When a life fades away

Ash was a man to never stop. Never. But this time, he would have gladly had some time to rest before the next mission.

As soon as he met with Akari and Greninja, he was stopped by Cyllene, hurrying to give him another assignment. He was now in the Cobalt Coastland, a peaceful area overlooking the sea.

Ash recognized that place as the future Sunnyshore.

He was sent there to find the warden of another Pokémon, or better, the ex- warden since that Pokémon had been killed.

Apparently, it was Irida to ask Team Galactic to help with this warden. Ash wasn't exactly sure what the problem was but accepted, nonetheless. Not that he had a choice.

Of course, there was one major problem: Akari.

The girl wasn't exactly happy to know that Ash was going away so soon. She knew that she wasn't ready to explore regions so far from the village.

That was a case of Ash being stuck between the devil and the deep sea. He wanted to help Akari grow stronger to bring her to the next quest, but he didn't have time to do so. It would be nice to have company since he had spent so much time all alone. But again, not that he did have a choice.

When Ash accepted the mission from Cyllene, Akari went away crying.

Ash, being Ash, didn't know what to do. And, of course, Pikachu was there to lighten his path. Or better, to thunderbolt his path. After a well-needed zap, the Raven-haired trainer left the Training Area looking for the blue-haired explorer.

Cyllene sighed. That guy was a master with Pokémon, but a complete idiot otherwise.

After a day of running back and forth through the Village, Ash found Akari on a bench on the Prelude Beach, hidden by a wooden shed.

"Akari…"

"Go away, Mr. -I'm too strong for you-"

"Hey, what's with the nickname?"

"Why can't I come with you?"

"You are not prepared enough to face frenzied Pokémon"

"Why?"

"They are too strong and dangerous"

"See why the nickname?" said the girl sarcastically.

"You know I would bring you with me if I had more Pokémon on hand. But I'm not sure if I could protect you right now"

"You don't need to protect me. I can do just fine even without you" She spat out.

"I'm sure you can" Ash answered, his face holding a serious gaze.

The girl was taken aback: "So why can't I come?"

"You are not ready yet. If you were in my time, you could do whatever you wanted. There, there is no real danger if you are unprepared. I should know since I was an idiot back then" he stated, Pikachu nodding his head while keeping his arms folded.

Ash sweatdropped.

Akari was boiling with rage right now. She couldn't stand this guy telling her what she should do.

"You don't know anything!" she shouted, catching Ash off guard. He didn't expect this but quickly regained his composure.

He sighed: "Fine! Do you want to see the power of the Pokémon we are facing? Fight me right now. Pikachu versus all your team!"

Akari, who had lost her shit, came closer and spat him in the face: "I'll destroy you and your ego!" she said, an aggressive tone in her usually so sweet voice.

Ash stood stoic. But inside, he was desperate. Never would he have thought this happening. Akari was precious to him, and this was probably the end of their friendship. But life in Hisui was like that, it seemed.

And, more importantly, she had to see that she wasn't strong enough right now. It would be a great lesson for her, and it would ultimately be a crucial step in her growth as a trainer, something really useful for when Ash would go away.

So, he was ready. Pikachu's ears were low. He didn't want to do this but clearly knew why Ash was doing so. Greninja was in a similar state of mind. But because he couldn't battle.

They were ready. One against the other. Pikachu on all four and Akari letting out a Clefairy together with Pikachu and Piplup.

In a different situation, Ash would have complimented her for a new catch but not now.

"Pikachu! Thunder! Piplup, Peck! Clefairy, Moonblast!" she shouted angrily, not even waiting for Ash to be say anything.

Ash didn't open his mouth, only nodding to Pikachu who knew everything. His tail glowed silver and he leaped forward, cutting in half the Moonblast who crashed on the ground lifting dust. Piplup now couldn't see Pikachu anymore, but Pikachu could through Aura. He smashed his tail on Piplup's face and the poor penguin was sent against the Thunder used by Akari's Pikachu, zapping him and knocking him out.

In a second, Ash's Pikachu vanished, Akari looking around for him, but he emerged from the ground, hitting her Pikachu which was sent against Clefairy by another powerful Iron Tail. All three of Akari's Pokémon were down for the count.

Ash's Pikachu climbed his trainer's shoulder earning a scratch under the chin for his work.

Then Ash looked toward Akari, whose eyes were wide, and said: "You didn't work together with your Pokémon as friends do. You were blinded by your feelings and ego. That's why you lost!"

