When a life fades away

"I know I said Ash's funeral should have been the next week, but I decided to wait some more time. I hope this isn't a problem" were the words leaving Delia Ketchum's mouth during that day while she was calling all Ash's old travelling companions houses to inform them about this shift.

Her tone was still the one of a sad mother but there was some relief in it.

Watching the scene were Brock and Goh, waiting the end of this call streak.

The reason of this shift on the date was one of those boys, Ash's newest friend, Goh.

"There's a bit of hope… But do not deceive yourself Delia" repeated the woman while going on with her calls.

Only Kukui and Burnet knew what was happening since Delia thought it was better to let Ash's Alolan family know what was boiling in the pot.

The new hope came from a call made by Clemont to Goh while this one was on his path to Pallet town three days ago.

Clemont was a man who had learnt how his faith in science could be destroyed in one moment in a world populated by creatures still unknown and whose powers could pass the normal laws of physics.

Standing in front of the Anistar city Gym leader Astra and witnessing her premonition ability was one of those things that would make everyone freak out. Instead, he was there, impassive, scrutinizing her every gesture and movement to understand how such a thing was possible.

He knew she could do what she claimed, the Kalos crisis docebat.

Gripping tighter his hand was his sister Bonnie, her face full of tension and expectation. Clemont thought she had regressed since Ash's disappearance, and he hypothesised it was because she wasn't used to these thoughts. Or maybe, because she had lost her role model.

Astra's eyes glowed white:

"Futurum est in praeterito. Vir ibi est.

Fortitudo ducit ad tenebras

Praesens tempus tremit

Lucem deducit ubi avarus scientiam non attingit".

"What did you say?" asked Bonnie completely confused.

"It was Latin, isn't it?" intervened Clemont.

"It sure was…"

"Let me think… Okay, this recorder of mine will solve our problem. Future is now, thanks to science: Clemontic gear on: Dead languages converter 1.2!"

"This software will translate any ancient language from any video, book or even vocal recording!" said Clemont, adjusting his glasses with a proud smile.

"You recorded me?" asked Astra indignantly.

"I had to. I must be sure of everything if I hope to rescue Ash, and forgetting your words could be dangerous to my goal"

Clemont's phone suddenly beeped, signalling the end of the translation process:

"The future lies in the past. The man is there.

Strength leads to confrontation with darkness.

The present time is shaking

And he guides the light where greedy knowledge does not reach".

Clemont stayed there, reading the message over and over….

He dropped his phone: "HOLY FUCK, NO WAY ASH WAS CATAPULTED BACK IN TIME!"

"So, you are telling me that she said that Ash is the past?!"

Goh was shocked to hear this from Clemont.

"Yes, but there is a part which is much more obscure in her message, something about light and darkness clashing and the present time shaking. I don't know what to think".

The conversation ended when Goh finally exited the Vermilion City airport.

Clemont had decided to visit Professor Sycamore's lab to find some help.

"Well, it isn't much but now we have something to guide our research" thought Goh before starting his trip to Pallet Town, Grookey aggreging from his shoulder.

Meanwhile, in Pallet Town, Brock woke up in his hostel room and headed toward Professor Oak laboratory.

There, he found the old Professor with big eye bags, sipping a coffee while feeding the Pokémon in the ranch. The man was in an inner turmoil about how telling Ash's Pokémon the revelation.

Gary Oak was in a completely different mood. Since he discovered the truth, he decided to stay in Pallet for longer. His grandpa thought that this decision was made to relax and metabolise the grief, but he was indeed wrong.

The spiky haired boy was furious because he couldn't believe that something like that could have happened to Ash.

After trying to comfort Delia, he left Ketchum household to head back to the lab. He contacted one of his friends, a man called Looker, and was able to gain all the tapes from the camera in the park.

It wasn't in any way legal, but Gary Oak had some traits in common with his old rival: He was stubborn, and he wouldn't give up until he found something more. The thing that made Gary very suspicious was obviously the hat. So, he spent the whole night on those tapes and, when Brock arrived, he didn't notice it.

