he was the answer to an unsolvable puzzle. Ash could tell she was expecting him to figure it out. She looked convinced that he knew the answer.

Ash wasn't entirely dumb. From what Mew had called him, his adventures in Shamouti Island, and finally the dream he had, he had a vivid notion of what the legendary wanted to hear. But Ash wasn't ready to admit it. Perhaps he didn't want to sound egotistical, or perhaps he didn't want to accept such responsibility, or maybe he was only waiting to be to told rather than him telling, but whatever it was, Ash remained dubious. However, Mew's trusting stare stirred a radical spirit within him. He took a breath, mustered the courage, and said what he thought would never come out of his mouth. "I am… the Chosen One?"

"You are. That is your destiny."

A pulse of fear shot through Ash, a touch of distressing burden. He neither flinched nor moved, he stood cemented to the ground as if a wizard had cast a body-binding spell on him. He had no idea about realities and its parallels, he wasn't even sure if he believed in destiny. But this was his inhibition, and it's alive. He gulped, clearing his dry throat. "What should I do?"

"Train. Train like you've never trained before, for one day, that will be your greatest weapon."

"I will, Mew. I'm going to Kalos in a few days and I promise to get stronger."

"That won't do. You'll have to train in dire conditions against the strongest Pokémon and your gym battles won't cut it."

"What do you suggest?"

"Go, go to Assumption Island. If you want to have any chances of saving this world, that's your only option."

"Assumption Island? What is it and where is it?"

"South of Kanto. Go there soon before it's too late." Mew flicked her head back. She paused and said, "I have to leave now, you take care. And, Ash, let this be our little secret."

"Mew, wait! I have more—" she vanished. A gentle breeze of uncertainty swept across Ash's face.

Ash sighed. He had many more questions to ask Mew. He wanted to know what are the threats waiting for him, who was that who spoke to him in his dream, and more. Maybe he'll get his answers in time, or maybe not, but he wasn't going to let his fear dictate him.

Pikachu looked at Ash questioningly, his eyes said it all. If there's a chance to stop what Ash saw in his dream, they'd take it, no matter how slim the odds of success were, or how difficult the path was. With the stakes so high, choice was an unaffordable luxury. "What are you going to do, Ash?"

"Serena will not be happy with me, buddy."

Ash watched his mom's bewitching garden through the lone window in his living room. He had his hands wrapped around a glass of piping hot cocoa, relishing the warmth from its steam on this cold pleasant evening. The bird Pokémon in the garden chirped in tandem like a symphony of nature's orchestra. He took a light sip, devouring the delicacy of his favorite drink.

"So, Ash, your mom says you've decided on your next journey," his uncle Lance, the current Champion of Kanto region and his mother's elder brother said. He was the only relative that Ash had and the lone father figure in his life. The role of a champion, although authoritative, came with a heavy demand for time, as a result Lance was always busy, therefore these occasional visits were quite special to his mother as well as him. "Which region is it?"

"Kalos, Lance," him mom chimed, walking in with a tray in her hands. She placed it on the centre table and offered one of the two tea cups to her brother.

"Thanks, Delia," Lance said. He took a sip of the tea, shut his eyes, and shook his head in satisfaction. "Mmm… is it you or something you add? Your tea is the best I've ever had."

Delia took a seat next to Ash and sipped on her tea. "If you like it so much you should consider visiting more often."

"It's not like I don't want to. You know the duties of a champion; I hardly make time for myself."

"I understand."

"Hey, mom, where's Pikachu?"

"He's out shopping with Mimey, but I'm sure he went only to get free samples at the store." Delia giggled. "He's such a cutie, Ash. I'll miss you both when you'll be off to Kalos."

Ash covertly rolled his eyes. Yeah, sure he went for the samples.

"Anyway, Ash, the Kalos gyms are one hell of a challenge. Have you planned on how you're going to face them?"

"About that—" Ash grinned sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head. "I'm not going to Kalos." He turned away, avoiding eye contact.

"What?" Delia exclaimed, nearly spilling her beverage. She placed the cup on the table and frowned at Ash. "What do you mean by: not going to Kalos? You couldn't wait to get there until yesterday. What about Serena? Her graduation is in less than a week, you're going to miss that too?"

"I know, mom, but right now I have to train. Train like never before and get really strong. For that, I must postpone my journey. Missing Serena's graduation sucks, but this is something I have to do and I'm sure she'll understand."

"Think again, Ash. You can train in Kalos too. How long do you think you can sit at home and train?"

"I never said I'll be staying home, mom. I'll be training at Assumption Island."

"Assumption Island?" Delia cocked her head. "What's that?"