His tone was hard but caring. Akari looked up, her eyes full of hatred, red and full of tears:

"I HATE YOU, ASH KETCHUM! GO AWAY FROM HERE AND NEVER COME BACK. I HOPE YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR FUCKING MISSION!"

Ash's eyes widened in shock, as well as Pikachu's and Greninja's.

He lowered his cap to hide his face. He said softly: "Goodbye Akari. Take care of yourself and your Pokémon" and with that left.

Akari stood there with her Pokémon, on her knees. She suddenly realized what she had done and broke down crying. It was too late. Ash had left the village again, not before asking Captain Cyllene for a room in the Galaxy Hall.

.................................................

"So you are finally here!" a voice called for Ash.

By turning around, Irida's azure eyes were intensely gazing at Ash's features.

Ash was taken aback by the proximity and backed a few steps.

"Hey Irida! Glad to see you have recovered fast!" Ash greeted her with his toothy smile, despite his eyes being a bit faded.

This caught the attention of the girl, but she didn't inquire since she was there for another reason.

"Are you up for a battle?"

Ash's eyes immediately started to shine: "Woah, really?!"

"Sure, I want to know how strong you are, and I have friends even if I don't use Pokéball like the Galaxy team"

"Very well, then. Greninja! You are up!" proclaimed Ash.

Irida only whistled a bit and three Pokémon appeared: a Glaceon, a Flareon, and a Espeon.

Without any command, three Pokémon launched themselves against the Frog Pokémon only to be stopped by a water vortex, engulfing them.

Irida lost her calm face while Ash stood there, still, wanting to hold this silent battle. But it was obvious that the three Eeveelutions couldn't stand a chance.

Pikachu was observing the scene, sighing at the fact that he got sidelined.

With a powerful Water Shuriken, Greninja hit his opponents and resumed his confident pose with crossed paws.

Irida murmured something inaudible for Ash, thanking her three comrades and giving them some berries.

"So, what's the problem with the warden here?" asked Ash, straightforward as always.

"Well" started Irida, a soft tone in her voice, "I have this precious warden… Palina. She was on the run to be the leader of the Pearl Clan. She once held her noble Pokémon but now he is no more, and she doesn't want to raise a successor to fill the spot."

Ash looked amused at this premise.

"For this, some people have started to question her position and respectability, also for some rumors. But that doesn't matter to me. Lina… I mean, Palina, is of great importance to me. So here comes my request: I'd like you to help her raise the heir of the noble Pokémon she's looking after into the new protector for the Cobalt Coastland."

Irida relaxed a bit after the explanation, waiting for Ash's reaction.

"Where should I go to reach her?" asked the boy come out from nowhere.

Irida's eyes widened, and she proceeded to explain how to reach the Veilstone cape.

Ash was once again ready to help and soon left Irida heading toward a new destination.

.............................................….

Pikachu and Greninja were doing a little sparring that evening while Ash was setting the camp and making a tent with all the materials collected by his two friends beforehand.

The night there was so full of stars with only the sounds coming from the sea waves crashing on the beach interrupting the rustle of the wind on the leaves and the gentle cries of wild Pokémon.

While Ash should be excited about the new task, there was a lot on his mind. He was so happy only a few days ago when he had met Serena in that paranormal way and his heart had beaten so hard with joy.

But now, everything was different. He was completely alone again. Sure, the two teams were starting to see him in a good light but that didn't change the fact that he had no friends there.

Akari was very precious, but something had gone wrong and frankly, Ash didn't want to see her again. She had shown herself like all the other villagers, wishing for his death.

The boy sat down, and his auburn eyes started to get watery… his two friends felt this immediately and reached out for him, covering him in a big hug.

Ash was surprised a bit: "Guys…"

The other two didn't let go of him and Ash surrendered to the hug.

Never in the world would he be alone. His best friends were still there.

.............................................….

A week of walking had gone and finally, the highest point on the cape was in front of Ash.

The air smelled of sea salt and the atmosphere was oddly eerie although the sun was high and everything looked just fine.

In front of the group the figure of a woman looking at a rock with two quadrupedal Pokémon appeared.

They looked like Growlithe but something was off.

The fur looked like it was made out of igneous rock parts. A mane covered the two Pokémon's eyes and extended below their heads, ending with three curls. They had a small horn on the head and the tails were curly.

Then, Ash observed the woman that meanwhile had turned to see whose the steps she had heard were.