Brock had greeted Professor Oak and the two were discussing how to tell Ash's Pokémon the truth about his trainer.

"It won't be needed!".

The tanned doctor and his grandpa turned around to face Gary who finally stood up from his chair with a proud smile even if his eyes were red and looked tired.

"What do you mean Gary?"

"Come with me…"

The trio gathered around Gary's pc and the latter explained what he had done and how he found the tapes.

Brock was shocked to see Ash and Pikachu struck by the light, but Gary explained:

"You see here, when the light hit Ash, it seems like it didn't hurt him. It also seems like his body vanishes, but his hat was on his head and has been brought home safe. If Ash was killed and destroyed, how in the world his hat should be intact?"

The revelation left the audience awestruck…. So, Ash wasn't dead. He had just disappeared.

Later that day it was time for Ash's Pokémon to know. Delia looked while Gary was gathering all Ash's friends. She was relieved that his boy wasn't dead, but her instinct told not to keep her hopes high for his comeback. There was no way to know where he was and what happened to him, so the woman was now not only sad but also worried sick.

Meanwhile Bulbasaur had gathered all the Pokémon, Tauros herd comprised.

"Guys, I have a new for you. Ash has disappeared… I'm not sure where he is and who brought him where he is now, but I will promise you that we will find him. Ash is with Pikachu and a Greninja. I'm sure he is safe, but he will be worried if you panic…. I have a question for you all… Will you help us find him and bring him back?!" Gary started in a soft pitch but at the end he had to shout over the Pokémon cries.

Totodile had stopped his dancing and was petrified. Bayleaf was crying like she had lost the love of her life. The Tauros herd was now laying on the ground, its vitality and speed drained. Pignite was trying to soothe Snivy and Oshawoot like a big bro. He certainly wasn't the cry-baby he was back in the days.

Quilava's flame stopped, the bird Pokémon descended on the ground with low gazes. Charizard turned his back to the others to protect himself from being caught with tears in his eyes.

Sceptile dropped his twig and cowered on the ground. Krookodile stood still, his eyes covered behind the sunglasses. Infernape made the same choice as Charizard. Torterra became an isle for all the other little Pokémon crying…

Then they heard Gary's final statement:

"We have to be strong and have faith in Ash because he has faith in everyone here. We have to keep fighting for him. I'm asking that again: WILL YOU HELP ME FIND OUR BEST FRIEND??!" Shouted half crying Gary who was now letting flow all his pent-up emotions.

The Pokémon watched each other for a moment, then like a wave, they all turned, wiped their tears and shouted their cries in agreement.

Brock watched the scene, clearly impressed by Gary's speech and Delia was once again on the verge of tears but was helped by Professor Oak.

Since Delia had just announced to the closest friends the date of the funeral, she decided to postpone it only to give some time and gain evidence for this. While Alola would anyways celebrate his champion, it wasn't necessary to go through a private funeral if there was a hope that Ash could be alive.

While Ash's Pokémon decided to spend the time making their own efforts for their trainer, some Pokémon collecting berries to gift Ash when he would come back, some others speaking to find a plan and the strongest by training, the humans were left with a doubt…

"Where do we start our research now?"

"Maybe I can help!" Shouted a voice from outside.

They saw a Flygon descending in front of them. Goh had finally arrived at his destination.

The group was now sitting at a table discussing the news Goh brought them.

"So, you are saying that Ash is in the past right now?"

"Clemont, a guy Ash travelled with in the Kalos region, told me so. He added that he's going to stay to Professor Sycamore's in order to find something more."

"I think it is a good idea. The best thing we can do now is to split up and find more information about this past thing. But first we must understand if there is a chance that the ray was artificial. Once we have confirmed that's natural, it will be time to search for which Pokémon could have been." Brock said.

"Leave it to me" intervened Gary. "I was doing that before you all arrived. Give me until tomorrow and I will know the answer".