"If I may intervene," Lance said, placing his empty cup on the table. He crossed his arms and continued, "Assumption Island is an independent island located between Kanto and Orange Archipelago." He narrowed his brow and put on a rigid face. "Who told you about that place, Ash?" he asked. He gave an impression that he knew a lot about this island. It wasn't unexpected, given his position, it would be surprising if he didn't know. However, Lance's expression and change of tone suggested a lot more than just knowing.

Ash stuttered. "I-I heard about it somewhere." The last words out of Mew's mouth were to keep their conversation a secret, Ash had no intentions of going against the legendary's wish even if it meant lying to the Regional Champion.

Lance leaned forward and furrowed his brow. "Is that all? Trainers don't usually go there."

"Why is that, Lance?" Delia asked.

Ash grimaced. Mew also told him he had to train in the most brutal conditions. This wasn't just another travel for him, it was a preliminary warzone he had to come out victorious just to enter the battle. Looking at his uncle reaction, Ash was up for one hell of a debate.

"Take Mt. Silver and multiply its dangers and challenges by five times and you'll have Assumption Island."

Delia jumped onto her legs. "That's it. Sit at home for the rest of your life, I don't care, I'll feed you, but you are not going there."

"Mom—"

"No!" his mom cut him off. "I don't want to hear it. I won't have my only son into that wretched place." She clasped her hands. "I can't lose you too." She marched out of the house avoiding any further escalation.

Ash thought he saw a tear in his mom's eyes before she left. His mom was emotional, but he never saw her react this way, well he never really asked to jump in a spitfire before, so he couldn't really blame her. He did feel miserable though. He had never seen his mom cry before, she was that one jovial neighborhood mother who was invited to every dinner party and seeing her like this wasn't a digestible sight.

He put his head down, devastated. He didn't want to go against his mom's word, but he gave Mew his word that he would train at Assumption Island. He foresaw this situation last night itself. He thought he could convince his mom somehow, but the way she reacted implied that no amount of persuasion could influence her. He wasn't going there in search of trouble, but was only following Mew's instructions. If a legendary like her advised him to go there, then there must be a substantial reason behind it. Besides, if the only way to prevent his nightmare from happening was to train at Assumption Island, he had to take it. He had no choice. He decided that if his mom remained stubborn on her decision then he would escape one night while she was asleep. It would hurt her, no doubt, but he had to do this. He had to learn more about the future. He had to protect his friends and family.

A strong hand landed on Ash's shoulder.

"Let me handle this."

"Not this time, Lance. You're not convincing me," Delia said, pacing through her garden, the lawn grass crunching beneath her footsteps. Going on a journey was one thing, but considering how Lance put it, that island wasn't any different from a death trap and the only way Ash was going there was by walking over her cold dead body.

"I know, I just came here to talk." Lance approached her. "I haven't seen you so uptight since your teenage years."

Delia frowned and crossed her arms. "That was the same thing you said to me before you convinced me to let my only ten-year-old out in the wild. I'm not falling for your tricks this time."

"Okay, okay, you got me," Lance held his arms up with a chortle. "But if I wanted, I could have lied and said it was the safest place in the world. Think about it," Lance tapped his head.

"What do you want, Lance?"

"Just want to talk to my sister. How about you giving me a tour of your garden?"

That was strange. Delia never knew Lance to be interested in her gardening skills. Her brother always considered it a futile hobby. "Are you sure you want that?" Delia raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"You never really gave me one in a long time, so why not?"

"Okay, come with me."

Delia walked her brother through the mini paradise that she had nurtured over the years. Her garden, though small, had over forty varieties of plants and flowers growing all over. There were bonsai trees lined perfectly on both sides of the garden bench placed in the corner, bordering the wooden house wall—this was where Delia spent most of her evening basking in the sunlight. She continued with her tour explaining the various flowers ranging from domestic to exotic growing on the softscape of shrubs and bushes, adjoined to the olive fencing and gradually made her way towards the glamorous décor of assorted pottery sculptures which filled the few empty spaces between them.

With every step of the way, Delia made sure to explain Lance of the biology and history of each plant. Lance nodded at every chunk of knowledge she threw at him, but he hardly seemed to understand.

She then took him to her favorite spot, the furthest space in her backyard where she grew all her dearest plants. She made sure that this part was well hidden behind the house, next to the kitchen where she could always keep an eye on them through the window as well as avoid any passerby's envious acts of sabotage.

Lance's lips spread into a wide grin when they reached there like he had planned all this from the beginning.

"Are these Arum Lilies?" Lance asked, gesturing at abundantly growing flowers.

Delia smiled, perhaps even flushed a little. "Yes, I'm surprised you remember them."

"How could I not? He asked me over a hundred times if you'd like these."