She was a tall young woman with light brown hair folded in a bandana, purple eyes, and thick eyebrows. She had a pair of swimming goggles around her neck and wore a white long-sleeved shirt and shorts with the Pearl Clan symbol. A pair of gloves on her hands and a pair of red shoes completed her outfit.

"So, who are you, young boy?" the woman said to break the silence

Ash made a step forward: "I'm Ash Ketchum and I came here thanks to Irida who wanted me to train a new Noble Pokèmon. These are my best friends Pikachu and Greninja".

"This is strange. A boy from Jubilife calling his Pokémon friends… However…" The woman's gaze lowered, and her expression got sad. Angst and sorrow emerged from the once warden.

"The Old Guardian here died some years ago, swallowed by the sea in an attempt to save his heir. I don't want to put his child on the line, imposing a destiny on him. I know that the Clan isn't on my side, but I don't care. That's my final decision".

Ash stood there, watching the scene for a little. He felt the devastated aura of this woman and the sheer power emitted by the littler Growlithe. One would say that the bigger one was the heir but the boy from the future felt this wasn't the case.

He was thinking hard. Even if the entire purpose of the girl in front of him was created by a tragedy, something Ash could understand, her reasons were good. He didn't want to impose himself on the self-determination of a living being.

In fact, he thought this was for the best. No one chose his career or dream in his place. He could choose, exactly how his Pokémon did by following him. Adventure, friends, and bonds are all related and, in his case, all this magic came from his choice, not everyone else's.

When he was about to explain so to the kind and broken lady in front of him, a loud explosion was heard in the distance, from an island with a giant volcano towering over it, and then, shockwaves were sent from the ground. An earthquake was followed by a volcanic eruption. Lapilli were sent all around, the atmosphere covered with soot, and soon after the entire sky became invisible. Air got heavier and breathing with it.

Ash, Pikachu and Greninja covered their mouths with some pieces of clothing from Ash's pocket and they held them over their noses making a knot.

"Holy shit!" shouted Ash, on his knees behind a tree. The girl, however, had worn her goggles and was keeping her ground with the two Growlithe beside her.

"I've never seen such an explosion before… Is it because of that rift?" mumbled the woman.

"GRAAAHHH!!" A tremendous growl came from the spot where the eruption had occurred.

"What was that??" asked a horrified Ash, coming closer to the ex-Warden.

The woman took a second to think: "It's the monster of the volcano… It was told that a fierce beast created the giant volcano we see from here… After creating that place, it sleeps in the depths of the crater. I don't know what's happening, but I don't think it's going to be a good thing".

Ash, Pikachu and Greninja looked in each other's eyes for a moment and instantly decided to act: "How can we get there?" he asked out of the blue.

The Older woman looked at him for a moment, clearly stunned at this guy.

Then she replied: "You'd need Basculegion, a Pokémon looked after by an acquittance of mine. His name is Iscan and he's a member of the diamond Clan. You will find him in his tent settled on Aipom Hill. I will reach you after a talk with Irida".

Ash didn't wait for her to finish her speech and had already played the Flute to call Wyrdeer, running away and shouting back that he would wait for her to show up.

The girl watched the scene dumb folded, asking herself who in the world was that guy.

................................................….

It was soon evening after another day of riding. Aipom Hill was finally in sight and the group didn't want to stop at any cost. Two days had passed since the first explosion and subsequent earthquake and two more eruptions had occurred covering the sky in dark soot which made it impossible for the light to penetrate through.

The air was getting unbreathable and Pokémon in the wild had found different refugees and the entire land looked like a desert or a dead land more than the peaceful seaside the Kantonian boy had met little more than a week ago.

Finally, on top of the hill which, like the name would suggest, should be inhabited by a population of cute, nice, and spiteful Aipoms but wasn't, a blue tent emerged from the darkness with a fire lit and a tall, tanned man sitting by it wearing a blue jacket with a hood. He seemed in the distance to be bald and had bandages on his arms

"Hello there!" said the man, removing the hood from his head.

"Hi, I need your Bascu-something to cross the sea and see what's going on on the island." Asked Ash, jumping all greetings and presentation. Pikachu sweatdropped at his trainer's rudeness.

"So you are the boy sent by Palina…"

"How do you know it?" asked Ash, confused.

"She and I send letters to each other using Wingull"

"Why? Aren't you enemies?" asked Ash, thinking that there was more to this story than the pure rivalry between clans.

The man sighed and made a gesture for Ash and his friends to sit with him.

"Ah, nono, I'm in a hurry to go!" quickly told the Raven-haired boy.

"Relax my boy. haste is a bad counselor. I had called for Basculegion to come and receive me but it will need some more hours to come by sea in front of us."