"That's great!" exclaimed enthusiastically Goh, who had surely inherited some traits from Ash's personality. "Here, take this, That's the contact for Clemont. Maybe you two can co-operate. He said that he was going to do the same job".

"Very well guys! That's all settled for today! Come on, before everything you all have to eat. Come to my house, I will make dinner for you all. And Goh, you can stay in Ash's bedroom for tonight, if you want" concluded Delia, a little relieved about everything.

The night went better than the last one and, on top of the cake, Gary and Clemont manged to say positively that the phenomenon was entirely natural and that a man couldn't have done that.

That night the group finally decided where to start.

Brock decided to head to Johto after informing his family and Nurse Joy in order to meet up with Professor Elm.

Goh would do his research at the Cerise Institute.

Gary would stay at his grandpa lab and Clemont, thinking he couldn't do anything more in Kalos, had called Goh and informed the group about his intention to flee to Alola in order to get more information from the Aether Foundation.

During this phone call, Delia intruded.

"Oh, and Clemont, Hi, do you remember me? I'm ash's mother! If you go to Alola, contact professor Kukui and meet Ash's friends from the Pokémon school. Inform them about everything!"

"Oh yes, Professor Kukui, I would love to see him. Ash spoke highly of him when we talked last time after his first exhibition match as Alola Champion" answered Clemont.

"Oh yes, the Alolan Champion…" thought aloud Brock.

He turned to the others and shouted with wide open jaw: "ALOLAAAN CHAMPIOOOON!!!!??"

"Oh, you didn't know? Same ol' Ashy-boy!" Gary shrugged.

After three more days the whole research group was working hard but the one who had found the most was Clemont of course.

"So, you are saying that our first catches are Celebi and Dialga?"

"Yep, I also have some doubts about the Ultra Wormholes and a strange phenomenon that is happening in Alola, but since I'm here, I'm gonna research it. Brock is just in Johto and maybe Gary could help him with Celebi. So that leaves Sinnoh. I wanted to make Bonnie go there but she doesn't know the region, and besides, she's following a path to track another Pokémon capable to create distortions in time and space, Hoopa, with Alain and Mairin"

"Well, I guess it's me then!" exclaimed Goh. "I think Chloe can go on researching for me while I'm off. Maybe I can try to find Dawn there! She would surely help us!"

Brock, hearing the familiar name, intervened: "Well, if you want, you can try to contact Professor Rowan of Sandgem. Maybe he can contact her."

"Nice thinking Brock. Okay, I'm off. I must pack my bags and call the prof there. Night guys!"

And so, the conversation ended, with new plans ready. Goh called the professor and this one answered that he would call Dawn's mother to find the girl.

The same night, in Jubilife, Serena entered the Pokémon centre after the strange meeting she had with Sylveon at the park. Opening her room's door, she found Dawn speaking with her mother.

"You scared me off, you and serena didn't answer any call for days!!"

"I'm sorry mom, we were only sad for Ash… tomorrow we are going to Kanto for the funeral."

"There's no funeral. If you had answered our call, you would have known that Ash's mother postponed it!"

"Whaaat??!" exclaimed Dawn and Serena in unison.

"Yes, but that's not the point. You have to stay in Jubilfe Dawn. Professor Rowan told me that a Goh guy is coming to Sinnoh and he is searching for you. He will be at the airport in the afternoon. He said it is important!"

Dawn thought: "Goh, maybe he knows something about Ash… he was his current travelling companion… If only had I been in his spot!"

"Okay mom, no need to Worry! I will be there! Now, sorry, I must go. I love you mom!"

With that said, she turned to Serena: "You are going to meet Ash's latest companion!"

The next day, before entering the Vermilion airport, he received a call from Rowan.

"We found Dawn; she will wait for you at the Jubilife airport. Have a safe flight!"

Goh smiled. They were making progress.

"Wait for me Ash, I won't stay here. I'm coming for you" he thought. Grookey, smiling from his shoulder, sensed his trainer determination and smiled on his own.

Deep down, he was glad to see Goh back in his old optimistic and determined self.