Both siblings stared at each other. "Idiot," they said in unison with a shake of their heads. They burst out laughing.

"You haven't really moved on after Red," Lance said.

Delia kneeled and plucked one flower. She caressed the pearl white petals which looked like a white leaf wrapped into a trumpet with golden stigma sticking out of it. She whiffed it soothing scent, remembering that jubilant day like yesterday.

"I don't need to. I see every reflection of him in Ash. I guess that's enough for me. That's why I'm not letting Ash go to that island. He wants to go to Kalos, I'm more than happy to let him, but not to that place."

"I can understand; you don't want to lose him." Lance stroked his chin. "But would you have said the same if it was Red? You did allow him to do far worse things."

"Your blaming me for his death now?" Delia's fingers touched her parted lips. "How could you do that to me, Lance?"

"Delia, I never said you were responsible. I would never say that. All I'm trying to point out is that you let Red be him, so why not Ash?"

"Letting him be him got him killed! Do you get that? He is no more with me!"

"Yes, but had you not let him, you would've hated yourself for life and that's an undeniable fact."

"I already do, had I said no that night, Red would've been alive today." Delia drooped her shoulders.

"You didn't know the dangers then; you can't blame yourself for it."

"Maybe I didn't then, but I do now and I'm not letting Ash go," Delia said in a tearful voice.

Lance held Delia's shoulders and stared at her seriously. "Look, Delia, you know Ash better than anyone in this world. If he sets his mind onto something, he never gives up."

"You think he'll go against my word?"

"No, but I think he'll prefer to apologize later than convince first."

Delia bowed her head. "That's how always Red saw, yes?"

"He is his father's son."

"That he is, Lance, but what about the dangers there? How do you expect me to sleep in peace not knowing if he is safe or not?"

"I won't sugarcoat it, the Pokémon there are vicious, the terrain is rugged, and it sometimes it rains for days there. Ash might even not be able to find food at times. But I wouldn't have come to talk to you if I didn't think he can handle all that."

"He is tough, isn't he?" a small prideful smile crept on Delia's lips.

Lance smiled and blinked with a nod. "You've raised him well. I'll give you that."

"He admires you a lot, Lance. He is so eager to battle you one day."

"I'd never admit this to him, but I might be a little scared to face him that day."

"You better be, my son will be a Pokémon Master before you know it."

"Heh," Lance smirked. "I look forward. So, will you give him the good news, or should I?

Delia smiled. "I will."

When Delia and Lance entered the house, Ash was still rooted to his place. He hadn't moved an inch. Even his cocoa drink was left untouched. He seemed to be thinking with his head laid back and eyes shut. He was so focused in his thoughts that didn't even hear them coming.

"Ahem, ahem," Lance cleared his throat. He crossed his arms, wearing a triumphant smirk.

Ash got up and sat in attention. He seemed a little dazed.

"Three conditions, Ash," Delia said, holding three fingers out.

"For what?" Ash asked.

"For you to go to your Assumption Island."

Ash jumped on his toes with a wide grin. "You mean I can go?"

"Mm-hmm," Delia nodded. "But I want you to promise me these three things."

"Anything!"

"First, you'll inform Lance about any danger. Please use that emergency feature in your PokéDex for once."

"That's right. I and my Dragonite will be there in minutes to pick you up should you fall into any trouble."

"I can do that, I promise. Second?"

"You'll change your underwear every day," Delia burst out laughing along with a chuckling Lance, leaving Ash with an embarrassed red face.

"Mom! Stop it!" Ash pursed his lips. "What's the last condition?"

Delia ended her brief amusement. "Promise me that you'll do your best out there and when you come back, you'll win the Kalos League."

"I will," Ash grinned. He jumped, plunging a fist into the air, "Alright! Assumption Island, here I come."

Ash leaned against the railing on the deck of Titan Cruise, headed towards the Orange Archipelago. His uncle Lance used his Champion status and pulled a few strings and got him a ride. The cruise is supposed to pit stop at Assumption Island which was due in a few hours. It's been a week since he had his conversation with Mew and that was one stressful week.

Though his uncle managed to convince his mom, the real trouble Ash had to face was convincing Serena. His Pokémon understood him and offered to follow him wherever he led, especially after they heard about the incident with Mew, but the honey-blonde was another case. He couldn't bear the thought of disappointing her, not after he saw how excited she was when she informed him of her graduation. She seemed more elated that they were finally going on a journey than she was graduating. However, surprisingly the Kalos native took the news well, maybe not entirely well. She did throw a small tantrum, but later understood when Ash told her how important it was to him. She supported him in his choice and agreed to wait however long it took. Ash was eternally grateful for her reconsideration.