Pikachu relaxed, so did Greninja and finally even Ash.

"We are here, hidden and very far from our settlements to keep a low profile. Everyone knows me as the keeper of Basculegion but no one ever comes here, even Adaman himself.

When I come back to the settlement, I'm treated like an outcast and a low-grade member. Wanna know why?"

Ash nodded, interested in the story.

"Because I used to speak with Palina… I know her since we were kids and used to play together. Growing up, our families got separated ways, ending on thew opposing Clans but we never stopped sending letters to each other and being the best of friends but, because of that, someone started to see us as a problem for the respective clans, and, even after doing our best, we are still marked… One should suggest letting go of this relationship that is causing us pain… but we can't".

Ash felt strange about this story. It was like these two people wanted to be together but life was keeping them apart and, despite every obstacle, they didn't want to lose each other.

"Wanna know why, kid?" said the man.

"Because we love each other" he stated, proudly, hiding his distress and pent-up emotions.

"No one can say to us to let go, because we are in love and we will stay together…" he concluded, his voice cracking a bit.

Ash, Pikachu and Greninja stayed there, unmoving, elaborating on the tragedy of a fate that made people fall in love only to be thorn apart from others.

Yes, Ash wasn't the smartest guy in that subject, but this made him think. Think about Serena who was strangely always somehow connected to the thought of love in Ash's mind and now more than ever, a presence in the guy's dreams. He had found her, left her and seen her again. They had their own journeys and roads and so they went separated way. But, if one day, they would like to travel together again and someone would like to stop them, what would they do? Well, fight… Fight to be together…

He understood Iscan's thoughts and his struggles.

Then Akari came into his mind… the nice girl who was blossoming into a kind-hearted trainer… He felt a rush of sadness. Maybe there was still a way for them to reunite…

"GAAAAAH!"

"YAAAAAA!"

Two shouts came from the beach and Iscan immediately jumped on his feet: "PALINA!! BASCULEGION!"

Ash jumped as well and Pikachu assumed his battle stance.

In a moment, they found the culprits. A large, green fish-like Pokémon with a jagged mouth with pointed teeth was trapped in a net. His spine was aligned with a dark gray line, with a red line along it and extending around his gills, in addition to having spots along its torso and plumes of smoke around his tail.

The bigger Growlithe, the one Ash had met with Palina was held in a cage and the woman herself was tied while three figures were laughing.

Ash stopped in his tracks, recognizing the Miss Fortune sisters.

"Okay Pikachu and Greninja, don't give them time!" Pikachu jumped, launching his Iron Tail and smashing the net which was trapping Basculegion.

The Trio finally recognized the presence, and it was the older one, Charm, to take the action, throwing a smoke ball on the ground, raising a thick black smoke, obscuring the sight even more. In a fraction of seconds, the three sisters were riding on three Sharpedo with Growlithe still with them, sailing toward the Firespit Island.

"Shit!" shouted Ash, before running to Basculegion and going on his knees in front him. Pikachu and Greninja ran closer to their trainer, mimicking his obeisance.

"Please Basculegion, we must follow those girls. They had stolen a precious friend from a kind woman. Please, lend us your power." Ash prayed, Pikachu translating the concept into Pokéspeech.

Basculegion growled a bit before stopping and coming closer to Ash, caressing him and Pikachu with his smoky tail. The duo raised their heads, shining eyes transpiring excitedness.

In a moment Ash, Greninja and Pikachu were on the "Big Fish" Pokémon's back, sailing with all their fury to take back Growlithe and discover more about these strange eruptions.

On the beachside, Iscan had freed Palina and now they were watching in the distance the boy's silhouette fading.

"Maybe the three bandits are also responsible for the Lord of the Volcano wrath" said Iscan.

"I don't know, but that guy sure is something else" answered Palina.

"Yes, he had calmed frenzied Nobles… but maybe Heatran is too much even for him."

Silence fell on the beach.

...............................................

"AHHH!" A scared as hell Akari woke up in the middle of the night.

"Pikaaa?" "Piplup?!"

"It's nothing" answered with a sad smile the girl, caressing her two partners while holding her chest to catch the breath.

A strange smell coming from outside alerted the girl. She went out from her house, only to see flashes, a loud noise and then soot in the sky from the distance.

"That's the Cobalt Coastland" she heard a man saying, wakened by the strong explosion.

That rang a bell in Akari's heart and soon after she passed from the shock, hearing only her two friends calling for her.