Conversations weren't Ash's only complications. If he had to train then he required his entire Pokémon with him, but legally six was his limit. When he went to Professor Oak with his dilemma, the revered professor offered a simple solution. He temporarily deactivated Ash's license which allowed him to exceed his carry limit, but it did come at a certain cost. Ash would not be able to use his license or partake in any league recognized competitions nor could he enjoy their trainer facilities. Since Ash had no such plans anyway, it hardly made any difference.

Two days have passed since Ash embarked the cruise. He could not contain his nerves knowing that his destination was just a few hours away. No matter how far away he was, every few minutes his mind told him that he had reached and that every few minutes, the future Pokémon Master rose to his toes, scouting the horizon.

Countless minutes have passed, but Ash hadn't seen a speck of land; only endless water reflecting the sky's allure. He thanked his mom for the sea sickness pill and decided to check up on his Pokémon who he had let out to kill time. Apart from his Tauros (who preferred to rest) and Snorlax (who decided to stay at the ranch where food and sleep was plentiful) the rest were out enjoying the time off.

Up in the sky, his Pidgeot was racing against his Charizard. Apparently, sparring wasn't enough, so the two turned it into a flying race and unsurprisingly, his Pidgeot was winning. When it came to flying, his regal bird outmatched every Pokémon he had ever come across. She had that certain flair and mobility during flight which Ash had never seen elsewhere.

Bayleef basked in the afternoon sun, laying on one of the many sun beds on the deck. She had Squirtle's extra pair of sunglasses on her eyes and a tall glass of green juice wrapped by her vine which she slurped with a straw. She was having the time of her life as she finally got her dream holiday. Following her lead, Quilava and Sceptile occupied the two empty beds beside her. Unlike Bayleef, Sceptile was focusing on his solar absorbing skills while Quilava seemed to be there simply to avoid the huddling crowd.

Squirtle spent most of his time in the ocean. It wasn't always he got such opportunity to let loose his swimming skills. The pond in the ranch was quite small and Squirtle could never unleash his full potential there. He wasn't anywhere around presently, but Ash hoped he would be back soon. Hopefully he wasn't causing any mischief.

Pikachu teamed up with Primeape in a beachball game against Bulbasaur and Heracross. The latter team was losing miserably which was probably the result of Heracross's interest in his teammate's nutritious bulb rather than the game itself. Pikachu must've been the one to suggest the teams, that tiny bugger never failed to skew the odds in his favor.

Totodile was the most impressive of the lot, showcasing his dancing and juggling skills on the deck and gathered a small crowd of passengers. A few even went back to their compartments and got him treats, slowly pilling them beside Totodile. Ash hoped his Pokémon wouldn't fight over them later.

The cruise ship honked.

Ash snapped his head back towards the ocean. A distant pea-sized island came in his view. Goosebumps ran through his body. That was the only landmass he's seen in hours. The feeling of getting closer aroused him.

"'Dat's where ye 'eadded, lad." a thick sailor accented voice said.

Ash turned back. Dressed in sparkling white clothes was the ship captain walking towards him.

"That's Assumption Island, you say?" Ash asked.

"Aye. Tis some beaut, ey? Y'll noe when ye see it."

"Mm-hmm. I just can't wait."

"Yer goin'a train 'der, ey?"

"That's the plan, Captain."

The captain stroked his chin and sized him up. "Ye gots balls, lad, I give ye 'dat. Me 'ear 'bout 'dat 'land. It ain' any calm sea sa'lin'"

"Ha-ha, thanks, Captain. I'm confident I can survive with my Pokemons' help."

"May ye 'ave fair winds and following seas. Me go check on me lads now. Arceus forbid, 'dey'd need'n some 'eavy whoopin' in'a ass. So long."

"So long to you too, Captain." The Captain left.

Ash went back to staring at the steadily approaching island. It gradually revealed itself in bits and pieces—either sand or vegetation covered most part of it. It seemed as bifurcated as his own emotions itself—two distinct feelings brawling on the two edges of a see-saw for the upper hand. He was afraid of the mysterious threats ahead while at the same time, determined on facing them.

As Ash's destination got closer, the evolution of his fear into courage accelerated, eventually joining the two imposters into one. Some men are born brave, some achieve bravery, and some have bravado thrust upon them. With Ash, it was all three, and whatever awaited him was just another challenge, like tomorrow was just another day.

He smirked. "Bring it on."

Author's Note:

I hope you enjoyed the read. I thought of a tag line for this fic,"Gotta Bond 'em all" Nice right?

Try to drop a review if you can. It motivates me to write. If you're a writer yourself, you'd understand what I mean. If you're only a reader, well, I'm entertaining without you paying a penny and only asking for a review in return. Do it if you think it's fair.

Thank you and have a nice day ahead.